TOBACCO-PRODUCING cities and municipalities still have P747.2 million remaining shares in the excise taxes collected from locally manufactured cigarettes as early as 2008.
Mar 112016
Mar 102016
President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the Philippine Air Force Change of Command and Retirement Ceremony at the Air Education and Training Command Grandstand, Fernando Air Base in Lipa City, Batangas on Wednesday (March 09). (MNS photo) SILANG, Cavite, Mar 10 (Mabuhay) – President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday told the new graduates of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) to shun corrupt acts in the coming May national and local elections. “Kung abutan kayo ng sobre kapalit ng inyong dangal, tatanggapin niyo ba? Kung pinapili kayo, bayan o sarili?” Aquino asked the graduates in his speech. “Huwag niyo sanang sayangin ang mga reporma ng nauna sa inyo,” he added. Aquino was the guest of honor at the 37th commencement exercises of the PNPA “Masundayaw” class of 2016. President Benigno S. Aquino III salutes the colors as he sing the national anthem with Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, AFP Chief-of-Staff General Hernando Iriberri, outgoing PAF Commanding General Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Delgado and newly assumed 34th PAF Commanding General Lt. Gen. Edgar Fallorina upon arrival for the PAF Change of Command and Retirement Ceremony at the AETC Grandstand, Fernando Air Base in Lipa City, Batangas on Wednesday (March 09). (MNS photo) The class name Masundayaw was derived from three words: Maisug, a Visayan word for valiant; Sundaro, a Marano word for warrior; and Dayaw, an Ilocano word for honor. During his speech, Aquino touted the procurement of modern equipment and vehicles—including 490 patrol jeeps, 247 4×4 personnel carrier, 69 light transport vehicles, Read More …
Mar 102016
— Warehouse personnel unload 2016 automated election ballots from a truck to a rented warehouse in Marcos Highway, Marikina City on Friday. The printing of 55.7 million ballots is still underway, but the Commission on Elections assured that the ballots will be ready for the May 9 national and local elections. (MNS photo) MANILA, Mar 10 (Mabuhay) – Malacanang on Thursday said it is confident that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will be able to pull off an uneventful presidential election in May amid the Supreme Court’s (SC) order for the printing of voter receipts. “We trust that the COMELEC will exert all efforts to ensure the orderly conduct of the national elections while complying with the Constitution and with the Supreme Court decision,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a text message. This was in response to Comelec chair Andres Bautista’s statement on Wednesday that the poll body might need to postpone the May 9 polls to comply with the SC ruling. The high court on Wednesday directed the Comelec to ensure that voter receipts will be printed to allow voters to verify their choices. The order granted the petition for mandamus filed by senatorial candidate Richard Gordon and his party Bagumbayan-VNP Movement Inc. Gordon and his group argued that such “physical record” would ensure a transparent and credible election. Gordon called the ruling a victory of “democracy and transparency.” However, Bautista said the printing of receipts will delay Comelec’s timeline. “We are looking at what are the Read More …
Mar 102016
Representatives of various women’s groups march to the Mendiola Peace Arch to call for equal and safer working environment for women, as part of the 105th International Women’s Day celebration on Tuesday. The groups urged candidates to include women issues as part of their election agenda.(MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Senate President Franklin Drilon wants the next administration to appoint more women in cabinet positions and other key government posts, particularly in social services. Drilon, who is seeking reelection in May, said the next president should ensure that more women would be given the chance to serve in key positions in government. “In the Philippines, I would like to see an increased participation of women in the nation’s political life, particularly in Congress,” he said when he spoke before the International Women’s Day event held in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan this Tuesday. The Senate leader noted that the present administration has already paved the way for more meaningful participation of women in the country’s political affairs, noting a significant number of women in the Aquino cabinet. “We have seen exceptional leadership from outstanding women in this administration,” he said. “I therefore urge the next President to form a gender-balanced cabinet by appointing more women.” In the Senate, Drilon noted that six of his colleagues are women, while the House of Representatives has 79 women lawmakers out of 289 members. In local government, he said, 17 of 80 governors are female, along with 11 vice-governors, 33 mayors and 21 vice-mayors. Drilon Read More …
Mar 102016
Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago greets supporters during a campaign event at the University if Perpetual Help University in Biñan, Laguna on March 1. Santiago consistently topped a number of student-led election surveys organized in major universities around the country.(MNS photo) CAVITE, Mar 10 (Mabuhay) – Presidential candidate Mar Roxas on Thursday said he is open to any lifestyle check following the call of one of his rivals, Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, to bare where their huge campaign funds come from. Santiago on Wednesday said the “scandalous amounts” her rivals have so far spent for election advertisements should prompt graft and corruption investigations. Santiago, author of the proposed Anti-Premature Campaigning Law, questioned how other presidential aspirants can afford to spend for their respective campaigns way beyond the wealth declared in their statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN). Roxas said he has nothing to hide and all his campaign expenses, including the donations, will all be documented and submitted to the Commission on Elections at the proper time. “Okay ako sa lifestyle check. Lahat ito isusubmit, bukas ito at walang itinatago, lahat malinis,” Roxas said. Santiago cited a report of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism which said that the Liberal Party bet has already spent P969 million despite a net worth of only P202 million, as indicated in his latest SALN. Roxas said his campaign expenses are coming from different sources. “May mga personal, may mga donations,” he said. Santiago also cited the expenses of other presidential bets, such as Read More …
Mar 102016
Team Galing at Puso presidential candidate Sen. Grace Poe greets supporters during an International Women’s Day celebration at Liwasang Bonifacio, Tuesday. Poe thanked her supporters and reacted to her critics after the Supreme Court ruled in favor of her presidential bid in the upcoming elections.(MNS photo) LOPEZ, Quezon (Mabuhay) — Senator Grace Poe admitted Wednesday that she felt mixed emotions after hearing that the Supreme Court has removed all legal obstacles to her presidential bid. Speaking at a mini political rally here, Poe said she was emotional upon hearing the news on the SC’s decision on Tuesday. “Naging madamdamin sa kin ‘yon, hindi dahil gusto kong magkaroon ng kapangyarihan o pwesto bilang pangulo, kung hindi dahil nais kong ipagpatuloy ang mga programa para sa ating mga kababayan na talagang makakatulong, lalo na ang mahihirap at naaapi,” she said. At the same time, Poe said she was happy that the Supreme Court sided with her. “Masaya ako dahil kinilala nila (Supreme Court) ang katotohanan na ako ay Pilipino,” she said. Voting 9-6, the Supreme Court reversed the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) decision disqualifying Poe from the 2016 presidential race. The senator is an adopted foundling from Iloilo. She migrated to the United States to finish college and start a family, and later became a naturalized American citizen. She renounced her US citizenship in 2010, before she was appointed as chairperson of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board. Poe said it must have been the wish of her late father, Read More …
Mar 102016
New research forecasts that more than 17 million hybrid electric cars will be on the roads by 2020 as “range anxiety” lessens. Brabus Zero Emission programme for the Tesla Model S.© Brabus The latest figure by Juniper Research marks a significant increase from the 12 million forecast last year, thanks to newer models that are designed to go further on a single charge and the ongoing development of public charging infrastructure models, reads the report. Analysts also ranked the top five electric car manufacturers scoring them on factors such as vehicle range, sales, infrastructure implementation, time spent on development and deployment and future innovation. Here are the top five manufacturers according to Juniper Research: 1. Tesla 2. BMW 3. Nissan 4. Chevrolet 5. Ford vs – Relaxnews
Mar 102016
Cristine Reyes (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) -– Actress Cristine Reyes finally broke her silence on the controversy involving her and Vivian Velez, her co-star in the ABS-CBN series “Tubig at Langis”. Velez has resigned from the show allegedly due to Reyes’ rudeness on the set. In a lengthy statement, Reyes narrated her version of the incident. “Last Thursday (March 3), the Executive Producer asked me if Ms. Vivian can share the dressing room with me because her assigned area was not ready to be occupied yet. I, of course, agreed. I was fine sharing a room with any of my co-stars for as long as we have mutual respect. I would not have agreed with production if I had any ill feelings towards Ms. Vivian,” she said. Things began to go sour, according to Reyes, after she and her staff came from shooting a movie. The actress claimed that Velez “made it difficult” for them to get some rest in their shared room because she was making a lot of noise. “I went out to get some air and went to where the common area for artists and production was. The EP [Executive Producer] asked me why I was there. I said it was difficult to sleep with Ms. Vivian inside the room. The EP told me not to worry because Ms. Vivian’s dressing room will soon be ready.” Reyes continued: “Some time passed and finally, the dressing room of Ms. Vivian was ready. From what I understand, she was Read More …
Mar 102016
STRONG PUBLIC and private spending are expected to spur further growth, ruling out the need for additional stimulus, monetary authorities said during their first policy meeting for the year held last month.
Mar 102016
THE DEPARTMENT of Energy (DoE) has drafted a circular that sets the “optimal utilization” of the Agus hydroelectric plants in Mindanao ahead of an expected peak in the demand for electricity during the summer months.