1ST-APLUMA NEWS SUMMARY FOR NOV. 1, 2010
Posted by unang apluma on Sunday, October 31, 2010
Under: news
BROADSHEETS
PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- Woman held in terror plot
PHIL. STAR -- No US objections to review of VFA
MANILA BULLETIN -- More Trips for Aquino
DAILY TRIBUNE -- Senate to ax body managing road tax
TABLOIDS
PEOPLE'S JOURNAL -- Respect the dead -- Miriam
PEOPLE'S TONIGHT -- FM urges Yuletide ceasefire with rebs
PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- Balik-eskwela na sa Nov. 2
ABANTE -- MRT ghost riders
ISSUES MONITORING
On Congress
The Commission on Audit (COA) has found the allowances of Senate executives “unwarranted,” but Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile came to their defense. The COA report for last year detailed the salaries and allowances of executives and officers of government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) and national government agencies, which the state auditors said were uncalled for. The COA report also cited the salaries and allowances of Senate secretary Emma Lirio Reyes, Senate deputy secretary for administration and finance Arnel Jose Banas, and the Senate’s sergeant-at-arms, retired general Jose Balajadia. (Philstar)
On VFA
The US government has no objections to a Philippine review of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), according to Washington’s top diplomat in Manila. But once the Philippine government “comes to an opinion” on the VFA or some of its provisions, “we need to be consulted,” US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. told The STAR last Friday night. “The review and the comments point to the vitality of Philippine democracy. We have no objections to a review,” Thomas said even as he stressed the importance of the VFA to bilateral cooperation. (Philstar)
On terror plot
The military is taking seriously reports about the terrorist plots aimed at the United States and vows to be vigilant against lawless elements that pose threats to the country’s security. Malacañang, for its part, said yesterday that Philippine authorities were monitoring the developments on the thwarted US terror plot and gave assurance that the Philippines is safe. President Aquino, who arrived last night from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Vietnam, said, “This is a very disturbing development (because the bombs are sent through mail). We have a heightened alert level even before this incident because of the bus bombing in Cotabato. We have already heightened the security alert after identifying the problems.” (Philstar)
On bar exams blast
Victims in the grenade explosion at the conclusion of this year’s Bar exams in Manila last September could have not been the actual target, an investigator said. An official of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) privy to follow-up operations revealed that they have received information that the suspect lobbed the MK2-type grenade at the wrong group in the crowd on Taft Avenue. “It was accidental in the sense that those who sustained several levels of injuries from the explosion were not really the target,” the source told The STAR over the phone yesterday. (Philstar)
On SWS survey
A recent survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) found more Filipinos are expecting their lives to improve in the next 12 months. The Third Quarter Social Weather Survey, conducted from Sept. 24 to 27, showed 38 percent of Filipino adults expecting their personal quality of life to improve in the next 12 months and only six percent expect it to get worse, for a “very high” net personal optimism score of +32. The new figure was close to the record-high +36 in the previous quarter, the SWS said.
On new appointees
President Aquino has appointed the wife of House Deputy Speaker and Northern Samar Rep. Raul Daza, a Liberal Party stalwart, as board member of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), Malacañang announced yesterday. Teresita Daza, together with Francia Conrado, now belongs to the newly constituted board of the MTRCB now chaired by Grace Poe-Llamanzares. Mrs. Daza was president of the Congressional Spouses Foundation Inc. and a previous member of the MTRCB board from 1998 to 2004. (Philstar)
On DPWH
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will spend a big chunk of its P90.915-billion proposed budget for 2011 on the improvement of national roads, officials said yesterday. Secretary Rogelio Singson said the DPWH would spend close to P65 billion of its 2011 budget for the improvement and development of national thoroughfares rather than the construction of local roads. Singson said the Aquino administration has given priority to improve national roads.
On Road Board
Sen. Franklin Drilon has proposed the abolishment of the Road Board amid allegations that the proceeds from the road user’s tax fall to corruption. The board, which oversees the use of the road user’s tax, has exclusive jurisdiction over projects funded by the proceeds of the levy, also known as the motor vehicle user’s charge (MVUC). “We have heard horror stories regarding the use of MVUC. The problem is the board is the one who determines what the projects are. We cannot help but raise eyebrows when you look at the usage of MVUC,” said Drilon, chair of the Senate finance committee. Drilon also questioned the board’s authority to appropriate public funds because only Congress can appropriate public funds. (Philstar)
On new jobs
More commercial establishments in Metro Manila are hiring workers, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported yesterday. Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the employment rate in large enterprises in Metro Manila grew 2.86 percent in the second quarter of the year from -0.88 percent in the first quarter. DOLE surveyed 600 firms in Metro Manila to determine the growth rate of employment. The quarterly survey showed that hiring in Metro Manila rose 13.52 percent in the second quarter from 10.23 percent in the first quarter of the year. (Philstar)
On delayed compensation
Public school teachers are disappointed at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) because of the delayed release of compensation for their service in the Oct. 25 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections. Because of this, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), a federation of public and private school teachers’ associations nationwide, demanded the resignation of Comelec Chairman Jose Melo. “He should resign for delicadeza because he has shown that he cannot manage a simple barangay and SK elections just months after a national elections,” said ACT secretary-general France Castro.(Philstar)
PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- Woman held in terror plot
PHIL. STAR -- No US objections to review of VFA
MANILA BULLETIN -- More Trips for Aquino
DAILY TRIBUNE -- Senate to ax body managing road tax
TABLOIDS
PEOPLE'S JOURNAL -- Respect the dead -- Miriam
PEOPLE'S TONIGHT -- FM urges Yuletide ceasefire with rebs
PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- Balik-eskwela na sa Nov. 2
ABANTE -- MRT ghost riders
ISSUES MONITORING
On Congress
The Commission on Audit (COA) has found the allowances of Senate executives “unwarranted,” but Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile came to their defense. The COA report for last year detailed the salaries and allowances of executives and officers of government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) and national government agencies, which the state auditors said were uncalled for. The COA report also cited the salaries and allowances of Senate secretary Emma Lirio Reyes, Senate deputy secretary for administration and finance Arnel Jose Banas, and the Senate’s sergeant-at-arms, retired general Jose Balajadia. (Philstar)
On VFA
The US government has no objections to a Philippine review of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), according to Washington’s top diplomat in Manila. But once the Philippine government “comes to an opinion” on the VFA or some of its provisions, “we need to be consulted,” US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. told The STAR last Friday night. “The review and the comments point to the vitality of Philippine democracy. We have no objections to a review,” Thomas said even as he stressed the importance of the VFA to bilateral cooperation. (Philstar)
On terror plot
The military is taking seriously reports about the terrorist plots aimed at the United States and vows to be vigilant against lawless elements that pose threats to the country’s security. Malacañang, for its part, said yesterday that Philippine authorities were monitoring the developments on the thwarted US terror plot and gave assurance that the Philippines is safe. President Aquino, who arrived last night from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Vietnam, said, “This is a very disturbing development (because the bombs are sent through mail). We have a heightened alert level even before this incident because of the bus bombing in Cotabato. We have already heightened the security alert after identifying the problems.” (Philstar)
On bar exams blast
Victims in the grenade explosion at the conclusion of this year’s Bar exams in Manila last September could have not been the actual target, an investigator said. An official of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) privy to follow-up operations revealed that they have received information that the suspect lobbed the MK2-type grenade at the wrong group in the crowd on Taft Avenue. “It was accidental in the sense that those who sustained several levels of injuries from the explosion were not really the target,” the source told The STAR over the phone yesterday. (Philstar)
On SWS survey
A recent survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) found more Filipinos are expecting their lives to improve in the next 12 months. The Third Quarter Social Weather Survey, conducted from Sept. 24 to 27, showed 38 percent of Filipino adults expecting their personal quality of life to improve in the next 12 months and only six percent expect it to get worse, for a “very high” net personal optimism score of +32. The new figure was close to the record-high +36 in the previous quarter, the SWS said.
On new appointees
President Aquino has appointed the wife of House Deputy Speaker and Northern Samar Rep. Raul Daza, a Liberal Party stalwart, as board member of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), Malacañang announced yesterday. Teresita Daza, together with Francia Conrado, now belongs to the newly constituted board of the MTRCB now chaired by Grace Poe-Llamanzares. Mrs. Daza was president of the Congressional Spouses Foundation Inc. and a previous member of the MTRCB board from 1998 to 2004. (Philstar)
On DPWH
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will spend a big chunk of its P90.915-billion proposed budget for 2011 on the improvement of national roads, officials said yesterday. Secretary Rogelio Singson said the DPWH would spend close to P65 billion of its 2011 budget for the improvement and development of national thoroughfares rather than the construction of local roads. Singson said the Aquino administration has given priority to improve national roads.
On Road Board
Sen. Franklin Drilon has proposed the abolishment of the Road Board amid allegations that the proceeds from the road user’s tax fall to corruption. The board, which oversees the use of the road user’s tax, has exclusive jurisdiction over projects funded by the proceeds of the levy, also known as the motor vehicle user’s charge (MVUC). “We have heard horror stories regarding the use of MVUC. The problem is the board is the one who determines what the projects are. We cannot help but raise eyebrows when you look at the usage of MVUC,” said Drilon, chair of the Senate finance committee. Drilon also questioned the board’s authority to appropriate public funds because only Congress can appropriate public funds. (Philstar)
On new jobs
More commercial establishments in Metro Manila are hiring workers, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported yesterday. Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the employment rate in large enterprises in Metro Manila grew 2.86 percent in the second quarter of the year from -0.88 percent in the first quarter. DOLE surveyed 600 firms in Metro Manila to determine the growth rate of employment. The quarterly survey showed that hiring in Metro Manila rose 13.52 percent in the second quarter from 10.23 percent in the first quarter of the year. (Philstar)
On delayed compensation
Public school teachers are disappointed at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) because of the delayed release of compensation for their service in the Oct. 25 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections. Because of this, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), a federation of public and private school teachers’ associations nationwide, demanded the resignation of Comelec Chairman Jose Melo. “He should resign for delicadeza because he has shown that he cannot manage a simple barangay and SK elections just months after a national elections,” said ACT secretary-general France Castro.(Philstar)
In : news