More Pinoys approved, trusted VP Binay than PNoy in Q4 of 2013 – Pulse Asia

 Entertainment
Jan 152014
 
More Pinoys approved, trusted VP Binay than PNoy in Q4 of 2013 – Pulse Asia

Vice President Jejomar Binay (right), Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez and Councilor Cristina Romualdez discuss the construction of 400 houses in Tacloban City and another 200 houses in Palo, Leyte for the victims of typhoon “Yolanda” after the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement Thursday at the Office of Vice President Jejomar Binay at the Coconut Palace, Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex in Pasay City on Thursday (Jan. 9, 2014). (MNS photo) MANILA  (Mabuhay) – More Filipinos approved and trusted Vice President Jejomar Binay than President Benigno Aquino III during the last quarter of 2013, according to a recent Pulse Asia survey. The survey, conducted from December 8 to 15, 2013, showed both Aquino and Binay registering majority approval and trust ratings. However, Aquino’s ratings declined while Binay’s went up. Aquino’s approval rating went down from 79 in September to 73 in December, while his trust rating plunged from 76 in September to 74 in December. Binay, on the other hand, got an approval rating of 80 in December, which was up three notches from 77 in September. His trust rating also went up to 77 in December from 74 in September. Malacañang has yet to comment on the latest survey, but in an earlier interview, Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. said that it is not “appropriate” to compare the two. “The magnitude and depth of the President’s responsibilities are of a higher and different order from those of the Vice President,” he said. “It must Read More …

More Pinoys approved, trusted VP Binay than PNoy in Q4 of 2013 — Pulse Asia

 News
Jan 122014
 
More Pinoys approved, trusted VP Binay than PNoy in Q4 of 2013 — Pulse Asia

More Filipinos approved and trusted Vice President Jejomar Binay than President Benigno Aquino III during the last quarter of 2013, according to a recent Pulse Asia survey. The survey, conducted from December 8 to 15, 2013, showed both Aquino and Binay registering majority approval and trust ratings. However, Aquino’s ratings declined while Binay’s went up. Aquino’s approval rating went down from 79 in September to 73 in December, while his trust rating plunged from 76 in September to 74 in December. Binay, on the other hand, got an approval rating of 80 in December, which was up three notches from 77 in September. His trust rating also went up to 77 in December from 74 in September. Malacañang has yet to comment on the latest survey, but in an earlier interview, Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. told GMA News Online that it is not “appropriate” to compare the two. “The magnitude and depth of the President’s responsibilities are of a higher and different order from those of the Vice President,” he said. “It must also be pointed out that the incumbent Vice President is a member of the President’s Cabinet and therefore shares in the responsibilities of carrying out the Philippine Development Plan,” Coloma added. Other officials Meanwhile, Senate President Franklin Drilon’s approval rating further went down to 43 from September’s 50 while his trust ratings plunged from 46 in September to 40 in December. In September, the pork barrel scam had adversely affected the public perception of Read More …

Efforts being made to address problem on unburied Yolanda victims – Palace

 News
Jan 022014
 
Efforts being made to address problem on unburied Yolanda victims – Palace

The government is doubling its efforts to address the problem on unburied victims of Typhoon Yolanda, which is said to be numbering about 1,400, a Malacañang official said Thursday. At a press briefing, Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. quoted Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery Sec. Panfilo Lacson as saying that national government agencies are “working closely” with the Tacloban City government to “speed up” the burial of the bodies. Lacson specifically said the Department of Health has already sent 1,500 body bags and protective kits for personnel in charge of the burial. On the other hand, the Department of Public Works and Highways has sent additional backhoes and payloaders while the National Bureau of Investigation has redeployed its forensic team on the ground. “So ginagawa na po ito sa pamamagitan ng puspusang pagtutulungan ng DOH, NBI, DPWH at kanilang pakikipag-ugnayan sa Tacloban City government,” said Coloma. Agence France-Presse earlier reported that about 1,400 rotting corpses in black body bags are laying on a muddy open field in Tacloban in Leyte province, more than a month after super typhoon Yolanda hit central Philippines on Nov. 8. Coloma said there was a delay in their burial because of problems in the procedure in identifying the bodies. He explained it was taking longer because they were following the INTERPOL way of identifying cadavers, which he said was designed for victims of crimes and therefore takes longer. “So they threshed it out… kung paano makakapag-comply doon and at the same time Read More …

Aquino signs P2.265-T ‘pork-less’ budget for 2014

 Entertainment
Dec 262013
 
Aquino signs P2.265-T ‘pork-less’ budget for 2014

President Benigno S. Aquino III signs into law Republic Act No. 10633, the Php 2.265-trillion General Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2014, in a ceremony at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Friday (December 20). Witnessing the ceremony are Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. and Representatives Pangalian Balindong, Maria Zenaida Angping, Cesar Sarmiento and Emil Ong. (MNS photo) MANILA  (Mabuhay) – With more than a week before the end of the year, President Benigno Aquino III on Friday signed the P2.265-trillion budget for 2014 sans the controversial Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). At a ceremony in Malacañang, Aquino signed the 2014 General Appropriations Act, which is 13 percent or P258.7 billion higher than the current year’s budget. Of the P2.265-trillion budget, 37.2 percent (P841.8 billion) will go to social services; 26.2 percent (P593.1 billion) to economic services; 16.7 percent (P377.6 billion) to debt burden; 16 percent (P362.6 billion) to general public services; and 4 percent (P89.5 billion) to defense. The 2014 budget is supposed to be free of PDAF, which has been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, although budget watchdogs claimed discretionary funds were not completely removed from it. According to the Department of Budget and Management, most of the P25.2 billion originally allocated for PDAF have been “rechanneled” to the regular programs and projects of agencies, especially those needed for response to recent disasters. In a statement on Friday, Senate President Franklin Drilon commended the “speedy” approval of the budget, saying this will “translate to the timely Read More …

PNoy awards soldiers for service during calamities, Zambo crisis

 News
Dec 192013
 
PNoy awards soldiers for service during calamities, Zambo crisis

President Benigno Aquino III on Friday personally awarded soldiers for their role in peacekeeping and disaster relief efforts during the Bohol earthquake and Typhoon Yolanda. Attending the 78th founding anniversary of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Camp Aguinaldo, Aquino led the conferment of awards to 53 individuals, including 49 soldiers, two civilian employees, and two ROTC cadets.   Aquino is commander-in-chief of the military.   Last month, Aquino also led the awarding of at least 18 soldiers who fought during the Zamboanga crisis. Earlier, the AFP said the 2,473 soldiers who participated in the Zamboanga crisis either in administrative or combat capacity are all set to receive an award “commensurate to their bravery in combat and valuable service rendered in operations.” — Kimberly Jane Tan/RSJ, GMA News

PNoy expects rehab effort in Yolanda-hit areas finished by 2017

 News
Dec 172013
 
PNoy expects rehab effort in Yolanda-hit areas finished by 2017

President Benigno Aquino expects the reconstruction and rebuilding efforts in areas affected by Typhoon Yolanda to be finished by 2017. “Larger investments will be spread over multiple years and will be completed by 2017 if not earlier,” Aquino said in his speech on Wednesday at the briefing for Philippine development partners on reconstruction assistance on Yolanda. He said the rebuilding and repair of infrastructures and construction of temporary houses for the typhoon victims will be done by December 2014. On the other hand, rehabilitation czar Panfilo Lacson said bunkhouses are being prioritized to make it easier for the people to organize their lives. “How can the people engage in livelihood activities or income-generating activities kung walang shelter,” Lacson said. On Monday, Lacson said he is aiming to rehabilitate areas hit by Yolanda within the next three years, or before President Aquino’s term ends in 2016. That wish flies in the face of what some experts are saying will be at least a ten-year process akin to “rebuilding a country.” — Amita O. Legaspi /LBG, GMA News

Tacloban mayor: No help from national govt in Yolanda's aftermath

 News
Dec 082013
 
Tacloban mayor: No help from national govt in Yolanda's aftermath

Tacloban mayor recounts Yolanda ordeal at Congressional hearing. At a Congressional oversight committee hearing on PHL disaster management law at the Senate on Monday, December 9, Tacloban City Mayor Alfredo Romualdez becomes emotional as he recounts his ordeal when Typhoon Yolanda hit Tacloban on November 8. At right is Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez. Benjie Castro Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez decried Monday how the national government supposedly did not help his local government unit in rescue and security efforts in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). During a post-disaster assessment at the Senate, Romualdez said he asked for additional security personnel from the national government a day after Yolanda’s landfall, but Interior Secretary Mar Roxas did not grant his request. Romualdez said Roxas instead asked him to write a letter that the local government could no longer function and that the national government should step in. “Secretary Roxas said we should legalize everything… He told me we have to be very careful because you are a Romualdez and the President is an Aquino,” Romualdez said. The mayor said he practically “begged” national officials for help, but to no avail. “I could not understand why I could not get help from national government… Kung kaya ng police at military na ma-secure ang President, bakit ‘di kami nabigyan ng security para ma-secure ang siyudad?” Romualdez said. Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, who was presiding over the post-disaster assessment, said the committee wants to hear Roxas’ side on the matter next hearing. Close Read More …

UN probes ‘Yolanda’ aid to Philippines

 News
Dec 082013
 
UN probes ‘Yolanda’ aid to Philippines

Associated Press 9:07 am | Monday, December 9th, 2013 United Nations Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Valerie Amos. AP FILE PHOTO CANBERRA, Australia – The United Nations humanitarian chief said she is investigating reports that aid has yet to reach remote parts of the Philippines a month after a devastating typhoon. Valerie Amos, who is in Australia for aid talks with the government, said on Monday that she is still hearing “worrying reports in the media … where people said they hadn’t received any aid as yet.” Typhoon”Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan)  and its tsunami-like storm surge plowed through coastal areas of the Philippines on Nov. 8, leaving over 5,700 dead. Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in the Philippines. Tags: aid , Haiyan , Philippines , Typhoon , UN , Valerie Amos , Yolanda Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s day desk. Believe this article violates journalistic ethics? Contact the Inquirer’s Reader’s Advocate. Or write The Readers’ Advocate: c/o Philippine Daily Inquirer Chino Roces Avenue corner Yague and Mascardo Streets, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines Or fax nos. +63 2 8974793 to 94

Miriam: Lacson, Enrile have 'relationship with feelings'

 News
Dec 042013
 
Miriam: Lacson, Enrile have 'relationship with feelings'

Miriam rages at Enrile, calls him ‘womanizer’. Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago challenges Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile (seated in lower left) to a televised debate on the PDAF scam, after calling him a litany of names. The elder statesman seemed unfazed, as he was seen on television fiddling with his tablet computer while his mortal enemy declaimed. Benjie Castro Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago on Wednesday did not spare former Senator Panfilo Lacson from her strongly-worded privilege speech against Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce-Enrile. Santiago said Enrile has “a relationship with feelings” with Lacson, whom she also called as the opposition leader’s “attack dog.” Asked to comment on Santiago’s remarks, Lacson said he “won’t waste time on rubbish.” Santiago further accused Enrile of coddling Lacson when the latter became a fugitive from justice in 2010. “Many believe that Enrile provided safe haven to Lacson in Cagayan. That is why these two men are so close,” Santiago said. She further said that Lacson got recently appointed as rehabilitation czar “to abort the endless stream of his self-serving press releases whenever there is a vacancy.” Over the weekend, Lacson confirmed that he will head efforts to rebuild communities destroyed by Typhoon Yolanda. During his Senate stint, Lacson also engaged in a word war with Santiago, calling her a hypocrite and a “crusading crook.” Santiago, in return, threatened to expose Lacson’s sexuality.  — ELR, GMA News

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