by cathytej | Jun 27, 2008 | Features
The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has drafted an executive that will create the National Transport Safety Board (NTSB) in the wake of the sinking of the MV Princess of the Stars of Sulpicio Lines at the height of Typhoon Frank.
The drafting of the executive order, was revealed by DOTC Undersecretary for Maritime Transport Elena Bautista.
Bautista – who also pushed for the passage of the Coast Guard Bill – said the NTSB as a separate body will investigate such transport disasters, and not by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) nor by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA).
The Coast Guard Bill, on the other hand, will define the identity – whether military or civilian — of the PCG, said Bautista. The PCG is no longer under the Philippine Navy (PN) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), but under the DOTC.
Bautista said she was also tasked to call for industry-wide consultations regarding the guidelines for allowing ships to embark on their respective voyages in times of typhoons. (PIA/Bohol)
by cathytej | Jun 26, 2008 | Local News / Bohol Balita
UNREGULATED entry of sex workers escorting foreign guests has alarmed tourism stakeholders who ask for ‘any’ government intervention to complement their efforts of putting up the mechanism to control the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
Sex worker escorts, each time entering Bohol with different foreign tourists, could expose local sex workers to the danger of HIV or STI infection.
The problem is even compounded as some resort owners admit that some foreign couples swap partners and they feel helpless in stopping them.
Feeling helpless on their end, stakeholders along the Alona beach bonded to protect their workers from the risk especially with the threat of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
In partnership with Path Foundation Philippines Inc.(PFPI), a non-government organization, resorts have put up volunteer peer educators among workers and organized support groups.
That is to keep resorts safe from STI or HIV, which may conveniently go with escorts to tourists, a resort owner confessed.
Since we feel helpless against this, we exert efforts on things we can do and hope the government could help us, says Gertrudis Bongo, owner of the Trudis Place, a resort along Alona Bay.
“Our peer educators dispense advice and share information on proper sex habits, adult education and protected sex to keep the threat at bay,” she said.
“We gather resort workers and increase their knowledge on HIV and STI, hopefully to encourage them to seek the right behavior,” explains Lawrence Castro of the PFPI, who is organizing communities with higher risks of infection.
“It’s a real threat,” agrees Ma. Girlie Bungabong, a peer counselor for the family owned Trudis Place.
Bungabong, who along with another volunteer regularly shares sex-related issues to their co-workers, said they can never stop foreigners from bringing in escorts who are sex workers from Cebu and Manila.
Meanwhile, to keep the threat contained, Trudis Place, as PATH project partner, displays sex commodities like condoms in their rooms.
On the other hand, posh resort Bohol Beach Club, through human resource manager Joy dela Cruz said the company empowers its in-house workers to report any attempt of guests soliciting sex.
“We are definitely not condoning it, just as we are to seriously look into violations over the standing policy of no going out with guests”, she said.
De la Cruz, who shared she wants more peer educator volunteers for Bohol Beach Club also share a dream of tourism growing with workers protected and respected and responsible. (rachiu/PIA)
by cathytej | Jun 26, 2008 | Local News / Bohol Balita
BOHOLANOS still hope for fresh anti-poverty funds just as the country prepares a comprehensive, extensive and systematic funding proposals just as the country became eligible for the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact status.
Bohol poverty alleviation program has been streamlined using cost sharing schemes wherein the provincial government puts up its funds while tapping other funding sources as counterparts. The MCC is one opened option, Bohol Provincial Planning and Development Officer Atty. John Titus Vistal said.
Atty. Vistal, like Governor Erico Aumentado and the whole provincial council led by Vice Governor Julius Caesar Herrera also believe that Bohol stands a big chance of accessing the funds.
The MCC, according to MCC bigwig John Hewko, is a United States Government corporation designed to work with some of the poorest countries in the world by giving them grants. He added that it is based on the principle that aid is most effective when it reinforces good governance, economic freedom and investments in people.
“Its mission is to reduce global poverty through the promotion of sustainable economic growth and fighting corruption,” Hewko said.
Local Government leaders here have proposed grants on the Rice Accelerated Emergency Response for rice sufficiency, innovative livestock dispersals, skills training and job generation and highs school internet connectivity.
Although it may not be ascertained yet if Bohol gets included in the national programmed projects for MCC support, Boholanos have been very positive that any of the proposed local projects get a fiscal boost.
At this, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who was in Washington days ago revealed that the Philippines has designated former National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Dante Canlas as head of the team preparing for the comprehensive proposal to be submitted to the MCC.
The President, who sat with MCC President Ambassador John Danilovich at a press briefing at the MCC Headquarters here, said formulating the plan has to follow a consultative process.
Thus, she added that providing the MCC with a contact — the contact person who will be putting all these together would be a major step, as she reasoned why Canlas has to be named.
The President said the Philippine government is taking no chances in its efforts to satisfy the MCC requirements, as she expressed hope that the government’s proposal would meet the standards of the US government corporation.
She added that the crafting of the proposal would be and extensive and in close consultations with all stakeholders.
“With the Philippines’ population of some 89 million, reconciling the demands and requirements of the country’s population is quite challenging. We are very religious about looking at the checklist all the time, making sure all the expectations of MCC are met,” President Arroyo said.
The Philippines was pre-qualified as eligible to apply for an MCC Compact during the MCC Board meeting last March.
The MCC board cited the country’s consistent performance in the MCC’s eligibility criteria and its effective implementation of the MCC threshold program, focusing on curbing corruption through improved tax collection, customs administration and strengthening the Office of the Ombudsman. (rachiu/PIA)
by cathytej | Jun 26, 2008 | Local News / Bohol Balita
With the country bracing for the worst times as central bank authorities now apprehensive of the country’s inflation jumping to 11% in July-September this year, a local trade and industry officer says the situation may not be as bleak for Bohol.
While a double digit inflation rate may be the worst case in the country since May 2005. This as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) noted 8.3 percent inflation rate in April from 6.4 percent in March, this owing to higher food prices.
Consumers who monitor the steady increase in prices of commodities have aired concern just as increases in salaries and wages have been dismal, further aggravating the situation of lessened purchasing power of money.
However, Jose Hibaya, Chief trade and industry specialist at the local Department of Trade and Industry says the effect on prices may not be too harsh in Bohol and in Central Visayas.
“Inflation may not be as devastating in the Visayas, as we have the most efficient channel of distribution, which affects the prices of goods and commodities,” he said.
In Bohol in fact, he admitted the presence of key distributors who deliver the goods to the towns, instead of retailers paying for the transport of the same helps keep the prices at bay.
At least, the factor of distribution costs would be out of the equation, he explained over the Kapihan sa PIA Thursday and aired live at station DyTR.
If there are increases in prices, it would be close to the average rates of .5 to .10%, which the office has monitored since the food and oil price hikes were felt by consumers, he hinted.
He also added, “manufactured goods are not expected to pick up in price following forged agreements with the country’s manufacturers.”
He said manufacturers, during a recent meeting, have agreed to absorb the incremental cost of production, which would help soften the impact of prices of goods.
When manufacturers absorb the costs, these are not passed on but are recouped by spreading out the absorbed cost, he revealed.
If the manufacturers do not pass on the cost of production to consumers as agreed, at least in the next three months, we do not see that much spike in prices, he explained.
Even then, he also advised everyone to tighten their belts some more and defer spending especially on construction.
Construction materials, especially steel bars have the biggest price increase, DTI noted. (rachiu/PIA)
by cathytej | Jun 26, 2008 | Local News / Bohol Balita
WALA pa man mobugtaw sa pagbasol ni bisan kinsa ang, samtang padayon pa ang mga imbestigasyon sa nahitabo sa MV Princess of the Stars, gipadayag na ni Presidente Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ang pagbangutan uban sa mga kapamilya sa nahitungdan sa aksidente.
Matud niya, sama sa gibati sa daghang Filipino, nahasubo usab kita sa mga kinabuhi nga nakalas sa bagyo ug sa trahadya sa dagat.
Dungan niini, iya usab nga gipadayag ang iyang kasuko sa nahitabo nga pagkalunod sa barko bisan pa man nga padayon pa nga gituki sa mga imbestigador unsa gayud ang tinud-anay nga nahitabo, nganong nahitabo kini ug unsaon nga kalikayan kini sa umaabot.
Gimandu na ni Presidente Arryo ang usa ka lawom nga imbestigasyon ”aron marepaso ang mga hilisgutan.”
Niini, iya na usab nga gipasalig nga ugkaton ang tanan aron matumbok na ang angay nga manubag sa hitabo subay sa mapalutaw sa imbestigasyon. (rachiu/PIA)
