by magnolia_eic | Jun 8, 2011 | Announcements, Features, Headlines, National News, Tourism
PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III urged all Filipinos here and abroad to vote and support the country’s pride, the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR), as one of the finalists inthe global search for the New 7 Wonders of Nature. The President made the pitch right after he signed the proclamation order urging all nationalgovernment agencies, local government units, students and even overseas Filipino workersto join hands in the aggressive voting campaign thru internet and SMS (short messaging system).
In his speech, the President said if the 80 million Filipino cellular phone users participate in the campaign the PPUR has a big chance to win in the competition that would help spur the country’s tourism and create thousands of job opportunities to the people.
“As of now, the country has no less than 80 million Filipino cellular phone users. All we need is 1 billion votes,” President said as he cited the almost 2 million texts recorded by the leading telecommunication companies in their daily operations.
As more Filipinos are now actively using internet as another tool in communication, thePresident urged them to vote the Philippine environment at www.new7wondersofnature orsimply text PPUR15 to 2861.
During the program, Bernard Webber, president and founder of the New 7 Wonder of Nature,officially designated Puerto Princesa as one of the 28 finalists for the new 7 wonder of naturecategory. Renowned as the world’s longest underground river, Puerto Princesa Underground River features a stunning limestone karst mountain landscape, impressive cave systems,impressive stalactites and stalagmites formations, lush old growth tropical rain forest and interesting wildlife. The subterranean river spans 8.2 kilometers long and flows beneathstalactites and stalagmites formation.
The Underground River beat 440 other contenders to be one of the 28 finalists for the New 7Wonders of Nature Campaign. The voting period will end on November 10 and winners will be announced on the following day (November 11). (PCOO)
by magnolia_eic | Jun 4, 2011 | Headlines, National News
Tagbilaran City, Bohol, June 2 (PIA)—THE government’s cash grants issued through the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program can not be pawned or used as loan collateral, says the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) over reports of abuse in its use.
“The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program is a national government implemented poverty reduction strategy which provides cash grants to extremely poor households, but with set conditions on health and education”, explains Aileen Lariba, program information officer. “Any abuse on the card subjects the beneficiary to automatic suspension and the risk of eventual delisting from the program,” she warns. The program grants beneficiaries some P500 per month for nutrition and health and P300 for each of the beneficiary’s three children or a maximum of P1400 a month for a family with three school-age kids.
Other than being an immediate and short term poverty alleviation strategy, the program is also designed as a social development strategy that breaks the vicious cycle of inter-generational poverty through investing in human capital. This way, the program helps fulfill the country’s commitment to meet the Millennium Development Goals of Eradicating Extreme Poverty and Hunger, achieving Universal Primary Education, Promoting Gender Equality, Reducing Child Mortality and Improving Maternal Health, the DSWD source sums up.
However, pressed against the seemingly impenetrable wall of extreme economic conditions, beneficiaries, who have to go through an 8-step cycle to be in the program are reportedly forced to pawn and put these cards as loan collateral, payable as soon as a new release of cash grants happen. As it continues to educate and develop these identified beneficiaries, the DSWD urges the public cooperation, partnership and vigilance to make these cash grants work the way these are intended.
These cash cards should not be abused and as these are not acceptable as collateral nor guarantee on any loans.
For any violation reported and proven, beneficiary is subjected to automatic suspension and eventually delisting from the program. Furthermore, the DSWD encourages the beneficiaries to practice responsibility by safeguarding their cash cards from getting lost since this is their ultimate identification in all Pantawid Pamilya activities and other services that would be accorded to them in the near future.
To report abuse and discrepancies in the use of grants, use the syntax:
<address>complaint and send to 0918-912-2813. (Rey Anthony Chiu with Aileen Lariba) 4Ps<space>name
by magnolia_eic | Jun 4, 2011 | Headlines, Health and Medicine, National News
Tagbilaran City, June 3 (PIA) – Gitataw ni Presidente Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III nga dili prayoridad sa iyang administrasyon ang gidusong Divorce Bill sa Kongreso. Matud pa sa Presidente nga ang Divorce Bill mahimong makaingon sa pagkabahin-bahin sa
publiko. Gikuwestyon usab sa Presidente kun seryoso ba gayud ang nagduso sa maong balaodnon.
Nagtuo ang Malakanyang nga dili angay idungan ang Divorce Bill sa pagtuki sa Reproductive Health (RH) Bill nga mao karon ang prayoridad sa administrasyong Aquino. Sigun pa ni Presidential Communications Group Secretary Ricky Carandang, gustong idungang sa RH Bill ang Divorce Bill human nahibaw-an nga ang maong balaodnon napasar ug legal na karon sa Malta, ang kapartner sa Pilipinas sa tibuok kalibotan nga nahabiling nasud nga walay diborsyo. (PIA-Bohol/ecb)
by magnolia_eic | Jun 3, 2011 | Headlines, National News
IN line with President Benigno S. Aquino III’s social contract commitment to reduce poverty and ensure rapid, inclusive and sustained economic growth, especially for those living in the countryside, the Department of Budget and Management announced recently that it has released P3.430-billion for the National Rice Program of the Department of Agriculture.
In a statement, DBM Secretary Florencio Abad said the release would help farmers increase their harvest yields towards achieving rice self-sufficiency by 2013. “The DA’s National Rice Program highlights the Aquino Administration’s commitment to rice
self sufficiency by 2013. Through this program, the government makes sure that facilities, technologies and other interventions are in place to help us achieve this target,” he said.
Under the National Rice Program, farmers are provided with quality seeds, irrigation, credit and marketing assistance to improve farm productivity and profitability. The total budget for the National Rice Program for 2011 is P5.217 billion.
Moving a step closer to rice self sufficiency, the DA expects to produce 17.45 million metric tons (MT) of palay this year; and plans to increase that by 10 percent to 19.2 million MT in 2012; and by another 10 percent to 21.11 million MT in 2013 to achieve rice self sufficiency.
In a technical budget hearing conducted by the DBM, Alcala said that DA aims for 91.9 percent rice self-sufficiency by 2012 from 84.4 percent this year, and to attain this, proposed increases in its 2012 budget for its banner program for rice.
Abad meanwhile emphasized the need for DA to strengthen its capability and refocus its
investments towards achieving its Philippine Food Staple Self-Sufficiency Roadmap in line
with achieving 100-percent rice self-sufficiency. (PCOO)
by magnolia_eic | Jun 3, 2011 | Headlines, National News
THE Commission on Higher Education (CHED) will limit unnecessary fees imposed by colleges and universities nationwide following complaints raised by parents and students. At a Senate hearing on Thursday, lawmakers discussed the various miscellaneous fees that colleges and universities charge. The fees include charges for printing students’ résumés and printing their thesis proposals.
Because of the number of complaints, the CHED will release guidelines on what can be charged as miscellaneous fees, CHED executive director Atty. Julito Vitriolo told Sen. Edgardo Angara. The agency is currently investigating on these complaints and is encouraging students to report to the CHED’s hotline if they believe that there is discrepancy on their school charges.
Officials of colleges and universities are open to this, but they said the miscellaneous fees
help improve the schools’ facilities and raise the quality of education. (PIA)
