NPA Surrender

At least nine New People's Army (NPA) rebels operating in Catanduanes gave up their armed struggle and surrendered on Monday to a Philippine Army (PA) official, Army Maj. Angelo Guzman, PA Bicol spokesperson, said Thursday.

Guzman said the strength of the communist movement is slowly waning after government forces heightened its "Bayanihan" program, an internal peace and security initiative aimed to end the four decades-old insurgency problem in the country.

Quoting Army Lt. Col Rodolfo Batang, commanding officer of the Army's 83rd Infantry Battalion, he said the surrender of nine NPA rebels here is an indication that the command's Bayanihan program is going on in full throttle.

Gen. Emmanuel Bautista, the newly installed AFP chief of staff, in a command conference in Manila told various AFP commanders to make "insurgency insignificant" by 2016.

"They (rebels) have made the right decision to go down the mountains and abandoned the armed struggle and joined the main stream of society," Guzman said.

He identified those who surrendered as Victor Soriao alias Vicvic, Edna Tavera alias Rona, Dante Coranes alias "Nhads", father and son Domingo dela Cruz Sr. alias "Kikay-Kikay" and Domingo Dela Cruz Jr., Eddie Tesorero alias "Taptap", Quimpo Ralla alias "Lilo", Florida Francisco alias "Pida" and Francisco Mejares alias "Ikwi."

Guzman said the NPA rebels surrendered in separate occasions from Jan. 20 to Jan. 27.

Atimonan, Quezon shooting incident

Justice Secretary Leila M. De Lima Wednesday said the National Bureau of Investigation is readying criminal charges against those involved in the Atimonan, Quezon shooting incident where 13 people were killed last Jan. 6.

The NBI is the Philippines' premier investigating body and is an attached agency of the Department of Justice.

President Benigno S. Aquino III has mandated the NBI to conduct the investigation into the Atimonan shooting incident and determine what really transpired during that fateful day and determine who, if any, is liable.

"Ready na rin ang NBI dyan sa pag-file ng kaso," De Lima said in an ambush interview.

She said the NBI draft report has reached 300 pages even while the ballistic report has yet to be completed.

De Lima said the NBI has no deadline to complete the report.

13th month pay for Filipino Workers

The Department of Labor and Employment on Tuesday commended two private companies for their immediate compliance to the 13th month pay law.

Commended for complying with Presidential Decree 851 requiring employers to pay their employees 13th month pay were DOCOMO InterTouch, an Internet Service Provider located at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig; and the Bank of Commerce.

In a letter to the labor secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz, DOCOMO InterTouch reported that its 245 employees already received their 2012 13th month pay amounting to of P5,768,580.69.

The Bank of Commerce in Mandaluyong City allotted P61,816,270.67 for the 13th month pay of its 1,799 rank and file employees and junior and senior officers.

"The 13th month pay is a core labor standard which should be enjoyed by all workers," Baldoz said. "It is among the tasks of the DOLE to ensure that all employers abide by this law."

Baldoz expressed her high regard for employers who conform to labor laws and standards and those who put their workers' concern as one of their top priorities.

As early as November last year, Baldoz already reminded employers that the 13th month pay is a statutory benefit usually expected as part of the employees yearend benefits and is also a core labor standard.

Under Presidential Decree 851, all employers are required to pay all of their employees a 13th month pay not later than December 24 of every year. It defines 13th month pay as one twelfth (1/12) of the basic salary of an employee within a calendar year.

It also explains that the basic salary includes all remunerations or earnings paid by an employer to an employee for services rendered. The formula for computing the 13th month pay is total basic salary earned during the year divided by 12 months.

However, it does not include allowances and monetary benefits not considered as part of the basic salary, such as the cash equivalent of unused vacation and sick leave credits, overtime pay, night shift differential pay, holiday pay, and cost of living allowance (COLA).

Confirmation of Arsenio M. Balisacan

The Commission on Appointments committee on tourism and economic development recommended Wednesday the confirmation of Arsenio M. Balisacan as secretary of Socio-Economic Planning and director general of the National Economic and Development Authority.

Balisacan got the CA panel's nod without any opposition, hoping to deliver more to sustain the country's growing economy.

"I'm very thankful that they have trusted me. I hope I can deliver. It sharpens the focus," Balisacan said in a media interview after the CA deliberation on his ad interim appointment.

Balisacan expressed optimism the gross domestic product could hit 6 to 7 percent in the next 10 years and any country should be proud it.

"A 6 to 7 percent growth target is realistic and it should enough for any country to be proud of," Balisacan told Senate reporters.

For this year, Balisacan said election spending would propel the government's 5 to 6 percent economic growth.

Bus Management and Dispatch System (BMDS) of MMDA

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority will start the implementation on Thursday (January 31) of the Bus Management and Dispatch System (BMDS), an enhanced bus dispatch system that does not only regulate the number of public utility buses (PUBs) in EDSA but also monitors the drivers manning them.

The BMDS is the first bus reduction program in the country that utilizes biometrics or finger-scanning to identify and monitor PUB drivers, ensuring the safety of commuters that patronize PUBs, MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said.

He said the program will be pilot-tested at the bus dispatch terminal of the MMDA at Fairview, Quezon City. Twelve more satellite stations will be established all over Metro Manila later this year.

"Our aim is to instill discipline among PUB drivers and make them aware that we at the MMDA, together with other agencies, are capable of monitoring them, especially their driving behavior," Tolentino said, noting the spate of fatal road accidents last year involving PUBs.

BMDS is a much improved system similar to the Organized Bus Route where PUBs are dispatched from four MMDA terminals, partnered with the private sector, based on passenger demand and current traffic situation in a given day.

But under BMDS, PUB drivers are now required to finger-scan at the dispatch terminals before being allowed to ply their routes. The MMDA has created a PUB Driver's Databank which contained the personal information of each registered driver, the bus company where he is employed, and even the number of his unsettled traffic violations.

A total of 3,471 city buses operated by 105 firms have registered in the database, which is also linked with other agencies such as LTO, LTFRB, and National Bureau of Investigation.

Comelec Rule on Voting Without ID

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) asserted that registered voters for this year's election can still cast their vote even without a voter's ID.

Comelec Regional Director lawyer Julius Torres explained that registered voters are not mandated to have their voter's ID on election day.

The different municipalities are responsible for distributing IDs. However, he explained that not everybody will be given because they are also relying on the supply coming from Manila.

Torres also emphasized that those who are not issued with ID can ask for voter's certification in their respected municipalities as a proof that they are registered.

Comelec Region 2 has registered the highest number of voters in the Cagayan Valley region.

This year, the total number of registered voters has reached 1.8 million.

Renewable developer Sta Clara Power Corporation

Renewable developer Sta Clara Power Corporation, together with Union Energy controlled by Puregold owner Lucio Co, will put up an eight-megawatt mini hydropower project in Oriental Mindoro.

Sta. Clara led by managed by its Chairman of the Board, Nicandro G. Linao, together with Union Energy and local government officials, will hold the groundbreaking ceremonies for the P1.9 billion mini-hydro project on Thursday.

The hydropower is expected to address the growing power needs of Oriental Mindoro and its nearby areas.

The project is located in the municipality of Naujan.

Mayor Raymond "Ray" Buenaventura of Daly City, California in Malacanang

President Benigno S. Aquino III received Mayor Raymond "Ray" Buenaventura of Daly City, California in Malacanang Palace Wednesday.

Buenaventura, of Filipino ancestry, was accompanied by Consul-General Marciano Paynor Jr. of San Francisco, USA, during his courtesy call at the Music Room of Malacanang Palace.

Also in attendance were Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, Foreign Undersecretary Laura del Rosario, Foreign Affairs Chief Coordinator Cecilia Rebong and Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Carlos Sorreta.

During the meeting, Buenaventura expressed his firm belief and confidence in the Aquino administration.

He told the Chief Executive he was honored to meet him and look forward to a good relationship between the Philippine government and the Daly City.

Elected mayor of Daly City in December 2012, Buenaventura oversees the largest city in San Mateo County with a population of over 102,000.

Daly City has one of the highest concentrations of Filipino migrants in the US.

He remains committed to work to address the diverse and changing needs of residents, businesses and employees in the city of Daly.

His five guiding principles in setting priorities include facilitating community building and civic engagement, promoting an aesthetic community environment, enhancing the quality of life for residents, creating a healthy citizens and healthy community opportunities, and fostering economic vitality and financial sustainability.

Previously, Buenaventura served as vice mayor of Daly City for one year in December, 2011, after having been appointed councilman to fill in a vacant seat due to a resignation in April of that same year.

Prior to his appointment as a councilman, Buenaventura was a Commissioner on the Library Board of Trustees for Daly City.

He is an attorney licensed to practice law in California and Washington D.C and a certified specialist in Criminal Law.

Team PNoy

Liberal Party coalition campaign manager Sen. Franklin Drilon clarified Wednesday the pro-administration senatorial coalition team was named Team PNoy and not Team Pinoy as being reported in the media.

Team PNoy, a coalition that was formed among the Liberal Party-Nacionalista Party-Nationalist People's Coalition and Akbayan last year, is, aside from P-Noy, the most common and preferred reference to President Benigno Aquino III.

It is the real and only team of the President for the upcoming mid-term elections, stressed Drilon.

"These are the people who the President chose to be his team in order to push his reforms for the last three years of his administration. It is clear to him: this is my company in tuwid na daan (straight path)," he said.

"This is his team and he is asking his people to support his team because he has a number of reforms to push for the last three years of his administration. If they trust the President, they will vote (for) his company," Drilon added.

He also said the coalition's new-found name clearly draws the line between the people who chose to align with the President's reforms and to pursue straight path in carrying out their roles in the Senate and those who are only disguising as "matuwid."

While there are others who are trying to join the "Daang Matuwid", not everyone is sincere, not everyone can be trusted, said Drilon.

Bawal ang Epal Dito Campaign

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is set to intensify its "Bawal ang Epal Dito Campaign" from this month to May 2013.

DSWD Director Rodora T. Rabaran, in a press briefing Wednesday, said the campaign was launched to protect the beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) against politicians or parties who plan to use the program for their personal agenda.

Rabaran said as the upcoming 2013 election nears, some politicians are out to use the program to gain advantage.

She explained that the beneficiaries should know their rights and to be vigilant of individuals or groups who plan to use the program for their personal gain by resorting to baseless threats to beneficiaries of the said program.

She added that the campaign aims to empower the public especially the beneficiaries, by increasing their knowledge about the program mechanics and the methods of selection and removal from the program.

Rabaran warned that some of the politicians are allegedly claiming that they have the authority to enlist and delist the beneficiaries from the program if these beneficiaries will not support political entities in the upcoming elections.

"No one has the right to delist a beneficiary," Rabaran further said explaining that only DSWD has the right to delist a beneficiary if he/she will not comply with the conditionalities of the program.