The Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines has protested light-flyweight Mark Anthony Barriga’s loss against Kazakhstan’s Birzhan Zhakypov.
The Philippines’ lone boxing hope in London lost the match, 17-16, after getting penalized for ducking and headbutting in the third round of the fight. That gave the Kazakh two extra points, making up the difference in the result.
“We felt the referee was a little too quick on the draw on the warning, because the Kazakh was already wrestling Mark to the ground,” said ABAP executive director Ed Picson.
Barriga was leading the fight, 10-8, heading into the third round, when Zhakypov became visibly more aggressive. He wrestled the Filipino fighter to the ground twice early before Barriga without any reaction from Labbe.
“And when the referee finally gave a deduction [for wrestling], it went both ways,” said Picson.
According to AKTV’s Lia Cruz, ABAP will protest the fact that Barriga was warned just once before being penalized, when the Filipino fighter should have been warned three times.
A similar case occurred earlier on Friday, when the United States protested a decision that gave India’s Krishan Vikas a 13-11 victory over American welterweight Errol Spence. In that case, the US said that the Indian should have received two warnings, resulting in an overturn of the result.
Under AIBA Technical & Competition Rules, a protest can be filed by “the Team Leader or by the person having the highest position in the Team Delegation no later than 30 minutes after the completion of the bout.”
Video of the protested fight will be used to render a decision by AIBA. InterAKTV
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Birzhan Zhakypov defeats Mark Anthony Barriga, 17-16
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The Philippines' bet for the London Olympics 2012 lost a fight from Birzhan Zhakypov of Kazakhstan. "Sorry daw sabi ni Barriga sa post-match interview. Kung hindi daw sa deduction nung round 3, baka nanalo. - Report from Lia live in London".
But the hope for the Philippines to win an Olympic medal is still there. Barriga wasn't able to do it but we still commend his courage and determination in representing our country.
On the other side of the story, our government should now start allocating funds for sports development and train our athletes not just to be stellar fighters but to grab the gold for the Olympics.
As of now, the Philippines hasn't tried grabbing a gold medal yet. The all-time high medal received by a Filipino Olympian is silver which was won by Onyok Velasco in boxing event.
We had some scopes from some facebook users on how they reacted with the news.
Note: The comments are raw and unedited. While publishing their opinions, this blog has no intention to infringe rights for privacy. Facebook is a public social media platform and everyone who posts their comments should presume that everyone can read what they have written and that they are public in nature.William: grabe referee, deduct lagi kay Mark Barriga, kitang kita naman na yung Kazakhstan yung dapat binawasan nya ng pt.. hindi talaga patas ang boxing..
Vince Aguirre: Kung cno pa ung laging tinutmba sya pa may deduct imbaness!
Monica D Barbie Minaj: ang pinoy walang pag asa sa sports, pero sa BEAUTY and BRAIN jan tayo panalo.. haha..
Paul Alvin Breganza nadaya ung laban... ulitin yan XD
Paul Alvin Breganza nadaya ung laban... ulitin yan XD
MANILA, Philippines - Clark International Airport in Pampanga was ranked third best airport freezone in the world according to a survey conducted by a magazine published by the Financial Times Business Group of London.
A Palace official welcomed the report, saying the government is working to improve the airport's facilities.
"We welcome the assessment made by the London Financial Times Group. Certainly, we are in the process of improving our airport facilities... That has been the commitment made by Transportation and Communications Secretary Mar Roxas to the President and, therefore, the said agency will exert all its best efforts to improve the facilities of not only Clark but also the other airports," Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said.
FDi Magazine, a bi-monthly news and foreign direct investment publication, recently published its "Global Free Zones of the Future 2012/13" report. In the magazine's report, Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC), which runs the airport, was named the third best freeport airport in the world.
The same magazine ranked Clark Freeport Zone as the 8th best freeport zone in the world, with Dubai Airport Free Zone being named the best. In 2010, Clark Freeport Zone was ranked 7th.
Earlier, the Department of Transportation and Communication said it is financing a P100-million study on the feasibility of turning Clark International Airport into the main international airport of the country. via abs-cbn news
An animated video of the Philippine National Anthem, Lupang Hinirang has been released in celebration of the 2012 Philippine Independence Day. The National Historical Commission of the Philippines and Rock Ed Radio present this fully animated music video of the Philippine National Anthem.
Arnold Arre is the person behind the animation and the directing of this video. This video is a gift for the Filipinos by the NHCP and ROCK ED RADIO this 114th day of Philippine Independence.
Note from Rock Ed Radio: We allow use and downloading of this video especially for purposes of ceremony. Anyone can screen this video as accompaniment to a flag ceremony, a closing rite, etc. If your school, corporation, event, company, family, would like to use this video, we only request that you do so with the proper nod to the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines and that you acknowledge the artists involved in the production of this video. If user of this video is found not abiding by the Heraldic Law, kindly report to the National Historical Commission of the Philippines for proper action.
The worldwide trending topic on twitter after the controversial Pacquiao-Bradley fight is the hash tag #MannyPacquaioIsStillTheWorldsBestBoxer. It was a quite long keyword but twitter netizens tweet it in full blow!
Among the famous Hollywood personalities who expressed disappointment at the recently concluded fight at the MGM Grand Stand in Las Vegas is Katy Perry which appeared to have taken the top tweet spot of that hash tag.
On the other hand, Justine Timberlake, Jessica Biel, and Miley Cyrus also showed their bold stand that Pacquiao should have won the fight.
At the same view, Oscar de la Hoya said that Bradley should have given the belt and announce the victory to Pacquiao after the decision.Oscar de la Hoya has been defeated by Pacquiao before.
Miley Cyrus also tweeted that she agrees with the trending topic on twitter that Pacquiao is the best boxer in the world.
The twitter world has spoken that the people know "who is the real winner."
Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao loses a title over Timothy Bradley at the recently concluded fight at the MGM Grandstand.
A report from Reuters said that the judges may have seen it differently, but post-fight punch statistics show that Manny Pacquiao got the better of Timothy Bradley in their fight Sunday at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.
Statistics from Compubox reveals that Pacquiao landed 190 of 493 shots compared to just 108 of 390 punches for Bradley. Bradley won the fight through a split decision.
Pacquiao said that he was surprised by the fight given by Bradley.
“Manny’s a beast, he’s got fast hands, he hurt me a couple of times in the fight,” said Bradley.
Bradley admitted that he was hurt a couple of times by Pacman's punches.
by Business World Online (bworldonline.com)
THE PHILIPPINE government will be imposing its own fishing ban in Panatag (Scarborough) shoal to improve marine life in the area, President Benigno S.C. Aquino III said yesterday.
The statement came after China’s announcement that it would suspend all fishing activities on portions of West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) from May 16 to Aug. 1 and would include the Panatag shoal.
"Yes," Mr. Aquino told reporters on the sidelines of the Mindanao Rural Development Program Congress held in Davao City when asked if the country will support the ban.
"The BFAR (Bureau of Food and Drugs) is supposed to be using some device that will improve fishing conditions elsewhere for our fishermen from especially in Masinloc, the Zambales area, and some in the Pangasinan area also," he added.
The Foreign Affairs department, however, stressed that the Philippines does "not recognize China’s fishing ban in as much as portions of the ban encompass our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)."
"However, the President has decided that, in view of the accelerated depletion of our marine resources, it would be advisable for us to issue our own fishing ban for a period of time to replenish our fish stock," Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario said in a statement following the President’s pronouncement.
The President added that the fishing ban will "help the ecosystem recover" considering the damage inflicted due to excessive fishing activities in the area.
Tension between the Philippines and China flared up after eight Chinese fishing boats were caught by the BRP Gregorio del Pilar, the Philippines’ biggest warship to date, carrying fish, corals and other endangered species harvested from the shoal. A Chinese maritime surveillance vessel arrived at the scene triggering the standoff early last month.
The Chinese government claims ownership of the Panatag (or Huangyan island in Chinese) although it is just off the coast of Zambales.
Panatag shoal is situated within the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines and is about 750 miles (1,200 kilometers) from China’s nearest point in Hainan.
Last month, the Department of Foreign Affairs said it will bring the dispute to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).
In line with the developing issue that Arnold Clavio's Statement about the Philippine Football Team during the GMA Network's morning show Unang Hirit, the network made a response to the Philippine Football Federation.
According to the letter sent by the network, they have no direct intervention as to the comments of Arnold Clavio on the show and that the comments of the said host does not represent the side of the network.
However, GMA Network tells that they didn't see anything racist, libelous or malicious about the statement of Arnold Clavio because it is his right to voice out his opinions in public being a media personality which is protected by the Constitution.
The network further said that the issue of sexual harassment of the Azkals is a sensitive issue that needs to be given an attention and it is the right as the host to give their comments. GMA added that whether or not they agree with the host's comments, they respect the opinion of the host because it a freedom protected by the law.
The Philippines' largest gold miner said Wednesday it is keen to invest in Myanmar as the former military-ruled state makes tentative political reforms and tries to lure investors with tax breaks.
Philex Mining Corp. has sent representatives to Myanmar in recent weeks to look at opportunities and assess the investment climate, company senior vice-president
Michael Toledo told AFP.
"Myanmar is opening up and a lot of businesses are really looking at that country. We do not want to be left behind," he said.
He said Philex was eyeing metallic minerals and even natural gas in Myanmar, but did not disclose which local companies they were dealing with.
"We are looking at the regulatory framework, the political landscape, how business is run there, who are the people to talk to. This is the regular due diligence that companies do," Toledo said.
The company, which posted a record net income of 5.8 billion pesos ($136 million) in 2011, is also eyeing investments in gold and copper in Indonesia, Toledo said.
He stressed the talks were exploratory and that no commitments had been made.
Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, has embarked on a course of political reform, including the release of democracy icon
Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners.
It has also installed a quasi civilian government, and allowed Suu Kyi to run in parliamentary elections in April.
As a reward and to encourage further opening up, the United States and Europe have began easing economic sanctions imposed on Myanmar for its rights abuses.
The Philippines has called for the sanctions to be lifted entirely.
Myanmar is rich in oil, gas, timber, minerals and gems, and investors are lining up to enter the country as it prepares to further liberalise, officials said.
In January, Myanmar said it planned to offer eight-year tax exemptions to foreign investors to encourage them to enter the country.
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| NPPA Image |
Ralph Recto, who authored the 12% VAT to commodities some eight years ago now wants to revert back the said VAT to 10% now.
According to the Senator, the enforcement of 12% VAT before was due to a "need" as it serves as an economic medicine the past years.
“I believe the prescription for the 12 percent VAT as an economic medicine has expired. It's time to lower the dosage,” Recto said in a statement.
Recto said the revenues being produced by the EVAT can be sufficed by the income of PCSO, PAGCOR and Malampaya.
The Senator added that income from the three government corporations should be included in the national budget instead of being an off-budget subject to the full control of the Office of the President.
According to his statement, Pagcor expects a P45-billion gross income this year while PCSO and Malampaya reported a total P31-billion and P43-billion income, respectively, in 2011.
However, whenever his proposal will be granted, he doubts that oil companies will cut down their price.
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| Photo by Agence France Presse |
In less than a month, three suspected couries of an African Drug Syndicate was nabbed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport with shabu in their luggage and the latest is a 6-month pregnant woman from Guinea, Aisha Camara, 28, carrying 2.7 kilos of Shabu, according to customs collector, Teresita Roque.
The woman arrived from Abu Dhabi on board the Etihad Airways. The Bureau of Immigration’s Travel Control and Enforcement Unit (TCEU) denied the entry of the woman being unable to explain her purpose in coming to Manila.
The TCEU said Camara has no sponsor and does not know anyone in the Philippines. She said she came to the Philippines to seek medical attention for her swollen feet and to know her baby’s gender, but could not present any medical appointment and does not know any hospital in the country, the TCEU said.
Since there was no available seat on the next flight back to Abu Dhabi, the TCEU brought Camara to the Sampaguita lounge to wait for the next available flight.
On Monday night, Camara said she was bleeding and needed to get to a hospital. She was brought to the NAIA clinic, which recommended that she be brought to a hospital.
TCEU personnel suggested that Camara’s luggage go through Customs examination before she is allowed to leave the airport.
The shabu, with a street value of around P17 million, was found sandwiched between layers of thin plastic as wide as the luggage bottom, made to appear like the suitcase’s lining.
Camara denied knowing about the shabu, saying a man at the Guinea airport, knowing that she is pregnant, offered to check in her luggage and clear her passport at the check-in counter.
Airport officials noted similarities in the manner the shabu was hidden in Camara’s luggage to two alleged couriers arrested at NAIA recently.
Last Feb. 27, Kenyan Lina Aching Noah was caught bringing in 9.3 kilos of shabu with an estimated street value of P45 million.
On March 3, Ugandan Josephine Balikuddembe, 54, was caught with 4.5 kilos of shabu, valued at P22.5 million. She came from Mali, then went to Dubai before coming to Manila.– With Reinir Padua - By Rudy Santos (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)
Philippine Daily Inquirer, apologizes before the public for publishing photos on their front page that offended their readers.
The man in the controversial front page photo is Demetrio Vicente, a witness for the defense team of the Corona impeachment trial.
“It has come to our attention that our photo of witness Demetrio Vicente on our front page today has offended some of our readers. For this we sincerely apologize. It was not our intention to disparage Mr. Vicente in any way,” Inquirer said on its official Facebook account.
The front page photo featured four (4) photos of Demetrio Vicente in a not-so-good poses with the caption: Character witness: The many faces of Demetrio Vicente on the witness stand. He’s no ordinary witness after all. He’s the cousin of the Chief Justice whose wife sold him seven parcels of land in 1990, where he now grows bonsai.
The photos show asymmetry in his face which is the result stroke, he previously undergone with. Vicente even apologized before the senate for being not able to talk clearly because of his condition.
After the photo gone viral on the web, netizens didn't find the photos on the front page good and they claim it to be insensitive, malicious, etc.
Inquirer replied in one of the comments posted on social networking site Twitter, saying “the point was we didn’t find it funny nor was it our intention to make fun. Those were the only photos available.”
Media watchdog Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility deemed that Inquirer violated their own rules and it was a violation of the ethical mandates of responsible journalism.
The GMA TV Host and News anchor Arnold Clavio is being bombarded by many criticisms from netizens due to his allegedly irresponsible comments about the Philippine Football Team Azkals.
Clavio, on a segment on GMA's morning show Unang Hirit, released comments about the sexual harrasment issue being faced by some of the members of Azkals. Netizens regard the comments of Clavio as racist.
“Hindi ko kaya ka-kultura, kasi wala dito (points to his heart) at wala dito (points to his head),” Clavio said.
“Hindi naman kayo Pilipino, nagpapanggap lang kayong kayumanggi, hindi kayo dito lumaki, mahirap iyun.”
“Hiwalay naman ito sa kanilang ginagawang pakikipaglaban, kaya good luck na lang sa inyong susunod na laban,” added Clavio.
His comments that some members of the Azkals are not Filipinos ignited the fire of discussion in the social networking sites. Some famous personalities also gave Clavio a response.
Actress Angel Locsin, the reported girlfriend of Azkals star striker Phil Younghusband, also gave her insights.
“I think Arnold Clavio’s a good person. But this time, sobrang foul lang. That’s his opinion. This is mine. Madali lang sumira ng reputasyon, mahirap ibalik. Konting sensitivity lang sana,” she wrote on her Twitter account.
“I can attest that all the players participating in the AFC Challenge cup are all FILIPINOS by blood. They have their Philippine passport and FILIPINO parent to prove that! FILIPINO CITIZENSHIP is by blood and not birth. Once a Filipino, always a FILIPINO!” wrote Nierras in the Philippine Football Federation’s Facebook group.
On this issue, Arnold Clavio was just exercising his freedom of speech as a media man but it seemed that it hurt a lot of Filipinos, Azkals fans and the Azkals themselves.
I can see a point with the statement of Clavio that Azkals does not carry the Filipino culture because as we all know they grew up outside the country.
Do you think Clavio was irresponsible enough on the ground of being a media man and a commentarist or people are just reacting indecisively because truth hurts? What do you think?
Major citiies in Mindanao are set to make a history as officials of these cities are preparing to join the Earth Hour 2012. The city participants are sending thousands of biodegradable lanterns to the air for the mass switching off of lights from industrial plants, business establishments and households from 7:30-8:30 pm this March 31, 2012.
Participating cities include Cagayan de Oro, Surigao, Davao and Butuan. Earth Hour is a global environmental initiative spearheaded by the World Wildlife Fund and Leo Burnett which began on 2007 until it reached 1.8 billion participating people from 135 countries in 2011 earning the claim to be the largest campaign for the planet in the world!
Earth Hour started in the Philippines in 2008. With over 18 million participants, it has emerged to be one of the largest events in the country.
Officials in this region's frontier city led by Cagayan de Oro Mayor Vicente Y. Emano are preparing for this big event.
Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante, Jr. and Surigao City Mayor Ernesto T. Matugas are also spearheading the big event in their respective cities.
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| Photo by REUTERS |
The lady senator Miriam Santiago is facing a complaint filed by human rights group called Born Free Coalition for Truth & Justice and Raphael Intelligence and Safety Provider, Inc.
According to the complainants, Santiago is "exceeding the bounds of propriety, good manners and right conduct in her public tirade as senator-judge against the prosecution panel.”
They have considered the words coming from the senator's mouth as inappropriate and an insult to the members of the prosecution and indignation to millions of the Filipinos watching the Corona impeachment trial calling them "gago" at the 26th day of the impeachment trial.
“The committee on ethics is required to act in order to spurn from bad precedence to any member of the Senate acting beyond their propriety and good manners otherwise the office will no longer enjoy a public trust,”a complainant said.
Santiago is not yet issuing a response on this matter but on her tweet [@senmiriam], she said, “I'm very grateful to the Filipino people who see that despite everything, I'm a goodhearted person who's just trying to do good.”
Philippine fast-food giant Jollibee Foods Corp. further expanded its business in mainland China with the completion of its purchase of a 55-per cent interest in a company operating San Pin Wang, a chain of 34 restaurants selling low-priced beef noodles.
JFC, through wholly owned subsidiary Jollibee Worldwide Pte. Ltd. (JWPL), signed in 2010 an agreement with Guangxi Zong Kai Food and Beverage Investment Co. Ltd. (GZK) to acquire a majority stake in San Pin Wang.
This is JFC's third fast-food chain in China.
The Philippine fast-food group will spend RMB30 million ($4.75 million) to acquire the 55-percent stake from Guanxi, which will remain a strategic partner with a 45-percent interest. JWPL and Guanxi have committed to invest additional 20 million yuan ($3.16 million) in San Pin Wang to fuel its expansion.
San Pin Wang is a noodle fast-food chain with most of its restaurants located in Nanning City in Guang Xi Province in South China.
The two other restaurant businesses operated by JFC in China are Shanghai-based Yonghe King and Beijing-based Hong Zhuang Yuan, which were bought in 2004 and 2008, respectively. As of January this year, the two overseas businesses had a combined network of 319 stores in China accounting for 11 per cent of JFC's worldwide sales.
JFC also has a 70 per cent interest in Jollibee Foods Processing Pte. Ltd., a commissary in Shucheng, Anhui Province.
JFC currently operates 2,466 stores worldwide, of which 1,997 are in the Philippines. The brands in its portfolio are Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, Red Ribbon, Mang Inasal and Burger King.
In January, Jollibee through JWPL has consummated a deal to buy into a regional food group that operates a chain of restaurants across Asia. The group acquired 50 per cent of the business of SuperFoods Group, consisting of a 49-per cent stake in Viet Nam-based SF Vung Tau Joint Stock Co. and a 60-per cent share in Hong Kong-based Blue Sky Holding Ltd.
The SuperFoods group, which has $30 million in annual sales, operates 56 Highlands Coffee stores in Viet Nam. Its Pho24 chain of Vietnamese restaurants has 48 stores in Viet Nam, 11 in Indonesia, four in Hong Kong, three in Japan, one in Cambodia and two in the Philippines. It likewise has Hard Rock Cafe-franchised stores in Macau, Hong Kong and Viet Nam. (PDI)
The eyes of major foreign investors in garment production are directed to the Philippines as the cost of production in China is getting expensive including the cost of labor.
Gregory Domingo, the Philippines' Trade Secretary under the PNoy Aquino administration reveals that major garment firms are considering the relocation of their operation to the Philippines from China.
Domingo did not disclose the identity of the firms but he said that a big garment firm who moved from the Philippines is returning back to the country. This is a great news for the Philippine economy and hope that these fortunes coming to the Philippines will be sustainable.
The graduating class of the Philippine Military Academy this year [2012] is Tom Puertollano, son of a carpenter from Batangas who offered his success to the memory of his late mother who passed away last August due to pancreatic cancer.
Puertollano received 11 awards including the first ever Spanish Armed Forces Award and he plans to serve the Philippine Army after graduation.
Success is really sweet if there is an inspiration and for Puertollano who wants to have a better future in the absence of his mother with the help of his carpenter father, he can really soar high and the people who have lived a simple life can really enjoy sweeter success than those who already have more fortune in life. Congratulations to Puertollano.
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| This miner carries a sack of Gold from the "Golden Mountain" Mt. Diwata: Photo by AFP |
The Philippines is known to be a country with one of the largest reserves of minerals in the world. The Aquino administration is seemingly feeling the pressure of campaigns to totally knock out mining in the country.
To date, Aquino administration wants the Philippine government to get it's fair share from the mining sector amounting to more then a trillion pesos.
"The goal of President Aquino is to make doing business in the Philippines more efficient, easier for businessmen, in particular those who are not as familiar as local businessmen," finance secretary Cesar Purisima said in a news briefing in the Malacañang presidentail palace.
Purisima said that the mining industry in the country can accelerate the growth of the economy. "Unfortunately in the past, the way the laws were implemented, it was not a true win-win situation where the government actually was not able to get its fair share from mining activities," Purisima said.
The finance secretary said total tax collection from the mining industry amounted to only a little over 2 billion pesos (US$46.8 million) while the country's total revenue was over 1.2 trillion pesos ($28.1 billion).
"So when you look at that and, at the same time, the impact to the communities that host it and the environment adjacent to it, you really have to ask yourself whether the way we're implementing it is what we describe as a responsible way of harnessing the wealth of the country," Purisima said.
"We are looking at various models, alternatives in the hope that this can be done so that all the interests of the different sectors are addressed," he added.
Aurora Representative to the House of Congress Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara initiated motions to amend the Nursing Act of 2002 elevating the compensation of Filipino Nurses equivalent to Grade 15 salary of the government.
"The minimum base pay of nurses in public and private health and health-related institutions should be in accordance with prevailing salary standards set by law for professionals," Angara said.
He filed House Bill No. 5780 that requires the hospitals and other medical institutions to provide incentives and benefits to nurses.
Filipino nurses working in hospitals get a monthly pay ranging from R5,000 to R7,000, while those working in clinics and small private hospitals get R4,000.
Angara said the nursing law or Republic Act No. 9173, which was enacted when there were only around 251 schools, needs to be amended to cope with the growing number of nurses produced by 491 nursing schools today.
Angara, chairman of House Committee on Higher Education, said 2,668,046 students enrolled in nursing schools. Only 491,900 graduated with 365,625 of them passing the nursing board examinations from 2000 to 2010.
He lamented that despite the oversupply of nurses, the country is far from achieving the ideal nurse to patient ratio of 1 is to 4 per shift.
The Philippine General Hospital has a nurse-to-patient ratio of 1 is to 15 to 26 per shift, while Davao del Sur has a province-wide ratio of 1 is to 44 to 45 per shift.
Reforms such as the creation of National Nursing Career Progression Program, which will get funding from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, the Philippine Amusement and Games Corp., and the Professional Regulation Commission, are believed to address the issue.
Angara's bill provides that foreign nurses who are either working for a fee or for free are required to get a temporary work permit from the Board of Nursing.
