by magnolia_eic | Oct 8, 2010 | Headlines, National News
MALACANANG has declared October 25- Monday as a special non-working holiday to give time for
Filipinos to go out and vote for the synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
In Proclamation 48 issued October 6, 2010, President Benigno Simeon Aquino III said it is imperative
that the people be given the fullest opportunity to participate in the said elections and exercise their
right to vote.
With the proclamation too, Filipino voters registered in the country’s 42,000 barangays can also find
the necessary travel time to go back to their precincts with the long weekend, which allows them
ample time.
The next Monday also, November 1, is another holiday, bringing in two holidays in the immediate
weeks.
By tradition, November 1 is observed as the All Saints’ Day.
This day, thousands of Filipinos visit cemeteries to honor their dead relatives.
In 2007, former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed into law the bill on holiday economics,
which aimed to give the public more long weekends to enjoy.
Republic Act 9492 amends a provision in the National Administrative Code of 1987, to allow the
government to move holidays – except those with religious significance – to the nearest Monday.
The law also pegs four holidays on a fixed date: Jan. 1 or New Year’s Day; Nov. 1, All Saints’ Day;
Dec. 25, Christmas Day; and the last day of the year, Dec. 31.
Other holidays especially those religious in nature as Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Eid’l Fitr
have always been set on movable dates so they are unchanged under the law.
For these kind of holidays, the
President, by law shall issue a proclamation,
at least six months prior to the holiday concerned, according to reports. (PIABOHOL)
by magnolia_eic | Oct 8, 2010 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
TWO years and counting.
Bohol anti-rabies advocates and Boholanos has a reason to pick October 8, 2010 as a day of celebration: the day
completes a two year mark when health authorities have not found any rabies case in human or canines involved in bite
cases all over the province’s 47 towns and a city.
The last reported canines rabie case was in October 8, 2008, or exactly two years ago, shared Bohol veterinarian Dr.
Stella Marie Lapiz during the recent Kapihan sa PIA.
At the weekly forum aired live over DyTR and broadcast from the PIA at K of C Drive in this city, Dr. Lapiz said that while
Bohol may be declared as the next rabies free province in the country if the zero rabies case is sustained for three years,
floating in the horizon however is a bigger goal, to be declared internationally as a model for its community based efforts
against rabies.
According to the Department of Health, absence of human and canine rabies occurrence in a place for three consecutive
years merits a declaration as rabies free.
To date, the island province of Siquijor has kept its citation as rabies free.
For Dr. Lapiz, while Bohol has been using international standards in its moritoring and evaluation for its rabies program,
snagging an international recognition may not be that distant goal.
Keeping her hands close to her chest, Dr Lapiz said all of the achievements so far, she credits to the man Boholano
barangay volunteers, communities and the international and national donors whose funding support has kept the
program yapping.
Bohol used to be ranked number 4 and number 3 among the country’s rabies watchlist in 2005 and 2006.
Eversince, the provincial veterinarian said the help they get from these institutions and sectors have pushed for the 2
year milestone.
Since 2006, Bohol launched its Provincial Anti Rabies Prevention and Elimination Program with an initial local government
fund of P1M, national government support fund and some P7.5M from a non government organization partner called
Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC).
According to Dr. May Elizabeth Miranda of the GARC, their organization got interested in counter-part funding the Bohol
programs as they belived that Bohol would be in a better position to show to the world that rabies is preventable, and
that community mobilization against rabies is one effective and efficient tool.
An organization into helping countries fight rabies, GARC’s Dr. Miranda said they are excited of the developments in
Bohol as it may put the province in the limelight being a world model for community based rabies control, which their
organization can share.
Owing to the need to make the program as integretaed and as massive to be provincewide, the BRPE council led
by the governor engaged communities by institutionalizing the Bantay Rabies sa Barangay who will be doing the
dirty job of dog surveys, registration, vaccination and dog related incident arbitration in their local levels. (PIABohol)
by magnolia_eic | Oct 8, 2010 | Announcements, Headlines, National News
Gideklarar niadtong Miyerkoles sa Malacañang nga usa ka special non-working holiday karong Oktubre 25, 2010 aron makahigayon ang mga tawo sa ilang partisipasyon sa Barangay ug Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.
Ubos kini sa Proclamation Number 48 ni Presidente Benigno Noynoy Aquino III sumala pa sa kalihim sa Presidential Communication Development and Strategic Planning nga si Ricky Carandang.
Matud pa ni Carandang nga kinahanglang mobotar gyud ang mga tawo isip kabahin sa ilang mga katungod nianang adlawa maong gideklarar kining non-working holiday.
Miabot ngadto sa 672,400 ka mga posisyon gikan sa 42,025 ka mga barangay sa tibuok Pilipinas. (PIA)
by magnolia_eic | Oct 8, 2010 | Headlines, National News
Nearly 7 out of 10 Filipinos gave President Benigno Aquino III a good starting score for his first 100 days in office despite a botched hostage crisis and the jueteng controversy, a survey conducted by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) showed.
The Sept. 28-29 survey found 69 per cent of respondents across all geographical areas and sectors satisfied with the Aquino administration’s initial performance, against the 31 per cent dissatisfied.
President Aquino also scored high net satisfaction ratings (% satisfied less % dissatisfied) in 10 out of 15 issues tested in the survey.
The policy against the use of wang-wang or sirens on the road earned for President Aquino the highest satisfaction rating of +82. He was also rated highly for ensuring transparency (+74) and fighting graft and corruption (+52).
President Aquino gained a good rating of +34 both for reducing the budget deficit and investigating officials linked to anomalies, +28 for controlling dengue, while recording moderate ratings in the areas of jobs and livelihood (+14), education (+10), Cabinet appointments (+9), and public-private partnerships (+6).
About half of Filipinos rated the administration fairly for its efforts to alleviate poverty and control the spiraling prices of basic commodities.
On the other hand, only 17 per cent of respondents were satisfied with the government’s handling of the Manila hostage crisis last August 23 where eight Hong Kong tourists died and which made international news.
President Aquino also acquired poor ratings in curbing jueteng (-10) and in pursuing peace initiatives with secessionist and extremist groups (-14).
The same survey showed that Filipinos perceive President Aquino’s credibility and simple lifestyle, good governance and strong political will, and fight against graft and corruption as his strongest marks as a leader.
Sec. Sonny Coloma of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) credited this to President Aquino’s unwavering commitment to good and honest leadership as embodied in his campaign slogan “Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap.”
He added that President Aquino is focused on the work ahead and remains committed to eradicate corruption and alleviate poverty.
Meanwhile, respondents want the Aquino administration to focus on jobs and livelihood (78%), anti-corruption measures (63%), and quality education (59%) in the days ahead.
The PIA poll was fielded nationwide with 629 respondents coming from various sectors including elected and appointed government officials, business groups, religious leaders, uniformed men, laborers, and members of the media. (PIA)
by magnolia_eic | Oct 8, 2010 | Headlines, National News
Most Filipinos want President Aquino to focus on job generation and livelihood programs and eradicating corruption in the days ahead, according to a nationwide survey conducted by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).
“The survey shows what the people want the President to do in the days ahead. Jobs and livelihood programs for themselves and their families are their real and immediate concerns,” PCOO Secretary Herminio Coloma said on Thursday.
The PIA survey was conducted from Sept. 28-29 and involved face-to-face interviews with 629 sectoral leaders, including elected officials, businessmen, religious, media, and the uniformed services.
Of those polled, 78 percent said jobs and livelihood should be on top of the government’s priority list, while 66 percent considered the fight against corruption as of utmost importance.
More than half (59 percent) of the respondents also urged the administration to improve access to quality education even as almost the same number (57 percent) recommended the implementation of measures that will control the spiraling of prices of basic goods.
“The people’s wish list is being addressed and the Aquino administration aims to fulfill its social contract with the Filipino people,” Coloma said.
The survey also shows that people (34 percent) see President Aquino’s integrity, simple lifestyle, and the people’s continued trust in him as his strongest point even as almost the same number (33 percent) considered his handling of the Manila hostage incident as his weakest point during his first 100 days.
He was also praised for the investments generated during his US trip (10 percent) and the prudent spending (6 percent) being practiced by his administration.
On the other hand, 19 percent of those polled pointed to factionalism in the Cabinet and appointment of underserving/corrupt officials as one of his low points during the same period.
The survey also wants President Aquino to prosecute officials linked to various anomalies (48 percent); stop jueteng and other illegal gambling activities (45 percent); pursue peace initiatives (44 percent); and fast track vital infrastructure projects (43 percent).
“The survey also gives us a clear idea of what the Boss wants. I am sure the President will respond in the best possible way he can,” Coloma said. (PIA)
