Thursday, April 3, 2008

I. BANNER STORIES

1. Philippine Daily Inquirer

Arroyo orders 42% hike in palay price

Move meant to raise NFA farmgate subsidy

By Michael Lim Ubac, Anselmo Roque, Amy R. Remo

Philippine Daily Inquirer, Central Luzon Desk

First Posted 01:10:00 04/03/2008

MANILA, Philippines—In a move that elated rice farmers, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has raised the farmgate price of palay (unhusked rice) from P12 to at least P17 a kilo.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080403-128029/Arroyo_orders_42_hike_in_palay_price

2. The Philippine Star

Asian stocks soar amid end to US credit woes

Thursday, April 3, 2008

BANGKOK – Asian stocks surged yesterday as investors took heart from an overnight rally on Wall Street amid a growing belief that the worst of the credit crisis may be over.

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080402112

3. Manila Times

RP no longer last in Asia

ADB warns about Filipinos slipping back into poverty

By Darwin G. Amojelar And Chino S. Leyco , Reporters

The Asian Development Bank reported that the Philippines is no longer the economic laggard in Southeast Asia but warned that Filipinos who are out of poverty may slip back into poverty.

http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/apr/03/yehey/top_stories/20080403top1.html

4. Malaya

'Where will billions for rice go?'

Malacañang asked to itemize spending

SEN. Francis Escudero yesterday called for an "itemized spending" of the billions of pesos Malacañang has ordered released to stave off a rice crisis.

http://www.malaya.com.ph/apr03/news1.htm

5. Manila Bulletin

RP, Palau sign 4 agreements

2 nations amend bilateral air services accord

GMA, Remengesau witness signing of accords

By DAVID CAGAHASTIAN

The Philippines and Palau yesterday signed four agreements, including an amendment to their bilateral air services agreement, as part of activities during the visit of Palau President Tommy Remengesau in the country.

http://www.mb.com.ph/MAIN20080403120880.html

6. The Daily Tribune

7. Abante

PONDO SA BABOY BINABOY!

Nina JB SALARZON at NOEL ABUEL

Hindi lamang ang P728 mil-yong fertilizer fund ang ni-raid ng pamahalaang Arroyo bago mag-eleksyon noong 2004 kundi pati na ang pondo ng swine program o suportang pinansyal sa mga magsasakang nag-aalaga ng baboy.

http://www.abante.com.ph/issue/apr0308/default.htm

8. Abante-Tonite

P5B SA RICE CRISIS DELIKADO SA KORAP

Rey Marfil/Bernard Taguinod

Kaagad inilutang ng ilang mambabatas sa hanay ng oposisyon ang senaryong nanganganib sa kamay ng mga korap na opisyales ng gobyerno ang P5 bilyong pondong ilalaan ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo para tugunan ang krisis sa bigas.

http://www.abante-tonite.com/issue/apr0308/news1.htm

9. Pilipino Star Ngayon

Tag-gutom nakaamba

Ni Rose Tamayo-Tesoro

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Sa gitna ng nararanasang krisis sa bigas ay tumaas naman ng halos P40 hanggang P50 ang presyo ng karneng baboy at manok kada-kilo sa ilang mga pamilihan sa Metro Manila, gayundin bahagyang gumalaw ang presyo ng ilang pagkaing de-lata.

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Bansa&p=50&type=2&sec=54&aid=2008040248

10. Journal

GUILTY

By: Alvin Murcia

Magdalo men struck deal with Palace?

NINE junior military officers including two core leaders belonging to the Magdalo group surprised both the prosecution and defense panels when they suddenly pleaded guilty to coup d’etat charges stemming from their participation in the 2003 Oakwood mutiny.

http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-04-03&sec=1&aid=54707

11. Business World

‘Nimble’ policies necessary

ADB adds to forecasts of slower Philippine growth

THE PHILIPPINES will have to grapple with slower economic growth and higher inflation this year and "nimble" fiscal and monetary policies are necessary if the country is to adapt, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said.

http://bworldonline.com/BW040308/content.php?id=001

12. Business Mirror

4 players join RP’s $10-B ‘Vegas’

By Max V. de Leon and Honey Reyes

Reporters

THE envisioned Las Vegas-like Bagong Nayong Pilipino-Manila Bay Integrated City has moved another step closer to reality after Japan’s Aruze Corp., Genting Berhad of Malaysia, SM Investments Corp. and Australia’s Bloombery Investments Ltd. were given the go-ahead to put up their respective multibillion-dollar projects at the 90-hectare resort complex.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/04032008/headlines01.html

II. POLITICAL

Solons want strict monitoring of P5-B farm subsidy

Philippine Daily Inquirer

First Posted 02:17:00 04/03/2008

MANILA, Philippines—Legislators Wednesday backed President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's decision to provide P5 billion in support funds for rice production but they wanted the expenses tightly monitored.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080403-128047/Solons-want-strict-monitoring-of-P5-B-farm-subsidy

Arroyo ally bags contract to run N. Mindanao port

By Ma. Cecilia Rodriguez

Mindanao Bureau

First Posted 02:18:00 04/03/2008

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—Unlike the hue and cry that attended his business deal last year, Enrique Razon's latest acquisition was welcome news here.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080403-128048/Arroyo-ally-bags-contract-to-run-N-Mindanao-port

Muslims join healing prayers for 'great soul'

By Kristine L. Alave

Philippine Daily Inquirer

First Posted 05:14:00 04/03/2008

MANILA, Philippines—Bridging the religion gap for the sake of a Christian woman with a "great soul," the Muslim community Wednesday joined the outpouring of prayers and support for ex-President Corazon Aquino, who is undergoing treatment for colon cancer.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080403-128060/Muslims-join-healing-prayers-for-great-soul

Red carpet rolled out for Palau president

By Michael Lim Ubac

Philippine Daily Inquirer

First Posted 05:15:00 04/03/2008

MANILA, Philippines -- Malacañang on Wednesday rolled out the red carpet for visiting Palau President Tommy E. Remengesau Jr. who arrived Tuesday for a two-day state visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between with the two Pacific nations.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080403-128061/Red-carpet-rolled-out-for-Palau-president

Arroyo turns 61, to get 'no remittance' gift from OFWs

By Christine Avendaño

Philippine Daily Inquirer

First Posted 05:16:00 04/03/2008

MANILA, Philippines—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will take a day off on Saturday to celebrate her 61st birthday, which leftwing migrant workers have declared a "zero remittance day" as a protest for her alleged neglect of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080403-128062/Arroyo-turns-61-to-get-no-remittance-gift-from-OFWs

Holiday moved to April 7; three-day weekend up

Philippine Daily Inquirer

First Posted 05:17:00 04/03/2008

MANILA, Philippines—Weekend warriors are in for another treat, thanks to the Arroyo administration's "holiday economics."

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080403-128063/Holiday-moved-to-April-7-three-day-weekend-up

STRANGE TWIST IN MAGDALO TRIAL

9 Oakwood mutineers change plea to guilty

By DJ Yap

Philippine Daily Inquirer, INQUIRER.net

First Posted 08:14:00 04/03/2008

MANILA, Philippines -- The long and winding saga of the “Oakwood mutiny” trial took a strange turn Wednesday, with nine of the 31 accused junior officers changing their plea to “guilty” on charges of coup d’etat.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080403-128077/9-Oakwood-mutineers-change-plea-to-guilty

AGRARIAN REFORM

29 bishops urge Congress to extend CARP

By Norman Bordadora

Philippine Daily Inquirer

First Posted 01:42:00 04/03/2008

MANILA, Philippines—Twenty-nine Catholic prelates, including Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales and Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, have asked the House of Representatives to immediately extend through legislation the 20-year-old Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080403-128036/29-bishops-urge-Congress-to-extend-CARP

No new ‘surprises’: Senate probe flounders

By Dona Pazzibugan, Gil C. Cabacungan Jr.

Philippine Daily Inquirer

First Posted 02:16:00 04/03/2008

MANILA, Philippines -- The future of the Senate investigation into the allegedly overpriced $329-million National Broadband Network (NBN) contract with China’s ZTE Corp. has become uncertain for lack of witnesses.

Sen. Alan Cayetano, who chairs the Senate blue ribbon committee leading the probe, could not explain what happened to his own so-called “surprise witness” that he claimed knew more about the NBN-ZTE deal than the Senate’s star witness, Rodolfo Lozada Jr.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080403-128046/No-new-surprises-Senate-probe-flounders

Ombudsman accused of sitting on swine scam

By Sandy Araneta

Thursday, April 3, 2008

A law professor from the University of the Philippines has accused the Office of the Ombudsman of sitting on another agricultural fund scam involving the government’s swine program, and claimed billions worth of funds from the program had been used for the administration’s campaign kitty in the 2004 elections.

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080402113

29 bishops want 1.3 M hectares distributed

By Edu Punay

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Twenty-nine Catholic bishops, including six archbishops, have collectively asked Congress to extend the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (CARL) while introducing reforms in the agrarian reform program directed at alleviating poverty and the looming food crisis in the country.

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080402114

Oakwood mutineers plead guilty

By Michael Punongbayan

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Nine of the 31 military officers accused of taking part in the failed 2003 Oakwood mutiny pleaded guilty to the crime of coup d’etat yesterday.

As the hearing was about to end, lawyer Roberto San Jose manifested to the Makati Regional Trial Court branch 148 that his clients have decided to change their plea to guilty.

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080402115

GMA signs 4 agreements with Palau president

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Palau President Tommy Remengesau concluded his two-day state visit to the Philippines yesterday with the signing of four agreements between the two countries on various fields of common interest.

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080402119

April 7 non-working holiday

By Marvin Sy

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Monday (April 7) is a non-working holiday as the nation commemorates Araw ng Kagitingan.

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080402120

Ermita to defend RP human rights record before UN next week

By Paolo Romero

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita will address next week the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva, Switzerland, and report on the human rights situation in the Philippines.

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080402122

1 M signatures to urge Erap to run in 2010 launched

By Jose Rodel Clapano

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Supporters of ousted President Joseph Estrada will present him with one million signatures on his birthday on April 19 to convince him to run for president in 2010.

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080402124

Make farming a noble profession, says Cayetano

By MARIO B. CASAYURAN

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, urged yesterday the Executive branch to make farming a noble and profitable profession as agricultural productivity is being affected by the high cost of farm inputs.

http://www.mb.com.ph/MAIN20080403120882.html

SC nabutasan sa Senate rules

Rey Marfil

Kung natalo sa teknikalidad ang Senado sa Korte Suprema, ito rin ang magsisilbing susi para mabaliktad ang 9-6 votes na pumabor sa executive privilege ni Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairman Romulo Neri sa broadband scandal.

http://www.abante-tonite.com/issue/apr0308/news4.htm

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