MANILA, Philippines -- GMA Network Inc. has remained at the top spot of the ratings list for the entire first quarter of 2011 with a 33.7 percent nationwide audience share compared to ABS-CBN's 31.8 percent and TV5's 15.2 percent, according to AGB Nielsen Philippines.
Based on the survey, GMA garnered 37.2 percent for Total Urban Luzon versus 26.8 percent of ABS and 17.1 percent of TV5.
In Mega Manila, GMA posted a 13.1 point lead over ABS with 38.3 percent and 25.2 percent respectively. TV5 a far third with 17.9 percent audience share.
This March, GMA Network tightened its grip on the number one spot on National free-to-air television amid competition brought by stations ABS-CBN and TV5, which ranked second and third, respectively.
Based on National Urban Philippines full March household data (March 27 to 31 based on overnight ratings), GMA lodged 34 percent in audience shares, 2.2 percent up from ABS-CBN's 31.8 percent; 18.2 percent higher than TV5's 15.8 percent.
GMA programs' top ratings performance covered the whole country. Of the top 30 programs in National Urban Philippines, 17 programs were from GMA.
In Total Urban Luzon, which comprises 77 percent of total television households nationwide, AGB Nielsen said that GMA also led over competitors ABS-CBN and TV5. The ranking remained the same. Both channels trailed the Kapuso station by huge numbers. GMA had 37.5 percent audience share, higher by 10.7 percent than ABS' 26.8 percent; and 20.1 percent over TV5's 17.4 percent. There were 21 GMA-produced programs that made it to the top 30 programs in Urban Luzon.
The March numbers also showed that GMA was still the outright channel of choice in viewer-rich Mega Manila, which comprises 58 percent of total television households nationwide, scoring 38.4 share points, jotting a 13-point lead from ABS' 25.4; and a margin of 20.3 from TV5's 18.1
In the said month, there were 21 Kapuso programs that made it to the top 30 programs in Mega Manila including six of the top ten.
In March, GMA Network also regained rating leadership in primetime in Mega Manila while maintaining its convincing lead in the afternoon block. The Kapuso Network scored 33 percent household shares all days of March from 6:30 to 11 p.m., overtaking ABS with only 31.9 percent.
Monday, April 4, 2011
News Update Philippine Airlines workers unfazed, vow to still strike
Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - The ground crew union of Philippine Airlines (PAL) on Saturday threatened to defy Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz and proceed with their planned strike anytime.
"We are ready to defy the order of Labor Secretary Baldoz any time we deem it necessary to go on strike in order to prevent layoffs and contractualization at PAL," PAL Employees Association (Palea) president Gerry Rivera said in a statement.
PAL's management, however, said they were ready for any action by Palea.
Baldoz sent the PAL labor case to the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) for compulsory arbitration on Friday, effectively preventing Palea from going on strike.
Rivera, however, belittled the order, saying that it had not stopped a strike at PAL but merely postponed it to a date that PAL and the government would not know in advance.
Palea cannot go on strike now that the labor dispute is up for compulsory mediation, Malaca?ang said yesterday.
"They can't go on strike while the National Conciliation and Mediation Board is hearing their case," Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said over government-run radio station dzRB.
PAL said on Saturday that it would respect and abide by the order of the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) but was ready to deal with Palea's repeated threats of a work stoppage.
"PAL will follow the DoLE order but any illegal action of the PAL Employees Association to disrupt airline operations will not be treated lightly," PAL president and COO Jaime Bautista said.
He said PAL was only informed late Friday night of Baldoz's certification order remanding PAL's labor dispute to the NLRC for compulsory arbitration.
The airline management had yet to receive an official copy of the order, he said.
Bautista said that despite Palea's pre-strike rally Friday which snarled traffic near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 and 2 complexes, all PAL flights ran on schedule.
There were no cancellations and 100 percent of PAL's daily average of 160 inbound and outbound domestic and international flights were able to operate, he said.
COPYRIGHT: ASIA NEWS NETWORK
"We are ready to defy the order of Labor Secretary Baldoz any time we deem it necessary to go on strike in order to prevent layoffs and contractualization at PAL," PAL Employees Association (Palea) president Gerry Rivera said in a statement.
PAL's management, however, said they were ready for any action by Palea.
Baldoz sent the PAL labor case to the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) for compulsory arbitration on Friday, effectively preventing Palea from going on strike.
Rivera, however, belittled the order, saying that it had not stopped a strike at PAL but merely postponed it to a date that PAL and the government would not know in advance.
Palea cannot go on strike now that the labor dispute is up for compulsory mediation, Malaca?ang said yesterday.
"They can't go on strike while the National Conciliation and Mediation Board is hearing their case," Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said over government-run radio station dzRB.
PAL said on Saturday that it would respect and abide by the order of the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) but was ready to deal with Palea's repeated threats of a work stoppage.
"PAL will follow the DoLE order but any illegal action of the PAL Employees Association to disrupt airline operations will not be treated lightly," PAL president and COO Jaime Bautista said.
He said PAL was only informed late Friday night of Baldoz's certification order remanding PAL's labor dispute to the NLRC for compulsory arbitration.
The airline management had yet to receive an official copy of the order, he said.
Bautista said that despite Palea's pre-strike rally Friday which snarled traffic near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 and 2 complexes, all PAL flights ran on schedule.
There were no cancellations and 100 percent of PAL's daily average of 160 inbound and outbound domestic and international flights were able to operate, he said.
COPYRIGHT: ASIA NEWS NETWORK
News Update Abu Sayyaf bandit killed, 3 other hurt in Basilan clash
BASILAN, Philippines – A suspected member of the Abu Sayyaf Group was killed while at least 3 others were injured in a firefight between government troops and alleged members of the terrorist group in Basilan province on Sunday, reports said.
One suspected Abu Sayyaf bandit was captured, according to an Army statement.
Lt. Col. Gamal Hayudini, civil relations officer of the Western Mindanao Command, said 2 soldiers were injured in the firefight that occurred in Eub Etub, Lower Cabengbeng Sumisip town.
Police, meanwhile, received reports that a civilian was reportedly hurt in the crossfire and was brought to a hospital in Zamboanga City for treatment.
Police identified the civilian as Benhar Maruan, 21, a resident of Lower Cabengbeng.
An Army statement said special operations troops clashed with an undetermined number of Abu Sayyaf members following intelligence reports confirming the presence of the bandit group in the town.
The firefight lasted for more than an hour.
Government troops recovered an M16 rifle, a home-made gun, 2 motorcycles, a generator set, assorted ammunition, clothing, personal items, and various documents from the battle site.
Army troops were still pursuing the bandits, as of posting. – Reports from Jewel Reyes and David Santos, ABS-CBN News Zamboanga
One suspected Abu Sayyaf bandit was captured, according to an Army statement.
Lt. Col. Gamal Hayudini, civil relations officer of the Western Mindanao Command, said 2 soldiers were injured in the firefight that occurred in Eub Etub, Lower Cabengbeng Sumisip town.
Police, meanwhile, received reports that a civilian was reportedly hurt in the crossfire and was brought to a hospital in Zamboanga City for treatment.
Police identified the civilian as Benhar Maruan, 21, a resident of Lower Cabengbeng.
An Army statement said special operations troops clashed with an undetermined number of Abu Sayyaf members following intelligence reports confirming the presence of the bandit group in the town.
The firefight lasted for more than an hour.
Government troops recovered an M16 rifle, a home-made gun, 2 motorcycles, a generator set, assorted ammunition, clothing, personal items, and various documents from the battle site.
Army troops were still pursuing the bandits, as of posting. – Reports from Jewel Reyes and David Santos, ABS-CBN News Zamboanga
Sunday, April 3, 2011
DID YOU KNOW THAT ? Philippine Herbal Plants Health Practices
Long before the introduction of modern medicines and Western curative methods herbal medicines had been widely used in the Philippines.The curative effects of the herbs were tested by traditional healers on their patient on try-and-error basis. The knowledge an skills on the curative application of any give herbal medicine has been handed down from generation to generation. Apart from prescribing herbs medicines, the traditional healers were known to give psychological comfort an moral support to their patients. In the of days, they were well respected and enjoy high social status.Through generations of selective process, the herbs that were known to be effective were kept alive. The ineffective one were soon forgotten.
In the days when drugs from the West just started to be used in the Philippines, the were not only too expensive but also too scarce. The rural folks and the poor continued to rely on herbal medicines available in abundance, locally.
Hospitals that. have sprouted up in the provinces and later in the districts have in no small part contributed to the dying art of traditional healing. Doctors trained in Western medicine have arrived to introduce new concepts almost at every corner of the country. Of course, modern medicine is a wonder compared to the use of herbs. After all, there is still no herbal medicine comparable to antibiotics, vaccines, anti-inflammation, and symptomatic drugs.
Philippine Herbal Medicine: Akapulko / Acapulco (Cassia alata)
In the days when drugs from the West just started to be used in the Philippines, the were not only too expensive but also too scarce. The rural folks and the poor continued to rely on herbal medicines available in abundance, locally.
Hospitals that. have sprouted up in the provinces and later in the districts have in no small part contributed to the dying art of traditional healing. Doctors trained in Western medicine have arrived to introduce new concepts almost at every corner of the country. Of course, modern medicine is a wonder compared to the use of herbs. After all, there is still no herbal medicine comparable to antibiotics, vaccines, anti-inflammation, and symptomatic drugs.
Philippine Herbal Medicine: Akapulko / Acapulco (Cassia alata)
Akapulko or Acapulco in English is a shrub found throughout the Philippines.
News Update PDS, Reuters forge tie-up on new products
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Dealing System Holdings Corp. (PDS Group) and Thomson Reuters announced that they have entered into a strategic agreement to jointly deliver enhanced products and services to the members of the PDS Foreign Exchange (FX) and Fixed Income Trading Communities in the Philippines.
The PDS Group currently operates the USD/PhP FX Spot Trading System for the Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP) Member Banks through a system provided by a NASDAQ OMX and operates the USD/PhP Payment versus Payment (PVP) System - the Philippine FX Settlement System, as well as the Philippine Domestic Dollar Transfer System (PDDTS).
Thomson Reuters provides the USD/PhP FX Swap and FX Forward Trading System for the BAP Member Banks and is the premiere system for FX Spot and Forward trading of global currencies by Philippine banks. Thomson Reuters also provides trading capabilities for Interest Rate Swaps and Forwards.
The strategic alliance draws on these strengths to provide bolder and wider opportunities to the PDS Group FX community. The current PDS Group platform will be enhanced with fixed and conversational formats to allow the community to employ varied techniques for operating within the quote-driven environment.
Access opportunities for the FX community will be complemented with a matching capability for the US$/P Spot market. The partnership looks forward to making available new market services for Forwards and Swaps to the FX community.
And the entire spectrum of transactional capabilities will be supported by a settlement system that uses Thomson Reuters market leading straight through processing (STP) facilities.
The PDS Group currently operates the USD/PhP FX Spot Trading System for the Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP) Member Banks through a system provided by a NASDAQ OMX and operates the USD/PhP Payment versus Payment (PVP) System - the Philippine FX Settlement System, as well as the Philippine Domestic Dollar Transfer System (PDDTS).
Thomson Reuters provides the USD/PhP FX Swap and FX Forward Trading System for the BAP Member Banks and is the premiere system for FX Spot and Forward trading of global currencies by Philippine banks. Thomson Reuters also provides trading capabilities for Interest Rate Swaps and Forwards.
The strategic alliance draws on these strengths to provide bolder and wider opportunities to the PDS Group FX community. The current PDS Group platform will be enhanced with fixed and conversational formats to allow the community to employ varied techniques for operating within the quote-driven environment.
Access opportunities for the FX community will be complemented with a matching capability for the US$/P Spot market. The partnership looks forward to making available new market services for Forwards and Swaps to the FX community.
And the entire spectrum of transactional capabilities will be supported by a settlement system that uses Thomson Reuters market leading straight through processing (STP) facilities.
News Update Police recover stolen vehicle of COA chief
MANILA – Parañaque police recovered Wednesday night the sport utility vehicle (SUV) of outgoing Commission on Audit (COA) Chairman Reynaldo Villar, which was taken from him at gunpoint that morning inside BF Homes.
The white Fortuner, with plate number ZRV 924, was found abandoned at F. Cruz Street, about a kilometer from where it was taken.
Most of the valuables were intact except some money worth about P80,000 and several cell phones.
Police said the suspects could be ordinary criminals because they did not take all valuables and left the vehicle within the area.
Vlllar earlier said it was taken from him at gunpoint by 2 men. He was made to drive around the subdivision and was later dropped off.
Police said one suspect is of medium built, about 5'4” in height.
Villar has already checked a rogue gallery of wanted carjackers.
The white Fortuner, with plate number ZRV 924, was found abandoned at F. Cruz Street, about a kilometer from where it was taken.
Most of the valuables were intact except some money worth about P80,000 and several cell phones.
Police said the suspects could be ordinary criminals because they did not take all valuables and left the vehicle within the area.
Vlllar earlier said it was taken from him at gunpoint by 2 men. He was made to drive around the subdivision and was later dropped off.
Police said one suspect is of medium built, about 5'4” in height.
Villar has already checked a rogue gallery of wanted carjackers.
News Update Navy cracks down on Chinese poachers
MANILA, Philippines - Navy authorities on Thursday vowed to seek long jail terms for six Chinese caught poaching fish and sea turtles, as part of a crackdown against foreigners stealing marine wildlife.
The head of a multi-agency taskforce against illegal entrants, Brigadier General Juancho Sabban, said he planned to take a hardline stance against all foreign poachers, unlike previous officials who allowed them to be released.
"We will be pursuing the harshest penalty as demanded by law. We will be fighting for the conviction of these apprehended poachers," Sabban told AFP.
In previous cases of Chinese fishermen caught illegally in Philippine waters, the Chinese embassy often successfully lobbied for the release of its nationals, much to the anger of local environmental groups.
But Sabban, who took over in August last year as head of the taskforce that includes the police and military, said he would push hard for the latest batch of nabbed Chinese to be jailed.
"I don't know what happened in previous cases but I would like to assure everybody that we will take action differently," he said.
The Chinese fishermen were arrested off the western island of Palawan on March 24 with their catch of fish and sea turtles, regional police head Chief Superintendent Antonio Hicban said.
They face charges of illegal entry, illegal fishing and catching a protected species -- the sea turtles-- which could get them 12 to 20 years in jail, said Hicban and Sabban.
The declaration of a stronger stance against the Chinese suspects came a day after China executed three Filipino drug traffickers, despite appeals for mercy from senior Philippine officials.
Anger towards China has risen in the Philippines after the execution of the three Filipino drug couriers.
Sabban said the crackdown was not related to the execution of the three but compared the two cases, recalling that China had insisted the Philippines respect its legal system under which the Filipinos were put to death.
"The Chinese ambassador said to us, we should understand the rule of law in their country. The same thing should be applied here. We are just following the law, the same way the Chinese ambassador told us," he said.
Chinese embassy spokesman Sun Yi said consular officials would be sent to Palawan to see what action to take regarding the arrested fishermen.
The head of a multi-agency taskforce against illegal entrants, Brigadier General Juancho Sabban, said he planned to take a hardline stance against all foreign poachers, unlike previous officials who allowed them to be released.
"We will be pursuing the harshest penalty as demanded by law. We will be fighting for the conviction of these apprehended poachers," Sabban told AFP.
In previous cases of Chinese fishermen caught illegally in Philippine waters, the Chinese embassy often successfully lobbied for the release of its nationals, much to the anger of local environmental groups.
But Sabban, who took over in August last year as head of the taskforce that includes the police and military, said he would push hard for the latest batch of nabbed Chinese to be jailed.
"I don't know what happened in previous cases but I would like to assure everybody that we will take action differently," he said.
The Chinese fishermen were arrested off the western island of Palawan on March 24 with their catch of fish and sea turtles, regional police head Chief Superintendent Antonio Hicban said.
They face charges of illegal entry, illegal fishing and catching a protected species -- the sea turtles-- which could get them 12 to 20 years in jail, said Hicban and Sabban.
The declaration of a stronger stance against the Chinese suspects came a day after China executed three Filipino drug traffickers, despite appeals for mercy from senior Philippine officials.
Anger towards China has risen in the Philippines after the execution of the three Filipino drug couriers.
Sabban said the crackdown was not related to the execution of the three but compared the two cases, recalling that China had insisted the Philippines respect its legal system under which the Filipinos were put to death.
"The Chinese ambassador said to us, we should understand the rule of law in their country. The same thing should be applied here. We are just following the law, the same way the Chinese ambassador told us," he said.
Chinese embassy spokesman Sun Yi said consular officials would be sent to Palawan to see what action to take regarding the arrested fishermen.
News Update APC buys out partner in Bakun hydropower plant
MANILA, Philippines - At an acquisition cost of $30 million for the shareholdings of its Australian partner, Aboitiz Power Corporation (APC) can assume full ownership of Luzon Hydro Corporation (LHC), the entity which owns and operates the 70-megawatt Bakun hydropower facility in Ilocos Sur.
The company, in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, described the transaction which has been initially sealed through a memorandum of agreement (MoA), as part of a "restructuring process" for the operations of the facility.
The deal with its partner Pacific Hydro Pty. Ltd. of Australia will be concluded upon "fulfillment of certain conditions in the MoA." The Australian firm holds 50 percent equity in LHC.
AP explained that the acquisition will allow it "to capitalize on the operating synergies gained" by combining Bakun Hydro with the 10 other small to medium hydro power plants it also owns and operates in Northern Luzon - these having aggregate capacity of 34MW.
AP president and chief executive officer Erramon I. Aboitiz explained that the goal at obtaining full ownership of the Bakun facility "is consistent with our strategy of increasing the mix of viable renewable energy in AboitizPower's generation portfolio."
Beyond integration of the Bakun plant's operations to the other facilities proximate to it, the company is expecting to gain pluses that may extend to its other facilities in Northern Luzon - including its 360-megawatt Magat plant in Isabela and the 175-MW Ambuklao-Binga hydropower complex in Benguet.
The Bakun facility was developed by AP's subsidiary Hedcor and its Aussie partner Pacific Hydro in 1996. Its capacity was committed to the National Power Corporation under a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) as sealed in 2001.
So far, it has been the Aboitiz conglomerate's first biggest power facility prior to its acquisition of more assets through NPC's privatization.
It must be noted that the Aboitiz group has been among the most vigorous participant in many of the auctions of the NPC assets.
With the capacity it cornered, it was able to grow its generation portfolio to become the country's third largest power generator.
The company is also engaged in the distribution segment of the power industry. Even with the scale of its capacity at present, the AP group is still keenly seeking for new opportunities to expand its hold in the market.
The company, in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, described the transaction which has been initially sealed through a memorandum of agreement (MoA), as part of a "restructuring process" for the operations of the facility.
The deal with its partner Pacific Hydro Pty. Ltd. of Australia will be concluded upon "fulfillment of certain conditions in the MoA." The Australian firm holds 50 percent equity in LHC.
AP explained that the acquisition will allow it "to capitalize on the operating synergies gained" by combining Bakun Hydro with the 10 other small to medium hydro power plants it also owns and operates in Northern Luzon - these having aggregate capacity of 34MW.
AP president and chief executive officer Erramon I. Aboitiz explained that the goal at obtaining full ownership of the Bakun facility "is consistent with our strategy of increasing the mix of viable renewable energy in AboitizPower's generation portfolio."
Beyond integration of the Bakun plant's operations to the other facilities proximate to it, the company is expecting to gain pluses that may extend to its other facilities in Northern Luzon - including its 360-megawatt Magat plant in Isabela and the 175-MW Ambuklao-Binga hydropower complex in Benguet.
The Bakun facility was developed by AP's subsidiary Hedcor and its Aussie partner Pacific Hydro in 1996. Its capacity was committed to the National Power Corporation under a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) as sealed in 2001.
So far, it has been the Aboitiz conglomerate's first biggest power facility prior to its acquisition of more assets through NPC's privatization.
It must be noted that the Aboitiz group has been among the most vigorous participant in many of the auctions of the NPC assets.
With the capacity it cornered, it was able to grow its generation portfolio to become the country's third largest power generator.
The company is also engaged in the distribution segment of the power industry. Even with the scale of its capacity at present, the AP group is still keenly seeking for new opportunities to expand its hold in the market.
News Update Experts train agri-based producers on market research
MANILA, Philippines - Innovation isn't everything.
This is the lesson that experts from the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) imparted on innovative makers of agriculture-based products who just can't penetrate bigger markets.
Twenty-eight product developers joined the training course dubbed "Market Study and Formulation of Marketing Strategies for Commercializable Agri-based Technologies/Products" sponsored by the two agencies at the SEARCA headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna from March 28 to 30.
The participants were mainly government employees and biotechnologists engaged in product development and generating new technology.
Representatives from the Regional Field Units (RFUs) 1, 2, 4A, 5 and BAR joined the training course along with those from the Quezon Agricultural Experiment Station (QAES) of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Others came from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) stationed in RFUs 2I, 4A, and 6; Pampanga Agricultural College (PAC), Southern Luzon State University (SLSU) and BAPAMIN Enterprises.
SEARCA director Dr. Gil C. Saguiguit Jr. welcomed the participants and said the training is a supplementary activity of SEARCA and DA-BAR's joint project on Capacity-building and Comparative Study on Technology Management in Southeast Asia.
SEARCA is one of 19 regional centers of excellence of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO), an inter-government body founded in 1965 to foster cooperation in education, science, and culture among Southeast Asian nations.
"BAR and SEARCA have been working together for a good number of years now in strengthening the agricultural sector, mainly through the development of the capacity of the DA personnel from the national, regional, and field units in managing technology transfer and commercialization projects in support of the department's National Technology Commercialization Program (NTCP)," Dr. Saguiguit said.
The NTCP has gained grounds in making technologies work for farmers, fisherfolk, and entrepreneurs.
Nevertheless, DA-BAR continues its partnership with SEARCA to address the clamor from the DA network for continuous upgrading of their knowledge of technology management practices in Southeast Asian countries in order to benchmark knowledge and practices of technology management in the Philippines.
The training was aimed at helping the participants develop appropriate marketing strategies for agri-based products and technologies by analyzing the market environment.
Upon completion of the course, the participants were expected to have greater appreciation of marketing factors, including consumer behavior, product innovation, and formulation of effective marketing schemes.
The resource persons, mostly from the Department of Agribusiness Management (DAM) of the University of the Philippines at Los Baños (UPLB), tackled topics such as competitor analysis, market segments and buying behavior, market research methods, demand forecasting, product quality improvement and product safety, product presentation, pricing strategies, product distribution and promotion, cluster marketing and supply chain management.
"We hope that through this training, a better understanding of the market environment will lead to the development of both technology- and market-driven agri-based products that would benefit the agriculture sector and the consuming public as a whole," Dr. Saguiguit said.
This is the lesson that experts from the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) imparted on innovative makers of agriculture-based products who just can't penetrate bigger markets.
Twenty-eight product developers joined the training course dubbed "Market Study and Formulation of Marketing Strategies for Commercializable Agri-based Technologies/Products" sponsored by the two agencies at the SEARCA headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna from March 28 to 30.
The participants were mainly government employees and biotechnologists engaged in product development and generating new technology.
Representatives from the Regional Field Units (RFUs) 1, 2, 4A, 5 and BAR joined the training course along with those from the Quezon Agricultural Experiment Station (QAES) of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Others came from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) stationed in RFUs 2I, 4A, and 6; Pampanga Agricultural College (PAC), Southern Luzon State University (SLSU) and BAPAMIN Enterprises.
SEARCA director Dr. Gil C. Saguiguit Jr. welcomed the participants and said the training is a supplementary activity of SEARCA and DA-BAR's joint project on Capacity-building and Comparative Study on Technology Management in Southeast Asia.
SEARCA is one of 19 regional centers of excellence of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO), an inter-government body founded in 1965 to foster cooperation in education, science, and culture among Southeast Asian nations.
"BAR and SEARCA have been working together for a good number of years now in strengthening the agricultural sector, mainly through the development of the capacity of the DA personnel from the national, regional, and field units in managing technology transfer and commercialization projects in support of the department's National Technology Commercialization Program (NTCP)," Dr. Saguiguit said.
The NTCP has gained grounds in making technologies work for farmers, fisherfolk, and entrepreneurs.
Nevertheless, DA-BAR continues its partnership with SEARCA to address the clamor from the DA network for continuous upgrading of their knowledge of technology management practices in Southeast Asian countries in order to benchmark knowledge and practices of technology management in the Philippines.
The training was aimed at helping the participants develop appropriate marketing strategies for agri-based products and technologies by analyzing the market environment.
Upon completion of the course, the participants were expected to have greater appreciation of marketing factors, including consumer behavior, product innovation, and formulation of effective marketing schemes.
The resource persons, mostly from the Department of Agribusiness Management (DAM) of the University of the Philippines at Los Baños (UPLB), tackled topics such as competitor analysis, market segments and buying behavior, market research methods, demand forecasting, product quality improvement and product safety, product presentation, pricing strategies, product distribution and promotion, cluster marketing and supply chain management.
"We hope that through this training, a better understanding of the market environment will lead to the development of both technology- and market-driven agri-based products that would benefit the agriculture sector and the consuming public as a whole," Dr. Saguiguit said.
News Update Firm eyes 4,000 hectares for coffee plantations
MANILA, Philippines - Corporate Holdings Management, Inc. (CHMI) is working on a plan to develop 4,000 hectares of land for coffee plantations in the next five years and is keen on developing sites in San Mateo and Antipolo City as sites for plantations nearest to the metropolis.
Noel S. Gonzales, CHMI founding chairman and CEO, is an investment banker who has been engaged for years in real estate development.
"Our plan is to cover 4,000 hectares in a five-year period through the help of the government and banking sector and in partnership with Nestle as buyer. At present, we were able to plant 333 coffee trees covering 200 hectares in Cebu within only five months and now we are preparing 300 hectares more for planting. We are also eyeing Antipolo and San Mateo as new sites for coffee production," he revealed.
Aside from Gonzales, Simeon L. Kintanar, president of CHMI Agroforest Development Corp., said his company also partnered with the community in Alcoy, Cebu to cultivate coffee trees and eventually make Cebu as the coffee corridor in Central Visayas.
Nestle is the country's biggest buyer of coffee cherries and it has been engaged in attracting farmers agribusiness companies to dabble with coffee, the most consumed beverage on the planet next to water.
Nestle Philippines chairman and CEO John Miller attended a recent coffee forum and vowed to support the industry.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala has also called on private companies to work on coffee and promised a package of incentives to lure more entrepreneurs to establish plantations, with the Department of Agriculture (DA) setting up 21 coffee processing facilities from Cordillera down to Mindanao to support them.
These facilities, to be built within five years, would cost P4.9-million each.
Marriz Manuel B. Agbon, who heads the National Convergence Initiative (NCI) of the DA, Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)and acts as president of the Philippine Agricultural Development and Commercial Corp. (PADCC) said NCI is identifying specific coffee clusters in each province and identified Northern Mindanao, Davao, and SOCSARGEN (South Cotabato, Sarangani, General Santos City) as accounting for a maximum of 52 percent of the country's coffee production.
Dante S. Delima, program director of DA-High Value Crops Development Program said his office is committed to develop the coffee industry and has allotted P50 million for robusta production this year for some of the 10 priority regions.
Delima said 70 percent of coffee produced in the Philippines is Robusta variety, one of the most popular and commercial varieties of coffee.
Other coffee varieties cultivated in the country are arabica (aromatic), liberica (kapeng barako), and excelsa (bitter).
He stressed the importance of quality and affordable planting materials for mass propagation of coffee.
Financing programs for coffee growers and investors through the assistance of Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and Banco de Oro (BDO) were discussed by Liduvino Geron, Land Bank 1st VP for the agrarian and domestic banking sector and Rhoda Orsolino, BDO senior VP for Commercial Banking Group (Luzon), respectively.
"We are prepared to fund new coffee plantations and the rehabilitation of existing areas for coffee. We are also ready to finance irrigation systems if needed. Borrowers are also allotted a grace period to repay the loan until cashflow is generated," said Geron.
"For our part, BDO's support to agriculture and fisheries is now slowly picking up. Our bank is open to individual borrowers provided they can comply with all the requirements of the bank which are needed to secure their ability to repay the loan," explained Orsolino.
On tax incentives for coffee investors provided by the Board of Investments (BOI) under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Guillermo S. Laquindanum, director, Supervision and Monitoring Department, discussed the simplified procedures for investors who would like to avail of tax incentives.
"Investments in agribusiness or agriculture and fisheries commercial production and processing are at the top of our Investment Priority Plan (IPP)," he said.
Noel S. Gonzales, CHMI founding chairman and CEO, is an investment banker who has been engaged for years in real estate development.
"Our plan is to cover 4,000 hectares in a five-year period through the help of the government and banking sector and in partnership with Nestle as buyer. At present, we were able to plant 333 coffee trees covering 200 hectares in Cebu within only five months and now we are preparing 300 hectares more for planting. We are also eyeing Antipolo and San Mateo as new sites for coffee production," he revealed.
Aside from Gonzales, Simeon L. Kintanar, president of CHMI Agroforest Development Corp., said his company also partnered with the community in Alcoy, Cebu to cultivate coffee trees and eventually make Cebu as the coffee corridor in Central Visayas.
Nestle is the country's biggest buyer of coffee cherries and it has been engaged in attracting farmers agribusiness companies to dabble with coffee, the most consumed beverage on the planet next to water.
Nestle Philippines chairman and CEO John Miller attended a recent coffee forum and vowed to support the industry.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala has also called on private companies to work on coffee and promised a package of incentives to lure more entrepreneurs to establish plantations, with the Department of Agriculture (DA) setting up 21 coffee processing facilities from Cordillera down to Mindanao to support them.
These facilities, to be built within five years, would cost P4.9-million each.
Marriz Manuel B. Agbon, who heads the National Convergence Initiative (NCI) of the DA, Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)and acts as president of the Philippine Agricultural Development and Commercial Corp. (PADCC) said NCI is identifying specific coffee clusters in each province and identified Northern Mindanao, Davao, and SOCSARGEN (South Cotabato, Sarangani, General Santos City) as accounting for a maximum of 52 percent of the country's coffee production.
Dante S. Delima, program director of DA-High Value Crops Development Program said his office is committed to develop the coffee industry and has allotted P50 million for robusta production this year for some of the 10 priority regions.
Delima said 70 percent of coffee produced in the Philippines is Robusta variety, one of the most popular and commercial varieties of coffee.
Other coffee varieties cultivated in the country are arabica (aromatic), liberica (kapeng barako), and excelsa (bitter).
He stressed the importance of quality and affordable planting materials for mass propagation of coffee.
Financing programs for coffee growers and investors through the assistance of Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and Banco de Oro (BDO) were discussed by Liduvino Geron, Land Bank 1st VP for the agrarian and domestic banking sector and Rhoda Orsolino, BDO senior VP for Commercial Banking Group (Luzon), respectively.
"We are prepared to fund new coffee plantations and the rehabilitation of existing areas for coffee. We are also ready to finance irrigation systems if needed. Borrowers are also allotted a grace period to repay the loan until cashflow is generated," said Geron.
"For our part, BDO's support to agriculture and fisheries is now slowly picking up. Our bank is open to individual borrowers provided they can comply with all the requirements of the bank which are needed to secure their ability to repay the loan," explained Orsolino.
On tax incentives for coffee investors provided by the Board of Investments (BOI) under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Guillermo S. Laquindanum, director, Supervision and Monitoring Department, discussed the simplified procedures for investors who would like to avail of tax incentives.
"Investments in agribusiness or agriculture and fisheries commercial production and processing are at the top of our Investment Priority Plan (IPP)," he said.
News Update Makati now accepting applicants for its summer youth program
MANILA, Philippines - The Makati city government has announced that it is now accepting applicants for its summer youth program aimed to develop a healthy lifestyle and promote the spirit of camaraderie and sportsmanship among children.
Dubbed Sports, Music, Arts and Recreational Training (SMART) program, the project provides young residents free training in various sports and other fields of interest, such as music and the arts, and culinary skills during the school summer break.
"We want to offer our young citizens a wide range of healthy and creative activities to choose from so that they can enjoy the summer while learning new skills," said Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay, founder of the program.
The Makati SMART summer program is open to residents who are required to present the following: duly accomplished registration and waiver form, certified true copy of Birth or Baptismal Certificate of the child; Voter's Registration Receipt (VRR) or Commission on Elections Certificate or Voter's ID of parent or legal guardian, and two pieces 1x1 latest picture of the child.
Aside from free registration, program participants will also receive free T-shirts. The screening ends on April 15 while the program starts on April 25. The Office of the Mayor and the Office of Councilor Ferdie Eusebio are open for the registration, screening and interview of SMART applicants from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays to Fridays.
The Office of the Mayor handles the following events: badminton for eight to 16 years old; basketball clinic for nine to 15 years old; dance clinic for ages 12 to 21; guitar lesson for 10 to 21 years old; karate for ages 10 to 15; and muay thai for 12 to 21 years old.
Meanwhile, the following events are handled by the Office of Councilor Eusebio: swimming for ages seven to 12 years old; table tennis for eight to 21 years old; taekwondo for ages seven to 15; classical ballet for ages six to 15; voice lessons for seven to 12 years; academic tutorial classes, academics for grade 2 to 6 students; drama and acting for ages seven to 12; painting and drawing for ages six to 15; personality development for 12 to 21 years old; aikido for 12 to 21 years old; arnis for seven to 12 years old; boxing for kids for 10 to 15 years old; and cooking and baking for kids ages seven to 12 years.
Dubbed Sports, Music, Arts and Recreational Training (SMART) program, the project provides young residents free training in various sports and other fields of interest, such as music and the arts, and culinary skills during the school summer break.
"We want to offer our young citizens a wide range of healthy and creative activities to choose from so that they can enjoy the summer while learning new skills," said Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay, founder of the program.
The Makati SMART summer program is open to residents who are required to present the following: duly accomplished registration and waiver form, certified true copy of Birth or Baptismal Certificate of the child; Voter's Registration Receipt (VRR) or Commission on Elections Certificate or Voter's ID of parent or legal guardian, and two pieces 1x1 latest picture of the child.
Aside from free registration, program participants will also receive free T-shirts. The screening ends on April 15 while the program starts on April 25. The Office of the Mayor and the Office of Councilor Ferdie Eusebio are open for the registration, screening and interview of SMART applicants from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays to Fridays.
The Office of the Mayor handles the following events: badminton for eight to 16 years old; basketball clinic for nine to 15 years old; dance clinic for ages 12 to 21; guitar lesson for 10 to 21 years old; karate for ages 10 to 15; and muay thai for 12 to 21 years old.
Meanwhile, the following events are handled by the Office of Councilor Eusebio: swimming for ages seven to 12 years old; table tennis for eight to 21 years old; taekwondo for ages seven to 15; classical ballet for ages six to 15; voice lessons for seven to 12 years; academic tutorial classes, academics for grade 2 to 6 students; drama and acting for ages seven to 12; painting and drawing for ages six to 15; personality development for 12 to 21 years old; aikido for 12 to 21 years old; arnis for seven to 12 years old; boxing for kids for 10 to 15 years old; and cooking and baking for kids ages seven to 12 years.
News Update Metro Manila must be ready for another 'Ondoy' event
MANILA, Philippines - Local governments in Metro Manila must boost its preparedness and capability to address the probable occurrence of another "Ondoy" tragedy.
The possibility of having a storm of such destructive force is probable, according to a global consultancy, planning, design, and engineering firm.
In a workshop hosted by the Makati City government, international consultancy firm Arup, composed of engineers, planners, designers and technical specialists, urged local government units to implement infrastructure programs and development in their areas to lessen the effects of typhoon.
The forum urged local government units in Metro Manila to implement intervention to prevent, if not lessen, casualties in such an event.
"A lot of steps are being done like the Pasig-Marikina Project but we need to continue to see local government units (LGUs) implement their own projects in clearing their own waste so that water can freely pass and move on Pasig-Marikina River, and on to Manila Bay then Laguna De Bay. If we can do that without any blockage then it can make us more adaptable to similar events like Ondoy," said Raul Manlapig, managing director Arup-Manila office.
Due to its coastal location and rapid urban development, Metro Manila is especially prone to climate change impacts and natural disasters, including extreme rainfall, sea level rise, as well as more powerful typhoons, said Arup officials.
The seminar brought together top city government officials, international donors, environmental researchers and practitioners, and Arup's global water, climate change and planning experts to explore practical solutions to address flood and water management issues, and build a resilient Metro Manila.
Local experts Dr. Rosa Perez of the Manila Observatory, Eng. Sofia Santiago, project manager of the Pasig-Marikina river channel project, and Elisea Gozun, Presidential Assistant for Climate Change, shared insights on the negative impacts of climate change on the local level.
The possibility of having a storm of such destructive force is probable, according to a global consultancy, planning, design, and engineering firm.
In a workshop hosted by the Makati City government, international consultancy firm Arup, composed of engineers, planners, designers and technical specialists, urged local government units to implement infrastructure programs and development in their areas to lessen the effects of typhoon.
The forum urged local government units in Metro Manila to implement intervention to prevent, if not lessen, casualties in such an event.
"A lot of steps are being done like the Pasig-Marikina Project but we need to continue to see local government units (LGUs) implement their own projects in clearing their own waste so that water can freely pass and move on Pasig-Marikina River, and on to Manila Bay then Laguna De Bay. If we can do that without any blockage then it can make us more adaptable to similar events like Ondoy," said Raul Manlapig, managing director Arup-Manila office.
Due to its coastal location and rapid urban development, Metro Manila is especially prone to climate change impacts and natural disasters, including extreme rainfall, sea level rise, as well as more powerful typhoons, said Arup officials.
The seminar brought together top city government officials, international donors, environmental researchers and practitioners, and Arup's global water, climate change and planning experts to explore practical solutions to address flood and water management issues, and build a resilient Metro Manila.
Local experts Dr. Rosa Perez of the Manila Observatory, Eng. Sofia Santiago, project manager of the Pasig-Marikina river channel project, and Elisea Gozun, Presidential Assistant for Climate Change, shared insights on the negative impacts of climate change on the local level.
News Update LGUs asked to inform households affected by fault line
MANILA, Philippines - Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse M. Robredo Saturday tasked local government units (LGUs) to determine how many households within their areas of jurisdiction can be affected by the West Valley Fault.
Robredo also directed LGUs to undertake measures to prepare these communities for eventualities during an earthquake and how to minimize damage.
"The damage of those within the fault line will be the worst," Robredo said."'Our main priority is really saving lives, so we have to let each household know what to do in certain situations," he said.
Robredo said that since government funds are lacking, the best solution would be to invest knowledge on the people.
"The government is already swamped with too many problems. We should not waste money and invest not on technology preparedness, but rather the preparedness of the people," he said.
The DILG Secretary even kidded that it would be better if LGUs are willing to shoulder expenses on evacuating the households that will be affected.
"Kung willing sila mag-subsidize ng pag-lipat, eh di mabuti, (If they are willing to subsidize for their move, then all the better)," he said.
"My biggest concern actually is that we do not really know what we are preparing for," he said. "
"Take Japan, for example. They were caught off-guard by the tsunami and quake. This is why it is better to prepare the people, and teach them what to do should there be a disaster," he said.
"The challenge for us is how to divide resources to overcome problems now and in the future," he said.
On Saturday, the DILG conducted an inter-agency conference on earthquake aftermath called the "Inter-Agency Workshop on Earthquake Aftermath: How to Proof the Local Governments."
Robredo also directed LGUs to undertake measures to prepare these communities for eventualities during an earthquake and how to minimize damage.
"The damage of those within the fault line will be the worst," Robredo said."'Our main priority is really saving lives, so we have to let each household know what to do in certain situations," he said.
Robredo said that since government funds are lacking, the best solution would be to invest knowledge on the people.
"The government is already swamped with too many problems. We should not waste money and invest not on technology preparedness, but rather the preparedness of the people," he said.
The DILG Secretary even kidded that it would be better if LGUs are willing to shoulder expenses on evacuating the households that will be affected.
"Kung willing sila mag-subsidize ng pag-lipat, eh di mabuti, (If they are willing to subsidize for their move, then all the better)," he said.
"My biggest concern actually is that we do not really know what we are preparing for," he said. "
"Take Japan, for example. They were caught off-guard by the tsunami and quake. This is why it is better to prepare the people, and teach them what to do should there be a disaster," he said.
"The challenge for us is how to divide resources to overcome problems now and in the future," he said.
On Saturday, the DILG conducted an inter-agency conference on earthquake aftermath called the "Inter-Agency Workshop on Earthquake Aftermath: How to Proof the Local Governments."
News Update Kin of another Pinoy on China death row seek PNoy's help
MANILA, Philippines - The family of a 35-year-old Filipino sentenced to death in China for drug trafficking is now appealing to the Aquino government to do everything it can to save his life.
After watching yesterday's news about the executions of the 3 Filipinos--Sally Ordinario-Villanueva, Ramon Credo, Elizabeth Batain--in China, the family is now worried about their loved one, whose drug trafficking case is pending review before China's Supreme People's Court.
The Filipino drug courier is jailed in Guangzhou. He was arrested there in October 2008 for bringing in 1.495 kilos of heroin hidden in his luggage.
“Sana tama na yung tatlong nabitay. Sana naman magawan ng paraan ang nag-iisang ito,” said Anna (not her real name), sister of the Filipino convict.
The family requested anonymity for the sake of their mother, who just suffered a stroke.
“Alam namin na kasalan talaga yun, kaya lang sana mas mababa yung sintensya. Sana huwag matulad doon sa tatlong nauna. Gusto pa namin makita at makasama kapatid namin,” said Anna. She said her brother has no criminal record in the Philippines. She stressed that her brother was a victim of a drug syndicate.
DFA: Only 1 Pinoy left on death row
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), there were originally 6 death penalty convictions, without reprieves, which reached the Supreme People's Court of China in Beijing.
Three convictions, Ordinario-Villanueva’s, Credo’s, and Batain’s, were eventually affirmed by the high court.
Two of the 6 convictions were lowered by the Supreme People’s Court of China from death penalty (without reprieve) to death penalty with 2-year reprieve, the DFA said. "The equivalent of death penalty with two-year reprieve in Philippine law is automatic commutation to life imprisonment, provided the individuals concerned conduct themselves with good behavior within the two-year period," the DFA explained.
Only the drug trafficking case of Anna's brother is pending before China's highest court.
"The Philippine Consulate concerned has been fully assisting the Filipino involved in this case. High-level representations for clemency on his behalf have also been made by Philippine officials at various levels and on numerous occasions," the DFA said.
The DFA said 73 Filipinos facing drug trafficking charges in China have been saved from death row when they were meted death penalties with 2-year reprieves (equivalent to life imprisonment). - Report from Niña Corpuz, ABS-CBN News
After watching yesterday's news about the executions of the 3 Filipinos--Sally Ordinario-Villanueva, Ramon Credo, Elizabeth Batain--in China, the family is now worried about their loved one, whose drug trafficking case is pending review before China's Supreme People's Court.
The Filipino drug courier is jailed in Guangzhou. He was arrested there in October 2008 for bringing in 1.495 kilos of heroin hidden in his luggage.
“Sana tama na yung tatlong nabitay. Sana naman magawan ng paraan ang nag-iisang ito,” said Anna (not her real name), sister of the Filipino convict.
The family requested anonymity for the sake of their mother, who just suffered a stroke.
“Alam namin na kasalan talaga yun, kaya lang sana mas mababa yung sintensya. Sana huwag matulad doon sa tatlong nauna. Gusto pa namin makita at makasama kapatid namin,” said Anna. She said her brother has no criminal record in the Philippines. She stressed that her brother was a victim of a drug syndicate.
DFA: Only 1 Pinoy left on death row
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), there were originally 6 death penalty convictions, without reprieves, which reached the Supreme People's Court of China in Beijing.
Three convictions, Ordinario-Villanueva’s, Credo’s, and Batain’s, were eventually affirmed by the high court.
Two of the 6 convictions were lowered by the Supreme People’s Court of China from death penalty (without reprieve) to death penalty with 2-year reprieve, the DFA said. "The equivalent of death penalty with two-year reprieve in Philippine law is automatic commutation to life imprisonment, provided the individuals concerned conduct themselves with good behavior within the two-year period," the DFA explained.
Only the drug trafficking case of Anna's brother is pending before China's highest court.
"The Philippine Consulate concerned has been fully assisting the Filipino involved in this case. High-level representations for clemency on his behalf have also been made by Philippine officials at various levels and on numerous occasions," the DFA said.
The DFA said 73 Filipinos facing drug trafficking charges in China have been saved from death row when they were meted death penalties with 2-year reprieves (equivalent to life imprisonment). - Report from Niña Corpuz, ABS-CBN News
Saturday, April 2, 2011
News Update Philippine tribal gunmen kidnap 16
BUTUAN (Philippines) - PHILIPPINE tribal gunmen kidnapped 16 teachers and students, demanding the release of an arrested comrade, police and local officials said on Saturday.
Members of the Manobo tribe led by Reyjoy Brital, abducted the group, including several minors, in the southern island of Mindanao on Friday, a police official and the local mayor said.
Speaking to negotiators through a cellphone, Brital threatened to kill the hostages if a rescue attempt was launched.
'They should behave because if they continue to come into our area we will make an example out of the hostages,' Brital said in the local dialect. -- AFP
Members of the Manobo tribe led by Reyjoy Brital, abducted the group, including several minors, in the southern island of Mindanao on Friday, a police official and the local mayor said.
Speaking to negotiators through a cellphone, Brital threatened to kill the hostages if a rescue attempt was launched.
'They should behave because if they continue to come into our area we will make an example out of the hostages,' Brital said in the local dialect. -- AFP
News Update AGING FOLK GET P500 AID
PANGASINAN, Philippines - Qualified senior citizens from Alaminos City are starting to receive their monthly P500 stipend from the national government, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported Friday. The 75 beneficiaries were the first batch who received their stipend among the 2,304 eligible elderly residents of Region 1 entitled to the monthly financial help. DSWD Regional Director Marlene D. Peralta said that DSWD will pay all the beneficiaries in cash pending issuance of ATM cards by the Land Bank of the Philippines. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)
News update HEALTH MEET IN BATANGAS
BATANGAS CITY, Philippines - The Batangas Provincial Health Office (PHO) organized a province-wide Health Summit, here, recently which was attended by local chief executives and provincial, city and municipal health officers. The conference held at the Hotel Ponte Fino was intended to map out the health situation of the province and discuss strategic interventions needed to address gaps, align and synchronize priorities, and share good practices for replication, particularly those anchored on Governor Vilma Santos Recto's HEARTS (Heath, Education and Environment, Agriculture, Roads, Tourism,Infrastracture ) program. (Ferdinand F. Castro)
News Update NIGHT MARKET UP IN BAGUIO
BAGUIO CITY, Philippines - To address rampant illegal vending the city, the local government approved a proposal for an experimental night market at the Baguio Athletic Bowl from 5 p.m. to 12 midnight. The Baguio City Market Authority (BCMA) said the night market will run for two months to study whether or not it will effectively rid the city of ambulant and illegal vendors on the sidewalks, roads, the central business area and even the public market. With the night market in place, Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan ordered a strict ban on illegal vending. (Dexter A. See)
News Update Chico to host 13.2-M.W. plant
SABANGAN, Mountain Province, Philippines - A memorandum of agreement (MoA) between the local government here and Hedcor was signed this week to push on with the proposed construction of a 13.2-megawatt (mW) hydro-electric power plant in Chico River. Mayor Donato L. Danglose, after signing the MoA with Hedcor Vice President Gregorio P. Jabonillo, said the power plant will boost the energy requirements of the province and increase the power that will be infused into the Luzon grid. (Dexter A. See)
News Update Lhuillier, FCA clash for D-L lead
MANILA, Philippines - Cebuana Lhuillier and FCA clash with their eyes set on the share of the lead in Group B as the PBA D-League Foundation Cup resumes Thursday at the San Juan Gym.
Both the Gems and the Cultivators hope to shrug off a two-week layoff in hopes of tying idle Cobra Energy Drink in the seven-team group. Gametime is set at 4 p.m.
In the curtain raiser, North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and RnW Pacific Pipes shoot for solo second in Group A at 2 p.m.
Led by Philippine Patriots cager Allein Maliksi and former Jose Rizal University stars Marvin Hayes and James Sena, Cebuana erupted in the second half for a resounding 83-62 rout of CafeFrance on March 17.
Coach Luigi Trillo is banking on the three alongside guard Benedict Fernandez, who was tossed out in the third quarter of that game for an F2, and Letran star Kevin Alas.
On the other hand, FCA drew solid efforts from former UAAP standouts JR Gerilla, Raffy Reyes and Jun Dizon in a masterful 89-74 demolition of Junior Powerade on March 15.
Both the Gems and the Cultivators hope to shrug off a two-week layoff in hopes of tying idle Cobra Energy Drink in the seven-team group. Gametime is set at 4 p.m.
In the curtain raiser, North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and RnW Pacific Pipes shoot for solo second in Group A at 2 p.m.
Led by Philippine Patriots cager Allein Maliksi and former Jose Rizal University stars Marvin Hayes and James Sena, Cebuana erupted in the second half for a resounding 83-62 rout of CafeFrance on March 17.
Coach Luigi Trillo is banking on the three alongside guard Benedict Fernandez, who was tossed out in the third quarter of that game for an F2, and Letran star Kevin Alas.
On the other hand, FCA drew solid efforts from former UAAP standouts JR Gerilla, Raffy Reyes and Jun Dizon in a masterful 89-74 demolition of Junior Powerade on March 15.
News Update P-Noy dismisses deputy ombudsman over Manila hostage crisis
President Benigno Aquino III has dismissed Deputy Ombudsman Emilio Gonzalez III over handling of the case against hostage-taker former Police Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza, a statement from the Executive Secretary said Friday.
The decision came from a recommendation of Palace lawyers who reviewed the findings of the Incident Investigation and Review Committee(IIRC), the statement said.
The government official noted that Gonzales' dismissal is due to his “gross neglect of duty and gross misconduct" in handling the dismissal complaint against Mendoza.
This decision is a a direct action against an official in connection with the August 23 hostage-taking following the review of the IIRC report by the Palace legal team headed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr., the statement said.
The decision was issued on March 31, 2011.
"This decision reflects this Administration’s commitment to hold those responsible for the hostage-taking incident accountable,” Ochoa said.
"Those of us who serve government must be cognizant of the fact that people are affected by our failure to fulfill our responsibilities. In this case, lives were not only affected, they were lost," Ochoa added.
The 15-page decision indicated that it found an "inordinate and unjustified delay in the resolution of the motion for reconsideration timely filed by Mendoza on his dismissal from police service – a clear neglect of performance of official duty."
It added that the delay in the resolution of Mendoza's appeal that spanned nine months constituted "a flagrant disregard" of the Office of the Ombudsman’s Rules and Procedure, which provide that a motion for reconsideration must be acted upon within five days from the submission of the documents.
The executive secretary stressed that there was substantial evidence to prove that Gonzalez committed gross misconduct for showing undue interest in taking over the administrative case filed against Mendoza, which was then pending investigation with the Philippine National Police-Internal Affairs Service.
The report noted that the delay in the resolution of Mendoza’s appeal was “all the more unjustified” since no opposition was ever filed against the former Manila police officer’s motion for reconsideration.
"The circumstances surrounding the charges of gross neglect of duty and gross misconduct lent credence to Mendoza’s accusation during the hostage-taking incident that Gonzalez was extorting P150,000 from him in exchange for a favorable decision, Ochoa said.
The executive secretary said Gonzalez had challenged the authority of the President to charge him administratively, saying that it had no judicial or quasi-judicial jurisdiction over him.
The Executive Secretary, however, explained that both transgressions – gross neglect of duty and gross misconduct – amounted to arbitrary and tyrannical exercise of authority and betrayal of public trust, which are grounds for the dismissal of Gonzalez from service by the President.
The official explained that under the Constitution and Republic Act No. 6670, or the Ombudsman Act of 1989, the President has the power to discipline Gonzalez “even to the extent of meting out the supreme administrative penalty of dismissal.”
The decision came from a recommendation of Palace lawyers who reviewed the findings of the Incident Investigation and Review Committee(IIRC), the statement said.
The government official noted that Gonzales' dismissal is due to his “gross neglect of duty and gross misconduct" in handling the dismissal complaint against Mendoza.
This decision is a a direct action against an official in connection with the August 23 hostage-taking following the review of the IIRC report by the Palace legal team headed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr., the statement said.
The decision was issued on March 31, 2011.
"This decision reflects this Administration’s commitment to hold those responsible for the hostage-taking incident accountable,” Ochoa said.
"Those of us who serve government must be cognizant of the fact that people are affected by our failure to fulfill our responsibilities. In this case, lives were not only affected, they were lost," Ochoa added.
The 15-page decision indicated that it found an "inordinate and unjustified delay in the resolution of the motion for reconsideration timely filed by Mendoza on his dismissal from police service – a clear neglect of performance of official duty."
It added that the delay in the resolution of Mendoza's appeal that spanned nine months constituted "a flagrant disregard" of the Office of the Ombudsman’s Rules and Procedure, which provide that a motion for reconsideration must be acted upon within five days from the submission of the documents.
The executive secretary stressed that there was substantial evidence to prove that Gonzalez committed gross misconduct for showing undue interest in taking over the administrative case filed against Mendoza, which was then pending investigation with the Philippine National Police-Internal Affairs Service.
The report noted that the delay in the resolution of Mendoza’s appeal was “all the more unjustified” since no opposition was ever filed against the former Manila police officer’s motion for reconsideration.
"The circumstances surrounding the charges of gross neglect of duty and gross misconduct lent credence to Mendoza’s accusation during the hostage-taking incident that Gonzalez was extorting P150,000 from him in exchange for a favorable decision, Ochoa said.
The executive secretary said Gonzalez had challenged the authority of the President to charge him administratively, saying that it had no judicial or quasi-judicial jurisdiction over him.
The Executive Secretary, however, explained that both transgressions – gross neglect of duty and gross misconduct – amounted to arbitrary and tyrannical exercise of authority and betrayal of public trust, which are grounds for the dismissal of Gonzalez from service by the President.
The official explained that under the Constitution and Republic Act No. 6670, or the Ombudsman Act of 1989, the President has the power to discipline Gonzalez “even to the extent of meting out the supreme administrative penalty of dismissal.”
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