Photo #1
DA, DAR sign MOU to empower women under Gender Responsive Economic Action for the Transformation of Women (GREAT Women Project)
Department of Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala (left) and Remedios I. Rikken (center), Chairperson Philippine Commission on Women, and Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Virgilio Delos Reyes (right), sign the memorandum of understanding for the economic empowerment... [Read more...]
Photo #2
DAP-PMDP tradition of excellence
Former Presidential Management Staff (PMS) Secretary Aniceto M. Sobrepena (right), an alumnus of the National Government Career Executive Service Development Program, passes the tradition of excellence — a molave plant — to Gilbert T. Sadsad of the Department of Education... [Read more...]
Photo #3
Congressional spouses send 100 female scholars to college
The Congressional Spouses Foundation Inc. (CSFI), headed by Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte (6th from left, upper photo), presents a symbolic check to 100 deserving underprivileged high school graduates chosen by the CSFI from around the country as its college scholars in... [Read more...]
Photo #4
Quezon Ave.-Araneta Ave. interchange project nearing completion
The Department of Public works and Highways (DPWH) is rushing the completion of the Quezon Ave.-Araneta Ave. interchange project near the Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City to help decongest traffic along major thoroughfares in Metro Manila. The project involves the construction... [Read more...]
Photo #5
SSS bloodletting activity
Social Security System (SSS) employees donate blood during a bloodletting activity held in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) at the SSS main office in Diliman, Quezon City. The event was spearheaded by the SSS Health Care Department (HCD) with the support of the... [Read more...]
National
Aquino leads Commission on Higher Education’s 18th Year Founding Anniversary
MANILA, May 17 — President Benigno S. Aquino III led Thursday the officers and employees of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in commemorating its 18th Year Founding Anniversary in ceremonies held at its headquarters in Diliman, Quezon City.
AFP Western Command chief wants more frigates
MANILA, May 17 – Armed Forces of the Philippine (AFP) Western Command chief Lt. Gen Juancho Sabban wants more frigates, reconnaissance planes, and radars so that the country's sovereignty can be fully established and protected.
President Aquino receives UN official in Malacanang
MANILA, May 17 — Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, the Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), paid a courtesy call on President Benigno S. Aquino III in Malacanang on Thursday to convey his support to the government’s population management program.
Foreign
China to boost cooperation with UNDP
BEIJING, May 17 — Premier Wen Jiabao said Thursday China will cooperate more closely with the United Nations Development Program.
U.S. ambassador to Israel: Talks preferred, but "ready to strike Iran"
JERUSALEM, May 17 — US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro said his nation's military has completed the necessary preparations to launch an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities in the event international sanctions and diplomacy fail, The Jerusalem Post reported Thursday.
Mladic trial indefinitely suspended due to prosecution mistake
THE HAGUE, May 17 — The trial against former Bosnian Serb army commander Ratko Mladic has been indefinitely suspended due to procedural mistakes in the disclosure of evidence, judge Alphons Orie said Thursday.
Sports & Entertainment
S'pore Sports Institute to tap Asian network to help athletes
SINGAPORE, May 17 — Team Singapore athletes preparing for the 2016 Olympics in Rio and beyond will get more support, local TV Channel NewsAsia reported Thursday.
Samara fans to picket world cup delegation
MOSCOW, May 17 — The FIFA delegation assessing Russia’s World Cup 2018 candidate cities will be picketed by keen fans when it arrives in Samara next month, the local Krylya Sovetov football club said Thursday.
Powerful Sharapova among global elite – Forbes
MOSCOW, May 17 — World No. 2 tennis player Maria Sharapova's star has risen even further over the past year to make her the world's 71st most powerful celebrity, Forbes magazine said Thursday.
Travel & Tourism
Tourism establishments in Davao urged to submit occupancy rates, schedules
DAVAO CITY, May 17 -– The city's tourism official is urging hotel owners and other tourism establishments to furnish the Davao City Tourism office and the Dept. of Tourism regional office their occupancy rates and schedules of conventions, meetings, and other tourism related activities on a regular basis.
New 760-hectare estate resorts in Davao del Norte opens door to the public
By Digna D. Banzon
MADAUM, Davao del Norte, May 17 -– A newly-opened 760-hectare Hijo Estate Resorts, a mix-use tourist development along the Davao Gulf in Madaum, is now open to the public.
Regular flights launched between Seoul, China's Shijiazhuang
SHIJIAZHUANG, May 17 — Jin Air, a low-cost airline of South Korea, will launch regular flights between Seoul and Shijiazhuang city in northern China's Hebei province on June 20.
Health & Lifestyle
New WHO statistics highlight increases in blood pressure and diabetes, other noncommunicable risk factors
MANILA, May 17 — One in three adults worldwide has high blood pressure – a condition that causes around half of all deaths from stroke and heart disease. One in 10 adults has diabetes, according to the World Health Statistic 2012 report.
AIDS Candlelight Memorial held in Zambo
ZAMBOANGA CITY, May 17 – The city government, through the City Health Office, spearheaded on Wednesday night the AIDS candlelight memorial at the R.T. Lim Blvd. in memory of those who passed away due to the dreaded Human Immuno Virus-Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV-AIDS).
DOH targets not more than 100,000 dengue cases for 2012
MANILA, May 17 — The Department of Health (DOH) is targeting not more 100,000 dengue cases for 2012 or 40 percent down to the figure last year as it continue to strictly implement its action plans and anti-dengue strategies.
Provincial
DENR pursues return of missing river portion in Iloilo
ILOILO CITY, May 17 -– The Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources is asking the Sangguniang Bayan of Oton, Iloilo to issue an ordinance for dike demolition to resurrect a missing portion of the Iloilo River.
BFAR donates P1.250M to Iloilo for purchase of patrol boat
ILOILO CITY, May 17 -– The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources turned over Thursday a check worth P1.250 million for the procurement of Bantay Dagat patrol boat for the province of Iloilo.
Lobregat orders massive anti-dengue fumigation in schools to stop dengue epidemic
ZAMBOANGA CITY, May 17 -– The local government unit has ordered the city health office to conduct fumigation in private and public schools before the opening of classes on June 4 to stop the dengue epidemic here.
Business
Eurozone at crossroads of "make up or break up": British PM
LONDON, May 17 — British Prime Minister David Cameron Thursday warned about the critical situation of the eurozone, and called on European leaders to sort out the present crisis.
SM Prime Holdings eyes 5 more projects in China
MANILA, May 17 -– SM Prime Holdings has lined up five additional projects in China to further boost its operations overseas.
Economist eyes 5.3% GDP growth for PHL in Q1 ‘12
MANILA, May 17 -– An economist projects a 5.3 percent expansion for the domestic economy in the first quarter of 2012.
Agri-Business
Infrastructure, key to staples sufficiency program -– Alcala
MANILA, May 17 -– Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said the key to attain staples sufficiency are the improvement and construction of farm-to-market roads, irrigation and post-harvest facilities.
Drought hits 50,000ha of crop
HA NOI, May 17 -– A drought has affected nearly 50,000ha of crops nationwide, says Dang Duy Hien of the General Department of Irrigation under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
New Zealand, Australian farmers seek voice in global agriculture forum
WELLINGTON, May 17 — Organizations representing New Zealand and Australian farmers announced Thursday they will apply to join the World Farmers' Organization (WFO) in order to influence global trade and agriculture policies.
Features
Police move in on Occupy Campers at New Site
By David Burghardt
MOSCOW, May 17 — In just under two hours after being evicted by riot police in the early morning hours of Wednesday from an Occupy-type tent protest in Moscow, anti-Putin protesters moved their camp to another central park to continue their stand against President Vladimir Putin’s return to the Kremlin.
News Analysis: Afghanistan to top agenda of Chicago NATO summit
By Matthew Rusling
WASHINGTON, May 17 — The U.S. war in Afghanistan is expected to dominate the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit to be held in the U.S. city of Chicago this weekend, analysts said.
Saving hard-earned OFW income for investments
By Geneve Baligad
MANILA, May 16 – A family that prudently saves the earnings of its overseas family worker will have an easier time managing its resources, even if the amount isn't so grand.