ILOILO CITY — Iloilo province’s 12 government-run hospitals, which were converted to local economic enterprises in 2011, are set to expand using P251 million of their earnings from 2015.
Apr 122016
Apr 122016
President Benigno S. Aquino III views the Clark Green City scale model during the groundbreaking ceremony of the project in Sitio Baloy, Barangay Aranguren, Capaz, Tarlac on Monday (April 11). In photo are Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson, Interior and Local Government Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento, Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) president and chief executive officer Arnel Paciano Casanova, BCDA chairperson Ma. Aurora Geotina-Garcia and Capas, Tarlac Mayor Antonio Rodriguez, Jr. (MNS photo) CAPAS, Tarlac (PNA) – President Benigno Aquino III on Monday led the groundbreaking ceremony of the Clark Green City which is set to become the country’s first green and intelligent global metropolis. The Chief Executive, in his speech, cited the economic gains of his administration which regained the confidence ”both in ourselves, and the confidence of investors here and around the globe.” He said the Clark Green City is another major expression of such confidence as it is one of the biggest ever joint undertakings between the government and the private sector. The project will cover 9,450 hectares and its development will cost around Php607 billion. It will be home to companies, retail outlets, schools, government offices, residential communities, parks, and even urban farms that are seen to accommodate an estimated 1.12 million residents and 800,000 workers. President Benigno S. Aquino III shovels dirt during the groundbreaking ceremony of Clark Green City in Sitio Baloy, Barangay Aranguren, Capaz, Tarlac on Monday (April 11). In photo are Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson, Interior Read More …
Apr 122016
By Azer N. Parrocha Taiwan’s Taitung No. 1 Hot Air Balloon called “Kid’s Hooray” MANILA, April 12 (PNA) – This year’s 2016 Lubao International Balloon Festival, which will run from April 14-17, 2016 at Lubao, Pampanga, will feature Taiwan’s Taitung No. 1 Hot Air Balloon called “Kid’s Hooray”. This was after the Taitung County Government and the Lubao International Balloon Festival Inc. (LIBF) signed a “memorandum of understanding” (MoU) to have a better collaboration to further promote hot air balloon festivals in the region. They have also invited the LIBF to join the Asia Hot Air Balloon Alliance which aims not only to promote Hot Air Balloon Festivals but also multi-destination travel in Asia. During the event, Taiwan’s Taitung County Government Tourism Department Vice-Director Wang will lead two pilots and Taitung’s “Kid’s Hooray” during the launching ceremony on April 14. “Kid’s Hooray”, which is the first ever legally registered balloon in Taiwan, was a created by five elementary students in the East Rift Valley of Taitung, Taiwan. Taitung is the third largest county in Taiwan, located in Eastern Coast and they are much known for their hot air balloons because of their strategic location. “Kid’s Hooray” serves as a good-will ambassador representing Taitung, which has already flown in countries, such as Australia, Vietnam, Canada, New Zealand and Spain. The Taitung County Government expressed confidence that participating in the LIBF would enhance Taiwan-Philippine substantial relation and people-to-people understanding. Wang noted that Taiwan’s participation in the balloon festival symbolized the friendship between Read More …
Apr 122016
Wreath-laying ceremony during the 74th Bataan Day Commemoration held at the World War II Memorial, National Mall on 08 April 2016 WASHINGTON, D.C., April 2016 – “Our veterans have rendered a service that has no equal, and one which we can only hope to repay by living up to the promise of a free and peaceful and civilized nation”, Charge d’affaires and Minister Patrick Chuasoto said in his opening remarks during the reception and symposium held in commemoration of the 74th Araw Ng Kagitingan or Day of Valor at the Romulo Hall of the Philippine Embassy on 08 April 2016. The Philippines celebrates Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) every 9th day of April to commemorate the heroism of Filipino soldiers during the day in the Second World War in 1942 when the Philippines was invaded by the Japanese forces, leading to the eventual fall of Bataan and Death March. Lt. Celestino Almeda and Private Rodolfo Panaglima, two of the remaining Filipino WWII veterans, were present during the reception and symposium held at the Romulo Hall of the Philippine Embassy on 08 April 2016 Also present during the reception were two (2) of the remaining Filipino WWII veterans, Lt. Celestino Almeda and Private Rodolfo Panaglima. Mr. Panaglima, 86, was among the youngest members of Filipino guerillas who fought the Japanese forces while Mr. Almeda, 98, was a member of the underground guerilla units during the second world war. “This year’s theme, Isabuhay ang Kagitingan, Kapayapaan ay Pagkaisahan, Kamtin ang Mithiing Kaunlaran, reminds us how peace and progress Read More …
Apr 122016
National Printing Office (NPO) personnel test run official ballots to vote-counting machines (VCMs) at National Printing Office (NPO) in Diliman, Quezon City, on Saturday (April 9, 2016). (PNA photo by Joey O. Razon) WASHINGTON, D.C. – The final testing and sealing (FTS) of COMELEC vote counting machines (VCMs) for the 2016 Philippine National Elections was held at the Romulo Hall of the Philippine Embassy on Wednesday, 06 April 2016. Consul Katrina Borja-Martin led the FTS along with Embassy personnel who took their oaths as Special Board of Election Inspectors (SBEI) and Special Ballot Reception and Custody Group (SBRCG) last 23 March 2016. The FTS checks the security and accuracy of the VCMs using test ballots, which are fed to the machines. It also checks if the count of the machines will match the manual counting done after the actual voting. The Embassy tested three (3) VCMs during the FTS, using 10 test ballots each for the 47 precincts under the Post’s jurisdiction. “The machines are in good condition, but it is very important that the voters follow the instructions about shading the ovals that correspond to the respective candidates that they want to vote for, to ensure that their votes will be read and counted by the VCMs,” Consul Borja-Martin said. “The ovals have to be fully-shaded in black ink, no check or cross marks. The votes cast should also not exceed the number of vacancies,” the Consul re-iterated. The FTS is the last preparatory step for the Overseas Voting that Read More …
Apr 122016
Candidates (l-r) Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, Sen. Chiz Escudero, Sen. Gringo Honasan, Sen. Bongbong Marcos, Rep. Leni Robredo and Sen. Antonio Trillanes III pose for a group picture at the conclusion of the #PiliPinas2016 Vice Presidential Debates at the University of Santo Tomas on Sunday.(MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – A political analyst was not surprised that Sen. Bongbong Marcos got a beating during the first televised vice-presidential debate. Ramon Casiple, Executive Director of the Institute for Election Reforms, said his impression of the debate was it focused on Marcos, but it was “worth it.” “The real issue at the vice-presidential level is Bongbong, not only because he’s leading, but because the issues being brought up—not only in the vice-presidential but also in the presidential—actually concern him.” Casiple underlined the historical connection between the present state of poverty, peace, order, and corruption to Ferdinand Marcos’ Martial Law. “There is a historical linkage between issues like poverty, peace and order, corruption. You mention those things, obligado kang pag-usapan ‘yun nangyari nung martial law,” he said. With Marcos leading the surveys, he added “the more important issue is the fitness of Bongbong for the position considering that background.” Casiple said Marcos’ solid base of loyalists are not likely to be swayed by the debate outcome. “You’re talking here of Marcos loyalists—that’s hard. You’re talking here of Ilocano vote—that’s a little bit hard. And you’re talking here of the part of the youth that had not been there during the martial law—this is the Read More …
Apr 122016
Presidential candidate Sen. Miriam Santiago (right) and vice-presidential candidate Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (left), the son of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, gesture to supporters during a campaign rally in Batac, Ilocos Norte, Tuesday, at the start of the campaign for the May 10 national elections.(MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos has taken the sole lead in the Social Weather Station’s (SWS) latest voters’ preference survey for vice president. Marcos got 26 percent in the latest survey conducted from March 30 to April 2. The survey, which had sampling error margins of ±3 points, was conducted through face-to-face interviews with 1,500 adults. Business World, which published the SWS survey, said 1,377 of the respondents are validates voters. Marcos gained a one-percent increase from SWS’ March 8 to 11 survey, where he got 25 percent. Sen. Francis Escudero fell to second place with 21 percent. He lost seven percentage points compared to the March 8 to 11 survey. Escudero was statistically tied with Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo who got 19 percent, which is 6 percent lower compared to her score in the previous survey. Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, meanwhile, got 13 percent, gaining one-percentage point from the March 8 to 11 survey. Sen. Gregorio Honasan and Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV both got five percent. Honasan had four percent and Trillanes got five percent in the previous survey. The six candidates faced off in the first and only vice presidential leg of the Commission on Elections-initiated PiliPinas Debates 2016 Read More …
Apr 122016
Liberal Party vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo (left) urges her supporters to vote for Team Daang Matuwid during a rally held at the South Cotabato Sports Complex in Koronadal City on Friday (April 1, 2016). (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – A former Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioner said the inclusion of the term “Daang Matuwid” in the names of Liberal Party (LP) bets Mar Roxas and Leni Robredo on the official ballot for the 2016 elections violates the Omnibus Election Code (OEC). Former Comelec commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal, who now serves as legal counsel of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, said candidates can only use their nicknames and not other phrases and terms such as “Daang Matuwid,” the slogan of the administration. “The OEC says the use of government funds to directly or indirectly campaign for a candidate is prohibited so if there’s billboard that has the phrase or nickname ‘Daang Matuwid,’ that’s a violation of the OEC. That has to be taken down. If you see a billboard, a streamer or other material that has the phrase ‘Daang Matuwid,’ technically, that’s violation of the law and the person can be charged with an election offense,” he said. Larrazabal made the comment amid complaints and inquiries he received after the start of the overseas absentee voting (OAV). “At the start of the OAV a lot of people contacted me, asking about the ballot face. They were wondering why ‘Daang Matuwid’ was included in the name of some candidates and asked me if Read More …
Apr 122016
Presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte celebrates his birthday with Dolores Central School students and supporters during his campaign sortie in the province of Abra on Tuesday. Mayor Duterte took time-off from campaigning to celebrate his 71st birthday privately on Monday.(MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – The camp of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on Monday expressed its gratitude after he topped the latest Social Weather Station (SWS) survey. “We are grateful that the surveys are now reflecting what we have been witnessing and experiencing on the ground,” Peter Tiu Lavina, Duterte’s spokesman, said in a statement. “The new SWS survey affirms the other surveys that have Duterte on the clear lead in the presidential race,” Lavina added. He said the informal exit polls in the overseas absentee voting also showed the overwhelming support for Duterte. “All these are the result of the campaign mounted not by just our candidate and campaign teams but most importantly by our volunteers and support groups here and abroad,” Lavina said. “We shall continue this campaign to gain even more support and be vigilant to thwart attempts to frustrate the true will of our electorate,” he added. In the SWS survey done from March 30 to April 2, Duterte overtook Sen. Grace Poe after 27 percent of respondents chose him for their bet for president. Poe, who almost consistently led previous surveys, fell to second place after getting 23 percent. (MNS)
Apr 122016
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) Grace Poe MANILA, Apr 12 (Mabuhay) — The camp of presidential aspirant Grace Poe strongly denied on Tuesday that she had met privately with President Benigno Aquino III supposedly to explore how they could “help each other” in the upcoming elections. Poe’s spokesman, Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian, said she continues to run as an independent candidate. “There is absolutely no truth to the reports that the President and Sen. Poe recently met privately,” Gatchalian said in a text message. “We must respect the fact that PNoy (Aquino’s nickname) has already made an endorsement this coming elections and though they remain friends, the good Senator is not that candidate,” he said. Aquino has endorsed the presidential bid of Liberal Party’s standard-bearer, former Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II. While she was appointed by Aquino as chair of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board in 2010, Poe decided to run against the President’s candidate in the upcoming May presidential race. “Senator Poe continues to run as an independent candidate. She will continue to forge forward with the message of Gobyernong may Puso. Gobyernong may Puso aims to pull out of poverty the more the 26 million Filipinos living in poverty,” Gatchalian said. “She firmly Read More …