Dateline Philippines

Battles must still be fought, Ramos reminds war veterans

Thursday, 12 November 2009 07:26 Jerry Esplanada/Inquirer.net

MANILA - “Old soldiers cannot just fade away. For there are battles that they still must fight—against injustice, bad governance, poverty and corruption.”

The call was made by former President Fidel V. Ramos, the keynote speaker during Wednesday’s US Veterans’ Day rites at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City.

Mayon sends ash falling on Albay towns, villages

Thursday, 12 November 2009 07:24 Rey Nasol/Inquirer.net

LEGAZPI CITY - Restive Mayon Volcano blew ash into the air and into towns that are near it early Wednesday, according to volcanologists.

Alex Baloloy, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) science research analyst, said the mild explosion was a clear sign that magma was rising in the volcano’s crater.

RP IT spending to reach US$580M in 2011

Thursday, 12 November 2009 07:22 Alexander Villafania/Inquirer.net

MANILA - The Philippines public sector information technology spending is expected to be worth US$580 million in 2011, according to a report by IT research firm Springboard Research. Public sector IT expenditures also include budgets for government IT projects.

This growth is pegged on the continuation of government IT projects, as well as a robust political environment that prioritizes public necessity and transparency, something that is found wanting among past controversial IT projects, such as the failed ZTE-NBN project and the much-maligned election computerization in 2004.

Mayon Volcano erupts

Wednesday, 11 November 2009 07:02 Rey Nasol/Inquirer.net

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LEGAZPI CITY - The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology recorded an ash explosion in Mayon Volcano early Wednesday, which caused ash fall in Albay towns located southwest and northwest of the volcano.

"The explosion, which occurred at around 1:58 a.m., is a clear sign of magma intrusion toward the summit crater of the volcano," said Alex Baloloy, Phivolcs science research analyst.

Malacañang ready for Arroyo impeachment

Wednesday, 11 November 2009 07:00 Abigail Kwok/Inquirer.net

MANILA – Malacañang said Wednesday that it was ready against any moves to impeach President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, even as an official stressed that the Senate blue ribbon committee report did not cite specific violations committed by the President.

“Maraming attempts to impeach [the President]. Alam natin na hind ito nagtagumpay because it was all hearsay kasi walang naipakitang ebidensiya. Sa palagay namin, kung merong attempt na another impeachment against her then we will be ready for that [There are many attempts to impeach the President. We know that they’ve not succeeded because it was all hearsay and no evidence was presented. We think that if there is an attempt to impeach the President, we will be ready for that],” said deputy spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo in a press briefing aired over government radio Radyo ng Bayan.