I. BANNER STORIES
Cut in NFA powers urged
Angara warns of P111B in losses by 2010
By Gil C. Cabacungan Jr., TJ Burgonio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:32:00 04/22/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Sen. Edgardo Angara Monday sought to emasculate the National Food Authority (NFA) by transferring its trading operations to the private sector to stave off its financial hemorrhaging and rechanneling subsidies to a separate food aid program for the most needy.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080422-131884/Cut-in-NFA-powers-urged
9 DPWH execs sacked over Asean lampposts
By Edu Punay
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
The Office of the Ombudsman yesterday ordered the dismissal from public service of a director of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), eight other officials of the agency, and eight city engineers of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu cities in Cebu province for alleged overpricing of decorative lampposts installed for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit held in Cebu last year.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080421115
3. Manila Times
JPEPA set to clear Senate
Report suggests ‘conditional’ OK of agreement
By Efren L. Danao, Senior Reporter
The Senate Committees on Foreign Relations and on Trade and Industry submitted Monday a joint report recommending the Senate’s conditional concurrence on the ratification of the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA).
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/apr/22/yehey/top_stories/20080422top1.html
4. Malaya
Baseline bill frozen on Palace pressure
Executive opposes inclusion of disputed isles
BY WENDELL VIGILIA
THE House yesterday postponed passage of House Bill 3216 declaring the country’s archipelagic baseline, in deference to a Malacañang proposal to treat the Kalayaan Group of Islands (KIG) and the Scarborough Shoal as mere "regime of islands."
http://www.malaya.com.ph/apr22/news1.htm
LEDAC meets on food crisis
Solons, Cabinet to discuss solutions to problem
Food crisis, wage hike plan tackled by LEDAC today
By DAVID CAGAHASTIAN
President Arroyo and her Cabinet will meet leaders of Congress today during a Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting to discuss solutions to the food crisis, including proposals to effect wage increases and other benefits for workers.
http://www.mb.com.ph/MAIN20080422122475.html
House bows to Gloria, China Spratlys pressure
By Charlie V. Manalo and Gerry Baldo
04/22/2008
Amid reports that the Chinese government is exerting extreme pressure on the Philippine government not to pass the bill delineating the country’s archipelagic baselines, the leadership of the House of Representatives yesterday announced it is going to postpone deliberations on the issue.
http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20080422hed1.html
7. Abante
MAIS NA LANG!
Nina NOEL ABUEL, ROSE MIRANDA at CHRISTINE AGUS
Patuloy na naninindigan ang pamahalaang Arroyo na walang kakapusan ng bigas sa bansa ngunit itinutulak na nito sa publiko ang puting mais bilang kapalit ng pangunahing butil sa hapag-kainan ng 88.57 milyong Filipino.
http://www.abante.com.ph/issue/apr2208/default.htm
RICE CRISIS GINAGAMIT NI GLORIA
Rey Marfil
Inupakan kahapon ni Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas ang administrasyon ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo na nanawagan ng pagpatigil sa lahat ng imbestigasyon sa Senado kasama na ang isinusulong na rice probe.
http://www.abante-tonite.com/issue/apr2208/news1.htm
Satur, 3 pang solon, inihabla
Ni Manny Galvez
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Ipinagharap na ng kasong kidnapping with murder at dalawang count ng murder sa mga regional trial court ng Palayan City at Guimba sa Nueva Ecija sina Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, tatlo pang kongresista, at 14 na opisyal at miyembro ng Communist Party of the Philippines, New People’s Army at National Democractic Front.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Bansa&p=50&type=2&sec=54&aid=2008042132
10. Journal
PAY HIKE
By: Jester P. Manalastas
P12B available for gov’t workers’ salary increase
THE 1.2 million state workers will definitely receive their salary adjustment, and not because Malacañang is afraid the threat of a rice shortage would trigger public unrest.
http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-04-22&sec=1&aid=56960
11. Business World
RP asked to open up services
THE UNITED STATES WANTS developing nations like the Philippines to further open up services sectors such as banking and insurance, saying offers on the table are not enough to compensate for farm subsidy cuts being asked of rich countries.
http://bworldonline.com/BW042208/content.php?id=001
12. Business Mirror
Government eyes hike in rice imports
By Jennifer A. Ng, Reporter
and Carlos Marquez Jr., Correspondent
THE government is now looking into the possibility of increasing the 500,000 metric tons (MT) of rice it will import this May, with the National Food Authority (NFA) saying it is now reassessing the volume it will import.
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/04222008/headlines01.html
II. POLITICAL
Arroyo pushes non-wage benefits for private workers
Rice, transport incentives
By Christine Avendaño
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 04:12:00 04/22/2008
MANILA, Philippines—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Monday launched the "Tinapay ng Bayan" (People's Bread) program to bring cheaper bread to poor communities in the metropolis.
IMF wrong to blame biofuels for food crisis, says senator
By Gil C. Cabacungan Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 04:10:00 04/22/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri said the International Monetary Fund was "barking up the wrong tree" when it blamed the switch to crops for biofuels for the food crisis.
Gov’t challenged to produce low-priced rice for poor
By Amy R. Remo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 04:09:00 04/22/2008
MANILA, Philippines—A coalition of farmers and non-government organizations Monday challenged the government and international agencies to come up with low-priced rice that the poor can afford.
Jamby Madrigal: I’m not greedy, it’s a hatchet job on me
By Gil C. Cabacungan Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 04:14:00 04/22/2008
MANILA, Philippines—“It was obvious that they hired a PR professional to do a hatchet job on me because they did not even get my side.”
With these words, Sen. Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal Monday broke her silence on the simmering family feud over the fortune left by her rich aunt, Consuelo “Chito” Madrigal-Collantes.
Senate ‘okays’ JPEPA but sets stiff conditions
By Dona Pazzibugan
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:56:00 04/22/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Saying her committee had done a “technical makeover” of the proposed treaty, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago Monday formally recommended that the Senate give its “conditional concurrence” to the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA).
DA needs P10 billion to boost rice harvest
By Amy R. Remo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:57:00 04/22/2008
LOS BAÑOS, LAGUNA—The Department of Agriculture needs about P10 billion in 2009 for its Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) Rice program alone to boost production and push for rice self-sufficiency within the next two years, an agriculture official said Monday.
‘Government falls short in enforcing environment laws’
By Katherine Adraneda
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Environment activists criticized the government yesterday for its “serious shortcomings” in the implementation of environment laws.
On the eve of today’s Earth Day celebration, they gave President Arroyo an award for being “a bane to the environment” and blamed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for promoting destruction, instead of conservation, of the country’s natural resources.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080421116
Nani’s co-accused posts P100,000 bail
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
A business associate and co-accused of former justice secretary Hernando “Nani” Perez in extortion and graft charges filed with the Sandiganbayan posted bail yesterday even before the anti-graft court could issue arrest warrants against the defendants.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080421117
Wages expected to rise in June
By Paolo Romero
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Labor Secretary Marianito Roque yesterday said he expects the minimum wage in all regions to be increased by June following speedy discussions by the different regional wage boards.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080421118
GMA aide named civil service chief
By Marvin Sy
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
President Arroyo has named Cabinet Secretary Ricardo Saludo as the new chairman of the Civil Service Commission.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita announced the nomination, which came almost two months after the end of the seven-year term of Karina Constantino-David.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080421119
‘Rice prices going down’
By Marianne Go
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Consumers may be in for some respite from soaring rice prices, as summer harvests continue and as traders and millers begin unloading some of their stocks.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080421120
Villar nets highest satisfaction rating in SWS poll
By Helen Flores
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. received the highest public satisfaction rating, according to the latest survey by Social Weather Stations (SWS).
“Senate President Villar’s latest net score of +53 is a little less than +59 last December, yet quite good compared to previous Senate Presidents,” SWS said about the survey conducted from March 28 to 31. The survey found 67 percent satisfied and 15 percent dissatisfied with the performance of Villar.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080421120
Lawyers’ group files impeach raps vs Ombudsman
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
A lawyers’ group is set to file before the House of Representatives an impeachment case against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez.
Lawyer Harry Roque, who is spearheading the impeachment case, accused Gutierrez of failing to act on graft cases against lawmakers implicated in the fertilizer scam and of filing of “weak cases” against former justice secretary Hernando Perez.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080421122
Government, church need not clash on population policy – Lagman
By Jess Diaz
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
The Church and the State need not collide on the issue of population control, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, one of the principal authors of the Reproductive Health Bill, said yesterday.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080421127
Miriam files report recommending conditional concurrence for JPEPA
By Aurea Calica
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
The Senate committees that tackled the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) recommended yesterday conditional concurrence to the treaty to satisfy the constitutional and other questions on the accord.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080421128
House panel tackles higher tax exemptions today
By Jess Diaz
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
The House ways and means committee is scheduled to tackle today at least 16 bills seeking higher tax exemptions for millions of government and private sector workers.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080421129
SC rules against bid of AEDC to operate NAIA 3
By Mike Frialde
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
The Supreme Court has dashed the bid of Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corp. (AEDC) to run the controversial Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080421131
House to defer action on country’s baseline bill
By Delon Porcalla
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
The House of Representatives will defer action on the highly-sensitive Philippine Baseline Bill that will define the country’s archipelagic boundary with regards to the disputed Spratlys or the Kalayaan islands, Speaker Prospero Nograles said yesterday.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080421133
Party-list groups eye additional Congress seats
By Delon Porcalla
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
The Supreme Court will hear today the oral arguments on additional seats for the party-list groups that won in the 2007 mid-term elections.
The Party List Caucus reiterated its stand that the SC consider the petition for additional party-list representatives because of the need to have more representation coming from the marginalized sectors of society.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Nation&p=49&type=2&sec=28&aid=2008042163
Editorial
Rice and politics
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:41:00 04/21/2008
Politics could creep into the picture when the government begins selling rice at the cheap price of P18.25 directly to the poor, Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral has admitted. "There is no system that is perfect," Cabral told the Inquirer Sunday. The program can be used as a "political tool if the community will allow it, so vigilance is really important," she said.
http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/editorial/view/20080421-131857/Rice-and-politics
SC sets party-list arguments
By William B. Depasupil, Reporter
THE Supreme Court will put to test Tuesday in an oral argument the validity of its own earlier ruling relating to the allocation of party-list seats in the House of Representatives.
The oral argument is also meant to settle the contrasting opinions of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the party-list groups concerning their interpretations on several provisions of Party-List System Law, or Republic Act 7941.
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/apr/22/yehey/metro/20080422met1.html
Kiko junks bid to inhibit 3 justices
BY DENNIS GADIL
SENATE majority leader Francis Pangilinan yesterday abandoned his plan to seek the inhibition of three Supreme Court justices after failing to get majority support from his colleagues.
http://www.malaya.com.ph/apr22/news2.htm
Opposition hits ‘harassment’ of Palace critics
Genalyn D. Kabiling
The United Opposition yesterday accused Malacañang of "double talk" for going after critics of the administration in the courts while talking of reconciliation with the opposition in seeking a bipartisan approach to easing the rice crisis.
http://www.mb.com.ph/MAIN20080422122478.html
NFA kakapunin ng Senado
Rey Marfil
Sa hangaring mapigilan ang kaliwa’t kanang rice hoarding at smuggling, mismong kaalyado ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ang nagrekomendang ‘kapunin’ ang kapangyarihan ng National Food Authority (NFA).
http://www.abante-tonite.com/issue/apr2208/news2.htm
SC magdedesisyon sa isyu ng partylist
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Handa na ang Korte Suprema para dinggin ngayon ang oral arguments sa kahilingan ng mga party list groups, na nanalo sa nakalipas na 2007 midterm elections na magkaroon ng karagdagang representante sa Kongreso.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Bansa&p=50&type=2&sec=54&aid=2008042136
Party-list Caucus looks to SC for additional seats in Congress
TODAY in Baguio, the Supreme Court will hear the oral arguments on additional seats for the party-list groups who won in the 2007 mid term elections.
http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-04-22&sec=4&aid=56870
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