Natural makes mark in age of synthetics. Arroyo, in piña ensemble, hands 2008 ASEAN Outstanding Scientist and Technologist award to Dr. Cesar Saloma of the University of the Philippines.
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Bishops join call
for review of VAT Palace: Point noted, but final
decision is with Congress
BY GERARD NAVAL
THE Catholic Bishops Conference of the
Philippines yesterday called for a review of the government's
economic policies in the light of escalation of prices of oil
and basic commodities.
Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, CBCP
president, said the poor bear the brunt of high prices.
Asked at a press conference at the San Carlos
Seminary in Makati City whether they are looking at repeal of
the oil deregulation law, as various sectors have been calling
for, Lagdameo said: "Siguro yun ang dapat natin pag-aralan, yung
oil deregulation na pinalabas nung una pa. Pero kinakailangan
pag-aralan mabuti yan."
OFFICIALS of the Philippine Atmospheric
Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa)
were placed in the hot seat as the House inquiry on the MV
Princess of the Stars tragedy off Sibuyan island last June 21
went underway yesterday.
The joint probe was conducted by the
transportation and oversight committees chaired by Bacolod Rep.
Monico Puentevella and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez.
Parañaque City Rep. Roilo Golez questioned
the weather bureau's failure to issue a bulletin the moment
typhoon "Frank" deviated from its earlier forecasted northerly
direction to a northwesterly heading that brought it in the path
of the passenger vessel.
SULPICIO Lines yesterday asked the Manila
regional trial court to stop the Board of Marine Inquiry from
continuing its investigation on the MV Princess of the Stars
tragedy last June 21 and likewise filed a civil case against its
members.
Respondents in the civil case were BMI
chairman Rear Admiral Ramon Liwag, Chief Engineers Bonifacio
Balentic, Diosdado Ramos, Retired Masters Marine Capt. Benjamin
Mata and Amado Romillo, Cmdr. Atty. Ramon Reblora, and Coast
Guard commandant Vice Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo.
Sulpicio also sought the defendants to pay,
jointly or severally, P500,000 for moral damages, P100,000 for
attorney's fees, plus litigation expenses of P50,000 and the
costs of suit.
