by magnolia_eic | Apr 12, 2011 | Headlines, National News
EXECUTIVE Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on Tuesday said the Aquino Administration will
earmark P4.2 billion to build 20,000 houses for low-salaried members of the Armed Forces of
the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) as part of improving the welfare of
government employees.
Ochoa said President Benigno Aquino III signed Administrative Order No. 9 on April 11,
creating the AFP/PNP Housing Project, which involves the provision of permanent shelters
for soldiers and policemen who will qualify under the beneficiaries selection criteria of the
program.
“It is the policy of this administration to improve the welfare of government employees,
including military and police personnel,” the Executive Secretary said.
“Providing decent and affordable shelter to soldiers and policemen is one way to carry out
such policy, as we are aware that despite sincere efforts there are still a large number of
military and police personnel whose need for housing provision must be urgently attended
to,” Ochoa added.
Through this affordable and decent housing program, the administration hopes to give the
military and police personnel, who put their lives at risk to uphold the laws of the land and
maintain peace and order in the country, what is due them, he said.
Under AO 9, the National Housing Authority (NHA) takes the lead in the implementation of
the housing program, which funding will also come from the housing authority.
Executive Order No. 90, put in place in December 1986, designates the NHA as responsible
for the implementation of the government’s socialized housing under the National Shelter
Program. (PCOO)
by magnolia_eic | Apr 8, 2011 | Headlines, National News
PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III bared plans to come up with a project concerning the
creation of a comprehensive three dimensional (3D) map of the whole country that will
help concerned government agencies in their efforts to avert possible damage to lives and
properties in times of calamities.
In his keynote speech during the inauguration of the Improved Agno River Basin Flood
Forecasting and Warning System (FFWS) and Agno River Flood Forecasting and Warning
Center (FFWC) in Pangasinan, Aquino said that studies are underway for the proposed
creation of the one-billion peso 3D mapping system of the Philippines that will give a broader
geographical view for various government agencies on the different parts of the country that
will eventually assist them in flood forecasting and damage assessment for a more effective
approach in times of calamities.
The Chief Executive noted that the Philippines is a geo-hazard area with 66 provinces on
threat especially in times of calamities, which justifies the said allocation to ensure averting
possible devastating effects of various types of calamities.
President Aquino stressed that the project aims to protect and save lives of the people
including their properties and livelihood.
The President commended the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and its
leadership and untiring efforts in developing programs for the benefit of the country and the
people. (PCOO)
by magnolia_eic | Apr 8, 2011 | Headlines, National News
MALACAÑANG on Thursday expressed hope it can seal a peace agreement with the
Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-
NPA-NDF) during the administration of President Benigno Aquino III, stressing its importance
in the country’s journey towards lasting peace and genuine development.
During the regular press briefing on Thursday at Malacanang, Presidential Spokesman
Edwin Lacierda bared this statement since the government and the CPP-NPA-NDF formally
resumed its peace talks early this year.
Undersecretary Alexander A. Padilla, chair of the Government Panel for Peace Talks with
the CPP-NPA-NDF and Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Ging Delles told
the Palace that the recent development in the on-going peace talks manifested a positive
progress to head for the sealing of agreement.
“Based on updates of Sec. Ging Delles and Usec Padilla on the progress of the peace talks it
seems that there is a sign that the peace talks signing will push through,” Lacierda said.
Lacierda said the Palace is leaving the matter to Usec. Padilla who continues getting the
pulse and sentiment of the other party. “Based on what Usec Padilla had stated, I think it’s
based on his experience in talking with the other party, we will leave it at that,” he said.
“Peace negotiation is only one element in our nation’s journey towards lasting peace and
genuine development. While we will try our best to reach agreement on the substantive
issues, in the end, any agreement will remain a mere piece of paper unless the roots of
the conflict are resolved and a just and equitable peace is achieved and enjoyed by all.
Fortunately, we represent a government that is well on its way on that path,” Usec Padilla
said in an earlier statement. (PCOO)
by magnolia_eic | Apr 7, 2011 | Headlines, National News
GAWAS sa pagkaon sa mga seaweeds nga puno sa iodine, gitambagan sa usa ka
toxicologist ang mga Pinoy sa pag-inom og mga oral detoxifying agents, mokaon og mga
prutas ug utanon ug mga anti-radiation herbs aron pagbatok kun moabot sa nasud ang
radiation nga naggikan sa Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant sa Japan.
Matud pa ni Dr. Romeo Quijano, professor sa Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
sa University of the Philippines, Manila, mahinungdanon ang himsog ang panglawas nga
makuha pinaagi sa healthy lifestyles.
Isip precautionary ug migation measures, niingon si Quijano nga mahinungdanon ang
pagkaon sa mga dili kontaminadong seaweeds, prutas ug utanon nga mga anti-oxidants.
Nagpahigayon niadtong Miyerkoles ang Senate Committee on Health and Demography
kalabot sa posibleng mahimong epekto sa mga Pilipino sa radiation exposure gikan sa planta
sa Japan.
Giingong apil sa mga prutas ug utanon nga puno sa antioxidants ang berries, bayabas,
guyabano, bignay, soy bean, saluyot, alugbati, beets, spiriluna ug uban pa.
Gikonsidera usab nga anti-radiation herbs ang Turmeric o luy-ang duwaw, roselle, Angelica
sinensis (Dang Gui), Tinospora (makabuhay), ginseng, green tea, Ganoderma, ug Bupleurum
chinense.
Gitambagan usab ni Quijano ang mga Pilipino nga magpabilin sulod sa ilang mga panimalay
kun adunay radioactive fallouts ug likayan ang pag-inom og tubig-uwan o rainwater ug ang
paggamit niini sulod sa panimalay. (ecbPIABohol)
by magnolia_eic | Apr 7, 2011 | Headlines, National News
IKONSULTA sa Social Security System (SSS) sa mga stakeholder niini ang planong umento
sa kontribusyon sa mga miyembro ug employer.
Matud pa ni Joel Palacios, ang media affairs sa SSS, apil sa ilang konsultahon ang mga
labor union, mga employer ug uban pang grupo agig pagsunod na usab sa kamanduan sa
Social Security Commission (SSC).
Unsa man ang mogawas nga resulta sa konsultasyon, ila kining ibalik sa maong komisyon
nga maoy mopaabot sa rekomendasyon sa Malakanyang alang sa pag-apruba niini.
Gikan sa kasamtangang 10.4 porsyentong kontribusyon, gustong usbawan sa SSS ngadto
sa 11 porsyento ang kontribusyon sa mga miyembro ug employer sa katoyuang mabalik
ang perpetuity o walay limit nga pondo nga mapahimoslan ra usab sa mga miyembro ug
pensyonado. (ecbPIABohol)
by magnolia_eic | Apr 7, 2011 | Headlines, National News
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reiterates its appeal to all Filipinos to avoid accepting
offers from individuals or groups to carry illegal drugs in their luggages or in their person when
going abroad in exchange for money, as harsh penalties await them in their destinations.
This is in light of a Filipina apprehended by the Indonesian Customs and Excise Officers at the
Adi Sumarmo Airport in Solo, Central Java for possession of 1.193 kilograms of class I type of
heroin. The Filipina was arrested on April 3 upon her arrival there via Air Asia from Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia.
Based on the initial interrogation conducted by local police authorities, the Filipina was sent
to Indonesia by a Filipino who is a member of an international drug syndicate in exchange for
US$8,000.
The Philippine Embassy in Jakarta is providing assistance to the Filipina to ensure that her rights
are respected.
The Philippine Government has a strong anti-illegal drug policy, and is closely cooperating
with law enforcement agencies in other countries on efforts against anti-drugs trafficking. It is
undertaking comprehensive and proactive measures to address the drug mules issue and to
prevent the further victimization of Filipinos by international drug syndicates.
The DFA has been working closely with other concerned on drug trafficking cases.
There are 73 Filipinos in China who were meted death penalties with two-year reprieves, which in
Philippine legal parlance is equivalent to life imprisonment. In China, drug trafficking of 50 grams
or more of illegal drugs is punishable by 15 years in prison, life imprisonment or death.
In most Muslim countries, drug trafficking is punishable by death. (PIA)
