PGMA signs law expanding retirement benefits to judges, justices
Judges of Regional, Metropolitan, and Municipal Trial Courts, as well as Shari’a District Courts, are now at par with members of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, at least in as far as the enjoyment of retirement and other benefits are concerned.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo made it all possible with the signing on Wednesday morning of Republic Act No. 9946, otherwise known as An Act Granting Additional Retirement, Survivorship, and Other Benefits to Members of the Judiciary.
The new law amends Republic Act No. 910, which provides additional benefits to Supreme Court and Appellate Court justices but fails to extend the same benefits to judges of the lower courts.
On hand to witness the signing ceremony were Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and House Speaker Prospero Nograles, principal authors of Senate Bill No. 1620 and House Bill No. 6820, which resulted in the law that corrects the injustice.
Apart from increasing the amount of pension of retiring judges and justices, RA 910 provides scholarship to one legitimate child and extends survivorship benefits to the surviving spouse and dependent children.
It is expected that with the expanded retirement benefit coverage, brilliant lawyers would be attracted to join and serve in the judiciary.
With more competent trial court judges, it is further observed, the administration of justice will be enhanced and the delivery of judicial services to the people will be greatly improved.
Also in attendance were Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, House Deputy Speaker Amelita Villarosa, Representatives Matias Defensor (3rd Dist., Quezon City), Arthur Defensor (3rd Dist., Iloilo), Marcelino Teodoro (1st Dist., Marikina City), Ronald Singson (1st Dist., Ilocos Sur),
Edgardo Chatto (1st Dist., Bohol), Magtanggol Gunigundo (2nd Dist., Valenzuela City), Eufrocino Codilla (4th Dist., Leyte), Manuel Agyao (Lone Dist., Kalinga), Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Judge Concepcion Buencamino representing the retired members of the Judiciary.
PGMA fetes ten outstanding policewomen
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today honored ten policewomen for their dedication and exemplary work in simple ceremonies at Malacañang this morning.
The lady law enforcers make up this year’s Ten Outstanding Policewomen of the Philippines (TOPWP), chosen for the honor by the ZONTA Club of Makati Paseo de Roxas Foundation and the Philippine National Police.
Now on its eighth year, TOPWP was established to extend community recognition to policewomen who have contributed to the cause of peace and order.
This year’s awardees are:
Police Superintendent Lailene Amparo – Marilao Police Station – Bulacan Provincial Office, Police Regional Office 3
Police Chief Inspector Delia Ingalla –
Police Senior Inspector Lerma Tirana –Regional Police Community Relations Division, National Capital Region Police Office
Senior Police Officer 1 Marifel Cortez –
Police Officer 3 Zorayda Aripin –
Police Officer 3 Ruth Poserio – Sta. Barbara Police Station, Pangasinan Police Provincial Office, Police Regional Office 1
Police Officer 3 Judith Olbes – Sorsogon Police Provincial Office, Police Regional Office 5
Police Officer 3 Lilybeth Pascual – WCPD PNCO-Camarines Sur Police Provincial Office, Police Regional Office 5
Police Officer 2 Famela Suba – Cabiao Police Station, Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Office, Police Regional Office 3
Police Officer 2 Rina Salaya – Maasin Municipal Police Station, Iloilo Police Provincial Office, Police Regional Office 6
The awardees will receive a TOPWP Kabalikat Awards trophy and cash prize from ZONTA, a gift certificate from the Arms Corporation Philippines (ARMSCOR) and Outstanding Achievement Medal from the PNP.
Joining the President for the awarding ceremony were: Police Deputy Director General Geary Barias, TOPWP founder and chairman emeritus Mary Lyn Domondon, ZONTA Club of Makati Paseo de Roxas president Daisylinda Garcia and ARMSCOR president Demetrio Tuason.
Filipinos among those feared trapped in Intensity 7 quake in Haiti
With the real situation on the field hardly ascertainable for now because all communication lines to the impoverished
Initial foreign wire reports said thousands may have died in the strongest quake yet to hit
The DFA itself said it “is deeply concerned over the condition of Filipinos” in Haiti -- 157 officers and enlisted personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and 22 from the Philippine National Police who compose the 10th Philippine peacemaking mission to Port-au-Prince and an estimated 445 Filipino civilian residents.
The DFA has not received information yet from the peacekeeping mission in
Neither has there been information from either the Philippine mission in the United Nations in
In a flash text message, DFA spokesperson J. Eduardo Malaya assured that the public will be periodically updated about the quake and the Filipino community there as the information becomes available.
In late December, the same Filipino peacekeepers were honored by the United Nations for "their continued presence in
The contingent is led by Army Lt. Col. Lope Dagoy.
“I would like to thank you for having helped us bring more stability to
I would also like to thank the Government of the
MINUSTAH is acronym for
PSALM launches sale of Angat hydro plant
The Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (PSALM) Corporation Monday (11 January 2010) officially opened the privatization of the 246-megawatt (MW) Angat Hydro Electric Power Plant (HEPP) through the publication of an Invitation to Bid (ITB).
The ITB will be published in local broadsheets until Wednesday, 13 January 2010.
Interested parties in the Angat HEPP must submit a Letter of Interest (LOI) to PSALM to participate in the bidding exercise. The LOI submission is until 27 January 2010 only.
The interested parties must also execute a Confidentiality Agreement and an Undertaking with PSALM, and pay a non-refundable participation fee of USD2,500.00 not later than 5 p.m. of 29 January 2010 as a prerequisite to the issuance of the Bidding Package. The issuance of the Bidding Package will be from 05 February to 12 February 2010.
PSALM has set the Pre-bid Conference for the Bulacan-based hydro plant on 17 February 2010, while the Bid Submission Deadline has been scheduled on 28 April 2010.
Located in
Approximately
Appointment of IPPA for the Ilijan combined cycle plant set
The Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (PSALM) Corporation yesterday (13 January 2010) commenced the bidding process for the National Power Corporation’s contracted capacity in the 1,200-megawatt (MW) Ilijan Natural Gas Combined Cycle Power Plant, seeking to hurdle the 70% privatization threshold for independent power producer (IPP) contracts in the Luzon and Visayas grids this year.
The Invitation to Bid (ITB) for IPP Administrator (IPPA) to manage the Ilijan capacity, which signals the start of PSALM’s sale process for the Southern Luzon-based power asset, will be published for three consecutive days in local newspapers.
Interested investors wishing to participate in the bidding are required to submit to PSALM a letter of interest not later than 29 January 2010.
The interested parties will also have until 05 February 2010 to execute a Confidentiality Agreement and an Undertaking with PSALM, and pay the participation fee of USD10,000.00 to avail themselves of the Bidding Package, which will be issued from 18 January to 08 February 2010.
PSALM will conduct the Pre-bid Conference for the Ilijan IPPA appointment on 11 February 2010. The bidding is set on 16 April 2010.
Located in Ilijan in the Southern Luzon
Republic Act No. 9136, the Electric Power Industry Reform Act, requires PSALM to privatize at least 70% of the contracted capacities of the IPPs in the
LTFRB enforces Smoke Free PUV’s and Terminals
Filipino commuters will now be protected from exposure to secondhand smoke as the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) strengthens enforcement of Smoke Free Laws in Public Conveyances & Terminals.
The LTFRB issued Memo Circular 2009-36 that took effect on January 7, 2010 requiring all Public Utility Vehicls (PUVs) and Land Transportation Terminals, to observe the Smoking Prohibition and to prominently post No Smoking Signs in their authorized units and premises.
Both the operator and the driver have a duty to post the said signs and to warn passengers against smoking. Failure to comply with this duty leads to a fine of up to P10,000 and cancellation of the franchise.
According to the Memo Circular, for purposes of implementing this policy, LTFRB will be partnering with the government, civil society, and the private sector, EXCEPT those representing the interests of the tobacco industry.
This policy is developed with the support of civil society & other government agencies. It seeks to protect the commuting public from exposure to second hand smoke.
Exposure to secondhand smoke leads to lung cancer, heart attack, asthma attack, and other respiratory problems. Even small amounts of exposure can have immediate harmful effects. There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke.
