Philippines to buy 187,000 tons of rice from Vietnam

 Economy
Apr 302013
 
Philippines to buy 187,000 tons of rice from Vietnam

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) – The Philippine government announced today that it had decided to  import 187,000 tons of milled rice from Vietnam to beef up stocks before the onset of the typhoon season in July. State-run National Food Authority (NFA) said Vietnam had given the “best offer” for the supply of 187,000 tons of 25 percent broken rice grade. NFA administrator Orlan A. Calayag said Vietnam’s Southern Food Corp. offered the best bid at $459.75 per ton. Vietnam and Thailand submitted bids for the right to supply the volume during a government-to-government tender held on April 3.   The Philippines may no longer need to import more rice as it expects another record harvest this year. For 2013, Philippine paddy rice output is projected to go up by 11 percent on year to 20 million tons. 

Pag-Ibig asks CA to stop order that it keep lending to Globe Asiatique borrowers

 News
Apr 302013
 
Pag-Ibig asks CA to stop order that it keep lending to Globe Asiatique borrowers

The Home Development Mutual Fund, more commonly known as the Pag-Ibig Fund, on Tuesday asked the Court of Appeals to stop a Makati ruling ordering it to continue releasing money to borrowers of embattled Globe Asiatique Realty Holdings Corporation, whose president Delfin Lee is being pursued by authorities for a P6.65-billion syndicated estafa case. In an 85-page petition for special civil action for certiorari, the the HDMF contested a January 30 and December 11, 2012 ruling of Makati Judge Eugene Paras favoring Globe Asiatique. Earlier, HDMF had terminated its agreements with Globe Asiatique after a post-audit of the realty firm revealed that it “fraudulently fabricated hundreds of loan applications, using fictitious applicants/buyers and spurious loan documents.” In Paras’ rulings, however, he ordered the HDMF to enforce the terminated agreements again and release more large sums of money to Globe Asiatique. The petitioner said the judge only conducted “summary proceedings, without the benefit of a full-blown trial, all in the face of the massive and wholesale fraud perpetrated by GARHC against HDMF and its member-contributors.” The HDMF insisted that the termination of the agreements was “just and warranted” under Article 1191 of the Civil Code of the Philippines. The particular article states: “The power to rescind obligations is implied in reciprocal ones, in case one of the obligors should not comply with what is incumbent upon him.” The HDMF asked the appeals court to issue a “temporary retraining order and/or a writ of preliminary injunction enjoining Respondent Hon. Eugene S. Paras Read More …

Liquidity expands 11.4 pct in March

 Economy
Apr 302013
 
Liquidity expands 11.4 pct in March

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) – Demand for money in the Philippines grew by 11.4 percent on year to P5.1 trillion ($123.9 billion) in March, the local central bank said today. On a monthly basis, seasonally-adjusted domestic liquidity or M3 also expanded at a faster pace of 1.5 percent compared with the 0.2 percent month-on-month growth in February. The central bank said the sustained expansion in net domestic assets (NDA) was the main driver in the growth of money supply. The Philippine government said the continued expansion in domestic liquidity in March indicates sufficient liquidity to sustain the growth momentum of the economy. 

PNP chief: Don't vote for candidates who pay protection money to NPA

 News
Apr 302013
 
PNP chief: Don't vote for candidates who pay protection money to NPA

Philippine National Police Director General Alan Purisma on Tuesday cautioned voters against voting for politicians who pay rebel groups money in exchange for the right to campaign peacefully, saying that these candidates, if elected, might squander government funds. “Actually, yung politician pag alam natin na nagbibigay sa kaaway ng gobyerno, bakit natin iboboto? Baka ipamigay lahat ng resources natin. So that is a signal for us citizens na huwag natin silang iboto,” Purisima told reporters in a chance interview following a press conference at PNP headquarters in Camp Crame. The Department of Interior and Local Government also called on candidates to refrain from giving in to demands of rebel groups, particularly the National People’s Army, which has been known to extort what are called “permit to campaign” and “permit to win” fees from candidates. “Patuloy na mungkahi namin na huwag magbigay ng pera o kahit anong halaga dahil ito’y magpapalakas lang sa mga grupong ito, at maaring ipangbili pa nila ng bala ang perang makukuha para gamitin against government forces,” Interior Secretary Mar Roxas II said in the press conference. A Visayas-based army general on Sunday said that half of the candidates in his area have given in to the NPA’s extortion demands. Hands tied However, Purisima admitted that legally the hands of the PNP are tied, as there is no case to be filed against those who willingly give protection money to rebel groups. “Hindi kasi kaso yung pagbibigay. Ang kaso, pag magreklamo sila ng extortion,” Purisima said. Roxas Read More …

Irate envoy who berated Filipinos in Canada back in Manila for probe

 News
Apr 302013
 
Irate envoy who berated Filipinos in Canada back in Manila for probe

7:05 pm | Tuesday, April 30th, 2013 Jose Ampeso, the Philippine consul general to Vancouver, as shown in the video posted on YouTube. Screen grab from www.youtube.com MANILA, Philippines — The career diplomat caught on video in an irate mood during a consular outreach in Canada has returned to Manila to face an investigation at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the office’s spokesperson said on Tuesday. Philippine Consul General to Vancouver Jose Ampeso is back in Manila on orders of his home office to air his side on the incident at a consular mission in Alberta, Canada, where Filipinos based there lined up to renew their travel documents. “He is already here. A fact-finding panel is being formed to investigate and determine if there is a case to pursue,” said Assistant Secretary Raul Hernandez, the DFA spokesperson. Saying foreign service officers should always be professional, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said last week that Ampeso had some explaining to do for his behavior recorded on video and posted on online video-sharing site YouTube. Del Rosario said Ampeso’s behavior appeared “errant” if one viewed the video without hearing his explanation. Canada-based Filipino Proceso Flordeliz Jr. had complained against Ampeso for raising his voice when he offered to donate a dollar to the consulate fund-raising drive during their outreach at the Sheraton Hotel in Red Deer, Alberta two weeks ago. Then applying to renew his passport, Flordeliz posted his narration on a Filipino online forum and later uploaded a video Read More …

Phl bourse sustains rally on strong corporate earnings

 Economy
Apr 302013
 
Phl bourse sustains rally on strong corporate earnings

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) – The local index climbed to the upper band of the 7,000-mark today as investors started buying stocks with promising corporate earnings. The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index gained 0.61 percent, or 42.64 points, to 7,070.99, while the broader all-share index rose by 0.41 percent, or 17.85 points, to 4,409.73. Trading volume reached 4.1 billion shares worth P10.83 billion ($263.35 million) with 91 stocks advancing, 82 declining, and 39 were unchanged. Of the six counters, only the mining and oil sector bucked the trend. “The composite index advanced for the fourth consecutive session, driven by strong corporate earnings,” DBP-Daiwa Securities, Inc. said in its daily stock market comment. 2TradeAsia.com said sessions will continue to “stay light” until new developments in China unfold. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 “For now, local equities may track developments abroad, especially if reaffirmed support for monetary stimulus measures is made,” the online brokerage said. The brokerage said financials and interest rate-sensitive sectors might take the lead, as well as second and third tier stocks that have breached oversold levels.   Stocks in the 30-company index closed mixed. Among those picked up were Ayala Land, Inc., heavyweight Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., and SM Investments Corp.

Brillantes: 29 disqualified party-list groups might be allowed to run in May 13 polls

 News
Apr 302013
 
Brillantes: 29 disqualified party-list groups might be allowed to run in May 13 polls

At least 29 party-list organizations earlier disqualified by the Commission on Elections for not representing marginalized sectors might be allowed to participate in the May 13 polls while 10 others will be cancelled, poll chairman Sixto Brillantes said Tuesday. Brillantes said since the commissioners have different positions on the matter, the en banc will put the matter to a vote by Thursday. He said they are still reviewing the case of the concerned party-list groups. “Iba-iba kami ng posisyon. Magvovoting kami sa Thursday. We are deciding already to allow approximately 29 to 30 and cancel the remaining 9 to 10. Hindi pa kami naga-agree,” he told reporters. The names of the party-list groups are included in the ballot. The Supreme Court earlier this month remanded to the Comelec the case of the party-list organizations the latter disqualified and ordered it to conduct “evidentiary hearings.” The High Tribunal adopted new parameters in the qualification of national, regional and sectoral parties under the party-list system which the Comelec used in determining which party-list organizations will be allowed or not. These are the parameters set by the SC: – Three different groups may participate in the party-list system: (1)  national parties or organizations, (2) regional parties or organizations, and (3) sectoral parties or organizations. – National parties or organizations and regional parties or organizations do not need to organize along sectoral lines and do not need to represent “any marginalized and underrepresented” sector. – Political parties can participate in party-list elections provided they Read More …

Family of murdered Pangasinan mayor clears solon, governor

 News
Apr 302013
 
Family of murdered Pangasinan mayor clears solon, governor

No less than the family of slain Infanta, Pangasinan mayor Ruperto Martinez have said that suspect Pangasinan governor Amado Espino Jr. and Pangasinan Rep. Jesus Celeste could not have been involved in the killing. In a sworn statement submitted during Tuesday’s preliminary investigation of the murder complaint, the victim’s widow, Crisanta Martinez, admitted being “surprised” when the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) informed them that Espino and Celeste were implicated in the killing. “Pilit kaming pinapipirma ng reklamo ng NBI laban kina Governor Espino at Congressman Celeste subalit kami ay tumanggi dahil alam namin na walang katotohanan ang paratang na iyon,” Mrs. Martinez said. “Sinabi namin sa NBI na imposible ang paratang na iyon dahil sina Governor Espino at Congressman Celeste ay parehas malapit at kaalyado ng aming ama sa ilalim ng partidong Nationalist People’s Coalition,” she added. The Martinez family claimed that it was even Celeste who immediately contacted the NBI to seek help for the killing that happened last December 12, 2012 in Infanta. “Hindi kami naniniwala o sumasangayon sa pagsampa ng NBI kay Gov. Amado Espino at Congressman Jesus Celeste dahil ito ay pawang walang katotohanan,” the widow said. She said her family had already asked the NBI to instead investigate lawyer Florante Miano, who the family thinks is the man behind the killing. They said Miano was the victim’s “known political foe.” Mrs. Martinez, however, said the NBI investigators refused to heed their request. “Sa halip, isasampa daw nila ang kaso kahit ayaw namin,” she said. Read More …

Unknown disease prompts BFAR to ban shrimp imports

 Economy
Apr 302013
 
Unknown disease prompts BFAR to ban shrimp imports

MANILA, Philippines – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic resources indefinitely suspended the importation of live shrimp and crustaceans to prevent an unknown disease from spreading in Philippine waters. “We are dealing with a disease unknown to us, all the more that measures must be undertaken,” BFAR Director Asis G. Perez said last week in a shrimp industry meeting with the operators and importers. The state agency instructed its Fish Health Officers, Quarantine Officers and the Law Enforcement Quick Response Team to implement monitoring, control and surveillance protocols at the ports of entry, airports and seaports in the country.  BFAR said the measure is meant to prevent the spread Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS), characterized by massive shrimp deaths during the first 30 days. Infected samples exhibit slow growth, corkscrew swimming and pale color. Currently, no known pathogen has been found causing the disease, the state agency said. The order came after the recommendation of Dr. Donald Lightner, a shrimp disease expert. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 “The Philippines remains EMS-free as of the moment and BFAR is exhausting all efforts to remain so,” Perez said, adding that the country is well-positioned as this opens the opportunity for the Philippines to expand its shrimp exports. 

US green card limbo: for one Filipino, a long wait

 News
Apr 302013
 
US green card limbo: for one Filipino, a long wait

2:32 pm | Tuesday, April 30th, 2013 This recent undated photograph obtained courtesy of Elizabeth Arnulfo shows Arnulfo Babiera (R), who applied for a US green card a decade ago, in the hopes of reuniting with his sister, Elizabeth Arnulfo (L), a naturalized citizen. But at the current rate, his wait could extend until 2027.a naturalized citizen. But at the current rate, his wait could extend until 2027. Foreigners seeking to immigrate to the United States under the family reunification program may however see changes on the horizon, with a new reform seeking to resolve the four million cases in limbo, like that of Babiera. AFP PHOTO WASHINGTON—Arnulfo Babiera applied for a US green card a decade ago, in the hopes of reuniting with his sister, a naturalized citizen. But at the current rate, his wait could extend until 2027. Foreigners seeking to immigrate to the United States under a family reunification program may however see changes on the horizon, with a new reform seeking to resolve the four million cases in limbo, like that of Babiera. “That is my dream, going to the United States of America — to earn more, to support my family here. My income would be greater than it is here,” Babiera told AFP by telephone from his home in Davao, in the southern Philippines. Babiera, a 58-year-old employee of a recruitment agency, earned the right to come to the United States when his sister Elizabeth filed a green card application on his behalf in Read More …

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