by aimee | Oct 19, 2013 | Headlines, National News
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Oct. 19 (PIA)–President Benigno Aquino III in his recent visit to Bohol urged Boholanos to report immediately to authorities if they see and notice cracks on structures in their areas after the October 15 earthquake that shook not only the entire province but Central Visayas as well.
“Ipaalam agad ninyo sa inyong LGU at patingnan kung may duda kayo o kung may mapansin kayong cracks. Ituro ninyo sa ating mga imbestigador,” Aquino said during his speech and meeting with the local government and other agencies recently.
Aquino pointed out that it is necessary to report to the experts any cracks or any discrepancies on buildings and structures so the concerned government agency can attend to these problems.
The President instructed the Department of Public Work and Highways (DPWH) to coordinate with the Provincial Engineering Office to ensure that all structures and are checked and monitored because strong aftershocks are still felt in areas that the quake hit.
The latest Building Code is series 2010 that details the rules and guidelines in putting up buildings and other structures that will withstand a 7.2 magnitude earthquake, Aquino said.
He added that the old structures are the problem. (PIA-Bohol/ecb)
by aimee | Oct 18, 2013 | Headlines, National News
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Oct. 18 (PIA)–Nanawagan si Presidente Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III sa mga Bol-anon nga ipahibalo dayon sa ilang mga mayor kun may mabantayan silang daot sama sa mga liki sa istraktura sa ilang mga lugar human ang kusog nga linog nga nitay-og sa lalawigan niadtong Martes, Oktubre 15.
“Ipaalam agad ninyo sa inyong LGU at patingnan kung may duda kayo o kung may mapansin kayong cracks. Ituro ninyo sa ating mga imbestigador,” matud pa sa Presidente atol sa pakigpulong sa mga ahensiya sa gobyerno dinhi sa lalawigan sa Bohol niadtong Miyerkoles.
Gitumbok sa Presidente nga kinahanglang ipahibalo sa mga eksperto kun may makitang unsa mang kadaot aron mahatagan og pagtagad sa gobyerno ang maong istraktura.
Gimanduan sa Presidente ang Department of Public Work and Highways (DPWH) nga makig-alayon sa Provincial Engineering Office aron masiguro nga tanang mga istraktura masusi gayud og maayo tungod sa kusog nga linog ug mga aftershocks nga padayon pang nasinati sa mga dapit nga gitay-og sa kusog nga linog niadtong Martes.
Ang pinakabag-ong Building Code niadto pang 2010 nga gipatuman karon, nagtakda og mga angay nga ipatukod nga bag-ong istraktura nga dili maguba kun adunay linog nga 7.2 ang gikusgon, pahinomdom pa sa Presidente.
Gidugang pa sa Presidente nga ang problema mao ang mga karaang istraktura.
Matud pa sa Presidente nga adunay sumbanan nga gitawag nga retrofitting aron makasunod sila sa Building Code nga ang tuyo mao ang masiguro ang kaluwasan nila. (PIA7-Bohol/ECB)
by aimee | Oct 17, 2013 | National News
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Oct. 17 (PIA) — Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III led the distribution of relief goods here Wednesday for earthquake victims who have sought shelter at Tagbilaran Sports Complex following the deadly earthquake that rocked Bohol on Oct. 15.
The sports complex was packed with around 500 families as Pres. Aquino personally handed over relief packs to the evacuees.
The families fled their homes after a destructive 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Bohol on Tuesday.
According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), more than 5,000 families were affected by the deadly quake, which left more than 100 dead in Bohol.
Bohol island was the hardest hit in central Philippines as the quake’s epicenter was located 2 kilometers southeast of Carmen town here.
Prior to visiting the evacuees, Pres. Aquino made an aerial tour of the quake-hit areas in the province.
DSWD Sec. Dinky Soliman assured that the social welfare department has already dispatched food and tents for the displaced families, adding that they will also bring in the unused tents that were brought to Zamboanga.
A C-130 cargo plane of the Philippine Air Force flew in a total of 2,000 food packs from DSWD in coordination with the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) in Bohol.
Aside from the food packs, 38 tents were likewise brought in for the quake-hit families.
Sec. Soliman added that the Department of Health will also send not only medicines but also medical tools needed to treat the injured victims who are admitted in hospitals in the province.
Pres. Aquino assured that his administration is ready to assist and respond to the needs of calamity-hit local government units.
From the sports complex, the President also checked on the damage caused by the earthquake on Tagbilaran Port.
Port officials estimate that around P500 million is needed to fund the repairs on the damaged port.
The port have resumed operations but big cargo ships are not yet allowed to use the port as of this writing. (PIA-7/Bohol/ECBongosia)
by aimee | Oct 16, 2013 | Local News / Bohol Balita, National News
With three out of 14 bridges in Bohol heavily damaged, the Department of Public Works and Highways said it will provide temporary bridging materials to connect isolated areas in the province.
In a briefing with President Benigno S. Aquino III at the Governor’s mansion here, Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson said the building materials will come from Bacolod and Aklan and will take the department maximum of four weeks to build.
“We hope we’ll be able to do it in less than four weeks. All the others are minor—‘yung mga approach lang, settlements—which means that out of the 14, the 11 remaining should be passable within a week’s time,” Singson told the President. The private sector is also helping the government assess the province’s structures, he said.
The Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers is bringing in 10 structural engineers, together with the DPWH’s bridge and structural engineers. The experts will be assessing hospitals, school buildings, municipal halls, and public markets, he explained.
Although there are damages to roads, Singson said they believe they could make most of the roads passable soon.
With regards to the condition of the Tagbilaran Airport, Transportation and Communication Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said the facility has opened since 10:30 a.m. yesterday. While there are limitation the facility is structurally sound, he said.
As to the Tagbilaran Port, Abaya said it is partially open. It could actually accommodate two non-RORO vessels and two RORO vessels. The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) engineers are coming over to assess the expansion of the cargo area to allow forklifts and trucks to move containers.
Based on the initial assessment of the PPA, the Tagbilaran port would need P500 million for repairs, Abaya said.
The Philippine Coast Guard has two vessels assisting DSWD in its relief operations, he said. One is loading up in Manila and another vessel in Cebu is also loading cargo to help the victims. (PND)
by aimee | Oct 14, 2013 | Headlines, National News
SECRETARY of Finance Cesar Purisima has once again been recognized as Finance Minister of the Year for Asia for 2013 by Emerging Markets. This marks the second time Purisima has been named as such, as he was the recipient of the same honors in 2011.
In 2012, Purisima was recognized by Euromoney as the Finance Minister of the Year for 2012, making this year the third straight year that Purisima has received Finance Minister of the Year honors.
In accepting the award, Purisima stressed that President Benigno S. Aquino III deserved all credit for the honors, emphasizing that the economic gains which caused him to be considered were the product of the President’s path of good governance.
“I must make it clear that this award is not mine. The award recognizes things that were only made possible by President Aquino’s commitment to good governance, as well as his honesty, leadership, and astute use of political capital,” Purisima said.
Purisima also thanked his colleagues in the cabinet and fellow members of the cabinet’s Economic Development Cluster as partners in a “collaborative effort” in restoring economic strength to the Philippines. The DOF chief also mentioned that in the future, the economic policy of the Philippines will involve doing “more of what has been done right, on a larger scale.”
“This means to continue to pursue reform in agencies, such as our Bureau of Customs, where corruption has built strongholds. This also means investing further in our people and especially our infrastructure, the roads, power plants, ports, airports and more that form an equalizing backbone for our economy,” Purisima said.
The DOF head noted that the economic effort from the Philippines would not let up, and that he, the President, and the cabinet would not pull themselves out of contention just yet.
“I am confident we will give you cause to consider the Philippines for this award in the future,” Purisima assured. (DOF)
by aimee | Oct 14, 2013 | National News
MANILA, Oct. 14 (PIA)–Giseguro sa Malakanyang nga dili mohunong ang administrasyong Aquino nga tarungon ang sistema partikular na ang paggasto sa pondo sa katawhan.
Gipahayag kini ni Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte kalabot sa pinakaulahing resulta sa Social Weather Station (SWS) survey nga mi-ubos og 15 puntos ang satisfaction rating ni Presidente Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III sa buwan sa Setyembre.
Matud pa ni Valte, bisan nagpabilin ang taas nga kumpiyansa sa katawhan sa Presidente, kausa pa gihapon ang administrasyon sa kalagot sa publiko batok sa sayop nga paggamit sa pondo sa katawhan.
Sa 3rd quarter ning tuig, mikabat sa 68% sa mga Pilipino ang kuntento pa gihapon sa performance sa Presidente, samtang gi-ila usab sa Palasyo ang 13% nga ‘dissatisfied’.
Sa maong panahon man nibuto ang init nga isyo kalabot sa sayop nga paggamit sa Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) sa dihang gipahigayon ang maong survey.
Gipasabot ni Valte nga dili gayud malikayan ang pagkadismaya sa publiko sa maong isyo.
Bisan pa niiini, gipasalamatan pa gihapon sa Palasyo ang publiko nga wala nagpadala sa mga sulsol sa pipila ka grupo aron idiskaril ang pagpatuman og reporma sa nasud. (ECB/PIA7-Bohol)
Purisima, gipasidunggan isip Emerging Markets Finance Minister of the Year
MANILA, Oct. 14 (PIA)–Gipasidunggan si Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima isip best Finance Minister of the Year in Asia sa Emerging Markets.
Ikaduhang higayon nang nakadawat niining pasidungog si Purisima diin nakadawat usab siya niini niadtong 2011.
Gipaambit ni Purisima ang maong award kang President Benigno Aquino, diin iyang gitumbok ang reporma niini sa good governance.
“I must make it clear that this award is not mine. The award recognizes things that were only made possible by President Aquino’s commitment to good governance, as well as his honesty, leadership, and astute use of political capital,” matud pa ni Purisima.
Si Purisima nakadawat usab sa Finance Minister of the Year award gikan sa Euromoney sa niaging tuig. (ECB/PIA7-Bohol)
