besguerra

Japan ‘comfort women’ mayor survives censure

 News
May 302013
 
Japan ‘comfort women’ mayor survives censure

Philippine Daily Inquirer 6:29 am | Friday, May 31st, 2013 Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto attends the city’s assembly in Osaka Thursday, May 30, 2013. The mayor of Japan’s second-largest city survived a censure motion at the assembly Thursday despite his inflammatory comments over Japan’s wartime sex slavery, remarks that sparked an international uproar. AP PHOTO/KYODO NEWS TOKYO—A Japanese mayor who caused a storm with his comments on wartime “comfort women” survived a censure motion filed by local politicians on Thursday. Council members in the western city of Osaka rejected the motion against mayor Toru Hashimoto, who is also joint leader of the national Japan Restoration Party, city officials said. Hashimoto prompted outrage at home and abroad by suggesting that battle-stressed soldiers during World War II needed the services of up to 200,000 sex slaves from Korea, China, the Philippines and elsewhere who were forcibly drafted into Japanese brothels. The non-binding motion had earlier been expected to be approved. But the New Komeito Party, which holds the balance of power on the council, reversed its earlier stance and voted against it. Ichiro Matsui, Osaka prefectural governor and a close aide to Hashimoto, earlier hinted that if the motion was passed, Hashimoto would resign to force a mayoral election in which he would seek reelection. On Tuesday Hashimoto canceled a trip to the United States after the US denounced his remarks as “outrageous and offensive.” Seeking to contain the fallout from his comments, the former TV pundit said Monday that Tokyo should Read More …

Gov’t to open new fishing areas

 News
May 282013
 

Philippine Daily Inquirer 3:37 am | Wednesday, May 29th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines—The Aquino administration will soon identify “alternative fishing grounds” for Filipino fishermen so as not to exacerbate tensions in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). At the same time, the government will endeavor to beef up its maritime assets to establish “a minimum credible defense,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte told a Palace briefing on Tuesday. Valte explained that the government would continue to pursue its “nonengagement policy” on the issue of the disputed waters of the West Philippine Sea, in answer to a question about the presence of a fleet of Chinese fishing boats, accompanied by patrol vessels, at Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Reef). On May 10, the Philippines protested the presence of the Chinese boats since Ayungin lies 196 kilometers from Palawan province, and thus well within the Philippines’ 370-km exclusive economic zone. According to Valte, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has designated a particular area to be opened as an alternative fishing ground for Filipino fishermen.—Michael Lim Ubac

Fil-Am nonprofit in LA raises $130K in one night

 News
May 282013
 

By Mico Letargo AJPress/INQUIRER.net News Partner 3:00 am | Wednesday, May 29th, 2013 LOS ANGELES–After suffering financial strife due to the recession, the longtime community service nonprofit Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA) raised an estimated $130,000 from supporters at its 41st anniversary gala on May 18. The funds were raised from sponsorships, dinner ticket sales, silent auction and other contributions during the celebration themed “Panibagong Simula!” (A New Beginning!) The money will help SIPA serve Filipino-Americans and others through health and human services, economic development programs and by providing a venue for people “to come together and strengthen the community,” explained the organization’s leaders. “Specifically, the expenses that are supported by [the] dinner revenue are the more general operating and administrative expenses of the organization–the operations of the building, facility costs, insurance and related costs,” Executive Director Joel Jacinto told Asian Journal via email. Silent auction a hit   SIPA’s much-anticipated annual silent auction featured premium merchandise and goods at the auction for almost half of their actual cost. Among the goodies were premium DVD and BluRay movie bags, collectors’ edition merchandise, Hollywood premiere night tickets, apparel and other memorabilia. According to Jacinto, approximately $5,000 was raised from the silent auction. The actual value of the items sold was around $10,000. Jacinto explained that SIPA usually puts the starting bid at about half of the actual value. Among the notable items sold was a Manny Pacquiao apparel package, valued at $525. It was sold for a winning bid of Read More …

New travel deal hopes to attract “voluntourists”

 News
May 282013
 

By Alex Drechsler INQUIRER.net U.S. Bureau 2:38 am | Wednesday, May 29th, 2013 SAN FRANCISCO—The Philippines’ Department of Tourism and ABS-CBN Foundation International recently signed a memorandum of agreement to launch Voluntrip, a program that combines philanthropy with tourism. The program will take visitors to community-developed ecotourism sites aided by ABS-CBN Foundation Greenfund Philippines in pristine locales in Palawan, rainforests in Sibuyan, Romblon, and cultural havens in Bicol. “Tourism, as you know, is an important industry and a catalyst for growth and development, said Rene de los Santos, tourism attaché at the Philippine Consulate, where the MOU was announced. “It generates income to community in terms of employment for the local folks, aside from generating income and employment for the hotels, resorts, tour guides, taxi drivers and so forth.” De los Santos signed the MOU with Jo Ann Kyle, ABS-CBN Foundation International managing director. “We believe that philanthropy,” explained Kyle, “We encourage everyone to experience it firsthand because you cannot visit with these local communities that have paradise for a home and walk away unmoved.” Greenfund aims to help eradicate poverty in the Philippines while preserving native environments and cultures through community-based ecotourism livelihood projects. Visitors can help realize this “green dream” by committing to at least five days in ecotourism sites where they go on spelunking and zip lining adventures on an 18-million-year old rock. Also featured are cruises down mangroves towards a firefly watching spectacle, hikes down mountain trails towards pristine beaches and under water visits to coral Read More …

Seamen may file complaints at sea

 News
May 242013
 
Seamen may file complaints at sea

By Tina G. SantosPhilippine Daily Inquirer 6:46 am | Saturday, May 25th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines—Filipino seafarers may file work-related complaints even while aboard ocean-going vessels, according to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). POEA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz had issued Department Order No. 127 directing the opening of communication lines between Filipino sailors and the POEA to strengthen the modes of conciliation and mediation of labor disputes in the maritime industry. “The department order effectively aligns with Regulation 5.1.5 of the Maritime Labor Convention 2006 of the International Labor Organization which requires the mandatory implementation of onboard complaints procedure for the fair, effective and expeditious handling of seafarer complaints alleging breaches of the requirements of the said convention, including labor and employment rights of seafarers,” Cacdac said. Aggrieved seafarers usually filed complaints only upon their return to the country, the POEA said. But Cacdac said a seafarer could now communicate to the POEA an onboard complaint either through postal mail addressed to the POEA administrator, Blas F. Ople Building corner Edsa and Ortigas Ave., Mandaluyong City, Philippines 1501; through e-mail addressed to onboardconci@poea.gov.ph, or by calling the office at tel. nos. 8336992, 5516641 and 5511560. Cacdac said the POEA would provide the seafarer with impartial advice on the complaint and assist him in going through the complaint procedures. He gave assurance that all information gathered during consultation would be kept in strict confidence and evaluated in accordance with existing rules and regulations governing the employment Read More …

Rescue of Russian mountaineer from Mt. Mayon proved costly

 News
May 242013
 
Rescue of Russian mountaineer from Mt. Mayon proved costly

By Mar ArguellesInquirer Southern Luzon 6:45 am | Saturday, May 25th, 2013 LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines—Russian tourist Mark Yuchyugyaev’s fascination with the majestic beauty of the Mayon Volcano proved to be costly, in more ways than one. To rescue the Russian tourist who went on an unauthorized Mayon Volcano climb and was injured in the process, the government had to shell out at least half a million pesos. Raffy Alejandro, regional direct of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Bicol, said the government spent at least P520,000 during the two days of search and rescue (SAR) operation to extract Yuchyugyaev from a gully near the mouth of the volcano’s crater. Alejandro broke down the expenses as follows: P450,000 for the fuel used by the two Philippine Air Force helicopters during the two-day operation, or a flying time of about three hours for each helicopter at a fuel cost of P75,000/hour, and food and supplies amounting to P70,000 for the four teams of 35 personnel dispatched during the search. Alejandro said the bill for the entire exercise was charged to the Disaster Emergency Response fund of the PAF and the provincial government of Albay. Yuchyugyaev, who is now hospitalized at the Bicol Regional Teaching and Training Hospital (BRTTH) for a broken ankle, told officials here that despite his accident, he would still want to scale the 2,600-meter-high Mayon Volcano in the future. He said he was mesmerized when he saw the majestic Mayon Volcano in a tourist brochure, which made him Read More …

PCG report on grounded US ship due

 News
May 242013
 
PCG report on grounded US ship due

Philippine Daily Inquirer 6:39 am | Saturday, May 25th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is expected to release next week its report on the grounding of the US Navy minesweeper, the Guardian, at the Tubbataha Reef last Jan. 17. According to PCG spokesperson Commander Armand Balilo, the report is about 90-percent complete. It will be submitted next week to Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya who will then forward it to President Aquino. According to Balilo, the report will include what actually happened or what caused the incident, as well as measures and recommendations to prevent its recurring. The 68-meter long Guardian ran aground at the Tubbataha Reef and damaged more than 1,500 square meters of the reef, which the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) has declared a World Heritage Site. The Guardian was cut into pieces and removed from the reef last March 30. The US government has committed to rehabilitate the portion of the reef that was damaged by the Guardian but its discussions with the Department of Foreign Affairs on the matter have been kept confidential. Tina G. Santos Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in the Philippines. Tags: Commander Armand Balilo , Philippine Coast Guard , President Aquino , Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya , Tubbataha Read More …

Saudi, PH ink pact on workers

 News
May 212013
 
Saudi, PH ink pact on workers

Philippine Daily Inquirer 5:10 am | Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013 Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz (left) and Saudi Arabian Labor Minister Adel Bin Mohammed Fakeih INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/PHOTO OF MINISTER FAKEIH FROM GCF.ORG.SA MANILA, Philippines—Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz and Saudi Arabian Labor Minister Adel Bin Mohammed Fakeih signed in Jeddah on Sunday an agreement on the recruitment of Filipino domestic workers and the duties and responsibilities of their Saudi employers. The agreement, described by Baldoz and Fakeih in a joint statement as “historic,” came after last year’s pact on the standard employment contract (SEC) to be observed by employers and Filipino household service workers (HSWs) in the Middle East kingdom. The agreement lays down areas of cooperation between the two countries, including the following: a mutually acceptable recruitment and deployment system; recruitment of workers through offices that practice ethical recruitment and are licensed by their respective governments; prohibition to deduct from the salary of the worker any cost attendant to recruitment and deployment; Right of recourse to competent authorities in case of contractual disputes; legal measures against recruitment offices, companies and agencies for any violation of applicable laws, rules and regulations; and resolution of any issue arising from the implementation and enforcement of the agreement.—Jerome Aning

Civil groups taking poll plaints to UN

 News
May 212013
 
Civil groups taking poll plaints to UN

By Jocelyn R. Uy Philippine Daily Inquirer 4:14 am | Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013 MANILA, Philippines—Civil society groups Solidarity Philippines and Kontra Daya on Tuesday said they were bringing to the attention of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) the inadequacies and lapses committed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) during the May 13 balloting. Over Church-run Radio Veritas, the groups’ convenor Fr. Joe Dizon said they were resorting to the move because the Comelec had not been transparent in its conduct of the recently concluded elections, the second time automated elections were held using the controversial precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines. During the interview, Dizon said the complaint would include the premature proclamation of the winning senators as well as the glitches that popped up in the voting machines and the compact flash (CF) cards. “First and foremost, the Comelec erred in entering into a deal with Smartmatic and purchasing the PCOS machines because (Smartmatic) was not the owner of the source code,” Dizon said. The source code is the computer program that runs the PCOS machines. The PCOS technology, including the source code, is owned by Dominion Voting Systems Inc., which had severed its ties with Smartmatic following a legal dispute in the United States. Dizon also stressed that the recent elections should merit the attention of the UN body because the Comelec decided to proclaim the winners of the senatorial race even if only 20 percent of the total votes Read More …

Q1 foreign tourist arrivals up

 News
May 052013
 
Q1 foreign tourist arrivals up

By Jocelyn R. Uy Philippine Daily Inquirer 4:10 am | Monday, May 6th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines—There were 1.27 million foreign tourists who visited the country during the first quarter of the year, setting the pace for the government to reach the 5.5 million mark for 2013, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT). The first-quarter visitor arrivals marked a 10.76-percent growth from the 1.15 million visitors recorded during the same period last year. “This marks the second time that foreign tourist arrivals breached the one-million mark in the first quarter,” the DOT said on Sunday. Records showed that Korea remained the leading visitor market, capturing 25.83 percent of the total inbound traffic, followed by the United States, with 186,064, or 14.63 percent, of the overall visitor volume. At least 114,269 visitors from Japan have been recorded from January to March, accounting for 8.99 percent of the total market share, while arrivals from China have reached 98,242. Rounding up the top five visitor markets for the first quarter is Taiwan, with 53,867 tourists. The country also enjoyed significant number of visitors from the following countries: Australia, 53,679; Singapore, 41,524; Canada, 38,486; Hong Kong, 36,005; United Kingdom, 32,475; Malaysia, 27,212; and Germany, 22,491. “Month after month, we bear witness to a steady upward performance and new record highs. This only means that the efforts of the department and its partners are bearing fruit,” said Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. “To achieve our 2013 target of 5.5 million and 2016 target of 10 Read More …

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