02 November 2005
AND NOW, FOR THE GOOD NEWS…
(Pangasinan Star, your favorite newspaper believes in spreading sunshine in rather gloomy landscapes. To do that in its pages, all it took our editors and staff was to lift headlines of the “good news” from major newspapers and other periodicals to come up with these “rays of the sun” for all to read – and hopefully bring on a smile with their cup of coffee.)
Parents urged to have babies checked for metabolic disorder
The Department of Health has again called on parents to submit their newborn infants to newborn screening to detect any congenital metabolic disorder that they might have.
Palace nixes snap presidential polls
President Arroyo rejected a resurrected opposition call for her to resign and call snap elections, warning that this would turn the country into a “banana republic.”
US cites Philippines’ antiterrorist role in region
The United States government said the Philippines, despite being branded as the largest training ground for the Jemaah Islamiyah in the region, will have a significant role to play
JDV: Cha-cha over by January
The Cha-cha initiative will be completed and a new Constitution ready by early next year, Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. said.
‘RP migration system consistent with global standards’
Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas said that the country’s migration system is consistent with the principles set out by the Global Commission on International Migration.
Bunye: ‘Media czar’ a mere media term
Press Secretary and presidential spokesperson Ignacio Bunye corrected a newspaper report that he will soon be appointed as media czar.
RP becoming call center hub of Asia
Philippines is indeed becoming the call center hub of Asia despite the current political noise, with another outsourcing firm, WinSource Solutions Inc. entering the mainstream, joining close to a hundred firms operating in the country.
Mirant plans 3rd power plants in RP
Coal-fired power plant operator Mirant Philippines plans to put a third power plant, which the company has yet to detail but Mirant Phils. president Ed Harris said would be the best in operations.
Morgan Stanley says RP economics remain sound
The political crisis would have resulted in an economic disaster if not for the soundness of the country’s fundamentals, leading US investment bank Morgan Stanley said in a report.
Cheap medicine drive gets P229-M boost
The government’s campaign to make costly medicines more affordable to Filipinos is getting a P229-million funding boost.
Pangasinan ‘kingmaker’ back in govt
Antonio Villar, a staunch political supporter of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who quit as assistant transportation secretary weeks ago, is back in the government service.
OIC set to tackle RP observer seat
The Organization of Islamic Conference has formally included the Philippines’ application for observer status in its agenda during their 33rd session in Baku, Azerbaijan in June next year, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
Churchmen warn Catholic laity vs historical movie on Luther
The Catholic Church warned the faithful not to believe the movie “Luther” as it can be misleading because it may perpetuate misunderstandings on some Church doctrines, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines announced.
RP’s skilled workers is world’s 2nd largest
The Philippines had the second largest stock of skilled migrant workers abroad as of 2000, according to a report released by the World Bank.
ERC to settle power supply contract
The Energy Regulatory Commission has decided to intervene to resolve the transition supply contract now between National Power Corp. and Manila Electric Co.
USAID pushes sale of Napocor assets
The US Agency for International Development is pushing the government to hasten the privatization of the power sector to improve the country’s investment climate.
MMDA suspends ticketing system
Although the Metro Manila Development Authority suspended a controversial traffic citation system on orders of Malacañang Palace, at least 400 public transport drivers and operators stormed the MMDA office in Makati City and demanded the resignation of Chairman Bayani Fernando.
Air Force LA Times story
Philippine Air Force officials blamed foreign journalists for concocting stories to discredit the Armed Forces following a report from the Los Angeles Times of an alleged military takeover by five Air Force officers.
Rollback may lessen VAT effects on oil, Senate told
A rollback in the prices of petroleum products looms as the government imposes the Expanded Value Added Tax Law on Nov. 1, Energy Undersecretary Peter Abaya said.
BSP sees $600m direct investments in 2005
Foreign direct investments into the country are expected to reach $600 million this year, lower than the original forecast of $1 billion but higher than the $100 million reported in 2004, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said.
Food firm eyes 25% sales growth
Processed food manufacturer Mekeni Food Corp. is eyeing a 25 percent increase in sales to P500 million in 2005 from P400 million last year.
Outsourcing in the Philippines to balloon by 2008
American clients’ demand for outsourcing in the Philippines is seen to increased to 60% by 2008, the Department of Foreign Affairs said, as it urged Philippine Information Technology companies to further promote the local IT industry.
Parents urged to have babies checked for metabolic disorder
The Department of Health has again called on parents to submit their newborn infants to newborn screening to detect any congenital metabolic disorder that they might have.
Palace nixes snap presidential polls
President Arroyo rejected a resurrected opposition call for her to resign and call snap elections, warning that this would turn the country into a “banana republic.”
US cites Philippines’ antiterrorist role in region
The United States government said the Philippines, despite being branded as the largest training ground for the Jemaah Islamiyah in the region, will have a significant role to play
JDV: Cha-cha over by January
The Cha-cha initiative will be completed and a new Constitution ready by early next year, Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. said.
‘RP migration system consistent with global standards’
Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas said that the country’s migration system is consistent with the principles set out by the Global Commission on International Migration.
Bunye: ‘Media czar’ a mere media term
Press Secretary and presidential spokesperson Ignacio Bunye corrected a newspaper report that he will soon be appointed as media czar.
RP becoming call center hub of Asia
Philippines is indeed becoming the call center hub of Asia despite the current political noise, with another outsourcing firm, WinSource Solutions Inc. entering the mainstream, joining close to a hundred firms operating in the country.
Mirant plans 3rd power plants in RP
Coal-fired power plant operator Mirant Philippines plans to put a third power plant, which the company has yet to detail but Mirant Phils. president Ed Harris said would be the best in operations.
Morgan Stanley says RP economics remain sound
The political crisis would have resulted in an economic disaster if not for the soundness of the country’s fundamentals, leading US investment bank Morgan Stanley said in a report.
Cheap medicine drive gets P229-M boost
The government’s campaign to make costly medicines more affordable to Filipinos is getting a P229-million funding boost.
Pangasinan ‘kingmaker’ back in govt
Antonio Villar, a staunch political supporter of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who quit as assistant transportation secretary weeks ago, is back in the government service.
OIC set to tackle RP observer seat
The Organization of Islamic Conference has formally included the Philippines’ application for observer status in its agenda during their 33rd session in Baku, Azerbaijan in June next year, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
Churchmen warn Catholic laity vs historical movie on Luther
The Catholic Church warned the faithful not to believe the movie “Luther” as it can be misleading because it may perpetuate misunderstandings on some Church doctrines, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines announced.
RP’s skilled workers is world’s 2nd largest
The Philippines had the second largest stock of skilled migrant workers abroad as of 2000, according to a report released by the World Bank.
ERC to settle power supply contract
The Energy Regulatory Commission has decided to intervene to resolve the transition supply contract now between National Power Corp. and Manila Electric Co.
USAID pushes sale of Napocor assets
The US Agency for International Development is pushing the government to hasten the privatization of the power sector to improve the country’s investment climate.
MMDA suspends ticketing system
Although the Metro Manila Development Authority suspended a controversial traffic citation system on orders of Malacañang Palace, at least 400 public transport drivers and operators stormed the MMDA office in Makati City and demanded the resignation of Chairman Bayani Fernando.
Air Force LA Times story
Philippine Air Force officials blamed foreign journalists for concocting stories to discredit the Armed Forces following a report from the Los Angeles Times of an alleged military takeover by five Air Force officers.
Rollback may lessen VAT effects on oil, Senate told
A rollback in the prices of petroleum products looms as the government imposes the Expanded Value Added Tax Law on Nov. 1, Energy Undersecretary Peter Abaya said.
BSP sees $600m direct investments in 2005
Foreign direct investments into the country are expected to reach $600 million this year, lower than the original forecast of $1 billion but higher than the $100 million reported in 2004, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said.
Food firm eyes 25% sales growth
Processed food manufacturer Mekeni Food Corp. is eyeing a 25 percent increase in sales to P500 million in 2005 from P400 million last year.
Outsourcing in the Philippines to balloon by 2008
American clients’ demand for outsourcing in the Philippines is seen to increased to 60% by 2008, the Department of Foreign Affairs said, as it urged Philippine Information Technology companies to further promote the local IT industry.
