Sunday, June 3, 2012
Shoal row tops agenda of Philippine president's UK, US trips
..Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - The country's standoff with China over Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal would be one of the main points in the bilateral talks between Philippine President Benigno Aquino III and world leaders British Prime Minister David Cameron and US President Barack Obama when he visits London on June 4, and the United States from June 6 to 8.
"We'd talk about the conditions in the West Philippine Sea," Aquino said when asked about his London visit.
On his visit to the United States next week, Aquino will be welcomed at the Oval Office by US President Obama, according to Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario.
"[The two leaders] will discuss a broad range of bilateral, regional and global issues that reflect the multifaceted nature of the two countries' strategic partnership," Del Rosario said in a statement.
"I assume that...Prime Minister David Cameron will also inquire as to the status (of the standoff). (The West Philippine Sea) is a body of water where quite a substantial amount of world trade has to pass through," the president said in an interview.
"So it's a matter of concern for everybody if things change that will restrict the free flow of goods and services (in this) particular body of water," he added.
President Aquino recently appointed career diplomat Sonia Brady to a posting in Beijing.
Old hand
"She's been there. She knows who to talk to, she knows the system, she knows our concerns," Aquino said of his expectations from the country's new ambassador to China who has since been confirmed by the Commission on Appointments.
4th meeting
It will be the fourth meeting between the two presidents in a span of two years. The two leaders were also at the September 2010 Association of Southeast Asian Nations-United States (Asean-US) Leaders Meeting in New York, the September 2011 launch of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) also in New York, and the Nov 18, 2011, Asean-US Leaders' Meeting in Bali.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will host a luncheon in honor of the President and his delegation at the Benjamin Franklin State Dining Room of the State Department in Washington, DC, Del Rosario said.
The president will also meet with leaders of the US Senate at a reception organised by Senate President Pro Tempore Daniel K. Inouye at the US.Capitol, and with members of the Filipino-American community in Los Angeles on his way back to Manila.
The Inquirer has learned that "American Idol" runner-up Jessica Sanchez will sing at the Fil-Am reception for the president.
'Heightened engagement'
The DFA statement said Aquino's US visit reflected the "heightened engagement" between the Philippines and the US, as evidenced by the "upward trajectory of high-level exchanges," including the Bilateral Strategic Dialogue, the visits of US Congressional delegations to the Philippines, and the recent 2+2 Meetings in Washington, DC.
Del Rosario added that President Aquino will be the guest of honor at the launch of the US-Philippines Society, a private sector initiative designed to encourage economic ties, promote trade and investment, support common strategic and political goals, and strengthen cultural, technological, educational, and people-to-people linkages between the two countries.
The Society is cochaired by Ambassador John D. Negroponte for the US side and Manuel V. Pangilinan for the Philippines, and Washington Z. Sycip and Maurice "Hank" Greenberg as honourary chairs. Eminent business leaders from both countries comprise the Society's Board.
COPYRIGHT: ASIA NEWS NETWORK
China rift halts AirAsia Philippines' Macau plan
Budget carrier AirAsia's Philippine unit said Friday it had shelved planned daily flights to Macau amid a simmering maritime dispute between China and the Philippines.
AirAsia Philippines was to have launched a daily Macau service in July, but then the market outlook dimmed, its chief executive Marianne Hontiveros told AFP.
"I was advised that travel agents in Macau had cancelled tour groups to the Philippines," she said.
Hontiveros said industry sources told her the cancellations were "because of the current situation, and that (territorial dispute) is the only current situation I know of".
Last month Chinese travel agencies announced they had suspended tours to the Philippines, under government orders.
The suspension came amid a stand-off between Philippine and Chinese vessels at the shoal in the South China Sea, which is claimed by both countries.
The dispute broke out in April when Chinese government ships blocked Philippine vessels from arresting Chinese fishermen there.
Hontiveros said the AirAsia unit has not set a new timetable for launching its Macau service, which it had envisioned as a gateway for Chinese tourists visiting the Philippines.
"The China market is very important to us and we thought Macau would be important to us as well," she said.
AirAsia Philippines, which only started flying in March, using the Clark airport north of Manila as its hub, is still planning daily services to Hong Kong starting in July, said Hontiveros.
The airline now serves popular vacation destinations in the Philippines and is due to begin international flights to Kuala Lumpur later this month
Saturday, June 2, 2012
DFA offices in shopping centers to follow mall hours
The Department of Foreign Affairs' (DFA) consular offices in shopping centers will now follow the malls' schedules.
In a message read by Undersecretary Rafael Seguis at the inauguration of the latest DFA facility in Pampanga, DFA Secretary Albert del Rosario said the longer hours will allow applicants to have their passports processed or released even after office hours - from Mondays to Sundays.
“To further improve our services, our regional offices will be open during mall hours, Mondays to Saturdays. With this, applicants need not take the entire day off like they do now just to apply for their passports. Applicants now have the option to do this after office or school hours or even on Saturdays,” Del Rosario said.
The new 995-square-meter DFA facility is located at the Robinsons Starmills in San Fernando City in Pampanga.
It is the second of several passport offices that the DFA will open in shopping malls nationwide under Public-Private Partnership arrangements.
The first, DFA Cebu, was opened in February at the Pacific Mall in Mandaue.
“What we have here in Robinsons Starmills is a first-class facility that offers first-class services to our kababayans, especially overseas workers, not only from Pampanga and the other provinces of the region but Metro Manila and other parts of Northern Luzon as well,” Del Rosario said in his message.
“More than anything else, it is the compulsion to serve the public better that made us make this happen... What we envision with the relocation of our consular offices to shopping malls is a DFA that would be able to provide fast and efficient services to our people in settings that offer them both comfort and convenience,” he added.
Mall hours
Del Rosario said passport offices that would be hosted in malls belonging to Pacific Mall, Robinsons Land Corporation, Ayala Land Corporation, and SM Prime Holdings will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. from Mondays to Saturdays.
They will not only process new applications and renewals but also release passports.
He also said DFA offices in the said shopping centers will also be open half-day on Sundays but only to allow applicants to personally claim their passports.
“But even with these changes for the better, passport fees will remain the same: P950 for regular processing and P1,200 for expedited processing. These are the amounts all applicants are required to pay, nothing more, for the kind of service we are now extending,” he said.
The inauguration of DFA San Fernando comes six months after the DFA and Robinsons Land formally entered into arrangements for the transfer and hosting of the main consular office for Region III that was previously located at the City Transport Terminal.
Arrangements with Robinsons Land will allow the DFA to save more than P233 million in operational and other costs over ten years.
The DFA also entered into Public-Private Partnership arrangements with Pacific Mall Corporation, Ayala Land Incorporated, and SM Prime Holdings for the hosting of other consular offices in Angeles, Bacolod, Baguio; Batangas, Davao, Dumaguete, General Santos; Iloilo; Laoag; Lipa; Mandaluyong; Manila; Quezon City; and Tacloban.
“As a result of the Public-Private Partnership arrangements we initiated, the DFA will be able to save the government a total of P1.04 billion in operating costs in the next 10 years. The savings cover an initial 16 consular offices across the country that would occupy more than 7,000 square meters of prime space in DFA partner malls,” del Rosario said.
He added the DFA expects to generate more savings once it concludes negotiations with its private sector partners for the hosting of its remaining consular offices.
Del Rosario said the DFA wants all its existing consular offices in the provinces to be serving the public in shopping malls in major cities nationwide by 2014. - VVP
DID YOU KNOW THAT ? Filipinos still a romantic lot, SWS survey shows
MANILA, Philippines - Despite hard times, Filipinos remain a romantic lot, with more than half believing that first love never dies and four of five believing in love that is meant to be.
This is based on a new survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) from Nov. 28 to Dec. 1 last year, results of which were released Wednesday. The survey was conducted among 1,500 respondents.
"Over half (55 percent) of adult Filipinos believe that 'first love never dies,'" SWS said in its website.
It added that 78 percent of respondents believe in the statement, "If you love someone then set him free, if he/she comes back again it was meant to be."
SWS said the survey also showed that 59 percent in the Visayas, 57 percent in Mindanao, and 52 percent each in Balance Luzon and Metro Manila believe that "first love never dies." It noted that three out of five (60 percent) in class E believe in it, 54 percent in class D, and 47 percent in class ABC.
Belief that first love never dies is similar among men (56 percent) and women (54 percent), SWS said.
On the other hand, 58 percent of those 55 years old and above believe in it, 56 percent among those aged 35-54, 52 percent among those aged 25-34, and 49 percent among those aged 18-24.
Some 58 percent of those who are married share this belief, 54 percent among those with live-in partners, and 45 percent among those without spouse or partner.
The second question went, "Naniniwala po ba kayo o hindi naniniwala sa lyrics ng kantang nagsasabing: 'Kung mahal mo ang isang tao, palayain mo siya, at kapag siya'y bumalik ito'y itinadhana (Do you believe or do not believe in the lyrics of one song stating that: 'If you love
someone then set him/her free, if he/she comes back again it was meant to be')?'"
Of the respondents, 81 percent in Metro Manila, 79 percent in Balance Luzon, 78 percent in the Visayas, and 74 percent in Mindanao said they believe in it.
By class, 79 percent of class D believe in the statement, 77 percent among class E, and 76 percent among class ABC. Seventy-seven percent of men and 79 percent of women believe in it.
"Belief in love that is meant to be is shared by 81 percent of those aged 25-34 and 45-54, 80 percent among aged 35-44, 76 percent among aged 18-24, and 71 percent among aged 55 and above," SWS added.
By civil status, four our of five (81 percent) of those with a live-in partner believe in it, 79 percent among those who are married, and 73 percent among those without spouse or partner.
The survey was conducted over Nov. 28 to Dec. 1 last year, using face-to-face interviews with 1,500 adults divided into random samples of 300 each in Metro Manila, Visayas, and Mindanao, and 600 in Balance Luzon.
Sampling error margins of ±2.5 percent for national percentages, ±6 percent for Metro Manila, Visayas and Mindanao, and ±4 percent for Balance Luzon applied to the survey. - GMANews.TV
Kopi Talk We can't turn tail and run
..Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - If countries were people with their heights determined by land area and their weights determined by population, China would certainly be a Goliath to the Philippines' David-except that the physical differences between the two would be much, much greater than those of their biblical counterparts. Even if the Old Testament's Goliath had been nine feet tall (although the experts think he was closer to seven feet), as opposed to David's maybe 5'7" at the shortest, and the giant's weight had been three times that of the young boy (15-17 years old), that difference would pale in comparison with China's Goliath and the Philippines' David.
China's land area of 9.6 million square kilometres would make it 32 times taller than the Philippines (300,000 sq km); its population (1.3 billion) would make it 14 times heavier than the Philippines (94 million). A really daunting difference. It must have been daunting for the biblical David, too, but the point is that he didn't turn tail and run, which would have given victory to the Philistines on a silver platter. And, of course, he won. Given the difference between China's Goliath and our David, we may not win. But our turning tail and running now will just give China victory on a silver platter. Plus, we may not be able to live with ourselves, however we try to rationalise things. Plus, of course, we would have let Inang Bayan down, particularly since we regularly sing to her that: "It is glorious, ever, when thou art wronged, for us thy sons to suffer and die."
Nevertheless, it would be instructive to find out exactly how China rationalises a situation that, from our point of view, leaves no doubt whatsoever of its hegemony and/or imperialism. And one would be amazed that as far as China is concerned, we are the bad guys. It has been forbearing, but we are "pressing" it "into a corner" so that its only recourse is to stand and fight. It also claims that Philippine warships have been harassing its fishermen since 1990, with the April 10 incident being only the latest in this string of harassments. We have "played tricks" and "triggered disturbances." And since 2000, by its count, at least 32 of its fishing ships were "chased, robbed or detained" by the Philippine Navy.
The tiny David, bullying the giant Goliath. The harassment being in the form of chasing, or robbing, or detaining.
Just listen to China's version of what happened on April 10, as recounted supposedly by the captain of one of its fishing ships: Nine Philippine soldiers, seven of them carrying rifles, and riding on an inflatable raft, boarded his ship, and made him and his crew (total 16) stand on the deck under the hot sun for four hours while they searched the ship. The captain apparently still had not recovered from the "shocking encounter" with the Philippine Navy, even after three weeks from returning home.
And to the Chinese government, we live in fantasy land, because we are mistaking its "forbearance" for "timidity." At the same time, its story of being harassed, robbed, and pressed into a corner, played tricks on, detained, is an objective, factual account.
China calls it Huangyan Island. We call it Bajo de Masinloc. We say that the area has been delineated as Philippine territory in Spanish maps dating to the 17th century. China says that this same area has been delineated as its territory in its maps dated several centuries ago.
But what about the fact that Bajo de Masinloc/Huangyan is only something like 230 kilometres away from Zambales while it is 1,200 km from the nearest major Chinese land mass? Only think of how long it would have taken Chinese boats several hundred years ago to go to and from the area. Tiny boats. No refrigeration. What would be the point of using the place as fishing grounds? No one has given a satisfactory reason.
But isn't Huangyan, at a distance of 1,200 km from China, outside of its exclusive economic zone (200 miles or 320 km), while it is well within that of the Philippines, as we claim?
Not to China, which thinks that our territorial claim is "untenable" because, quoting from the director of the China Institute for Marine Affairs under State Oceanic Administration, "there is no such principle in international law that determines territorial ownership by geographic distance, and this theory based on geographic distance ... has no basis in international law and judicial practice." And if the Philippines' theory was upheld, he says, the world map would be totally redrawn.
The example he gives is that the British Channel Islands are less than 12 nautical miles off the French coastline at their nearest point. What he fails to point out is that the closest distance between the English mainland and France is only 22 miles. So obviously, the 200-mile economic zone cannot apply.
The kicker here would be: If China really thinks that the Philippine "rhetoric" is untenable in terms of international law, why doesn't it want to go to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea? Tsk.
But China isn't the only one that makes a claim and doesn't want to put its money where its mouth is. We have also been treated to the spectacle of the United States, which claims that we have a mutual defence treaty with each other but won't put its money where its mouth is. But that's another story.
A pox on both of them.
..
Top Philippine judge ordered back to witness stand
..The Philippines' top judge was Wednesday told to rise from his sick bed and take the witness stand at his impeachment trial, a day after walking out of the court and suffering an apparent heart attack.
Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile ordered Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona to appear in court by Friday, so the tribunal can rule by early next week whether to kick him out of office.
Corona bizarrely left the witness stand and checked himself into hospital on Tuesday after a three-hour testimony in which he denounced the landmark corruption proceedings as a personal vendetta by President Benigno Aquino.
His spokesman Midas Marquez later said during radio interviews that he had suffered a possible heart attack after the court hearing, during which Corona rejected a charge that he failed to declare $12 million in bank accounts.
Despite an ultimatum from Enrile that his testimony would be thrown out unless he showed up Wednesday, the chief justice failed to return to the stand.
"The court will give you until Friday," Enrile later ruled. "After that we will consider the case submitted on the record."
Enrile then ordered prosecutors and Corona's defence team to submit their final arguments to the court on Monday, to allow the 23-member senate to vote on three impeachment charges.
Corona's removal from office was sought by President Aquino, who won a landslide election victory in 2010 on a platform to end the pervasive corruption that he blamed for mass poverty.
Prosecutors allege that in addition to failing to declare $12 million, Corona blocked government efforts to prosecute former president Gloria Arroyo, whose term of almost 10 years was marked with corruption scandals.
Arroyo herself is being tried separately for vote rigging.
Corona's lawyer Serafin Cuevas told the court Wednesday that the 63-year-old, who suffers from diabetes, was "not in a condition mentally or physically to testify".
He submitted a medical certificate from Corona's doctor which, he said, suggested that the chief justice had suffered from an apparent heart attack shortly after taking the witness stand.
Aquino's allies in the House of Representatives impeached Corona in December, the first such move ever against a chief justice of the Supreme Court.
The trial, beamed live on television to a nationwide audience, has caused deep political divisions in one of Southeast Asia's most free-wheeling democracies.
In his testimony Tuesday, Corona accused Aquino of a personal vendetta after a landmark Supreme Court verdict last year that ordered the president's clan to break up a sprawling sugar plantation and hand plots over to farmers.
....More stories.
..Philippine massacre witness dismembered: lawyer
..A man who testified in court on the Philippines' worst political massacre was found dead "probably chain-sawed to pieces" in a killing meant to silence other witnesses, an official said Friday.
Esmail Amil Enog went missing in March after he spoke in court last year about the alleged role of a powerful political clan in the November 2009 murders of 57 people, prosecutor Nena Santos told AFP.
"The body was put in a sack and it had been chopped up, probably chain-sawed to pieces," Santos said, declining to give further details about when and where the body was found as it might endanger lives.
"If we mention someone he might also end up dead."
Marcelo Pintac, police chief of Maguindanao province where the massacre took place, told AFP Enog was officially reported as missing, but that he was unaware his body had been found.
Enog, an employee of the Ampatuan family of Maguindanao, had told the court that he had driven the clan's armed followers to a site where 57 victims were later abducted.
The victims, including relatives and lawyers of the Ampatuans' local political rival Esmael Mangudadatu as well as 32 journalists and media workers, were later found murdered in a mass grave.
Prosecutors allege the killings were intended to prevent Mangudadatu from challenging an Ampatuan clan member in elections for governor.
The massacre shocked the world and forced then-president Gloria Arroyo to crack down on her former allies, the Ampatuans who had ruled the southern province for decades.
Clan patriarch Andal Ampatuan Snr and several of his sons are among 64 people on trial in Manila for the massacre.
However, about 100 other suspects are still at large, many of them armed followers of the Ampatuans who still retain influence in the area.
Santos said Enog could have identified other suspects in the massacre, adding his death would frighten other potential witnesses.
Human Rights Watch researcher Carlos Conde said Santos's account of the killing fit into the pattern of potential witnesses in the case being intimidated or bribed.
"The murder was intended to send a message, to cause a chilling effect to other witnesses," he told AFP.
Conde said Enog had refused a government offer of protection, which was an indication something was wrong with the state's witness protection programme.
Another witness had already been murdered in 2010 and relatives of other witnesses had also been attacked, he added.
..
Kopi Talk While everybody was busy with Corona impeachment, legislators push anti-media bills
..By Ellen Tordesillas
While the public, most especially media, was busy following the Corona impeachment trial, legislators were pushing measures that would undermine journalists' work of making government officials accountable, which senator-judges declared as the major accomplishment of the just-concluded political exercise.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines alerted the media community on three legislations: Sen. Edgardo Angara's Senate Bill 2965, An Act Protecting Individual Personal Information in Information and Communications Systems in the Government and the private sector; House Bill No. 5808, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012; and House Bill 5831 which proposes the amendment of Article 359 of R.A 3815, the Revised Penal Code.
Angara's SB 2965 also seeks to create a national data protection commission.
Section 30 (Breach of Confidentiality) of SB2965 provides: The penalty of imprisonment ranging from two years and four months to five years and a fine not less than P500,000 but not more than P2 million shall be imposed in case of a breach of confidentiality where such breach has resulted in the information being published or reported by media. In this case, the responsible reporter, writer, president, publisher, manager and editor-in-chief shall be liable under this Act."
NUJP said the provision clearly intends to prevent journalists from performing their duties of delivering timely, relevant and accurate information to the public in the service of the people's right to know.
"While we agree that the privacy of citizens should be protected, we are concerned that, especially in the wake of the historic impeachment trial of Renato Corona, those who live in mortal fear of transparency might twist this measure into providing more cover for the fortunes they have amassed through crime and corruption," NUJP said.
This is deplorable after hearing senator after senator explain their vote to convict Corona as their commitment to transparency and accountability in public service.
At the House of Representatives, House Bill No. 5808, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 was passed on third and final reading.
The bill seeks to define and penalize cybercrime offenses committed in the country, including a controversial provision that criminalizes online defamation.
Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raymond Palatino said the bill seeks to widen the scope of libel as a criminal offense which he considers "a step backward in the ongoing fight of various media and free expression groups to totally decriminalize libel."
He warned that some provisions of the bill could be prone to abuse and could be used to "censor online content or to harass critics of the government."
"The bill, if passed into law … can be a weapon of abusive politicians and corrupt corporate bosses against netizens who wanted to expose the truth about their illegal activities," he added.
There's also House Bill 5831, authored by Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Jay Velasco, which seeks to raise by 80 per cent the penalties for libel, slander and "intriguing against honor."
Velasco, who chairs the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments, said that other than the raised fine, the bill also seeks to impose the penalty of arresto mayor in its maximum period to prision correccional in its minimum period, depending on the nature of the violation.
NUJP said those who would seek to silence the independent Philippine press apparently are not contented with the growing body count of murdered journalists and media workers, they still want to "erect a wall of silence and onerous penalties around the profession of truth-telling."
NUJP finds it lamentable that " this has been taking place even as Congress continues to twiddle its thumbs on the Freedom of Information and the libel decriminalization bills and without the sector that would be most affected by these measures — the press — and, by extension, the public it serves being informed."
NUJP demands that any and all attempt to enact legislation that will narrow the parameters of press freedom, of freedom of expression and of the people's right to know be immediately withdrawn or subjected to open and transparent amendments, with the full participation of all those who might be adversely affected by such measures.
..
Aboitiz Sets P170-B Investments In Power
MANILA, Philippines --- Publicly listed company Aboitiz Equity Ventures (AEV) announced it has earmarked some P170 billion in capital expenditures (capex) for the next three to five years, the bulk of which will be spent to address the power supply shortage in the country, particularly in Mindanao.
AEV President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Erramon I. Aboitiz announced that of the total capex, P35 billion of which will be for projects pipelined for Mindanao, including setting up of a 354-megawatt (MW) in new capacity by 2015 to address the critical power woes in the region.
"This new capacity will come from the 300-MW clean coal facility of Therma South and 54-MW of runof- river hydro plants of Hedcor," said
Aboitiz during the recent AEV annual stockholders meeting held here. Aboitiz said that with the company's partnerships with the Meralco Group and Taiwan Corporation, as firewell
as the Team Energy Philippines Corporation, AEV is adding 1,000 MW of capacity to the Luzon Grid.
In the Visayas, however, he said the capacity is still enough to serve the demand in the next five to four years. However, Aboitiz said eventually the company will be looking at another plant to be built in the Visayas by late 2016.
AEV's annual financial reports showed that the company's consolidated net income for 2011 was at P21.2 billion recording a marginal decline verses the 2010 level.
AEV said the softening of the spot the spot market prices at the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) was the main driver for the lower topline performance given reduced revenues coming from its power generation business.
Lower net generation, soft spot market prices and increased coal costs brought on lower margins for its power generation business, Aboitiz said adding that the food unit (Pilmico) also contended with increased input costs during the year (2011).
However, these declining performances were offset by the strong showing of the company's banking group Union Bank and City Savings Bank.
Of the total earnings contributions from the different strategic business units, power took the major lead contributing P16.5 billion, 78 percent of the total earnings contributions from its operating businesses.
The banking and food units ranked second and third contributing 16 percent and six percent, respectively.
"The country proved resilient enough to face these challenges, resulting in modest economic growth of 3.7 percent. AEV, likewise turned in a steady performance, remaining on course in its strategic intents through the wind that powered us to extraordinary heights in 2010 had slowed down," Aboitiz said.
Aboitiz said that the company envisioned that its growth will come from new Greenfield and Brownfield projects that will be needed to supply its expanding economy of the Philippines.
In a related development, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) inaugurated its P147-million Regional Control Center in Cagayan de Oro City to serve as its new power control center for the Mindanao grid.
Constructed from Oct. 26, 2010 to April 19, 2012, the new facility incorporates state-of-the-art SCADA/EMS systems and telecommunications equipment and also serves as the office of the Mindanao System Operations, which was previously based in Iligan City. "The new regional control center serves as the nerve center for grid operations in Mindanao equipped with modern power monitoring and control systems," the NGCP said, adding that the facility was inaugurated last May 24.
Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) refers to a collection of computers, equipment and application software integrated into a system to acquire real-time data on power system parameters and to provide monitoring and control facility for remote devices such as breakers.
Energy Management System (EMS), on the other hand, is basically composed of a SCADA system with integrated advanced applications used in the management of the power grid. (With a report from Ellson A. Quismorio)
Two Airports
MANILA, Philippines - While government is waiting for a suitable time to transfer to Clark, a former Civil Aeronautics Board director has forwarded proposals to speed up the process and thereby find immediate solution to the airplane congestion currently experienced at the premier airport.
Renato V. Diaz, President and CEO of Investment and Capital Corporation, has an out-of-the-box solution: give full operational status to the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) to cater to Northern Luzon passengers, while turn the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) into a domestic airport.
Diaz made the proposal during a media forum, where he said a transfer could be immediately undertaken, while waiting for the construction of the high-speed rail connecting Clark and NAIA 3, which could take at least ten years.
The NAIA is now hobbled by congestions, registering 29.7 million passengers in 2011. It is estimated to hit 30 million this year, according to Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Jose Angel Honrado.
To draw international carriers to Clark, Diaz said the all international airlines should be told that the DMIA does not charge the 3 percent common carriers tax and the 2.5 percent gross income tax. Both taxes are levied at the NAIA, which is the why KLM and other European airlines severed their direct connections to Europe.
"Clark is a freeport zone, and KLM and other carriers who have left the country could be persuaded to resume their Manila-Europe connection if they are given incentives not to pay the total 5.2 percent taxes and other form of taxes," Diaz said.
He added that even the cost of gasoline and kerosene, the main fuel of jetplanes, are priced lower in Clark compared to the rest of the country.
The former Nueva Ecija congressman said that since vehicular traffic is the main stumbling block of travelers going to the NAIA, all passengers from Quezon City, Navotas, and nearby areas should be directed to proceed to Clark.
Passengers from the NAIA, on the other hand, could be transported by shuttle buses police escorts, going through Villamor Air Base, exit to C-5, and take Eastwood Ave., Libis, Kalayaan, on to the Quezon Memorial Circle down to the end of Mindanao Avenue. From there, the buses can take the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and be at the DMIA in about an hour.
He said the MIAA, with R8 billion at its disposal, can procure the motorcycles, provide gasoline, and allowances for the escort cops.
He said this is only temporary until the proposed link connecting the South Luzon Expressway by a 17-kilomer expressway to the NLEX is completed in about two years.
Passengers in Metro Manila and the southern regions would continue to fly out of the NAIA. Those from Mindanao and the Visayas bound for abroad could take the local domestic carriers, such as those flying out of General Santos, Davao, and Zamboanga to go direct to Clark.
Those coming from Legaspi and the Bicol region could be served by the Southern Luzon International Airport (SLIA) in Daraga, Albay, to fly to Clark for abroad.
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Friday, June 1, 2012
DID YOU KNOW THAT ? Marinduque of Philippine
Vice mayor, Red Cross official hurt in bombing
..ZAMBOANGA CITY (Updated) -- Two people, including a city vice mayor, were wounded in a roadside bombing in Basilan province Thursday, the police reported.
Basilan Police Director Alexander Linesis said the explosion took place around 12:20 p.m. along Isabela-Lamitan Highway in Barangay Sunrise in Isabela City.
Linesis identified the victims as Isabela City Vice Mayor Abdulbaki Ajibun and Philippine Red Cross (PRC)-Basilan head Jonathan Cabuyao.
Investigation showed that the two officials were aboard their respective vehicles traveling to opposite directions when a bomb exploded along the side of the road, Linesis said.
The motorcycle, where the bomb was planted, was destroyed while the vehicles of the two officials were slightly damaged.
Ajibun, who was on his way home after attending the City Council regular session, believed he was the target of the blast.
Isabela City Police Director Allan Nazarro has ordered a thorough investigation to determine the motive behind the bombing, as the blast site is just few meters away from the residence of Isabela City Mayor Cherrylyn Akbar and the City Hall.
Nazarro also ordered his personnel to trace who owned the motorcycle where the bomb was placed.
Security in Isabela City has been tightened as investigation over the incident continues.
Colonel Arthur Ang, commander of the Army’s 104th Infantry Brigade, has deployed personnel to support the police forces of Isabela City.
Ang said the explosive ordnance demolition personnel, who sifted the debris from the blast site, are conducting analysis to gather clues as to who could be responsible for the blast. (Sunnex)
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Carnapping in Davao ‘alarming’
..DAVAO CITY -- Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte directed police authorities to run after carnappers and other criminal groups operating in the city, as the carnapping incidents here have gone alarming.
Authorities reported that nine luxury vehicles were stolen since January. Of these, six are Toyota Hilux, two are Toyota Grandier and a Toyota Fortuner.
"Masyado nang marami yan. Umabot na sa siyam ka sasakyan ang ninakaw. Nine vehicles were already stolen. That is too much.) That is unacceptable to me. Hindi ko ata gusto ang performance nyo (I don’t like your performance). You have to do something about it," Duterte told heads of the city's law enforcement agencies in a command conference Wednesday evening.
The vice mayor called the conference at the Grand Men Seng Hotel and specifically directed Davao City Police Office (DCPO) and all 12 police station directors present to arrest suspected carnappers.
Also present during the conference were members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Highway Patrol Unit (HPU) and Task Force Davao (TFD).
Duterte told authorities that he wants these carnappers dead if they refused to be arrested.
He is also offering authorities a reward of P50,000 to the station that can arrest high-profiled suspects and P100,000 if they can annihilate those who resisted arrest.
Duterte urged the HPU and CIDG to beef up their intelligence and security measures to thwart carnapping and arrest suspects.
He also ordered the TFD to intensify its random checkpoints so that carnappers could not easily escape the city.
"It matters on the intelligence. You have to improve your function… These are syndicates operating in Davao Region. You look after them," he said.
Duterte said of the 6,000 estimated vehicles going inside and outside the city, five or 10 or even more are illegally sold and purchased.
"We have a hardened city. You, especially the highway patrol group, because this is your assignment, since kayo ang intelligence for traffic division, you do something. Magtulongan kayo lahat to arrest those criminals," Duterte said.
He also urged the authorities to leave the New People's Army (NPA) to him, as he would like all policemen to focus on criminalities especially in the opening of classes where robbery incidents are rampant.
"Not to the point that you will never monitor the communist group. But as I said, ako na ang bahala sa kanila (NPA). Anyway, hindi naman sila nanggugulo sa Davao. You leave the monitoring and pursuit operation against them to the soldiers since it is their job," he said.
Duterte also requested Senior Superintendent Ronald dela Rosa, DCPO chief, to deploy the 107 newly installed policemen in various police offices in the city.
In response to the order of the vice mayor, dela Rosa said they have already coordinated with the owners of the lost vehicles and that they requested them to surrender their car keys to the authorities.
Chief Inspector Edilberto Leonardo, CIDG-Davao deputy director, said that based on the record of the HPU, only three owners of the nine missing vehicles surrendered their keys.
"We are still conducting investigation on the matter. Meron kasing ibang sasakyan na inutang lang at dahil hindi nila mabayaran, possible na ipinatakas nila sa kakilala nila. Once carnapped kasi dapat yung susi ng sasakyan nasa may-ari," Leonardo said.
Major Clifton Tangonan, TFD's Civil Military Operations officer and spokesperson, said in behalf of their commander, Colonel Marcos Norman Flores, the TFD vowed to intensify its checkpoints and monitor those vehicles going inside and outside Davao. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
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PhilRice taps youth for 'infomediary' campaign
By Nikka Garriga
MARIA AURORA, AURORA PROVINCE—The Philippine Rice Institute (PhilRice) will be mobilizing the youth to help spread agriculture-related information to more farming lands.
About 34 students from two national high schools here will serve as infomediaries, or those who will aid farmers in gaining access to information.
They have been introduced to information and communications technology-based modes of information delivery such as the Pinoy Rice Knowledge Bank (PRKB) and the PhilRice Text Center.
Most information on rice farming in the Philippines—such as videos and powerpoint presentations on yield-enhancing and cost-reducing technologies in rice farming—can be downloaded online through the PRKB website.
The infomediary campaign aims to disseminate the wealth of information from the publications and websites of agricultural research institutions through the farmers' children schools.
“The schools will serve as nucleus for extension, which can provide a viable solution to the difficulty in reaching farmers in far flung areas,” campaign team lead Jaime Manalo said.
It will also tap social media to better establish communication with students once they return to the province from their training.
“The students can also use this to post photos of damaged and infected rice plants. The photos will then be forwarded to PhilRice crop experts for diagnosis,” Manalo added.
PhilRice and the province of Aurora have earlier forged a new partnership which seeks to increase farm productivity in the third largest land in Central Luzon.
This will also include recommended pest management practices and diversified organic-based farming.
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Aquino not keen on signing waiver
..MANILA -- There is no need for President Benigno Aquino III to sign a waiver to open his bank accounts for public scrutiny, said Malacanang on Thursday.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said that like any other government officials, the President's statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) already has a waiver that authorizes the Ombudsman to look into it.
Valte echoed the description of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile on the challenge and waiver of Chief Justice Renato Corona as mere "theatrics."
"The SALN of the President from 1998 onward have all been available publicly. No one reported that his disclosure was incomplete and deceitful. There is no need for court proceeding to disclose the President's SALN to public," she said.
She admitted Aquino's campaign promise of waiving bank secrecy rights when elected as President, but said it is a different situation as Corona.
"Let's go back to the context of this. The one accused posed this challenge …to every Tom, Dick, and Harry who would like to take him up on the challenge. Is it fair to put the President who has not been accused of graft, who has not been accused of dishonesty to put him in the same category as the man who was just removed from his post, from being the highest magistrate of the land?" she said.
She also confirmed that Aquino has no foreign currency deposits.
Calls for the President, his allies and his Cabinet to sign the waiver have been snowballing following the result of the impeachment trial of Corona.
Corona, during his trial, signed a waiver allowing banks to open his accounts. He was proven guilty by the impeachment court of betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution for not truthfully disclosing his assets in his SALN.
Senators Francis Escudero and Alan Peter Cayetano said it is high time that all government officials open their bank accounts for public scrutiny.
Escudero is pushing for a bill that would automatically allow the release of the SALNs of all 23 senators.
Asked if the President would support Escudero's bill, Valte said she still needs to get the view of Aquino about it.
On the part of Cabinet members and allies of Aquino, she said it would be their personal decision whether to sign a waiver or not.
Closed chapter
Malacanang, meanwhile, welcomed the decision of Corona to not anymore appeal the guilty verdict of the Senate impeachment court.
"That is properly the period that ends the chapter of the Corona impeachment," Valte said.
She noted, however, that there are still pending cases filed against Corona before the Office of the Ombudsman.
Corona's lawyers had mulled filing an appeal before the Supreme Court.
The deposed Chief Justice is still undergoing medical treatment at The Medical City in Pasig City.
Enrile earlier said the impeachment court ruling is immediately executory and could not be reversed.
Defending Carpio
Malacañang also defended the assumption of senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio of Corona's post in an acting capacity. Carpio is a known rival of Corona.
"That's by operation of law. The most senior justice becomes acting Chief Justice in cases where the Chief Justice is unavailable, is indisposed, is sick, removed or has resigned," said Valte.
"We don't see that it is out of the norm and, from what we understand, that has always been the procedure of the Supreme Court," she added.
Several lawmakers earlier warned Aquino against appointing Carpio as the next Chief Justice, saying it is not a good move since Carpio has been accused by Corona as one of those who planned his ouster.
But Valte believed it is an unfair perception that Carpio would not be impartial on the Aquino administration.
She also said it is automatic that the three most senior justices in the Supreme Court will be up for screening for the Chief Justice post.
Other two most senior Supreme Court magistrates are Diosdado Peralta and Arturo Brion, both appointees of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Valte said the President can nominate his choice since it is an open nomination process and anybody can make an opposition to the list of nominees also.
The Judicial and Bar Council is set to convene on Monday to receive applications, she added.
She confirmed that the President is also considering appointing an outsider for the post.
Senator Franklin Drilon, Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares and Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza are among those rumored the President is eyeing to replace Corona.
Drilon, however, immediately dismissed the rumor, saying he is not interested in the post and would rather complete his term as a senator.
SALNs of judges, justices released
MANILA, Philippines - A day after Renato Corona was ousted as chief justice for inaccuracies in his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth, the Supreme Court (SC) approved yesterday the release of the full SALNs of all justices and judges.
Speaking to reporters, acting SC spokesperson Ma. Victoria Gleoresty Guerra said the justices agreed in a special full-court session yesterday to set aside the May 2, 1989 resolution prohibiting public disclosure of SALNs of members of the judiciary.
“It was a collective decision of the justices,” she said. “The net effect is that the earlier resolution has just been set aside.”
However, Guerra said the justices still have to meet in special session on June 13 to come up with the guidelines on the issuance of their SALNs for 2011.
Guerra said it is best to wait for the release of the resolution and guidelines where the SC would explain the grounds for the ruling.
“Let’s not forget CJ Corona set a precedent in issuing the waiver (on bank deposits),” she said.
In the 1989 full-court resolution, the SC laid down guidelines on requests for copies of the SALNs of the chief justice and associate justices.
The ruling, reiterated in 1992, stated that it is unlawful for any person to obtain or use any statement filed under Republic Act 6713, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, for any purpose contrary to morals or public policy, or any commercial purpose other than by news and communications media for dissemination to the general public.
The SC expressed willingness to have the clerk of court furnish copies of the SALNs of justices to any person upon request, provided the request has a legitimate reason.
But even requests of journalists for copies of the SALNs of SC justices were denied.
“The independence of the judiciary is constitutionally as important as the right to information, which is subject to the limitations provided by law,” read the ruling.
“Under specific circumstances, the need for the fair and just adjudication of litigations may require a court to be wary of deceptive requests for information, which shall otherwise be freely available.”
In 1992, the SC denied the requests of a graft investigation officer of the Office of the Ombudsman and a military captain for certified true copies of the SALNs of two judges.
Carpio is acting chief justice
SC justices discussed yesterday in full-court session the Senate verdict removing chief justice Renato Corona and its accompanying consequences, particularly the administrative reorganization in the court.
Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio was designated acting chief justice in accordance with SC rules.
He will serve temporarily until President Aquino names a new chief justice within 90 days from the vacancy.
Carpio called the full-court session at 2 p.m.
Senate clerk of court Jessie Tamondong delivered the notice of the decision finding Corona guilty to the office of the SC clerk of court before 10 a.m.
The Senate ruled that the decision is immediately executory.
Twelve of the 14 remaining justices attended the special session. Associate Justices Lucas Bersamin and Diosdado Peralta were attending a prior commitment in Baguio City.
With Carpio’s designation, the justices in effect have accepted the Senate’s interpretation that the verdict on Corona is immediately executory, according to Guerra, who was designated acting chief of the SC public information office.
“We have an acting chief justice,” she said. “You can draw the necessary implication from that.”
Guerra said Carpio took over the top SC post “since he is the most senior of the justices.”
Carpio had extended the stay in office of their staff in the PIO as well as the staff of Corona for 30 days, she added.
Guerra takes the place of Midas Marquez, who was coterminous with Corona as SC spokesman and chief of the SC PIO.
The SC also approved several other administrative issuances, which were not immediately released to the media, Guerra said.
‘Judicial independence gone’
Judge Franklin Demonteverde of the Bacolod Regional Trial Court believes judicial independence has passed away with the conviction of Corona.
“The men and women in judicial robes are grieving as they cower in fear while the sword of Damocles hovers over their heads,” he said.
“These honorable men and women will be walking on dangerous grounds lest they step on the toes of the powers that be. While we abide by the decision of the impeachment court, we can only pray – God help the judiciary!”
Bacolod Councilor Caesar Distrito said the senators had voted on the basis of political survival, not on the basis of evidence.
“I admire Senators (Joker) Arroyo, (Miriam Defensor-) Santiago, and (Ferdinand) Marcos (Jr.) for standing with the rule of law,” he said.
“Although I disagree with the decision of the Senate convicting CJ Corona, as it was shown that evidence were taken illegally and still they considered it, we have no choice but to respect it. “But if Corona was made accountable for such failure to disclose all his assets, then I think the same standards should be applied to all, from the President down to the barangay officials.”
On the other hand, Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. believes Corona’s conviction has upheld the nation’s democracy.
“This should serve as a lesson to everybody, especially the public officials, that the government will catch the corrupt because even the chief justice is convicted,” he said.
“A strong message was handed out that the justice system is fair and high officials of government can be convicted,” Marañon said.
Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Benitez, one of 188 lawmakers who signed the impeachment complaint, said the conviction of Corona “just raised the bar of standards for public officials.”
Mayor David Albert Lacson of E.B. Magalona town, Association of Chief Executive (Mayors) of Negros Occidental president, said Corona was given his day in court.
“He went through due process,” he said. “(But) the hammer came down, a decision was made. We have to abide by the law.”
Negros Occidental Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer said the senator-judges made the right decision based on evidence presented.
Negros Occidental Rep. Mercedez Alvarez said the conviction of Corona proved that no one is above the law.
“Even the highest officials of the land should comply with our constitutional duties as public officers,” she said.
“After today, I hope we can all move on now as we have a lot of work to be done and a lot of bills to be passed in Congress.”
Lawyer Andy Hagad, convenor of Negrenses for Corona’s Removal, said the conviction of Corona has given teeth to the SALN as a means to check the corrupt in government.
“It is no longer just a piece of paper that they play around with and pay little attention to,” he said. “The SALN has become our sword against the corrupt. Mabuhay ang Pilipino.”
Former Bacolod vice mayor Renecito Novero, a lawyer, said he sympathized with Corona on his sad fate, but that it should be as it is. “Interpreting the law according to his (Corona) fashion will indiscriminately provide sanctuary to crooks and thieves in government,” he said. “The Senate’s overwhelming decision is a clarion triumph of truth and rectitude. Daang matuwid. The Filipino people are ultimately the victor.”
Bacolod Councilor Em Ang said: “We might disagree with the position of some senator-judges but the legal process must be respected. I just hope that lessons have been learned from this political-legal exercise. “Now this case is behind us, our senators must quickly go back to serious work, as there are a lot of significant bills that have been languishing in the Senate because of the impeachment trial.”
Alex Ozoa of the Negrense 4 Noy Movement congratulated the senator-judges and the 188 lawmakers, as well as Rep. Rudy Fariñas, one of the prosecutors who delivered a closing argument.
“A big nail was removed from the matuwid na daan of President P-Noy,” he said. –WithDanny Dangcalan - By Edu Punay
EDUCATION SUMMIT
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte (PIA) - The Department of Education (DepEd)-Maasin City Division will hold its annual Education Summit on June 1, tapping internal and external stakeholders in the city and province. Said summit set at Panan-awan Barangay Gymnasium, this city, bears the theme, "Strengthening Basic Quality Education via K to 12," and is aimed at discussing the K to 12 education program with local stakeholders considered as "our partners in its implementation this school year," said DepEd-Maasin City Division Officer-in-charge he implementation of the same starting this school year 2012-2013," Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Genis S. Murallos.
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CONVICTION LAUDED
ILOILO CITY, Iloilo (PNA) - The Save the Iloilo River Environmental Network, a composite of various progressive groups in Iloilo, lauded the decision of senator-judges ousting former Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona from his position in a 20-3 vote on Tuesday. Network convenor Jerry Porquia said the Senate has proven that indeed Corona has lied aside from his questionable Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth (SALN). He also stressed that Corona is a staunch follower of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. "He is a symbol of injustice during the time of Arroyo," said Porquia, hoping that Corona's ouster from the Supreme Court "would be the start of ridding government of corrupt officials."
MOVE ON
KALIBO, Aklan (PNA) - Aklan Gov. Carlito Marquez last Wednesday said that with the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona over, it is now time to all government workers to return to work, and move on to continue with the work of rendering public service to the people. "Things should now return to normal and government workers should focus on working for the public good," Marquez said, even as he stressed that the result of the trial showed that "there is really a need for government officials and employees to practice transparency and help curb graft and corruption in the country."
L.G.U. Pledge
MANDAUE CITY, Cebu (PIA) - Cebu local government unit (LGU) officials pledged to help ensure safety and readiness of their respective areas in natural calamities through the implementation of disaster preparedness and climate change adaptation programs. The commitment was expressed during the recent "Tapatan Roadshow on Disaster Preparedness and Climate Change Adaptation: A Call to Action" organized by the Department of the Interior and Local Government at the Cebu International Convention Center in Mandaue City. Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes urged unity in coping with the threat of disaster and climate change
PRO-7 Ready For Balik Eskwela
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CEBU CITY, Cebu - The Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 has already mapped out security plans for the arrival of thousands of students from the provinces and to secure schools around the region when classes open this Monday, June 4.
Senior Supt. Orlando Ualat, chief of the PRO 7 Regional Directorial Staff, said orders have been issued for Balik Eskwela 2012 as early as the first week of May. The order calls for all police units to implement their plans for the opening of classes in their areas of responsibility as needed.
PRO 7 will be on heightened alert next week with around 8,000 policemen deployed throughout the region. Under the alert status, all leave privileges of policemen are temporarily canceled to provide maximum police presence.
Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) deputy for operations Supt. Arnel Banzon, said the CCPO is currently focused on deploying police elements in areas where many schools are located. He also said the office is assuring optimum police visibility at the Cebu port area and at the South Bus Terminal in anticipation of the influx of students coming in from outside Cebu.
Traffic is also a top priority of the CCPO. Banzon said the office has divided the city into three sectors namely north, south, and central sectors for easy traffic management. The police will also be coordinating with the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management.
Meanwhile, Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) deputy for operations James Goforth said there will be a total of 46 Police Assistance Centers scattered in strategic areas in the city on the opening of classes.
He said the MCPO needs to monitor 50 public schools and 71 private schools, along with an estimated 55,000 students all under the office's scope. The MCPO will also be assigning police operatives near malls and recreational areas including Internet cafés and billiard halls where students tend to gather.
Goforth said efficient coordination with school authorities and other concerned agencies like the Department of Education and the Bureau of Fire Protection is also necessary to ensure peace and order for the students.
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