• 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

Anti-subsidy Noy EDITORIAL 09/11/2011

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Anti-subsidy Noy

EDITORIAL
Click to enlarge
09/11/2011
When Noynoy took over the presidency and gave a pledge to consider all Filipinos his “boss,” among his first statements, ironically, was a pledge to remove all subsidies on government-ran utility services, including power and mass transit services.

By making an example of the policy of Gloria to throw financial support, or subsidies in other forms, to artificially reduce the pricing of politically-volatile utility services, a practice that was, however, used as her survival ploy, was the prime consideration and not public welfare, Noynoy insisted that subsidies are part of the past crooked ways.

He made a case about Gloria placing a cap on the collection of the reviled purchased power adjustment which are the charges independent power producers (IPPs) impose on state firm National Power Corp. (Napocor) as a result of the burdensome contracts that former President Fidel Ramos signed that included the so-called take or pay provision which guaranteed government payments whether or not the IPP plants supply electricity.

The capping of the charges resulted, however, in the piling up of the deferred payments that up to now makes up a substantial part of monthly electricity bills making electricity charges among the highest in the world..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110911com1.html

Stupid logic FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 09/11/2011

Stupid logic

FRONTLINE
Ninez Cacho-Olivares
09/11/2011
Noynoy is really a different kettle of fish. Either that, or he really does not know anything about governing and governance, nor, for that matter does he not seem to care about people — only his own, such as his now infamous KKK (kaibigan, kaklase, kabarilan) and the usual business groups on whom he puts so much store, not to mention his vindictiveness that he can’t shake off.

Just the other day, during a provincial sortie, he blasted those who criticized those who pointed out that one of the major reasons the economy slowed to some 3.4 percent in the second quarter, was the government’s underspending that led to a pitiful slowdown of economic activity in the country.

Noy said he would rather underspend than go ahead with all the anomolous and crooked contracts entered into by his predecessor.

He will find out soon enough that the contracts he and his administration enter into will also be found irregular and crooked. Just give it time. Even his claimed sainted mother, Cory Aquino, certainly entered into a lot of irregular and crooked contracts in her time..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110911com2.html

Danes set to end far-right influence on politics focus 09/11/2011

Danes set to end far-right influence on politics

focus

09/11/2011
COPENHAGEN — Danes look set to bring a new center-left coalition to power in a Sept. 15 general election, a move that would spell the end of the anti-immigration Danish People’s Party (DPP)’s influential role in Danish politics.

The party has however left such an indelible stamp on Danish politics that the country’s immigration policy is not expected to change radically under a center-left government, observers say.

The DPP, headed by charismatic leader Pia Kjaersgaard, has kept two minority center-right governments in power for the past decade through informal accords.

And he has used the threat of bringing down the government to push through some of Europe’s most draconian immigration and integration regulations..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110911com3.html

The RH — ‘Religious Hubris’ TABLETS OF STONE Larry Faraon, OP 09/11/2011

The RH — ‘Religious Hubris’

TABLETS OF STONE
Larry Faraon, OP
09/11/2011
Sen. Joker Arroyo says that there is a possibility of a “split Senate” on the issue of the Reproductive Health Bill (RH) since the senators are intently and seriously considering every detail of the discussions on the floor on the matter. But according the Sen. Miriam Santiago, there is a consensus of silence as the rest of the senators allowed the floor debates to be dominated by the pasionistas of the pro-RH, namely Senators Santiago and Pia Cayetano and the anti-RH apologists namely, Sen. Tito Sotto, Juan Ponce Enrile and Jinggoy Estrada.

There is a reason most of the senators opted to seal their lips.

Senator Santiago revealed that her colleagues are afraid to come out into the heat of the sun to avoid being scorched by the so called “religious votes” come election time, in particular the reelectionists in 2013. Says Santiago, “In the first place, they don’t want to attract the ire of those who are taking the stand opposite to what they are taking. In the second place, they are reelectionists, they do not want to let their positions be known because if they are pro-RH, then they must lose this so-called Catholic vote although I doubt if there is such a vote..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110911com6.html

Jaime Cardinal Sin VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 09/11/2011

Jaime Cardinal Sin

VIEWPOINTS
Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz
09/11/2011
Time and again, a name comes to mind. And the man behind the name becomes alive in the memory of all those who came to know him. The simplicity of his life and the profundity of his understanding. The plain statements he made and the great influence he wielded. The little jokes he cracked and the national impact he had. These are some of the thoughts his name evokes, his person awakens, his deeds inspire. Result: Jaime Cardinal Sin is a glorious part of Philippine History.

As there is now a “Jaime Cardinal Sin Street” in Metro Manila, it would be interesting to reveal some sihttp://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110911com7.htmlmple yet distinct realities about him that many might not know, nor has history recorded — such as:

The paucity of his needs. The clothes he wore were clean but usually old. His house was big but his room was small. When there were no visitors, he ate left-over food.

The lightness of his heart. He received visitors with delight. After meeting with him, they left with smiles, clear faces. He loved saying “Yes” to many requests. He said “No” with a heavy heart..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/

EO gives Purisima power to monitor taxpayers By Virgilio Bugaoisan 09/11/2011

BIR TO ISSUE COLLATERAL ORDER ON BANK ACCOUNTS

EO gives Purisima power to monitor taxpayers

By Virgilio Bugaoisan 09/11/2011

President Aquino has cloaked Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima with vast powers through Executive Order (EO) 56, which was issued last Sept. 6 but released only recently, allowing him to order the opening of tax documents of any Filipino on the pretense of suspicions of tax evasion, including those documents that would be requested by foreign tax authorities.

The EO, signed by President Aquino on Sept. 6, delegated the authority to order the opening for inspection of income tax returns of selected tax payers suspected of tax evasion to the Secretary of the Department of Finance.

Reports said that relatedly, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) had drafted a directive that requires banks and other financial institutions to open bank accounts of suspected tax cheats.

Purisima himself signed the guidelines based on the recommendation of BIR Commissioner Kim Jacinto-Henares..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110911hed1.html

Alvarez, Belmonte kin linked to missing vans By Charlie V. Manalo 09/11/2011

Alvarez, Belmonte kin linked to missing vans

By Charlie V. Manalo 09/11/2011

No amount of face-saving can save embattled Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez from the piles of charges coming his way in connection with the 1,910 container vans which mysteriously disappeared while en route from the Port of Manila (PoM) and the Manila International Container Port (MICP) to the Port of Batangas (PoB).

At the weekly news forum at Annabel’s Restaurant, Valenzuela Rep. Magi Gunigundo said despite the raid conducted by Alvarez and his men on a warehouse in Caloocan City to “recover” part of the missing cargo, he and other officials of the Bureau of Customs (BoC) are not yet off the hook as even if they recover the whole cargo, they will still be facing charges.

“There had been violations of the Tariff and Customs Code. They will definitely be charged in court,” Gunigundo said.

Aside from Alvarez, Gunigundo said that Speaker Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte’s brother, MICP head Ricardo “Boysie” Belmonte, PoM district collector Rogel Gatchalian and other agency officials would also be facing charges for violations of the Tariff and Customs Code..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110911hed3.html

Farmers express optimism on resumption of peace talks between RP, NDF 09/11/2011

Farmers express optimism on resumption of peace talks between RP, NDF

09/11/2011
Hacienda Luisita farmers have expressed optimism that in the resumption of the peace talks between the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and the Philippine government will pave the way to finally resolve the stand off between the farm workers of Hacienda Luisita and the Cojuangco-Aquino clan which President Aquino belongs.

According to Rodel Mesa, secretary general of the farm worker based Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA), the NDFP included the distribution of Hacienda Luista as one of their agenda on the peace talks.

This would post a challenge to Mr. Aquino’s seriousness to end insurgency by abiding to the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms (Caser) which one of its main proponent is land reform.

“We have lost our trust to the Supreme Court that they will be the catalyst to end our decades of economic misery at the hands of the Cojuangcos’ but instead became a roadblock on our quest to achieve social justice..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110911nat5.html

Animal rights group urges gov’t to free captured crocodile 09/11/2011

Animal rights group urges gov’t to free captured crocodile

09/11/2011
An animal rights group urged the government yesterday to free what is thought to be the world’s largest crocodile in captivity, even though it allegedly killed two people.

The monster 21-foot (6.4-meter) male saltwater crocodile was placed in a penned pond after it was caught in a remote southern creek on Sept. 3, with officials planning to use it as a tourist attraction once it adapts to its cage.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) senior Asia-Pacific campaigner Ashley Fruno said that despite suspicion it is a man-eater, the reptile was better off being returned to the wild, away from human settlements.

“(The government) should do the compassionate thing and order this crocodile to be returned to his natural habitat, as taking him away to be locked up in an animal prison is just plain wrong,” she wrote to AFP..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110911nat1.html

Valenzuela City No. 1 in local governance performance among highly urbanized cities By Arlie O. Calalo 09/11/2011

Valenzuela City No. 1 in local governance performance among highly urbanized cities

By Arlie O. Calalo 09/11/2011
The Valenzuela City government has bested all other highly urbanized cities all over the country in terms of governance, the 2010 Local Governance Performance Management System (LGPMS) report revealed.
The LGPMS is a web-based assessment tool managed by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) which measures and assesses the performance of local government units (LGUs).

The assessment is primarily aimed at determining the LGUs’ capabilities and limitations in the delivery of essential public services and in key governance areas such as administration, social services, economic development and environmental management.

The latest LGPMS performance report bared the city’s high score of 4.9150 to lead by a high margin other top performing highly urbanized and independent component cities in the country..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110911met3.html

Marikina marks 2nd year of ‘Ondoy’ By Jason Faustino 09/11/2011

Marikina marks 2nd year of ‘Ondoy’

By Jason Faustino 09/11/2011

Non-government organizations, Community Response for Enlightenment, Service and Transformation (CREST), Akap Bata and Agham joined hands with the Marikina City government, Philippine Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) and Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) in holding a forum on disaster management and climate change in the City of Marikina.

More than a thousand residents of Marikina City through their associations led by community leaders together with city officials led by Mayor Del de Guzman converged at the Marikina Sports Center yesterday for the forum that served as their kick-off event to the series of activities that will commemorate the upcoming second anniversary of typhoon “Ondoy” tragedy.

On Sept. 26, 2009, Marikina City was the hardest hit city in Metro Manila by Ondoy after the death toll reached 75 out of the 304 casualties all over the country. Massive destruction of properties and livelihoods of the people amounting to P9 billion was also reported..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110911met5.html

Blog Archive