PGMA to inaugurate
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will inaugurate and inspect on Thursday the
The center will provide IBM partners, as well as entrepreneurs and the academic communities across the nation, access to training workshops, consulting services, and hands-on assistance.
New IT opportunities are being fueled by a $6.8-billion Philippines Economic Recovery Program that invests in infrastructure projects in areas including transportation, tourism, power, water and housing.
The
The
With the center, there are now a network of over 40 IBM Innovation Centers worldwide.
Remonde tells gov’t workers to help protect environment
Press Secretary Cerge Remonde today lauded government workers for doing their share in the protection of the environment.
“Today, we are faced with another seemingly formidable challenge – that of mitigating the ill-effects of climate change which, Remonde said, was encapsulated in the celebration’s theme: Paglingap sa Kalikasan Tungkulin ng Bawat Kawani ng Pamahalaan.
The Cabinet secretary made the exhortation in a speech delivered during the celebration of the Government’s Employees’ Week in Malacañang.
The
“We need to do our part to help cleanse the environment,” Remomde said. “And we must act fast.”
He said the country is fortunate to have President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as a leader, who is determined to fulfill her commitment for a greener planet.
“One of her latest initiatives along this line is the signing of the Climate Change Act of 2009, which institutionalizes government prevention and adaptation measures against the unavoidable impact of climate change,” he said.
He explained that the new law establishes “a national framework strategy and program on climate change, a direct response to the emerging global consensus to ensure that mitigation and adaptation – the two instruments needed to battle climate change.
“That means that everyone in the government, from the national down to the local level, has an important role to play.
According to Remonde, President Arroyo can only do so much adding that she “needs you help, our help, the help of the entire Philippine bureaucracy to back a more enjoyable and safer world to live in.”
“We can start by just keeping our environment clean, by taking good care of our flora and fauna, by leading a clean and healthy lifestyle.
Government reiterates support to organized labor
The government today reiterated its commitment to the principles of freedom of association, trade union rights and civil liberties and assured it will not turn its back on organized labor.
In a keynote speech at the opening of the three-day National Tripartite Conference on Principles of Freedom of Association at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the government is open to the establishment of a monitoring body to ensure that workers can exercise their rights in a climate free from fear.
“The government cannot be accused of ever turning its back on the labor sector, of selling them out to corporate interests, or of sacrificing labor and trade union rights at the altar of expediency,” said Ermita who was representing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the tripartite conference.
The conference was held to improve the country’s compliance with the International Labor Organization Convention No. 87.
On the other hand, Convention 87 refers to Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize that was adopted by the International Labor Organization in 1948 and ratified by the
The tripartite conference was an offshoot of an ILO mission last September, which sought to explore areas for technical cooperation for the purpose of improving the country’s application of Convention 87 in law and practice.
In hosting the mission, Ermita said, the government proves its willingness to address the concerns of militant labor groups, including allegations of widespread and systematic suppression of trade union activities.
The government, according to Ermita, will ensure expeditious investigation, prosecution and resolution of pending cases at the ILO supervisory bodies.
In response to proposals for the creation of a high-level tripartite monitoring body, Ermita said, the government is inclined to place it under the ambit of the Tripartite Industrial Peace Council chaired by the Labor secretary.
“With such a body in place, there can be no fear of whitewash or of archiving cases involving the persecution of labor leaders and trade union activists,” he explained.
The government, he also said, will work closely with the ILO to establish a technical cooperation program “that will help breathe more life to the freedom of association.”
In closing, he added, the government will always protect labor, pointing out that labor, along with industry, is the backbone of the economy.
Puno orders ARMM governor to answer Mangudadatu's complaint within five days
In his directive, Puno said that upon the evaluation of the complaint, the DILG “found sufficient cause to conduct a formal investigation in relation to [ARMM Gov. Ampatuan’s] alleged failure to protect the civil, human and political rights of the persons who were killed.”
“Consistent with the requirements of due process, you are hereby directed to submit your answer in writing and under oath within five days from receipt hereof, submitting therewith sworn statements of your witnesses and other pertinent documents, if any,” Puno said in his order.
He noted that Ampatuan’s failure to submit his answer within the non-extendible period of five days will amount to a waiver of his right to respond to the complaint.
In his sworn letter-complaint dated Dec. 1, Mangudadatu noted that the “gruesome murders of more than 50 persons, including at least 17 members of the media, eight civilians and two lawyers, in Maguindanao have resulted in numerous complaints and protests from civic, religious and political groups and non-governmental organizations against the leadership of the ARMM for the evident failure to protect the civil, human and political rights of the victims.”
Puno immediately ordered an evaluation of the complaint and directed the DILG legal service to submit its recommendations within 24 hours.
Mangudadatu addressed his complaint to Puno, following President Arroyo’s directive transferring her powers of general supervision over autonomous regions to the DILG.
The Buluan vice mayor pointed out in his complaint that under the law, the President can suspend or remove the ARMM regional governor “for wilful violation of the Constitution, the Organic Act or any existing law that applies to the autonomous region, and to suspend, reduce or cancel the financial blocks or grants-in-aid, funds for infrastructure, and other forms of assistance intended for the autonomous region.”
The President has the constitutional mandate to exercise general supervision over the autonomous regions to ensure that all laws in such areas are faithfully executed and is authorized under Republic Act No. 9054 to suspend or remove the ARMM governor.
Last Nov. 27, President Arroyo issued Administrative Order No. 273, which transfers such powers over the ARMM from the Office of the President to the DILG as part of the government measures undertaken to speed up the investigation into the massacre of 57 persons in Maguindanao and bring to justice the perpetrators of the heinous crime.
Mangudadatu has assured Puno that “other evidence in support of his letter-complaint will be submitted as they become available.”
Alleged massacre gunman, murder weapon now in police custody
Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, Dir. Gen. Jesus A. Verzosa announced this development Wednesday after receiving reports of ballistics examination results on an M16 rifle confiscated from a CVO member.
Esmail Canapia, a member of the Civilian Volunteer Organization (CVO) of Ampatuan, Maguindanao, is now detained at the Cotabato City Police Office while undergoing further investigation for his alleged role in the massacre.
Canapia, along with another CVO member, Takpan Dilon were arrested by responding Armed Forces of the
Upon their arrest, Canapia and Dilon were initially turned over to then Ampatuan Police Station Office in Charge (OIC) SPO2 Badawi Bakal for investigation.
They were later taken to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Regional Office to undergo further investigation.
The two were booked for Illegal Possession of Firearms after they failed to produce documents or authority to possess firearms.
Canapia and Dilon were subsequently charged with Violation of PD 1866, as amended by RA 8294 (Illegal Possession of Firearms and Ammunition) docketed under XIV-05-INQ-09K-0006.
Ballistics cross-matching conducted by the Regional Crime Laboratory under Supt. Pamfilo Regis yielded positive result on the M16 rifle seized from Canapia which matched with M16 spent cartridges recovered from the scene of the massacre.
During booking procedure Canapia and Dilon named Vice-Mayor Datu Rasul Sangki of Ampatuan, Maguindanao as their nearest kin and character reference.
Police Director Felizardo M. Serapo Jr., PNP Director for Integrated Police Operation in
