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Archive for October, 2006

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ASEAN backs six-party talks on North Korea

Posted by Michille on 31st October 2006


By Christine Avendaño
Inquirer
Last updated 02:14am (Mla time) 10/31/2006

Published on page A4 of the October 31, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

NANNING, CHINA — The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) yesterday supported calls by the Philippines and China for a resumption of talks aimed at resolving the dispute over North Korea’s nuclear program.

“We were impressed by the unanimity of every leader on the issue of North Korea and their resolve to work together to seek a diplomatic solution through the resumption of the six-party talks,” said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The Philippine leader co-chaired with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao the one-day China-ASEAN summit in the southern Chinese city of Nanning.

Ms Arroyo praised China for its role in sponsoring the talks that include North and South Korea, Japan, Russia and the United States as well as Beijing.

In her remarks to the gathering, Ms Arroyo called for a regional approach to peace and security amid apprehensions over North Korea’s testing of a nuclear device.

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Mati boasts market compost center

Posted by Michille on 31st October 2006

By Mai Gevera

Davao City (31 October) — Mati’s 1.5 ton of market waste daily produced from the public market is now converted to organic fertilizer as the local government unit structured a specialized compost center for market wastes.

Local officials commended the high compliance rate of market vendors in surrendering their daily garbage to the said compost center for cleaner surroundings and an additional government income from the by-product which is the organic fertilizer.

The vendors underwent series of trainings to absorb the proper procedure of composting from waste gathering from the surroundings to constant delivery to the compost center which is just a several meters away from the market.

Mati Vice Myor Cesar de Erio bared that this is the LGU’s strategy of maintaining cleanliness and order in the public market, generating government income, and at the same time using it as a model for a wider scope of solid waste management program in the municipality.

“We are temporarily maximizing the vacant lot near the market to accommodate market wastes while the LGU is yet preparing the 15.2-hectare of landfill area at Sitio Tagbobolo,” he said.

The bigger compost area is expected to start operation as soon as the newly-constructed Mati Public Market will open on December.

More wastes are expected with the bigger market that was why the LGU pushed for a wider compost area.

Meanwhile, the local government of Mati was recently awarded the Gawad Pangulo sa KAPALIGIRAN, ranked number one for its environmental programs.

Topping all the municipalities in the Davao Oriental Province, Mati is seen as having well-maintained greenbelt areas, laudable initiative in putting up a composting center, presence of a permanent dumping site, a well-maintained terminal, well-maintained mangrove area, and for the other environmental programs that the LGU strictly implemented. (PIA XI)

PIA!

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All Saints Day: A centuries-old tradition lives on

Posted by Michille on 31st October 2006

Tacloban City (October 31) — The centuries-old traditions of All Saints Day continue as countless Filipinos, many of them returning to their roots, pay respects to their departed loved ones amid stringent police and military security measures at bus and airport terminals.

So, although not declared a public holiday, today begins the exodus to the cemeteries especially to those who have to travel long hours just to reach the tombs of their departed love ones.

Even with the prevailing harsh economic times, families will start to travel today, if they have not done so during the week end, with loads of candles, flowers, and food to last the holidays.

Surely, there will be a mad rush to supermarkets and shopping malls, with shoppers trying to stretch the buying power of the peso, spending hours of shopping to find the lowest food items and candles at less than half their actual price their wallets could afford.

For the flower they would put on the tombs of their loved ones, families will start to crowd the districts where fresh blooms were sold at less than half the price than those found in popular flower shops and high-end flower arrangement centers.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) will again have their hands full, deploying more police men to increase police visibility, checking bus and airport terminals, guarding the cemeteries and crowded place to ensure public safety and order and at the same time being vigilant to see to it that the residences abandoned by the occupants who are all at the cemeteries will be safe from unscrupulous robbers and Akyat Bahay gangs, and more so, to ensure that no terroristic activities are committed.

So the traffic nightmare will hound the commuters and motorists once again despite the hardworking traffic enforcers, the danger that wallets will be picked from pockets will be there once more, and the discomfort of being bumped here and there by people coming and going will begin to make people more alert again.

However, to millions of Filipinos, old traditions never die, not even fade away, traffic or no traffic, come rain or scorching sun.

After all, it is that time of the year when Filipinos can share the goodness of their hearts to those who have gone to rest in God’s embrace. (PIA-8)

PIA!

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‘Paeng’ hits Pangasinan

Posted by Michille on 31st October 2006

LINGAYEN — Super typhoon “Paeng” slammed the province Sunday night. Yet, Pangasinenses were thankful because the storm did not unleash strong winds and heavy downpour.

Tony Calaycay of the National Power Corporation (NPC) Flood Forecasting and Warning System for Dam Operation said that as of noon Monday, water level at the San Roque Dam in San Manuel town was at 273.777 meters.

The measure, Calaycay said, is about six meters below the normal high water level of the dam, thus they see no need to release water from the dam.

Before rains started to pour last Sunday, Police Regional Director Leopoldo Bataoil informed his police provincial directors of a directive issued by National Police Chief Oscar Calderon.

SUN.STAR PANGASINAN!

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RP, US soldiers finish bilateral exercises

Posted by Michille on 31st October 2006

CLARK ECOZONE — The Philippine and US military on Saturday gathered at the Air Force City Officers Club (AFCOC) here for the closing ceremonies of the bilateral exercises “Talon Vision and Amphibious Landing Exercise (Phiblex) 2007.”

The exercises started on October 16 with the objectives of improving interoperability and continuing professional relationship between the US Marines and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

“There is no doubt we were able to hack the job, and we did it proudly and with great results,” said Philippine Air Force Lieutenant Julius Guillermo, 600th Air Base Wing director for operations.

For his part, Philippine Marine Colonel Rustico Guerrero, superintendent of the Marine Corps Training Center (MCTC), cited the importance of the recent training.

“We certainly take pride in actively involving ourselves in this endeavor because we recognize that training plays a crucial part in the enhancement of operational effectiveness and efficiency in any military organization,” said Guerrero.


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Group asks gov’t to probe complaints on mobile firms’ e-load services

Posted by Michille on 31st October 2006

THE consumer advocacy group TXTPower has urged the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to investigate the Smart’s E-Load service and Unlimited Texting promotion in view of mounting complaints from subscribers.

TXTPower convenor Anthony Ian Cruz said they have received a number of complaints from Smart subscribers about alleged “unexplained disappearance of prepaid load” and alleged denial of service from those who paid for the company’s unlimited texting promotion.

“The NTC has a duty to monitor and investigate motu propio any and all reports on the failure of Smart and other telecommunications companies to deliver services already paid in advance by subscribers. In this case, glitches in the system handling Smart’s E-Load service is resulting in losses on the part of subscribers, with many of them becoming unable to avail of the Unlimited Texting promotion,” Cruz said.

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