PGMA says peace pact to leave country whole
Ganassi, Lanao del Sur -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has made clear that any peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) must hew closely to the Constitution, that the
In reply to a question from a reporter here, the Chief Executive assured that peace talks with the separatist movement will soon resume and that they will take the sentiments both of the rebels and the inhabitants of
The President cited three principles that will guide the negotiation to arrive at the desired peace to
“First, we must have a single objective of peace and prosperity; second, we must abide by the Constitution that we are one nation that must never be divided or [any part] separated; and third, our society is multi-ethnic and not just one culture so there must be social justice for all and must institutionalize our accommodation for all kinds of ethnic traditions.”
“The problem of war is all about economic exclusion and bringing peace and prosperity to
“Why am I here in
“I asked Ambassador Rafael Seguis, undersecretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs for Special Concerns, to go around, talk to the ordinary people of Mindanao and find out their real sentiments so that when he sits down in the negotiating panel, he will have something more comprehensive and substantive to work on with the other camp,” the President said in a regional media interview or RMI here.
Also during her visit here, the President discussed lengthily her various infrastructure projects in the South, principally the water systems, which
She said the first step is to seek a Sangguniang Panlalawigan resolution calling for the establishment of water districts and water systems. The next step is for the Local Water Utilities Administration will identify the possible sites of these water districts.
“But if the larger systems are not that feasible or viable in the short term, then we must aspire to put up level 1 or simple systems that will ensure potable water for everyone,” the President said.
PGMA inaugurates ‘dream’ highway in Banisilan,
BANISILAN, North Cotabato – What used to be a “dream” for many residents of this remote
The President inaugurated this afternoon the 2.7-kilometer portion of the Banisilan-Guiling-Alamada-Libungan Road Network (BGALRN), which link the municipality to the provinces of Bukidnon and Lanao del Sur and to Cagayan de Oro City. The project cost of P67 million was sourced from DPWH Region 8’s Regular Infrastructure Program budget.
To show their appreciation, residents of Banisilan lined up both sides of the national highway leading to the Barangay Gastav Agrarian Reform Cooperative to cheer, applaud, and wave white flags as the Presidential convoy passed by. School children, their teachers, government workers, farmers, and store owners lined up as early as 8 a.m. to await the arrival of the President, the first to visit this municipality of 47,000 residents.
Liezel Fernando and Susan Penulyar, presidents of Self-Employment Assistance Kaunlaran (SEA-K) of Barangays
In separate interviews conducted by the President, Fernando and Penulyar said the road network project was a boon for their members who have put up various businesses through the microfinance program of the SEA-K.
Fernando, whose members are involved in various businesses such as canteen operations, food and fish vendors, and “skylab” (the main source of transportation in the area similar to the tricyles in
“The BGALRN is a big help to us who have to deliver our goods to the nearby municipalities of Wao in Lanao del Sur and Cagayan de Oro City in Misamis Oriental,” Fernando said in the local dialect. “Now travel time to these places have been cut considerably,” she added.
Penulyar, whose SEA-K members are involved in convenience store operations and the selling of motor vehicles, echoed Fernando’s earlier statements saying,” The delivery of our goods now is easier than before thanks to BGALRN.”
Joining the President for the ceremonial drive-through were North Cotabato Governor Jesus Sacdalan, 1st District Rep. Emmylou Talino Mendoza, Banasilan Mayor Betty Allado, and Department of Public Works and Highways Region XII Director Sinaolan Macarambon.
PGMA cites importance of lasting peace in Mindanao
GANASSI, Lanao del Sur -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo stressed today the importance of achieving long-lasting peace in Mindanao for the
''Unless we come to terms with
She likened the
The President spelled out three principles to achieve this goal. First, she said is long-term vision of peace and progress,'' which she said must go hand in hand.''
Second she said is to abide by the Constitution--that ''we are one nation and we will never be divided.''
Third, according to her,'' there must be social justice for all and that the accommodation of ethnic traditions must be institutionalized.''
''Christians or Muslims... We are all Filipinos...peace comes with progress,'' she stressed.
Pagasa lifts storm warning signal as Tino weakens
The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) has lifted all storm warning signals after tropical depression Tino dissipated into a weak weather disturbance.
"Tino has weakened into a low pressure area (LPA), however we raised gale warning advisory to coasts of north and central
Tino was spotted 120 kms north north east of Casiguran Aurora, and is seen to further weaken in the next hours.
Cruz said the gale force winds steered by the northeast monsoon could capsize small vessels hence it would be perilous to venture out into the sea Tuesday, particularly in seaboards of northern and central
Tino reached peak winds of 55 kilometers per hour as of Tuesday morning, but Cruz said provinces listed with storm warning signal will no longer feel the cyclone's effect starting Wednesday.
Cruz advised residents of Cagayan, Aurora and Quezon provinces to remain alert amid light to moderate downpour, which is seen to affect these areas due prevalence of enhanced southwest monsoon.
"We urge them to remain alert for possible landslides and flashfloods spawned by these rains," he said.
He said no other weather disturbance is seen to affect any part of the country in the next 24 hours.
Tino is the 20th storm to enter the
"Last year, we had 20 storms. Tino is our 20th, but it's just (the month of) November. We are expecting more," he said.
Government holds dialogue with business sector on oil price cap
Presidential Spokesman Gary Olivar said today in a press briefing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would lift the oil price roll back if the situation calls for it.
The Spokesman made the observation in light of the appeal made by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) for the President to lift Executive Order No. 839, which rolls back oil pump prices to the October 15 levels after the declaration of state of calamity in Metro Manila and
In same briefing, Deputy Spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera along with the Department of Energy (DOE) had met on Friday with the business community led PCCI for a series of consultations on their appeal.
“There will be a continuous dialogue and consultation. But for as long as there is a calamity in
However, she noted that the Department of Justice and the DOE Taskforce assigned to look into the appeal of business community to lift the oil price freeze may also review the price ceiling considering that oil is imported and depends heavily on the price of global market.
“The DOE can keep track and monitor the prices of oil and make the necessary recommendations,” she said.
Fajardo emphasized that the primary concern of President Arroyo is the plight of the majority of citizens affected by the calamity.
ECC issues compensability guidelines of murderous assault
The Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) recently issued a set of guidelines for determining compensability of murderous assault for the purpose of uniformity in the evaluation of claims by the administering agencies of the program, the Social Security System (SSS) for the private sector and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) for the public sector.
The guidelines provide that the death of an employee as a result of a murderous assault is deemed compensable when it happens while the worker performs his official functions.
Motive of the assault need not be established if the injury was inflicted while the employee was at his designated workplace or when he was executing an order of his employer.
On the other hand, establishment of the motive becomes important when the assaulted employee was on vacation leave, off-duty, or outside the workplace when the assault occurred. Disclosure of the motive helps determine the causal connection between the incident and the employment of the worker.
The ECC formulates policies and guidelines for the effective implementation of the Employees’ Compensation Program.
