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VOL.5 ISSUE 84 • JUNE 29 - 30, 2012
DaLight apologizes Under Pres. Aquino for power outage Rights group says abuses go unpunished
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AVAo light & Power Company apologizes for the power outage yesterday, which has affected the customers in most part of its Davao City franchise area. the power interruption which started at 10:53 Am resulted after a technical problem occurred at the national Grid Corporation of the Philippines’ (nGCP) substation in new loon, mintal according to the transmission operator. the problem at nGCP’s substation sent the electric distribution company’s subtransmission lines to trip namely, eRA 1 & 2, Davao and tagum. this has resulted to a no power supply situation in the entire downtown area going to the northern areas up to Panacan and areas in the south going to Bago Aplaya and to Calinan. Davao light immediately implemented its contingency measures, and within minutes power supply were re-
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ceived from its embedded power sources, the standby Power Plant in Bajada and Hedcor’s sibulan Hydro power plant. Also, to lessen the duration of the power interruption in the affected areas, loads were transferred to nearby lines. Gradual restoration of power supply started at 11:22 Am in downtown and northern areas and at 12:09 Pm in the southern areas. eventually, power in all areas was fully restored at 12:50 Pm. However, a short power interruption was experienced, again by the affected customers to facilitate the normalization or return of loads back to its normal set-up after the repairs at nGCP substation were done. Although the power outage was beyond, Davao light’s control, it expressed its deepest apology to its customers for the inconvenience that they experienced.
ResIDent Benigno s. Aquino III has failed to fulfill his promise to hold accountable the security forces responsible for serious abuses since taking office two years ago, Human Rights Watch said yesterday. In a statement issued days before he enters his third year in office, Human Rights Watch said Aquino “has not successfully prosecuted a single case of extrajudicial killing or enforced disappearance, including those committed during his presidency.” Upon assuming the presidency, Aquino gave “marching orders” to the Justice department to “begin the process of providing true and complete justice for all. Five months later, at an event to commemorate human rights, he said that, ‘the culture of silence, injustice and impunity that once reigned is now a thing of the past’,” the new York-based human rights monitor said.
to stay the demolition, the mayor punched him several times on the head which was recorded by media cameras, especially television, which were there to cover the demolition. Footage of the punching incident went viral and attracted instant national and international attention to Davao City putting in on a defensive mode. In reaction, many Dabawenyos wore green ribbons and attached these on vehicles and public places signifying their support of their mayor’s action. However, in reply to a question from media, the mayor said she would not apologize to Judge Carpio who issued the demolition order. “Dili. Dili gyud (no, never!),” she said. tough the mayor told edge Davao that she needs to be tough. “my role in this world, starting from my family, is to be a trouble shooter, and I learned in this role there’s no time to cry, only to take charge when needed,” she said. she expanded her earlier statement that the situation in her family taught her how to handle problems decisively.
“I come from a broken family. Usually, when there are issues, I don’t know why but they (family members) come to me,” she said. “I got used to taking charge of things. I think that’s what influences me most as a mayor,” she added. In memoriam meanwhile, the city is also holding memorial services for the flood victims in matina Pangi. Yesterday, Barangay matina Crossing captain Joel santes headed a tree planting ceremony while a mass is set today. “since majority of the victims who died lived there, we will be holding a mass to pray for them,” the mayor said. Duterte-Carpio added these barangays which suffered flooding are better equipped. “It is regrettable that if there was only an early warning system, what happened would have been avoided. But after that, the barangay is better equipped. they’re already on alert at the slightest rain,” she said. the barangays of matina Pangi, matina Aplaya, matina Crossing, talomo Proper, and maa are areas in the path of the Pangi River which overflowed at the time due to heavy rains.
It added that during his 2011 state of the nation
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Aplaya, matina Crossing, talomo Proper, and maa were placed under a state of calamity following flash floods triggered by torrential rain which destroyed dozens of houses, killing at least 30 people, mostly children. then on July 1, 2011, the houses of more than 200 illegal settlers in Barangay soliman, Agdao district, this city, were set for demolition by a court order issued by Judge emmanuel Carpio of RtC 11 Branch 16. the mayor who was then attending to flood victims, requested sheriff Andres through via phone call for a two-hour reprieve and to wait for her to witness the demolition as provided by law. Andres, however, ordered the demolition team to do its task according to the schedule given by Judge Carpio. that triggered a clash between residents, policemen and the demolition team, several of whom were injured. In the midst of the chaos, Duterte-Carpio arrived in Barangay soliman and immediately calmed down the residents and restrained the policemen and demolition team. Fuming mad that Andres had not acceded to her request
Address, Aquino reiterated this commitment, saying, “We are aware that the attainment of true justice does not end in the filing of cases, but in the conviction of criminals.” elaine Pearson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said “concrete measures – rather than more promises – are needed now.” “As President Aquino himself pointed out, the conviction of those implicated in abuses is the true test of his commitment to his promise,” Pearson said. “so the government needs to move beyond simply identifying suspects and obtaining warrants to actually apprehending the suspects and putting them on trial.” the group said it has also monitored progress on cases of killings and enforced disappearances under the previous administration of Gloria macapagal-Arroyo. However, it noted that if progress
has been made, “it is often because of the perseverance and courage of family members, rather than aggressive action by police and prosecutors.” Human Rights Watch cited the 2006 disappearance of two university students, Karen Cadapan and sherlyn empeno, where family action was crucial in bringing the two soldiers to trial for their kidnapping and illegal detention. “the trial for the two soldiers started in may. However, the men are not in civilian custody but are being held in a military camp. two others implicated in the students’ disappearance, including retired maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, the commander in the area at the time, have evaded arrest,” it said. Philippine human rights groups have called Palparan “the Butcher” for his alleged role in several extrajudicial killings and “disappearances” of
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gadgets similar to credit card swipe machines in participating taxi units. Instead of credit cards, China Ban Atm card will be used. However, Atm cards of depositors of banks affiliated with Bancnet and megalink may also be used. Crisostomo said in the future, it is possible that credit cards can also be used. He said piloting the project in Davao City is ideal due to the good reputation of taxi drivers here of giving back the exact change to passengers, unlike in other urban centers wherein taxi drivers expect tips from passengers instead.
will be devoted to outreach and research, respectively. The 9th and 10th floors of the community center will be allotted for sleeping quarters of the university’s guests and the Jesuits, with the guests occupying the 9th floor and the Jesuits occupying the 10th. solar panels will be placed on the community center’s roof deck to power the lighting of the building and ceiling fans for the ventilation of the entire building. A communications tower will also be present on the building’s roof. Another feature of the community center will be the new Chapel of the university, as the old one is set to be demol-
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Z package...
FFROM 3 cancer patient, the package is P100,000 also for the entire course of treatment. For low to intermediate risk prostate cancer, the package is worth P100,000 for the entire course of treatment. this is for male patient age up to 70 years old with localized prostate cancer and has no uncontrolled comorbid conditions. the package for end stage renal disease eligible for kidney transplant (low risk) is P600,000 for the entire course of treatment. this is for patients more than 10 years old but less than 70 years old with single organ transplant. Pague noted that PhilHealth contracted with reference hospitals,
left-wing activists. they are suspecting that the retired general is being coddled by his supporters in the military. “the number of killings and disappearances implicating the military has gone down under the Aquino administration, but they continue,” Human Rights Watch said. last month, the country’s human rights record was scrutinized at the United nations Human Rights Council in Geneva during its Universal Periodic Review. several countries – including the United states, Australia, Germany, the United Kingdom, spain, the netherlands, and the Holy see – raised alarm over the continuing killings, enforced disappearances, and torture. During the sessions, several countries urged the Aquino administration to end impunity for these abuses. [h. MARcOS c. MORdeNO / MINdANeWS]
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which are carefully chosen according to the critical mass of patients with these identified types of cancer, and based on the standard cost. In the Davao region, the reference hospitals are the southern Philippines medical Center and Davao Regional Hospital only. However, he mentioned that private hospitals may facilitate beneficiaries of case type Z but they should follow the PhilHealth rules of “no balance billing”. Also at the Club 888 forum, Johanna t. Blason, PhilHealth 11 social insurance officer III, said high survival rate from these cases is one of the objectives of this benefit package, as well as to en-
ished to give way to the new structures. the new buildings will be made mostly of steel and glass. ong explained the recyclability and reusability of steel as one of the factors in its usage in the building, and the heavy use of glass as a safety measure as they would help stop the spread of fire in the case of an emergency. Demolition of the buildings currently taking up the space of the proposed buildings will take place sometime next month. ong says that he estimates the construction of the two buildings to be completed within 18 to 24 months’ time.
sure total care from diagnosis to treatment. the universal health care program of PhilHealth, she said, aims to achieve member empowerment that he or she should be well-informed about the benefits, treatment, health risks, schedules of visits, and medicines among others. she added that as of December 2011, the region had a total of 1.4 million members, and the rate of membership is at 100 new members per day. Pague said PhilHealth began the preauthorization or validation of patients who can avail of case type Z benefit package last June 21, adding that the formal launching will be on July 18.