Miriam on Pulse Asia ratings: No. 3 is always a good place to be

 News
Dec 122014
 
Miriam on Pulse Asia ratings: No. 3 is always a good place to be

Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago on Friday said ranking third in Pulse Asia’s latest poll among probable presidential candidates “is always a good place to be.” At a press briefing, Santiago said ranking third in these surveys is favorable for her “because No. 1 and No. 2 will fight to death, and they will try to destroy each other to get the other out of the way.” Santiago placed third getting 12 percent, the survey said. Meanwhile, Vice President Jejomar Binay topped the presidential survey with 26 percentage points, and Senator Grace Poe is second with 18 percentage points. Santiago attributed her high rank “for being around forever.” “So when people need to think of a name, they immediately think of me,” she added. However, when asked if her current ranking encouraged her to pursue the presidential position, the senator just said it will be up to her doctors if she would be allowed to do so. Earlier in December, the senator said she would first need to beat the stage four lung cancer plaguing her before she can decide on running for president. “I have to be in the best of health if I will be president of the Philippines because there are so many things that have to be done simultaneously,” she said. Santiago’s cancer was discovered last June and is now in remission.  Dramatic changes While noting that the elections is still a long way, Santiago said she expects changes in the lineup as the poll season nears. Read More …

Palace hopes Pinoys starting to develop a ‘culture of preparedness’

 News
Dec 122014
 
Palace hopes Pinoys starting to develop a ‘culture of preparedness’

Following the government’s preemptive actions to Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit), Malacañang on Saturday expressed hopes this could be the start of a “culture of preparedness.” Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said such a culture is needed in dealing with an average of 20 cyclones that pass through the country every year. “Coming off our recent experience with Ruby, we hope we’re evolving to a culture of preparedness,” she said on government-run dzRB radio. In the weekend before Ruby was projected to make landfall over Eastern Visayas, local governments in Bicol and Visayas preemptively evacuated residents in danger zones. As of Saturday morning, figures from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council showed Ruby left at least 18 dead. The Philippines earned praise from many in the international community for the preemptive actions. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations said its secretary-general Le Luong Minh cited the preemptive efforts in mitigating losses and damages. “ASEAN Chief commended Philippines for its early warning efforts and disaster preparedness plans which mitigated losses and damages,” the ASEAN said.   Minh also expressed ASEAN’s sympathy to the Philippines in the wake of Ruby – while still recovering from super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). Australia welcomed continued reports that “preparedness by local authorities has helped to limit the impact of the typhoon.” It also promised to “continue to work with the Philippine Government and international partners to support the typhoon response as required.” “Our actions tend to show we are starting to (imbibe) a culture of preparedness,” Read More …

Suspect in Iligan solon’s ambush arrested

 General
Dec 122014
 
Suspect in Iligan solon’s ambush arrested

(Updated 2:30 p.m.) A suspect in the ambush that wounded Iligan Rep. Vincent Belmonte Jr. last Thursday was arrested Saturday morning in Laguindingan town in Misamis Oriental. Police identified the suspect as Dominador Tumala, 52, of Sergio Osmeña in Zamboanga del Norte. Police received tips regarding Tumala, who did not have a consistent backstory and carried a firearm upon arrest, GMA News TV’s Balitanghali reported Saturday. He was identified as one of the suspects depicted in the artist sketches revealed by the National Bureau of Investigation on GMA’s Saksi Friday night. Balitanghali reported that witnesses confirmed Tumala’s involvement in the crime. Killed in the ambush were at least three people. Three others, including Belmonte, were wounded. Earlier, the Philippine National Police Northern Mindanao formed a special task group to probe the incident. Belmonte earlier said he believes politics could be the motive behind the ambush. —Joel Locsin and Rie Takumi/KG, GMA News

Other cities

 Economy
Dec 122014
 
Other cities

Singapore is Singapore, one might say. But a look into their Land Transport Master Plan 2013 will make us wish we had a semblance of this in our country, especially in the metropolis. After all, we tout ourselves as having surpassed other countries in the region in economic growth recently. Singapore’s population growth was higher than expected, so the city-state has embarked on a comprehensive land transport plan for its inhabitants to move around. By 2030 the city-state’s planners envision four out of five households living within a 10-minute walk from a train station. Eighty-five percent of public transport journeys less than 20 kilometers will be completed within 60 minutes. Seventy-five percent of all journeys in peak hours will be undertaken on public transport. Singaporeans have increased expectations of a better quality of life and, correspondingly, an improved travel experience. Increased demand This increased demand for transport is driven by a larger economy and a bigger population. Aware of their country’s much smaller land size, the citizens of Singapore express their views and opinions, especially those who use public transport systems every day. The government’s engagement with the people through the website “Our Singapore Conversations,” where feedback is analyzed and reviewed, results in the people’s views being incorporated into the Land Transport Authority’s policy formulation. The rail will remain the backbone of the public transport system, with more connections to the MRT network and new hubs. They will develop new bus, walkways and cycle routes. The numerous routes from the Read More …

Empowering the youth through football

 General
Dec 122014
 
Empowering the youth through football

For more than 4,500 players who trooped to the Alabang Country Club Fields in Muntinlupa to join the much-awaited 19th Alaska Football Cup, the overwhelming stint was all worth it. A total of 300 teams from different parts of the country battled not just to win the championship, but to fulfill their dreams of playing in one of the biggest football leagues in the Philippines. Alaska Football Cup remains to be one of the most prestigious sports events, and the longest-running youth football competition in the country. From only 20 teams in 1995, the annual league recently gathered teams from Metro Manila, Davao, Davao Sur, Palawan, Legaspi, Laguna, Batangas, Bukidnon, Zambales, Pampanga, Tarlac, Ilocos, Bicol, Romblon, COMVAL, Quezon, Cavite, Albay, Pangasinan, Bacolod, Iloilo, and Mindoro.  “The football cup is all about team effort. The event showcases the best players of the country, especially the children—the future of Philippine football,” says Coach Tomas Lozano, tournament director and a former player of Real Madrid. He is also the founder-director of the Makati Football School. Alaska Milk’s nationwide football summit is not only for the country’s best players but also for those who are passionate and determined to play. As the players roamed the massive football grounds — which was divided into 30 football fields to allow the teams play simultaneously, parents can be seen on their toes, watching intently. An exciting sports event Coach Mario Nañola is excited about the event as it will expose his U-16 players — the Bristol (Bristol Read More …

Miriam on VP Binay’s Pulse Asia ratings decline: Nowhere to go but down

 News
Dec 122014
 
Miriam on VP Binay’s Pulse Asia ratings decline: Nowhere to go but down

Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago on Friday said Vice President Jejomar Binay’s ratings may continue to slide down as he suffered another decline in Pulse Asia’s latest poll among probable presidential candidates. At a press briefing, Santiago said, “Bababa nang bababa ‘yan. There is no happy news for him in the near future.” In the latest Pulse Asia survey, Binay dropped five percentage points but remained on top of the list of possible presidential contenders in 2016. In the latest survey, Binay had 26 percent. He got 31 percent in the September survey; prior to that, he had 41 percent in Pulse Asia’s polls results released in June. Santiago also noted that Binay may remain on top because he continues to lead among those in the poorest Class E (with 30 percent). However, the feisty senator said members of the Class E may continue to support the Vice President “because they do not have easy access of communication.” “It takes some time for news to filter down to the masses,” she said. “Sooner or later, all of these matters will filter down to the bottom.” Binay and his son Makati City Mayor Junjun Binay Jr. are facing plunder charges in connection with the alleged overpricing of a construction of the Makati City Hall Building II in 2007. The building was bidded out when the elder Binay was Makati Mayor and Junjun was city councilor. Other allegations of graft and corruption have surfaced after the Senate conducted a probe. VP Binay has Read More …

PNoy: No failure in having loved and having been loved

 News
Dec 122014
 
PNoy: No failure in having loved and having been loved

PNoy arrives in Busan for 25th ASEAN-Korea summit. President Benigno Aquino III arrives at Gimhae Air Base in Busan, South Korea on Thursday, December 11, to join other ASEAN leaders at the 25th ASEAN-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit 2014. Also in photo is Philippine Ambassador to South Korea Raul Hernandez. Ryan Lim For President Benigno Aquino III, who is still single at 54, it is better to have loved and lost. Pressed on his love life by reporters in Busan, South Korea, the president said that it seems he will not be getting married before his term ends in 2016. “Iyon lang ang target sa buhay ko na hindi ko na sinet. Meron ako…Noong college kasi ako on or before 24. Noong lumagpas pa ng 24, saka ano ‘yon maximum of four. Minalas na ako ‘non bago ko nahanap ‘yung tama. Noong umabot ako ng 30 at lumagpas na rin ng 40, sabi ko ‘e last target ko 30 e’. Matagal na rin ‘yung 30 ngayon kung gumawa ng target hindi naman nami-meet e,” he said. The president, who will be the “witness of honor” at the wedding of Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera on Dec. 30 and who will be Senator Francis Escudero’s best man when he marries Heart Evangelista in February next year, said that his being single is not necessarily a bad thing. “Failure? Hindi naman siguro failure dahil tulad ng iba dito, ako naman ay nagmahal at minahal rin. Hindi naman puwedeng failure iyon. Hindi pa Read More …

Distributor of anti-dengue ActRx TriAct disputes DOH criticisms

 News
Dec 122014
 
Distributor of anti-dengue ActRx TriAct disputes DOH criticisms

The local distributor of the ActRx TriAct, an herbal drug that is claimed to be effective against dengue and malaria, on Friday disputed assertions made by the Health Department that the clinical trials of the drug were illegal and that the drug could have long-term harmful effects. “It is truly confusing and disheartening because the statement of DOH is founded on conjecture and has the tenor of predisposed opinions without proper verification as to the veracity of the allegations that have been hurled,” said Hexilon Alvarez, president and chief executive officer of Pampanga-based Preferred and Proven Therapies Inc. (PPTI), in an email. Alvarez said that ActRX TriAct was proven not be harmful because the US non-profit organization ActRx Foundation Inc. had secured the approvals from the US FDA, which is under the US Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS). Alvarez provided GMA News Online a copy of a certification issued by the USDHHS’ Institutional Review Board (IRB) acknowledging that it had reviewed on February 22, 2012 the ActRX Foundation Inc.’s proposed protocol for the conduct of clinical trials of “Dengue Fever Treatment with Artemesia Combination Therapy (ACTRx)”. “The ActRx Foundation Inc. proposal IORG0006761-7 Dengue Fever treatment protocol has been provisionally approved… The IRB recommends proceeding with a submission of the actual consent form to be used in the study,” the IRB certification reads. “The US Dept of Health and Human Services and FDA would not have issued the ‘go ahead’ or approval of the protocol to conduct testing on Read More …

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