Phivolcs: No Tsunami threat from quakes in Solomon Island and Mexico  

 News
Apr 182014
 
Phivolcs: No Tsunami threat from quakes in Solomon Island and Mexico  

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology on Saturday said there is no threat from a tsunami following a magnitude-6.9 quake that hit the Solomon Islands. In an advisory issued 9:20 a.m., Phivolcs said there is “no destructive widespread tsunami threat” based on historical and tsunami data. While it said such quakes can sometimes generate local tsunamis that can be destructive along coasts within 100 km of the epicenter, “there is no tsunami threat to the Philippines from this earthquake.“ Citing initial information, Phivolcs said the quake at Solomon Islands occurred at 9:12 a.m. and had a preliminary magnitude of 6.9. Earlier, the Phivolcs similarly allayed fears of a tsunami from a magnitude-7.4 quake in Guerrero, Mexico. In its advisory issued 10:51 p.m. Friday, Phivolcs said the quake occurred in Guerrero, Mexico at 10:27 PM (Philippine Time) with a preliminary magnitude of 7.4. — Joel Locsin /LBG, GMA News

DoH denies Filipino nurse no longer positive for MERS virus

 News
Apr 182014
 
DoH denies Filipino nurse no longer positive for MERS virus

INQUIRER.net 5:55 pm | Friday, April 18th, 2014 Health Secretary Enrique Ona: No risk MANILA, Philippines–The Department of Health has denied reports that the Filipino quarantined for the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Corona Virus (MERS-CoV) no longer tested positive for the virus. “No official report yet,” Secretary Enrique Ona said in a text message to INQUIRER.net on Friday. The Philippine News Agency reported that the male nurse who is suspected to be infected with the virus no longer tested positive for MERS-CoV. The report was later taken down from the agency website. The male nurse had contact with another Filipino health worker who died of the virus in United Arab Emirates. The nurse arrived in Manila on Wednesday. The nurse’s family members who fetched him at the airport were also quarantined. On Twitter, Health Undersecretary Eric Tayag said that with the Filipino health workers’ case, the Philippines has become the 12th country and the first in Asia outside the Middle East with laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV. RELATED STORY WHO warns vs spread of MERS-Cov, urges vigilance in taking precautions Follow Us Other Stories: WHO warns vs spread of MERS-Cov, urges vigilance in taking precautions Malaysia quarantines 64 villagers over MERS virus PH asks airline passengers to check for MERS No travel restrictions to Middle East amid MERS-CoV scare 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 Read More …

Filipina Maryknoll sister honored for years of service

 News
Apr 172014
 
Filipina Maryknoll sister honored for years of service

INQUIRER.net US Bureau 6:29 am | Friday, April 18th, 2014 Sister Margarita Jamias speaking at the centennial celebration of Miriam College. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO MARYKNOLL, New York – Maryknoll Sister Margarita Jamias was recently honored for her years of “exemplary service” on the Board of Trustees for Miriam College, Quezon City, Philippines. Sister Margarita, who served on the Board from 2010-2013, was honored for her singular efforts in pioneering the college’s Nuvali campus. She was also cited for other unique contributions, including building links between the school and the Maryknoll Ecological Sanctuary, a resource center for organizations, schools, institutions and the general public, seeking to study and appreciate the ecosystems of the Philippines. Since entering Maryknoll Sisters in 1960, Sister Margarita, a Filipina, has served as an educator and administrator on the primary, secondary and college levels in Guatemala and her native Philippines. She has also worked in community development, pastoral ministry, and empowerment of women in Nicaragua. Following several years as Missions Project funding coordinator for her congregation, Sister Margarita moved to Baguio, where she served as advocate for “justice, peace and integrity of creation” and a resource person for the Maryknoll Ecological Sanctuary and chair of the Association of Women Religious of Baguio-Benguet. She currently conducts “The Journey of the Universe,” a seminar exploring the origins of the cosmos and the challenges facing people today. Founded by Maryknoll Sisters in 1926 as a teacher-training program, Miriam College began as Malabon Normal School, later evolving into Maryknoll College, and finally Read More …

DOH wants all Etihad EY 0424 passengers tested for MERS virus

 News
Apr 172014
 
DOH wants all Etihad EY 0424 passengers tested for MERS virus

All passengers of an Etihad flight that arrived in Manila on April 15 must immediately contact The Department of Health because it was the same carrier taken by a Filipino male nurse, who was diagnosed as having the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus, to fly back to the Philippines.   “To rule out the possibility that they may have been similarly exposed to the MCV, the DOH is directing all those who traveled with this worker on Etihad Flight Number EY 0424 that arrived at the NAIA on 15 April, to call up DOH,” the department said in a press statement.   The DOH is now conducting an intensive search for people who may have had possible contact with the male nurse.   Passengers may call the DOH through telephone numbers 711-1001; 711-1002; 0922-884-1564; 0920-949-8419; 0915-772-5621.   Following the death of a Malaysian national on April 13, who went on a pilgrimage to Mecca, DOH spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag said Filipinos who traveled to Mecca for umrah should also report any illness when they return to the Philippines.   The Malaysian national is said to be the first MERS-related death in Asia and outside the Middle East.   A report by The Star said the man developed respiratory complications after returning from Mecca.   First reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012, MERS is a novel virus often referred to as the Middle East version of the severe acute respiratory syndrome or SARS. Signs of MERS may constitute Read More …

PHL still 3rd deadliest country for journalists — int'l watchdog group  

 News
Apr 162014
 
PHL still 3rd deadliest country for journalists — int'l watchdog group  

The Philippines once again ranked as the third most deadly country for journalists in the world, based on the report of the international watchdog Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Based on the CPJ’s 2014 Global Impunity Index, the Philippines retained its third worst spot on the list, which it has held since 2010. This year, it was just behind Iraq and Somalia. “Fresh violence and a failure to prosecute old cases kept Iraq, Somalia, and the Philippines in the three worst slots on the Index,” said the group. It explained that the conviction of the gunman who shot broadcaster-environmentalist Gerry Ortega in 2011 was a

Japan says visa-free entry still a plan

 News
Apr 162014
 
Japan says visa-free entry still a plan

Kyoto path. FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—Not so fast, don’t buy that plane ticket to Tokyo just yet. The Japanese Embassy in Manila has clarified that the proposal to waive the visa requirement for Filipino tourists to Japan remains to be a plan, saying that such a policy would require bilateral talks between Tokyo and Manila. Miwa Yamatoya, press officer at the Japanese Embassy, said the visa waiver would require “comprehensive consideration” between the two countries. Japanese news agency Kyodo reported on Tuesday that the Japanese government and its ruling coalition “are making arrangements” to exempt tourists from the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam from the visa requirement in an effort to boost tourism. “At this point, the exemption of visas for these three countries and the possibility of including this in the ‘action plan’ has not reached any conclusion,” Yamatoya told the Inquirer. Yamatoya said the embassy was “unable to confirm” the Kyodo story. “While promoting us as a tourism-oriented country, the Japanese government has recognized there are demands to relax the policy on visas. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also intends to promote tourism more,” said Yamatoya, responding to a query via e-mail. “However, regarding the visa issue, there will be comprehensive consideration, such as the bilateral relationship between countries and diplomatic purposes. There also will be a need for talks between the government ministries concerned,” she said. The Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has yet to issue a comment. 61-percent increase According to the Kyodo report, the visa Read More …

High FDI level sustainable – BSP

 Economy
Apr 162014
 
High FDI level sustainable – BSP

MANILA, Philippines – The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas sees no reason why the high level of foreign direct investments in January would not be sustained throughout the year, an official said yesterday. “The momentum can be sustained… I don’t see any reason why not,” central bank Deputy Governor Diwa C. Guinigundo told reporters. “For January, that was actually one of those challenging times when we experienced portfolio outflows because of the US Fed’s action, but nonetheless the more durable and more permanent type of investments came in,” he continued. Net FDI inflows summed up to $1.027 billion in January, its highest level in two years, latest BSP data showed. It was primarily driven by foreign companies lending to their local affiliates to finance operations and the expansion of their firms in the Philippines. “Moving forward, we believe that the economy will continue to grow and many of the macroeconomic stories will be the same, if not improved over time,” Guinigundo pointed out. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 “So we expect that the same confidence will be maintained and our foreign direct investors will continue to come in,” he added. The BSP has forecast net FDI inflows to reach $2.6 billion this year, 33 percent below the actual $3.86 billion recorded in 2013. The lower net inflow projection was due to the US Federal Reserve’s scaling back of asset purchases, which has prompted investors to move back to advanced economies from emerging markets in anticipation of an Read More …

Japan to meet with Asean on upcoming integration

 Economy
Apr 162014
 
Japan to meet with Asean on upcoming integration

MANILA, Philippines – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretary General Le Luong Minh is set to meet with Japanese firms operating in the region in the Philippines in June to discuss concerns on the business environment as well as views on the region’s economic integration. In a statement posted on its website, the ASEAN said the meeting is the 7th Dialogue between ASEAN Secretary General and the Federation of Japanese Chambers of Commerce and Industry in ASEAN (FJCCIA). “The FJCCIA Dialogue will discuss the follow-up to issues and recommendations raised by the Japanese business community as well as provide them an opportunity to share their views and inputs on the ASEAN post-2015 scenario,” the statement read. The dialogue, held every year since its commencement in 2008, provides a forum for Japanese businesses to raise issues on ASEAN economic integration. The region aims to establish the ASEAN Economic Community or a single market economy with free movement of goods, services and investments throughout the region by December 2015. For the forthcoming dialogue, the ASEAN Secretary General held discussions with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) chief representative for ASEAN and South Asia Setsuo Iuchi on the current progress of the ASEAN integration. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Issues of key importance to Japanese investors in the integration process including customs procedures, liberalization of services, protection of intellectual property rights, ASEAN+1 free trade agreements, harmonization of standards, infrastructure development, and small and medium enterprise development were Read More …

Phl welcomes US plan to import more Phl mangoes

 Economy
Apr 162014
 
Phl welcomes US plan to import more Phl mangoes

MANILA, Philippines – The Aquino administration welcomes the plan of the US government to allow the import of more Philippine mangoes other than those from Guimaras, especially now that local carriers have been allowed to fly to various destinations in America. Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the national government is pleased with the news that the US now allows Philippine carriers to fly to different destinations in America, which would mean greater economic benefits for both countries. The US Federal Aviation Authority and the International Civil Aviation Organization had earlier upgraded to Category One the status of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) following the country’s strict compliance with air safety rules. As a result, both flag-carrier Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific would be allowed more flights to more US territories, which likewise includes several countries in Europe. “If, in another front we get good news, then we welcome that news with total appreciation and we hope that it will result in even more beneficial outcomes to our farmers and to our industry,” Coloma told newsmen earlier. “Let us be aware that there is an entire spectrum of relationships in the international field—both multilaterally and bilaterally,” the head of the Presidential Communications Operations Office added. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 News reports indicated earlier that mango industry representatives have until June 9 to respond to proposals from US plant health authorities on mangoes imported from the Philippines. If the proposals put forth by the Read More …

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