1st-APLUMA NEWS SUMMARY FOR NOV. 20, 2010
Posted by unang apluma on Friday, November 19, 2010
Under: news
BROADSHEETS
PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- SC orders pipeline shut
PHILIPPINE STAR -- Foreign investors on PPP: Great start
MANILA BULLETIN -- SC stops pipeline operation
DAILY TRIBUNE -- SC issues Kalikasan writ, bars FPIC pipeline
TABLOIDS
PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- Hero home today
ABANTE -- Bird flu scare
PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- Pinas red alert na vs bird flu!
PEOPLES TONIGHT -- Will record lotto pot fall tonight?
ISSUES MONITORING
On Congress
Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. bared yesterday a package of legislation aimed at leveling the playing field for investors, boosting social services, improving the country’s fiscal health and stamping out corruption. Speaking before the joint membership meeting of the Management Association of the Philippines and Makati Business Club at the Peninsula Manila Hotel, Belmonte also said President Aquino is expected to convene the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) before the end of the month to finalize the administration’s agenda in Congress. (Philstar)
On PPP
Investors lauded yesterday the first gathering of prospective participants in the Aquino administration’s public-private partnership (PPP) program, which attracted at least 500 local and foreign fund managers. “It was well organized and well attended and filled with substance. I have never seen a Philippine government more serious about PPP,” said John Forbes, senior adviser of the Investment Climate Improvement Project of the American Chamber of Commerce. “It was a great start.”(Philstar)
On tourism
The Department of Tourism (DOT) is likely to revise its new slogan “Pilipinas Kay Ganda” amid mounting criticism. DOT Assistant Secretary Benito Bengzon said the agency is now undertaking consultation concerning the new slogan since it will likely be revised. “What is important is that the DOT is listening to all comments and we are open to suggestions,” Bengzon said, noting that the agency is still not pulling the slogan.(Philstar)
On LLDA
President Aquino yesterday asked Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) general manager Rodrigo Cabrera to explain his declaration before media that the dredging contract for Laguna de Bay would be reviewed. Aquino said he had already cancelled the dredging contract and Cabrera apparently misinformed the media about the purported review. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the President called the attention of Cabrera after he was quoted in newspaper reports Thursday that the deal is not yet off.(Philstar)
On VFA
The Legislative Oversight Committee on the Visiting Forces Agreement (LOVFA) will convene next week to review the VFA following renewed calls to abrogate the pact more than a decade since it went into effect on May 27, 1999. The hearing is set at 10 a.m. at the Pecson Room of the Senate. Sen. Loren Legarda, co-chair of the Senate panel, said the LOVFA has already gathered inputs from different sectors as a prelude to the series of public hearings that it has calendared, aimed at formulating a report to Congress on the implementation of the VFA.(Philstar)
On bird flu
The Philippines’ inter-agency council on bird flu will be reactivated after the first confirmed case of avian influenza since 2003 was reported in Hong Kong, an official of the Department of Health (DOH) said yesterday. Dr. Ed Janairo, director of DOH’s National Center for Disease Prevention and Control, said the council would have to closely monitor the situation to ensure that the country remains free from disease.(Philstar)
On pipeline
The Supreme Court yesterday temporarily stopped First Philippine Industrial Corp. (FPIC) from operating its pipeline earlier found to be leaking fuel in a residential area in Makati City. For the first time, the SC issued a “writ of Kalikasan” and temporary environmental protection order (TEPO) under its new rules on environmental cases, ordering FPIC to “cease and desist from operating the pipeline until further orders from the Court.” (Philstar)
On SSS
A group of Social Security
System (SSS) members filed yesterday a suit at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court seeking to compel the current SSS leadership to recover the huge bonuses allegedly received by former officials of the agency. Members and officers of the Philippine Social Justice Foundation (Philjust), Inc. filed a petition for mandamus and named as respondents the SSS, its president Emilio de Quiros Jr. and the Social Security Commission that manages and invests SSS excess money in common shares of stocks listed in the stock exchange.(Philstar)
On Pacquiao
Manny Pacquiao
comes home from Los Angeles today almost a week after his 12-round destruction of Mexico’s Antonio Margarito and his recognition as the only boxer in history ever to win eight world titles in as many divisions. There will be no motorcade for Pacquiao, who is scheduled to arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport at around 5:30 a.m. with his wife Jinkee, other relatives and close friends. Expected to lead the welcomers are the Pacquiao kids.(Philstar)
On RH
Malacañang and the Church began their exploratory talks yesterday on reproductive health and other social welfare issues. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda led Malacañang officials in the meeting with Bishops Socrates Villegas, Luis Antonio Tagle and Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) secretary-general Monsignor Juanito Figura. Other officials who attended the meeting with the clergy at the PMS building were Presidential Management Staff (PMS) chief Julia Abad and Health Secretary Enrique Ona.(Philstar)
PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- SC orders pipeline shut
PHILIPPINE STAR -- Foreign investors on PPP: Great start
MANILA BULLETIN -- SC stops pipeline operation
DAILY TRIBUNE -- SC issues Kalikasan writ, bars FPIC pipeline
TABLOIDS
PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- Hero home today
ABANTE -- Bird flu scare
PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- Pinas red alert na vs bird flu!
PEOPLES TONIGHT -- Will record lotto pot fall tonight?
ISSUES MONITORING
On Congress
Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. bared yesterday a package of legislation aimed at leveling the playing field for investors, boosting social services, improving the country’s fiscal health and stamping out corruption. Speaking before the joint membership meeting of the Management Association of the Philippines and Makati Business Club at the Peninsula Manila Hotel, Belmonte also said President Aquino is expected to convene the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) before the end of the month to finalize the administration’s agenda in Congress. (Philstar)
On PPP
Investors lauded yesterday the first gathering of prospective participants in the Aquino administration’s public-private partnership (PPP) program, which attracted at least 500 local and foreign fund managers. “It was well organized and well attended and filled with substance. I have never seen a Philippine government more serious about PPP,” said John Forbes, senior adviser of the Investment Climate Improvement Project of the American Chamber of Commerce. “It was a great start.”(Philstar)
On tourism
The Department of Tourism (DOT) is likely to revise its new slogan “Pilipinas Kay Ganda” amid mounting criticism. DOT Assistant Secretary Benito Bengzon said the agency is now undertaking consultation concerning the new slogan since it will likely be revised. “What is important is that the DOT is listening to all comments and we are open to suggestions,” Bengzon said, noting that the agency is still not pulling the slogan.(Philstar)
On LLDA
President Aquino yesterday asked Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) general manager Rodrigo Cabrera to explain his declaration before media that the dredging contract for Laguna de Bay would be reviewed. Aquino said he had already cancelled the dredging contract and Cabrera apparently misinformed the media about the purported review. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the President called the attention of Cabrera after he was quoted in newspaper reports Thursday that the deal is not yet off.(Philstar)
On VFA
The Legislative Oversight Committee on the Visiting Forces Agreement (LOVFA) will convene next week to review the VFA following renewed calls to abrogate the pact more than a decade since it went into effect on May 27, 1999. The hearing is set at 10 a.m. at the Pecson Room of the Senate. Sen. Loren Legarda, co-chair of the Senate panel, said the LOVFA has already gathered inputs from different sectors as a prelude to the series of public hearings that it has calendared, aimed at formulating a report to Congress on the implementation of the VFA.(Philstar)
On bird flu
The Philippines’ inter-agency council on bird flu will be reactivated after the first confirmed case of avian influenza since 2003 was reported in Hong Kong, an official of the Department of Health (DOH) said yesterday. Dr. Ed Janairo, director of DOH’s National Center for Disease Prevention and Control, said the council would have to closely monitor the situation to ensure that the country remains free from disease.(Philstar)
On pipeline
The Supreme Court yesterday temporarily stopped First Philippine Industrial Corp. (FPIC) from operating its pipeline earlier found to be leaking fuel in a residential area in Makati City. For the first time, the SC issued a “writ of Kalikasan” and temporary environmental protection order (TEPO) under its new rules on environmental cases, ordering FPIC to “cease and desist from operating the pipeline until further orders from the Court.” (Philstar)
On SSS
A group of Social Security
System (SSS) members filed yesterday a suit at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court seeking to compel the current SSS leadership to recover the huge bonuses allegedly received by former officials of the agency. Members and officers of the Philippine Social Justice Foundation (Philjust), Inc. filed a petition for mandamus and named as respondents the SSS, its president Emilio de Quiros Jr. and the Social Security Commission that manages and invests SSS excess money in common shares of stocks listed in the stock exchange.(Philstar)
On Pacquiao
Manny Pacquiao
comes home from Los Angeles today almost a week after his 12-round destruction of Mexico’s Antonio Margarito and his recognition as the only boxer in history ever to win eight world titles in as many divisions. There will be no motorcade for Pacquiao, who is scheduled to arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport at around 5:30 a.m. with his wife Jinkee, other relatives and close friends. Expected to lead the welcomers are the Pacquiao kids.(Philstar)
On RH
Malacañang and the Church began their exploratory talks yesterday on reproductive health and other social welfare issues. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda led Malacañang officials in the meeting with Bishops Socrates Villegas, Luis Antonio Tagle and Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) secretary-general Monsignor Juanito Figura. Other officials who attended the meeting with the clergy at the PMS building were Presidential Management Staff (PMS) chief Julia Abad and Health Secretary Enrique Ona.(Philstar)
In : news