DFA disputes Trillanes over PH plan for larger US presence

 News
Aug 132013
 
DFA disputes Trillanes over PH plan for larger US presence

By Matikas SantosINQUIRER.net 5:09 pm | Tuesday, August 13th, 2013 Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez and Senator Antonio Trillanes INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) disputed the allegations of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV that the negotiations between the United States and the Philippines for increased rotational presence of their troops was being unjustly hyped. “Defending what is ours, securing our nation, and keeping our people safe is a combined effort of diplomacy and defense, the partnership of the DFA and Department of National Defense (DND) is of paramount importance,” DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez told reporters Tuesday. “We need to be transparent to the public; we need to let our people know how we intend to protect and safeguard their interest and welfare at all times,” he said. Trillanes said Monday that the negotiations between US and the Philippines should be a national security matter only and the DFA should not have a role. “I believe that is an operational matter that does not need the consent of the Senate so they should have studied it first before they give it hype,” Trillanes said. “That should be a defense matter, it’s not a foreign relations matter. It is a national security concern, only [DND] secretary Voltaire Gazmin should be speaking about that matter,” he said. The ongoing territorial dispute over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) between the Philippines and China should not be connected to the policy of the US to Read More …

US looking forward to successful base access talks with PH

 News
Aug 132013
 
US looking forward to successful base access talks with PH

By Tarra QuismundoPhilippine Daily Inquirer 5:05 pm | Tuesday, August 13th, 2013 The USS Frank Cable, a submarine tender, docked in the Alava Pier of the Subic Bay Freeport . Photo by Robert Gonzaga MANILA, Philippines — The United States is confident about the positive conclusion of its base access talks with the Philippines, reiterating its support for the country’s defense buildup and preparedness for disaster response. In a statement on Tuesday, US Embassy officials expressed hopes that negotiations, set to begin on Tuesday, in Manila, would reinforce the long-standing partnership between the two allies as both keenly pursued a common bid for a more stable Asia-Pacific region. “We support the Philippine Government in its desire to build a credible defense and respond rapidly during times of humanitarian crisis and natural disasters,” said US Embassy officials in a statement sent to the Philippine Daily Inquirer. “We are optimistic that the first round of negotiations will result in positive outcomes that will further strengthen our 62-year alliance,” officials said. Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin on Monday announced the formal start of negotiations between the Philippines and the US on the latter’s expanded access to Philippine military bases, a move that has invited criticism from those long opposed to US military presence here. Del Rosario earlier said the talks would include discussions on “modalities and parameters” within which US troops would be allowed greater rotational presence in the Philippines under existing bilateral agreements and in compliance Read More …

Hong Kong warns travel to Philippines

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Aug 122013
 
Hong Kong warns travel to Philippines

By Matikas SantosINQUIRER.net 2:43 pm | Monday, August 12th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines – Hong Kong has updated its travel advisory against the Philippines, citing the car bomb explosion in Cotabato last week and the United States’ warning of possible kidnapping threats in Mindanao. “Serious hostage-taking incident happened in Manila on 23 August 2010. Residents should avoid all travel to the country. Those who are already there should attend to personal safety and exercise caution,” the advisory said. The Outbound Travel Alert, issued by the Security Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), was revised on their website August 9, 2013. Last August 23, 2010, some 20 Hong Kong tourists on a bus were held hostage at gun point by Rolando Mendoza, a relieved police officer who wanted to get his job back. Mendoza and the eight hostages were killed when negotiations broke down and a gun fight ensued between him and authorities. “On early August 2013, a car bomb explosion occurred in southern city of Cotabato, resulting in serious casualties,” it said. Around nine people were killed in the incident, two of whom were siblings aged five and seven. “On 29 May 2013, the US Embassy in Manila issued a message to US citizens in the Philippines warning against a credible kidnap threat against foreigners in the Zamboanga area on the island of Mindanao,” it added. It further cited travel advisories issued by China, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom that all specified Mindanao as an area that Read More …

Filipino victories in basketball and math

 News
Aug 122013
 
Filipino victories in basketball and math

By Benjamin Pimentel 2:20 pm | Monday, August 12th, 2013 SAN FRANCISCO – Gilas Pilipinas just wrapped up an incredible run at the Asian championship. They deserve all the praise they’ve received, despite not winning the gold. The last time the Philippines won the Asian championship was in 1986. Before that, the Philippines last won in 1973 when the country was still indisputably a dominant force in Asian basketball. I remember the ’70s when the only teams we had to worry about were Japan and South Korea. But then other countries caught up and got stronger, led by China. That put an end to those years of Filipino basketball dominance. But this year’s victories show that the country can steadily rebuild and adapt to a more competitive world of basketball. And that’s probably true in another arena: math. Filipinos know about the exploits of Jason Castro and Jimm Alapag, but have probably not heard of Jan Kendrick Ong and Naomi Anne King. They’re among the Filipino kids who won gold medals at the recent Singapore International Mathematics Contest. Gilas Pilipinas grabbed the silver at FIBA Asia. These Filipino children reaped 23 golds, 45 silvers and 93 bronze medals. And they beat the country that has long dominated this competition, China. It’s an inspiring victory, one that the country can build on to improve math education in the country and most important of all, to get young people excited about math, and even science and technology, in general. Getting people excited Read More …

Talks on increased rotational presence of US troops in PH start Wednesday

 News
Aug 112013
 
Talks on increased rotational presence of US troops in PH start Wednesday

By Frances MangosingINQUIRER.net 12:28 pm | Monday, August 12th, 2013 Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert del Rosario. AP FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines–The Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of National Defense on Monday announced that negotiations on a framework agreement on increased rotational presence of U.S. troops in the Philippines will start this week. “This week, diplomacy and defense will once again intersect to secure our nation. This week we start negotiations with the United States to institutionalize this policy through a framework agreement,” Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert del Rosario told media men at Camp Aguinaldo. The first round of talks will begin Wednesday at DND in Camp Aguinaldo, and is expected to be finished within four meetings. Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said the plan is in line with the realignment of American troops in the Asia-Pacific, and comes as China, the Philippines and several other nations are locked in territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea. Gazmin stressed that the wider U.S. troop presence will comply with the constitution, which bans foreign military bases, and will not be permanent. Del Rosario, for his part, said:  “For our defense, modernization can begin even before we are able to purchase the necessary defense systems. Deterrence can be enhanced even before modernization. Maritime security and maritime domain awareness will be given a boost even before we have ships and aircraft we need. And even before we have the advanced and sophisticated hardware we wish for, we will know how to Read More …

Talks on increased US military presence to abide by VFA

 News
Aug 112013
 
Talks on increased US military presence to abide by VFA

Malacañang on Sunday reassured the public the talks between the Philippines and the United States on an agreement that will allow “increased rotational presence” of US military in the country will not violate Philippine laws. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the negotiations, which are reportedly set to start on Monday, will be under the framework of the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement. “My understanding is that everything will be under the framework of the VFA. So ang modalities na lang on how to implement the rotational presence ang kanilang pag-uusapan,” she said on government-run dzRB radio. But she also appealed to the public not to make further speculations, and wait for the proper announcements. “(L)et’s wait for more information as they figure out the modalities on how to implement it,” she said. The talks come amid tension over territorial disputes between the Philippines and China over parts of the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea). An earlier report said the Departments of National Defense and Foreign Affairs sent a letter to the leaders of the Senate and the House of Representatives to inform them of the upcoming negotiations on the terms of the increased US military presence. In their letter, they said the Philippines “will shortly enter into consultations and negotiations with the United States on a possible framework agreement that would implement our agreed policy of increased rotational presence.” They also said that “(i)n both diplomacy and national defense, our strategic relationship with the United States remains crucial.” — Read More …

Labuyo moves closer to Aurora; 5 areas under Storm Signal 3

 News
Aug 112013
 
Labuyo moves closer to Aurora; 5 areas under Storm Signal 3

Typhoon Labuyo packs 140 to 170 kph winds, Signal No. 3 raised. PAGASA raised Public Storm Warning Signal No. 3 over Catanduanes as Typhoon Labuyo moved closer to Luzon Sunday morning and is expected to make landfall in Aurora on Monday. PAGASA At least five areas were placed under Storm Signal No. 3 as Typhoon Labuyo (Utor) moved closer to Aurora province Sunday morning, state weather forecasters said. PAGASA said Labuyo was estimated at 160 km northeast of Virac, Catanduanes, or 270 km east-northeast of Daet, Camarines Norte as of 10 a.m. In its 11 a.m. advisory, PAGASA said Labuyo packed maximum winds of 150 kph near the center and gustiness of 185 kph. Labuyo was moving west-northwest at 19 kph and is expected to be in the vicinity of Casiguran, Aurora, Monday morning. By Tuesday morning it is expected to be 270 km northwest of Sinait, Ilocos Norte, or in the northwest boundary of the Philippine area of responsibility. Storm signals Under Signal No. 3 are: CatanduanesCamarines provincesNorthern Quezon including Polilio IslandAuroraIsabela Under Signal No. 2 are: AlbaySorsogonRizalrest of QuezonLagunaBulacanNueva EcijaQuirinoNueva VizcayaBenguetIfugaoMountain ProvinceKalingaCagayan Under Signal No. 1 are: Calayan IslandsBabuyan IslandsIlocos NorteIlocos SurApayaoAbraLa UnionPangasinanTarlacZambalesPampangaBataanCaviteBatangasMarinduqueBuriasTicao IslandsMetro ManilaNorthern Samar Rainfall PAGASA said Labuyo may bring rainfall of 7.5 to 25 mm per hour (heavy to intense) within its 600-km diameter. It advised residents in low-lying and mountainous areas under storm signals to be alert against possible flash floods and landslides. Also, it warned residents in coastal areas under signals 2 and Read More …

Senate oversight committees, babawasan para makatipid

 News
Aug 102013
 
Senate oversight committees, babawasan para makatipid

Mahigpit na binubusisi ngayon ng Senado ang panukalang 2014 national budget para makahanap ng paraan kung paano makatitipid para magamit sa iba pang gastusin ng pamahalaan. Sa isang caucus, nagkaisa ang mga mambabatas na ibasura ang ilang congressional oversight committees na hindi na kailangan at tinatayang aabot ng P50 milyon ang matitipid ng Senado kada taon ayon kay Senate President Franklin Drilon. Aniya, pag-uusapan pa ng kongreso kung anong mga komite ang tatanggalin at mananatili.                           Ang oversight committees ay mga komite na itinatag sa pamamagitan ng batas o resolusyon upang bantayan ang pagpapatupad ng isang batas. Bilang nasa mayorya, pabor si Sen. Ferdinand Marcos sa nasabing reporma para malinaw sa publiko kung saan napupunta ang pondo. “Yes, very much.  Ayaw naman namin na may duda ang tao dun sa paggamit sa pondo ng bayan,” saad ng senador, bagama’t maliit  ang P50 milyon na matitipid sa isang taon, dagdag pa niya. “It depends kasi which accounts to look at. Pero kung titingnan mo yung oversight committees, magkakaroon ng savings na P650 million from  what the budget is from last year,” aniya. Isa sa irerekomenda niyang alisin ang kaniyang dating oversight committee sa Special Purpose Vehicles (Act) sa nakalipas na kongreso, dahil tapos na ang scheme nito. “On the other hand, may ibang oversight committee by mandate of law,  ‘di mo naman pwedeng i-cancel unless baguhin mo yung batas. But kung wala nang functions ‘di na popondohan – ganun more or less… it’s just trying to make sense of the system of committee and the use of oversight committees, Read More …

NDRRMC on red alert for Typhoon Labuyo; Red Cross alerts chapters

 News
Aug 102013
 
NDRRMC on red alert for Typhoon Labuyo; Red Cross alerts chapters

Typhoon Labuyo from the east, monsoon and possible LPA to the west. While Typhoon Labuyo comes from the east in the Pacific Ocean with 140 to 170 kph winds, PAGASA said the typhoon may enhance the southwest monsoon. Surface winds forecasts also show that a possible low pressure area may be forming just outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility far out to the west of Palawan. PAGASA The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council was placed on red alert Sunday morning for the possible effects of Typhoon Labuyo (Utor). NDRRMC spokesman Maj. Rey Balido said a red alert was declared at 8 a.m., with all concerned personnel on standby. “Nag-declare tayo ng red alert effective 8 a.m. Ang regions na naapektuhan at maapektuhan sa susunod na araw, on standby na [ang mga tauhan nila],” Balido said in an interview on dzBB radio. He said those particularly on alert include disaster management teams in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and Cordillera. Also, Balido said teams from various government agencies are on alert and ready to respond to contingencies. These include the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police, he said. Earlier Sunday, PAGASA said Labuyo intensified further and may make landfall over Aurora province on Monday. Catanduanes province was placed under Storm Signal No. 3 while nine areas were under Signal No. 2 and 26 areas including Metro Manila under Storm Signal No. 1. PAGASA forecaster Glaiza Escullar also warned Labuyo is Read More …

Buy only cosmetics listed on FDA website, consumers advised

 News
Aug 102013
 
Buy only cosmetics listed on FDA website, consumers advised

Consumers – especially netizens – planning to buy cosmetic products should check with an online database of authorized products first. This was the gist of the Food and Drug Administration’s Advisory 2013-021, which also exhorted consumers to buy the authorized products only from legitimate outlets. “For protection, consumers are enjoined to access the FDA website (http://www.fda.gov.ph) to verify if a Certificate of Notification has been issued, use the SEARCH tab found in the upper right hand corner of the website,” acting FDA chief Kenneth Hartigan-Go said in Advisory 2013-021. “Type the product name and wait until the name of the product appears.  The product name and other details will appear, namely the name of the company, the Certificate of Notification No. (NN No.), and product variants,” he said. “All consumers are advised NEVER to buy cosmetic products that are not authorized by the FDA and to buy only from legitimate outlets.  Cosmetic products are health products that may need advice or assistance from a pharmacist or trained healthcare product provider on the proper use, a service which only a legitimate outlet can provide.  Consumers are further advised NOT to buy cosmetic products, among other health product needs, from ambulant and sidewalk vendors,” he added. Consumers should also report adverse reactions from using a specific cosmetic product via email at report@fda.gov.ph, Hartigan-Go said. For other inquiries, they can email the FDA at info@fda.gov.ph, he said. Outlawed list may grow too long Hartigan-Go said that while the FDA had released several advisories Read More …

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