by anyajulia | Jul 23, 2009 | Headlines, National News
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Vice President and presidential adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW)s Noli De Castro are urging again Filipinos who wish to work abroad to avoid countries with work deployment ban. This includes Iraq and Afghanistan.
This was after 10 Filipinos were among the 16 who died in a helicopter crash in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
De Castro explained that the main reason why the DFA is implementing the deployment ban is to keep OFWs from harm’s way. He further added that Filipinos are forced to work in Afghanistan because of huge compensation offer. (PIA)
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by anyajulia | Jul 23, 2009 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
When looking at these pictures, one would think that he/she is at ICM or BQ or even a new mall. But guess what, all of these photos are of the Tagbilran City Square or “Agora Square” as commonly known.
Yes, after years of being an eyesore, Agora has evolved to one of the public’s newest hangout. A surprise for Boholanos abroad who haven’t been home in a long time.
With the mall-like concept, the Agora Square has stores ranging from bargain shops, Internet cafe, food stalls, cellphone shops, salons, hardware shops, gift shops, pawnshops, travel & tours agency, Print Shops, Bazaars, Fashion Jewelry shops, Vcd Rentals, Health & Beauty Care Products, Home Appliances, and famous snack shops such as Tea Treats, Coffee Talk, Jojie’s Painitang Bol-anon, and Buns & Pizza. And landmark commercial businesses like FCB and Ruchelle Computers.
As the establishment is still undergoing construction for its final completion, expect more future shops opening in the nearby future.
I am sure that this will be a new destination for Boholanos, especially for those home for the TBTK 2009.
by anyajulia | Jul 23, 2009 | Election 2010, Headlines, National News
Currently, 143,659 overseas voters have registered for the May 2010 elections. Thus breaching the number of 142,667 voters for the 2007 national elections. This is according to Nestor Padalhin, vice-chairman of the Overseas Absentee Voters Secretariat (OAVS) based at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
For that first-time ever registration, foreign posts were on their toes as they have to respond to both face-to-face and online queries by first-time prospective absentee voters and master the mechanics of registering Filipinos abroad. Both registrars and registrants were experiencing overseas registration and actual voting for the first time.
With only five weeks to go before the August 31 deadline, the OAVS hopes that registration reaches at least 200,000. (PIA)
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by anyajulia | Jul 22, 2009 | Election 2010, Headlines, National News
The Philippine government is already waging a war against “narco-politics” which is reportedly happening in the country and rearing its ugly head towards the 2010 national and local elections. This was the statement disclosed by Malacañang.
Deputy presidential spokeswoman Lorelei Fajardo said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Malacañang are alarmed on the possible use of drug money to influence the outcome of the elections next year.
She added there are allegedly some corrupt politicians who are using drug money so they can push their political ambitions to be able to get a juicy government positions. (PIA)
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by anyajulia | Jul 22, 2009 | Headlines, National News
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo cited the importance of international engagement in the country’s development. This was disclosed when she led the groundbreaking of the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) -funded road project here that stand to benefit some four million Filipinos.
Australian Charge d’Affaires Steve Scott said the Philippines is an “important partner of Australia,” adding that the funds were made available to the Philippines because of “good governance and good execution of AusAID projects.”
The road project is under the Southern Philippines Provincial Road Maintenance Program (SPPRMP) that covers 10 provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao and is funded with some 100 million Australian dollars or around P3.5 billion by the Australian government through the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID).
Australia is the country’s second largest bilateral grant aid donor after Japan. Its aid program has grown significantly in the last three years. For the fiscal year 2008-2009, its assistance portfolio is estimated at Aus 109 million dollars. (PNA)
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