Posted by Mai on 30th July 2007
balitapinoy.net
SUBIC AIRPORT GETS PACIFIC PEARL
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo pours a bottle of champagne on the nose of the Pacific Pearl Airways (PPA) Boeing 737 aircraft which she inaugurated Saturday (July 28) at the Subic Bay International Airport at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales. PPA is a private corporation that will operate and manage chartered flights in both domestic and foreign routes. (Marcelino Pascua-OPS/NIB Photo)
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT ZONE
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s vision of developing fully the Subic Bay Freeport as a logistics and services hub in the Asia-Pacific region got a big boost today with the inauguration of Boeing 737 aircraft of Pacific Pearl Airways at the Subic Bay International Airport here.
The President, assisted by Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza, Pacific Pearl Chairman Eligio Jimenez and Pacific Pearl President and CEO Kristoffer Miel Jimenez, ascended the Pacific Pearl Airways Boeing 737 for the ceremonial pouring of champagne on the plane’s nose to signal the official entry of the airline company in the country.
The President also toured and inspected the technologically advanced aircraft which seats 114 passengers.
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Posted by Mai on 30th July 2007
Philippine Star – Articles – -
DA tightening rules on beef importation
By Marianne Go
Monday, July 30, 2007
Following the outbreak of hog cholera in Bulacan and Pampanga, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is also tightening the importation of beef from the United States and Canada to prevent the outbreak of mad cow disease.
During the recent 75th General Session of the Office International des Epizooties (OIE), a resolution was adopted recognizing the United States and Canada as countries with a controlled risk for the disease, known as Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE).
Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap has issued new guidelines on the continued importation of beef from the US and Canada subject to certain conditions, namely:
• Only boneless beef can be sourced from cattle under 30 months;
• Beef, whether boneless or bone-in, should be devoid of Specified Risk Materials;
• Whether boneless or bone-in, the beef should come only from healthy ambulatory and not downed cattle;
• The US Department of Agriculture or the Canadian Food Inspection Agency should certify the age of the slaughtered cattle; and
• The production date or slaughter date of the beef should be included in the packaging label.
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Posted by Mai on 30th July 2007
INQUIRER.net
Drug makers using P1-B lobby fund vs cheaper medicine bill
By Christian V. Esguerra
Inquirer
Last updated 07:28pm (Mla time) 07/29/2007
MANILA, Philippines–How much does it take to kill a bill?
An administration lawmaker estimated that as much as P1 billion was being spent by giant pharmaceutical companies to prevent both chambers of Congress from passing a bill aimed at lowering the prices of medicines in the country.
Iloilo Rep. Ferjenel Biron, a leading advocate of the measure in the House of Representatives, said on Sunday a big part of the amount was not necessarily spent to directly bribe legislators into shooting down a cheaper medicines bill.
“It includes the expenses for aggressive advertisements on radio, television, and newspapers,” he told the Philippine Daily Inquirer, parent company of INQUIRER.net.
Biron said the amount of the alleged lobby money first came to light when the advocacy for cheaper medicines became prominent in the 11th Congress.
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Posted by Mai on 30th July 2007
INQUIRER.net
Koko Pimentel to file formal poll protest
Inquirer
Last updated 07:43am (Mla time) 07/30/2007
MANILA, Philippines — Losing senatorial candidate Aquilino “Koko†Pimentel III is expected to file Monday a formal complaint in the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) questioning the Commission on Elections’ proclamation of Juan Miguel “Migz†Zubiri as the 12th winning senator in the May 14 elections.
Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr., Koko’s father, expressed confidence the electoral protest would be resolved quickly since the subject of the protest is limited to the vote count in Maguindanao province which gave Zubiri a slim margin over Koko.
“An election protest is a long process. But I don’t think this is going to be a prolonged inquiry. Koko will center his protest on one province only, the manipulation in Maguindanao. If the SET erases the 196,000 votes Zubiri got there, the boxing match is over,†said Pimentel. “We hope to settle this within six months.â€
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Posted by Mai on 30th July 2007
Philippine Star – Articles – -
RP, North Korea agree on energy cooperation
Monday, July 30, 2007
The Philippines and North Korea have agreed to cooperate in the field of energy, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.
DFA spokesman Claro Cristobal said in a press briefing that Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo and North Korean Foreign Minister Pak Ui-Chun expressed readiness for bilateral cooperation in several areas, including energy development, information technology and cultural exchanges.
“The expression as to specific areas for future cooperation came from both sides. It was Minister Pak who indicated that (North Korea) is succeeding in developing cooperative arrangements with the Philippines in those areas,†Cristobal said.
The Philippines and North Korea also signed yesterday an agreement establishing a mechanism for consultation in the political, economic and cultural fields that are expected to further deepen bilateral ties.
Cristobal said that the agreement provides a regular forum for the Philippines and North Korea to discuss and improve diplomatic relations on a broad range of issues.
Romulo and Pak signed the agreement at the sidelines of the 40th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Ministerial Meetings (AMM), Post Ministerial Conferences (PMC) and 14th Asean Regional Forum (ARF) at the Philippine International Convention Center.
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Posted by Mai on 30th July 2007
The Manila Times Internet Edition
Japan says no more direct visa applications
THE Japanese Embassy announced over the weekend that direct visa applications in Cebu and Davao would no longer be accepted starting today, except for diplomatic or official purposes.
According to its website (www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp), the decision was made after a recent overall review of visa application procedures.
“From the date onward, the Consulate General of Japan in Manila and the consular offices in Cebu and Davao will no longer accept direct visa applications by applicants,†it said.
All visa applications except for some instances must be made at the agencies accredited by the Consulate General, it said.
The exceptions include diplomatic or official visas, visas for invitees by Japanese government organizations/institutions, independent administrative agencies of Japan (such as Japan International Cooperation Agency and Japan Bank for International Cooperation etc.) and visas for scholarship awardees sponsored by the government of Japan.
The Japanese Embassy also said that under the new procedure, there might be cases where applicants would be requested to appear in person for an interview in the designated consulate or consular offices.
Questions may be directed to the Consulate General of Japan in Manila at telephone 02-834-7508, fax 02-551-5785, or e-mail at ryoji@japanembassy.ph.
–Francis Earl Cueto
The Manila Times Internet Edition
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