Monthly Archives: October 2010

Not too many are familiar with AANI, the acronym for Agri-Aqua Network International Inc. which started in the country fifteen years ago primarily to disseminate agricultural and aqua culture technology. This is the organization that is now actively promoting organic farming in the Philippines, supplying our small and medium farm enterprises with the technology needed…

Tomorrow is 10-10-10. Whatever that implies to many Filipinos, who are more and more inclined towards the intricacies of Feng Shui, here’s wishing everyone ø more prosperous year ahead.

‘The idea of conciliation as always is “take some and give some.”. It cannot be a take all and give none.’ MY simple understanding of the secretary of labor assuming jurisdiction over a labor dispute is that this is done only when the national interest is involved.

MANILA, Philippines – Well aware of the existence of “fake” pensioners, the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) has become stricter in granting pensions to retirees and war veterans.

MANILA– Facebook and other social networking tools are being used by sex assailants in the Philippines to lure their victims, contributing to a rise in such crimes, national police said Friday.

MANILA, Philippines – The Senate committee on finance unearthed on Thursday more excessive salaries and bonuses at a government-owned and controlled corporation (GOCC). This time, it is the Philippine National Construction Corp. (PNCC) that has come under fire.

Manila was listed as one of 10 worst cities in the world to drive in. According to MSN.com, Manila along with Rome, Mumbai, Paris, Beijing, Seoul, and others were not ideal places for driving. The site told drivers to expect in Manila triple-lane changes, failure to signal, and breezing through red lights.

MANILA, Philippines—The Social Security System (SSS) may have to implement a loan penalty condonation program because of a public outcry over its sudden decision to suspend the grant of salary loans to employees of firms it has classified as “delinquent.”

President Benigno Aquino III said the administration may seek a supplemental budget from Congress for legal assistance to overseas Filipino workers (OFW), which has been reduced to just P27 million for next years instead of P100 million as required by law.

WASHINGTON (AFP) – Rich and emerging economies must dramatically change the way they trade with each other or risk throttling the global economic recovery, the International Monetary Fund warned on Wednesday.

With a 23 percent-plunge in his trust rating, former presidential son and now Ang Galing Pinoy Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo yesterday said President Aquino should start rethinking his line of governance and veer away from blaming the past administration for the country’s political and economic problems.

THE Philippines will offer 33 infrastructure projects for public-private partnership (PPP) in a road show next month, according to documents. A source from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said the indicative cost for the 33 projects would hit P314.34 billion.

A New York-based human rights watchdog said President Aquino has yet to fulfill his campaign promise to address human rights abuses and eradicate private armies, which according to the group, “jeopardizes his stated commitment to justice.”

Every opinion maker and his blog seem to be in 100 Days mode this week, even though there is no way three months and a week of governance could be the basis of a fair assessment of the six-year presidency of Benigno Aquino 3rd. But there is sound reason to go over key actions of…

Nonetheless, call-center agent Jerson Beltran, who said that he neither smokes nor uses any prohibited substances and hardly drinks (except on special occasions), stressed that having vices depends entirely on an individual’s personal choices. Another business process outsourcing (bpo) employee, who spoke on condition of anonymity, ranted on the findings, saying: “[Many] call-center workers do…

MANILA, Philippines – At least P51 billion in potential investments in bioethanol projects may be lost due to the failure of the government to assure investors that it will nurture the initially capital intensive bioethanol industry, a sugar industry leader said yesterday.

A MEMBER of the minority bloc on Wednesday said that the proposed P400-million budget allocation for contraceptives in the proposed 2011 budget of the Department of Health (DOH) could be spent for the salaries of about 3,000 medical specialists. Rep. Mitos Magsaysay of Zambales said that in the order of priorities doctors “clearly come ahead…

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Finance (DOF) said the government stands to lose P1 billion to P2 billion a year from the creation of additional economic zones and freeport zones.

MANILA, Philippines – The cities of Caloocan and Manila have recently formed councils for the protection of children. In Caloocan, the council will focus on curbing the incidence of child abuse. Mayor Enrico Echiverri said in a statement that the city government has also put up the Yakap Bata holding center to take care of…

First there was Rep. Winston Castelo (2nd district, Quezon City). Now Senators Francis Escudero and Bong Revilla too are taking up the cudgels for overcharged credit cardholders. They have filed separate bills to regulate arbitrary rates and fees charged by card companies. This, in light of several Supreme Court rulings, latest in Sept. 2009, limiting…

So many legislators are outhustling each other in resurrecting their own versions of the oft-“aborted” RH bill because it is the center of media attraction. Obviously they are riding on the perceived presidential support and the rude behavior or other “noises” created by its ignorant and misinformed backers in the streets.

EARNING while at home may sound a difficult prospect, but not for Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) Director General Joel Villanueva, who vowed on Monday to address the unemployment problem hounding the country.

THE government has launched a National Skills Registry System (SRS) to help narrow down the mismatch between a job seeker’s skills against current job availability, a common problem experienced by new graduates.

MANILA, Philippines – Vehicle sales in the first three quarters soared 35.9 percent to 129,901 units. This prompted the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. to boost its full-year sales target to 170,000-175,000 units, from the original target of 165,000 units.

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police has announced the publication of a security handbook for journalists, which contains tips on how media practitioners can detect and thwart threats against their lives.

President Benigno Simeon Aquino III has underscored the importance of the Department of Labor and Employment’s National Skills Registry System, which he said would help narrow the mismatch between an individual’s skills against current job availability, a common problem experienced by new graduates.

MANILA, Philippines – Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim yesterday directed the police to file charges possible against a woman who allegedly physically abused her 17-year-old maid, whose body bore bruises, welts, and bite marks. Lim said he was shocked when he visited the victim in her room at the Jose Abad Santos Mother and Child Hospital…

Even though U.S. public opinion of unions remains low, a new report finds that labor groups nonetheless improve the general well-being for union and non-union citizens in several industrialized countries.

Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) rejoins TUCP. PALEA President Gerry Rivera explains the origins of and developments in the long-running PALEA labor dispute with Philippine Airlines during the TUCP General Council meeting on 5 October 2010.  TUCP affiliates pledged support for PALEA’s struggle which would have long-term implications on outsourcing of the work of regular…