by Misael | May 20, 2008 | Headlines
Philippine Ambassador to South Korea Luis T. Cruz reiterated the Philippine Embassy’s warning to Filipinos against agencies that act as a front for mail-order brides.
This came amidst reports that the South Korean Government is also set to crack down on interracial matchmaking agencies that violate local laws and use deceptive advertising.
The Philippine Embassy reminds the public of Philippine Republic Act 6955 or the Anti-Mail-Order Bride Law, which makes it illegal for a “person, natural or juridical, association, club or any other entity” to “establish or carry on a business which has for its purpose the matching of Filipino women for marriage to foreign nationals either on a mail-order basis or through personal introduction.”
The law also makes it illegal for anyone “to advertise, publish, print or distribute or cause the advertisement, publication, printing or distribution of any brochure, flier, or any propaganda material calculated to promote the prohibited acts” earlier mentioned.
While matchmaking agencies are considered legal in South Korea, Korean law requires these agencies to be registered and to be aware of issues concerning interracial marriages and ethics.
Amb. Cruz notes that many Filipinos enter South Korea through marriages arranged through these matchmakers in a promise for work or a better life.
As of January 31, 2008, approximately 5,000 Filipinos married to South Koreans reside in the peninsula, some of whom met through matchmaking agencies. (PIA/Bohol)
by Misael | May 20, 2008 | Headlines
The country’s provincial governors have committed 50 percent of their internal revenue allotment (IRA) differentials amounting to P12.57 billion for food production.
The amount represents the IRA differentials due the local government units (LGUs) for 2001-2004.
Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone, secretary-general of the League of Provinces, said local officials fully support efforts by the Arroyo administration to address the rice shortage, and for the country to eventually attain self-sufficiency in rice.
Based on the on-going massive government program to increase rice production, the Department of Agriculture (DA) assured that the country will attain rice self-sufficiency in three years.
Evardone said about P6 billion would be used by the LGUs to buy certified seeds, post-harvest facilities and other farm implements “to help boost food production” in the country.
Earlier, the President signed Executive Order 723, ordering the release of P12.57 billion for the IRA differentials for fiscal years 2001 to 2004. (PIA/Bohol)
by Misael | May 20, 2008 | National News
JOINING the government in packaging benefits to the people to help them cope with the rising prices, the Social Security System (SSS) is now implementing an amnesty program for loans whish took a due, April 30.
Starting May 1, penalties accumulated by members’ delinquent payments of salary, emergency and calamity loans could be condoned, if members avail of the offer, says Jerry Redulla, information officer of the local SSS.
Earlier, SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Corazon de la Paz-Bernardo reported that the pension fund would condone penalties on loans of members who would avail of the amnesty, one she admitted is part of the non-wage benefits package offered to workers to mark Labor Day.
“This is an excellent opportunity for delinquent borrowers to settle their unpaid accounts at a huge discount,” she said.
Under the amnesty, they would only pay the principal and interest, with their penalties written off by the SSS, she added.
Meanwhile, during a phone interview, Redulla said unpaid loans may have accumulated penalties in time, discouraging borrowers from payments. This year however, SSS offers writing off the penalties for unpaid loans.
He stressed that borrowers who avail of the amnesty would only pay for the borrowed amount plus the interest while penalties for delinquency in payments could be staved off, if the application for amnesty gets approved.
In other words, the amount of penalties to be condoned would be proportionate to the arrears, or the outstanding principal and interest paid by the borrower, he hinted.
To keep the payments easy, SSS also accepts partial or in full payments with in the amnesty period.
However, according to the senior SSS official in Quezon City, the payments have to be made within the amnesty period.
“If only half of the arrears are paid during the amnesty, then only half of the penalties would be condoned, while the balance would continue to accumulate penalties,” De la Paz-Bernardo said.
“This is why we urge borrowers to fully pay their delinquencies within the amnesty to enjoy 100 percent condonation of penalties.”
The SSS in Bohol has transferred to a new location and it has continued its services in its new place along Putong street this city, Redulla reported.
Borrowers intending to avail of the condonation could come and visit SSS so they could file for amnesty applications right away, he said.
The SSS said it expects to collect P2.62 billion in principal and interest from about 620,000 delinquent short-term loan borrowers who had accounts starting 2006. The amnesty would end on April 30 next year, SSS added.
The SSS has been granting salary loans to actively-paying members with at least 36 contribution payments. Previous loans granted to members include calamity, emergency, educational, study now-pay later, vocational/technical, Y2K, stock investment and privatization fund loans.
More than 540,000 delinquent borrowers benefited from five amnesty periods for SSS short-term loans, the last of which was from January to June 2007. The SSS also has an ongoing amnesty for housing loan borrowers, an SSS press statement said. (rachiu/PIA)
by Misael | May 20, 2008 | Headlines
GIKOMPIRMAR ni Office of the President Undersecretary Jose Cepedocia nga usa sa mga hisgutan sa Cabinet Meeting nga pangunahan ni Presidente Gloria Macapagal Arroyo sa usa ka resort dinhi sa Bohol karong adlawa mao ang paghusay sa Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) ug sa Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).
Kagahapon atul sa press briefing didto sa GPG Hall sa Kapitolyo, si Cepedocia mibutyag nga usa sa mga agenda sa Cabinet Meeting sa pagbisita sa bahan sa Presidente dinhi sa Bohol mao ang nasangpit nga hisgutanan.
Dugang ni Cepedocia, mismo si GSIS Winston Garcia ug mga tinugyanan sa MERALCO mahidangat atul sa tigum uban sa Presidente.
Mahidangat si Presidente Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ug ang iyang Kabinete sa Bohol karon aron sa paglubong sa time capsule isip pormal nga sinugdanan sa P4.2 bilyones nga airport nga tukuron sa Panglao.
Ang proyekto sa Panglao Bohol International Airport gamitan sa P3B nga corporate funds sa Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) ug tugbangan usab sa mga pundo sa Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), dugang ni Tirso Serrano sa MIAA gahapon.
Human sa unang engagement sa Presidente, modiretso siya sa Panglao Island Nature Resort sa Bingag Dauis, isla sa Panglao aron pangunahan ang Cabinet Meeting nga gitakda didto. (rachiu/PIA)
by Misael | May 20, 2008 | Features
WELCOME alang sa Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) isip usa ka government entity nga ipahigayon sa usa ka senate blue ribbon committee inquiry ang giingong dili kasarangan nga pagpatuman sa Panglao Bohol International airport.
Sumala ni Tirso G. Serrano, kinsa assistant general manager sa Airport Development ug Corporate Affairs sa MIAA, dili nila isipon nga suliran ang usa ka inquiry tungod kay sayod sila nga gipailawom sa tukma nga proseso ang katumanan sa tugpahanan dinhi sa Panglao ang promal nga sugdan kariong adlawa.
Una na nga gipasupot ang panaghap nga ang Panglao Airport wala masubay sa tukmang proseso tungo sa gikataho nga may nidaug na nga contractor niini, bisan wala pay open ug competitive public bidding.
Kini hinuon nga pasangil gihimakak usab ni Serrano atul sa usa ka interview gahapon didto sa Kapitolyo.
Butyag ni Serranio nga wala pa sa bidding stage ang proyekto sa airport sa Panglao, aniaa pa sa pre-engineering design ug niiini nga punto, wala pay bidding nga ipahigayon hangtud nga makita sa MIAA ang specifications.
Iya usab nga gipasalig sa MIAA nga nasayop ang naghimo ug spekulasyon nga human sa paglubong sa time capsule sa Panglao Airport, dili na kini kahimuslan.
senate inquiry ang Panglao airport
WELCOME alang sa Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) isip usa ka government entity nga ipahigayon sa usa ka senate blue ribbon committee inquiry ang giingong dili kasarangan nga pagpatuman sa Panglao Bohol International airport.
Sumala ni Tirso G. Serrano, kinsa assistant general manager sa Airport Development ug Corporate Affairs sa MIAA, dili nila isipon nga suliran ang usa ka inquiry tungod kay sayod sila nga gipailawom sa tukma nga proseso ang katumanan sa tugpahanan dinhi sa Panglao ang promal nga sugdan kariong adlawa.
Una na nga gipasupot ang panaghap nga ang Panglao Airport wala masubay sa tukmang proseso tungo sa gikataho nga may nidaug na nga contractor niini, bisan wala pay open ug competitive public bidding.
Kini hinuon nga pasangil gihimakak usab ni Serrano atul sa usa ka interview gahapon didto sa Kapitolyo.
Butyag ni Serranio nga wala pa sa bidding stage ang proyekto sa airport sa Panglao, aniaa pa sa pre-engineering design ug niiini nga punto, wala pay bidding nga ipahigayon hangtud nga makita sa MIAA ang specifications.
Iya usab nga gipasalig sa MIAA nga nasayop ang naghimo ug spekulasyon nga human sa paglubong sa time capsule sa Panglao Airport, dili na kini kahimuslan.
