PROVINCE NEWS

FAKE BILLS IMUS CITY, Cavite — Counterfeit P1,000 and P500 bills are circulating in the province of Cavite as the police warned of the prevalence of fake bills at the onset of the Christmas season. Yesterday, a man and woman, suspected of using the bills to pay for grocery items from a store in Barangay Buho, Silang town, were arrested in Tagaytay City. Police identified them as Jose Leo Culasino Bernardez, 38, of San Isidro Labrador, Dasmariñas City, and Kristine Fajardo Fernandez, 29, of Bicutan, Taguig City. (Anthony Giron) 2 COPS RELIEVED OVER MINING LEGAZPI CITY, Albay – Two police officials assigned in Albay were relieved from their posts last Wednesday in relation to a mining blast incident that occurred last week on the island town of Batan. Inspector Malou Calubaquib, Police Regional Office 5 spokesperson, confirmed that the relief orders were issued to Senior Inspector Gil Otivar, chief of police of Rapu-Rapu, Albay and to Superintendent Robert Morico, chief of police in this city. Senior Inspector Vergel Bibat will assume Otivar’s post while Supt. Rommel de la Rama replaces Morico, “who will go schooling.” The officials were criticized for allegedly reporting the incident five days after it happened. (Niño Luces) BONI LANDMARKS LUCENA CITY – As the nation celebrates the 150th birthday anniversary of Gat Andres Bonifacio tomorrow, a monument, rotunda, a street and a bridge, all in Barangay Ilayang Iyam, here, were dedicated in the hero’s honor. City Councilor Benito J. Brizuela, chairman committee on tourism and cultural affairs, archives, museums, and libraries and law, said the viaduct located in Pleasantville Subdivision in this city will now be known as Andres Bonifacio Bridge “in recognition of the bravery and heroism of Gat Andres Bonifacio, a national hero”. The unnamed street approaching the bridge will then be called Gat Andres Bonifacio Drive. (Danny J. Estacio) ISABELA BROWNOUT; D.O.H. GENERATOR SETS ROXAS, Isabela — The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) announced a nine-hour scheduled power interruption affecting six municipalities of Isabela province including Mallig, Roxas, San Manuel, Aurora, Quezon and Quirino beginning 8 a.m. today, due to maintenance work being done on transmission facilities of the Isabela Electric Cooperative II (ISELCO II). Meanwhile in Zambales, the Department of Health (DOH) provided eight new power generators to several barangay health centers in Olongapo City. Mayor Rolen Paulino said the generators will provide continuous electricity to the health centers, hit by brownouts especially during typhoons. (Liezle Basa Iñigo and Jonas Reyes) ADOPTED SON BANGUED, Abra — Chief Superintendent Benjamin Magalong, Police Regional Office-Cordillera director, is now an adopted son of Abra. Cited for his accomplishments and personal concern for residents of Abra to live in peace and security, a Provincial Board resolution was approved last October declaring Magalong as Abra’s adopted son. Governor Eustquio Bersamin led the ceremony recently in Banguet to formalize the honor bestowed on the police general. Bersamin said he contributed immensely in transforming Abra from a community of lawlessness and violence to orderly and peaceful atmosphere conducive for living, working, and doing business. (Zaldy Comanda)

'Yolanda' to leave PH tomorrow morning

Super typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) will leave the country tomorrow morning, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Friday afternoon. PAGASA forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said in a press briefing that the typhoon will exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility tomorrow at around 10 a.m. and will continue towards the West Philippine Sea. Typhoon Yolanda, PAGASA said, has maintained its course and intensity. At 3pm Friday, it was located offshore of Tibiao, Antique and is expected to be at the vicinity of Coron, Palawan by evening. After hitting Iloilo, it is expected to traverse Capiz, Aklan, Romblon, Semirara Island, the southern part of Mindoro, and then Busuanga. At 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. tonight, Yolanda will cross Calamian Group of Islands. Signal Number 4 is up in Southern Occidental Mindoro, Extreme Northern Palawan including Calamian Group of Islands, Southern Oriental Mindoro, Capiz, Aklan, Guimaras, Antique, and Ilo-ilo. Signal Number 3: Romblon, the rest of Mindoro provinces, rest of Northern Palawan Signal No.2: Batangas, Marinduques, Burias Islands, Lubang Islands, Ticao Island, rest of Palawan, Cebu, Biliran Island, Negros provinces Signal No.1: Metro Manila, Cavite, Bataan, Rizal, Quezon province, Laguna, Samar, Albay, Sorsogon, camarines provinces, Leyte, Camote Is., Siquijor, Camiguin, Bohol, Dinagat, Surigao del Norte

QC buildings inspected for safety

Manila, Philippines - An official of the Quezon City Building Department (QCBD) said it has regularly inspected the structures in the city to enable them to withstand typhoons, earthquakes and other calamities. Engineer Isagani Versoza, Chief of the QCBD, said that there should be no cause for alarm as routine checks on the soundness of the city’s buildings are undertaken year-round. Before typhoon “Yolanda’’ struck parts of the Visayas and the recent magnitude 7.2 earthquake in Bohol and Cebu province, Versoza noted the QCBD has done everything to at least minimize damage on the city’s structures. “We have conducted inspections on buildings with or without any calamity. Routine inspections are special inspections,’’ Versoza said. “Mayor Herbert Bautista gave specific and strict instructions that regular inspections should be conducted to prevent severe damage and collapse of buildings during supertyphoons and tremors of high magnitude. Of course we can only do so much since we cannot totally win a fight against nature. We just have to follow what is in the National Building Code,’’ Verzosa added. Versoza explained that damage on structures is allowed under the building code as long as it does not collapse, citing the “behavior of earthquakes are unpredictable’’.

The agony of waiting for fellow Filipinos

I hate being late. I had grown up with the discipline of arriving at things fifteen minutes early. But I learned that if I arrived fifteen minutes early, then I was probably going to be waiting for most people at least half an hour. Prof. Carljoe Javier At first, I would get furious. Why were they making me wait? We had set a time, why didn't they respect that time? I had learned that it was important to respect other people's time. As one of the most limited and valuable assets we have, someone making time for you, setting aside part of their schedule for you, was supposed to mean a lot. And you weren't supposed to waste that time. Making someone wait, as far as this thinking is concerned, means that you believe that your time is more valuable so you can make them wait. It's easy to see also how manipulating time can be used to establish power relations. When I approached my value of time from this perspective, considering it as a finite resource and attaching the way that a person valued me to their punctuality or willingness to make me wait, then I was nothing but frustrated. When I expressed my anger and frustration, I was told that that's just how things are here, that people are just always late. In time, I learned that it was best to treat meet up times as suggestions rather than appointments. But the question is, why? Why don't we hold people to the times that they set? Why doesn't anything ever start on time? Why are we so used to being made to wait? A friend of mine told me that she had to change her habits and become punctual when she was studying in another country. In that country, people considered punctuality an important value. You would also be called a liar if you were late. You gave a time to meet up and you didn't show up at the appointed time. That makes sense, right? But it's such a heavy thing, to be called a liar and as a result to be thought of as a person who is untrustworthy because you can't keep your word. I can only speculate about how important punctuality might have been in earlier times. But as a social value that people are held to now, punctuality doesn't matter too much. We all have friends who are perennially late, that person who just can't come on time. How do we handle these friends? In my own circles of friends, we tell certain people that we are meeting an hour earlier than we actually are, so that they'll come on time. And even then, they'll be late. One of the reasons why we accept lateness is traffic. One of the constants of contemporary urban life, traffic is the easiest and best excuse for being late. No one can ever question it, because it pops up everywhere. Whether you're driving and in a traffic jam, or commuting and having trouble getting a ride or getting stuck in a jam or on a platform, getting from one place to another is always a hassle. And the moment that there's rain, a traffic collision, road work, or any variable, then everything becomes an even bigger mess. Traffic is its own incredibly complicated problem. It is such a massive and important issue, and yet we haven't found any way to really resolve it. My solution has been to leave hours in advance and then be ready with a book for long waiting times. But wouldn't it be great if we could set times and follow them? Say, if there were bus schedules that told us what time the next bus was arriving? Of course that would necessitate a reforming of the entire bus structure, I know. But wouldn't it be nice? And wouldn't it be great if we knew the intervals between the arrivals of trains? Also if we could get onto the trains without long waiting periods or scrum lines? I understand how being able to adjust to variables is important. Adapting to situations, having the skill and agility to move schedules around, and maximizing time are all important. But you have to wonder how this inability to establish and follow time affects productivity. Consider that when you are late for work, you're sometimes docked more pay than you were actually late. I used to work at a place that would dock us an hour of pay for being late, even if we were only late for a few minutes. Sometimes I was already there, but the machine wouldn't read my finger print. And so, yeah, late and penalized for it. Take into account too all the time wasted when waiting for people at meetings. When it's just a couple of people hanging out or meeting for dinner, that's alright, I suppose. But consider work meetings where you have to wait for people. A bunch of you are just sitting there waiting for someone. While some people utilize that time to catch up on their mobile gaming, when you multiply the number of people by the time wasted, you're losing some serious work time there. What should we do? Should we consider this lateness a permanent aspect of contemporary life in the Philippines? Do we accept that some people will just never be on time, that events just won't start on time? I learned to come later. I learned that I should be flexible and accept that people will get there when they get there. I learned to use traffic as an excuse, when really, I was just too lazy to get out of bed or leave the house early. I don't get frustrated or angry anymore. This is just how things are. I don't know if this is a good thing. – KDM,

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PROJECT Sun and Surf street light

INTRODUCTION Gift of Tech is an Not for profit organizations that based in Singapore we hope a firm believed that technology advancement can be a crucial part of our society, providing help to the needy, education for a lifetime, funds for good causes, and social responsibility.

AIM
 We use to implement a project Know as "Sun and Surf street light" Utilized renewable solar energy for the Philippine rural area extreme challenges of operating a street light in an typhoon prone area and frequent power blackout environmental conditions can be a Technology Challenge exercises to prove and improve our ability to use our triple EEE concept Expertise, Experience and Enhancement as a tool to solve problems.

OBJECTIVE 
Street lights are an important part of our urban infrastructure they light our way and also special attention is paid to the relationship between street lighting and crime in Singapore on the basis of the available research evidence, that lighting improvements are in general more likely to have a positive impact on the public’s fear of crime than on the incidence of crime itself. Exceptionally, in localized ‘black spots’, where lighting is particularly inadequate crime and incivility may be reduced in addition to pedestrians’ sense of security being improved.The question tackled here is whether better street lighting can help to reduce crime and the public’s fear of crime ?

Until quite recently, street lighting was mainly geared to the needs of those driving vehicles. Pedestrians were almost forgotten The prevention of types of crimes committed in streets or public places is particularly important, both qualitatively and quantitatively. While violent or sexual offences only account for 6 per cent of all those officially recorded, a good many of these incidents occur in public places. Also, the prospect of being assaulted or mugged while one is out walking, particularly after dark, does much to fuel fear of crime, whatever the actual incidence of such attacks. So it would be doubly helpful if violent offences could be curbed through better street lighting. There is, too, a much larger group of offences potentially within the influence of street lighting: thefts of or from motor vehicles, almost invariably when they have been parked in the street, or in car parks. Indeed, these two types of crime together account for nearly a third of the total volume of recorded crime.

If improved street lighting were to reduce the incidence of auto crime that too would certainly be worthwhile. Finally, there is a wide range of other types of offences possibly affected by levels of street lighting. These would include burglaries of houses and shops (particularly through their fronts, where these face the street), thefts of bicycles, and criminal damage involving cars or the outside of buildings. Putting together all the different categories of crime where the quality of street lighting might conceivably be relevant, one soon finds that one has accounted for the vast majority of all recorded crime.

Mar told to build strong case vs gov on jueteng: Allegations politically motivated - Espino

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino yesterday ordered Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II to build a strong case and ensure the safety of the witnesses who would testify on the alleged involvement of Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino Jr. in jueteng, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said. Espino, for his part, dismissed the allegations as “politically motivated” and “an old issue.” “The resolve of government to eradicate illegal gambling operations is unwavering,” Lacierda said in a statement. Lacierda said Roxas has ordered the reshuffle of police personnel in Pangasinan to determine culpability, if any, and to guarantee that there would be no whitewash in the investigation. Roxas gave assurance that the investigation will not be influenced by politics, as a case of plunder was filed yesterday against Espino by jueteng whistle blowers Bugallon town Mayor Rodrigo Orduña and Fernando Alimagno, chairman of Barangay Poblacion in Candelaria, Quezon ,before the Office of the Ombudsman. “We will bring this (investigation) to a logical conclusion,” Roxas said during a press conference at Camp Crame in Quezon City. Along with Roxas, Orduna and Alimagno, Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz, Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Yniguez and police officials led by Philippine National Police chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome attended the briefing. Roxas said his department will issue a show cause order to Espino to explain why an administrative case should not be filed against him in connection with the exposé. He assured the governor that he will be given due process. Although the matter appeared to be “away negosyo (business tiff),” Roxas said the investigation would focus on the violation of the law by the people named in the complaints. With the case already filed at the Ombudsman, Roxas said the exposé was not just “character attack” or “political assassination.” Espino is running for re-election and is pitted against Alaminos City Mayor Hernani Braganza of the Liberal Party. Orduña alleged that he acted as bagman for Espino in jueteng operations while Alimagno said he was a jueteng operator himself in the province when Espino was elected governor. Orduña alleged that Espino has been receiving P10 million a month from the operators of the illegal numbers racket. According to Orduña, Espina allegedly demanded that he be given P10 million, which would be sent to him on a weekly basis, meaning on the seventh, 15th, 22nd and 30th day of the month. “Espina demanded that his P2.5 million weekly money be given to him every Saturday,” Orduña alleged, saying there were months with five Saturdays, thus jueteng operators have to raise additional funds. Alimagno said he decided to surface because he had stopped being part of jueteng when he had a falling out with the governor. ‘An old issue’ Espino, however, yesterday denied the allegations, dismissing them as “politically motivated.” “This is an old issue. I have answered them all before and they added here about jai alai in Pangasinan. The one who could answer that is the provincial police director so we invited him here,” Espino said in Filipino. “I am denying that I had accepted anything from jai alai or jueteng, if there is any in Pangasinan now,” he added in Filipino in a press conference in Lingayen, Pangasinan. Espino said it was Orduña who introduced him to alleged gambling operator Charlie Ang. Orduña used to be the president of the Pangasinan Mayors’ League until his ties with the governor soured, prompting him to resign. Espino said Ang asked his permission to see the mayors and seek a business permit for his jai alai operations in Pangasinan. As Ang’s papers were complete and appeared legal, he said he asked the provincial police director then, Senior Superintendent Boyet Ricaforte, if other provinces already had jai alai operations and he was told, yes. “Since I was not the one who issued the permit, as the mayors were the ones who did it, I repeat, I did not give any permit to Mr. Charlie Ang, so how can I ask anything from him?” he said. “I will have to consult yet my lawyers because I was just informed that a plunder case had been filed against me in the Ombudsman. So I hope you understand,” he added. Espino did not entertain any more questions from the newsmen and left, leaving Vice Gov. Jose Ferdinand Calimlim Jr. and Senior Superintendent Mariano Luis Verzosa Jr., officer-in-charge of the provincial police, to answer media queries. Verzosa said jueteng operations in Pangasinan are already 96 percent eradicated, adding that the rest are negligible “guerrilla operations” in the province’s border villages. He admitted jai alai is operating in Pangasinan with business permits issued by mayors and “collectors now have dignity bearing their identification cards unlike before.” He said they could not initiate any action against jai alai, as it is under the mandate of Games and Amusement Board. “So the police could not act if we are not deputized,” he added. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Eva Visperas, Artemio Dumlao - By Aurea Calic

ICAO finding to provide support to PHL tourism target

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)'s lifting of significant safety concerns on air travel in the Philippines will increase tourist arrivals to the country, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said in a statement Tuesday. “This is one of the crucial steps that will lead to increased flights to and from the Philippines – allowing local carriers to mount to long-haul markets such as the US and Europe, and foreign and local tourists to travel domestically with even greater confidence,” it said. The department was referring to the ICAO's finding that the country has “successfully addressed and resolved” safety concerns. “This development will certainly make the country more competitive and will contribute tremendously in achieving the tourism sector's target of 10 million international visitors by 2016,” the statement read. ICAO's lifting of significant safety concerns came after a five-day audit last month. ICAO's action is seen as a way to upgrade the country back to Category 1 status. Last week, Civil Aeronautics Board deputy executive director Porvenir Porciuncula said the country is eyeing more air seats from overseas, but noted that the Category 2 status imposed on the Philippines prevents local airlines' mounting of additional flights. For instance, the Category 2 status is a hurdle for local carriers in securing overseas seats to and from Korea, a key tourist market for the Philippines. In 2008, the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) International Aviation Safety Assessment Program placed the Philippines on the Category 2 list because of deficiencies identified under the Universal Safety Oversight Audit program of the ICAO. Due to the category downgrade, Philippine carriers were prohibited from expanding operations in the US and – since 2010 – were banned from the European Union. With a Category 2 rating, air carriers are still allowed to continue their operations to the US, but under tightened FAA surveillance. In 2012, the DOT recorded 4.3 million foreign tourists, 98 percent of whom arrived by air. The DOT plans to increase the share of tourism to gross domestic product and employment. —

Capitol releases P91.4M worth of assistance to barangays before election ban

THE Cebu Capitol last Tuesday processed 1,470 checks worth P91.38 million to be given to barangays in the Province.

Records at the Provincial Treasurer’s Office showed that 1,500 more checks were released yesterday to beat the March 27 election ban deadline.

There are 1,091 barangays in 51 municipalities and component cities in Cebu Province.

All local government units had until yesterday to distribute cash assistance.

Once the campaign period for the local elections begins at the end of this month, distribution of cash assistance, personnel movement and implementation of certain projects will not be allowed.

Acting Provincial Treasurer Emmanuel Guial was authorized by the Provincial Board last Monday to transact business with depository banks on behalf of Capitol.

Signature

The banks have already asked Guial for his signatures.

Former provincial treasurer Roy Salubre said correct procedure in the turnover of accountabilities must be followed before a change in bank signatories.

Lawyer Dara Acusar, spokesperson of Acting Gov. Agnes Magpale, said banks should call their attention if there is a problem in the change of signature.

She said that what is prohibited by law is the issuance, not the encashment of checks. So beneficiaries may claim and en-cash the check on later dates.

Commission on Elections (Comelec) supervisor Lionel Castellano agreed with Acusar, citing Comelec Resolution 9385.

Release

Guial expected the release of all checks and salaries of all Capitol employees yesterday.

Guial replaced Salubre following his dismissal by the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) 7 Director Carmelane Tugas. BLGF 7 designated Guial as provincial treasurer.

Salubre said the correct procedure is that there must be a formal or turnover of accountabilities from the outgoing to the incoming treasurer.

After the transfer of accountabilities, they will wait for the regional special personnel order (RSPO) coming from BLGF.

Due to time constraints, BLGF will only be available on Monday to facilitate the formal transfer of accountabilities.

“There is supposed to be an RSPO to go with it,” said Salubre, referring to the document that would go with the PB resolution giving authority to the new bank signatory.

Acusar said BLGF has authorized Guial to assume the post of provincial treasurer in acting capacity. Also, PB members already authorized Guial to transact with the banks on behalf of Capitol.

Since the banks did not call their attention, Acusar believes everything is in order.

PAL, Cambodian group to launch new international airline

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) has teamed up with a Cambodian business tycoon to launch a new international airline this year.

San Miguel Corp., a part-owner of PAL, confirmed the newly struck deal in a disclosure with the Philippine Stock Exchange Thursday.

The new carrier will be called Cambodia Airlines and is a joint venture with PAL and Cambodia's Royal Group of Companies headed by Okhna Kith Meng.

PAL has invested a minority stake (49 percent) in the new airline, San Miguel told the local bourse.

Related story: A first in history: PH gets investment grade

The disclosure was issued after earlier media reports claimed that it was San Miguel that struck a deal with Royal Group.

"The company has a significant minority interest in PAL, through Trustmark Holdings Corp.," San Miguel clarified.

PAL is one of the newer investments made by San Miguel, which has ventured into toll road operations and power, among others, apart from its century-old brewery business.

Also read: What's slowing U.S. investments to PH?

Cambodia Airline's first domestic flights could begin as early as June this year while international flights could start by October, the Royal Group was quoted by an AFP reportas saying.

Kith Meng, for his part, said the joint venture is set to "contribute to Cambodia's economic growth by creating employment opportunities, bringing investors and building a strong aviation industry."

Cambodia Airlines will be the Southeast Asian nation's second national carrier, after Cambodia Angkor Air launched in 2009.

PLDT triples fiber network nationwide

The Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) is expanding its fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network to enable ultra-fast broadband connection to more than 300 residential subdivisions all over the country.

"The FTTH broadband connection enables us to offer customers triple play services, not just to access for voice and data, but also for streaming high quality video," stressed PLDT EVP and Head of Home Ariel Fermin.

Among the new areas FTTH covers to date are Laguna, Muntinlupa, and Quezon City in Luzon, Cebu in the Visayas, and Davao in Mindanao region.

Initially, the telco rolled out FTTH to 100 high-end villages in Metro Manila under the service called Fibr, PLDT Home's broadband with speeds of up to 100Mbps.

Apart from fiber-fast connection, customers get to enjoy Hollywood blockbuster movies as part of their subscription.

The new FTTH areas include: Sta. Rosa Estate Phases 1 & 2 in Laguna; Southvale 1&2 and Palms Pointe in Muntinlupa; Manila Southwoods in Cavite; and White Plains and Tierra Pura in Quezon City.

In Visayas and Mindanao, Fibr is now accessible in Cebu Royale Estate, Beverly Hills Subdivision, Pristina North, Bayswater Subdivision, Happy Homes, Ajoya Residences, Deca Baywalk, and Reldo Subdivision in Davao.

"PLDT Fibr enables residential users to have a faster, multi-screen, multi-media experience via dedicated fiber optic cables that are not shared, allowing simultaneous high-speed browsing and high-definition video streaming," the executive explained.

PLDT's 54,000 kilometers of fiber optic cables facilitate the telco's digital services such as Fibr, myDSL, and Telpad.

At present, PLDT is leading the adoption of fiber optic technology to help the Philippines align with other countries that already have ultra high-speed and advanced internet connections, noted PLDT Head of Home Broadband Gary Dujali.

"With Fibr, subscribers can seamlessly stream blockbuster Hollywood movies, play lag-free online gaming and adopt cloud computing," he added.

Accessible in various plans, Fibr is available in Plan 3500 with speed of up to 8Mbps; Plan 5800, up to 20Mbps; Plan 8800, up to 50Mbps; and Plan 20000, up to 100Mbps. These plans include free installation, free Fibr modem, and free PLDT WiFi Zone access with PLDT Telpad subscription.

DA implements mechanized hybrid rice program with grant from China

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is implementing a mechanized hybrid rice program over a total of 300 hectares in a government of China agreement as part of an original $500,000 grant that aimed to support the country's rice sufficiency.

DA Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said a second phase of the Philippine Sino Center for Agricultural Technology program (PHILSCAT) will implemented within the first half of this year.

It will involve planting of hybrid rice under a mechanized environment that ambitiously targets in the long term to raise the Philippines' average rice yield to as much as 10 metric tons (MT) per hectare. This is at a very cheap production cost of P5 per kilo for unmilled rice (palay).

This is supposed to triple the country's national rice average from just more than three MT per hectare at present. The target cost is also very ambitious since present support price of the National Food Authority (NFA) is P18 per kilo for good quality, dried unmilled rice.

DA is implementing PHILSCAT Phase II with the assistance of China's hybrid rice developer-hero Prof. Yuan Long Ping, the known Father of Hybrid Rice, who made a courtesy call on Alcala Monday.

The government will continue to refrain from providing any more assistance in the form of subsidy for hybrid rice seeds. Yet the collaboration is foreseen to have a big impact on the country's rice sufficiency.

"There's no question. Using hybrid rice production will be better. At present, there are still many who use ordinary seeds. We're thinking of 10-5 (10 MT per hectare yield at P5 per kilo) as a dream," said Alcala in a press briefing.

"Hybrid rice is not really crucial to rice sufficiency. We've reduced our imports to 187,000 tons without putting funds into it unlike before when all funds were for hybrid. But we've heard there are areas in China that have 14 tons yield per hectare."

Yuan said hybrid rice is now planted on 17 million hectares of land in China where yield can reach between 11 to 14 MT per hectare. China's national average yield is about double the country's national average at almost eight MT per hectare.

"We want the Philippines to become self-sufficient (in rice). The best way is through technology," said Yuan, explaining that 70 percent of China's hybrid rice areas are already mechanized.

DA Asst. Sec. Dante Delima said DA intends to come up with a cluster of 100 hectares each for Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao for the PHILSCAT Phase II, for a total of 300 hectares.

"If you mechanize, it can't be just on five hectares. The area should be at least 100 hectares," Delima said. "China also wants to intervene into the choice of land areas since they're concerned about agro-climatic conditions."

MORE STORIES

Quake shakes buildings in Manila: Phivolcs

MANILA, April 4, 2013 (AFP) - A moderate earthquake shook buildings in the Philippine capital Manila on Thursday, the government said, although there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

The quake struck in the rural north of the country, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology chief Renato Solidum told AFP, describing it as "moderate" and adding he did not expect damage in the capital.

The US Geological Survey said the quake, with a magnitude of 5.3, struck at 10:27 am (0227 GMT), 158 kilometres northeast of Manila. It had a depth of 38 kilometer

Kopi Talk Local tourists flocking to new destinations, extreme sports

When tourists think of Bohol, chocolate hills and gentle tarsiers are usually the first things that come to mind, not a heart-stopping drop into a deep gorge. There's more to the island-province than bug-eyed primates and brown mounds. Jjust a couple of hours away, the Danao Adventure Park offers the exhilarating Suislide and Plunge. The local version of the zipline, the Suislide consists of a pulley suspended on a cable, which is mounted on an incline, according to the Eco/Extreme/Educational Adventure Tour Danao website. Meanwhile, the Plunge is a canyon-swing adventure mounted over a gorge that is 200 meters high and 300 meters wide. While not for the fainthearted, such extreme activities offer an alternative vacation for tourists who want more than laid-back sightseeing. Which is exactly what the annual Travel and Tour Expo will do, putting the spotlight on emerging Philippine destinations, from Tuguegarao in Luzon to the Camotes Islands in the Visayas. The Expo will be held February 15-17 in the SMS Convention Center in Pasay. "There are a good bulk of local players coming in exhibiting during the fair," said Philippine Travel Agencies Association President John Paul Cabalza, noting that they increased the number of booths to 554 from last year's Expo of 477., The PTAA identified nine emerging tourist destinations that they will aggressively promote: Baler, Bataan, Camotes Islands, Davao, Leyte, Mindoro, Samal Islands, Siargao Island and Tuguegarao. "We're actually looking at more domestic players gaining ground and at the same time assisting the Department of Tourism. This is a good example of the public private partnership," Cabalza said at a press conference on February 5., Cabalza said the emerging destinations include the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, where there are already 17 resorts and hotels operating. Meanwhile, in Baler, more than 15 resorts are currently operating, Cabalza said, noting that the popular surfing destination also has numerous waterfalls. "We went there, and it was a fun trek. Even if you swim in their waterfalls area, it's not that deep," said Cabalza, noting that the waterfalls are well-managed. Cabalza also recommended Baler's history trail, which includes Baler Church, the site of the Siege of Baler in 1898. The trail also includes Ermita hill, where only a few Filipinos survived the Tsunami of 1735, which wiped out the entire town., Aileen Clemente, chairperson of the 20th Travel Tour Expo, said the fair is an opportunity for emerging destinations to become more comfortable before promoting themselves outside the Philippines. "Since there are new destinations that we are promoting, this is like their first dry run of their destination, their product, their hotels... When they get that confidence level, there's no stopping them from gaining all the inbound market as well," she said. Promoting domestic tourism In 2011, the revenue from foreign tourists reached about 100 billion pesos, while the revenue from domestic tourists was at 800 billion pesos, according to Department of Tourism Asec. Benito Bengzon Jr. In 2012, the number of domestic tourists exceeded 30 million. "We're seeing a lot of Filipinos going around the country. More than ever, there is a greater sense of appreciation, greater pride in what the country has to offer and we feel that's one of the factors that will push domestic travel," said Bengzon. He added that the increase in airlines operating within the country contributed to this growth, as it gave consumers more options. Similarly, there are a variety of options when it comes to accommodations and facilities for travelers. "If people want the luxury, five star type, we have it. If they opt for the more Spartan budget type of accommodations, we also have it. But definitely, domestic tourism will continue to grow," Bengzon said., PTAA Media Committee Chair Nit Ragaza noted that many foreign tour operators will be participating in the Travel Tour Expo, and this is also an opportunity to promote domestic tourism. "While their purpose is to sell their country, unavoidably they will be moving around and they will see also the beautiful spots that we have, and they can also relay this to their countrymen. Hopefully this will translate to more visitors in the Philippines," Ragaza said., Bengzon also encouraged Filipinos to travel abroad, as this allows them to promote the country. "The more Filipinos go abroad, the wider the network that we have. Marketing the Philippines is not just the sole responsibility of the DOT. It's everybody's business, and we're happy when Filipinos go abroad and start spreading the word around that it's more fun in the Philippines," he said. While tourists can easily book their trips online, the fair gives them an opportunity to find out about other destinations, as well as take advantage of promos and discounts. According to Clemente, the expo has something for everyone, from luxury deals to budget trips. This year's fair is also bigger than last year's event, which drew some 60,000 visitors. "The fact that we're getting huge numbers is a very strong indication that there is deeper appreciation of tourism and travel among Filipinos," Bengzon said., To reach this year's target of 100,000 visitors, PTAA expanded the fair to include more exhibitors and prizes, as well as celebrities and special guests, including Hello Kitty, who will be brought in by the Japanese Embassy. The expo will also be streamed live online to be able to reach more people. "We'll be scheduling the activities there as well so you can see what are the gimmicks and what are the shows that will be playing onstage and in each booth," she said. Ragaza also said visitors to the expo will not have to spend hours in line in order to purchase airline tickets. "They don't have to really fall in line at Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines or ZestAir. They can go straight to the 42 participating tour operators and they can actually make the purchase there," he said., The Travel Tour Expo 2013 will be held on February 15 to 17, 2013 at the SMX Convention Center Halls 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, and Function Room 5 in Pasay City. For more information, follow the Travel Tour Expo on Twitter (twitter.com/traveltourexpo) and Facebook (facebook.com/traveltour.expo) or call Fairs & More at (02)8451324 or (02)7596680. — DVM/HS,

P6-B NHA Properties Left Deteriorating

MANILA, Philippines --- Some P6.047 billion worth of residential lots and buildings of the National Housing Authority earmarked for sale or disposal but have been left untended and deteriorating for over five years now, the Commission on Audit revealed in its 2011 report. COA said P2.1 billion of these properties are scattered all over Metro Manila, P2.91 billion in Southern Luzon and Bicol provinces, P831.85 million in Northern and Central Luzon, P165.07 million in the Visayas, P35.11 million in Mindanao, and P2.95 million under the Estate Management Department. In addition, auditors said acquired assets valued at P1.416 billion have been in NHA's inventory for one to five years and another P95.03 million worth are listed as "current". Taken together, the inventory of items for disposition or sale totaled P7.56 billion consisting of P5.476 billion worth of land, P2.012 billion buildings and P70.34 million acquired assets. "The value of these non-moving inventories decreases due to deterioration of their physical conditions and consequently results in decrease in revenues for the NHA. The schedule of acquired assets showed that the account consists of apartments, dormitories and other properties acquired from beneficiaries who were unable to pay their obligations to the NHA," the report noted. Urban Poor Associates, a non-government organization, estimates that there are around 800,000 or close to five million individuals who are living on the streets of Metro Manila. COA said the assets in the inventory "are currently unoccupied and available for disposition by the NHA." "Had the [NHA] expediently disposed of/leased out these acquired properties, it could have earned additional revenues to fund other priority projects or augment the operating funds of the NHA. Moreover, idle/unused buildings deteriorate faster resulting to decrease in potential revenues for the NHA and additional expenses for maintenance and security" the commission added. COA recommended that NHA prioritize and expedite the sale/disposition of non-moving inventories to qualified beneficiaries to generate funds for priority projects and other operational requirements. "The possible utilization of available inventories for housing requirements of qualified beneficiaries in areas where these properties are located should first be considered before embarking on new housing projects or land development," it reminded the housing agency

Study Recommends More Investments In Mindanao Roads And Port Infrastructure

An Australian-supported study has recommended that more investments should be poured into roads and port infrastructure in Mindanao to accelerate the movement of vegetables and fruits produced on the island. Better roll-on-roll-off shipping services for greater connectivity of markets and port operation where there is scope for privatization should also be provided Accurate and timely market information, especially to farmers, should likewise be generated, asserted the study titled "Strengthening Markets of High-Value Fruits and Vegetables in Mindanao: The Case of Transport and Shipping Service Improvement." The report is the output of a two-year research project titled "Transport Policy Study: Promoting Efficiency and Productivity of Flow of Goods - A Focus on the Transportation Needs of Mindanao Region.". Funded by the Australian Research Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), the study was implemented by the Philippine government-hosted Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization-Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEAMEO SEARCA). Los Baños-based SEARCA, headed by Director Gil C. Saguiguit Jr., is one of the 20 regional centers of SEAMEO, an inter-government treaty organization founded in 1965 to promote cooperation among Southeast Asian nations through activities in education, science, and culture. The research team was headed by Dr. Gilberto Llanto, senior research fellow at the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS). With him were Dr. Mercedita Sombilla, former SEARCA Research and Development manager and new agriculture staff director of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA); Karen Quilloy of SEARCA; and Francis Mark Quimba, PIDS research specialist. Mindanao, as the country's major source of agricultural commodities, produced 1.54 million tons of food and live animals in 2009, of which 1.43 million tons were shipped to Luzon (49 percent) and the Visayas (44 percent), the study reported. About 70 percent of the total volume of the country's major fruits and vegetables are produced in Mindanao. Of these, more than 90 percent is transported to major urban centers in Luzon and the Visayas. "However," the study pointed out, "in an island archipelago like the Philippines, the movement of highly perishable crops such as fruits and vegetables from key production areas in Mindanao to intermediate and terminal markets within and outside the island-region is hampered by the inadequacy of efficient and effective transport systems and port and shipping services." It added: "This limits the potential gains that supply chain participants may realize from their produce, given the increasing demand for high quality and safe fruits and vegetables in the Philippines and abroad."

OFW guide: Fast facts on top 10 destinations of Pinoys abroad

GMA News Online has compiled a list of essential information on the top 10 destinations of Filipinos overseas. Included here are links to the official websites and social media accounts of both the Philippine embassies in these countries, as well as the embassies of the destination countries here in the Philippines. Number of Filipinos: 3,430,864* For nearly 50 years, from 1898 to 1946, the Philippines was a colony of the United States, the world's foremost military and economic power. According to a country profile posted on the BBC news site, the gross domestic product of the US accounts for close to a quarter of the world total. Its military budget, on the other hand, is said to be almost equivalent to the rest of the world's defense spending put together. Capital: Washington DC Area: 9.8 million square kilometers Language: English Population: 317.6 million (United Nations, 2010) United States Embassy in Manila Official website Facebook account Twitter account Philippine Embassy in the US Official website Facebook account Twitter account Number of Filipinos: 1,550,572 Saudi Arabia is one of the main players in the Arab world. According to BBC, Saudi Arabia sits on more than 25 percent of the world's known oil reserves and can produce more than 10 million barrels per day. Capital: Riyadh Area: 2.24 million square kilometers Population: 28 million (UN, 2011) Language: Arabic Saudi Arabian Embassy in Manila Official website Philippine Embassy in Saudi Official website Facebook account Twitter account Number of Filipinos: 842,651 Canada is the world's second largest country after Russia although Canada's population is only about one-fifth of Russia's., BBC said. Around 90% of Canadians live within 200 kilometers of the country's border with the United States. Capital: Ottawa Area: 9.9 million square kilometer Population: 34.3 million (UN, 2011) Languages: English, French (both official) Canadian Embassy in Manila Official website Philippine Embassy in Canada Official website Number of Filipinos: 679,819 The United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven states formed in 1971, BBC said. The seven states are: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras al Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al Qaiwain. Before oil was discovered in the country in the 1950s, UAE mainly depended on its fishing and pearl industry. Capital: Abu Dhabi Area: 77,700 square kilometers Population: 7.9 million (UN, 2011) Language: Arabic UAE Embassy in Manila Official website Philippine Embassy in the UAE: Official website Number of Filipinos: 569,081 Malaysia has one of the most vibrant economies in Asia, BBC noted. Although it is multi-ethnic and multi-religious, majority of its population are Muslims. Ethnic Malays make up around 60% of the population. Malaysia is a federation of 13 states and three federal territories. Capital: Kuala Lumpur Area: 329,847 square kilometers Population: 28.8 million (UN, 2011) Languages: Malay (official), English, Chinese dialects, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam Malaysian Embassy in Manila Official website Philippine Embassy in Malaysia Official website Facebook account Number of Filipinos: 384, 637 In all the world, Australia ranks as one of the best places to live in, BBC said. It is the sixth-largest country in the world by land mass. Australia has a strong, services-based economy, BBC said, adding that mining and agriculture make up a huge share of exports Capital: Canberra Area: 7.7 million square kilometers Population: 22.6 million (UN, 2011) Language: English Australian Embassy in Manila Official website Facebook account Philippine Embassy in Australia Official website Number of Filipinos: 342,442 Qatar was once a pearl-fishing center and one of the poorest among the Gulf states, BBC said. However, due to the development of large oil and gas fields in thte 1940s, Qatar is now one of the richest countries in the region, BBC said. Capital: Doha Area: 11,437 square kilometers Population: 1.9 million (UN, 2011) Language: Arabic Philippine Embassy in Qatar: Official website Number of Filipinos: 220,882 BBC noted that Japan has the world's third-largest economy and is a major aid donor and a source of capital and credit. Capital: Tokyo Area: 377,864 square kilometers Population: 126.5 million (UN, 2011) Language: Japanese Japanese Embassy in Manila Official website Facebook account Philippine Embassy in Japan Official website Number of Filipinos: 220,000 The United Kingdom — made up of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland — was the world's first industrialized country, BBC said. It is a major player in international affairs, playing vital roles in the EU, UN and Nato. Capital: London Area: 242,514 square kilometers Population: 62.4 million (UN, 2011) Language: English British Embassy Manila Official website Facebook account Twitter account Philippine Embassy in UK Official website Facebook account Twitter account Number of Filipinos: 186,750 Kuwait, a small, oil-rich country was the first Arab country in the Gulf to have an elected parliament, BBC said. One of the world's leading oil producers, Kuwait was invaded and occupied by Iraq in 1990. This incident became a springboard for the invasion of Iraq in 2003, BBC said. Capital: Kuwait Area: 17,818 sq km Population: 2.8 million (UN, 2011) Language: Arabic Philippine Embassy in Kuwait: Official website - Compiled by Andrei Medina and Veronica Pulumbarit, GMA News * Based on the 2011 Stock Estimate of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas

Campaign jingles all the way

by Krizia Arcangel, VERA Files
Every election season, candidates running for various electoral posts hire composers to come up with jingles for their campaign. Jingles with a catchy melody can help voters easily remember a politician’s name.
Lloyd Luna, a composer who has written campaign jingles for candidates in previous elections, says that a well-written song can create a “Last Song Syndrome (LSS) effect” in voters. But although having a jingle is part of a politician’s strategy, it does not necessarily lead to victory, he adds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Iy7lKH5qOEs

Philippines' Aquino to visit rebel stronghold

..Philippine President Benigno Aquino will next week make a historic visit to the stronghold of the country's main Muslim rebel force in an effort to push forward peace talks, his office said on Thursday. Aquino's trip on Monday to the outskirts of the 12,000-member Moro Islamic Liberation Front's (MILF's) main base in the country's south will be the first peace mission there by a president since the insurgency began in the 1970s. Aquino and MILF chairman Murad Ebrahim will meet as they witness the launch of a social welfare project for mainly Muslim residents of communities where the rebels exert an influence, Aquino spokesman Ricky Carandang told AFP. "It's not a formal meeting, but their presence will underscore the commitment and optimism that both sides have that a final resolution to the peace process will be achieved," he said. "The launch of the social programmes will show concrete benefits of peace." At the launch, health insurance cards will be distributed to residents, emergency jobs offered to adults and scholarships given to their children, Aquino's office said. The MILF has been fighting since the 1970s for independence in Mindanao, the southern third of the mainly Catholic Philippines that the country's Muslim minority claim as their ancestral homeland. An estimated 150,000 people have died in the conflict. The MILF signed a "framework agreement" with Aquino's government in October last year committing both sides to form a new autonomous entity on Mindanao by 2016, when the president ends his six-year term. The MILF vowed to give up its quest for an independent homeland in exchange for significant power and wealth-sharing in a new autonomous region. Negotiators from both sides have been meeting in neighbouring Malaysia to thrash out what they described as contentious items in the plan. Cabinet secretary Jose Almendras said Monday's event would be held at an MILF-run school that residents say is about half a kilometre (a third of a mile) from the main gate of the rebels' headquarters, Camp Darapanan. "It's very close to the MILF camp," Almendras said. MILF spokesman Mike Pasigan welcomed the imminent launch of the social welfare project. "The programme will further strengthen the collaboration between the government and the MILF as we build on the gains of the peace process," he said in a statement. ..

Gardenia Sales To Top P4B

Gardenia Bakeries, the country's largest breadmaker, expects sales to break R4-billion mark this year and double the sales to R8 billion in seven years on back of a strong economy and growing awareness of Filipinos of the health benefits of bread. "Right now, we're targeting R4 billion in sales. In seven years, we hope to make it to R8 billion," said Gardenia president Simplicio Umali Jr., , who steered the Singaporean subsidiary's bread company in the Philippines to become a household brand. But that is not much to crow about this lofty figure, said Umali. No doubt Gardenia is the country's single biggest bread manufacturing plant, the most modern with the most innovative products at world-class quality, but the industry is engaged in a cutthroat competition in this fast moving but low margin product. "In terms of profitability, we are managing, but not very much. Bread sector is not a highly profitable sector," said Umali as the company celebrates its 15th Anniversary. There are lots of factors affecting bread business in the country. "You can generate enough income, but it's not the type that would generate a lot of income like other investments because the cost of investment is too much," said Umali. Besides, he said, Gardenia cannot price its products in the Philippines as they should be because they have to consider the affordability among Filipino consumers. But in terms of volume, Gardenia is doing good. Their sales volume improves but their price did not move as much as competition heats up particularly from the Pinoy Tasty, the loaf bread designed for the low-income sector. Its competitors even resort to buy 1 take 1 promo or half the price. Gardenia enjoys a 65 percent market share for the total bread category. This year, Umali is more optimistic because it is an election year and based on experience consumption picks up during election year. "We are very optimistic. There is an increase in demand because with election, money flows to the countryside. There are a lot of expenditures they spend locally. There's a lot of money coming out into circulation so even the low income sector will have some money to spend," Umali said. Prices of bread have remained stable, but Umali said there is the possibility it can climb a little bit. Gardenia has proven to be good for the industry. While Gardenia has raised the bar in producing quality breads in the country, it has also the sheer muscle to keep prices in check. "We are not the type who takes advantage of the market. We create an opportunity. We do not want to destroy the competition. We encourage in fact the competition to expand in terms of product mix. If they are our direct competitor, we try to push them to develop other products wherein they can generate more income," said Umali. Umali, however, believes there is still enough room for new players but in areas where the giants are not present noting that some of the big players are even offering their products buy 1 take 1. Gardenia's real competition though is not the other fellow bread maker but rice, the staple food of Filipinos. It's not clear if they are winning in their campaign.

ALI invests P5 billion more in Cebu

AFTER investing a total of P14 billion in Cebu in the last three years, property developer Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) and its subsidiary Cebu Holdings Inc. (CHI) are pouring in a fresh investment of P5 billion for its various projects in Cebu this year. Included in the capital expenditure (capex) for Cebu is the P1.6-billion ACC Corporate Center, which will soon rise on the western side of the Ayala Center Cebu property along Bohol Street, and other residential and retail projects. ALI president Antonino Aquino on Wednesday said this new investment for Cebu is a testament of their optimism and confidence in Cebu’s thriving economy, as shown by the performance of Cebu Park District, which covers the Cebu IT Park and Cebu Business Park (CBP). He said the establishment of the ACC Corporate Center will now make the Cebu Business Park development fully-integrated with elements like hotel, retail, residential and corporate offices in place. “This will be a new home to business process outsourcing (BPO) locators,” Aquino said during the project’s ground-breaking ceremony. 3,000 employees The ACC Corporate Center, which sits on a 3,424-square-meter property, is a envisioned to be a 20-storey, Grade A building, which will cater to the office space requirements of BPO locators and will complete the “live, work, play” concept at the CBP. The building will have 12 floors of office spaces with a total gross leasable area of 28,574 sq.m., two floors for retail establishments which will operate 24/7, and six levels of parking. The building can accommodate at least 3,000 employees. “This is the first of its kind here and is completely attached to the Ayala Center Cebu. It is located near the terminal, the proposed bus rapid transit and is situated in the very center of things,” said Aquino. He noted that new and existing BPO firms have already expressed interest in the building, but no formal agreements have been signed yet. “One unique element of our products that has attracted buyers is that our products are right in the middle of a thriving community,” he said. ACC Corporate Center’s completion is slated in the second quarter of 2015. As for its other projects, Aquino reported brisk sales of its residential projects both at the CBP and Cebu IT Park. He said the units of high-end 1016 Residences and two towers of Solinea condominium projects are already sold out. The company is now preparing the follow-through of the third tower of Solinea and Avida Riala at the Cebu IT Park. New wing this year CBP and Cebu IT Park have five residential projects each that are still under construction. Meanwhile, Ayala Center Cebu is preparing to open its new wing by the fourth quarter this year. According to the mall’s general manager Clavel Tongco, most of the tenants in the new wing are foreign brands, including some that are found at Ayala’s Greenbelt 5. Among the confirmed locators is Rustan’s, which will have a three-level retail space. It will also have a supermarket and high-end brands like Zara. The fourth level of the new wing will house more dining establishments. The Phase 2-B project has cost the ALI and CHI some P2.5 billion. Rowena Tomeldan, ALI vice-president and head for operations and support services commercial business group, said the company is aggressive in expanding its retail operations nationwide, given the property boom in the country. 27% growth as of September She said the company is also considering a retail development at Cebu IT Park. “These are still rough plans but we will definitely add more retail projects in the IT Park. We are just careful in the selection of retail stores,” she said, on the sidelines of the press conference. The retail group has recently expanded in Davao, Cagayan de Oro and Bacolod. The firm also ventured into community centers where they allotted spaces for homegrown products. ALI’s net profit from January to September 2012 grew by 27 percent year-on-year to P6.62 billion. Its consolidated revenues for the first nine months reached P39.01 billion, 20 percent higher from 2011. The bulk of its revenues were from the hotel and residential segments, which went up by 20 percent to P36.89 billion

Aquino party to punish members backing opposition bets

Party discipline" awaits the members of ruling party who will support candidates outside its ticket in the 2013 senatorial elections. Senator Franklin Drilon, campaign manager and vice chairman of the Liberal Party (LP), expressed intent to punish members in order to ensure a 12-0 win in the May mid-term polls. "We are prepared to discipline our ranks in order that everybody will support Team PNoy," Drilon said. The veteran senator issued the statement after Vice President Jejomar Binay's United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) claimed it has "silent supporters" from LP. Related story: PNoy to play ‘very active’ role in administration campaign for 2013 polls UNA secretary-general and campaign manager Tobias "Toby" Tiangco, for his part, named as an example Quezon City Rep. Boyet Banal who he said is supporting the senatorial bid of San Juan Rep. Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito. Tiangco said there were also incumbent officials and known LP stalwarts who have been backing UNA candidates. LP members were dismayed by the decision to support only Team PNoy candidates, Tiangco said. Also read: Who's in top 12 of Senate race? Banal clarified, however, that his personal political preferences will not in any way affect his commitment to LP. He also explained that what he said to the media was his personal opinion and "should not be taken to mean that he is sacrificing one candidate of the coalition for his personal choice." "I am a loyal party member and a good soldier. I believe in the platform of the LP, a party I joined in 2002, even before i first ran for public office in 2004," Banal said in a statement. "I am strongly committed to campaign for the entire slate of the administration coalition," he added. Related story: PNoy on UNA: They have a lot more to prove than us Drilon meanwhile said that aside from party discipline, Team PNoy is hoping for a straight-ticket win in the midterm polls by having the President personally campaign for the coalition bets. This, as he insisted that there is nothing questionable or irregular about Aquino's move to actively campaign for Team PNoy candidates. The senator also assured that their party will be open to answer accusation that the chief executive will be using government resources for the campaign. "We will answer all of their questions (about public funds) but remember, the president is our political leader and it is his duty to campaign for his candidates, who will help him with his programs," Drilon said.

Ensure Adequate Poll Electricity – Lawmaker

. MANILA, Philippines --- Government must ensure adequate and stable power supply in the country not just during the forthcoming May 2013 midterm elections but throughout the year to meet the demand of a projected strong economic growth, Sen. Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said yesterday. The Marcos call came as the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) announced that it has created a task force to guarantee uninterrupted power transmission during the elections. But the NGCP itself stated that there is ample electricity in Luzon and the Visayas although the power situation in Mindanao is critical as demand exceeds the available supply. There are reports that the people of Mindanao could experience rotating brownouts as the Agus-Polangui hydropower complex which supplies more than half of Mindanao's power supply has cut its output to only 635 megawatts of its 982-megawatt capacity because of heavy siltation of the rivers that feeds the hydroelectric dam. Manila Electric Company (Meralco), however, warned that even Luzon would face tightness in power supply now and 2016 unless more power plants are built to meet demand amid a projected strong economic growth. Earlier, the Department of Energy (DOE) set up a task force similar to that of NGCP's to ensure the supply of electricity during the national and local elections in May. Marcos said he welcomed the moves to ensure there would be no power interruptions during the elections but, ''we should not stop at such stop gap measures to address our power problems.'' ''The voting and the outcome of the elections will be completed in a few days. After this, the people need to go back to their work or business to earn a living and for these they need adequate supply of electricity too,'' he added. Besides, the temporary measures to soften the power crisis in Mindanao such as using power barges are more costly in the long run, resulting as well to increased power costs that would hurt business and investment prospects, he explained ''What we need is a determined effort by the national government to put up the necessary power infrastructures that would ensure not just adequate and dependable supply of electricity but affordable, too,'' he added. .

NPA Leader Captured in Camarines Sur

. The military reported new major gains in its fight against the New People's Army (NPA) as it announced the arrest of another ranking leader of the insurgent group and the capture of an NPA camp in separate operations in Luzon and the Visayas. Col. Generoso Bolina, spokesman of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Southern Luzon Command (Solcom), said a top NPA leader, Nancy Ortega who uses the aliases "Nads" and "Sads", was arrested by joint military and police elements in an operation Sunday at around 8:30 p.m. in Barangay San Roque, Iriga City, Camarines Sur. Citing a report from Col. Richard Q. Lagrana, Commander of the Army's 902nd Infantry Brigade, Bolina said Ortega is the provincial front secretary of the NPA operating in Camarines Norte. Ortega was arrested by virtue of a warrant of arrest for multiple frustrated murder. "She has directed various attacks on military and police posts in Camarines Norte, as well as the killings of many innocent civilians," said Lagrana. The arrest happened after reliable information reached authorities that Nancy Ortega will be visiting her relatives in Iriga. She did not resist arrest. In Northern Samar, another NPA camp was captured by government forces at Barangay Luisita in Victoria town early yesterday morning Lt. Col. Noel A. Vestuir, the 20IB's commanding officer, in his report to 803rd Brigade Commander, Col. Rolando Malinao, said the camp was seized by troops from Charlie Company, 20IB led by 1Lt. Florencio Tayo. Vestuir said the camp was seized after it was abandoned by insurgents who evaded an armed engagement with the government forces. "The camp has also a strong mobile signal and is near a water source. The camp was discovered after 20IB has launched sustained combat operations in the area of Victoria and San Isidro in response to the reported presence of communist terrorists in the area as tipped-in by the peace-loving resident," added Vestuir. .

Local tourists flocking to new destinations, extreme sports

When tourists think of Bohol, chocolate hills and gentle tarsiers are usually the first things that come to mind, not a heart-stopping drop into a deep gorge. There's more to the island-province than bug-eyed primates and brown mounds. Jjust a couple of hours away, the Danao Adventure Park offers the exhilarating Suislide and Plunge. The local version of the zipline, the Suislide consists of a pulley suspended on a cable, which is mounted on an incline, according to the Eco/Extreme/Educational Adventure Tour Danao website. Meanwhile, the Plunge is a canyon-swing adventure mounted over a gorge that is 200 meters high and 300 meters wide. While not for the fainthearted, such extreme activities offer an alternative vacation for tourists who want more than laid-back sightseeing. Which is exactly what the annual Travel and Tour Expo will do, putting the spotlight on emerging Philippine destinations, from Tuguegarao in Luzon to the Camotes Islands in the Visayas. The Expo will be held February 15-17 in the SMS Convention Center in Pasay. "There are a good bulk of local players coming in exhibiting during the fair," said Philippine Travel Agencies Association President John Paul Cabalza, noting that they increased the number of booths to 554 from last year's Expo of 477., The PTAA identified nine emerging tourist destinations that they will aggressively promote: Baler, Bataan, Camotes Islands, Davao, Leyte, Mindoro, Samal Islands, Siargao Island and Tuguegarao. "We're actually looking at more domestic players gaining ground and at the same time assisting the Department of Tourism. This is a good example of the public private partnership," Cabalza said at a press conference on February 5., Cabalza said the emerging destinations include the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, where there are already 17 resorts and hotels operating. Meanwhile, in Baler, more than 15 resorts are currently operating, Cabalza said, noting that the popular surfing destination also has numerous waterfalls. "We went there, and it was a fun trek. Even if you swim in their waterfalls area, it's not that deep," said Cabalza, noting that the waterfalls are well-managed. Cabalza also recommended Baler's history trail, which includes Baler Church, the site of the Siege of Baler in 1898. The trail also includes Ermita hill, where only a few Filipinos survived the Tsunami of 1735, which wiped out the entire town., Aileen Clemente, chairperson of the 20th Travel Tour Expo, said the fair is an opportunity for emerging destinations to become more comfortable before promoting themselves outside the Philippines. "Since there are new destinations that we are promoting, this is like their first dry run of their destination, their product, their hotels... When they get that confidence level, there's no stopping them from gaining all the inbound market as well," she said. Promoting domestic tourism In 2011, the revenue from foreign tourists reached about 100 billion pesos, while the revenue from domestic tourists was at 800 billion pesos, according to Department of Tourism Asec. Benito Bengzon Jr. In 2012, the number of domestic tourists exceeded 30 million. "We're seeing a lot of Filipinos going around the country. More than ever, there is a greater sense of appreciation, greater pride in what the country has to offer and we feel that's one of the factors that will push domestic travel," said Bengzon. He added that the increase in airlines operating within the country contributed to this growth, as it gave consumers more options. Similarly, there are a variety of options when it comes to accommodations and facilities for travelers. "If people want the luxury, five star type, we have it. If they opt for the more Spartan budget type of accommodations, we also have it. But definitely, domestic tourism will continue to grow," Bengzon said., PTAA Media Committee Chair Nit Ragaza noted that many foreign tour operators will be participating in the Travel Tour Expo, and this is also an opportunity to promote domestic tourism. "While their purpose is to sell their country, unavoidably they will be moving around and they will see also the beautiful spots that we have, and they can also relay this to their countrymen. Hopefully this will translate to more visitors in the Philippines," Ragaza said., Bengzon also encouraged Filipinos to travel abroad, as this allows them to promote the country. "The more Filipinos go abroad, the wider the network that we have. Marketing the Philippines is not just the sole responsibility of the DOT. It's everybody's business, and we're happy when Filipinos go abroad and start spreading the word around that it's more fun in the Philippines," he said. While tourists can easily book their trips online, the fair gives them an opportunity to find out about other destinations, as well as take advantage of promos and discounts. According to Clemente, the expo has something for everyone, from luxury deals to budget trips. This year's fair is also bigger than last year's event, which drew some 60,000 visitors. "The fact that we're getting huge numbers is a very strong indication that there is deeper appreciation of tourism and travel among Filipinos," Bengzon said., To reach this year's target of 100,000 visitors, PTAA expanded the fair to include more exhibitors and prizes, as well as celebrities and special guests, including Hello Kitty, who will be brought in by the Japanese Embassy. The expo will also be streamed live online to be able to reach more people. "We'll be scheduling the activities there as well so you can see what are the gimmicks and what are the shows that will be playing onstage and in each booth," she said. Ragaza also said visitors to the expo will not have to spend hours in line in order to purchase airline tickets. "They don't have to really fall in line at Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines or ZestAir. They can go straight to the 42 participating tour operators and they can actually make the purchase there," he said., The Travel Tour Expo 2013 will be held on February 15 to 17, 2013 at the SMX Convention Center Halls 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, and Function Room 5 in Pasay City. For more information, follow the Travel Tour Expo on Twitter (twitter.com/traveltourexpo) and Facebook (facebook.com/traveltour.expo) or call Fairs & More at (02)8451324 or (02)7596680. —

Who charges most for transactions through other banks' ATMs?

..Ever-present automated teller machines make banking easy for most Pinoys, but they don't come for free and can in fact cost up to P15 per withdrawal. Almost all universal and commercial banks in the Philippines charge P10 to P15 for withdrawals in other banks' ATMs, a comparison posted on the central bank's Facebook page Wednesday showed. The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) collects the highest fees of P15 from clients who use other ATMs for making cash withdrawals. The same fee is also charged against BDO Unibank SMART Card users when they make withdraw from other banks' ATMs. Interestingly, even if BDO SMART Card holders use BDO ATMS, they will still be charged P5. Also read: Philippine economy grows 6.6% in 2012 P12 is meanwhile deducted per withdrawal from other ATMs for the clients of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., Union Bank of the Philippines and Chinatrust Commercial Bank Corp. BDO Unibank Debit Card, BDO Unibank Cash Card, Metropolitan Banking Corp., Philippine National Bank, United Coconut Planters Bank, Asia United Bank, Bank of Commerce, Maybank Philippines and Robinsons Bank customers are meanwhile charged P11. A deduction of P10 is meanwhile imposed when cardholders of the following banks make withdrawals from other banks' ATMs: Allied Banking Corp., Development Bank of the Philippines, EastWest Banking Corp., Land Bank of the Philippines, Standard Chartered Bank, Philippine Bank of Communications and Philippine Veterans Bank. Among universal and commercial banks, only Citibank Philippines charges no fees for clients who make withdrawals using other banks' ATMs. Bank customers also incur costs when they make balance inquiries through other ATMs, with charges ranging from P1 to P2.50. Only BPI and Citibank do not impose charges against customers who make balance inquiries through other banks' ATMs. ..

Philippine govt distributes 480 hectares of farmland

Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - Despite a warrant for his arrest, Rodolfo Pagatpat, 60, a tenant at the vast Villa Reyes in nearby San Narciso town, yesterday joined an estimated 5,000 farmers from the Bondoc Peninsula at the distribution of certificates of land ownership award (Cloa) under the Philippines' Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Programme (Carp). "I have to be here to witness the culmination of our long and painful struggle to own the land that we have been tilling for several generations," Pagatpat told the Inquirer at a parking lot in this rustic town on the edge of Tayabas Bay. According to Jansept Geronimo, campaign officer of the Quezon Association for Rural Development and Democratisation, which has been helping the farmers, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) distributed Cloas for 480 hectares of the vast farmland owned by the scions of the late Don Domingo Reyes in the towns of San Narciso, Buenavista and San Andres. "There will be another distribution of 120 hectares in March and another 524 hectares in June. There is no more legal impediment to its distribution," Geronimo said. Records of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Bondoc Peninsula (KMBP) show that 303 criminal cases, mostly for the qualified theft of coconuts, have been filed against 223 tenants who complained of harassment by several landlords whose estates were under Carp coverage. One of the victims of harassment was Pagatpat, who said he has been living in the mountains since 2006 to avoid authorities. "Once I am arrested, I have to shell out close to 100,000 pesos (US$2,400) for my bail, which I don't have. But I'm not in hiding. I'm just living far from my family," he said. Agrarian hot spot Pagatpat said his son would receive the Cloa for him, which would entitle him to the legal ownership of three hectares of land. His niece Rosita, 56, a tenant of Villa Reyes for the past 40 years, also received her Cloa for more than one hectare of land. In between sobs, she said she had spent time in gaol for the "unjust charge of stealing coconuts which our forebears had planted". Mulanay is regarded as one of the "agrarian hot spots" in the Bondoc Peninsula because of landowner resistance and the land distribution ceremony was a symbolic gesture of the government's sincerity in pushing ahead with the agrarian reform programme expiring in 2014. The farmers travelled from different towns and assembled at the town entrance since early morning. They later marched toward the town plaza for the distribution of the Cloas by a government delegation led by Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes and included Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, Commission of Human Rights Chairperson Etta Rosales and National Anti-Poverty Commission Chairman Joel Rocamora. In a short dialogue under the scorching noonday sun, farmer Myrna Fontamillas of Barangay (village) Lakdayan, San Narciso, engaged the government officials in an argument on why the agrarian reform beneficiaries still had to pay for the land. In the end, apparently convinced by the explanation of government representatives, the woman hugged and kissed Alcala in gratitude while the rest of the farmers and officials applauded. End to Bondoc disputes De los Reyes said the distribution was only the beginning. "The government will bring to an end the agrarian disputes in the Bondoc Peninsula," he told newsmen. He said the DAR was now speeding up land distribution under Carp, particularly those lands with "notice of coverage." He said this would continue even after Carp ends. He said that nothing in the law stated that the DAR could not distribute Carp-covered lands beyond June 2014. The DAR's 21-billion peso ($515 million) budget for 2013 covers land acquisition and distribution; and includes more than 2.3 billion pesos for support services, up from 800 million pesos this year. "The farmers are all joyous. Most of them shed tears when they were informed of this land distribution event," said Maribel Luzara, KMBP president. The agrarian reform initiative was initiated by President Aquino's late mother, then President Corazon Aquino, on June 10, 1988, as the centrepiece of a social justice programme to lift farmers from poverty and eliminate one of the causes of a lingering communist insurgency. On Aug 7, 2009, then President Gloria Arroyo signed into law Republic Act No. 9700, or the Carper (Carp extension with reforms) Law. This extended CARP for another five years with a total budget of 150 billion pesos. *US$1=40.7 pesos

Gunmen kill 9 police, villagers in Philippines

MANILA (AP) - Philippine officials say gunmen have ambushed a truck carrying policemen and village guards, killing nine in a mountainous central province. Police officer Gary Genelaso says a policeman and eight others, mostly village guards, were killed by the unidentified men, who raked the victims' truck with rifle fire before dawn Sunday in La Castellana town in Negros Occidental province. Two other policemen were wounded. Genelaso says the policemen and villagers were returning to a police station after helping secure a village festival when they came under attack in the foothills of Mount Kanlaon. Army and police officials suspect the attackers are either communist New People's Army guerrillas or members of an illegal logging syndicate. TO READ

China says Philippines' U.N. request on seas complicates issue

EIJING (Reuters) - China said on Wednesday that a request by the Philippines for a U.N. tribunal to intervene in its longstanding South China Sea territorial dispute with China would only complicate the issue, and denounced Manila's "illegal occupation" of islands there. Manila has asked the tribunal of the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to order a halt to China's activities that the Philippines says violates the Southeast Asian nation's sovereignty. China's claims over islands, reefs and atolls in resource-rich waters off its south coast and to the east of mainland Southeast Asia set it directly against Vietnam and the Philippines, while Brunei, Taiwan and Malaysia also lay claim to parts. Asked about the Philippines' move, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said its southern neighbour was occupying some of China's islands in the South China Sea. "China has consistently opposed the Philippines' illegal occupation," he told a daily news briefing. China supports talks, but only on a bilateral basis with the countries directly involved, as previously agreed on by China and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Hong added. "We hope that the relevant country honours its promises, and ... does not take any action to complicate or expand the problem," he said, without elaborating. It was not clear how the tribunal could help. While all its decisions are binding on countries concerned, it has no power to enforce them. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Ron Popeski)

Japanese brand to challenge San Miguel, grow PHL premium beer market

The second largest beer producer in the country is set to bring in a new brand to challenge the market dominance of San Miguel. Asia Brewery Inc. (ABI) has partnered with Japan's Asahi Breweries Ltd. to expand the premium beer market in the country by bringing another product. “The premium beer market is quite small. It's only 0.1 percent of the total beer market,” Hubert Tan, ABI vice president for marketing, told reporters at a briefing Friday, noting that the market share is considerably less than Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia’s 5 percent. “The only active player is actually San Miguel. None of the major international brands have gained a foothold here and we are attempting to do just that... grow the market," he added. Currently, the Philippine beer market totals 200 million cases in annual sales. Tan cited “lack of foreign brand and competition” as main hurdle for the growth of the premium beer market in the country. “So, as we enter we expect stronger growth for that segment,” he said. ABI is planning expand the premium beer’s share through its exclusive distribution of Japan’s number one premium beer, Asahi Super Dry. The brand will attempt to challenge San Miguel Brewery Inc.’s two premium beers sold locally – San Miguel Super Dry and Kirin, another Japanese brand by Kirin Holdings Co. Ltd. “Now, it’s (premium beer market) largely composed of San Miguel Super Dry. Based on aggressive sales volume that we have, we should be able to sell more than this,” Tan said. ABI eyes to corner the A and B segments, which comprise for the total 2 percent of the total beer market, through its distributorship of Asahi Super Dry. “It’s a foreign brand, so it’s a little pricier. But, of course, there’s opportunity to grow in other market segments. We’ll do it,” Tan said. “The focus for Asahi is to target the chains of hotels, restaurants and bars we have partnerships with throughout the country,” he added. At the same briefing, Asahi Group Holdings Ltd. International Business Section Manager Akira Tsuiki said they chose to partner with ABI “because of the scale of the distribution network it currently has, and product portfolio match.” Asahi Group’s public relations section manager Takayuki Tanaka said they sealed a distribution partnership with a Philippine company because of good economic prospects in the country. “We've seen the movement of the economy of the Philippines and it goes beyond,” he said. Tan also said that ABI is open to having a joint venture project with Asahi group. “We're always open to joint venture partners,” he said. Tan noted that “what happens after will all depend on how good results are for Asahi Super Dry. This is the first of bigger steps.” Sin tax Tan, meanwhile, brushed off concerns of a beer industry crunch because of the recently passed sin tax reform bill that raised excise taxes in alcoholic and tobacco products. “We're still quite bullish on the beer market,” he said. Tan explained that of the three “sin” product segment – distilled spirits, fermented liquor or beer and tobacco – beer has the lowest increase in excise taxes. A P15 per liter excise tax has been imposed on fermented liquor products, largely beer, with a net retail price per liter is 50.60 or less. The excise tax for such product -- a bottle of beer, for instance — will increase to P17 in 2014, P19 in 2015, P21 in 2016 and P23.50 in 2017. ABI currently corners 9 percent of the total beer market, with its rival San Miguel getting the bulk of the market share. ABI carries Beer na Beer, Colt 45, Manila Beer, Carlsberg and Lone Star brands. — KBK,