Vol 4 No 14.pmd
Transcription
Vol 4 No 14.pmd
P 8.00 VOLUME 4 NUMBER 14 FRI - SAT JUNE 18 - 19, 2010 NO WAGE DEMAND IN CL YET DOLE eyes P10-12 minimum pay hike BY DING CERVANTES C ITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The director of Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Central Luzon is suggesting a daily minimum wage increase of about P12 in his region. This amid reports indicating that prices of basic commodities have increased by this much since two years ago in his area. In an interview with Punto Central Luzon, director Ernesto Bihis noted, however, that the labor sector has not filed any PAGE 6 PLEASE RP faces water crisis BY DINO BALABO MALOLOS CITY—Ironies marked the opening of the Luzon Water Summit at the Clark Freeport on Tuesday. This includes the fact that while surrounded by water, the country has the second lowest per capita water availability in Southeast Asia, beating only Thailand. Two of the 12 Water Resources Regions (WRR) in the country are already experiencing potable water deficit, groundwater in nine major cities are now stressed, while some major tourist destinations were tagged as water quality hotspots. “This requires concerted efforts among us, not only from government agencies, but from all of us,” Vicente Paragas, executive director of the National Water Resources PAGE 6 PLEASE MONEY MAKER. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (2nd from right) cuts the ceremonial ribbon during the inauguration of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) building in the City of San Fernando, yesterday. With her are (L-R) Angeles City Mayor-elect Edgardo Pamintuan, City of San Fernando Oscar Rodriguez, Finance Sec. Margarito Teves and BSP Governor Armando Tetangco Jr. PHOTO BY JOEY PAVIA ON DEMOLITION OF 16 BUILDINGS Tarzan to probe CIAC BY JOEY PAVIA CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – First District Rep. Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin yesterday vowed to lead a congressional investigation into the alleged illegal demolition of at least 16 buildings at the Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) aviation complex. In an interview just before the inauguration of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) building here, Lazatin said he feels “sorry” for the buildings as they were still usable. “It is more expensive to build those buildings today than destroy them. It was not wise to destroy them as they have really durable roofing systems,” said Lazatin, who disclosed that he and Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo inspected the warehouses last year. He added that there PAGE 6 PLEASE Pelayo (left) explains to CIAC Board Chairman Mangio (right) and Board Member Angeles his proposed projects at the CIAC property derailed by the demolition of 16 buildings. PHOTO BY JOEY PAVIA Man hunted for killing bro BY ARMAND GALANG GUIMBA, Nueva Ecija – A former policeman is now the subject of a manhunt after he allegedly shot his brother over an unpaid P400,000 loan in Barangay Manacsac here recently. Police identified the suspect as Ayyot Ganot while the victim was his younger brother, Rino Drug pusher huli sa buy-bust PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • JUNE 18 - 19, 2010 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY NI ERNIE B. ESCONDE 2 ORANI, Bataan – Bumagsak sa kamay ng pulisya Miyerkules ng hapon ang diumano’y kilalang drug pusher sa Orani at Hermosa, dalawang bayan sa Bataan, at nakumpiska sa kanya ang tatlong bricks ng pinatuyong marijuana fruiting tops. Ayon kay Chief Insp. Edgar Balagso, Orani police chief, nahuli ang tricycle driver na si Jovet Macaspac, 24, sa isang buy-bust operation sa barangay Bayan, Orani bandang 3:30 ng hapon. “Ito’y resulta ng matagal at masigasig na pagmamanman sa kanya ng pinagsanib na puwersa ng Hermosa at Orani police bilang kampanya ng pulisya sa ipinagbabawal na gamot,” pahayag ng hepe. Bagama’t inamin diumano ng suspek na sa Lubao, Pampanga galing ang marijuana, sinabi naman nitong hindi niya kilala ang pinanggalingan ng ipinagbabawal na substance. “Ang identity ng source ang kasalukuyan pa naming inaalam,” sabi ng police chief. Nahaharap ang suspek sa kasong violation of Section 5, Article II ng Republic Act 9165 o mas kilalang Anti-Illegal Drugs Act. Nakatakda itong iharap sa Bataan Prosecutors’ office sa Balanga para sa inquest. Napatunayan sa pagsusuri ng chemist sa Bataan Crime Laboratory sa Balanga City na talagang pinatuyong marijuana fruiting tops ang nakumpiska sa suspek. Itinanggi naman ni Macaspac na nakakulong sa Orani Municipal Police Station na siya ay isang drug pusher. Pinapurihan ni Senior Supt. Arnold Gunacao, Bataan police director, ang Hermosa at Orani police stations sa patuloy na kampanya laban sa ipinagbabawal na droga. THINK GREEN edly turned bitter until Ayyot drew a .45 caliber pistol and shot the victim. Police investigator said that Ligaya rushed his husband to a local hospital but the latter was declared dead-on-arrival by attending physicians. The gunman fled toward Victoria, Tarclac on board a commandeered motorcycle after the killing. Yokohama extends goodwill through Brigada Eskwela PORAC, Pampanga – Yokohama Tire Philippines, Inc (YTPI) through its Corporate and Social Responsibility (CSR) program shows its strong support to education as it launched a five-day “Brigada Eskwela” activity that started last June 7 at Siñura Elementary School in preparation for the opening of classes this month. During the event, YTPI volunteers together with the students, parents, faculty members and the local community, joined hands in the repair and beautification of the elementary school. Maintenance works such as the repainting of the school walls, chairs and tables, cleaning of the school grounds and landscaping gave the public school a major facelift that created a more conducive learning environment for the students. “These worthwhile endeavors by Yokohama Tire Philippines, Inc had been very helpful to us. It’s a blessing that they chose to help the elementary school of Siñura as a great deal of attention was necessary in maintaining the facilities of the school. Without their financial and people support, we cannot accomplish this very remarkable result” school principal Nelson M. Buan said. He also said that very few people from the private sector took initiatives on providing assistance to the school ever since the school served as an evacuation center during the Mt. Pinatubo eruption in 1991. Funding for the maintenance of the school were only relied upon from the government which is insuffiecient and we only have to contend ourselves on very old, poorly maintained buildings, tables and chairs year after year. Aside from maintenance work, a tree planting activity was also part of the event wherein students participated in planting more than 50 seedlings inside the school premises. This activity is part of YTPI’s celebration of June as the environment month. YTPI hopes that planting trees with school children will encourage young individuals to plant trees in preservation of our natural resources. Last April 6, YTPI funded for the construction of the school stage of Siñura elementary school wherein the commencement exercise of 23 graduating students was held. It was the first time an important school event was held in a stage. Prior to its construction, faculty members made use of trucks, using its bed as a platform during the graduation rites and school programs. The Brigada Eskwela is a manifestation of the commitment of the YTPI CSR through its adopt-aschool program. YTPI is a manufacturing plant producing high quality Yokohama brand tires sold worldwide. It was established in 1996 inside Clark Freeport Zone and has been successfully operating since then. Busy Bees. Yokohama Tire Philippines, Inc volunteers together with the local community busy on repainting classroom walls and window panes. TRIPPERS. Program hosts Patrizia, Porky, Ysobel and Dixie presented to media. PHOTO BY BONG LACSON Kita-Kits launched The first and Only Travel Show in Central Luzon TRAVEL CENTRAL Unlimited Inc., a travel agency with a production outfit has announces the launching of the first and only travel show in Central Luzon. A Weekly TV show that will feature places and tourist spots, food and delicacies to be aired over GNN Channel 44. The show will make use of a situational comedy/love story at the same time a travel show, which makes it more appealing to all types of viewers. Hosted by four young adults, Ysobel, Dixie, Porky and Patrizia; four unique individuals sharing a passion for discovery. Kita-kits is their story. See how the story unravels as they share their unique passion for adventure. Somewhere, sometime in their lives they find themselves caught in a struggle of hearts and minds. Ysobel and Dixie, once inseperable, now found themselves caught between the crossroads of their lives; that of mending differences, that of growing old in the city or simply retiring in a more simple life. Kita-kits will be aired every Sunday starting July 2010 over GN Channel 44, the newest regional television channel in the region. Kita – kits is the perfect weekend excursion for the entire family with ongoing demontrations, cultural performances and interactive activities. Kita – kits will tarvel all around Central Luzon. The show is inviting every- one to visit Region III: Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales. Moreover, it also offers an array of escapes from everyday life. Produced by Travel Central Unlimited Inc., with Ms. Edna de Jesus Eufenio as the Producer/Managing Director, Allyn De Ocampo as the Executive Producer, Director and Editor, John Paul Martinez as the Production Manager, Kashmer Manalo, the write, Diego Dobles, the Audiman, Nigel Laxamana, the Photographer and Graphic Artist, Camile Sanguyu, Toni Aguilar and Pam Asuncion a sthe Production Assitants. Travel Central Unlimited Inc. closely works and partners with the Department of tourism and all local government units in Central Luzon as part of its mission in promoting the tourism in the region. For further information contact: Travel Central Unlimited Incorporated Edna de Jesus Eufemio Producer 09216283165 Edj1002@yahoo.com Allyn De Ocampo Executive Producer/Director/Editor 09062311112 captainbonsai@yahoo.com Game Gizmo opens at SM City Baliwag THE NEWEST tech hub is now open to cater hobbyists with the latest trends in gaming. Game Gizmo has a wide range of video game machines like Sony Playstation, Nintendo Wii, and Xbox 360 as well as hand held units such as Sony PSP’s and Nintendo DS. Upgrade your gadgets with their huge selection of latest games and accessories. Original collector’s item of various characters like Astro Boy, Iron Man and Optimus Prime among others are also available at Game Gizmo. Game Gizmo is located at the ground floor of SM Baliwag, near Worlds of Fun. PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • JUNE 18 - 19, 2010 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO conferred the distinguished Order of Lakandula upon Commission on Higher Education Chairman Emmanuel Y. Angeles in recognition of his outstanding contributions to education, healthcare and public service, on June 12, 2010 at Holiday Inn Resort Clark. They are joined by (L-R)) Dr. Cornelia L. Angeles; Angeles University President Atty. Joseph Emmanuel L. Angeles and his wife, Atty. Marianne Elizabeth B. Angeles and their two sons Theodore James and Mathew Dominic; and AUF Medical Center President/CEO Atty. Gabriel Martin L. Angeles. Ganot, 40, married, and lives in the same barangay. Investigation showed that the victim and his wife Ligaya, were on board a tricycle on their way home on Sunday, and from an undisclosed place at about 6:50 a.m., the suspect confronted his brother to pay him the P400,000. The argument report- 3 Open season again SO WE thought the 32 media martyrs of Magunidanao last year were to be the last of the Fourth Estate’s sacrifice to the altar of press frredom? So we thought wrong. In less than 24 hours, two broadcasters were killed in separate places in the country. In Davao Oriental, Desidario Camangyan of Sunshine FM radio was shot dead as he hosted an amateur singing contest in Manay town Monday evening. A hard-hitting commentator, Camangyan, 52, regularly criticized corruption in the local governments and illegal logging. In Ilocos Norte, Jovelito Agustin, 37, a reporter and anchorman of local radio station dzJC Aksyon Radyo was waylaid by two motorcycle-riding gunmen Tuesday night. Agustin and a nephew where riding a motorcycle on the way home after an evening broadcast when shot. He died in a hospital before dawn Wednesday while his nephew was slightly hurt. said Agustin told co-workers he had received threats through text messages, and suspected a local politician he criticized on air for alleged corruption could be after him. Agustin was reported to have told media colleagues that he had received threats through text messages, and suspected a local politician he criticized on air for alleged corruption could be after him. The killers in both incidents have – as usual – remained at large, and unidentified. Mediamen beware. The culture of impunity in this country is as strong as it can ever be. Upping the ante PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • JUNE 18 - 19, 2010 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY A BOUNTY of P200,000 offered by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-3. No takers. The reward money doubled by the Regional Police Office -3 to P400,000. Still no takers. Now, a relative of slain businessman Florencio “Jack” Yap raised to P1 million the offer for solid information that will lead to the solution of the triple murder of Yap, Rene Tetangco, Jr. and Dennis Quinto on June 2. As police investigators have not penetrated the blank wall they are facing with their probe of the massacre, the victims’ kin have asked the National Bureau of Investigation to join in the investigation. With the NBI and the raised bounty, it is hoped that the perpetrators of this heinous crime be brought to justice. A whopping P1 million for information, any takers? 4 EDGAR V. MOVIDO Founder LLL Trimedia Coordinators Publisher General Manager Atty. Gener C. Endona Editor Joey R. Aguilar Editorial Consultant Caesar “Bong” Lacson Marketing Manager Joanna Niña V. Cordero Administrative Staff Ma. Teresa U. Villanueva Layout Dondie B. Ventura Circulation Gilbert Mendoza Business & Editorial office at Unit B Essel Commercial Center, McArthur Highway, Telabastagan, City of San Fernando Tel. No. (45) 636•6327 Cel. No. 0917•481•1416 e-mail address: puntogitnangluzon@yahoo.com pdf file at http://www.punto.com.ph Punto! Central Luzon is a proud member of The Philippine Press Institute O p i n i o n Plundered anew acaesar.blogspot.com Zona Libre Bong Z. Lacson NINETEEN YEARS ago, what the wrath of Mount Pinatubo failed to destroy in the American-abandoned Clark Air Base human greed plundered. So we heard of someone named “Hakot” – as we H-over minding Kapampangans say it – cleaned and cleared the once teeming bastion of American imperialism and decadent capitalism in the Far East not so much of the ash and sand that buried it but of anything of value that remained in it, not even the toilet bowls and sinks spared. So we read of the most profitable of the novel enterprises that arose from the devastated base: the total demolition of damaged buildings, the scrap – galvanized iron roofing, wood panelings and ceilings, parquet and tile flooring, steel beams – contracted out to junk dealers. Nineteen years hence, the buried military base has completely – like the proverbial phoenix – risen out of the ashes and transformed itself into the booming Clark Freeport. Indeed, nineteen years have passed but the plunder of Clark has remained extant. The plunderers of a different breed, but their greedy way all too similar. That is if one is to believe all the talks arising out of the current scandals obtaining at Clark today. As it was at the time of “Hakot”, so it is now at the time of someone monikered “Boy Demo” aka “Boy Scrap” – the demolition of buildings to make money out of the scrap materials. The difference is that in the immediate Pinatubo period, only heavily damaged buildings already condemned as dangerous and unserviceable were demolished. This time, even highly serviceable buildings that need but minor refurbishing were being taken down to their very foundation. Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo rued that it would take no less than P120 million to construct just one building similar to those demolished. His is a double lamentation with the wrecker’s ball smashing some of the buildings intended to be part of his proposed Clark One-Stop Agricultural Market that would have showcased the best produce not only of his melon, tilapia, and riceyielding town but of the rest of Pampanga and Central Luzon. Such wasted resources! Such wasted opportunities! And at what profit? Sixteen buildings have been demolished as of last count, 14 only last month. Think of the millions of pesos saved there, per Pelayo’s computation. Sixteen buildings gone to rabble. And the Clark International Airport Corp., in whose area of responsibility the buildings were located, claimed ignorance of it. So CIAC Board chairman Nestor Mangio himself admitted. “It has come to my attention that several warehouse structures within the CIAC are being demolished…I understand we have not discussed this matter with the Board. May I know by what authority are these demolitions happening?” wrote Mangio to CIAC President-CEO Victor Jose “Chichos” Luciano early this month. On whose authority were the buildings demolished? Pelayo has long been asking Luciano too. The mayor also wanted to know: “Where did the demolition proceeds go? How did these scrap materials go out of the Clark gate? Who are the officials involved here?” Questions I do hope our good friend Chichos will be able to answer – most convincingly – in a media conference scheduled as we go to press. In the spirit of fairness, I shall devote the whole of my column for Monday on Chichos’ reply. Until then, let me remind you that this here is just one part of the “continuing plunder of Clark.” Allegedly. TODAY IN HISTORY Napoleon defeated at Waterloo AT WATERLOO in Belgium, Napoleon Bonaparte suffers defeat at the hands of the Duke of Wellington, bringing an end to the Napoleonic era of European history. The Corsica-born Napoleon, one of the greatest military strategists in history, rapidly rose in the ranks of the French Revolutionary Army during the late 1790s. By 1799, France was at war with most of Europe, and Napoleon returned home from his Egyptian campaign to take over the reigns of the French government and save his nation from collapse. After becoming first consul in February 1800, he reorganized his armies and defeated Austria. In 1802, he established the Napoleonic Code, a new system of French law, and in 1804 was crowned emperor of France in Notre Dame Cathedral. By 1807, Napoleon controlled an empire that stretched from the River Elbe in the north, down through Italy in the south, and from the Pyrenees to the Dalmatian coast. Beginning in 1812, Napoleon began to encounter the first significant defeats of his military career, suffering through a disastrous invasion of Russia, losing Spain to the Duke of Wellington in the Peninsula War, and enduring total defeat against an allied force by 1814. Exiled to the island of Elba in the Mediterranean, he escaped to France in early 1815 and set up a new regime. As allied troops mustered on the French frontiers, he raised a new Grand Army and marched into Belgium. He intended to defeat the allied armies one by one before they could launch a united attack. On June 16, 1815, he defeated the Prussians under Gebhard Leberecht von Blucher at Ligny, and sent 33,000 men, or about one-third of his total force, in pursuit of the retreating Prussians. On June 18, Napoleon led his remaining 72,000 troops against the Duke of Wellington's 68,000-man allied army, which had taken up a strong position 12 miles south of Brussels near the village of Waterloo. In a fatal blunder, Napoleon waited until mid-day to give the command to attack in order to let the ground dry. The delay in fighting gave Blucher's troops, who had eluded their pursuers, time to march to Waterloo and join the battle by the late afternoon. In repeated attacks, Napoleon failed to break the center of the allied center. Meanwhile, the Prussians gradually arrived and put pressure on Napoleon's eastern flank. At 6 p.m., the French under Marshal Michel Ney managed to capture a farmhouse in the allied center and began decimating Wellington's troops with artillery. Napoleon, however, was preoccupied with the 30,000 Prussians attacking his flank and did not release troops to aid Ney's attack until after 7 p.m. By that time, Wellington had reorganized his defenses, and the French attack was repulsed. Fifteen minutes later, the allied army launched a general advance, and the Prussians attacked in the east, throwing the French troops into panic and then a disorganized retreat. The Prussians pursued the remnants of the French army, and Napoleon left the field. French casualties in the Battle of Waterloo were 25,000 men killed and wounded and 9,000 captured, while the allies lost about 23,000. Napoleon returned to Paris and on June 22 abdicated in favor of his son. He decided to leave France before counterrevolutionary forces could rally against him, and on July 15 he surrendered to British protection at the port of Rochefort. He hoped to travel to the United States, but the British instead sent him to Saint Helena, a remote island in the Atlantic off the coast of Africa. Napoleon protested but had no choice but to accept the exile. With a group of followers, he lived quietly on St. Helena for six years. In May 1821, he died, most likely of stomach cancer. He was only 51 years old. Source: www.history.com Information as freedom Pumapatol Ricky A. Clores THE 14th Congress orchestrating a coup de grace on us by killing the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill offers no surprise. If the congressmen had done otherwise, that would have been a spectacle to behold in awe and inspiration, a complete turn of events, a real stunner if not a miracle, so to speak. At the time the FOI bill’s supposed birthing, there was no quorum, 139 respectable congressmen were again A-B-S-E-N-T. When we visit the crime scene, the unnecessary demise of this matter-of-life-and-death bill was probably not only due to the usual suspect of play of numbers and incompetence. Witnesses are saying there could be more. The FOI Bill’s death is no suicide, according to some members of the House, who swore in their honour that indeed they were no ghosts. They were PRESENT(!) during the roll call for warm bodies. The Speaker of the House Representative Norberto Nograles simply ignored them because the Speaker and his cadre of supporters were bent to execute the sinister plan of killing the FOI bill. The plot thickens. “The Speaker has a double standard in getting a quorum. If he wants a law passed, he always finds a way. But if he does not want it, he has plenty of reasons,” says Rep. Arthur Villanueva of the Citizens” Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC). But then again, why would the Speaker want the FOI Bill dead? There is nothing in the bill that spells disaster to Juan/Juana De La Cruz. The FOI Bill simply ascertain and make known the democratic rights of every Filipino to have full access to all information pertaining to the conduct of the state. This is especially true to the deals that government officials enter into, including such mega contracts as ZTE, fertilizers for farmers, equipment for elections, etc. If the mere mention of such deals make you blood pressure go up, it is because we were all kept in the dark when these deals were hatched or if these notorious deals were cancelled, it was due to the vigilance of people, mostly journalists who had the courage and wherewithal to expose them. Just imagine for a moment that every able body is given the weapon, the means, and the concrete mandate to access all government transactions that public officials enter into. This is like putting lights to corners of the dark rooms of our house. We are given a chance to catch and put burglars to prison, if not shot them, if need be (Ask anyone who has experienced being robbed, and the latter is quite often the preferred choice). But then again, are we barking at the wrong House? Were the honourable congressmen to blame? Were they the real plotters? Or, they simply acted as executioners? We should instead be going to Malacanang and inquire there. Of course we run the risk of getting a slammed door or a bullet in the head, instead of the truth. Malacanang after all is known to many to be allergic to truth. The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) offers a glimpse on the nature and motive of the crime, “The only conclusion we can draw about the badly scripted drama that Nograles and his accomplice—Majority Leader Arthur Defensor and Camiguin Representative Pedro Romualdo—acted out is that, even in his last moment as a Speaker, the political expediency that characterized the out-going administration continues to trump our longsuffering people’s hopes for good governance and an end to corruption.” However, are we paying attention? The congressmen acted as expected. The “betrayal,” as the Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines aptly frames it, bears strong resemblance to a story of a monk, who once a upon a time, was asked by a scorpion to cross the river, lest the poor scorpion gets drowned for not knowing how to swim. Because it is in the nature (and perhaps training) of the monk to help creatures of all kinds, sinister or not, the honourable monk could not but be of service to the beleaguered scorpion. You know the rest of the story. The honourable monk received the venomous bite of the despicable scorpion in spite of the monk’s generosity. The moral, or so as we are told, is that the monk and the scorpion, acted as they acted because their behaviours are “embedded in their genes” (Does the phrase ever sound so familiar? If so, you must truly be a Filipino concerned of the moral leadership or the lack of it of our Patria Adorada). I heard a mambabatas (not mambabarang eh) over the radio that FOI Bill was not worth supporting because it does not provide the necessary sanctions, and the right to secure information anyway is written in the Constitution. Given the nature again of our public servants to refuse, cry for immunity and ultimately deny us of precious information, when asked about public transactions, can any Juan, Hesus or Maria or Joseph (susmaryosep!) simply go to the busy, very busy indeed, government offices and demand information? You tell me. Any addition therefore, to the right to know, is a welcome development. Public officials have the penchant to operate in the dark. There are a few pleasant things that actually transpire in the dark. This is especially true with transactions. This nine-year-old bill precisely seeks to improve transparency in government transactions and to uphold the people’s right to know. This is not an issue of sanctions, this is an issue of gifting the Filipino people the notion that you can have access to verifiable information, especially the shady and run-of–the mill contracts that have been the mark of this out-going administration. Manila Representative Bienvenido Abante captured the very essence why we need FOI,”I believe the Filipino people should know that some congressmen are wasting Filipinos’ money.” We know this, right? And we know more, the infection is not only true to some congressmen. With the FOI, we will have the access to verify allegations and secure the necessary information in our defence. It is said that 40 percent of our budget goes to corruption. With the FOI, this will not be hearsay or something that our public officials normally do, i.e., deny the allegations, use whatever immunity they have, even if when caught getting the cookies on the cookie jars. They can cry, as they often do: where’s your evidence? Present on our noses, at our disposal, will be the I-N-F-O-R-M-A-T-I-O-N. Anything, any move that can make our people pro-active in the fight against corruption that has hounded our nation for long, is a welcome treat, is a fresh air in this stale moral environment, for our children to grow up to. Yes Michelle, for the survival of this nation, information is like food, like water or air. Information is integral to our collective and individual well-being. And more. Information, as the Bill says it, is freedom. That simple. tobe_wtdpoor@yahoo.com Napaguusapan lang Ni Felix M. Garcia Keka mal ming balayan, king aldo mung katimawan (KASUGLUNG NING MILABAS A ISYU)) KAIBAT, y Aguinaldo karin ne bintiwas King Kawit, Cavite ing mal tang’ Watawat; Tanda king iti yang aldo nang panaslag Ning Katimawan king balayan tang’ maslag; Hilario, Maniago, Makabulos’ Tarlac, Hizon at Dayrit ning beitan tang’ labuad, Upayang Kastila ikua rang asaldak! Lubus ta’na sanang kumit Katimawan King tagumpe tamu laban karing daywan, Dapot ating Dewey a biglang dinatang Sasyo tang Kalayan, yang keta sinamsam! Sekupan ne’ing balen uli ning sikanan Ning Agilang ibat king dane Albugan; At keta ing Bansa miuman deng telanan Ding e ta’ kalahing maputi mu naman. Tutu inampang da itang Demokrasya Dapot ila mu ring kekata dirikta; At waman king Balen linto no’ kanita Ding anti ri Osias, Quezon at Osmeña, Roxas, Abad Santos ampon aliwa pa; A sukat talan king sarili rang renda, King pamipalakad king balen tang’ sinta, Atyu kagulutan ing Tusong Agila! Kaibat, uling atin lang apikasundu King ing sadiang Laya ibie ra nang tutu, Pauli nang Quezon… ding mesabing Kanu Tiparan da ren ing karelang pangaku; Nung ing mag-sarili lubus ta’nang agyu, Dinan da neng Laya ing balen tang Indu; Dapot itang aldo iniang sunlag niamu, Ing pang-Aduang Gyera biglang mikaluku! Karing pampang tamu bigla na’ lang linsut Ding lalu pang lasip ampon makatakut; At nung ding Kastila a keti sinakup, Kanita la linto lang ganid ampon marus, Deting tauling dintang a keti linusub, Puri’t dangalan mu dekurak dang lubus; Pilan lang anak mu ding keta metampus Ban ipaglualu ria ing balen tang irug? Salamat, kaibat ning atlung banuang singkad Ing puersa ding Sakang ikua rang asaldak, Ding msanib-sanib a puersang milangkap Ning Agilang meko…at ding kekang anak; Ing keyang pangakung magbalik at sukat, Ya ing mepalyari king bansa migligtas; Itang Yamashita a keti miglagpak Mig-”Hara-Kiri” ya king keyang panatras! Kalagpas ning gulu at miatahimik na, Inampang neng miuman bansang Amerika, Ing ganap at lubus a kalayan keka, Kapamilatan ning beba ne ing Keya At ing Kekatamu yanang pepaitas da, Layun memayagpag king asul a banua; Tan da king ing Bansang Perla ning Malasya, Kalag ne gapus king panga-alipan na! At ngening Malaya neng ganap ing Bansa Itamung anak na mikalugud ta’ sa; Misanmetung tamu king pusu at diwa King nanu mang bage keyang kasaplala; At keta, sakali’t atin pa aliwa King aldo ning bukas miuman pang magnasa, Pasibayu, itang miagum ban mamingua, King kekatang Balen at Mal tang’ Bandila! PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • JUNE 18 - 19, 2010 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY Editorial 5 DOLE eyes P10-12 minimum pay hike petition for wage increase before the Regional Tripartite Productivity and Wage Board (RTWPB). “Despite this, we will convene the board next week to tackle the possibility of wage increase,” he said. But Bihis said many factors would have to be considered before deciding on wage increases, as he noted “export performance decline at the freeports in Subic in Zambales and Clark in Pampanga, as well as the Bataan export zone.” “We must consider the capacity of employers to absorb increases. We don’t want factories to close and cause displacement and unemployment,” he said. In the past, the RTWPB in Central Luzon had exempted the garment industry from wage increase impositions arising from significant slowdown in foreign markets. In the National Capital Region, a P22 spike in minimum wage sparked criticisms. Kilusang Mayo Uno vice-chairman Lito Ostares said the P22 wage increase was an “insult” to minimum wage workers who have long fought for a substantial wage increase. Bihis said, however, that the labor sector in Central Luzon tend to be more “open-minded” about wage increases. “Unlike in the NCR and Southern Tagalog were most workers are migrants, workers in Central Luzon have a different culture since they are mostly residents of the region and go home daily to their families, so they have less expenses than migrants to spend for board and lodging,” he noted. Bihis also noted that in Central Luzon, “we usually are ahead in coming out with wage increase proposals which we continuously study regardless of any petition for wage hike.” “So even without demand from our labor sector, we issue wage orders,” he noted. Bihis cited studies from the regional National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) and the Department of Industry (DTI) indicating that prices of basic commodities in Central Luzon rose by P‘10 to P12 over two years. “This we will use a benchmark for any possible wage hike in the region. Personally, I would espouse a minimum wage increase of P10 to P12,” he said. Last year, no wage increase was implemented in Central Luzon, although some companies offered instead other benefits such as more medical assistance to their workers. The last wage order in Central Luzon was dated June 16, 2008. The present wage rates in the region’s provinces, except Aurora, is P302 for non-agricultural workers of firms with assets worth P30 million or more, P294.50 for workers for firms with less assets and P272 for agricultural plantation workers and P256 for non-planta- tion workers. In hospitals with 20 or more beds, the minimum wage is P293, while those in hospitals with less beds get P278. Retail outlets with 16 or more workers give a minimum pay of P291 while those with less workers pay them P277. Cottage industry workers get a minimum of P256. In Aurora, which is regarded as most rural in the region, the pay for workers in agriculture is P251 in non-agriculture sector, and P236 for plantation workers and P216 for nonplantation workers, while retail industry workers get P173. Those in the cottage industry get a pay of P224. This, even as the party-list group Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said it will push for a P75-a-day legislated wake increase in the incoming 15th Congress. TUCP Rep. Raymond Mendoza said that the P22 adjustment given by the regional wage board for Metro Manila “is a measly sum and is an insult to RP faces water crisis FROM PAGE 1 PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • JUNE 18 - 19, 2010 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY Board (NWRB). Paragas was interviewed by this writer after presenting the current water realities in the country in the first day of the Luzon wide Integrated Water Summit held at the Fontana Convention Center in Clark Freeport on Tuesday. His Powerpoint presentation showed that the country is experiencing extreme weather highlighted by twin weather phenomenon—El Niño which is marked with lack of rain and drought and La Niña which is characterized by typhoons with above normal rainfall. Paragas stressed that the country is also surrounded by water and yet the country has the second lowest per capita water availability in Southeast Asia. 6 He also disclosed that Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog are experiencing water deficit as of December 2007. This is because the two WRRs water potential are exceeded by water demand and water allocation. WRRs do not necessarily follow the regional political subdivisions. In the case of the WRR 1 and 2, it included the Cordillera Administrative Region. In Central Luzon, water potential is less than 10,000 million cubic meters (MCM), but water demand projection by 2025 will be at least 18,000 MCM. Even higher is the water allocated as of December 2007 at about 20,000 MCM. Paragas also said that the country’s ground water potential is only 20,200 MCM per year. He also identified nine major cities in the country with ground water stress. It includes Metro Manila, Baguio City, Angeles City in Central Luzon, Metro Cebu, Bacolod City, Iloilo City, Davao City, Cagayan De oro City and Zamboanga City. Paraas explained that what makes groundwater stress in the abovementioned cities discomforting is the fact that they belong to the country’s growth areas. He said that rapid development in those cities results to rapid depletion of water resources. Paragas said that over extraction of water due to increasing demands has resulted to decline in ground water levels and drying up of wells and springs. He said that water stakeholders including every citizen must now reconsider their actions that impacts water resources were “only” two warehouses demolished then. Lazatin said the warehouses were built by Americans when they occupied Clark, and “the structures have been created to last for many years.” CIAC President and CEO Victor Jose Luciano has yet to issue statements. He was set to meet with reporters to air his side at 3:00 p.m. yesterday. Pelayo, for his part, said he would file plunder charges against Luciano. He added that the demol- ished warehouses cost about P15 million each. The board of directors of the Clark Airport Corporation (CIAC) assured Pelayo of full support in his exposé on the alleged unauthorized demolition of 16 big warehouses inside the sprawling complex. CIAC Board Chairman daily wage in Metro Manila is P382. The P22 adjustment will bring it to P404. Many employers, however, insisted they could not afford the P22 hike since they have not fully recovered from the economic slowdown , as they warned of possible lay offs. FOR FRIENDSHIP AND A SERIOUS RELATIONSHIP A 45-year-old ISRAELI guy, well established, athletic, kind and educated is looking for a Filipina for a serious relationship... Anyone whose interested can send text messages to... +639397174113 or send email to (yahoo messenger} nekemia_a520@yahoo.com REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT THIRD JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 57, ANGELES CITY IN THE MATTER OF CORRECTION OF ENTRY IN THE CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH OF ALISON G. DE LEON, ALISON G. DE LEON, of the country. For their part, Dr. Maria Luz-Enriquez of the National Agricultural and Fisher Council (NAFC) and Engineer Isidra Penaranda called on for the implementation of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) approach. IWRM is the coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources within hydrological boundaries to optimize economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems. Penaranda further explained that IWRM is a systematic and adaptive process conducted in collaboration with stake holders for sustainable management of water resources in the context of social equity and economic and environmental objectives. Tarzan to probe CIAC FROM PAGE 1 workers who sustained the country’s economic growth in the last nine years.” “The amount is too low and cannot even cover for the increases in the prices of essential goods and services,” he said. The current minimum Petitioner, -versus- SPEC. PROC. 8419 OFFICE OF THE CIVIL REGISTRAR OF PORAC, PAMPANGA, and the NATIONAL STATISTICS OFFICE, Respondents. X——————————————————————————X ORDER A verified petition has been filed by the petitioner praying that after due notice, publication and hearing this Court renders judgment ordering the respondents Local Civil Registrar of Angeles City and the National Statistics Office to correct the entry in the Certificate of Live Birth of the petitioner particularly the gender from MALE to FEMALE. Finding the petition to be sufficient in due form and substance, the Court hereby sets the hearing thereof on July 8, 2010 at 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon to be held at the Session Hall of this Court, 2/F Hall of Justice, Pulung Maragul, Angeles City after this Order shall have been published in a newspaper of general circulation in Angeles City and Pampanga at the expense of the petitioner for three (3) consecutive weeks. All persons interested in the said petition may appear before this Court on or before the scheduled date and show cause, if they have any, why the prayer thereof should not be granted. Let copies of this Order and of the petition be served upon the Civil Registrar of Porac, Pampanga, the Civil Registrar General, National Statistics Office, Quezon City, the Office of the Solicitor General and Office of the City Prosecutor, Angeles City, the other named respondents, the petitioner and her counsel. Also, furnish a copy hereof the Office of the Clerk of Court, RTC, Angeles City. SO ORDERED. Angeles City, May 31, 2010. OMAR T. VIOLA Judge PUNTO! Central Luzon: June 11, 18 & 25, 2010 Nestor Mangio is set to report on their findings on the demolition of buildings in the next board meeting next week. He and CIAC Board Members Raffy Angeles and Jesus Nicdao were members of the factfinding committee tasked to investigate the demolition. PAUNAWA NG PAGBABAHAGING LABAS SA HUKUMAN NA MAY PAGTALIKOD SA KABAHAGI Ang Paunawa na ito ay para ipaalam sa madla na ang mga tagapagmana ni MERCY PALOS ABIAN na namatay noong ika-27 ng Nobyembre, 2009 sa Siyudad ng San Fernando, Pampanga ay nagsakatuparan ng Pagbabahaging Labas sa Hukuman na may Pagtalikod sa Kabahagi ng kanyang Time Deposit sa Plantersbank (Siyudad ng San Fernando, Pampanga) na may halagang Dalawang Milyong Piso (P2,000,000.00) na may Katibayan Blg. 056002. Punto! Central Luzon: June 11, 18 & 25, 2010 KAWAWA NAMAN si Marian Rivera. All of a sudden, nawala siya sa number one position sa FHM sexiest gayung kailan lang yung mismong FHM ang namaraling numero uno pa rin si Marian. Ngayon si Angel Locsin na raw ang number one. And the reason they give, bigla raw sinipag ang mga fans ni Angel Locsin na iboto siya, kasi nga siya’ng cover ng FHM ng May. O hindi ba, malinaw na pinulitika lang si Marian para nga mabenta’ng isyung cover si Angel? Call it marketing strategy. Meron pang tsiskang di raw kasi payag si Marian na maging cover ng FHM. Meaning, matagal na nilang nililigawan si Marian pero di napapayag. Sinubukan nilang gawing number the other year, to no avail. Kung napapayag nga naman si Marian, baka sobrang yaman ang pasok sa kanilang kaban. So si Angel ang na-cover sa May issue. Now, malinaw na ba kung bakit number one ulit si Angel? Yes, Angel was number one a few years ago. After Katrina Halili. Kaso nga, napulitika naman ang dalawa kaya lumagpak sa numero unong posisyon si Marian. And now, si Marian naman ang napulitika. O baka naman true na laos na si Marian at alam ng FHM na di na siya bebenta. Dahil laos na siya, di na siya makatutulong sa benta ng FHM. by Cesar Pambid Makes sense, hindi po ba? Pero true ba, laos na si Marian Rivera? Si Cristine Reyes nga pala’ng number one last year, na number two na ngayon. Si Marian, number three na lang. The final list will be announced next week and so far, Iwa Moto is 4th, while Erich Gonzales is 5th, Katrina Halili is 6th, Angelica Panganiban is 7th, Ehra Madrigal is 8th, Bangs Garcia is 9th, and wonder of wonders, the 40year-old Regine Velasquez who has never done any sexy pictorial is No. 10. Her hit show, “Diva,” must have done wonders for Regine. The Gossipmiller Bagong leadingman ni Kris Bernal, naghubo’t hubad sa internet MAKATULONG KAY si Daniel Matsunaga sa bagong career path ni Kris Bernal. The truth is nagkapangalan si Kris nang ipareha ito kay Aljur Abrenica, but as soon as nagkaroon siya ng kaunting pangalan, sa iba na siya pinasalo. Yung kaunting pangalan ni Kris ay ginagamit ng GMA 7 to build up a Brazilian, si Daniel Matusnaga nga. Well, guwapo si Daniel. Materyal talaga, kumbaga. But would his ‘past’ help para sa kanila ni Kris Bernal? Kelan lang ba yung nasa internet ang isang nude photo ni Daniel sa internet. Pinagpasapasahan na ito at ngayon, halos lahat ay may kopya na. We receive a copy of the picture a few days ago and we must say na hindi ito masyadong ka-wholesome dahil it showed a nude Daniel Matsunaga in his younger years. Tanging isang palad lang niya’ng nakatakip sa kanyang pagkalalaki at yung pagkalago-lagong pubic hair ay nagwawagayway inviting gays to ogle upon the picture. It is said na na-depress si Daniel dahil dito. Sabi, sumumpa raw siyang di na babalik sa Pinas dahil sa iskandalo. Pero ayan, heto naman siya’t binibuild up ng GMA 7. And speaking of Kris Bernal, ayaw pa raw nitong magpa-sexy. Hindi na rin daw tuloy ang pagpu-pose niya sa FHM magazine kasi balitang kontra ang kanyang parents. Kaya sa pagrampa ni Kris para sa Bench fashion show sa July 2, naka-maong pants at t-shirt lang siya, and no-no ang underwear o bra lang. Si Daniel naman ang bago niyqng ka-loveteam at meron silang project nito sa GMA 7. Sa interview, nagsalita si Kris about Daniel and Aljur. “Naninibago ako sa taping ng Wish Come True, kasi hindi ko kaeksena si Aljur. Three years din kaming magka-loveteam at ngayon lang ako nagkaroon ng bagong kapareha. Although nakasama ko na si Daniel sa The Last Prince, talagang si Aljur ang kapatner ko.” Ikinuwento rin ni Kris na alagang-alaga siya ni Daniel noong nasa Singapore sila. Feeling baby ng raw siya sa pag-aalaga ng binata. Ang modelo pa nga raw ang tagabitbit ng mga gamit niya. “Ganyan pala ang Brazilian, maasikaso sa kanilang mga babae,” nakangiting sabi ni Kris. And yes, sabi ni Kris, parang kapatid lang daw ang turing niya kay Aljur noon. Owwws! Angel Locsin Meet the Papaitan sisters: Gretchen and Claudine PAPAITAN OR pinapaitan, for those who don’t know is a sampalok and bile flavored stew of tripes and innards. It is either an ox or goat. (baka or kambing). This dish is popular with those who love drinking liquor. It is one of the mainstay dish of restaurants along the h-ways if you have ever traveled up north or Ilocos country. Yan ang definition ng papaitan sa Wikepedia. Masarap ito na Pinoy delicacy although medyo mapait kasi nga hinahaluan ng apdo. Sa showbiz, may Ampalaya Girls. Like ampalaya, mapait ang papaitan at hindi naman katuwa na ikumpara ka dito. Ang Ampalaya Girls, although, inaamin nilang mahilig sila sa ampalaya at nagkaroon ng negative image in belonging to the group. Ikatuwa naman kaya ng magkapatid na Gretchen at Claudine B kung tagurian silang papaitan sisters. Anyway, napakaasim kasi (iba yung may asim pa sa maasin, ha?) ng dating ngayon ni Gretchen Baretto. Imagine, away sila nang away ng kapatid niya gayung ayon kay Morly Alinio, dapat nagmahalan sila. May isyung di raw malinaw ngayon sa pagitan ng magkapatid and any moment sisiklab na naman ang giyerang ala- Second World War sa kanila. Sobrang kaasiman at kapaitan di po ba? At ngayon, isa si La Greta sa mga hated personalities sa showbiz. Dahil sa away nila ni Angelica Panganiban. Obviously, naiinis ang mga utaw kay Greta dahil hindi na nga cute at kawili-wili ang mga pinaggagawa niya ngayon. Lumalabas, mas pabor ang marami kay Angel. O di ba, soibrang kapaitan yun? In the past, dami pang kapaitan at kaasiman ni La Greta. Kahit na noong bata pa siya, ganyan na siya kapait at kaasim. Yes, kasing pait at kasing asim talaga ng papaitang nasobrahan ng apdo. At si Claudine? Kasing-pait lang ni Greta at kasing asim din. Need we enumerate why? Wag na, basta super pasaway si Claudine at yun na yun. Di ba Morly Alinio? PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • JUNE 18 - 19, 2010 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY FROM PAGE 1 Laos na…inilaglag ng FHM… Marian Rivera tinalo na ni Angel Locsin (bilang pinakaseksi sa Pilipinas) 7 P.4-M reward fails to attract witnesses BY DING CERVANTES PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • JUNE 18 - 19, 2010 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The P400,000 reward offered by the police for any information that could solve the murder case of a brother of the governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has so far failed to lure any witness, except a texter who apparently wants to further confuse investigators. Tetangco-Yap task force head Senior Supt. Wendy Rosario told Punto that after the police announced the P400,000 reward last week, an unidentified person sent him text messages providing details on the place where Rene Tetangco, brother of BSP governor Amando Tetangco, his friend Florencio Yap and Yap’s aide Dennis Guinto were murdered in Angeles City last June 2. “We went to the place and found it as an improbable site for the murders. It could be that the texter is himself the culprit who is trying to mislead investigators,” Rosario said without giving out details on the information sent by the texter. The texter, he said, always turned off his cellphone after sending the texts, he noted. Rosario said that so 8 far, his task force has gathered testimonies from 18 persons, but none of them were direct witnesses. “Up to now, we don’t even known exactly where the victims were shot dead,” he noted. The victims’ bodies were found in Yap’s van on an empty lot in Barangay Pampang in Angeles, but probers were certain they were killed elsewhere. Amid lack of direct witnesses in the June 2 killing of a brother of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas governor, the Central Luzon police increased yesterday from P200,000 to P400,000 the reward for anyone who can provide information that could identify the murder suspect or suspects. The reward for any informant who could lead to the arrest of the still unknown suspects in the murders was initially P200,000 from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) based in Camp Crame, but the regional police headquarters at Camp Olivas added another P200,000 for a total of P400,000 reward. “We hope this would entice walk- in witnesses who can provide us finally with information that can identify the suspect or sus- pects,” Rosario said, but lamented that as of yesterday, his task force still faced a blank wall on the suspects. He said that four telephone numbers of the police were made public for any one who had vital information that could solve the murders, but no one seems to have responded. But the police announced initially only two numbers as 09272208432 and 09085011278. Rosario said that except for the misleading texts he got from an unidentified source, he has not received any call or text despite the P400,000 reward. Angeles police director Senior Supt. Danny Bautista also noted no one has contacted his office to relay any information on the murders. He said two of the other telephone numbers made public for witnesses belong to the CIDG in Camp Olivas in San Fernando. Punto tried to call up the CIDG number 0454632091, but it seemed to be out of order. The one who answered the other CIDG number, through a Camp Olivas trunk line, refers the caller to the same number which leads only to a busy tone. US envoy to visit DMIA UNITED STATES Ambassador Harry K. Thomas Jr. will visit the Clark Freeport Zone today to see the ongoing development at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA). Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) President and CEO Victor Jose I. Luciano will welcome US Ambassador Thomas and Party at the DMIA at about 2:30 p.m. “This is an honor to us (CIAC) that US Ambassador Harry K. Thomas Jr., is visiting DMIA,” Luciano said. Before proceeding to DMIA, Ambassador Thomas is expected to visit the Clark Cemetery and pay a courtesy call to Philippine Air Force Commanders at the 600th Air Base Wing. Thomas will also lead the launching of a new Hangar at PAF’s 600th Air Base Wing. Thomas is also expected to visit the ongoing construction of the P308-million expansion of DMIA Terminal 1. Luciano will take the US envoy to a walkthrough of the project. The DMIA Terminal 1 expansion features two Passenger Boarding Bridges; Flight Information Display System; Closed Circuit Television; Public Television; Background Music/Public Adress System; X-ray Machines; Elevators and Escalators. The existing terminal has a capacity of 2 million passen- Thomas gers per year. Luciano said that the expansion of the current terminal will accommodate another 500,000 passengers increasing passenger volume to 2.5 million passengers annually. He said that DMIA plays host to foreign and local carriers flying out of Clark. Among them is Tiger Airways which flies via Clark-Singapore, Air Asia of Malaysia via ClarkKuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu; Asiana Airlines of Korea via Clark-Incheon. Cebu Pacific Air also flies via Clark to Hong Kong; Macau, Singapore and Bangkok and domestic flights to Cebu, while South East Asian Airlines (Seair) via Clark- Caticlan to the world famous Boaracy Beach Island Resort. Pacific Flier also has chartered flights via Clark-Palau route.
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