by magnolia_eic | Jul 20, 2010 | Headlines, National News
The Aquino administration is leaving no stones unturned to effectively address the conditions of the people in Central Mindanao, who were displaced because of fighting between government troops and members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Teresita Q. Deles disclosed the government is drawing up a general framework aimed to facilitate the immediate return and rehabilitation of the thousands of families in the region.
This as Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Teresita Q. Deles disclosed authorities are also seeking help from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to deal with the situation.
Deles said the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPPAP) in collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is committed “to address the matter as quickly as possible.” (PIA Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | Jul 19, 2010 | Headlines, National News
THE death toll from tropical cyclone “Basyang” (Conson) continued to climb, hitting 38 as of Friday morning, the National Disaster Coordinating Council said.
In its 6 a.m. report, the NDCC said 38 have been confirmed dead while 47 remained missing and 18 were reported injured. Of the 38 fatalities, 13 were from Bataan, 21 from Southern Luzon, and four from Bicol region.
Among the latest fatalities was Edwin Ledesma, captain of the tanker “Deborah Uno” that sank off Mariveles town in Bataan.
The missing included one in Central Luzon, eight in Southern Luzon, 37 in Bicol, and one in Western Visayas.
At least 30,644 families or 153,426 people were affected in 411 villages in nine cities and 63 towns in 12 provinces in Central and Southern Luzon, Metro Manila and Bicol.
Some 1,757 families or 8,918 people remained in 51 evacuation centers as of Friday morning, the NDCC said.
The NDCC said at least 2,591 houses were destroyed while 16,067 houses were damaged.
Damage to agriculture, infrastructure, fisheries and schools in Southern Luzon, Bicol and Metro Manila was estimated at P147.556 million.
Some 71,724 metric tons of vegetables worth P1.398 million was lost from 207 hectares in Laguna. (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | Jul 19, 2010 | Headlines, National News
THE Aquino government filed its first tax evasion case on Thursday to launch its campaign to shore up shaky revenues and cut the budget deficit by cracking down on corruption and enforcing tax collection laws.
Finance officials went to the justice department to file tax evasion charges against pawnshop owner William Villarica, who they said paid only P25,600 in income tax between 1998 and 2009, but was able to buy a P26 million Lamborghini sports car.
“We would like to inform the paying public that it’s no longer business as usual and chances of being caught is higher,” Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima told reporters.
Newly installed Bureau of Internal Revenue chief Kim Henares said that the tax agency has been investigating Villarica since 2007, but was only able to file a criminal case against him now.
In the meantime, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said she was reviewing tax cases referred by the finance department, pointing to a list that had names of 16 individuals and corporations.
The Philippines had a tax collection rate of 12.8% of its gross domestic product (GDP), lower than the regional average of 16 %, the finance minister said. (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | Jul 19, 2010 | Headlines, National News
VICE-President Jejomar Binay on Thursday said he has accepted the offer of President Benigno Aquino III to take charge of the housing sector as chair of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC).
In a statement, Binay said he has always maintained his readiness to assist Aquino in attaining his vision for the Philippines and the Filipino people.
“I look forward to implementing the president’s objectives for housing and shelter and working with volunteer organizations like the Gawad Kalinga, with whom I share a common dream of building not just homes but sustainable communities for our people,” he said in the statement.
The HUDCC position is one of 5 government posts originally offered to Binay.
President Aquino welcomed Binay’s acceptance and said he was looking forward to working with the former Makati City mayor. (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | Jul 15, 2010 | Headlines, National News, Weather Coverage
MALACAÑANG is set to review the country’s weather forecasting system after President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III admonished the state weather bureau for failing to predict that Typhoon Basyang was headed for Metro Manila.
President Aquino told reporters at Camp Aguinaldo that he wants more “precision” in the way the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) predicts weather movements.
The PAGASA weather bulletin on Tuesday said Basyang would batter Northern and Central Luzon areas, and listed Metro Manila among the areas that would be under Storm Signal No. 1, with 30 to 60 kilometers-per-hour winds. However, the storm hit the metropolis before dawn Wednesday, cutting off power supply in most areas.
“Changes should be known to the public at the earliest possible time,” said Aquino, adding that delays in weather forecast advisories slow down government response.
Aquino said there should also be improvements in the dissemination of information, such as finding ways to inform small-time fishermen who cannot afford radio equipment if there have been changes in the weather so they can immediately go back to shore.
Aquino earlier reprimanded PAGASA for failing to announce that the typhoon would hit hard Metro Manila. (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | Jul 15, 2010 | Headlines, National News, Weather Coverage
AS predicted by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), typhoon Basyang has left the Philippine area of responsibility Thursday morning.
The weather forecasters’ last weather bulletin on Basyang (international name Conson) reported that the typhoon was 400 kilometers west-northwest of Dagupan City as of 5:00 a.m. Thursday.
PAGASA says, “”Tropical Storm Conson has left the Philippine area of responsibility and threatens Hainan Island in China.”
Before leaving the country, Basyang was moving at a speed of 19 kilometers per hour, packing maximum winds of 85 kph and gustiness of up to 100 kph.
The government reported 23 deaths, 59 missing people, and 19 injured individuals.
The typhoon reached Philippine land areas Tuesday night and swept through Metro Manila and central Luzon, affecting almost 13,000 families.
A large part of Luzon suffered total power failure around dawn on Wednesday as Basyang damaged electric power transmission lines. (PIA-Bohol)
