Peace Update: Administration led by President Benigno Aquino III, is serious in forging a final negotiated political settlement with the NDFP

PIA daily news in English, Tagalog, Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Ilocano, Waray, Pangalatok from around the Philippines:

"BUTUAN CITY, May 27 – The call for a just and lasting peace deeply resonates in the Caraga Region (Region XIII) of Mindanao as various sectors articulated their grievances and demands at the recently concluded Peace Roadshow held from May 23 to 24 in key areas of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur.

In the two-day fora held at the Fr. Saturnino Urios University (FSUU) here, participants heard updates from government peace panel member Jurgette Honculada on the ongoing peace negotiations between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NPA-NDFP).

A Butuanon herself, Honculada called on all Filipinos to be updated on the peace negotiations between GPH and CPP-NPA-NDFP and raise their stakes for peace. She also spoke on issues confronting Caraga communities such as problems related to mining, illegal logging and delivery of basic services in far-flung areas, all of which are also being tackled in the Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-economic Reforms (CASER), which is the meat of the ongoing peace negotiations between the GPH and NDFP."

“The present administration, led by President Benigno Aquino III, is serious in forging a final negotiated political settlement with the NDFP. We must revive the peace process on the basis of a comprehensive understanding of the root causes of the conflict,” Honculada stressed. “We’re not playing games; we have a genuine desire to attain a just and lasting peace. The goal of the panel is to negotiate a settlement within three years so that we’ll still have time for implementation since every administration only has six years.”

With the concrete goal of reaching a final peace agreement to set the ball rolling for reforms to be fully carried out, the participation of different communities nationwide will prove to be critical.

Peace Update: gulfnews : Entire nation has 'stake in peace process'

gulfnews : Entire nation has 'stake in peace process':

As the administration of President Benigno Aquino III prepares to advance the peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front (NDF) to another level with discussions on the draft Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-Economic Reforms, peace panel member Ednar Dayanghirang stressed that the Filipinos should recognise that the parleys do not just involve the government and the rebels, but that it is the entire nation who has an actual stake in the peace process.

"End of hostilities

Dayanghirang said that in comparison to past attempts, there is a sincere and firm resolve by the current administration to forge a negotiated peace settlement with the NDF and its members, the New Peoples' Army and the Communist Party of the Philippines.
Dayanghirang said that the government and the NDFP panels seek to reach agreement on three remaining agenda items within 18 months to three years. These three remaining agenda are socio-economic reforms, political-constitutional reforms, and end of hostilities and disposition of forces.
Four decades of conflict between the government and the communist insurgents have left more than a hundred thousand civilians and combatants killed or missing."

Rotary Update: Good journalism keeps papers afloat, win awards | Sun.Star

Good journalism keeps papers afloat, win awards | Sun.Star:

"STICKING to the truth, taking advantage of social media, and striving for good content are perhaps the simple ingredients behind successful media organizations recently, including Sun.Star Cebu.

This was proven anew on Thursday as the Philippines’ leading regional newspaper bagged two trophies at the prestigious Rotary Club of Manila Journalism Awards in Makati City.


In a simple ceremony, the premier service club in Asia recognized Sun.Star Cebu as the Community Newspaper of the Year for the fourth time since the competition began in 1967.

The paper received the same recognition in 1991, 2003, and 2007.

Sun.Star Cebu editor-in-chief Isolde Amante received the award on behalf of the 29-year-old organization.

On the other hand, Sun.Star’s chief photographer Alex Badayos added another feather to his cap after he was named as best photojournalist, a first in the rotary’s history."

JCI Update: 5,000 expected at JCI conference | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online

5,000 expected at JCI conference | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online:

"Junior Chamber International (JCI), an organization geared towards community development, is holding a conference until May 29 at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City.

JCI is composed of young professionals who are promoting positive change in the community through various projects and seminars. For this year's conference, 5,000 delegates flew in from across the globe to attend the event.

The event will be hosted by JCI Manila, the oldest chapter in the Philippines and the Asia Pacific. The conference will revolve around the famous Filipino tradition of 'bayanihan,' which promotes kinship, unity and love for neighbors. Trainings and seminars on leadership, self-development, web communication, networking, volunteerism, and more will be conducted.

'One of JCI's campaign is the ‘Omoiyari,’ which means helping each other foster mutual understanding beyond differences,' JCI World president Kentaro Harada said."

Women's Causes Update: Comic books heighten awareness of violence against women | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online

Comic books heighten awareness of violence against women | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online:

"Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Tuesday launched comic books tackling the issue of violence against women (VAW) – ranging from physical, psychological to economic abuse.

The launch of the comic books complements the joint program of the DILG, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Education (DepEd), the Department of Health (DoH), and the Philippine Commission on Women to establish VAW desks in every barangay in hopes of curbing discrimination against women.

The comic books are part of an information campaign to heighten awareness of violation against women.

DILG Secretary Jesse M. Robredo said that comic books would be an informative tool in explaining the real score of VAW to everybody from all walks of life.

Robredo said that everybody loves to read comic books and would best be shared by people from the barangay.

“We should start with the barangay level first, so that this will be a way to help abused women, and give attention to their problems,” said Robredo."

Children's Causes Update: FDA testing toys for hazardous substances | The Philippine Star » News » Headlines

FDA testing toys for hazardous substances | The Philippine Star » News » Headlines: "The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) assured the public yesterday that it has been randomly collecting and testing school supplies and toys for hazardous substances.

In an advisory, FDA director Dr. Suzette Lazo said the agency has been conducting “compliance monitoring of establishments and market surveillance of toy products regularly.”

“The FDA also purchases toys from toy stores and these toys are tested by the FDA,” she said. “The toys collected and analyzed in December 2010 have passed safety standards.”

Worldwide, efforts are underway to ensure that toys are safe from toxic substances like phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and lead which can cause a variety of complications like cancer and neurological and immune system disorders.

“Non-compliant toys are subject to recall and disposed of in accordance with the submitted disposal plan of the company subject to FDA approval,” she added."

Tourism Update: Philippine National Flag

PIA daily news in English, Tagalog, Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Ilocano, Waray, Pangalatok from around the Philippines:

"This year’s June 12 national organizing committee chaired by incoming National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) chair Dr. Serena Diokno and assisted by the different cabinet secretaries led by Department of Education, Department of Tourism, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Interior and Local Government and the rest of the bureaucracy said that this year’s theme is “Kalayaan: Paninindigan ng Bayan”.

NHCP chair Dr. Diokno further said that respect and pride in the Philippine Flag are the core messages of the Flag Day activities where all NGAs, LGUs, schools, universities, embassies/consular offices abroad including private establishments are encouraged to display the Philippine Flag in appropriate ceremonies.

Executive Director Ludovico D. Badoy head of the June 12 TWG reported that demo circulars have been issued by the DepEd to pursue its continuous campaign to educate the public especially in elementary schools, high schools both private and public to educate them on the proper use and display of the Philippine National Flag."

DOH Update: P5 billion to cover the national government’s counterpart for health insurance premiums of indigents from 2007 to 2010.

PIA daily news in English, Tagalog, Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Ilocano, Waray, Pangalatok from around the Philippines:

"The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released a total of P5 billion to cover the national government’s counterpart for health insurance premiums of indigents from 2007 to 2010.

DBM Secretary Florencio B. Abad said that the release partly fulfils the P6.5B unpaid obligations of the previous government to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC). The remaining balance of P1.5B is scheduled for release later on.
“Universal healthcare coverage for all, especially for the poor and the vulnerable, is a priority of President Aquino. To ensure the integrity of the healthcare fund for indigent Filipinos, we have to settle the obligations left unpaid in the previous administration,” he said."

DOLE Update:: 5,000 more jobs at Clark | Sun.Star

Labor agency: 5,000 more jobs at Clark | Sun.Star:

"According to Japan's No. 1 tire manufacturing company in the Philippines, this decision is part of the implementation of the third phase of its Grand Design 100 (GD 100) medium-term management plan set for 2012.

The completion of said expansion will significantly increase production capacity, thus, an estimated 2,000 to 5,000 job opportunities is projected by the end of year 2017.

Meanwhile, the groundbreaking at DCC was for the construction of the South Korean company's Golf Course and Leisure Park, which will be an amenity of its 10-storey officetel, which initially began construction sometime in October of last year.

It is expected that an estimated 3,000 job opportunities to man the officetel and leisure park operations will be in store when the said South Korean company operates sometime in the fourth quarter of this year."

DILG Update: Pushes full disclosure policy by LGUs in Central Visayas | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online

DILG pushes full disclosure policy by LGUs in Central Visayas | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online:

"Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secrerary Jesse Robredo was here recently to promote and get the support of the local government units (LGU) for the full disclosure policy (FDP) being spearheaded by the DILG that would basically render more transparency in government transactions more transparent to the public.

By all indications, the FDP is a success in Central Visayas, as manifested by over 80 percent of local government executives in the region pledging to make their financial transactions, including bids and public offerings public.

The dialogue during the Tapatan Roadshow hosted by the DILG on the FDP, which included performance, accountability, responsiveness and transparency held at this city’s Radisson Blu Hotel, was attended by local officials

all over the region, including Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia, Bohol Governor Edgar Chatto, Cebu City mayor Michael Rama, Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes and other government officials and LGU employees in the region.

Robredo, who served as the keynote speaker of the event stressed the importance of a clean audit report to be available to the public through website posting and media accessibility among others public venues."

Sports Update: Zambo weightlifter sets record in National Games | ABS-CBN News

Another Zambo weightlifter sets record in National Games | ABS-CBN News | Latest Philippine Headlines, Breaking News, Video, Analysis, Features:

"Zamboanga City’s Nestor Colonia broke a 20-year-old national record in men's weightlifting in the Philippine Olympic Committee-Philippine Sports Commission (POC-PSC) National Games at the SM City Bacolod mall last Wednesday.

Competing in the men’s 56-kilogram division, the 19-year-old Colonia lifted 116 kilograms in the snatch to smash the 20-year-old standard of 115 kilos set by Samuel Alegada in the 1991 Manila Southeast Asian Games.

Alegada, now a referee, witnessed Colonia break his record."

Wellness in Science & Technology: Department of Science and Technology has approved the use of an American vacuum technology

Manila Standard Today -- Vacuum to hasten Bangkal oil cleanup -- 2011/may/27:

"The Department of Science and Technology has approved the use of an American vacuum technology which pipeline operator First Philippine Industrial Corp. said will speed up the removal of leaked petroleum and contaminated water in Bangkal, Makati City.

FPIC president Tony Mabasa said the agency’s Industrial Technology Development Institute has found satisfactory the results of the Environmental Technology Verification made on the Multi-Phase Extraction system for remediation work.

The extraction uses a high-volume vacuum system to suck both contaminated groundwater and soil vapor underground.

The has been used in the US and approved by the Environmental Protection Agency, DOST ASEAN director Dr. Nuna Almanzor said in a letter to FPIC."

Wellness in Business: PSEi closes higher mirrors US and Asian markets - Business - GMA News Online - Latest Philippine News

PSEi closes higher mirrors US and Asian markets - Business - GMA News Online - Latest Philippine News:

"Philippine share prices continued its upswing on Friday, spurred by the general positive mood in the US and Asian bourses.

The benchmark 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange index surged 43.95 points or 1.04 percent to 4,274.51 while the all shares soared 20.13 points or 0.68 percent to 2,979.62.

Market breadth was bullish with 71 gainers against 48 losers and 49 stocks which closed unchanged.

Except for Financials, which slipped 0.45 percent, all other five sectoral indices closed in the green. Mining and Oil led with a 4.82-percent rise.

Volume traded reached 6.977 billion shares valued at P4.769 billion.

'Investors will have very little to look forward to and borrow hints from the Dow's action and a couple of 'high-impact' numbers on GDP (gross domestic product) and inflation in the next two weeks,' said trader Justino Calaycay Jr. of Accord Capital Equities."

Wellness in Education: Australian government puts a premium on education in its aid program to the Philippines

Aussies lead cleanup brigade in Tondo | Inquirer News:

Premium on education

The Australian government puts a premium on education in its aid program to the Philippines, allocating P2 billion to the sector out of its P4.7 development assistance program for 2011.
For the 2011 Brigada Eskwela, the embassy committed around P70,000 worth of aid each to 50 schools—20 in Metro Manila and 30 in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
“We provide cash grants to schools to help them buy needed equipment that will provide the best possible learning environment for students,” Smith explained, adding they will also be farming out cleanup and repair volunteers to at least eight schools in Metro Manila and six schools in ARMM.
The embassy’s Brigada Eskwela stint is just a small part of their campaign for better education in the Philippines. Smith said the Australian government this year will be providing support in teacher-training, school-based management practice, education planning and management systems; providing 120 scholarships for higher education; assisting in developing culturally-responsive education curricula; and building school facilities, “especially in Muslim Mindanao where we see the need is greatest.”"

Wellness in Arts: Alejandro ‘Anding’ Roces, National Artist

Alejandro ‘Anding’ Roces, 86 | Inquirer News:

"Roces was awarded National Artist for Literature in 2003. In recent years, he was content in writing his column, “Roses and Thorns,” in the opinion section of The Philippine Star. On separate occasions during the previous administration, he served as member of the board of trustees of various government agencies and educational institutions.
In the 1960s, Roces served as Secretary of Education in the administration of President Diosdado Macapagal. While serving as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences in Far Eastern University, he was widely known for convincing poet Jose Garcia Villa to come home after decades of self-exile in the bohemian district of Greenwich Village in New York City to teach at the said campus along Azcarraga Street in downton Manila. Villa was the first National Artist for Literature."

Wellness in Environment: Eastern Visayas is set to commemorate the World Environment Day on June 5

PIA daily news in English, Tagalog, Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Ilocano, Waray, Pangalatok from around the Philippines:

"TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, May 27 (PIA)--Eastern Visayas is set to commemorate the World Environment Day on June 5 and Philippine Environment Month in June, with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as lead agency.
Regional Executive Director Primitivo C. Galinato Jr. of DENR 8 informed that since June 5 falls on a Sunday, the observance of the World Environment Day will be on June 6, 2011.
According to Galinato, the theme for this year’s celebration is “Forests: Nature at your Service,” which underscores the intrinsic link between quality of life and the health of forests and forest ecosystems. The theme also supports this year's UN International Year of Forests.
The June 6 commemoration will start at 7:30 in the morning with the Holy Mass at the DENR Regional Office and as a kick off activity, a foot parade around the City of Tacloban will be conducted before the environment program, RED Galinato added."