by magnolia_eic | Jul 28, 2010 | Headlines, National News
THE Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) welcomes the intention of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to resume peace talks, but is wary that “little details” may yet derail the peace process.
“We cannot question (his) intention (but the) devils in negotiations is in the details,” said MILF peace panel member, lawyer Lanang Ali, in an article on the MILF website.
“Sometimes, words are used to conceal what is in the hearts of men,” Ali said, but added Aquino enjoys a relatively high trust rating among the Moros of Mindanao at this time.
In his first State of the Nation Address (SONA), Aquino said peace and tranquility can be achieved if “those affected will talk with one another— the Moro, Lumad, Christians.” Aquino said peace negotiations with the MILF can resume after the Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting which begins on August 11 this year and ends on September 9.
However, Datu Antonio Kinoc, an alternate member of the MILF peace panel representing the indigenous tribes of Mindanao, said the SONA was “very soft and merely repeated the old cliché that in order to solve the problem, ‘people-to-people’ talking to each other is encouraged.”
He said the problem in Mindanao is rooted in sovereignty issues and the conflict requires sincere, hard, and objective solution. “More importantly, political will is the key to solving this conflict,” Kinoc said. (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | Jul 26, 2010 | Headlines, National News
A Catholic Church official urged President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to state publicly his position on the controversial reproductive health (RH) bill in his first State of the Nation Address on July 26.
Fr. Melvin Castro, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Commission on Family and Life, said on Thursday Aquino should lay down his plan regarding family planning.
“His next years at the helm of the government would show if he believes our populace is an asset or liability … Our appeal to him is prioritize good governance and poverty would be solved,” Castro said in an article posted on the CBCP news site.
Earlier, Philippine bishops urged Aquino to reject current policies that promote artificial contraception to control the country’s growing population.
CBCP President Nereo Odchimar said the government must protect the sanctity of life by putting an end to contraceptive mentality.
Odchimar said the bishops hope the new administration will not pursue programs that promote the use of contraceptives such as condoms and pills.
Aquino has been known to be in favor of the reproductive health bill, saying he wants contraceptives to be available in government health centers, the CBCP noted. (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | Jul 26, 2010 | Headlines, National News
PRESIDENT Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III is on the third draft of his first State of the Nation Address (SONA), but Cabinet members’ numerous inputs are giving him a hard time to keep it short and simple.
Currently, the draft speech’s length is around 15 pages long, which will take him about 25 to 30 minutes to deliver, so the President is trying to shorten his speech, Communications Group official Ricky Carandang told reporters on Thursday.
Aquino’s SONA speech, which he will deliver at the Batasan Pambansa on July 26, will cover key points and relevant findings of the status reports submitted to him by his Cabinet, and his administration’s immediate plans as well.
Cabinet members finished submitting their findings regarding their respective departments on Wednesday night.
Another Communications Group official, Manuel L. Quezon III, who also served as Aquino’s inaugural spokesman, said Aquino is aiming to limit his speech to around 30 minutes.
He said the tone of Aquino’s speech will be “conversational.” (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | Jul 19, 2010 | Headlines, National News
THE Aquino government filed its first tax evasion case on Thursday to launch its campaign to shore up shaky revenues and cut the budget deficit by cracking down on corruption and enforcing tax collection laws.
Finance officials went to the justice department to file tax evasion charges against pawnshop owner William Villarica, who they said paid only P25,600 in income tax between 1998 and 2009, but was able to buy a P26 million Lamborghini sports car.
“We would like to inform the paying public that it’s no longer business as usual and chances of being caught is higher,” Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima told reporters.
Newly installed Bureau of Internal Revenue chief Kim Henares said that the tax agency has been investigating Villarica since 2007, but was only able to file a criminal case against him now.
In the meantime, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said she was reviewing tax cases referred by the finance department, pointing to a list that had names of 16 individuals and corporations.
The Philippines had a tax collection rate of 12.8% of its gross domestic product (GDP), lower than the regional average of 16 %, the finance minister said. (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | Jul 15, 2010 | Headlines, National News, Weather Coverage
MALACAÑANG is set to review the country’s weather forecasting system after President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III admonished the state weather bureau for failing to predict that Typhoon Basyang was headed for Metro Manila.
President Aquino told reporters at Camp Aguinaldo that he wants more “precision” in the way the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) predicts weather movements.
The PAGASA weather bulletin on Tuesday said Basyang would batter Northern and Central Luzon areas, and listed Metro Manila among the areas that would be under Storm Signal No. 1, with 30 to 60 kilometers-per-hour winds. However, the storm hit the metropolis before dawn Wednesday, cutting off power supply in most areas.
“Changes should be known to the public at the earliest possible time,” said Aquino, adding that delays in weather forecast advisories slow down government response.
Aquino said there should also be improvements in the dissemination of information, such as finding ways to inform small-time fishermen who cannot afford radio equipment if there have been changes in the weather so they can immediately go back to shore.
Aquino earlier reprimanded PAGASA for failing to announce that the typhoon would hit hard Metro Manila. (PIA-Bohol)
