I. BANNER STORIES
Spratlys baselines bill placed in freezer
By Michael Lim Ubac, Norman Bordadora
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:06:00 04/23/2008
MANILA, Philippines—The government Tuesday temporarily put on hold discussions on the proposed baselines law that seeks to delineate the Philippines’ territorial limits.
House panel OKs higher income tax exemptions
By Jess Diaz
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
The House ways and means committee approved yesterday higher tax exemptions not only for minimum wage earners but for all salaried workers.
Antique Rep. Exequiel Javier, committee chairman, said with the higher exemptions, most employees receiving minimum pay would be effectively spared from paying income tax.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080422107
3. Manila Times
Meralco hikes rates anew
Increase belies assurances on cheaper electricity
By Euan Paulo C. Añonuevo, Reporter
Consumers’ electricity bills in franchise areas of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) shot up in April despite assurances from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) that power rates will not increase at what is considered as the start of the hot season in the country.
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/apr/23/yehey/top_stories/20080423top1.html
4. Malaya
Spratlys 'sellout' seen as treason
Gloria scored for bowing to Beijing pressure
BY JP LOPEZ
SENATE minority leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. yesterday said "the proposed exclusion of the Spratlys and Scarborough Shoal from the Philippine archipelagic baseline as proposed by Malacañang to placate China is tragic, if not treasonous."
http://www.malaya.com.ph/apr23/news1.htm
List of 17 priority bills approved
Led by tax exemption for minimum wage earners
LEDAC meeting approves 17 priority bills
By GENALYN D. KABILING
Congress leaders yesterday approved a list of 17 priority measures led by the proposed income tax exemption for minimum wage earners, at a meeting with President Arroyo in Malacañang.
http://www.mb.com.ph/MAIN20080423122575.html
Palace bid to water down Baseline Bill treason act
By Angie M. Rosales
04/23/2008
Efforts of Malacañang to dilute the bill delineating the country’s archipelagic baseline by introducing a provision to call the disputed Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoals as parts of a “regime of islands” is an act of treason, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said yesterday.
http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20080423hed1.html
7. Abante
RICE CARD GIMMICK!
(Boyet Jadulco/Dindo Matining/Juliet de Loza/Nonnie Ferriol/Christine Agus)
Inilutang kahapon ng Senado ang pangambang posibleng gamitin ang ipamumudmod na ‘rice card’ sa mahihirap na mamamayan bilang isang maagang political gimmick ng administrasyon para sa 2010 elections.
http://www.abante.com.ph/issue/apr2308/default.htm
ABOLISYON NG NFA IPINORMA!
Rey Marfil With Bernard Taguinod
Kung simpleng ‘pagkapon’ sa kapangyarihan ng National Food Authority (NFA) ang hangarin ng isang administration senator bilang alternatibong solusyon sa rice crisis, ang lubusang paglusaw sa ahensiya ang naiisip na solusyon ni Senate President Manuel Villar Jr., kahapon, Ayon kay Villar, makailang-beses nang pumasok sa kanyang isipan ang rekomendasyong ipabuwag ang NFA lalo pa’t paulit-ulit itong nasasangkot sa katiwalian subalit walang repormang ipinapatupad si Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
http://www.abante-tonite.com/issue/apr2308/news1.htm
Doktor, nurse sa ‘rectum scandal’ pinangalanan na
Ni Doris Franche
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Pinangalanan na ng Department of Health (DOH) ang lima sa 15 medical staff ng Vicente Sotto Medical Center na sangkot sa tinaguriang “rectum scandal” sa Cebu City.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Bansa&p=50&type=2&sec=54&aid=2008042271
10. Journal
TAX BREAK
By: Tess Bedico
Tax relief, other vital bills’ okay vowed
CONGRESS leaders agreed in yesterday’s joint Cabinet-Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council meeting to approve at least two measures �" the cheaper medicines bill and tax exemption for minimum wage earners in time for the Labor Day celebration on May 1.
http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-04-23&sec=1&aid=57051
11. Business World
BY ALEXIS DOUGLAS B. ROMERO, Reporter
Gov’t adds to list of priorities
Income tax, cheaper medicines bills to be OK’d by May 1 — Palace
NINE MORE MEASURES have been added to the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council’s (LEDAC) list of priority bills, the Palace yesterday said, with Congress vowing to pass at least two by Labor Day.
http://bworldonline.com/BW042308/content.php?id=001
12. Business Mirror
DBCC outlook seen dimmer
By VG Cabuag
Reporter
THE interagency Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) will likely revise downward most of the macroeconomic assumptions it made for this year, suggesting a weaker Philippine economy as a result of the recession in the United States and a rice shortage.
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/04232008/headlines01.html
II. POLITICAL
Meralco hikes rates
Users of 200 kWh/month to pay P149 more
By Ronnel Domingo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:41:00 04/23/2008
MANILA, Philippines—As if the soaring costs of food and fuel, and rising temperatures were not enough, customers of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) will see their electricity bills going up this month.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080423-132089/Meralco-hikes-rates
Cheap meds, tax exempt bills sure to pass by May 1
By Christine Avendaño, Gil C. Cabacungan Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:01:00 04/23/2008
MANILA, Philippines—With one senator saying that food was expected to become the central issue not only in the next few months but “in the years to come,” Malacañang and Congress Tuesday agreed to push for the passage in the next two months of 17 measures, including bills that would help the people cope with rising food costs.
Duque rues missed glory in rectal surgery video
By Jeannette Andrade, Jhunnex Napallacan
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Visayas Bureau
First Posted 01:25:00 04/23/2008
MANILA, Philippines—The successful rectal operation done at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) could have brought glory to the country’s medical profession had the doctors and nurses not made fun of the anesthetized patient and uploaded a video of the surgery on YouTube.
Estrada speech, plane ready but he’s grounded
By Jocelyn Uy, Jerry E. Esplanada
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:54:00 04/23/2008
MANILA, Philippines—He had begun writing his speech and even chartered a plane to fly him to Palawan, where he was to be a special guest.
But the speech won’t get delivered and his plane won’t be taking off—all because of Malacañang, says Joseph Estrada.
NFA powers downgrade opposed
By Amy R. Remo, Jerome Aning
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:54:00 04/23/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Limiting the functions of the National Food Authority (NFA) to just coming up with a rice buffer stock in case of emergency could lead to shortages and price manipulation by private traders, its spokesperson said Tuesday.
Santiago calls lawmakers idiots over baselines bill
By Dona Pazzibugan
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 04:29:00 04/23/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago called congressmen “tarantado,” or “idiots,” for misleading the public about the purported need to pass an archipelagic baselines law to strengthen the Philippines’ claim to the disputed Spratly islands in the South China Sea.
Yes, Virginia, Lito Lapid is still around
By Gil C. Cabacungan Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 04:50:00 04/23/2008
MANILA, Philippines—You may call him the invisible senator—scarcely seen in the session hall but diligent and productive even, at least according to Senate records.
Agri exec: Gov’t open to NFA privatization
By Norman Bordadora, Amy R. Remo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 04:50:00 04/23/2008
MANILA, Philippines—An official of the Department of Agriculture Tuesday said the government was considering privatizing the National Food Authority.
EARTH DAY RECOGNITION
7 villages cited for waste management
By Jocelyn Uy
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 05:16:00 04/23/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- Seven obscure villages are showing the country how a small amount of cash, when combined with hard work, can go a long way in protecting the Earth.
Lozada tells Bicolanos: Don’t forget NBN corruption
By Jaymee T. Gamil
Southern Luzon Bureau
First Posted 22:39:00 04/22/2008
LEGAZPI CITY – Only a few weeks ago, the corruption-ridden National Broadband Network deal was the talk of the town, driving thousands to stage protest actions across the country in calls for “truth” and “accountability.”
Power rates up 82¢ per kWh
By Donnabelle Gatdula
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Customers of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) will be paying 82.23 centavos more per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for the month of April.
The increase was due to a rise in generation and distribution charges of Meralco brought about by the uptick in the wholesale electricity spot market (WESM) prices.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080422111
Nani asks Sandigan to suspend extortion hearings
By Edu Punay
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Former justice secretary Hernando “Nani” Perez and his wife have asked the Sandiganbayan to suspend its proceedings on four criminal charges filed against them by the Ombudsman.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080422112
Miriam wants body of experts formed on baselines bill
By Aurea Calica
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Assailing the supposed ignorance of some lawmakers on the issue of the country’s baselines, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago called on Congress yesterday to convene a “commission of experts” that would guide all of them in establishing the country’s baselines vis-a-vis the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080422114
‘No signature drive can erase constitutional ban vs Erap’
By Edu Punay
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
From plunder to blunder.
Deposed President Joseph Estrada may be in danger of committing a big blunder if he decides to join the presidential race in 2010, election lawyer Romulo Macalintal said yesterday.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080422117
Gutierrez ready to face impeach moves in Congress
By Edu Punay and Delon Porcalla
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez is ready to face impeachment raps for her alleged questionable handling of the extortion charges against former justice secretary Hernando Perez and for reportedly sitting on corruption cases involving administration officials.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080422118
Senate, House hit deadlock on cheaper medicine bill
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
The Senate-House bicameral conference on the Cheaper Medicine Bill hit a blank wall again on Monday night and was adjourned indefinitely, extending the delay in the approval of the measure.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080422120
Senate hearing on proposed Mindanao railways suspended
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Sen. Richard Gordon suspended yesterday a hearing on his proposal to create the Mindanao Railways Corp. due to lack of data from the resource persons invited from the executive department.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080422121
Senate likely to ratify IRRI, RP accord on rice
By Christina Mendez
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
The Senate is likely to ratify the headquarters agreement between the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Philippines amid the impending rice crisis here and abroad.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080422122
President wants Senate to ratify protocol vs. torture
By Angelo S. Samonte, Reporter
President Gloria Arroyo on Tuesday said she wants Congress to ratify the Optional Protocol against torture and four other pending treaties. She made the proposal during a meeting of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council in Malacañang.
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/apr/23/yehey/top_stories/20080423top2.html
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