PinoyBusiness.ORG - Home » President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo

New CDC head assumes post

Roy — Wed, 04 May 2011 18:39:14 +0000

Antonio B. Remollo, former mayor of Dumaguete City, is the new head of the Clark Development Corp. (CDC) replacing Benigno Ricafort, Ateneo law school dean Cesar Villanueva assumed post as CDC chairman, replacing Rizalino Navarro.

Ricafort left to Remollo’s charge a Freeport hosting some P77 billion worth of investments of foreign and domestic firms. He also reported that Clark now employs 60,000 personnel, which is a far cry from the average 24,000 Filipinos employed by the Americans before they left the former US Air Force base.

Ricafort started as CDC board member in 1993 until former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo appointed him CDC head in 2008.

Meanwhile, Remollo had been mayor of Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental from 1998 to 2001. In an interview, Remollo said he would keep the current vice presidents of the CDC although they would be under probation for six months to one year. He said he would retain those proven efficient and dedicated to their work.

Remollo disclosed that he is eyeing enough area in Clark for the construction of a “new Malacañang” as well as buildings to accommodate national government offices. He did not confirmed though if it was motivated by President Aquino, although there were other sectors, both private and public, who wanted to move the country’s government seat to Clark.

One of the top priorities of Remollo, he said, would be the development of Clark as a major tourism destination. “Tourism here could be developed to the maximum also by hosting sports activities as well as promoting medical tourism. We should have a really attractive theme park here,” he said.

Remollo is eyeing particularly the 300 hectares of land by the Philippine Air Force (PAF). The area include a resort with an Olympic-sized swimming pool, an “officers’ club” building with conference rooms, a hotel, and a football field. Said facilities have been noted to be underutilized and deteriorating under the management of the air force.

Possibly Related Topics to Read

Ampatuan faces plunder raps

Roy — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 00:21:16 +0000

Former governor Zaldy U. Ampatuan of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is facing plunder charges. Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo said charges will be filed against Ampatuan after an audit report revealed that unaccounted amount of P2.5 billion in government funds. Robredo said the charges could be filed by the end of the month.

He added that fourteen other officials from the Office of the Regional Governor will also be charged after a report by the Commission on Audit (CoA) showed that the office had alleged anomalous transactions between 2008 and 2009 that have been traced to the missing fund.

“The CoA report lists the circumstances of the malverisation, along with the people that should be held accountable and the pieces of evidence pertinent to the charges. We will submit these to the DoJ for review within the week,” Robredo said.

Robredo met with Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and Solicitor General Jose Anselmo Cadiz to discuss the CoA report about the unaccounted state funds. De Lima said she will form a special panel of prosecutors which will review the documents and recommend action, whether to file charges with the Department of Justice (DoJ) or the Ombudsman.

She said, “We need to evaluate the documents so that we can come up with an appropriate legal strategy in handling the case, such as whether the cases can be split up depending on related acts and transaction.”

Additional charges could also be filed against the former ARMM governor and the others later as three other audits of the Department of Public Works and Highways in ARMM, the social fund of the region, and in the province of Maguindanao are completed. “However, it’s important to get the case rolling because if we wait for the other audits to finish, we could fail to file any case at all,” De Lima said.

The justice chief also noted that during the term of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, widely believed to be a political ally of the Ampatuans, the CoA has not outrightly come up with its report on the audit of ARMM funds. “Never before has there been an audit of ARMM funds, even though we had a lot of information about the funds going to the coffers of the Ampatuans,” said De Lima.

“There are supposed to be auditors assigned to areas like that. It’s either the auditors are afraid or complicit. But more often than not, they would be afraid because no one would dare check whether a particular project exists or has been finished,” she added.

The recently released CoA report, based on an audit of the Office of the Regional Governor of ARMM from January 2008 to September 2009, revealed the office had “a total disregard of the general audit rule that payments must be made in check” as most of the dubious transactions were carried out using cash.

Possibly Related Topics to Read

Texas Insturments looks to more years of operations in the country

Roy — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 13:37:33 +0000

Texas Instruments (TI), one of the world’s leader in the semiconductor industry, has been doing business in the Philippines for more than 30 years, and the company plans to stay longer in the country. In fact, TI has earmarked $1 billion in new investments for its planned expansion of its operation in the country for the next 10 years.

According to TI Philippines president and managing director Norberto “Bing” Viera, they (TI) have good experience in the Philippines in their more than 30 years of operations here, and thus, they want to stay longer and even expand their business.

TI credits skilled and industrious workforce and a government that was very supportive in all their stages of operations, as just some of the factors that influenced them to stay longer in the country. While they have set up in Clark, Pampanga, most of the company’s operations in the Philippines were in Baguio.

TI actually had two choose between two countries, of which Philippines was one, when they are looking for a new site which would serve as a major processing unit in the region. Viera said that the other country was offering them very competitive incentives to locate there, but they choose Philippines because of the aggressiveness of the concerned government officials.

Viera said, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Trade Secretary Peter Favila were very accommodating made the process of operating in the country painless. He said Favila was very helpful in facilitating all the requirements they need to operate in the Philippines.

According to him, the company’s negotiation with the government started in January 2007, and an agreement was signed in April of the same year. After a few months, they were able to break ground for the development of their Clark site. They finished the construction of the 77,000-square feet building in October 2008 which cost them $400 million.

Possibly Related Topics to Read

May 3 is declared holiday

Roy — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 12:55:10 +0000

Labor Day, May 1 falls on a Saturday, following the holiday of economics being observed by the government, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has declared May 3, the nearest Monday to May 1, as a regular holiday throughout the country in observance of the Labor Day.

The declaration is being consistent with the provision under Republic Act 9492 which was enacted on July 24, 2007, indicating that the observance of Labor Day would be on the Monday nearest to May 1. The president followed the provision of the law to allow employees to enjoy a long weekend.

“A longer weekend encourages families to get together and strengthen their relationship towards a more productive environment, as well as promotes domestic tourism and enables employers to plan their work schedules effectively and efficiently, resulting in improved productivity, which is achieved whether the holiday falls on a Friday or Monday,” the Proclamation stated.

The president also instructed the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to issue appropriate circular to implement Proclamation 2043 for the private sector. Because the holiday was moved to May 3, the labor department clarified that those who would work on May 1 will not get holiday pay, but those who will be reporting for work on May 3, will do.

The DOLE also issued the holiday pay guidelines, which will be applied for those who will work on Monday, May 3, which are as follows:

•   If the holiday falls on an employee’s regular workday:
-   If worked, the employee is entitled to 200 percent of his basic wage for the first eight (8) hours and, for work in excess of the 8 hours, an additional 30 percent of his or her hourly rate on the said day.
-   If unworked, the employee is entitled to 100 percent of his or her regular daily rate, provided he or she was present, or was on leave with pay, on the work day immediately preceding the holiday.

•   If the day is the employee’s rest day
-   If worked, the employee is entitled, for the first 8 hours, to 200 percent of his or her daily rate plus 30 percent, and for work in excess of 8 hours, plus 30 percent of his or her hourly rate on the said day.
-   If unworked, the employee is entitled to 100 percent of his or her regular daily rate, provided he or she was present, or was on leave with pay, on the workday immediately preceding the holiday.

The labor department said that those who would like to make clarifications regarding the holiday pay rules may call their call center at telephone no. 527-8000.

Possibly Related Topics to Read

Gibo quits party chairmanship to protest Arroyo’s lack of support

Roy — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 19:38:51 +0000

Recent news on presidential aspirant Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro’s resignation as chairman of the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD came as a shock to everyone. It was clarified though, that despite his resignation of party chairman, Gibo remains to be the presidential bet of the ruling party.

Developments on his resignation from the chairmanship reports that Gibo’s action was a sign of protest against the lack of support from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Allegedly, the Teodoro camp is not receiving the support it needs from the president ever since the official campaign period started last February 9.

Sources said that this (lack of support) is most evident in his low level of spending on political advertisements, as compared with those of the other presidential candidate. His total spending from February 9 to March 2 was said P60 million, which is even lower than that of Bagumbayan bet Senator Richard Gordon, who was said to spend P67 million.

Based on the study by Libertas, using data of media research firm, AGB Nielsen, Teodoro was only fifth in TV ad spending, where he spent only half of what Senator Manny Villar spent on the first month of the presidential campaign. Tallies where as follow:

TV ads from February 9 to March 2, 2010
1.    Manny Villar (NP) P120 million
2.    Joseph Estrada (PMP) P88 million
3.    3. Noynoy Aquino (LP) P87 million
4.    Richard Gordon (Bagumbayan) P67 million
5.    Gibo Teodoro (Lakas-Kampi-CMD) P60 million.

Reports said that the former defense chief was not able to spend as much as he would like on TV ads because President Arroyo, who is the titular head of the party, has not been giving funds to the party. There were also rumors that First Gentleman Mike Arroyo was supporting Nationalista Party bet Villar.

This was also said to be one of the reasons why Teodoro quits his post as chairman of Lakas.

Possibly Related Topics to Read

March 22 to 28 is Water, Energy Week

Roy — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 13:25:02 +0000

March 22 to 28 has been declared as “Clean Water and Energy Week for a Healthy World” by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo through Proclamation No. 2023. The proclamation urged government offices, as well as the private sector, to observe the weeklong event by saving on energy and water resources as the country braces itself for the El Niño dry weather phenomenon.

This is the first year that the water and energy week has been declared in the proclamation which was signed by the president last March 15, and it coincides with the International Year of Biodiversity.

The proclamation states, “The country is now experiencing the impacts of climate change, particularly a water crisis that threatens agricultural productivity, and an energy crisis affecting hydro-powered energy resources that leads to power outages.”

It added, “There is a need to conserve water, a scarce resource which sustains life on Earth, because our quality of life and the health of our ecosystems, man’s life-support systems, depends on water, which is now being threatened by climate change, over-extraction, pollution and wasteful use.”

The president is asking government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), and all government agencies, to link up with the private sector in holding relevant activities which are related to water and energy conservation.

Likewise, President Arroyo is encouraging all government offices to participate in the World Wildlife Fund’s Earth Hour on March 27 by voluntarily switching off lights for one hour to save power. “The fight against climate change requires the urgent and thoughtful participation of all citizens, as well as the collective action of private and public sectors at all levels,” the proclamation also states.

Possibly Related Topics to Read

Boncodin passed away at 55

Roy — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:23:55 +0000

Emilia Boncodin, the former budget Secretary, was reported to dead on Monday due to cardiac arrest at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute. NKTI executive director Enrique Ona signed on the medical bulleting that Boncodin, 55, passed away at 2:05 p.m. “She was admitted on March 10 for difficulty of breathing and anemia and was diagnosed to be on end-stage renal disease,” the bulletin read.

Leah Navarro, convenor of the Black and White Movement, said in a radio interview that Boncodin had been undergoing dialysis for months. In February 2005, Boncodin underwent kidney transplant. Unfortunately her body rejected the kidney from her sister that is why it failed to function.

Teresita Deles, former presidential adviser on the peace process, said that Boncodin had been confined in the NKI since last week. Deles described Boncodin as an “outstanding” public servant and a brilliant professor. “She was an outstanding public servant, someone who grew up in public service. She showed us that it is about serving the country and not for personal gain or prestige,” she said. Deles added that Boncodin entered the Department of Budget and Management at the young age of 18.

The late budget secretary served the DBM’s office as Direct, Assistant Director, Chief Fiscal Planning Specialist, Senior Fiscal Planning Specialist, and Fiscal Planning Specialist prior to becoming the budget secretary. She was also a professor at the National College of Public Administration and Governance of the University of the Philippines.

Boncodin was one of the public officials who resigned from their post at the height of the Hello Garci scandal over charges over charges of electoral fraud against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Together with six other cabinet official and three government executives, the group were collectively known as the “Hyatt 10.”

There is still no announcement on the burial plans. The hospital’s public information office said the family asked for private time and that the P10 has no information as to the family’s plans for Boncodin’s remains.

Meanwhile, Malacañang sent its condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of Boncodin.

Possibly Related Topics to Read

Clark airport expands Terminal 1

Roy — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:07:13 +0000

At the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA), the construction of the P308-million expansion of the existing terminal is in full blast and it is expected to be operation next month. According to Victor Jose Luciano, president and chief executive officer of Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC), the newly expanded Terminal 1 will feature two passenger boarding bridges for the added convenience of passengers.

“We expect this to be operational in April and we will invite President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to lead the inauguration of the new expanded terminal on her birthday, April 5,” he said. The two passenger boarding bridges are expected to arrive at the Clark Civil Aviation Complex in Clark Freeport Zone by the end of this month.

The expanded terminal will have a bigger space for commercial concessionaires and a larger lounge for passengers. It will accommodate an additional 500,000 passengers annually, on top of the current capacity of 2 million passengers.

The expansion will convert the DMIA Terminal 1 into a two-story building with the boarding bridges, flight information display, closed-circuit television camera, background music, public address system, x-ray machines, escalators and elevators.

The DMIA increased its passenger volume last year at an average of 14 percent, with passenger figures breaching the 600,000 mark. That, in spite of the slump in the aviation industry last year, not only in the Asian region but globally.

According to Luciano, more airlines are expected to start operations at the DMIA following completion of the terminal expansion of which the new facilities will add to the convenience of travelers.

The airline companies operating at the DMIA at present are Asiana Airlines of South Korea that flies to Incheon; the Philippines’ Cebu Pacific Air that services Bangkok, Singapore, Macau and Hong Kong; Air Asia Berhad of Malaysia which flies to Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur; Singapore’s Tiger Airways with daily flights to Singapore; the Spirit of Manila that flies to Taipei; and the Southeast Asian Airlines that flies to Caticlan for travelers who are going to the island resort of Boracay.

Possibly Related Topics to Read

Remonde to recieve presintial honors

Roy — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:36:22 +0000

A posthumous presidential citation was given by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to the late Press Secretary Cerge Remonde for the latter’s exemplary public service as government official and noted journalist.

Remonde, who was 51 years old, died of heart attack on Tuesday morning in his house in Makati City. He was found unconscious by aides at home in Bel-Air, Makati City. They immediately brought him to the nearby Makati Medical Center, but efforts to revive the late secretary failed.

President Arroyo said that Remonde, who is one of the longest serving officials in her administration, will be sorely missed. “I have a lot of fond memories of Cerge. He got along very well with my grandson Diggy (Diosdado Miguel, of Dato) because Cerge has not children so he was very fond of my grandson,” she said.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said he is not yet sure at to what citation will be conferred to Remonde, but he said it could be the Order of Lakandula.

Philippine Information Agency (PIA) director general Conrado Limcaoco was appointed by the president as officer-in-charge of the office of the Press Secretary. She likewise stressed that Remonde’s permanent replacement should be acceptable to members of the Malacañang Press Corps.

Remonde’s widow, Danish Citize Marit Stinus-Remonde, told reporters how hardworking he was. She told how he continued to perform his duties as press secretary despite the intense pressures and daily frustrations. “He told me sometimes no matter how explains the truth, his statements get twisted. He often hoped and prayed that some would remove their biases,” Marit said.

Marit, 44, met Remonde in Manila back in 1992. They got married two years later but remained childless.

She also said that Remonde already wrote his last will and testament a few years ago, but she thought she was not ready to open it yet.

Possibly Related Topics to Read

BSP to print new money design this year

Roy — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 08:20:10 +0000

Anytime this year, we will be seeing new designs in our money, both in bills and coins. The new money designed are set for printing within the year, said the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), after getting the approval of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Among the new design would be the new P500 bill that would include a portrait of the late President Corazon Aquino beside former Senator Benigno Aquino.

BSP Governor Amando M. Tetangco Jr. said they are choosing from the three favorite photographs of the late Chief Executive to be included in the new P500 bill. They will also submit the chosen photo for the redesigned bill to the Aquino family for their approval.

BSP Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo leads the central bank officials who comprise the numismatic committee, who also includes representatives from the national historical commission, including Ambeth Ocampo and Dr. Jimmy Laya. The committee is finalizing the design of the new banknotes and coins.

The BSP governor said the new banknotes and coins would feature national wonders. “We have looked at several designs. This will require presidential approval,” Tetangco added.

The central bank official hopes to get the approval of the president on the new designs of the banknotes and coins before June this year, the end of Arroyo’s term. Old banknotes and coins would still be considered legal tender, Tetangco said, adding that replacement would be gradual.

The central bank made the announcement last year of its plan to do a massive facelift of banknotes and coins to further enhance security features and improve durability. It added that the existing design of banknotes and coins was made three decades ago.

The new designs of banknotes and coins would still have the same color as the old series, to avoid confusion. But they would have enhanced security features, according to BSP’s director for its Corporate Affairs Office.

Possibly Related Topics to Read

Philippines received pledges for environment-related projects

Roy — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 08:48:31 +0000

And so President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s trip to Copenhagen, Denmark seems to be fruitful. If the said pledges amounting to $380 million (P17.67 billion) in foreign funding for environment-related projects and programs in the Philippines would materialize.

Arriving yesterday at 5:30 a.m. from her climate change meet in Copenhagen, Denmark, Arroyo said even if the United Nations Summit in Climate Change failed to reach a binding agreement on cutting emissions, it has succeeded in bringing world leaders together to “solve the problem that affects the whole world.”

The statement that Press Secretary Cerge Remonde says, “No longer can the world’s top polluters sweep this problem under the rug. The issue is now firmly on the table for everyone to see. There is no going back. All nations, rich and poor, have all noticed that they must come to grips with this raging problem.”

Continuing reading the statement, Remonde said, “While the results were not enough, it is a step toward the right direction that will eventually lead us down the path to a cleaner, greener world for future generations. The Philippines will continue to do its part through advocacy and support for a global treaty on the reduction of gas emissions. This is the only way forward if we are to make a real difference.”

Pledges for environment-related projects came from the World Bank (WB) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), who pledged $250 million from the Clean Technology Fund (CTF). The Global Environment Fund also pledged $50 million and another $10 million from the investment funds of Denmark to support the development of the Philippine’s water utility system.

Aside from the CTF, the WB also pledged $70 million for forestry-related projects.

“These funds will go a long way to helping us adjust the impact of global warming on our beautiful island nation. This was a small step but an important one for the developing world as we are the smallest contributors to climate change but the ones who suffer the most,” Remonde said.

Possibly Related Topics to Read

PGMA to run for Congress next year

Roy — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:41:17 +0000

And so ends months of speculations as the president of the country finally made known to the public her political plan for 2010. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo made the official announcement in an interview aired over government radio.

“I will file my candidacy for Congress in order to serve the hardworking people of my home province,” she said.

“While I’m very much looking forward to stepping down at the end of my term, I have been mulling different ways to stay involved. I was looking at going back to teaching and examined working with non-profit organization on issues ranging from the environment to women’s issues. After much contemplation, I realized I am not ready to step down completely from public service.”

The president’s decision, an unprecedented one as far as the nation’s political history is concerned, was said to have been brought about by the clamor from her constituents from Pampanga for her to run.

She is said to file her certificate of candidacy (COC) tomorrow, December 1 – the last day of filing at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in San Fernando, Pampanga. Although she won’t do it personally, a representative will file the COC on her behalf.

On the questions about the legality of her decision, election lawyer Romulo B. Macalintal said that there are no provisions in the law that prohibits a president to seek another elective post after his or her term as president, except the presidency itself.

“There is no legal question on that. There are no legal impediments that would disallow the president to run in the 2010 elections,” Macalintal said.

Juan Miguel M. Arroyo, the president’s son and currently the congressman of the second district of Pampanga, will not run and seek reelection to give way to her mother as she vie for the said elective post.

Possibly Related Topics to Read

President declared state of emergency in Maguindanao

Roy — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:17:11 +0000

Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato City were placed under a state of emergency by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo after the gruesome massacre of dozens of people in the election hotspot in Mindanao. The president also ordered a swift and impartial probe into massive killings.

Under Proclamation No. 1946, she directed the military and police to curb lawlessness and ensure safety of the people in the three areas under emergency declaration.

As of Tuesday, death toll have reached 46. Police and soldiers found 22 bodies in a hillside mass grave Tuesday, adding to the 24 bullet-riddled bodies recovered near the scene of Monday’s massacre in Maguindanao province.

In announcing the emergency declaration, the president said, “There is an urgent need to prevent and suppress the occurrence of several other incidents of lawless violence.” She also authorized the police and military to “undertake such measures as maybe allowed by the Constitution and by law to prevent and suppress all incidents of lawless violence in the aforesaid areas.”

The declaration of state of emergency allows for warrantless arrests, crackdown on private armies and disarmament of civilians in the concerned areas. This will be enforced until it is lifted or withdrawn by the president.

According to press secretary Cerge Remonde, the president also ordered the authorities to immediately conduct an “impartial” probe into the incident amid reports that the powerful Ampatuan clan is involved in the atrocity.

He also assured the media that the investigation would be “transparent and impartial” adding that the government would prosecute the perpetrators regardless of power and influence.

“It has to be pointed out the parties involved in this conflict are both allies of the administration. It is a misimpression to believe that only one party is an ally of the administration. Both parties involved in the conflict are allies of the administration,” Remonde said.

Possibly Related Topics to Read

Oil companies started raising fuel prices

Roy — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:04:25 +0000

The major oil companies, as well as the small players, have already started raising the prices of fuel. This move seems to be legal as far as the oil firms is concerned since President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo have already lifted Executive Order 839 before she left for Singapore to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) last Sunday.

It was small players though who lead the raising of their fuel products, who implemented a price increase on Monday, a day after the EO 839 was lifted. Eastern Petroleum Corp., Unioil Petroleum, Flying V and Phoenix Petroleum Philippines were the first to pump up their gas prices last Monday.

Flying V was among the first to admit that they implemented an increase of P1 to P2 per liter in areas which they said their competitors also raised prices.

Eastern Petroleum meanwhile, has increased the price of their diesel by P2 per litter on Monday, while their gasoline and kerosene were up by P1.25 and P1.50 respectively.

An increase of P1.50 per liter on all its product was implemented by Unioil Petroleum, and Phoenix raised diesel prices by P2 per liter and gasoline by P1.50 per liter.

Following the lead of their smaller counterparts, major players also raised their pump prices from P1.50 to P2 per liter across products effective at 12:01 a.m.

Petron Corporation, Chevron Philippines and Pilipinas Shell Petroleum made their price adjustment, close to midnight on Tuesday.

EO 839 has prohibited companies from raising the prices of fuel products and was mandated to freeze them in their October 15 levels. Since then, these companies have clamoring for its lifting, even filing a motion for the issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) which was denied.

One of the conditions of President Arroyo when she lifted EO 839 was that the oil companies will increase their prices on a staggered basis, so expect these increases to have more rounds as companies try to recover what they believed they lost because of the implementation of the price cap.

Possibly Related Topics to Read

Smart provided Internet connection to Pampanga high school

Roy — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:49:21 +0000

Last week, a public high school in Floridablanca, Pampanga, became the first school to receive Smart Communication’s high-speed wireless Internet connection.

In spite of the presence of different Internet shops in the town proper, the Paguiruan High School (PHS) is a “dead” spot. Thanks to Smart, it received the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), a technology that enables high-speed wireless Internet connection to a wider area.

The turn-over ceremony was held last Wednesday at the school, attended by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) and Smart chairman Manuel Pangilinan. During the ceremony, Arroyo expressed her gratitude to Pangilinan.

“We should thank Manny for always helping the province. Now, let’s thank him again for providing Internet connection,” the president said. She said Smart’s initiative was a “God-sent contribution to the government’s aspiration to provide computer connectivity in every high school.”

Arroyo also said that information and communication technology (ICT) should serve as the foundation of progress. “It’s difficult to have no access to the Internet. Though we have few computer sets, what is important is these are connected to the Internet,” she said.

For his part, Pangilinan thanked Arroyo for her vision of tapping into ICT as a tool for learning. Pangilinan, who was also from Pampanga and a native of Apalit town, said that Smart had already provided broadband Internet access to 272 public and private schools in the country under the Smart Schools Program.

The school principal, Jesusa Agustin, said the Department of Education (DepEd) gave them 11 desktop computer sets last year. ICT coordinator of PHS, Chito Ramos, said the basic computer training that they received from DepEd would come in handy as they teach the students the proper ways of using Internet-connected computers to enhance learning.

Possibly Related Topics to Read

Executive Order 839 lifted by President Arroyo

Roy — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 08:22:58 +0000

The Executive Order 839, the government order which froze the price on petroleum products and basic commodities, has been lifted by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The lifting of EO 839 will made effective on Monday. EO 839 froze pump prices at October 15 levels in Luzon, which is still officially under a state of calamity.

“I shouldn’t leave the country without addressing the issue of Executive Order 839. I want to assure our investors that the price controls were our temporary response to the calamities, and the private sector is viewed as a partner, not an enemy or a nuisance, by the state,” Arroyo said.

Oil firms and traders, however, were made to promise to recover their losses on a staggered basis, stabilize prices and supply of goods, and put in more investments and programs for the poor.

The decision to lift EO 839 was announced by Arroyo last Friday during an emergency meeting held at Malacañang with representatives of oil companies, chamber of commerce, distributors and retailers, as well as officials of labor and transport groups, two hours before her scheduled departure for Singapore for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Summit.

In her announcement, the president said, “We hope there will be no drastic increases when we lift the EO. And if the world market dictates increases, you make it on a staggered basis over time.” She also sets three conditions for the lifting of the EO to cushion the expected surge in fuel prices.

Arroyo said that some form of subsidy or discount in selected areas, particularly those hit by the recent natural calamities, must be provided by the oil companies. The second was that, companies should also recover their reported losses or adjust to changes in global crude prices on a staggered basis. And that, oil firms should also increase their investments in the country to spur economic activity and create jobs.

“Please comply with the conditions we set today,” the president reiterated.

“The bottom line is that we would like fares to remain the same in the next sixth months, assuming the world markets remain stable. If international pump prices become very high, then we can review this policy,” Arroyo said.

Possibly Related Topics to Read

Panlilio joins LP as he vows to help push Noynoy’s candidacy

Roy — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:13:42 +0000

On Thursday, Pampanga Governor Eddie Panlilio will be officially sworn as a Liberal Party (LP) member. The party is making preparations for the preparations of Among Ed, said LP director general Chito Gascon.

Among Ed is joining the LP as he helps push the candidacies of Senators Benigno Aquino III and Manuel Roxas II as president and vice president, respectively, in the 2010 elections. Panlilio withdrew his plan to run for president and opted to support Aquino’s bid. His LP membership however, Panlilio said, does not mean that he is seeking reelection as governor of Pampanga.

He said, as LP coordinator in Pampanga, he would be organizing the slate in the home province of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo that is dominated by the administration’s Lakas-Kampi-CMD. “We will strengthen the LP and the candidacies of Noynoy and Mar by bringing good and ethical leaders to the party. The LP will also help us, Kapampangans, sustain the crusade for good governance,” said Panlilio.

Meanwhile, Pampanga Vice Governor Joseller “Yeng” Guiao, who has also expressed support the candidacy of Noynoy as president, denied allegations that he have applied to the LP nor courted the support of the party for his bid as governor. “My support for Noynoy is not preconditioned by anything. The party is secondary. The closeness of our families is, to me, most important,” Guiao said.

Yeng’s father, former governor Bren Guiao, was an ally of the late President Corazon Aquino, the senator’s mother who died last August 1. Guiao said, in reference to Panlilio’s membership in the LP, “I don’t think it’s going to change anything in terms of my personal decision and plan.”

The vice governor’s statement was confirmed by Gascon who said that Guiao has not given a hint or statement that he wanted to move to the LP.

Possibly Related Topics to Read

2010 budget approved by the House of Representatives

Roy — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:51:16 +0000

The proposed P1.514-trillion national budget for 2010 by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was approved last night on the third and final reading by the House of Representatives who voted 175-6 in favor of the proposed budget.

House Speaker Prospero Nograles said the budget would now be sent to the Senate. “We hope to approve it before the end of the year. As I have promised, there will be no reelected budget during my watch,” he said.

The speaker has just returned from an official visit to the United States in time for the resumption of the session of Congress. Nograles, before announcing the votes, told his colleagues that the President signed on Nov. 3 Senate-House Joint Resolution 5. The resolution authorizes her to augment this year’s calamity fund by P12 billion. The additional P12 billion would be used for relief and rehabilitation in areas devastated by the recent onslaught of typhoons.

For his part, party-list group Abakada-Guro Rep. Jonathan Dela Cruz suggested that the bicameral conference committee on the measure recast it so that more funds would be allotted for the reconstruction of typhoon-ravaged communities. Dela Cruz voted in favor of the budget.

Dela Cruz added that the P50-billion reconstruction fund should be sourced from a “reworking” of credit terms with the country’s creditors. He said, “I believe that given the country’s present circumstance, we have a golden opportunity to seek relief from our creditors, foreign and local.”

Nueva Ecija Representative Edno Joson, however, lamented that despite the expenditure of hundreds of billions and now trillions in taxpayers’ money every year, “We are still in the clutches of mass poverty.” Joson was one of the six congressmen who voted against the 2010 budget.

“Our people literally hunger and thirst for government services, the most basic of which are food, shelter, health and education. For the past 50 years, government has failed to provide these most basic of services,” Joson said.

He added that the annual budget, as a tool for development, has not been put to good use. This is because the nation’s leaders have failed miserably in alleviating mass poverty and have succeeded only in enriching themselves, “We have only ourselves to blame,” he said.

Possibly Related Topics to Read

Arroyo to step down as party president

Roy — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:30:10 +0000

Talks has it that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will be stepping down as president of the merged Lakas-Kampi-CMD party in order to boost the presidential bid of administration candidate Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro, Jr. The news was confirmed by Pampanga first district Rep. Carmelo Lazatin, who said Arroyo disclosed her plan during a closed-door meeting at the Fontana Convention Center.

“She said she felt she was not contributing positively to the candidacy of Teodoro so it would be better for her to resign and give way to younger leaders,” Lazatin said.

The meeting, which lasted about an hour, was also attended to by Malacañang External Affairs Secretary Edgardo Pamintuan and Mabalacat Mayor Marino Morales. It was held after the opening of the 3-day 2nd National Information and Communication Technology Confederation of the Philippines at Fontana, where President Arroyo was the guest speaker.

According to Lazatin, Morales and Pamintuan tried to discourage Arroyo from resigning as party president but it seems they have failed. For his part, he said, “I am prepared to respect and support whatever the decision of the President is.”

The president however did not mention who she wanted to take over her post as party president, but Lazatin believed that it would be former Rep. Prospero Pichay who now heads the Local Water Utilities Administration, who’ll be most likely to take the post. Pichay was said to frequently accompany Arroyo lately in her numerous sorties in Pampanga.

The Lakas-Kampi-CMD executive committee was initially scheduled to meet on November 19. However, there were reports that the committee would meet on November 11 instead, where the President would be announcing her decision to resign her position as party president. She would then remain with the merged party as an ordinary member, said Lazatin.

Arroyo’s political plans however were not discussed during the meeting, although Lazatin said that some months ago, some of his colleagues in Congress were mapping out plans for her to run for Congress.

Possibly Related Topics to Read

Nov 27 and 28 are not national holidays

Roy — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:46:59 +0000

The last days of November this year was supposed to give the Filipino employees a five-day weekend with November 27 and 28 declared as national holidays based on the Proclamation 1808 issued earlier this year. The said national holidays was supposed to be in celebration of the Muslim feast of Eid’l Adha.

However, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo issued last Monday Proclamation No. 1808-A, which amends the original proclamation of the two days as national holidays. Arroyo cited the provisions of Republic Act 9492 or the law rationalizing the country’s holidays, which states that Eid’l Adha shall be celebrated as a regional holiday in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

In her original proclamation, the President declared that the great feast of our Muslim brothers should be given equal treatment and importance as the ones celebrated by the Christians like Christmas Day, Easter Sunday and All Saints’ Day. However, Arroyo was advised that as per RA 9492, Eid’l Adha was specifically stated as a regional holiday in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

RA 9492 grants powers to the President to move the dates of certain holidays to either the nearest Friday or Monday in order to allow the employees to spend more time with their families. It also allows the President to declare special non-working holidays.

But some holidays have fixed dates, and others, like the Eid’l Adha, were specifically meant to be celebrated only in a region.

This brings bad news to those who have already made plans for the supposed to be long weekend on the last part of this part. Still, in spite of the declaration, employees still gets to enjoy a longer weekend with November 30, Monday, a national holiday for the commemoration of the birthday of our hero Andres Bonifacio.