Monthly Archives: May 2011

MAROON 5 VOCALIST Adam Levine recently revealed his obsession over yoga, how it helped solve his flexibility issues and how it sculpted his body. For a group here in Manila, yoga means more than just a workout. To them it is a community whose common advocacy focuses on helping people with HIV.

Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. has called on the Upper Chamber leadership to conduct an inquiry into the reported “hidden charges” in tuition and increases in miscellaneous fees being imposed by some private schools.

CALL FOR‘NEGOTIATED’ PIATCO SETTLEMENT It was a diplomatic statement from the German government in Manila, but it was clear it was not happy with the Pasay City Regional Trial Court judge’s decision on the “just compensation” awarded to the Philippine International Airport Terminal Corp. which was merely a fifth of what Piatco was seeking from…

Technical Education and Skills Development Authority chief Joel Villanueva has identified seven emerging industries which will give greater employment opportunities to vocational and technical skills graduates.

One of the biggest lies we have been made to believe is that many of our workers leave because of acute unemployment. We take the statement that about 11.3 million of our people are out of work as logically correct. Added is the fact that as of January 2011, close to 19.4 percent of our…

INVESTMENT pledges made by foreign entities fell by half in the first quarter, even as the number of jobs the commitments would generate is expected to rise, the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) said.

The Department of Justice has dismissed the complaint for syndicated and large-scale illegal recruitment, estafa and theft filed against executives of Samsung Electronics Philippines Corp. and SD Human Tech for allegedly pirating 700 workers of a Filipino manpower agency.

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Friday said that it would beef up its market monitoring operations because it expected prices of school supplies to rise with the opening of classes next week.

AFTER being tasked to manage the controversial P21.9-billion dole to some 2.3 million poorest of the poor, the Social Welfare Department is now being assigned to implement the P84-billion shelter program for some 1.2 million squatter-families.

Food self-sufficiency will preoccupy whoever is in government. In contrast with the 20th century, when food prices fell, the 21st century is expected to see food prices rise.

Negros Occidental accounts for more than 50 percent of the cases of human rights violations in Western Visayas, with policemen still the number one violators, records of the Commission on Human Rights show.

It is known in different names in different places. In Mexico where it began and has been equally successful at reducing poverty, it is Oportunidades. In Brazil, where it is even bigger, it is known as Bolsa Familia. In the Philippines, it is Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino or 4Ps.

A FEW months back, I talked with the director of the UP Veterinary Hospital to get his help to neuter some stray cats in my college.   Because my first degree was in veterinary medicine, we went into some technical discussions and I asked about the cost of ketamine, the pre-anesthetic that we used when I…

ILOILO CITY, Philippines—Labor groups are gearing for protest actions against the decision of the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board in Western Visayas to grant daily paid workers an  P12 emergency cost of living allowance of only P12.

Statement of civil society organisations in Asean to the Asean Senior Labour Officials Meeting and Labour Ministers Meeting in Penang June 23-26 2011. The civil society organisations (CSOs) in Malaysia reaffirming and echoing more than 1,300 civil society organisation delegates who had gathered in Jakarta, Indonesia between 3-5 May 2011 at the Asean Civil Society…

PNoy Aquino administration’s first year MANILA: Unemployment, a major problem promised to be solved by Philippine President Benigno Aquino III when he assumed office last June, has worsened in the first year of his administration, posing a tough challenge for him.

THE Reproductive Health and Responsible Parenthood bill is a second-rate, trying hard, copy cat—that is as far is Rep. Roilo Golez of Parañaque is concerned.

THE Technical Education and Skills Development Authority on Thursday said it will assess some 55,000 public utility vehicle drivers for government certification.

ABUSIVE private schools that continue to raise tuition fees hiding under the skirt of deregulation will be going through a wringer in aid of legislation of the Senate committee on Education, Arts and Culture.

THE Department of Finance (DOF) said on Thursday that the US government has extended a multimillion grant to fight poverty in the Philippines.

These life savers may soon need aid themselves if substandard practices continue unabated… MANILA, Philippines — Several years ago, the nursing profession was a flourishing industry and Nursing as a course was most in demand. Not anymore today.

CEBU, Philippines –  Few days ago the members of the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity in Central Visayas met to determine whether or not a supervening condition is present to warrant an increase in the minimum wage.

MANILA, Philippines – The Bangko Sental ng Pilipinas (BSP) sees inflation this month exceeding the higher end of the central bank’s three percent to five percent target on the back of the seasonal increases in school supplies due to the opening of classes in June, remaining adjustments in taxi fare, and the impact of the…

MANILA, Philippines – A party-list congressman today filed a bill, which seeks to compel customers to pay at least P5 for each plastic bag they will be using for the goods they purchased.

In taking a stand on difficult issues, it is always advisable to have an open mind and to consider all angles. The better attitude is to think that there are wiser and more intelligent people who are experts on certain fields and whose views are much respected and often cited. One of them is of…

A lawmaker opposed to the Reproductive Health (RH) bill yesterday accused advocates of trying to tamper with the number of the controversial measure to make it appear that it is was filed ahead of the Pro-Life bill — Protection of the Unborn.

Cagayan Rep. Jack Enrile said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) should be made to account on how the funds allotted for the government’s conditional cash transfer (CCT) program are being disbursed before making any increase in the project’s funding.

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines – Most state-run colleges and universities in the Caraga region have raised their tuition and other school fees, the regional office of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) said yesterday. Dr. Julius Sol Jamero, chief administrative officer of CHED-Caraga, said the recent cut in the annual budget of state-owned colleges and universities…

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines is among 20 nations “least as peace” and is still “grappling with fetters to social and economic development of its citizens.”

MANILA, Philippines – Businessmen are less buoyant as the business optimism index fell for the second straight quarter under the Aquino administration.