Dim prospects for OFWs in 2011 By ELLSON A. QUISMORIO

Dim prospects for OFWs in 2011

By ELLSON A. QUISMORIO

January 1, 2011, 7:22pm

MANILA, Philippines — An alliance of Filipino expatriates based in Saudi Arabia said it sees “bleak job prospects” for overseas Filipino workers in 2011, mainly due to the downtrend in OFW deployment last year and labor policy changes by host countries.

“The downtrend in the deployment of OFWs is a serious concern, not only to the government, but more to the 4.6-million unemployed and underemployed Filipinos who are seriously considering to work abroad due to worsening economic condition and rising unemployment rate in the Philippines,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East (ME) regional coordinator..... MORE

Source:  Manila Bulletin

URL: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/295993/dim-prospects-ofws-2011-section-featurespecial-report

CoA asked to strictly monitor P21-billion dole-out By RIO ROSE RIBAYA

CoA asked to strictly monitor P21-billion dole-out

By RIO ROSE RIBAYA

January 1, 2011, 7:35pm

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Audit (CoA) has been asked to strictly guard the disbursement of the controversial P21-billion fund cash dole-outs to the poor under the conditional cash transfer (CCT) program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development DSWD), a legislator from Mindanao said.

Opposition lawmaker and Maguindanao Rep. Simeon Datumanong issued the call after 13 provisions in the P1.645-trillion General Appropriations Act (GAA) for 2011, including the issue governing CCT were vetoed by President Benigno S. Aquino III last week..... MORE

Source:  Manila Bulletin

URL: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/295997/coa-asked-strictly-monitor-p21billion-doleout

No Cabinet meetings in 3 months — Binay By JC BELLO RUIZ

No Cabinet meetings in 3 months — Binay

By JC BELLO RUIZ

January 1, 2011, 7:32pm

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Jejomar C. Binay said that for the past three months, the Cabinet has not conducted any formal meetings.

But even without formal meetings, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma said there is a continuing flow of information between the President and his Official Family..... MORE

Source:  Manila Bulletin

URL: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/295996/no-cabinet-meetings-3-months-binay

Knee-deep flood puts to test couple's love By AARON B. RECUENCO

Knee-deep flood puts to test couple's love

By AARON B. RECUENCO

January 1, 2011, 7:29pm

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay, Philippines — It was supposed to be just a simple tying of the knot of two ordinary lovers, but ended as a talk-of-the-town wedding when bad weather that almost cancelled the ceremony rattled everyone here that even forced local disaster officials here to send military trucks and rescue teams just to make sure that it would push through.

It did and all the credits should be given to Glenda Lorenzo who virtually moved heaven and earth on their rainy and flooded wedding day last Thursday in Albay just to attain what she and her sweetheart Ryan Cuebillas dreamed of. Glenda was trapped in a kneedeep floodwater in Casablanca Hotel several minutes before her 3 p.m. wedding day last Thursday at the Albay Cathedral, sending all the couple’s relatives and guests to panic as news of the massive flooding in Legazpi City broke out..... MORE

Source:  Manila Bulletin

URL: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/295995/kneedeep-flood-puts-test-couples-love

Russian passenger jet explodes; 3 dead, 43 injured January 2, 2011, 1:22am

Russian passenger jet explodes; 3 dead, 43 injured

January 2, 2011

MOSCOW (AP) – A Russian passenger jet carrying 124 people caught fire as it taxied down a snowy runway and then exploded at a Siberian airport on Saturday, killing three people and injuring 43, including six who were badly burned, officials said.

Most of the passengers and crew were evacuated before the explosion, though one person described a chaotic scene as panicked people rushed through flames to escape the burning plane..... MORE

Source:  Manila Bulletin

URL: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/296003/russian-passenger-jet-explodes-3-dead-43-injured

Brazil's first female president sworn in January 2, 2011

 Brazil's first female president sworn in

January 2, 2011

 

BRASILIA (AFP) – Dilma Rousseff took over as Brazil's first female president Saturday with pledges to "govern for all" and build on the policies of her hugely popular predecessor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

The 63-year-old divorced grandmother, who was Lula's former cabinet chief, assumed the presidency in a carefully staged ceremony under at times rainy skies..... MORE

Source:  Manila Bulletin

URL: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/296010/brazils-first-female-president-sworn