by magnolia_eic | May 30, 2011 | Headlines, National News
INTERIOR and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo urged mayors nationwide to conduct
inspection of schools in time for the resumption of classes on June 6.
More than 20 million students are expected to troop to 38,351 public elementary schools and
7,274 public secondary schools nationwide next month.
“As chairpersons of their local school boards, mayors should work hand in hand with the local
Department of Education (DepEd) and other members of the Oplan Balik Eskwela (OBE) Inter-
Agency Task Force to make the necessary preparations for a smooth, orderly and peaceful first
day of classes for our students a few days from now,” Robredo said.
The DILG secretary also advised local chief executives to mobilize force multipliers to assist the
elements of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to maintain peace and order and public safety.
Similarly, he enjoined the mayors to take the lead in the conduct of a local government-wide
information drive to encourage parents to enroll their children this school year.
Robredo issued the directive in support of OBE, a project being spearheaded by the DepEd with
the support of other concerned agencies of the government to ensure the smooth opening of
classes next month. (PIA)
by magnolia_eic | May 27, 2011 | Headlines, National News
THE Department of Education (DepEd) announced that classes for school year 2011-2012 in
public elementary and high schools nationwide will open on June 6.
Education Secretary Armin Luistro, citing DepEd Order No. 28, Series of 2011, said that “the
school year 2011-2012 shall commence on June 6 and shall end on March 30, 2012.”
The Order, which contains the Calendar of Activities for the School Year of 2011-2012, also
specified different activities for the school year and indicated the number of school days and
number of teaching-learning days.
Luistro reminded school officials to strictly adhere to the total number of school days which shall
consist of 202 days. (PIA)
by magnolia_eic | May 27, 2011 | Headlines, National News
PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III is expected to promote the country’s Public Private
Partnership (PPP) program as part of the agenda of his 2-day state visit to the Kingdom of
Thailand.
In an interview with Radio-TV Malacanang (RTVM) in Bangkok on Tuesday, Philippine
Ambassador to Thailand Linglingay Lacanlale said that the President may pursue the promotion
of the government’s PPP programs, specifically on infrastructure development, as soon as he
meets with Thailand Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and top Thai business executives.
Lacanlale said that the Chief Executive will be presenting investment possibilities in the
Philippines under the PPP program.
“Aside from trade marami tayong opportunities for cooperation. Alam natin na ang Presidente
tuwing makakausap niya ang mga pinuno ng mga iba’t-ibang pamahalaan sinasabi niya itong
ating programa na PPP sa infrastructure development, so isa ito sa puwedeng i-pursue ng
Pangulo”, Lacanlale said.
The President is set to meet with key officials of prominent Thai business companies that include
the Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group, Siam Cement Group (SCG), and Petroleum Authority of
Thailand (PTT) Public Company Limited.
It will be recalled that during the bilateral talks between the Philippines and Thailand in the 18th
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit held in Jakarta, Indonesia, recently,
the Thai leader has expressed keen interest in participating in the said project to share their
experiences and knowledge in infrastructure development.
Over the years, the Philippines and Thailand has maintained good diplomatic relationship and
reciprocity in the field of trade and investment.
Apart from this, other issues of cooperation to be discussed include addressing the problem of
drug trafficking, agricultural support and cooperation in regional and multilateral forums, among
others. (PCOO/PIA)
by magnolia_eic | May 26, 2011 | Headlines, National News
Tagbilaran City, May 25 (PIA) – Gisugyot kagahapon ni Senador Miriam Defensor-Santiago
ang balaodnon nga nagtinguha sa pagmugna og “pay-to-stay” program alang sa mga national
penitentiaries diin pabayron og hotel rates ang mga binilanggo nga dili bayolente ang giatubang
nga krimen ug gustong mabuwag sa mga ordinaryong preso.
Sigun pa ni Santiago, angay nga bag-ohon na ang kasamtangang balaod aron mabuwag
ang maximum security gikan sa mga minimum security prisoners. Ang mga minimum security
prisoners giingong gitugotan sa pag-apply sa ‘pay-to-stay’ program kun gusto nilang mobayad og
hotel rates.
Niingon si Santiago nga ang “pay-to-stay” program gipatuman na sa penal states sa Amerika diin
ang mga adunahan nga binilanggo gibuwag sa ubang inmates apan kinahanglan nilang mobayad
og hotel rates.
Matud pa ni Santia-go, ang “pay-to-stay” program gipatuman na usab sa daghang syudad
sa California ug gikonsidera na usab sa New York ug Massachusetts.
Apan gitataw ni Santiago nga ang maong balaodnon limitado lamang alang sa mga non-violent
crimes sama sa crimes against public interest diin apil ang fraud, for-gery, ug falsification; crimes
against public morals, apil ang pagsugal, ug nonviolent crimes against property, sama sa theft ug
bouncing checks.
Gi klaro usab ni Santiago nga dili masakop sa maong balaodnon si kanhi Batangas governor
Antonio Leviste tungod kay napahamtangan kini sa bayolenteng krimen nga homicide. (PIA-
Bohol/ecb)
by magnolia_eic | May 26, 2011 | Headlines, National News
PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III will be attending to a busy schedule as he embarks on a 2-
day state visit to the Kingdom of Thailand on May 26 to 27, which aims to further strengthen
bilateral ties between the two countries.
During the visit, President Aquino and PM Abhisit is set to discuss important issues including
combating drug trafficking, agriculture cooperation, cooperation in regional and multilateral
forums and most importantly explore ways to further strengthen bilateral ties of the two nations.
It is also expected that the President will take the opportunity to present his administration’s
Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program to PM Abhisit and the Thai business community.
Dating back to 1949, bilateral relations between the Philippines and Thailand are among the most
robust and stable in the Asian region.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) noted that the two countries have regular exchanges of
high-level government visits, healthy trade and investment environments that have encouraged
major Philippine and Thai companies to invest in each other’s countries, and friendly people-to-
people interactions that have promoted closer social and cultural understanding between and
among their citizens.
The President will then also meet the Filipinos living and working here in Thailand to personally
thank them for their hard work and ability to participate in the Kingdom’s economic growth and
development. (PCOO/PIA)
by magnolia_eic | May 26, 2011 | Headlines, National News, Weather Coverage
TROPICAL storm Chedeng (international codename Songda) has been upgraded into a typhoon
by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)
on Wednesday morning.
In the bureau’s 11 a.m. press conference, PAGASA said Chedeng has intensified into a typhoon
as it remained almost stationary at 350 kilometers east of Catarman, Northern Samar.
Chedeng has maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour (kph) and moving 9 kph west
northwest.
It had slightly changed its course as it approached Samar and toward Camarines Norte. It may hit
Metro Manila and some of the southern parts of Luzon, weather forecaster Robert Sawi said.
Signal No. 2 is now hoisted over Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines
Norte, and Samar provinces.
Signal No. 1, on the other hand, has been raised over Marinduque, Masbate, Burias and Ticao
Islands, Southern Quezon, Polillo Island, Northern Leyte and Biliran Island. (PIA)
