Monthly Archives: September 2009

Recently, Malacanang approved Republic Act 9502, known as the Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of 2008 which not more than four years ago, enabled a mandated cap on retail prices to allow lower-income family access to these life-saving medications.

There is a bill that is progressing in Congress that many of the hospital membership may not even be aware of. This is the House Bill 6532, for House Bills 1025, 2031, 2404, 2453, 2491, 2519, 3609, 4317 and 2961 also known as “An Act Strengthening the Security of Tenure of Workers in the Private…

MANILA, Philippines – With still unresolved power problem in Visayas, Mindanao is now suffering from rotating brownouts. Government officials yesterday confirmed reports of scheduled power outages in major portions of Mindanao after several power plants in the area are currently on a “shutdown mode.”

MANILA – Filipinos are dissatisfied with how the government has responded to the global economic crisis, with a BBC World Service-commissioned survey placing their disappointment level as the third highest among 20 countries.

MANILA – Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal on Monday said he is thinking of withdrawing support from Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III after learning that the lawmaker supports the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill.

CHICAGO – SHOWER heads can deliver a face full of dangerous pathogens, according to a study published on Monday which found them to be ideal breeding grounds for bacteria.

Over the weekend, a group of 43 Filipino journalists led by editors and senior correspondents of mainstream media held a two-day conference entitled “The Frontiers of Transparency” on the occasion of the 6th Summit of the Philippine News Media at the Eugenio Lopez Center in Antipolo City.

NIGHTMARE: Those having nightmares about possible automated cheating and failure of election in May 2010 may want to pore over our technical information on the matter. No need to define “cheating” as all Filipinos of voting age know what this fact of life — the usurping of the popular will — means.

MANILA, Philippines – Overseas Filipino workers have started an online protest against the plan to impose a 5-centavo tax on every text message. At the weekly Kapihan sa Manila Hotel forum, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile vowed yesterday to block the passage of the bill.

MANILA, Philippines – The implementation of a single-tax rate for the so-called sin taxes would help minimize smuggling of imported distilled spirits, the European Commission (EU) and the European Chamber of Commerce said during a recent hearing at the House of Representatives.

COTABATO CITY: Educators in the Muslim Autonomous Region have agreed that to contribute to the attainment of lasting peace as well as economic development in the restive region of Muslim Mindanao is to strengthen the Islamic schools known as “madaris,” according to education official of the region on Monday.

A LOT of people are saying Noynoy Aquino lacks the charisma to be president. They say he doesn’t talk well. They say he doesn’t carry himself well. Some even say he doesn’t look very “presidential,” whatever that means.

A YEAR AFTER LEHMAN COLLAPSE The banking system today-a year after Lehman-remains stable. It has grown further in asset size and deposit base. It remains generally profitable as banks continue to lend, while delinquencies have stayed within manageable levels.

THE number of Filipinos in the informal sector will rise as more workers are laid off because of the economic crisis, according to pundits.

BERLIN – The global economic crisis isn’t over yet, despite positive signals from Europe’s biggest economies, the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned in comments published Saturday.

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines may lose its edge against its competitors in the business process outsourcing (BPO) due to the country’s poor showing in business surveys.

MANILA, Philippines – A private polling and political advocacy group yesterday expressed doubts on the accuracy of surveys showing Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III leading by a huge margin among the 2010 presidential aspirants.

Text to any of the the two MMDA hotlines — the name and plate number of the PUV they flagged down to 0917-5618709 for Globe users and 0920-9472116 for Smart subscribers. The MMDA would soon distribute stickers bearing the Trip Tracker hotlines to create awareness of the program among commuters and PUV drivers.

The financial markets are showing signs of normalising, with interbank money markets recovering to levels not seen since early 2008, the world’s biggest central bank body said Sunday.

The Kabataan Party-list group said yesterday it would file a bill that would junk the “no permit, no exam policy” of schools as well as other regulations imposed by colleges and universities that only contributed to the already dire situation of decreasing access to education.

Australian medical groups on Tuesday slammed state government guidelines recommending sleep-deprived doctors should drink up to six cups of coffee to remain alert during marathon shifts.

MANILA – This is the result of the first presidential survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations that includes Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. The survey was taken between Sept. 5 and 6 and was commissioned by a number of private individuals, including some members of the business community.

Flights were cancelled, diverted or delayed for hours yesterday afternoon when the power went out at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. The outage knocked out radar and communication facilities at the NAIA control tower, making takeoff and landing extremely dangerous.

MORE HOUSEHOLDS ARE NOW saving the money sent to them by relatives working abroad, a survey by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed. The quarterly survey involved 486 OFW households.

Over 200 government agencies and corporations have pledged to intensify implementation of their Moral Renewal Action Plans to boost public service and produce lasting results before President Gloria Arroyo’s term expires on June 30 next year, an official said yesterday.

MANILA, Philippines – Internet connectivity has already become the standard in many work settings, and technology has been proven to enhance productivity and growth.

LUCENA CITY, Quezon, Philippines—For the past two years, the novel “Justice on Wheels” program of the Supreme Court has helped resolve more than 2,300 criminal and civil cases filed in courts across the country, Chief Justice Reynato Puno said here on Friday.

LUCENA CITY, Quezon, Philippines—Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno expressed alarm over a sharp increase in the number of traffic accidents in the country, especially in Quezon province.