NEWS
News and Events that Matter

PEOPLE’S INITIATIVE DUMPED

The Supreme Court voting 8 to 7 has decided against Charter Change through the People’s Initiative represented by supposed 6.3 million signatures or at least 12% of the total number of registered voters in every congressional district in the country pursuant to R.A. 6735. The Supreme Court said there was no indication that the draft proposals for Charter changes were shown to voters before they were asked to sign the petition and the signatures were not verified by the Comelec. It also said that People’s Initiative may only be an acceptable mode for amending the Constitution but what Charter Change proponents actually want is a revision not amendment of the Constitution since the governmental system would be overhauled from the presidential to the parliamentary form. Two more options are, however, left for Charter Change advocates; by the constituent assembly involving incumbent senators and congressmen and by the constitutional convention. President Arroyo has calmly and gracefully accepted the hairline defeat at the Supreme Court but made it clear the Charter Change effort is far from being put to rest.

PEZA INVESTMENTS UP

Director General Lilia B. de Lima disclosed that investments registered with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) for the first ten months this year increased to 37.34 percent compared to the January-October 10 period last year. PEZA registered investments for the period totaled P62.884 billion as against P45.786 billion during the same period last year. The figure represented a total of 351 projects approved for incentives by the PEZA, a clear indication of the improving economy in the country. More than P1 trillion in investments in the country through the PEZA had been recorded according to the Bicolana head of the key government economic agency.

LMP POPULATION DRIVE

The League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) has launched a population management program in an effort to reduce poverty and hunger. According to Mayor Ramon Guico, Jr., LMP national president, more than 1,000 participants in the recent National Summit on Hunger and Population have committed to support the campaign to address rapid population as a means to minimize hunger and poverty.

NPAs ATTACK ALBAY CEMENT PLANT

NPA rebels Sunday, October 29, 2006 tried to torch a cement plant at Camalig, Albay but members of the Army’s 65th Infantry Batallion supported by civilian volunteers thwarted the attack. About 20 heavily armed rebels staged the attack at about 2 o’clock in the morning, arriving at the site in a passenger jeepney. The rebels split into two groups, one attacking the army detachment about 300 meters from the cement plant and the other group proceeding directly to the plant which the NPAs immediately ransacked. The management of the Taiwanese-owned Palanog cement plant had refused to pay revolutionary taxes. The NPAs were led by one Elmer Arevalo, alias Ka Ryan. Lt. Col. Manuel Orduña is commanding officer of the 65th Infantry Batallion.