July 14, 2009 Major News Stories

Unioil cuts prices

Independent oil player Unioil Petroleum Philippines is set to cut its gasoline, diesel, and kerosene prices at 2 p.m. on Monday after several oil firms implemented price cuts over the weekend.  Unioil said it will slash prices of its gasoline and diesel products by P4.75 per liter and P3.50 per liter, respectively. On the other hand, Unioil's kerosene prices will be reduced by P1.50 per liter.

At present, Unioil has 40 retail stations in Metro Manila.

Pilipinas Shell and Phoenix Petroleum Philippines lowered the prices of their petroleum products by P1.50 per liter on Saturday to reflect softening international oil prices.

LTO revokes all deputation orders

The Land Transportation Office has cancelled all deputation orders to non-government organizations and government employees enlisted by LTO to help enforce traffic laws.  LTO Regional Director Raul Aguilos said the cancellation took effect last July 6 upon orders of Department of Transportation and Communication Assistant Secretary Arturo Lomibao. Lomibao also acts as chief of LTO.

Aguilos said Lomibao wants all deputation orders to come from his office for proper evaluation. In effect, all apprehensions made by deputized agents after July 6 are null and void.

Still, Aguilos said he will recommend the issuance of deputation orders to NGOs that have reportedly been very useful and helpful in LTO's campaign against erring drivers.

In Central Visayas there are about 400 LTO deputized agents, including the members of Task Force Alpha and Task Force Delta in Cebu.

LTO deputized agents have been the subject of several complaints from motorists because of alleged abuses. Aguilos, however, clarified the complaints have nothing to do with the cancellation of the deputation orders.

2 men with H1N1 die – health dept.

Two more people with the Influenza A(H1N1) virus in the country have died, bringing the total number of deaths related to the disease to three, an official of the Department of Health (DoH) said.  However, it was not immediately clear whether the fatalities died because of A(H1N1), Arnel Rivera, officer-in-charge of the DoH operation center for A(H1N1) told INQUIRER.net.

One of the casualties, a 19-year-old male also had asthma aside from A(H1N1) while the other, a 74-year-old man, also had emphysema, Rivera said.

The country's first A(H1N1)-related death, a female employee of the House of Representatives, had other illnesses before she acquired the novel flu virus. She died in late June.

The two new fatalities were among the 2,668 confirmed A(H1N1) cases as of late last week, Rivera said.

Of the total number of cases, 2,543 or 95 percent have recovered.

WHO:  A (H1N1) 'unstoppable'

All countries will need access to vaccines against swine flu as the pandemic is "unstoppable," a senior World Health Organisation official said Monday.

3 more H1N1 cases in CV; 90% recover

THREE more Influenza A (H1N1) cases have been found in Central Visayas, bringing the number of cases to 46.

All three cases were found in the province of Negros Oriental.

Drug firm offered govt P100M of discounts

A big pharmaceutical company has allegedly offered the government five million "sulit" discount cards with an estimated worth of P100 million – a move which Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile described as a "bribe" meant to prevent the enforcement of the cheaper medicines law.  Reiner Gloor, executive director of Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines, said Pfizer Philippines reportedly made the offer to the Department of Health before the list of the maximum retail price (MRP) for essential medicines was released last month.

But the offer, Gloor said, was rejected by Health Secretary Francisco Duque.

Enrile said the offer was "tantamount to a bribe in order to obviate" the enforcement of the law.

'We're denying it,' says company exec

An official of a drug company denied that it tried to stop the implementation of the cheaper medicines law by offering five million discount cards to the government.  "Syempre, we're denying it. There was no intention to bribe," Pfizer Philippines' corporate legal counsel Millete Asuncion said. 

She did not say, however, if the offer actually took place as earlier claimed by Reineer Gloor, executive director of Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines, at the hearing at the Senate by the congressional oversight committee of the cheaper medicines law. 

Arroyo snubs Senate inquiry on meds

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and other Palace officials were a no-show at the congressional inquiry on her alleged secret meeting with multinational pharmaceutical firms last week.

Arroyo to sign rent control law Tuesday

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will sign into law on Tuesday the bill imposing a year-long moratorium on rental increases and a seven-percent ceiling on subsequent adjustments until 2013.

Legacy boss arrested in hospital

Police in Quezon City served an arrest warrant for fraud against the owner of the troubled Legacy group of companies at the hospital on Monday.  But Celso delos Angeles was allowed to remain in the hospital, where he was being treated for cancer of the tonsils, lawyer Noel Malaya said.

Norway open to Filipino workers

Norway is open to Filipino professionals from the fields of engineering and information technology seeking to land a job there, Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) Secretary Marianito Roque said on Monday.

PRC announces list of new agriculturists

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced Monday that 817 out of 2,132 passed the Agriculturist Licensure Examination given by the Board of Agriculture.

Comelec: Cease & desist order to Granada

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has ordered Demetrio Granada, who claims to be the mayor of Tudela in Camotes Island, to cease and desist from performing the functions of the Office of the Mayor of the town.

Gwen to distribute 93-1deeds in Lahug

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia will be visiting barangay Lahug to personally distribute the deeds of absolute sale to residents occupying the controversial 93-1 lots but dispelled rumors that politics will be part of her visit.

Capitol twits warning vs. Naga coal ash

Capitol consultant on information Rory Jon Sepulveda said Greenpeace, an international environment group, is barking at the wrong tree when they warned the Cebu Provincial Government that the coal plant ash would pose a risk.

More raps for suspect in rob-slay of priest

Additional charges for possession of illegal drugs have been filed against one of the four men accused of killing Fr. Jovencio Rabusa last Monday night in a dimly-lit area along the South Coastal Road in barangay Cansojong, Talisay City.

17-year-old girl sues uncle for rape

A complaint for rape was filed before the Cebu City Prosecutor's Office against a Chinese-Filipino businessman who allegedly raped the niece of his wife several times when the 17-year-old girl served as their house help.  The alleged victim, a native of Palanas, Masbate, was assisted by lawyer Inocencio dela Cerna Jr. in filing the complaint against Virgilio Chua.

In her affidavit, the girl said she worked as house help for Chua since June 19, 2008 in Francisca Village, Happy Valley Road with a monthly salary of P1,800. Despite the meager salary, she reportedly accepted the job because Chua's wife is her aunt.

The complainant alleged Chua started his sexual advances on her a month after she arrived in Cebu City. The first time was when she was reportedly encoding the sales of Chua's business in one of the rooms in Chua's house and the latter entered and allegedly touched her private parts.

She then reportedly ran towards the servants' quarters supposedly to report the incident to the other house helps but no one was around.

The incident allegedly happened again several times until the second week of February this year when Chua allegedly raped her. The incident allegedly happened at another house in Sun Valley Subdivision where she was told to oversee a carpentry job.

Chua also allegedly ordered her to strip in front of the computer camera.

The complainant said she tried to resist the advances but Chua allegedly threatened to tell his wife and her mother that the complainant seduced him.

"Isumbong tika sa imong mama nga ikaw ang nagpasiuna ani," the complainant quoted Chua as saying.

To be away from Chua, the complainant said she decided to ask permission from her aunt that she would go back to Masbate. It was then that she reportedly managed to tell her of what happened and subsequently decided to file a formal complaint against Chua.

Bishops to good people: Run in elections

Aside from their usual call on the laity to vote wisely, Catholic Church leaders are encouraging good and competent persons to run for public office in the May 2010 presidential and national elections.

Comelec seeks help of religious, militants

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is seeking the help of religious and militant groups to encourage Filipinos overseas to register to vote in the 2010 elections, as the August 31 deadline for registration nears, a spokesman for the poll body said.

Civic group for Open Election System

A group pushing for the Open Elections System (OES) admitted that although it is not "cheat-proof," the OES is still better than the Precinct Count Optical Scanner (PCOS) system approved by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for the 2010 polls.  The PCOS machines to be used could be programmed to self-destruct during elections but work well during pilot-testing, and this could lead to failure of elections, he warned.

With OES, the voters still need to write names of the candidates and manual counting will be done. The number of votes will be recorded in the OES software by people and will be published on the Web. PIN codes are needed in order to edit or manipulate data.

Noli's Pag-IBIG ads cost taxpayers P500-M

Who is benefiting from the advertisements of Vice-President Noli De Castro promoting the government's Home Development Mutual Fund, also known as Pagtutulungan sa Kinabukasan: Ikaw, Bangko, Industria at Gobyerno (Pag-IBIG) Fund?   Lawyer Ernesto Francisco claims the Pag-IBIG ads have cost taxpayers P500 million since 2007. Pag-IBIG officials said the ads are money well spent, and that de Castro was chosen since he is an effective endorser.

Glo, Obama must tackle military, economy

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo should make a pitch for increased military assistance and strengthened economic partnership with the United States when she meets with President Barack Obama, leaders of the House of Representative said on Monday.

Opposition doubts Arroyo-Obama meeting

The public must be wary of the upcoming meeting of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and United States President Barack Obama which could be "for their own gain" only.  United Opposition and Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay said Arroyo might use the meeting to secure Obama's support for efforts to amend the 1987 Constitution, in exchange for the return of US bases in the country.

Clarify Puno status in Cabinet, Glo asked

Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno's silence is deafening, bolstering suspicions that he is on his way out, Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said, as he urged President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to clarify Puno's status in her Cabinet.

Italian trader denies ransom for Vagni

Italian businessman Armando De Rossi denied on Monday that he provided ransom money in exchange for the release of his compatriot, Eugenio Vagni, by the Abu Sayyaf.

Vagni resting in undisclosed place

The whereabouts of Eugenio Vagni, the Italian aid worker released from Abu Sayyaf captivity last Sunday, were kept secret but Senator Richard Gordon said he was doing very well.

Vagni learns what's important in life

Eugenio Vagni says he has learned valuable life lessons in captivity. He intimated that before the kidnapping, he had wanted to work for a few more years, even past retirement age so as to be able to renovate his home. But, he says, he is pondering retirement to enjoy time with his family, having realized the really important things in life. "It is very beautiful to come back to life again. After this, I appreciate more what I have and also that I can do without many things."

Tutors: Don't forget our colleagues

After the last Red Cross worker has been freed from abduction in Sulu, teachers organizations  were optimistic that the government can now focus its attention to the case of their colleagues who are still in the hands of their captors.

Pursuit, not probe in Sulu – Teodoro

Troops will focus on pursuit operations against the Abu Sayyaf, not on investigating the circumstances behind the release of an Italian Red Cross worker that the bandits held for six months, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said.

Biazon backs 'all-out war' vs. Abu Sayyaf

Senator Rodolfo Biazon has backed a local official's call for an all-out war against the al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf, as he proposed tapping civilian volunteers for the offensive.

Gordon calls for talks with Abu Sayyaf

Contrary to calls for an all-out war against the Abu Sayyaf, Senator Richard Gordon urged the government to talk peace with the extremist group that kidnapped Red Cross worker Eugenio Vagni.

Sayyaf mulls amnesty talks – Sulu official

Abu Sayyaf bandits who held three Red Cross workers in the southern province of Sulu are "open" to talks with government for a possible amnesty, Sulu Vice Governor Lady Ann Sahidulla said.

DoJ to court: Drop Mancao as accused

The Department of Justice (DoJ) has already asked the court to drop former police official Cesar Mancao from the list of accused in the killing of publicist Salvador "Bubby" Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito.

CBCP deplores 'culture of violence'

The bishops finally have awaken from self-denial. The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has deplored the "culture of violence and death"-- human rights abuses, extra-judicial killings, torture and scare tactics--under the Arroyo administration.

Cancer-stricken Pinays in HK pray for Cory

Empathizing with former President Corazon Aquino, several Filipino domestic helpers who are gripped with cancer trooped to the Philippine consulate in Hong Kong to pray for the country"s democracy icon.

Japan to call August 30 general election

Prime Minister Taro Aso is to call a snap election for August 30 following talks with ruling party officials Monday, public broadcaster NHK and other media reported.

Barangay Ginebra wins Game 5

David Noel again took charge as he led Barangay Ginebra to a 106-98 win over San Miguel Beer in Game 5 to take a 3-2 lead of the 2008-09 Motolite-PPBA Fiesta Conference finals Monday night at the Araneta Coliseum.

Pacquiao says now a fan of LA Lakers

"The People's Champion" Manny Pacquiao is known to be a huge fan of the Boston Celtics, especially of Kevin Garnett. But after an encounter with Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant at a pictorial in the United States, Pacquiao said that he is a full-fledged Lakers fan.

Belo doc under probe for botched butt job

Government agents have started investigation on a supposed botched butt augmentation procedure performed by a doctor formerly connected with the Belo Medical Group.

Magma buildup towards Mayon crater

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology monitored more volcanic quakes and a continuing buildup of magma towards the crater of Mayon volcano in Albay, as local disaster management officials prepare for an eruption.

Storm 'Huaning' moves away from Batanes

The country's weather agency, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services (PAGASA) said Tropical Strom "Huaning" has continued to move away from the country but was still enhancing the southwest monsoon and bringing rains over Luzon and Visayas.

A school that opens doors for drop-outs

The education department works to lower drop-out rates through a more flexible schooling program. Seventeen-year-old Christine Joy Claveria had to stop going to school last year due to her sudden pregnancy. Ordinarily, such a condition would have hindered her from finishing her high school education. Luckily, it did not.

What prompted Christine to pursue her senior year was the Department of Education's Open High School Program, which enabled her to go to class only once a week. She currently goes to class every Thursday. 
 
"It's not very hard because I do not have to come to school everyday, only once a week. When you think about it, I should not be going to school because it is embarrassing… But this is very helpful," she told abs-cbnNEWS.com.

Christine is one of the 90 students under the 2009-2010 Open High School Program (OHSP) being offered by the Marikina National High School. OHSP is part of the education department's Drop-Out Reduction Program, an answer to curb the decreasing participation rates in secondary public schools throughout the country.

Rising drop-out rates

"The primary goal [of the program] is to give access to secondary education. If you can give access to all those of high school age, your participation rates will go up," Prudence Sanoy, coordinator of the OHSP, said.
 
Drop-out rates in the last five years have been alarming. In school-year 2008-2009 alone, an estimated 48,822 students dropped out of school nationwide. The total population of secondary students last school-year was 6,459,305.
 
Unlike the Accreditation and Equivalency Exams offered by the Bureau of Alternative Learnings System, Open High School is a "formal and structured" program. This means a student needs to learn eight core subjects and graduates by completing the four levels.

The program started in 1998 as a pilot project funded by the Asian Development Bank. Nowadays, there is an increasing number of high schools nationwide that are offering this program.
 
"Whatever you have to do in regular schooling, you also do it here in this program, Sanoy explained. "Classes are based on the contract between the student and teacher." 
 
Open High School has three modalities: 1) the modular, 2) the blended technology, and 3) the Internet-based. 
 
In the modular type, teachers make use of modules in teaching the students during the agreed time. The modules are also taken home by the students. 

Content of the modules are not that different from textbooks. Perez said that the modules are even more comprehensive in terms of activities than the textbooks. 

The schedules of classes are flexible, only depending on the time agreed upon by teachers and students.

The Marikina National High School however has standardized its schedule for Open High, allotting one day every week for each level. Mondays are for freshmen, Tuesdays are for sophomores, Wednesdays for juniors, and Thursdays are for seniors. Classes start at 6:55 a.m. and ends at 3:45 p.m.
 
Internet-based learning is not yet practiced but is currently being developed by Bureau of Secondary Education on selected pilot schools in Baguio, Cebu, and Davao. It will take 4 more years before the department can check if the Internet-based program can produce quality graduates.
 
Blended Technology, on the other hand, is a merging of the two prior types, according to Sanoy. 
 
The grading system is also the same, and students get to graduate with the regular class at the end of the school-year. 

Schooling for everyone

The education departments' open high schools cater mostly to young people who are forced to quit school because they needed to work, hence the flexible schedule. But there is a provision for mainstreaming in case the student's financial situation changes. "If the financial situation [of the student] is better, the student may opt to go back to regular schooling," Sanoy said.
 
Garwin Bernabe, 31, was forced to stop secondary education because he got sick in 1990. He came back to school in 2005 and was already married when he decided to enroll for the program this school-year. 
 
"It's a good opportunity," he said, noting that he had wanted to go back to school for some time but that he couldn't because he is working.

According to Felicitas Perez, OHSP coordinator in Marikina National High School, there are many reasons why students stop studying and prefer the open high school program.
 
"Many of our students are already married with children. The others are already old and are embarrassed to go to regular school," she explained.

Perez also adds that because most of her students are working, they find the everyday classes too time-consuming. Some, like Garwin, have health problems. 
 
"We also encourage parents who want to study because there is nothing than can get you out of poverty more than education. They can be examples for their children," says Marikina principal Victoria Naranja.
 

Since the program started in 2007, the number of students enrolled with the Open High School at the Marikina high school has remarkably increased. It started with only 48 students. "In 2008, it increased to 63, and now we have 90 students!" Naranja said.
 
Successful in Romblon
 
OHSP has also been successful in the province of Romblon. Three years ago, Romblon had one of the highest drop-outs in the country. OHSP in the province started in 2007.
 
Most of their students were forced to stop because of poverty, according to Rufino Roz, assistant coordinator of the OHSP in Romblon. "They need to work for their families' needs. Some take care of their siblings, some work on marble which is Romblon's key produce, while others work either as porters, salesladies or houseboys," he added.
 
When the program started, they only had 148 students for all 10 schools under the division. In the following school-year, 2007-2008, there were already 81 students enrolled in the program. This number is only for four schools. The number of those enrolled with the program in the other schools is not yet available.
 
Roz said the provincial government of Romblon, which is very supportive of the project, is helping establish open high school programs in Romblon's secondary schools.
 
In the last three years, Marikina National High School has already produced 33 graduates from the program. Most are now either in college or working abroad.
 
"I have a student who will go back from Saudi next month. He told me that he and his classmates will be visiting me," Perez narrates. Most of her students took the program to get better jobs, she says.
 
Garwin, who is looking forward to getting his diploma next year, says this will open doors to numerous possibilities for him. "I can study further or get another job. It is better, you see, if you have proof that you finished schooling. This could help me get a better paying job," he beams.