Drilon files bill raising salaries of gov’t workers

 Entertainment
Jul 112016
 
Drilon files bill raising salaries of gov’t workers

By Jelly F. Musico SENATE’S CLOSING MESSAGE FOR 16th CONGRESS: Senate President Franklin M. Drilon is congratulated by his fellow senators after delivering the Senate’s closing message for the 16th Congress, which adjourned sine die during Monday’s session, June 6, 2016. A four-time Senate President, it was Drilon’s ninth time to deliver the closing message of the Senate. Those greeting Drilon, are clockwise, Senators Bam Aquino, Sonny Angara, Senate Deputy Minority Leader Tito Sotto III, along with Senators Gringo Honasan II, Antonio Trillanes IV, Koko Pimentel III, Cynthia Villar and Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano.(MNS photo) MANILA  (PNA) – Senate President Franklin M. Drilon has filed a bill that introduces a 27 percent average increase in the salary of about 1.53 million state workers over a period of three years. Senate Bill No. 13 or the Salary Standardization Law IV, which Drilon filed recently, seeks to introduce reforms in the government’s compensation system to make it competitive with the private sector, and to boost the employees’ morale and productivity. “The compensation for all civilian government personnel shall be competitive with those in the private sector doing comparable work in order to attract, retain and motivate a corps of effective, efficient, professional, committed and competent civil servants,” Drilon said. The bill mandates a three-year compensation increase for the national government’s 1.53 million and military and uniformed personnel. The bill aslo provides for a mid-year month pay bonus equivalent to a one month’s basic salary and an enhanced performance-based bonus equivalent Read More …

Groups file cases vs. Aquino, Abad over DAP

 Entertainment
Jul 112016
 
Groups file cases vs. Aquino, Abad over DAP

President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the launching of the NHCP Coffee Table Book entitled “A Sense of Nation: The Birthright of Rizal, Bonifacio and Mabini” during the commemoration of the 118th Philippine Independence Day Celebration at the Rizal National Monument, Rizal Park in Manila City on Sunday (June 12). With this year’s theme: “Kalayaan 2016: Pagkakaisa, Pag-Aambagan, Pagsulong”. Also in photo is National Historical Commission of the Philippines chairperson Dr. Maria Serena Diokno. (MNS photo) MANILA  (Mabuhay) – Several groups on Friday filed charges against former President Benigno Aquino III and former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad before the Office of the Ombudsman over the implementation of the Disbursement Acceleration Program, some parts of which were declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2014. Aquino and Abad were charged with technical malversation, usurpation of legislative powers, and graft and corruption by complainants led by Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption. “The DAP was nothing but a presidential pork taken from forced savings then realigned for pet projects of the President. It was not a stimulus program as many of the projects approved by Aquino had nothing to do with stimulating the economy,” said Zarate. This was the second criminal complaint filed against Aquino since he stepped down from power and lost immunity from suit on June 30. Last week, two relatives of the 44 police commandos killed in the 2015 Mamasapano incident filed multiple homicide charges, citing Aquino’s approval of the operation Read More …

DFA: No report of Pinoys affected in Taiwan train blast

 Entertainment
Jul 112016
 

MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Department of Foreign Affairs on Friday said there have been no reports of Filipinos injured in an explosion on a train in Taipei, Taiwan on Thursday night. In a text message, DFA spokesman Charles Jose said: “Wala rin tayong natatanggap na ulat na may kabilang na Pilipino sa mga casualties sa nangyaring pagsabog.” At least 24 people were injured in the said explosion, which happened around 10 p.m. Thursday. The blast caused a small fire and cut power inside the carriage as the train was pulling into a station at the capital, an Agence France-Presse report said. It quoted Taiwan’s premier Lin Chuan as saying that the bombing seemed to have been done by someone “with a malicious intent,” adding that the case will be investigated on. Eyewitnesses were quoted as saying they had seen a man carry a black rectangle-shaped object onto the train. Authorities were revieving surveillance footage to identify him. They also said no threats were made prior to the incident. (MNS

Breakup with Luis still hurting Angel Locsin

 Entertainment
Jul 112016
 
Breakup with Luis still hurting Angel Locsin

Angel Locsin (MNS Photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — “I’m getting there,” actress Angel Locsin said as she admitted that she has yet to move on from her failed relationship with “The Voice Kids” host Luis Manzano. Locsin, who was visibly uncomfortable with the questions about Manzano, added that she will not pretend that everything is okay between her and her former boyfriend. “Hindi ako magpapaka-plastik. Lahat naman tayong mga babae ay may prosesong ginagawa,” she said. “Pero ako naman kasi, I always want him to be happy. So kung happy siya, magiging happy na lang ako para sa kanya.” Locsin was referring to the rumors romantically linking Manzano with actress Jessy Mendiola, who had just been named the “sexiest woman” in the country. Both Manzano and Mendiola have already denied the report claiming that they are “an item.” “Kung sila hindi nagsasalita o hindi umaamin, ako pa ba magko-comment?” reasoned Locsin. (MNS)

What Alma Concepcion said on past drug use

 Entertainment
Jul 112016
 
What Alma Concepcion said on past drug use

Alma Concepcion (MNS Photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Actress Alma Concepcion said that her drug-using past should serve as a warning to younger Filipinos, in light of last month’s Closeup Forever Summer concert tragedy that killed at least five people. “I was almost there at papunta na ako sa landas na mali,” Concepcion, who was at the event in Pasay City with her 16-year-old son, said. “Hindi lahat ng tao nakakaalis tulad ko.” She added: “I don’t want my son to experience what I experienced and I don’t want any teenager to experience iyong nangyari lately. Parang, wow at may mas grabe pa pala sa nangyari sa akin.” Concepcion, a former beauty queen, was arrested in Guam for possession of shabu. She pleaded guilty to carrying .08 grams of the illegal substance on July 1998. “We should use history to make us better people. Sana iyong susunod na henerasyon, iyong mga pagkakamali namin ay wag na nilang ulitin,” she explained. Concepcion said her critics still bring up her past drug use. “Matatawa ka kasi kahit hanggang ngayon ay marami pa rin akong nae-encounter na mga tao na parang nagsasabi na wala kang karapatan magbago,” she admitted. Concepcion also vowed support for President Rodrigo Duterte’s all-out war on illegal drugs. “I’m very, very happy na magkakaroon na ng environment na hopefully magiging clean for the next generation,” said Concepcion. “The kids kasi nowadays are even proud of flaunting it [drug use]. So nakakatakot

SSS to conduct on-site services in Los Angeles

 Entertainment
Jul 112016
 
SSS to conduct on-site services in Los Angeles

Los Angeles  – The Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles is pleased to inform you that Philippine Social Security System will conduct On-Site Services to be held at the Community Hall from 25 to 28 July 2016 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The following programs will be offered by SSS during the event: Registration (new):  Issuance of SS number Reactivation (existing):  Verification of records Enrollment in Flexi-fund Program Data amendments Compliance with Annual Confirmation of Pensioners (ACOP) Program Benefit claim applications Applications for Loan Restructuring Program Social Security System

Letting go of too much discretion

 Economy
Jul 112016
 

Discretion is a power which makes someone powerful even more powerful. Administrative bodies like the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs, were given discretionary powers in order to carry out their tasks to implement laws. The grant of discretion recognizes that the agency has the knowledge, experience and specialization on a particular field to make judgments. Discretionary powers facilitate efficient implementation, upholds the law, curbs the evils the laws seek to avoid and achieves the higher interest of the State, its citizens and those who sojourn its territory, equity. However, discretion is double-edged in that it impacts negatively when it is abused, performed in manifest partiality and favored one’s own interest.

PHL, China vow no provocation as ruling looms

 Entertainment
Jul 102016
 
PHL, China vow no provocation as ruling looms

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jinhua pays a courtesy call on President Rodrigo R. Duterte at Malacañang Palace on July 7, 2016. (Presidential Photographers’ Division/PNA) MANILA  (Mabuhay) – Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. said the Philippines has committed not to make any provocative statements against China ahead of a July 12 ruling by an arbitration court hearing the two countries’ dispute over the South China Sea. “That will only serve to heighten the tension, and the important thing for us first is to wait for that decision,” Yasay said in a press briefing on Friday. Yasay said the Philippines made this commitment during the courtesy call of Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua on President Rodrigo Duterte in Malacañang on Thursday. Yasay was present in the meeting. “I am happy to announce that the Chinese ambassador had made that commitment that certainly they will not do or take any action that will undermine our friendship and undermine the interests of the Philippines as regards the disputed area. That, in sum, was what was discussed,” Yasay said. The new secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) also reiterated that Manila will study first the decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration before deciding on what to do next. “What the President conveyed to the ambassador officially was that when we receive the decision of the arbitral tribunal, we will look at it, study it before we make any definitive statement or see what particular course of action Read More …

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