by aimee | Sep 21, 2012 | National News
MALACAÑANG expressed confidence that it can iron out some issues raised by a mining stakeholder in the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the new mining policy of the Aquino administration.
In a press conference in Malacanang on Thursday, Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ramon Carandang said they are closely looking at the concerns raised by the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines that Section 9 of the IRR is illegal and might impact on future projected investments in the industry.
The Chamber of Mines has warned that the government might miss its P16-billion investment target for the mining industry because of some provisions in the new mining order.
Explaining the government side on the issue, Carandang said, “Once these issues are ironed out, we believe that we will have a clear set of rules with little ambiguity that will encourage mining companies to come in.”
“We’re aware of the concerns and we’re discussing it in the MICC Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC) as to whether or not those concerns may have some basis.”
The Palace official said the reason why investments have not come into the mining sector is because of uncertain rules and policies in the mining sector.
Carandang said the government tries to create a set of general principles and rules under Executive Order 79, which will allow more productive and responsible mining operations in the country, adding that the IRR will refine what is contained in the EO 79.
Carandang also said that the Chamber of Mines has been appraised by members of the MICC and that the lines of communication remain open.
“So I don’t see any need for the MICC as a whole to meet with the Chamber of Mines at this point. Give us time to look over the concerns that they have expressed and we will do what we can to address them,” he said.
Bringing the issue to court will also be counter productive, Carandang noted, adding that the best way to move forward as quick as possible is to avoid litigation. (PCOO)
by aimee | Sep 21, 2012 | Headlines, National News
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Sept. 21 (PIA)–Magbaton na og service firearm ang matag usa sa 147,000 ka puwersa sa Philippine National Police (PNP) human gilagdaan na ni PNP Chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome ang procurement contract alang sa P1.98 bilyong gun deal.
Gahapon gilagdaan ni Bartolome ang kontrata sa ahensya sa kumpanyang Trust Trade/Glock Asia sa pagpalit og kapin sa 60,000 ka glock pistol sa kapulisan.
Moabot ang unang batch sa mga armas sa Pebrero 2013 nga sundan usab human molabay ang matag 120 calendars days.
Gikonsiderar nga pinakadakung procurement sa kasaysayan sa PNP ang maong gun deal.
Nasayran nga ang Trust Trade/Glock Asia ang ikaduhang may pinaka-ubos og presyo sa mga armas sa mga nag-bidding nga supplier nga mokabat lamang sa P16,659.94 matag usa ka Glock 17 pistol diin nakapasar usab kini sa 20,000 rounds endurance test aron masiguro nga lig-on ang maong armas alang sa mga pulis.
Samtang gipahayag usab sa PNP Chief nga i-iskedyul na ang pagpahigayon og bidding alang sa tag-as nga armas nga magamit usab sa maneuver force sa PNP o ang Special Action Force (SAF).
Giingong gikonsulta una ni Bartolome ang PNP Legal Service kalabot niining maong transaksyon sa wala pa kini pirmahi. Kini human sa mga kontrobersyang gilambigitan sa kumpanya ug sa transaksyon. (PIA-Bohol/ecb/I-gg)
Comelec, may pahinumdom sa mga mokandidato sa 2013 elections
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Sept. 21 (PIA)–Nanawagan si Commision on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. sa mga mokandidato sa 2013 nga basahon ug tubagon og iksakto ang ilang certificate of candidacy (COC).
Kini tungod kay bag-o na ang format sa COC kun itandi niadtong 2010 elections.
Giingong labing importante sa mga tubagon sa COC ang pagpili sa gamitong pangalan sa kandidato nga isuwat sa balota.
by aimee | Sep 18, 2012 | National News
IN line with the Aquino Administration’s thrust of ensuring just and lasting peace and the rule of law, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) yesterday released P1.42 billion to the Armed Forces of the Philippines-General Headquarters (AFP-GHQ) military camp improvement projects.
The P1.42-billion release will be charged against the remaining balance from a previous release made to the AFP for the AFP-Military Camp Sales Proceeds (MCSPF) Fund 170.
“The improvement of our military camps in the country will ensure better support to our soldiers in the field, whose performance and well-being are naturally affected by the quality of facilities in their respective camps. Our soldiers will likewise benefit from stronger training facilities and services, which will help them prepare better for armed-conflict situations,” Budget and Management Secretary Florencio B. Abad said.
The total fund release will be used to support various military camp upgrade initiatives, including Architectural and Engineering upgrades amounting to P1.14 billion. Included as well in the release is the amount of P282 million for the construction of a Combined Arms Readiness Training Center, as well as P594,000 for Training and Doctrine Command Projects, among others.
Nonetheless, Abad emphasized the importance of resolving armed conflict in high-risk areas, including the ARMM and other regions in Southern Mindanao.
“Our desire to provide a more comprehensive support system for our soldiers is also balanced with the Administration’s peace objectives. This is particularly important, given that we are currently celebrating Peace Month.
“If you recall, one of the Key Result Areas under President Aquino’s Social Contract with the Filipino People is to establish just and lasting peace and the rule of law in the country. An enduring cycle of armed conflict arrests socio-economic growth in communities that are already very poor, and the Administration is already pursuing long-term solutions for resolving conflict in these areas,” Abad said.
Under the Aquino administration, skirmishes between the National Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) dropped to 14 in 2010, eight in 2011, and zero in 2012 as of June this year. These figures are a sharp contrast to the number of armed conflict posted under the previous administration, including the 698 incidents recorded in 2002 and 115 skirmishes in 2009. (DBM)
by aimee | Sep 16, 2012 | National News
THE member-economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) welcomed the offer of the Philippines to host the APEC summit in 2015.
The announcement of the Philippines hosting the APEC in 2015 was contained in the joint declaration issued by the 21 APEC leaders, including President Benigno S. Aquino III, at the conclusion of the APEC leaders’ Meeting with the theme of “Integrate to Grow, Innovate to Prosper” held here at the Far Eastern Federal University on Russkiy Island.
The country will be hosting the APEC 2015 after Indonesia and China.
“We welcome the offer of the People’s Republic of China, the Philippines and Peru to host APEC in 2014, 2015 and 2016 respectively,” the declaration stated.
“We welcome the invitation from the President of Indonesia to meet again in Bali in 2013,” it added.
Also in the joint declaration, the APEC leaders believed that the work that has been done in APEC in 2012 to build a more integrated society and ensure innovation-based economic growth “will contribute to our common goal of achieving prosperity for APEC economies.”
They also support the increasing engagement of the APEC Business Advisory Council which contributes significantly to greater collaboration between the public and private sectors.
“We remain fully committed to facilitate the role of APEC’s business community and to provide more opportunities for its participation in APEC’s work,” the APEC leaders said.
They also reaffirmed their commitment to provide effective economic and technical cooperation activities outlined in the Osaka Action Agenda and to assist APEC members in accordance with the Manila Framework.
The APEC leaders will also continue to take necessary and concrete actions to mitigate negative effects, build resilience of APEC economies and reach new heights in the development of the region. (PCOO/I-ed)
by aimee | Sep 11, 2012 | National News
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Sept. 11 (PIA)–Aksidente o walay foul play ang pagkahagsa sa eroplanong gisakyan ni Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo niadtong Agosto 18.
Mao kini ang gipahayag ni Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Deputy Director General Captain John Andrews sa gihimong congressional oversight committee hearing.
Giingong mao kini ang nigawas sa inisyal nga imbestigasyon apan nangayo pa og executive session ang mga opisyal sa CAAP.
Matud pa ni Andrews, naka-sentro ang investigating committee sa mismong makina sa Piper Seneca plane, samtang adunay buwag nga imbestigasyon ang CAAP aron mahibaw-an kun adunay angay manubag sa maong aksidente ug kinsa kini sila.
Samtang nagtuo usab si Senador Ramon Revilla nga nalikayan unta ang aksidente sa kalihim kun may kawani pa sa Masbate Airport Tower sa nahitabong aksidente.
Nahibaw-an nga operational lamang ang Masbate Airport gikan sa alas-6:00 sa buntag hangtud 2:00 sa hapon. (PIA-Bohol/ECB/I-gg)
Imbestigasyon sa Senado kang DILG Usec. Puno, magsugod sa Biyernes
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Sept. 11 (PIA)–Moatubang na sa imbestigasyon sa Senado si Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Rico Puno sa Biyernes.
Kalabot kini sa giingong kontrobersyal nga pag-adto niini sa condominium ug opisina sa namatay nga si DILG Sec. Jesse Robredo.
Mismong ang Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments, Revision of Codes and Laws ni Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago ang mopahigayon sa pagdungog.
Gawas kang Puno, ipatawag usab sa Senado sila Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Environment Sec. Ramon Paje, Justice Sec. Leila De Lima, bag-ong DILG Sec. Mar Roxas, PNP Chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz ug ang asawa ni Sec. Robredo nga si Atty. Leni Robredo.
I-apil usab sa imbestigasyon ang napabalita nga pagkalambigit ni Puno sa jueteng ug illegal logging.
Samtang giingong ang dokumento nga posibleng maglambigit kang Puno sa giingong maanomalyang bidding sa rifle deal sa Philippine National Police (PNP) ang tuyo sa undersecretary sa condominium ni Robredo. (PIA-Bohol/ECB/I-gg)
by aimee | Sep 11, 2012 | Headlines, National News
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Sept. 11 (PIA)–Gibarugan karon sa Malacañang nga wala sila’y nakitang malisya sa pagmandu ni Presidente Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino kang DILG Undersecretary Rico Puno nga ikandado ang mga buhatan ni Sec. Jesse Robredo.
Matud pa ni Presidential Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma, gusto lamang ni Presidente Aquino nga ma-secure ang mga dokumento nga gikonsiderar nga ‘confidential.’
Sigun pa kang Coloma, wala may nahibalo nga si Puno ang subject sa imbestigasyon ni Robredo mao nga walay sayop kun siya ang gimanduan sa Pangulo.
Dungan niini, gitataw ni Coloma nga ang mandu sa Pangulo kang Puno mao nga ‘to seal’ ang buhatan ni Robredo ug wala mandu-i nga kuhaon o mangita sa bisan unsang dokumento.
Una nang gipahayag si Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda nga dili ‘untouchable’ si Puno o bisan kinsa kanila sa administrasyon. (PIA-Bohol/ECB/I-gg)
DND, planong mopalit og spy plane
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Sept. 11 (PIA)–Isip parte sa modernization program, nangita na ang Department of National Defense og spy plane alang sa Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) partikular na ang Philippine Air Force (PAF) alang sa pagpatrulya sa teritoryo sa nasud.
Matud pa ni Defense Spokesman Dr. Peter Paul Galvez, daku ang matabang sa long –range patrol aircraft sa teritorial defense kalabot sa padayon nga intrusyon sa West Philippine Sea.
Gi-proseso na karon ang negosasyon sa pagpalit og mga spy plane aron dili na manghulam pa ang security forces sa Pilipinas sa nasud sa Estados Unidos.
Gikonsiderar usab sa Defense nga mopalit og surveillance aircraft gikan sa Indonesia ug Europe.
“We’re looking at Indonesian and European. Various manufacturers are being looked into, the most appropriate for our purposes,” matud pa ni Galvez diin matud pa niya nga gitun-an pa ang pagpalit og spy plane.
“That is the work of the long-range patrol aircraft, maritime surveillance, for maritime security,” pasabot pa niini.
Karong tuiga, desedido usab ang Defense department nga itodo ang capability upgrade sa AFP sa nakalinyang 138 ka proyekto niini sa modernisasyon nga mokabat sa P70 bilyon ang kantidad. (PIA-Bohol/ECB/I-sjp)
