Sunday, September 30, 2012
DOT, travel agency commit to advance PH tourism
Energy office, Iligan ink pact on CFL distribution
Cop caught sniffing shabu in QC
Philippine Airlines to buy 10 Airbus A330s
Philippine Airlines to buy 10 Airbus A330s
Western govts issue security alerts for Philippines
ritain, Canada and Australia on Saturday joined the US in issuing a security alert for their citizens in the Philippines after the US embassy warned of a threat against Americans in the capital.
The warnings urged Westerners in Manila to be on alert amid fears they could get caught up in an attempted attack against Americans, following the US embassy warning issued Friday.
"Any attack could be indiscriminate and we advise British nationals to exercise particular caution and extra vigilance in places frequented by expatriates and foreign nationals," the British foreign office alert said.
The Canadian foreign affairs office said "continuing reports suggest that there is an ongoing terrorist threat to Westerners and Western interests in the Philippines".
On Friday, the US embassy warned that an unspecified threat against Americans in the capital had been detected by "reliable security forces".
"This threat remains in effect until October 10, 2012," the advisory said.
The US embassy would not elaborate on the danger.
Both military and police spokesmen said the threat warning did not originate from them, adding they were unaware of any specific plot against Americans, but also said coordination had been increased with the embassy to tighten security and monitor possible threat groups.
President Benigno Aquino's spokeswoman Abigail Valte said the police presence had been heightened in the capital to safeguard not only Americans but also ordinary citizens.
The US government issued an alert in November 2010 that warned of an attack in Manila, particularly areas frequented by foreigners, which also prompted similar travel advisories from Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and France.
The attack never materialised and Aquino subsequently criticised the Western allies for damaging his country's tourism prospects.
The United States has a general warning about the risks of travel in the Philippines, a former US colony that has for decades battled Islamic separatist rebels and more hardline Muslim militants in the far south of the country.
The Abu Sayyaf, a small band of Muslim militants that authorities say was set up in the early 1990s with funds from the Al-Qaeda network, has kidnapped and killed Americans in the southern Mindanao region in recent years.
About 600 US troops have been rotating through the southern Philippines for a decade to help train local troops in hunting the Abu Sayyaf. However the Americans are barred from taking part in combat.
Friday, September 28, 2012
Pepsi Launches Coco Water Product
Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines Inc. (PPCPI) aims to capture P1 billion of the estimated P1.2 billion coco water market potential, equivalent to 2 to 3 million cases, with the launch of its new product Coco Quench under the Tropicana brand as the company takes advantage of the strong trend for healthier natural juices away from the carbonated drinks.
PPCPI President Partho Chakrabarti, said yesterday at the launch of the new product that the Coco Quench is going to boost its total revenue sales. The company is on track of meeting its P23.4 billion revenue targets this year from the 2011 figure of P20 billion.
"We expect the non-carbonated drinks sales to be even with carbonated drinks in three years," said Chakrabarti. At present, the non-carbonated sales account for 30 percent of its total sales and the huge 70 percent goes to carbonated drinks.
Charkrabarti also said they are looking at exporting the Coco Quench, which is the first coco juice in Tetra Pak packaging in the country and in the region, for exports to South East Asian countries, the North Asia and the Gulf countries starting next year. PPCPI is already exporting coco water to the US under another brand "ONE."
The packaging of Coco Quench is also in partnership with Peter Paul Philippines Corporation, a coconut processing company based in Quezon province.
"If we could get a billion out of the P1.2 billion potential coconut market in the country then that is big one," he said. The coconut vendor sector and the inconsistent marketing of other brands in different packaging formats have very small share of the market, he said.
The company's investments have not been much in terms of facilities but rather in the marketing side of the product to create the public's awareness on the health benefits of drinking its product
"Nobody has ever done this kind of packaging and marketing," he said. Besides, at a price of P30 for the 350 ml packaging, the company believes the product is very competitive.
Part of its marketing campaign is to educate the public about the health benefits of coco water and how the nutritional properties are being preserved in its convenient Tetra Pak packaging.
Chakrabarti explained that once the coconut water is exposed its nutrients are gone in four hours, but its manufacturing process enables to retain the properties of the water, which is hydrating and has all the electrolytes plasma of human being thus, it is good for the health.
"If you don't drink coco water right away, you will lose all the properties. We are giving people a choice," he said.
PPCPI, the second biggest soda product player in the country, accounts for 22 percent of the local soda market while its juice brand under Tropicana is a close competitor of Del Monte's fruit juice brand at 25-26 percent market share.
Preference of natural juice drinks is now becoming a global trend where the Philippines is no exception.
"But soda is still a huge market and is still growing, but not as much as the growth of natural juices market, so this is a segment we are pushing," he said.
PPCPI, which is a 34 percent owned by Lottee Chilsung of Korea, and 30 percent by PepsiCo and the rest is public, has a total of 14 beverage brands being marketed in the Philippines.
These include Pepsi Cola, Mountain Dew, 7-Up, Mirinda, Mug, Gatorade, Tropicana, Lipton, Sting and Premier. This year, the company has launched four products and has vowed to launch new ones. (BCM)
Phl also wants sea row settled peacefully
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines is just as eager and determined as China to work for a peaceful and diplomatic solution to their territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea and South China Sea, Malacañang said yesterday.
“It’s certainly a welcome statement from (Chinese) Ambassador Ma Keqing that we all aspire for a peaceful resolution toward the concerns in the West Philippine Sea,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.
Ma on Tuesday voiced her government’s desire to pursue peace and openness, as China prepares for a once-in-a-decade leadership change.
The Communist Party of China, in its 18th congress, is set to choose the country’s new leaders, with current Vice President Xi Jinping expected to replace Hu Jintao as president.
“China will be all the more determined to go for peaceful development, follow the win-win strategy of opening up and implement the policy of good-neighborliness with neighboring countries,” Ma said on Tuesday during the embassy’s celebration of China’s 63rd National Day.
In Washington, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario underscored the need for a rules-based approach to resolving the Philippines’ territorial row with China.
“Let’s make it clear: our foreign policy does not seek to
isolate one country, nor even force the resolution of a dispute. Our core interest lies in being able to communicate to ensuring that the global security and economic system is based firmly on the rule of law,” Del Rosario told a group of US experts and senior policy makers at a conference on the Philippines sponsored by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think tank.
“We are firmly committed to helping build an international system that will be just and fair to all states, regardless of economic size or power,” he said.
For the political track, Del Rosario said the Philippines wants the West Philippine Sea transformed into a Zone of Peace, Freedom, Friendship and Cooperation.
“We want to establish an actionable framework to define, clarify and segregate in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the disputed and non-disputed areas of the West Philippine Sea,” he said.
“This would pave the way for feasible cooperation between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China in the medium-term.”
Ready to respond
Del Rosario stressed, however, that the Aquino administration is ready to respond if Beijing continues to violate Philippine sovereignty by maintaining Chinese ships at Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.
“We don’t know what that response will be just yet,” he said.
In reply to a query on what the Philippines wanted China to do in the West Philippine Sea, Del Rosario said Beijing should abide by its agreement with Manila to pull out its vessels from the area, something which the Filipinos have done but which the Chinese refuse to do.
If China wants to normalize relations with the Philippines it should pull out of Panatag Shoal, referred to in world maps as Scarborough Shoal, he said during a panel discussion.
In his speech at the conference, Del Rosario said while the West Philippine Sea issue did not constitute the sum total of Manila’s relations with Beijing, “we are at a very trying period in our relations and we will not hesitate to speak out and protect our legitimate national interest.”
Tensions over Panatag Shoal began in April when Chinese maritime surveillance ships barred the Philippine Navy from arresting Chinese fishermen alleged by Manila to be engaged in illegal fishing and harvesting of endangered marine species in the area.
The shoal is 124 nautical miles from Zambales province and is well within the Philippines’ 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf. China insists it has sovereignty over the area.
In June the Philippines pulled back its vessels from Panatag in the face of an incoming typhoon and said China had agreed to do the same. But China merely reduced the number of its vessels and has even roped off the area to keep Filipino fishermen at bay.
Del Rosario said he traveled to Beijing last month for talks with his Chinese counterpart on the issue, adding this “shows high-level contact is being maintained.”
He did not touch on the back-channel efforts of Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV with China over the Panatag dispute without his knowledge and which at one point prompted him to think of quitting his post.
Participants to the conference and panel discussions that followed, in addition to Del Rosario, included Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima.
The US side was represented by Kurt Campbell, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs; Mark Lippert, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs; and former US ambassador to the Philippines Thomas Hubbard.
In the panel discussions, Del Rosario said the Philippines was working with the US on fleshing out the concept of a minimum credible defense force.
“We are working out with them how to make this credible defense force work and to what extent increased rotational presence of US forces can be of assistance to the Philippines while we are in the process of building our deterrence capability,” he said.
Campbell said while there was need to recognize the shared history of both countries, it was essential to build a new relationship for the future.
“At the heart of this is raising the stakes and prospects for rapid growth we are seeing in the Philippines. We want that to be sustained. This would give us the greatest potential for what would be the basis of a new relationship and it will be based on business,” he said.
Campbell gave a shout out to the Aquino administration, saying “we could not have a stronger government with which to work with in Manila.”
“We need to do everything possible to underscore our interest in not only having the Aquino government succeed and thrive but (for) the bilateral relationship to develop and diversify during this critical period,” he said.
Campbell said the US would do all it can to step up its game as a commercial and economic player in the Philippines.
Lippert, for his part, said both sides were in consultation on how Manila’s credible defense force would look like, though there would probably be more emphasis on the air force and the navy. “This is a work in progress,” he said.
He emphasized the US was not looking to turn the clock back. “We are not looking for permanent bases in the Philippines.”
Marine brigade
As Chinese intrusions in the West Philippine Sea continue, a Marine brigade is set to arrive in Palawan today to beef up coastal defenses.
Western Command (Wescom) spokesman Lt. Col. Niel Estrella said a naval transport vessel carrying the 3rd Marine Brigade, led by Col. Andrie Costales, is expected to arrive in Puerto Princesa City.
“The Marines are just returning to their old home base,” Estrella said. The Marine Brigade was previously assigned in Sulu.
With an entire Marine brigade already in Palawan, the military is eyeing the setting up of a military reservation in the western section of Puerto Princesa City overlooking the West Philippine Sea.
Wescom commander Lt. Gen. Juancho Sabban pointed out that the combat-ready Marines from Sulu would not be deployed in the hotly contested Spratlys region.
“Pag-asa Island has nothing to do with this,” Sabban said, referring to the islands, reefs, and atolls in the Spratlys currently occupied by Filipino troops.
“While we are still developing our air and naval fighting capabilities, we deem it necessary to also start upgrading our land-based territorial defense in that particular area,” one senior official said.
In Zamboanga City, Rear Admiral Armando Guzman, commander of Naval Forces Western Mindanao, said the recent Chinese navy live fire exercise was just part of psychological warfare but that the Philippines should not let down its guard.
“It was psychological warfare and personally, I believed we have to assert our sovereignty. We are not threatened. Our government is addressing it through political and peaceful approach,” Guzman said on the sidelines of the celebration of the 16th anniversary of his command at Naval Station Romulo Espaldon.
He said that even if the Navy’s attention is focused on the West Philippine Sea, his command still has the capability and the means to address security threats in Mindanao.
“We don’t feel that our area is left out in terms of upgrade and assets. We still have more assets,” Guzman said.
Meanwhile, Japanese firms in China are considering moving to the Philippines in the aftermath of violent protests in China against Japan’s reasserting its claim over Senkaku (Diaoyu) Island in East China Sea, Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) president and chief executive officer Arnel Casanova said.
He said the Japanese investors have signified their intention to relocate their businesses to some of the Philippines’ special economic zones like Poro Point in La Union and Clark in Pampanga.
“I don’t want to name them (foreign firms) at this time,” Casanova said. With Jaime Laude, Rainier Allan Ronda, Roel Pareño - By Delon Porcalla and Jose Katigbak
House OKs bill removing height requirement for cops, firemen, jail officers
Vertically challenged Filipinos may soon get the chance to be police, fire and jail officers after the House of Representatives passed a bill removing the height requirement for these jobs.
The lower chamber approved on third and final reading House Bill 6203 on Thursday night, before the House went a two-week break in preparation for the filing of certificates of candidacy for the 2013 polls.
The measure seeks to amend Republic Act 6975, or the Interior and Local Government Act, and Republic Act 9263, or the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Act.
Under these laws, police, male police and fire officers are required to be at least 5 feet 4 inches, while female aspirants must be at least 5’2”.
Cebu Rep. Pablo John Garcia, the bill’s author, said the proposed legislation seeks “to end decades of discrimination against people on the basis of their height.”
“The most important tasks of police, fire and jail officers have no relation whatsoever to height. Our policemen do not have to be all tall. They must simply have skills to investigate and build cases,” Garcia said in a phone interview.
He added that the bill, if enacted into law, will also “increase the pool of recruits” for police, fire and jail officers.
Garcia likewise said the Philippine National Police and the BFP had already welcomed the passage of the bill during deliberations at the committee level.
The Senate version of the bill, filed by Senator Gregorio Honasan II, was approved on third and final reading last August. Since both chambers of Congress have already passed the bill, a bicameral conference committee will now be convened to reconcile the two versions of the measure.
Once the bicameral committee approves the bill, it will be returned to the House and Senate for ratification.
It will then be submitted to Malacañang for the signature of the President. — Andreo Calonzo/RSJ
DepEd raises final grade requirement for honors
Young Filipinos aiming to make it to their classes' honor roll would have to work harder as the Department of Education (DepEd) raises the bar for choosing the "cream of the crop."
Starting next school year, grade 1 and 7 students vying for honors should not have a final grade lower than 85 percent, or 75 percent in any quarter, DepEd said Wednesday.
The new benchmark, implemented through DepEd Order No. 74, is higher than the 80 percent minimum grade set in 2009.
The old rules, meanwhile, will still apply in selecting honor pupils in grades 2 to 6 in the elementary level and 2nd year to 4th year in the secondary level.
Aside from performance in academic disciplines such as Math, Science, English, schools are also mandated to account for participation in co-curricular activities such as sports, arts and campus journalism.
"We have to put weight on other activities that are not academic in nature as part of school nurturing that focuses on other aspects of a child’s total development," Education Secretary Armin Luistro said in a statement.
Students shall be ranked following the 7-3 point scheme, with a seven-point weight given to academic performance and three points to co-curricular activities.
More "descriptive remarks" will also be used to rate students' level of proficiency namely "Beginning," with a numerical equivalent of 74 percent and below; "Developing", 75 to 79 percent; "Approaching Proficiency," 80 to 84 percent; and "Proficient" (85-89%) and "Advanced" (90% and above).
The new grading system "is more illustrative of the proficiency level of students," DepEd said in a statement.
"All candidates for honors must be of good moral character and have not been subjected to any disciplinary action within the current school year," it added.
The changes are being implemented in preparation for the full rollout of the K to 12 system, which adds two more years to the basic education curriculum, DepEd
Globe signs a new P2B term loan facility
LEADING telecommunications company Globe Telecom (Globe) has signed a P2-billion term loan facility with The Philippine American Life and General Insurance Company, The Insular Life Assurance Company Ltd. and Sunlife of Canada (Philippines) Inc.
Proceeds of the loan will be used to refinance a portion of the company's debts, as well as to fund capital expenditure requirements for 2013.
The 10-year, fixed-rate term loan facility was arranged by Insular Investment Corporation.
"We want to take advantage of the current low interest rate environment to fund capital expenditure requirements for next year and refinance our loans, allowing us to generate savings for the company,” said Albert De Larrazabal, Globe's chief financial officer.
Globe Telecom's ongoing network modernization has an estimated total cost of US$700 million. Once completed, the new network will have an all-IP architecture, as well as 12,000 additional kilometers of fiber optic cable capacity to handle the expected increase in voice and data traffic and the capability to upgrade to more advanced technologies.
The new network is also designed to reduce the costs of operating, maintaining, and upgrading as the company shifts towards more power-efficient equipment and adopts more green solutions that will further reduce its carbon footprint and energy consumption. (PR)
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Pagasa fears 'Lawin' could be super typhoon; storm signals raised
Fearing Typhoon “Lawin” will develop into a super typhoon on or before Thursday, the state weather bureau raised Public Storm Warning Signal No. 2 over several areas in extreme part of North Luzon.
In its 5:00 am update on Wednesday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said affected areas include Batanes, and Cagayan province including the Babuyan and Calayan groups of islands.
“Cagayan, Calayan, Babuyan, and Batanes groups of islands will experience stormy weather with rough to very rough seas… where 61 to 100 kph winds are expected in at least 24 hours,” PAGASA said.
PAGASA noted the typhoon will bring estimated 10 to 20-mm per hour amount of rainfall that will come down from the Lawin’s 850-km diameter.
Meanwhile, Public Storm Warning Signal No. 1 was raised over Ilocos Norte, Kalinga, Apayao, Abra, and Isabela where residents will experience 30 to 60 kph-strong winds in at least 36 hours.
“Strong to gale force wind is expected to affect the Eastern seaboard of Central Luzon, the seaboards of Southern Luzon and Visayas and the Northern and Eastern seaboards of Mindanao,” PAGASA warned.
Typhoon “Lawin” has been spotted at about 460 kms east of Tuguegarao City, packing up maximum sustained winds of 205 kph winds near its center and a gustiness of up to 240 kph.
Moving over sea in north northwest direction at 11 kph, Perez expressed fear the typhoon will become a super typhoon on Thursday before it exits the country’s area of responsibility by Saturday evening.
Perez explained a severe weather disturbance need to manifest having a maximum sustained winds of 210 kph and more near its center before a severe weather disturbance can be called a super typhoon.
But he assured that Typhoon “Lawin’”s center-track will not make landfall in any part of extreme North Luzon given that present scenario continues to prevail.
The weather forecaster highlighted typhoon’s possibility not to develop into a super typhoon because of the prevalence of cold and dry north easterly winds blowing in the southern part of China.
Perez explained the typhoon’s interaction with easterly winds from China would prevent it from gathering more strength in the East Philippine Sea.
“One of the scenarios is that if it continues its direction, the typhoon will probably coast its way to Taiwan and move towards southern part of Japan (by Saturday),” Perez explained.
The typhoon has already induced Southwest Monsoon that will bring cloudy skies with occasional moderate to heavy rains in the regions of Mimaropa, Bicol, and Visayas.
PAGASA added Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mindanao and the rest of Luzon will have occasional light to moderate rains.
Billions of GSIS, Pag-ibig contributions unremitted, says Drilon
About P2.15 billion worth of payments for contributions and loan amortizations are still not remitted to Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and Pag-ibig Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) in Mindanao, a senator revealed.
Senator Franklin Drilon disclosed that the past government of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) failed to pay GSIS members’ contribution since 1997, noting that P907 million of the total amount corresponds unpaid shares in GSIS and Pag-ibig Fund premium and loan amortizations.
“The bigger portion of P1.24 billion refers to interests that accrued over the years due to the non-and late payments... This is a ghost of the past that continues to haunt us,” Drilon told senators in a committee hearing of ARMM budget in the Senate last week.
Drilon explained the future budgets to be allocated for ARMM would be used to pay for the interest rates alone should the government fail to address the matter as soon as possible.
Citing documents from ARMM acting governor Mujiv Hataman’s documents, Drilon said ARMM incurred P877.25-million unremitted payments to GSIS in 1997 to 2003 and another P213.13 in 2004.
He noted the figures are on top of P877.24 million that corresponds to unremitted GSIS loan deductions for 17 months from 2001 to 2004 and another P243.83-million fun for the unremitted Pag-ibig Fund contributions and loan amortizations.
“The situation merits an investigation. It has to be settled before a similar case blows up in our face,” Drilon said.
The Senate Committee on Finance chair added this has been “a source of disappointment and burden for teachers and retired personnel of the Department of Education in the ARMM.”
ARMM because they could not avail of their GSIS and Pag-IBIG benefits like housing and salary loans due to the discrepancies in the premiums," stressed Drilon.
"This sorry scenario continues to frustrate our teachers in the ARMM because they could not avail of their GSIS and Pag-IBIG benefits like housing and salary loans due to the discrepancies in the premiums," Drilon said
Jamar Kulayan, regional head of Department of Education (DepEd) in ARMM, told Drilon retire teachers receive an amount that is less than their pension due to reductions in creditable service in a letter.
Kulayan revealed DepEd in ARMM owed the Philippine Public School Teachers Association (PPSTA) an amount of P31.93 million, which corresponds to the unremitted loan payments for the period of April 2003 to September 2005.
In 2006, Congress was able to appropriate P250 million for the payment of unpaid contributions but Drilon noted the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) was only able to release P127 million as payments.
Good service and great food at Court View Inn
GUESTS and travelers considering to stay a day or two in an accommodation establishment and looking for quality service can visit anytime Court View Inn, the newest hotel located along Quimpo Boulevard in Ecoland.
Court View Inn, which opened just last month, boasts of the kind of services clients are looking to make their stay comfortable and memorable one.
Court View has a total of 41 air-conditioned rooms, with each room equipped with an LCD television.
Guests are given at least seven room classifications in which they can select from junior suite room, family room deluxe twin, deluxe room, standard room, triple standard and dorm-type room. All the rooms come with distinct elegance and conducive ambience.
Court View Inn reservations manager Joanne Alcantara said they are looking at all target markets ranging from medium class to upper class. For those who are mindful about the budget, the dorm-type is a good selection for them.
These rooms are situated in the fourth and fifth floors of Court View while the ground floors up to the third floor are spaces provided for guests. This kind of scheme can provide more convenience on the part of the guests since the restaurants are just downstairs ready to serve them sumptuous meals.
Court View Inn has also come up with the best offerings for all Dabawenyos with its buffet special for lunch and snacks every payday and Friday at reasonable prices a few days after it opened its doors to guests.
Alcantara said people of Davao can expect a more delightful treat either for themselves or for their loved ones with their wide array of both palatable Filipino dishes and native delicacies.
She said some of the desserts they offer are maja blanca and biko, two of the most popular desserts of the Filipinos. Of course, these are just few among the delicacies they serve at Court View Inn.
Court View Cafe, located at the 4th floor, boasts some of signature dishes, especially the Court View chicken which, Alcantara said, is infused with premium quality herbs that can spruce up the taste.
For lunch, the cafe serves noodles and many choices of pork and chicken dishes. The all-time favorite dinuguan at puto is among the top-sellers, according to her.
"Our buffet is very economical because we consider how Dabawenyos value money. Dabawenyo's attitude would really sit down and take time when they eat unlike those in Manila who can eat while walking," Alcantara said.
Lunch buffet costs P99 and will be offered from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., while merienda buffet, which costs P95, will start from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays.
Guard faces carnapping charges
A SECURITY guard detailed at the National Statistics Office (NSO) is facing carnapping charges after he used the agency’s service vehicle without permit and figured in an accident in Tagoloan town, Misamis Oriental on Saturday dawn.
Police said Paulino B. Sialongo, 28, a resident of Barangay Bobontugan in Jasaan town, Misamis Oriental, and an employee of EPARWA Security Agency, reportedly took NSO’s gray Toyota service vehicle bearing plate number SHT-300, and used it without permission early dawn on Saturday.
Sialongo reportedly wanted to go home to Jasaan to give his salary to his wife.
However, upon reaching Tagoloan town, the vehicle bumped into the railings at around 4:30 a.m., forcing Sialongo to abandon the vehicle along Sihayon highway.
Police Officer 3 Guillermo Casiño, traffic officer of Tagoloan Municipal Police Station, told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro that Sialongo voluntarily surrendered to their station on Monday morning.
“After daw nabangga ang sakyanan, nibalik siya sa NSO ug giuli ang yawe ug nipauli dayon sa Jasaan,” Casiño said.
Operatives of Tagoloan Police Station later turned over Sialongo to the Agora Police Station where the carnapping complaint was filed against him by the NSO, represented by Rogelio Saraspe.
Saraspe is a regular driver of the NSO vehicle.
Police Officer 3 Francis Michale Fortunado of Agora Police Station said Saraspe was authorized by the NSO Regional director to represent him and the office through a Special Power of Attorney (SPA) to file the carnapping case against Sialongo.
Fortunado said the damage of the vehicle, as declared by the NSO, is P200,000.
Sialongo is now temporarily detained at the mini-cell of Agora Police Station.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Packed bus hits fuel truck in Philippines, 9 dead
MANILA, Philippines (AP) - Police in the Philippines say a bus driver tried to avoid hitting a motorcycle and collided head-on with a fuel truck, killing nine people and injuring at least nine others. Munoz city police head Michael Angelo Zuniga said the highway crash in Nueva Ecija province north of the Philippine capital killed both vehicle drivers and the motorcyclist before dawn Wednesday. He said the bus coming from Manila was carrying at least 40 passengers. The fuel from the truck spilled but firefighters poured water on it to prevent a fire. .
NGCP Investing P269M For Substations
Private firm concessionaire National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) will be investing P269 million to install additional capacitor banks at various high-voltage buses of substations in the Luzon grid.
The project will cover the installation of shunt reactors in the Naga substation and capacitor banks in other substations, like those in Dona Imelda, Cabanatuan, Marilao and Muntinlupa.
"The equipment is expected to benefit not only the substation supporting the installation, but the neighboring substations as well," the company has emphasized.
NGCP has explained that the shunt reactor in Naga will "address the overvoltage problem experienced in the area during off-peak load condition with Tiwi plant at minimum generation."
The transmission firm pointed out that the reactors will similarly ease overvoltage dilemmas with the switching of the filters of Leyte-Luzon high voltage direct current (HVDC) station in Naga City.
These substation network improvements in the Luzon grid have started in December 2011 and due for completion by the first quarter of 2013.
"The capacitor components of the voltage improvement project in the four substations will improve the voltage profile during normal conditions and address the potential undervoltage during contingencies," NGCP has reiterated.
It has noted that the HVDC transmission system which is currently the line linking Luzon and Visayas grids is considerably the initial "bridge" in the broader goal of eventually setting up a single national grid.
The transmission line interconnection being pursued next will be the Leyte-Mindanao link up to finally connect the southernmost grid to the two others.
Studies were already carried out on the Leyte-Mindanao interconnection but the availability of generation capacities in both grids are also being re-assessed to determine if the project would be viable for implementation. (MMV)
Estero de San Miguel: The great transformation
Estero de San Miguel in Manila City used to be choked with trash and was a dumping ground of murder victims.
Today, it is lined with flowers instead of shanties, and trees are growing along the estero, as River Warriors patrol for trash.
The century-old Paco Market, once an eyesore and source of most of the waste that went into the Estero de Paco, has been restored to its former glory. Gina Lopez, managing director of the ABS-CBN Foundation, said when the rehabilitated Paco Market was inaugurated in 2011, that it used to have a reputation for drugs and crime.
The relocation of 1,350 families to a site in Calauan, Laguna and the clean-up of the polluted esteros has changed that.
Kapit Bisig Para sa Ilog Pasig, ABS-CBN Foundation’s ongoing campaign to rehabilitate the Pasig River, has kept the original 1911 architecture but updated the market to be more environment-friendly. Among the upgrades are the maximized use of natural light and a high ceiling to promote cross ventilation.
In the middle of Paco Market's dry goods section is a multi-purpose activity center making it a community center as well as a hub for commerce in the area.
Estero de Paco, which runs along the Paco Market, has also been transformed. Plants hide water treatment systems cleaning the estero while residents tend vegetable gardens along the banks.
An area by the Philippine National Railway tracks has been turned into a small park, where residents can fish for tilapia.
A tree house, which doubles as a venue for barangay meetings, also serves as a place for patrollers looking out for those who dump trash into the estero.
Lopez says the rehabilitation of the market and the estero has spurred the construction of a supermarket and a three-star hotel in the area. According to KBPIP, river rehabilitation will translate to an increase in economic activities. This will lead to a 300-percent increase in employment opportunities within 20 years.
Lopez hopes that in the process, the esteros will be transformed into commercial and recreational areas for residents. "The conjecture here is that when you clean the esteros, the economy will boom," she says.
The clean-up has already resulted in drastic changes in the quality of life along the esteros. Because the esteros are flowing more freely, the barangays along them were spared from floods that affected most of Metro Manila in August. Assuming an average cost of P3,500 per family for relocation during floods and house repairs after, the clean-up saved the area's 1,770 households around P6.1 million a year, Lopez says.
Philippines new 'darling' of global investors
Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - The Philippines is one of the current "darlings" of global investors seeking better returns in emerging market economies and offers even bigger potential returns in the future, according to a ranking official of foreign investment firm Religare Capital Markets Ltd.
The company, which specialises in equities investments in India and the Asean region, has decided to set up operations in the country within the year to better take advantage of the nascent Philippine economic boom.
"The Philippines is a market where people want to put money into," Religare's global head of equity capital markets John Sturmey said in an interview with the Inquirer. "The story here is certainly better than how it was a few years ago. Everyone is saying good things about the Philippines."
Religare, which has the bulk of its operations in India, Singapore and Hong Kong, is hoping to tap into the growing demand from the local corporate market for investment banking and equity deals.
The appetite of local corporations for more capital on both the equity and debt sides jibes with the massive amount of liquidity found offshore as central banks in the United States and Europe try to revive their economies with cheap funds, leaving investors awash with cash and few options for better returns in their home markets.
"Investors are looking for places where they can make money," Sturmey said, pointing out that Philippine companies used to have initial public offerings worth only US$60 million. "Now we see $300-400 million deals," he said.
Religare's equities head also said that ongoing challenges being faced by China and Hong Kong-the twin darlings of foreign investors over the past decade-also bode well for alternative investment sites like the Philippines.
"Hong Kong and China are offering less opportunities," he said.
"They're 'over-banked' since there are a lot more financial institutions chasing after fewer and fewer deals." This has made it less attractive for firms like Religare, which would have to contend with thinning profit margins.
At the same time, the China and Hong Kong markets have ongoing difficulties with corporate governance issues, which are encouraging investors to look to other emerging market nations.
Previous to its announcement that it would set up shop locally, Religare has already participated in the initial public offering of Puregold Price Club Inc late last year as a junior partner of lead underwriter UBS (most of Religare's senior officials are former UBS bankers). More recently, Religare also initiated research coverage on local IT gaming firm Philweb Corp.
Sturmey said that Religare was particularly interested in the spate of "re-IPOs" being undertaken by local corporations as part of the Philippine Stock Exchange's thrust to increase the free float of listed companies.
"These re-IPOs present good opportunities to people like ourselves," he said. "The Philippines has great companies here but they're trading $10,000 a day [in total value turnover]."
The Religare official expressed confidence in the local market, saying the country was "in the best place it's been for decades, with a very strong macroeconomy and a solid political situation."
"It's always been overlooked for many years, even by the big banks," Sturmey said. "The bigger question is, whether it's sustainable."
Pagasa fears 'Lawin' could be super typhoon; storm signals raised
Fearing Typhoon “Lawin” will develop into a super typhoon on or before Thursday, the state weather bureau raised Public Storm Warning Signal No. 2 over several areas in extreme part of North Luzon.
In its 5:00 am update on Wednesday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said affected areas include Batanes, and Cagayan province including the Babuyan and Calayan groups of islands.
“Cagayan, Calayan, Babuyan, and Batanes groups of islands will experience stormy weather with rough to very rough seas… where 61 to 100 kph winds are expected in at least 24 hours,” PAGASA said.
PAGASA noted the typhoon will bring estimated 10 to 20-mm per hour amount of rainfall that will come down from the Lawin’s 850-km diameter.
Meanwhile, Public Storm Warning Signal No. 1 was raised over Ilocos Norte, Kalinga, Apayao, Abra, and Isabela where residents will experience 30 to 60 kph-strong winds in at least 36 hours.
“Strong to gale force wind is expected to affect the Eastern seaboard of Central Luzon, the seaboards of Southern Luzon and Visayas and the Northern and Eastern seaboards of Mindanao,” PAGASA warned.
Typhoon “Lawin” has been spotted at about 460 kms east of Tuguegarao City, packing up maximum sustained winds of 205 kph winds near its center and a gustiness of up to 240 kph.
Moving over sea in north northwest direction at 11 kph, Perez expressed fear the typhoon will become a super typhoon on Thursday before it exits the country’s area of responsibility by Saturday evening.
Perez explained a severe weather disturbance need to manifest having a maximum sustained winds of 210 kph and more near its center before a severe weather disturbance can be called a super typhoon.
But he assured that Typhoon “Lawin’”s center-track will not make landfall in any part of extreme North Luzon given that present scenario continues to prevail.
The weather forecaster highlighted typhoon’s possibility not to develop into a super typhoon because of the prevalence of cold and dry north easterly winds blowing in the southern part of China.
Perez explained the typhoon’s interaction with easterly winds from China would prevent it from gathering more strength in the East Philippine Sea.
“One of the scenarios is that if it continues its direction, the typhoon will probably coast its way to Taiwan and move towards southern part of Japan (by Saturday),” Perez explained.
The typhoon has already induced Southwest Monsoon that will bring cloudy skies with occasional moderate to heavy rains in the regions of Mimaropa, Bicol, and Visayas.
PAGASA added Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mindanao and the rest of Luzon will have occasional light to moderate rains.
Jeepneys get a facelift, eyed to boost tourism
Filipinos should pay homage to the King of the Road, a group said, as it launched a campaign to revive the famous Philippine jeepney.
At least 50 jeepneys were recently parked at the SM Mall of Asia for the Jeepney Tours' Jeepney Arts Festival, which engaged over 150 volunteer artists to repaint the iconic vehicle.
"This is our way of honoring the 'King of the Road'," Jeepney Arts Festival managing director Clang Garcia said.
Noting that jeepneys originally started as refurbished World War II vehicles, Garcia called the popular public utility vehicle "a symbol of Filipino ingenuity."
The festival meanwhile urged artists to use local tourist destinations as their design theme.
Riding on the government's tourism campaign theme "It's More Fun in the Philippines," Garcia said the newly painted jeepneys will hopefully be "roving tourist destinations."
"Some of the artists from Angono, Rizal said they will paint the Higantes Festival. Others said they will paint Bohol's famous tarsier, Quiapo or Divisoria," Garcia said.
Aside from aesthetically overhauling jeepneys, the campaign also aims to "improve the jeepney culture," Garcia said.
This, as she noted that the jeepney's image has recently been marred by unethical practices among drivers and operators.
"The Jeepney Arts Festival is a complete rehabilitation, culturally and artistically," Garcia said.
Jeepneys chosen for the campaign had to be in good working condition and pass smoke emission tests.
Drivers of jeepneys being overhauled also have to undergo a training program including sessions on Filipino history and values, ethical driving and passenger handling
Kopi Talk MICE, Spice and Everything Nice
Where is now more reason to visit this charming City of Legazpi, provincial capital of Albay, than ogling at the perfect cone of Mayon Volcano.
Nestled at the foot of the legendary volcano and named after the Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, this city is aspiring to be a major convention hub in the country.
"Legazpi City has all the ingredients of being a vital center for regional and national MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions)," says Mayor Geraldine Rosal.
The lady mayor said that the city is trying to lure visitors for conventions, incentive travel and sports tourism because of the unique mix of natural allure and urban comforts the city offers.
This year, the city has hosted the national gatherings of the ICT Confederation of the Philippines, the Philippine Councilors League (PCL), the Directors of the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board, the Vice Mayor's League, the Congressional Spouses, and the Parole and Probation Officers League of the Philippines, Inc. (PPOLPI).
In October, it will be the turn of the Jaycees International and the Philippine Obstetrical & Gynecological Society to discover the charm of the city.
Moreover, the national organizations of Zonta Club and the Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity have set their meets on the city in 2013.
The regional center of the Bicolandia, Legazpi offers urban amenities such as shopping malls, star-rated boutique hotels, hospitals, and cozy bars and restaurants.
Currently, the city has some 1,500 rooms ranging from luxury to economy that suit all budgets. Among the notable accommodation facilities are the newly-opened hilltop Oriental Hotel, the only five-star hotel in the Bicol region, La Piazza, and Hotel St. Ellis which have convention halls for medium-sized events.
Rosal said the growing number of national gatherings necessitates for the construction of a convention center at par with national standards which will be built along the scenic Legazpi City Boulevard facing Albay Gulf.
The 14-kilometer bayside boulevard which leads to the Southern Luzon International Airport (SLIA) in nearby Daraga town is touted to be the longest of its kind in the country.
Currently, the Ibalong Centrum for Recreation (ICR), the city's sports complex also doubles as venue for big meetings, and for medium-sized events, and the Concourse
Accessibility is not a problem as the city can be reached by plane from Manila with four airlines servicing route with five flights daily, and Cebu Pacific Air plying the Legazpi- Cebu and Legazpi-Tacloban routes.
Rosal added that the completion of the SLIA will strengthen Legazpi's positioning for international meets. Talks are already rife with local carriers for Asian flights once the airport is completed two years from now.
Legazpi can also be reached by land from Manila, Southern Tagalog region, Visayas and Mindanao via the Maharlika Highway, the backbone of the country's highway system.
The more adventurous ones can try the train which will be fully restored up to its old terminal in Legazpi before the end of the year.
An (unwritten) criteria for the selection of convention sites are the tourist spots of the host city. And in this department, Legazpi is not wanting.
"The City Council recently adopted the slogan 'City of Fun and Adventure' to be the branding of Legazpi in line with the promotional thrust of the Department of Tourism," Rosal revealed.
She said that visitors can enjoy the city with its various adventure activities such as the Ligñon Hill zipline and hanging bridge, the exciting ATV rides at the Mayon lava trail, and the Embarcadero zipline and lighthouse tower rapelling.
Legazpi is also the jump-off point to nearby attractions such as the postcard-pretty Cagsawa Ruins Park in Daraga, the posh Misibis Bay Resort in Bacacay town, and the butanding (whale shark) interaction in Donsol, Sorsogon.
Spicing up the conventions, quite literally, are the signature Bicolano spicy dishes which have become sought-after because of their luscious taste.
Rosal noted that Legazpi plays a vital role in the Albay Culinaria, the culinary tourism program of the provincial government aimed at promoting Albay as a foodie's haven. The city has a good concentration of specialty restaurants, grilleries, coffee shops, bars and watering holes which keep nocturnal life vibrant.
Just outside the doorstep of the city in neighboring town of Daraga are cozy restos which evoke an old world charm with their ambiance and comfort food--Balay Cena Una, Balay Suanoy and Alvi's Albay Cafe.
She concluded that the MICE tourism boom in Legazpi has encouraged the rise of small and medium tourism-related enterprises which bodes well for the economy of the whole province of Albay.
Typhoon Gains Strength
MANILA, Philippines --- Flights were cancelled, thousands of travelers were stranded and one person was reported missing as Typhoon "Lawin" (international name: Jelawat) strengthened Monday, the weather agency reported.
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) forecaster Nikos Peñaranda said the typhoon was moving ever so slowly away from the country, and could hit land in extreme Northern Luzon on its way out.
The Hawaii-based Joint Typhoon Warning Center classified Lawin as a "super typhoon" on Monday, but PAGASA does not use the term for its tropical cyclone system.
Storm warnings in the Visayas have been lifted, although the 700-kilometer-wide typhoon will still bring intermittent light to moderate rains and at times heavy rains over Northern and Eastern Samar, and Leyte.
As of 5 p.m. yesterday, "Lawin" was tracked at 375 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes, moving at 9 kph north-northwest with 185 kph winds gusting up to 220 kph.
It is expected to be 640 km east of Infanta, Quezon, by this morning. By Wednesday morning, it will be 530 km east of Tuguegarao City and at 430 km east of Calayan Group of Islands by Thursday morning.
"There is still a slight chance that Lawin will make landfall over the extreme Northern Luzon in the Batanes-Cagayan area, but if it will sustain its northward track, Lawin will move closer to the landmass of Okinawa, Japan," Penaranda said.
While the typhoon is too far from the country, it has enhanced the southwest monsoon or habagat that will bring occasional light to moderate rains to at times heavy rains in Palawan and the western section of Visayas and Mindanao until Tuesday.
As Lawin moves northward, monsoon rains will be concentrated in Southern Luzon and Metro Manila by Wednesday or Thursday, he said.
Four big dams in Luzon - Angat, Ipo, Binga, and Magat - opened its spillways in anticipation of Lawin's rains.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported at least one person was missing after heavy rains triggered floods in parts of Mindanao.
The victim is a resident of Barangay San Vicente, Sirawai, Zamboanga del Norte.
The NDRRMC said bad weather has stranded 4,505 people, 190 rolling cargoes, 179 buses and trucks, 64 trucks and five vessels in the ports of Matnog, Sorsogon; Tagbilaran, Bohol; Cebu; Balwarteco, Allen, Northern Samar; and Dapdap, Allen, Northern Samar.
The Philippine Navy yesterday placed all its units in Central Visayas and Southern Luzon on standby for rescue operations.
Col. Omar Tonsay, the Navy spokesman, said disaster rescue teams (DRTs) and all available assets of the Cebu-based Naval Forces Central (Navforcen) were placed on full alert.
"In Region 6, BRP Jose Andrada (PG-370) and DF-339 were placed in full alert in wake of "Lawin" while BRP Abraham Campo (PG-396) and BRP Carlos Albert (PG-375) were also placed on alert footing in region 7," said Tonsay.
In region 8, BRP Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo (PG-140)and DF-353 were likewise deployed for possible rescue and relief missions.
Tonsay said four disaster response task units (DRTUs) were placed on standby in Iloilo, Tacloban, and Cebu.
Each DRTU is composed one 6x6 truck with 12 personnel and one rubber boat.
For Naval Forces Southern Luzon, DF-388, BRP Simeon Castro (PG-374), BRP Hilario Ruiz (PG-378), BRP Gen. Antonio Luna (PG-141) and BRP Apolo Tiano (PG-851) and three DRTUs are on alert.
Fourteen domestic flights were cancelled yesterday because of Lawin.
The Media Affairs Division of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) said Air Philippine cancelled its turn-around flights to Masbate, Calbayog and Catarman while Zest Air cancelled its turn-around flight to Masbate.
Cebu Pacific cancelled two round-trip flight services to Dumaguete City and another round-trip flight from Manila to Calbayog.
The management of the affected air carriers said all affected passengers will be accommodated on the next available flight once the weather clears. (Additional report from Anjo Perez)
LP proclaims Maliksi-Lacson tandem in Cavite for 2013 polls
The ruling Liberal Party on Monday proclaimed its candidates for the 2013 local elections in Cavite, naming Rep. Irineo "Ayong" Maliksi as its gubernatorial bet and Ronald Jay Lacson, son of Sen. Panfilo Lacson, as his running-mate.
Maliksi and Lacson were proclaimed Monday at an event where candidates for the provincial elections were announced, the LP said on its Twitter account.
"Cavite: Gov. Ayong Maliksi; Vice Gov. Jay Lacson 2013," it said.
The two are to go up against re-electionist Governor Jonvic Remulla and vice gubernatorial bet Jolo Revilla, son of Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr.
Remulla and Revilla will run under the Lakas-Magdalo alliance, which is expected to swear in new members in Cavite on Tuesday, Sen. Revilla's birthday.
On Sunday, Revilla had said he does not expect his relations with the elder Lacson to sour just because their sons are going up against each other for vice governor.
A tweet by GMA News reporter Kara David quoted Maliksi as saying his running-mate is neither an actor nor a traitor.
"Di siya artista at di siya traydor," David's tweet quoted Maliksi as saying.
President Benigno Aquino III was present at the event along with secretaries Emilio Abaya (Transportation and Communications) and Manuel Roxas II (Interior and Local Government), it said.
"Rep. Ayong Maliksi is the gubernatorial bet for Cavite. He served as Governor from 2001-2010," the LP said.
It added Maliksi, who is on his first term as congressman, served as Cavite governor from 2001 to 2010. He previously served as Imus vice mayor from 1980 to 1986, mayor from 1988 to 1998, and congressman from 1998 to 2001. — KBK
S&P upgrades Phl growth forecast to 4.9%
PH To Pay China Loan
MANILA, Philippines --- The Philippine government has promised to pay back the $500-million loan to China for the scrapped North Rail project in the next two years.
The administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III decided to scrap the rail project after discovering anomalies in the deal.
In his recent visit to China, Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II informed Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Fu Ying about the government's intention to pay off its debts and the cancellation of the North Rail contract with a Chinese contractor in a meeting in Nanning.
Roxas, in a news conference at the Palace, said China has asked the Philippines to immediately reimburse the loan for the botched North Rail contract at the height of the tension at the Panatag Shoal.
"What was supposed to be a multi-year long term loan was immediately called due and demandable by China. So we discussed how it will be paid. We have the resources and we will pay this," Roxas said.
"According to Finance Secretary (Cesar) Purisima, they have started negotiations and we can pay it in installment over the next two years," he added.
Roxas explained that the Aquino government decided to scrap the anomalous rail project with a Chinese contractor following a Supreme Court ruling it violated the country's procurement law.
The North Rail project, initiated by the Arroyo government in 2004, was also burdened by other anomalies such as poor construction and overpriced materials by the Chinese builders. Last year, the Aquino government shelved the North Rail project to renegotiate the terms of the contract with the Chinese.
"The Supreme Court ruled that it did not follow the procurement law. There is no such thing as executive agreement. All procurement by government must comply with the procurement law," Roxas said.
"The contractive was not effective. It included the disengagement process, the arbitration process, the process to undo the North Rail contract," he said.
Despite canceling the North Rail contract with China, Roxas said the government may revive the project that seeks to link Metro Manila to Clark, Pampanga, and seek better contract terms. China and other financiers may also join if the government decides to bid out the project this time following procurement rules.
"The North Rail Corporation will reassess and check what will be needed. The government plans a high speed rail connection to Clark. That will continue. Whether it will be on the PNR alignment or some other alignment, that will be a different decision," he added.
Roxas likewise tried to downplay Beijing's decision to ask Manila to pay off its loan immediately amid the territorial row in the West Philippine Sea.
"The timing may be coincidental but we cannot really say. Regardless if our relations are good or not, the Panatag Shoal happened or not, the North Rail contract was still anomalous. It will not be pursued," he said.
In the same meeting with Chinese official, Roxas also tried to iron some kinks in an energy agreement between China and the Philippines.
He asked China to make good with its promise to train Filipinos under the accord between the Chinese State Grid Corporation and the National Grid Corporation.
"Based on the contract, there ought to have been a turnover of technology, training, etc. But up to now, the Chinese still makes these decisions and I explained to Vice Minister Fu Ying and she understands and will check how to address the situation," he added.
Concerning his China trip, Roxas said his mission last week had been a start in reinstating the frayed relations between China and the Philippines.
Roxas said that while both countries have expressed sovereignty over their territorial claims, both countries have also expressed to renew ties that had been frayed because of the territorial dispute.
"Both sides expressed their desire to prevent further deterioration in our bilateral relations," Roxas said. "Friendship could be reactivated."
He said that he was able to achieve his mission in the sense that he was able to personally convey to the Chinese leadership the views of President Aquino.
Roxas was able to talk to China's president-in-waiting, Vice President Xi Jinping, as well as Vice Foreign Minister Fu Ying in Nanning.
"As I conveyed to Vice President Xi, talk-talk is better than no talk. The fact that messages are reliably conveyed, I think is a good step, a good foundational step so that the DFA and the other negotiators can build upon whatever foundations may be established in this meeting," he said, noting that Vice Foreign Minister Fu was invited for a visit to the Philippines during the meeting.
"Two things are significant: there is a clear communication link and messages have been conveyed through that communication link at the highest levels," he added.
As this developed, two brother lawmakers filed a bill seeking for the creation of the Center for West Philippine Sea to study the basis of the claims of the country over the waters and islands in the West Philippine Sea under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), international law, local laws, and historical data.
Under House Bill 6457 filed by Reps. Rufus Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro) and Maximo Rodriguez, Jr. (Party-list, Abante Mindanao), the Center, which shall be attached to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) under the Office of Special and Ocean Concerns, shall propose actions and measures to defend the nation's sovereignty and patrimony.
Rodriguez said the Center shall also prepare concrete plans on how to develop and fully utilize all natural resources in the area and perform other duties and responsibilities that would strengthen sovereignty and other claims over the area.
Under the bill, an amount of P50 million shall be initially appropriated for the proposed creation of the Center which shall be provided by Congress in the annual budget of the DFA under the annual General Appropriations Act. (With reports from Madel R. Sabater and Rolly T. Carandang)
Monday, September 24, 2012
Canadian firm ready to start coffee venture in Davao Region
CANADIAN company Rocky Mountain Arabica Coffee Company (RMACC) is planning to start its coffee venture this year in Davao Region that will benefit mostly the indigenous peoples (IPs) from the upland, an official from Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Friday last week.
Melanie Provido, DA regional high-value commercial crops coordinator, said farmers will start planting Arabica coffee to 100 hectare-land in five key areas in Davao City.
These coffee plantations are situated in the elevated terrains of the city where climate is just suitable to coffee farming like Sirib, Tamayong, Salaysay, Carmen and Sibulan.
There will be a total of 100 hectares of land to be planted with coffee seedlings. Each area will comprise at least significant area for hosting coffee plantations.
DA 11 will provide farmers with planting materials, including the seedlings. The department will give out at least 100,000 seedlings to farmers, translating to 1,000 seedlings per hectare.
In return, the RMACC will buy the coffee produce of the IPs, Provido said. The firm will also set up the processing facilities for the production.
She said they are eyeing to harvest at least two to three metric tons (MT) in average production yield per hectare. Previously, coffee growers in the region can only harvest around 400 kilograms per hectare.
Data from DA showed there are a total of 20,265.26 MT in coffee production so far this year, which topped the other industrial crops.
Abaca comes second highest with 13,544 MT, rubber with 6,622 MT, and cacao with 5,226 MT.
Arabica coffee can be sold in the market at P120 a kilo, Provido said. Harvesting period can take place two to three years.
"We'll make our own coffee brand for Arabica," she said.
This undertaking is under President Benigno Aquino III's thrust on Public-Private Partnership program in a bid to revive the coffee industry in the country.
Provido said coffee plantations will not bring about adverse effects to the environment since coffees are indigenous crops from the hinterlands.
Meanwhile, DA is also pushing for civet coffee production, the world's famous most expensive coffee.
"It's difficult to produce civet coffee by bulk," Provido said.
However, DA does not recommend farmers to keep in captivity civet cats in order to come up with a mass produced civet coffee.
According to Provido, what makes civet coffee famous for its distinct taste is the ability of the civet cats to single out the well-ripened coffee cherries. But when they are captured, it limits them in choosing which best cherries to feed on.
Philippines-China tension eases
Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - Philippines' Interior Secretary Mar Roxas met with China's leader-in-waiting on Friday and told him that Manila hoped to have friendly relations with Beijing and overcome difficulties caused by a territorial row in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping said he appreciated President Benigno Aquino III's sending Roxas as special envoy to China's trade fair with Southeast Asian nations in Nanning City and promised to relay the Philippine leader's message of peace to Chinese President Hu Jintao.
Aquino missed meeting with Hu during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) leaders' summit in Vladivostok, Russia, earlier this month because of conflicts in their schedules.
But the Chinese side asked the Philippine government to send a special envoy to the China-Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Expo, indicating they wanted to mend relations after tensions caused by a two-month maritime standoff at a disputed shoal in the West Philippine Sea.
Aquino sent Roxas to China to meet with Xi and ask the Chinese vice president to relay his original message for Hu at the Apec summit: that the Philippines wanted to maintain good relations with China and that it was working on a peaceful resolution of the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea.
Exchange of views
Roxas arrived in Nanning on Thursday and met with Xi, widely expected to take over from Hu in a leadership change next year, after the opening of the expo on Friday.
"We had a frank and candid exchange of views and I am satisfied that I was able to faithfully convey President Aquino's message," Roxas said in a statement released by the Palace yesterday.
"The discussions were constructive and the talks were conducted in a cordial atmosphere," presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said.
The meeting focused on the "current outstanding issues between the two countries, and other dimensions of their bilateral relationship," Lacierda said.
Xi said Aquino's decision to send a special envoy to the trade fair showed the importance he "attaches to Philippines-China relations," according to Lacierda.
He said Xi promised to bring Aquino's message to Hu. Xi also responded to the matters raised by Roxas and Roxas promised to convey the matters raised by Xi to Aquino, Lacierda said.
Lacierda, Foreign Undersecretary Erlinda Basilio and Charg? d'Affaires Alex Chua of the Philippine Embassy accompanied Roxas to the meeting.
Recovery of ties
China's official news agency Xinhua on Friday quoted Xi as telling Roxas he hoped ties hurt by a territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea could recover.
Trouble flared in April when vessels from the two countries faced off with each other at Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal), a rich fishing ground within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.
Both sides later agreed to withdraw their vessels, defusing some of the tension.
"I hope this [situation] will not appear again and again, allowing bilateral relations to return to the track of normal development," Xinhua quoted Xi as saying at his meeting with Roxas.
"China-Philippine relations have encountered some difficulties. However, through effective communication between the two sides, the situation has already eased," Xi said.
Philippine defence officials acknowledge that tensions in the West Philippine Sea have eased, but they say Chinese vessels remain at Panatag Shoal.
"This is one of the reasons why Secretary Roxas went there. There's a slight easing of tensions. There's a chance for Secretary Roxas to build on this easing of tensions," Communication Secretary Ricky Carandang said on Friday.
Xinhua quoted Roxas as telling Xi that the Philippines hoped to have friendly ties with China and overcome current difficulties.
Overlapping claims
China claims sovereignty over nearly all of the South China Sea, including parts now known as West Philippine Sea, which is believed to hold vast deposits of oil and gas, is a rich fishing ground, and is home to shipping lanes vital to global trade.
But the Philippines, Brunei Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan also have claims to parts of the sea, some of them overlapping.
In his opening speech at the trade fair on Friday, Xi sought to assure Southeast Asian leaders that China wanted peaceful relations with them, and wanted a peaceful resolution of its territorial disputes with its neighbours.
He said China was committed to "common development and steadily improving cooperation mechanisms in various fields."
With two-way trade growing 20 per cent annually to US$362.8 billion last year, China and its southern neighbours are increasingly intertwined, Xi said.
In Manila, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in an interview on dzRB radio yesterday the Palace would disclose the details of the meeting after Roxas had made a report to the president.
She could not say, however, when Roxas would return to Manila.
With reports from AP and AFP
NGCP Fixes Power Transmission Lines
MANILA, Philippines - The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) reported the restoration of power transmission services to Nueva Ecija, Aurora as well as in Northern Samar following the re-energization of the corporation's transmission facilities.
Lilibeth Gaydowen, North Luzon Corporate Communication and Public Affairs Officer, said that electricity was successfully restored to portions of Nueva Ecija Electric Cooperative II Area 2 (NEECO II Area 2) and Aurora Electric Cooperative (AURELCO) franchise areas, which went dark last September 18.
Gaydowen said the unplanned power interruption began at 7:44 a.m. and lasted until 11:08 a.m., or after the Cabanatuan-Baler 69-kilovolt (kV) transmission line was re-energized.
According to reports, the outage was caused by a broken cross-arm of a pole structure in Barangay Curba, Bongabon, Nueva Ecija.
Meanwhile, power transmission services were brought back to Northern Samar on the evening of September 17 after the involved facility, the Palanas Cara-Catarman-Allen/Bobolosan 69-kV transmission line, was re-energized.
Visayas Corporate Communication and Public Affairs Officer Elmer Cruz said customers of Northern Samar Electric Cooperative, Inc. (NORSAMELCO) experienced the outage from 9:27 a.m. to 6:56 p.m. on the same date.
According to Cruz, the franchise area has also been affected by outages the past few days, including a 14-hour power interruption between the evening of September 16 and the morning of September 17, apparently due to the tripping of Palanas Cara-Catarman 69-kV transmission line.
The same transmission line underwent preventive maintenance on September 16 but tripped upon energization, the NGCP said.
"NGCP continues to strengthen the transmission network with its regular maintenance activities done in close coordination with NORSAMELCO. Both utilities are working together to improve services to power consumers," the corporation said.
Fluor Corp eyes Phl as global hub
MANILA, Philippines - Global engineering and construction management firm Fluor Corp. is looking at expanding its Philippine operations as a global execution center by hiring close to 1,000 new Filipino workers, transforming the country as its largest office in the world in the next two to three years, an official said.
“The Philippine office is still one of the most cost competitive offices in 70 to 75 countries around the world,” Dan Spinks, vice-president and general manager of Fluor’s Philippine operations, said in an interview.
“This could be in the next two to three years the largest office. Now it is third,” Spinks said.
To date, Fluor employs 2,200 professionals involved in engineering, procurement and finance that support capital projects in the oil and gas, chemicals, power, and mining and metals industries.
Spinks said it can easily grow to more than 3,000 in the next two to three years.
In the past two years alone, Fluor hired more than 1,000 employees for its Manila and Cebu offices, which support projects in the Middle East, South America, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and China.
“We are interested in doing more projects here in the Philippines and in the region,” Spinks said.
In 1987, Fluor Daniels started its local operations with just 57 employees.
As a global execution center, the Manila office initially supported other offices in the global network.
“The market in Asia Pacific is strong for us. Australia is very busy and Southeast Asia is picking up,” Spinks said.
The local market, for its part, is supported by economic growth and interests on the construction of new power plants, he said.
Completed projects of Fluor in the country include the Enron Power Corp.’s coal-fired power plant in Batangas and Procter & Gamble’s Cabuyao facility in Laguna.
To date, Fluor is working on the phase 3 of the Malampaya gas-to-power project.
Early this month, it entered into a joint venture with Filipino firm AG&P that specializes in modular engineering and fabrication services.
“The thing you can do when you fabricate in a controlled environment is you can manage safety and control quality better,” Spinks said.
It will also result in faster turnover of projects.
AG&P and Fluor will invest $15 million initially for the expansion of an existing fabrication yard in Batangas.
Fluor provides services for energy and chemicals, industrial and infrastructure, power, and operations and maintenance. - By Neil Jerome C. Morales
Saturday, September 22, 2012
'Drug gangs out to get my husband'
MANILA, Philippines - Calling herself “collateral damage” in what she said was a “grand plan” by drug syndicates to attack her husband, Estrella Gutierrez came out yesterday to belie allegations hurled against her.
Estrella, wife of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency director general Jose Gutierrez Jr., said she plans to file a libel complaint against former PDEA deputy director general for operations Carlos Gadapan over allegations she had incurred debts because of her compulsive gambling.
“I categorically deny these baseless allegations,” Estrella said in an interview yesterday. “Hindi ako nagka-casino (I do not go to casinos).”
Gadapan said his approaching the PDEA chief about Estrella’s supposed gambling activities was what cost him his job. Gadapan claimed Estrella had been dropping the PDEA chief’s name whenever she supposedly borrowed money from casino financiers.
Estrella, who operates an upscale flower shop, said she also has a name to protect. She said groups are targeting her husband because he is “undeniably very effective” at his job as head of the anti-drug agency.
“This is a grand plan to discredit the PDEA and my husband,” Estrella said. “I am the collateral damage.”
She said she wants Gadapan “to pay and pay dearly for this mess” through the libel case she will file against him. She added that their family had never benefited from the agency’s resources.
Extortion
Estrella believes Gadapan is reportedly working with people “who wanted to extort money” from her.
“This was evident in the extortion letter I received, sent by a person whom I cannot disclose at this moment,” she said.
Estrella said one of the documents “brandished” by Gadapan in one of his interviews looked like the extortion letter she received two weeks ago, demanding that she pay debts she had already settled.
She refused to name the letter sender, but added that “she will be unmasked.”
Estrella said the debts Gadapan claimed she incurred are for her flower shop, and that these had long been paid.
The checks shown by Gadapan were issued three years ago, Estrella said, adding that if any of the checks had problems, she would have gone to jail by now.
‘Mistah’ bats for Gadapan
Meanwhile, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1987 aired his support for Gadapan.
“He is a good officer and a man of integrity,” Tarlac provincial police chief Senior Superintendent Alfred Corpuz said of his “mistah.”
Gadapan accused Gutierrez of working on his termination after he told him about his wife’s gambling problem. He said it was Gutierrez who signed an endorsement to Malacañang for his relief.
Gutierrez said the decision to relieve Gadapan was beyond his power and that it was an order that came from Malacañang.
He ordered all PDEA units yesterday to continue their operations against high-value and high-impact targets, saying the agency will not be sidetracked by the controversies.
NBI confirms PDEA probe
National Bureau of Investigation Director Nonnatus Caesar Rojas said yesterday that both Gutierrez and Gadapan are being investigated.
“We are looking into allegations of both camps,” he said.
Rojas said that aside from probing allegations of Gadapan that Gutierrez is involved in an P8-million extortion incident, they are also looking into Gadapan’s records.
He refused to provide details of the investigation, saying he has yet to receive reports from the agents conducting the probe. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Janvic Mateo - By Reinir Padua
Giant whale found dead in Zamboanga
Reuters/Reuters - Fishermen paddle their boats near the floating carcass of a 52-foot (16-metre) long Great Sperm Whale near an island off the coast of Zamboanga City, southern Philippines September 19, 2012.
(UPDATE) A gigantic mammal has been found dead off the coast in Zamboanga.
Reuters reports that the 52-foot (16 meters) long Great Sperm Whale was spotted by the coast guard. A huge crane was also needed to lift the carcass.
Sunstar quotes City Veterinarian Dr. Mario Arriola as saying that the whale was pregnant, although the period of pregnancy could not be determined.Reuters reports that the 52-foot (16 meters) long Great Sperm Whale was spotted by the coast guard. A huge crane was also needed to lift the carcass.
The report also quoted Ramil Dela Cruz of the BFAR Marine Mamals Stranding Response Team as saying the whale could have been dead for two days before it was spotted by the Coast Guard.
Dela Cruz reportedly said the sperm whale died of natural causes although there were "some holes and scratches on the whale's carcass."
"It was not known as of yet how the giant marine mammal had died, but the monsoon waves must have swept it ashore off Sacol Island," the report also quoted Arriola as saying.
Photo provided by Reuters:
A crane lifts the carcass of a 52-foot (16-metre) long Great Sperm Whale in a wharf at Zamboanga City, southern …
Chinese couple, 2 Pinoys nabbed for P12-M shabu
MANILA, Philippines - A Chinese couple and their two alleged Filipino cohorts were arrested in a buy-bust operation in Quezon City that resulted in the seizure of at least P12.6 million worth of shabu Thursday night.
Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director Chief Superintendent Mario de la Vega identified the suspects as Ong Kieng Yok, alias Yang, and his lover Mao Yuaning, 49, and their companions Somagana Bocare, 26, and Manan Jalal, 33.
De la Vega said the suspects were peddling the illegal drugs in bulk and even asked the arresting police officers to be “consignees” and sell the contraband in retail.
Records showed that Mao arrived from Hubei, China as a tourist on Sept. 14.
Senior Inspector Roberto Razon, head of the QCPD’s anti-illegal drugs special operations task group, said a disgruntled Chinese cohort of the couple informed them of the suspects’ illegal drug trade.
According to De la Vega, the Chinese informant, who was fluent in Filipino, approached them on Sept. 19.
Undercover policemen managed to close a drug deal with the suspects for a kilo of shabu.
Police officers then set up a drug sting in front of a hotel along Banawe Road and arrested the suspects shortly after they accepted the P650,000 marked money from the poseur buyers.
When apprehended, the suspects yielded approximately another kilo of shabu. - By Reinir Padua
Phl external debt up 1.7% to $62.5 B
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines’ external debt inched up as of the first semester compared to last year, but it remains to be at a manageable level as economic growth far outpaces the accumulation of foreign obligations, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported yesterday.
External debt – which encompasses registered borrowings by Philippine residents from non-residents – rose 1.7 percent to $62.5 billion as of the first half of the year from $61.4 billion a year ago. Compared to the first quarter level, however, liabilities slightly declined from $62.9 billion.
Despite the increase in nominal value, external debt as a proportion of gross domestic product (GDP) in fact slipped to 26.6 percent from 28.8 percent a year ago. The six-month figure was also a decrease from 27.4 percent recorded in the first three months of the year.
GDP is the sum of the value of all products and services produced within an economy. As of June, Philippine GDP grew 7.7 percent in a nominal basis. Thus, a lower external debt-to-GDP ratio means the country has generated more resources that are more than enough to cover its external obligations.
“This is a fundamental shift from years ago when our external debt accounted for more than 50 percent of our GDP. This further reduces our vulnerability from global shocks and provides a big buffer for us to respond to sudden stops of inflows,” BSP assistant governor Cyd Tuaño-Amador told reporters.
In a statement, BSP said the year-on-year increase was mainly due to more investments by non-residents in Philippine securities amounting to $1 billion, “indicating strong and sustained investor confidence in the country.” When a country issues a security, it is in effect borrowing money from investors.
On the other hand, the monthly decrease in our debt stock was mainly due to $800 million worth of net repayments by both public and private sector entities and “audit adjustments” made as the US dollar weakens against the yen.
The external debt portfolio was also “predominantly
medium- to long-term in tenor,” the statement said, which means most liabilities are not bound to be paid within a year, giving the country more time to settle them.
A total of 88.8 percent of external obligations, equivalent to $55.5 billion, had an average tenor of 20.5 years, data showed. Short-term external debts—those that are to mature in one year—accounted for the balance of $7 billion.
Also, the government continued to borrow more externally than the private sector, the statement said. Public sector external debt amounted to $48.4 billion, while private entities’ debt stock reached $14.1 billion as of June. - By Prinz P. Magtulis
PDEA-Albay chief shot
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