April 2013 – Page 18

Bishop Socrates Villegas opposes White Vote movement

News

Apr 102013

Bishop Socrates Villegas opposes White Vote movement

Following the launch of the “White Vote” movement, a coalition of church groups that will endorse between six and eight senate candidates for the upcoming elections, archbishop Socrates Villegas of the Lingayen-Dagupan archdiocese said on Wednesday that he does not agree with church groups endorsing candidates for the upcoming elections. “‘Block voting tayo, eto yung iboboto natin.’ Mali yun,” said Archbishop Villegas in a report on GMA News’ “24 Oras.” “Dadalhin natin sa ating konsensiya, at yun ang standard natin sa pagpili ng kandidato, that’s the Catholic vote. That’s the correct Catholic vote,” he explained. In an earlier “24 Oras” report, Bro. Mike Velarde, founder-leader of the El Shaddai group which is one of the proponents of the movement, said that the candidates they will endorse have to be pro-family and pro-life. He also said that they will also consider the candidates’ stand on issues such as the RH Law, divorce, same-sex marriage, and euthanasia. The “White Vote” movement will announce its first batch of endorsed candidates on Saturday, the report said. — Amanda Lago/DVM, GMA News

12 Chinese seamen charged

News

Apr 102013

By Redempto D. Anda Inquirer Southern Luzon 10:11 pm | Wednesday, April 10th, 2013 PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Philippines—The 12 Chinese nationals whose boat got stuck in the Tubbataha Reefs on Monday night were slapped with charges of poaching and other violations of the marine park’s rules. They were detained at the provincial jail facility here following inquest proceedings on Tuesday afternoon. The Chinese, all crew members of what was reported as a 48-by-8-meter fishing vessel that rammed into Tubbataha’s north islet, were also expected to face additional charges, including attempted bribery. Marine park rangers at the World Heritage Site in the Sulu Sea said the Chinese offered them a bribe of $2,400 immediately after the boat ran aground. “We went ahead with the filing of the poaching case first and other violations under the law that created the Tubbataha marine park,” lawyer Adelle Villena of the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development told the INQUIRER. She said other cases, including that one involving bribery, would follow. In Roxas City, President Benigno Aquino III said he was taken aback that yet another foreign vessel ran aground in the natural park, but this time he vowed to throw the book at the Chinese crew. “Wow! We’ve just finished (extracting the USS) Guardian, and here comes another one,” the President recalled what he told Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya when the letter reported to him the latest incident on Tuesday. Mr. Aquino said swift legal action would be taken against crewmen of the steel-hulled Read More …

Exports down 15.6% to $3.741 B in February

Economy

Apr 102013

Exports down 15.6% to $3.741 B in February

MANILA, Philippines – Merchandise exports continued to decline in February amid weak performance of shipments of electronic products, machinery and transport equipment, special transactions and apparel, the National Statistics Office (NSO) said. Data released by the NSO yesterday showed the value of merchandise exports fell by 15.6 percent to $3.741 billion in February from $4.430 billion in February last year. Compared to the $4.011 billion in January, export earnings in February were down 6.7 percent. For the first two months of the year, the value of merchandise exports reached $7.752 billion, 9.4 percent lower from a year ago. Electronic products, the country’s top export, were valued at $1.483 billion in February, a 36.5-percent decrease from a year ago. Earnings from shipments of machinery and transport equipment which amounted to $131.50 million in February, slumped 63.6 percent from the same month last year. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Special transactions, which include replacements and goods returned to the country, which were exported were valued at $90.37 million, 38.4 percent lower year-on-year. The value or articles of apparel and clothing accessories shipped overseas dipped slightly to $144.70 million from $146.17 million a year ago. Japan was the top destination of Philippine merchandise exports in February, with its 18.9-percent share amounting to $705.93 million, down by 11.4 percent from a year ago. University of the Philippines economist Benjamin Diokno said in an email yesterday that given the latest exports data, economic managers will have to go back to the Read More …

Turning hanapbuhay into hanep-buhay

Economy

Apr 102013

For eight years now, Go Negosyo has been helping Filipinos succeed from poverty through entrepreneurship. We are happy because we are seeing significant progress throughout the years, but our journey of transforming the nation was not easy. Changing the Filipino’s mindset about negosyo an keeping an enterprising attitude has been a constant challenge, but along the way we have met people and institutions who also believe in the advocacy and are willing to help us out. What started as a simple meeting with Cynthia Villar more than four years ago led to a discovery that Go Negosyo and her Villar Foundation have a common purpose: to help uplift the lives of Filipinos. We thought that it is best for our organizations to work together on projects that would directly inspire and empower our countrymen. It resulted in a number of collaborations which eventually led to the OFW and Family Summit, a one-day activity that teaches OFWs and their family members to invest their hard-earned money in a business of their own. I can still remember our amazement at the turnout of the participants, as more than 7,000 people showed up and filled the World Trade Center during our first summit in 2011. Of course, this was a signal for both Cynthia and I to continue what we are doing, and right now we are working on mounting the third summit in November. Now that Cynthia is running in the coming elections, her main platform is to continue encouraging the nation to embrace Read More …

Vehicle sales jump 29% in 1st qtr

Economy

Apr 102013

MANILA, Philippines – Combined sales of local car and truck assemblers reached 41,702 units in the first quarter, the highest posted for the period in history. The Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI) said in a statement yesterday the first quarter sales of the group and the Truck Manufacturers Association Inc. (TMA) were up 29 percent from the 32,240 units sold in the same period last year. The CAMPI noted that traditionally, the first quarter always shows the lowest quarter sales for any given year. “That it has breached the 40,000 mark for the first time is a clear indication that the country is indeed on the path towards motorization,” CAMPI president Rommel Gutierrez said. Supporting the higher sales for the period was the strong demand for both passenger cars (PC) and commercial vehicles (CV). PC sales, which accounted for a 33.14 percent share in total sales reached 13,821 units posting a 46-percent increase from last year. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 CV sales, which had a 67-percent share of total sales meanwhile, reached 27,881 units, 23 percent higher than in the same period last year. Within the CV category, sales of trucks and buses rose by 69 percent to 447 units compared to a year ago. Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. had the biggest contribution to the first quarter sales with its 41-percent share. This was followed by Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. which had a 24-percent share, and Honda Cars Philippines Inc. with Read More …

USTR ties trade benefits to labor issues

Economy

Apr 102013

USTR ties trade benefits to labor issues

Phl asked to provide plans for labor legislation MANILA, Philippines – The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) is asking the Philippine government to provide plans regarding passage of legislation concerning union registration as well as cases when the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) were involved in labor disputes as part of its review on whether the country should continue to enjoy trade benefits under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program. A copy of post-hearing questions of the USTR following a hearing held on March 28, showed that it wants the Aquino administration to describe plans for seeking passage of remaining labor legislation involving assumption of jurisdiction and union registration. The USTR also said it wants to know whether there have been cases in which the AFP or PNP were involved in labor disputes as well as whether guidelines have been followed. “The government of the Philippines is receiving support from the International Labor Organization (ILO) through December 2013, funded by the US Department of State, to train personnel on the PNP and AFP guidelines,” it noted. The USTR likewise wants to know what work the Department of Labor and Employment is undertaking in conjunction with the ILO or otherwise, to enable inspectors to identify potential issues with compliance, including anti-union discrimination and intimidation or harassment. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 The government, it said, must also respond to a concern raised by the International Labor Rights Forum Read More …

Ratings upgrade not enough

Economy

Apr 102013

After the country got its investment grade rating, what’s next? Simply put, rating upgrade is not enough, its means more work. Of course, congratulations are in order for the whole P-Noy team, especially Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, for keeping their focus and steadfast efforts in steering the economy forward. For the uninitiated, Fitch Ratings last month issued an upgrade of the Philippines’ position from BB+ to BBB-, the three letters signifying investment grade status. Fitch is a global rating company that keeps tabs of a company’s or country’s credit standing. The Philippines relies on three agencies for these periodic ratings, and Fitch is considered to be the least tough. The other two agencies are Moody’s Investors Service and Standard & Poor’s, both of which have marked the country just a notch below investment grade. Often, it just takes a bit more time before Moody’s and S&P echo what Fitch had earlier announced. Yet this should not detract our bureaucracy from continuing to get the house in order for that time when investors start pouring in. And there is so much to do. Higher trust Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 This latest investment upgrade, for example, will persuade investors to take a more serious look at the many business opportunities that the government is offering, something that was not given much attention because of a perceived general weakness in the state’s ability to guarantee robust returns. But since P-Noy took over the state leadership in 2010, his Read More …

Binay skips UNA rallies to lead PH exhibit of pre-colonial art in Paris

News

Apr 102013

Binay skips UNA rallies to lead PH exhibit of pre-colonial art in Paris

By Jerry E. Esplanada Philippine Daily Inquirer 9:57 pm | Wednesday, April 10th, 2013 Vice President Jejomar Binay. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—Vice President Jejomar Binay had no choice but skip several United Nationalist Alliance campaign sorties this week for representing President Benigno Aquino III in the April 8 opening of the “Philippines: Archipel des Exchanges (or Archipelago of Exchanges),” the country’s first-ever grand culture exhibit in Paris, the world’s cultural capital. Binay “opened (on Monday) the exhibit at the Musee du Qua Branly,” or the Branly musuem in the French capital, said the Department of Foreign Affairs. Citing a report from the Philippine embassy in the French capital, the DFA said on Wednesday the exhibit has been featuring “more than 300 essential works of pre-colonial Filipino art selected from both public and private collections in the Philippines, Europe and the United States.” The event will run from April 9 to July 14, 2013, according to the mission. The embassy quoted Binay as having thanked the French government for the “opportunity to showcase the Philippines’ pre-colonial art in the Branly museum.” “We are proud to share with France and the rest of the world our collection of pre-colonial art, including four of our priceless national treasures and more than 300 ancient artifacts assembled from public and private collections, giving a glimpse of the Filipino soul in ancient times and the diversity and richness of Philippine culture and tradition,” he said. In his remarks during the exhibit opening rites, Binay pointed Read More …

Malaysian authorities detain 9 more with suspected Kiram links

News

Apr 102013

Malaysian authorities detain 9 more with suspected Kiram links

At least nine more people with suspected links to Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III—two of them local residents—were arrested in Sabah Tuesday and Wednesday, Malaysian police said. Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib said the nine were picked up in Beluran, according to a report by Malaysia’s state-run Bernama news agency. Confiscated from them were weapons, documents and about RM1,000 (P13,511.60), he added. “There was, however, no exchange of gunfire when they were arrested,” Hamza said. Hamza said the nine, whose ages ranged between 20 and 50, were arrested 8 p.m. Tuesday and 10 a.m. Wednesday, and are detained under the Security Offenses (Special Measures) Act of 2012 (Sosma). Malaysian forces have been flushing out Kiram’s followers since March 5. Kiram’s followers had engaged Malaysian forces in a nearly-three-week standoff that culminated in deadly clashes on March 1 and 2. 32 ‘politicians’ still probed Hamza also said they are still quizzing 32 Filipinos intercepted off Sabah waters from Mindanao on Monday. However, the Department of Foreign Affairs (which places the group’s number of members at 33), said that the Filipinos are set for release. “Last night the order for the release was given at the behest of the Foreign Minister of Malaysia and the Defense Minister of Malaysia. Administrative procedure and the papers are now being handled for their actual release,” said DFA spokesperson Raul Hernandez in a press briefing Wednesday. Also still being investigated are “Datuk Seri” Clarence Luing Karl a.k.a. Muhammad Khalil John Karl, who was caught on Read More …

15 Pinoys, Malaysian cop to face court Friday for Sabah intrusion

News

Apr 102013

15 Pinoys, Malaysian cop to face court Friday for Sabah intrusion

Fifteen Filipinos and a Malaysian police officer will face a high court on Friday over the standoff and fatal clashes in Sabah between followers of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III and Malaysian security forces. The 16 had been tentatively charged before the magistrate’s court due to the Lahad Datu incident, Malaysia’s state-run Bernama news agency reported Wednesday evening. Of the 16 who will be brought before the Tawau High Court Friday, eight are facing a possible death penalty as they were slapped the additional charge of waging war on the King. The other Filipinos face charges of terrorism, harboring terrorists and recruiting people to join terrorist groups, the Bernama report said. The policeman is charged with concealing information on terrorist activities. Armed followers of Kiram led by Kiram’s brother Raja Muda entered Sabah last February and engaged Malaysian forces in a two-week standoff that resulted in deadly clashes March 1 and 2, which in turn prompted Malaysian forces to mount offensives against Kiram’s followers starting March 5. — BM, GMA News

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