by magnolia_eic | May 25, 2011 | Headlines, National News
PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III declared the month of September 2011 as “Structural
Engineering Month,” to express appreciation for the work of structural engineers and to spread
awareness of their vital contribution to the country.
By virtue of Proclamation No. 164 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on May
9, 2011, the President declared the month of September as “Structural Engineering Month,
coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines,
Inc. (ASEP).
“The recent global developments related to natural disasters highlight the importance of
promoting public safety through the design and construction of safe and sound engineered
structures such as buildings, bridges, towers and other structures,” President said.
He further noted that there is a need to increase public awareness about the role and the
social and moral responsibilities of Civil Engineers specializing in structural design in relation to
promoting public safety.
The ASEP, an affiliate society of the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE), is the country’s
only national organization of practitioners of structural engineering.
“For the past 50 years, ASEP has been a partner of the government in its commitment to the
protection of life and property by promoting responsible structural engineering through various
undertakings, such as effective programs for disaster risk reduction and management and
continuing professional development,” the President said. (PCOO)
by magnolia_eic | May 22, 2011 | National News
MALACAÑANG welcomed the statement of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) that the calls by some prelates for civil disobedience are not the collective position of the bishops’ collegial body.
We welcome that statement from the CBCP,” Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda told reporters during the regular news briefing on Thursday in Malacañang.
“The CBCP does not have any official stand regarding civil disobedience. We did not discuss what action to take on civil disobedience,” CBCP president and Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar said.
Odchimar made the clarification following reports that some bishops and anti-RH advocates earlier said they will campaign for civil disobedience and threatened not to pay taxes in case the RH bill is passed.
Lacierda also said the Palace opted to keep mum regarding the on-going debate between the pro and anti- reproductive health (RH) lawmakers in the Congress adding that it is good that there will be no debate between the government and the Catholic Church following the latest statement of the CBCP.
“Let us leave the debate on this issue to Congress,” he said.
by magnolia_eic | May 22, 2011 | National News
The Department of Education (DepEd) reiterated on Thursday its “no collection” policy in all public schools, in preparation for the opening of classes in June.
“We would like to reiterate that the Department is strictly implementing the no collection policy in all public schools nationwide. All collections agreed upon by the PTA (parent-teacher associations) during the school year are voluntary and teachers or any school officials should not be involved in the collection,” said Tina Ganzon, director of DepEd’s Communications, Coordination and Crisis Management Office (C3).
“Our goal is to see every school-age child in school and we do not want parents to worry about fees,” she said.
DepEd imposes a similar policy during graduation time, when some public schools opt to collect voluntary fees to fund graduation rites.
DepEd also said public schools would be open to students who could not afford to wear proper uniform and footwear.
Some 22 million students are expected to troop to schools on June 6.
by magnolia_eic | May 22, 2011 | National News
Gipasaka na karong hapon sa Department of Justice (DOJ) sa Makati Metropolitan Trial Court (MeTC) ang bag-ong kaso batok ni kanhi Batangas Governor Jose Antonio Leviste human ang walay pagtugot nga pagsulod-gawas niini sa bilanggoan.
Matud pa ni Senior State Prosecutor Lilian Doris Alejo, gi-aprubahan na ni Prosecutor-General Claro Arellano ang iyang resolusyo nga pasakaan og kasong paglapas sa Article 157 sa Revised Penal Code o evasion of service of sentence si Leviste.
Pasabot ni Alejo, adunay tugbang nga silot nga unom ka tuig nga pagkabilanggo ang maong kaso.
Gibase sa prosecutor ang iyang desisyon sa mga gidusong ebidensya sa National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), apil na niini ang video footage sa pagka-aresto kang Leviste.
Alas-5 sa hapon niadtong Miyerkules sa dihang gi-aresto si Leviste sa taga NBI-National Capital Region ug Intelligence Division didto sa gipanag-iya niyang LPL Towers sa Legaspi Village, Makati City.
Si Leviste nasentensyahan sa korte nga mabilanggo og 6 hangtud 12 ka tuig sa kasong pagpatay sa iyang aide nga si Rafael delas Alas niadtong Enero 12, 2007.
by magnolia_eic | May 22, 2011 | National News
Giseguro kagahapon ni Senador Edgardo Angara, chairman sa committee on education, arts, and culture nga maaprubahan ra usab sa Senado ang balaodnon nga nagtinguha nga idili ang ‘no permit, no exam’ policy sa mga tunghaan.
Ang maong balaodnon napalabang na sa House of Representatives ug gipaabot na lamang nga mapalabang sa Senado ug tukion kini sa plenaryo.
Giingong mahinungdanon nga aduna nay balaod nga magdili sa mga tunghaan nga dili motugot nga pakuhaon og eksaminasyon ang mga estudyante kun wala makabayad og tuition fee og dili hatagan og permit.
Sigun pa ni Angara, dili angay bawalan ang mga estudyante nga makakuha og exams tungod kay mahimo man mohatag og promisory note ang mga estudyante.
Halos tanang mga unibersidad ug kolehiyo sa nasud ang dili mohatag og examination sa mga estudyante kun wala kini nakabayad og tuition sa saktong oras.
by magnolia_eic | May 18, 2011 | Headlines, National News
HIGH ranking officials from Mindanao were among the names mentioned in the “black book”
owned by suspected car smuggler Allan Bigcas in an inquiry at the House of Representatives
revealed on Monday.
The names of Governor Jalosjos and Sultan Naga Dimaporo Mayor Mutalib Dimaporo (Lanao
del Norte) surfaced as House members opened the “black book” of Bigcas.
Other names mentioned included Mayor Ali, Noah Dimaporo, Edward Emillan, Col. Pimentel,
Boy Plaza, Hannah Toronto, Bullet Jalosjos, among others.
It was not clear what kind of transactions Bigcas entered into with the names mentioned as
he insisted that these individuals were “merely asking him to canvass for the price of several
motorcycle parts” in the U.S. But the “black book” also listed transactions for high-powered
firearms and ammunitions.
He however confirmed ownership of the “black book”, which was recovered by the raiding
NBI teams in his house in Cagayan de Oro.
In joint operations of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI) weeks ago, authorities recovered 25 vehicles from the properties of
Bigcas in Cagayan de Oro and Bukidnon. (PIA)
