January 23, 2009 Major News Stories

Level of job cuts 'alarming' - Dole

REQUESTS to layoff workers from various companies in Cebu have already reached an "alarming level," according to a labor department official.  DOLE 7 Director Elias Cayanong said about 50 percent of manufacturing and exporting firms based in the cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu have filed for either temporary layoff of their workers or compressed workweek to be able to cope with declining demand for their product in the global market.

Mitsumi cuts jobs, work hours 

AN electronics manufacturing firm in Danao City is set to lay off 200 employees next month.  After laying off 500 employees late last year, Cebu Mitsumi Inc. will retrench 200 workers who availed themselves of the "special resignation" package offered by the company effective Feb. 14.

OFWs from Taiwan get DOLE's help 

Amid a peanut butter scare in the United States, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who lost their jobs in Taiwan recently will get livelihood assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for a peanut butter business.

Saudi prince: No job loss for OFWs

Despite the global financial crisis, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Saudi Arabia need not worry after Saudi Prince Khalid bin Saud bin Khalid gave assurances there will be no job losses for the more than 1 million OFWs the Middles Eastern kingdom.

34 Gaza evacuees arrive in Manila

Thirty-four evacuees from war-ravaged Gaza Strip arrived in Manila at around 10:20 last night.

Teachers to get full bonus by March

The Department of Education has assured public school teachers they will get their overdue 2008 yearend bonus in full by March.

Oil eases below $41; demand weak

Oil eased below $41 a barrel on Wednesday, as further evidence emerged of a deepening global slowdown that is crushing demand for fuel.

World oil demand to drop sharply

Global oil demand is seen contracting more sharply this year than previously expected, as the deepening economic crisis spreads to the developing world.

Habal-habal tawgong 'Single taxi'

Tawgon na unya ang mga habal-habal sa dakbayan sa Sugbu nga "Single Taxi" sa higayon nga mahingpit ang ordinansang iduso unya nga gipanday sa Citom.

LTO wants control over drug testing 

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Wednesday reiterated its plans to supervise drug testing for motorists who are applying for driver's license.

Capitol faces P125M appeal

CEBU City's Joint Venture Selection Committee denied the Province's motion for reconsideration, which would mean delays in the awarding of the P25-billion joint venture contract to Filinvest Land Inc.  City Administrator Francisco Fernandez said they will not be able to award the contract to FLI on Jan. 23 because under the City's Joint Venture Ordinance, the Province will be given seven calendar days to file an appeal.  The Province, however, will be asked to pay a non-refundable appeal fee of P125 million when it files a verified position paper with Mayor Michael Rama.

Police, driver put out fire in Badian

Five policemen and a driver took over the fireman's hose in Badian town Tuesday night when no fireman was available to respond to a fire at the Badian National High School.

Two Leyte contingents commended for Sinulog fest wins

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Council) of Leyte has passed a resolution commending Tribu Buyuganon of Abuyog town for its historic win in this year's Sinulog Festival held in Cebu City.  Another contingent from Leyte, Karatong Festival of Dulag, bagged fifth place.

Arianne May Briones, Karatong Festival muse, was also adjudged first runner-up in the Miss Sinulog 2009.

House ratifies P1.415-trillion budget 

THE HOUSE of Representatives yesterday ratified the P1.415-trillion 2009 national budget, realigning a sizable portion of debt interest payments to a stimulus package.

Remonde now press secretary 

CEBUANO Cerge Remonde will serve as Malacañang's new Press Secretary, replacing Jesus Dureza, who will assume office as the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel.

Arroyo reshuffles Cabinet positions

PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has reshuffled key Cabinet positions, Executive Secretary Eduardo R. Ermita said in a briefing yesterday, with the changes taking effect on Feb. 1.  Press Secretary Jesus G. Dureza was appointed chief presidential legal counsel, a position that has remained vacant after the resignation of Sergio F. Apostol.

Presidential Management Staff (PMS) Cerge M. Remonde was appointed press secretary, while Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Hermogenes C. Esperon, Jr. will be the new PMS chief.

National Security Council (NSC) Deputy Director-General Avelino I. Razon, Jr. will replace Mr. Esperon, while National Counter-Terrorism Action Group head Arturo C. Lomibao was appointed chairman of the LTFRB.

Other movements include the appointment of Land Transportation Office chief Alberto H. Suansing as undersecretary for the maritime sector of the Department of Transportation and Communications. That position was vacated by Ma. Elena H. Bautista who was named head of the Maritime Industry Authority after Vicente T. Suazon, Jr. resigned last September. There was no replacement for Mr. Suansing.

Letter prompts reopening of probe

An anonymous letter alleging that P1.6 million was deposited into an account of a Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutor has led Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez on Wednesday to order the reopening of the investigation on the bribery attempt linked to the Alabang Boys case.

Marcelino not gagged, says military

The military denied on Wednesday it has barred Marine Maj. Ferdinand Marcelino from revealing what he knew about the alleged bribery in the "Alabang Boys" case.

Paule di palalabasin ng Pinas

Pormal na hiniling ka  hapon ni Sen. Richard Gordon, chairman ng Senate Blue Ribbon Committee sa Department of Justice na magpalabas ng hold departure order (HDO) laban kay businessman Jaime Paule, isa sa mga itinuturong sangkot sa P728-milyon fertilizer fund scam.

Palace: Obama can learn from GMA

After holding the world in awe and admiration for his historic election victory, US President Barack Obama may still need advice on matters of governance, fixing the economy, or simply fending off political dissent – from President Arroyo.  Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita gave this piece of unsolicited advice to the first black US president when asked if there's anything Mrs. Arroyo could learn from Obama.

GMA 'tinamaan' sa speech ni Obama

Naniniwala si Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel Jr., na 'tinamaan' si Pangulong Gloria Arroyo sa speech ni US President Barrack Obama nang sabihin ng bagong presidente ng Amerika na iyong mga hindi bumibitiw sa kapangyarihan sa pamamagitan ng korupsiyon ay nasa maling panig ng kasaysayan.

Iligan City security tightened 

Authorities have further tightened security in Iligan City after a spate of bombings   carried out by suspected members of the special operations group (SOG) of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the past few months.

Gov't official accused of raping minor

A man who claimed to be a "concerned citizen" has accused the head of the National Printing Office (NPO) of raping a 13-year-old girl.  The charge, however, was denied by Enrique Agana, NPO director, and Carmen, the mother of the supposed victim.  The alleged rape was reported by Napoleon Bunagan Jr. – a resident of Valenzuela City who identified himself as a concerned citizen – in a sworn statement he filed at the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Jan. 16.

Drop in equities pulls down peso

The peso lost another five centavos in Wednesday"s trading, following Wall Street"s huge drop Tuesday.  The local currency closed at P47.55, down from P47.50 on Tuesday.

Power co-ops seek gov't subsidies

Electricity distributors, anticipating power rate fluctuations this year, are asking government to provide subsidies and incentives for the power industry.

Napocor to lose P63 billion in 2008

State-run National Power Corp. (Napocor) is  likely to revert back to a loss in 2008 after three consecutive years in the black due to huge foreign exchange losses and lower revenues.

Consumers told:  Local milk is safe

Several months after the melamine scare broke out, the National Dairy Authority noticed that some people are still afraid to drink milk even if it's locally made.

Local peanut butter is safe—officials

Philippine-made peanut butter got a boost in the wake of reports that peanut butter products in the United States have been contaminated by salmonella bacteria.

Senate mulls permanent rent control

The Senate is mulling a law to regulate rent increases and do away with the periodic extensions.

Israeli military completes Gaza pullout

Israeli troops departed the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, but forces remained massed on the border, as focus shifted to cementing the fragile-cease fire that ended Israel's 23-day offensive aimed at halting rocket attacks by Hamas militants.

Day One: Church, econ, war advisers

President Barack Obama stepped into the Oval Office for the first time as chief executive on Wednesday and summoned economic advisers and top military officials to meetings aimed at delivering the change he promised as a candidate.

Iraq wants US troops to leave early

Iraq is willing to have the U.S. withdraw all its troops and assume security for the country before the end of 2011, the departure date agreed to by former President George W. Bush.

Obama orders closing Guantanamo 

The new Obama administration circulated a draft executive order Wednesday that calls for closing the controversial US detention center at Guantanamo Bay within a year and halting any war crimes trials in the meantime.

Hopes for Pacman-Hatton match dead

All hopes for a blockbuster match between Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao and British champion Ricky Hatton have become virtually dead as the Filipino fighter thumbed down the last offer laid down by the other camp.

Manny camp wants $13 million 

Despite the threat of Ricky Hatton calling a press conference in London to cancel their fight, Manny Pacquiao said yesterday he's not accepting a 52-48 compromise split with a $12 million guarantee "as a matter of principle."

Beermen fall short

Talk 'N Text squandered an 18-point lead but recovered in time to fashion out a 106-103 win over San Miguel Beer yesterday.

PBA: Alaska moves closer to finals

Alaska pulled off an 88-83 win over Sta. Lucia Wednesday night in their KFC Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup semifinals match up at the Astrodome in Pasay City.

City to probe controversy in Miss Cebu 

The Cebu City government will conduct an inquiry into the controversy that rocked the recent Miss Cebu pageant.

Will Charice stay in US?

With her star fast rising in America, will Charice finally decide to stay there (since she holds an "extra-ordinary ability" visa processed by immigration lawyer Michael Gurfinkel)?

Ipe accused of beating up bus driver

Actor Phillip Salvador is accused of mauling a bus driver in a traffic altercation along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) in Mandaluyong City Wednesday morning.

Michelle O ready as new first lady

Michelle Obama calls her new life as first lady "a bit surreal" and says she is ready for such a high-profile role in politics.

Rita Rudner  - "When I eventually met Mr. Right I had no idea that his first name was Always."