The Wutz Up in the Philippines!

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has approved a recommendation declaring a state of calamity in Mindanao, allowing government to use disaster funds to address the power crisis besetting the Philippines’ second-largest island.
This was disclosed on Thursday by Mindanao Development Authority chairman Jesus Dureza, who, until last year, was the Arroyo government’s press secretary.

Dureza made this disclosure while accompanying the President during a visit in Zamboanga del Norte, a separate dzBB radio report said.
Declaring a state of calamity in Mindanao will also allow local government units to use up to five percent of their internal revenue allotments (IRA), which are their share of revenues from the national government.

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MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE) President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is “deeply committed to smooth transition to a new government” and is counting on the Armed Forces of the Philippines “to help us prove that our democracy works for the future of our nation’s children.”

Arroyo made this assurance Wednesday at the formal turnover ceremony of the AFP where newly appointed chief Lieutenant General Delfin Bangit took over from General Victor Ibrado who retired today.

“We remain deeply committed to smooth transition to a new government,” Arroyo said in her speech, maintaining that she made the right decision in choosing Bangit.

“We can count on the AFP to help us prove that our democracy works for the future of our nation’s children,” she said, referring to the national polls on May 10 that will pave the way for a new president.

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A Filipino will battle it out with contenders from Indonesia, Malaysia and Hong Kong for the first-ever “The Biggest Loser Asia” title when the reality television series’ finale takes place on Tuesday.

Professional chef Carlo Miguel, 32, will go against Indonesian David Gurnani, Malaysian Aaron Mokhtar and Martha Lai from Hong Kong.

Miguel had a starting weight of 132 kilograms. His last weigh-in on Week 13 before going into the final was 90 kg.

He belongs to a family of foodies and chefs. His great-grandfather was a pastry chef, his mother is a cook with a catering business while his older brother is a chef as well.

Miguel has cooked in Luke Mangan’s Salt Restaurant and David Rayner’s Vault in Sydney, Australia. At present, he is the executive chef of Sala Bistro and Sala Restaurant in Manila.

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MANILA, Philippines—They came bearing condoms.

Members of a workers group Monday brought the condom debate to the doorstep of Catholic bishops, in a bid to convince the prelates that prophylactics protect the health of women.

Carrying baskets with inflated condoms and flowers, members of Partido ng Manggagawa (PM, Party of Workers) gathered Monday at the gates of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) in Intramuros, Manila, to ask the bishops to bless the rubbers.

But not one of the Catholic bishops was available to meet with PM members. Instead, the group submitted a copy of a position paper supporting the government’s distribution of condoms to curb the spread of HIV-AIDS.

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Communist guerrillas are expected to extort more money from politicians before national elections scheduled for May 10, the Philippine military said Sunday.

In a report issued to journalists, the military said that it had identified the modus operandi of the Communists in extorting what the rebels call “revolutionary taxes” from businesses and that they are more focused on collecting money from politicians in exchange for access to areas controlled or influenced by the rebels.

The commander of the armed forces’ civil relations service, Brig. Gen. Francisco N. Cruz Jr., said in the report that the Communists had even collected “permit to win” fees in exchange for a promise of victory by a candidate. He said those who refused to pay were punished.

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Brownouts in Mindanao worsening

MANILA, Philippines — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo plans to declare a power crisis in Mindanao in the next few days to give the government more leeway in dealing with the worsening supply shortage on the island, Malacañang announced Thursday.

The announcement came as the power supply in the Luzon and Mindanao grids further worsened on Thursday. Since Monday, Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon have been suffering from rotating brownouts.

Ms Arroyo said she concurred with Energy Secretary Angelo T. Reyes on his proposal to declare a crisis and allow the government to contract for generation sets for Mindanao.

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Until March 25, drivers of public utility vehicles (PUVs) such as passenger jeepneys may get some relief from the lowering of fines by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.

Following a meeting with PUV operators, MMDA chairman Oscar Inocentes announced that the penalty for driving without license went down from P300 to P150.

“We understand the sentiments of the drivers, who virtually have to contend with different traffic enforcers and different traffic rules every day,” Inocentes said in an article posted on the MMDA website.

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MANILA, March 4 — Malacanang is challenging its critics to present, for assessment and possible implementation, measures that can help President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo address the country’s power problems.

“They must give solutions and not just attack government,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Charito Planas said.

She noted that people, including the 2010 presidential aspirants, must be pro-active and give their suggestions because merely criticizing and blaming government for the power crisis would not address this problem.

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The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has called for a ban on condom advertisements in public places, in print, and broadcast media, saying these commercials “weaken the moral fiber” of the youth.

The “multi-million dollar condom business… heavily targets the adolescent market, at the expense of morality and family life,” the CBCP said in a statement posted on its website on Wednesday.

The announcement came after the Department of Health distributed condoms last month.

“Condom advertisements should be banned on television, radio, movies, newspapers, magazines, and public places, as they desensitize the youth’s delicate conscience and weaken their moral fiber as future parents,” CBCP president Bishop Nereo Odchimar said in the same statement.

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MANILA, March 3 — It’s now more convenient to apply in Manila for visas to the United Kingdom, with the relocation of the UK Visa Application Centre (VAC) to the EcoPlaza Building at Chino Roces Extension near EDSA in Makati City, the British embassy in Manila announced.

The new location will be inaugurated Wednesday afternoon with embassy Charge d’ Affaires Colin Crorkin and the United Kingdom Border Agency’s Regional Director for Asia Pacific James Sharp officiating.

VAC was formerly accommodated at the difficult-to-access embassy complex at exclusive McKinley Hills in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig city.

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