Duterte thanks Japan for continued support for PHL

 Entertainment
Oct 182016
 
Duterte thanks Japan for continued support for PHL

By Jelly F. Musico President Rodrigo R. Duterte meets with Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhide Ishikawa in Malacañang on Monday (Oct. 3, 2016). (MNS photo) MANILA  (PNA) – President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday thanked Japan for its continued assistance, including patrol ships, to the country. President Duterte expressed his appreciation to the Japanese people during the 115th anniversary of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), which was attended by Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhide Ishikawa at the PCG headquarters in Port Area, Manila. ”Let me start by giving our gratitude to Japanese Ambassador Ishikawa, our heartfelt thanks for giving us the ships — some are here, others are coming — and your desire to help the Philippines,” President Duterte said in his speech. The President recognized Japan as one of the biggest contributors to the Filipino people. ”In my city alone, JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) projects are abundant and it has redounded to the benefit of my countrymen over in Mindanao,” said the former Davao City mayor. ”And now that I’m the President, you continue to pour the aid that you feel you want to extend to us and again, we’d like to thank the Japanese people, your Emperor and your government,” he said. President Duterte said the Philippines needs more ships to patrol the country’s more than 7,000 islands. ”We need the ships. If you count the number of islands of about 7,000 plus, that would count to so many great miles of coastlines. It is not Read More …

DPWH completes PHP44-M flood control project for Nueva Viscaya

 Entertainment
Oct 182016
 
DPWH completes PHP44-M flood control project for Nueva Viscaya

Difficult task: Using a shovel, a Department of Public Works and Highways-National Capital Region (DPWH-NCR) worker unclogs the drainage system along Pedro Gil Street corner Osmena Highway in Manila to ease the floodwater that accumulated in the area on Tuesday (Oct. 11, 2016). (PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan) MANILA  (PNA) – A newly completed flood control project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is now benefiting residents of a rural municipality in Nueva Vizcaya. The DPWH through the Nueva Vizcaya Second District Engineering Office (NVSDEO) has completed the construction of a revetment to support to the Mangayang Bridge located at Brgy. Banganan, Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya. A 636.0 lineal meters revetment structure with a combination of gabion and granular fill embankment materials was built at a cost of PHP44 million to further strengthen the said bridge which links Aritao-Quirino Road. “The construction of the flood control project will help prevent inland flooding and protecting lives and properties of residents during heavy rains.”, said NVSDEO District Engineer Ronald P. Reyes “This project is critically important to small town communities near the rivers especially when water level in the river increases because of heavy rains,” added Reyes.

DOTr rolls out new double decker P2P buses for passengers affected by ‘no window hours’ policy

 Entertainment
Oct 182016
 
DOTr rolls out new double decker P2P buses for passengers affected by ‘no window hours’ policy

By Aerol B. Patena P2P double deck bus in EDSA: A Point-to-Point (P2P) double deck bus travels along the stretch of the EDSA Santolan southbound lane on Thursday (October 13, 2016). The bus is one of the 14 P2P buses plying the Trinoma-Makati (Glorietta 5) route which were launched in a bid to reduce travel time of commuters. (PNA photo by Avito C.Dalan) MANILA  (PNA) – The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has launched on Wednesday fourteen new double decker premium point to point (P2P) buses traversing the Trinoma-Glorietta route that will operate 24 hours from Monday to Sunday. The buses will carry passengers that will be affected by the implementation of the “no window hours” policy on private vehicles traveling along EDSA, C5, Mandaluyong, Alabang-Zapote, and Roxas Boulevard starting Oct. 17. “The P2P buses offer a convenient transportation option and designed to encourage private car owners to try public transportation,” DOTr said in a statement. Two of the buses are customized VIP units which are equipped with 52 reclining sleeper seats with monitors for latest movies, games and other entertainment apps. Its lower floor features a VIP cabin with CR, cooler, VIP sofas, conference table, and two units of 50” flatscreen TV monitors with KTV functions. The VIP double decker buses are also equipped with CCTV cameras and have passed Euro 5 emission standards. Apart from the VIP bus units, seven semi-VIP and five PWD double decker buses were also launched. The fare for the buses costs PHP55 for single Read More …

PHIBLEX can change tactics to comply with ongoing war against illegal drugs

 Entertainment
Oct 182016
 
PHIBLEX can change tactics to comply with ongoing war against illegal drugs

SOUTH CHINA SEA (Oct. 6, 2016) Members of international media observe flight operations during a tour aboard amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) as part of Philippine Amphibious Landing Exercise 33 (PHIBLEX). PHIBLEX 33 is an annual U.S.-Philippine military bilateral exercise that combines amphibious landing and live-fire training with humanitarian civic assistance efforts to strengthen interoperability and working relationships. Bonhomme Richard, flagship of the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group, is operating in support of security and stability in the Indo-Asia Pacific region. The annual exercise could’ve seen its last holding in the Philippines as President Rodrigo Duterte wants to discontinue the event during the rest of his term. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jeanette Mullinax/Released) MANILA  (PNA) – As the 33rd iteration of the Amphibious Philippine Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX) formally ended Tuesday, a ranking Filipino military official said they can change their tactics and plans to comply with President Rodrigo Duterte’s ongoing campaign against illegal drugs. “Taking off from our amphibious nature, we consistently change with the law of the situation to fullfill our duties. We stretch our scope of operations if need be, just like the current administration’s war on drugs. In ways possible, our initiatives may be reshifted to include narcotics operations while not undermining our internal security operations, territorial defense and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief,” PHIBLEX Philippine exercise director Brig. Gen. Maximo Ballesteros said. He also expressed confidence that PHIBLEX could become a platform for military operations that cater to peace Read More …

De Lima’s plan to sue Duterte won’t prosper: DOJ chief

 Entertainment
Oct 182016
 
De Lima’s plan to sue Duterte won’t prosper: DOJ chief

By Christopher Lloyd T. Caliwan Senator Leila de Lima, chair of the Committee on Justice and Human Rights, leads the inquiry on the extrajudicial killings, Monday morning.(MNS photo) MANILA  (PNA) –Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Wednesday said that the plan of Senator Leila De Lima to file a case against President Rodrigo Duterte will not prosper. “Nothing will happen on that. She will be going against a well-established doctrine. I don’t think the SC (Supreme Court) will allow that because otherwise everybody will file cases against the president that will waste his time,” Aguirre told reporters in a press conference. The DOJ chief made the statement after De Lima bared her plan to file petitions before the SC seeking the issuance of a writ of habeas data and writ of amparo that will also, in effect, test the doctrine of presidential immunity from suits. Aguirre said De Lima cannot be granted privileges under the writ of habeas data and writ of amparo. “Her life, liberty or property is not in danger so these writs don’t apply to her case,” he explained. Aguirre also shrugged off De Lima’s allegation that he is the “master of fakery”, saying the latter cannot even identify which piece of evidence against her was falsified. He added that she should stop general denials and hurling accusations back and forth. “Hindi ganyan ang pagdepensa. Isa kang magaling na abogado,” Aguirre said, adding that De Lima should explain why she should not be called Read More …

Trillanes proposes board to provide ‘credible’ foreign policy advice to President

 Entertainment
Oct 172016
 
Trillanes proposes board to provide ‘credible’ foreign policy advice to President

The Blue Ribbon Sub-Committee, chaired by Sen. Koko Pimentel, resumes its inquiry on the alleged overpricing of the 11-storey new Makati City II Parking Building, the 22-storey Makati City Hall Building and related anomalies. (MNS photo) MANILA, Oct 17 (Mabuhay) – Senator Antonio Trillanes IV has proposed the creation of an eight-member board that would provide “credible and continuous” foreign policy advice to the President. Trillanes’ Senate Bill 1141 seeks to create a Foreign Policy Advisory Board (FPAB) under the Office of the President “to provide advice and recommendations on foreign policy formulations, and ensure a system of checks and balances” with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). The FPAB shall provide a credible and continuous source of foreign policy advice, recommendation and/or insights for the President, as product of an independent data and intelligence gathering, the measure states. “This system would also ensure that foreign policy decisions and/or initiatives would be made by the President only after hearing and/or considering the perspectives, inputs and/or wise counsel not only of our career foreign service officers but also of other senior-level leaders and advisers,” Trillanes said. Trillanes’ proposal was filed amid President Rodrigo Duterte’s stance for the Philippines to pursue an independent foreign policy. DFA Secretary Perfecto Yasay, Jr. earlier said that shift in foreign policy was because “America has failed us.” The US has been a long-term ally of the Philippines. Duterte had also made controversial remarks against US President Barack Obama amid criticisms on his administration’s war against the Read More …

Taking a bypass to a tax reform

 Economy
Oct 172016
 

With the Duterte government’s aggressive pursuit of reforms to bring about a simpler, more equitable and more efficient tax system that can encourage investment, job creation and poverty reduction, the Department of Finance (DoF) recently presented its proposed Tax Policy Reform Program as of Sept. 28. The proposed tax policy packages cover several areas of the tax system such as the personal income, consumption, corporate income, property and capital income taxes.

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