China warned: Don’t try to tow away BRP Sierra Madre

 News
Apr 032014
 
China warned: Don’t try to tow away BRP Sierra Madre

China was warned Thursday against trying to tow away the BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal, as this could be considered an attack against the Philippines and prompt the United States to defend the country in keeping with their Mutual Defense Treaty. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—China was warned Thursday against trying to tow away the BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal, as this could be considered an attack against the Philippines and prompt the United States to defend the country in keeping with their Mutual Defense Treaty. And should this happen, international law expert and University of the Philippines law professor Harry Roque said, the result could be a war in Asia. “The result: the West Philippine Sea [dispute], unless China backs off, may trigger the biggest armed conflict in the region since the Vietnam and Indochina conflict,” Roque said in a statement. Roque noted that the Sierra Madre has always been described as a “derelict,” but the government recently described it as a “commissioned naval vessel.” A statement released by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on March 14 said, “The BRP Sierra Madre, a commissioned Philippine naval vessel, was placed in Ayungin Shoal in 1999 to serve as a permanent Philippine government installation in response to China’s illegal occupation of Mischief Reef (Panganiban Reef) in 1995.” The Philippines says Ayungin Shoal is part of its continental shelf, over which it has “sovereign rights and jurisdiction” and by pointing that the Sierra Madre is a commissioned ship, the Read More …

Singapore president flying to Samar

 News
Apr 032014
 
Singapore president flying to Samar

Singapore’s President Tony Tan Keng Yam AFP FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—Visiting Singaporean President Tony Tan Keng Yam is flying to storm-hit Basey town in Western Samar on Saturday to deliver medical supplies to the Basey District Hospital. Singapore was one of the first countries to send aid, personnel and ships in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) that ravaged Eastern Visayas in November last year, leaving more than 6,000 dead. President Aquino said on Thursday that the Singaporean president’s delivery of supplies to the Basey hospital jibed with the Philippine government’s policy of “building back better.” “Our government’s plan is to build back better, stronger and more resilient communities, and the speedy rehabilitation of health service facilities in affected areas is key to these efforts,” Aquino said after receiving in Malacañang on Thursday Tan, who is on a four-day state visit. Rehabilitation project The Basey hospital is a joint rehabilitation project of Singapore Red Cross and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Before flying to Samar, Tan said he would hand out a check representing Singaporeans’ contributions to partners and nongovernment organizations this Friday at The Peninsula Manila “to alleviate the difficult situation” caused by Yolanda. “We are heartened that the spirit and resilience of the Philippine people remain strong in such devastation. We have been working with the Philippine government and stakeholders in the rehabilitation efforts,” he said at the reception hall. Quick response Aquino expressed appreciation for Singapore’s quick response, including its deployment of Read More …

SF Bay Area lawmaker’s request for hearing on Medicare fraud by hospital chain granted

 News
Apr 032014
 
SF Bay Area lawmaker’s request for hearing on Medicare fraud by hospital chain granted

INQUIRER.net US Bureau 4:26 am | Friday, April 4th, 2014 • Republican chair of oversight agrees to hearing request by Democratic colleague • Florida-based hospital chain under fire for alleged fraud • $600 million taxpayers’ money allegedly stolen in scheme Rep. Jackie Speier. FEMINIST.ORG PHOTO WASHINGTON, DC — The Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Darrell Issa agreed to hold a hearing into alleged Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE fraud by a for-profit hospital chain. Congresswomen Jackie Speier (D-San Francisco/San Mateo/Redwood City) requested the hearing after claims emerged of potential Medicare and Medicaid fraud conducted by Health Management Associates (HMA), a for-profit hospital chain based in Naples, Florida, that is being sued by the U.S. Department of Justice. “I appreciate Chairman Issa agreeing to hold a hearing on this important bipartisan issue,” Speier stated in a letter to Issa. “These federal programs are obviously vulnerable to fraud, which puts the health care needs of our seniors, our poor, our service members, and our veterans at risk.” Speier added that “taxpayers have allegedly been ripped off by $600 million in this scheme and a full investigation by the Oversight committee should go toward protecting these valuable programs and the millions of Americans they serve.” Since 2009, the DOJ has recovered more than $19 billion through False Claims Act cases, with more than $13.4 billion recovered from cases involving federal health care programs. RELATED STORIES Speier and USCIS Reach Out to Citizenship Applicants US solon vows help for RP over Read More …

China: PH tarnishing Beijing’s international image

 News
Apr 032014
 
China: PH tarnishing Beijing’s international image

A Philippine Marine gestures at a Chinese Coast Guard vessel which tries to block a Philippine Government vessel AM700 from approaching the Second Thomas Shoal (local name Ayungin Shoal) to resupply and replace fellow marines who were deployed for almost five months Saturday, March 29, 2014 off South China Sea on the West Philippine Sea. AP FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—China on Thursday accused the Philippines of “abuse of process” in seeking United Nations arbitration to settle disputes in the South China Sea, calling Manila’s move a “smear campaign” to tarnish Beijing’s image in the international community. China blamed the Philippines for the maritime dispute, insisting yet again that it has sovereignty over the territories and reiterating it has a “solid historic[al] and legal basis” for its claim, playing down the relative proximity of some of the islands to the Philippines’ western coast. “The Philippines’ arbitration proceeding completely confuses right and wrong, distorts the fact and diverts attentions. The aim of its move is to cover up the illegal nature of [the] Philippines’ infringement and provocative behavior by the abuse of process against China, and to defraud the international community of its sympathy and support,” Chinese Embassy spokesperson Zhang Hua said in a 12-page statement. No comment from DFA The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) declined to comment on China’s diatribe. On Wednesday, DFA spokesman Charles Jose said President Aquino had already spoken on the matter and that it had nothing to add to the Chief Executive’s statement. Speaking at the Read More …

Many Pinoys suffering from neuropathy

 News
Apr 022014
 
Many Pinoys suffering from neuropathy

Photo shows Merck Inc. Philippines executives Louie Roxas, GM for consumer health; Debbie Go, head of commercial marketing; Loy Dy-Buncio, brand manager of Neurobion; Art Dapasen, sales manager; and Dr. Gio Barangan, medical director. Right: Neurobion products. MANILA, Philippines – Despite its debilitating effects on a person’s life, neuropathy remains an unrecognized and underestimated condition hounding many Filipinos now, according to experts. Dr. Gio Barangan, medical director of the Merck Inc. Philippines, said many Filipinos continue to suffer from neuropathy although this could be prevented primarily by taking vitamins B1, B6 and B12 and by observing a healthy lifestyle. “Neuropathy is the disease of the nerves which are like the electrical power lines that bring electricity to the different parts of our body. The main reason for developing neuropathy is vitamin B deficiency,” he said in a press briefing last Monday. The other causes are diabetes, malnutrition, and renal diseases that stemmed from high intake of alcohol. Barangan cautioned that vegetarians are prone to developing neuropathy because they do not eat meat that is rich in vitamin B12. “Basically, vitamin B complex — composed of vitamins B1, B6 and B12 — are water soluble vitamins. We have to replenish them every day and we can do that by eating foods that are rich in these vitamins… and by taking vitamin B,” he added. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 To raise awareness about neuropathy, Merck organized a dance concert last Monday at the TriNoma Atrium in Quezon Read More …

Draft Bangsamoro law to be submitted by April or May –Jaafar

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Mar 312014
 
Draft Bangsamoro law to be submitted by April or May –Jaafar

The Bangsamoro Transition Commission has missed its self-imposed deadline to submit the draft law that will embody the recently signed peace deal between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Instead of March 31, the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law will be submitted to President Benigno Aquino III by April or May, MILF vice chairman Ghazali Jaafar told GMA News on Monday. “Yung ibinigay na deadline, hindi kaya. Pero palagay ko kaya nila next month April, within April at palagay ko by May andyan na yan sa Palasyo, kay Pangulong Aquino,” Jaafar said. He said it will depend on Aquino when he will forward the draft law to Congress for approval. The President, who witnessed the historic signing of the peace deal Thursday last week, is expected to certify the measure as urgent. Once enacted, the Basic Law will be subjected to a plebiscite in the proposed Bangsamoro territory. Once it is ratified, an enhanced Bangsamoro autonomous region will be established, replacing the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Jaafar said the Bangsamoro Transition Commission is working hard to finish the draft. The commission has 15 members, eight from MILF and seven from the government. “Tuloy tuloy, continuous. As a matter of fact, nago-overtime sila,” he said. Mohagher Iqbal, MILF chief peace negotiator and head of the Transition Commission, said they are in the process of polishing the first draft that still “needs to undergo several processes especially in relation to hard issues.” “The Transition Commission is made up Read More …

Singapore president to hand over Yolanda aid during PHL visit

 News
Mar 312014
 
Singapore president to hand over Yolanda aid during PHL visit

Singapore President Tony Tan Keng Yam will make his first state visit to the Philippines this week to hand over aid to survivors of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Tan will be in the Philippines from April 2 to 5 to meet with President Benigno Aquino III on defense, trade and investment, and the Filipino community in Singapore. Tan will also fly to Basey town in Western Samar, one of the areas affected by Yolanda, to give medical supplies to a local hospital, the DFA said. In Manila, the Singaporean leader will also hand over donations, contributed by the people of Singapore, to the partners of the Singapore Red Cross involved in the post-Yolanda rehabilitation projects. In November last year, Yolanda ripped through central Philippines, leaving over 6,200 dead based on official government records. Tan, Singapore’s ceremonial head, will be accompanied by several ministers and members of the Singaporean parliament during his visit, according to the DFA. Over 180,000 Filipinos are working in Singapore as of December 2012, based on Philippine government records. In 2011, Aquino went on a state visit to Singapore, where he discussed the Philippines’ territorial dispute with China, tourism and trade with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. —Andreo Calonzo/KBK, GMA News

What’s inside BRP Sierra Madre?

 News
Mar 312014
 
What’s inside BRP Sierra Madre?

By Frances MangosingINQUIRER.net 6:59 pm | Monday, March 31st, 2014 Decay and rust lives inside the belly of the BRP Sierra Madre. INQUIRER PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE MANILA, Philippines—The BRP Sierra Madre, a rusty ship aground in one of the possible flash points in the disputed West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), stands alone but without fear in the high seas to maintain Filipino presence. The ship was previously used by the United States during the World War II in the waters of Vietnam. The US handed it over to Vietnam in 1970 and after a few years it was passed on to the Philippines. In 1999, it was purposely run aground in Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) to keep its Filipino presence there. Ayungin is located 105 nautical miles off Rizal, Palawan. Though it is located within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, the resource-rich area is also claimed by the Chinese. The Philippines’ claims are based on the United Nations on the Convention of the Law of the Sea, while China’s claims are based on their old maps made several decades ago. China claims most of the West Philippine Sea as its own. Troops in the ship go on rotation for several months. On March 9, China blocked the Philippines’ attempt to reprovision and rotate its soldiers. Because it was unsuccessful, they made an airdrop instead. Last Saturday, the next attempt after the March 9 incident, the Philippines was able to evade the Chinese blockade. Marines who were Read More …

RAFT: REVIVING THE PASIG RIVER

 News
Mar 302014
 
RAFT: REVIVING THE PASIG RIVER

By Nikki Boncan-Buensalido AS I was driving through Edsa the other day, I was reminded of an idea that my design team came up with a couple of years ago.  It was an idea spurred by the kind of optimism that can help our development as a nation one step at a time. The idea had something to do with the Pasig River and its gentrification, and I share this in the hopes that this can become a spark, a catalyst for change, if you may. Our source of inspiration is the Pasig River and how we can bring it back to life and how we can utilize it to help improve our nation through the process of urban regeneration. This call hopes to instill a community revival that can engage Filipinos to go a step further toward nation-building. Concerned citizens have been calling on government for generations to rehabilitate this tragic body of water that was once became the inspiration for art and music, and served as the backdrop for romantic interludes. Corporate sponsors and non-governmental organizations have created and continue to create programs to help revive the river, but only a few concrete and tangible actions have been actually done. Will the time ever arrive when people can return to the banks of the Pasig River? I’m still hopeful that I get to see this come into fruition in my generation. In many countries, the river plays a major role in capturing the identity and culture of a Read More …

AFP: Civilian ship sent to avoid standoff at Ayungin

 News
Mar 302014
 
AFP: Civilian ship sent to avoid standoff at Ayungin

A dilapidated Philippine Navy ship LT 57 (Sierra Madre) with Philippine troops deployed on board is anchored off Second Thomas Shoal (local name: Ayungin Shoal) Saturday, March 29, 2014 off West Philippine Sea. An hour from the shoal, the Chinese coast guard ship closed in on the Philippines supply vessel and twice crossed its bow. AP PHOTO/BULLIT MARQUEZ MANILA, Philippines—The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Sunday said it sent a government civilian ship to Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) over the weekend to avoid confrontation with Chinese naval forces patrolling disputed waters in the West Philippine Sea. Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala, AFP public affairs office chief, maintained that the mission of the civilian vessel, which figured in a two-hour standoff with two Chinese Coast Guard ships on Saturday, was to resupply Marines manning the grounded Philippine Navy ship on Ayungin Shoal and replace them with a new team of soldiers. “The objective was just to resupply our troops. The mission is done,” Zagala told the Inquirer in a phone interview. “We sent a civilian vessel to avoid a confrontation [with the Chinese forces]. We simply want to reprovision and rotate our troops there,” he said. “We used a civilian vessel to show them our intent, which was to reprovision and rotate our personnel, and nothing more,” Zagala said, adding that it was a regular mission. Other countries with territorial claims in the South China Sea also resupply their troops, he said. Until March 9, when the Chinese Coast Guard Read More …

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