Fake Nationalists in the Philippines

Calling the KMU, MAKABAYAN, BAYAN MUNA, GABRIELLA, and others like these fake nationalists, why are you not staging protest rallies in front of the obnoxious chinese embassy? C'mon boys /gals, show your love for your country!!!

Hey congresswoman Edcel Lagman, why are you not making any noise in Congress against the illegal, bullying activites of the obnoxious chinese in the Spratlys? - from Philippine Star

Legal Policy Advisor Job in the Philippines

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, is looking for a Legal & Policy Advisor to support its Investment Climate Program (see attached Terms of Reference).

 

Those qualified and interested in applying should submit their:

 

1.      CV (no more than 5 pages) that addresses the qualifications indicated in the attached TOR and contains the following information: 

        •   complete name and current contact info (e-mail address, telephone and mobile numbers);

        •   related formal education and special training;

        •   work experience;

        •   specific skills and know-how that will be useful in this job; and

        •   at least three references (professional).

2.   One-page Expression of Interest (EOI) indicating why s/he is suitable for the job.

Please send by courier or mail your EOI and CV (Subject: EOI-Legal & Policy Advisor) before 5pm Monday, 30 May 2011 to the IFC, 11th Floor, Ayala Tower, Ayala Triangle, Makati City or fax it at fax no. 848-7339 (we will not consider EOIs sent via e-mail).

All applications will be treated in strict confidence. Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Short-listed candidates will be required to write a test and come for an interview.

We thank you in advance for your interest and look forward to receiving your EOI & CV on or before the specified deadline.

Meaning of Extraordinary Life

Extraordinary life does not mean living in glamor, riches, popularity and power. You can be extraordinary even in the way you love people differently, motivate them to reach their dreams faithfully and change their mindset and values towards good living.

Some people today are very much concerned on getting more titles, degrees, achievements and honors for themselves. But they do not become good, loving and wonderful neighbors, friends and relatives to others.

Start Getting Extraordinary!!! This is the life that I am promoting now through my books, inspirational materials and trainings. Live the life God wanted us to be, and not the life dictated by the modern world trends. - by Ralph Oscar Bagaboyboy

Peak of Success

You are not required to change the way you are because you reach the peak of success. There are people now who change so differently when they become successful in their career. They don't mingle anymore with those they think are in low estate of life. They drive their cars to neighborhood even if it is a walking distance and forget old poor friends and relatives anymore.

Bear in mind, whatever highness of feelings and attitude you have right now will later on bring you down if you don't learn to believe that any people who come in and out of your life are God's amazing angels to help make your life complete.- by Ralph Oscar Bagaboyboy

Superiority of our Intelligence

Sometimes we think we are Lords in our own way. When we believe in the superiority of our intelligence, skills and experiences, we think also of others as inferior to us. We dictate them what to do, abuse their being who they are and underestimate their capacity to prove they can.

Wake up my friend!!! All of us in this world are caretakers of God's place on earth. Never think of yourself as higher than anybody else for we are all animals made humans by God so we can give love and kindness to everyone. - by Ralph Oscar Bagaboyboy

Southern Luzon International Airport (SLIA) in Daraga, Albay

Outgoing Department of Transportation and Communications Secretary Jose "Ping" de Jesus has assured Albay Governor Joey Salceda that the construction of the Southern Luzon International Airport (SLIA) in Daraga, Albay would be in full steam following the inclusion of the P500 million fund in the DOTC budget next year.

During their meeting last week, Salceda said De Jesus announced that the P500 million earlier slashed by Congress from the P870 million originally proposed in the National Expenditure Program (NEP) for 2011, is being restored in the DOTC 2012 budget upon the request of the Regional Development Council (RDC) and the provincial government of Albay.

At present, the SLIA is working on a P370-million fund involving site development and the construction of concrete road network that would link the airport site to the Maharlika Highway in Daraga.

Bidding documents for the P370-million 2011 budget are now being readied and it would be procured by the DOTC central office, Salceda said.

Salceda said De Jesus assured him that the DOTC has strongly and clearly reiterated that the SLIA in Albay is a national priority of President Benigno S. Aquino III given its impact to Bicol's tourism and the overall economic development of the countryside.

The DOTC believes that an international airport in the Bicol region would place a critical role in tourism, provide easy access for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and open neighboring markets that would boost the region's economy.

Data from the SLIA feasibility study indicate that tourism in the last four years (1997-2000) in Bicol had posted 1.2 million visitors (foreign – 65,016; domestic – 1.1 million and OFWs with 20,066). The figure constituted about four percent of the total number of tourist arrivals in the Philippines, and about two percent of the total foreign visitors in the country.

The DOTC said the SLIA in Albay would be an alternate gateway given the congested traffic in existing international airports in Metro Manila.

As for the travel demand market, Salceda said Bicol alone has 5.4 million people and Samar provinces with 1.65 million for a total market of 7.1 million.

"If we were a country, we would be as big as Hong Kong and Tajikistan, slightly smaller than Switzerland, Israel, Honduras and Bulgaria and certainly bigger than Libya, Finland, Singapore, Nicaragua, Laos, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Ireland," Salceda said.

The DOTC technical study concluded that Daraga is the most suitable location for an international airport in Bicol given its "wind conditions" conducive year-round to air transportation unlike other newly proposed sites.

Considering the sheer lack of financial resources of the government, a new strategy has evolve this is by way of build and privatize, popularly known as "public-private"" partnership.

Under the public-private partnership (PPP), the government will essentially build the airport but its terminal construction and airport operation will be bid out under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) scheme.

Salceda said, this strategy reduces the financial cash out and reduces the construction period of the investor, thus making it more attractive to potential investors.

The BOT format that will be presented for international competitive bidding is also being accelerated. The budget of about P10 million for the BOT feasibility study will be funded by the P300 million PPP FS budget of the BOT Center.

He said the DOTC is in the process to studying a proposal to "bundle the privatization of the Old Legazpi Airport with the BOT for the Southern Luzon International Airport". This will give an incentive to the BOT investor to accelerate the SLIA construction so it can immediately access the land of the Old Legazpi national airport.

The Legazpi airport has the best locational advantage in terms of commercial potential since it is right at the center of existing commercial and residential development, Salceda said.

The PPP scheme would allow private investors to develop the old Legazpi airport into an "integrated resort" much like Sentosa in Singapore which can easily create new business opportunities and incremental jobs.

For the local government of Legazpi and Daraga, the PPP scheme would also mean a bonanza in real property taxes since both will now be operated by private firms with Legazpi City's 75 hectares in the Old Legazpi National Airport to get P56 million in tax revenue while Daraga's 140 hectares in the SLIA at some P14 million.

Philippine Navy operatives backed by policemen

Philippine Navy operatives backed by policemen intercepted Wednesday a shipment of a truckload of tanbark at a private pier in this city, a Navy official announced Thursday.

Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) chief Commodore Armando Guzman said the confiscated tanbark was just unloaded from a vessel, M/L Marwiza, which docked at Wee Bin wharf in Barangay Baliwasan.

Guzman said the truck, which was about to leave the private port, was loaded with 310 sacks of tanbark.

"The tanbark is to be delivered to an undetermined warehouse somewhere in this city which is now being located by the joint Navy and Police operatives," he said.

He said the harvesting of tanbark has been outlawed in the Philippines since this tree bark when removed kills the mangrove trees.

Mangrove trees are important to the environment since they provide many diverse species of birds, mammals, crustacea, and fish a unique irreplaceable habitat.

Guzman disclosed that tanbark is commonly smuggled to Malaysia and Indonesia and is highly valued as a source of organic dye used in making batik cloth. (PNA)

Davao City Scholarship for College Students

The city government has allocated P45 million budget for the expanded scholarship on tertiary education program (STEP) this school year, according to Lemuel Ortonio, chief of staff of the City Mayor's Office here.

Ortonio said the budget has increased from P30 million as Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio wanted to cater to a total of 420 scholars this year.

He said Mayor Sara wanted the 420 scholars to exist until they will graduate from the institutions that partnered with the city government. They were advised that they should be disciplined and continue to strive in their studies to finish college.

In the launching on the educational benefit system unit recently, Duterte-Carpio signed a memorandum of agreement with the different institutions like the University of Mindanao (UM), University of the Philippines-Mindanao (UP-Min), Holy Cross of Davao College (DHDC), San Pedro College (SPC) and Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU).

The agreement formalized the partnership with the schools in the monitoring and development of the scholars' academic performance.

On the other hand, the educational benefit system unit will handle the various scholarship programs such as the STEP, Lumad Educational Assistance Program, educational assistance for the Airport and Sasa bombing victims and City Councilor Edgar Ibuyan's Rody Sagop Bata.

Ortonio said the educational assistance for the Lumads provide P1,500 per beneficiary. At least 60 lumads from Marilog and Paquibato districts are given financial assistance under the program.

Furthermore, he said the scholarship grant program for the Lumads and Moros who want to enroll in law and medicine courses is still open. (PNA)

General Santos City News - Hand Grenade Explosion in GenSan City

Unidentified men lobbed a fragmentation grenade early Thursday at a house of an official of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BIMP) here but no casualties were reported.

Senior Supt. Cedric Train, city police director, said the explosion at around 12:40 a.m. partially damaged a portion of the façade of jail Insp. Panga Arab's residence in Purok Saway in Barangay Labangal here.

Based on their initial investigation, he said four unidentified persons aboard a black Suzuki and Honda XRM motorcycles were seen near the area before the explosion happened.

He said the city police's Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit initially recovered a safety lever of a fragmentation grenade near the blast site.

Arab, who is deputy administrator of BJMP-Sarangani, said the explosion destroyed the glass door and windows of their house.

"We we're just awakened by the loud explosion. We initially thought it was from our air-conditioning unit but we later noticed several grenade fragments infront of our house," he said.

The jail official said he can't speculate on the motive and the identity of the suspects as his family has no known enemies or begrudged anybody that might trigger such kind of attack.

"(But) it appears that I'm the main target of the attack," he said.

Flashfloods in General Santos City

At least 17 families from a riverside community here have been displaced as flashfloods swept anew the area Wednesday evening.

City Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio said Thursday a portion of Purok Matinabangon in Barangay Labangal here remained submerged in floodwaters due to the swelling of the critical Silway River at the height of heavy rains in the area on Wednesday afternoon.

She said no casualties have been reported but the floods washed away at least two houses, several animal sheds and farm animals.

"We immediately ordered the evacuation of the affected families due to the rising volume of floodwaters coming from the river," the mayor said.

Custodio, who rushed to the scene Wednesday evening, said she has directed the City Social Welfare and Development Office to provide immediate assistance to the affected families.

She also instructed the City Disaster Risk reduction and Management Council and the City Engineer's Office to conduct a regular monitoring of the river's water level and implement remedial measures to prevent further flooding in the area.

Engr. Mark Reyes, acting city engineer, said they have assigned at least two bulldozers to the area to conduct a partial re-channeling of the river Thursday morning.

"We will prop up the riverbanks and clear the main waterway to prevent the floodwaters from flowing towards the nearby communities," he said in a radio interview.

As a long-term solution, he said they are planning to establish a dike and re-channel the river to allow the normal flow of water towards the Sarangani Bay.

Reyes said they have been closely monitoring the situation in the area now due to the onset of the heavy rains in the area since last week.

On Wednesday afternoon, he said they dispatched one of their bulldozers to conduct a remedial clearing of the river but they later pulled out due to its rising water level.

He said the bulk of the floodwaters were mainly from the river's tributaries in the upland portion of nearby Polomolok town in South Cotabato.

No Ban for Media to Report Cases at Fiscal's Office

Justice Secretary Leila De Lima clarified that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has not issued any directive prohibiting the media from getting updates on cases pending in the City Prosecutor's Office.

De Lima stated this to reporters at the sidelines of the anti-trafficking forum of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) at the Waterfront Insular Hotel here on Wednesday.

"I don't prohibit the media to get updates on the process of the cases," she said.

In a press conference held after the forum, a reporter based here asked about Chief Prosecutor Raul Bendigo's letter stating that photocopying the charge sheets is prohibited by the Regional State Prosecutor's Office (RSPO) Regional Circular No. 2010-003.

The RSPO circular states that no requested documents and pleadings pertaining to a case shall be released by any prosecution office in the region and/or its personnel to the media until after the final termination or preliminary investigation. The circular was issued for the protection of the interest of all the concerned parties in a case and so as not to hamper the speedy and impartial disposition of cases.

"What is the rationale behind this? I'll check on it," De Lima said.

The DOJ, however, issued Memorandum Circular 09 dated Sept. 30, 2010 regulating the follow-up of criminal and administrative cases and other matters in the Department. The memorandum, signed by De Lima, covers interested parties although it does not specifically mention if these include members of the media.

She said barring reporters from doing their jobs goes against the program of the Aquino administration to promote transparency in government affairs.

"In Manila, I allow the media to get the information on the cases," De Lima said. (PNA)

Twister Hits South Cotabato

A strong twister hit a remote village in Tantangan town in South Cotabato Wednesday afternoon, destroying at least eight houses and four classroom buildings in the area.

Tantangan Mayor Arnold Garingo said the strong winds brought by the tornado struck Barangay New Lambunano at the height of the heavy rains in the area at around 3 p.m. Wednesday, wrecking the houses and classrooms along its path.

The mayor said he and some municipal government personnel were distributing school supplies to pupils of the New Lambunao Elementary School when the twister came.

"The wind suddenly blew heavily and then plowed through the houses. I saw several roofs and personal valuables being blown away by the twister," he said.

Garingo said he immediately mobilized the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council personnel to assist the affected families and assess the extent of the damage wrought by the twister.

He said they initially distributed relief goods and will work out the release of shelter assistance to the affected residents.

Casualty by Dodong Typhoon in Romblon, Philippines

A 56-year-old woman died in Romblon while a 10-year-old boy was reported missing due to the effects of Tropical Depression "Dodong" on Thursday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported.

NDRRMC executive director Undersecretary Benito Ramos identified the fatality as Alejandara Mortel, 56, a resident of Sitio Kabangan, Barangay Carmen, San Agustin, Romblon.

Ramos said Mortel drowned in a flash flood in San Agustin. No other details were given from Romblon.

Ten-year-old Mark Daniel Ken Mateo of Batangas City, Batangas, was reported missing since Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Ramos said flooding incident occurred in Barangay Sta. Lucia, Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro due to the swelling of the Alongpong River which caused the stranding of three passenger buses bound for San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. But as of press time, only one bus remained in the terminal. (PNA)

China-owned cellular phone and gadget shops Bad for Filipinos

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Kalibo (PCCI) is worried over the proliferation of China-owned cellular phone and gadget shops as they are dislocating local traders here.

Jose Mari Aldecoa, PCCI-Kalibo president, said they are planning to invite representatives from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Aklan Press Club Inc. for an inter-agency action on the matter. The assembly is initially slated July 16.

"We just wanted to know why there are increasing number of cellular phone shops in Kalibo and what are their business status," said Aldecoa during their monthly meeting recently.

It was said that Chinese shops are dislocating local businesses because of the aggressive expansion of their businesses. The Chinese shop owners are reportedly using locals as dummies to legally register their businesses. (PNA)

Boracay Reclamation Project Bad for the Environment?

The Aklan provincial government is keen on pushing its reclamation project although it currently abides by the Temporary Environmental Protection Order (TEPO) issued by the Supreme Court (SC) recently.

Aklan governor Carlito Marquez is in Manila now along with his economic team to prepare for the legal battle against the Boracay Foundation Incorporated (BFI) that is strongly opposing the project.

"We are confident that we could be able to push the project. As long as we are concerned, the reclamation project is safe because of the study undertaken by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA)," Marquez said.

The Aklan provincial government undertook the project through a bond flotation to expand tourism lure in this resort island considered as one of the world's best beach tourism destinations.

The Aklan provincial government is confident that the SC will consider its plea as they have met all the necessary requirements needed for the project.

The SC, in its TEPO, has given the Aklan provincial government 10 days to file its comment.

The Aklan provincial government targets one million tourists for Boracay Island next year hoping to complete the project in time. (PNA)

POEA Jobs for Filipino in Taiwan Factory

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) in Davao is now helping a Taiwan-based company in recruiting five male factory workers under the POEA's Government Placement Branch.

Maria Carolina Agdamag, chief of the POEA regional center for Mindanao, said the Queikon Enterprises Co. is in urgent need of high school or college graduates who are 20 to 40 years old with experience in textile manufacturing to qualify for the position.

Agdamag emphasized there are no restrictions on height and weight requirement. The salary rate at stake is New Taiwan 17,880 dollars or about P26,900 a month.

She said qualified applicants may register online at www.poea.gov.ph or www.eregister.poea.gov.ph, a detailed resume with job description, school credentials, employment certificates, passport copy and two pieces 2x2 recent picture.

Interested applicants may also personally submit the requirements at the Manpower Registry Division, Window M, ground floor, Blas F. Ople Building (formerly POEA Bldg.), Ortigas Avenue corner Edsa, Mandaluyong City. The deadline of submission is on June 24, 2011.

Those who will register online will be asked to present original documents for authentication of writer information before forwarding the resume to the employer, while those who will submit personally should present the original documents, she added. (PNA)

Underground movement in Negros Occidental

The ongoing purge within the underground movement in Negros Occidental has resulted to the death of two more cadre members being suspected by the underground movement as deep-penetration agent (DPA) of the military.

This was revealed by the assistant commander of the 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division Col. Jonas Sumagasay who said that two suspected government DPAs identified only in their aliases as a certain Ka Rustom and Ka Kennedy have been executed by firing squad.

Sumagaysay said the duo were killed somewhere in the mountain areas of Sipalay City in southern Negros Occidental on Tuesday morning and their bodies were immediately buried in a mass grave in the area.

He said that based on the military intelligence information, since Ka Rubin took the helm of the New People's Army (NPA) hierarchy in Negros for a week's time, scores of rebels have been executed after they were tried by a "kangaroo court" on mere suspicions of being military spies in the underground movement.

The rebel group earlier created the so-called "Oplan Panghilamon" aims to weed out or rid the NPA rank of military DPAs.

Maguindanao Electric Cooperative (Magelco)

The Maguindanao Electric Cooperative (Magelco) based in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao is asking exclusion from the Court of Appeals (CA) order freezing some P1 billion public funds in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

"We were surprised Magelco was included in the CA order, we have nothing to do with the case and that we are not part of ARMM nor with the Ampatuan case," Tumagandang Zainal, Magelco board president said after its depository bank refused to accept transactions from the electric cooperative.

"I hope it will be corrected very soon," he said, adding that it would be very difficult for the Magelco cashier and accounting office to keep the money in the Magelco office.

"We deposit our collections daily to the depository bank, but for the past two days, our transactions were denied," he said.

Zainal stressed that Magelco is a cooperative and is owned by member-consumers.

Zainal fears of possible surcharges and interests to be imposed by National Power Corporation or National Grid Corporation of the Philippines due to non-payment.

He appealed to the CA to review its order and hopefully, exclude Magelco as soon as possible.

In a 23-page resolution dated June 6, 2011, the appellate court's Second Division directed 28 banks, the Philippine National Police-Firearms and Explosive Office, Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Registers of Deed of Davao City, Maguindanao province and Cotabato City to immediately freeze the assets of the entire Ampatuan clan and their alleged conduits.

The freeze order covered 28 respondents from the Ampatuan clan headed by patriarch and former Gov. Datu Andal Salibo Ampatuan Sr. of Maguindanao; wife Hadja Bai Laila Uy Ampatuan; former mayor Datu Andal Uy Ampatuan Jr., suspended ARMM Gov. Zaldy Puti Uy Ampatuan, and Sajid Islam Uy Ampatuan, among others.

Fishkill in San Fernando, La Union

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has provided a 10-day cash-for-work assistance to families affected by the recent fishkill in Anda and Bolinao towns in Pangasinan province.

The DSWD regional office said at least 2,860 households from the two towns benefited from the program.

Under the program, each beneficiary receives P280 per day for 10 days of community work or service such as the sanitary disposal or the burying of dead fish, coastal clean-up and repair of fish cages and related structures.

The DSWD released some P8 million under the program for the fishermen and their families.

The recipients were identified using the DSWD's National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) project. (PNA)

Small Claims Court Program by ABA and USAID

There has been a reduction on dockets of civil cases filed before city courts with the coming in of the Small Claims Court Program, an initiative which is being supported by the American Bar Association (ABA), through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

On Thursday, visiting United States Ambassador Harry K. Thomas met with judges handling the program where he was briefed on the impact of the initiative.

"I was listening to them because we fund that program that is helping to speed up courts. We listen to how they have utilized our assistance," the Ambassador stated.

The Small Claims Court Program was launched in 2008 but went full swing on April 2010, according to Executive Judge Amalic Espinosa Jr. of the Municipal Trial Court in Cities based here

"It is envisioned to expedite purely money claims that are not more than P100,000 without the need of lawyers," Espinosa explained.

Further, he said that the filing of cases is being done through the assistance of the clerk of court. The court renders a decision, which is final and executory, the same day the hearing is held.

Since its launching in 2008, he said that a total of 852 cases were decided out of the 889 cases filed, a batting average of around 80-85 percent.

The remaining cases that are yet to be decided are mostly new cases which they hope to dispose of in the coming months. Espinosa said that if they have to base that on the regular procedures then probably the cases might still be pending in various courts for hearing.

"Definitely it's a big help," he said.

He said the ABA is actively monitoring the implementation of the program.

Ambassador Thomas was accompanied by USAID and ABA representatives during his visit at the Ramon Avanceña Hall of Justice here.

Iloilo Jeepney Drivers Get Fuel Subsidy

Operators of public utility jeepneys (PUJs) here will receive their Pantawid Pasada cards under the government's Public Transport Assistance Program (PTAP) starting June 15. 

This was the timetable set by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) following the ceremonial turnover of the cards here on Thursday.

A total of 10,287 PUJ franchisees have qualified for the fuel assistance out of the list submitted by the LTO and the LTFRB to the Department of Energy (DOE), the lead agency tasked to implement the PTAP.

Engr. Rey Maleza of the DOE, however, assured that they are still validating the names of those who were not included in the first batch who will be receiving their cards starting next week. The LTO submitted 14,258 names while LTFRB submitted 37,089 names.

Regional director Gerard Camiña and Romulo Bernardes of the LTO and LTFRB, respectively, said that the distribution will be held at their district offices starting with Iloilo and Bacolod cities.

Thursday's ceremonial turnover was attended by DOE director for Visayas Antonio Labios, Philippine Information Agency (PIA) regional director Janet Mesa and presidents of various transport groups in Western Visayas. (PNA)