• 6 AUGUST - *1907 - Gen. Macario Sakay, one of the Filipino military leaders who had continued fighting the imperialist United States invaders eight years into the Ph...
    11 years ago

......................................................................................

The Daily Tribune

(Without Fear or Favor)

Specials:

Bulatlat.com

World Wildlife Fund for Nature-Philippines

The Philippines Matrix Project

US blocking Philippine bid to regulate rice imports – KMP

Sunday, February 26, 2012

US blocking Philippine bid to regulate rice imports – KMP


By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
Bulatlat.com
MANILA — The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) is outraged against what it described as the United State government’s attempts to blackmail the Philippines.

The US is standing against the petition of the Philippines to the World Trade Organization for the extension of the Quantitative Restriction (QR) on rice in retaliation over the issuance of Department of Agriculture (DA) AO 22, which provides technical requirements, such as proper labeling, in the packaging of frozen meat.

“The US’ opposition on our bid to extend the QRs on rice betrays US arrogance and underscores the need for the Philippines to withdraw from the WTO,” said KMP secretary general Danilo Ramos.

According to recent reports, the United States is opposing the Philippines’ petition for the World Trade Organization (WTO) to stop the continued entry of imported rice into the country. This was revealed to the media by Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala..... MORE

SourceBulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2012/02/25/us-blocking-philippine-bid-to-regulate-rice-imports-kmp/

Let her come forward FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 02/26/2012

Let her come forward

FRONTLINE
Ninez Cacho-Olivares
02/26/2012
It is almost certain that Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Lourdes Sereno will either face the impeachment court to testify, or submit herself to the “interrogatory” as proposed by a junior member of the Senate court and so moved by his senior comrade in arms.

What appears to have puzzled presiding officer, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, was the fact that a junior senator, Sonny Trillanes, who is not even a lawyer, proposed the interrogatory for Sereno. The interrogatory is said to be an alternative mode of gathering evidence through a written list of questions sent by the court to a witness.

It is also curious that another non-lawyer, Sen. Panfilo Lacson, moved for such an alternative mode, although the explanation of both Trillanes and Lacson was that since Justice Chief Leila de Lima testified on hearsay evidence basis, needed was Sereno to testify about what she had written in her dissenting opinion, where what she bared were allegedly “irregularities” in the issuance of the temporary restraining order (TRO) during a closed-door en banc session of the justices, which is definitely a violation of the rules covering judicial executive sessions..... MORE
SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120226com2.html

Syria holds referendum amid bloodshed



Syria holds referendum amid bloodshed

War-torn Syria is holding an unprecedented referendum on a new draft constitution on Sunday that would put an end to five decades of single-party rule. But the opposition is calling on the population to boycott the vote.

­Millions of Syrians are expected to vote on their country’s new constitution. Posters and banners calling on people to come and vote are everywhere in the capital and all around the country, RT’s Maria Finoshina reports from Damascus. For the first time in the country’s history the Interior Ministry is urging people to come and vote without actually telling them how they should vote, she says..... MORE

SourceRT.com

URL: http://rt.com/news/syria-referendum-vote-constitution-211/

Egypt tries foreign-sponsored activists despite US pressure

Egypt tries foreign-sponsored activists despite US pressure

The trial of NGO workers suspected of illegally using foreign funding and fomenting unrest starts in Cairo on Sunday. Washington is pushing Egypt to drop the charges and release the activists, 16 of whom are American citizens.

Thirteen Egyptian defendants were in the courtroom filled with hundreds of lawyers and reporters. None of the accused Americans were in court for the opening session..... MORE
SourceRT.com

URL: http://rt.com/news/egytp-ngo-trial-us-237/

Pumping arms: Pentagon’s bigger stick to beat Iran

Pumping arms: Pentagon’s bigger stick to beat Iran


Pentagon wants $100 million extra to be prepared for a war with Iran. The money, requested from the Congress, is to beef up US military presence in the Persian Gulf and rapidly upgrade weapons to more effectively combat Iranian armed forces.

US Central Command, which oversees American forces in the Gulf region, wants them prepared to defeat the Iranian fleet and shore artillery. They also want additional drone capabilities and mine swiping equipment to clear the Strait of Hormuz, should Iran act to set mines there as it threatened to, reports The Wall Street Journal..... MORE

SourceRT.com

URL: http://rt.com/news/pentagon-upgrade-persian-gulf-201/

Hepatitis C kills more in US than HIV

Hepatitis C kills more in US than HIV


Studies show that deaths from hepatitis C (HCV) infection among US adults outnumber AIDS fatalities. And while greedy pharmaceutical giants advertise new drugs that cost a fortune, Oxford dons claim success in developing anti-HCV vaccine.

­Hepatitis C virus, or HCV, causes serious liver infection which can eventually lead to fatal liver scarring (cirrhosis) and liver cancer. It usually passes with infected blood, and therefore, most people contract the disease in medical facilities through improperly sterilized medical instruments or while injecting drugs with shared needles..... MORE

SourceRT.com

URL: http://rt.com/news/hepatitis-treatment-hiv-vaccine-231/

Clear and imminent danger VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 02/26/2012

Clear and imminent danger

VIEWPOINTS
Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz
02/26/2012
\"Danger” means the reality of a threat or a hazard, a pending disaster or something ominous and sinister. The danger is said to be “clear” when it is already distinct and felt, when it is somehow now simply expected but probably even in fact experienced. Ultimately, the same danger is qualified as “imminent” when it is perceived as probably forthcoming and wherefore already impending. Though sad to take note of and think about, it is however good to face the truth that there is a clear and imminent danger poised against the People of the Philippines — taking into realistic account the composite significance and implications of but the three following signal political plus economic plus social fast building up liabilities in the country.

First and foremost, there is the gradually most noticeable propensity — akin to an obsession — of the present administration to continuously flex its muscles in demonstration of its defining resolve to acquire progressively more power and the pursuant exercise of gradually greater influence in the exercise of governance. The key sign of this fearful phenomenon is the now ongoing impeachment process precisely lodged by Malacañang. In other words, the Commander-in-Chief is manifestly flexing his muscles not only in making the Legislative function according to plan but also to eventually run the Judiciary as well. This is why there are already some people who go to the extent of saying that there are already signs of a “dictatorial” behavioral pattern on the part of the Chief Executive..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120226com6.html

Religious mutiny TABLETS OF STONE Larry Faraon, OP 02/26/2012

Religious mutiny

TABLETS OF STONE
Larry Faraon, OP
02/26/2012
The late Ferdinand Marcos was booted out of power by a military coup d’etat. President Joseph Estrada was illegally overthrown by a combined elitist force of businessmen and the so called civil society and some elements of the Church.

If guesses could be rated accurate then some guesswork could rank in higher percentages than the others. Well, rank this wild guess: That the present resident of Malacañang and his cohorts would have to go by way of a “religious mutiny.” All “guesses” are pointing to one direction on the scheduled “bible exposition” of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) on Tuesday at the Quirino Grandstand, where some two million religious warm bodies would possibly crowd to the tills the 50 hectare Rizal Park.

There are many religious groups who have claimed millions of members littering every square kilometer of Manila’s prime park, but were short in estimates. However, INC is known to deliver well on its promise, especially in mobilizing its members. They have the crowd and loyalty on their beck and call. We have witnessed this during the National Day of Prayer of Nov. 12, 2000 during the incumbency of President Estrada where over 1.5 million attended, mostly from the INC, El Shaddai and some other Christian religious groups including Muslims and Buddhists..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120226com7.html

Thin crowd, drab Noy speech mark Edsa rites By Charlie V. Manalo 02/26/2012

NO CELEBRATION WITH HIGH PRICES, ABSENCE OF CHANGE

Thin crowd, drab Noy speech mark Edsa rites

By Charlie V. Manalo 02/26/2012

A sparse crowd, failed promises and President Aquino’s uninspiring speech stood out yesterday in the 26th anniversary of the People Power revolt of 1986 where Aquino spoke more of his crusade to oust Chief Justice Renato Corona than what he intended to accomplish in terms of improving the Filipinos’ lives.

Amid the unabated oil price hike, power rate increases along with the prices of other basic commodities and the rising unemployment, nothing is there to celebrate in the 26th Anniversary of the first Edsa People Power, a militant solon said yesterday.

“Nothing is celebratory about the 26th Edsa People Power anniversary. Nothing is celebratory about incessant oil price hike, power rate hike and increases in the price of basic good and commodities, and lack of basic social services for the marginalized Filipinos,” Gabriela Rep. Emmi de Jesus said..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120226hed1.html

Pinoys warned vs working illegally in Egypt 02/26/2012

Pinoys warned vs working illegally in Egypt

02/26/2012
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has reminded Filipinos who are seeking employment in Egypt to obtain a working visa/permit prior to departure for that country.

“The public is advised not to believe recruiters who are offering tourist visas which could allegedly be converted to a work permit upon arrival in Egypt. Irregular workers, or those who do not have proper documents, do not have the same rights as regular ones and could become victims of abuse or unlawful practices. Penalties can also be imposed by the Egyptian government on all violators,” the DFA said.

It added the public is encouraged to apply through agencies accredited by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and to abide by all the rules and regulations of both the Philippines and the host country..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120226hed5.html

Flash floods destroy two houses, displace 93 families 02/26/2012

Flash floods destroy two houses, displace 93 families

02/26/2012
Two houses were destroyed and displaced 93 families by flash floods brought about by low pressure area (LPA) in Lanao del Norte province on Feb. 15, said Lyndon Calica, Lanao del Norte provincial government public information office chief.

Calica said the destroyed houses were located in Barangay Kawit Occidental, Kauswagan town. Another 11 houses also were damaged by the flash floods which hit seven barangays of Kauswagan, he added.

Affected barangays were Libertad, Tacub, Kawit Oriental, Tugar, Bagumbayan and parts of Poblacion..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120226nat4.html

Hapinoy, Xavier University light up Cagayan de Oro village with solar energy 02/26/2012

Hapinoy, Xavier University light up Cagayan de Oro village with solar energy

02/26/2012
The Hapinoy program has launched another community-oriented project in partnership with Xavier University of Cagayan de Oro City that benefited more than 500 families in the Xavier Ecoville village in the city who were among the victims of tropical storm “Sendong.” The project involved the distribution of eco-friendly solar lamps that lighted up the streets in the community.

Ecoville is a resettlement project for victims of Sendong which killed over a thousand people and destroyed billions of pesos worth of crops and property.

The lamps were provided by the Center for Agriculture and Rural Development-Business Development Services (CARD-BDS) and are powered by charging the lamp batteries with solar energy during the day..... MORE
SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120226nat6.html

‘Bistek’ warns owners of industries, comm’l firms vs violating clean water law 02/26/2012

‘Bistek’ warns owners of industries, comm’l firms vs violating clean water law

02/26/2012
The Quezon City government has vowed to impose stronger punitive actions on owners of industries and commercial establishments whose business operations are potential sources of water pollution.

This was declared by Mayor Herbert “Bistek” Bautista as he emerged from a conference hosted by the city’s Environmental Protection and Waste Management Department (EPWMD) held at the Philippine Social Science Center on Proper Wastewater Disposal for a Healthy Business Environment.

He called on the business sector in the city to comply with the provisions of Republic Act 9275 or the Clean Water Act, particularly the requirement that establishment owners must install waste treatment facilities..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120226met3.html

Fires hit Tondo, Navotas City; 10-year-old boy dies, 20 hurt By Pat C. Santos and Arlie Calalo 02/26/2012

Fires hit Tondo, Navotas City; 10-year-old boy dies, 20 hurt

By Pat C. Santos and Arlie Calalo 02/26/2012
A 10-year-old boy died while 20 others were injured in fires that hit Tondo, Manila and Navotas City yesterday.

Fire authorities identified the boy who perished in the Tondo fire as John Stephen Lesigue whose body was found inside a comfort room and the injured as John Kennedy, John’s twin brother, and his elder brother Fredlyn, 12, who both sustained serious injuries during the incident.

Investigation showed the fire started at 4 a.m. from a residential house on Herbosa Street in Tondo..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120226met1.html

Blog Archive