by magnolia_eic | Jul 30, 2010 | Headlines, National News
Manila, Philippines — The Supreme Court has ruled that the sugar mill in the plantation owned by President Aquino’s family had acted in “bad faith” when it’s workers 13th month pay was reduced following the violent strike that resulted to the death of 14 people.
In a July 26 unanimous decision released yesterday, the court’s second division ordered Central Azucarera de Tarlac (CAT) to honor its long-established formula in computing the bonus.
Observing that the benefit enjoyed for over 30 years was only reduced after the violent strike that happened in 2004, the Supreme Court declared that “this act of petitioner in changing the formula at this time cannot be sanctioned as it indicates a badge of bad faith”.
Click here for full article from Inquirer
by magnolia_eic | Jul 30, 2010 | Headlines, National News
Manila, Philippines — President Benigno Aquino III has signed the executive order reorganizing the Office of the Press Secretary into the Communications Group (ComGroup). This is to be headed jointly by two secretaries with Cabinet rank.
The two secretaries will have separate budgets which will be defended during the budget deliberations in Congress this year.
Secretary Herminio Coloma said the EO formally establishing the ComGroup has already been signe by the president but will have to be assigned a number still, adding that the records office still has to complete the process.
Click here for full article from Inquirer
by magnolia_eic | Jul 29, 2010 | Headlines, National News
Manila, Philippines– In a visit to the 24th anniversary of the Philippine Star, President Benigno Aquino III has bared that negotiations for the lease of the Navy’s major facilities on Roxas Boulevard and in Taguig City for private commercial development in order to raise funds for the fleet’s modernization are already in its advanced stages.
He also said the private developer is willing to give an initial $100 million as goodwill money, enough for the Philippine Navy to purchase four new ships to patrol the country’s 36,000 nautical miles of coastline. He noted that the Navy currently has 32 ships in its fleet, and most of these vessels are older than him. Mr. Aquino is 50 years old. The President has refused to name the developer until the deal has been finalized.
Such lease proposal has been mentioned by President Aquino during his State of the Nation Address.
In response to President Aquino’s announcement, Philippine Navy Spokesman Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo said
“The Philippine Navy welcomes this development,” adding that the Navy needs to modernize, but has no money, such that alternative sources of funding are needed.
Click here for full story from The Philippine Star
by magnolia_eic | Jul 29, 2010 | Headlines, National News
FINANCE Secretary Cesar Purisima has directed the Commission on Audit (COA) to examine the books of government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) as well as government financial institutions (GFIs), with June 30, 2010, as the cut-off date.
“The date is important for establishing accountability,” Purisima told reporters, adding that financial audits “take a while” to complete.
Of particular interest are the books of the National Food Authority, which reported total liabilities of P171 billion as of May 2010—an amount, he said, that quintupled from a mere P28 billion in 2003.
Purisima said President Benigno Aquino III “presented his findings in the SONA” based on his officials’ “examination of some documents available” to them.
He said the COA would also look into the financial condition of the National Irrigation Administration, National Electrification Administration and Philippine National Railways, among others.
Many GOCCs and GFIs are money-losing entities led by political appointees who often have little expertise in their fields of concern. (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | Jul 28, 2010 | Headlines, National News
PRESIDENT Benigno Simeon Aquino III’s first State of the Nation Address (SONA) drew mixed reactions even from Catholic Church officials.
Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma said he found some of what Aquino said “promising” although his proposed actions to address the country’s problems had been tried before.
Yet, he said Aquino has selected capable Cabinet members and that makes him confident the President can realize his vision of a clean and honest society. He also cited Aquino’s drive to work for peace in Mindanao, which was among some of the bishops’ concerns.
On the other hand, Ledesma said Aquino did not address directly a 13-point agenda proposed by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.
For his part, militant priest Jose Dizon said he wished Aquino spoke more of land reform than of infrastructure. He said the speech content and delivery were “uninspiring.”
For her part, Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines co-chairwoman Sister Mary John Mananzan said the speech was practical and centered on “making the life of people better by doing the right things.” (PIA-Bohol)
