DOTC prefers Veterans as site of north transport terminal

 Economy
Dec 242014
 
DOTC prefers Veterans as site of north transport terminal

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) prefers the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) as the site of a transportation hub to serve public utility vehicles coming from Northern Luzon. Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said the 55-hectare hospital complex owned by Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) is the preferred site for the much needed Integrated Transport System – North Terminal. “We are seriously targeting the VMMC,” Abaya said. Accordng to Abaya, PVAO is supportive of the planned transport terminal under the public private partnership (PPP) scheme in the VMMC. “From both sides, we have mutual interest. The location is near the original site,” he added. The VMMC is along North and Mindanao Avenues and is near the proposed P1.4- billion common station to be constructed in front of the Trinoma Mall of Ayala Corp. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Other sites considered for the North ITS is the Manila Seedling Bank at the corner of EDSA and Quezon Ave. as well as the property of the National Housing Authority (NHA) near the Trinoma Mall. The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has approved the P7.7-billion ITS projects to maximize road usage by reducing vehicle volume and eliminating provincial bus traffic to improve traffic flow along Metro Manila’s major thoroughfares particularly EDSA. PPP Centre executive director Cosette Canilao earlier said Filinvest Land Inc. of taipan Andrew Gotianun and MWM Terminals led by Filipino-owned Megawide Construction Corp. submitted bids for the P2.5-billion ITS – Read More …

Chaplain says another convict’s NBP studio yet to be touched

 News
Dec 242014
 
Chaplain says another convict’s NBP studio yet to be touched

Some inmates at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) are puzzled because the holding area or kubol of convicted kidnapper Jaybee Sebastian was not raided by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). NBP chaplain Msgr. Roberto Olaguer said some inmates have raised questions on why Sebastian’s kubol was not included during last week’s raid, according to GMA News “24 Oras” report on Wednesday. Sebastian was convicted of kidnap for ransom and hijacking and is the leader of the Sigue Sigue Commando. He was jailed at Manila City Jail and Bicutan before being transferred to the NBP maximum security compound. Olaguer said the maximum security compound is divided into two sides and the portion where Sebastian stays has yet to be inspected. “Yung carcel side, ito laging napupuntirya, ito ‘yung lugar nila (Herbert) Colangco.. ito ‘yung ni-raid; yung side ng presidio na nandun si JB (Sebastian), ang tanong ng mga tao bakit hindi pinuntahan ‘yan?” Olaguer said. Luxury items were found in Colangco’s kubol during the raid, including music equipment in a recording studio. According to the lawyer of the inmates who were transferred to NBI, Sebastian’s kubol should be inspected because there are also luxury items inside his holding area.   Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has ordered the transfer of 20 high-profile inmates to NBI after their luxurious lifestyle was revealed during the surprise inspection. Sebastian is reputedly one of the influential inmates at the NBP. He was among those who faced the media when former Batangas Gov. Tony Leviste’s Read More …

NBI report on Bilibid’s wealthy inmates due in three months

 News
Dec 242014
 
NBI report on Bilibid’s wealthy inmates due in three months

The National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) probe on the anomalies in the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) will be finished in three to four months, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said on Wednesday. In a report of Radyo DZBB reporter Tuesday Niu, De Lima was quoted as saying that the NBI’s probe on various anomalies in the NBP will be completed in the first quarter of 2015, as the Bureau already have its initial findings. De Lima said to be included in the NBI’s investigation report are recommendations on actions that must be implemented by the NBP and the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor). On December 15, in a surprise inspection of the maximum security compound of the NBP, De Lima together with agents of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the NBI, found several rooms or kubol with luxury amenities such as a sauna, jacuzzi with a television screen, a 50-inch flat screen TV, a split-type aircon, a home theater system and an LCD projector. One cell was also found to have a recording studio, complete with a stage and sound system for live performances. Expensive items such as shoes, sunglasses, watches, gadgets and even sex toys were also discovered in some of the kubols, along with suspected packs of shabu. Among the issues being investigated by the NBI is the alleged drug manufacturing and trading inside the NBP. De Lima, meanwhile, maintained that there is no need for BuCor director Franklin Jesus Bucayu to step down from his post amid Read More …

LP leaders not giving up on Mar Roxas

 General
Dec 242014
 
LP leaders not giving up on Mar Roxas

Ranking officials of the Liberal Party continue to keep their faith in Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II even though he continues to lag behind in voter preference surveys. House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, LP’s vice chairman, said Roxas’ surge in the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey can only bode well for his presidential bid in 2016. “I think he will prevail once the public realizes the gravity of the issues,” he said in a text message Wednesday. The SWS survey, conducted from Nov. 27 to Dec. 1, placed Roxas among the top three contenders respondents most favored to succeed President Benigno Aquino III. Binay remained the frontrunner in the SWS poll, with 37 percent of the respondents naming him as the best leader to succeed Aquino. Sen. Grace Poe placed second with 21 percent while Roxas was in third place with 19 percent. LP Secretary General Western Samar Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento also expressed optimism Roxas’ numbers will climb further if he decides to formally throw his hat into the presidential race. “Mar has the track record and integrity to ensure continuity of what PNoy has started. The truth about his person will contribute to this (ratings climb) because people will eventually see his sincerity, dedication and passion to serve the Filipino people,” he told GMA News Online in a separate text message. Consensus among LP members Roxas has yet to formally announce his political plans for 2016 although he has long been perceived as LP’s standard bearer.  Caloocan Read More …

IN PHOTOS: Matteo Guidicelli, other hunks sizzle at 2014 MMFF parade

 General
Dec 242014
 
IN PHOTOS: Matteo Guidicelli, other hunks sizzle at 2014 MMFF parade

“Shake, Rattle and Roll XV” star Matteo Guidicelli at the Parade of Stars of the 40th Metro Manila Film Festival. Philstar.com/Mark Atienza MANILA, Philippines — ABS-CBN star Matteo Guidicelli was every bit of a hunk at the 40th Metro Manila Film Festival’s Parade of Stars on Tuesday. READ: Star-studded parade kicks off 2014 MMFF The 25-year-old actor joined the cast of his MMFF entry “Shake, Rattle and Roll XV.” Wearing a simple black shirt bearing the logo of his movie, Matteo received some of the loudest shrieks during the parade. Daniel Padilla, who is part of the movie “Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo,” was also a highlight for fans during the parade Even though Marian Rivera was a no-show at the parade, her husband-to-be Dingdong Dantes of the movie “Kubot: The Aswang Chronicles 2” graced the Parade of Stars with his presence. IN PHOTOS: Kris, Coco, Bimby shine at 2014 MMFF Parade of Stars Entertainment ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Models Daniel Matsunaga and John Spainhour (“Shake, Rattle and Roll XV”), Coco Martin (“Feng Shui 2”), Tom Rodriguez and Richard Yap (“The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin”) also provided additional eye candy to the star-studded event. Check out photos of the hunks of the 40th MMFF Parade of Stars (Photo by Philstar.com/Mark Atienza)” [Slideshow will load below]

Rekindle goodness, DepEd chief asks teachers, students in Xmas message

 News
Dec 232014
 
Rekindle goodness, DepEd chief asks teachers, students in Xmas message

As it feted them for overcoming threats this year, the Department of Education at Christmas urged teachers and students to “rekindle” the goodness amid the darkness of uncertainty. DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro said many in the academic community had given much of themselves, even going beyond the call of duty. “This Christmas, I wish for all of you to rekindle that goodness inside and magnify it. Remind others, by way of gratefulness, that they too have been beacons of good in your lives.  Find peace knowing that in your own little way, you have contributed a great deal of good in a world bereft of it,” he said. Luistro said Christmas should remind people of the “goodness that comes into the world even as it is challenged by the darkness of uncertainty.” This year, he said people have seen examples of this throughout the year in the persons of those within the Department “who have given much of themselves so that our work may continue.” “Our teachers have gone beyond their call to do remarkable things like deflect gunmen and protect their students. Administrators and officials from local offices have been outstanding in shepherding their people, in always being quick to offer a word of care and thanks,” he said. “Our donors too have been on call, ready to engage us, for what little or big needs we might have. Even our students have been good citizens,” he added. “It is very difficult to lose hope in the company of Read More …

 Older Entries  Newer Entries