by admin | Dec 2, 2015 | National News
BSP MANILA, December 1 (PIA) –Over the mounting complaints of the hard to distinguish colors of the New Generation Currency (NGC) which the central bank is circulating as legal tender, a key official of the BangkoSentral ng Pilipinas(BSP) said it is high time that people should read and not just look.
In 2010, the BSP started replacing the New Design Series (NDS) of banknotes which started circulation in 1985.
As the BSP is slowly demonetizing the 30 year old NDS, the NGC replaces it as legal tender, explains BSP deputy governor DiwaGuinigundo, at a forum held at the central bank’s conference room, December 1.
The NGC is still using generally the same color schemes as the NDS, with a little bit of tweaking, brightening up the colors, BSP said.
But with the new development, the central bank has accordingly received complaints about the hard to distinguish colors that are now being used.
Complaints bared that the P500 bill, which is yellow can be easily taken as P20, which is close to being orangey. The blue P1000 is also having an uncanny appearance of the P100.
But, BSP Deputy governorGuinigundo downplayed the issue saying “there is an extra zero in P1000.”
“The solution is a society that reads, we need to teach our people to read and not just look at the colors, Guinigundo urged information center managers from all over the country gathered at the BSP.
Pressing for proof on his claims, the deputy governor pointed out that dollar economies only have green banknotes, and still they do not have problems.
We have simply added the colors of the banknotes to help people determine the money, he noted.
Unless one is so drunk or visually incapacitated, he can not really be expected to correctly identify the money, Guinigundo added.
Among the new colors are bright orange (P20), bright red (P50), ube (P100), bright green (P200), bright yellow (P500) and bright blue P1000.
As this floods the markets, the older NDS become unacceptable as legal tender for daily transactions starting January 1, 2016. On this date, only the NGC would be used for daily transactions, Guinigundo said.
Over this, authorities are asking people to spend their old banknotes now before they can not be accepted as legal payments come January 1.
Failing to do that, holders of old banknotes would have to exchange such in the banks, as these financial institutions are still mandated to accept the notes for exchange until the end of 2016. (rac/PIA-7/Bohol)
by admin | Dec 1, 2015 | National News
With the guessing game on whether Mayor Rodrigo Duterte will run or not now settled, the new guessing game is: who will stick with the other three presidential aspirants?
At least two analysts have predicted that Duterte’s entry will disrupt the existing political configurations particularly in Mindanao.
Mon Casiple said Duterte’s last-minute entry into the presidential race “has changed the political equation, ensuring a free-for-all among five candidates next year.”
Casiple, executive director of Institute for Political Reform, predicted that Duterte “will certainly get the Mindanao and Cebu votes.”
Meanwhile, Malou Tiquia of PUBLICOS Asia Inc. went even farther, predicting that Duterte will be a “game-changer”.
Tiquia, who hosts “Agenda” on CNN Philippines, said Duterte will take support away from Poe and Roxas.
Duterte caught political watchers in the National Capital Region by surprise when he stormed into the lead in the latest Pulse Asia survey.
The tough-talking Davao mayor cornered the nod of one-third of the the respondents, posting a commanding 34%, dislodging erstwhile topnotcher Sen. Grace Poe who fell to second with her 26%.
Vice Mayor Jejomar Binay dropped to third, four percentage points behind Poe at 22% while administration bet Mar Roxas plummeted even farther to fourth at 11%.
Sen. Miriam Santiago brought up the rear with 7%.
It will be recalled that many Mindanao politicians who had earlier express support for Duterte’s candidacy eventually settled for other candidates when the latter refused to beat the deadline last Oct. 17.
Duterte’s re-entry now poses headaches for the former as Mindanao and even Cebu are experiencing a sudden surge of regional pride.
In Davao provinces, rival politicians have already opened contact lines with the mayor’s camp to express support for his bid. Even former Speaker Prospero Nograles has openly declared his support for Duterte in spite of their bitter and protracted political rivalry in Davao.
Sources in the Duterte camp note a similar scenario shaping up in other Mindanao provinces and some areas in the Visayas particularly Cebu.
As the campaign period draws near, one question lurks on many people’s mind: who will be brave enough to go upstage and sit beside the other presidential candidates at the risk of antagonizing Duterte fanatics?
It won’t be a simple act because in doing so they put their candidacies on the line in the southern regions who see in Duterte their first real chance of finally seeing one of their own in Malacanang. (CHITO A. FUENTES)
by admin | Dec 1, 2015 | National News
This holiday season when gift checks are sometimes used in making purchases for officemates and friends, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) once again reminds the public to make sure that the gift certificates they bought from stores or retailers do not have expiration dates.
Under DTI Administrative Order No. 10-04 titled “Guidelines on the Issuance, Use and Redemption of Gift Checks, Certificates or Gift Cards,” all suppliers, issuers, distributors and sellers are prohibited from issuing or selling certificates or cards with expiry dates.
Though not legal tender like real money, gift certificates are good as cash, thus, DTI intends to regulate its use to protect consumers and ensure that they are not unduly deprived of their money.
The DTI identifies gift checks, certificates and gift cards as an instrument issued by a supplier to an individual, partnership or a juridical entity for monetary consideration evidencing a promise by the issuer that consumer goods or services will be exchanged in favor of the bearer upon presentation of said gift certificate/ check/ card to the value, credit, specific good, service or event shown in the instrument.
DTI added that all gift checks/certificates/cards with no expiry dates shall be redeemable until used by the bearer.
Commercial establishments or suppliers, however, may refuse to honor gift checks under two basic circumstances, according to the DTI order:
· when the gift certificate/check/card is lost due to no fault of the supplier; and
· when the gift certificate/check/card is mutilated or defaced due to no fault of the supplier and such damage prevents the supplier from identifying the security and authenticity features thereof
Certain gift certificates with expiry dates are usually given to consumers without cost or are given as gift, after buying a product or service.
To increase the public’s awareness on their rights and responsibilities, the DTI regularly conducts free seminars on Fair Trade Laws (FTL) through it s provincial offices. Topics for discussion include, among others, Price Act of the Philippines, Product Standards Law, Business Name Registration Law, and the Consumer Act of the Philippines.
For queries on the schedule of the FTL seminars, interested persons may call the nearest DTI Office. In Central Visayas, those interested may call DTI Cebu at (032) 255-7082, DTI Bohol (038) 412-3302, DTI Negros Oriental (035) 255-4781, DTI Siquijor (035) 344-2238.
by admin | Nov 26, 2015 | National News
Prof. Ruben M. Gamala, Director of the Office of Student Affairs, University of the Philippines Visayas,
hands over the certificate to Aljohn T. Torreta, the first recipient of the Carmudi Philippines Scholarship Program.
Carmudi, the leading online vehicle platform in the Philippines, has selected the son of a fisherman and a vendor as the first sole recipient of its scholarship program. Aljohn Torreta, a senior student from the University of the Philippines Visayas taking up a BA in Communications and Media Studies, was chosen from a highly competitive batch of Cum Laude standing students from different universities who participated nationwide.
In his application letter Aljohn wrote, “I took the initiative to apply for this scholarship grant as a way of helping my parents through our financial crisis. We are six in the family and my parents do not have stable jobs to fulfil all of our financial needs. My father is a local fisherman while my mother is a low-scale fish vendor. I am the only one who is currently enrolled because my parents cannot afford to send all of us to school. I can really feel the pain in their struggle and that keeps my fire burning. I am inspired to at least perform well at university.”
Aljohn was chosen as Carmudi Philippines’ first ever scholar as his diligent and compassionate nature was evident from his good grades and attitude towards his circumstances.
Carmudi’s Scholarship Program was open to senior students who are academically excellent but poor financially and cannot finish their studies without sufficient aid or support from an external donor.
Subir Lohani, Carmudi Philippines Managing Director said, “Building people is the heart of our culture as an organization. Giving financial support and career opportunities to these deserving students is one way for us to extend our helping hand outside our company.”
The benefits of the scholarship program include18,000 Php for a semester, an opportunity to be mentored by the Managing Director of Camudi Philippines for one week and a guaranteed job interview after graduation.
Carmudi, which was launched in October 2013, is a part of the Rocket Internet portfolio which is also behind other online sites such as Lazada and Zalora.
####
For Media Inquiries kindly contact:
Kris C. Lim
Head – PR and Marketing
Carmudi Philippines
Unit 2901, Antel Global Tower, Julia Vargas Street,
Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City
Mobile: 0917-4140607
Email: kris@carmudi.com.ph
Skype ID: krisclim
by admin | Nov 20, 2015 | National News
By: Ben Emata
One thing beautiful with the holding of the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is that all the 21 nations who attended were united in their fight against terrorism and poverty. The subject matter may not be the main issue during the meeting but because of the Paris incident, the same did not escape the pronouncement of world leaders to deal on the problem. Terrorism is a serious thing in a modern civilization that should not be ignored. No one knows when and where the terrorists will strike next until they hit the media with scores of lives lost. It is so much of treachery.
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The Philippines is third, repeat THIRD poorest country of the participants in the APEC meeting according to the World Bank. First is Vietnam closely followed by Papua, New Guinea. I cannot disagree on this finding but they should have searched that we have dozens of politicians who are super wealthy and owners of real estates in foreign lands. We simply call this thing hidden wealth or assets invested in foreign countries.
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In North Korea, three women who merely watched a TV show of South Korea were executed. In the same country, three young college students were also killed because they watched pornography on TV. I wish the North Korean leaders watch live show of sex exhibitions in Pasay City and elsewhere for a cheap amount for entrance. Oh yeah I remember an uncle of its president was executed because he differed in opinions with the ruler. If only our drug lords live in that country, I can see we will have no problem with addictions and crimes connected therewith.
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There seems to be a double standard of justice in our country. In Jolo, the Abbu Sayaf beheads their kidnapped victims who could not meet the ransom money worth millions in a certain period. Proof to this, a Malaysian-Chinese who was kidnapped a while ago was reunited with his head hours later after he was beheaded. To the kidnappers’ law, it is death sentence. But since our government does not have the death penalty, we embrace the criminals and crimes the reason why so many of the underworld characters like to be behind bars. For instance a suspect rapes a girl and murder her later only get the maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Surely it is a mockery of justice or if not, what is it?
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Demonstrators during the APEC meet have become so violent they fought the policemen. Many were injured but the problm some of them just did not know what they were doing of, and for whom? Demonstrations or rallies are becoming wild and uncontrollable, a thing we must ponder what to do to prevent similar incidents in the future. While we honor the exercise of freedom, we certainly hit abuses committed in doing it.
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Now that the Court of Appeals has ordered that Mayor Oscar Moreno is the city mayor of Cagayan de Oro, I urge the residents and other politicians to set aside bickering and intrigues and let the city government function well. If we really enjoy politics in action, let us wait for next year’s election and see how things go on legally. Supporters of politicians who left their homes to participate in the actions better go home now and rest.
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I wish our TV program producers try to improve their shows/dramas because these items reach the American continent and other places via the modern technologies and cable in Europe and Canada where they meet stiff competitions. Some of these programs ended in heavy criticisms. You know how some Filipinos open their mouths when they despise something. BEN EMATA Bennex News Service
by admin | Nov 20, 2015 | Headlines, National News
By: Ben Emata
I am very apprehensive that the reclamation project being undertaken by China in the disputed territory could trigger a big conflict that would involve military strengths and participation of powerful nations. As we see Pres. Obama when he visited our country for the APEC meet, told Pres. Aquino of his concern of the China’s work in the territory that is clearly under dispute by and among Asian nations. Obama even urged China to stop its reclamation program around the territory which the latter responded by saying boldly no country around the world could tell them such thing. In this simple exchange of words, it is obvious that China is bent on working on the island that does not belonged to it.
With the words of Obama, he also gave two battleships to the Philippines to bolster its patrol in the ares. Likewise, the American president also gave assistance to other Asian countries like Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, etc. who also have similar claims to the islands. Tensions that existed between the two giants for sometimes now utterly grew bigger and could trigger wildly unless restraint by cooler heads. I am just hoping such scenario would not take place and that cordial relationship around the world would prevail.
Judging from the situations, I could see the stubborn behavior of China to settle the dispute by way of diplomacy. Earlier, it rejected the arbitration move initiated by our country in the UN tribunal making it more complicated. I could see the ground for its refusal to settle matter peacefully – – is the fact that China is so far away from the site of controversy, more than a thousand nautical miles to be more specific while it is so near to Palawan. To make the story short, China could lose in any friendly discussion insofar as the issue of ownership is concerned.
I am very much involved in the situation because it involved our country and people and that I always hope for friendship and peace. China once declared that the Philippines is the troublemaker in the region. I was laughing of the malicious insinuation since our country is so small and poor and could not possibly make even a sound oif sort. If there exist a matter of bullying, the same could be done by China considering its strength and influence in the area.
It is very fortunate that our country has never been a problem in the region. We had been a good neighbor and we exist peacefully with one another. We admit we have so many problems with our people insofar as existence and opportunities are concerned but we kept them unto ourselves with pride and honor. We never claimed to have stood higher than our friends but instead humbly accept our position with pride. Our system of government calls for consultation and acts of congress for support and never by ourselves.
We trust into the hands of our maker and our friends our position hoping China would understand us much better and treat us on the same level. We just want respect on our sovereignty, tradition and culture from everybody. We want peace in and around us and maintain good relationship with everybody. Friendship cannot be derived from misunderstanding and disrespect but by good relationship in a cool environment., We hope this will be the case. BEN EMATA Bennex News Service.
