Toll body to review Skyway design, records after bus crash

 News
Dec 162013
 
Toll body to review Skyway design, records after bus crash

At least 20 dead in Skyway crash. Bodies of passengers killed in a bus accident are covered on the ground in Bicutan on Monday. A bus fell off the Skyway early morning, killing 18 people. Police initially reported 21 dead. Danny Pata The design, history and maintenance record of the South Metro Manila Skyway will be reviewed, the Toll Regulatory Board said Monday, after a passenger bus fell from the roadway killing at least 18 people.  The fatal incident before sunrise Monday is the fourth since October 2006 involving vehicles that sped off the Skyway and dropped on the road below. In an interview with GMA News’ Ian Cruz, TRB executive director Atty. Edmund Reyes said in a report on the late evening newscast “Saksi” that  the probe will “revisit the design” of the Skyway to check for any problems.  The review will also cover the roadway’s history and maintenance works.  Reyes also said the TRB will take also review the recommendation of the Highway Patrol Group of the Philippine National Police, which said buses should not be allowed to run on the elevated sections of the Skyway considering the previous serious mishaps. In October 2006, a sports utility vehicle crushed a passenger jeepney after falling on it at the Skyway’s Magallanes section. In January 2007, an armored van fell on a car at the Pasay Road portion of the Skyway. In July 2011, a Dimple Star Transport bus also fell from the Skyway but did not hit any other Read More …

SM mall did not comply with 2013 security pact – police

 News
Dec 162013
 
SM mall did not comply with 2013 security pact – police

Robbers use hammers to steal jewelry in SM North EDSA. Security personnel of SM North EDSA cordon off the crime scene where a so-called “martilyo gang” struck on Sunday night, stealing jewelry on display and causing shoppers to panic. Jun Veneracion, GMA News Mall security measures forged nearly a year ago in the aftermath of another martilyo gang heist were not implemented and may have made the jewelry robbery on Sunday at the SM North EDSA mall easier for the suspects to carry out, the Philippine National Police said. PNP officials said procedures on the sale of hardware and the provision of improved CCTV security camera systems were among the measures that were apparently not taken seriously. The PNP said hardware purchased inside the malls were supposed to have been turned over to buyers outside the mall premises. Higher-resolution CCTV systems and constant monitoring of security videos were also agreed upon months ago, but the PNP said the poor quality of the video footage of the heist last Sunday is a clear indicator of the lack of compliance. Grainy video of the Sunday robbery and a receipt showed that the suspects used a hammer and a crowbar purchased in the mall. The MOA, which was forged with the Mall Security Managers Association, provided that shoppers who bought tools like hammers  would claim their purchased items outside the mall, Raffy Tima reported on GMA News TV’s State of the Nation with Jessica Soho Monday evening. The agreement was struck in the Read More …

Remains of 7 Filipinos killed in Yemen arriving Tuesday

 News
Dec 162013
 
Remains of 7 Filipinos killed in Yemen arriving Tuesday

By Kristine Angeli SabilloINQUIRER.net 8:43 pm | Monday, December 16th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines — The bodies of the seven Filipinos killed in the bombing of Yemen’s defense ministry complex early this month will arrive in the Philippines on Tuesday. Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesperson Raul Hernandez said four of them are expected to arrive 6:50 a.m. via Emirates Airlines flight EK 336 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Meanwhile, the three others will arrive at the Clark International Airport at 3:55 p.m. on board Emirates Airlines flight EK 338. The remains arriving in Clark are those of Marivic Corilla Badenas and Aurora Gormate, both of Mariveles town in Bataan province, and Marianne Coronel David of the village of Betis in Guagua town in Pampanga province, said a source at the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), who asked not to be named for not having been assigned to speak to reporters. “Yemeni President Abdo Rabbo Mansour Hadi, in his meeting with Undersecretary Jesus Yabes, expressed regret for the tragedy that befell our kababayans and conveyed his sincerest condolences to the families of the victims,” Hernandez said. He added that Hadi had ordered the conferment of a duty medal to one of the fatalities, Dr. Ruben Valenzuela, to be received by his family. The families of those killed, in what is believed to be a terrorist attack, will receive compensation equivalent to the victim’s one year salary. Of the people injured during the bomb blast, 27 were Filipino workers. They will Read More …

US, Manila ink pact to repair ash-covered cemetery

 News
Dec 162013
 
US, Manila ink pact to repair ash-covered cemetery

Associated Press 7:55 pm | Monday, December 16th, 2013 AP FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines — U.S. and Philippine officials signed an agreement Monday for Washington to restore a cemetery north of Manila where the graves of thousands of American service members and dependents have been covered in ash since Mount Pinatubo’s 1991 eruption. The accord calls for the American Battle Monuments Commission to repair and maintain the Clark Veterans Cemetery for at least 10 years. President Barack Obama had earlier signed a law to finance the Philippine-owned cemetery’s upkeep. The U.S. Air Force hastily abandoned Clark Air Base, where the cemetery is located, after Mount Pinatubo’s eruption. In 1994, American veterans were shocked to find the 7-hectare (17-acre) cemetery covered in ash and weeds with half of its old steel fence looted. They cleaned up the graves but have since struggled to maintain the cemetery through volunteer work and donations. Although the cemetery looks tidier today, it is still covered by about a foot (30 centimeters) of ash, partially burying tombstones and obscuring names, dates and epitaphs. American veterans, who have been campaigning to prod the U.S. government to take charge of the cemetery’s repair and maintenance, welcomed the agreement, which was signed by U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg and Arnel Casanova, president of Manila’s Bases Conversion and Development Authority, “This brings to a close a three-year campaign effort to get the U.S. cemetery to be remembered,” said former Navy Capt. Dennis Wright, who saw action in Vietnam and is now Read More …

No parade and review at this year's AFP anniversary due to Yolanda

 News
Dec 162013
 
No parade and review at this year's AFP anniversary due to Yolanda

The military will have a “toned down” anniversary celebration this year to sympathize with the thousands of victims of super typhoon Yolanda. “The expenses that will be saved out of this will be dedicated to the continuing HADR,” said Maj. Gen. Domingo Tutaan of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), referring to the military’s ongoing humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations in areas hit by the typhoon. Tutaan said the celebration is being “toned down to sympathize with the victims of the recent calamity.” The program for the AFP’s 78th foundation anniversary will be held on Friday, a day ahead of the actual anniversary. President Benigno Aquino III, the military’s commander in chief, will be the guest of honor. Tutaan said the military is foregoing with the traditional parade and review, which includes the fly-by of military aircraft. “We want to save as much as possible so that we can dedicate it for our continuing HADR activities,” he said. In a separate interview, AFP public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said there will be usual arrival honors for the President, singing of the national anthem, invocation, awarding of soldiers who excelled in their field, welcome remarks from AFP chief Gen. Emmanuel Bautista and a message from Aquino. He said the President will also inspect newly-delivered helicopters. The three AW 109 helicopters, intended for the use of the Philippine Navy, are part of the five aircraft acquired from an Anglo-Italian firm for P1.33 billion. — KBK, GMA News

Housing ‘Yolanda’ survivors a monumental effort

 General
Dec 162013
 
Housing ‘Yolanda’ survivors a monumental effort

The Habitat Mobile Emergency Response (HaMER) with DSWD Sec. Dinky Soliman and Habitat for Humanity Philippines (HFHP) Managing Director & CEO Charlie Ayco. MIKEL FLAMM Due to extensive damage and lack of funding, agencies tasked to rebuild houses for the affected families of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name Haiyan) face severe lack of shelter materials to address the massive needs.  Shelter agency Habitat for Humanity Philippines said the shortfall in roofing and framing materials, unless donors quickly provide the necessary funding and material support, will force the thousands of homeless families in Central Visayas to stay in evacuation centers at least until the first quarter of 2014. “Yolanda has destroyed and severely damaged more than 1 million houses or displaced over 4 million people.  In some communities, all houses were destroyed,” Charlie Ayco, Chief Executive Officer of Habitat for Humanity Philippines, said.  “Under the Haiyan (Yolanda) Action Plan, shelter agencies are asking for USD 46 million in funding.  But so far, only USD 16 million or 36% have been pledged,” he added. Due to the lack of funding, shelter agencies like Habitat are predicting a severe shortfall in roofing and framing materials like the more than four million sheets of corrugated iron sheeting (CGI) that are needed.  They also estimate that even with funding, it will take until February 2014 to provide the affected people with the most basic emergency shelter items like tarpaulins and other materials for roofing and storm straps. “Can you imagine the number of families who will Read More …

History books for Christmas

 General
Dec 152013
 
History books for Christmas

It is not because I own Solidaridad, a bookshop, that I say books make the best Christmas gift. Giving one compliments the giver as well as the recipient — both are presumed intelligent readers.  The real reason is that as material objects, books today are still well made, they last more than 50 years. Imagine gifts that stay that long! This year, publishers — particularly the university presses — have put out quality titles particularly on history. They may not sell, though — Filipinos do not read — but they illustrate a growing attention to history and the need for Filipinos to know more about themselves. Below are four I have read recently. Taming People Power: the EDSA Revolution and their Contradictions By Lisandro E. Claudio Ateneo de Manila University Press, 225 pages Lifestyle Feature ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: Many of those who elevated Cory Aquino to sainthood will not appreciate this book for the simple reason that it debunks the Cory legend by probing closely at that giant Hacienda Luisita which Cory and her family own. It is an affirmation of what I already knew from way back except that I never had what this young able scholar has accumulated — a mass of empirical evidence. Way back in the ’60s when I first visited the hacienda (I was brought there by Ninoy), I told Ninoy to look how miserably the workers in the hacienda lived. Ninoy told me then, “Frankie — you know that this Read More …

Eco-chic finds a niche

 Economy
Dec 152013
 
Eco-chic finds a niche

MANILA, Philippines – In the Philippines, the name carries the stigma of poverty, filth and tragedy. The place is best remembered for its infamous dumpsite, which claimed hundreds of lives when it leveled nearby slums in an avalanche of trash back in 2000. Over a decade later, a nearby village paints a different picture. Villagers no longer sift through trash; instead, they dabble in textiles. Men print patterns on canvas, which the women then fashion into eco-bags. Welcome to Payatas 13, a village transformed by the power of social entrepreneurship. For the people, by the people Payatas 13 experienced a turnaround when Mike Go, a Gawad Kalinga social entrepreneur, launched Trese back in 2008. The concept was simple: employ local residents, print shirts, and use the profits to fund community projects. After securing a deal to become the official shirt printer of Gawad Kalinga, their product offering diversified with the addition of canvas eco-bags.  In fact, the demand for bags has now grown bigger than that of the very popular print shirts. But while Trese attributes its initial success to Gawad Kalinga’s orders, Mike admits that it’s not enough to sustain all of Payatas 13’s community projects. The real profit, he says, comes from corporate patrons who share his vision. Lifestyle Feature ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: As word spread about Trese’s philosophy of grassroots empowerment, organizations with an inclination for philanthropy contacted Mike to order company collaterals. Spreading the good cause Top call center and business process Read More …

Investors sue Uniwide Holdings head, 2 former execs

 General
Dec 152013
 
Investors sue Uniwide Holdings head, 2 former execs

By Tetch Torres-TupasINQUIRER.net 3:45 pm | Sunday, December 15th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines–Investors of Uniwide Holdings Inc. filed a case for estafa against the head of the Manila Bay Development Corp. (MBDC) and two former Uniwide executives who, they say, had allegedly conspired to defraud UHI of P2.1 billion that caused bleeding of what used to be the country’s biggest retail chain. The estafa complaint was filed by the investors led by Brenelie Rualo before the Office of the City Prosecutor in Makati City against MBDC president Jacinto Ng Sr. along with Jimmy Cabangis and Corazon Rey for questionable spending for the construction of its Coastal Mall and then defrauding P381 million more through the payment of unnecessary mall rentals. Coastal Mall, which was envisioned in the 1990s to become the country’s biggest shopping mall complex, was built on a 10-hectare portion of MBDC’s 40-hectare Central Business Park II in Parañaque City at that time when Cabangis and Rey were Uniwide’s respective chief financial officer and controller. In her Derivative Suit for Estafa/Other Deceits, Rualo said she was filing the case against the trio on behalf of over 15,000 investors “similarly situated” who bought P4 billion-worth of stocks combined when Uniwide made its Initial Public Offering (IPO) in 1996. “The amount of P2.1 billion that was squandered was more than half of the P4 billion that was raised through public offering,” said Rualo adding that “the fraudulent acts and unlawful payments couldn’t have been perpetrated without the complicity of Ng of Read More …

Ricky Carandang resigns

 Entertainment
Dec 142013
 
Ricky Carandang resigns

President Benigno S. Aquino III presides over the Cabinet Meeting at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room of the Malacañan Palace on Tuesday (December 10). (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Malacañang announced the resignation of Secretary Ricky Carandang which would take effect on December 31. President Aquino accepted the resignation of Carandang on Tuesday. Carandang, who heads the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO), gave no specific reason for his resignation and only said that he is returning to the private sector. “He just mentioned that he believes that he has done his job, that he would like to return to the private sector and that he will wander the ends of the earth seeking wisdom,” presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said. Undersecretary Manolo Quezon will oversee the operations of the PCDSPO following Carandang’s resignation. Lacierda said he is saddened by Carandang’s decision to leave government, adding that he has done a “commendable job” in working “behind the scenes and before the cameras to do his part to communicate the President’s message.” Aquino thanked Carandang for his service, according to Lacierda. Lacierda could not say for sure if there would be more changes in the Palace’s communications team or whether perceived members of the so-called “Samar” group are staging a take over of the messaging team. “What other faction?” Lacierda said. “It’s all up to the President. What will happen to the communications group, it will depend on further discussions with the President.” “I have no idea what developments would Read More …

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