US pushing UN status for gay rights group

EDITH M. LEDERER Associated Press Writer= UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The Obama administration and 14 members of the U.S. Congress are urging the U.N.

US, Philippines rethink anti-terror tactics

Sex education now a reality

MANILA, Philippines—Besides worrying about classroom shortages, textbook errors, and large classes, some teachers will now also have to worry about teaching sex education as more than 23 million students go back to schools on Tuesday. Despite opposition from the Catholic Church and some parents, the Department of Education (DepEd) will push through this school year with the pilot-testing of sex education in 80 elementary schools and 79 high schools around the country. The DepEd has been teaching sex education before as it was integrated in other subjects like Biology, but this time the Church is protesting a specific project of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to introduce the…

Manny Pacquiao named Fighter of the Year for third time

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Abu Sayyaf, MILF, NPA named as using child warriors Glitches traced to birthing pains –>

BY GERARD NAVAL THREE rebel groups based in the Philippines were among those named by the United Nations as the most persistent violators of laws against using children in armed conflicts, marking the first time that the international body identified the groups. The UN said the Abu Sayyaf bandit group, the…

Food-for-work program set for flood victims

MANILA, Philippines—As the onset of the rainy season nears, typhoon victims will be encouraged to help in rebuilding their devastated communities through the Food-for-Work program implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). In a recent statement, acting…

Try Facebook, UCCP pastors urged

DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Philippines — Is this the end to the time-tested three-point sermons?

School fee hike in Philippines weighs on families

Manila: With the new academic year round the corner in Philippines, parents, including those working abroad, are left with no option but to bear the rising cost of education. “Tuition fee increases in schools and universities are adding to our already heavy burden as prices of food, fuel, water and…

Droughts

AFTER THE DEVASTATING FLOODS OF SEPTEMBER and October last year, the nation now faces a severe drought. A recent Inquirer story said it all: ‘El Niño drying up farms. From North to South, farmers try to survive.’ As of the latest count, at least 11 provinces have been severely hit by the weather phenomenon that is being blamed for the blistering dry spell that has hit Asia and Australia and the intense blizzards in the United States.

Unilab breaks into P400-M drug mart

MANILA, Philippines—Local drug firm United Laboratories Inc.

Latin America distances itself from US on drug war

focus 02/11/2010 LIMA — Latin America is shifting focus in counter-drug strategies, moving away from a US strategy of a “war on drugs” that is widely seen as having failed, experts here said. Researchers from Latin America, the United States and Europe agreed that the debate is now centered on a search for local solutions rather than the broader policing strategy long dictated from Washington. “There is an awareness that continuing to do what we have been doing does not work,” said Ricardo Soberon, a Peruvian expert

RP to get $3M from UN crisis fund

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines stands to receive $3 million from the United Nations to boost its humanitarian response to underfunded emergencies. The amount is part of the $100 million which the UN allocated early this week as assistance to 14 ongoing but underfunded emergencies, ranging from Afghanistan to Yemen, where people…

Binay hits Palace over Cavite rail project

SAN PEDRO, Laguna, Philippines—Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, United Opposition vice presidential candidate, said Saturday he believes Malacañang’s decision to shelve the Cavite rail project was political retaliation against local officials who had turned against the administration. ‘Clearly, it is an example of vindictive politics.

Gov’t to tap military reservists for disaster missions

LUCENA CITY – The government plans to tap the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Reserve Corps for ready deployment in case of calamities and natural disasters, Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales has announced. ‘It’s very important that this organization of reservists become more and more prominent

U.S. challenges Philippine taxes on alcohol at WTO

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States on Thursday filed a World Trade Organization challenge against Philippine excise taxes on alcohol that it said discriminate against U.S.-made brands. “We are going to the WTO today because we want to ensure that U.S. producers have access to their markets overseas,”…

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