by anyajulia | Sep 19, 2008 | Headlines, National News
President Arroyo expressed confidence that the government’s fiscal reforms will allow the country to withstand the effects of the financial crisis.
Although she acknowledged that the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth posted only a 4.6 percent increase in the second quarter compared to the 8.3 percent growth recorded in the second quarter last year.
According to the President, the country has remained resilient because of the government’s reform in the tax system. The funds raised by the government through the value-added tax (VAT) helped cushion the country from the global hike in food and oil prices as well as the effects of the meltdown of the US financial system.
It has also given the country the funds to invest in targeted reliefs to the most poor through programs aimed at relieving the high price of energy and food.
Meanwhile, Thomas Crouch, ADB’s deputy director-general for Southeast Asia, said that the Philippine cannot be spared from the financial crisis but he believed the macro-economic policies of the government made it less vulnerable and in a better position to respond to the negative impacts of these events. (PIA/Bohol)
by anyajulia | Sep 19, 2008 | Headlines, National News
The Military doubts the sincerity of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in adhering to the peace process, Maj. Medel Aguilar, Commanding Officer of the 5th Civil Relations Group (5CRG) said.
According to Aguilar, the MILF has not made any effort to capture Commanders Bravo and Kato, who are members of their group.
He explained that the army is under the assumption that the MILF has prior knowledge of the planned attacks of Bravo and Kato and suspect that the group may be cuddling them.
“As long as they’re protecting these people, their sincerity to the peace process is in doubt” Aguilar added. (PIA/Bohol)
by anyajulia | Sep 19, 2008 | Headlines, National News
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and its partner agencies will begin undertaking soon a nationwide voters’ education campaign.
CHR Chairperson Leila de Lima said this undertaking aims to increase among voters, particularly those from vulnerable sectors.
It also adds to the awareness and understanding about their right to suffrage so the country’s electoral process can be improved.
The vulnerable sectors mentioned include: the elderly, people with disabilities, detainees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), indigenous peoples and first-time voters. (PIA/Bohol)
by anyajulia | Sep 19, 2008 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
BOHOL molded Friday the country’s second provincial special police team trained to handle crisis situations all over Bohol.
Bohol Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team comes next to the Cebu SWAT, which was the first provincial special action team in the country, revealed Police Regional Director Ronaldo Roderos at a press conference at the Bohol Tropics Resort Wednesday.
More or less 37 police aspirants would be trimmed down to 17 after they pass the rigid training under 8 Camp Crame-based Special Action Forces and complemented by the 6 members of the Cebu City SWAT team, police sources said.
After more than three months of grueling training, the Bohol team of 17 men, would be going on rotation duty 24 hours a day 7 days a week, explains Bohol Provincial Police Chief Edgardo Ingking.
The team, organized in the pattern of the elite Los Angeles Police Department’s anti-crime SWAT would be allowing residents the protection of a force trained and given expertise to respond to problems.
The press conference was held a day before outgoing Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief also formalizes the opening of the innovative Bohol Tourist Police Assistance Center in Bolod Panglao.
Admitting forming the Bohol team is really a belated move, PNP Chief Avelino Razon said if it were not for the insistent efforts of Bohol government and civil society leaders, the dream would not have been realized.
The move came after the Boholanos shivered in dread over a foiled bank robbery, which cost the life of a security guard, a robber and led to the notorious Meloy Garcia rob group disbandment.
Bohol Governor Erico Aumentado added that Bohol local officials including the congressional representatives pooled resources with the PNP and civil organizations like the Bohol Bankers Association, Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Confederation of Boholanos in the USA and Canada to fund the Bohol SWAT team realization.
The team would operate not just in the city but would also respond to crisis situation in the different areas in Bohol, Aumentado explained.
If the LAPD SWAT were any indicator, then the Bohol team would comprise of special squads using hi-tech equipment and firepower support trained in armed combat, urban and rural counter terrorism, explosives and ordnance experts, riot suppression and negotiations experts.
The development also came amid reports that the critically manned Bohol Police Provincial office has just been reinforced with 110 new cops, just as Gen. Razon also promised additional manpower, firepower, mobility and communications equipment to allow local forces to curb criminality to the minimum. (rachiu/PIA)
by anyajulia | Sep 19, 2008 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
THE environment secretary has okayed on the suggestion to spill the clogged city drainage system to the sea, reasoning that the city residents should not be made to suffer for an illegality.
Arriving in Bohol to keynote a convention of the country’s foresters at the Bohol Tropics Resort, environment Secretary Joselito Atenza apparently has resolved an issue, which has kept local officials buck-passing the blame while keeping residents in limbo.
In a radio interview the day after he set foot in Bohol, Sec. Atienza revealed that he has explicitly ordered the local Department of Environment and Natural Resources Office here to immediately coordinate with the city government to un-tap the illegal connections along the drainage.
The opening up of the closed drainage however, Sec. Ateinza said, should be done only when there is a heavy down pour.
The move probably based on the logic that the heavy volume of storm water would dilute the dirty water enough to make it relatively safe for spilling into Tagbilaran City Bay.
“While we are not yet able to correct the irregularities, I have instructed the local DENR Officer to rush the cutting of illegal connections,” he said over the radio lane.
Atienza pressed that it is indeed the local government units who should implement the disconnection, but added he had ordered his men to assist and coordinate with the city mayor.
It may be recalled that the city drainage system along Carlos P. Garcia avenue is packaged with the Bohol Circumferential Road Improvement Project as implemented by the Project Management Office (PMO) of the Philippine Japan Highways Loan Project who had Hanjin Heavy Engineering doing the construction.
Hanjin authorities have aired that the illegal connections had the green-light by the PMO, despite the fact that the project specifically states that the canals would only be for storm drains.
To put up a conduit for the rain water to flow out to the sea, the local Department of Public Works and Highways implemented the San Jose street drainage and out fall towards Tagbilaran Bay.
At least a lot owner upon which the storm drain passes has aired his refusal to allow access as long as it still spills sewage. (rachiu/PIA).
