1ST-APLUMA NEWS SUMMARY FOR OCT. 2, 2010
Posted by unang apluma on Friday, October 1, 2010
Under: news
BROADSHEETS
PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER -- CBCP: No threat against Aquino
PHILIPPINE STAR -- 'Noynoy is President not only of Catholics'
MANILA BULLETIN -- 'Excommunication' Hit
DAILY TRIBUNE -- Noy wavering on RH bill
TABLOIDS
PEOPLE'S JOURNAL -- Church slammed
ABANTE -- Obispo nabahag; Pacquiao umalalay
ABANTE TONITE -- Inubos ng killer van
PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- Chavit kumasa kay Miriam
PEOPLE'S TONIGHT -- IIRC report out next week
ISSUES MONITORING
On Congress
Malacañang said yesterday it would be up to Congress to amend the Anti-Money Laundering Law and give it more teeth in curbing various crimes in the country, including the illegal numbers game jueteng. “But again, that is within the province of the legislative branch. We in the executive cannot do anything about it. This is again an investigation in aid of legislation. So, it will be up to the Senate Blue Ribbon committee to propose legislation if they find the present law defective,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing. The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has admitted that it was helpless in going after big-time illegal gambling operators since no criminal cases have been filed. (Philstar)
On RH bill
A leading Catholic bishop denied yesterday reports that he threatened President Aquino with excommunication if the government pushes through with the distribution of contraceptives. At Malacañang, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda yesterday said Mr. Aquino is the president of all Filipinos, not only Catholics, but also those belonging to other religions. Lacierda said for this reason, the President has to be above every religious group, including the Catholic Church. “Responsible parenthood is favorable to all members, all faiths,” Lacierda said. (Philstar)
Despite the assurance by President Aquino that he remains firm on his stand on his program of delivering free contraceptives to poor couples who want them, and even when both houses of Congress have shown strong support for the passage of the Reproductive Health bill, it appears that Aquino may already be wavering on his stated position, as Malacañang yesterday said the RH bill is not Aquino’s priority. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda told Palace reporters there is no certainty Aquino will certify the RH bill as urgent, clearly stating that this is not a priority for him, as he is focused on reviewing the Palace-reviewed Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC) report. (Tribune)
While supporters of the controversial Reproductive Health Bill are now preparing to push for the passage of the measure, a lawmaker from Davao City yesterday said that there was no need to legislate the government’s policy on population management. According to Rep. Karlo Nograles, Filipinos have always the liberty to choose how to manage their families, including the choice on the number of their children and the choice of the family planning method that they want to use. “Why do we have to legislate population management when in fact even without it, our people have always been free to do what they think is best for their family. I think it’s best that we just leave it that way and let our people choose what they want. It’s not illegal to use condom so why waste time and people’s money just to make a law that encourages the use of condom? It doesn’t make sense,” Nograles said. (Tribune)
On housing
The government would need P252 billion to address the estimated 3.6 million housing deficiency in the country, Vice President Jejomar Binay said yesterday. Binay, chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), stressed the funding would also require partnership with the private sector. At the same time, Binay assured the public that agencies under HUDCC are formulating reforms and programs that would alleviate the housing problem. At the 5th National Housing Fair, Binay announced that the HUDCC is considering reducing the six percent interest rate for loans and implementing reforms to avoid controversies, such as favoring certain developers. (Philstar)
On Presidency
Malacañang yesterday gave itself an above-passing grade and expressed confidence that the Aquino administration is on the right track as its first 100 days winds down. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the administration is focused on poverty alleviation and the eradication of corruption.“We are on track on those two levels. As you all know, we started our poverty alleviation programs. And on the eradication of corruption, we have been filing cases on a weekly basis with respect to the BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue) and the Bureau of Customs. So that is continuous,” Lacierda said. Lacierda said the gauge of an administration should not just be on the first 100 days, which for the present Palace occupants runs through Oct. 8.
On budget
Malacañang belied yesterday any political motivation in cutting the budget of the Office of the Vice President, saying all other agencies were treated the same way. Vice President Jejomar Binay has complained about Malacañang’s decision to cut his office’s annual budget from P195 million to P177 million. Binay said the budget was only enough to cover employees’ salaries and office rent, excluding services to the public. He said the budget cut was an affront to a constitutional office such as the Office of the Vice President, being the second highest office in the country.
On Trillanes
The all-mportant presidential pardon for detained Senator Antonio Trillanes IV which was reportedly being lobbied by 17 of his colleagues in the Senate remains undecided insofar as Malacañang is concerned. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda has issued his default reaction when pressed by reporters yesterday on President Benigno Aquino’s position on the amnesty grant for Trillanes and the rest of the Magdalo soldiers who figured in the Oakwood mutiny case, Fort Bonifacio standoff and Manila Peninsula siege, respectively. Lacierda, nonetheless, confirmed that there was indeed a “resolution” from the senators which was geared toward to that effect and this would be presented to Aquino. He, however, mentioned that the President, for sure, won’t make any move without due consultation from his legal advisers first.(Tribune)
On palay
As rice farmers harvest their third quarter produce, food security advocates today urged the National Food Authority (NFA) to step up its palay procurement by positioning its buying stations strategically near farm areas and not the usual where there are only one or two buying stations at the provincial centers. The Task Force Food Sovereignty (TFFS) issued this statement amid talks on the looming budget cut in rice subsidy. Arze Glipo, TFFS lead convenor, said that the proposed 2011 budget cut is an insult to farmers who are already struggling against high input cost and cheap procurement price.(Tribune)
PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER -- CBCP: No threat against Aquino
PHILIPPINE STAR -- 'Noynoy is President not only of Catholics'
MANILA BULLETIN -- 'Excommunication' Hit
DAILY TRIBUNE -- Noy wavering on RH bill
TABLOIDS
PEOPLE'S JOURNAL -- Church slammed
ABANTE -- Obispo nabahag; Pacquiao umalalay
ABANTE TONITE -- Inubos ng killer van
PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- Chavit kumasa kay Miriam
PEOPLE'S TONIGHT -- IIRC report out next week
ISSUES MONITORING
On Congress
Malacañang said yesterday it would be up to Congress to amend the Anti-Money Laundering Law and give it more teeth in curbing various crimes in the country, including the illegal numbers game jueteng. “But again, that is within the province of the legislative branch. We in the executive cannot do anything about it. This is again an investigation in aid of legislation. So, it will be up to the Senate Blue Ribbon committee to propose legislation if they find the present law defective,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing. The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has admitted that it was helpless in going after big-time illegal gambling operators since no criminal cases have been filed. (Philstar)
On RH bill
A leading Catholic bishop denied yesterday reports that he threatened President Aquino with excommunication if the government pushes through with the distribution of contraceptives. At Malacañang, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda yesterday said Mr. Aquino is the president of all Filipinos, not only Catholics, but also those belonging to other religions. Lacierda said for this reason, the President has to be above every religious group, including the Catholic Church. “Responsible parenthood is favorable to all members, all faiths,” Lacierda said. (Philstar)
Despite the assurance by President Aquino that he remains firm on his stand on his program of delivering free contraceptives to poor couples who want them, and even when both houses of Congress have shown strong support for the passage of the Reproductive Health bill, it appears that Aquino may already be wavering on his stated position, as Malacañang yesterday said the RH bill is not Aquino’s priority. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda told Palace reporters there is no certainty Aquino will certify the RH bill as urgent, clearly stating that this is not a priority for him, as he is focused on reviewing the Palace-reviewed Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC) report. (Tribune)
While supporters of the controversial Reproductive Health Bill are now preparing to push for the passage of the measure, a lawmaker from Davao City yesterday said that there was no need to legislate the government’s policy on population management. According to Rep. Karlo Nograles, Filipinos have always the liberty to choose how to manage their families, including the choice on the number of their children and the choice of the family planning method that they want to use. “Why do we have to legislate population management when in fact even without it, our people have always been free to do what they think is best for their family. I think it’s best that we just leave it that way and let our people choose what they want. It’s not illegal to use condom so why waste time and people’s money just to make a law that encourages the use of condom? It doesn’t make sense,” Nograles said. (Tribune)
On housing
The government would need P252 billion to address the estimated 3.6 million housing deficiency in the country, Vice President Jejomar Binay said yesterday. Binay, chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), stressed the funding would also require partnership with the private sector. At the same time, Binay assured the public that agencies under HUDCC are formulating reforms and programs that would alleviate the housing problem. At the 5th National Housing Fair, Binay announced that the HUDCC is considering reducing the six percent interest rate for loans and implementing reforms to avoid controversies, such as favoring certain developers. (Philstar)
On Presidency
Malacañang yesterday gave itself an above-passing grade and expressed confidence that the Aquino administration is on the right track as its first 100 days winds down. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the administration is focused on poverty alleviation and the eradication of corruption.“We are on track on those two levels. As you all know, we started our poverty alleviation programs. And on the eradication of corruption, we have been filing cases on a weekly basis with respect to the BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue) and the Bureau of Customs. So that is continuous,” Lacierda said. Lacierda said the gauge of an administration should not just be on the first 100 days, which for the present Palace occupants runs through Oct. 8.
On budget
Malacañang belied yesterday any political motivation in cutting the budget of the Office of the Vice President, saying all other agencies were treated the same way. Vice President Jejomar Binay has complained about Malacañang’s decision to cut his office’s annual budget from P195 million to P177 million. Binay said the budget was only enough to cover employees’ salaries and office rent, excluding services to the public. He said the budget cut was an affront to a constitutional office such as the Office of the Vice President, being the second highest office in the country.
On Trillanes
The all-mportant presidential pardon for detained Senator Antonio Trillanes IV which was reportedly being lobbied by 17 of his colleagues in the Senate remains undecided insofar as Malacañang is concerned. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda has issued his default reaction when pressed by reporters yesterday on President Benigno Aquino’s position on the amnesty grant for Trillanes and the rest of the Magdalo soldiers who figured in the Oakwood mutiny case, Fort Bonifacio standoff and Manila Peninsula siege, respectively. Lacierda, nonetheless, confirmed that there was indeed a “resolution” from the senators which was geared toward to that effect and this would be presented to Aquino. He, however, mentioned that the President, for sure, won’t make any move without due consultation from his legal advisers first.(Tribune)
On palay
As rice farmers harvest their third quarter produce, food security advocates today urged the National Food Authority (NFA) to step up its palay procurement by positioning its buying stations strategically near farm areas and not the usual where there are only one or two buying stations at the provincial centers. The Task Force Food Sovereignty (TFFS) issued this statement amid talks on the looming budget cut in rice subsidy. Arze Glipo, TFFS lead convenor, said that the proposed 2011 budget cut is an insult to farmers who are already struggling against high input cost and cheap procurement price.(Tribune)
In : news