Monday, June 2, 2008

I. BANNER STORIES

1. Philippine Daily Inquirer

Soaring rice prices grip Mindanao folk

Staple sold at P45-P51 per kilo

Mindanao Bureau

First Posted 21:01:00 06/01/2008

MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE) Mindanao, the country's food basket, is going hungry, as the price of rice soared to levels beyond the reach of many residents.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080601-140139/Soaring-rice-prices-grip-Mindanao-folk

2. The Philippine Star

‘We have nothing to hide’

By Paolo Romero

Monday, June 2, 2008

Malacañang maintained there are no irregularities in the handling and disbursement of funds in the Office of the President (OP) despite a preliminary report made by the Commission on Audit (COA) claiming unliquidated cash advances and other discrepancies last year.

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=2008060165

3. Manila Times

Oil price surge to hurt rich

Skyrocketing prices could reverse gains in eradicating poverty in RP

By Darwin G. Amojelar, Reporter

Surging oil prices could reverse gains in eradicating poverty in the Philippines, and if oil reaches $200 a barrel—as some are predicting—even the most affluent Filipino families are vulnerable.

http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/june/02/yehey/top_stories/20080602top1.html

4. Malaya

Stay course on power reforms, urge investors

Foreign chambers say there’s no need to amend Epira

FOREIGN investors yesterday asked President Arroyo not to be sidetracked by controversies in the power sector and she should give a chance for market reforms under the Electric Power Reform Act (Epira) to succeed.

http://www.malaya.com.ph/jun02/news1.htm

5. Manila Bulletin

6. The Daily Tribune

7. Abante

P10 PASAHE BABRASUHIN

Nina Jun Tadios, Dindo Matining at Rose Miranda

Tiniyak kahapon ng Federation of Jeepney Drivers and Operators (FEJODAP) na kanilang ipipilit ang panibagong kahilingan nito para sa P2 pang fare increase para gawing P10 na ang minimum na pamasahe sa mga jeep.

http://www.abante.com.ph/issue/june0208/default.htm

8. Abante-Tonite

SINALVAGE NA, SINUNOG PA

Armida Rico

Tatlong sunud-sunod na putok ang umano’y umalingawngaw at kasunod nito ay nagliliyab na bangkay ng hindi nakikilalang lalaki ang bumulaga sa mga opisyal ng barangay sa madilim na bahagi ng Hagonoy, Taguig City kahapon.

http://www.abante-tonite.com/issue/june0208/news_story1.htm

9. Pilipino Star Ngayon

Foreign investors pumalag

Ni Butch Quejada

Monday, June 2, 2008

Pinalagan ng mga dayuhang negosyante sa Pilipinas ang posibleng pagtake-over ng Government Service Insurace System (GSIS) sa Meralco mula sa kamay ng mga Lopez sa pagsabing hindi ito solusyon sa mataas na presyo ng kuryente.

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Bansa&p=50&type=2&sec=54&aid=2008060195

10. Journal

MORE SHOCKERS

By: Ryan Ponce Pacpaco

Power ‘tongpats’ expose just tip of the iceberg -- solon

THE payment of P13 billion by Manila Electric Company to the Lopez-owned First Gas Power Corp. for undelivered electricity “is just the tip of the iceberg.”

http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-06-02&sec=1&aid=61737

11. Business World

BY ALEXIS DOUGLAS B. ROMERO and AVA KASHIMA K. AUSTRIA, Reporters

Energy plan sought as prices rise

Palace task force has 15 days to offer proposals

A MALACAñANG-FORMED energy task force gets down to business today, having been given two weeks to come up with a plan to mitigate the impact of rising oil prices.

http://bworldonline.com/BW060208/content.php?id=001

12. Business Mirror

Unstoppable! Fuel, LPG prices go up

By Paul A. Isla

Reporter

CONSUMERS must redo their budgets once again after oil companies Chevron Philippines Inc., Petron Corp., Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. and Total (Philippines) Corp. hiked gasoline, diesel and kerosene prices by P1.50 per liter over the weekend to reflect the continuous increase in world oil prices.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/06022008/headlines01.html

II. POLITICAL

Don't alter Epira, IPP contracts, Arroyo urged

By Ronnel Domingo, Christine Avendaño

Philippine Daily Inquirer

First Posted 20:42:00 06/01/2008

MANILA, Philippines--(UPDATE) Paying for electricity that one does not use, known as the "take or pay" provision in government contracts with independent power producers (IPPs), is one reason the power rates of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) are the highest in the country and the second highest in Asia.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080601-140138/Dont-alter-Epira-IPP-contracts-Arroyo-urged

Analysis

Gov't turns GSIS into war machine vs Lopezes

By Amando Doronila

Philippine Daily Inquirer

First Posted 04:25:00 06/02/2008

MANILA, Philippines—The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has come a long way from its founding as a pension fund to a state war machine seeking the destruction of its branded enemies in the private business sector.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080602-140193/Govt-turns-GSIS-into-war-machine-vs-Lopezes

ZTE lunch was ‘turning point’ -- De Venecia

By Norman Bordadora

Philippine Daily Inquirer

First Posted 04:53:00 06/02/2008

MANILA, Philippines—The lunch hosted by executives of ZTE Corp. of China for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Shenzhen in November 2006 was the “turning point” for the government policy of building a National Broadband Network (NBN), former Speaker Jose de Venecia said over the weekend.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080602-140196/ZTE-lunch-was-turning-point----De-Venecia

GSIS: Axing ‘sweetheart’ deals key to lower rates

Philippine Daily Inquirer

First Posted 05:22:00 06/02/2008

MANILA, Philippines—The cancellation of Meralco’s “sweetheart deals” with its sister power companies, not the removal of taxes, is the key to lowering power rates, according to an official of the Government Service Insurance Corp.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080602-140197/GSIS-Axing-sweetheart-deals-key-to-lower-rates

Arroyo support for CARP extension too late, say solons

By Carla Gomez

Philippine Daily Inquirer

First Posted 05:22:00 06/02/2008

BACOLOD CITY—Even if President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo certified as “urgent” the bill extending the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), congressmen from this sugar-producing region, among others, seemed almost certain it would not pass before the controversial law expires on June 10.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080602-140198/Arroyo-support-for-CARP-extension-too-late-say-solons

JDV not talking for now on ZTE

By Eva Visperas

Monday, June 2, 2008

DAGUPAN CITY — Pangasinan Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr. has opted “not to speak out yet” over the scandal surrounding the government’s $329-million national broadband network (NBN) deal, citing health reasons and concerns for his storm-wrecked congressional district.

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=2008060168

‘We have nothing to hide’

By Paolo Romero

Monday, June 2, 2008

Malacañang maintained there are no irregularities in the handling and disbursement of funds in the Office of the President (OP) despite a preliminary report made by the Commission on Audit (COA) claiming unliquidated cash advances and other discrepancies last year.

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=2008060165

Foreign chambers urge GMA not to touch EPIRA

By Mary Ann Reyes

Monday, June 2, 2008

The influential Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce in the Philippines (JFC) recently urged President Arroyo not to amend Republic Act 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) which mandates the privatization of the country’s energy sector.

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=2008060170

GMA reorganizes Customs, but keeps Morales

Monday, June 2, 2008

President Arroyo recently ordered a reorganization of key offices of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to make the agency more effective in government’s intensified anti-smuggling campaign, amidst the ongoing investigation of several bureau officials for alleged illegal activities.

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=2008060172

Transport group bats for P10 jeepney fare

By Katherine Adraneda

Monday, June 2, 2008

In the wake of fresh increases in the price of fuel over the weekend, the umbrella transport organization Philippine Jeepney Operators and Drivers Alliance Foundation Inc. (PEJODAF) demanded yesterday that the minimum fare for jeepneys be pegged at P10.

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Metro&p=49&type=2&sec=26

Justice dept. asked to speed up hearing vs. Meralco

By William B. Depasupil, Reporter

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) is being swamped with calls to speed up the preliminary investigation of fraud charges filed against top executives of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco).

http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/june/02/yehey/metro/20080602met1.html

Senators wary on P2B fund for poor power users

BY DENNIS GADIL

SENATORS yesterday said they support the proposed P2 billion subsidy of government to help the poor cope with high electric bills but stressed the impact could be short-lived.

http://www.malaya.com.ph/jun02/news2.htm

Villar to JDV: You have 5 days to make up mind

REP. Jose de Venecia Jr. (Lakas, Pangasinan) has five session days left to decide if he will testify in the Senate’s NBN-ZTE broadband inquiry, Senate President Manuel Villar said yesterday.

http://www.malaya.com.ph/jun02/news7.htm

‘Di lang ZTE scam ang ikakanta

(Eralyn Prado/Rey Marfil)

Hindi lamang sa maanomalyang NBN-ZTE deal itututok ni dating House Speaker Jose de Venecia sa kanyang inaabangang pagharap sa im­bestigasyon ng Senado ang ukol sa kontrobersya kundi ibubulgar pa niya umano ang iba pang talamak na katiwalian sa gobyerno ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

http://www.abante.com.ph/issue/june0208/news02.htm

Lopezes pinagbibitiw ng palasyo

(Rose Miranda/Eralyn Prado)

Pinagbibitiw ng legal mind ng Malacañang ang mga Lopezes bilang pinuno ng Manila Electric Company (Meralco) upang matapos na umano agad ang gusot sa management ng nasabing electric company.

http://www.abante.com.ph/issue/june0208/news03.htm

EPIRA sinuportahan ng mga dayuhang negosyante

Eralyn Corvera Prado

Mas maibababa ang singil sa kuryente kung aatupagin ng Malacañang at ng mga ahensiya ng gobyerno ang pagpapatupad sa mga itinatakda ng Republic Act 9136 o Electricity Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), na ipinasa ng Kongreso noong Abril 2001.

Ito ang buod ng isang joint letter kay Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo na ipinadala sa kanya ng samahan ng lahat ng mga dayuhang negosyante sa bansa matapos ang annual stockholders’ meeting ng Meralco.

http://www.abante-tonite.com/issue/june0208/news_story2.htm

Foreign investors: Easy lang sa Meralco takeover

Nagbabala ang mga dayuhang nagnenegosyo sa Pilipinas na maghinay-hinay ang gobyerno sa plano nitong takeover sa Manila Electric Company.

Nabatid na noong Mayo 27, isang sulat mula sa maimpluwensiyang Joint Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (JFCP) ang natanggap ng Malacañang kung saan ipinunto ng JFCP na hindi solusyon sa mataas na singil sa kuryente ang pakikialam ng gobyerno sa management ng Meralco.

http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-06-02&sec=1&aid=61679

CARP namimiligro na malibing sa limot

(Eralyn Prado)

Nanganganib na mailibing na lamang sa limot ang panukalang limang taong pagpapalawig ng Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) oras na patuloy na tutulugan ito ng Kongreso.

http://www.abante-tonite.com/issue/june0208/news_story4.htm

JdV keeps mouth shut on ZTE deal scandal

By: Liway C. Manantan-Yparraguirre

DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan – “I have decided not to speak out on the ZTE scandal at this particular time.”

In a written statement he issued yesterday, Pangasinan fourth district Rep. Jose de Venecia, Jr. reiterated his earlier reaction to calls for him to reveal all he knows about the scrapped national broadband network deal and the involvement of President Macapagal-Arroyo and her husband Juan Miguel Arroyo in the controversial government contract with Chinese firm ZTE Corp.

http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-06-02&sec=1&aid=61738

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