Roxas: Charges to be filed over delayed cleanup of Iloilo oil spill

 News
Dec 042013
 
Roxas: Charges to be filed over delayed cleanup of Iloilo oil spill

Charges await Napocor officials in charge of removing the power barge that has been leaking oil off Iloilo province after it was damaged by Typhoon Yolanda early last month, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas said Wednesday. “There will be cases [of] negligence, incompetence, and for bad practice that will be filed,” Roxas said in a report on GMA News’ “24 Oras.” He, however, added that the current focus is on how to remove the barge. Authorities are racing against time to remove the damaged barge that caused the oil spill in Estancia town following reports that the spilled fuel has reached areas two kilometers away from the coastline. Roxas stopped by Estancia to inspect the damage caused by the oil spill during his short visit to Iloilo with Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Dinky Soliman and Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Voltaire Gazmin. The Cabinet officials visited Iloilo to discuss rehabilitation efforts for typhoon-stricken areas with local officials. At least 200,000 liters of bunker fuel spilled on the coast of Estancia after Power Barge 103 slammed into the rocky shoreline of  Barangay Botongan when the super typhoon struck on Nov. 8. Iloilo governor Arthur Defensor Sr. has ordered the forced evacuation of nearly 1,800 families  in the area after the Department of Health reported that air pollution from toxic fumes from the oil spill was “off the charts,” with benzene levels 32 times higher than normal. The barge’s crewmembers have tried containing the spill by deploying 100-meter Read More …

Belmonte conducts own probe on fake SAROs

 News
Dec 042013
 
Belmonte conducts own probe on fake SAROs

House Speaker Sonny Belmonte is “quietly” conducting his own investigation on the fake Special Allotment Release Orders (SARO) parallel with the one being conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). “I am quietly investigating, rest assured that I’m not just doing nothing,” Belmonte told reporters Wednesday. “I am actually very interested in what’s going on but I also don’t want to prejudice the investigation by in effect not keeping the confidences of the NBI.” The Commission on Audit defines a SARO as a “specific authority issued to one or more identified agencies to incur obligations not exceeding a given amount during a specified period for the purpose indicated.” Under control At least four lawmakers have already been dragged into the issue. Belmonte said he has full confidence in the investigation of the NBI, which has so far summoned several personalities, including staff members of lawmakers, to its probe. “The NBI has had it under control and as I said, so far we are a small portion of this whole thing but rest assured that we will get to the bottom of it here in the House,” Belmonte said. A fake SARO for a P161-million farm-to-market road in Cagayan was brought to the NBI office last Friday by a staff member of Cagayan Rep. Baby Alfonso Vargas. Based on an investigation conducted by Belmonte’s office, the fake SARO was given to Vargas’ chief of staff Bong Pelonio. Earlier, a report on GMA News’ “24 Oras” traced a fake SARO to Read More …

US envoy Goldberg vows ‘Yolanda’ aid to continue

 News
Dec 022013
 
US envoy Goldberg vows ‘Yolanda’ aid to continue

New US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg: Continuing aid. AFP FILE PHOTO New US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg on Monday met with President Aquino, expressing condolences for the victims of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” and vowing that his country would continue to help the Philippines in its rehabilitation efforts. “I first want to say that we’re all still saddened and want to send our condolences to the people of the Eastern Visayas, with all the people of the Philippines after Typhoon Yolanda,” Goldberg told reporters in Malacañang after presenting his credentials to the President. “I had a chance to make the same kind of expression to President Aquino that the United States will remain with the Philippines as you move from the relief period into reconstruction. And the United States will take the lead of the Philippine government in areas that are most urgent for rehabilitation and reconstruction,” he said. But Goldberg also took the opportunity to make a pitch for an agreement that would allow “increased rotational presence” of US troops and access to their former military bases in the Philippines. “In the security area, but also in the cooperation that we have undertaken to work on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, we want to further that effort and be able to help even more as we move toward a framework agreement where the United States and the Philippines can move to the next level of [their] relationship,” he said. Goldberg, however, could not say when Manila and Read More …

Hong Kong travel agencies cancel Bangkok tours amid unrest

 News
Dec 022013
 
Hong Kong travel agencies cancel Bangkok tours amid unrest

Agence France-Presse 8:43 pm | Monday, December 2nd, 2013 Anti-government protesters use a wheeled bulldozer to break through police barricade in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, Dec. 2, 2013. AP HONG KONG — Hong Kong travel agencies said Monday they were cancelling most package tours to Bangkok because of anti-government protests, after authorities issued a travel warning for the strife-torn Thai capital. The Hong Kong government issued a “red” outbound travel alert on Bangkok, the second highest in its three-tier warning system, while other Asian countries urged citizens to exercise caution as turmoil continued on the streets. “Residents intending to visit Bangkok should adjust their travel plans and avoid non-essential travel. Those already there should monitor the situation, attend to personal safety and avoid protests and large gatherings of people,” a Hong Kong government spokesman said in a statement. Hong Kong is particularly sensitive to the safety of its tourists. A travel alert on the Philippines remains in place three years after a hostage crisis in Manila killed eight Hong Kong residents. A lower “yellow” warning has been placed on the rest of Thailand. Police in the Thai capital used rubber bullets and water cannons against rock-throwing demonstrators after weekend unrest left several dead and more than a hundred wounded. Roads were blocked across the city and shopping malls forced to close. “After the Security Bureau raised the warning to red, the vast majority of Hong Kong travel agencies have decided to cancel tours,” Travel Industry Council director Joseph Tung told reporters. Read More …

Lacson: Yolanda-hit areas rehabilitated before PNoy's term ends in June 2016

 News
Dec 012013
 
Lacson: Yolanda-hit areas rehabilitated before PNoy's term ends in June 2016

Fresh from being installed as the new “rehabilitation czar,” Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Monday assured that areas hit by super typhoon Yolanda would be rehabilitated within the next three years, before President Benigno Aquino III’s term ends.  Speaking to reporters at a “kapihan” at the Diamond Hotel in Manila, Lacson said he had already consulted with architects, egineers, urban planners, and lawyers, who told him that rehabilitating Visayas and other areas struck by Yolanda would be “difficult but doable.” “Sa 2016, iyon ang best efforts ko from nasa notes ko [during consultation with experts]. Puwede ba i-complete within the term of PNoy [Aquino]? Sabi nila [experts], doable,” said Lacson, who became Philippine National Police Chief during the presidential term of Joseph Estrada  before becoming a senator. “Siyempre hindi daw completely sure pero doable… If I can accomplish 85 or 90 percent, okay na iyon for me,” Lacson said. —KG, GMA News

Germany gives P950M more

 News
Dec 012013
 
Germany gives P950M more

YOLANDA AFTERMATH: Philippine Daily Inquirer 5:40 am | Monday, December 2nd, 2013 MANILA, Philippines–The German government, through its Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), has pledged P950 million (16 million euros) for the reconstruction of areas destroyed by Supertyphoon Yolanda, the German Embassy announced. BMZ Federal Minister Dirk Niebel said the funds were committed to the medium and long-term rehabilitation of schools, hospitals and public infrastructure, as well for the implementation of disaster prevention measures in several areas in the Visayas. The German government had earlier committed 6.5 million euros in humanitarian aid for the immediate relief of the typhoon survivors, raising the German government’s total contribution to 22.5 million euros (P1.35 billion). Emergency relief Apart from the funds provided by the German government, 49.6 million euros (P3 billion) have been received for the emergency relief of the survivors by the fund-raising alliances Aktionsbündnis Katastrophenhilfe (Action Alliance for Humanitarian Emergency Response) and Aktion Deutschland Hilft (Germany’s Relief Coalition). Other German nongovernment organizations are also directly performing relief operations in several areas in the Visayas affected by Yolanda. The German business sector has also mobilized humanitarian aid in the Philippines by providing financial and logistical assistance to relief operations. RELATED STORIES: Lacson accepts job as ‘Yolanda’ rehab czar Pacquiao gives away cash, Bibles in Samar ‘Bayanihan’ impresses UN official Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text Read More …

Filipinos to protest WTO meet

 News
Dec 012013
 
Filipinos to protest WTO meet

By Tina G. SantosPhilippine Daily Inquirer 5:37 am | Monday, December 2nd, 2013 MANILA, Philippines–A Filipino activist group has expressed support for anti-free trade protest actions to coincide with the 9th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization in Bali, Indonesia, on Dec. 3-6. The conference, the top decision-making body of the WTO, is held every two years. The Philippines joined the WTO in 1995, agreeing to lift tariff and regulatory barriers in order to access markets of other WTO members now numbering 159. Ibon International said several civil society groups will converge on the People’s Global Camp to call for an end to free trade. Organized by the Indonesian People’s Alliance, the PGC will conduct workshops and a “global march for sovereignty and trade to serve peoples.” Ibon said the event will call on governments to revoke free trade agreements. RELATED STORIES: Thai response to WTO tobacco ruling probed Thais still afoul of WTO ruling on imported PH cigarettes WTO backs US in chicken trade dispute with China Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in the Philippines. Tags: 9th Ministerial Conference , Bali , Ibon International , Indonesia , People’s Global Camp , World Trade Organization Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s day desk. Believe this article violates journalistic ethics? Contact the Read More …

A polarizing figure, Lacson says he will head reconstruction of central PHL

 News
Dec 012013
 
A polarizing figure, Lacson says he will head reconstruction of central PHL

Former senator Panfilo Lacson told reporters Sunday that he will lead reconstruction efforts in areas ravaged by super typhoon Yolanda. “After a series of consultations and briefings from experts in the field of reconstruction and rehabilitation of disaster stricken areas over the weekend, I decided to accept the President’s offer to be rehab czar,” Lacson told reporters in a text message on Sunday night, December 1. The Palace has yet to confirm the appointment. President Aquino reportedly told a Cabinet meeting on Friday that he had decided to appoint Lacson his rehabilitation “czar.” Lacson said he would spend the weekend thinking it over after a lengthy meeting with Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa. The Palace has yet to confirm Lacson’s announcement. It is still not clear why Aquino would choose Lacson, one of the most controversial and polarizing political figures in the last two decades. As a senator for 12 years, his law-making often took a backseat to highly public word wars with fellow senators, especially Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, and ex-President Estrada, his former boss with whom he had a falling out during EDSA Dos in 2001. He was linked to several brutal murders, including those of the well-known publicist Salvador Dacer and his driver. Lacson was eventually cleared by the courts. For more than a year while he was a senator, Lacson was overseas as a fugitive from justice, with Interpol assisting in the search. But as the head of rehabilitation dealing with both national and local government officials each Read More …

Lacson accepts 'daunting but doable' task of post-Yolanda rehab

 News
Dec 012013
 
Lacson accepts 'daunting but doable' task of post-Yolanda rehab

Former Senator Panfilo Lacson will lead reconstruction efforts in areas ravaged by Super Typhoon Yolanda (international codename: Haiyan), which hit the Visayas region on Nov.8. “After a series of consultations and briefings from experts in the field of reconstruction and rehabilitation of disaster-stricken areas over the weekend, I decided to accept the President’s offer to be rehab czar,” Lacson told reporters in a text message on Sunday night. “Those consultations gave me the confidence that the task, while daunting, is doable within the period of his presidency. I have informed the President of my decision and he has acknowledged the same,” he added. The monster typhoon took more than 5,600 lives and left more than P30 billion damage in agriculture and infrastructure. — JDS, GMA News

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