by magnolia_eic | Jul 29, 2010 | Headlines, National News
FINANCE Secretary Cesar Purisima has directed the Commission on Audit (COA) to examine the books of government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) as well as government financial institutions (GFIs), with June 30, 2010, as the cut-off date.
“The date is important for establishing accountability,” Purisima told reporters, adding that financial audits “take a while” to complete.
Of particular interest are the books of the National Food Authority, which reported total liabilities of P171 billion as of May 2010—an amount, he said, that quintupled from a mere P28 billion in 2003.
Purisima said President Benigno Aquino III “presented his findings in the SONA” based on his officials’ “examination of some documents available” to them.
He said the COA would also look into the financial condition of the National Irrigation Administration, National Electrification Administration and Philippine National Railways, among others.
Many GOCCs and GFIs are money-losing entities led by political appointees who often have little expertise in their fields of concern. (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | Jul 28, 2010 | Headlines, National News
PRESIDENT Benigno Simeon Aquino III’s first State of the Nation Address (SONA) drew mixed reactions even from Catholic Church officials.
Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma said he found some of what Aquino said “promising” although his proposed actions to address the country’s problems had been tried before.
Yet, he said Aquino has selected capable Cabinet members and that makes him confident the President can realize his vision of a clean and honest society. He also cited Aquino’s drive to work for peace in Mindanao, which was among some of the bishops’ concerns.
On the other hand, Ledesma said Aquino did not address directly a 13-point agenda proposed by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.
For his part, militant priest Jose Dizon said he wished Aquino spoke more of land reform than of infrastructure. He said the speech content and delivery were “uninspiring.”
For her part, Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines co-chairwoman Sister Mary John Mananzan said the speech was practical and centered on “making the life of people better by doing the right things.” (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | Jul 28, 2010 | Headlines, National News
THE Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) welcomes the intention of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to resume peace talks, but is wary that “little details” may yet derail the peace process.
“We cannot question (his) intention (but the) devils in negotiations is in the details,” said MILF peace panel member, lawyer Lanang Ali, in an article on the MILF website.
“Sometimes, words are used to conceal what is in the hearts of men,” Ali said, but added Aquino enjoys a relatively high trust rating among the Moros of Mindanao at this time.
In his first State of the Nation Address (SONA), Aquino said peace and tranquility can be achieved if “those affected will talk with one another— the Moro, Lumad, Christians.” Aquino said peace negotiations with the MILF can resume after the Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting which begins on August 11 this year and ends on September 9.
However, Datu Antonio Kinoc, an alternate member of the MILF peace panel representing the indigenous tribes of Mindanao, said the SONA was “very soft and merely repeated the old cliché that in order to solve the problem, ‘people-to-people’ talking to each other is encouraged.”
He said the problem in Mindanao is rooted in sovereignty issues and the conflict requires sincere, hard, and objective solution. “More importantly, political will is the key to solving this conflict,” Kinoc said. (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | Jul 26, 2010 | Headlines, National News
SENATOR Juan Ponce Enrile was re-elected Senate President on Monday, ending a deadlock between two Senate factions allied with President Benigno Aquino III and Sen. Manuel Villar.
Enrile took his oath before Sen. Franklin Drilon, who was designated presiding officer during the voting. Enrile easily defeated another nominee, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, for the position of Senate President after getting 17 of the 20 votes. Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago was not present during the voting.
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, meanwhile, was voted Senate President pro tempore.
In his speech, Enrile thanked his fellow senators for choosing him to head the Upper Chamber. He said his election as Senate President was unique in the country’s history after senators set aside partisan politics and reached a consensus to elect a new head of the Upper Chamber.
Liberal Party Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan earlier withdrew from the Senate Presidency race after failing to secure the needed 13 votes to clinch the chamber’s top post.
The senator announced the move on Sunday, saying this should now restore unity in the upper chamber. (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | Jul 26, 2010 | Headlines, National News
THE House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly, 227 against 29, for Quezon City Rep. Feliciano Belmonte Jr. as the House Speaker.
The House session started at exactly 10 a.m. with Secretary General Marilyn Barua Yap presiding over the proceedings.
Liberal Party (LP) secretary general and Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya nominated Belmonte while Representatives Bernadeth Herrera Dy, Arnulfo Fuentebella, Rolando Andaya, Jesus Crispin Remulla, and Vincent Crisologo, seconded the motion.
Belmonte went up against Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, who was nominated by fellow Lakas-Kampi-CMD member Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano, Rep. Danilo Suarez, and Rep. Augusto Syjuco Jr.
All in all, 258 House members attended the opening of the session and nearly 88 percent of them (or 237 members) voted for Belmonte.
Belmonte previously held the House’s top post from Jan. 24, 2001 to June that same year. He then went on to serve as Quezon City mayor until winning as congressman of the city’s fourth district during the recent May 10 polls. (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | Jul 26, 2010 | Headlines, National News
A Catholic Church official urged President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to state publicly his position on the controversial reproductive health (RH) bill in his first State of the Nation Address on July 26.
Fr. Melvin Castro, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Commission on Family and Life, said on Thursday Aquino should lay down his plan regarding family planning.
“His next years at the helm of the government would show if he believes our populace is an asset or liability … Our appeal to him is prioritize good governance and poverty would be solved,” Castro said in an article posted on the CBCP news site.
Earlier, Philippine bishops urged Aquino to reject current policies that promote artificial contraception to control the country’s growing population.
CBCP President Nereo Odchimar said the government must protect the sanctity of life by putting an end to contraceptive mentality.
Odchimar said the bishops hope the new administration will not pursue programs that promote the use of contraceptives such as condoms and pills.
Aquino has been known to be in favor of the reproductive health bill, saying he wants contraceptives to be available in government health centers, the CBCP noted. (PIA-Bohol)
