Pagpangampanya sa Semana Santa, gibawal sa Comelec

MANILA, Mar. 22 (PIA)–Gipahinumdoman sa Commission on Elections (Comelec) ang mga kandidato nga bawal gayud ang pagpangampanya karong Semana Santa.

Giingong angay tahuron sa mga kandidato o political party ang kabalaan sa paghandom sa mga debotong Katoliko sa Semana Santa.

Gitambagan sa Comelec ang mga kandidato nga magpahulay una sa pagpangampanya sa Hwebes Santo ug Biyernes Santo.

Gi-awhag usab sa buhatan ang mga kandidato nga palungon una ang ilang mga loudspeakers ug campaign jingles isip pagtahod sa mga debotong Katoliko sa ilang pagtimaan sa Semana Santa. (ecb/PIA7-Bohol)

World Bank Group and ISO partnership highlights how countries benefit from international standards

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the World Bank Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to help increase countries’ awareness and involvement in the development, adoption and use of international standards that promote open, fair and transparent trade.

The MoU serves as the foundation for future cooperation in the areas of knowledge generation and dissemination; encouraging research and promoting awareness; improving monitoring and evaluation; and enhancing capacity around international standards that give countries the opportunity to participate in global trade and that contribute to economic development, social progress and protection of the environment.

Kevin McKinley, Acting Secretary-General of ISO, said: “We are pleased to partner with the World Bank Group in this way. This signing is an important first step in working towards shared objectives supporting sustainable economic development, as well as fair and transparent trade. Working with the Bank Group is a unique opportunity to help developing countries strengthen their national quality infrastructures to better integrate with regional and global markets. This partnership with the World Bank will also support our collective efforts to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.”

Anabel González, Senior Director, Trade & Competitiveness Global Practice, World Bank Group,said: “This signing underscores the World Bank Group’s commitment to support the integration of developing countries in the global economy. International standards play a crucial role in helping countries increase productivity, access international markets and maximize the benefits of joining value chains. We have an important role to play in strengthening the capabilities of developing countries and their firms to participate in the development of international standards, as well as in complying with those standards. This alone can contribute to addressing the challenges of ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity. We look forward to working closely with ISO to not only highlight the role international standards play in increasing global trade but the benefits countries will receive by actively taking part in the development of these standards.”

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is an independent, non-governmental international organization with a membership of 162 national standards bodies. Through its members, it brings together experts to share knowledge and develop voluntary, consensus-based, market-relevant international standards that support innovation and provide solutions to global challenges. These standards give world-class specifications for products, services and systems, to ensure quality, safety and efficiency and help facilitate international trade.

The World Bank Group (WBG) is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries. It comprises five closely associated institutions: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA), which together form the World Bank; the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Bank’s private-sector arm; the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA); and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). The World Bank works closely with the rest of the World Bank Group to help developing countries reduce poverty, promote economic growth, and build shared prosperity. The institution provides a combination of financial resources, knowledge and technical services, and strategic advice to developing countries.

The Philippines is a member to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) through the Department of Trade and Industry’s Bureau of Philippine Standards as the country’s National Standards Body.

For more information on the ISO, visit http://www.iso.org/ For more information on the services of the DTI, log-on to http://www.dti.gov.ph

EDC addressing challenges of ASIN Law

The Export Development Council (EDC)- Networking Committee on Legislative Advocacy and Monitoring is studying the proposed review of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 8172 or An Act for Salt Iodization Nationwide (ASIN Law) enacted in 1995.

ASIN Law requires all producers and manufacturers of food-grade salt to iodize the salt that they produce, manufacture, import, trade or distribute.

All food manufacturer processors using food-grade salt are also required to use iodized salt in the processing of their products.

The local salt industry is finding it hard to compete with the global market of salt and food products with salt due to the restriction for salt producers to offer a wide array of different salt types even in the domestic market.

ASIN Law is also seen to limit innovations on the type of salt that will fit the needs of a product as well as leads to the loss of some nutrients during processing. With this, small local salt farmers are unable to compete with large salt producers especially in the global market.

It is further noted that the intent of the law is for local consumption only and that export products should not be covered by the law.

The National Nutrition Council informed the body that the revision of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the said law is on-going and this will guide the Technical Working Group (TWG) created by EDC to further address what may be done to amend the said law.

The Export Marketing Bureau (EMB) formerly Bureau of Export Trade Promotion (BETP) is the export trade promotion agency of the Department of Trade and Industry-Trade and Investment Promotions Group (DTI-TIPG).
DTI currently chairs the Export Development Council of the Philippines.

For more information on the services of the DTI, log-on to http://www.dti.gov.ph

Mall voting, aprubado na sa Comelec

MANILA, Mar. 21 (PIA)–Madayon na ang pagpahigayon og botohan sa mga shopping mall human gi-aprubahan sa Commission on Elections (Comelec) ang pagbutang og mga presinto sa mga mall sa Mayo 9, 2016.

Gipasabot ni Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista nga mi-desisyon ang poll body nga ipatuman na ang mall voting human ang serye sa public consultation sa pipila ka clustered precincts.

Matud pa ni Bautista nga 86 ka mall sa tibuok nasod ang moapil sa mall voting.

Adunay 200,000 ka botante gikan sa 120 clustered precinct ang gipaabot nga makapahimos sa pagbotar sa mga mall.

Giingong magpabiling prayoridad sa pagboto sa mga mall ang mga senior citizen, may kakulian sa panglawas ug kadtong adunay sakit nga mga botante.

Tumong sa mall voting nga ma-decongest usab ang mga pampublikong tunghaan nga magsilbing polling areas.

Nagtuo ang Comelec nga daghang benepisyo ang mahatag sa mall voting sama sa pagbaton og limpyong lugar nga botaran, mas luwas ug mas kumbinyente kun itandi sa mga pampublikong tunghaan.

Giingong mas segurado usab ang suplay sa kuryente sa mga mall, gawas pa sa mas hugot nga seguridad. (ecb/PIA7-Bohol)

PCG, nipasidaan batok sa mga colorum nga sakyanang pangdagat

MANILA, Mar. 21 (PIA)–Nipasidaan ang pamunoan sa Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) sa mga pasahero sa mga sakyanang pangdagat batok sa pagsakay sa mga colorum nga barko karong Semana Santa.

Matud pa ni PCG Commandant, Rear Admiral William Melad, peligroso alang sa mga pasahero ang mga colorum nga barko ilabi na nga dili kini rehistrado, kulang pa sa mga gikinahanglang dokumento ug wala mosunod sa safety standards sa Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA).

Giingong pahimoslan sa pipila ka tag-iya ug operator sa mga barko ug uban pang sakyanang pangdagat ang gidaghanon sa mga pasahero sa nagkalain-laing pantalan sa mga lalawigan ilabi na sa mga tourist destination.

Matud pa nga kasagarang magpa-arkila ang mga tag-iyahan og gagmay nga bangka padung sa nagkalain-laing isla.

Ang uban pa niini, mo-pwesto sa mga pantalan aron makakuha og mga istranded nga pasahero.

Gitataw ni Melad nga walay mga insurance alang sa mga pasahero ang mga colorum nga barko ug walay bisan life vest man lang ug uban pang life saving devices.

Tungod niini, gibuksan sa PCG ang ilang 24 oras nga hotline numbers 0917-724-3682 ug 0918-803-8353 nga mahimong tawagan aron isumbong ang bisan unsang kalabotan, pangutana o i-report ang mga ilegal nga operasyon sa mga passenger ferry. (ecb/PIA7-Bohol)

Bohol, gitay-og na usab og linog

TAGBILARAN CITY, Mar. 21 (PIA)–Gitay-og og magnitude 3.4 nga linog ang lalawigan sa Bohol ganinang alas 7:01 sa buntag, Marso 21.

Matud pa sa Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), natala ang epicenter sa linog sa gilay-ong 8 kilometro, amihanang sidlakan sa lungsod sa Danao.

Nabati ang Intensity 4 sa syudad sa Tagbilaran, Bohol; Intensity 2 sa syudad sa Lapu-lapu, Cebu; samtang Intensity 1 sa syudad sa Sugbo.

Tectonic ang origin sa linog ug walay gipaabot nga aftershocks. (ecb/PIA7-Bohol)