December 1, 2008 Major Newscast

Big cooking gas price cut in Dec.

A FRESH round of price cuts for cooking gas can be expected this month as contract price further fell by more than $150 per metric ton (MT) for December over November.

Big 3 oil firms open to BIR auditing

The "Big Three" oil firms have agreed to open their books of accounts for the scrutiny of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the House of Representatives said.

Transport groups ready to cut jeepney fares by 50 centavos

TRANSPORT groups have agreed to lower the minimum fare by 50 centavos after fuel prices hit the P35 mark, so there is no reason for the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) not to order fare reduction.

Bongga nga X'mas party gidili-DepEd

Gipasidan-an sa DEP-ED-7 ang tanang mga publikong tunghaan dinhi sa Central Visayas ilabina sa Sugbu nga likayan ang pagpahigayon og bongga nga X'mas party sa mga tinun-an karong pasko.

Tomas to speak to teachers via teleconference

Mayor-on-leave Tomas Osmeña will speak to teachers in Cebu City today via teleconference during the annual Teachers' Day celebration at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel.

Gwen nahiubos sa taga City hall

Nahiubos si Gobernador Gwendolyn Garcia sa mga opiyal sa Cebu City hall nga gipangulohan ni acting Mayor Michael Rama nga wa motambong sa pagpanghatag sa Kapitolyo sa 134 ka deed of absolute sale sa 93-1 lot ngadto sa mga benepisyaryo niini niadtong miaging adlaw.

14 Cebu towns get an upgrade

At least 14 municipalities in the province of Cebu have been upgraded to a higher classification while one has been downgraded by the Bureau of Local Government Finance of the Department of Budget and Management.  The new first class municipalities are Bantayan, Consolacion, Daanbantayan, Dalaguete and Liloan. They now join Balamban and Minglanilla in the list of first class towns.  New second class municipalities are Barili, Medellin and Pinamungahan joining to San Fernando and Tuburan in the classification.  Badian, Compostela, San Francisco and Tabogon are now third class towns joining the towns of Asturias, Carmen, Dumanjug and Sibonga.  Upgraded to fourth class municipalities are Santa Fe and Santander joining the towns of Alegria, Aloguinsan, Catmon, Madridejos, Moalboal, Oslob, Poro, Sogod and Tabuelan.  Alcantara, Alcoy, Boljoon, Ginatilan, Malabuyoc, Pilar, Samboan and Tudela remain as fifth class municipalities.  While others got an upgrade, the town of Argao, which is one of the most popular tourist stops in the south, has been downgraded from a second class municipality to third class.  Not in the list are the towns of Borbon, Cordova, Ronda and San Remigio.

7th district sought

CEBU'S delegates to the House of Representatives have signed Rep. Pablo Garcia's bill to create a new district for Cebu Province. All but Cebu City Rep. Raul del Mar, that is.

'Mountain district' gisugyot, gisupak

Paningkamotan ni Kongresista Antonio Cuenco sa habagatang distrito nga sa dili pa mapupos ang iyang termino karon 2010 makahimo og laing distrito sa dakbayan sa Sugbu nga maglangkob sa mga bukirang barangay.

Banawa bill gets committee nod

THE bill creating "Barangay Banawa Englis" has already been approved in the committee level at the House and will be presented before the plenary for final deliberation next week.

More efficient trash job during X'mas

Cebu City Councilor Edgardo Labella is calling on the Department of Public Services to lay down a workable collection schedule to avoid garbage from piling up in the city during the holidays.

Garcia halts oil survey after firm fails to consult LGUs

THE order temporarily halting an Australian-based firm's oceanographic survey on possible presence of oil and natural gas off the seawaters of Argao and Sibonga towns stays, Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia said.

CH readies documents for funds for prizes of Sinulog '09 winners

THE Cebu City Government is already preparing the documents required for the appropriation of P8 million for the prizes of the Sinulog 2009 winners.

Vidal marks 37th year as a bishop

FOR his continued service in the Christian community, Papal Nuncio Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams paid tribute to Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, calling him a "beacon of hope."

17-anyos gipugos patrabaho sa 'casa'

Gidakop sa mga sakop sa Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau (CIIB) sa Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) ang tulo ka mga tawo nga gireklamo sa usa ka batang babaye kinsa nipasangil nga gipugos siya pagpatrabaho sa casa.

Mga armadong hubog gipangsikop

Nadakpan ang duha ka lalaki nga armado ug duna pay granada samtang hubog nga nagbahas-bahas sa barangay Tigbao, lungsod sa Badian.

Codilla balik na sa fire department

Balik na sa katungdanan isip Cebu City Fire Marshal si Fire Supt. Ismael Codilla human masuspenso og tulo ka buwan.

Santiago asks Glo: Suspend Cha-cha

Push Cha-cha and you'll see people dancing on the streets--in protest, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago warned President Arroyo.

Two bishops continue anti-Glo tirade

Two Catholic bishops on Sunday again lashed at President Arroyo and her men during a rally at the Bonifacio Monument in Balintawak in Caloocan City, saying that they will continue to do so even it if leads to their arrest.

Bonifacio Day with anti-Chacha rallies

Militant groups marked Bonifacio Day with demonstrations in the different parts of the Metropolis to protest moves to amend the Constitution.

Estrada: Only change in leadership can address poverty, hunger in RP

Deposed President Joseph Estrada said the only remedy to poverty and hunger in the country is to replace the present administration.

Inequalities deprive RP kids of education - UNESCO

Governments around the world, including the Philippines, are depriving children of basic literacy and numeracy skills because they have failed to address inequalities in education.  The report said many countries are way off target in their goal of achieving universal primary education, one of six internationally agreed upon goals that countries like the Philippines pledged to meet by 2015.

Reserves wasted defending peso?

THE GOVERNMENT must ease up on defending the peso as doing so will further weaken exporters and in turn mean less foreign currency with which to buy critical imports such as fuel and rice, experts said.

Monetary Board okays $232-M World Bank loan for road project

After years of delay, the controversial $232-million National Roads Improvement Management Program (NRIMP) loan from the Word Bank has been approved, following a clean-up that officials hoped would protect the project from corruption.

Hundreds of OFWs in Macau laid off

More overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were laid off from their jobs due the global economic crisis.  About 12,000 OFWs could be laid off.

UK adopts points-based visa system

THE BRITISH embassy has implemented a new points-based visa system that will prioritize care giving and engineering skills.

Tax take stays flat, making RP's spending hike difficult

Tax collections for the past three years remained flat, making it difficult for the Philippines to increase spending to further stimulate the economy.

Arroyo to leave for HK Monday

Following her week-long trip to Peru, President Arroyo is set to leave Monday night for Hong Kong to attend the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) meeting in Hong Kong.

MILF protects marijuana farms--Sotto

Dangerous Drugs Board chair Vicente Sotto III has accused Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels operating in the Lanao provinces and in Bukidnon of engaging in "narco-terrorism."

Peacekeepers leave Mindanao

The remaining Malaysian peacekeepers, who had been ensuring the success of the ceasefire between government troops and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, left Mindanao on Sunday, as talks for the extension of the International Monitoring Team's tour of duty will start in December yet.

3 suspected Kato followers arrested

Police arrested three suspected followers of wanted Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) leader Ameril Ombra Kato while acting suspiciously in Tacurong City yesterday.

NPA releases video clip of Special Forces captive in Mindanao

Communist rebels released Sunday a video clip of a Special Forces commander they are holding as a prisoner of war in Mindanao.

Nograles, 3 congressmen call for Xmas truce with CPP-NPA, MILF

Speaker Prospero Nograles and several members of the House of Representatives are seeking the implementation of ceasefires between the government and the New People's Army and Moro Islamic Liberation Front during the Christmas holidays.

Mancao, Dumlao in US court Dec, Jan

Former Philippine National Police officers Cesar Mancao and Glenn Dumlao will separately face extradition courts in the US in January and December, respectively, for their alleged roles in the double murder of PR man Salvador "Bubby" Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito in 2000.

Funds for Thai repatriation

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the release of an initial $15,000 on Sunday to cover the emergency repatriation of some 500 Filipinos stranded in Thailand's main international airport.

Long way home for Pinoy in Thailand

Stranded for days now due to the ongoing seige of two Bangkok airports by Thai protesters, more than 500 Filipinos are finally coming home Monday night, but it will be a long trip back home.

51 protesters wounded in Bangkok explosions

BANGKOK (AP) – At least 51 anti-government protesters were wounded in several explosions early today, raising fears of widening confrontations in a standoff that has strangled Thailand's economy and shut down its airports.

Thai crisis heightens with new rallies

Government supporters from the Thai countryside converged on the capital on Sunday, in a counter to rival protesters who seized control of Bangkok's two airports and forced the prime minister to run the country from afar.

ASEAN Solon favors delaying summit

With only about two weeks to go before the scheduled 14th ASEAN Summit in Thailand and with that country still in the midst of political unrest, ASEAN Secretary General Dr. Surin Pitsuwan has said he is in favor of postponing the gathering.  Thailand's foreign minister said Sunday the kingdom may have to postpone a regional summit until March as anti-government protesters continue their occupation of Bangkok's two airports.

Officials quit over India attacks

MUMBAI -- India's interior minister resigned Sunday as anger grew over intelligence failures leading up to the devastating attacks on Mumbai, as the government mulled suspending a peace process with Pakistan.

Obama to nominate Clinton Monday

Democratic officials say President-elect Barack Obama will nominate Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton to be his secretary of state tomorrow.

Lee Kuan Yew recovers after surgery

SINGAPORE (AP) - Former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew was recovering in a hospital today after surgery to implant a cardiac pacemaker to remedy an irregular heart rhythm.

Gwen commends three towns for hosting Provincial Meet

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia yesterday lauded officials of Liloan, Compostela and Consolacion towns for accepting her challenge to host this year's Provincial Meet despite monetary challenges and the very short time for preparation.

Cebu Provincial Meet: Badian begins title defense

Defending champion Badian will start its title retention bid as games of the Cebu Provincial Sports and Cultural Festival 2008 commence today in Liloan, Cebu.

UV scrabble players to join two international tourneys

The University of the Visayas (UV) Green Wizards will once again be representing the country in two international scrabble competitions in Malaysia this week.

Pacquiao weighs in before fight

LOS ANGELES—BY the end of his penultimate sparring session on Saturday, Manny Pacquiao weighed at 148lbs, just well within the welterweight range (147lbs) prescribed for his Dream Match with Oscar de la Hoya.

Pacman in final training week, focuses on 'mental conditioning'

With just a week away from his highly anticipated match with Oscar de la Hoya on December 6, Manny Pacquiao is now fine-tuning the final aspect of his 10-week training: mental focus.

Superstitious Manny:No bus to Vegas

Manny Pacquiao is skipping the bus ride to Vegas. Instead, he will take the customary four-hour drive to Sin City on board his 2005 Lincoln Navigator where he will be joined by his pregnant wife Jinkee and just a couple of relatives or friends.

Roach doesn't care what Hoya eats

While Manny Pacquiao gorged on chicken adobo, sweet and sour fish, beef bulalo, vegetable and rice during training, Oscar dela Hoya loved eating kangaroo meat which is healthier than beef.

'Heavier de la Hoya, better for Manny'

Freddie Roach doesn't think a heavier Oscar de la Hoya will be a stronger de la Hoya. He expects, in fact, a sluggish Golden Boy.

Politics will be Pacman"s next match after De La Hoya

Despite his electoral knockout in 2007, Filipino boxing champ Manny Pacquiao is not ruling out a return to the political ring.

Pinoy boxer loses to Mexican champ

Filipino light flyweight Juanito Rubillar lost his world title attempt against unbeaten WBC light flyweight champion Edgar Sosa.  Rubillar was stopped by Sosa at 2:54 of the 7th round in Mexico.

PSC chair Ramirez, 7 others sued

The Office of the Ombudsman has found evidence to charge at least eight Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) officials, including chairman William Ramirez, for a P2.2-million bicycle mess.

Hand of God did it, says Peping

Newly reelected POC president Jose Cojuangco Jr. said it was the hand of God that decided his 21-19 victory over Art Macapagal in a closely-contested election nearly marred by the late issuance of a temporary restraining order preventing archery's Dr. Lenora Brawner to vote.

Texters play smart versus Beermen

SINGAPORE – Talk n Text outplayed the tall San Miguel team in the second half behind the exploits of its backcourt players and the Tropang Texters kept a perfect record on overseas outings with an 85-80 win in a game played before a huge cheering crowd of mostly overseas Filipino workers at the National Indoor Stadium here last night.

Knicks set records in win

NEW YORK - Chris Duhon had a franchise-record 22 assists, David Lee had career highs of 37 points and 21 rebounds, and the New York Knicks rang up a record-setting 82 points in the first half in a 138-125 victory over Golden State.

Gary V. detained at Dubai airport

Mr. Pure Energy Gary Valenciano was detained by authorities at the Dubai airport for four hours after the pop sensation lost his passport, his wife confirmed.

Boyet: Johnny 'tough,' will recover

Veteran actor Johnny Delgado is suffering from a serious ailment, reportedly colon cancer—the same affliction that his wife, acclaimed actress-director Laurice Guillen overcame years back.

Juday's mom hurt by write-ups comparing daughter to beggar

Invigorated by the success of a fund-raising auction for the film Ploning, young superstar Judy Ann Santos is not stopping until she raises P5 million to ensure that the movie will be included on the final list of Oscar nominees.

Appeals court maintains ban

THE COURT of Appeals has affirmed the Office of the President in imposing conditions on the movie depicting the rise to power of former President Joseph E. Estrada.

Patrick Garcia to end hiatus once allowed to see son

Controversial actor Patrick Garcia said he would only go back to showbiz once his estranged girlfriend Jennylyn Mercado allows him to see their son Jazz.

Woman dies as world's oldest person

SHELBYVILLE, Ind. – Edna Parker, who became the world's oldest person more than a year ago, has died at age 115.

Mae West  - "I like restraint, if it doesn't go too far."