Good News....

[SPRINGFIELD_XD_40]

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Isnt it uplifting that naa pai mga sundalo na naay prinsipyo ??

Date: 06 February 2006

Honest Soldiers

Major Senorio Laspias and S/Sgt Antero Aurita were commended for honesty after they returned worth P100,000.00 excess of withdrawals to a bank in Cagayan de Oro City. Major General Cardoso Luna, Chief of the 4th In Div issued the commendations to both soldiers and described their honesty as something other military men should emulate.

As disbursing and finance officers respectively, Maj Laspias and S/Sgt Aurita withdrew money from Land Bank last December 5, 2005. Upon counting the money on their way back to Bukidnon, the two discovered that the teller mistakenly gave them an excess of P100,000.00 which prompted them to immediately go back and return the money.

Money is often alluded to as the root of all evil; but in this instance, the two soldiers showed that handling of money can be an occasion to prove ones integrity. Indeed, it was a demonstration of an exemplary act of honesty worthy of public emulation.

To these kinds of soldiers that we give bow and salute. Not only do we honor those who sacrificed their lives on the line of duty, we also put actions like this in high regard. It is to this kind of deed that we are moved and inspired. It is through actions like this that the peoples confidence in the AFP is strengthened; not the actions of those who pretend to be the peoples heroes.

Maj Las Pias, S/Sgt Aurita and more like them in the AFP acted as true soldiers that they are. The AFP takes pride that this moral value is imbibed in our soldiers.

source :http://www.armedforces.mil.ph/0/articles/honest.php

[grabehbebe]

GMA gives LTFRB P20m for upgrading

LAND Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chairman Elena Bautista yesterday announced that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has allotted P20 million for the agency’s computerization.

Part of the computerization program, to be implemented this year, is the development of text messaging as a tool for transactions such as registration, confirmation, transfer and franchising of public utility vehicles (PUVs).

“We are developing a text message scheme wherein public utility vehicle operators can transact business through this popular communication tool without anymore going to LTFRB offices. They can also pay their fees through their cellphones,” Bautista told members of the agency’s press corps during the inauguration of their group’s press office.

Bautista said she can see the potential effectiveness of text messaging as an instrument for transacting business with the agency since the LTFRB only has one office for every region. “Imagine a jeepney operator from Mindoro having to go to Lipa City just to apply for a franchise. With text meesaging, this transaction can be completed.”
She added that through text messages, “anybody can now verify the owner and status of a PUV in case of an emergency, loss of belongings and others.”

“We are very excited to implement this project. Hopefully, by May, we will have a dry run and by June, we will implement it in Metro Manila and here at the central office,” she said.
The LTFRB head explained that they had initially asked the President for P87 million. “We will receive the rest after the successful implementation this June. But I think we will be needing only half of P87 million [to finish the whole project].”

In line with upgrading the services of the agency, Bautista said she will also tap the services of a call center to manage the new scheme “since we don’t have trained personnel to do the job.”
By June, the office will also launch its Web site. Jaime Pilapil


--http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=police04_mar16_2006

[grabehbebe]

Child abuse in school: Text DepEd for action

Incidents of child abuse in schools can now be reported through the cellular phone, through a nationwide text messaging service that directs complaints to the Department of Education (DepEd).

This was announced by Education officer-in-charge Undersecretary Fe Hidalgo yesterday as she warned teachers and other school officials not to inflict corporal punishment on any child.

"Incidents of child abuse in schools can be reported directly to the Department of Education DTxT Action Center by texting 2622 (type DEPED FDBK <name> <message> and send to 2622) or by calling hotline number (02) 636-1663," said Hidalgo in a statement issued yesterday.

Hidalgo’s statement came in the wake of reports received by the DepEd recently of an incident involving a schoolchild who was allegedly forced to eat pencil shavings as punishment by one of her teachers.

"There is no excuse for enforcing cruel and harmful punishment no matter what the child’s offense is. I therefore ask our teachers to be wary about child abuse and coercion in the classroom," Hidalgo said. "Every teacher should first and foremost ensure the welfare and development of our children to equip them with values such as patience, tolerance and respect for others and we should be their models."

Hidalgo said the DepEd has made it clear that its policy forbids the use of corporal punishment by teachers and school officials and that it should never be used as an option to discipline students.

"I therefore call upon our education officials, our principals and teachers to strictly enforce this policy in their schools. I am also calling upon students and parents to help us by reporting such incidences to the proper authorities. DepEd will not hesitate to impose sanctions and file charges against those who commit abuse against our students," said Hidalgo.

According to DepEd Order No. 92 issued in 1992, school officials and teachers have the right to impose "appropriate and reasonable disciplinary measures" in cases of minor offenses and infractions of good discipline.

The order, however, does not permit the use of corporal, cruel and physically harmful punishment against any pupil or student. School officials or teachers who are caught violating this order can be charged not only administratively but criminally as well.

The DepEd’s reiteration came in the light of the case of nine-year-old Ma. Delamar Redota, a grade two student of Silangan Elementary School in Taguig who allegedly was made to swallow pencil shavings by her teacher, Brenda Elbambuena.

Hidalgo immediately ordered DepEd NCR Regional Director Teresita Domalanta to investigate the case so that appropriate actions could be taken.

"We assure everyone that we are looking into this matter and that proper procedure is being observed," said Hidalgo.

The DepEd is also now ready to file immediate charges against Elbambuena, said Hidalgo.

On the other hand, Hidalgo also appealed to students to be on their best behavior while in school. "I also appeal to the students to behave well because your teachers work so hard even after office hours to give you better education," said Hidalgo.



By Sandy Araneta
http://www.philstar.com/philstar/NEWS200603220408.htm

[omad]

Share prices hits highest level on upbeat earnings
AP

MANILA - Stocks rose to their highest level in nearly seven years yesterday, lifted by upbeat earnings reports and an improving fiscal outlook for the government.

“It’s a market breakout. We should see sustained buying due to the market’s strong finish,” said First Grade Holdings managing director Astro del Castillo.

The benchmark 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange Index rose 22.40 points, or one percent, to 2,185.71, its best close since Aug. 30, 1999. The index has gained 3.1 percent since last Wednesday.

Collection

Stronger revenue collection in February allowed the Philippines to keep the budget deficit below the target ceiling despite overspending, the government reported last week.

In addition, Merrill Lynch said it has raised its Philippines bond rating to “overweight,” saying the country “continues to offer attractive valuations and improving credit prospects.” It added that the government is on track to achieve more progress on the fiscal front and in debt sustainability.

Among the most actively traded stocks, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. rose 1.9 percent to P1,865, in step with a 1.5-percent gain in the company’s American Depositary Receipts in New York last Monday.

full story

[omad]

Dell plans to hire 700 more Pinoys

MANILA - Dell Inc. plans to create 700 more jobs at its newly opened customer service center in the Philippines, doubling projected employment to about 1,400 people, chairman Michael Dell said yesterday.

”We are very pleased with the talents that we’ve found here,” Dell said at a soon to open mall complex.

The Texas-based information technology supplier has already hired more than 300 employees for its Philippine contact center, one of its 30 call centers around the world.

The booming business process outsourcing industry in the Philippines now employs about 125,000 people. By 2010, call center employment in the country is expected to increase to around two million.

Dell did not give any specific timetable for his company’s plan to hire up to 1,400 call center agents here.

Double

The company has also announced plans to double its workforce in India to 20,000 employees over the next three years.

Dell posted a net revenue growth of 14 percent to $55.9 billion in its fiscal year ended February 2006. (AP)

[tolstoi]

Amateur astronomer from Cebu tracks Jupiter storm


A 35-year-old Filipino amateur astronomer has become the toast of the international astronomical community for his discovery of the transformation of a high-pressure storm on the Jupiter, the solar system’s biggest planet.

Christopher Go, a furniture company owner in Cebu City who gazes at and photographs celestial bodies as a hobby, has been observing Jupiter for the last two years.

On February 24 Go observed that a white egg-shaped storm system in Jupiter called "Oval BA" changed its color to red, thus it was called "Red Spot Junior." He used an 11-inch telescope and a CCD camera to capture the image.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=33624

[grabehbebe]

Bunye: EO meant to rationalize govt ad placements

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?...6_mar27_2006By Joyce Pangco Pañares

Defending his new role as head of Malacañang’s clearing house for government information drive, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said that Executive Order 511 was issued to stop government entities from putting out unnecessary advertisements.

“Allegations that EO 511 shall be a tool for media censorship are far-fetched and irresponsible. It is not meant to be the basis for the government to block any and all advertising in unfriendly print and broadcast media outfits,” Bunye said.

Malacañang was caught off-guard by an advertisement in the lampoon issue of The Daily Tribune on March 8 where the banner story portrayed the President as a starlet dressed in skimpy clothes.


Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita promised to talk to the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, the advertiser. Government-owned Landbank also placed an advertisement in the lampoon issue of the paper accused by the administration of writing seditious articles.

Bunye, however, said there is “nothing sinister” in streamlining the agencies tasked with information dissemination to avoid duplication of duties and prevent the misuse of government funds for communication projects and advertisements. “The EO is quite straightforward, and simply redefines the functions of the Presidential Communications Group (PCG) which will guide, integrate and supervise the public information activities, including advertisements, of all departments, bureaus, offices and agencies in the executive branch.”

Bunye admitted, though, that Malacañang has felt the need for government agencies to make their communications efforts more accountable and responsible. “One of the objectives of EO 511 is to save the government money by eliminating unnecessary advertising expenses.”

The PCG headed by Bunye has two other members, namely Philippine Information Agency director general Conrado Limcaoco and Secretary for Government Mass Media Cerge Remonde.

The President signed EO 511 on March 11, three days after the two government advertisements appeared on the lampoon issue of Tribune.

[grabehbebe]

Agencies vow to crack down on unregistered buses

OFFICIALS of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and Land Transportation Office (LTO) yesterday vowed to crack down on unregistered buses plying Edsa.

At a Senate hearing on the proposed 2006 budget of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DoTC), LTFRB chairperson Elena Bautista also made a commitment to cut the number of buses traveling Edsa from the current level of 5,000 to 1,000.

LTO chief Anneli Lontoc said the agency will work side-by-side with the LTFRB in addressing the problem.

Bautista explained during the Senate hearing that from the estimated 5,000 buses plying the Edsa route, around 1,500 are unregistered. She said that while the remaining 3,500 buses have valid franchises, the number is still too much.
“Admittedly, there is an oversupply of buses in Edsa,” Bautista said.

She said that based on studies, the optimal number of buses making use of Edsa is about 1,000.

“We are committed to reducing the number of bus units in Edsa to 1,000 within the year,” Bautista said.

“Based on the studies and recommendations, we would also reduce the number of routes from the present 24 to only six routes,” she added.
Earlier, Senate President Franklin Drilon said he observed that many buses that use Edsa have very few passengers.

However, Senator Sergio Osmeña III is not impressed with the presentations made by the LTFRB and LTO. Osmeña chided the government agencies for failing to address the problem of buses congregating at intersections to compete for passengers, in the process blocking lanes and creating traffic jams.

Osmeña suggested the creation of a cooperative composed of small bus operators so that their units make use of a single lane along Edsa and be dispatched in timed intervals to solve the traffic problem.

However, Senator Juan Ponce Enrile welcomed the plan of the LTO and LTFRB, while noting that the Senate is open to proposals to give more power to transportation agencies in their bid to wipe out unregistered buses.

For his part, Senator Alfredo Lim suggested that bus firms holding valid franchises but would no longer be allowed to travel along Edsa be encouraged to service provincial routes, particularly those experiencing a shortage of transport services.




-http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=police03_mar28_2006
By Roy Pelovello

[grabehbebe]

13,000 immigrants benefit from Dual Citizenship Law

http://www.mb.com.ph/MAIN2006032960046.html
BY JUN RAMIREZ

More than 13,000 immigrants regained their Philippines citizenship since the Bureau of Immigration (BI) implemented the Dual Citizenship Law two years ago, it was learned yesterday.

BI Acting Commissioner Arthel Caronongan said that as of yesterday, the bureau has approved 13,400 petitions for dual citizenship.


Caronongan said that 7,200 of the petitions were approved at the BI main office in Manila while the remaining 6,200 were processed at Philippines consulates abroad.

He added that Filipinos in America who became naturalized US citizens topped the list of the approved applicants, followed by those in Canada, Australia and Europe.

In April 2004, the BI started processing petitions for dual citizenship after President Arroyo designated the bureau as the lead agency for implementing the law, the Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act.

Under the act, which Congress passed in 2003, natural-born Filipinos who have become naturalized citizens of other countries are deemed not to have lost their Filipino citizenship.
Those who avail themselves of the benefits of the law automatically regain their rights and privileges as Filipinos, including the right to vote, own properties here, obtain a Philippines passport, and be exempted from immigration law requirements.

Congress passed the law to encourage immigrant Filipinos to return and reestablish contact with their relatives here.

Lawyer Arvin Santos, who heads the BI task force which screens petitions for dual citizenship, said a surge in the number of applicants was noticed after the bureau eased the requirements for availment of the law.

He specifically cited a new law that no longer requires an applicant to submit a birth certificate authenticated by the National Statistics Office.

Instead, an applicant may submit other documents such as his/her old Philippines passport, marriage contract, old voter’s affidavit, or other documents as proof that he/she is a former natural-born Filipino.

It was learned that the new law was adopted after many of the applicants manifested they could no longer submit their birth certificates as these were either burned during the war or were lost due to fortuitous events.

[tolstoi]

1st OFW bank for 'world's greatest workers'


PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday announced plans to establish the first OFW bank as part of government efforts to help overseas Filipino workers remit their earnings conveniently through postal systems here and abroad, and at lower service rates.

The President said the "newest service" was an offering to "our new heroes and greatest workers in the world," who sent a record high of $11 billion in remittances to the country last year.

"So that we can help our OFWs in saving and sending their money back home, we will make the Philippine Postal Savings Bank (PPSB) an OFW bank," she said during a roundtable discussion with government officials in Malacañang.

The government-run PPSB will be renamed Philippine Overseas Postal Bank, according to its president Rolando Macasaet. The new OFW bank will be operational in three to six months, he said.

Ms Arroyo said the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) would invest P1 billion in the modernization of the PPSB facilities.

Macasaet proposed the establishment of the OFW bank at Tuesday's Cabinet meeting and this was "approved by Cabinet members," the President said.

The new bank will receive remittances sent by OFWs through postal offices abroad. It will send the money to their loved ones through automated teller machines (ATMs) that it will put up in the 2,000 post offices throughout the country.

In December 2004, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas estimated the total number of OFWs at 4.9 million, including 3.6 million on temporary employment and 1.3 million working without legal documents.