Archive for December 21st, 2012

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—Environment Secretary Ramon Paje should withdraw the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) issued to a consortium of energy firms that wants to build a coal-fired power plant here and instead support efforts to expand a power plant in Masinloc town to protect Subic Bay, said Zambales Vice Gov. Ramon Lacbain II.

“Paje should not sacrifice the environment and tourism potential of Subic Bay by supporting the coal plant project of RP Energy. Instead, he should assist the Zambales government in talks about the expansion of the coal-fired power plant in Masinloc,” Lacbain added.

He said Paje should order the immediate withdrawal of th…Keep on reading: Paje urged to expand coal plant in Masinloc
Source: Inquirer.net

MANILA, Philippines—The Senate has passed 87 of its own bills and 234 from the House of Representatives during the 15th Congress’ third regular session that started in July.

A total of 179 “national and local” measures have been signed into law since the start of the Third Regular Session in July 2012, according to Senate records.

They include priority measures of the Aquino administration, such as the P2.006-trillion national budget for 2013, the five-year P249-billion sin tax reform law, and the reproductive health bill that President Aquino is expected to sign into law before 2013.

But the third set of amendments to the Anti-Money Launder…Keep on reading: 87 Senate bills passed
Source: Inquirer.net

ILOILO CITY—Battling cold winds and rampaging waves while praying for help to come, three Australia-based foreigners survived two days clinging to a capsized boat until they were rescued off the waters of Oriental Mindoro on Thursday.

German tourists Ralf Harald Auer, 54, his son Thomas and Australian family friend Joshua Marsh, both 20 years old, were rescued Thursday by a passing freighter which took them to the central port of Iloilo, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) officer Venerando Celiz said.

“They were our last hope. We knew we couldn’t survive another day,” said Auer a few hours after they arrived on Friday in Iloilo, where the ship that picked them…Keep on reading: 3 tourists barely survive 2-day sea ordeal
Source: Inquirer.net

MANILA, Philippines—Emerenciana Yuvienco Arcellana died early Friday of liver failure arising from hepatic encephalopathy at a Quezon City hospital. She was 88.

Arcellana was born in Corregidor on Jan. 23, 1924, and was educated in the public schools. She graduated from Rizal High School before the Pacific War and entered the University of the Philippines, at the time based in Padre Faura.

She obtained one of the highest grade point averages in the history of the university, graduating summa cum laude with a degree in political science after the war. She joined the faculty and rose to the rank of full professor, and also served the university as dean of its Gr…Keep on reading: Emy Y. Arcellana; 88
Source: Inquirer.net