Philippine Politics

MANILA, Nov 24 — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has accredited the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) as its citizen’s arm for the May 2013 national and local elections.

“The Commission recognizes PPCRV as one of the organizations which has established its membership and structure all over the Philippines and has demonstrated its capacity to promote public interest,” Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said in a statement.

He noted PPCRV’s track record as one of Comelec’s staunch allies in ensuring clean, orderly, peaceful and honest elections.

Since 1992, PPCRV has done poll watching in various precincts and conduct massive voters’ education program in the country through their mass based constituency composed of individuals of voting age and registered voters, with operating chapters based in various parishes nationwide.

In the 2010 elections, its membership has reached 657,000 coming from 3,333 parishes, participating in poll watching and election related activities.

Members and volunteers are tasked to assist the voters on election day especially senior citizens, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, detainees, indigenous peoples and other members of the vulnerable sectors.

Meanwhile, the accreditation entitles the PPCRV to electronic copies of the computerized voters list as well as the fourth copy of the automated election returns.

Source: Philippine Information Agency

The Provincial Government of Quezon, through the initiative of Gov. David “Jayjay” C. Suarez provided 100 units of E-tablets to the students of Quezon Science High School to keep them up with the latest in technology.

Glen Cuya, a second year student from the QSHS was glad that the governor’s promise of giving them E-tablets in his last visit followed through.

Gov. David “Jayjay” C. Suarez Distribute 100 E-Tablets to Quezon Science High School Students

“We hope and pray that you will continue to lead our province towards greater heights. Your program of helping the youth and uplifting the quality of education by spearheading the creation and continuous operation of QSHS is worthy of emulation and adoration,” Daniella Antonia Rivera, a first year student said in a speech.

Gov. Suarez, a member of the National Unity Party, continue his support to programs under the Serbisyong Suarez sa Edukasyon, making sure that their needs to improve performance in their schools will be taken care of.

President Benigno Simeon Aquino III signed into law Republic Act (RA) 10175 otherwise known as Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. The law aims to combat cyber crimes in the country.

Read RA 10175 full text here

The government classified cyber crimes in the Philippines into two categories: Internet Crimes and Commercial Crimes committed with the use of the Internet.

Among the punishable acts under the new law include offenses against the confidentiality, integrity and availability of computer data system, illegal access, illegal interception, data interference, system interference, and misuse of devices.

These also include computer-related offenses such as computer-related forgery, fraud, and identity theft, Valte said, adding that these crimes are rampant in the Internet.

Also punishable under the new law are content-related offenses like cybersex, and child pornography.

The law also punishes unsolicited commercial communications or cyber squatting, she said. Cyber squatting is the acquisition of a person’s domain name in bad faith to profit, mislead, destroy the reputation and deprive others from registering the same.

RA 10175 also punishes libel, this has raised the eyebrows of netizens in the country, Online Libel makes just about anybody on the internet liable when they bash, attack, debase, humiliate or anything of that sort. That might also include cyber-bullying. The law, while it aims to protect the victims of online crimes, can also be used to harass.

This law will serve as a strong warning against hackers, crackers, phishers, online scammers and bullies that their days are finally over.

The government has allocated Php50 million each year to put up this agency to battle these cybercriminals.

The President, Benigno Simeon Aquino III signed Administrative Order No. 29, “Naming the West Philippine Sea of the Republic of the Philippines, and for other purposes.”

“These areas include the Luzon Sea as well as the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal,” declared the President.

The administration of President PNoy started calling South China Sea as West Philippine Sea in March of 2011. This came after Chinese patrol vessels harassed a Philippine vessel and fired accross the bows of Philippines fishing boats in waters within the country’s claim in the Spratly’s group of islands.

President Aquino clarifies that AO 29 covers only “portions of the South China Sea,” “Those waters encompass the Philippines’ 370-kilometers Exclusive Economic Zone.”

The order directs all governmental agencies to use the name West Philippine Sea in all communications, messages and public documents, to popularize the use of the name, both domestically and internationally.

They are also directed to use the official Philippine maps produced and published by Namria showing the West Philippine Sea.

Bulacan Governor Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado of National Unity Party pointed out that with better governance, there will be a better public service.

The Governor pointed this out during the formal opening of the yearly Singkaban Fiesta with its theme: “Lalawigang Huwaran ang Pamahalaan, Tahanan ng Dakilang Lahi, Sentro ng Kasaysayan ng Bansa – Bulacan, sa daigdig ay ibandila!”

“Patuloy nating pinag-iigi ang ating paglilingkod at ang pagkakaloob ng mahusay na pangangasiwa, pagsasaayos ng kapaligiran, pagpapanatili ng kaayusan at kapayaan, pagpapaunlad ng kabuhayan at pagpapayabong sa ating sining at kultura,” he said.

He added that the provincial government also takes priority of the health care of people from Bulacan.

He announced that new additional equipment’s like CT scan, ultrasound, MRI, 2D echo and mammography will soon be available in hospitals.

After the short program, different activities were held during the event such as the Panaderong Bulakenyo showcasing malunggay as the main ingredient for pandesal and the arade that featured floats from private companies. The parade started in Bulacan Sports Complex and ended at the Capitol Grounds.

By afternoon, trophies were awarded to the province of Bulacan for the Outstanding Local Government Unit (LGU), Provincial PESO Partner in Luzon and the National TESDA Kabalikat Award.

Actor Aga Muhlach and 63 other local government officials will swear their allegiance before Liberal Party president Mar Roxas this Friday at the LP National Headquarters in Cubao, LP spokesperson House Deputy Speaker Erin Tañada said Thursday.