PNoy to replace NIA chief, orders probe on agency's funds

 News
Jul 012013
 
PNoy to replace NIA chief, orders probe on agency's funds

President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday said he plans to replace Antonio Nangel as head of the National Irrigation Authority (NIA). “Maliban na lang kung magkaroon ako ng amnesia mula ngayon hanggang mamaya, wala akong balak irenew siya [Nangel],” the President said. He added that he has ordered a probe on NIA’s funds after he found out from the Department of Budget and Management that the agency was able to spend its entire budget in the past years without completing its projects. Last week, Aquino publicly scolded Nangel and other NIA employees for supposedly failing to meet their self-employed targets. — Andreo Calonzo/RSJ, GMA News

Aquino plans to appoint RH law author as DOH Usec

 News
Jul 012013
 
Aquino plans to appoint RH law author as DOH Usec

President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday revealed that he plans to appoint former Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin, one of the primary authors of the controversial reproductive health (RH) bill, as health undersecretary. “She will bring a lot of political savvy to the Department of Health and will enhance the cooperation between the DoH, the local government units and the national government,” the President said. He added that he chose Garin, who was aligned with the Aquino-chaired Liberal Party when she was congresswoman, due to her “extensive experience” as a doctor and a lawmaker. —KG, GMA News

Aquino backs US, Japan access to PHL bases

 News
Jul 012013
 
Aquino backs US, Japan access to PHL bases

PNoy vows to modernize PAF . President Benigno Aquino III, along with PAF chief Lt. Gen. Lauro dela Cruz (left) and Col. Domingo Palisoc (right), presents the command plaque and streamer during the 66th anniversary rites of the Philippine Air Force at Clark Air Base, Pampanga on Monday, July 1. Aquino vowed to purchase new aircraft, including attack helicopters, in the next five years to beef up the country’s air force.This year’s celebration is anchored on the theme ‘Makabagong Lakas, Matatag na Bukas.’ Benhur Arcayan President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday expressed support for the plan to give the United States and Japan access to Philippine bases. Aquino said it is only a “natural circumstance” to allow these countries into Philippine bases “to build a credible alliance” with them. “Kung hindi tayo makikipag-ugnayan sa kanila, maling paghahanda iyon,” the President said. He however said that US and Japanese troops will not be “permanent fixtures” in the country’s bases. The President made these statements amid an ongoing territorial dispute with China over parts of the South China Sea. —KG, GMA News

PNoy distributes brand new pistols to PNP officers

 News
Jul 012013
 
PNoy distributes brand new pistols to PNP officers

President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday led the distribution of 22,603 pistols to Philippine National Police (PNP) officers as part of the government’s effort to arm each police officer in the country with a handgun.   Glock 17 9mm automatic pistol Aquino, himself a gun enthusiast, handed the brand-new Glock 17 Generation 4 pistols to some PNP officers in turnover ceremonies at the National Police headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City. According to the PNP, each pistol was bought for P16,569, much lower than its current retail price of P40,940. The PNP said the government was able to save P200 million for the handguns. According to the Glock website, the Glock 17 is the “world’s most popular pistol.” The unit specifically given to PNP officers has a reversible enlarged magazine catch and a dual recoil spring assembly, among other features. The pistols distributed by the President were part of the 74,879 handguns procured by the PNP as part of the P1-billion contract signed last September to fully fill up the handgun requirements of the police force. The handgun contract was signed last year after the PNP and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) officials faced a Senate inquiry for a plan to procure allegedly overpriced assault rifles. The PNP eventually aborted the rifle deal.  — Andreo Calonzo/RSJ, GMA News 

Tighter security, no guns in Batasang Pambansa after Benaldo incident

 News
Jul 012013
 
Tighter security, no guns in Batasang Pambansa after Benaldo incident

Guns will no longer be allowed, and security measures will be tightened inside the House of Representatives after former Cagayan de Oro first district Rep. Benjo Benaldo was found bleeding from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound at the South Lobby last week. Those entering the Batasan complex in Quezon City, including congressmen, must now undergo strict inspection, according to report on GMA News TV’s State of the Nation on Monday night.  Even congressmen and their security personnel will not be allowed to bring guns inside, the report said. “We have a standing policy na hindi naman talaga allowed ang guns in the House. In fact, may areas of surrendering,” Atty. Marilyn Barua-Yap, Sec. Gen., House of Representatives, said in the same report. Bodyguards are supposed to leave their guns with the Legislative Security Bureau, but the rule was not strictly implemented, according to Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop, who suggested stricter regulations on carrying firearms inside the House of Representatives. “I suggest that we revisit our regulations on carrying firearms. Let us find out if regulations are lacking or the rules are not implemented,” Acop, a former police general, said on Friday. Representatives Benjie Agarao (Laguna), Noel Villanueva (Tarlac), and Sherwin Tugna (Civac party-list) agreed with Acop. “Its members are supposedly honorable men and women and it is incumbent upon them to act accordingly. If ever there are threats on the life of any member of Congress, it is the duty of law enforcement agencies of government to provide the Read More …

UP Alumni SF offers first-ever Filipino cultural summer day camp

 News
Jul 012013
 
UP Alumni SF offers first-ever Filipino cultural summer day camp

INQUIRER.net U.S. Bureau 7:00 am | Tuesday, July 2nd, 2013 SAN FRANCISCO—The first-ever Filipino Cultural Summer Day Camp is being offered by the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of San Francisco at the Bessie Carmichael Middle School on July 8-19, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Children 10-18 years old can learn about Philippine history, geography, arts and conversational Tagalog. The summer camp will be for 10 days , plus a  field trip on Saturday, July 13, and the graduation on Saturday, July 20. Reduced registration fees are available for those who qualify. Organizations, friends and family members are requested to spread the word. For details and to register, registration forms can also be downloaded from www.upaasf.org. you may also contact: Cecile Ascalon,  camp coordinator at cgascalon@gmail.com or call her at 650-201-4913, or Letty Quizon, program chair, at lettyquizon@gmail.com (408-455-4137). 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: Culture , day camp , geography , history , summer camp , Tagalog lessons Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s day desk. Believe this article violates journalistic ethics? Contact the Inquirer’s Reader’s Advocate. Or write The Readers’ Advocate:

Lilia de Lima, PEZA’s Powerhouse

 News
Jul 012013
 
Lilia de Lima, PEZA’s Powerhouse

The Brew By Esther Misa Chavez 6:46 am | Tuesday, July 2nd, 2013 PEZA Director General Lilia de Lima at trade briefing in San Francisco. SAN FRANCISCO—To doubting Thomases out there—the news is true. Numbers do not lie. The Philippines IS Asia’s rising tiger. A number of global credit rating agencies have upgraded the Philippine’s rank to BBB- (Investment Grade). The New York Times calls the Philippines the “Newest Bright Spot in Asia.” Lilia B. de Lima said as much to a group of businessmen and community leaders at a breakfast briefing held at Dentons Law Offices on Market Street. The director general of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and undersecretary of Trade and Industry led the briefing, themed “Business and Investment Opportunities in Philippine Economic Zones as gateways to the 600 Million Strong South East Asian Market” hosted by CalAsia. Joining her was Arlen Chou, president and COO of Rucker & Kolls Inc., an American firm that has been running a full operation in one of the PEZA facilities the past six years. Chou confirmed that his business is thriving inside PEZA. Rucker & Kolls is the original patent holder of the probe card and a leader in providing reliable testing of complicated testing requirements. Leaving no doubt among the attendees that PEZA is indeed the “gateway to the Asean market in a leading global emerging economy,” Dr. de Lima said that of the 86 percent total commodity and service exports from the Philippines, 76 percent comes from Read More …

Adobo’s stealth conquest of US tastebuds

 General
Jul 012013
 
Adobo’s stealth conquest of US tastebuds

By Amy BesaINQUIRER.net U.S. Bureau 6:39 am | Tuesday, July 2nd, 2013 If you’re one of those Filipinos who constantly ask why Filipino food has not made it anywhere in the world, perhaps you missed the boat.  People can be so blind to their theories and beliefs that they’re likely to miss all the signs that Filipino flavors have slowly crept onto the American table, starting from the moment Filipinos set foot on American soil as farm workers and slaved to put vegetables and fruits on the table of every American home in the past century. Even today, I field so many questions from documentary filmmakers, students, diners and so forth asking why Filipino food is invisible in the United States. Instead of looking at the cup half full or empty, how about looking at a plate filled with adobo?  Adobo is our signature dish and the most prominently featured dish in our cuisine. Adobo is the darling of the American media, and not by accident. It’s because enough restaurants make adobo that enough editors, food writers and diners have taken notice of this. When we first opened Purple Yam in 2009, the New York Times, New York Sunday Times Magazine and Time Out New York (along with a number of cable TV shows) featured our adobo.  Even Martha Stewart on her February 2006 show on Presidents’ Week had Chef Romy Dorotan showing her viewers his secret to making a good adobo. And the secret is coconut milk. Last year, Read More …

 Older Entries  Newer Entries