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Recto Mercene
Colombo scholarship grantee: Hurn College of Air Traffic Control, Bournemouth, United Kingdom.
His home is the Philippines
ANDALUCIA, the sun-kissed region of Spain’s southern coast, is home to flamenco, matadors, bullfights, tapas and Moorish architecture.
Marcos slams BOC’s new policy on ‘balikbayan’ boxes
SEN. Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. scored the Bureau of Customs on Saturday for allegedly using its bureaucratic might against overseas Filipino workers (OFW), sending personal effects to their families through balikbayan boxes.
Aquinos bring Butz’s ashes at Ninoy’s marker in airport
TO commemorate the 32nd death anniversary of assassinated Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., members of his clan gathered at the tarmac of the international airport bearing his name.
Escudero presses government to upgrade facilities, services in public hospitals
SEN. Francis G. Escudero said the government should improve the facilities and services in public hospitals and health clinics across the country if it expects the universal health-coverage plan under the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to work.
Drilon to Umali: Watch your manners
SENATE President Franklin M. Drilon on Thursday told Liberal Party (LP) Rep. Reynaldo Umali to watch his manners and stop interfering in the internal affairs of the Senate.
Two-year passport validity extension urged for OFWs
Automatically extend the passport validity of vacationing overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to a maximum of two years.
Make sure state scholars benefit from P32.75-billion budget–Recto
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto wants the budget for student scholarships segregated from activities such as “office excursions masquerading as training.”
Binay to Trillanes: Justify consultants’ ‘exorbitant’ fees
The camp of Vice President Jejomar C. Binay has asked Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV to explain the hiring of “overpriced” consultants, including his brother, who allegedly raked in P71,200 a month, or almost half a million in six months last year.
Government creates assistance centers for distressed OFWs
The more than 10.5 million overseas Filipino workers are assured of full government protection following the signing on Tuesday of a historic document that compels five major agencies to come to their assistance, if beset by trouble, in the shortest possible time.
‘Don‘t buy used hardware for AFP modernization’
A legislator favors an increase in military spending to boost the country’s defense capabilities amid concerns over China’s continuous military buildup in the disputed West Philippine Sea, but warns the government against buying old and dilapidated second-hand weapons and equipment.
PHL could just be the next Silicon Valley, lawmaker says
The Philippines could turn into the next “Silicon Valley” of the world, because it has more than enough talent and expertise to meet the demand of various technology start-ups that have turned their eyes into the country following its highly successful business-process outsourcing (BPO) industry.
Marcos: We need better internet, telecommunications services
Faster Internet speed and robust telecommunications systems should be a priority of the next administration, said Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. at the open forum of Asia CEO Talks, as the senator noted that telecommunications has made all economies a part of the global marketplace.
Singapore celebrates 50 years of independence
SINGAPORE proudly showcased its vast economic gains, as its embassy in the Philippines celebrated the country’s 50th National Day at the Fairmont Hotel in Makati City.
Separate procurement unit for National Police eyed
SEN. JV Ejercito on Thursday expressed support for the National Police Modernization Program, by urging the government to provide the agency with its own procurement unit that would ensure that the force meets its equipment demands and is provided with air assets for increased interoperability.
Thailand to ‘import’ 400 Pinoy English teachers
Thailand is mulling over the hiring of about 400 Filipino-English teachers to teach some of their citizens English proficiency subjects, Ambassador Thanatip Upatising said during a brief interview at the Singapore 50th founding anniversary at the Fairmont Hotel in Makati on Tuesday night.
Recto: P3,000 pay hike for government workers possible by January 2016
State workers could expect an average of P3,000 monthly pay increase starting January next year once the P50.6 billion in the proposed 2016 national budget for salary hike is fleshed out in a bill the Malacañang will later send to Congress.
Embassy repatriates more Filipinos from Baghdad
THE Philippine Embassy in Baghdad has repatriated eight more Filipino workers who requested assistance in returning home owing to concerns for their safety and security in Iraq.
High-tech products seen to lower power spending
TECHNOLOGY doesn’t always mean gadgets requiring the bowing of heads: the third European Union-Philippines Meeting on Energy revealed it’s also above the noggin.
OFW recruitment sector hits delays in passport issuance
PLAYERS in the recruitment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) chided the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for reported delays in the processing of passports.
Recto seeks hike in P500-M aid for displaced educators
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has proposed a 15.4-percent increase in the Department of Education (DepEd) allocation for 2016 to allow the agency to fully implement the amendments to the country’s basic education under the K to 12 Program.
Kurdistan invites Filipino investors
THE Philippines should take a second look at Kurdistan and explore trade, investment and other opportunities that are available for Filipino companies in Iraq’s thriving northern autonomous region.
Binay cites Aquino’s ‘dictatorial tendencies’
THE administration showed its “dictatorial tendencies,” when its leaders said they want the daang matuwid to continue for the next 20 years, Vice President Jejomar C. Binay said.
Villar bats for more agriculture training courses
Education and focused-training courses are needed to attract young blood and bring fresh ideas to agriculture, because the belief that there is dwindling interest in agriculture among the youth is false.
2016 national budget inclusive, sustainable–Legarda
Sen. Loren B. Legarda, the new chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, vowed to make the 2016 national budget inclusive and attuned to the country’s sustainable development goals.
Palace told: Go beyond ‘hints’ on state workers’ pay hike
The Senate has called on Malacañang to unveil the pay- hike package it is proposing for the nation’s civil servants, if any, so that it can be studied in earnest by Congress and by the state employees themselves.
Solon cites BSP role in democratizing access to financial services
How can farmers and fisherfolk avail themselves of financial services to help them tide over difficult times, especially those living in the rural areas?