DAVAO CITY — The banana industry does not expect to recover this year from the 62% drop in export receipts in 2015 given the prevailing El Niño, which is expected to last until July, and following to the decline in global market prices due to competition.
Makati City Mayor Erwin “Junjun” Binay hears Mass along with his children before Senate representatives arrive to arrest him at Makati City Hall on Thursday. Mayor Binay was cited for contempt after failing to attend several hearings called by the Senate Blue Ribbon Sub-Committee regarding corruption issues in Makati. (MNS photo)binay MANILA, Mar 9 (Mabuhay) – The Sandiganbayan Third Division on Wednesday issued a hold departure order (HDO) against dismissed Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr. in connection with the cases against him over the alleged anomalous construction of the Makati City Hall Building II, division clerk of court Atty. Dennis Pulma confirmed. Pulma said aside from Binay Jr., also barred from leaving the country were 13 of his co-accused, most of them were incumbent officials of the Makati City government. The Bureau of Immigration was tasked to include the name of Binay and his co-accused in its hold departure list. The copy of the HDO has yet to be released to the media as of posting time. Binay is facing two counts of violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and six counts of falsification of public documents as defined under Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) in connection with the alleged overpriced construction of the Makati City Hall Building II also referred as the Makati parking building. Based on the information of the cases filed by the Ombudsman’s Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) last month, Read More …
President Benigno S. Aquino III with Liberal Party (LP) standard bearers Mar Roxas and Leni Robredo are greeted by supporters outside the Manila Cathedral as they walk to Commission on Election building to file their Certificate of Candidacy, Thursday, (October 15). Tomorrow, Friday, (October 16) is the deadline of filing of candidacy for the 2016 elections. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Administration standard bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II on Tuesday defended his wife, broadcaster Korina Sanchez, who has been accused of using the Department of Agriculture (DA) in alleged vote-buying. In an interview in Davao del Norte, Roxas said Sanchez’s attendance to events of the DA is a “non issue” because she is invited as a guest speaker only. “Hindi po, wala po siya during the distributions. Inaanyayahan siya na makidalo at magbigay ng mensahe. Kung nagkakataon sa kanilang schedule ay dumadalo siya,” he said. The camp of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte earlier questioned Sanchez’s presence in a recent DA event held in Tagum City, where the agency distributed around P611 million worth of agriculture funds and equipment. According to Duterte’s camp, Sanchez also joined DA officials in Kidapawan City in North Cotabato and Mexico town, Pampanga. “Korina is now an accomplice in a systematic shameless act that conditions the electorate to accept dole-outs in exchange for votes,” said Duterte’s spokesperson, Peter Laviña. Roxas said Sanchez spends private funds when she attends such events. “Hindi siya pwedeng magbiyahe at mangampanya para sa kanyang asawa? Ano ang isyu? Na siya’y Read More …
President Benigno S. Aquino III, accompanied by PNP Chief Director General Ricardo Marquez, troops the line during the 114th Police Service Anniversary at the PNP Multi-Purpose Center, Camp Crame in Quezon City on Friday August 7 with the theme: “Pambansang Pulisya: Patuloy sa Makabuluhang Paglilingkod at Makatarungang Pagpapatupad ng Batas.” The Philippine National Police celebrates the Police Service Anniversary in commemoration of the joint founding anniversaries of the Insular Constabulary established in 1901 and the Integrated National Police, organized in 1975, both forerunner organizations of the PNP. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – The Sandiganbayan Fourth Division reversed its earlier ruling denying the petition for bail of former Philippine National Police (PNP) director Geary Barias in connection with the alleged fictitious repair of PNP armored vehicles in 2007. In a ruling promulgated on March 7, released to the media on Tuesday, the Fourth Division granted the motion for reconsideration of Barias and allowed him to post bail amounting to P400,000 or P200,000 for each count of the offense. Barias was charged with two counts of malversation through falsification of public documents in connection with the alleged anomalous repair of PNP light armored vehicles in 2007 during the term of then PNP chief Avelino Razon Jr. It was in 2014 when the court denied Barias, Razon and 13 other police officials’ petition to post bail for their malversation through falsification of public documents case citing the strong evidence presented by the prosecution panel during the hearing of their bail plea. Barias, Razon Read More …
https://www.uscis.gov WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is now accepting applications for two funding opportunities under the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program. These are competitive grant opportunities for organizations that prepare permanent residents for naturalization and promote civic integration through increased knowledge of English, U.S. history and civics. The two programs will provide up to $10 million in grants for citizenship preparation programs in communities across the country. Applications are due by April 22. Through these grant opportunities, USCIS seeks to expand availability of high-quality citizenship preparation services throughout the country. The two opportunities are: Citizenship Instruction and Naturalization Application Services: This opportunity will fund up to 36 organizations which offer both citizenship instruction and naturalization application services to permanent residents. Citizenship Instruction only: This newly created grant opportunity will assist nonprofit organizations in establishing new citizenship instruction programs or expanding the quality and reach of existing citizenship instruction programs. USCIS expects to award up to 10 nonprofit organizations through this opportunity. In doing so, USCIS seeks to encourage the expansion of the existing field of citizenship instruction programs, particularly those offered by small, community-based organizations that have not previously received a grant from USCIS. USCIS expects to announce all 46 award recipients in September. Since 2009, USCIS has awarded approximately $53 million through 262 grants to organizations that have provided citizenship preparation services to more than 138,000 permanent residents in 35 states and the District of Columbia. To apply for this funding opportunity, visit www.grants.gov. USCIS encourages applicants to Read More …
THE GOVERNMENT may adopt before its term ends a policy allowing concessionaires of public-private partnership (PPP) projects to tap the capital markets, pension funds and insurance companies for refinancing.
DAVAO CITY — The Davao Regional Development Council (RDC) has proposed a P106.43-billion budget for 2017 to bankroll the programs and projects of national government agencies in the region, including government-owned and -controlled corporations and state academic institutions.
As we near the end of the first quarter of the year, most companies are also busy finalizing their audited financial statements for the financial year ending December 2015. In parallel with this and as a matter of good corporate practice, an annual stockholders’ or members’ meeting should be arranged. The Philippine Corporation Code mandates the holding of an annual stockholders or members meeting on a date fixed in the by-laws, or if not fixed, on any date in April of every year as determined by the board of directors or trustees.
The sun sets behind US Navy ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) docked at the Manila Pier in Manila on Saturday. The 7th Fleet Commander Vice Adm. Joseph Aucoin is scheduled to hold trilateral staff talks with officials from the Philippine Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force during its port stop.(MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — The government said it impounded the North Korean freighter Jin Teng being in Subic Bay Freeport based on sanction imposed by the United Nations after it carried out nuclear and ballistic missile tests. Quoting an update reports from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Undersecretary Manuel Quezon III said the Philippines has an obligation to implement UN Security Council Resolution 2270. UNSC Resolution 2270 states that North Korean vessels such as the Jin Teng are subject to asset freeze by UN member states. “So ang nangyari, ‘yung UNIO (United Nations and other International Organizations) office ng DFA coordinated with the Philippine Coast Guard,” Quezon told dzRB Radyo ng Bayan in an interview Saturday. The MV Jin Teng, a North Korean vessel carrying agricultural products, unloads cargo at the former Naval Supply Depot wharf in Subic Bay Freeport, Friday. The ship is among 31 vessels that would be affected by United Nations sanctions against North Korea for its nuclear program.(MNS photo) “Ngayon, according to this clarification, sabi ng New York permanent mission natin, ang ibig sabihin ng asset freeze is that kailangan i-impound basically ang bapor na ‘yun.” The ship will be impounded in the port and Read More …
In this photo taken on March 12, 2013, employees at the giant Solaire Resort and Casino Manila practice at gaming tables ahead of the opening on March 16, 2013. Solaire Manila Resorts is the first of four enormous entertainment venues slated to rise over a giant chunk of prime, reclaimed land that industry and government leaders expect will attract millions of cashed-up Asian tourists. ©AFP PHOTO / Jay DIRECTO MANILA (Mabuhay) – That’s a cover-up. This is how Senator Sergio Osmena III described a statement by the PAGCOR chief that investigators should “look elsewhere” regarding an alleged $100 million money laundering operation done through Philippine casinos. Osmena, author of the Anti-Money Laundering Law, took exception to the statement of PAGCOR chairman Cristino “Bong” Naguiat that casinos are the riskiest place to launder money and that investigators must look elsewhere. “I don’t know why he is saying that because that’s a cover-up. It is very easy to go into a casino and buy chips. Everybody who goes into a casino knows that,” the senator said. The senator noted that casinos do not give receipts when people buy chips from casinos. There are also no questions asked about the source of the funds. “Wala ngang resibo. Dapat meron so there is traceability,” he said. He added: “Very non-discriminating ang casinos. They don’t care where the money comes from. Just lose it in the casinos.” Naguiat explained that there are two kinds of chips – the noncash negotiable and the cash negotiable. He Read More …