by magnolia_eic | May 19, 2010 | Headlines, National News
Malacanang on Tuesday called on everyone to unite and cooperate with the incoming administration so the Philippines will continue to move forward and achieve further development.
In a press briefing Tuesday, Press Undersecretary Rogelio Peyuan said that since the election are over, it is best for everyone—winners and losers alike, to “unite and work together” with the new administration for a better Philippines.
Peyuan also said Malacanang is leaving it to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to decide on the alleged irregularities during the May 10 polls. He added that the first fully automated polls is part of President Arroyo’s legacy so let us leave it to the COMELEC to assess the level of satisfaction on Smartmatic’s delivery of what was expected of them.
Peyuan said the European community and China, among other nations, have congratulated the Philippines for the conduct of a peaceful elections.
He advised those questioning the credibility of the May 10 polls to go slow and “observe a certain level of decency” in any act they take. (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | May 19, 2010 | Headlines, National News
Some 75,000 public school teachers have been deployed by the Department of Education (DepEd) to conduct the national census that is done every ten years to generate accurate demographic data essential in the government’s socio-economic planning.
Education Secretary Mona Valisno said the DepEd deployed 60,000 field enumerators or census takers, 12,000 team supervisors, and 3,000 census area supervisors for the decennial census that started last May 17 and would last until June 12, 2010.
“We ask our people to cooperate in giving our teachers accurate data on their households. This is very important because this census is part of a national aim to better plan the welfare of our citizenry in terms of health, education, jobs, and other critical social services,” Valisno said.
The census is being undertaken in partnership with the National Statistical Coordination Board-National Statistics Office (NSCB-NSO).
The government is allocating a compensation for the teachers participating in the census, in the amounts of P11,550; P13,050; and P15,175 one-time honorarium. The teachers are also entitled to transportation expenses and meal allowances.
The 2010 Census of Population and Housing will obtain a complete count of Philippine population, demographic characteristics (population density, ethnicity, education level, health, economic status), and geographic distribution in the Philippines. (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | May 18, 2010 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita, National News
CALLS to add at least two more years in the country’s basic educational echoed anew during the Commission on Filipinos Overseas sponsored conference here.
The call was based on the dire need to put up a system that allows Filipinos students the competitive skills to be at par with their counterparts across the globe.
In his keynote address during the CFO’s 9th Philippine Schools Overseas (PSO) Conference at the posh Bohol Beach Club Tuesday, CFO Secretary Dante Ang reiterate the need to uplift educational quality in the advent of sending Filipino skilled workers abroad.
While comparing the country’s educational system to leading industrialized countries, the former presidential adviser hinted that a fresh graduate in the country may not fare well in landing a competitive job when standing side by side with his foreign counterpart.
Most participants in the conference of key administrators principals and mentors form nine countries where the PSO has established schools for children of Filipino workers abroad agree that additional years in school curriculum is in order.
Many have noted that graduates in the country still needs the additional training.
Ang cited the Philippine nurses going through the National Council on the Licensure Examinations (NCLEX) for Registered Nurses before getting a job abroad, one that could be equated to the additional years in schools.
“Basic education in the United Kingdom and the US are at least 12-13 years, and now the government has realized the need to implement the 12 years basic education program, he said.
He issued the call just as the urged teachers and administrators to start convincing parents on the wisdom to change to the 12 years of school.
Moreover, the CFO big boss underline the need to launch a massive teacher training program that can be institutionalized in as much as he said “the quality of our students depend largely on the quality of our teachers.
Asked as to where the additional two years would be inserted, Department of Education Assistant Secretary Dr. Teresita Inciong pointed out that the formative years from three to six years old would be most ideal.
She cites a study that says a child that young develops 50% of his brains.
Ang however reiterates again that program, he cited that a nursing graduate in the country now still needs to go through at least a year of retraining in the US and UK to land into the nursing job abroad. (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | May 18, 2010 | Headlines, National News
Manila, Philippines — Liberal Party National Treasurer and Quezon Governor Rafael Nantes plus five others died in a helicopter crash yesterday in a subdivision in Lucena City. AFP Southern Luzon Command spoekesman Col. Generoso Bolina said the chopper crashed at around 3:15 p.m. in Hael Subdivision in Barangay Iyam in Lucena City.
The other fatalities have been identified as Army Master Segeant Alfredo Dominguez and PO2 Randy Roperez, both security aides of Nantes. The other casualties include a pilot and two other civilians whose houses were hit by the chopper. The other civilian has been identified as Rowena Navales, 14.
According to the AFP spokesperson, the chopper exploded 300 meters after take off. Initial reports state that Nantes was about to go back to Manila when the crash happened. There were no survivors.
As of press time, the authorities are still finding out the cause of the incident.
Earlier newspaper reports have linked Nantes and the Liberal Party in protecting drug trafficking incidents in Quezon. This was due to a raid conducted by the PASG, and upon which an investigation was to follow. A few days later, this statement was denied by the PASG in an article in a separate daily newspaper.
The Liberal Party has extended their condolences.
by magnolia_eic | May 18, 2010 | Headlines, National News
REMITTANCES from Filipinos working overseas rose by 7% in the first quarter to $4.3 billion, the central bank or the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said on Monday.
In March alone, money sent by Filipinos overseas went up by 5.6% from a year ago to $1.5 billion.
The central bank said money sent home in the first quarter grew on sustained and higher remittances by both land and sea-based workers.
The central bank said in a statement that prospects for global deployment of overseas Filipino workers remain positive, especially as employment opportunities are expected to rise along with clearer signs of global recovery.
Remittances, a major consumption driver, still come mostly from the United States, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Italy and the United Arab Emirates.
The central bank had previously forecast remittances in 2010 to grow by 8%. In 2009, remittance inflows hit a record $17.3 billion. (PIA-Bohol)
