How long can justice be served in the Philippines?

..Ethel Brunty has been waiting for three decades now just to get what she has been fighting for: moral damages for the death of her daughter, Rhonda. In January 1980, Rhonda died after the car she was in collided with a Philippine National Railways (PNR) train in Moncada, Tarlac. The mishap also took the life of driver, Rodolfo Mercelita, but spared the second passenger, Juan Manuel Garcia. Three years after the accident, Brunty and Garcia filed for damages against PNR at the Manila Regional Trial Court, which eventually awarded a P1.15 million compensation costs in their favor in 1990. But the case dragged on for another 15 years after PNR asked the Court of Appeals (CA) to review the ruling. In August 2005, CA affirmed the lower court’s decision, raising the death indemnity for Brunty from P30,000 to P50,000 but nullifying the P72,760 car damage reparation. Refusing to surrender its case, the state railway company filed another petition for review with the Supreme Court the following year. And in its ruling, the High Court upheld CA’s liability verdict even after removing the award for actual damages of P500,000 due to “lack of basis.” The process deducted P500,000 from the original P1.15 million moral damages imposed by Manila RTC. In a six-page decision promulgated October 18 this year, the Commission on Audit (CoA) ordered PNR to pay P500,000 in moral damages to Brunty and Garcia. CoA chair Ma. Gracia Pulido Tan ordered that the claimants are also entitled to P50,000 death indemnity of Rhonda based on original court ruling. In the same decision, Tan as well as CoA Commissioners Juanito G. Espino Jr. and Heidi L. Mendoza also agreed for the recompense of P50,000 legal expenses and P25,000 temperate damages. “Wherefore, premises considered, the instant petition/money claim in the amount of P625,000 and costs of suit, representing the outstanding liability of PNR to Petitioners pursuant to the final and executory judgment of the SC in “Philippine National Railways vs. Ethel Brunty and Juan Manuel M. Garcia, is granted,” the COA declared. More than three decades after filing the case, Brunty still waits in vain for PNR to pay up. ..

PH among top countries in microfinance, says study

The Philippines remains a global leader in microfinance, with an international report placing the country among the top five in overall microfinance business environment rankings. The country ranked 4th out of 55 in the Economist Intelligence Unit's "Global Microscope on the Microfinance Business Environment 2012," jumping two places from ranking 6th last year. This, as it highlighted significant changes which are seen to promote the development of an enabling microfinance environment. Related story: Moody's raises PH ratings anew These include central bank Circular No. 744, which redefined microfinance loans to include amounts up to P300,000 from the previous P150,000. Also noted was the House approval of a draft law which allow foreign ownership of up to 40 percent in rural banks. The country's score improved by 4.8 points to 63.3 index points calculated based on its performance in regulatory framework and supporting institutional framework. The Philippines was one of only three Asia countries in the top 10 of the report, which covers a year's period to June 2012. This year's overall ranking was topped by Peru, Bolivia and Pakistan. Below the Philippines, meanwhile, were Kenya, El Salvador, Colombia, Cambodia, Mexico and Panama. In terms of regulatory framework, the Philippines shared the top spot with Peru, scoring 80 points. "The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP, the central bank) continues to promote an enabling environment for microfinance, seeing it as one of its key poverty reduction efforts," the report said. A number of public sector institutions meanwhile provide wholesale funds to support the sector's growth, it added. Although improving by five points, the Philippines posted a slightly weaker performance, scoring 50 and sharing the 15th place with Brazil, Nicaragua and Uruguay. "The industry remains relatively fragmented, as there is no one dominant institutional type, set of institutions, or network and multiple regulatory and supervision regimes owing to the diversity of the types of service providers," the report said. The country's weak showing in this indicator may also attributed to a low "stability" score, particularly in terms of "political stability."

Comelec staff defies physical limits to help future voters

..WHILE offices of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Cebu City are limiting the number of registrants to 500 a day as the voters’ registration period ends tomorrow, a differently abled encoder at Comelec Minglanilla remains unfazed by the influx of last-minute applicants. Christine Zamora, 32, helps Minglanilla residents complete their application for voters’ registration. She encodes personal information and biometrics of those who want to become registered voters of Minglanilla in a computer, which is connected to the Comelec database. During the voters’ registration period, she assists 50 to 100 registrants a day. This is quite an achievement for an able-bodied person, but for Zamora, who was born with no hands, this is a feat. Zamora thinks nothing of it. She told Sun.Star Cebu in an interview yesterday that with only two days left to register, she expects her workload to double. Normal “Pero normal ra man nako (that’s normal for),” she said, adding that she has been working at the Comelec office for two years. Zamora, a mother of two from Barangay Tubod in Minglanilla, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Cebu. She wanted to be a journalist but her sister persuaded her to work in a travel agency in Hong Kong where she handled travel bookings and issued tickets to customers. She worked in Hong Kong for five years before deciding to return to the Philippines. Asset Zamora said she does not have problems with her disability as she has family, friends and co-workers who support her. Minglanilla Election Officer Nilo Maningo considers Zamora as an asset. “She has excellent output despite the workload,” Maningo told Sun.Star Cebu. Zamora said persons with disabilities should not be discouraged by their disability and must show they are just as efficient as other people. Comelec Cebu City north district election officer Marchel Sarno said there is a need to control the number of registrants to maintain order. Full At 10 a.m. yesterday, Comelec Cebu City refused to take in more registrants because its offices were congested. Comelec Cebu City decided to issue priority numbers and the Cebu City Government had to put up tents so registrants can sit in the shade while waiting for their turn. The road outside the Comelec office was closed to traffic and the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management placed railings to secure the perimeter of the election offices. Among those trying to beat the deadline are actor Eddie Gutierrez and son John Rex Gutierrez. John Rex’s girlfriend also registered in the north district election office yesterday. Actress Ruffa Gutierrez is expected to register today. Bid The Gutierrezes want to become registered voters of Cebu City north district to support Annabelle Rama’s congressional bid. Annabelle and Eddie have a house in Barangay Busay but John Rex and his girlfriend declared the Rama-Gutierrez house in Barangay Kamputhaw as residence. Under Comelec Resolution 9542, names of registrants standing in line up to 30 meters will be listed down by 3 p.m. on the last day of registration. They will be the last ones allowed to register. But if they are not present when their names are called, they can no longer register as voter for the 2013 elections. Comelec warned that applications without biometrics will be considered “not filed” and will not be submitted before the Election Registration Board for hearing. ..

Spookiest Places in Philippine

The Manila Film Center, Philippines When the Manila Film Center was being built in the early ‘80s, the scaffolding collapsed and several workmen fell to their deaths in the orchestra pit. Rumour has it that instead of retrieving the bodies and giving the workmen proper burials, the First Lady at the time, Imelda Marcos, ordered that cement be poured onto the pit. Now visitors report hearing voices and poltergeist activity. Diplomat Hotel, Philippines On top of Dominican Hill in Baguio City is the now abandoned Diplomat Hotel. Before it was developed into a hotel, the building was a seminary founded in 1911; and during World War II, many nuns and priests were beheaded there. Guests and employees often saw headless apparitions in the hotel; and even when it closed in 1987 after the death of its owner, the sightings still persist.

Manila outperforms 15 Asian cities in 'shopping' index

..Tourists traveling in the Philippines not only visit the country for its natural wonders or historic sites but also to do some shopping, a new study shows. The Philippine capital city of Manila outperformed almost 15 Asian cities in the Economist Intelligence Unit's new "Globe Shopper Index Asia-Pacific" report. Manila was ranked 11th out of 25 overall, with a score of 51.5 index points on five categories deemed important to shopping travelers. These are the variety of shops, affordability of products, convenience, hotels and transport, as well as culture and climate. It followed the top 10 Asian-Pacific shopping cities namely Hongkong, Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai, Beijing, Singapore, Sydney, Bangkok, Tokyo, Seoul and Delhi. "Geographically, spiritually and culturally set apart from mainland Southeast Asia, Manila can feel different than the rest of Asia," the report said. "Shoppers will admire colonial architecture, stunning stone churches and lively town plazas as they stroll between shops," it added. Manila's best performance is in affordability, where it ranked 8th. It also landed among the top Asia-Pacific cities in terms of convenience, sharing the 10th spot with Mumbai. "Relaxed visa regulations make it easy to enter the country, while the city offers both affordable dining and public transport," the report said. Manila posted a slightly weaker performance in the culture and climate sub-index, where it ranked 11th, and hotels and transport, 16th. Its worst performance, however, is in the shops sub-index, where it ranked 18th. "Manila does not offer a wide range of international brands," the report said. The study uses data from a variety of sources collected between January and February 2012. Cities were scored based on the qualitative and quantitative assessments using standardized values on a scale of zero to 100. "[S]hopping plays an integral part in Asian tourism," the report said, as it highlighted an "inherent dichotomy" in the emerging term "shopping tourism." "Shopping, on the one hand, for all the activities associated with it, is fundamentally about the acquisition of goods or services... Tourism, on the other hand, is about obtaining experiences," it added. "Shopping tourism, then, to put it at its most basic, is about what you get and how it feels to get it," the report noted. ..

Kopi talk Investment laggard

n New Zealand and then Australia, President Aquino urged businessmen to consider the Philippines as an investment destination. As in his other foreign trips, the President’s sales pitch focused on his campaign against corruption, which includes leveling the playing field for business and cutting red tape. He will need to do more; foreign investors still need convincing. As shown in regular surveys, business confidence in the Aquino administration remains high. Much of that confidence is fueled by ongoing anti-corruption efforts. The stock market also continues to reach new highs. Compared with its Southeast Asian neighbors, however, the Philippines is attracting the lowest level of foreign direct investment. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development or UNCTAD reported recently that FDI in the Philippines in the first half of 2012 rose by 12.5 percent from the same period last year, totaling $900 million. This went against the trend in Southeast Asia, where FDI dropped by five percent to $52 billion. It also bucked the global trend, which saw FDI falling by eight percent to $668 billion. The Philippines, however, trailed its neighbors in FDI, according to UNCTAD. Tiny Singapore drew the highest level of FDI with $27.4 billion from January to June, followed by Indonesia with $8.2 billion, Thailand with $5.6 billion and Malaysia with $4.4 billion. Like the Philippines, Thailand and Cambodia also bucked the regional downtrend in FDI. President Aquino has said he wants more job-generating investments around the country. He should find out why other Southeast Asian nations are attracting more than quadruple the FDI lured by the Philippines. He should already have some idea, based on the latest Doing Business report, which showed the Philippines as a regional laggard in ease of doing business. Apart from barriers to doing business in this country, there are other factors that investors have brought to the attention of the government for many years. The UNCTAD report is just the latest reminder to the President that he will have to do more if he wants businessmen to back their vote of confidence in his administration with solid investments.

A bookstore in Boracay, the unlikeliest of places

Boracay is a rather unlikely place to find a good bookstore. After all, most people don’t go to the island to get lost in a good book. And yet along White Beach there is one bookery, Boracay Books, which claims to be the island’s “only dedicated bookshop.” Nestled in a cozy corner amid restaurants, bars, and tattoo parlors, Boracay Books is a nice surprise for the unsuspecting bookworm. The store's window is enough to draw any hungry reader in. Chancing upon the bookstore for the first time feels almost like falling victim to a desert mirage. First you walk down the length of Station 2 and pass through something of a commercial vortex: jam-packed big name restaurants, bars, souvenir shops, makeshift henna studios, braiding salons, and boatmen—all trying to get you to buy something of theirs. And then you land on the bookstore, which is small, cozy, and, despite the lack of an over-zealous shop assistant—or perhaps exactly because of that—inviting. Inside, the small store evokes the feel of a well-loved library, with soft lights, wall-to-wall bookshelves, and precarious stacks of paperbacks and hardcovers in the corners. The store’s exchange system allows patrons to bring in their old books to sell or trade for store credit. A book in “almost new condition” goes for P80, a slightly worn book for P60, and a very worn book for P40. This system evidently works. A lot of the books bear marks of having been read thoroughly and well before they were shoved into the store’s shelves: dog-eared corners, yellowed pages, worn covers, creased spines. Many are familiar bestsellers with titles in unfamiliar languages, brought in undoubtedly by the many foreign tourists that trawl the island’s shores. Of course, those without old books to trade can simply purchase the books, which cost anywhere from P100-P300 depending on the title. And there are many. On Boracay Books' shelves, you can find all the book sale usuals: Nora Roberts romance novels, Anne Perry detective stories, Jonathan Kellerman psycho thrillers. There are also the classics: David Copperfield, and Anne of Green Gables. Wall to wall books evoke the feel of a library. According to shop assistant Rachelle Oscares, they even get some mainstream bestsellers: “Harry Potter,” “The Hunger Games,” even “Fifty Shades of Grey” and “Twilight”—though these, she said, are inevitably snapped up almost as soon as they come in. And then of course, there are the books from random authors whose names don’t necessarily ring a bell, but whose stories nonetheless have the ability to satisfy any hungry bookworm. Oscares shared that the bookshop is run by her boss and his family who used to live in Boracay, and who opened the store in 2008 simply because he loves to read. The store's patrons, Oscares shared, are mostly foreigners who are either traveling with Boracay as one of their stops, or have set up camp on the island and have become regulars at the cozy bookstore. The store is most active during the summer months when European tourists come to the island, but even then, they don’t get too many customers, even more so when it’s low season. Still, the store continues to stand even after several years. Maybe it’s because of the simple fact that even if you don’t go to Boracay with the intention of reading through the holiday, sometimes, a good book makes the best company when you’re sunning on the island’s white shores. –KG/HS

City Hall releases P2.64M in allowances to 880 officials in 80 villages

THE Cebu City Government yesterday released the third tranche of the cash incentives for barangay officials. The cash incentive, which totals P2.64 million, covers the monthly allowance of 880 barangay officials for July to September. The City gives P5,000 monthly cash incentive to 80 barangay captains; P3,000 to 560 barangay councilors; P3,000 to 80 Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairpersons; P2,000 to 80 barangay secretaries; and P2,000 to 80 barangay treasurers. The barangay captains are supposed to receive P15,000 each, their total incentive from July to September; P9,000 for barangay councilors; P9,000 for SK chairpersons; P6,000 for barangay secretaries; and P6,000 for barangay treasurers. The cash incentives are subject to a 10-percent withholding tax. Barangay officials who have a seminar in Vigan, including members of the board of the Barangay Councilors League of the Philippines-Cebu City Chapter, did not get their incentives. The City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) said they can claim their allowances at the CTO next week. Basak San Nicolas Barangay Captain George Rama proposed earlier to double the monthly allowances of barangay officials. But since the proposal was not made formal, it was not approved by City Hall. The source of funds for the barangay officials’ cash allowances for this year is the P5.2-billion 2012 annual budget.

Two US warships spotted in Palawan

Two more warships from the United States were sighted dropping anchor in Palawan on Friday. Lt. Col. Niel Estrella, spokesperson of military’s Western Command (WesCom), confirmed the presence of the naval vessels in Puerto Princesa. Estrella said attack ship USS John McCain and guided missile destroyer USS Mustin arrived in the Philippine island on Monday. “They are here for port calls. Foreign naval ships regularly visit us as part of fellowship and to enhance friendship between allied nations,” Estrella explained. But Philippine and American government officials failed to declare these ships as part of security entourage for the five-day goodwill visit of aircraft carrier USS George Washington. On Wednesday, USS George Washington was escorted by attack ship USS McCampbell and guided missile carrier USS Cowpens as US Strike Carrier group docked in the port of Manila for a friendly visit. Navy chief Vice Admiral Alexander Pama said the visit include courtesy calls, reception, ship’s tour, community services projects, and goodwill games between Filipino and US counterparts. USS John McCain, USS Mustin, USS McCampbell and USS Cowpens are all part of US Seventh Fleet that is based in Yokosuka, Japan as a strike group for its flagship, USS George Washington. The docking of the US warships in Palawan, which has territorial jurisdiction over disputed Spratly’s Group of Islands, came at the same time Chinese Navy were also spotted in West Philippine Sea. On Wednesday, United Kingdom (UK)-based The Telegraph reported two Chinese naval fleets conducted joint military exercises in the South China Sea, the international name of West Philippine Sea. Citing Chinese state television CCTV, The Telegraph said it was aimed to test emergency combat capabilities that involved deployment of marine corps helicopters and landing ships or combat tanks. In April, tensions between Manila and Beijing heightened over territorial claims on Scarborough Shoal off Zambales. Chinese officials warned US to stop meddling with claims over various islands located in the West Philippine Sea.

P-Noy on Phl becoming a tiger economy: The trick is going back to basics

SYDNEY – President Aquino believes the trickle-down effect of his reforms are felt because the delivery of basic services to the people have improved as a direct result of his drive to weed out corruption and spend the people’s money better. The President also said his government would continue to focus on agriculture, tourism and infrastructure to grow the economy and make the Philippines truly a tiger economy in Southeast Asia. Aquino had separate meetings with investors here, including Telstra, AG & P, Macquarie and Austal to discuss their businesses in the country. The President said he would disagree with criticisms that the reforms and economic growth were not yet being felt. He said it might be anecdotal but the conditional cash transfer program, for instance, was very much appreciated by beneficiaries. Aquino noted the amount might be small but it had been of big help to those who had been receiving it. The President said his sitio electrification program drove an elderly to remark that they thought they would die without having electricity. He said even farmers were getting much more assistance now and though many were “anecdotal,” they would not deny the fact that things were changing. Aquino said his public satisfaction, approval and trust ratings should serve as a guide that the actions of the government were being felt. “Siguro sila na at nasabi na doon sa mga survey kung saan mas maganda pa ‘yung survey natin kaysa ‘nung nag-umpisa tayo. E ‘yun ang pinaka-pruweba ‘non na nadadama nila,” Aquino said during a media briefing here Thursday night on the side of his state visit to this country. In his forum with the businessmen organized by the Asia Society, Aquino said the Philippines was on track to meeting its tourism target of 10 million visitors by 2016, rice self-sufficiency by next year and infrastructure projects. “Manila is a very old city. Urban planning probably was not yet invented as a concept when it was started out and, unfortunately, when it started existing, too many – too few people rather paid attention to it so we are… I would not want to be the one to kick the can to the next president who will try and solve issues like flooding; how to move 14 million residents in the national capital region more efficiently and more productively,” he said. Aquino said he also got to meet investors like Austal, which had been building boats in Cebu. “Telstra employs about, I was told, 10,000 employees already in the Philippines and there is talk of further expansion and directly hiring their employees. Telstra is a very large telecommunications company here,” Aquino said. He said he discussed with AG & P its third natural gas project in the world while Macquarie partnered with the Government Service Insurance System to set up a more than $600-million infrastructure fund. Aquino said in the media briefing that the government would continue to invest in the people and make the growth inclusive. Aside from CCT, he said his administration allotted more funds for education, health insurance and trainings. Aquino said the people should be the “be-all and end-all” of all his efforts because they were the ones who installed him in power. “ ‘Yung galing ng mga kababayan natin basta nabigyan ng tamang environment anywhere in the world, gusto nating i-replicate sa Pilipinas. So hindi na ‘yung may pagkakataon ka dito, gusto pa rin nating alalayan na talagang masamantala nila ‘yung pagkakataon,” Aquino said. - By Aurea Calica

BLAST FROM THE PAST Ilgan Market

SoKor postpones rocket ship launch but PH flight, fishing ban still on

South Korea’s postponement of its third attempt to launch a rocket ship left officials in the Department of National Defense (DND) in “suspended animation”. But Defense undersecretary Benito Ramos clarified the rocket launch’s suspension does not lift the flight and fishing ban, which is still in effect along the country’s eastern seaboard until 6 p.m. on Oct. 26. “South Korea’s rocket launching is postponed or suspended due to technical problem,” Ramos said, citing a report from Philippine military attaché to South Korea, Col. Ireneo Maningding. Ramos explained the rocket encountered fuel problems and helium leak before its scheduled take off around 2:30 p.m. in Manila on Friday. The National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director reminded the imposition of “no fly, no sail, no fish zone” in the provinces located in the eastern part. He enumerated the zones covered the areas in Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Southern Leyte, Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, and Siargao. Ramos, who also administers DND’s Office of the Civil Defense (OCD), said they will still remain on stand by as they anticipate re-launch from Friday to Oct. 31. Citing official reports, Ramos estimated the rocket to travel for at least 20 minutes over Pacific Ocean around 540 nautical miles east of PH before falling into sea. Earlier this month, Ramos explained the rocket carries a satellite that aims to improve mobile connection that would render existing cell sites obsolete. The government official said they will be coordinating with Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) for the re-routing of flights and courses for ship travel. He explained the re-routing will ensure the safety of commuters who will travel long distances to go to their home province for All Saints’ Day.

Thousands of passengers stranded as 'Ofel' strengthens

More than 13,000 passengers have been stranded in several ports due to Tropical Storm “Ofel”. Defense undersecretary Benito Ramos said stranded were at least 13,143 passengers trying to get to their home provinces early to prepare for All Saints’ Day. “Most of them have already reserved tickets in shipping companies so they can prepare early for ‘undas’ (or All Saints’Day),” Ramos said. Citing Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)’s 11 pm Wednesday update, Ramos said three shipping vessels carrying 2,032 passengers were forced to stay in Manila's port for safety. The executive director of National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) noted about 1,646 were not able to leave Batangas port due to the big waves generated by the storm. He clarified that 1,198 passengers mostly from 28 buses as well as several cars and trucks were stranded in Sorsogon while two ships were taken to safety in the ports of Matnog and Pilar. Ramos added that a total of 179 private and commercial sea vessels carrying 2,327 people were also trapped in Cebu, Tagbilaran, and Dumaguete. The Defense official said about 3,846 people have also been stranded after 26 boats and ships were not able to travel to and from various ports in Bacolod, Caticlan, and Roxas in Visayas. He also reported PCG assisted 118 small and big boats carrying 2,027 people to safety in Macabalan Wharf as well as ports in Surigao, Butuan, Dapitan, and Ozamis. The severe weather disturbance also forced airline companies to cancel several flights. Meanwhile, PCG spokesperson Armand Balilo reminded passengers to check the hourly weather update from Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). Balilo advised motorists and commuters who will go through long distances to know the storm’s severe effects on www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph before actually traveling to their home provinces for Nov. 1. He explained PAGASA advisory will help passengers decide whether conditions will be safe for travel or not, which could prevent accidents in the coming days. In its 11 am update, PAGASA said Tropical Storm “Ofel” has crossed the southern part of Mindoro Island and was spotted at about 40 kms west of Mamburao. The weather bureau said the storm packs maximum sustained winds of 70 kph near its center and a gustiness of 90 kph as it moves towards West Philippine Sea at speed of 22 kph. Forecasters warn “Ofel will dump moderate to intense rainfall or 5 to 25 mm per hour amount of rain in areas that will be covered by the storm’s 350-km diameter. Public Warning Storm Signal No. 2 is still hoisted over Batangas, Lubang Island, Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindor, and Romblon. Meanwhile, Public Warning Storm Signal 1 is still in effect in Metro Manila, Bataan, Southern Quezon, Burias Island and Masbate, Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo and Calamian Group of Islands.

Kopi Talk Crown Asia's discerning crowd

MANILA, Philippines - Upper-middle income families want and deserve the finer things in life, and for a good reason. These are families which have gained financial success due to hard work, persistence, sacrifice. Some parents even had to endure long periods of separation in search of greener pastures. Once success is achieved, the search for the finest home that money can buy begins. As a highly discerning lot, upper-middle income families know that a home represents a “trophy,” a symbol that they have arrived so to speak. Crown Asia recognizes this special need among the upper-middle class by developing the country’s finest residential properties. It is the subsidiary of Vista Land and Lifescapes, Inc. – the Philippines largest homebuilder – that creates communities for the nation’s upper middle-income families and individuals. Its beginnings Since 1995, when Crown Asia welcomed the public to La Marea in San Pedro, Laguna – its very first offering – the company has been guided by the philosophy that every home and community it builds must be worthy of the success and hard work of its home owner. To the Filipino, a home is the big dream. The reason one works so hard and sacrifices so much. It is the finest gift one can give to one’s self, and to one’s family. For those who work harder than most, as seen in their greater success, the rewards must be greater as well. This is why, to this day, and over 30 developments later – including the regional and vertical developments carrying the Crown Asia brand – every masterplanned community and elegant high-rise, is created with uncompromised quality. Themed homes Beyond being known for excellent quality and craftsmanship, and being synonymous with the affordable luxury home, Crown Asia has the honor of bringing to the country the concept of “themed homes” – transporting the loveliest places on the planet onto the streets and avenues of the Philippines. By creating not just houses, but entire communities that look authentically Italian, Southern and Northern American, Crown Asia has actually also enhanced or “beautified” – the Philippine landscape. La Marea in San Pedro Laguna easily evokes the American countryside; Marina Heights in Sucat completely takes one to San Francisco’s Marina Bay; Augustine Grove in Dasmarinas Cavite evokes the American countryside ambience with its sprawling trees and meandering roads. Carmel in Bacoor Cavite has a distinct Northern American feel. The Italian countryside, where one can almost breathe in the heady scent of olive and lemon trees, are recreated in many of Crown Asia’s properties: Valenza in Sta. Rosa Laguna, Ponticelli in Daang Hari, Citta Italia and Vita Toscana in Bacoor, and Amalfi in Dasmarinas, Cavite and Fortezza in Cabuyao Laguna, among others. Location Every Crown Asia neighborhood must be accessible and conveniently close to centers for business and leisure, as well as the necessary schools and hospitals. Transportation and main thoroughfares are always within easy reach and some even have a shuttle service to ferry residents around the villages and to transport hubs. More than locating its properties close to city hubs, yet distant enough to spare its residents the noise and crowding of the metros, Crown Asia is also bringing to the country the global concept of “masterplanned communities.” Here, virtual cities are designed into the developments. Supermarkets, malls, churches, schools, hospitals, and even business centers are part and parcel of these modern-day residential complexes making them practically independent and turning them into destinations in themselves. Not only is everything the city has to offer close by, one no longer even needs to go into the city. Everything one needs or wants is right in the community. Finer standards Crown Asia offers a choice of superior developments, from master-planned communities to elegant high rises, in different key areas to these people on the rise. Every Crown Asia home offers an opportunity to enjoy a higher standard of living that they have worked hard for. The Crown Asia brand offers not only the comfort of fine living but the comfort of knowing that your investment is backed by Vista Land, the biggest housing developer in the country. - By Mary Ann LL. Reyes

Wild food and tribal games featured in first Negrito festival

They are known by many names – Aeta in Luzon, Ati in the Visayas, Agta in Mindanao and the Sierra Madre, and Batak in Palawan – but they share one thing in common: from pre-colonial times up to the present, they have preserved many aspects of their indigenous culture and are still striving to assert their identity in modern-day Philippines. Collectively known as Negritos, they came from various parts of the country to take part in Tebewen, their first national festival held last week as part of the celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Month in the Philippines in October. The three-day festival, held from October 14 to 16 in General Nakar in Quezon Province, highlighted the cultural revival and education efforts of the various Negrito communities in the country. Officials from the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples, Department of Education, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the National Anti-Poverty Commission joined the celebration. On the first day of the festival, retired Col. Jeff Tamayo from the Philippine Olympic Committee facilitated the tribal games, which showcased the skills of Negritos from various parts of the country, according to a statement from the organizers. The program also included "gourmet wild food tasting" and cultural presentations from the various Negrito groups. The advocacy group Non-Timber Forest Products – Exchange Programme provided the documentary film below, which shows the food and lifestyles of the Aeta and Agta in Luzon

Investors upbeat after trade mission to Singapore

DAVAO City Investment Promotion Center (DCPIC) chief Jason Magnaye said the four-day Davao Tourism, Trade, and Investment Mission conducted recently in Singapore was a success as delegates from the metropolis were able to meet their respective counterparts for possible business partnerships. Magnaye said the delegation from Davao's agri-business, tourism, real estate and business process outsourcing (BPO) were elated with the positive outcome of the Singaporean mission held last October 11 to 14. For the tourism sector, about 10 government and private travel agents promoted the city's tourism by pushing Davao City as a travel destination for Sinaporean tourists in a product presentation at the Fullerton Hotel on October 12. After the presentation, a one-on-one business matching also took place. "There were reports that there are commitments for tour operations to push Davao City as a travel destination," Magnaye said. The DCICP head said the only next step tourism stakeholders must do is to strengthen the promotions of the city as a tourism destination. "We have to be more aggressive in promotion. Equally aggressive with other countries," he said. Even with the new direct Singapore to Davao connectivity, Magnaye said the City Government is still banking on Cebu Pacific to open up connectivity from Davao to Hong Kong. However, there are still no commitments yet between the airline and Davao LGU. Magnaye said delegates from real estate sector, represented by Damosa Land Inc. and other two real estate brokers, were able to meet their prospect market in Sinagpore, especially the Filipino immigrants. Delegates from the agribusiness, meanwhile, returned home with high hopes for possible exportation of agricultural products from the city to Singapore. Magnaye said a farmer from Davao who operates a chicken and poultry farm is open to any possibilities of exporting to Singapore goat and chicken meats by large volumes. The Philippine government, however, is still working for its accreditation in Singapore to be able to ship out meat products there. The Philippine Trade and Investment Center (TPIC), being the Philippines' trade arm in Singapore, is the one that processes the requirements, making sure that products from the country are able to meet the export quality standards. There are also willing investors on cacao from the Davao Region. Magnaye said Public-Private Partnership (PPP) was also highlighted in the mission. He said there are investors who are eyeing on waste-to-energy, waste-water treatment and public transport system. These possible investors under the PPP will come to visit the city to join the Davao Investment Conference (Davao Icon) on November 15-17 and to assess the viability of the city to play host for those facilities, according to Magnaye. "They're impressed that we have PPP ordinance, which gives them assurance that the city is serious about the PPP," Magnaye said.

Ofel' makes landfall

MANILA, Philippines - Tropical storm “Ofel” (international name “Son-tinh”) slammed into the country yesterday, bringing heavy rains and strong winds that left thousands of passengers stranded in several ports in the Visayas and Mindanao. Ofel, packing winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph, made landfall over Siargao Island in Surigao del Norte at around 10 a.m. yesterday. It was moving west-northwest at 22 kph as of 5 p.m. yesterday. It was hovering over Ormoc City, Leyte as of 4 p.m. yesterday, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). Public storm warning signal no. 2 was hoisted over Masbate, Romblon, Eastern Samar, Western Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Biliran Island, Camotes Island, Capiz, Aklan, Boracay Island, northern Cebu, Bantayan Island, northern Negros and Dinagat Island. Signal no. 1, meanwhile, was up in Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Burias Island, southern Quezon, Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Calamian group of islands, Batangas, Lubang Island, Coron Island, Cuyo Island, Camarines Sur, Northern Samar, Antique, Iloilo, southern Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Surigao del Norte, and Siargao. PAGASA weather forecaster Aldzar Aurelio said moderate to heavy rains are expected to prevail over Metro Manila today due to the indirect effect of the storm. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council yesterday alerted residents of low-lying and mountainous areas on possible landslides and flashfloods, and those in coastal areas on storm surges. According to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), at least 4,232 people were stranded yesterday in various ports in the country as a precaution against the strong winds and rough seas brought about by Ofel. Of the number, 1,346 were stranded in Metro Manila and Central Luzon, 362 in Eastern Visayas, 1,693 in Central Visayas, and 831 in Northern Mindanao, said PCG spokesman Cmdr. Armand Balilo. Because of the bad weather and poor visibility, Cebu Pacific yesterday cancelled its flights to and from Butuan City. – With Evelyn Macairan, Ben Serrano, Jennifer Rendon, Alexis Romero - By Helen Flores

Philippines lifts ban on workers to Jordan

The Philippines announced on Wednesday it had lifted a five-year-old ban on its nationals working in Jordan that was imposed amid concerns over poor labour conditions. The ban was lifted after the Philippine and Jordanian governments forged two agreements this year aimed at protecting the workers, including a minimum monthly salary of $400, the overseas workers administration said. The ban on Jordan was imposed in 2007 due to "the growing number of distressed Filipino workers" who were seeking help from Philippine diplomatic offices there, the administration said. "There were a whole variety of issues. Some of them (were) abused. Some were beaten. The point was, because some of these workers had run away, the deployment was stopped," administration vice chairman Hans Cacdac told AFP. Wednesday's announcement came after the Philippines said last month it had won a long battle with Saudi Arabia and secured a minimum monthly wage of $400 for Filipino workers there. About 10 percent of the Philippine population of almost 100 million have gone abroad to work in better-paying jobs than they can get in their largely impoverished homeland. Many of the Filipinos in Middle East countries work as maids, labourers, janitors and other menial professions. The government also announced on Wednesday it had partially lifted a ban on working in Lebanon that was imposed after fighting erupted between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006. The ban on Lebanon was only removed for Filipinos already working there illegally, but talks are going on to have it completely lifted, Cacdac said. There are more than 24,000 Filipinos working illegally in Lebanon, according to government estimates. The Philippine government requires its citizens to obtain permits through labour agencies to work overseas, in an effort to keep track of them and ensure they are not abused abroad.

Doing business in PH among most 'difficult' in the world

Doing business in the Philippines remains more difficult compared to over a hundred other countries, with a new report noting that it failed to implement any reforms. The country ranked 138th out of 185 nations in the International Finance Corp. and World Bank's latest "Ease of Doing Business" report compared to 136th out of 183 last year. The Philippines' ranking dropped in seven of the 10 indicators in the report. Its worst performance is in starting a business where it ranked 161st from 158th a year ago. Related story: Poor Pinoy families still have low access to loans, says ADB The number of procedures rose to 16 this year from 15, making it the country with the third most number of procedures, topped only by Venezuela with 17 procedures and Equitorial Guinea, 18. The time it takes for entrepreneurs to register a business also increased to 36 days from the previous 35, the report showed. The Philippines also slid down the list in terms of paying taxes (143rd from 136th), protecting investors (128th from 124th), getting credit (129th from 127th), registering property (122nd from 120th) and enforcing contracts (111th from 109th). It improved its performance, however, in terms of trading across borders where it ranked 53rd from 56th, dealing with construction permits (100th from 101st) and resolving insolvency (165th from 166th). However, the Philippines is still among the world's worst in two of the three indicators where it posted improvements. It was identified as one of the countries with the most number of procedures in securing a construction permit at 29 procedures, the report showed. This is in stark contrast to Hong Kong and New Zealand which only have six procedures. The Philippines is also one of the countries where resolving insolvency is slowest and also most costly and difficult. Resolving insolvency takes 5.7 years in the Philippines, costing 38 percent of the estate and with creditors recovering only 4.9 cents to every dollar lent, the report showed. This compares to only 0.4 years to resolve an insolvency in Ireland, a one percent cost in Norway and Singapore and a recovery rate of 92.8 cents to the dollar in Japan. In terms of trade, however, the country was tagged as among those with the least cost at $585 per container compared to $8,450 in Tajikistan. Singapore was named the country with greatest ease of doing business in the report. It was followed by Hong Kong, New Zealand, the United States, Denmark, Norway, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Georgia and Australia. At the bottom of the list, meanwhile, are the Central African Republic, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Eritrea, the Congo Democratic Republic, Venezuela, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire and Niger

'Largest rosary' in the world may just be in Tagum in PHL

World records aren’t often set in Tagum City in Davao del Norte. Maybe it’s because it doesn’t have two million bats that hide in a cave as in Island Garden City of Samal. Or a 6.17-meter-long crocodile like the one captured in the rivers of Bunawan, Agusan del Sur. Or maybe people just have better things to do than devote time and effort to breaking the world record for hundreds of couple kissing together. But tucked away behind the Christ the King Cathedral in Magugpo South sits a huge structure that just might be the biggest of its kind in the world. Christ the King Cathedral is home to the 85.5-meter-long rosary. HOW TO GET THERE The cathedral is located at the corner of Gonzales Avenue and Sobrecary Street in Magugpo, south of Tagum City. It is 53 kilometers north of Davao City. To get there, take a bus bound for Tagum City. Buses operate 24 hours a day. An 85.5-meter-long rosary, made of linked beads, lines a pathway going to the giant bronze statue of the Risen Christ. Tagumeños—as locals from the city are called—are hoping the Guinness Book of World Records would officially recognize it as the world’s largest prayer beads. “We are hoping that it will soon be declared as the largest Roman Catholic rosary in the whole world,” said Edwin B. Lasquite, the City Information Officer II. According to Lasquite, the largest rosary on the record is currently held by a school in Brazil. The 35-meter rosary is made of polished coconuts. In Cairo, Egypt, the School of St. Joseph has a 52.9-meter rosary made of over a million balls of Styrofoam. In contrast, the beads of the giant rosary in Tagum are made from magcono (iron wood), which is native to the mountains of Davao Oriental and Surigao del Sur. Each bead weighs 35 kilograms; the total weight is 2,815 kilograms. The giant rosary, which was originally intended as a project of the Knights of Columbus to commemorate the silver anniversary of the Catholic diocese of Tagum City in 2005, is just one of the attractions of Christ the King Cathedral. The Risen Christ towers over the rosary beads. The cathedral in itself is an attraction; it is considered the biggest basilica in Mindanao. Most tourists find it impressive due to its imposing architecture incorporating modern and traditional designs. Lasquite said the cathedral was designed like a castle. “The temple of worship rests in a two-hectare land, with an amazing design of towers like those found in fairy tale castles,” he said. “As pillars of the Church, the statues of Saints Peter and Paul will greet you upon entering the vicinity of the Basilica.” Every day, the cathedral celebrates the Holy Mass in three different languages: Bisaya (as most of the locals settling in the city are originally from Visayas), Tagalog, and English. “All in all, the Christ the King Cathedral and its record-breaking rosary, do not only serve as the local people’s claim to fame. Even more significantly, the two have come to symbolize the exemplary spirituality and sense of community of the proud and faithful Tagumeños, that will endure and test of time,” Lasquite concluded. –KG

PROVINCE NEWS

.. BANANA SLOGAN TAGUM CITY - "Saging: sa bawat kagat, sustansya ang katapat" goes the slogan that won for high student Clark Marvin Tan of the Tagum National Trade School in Davao del Norte, the first prize in the recently concluded Regionwide Banana Slogan Contest. "The contest is a side event of the First Mindanao Banana Congress (scheduled in the city from November 7-9 this year) and is aimed at promoting the nutritional benefits of banana," Department of Trade and Industry XI Regional Director Marizon Loreto said. (PIA) NEW ROADS SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur - Well-paved roads that will assure, easiest and fastest travel of farm products from upland barangays is already completed in the nine barangays of the agricultural-rice province of Agusan del Sur in Northeastern Mindanao (Caraga region), it was reported yesterday. It was also reported that these P4.35-million completed roads in the nine barangays will also assure safety of commuters and easy access to public markets in the progressing towns of San Francisco and Prosperidad and other nearby towns including the city of Bayugan. (Mike U. Crismundo) MARKET INTEGRITY PAGADIAN CITY - Vendors at the Pagadian City Public Market were surprised with the conduct of Operation Timbangan from ConsumerNet, a group of several government agencies whose thrust is to protect the interest of consumers at large. Among the government agencies that joined the operation were the Departments of Agriculture; Health; Education; and Trade and Industry, and the Office of the Pagadian City Market Superintendent. The activity is to highlight the observance of the Consumer Welfare Month in October. The activity promotes honesty and integrity in market transactions. (PIA) MINDANAO JEWELS KORONADAL CITY - Government agencies, local governments, and the mining sector in Soccsksargen Region yesterday launched a project that will expand the benefits of mining industry to communities where mines are located. The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) 12 led the launching of the jewelry development project in Region 12 at Barangay Edwards, T'Boli, South Cotabato. Other partners are the Department of Trade and Industry, Tribal Mining Corporation (TMC), National Economic and Development Authority, local government unit of Tboli, the provincial government of South Cotabato, the barangays of Poblacion, Kematu, Edwards, and Desawo of the said town, and the Philippine Information Agency. (PIA) CAVE CONFAB BUTUAN CITY - Cavers coming from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao regions gathered in Southern Mindanao province in an effort to strengthen and enhance capabilities among the cavers in Southern Philippines. Caver experts and specialists discussed topics as additional guidelines of cavers in the country. Among these were karst management, cave management, biodiversity and ecotourism. The cavers also updated the Cave Act and Cave Management and Conservation. Participants of the recently concluded four-day 7th Mindanao Caving Forum in Maitum, Sarangani province also made the cavers updated on cave preservation and protection. (Mike U. Crismundo) ..

Seguridad ng imahen ni Calungsod, mahigpit na babantayan ng pulis sa pagbabalik nito

Inihahanda na ng Philippine National Police ang security plans para sa pagbabalik ng imahen ni Santo Pedro Calungsod sa bansa ngayong Huwebes. Sa ulat ng radio dzBB nitong Lunes, inihayag ni PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr. na kanilang babantayan ang seguridad ng imahen sa thanksgiving tour nito sa mga diocese. Ayon kay Cerbo, maaari umanong pagkaguluhan ng mga tao ang istatuwa sa mga "Duaw Nasud" na pagbisita nito. Dagdag niya, kinakailangan nilang maging alerto sa kahit anong posibleng banta sa seguridad sa magaganap na thanksgiving tour. Inilipad ang imahen ni Calungsod patungong Rome para sa canonization ng binatilyong Pilipinong martir noong Linggo. Nakatakda itong makabalik ng bansa ngayong Huwebes. Noong Agosto, inihayag ng Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines na magkakaroon ng nationwide tour ang imahen bago ang national thanksgiving na pagdiriwang sa Cebu. Ayon kay CBCP Assistant Secretary General Fr. Marvin Mejia, nakatakdang bumalik ang opisyal na imahen sa Pilipinas ngayong Oktubre 25 upang simulan ang "Duaw Nasud" na pagbisita. “For the first night, the image will be in the University of Sto. Tomas (UST). The statue will visit some dioceses in the National Capital Region (NCR) such as the Archdiocese of Manila, Dioceses of Parañaque, Pasig, Cubao, Antipolo and Caloocan before it will visit dioceses in Northern Luzon down to the Bicol Region,” ani Mejia, na miyembro rin ng Cebu commission para sa canonization ni Blessed Pedro Calungsod. Mula sa airport, agad na dadalhin ang imahen ni Calungsod sa Manila Metropolitan Cathedral para sa turnover nito, na hudyat sa pagsisimula ng "Duaw Nasud." Sa Oktubre 31, dadalhin ang imahe sa Villamor Air Base kung saan matatagpuan ang Military Ordinariate bago ito dalhin sa Vigan sa Nobyembre 2. Mula namang Vigan, dadalhin ito sa Legazpi bago tuluyang dalhin sa Visayas at Mindanao mula Nobyembre 13 hanggang 27. Ibabalik na ang imahe sa Cebu sa Nobyembre 27 para sa Triduum Masses at sa National Thanksgiving sa Nobyembre 30. — Amanda Fernandez/BM

More Women Drinking – Church Survey

.. MANILA, Philippines --- More women than men are drinking alcoholic beverages, according to a national survey conducted by Church-run Radyo Veritas. The survey which was conducted in 85 Archdioceses and Dioceses covering all 17 regions, sought to understand alcoholic consumption of Filipinos. The Veritas Truth Survey (VTS) said 66 percent of Filipinos drinks alcoholic beverages. Of those who drink, 52 percent are women and 48 percent are men. Luzon has more drinkers with 58.9 percent, compared to 21.5 percent in the Visayas, and 19.6 percent in Mindanao. When analyzed by region, the National Capital Region (at 17 percent), Region 4A (at 15 percent) and Region 7 (at 8 percent) were the top three regions with the most alcoholic beverage consumption while the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) scored the least level of consumption at 2 percent. When it comes to the frequency of alcoholic beverage consumption, 79 percent of the respondents said that they would drink alcoholic beverages only during special occasions while 11 percent would drink alcohol on a weekly basis, 6 percent on a monthly basis and 4 percent on a daily basis. This would imply that almost 21% of Filipinos are regular alcoholic beverage drinkers. As to age range, the youngest documented drinker is 13-years old with a majority of alcoholic beverage drinkers coming from ages 19 to 25 comprising at least 25.55 percent. The next large age group comes from ages 29 to 35 comprising at least 14.38 percent. An equal distribution of alcoholic beverage consumers was documented as to urban and rural domicile location. When analyzed by salary range those earning P5,000 to P14,999 pesos would consume more alcoholic beverages (at 41 percent) compared to those earning P15,000 to P24,999 at 26 percent; those earning P25,000-Above at 20 percent; and those earning P4,999-below at 13 percent. ..

Vessels Warned Against Sailing In Stormy Seas

.. MANILA, Philippines --- The Philippine Coast Guard yesterday ordered shipping vessels and the sea-going public, particularly fishermen, to be barred from traveling at sea in areas under public storm warning signals as tropical depression "Ofel" may make landfall between Visayas and Mindanao regions within the day. The PCG warned all kinds of vessels that it should suspend trips to these regions while those passing through the areas have to discontinue their travel and disembark their passengers at nearby ports. "There is a prohibition on sailing in port of departure, route and destination under public storm warning signal of PAGASA. Small fishing boats and boats strictly, no sailing in affected areas," said PCG spokesman Commander Armand Balilo. "We are recalling fishermen in the affected areas and are advising the people not to go swimming in affected areas," Balilo said. The PCG issued the warning in line with the directive from the Department of Transportation and Communications that no vessels are allowed to sail if a public storm warning signal is hoisted over its origin, route or destination. Among the areas placed under PSWS No. 1 are Leyte, Southern Leyte, Eastern Samar, Western Samar, Surigao del Norte, including Dinagat Island, Surigao del Sur, Agusan provinces and Camiguin Island. Because of the bad weather, the Coast Guard said it is dangerous for fishermen to sail out to sea given the big waves and strong winds. The PCG also reminded sea travelers that PAGASA also issued a gale warning in the eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon that covered the Bicol region and Quezon province where the weather condition is said to be rough to very rough. ..

PNoy tells New Zealand investors PHL is now open for business

..Saying the Philippines is now open for business, President Benigno Aquino III wooed New Zealand businesses to invest in the country. In a speech before the Philippine-New Zealand Business Forum, Aquino highlighted the “great strides” achieved by his administration over the past two years in battling corruption, cleaning house, reforming the system of budgeting, tightening the rules of procurement and levelling the playing field. “These are exciting times in the Philippines, and now is the time to invest,” he said. “What we are bringing to the table today—that we believe administrations in the recent past have not been able to offer—is a business climate characterized by fairness and integrity: where rules are clear-cut, where all are given the opportunity to profit, and where your success is determined by your strengths, adaptability, and ability to innovate," he added. He told New Zealand businessmen that they can win contracts in the Philippines "based on your ability to deliver projects—not on backroom deals and political favors.” He said both countries can do more to enhance trade relations. “I invite you to explore other products we can offer such as electronics, home furnishings and garments.” Aquino said one of the areas of mutual interest to both countries is geothermal energy, in which the Philippines still has some 2000 megawatts of untapped resources. Another area of interest is the thriving business process outsourcing industry “which has as its backbone the capable, easily-trained and customer-oriented Filipino people. “It is because of them that the Philippines is currently the world leader in voice BPO services, posting $7.38 billion in revenue for 2011,” he said. He said the country is also diversifying and moving up the value chain: offering more complex services such as healthcare information management outsourcing, backroom engineering design, and animation and game development. “The relations between our two countries can only grow stronger if our peoples gain a better understanding of our cultures, our history, and the unique experiences we can offer,” he said. He said the existing Working Holiday Scheme between the Philippines and New Zealand “can do much to further our people-to-people relations and our shared agenda of tourism—that New Zealanders can spend up to a year in the Philippines, and vice versa, means great things for our countries and our people. “This way, New Zealanders will be able to experience Filipino culture and hospitality firsthand—and gather and share stories on the ways in which it is more fun in the Philippines. -

Binay pushes for more PHL pineapple, coconut exports to Israel

At his meeting with President Shimon Peres on the first day of his official visit to Israel, Vice President Jejomar Binay pushed for more exports of fresh Philippine produce such as pineapple and coconut to the mainstream Israeli retail market. “I hope that more Philippines fresh produce such as pineapples and coconuts [will find their] way into the mainstream Israeli retail market. The Embassy has initiated the mechanism for the approval of pineapple importation to Israel in coordination with the Israel Ministry of Agriculture,” he said, according to a note posted Wednesday on his Facebook account. Binay met Peres at the Presidential Residence in Jerusalem, where he also urged ranking Israeli officials to explore new trade and investment opportunities in the Philippines. “The Philippine-Israel bilateral trade represents a very small percentage of the overall Israel-Asia two-way trade. I hope that our strengthening bilateral relations translate to more investments between our countries,” he said. Binay also said the Philippines could benefit from Israel’s technological advances in agriculture and food production. “I am happy to note that Filipino agricultural workers are being exposed to Israeli agricultural technology that is considered among the best in the world,” he said. Itinerary Binay will also attend a dinner meeting with Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Avigdor Lieberman to discuss regional developments. He is also to meet with Israeli business groups to push overall trade relations between the two countries. He also plans to lay a wreath at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem to pay his respects to the victims of the Holocaust, and go to Rishon LeZion to visit the Open Doors Monument, which commemorates the Philippines’ providing refuge to Jews during the Holocaust. Binay will then meet with the Filipino community in Beit Dani, Tel Aviv and attend the inauguration of the Philippine Square at the City of Haifa and meet Haifa City Mayor Yona Yahav. Haifa and Manila are sister cities. — BM

Permanent residence, pre-arranged employment visas now available

FOREIGNERS in Eastern Visayas can now apply for permanent residence visa and pre-arranged employment visa under Sections 13-A and 9g, respectively, of the Philippine Immigration Act (PIA) of 1940 at the BI Tacloban District Office. To closely attend to this matter, Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. issued Personnel Order 1650 dated September 06, 2012 designating lawyer Marianne Hazel Badillo as hearing officer for the BI Tacloban district office. Badillo said that under the PIA, any foreigner who is legally married to a Filipino citizen is qualified to apply for permanent residence in the country. He said the applicant must prove, among others, that he has no derogatory record in any local or foreign law enforcement agency; is not afflicted with any dangerous, contagious or loathsome disease; has sufficient financial capacity to support a family; and will not be a public charge in the country. On the other hand, foreigners who are going to engage in any lawful occupation in the country, whether for wages, or salary or other forms of compensation, are required to apply for pre-arranged employment visa. Badillo said the applicant’s petitioning company must establish with convincing and satisfactory evidence that the admission and employment of the foreigner in the country is beneficial to public interest. “I will see to it that applicants have all the necessary qualifications and none of the disqualifications for the type of visa they are applying for,” Badillo said in an interview. The designation of Badillo as a hearing officer and the consequent authority of BI Tacloban to accept applications for the said visas will spare foreigners from the expenditure and physical inconvenience of long travel from the region to Manila or Cebu just to file their applications and/or petitions and to attend the hearings. As the duly designated hearing officer, she will conduct the hearing in Tacloban and prepare the order for the approval of the Board of Commissioners in BI main office. Application fees for this purpose are minimal. (Leyte Samar Daily Express)

BSP ready to temper peso appreciation

MANILA, Philippines - The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said it stands ready to temper the peso’s appreciation against the dollar, which an analyst said is an indication of further monetary easing next week. “We will not tolerate excesses in exchange rate movements and will not hesitate to consider other tools in our policy toolkit,” BSP Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said in a text message to reporters. This is, by far, BSP’s boldest statement with regard to the continued strength of the peso against the dollar with previous statements only centered on allowing the currency to be generally market determined. A strong peso, while making imports cheaper, also trims the value of dollar export earnings and remittances from overseas Filipinos when converted into local money. “Peso is fundamentally supported. Our official action is to minimize excessive volatility. If the flows are structural, we will allow the peso to appreciate,” Tetangco said last Oct. 5. Since then, however, the peso has achieved new highs, the last of which was last Wednesday when it closed at 41.18 to a dollar. The closing last Wednesday was the highest in 55 months and from the last trading day of 2011 until that day, the peso already appreciated by 6.06 percent. Tetangco said BSP realizes that the country has become attractive to yield-seeking inflows abroad “as uncertainty continued to hover around the resolution of the European crisis.” Philippine interest rates stand at 3.75 percent and 5.75 percent for overnight borrowing and lending, respectively after BSP cut them thrice this year. These rates however remain above the near-zero interest rates prevailing in debt-ridden developed markets, thus, attracting investments. “The Philippines has continued to be a recipient of flows, which in turn have supported the peso. We are mindful of developments both global and domestic and we are watchful of market conduct,” the BSP chief said. Emilio Neri, an economist at the Bank of the Philippine Islands, said Tetangco’s remarks could be an indication of what will be BSP’s decision next week. “I think what the Governor is saying is that we do not want the people generating dollars for the country sort of ostracized by the appreciating peso. It’s a way of saying that it is a little overdone for the peso,” Neri said in a phone interview. - By Prinz P. Magtulis

France, PHL to ink agreements on rice straw study, museum

French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault was in the country for a historic state visit Friday where he would witness the signing of two agreements with the Philippines, including one for a grant to study the feasibility of rice straws as biofuel. Ayrault’s visit—the first for any French head of state—is the Aquino administration’s return of gratitude for the invitation France extended to President Aquino’s mother, the late President Corazon Aquino, in 1989. “It’s significant in the sense that it sends the signal that there’s a renewed interest in the Philippines after the ‘86 People Power Revolution. In-invite po kasi ang dating Pangulong Corazon Aquino bilang guest din noon sa France,” deputy spokesperson Abigail valte said at a briefing. One of the agreements to be signed was a declaration of intent for a feasibility study on rice straw as fuel to generate electricity using organic rankine cycle technology. The grant, which aims to develop similar power stations in rural areas in the Philippines, amounts to 372,272 Euros, or roughly P20 million, according to Valte. Another agreement, this time finalizing the Philippine exhibition at the Musee Du Quai Branly in France, will also be signed by the two countries. More than 300 artifacts on pre-colonial will be featured in the museum's grand exhibition in Paris from April to July 2013. Other than the official state visit, Ayrault will also grace a Philippine-French Business Forum on Saturday. Valte said several French companies have expressed intent to take part in various Public-Private Partnership Projects. “Marami hong mga French companies—Lafarge, Total, Alcatel—have a strong presence in the country and likewise, meron pong mga French companies that have signified their intent to participate in the bidding for several PPP projects,” she said. “In terms of trade, medyo significant ‘yung increase. ‘Yung total bilateral trade po natin kasi with France noong 2011, umakyat to 1.143 billion dollars and French investments are up by 90 percent in 2011,” she added. — Patricia Denise Chiu/KBK

Roof of the ancestral house of Rizal's mother caves in

he house where young Jose Rizal lived in Biñan, Laguna is now falling apart starting with a part of its roof which collapsed Thursday. The two-storey Alberto House, owned by the family of the father of Rizal’s mother Teodora Alonzo, is only a shell now after its parts were transferred to Bataan where it will be rebuilt by its new owner. Gerardo Alberto, heir of the Alonzos, sold the 200-year-old ancestral home of Rizal’s mother to Gerry Acuzar, owner of Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, a heritage resort in Bagac, Bataan. The local government of Biñan tried to negotiate with Alberto to declare the mansion a heritage site but the latter declined. Once declared a heritage site, the property can no longer be transferred or put to other uses. Bimbo Sta. Maria, a resident in the area, posted a picture of the deteriorating house, calling the collapse as “the beginning of the end” of the historic house. He said the house no longer has a ceiling and floor and its foundations were dug and exposed. –KG,

Sting forces venue switch in Philippines tree row

Rock superstar Sting has forced organisers to move his planned one-night show in the Philippines to another Manila venue amid a spat over pine trees involving the original hosts, it was announced Friday. The Manila leg of his "Back to Bass Tour" on December 9 will now be hosted by Araneta Coliseum, instead of Mall of Asia Arena as originally announced, said his official website www.sting.com. Earlier in the day, the local concert promoters informed the Arena that Sting had called off his show there, Arena general manager Arnel Gonzales said. Sting announced his decision after learning that pine trees growing outside a provincial shopping mall owned by the same holding company that owns Arena were being removed for an expansion programme, Gonzales added. "Somebody misled the Englishman In New York over the venue," Gonzales told AFP, referring to one of the British-born star's hit songs. Gonzales said that while Arena and SM Baguio are sister companies, the concert venue had nothing to do with the trees' transfer. Environmentalists had sued the SM Baguio shopping mall in the northern mountain resort of Baguio earlier this year to stop the uprooting and relocation of 182 old trees, mostly pines, growing at its property. The case sparked calls for a boycott of the SM chain, controlled by the family of the country's richest man, billionaire developer Henry Sy. The mall chain said it had secured permits to remove the trees, but the transfer of all 182 trees to a government lot had not been completed due to the civil suit, which remains on trial. "It's something that we did not expect," Gonzales said of the cancellation of the Arena concert. Sting, former frontman of "The Police", is known for his activism on a number of social and political causes and is closely associated with the human rights monitor Amnesty International.

Speaker bares substitute RH bill

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives has come up with a new Reproductive Health (RH) bill, which it hopes to approve before the end of the year. “It is a definite step forward. It addresses a lot of objections to the original bill,” Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. told reporters yesterday. He said he had asked the concerned committees to come up with a bill that would incorporate all that RH proponents and oppositors had agreed on. “My idea was to come out with a final text that we could rationally say this is what we are talking about. Some of the opposition may feel that with some tinkering, this is already acceptable,” he said. He said one of the changes introduced in the new bill is a provision ensuring that the process of fertilization and conception would not be impeded. “Once fertilization occurred, nothing should obstruct the fertilized egg from then on,” he stressed. Belmonte revealed that he learned from some doctors that there are contraceptive pills in the market that actually prevent fertilization and “do everything.” “We have to exclude those,” he said. He said another change is the focus of RH expenditures on poor households. “Not everybody can get it. Funding is directed to the poor,” he said. He said he hoped his chamber could vote on the new measure on second and third and final reading before Congress goes on its Christmas break in mid-December. “I am hopeful there would be less contentious issues when we take this up anew,” he added. Shortly before the chamber adjourned its session Wednesday night, Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II told his colleagues that the secretariat had distributed copies of a substitute RH bill. “Let us study it because we will tackle the measure we resume session on Nov. 5,” he said. Last Aug. 6, after a Palace caucus presided over by President Aquino, congressmen voted overwhelmingly to terminate floor debates on the RH bill. The measure however has not moved since then, with those opposed to it resorting to every possible maneuver to block it. Conspicuously absent in the substitute bill is the provision that seeks to allocate an initial P3 billion for the procurement of pills and other contraceptives to be distributed to poor households. Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, one of the authors of the proposed law on RH, responsible parenthood and population and development, said the substitute measure is the product of consultations between the pro- and anti-RH blocs in the House. He said the new measure has addressed the “objections, reservations and concerns” of those opposed to the bill “but does not dilute its essence.”

Dev’t forum for Mindanao

The government, meanwhile, is preparing a Philippine Development Forum (PDF) for Mindanao that would serve as a pledging session for lending agencies and donors to aid in the development of the region. Finance Undersecretary Rosalia de Leon said the PDF is slated in January. She also said the Forum would focus on gathering support for former conflict areas in the region, whose development has been crippled by decades of war. “We are still in the preparation stage,” said de Leon, who attended the World Bank and International Monetary Fund annual meetings in Tokyo last week. PDFs lay the groundwork for the government’s partnership with multilateral agencies and lending institutions for various development projects. During these events, multilateral agencies and lending institutions pledge a combination of loans, grants and technical assistance. The Aquino administration held its first PDF in February last year, which was focused on curbing corruption and reducing poverty. PDF partners include the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Japan Bank for International Cooperation and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Following Monday’s signing of the framework agreement in Malacañang, some of the multilateral institutions welcomed the landmark deal and pledged their continued support to the government for development in the region. JICA officials attended the signing of the agreement between the Philippine government and the MILF. JICA said it has been contributing to the development of Mindanao through the Japan-Bangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development (J-BiRD) and participation in the International Contact Group (ICG) that is providing advice by attending the peace talks as an observer. The World Bank also welcomed the agreement, saying this marks an important step toward achieving peace, security and development that will benefit all Filipinos. “The World Bank stands ready to work with the government, MILF and other sectors of Philippine society to intensify our efforts to improve the lives of many Filipinos, particularly the poor in Mindanao, and help build the momentum for lasting peace and inclusive growth,” it also said. – Iris Gonzales, Paolo Romero - By Pia Lee-Brago

OIC seeks unity talks between MILF, MNLF

KUWAIT CITY – The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is working to bring the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) together to cooperate in establishing the Bangsamoro Coordination Council. OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu proposed the holding of a tripartite meeting between the Philippine government, the MNLF and the OIC to “find practical and implementable solutions for the remaining unresolved issues.” Ihsanoglu visited Manila early this week upon the invitation of the Philippine government and MILF chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim to witness the signing of the framework agreement between the government and the MILF. After the ceremony on Monday, Ihsanoglu had an hour-long private meeting with President Aquino. “The Secretary General assured the President of continuous support of the OIC to all peace efforts, and emphasized the unity of the Bangsamoro people which is needed now more than ever. “The OIC at present is assisting the process of bringing MILF and MNLF together to intensify their cooperation and coordination. The establishment of a Bangsamoro Coordination Council is under discussion for that purpose,” the OIC said. The proposed tripartite meeting is also expected to tackle difficulties in the full implementation of the MNLF’s 1996 Final Peace Agreement and any discrepancies that may exist between the agreements signed with the MNLF and the new framework agreement with the MILF. “The issue will be discussed thoroughly by the next OIC Conference of Foreign Ministers scheduled to be held in Djibouti next month,” the OIC said. During his private meeting with the President, Ihsanoglu congratulated Aquino for this important first step in terminating the long-standing conflict and expressed hope that it will usher in a new era of tranquility and peaceful development for the region. Ihsanoglu emphasized the need to link the expected agreement that will come as a result of the framework agreement to the 1976 Peace Agreement with the MNLF. The 1976 Tripoli Agreement constitutes a historic compromise and has gained the support of all Bangsamoro people and the 57 member-states of the OIC. Ihsanoglu expressed hope that the new framework agreement will pave the way for a just and lasting peace for the Bangsamoro people, and commended the important and essential role played by Malaysia as a facilitator of the peace process. After Ihsanoglu assumed his post in 2005 as OIC secretary general, the OIC initiated what is called the “Tripartite Process” to overcome all difficulties facing the implementation of the Final Peace Agreement of 1996. More recently, the OIC has been observing the bilateral negotiations between the MILF and the Philippine government that led to the framework agreement. Ihsanoglu expressed hope that this framework agreement will be a first step towards finding a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in Muslim Mindanao. He asserted the position of the OIC that the 1976 Agreement would continue to form the basis for any settlement of the conflict, provided that it is acceptable by all factions of the Bangsamoro people.

Electric Coops Score ‘Delinquent’ Tag

MANILA, Philippines --- While 21 electric cooperatives (ECs) have overdue accounts with their power suppliers, the National Association of General Managers of Electric Cooperatives Inc. (NAGMEC) yesterday qualified that majority of them are on the "well-performing category." In a statement, NAGMEC president Sergio C. Dagooc lamented that electric cooperatives are being pictured as "delinquents" or about to cause blackouts because of their unpaid obligations. "If not shown in its true light...it will reflect badly on the national program of rural electrification," he said. The country has 119 electric cooperatives serving more than eight million customers nationwide. But while the majority of electric cooperatives did not like the "delinquent label," it has remained a fact that for those which have been negligent in settling their financial dues with power suppliers, they will still place their customers on a "blackout situation." NAGMEC clarified that the reported P20 billion dues of electric cooperatives as provided by the National Electrification Administration (NEA) represent at least five accounts, namely: current, restructured, overdue, disputed and value added tax. Of the total, Dagooc noted that P14.02 billion would pertain to the overdue accounts of 21 electric cooperatives, covering power accounts, VAT and other charges and costs related to restructuring. "The current account amounting to P4.1 billion involving 44 ECs should not have been included since being "current" means that these are still due for settlement," he explained. The balance of P1.2 billion, Dagooc added, "involves four ECs which should not have been considered since such accounts are being contested." He said that "only 21 ECs could be deemed laggards in terms of financial comeuppance," adding that the amounts attributed to the others as overdue has "still to be contested." Among the electric cooperatives, he claimed, that are extremely "in the red" are Lanao del Sur Electric Cooperative and Albay Electric Cooperative with P5.5 billion and P1.9 billion overdue accounts, respectively. While most electric cooperatives have been trying to establish a "better picture" of their service to customers, the power suppliers are also complaining of how the outstanding obligations of some of these rural power utilities have been making dent on their collection efficiencies, and on their financial performance.

Indonesia leads Phl in race to investment grade

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines has to overcome hurdles before it can reach investment-grade rating, debt watcher Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (S&P) said, justifying its decision to put the country’s credit outlook behind Indonesia, South East Asia’s largest economy. In a report titled “The Race to Investment Grade: Indonesia and the Philippines,” S&P addressed investor questions with regard to the two countries seen to be Asia’s leading bright spots at this time of global economic turmoil. Under S&P’s metrics, the Philippines and Indonesia are both at BB+, a notch below investment grade status. Indonesia, however, has a positive outlook, which means S&P could upgrade its rating within 18 months. Philippines, on the other hand, has a stable forecast. “The stable outlook on the Philippines indicates that risks to the ratings are balanced,” S&P analyst Agost Benard said. “The positive outlook on Indonesia recognizes ongoing improvement in the government’s balance sheet and the country’s income metrics,” he added. Benard pointed to the country’s low revenue base, which puts pressure on its fiscal profile despite noting some improvements under the Aquino administration. Budget deficit hit P71.208 billion as of August, well below the P183.343-billion third quarter cap. Revenues rose 11.1 percent. The Philippines also has a lower per capita income than Indonesia. S&P said from 1991 to 2011, Indonesia’s per capita income — estimated income of each person affected by economic growth— increased to $3,600 from $928 as against Philippines’ which rose to $2,330 from $1,014. This suggested slower growth for the Philippines during the period. “Aside from slower growth, the Philippines has made little inroads in improving family planning. Its relatively high population growth rate (averaging about two percent per year), compared with 1.3 percent in Indonesia, also detracts from attaining higher per capita wealth levels,” S&P said. Reacting to S&P’s low revenue base finding, Finance Assistant Secretary Ma. Teresa Habitan said: “Improving revenue generation is our priority and the reason why we are pursuing “sin” tax and fiscal incentives reforms.” But the country is not all behind Indonesia when it comes to other factors such as political stability and external strength. “Since the inauguration of the Aquino administration in 2010, political stability and the legislative environment have improved. The president has high levels of public support and commensurate backing in the legislature,” S&P said. For Indonesia, S&P said: “A modest improvement in the country’s political and policy dynamics--combined with Indonesia’s other credit attributes--could lead to an upgrade.” Indonesia’s external profile is also “less robust and more susceptible to global commodity cycles,” the credit rater said as evidenced by sustained overseas Filipino remittances. S&P said a positive rating for Indonesia does not mean the country will be upgraded first before the Philippines. “The next rating action could be an upgrade, but we could also revise the outlook back to stable,” it said. - By Prinz P. Magtulis

Legalize prostitution, UN urges PH

The Philippines and other Asian countries should decriminalize sex-related jobs in order to provide sex workers access to basic rights and to control the spread of sexually transmitted infections especially HIV, a new United Nations report said. "The legal recognition of sex work as an occupation enables sex workers to claim benefits, to form or join unions and to access work-related banking, insurance, transport and pension schemes," the report dubbed "Sex Work and the Law in Asia and the Pacific" showed. It added that "in decriminalized contexts, the sex industry can be subject to the same general laws regarding workplace health and safety and anti-discrimination protections as other industries." Decriminalization, the report said, involves the repeal of laws criminalizing sex work, being clients to sex workers or enganging in activities associated with sex work. It should also repeal laws that require mandatory testing or treatment for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or other STIs, as well as laws that allow detention of sex workers for rehabilitation or correction. The report stressed that Filipino sex workers remain highly vulnerable to STIs including HIV as well as sexual and physical abuse due to stigma. This, even as it noted that the Philippines has introduced laws aimed at preventing HIV and protecting the rights of infected patients. These laws offer "limited protections" to sex workers, the report said, amid "the continued enforcement of criminal laws against sex workers and difficulties in accessing the justice system to enforce these rights." Sex work as well as businesses engaged in sex are illegal under Philippine laws, with penalties up to 30 days imprisonment for first offense and up to six months imprisonment for repeat offenders.

CEB To Mount More Flights

. Cebu Pacific (CEB) will mount more flights to local destinations other carriers plan to abandon later this month to fill the void and prevent disruptions in travel connectivity within the country, the airline said in a statement yesterday. CEB has not disclosed the specific destinations it will cover and the carriers it will replace as of press time. However, the airline is open to adding flights or exploring more route opportunities to and from Butuan, Cotabato, Cagayan de Oro, Dumaguete, Dipolog, Legazpi, Puerto Princesa, Roxas, Tacloban and Zamboanga. It has already announced more flights out of Cagayan de Oro, Puerto Princesa, Tacloban and Zamboanga, as part of the 10 domestic routes CEB is launching in the 2nd half of 2012. These new routes are Cagayan de Oro to Zamboanga, Puerto Princesa to Iloilo and to Davao, and Tacloban to Iloilo. ''We have enough planes and more are coming this year and in the next few years to cover key local destinations and mount additional flights,'' according to Candice Iyog, CEB vice president for marketing and distribution. ''CEB's domestic passengers grew by 18% in the 1st half of 2012, compared to the same period last year. Through CEB's 60 domestic routes and constant seat sales, local and foreign travellers can take advantage of CEB's accessible options to travel to different parts of the country, via our hubs in Manila, Cebu, Clark, Davao, Iloilo and Kalibo,'' she explained. In the 1st half of 2012, CEB grew its Cebu-Mindanao passenger traffic by 36%, and its Cebu-Visayas passenger traffic by 53%. CEB's Luzon-Cebu traffic also grew by 49%, while its Luzon-Manila traffic grew by 27%, she said, comparing figures from the same period last year. CEB currently operates 10 Airbus A319, 21 Airbus A320 and 8 ATR-72 500 aircraft. Its fleet of 38 aircraft - with an average age of 3.6 years - is the largest aircraft fleet in the Philippines. Between 2012 and 2021, Cebu Pacific will take delivery of 21 more Airbus A320 and 30 Airbus A321neo aircraft orders. It is slated to begin long-haul services in the 3rd quarter of 2013. .

Batangas PAO lawyer shot

BATANGAS, Philippines – A lawyer of the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) was critically wounded when two motorcycle-riding men shot him at the parking lot of the provincial Hall of Justice in Batangas City on Tuesday morning, police said. Senior Superintendent Rosauro Acio, Batangas police director, said the victim, lawyer Arsenio Hernandez Jr., had just parked his car to report for work when the two men approached him from behind and shot him at close range at around 7:45 a.m. the other day. Hernandez was shot in the left side of his neck, with the bullet exiting through the right side. He also had bullet wounds in the chest and lower part of the body. He was rushed to the St. Patrick Hospital where he was initially placed in critical condition. He was declared in stable condition hours later. Sources said Hernandez could have earned the ire of a certain group when he won the acquittal of his client accused of drug pushing. Prior to the shooting, police said Hernandez had received death threats from unidentified callers and senders of text messages. Police are now conducting follow-up operations to arrest his attackers. - By Arnell Ozaeta

US vows to help Philippine veteran payments

..President Barack Obama's administration pledged Wednesday to reach out to Filipinos seeking payments for World War II service after complaints from veterans over denied claims. More than 250,000 Filipinos fought under the US flag in World War II but Congress later stripped them of promised benefits, leaving bitterness in the former colony and decades of campaigning to change US policy. Weeks after Obama took office in 2009, Congress approved a stimulus package that included one-time payments of $15,000 to Filipino veterans in the United States and $9,000 to those living in the Philippines. Obama aide Chris Lu, co-chair of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, said that 18,000 claims have been approved. "However, we also have heard from many Filipino veterans who have been impeded from filing claims or believe their claims were improperly denied," Lu wrote on a White House blog. Lu said that the Pentagon, Department of Veterans Affairs and the National Archives and Record Administration were setting up a working group to assess the issue and "ensure that all applications receive thorough and fair review." "This is part of the Obama administration's ongoing efforts to honor the contributions of all veterans in their service to our country," he said. Community advocates said that thousands of veterans had their claims denied, usually because US authorities did not accept records from the Philippines which were the former fighters' sole means to prove their service. Some aging veterans also said it was unrealistic to file their claims in time for a February 16, 2010 deadline. Representative Jackie Speier, a member of Obama's Democratic Party whose California district has a large Asian American community, welcomed the latest administration effort, but said that Congress needed to do more and give Filipino veterans the same benefits that others enjoyed. "Filipinos were American nationals when they fought in the war and they were promised full benefits by President Franklin D. Roosevelt," she said in a statement. "A promise made should be a promise kept. We have broken our promise and it's time to make amends," she said. The White House announcement comes ahead of November 6 national elections in which experts say that Asian Americans -- who voted overwhelmingly for Obama in 2008 -- could play a decisive role in close races. ..

DPWH alarmed over rising theft of steel grating

The Department of Public Works and Highways has sought police help to curb the rising thefts of steel grating covers along national highways. DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson also asked the public to be vigilant against such thefts, which he said may jeopardize motorists and commuters. “(Before), steel rail guards, signboard poles and bridge metal markers are often the target of the thieves in the provinces; but recently, (the) loss of steel grating is now happening in Metro Manila,” he said. Singson said steel gratings serve as water inlets during floods. He cited the case of the newly opened underpass of G. Araneta and Quezon Avenue in Quezon City, where thieves took the steel grating just a week after its inauguration. The theft forced the DPWH to replace the stolen component just to prevent hampering the flow of traffic in the area. But he added the reinstallation of steel grating has disrupted traffic at the underpass. A piece of steel grating at the outer lane of the south approach of the northbound direction of Osmeña flyover crossing Buendia Avenue in Makati City was also stolen, he noted. An inspection showed electrical wires and bulbs of the double arm lighting posts had also been stolen, rendering some portions of the lighting facility no longer functioning. If the rampant loss of such facilities will continue, Singson warned of a possible rise in road accidents. –KG,

Makati Still ‘Richest City’

.MANILA, Philippines --- Makati City remains the richest local government unit (LGU) in the country after it posted a P9-billion revenue collection from January to September of this year. During this period, Makati City collected a total of P9.38 billion in revenue, which is 5 percent higher than its collection for the same period in 2011. "We are proud to note that Makati remains the country's richest local government unit in terms of income from local sources and on a per capita basis. It is also worth noting that our share from the Internal Revenue Allotment or IRA makes up a mere 5 percent of our total collections, down by 17 percent compared to September last year," Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin S. Binay said. He noted that the bulk of the collection came from local sources, led by Business Tax that increased by 14 percent to P4.85 billion from P4.25 billion, followed by Real Property Tax with P3.26 billion, or 1 percent lower than P3.30 billion collected as of September 2011. Binay noted that the latest revenue hike can be partly attributed to the increased transparency and efficiency in the city government's systems and processes achieved through harnessing information technology. "We are evidently on the right track in this vital area of governance, as Makati recently passed the criteria for Silver Seal of Good Housekeeping by the Department of the Interior and Local Government and won the Gawad Pamana ng Lahi Award at the regional level," Binay said. The DILG has set stringent requirements for the recognition, including compliance to the Full Disclosure Policy and having no adverse reports from the Commission on Audit, compliance with the Anti-Red Tape Act, a Comprehensive Development Plan, and above-benchmark performance in the Local Governance Performance Management System. The mayor said while larger cities in Metro Manila enjoy a bigger share of the IRA, Makati has consistently topped their locally-sourced income from business and realty taxes collected. As of end-2011, Makati had registered a total of 58,920 business enterprises, which are engaged in wholesale/retail, services, real estate, financial services, export/import, and manufacturing. Makati also boasts of having the highest number of BPO locators in the NCR at 1,159 companies to date, as well as the highest number of PEZA-accredited IT Parks and Buildings, 34. The city government of Makati has not increased its tax rates since its new Revenue Code took effect in 2006. For 26 years now, the city said it has enjoyed a deficit-free status. .

Makati building grabs international attention

..Amid a construction boom that has seen high-rise buildings sprout all over Metro Manila, a development in Makati has grabbed the attention of an international real estate award-giving body. The newly constructed Zuellig Building has made it to the top three in the "Best Office and Business Development" category of MIPIM Asia Awards. This qualifies the 33-storey office building to vie for gold against two other shortlisted development: the Tianjin Global Financial Center in China and the 50 Connaught Road Central Building in Hong Kong. The building, located at the intersection of Makati Avenue and Paseo de Roxas, was developed by Bridgebury Realty Corp. and designed by architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP. It is the first real estate development in the Philippines to be recognized by MIPIM. "The Zuellig Building's commitment to environmental responsibility, its distinctive facade, and superior finishes will enable it to become Metro Manila's premier business location," MIPIM said in its website. The building has also earlier been awarded a gold pre-certification under the "Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design" program of the U.S. Green Building Council. The Zuellig is "the first 21st-century Premium Grade office building in the Philippines," MIPIM said further. MIPIM (Le marché international des professionnels de l’immobilier) is a group of industry leaders which recognizes "excellence and innovation in Asian real estate development," the group's website showed. A jury composed of experts met in July to shortlist three winners in 10 categories. Aside from Best Office and Business Development, other categories are Best Hotel and Tourism Resort, Best Industrial and Logistics Development, Best Refurbished Building, Best Residential Development, Best Shopping Centre, Best Futura Project, Best Futura Mega Project, Best German Project and the Special Jury Award. For the first time this year, MIPIM will also determine the winner of a People's Choice Award through online voting. Results of the poll will meanwhile comprise 50 percent of the final scores of the shortlisted buildings, thereby determining the gold, silver and bronze winners. ..