PNoy: RH, sin tax laws helped provide free health coverage to 14.7M families

 Entertainment
Mar 262014
 
PNoy: RH, sin tax laws helped provide free health coverage to 14.7M families

Philippine President Benigno Aquino (2nd L) greets lawmakers after making a speech during his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the House of Representatives in Quezon City, Metro Manila July 22, 2013. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – President Benigno Aquino III on Monday said some 14.7 million families received free health coverage from the government through the two laws he had openly supported. “Bukod po sa makabuluhang serbisyong mula sa ehekutibo, nakipag-ambagan na rin ang lehislatura upang maisabatas ang Sin Tax Reform Law at ang Responsible Parenthood Law na nagbibigay kakayahan sa atin na lalong magbigay-lingap sa ating mga kababayan,” Aquino said during the launch of the Alaga Ka Program, an advocacy campaign meant to spread information about the expanded health coverage, at the Quezon City Memorial Circle. Aquino signed both the Sin Tax Reform and Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Acts in December 2012.  Both were certified as urgent by the President. Under the Sin Tax Reform Act, 85 percent of the tax revenues will go toward the health budget. From that, 80 percent will be funneled to the Universal Health Care Program, and 20 percent will go toward health facilities enhancements. Using these funds and provisions in the RH law assuring health benefits for the poor, the government expanded from 5 million to 14.7 million the indigent families with access to primary healthcare services. “Tunay pong malayo na ang ating narating mula nang tahakin natin ang tuwid na daan, at isa po ang sektor ng kalusugan Read More …

Aquino: Resumption of peace talks depends on ‘willingness’ of CPP-NPA

 Entertainment
Mar 262014
 
Aquino: Resumption of peace talks depends on ‘willingness’ of CPP-NPA

President Benigno S. Aquino III, accompanied by outgoing Army Chief Lt. Gen. Noel Coballes, inspects the troops during the Philippine Army Change of Command Ceremony at the PA Grandstand in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Friday (February 7). Major General Hernando Iriberri, the 56th PA Commanding General replacing Coballes, is the commander of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division (ID) and a member of the Philippine Military Academy “Matikas” Class of 1983. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – President Benigno Aquino III said the resumption of peace talks depends on the willingness of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front to cooperate with the government. “They [CPP-NPA]…walked out [of] the peace talks, if you remember correctly. It really depends on their willingness to go back to the bargaining table,” Aquino told reporters during an interview. He issued the statement after authorities arrested over the weekend CPP chair Benito Tiamzon and his wife, the party’s secretary general Wilma Tiamzon. Earlier, the CPP during its 45th founding anniversary said it will no longer engage in formal talks with the Philippine government, citing the “proven unwillingness of the Aquino regime to negotiate a just peace.” But citing media reports, Aquino said the Tiamzons were in possession of hand grenades and pistols, something he said “normally does not occupy the belongings of a peace negotiator.” As for possible retaliation, the President said it would not make a difference since “the attacks [from them] have not ceased.” “So what are they saying? For them, Read More …

Washington Monument to reopen May 12 after quake repair

 Entertainment
Mar 262014
 
Washington Monument to reopen May 12 after quake repair

The Washington Monument will reopen to the public on May 12, nearly three years after it was shut due to damage from a rare earthquake centered near the US capital.©Mary Terriberry/Shutterstock.com (WASHINGTON-AFP) – The Washington Monument will reopen to the public on May 12, nearly three years after it was shut due to damage from a rare earthquake centered near the US capital. The 170-meter (555-foot) obelisk, a major tourist draw, was shuttered when engineers found more than 150 cracks in the structure in the wake of a 5.8-magnitude quake in Virginia in August 2011. The repair bill totalled $15 million. “We are delighted to be in the home stretch with the repairs to the Washington Monument… and we look forward to the re-opening on May 12,” National Park Service director Jonathan Jarvis said on Tuesday. The landmark — erected in honor of George Washington, the first US president, and completed in 1885 — is located in the middle of the National Mall, between the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial. The 2011 quake, which rattled a swathe of the US East Coast, was centered in Louisa County, northwest of Richmond. It also caused significant damage to the National Cathedral in Washington. ff/sst/adm

Summer 2014 is Out of this World at Grand Park

 Entertainment
Mar 262014
 
Summer 2014 is Out of this World at Grand Park

– Blockbuster Fourth of July Celebration Returns, Bigger and Better, with Downtown’s Largest Fireworks Display – – Line-up Includes North American Premiere of Universe of Sound: The Planets – LOS ANGELES (March 25, 2014) – Grand Park will captivate, surprise and delight guests this summer with a multi-faceted programming line-up for all ages and interests and a number of spectacular events in the “park for everyone.”  The park’s free summer programming includes the return of Grand Park favorites, including concerts that showcase Los Angeles’ dynamic electronic music scene, family-friendly movie nights, exercise sessions and more.  Three major events will cap the season – an expanded July 4th block party that builds on the success of last year’s event, the west coast’s flagship commemoration of National Dance Day and the North American premiere of Universe of Sound: The Planets, a dramatic, highly experiential installation that immerses people in the world of an orchestra. “The audiences for Grand Park continue to grow and so too does the sense of community and camaraderie that Grand Park guests experience when they visit this beautiful central gathering place,” said Grand Park Director Lucas Rivera.  “From music to dance to grand-scale celebrations, Grand Park’s summer season – July through September– will give Angelenos the opportunity to appreciate the talent and excellence of Los Angeles’ artists and to join together to enjoy the most memorable Grand Park summer ever.” “Grand Park is the place to be this summer and especially on the Fourth of July as we celebrate our nation’s independence with a spectacular Read More …

Novartis, SLMC forge tie-up on eye diseases

 General
Mar 262014
 
Novartis, SLMC forge tie-up on eye diseases

Photo shows (from left) Jerome Briones, ophthalmology franchise manager, Novartis Healthcare Philippines; Dr. Carlos Emmanoel Chua, ophthalmologist; Dr. Albert Mamaril, Retina Section head, SLMC-Bonifacio Global City; Thomas Weigold, president and managing director, Novartis Healthcare Philippines; Dr. Ruben Lim Bon Siong, head, SLMC-Quezon City’s Eye Institute; Dr. Pearl Villalon, Retina Section head, SLMC-Quezon City; and Christine Fajardo, corporate affairs and market access head, Novartis Healthcare Philippines. MANILA, Philippines – Novartis Healthcare Philippines and the Eye Institute of St. Luke’s Medical Center (SLMC) have signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to enhance the diagnosis and treatment of blindness-causing eye diseases. “The Eye Institute, which is renowned for its world-class eye specialists and cutting-edge technology, is pleased to partner anew with global eye care leader Novartis, in addressing the eye care needs of Filipino patients,” said Dr. Edgardo Cortez, SLMC president and CEO. “Our partnership with the SLMC Eye Institute is in line with our company’s commitment to enhance eye care in the country and promote Filipino patients’ access to effective eye treatments,” said Thomas Weigold, country president and managing director of Novartis Healthcare Philippines. Top officials of the SLMC Eye Institute and Novartis Healthcare Philippines signed the MOA during a media briefing entitled “Blindness, the invisible threat — How can we respond?” last Tuesday at the F1 Hotel Manila in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City. Under the MOA, Novartis Healthcare Philippines will provide free Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) to a total of 360 qualified patients of the Eye Institute (180 patients each Read More …

A tonkatsuper deluxe experience

 Entertainment
Mar 262014
 
A tonkatsuper deluxe experience

Finest swine: Tonkatsu by Terazawa brings in the most premium Iberico pork from Spain.   MANILA, Philippines – What’s so special about it that a lot of people are so tonkatsu-crazy?  For starters, here’s a slice of history: Long ago and not too far away, tonkatsu (pork cutlet) was one of the staple classic dishes on the dining table of many a Japanese home (it probably still is). Chef Akinori Terazawa, who now owns a chain of Japanese-Western restaurants in Asia, was so passionate about his tonkatsu that he challenged himself to make the best (in the east and in the west) using the traditional method that he grew up with. That means using a most cherished secret recipe to come up with the most tender and flavorful pork cutlet. This lunchtime at Tonkatsu by Terazawa in Greenbelt 2, Makati, I unravel an age-old secret, and I’m letting you in on it. Terazawa ages meat the natural way: It is wrapped in white cloth to seal in the moisture of the meat. The wrapped meat is then kept in the chiller for three days and allowed to deliciously age before cooking. It is deep-fried to perfection. Terazawa brings the same art and science of cooking tonkatsu to his Tonkatsu by Terazawa resto in Makati that serves only the finest pork coated with nama panko (fresh bread crumbs) and deep fried in fresh vegetable oil. They’re tasty enough by themselves, but you can enjoy your deep-fried pork cutlets even more with Read More …

After Haiyan, Philippines expands crop insurance

 General
Mar 262014
 
After Haiyan, Philippines expands crop insurance

CALAMBA, Philippines (AP) — The aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines has added urgency to finding a solution to a longstanding problem: less than 10 percent of farmers have crop insurance, and while its advantages are widely understood, few can afford it. Raymundo dela Vina, an 81-year-old farmer in Laguna province near Manila, likened raising crops to betting in a lottery: you go against so many odds including pests and an average of 20 typhoons that pummel the country each year, flooding small rice paddies like his.    The country’s 10.8 million farmers are the second poorest industry after fishermen. Many are tenant tillers who share their harvest with land owners and go into debt to pay for seeds, fertilizer and pest control. Crop insurance is the least of priorities when there is often not even enough money for food. But the government wants to change that. Officials and international aid groups are discussing ways to boost resilience to disasters after Haiyan, one of the strongest typhoons on record, killed more than 6,200 people and flattened towns in the central Philippines on Nov. 8. Better protections are vital for the poor who often end up deeper in poverty with every calamity. A World Bank report estimated that natural calamities cut 0.8 percentage point from the country’s economic growth rate each year on average. The proportion of people living in poverty in 2013 may have risen to 26.4 percent from 25.2 percent the previous year despite economic growth of more Read More …

Gov’t defends arrest of NPA ‘power couple’

 Entertainment
Mar 252014
 
Gov’t defends arrest of NPA ‘power couple’

President Benigno S. Aquino III converses with PhilHealth president and chief executive officer Alexander Padilla during the Launching of Alaga Ka para sa Maayos na Buhay (ALAGA KA) Program at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Elliptical Road, Quezon City on Monday (March 24, 2014). The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and the Department of Health (DOH) leads the simultaneous launching of the program in all 17 regions in order to provide the country’s 14.7 million indigent families with greater access to primary health care services. (Photo by Ryan Lim / Malacañang Photo Bureau) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Monday said the Tiamzon couple cannot use the joint agreement on safety and immunity (JASIG) as their defense because it has no effect on their standing warrants of arrest. Under JASIG, which was signed by the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) back in 1995, people participating in the peace talks are immune from arrests. Benito Tiamzon is the chairman of the CPP-NPA while his wife, Wilma, is the secretary general. They were nabbed by elements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Barangay Zaragosa, Aluginsan in Carcar, Cebu last Saturday. THE NDF has asserted that the Tiamzon couple is covered by JASIG but the government panel insists otherwise. Rachel Pastores, lawyer of the Tiamzon couple, said those listed in the JASIG list use aliases as a form of security. “There is the Read More …

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