Communication body’s dissolution delays 2013 poll preparations
By Virgil B. Lopez
Monday, August 15, 2011
PREPARATIONS for the country’s 2013 elections were stalled after President Benigno Aquino III failed to appoint the head of an advisory body tasked to recommend a cost-effective technology for the upcoming polls.
Ramon Casiple, a member of the nine-member Commission on Elections (Comelec) Advisory Council, said the council cannot hold meetings due to a leadership vacuum.
“We have no chair of the advisory council. We are already eight months behind the original timeline, which means we don’t have any technology yet to be used for the 2013 midterm polls,” Casiple, executive director of the Institute for Political and Economic Reform (Iper), told Sun.Star.
The council is used to be chaired by Ivan Uy of the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT), which was dissolved by the President through Executive Order 47 last June 30.
The CICT, formed by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in January 2004, was instead renamed as the ICT Office under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo placed Undersecretary Fortunato dela Peña as the acting executive director of the newly formed body.
A chemical engineer, dela Peña was part of the former advisory body that recommended the use of precinct count optical machines (PCOS) in the 2010 presidential elections.
“We do have an ICTO head but it’s not immediately clear whether he will absorb the functions of the defunct CICT. That’s the bone of contention right now,” Casiple said.
Over the weekend, Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes admitted there was a slight delay in the preparations due to this development.
“We are discussing (with the DOST) on who is going to sit in the council, whether he is the DOST secretary or somebody else or a new executive order will have to be created,” he said.
Casiple said they are going to formally address the issue in a letter to the Comelec en banc sometime this week.
Automation provider Smartmatic-Technology Information Management had said the Philippine government will only spend around P2 billion to buy the PCOS machines, which are good for the next 20 years.
The Venezuelan company bagged the P7.2 billion automation deal with the Comelec in June 2009.
Under the Republic Act 9369 or the Poll Automation Law, the CICT chair sits as the chairman of the CAC with representatives coming one each from the DOST and of the Department of Education.
Completing the body’s composition are a member from the academe, three from the IT industry, and two from poll reform organizations. (Sunnex)
Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2011/08/15/communication-bodys-dissolution-delays-2013-poll-preparations-173209
Wine is becoming increasingly popular in Manila and other cities in the Philippines. Wine lovers in Manila travel to the north to visit Clark, Pampanga to shop for good and rate vintage wines at good duty-free prices. The most frequently visited liquor shop in Manila and wine shop in Pampanga is Clark Wine Center. This highly recommended wine shop located outside Manila near Angeles City, Pampanga in North Luzon is known for offering a great selection of fine vintage wine that is good quality and good value for money also.
This well-known wine shop is a famous shopping destination for wine enthusiasts in Manila and wine lovers from other cities in Asia including Hong Kong, Macau, Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul, Osaka and Tokyo.
Famous Philippines wine supplier known for its line of fine vintage wines, Yats Wine Cellars was established in 2000 to address the requirement of a growing population of wine enthusiasts in the Philippines. This 5-star wine shop caters to the discerning client who requires these qualities in their wines: (1) excellent value, (2) large selection of labels and vintages to choose from and (3) wines properly aged for full enjoyment.
Public wine tastings are held from time to time in Clark and sometimes in Manila. Tickets range from p500 to p1500 for these themed events that are professionally run –no wine merchants sponsorship, pushy salesmen or tacky banners to ruin the evening. Each ticket contains a certain number of stubs that can be redeemed for a tasting pour of a wine among those on a line-up which often contains wines that are quite old and expensive.
http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com
Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.
Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
(045) 841 4006 / 0922-870-5173 / 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)
YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay
Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.
Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:
http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com
While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com
YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com
Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:
http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com
Yats Restaurant is the best restaurant for special dinner, best restaurant for dinner with friends near Manila, also the best place to celebrate special events.
A Well-known Restaurant in Pampnga, an interesting place to celebrate Birthday Party in Pampnga.
A best place to dine with friends in Pampanga
Are you looking for an attractive restaurant or a nice place to eat with friends in Clark, Angeles City Pampanga? Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar is a restaurant with good food and good wines for dinner located at Clark Angeles City Pampanga. Perfect for exclusive dinner venues for groups, recommended for private dinner in Philippines. A Restaurant in Clark for business dinner meeting. Private dinner place or dinner restaurant in Clark Subic Near Manila Angeles City Pampanga. Yats Restaurant is one of the Good Restaurant in Pampanga Angeles City Clark near Manila.
www.YatsRestaurant.com
Looking for interesting hotels near Manila Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga?
Trouble free hotels and well recognized hotels in Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga
Clearwater Resort and Country Club offers a good place to stay in Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga. In offers nice place to have rest in Subic Pampanga outside Manila.
One of the Philippines top hotels in north Luzon.
Where to go in Clark? Hotel Clark Philippines is a De Luxe Hotel in Clark and Subic, a risk free place to stay, cozy and nice ambience, a nice function place for special occassion
www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com
