by anyajulia | Sep 29, 2008 | Headlines, National News
Lanao del Norte governor Mohammad Khalid Dimaporo said he will favor the use of American forces equipment to run after rogue MILF guerrillas should it be allowed by Philippine laws.
The governor was speaking out of the urgent need to flush-out fugitive Moro rebel leader Abdullah Macapaar alias Commander Bravo for pillaging villages in Lanao del Norte last month.
“We want to use sophisticated equipment to track down Bravo and get him, but, only the US forces have it,” he said.
He added, however, that unless the MILF will be labeled as a terrorist group, “only then that the American Armed Forces will allow us the use of their equipment.” (PIA/Bohol)
by anyajulia | Sep 29, 2008 | Headlines, National News
Malacanang has asked the public to report any unofficial use of government vehicles as part of the government’s intensified energy-saving and anti-graft and corruption campaigns.
The call was contained in Administrative Order no. 239, signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, which prohibits all the government agencies and offices on the use of government vehicles for purposes other than official business.
The report shall contain, among others, the type of vehicles, plate number, and the place and time where the government vehicle is found, preferably with pictures.
The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is also enjoined to closely coordinate and render assistance for the prompt implementation of the directive, particularly in the identification of the reported government vehicles.
Anyone found violating any of the provisions of the order, shall be sternly dealt with in accordance with existing laws, rules and regulations. (PIA/Bohol)
by anyajulia | Sep 26, 2008 | Headlines, National News
The Armed Forces of the Philippines joins Father Robert Reyes in his campaign to run for peace in Mindanao.
1st Infantry Division Commanding General Nehemias Pajarito said as the the AFP welcomes any peace advocates campaigning for the restoration of peace in Southern Philippines.
Major General Pajarito added that AFP is working with all the local gov’t units and concerned gov’t agencies in conflict-stricken areas to help internally displaced families go back to their normal lives.
He said that the hunt for lawless MILF groups of Commanders Bravo, Kato, and Pangalian will continue until they are captured to answer to the atrocities they had committed in the towns and villages of Lanao del Norte, North Cotabato, and Maguindanao. (PIA/Bohol)
“All of us want peace in Mindanao and we will continue to do it by working together,” Pajarito stressed.(PIA/Bohol)
by anyajulia | Sep 26, 2008 | Headlines, National News
“We are committed to the peace process but will not negotiate with a gun pointed at our heads.”
Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo stressed during her recent to the troops in Iligan city.
“We are committed to do everything possible to bring lasting peace to Mindanao and end 40 years of fighting that has killed more than 120,000 people,” she added.
However, she stressed that we will not negotiate with a gun pointed at our heads. Innocent civilians should not be terrorized for crass political gains.
“We can start the dialogue only when the area is secure and our people are safe because of your efforts,” the President said. (PIA/Bohol)
by anyajulia | Sep 26, 2008 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
IF attendance were any indicator, managing resources and implementing applicable mining laws to protect the environment here may not be a priority for mayors here.
Less than a quarter of Bohol’s 47 mayors attended, and for those who did, not all of them stayed the duration of the daylong Stakeholders Forum of the Regional Minerals Development Council held at Jjs Seafoods Thursday September 25, 2008.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region 7 (DENR-7) brought in its Mines and GeoSciences Bureau (MGB) supposedly to explain to local chief executives the issues and concerns concerning the country’s and Bohol’s mining sector.
Commenting on the lousy attendance, MGB Officer in Charge Director Roger de Dios said it is sad to say they [mayors] lack interest.
The forum which was supposedly set to orient mayors on the regulatory framework of mining in the country, brief them on the local mining situation and update them of their complementary roles in the implementation of the mining laws, rules and regulations
The MGB comment came after Boholanos openly ask for the DENR to update them on the mining status of Bohol just as Capitol’s Task Force Kabukiran and deputized environment agents are now scouring the upland areas to sort the legal from the illegal quarry operators.
Mayors who were spotted at the forum were from Loon, Guindulman, San Miguel, Anda, Buenavista, Clarin, while Talibon sent in the vice mayor.
Other towns sent in representatives instead.
De Dios, who also talked about generating the needed revenues from local mining shares hinted that if only towns could fully flex its powers, then revenue generation is complemented by small scale mining operations.
He also cited the need to pass the local mining ordinance so that it could remedy the problem of sharing in the revenues especially when the operation is done in a private lot.
Records form the DENR 7 state that only Bohol and Cebu province have not enacted their specific local mining ordinances, this apparently has hampered the share claims of local governments especially when mining operation is within a private lot.
According to separate sources, municipal governments can earn as much as 70% of the mining shares while the remaining 30% payments for the operation goes to provincial governments. (rachiu/PIA)
