Articles in "All"

MANILA, Oct. 6, 2010-Is the Philippine population indeed a ticking time bomb as proponents of RH bill say so? One of the country's economists and academicians thinks otherwise.

Dr. Bernardo Villegas, PhD, calling himself a long-term student of demography, claimed that the country's population data is a "statistical abracadabra."

Legazpi City (5 October) -- P1 Million, anyone?

Then, ask for the receipt of your commodities purchased, services paid, and join the Instant 'Premyo sa Resibo' (PSR) promo of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and be the next instant millionaire.

"Teachers teach more by what they are than by what they say, " so goes a line that stanchly describe how Allan Abasolo, a 32-year old Elementary teacher shared his passion for learning that has inspired a lot of little minds to pursue their education.

Legazpi City (5 October) -- Albay Gov. Joey Salceda expressed dismay over the benefits other provinces have been reaping from cheaper and clean electricity supplied by geothermal energy fields in Albay.

Salceda cited the Aboitiz Power Corp., an Independent Power Producer (IPP), has recently announced that it is already supplying energy to San Fernando Electric Light and Power Co. in Pampanga.

He said "It is so unfair. Consumers of San Fernando Electric Light and Power Co. are getting cheaper electricity from Albay."

Legazpi City (4 Oct) -- The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) declared Catanduanes as the most susceptible area to landslide and flooding in Bikol.

Dr. Arlene Dayao, Chief Geosciences Division of MGB said in a radio interview that the majority of island province's area is landslide and flood-prone. Dayao emphasized that this is due to the "natural ground formation of the province" and to the altered land use system in the area such as kaingin, deforestation among others.

MANILA, Sept. 30, 2010-Retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz maintained that legalizing jueteng will not stop the multi-million illegal numbers game in the country.

Cruz, head of the Krusadang Bayan Laban sa Jueteng, pointed out that legitimizing underground lottery would only spawn other forms of gambling in the country.

"It is in the nature of jueteng to be illegal because that's where the money is. Another game will come out with maybe a different name but similar operators and structure than that of jueteng," said Cruz.

MANILA, Sept. 30, 2010-A group of Muslims has joined the growing chorus of voices opposing any effort by President Benigno Aquino III to promote artificial family planning.

In what could be a boost to the Catholic Church's campaign against contraceptives, the Imam Council of the Philippines said they are against birth control pills and condoms even among married couples.

Ibram Moxir, council head, said the Islam community is one with the Catholic hierarchy in opposing the passage of the Reproductive Health bill which seeks to control the country's growing birth rate.

MANILA, Oct.1, 2010-Although "frustrated" with President Aquino's plan to push artificial contraception, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines denied threatening him with excommunication.

CBCP President and Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar underscored that they still believe in the spirit of dialogue as an "initial approach" on the matter "and not confrontation."

"Threat of excommunication at this point of time can hardly be considered to be in line with dialogue," Odchimar said in a "disclaimer" issued Friday.

MANILA, Oct. 2, 2010-Hundreds of people trooped to Quiapo Church for a "pro-life" prayer rally that included a Catholic archbishop who urged the government to rethink its position on contraception.

The rally included students and parents. Many waved graphic signs with pictures of aborted fetuses.

A group of rallyists, for instance, were holding a streamer bearing a sign of "Kontrasepsyon Bahagi ng Globalisasyon (contraception a part of globalization)."

LEGAZPI CITY, Sept. 27- Preparations for the massive registration on Oct. 2 for the government's health program, dubbed "PhilHealth Sabado," has been in full swing in Bikol.

The Department of Health (DOH) over the weekend started conducting orientation and organizational meeting in Masbate and Sorsogon to ensure success of the program.

In Masbate, some 46,9000 families identified by the Department of Social Welfare and Development as the "poorest of the poor" are targeted for the day-long weekend registration.

Iriga City -- The University of Northeastern Philippines (UNEP) thru the Department of Military Science and Tactics spearheaded the gathering of the best marching bands all over the region for the annual Army ROTC Activation Day held October 1 at the UNEP Parade ground here.

Fabrica, Bula, Camarines Sur (30 Sept) - The Regional Freshwater Fisheries Center (RFFC) here of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region 5 inaugurates new facilities composed of post harvest building, mini-feed mill, mini laboratory and training hall with dormitory on September 23, 2010.