Malacanang announces election liquor ban from May 9 to 13

The Aquino government has released in the internet an infographic regarding the election liquor ban for the May 13 national and local elections, a Palace official said on Tuesday.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Tuesday that the government encouraged the people to visit the Official Gazette website through http://www.gov.ph to get information regarding the election liquor ban that will take effect on May 9 (12 a.m.) until May 13 (11:59 p.m.) this year.

"It’s a short public service information that can be found on the Official Gazette about certain things that everybody should know about the liquor ban, which is in place in connection with the elections on Monday," Valte said.

The Philippine National Police will be strictly implementing the nationwide liquor ban imposed by the Commission on Elections.

Under Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code, it is prohibited for any person to sell, furnish, offer, buy, serve or take intoxicating liquor during the liquor ban period, but hotels and other establishments certified by the government as “tourist-oriented” may be exempted from the ban.

The law also provides that drinking alcoholic beverages within private property is allowed. Foreign tourists may take alcoholic beverages in exempted establishments.

Intellectual Property Office vows to step up anti-piracy and anti-counterfeiting efforts

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHIL) has vowed to “work harder” in its quest to end piracy and counterfeiting in order to remove the country from the United States Trade Representative piracy watch list.

In a statement, IPOPHIL Director General Ricardo Blancaflor vowed “vigorous efforts” to address the strict enforcement of the intellectual property rights by the law enforcement agencies of IPRs in the country.

He said “law enforcement agencies involved in IPR work…will work harder in fighting piracy and counterfeiting,” Blancaflor said.

Blancaflor added IPOPHIL has been successful in addressing piracy and counterfeiting activities in the country with “a record breaking volume of seizures” two years ago and with the passing of the internet treaty law last March 22.

In its latest Special 301 Report, the Philippines was retained on the ordinary watch list of IPR violators due to Washington’s piracy concerns over the Internet.

IPOPHIL hopes that the Philippines will be removed by the USTR from the watch list after Washington’s conduct of an off-cycle review.

The National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights area confident that the additional requirements can be addressed in the immediate future,” Blancaflor said.

Over 3,000 NorMin youth undergo Tesda-DSWD tech-voc training

By Apipa P. Bagumbaran

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, May 7 (PIA) -- A total of 3,471 young people, ages 18-30, underwent technical-vocational training under the joint program of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) dubbed Cash for Training Project (C4TP).

C4TP is a training program that responds to the government’s thrust in providing sustainable intervention to improve the plight and condition of the youth and empower them through skills training and assistance towards gainful employment and entrepreneurial activities.

It intends to assist 4,695 youths in the region who cannot afford to enroll in degree programs and who wish to find employment.

The beneficiaries for the C4TP are divided among the five provinces of the region as follows: Bukidnon - 1,050, Camiguin - 250 , Lanao del Norte - 925 , Misamis Occidental - 893 , and Misamis Oriental - 1,577. These beneficiaries will become certified Tesda Specialitas by this month.

Tesda OIC-Regional Director Edgar A. Sales stated that the program is implemented in two (2) independent components: training for self-employment (Hanapbuhay) and training for wage-employment (Trabaho).

For self-employment, the program is conducted on-site, school-supervised or thru partner NGOs. For wage employment, the program is organized and conducted in a Tesda-registered training provider, and after graduation, jobs-bridging activities will be conducted to facilitate their entry to jobs.

On top of the skills training program, the youth will also be given employment/entrepreneurial opportunities through the Jobs Bridging Event and Tesda Specialista Program of Tesda. (Honey Analou Doña/Tesda-10/APB/PIA-10)

BOC-10 posts P5.7-B customs collections in 2012

By Apipa P. Bagumbaran

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, May 7 (PIA) -- The Bureau of Customs (BOC) Regional Office 10 posted a total collection of P5.7 billion in 2012, up by 10 percent compared to the total customs collections recorded in 2011.

Records from the BOC-10 show that while there was a slowdown in collections in the fourth quarter of 2012, the annual figure still exceeded the BOC’s annual target by P181 million.

The same records further show that collections in Cagayan de Oro Port and the sub-port in Iligan City went down by 19 percent and 23 percent, respectively.

The decrease in Cagayan de Oro Port, from P969.1 million to P789.5 million, was due mainly to the stoppage of the importation of palm oil in mid-2012, the BOC-10 said.

This commodity accounted for 29 percent of the region’s base port’s total collections in 2011.

Customs collections in Iligan City also decreased due to the implementation of an executive order exempting wheat importations of PILMICO Foods Corporation from payment of customs duties until 2015.

However, the increase of customs collections in the Mindanao Container Terminal Sub-Port (MCT-SP) more than offset the declines in the two ports.

MCT-SP now accounts for 82 percent of the region’s customs collections in 2012 from 75 percent in 2011.

Collections in the MCT-SP rose by 20 percent reaching P4.6 billion, partly due to the entry of the Phoenix Petroleum Inc. in the region. (Marie-Zil G. Malinao/APB/PIA-10)

PNP calls on candidates to honor covenant

By Rutchie C. Aguhob

OROQUIETA CITY, Misamis Occidental, May 7 (PIA) – The Philippine National Police (PNP) has called on the candidates in Misamis Occidental to honor the covenant they have signed, relative to the conduct of the May 13 national and local elections.

The call was sounded by P/Sr. Supt. David Y. Ombao, Deputy Regional Director of Operations (DRDO), who condemned the April 30 ambush on the life of one of the vice-mayoralty candidates in Bonifacio town, in the boundary of Misamis Occidental and Zamboanga del Sur provinces, the latest of the election-related atrocities in the province.

The incident took place at 5 p.m. in Barangay Migpangi of the said town, but was foiled by the members of the Municipal Police Station who caught up with the group of some six (6) unidentified armed criminals, which resulted in the killing one (1) and the arrest of four (4) of the criminals. However, one (1) eluded arrest, and two (2) firearms were recovered from the scene.

Meanwhile Ombao said the candidates have the responsibility to tell their supporters to calm down and maintain sobriety in their campaign, “after all, they are the reason why their supporters are killed and to think that they all signed the covenant.”

The covenant enumerated the following commitments by the candidates: To abide by all election laws, rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

To conduct a high level campaign, explaining their program of government, qualifications, reasons for seeking public office and provide the people with accurate information that will help them assess the candidates’ fitness for public office.

To treat their opponents as they would want them to treat the candidates and to campaign on issues, only, and that character assassination and false promises will not be part of their strategies.

To refrain from using guns, goons and gold to win in the elections and to strongly admonish their followers and supporters to desist from using violence, deceit and fraud and other unfair and dishonest practices to ensure their election.

To remember always that as God’s steward on earth, they must promote Safe, Clean and Healthy environment and a unequivocal reverence of life and to refrain from imploring methods that would thwart and subvert the will of the people and endanger the sanctity of the ballot.

To avoid any and all illegal drug business, all forms of illegal gambling, extra judicial killings, vote-buying and any form of cheating in the elections, exorbitant campaigning and to abide by the decision of the majority and be magnanimous in victory and grateful in defeat. (RCAguhob/PIA10-Misamis Occidental)

55IB, Phil. Army sets up quick response teams in remote areas of Misamis Occidental

OROQUIETA CITY, Misamis Occidental, May 7 (PIA) – The 55th Infantry Battalion (55IB), 101 Infantry Brigade, Philippine Army, has set up quick response teams (QRT) for deployment in the remote areas of Misamis Occidental.

The deployment will complement that of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the province, whose concentration is on the municipalities along the national highways and secondary roads, as well as the coastal areas, Lt. Col. Rommel A. Almaria, Commander of 55IB, said.

“Although our main concern is counter-insurgency, the 55IB is also concerned of making the May 13, 2013 national and local elections safe and orderly,” Almaria said.

He also said they have already coordinated with the Misamis Occidental Provincial Police Office (MOPPO) and taken the task to provide security to the people living in the boundaries of the province and the Zamboanga provinces, located at the foot of the Mt. Malindang Range Natural Park (MMRNP).

Particularly, these municipalities had histories of election-related atrocities and rebel infestation, such as Concepcion, Don Victoriano, Bonifacio, Tudela, Sinacaban and Ozamiz City.

Meanwhile, Almaria assured the residents of the province that they have organized more than 400 members of the Civilian Auxiliary Forces Ground Unit (CAFGU) to serve as augmentation force to close to 300 regular members of 55IB.

On the other hand, Almaria said the 55IB soldiers, along with the members of the CAFGU will be providing security support to the deployment of the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines, members of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI), as well as the voters, on election day, on May 13. (RCAguhob/PIA10-Misamis Occidental)

ARMM, Lanao del Sur bets share platforms in Candidates Forum

By Apipa P. Bagumbaran

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, May 7 (PIA) -- Candidates vying for posts in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) regional government and congressional seats in the province shared their respective platforms of governance in a candidates’ forum held here on weekend.

Candidates present during the forum were mostly from the Liberal Party. They were incumbent ARMM governor Mujiv Hataman for regional gubernatorial position, Haroun Alrashid Lucman for regional vice-gubernatorial, and Ziaur-Rahman Adiong for the regional the legislative assembly post.

Also present were Mesug Mitchell Manalocon, independent candidate for regional vice-gubernatorial position; Monaoray Saripada, independent candidate for the congressional post in the first district of the province; and Salih Benito, OMPIA party candidate for the congressional post in the second district.

Hataman intends to continue the reform initiatives implemented by his administration in the region focusing on open governance and accountability, peace and security, and socio-economic development.

His running mate, Lucman, expressed support to his programs and also underscored the need for competent vice governor who can step in whenever the governor is not available.

Manalocon, on the other hand, plans for an 'industrialized ARMM' where more income and more job opportunity will be generated for the Bangsamoro. He also wants to develop halal foods and maximize the development of natural resources in the region.

Adiong talked about strengthening the Madaris system saying that every public school in the region should have Ustadz who will be receiving salaries not allowances.

Meanwhile, Saripada said she decided to run so that she can help and support the Framework on Bangsamoro while Benito said he will promote and improve Islamic education system should he be elected.

The two-day forum, held at Social Hall of the 103rd Infantry Brigade in Kampo Ranao, was spearheaded by Citizens CARE in partnership with Task Force Kasalimbago.

Salic Ibrahim, provincial chairperson of the Citizens-Care, said the forum was aimed to help the public choose the right and responsible leaders.

We have observed in the previous elections that voters choose their leaders based on the influence of their friends and families, as well as clan votes and candidates money.

He said the Citizens-CARE and the Task Force Kasalimbago wanted this scenario to change by helping the voters decide based on the platforms of the candidates and through continuous voters education. (APB/PIA-10)