겁나 보통의 존재!

By: Jung Dea Woung

Metro Angeles Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Inc.(MACCII) is one of the active economic organizations that develop the economy of Pampanga. MACCII aims to be a dynamic, proactive, professional, and financially sound organization serving as the unified, yet non-partisan voice of the business sector. MACCII fought a long time in developing Angeles. Behind their activities, is the president of MACCII, Myra V. Rivera, 41.

 She graduated at Holy family High School and U.P. Diliman in Manila. She is a Human Resources Department Manager of Angeles Electric Corporation and she was elected as the president of MACCII last year. 

Rivera said, “Angeles is very fortunate because we have a very strong business sector and even though before we didn’t really enjoy a harmonious relationship with the local government, we are able to push many projects through an initiatively private sector.”

 MACCII protested strongly to the government to rescission the Executive order 500-A.  MACCII is also pushing for EO 500- B and EO 500-A to be amended, and also Executive Order 500, which laid the groundwork for the expansion of air service in the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport by facilitating access of various airlines to the facility.

 Issued by Malacanang in August this year, EO 500-A provided that only official foreign carries are entitled to liberal policies at the DMIA in Angeles City. To solve this problem, president of MACCII, Rivera, signed a resolution dated March 15, 2007 with other organizations’ presidents.

Rivera mentioned that EO 500-A limits the operating capacity because it gives very little time to plan, so airlines don’t want to invest in a three month contract. However, EX 500-B provides a long term plan to the airlines. Companies can have enough time to do their work, and it can also benefit everyone.  

Rivera said, “A recent issue of MACCII was that the chamber had taken a strong position on the exit for Angeles city in Subic – Clark- Tarlac express way. There was no exit to Pampanga. That’s why we were fighting for one.” Finally, MACCII achieved their goal, and there is now one exit for Angeles.

Rivera returned from Europe on October 2, 2007, because of the project of MACCII. This January, MACCII launched a project called, “Green Philippines.” It is a partnership with the European Union, and is funded by the European Union. Four European organizations assist in training companies from Manila and MACCII; these six organizations work together to teach companies how to employ production measures, waste and environmental management.

Those six organizations are expecting that the Subic – Clark- Tarlac expressway to be completed soon, and that people and many industries will be located in Angeles. Fifteen companies already want to have training, and by next year another 15 companies will join. Moreover, by next year Clark Airport will be extended. According to the Clark International Airport Corporation, this will bring out a synergy effect with the Subic– Clark- Tarlac expressway to develop the economy of Angeles.

MACCII also serves for the youth of the Philippines. This is the Go Negosyo sa Pampanga. Go Negosyo sa Pampanga is presented by the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship in partnership with more than 20 companies including MACCII.

 Rivera said, “We promote entrepreneurship to the students, for students that want to become entrepreneurs too; we invite some old and young entrepreneurs and they give them tips on what to do.” A lot of students have benefited from this program.

She added that if you want to become an entrepreneur, you should have a long term goal and combine hard work and creativity.

By Jung, Dea-Woung

Sept. 2, 2007

Angeles City – Arnel De Luna was released from the Angeles City Jail yesterday. In his final trial, the presiding judge Hon. Omar D. Viola made the decision that he is innocent. For this reason, a five-year trial was ended.

In the decision of the court, “Foremost and overriding such rules in the principle that innocence, not quilt, is the presumption. Courts do not exist to declare the guilty and, thus convict, every and all persons brought and charged before them. For this reason, and circumstances indicating possible innocence on the part of the accused is to be carefully weighed and considered.”

He kept asserting that he was innocent. According to him, he was falsely accused. The informer, Chito, had grudge with him so Chito was the one who manipulated his crime with three policemen. Luan tired to escape when he was being arrested, but the policeman named Erickson Mendoza tried to shoot him using his gun.

Luna was accused October 8, 2002, with violations of Secs. 5, 11, Art. Ⅱof R.A. 9165.

According to the police, Luna was selling or delivering to a buyer, one plastic sachet containing more or less TWO TENTHS of a gram of shabu which is a dangerous drug, without any authority whatsoever.

By: Jung Dea-Woung

Angeles city- The employees in the Angeles Regional Courts are suffering from the lack of prosecutors. There are 11 regional courts in Angeles but only seven prosecutors serve their duty.

The presiding judge in Angeles Regional Court, Hon Omar D. Viola said, “I am available Monday, I am available Friday, I don’t have any trials on Monday and Friday. I only hold trials during Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday, because those are the only times that a public dependent lawyer and prosecutor are available. ‘Justice delayed and Justice dined.’ Is there any delay here? Yes, there is a delay. Therefore we are denying Justice.”

One judge holds more than 800 cases. However prosecutors serve only three days a week on each court. Therefore, the work of employees in the Angeles regional court concentrate on only three days. During three days, the judge has at least 180 trials. This causes too much pressure to do their work.

If a prosecutor is not available, all the trials are cancelled. This also affects people who are involved in trials. This has been happening since 2003. Angeles Regional Courts sent letters to the secretary of Justice, but there was no reply. People don’t want to apply for a job as a prosecutor because a prosecutor has too much work, and have a low wage salary.

Sept. 7, 2007

Angeles City -  Jayson G. Espnoza had his arraignment in the Angeles Regional Court  yesterday. During his arraignment, he asserted that he was not guilty, although he was caught in the act of doing the crime.

He was asking the judge for bail and to release his XRM motorcycle which he used to carry shabu. According to the documents, he needed to pay P200,000 for his bail. If he should be released using bail, his next initial trial would be at 8:30 on January 31, 2008.

According to the 4^th Asst. city prosecutor Perevial T. Atinaja, September 4, 2007 at 1p.m., PNP station No.4 received information from a civilian that a drug delivery would take place inside of Jollibee restaurant . The informant gave the description of the person who would deliver shabu.

He was accused on September 4, 2007, violating Secs. 5, 11, Art. Ⅱof R.A. 9165.

He delivered one small size heat- sealed transparent plastic sachet containing more or less one gram and five tenths of a gram of shabu (Methamphetamine Hydrocholirde).