TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines – The military is shelving its plan to downgrade the Army’s 5th Infantry Division based in Isabela into a brigade due to the continuing insurgency problem in Northern Luzon.
Army chief Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista revealed this yesterday as he paid tribute to the 11 soldiers who were killed along with a civilian in a New People’s Army (NPA) ambush in Tinoc, Ifugao last Wednesday.
The slain soldiers were given necrological services attended by Bautista at the Army camp in Gamu, Isabela.
Bautista said the fight against insurgency continues and the Armed Forces targets to end it by 2016.
Bautista was reacting to an earlier disclosure by Col. Arnulfo Marcos, commander of the 502nd Infantry Brigade, of the military’s plan to downgrade the 5th ID based at Camp Melchor de la Cruz in Gamu, Isabela into a brigade.
Marcos said the plan was based on the military’s assessment that the NPA’s strength in Northern Luzon, including the Cordilleras, has waned.
Two days before last Wednesday’s ambush in Barangay Gumhang Binablayan, Tinoc town, government troops had overrun an NPA camp in Barangay Bannawel, Natonin, Mt. Province, where seven rebels, including a female fighter, were killed.
Meanwhile, Ifugao Rep. Teodoro Brawner Baguilat has condemned the NPA’s “treacherous and unprovoked attack.”
“As a brother of someone who died in the line of duty, I commiserate with and send my condolences to the 86th Infantry Battalion and the families of our brave soldiers who died in that devious attack,” he said yesterday. – With Jess Diaz - By Raymund Catindig
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Kopi Talk An international commitment
The restoration of democracy in 1986 did not end one of the worst horrors of the Marcos regime: the systematic abuse of human rights. Torture and cruel and inhuman forms of punishment have been recorded in this country since the Spanish colonial period, but martial law gave state forces free rein in using such methods against political dissidents, enemies of the state and ordinary criminals.
One consequence is that the land that gave the world people power, and which likes to portray itself as an Asian bastion of democracy, also has one of the worst records in human rights. Too many cops still see torture as a short cut to law enforcement and crime investigation. The Armed Forces of the Philippines, accused by a United Nations body of being in denial about human rights abuses, insists that unexplained killings and disappearances attributed to the military are mostly the consequences of legitimate counterinsurgency operations.
Organizations classified as enemies of the state are no better. Communist rebels are also among the worst violators of human rights, according to the UN. The AFP is currently investigating reports that 11 soldiers and a civilian killed in an ambush by the New People’s Army in Ifugao were all merely injured in a vehicular accident when the driver was hit by sniper fire but were executed by the NPA.
Nearly two weeks ago the Philippines ratified an international agreement against torture. The Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment was ratified on April 17 as part of efforts to further reinforce the Philippines’ commitment to eradicate this problem.
Honoring that commitment can start by breaking the culture of impunity that has led to the deaths of hundreds of activists, journalists and legal professionals since 1986. This means capturing the perpetrators – both the triggermen and the brains – and bringing them to justice. Honoring the commitment should also include an effective campaign to eradicate torture as a tool of law enforcement and criminal investigation. The nation has ratified the optional protocol. Now it must live up to its international commitments.
One consequence is that the land that gave the world people power, and which likes to portray itself as an Asian bastion of democracy, also has one of the worst records in human rights. Too many cops still see torture as a short cut to law enforcement and crime investigation. The Armed Forces of the Philippines, accused by a United Nations body of being in denial about human rights abuses, insists that unexplained killings and disappearances attributed to the military are mostly the consequences of legitimate counterinsurgency operations.
Organizations classified as enemies of the state are no better. Communist rebels are also among the worst violators of human rights, according to the UN. The AFP is currently investigating reports that 11 soldiers and a civilian killed in an ambush by the New People’s Army in Ifugao were all merely injured in a vehicular accident when the driver was hit by sniper fire but were executed by the NPA.
Nearly two weeks ago the Philippines ratified an international agreement against torture. The Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment was ratified on April 17 as part of efforts to further reinforce the Philippines’ commitment to eradicate this problem.
Honoring that commitment can start by breaking the culture of impunity that has led to the deaths of hundreds of activists, journalists and legal professionals since 1986. This means capturing the perpetrators – both the triggermen and the brains – and bringing them to justice. Honoring the commitment should also include an effective campaign to eradicate torture as a tool of law enforcement and criminal investigation. The nation has ratified the optional protocol. Now it must live up to its international commitments.
News Update Shipbuilding industry
SUBIC FREEPORT - Shipbuilding industry leader Hanjin Heavy In¬dustries & Construction - Philippines, Inc. will have produced and delivered at least 35 state-of-the-art commercial vessels in its shipyard here by the end of this month.
Jin Kyun Ahn, president of the Korean shipbuilding giant, said the scheduled ship delivery will highlight the com-petitiveness of Hanjinl's Subic shipyard.
Jin Kyun Ahn, president of the Korean shipbuilding giant, said the scheduled ship delivery will highlight the com-petitiveness of Hanjinl's Subic shipyard.
News Update Robredo Acts On Power Concern
KIDAPAWAN CITY(PNA / PIA) - Conveners of the Nagkakaisang Pinoy Kontra sa Brownout (Napikon sa Brownout) canceled the protest move against power crisis they set last Friday at the Mindanao geother¬mal production field at Mount Apo.
The rally cancellation came after they received a call from Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo urging them to cancel the rally dubbed "Day of Mourning and Protest" as the latter would meet with the conveners of the group to discuss the issue.
The leader of the protesters is City Administrator Rodolfo Cabiles, Jr., who is also the chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cotabato Electric Cooperative (Cotelco) that supplies power to at least 98,000 power consumers in North Cota¬bato.
"Secretary Robredo told me that President Aquino does not want a rally, instead, he would talk to the conveners," Kidapawan Mayor Ro¬dolfo Gantuangco said.
The mayor earlier issued a per¬mit to Cabiles' group for the rally before the Energy Development Corporation (EDC), owner of the two geothermal power plants located at Barangay Ilomavis, here.
"I fully support the move. I be¬lieve this is the time we tell the Na¬tional Power Corporation and those in the power industry that we're not happy with what's happening in our place. It's hurting everyone. But I saw the wisdom of Secretary Robredo," he said.
Gantuangco said the city govern¬ment is still pushing for 25 percent of the total power generated by the geothermal plants be supplied di¬rectly to Cotelco.
If it happens, he said the city, as host of the geothermal plants, is as¬sured of 26 megawatts of supply of power daily from the facility.
Meanwhile, negotiations are un¬derway for the Misamis Occidental Electric Cooperative (MOELCI) 1 based in Barangay Magcamiguing, this town, to purchase energy load from another source, aside from the National Power Corporation.
The rally cancellation came after they received a call from Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo urging them to cancel the rally dubbed "Day of Mourning and Protest" as the latter would meet with the conveners of the group to discuss the issue.
The leader of the protesters is City Administrator Rodolfo Cabiles, Jr., who is also the chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cotabato Electric Cooperative (Cotelco) that supplies power to at least 98,000 power consumers in North Cota¬bato.
"Secretary Robredo told me that President Aquino does not want a rally, instead, he would talk to the conveners," Kidapawan Mayor Ro¬dolfo Gantuangco said.
The mayor earlier issued a per¬mit to Cabiles' group for the rally before the Energy Development Corporation (EDC), owner of the two geothermal power plants located at Barangay Ilomavis, here.
"I fully support the move. I be¬lieve this is the time we tell the Na¬tional Power Corporation and those in the power industry that we're not happy with what's happening in our place. It's hurting everyone. But I saw the wisdom of Secretary Robredo," he said.
Gantuangco said the city govern¬ment is still pushing for 25 percent of the total power generated by the geothermal plants be supplied di¬rectly to Cotelco.
If it happens, he said the city, as host of the geothermal plants, is as¬sured of 26 megawatts of supply of power daily from the facility.
Meanwhile, negotiations are un¬derway for the Misamis Occidental Electric Cooperative (MOELCI) 1 based in Barangay Magcamiguing, this town, to purchase energy load from another source, aside from the National Power Corporation.
News Update Classifying WV Scuba Diving Sites
ILOILO CITY -The Department of Tourism (DOT) is classifying scuba diving sites in Western Visayas as a means of selling the destination to a specific market of tourists.
"We need to develop a niche for the region's dive sites," said Helen Catalbas, acting DOT-6 regional director.
Catalbas is requesting the Philip¬pine Commission on Sports Scuba Diving (PCSSD), an attached agency of the DOT, to conduct assessment and classification of emerging div¬ing sites in the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental.
To be assessed by the PCSSD this June are Boracay in Aklan, Pan de Azucar in Northern Iloilo, South¬ern Iloilo-Northern Antique areas, Olotayan Island in Capiz, Guimaras, and Cauayan-Sipalay areas as well as Sipaway Island in Negros Occidental.
"Once we know what kind of dive sites they are, we can promote them properly both to domestic and foreign markets," Catalbas said.
"For example, if a dive site has an array of coral life that fits the interests of underwater photographers, then we promote the site for under¬water photographers," he said.
"Some of them are looking for macro photography opportunities underwater," Catalbas added.
DOT-6 is working on having a center-point focus in marketing emerging tourist destinations in the region.
"We need to develop a niche for the region's dive sites," said Helen Catalbas, acting DOT-6 regional director.
Catalbas is requesting the Philip¬pine Commission on Sports Scuba Diving (PCSSD), an attached agency of the DOT, to conduct assessment and classification of emerging div¬ing sites in the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental.
To be assessed by the PCSSD this June are Boracay in Aklan, Pan de Azucar in Northern Iloilo, South¬ern Iloilo-Northern Antique areas, Olotayan Island in Capiz, Guimaras, and Cauayan-Sipalay areas as well as Sipaway Island in Negros Occidental.
"Once we know what kind of dive sites they are, we can promote them properly both to domestic and foreign markets," Catalbas said.
"For example, if a dive site has an array of coral life that fits the interests of underwater photographers, then we promote the site for under¬water photographers," he said.
"Some of them are looking for macro photography opportunities underwater," Catalbas added.
DOT-6 is working on having a center-point focus in marketing emerging tourist destinations in the region.
News Update 'Man drugs, rapes daughters
MANILA, Philippines - The ordeal of two sisters, who were allegedly repeatedly drugged and raped for months by their own father, ended when one of their classmates was also victimized and had him arrested by the Quezon City Police District (QCPD).
The suspect, a 33-year-old businessman, had allegedly been “forcing” his two daughters – aged 16 and 14 – to take shabu for months, said Superintendent Crisostomo Mendoza, commander of the QCPD Station 4.
“Some of the instances (of rape) happened as early as last year,” Mendoza said in an interview.
The suspect’s partner, Myra Sison, 35, reportedly helped him take advantage of the sisters, the businessman’s children from a previous relationship. “She would be the one to grip the hands of the two when the crime happened,” Mendoza said.
The sisters’ ordeal ended when one of their classmates stayed over at their house in North Wind Subdivision in Barangay Nagkaisang Nayon. At around 1 a.m. Thursday, all three girls were allegedly drugged and raped.
The classmate managed to escape from the house and told a relative about the rape. This led police to arrest the businessman. Sison remains at large.
According to Mendoza, the businessman had undergone inquest proceedings for rape charges. No bail was recommended.
The same complaint against Sison will undergo further investigation by the fiscal, Mendoza said.
The sisters are in the custody of local social workers. - By Reinir Padua
The suspect, a 33-year-old businessman, had allegedly been “forcing” his two daughters – aged 16 and 14 – to take shabu for months, said Superintendent Crisostomo Mendoza, commander of the QCPD Station 4.
“Some of the instances (of rape) happened as early as last year,” Mendoza said in an interview.
The suspect’s partner, Myra Sison, 35, reportedly helped him take advantage of the sisters, the businessman’s children from a previous relationship. “She would be the one to grip the hands of the two when the crime happened,” Mendoza said.
The sisters’ ordeal ended when one of their classmates stayed over at their house in North Wind Subdivision in Barangay Nagkaisang Nayon. At around 1 a.m. Thursday, all three girls were allegedly drugged and raped.
The classmate managed to escape from the house and told a relative about the rape. This led police to arrest the businessman. Sison remains at large.
According to Mendoza, the businessman had undergone inquest proceedings for rape charges. No bail was recommended.
The same complaint against Sison will undergo further investigation by the fiscal, Mendoza said.
The sisters are in the custody of local social workers. - By Reinir Padua
News Update BSP pegs P300-M capital req't for trust, investment operations
MANILA, Philippines - The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has pegged the minimum capital requirement for banks seeking to engage in investment management activities as well as trust and other fiduciary businesses at P300 million.
BSP Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. issued BSP Circular 756 last April 24 amending certain provisions of the manual of regulation for banks and manual of regulations for non-bank financial institutions to align the requirements for the grant of a full trust license and an investment management authority.
Tetangco stated in the three-page circular that banks seeking to perform investment management activities should have a minimum capital account of not less than P300 million or such amount that may be required by the central bank’s Monetary Board.
The circular stated that a bank or financial institution should have an authority to engage in investment management activity in lieu of acting as trustee or administering any trust or holding property in trust or in deposit for the use of or in behalf of others.
To engage in investment management activities, the institution should also have an investment management committee, an investment management officer, and an investment management director.
Investment management activity refers to any activity resulting from a contract or agreement primarily for financial return whereby the bank binds itself to handle or manage investible funds or any investment portfolio in a representative capacity as financial or managing agent, adviser, consultant or administrator of financial or investment management, advisory, consultancy or any similar arrangement which does not create or result in a trusteeship.
Likewise, he pointed out that a financial institution seeking to engage in trust and other fiduciary businesses should have a minimum capital account of not less than P300 million.
Trust business refers to any activity resulting from a trustor-trustee relationship involving the appointment of a trustee by a trustor for the administration, holding, management of funds and properties of the trustor by the trustee for the use, benefit or advantage of the trust or of others called beneficiaries.
Meanwhile, other fiduciary business refers to any activity of a trust-licensed bank resulting from a contract or agreement whereby the bank binds itself to render services or to act in a representative capacity such as in an agency, guardianship, administratorship of wills, properties and estates, executorship, receivership, and other similar services which do not create or result in a trusteeship.
Earlier, Tetangco urged fund managers in the Philippines handling P3.8 trillion worth of funds to prepare for challenges brought about by the economic uncertainties in the US as well as the debt crisis in Europe.
“The asset management industry, as a whole, faces a market landscape that has fundamentally changed in the last four to five years. Today we live in an environment of more stringent capital requirements, steeper yardsticks of governance and higher standards for consumer protection,” Tetangco earlier told members of the Fund Management Association of the Philippines (FMAP).
Total assets under management by FMAP members stands at about P3.8 trillion or more than double the September 2008 level of P1.7 trillion. - By Lawrence Agcaoili
BSP Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. issued BSP Circular 756 last April 24 amending certain provisions of the manual of regulation for banks and manual of regulations for non-bank financial institutions to align the requirements for the grant of a full trust license and an investment management authority.
Tetangco stated in the three-page circular that banks seeking to perform investment management activities should have a minimum capital account of not less than P300 million or such amount that may be required by the central bank’s Monetary Board.
The circular stated that a bank or financial institution should have an authority to engage in investment management activity in lieu of acting as trustee or administering any trust or holding property in trust or in deposit for the use of or in behalf of others.
To engage in investment management activities, the institution should also have an investment management committee, an investment management officer, and an investment management director.
Investment management activity refers to any activity resulting from a contract or agreement primarily for financial return whereby the bank binds itself to handle or manage investible funds or any investment portfolio in a representative capacity as financial or managing agent, adviser, consultant or administrator of financial or investment management, advisory, consultancy or any similar arrangement which does not create or result in a trusteeship.
Likewise, he pointed out that a financial institution seeking to engage in trust and other fiduciary businesses should have a minimum capital account of not less than P300 million.
Trust business refers to any activity resulting from a trustor-trustee relationship involving the appointment of a trustee by a trustor for the administration, holding, management of funds and properties of the trustor by the trustee for the use, benefit or advantage of the trust or of others called beneficiaries.
Meanwhile, other fiduciary business refers to any activity of a trust-licensed bank resulting from a contract or agreement whereby the bank binds itself to render services or to act in a representative capacity such as in an agency, guardianship, administratorship of wills, properties and estates, executorship, receivership, and other similar services which do not create or result in a trusteeship.
Earlier, Tetangco urged fund managers in the Philippines handling P3.8 trillion worth of funds to prepare for challenges brought about by the economic uncertainties in the US as well as the debt crisis in Europe.
“The asset management industry, as a whole, faces a market landscape that has fundamentally changed in the last four to five years. Today we live in an environment of more stringent capital requirements, steeper yardsticks of governance and higher standards for consumer protection,” Tetangco earlier told members of the Fund Management Association of the Philippines (FMAP).
Total assets under management by FMAP members stands at about P3.8 trillion or more than double the September 2008 level of P1.7 trillion. - By Lawrence Agcaoili
News Update Sandigan orders arrest of Tuguegarao City mayor
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – The Sandiganbayan has issued an arrest order for Tuguegarao City Mayor Delfin Ting for alleged violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act in connection with the demolition of the city’s old market four years ago.
Ting’s son, Cagayan third district Rep. Randolph Ting, yesterday said though his father had already posted bail.
The arrest order came after the Sandiganbayan’s second division denied the elder Ting’s pleading for it to first order the Ombudsman to resolve his pending motions for reconsideration and reinvestigation before any such warrant could be issued.
Mayor Ting has been in the hold departure order list of the Sandiganbayan since July last year in connection with the case, which stemmed from the demolition of the city public market in 2008 to give way to the construction of the present Mall of the Valley.
The complainant of the case, a certain engineer Robert Guzman, argued that the demolition was disadvantageous to the city government, violating Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corruption Practices Act.
The complainant said the demolition resulted in the loss of millions of pesos for the city government as the public market then still had a book value of more that P23 million.
Mayor Ting could not be immediately reached for comment. However, Rep. Ting is confident that his father will eventually be cleared, saying the demolition was even beneficial to the city government.
“The Mall of the Valley even enabled the city government to increase its revenue, especially after new investors… came to rent in it,” the congressman said. - By Charlie Lagasca and Raymund Catindig
Ting’s son, Cagayan third district Rep. Randolph Ting, yesterday said though his father had already posted bail.
The arrest order came after the Sandiganbayan’s second division denied the elder Ting’s pleading for it to first order the Ombudsman to resolve his pending motions for reconsideration and reinvestigation before any such warrant could be issued.
Mayor Ting has been in the hold departure order list of the Sandiganbayan since July last year in connection with the case, which stemmed from the demolition of the city public market in 2008 to give way to the construction of the present Mall of the Valley.
The complainant of the case, a certain engineer Robert Guzman, argued that the demolition was disadvantageous to the city government, violating Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corruption Practices Act.
The complainant said the demolition resulted in the loss of millions of pesos for the city government as the public market then still had a book value of more that P23 million.
Mayor Ting could not be immediately reached for comment. However, Rep. Ting is confident that his father will eventually be cleared, saying the demolition was even beneficial to the city government.
“The Mall of the Valley even enabled the city government to increase its revenue, especially after new investors… came to rent in it,” the congressman said. - By Charlie Lagasca and Raymund Catindig
News Update 'We won't be provoked'
MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang yesterday maintained the Philippines would stand its ground and not be provoked by the Chinese military’s posturing in the West Philippine Sea.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the country would come up with a unified and strong stand to defend its claims before international forums.
Valte also said there were no talks for the permanent presence of US forces in the Philippines amid the West Philippine Sea row, particularly the standoff at Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal off Zambales.
China’s armed forces have vowed to “fulfill their duty” to safeguard their territory in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) and they would collaborate closely with related governing bodies, including fishery administration and maritime law enforcement, to jointly ensure the country’s maritime rights and interests.
Nine Chinese vessels were reported to have arrived at the shoal being guarded by two Philippine vessels.
This developed as the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Philippine Coast Guard yesterday reported another incident of “bullying” by Chinese vessels in the area.
Coast Guard Commander Vice Admiral Edmund Tan said a Chinese Fisheries Law Enforcement Command (FLEC) 310 vessel tried to scare off two Coast Guard vessels during
their turnover of the area yesterday morning.
“At 9 a.m. FLEC 310 approached a stationary BRP Pampanga 003 from her left bow, heading towards her, then at 600 yards veered away crossing past the right side of BRP 003 at a speed of 20.3 knots,” Tan said.
“At 9:15 am, FLEC 310 passed by BRP Edsa 002 from her right to the left at a distance of 200 yards and speed of 20.6 knots. In these instances, the speeding FLEC 310 generated a 2-meter wave in her wake but no damage was inflicted on our two ships, which did not react to the ‘bullying’ by FLEC 310,” he said.
DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said the actions of the Chinese vessel were properly documented by the Coast Guard.
Tan said BRP 003 departed the area at 9:25 a.m. to reprovision in Manila.
“These maneuvers by the Chinese vessel posed a danger to the Philippine vessels, which could mean a violation of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions of Ships at Sea (COLREGs),” the DFA said.
The DFA said on Friday that China dispatched more vessels as 10 Chinese ships were sighted in the area.
Hernandez said three Chinese government vessels, including the Chinese maritime surveillance ship 71, FLEC 310 and one still unidentified Chinese ship located about eight nautical miles away from the Philippines’ BRP Pampanga, remain in Panatag Shoal.
Reports to the DFA on Friday morning showed seven Chinese fishing vessels were also spotted inside the lagoon, while two unidentified aircraft flew over the area on Thursday around 10 p.m.
These were in addition to the three Chinese government ships, Hernandez said.
The Philippines only had two vessels in the area – BRP Pampanga and a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel.
The deployment of more ships to the area represented increased activities by the Chinese side, Hernandez said.
Counterclaims
China’s armed forces have vowed to “fulfill their duty” to safeguard the territory it is claiming in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) as Chinese vessels continue to engage in more activities in the Philippines’ Panatag Shoal.
President Aquino, on the other hand, said the Philippines would keep showing its flag in the area while employing diplomatic means to resolve the dispute.
Aquino has also stressed that he did not want violence to erupt and a military solution would not be resorted to, as the country would continue to talk and not go to war.
Valte said Malacañang was grateful for Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile’s call for the Filipino people to rally behind Aquino on the issue and that it would be up to Filipinos to find ways to express their support.
She said the DFA had announced that legal experts would be formed to prepare the country’s evidence in asserting claims in the West Philippine Sea.
“Senate President Enrile’s stand on this is certainly well taken and that is why the DFA is already forming their team of legal experts that will be taking care of this,” Valte said.
She said it would be up to the DFA to decide who would compose the team of legal experts and personalities to “bolster our claim.”
Valte added the DFA would continue talking with their Chinese counterparts as regards the presence of nine Chinese vessels at Panatag Shoal that was clearly in Philippine waters based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
“From what I understand, there are two surveillance (Chinese) ships and fishing vessels again in that area, not military presence. I have not seen any particular report pointing to that. But certainly we will let the Department of Foreign Affairs take this recent development into consideration and we will let them deal with their counterparts because of the recent development,” she said.
Asked if the Chinese side seemed to be taunting or provoking the Philippine side, Valte said it “is something that they have to answer for, that they have to explain in particular when the DFA addresses that particular development.”
The Senate yesterday conducted a hearing over the issue of China’s claiming Panatag Shoal.
International law expert Merlin Magallona told the lawmakers that the continued presence of the Chinese vessels in Panatag Shoal should be observed very carefully, especially if they start showing signs of aggression.
Magallona, former dean of University of the Philippines’ College of Law, told Coast Guard and Navy officials during the hearing that it should take note of the presence of any military vessels from China in the vicinity of Panatag Shoal, which the government could use to file a case against China.
He said the presence of Chinese warships or even naval vessels there could be treated as a threat of the use of force on Philippine vessels.
“If there is, then we should charge China with the threat of the use of force, which is a fundamental principle under the UN Charter,” Magallona said.
“It’s important to consider the threat of force on the part of China, especially in relation to its claim on Panatag Shoal, because it is at the same time an attempt to settle the dispute not in a peaceful manner. I think we should alert the international community and we will get a good opinion out of it if we make a protest with China,” he added.
Enrile said the Navy and Coast Guard should look out for those surveillance vessels, which he said would most likely be armed.
While the threat of an attack by Chinese vessels is always there, Enrile said he is optimistic that the Chinese would not commit the mistake of firing on Philippine vessels because of the repercussions this would have on them.
“One reason why China will not dare fire on any Philippine military vessel in that area is because we have treaty alliance with an equal superpower in the world, in fact the only one in the world right now, America, and we can invoke the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) if China will make the error of firing at us,” he said.
“That will squarely come under the ambit of the Mutual Defense Treaty. Any attack on any vessels of the contracting parties within the Pacific area and the South China Sea, within the treaty area of the MDT, is an attack on the other,” he added.
Enrile said China has been trying to avoid bringing the dispute before the international arena because this could bring the US into the fray.
No permanent US presence
Valte, on the other hand, stressed the Philippines would only seek assistance from the US to improve the country’s defense capabilities and there was no agreement for new bases being discussed.
“Permanent presence? If this is something similar to any basing agreement, we have already said that that is not in the works,” Valte said, reacting to some lawmakers’ suggestions that the US be asked to station forces permanently in the country to boost its defense against territorial incursions.
In 1991, the Philippine Senate voted not to renew a lease agreement that would have kept Clark Air Force Base and Subic Naval Base.
This effectively “limited” US soldiers’ presence in the country to joint military exercises under the Philippines-US Visiting Forces Agreement.
The Philippines and the US also have the long-standing MDT.
Valte said US assistance in upgrading the Philippine military’s capabilities would be discussed when Filipino officials meet with their American counterparts in Washington on April 30.
“Certainly we have always been on the look out to upgrade our military capabilities and we hope that this meeting will push us further down that road,” Valte said.
Also asked how Filipinos could unite and rally behind Philippine claims in the West Philippine Sea, Valte said, “How they should show it is entirely up to the people. You cannot dictate on people how they wish to show their support. But that is certainly a very (good development).”
Weakest link
The military’s Northern Luzon (Nolcom) commander Lt. Gen. Anthony Alcantara said the situation remains stable in the area.
Nolcom has military jurisdiction over Panatag Shoal, a rock formation located 124 nautical miles off Zambales that is being claimed by China.
The standoff at Panatag Shoal began on April 10 when two Chinese surveillance ships stopped the Philippine Navy flagship BRP Gregorio del Pilar from accosting eight Chinese fishing boats suspected of poaching.
Alcantara said the Chinese FLEC vessel, after establishing her intimidating presence in the area, is no longer around but two Chinese maritime vessels remain.
He said the Coast Guard’s BRP Pampanga and a ship from the BFAR are in the area, closely watching developments.
“The prevailing security situation remains stable,” Alcantara said.
He also urged a peaceful resolution of the standoff through diplomatic channels.
Alcantara, however, said the military is also doing its share in addressing the security situation in the area under the guidance of the national leadership, specifically coming from the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, along with Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, flew to the US for a scheduled meeting tomorrow with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.
While the scheduled US meeting will tackle wide-ranging political and economic issues including the forthcoming state visit of President Aquino, it is also expected that the 2+2 meet will also take up the prevailing standoff in Panatag Shoal.
For his part, AFP chief Gen. Jessie Dellosa said diplomacy should go hand in hand with capability to defend the Philippines’ rights as a sovereign nation.
Dellosa made the statement during the closing ceremony of the Balikatan exercises in
Camp Aguinaldo.
“It is apparent that a practical blend of the concepts/ of ‘might is right’ and ‘right is might’ should be explored, shared among friends and allies, and eventually put to good use,” Dellosa said.
“For the Philippines, striking a workable mix may also require increasing capacities to defend its dignity and its rights as a sovereign nation,” he added.
While diplomacy is the “normative path to tread,” Dellosa it should be matched with capabilities “to attain stability, security and development.”
“That is the prevailing logic of Balikatan and the strategic partnership of our forces. It is what it is. It will be into the future,” the military chief said.
Critics claimed the lack of military equipment had made it easy for China to bully the Philippines.
Officials have acknowledged that the standoff highlights the urgent need to beef up the military’s capabilities.
Early this month, Gazmin said China might have been bullying the Philippines because of its weak military capability.
“In our region, in terms of the capability of the armed forces, we are the weakest,” Gazmin said in a press briefing last April 3.
“We are below par. If you are the bully, you will look for the weakest,” he added.
Gazmin nevertheless said the modernization efforts of the armed forces is not directed towards China or any particular country.
“This is for our protection to make sure that our laws are enforced and we are able to protect our territorial waters,” he said.
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma yesterday said Filipinos should defend their integrity and supremacy over Panatag Shoal.
Palma said Filipinos should defend what they believe belongs to them.
“In truth, I think in principle we have to defend our integrity and supremacy over the land which we believe is our very own,” he said. – With Jaime Laude, Alexis Romero, Marvin Sy, Evelyn Macairan - By Aurea Calica and Pia Lee-Brago
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the country would come up with a unified and strong stand to defend its claims before international forums.
Valte also said there were no talks for the permanent presence of US forces in the Philippines amid the West Philippine Sea row, particularly the standoff at Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal off Zambales.
China’s armed forces have vowed to “fulfill their duty” to safeguard their territory in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) and they would collaborate closely with related governing bodies, including fishery administration and maritime law enforcement, to jointly ensure the country’s maritime rights and interests.
Nine Chinese vessels were reported to have arrived at the shoal being guarded by two Philippine vessels.
This developed as the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Philippine Coast Guard yesterday reported another incident of “bullying” by Chinese vessels in the area.
Coast Guard Commander Vice Admiral Edmund Tan said a Chinese Fisheries Law Enforcement Command (FLEC) 310 vessel tried to scare off two Coast Guard vessels during
their turnover of the area yesterday morning.
“At 9 a.m. FLEC 310 approached a stationary BRP Pampanga 003 from her left bow, heading towards her, then at 600 yards veered away crossing past the right side of BRP 003 at a speed of 20.3 knots,” Tan said.
“At 9:15 am, FLEC 310 passed by BRP Edsa 002 from her right to the left at a distance of 200 yards and speed of 20.6 knots. In these instances, the speeding FLEC 310 generated a 2-meter wave in her wake but no damage was inflicted on our two ships, which did not react to the ‘bullying’ by FLEC 310,” he said.
DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said the actions of the Chinese vessel were properly documented by the Coast Guard.
Tan said BRP 003 departed the area at 9:25 a.m. to reprovision in Manila.
“These maneuvers by the Chinese vessel posed a danger to the Philippine vessels, which could mean a violation of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions of Ships at Sea (COLREGs),” the DFA said.
The DFA said on Friday that China dispatched more vessels as 10 Chinese ships were sighted in the area.
Hernandez said three Chinese government vessels, including the Chinese maritime surveillance ship 71, FLEC 310 and one still unidentified Chinese ship located about eight nautical miles away from the Philippines’ BRP Pampanga, remain in Panatag Shoal.
Reports to the DFA on Friday morning showed seven Chinese fishing vessels were also spotted inside the lagoon, while two unidentified aircraft flew over the area on Thursday around 10 p.m.
These were in addition to the three Chinese government ships, Hernandez said.
The Philippines only had two vessels in the area – BRP Pampanga and a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel.
The deployment of more ships to the area represented increased activities by the Chinese side, Hernandez said.
Counterclaims
China’s armed forces have vowed to “fulfill their duty” to safeguard the territory it is claiming in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) as Chinese vessels continue to engage in more activities in the Philippines’ Panatag Shoal.
President Aquino, on the other hand, said the Philippines would keep showing its flag in the area while employing diplomatic means to resolve the dispute.
Aquino has also stressed that he did not want violence to erupt and a military solution would not be resorted to, as the country would continue to talk and not go to war.
Valte said Malacañang was grateful for Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile’s call for the Filipino people to rally behind Aquino on the issue and that it would be up to Filipinos to find ways to express their support.
She said the DFA had announced that legal experts would be formed to prepare the country’s evidence in asserting claims in the West Philippine Sea.
“Senate President Enrile’s stand on this is certainly well taken and that is why the DFA is already forming their team of legal experts that will be taking care of this,” Valte said.
She said it would be up to the DFA to decide who would compose the team of legal experts and personalities to “bolster our claim.”
Valte added the DFA would continue talking with their Chinese counterparts as regards the presence of nine Chinese vessels at Panatag Shoal that was clearly in Philippine waters based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
“From what I understand, there are two surveillance (Chinese) ships and fishing vessels again in that area, not military presence. I have not seen any particular report pointing to that. But certainly we will let the Department of Foreign Affairs take this recent development into consideration and we will let them deal with their counterparts because of the recent development,” she said.
Asked if the Chinese side seemed to be taunting or provoking the Philippine side, Valte said it “is something that they have to answer for, that they have to explain in particular when the DFA addresses that particular development.”
The Senate yesterday conducted a hearing over the issue of China’s claiming Panatag Shoal.
International law expert Merlin Magallona told the lawmakers that the continued presence of the Chinese vessels in Panatag Shoal should be observed very carefully, especially if they start showing signs of aggression.
Magallona, former dean of University of the Philippines’ College of Law, told Coast Guard and Navy officials during the hearing that it should take note of the presence of any military vessels from China in the vicinity of Panatag Shoal, which the government could use to file a case against China.
He said the presence of Chinese warships or even naval vessels there could be treated as a threat of the use of force on Philippine vessels.
“If there is, then we should charge China with the threat of the use of force, which is a fundamental principle under the UN Charter,” Magallona said.
“It’s important to consider the threat of force on the part of China, especially in relation to its claim on Panatag Shoal, because it is at the same time an attempt to settle the dispute not in a peaceful manner. I think we should alert the international community and we will get a good opinion out of it if we make a protest with China,” he added.
Enrile said the Navy and Coast Guard should look out for those surveillance vessels, which he said would most likely be armed.
While the threat of an attack by Chinese vessels is always there, Enrile said he is optimistic that the Chinese would not commit the mistake of firing on Philippine vessels because of the repercussions this would have on them.
“One reason why China will not dare fire on any Philippine military vessel in that area is because we have treaty alliance with an equal superpower in the world, in fact the only one in the world right now, America, and we can invoke the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) if China will make the error of firing at us,” he said.
“That will squarely come under the ambit of the Mutual Defense Treaty. Any attack on any vessels of the contracting parties within the Pacific area and the South China Sea, within the treaty area of the MDT, is an attack on the other,” he added.
Enrile said China has been trying to avoid bringing the dispute before the international arena because this could bring the US into the fray.
No permanent US presence
Valte, on the other hand, stressed the Philippines would only seek assistance from the US to improve the country’s defense capabilities and there was no agreement for new bases being discussed.
“Permanent presence? If this is something similar to any basing agreement, we have already said that that is not in the works,” Valte said, reacting to some lawmakers’ suggestions that the US be asked to station forces permanently in the country to boost its defense against territorial incursions.
In 1991, the Philippine Senate voted not to renew a lease agreement that would have kept Clark Air Force Base and Subic Naval Base.
This effectively “limited” US soldiers’ presence in the country to joint military exercises under the Philippines-US Visiting Forces Agreement.
The Philippines and the US also have the long-standing MDT.
Valte said US assistance in upgrading the Philippine military’s capabilities would be discussed when Filipino officials meet with their American counterparts in Washington on April 30.
“Certainly we have always been on the look out to upgrade our military capabilities and we hope that this meeting will push us further down that road,” Valte said.
Also asked how Filipinos could unite and rally behind Philippine claims in the West Philippine Sea, Valte said, “How they should show it is entirely up to the people. You cannot dictate on people how they wish to show their support. But that is certainly a very (good development).”
Weakest link
The military’s Northern Luzon (Nolcom) commander Lt. Gen. Anthony Alcantara said the situation remains stable in the area.
Nolcom has military jurisdiction over Panatag Shoal, a rock formation located 124 nautical miles off Zambales that is being claimed by China.
The standoff at Panatag Shoal began on April 10 when two Chinese surveillance ships stopped the Philippine Navy flagship BRP Gregorio del Pilar from accosting eight Chinese fishing boats suspected of poaching.
Alcantara said the Chinese FLEC vessel, after establishing her intimidating presence in the area, is no longer around but two Chinese maritime vessels remain.
He said the Coast Guard’s BRP Pampanga and a ship from the BFAR are in the area, closely watching developments.
“The prevailing security situation remains stable,” Alcantara said.
He also urged a peaceful resolution of the standoff through diplomatic channels.
Alcantara, however, said the military is also doing its share in addressing the security situation in the area under the guidance of the national leadership, specifically coming from the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, along with Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, flew to the US for a scheduled meeting tomorrow with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.
While the scheduled US meeting will tackle wide-ranging political and economic issues including the forthcoming state visit of President Aquino, it is also expected that the 2+2 meet will also take up the prevailing standoff in Panatag Shoal.
For his part, AFP chief Gen. Jessie Dellosa said diplomacy should go hand in hand with capability to defend the Philippines’ rights as a sovereign nation.
Dellosa made the statement during the closing ceremony of the Balikatan exercises in
Camp Aguinaldo.
“It is apparent that a practical blend of the concepts/ of ‘might is right’ and ‘right is might’ should be explored, shared among friends and allies, and eventually put to good use,” Dellosa said.
“For the Philippines, striking a workable mix may also require increasing capacities to defend its dignity and its rights as a sovereign nation,” he added.
While diplomacy is the “normative path to tread,” Dellosa it should be matched with capabilities “to attain stability, security and development.”
“That is the prevailing logic of Balikatan and the strategic partnership of our forces. It is what it is. It will be into the future,” the military chief said.
Critics claimed the lack of military equipment had made it easy for China to bully the Philippines.
Officials have acknowledged that the standoff highlights the urgent need to beef up the military’s capabilities.
Early this month, Gazmin said China might have been bullying the Philippines because of its weak military capability.
“In our region, in terms of the capability of the armed forces, we are the weakest,” Gazmin said in a press briefing last April 3.
“We are below par. If you are the bully, you will look for the weakest,” he added.
Gazmin nevertheless said the modernization efforts of the armed forces is not directed towards China or any particular country.
“This is for our protection to make sure that our laws are enforced and we are able to protect our territorial waters,” he said.
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma yesterday said Filipinos should defend their integrity and supremacy over Panatag Shoal.
Palma said Filipinos should defend what they believe belongs to them.
“In truth, I think in principle we have to defend our integrity and supremacy over the land which we believe is our very own,” he said. – With Jaime Laude, Alexis Romero, Marvin Sy, Evelyn Macairan - By Aurea Calica and Pia Lee-Brago
Saturday, April 28, 2012
News Update S Tagalog, Cebu aces spark swim gold rush
CEBU CITY , Philippines – Southern Tagalog tankers and Cebuana Loren Dale Echavez dominated the first day of swimming as action in the 2012 Private Schools Athletic Association National Collegiate Games got under way yesterday at the Cebu City Sports Center here.
Led by triple gold medalists Rabino Wilson and Jerome Magallanes, Region 4-A captured eight of the 16 finals while Echavez, carrying the colors of Central Visayas, swept the women’s 200 and 50-meter freestyle to kick off her ambitious bid of sweeping all her eight events in the meet.
A freshman student at La Salle-Dasmariñas, Magallanes, 17, topped the men’s 100-m breaststroke (1:13.4) and the 400-m individual medley (5:39.86) while Wilson, a third-year University of Perpetual Help-Laguna student, topped the men’s 200 free (2:13.99) and 50 free (25.84) for their individual golds.
Magallanes and Wilson then secured their third gold medals by teaming up with Roque Hizola and Julius Rarela by ruling the men’s 200 medley relay in 2:02.03.
Diminutive Jackelyn Orig of the Saint Anne College-Lucena shared the spotlight with her male teammates in topping women’s 200 butterfly (2:43.16) and 400 IM (5:56.61), while Andrea Fuentes, Cherilyn Jurado, Erleane Medina and Helyna Magallanes capped Southern Tagalog’s mighty show in winning the women’s 400 freestyle relay (4:51.00).
Easily the swimmer to watch in the women’s division, Echavez, who won seven golds and a silver in last year’s PRISAA Games, did not disappoint her hometown fans as the third-year BS Biology University of San Carlos student stamped her class in winning both her individual events.
She ruled the women’s 200 free in 2:15.68, more than 20 seconds ahead of runner-up Jurado of Southern Tagalog (2:36.00), and added the 50 free in 28.06 to handily prevail over Western Visayas’ Reynalisa Catapang (31.36).
“I want to sweep my eight events this year and with the help of my teammates, I think I can do it,” said Echavez in Filipino.
Western Visayas’ Edsel Pasaporte also bagged two golds in the day as he topped the men’s 100 backstroke (1:09.84) and 4x50 freestyle relay (4:08.24).
In athletics, Davao (Region XI) made its presence felt early as Michael Ian Constantino and Charito Bajuyo retained their titles in the men’s 1,500 and women’s high jump, respectively.
Constantino, 22, who competes for Brokenshire College in Koronadal, South Cotabato, captured the men’s 1,500 gold in 4:01.2 while Bajuyo, who studies at the University of Mindanao Davao, cleared 1.58 meters in securing the high jump gold.
La Salle Dasmariñas bet Jerome Oclaret of Region 4-A likewise kept his men’s shot put crown with a heave of 12.26 meters while Jerly Bornales of Western Visayas (Region 6) ruled the women’s 1,500 meters for the second year in a row (4:57.2), nipping Cordillera Autonomous Region’s Divina Kitongan in a dead heat.
In early ball game results, Central Luzon (Region 3) nosed out Western Visayas (Region 6), 59-57, Davao routed Mimaropa (Region 4-B), 94-18, and Central Luzon edged Western Visayas, 59-57, at the start of women’s basketball. -
Led by triple gold medalists Rabino Wilson and Jerome Magallanes, Region 4-A captured eight of the 16 finals while Echavez, carrying the colors of Central Visayas, swept the women’s 200 and 50-meter freestyle to kick off her ambitious bid of sweeping all her eight events in the meet.
A freshman student at La Salle-Dasmariñas, Magallanes, 17, topped the men’s 100-m breaststroke (1:13.4) and the 400-m individual medley (5:39.86) while Wilson, a third-year University of Perpetual Help-Laguna student, topped the men’s 200 free (2:13.99) and 50 free (25.84) for their individual golds.
Magallanes and Wilson then secured their third gold medals by teaming up with Roque Hizola and Julius Rarela by ruling the men’s 200 medley relay in 2:02.03.
Diminutive Jackelyn Orig of the Saint Anne College-Lucena shared the spotlight with her male teammates in topping women’s 200 butterfly (2:43.16) and 400 IM (5:56.61), while Andrea Fuentes, Cherilyn Jurado, Erleane Medina and Helyna Magallanes capped Southern Tagalog’s mighty show in winning the women’s 400 freestyle relay (4:51.00).
Easily the swimmer to watch in the women’s division, Echavez, who won seven golds and a silver in last year’s PRISAA Games, did not disappoint her hometown fans as the third-year BS Biology University of San Carlos student stamped her class in winning both her individual events.
She ruled the women’s 200 free in 2:15.68, more than 20 seconds ahead of runner-up Jurado of Southern Tagalog (2:36.00), and added the 50 free in 28.06 to handily prevail over Western Visayas’ Reynalisa Catapang (31.36).
“I want to sweep my eight events this year and with the help of my teammates, I think I can do it,” said Echavez in Filipino.
Western Visayas’ Edsel Pasaporte also bagged two golds in the day as he topped the men’s 100 backstroke (1:09.84) and 4x50 freestyle relay (4:08.24).
In athletics, Davao (Region XI) made its presence felt early as Michael Ian Constantino and Charito Bajuyo retained their titles in the men’s 1,500 and women’s high jump, respectively.
Constantino, 22, who competes for Brokenshire College in Koronadal, South Cotabato, captured the men’s 1,500 gold in 4:01.2 while Bajuyo, who studies at the University of Mindanao Davao, cleared 1.58 meters in securing the high jump gold.
La Salle Dasmariñas bet Jerome Oclaret of Region 4-A likewise kept his men’s shot put crown with a heave of 12.26 meters while Jerly Bornales of Western Visayas (Region 6) ruled the women’s 1,500 meters for the second year in a row (4:57.2), nipping Cordillera Autonomous Region’s Divina Kitongan in a dead heat.
In early ball game results, Central Luzon (Region 3) nosed out Western Visayas (Region 6), 59-57, Davao routed Mimaropa (Region 4-B), 94-18, and Central Luzon edged Western Visayas, 59-57, at the start of women’s basketball. -
News Update 'Weavers Lauded For Preserving Culture
VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur - Senator Loren Legarda lauded weaving communities in the country for pre¬serving the tradition of weaving as she encouraged local governments to support such initiatives.
Legarda made the statement as she witnessed the turn-over of the Balungis Trading Center, sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), to the Malapatan Municipal Govern¬ment in Sarangani Province. The event also included the turn-over of handlooms and other weaving materials to the Balungis Women's Association.
To note, the city government of Vigan headed by Mayor Eva Marie Singson- Medina is also extending all -out support to the handlooms weav¬ing of abel - Iloco clothings industry in which this clothings are now well -known all over the world.
"To the members of all weaving communities in the entire country, I laud you for keeping the tradition of weaving alive, for passing on the skill to your children, and for choosing this industry to be part of your daily living. I send commendation to all of you as you continue the tradition of creating world-class garments," she said.
"I also enjoin local governments to support the weaving industry as part of efforts to safeguard our heritage. Together, let us preserve our tradi¬tions and bring our culture into full bloom again," she added.
Legarda made the statement as she witnessed the turn-over of the Balungis Trading Center, sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), to the Malapatan Municipal Govern¬ment in Sarangani Province. The event also included the turn-over of handlooms and other weaving materials to the Balungis Women's Association.
To note, the city government of Vigan headed by Mayor Eva Marie Singson- Medina is also extending all -out support to the handlooms weav¬ing of abel - Iloco clothings industry in which this clothings are now well -known all over the world.
"To the members of all weaving communities in the entire country, I laud you for keeping the tradition of weaving alive, for passing on the skill to your children, and for choosing this industry to be part of your daily living. I send commendation to all of you as you continue the tradition of creating world-class garments," she said.
"I also enjoin local governments to support the weaving industry as part of efforts to safeguard our heritage. Together, let us preserve our tradi¬tions and bring our culture into full bloom again," she added.
News Update P11-B Iloilo Irrigation Project Pushed
MANILA, Philippines - The government is set to implement the second phase of the P11.2 billion Jalaur River irrigation project in Iloilo, the largest Korea Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF)-supported project.
"The Jalaur River Multipurpose Project Phase II is one of the first batch of projects and biggest of the three irrigation projects approved by the NEDA board this year," said NEDA Deputy Director General Rolando Tungpalan.
"It is a groundbreaking venture in terms of scale and importance in facilitating the increase in food production and ensuring food security in the country," said Tungpalan who led the meeting and signing of the minutes of discussion (MOD) with officials of the Export-Import Bank of Korea (Korea EximBank).
Out of the project's total approved cost of P11.21 billion, a proposed P8.95 billion will be financed through an official development assistance (ODA) loan from the EDCF.
Implementing government agencies of the project are the Department of Agriculture (DA) and National Irrigation Administration (NIA).
The Jalaur River Multi-purpose Project Phase II involves the construction of a storage dam, a high dam and reservoir across the Jalaur River.
Other structures will be established in support of a hydro-electric power plant to be built in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo for a potential bulk water supply connection with the Metro Iloilo Water District.
The project is expected to provide water supply to 22, 340 hectares of croplands, increase yields of palay and other crops in the area, strengthen the region's Irrigators Associations (IAs) and enhance community organizing activities for IAs in 9,500-hectare new irrigable areas that will be created upon completion of the project.
"The project will set the benchmark for other government projects in terms of speed, efficiency and, eventually, the effectiveness by which the project will be executed," Tungpalan added. (EHL)
"The Jalaur River Multipurpose Project Phase II is one of the first batch of projects and biggest of the three irrigation projects approved by the NEDA board this year," said NEDA Deputy Director General Rolando Tungpalan.
"It is a groundbreaking venture in terms of scale and importance in facilitating the increase in food production and ensuring food security in the country," said Tungpalan who led the meeting and signing of the minutes of discussion (MOD) with officials of the Export-Import Bank of Korea (Korea EximBank).
Out of the project's total approved cost of P11.21 billion, a proposed P8.95 billion will be financed through an official development assistance (ODA) loan from the EDCF.
Implementing government agencies of the project are the Department of Agriculture (DA) and National Irrigation Administration (NIA).
The Jalaur River Multi-purpose Project Phase II involves the construction of a storage dam, a high dam and reservoir across the Jalaur River.
Other structures will be established in support of a hydro-electric power plant to be built in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo for a potential bulk water supply connection with the Metro Iloilo Water District.
The project is expected to provide water supply to 22, 340 hectares of croplands, increase yields of palay and other crops in the area, strengthen the region's Irrigators Associations (IAs) and enhance community organizing activities for IAs in 9,500-hectare new irrigable areas that will be created upon completion of the project.
"The project will set the benchmark for other government projects in terms of speed, efficiency and, eventually, the effectiveness by which the project will be executed," Tungpalan added. (EHL)
News Update DILG chief suspends demolitions
MANILA, Philippines - Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo suspended yesterday all planned demolitions of slum areas in Metro Manila pending a dialogue with all concerned parties.
He also warned illegal settlers that they could be arrested if they throw human waste at members of the demolition team and law enforcers.
Robredo called on concerned government agencies, including the Philippine National Police (PNP) and local government units (LGUs), to review all related policies before implementing any demolition order.
“The demolitions should be suspended while the related policies and guidelines on this subject are unclear,” he said.
Robredo said that after the review, there should be a “pre-demolition meeting” involving representatives of the PNP, LGUs, National Housing Authority, those affected by the demolition and other stakeholders prior to the execution of any court order.
The meeting would “prevent violence, such as what transpired at the Silverio Compound in Parañaque City” Monday, he said.
He said the violent demolition at the Silverio Compound, wherein one person was killed and at least 40 others were wounded, should not have happened if those concerned submitted themselves to a meeting beforehand. “The court order indicated that only 61 families are covered by the demolition but it seems all 5,000 families in the compound were misled to believe their homes would be demolished,” Robredo said.
Robredo said Mayor Florencio Bernabe, Rep. Edwin Olivarez and Anakpawis party-list Rep. Rafael Mariano ignored his call for a dialogue.
“I wish that once a meeting is called, all concerned would attend,” he said.
Dirty tricks
Robredo said a plan by illegal settlers at the Tucuma Compound in Barangay Merville, also in Parañaque, to throw human waste at demolition crewmembers and law enforcers would aggravate the situation.
He said those who would resort to such “dirty tricks” would be “arrested because their intent is unlawful.”
Community leader Ramil Asturias said they had prepared bags of feces, mixed with mud and dirty water, they would use to drive away the demolition team if the scheduled demolition had pushed through Thursday.
Asturias said they designated feces collectors after receiving an eviction notice on March 12.
The collectors would go around the neighborhood asking for feces from about 600 houses (1,000 families). After that, the feces would be packed in clear cellophane bags mixed with mud and dirty water. A water drum near the gate of the compound served as a receptacle for the bags. - By Cecille Suerte Felipe
He also warned illegal settlers that they could be arrested if they throw human waste at members of the demolition team and law enforcers.
Robredo called on concerned government agencies, including the Philippine National Police (PNP) and local government units (LGUs), to review all related policies before implementing any demolition order.
“The demolitions should be suspended while the related policies and guidelines on this subject are unclear,” he said.
Robredo said that after the review, there should be a “pre-demolition meeting” involving representatives of the PNP, LGUs, National Housing Authority, those affected by the demolition and other stakeholders prior to the execution of any court order.
The meeting would “prevent violence, such as what transpired at the Silverio Compound in Parañaque City” Monday, he said.
He said the violent demolition at the Silverio Compound, wherein one person was killed and at least 40 others were wounded, should not have happened if those concerned submitted themselves to a meeting beforehand. “The court order indicated that only 61 families are covered by the demolition but it seems all 5,000 families in the compound were misled to believe their homes would be demolished,” Robredo said.
Robredo said Mayor Florencio Bernabe, Rep. Edwin Olivarez and Anakpawis party-list Rep. Rafael Mariano ignored his call for a dialogue.
“I wish that once a meeting is called, all concerned would attend,” he said.
Dirty tricks
Robredo said a plan by illegal settlers at the Tucuma Compound in Barangay Merville, also in Parañaque, to throw human waste at demolition crewmembers and law enforcers would aggravate the situation.
He said those who would resort to such “dirty tricks” would be “arrested because their intent is unlawful.”
Community leader Ramil Asturias said they had prepared bags of feces, mixed with mud and dirty water, they would use to drive away the demolition team if the scheduled demolition had pushed through Thursday.
Asturias said they designated feces collectors after receiving an eviction notice on March 12.
The collectors would go around the neighborhood asking for feces from about 600 houses (1,000 families). After that, the feces would be packed in clear cellophane bags mixed with mud and dirty water. A water drum near the gate of the compound served as a receptacle for the bags. - By Cecille Suerte Felipe
News Update UBS upgrades Phl growth forecast to 4.5%
MANILA, Philippines - The Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS) has upgraded its 2012 economic growth forecast for the Philippines to 4.5 percent from 3.3 previously, noting that investor confidence has improved.
UBS said that the improved growth data supports its view that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is already done easing its key policy rates.
In its policy-rate setting meeting last week, monetary authorities took a widely expected pause in its rate cuts.
The BSP maintained key policy rates, noting that easing inflation has given it more room to pause after two rate cuts this year.
As such, interest rates remained at a record low of four percent for the overnight borrowing rate and at a record low of six percent for the overnight lending rate.
At the same time, monetary authorities noted that the balance of risks to the inflation outlook now leans toward the upside as oil prices have remained elevated and at risk from ongoing tensions in the Middle East as well as strong demand from emerging economies.
UBS said that prospects are also rosy for investments this year given the strong performance of the Philippine equity market. It noted that the Philippine equity market has already outperformed its peers.
“Relative to ASEAN, the recent outperformance of the Philippine equity market seems linked to prospects for an upswing in investment. We can see the potential for a further leg up in investment activity as GDP growth recovers from a slower than average pace in 2011 - based on easy credit conditions and available savings,” UBS said.
The investment bank noted that that state disbursements have already picked up this year.
“The national government spending growth as we hoped and the BSP has eased monetary policy while other lead indicators suggest a trough in the cycle was reached earlier than we anticipated. We choose to reflect the apparent burst of growth in early 2012, with the possibility of consolidation in the second quarter of the year, ahead of a return to more steady growth. To be sure, national accounts data barely reflected the weakness in high frequency exports and manufacturing data in 2011 and so we do not reflect the full extent of the rebound in our forecasts,” UBS said.
For next year, UBS expects the Philippine economy to grow by 4.7 percent.
Government economic managers has an economic growth target of five percent to six percent for the year and a growth of six percent to seven percent in 2013. Last year, the economy grew by only 3.7 percent from the 7.6 percent recorded in 2011. - By Iris C. Gonzales
UBS said that the improved growth data supports its view that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is already done easing its key policy rates.
In its policy-rate setting meeting last week, monetary authorities took a widely expected pause in its rate cuts.
The BSP maintained key policy rates, noting that easing inflation has given it more room to pause after two rate cuts this year.
As such, interest rates remained at a record low of four percent for the overnight borrowing rate and at a record low of six percent for the overnight lending rate.
At the same time, monetary authorities noted that the balance of risks to the inflation outlook now leans toward the upside as oil prices have remained elevated and at risk from ongoing tensions in the Middle East as well as strong demand from emerging economies.
UBS said that prospects are also rosy for investments this year given the strong performance of the Philippine equity market. It noted that the Philippine equity market has already outperformed its peers.
“Relative to ASEAN, the recent outperformance of the Philippine equity market seems linked to prospects for an upswing in investment. We can see the potential for a further leg up in investment activity as GDP growth recovers from a slower than average pace in 2011 - based on easy credit conditions and available savings,” UBS said.
The investment bank noted that that state disbursements have already picked up this year.
“The national government spending growth as we hoped and the BSP has eased monetary policy while other lead indicators suggest a trough in the cycle was reached earlier than we anticipated. We choose to reflect the apparent burst of growth in early 2012, with the possibility of consolidation in the second quarter of the year, ahead of a return to more steady growth. To be sure, national accounts data barely reflected the weakness in high frequency exports and manufacturing data in 2011 and so we do not reflect the full extent of the rebound in our forecasts,” UBS said.
For next year, UBS expects the Philippine economy to grow by 4.7 percent.
Government economic managers has an economic growth target of five percent to six percent for the year and a growth of six percent to seven percent in 2013. Last year, the economy grew by only 3.7 percent from the 7.6 percent recorded in 2011. - By Iris C. Gonzales
Friday, April 27, 2012
News Update 'He hung a puppy, now he's facing charges
Here's a case that will remind you how you should treat animals and how you should be wary with what you post on Facebook.
Jerzon Senador, who was condemned after pinning his puppy to a clothesline and posting pictures of it online, is now facing charges for animal cruelty.
After almost a year, the Municipal Trial Court of Calamba, Laguna issued a warrant of arrest against Senador for violation of Republic Act 8485 or the Animal Welfare Act, according to a Facebook post of the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) on Friday.
However, PAWS said when the police arrived at his home, the teenager was nowhere to be found.
“PAWS was in Calamba, Laguna yesterday for Jerzon Senador's long-delayed arrest, but when police arrived at his Looc address, the accused parents' said that Jerzon Senador has left home and that his present whereabouts are unknown to them,” the Facebook post read.
The animal rights organization is now seeking help to find information leading to his arrest.
Senador uploaded the photos of his helpless puppy in June last year, sparking outrage from netizens.
After being swamped with angry messages, he took the images down and issued a public apology posted on his page, saying, “To all animal lovers and to people all over the world please read this. I would like to ask for forgiveness for the wrong I've done against my dog. I hope you could forgive me and I promise it will never happen again.”
Apparently, his apology was not enough as he must now face the case filed against him by PAWS.
RA 8485 states that upon conviction, Senador will be punished by imprisonment of six months to two years or a fine of P1,000 to P5,000 or both.
In a similar incident, a student from the University of the Philippines, Joseph Carlo Candare, killed a cat inside the campus and bragged about it on his blog in 2009.
Two years after, Candare pleaded guilty and his case was the first successful conviction of someone accused of animal cruelty in the Philippines.
Jerzon Senador, who was condemned after pinning his puppy to a clothesline and posting pictures of it online, is now facing charges for animal cruelty.
After almost a year, the Municipal Trial Court of Calamba, Laguna issued a warrant of arrest against Senador for violation of Republic Act 8485 or the Animal Welfare Act, according to a Facebook post of the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) on Friday.
However, PAWS said when the police arrived at his home, the teenager was nowhere to be found.
“PAWS was in Calamba, Laguna yesterday for Jerzon Senador's long-delayed arrest, but when police arrived at his Looc address, the accused parents' said that Jerzon Senador has left home and that his present whereabouts are unknown to them,” the Facebook post read.
The animal rights organization is now seeking help to find information leading to his arrest.
Senador uploaded the photos of his helpless puppy in June last year, sparking outrage from netizens.
After being swamped with angry messages, he took the images down and issued a public apology posted on his page, saying, “To all animal lovers and to people all over the world please read this. I would like to ask for forgiveness for the wrong I've done against my dog. I hope you could forgive me and I promise it will never happen again.”
Apparently, his apology was not enough as he must now face the case filed against him by PAWS.
RA 8485 states that upon conviction, Senador will be punished by imprisonment of six months to two years or a fine of P1,000 to P5,000 or both.
In a similar incident, a student from the University of the Philippines, Joseph Carlo Candare, killed a cat inside the campus and bragged about it on his blog in 2009.
Two years after, Candare pleaded guilty and his case was the first successful conviction of someone accused of animal cruelty in the Philippines.
News Update 'China vows to defend rights in maritime row: Xinhua
China's military on Thursday vowed to defend the country's territory amid a stand-off with the Philippines in the disputed South China Sea, the official Xinhua news agency said.
China is locked in a maritime dispute with the Philippines over the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, which is considered a potential Asian flashpoint due to the overlapping claims of several nations.
"China's armed forces bear the responsibility for the task of defending the nation's territorial sovereignty and safeguarding maritime rights and interests," defence ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng was quoted as saying.
China claims all of the South China Sea as a historic part of its territory, even waters close to the coasts of the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries.
Geng added the military would cooperate with Chinese government bodies handling fishery and maritime affairs to safeguard the country's rights, Xinhua said, but gave no further details.
The Philippines said Thursday it would seek more US military help during top-level talks next week, despite China's warning not to "internationalise" the tense territorial dispute.
Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said the Philippines was looking to the United States to help it achieve a "credible" defence system, and wanted to extract maximum benefits from a mutual defence treaty between the allies.
The United States and the Philippines are now holding military exercises though officials of both countries deny a link to the dispute with China.
The Philippines has complained over the past two years that China has become increasingly aggressive in staking its claim to the waters, with tensions spiking over the Scarborough Shoal standoff.
China itself is currently holding naval exercises with Russia off the Chinese coast which included live-fire drills on Thursday, state media said.
The exercises are the first ever dedicated naval drills between the two countries.
China plans more military exercises with Russia and central Asian countries belonging to a regional grouping which have been scheduled for June in Tajikistan, Geng said.
He added that China's recent tests of its first aircraft carrier had no relationship to the "current regional situation".
That vessel, a refitted former Soviet carrier called the Varyag, underwent its second sea trial in November last year.
China is locked in a maritime dispute with the Philippines over the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, which is considered a potential Asian flashpoint due to the overlapping claims of several nations.
"China's armed forces bear the responsibility for the task of defending the nation's territorial sovereignty and safeguarding maritime rights and interests," defence ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng was quoted as saying.
China claims all of the South China Sea as a historic part of its territory, even waters close to the coasts of the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries.
Geng added the military would cooperate with Chinese government bodies handling fishery and maritime affairs to safeguard the country's rights, Xinhua said, but gave no further details.
The Philippines said Thursday it would seek more US military help during top-level talks next week, despite China's warning not to "internationalise" the tense territorial dispute.
Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said the Philippines was looking to the United States to help it achieve a "credible" defence system, and wanted to extract maximum benefits from a mutual defence treaty between the allies.
The United States and the Philippines are now holding military exercises though officials of both countries deny a link to the dispute with China.
The Philippines has complained over the past two years that China has become increasingly aggressive in staking its claim to the waters, with tensions spiking over the Scarborough Shoal standoff.
China itself is currently holding naval exercises with Russia off the Chinese coast which included live-fire drills on Thursday, state media said.
The exercises are the first ever dedicated naval drills between the two countries.
China plans more military exercises with Russia and central Asian countries belonging to a regional grouping which have been scheduled for June in Tajikistan, Geng said.
He added that China's recent tests of its first aircraft carrier had no relationship to the "current regional situation".
That vessel, a refitted former Soviet carrier called the Varyag, underwent its second sea trial in November last year.
News Update Court orders release of 6 arrested Chinese
DAVAO CITY – The Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Davao City ordered the release of six Chinese nationals who were arrested last week along with 72 Taiwanese for international financial fraud.
The 72 Taiwanese nationals, however, will remain under the custody of the regional office of the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
The court, in a six-page order penned by RTC Branch 17 pairing Judge Emmanuel Carpio on Wednesday, said the six Chinese nationals identified as Li Ning, 20; Long Kun, 26; Li Yao Lin, 23, Zhong Xiang, 35; Huang Jun Cheng, 32, and Pan Hai Tao, 25, were released due to their non-inclusion in the deportation proceedings.
Judge Carpio also ruled the six foreigners have no pending case filed before any court in the country even as they are named respondents, along with the 72 Taiwanese nationals, in a complaint filed by the Davao City Police Office before the City Prosecutor’s Office for violation of Republic Act 8484 (Access Devices Regulation Act of 1998) in relation to Republic Act 8792 (Electronic Commerce Act).
The court, however, dismissed the petition for release filed by the 72 Taiwanese nationals due to the cancellation of their passports by the Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the ongoing deportation proceedings being conducted by the BI.
The 78 foreign nationals were arrested in separate raids on their hideouts on April 18 for allegedly engaging in an international financial fraud.
Carpio, in his ruling, said the court cannot act on other issues raised in the Omnibus Motion of the petitioners since a habeas corpus "pertains only to the determination of whether or not the confinement of detention of the petitioner is valid or lawful."
In a phone interview, lawyer Israelito Torreon, legal counsel for the petitioners, said there is nothing they can do with the dismissal of the petition to release the Taiwanese, saying "it was ruling of the court."
He said they have no other option left but to file a motion for reconsideration to convince the court that "the cases cited in the order do not match with the present case of the Taiwanese."
Torreon said one of the cases cited in the order can only be applied to cases of foreigners with deportation order. He reiterated that the BI has not yet issued a deportation order nor a charge sheet against his clients as there are no valid papers presented yet.
He also said there was no arrest warrant issued against his clients when they were arrested, adding that no criminal case was filed before the RTC against them.
During their counsel conference with the aliens and the other lawyers, Torreon said lawyer Lyndon Yap, one of the counsels for the foreigners, said most of the foreigners want to face the charges in Taiwan.
"If that's the case then we will fast-track the dismissal of the criminal cases filed against them," Torreon told Sun.Star Davao.
In a separate interview, Senior Superintendent Ronald dela Rosa said they welcomed the court’s decision to keep the 72 Taiwanese nationals in detention.
He said the Taiwanese will remain in their detention facility while the deportation proceedings are going on.
As to the six Chinese nationals, he said they released them Thursday.
The 72 Taiwanese nationals, however, will remain under the custody of the regional office of the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
The court, in a six-page order penned by RTC Branch 17 pairing Judge Emmanuel Carpio on Wednesday, said the six Chinese nationals identified as Li Ning, 20; Long Kun, 26; Li Yao Lin, 23, Zhong Xiang, 35; Huang Jun Cheng, 32, and Pan Hai Tao, 25, were released due to their non-inclusion in the deportation proceedings.
Judge Carpio also ruled the six foreigners have no pending case filed before any court in the country even as they are named respondents, along with the 72 Taiwanese nationals, in a complaint filed by the Davao City Police Office before the City Prosecutor’s Office for violation of Republic Act 8484 (Access Devices Regulation Act of 1998) in relation to Republic Act 8792 (Electronic Commerce Act).
The court, however, dismissed the petition for release filed by the 72 Taiwanese nationals due to the cancellation of their passports by the Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the ongoing deportation proceedings being conducted by the BI.
The 78 foreign nationals were arrested in separate raids on their hideouts on April 18 for allegedly engaging in an international financial fraud.
Carpio, in his ruling, said the court cannot act on other issues raised in the Omnibus Motion of the petitioners since a habeas corpus "pertains only to the determination of whether or not the confinement of detention of the petitioner is valid or lawful."
In a phone interview, lawyer Israelito Torreon, legal counsel for the petitioners, said there is nothing they can do with the dismissal of the petition to release the Taiwanese, saying "it was ruling of the court."
He said they have no other option left but to file a motion for reconsideration to convince the court that "the cases cited in the order do not match with the present case of the Taiwanese."
Torreon said one of the cases cited in the order can only be applied to cases of foreigners with deportation order. He reiterated that the BI has not yet issued a deportation order nor a charge sheet against his clients as there are no valid papers presented yet.
He also said there was no arrest warrant issued against his clients when they were arrested, adding that no criminal case was filed before the RTC against them.
During their counsel conference with the aliens and the other lawyers, Torreon said lawyer Lyndon Yap, one of the counsels for the foreigners, said most of the foreigners want to face the charges in Taiwan.
"If that's the case then we will fast-track the dismissal of the criminal cases filed against them," Torreon told Sun.Star Davao.
In a separate interview, Senior Superintendent Ronald dela Rosa said they welcomed the court’s decision to keep the 72 Taiwanese nationals in detention.
He said the Taiwanese will remain in their detention facility while the deportation proceedings are going on.
As to the six Chinese nationals, he said they released them Thursday.
News Update MMDA eyes radical changes in the metro
To develop Metro Manila, it may be necessary for the city to move out.
Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino said Friday that to make a better Metro Manila, there must be radical changes, which might include relocating the seaport to Batangas.
The old seaport space could then house a new Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Speaking before the Philippine Tour Operators Association, Tolentino said Singapore, Hong Kong, and Japan have airports by the sea. "It's only here where the airport is inside a subdivision," he said.
In a related development, Transportation and Communications Secretary Manuel Roxas II said over DZMM on Friday that air operations may also have to be moved to Clark in Angeles because the runways in NAIA are congested.
Clearing the seaport will also remove container vans and large trucks in the port and San Marcelino areas, Tolentino said.
However, to execute such a plan and to extend planned Roxas Boulevard all the way to Navotas, require a large-scale relocation of residents, he said.
Metro Manila will also have to expand to parts of Rizal, Bulacan, and Laguna, he said.
A six-lane Skybridge from Quezon City to Makati is also being eyed. Tolentino said the Skybridge is expected to reduce 40 percent of traffic from Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue.
A planned extension of train lines to Cavite and Antipolo is also expected to decongest Metro Manila, which has around 14 million residents.
He said these proposals are part of Metro Manila Greenprint 2030, a long-term development plan that seeks to raise the standard of living in the metropolis.
Greenprint is currently being formulated and a final development plan is expected by June next year.
"The model here is to relocate little by little our government center," he said.
He said the same was done in Malaysia, where government offices were moved to Putrajaya from Kuala Lumpur in 1999.
Brazil also founded Brasilia in the 1960s to replace Rio De Janeiro as the capital.
"We can retain the current spaces for heritage, residential, and mixed-use purposes," he said, but Manila has to move away from the center.
Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino said Friday that to make a better Metro Manila, there must be radical changes, which might include relocating the seaport to Batangas.
The old seaport space could then house a new Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Speaking before the Philippine Tour Operators Association, Tolentino said Singapore, Hong Kong, and Japan have airports by the sea. "It's only here where the airport is inside a subdivision," he said.
In a related development, Transportation and Communications Secretary Manuel Roxas II said over DZMM on Friday that air operations may also have to be moved to Clark in Angeles because the runways in NAIA are congested.
Clearing the seaport will also remove container vans and large trucks in the port and San Marcelino areas, Tolentino said.
However, to execute such a plan and to extend planned Roxas Boulevard all the way to Navotas, require a large-scale relocation of residents, he said.
Metro Manila will also have to expand to parts of Rizal, Bulacan, and Laguna, he said.
A six-lane Skybridge from Quezon City to Makati is also being eyed. Tolentino said the Skybridge is expected to reduce 40 percent of traffic from Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue.
A planned extension of train lines to Cavite and Antipolo is also expected to decongest Metro Manila, which has around 14 million residents.
He said these proposals are part of Metro Manila Greenprint 2030, a long-term development plan that seeks to raise the standard of living in the metropolis.
Greenprint is currently being formulated and a final development plan is expected by June next year.
"The model here is to relocate little by little our government center," he said.
He said the same was done in Malaysia, where government offices were moved to Putrajaya from Kuala Lumpur in 1999.
Brazil also founded Brasilia in the 1960s to replace Rio De Janeiro as the capital.
"We can retain the current spaces for heritage, residential, and mixed-use purposes," he said, but Manila has to move away from the center.
News Update Merville squatters ready to play dirty
MANILA, Philippines - Illegal settlers in Barangay Merville, Parañaque had prepared bags of feces mixed with mud and dirty water they would use – in lieu of rocks and bottles – to drive away the demolition team if yesterday’s scheduled demolition had pushed through, community leaders said yesterday.
Ramil Asturias said they designated feces collectors after receiving an eviction notice on March 12.
The collectors would go around the neighborhood asking for feces from about 600 houses (1,000 families). After that, the feces would be packed in clear cellophane bags mixed with mud and dirty water. A water drum near the gate served as a receptacle for the bags.
“We’ve seen bloody demolitions but that will never happen here. We don’t want to hurt anyone, so, we decided to use feces to protect ourselves. This is our shield,” Asturias said with a chuckle.
The illegal settlers occupy the “Tucuma” compound, which lies in the middle of three sitios (Tuyuan, Cubic, and Malaya). These slums are located near posh subdivisions.
The compound is surrounded by shanties and narrow allies, and can be reached only by foot or two-wheeled vehicles.
“Had the demolition pushed through we will throw these at them,” Asturias added, as he insisted that they “know what is right. We are disciplined.”
Prepared
However, aside from feces, the residents also prepared gravel mixed with pepper and bottles of urine.
Asturias said they were given 45 days since March 12 to vacate the place. Instead, they prepared to resist the demolition crews.
They created dress codes to “easily distinguish” the residents from the members of the demolition team. “We discussed all these during consultations,” he said.
Their members also wore layers of clothes and helmets while guarding the gate. A visitor who looks suspicious would be accosted by a member.
They handed out fliers asking residents of the three other sitios to join them in opposing the eviction. One resident, who requested anonymity, said the flier and the presence of the media made them panic, prompting them to pack their things early yesterday morning.
“But we don’t want to join them. They are egging us to join them in the riot,” the resident said.
What demolition?
It seems, however, that only the residents are aware of the demolition. The Parañaque police said they were not instructed to go to the site.
“There was no request from the court or from our higher headquarters,” said city police chief Senior Superintendent Billy Beltran. - By Aie Balagtas See
Ramil Asturias said they designated feces collectors after receiving an eviction notice on March 12.
The collectors would go around the neighborhood asking for feces from about 600 houses (1,000 families). After that, the feces would be packed in clear cellophane bags mixed with mud and dirty water. A water drum near the gate served as a receptacle for the bags.
“We’ve seen bloody demolitions but that will never happen here. We don’t want to hurt anyone, so, we decided to use feces to protect ourselves. This is our shield,” Asturias said with a chuckle.
The illegal settlers occupy the “Tucuma” compound, which lies in the middle of three sitios (Tuyuan, Cubic, and Malaya). These slums are located near posh subdivisions.
The compound is surrounded by shanties and narrow allies, and can be reached only by foot or two-wheeled vehicles.
“Had the demolition pushed through we will throw these at them,” Asturias added, as he insisted that they “know what is right. We are disciplined.”
Prepared
However, aside from feces, the residents also prepared gravel mixed with pepper and bottles of urine.
Asturias said they were given 45 days since March 12 to vacate the place. Instead, they prepared to resist the demolition crews.
They created dress codes to “easily distinguish” the residents from the members of the demolition team. “We discussed all these during consultations,” he said.
Their members also wore layers of clothes and helmets while guarding the gate. A visitor who looks suspicious would be accosted by a member.
They handed out fliers asking residents of the three other sitios to join them in opposing the eviction. One resident, who requested anonymity, said the flier and the presence of the media made them panic, prompting them to pack their things early yesterday morning.
“But we don’t want to join them. They are egging us to join them in the riot,” the resident said.
What demolition?
It seems, however, that only the residents are aware of the demolition. The Parañaque police said they were not instructed to go to the site.
“There was no request from the court or from our higher headquarters,” said city police chief Senior Superintendent Billy Beltran. - By Aie Balagtas See
News Update Malaysian cooking oil goes into Filipino kitchens
ANILA, Philippines - Cooking oil is a ubiquitous staple in every Filipino kitchen, complementing most Filipinos' penchant to fry their favorite dishes. There is actually a lot of cooking oil brands-both local and international-in every supermarket these days, perhaps to the point of product saturation. But, a Malaysian company is confident that the Philippines is ready for yet another cooking oil brand option-with a healthy twist.
Recently, Lam Soon Edible Oils Sdn. Bgd.-a 60-year-old Malaysian palm oil refining company-introduced one of its prime products to the Philippine market, the Buruh cooking oil, at a launch held in the S&R Membership Shopping center at the Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. As of press time, S&R Membership Shopping is the exclusive distributor of Buruh in the Philippines.
"Buruh cooking oil is already famous in Malaysia and we would like to share it to other ASEAN countries [as well]," said Elaine Tang, a representative for Lam Soon's Consumer Food Department, Marketing Division. "This product is excellent for deep frying because it is stable and healthy. You can actually reuse the oil [for frying] up to three times." Buruh cooking oil has consistently won the Reader's Digest Trusted Brand award for the cooking oil category in Malaysia since 2006.
So, what exactly is Buruh's edge over other edible oils? Tang shared that the product is made from pure palm oil, which is known for its health benefits. It is noted by the brand that Buruh cooking oil is rich in "Vitamin E, fortified with Vitamin A and is cholesterol-free." The natural antioxidants in the product's formulation also make it durable for cooking and can sustain multiple frying cycles while remaining bland and odorless.
Lam Soon Edible Oils Sdn. Bgd. has also brought in its other products to S&R such as margarines, soaps and dishwashing liquids.
In relation, S&R has observed that Filipinos are becoming more aware of international household brands, with an increasing awareness for Asian names. According to Gwen Lourdes Lim, Head Buyer for S&R Membership Shopping, the knowledge of shoppers for products sold "used to be very westernized, but because of the growing Asian population, [we] are selling more Asian products like Buruh cooking oil."
As the Philippine community continues to globalize (with expats living in the country and OFWs and frequent Filipino travelers knowledgeable about products abroad), the S&R team thinks that product diversity is one of the keys to retail success. "We don't want to be boring," said Kelly Ricks, Director of Operations for S&R Membership Shopping.
S&R's product promotion seems to be interactive. At its Bonifacio Global City outlet, there is a stall that uses Buruh cooking oil to deep-fry Malaysian-style cookies. As Ricks explained, "We do a lot of word of mouth, so what our staff does [is to let] the customers and members coming in the store try our product, take them home, then tell their friends and neighbors [about it.]" So far, Ricks and his team feel that they "have done a pretty good job in getting the word out."
Recently, Lam Soon Edible Oils Sdn. Bgd.-a 60-year-old Malaysian palm oil refining company-introduced one of its prime products to the Philippine market, the Buruh cooking oil, at a launch held in the S&R Membership Shopping center at the Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. As of press time, S&R Membership Shopping is the exclusive distributor of Buruh in the Philippines.
"Buruh cooking oil is already famous in Malaysia and we would like to share it to other ASEAN countries [as well]," said Elaine Tang, a representative for Lam Soon's Consumer Food Department, Marketing Division. "This product is excellent for deep frying because it is stable and healthy. You can actually reuse the oil [for frying] up to three times." Buruh cooking oil has consistently won the Reader's Digest Trusted Brand award for the cooking oil category in Malaysia since 2006.
So, what exactly is Buruh's edge over other edible oils? Tang shared that the product is made from pure palm oil, which is known for its health benefits. It is noted by the brand that Buruh cooking oil is rich in "Vitamin E, fortified with Vitamin A and is cholesterol-free." The natural antioxidants in the product's formulation also make it durable for cooking and can sustain multiple frying cycles while remaining bland and odorless.
Lam Soon Edible Oils Sdn. Bgd. has also brought in its other products to S&R such as margarines, soaps and dishwashing liquids.
In relation, S&R has observed that Filipinos are becoming more aware of international household brands, with an increasing awareness for Asian names. According to Gwen Lourdes Lim, Head Buyer for S&R Membership Shopping, the knowledge of shoppers for products sold "used to be very westernized, but because of the growing Asian population, [we] are selling more Asian products like Buruh cooking oil."
As the Philippine community continues to globalize (with expats living in the country and OFWs and frequent Filipino travelers knowledgeable about products abroad), the S&R team thinks that product diversity is one of the keys to retail success. "We don't want to be boring," said Kelly Ricks, Director of Operations for S&R Membership Shopping.
S&R's product promotion seems to be interactive. At its Bonifacio Global City outlet, there is a stall that uses Buruh cooking oil to deep-fry Malaysian-style cookies. As Ricks explained, "We do a lot of word of mouth, so what our staff does [is to let] the customers and members coming in the store try our product, take them home, then tell their friends and neighbors [about it.]" So far, Ricks and his team feel that they "have done a pretty good job in getting the word out."
News Update DA Pledges Provision Of Relief To Farmers In Central Visayas
CENTRAL VISAYAS - Department of Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala has pledged to provide relief to Central Visayas farmers by implementing a rural development program the implementation of which proved to be effective in Mindanao.
Alcala met with local officials in Cebu, Dumaguete City and Valencia in Negros Oriental, and Siquijor from April 19 to 20 and discussed the possibility of implementing such a program.
Along with local officials, the DA Secretary also met with farmers, fishers, livestock growers and other agricultural stakeholders to resolve major problems and discuss strategies to further increase productivity and incomes of farmers and fisherfolk in the Visayas.
Alcala revealed that he has made a proposal involving a medium-term development plan for the region for possible financing by the World Bank (WB).
The plan, called the Central Philippines Rural Development Program (CPRDP), is designed as a poverty-alleviation initiative aimed for implementation in Regions 4A, 4B, 5, 6, 7, and 8 in partnership with provincial and municipal government units.
Said CPRDP is patterned after the Mindanao Rural Development Plan (MRDP) jointly funded by the WB, the DA, and local government units (LGUs).
"Just like the MRDP, the CPRDP will seek to improve incomes of Orderedfarmers and fisherfolk in rural communities and achieve food security through infrastructure, financing, capacity-building, and other support services," Alcala said, adding that "right now, we're asking the WB for a $300-million loan which we hope will be granted. I am positive this partnership will push through because of the MRDP's success of the MRDP."
He clarified that unlike the MRDP, which adopts a 50-40-10 counterparting scheme from the WB, DA and LGUs, respectively, to bankroll infrastructure, livelihood and community projects, the CPRDP proposes an 80-20 counterparting ratio, with the DA and LGUs each sharing 10 percent of total cost, with the remaining 80 percent from program funds.
Alcala said the CPRDP will also focus on the establishment of expansion areas for staple food propagation in Southern Luzon, Bicol and Visayas. Those areas will augment crop and fishery production areas in Luzon and Mindanao, both of which are affected by uncertain weather.
In Siquijor, meanwhile, Alcala and his team comprised of DA officials from national and regional offices discussed the concerns of farmers and fisherfolk, livestock raisers and local officials, which the DA Secretary instructed his party to address immediately.
Siquijor Governor Orlando A. Fua, Jr. said there is an urgent need for regular sea transport service in the province to ferry local livestock products to Cebu and other destinations, as well as a slaughterhouse which would enable the selling of meat products locally as well as in other markets.
Alcala said there are other projects, including farm-to-market roads (FMRs), ports and irrigation facilities and other infrastructure, that could be funded under the CPRDP. "I urge you to register your identified project needs and let the WB know that you are interested to be part of the CPRDP," he told Fua.
Alcala met with local officials in Cebu, Dumaguete City and Valencia in Negros Oriental, and Siquijor from April 19 to 20 and discussed the possibility of implementing such a program.
Along with local officials, the DA Secretary also met with farmers, fishers, livestock growers and other agricultural stakeholders to resolve major problems and discuss strategies to further increase productivity and incomes of farmers and fisherfolk in the Visayas.
Alcala revealed that he has made a proposal involving a medium-term development plan for the region for possible financing by the World Bank (WB).
The plan, called the Central Philippines Rural Development Program (CPRDP), is designed as a poverty-alleviation initiative aimed for implementation in Regions 4A, 4B, 5, 6, 7, and 8 in partnership with provincial and municipal government units.
Said CPRDP is patterned after the Mindanao Rural Development Plan (MRDP) jointly funded by the WB, the DA, and local government units (LGUs).
"Just like the MRDP, the CPRDP will seek to improve incomes of Orderedfarmers and fisherfolk in rural communities and achieve food security through infrastructure, financing, capacity-building, and other support services," Alcala said, adding that "right now, we're asking the WB for a $300-million loan which we hope will be granted. I am positive this partnership will push through because of the MRDP's success of the MRDP."
He clarified that unlike the MRDP, which adopts a 50-40-10 counterparting scheme from the WB, DA and LGUs, respectively, to bankroll infrastructure, livelihood and community projects, the CPRDP proposes an 80-20 counterparting ratio, with the DA and LGUs each sharing 10 percent of total cost, with the remaining 80 percent from program funds.
Alcala said the CPRDP will also focus on the establishment of expansion areas for staple food propagation in Southern Luzon, Bicol and Visayas. Those areas will augment crop and fishery production areas in Luzon and Mindanao, both of which are affected by uncertain weather.
In Siquijor, meanwhile, Alcala and his team comprised of DA officials from national and regional offices discussed the concerns of farmers and fisherfolk, livestock raisers and local officials, which the DA Secretary instructed his party to address immediately.
Siquijor Governor Orlando A. Fua, Jr. said there is an urgent need for regular sea transport service in the province to ferry local livestock products to Cebu and other destinations, as well as a slaughterhouse which would enable the selling of meat products locally as well as in other markets.
Alcala said there are other projects, including farm-to-market roads (FMRs), ports and irrigation facilities and other infrastructure, that could be funded under the CPRDP. "I urge you to register your identified project needs and let the WB know that you are interested to be part of the CPRDP," he told Fua.
News Update PH demands apology from 'racist' U.S. official
The Philippine embassy in Washington D.C. has denounced a recent remark made by District of Columbia Councilmember Marion Barry, criticizing local hospitals for hiring Filipino nurses.
Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Cuisia has demanded Barry to apologize to Filipino nurses for his “deplorable” remark.
According to a Washington Post report, the Councilmember was quoted as saying he wanted more District residents from Columbia to become nurses so hospitals don’t have to rely on “immigrants” from the Philippines.
“In fact, it’s so bad, that if you go to the hospital now, you’ll find a number of immigrants who are nurses, particularly from the Philippines. And, no offense, but let’s grow our own nurses, so that we don’t have to be scrounging around in our community clinics and other kinds of places, having to hire people from somewhere else,” he said.
Cuisia found Barry’s remark “intolerant” and “narrow-minded.”
“Councilmember Barry’s penchant for blaming Asians, who only want to work for their American dream, fuels racism, discrimination, and violence. He owes Filipino nurses an apology for his recent tirade,” the ambassador said.
He added that the Philippines, being the biggest supplier of registered nurses, has become a major player in the global healthcare market amid a global nursing shortage.
“Filipino nurses are known to be competent, hardworking, caring, and possess good work ethic. These are some of the reasons why most patients prefer and trust them. Like many good citizens, they pay their taxes and contribute to the American economy,” Cuisia pointed out.
However, according to the same Washington Post report, Barry insisted that his statement was taken out of context and that he was merely stating a fact.
This was not the first time the District Councilmember was censured for his “racist” comments.
Earlier this month, Barry was forced to apologize after referring to Asian-owned businesses as “dirty shops.”
Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Cuisia has demanded Barry to apologize to Filipino nurses for his “deplorable” remark.
According to a Washington Post report, the Councilmember was quoted as saying he wanted more District residents from Columbia to become nurses so hospitals don’t have to rely on “immigrants” from the Philippines.
“In fact, it’s so bad, that if you go to the hospital now, you’ll find a number of immigrants who are nurses, particularly from the Philippines. And, no offense, but let’s grow our own nurses, so that we don’t have to be scrounging around in our community clinics and other kinds of places, having to hire people from somewhere else,” he said.
Cuisia found Barry’s remark “intolerant” and “narrow-minded.”
“Councilmember Barry’s penchant for blaming Asians, who only want to work for their American dream, fuels racism, discrimination, and violence. He owes Filipino nurses an apology for his recent tirade,” the ambassador said.
He added that the Philippines, being the biggest supplier of registered nurses, has become a major player in the global healthcare market amid a global nursing shortage.
“Filipino nurses are known to be competent, hardworking, caring, and possess good work ethic. These are some of the reasons why most patients prefer and trust them. Like many good citizens, they pay their taxes and contribute to the American economy,” Cuisia pointed out.
However, according to the same Washington Post report, Barry insisted that his statement was taken out of context and that he was merely stating a fact.
This was not the first time the District Councilmember was censured for his “racist” comments.
Earlier this month, Barry was forced to apologize after referring to Asian-owned businesses as “dirty shops.”
News Update BSP announces Export Bank Inc. closure
Export and Industry Bank Inc (EIB) is now on a bank holiday, following its "inability to meet its obligations," the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Friday.
In a statement, BSP said the Monetary Board has placed EIB "under receivership" for its inability to further operate "without probable losses to its depositors or creditors."
EIB has already agreed to "surrender" its operations to the BSP, the central bank added.
BSP said the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) is ready to "service valid deposit claims from depositors of EIB," as well as to process claims the soonest possible.
BSP also allayed fears of PH banks' stability amid EIB's closure, noting that the entire banking system "remains sound and stable with ample liquidity and high level of capitalization."
"The closure of EIB is not expected to adversely affect the Philippine banking system considering its relatively small size. Its total assets is equivalent to only about 0.3% of the total assets of the banking system," BSP added.
In a statement, BSP said the Monetary Board has placed EIB "under receivership" for its inability to further operate "without probable losses to its depositors or creditors."
EIB has already agreed to "surrender" its operations to the BSP, the central bank added.
BSP said the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) is ready to "service valid deposit claims from depositors of EIB," as well as to process claims the soonest possible.
BSP also allayed fears of PH banks' stability amid EIB's closure, noting that the entire banking system "remains sound and stable with ample liquidity and high level of capitalization."
"The closure of EIB is not expected to adversely affect the Philippine banking system considering its relatively small size. Its total assets is equivalent to only about 0.3% of the total assets of the banking system," BSP added.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
News Update Stocks break into 5,200-pt territory
MANILA, Philippines - The local stock market vaulted to a new record peak yesterday, closing above the 5,200 level for the first time on upbeat US economic data and healthy demand for euro zone sovereign debt.
The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) finished 35.24 points or 0.68 percent higher at 5,204.84 as investors loaded up on shares of DMCI, Philex Mining, Metro Pacific and Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co.
Year-to-date, the PSEi has risen by 19.05 percent.
“The PSEI closed at its 16th resetting of the record high, settling above the 5,200-line for the first time. We have always contended that if investors choose to focus on the domestic fundamentals above external issues, the bias is unmistakably positive. Today is yet another proof of this proposition,” said Accord Capital Equities Inc.’s Jun Calaycay.
Investors cheered the improved housing data with single-family home prices rising in February for the first time in 10 months.
DMCI gained almost seven percent to P63 while Philex rose 8.28 percent to P24.20. Metro Pacific improved by 7.09 percent to P4.53 while Alliance Global Group Inc. inched up by 4.26 percent to P12.74.
Gainers outran losers 104 to 69 while 40 issues were unchanged. A total of 8.86 billion shares, worth P8.71 billion, changed hands yesterday.
Calaycay said the index is well on track to hitting his projected 2012 index level of between 5,600 and 5,800. “We believe that heading into the final leg of the earnings reporting season, the 5,200 level can be, and will most probably be, sustained,” he said.
He, however, cautioned that some stocks may be ripe for profit-taking. “ We look ahead to going light on substantial overperformers, while reconfiguring our portfolios to focus on financial, industrial and property sectors, emphasizing on underperforms,” Calaycay said. - By Zinnia B. Dela Peña
The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) finished 35.24 points or 0.68 percent higher at 5,204.84 as investors loaded up on shares of DMCI, Philex Mining, Metro Pacific and Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co.
Year-to-date, the PSEi has risen by 19.05 percent.
“The PSEI closed at its 16th resetting of the record high, settling above the 5,200-line for the first time. We have always contended that if investors choose to focus on the domestic fundamentals above external issues, the bias is unmistakably positive. Today is yet another proof of this proposition,” said Accord Capital Equities Inc.’s Jun Calaycay.
Investors cheered the improved housing data with single-family home prices rising in February for the first time in 10 months.
DMCI gained almost seven percent to P63 while Philex rose 8.28 percent to P24.20. Metro Pacific improved by 7.09 percent to P4.53 while Alliance Global Group Inc. inched up by 4.26 percent to P12.74.
Gainers outran losers 104 to 69 while 40 issues were unchanged. A total of 8.86 billion shares, worth P8.71 billion, changed hands yesterday.
Calaycay said the index is well on track to hitting his projected 2012 index level of between 5,600 and 5,800. “We believe that heading into the final leg of the earnings reporting season, the 5,200 level can be, and will most probably be, sustained,” he said.
He, however, cautioned that some stocks may be ripe for profit-taking. “ We look ahead to going light on substantial overperformers, while reconfiguring our portfolios to focus on financial, industrial and property sectors, emphasizing on underperforms,” Calaycay said. - By Zinnia B. Dela Peña
DID YOU KNOW THAT ? Philippines’ AirAsia Launches Daily Flights
MANILA, Philippines - Philippines' AirAsia, the country's newest low cost carrier, launched its maiden flight on April 20, 2012 from Clark International Airport to Puerto Princesa City, Palawan with an all-in fare of P799 one way.
The amount includes base fare, fuel surcharge, processing fee and government mandated fees such as aviation security fee and VAT.
"Puerto Princesa is the gateway to Palawan's diverse eco-tourism offerings. It's one of the new seven wonders of nature which local and international tourists want to see," according to AirAsia Inc. CEO Maan Hontiveros.
The airline's new service will provide the accessibility to visit Tubbataha Reef, Honda Bay, Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center and the Puerto Princesa Underground River which has been voted as one of the seven wonders of nature.
"Air transport connectivity between the Philippines and the rest of the region is also expected to benefit from AirAsia's extensive network in the ASEAN and Asia," she explained.
"AirAsia has a route network that spans through more than 20 countries with over 75 destinations in Asia and Australia. With this connectivity, tourism and transportation in the country are expected to improve, dramatically."
The airline began serving the Filipino people last March 28 when it launched its daily flights from Clark to the tourism destinations of Kalibo (Boracay) in the Visayas and Davao in Mindanao.
"Tourists from Central and Northern Luzon and those from Metro Manila who want to be spared from the traffic of EDSA and long queues of NAIA, now have easy access to Palawan. In the same way that Palawan has a new and better access to Luzon and other AirAsia destinations across Asia and Australia," Hontiveros added.
The Puerto Princesa promo started from 16 April - 22 April 2012, and guests will be able to travel from 23 April to 31 July 2013.
Philippines' AirAsia call center also accepts booking via +632 588 9999 from Monday to Sunday at 0800hrs to 2100hrs (GMT +8) which includes a booking service fee of P310.
The first Philippines' AirAsia flight, PQ7015, left Clark International Airport at 5:50 p.m. this Friday. On board were 176 passengers including 40 delegates from the Philippine Swimming League who will compete in the first Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn championship this weekend in Palawan.
AirAsia Inc. is a 60-40 joint venture between Filipino investors Antonio O. Cojuangco, Michael L. Romero, Hontiveros,and Malaysia's AirAsia International Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of AirAsia Berhad.
AirAsia currently flies to Davao, Kalibo (Boracay) and Puerto Princesa (starting April 20) daily.
The amount includes base fare, fuel surcharge, processing fee and government mandated fees such as aviation security fee and VAT.
"Puerto Princesa is the gateway to Palawan's diverse eco-tourism offerings. It's one of the new seven wonders of nature which local and international tourists want to see," according to AirAsia Inc. CEO Maan Hontiveros.
The airline's new service will provide the accessibility to visit Tubbataha Reef, Honda Bay, Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center and the Puerto Princesa Underground River which has been voted as one of the seven wonders of nature.
"Air transport connectivity between the Philippines and the rest of the region is also expected to benefit from AirAsia's extensive network in the ASEAN and Asia," she explained.
"AirAsia has a route network that spans through more than 20 countries with over 75 destinations in Asia and Australia. With this connectivity, tourism and transportation in the country are expected to improve, dramatically."
The airline began serving the Filipino people last March 28 when it launched its daily flights from Clark to the tourism destinations of Kalibo (Boracay) in the Visayas and Davao in Mindanao.
"Tourists from Central and Northern Luzon and those from Metro Manila who want to be spared from the traffic of EDSA and long queues of NAIA, now have easy access to Palawan. In the same way that Palawan has a new and better access to Luzon and other AirAsia destinations across Asia and Australia," Hontiveros added.
The Puerto Princesa promo started from 16 April - 22 April 2012, and guests will be able to travel from 23 April to 31 July 2013.
Philippines' AirAsia call center also accepts booking via +632 588 9999 from Monday to Sunday at 0800hrs to 2100hrs (GMT +8) which includes a booking service fee of P310.
The first Philippines' AirAsia flight, PQ7015, left Clark International Airport at 5:50 p.m. this Friday. On board were 176 passengers including 40 delegates from the Philippine Swimming League who will compete in the first Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn championship this weekend in Palawan.
AirAsia Inc. is a 60-40 joint venture between Filipino investors Antonio O. Cojuangco, Michael L. Romero, Hontiveros,and Malaysia's AirAsia International Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of AirAsia Berhad.
AirAsia currently flies to Davao, Kalibo (Boracay) and Puerto Princesa (starting April 20) daily.
News Update 6 convicted for Masbate mayor's slay
MANILA, Philippines - Six people, including a former provincial jail warden, were convicted yesterday for conspiring to kill then Masbate City mayor Moises Espinosa Jr. in 2001.
Charlie Quidato, former provincial jail warden; his brother, Isagani, former jail officer; Ramilo Ayque, former jail guard; and inmate Alex Alteza were meted life sentences.
Their co-perpetrators, Dindo Niez and Pio Badaguas, were sentenced to more than 20 years in jail. This will be added to the length of time they will serve in New Bilibid Prison, where they are currently detained for another crime.
In a 58-page decision, Judge Rosalyn Mislos-Loja of Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 41 said the denial of all the accused “failed insofar as the testimonies of the witnesses” are to be considered.
Loja denied the alibi of all the accused, saying the identification by witnesses is “worthier than self-serving denial of the accused.”
The judge added that she could not see any ill motive on the part of the prosecution witnesses when they pointed to the six as those who conspired to kill Espinosa.
Espinosa, who only served as mayor for 40 days, was shot dead during a feast in the plaza of Barangay Bantigue, Masbate City at past midnight on Aug. 9, 2001.
“Espinosa initially opted not to grace the coronation rites at the plaza but he changed his mind and proceeded to the place from his office about 8 p.m.,” the court said.
Bantigue is about three kilometers away from the city proper. The court said Espinosa was accompanied by security escort Jose Cortez.
The 45-year-old politician was about to escort a woman out of the dance floor when he was shot. He was rushed to Masbate Comprehensive Hospital but died after three hours.
Warden as organizer
According to witnesses, Charlie organized a team to kill Espinosa. Two people saw Isagani shooting Espinosa with .45 caliber handgun.
According to witness Rolly Ogaya, an inmate of the provincial jail and one of the assassins allegedly hired by the jail warden, Charlie summoned him hours before the attack. Charlie instructed him to dress up “as they were going somewhere else,” the court said.
“When (Ogaya) went back to the office of the warden, he saw the latter, Ayque, Niez, Alteza, and (Alberto) Choy, all equally dressed up and armed with guns. Ogaya was given a shotgun,” said the court.
The court said Charlie laid down the instructions to ensure Espinosa ’s death. He instructed Ayque and Choy to go to the plaza when Espinosa was called to dance.
The shots were timed during the fireworks display. Cortez told the court that he saw the mayor’s bloodied hands while holding his upper right arm.
“At some point, five gunshots were heard and (Charlie) was seen by Ogaya running toward the place, firing shots,” the court said. The gunfight lasted for 20 minutes.
The assassins went back to the warden’s office, where Charlie allegedly asked if Espinosa was dead. Ayque said yes. The next day, Isagani arrived and confirmed Espinosa’s death.
No motive, masterminds
Espinosa’s sister, Maloli, was teary-eyed as the decision was read out loud. “Justice finally! After more than a decade,” she said.
The motive behind Espinosa’s death or who masterminded the crime have yet to be established. “There’s a court of conscience,” Maloli said.
The accused have repeatedly denied involvement in the crime. Charlie’s lawyer, Alex Almario, said they will file an appeal.
Espinosa belonged to one of the political families who ruled Masbate for years. His father, congressman Moises Espinosa Sr., was assassinated at the Masbate airport in 1989.
His uncle, former congressman Tito Espinosa, was killed near the House of Representatives in Quezon City in 1995. - By Aie Balagtas See
Charlie Quidato, former provincial jail warden; his brother, Isagani, former jail officer; Ramilo Ayque, former jail guard; and inmate Alex Alteza were meted life sentences.
Their co-perpetrators, Dindo Niez and Pio Badaguas, were sentenced to more than 20 years in jail. This will be added to the length of time they will serve in New Bilibid Prison, where they are currently detained for another crime.
In a 58-page decision, Judge Rosalyn Mislos-Loja of Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 41 said the denial of all the accused “failed insofar as the testimonies of the witnesses” are to be considered.
Loja denied the alibi of all the accused, saying the identification by witnesses is “worthier than self-serving denial of the accused.”
The judge added that she could not see any ill motive on the part of the prosecution witnesses when they pointed to the six as those who conspired to kill Espinosa.
Espinosa, who only served as mayor for 40 days, was shot dead during a feast in the plaza of Barangay Bantigue, Masbate City at past midnight on Aug. 9, 2001.
“Espinosa initially opted not to grace the coronation rites at the plaza but he changed his mind and proceeded to the place from his office about 8 p.m.,” the court said.
Bantigue is about three kilometers away from the city proper. The court said Espinosa was accompanied by security escort Jose Cortez.
The 45-year-old politician was about to escort a woman out of the dance floor when he was shot. He was rushed to Masbate Comprehensive Hospital but died after three hours.
Warden as organizer
According to witnesses, Charlie organized a team to kill Espinosa. Two people saw Isagani shooting Espinosa with .45 caliber handgun.
According to witness Rolly Ogaya, an inmate of the provincial jail and one of the assassins allegedly hired by the jail warden, Charlie summoned him hours before the attack. Charlie instructed him to dress up “as they were going somewhere else,” the court said.
“When (Ogaya) went back to the office of the warden, he saw the latter, Ayque, Niez, Alteza, and (Alberto) Choy, all equally dressed up and armed with guns. Ogaya was given a shotgun,” said the court.
The court said Charlie laid down the instructions to ensure Espinosa ’s death. He instructed Ayque and Choy to go to the plaza when Espinosa was called to dance.
The shots were timed during the fireworks display. Cortez told the court that he saw the mayor’s bloodied hands while holding his upper right arm.
“At some point, five gunshots were heard and (Charlie) was seen by Ogaya running toward the place, firing shots,” the court said. The gunfight lasted for 20 minutes.
The assassins went back to the warden’s office, where Charlie allegedly asked if Espinosa was dead. Ayque said yes. The next day, Isagani arrived and confirmed Espinosa’s death.
No motive, masterminds
Espinosa’s sister, Maloli, was teary-eyed as the decision was read out loud. “Justice finally! After more than a decade,” she said.
The motive behind Espinosa’s death or who masterminded the crime have yet to be established. “There’s a court of conscience,” Maloli said.
The accused have repeatedly denied involvement in the crime. Charlie’s lawyer, Alex Almario, said they will file an appeal.
Espinosa belonged to one of the political families who ruled Masbate for years. His father, congressman Moises Espinosa Sr., was assassinated at the Masbate airport in 1989.
His uncle, former congressman Tito Espinosa, was killed near the House of Representatives in Quezon City in 1995. - By Aie Balagtas See
Kopi Talk Kris goes underground
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY — A river runs through it. I don’t mean the city but the bottom of an unnamed mountain in Barangay Sabang, now known worldwide as the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) which was formally declared one of The New Seven Wonders of Nature last Monday, April 23, with Pres. Noynoy Aquino as special guest.
Actually, the eight-kilometer-plus winding river, home to thousands of bats, is located at sea level and not really underground. If you are booked in the city like we were (at the Tropical Sun Inn which was highly-recommended by Salesian Sister Catherine Tidalgo Urgello, first cousin of Balikbayan journalist Raoul Tidalgo who was with us), you have to wake up before sunrise to catch your 7:30 a.m. tour of The River because the drive to Sabang takes almost two hours. It’s in Sabang where you take the motorboat to The River. The tour lasts for about 30 minutes (as ours did because we didn’t cover the whole eight-kilometer-plus stretch, only six of it). You wear life vest throughout the tour as a safety measure. It’s a must.
Our schedule was originally set for 3:30 p.m. on Monday but fortunately, we bumped into Kris Aquino and her entourage (27 all in all including her make-up artist, her new BFF Karla Estrada, her factotum Alvin, cameramen, etc.) on the PAL flight to this city. When she learned that our group was also touring The River, she invited us to tag along with her group which was conveniently billeted at the Sheridan Resort in Sabang. Suwerte namin! It was smooth sailing from thereon.
Like Aga (whom we didn’t see) who was there to shoot an episode for his TV5 show Pinoy Explorer, Kris was there also to shoot a two-part episode for her Kris TV show (airing today and tomorrow, 9 to 10 a.m. on ABS-CBN).
But first, we have Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn to thank for facilitating our PPUR tour. You see, the influx of local and foreign tourists has grown so huge that you have to book for the tour weeks or even months in advance. I learned that 800 permits (one per head) are issued every day, 100 of them reserved for Mayor Edward’s guests, and still, the city’s Tourism Office still runs out of permits every day. We were last-minute visitors, but thanks to Raffy Tulfo who contacted the Mayor Hagedorn’s office. Presto, seven permits were waiting for us. And then came Kris…
Kris with her new BFF (Best Friend Forever) Karla Estrada. Below: Two of the several rock formations inside the PPUR.
“Bring along a singer so she could sing as you tour The River,” Sister Catherine reminded us in jest, “and you will hear how her voice will resound throughout the River.”
No need for the singer because, as our witty guide rowing the boat kept reminding us, “You must not talk aloud because you will disturb the bats.” Even the irrepressible Kris observed decorum and kept the volume of her voice to a lower-than-usual level.
As your boat winds around the pitch-black River (the boatmen have so memorized the tour that, surprisingly, they don’t lose their way), you marvel at the Great Artist behind it and how He, maybe with a flick of a finger, created the perfect rock formations, one of which looks like the Holy Trinity and one like the face of Christ with a bleeding nose.
Said the tour guide, “It started to bleed when the foreign tourists started coming. Sa ka-e-English namin, nag- nosebleed kami, pati na rin ang figure na ‘yon!”
Even only the PPUR tour was worth the trip but, if you have time to spare (and you should!) there are more exciting places to see, a few of them we did visit including…
Inset: Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn receives a plaque officially naming the PPUR as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature from Bernard Weber, founder-president of New7Wonders, during a press conference at Heritage Hotel in Pasay City over the weekend.
= The Crocodile Farm, not as big as the one on Thailand but good enough. During the briefing, the lady guide pointed to the preserved skin of a large crocodile (slightly smaller than Crocodile Lolong) that adorns one wall. “He had eaten a man before he died of stress,” said the guide, pointing to the specimen at her back. “Unfortunately, the man died because half of his body was eaten by the crocodile.” I felt the whole group swallowed hard as if to remind themselves to behave during the tour and to beware, or else…
= If you are not afraid of the dark (black as a moonless/starless night), ride a banca (each good for three, excluding the rower) along a mangrove and watch thousands of fireflies flickering around the trees. “Parang Christmas lights,” said one of our companions who caught four fireflies as “souvenirs.”
= Then, go island-hopping on Honda Bay, snorkel around one of them (as Kris and company did) and make a stop in another one for a swim capped by a late lunch of seafood cooked before your eyes.
= On the way back to the Tropical Sun Inn, we dropped by the Rancho Sta. Monica (a.k.a. Rancho Mitra) and, while feeling on top of the world, have a breathtaking, panoramic view of Palawan, the greenest of green as far as your eyes can see, and try the Zipline Adventure; Kris also did). The Rancho is where the house of the late Sen. Ramon Mitra is, now unoccupied. Along the way back, take a quick look-see of Baker’s Hill where you can buy some pasalubong for folks back home (delicious hopia and other native delicacies).
Wearing a life vest as a safety measure, Kris didn’t mind getting wet in the rain on the boat ride to the PPUR.
= There’s also Vietville, the site set up for Vietnamese refugees by former First Lady Imelda R. Marcos. We learned that while some of the refugees have left for other countries, most of them have opted to stay.
= We also visited the school managed by Sister Catherine and her group, with 50 students from poor families (farmers and fishermen) as stay-in scholars, doing household chores…and more, such as gardening, etc…. during their spare time. The classes are conducted by volunteer teachers in five cottages in front of the main building. The school is affiliated with Angelicum (Quezon City).
Whew!!! Tiresome but uplifting. Four days were just not enough for us to cover other attractions of Palawan, such as El Nido which is eight hours boat ride to and from where we stayed. Oh well, there’s always a next time! Soon!!!
(E-mail reactions at entphilstar@yahoo.com. You may also send your questions to askrickylo@gmail.com
Actually, the eight-kilometer-plus winding river, home to thousands of bats, is located at sea level and not really underground. If you are booked in the city like we were (at the Tropical Sun Inn which was highly-recommended by Salesian Sister Catherine Tidalgo Urgello, first cousin of Balikbayan journalist Raoul Tidalgo who was with us), you have to wake up before sunrise to catch your 7:30 a.m. tour of The River because the drive to Sabang takes almost two hours. It’s in Sabang where you take the motorboat to The River. The tour lasts for about 30 minutes (as ours did because we didn’t cover the whole eight-kilometer-plus stretch, only six of it). You wear life vest throughout the tour as a safety measure. It’s a must.
Our schedule was originally set for 3:30 p.m. on Monday but fortunately, we bumped into Kris Aquino and her entourage (27 all in all including her make-up artist, her new BFF Karla Estrada, her factotum Alvin, cameramen, etc.) on the PAL flight to this city. When she learned that our group was also touring The River, she invited us to tag along with her group which was conveniently billeted at the Sheridan Resort in Sabang. Suwerte namin! It was smooth sailing from thereon.
Like Aga (whom we didn’t see) who was there to shoot an episode for his TV5 show Pinoy Explorer, Kris was there also to shoot a two-part episode for her Kris TV show (airing today and tomorrow, 9 to 10 a.m. on ABS-CBN).
But first, we have Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn to thank for facilitating our PPUR tour. You see, the influx of local and foreign tourists has grown so huge that you have to book for the tour weeks or even months in advance. I learned that 800 permits (one per head) are issued every day, 100 of them reserved for Mayor Edward’s guests, and still, the city’s Tourism Office still runs out of permits every day. We were last-minute visitors, but thanks to Raffy Tulfo who contacted the Mayor Hagedorn’s office. Presto, seven permits were waiting for us. And then came Kris…
Kris with her new BFF (Best Friend Forever) Karla Estrada. Below: Two of the several rock formations inside the PPUR.
“Bring along a singer so she could sing as you tour The River,” Sister Catherine reminded us in jest, “and you will hear how her voice will resound throughout the River.”
No need for the singer because, as our witty guide rowing the boat kept reminding us, “You must not talk aloud because you will disturb the bats.” Even the irrepressible Kris observed decorum and kept the volume of her voice to a lower-than-usual level.
As your boat winds around the pitch-black River (the boatmen have so memorized the tour that, surprisingly, they don’t lose their way), you marvel at the Great Artist behind it and how He, maybe with a flick of a finger, created the perfect rock formations, one of which looks like the Holy Trinity and one like the face of Christ with a bleeding nose.
Said the tour guide, “It started to bleed when the foreign tourists started coming. Sa ka-e-English namin, nag- nosebleed kami, pati na rin ang figure na ‘yon!”
Even only the PPUR tour was worth the trip but, if you have time to spare (and you should!) there are more exciting places to see, a few of them we did visit including…
Inset: Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn receives a plaque officially naming the PPUR as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature from Bernard Weber, founder-president of New7Wonders, during a press conference at Heritage Hotel in Pasay City over the weekend.
= The Crocodile Farm, not as big as the one on Thailand but good enough. During the briefing, the lady guide pointed to the preserved skin of a large crocodile (slightly smaller than Crocodile Lolong) that adorns one wall. “He had eaten a man before he died of stress,” said the guide, pointing to the specimen at her back. “Unfortunately, the man died because half of his body was eaten by the crocodile.” I felt the whole group swallowed hard as if to remind themselves to behave during the tour and to beware, or else…
= If you are not afraid of the dark (black as a moonless/starless night), ride a banca (each good for three, excluding the rower) along a mangrove and watch thousands of fireflies flickering around the trees. “Parang Christmas lights,” said one of our companions who caught four fireflies as “souvenirs.”
= Then, go island-hopping on Honda Bay, snorkel around one of them (as Kris and company did) and make a stop in another one for a swim capped by a late lunch of seafood cooked before your eyes.
= On the way back to the Tropical Sun Inn, we dropped by the Rancho Sta. Monica (a.k.a. Rancho Mitra) and, while feeling on top of the world, have a breathtaking, panoramic view of Palawan, the greenest of green as far as your eyes can see, and try the Zipline Adventure; Kris also did). The Rancho is where the house of the late Sen. Ramon Mitra is, now unoccupied. Along the way back, take a quick look-see of Baker’s Hill where you can buy some pasalubong for folks back home (delicious hopia and other native delicacies).
Wearing a life vest as a safety measure, Kris didn’t mind getting wet in the rain on the boat ride to the PPUR.
= There’s also Vietville, the site set up for Vietnamese refugees by former First Lady Imelda R. Marcos. We learned that while some of the refugees have left for other countries, most of them have opted to stay.
= We also visited the school managed by Sister Catherine and her group, with 50 students from poor families (farmers and fishermen) as stay-in scholars, doing household chores…and more, such as gardening, etc…. during their spare time. The classes are conducted by volunteer teachers in five cottages in front of the main building. The school is affiliated with Angelicum (Quezon City).
Whew!!! Tiresome but uplifting. Four days were just not enough for us to cover other attractions of Palawan, such as El Nido which is eight hours boat ride to and from where we stayed. Oh well, there’s always a next time! Soon!!!
(E-mail reactions at entphilstar@yahoo.com. You may also send your questions to askrickylo@gmail.com
News Update Castro powers Texters' charge vs Llamados
MANILA, Philippines - With sore ankles and all, Jason Castro sank the all-important baskets the Talk n Text Tropang Texters sorely needed to get back at the B-Meg Llamados, 104-102, in Game Two of their PBA Commissioner’s Cup best-of-seven titular showdown last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Castro, playing through injuries from last conference, rose with another gallant effort, delivering the biggest plays in a key endgame charge that snatched victory from the fighting Llamados.
Ryan Reyes and Jimmy Alapag also provided emergency support, knocking in pressure-laden free throws to seal the win that forged a one-game deadlock in the series.
“In a duel between two evenly matched teams, it will really boil down to the last possession. Even in Game One, it boiled down to that. That’s how it’s gonna be,” said Talk n Text coach Chot Reyes, on one hand.
“The bottom line was we shot ourselves on the foot. They came back and stole it from us,” said B-Meg coach Tim Cone, on the other hand.
In this game of spurts watched by a crowd of over 11,000, the Tropang Texters squandered an early 14-point spread and waged their own fightback, overcoming a five-point deficit in the last two minutes of the contest.
Castro almost single-handedly carried the TnT back into the fight with five straight points pushing the Texters ahead at 100-99 with 35.7 ticks left.
That remaining time took an eternity to expire as both teams missed and flubbed critical plays.
The Tropang Texters eventually gained more breathing room as Reyes nailed two foul shots following a Denzel Bowles error.
Earlier, Bowles, the leading candidate for the Best Import award, muffed three straight field goal attempts.
As Talk n Text opted for a quick foul, Bowles split from the line and cut their deficit to 100-102 with seven ticks left.
Talk n Text then eventually put the game under wraps on two charities by Alapag.
The Tropang Texters made improvements from the stripe from Game One although they still missed crucial ones – seven in all – in the last two minutes.
“We missed seven, we’ll survive that. Yung last two, sanay na kami so we got the rebound,” said Reyes.
Donnell Harvey missed two at the finish but he converted all his first seven and he wound up with team highs of 29 points and 14 rebounds, practically matching stride for stride Bowles who ended up with 33 points and 13 boards.
Castro finished with 23 points, five rebounds and five assists, with Reyes and Ali Peek combining for 25 markers and nine boards.
The Llamados saw their remarkable 10-of-19 three-points shooting go down the drain.
Josh Urbiztondo pumped in three straight triples to spark a B-Meg rally from a double-digit deficit, and the Llamados trailed by only a point, 48-49, at the half.
The Tropang Texters led by as many as 14, 32-18, early on while riding the hot starts of Harvey and Castro who combined for 28 first-half points.
Castro drove past James Yap then took an interception and scored off a phalanx of B-Meg defenders as the Texters took the opening quarter at 24-16.
The Llamados, however, shook of their sluggish start, uncorking a key run towards the end of the first half to pull even at 45-all.
Urbiztondo banged in three-of-three three-pointers in the second quarter, and the Llamados combined for a 4-of-7 three-point shooting in the first half – a big improvement from their 1-of-8 clip in Game One.
NOTES: Craig Hodges, member of the Chicago Bulls that had a dynastic reign in the NBA in the 90s, was among the huge crowd that watched last night’s game. He was with the group of BEST center founder Nic Jorge…..Petron Blaze is looking at NBA veteran Clinton “Trey” Johnson while Rain or Shine has signed up Jamelle Cornley as import for the season-ending Governors Cup. The Boosters were originally after Alan Anderson before the former Michigan State stalwart was signed by the Toronto Raptors for the remainder of the current NBA season. Anderson was earlier given only a 10-day contract by the Raptors last March 26.
The scores:
TALK N’ TEXT 104 – Harvey 29, Castro 23, Reyes 13, Peek 12, Williams 8, Dillinger 6, De Ocampo 6, Fonacier 4, Alapag 3, Gamalinda 0, Carey 0.
B-MEG 102 – Bowles 33, Yap 25, Urbiztondo 15, Simon 10, Pingris 9, Barroca 4, Devance 4, De Ocampo 2, Intal 0, Villanueva 0, Reavis 0.
Quarterscores: 24-16, 49-48, 73-75, 104-102 - By Nelson Beltran (
Castro, playing through injuries from last conference, rose with another gallant effort, delivering the biggest plays in a key endgame charge that snatched victory from the fighting Llamados.
Ryan Reyes and Jimmy Alapag also provided emergency support, knocking in pressure-laden free throws to seal the win that forged a one-game deadlock in the series.
“In a duel between two evenly matched teams, it will really boil down to the last possession. Even in Game One, it boiled down to that. That’s how it’s gonna be,” said Talk n Text coach Chot Reyes, on one hand.
“The bottom line was we shot ourselves on the foot. They came back and stole it from us,” said B-Meg coach Tim Cone, on the other hand.
In this game of spurts watched by a crowd of over 11,000, the Tropang Texters squandered an early 14-point spread and waged their own fightback, overcoming a five-point deficit in the last two minutes of the contest.
Castro almost single-handedly carried the TnT back into the fight with five straight points pushing the Texters ahead at 100-99 with 35.7 ticks left.
That remaining time took an eternity to expire as both teams missed and flubbed critical plays.
The Tropang Texters eventually gained more breathing room as Reyes nailed two foul shots following a Denzel Bowles error.
Earlier, Bowles, the leading candidate for the Best Import award, muffed three straight field goal attempts.
As Talk n Text opted for a quick foul, Bowles split from the line and cut their deficit to 100-102 with seven ticks left.
Talk n Text then eventually put the game under wraps on two charities by Alapag.
The Tropang Texters made improvements from the stripe from Game One although they still missed crucial ones – seven in all – in the last two minutes.
“We missed seven, we’ll survive that. Yung last two, sanay na kami so we got the rebound,” said Reyes.
Donnell Harvey missed two at the finish but he converted all his first seven and he wound up with team highs of 29 points and 14 rebounds, practically matching stride for stride Bowles who ended up with 33 points and 13 boards.
Castro finished with 23 points, five rebounds and five assists, with Reyes and Ali Peek combining for 25 markers and nine boards.
The Llamados saw their remarkable 10-of-19 three-points shooting go down the drain.
Josh Urbiztondo pumped in three straight triples to spark a B-Meg rally from a double-digit deficit, and the Llamados trailed by only a point, 48-49, at the half.
The Tropang Texters led by as many as 14, 32-18, early on while riding the hot starts of Harvey and Castro who combined for 28 first-half points.
Castro drove past James Yap then took an interception and scored off a phalanx of B-Meg defenders as the Texters took the opening quarter at 24-16.
The Llamados, however, shook of their sluggish start, uncorking a key run towards the end of the first half to pull even at 45-all.
Urbiztondo banged in three-of-three three-pointers in the second quarter, and the Llamados combined for a 4-of-7 three-point shooting in the first half – a big improvement from their 1-of-8 clip in Game One.
NOTES: Craig Hodges, member of the Chicago Bulls that had a dynastic reign in the NBA in the 90s, was among the huge crowd that watched last night’s game. He was with the group of BEST center founder Nic Jorge…..Petron Blaze is looking at NBA veteran Clinton “Trey” Johnson while Rain or Shine has signed up Jamelle Cornley as import for the season-ending Governors Cup. The Boosters were originally after Alan Anderson before the former Michigan State stalwart was signed by the Toronto Raptors for the remainder of the current NBA season. Anderson was earlier given only a 10-day contract by the Raptors last March 26.
The scores:
TALK N’ TEXT 104 – Harvey 29, Castro 23, Reyes 13, Peek 12, Williams 8, Dillinger 6, De Ocampo 6, Fonacier 4, Alapag 3, Gamalinda 0, Carey 0.
B-MEG 102 – Bowles 33, Yap 25, Urbiztondo 15, Simon 10, Pingris 9, Barroca 4, Devance 4, De Ocampo 2, Intal 0, Villanueva 0, Reavis 0.
Quarterscores: 24-16, 49-48, 73-75, 104-102 - By Nelson Beltran (
News Update Binay slams attempts to ruin ties with Aquino
The Office of the Vice President on Thursday cried foul over a news report claiming that Vice President Jejomar Binay “lobbied” for former military comptroller Carlos Garcia.
The Binay camp also expressed its concern over the leak of the vice president's “private and confidential memorandum” to President Benigno Aquino III which, it said, can sabotage the relationship of the country’s two highest officials.
Rappler.com, in an exclusive report, released a copy of a memo alleging that Binay told Aquino to consider a plea bargain deal with Garcia since the government had weak arguments in the plunder case.
Garcia was accused of plundering P303 million in public funds but avoided conviction by entering into a plea bargain in which he offered P135 million to return to the state. Sandiganbayan dismissed the plunder charges for insufficient evidence but he was eventually jailed on the basis on his court martial conviction.
Joey Salgado, Binay’s spokesperson, called Rappler’s story “reckless, irresponsible and malicious.”
“Rappler failed to mention in their story that the Vice President, in his memo, personally preferred charging Garcia with plunder. But having been a trial lawyer for many years, and having been appraised of the evidence at hand, his instincts told him otherwise,” Salgado said in a statement.
The spokesperson further slammed the leak saying it was apparently a part of the "continuing mudslinging” against Binay.
“Are there personalities and groups so insecure of the Vice President’s long-standing relationship with the President that they would disclose confidential government documents to sabotage this relationship?” Salgado said.
Salgado pointed out that there are rules and penalties governing the handling and disclosure of confidential documents covering national security, economy, and foreign relations, among others.
“It seems that those who leaked the Vice President’s memo could care less. They would flaunt the rules to push their selfish political agenda. And that is what worries the Vice President,” he added.
The Binay camp also expressed its concern over the leak of the vice president's “private and confidential memorandum” to President Benigno Aquino III which, it said, can sabotage the relationship of the country’s two highest officials.
Rappler.com, in an exclusive report, released a copy of a memo alleging that Binay told Aquino to consider a plea bargain deal with Garcia since the government had weak arguments in the plunder case.
Garcia was accused of plundering P303 million in public funds but avoided conviction by entering into a plea bargain in which he offered P135 million to return to the state. Sandiganbayan dismissed the plunder charges for insufficient evidence but he was eventually jailed on the basis on his court martial conviction.
Joey Salgado, Binay’s spokesperson, called Rappler’s story “reckless, irresponsible and malicious.”
“Rappler failed to mention in their story that the Vice President, in his memo, personally preferred charging Garcia with plunder. But having been a trial lawyer for many years, and having been appraised of the evidence at hand, his instincts told him otherwise,” Salgado said in a statement.
The spokesperson further slammed the leak saying it was apparently a part of the "continuing mudslinging” against Binay.
“Are there personalities and groups so insecure of the Vice President’s long-standing relationship with the President that they would disclose confidential government documents to sabotage this relationship?” Salgado said.
Salgado pointed out that there are rules and penalties governing the handling and disclosure of confidential documents covering national security, economy, and foreign relations, among others.
“It seems that those who leaked the Vice President’s memo could care less. They would flaunt the rules to push their selfish political agenda. And that is what worries the Vice President,” he added.
News Update Beijing warns Manila on sea dispute
China warned the Philippines on Wednesday not to "internationalise" the two countries' simmering territorial dispute in the South China Sea, as US and Philippine forces staged war games in the area.
China has been locked in a maritime dispute with the Philippines over the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, a body of water considered a potential Asian flashpoint due to the overlapping claims of several nations.
"Internationalising this issue will only complicate and magnify the situation," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Weimin told reporters in response to a question about the current situation in the dispute.
"We do not wish to see the Philippines get other countries involved and get them to take sides over the issue."
He spoke as US and Filipino soldiers staged an operation in which they stormed the Philippine island of Palawan in a war exercise not far from the real-life maritime standoff.
For the past two weeks, Chinese patrol vessels have prevented the Philippines from arresting alleged poachers in the disputed waters around the Scarborough Shoal.
A Philippine military official stressed the exercise was not a veiled threat against China, which has protested US moves to boost its military presence in the region.
China claims all of the South China Sea as a historic part of its territory, even waters close to the coasts of the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries.
The Philippines has complained over the past two years that China has become increasingly aggressive in staking its claim to the waters, with tensions spiking over the Scarborough Shoal standoff.
China has been locked in a maritime dispute with the Philippines over the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, a body of water considered a potential Asian flashpoint due to the overlapping claims of several nations.
"Internationalising this issue will only complicate and magnify the situation," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Weimin told reporters in response to a question about the current situation in the dispute.
"We do not wish to see the Philippines get other countries involved and get them to take sides over the issue."
He spoke as US and Filipino soldiers staged an operation in which they stormed the Philippine island of Palawan in a war exercise not far from the real-life maritime standoff.
For the past two weeks, Chinese patrol vessels have prevented the Philippines from arresting alleged poachers in the disputed waters around the Scarborough Shoal.
A Philippine military official stressed the exercise was not a veiled threat against China, which has protested US moves to boost its military presence in the region.
China claims all of the South China Sea as a historic part of its territory, even waters close to the coasts of the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries.
The Philippines has complained over the past two years that China has become increasingly aggressive in staking its claim to the waters, with tensions spiking over the Scarborough Shoal standoff.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
News Update Philippines sells off Marcos property for $2 mn
The Philippine government on Tuesday auctioned off a prime property once owned by the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos for more than $2 million.
The 3,900-square-metre (41,000-square-foot) lot in the mountain resort city of Baguio was acquired by a real estate firm for 93 million pesos ($2.16 million), said Nick Suarez, of the Presidential Commission on Good Government.
"It was a very successful, transparent bidding," and the final price was more than three times the minimum bid, added Suarez, whose agency is tasked with recovering the ill-gotten wealth of Marcos.
However another Marcos property, a 4,000-square-metre lot on Manila bay with a minimum price of 278.6 million pesos, failed to sell after no bidders showed up, he said.
Both properties were surrendered to the government by Marcos crony Jose Yao Campos in 1986 in exchange for immunity after a popular revolt toppled the regime earlier that year.
Marcos ruled the Philippines from 1965 to 1986, much of the time as a dictator. His family and their henchmen are accused of stealing billions of dollars in state funds during this period.
While Marcos and his family fled abroad after his downfall, some of his key allies surrendered assets they were holding for the ex-president as part of settlements with the new government.
Although Marcos died in exile in 1989, his family has since returned to the Philippines. His widow Imelda and their son, also named Ferdinand, were elected to parliament in 2010.
It is not the first time the commission has sold off assets recovered from the Marcoses and their cronies, with the funds raised previously used for land reform.
In October, a lot in an upper-class enclave of Manila also surrendered by Campos was sold for 127 million pesos.
The commission said that at least 93.4 billion pesos have been recovered from the Marcoses and their allies so far. But it has long complained that the lack of a paper trail and delaying tactics by lawyers for the Marcos estate have hampered its efforts.
The 3,900-square-metre (41,000-square-foot) lot in the mountain resort city of Baguio was acquired by a real estate firm for 93 million pesos ($2.16 million), said Nick Suarez, of the Presidential Commission on Good Government.
"It was a very successful, transparent bidding," and the final price was more than three times the minimum bid, added Suarez, whose agency is tasked with recovering the ill-gotten wealth of Marcos.
However another Marcos property, a 4,000-square-metre lot on Manila bay with a minimum price of 278.6 million pesos, failed to sell after no bidders showed up, he said.
Both properties were surrendered to the government by Marcos crony Jose Yao Campos in 1986 in exchange for immunity after a popular revolt toppled the regime earlier that year.
Marcos ruled the Philippines from 1965 to 1986, much of the time as a dictator. His family and their henchmen are accused of stealing billions of dollars in state funds during this period.
While Marcos and his family fled abroad after his downfall, some of his key allies surrendered assets they were holding for the ex-president as part of settlements with the new government.
Although Marcos died in exile in 1989, his family has since returned to the Philippines. His widow Imelda and their son, also named Ferdinand, were elected to parliament in 2010.
It is not the first time the commission has sold off assets recovered from the Marcoses and their cronies, with the funds raised previously used for land reform.
In October, a lot in an upper-class enclave of Manila also surrendered by Campos was sold for 127 million pesos.
The commission said that at least 93.4 billion pesos have been recovered from the Marcoses and their allies so far. But it has long complained that the lack of a paper trail and delaying tactics by lawyers for the Marcos estate have hampered its efforts.
News Update Cebu lechon is PH bet for world's best barbecue
Cebu lechon will go head-to-head with the world's best at the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest in Memphis, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday.
A team from Marco Polo Plaza hotel in Cebu led by Carlos Dingding Jr. will enter lechon de leche in the competition. According to event organizers, winners will get $110,000 in prizes as well as bragging rights of having the best barbecue.
"Teams adorn their areas with elaborate decoration, trophies attesting to their boasting rights, and as one can imagine, clever and creative team names," organizers of Memphis in May said on their website.
Chef Claude Tayag has also been invited to Memphis in May to share Filipino cuisine with attendees. Tayag's dishes will be on the menu of Chez Philippe, a restaurant at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee on May 11 and 12, organizers said.
His dishes will also be served during the intermission of a performance to showcase the Bayanihan dance company and a presentation of Filipino martial art Arnis.
Tayag, a renowned chef, runs Bale Dutung in Angeles City. The restaurant "is known as one of the Philippines’s gastronomic centers," DFA said.
The pili nut will also be launched as a gourmet product to rival the macadamia nut in the U.S. market, the DFA said.
A team from Marco Polo Plaza hotel in Cebu led by Carlos Dingding Jr. will enter lechon de leche in the competition. According to event organizers, winners will get $110,000 in prizes as well as bragging rights of having the best barbecue.
"Teams adorn their areas with elaborate decoration, trophies attesting to their boasting rights, and as one can imagine, clever and creative team names," organizers of Memphis in May said on their website.
Chef Claude Tayag has also been invited to Memphis in May to share Filipino cuisine with attendees. Tayag's dishes will be on the menu of Chez Philippe, a restaurant at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee on May 11 and 12, organizers said.
His dishes will also be served during the intermission of a performance to showcase the Bayanihan dance company and a presentation of Filipino martial art Arnis.
Tayag, a renowned chef, runs Bale Dutung in Angeles City. The restaurant "is known as one of the Philippines’s gastronomic centers," DFA said.
The pili nut will also be launched as a gourmet product to rival the macadamia nut in the U.S. market, the DFA said.
News Update PH: World's best country in business English
Well, people will now have to think twice before mocking Pinoys' use of the English language.
The Philippines was named the world’s best country in business English proficiency, even beating the United States, according to a recent study by GlobalEnglish Corporation.
GlobalEnglish has released early this month the results of its annual Business English Index (BEI), the only index that measures business English proficiency in the workplace.
For 2012, results showed that from 76 represented countries worldwide, only the Philippines attained a score above 7.0, "a BEI level within range of a high proficiency that indicates an ability to take an active role in business discussions and perform relatively complex tasks."
“This is particularly interesting because the Philippines, a country with one-tenth of the population of India, recently overtook India as a hub for call centers. Over 400,000 Filipinos are now employed in call centers, roughly 50,000 more than in India,” the study said.
The Philippines, which scored 7.11 and the lone country in the intermediate level, were joined by Norway (6.54), Estonia (6.45), Serbia (6.38) and Slovenia (6.19) in the top five.
GlobalEnglish noted that a country’s business English capability is an indicator of its economic growth and business success.
“It is not surprising that both the Philippines and Norway—the only two countries in the top five in both 2011 and 2012—are improving their economies, based on the latest GDP data from the World Bank,” it added.
Meanwhile, struggling economic powers (Japan, Italy and Mexico) and fast-growth emerging markets (Brazil, Columbia and Chile) scored below a 4.0 in business English proficiency, placing them at a disadvantage when competing in a global marketplace, the study said.
It also pointed out that shifts in global talent have put even English-speaking countries at risk.
“Surprisingly the BEI score for global workers in the U.S. declined from 6.9 to 5.09 since the original 2011 BEI benchmark, which is attributed to a majority of test takers being foreign-born engineers and scientists,” the report said.
Rest of the world ranked beginner and basic level
Based on a scale of 1-10, the average 2012 BEI score across 108,000 test takers around the world is 4.15 which is lower than last year’s 4.46.
Nearly four out of 10 (38.2 percent) global workers from 76 countries were ranked as business English beginners, meaning that, on average, they can’t understand or communicate basic information during virtual or in-person meetings, read or write professional emails in English or deal with complexity and rapid change in a global business environment, the study said.
Meanwhile, the majority of global workers (60.5 percent) from the represented countries scored between a 4.0 and 7.0, below an intermediate level, indicating an inability to take an active role in business discussions or perform relatively complex tasks such as presentation development and customer or partner negotiations, it added.
GlobalEnglish stressed that the 2012 BEI which showed a lack of business English proficiency is threatening the productivity of companies, industries and country-specific economies this year.
“Poor Business English skills are bad for global businesses and this year’s Business English Index suggests that many companies will be hard-pressed to achieve their desired performance goals during 2012,” said Tom Kahl, GlobalEnglish President.
“Addressing English skills gaps and ensuring that employees can immediately perform at the necessary proficiency level should be viewed as a strategic imperative for multinational businesses, as Enterprise Fluency, the ability to seamlessly communicate and collaborate within global organizations, can deliver significant financial upside,” Kahl added.
Headquartered in Brisbane, California, GlobalEnglish works with multinational companies – including Cisco, Procter and Gamble, HSBC, Phzer – to support performance in business English across the workforce around the world.
Here's the list of the 10 best and worst countries in the world for business English proficiency based on GlobalEnglish's 2012 BEI:
10 Best Countries:
Philippines
Norway
Serbia
Slovenia
Australia
Malaysia
India
Lithuania
Singapore
Canada
10 Worst Countries:
Armenia
Cote d'Ivoire
Taiwan
Honduras
Columbia
Chile
El Salvador
Saudi Arabia
Israel
Brazil
The Philippines was named the world’s best country in business English proficiency, even beating the United States, according to a recent study by GlobalEnglish Corporation.
GlobalEnglish has released early this month the results of its annual Business English Index (BEI), the only index that measures business English proficiency in the workplace.
For 2012, results showed that from 76 represented countries worldwide, only the Philippines attained a score above 7.0, "a BEI level within range of a high proficiency that indicates an ability to take an active role in business discussions and perform relatively complex tasks."
“This is particularly interesting because the Philippines, a country with one-tenth of the population of India, recently overtook India as a hub for call centers. Over 400,000 Filipinos are now employed in call centers, roughly 50,000 more than in India,” the study said.
The Philippines, which scored 7.11 and the lone country in the intermediate level, were joined by Norway (6.54), Estonia (6.45), Serbia (6.38) and Slovenia (6.19) in the top five.
GlobalEnglish noted that a country’s business English capability is an indicator of its economic growth and business success.
“It is not surprising that both the Philippines and Norway—the only two countries in the top five in both 2011 and 2012—are improving their economies, based on the latest GDP data from the World Bank,” it added.
Meanwhile, struggling economic powers (Japan, Italy and Mexico) and fast-growth emerging markets (Brazil, Columbia and Chile) scored below a 4.0 in business English proficiency, placing them at a disadvantage when competing in a global marketplace, the study said.
It also pointed out that shifts in global talent have put even English-speaking countries at risk.
“Surprisingly the BEI score for global workers in the U.S. declined from 6.9 to 5.09 since the original 2011 BEI benchmark, which is attributed to a majority of test takers being foreign-born engineers and scientists,” the report said.
Rest of the world ranked beginner and basic level
Based on a scale of 1-10, the average 2012 BEI score across 108,000 test takers around the world is 4.15 which is lower than last year’s 4.46.
Nearly four out of 10 (38.2 percent) global workers from 76 countries were ranked as business English beginners, meaning that, on average, they can’t understand or communicate basic information during virtual or in-person meetings, read or write professional emails in English or deal with complexity and rapid change in a global business environment, the study said.
Meanwhile, the majority of global workers (60.5 percent) from the represented countries scored between a 4.0 and 7.0, below an intermediate level, indicating an inability to take an active role in business discussions or perform relatively complex tasks such as presentation development and customer or partner negotiations, it added.
GlobalEnglish stressed that the 2012 BEI which showed a lack of business English proficiency is threatening the productivity of companies, industries and country-specific economies this year.
“Poor Business English skills are bad for global businesses and this year’s Business English Index suggests that many companies will be hard-pressed to achieve their desired performance goals during 2012,” said Tom Kahl, GlobalEnglish President.
“Addressing English skills gaps and ensuring that employees can immediately perform at the necessary proficiency level should be viewed as a strategic imperative for multinational businesses, as Enterprise Fluency, the ability to seamlessly communicate and collaborate within global organizations, can deliver significant financial upside,” Kahl added.
Headquartered in Brisbane, California, GlobalEnglish works with multinational companies – including Cisco, Procter and Gamble, HSBC, Phzer – to support performance in business English across the workforce around the world.
Here's the list of the 10 best and worst countries in the world for business English proficiency based on GlobalEnglish's 2012 BEI:
10 Best Countries:
Philippines
Norway
Serbia
Slovenia
Australia
Malaysia
India
Lithuania
Singapore
Canada
10 Worst Countries:
Armenia
Cote d'Ivoire
Taiwan
Honduras
Columbia
Chile
El Salvador
Saudi Arabia
Israel
Brazil
News Update Phl to showcase strong eco growth, low inflation
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines is set to showcase the country’s steady economic growth amid a low inflation environment as the sovereign debt crisis continued to batter countries in Europe and as the US continued to face economic uncertainties during the four-day Asian Development Bank (ADB) conference next month.
During the 45th Annual Meeting of the ADB Board of Governors from May 2 to May 5, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said the Philippines would share knowledge on a bilateral as well as multilateral basis the positive effects of the reforms undertaken by the country over the years that translated to sustained economic growth.
“For us, we’ll also be able to demonstrate the positive effects of the reforms that we have implemented over the years and how these have helped bring our economy to growth. And also show sustained growth with low inflation,” he said.
The country’s gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 3.7 percent last year amid the debt crisis in Europe and the fragile economic growth in advanced economies led by the US.
Last year’s GDP expansion was lower than the 7.6-percent growth booked in 2010 due to weak global growth and cautious spending by the Aquino administration.
On the other hand, the country’s inflation averaged 4.8 percent or well within the target of three percent to five percent.
The Cabinet-level Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) sees the country’s GDP expanding between five percent and six percent this year while the BSP expects inflation to average between three percent and five percent.
The four-day meet would be highlighted by a Governors’ Seminar that would focus on Asia’s response to the global economic crisis.
Likewise, panel discussions would also be conducted to include new models for green growth in the region; how to protect vulnerable cities; how to deliver financial services to the world’s poor; and how to feed the world in an age of growing demand for food, feed and fuel.
Tetangco told reporters that the meeting would be an opportunity for ADB members to discuss what could be done to further intensify regional and international cooperation particularly given the challenges that are being confronted now as a result of what is happening in Europe and the rest of the world.
“In this environment, of course the emerging market economies have continued to provide the push for global growth. Emerging markets have been the driver of global growth and it is important that the emerging markets also in gatherings like this increase their participation and their role given their increase in importance in the global economy,” he added.
The BSP governor said discussions about Europe and the challenges being faced by ADB members would also be conducted.
Finance ministers and central bank governors, representatives from international organizations, private sector, civil society, and global media are expected to attend the four-day conference. - By Lawrence Agcaoili
During the 45th Annual Meeting of the ADB Board of Governors from May 2 to May 5, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said the Philippines would share knowledge on a bilateral as well as multilateral basis the positive effects of the reforms undertaken by the country over the years that translated to sustained economic growth.
“For us, we’ll also be able to demonstrate the positive effects of the reforms that we have implemented over the years and how these have helped bring our economy to growth. And also show sustained growth with low inflation,” he said.
The country’s gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 3.7 percent last year amid the debt crisis in Europe and the fragile economic growth in advanced economies led by the US.
Last year’s GDP expansion was lower than the 7.6-percent growth booked in 2010 due to weak global growth and cautious spending by the Aquino administration.
On the other hand, the country’s inflation averaged 4.8 percent or well within the target of three percent to five percent.
The Cabinet-level Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) sees the country’s GDP expanding between five percent and six percent this year while the BSP expects inflation to average between three percent and five percent.
The four-day meet would be highlighted by a Governors’ Seminar that would focus on Asia’s response to the global economic crisis.
Likewise, panel discussions would also be conducted to include new models for green growth in the region; how to protect vulnerable cities; how to deliver financial services to the world’s poor; and how to feed the world in an age of growing demand for food, feed and fuel.
Tetangco told reporters that the meeting would be an opportunity for ADB members to discuss what could be done to further intensify regional and international cooperation particularly given the challenges that are being confronted now as a result of what is happening in Europe and the rest of the world.
“In this environment, of course the emerging market economies have continued to provide the push for global growth. Emerging markets have been the driver of global growth and it is important that the emerging markets also in gatherings like this increase their participation and their role given their increase in importance in the global economy,” he added.
The BSP governor said discussions about Europe and the challenges being faced by ADB members would also be conducted.
Finance ministers and central bank governors, representatives from international organizations, private sector, civil society, and global media are expected to attend the four-day conference. - By Lawrence Agcaoili
News Update N. Cotabato folk to stage 'day of mourning' over power woes
COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Different sectors in North Cotabato are planning to stage a “day of mourning” to show their indignation over the worsening power crisis in the province and in other parts of Mindanao.
Kidapawan City administrator Rodulfo Cabiles told Catholic radio station dxND they are expecting thousands to join the protest action anytime before the end of April.
The Cotabato Electric Cooperative, the power utility serving all 17 towns of North Cotabato, earlier said it had no choice but to ration power in the province due to lack of supply from the state-run hydroelectric plants in Lanao del Sur and Bukidnon.
“We have six to eight hours of rotating blackouts in Kidapawan City and surrounding towns and because of it the economy has been declining,” Cabiles said.
The Kidapawan City council earlier threatened to sue the National Power Corp. (Napocor) for disregarding public clamor to allocate 25 percent of the electricity generated by two geothermal power plants located in the city.
The two geothermal plants, operating for almost two decades now, are located at the foot of Mt. Apo in Barangay Ilomavis, a hinterland district in Kidapawan City.
However, the electricity being supplied by Napocor to Kidapawan City and surrounding towns, through the Cotabato Electric Cooperative (Cotelco), comes from the hydroelectric plants in Lanao del Sur and Bukidnon.
Kidapawan City Vice Mayor Joseph Evangelista said Napocor’s reluctance to allocate 25 percent of the power generated by the two geothermal plants to the city and 17 North Cotabato towns is a serious infraction of a 20-year-old agreement obliging the power firm to supply the province with enough electricity from the two facilities.
Evangelista was apparently referring to the memorandum of agreement between the province and Napocor, crafted before the two geothermal plants were built in the 1980s, to ensure that local consumers would benefit, “first and foremost,” from the geothermal resources to be tapped from Mt. Apo.
Evangelista said the city council is now preparing a petition for a writ from the court to compel the Napocor to abide by its obligation to supply Kidapawan City and the entire North Cotabato with 25 percent of the total power output generated by the two power plants.
“We are to wage a legal battle against the Napocor. The power crisis now being experienced in North Cotabato is already very serious. It has been damaging the local economy,” Evangelista said.
The city council is also seeking President Aquino’s intervention through the immediate implementation of Section 6.2 of the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 7638, or the Department of Energy Act of 1992.
Evangelista said RA 7638 has a clear provision mandating energy-generating facilities to allocate 25 percent of their production to consumers in host towns and provinces.
The two geothermal plants at Mt. Apo generate at least 104 megawatts, according to local officials.
Cotelco, meanwhile, will procure power from Therma Marine Inc. of the Aboitiz group of companies, but only for consumers in the first district of North Cotabato.
A Cotelco engineer, Joel Tordesillas, said Therma Marine can allocate at least eight MW for the first district towns of Pigcawayan, Alamada, Libungan, Aleosan, Midsayap, and Pikit.
“It will not totally address our power problems, but the number of hours without electricity in the six towns will be reduced,” Tordesillas said.
He said Therma Marine will start supplying the area with eight MW on April 26. - By John Unson
Kidapawan City administrator Rodulfo Cabiles told Catholic radio station dxND they are expecting thousands to join the protest action anytime before the end of April.
The Cotabato Electric Cooperative, the power utility serving all 17 towns of North Cotabato, earlier said it had no choice but to ration power in the province due to lack of supply from the state-run hydroelectric plants in Lanao del Sur and Bukidnon.
“We have six to eight hours of rotating blackouts in Kidapawan City and surrounding towns and because of it the economy has been declining,” Cabiles said.
The Kidapawan City council earlier threatened to sue the National Power Corp. (Napocor) for disregarding public clamor to allocate 25 percent of the electricity generated by two geothermal power plants located in the city.
The two geothermal plants, operating for almost two decades now, are located at the foot of Mt. Apo in Barangay Ilomavis, a hinterland district in Kidapawan City.
However, the electricity being supplied by Napocor to Kidapawan City and surrounding towns, through the Cotabato Electric Cooperative (Cotelco), comes from the hydroelectric plants in Lanao del Sur and Bukidnon.
Kidapawan City Vice Mayor Joseph Evangelista said Napocor’s reluctance to allocate 25 percent of the power generated by the two geothermal plants to the city and 17 North Cotabato towns is a serious infraction of a 20-year-old agreement obliging the power firm to supply the province with enough electricity from the two facilities.
Evangelista was apparently referring to the memorandum of agreement between the province and Napocor, crafted before the two geothermal plants were built in the 1980s, to ensure that local consumers would benefit, “first and foremost,” from the geothermal resources to be tapped from Mt. Apo.
Evangelista said the city council is now preparing a petition for a writ from the court to compel the Napocor to abide by its obligation to supply Kidapawan City and the entire North Cotabato with 25 percent of the total power output generated by the two power plants.
“We are to wage a legal battle against the Napocor. The power crisis now being experienced in North Cotabato is already very serious. It has been damaging the local economy,” Evangelista said.
The city council is also seeking President Aquino’s intervention through the immediate implementation of Section 6.2 of the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 7638, or the Department of Energy Act of 1992.
Evangelista said RA 7638 has a clear provision mandating energy-generating facilities to allocate 25 percent of their production to consumers in host towns and provinces.
The two geothermal plants at Mt. Apo generate at least 104 megawatts, according to local officials.
Cotelco, meanwhile, will procure power from Therma Marine Inc. of the Aboitiz group of companies, but only for consumers in the first district of North Cotabato.
A Cotelco engineer, Joel Tordesillas, said Therma Marine can allocate at least eight MW for the first district towns of Pigcawayan, Alamada, Libungan, Aleosan, Midsayap, and Pikit.
“It will not totally address our power problems, but the number of hours without electricity in the six towns will be reduced,” Tordesillas said.
He said Therma Marine will start supplying the area with eight MW on April 26. - By John Unson
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