by magnolia_eic | Jan 3, 2011 | Headlines, National News
The Department of Health (DOH) has now monitored 173 cases of firecracker-related injuries
reported across the country.
The health department said 83, or 40 percent, of these injuries are attributed to “piccolo.”
“Kwitis,” “boga,” and the whistle bomb account for 15 injuries each, while the “trianggulo”
(triangle) has injured seven.
At least 20 people had suffered from blast burns, while 13 cases required amputations. Four
cases of firecracker ingestion and six incidents of stray bullets were also reported.
The National Capital Region holds the highest number of victims with 68 coming from Metro
Manila.
The DOH on Tuesday reiterated its warning to the public on use of firecrackers to welcome
the New Year.
The health agency released in December 22 a list of banned firecrackers, which
include “piccolo”, “pla-pla”, five-star, atomic bomb, “triangulo”, “Super Lolo”, Boga,
and “Watusi”. These fireworks are commonly accessible to children.
The DOH had also urged parents to let their children use tin cans, drums, and trumpets to
make noise since these are safe compared to firecrackers. (PIA/DOH)
by magnolia_eic | Jan 3, 2011 | Headlines, National News
President Benigno Simeon Aquino III said the government is reviewing the guidelines
for “executive clemency,” which includes the granting of presidential pardon to criminals.
In an interview with Palace reporters on Monday, Aquino said he wants the process for
executive clemency reviewed because he is hesitant about reducing the sentence or granting
pardon to those convicted of crimes such as rape and drug pushing.
Aquino expressed his qualms about granting executive clemency two months after he signed
a proclamation granting amnesty to military and some police personnel who attempted to
overthrow the Arroyo administration.
Under Article VII, Section 19 of the 1987 Constitution, the President has the power to grant
executive clemency to convicts.
The same provision gives him the power to grant amnesty, upon the concurrence of the
majority of Congress.
Upon the recommendation of the Board of Pardons and Parole (BPP), the president can
grant pardons, commute sentences, or defer the implementation of sentences.
by magnolia_eic | Jan 3, 2011 | Headlines, National News
President Benigno S. Aquino III on Monday signed into law Republic Act 10147, the P1.645-
trillion General Appropriations Act for 2011 which is actually his first financial blueprint that
will enable the national government to address the urgent needs of the marginalized sector of
society.
In a speech after the signing at Malacanang’s Rizal Hall, the Chief Executive said this is the
first time in 11 years that the national budget was signed on time.
Of the total budget, the social services sector got the lion’s share at 34.1 percent, a 16.8
percent hike from its 2010 budget, the highest increase among all sectors. It includes a
P21-billion allocation for the conditional cash transfer program and P1.2 billion in unaudited
intelligence funds.
The President pointed out that the early signing of the budget “will enable us to address
the urgent needs of our people in a timely manner. Such needs include building more rural
health units and providing immunization for children. This also allows us to construct new
classrooms and hire new teachers, as promised to the Filipino people.”
Present during the budget signing ceremony were Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile,
House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., Congress committee leaders and members of the
Cabinet.
by magnolia_eic | Dec 30, 2010 | Headlines, National News
MANILA, Philippines – President Aquino is hesitant to free convicted rapists and drug dealers for good behavior in the spirit of Christmas and the New Year.
He told reporters that he found it “difficult to sign” the first batch of pardon applications presented to him.
Aquino wants the Board of Pardons and Parole (BPP) to be more strict in granting commutation, pardon and parole applications.
The penal system must be patterned after the one in the US, where felons sentenced to life are made to suffer the full penalty.
Aquino said he would be releasing or commuting the sentence of convicts who truly deserve executive clemency.
“We want a more thorough system for vetting and granting of pardons and parole, and (maybe) more participation of the offended family,” he said.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima is amenable to the idea, especially since the justice secretary no longer sits as chair of the BPP, which processes the applications.
“The President just wanted to make sure that the ones being recommended for commutations, pardon, parole etc are truly deserving and (go through the process).”
De Lima said around 100 convicts are eligible for commutation of sentence and about 12 inmates are due for conditional pardon.
“We have to be very restrictive and stringent when it comes to high crimes and he (Aquino) wants that put into the guidelines so we are studying it,” she told reporters.
Click here for full article from The Philippine Star
by magnolia_eic | Dec 29, 2010 | Headlines, National News, Weather Coverage
MANILA, Philippines – Scattered rain showers may dampen the New Year celebration in some parts of the country, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said today.
Pagasa weather branch chief Robert Sawi said the northeasterly wind would continue to bring mostly cloudy skies with scattered rains over the eastern sections of Luzon and Visayas starting Wednesday until Saturday, New Year’s Day.
Sawi said the rest of the country, including Metro Manila, would experience cloudy skies with light rains because of the northeast monsoon.
Meanwhile, for the next 24 hours, Pagasa said Luzon would experience mostly cloudy skies with light rains Visayas, on the other hand, would be mostly cloudy with scattered rainshowers and isolated thunderstorms, becoming cloudy with widespread rains over eastern Visayas which may trigger flasfloods and landslides.
Mindanao would have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms. Pagasa also said moderate to rough seas would prevail over Luzon and the Visayas.
Click here for full article from The Philippine Star
by magnolia_eic | Dec 28, 2010 | Headlines, National News
MANILA, Philippines – Three days before New Year’s Eve, the Department of Health (DOH) recorded 145 new fireworks-related injuries, mostly caused by the banned firecracker piccolo.
The firecracker, caused 70 of the injuries. Fifteen were injured by kwitis, and 13 by “Five Star.”
The ages of the victims ranged from one to 55. Thirteen suffered amputations, while 24 sustained eye injuries. Ninety-six consciously handled firecrackers, while 23 were intoxicated.
DOH also monitored one case of poisoning from “pop-out,” a firecracker that goes off when it hits a hard surface.
Most of the 155 incidents recorded from Dec. 21 to 27 happened in Metro Manila.
As the New Year revelry nears with more injuries and emergencies to come, the Philippine National Police (PNP) confiscated 168,745 illegal pyrotechnic products nationwide in police operations that started Dec. 16.
The public is encouraged to report through PNP Text 2920 individuals in possession of illegal firecrackers.
Private citizens may also text the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) at 0917-847-5757 for information on traders selling firecrackers without license from DTI and PNP.
The customary use of firecrackers to celebrate the coming of the new year was borrowed from the Chinese who believe the noise drives away evil spirits.
Ironically, the Chinese government is considering a ban on the use of firecrackers to reduce air pollution, especially in the city of Beijing.
The Philippine government has a law regulating the manufacture, sale and use of fireworks, one provision of which is the designation of pyrotechnics zones.
Under the law, common types of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices, which may be manufactured, sold, and used, include baby rocket, bawang, small triangulo, pulling of strings, paper caps, el diablo, watusi,?Judas’ belt, sky rocket or kwitis, luces, special roman candle, and trompillo, fountain, whistle, and butterfly.
The law bans the manufacture, sale, and use of big triangle, super lolo, mother rocket, five-star, pla pla, and bin laden.
Click here for full article from The Philippine Star
