16 Jan 2010 |
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By Samira Gutoc , YMPN (14-16-Jan-2010) HELP HAITI! The world helped us when ONDOY displaced thousands. Now it’s HAITI’s time. This time, prepare for earthquakes. After a year of flood evacuations, we must prepare to handle a HAITI-scenario as parts of the country feel the LINDOL. Inquirer Archives says a 7.2 magnitude earthquake predicted to hit Metro Manila could kill up to 33,000 people and injure 114,000 others if NO adequate preparations are made. It could damage 38 percent of residential buildings, 30 to 35 percent of all public buildings. A THIRD of Haiti’s 9 million people are said to be affected by Tuesday 7.0 magnitude earthquake that left most of the capital Port-au-Prince in rubble. Much ado about appointing the Chief Justice! How about ADO for the detainees with no lawyers in the Public Attorney’s Offices (PAO) nationwide? I am still working on a NO PLASTIC lifestyle. Problem is , stores continue to hand you goods in plastic. I would have to bring my own plastic next time or just plainly take the goods without a plastic bag. More computers = less violence. Security forces say they will be less burdened this automated elections because during counting, there are no more ballots to be transferred , less employment of mobile personnel. Good news. A KILO a Chicken’s price will go down by 6.50 pesos next month, says the Philippine Association of Supermarkets. Bad news, INSTANT NOODLES’ prices will rise 3- 5% . Tsk, tsk. Trouble over religion in a supposed multi-faith Malaysia broke out after a High Court decided on December 31to lift a government bank on non-Muslims using “Allah” as translation for “God.” Since then, churches have been reported to have been hit with cocktails, splashed with black paint and had windows smashed with stones. Another warning on a China-made product. TOYS containing cadmium in kids’ jewelry were found to have high levels of toxicity. When the 14th Congress resumes session on January 18, it will only have three weeks left to work before February 9 when it adjourns. Up for bicameral deliberations are the Expanded Senior Citizens’ Act, .the Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities, the Freedom of Information Act. They will also have to decided on general elections to be held AHEAD in Maguindanao. Executive Order 850 lowering the tariff on imported petroleum products to ZERO percent signed last December 23 brings down tariffs of nearly ALL remaining goods sourced from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to zero percent. The 3rd National Ulama Summit is on at the Waterfront, Davao City on January 24-29. Hollywood’s number 2 top movie Sherlock HOLMES reminds me of my pocket-book fanatic highschool days. I have been a collector of Holmes books and dozens of mysteries by Agatha Christie. While South Korea announces the $ 14.6 billion building of a science and education hub, the Philippines continues to ignore the lobby for building a Department of Information and Communications Technology. Cebu Pacific offers 999 peso tickets for the SUMMER! The Philippine National Police (PNP) identified some 558 cities and municipalities as ELECTION HOTSPOTS. Some 118 of them are in the ARMM.
The PNP recalled to headquarters 1,600 policemen serving as SECURITY escorts to very important persons (VIPs) including government officials , private individuals and politicians in compliance with a Commission on Elections (COMELEC) resolution. Diversify sources of economic growth, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) advises the Philippines, referring to the over-reliance on remittances.
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