by aimee | May 15, 2013 | Headlines, National News
PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III signed into law the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2012 or the K to 12 Basic Education Program in ceremonies held in Malacanang on Wednesday.
The K to 12 Program covers Kindergarten and 12 years of basic education (six years of primary education, four years of Junior High School and two years of Senior High School) to provide sufficient time for students mastery of concept and skills, develop lifelong learners, and prepare graduates for tertiary education, middle-level skills development, employment and entrepreneurship.
In his speech, the President said it was the duty of the State to provide for the needs and ensure fair and equal opportunities for all Filipinos, especially the poor and thus the implementation of this education program will strengthen the basic education requirements of students which in turn, will bring them closer to the fulfillment of their dreams and ambitions.
“Nagtitipon po tayo ngayon upang saksihan ang isa na namang makasaysayang araw sa ating bansa—ang paglagda natin sa batas na magsisilbing pundasyon para sa mas maaliwalas na bukas ng bawat kabataang Pilipino: ang Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 o mas kilala bilang ang K to 12 Act,” the President said.
“Dahil na rin sa tiwala ng sambayanan, matagumpay nating nakamit ang adhikaing magkaroon ng isang sistemang pang-edukasyon na tunay na pumapanday sa kakayahan ng ating mga kabataan, at naglalapit sa kanila tungo sa katuparan ng kanilang mga pangarap,” he added.
“Malinaw ang batayang prinsipyo ng batas na ito: karapatan ng bawat Pilipinong mamuhay nang marangal; tungkulin naman ng estadong siguruhing may patas na oportunidad ang ating mamamayan, lalo na ang pinakamahihirap nating kababayan. At isang matatag na haligi ng kanilang pag-ahon ang pagkakaroon ng mataas na antas ng edukasyon. Sa pagsasabatas ng K to 12, hindi lang tayo nagdaragdag ng dalawang taon para sa higit pang pagsasanay ng ating mga mag-aaral; tinitiyak din nating talagang nabibigyang-lakas ang susunod na henerasyon na makiambag sa pagpapalago ng ating ekonomiya at lipunan,” the President said.
Witnessing the President’s signing were major proponents, authors and co-authors of the bill from the Senate and House of Representatives led by Senators Franklin Drilon, Edgardo Angara, Ralph Recto, Speaker of the House Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. and Representatives Neptali Gonzales II, Sandy Ocampo and Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara. (PND)
by aimee | May 15, 2013 | National News
MALACAÑANG assured on Friday that the government will continue carrying out the law to stop smuggling in the country, particularly after Sen. Miriam Santiago expressed plans to investigate the alleged illegal entry of used cars in Port Irene in Cagayan.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Bureau of Customs (BOC) will implement the law to stop the entry of used cars in Cagayan until the Supreme Court settles a legal dispute on an executive order regarding the issue.
“Meron ding legal situation when it comes to CEZA (Cagayan Economic Zone Authority) dahil pending ang challenge sa EO in the Supreme Court. So merong both sides—one side is saying, puwede; the other side is saying, hindi puwede ipasok kasi meron pang challenge sa EO,” Valte said.
“Since meron nang Supreme Court decision on the matter upholding that particular EO, the Bureau of Customs will act accordingly,” she added.
The Palace official also said BOC Commissioner Rufino Biazon still enjoys the trust and confidence of the President.
Asked about the possibility that the issue on used cars in Cagayan will be used as a campaign issue against Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile and his son who is vying for a Senate seat, Valte said the concern of the Palace is to carry out the law.
“At least on the part of the Executive, ang lagi nating concern is just the implementation of the law. And now that the Supreme Court has settled the legal question then, the Bureau of Customs will act accordingly,” she said.
Commenting on the impending investigation by the Senate of the alleged used car smuggling in Cagayan, Valte said the Palace will leave the issue to the senators to investigate.
She also assured the lawmakers that Malacanang will cooperate in the investigation and is open to providing the Senate information on the issue. (PND)
by aimee | May 10, 2013 | Health and Medicine, National News
HEALTH Secretary Enrique T. Ona today ordered the Department of Health (DOH) regional health offices and hospitals to be on Code White alert to continuously monitor events in their respective areas for the country’s elections on Monday, May 13.
“In anticipation of any eventualities that may occur during the 2013 National Elections the Code White Alert is raised in all DOH regional offices and hospitals effective May 12, Sunday,” Ona said in a statement from DOH.
The health chief added that regional directors of these health facilities are encouraged to be vigilant and to send flash reports of any incident that needs to be reported to the DOH-Health Emergency Management Staff’s Operations Center (OpCen) at telephone numbers 711-1001 and 711-1002.
Ona said the DOH-HEMS OpCen will do active monitoring of all health emergencies nationwide and shall coordinate with other key agencies responding to this kind of situation. Also, they are ready to provide material and logistical support to the regional health offices and hospitals which may need them.
Code White Alert is adopted for national events, such as the 2013 National Elections, with potential for mass casualty incidents. It also means that a hospital’s emergency medicines, especially trauma, are fully stocked and made available at the emergency room.
Under the Code White Alert, medicines and supplies in the operating rooms should likewise be reviewed and increased to meet sudden requirements, and other needs such as X-ray plates, laboratory requirements, and others should be made available and not required to be purchased by victims. Regional offices are empowered to be prepared to assist in any evacuation of the population in their areas. (DOH)
by aimee | May 8, 2013 | Headlines, National News
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, May 08 (PIA)–Nipagawas karon og temporary restraining order (TRO) ang Supreme Court (SC) batok sa pagpatuman sa gi-uswag nga liquor ban nga magsugod unta ugmang adlawa.
Sa press briefing ganina, gi-anunsyo ni Atty. Theodore Te, pangulo sa Public Information Office sa SC nga gi-paboran sa mga mahistrado ang petisyon sa Food and Beverage Inc. ug International Wines and Spirits Association nga pugngan ang Commision on Elections (Comelec) sa pagpatuman sa gi-uswag nga liquor ban.
“The courts resolves to issue a TRO effective immediately enjoining respondent Comelec from implementing liquor ban,” matud pa ni Te.
Magsugod unta ugma, Mayo 9 ang extended liquor ban ug molanat hangtud sa Lunes, Mayo 13, adlaw sa piniliay.
Apan tungod sa TRO, ipatuman ang liquor ban sulod lamang sa duha ka adlaw — sa Mayo 12 ug 13.
Gimanduan usab sa Korte Suprema ang Comelec nga mo-sumiter og komento sa petisyon sa dili pa mag alas 5:00 sa hapon ugmang adlawa. (PIA-Bohol/ecb/i-gg)
Comelec, nipasidaan nga arestohon ang BEI’s nga dili motunga sa piniliay
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, May 09 (PIA)–Nipasidaan ang Commission on Elections (Comelec) nga arestuhon ang mga board of election inspector (BEI) nga dili motunga sa adlaw sa piniliay.
Matud pa ni Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes nga kun maaresto sila, dili na sila tugotan nga molingkod isip BEI ug hulipan sa mga police trainee nga una nang gibansay aron mosilbi isip BEI.
Kini human nakadungog og mga pasidaan ang Comelec chairman sa pipila ka municipal election officer nga dili motunga sa Mayo 13 tungod sa pagpanghulip og election officers.
Giingong partikular na sa Lanao del Sur diin 250 ka police trainees ang gibansay sa Comelec.
Gikatakdang mobisita sa Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) si Brillantes sa dili pa ang piniliay aron pulongon niya ang mga provincial election officer didto.
Gikonsiderar sa Comelec nga dakung lakang ang gihimong paghulip sa election officers sa Lanao del Sur ug Maguindanao diin didto kasagaran mahitabo ang failure of election ug postponement sa eleksyon. (PIA-Bohol/ecb/i-gg)
by aimee | May 7, 2013 | Headlines, National News
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, May 07 (PIA)–Sa ikatulong higayon ning 2013, nakadawat og investment grade ang Pilipinas.
Gisaka sa Japan Credit Rating Agency Ltd. ang credit rating sa Pilipinas gikan BBB- ngadto sa BB+ “with a stable outlook.”
Sa pahayag nga gipagawas sa JCR karong adlawa, giingong gipaabot niining magpadayon ang 6% nga paglambo sa ekonomiya sa Pilipinas sa mga mosunod nga tuig.
Matud pa sa JCR, magpabiling suportado sa remittances gikan sa mga overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) apil na usab sa malambuong industriya sa business process outsourcing (BPO) ang ekonomiya sa Pilipinas.
Apan matud pa usab sa JCR, kinahanglang tutokan sa Pilipinas ang pagpalambo sa imprastraktura ug apil na usab ang investment ug business environment niini.
“The country needs to upgrade infrastructure and improve the investment and business environment to ensure rapid and sustainable economic growth, for which JCR expects to see commitment and initiative of the government.”
Usa ka semana pa lang ang nilabay, gisaka usab sa Standard & Poor ang credit rating sa nasud human usab sa unang investment grade nga gihatag sa Fitch Ratings niadtong Marso. (PIA-Bohol/ecb/i-ed)
Money ban, ipatuman sa Comelec sugod Mayo 8
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, May 07 (PIA)–Sa labing unang higayon, ipatuman sa Commisison on Elections (Comelec) ang “money ban” aron mapugngan ang “vote buying” o pagpamalit og boto karong panahon sa piniliay.
Base sa Comelec Resolution 9688, gidili ang pag-withdraw og P100, 000.00 pataas sugod Mayo 8 hangtud Mayo 13, 2013 matag adlaw.
Apan wala nalakip niini ang tanang non-cash transactions.
Nahisulod usab sa maong resolusyon nga gidili ang pagdala ug pagpadala og salapi nga nagkantidad og P500, 000.00 o labaw pa sa susamang mga petsa.
“For this purpose, all cash being transported and carried exceeding such amount shall be presumed for the purpose of vote-buying and electoral fraud in violation of the money ban,” matud pa sa resolusyon.
Apan gi-angkon ni Comelec Commissioner Sixto Brillantes nga wala ni uyon niini ang Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
Gipasabot ni Brillantes nga sa “cash basis” lang ipatuman ang resolusyon mao nga dili maapektuhan niini ang mga negosyo. (PIA-Bohol/ecb/i-gg)
by aimee | May 6, 2013 | National News
A Palace official said on Sunday that Filipinos who avail of car loans can expect to pay lower monthly installments after international credit rating firm Standard and Poor’s raised the Philippines’ credit rating to investment grade recently.
In a press briefing aired over government run radio station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said better interest rates on car loans are just part of the myriad of benefits the country and the Filipinos can expect from the credit upgrade.
“At least, for those who avail of the car loans, you would know that you would be able to get a better rate on the interests on the loans that you take out because of the credit rating upgrades po natin. And that’s just one of those things that you can—that the ordinary Filipino can feel,” Valte said.
In a statement, S&P said it increased the country’s rating from BB+ to BBB-, the minimum investment grade, on account of the country’s improving macroeconomic fundamentals.
It said that the upgrade on the Philippines was due to its “strengthening external profile, moderating inflation, and the government’s declining reliance on foreign currency debt.”
Valte said the credit upgrade will most definitely improve the investment climate in the country as it “encourages and it inspires more confident foreign investors to come and to see the country.”
“…and it gives them more confidence at least to invest and put their money here and we all know that would create more jobs,” Valte said.
The upgrade in the country’s credit rating came after S&P raised its growth forecast for the Philippines for this year from 5.9 to 6.5 percent. (PNP)
