by magnolia_eic | May 7, 2012 | Business, Headlines, National News
President Benigno S. Aquino III addressed the opening ceremony Friday of the Asian Development Bank 45th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors and expressed his gratitude for the continued support of the financial institution to the country.
In his speech during ADB’s annual gathering at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City, the President spelled out the reform measures his administration has carried out that benefited a large number of Filipinos especially the poor.
Through these measures, he said his government was able to intensify social and infrastructure investments, develop its human resources, and increase the budget on education and health care.
During the initial period of the new administration, the President said they were able to channel more government resources to the poor and underprivileged.
“The government’s conditional cash transfer program experienced an almost fourfold increase over the past two years, from P10 billion in 2010, catering to about 800,000 families, to P39.4 billion this year for over three million families. All of these we were able to do without raising taxes,” the President said.
“These are amounts that have been generously augmented by those who share our vision of an equitably progressive Philippines. The Asian Development Bank’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) assistance to the Philippines amounts to $761.97 million,” he added.
These include $643.85 million to projects concerning social protection and support for agrarian reform; rural infrastructure enhancement, and credit for better health care and irrigation in the Southern Philippines, the President said.
The chief executive also mentioned ADB’s participation in the Public-Private Partnership Program and the government efforts to reform the justice system and carry out the energy- efficient electric tricycle project. The government has started to achieve its goal because of ADB’s help, he noted.
“For this, you have the gratitude of our people, and a commitment from my administration. Gone are the days when the funds you funnel to our country will end up like water leaking through a broken pail,” the President said assuring the financial institution to continue seeing results of good government in the Philippines. The country, he said, is prepared to follow through on its commitments.
Among those who joined the President during ADB’s opening ceremony include Vice President Jejomar Binay, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Gov. Amando
Tetangco Jr. (PCOO)
by magnolia_eic | May 3, 2012 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita, National News
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, May 03 (PIA)–Sa Hunyo 4, 2012 ang sugod sa klase sa mga estudyante sa mga pampublikong elementarya ug high school alang sa school year 2012-2013.
Sa gipagawas nga school calendar sa Department of Education (DepEd) alang sa school year 2012 hangtud 2013, magsugod ang klase sa Hunyo 4, 2012 ug matapos sa Marso 22, 2013. Adunay kinatibuk-ang 200 ka mga adlaw sa klase.
Gi-aghat ni DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro ang mga pribadong eskwelahan nga modungan na usab sa pagsugod sa klase sa Hunyo 4 apan giingong mahimo ra usab silang magpalahi dili lang mas sayo sa Hunyo 4 o dili molapas sa katapusang adlaw sa Agosto.
Gibutyag usab sa kalihim nga naggahin sila og lima ka adlaw alang sa mga aktibidad sa mga magtutudlo ug mga ginikanan.
Apil sa highlights sa 2012-2013 school calendar ang Brigada Eskwela sa Mayo 21 hangtud 26 ug ang Oplan Balik Eskwela gikan Mayo 28 hangtud Hunyo 8.
Gitakda usab sa Hunyo 9 ang pagsugod sa orientation sa K to 12 sa mga ginikanan ug uban pang personalidad nga apil niini. (PIA-Bohol/ecb)
by magnolia_eic | May 3, 2012 | Headlines, National News
MEMBERS of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and the Social Security System (SSS) can now borrow money from the government so they or their children can complete college or get vocational courses.
The P11.2-billion education assistance fund was among the benefits announced by President Benigno S. Aquino III during the Labor Day celebration last May 1 in Malacañang.
In a statement on Tuesday, Budget and Management Secretary Florencio Abad said the EAFP would allow 200,000 SSS members and 1.4 million GSIS members to receive funding assistance for four-year degree programs as well as technical and vocational courses.
Abad said the move is also part of the government’s move to help strengthen the country’s workforce.
Under the EAFP, Abad said P4.2 billion will go to GSIS members, while P7 billion will be allotted to the SSS.
Any GSIS member can borrow P4,000 per semester at 6 percent interest payable over a 5- year period, while an SSS member with a monthly salary of P10,000 can avail himself of as much as P120,000 in education assistance. (PIA)
by magnolia_eic | May 2, 2012 | Headlines, National News
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, May 02 (PIA)–Nagsugod na karong adlawa ang Asian Development Bank (ADB) Board of Governors Meeting nga matapos sa Sabado, Mayo 5.
Upat ka adlaw usab nga nia sa Pilipinas ang 37 ka finance ministers ug 4,000 ka delegado gikan sa non-government organizations, global media, observer countries ug international organizations sa 67 ka nasud aron motambong sa pulong sa Philippine International
Convention Center (PICC) sa Pasay City.
Ang tema sa panagtapok adunay kalabot sa saktong pagdumala ug pakig-tinabangay ug apil sa mga hisgotan ang mga pamaagi kun unsaon pag-atubang sa mga gobyerno sa Asya ang global economic crisis ug ang climate change.
Gipaabot nga mopaambit sa panagpulong ang mga finance official apil na ang pinakabata nga Economics professor sa Harvard University nga si Jeffrey Zac.
Kalabot niini, naka-full alert ang Philippine National Police (PNP) aron masiguro ang seguridad sa lugar bisan sa mga gipuy-an nga hotel sa mga delegado. (PIA-Bohol/ecb)
by magnolia_eic | May 2, 2012 | Headlines, National News
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, May 02 (PIA)–Kusganong giingon sa Malakanyang nga adunay gipaboran si Presidente Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III sa pagbasura niini sa sugyot sa mga mamumuo nga P125 across-the-board wage hike.
Sa usa ka radio interview sa dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, gipasabot ni Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte nga nagmatinud-anon lamang ang Presidente sa iyang diskurso kagahapon sa paghandom sa Labor Day.
Pasabot pa niini, tanan man ang naghandom og taas nga suholan apan kinahanglan nga timbangon usab ang kaayuhan sa mga mamumuo ug employers.
Giingong dili angay makompromiso ang ubang trabahante nga mahimong matangtang sa trabaho kun ipatuman ang P125 legislated wage increase kun dili kini makaya sa mga negosyante.
Sa iyang diskurso sa pagsaulog sa Labor Day kagahapon, gitataw sa Presidente nga mas maglisod ang katawhang Pilipino kun ipatuman ang P125 across-the-board wage hike tungod kay kun sumadahon, mokabat man sa P1.43 trilyon ang ipagawas sa ekonomiya aron
mabayaran ang halos upat ka milyong mamumuo matag tuig. (PIA-Bohol/ecb)
by magnolia_eic | May 2, 2012 | Headlines, National News
PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III has declared the month of May of every year as Electrical Safety Month to increase public awareness on electrical safety and educate the people on the safe use of electrical appliances and gadgets.
The Chief Executive issued the declaration in Proclamation No. 193 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr. on June 27, to “amplify and reinforce the consciousness of the public on electrical safety.”
The President said that many lives and properties are lost due to fires and electrocution.
“The main reason for the occurrence of fires and electrocution from electrical causes is not faulty wiring but ignorance in the use of electrical appliances and gadgets such as overloading of electrical outlets and the use of counterfeit electrical products such as circuit
breakers, power strips, extension cords, batteries and holiday lights that can cause fires, explosions, shocks, and electrocutions,” he said.
He pointed out that the economic losses brought about by fires contribute to reduced productivity and therefore affect the country’s economy.
He further said that the Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) which is under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) serves as the National Standards Body of the Philippines, with the mandate to develop, promulgate, implement and coordinate standardization activities regarding electrical products.
According to the President, the Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers of the Philippines, Inc. (IIEE) has entered into an agreement with the Singapore-based International Copper Association-Southeast Asia (ICA-SEA), a non-profit organization, to conduct electrical safety awareness campaign in the country.
“The agreement also aims to provide the opportunity to share best practices and help establish good standard in electrical system in the Philippines,” he added.
The President, likewise, directed the IIEE and BPS to conduct programs and activities on electrical safety throughout the year subject to the approval of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). (PCOO)
