by admin | Apr 14, 2016 | Headlines, National News
BULUAN, Maguindanao – Like all the “Rod” shows, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte was the undisputed star during the 40th founding anniversary.
The most exciting candidate in the May 9 elections was met at the landing site by close aides and Datu Apan Piang, PDP-Laban ARMM secretary-general.
Also coming out to meet him were residents across the landing area among them were children bare from the waist down, a common sight in one of the most neglected regions of the country.
The afternoon heat was merciless but few people seemed to notice when Duterte’s party arrived.
There was no doubt about the mayor’s star power as pandemonium broke loose the moment he stepped up the venue where he was mobbed by adoring supporters.
The emcee was making an announcement as soon as mayor’s convoy entered the gates of the Buluan town plaza but only the deafening chants of “Duterte! Duterte! Duterte!” drowned the sound system.
There was no doubt about the kind of welcome the crowd gave him as the chant went uninterrupted for more than five minutes, the decibels rising with each new start.
“Mabuhay ang Moro!” Duterte shouted thrice at the top of his voice, sending his audience into virtual delirium.
There was no breathing space at the stage crammed by security personnel, hosts, reporters and supporters.
Before Duterte opened his mouth, his audience moved closer to the stage and was virtually less than two arms’ length from his feet.
While he has gained rock star status as his recent sorties show, Duterte is even more respected in Moslem areas not only because he traces Moro roots but also because of the equal treatment he has given them in his city.
“I am the only one concerned with the problems of Mindanao,” he emphatically declared, his voice cracking at times.
The response was unanimous as many in his audience shouted with approval.
He hit the Aquino government’s half-hearted effort in pursuing the Bangsamoro Basic Law, saying he warned since the start that the former would only “dribble” it.
“We will replace this government because it has done nothing for the Moro people,” Duterte declared and the crowd roared in approval.
The mayor spoke shorter than he normally does not only because his voice was getting hoarse but also because he still had another engagement in Marbel, South Cotabato.
It was obvious though that his crowd already heard what they came for as they continued to chant his name as he stepped down the stage.
Duterte’s stock continues to rise by the day as the last card against illegal drugs, crime and corruption draws bigger and bigger crowds wherever he goes.
The Duterte phenomenon has baffled self-proclaimed political strategists and campaign veterans because contrary to long-held beliefs that national elections are won by air war, hefty war chests, well-oiled machinery and massive government, he is on the verge of proving that elections can be won with very little of this.
Instead, Duterte is riding on the crest of a nationwide disenchantment with incompetence, hypocrisy and arrogance.
The man who was the last to file his certificate of candidacy is on course to finish first in the wildest, most unpredictable and exciting presidential election the country has ever seen.
by admin | Apr 14, 2016 | Headlines, National News
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY – If there was any doubt left on where the sympathies of most of the residents of this city lie, all that vanished when Mayor Rodrigo Duterte arrived here on Thursday afternoon.
Even before he stepped foot at the Puerto Princesa International Airport, it was already crammed with people eager to at least catch a glimpse of him.
Three Fil-Americans who were catching a flight to Manila and Los Angeles went out of the pre-departure area when they learned that Duterte was arriving with Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano about that time.
“I hope he arrives before the boarding announcement,” one of two women who said they were flying back to the United States said to no one in particular while jostling among the horde that waited for the most exciting presidential candidate in the upcoming elections.
Inside the arrival area, there was an unusually big number of people as passengers who just disembarked from a commercial flight lingered inside it when they learned of the big news.
After being stalled by well-wishers all eager to have their moment with the rock star of Philippine politics, Duterte ran smack into a waiting wall of reporters from different media organizations.
When he finally emerged from the building, the roads leading out of it were nearly impassable as cars lingered longer than usual while admirers including airport personnel converged near the exit.
The lead car of Duterte’s convoy was already at the Palawan Provincial Capitol but the last car was still stalled in the airport as bikers joined in the fray at the first break in the chain.
There was hardly any breathing room left when Duterte was squeezed into the entrance of the capitol to pay a courtesy call on Gov. Jose Pepito Alvarez.
Amid shouts and cheers, Duterte went up to the second floor inch by inch as he was met by overzealous admirers every step of the way, many of them women ready with their poses for the cameras.
The same scene was repeated everywhere: at the message event with fisher folks and ordinary villagers at the Olalia Park, inside the churcha during an audience with Fr. Pepito Rollo and at the Pala1 for Duterte People’s Movement for True Change headquarters.
When Duterte finally took center stage for the rally at the Baywalk area, there was no doubt that Puerto Princesa was his for the taking.
It was scene reminiscent of his sold-out rallies in Tacloban, Butuan, Davao, Tagbilaran and many others.
Duterte was overtaken by emotion as he gazed at the sea of humanity before him chanting his name to welcome their champion against crime and corruption.
There were various estimates on the size of the crowd starting from 7,000 upwards but all those asked agreed on one thing: no one has seen a crowd as big as it in Puerto Princesa.
“I am running kasi kailangan nang palitan itong gobyernong ito (because there is now a need to change this government),” he declared emphatically.
It was met with a thundering applause which means the people agreed with him.
Duterte was at his element. It was as if he had the crowd at the tip of his finger, tickling them one moment, taunting them the next, warning them every now and then about the scourge of drug abuse and – on certain occasions – venting his anger over the abuses and excesses inflicted on the people.
When he finally challenged his audience to make a choice between him and his rivals, there was little doubt about their choice when they again chanted his name.
He may not be on top as surveys claim and not the big news if major media organizations are any gauge.
But from the moment he arrived and until he concluded his speech, one thing was unassailable: Duterte had Puerto Princesa in the bag.
by admin | Apr 13, 2016 | Headlines, National News
MANILA, April 13 (PIA)–Ang grabeng nasinati nga kainit hulga usab sa nagkalain-laing sakit mao nga nipahinumdom ang Department of Health (DOH) nga ampingan gayud ang panglawas aron makalikay sa unom ka sakit nga dala sa summer season.
Matud pa sa tigpamaba sa DOH nga si Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy, una sa angay nga bantayan ang heat stroke tungod kay kuyaw kini ilabi na karong sobra ka init ang sidlak sa adlaw.
Giingong angay usab mag-amping sa bunga’g-singot, pagbaton ug butoy-butoy, sore eyes, pagsakit sa tiyan ug rabies.
Dala usab sa grabeng ka-init ang mas daling mapan-os ang mga pagkaon mao nga susihon gayud og maayo ang pagkaon ilabi na ang adunay mga sangkap nga tomato sauce nga da-ling mapan-os aron makalikay sa food poisoning ug pagsakit sa tiyan.
Gitataw sa DOH nga angay gayud maligo kada adlaw ug kun mahimo ikaduha hangtud ikatulo maligo kun gikinahanglan aron matangtang ang mga bacteria nga dala sa singot.
Giingon usab nga kun ang usa ka tawo init ang ulo kun init ang panahon, susama ra usab kini sa mga gibuhing hayop mao nga mas taas ang insidente sa pagpaak sa iro.
Gipahinumdom sa DOH nga kun mapaakan og iro, libreng ginahatag ang kumpletong walo ka bakuna sa rabies sa ilang buhatan. (ecb/PIA7-Bohol)
by admin | Apr 11, 2016 | National News
The Philippines now has 18 biomass power plants able to produce a combined 241 megawatts (MW) of electricity – enough to energize more than 300,000 homes, former Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri said Sunday.
“Fired mainly by bagasse and rice husk, 16 of the biomass energy producers are already dispatching power to the grid, while a couple are under project commissioning and ready to supply the grid,” Zubiri, a strong advocate of renewable energy, said.
The 241-MW installed capacity does not include another 166 MW from biomass power generators installed by private firms for their own consumption of electricity, not for grid use, according to the former senator.
“What is great about biomass fuel from energy stored in agricultural waste is that it always available, adds value to farm crops, and is carbon neutral,” Zubiri said.
He said biomass power producers are providing growers additional income from bagasse, the sugarcane fiber waste left after juice extraction, and rice husk, the shell separated from rice grains during the milling process.
Among all renewable energy sources, Zubiri said biomass is the most labor-intensive since it involves the gathering of farm waste – an activity that tends to benefit low-income households.
“Anything that reduces our dependence on foreign oil for electricity is always most welcome,” he said.
Two of the largest biomass power plants are fired by bagasse and were put up in the “sugar bowl” of Negros Occidental by packaged food and beverage producer Universal Robina Corp. (URC) and diversified sugar manufacturer Victorias Milling Co. Inc. (VMC).
URC’s facility in Kabankalan City has an installed capacity of 46 MW, while VMC’s plant in Victorias City has 34 MW, both for grid use.
The Visayas now has an installed capacity of 136 MW from biomass energy, Luzon has 81 MW, and Mindanao, 24 MW.
The Renewable Energy Law of 2008 authored by Zubiri has accelerated the development of the country’s “green” energy resources and is now driving jobs growth in the countryside.
According to the Renewable Energy Management Bureau, more than 2.9 million jobs — mostly in construction and engineering services — have been created by the boom in wind, solar, geothermal, hydro and biomass power projects.
The Renewable Energy Law — Republic Act 9513 — aims to lessen national dependence on electricity generated from imported and highly pollutive fuel oil and coal.
Under the law, the Energy Regulatory Commission can guarantee fixed rate per kilowatt-hour – the FIT rates – for power producers harnessing renewable energy under the FIT system.
A trust fund also provides grants, loans, equity investments, loan guarantees, insurance, counterpart fund or such other financial arrangements to renewable energy developers.
by admin | Apr 7, 2016 | Headlines, National News
MANILA, April 07 (PIA)–Nipahinumdom ang Commission on Elections (Comelec) sa mga botante nga hugot nilang gi-bawal ang pagkuha og hulagway ug pag-selfie sulod sa polling precints sa piniliay sa Mayo 9, 2016.
Matud pa sa Comelec nga ma-botante man, watchers o Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs), dili tugotang mokuha og hulagway sa balota ug voters receipt tungod kay giingong paglapas kini sa kabalaanon ug secrecy sa mga balota.
Dili usab mahimong mag-post sa social networking sites og listahan sa mga gibotar nga kandidato ug gidili ang pag-selfie sulod sa presinto tungod kay matud pa nga ang botohan dili alang sa usa ka tawo o sa tawong mag-selfie tungod kay alang kini sa nasod.
Gi-klaro usab sa Comelec nga wala gidili ang pagdala sa cellphone basta dili kini gamiton.
Ang mga election watcher ug BEIs mahimong mokuha og hulagway apan dili mahimong kuhaan ang mga balota.
Samtang gitun-an na usab sa Comelec nga himuong election offense ang reklamo sa mga botante nga ang tuyo lamang mao ang makapang-gubot.
Gipananglitan ni Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista ang pagsuway sa pagpagawas og resibo gikan sa polling precinct tungod kay hugot nga gidili kini ug angay lamang nga ibilin sa board of election inspector (BEI) human masusi kun sakto kini sa gibotar. (ecb/PIA7-Bohol)
by admin | Apr 7, 2016 | National News
Key agencies involved in the government’s Manufacturing Resurgence Program (MRP) made a commitment to double their efforts in vigorously implementing programs and projects that will propel the country’s manufacturing sector to further upgrade, thrive and become catalysts and engines for sustained and inclusive growth.
At the First Quarter MRP Cluster Meeting which convened recently at the Board of Investments (BOI), MRP-implementing government agencies agreed that the various MRP projects being implemented are relevant and critical to the manufacturing industry’s growth and development and be globally competitive.
“The growth of the manufacturing sector has been very encouraging especially in the last five years. With this as the ongoing trend, there is high probability that the growth of the manufacturing industry will be sustained in the coming years,” said Trade and Industry Assistant Secretary Aldaba at the meeting’s opening.
Chaired by Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) Assistant Secretary for industry development Rafaelita Aldaba, the meeting that was attended by representatives from various MRP-implementing agencies namely DTI’s BOI and the Bureau of Small and Medium Enterprise Development (BSMED), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Agriculture (DA), , Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), National Electrification Administration (NEA), National Power Corporation (NPC), and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA).
In pursuit of the government’s goal of achieving inclusive growth, the government implements the MRP with DTI as lead coordinating agency. The MRP aims to improve the existing capacity of industries, strengthen new ones, and maintain the competitiveness of industries with comparative advantage. It also seeks to build-up agriculture-based manufacturing industries that generate employment, and support small-holder farmers and agri-cooperatives through product development, value-adding, and integration to big enterprises for marketing and financing purposes.
In the meeting, each of the agencies gave updates on the progress and assessment of projects implemented from 2014 to 2015, the ongoing projects and how these projects are supporting manufacturing development, plans for 2016 and proposed projects for 2017.
Assistant Secretary Aldaba reported DTI’s ongoing MRP projects namely the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) Program, Die & Mold Making and Design Training in partnership with the MIRDC and the PDMA; Philippine Rubber Investment and Market Encounter; enhancing the competitiveness of the Philippine coffee, establishment and implementation of an Aerospace Quality Management Systems Project; Product and Technology Holistic Strategy Project for the electronics industry, Study by the UP School of Urban Planning, Economics and Anthropology on the revival of key industries in the Sixth District of Quezon City; Cottage Industry Technology Center Transformation Project, Sectoral Value Proposition Development, Regulations review for priority sectors, Industry Roadmapping Project including the development of roadmaps for the footwear and garments and textile sectors; conduct of regional conferences and localization of industry roadmaps; and forum and conferences on trade and industry development talks and updates on various industries and sectors.
DTI’s BSMED on the other hand separately reported its MRP initiatives including the conduct of SME Roving Academy, establishment of Shared Services Facilities and Negosyo Centers.
DA meanwhile reported the highlights of its accomplishments of programs and projects identified under MRP namely the High-Value Crops Development Program which assisted coffee growers, the establishment of rice processing centers for farmer associations, the Philippine Rural Development Project’s I-REAP Component, and the Farm-to-Market Development Program which provides connectivity of the agri-fishery production sites to the processing and market centers.
During the meeting Assistant Secretary Aldaba highlighted the importance of DTI and DA’s close coordination since most of the projects of the two agencies are interrelated. As identified in the Comprehensive National Industrial Strategy (CNIS), the country’s blueprint detailing the overall industrial strategy, the strong linkage of the manufacturing sector and agriculture will stimulate economic growth.
PCA reported the Kaanib Coco Hub Project which aims to increase the income of participating coconut farmers by providing processing hubs for coco-based products such as virgin coconut oil, coco sugar, coco coir, among others. PCA also reported it is currently working on the coconut roadmap together with the industry players.
Meanwhile DOE, NEA, and NPC separately reported on their MRP initiatives, all of which are geared towards providing sufficient energy resources to stimulate the growth and development of various industries and sectors.
The body also had the opportunity to hear the insights of Dr. Armin Bauer, Principal Economist and Coordinator of Asian Development Bank’s Inclusive Business Initiative, on modernizing the competitiveness of Philippine industries under an Inclusive Business (IB) Agenda. Dr. Bauer discussed the basics of inclusive business, what the industries and businesses can potentially gain from government support programs, some examples of IB models in manufacturing, how industry promotion programs adopt IB, and the steps government and businesses can do to support IB.
For more information on the services of the DTI, log-on to http://www.dti.gov.ph
