by magnolia_eic | Aug 17, 2010 | Headlines, National News
Manila, Philippines – Farmer beneficiaries belonging to the Alyansa ng mga Manggagawang Bukid sa Hacienda Luisita (AMBALA) has asked the Supreme Court yesterday to nullify the compromise agreement signed by the HLI with a faction of the farmers ealier this month.
The AMBALA said they were misrepresented in the signing of the deal last Aug. 6.
In a 30-page petition, AMABALA urged the Supreme Court to proceed with the oral arguments set for tomorrow and resolve the case based on the issues presented. The group pointed out the resolution of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in 2005 that revoked the stock distribution option scheme since it was found to be in violation of the CARP Law.
The so-called majority who chose such scheme does not cure the illegality and invalidity of the SDO.
by magnolia_eic | Aug 17, 2010 | Headlines, National News
PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III confirmed on Monday that he will be embarking on a United States “road trip” next month to invite potential investors to the country.
In an interview, President Aquino said he will be meeting with Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima “who just came back from setting the ground work for the US trip” to discuss the particulars on how “to make the country even more attractive to all of these investors in the hopes of generating all of those jobs.”
The President said that he was informed by US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas upon their first meeting that “there is a serious interest on the part of investors to know what’s in store for them if they invest in the Philippines.”
The President said that aside from pushing for the Philippines as an investment haven, his other itinerary for the US trip will include his attendance to the United Nations General Assembly, witnessing the signing of the Millennium Challenge Corporation compact granting $434-million to the country and meeting with the Philippine Development Foundation (PDF).
He said his meeting with the PDF was to discuss ways of “growing our information technology base of people, engineers and scientists.”
“Because there are Filipinos and Americans of Filipino descent who are into venture-capital industries and they are movers and shakers of that industry. They find it difficult to invest in the Philippines primarily because we lack the human resources to meet the needs of industries in that category,” the President said.
When asked if he would hold talks with US President Barack Obama, President Aquino said that the details were “still being finalized.” (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | Aug 16, 2010 | Headlines, National News
Manila, Philippines – The compromise agreement between Hacienda Luisita and its farmers does not automatically resolve their dispute before the Supreme Court.
Jose Midas Marquez, SC spokesman, said there is a possibility that the Supreme Court would still act on the long-standing dispute between the management of the hacienda and its farmers.
“Once the court assumes jurisdiction over a particular case, a petition filed would not be moot just because a compromise has been reached among the parties. The case would still be subject to the final review of the court,” Marquez explained. The spokesman also gave the assurance that the court would review the compromise agreement and make sure it would be beneficial to both parties, adding that there have been previous agreements that are one-sided.
by magnolia_eic | Aug 16, 2010 | Headlines, National News
Manila, Philippines- It began at noon today. Filipinos can now interact with and send their sentiments to President Aquino and his officials.
Secretary Herminio Coloma of the Presidential Communications Office for Operations told station dzRB that the website www.president.gov would also carry social networking sites Facebook and Twitter.
Coloma added that there is a scheduled press briefing at 2p.m. today to further explain the program.
As for the “feedback mechanism” the President had promised in his June 30 inaugural, the social networking sites would not just be limited to Facebook and Twitter, but would include the highly popular YouTube.
Coloma is also encouraging the public to actively participate in the programs of the government, acknowledging them as important stakeholders.
by magnolia_eic | Aug 13, 2010 | Headlines, National News
PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III wants the barangay elections to push through as scheduled this October.
Briefing mediamen in Malacanang, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the President does not see any compelling reason to defer the barangay elections on October 25 this year.
“Regarding the barangay elections, the preference of the President is for the barangay elections to push through in October,” Lacierda said.
To save on funds, Lacierda said the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is proposing the synchronization of the barangay polls with the national elections on May 2013.
The DILG is also proposing the election of only one Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) representative instead of eight in the barangay council.
Senator Miguel Zubiri and House minority leader Rep. Edcel Lagman have filed separate bills seeking the postponement of this year’s barangay and SK polls to October 2012.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is earmarking at least P3.2 billion for the October 25 barangay elections in some 43,000 villages in the country. (PIA-Bohol)
