by anyajulia | Aug 19, 2008 | Headlines, Major Events, National News
The Democratic Republic of Timor Leste (East Timor) signed three agreements with the Philippines on education, marine and fisheries, and diplomat training and development.
The three agreements were signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and East Timor President Jose Ramos Horta.
The first Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was on Academic Cooperation that will strengthen cooperation and mutual assistance between the Philippines and Timor Leste in the provision of education and professional training.
This include Academic networking and exchanges as well as reciprocal access to institutions of higher education; trainings and exchange of academic staff, teachers, experts and students; among others.
The second was on Marine and Fisheries Cooperation which shall promote cooperation in the sustainable development and responsible management of marine life as well as encourage consultation and greater cooperation on agreed areas of fisheries.
The third agreement signed was on the Training and Development of Timor Leste Diplomats at the FSI.
This MoU provides for the acceptance of junior diplomats of Timor Leste into the FSI’s Foreign Officers’ Cadetship Program and FSI’s other training programs. (PIA/Bohol)
by anyajulia | Aug 8, 2008 | Headlines, Major Events, National News
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo raised from P10.5 million to P15 million the cash pot for the gold medal that Team Philippines will win in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
The President made the announcement during the courtesy call of Team Philippines on her at Malacanang’s Heroes Hall.
An Olympic gold medal would be first for the Philippines. The country has been participating in the World Games for 84 years, or since 1924, but has come up with only nine medals, none of them gold.
The Philippine Olympic Commission had earlier announced that the athlete who wins the first Philippine Olympic gold will receive P10.5 million, but the President added P4.5 million, to make it P15 million.
The President also gave $1,000 allowance to each of the athletes.
In this year’s Olympic Games in Beijing from Aug. 8 to 24, the Philippines is sending 15 athletes who will compete in eight sports disciplines: boxing, taekwondo, shooting, archery, diving, swimming, athletics, and weightlifting.
Reigning World Boxing Council lightweight champion Manny Pacquiao was appointed by the President as the country’s special Olympics envoy and flag-bearer during the parade of nations. (PIA/Bohol)
by cathytej | Aug 7, 2008 | Local News / Bohol Balita, Major Events
ROBBERS took more than P66, 832.50 from collectors of a single lending firm from at least 7 highway robberies in the first 7 months of this year, police reports said.
The unabated incidents of robberies falling upon collectors of Taytay sa Kauswagan Incorporated (TSKI) has prompted members of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) to call the firm Tulis Sa Kadalanan Inc.
The unabated robberies hitting TSKI was despite an early Bohol police instruction for the firm to devise a plan so as not to present an opportunity for the crime to happen. But TSKI still sends its men to remote areas collecting cash from their borrowers all over Bohol.
According to briefing notes read by Bohol police chief Ssupt. Edgardo Ingking, during the recent PPOC meeting at Cantaongon in Loon town, the most recent incident involving TSKI was July 1, at Getafe town, and involving P13,117.00.
A call to Getafe police bared that on July 1, at about 11:35 am. two unidentified men in improvised masks blocked the team of Amy Omandam and her motorcycle driver between barangays Campao Oriental and Buyog of Getafe town.
Using short firearms of undetermined caliber, robbers took the money from Omandam and then fled towards Buyog, said SPO1 Meliflo Paca of Getafe police station.
TSKI fell victim to similar road robberies including P9,000 cash and 5210 mobile phone and the collector’s Honda Wave motorcycle which robbers took on January 23 in Sta. Cruz Sagbayan. Police later recovered the motorcycle abandoned in barangay Cantuyoc, of Clarin town, SPO2 Senon Añora of Sagbayan police station said.
Less than a month later, on February 15, TSKI lost P9,317.25 in barangay Katarungan of Ubay town.
The firm also undetermined cash to robbers armed with .45 caliber and knife four days later in Badian of Inabanga town, PSSupt Ingking reported.
On April 21, TSKI collector was hit in Tamong, Danao and was divested of P12,000 in cash collections.
TSKI’s biggest loss in the seven month span was in Talibon, where P23,081 was lost to robbers in Talibon town on June 5.
Five days later, the lending firm again lost P9,317.25 in nearby Ubay town.
Newly assumed Kauswagan Bank Branch Manager Lealyn Alcala, a sister firm of TSKI pointed to a movement of officers in the firm creating a vacuum where they could not yet fully coordinate their plans for men in the field.
She added that upon the Bohol police suggestions, instead of collectors going to remote areas in Clarin, the lendees now remit their money to Sagbayan town where a TSKI satellite base is set.
She also admitted that they used to instruct their collectors to go on convoys, but she did not know if these were still done now. (rachiu/PIA)
