by magnolia_eic | Jul 29, 2010 | Headlines, National News
Manila, Philippines– In a visit to the 24th anniversary of the Philippine Star, President Benigno Aquino III has bared that negotiations for the lease of the Navy’s major facilities on Roxas Boulevard and in Taguig City for private commercial development in order to raise funds for the fleet’s modernization are already in its advanced stages.
He also said the private developer is willing to give an initial $100 million as goodwill money, enough for the Philippine Navy to purchase four new ships to patrol the country’s 36,000 nautical miles of coastline. He noted that the Navy currently has 32 ships in its fleet, and most of these vessels are older than him. Mr. Aquino is 50 years old. The President has refused to name the developer until the deal has been finalized.
Such lease proposal has been mentioned by President Aquino during his State of the Nation Address.
In response to President Aquino’s announcement, Philippine Navy Spokesman Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo said
“The Philippine Navy welcomes this development,” adding that the Navy needs to modernize, but has no money, such that alternative sources of funding are needed.
Click here for full story from The Philippine Star
by magnolia_eic | Jul 29, 2010 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
TO appraise tourists about the kind of service he would get in an establishment in Bohol, a tourism classification board would possibly help.
Governor Edgar Chatto, who took the lead in crafting the country’s tourism code shared this during the recent Provincial Tourism Council (PTC) meeting held at Panda Tea Garden in Dao a few weeks ago.
Chatto clarified that the Board’s task would be to put up a unified classification of accredited tourism service providers and establishment using the star rating system, so tourists would know what to expect when they are there.
Building on Bohol tourism’s successes, several local government units and private entrepreneurs have funded for establishments and service and splurge on promotional activities without being fully familiar with the industry, PTC members said.
Not a few tourists have already shared their dismay about getting into an establishment selling itself through the internet, only to find that its accommodations are minimal.
That can happen because there is no way tourists know ahead about the kind of facilities and services the establishments offer.
As everyone wants to hitch in the tourism bandwagon, it is expected that things like this happen, agree council members.
Governor Chatto said the Tourism Code of 2009 provides for a classification board that issues a uniform standard to grade tourism products and service facilities.
Putting up the classification board should breathe life into the Code in as much as to be rated are not just the infrastructure and the accessibility and the preparedness of the facility to accept guests, Chatto added.
That way, even if establishments sell services on their own, a rating system puts them in a certain rank that tourists can easily refer, said PTC Chairman Atty Lucas Nunag. (rac/PIABohol)
by magnolia_eic | Jul 29, 2010 | Headlines, National News
FORMER Marine Col. Ariel Querubin walked free from his detention cell Wednesday noon, more than four years after figuring in a failed attempt to overthrow the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Ricardo David signed on Tuesday night the detained official’s provisional release papers.
AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta said Querubin will still have to attend all the hearings in his general court martial, even as he stressed Querubin cannot leave the country.
He will be placed under the custody of Brigadier General Reynaldo Ordoñez, head of the AFP’s Defense Reform Office.
Querubin was deemed retired from the military service after he ran but lost for senator in the May 10 elections under the Nacionalista Party.
He had been detained at Camp Aguinaldo, facing trial before a military tribunal for a charge of mutiny in connection with his group’s plot to march and subsequently withdraw their support from then President Arroyo in February 2006. (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | Jul 29, 2010 | Headlines, National News
FINANCE Secretary Cesar Purisima has directed the Commission on Audit (COA) to examine the books of government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) as well as government financial institutions (GFIs), with June 30, 2010, as the cut-off date.
“The date is important for establishing accountability,” Purisima told reporters, adding that financial audits “take a while” to complete.
Of particular interest are the books of the National Food Authority, which reported total liabilities of P171 billion as of May 2010—an amount, he said, that quintupled from a mere P28 billion in 2003.
Purisima said President Benigno Aquino III “presented his findings in the SONA” based on his officials’ “examination of some documents available” to them.
He said the COA would also look into the financial condition of the National Irrigation Administration, National Electrification Administration and Philippine National Railways, among others.
Many GOCCs and GFIs are money-losing entities led by political appointees who often have little expertise in their fields of concern. (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | Jul 28, 2010 | Headlines, National News
PRESIDENT Benigno Simeon Aquino III’s first State of the Nation Address (SONA) drew mixed reactions even from Catholic Church officials.
Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma said he found some of what Aquino said “promising” although his proposed actions to address the country’s problems had been tried before.
Yet, he said Aquino has selected capable Cabinet members and that makes him confident the President can realize his vision of a clean and honest society. He also cited Aquino’s drive to work for peace in Mindanao, which was among some of the bishops’ concerns.
On the other hand, Ledesma said Aquino did not address directly a 13-point agenda proposed by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.
For his part, militant priest Jose Dizon said he wished Aquino spoke more of land reform than of infrastructure. He said the speech content and delivery were “uninspiring.”
For her part, Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines co-chairwoman Sister Mary John Mananzan said the speech was practical and centered on “making the life of people better by doing the right things.” (PIA-Bohol)
