PH nurses in Tokyo also hurdle gap in language

 News
Oct 132013
 
PH nurses in Tokyo also hurdle gap in language

TOKYO—It was hard enough being transplanted into a new culture. Being hobbled by a completely alien language was another burden on Joyce Paulino and hundreds of nurses and care workers sent from the Philippines to Japan under an economic agreement between the two countries. The language barrier has played a key role in dashing the dreams of many nurses and caregivers seeking permanent jobs in Japan, since the challenging national exam for them to be certified is given mostly in Japanese. As a result, very few have passed the exam. But unlike many of her fellow workers sent to the Land of the Rising Sun under the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (Jpepa), Paulino, 34, is one of a handful who not only mastered the language but also passed the exam for care workers on her first try early this year. Her accomplishment ensures that she can continue staying, working and earning a decent living in Japan for as long she likes. Paulino’s earnings at a nursing facility in Tokyo have been a big help to her parents and three siblings back home. She shoulders some of the household expenses, sends her youngest sibling to school, and pays for the tuition and other needs of her nieces and nephews. Paulino is happy where she is, and doesn’t plan on returning home soon. But all this did not come easy for Paulino. Learning the language while working and studying Japanese practices for the national test required skillful juggling and time management from Read More …

PH, US tackling ‘gaps’ in defense talks

 News
Oct 032013
 
PH, US tackling ‘gaps’ in defense talks

Philippine Daily Inquirer 5:19 am | Friday, October 4th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines—Negotiators for the Philippines and the United States are addressing certain “gaps” in the key provisions of a framework agreement that would allow increased US military presence in the country amid a territorial dispute with China. What these “gaps in the critical provisions” are that need further discussions, the Philippine panel is not saying. But Defense Undersecretary Pio Lorenzo Batino said that the major provisions are what make the framework agreement “unique from other agreements.” “There’s more work needed to be done on these provisions that will define this agreement. Both parties recognize that we have to work on them with more deliberation,” Batino said. Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Carlos Sorreta, the spokesman of the Philippine panel, said the negotiators were able to cover a large number of provisions in the proposed agreement during the last four rounds of negotations. “However, there remain major details of the substantive issues which both sides need to iron out, and we want to make sure that this agreement would be mutually beneficial,” Sorreta said. The provisions needing “more focused discussions” are contained in the article that covers the scope, agreed installations or Armed Forces of the Philippines facilities, prepositioning of defense equipment, supplies and materiel, ownership, and security. Despite the “gaps,” the panels ended the recent round of negotiations “with optimism,” said Batino. “Both sides look forward to the next round. Therefore, we are very hopeful on finding consensus within the remaining Read More …

PH to host Asean biodiversity meet

 News
Sep 072013
 
PH to host Asean biodiversity meet

Philippine Daily Inquirer 5:53 am | Sunday, September 8th, 2013 Environment Secretary Ramon Paje. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines will host next month the 4th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Heritage Parks (AHP) Conference, a regional dialogue addressing biodiversity issues and the sustainable management of protected areas. The four-day meet will be held in Tagaytay City on Oct. 1-4 spearheaded by the Asean Center for Biodiversity (ACB) and hosted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Secretary Ramon Paje announced Saturday. Some 300 delegates from the Asean countries, biodiversity experts, park managers, policy makers, scientists, and representatives of nongovernment organizations, indigenous and local communities, are expected to attend. In a news release, ACB Executive Director Roberto V. Oliva said the conference would update participants on recent knowledge and tools in addressing biodiversity loss, ecosystems degradation and the preservation of Asean nations’ natural heritage. Side events will include a visit to the Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve, the newest AHP. To date, there are 33 AHPs in Southeast Asia, five of them in the Philippines: Mt. Apo Natural Park, Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park and Mt. Malindang Range Natural Park, all in Mindanao; Mt. Iglit-Baco in Mindoro and the Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve. DJ Yap 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. Read More …

PH, Japan hold ‘frank discussions’ on sea disputes

 News
Sep 052013
 
PH, Japan hold ‘frank discussions’ on sea disputes

By Nikko DizonPhilippine Daily Inquirer 3:21 am | Friday, September 6th, 2013 Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines and Japan on Thursday had “very frank discussions” on the territorial disputes in regional seas without specifically mentioning China, which has been aggressively asserting its claim to islands that are within both countries’ territories. Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and visiting Japanese Minister Ichita Yamamoto discussed the territorial disputes at the Department of National Defense (DND) in Camp Aguinaldo. Yamamoto, the state minister for Okinawa and affairs related to Japan’s northern territories, is the third Japanese official to visit the Philippines in the last three months. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe came to visit and met with President Aquino in July and Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera was in Manila in June. In a statement, the defense department said Yamamoto’s visit was “aimed to further reiterate Japan’s position and views under the administration of Prime Minister Abe on regional security issues, especially [in] the East China Sea.” Gazmin and Yamamoto “acknowledged [that] the common concerns of the Philippines and Japan are issues related to maritime security,” the statement said. Arbitration It said Gazmin stressed the need for all parties, whether in the East China Sea or in the West Philippine Sea, to exercise strategic restraint. Gazmin reiterated that the Philippines would continue to deal with the West Philippine Sea dispute through arbitral proceedings under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos). Yamamoto supported the Philippines’ position and “stressed that Read More …

PH envoy to China back home for consultation

 News
Sep 052013
 
PH envoy to China back home for consultation

Agence France-Presse 6:16 pm | Thursday, September 5th, 2013 Erlinda Basilio INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has asked its ambassador to China to return home for consultations, the foreign department said Thursday amid fresh tensions in a seething maritime territorial row. Ambassador Erlinda Basilio flew back to Manila as the defense department this week accused China of laying 75 concrete blocks on disputed territory in the South China Sea. “She was asked to come home for consultations, and she will (be in Manila) for the next few days,” Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez told reporters. Defense officials have expressed concern the Chinese block-laying could be a prelude to building structures at the shoal. The outcrop is about 650 kilometers from Hainan island, the nearest major Chinese land mass. Asked if Manila would lodge a diplomatic protest or undertake other options, Hernandez said: “We are still studying the matter.” The Philippine foreign ministry earlier said President Benigno Aquino had also called off a planned trip to China on Tuesday for a trade fair after Chinese authorities imposed conditions on the trip. The concrete blocks have raised concerns in Manila that China could be planning construction in the waters, as it did in Philippine-claimed Mischief Reef in another area of the sea, in 1995. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei rejected the Philippine allegations of block-laying on Wednesday, while asserting China’s sovereignty over the shoal. China claims most of the South China Sea, including waters close to the coasts Read More …

Military drills set amid talks on more US troops in PH

 News
Sep 022013
 
Military drills set amid talks on more US troops in PH

By Frances MangosingINQUIRER.net 3:18 pm | Monday, September 2nd, 2013 AFP FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines – About 2,300 members of the Philippine and US military will hold joint military drills later this month amid talks of increased rotational presence of US forces here and continuing tensions between Manila and Beijing over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). Part of the bilateral exercises include staff planning exercise to increase the capability to conduct bilateral maritime security and territorial defense operations, field training exercises and humanitarian and civic assistance projects. The three-week joint exercises hosted by the Philippine Marine Corps will start September 18 in several Philippine military camps including the Naval Education and Training Command in San Antonio, Zambales; Crow Valley in Capas, Tarlac; Marine Base Gregorio Lim in Ternate, Cavite; Marine Barracks Rudiardo Brown in Metro Manila; and at the Basa Airbase and Clark Field in Pampanga. The 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit and 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade from the United States Marine Corps will be paired with Philippine Navy, Air Force and Army units in the annual Amphibious Landing Exercises 2014 dubbed as Phiblex 2014. “Phiblex 14 is designed to improve interoperability, increase readiness and enhance the ability to respond to natural disasters or other regional contingencies,” said First Lieutenant Vince Edward Salmingo, Public Affairs Officer of Phiblex 2014 in a statement. At the same time, Phiblex will also enhance local infrastructure and quality of life and build upon vibrant professional and personal relationships between Philippine and US Marines, Read More …

Construction projects in PH on the rise

 Economy
Aug 302013
 
Construction projects in PH on the rise

By Michelle V. RemoPhilippine Daily Inquirer 10:47 pm | Friday, August 30th, 2013 The value of construction projects with approved building permits rose in the second quarter from a year ago on the back of substantial demand for residential and office spaces. This was according to the National Statistics Office, which reported that construction projects with building permits were valued at P66.4 billion in the second quarter, up by nearly 18 percent from P60.9 billion reported in the same period last year. The total value was spread over 29,424 projects, lower by about 4 percent than the 30,614 approved building projects reported for the same period last year. Nearly half, or P32.6 billion, of the total value of construction projects was accounted for by the residential sector. Non-residential accounted for P28.5 billion and the balance covered repairs. The total floor area for residential projects stood at 3.3 million square meters, while that for non-residential settled at 2.1 million square meters. The total floor area for residential projects was up from 3.1 million square meters a year ago, while the total floor area for office and other non-residential projects was lower than last year’s 2.8 million square meters. The double-digit growth in the value of construction projects was attributed to still significant demand for residential and office spaces. Economists said the demand for residential spaces in the Philippines was partly boosted by remittances from overseas Filipino workers, while demand for office spaces was driven in part by demand from business process Read More …

San Francisco-Manila Sister City Committee sets up business mission to PH

 News
Aug 292013
 
San Francisco-Manila Sister City Committee sets up business mission to PH

By Harvey BarkinINQUIRER.net U.S. Bureau 6:21 am | Friday, August 30th, 2013 San Francisco-Manila Sister City briefing on a business mission to the Philippines; (from left) Trade Commissioner Michael Ignacio, SF Mayor’s representative Mark Chandler and Carmen Colet, committee chair. HARVEY BARKIN SAN FRANCISCO–Directed by Mayor Ed Lee to bolster economic and trade relations, the San Francisco-Manila Sister City Committee has began setting up a business mission to the Philippines for November 4 to 7 this year, in advance of Lee’s visit in February 2014. Although the Sister City Committee was founded in 1961, this is the first San Francisco-Manila business mission. It comes after Lee’s multicity business trips to China this year. The plan is to make the mayor’s annual visit to the Philippines official. At the helm of the committee is businesswoman and the first Fil-Am Commissioner of the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, Carmen Colet. She was appointed last year by the mayor to make the mission “not just social and fun but to add business.” Philippine Department of Trade and Industry Commissioner Michael Ignacio hosted the recent briefing for reporters, architects, designers, accountants, insurance agents and other business owners. There was even a Forex service rep offering money transmissions in excess of $10,000. Mark Chandler, director of the Mayor’s Office, represented Mayor Lee, who was on a weeklong vacation. Chandler, who has visited Manila “three or four times,” said, “If you come from San Francisco and go to the Philippines, they roll out the red Read More …

US rushing PH to approve military access agreement, says leftist lawmaker

 News
Aug 292013
 
US rushing PH to approve military access agreement, says leftist lawmaker

By Allan Nawal, Karlos ManlupigInquirer Mindanao 1:06 am | Friday, August 30th, 2013 Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel. AP FILE PHOTO DAVAO CITY, Philippines—A lawmaker warned the US has been rushing the Philippines into signing an agreement that would allow US military to have access to the country’s military facilities. Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Zarate said US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel flew to the country and met with President Benigno Aquino III to “rush the country into signing the framework agreement on the increased rotational presence of US soldiers and give them wider access to facilities in the Philippines.” “US Secretary Defense Hagel and President Aquino are ramming the access agreement down our throats,” Zarate said. He said the meeting undermined the efforts of the Senate and Congress to review the constitutionality of the agreement and the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) and glossed over “protests against the increased and permanent presence of US soldiers in the country.” Zarate said the Makabayan bloc has called for the scrapping of the 13-year old Visiting Forces Agreement through House Resolution No.8. He criticized Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario over the latter’s statements that US soldiers might use Philippine military bases should a war break out between North And South Korea. “The Philippine government is freely letting the US government use our country as a staging ground for war against North Korea and China to the detriment of the Filipino people who do not know the real intention of their overdue stay in the Read More …

American convicted of child abuse to be deported by PH immigration bureau

 News
Aug 292013
 
American convicted of child abuse to be deported by PH immigration bureau

By Philip C. TubezaPhilippine Daily Inquirer 11:47 pm | Thursday, August 29th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines—The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has arrested an American who was convicted in the United States of abusing a child and then violated his parole by fleeing to the Philippines. Immigration Officer-in-Charge Siegfred Mison said Stephen Rodden, who was convicted by a US court for “continuous sexual abuse of a child,” would be deported upon the issuance by the BI Board of commissioners of an order for his summary deportation. “We will likewise put him in our blacklist so he cannot return here and pose a risk to our Filipino children, or to anyone who could be his next victim,” Mison said in a statement. Mison said his men from the BI Fugitive Search Unit nabbed Rodden, 51, in Makati City on Aug. 31, after he violated his parole in the US by fleeing to the Philippines. The arresting agents reported that Rodden could not present his passport when he was arrested in his home along Mockingbird St., Barangay Rizal, in Makati City, Mison said. The immigration chief added that American was considered as an undocumented alien since his passport had already expired. Mison said Rodden was arrested upon the request of the US Embassy, which informed the bureau about his record as a convicted child molester. The embassy informed the BI that a Board of Parole in California issued a warrant of arrest against Rodden on March 13, 2012. The same board also suspended his Read More …

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