by anyajulia | Oct 22, 2009 | Headlines, National News
Malacanang assures the public the rescue of 79-year old Irish priest Father Michael Sinnott from his abductors.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo disclosed that the Philippine government is as much concerned as the international community over the abduction and is doing its best with the rescue operations.
Fr. Sinnot, founder of ‘Hangop Kabataan Foundation’ that caters to the needs of disabled children, was abducted by still unidentified armed men at the Diocese of Pagadian on Oct.11, 2009. He is also a member of the Missionaries of St. Columban and has been working in the Philippines since the early 1980s. (PIA-MMIO)
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by anyajulia | Oct 22, 2009 | Foreign Exchange, Headlines
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is to attend the 15th Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits in Thailand on Oct. 23 – 25, 2009.
ASEAN will announce the establishment of an ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR). The ten countries that make up AICHR will appoint a commissioner each to serve for three years. Other issues on the agenda include the recommendation to establish a free trade agreement between South East Asia and East Asia.
The ASEAN member countries include Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The ASEAN leaders will likewise meet with the six dialogue partners: China, India, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea. (PIA-MMIO)
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by anyajulia | Oct 22, 2009 | Foreign Exchange, Headlines, National News
The Department of Finance (DOF) backs bid to extend travel tax exemption to all passengers traveling in the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-the Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).
In a memorandum to the Office of the President issued last month, Finance Secretary Gary Teves said that the Philippine government may extend the privilege of travel exemption to passengers departing from Mindanao and Palawan to any destination within the BIMP-EAGA for another three years, ending until September 2012.
The memorandum also cited that the said measure would be beneficial to the “growth area concept” which promotes cooperation among the BIMP countries and for the promotion of tourism and investment in the sub-region.
The proposal for extension was prepared and submitted by the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo).
DOF submitted the recommendation to the Office of the President who will give the final approval for the said measure through a Memorandum Order (MO). The Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) has earlier submitted their letter of concurrence last year. (MEDCo)
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by anyajulia | Oct 21, 2009 | Headlines, National News
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo orders “pre-positioning” of relief goods and medical supplies in calamity-prone areas. This is in action as typhoon “Ramil” (international codename: Lupit) hits the country.
Arroyo issued the order to ensure that medicines, food, service and personnel are readily deployable in the event of an emergency.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson and Presidential Assistant Lorelei Fajardo said that even before Ramil entered the Philippine area of responsibility, communications between the national and local government and the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council “at each municipality” have been ongoing to ensure that they will be given (typhoon) alerts or warnings from time to time. (PIA)
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by anyajulia | Oct 21, 2009 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
LEAGUE of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) Bohol mulls to lessen the number of athletic meets and pour more funds into sustainable sports programs instead.
Rather than drain the town’s resources in tentative activities that strain teachers and athletic coaches, Dagohoy Mayor Dr. Herminio Relampagos proposed to take go for only two meets in a year.
At the recent LMP Meeting held in Bilar last week, Dr. Relampagos was apparently following on the irritant issue of costly athletic meets that do not always produce the best athletes.
He cited that even with the meets, what are produced are athletes that are sent [to meets] for compliance and not because they are competent.
At the very least, Bohol athletes need to go through town, sub-congressional, congressional and provincial meets before they can represent Bohol to the regional athletic competitions, Relampagos explained.
All the hosted meet organizers turn to local government units for funds, which would sometimes be more that other budgets priorities allocated under the Special Educational Fund (SEF) mandatory, he told mayors.
He reiterated that by law, sports would only be the fourth priority in the SEF.
The SEF is where LGUS get funds to build class rooms, schools, fund repairs of school facilities and pay for the fund the salaries of contractual workers first.
On the other hand, Loon Mayor Lloyd Peter Lopez suggested that the provincial meet be done only once in every two years.
He explained that in the year when there isn’t a provincial meet, the training of the athletic pool would be done and funds be used in purchasing sports equipments which Bohol sports organizers lack.
LMP President Roberto Salinas however said the league would be inviting Department of Education superintendent and sports authorities during the next league meeting to consult on the twin proposals. (PIA)
