Manila, PHILIPPINES Nov. 28 - Dec. 5, 2011

Vol 1 No 25 P15

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ICC-CabCom approves two infra projects in Luzon

By BENJIE OLIVEROSBulatlat.com

The arrest of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a welcome development. Althoughshe is clearly getting preferential treatment with her detention in one of the most luxurious andbest hospitals in the country the St. Luke’s Medical Center, justice is finally catching up withher.

Justice demandsnothing less

Cont’d on page 2

The government has allocatedP103 million from the 2012 nationalbudget for the ongoing peace processprogram with various rebel groups.

The Office of the Presidential Ad-viser on the Peace Process (OPAPP)headed by Secretary TeresitaQuintos-Deles said the amount willbe taken from the P240-million bud-get of OPAPP for 2012.

Of the amount, P50 million hasbeen allocated for the peace talks withthe Moro Islamic Liberation Front(MILF), P23 million for the Commu-nist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front(CPP-NPA-NDF), and P10 million each for closure tracks with the CordilleraPeople’s Liberation Army (CPLA), the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ngManggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao

Gov’t allocates P103M for its peace process programBrigade (RPMP/RPA/ABB), and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

For OPAPP’s personnel services, P55 million has been earmarked, andP92 million for maintenance and other operation expenditures.

Deles cited the immense tasks of her office next year with regard to thepeace process of the government.

“We will work doubly hard, keeping in mind the President’s goal of achiev-ing political settlement of all armed conflicts within his term,” she said.

Deles proposed P240 million as its budget next year, saying “this is P329million less than the original proposed budget of P569 million.”

“The government, through OPAPP, has made progress in the differentpeace tables. Talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is ontrack,” she said. “And after a six-year impasse, we have revived the negotia-tions with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-Na-tional Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NPA-NDFP).”

Deles said that formal negotiations between the Government of the Philip-pines (GPH) and the MILF resumed last February in Kuala Lumpur.

“At that meeting, the MILF panel submitted to the GPH panel its revisedproposal. On August 22, the GPH panel submitted its ‘3-for-1’ proposal to

resolve the conflict in Mindanao,” she said.The peace adviser added that the government’s 3-for-1 formula consists of

three components: roadmap for development and socioeconomic reconstruc-tion in Mindanao; the Peace Accord, which constitutes the GPH framework toachieve a political solution to the long-standing conflict; and acknowledgmentof the historical causes of conflict and initiatives towards reconciliation.

“On the side, our panel has conducted a total of 60 consultations in Mindanao,including nine conducted since the August 22 talks in Kuala Lumpur,” Delessaid.

On Nov. 4, the GPH and the MILF met for an informal executive meetingin Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for a candid exchange to move the peace processforward.

“Both sides cleared the air about pressing issues regarding the negotiations.We leveled off more on each other’s concepts and identified our commongrounds as well as our differences,” government chief negotiator MarvicLeonen said in a statement.

Leonen likewise said that both panels agreed to “conduct investigationsCont’d on page 2

OPAPP Sec. Deles

DOH eyes dev’t ofuniversal healthcare

The Department of Health (DOH)is gearing towards the developmentof universal health care program.

Speaking during the 62nd AnnualConvention of the International Col-lege of Surgeons Friday, Vice Presi-dent Jejomar Binay said that“Kalusugan sa Pangkalahatan”, aprogram initiated by DOH, seeks toprovide universal PhilHealth cover-age for all Filipinos and in the pro-cess, reduce their financial risks.

“This will benefit people from alleconomic strata, but the poor, mostespecially, shall find better lives be-cause of it,” Binay said.

He said the DOH shall tap private public partnerships to encourage morepeople to become part of PhilHealth, and to assist PhilHealth in improving itsservices for its members. Under this approach, these objectives can be ac-complished at no added cost to the corporation.

The Vice President also said the DOH and local chief executives met lastmonth to assess the progress of health reforms toward Kalusugan saPangkalahatan.

He said that similar to the Pabahay Caravan of the housing sector, the DOHalso has its own Monitoring and Evaluation for Equity and Effectiveness

VP BINAY

Cont’d on page 2

Estrada backs fixed salaries for bus driversSenate President Pro Tempore

Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada on Sundaysupported the provision of fixedmonthly salaries for bus drivers andconductors, saying that the new sys-tem upholds the rights of workers todecent wage and working conditions,as it promotes road safety for com-muters and common road users.

The Department of Labor andEmployment (DoLE) recently signeda joint statement with the representa-

tives of the transport sector in an ef-fort to address the increasing numberof road accidents, mainly caused bylong working hours for drivers andcommission-based compensationsetup.

Estrada, chairman of the Senatecommittee on labor, employment andhuman resources development, andof the Congressional oversight com-mittee on labor and employment, alsopushed for its institutionalization

through the passage of Senate Bill2922, which requires public utility busoperators to pay drivers fixed month-ly salaries, which shall not be lessthan the prevailing minimum wage.

Under the proposed “Bus Driversand Conductors Compensation Act,”operators shall observe eight-hourdriving hours (inclusive of the restperiod), a two-shift system, and one-hour rest per working day for drivers.

Cont’d on page 4

Carolina Medina of Venezuela poses with other candidates for the Miss Earth 2011 beauty contest by the poolside ofa hotel resort at Mandaluyong city east of Manila, Philippines following their media presentation Tuesday Nov. 22,2011. The ten-year-old international beauty pageant has attracted about 90 candidates with the venue transferred to thePhilippines this year following the flooding in Thailand. The reigning Miss Earth 2010 Nicole Faria of India will crownher successor at the coronation night on Dec.3, 2011.

President Noy is seen with fellow Heads of State during the discussion onthe 14th ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Summit at the Nusa Dua 4, Bali Nusa DuaConvention Center (BNDCC) in Bali, Indonesia Friday November 18, 2011.Since the process began in 1997, ASEAN Plus Three (APT) cooperation hasbroadened and deepened.

The World Bank (WB) has said thePhilippines’ improved macroeconomicfundamentals will again cushion anyimpact of any new financial shock tothe domestic economy, but cited theneed for higher infrastructureinvestments.

In its biannual report East Asia andPacific Economic Update (EAPUpdate) entitled “NavigatingTurbulence, Sustaining Growth”released Tuesday, WB said “the countryis well-insulated from the globalfinancial crisis owing to a significantimprovement of macroeconomicfundamentals and regulatory reformsalready in place following the Asianfinancial crisis of 1997-98.”

The report, however, pointed out theneed to improve productivity in thedomestic economy to sustain abovefive percent growth rate.

“In the Philippines, the quality ofurban and rural infrastructure is a majorconstraint, including roads, ports andairports,” it said.

World Bank Acting CountryDirector Chiyo Kanda said the lack ofinfrastructure in the country should beaddressed, noting that “it’s in thiscontext where the country’s program toattract investments in infrastructuredevelopment becomes even moreimportant.”

“The government is accelerating theimplementation of its publicinvestment and PPP (Public-PrivatePartnership) programs. Mobilizingprivate sector resources — technical,managerial and financial — to boostdelivery of essential economic andsocial services and infrastructure is astep in the right direction,” he said.

Pasay RTC Judge Jesus Mupas presides ata local court hearing to decide upon formerPhilippine leader Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’srequest to prolong her stay at a hospital inTaguig.

THE NATIONMetrEx: RP’s 1st & only WEEKLY Broadsheet Newsmagazine

2 Nov. 28 - Dec. 5, 2011

Justice demands.... From page 1

Gov’t allocates... From page 1

The filing of an electoral sabotage case against Arroyo is long overdue, and so do the filingof other cases. The Aquino administration assured the public that more cases, especiallyplunder and corruption, would be filed in the coming days. It is with a sense of relief that,finally, the Aquino administration is taking the filing of cases against Arroyo seriously. And ittook a planned travel abroad by the former president that forced the hand of the Aquinoadministration to finally file the cases.

However, what appears to be conspicuously absent is the filing of cases against Arroyo forthe numerous killings of activists and journalists, the enforced disappearances, and otherhuman rights violations. The relatives of the victims of the Amapatuan massacre took it uponthemselves to file a civil suit against Arroyo on the basis of command responsibility since itappears that the Aquino administration would not include this in the cases it would file againsther. To think, the prosecution of the perpetrators and all those responsible for the killings,enforced disappearances, and other human rights violations is more important now to breakthe prevailing impunity.

If we are to believe the Aquino administration, corruption in government has been checked– although signs of its continuity do appear with the obvious favoring by Aquino of certainCabinet officials – but the killings and other human rights violations continue with impunity.And this should be addressed now.

Also, while efforts to bring the Arroyos before the bar of justice continue, this does notexempt the Aquino administration from the need to put a stop to the continuing violations andinjustices happening under its watch. Holding the Arroyos accountable for their crimes againstthe people would amount to nothing if the impunity in killings of activists and journalists,enforced disappearances, and other human rights violations would continue under the currentadministration; if the same lack of transparency, patronage politics and warlordism wouldprevail; if poverty and inequities, landlessness, hunger and immiseration, oppression andexploitation continue to characterize the lives of majority of the Filipino people; and if thecountry continues to sink in the quagmire of backwardness and crisis, dependence and envi-ronmental degradation.

Justice demands nothing less. If this would be the case, running after Arroyo would only befor show because nothing much would change. (http://bulatlat.com)

through the ceasefire mechanisms” follow-ing the incident in Al-Barka, Basilan whichled to the death of 19 soldiers.

Meanwhile, the peace talks with the CPP-NPA-NDFP resumed on February 2011 inOslo, Norway.

“Both sides agreed to an accelerated timeframe, the convening of reciprocal workingcommittees and thematic working groups, andthe determination to conduct consultations andcomplete working drafts,” Deles said.

“There has been a delay in the talks withthe NDFP demanding the release of allegedpolitical prisoners before going back to thenegotiating table, but we remain positive andopen to peace negotiations,” she added.

The government has also engaged with theMoro National Liberation Front (MNLF),Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CPLA)and the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ngManggagawa ng Pilipinas–Revolutionary Pro-letarian Army–Alex Boncayao Brigade(RPMP/RPA/ABB) regarding the full imple-mentation of agreements already concludedand signed.

“We have fast-tracked the closure processwith the CPLA and the RPMP-RPA-ABB. Wehave signed a Memorandum of Agreementwith the CPLA last July 4 towards their finaldisposition of arms and forces and transfor-mation into a potent, socioeconomic unarmedforce. With the RPMP-RPA-ABB, we havesupported their intent to become part of the

Philippine mainstream, and to be politicallyand socially relevant without the use of arms,”Deles said.

On the peace process with the MNLF, thegovernment has been working towards com-pleting the implementation of the 1996 FinalPeace Agreement.

“The Ad Hoc High-Level Group of the twoparties met in Indonesia last June 20-22 todiscuss unresolved issues on the table. In thatmeeting, the GPH and MNLF mutually rec-ognized the possibilities for reform in light ofthe postponement of the ARMM (Autono-mous Region in Muslim Mindanao) elections.Both agreed that they should use the period towork together with other concerned stake-holders to capacitate the ARMM as a comple-mentary mechanism for the full implementa-tion of the peace pact,” the OPAPP head said.

This year, OPAPP also launched PAMANAor Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan(Peaceful and Resilient Communities), whichis the government’s program and frameworkthat seeks to reduce poverty, improve gover-nance and empower communities in sevenconflict zones all over the country.

“The President allocated P568 million tojump-start the implementation of PAMANAwhich started last June,” Deles related. “Un-der the program’s Pillar 1, 93 out of 295 targetcore shelters for displaced families have beenconstructed already in Maguindanao andNorth Cotabato. For Pillar 2, social prepara-

tion and validation of community-basedprojects are ongoing in various areas. As forPillar 3, 34 subregional projects, such as roadrehabilitation, eco-tourism development andlivelihood are continuing.”

PAMANA, which is currently imple-mented in 516 barangays in 80 municipali-ties, is jointly led by OPAPP, Department ofInterior and Local Government, Departmentof Social Welfare and Development and De-partment of Agrarian Reform.

Deles explained that OPAPP carries outoversight and monitoring functions inPAMANA, while DILG, DSWD and DARare the main implementing agencies.

“As stated under Executive Order 3,OPAPP will be charged with the manage-ment and supervision of the comprehensivepeace process. The peace adviser has theauthority to coordinate and integrate all ef-forts to advance the comprehensive peaceagenda,” she said.

Senator Franklin Drilon, chair of the Sen-ate Committee on Finance, has proposed thatthe PAMANA budget earmarked at P1.8 bil-lion be lodged under the implementing agen-cies, but OPAPP will still serve as oversight.

Under this proposal, OPAPP will not beallocated funds under PAMANA as it is notan implementing agency. According to theCommittee Report on House Bill No. 5023,P16.5 million will go to the DAR, P958 mil-lion to the DILG, and P789.8m to the DSWD.

(ME3) conference which identifies and measures health reforms implemented by the localgovernment units (LGUs).

“Within this program, LGUs are assessed through their efforts in implementing healthreforms. Additionally, through the ME3 program, a venue is provided for the transparency andaccountability of data and progress to various stakeholders,” Binay said.

“The resulting scorecards will offer government and public health officials insights onwhich areas they can improve on, particularly in the prevention and treatment of non-commu-nicable diseases, access to medicine and health services, the modernization of health facili-ties, the expansion of child and maternal health care, the adequate allocation of budget forhealth, and the improvement of LGU internal and sectoral management,” he added.

Binay said that the surgeons can provide valuable inputs to the DOH and their respectiveLGUs, and will be “of great aid in formulating policy and allocating resources.” He also urgedthem to efforts to prevent diseases and ailments.

The Vice President is the chairman of the HUDCC.

DOH eyes dev’t... From page 1Biotech key to stronger Phl economy — Angara

Senator Edgardo J. Angara called on thegovernment to prioritize the development ofbiotechnology in the Philippines in his key-note speech at the opening of the NationalBiotechnology Week (NBW) at the Depart-ment of Environment and Natural Resourcesin Diliman, Quezon City.

During his speech, Angara outlined themajor programs and initiatives for economicdevelopment which he initiated as Secretaryof the Department of Agriculture from 1999to 2001.

According to Angara, one of his first goalswas to build up human capital by creating agraduate and postgraduate scholarship pro-gram for the best and the brightest agricultur-al scientists and technologists.

“We set aside half a billion pesos so thatthey can study abroad through this programwhich is tied in with the internationally re-nowned Fulbright scholarship,” explained.

Second was another P500 million alloca-tion for the training and continuing educationof the country’s biotechnologists.

“At the time, we had a respectable num-ber of biotechnologists. Unfortunately, wewere lacking in labs and equipment so weallotted another half a billion pesos for theneeded facilities,” said Angara.

His third major initiative as AgricultureSecretary was the improvement of the quali-ty of livestock through genetic development.

“A large percentage of the food needs ofour country comes from meat products. Toaddress this need, we tried to upgrade thequality of genetic livestock,” said Angara.

Cayetano callsfor more budgetallocation fortertiary education

Senate minority leader Alan PeterCayetano has joined the call from studentsand fellow lawmakers to invest more on qual-ity tertiary education by allocating more fundsfor state universities and colleges (SUCs).

Cayetano said the government’s increasedbudget allocation for education still not enoughto meet the United Nation’s recommendationthat a country’s education budget should besix percent of its gross domestic product(GDP).

”Although the 2011 education budgetshows a nominal increase from the previousyears, it is merely 2.29 percent of GDP,”Cayetano said.

While he commended the government’sefforts to prioritize basic education, Cayetanosaid that this should not be done at the ex-pense of tertiary education, adding that edu-cation is being funded disproportionately re-sulting in decreasing numbers of studentsgraduating from one level to the next.

“Of 100 students that enter into Grade 1,only 65 graduate elementary school. Of thisnumber, only 43 graduate high school andonly 23 go into college. And of the 23, only 14graduate from college,” he said.

Cayetano said that research and experi-ence would show that investment in educa-tion, especially in the tertiary level was aneffective way to eliminate poverty and was adriver of global competitiveness since col-lege graduates had a higher chance of con-tributing significantly to national develop-ment. “Whether in a human development ornational development angle, the state will ben-efit if we invest more on tertiary education,”he added. The senator also said that not allSUCs were equipped with the capacity to beentirely self-sustaining since most of theseinstitutions did not have the land assets or re-sources to generate their own income.

Govt ready to implement P 8.5-BARMM roadmap, investment plan

The government will implement its P 8.5-billion roadmap and investment plan for thefive provinces under the Autonomous Regionin Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), Interior andLocal Government Secretary Jesse M.Robredo said.

Robredo said there was a pending appealagainst a Supreme Court decision upholdingthe constitutionality of a law resetting the pollsin the region and allowing President BenignoS. Aquino III to appoint an officer-in-chargegovernor thereat.

The DILG chief said the P8.5 billion dis-bursement acceleration fund was on top ofthe P 11.8 billion regular ARMM budget forCY 2011 and which will be implemented byat least 10 national government agencies un-der an ARMM Transition Team to be headedby the DILG.

“The very main reason why we are heretoday is to let the public know of the Aquinogovernment’s sincerity in its promise of allo-cating multi-billion-peso funds for ARMM forits social economic development, governancereforms and for improving peace and secu-rity in the region,” Robredo said.

He said the ARMM multi-agency transi-tion team intends to fast track the Aquinogovernment’s mission and vision for ARMMdespite a motion for reconsideration by somegroups to the Oct. 18, 2011 Supreme Courtdecision, which upheld the constitutionalityof Republic Act 10153 postponing the ARMMelections and authorizing President Aquino toappoint OICs in the region.

On Friday’s event held at the Pinnacle Hotelin Davao City, the DILG invited the fiveARMM governors and congressmen, the vari-ous non-governmental organizations, civilianvolunteer organizations, Christian and Mus-lim religious leaders, and all concerned stake-holders to discuss the ARMM transition plan.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino (R) listens as his South Korean counterpart Lee Myung-bak delivers his speech during a joint newsconference at Malacanang Palace in Manila November 21, 2011. Lee is in Manila for a three-day state visit.

POLITICSMetrEx: RP’s 1st & only Weekly Broadsheet Newsmagazine

3Nov. 21 - 28, 2011

Senate okays measure making kinder education mandatoryThe Senate unanimously approved on third

and final reading a bill seeking to make kin-dergarten education mandatory for childrenfive years old and below before entering el-ementary school.

All 19 senators present voted for the HouseBill 3826 or known as Kindergarten Educa-tion Act of 2011 sponsored by SenatorEdgardo Angara in the Senate.

Angara said the Kindergarten EducationAct was written to be as flexible as possible— the curriculum is unspecified, and depen-dent on the educational establishment imple-menting the measure.

”Local government units also need notworry about a lack of funding for infrastruc-ture because they can make use of the daycare centers established in almost everybarangay as classrooms for Kindergarten,”he said.

Angara said he believed that the measure,

especially when coupled with the K12 cur-riculum which will add two more years ofsenior high school, will raise the quality ofFilipino education.

In his sponsorship speech, Angara said thesix years of primary schooling in the Philip-pines fall well below international standards.

“Because we lack the prescribed numberof years in school, our engineering graduatesare only hired as engineering assistants, andour nurses as nursing aids, when they goabroad,” he said.

“Why did we add a year before Grade 1and not after Grade 6? Because in the Philip-pines, we have the highest drop-out rate ingrades one to three — partly not because ofpoverty, but also because so many of thesechildren begin school ill-equipped for the rig-ors of the new environment of the classroom,”Angara, chair of the Senate Committee onEducation, Arts and Culture, added.

Angara pushes for creationof new housing department

Senator Edgardo Angara has thrown hissupport behind the establishment of a Depart-ment of Housing to better coordinate the ef-forts of the Housing and Urban DevelopmentCoordinating Council (HUDCC) and numer-ous agencies now only under its supervision.

The HUDCC is composed of the HomeGuaranty Corporation, National Home Mort-gage Finance Corporation, Social HousingFinance Corporation, National Housing Au-thority, Home Development Mutual Fund, andthe Land Use Regulatory Board.

“It is high time that we rationalize all theseagencies and put them together under a Hous-ing Department. This will make coordinationeasier, and make us closer to our target ofproviding more homes to our people,” saidAngara, Vice-Chair of the Committee on Fi-nance.

“The Philippines is the only country that

spends the least for housing of their citizens—even less than half a percent of our GDP,”he said, reiterating the need for increasedcoordination and budgetary support.

The total budget allocation for all housingagencies for FY 2012 is only P6.975 billion.

“There are 1.5 million Filipinos in need ofhelp to provide shelter for their families. Whyare we not helping them? To meet this need,the government has to invest P361 billion from2012 to 2016, but given our current spending,how will we reach that goal?” he continued.

Reacting to government underspending thathas resulted to the contraction of the economyAngara said, “The construction industry hasshrunk by 10 percent because governmenthas not been spending money it ought tospend. And it is affecting our economy. In-stead of stimulating our economy, it is costingus jobs.”

“We ought to invest properly and strategi-cally. Construction and housing are in fact thekey engines of job creation in the country, yetit sorely lacks attention of government. It isimperative to create a Housing Department

that will be at the forefront of this effort toassist in providing homes for our people,” hestressed.

The Senate Committees on Urban Plan-ning, Housing and Resettlement, joint with

the Committee Civil Service and GovernmentReorganization, and the Committee on Fi-nance, is scheduled to hear the said billWednesday morning.

Press Release

Senator Panfilo M. Lacson moved toaugment the budget of the Bureau ofImmigration and the National Bureau ofInvestigation in an effort to boost its lawenforcement assets and capabilities.

Interpellating on the proposed budget ofthe Department of Justice, Lacsonsuggested sourcing the additional budget forthe two agencies from the cancelledallocation for the construction of a new hallof justice for the city of Manila worth P400million and the P33 million slash from thebudget of the Office of the Secretary ofJustice.

The budget cuts were made during thecommittee hearings on the GeneralAppropriations Bill for 2012.

“In the President’s budget message, itwas mentioned that the facilities andequipment of the NBI crime laboratoriesand forensic investigation will be modern-ized and upgraded,” Lacson, a former lawenforcer himself, said in justifying hisproposal.

Lacson noted that the BI and NBI budget

Lacson pushes for NBI,BI budget increase

- P461 million and P842 million, respec-tively - were measly compared to thebudget allocations of the Philippine NationalPolice and the AFP.

He said although the work force of thePNP and AFP are much bigger, funds forthe BI and NBI should at least be at par andthe additional allocation be commensurateto the number of their personnel and itsofficial functions.

Senator Franklin Drilon, financecommittee chairman and sponsor of thebudget legislation, said the door is still openfor specific amendments granting morefunds to the BI and the NBI.

On the budget of the Department of theInterior and Local Government, Lacsoninquired on the legal basis used by theNational Police Commission to arrogateupon themselves the function of managingfunds generated from trust receipts issuedby the PNP.

He said it was very unusual for theNAPOLCOM to dip its hands on the trustreceipts income of the PNP.

New guidelineson student visaThe Bureau of Immigration (BI) has

imposed new guidelines tightening its rulesin the issuance of student visa and specialstudy permit (SSP) to foreigners enrolled invarious schools in the country followingreports on the alleged presence of fakeforeign student visas.

Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. said he

issued the new memorandum last monthafter reports reaching his office thatunscrupulous travel agents have beenconniving with foreigners in submitting fakeor fraudulent transcript/school records forthe student visa and SSP applications.

David said student visa is issued toforeigners, at least 18 years old, who will

be taking up a course higher than highschool at a university, seminary college orschool authorized to admit foreign students.

The SSPs are issued to foreign studentsbelow 18 years old who will study in theelementary, secondary, tertiary levels andthose who will enroll in a special course inless than one year.

Under the new memorandum, Davidsaid, the school’s designated liaison officeror representative, who must be an employ-ee of the school, shall exclusively representor assist the foreign student in applying fora visa.

“We have to make sure that onlyforeigners actually studying in the Philip-

pines are given these visas,” Davidstressed, adding, that fake foreign studentsare blatantly violating Philippine laws.

David instructed BI intelligence chief,Ma. Antonette Bucasas-Mangrobang andAnna Katrina Sy-Gil, BI student desk head,to conduct investigation that would lead tothe identity of fake alien students so thattheir visas can be cancelled and facedeportation proceedings.

The new rules also provide that onlyschools accredited by the BI, the Depart-ment of Education, Commission on HigherEducation, Technical Education and SkillsDevelopment Authority, and Federation ofAccrediting Agencies are authorized to

accept foreign students.It also requires schools to establish a

foreign student unit and submit to the BI aperiodic report on foreigners enrolled intheir school.

Each school shall designate its represen-tative who will transact with the BI andapply for the issuance or renewal of studyvisas or SSPs in favor of the foreignstudents.

The BI instructed their alien controlofficers in areas where the schools aresituated to submit to the bureau’s mainoffice a monthly report on study visas andpermits processed by their respectiveoffices.

U.S. President Barack Obama meets with Philippines President Benigno Aquino on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Nusa Dua, Bali,November 18, 2011.

Men in uniform stand guard at the entrance of St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig to former Philippine leader Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who isunder hospital arrest on orders of a Pasay Regional Trial Court . CGMA was arrested on charges of electoral sabotage. She will be given a fairopportunity to defend herself in court, President Benigno Aquino said on Sunday.

OPINIONEWSMetro Express: PH’s 1st & only Weekly Broadsheet Newsmagazine

4 Nov. 28 - Dec. 5, 2011

The Metro Express is a weekly broadsheet newsmagazine published by el amigomedia solutions and distributed widely in Metro Manila at LRT/MRT Stations, the Houseof Representatives, the Senate and other government offices. For press, photo releasesand advertising inquiries, text or call Hotlines Globe 0915-5517486 and Smart 0949-1661022. Emails: esns03@yahoo.com & 2011metroexpress@gmail.com.

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Benjie AlejandroEdi tor ia l Contr ibutorColumnist

el amigo media solutionsPublisher

Your comments/shoutouts on issues are welcome here.Please send them through esns03@yahoo.com

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EDITOR’S NOTE: All commentaries and or opinions submitted by colum-nists and herein published shall remain as personal opinion of writers. Assuch, these cannot and never be construed nor considered as similar tothat of this publication (Metro Express)’s stand on issues discussed. Bethat as it may, Metro Express shall not be held liable on any legal issuesrelated/pertaining to, or any column/commentaries that may appear herein.

BURNING ISSUES

When going gets tough, thetough gets going.

“Many accidents involve competing buses, each trying to outdo each otherin getting more passengers. Sometimes, accidents are caused by tired andsleepy drivers who are forced to work for 16 to 20 hours a day,” Estrada saidin the bill’s explanatory note.

In 2008, Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) recorded 4,325bus accidents in Metro Manila or a daily average of 13 accidents involvingbuses. In 2009, the number of these incidents decreased but was still peggedat 10 accidents per day.

“Poor working conditions and unfair boundary or commission-based sys-tems are at the root of the problems of accidents and heavy traffic,” Estradasaid.

A separate proposal filed by Estrada, Senate Bill 2908 sets coverage andbenefits entitlement from Social Security System, PhilHealth, PAG-IBIG andEmployees Compensation Commission (ECC) for all public utility vehicledrivers.

Estrada backs... From page 1

In April of next year, Korean firm Donggwang Clark Corporation isexpected to complete its $ 200-million tourism-related project, whichincludes the Clark Sun Valley Golf Course located at main zone of theFreeport.

With the groundbreaking of this fourth Clark project, Donggwang ispoised to be the new leader in tourism complex and golf course construc-tion in the Philippines, Remollo said.

Remollo said the Korean firm will create a 304-hectare tourism complexwith residence villas, water theme park, and various amenities. Comple-menting this is a 10-storey office and residential building –the biggest of itskind inside Clark.

While Tower 3 of Donggwang’s ODE County Officetel is alreadycomplete, February 2012 will see the completion of two of its other

structures – Towers 1 and 2, said Remollo.Moreover, expected to be completed by April 2013 is the proposed CDC

Corporate Building, which will consolidate the various departments andoffices in one modern, environment-friendly structure.

At present, departments and offices of the CDC’s Corporate Headquar-ters are located separately in nine different buildings and structures.

In the various conceptual studies currently under evaluation, the newcorporate headquarters will also have provisions for commercial spaces forlease in the first two floors, with the rest of the building allotted for CDCadministrative and executive offices.

Also, facilities for Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) such asfitness gym, multi-purpose function hall, clinic, and a chapel will also beincluded in the building’s various amenities.

New projs up in Clark in ‘12... From page 8

Globe Telecom said it would accelerate the roll out of its fiber optics toincrease network capacity in a bid to meet the growing demand forbroadband and mobile data.

Jesus Romero, head of Globe Business, told reporters that 50 percent ofits base stations nationwide would be using fiber optics to significantlyincrease capacity and improve network quality.

At present, Globe has more than 6,000 base stations nationwide.Romero added the company’s cell site locations would be converted into

3G enabled and HSPA Plus from 2G.

He said the upgrade of its network is expected to be completed between18 months to 24 months, adding that subscribers can expect an improveservice by middle of next year.

Alongside its network modernization program, Globe likewise embarkedon an IT transformation that would enhance business support systems toimprove customer experience.

A standards-based IT architecture will be in place that is robust, scalable,and flexible, allowing Globe to quickly respond to future business require-ments.

Once the new system is in place, Globe will have an integrated front-endapplication that will allow Globe Stores and call centers to respond quicklyto customer queries and service requests.

“We envision an unparalleled customer experience that will truly setGlobe apart from competition. Our plans are ambitious, yet necessary stepto help sustain our momentum towards being a customer-centric organiza-tion,” Robert Tan, chief technical adviser of Globe said.

Globe will also establish a Joint Innovation Center (JIC) with its technolo-gy partner, Huawei that will provide opportunities for Globe to learnnetwork best practices and tap into the latest developments of the 17 R&Dcenters of Huawei globally.

Owned by Ayala Corp. and Singapore Telecommunications Ltd., Globeannounced a $ 790-million investment for a massive network moderniza-tion program and information technology (IT) re-engineering project in thenext five years.

Of the total, $ 700 million would be invested for its network moderniza-tion program and another $ 90 million for IT transformation initiative.

For next year, the company has set aside $ 800 million in capitalexpenditure (capex), including the on-going business as usual type ofcapex. This is higher than the $ 450 million capex alloted this year.

Globe said this was the “biggest” and most “significant” investment thatit has undertaken in the past two decades.

Globe to roll outfiber optics networkto expand capacity

On Congress

The timing of the resumption of the Senate inquiry into the allegedcheating during 2004 and 2007 elections is not right as this comes in amidongoing court proceedings against former president, Pampanga Rep.Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, some senators said yesterday. “Personally, Iwould not advise it,” said Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, when asked onthe scheduled continuation of joint proceedings of the committees onelectoral reforms and people’s participation chaired by Sen. Aquilino“Koko” Pimentel and blue ribbon led by Sen. Teofisto “TG” Guingona onthe purported massive poll fraud operations during the said electoralexercises. (Tribune-p1)

The Supreme Court (SC) has upheld the legality of the Senate’s probeinto the disappearance of whistleblower Rodolfo Lozada Jr. in 2008 priorto his testimony on the botched $329-million national broadband network(NBN) deal of the previous administration with the Chinese firm ZTECorp. (Philstar-p5 )

Sen. Pia Cayetano yesterday earned the ire of Majority Leader VicenteSotto III after she made insinuations on supposed intentional delay indeliberations of the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) bill. Sottogave the lady senator a mouthful during the afternoon plenary proceedingsafter Cayetano made the statement when she attempted to speed updeliberations on the measure which she sponsors as being healthcommittee chairman by moving it to the period of interpellations andperiod of debates. (Tribune-p3) RH Bill

On PresidencyMalacañang clarified yesterday that it is not trying to humiliate former

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo when the government moved to puther in jail, saying this was something she has to undergo as an accused ina criminal case. ”We are not humiliating former President Arroyo. This isthe process that she has to undergo now, like every accused who facescertain cases in our system,” deputy presidential spokesperson AbigailValte stressed. (Philstar-Banner) Arroyo

Public spending will be increased this quarter as a result of fasterdisbursement of government funds in the third quarter of the year,Malacañang said yesterday. Deputy presidential spokesperson AbigailValte said the Philippine economy has also been affected by the debtcrises in the US and Europe. (Philstar-p8) Public spending

President Aquino needs to “reload” the Philippine government’srelations with the European Union (EU) and the Belgium governmentfollowing the cancellation of a Belgian firm’s contract for the dredging ofLaguna Lake by his administration. EU Council President Herman VanRompuy has a standing invitation for Aquino to visit the EU. (Philstar-p17)

On The Arroyos

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo wants to be detained in her sprawling houseat the swank La Vista subdivision in Quezon City. But her chief accusersays: No way. “Our position is very clear. It should be in a detention cell ofa government detention facility. We will not agree if it is a private hospital.We will not agree if it’s in her residence. We will not agree to housearrest,” said Sixto Brillantes Jr., chairman of the Commission on Elections(Comelec). (PDI-Banner)

Will it be the hospital room previously occupied by suspected massmurderer Andal Ampatuan Sr. or the Joseph Estrada suite? Where formerPresident Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will be detained while she is facingcharges of electoral sabotage is being mulled by her jailor, Judge JesusMupas of the Pasay City Regional Trial Court (RTC). (PDI-p1)

On The Supreme Court

Sen. Franklin Drilon yesterday pressed his campaign for Chief JusticeRenato Corona to inhibit himself in any case involving Gloria Arroyo as helisted 19 cases in which Corona sided with the position taken by theformer president. “The current score is 19-0. Chief Justice Renato Coronaconsistently voted in favor of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyoin all 19 cases brought before the Supreme Court. He never voted againsther,” he said. (Malaya-Banner)

Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s petition questioning thelegality of her indictment for electoral sabotage at the Pasay City RegionalTrial Court will be heard at the Supreme Court (SC) today. Oral argumentson the constitutionality of the joint preliminary investigation by theDepartment of Justice (DOJ) and Commission on Elections (Comelec) onpoll fraud charges will start at 2 p.m. Arroyo’s petition was consolidatedwith those of her husband’s, Jose Miguel Arroyo, and that of formerelections chairman Benjamin Abalos. (Phistar-p1) Poll fraud

On ‘Morong 43’

A Quezon City court has ordered former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to answer the P15-million suit filed by the so-called “Morong 43,”whom the military had suspected of being members of the New People’sArmy (NPA). Arroyo and other military officials have been summoned toanswer the civil complaint filed against them by health workers whoclaimed to have been wrongfully detained last year after they werearrested while attending a seminar in a private resort in Morong, Rizal.The Morong 43 filed the complaint in April this year before Judge Ma.Luisa Quijano-Padilla of Regional Trial Court Branch 226. (PDI-p2)

On The Justice Secretary

A private lawyer asked the Supreme Court (SC) yesterday to orderdisbarment proceedings against Justice Secretary Leila de Lima for herreported defiance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) on her travelban on Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The TRO would haveallowed Arroyo to seek medical treatment abroad for a rare disease in hercervical spine while charges of electoral sabotage were still to be lodgedagainst her. (Philstar-p1)

On Hacienda Luisita

The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) yesterday said nothing isdefinite yet as to the amount of compensation to be extended tolandowners in line with the recent ruling of the Supreme Court (SC) thatordered the distribution of Hacienda Luisita to farmer-beneficiaries.Militants, on the other hand, sounded the alarm that problems might stillarise over the fight for the distribution of Hacienda Luisita to rightfulfarmer-beneficiaries. (Philstar-p17)

On Hospital Acquisition

Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) announced yesterday that thefirm is participating in the bidding for the modernization of the PhilippineOrthopedic Hospital under the government’s public-private partnership(PPP) program. MPIC said that it is interested in expanding its hospitalchain, consistent with its strategy of forming the first nationwide networkof hospitals in the country. (Philstar-p1

THE METROPOLISMetrEx: 1st & only Weekly Broadsheet Newsmagazine

5Nov. 28 - Dec. 5, 2011

The Bureau of Fire Protection-NationalCapital Region (BFP-NCR) reminded thepublic on Wednesday to be cautious inbuying substandard Christmas lights that arebeing sold at very cheap prices and can befound mostly along the streets.

Chief Superintendent Santiago Laguna,BFP-NCR director, issued the reminder inan effort to minimize if not totally avoidaccidents caused by electrical fires duringthe coming Christmas and New Yearholidays.

“We would like to remind the public to beextra careful in buying Christmas lightswhich may turn out to be sub- standard.According to our statistics, this is one of themain causes of fires that razed severalhouses in Metro Manila in the pastChristmas celebrations,” Laguna said.

It can be recalled that KC de Venecia,the daughter of former House Speaker Josede Venecia Jr., died in a fire on December18, 2004 which, according to the MakatiFire Department investigators, might havebeen caused by a short circuit.

“In order to avoid similar incident, wewould like to remind the public to ensurethat all electrically-sourced appliances,especially Christmas lights, should beproperly installed by a competent licensedelectrician”, Laguna said.

He added that he already directed hisFire District directors, City Fire marshalsand Municipal Fire marshals now that theYuletide season is just a few days away tointensify their campaign in educating thecommunity about fire safety, particularly onthe use of Christmas lights.

He further instructed them to conductinspection of all commercial establishmentsaround Metro Manila to make sure that theChristmas lights they are selling passed thesafety standard issued by the Department ofTrade and Industry.

BFP-NCR reminds public vs. substandard Christmas lights

PDEA reaches out to kids with cancer,donates computers to QC public school

The Philippine Drug EnforcementAgency (PDEA) played Santa Claus inearly Christmas party Friday as PDEADirector General Jose S. Gutierrez Jr. ledthe agency’s personnel in a gift-giving eventto children, from toddlers to 19 years old, atthe Philippine Children’s Medical Center(PCMC) in Diliman, Quezon City.

Cancer treatmentMost of the children are undergoing

cancer treatment. They were very happywhen presented with gifts, foods and othersurprises.

“We (drug enforcers) fight drugs thatdestroy lives. But these children (withcancer) fight for their lives every day,”Gutierrez said, adding that he admires thedetermination of the children to win theirpersonal battle over cancer.

“This is the least anyone could do - give

these children the opportunity to experiencethe joy being children without care even forjust a short while take their mind off theseriousness of their fight,” the PDEA chiefadded.

ComputersGutierrez also personally turned over 10

computer sets to Dr. Emma C. Quintana,principal of San Jose High School inMauban, Barangay San Jose, Quezon City.

NPDO launches‘Oplan Sita’

In an effort to reduce, if not totallyprevent, street crimes in the areas under itsjurisdiction, the Northern Police DistrictOffice (NPDO) announced that it will beconducting more “Oplan Sita” this comingChristmas season.

Chief Supt. Arturo L. Decano, NPDOIchief, said all police operatives of thecommand are ordered to closely inspectmotorcycles and other motor vehiclespassing through their areas of jurisdiction tocheck whether they possess the properlicense plates, chassis numbers, andregistration documents, or carrying illegalweapons.

Decano also instructed the NPDOoperatives to immediately impoundmotorcycles and vehicles without properdocumentation and bring in their drivers andpassengers for questioning.

He explained that the intensifiedinspection of vehicles is in line with theNational Capital Region Police Office’sorder to increase police visibility so thatcrime incidents will be further reduced inthe Metro Manila area.

Employeesget 13th mo pay

Christmas literally came early for thefamilies of the 900 employees of theMalabon local government as their 13thmonth pay was released to them by the citytreasurer’s office.

Malabon Mayor Canuto Oreta said the13th month pay is equivalent to half of theemployee’s regular monthly salary.

In addition, Oreta said that a cash gift ofP5,000 was given to all Malabon City Hallemployees to ensure that they would havesufficient funds for the coming Christmasseason.

He also assured his employees that their14th month will also be released as soon aspossible so that they will have additionalmoney for the holidays.

DSWD to register additional 4Ps beneficiaries in NCRThe Department of Social Welfare and

Development–National Capital Region(DSWD-NCR) announced that it will beconducting a series of community assem-blies at Manila’s Districts 2, 4 and 6 toregister additional beneficiaries of thePantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps)from Nov. 21 to Dec. 2.

DSWD-NCR Director Ma. Alicia S.Bonoan said her agency is targeting anadditional 6,919 households as potentialbeneficiaries for the NCR.

BeneficiariesAccording to her, target beneficiaries are

based on the National Household TargetingSystem for Poverty Reduction of theDSWD and identified through a communityassembly conducted in barangay halls,covered courts, elementary schools andchurches located in the targeted barangays.

The community assembly is a venue forDSWD to validate the information ofpotential household beneficiaries and toregister them with the Land Bank of thePhilippines for issuance of cash cards.

“The beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyaget their cash grants through Landbankusing their cash cards,” Bonoan said.

4Ps is the government’s poverty reduc-tion program implemented by the DSWDwhich provides conditional cash grants toextremely poor households to improve theeducation, nutrition and health of childrenaged 0-14 years.

Health and nutritionIt offers P6,000 a year or P500 per month

for health and nutrition expenses andP3,000 for one school year (10 months) orP300 monthly per child for the educationalexpenses.

A maximum of three children perhousehold is covered in the program.

Bill to boost socialized housing nationwide takes shapeThe House of Representatives will soon

tackle in plenary a proposed amendatorybill requiring the participation of owners anddevelopers of condominium projects in thegovernment’s socialized housing program.

The House Committee on Housing andUrban Development, chaired by Rep.Rodolfo Valencia, has endorsed themeasure strengthening the “BalancedHousing Development Program” under HB5446 for plenary consideration andapproval.

“To accelerate the government’ssocialized housing program nationwide, weare eliciting the participation of owners andcondominium developers,” Valencia said.

HB 5446 is entitled “An Act Strengthen-ing the Balanced Housing DevelopmentProgram, amending for the purposeRepublic Act No. 7279, entitled: An Act toprovide for a comprehensive and continuingUrban Development and Housing Program,establish the mechanism for its implemen-

tation, and for other purposes.”“We have included the development of

education facilities within the projects(areas) or within cities or municipalities asa mode of compliance with the balancedhousing requirements, among others,”revealed Valencia, principal author of oneof the six separate but related bills consoli-dated by his committee.

HB 5446, contained in Committee Report1498 and approved in committee lastOctober, is in substitution to the separatebills principally authored by: Rep. Valencia;Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy; MarcelinoTeodoro; Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla; Rep.Walden Bello; Rep. Kaka Bag-ao; and Rep.Carmelo Lazatin.

Other co-authors are Reps. WinstonCastelo, Catalina Leonen-Pizarro, IrvinAlcala, Sigfrido Tinga, Angelo Palmones,Arnel Ty, Isidro Lico, Emerenciana DeJesus, Mel Senen Sarmiento and JeciLapus.

Likewise, the proposed measure wouldalso allow developers covered by theproposed Act to engage in a joint-ventureproject with another private developer, bothof whom shall be “solidarily liable” in theproduction of the socialized housing incompliance with the balanced housingrequirement, regardless of the provisions oftheir joint-venture agreement.

Furthermore, HB 5446 includes in thecoverage of Section 18 of Republic Act No.7279 condominium projects whose ownersor developers shall be required to developan area for socialized housing equivalent toat least 20% of the total condominium areaor condominium cost.

To further ensure compliance, the billproposes to amend Section 45 of R.A. 7279to include a penal provision for those whoviolate Section 18 with imprisonment of notmore than six years or a fine of not lessthan P500,000.00 but not more than P10-million.

DOH to MM residents: Control rodent population at home to prevent spread of leptospirosisThe Department of Health asks Metro Manila residents to control and suppress rodent

infestations to prevent the spread of leptospirosis at home.“Everyone should avoid contact with rodents, [and] remove their food sources, water, and

items that could provide them shelter. Seal holes inside and outside our homes in order toprevent their entry. Keep them outside our homes so that they will not multiply within thehousehold. Let us also clean up potential rodent food sources outside and destroy their nesting

sites,” Metro Manila Regional Director Eduardo Janairo said.“Rodents such as rats and mice are the primary carriers of the leptospirosis virus. It is

important to identify the signs of rodent infestation at home. If you regularly see rodentdroppings around food packages, in drawers or cupboards, and/or under the sink, then yourhouse is infested,” Dr. Janairo said.

Press Release

Additional subsidygiven to topperforming publicart high schools

Seventeen of the country’s expansionschools offering the special program in thearts (SPA) will each get P500,000 inadditional subsidy to boost the capability ofthese schools in delivering the specializedprogram.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro saidthis is part of the government’s thrust todemocratize access to other educationaltracks that nurture the creative skills oflearners. “This is consistent with our plan toenhance the basic education curriculum sothat students who have the inclinationtoward the arts will have the venue tofurther develop their self-expression,”Luistro added.

The 17 expansion schools were devel-oped from the original 17 public highschools offering SPA, which was piloted in2000. From the 17 pilot schools, the numberexpanded to 75 schools across the countrythat cater to students who favor the arts.The 17 expansion schools were chosenfrom the 75 public high schools afterdisplaying capability to nurture morestudents in six art disciplines—namely,music, visual arts, theater arts, creativewriting, media arts, and dance.

The SPA expansion schools to receivesubsidy for school year 2011–2012 areDagupan City National High School (NHS)in Region 1; Lallo NHS in Region 2; BataanNHS in Region 3; Calamba Bayside NHSin Region 4-A; Looc NHS in Region 4-B;Marcial Ranola Memorial School in Region5; and Oton NHS in Region 6.

The other recipient schools are NegrosOccidental NHS in Region 6; MandaueNHS in Region 7; Baybay NHS in Region8; Zamboanga del Sur NHS in Region 9;Gingoog City Comprehensive High School(CHS) in Region 10; Tagum CHS andDavao del Norte NHS in Region 11;General Santos City NHS in Region 12;Agusan del Sur NHS in Caraga; and SanFrancisco High School in the NationalCapital Region.

Of the P0.5 million subsidy, 40 percentwill go to the procurement of arts and musicsupplies, costumes, and instructionalmaterials in different art areas. Training ofteachers and administrators on relevanttopics in the arts will get 20 percent of theallocation.

Student development activities such astraining, workshop, and participation inDepartment of Education (DepEd)-approved arts festivals and competitionswill also get 20 percent, whereas theremaining 20 percent is for the participationof teachers in DepEd-sponsored scholar-ships, professional upgrading of theteachers including enrollment in a master’sdegree program.

These schools were selected based ontheir performance in terms of sustainableenrollment across art areas and year levels,as well as awards/recognition receivedfrom their participation in local, national,and international competitions.

The schools are expected to conduct ayearly mentoring and training program toother schools within the division/region thatintend to implement the SPA. Also, theymust continue to participate in national andinternational events/competitions.

Moreover, the student-beneficiaries mustattain a mean percentage score above thenational average in the National Achieve-ment Test.

Kids look for salvageable materials among debris and rubbish after an overnight fire blazed through a slum area in Quezon City, east of Manilaon November 20, 2011. Four people were killed after being trapped inside their burning house, a police report said. Some 500 houses wereaffected in the fire according to local media report.

METRO EXPRESS NEWSMAGAZINE6 Nov. 28 - Dec. 5, 2011

FAITH, HEALTH, EVENTS, PLACES & PEOPLE

Hangzhou, China- Some of the greatestwomen and men players in the world willarrive in China once again, this time to playtogether as a team at the 2nd Annual WorldMixed Doubles! Global billiards promoterDragon Promotions will be producing theevent on November 30- Decemeber 2, 2011.This will be the first event produced in Chinaby a foreign international company and work-ing in cooperation with their local partner 9Club Entertainment and sanctioned by theChinese Billiards and Snooker Association.The event will pair the top men’s and wom-en’s players together as a two-person team,with a total of 16 teams from around the world.Last year had top talents such as Mika Im-monen, Shane Van Boening, Shanelle Lo-raine, Kaori Ebe and more competed in thisunique and excting event. Efren “Magician”Reyes and Rubilen Amit of the Philippineswon the inaugural first event.

All players are welcomed to qualify forthe main event through a 1 day qualifier onNovember 28, 2011 at 9-Club in Hangzhou,China. The stage 1 qualifier event will takeplace near the main event venue.

The format will be:

10-Ball Race to 8 Double elimination Champion of the event will receive free

entry to the World Mixed Doubles Playersmeeting 11am. Matches begins 11:30am.

Entry Fee $100 per team9-Club Address: Western City Plaza Hotel

rate is $40 a night located 1 minute walkacross the street to 9-Club.

Contact candyshiyu@hotmail.com or call1-500-005-3160 to register for the event.

For all info on the event contactdragonpromotionsnews@gmail.com

Prize money for Stage 2:1st $15,0002nd $80003rd $60004th $40005th $30006th $20007-8th $1000

“This is a dream come true for us to bringDragon Promotions to China. Their name isvery respected here and the World MixedDoubles is one of their premiere events thatwe really wish to see. Having the top menand women stars at the same time playingtogether will be a very big treat for the fans.We plan on helping Dragon Promotions tobuild this into a huge event and we look for-ward to a long cooperation with them foryears to come”, says Wang Di, President of9 Club Entertainment.

World Mixed Doubles: Qualifier

ACTOR Enchong Dee is willing to wait until Julia Montes is ready to acceptsuitors.

“Ganoon pa rin naman. Inaantay ko lang na mag-birthday siya para masokay,” said Enchong, who added that he’s just waiting for the young actress toturn 18.

Only 16 years old, Julia said that she’s too young to enter any romantic rela-tionship.

“I think right thing for a man to wait for someone na alam mong bata pa.Respeto na din yun sa magulang niya, sa pamilya niya at sa lahat ng tao sapaligid niya,” Enchong said.

Enchong said he is reluctant to share things before because he wants to keeptheir friendship away from the eyes of the viewing public.

To recall, both stars were linked to each other early this year when theywere spotted having dinner in a restaurant in Tomas Morato area in QuezonCity.

Enchong immediately dismissed the relationship angle linked to them andsaid it was just a friendly dinner with some of their friends.

The actor also shrugged off reports saying he is romantically committed tohis “Maria la del Barrio” co-actor Erich Gonzales.

He said they are just friends and already discussed this matter, and made apact not to fall in love with each other.

Ogie says Regine won’t leave showbiz

SINGER/COMPOSER Ogie Al-casid, husband of Regine Velasquez,vehemently denied rumors that theAsia’s Songbird will leave the enter-tainment industry to become a full-timemom.

Velasquez gave birth to NathanielJames, her first child with singer-song-

writer Ogie Alcasid, last November 8.Alcasid said he and Velasquez will

work together in a concert next year.“Mayroon kaming concert sa Feb-

ruary 14 sa Araneta Coliseum, so iyonang una niyang gagawin. Gusto rawniyang magpapayat. Sabi ko ‘Ikawkung ano ang gusto mo. Maganda ka

sa akin kahit ano,’” he said.Alcasid said he and Velasquez are

happy to have their first child.“Siyempre ang first few months ta-

laga mag-a-adjust ka talaga dahil iba-iba ang oras. Kung kailan ka tulog, doonsila gising. Pero okay lang, kahit walakang tulog okay lang,” he said.

He added that he has written a songfor Nathaniel James.

“Noong nasa bahay ako tinapos ko.Medyo ni-record ko nang konti. Pinasako na sa arranger ko. ‘Yung title ‘Ak-ing Anak,’” he said.

When asked to give a message tohis wife and son, Alcasid said, “Ma-hal, nakakatuwa na ang saya-saya mo.Nanay ka na. Siyempre mahirap iyansa simula, pero nandito naman ako paraalalayan ka.”

In movie “I Won’t Last A Day Without You” Gerald tells Sarah not to be afraid to love againDON’T be afraid to love again.This was the advice given by young

actor Gerald Anderson to his “Won’tLast A Day Without You” co-star Sa-rah Geronimo.

“Siyempre alam naman din natin angsitwasyon niya. Marami siyang pi-nagdaanan. At least ‘yung next rela-tionship niya, alam niya kung paano

niya i-handle,” Anderson said.“Siguro ang advice ko, ‘wag na lang

siya masyado matakot pumasok saisang relationship,” he added.

Geronimo has moved on after herbreakup with actor-dancer RayverCruz, who is currently in a relation-ship with actress Cristine Reyes.

Asked if it is possible for him to fall

in love with Geronimo, Anderson said,“May isang buwan pa naman. Tignannatin.”

Anderson and Geronimo are the leadstars of Star Cinema’s upcoming film“Won’t Last A Day Without You.”Geronimo’s character in the film giveslove advice to radio listeners, whichinclude the character played by GA.

Enchong willing to wait for Julia

“When you produce much fruit, you are My true disciples. This brings great gloryto My Father” (John 15:8)

Please pray for people suffering with anxiety. Regret and worry weigh so manydown. Know someone who is anxious? Pray for them and send them towww.GodLife.com/peace to hear about Jesus’ amazing peace and forgiveness today.

Did you know that one small act from you could CHANGE someone’s LIFE?When I was a teenager, hard-hearted toward God, a Christian told me he was prayingfor me and that God had a great plan for my life. I had thought God wanted nothing todo with me, and that man told me it couldn’t be further from the truth. That small seedof hope grew into a tree of faith that completely changed my life. I am so thankful toMark Coffin for showing me Jesus’ love.

When you show God’s love to someone, you are planting a seed in their life—andthe potential is tremendous. Jesus said His kingdom is “like a mustard seed, which isthe smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes thelargest of all garden plants” (Mark 4:31,32). Like Mark with me, your small act ofkindness could change someone’s eternal destiny. Take a moment to think aboutsomeone who needs encouragement and how you could show God’s love to them.

Unimaginable ImpactNow, imagine you were not alone in showing Jesus’ love, butjoined with Christians all around the world. It’s the difference between one personplanting a fruit tree in their yard and a person on every street doing it. If we all joinedtogether, the world could be full of life.

What if we could link the 1-2 billion Christians to do united acts of God’s love tothose around us, everyday? That is the vision behind JET: Jesus, Everywhere, To-gether.

Through Facebook and Twitter (each hotlinks), we will be sending you JET mo-ments.

It might be a call to pray for your neighbor, or a prompt to tell someone about Jesus’love. We will join together all around the world to do them and update each other onour stories. Jesus said to us, “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop thatcannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14).

Imagine how much light in the world we can produce if we all band together!

Change someone’s life

BUSINESS & POLITICSMetrEx: 1st & Only Weekly Broadsheet Newsmagazine

7Nov. 28 - Dec. 5, 2011

Center for Health Development-Metro Manila (CHD-MM) RegionalDirector Eduardo Janairo today orders Department of Health retainedhospitals, health facilities, and even the community to immediately reportsuspected dengue cases to the regional office to avert the possible wide-spread transmission of the disease.

“We are now observing a decline in the percentage of increase ofdengue cases, and we expect that this trend will continue up to the end ofthis year. There are now areas with zero dengue cases for the past weeks,and we would like to maintain their current status, hence the need toimmediately report suspected cases to immediately identify the disease andto stop its transmission. I encourage our health workers and the communityleaders to be vigilant in reporting cases,” Director Janairo stressed.

The latest statistics from the Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unitshowed a total of 23,794 dengue cases from January 1 to November 5,2011 with 133 deaths.

This figure is 14 percent higher compared with the same period last year(20,934 cases with 134 deaths). Majority of the cases were male, and therewere 14,604 cases with 117 deaths for the age group 0–15 years; 7,525cases with seven deaths for 16–30 years; 1,142 cases with six deaths for31–45 years; 371 cases with two deaths for 46–60 years, 123 cases withone death for 61–75 years; and 29 cases for 75+ years old.

“Dengue is still prevalent even during the cold season that is why it isbest to know the signs and symptoms, and to be able to seek medicaltreatment. Early diagnosis can increase the survival of patients inflictedwith the virus,” Dr. Janairo added.

The top ten cities with the most number of cases are Quezon City(7,742), Manila (3,368), Caloocan (2,616), Valenzuela (1,443), Pasig(1,204), Malabon (1,031), Parañaque (1,020), Taguig (748), Pasay (699),and Navotas (624).

Dengue is transmitted by the bite of an Aedes mosquito infected with anyone of the four dengue viruses. Dengue fever is a febrile illness that affectsinfants, young children, and even adults. Symptoms range from a mildfever to incapacitating high fever, with severe headache, pain behind theeyes, muscle and joint pain, and rash. There are no specific antiviralmedicines for dengue. It is very important to maintain hydration.

“Prevention is still the best solution that is why we should continue ourcleanup drive in our homes and surroundings to prevent the proliferation ofdengue-causing mosquitoes,” Janairo concluded.

Suspected dengue cases can be reported directly to CHD-MM 24/7through call or text to the following cell phone numbers: SMART (0947)8138420; GLOBE (0917) 8247459; and SUN (0923) 1119600.

Elementary science schoolsget teaching-improvement subsidy

The Department of Education is providing some P27 million in subsidiesfor the country’s special science elementary schools (SSESs). This is inline with the department’s thrust to further strengthen the teaching of thesciences in schools.

Of the country’s 200 SSESs, 103 schools will receive the subsidy. Therest will get their financial support from the Special Education fund.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro said the subsidy will mainly go to theenhancement of the capability of science teachers, which is critical inproducing high-caliber science students.

“It is important that we invest in the enrichment of our teachers’mentoring skills, especially in the field of sciences, because it will have abearing on the kind of science-oriented graduates we produce,” saidLuistro.

Based on DepEd Memorandum No. 88, 40 percent of the allotment willgo to the enhancement of the capability of teachers and school headsthrough their participation in conferences, training sessions, seminars, andimmersion activities in science-oriented schools. On the other hand, 25percent will go to the development of pupil activities such as investigatoryprojects, leadership training, workshops, educational visits, and participa-tion in science-related activities.

Another 25 percent is for the procurement of reference books, textbooks,psychological tests, video material, and software in Science, Mathematics,and English, as well as equipment, including the provision for repairs. Fivepercent each will go the payment of Internet subscriptions and for theorganization of science-oriented classes.

The strengthening of the teaching of Math and Science in public schoolsis one of the priority thrusts of the Aquino government.

The organization of SSESs started in 2006. It is now on its 5th year withpresence in 16 regions of the country.

CHD-MM orders immediatereporting of dengue casesto the regional office

SoKor, Ph sign economic cooperation pactsSouth Korea signed a series of economic cooperation agreements with

the Philippines on Monday to provide the Southeast Asian nation with aidand low-interest loans and to jointly carry out projects to build a dam, apower plant and an agricultural complex.

The agreements, sealed on the sidelines of a summit between SouthKorean President Lee Myung-bak and Philippine President Benigno AquinoIII, underscores Seoul’s commitment to help a nation that sent troops tofight alongside the South during the 1950-1953 Korean War.

The Philippines is the only Southeast Asian nation that participated in thewar with North Korea, dispatching the fourth-largest contingent among 16allied nations under a U.N. resolution. A total of 7,420 Filipino troops foughtin the conflict, with 112 of them killed and a further 299 wounded.

A total of five accords were signed, including an agreement outlining thescope and responsibilities of aid provision and a deal for Seoul to provideManila with up to US$ 500 million in economic development cooperationfunds (EDCF) between 2011-2013.

The two sides also sealed an agreement to develop a “multi-industrycluster” in the Philippines, which will be an agricultural complex wherefarm products are produced and then processed for exports and sales. Thecomplex will be set up in the southern Philippine province of MisamisOriental.

Seoul plans to provide millions of dollars in aid and loans for the project,officials said.

The other deals are two joint projects to build a coal-fueled power plantin the Philippine city of Subic and a multi-purpose dam worth $ 300 millionon a river in the southern province of Iloilo.

Lee arrived in Manila Sunday for a three-day state visit that also includesa meeting with Philippine business leaders and a town hall-style meetingwith college students.

On Sunday, Lee paid his respects at a war memorial for veterans of theKorean War and held a meeting with South Koreans living in the Philip-pines.

In Monday’s summit, Lee and Aquino also agreed to cooperate closely tomaximize the effects of Seoul’s development aid by putting togetherassistance strategies supporting Manila’s economic development blue print,known as the Philippines Development Plan, the presidential office said.

The two leaders also discussed ways to improve the safety of citizensstaying in each other’s nation and expand cooperation in the cultural andeducation sectors, the office said in a statement.

Lee also invited Aquino to visit South Korea next year for March’sNuclear Security Summit, it said.

Press Release

Tuna fish are seen at the fish port on November 21, 2011 in General Santos City, Philippines. The Philippines has one of the region’s largest tuna catch,which is currently under threat due to over fishing. Greenpeace are now campaigning to cease use of Fish Aggregating Devices to improve the populationof tuna fish globally.

PAL incurs US$ 39.4-M net lossPhilippine Airlines (PAL) on Friday said it posted a net loss of US$ 39.4

million in the second quarter of its fiscal year ending March next yearmostly because of skyrocketing jet fuel costs.

In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), PALsaid its total comprehensive losses in July to September were higher thanthe US$ 26 million net loss in the same period last year.

The airline said total revenues reached US$ 420.4 million, reflecting a4.7 percent hike from US$ 401.6 million for the same three month periodlast year.

Total expenses, on the other hand, grew by US$ 84.8 million, or 22.6percent, to US$ 459.7 million for the second quarter of 2011.

Jet fuel, which continued to be the airline’s biggest expense, contributedthe largest increase of US$ 48.3 million, or 33.9 percent, from US$ 142.5

million in 2010 to US$ 190.8 million for the current three-month period.Average jet fuel prices rose from US$ 94.92 per barrel to US$ 131.99

per barrel.PAL said that based on data released by the International Air Transport

Association (IATA), the airline industry in general achieved growth inpassenger traffic year-on-year as of September by an average of 6.3percent.

However, operating results in recent months exhibited a decline in bothpassenger and cargo traffic, reflecting a reluctance for both business andleisure travel spawned by problems in the US and European economies.

Going forward, IATA reports indicate more difficult times ahead for theairline industry as various countries continue to be plagued with economicuncertainty and costs are rising with not much room to increase yields.

DOE launches Italian roadshow for coalThe Department of Energy (DOE) recently showcased the Philippine

Energy Contracting Round (PECR 4) at the American Association ofPetroleum Geologists, Inc. (AAPG) 2011 International Conference andExhibition in Italy last October 23-26.

The AAPG conference was the largest exhibition to be held this year andwas attended by international petroleum exploration companies, execu-tives, and financial managers. It comes on the heels of two previoussuccessful roadshows in Singapore and Australia.

The Italian roadshow is the third roadshow to promote PECR 4. AssistantSecretary Ramon Allan V. Oca, the head of the delegation has noted theimportance of finding the next “goldmine,” as far as oil discovery isconcerned in the Philippines. “

“The skyrocketing prices of fossil fuels has made it more important thatthe Philippines makes the best offers it could to possible investors andexplorers. We have to become competitive with our neighbors in thisparticular undertaking,” Oca emphasized.

The promotional efforts of the DOE has resulted in various firmsinquiring about the 15 blocks on offer for hydrocarbon exploration.

These roadshows have provided the DOE an opportunity to promote the

hydrocarbon potential of 15 blocks with a total area of more than 10 millionhectares located in Northwest Palawan, East Palawan and Sulu Sea basins.

Northwest Palawan is home to the Malampaya Deep Water Gas-to-Power Project in the Philippines, the largest and most successful naturalgas industrial project in Philippine history.

There are currently 28 active petroleum service contracts in thePhilippines today with Exxon Mobil, Shell Philippines Exploration, NidoPetroleum, BHP Billiton and Galoc Production Company among theoperators.

PECR 4 forms part of President Aquino’s long-term plans to addressPhilippines’ need for oil and gas and reduce dependence on imported oil. Itprovides for transparent and competitive system of tendering onshore andoffshore oil and gas blocks for exploration to interested oil and gascompanies.

Under this process, the DOE determines the winning bidders based onspecific technical, legal and financial criteria. The President of thePhilippines then awards service contracts pursuant to the mandate of the1987 Philippine Constitution and Presidential Decree No. 87, otherwiseknown as “The Oil Exploration and Development Act of 1972.”

CEB offers all-domestic seat sale as low as P88Cebu Pacific said it would offer seat sale for its all domestic destinations

to entice more travelers.In a statement, the Gokongwei-led airline said that up for grabs are P88

seats for the airline’s Cebu hub flights: from Cebu to Bacolod, Boracay(Caticlan), Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Clark, Davao, Dipolog, Dumaguete,General Santos, Iloilo, Legazpi, Ozamiz, Pagadian, Puerto Princesa,Siargao, Surigao, Tacloban or Zamboanga.

The P88 seats are also available for CEB’s routes between the country’ssecondary airports: from Davao to Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo or Zamboanga;

from Cagayan de Oro to Iloilo; and from Zamboanga to Tawi-Tawi.The seat sale is from Nov. 19 to 21 or until seats last, for travel from

Dec. 18 to Jan. 15, 2012.Meanwhile, passengers coming from or traveling to Manila can buy

P188 seats on the following flights: from Manila to Bacolod, Boracay(Caticlan), Busuanga, Calbayog, Catarman, Cauayan (Isabela), Cebu,Dumaguete, Iloilo, Kalibo, Laoag, Legazpi, Naga, Puerto Princesa, Roxas,San Jose (Mindoro), Tacloban, Tagbilaran, Tuguegarao or Virac.

Press Release

Manila, PHILIPPINES Nov. 28 - Dec. 5, 2011

Vol 1 No 25 P15

1st Alliance of Provincial NewsPractitioners (APNP)

(MOBILE: 0915-5517486)

1st-APLUMA

ExpressA VALIANT STAND ON SPREADING THE GOOD SIDE OF PH

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Clark Development Corp. hasidentified at least five majorprojects that will start by 2012 inthe Clark Special EconomicZone, including Megaworld’s P7-billion mix-use project beefing upthe Freeport’s run as tourismdestination and as the fulcrum ofCentral Luzon development.

In the pipeline now are at leastfive major projects that areexpected to reinforce the

New projsup in Clarkin 2012Freeport’s reputation as both an investmentand tourism destination, said ClarkDevelopment Corp. president AntonioFelipe Remollo.

The first project involves another world-class tourism blueprint – MegaWorldCorporation’s mixed-use project to belocated in a 400-hectare area between theClark Freeport Zone and the Clark SpecialEconomic Zone.

This involves the construction of amixed-use complex that features office,commercial, retail, and leisure, residential,health, and wellness components at adevelopment cost of at least P7 billion.

At least 200 hectares was allotted for theCDC’s second project –the proposed ClarkSTAR, which stands for Sports, Training,Amusement & Recreation.

Located at the sprawling Clark High-lands, Clark STAR is the perfect site fortransport terminal, wakeboarding complex,

soccer stadium, hotels and villas, athletes’dormitories, nature and theme park,swimming center, boulevard and prome-nade, and athletes’ training ground.

The third project, meanwhile, is the ClarkHighlands, formerly known as the NextFrontier located at the Sacobia Valley.

It covers 10,684 hectares ofland adjacent to the Clark Freeportwill be developed into ICT parks,residential, light-industrial, agro-industrial, and tourism and leisureprojects.

Cont’d on page 4

MetroSUBIC & CLARK