by magnolia_eic | Aug 21, 2010 | Headlines, National News
PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III on Thursday assured the officers and members of the Chambers of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines (CAMPI) that his administration is vigorously working to curb smuggling as he vowed to rebuild this nation towards progress and development.
Speaking at the opening of the four-day Philippine International Motor Show (Aug. 19-22) organized by CAMPI at the World Trade Center, the Chief Executive told the country’s oldest automotive manufacturer that his administration is silently working to file a series of criminal cases against suspected smugglers.
He cited as example the cases that the Department of Finance and the Bureau of Customs had already filed before the Department of Justice against those who evaded appropriate duties of imported vehicles.
Aside from filing criminal cases against suspected smugglers, Aquino said he will also support efforts to enhance motor vehicle development.
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) records show that 74,700 Filipinos are currently employed as vehicle assemblers, distributor parts and components manufacturers.
To date, the automotive industry is helping the Philippine economy gear up for change with its total investment amounting to P100 billion, some P20 billion payment in duties and taxes, and withholding taxes amounting to P325 million per year. The auto industry also registered a phenomenal 37.1% growth in their sales during the first 6 months of 2010.
Fueled by renewed optimism, President Aquino said, his administration is now shifting to higher gear towards progress and prosperity. “Our administration is eager to rebuild this nation with you. We are eager to show the world what the Filipino can do.” (PIA/PCOO)
by magnolia_eic | Aug 20, 2010 | Headlines, National News
Sablan, Benguet — A La Union bound bus fell into a 30-meter deep ravine in Barangay Banangan after the driver lost control over the brakes while maneuvering a curve. Forty-one passengers were killed, with thirteen still being unidentified as of press time.
Police identified some of the fatalities as:
Johnson Dimalanta, Frederick and Rose Quinos and their children Nicole and Michael, Berio Almasen, Carlos Angeles, Amethyst Calado, Enrique Hao, Renato Limid, Rex Arsichu, Constantino Casugay, Glen Lustica, Octavio Polon, Francisco Sales, Jon Laigo, Joy Combis, Pastora Daweg, Marlon Paleg, Gabino Pilay, Pablito Diocenes, Roger Torida and Karen Mae Piluden. Bus driver Romeo Subang Jr., died while being treated in the hospital.
Only seven people survived the mishap and were identified as:
Sonny Ayaten, Desiree Jura, Arnel Paras, Juantri Gutcha, Jay Angelo, bus conductor John Patrick Flores
and an unidentified man.
Flores narrated that Subang was negotiating a sharp curve while trying to shift to second gear but lost control of the bus. He said the driver tried to prevent the disaster by ramming the bus on concrete barriers along the roadside to slow down its descent but failed.
Sensing danger, Flores said he jumped out of the vehicle before it fell into the ravine.
Benguet governor Nestor Fongwan immediately informed the Provicial Disaster and Coordinating Council and personally supervised the rescue and retrieval operations.
Over 50 people from the Provincial Government, local police and Philippine Army took part in the operations.
Meanwhile, The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) suspended the ESO-Nice franchisee for a month pending investigation of the regional office of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC).
by magnolia_eic | Aug 19, 2010 | Headlines, National News
THE government is considering the implementation of an open skies policy if operations of the country’s flag carrier is crippled by a strike.
In a news briefing, President Benigno S. Aquino III said that being the dominant carrier in the country, Philippine Airlines provides a necessary service that impacts on tourism and commerce.
“The government will be forced to adopt a policy that will have the side of the riding public in mind, the greater population rather than the interest of one corporation,” he said when asked what the government options are should the impasse between PAL and its employees continue.
“We are very close to implementing an open skies policy if it’s necessary, which was also done in the late 1990s,” he said.
The President said that while he understands the issues between PAL management and the labor unions, the interest of the riding public is government’s priority as they will be inconvenienced by the disruption of a critical service.
He reiterated his earlier appeal to both the PAL management and labor to come up with solutions to their problems as he reminded them that they have an obligation to the people.
The Chief Executive stressed that the government cannot allow any disruption in the movement of goods and people due to PAL’s non-operation so it has been exploring options such as allowing other local and foreign airlines to serve the routes that PAL fails to service.
The President stressed though that in case an open skies policy is adopted the government will make sure that all the technical details will be met. (PIA/PCOO)
by magnolia_eic | Aug 19, 2010 | Headlines, National News
PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III is optimistic that the youth will have a more pro-active role in governance with the proposal to have one youth representative in the Barangay council instead of the customary eight in the Sanggunian Kabataan.
In a press briefing at the new executive building in Malacañang last Wednesday, the President said the proposal to have a sectoral representative voted by the youth to the Barangay Council will give the sector equal participation in advancing their advocacies.
The Chief Executive said that in a lot of areas, the members of the Sanggunian Kabataan are treated as second class citizens by the Barangay Council. He said that having a youth representative in the Barangay Council will give the sector the same privilege as any other kagawad.
The President disclosed that he had already tasked the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to optimize the youth’s participation in governance.
Earlier President Aquino endorsed the proposal calling for the abolition of the SK council to save government additional expenses. (PIA/PCOO)
by magnolia_eic | Aug 18, 2010 | Headlines, National News
NAKITA sa Supreme Court nga wala pa gikinahanglan ang TRO sa pag implementar ni Presidente Benigno Aquino III sa una niyang tulo ka executive orders, diin gi kuwestiyon ang legality niini.
Sa niaging semana, ang mga ka alyado ni kanhi Presidente Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo sa kongreso ni hangyo sa Supreme Court sa pag nullify sa Executive Order No. 1 ni Presidente Aquino nga nag-mugna sa Truth Commission nga maoy mohimo’g imbestigasyon sa giingong mga anomaliya sa panahon sa administrasyong Arroyo.
Sa ilang petisyon, sila House Minority Leader Edcel Lagman ug mga representante Rodolfo Albano Jr., Simeon Datumanong ug Orlando Fua Jr. ni ingon nga si Aquino nakalapas sa gahum sa kongreso sa pag mugna sa maong komisyon. Matud pa usab nila nga ang gimugnang komisyon, kinsang komposisyon wala pa nahuman, kinahanglang dili ipadayon tungod kay nag-duplicate ra kini sa gahum sa Ombudsman ug sa Justice Department.
Si Gleoresty Guerra, ang SC Public Information Office assistant chief nagkanayon nga ihatag pa sa korte ang maong petisyon nilang Lagman ug mga kauban niini ngadto sa associate justice nga maoy mo kupot sa kaso. (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | Aug 18, 2010 | Headlines, National News
PAKYAS ang management sa Philippine Airlines kon PAL ug ang PAL Flight Attendants and Stewards Association kon FASAP sa pag resolba sa ilang kasungian tungod kay walay buot mopa bag-o sa ilang baruganan tali sa duha ka kampo.
Ang PAL nipahayag niadtong Martes nga ilang barugan ang ilang tanyag nga P80-milyones alang sa cabin crew union sa rason nga dili na sila makahatag pa og dugang tungod sa current financial difficulties.
Tungod niini, ang FASAP moduso sa ilang notice of strike sa mosunod nga duha ka semana.
Atol sa conciliation meeting nga gipahigayon sa National Conciliation and Mediation Board kon NCMB, ang PAL management ni insistir usab sa pag-limit sa ilang panaghisgot sa economic aspect sa collective bargaining agreement kon CBA agig pagsirado sa 2005-2010 CBA uban sa FASAP.
Ang kalihim sa Department of Labor and Employment nga si Rosalinda Baldoz ni ingon nga andam ang kagamhanan nga mopataliwala sa maong kasungian kon gikinahanglan. Apan matud pa ni Baldoz nga wala pa gikinahanglan ang pagsalmot sa kagamhanan ug malaumon siya nga ang duha ka partido makakab-ot ra og maayong kasabutan sa mosunod nga mga adlaw. (PIA-Bohol)
