PGMA relinquishes chairmanship of Lakas-Kampi-CMD, urges members to support Teodoro-Manzano tandem
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Thursday relinquished her post as Lakas-Kampi-CMD national chairperson at the same time urging its party members to fully support former Defense Secretary Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro Jr., who was officially declared as the party's standard bearer for the May 2010 elections.
"I am relinquishing today my post as national chairman and handing over the reins of the party's top leadership to the brilliant, young standard bearer selected by our national executive committee, Gilbert Teodoro" she said.
Teodoro is now the Lakas-Kampi-CMD national chairman while President Arroyo became the party's president emeritus.
In her speech during the party's national convention held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), the President said she recognized the "big and arduous" task ahead for the Lakas-Kampi-CMD, which is "the true (political) party of the people and the only party that held the nation's interest at heart."
"It is now time to consolidate our rank and fortify our party for the electoral battle ahead," she said.
President Arroyo also called on all Lakas-Kampi-CMD members to work hard to ensure the victory of Teodoro and his runningmate actor and former Optical Media Board chairman Eduardo "Edu" Manzano.
"First things first, let us have him (Teodoro) elected," the President said, to ensure that the programs of her administration to fight poverty and improve the country's economy would continue.
"Its young, dynamic, and competent leaders in the persons of Teodoro and Manzano show that it is the 'party of the future' that could usher in a new generation of leaders," she said.
PGMA signs Anti-Child porn law
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last Tuesday signed into law Republic Act 9775, otherwise known as the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009.
As the law defines it, child pornography is any representation, by whatever means, of a child engaged or involved in real or simulated sexual activities.
The law mandates that child pornography victims be given emergency shelter or appropriate housing, counseling, free legal services, medical or psychological services, livelihood and skills training, and educational assistance.
By signing the law, the President has demonstrated the government’s compliance with different international treaties such as the Rights of the Child; the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography; the International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention No. 182 on the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor and the Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime.
The penalties for violating the child pornography law range from arresto mayor to reclusion perpetua and a fine of between P300,000 to P5 million, depending on the gravity of the offense.
Under the law, Internet service providers (ISP) must report to the Philippine National Police or the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) within seven days from obtaining facts and circumstances that any form of child pornography is being committed using its server or facility.
To monitor compliance, the law creates an Inter-Agency Council against Child Pornography to be headed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Members of the council are the heads of the Department of Justice, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Science and Technology, Philippine National Police, Commission on Human Rights, Commission on Information and Communication Technology, National Telecommunications Commission, Council for the Welfare of Children, Philippine Center on Transnational Crime, Optical Media Board and NBI.
Three representatives from children’s non-government organizations will also be included in the council.
PGMA to lead hero’s welcome for Pacquiao
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will lead the grand hero’s welcome for Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao tomorrow afternoon (Friday, Nov. 20) at the Quirino Grandstand in
The event dubbed “Parangal Kay Manny Pacquiao sa Luneta,” is a collaboration of various government agencies such as the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Department of Public Works and Highways, Metro Manila Development Authority and the Office of the President.
It will be highlighted by President Arroyo’s conferment of the Order of Sikatuna with the Rank of Datu (Katangiang Ginto) on Pacquiao for having won an unprecedented seventh title, making him the greatest Filipino boxer of all time.
The Chief Executive designated Philippine Sports Commission Chairperson Harry C. Angpin as head of the official ceremonies
Pacquiao last Sunday stripped Puerto Rican boxer Miguel Cotto of his welterweight title in Las Vegas, a feat President Arroyo described as an inspiration to the Filipino youth, “encouraging them to work hard and put their hearts and minds to achieve their goals because there is no limit to success.”
Apart from the welterweight title, Pacquiao has won world championships in the flyweight (
No boxer has ever won seven world titles in as many weight divisions. Only three boxers have won six – Oscar de la Hoya, Thomas Hearns and Hector Camacho.
The event is supported by Solar Entertainment, which will shows a replay of Pacquiao’s victorious match against Cotto on several large television screens around the Quirino Grandstand.
Comelec ready to accept COCs as filing starts Friday
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is ready to accept the certificate of candidacy (COC) of individuals who are running for elective positions in the May 2010 national and local polls as the 12-day filing of the certificate of candidacy (COC) kicks off Friday.
Comelec Commissioner Lucenito Tagle noted that the Comelec’s main office in Intramuros,
“We have the Project Management Office (PMO) downstairs where candidates can file their certificates but only for those running for president, vice-president and senators. Local candidates can file their COC in their respective local Comelec offices,” he said.
The COCs of partylist organizations are advised to file their manifestation of intent to participate in the partylist elections at the Commission Secretariat office, also at the central office in
All the local Comelec offices in municipalities and cities all over the country will be accepting the COCs of candidates seeking the positions from councilors, vice- mayors, mayors to congressmen.
Comelec offices around the country are open to accept COCs from 8 am to 5 pm, Mondays to Sundays until November 30.
The poll body extended the deadline from November 30 to December 1, since the last day of November is a holiday.
On December 1, they will be accepting COCs until 12 midnight.
Meanwhile, Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento advised candidates to read the Omnibus Election Code (OEC) particularly Sec. 79. “After filing their COCs they are covered by the law specifically on premature campaigning,” he said.
He proposed to candidates to remove their tarpaulins or streamers that are posted outside of their residences or in public places since it could provide ammunition to opposing candidates to file a complaint for election offense.
Sarmiento also appealed to them to ensure a peaceful, honest and clean elections and, lastly, urged them to be environment-friendly or think green during the elections by using earth-friendly materials.
“I think our candidates should carefully study the kind of materials that they should use. That would mean not cutting of our tress, not using plastics, that would complicate our environment,” he said, as he suggested to use papers.
PSALM targets new cash offering, debt swap
The Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (PSALM) Corporation has commenced a new cash offering and a bond exchange offer (collectively, the “Global Bond Offering”) as part of its efforts to efficiently manage the liabilities of the National Power Corporation (“NPC”).
The bond exchange offer will help extend the maturity of the existing loans incurred by NPC and which were transferred to PSALM as mandated by Republic Act No. 9136, the Electric Power Industry Reform Act.
Eligible for the bond exchange offer are NPC loans that will mature in 2010 and 2011. These include the USD500-million 9.875% Guaranteed Notes due on 16 March 2010, the USD700-million Zero Coupon Guaranteed Bonds due on 12 July 2010, and the USD400-million Guaranteed Floating Rate Notes due on 23 August 2011 (collectively, the “Old Bonds”), each series guaranteed by the Republic of the Philippines (the “Republic”). The Old Bonds are eligible to be exchanged for PSALM’s (i) newly issued U.S. Dollar-Denominated Guaranteed Global Bonds due 2024 (the “2024 Bonds”) or (ii) reopened U.S. Dollar-Denominated Guaranteed Global Bonds due 2019 (the “2019 Bonds”, and together with the 2024 Bonds, the “New Global Bonds”).
PSALM’s new cash offering, on the other hand, consists of an offering of 2024 Bonds for cash in a maximum aggregate principal amount not to exceed USD600 million. The proceeds will be used for general corporate funding requirements, including servicing payments arising from debt and independent power producer contracts.
The Development Bank of the Philippines, Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc, and UBS AG are the joint dealer managers and bookrunners of the Global Bond Offering.
The Global Bond Offering, which is the second fund-raising activity of PSALM this year after successfully selling USD1 billion in 2019 Bonds last May, commenced on 16 November 2009 and will expire on 24 November 2009.
DBP Entrepreneurs’ Fair opens November 19
State-owned Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) will hold its annual Entrepreneurs’ Fair from November 19-21, 2009 at the DBP head office in
Close to 100 entrepreneurs will be selling quality products and export items ranging from clothes and accessories, toys, houseware, arts and crafts and novelty items to Christmas décor, ornamental plants, linen products, plastic products, leather products, household and office items, food and fruits at manufacturers’ prices during the three-day fair.
A total of 46 DBP-assisted entrepreneurs are participating in this year’s Fair, including Asia Ceramics Corporation, Shirt Depot, YIGGM Corporation, Nueva Ecija Pottery, Kimbel International, Pro-Ace Bag Manufacturing, and Brickhaus Ceramics Company.
An annual DBP activity envisioned in line with the Bank’s efforts to support the entrepreneurial initiatives of its clients and employees, the Fair is intended to provide marketing and promotional assistance to locally-manufactured products and in the process hasten the growth of small and medium industries (SMEs).
The Fair will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is free.
