by magnolia_eic | Jul 8, 2010 | Headlines, National News
THE government is now forming five-man peace panels for the impending resumption of negotiations with communist and Moro secessionist rebels, Malacañang said Tuesday.
Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said presidential adviser on the peace process Teresita “Ging” Deles gave President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III Tuesday morning her recommendations for the heads of the panels that will negotiate with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Lacierda refused to give names until the two panels are formed.
Lacierda said the resumption of peace negotiations with the two groups is the Aquino administration’s “internal” solution to the problems in conflict-ridden and poverty-stricken Mindanao.
The NPA, the armed wing of the CPP, operates nationwide while the MILF has its forces mostly in Central Mindanao. (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | Jul 8, 2010 | Business, Headlines, National News
THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said that consumers will continue to enjoy lower money transfer and remittance costs due to heightened competition between banks and companies that offer money transfer and remittance services.
BSP Deputy Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. said in an interview with reporters that companies that offer money transfer and remittances services have been forced to lower their fees in light of the strong competition from banks that offer similar services as well as providers of mobile banking services.
He pointed out that the central bank no longer needs to step in and intervene in the sector as competition has forced companies engaged in the money transfer and remittance business to lower their fees.
To date, the BSP said there are about eight million users of mobile banking in the Philippines boosting the central bank’s efforts to provide financial services in rural and hard to reach areas at a lower cost and higher efficiency.
These users of electronic money (e-money) transact through Smart Money of PLDT-controlled Smart Communications and G-cash of Ayala-controlled Globe Telecom in the Philippines.
Espenilla said the number of banks offering mobile banking for microfinance operations has reached 49 rural banks from none before 2005. (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | Jul 5, 2010 | Headlines, National News
DESPITE a nationwide crackdown on unauthorized use of “wang-wang,” or sirens and blinkers on vehicles, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has admitted it could not go after dealers selling the gadgets.
PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina said Friday the law against wang-wang, Presidential Decree 96, does not bar the sale of such items.
“The presidential decree does not bar the sale of such gadgets, as it only prohibits their unauthorized use. We hope dealers would stop selling once vehicle owners stop buying those gadgets,” Espina said in an interview.
However, Espina said they are studying proposing a guideline or supplemental law to address possible “shortcomings” of PD 96.
“For now we have no law against such items. Perhaps we can persuade the dealers not to sell. On the other hand, if there will be no buyers, there will be no sales,” he said.
The PNP started a nationwide crackdown on the sirens two days after President Benigno Simeon Aquino III spoke strongly against the use of wang-wang. (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | Jul 5, 2010 | Headlines, National News
FORMER Armed Forces Northern Luzon Command chief Lt. Gen. Ricardo David on Friday took over the top military post during the change of command at Camp Aguinaldo.
David took over the military leadership from Lt. Gen. Nestor Ochoa, who was designated acting AFP chief when General Delfin Bangit opted for early retirement last week.
Both David and Ochoa belong to the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Masikap” Class of 1977. Bangit belongs to the “Makatarungan” Class of 1978.
In his speech, David reminded his soldiers to keep the military as a “disciplined institution.”
“We shall continue to be a responsible instrument of public policy, subservient to civilian authority,” he said.
David said as an instrument of national policy, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) would be focusing on attaining national security objectives.
He noted that national airports have the “most imminent threat” of being targeted by terrorist elements, and thus promised to focus security in them.
But apart from ensuring national security from insurgent activities, David also stressed that the AFP should be an agent of peace. (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | Jul 2, 2010 | Headlines, National News
MACROECONOMIC stability, governance, infrastructure, food security, as well as education and health should be the focus of the new administration’s development agenda, socioeconomic planners said on Monday.
Officials from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said they will present a framework for the 2011-2016 Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP) to incoming President Benigno C. Aquino III and his Cabinet on Wednesday.
“We will present [the framework] to the president on Wednesday. He has three options on what to do with them: accept, reject, or revise it,” Augusto B. Santos, acting NEDA director-general, told reporters yesterday.
Myrna B. Asuncion, NEDA assistant director for national planning said that the five “highlights” of the proposal would provide a focus for the next medium-term plan.
In the effort to improve macroeconomic stability, Mr. Santos said the Aquino administration should keep its options open with respect to new tax measures.
He zeroed in on three: raising the value-added tax rate to 15% from the current 12%, adjusting excise tax rates on tobacco and alcohol, and streamlining fiscal incentives. (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | Jul 2, 2010 | Headlines, National News
THE government has removed the tariff on imported steel, asphalt, crude oil and petroleum products.
President Arroyo issued Executive Order 890 on June 10, setting a uniform zero tariff on imported crude oil and refined petroleum products from member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and outside ASEAN.
“The elimination of three percent rates of duty on said products imported from non-ASEAN countries will address the tariff distortion,” the EO said.
The decision to remove the tariff on the said products was reached during the May 25 meeting of the National Economic Development Authority Board.
Mrs. Arroyo also signed the executive order that will effectively reduce the price of steel products by removing the tariff on imported hot rolled coils (HRC) and cold rolled coils (CRC).
Despite the efforts of Global Steel Philippines Inc. (GSPI) to defer it, the law was signed last June 22 as Executive Order 898. (PIA-Bohol)
