President Aquino declares September 27 as
special non-working day in Malvar, Batangas in celebration of the 148th
anniversary of General Miguel Malvar
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared
September 27, which falls on a Friday, as a special non-working day in the
municipality of Malvar, Batangas in celebration of the 148th birth anniversary
of General Miguel Malvar.
The Chief Executive issued the declaration
through Proclamation No. 646 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr.
on August 22 to give the people of Malvar the full opportunity to celebrate and
participate in the occassion with appropriate ceremonies.
The municipality was named after General Miguel
Malvar, the last Filipino General to surrender to the American Government in the
Philippines in 1902. Malvar was born in Barrio San Miguel, Santo Tomas,
Batangas, on September 27, 1865.
In 1899, the Philippine-American War broke out
and Malvar fought the American forces. Many struggling freedom fighters
surrendered while others were captured. Being the only revolutionary fighting
against the enemies, Malvar's resources and strength depleted.
The welfare of his family and loyal soldiers
drove him to surrender to General Franklin J. Bell on April 16, 1902. Months
after this, the Philippine Commission instituted the civil government of the
Philippine Islands.
Malvar returned to his province and pursued his
interest in agriculture. A principled man, he declined the offer for him to
become governor of Batangas. On October 13, 1911, he died of liver ailment in
Manila. His remains were brought to Santo Tomas, Batangas and was buried with
high military honors. PND (js)
President Aquino signs bill into law amending
Price Act to protect consumers against undue price hike during calamities
President Benigno S. Aquino III has signed into
law a bill amending the Price Act to protect consumers against undue price hike
during calamities and emergency situations.
The Chief Executive signed on September 6 the
Republic Act 10623 or "An Act Amending Certain Provisions of Republic Act
No. 7581, Entitled 'An Act Providing Protection to Consumers by Stabilizing the
Prices of Basic Necessities and Prime Commodities and by Prescribing Measures
Against Undue Price Increases During Emergency Situations and Like Occasions'
and For Other Purposes"
The newly-signed Act, which originated in the
House of Representatives, was finally passed by the House of Representatives
and the Senate on June 5, 2013.
The law expands the list of basic necessities
under the law to ensure that more goods will be spared from price hike during
calamities, emergencies and similar situation.
The new Act now includes locally manufactured
instant noodles and bottled water in the list of basic necessities to protect
consumers against undue price increases during calamities, emergencies and
other similar situations.
The prevalent consumption of instant noodles and
bottled water has placed these goods in the ranks of basic necessities such as
rice, corn, root crops, bread, fresh, dried or canned fish and other marine
products, fresh pork, beef and poultry meat, fresh eggs, fresh and processed
milk, fresh vegetables and fruits, coffee, sugar, cooking oil, salt, laundry
soap and detergents, firewood, charcoal, household liquefied petroleum gas
(LPG) and kerosene, candles, drugs classified as essential by the Department of
Health.
Prime commodities are goods not considered as
basic necessities but are essential to consumers in times of calamities,
emergencies and similar situations "such as, but not limited to, flour;
dried, processed or canned pork, beef and poultry meat; dairy products not
falling under basic necessities; onions, garlic, vinegar, patis, soy sauce;
toilet soap; fertilizer, pesticides and herbicides; poultry, livestock and
fishery feeds and veterinary products; paper; school supplies; nipa shingles;
sawali; cement; clinker; GI sheets; hollow blocks; plywood; plyboard;
construction nails; batteries; electrical supplies; light bulbs; steel wire;
all drugs not classified as essential drugs by the Department of Health and
such other goods as may be included under this Act.”
The law mandates the creation of the Price
Coordinating Council with the Secretary of Trade and Industry, as chairman; and
Secretaries of Agriculture, Health, Environment and Natural Resources, Local
Government, Transportation and Communications, Justice, Energy, Director
General of the National Economic and Development Authority, one representative
from the consumers’ sector, one representative from the agricultural producers’
sector; one representative from the trading sector; and one representative from
the manufacturers’ sector as members.
"Upon petition of the concerned parties or
motu proprio action from the concerned agency of the Price Coordinating Council
(PCC) and after public hearing, the implementing agency, with the approval of
the President, may include in the definition of basic necessities or prime
commodities types and brands of the goods or may exclude from the coverage of
this Act, types or brands of the goods included in the definition of basic
necessities and prime commodities, which may be deemed as nonessential goods or
luxury goods: Provided, that, any type or brand so excluded may be reinstated
by the implementing agency during occasions of acute shortage in the supply of
the basic necessity or prime commodity to which the excluded type or brand used
to belong,” the law reads.
Unless sooner lifted by the President, the price
freeze on basic necessities will remain in effect for the duration of the
condition that brought it about, but not for more than 60 days.
For household LPG and kerosene, which are wholly
imported and deregulated under the existing laws, the price control will
“remain effective for not more than 15 days, taking into consideration the
current inventory or supply levels.”
The Department of Trade and Industry, in
consultation with the members of the PCC and stakeholders, shall promulgate the
necessary rules, regulations and procedures for the effective implementation of
this Act within ninety (90) days upon its effectivity and shall monitor strict
compliance therewith.
They shall also review the existing implementing
rules and regulations of Republic Act No. 7581 and revise its provisions as
maybe appropriate.
This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation in
the country. PND (js)
Aquino says Zamboanga visit aims for peaceful
resolution of standoff, preserving lives
President Benigno Aquino III said on Friday that
preserving human lives is the major objective of his visit to Zamboanga City
following the hostage-taking incident perpetrated by alleged member of the Moro
National Liberation Front (MNLF) Nur Misuari group.
In a media interview in Zamboanga City, the
President said the military continues to ensure that the conflict does not
spread to other areas in the city. He said he cannot divulge the details of the
security plan to ensure success of the military operations.
The Zamboanga City situation is fully contained
by the military although there are ongoing skirmishes, he said.
The armed forces and the police started to deal
with the situation with sufficient force and as of the moment, in the fifth day
of the standoff, he said there is an overwhelming number of security force in
the area as well as equipment.
The President likewise appealed to the people of
Zamboanga City for calm and patience to resolve the standoff with losing so
many lives.
“Kailangan ng hinahon para... maniguradong hindi
dumami ang mawalan ng buhay o masugatan dito sa kasalukuyang kaganapan,” he
said.
The President flew to Zamboanga City Friday
morning to personally assess the situation there particularly to ensure that
the people affected by the conflict receive government assistance and care.
The military was also expected to brief the
President on the ongoing military operation in Zamboanga City. The rebels are
surrounded by government forces and are confined in five villages, which is a
very small portion of Zamboanga City, according to reports.
On Thursday, Malacanang said the government
would not hesitate to use force to end the standoff.
The Palace issued the statement after fighting
broke out in nearby Basilan province between government forces and MNLF
fighters who had reportedly joined forces with the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom
Fighters and the Abu Sayyaf. PND (as)
DOJ studying strong case against Misuari, Zambo
attackers, says Aquino
The Department of Justice is currently
investigating the attack in Zamboanga City by alleged Moro National Liberation
Front (MNLF) allied with Nur Misuari to come up with a strong case, President
Benigno S. Aquino III said on Friday.
“Iniimbestigahan lahat ng mga actuations ni
Misuari and others. From the start of the crisis, inatasan natin si Secretary
of Justice Leila de Lima na tingnan kung ano ang actual na may pruweba tayo ng
pinaggagawa nila,” the President said in an interview in Zamboanga City.
The President also said he got a report on
Friday saying cases filed against Misuari in early 2000 were dismissed because
of lack of evidence.
He said his administration doesn’t want to
commit similar mistakes and wants to ensure that anyone responsible in the
Zamboanga City mayhem will be held accountable.
Asked if he thinks Misuari’s group made a
decisive action he said: “I think all of the actions have been very decisive
from the start. ‘Yun ang plano nila talaga enmass, in 200 or so, pupunta sa
city hall, magtatayo ng bandera and that never happened.”
The big group wasn’t able to proceed at the
heart of Zamboanga City because the military and the police were able to repel
them.
The President flew to Zamboanga City Friday
morning to personally assess the situation in the city. He also wants to make
sure that the people affected by the conflict receive government assistance and
care.
The military also briefed the President on the
ongoing military operation in the city.
In a statement on Thursday, Malacanang said the
government would not hesitate to use force to end the standoff.
The Palace issued a statement after fighting
broke out in nearby Basilan province when reportedly a combined group of MNLF
fighters, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and the Abu Sayyaf tried to
attack Lamitan City. PND (as)
Aquino: Zamboanga violence may speed up peace
process with MILF
President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Friday
that the ongoing Zamboanga City standoff may speed up the crafting of the peace
deal with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to eventually achieve a
lasting peace in the region.
The President said the current tension in
Zamboanga City has not affected the negotiations between the government and the
MILF in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and both panels are discussing the remaining
annexes of the agreement.
“Patuloy ang ating negotiations doon sa annexes
which are being held in Kuala Lumpur, even as we speak. Umalis ang ating
negotiating panel... about Friday last week,” the President said in an
interview in Zamboanga City on Friday.
“So ongoing ang kanilang mga dayalogo on the
power sharing and the normalization annexes.”
The MILF, like other Moro National Liberation
Front factions, have condemned the attack in Zamboanga City allegedly by the
faction aligned with Nur Misuari, he said.
The President flew to Zamboanga City Friday
morning to personally assess the situation there particularly to ensure that
the people affected by the conflict receive government assistance and care.
He said the prime objective of his visit was to
avoid unnecessary loss of human lives and to ensure public welfare. PND (as)
