MANILA, Aug 5 (Mabuhay) — President Benigno S. Aquino III has directed Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas to immediately spearhead the transfer of informal settler families living in danger and high-risk areas to decent housing sites, a Palace official said on Monday. The Chief Executive issued the directive by virtue of Memorandum Order […]
MANILA, Aug 5 (Mabuhay) — President Benigno S. Aquino III administered the oaths of office to 49 newly appointed government agency officials in ceremonies held in Malacanang on Monday. Leading the list of new government agency officials were: Alexander Pama – Undersecretary, Office of the Executive Secretary, Office of the President; Jose Justiniano – Undersecretary, […]
By Cristina DC PastorINQUIRER.net US Bureau 5:23 pm | Tuesday, August 6th, 2013 From top left clockwise: Menchu De Luna Sanchez, Judge Nina Elgo and Dindi Gallardo Mills This year’s TOFA-NY, the third in a row, is proud to announce the New York Tri-State’s outstanding Filipino Americans, led by a nurse who saved infants in critical condition when Hurricane Sandy caused a power outage, a former actress who is suing for racial discrimination, and a judge who is the first FilAm to serve in Connecticut. The Outstanding Filipino Americans in the New York Tri-State is an annual search for role models in the region with a population of more than 300,000 FilAms. The awards program coincides with the celebration of Filipino American History Month in October. Menchu De Luna Sanchez, the NYU Langone nurse who sprang into action to save at least 20 babies in ICU units when the hospital lost power during Hurricane Sandy, was nominated for the Health Care category. Actress Dindi Gallardo Mills, who brought charges of racial discrimination against her employer — a powerful writer in Hollywood – is a finalist for the category Courage of Conviction. Judge Nina Elgo won a nomination for the category Public Service & Politics for being Connecticut’s first Filipino and first Asian judge. They were among the 39 individuals who comprise this year’s crop of TOFA-NY nominees. The winners will be selected based on Facebook votes (Likes) collected. Last day for voting is September 30, 2013. They will be awarded Read More …
Agence France-Presse 5:19 pm | Tuesday, August 6th, 2013 BLACK SAND mining by Chinese operators in Cagayan. MELVIN GASCON/INQUIRER NORTHERN LUZON FILE PHOTO MANILA – The Philippines has detained 18 Chinese men on suspicion of illegal black sand mining in the northern coastal town of Aparri, the justice department said Tuesday. Authorities say there has been a rise in the illegal extraction of magnetite – also known as black sand – which is an iron ore in huge demand by China’s steel mills. Justice department investigators raided two mine sites run by Chinese firm Hua Xia Mining and Trading Corp. last Thursday and detained 18 of its employees, department spokesman Alex Lactao told AFP. The company had a permit to dredge magnetite from a nearby river but not from the coast, he said. It is illegal to extract any minerals within 200 meters (656 feet) of a beach under Philippine law. “Nine Chinese nationals were burrowing and processing magnetite sand within the prohibited zone,” said Lactao. The other nine were arrested at a nearby beach where they were building a magnetite processing plant, he added. Environmental groups say illegal magnetite mining has been stripping Philippine coasts through erosion. They have blamed small-scale mining firms, most of them allegedly Chinese and often operating in collusion with shady local government officials, for the devastation. The men detained in Aparri lacked permits required to work in the Philippines and could face further criminal charges, said Lactao, adding they have now been handed over Read More …
By Matikas SantosINQUIRER.net 4:13 pm | Tuesday, August 6th, 2013 DFA spokesman Assistant Secretary Raul Hernandez INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) rejects China’s “indisputable” claim over the entire West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), including parts of the country’s 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) – the “core issue” of the territorial dispute between the two countries, a spokesman for the DFA said Tuesday. “We once again redirect China to the core issue which is its claim of indisputable sovereignty over nearly all of the South China Sea under its ‘nine dash line’ position,” said assistant secretary Raul Hernandez. “The Philippines has asserted before the Arbitral Tribunal, to which China has been invited but has refused to participate, that the nine dash line claim is expansive, excessive and in gross violation of international law,” he told reporters. China’s nine dash line encompasses nearly the entire West Philippine Sea including the Spratly’s group of Islands near Palawan and Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal or Panatag Shoal). It also encroaches into the EEZ of Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei, among other Southeast Asian countries. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi proposed three ways to solve the territorial dispute between individual countries. First was the bilateral talks between parties directly involved, second was for the implementation of the “Declaration of the Conduct of the South China Sea” for peace and stability, and third was to look for ways of common exploitation that would economically benefit all concerned parties. China Read More …
By Matikas SantosINQUIRER.net 4:09 pm | Tuesday, August 6th, 2013 PO1 Joselito Sevilla. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines – Militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) on Tuesday slammed the detention of the foreign activist who confronted the “crying cop” in the protest rallies during President Aquino’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) saying it was “plain harassment.” “We strongly denounce the detention of Dutch activist Thomas van Beersum by the Bureau of Immigration (BI). Thomas was prevented from boarding his flight this (Tuesday) morning and is being held by Immigration officials at the NAIA,” Bayan Secretary General Renato Reyes said in a statement. “Thomas was already leaving the Philippines and we see no reason to detain him. This is plain harassment in light of the many threats issued by the BI against Thomas during the past two weeks,” he said. Beersum was seen in a photograph shouting at PO1 Joselito Sevilla who later became known as the “crying cop” during the SONA protest rally along Commonwealth Avenue. Reyes said that Beersum was in the country to meet with various people’s organizations and to support the causes they have been calling for. “Thomas was in the Philippines to visit different people’s organizations and show solidarity with their struggles,” Reyes said. “Though a citizen of the Netherlands, he has embraced the struggle of the Filipino people and is aware of the many issues confronting the Philippines,” he added. Reyes said that no cases have been filed against Beersum and that he has Read More …
INQUIRER.net US Bureau 3:32 pm | Tuesday, August 6th, 2013 SAN FRANCISCO–Local Filipino artists will hold their second annual Lumpia and Martinis gathering on Aug. 10 at 6 p.m. at the Philippine Center Gallery, 447 Sutter Street, fifth floor. The Jay Loyola Dance Project, Filipino American Arts Exposition and various local artists created the annual cocktails and arts event, to celebrate the art scene and the successes of Filipino artists in the Bay Area and all over the United States. Lumpia represents the well-known Filipino appetizer also known as “pulutan” and martini represents the years of hard work of Filipino artists in America in showcasing their ethnic and/or tribal talent in different media. Guest Artists include: Christian Cabuay Ron Quesada “Kulintronica” Parangal Dance Company Pamela Ybanez Marconi Calindas Paolo Salazar La Bamboo Vixen Juven Ayudtud Melanie Sangalang Lenny San Jose “Ukelenny” Coco Chanel Cory “CryWolffs” Calendar Listing: WHO: Jay Loyola Dance Project, Filipino American Arts Exposition, San Francisco Bay Area Local Artists WHAT: Second Annual Lumpia and Martinis 2013 WHEN: August 10, 2013, 6:00pm WHERE: Philippine Center Gallery, 447 Sutter Street, San Francisco, Califronia WHY: Organized to support SF Bay Area Local Artists Tickets: Regular Admission: $25.00 Contact: Lydia D. Neff Phone: (415) 999-8365 Email: lydia@pixelfrontstudios.com Website: www.lumpiaandmartinis.eventbrite.com 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 Read More …
MANILA, Philippines – Prices of goods and services decelerated to a near four-year low with inflation settling at 2.5 percent in July, the National Statistics Office (NSO) reported on Tuesday. Inflation in July was slower than the previous month’s 2.7 percent, and the slowest since the 2.3 percent recorded in September 2009. Year-to-date, inflation settled at 2.9 percent, lower than the central bank’s 3-5-percent target for 2013. Inflation a year ago was at 3.2 percent. “The indices of alcoholic beverages and tobacco; clothing and footwear; housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels; furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house; recreation and culture; and restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services recorded slower annual increases during the month,” NSO said. Inflation within the National Capital region dropped to 1 percent from June’s 1.6 percent while other areas similarly slowed down to 2.9 percent from 3 percent. Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the slow uptick in prices was driven by lower inflation among food items. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 “According to the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS), there were sharp reductions in the prices of vegetables in Metro Manila. These include ampalaya, sitao, cabbage, carrots, baguio beans and white potatoes, while tomatoes posted slower price increases in July 2013 compared to the previous month,” Balisacan said. Data from BAS showed that the average price of ampalaya was cheaper by 10.5 percent, sitao by 2.7 percent, cabbage by 31.5 percent, carrots 21.4 percent, baguio beans by Read More …
MANILA, Philippines – Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima warned tax evaders on Tuesday while stressing the need to monitor statistics specific to various taxpaying groups. “You can run, but you cannot hide from Commissioner Henares,” he said, referring to efforts being done by Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Kim Henares to chase after citizens who underdeclare or avoid their taxes. Purisima said that part of the Department of Finance’s tax watch campaign is to increase transparency in tax payments and to ask Filipinos to pay the right taxes by revealing insights about the tax base. “We want to raise awareness about tax payments and ask the public if the numbers we observe make sense,” he said. He noted as an example the number of taxpaying pawnshops in the country versus the number being supervised by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). “Why is it that we have 5,230 pawnshops that paid in 2012, but the BSP supervises 6,301? The average tax payment for pawnshops also went down from P363,085 in 2011 to P315,812 in 2012,” he said. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 He goes on by saying that in Binondo, a place full of popular Chinatown eateries, there are only 120 registered restaurants with a combined tax of P156,780 in 2012, lower than the P222,000 posted in 2010. “This average is lower than the average tax payment of restaurants in Baguio, Tarlac, Legaspi City, and the Cordillera Administrative Region. Is that right?” he said. He added Read More …
By Frances Mangosing, Kristine Angeli SabilloINQUIRER.net 2:57 pm | Tuesday, August 6th, 2013 The BRP Ramon Alcaraz is the second Hamilton-class cutter that was acquired by the Philippine Navy under the Foreign Military Sales Program of the United States. US EMBASSY PHOTO RELEASE SUBIC BAY, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday said the acquisition of a second warship by the Philippines will boost the Navy’s ability to patrol and defend the country’s waters. Aquino expressed confidence that the BRP Alcaraz, the “newest and modern ship” the country has acquired, will fulfill the government’s aim to have an Armed Forces capable of defending the country and the Filipino people. “Now that the BRP Alcaraz is here, it will definitely boost our patrols around the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone and our ability to quell threats and dangerous elements, respond to search and rescue operations, and needs of our marine resources,” Aquino said in Filipino as he welcomed the arrival of the 45-year-old former US Coast Guard Hamilton-class cutter at the Alava Wharf here. Aquino recounted the ship’s “historic and symbolic” journey from the United States, passing through Pearl Harbor and Guam, and the heroes behind this journey. It is in this light that the President challenged the troops of the Philippine Navy to live up to the courage exemplified by those who lived before them. “So this is my challenge to the Philippine Navy and to the troops that will be on this ship: Live up to the courage and Read More …