Archive for the ‘Government & Politics’ Category
Malacañang Palace Goes Tumblr
Whoa! Tumblr.com? Actually, it’s a nice, simple browse along memory lane as the microblogging site depicts the history of Malacañang Palace and the Philippine Presidents that came and went.
Source: tumblr.malacanang.gov.ph
Image from tumblr.malacanang.gov.ph
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TESDA to Launch 7 New Programs This 2012
TESDA classroom
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) recently announced its plan to launch seven new programs this year intended to increase employability, provide more livelihood and spark the entrepreneurial skills of Filipinos. Dubbed REAL DEAL TESD (Reach the grassroots, Empower the reached. Assure quality training and Lifelong education Development. Enable, and Actively-engage Labor force members in job opportunities thru employability and livelihood skills), this initiative is a response to Philippine President Benigno Aquino III’s call for “Landas na Matuwid.”
The seven programs are:
- IT-BPO Talent Investment Program that will train 65,000 scholars to qualify for jobs in the business process outsourcing industry;
- TESDA-SEIPI (Semi-conductor and Electronics Industry of the Philippines) Partnership for the Semi-Conductor Electronics Industry that will train more than 9,000 new and existing workers to keep them geared up for the demands of the semi-conductor and electronics industry;
- Partnership with PLDT (Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co.) for the training of 1,300 technicians;
- TESDA-Holcim Partnership to train some 2,200 out-of-school-youths in construction trades such as masonry, carpentry and blueprint reading certification;
- Partnership with LTRFB (Land Transportation Regulation and Franchising Bureau) in PUV (Public Utility Vehicle) driver’s certification;
- TESDA Specialista Technopreneurship Programs that brings together stakeholders to serve the multifarious service requirements of households and small communities; and
- Updates on TESDA-Coke National Convergence Program on Empowering Women Retailers.
Source: News Desk, president.gov.ph
Photo by netstreamph at Flickr.com
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Top 10 Reasons Why Prosecution Team Still Not Ready for Impeachment Trial
Atty. Karen Jimeno
10. Easier to win votes with basketball courts than cases in trial courts
9. Still focused on the “just because we said so” approach to presenting evidence
8. Not yet finished researching how to get Bartlett’s Book of Quotations as acceptable jurisprudence
7. Distracted with issue of what shampoo Karen Jimeno uses
6. Distracted with issue of what shampoo Serafin Cuevas uses
5. Never really had to contend with shouts from voters of “Objection: immaterial, irrelevant, and impertinent” whenever they sang and danced on the campaign trail
4. Looking for English-Tagalog translator to win the Lito Lapid vote
3. Waiting for Miriam Defensor-Santiago to give a lecture on law to everyone
2. Praying Manong Johnny (Juan Ponce Enrile) will be true to his campaign promise: “Gusto ko happy ka”
1. Still waiting for defense team pants to go on fire
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About Chief Justice Renato C. Corona
On May 12, 2010, two days after the 2010 elections and a month before former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s term expired, Renato C. Corona was appointed as the 23rd Chief Justice of the Philippines, succeeding Reynato Puno who had reached the mandatory age of retirement. Corona was impeached by the House of Representatives on December 12, 2011.
Early in his career, Corona served as special counsel at the Development Bank of the Philippines. He later became senior vice-president and general counsel of the Commercial Bank of Manila, and later a senior officer of the Tax and Corporate Counseling Group of the Tax Division of Sycip Gorres Velayo & Co. (SGV & Co.), the country’s largest multidisciplinary professional services firm.
In 1992, Corona joined the administration of President Fidel V. Ramos as Assistant Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs, and concurrently served as head of the Malacañang Legal Office. In 1994, he was promoted to Deputy Executive Secretary and later Chief Presidential Legal Counsel and member of the Cabinet. In 1998, President Ramos awarded him the Philippine Legion of Honor medal, with the rank of officer.
In 1998, Corona became the chief of staff and spokesperson of then Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. When Arroyo assumed the presidency in 2001, Corona became the Presidential Chief of Staff.
Source: Dickie Soriano | Wikipedia
Photo from Fan Page at Facebook thru Flickr.com
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Official Philippine Holidays for 2012
Planning your holidays for 2012
Malacañang Palace came out with an official decree declaring the different types of national holidays for the year 2012 for government units, businesses and schools in the country.
Only the observance of Eid’l Fitr and Eidul Adha has not yet been officially declared. The exact dates of the national holiday for these religious holidays shall be issued after the approximate dates of the Islamic holidays have been determined upon the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) informing the Office of the President on which day the holiday shall fall.
Source: Official Gazette of the President of the Philippines
Download PDF: Proclamation 295
Photo by vergara_dominic at Flickr.com
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Expanded Family Visa Bill in U.S. to Benefit Filipinos
United States tourist visa stamp on a passport
The U.S. House of Representatives approved a measure to expand the number of family visas for hopeful immigrants with relatives in the U.S. on Wednesday.
The legislation, which passed 389-15, was a rare example of bipartisan accord on immigration, an issue that largely has been avoided during the current session of Congress because of the political sensitivities involved. The bill, said its sponsor, Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, “does encourage high-skilled immigrants who were educated in the U.S. to stay and help build our economy rather than using the skills they learned here to aid our competitor nations.”
Currently, the State Department issues about 140,000 such green cards a year to foreign nationals working in the United States, often after getting degrees from U.S. universities.
These visas cover relatives like sons and daughters, over the age of 21, of U.S. citizens; spouses and minor children of legal U.S. permanent residents; and brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens, among others.
The Obama administration in its first two years failed in several major efforts to change immigration law, and this year the issue has largely been off the table, with Republicans making clear that anything suggesting amnesty for those in the country illegally would be rejected.
The approved house bill will now go to the Senate for a vote.
Source: Balitang America | News Channel 8 | KIRO-TV
Photo from Dominica Weekly
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28 Percent of US Immigrants Come from Asia
In operation until 1954, the immigration station processed over 12 million immigrant steamship passengers.
The Migration Policy Institute (MPI) reports that 28 percent of all immigrants in the United States – about 11 million – hail from Asia. Asians are the second largest immigrant group after Latinos, with nearly half coming from the Philippines, India and China and residing in California, New York and Texas.
Asian immigrants are perceived as “model minorities” who work hard, do well, and don’t complain. In the American imagination, they do not seem to share the challenges faced by other immigrant groups.
Nearly half of Asian immigrant adults have a college degree or higher. Among all immigrants, Asians are more concentrated in management, information technology, and science and engineering. A majority of immigrant doctors and nurses are from Asia.
MPI estimates that Asian immigrants accounted for 11 percent of all unauthorized immigrants in 2010. The Department of Homeland Security counts among the undocumented 280,000 Filipinos, 200,000 Indians, 170,000 Koreans and 130,000 Chinese.
Read more at WNYX New York Public Radio
Photo by wallyg at Flickr.com
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Leyte is Most Business-friendly Province in Philippines
Capitol building of Leyte province
President Benigno S. Aquino III awarded Leyte as the most business-friendly LGU (local government unit) or province in the Philippines during an award ceremony held at the Manila Hotel Thursday evening. The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) also awarded the province a Hall of Fame award for consistently winning the award for the third time.
Governor Carlos Jericho L. Petilla personally accepted the award. He was accompanied by Vice Governor Mimyet Bagulaya and the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Leyte, and several department heads, in a display of unity and force.
PCCI cited the Leyte’s effort to prepare the province as an IT destination through Leyte ICT Park and the launching of the Technology Business Incubator (TBI) that provides initial assistance to starting entrepreneurs in the IT field. The ICT Park has been recognized by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA).
Read more at Philippine Information Agency
Photo by blade842125 at Flickr.com
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Overseas Filipino Workers Can Loan Up To 2 Million Pesos Payable in 7 Years
Filipino Migrant workers in Hongkong
The Macau Daily Times recently reported that Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) working in area are now eligible to borrow from 300,000 Pesos up to 2 million Pesos with a fixed interest rate of 7.5 percent per annum. This program is a joint effort of the Department of Labor and Employement (DOLE), the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and the Land Bank of the Philippines. This special loan program is open to all migrant and overseas Filipinos legally working abroad.
Eligibility rules require the applicant to have a net monthly income of no less than 10,000 Pesos and has made at least one contribution to OWWA. Approved applicants have seven years to pay the loan.
Source: Macau Daily Times
Photo by dying_of_the_light at Flickr.com
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Noynoy Aquino Wants To Be An Eliot Ness
Noynoy Aquino as the Eliot Ness of the Philippines
…or a Kevin Costner? Too soon to tell. Bloomberg is reporting that Philippine President Benigno Aquino III wants his government to start acting like Eliot Ness by protecting those officials whose job is to catch the tax evaders in the Philippines in an aim to rid the country of corruption.
Eliot Ness, to those who never watched the movie “The Untouchables,” was an American prohibition agent of the United States Treasury in the roarin’ 20′s and was charged to bring down Al Capone’s breweries and supply routes during the prohibition era. The 1950s up to the 1960s brought a TV series of the same title that spawned a full-length movie starring Kevin Costner.
Will P’Noy live up to the name of the famous treasury agent that nabbed the famous Chicago gangster of tax evasion?
Read more at Bloomberg
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Philippine Export Agency Expects 10 Percent Export Growth
The Export Development Council (of the Philippines) was created by virtue of Republic Act 7844, otherwise known as the Export Development Act of 1994. It was created with the purpose of developing and overseeing the implementation of the Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP) and coordinating the formulation and implementation of policy reforms to support the Plan.
Based on a plan recently presented to Philippine President Aquino, the EDC expects annual export growth to be within 10% in merchandise shipments until 2013. This target relies on exporting more to neighboring countries like China whose economy continues to expand, and Japan which many expect to recover fast despite the Tsunami catastrophe. The plan was approved by the President.
Sources: Export Hub & EDC Website
Photo by edison.sy at Flickr.com
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Philippine Congress Backs Tourism Reforms Proposed by DOT Secretary
Visit of DOT Secretary Alberto Lim in Aurora (March 4-6, 2011). L-R: Governor Bellaflor Angara-Castillo, Senator Edgardo J. Angara, Department of Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim.
Photo by edangara at Flickr.com
The House of Representatives of the Philippines is supporting Department of Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim’s proposal to change and amend the rules and regulations of the Tourism Act of 2009. The reforms should inspire tourism industry to fulfill and carry out the intent of making the tourism industry a major player to the country’s economic growth.
Read more at PhilStar.com
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2011 State of the Nation Address (SONA) by Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III
The full text of Philippine President Benigno Aquino III is found at the Official Gazette website of the Office of the President of the Philippines.
Source: Office of the Philippine President (Tagalog) | (English)
Photo by yellowshirt8 at Flickr.com
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Long Beach honors October as Filipino-American History Month
Photo by ozfan22 at Flickr.com
Long Beach’s Filipino-American population will now be honored in October, as City Council unanimously voted to officially designate October as Filipino-American History Month last Tuesday evening.
First District Councilman Robert Garcia, the primary author of the council resolution, said approximately 20,000 Filipino-Americans live in the Long Beach area, and that number is likely to increase once 2010 U.S. Census data is tallied.
According to City Council documents, the United States Congress currently is considering legislation (H.R. 155) to grant official status to Filipino American History Month.
The Long Beach City Council declared the boundaries of the city’s Filipino Neighborhood in 1992, which are Santa Fe Avenue from 20th Street to Spring Street.
Read more at Gazettes.com
The Effect of President Noynoy Aquino’s U.S. Trip on Philippine Jobs
As the new Philippine president brings a loot of promises in foreign direct investments from his recent United States visit, the Department of Labor and Employment has issued a statement there are 40,000 job openings within the next three years as a result of Noynoy’s trip.
These job openings specifically call for the following positions: call center agent, customer service assistant, technical support staff, fork lift operator, accounting clerk, mechanical engineer, sales clerk, driver, cashier and production worker.
Notice that “Nursing” is not part of it despite many of the country’s student population are still taking up that degree which is not anymore in demand in First World countries. A re-training of out-of-work nurses will definitely be a must if they would like to compete for those 40,000 new job openings.
Source: ABS-CBN News
Photo by noynoy aquino at Flickr.com
Miriam Defensor Santiago is a Misinformed Facebook Junkie-wanna-be
Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago recently upped the ante on Facebook as a prime medium in Philippine politics when she publicly told her critics and enemies, “Please post all death threats on my Facebook wall.” After that privilege speech, she took a one-day leave of rest in her house for hyperthyroidism.
Source: ABS-CBN News
Okay, Miriam – this is weird. In order to post a death threat on your Facebook wall, one has either got to “LIKE” you, which they don’t, or to request being your “FRIEND,” which goes contrary to what your telling them.
Are we missing something here you know and we don’t?
There are three Miriam Facebook Friend accounts, six Miriam Facebook Pages and Miriam senatorial movement Facebook Group – take you pick! LIKE her first or be her FRIEND before you send your death threats, remember that!
Photo from a Facebook Page
“Pinoy PhilHealth Day” Benefits 4.7 Million Poor Families
Image from PhilHealth
4.7 million Filipino families are set to benefit from the “Pnoy PhilHealth day” that aims to provide health insurance coverage to “true” indigents in the country after they were evaluated and identified by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). “The truly poor will be sponsored by the government,” Department of Health (DoH) Secretary Enrique T. Ona said in a press briefing at the DoH compound in Manila on Tuesday.
The monthly contribution for PhilHealth amounts to 100 Pesos. For the indigents, 50 Pesos will be provided by the national government and the remaining 50 Pesos will be paid for by the local government. “In keeping with President Aquino’s promise to give each and every Filipino access to quality healthcare in three years time,” Ona said.
Source: Yahoo! News
P1.1 Billion for Trust Fund of OFW and Dependents Hospitalization
Image from LGA
To cover the hospitalization of ailing overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their dependents, Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo has proposed to set aside some P1.1 billion, to be allocated out of a state-managed trust fund. A similar bill was earlier filed in both houses of the last Congress, but never saw the light of day. The bill is seeking to require every public hospital to establish a separate and exclusive ward for OFWs and their dependents that need medical care. It also mandates all government hospitals to increase their existing bed capacity by five percent, or by five beds for every 100 beds.
Read more at All Voices
82 Tourist Police Deployed in Central Philippines
Photo by Blackmantis (R.L.Black) at Flickr.com
Eighty-two new tourist police officers were recently deployed in tourist spots around the Central Visayas. The officers will man tourist police assistance centers in Cebu, Lapu-Lapu City, Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor. In addition to being trained in the usual skills to aid tourists, the police were taught scuba diving so they can assist in ocean emergencies. Another 60 officers are being trained for duty on Cebu because the province has so many beach resorts.
Source: World Travel Watch
Britain urges Aquino to live up to his campaign pledge
Image by annalyn at Flickr.com
MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) – Visiting British Foreign Office Minister of State Jeremy Browne today urged President Benigno Aquino III to live up to his pledge to institute reforms in the government, fight corruption, and improve the country’s investment climate.
Speaking before Philippine senior business executives about the United Kingdom’s increased interest in Asian markets and its advantages as an investment site, Browne said he is “excited” with the new government’s pronouncements of change, saying such encouragement from Aquino would stir up investments in the country.
Read more at Philippine Star
The Philippine Supreme Court is Joining Twitter and Facebook
Photo from Supreme Court Philippines site
The recent national elections opened the floodgates for Philippine politicians and national and local government units to enter and experiment into the virtual world of online social media networking. Here comes one more unit – the Supreme Court. Can they make the grade in value (of tweets and posts) and consistency in making it a long-term commitment and not like the shortsighted plans of the many?
The court may be accessed by searching for “Supreme Court of the Philippines” in Facebook and KorteSuprema in Twitter.
Source: Nine MSN News
US Anti-outsourcing Bill a Filipino-American Concern
Photo by banggigay at Flickr.com
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The recent anti-outsourcing bill proposed by Senator Charles Schumer is a source of concern for the Filipino American community. The Shcumer bill, places a tax on outsourcing and Filipinos in the U.S. it is going to hurt businesses in the Philippines and give the U.S. a bad image. The bill puts a 25-cent tax on each call made to a call center based outside the U.S. Members of the Filipino-American community traveled to the capital to visit Senators Kristen Gillibrand and Charles Schumer to express their opposition to the bill. A letter from the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) to Sen. Schumer said that the proposal is incongruous with the impression of America as a big brother.
The proposal has passed in the House. It is now in the Senate for scrutiny and its primary purpose is to create a disincentive for outsourcing.
Read more at Blogger News Network
Philippine Consultate in Canada will not report undocumented Filipinos
‘We’re Not Going to Squeal on You,’ RP Labor Official Assures Undocumented Filipinos
By Romeo P. Marquez, Editor, Philippine Village Voice, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Volume 4, Issue no.19, June 21, 2010
Eric Parungao makes an assurance that the Philippine consulate will not tip-off Canadian authorities on the presence of undocumented Filipinos in Toronto.
TORONTO — A Philippine labor official assured dozens of Filipino caregivers attending a local forum here not to fear being reported to Canadian authorities even if they did not have the documentation to work or stay legally in Canada.
“Ang konsulado hindi po nagsusuplong ng mga kababayan. Ayaw natin mangyari yun — na ma-deport kayo sa Pilipinas,” (The consulate does not report on illegals. We don’t want them deported to the Philippines) declared Eric Parungao, Welfare Officer of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office here.
He was addressing the whole-day Newcomers Orientation Conference on Saturday (June 19, 2010) where an estimated 150 Filipino workers and newly-arrived jobseekers were in attendance at the Lady of Assumption Church in Toronto’s North York region.
Read more at Currents & Breaking News
There are more “Political Dynasties” in the Philippines than ever!
After the euphoria of the country’s first automated voting system, now comes the reality – there are more political families who won tandem posts. Is this the start (or return) of feudal-style politics in the Philippines?
Photo from DayLife.com
As of the unofficial tallies and electoral results, in 34 out of 80 provinces, political families won two (or tandem) posts – one as governor and the other in Congress. In 20 cities, the winning mayors had relatives also winning as congressional representative, governor or both. (Click to see entire list or see below.)
These dynasties also seem to have mastered the art of skirting the three-term limit which was imposed in 1998. The new arrangement allows two or three family members to serve in office at the same time, coming after 12 years of experience lending one elective position to spouses, children or other relatives. Now, they could all sit in office together and still trade places when their terms are up.
Also, oe factor that could have carried families to victory in this year’s election was the practice of members splitting affiliation, to ensure they had a finger in every political pie.
Read more at Vera Files
List from VeraFiles.org
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Monitor All 2010 Philippine National Election Tweets in One Screen
You can go to TweetGrid and follow the election-related Hashtags #JuanVote #Eleksyon #Halalan #PollWatch #Eleksyon2010 and #Halalan2010.
Click to TweetGrid Now!
Screen capture from TweetGrid
