Maniolas

The Senate Committee on Local Government, chaired by Senator Bongbong Marcos, together with the Committees on Peace Unification and Reconcillation; and Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes, will contiunue its inquiry on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law. Also present during the BBL hearing is Senator Chiz Escudero. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Senate President Franklin Drilon said Tuesday he has yet to decide whether there is a need for President Benigno Aquino III to meet with senators regarding the Bangsamoro Basic Law. In a radio interview, Drilon said he will consult first with his colleagues, especially Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., chairman of the local government committee, regarding the matter. “Atin pong pagpapasiyahan iyan at kokonsulta po muna ako sa aking mga kasamahan, lalo na sa Committee on Local Government sa Senado, kay Senator Bongbong, kung ano ang kanilang feeling. Maisusumite na ba ang committee report sa Senado?” he said. He believes he can make a decision before the weekends. “Tingnan po natin. Masyado pong maaga para po ako ay magpasya diyan. Ito pong llinggo na ito ay siguro we can make a decision,” he said. Aquino said Monday that he will wait for Drilon’s advice if he still needs to meet senators to explain the importance of immediately passing the BBL. Marcos, meanwhile, welcomed a potential dialogue with Aquino on the controversial measure but expressed doubt if he will be included there. “Mabuti ‘yun, at para naman masabi namin sa kanya kung ano ang nakikita naming problema. Pero baka doon Read More …

President Benigno S. Aquino III is received by Davao City Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, Jr., upon arrival for the Opening Ceremony of the 2013 Philippine M.I.C.E. Conference (MICECON 2013) at the 3rd Floor, SMX Convention Center, SM Lanang Premiere in Davao City on Thursday (March 07, 2013). The MICE Conference is a prestigious gathering of key players in the travel and tourism industry. The conference will provide the Host an opportunity to showcase its destinations to approximately 400 stakeholders in the tourism industry comprised of: travel agents, tour operators, hoteliers, resort owners, professional congress/ exhibition/event organizers, association/corporate executives, destination management companies, airline representatives, local government officials, academe, students and the media. (MNS photo)). MANILA (Mabuhay) — Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte maintained that he is not interested in running for a national position in 2016. Duterte issued the statement after Vice President Jejomar Binay said he is eyeing the Davao city mayor as a possible runningmate in next year’s elections. Binay said Duterte is highly qualified for the position, noting his successful record as mayor of Davao City for over 20 years. Duterte, however, said he already plans to retire after his term as mayor ends. “I am not running for any national position. As I have said before, my daughter would be willing to run again. I will retire from this term from public life… I am old,” he said. Supporters of Duterte on Saturday morning held a fun run along Roxas Boulevard to Read More …

President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his arrival statement at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 in Pasay City on Monday (May 11, 2015) from his successful Working Visit to the United States of America and State Visit to Canada. (MNS Photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — President Benigno Aquino III on Monday said the Philippines will defy China’s claim on the airspace over disputed territories in the South China Sea. “We will still fly to routes that we fly based on international law,” Aquino told reporters in an interview in Marikina City, where he inspected classrooms a week before the opening of classes. The President also said that he is not yet concerned about the possibility of China targeting Philippine aircraft, since Beijing has not yet formally declared an air control zone over the South China Sea. “Siguro hindi muna natin dapat pag-isipan na tayo ay pag-iinitan ng isang bansa dahil wala pa ring dinedeclare namang ADIZ [Air Defense Identification Zone] doon sa tinatahak ng ating carriers,” Aquino said. “Baka naman pinapangunahan natin ‘yung problema na wala pa,” he added. The President further said that it will be bad for China’s reputation in the international community if it will be engaged in a direct confrontation with the Philippines. “Klarong-klaro ‘yung disparity sa available military force between China and ourselves. Will they not take that into consideration, especially if you want to maintain a positive image to the rest of the world?” he said. Last week, the Chinese Navy was Read More …

A pedicab driver fixes his umbrella to fight the searing heat in Manila on Thursday. Weather bureau PAGASA recorded the hottest temperature so far this year in Metro Manila that reached 35 degrees Celsius with a heat index of 41 degrees Celsius at around 1 p.m.(MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — The National Capital Region is less than 50 percent ready to deal with the fallout of a high-magnitude earthquake, the head of the Metro Manila Development Authority said in an earthquake preparedness forum on Friday. Speaking at the GMA News Online-I M Ready Earthquake Preparedness Forum, MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said Metro Manila’s earthquake readiness leaves much to be desired. “Kung ige-grade ko ang kahandaan natin para sa isang lindol, siguro below 5 (out 10),” said Tolentino. The forum was organized in light of the recent release of the Valley Fault System (VFS) Atlas by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), which mapped the areas affected by earthquake faults in Metro Manila and nearby provinces. The VFS is composed of two segments: the East Valley Fault running through Rizal, and the West Valley Fault, running through Bulacan, Rizal, Metro Manila, Cavite, and Laguna. PHIVOLCS has previously warned about possible impending activity from the West Valley Fault. The West Valley Fault could possibly generate a magnitude 7.2 earthquake, almost as strong as the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that hit Nepal last month, while the East Valley Fault could generate a magnitude 6.2 earthquake. Tolentino said that a high-magnitude earthquake could Read More …