Norwegian minister coming to check ‘Yolanda’ rehab effort

 News
Jan 042014
 
Norwegian minister coming to check ‘Yolanda’ rehab effort

By Ronnel W. DomingoPhilippine Daily Inquirer 8:54 am | Sunday, January 5th, 2014 Japanese Self Defense Force personnel arrive to coordinate relief efforts on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2013 at Tacloban City. AP FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Børge Brende will visit from Jan. 7 to 9 the areas worst hit by Supertyphoon “Yolanda,” according to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in the Philippines. Brende, who will be on an official visit, wants to get a firsthand look at the progress of recovery efforts to which Norway was one of the first responders with emergency funds. He is expected to visit Leyte and meet with representatives of the UN, including FAO Philippines officials. Oslo has committed P1.45 billion toward relief efforts and long-term disaster response related to Yolanda. The amount is on top of the P180 million Norwegian NGOs raised through a charity concert in November and the P178 million the Filipino community in Norway raised through a similar event in December. Norway was among the first nations to respond to appeals for aid in the immediate aftermath of Yolanda. On Nov. 19, less than two weeks after the typhoon’s onslaught, the Norwegian parliament increased the nation’s P450 million donation by P1 billion. Back then, Prime Minister Erna Solberg said in a statement her government wanted “to help alleviate the suffering that children, women and men are now undergoing in the affected areas in the Philippines.” Solberg said Norway’s donations were to go to food, Read More …

Kris Aquino still contemplating next career move

 General
Jan 042014
 
Kris Aquino still contemplating next career move

IN THE wake of transfer rumors, Queen of All Media Kris Aquino broke her silence and said she’s still reflecting on her next career move. On Friday evening the television host posted an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on photo-sharing application Instagram and shared to her thousands of followers that she’s attending mass to give thanks for the box-office success of “My Little Bossings” and to ask for “GUIDANCE & WISDOM”. Kris, who is currently in London with sons Joshua and James Jr. for a two-week family break, is rumored to have received mega offers both from the Manny Pangilinan-led TV5 and network giant GMA-7. According to reports, she’s close to signing with one. But whether she will extend her 17-year stint in the Kapamilya network or inked a new deal with a different station is still unknown. Kris said she will weigh everything, especially the thoughts of her two sons and the viewing public. “Pls. know that whatever decision I make, apart from considering what will be most beneficial for my 2 sons, it’s very important to me to consider what you, my audience, wants,” she tweeted. The television host continued: “That’s why it’s good for me to be away now, to just be with my sons, so that I can reflect very carefully… God bless you all. Happy 1st Friday of 2014!” To recall, Kris’ network contract with ABS-CBN expired in October 2013. Last November, Kris was silent when asked whether she has entered into a Read More …

CHR chair: Court decision on Marcos money a ‘lost round’ for Martial Law victims

 News
Jan 042014
 
CHR chair: Court decision on Marcos money a ‘lost round’ for Martial Law victims

A round lost for human rights victims during Martial Law. This was how Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chairperson Loretta Ann Rosales described the Singapore Court of Appeal’s decision to grant over $23 million seized from the estate of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos to the Philippine National Bank (PNB) amid competing claims made by three other parties, one of them being the 9,539 human rights victims that suffered under the Marcos regime. Rosales, herself a human rights victim during the Marcos regime, was part of the group of Martial Law victims that filed the class suit laying claim to the Marcos funds held in Swiss banks. In a text message sent to GMA News Online Saturday, Rosales said: “We have lost this round. We have to study the arguments of the case first.” Rosales, however, clarified that the CHR was not legally representing the Martial Law human rights victims in the case. On Friday, the Straits Times reported that the Court of Appeal has ruled in favor of its Supreme Court’s decision to award $23 million in Marcos money to PNB.  The funds, comprised of $16.8 million and GBP4.2 million, form part of Marcos’ illicit fortune stashed in Swiss bank accounts. The court, in the report, said it affirmed the High Court ruling that the PNB held the legal title to the funds as depositor of the money as well as original account holder with WestLB, the Germany-based bank that held the money. Aside from the human rights victims, Read More …

DOH: Number of revelry-related injuries nears 1k, 5% increase noted

 News
Jan 032014
 
DOH: Number of revelry-related injuries nears 1k, 5% increase noted

The number of injuries related to the recent holiday revelry inched closer to 1,000 as of Saturday morning, the Department of Health said. National Epidemiology Center head Dr. Enrique Tayag said that as of 6 a.m., there were at least 962 revelry-related injuries recorded. Of these, 943 were fireworks-related, while two were caused by fireworks ingestion. At least 17 were due to stray bullets, he said on his Twitter account. He added that of the 943 fireworks-related injuries, 359 or 38 percent were due to piccolo. In the same period in 2012, Tayag said there were 929 revelry-related injuries, including 902 from fireworks and two from fireworks ingestion. Tayag also noted that in the same period in 2012, there were 25 injuries from stray bullets. The DOH will continue its tally of revelry-related injuries until Sunday. — LBG, GMA News

In the Know: Naphthalene

 Economy
Jan 032014
 
In the Know: Naphthalene

Philippine Daily Inquirer 4:04 am | Saturday, January 4th, 2014 Naphthalene, a main ingredient in producing mothballs, is a chemical compound widely used as an insecticide and pest repellent. Made from crude oil or coal tar, this crystalline can be colorless but also range in color from solid white to brown. It can be found in car exhaust, cigarette smoke, or smoke from forest fires. Naphthalene, which was first registered as a pesticide in the United States in 1948, is primarily used to control clothes moth and silverfish through vapors that, in airtight containers, can kill insects. It is also used to repel animals such as squirrels and bats. Some hanging toilet bowl deodorizers may also contain naphthalene. Naphthalene is considered moderately toxic to some species of fish, water fleas and Pacific oysters, and slightly toxic to green algae. Apart from mothballs, this toxic and active ingredient is also used in the production of plastics, dyes, resins, lubricants and fuels. Exposure to naphthalene vapors may result in headache, nausea, dizziness or vomiting. Children who accidentally consume mothballs may also develop diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain and painful urination with discolored urine. Breathing in napthalene vapors or consuming the product may result in hemolytic anemia, which occurs when red blood cells break apart and fail to carry oxygen through the body. When naphthalene enters the body, it breaks down to alpha-naphthol, which is linked to the development of hemolytic anemia. Kidney and liver damage may occur as alpha-naphthol and other metabolites are Read More …

Lawmaker to SSS: Cut perks instead of raising member premiums

 News
Jan 032014
 
Lawmaker to SSS: Cut perks instead of raising member premiums

The Social Security System should not be raising premiums if it can afford to give its board members millions of pesos in bonuses, Bayan Muna party-list Representative Neri Colmenares said Friday. “Kesa sa unahin nilang mag-impose ng additional premium, dapat bawasan nila ang perks nila sa sarili nila.” Colmenares said in a report on “24 Oras” aired Friday evening. The SSS is adjusting its contribution rate to 11 percent from 10.4 percent this month. That means sales representative Melinda Reyes, who earns P15,000 a month, will now have to pay P545 a month instead of P500. “Paano sila nakapagbigay ng ganun kalaki sa mga [board] members nila kung kulang na talaga ang pondo? Hindi dapat ganun yung sabihin nilang reason,” she said in the report. SSS has said it has to hike member contributions to make sure the fund will last beyond 2039 and pay for unfunded liabilities.   SSS has more than 30 million members and it paid out P84.17 million in benefit payments in 2012. It also had a net revenue of P36.20 million, the report said. “Tama ‘yan. Kumita tayo. Hindi naman sinasabi na mauubos yung pera agad agad. Ang gusto nga kasi nating mangyari ay pahabain yung buhay [ng fund] to 70 years,” Marissu Bugante, SSS vice president for public affairs said. She added bonuses given to board members are sourced from contribution payments and income from SSS investments but that bonuses are regulated by the Governance Commission for Government Owned or Controlled Corporations (GCG). Lawyer Read More …

PNP: 60-70% of gun licenses based on fake documents

 News
Jan 032014
 
PNP: 60-70% of gun licenses based on fake documents

Of the 1.7 million licensed firearms in the country, 60 to 70 percent were issued based on fake documents, the Philippine National Police said Friday. Citing figures from the PNP Firearms Explosives Office, Police Chief Superintendent Louie Oppus said in a report on “24 Oras” aired Friday evening that he has ordered the investigation into the use of fake names and addresses as well as fake neuro-psychiatric results by applicants. “I have now caused an investigation into those neuro-psychiatric results na parang peke… Biruin mo, mga limang tao, magkakapareho ang resulta ng neuro remarks? May posibilidad ba ‘yun?” he said in the report. He said the PNP hopes the recently signed Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act would give gun control teeth. Signed by President Benigno Aquino III in May 2013, the law seeks to regulate the registration and ownership of firearms and ammunition by requiring gun owners to renew their licenses every two years. The new law supersedes Executive Order 194, signed by President Joseph Estrada in 2000, which removed a limit on the number of guns a person can own. Before EO 194, owners were only allowed to have 10 guns. The report said that under the new law, the PNP itself will administer neuro-psychiatric and drug tests. Gun owners will also be required to apply for licenses to own firearms before they can register their guns, and firearms will be automatically considered illegal if their licenses are not renewed within a day of expiration. Automatic weapons, once Read More …

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