Global disasters killed more, cost less in 2013

 News
Jan 072014
 
Global disasters killed more, cost less in 2013

Associated Press 7:45 pm | Tuesday, January 7th, 2014 In this Dec. 20, 2013 photo, a restaurant of Joseph Bonavitacola is filled with local villagers in Tacloban, Philippines. The Italian businessman, who has lived in the city for 20 years with his Filipino wife, reopened the place less than three weeks after Typhoon Haiyan devastated about 4,000 businesses. Only about 5 percent have reopened, officials say. AP BERLIN — The German insurance company Munich Re says some 20,000 people died in natural disasters last year, about twice as many as in 2012. Most of the deaths resulted from Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda in Manila) that hit the Philippines, Vietnam and China in November with a loss of almost 6,100 lives. This was followed by floods in India that killed about 5,500 people in June. Munich Re’s annual disasters report released Tuesday found that the economic cost of natural catastrophes was lower last year. Some 880 events cost about $125 billion, with insured losses of $31 billion. This compares with costs of $173 billion and insured losses of $65 billion in 2012. The costliest natural disasters were summer hailstorms in Germany, floods in Central Europe, and storms and tornadoes in the United States. RELATED STORIES: Philippines launches $8.17B Haiyan rebuilding plan Barack and Michelle Obama send sympathies to Yolanda victims In typhoon’s wake, Christmas infused with tragedy 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 Read More …

TPS petition to Obama far short of 100k signatures goal

 News
Jan 062014
 
TPS petition to Obama far short of 100k signatures goal

LAS VEGAS—An online petition asking the US Department of Homeland Security to grant the Philippines Temporary Protective Status (TPS) is in danger of failing to garner enough signatures by Feb. 1, 2014, the deadline for the petition to be able to have the needed number of signatures. With just 25 days left, the petition posted on the “We the People” website has gathered only 20 signatures, well short of the 100,000 necessary for the White House to respond. The online petition was launched from San Francisco, and the initial signatures came from mostly California-based Filipino-Americans. The petition states: “We respectfully request Pres. Obama to direct the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to designate the Philippines as a country for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), pursuant to 8 U.S.C §1254a, as a way to meaningfully augment current humanitarian efforts of the United States to assist citizens of the Philippines affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan. “Under this section, a country may be designated for TPS if it has been impacted by a natural disaster that has “result[ed] in a substantial, but temporary, disruption of living conditions” such that the country is “unable, temporarily, to handle adequately the return” of its nationals currently in the United States. 8 U.S.C §1254a(b)(1)(B)(i) &(ii).” The “We the People” petition is in addition to direct appeals to the Obama administration for immediate immigration relief for Filipinos in the United States in the wake of the devastation caused by Supertyphoon Haiyan/Yolanda. A TPS designation, among others, will provide a Read More …

AFP gradually boosting territorial defense

 News
Jan 062014
 
AFP gradually boosting territorial defense

By Frances MangosingPhilippine Daily Inquirer 9:06 pm | Monday, January 6th, 2014 Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Emmanuel Bautista. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines – The military is in “gradual transition” of its operations to territorial defense this 2014. Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff General Emmanuel Bautista, however, emphasized that they will continue to address internal security threats even it starts its transition to territorial defense. “We will continue to address- it’s part of our mandate- internal security issues until appropriate agencies of government are capable,” he told reporters on Monday. By 2016, the military targets the completion of its anti-insurgency Internal Peace Security Plan Bayanihan. This campaign is a multi-sectoral approach in ending insurgency problem in the country that is anchored on “winning the peace.” “We will sustain Bayanihan, [but also we] appeal to our people that internal conflicts be put to an end because there are more pressing concerns, urgent concerns that we need to address. We are witness to Yolanda, climate change. We are witness to our problems in the West Philippine Sea and many more,” he added. Communist rebels are estimated to be around 4,000. As for the military’s territorial defense, where the Philippines faces external conflict with China, Bautista also highlighted its “peaceful” approach but is also prepared for other scenarios. “We would like to resolve conflicts in the most peaceful manner, it applies internally and also externally. We will continue to pursue that national policy, without Read More …

Foreign aid donors decline comment on alleged bunkhouse overprice

 News
Jan 062014
 
Foreign aid donors decline comment on alleged bunkhouse overprice

U.S. Marines provide safe drinking water to typhoon survivors Thursday Nov. 21, 2013 at Tacloban city, Leyte province in central Philippines. AP FILE PHOTO MANILA—Major donors to the Philippines’ response to the humanitarian emergency in typhoon-ravaged Eastern Visayas begged off from making any comment Monday on the reported overpricing of bunkhouses for people rendered homeless by the calamity. The United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union withheld comment on the Inquirer  report on the padded costing for bunkhouses—temporary shelters regarded as critical in the continuing response two months since the emergency. They are among the biggest donors to the relief effort, now entering its second month and gradually shifting to early recovery, including moving survivors from evacuation centers to bunkhouses pending the construction of permanent shelters. The Manila embassy of the UK, the largest donor by far, did not issue any comment. British aid for typhoon relief in the Philippines has reached P11.1 billion, including contributions from both the UK government and private individuals, the embassy said. The UK has also vowed to support reconstruction in Eastern Visayas over the long haul. The Manila delegation of the European Union also withheld comment pending its humanitarian aid department’s aid assessment this month. The EU has so far pledged $26.8 million or P1.18 billion, according to the Philippine government portal’s Foreign Aid Transparency Hub (FAITH). The US embassy in Manila also did not comment on the issue. A US embassy official privy to American assistance said the embassy “did not Read More …

Phl lags behind in use of latest technology for tax administration

 Economy
Jan 052014
 
Phl lags behind in use of latest technology for tax administration

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines is lagging behind its Asian neighbors in utilizing information and communications technology (ICT) for its tax administration. Based on a report released by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), personal income tax statements that are electronically-filed account for only 0.3 percent of the total filed in the Philippines, as against Malaysia, (69 percent), Thailand, (45 percent), India, (26 percent) and Hong Kong (14 percent). The Philippines is also behind Japan, (44 percent), New Zealand, (71 percent), Taipei, (82 percent), Korea, (87 percent), Australia, (92 percent) and Singapore, (96 percent). For corporate income tax, a mere six percent is electronically-filed in the Philippines as against India’s 100 percent, Taipei’s 98 percent, Malaysia’s 49 percent and Thailand’s 10 percent. Curiously, the value-added tax accounted for highest percentage of electronically-filed returns for the Philippines at seven percent but it is still the lowest among its Asian neighbors, Singapore (100 percent), Taipei (94 percent), Korea (79 percent) and Thailand (14 percent). What may be the edge in the Philippines’ tax administration environment is the use of mobile phone technology for tax payments. In Quezon City, for example, real estate tax can be paid through a mobile platform introduced by telecommunications company (telco). Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 “In the Philippines, individual taxpayers can pay tax through an electronic cash service provided by a mobile phone company. Under this electronic cash service, consumers without a bank account can deposit electronic cash at mobile phone shops or shopping Read More …

Two and a half years!

 Economy
Jan 022014
 
Two and a half years!

That’s right… P-Noy only has two and a half years left in his term. But in practical terms, he has less time than that. He only has this year and the first half of 2015 to get any thing worthwhile done… one and a half years to go. Election fever will afflict the country starting the second half of next year and through the first half of 2016. Based on past experience, nothing much for the good of the country gets done during an election year. P-Noy started off his term on a very high note. There was hope that finally the country’s economy has a good chance to become a tiger like its neighbors in Asean. And things started well as P-Noy was seen as the exact opposite of the immediate past president, Gloria Arroyo on that long festering problem of corruption. P-Noy’s credibility in the good governance arena was enough to gain the confidence of the foreign economic and political analysts. Even if the Daang Matuwid battle cry has not produced palpable results beyond the Presidential pronouncements, folks were ready to take P-Noy at his word. Indeed, we found ourselves among those considered as a most promising emerging economy in no time. It was as if everyone had always recognized the outstanding economic potential of the Philippines and it was only the sheer corruption of its governing politicians that is holding us back. We got successive credit rating upgrades. Foreign investors looking for alternatives to the developed world’s equity markets Read More …

US embassy releases its list of 2014 holidays

 News
Jan 022014
 
US embassy releases its list of 2014 holidays

By Bong LozadaINQUIRER.net 10:20 pm | Thursday, January 2nd, 2014 MANILA, Philippines—The United States Embassy has released its own list of holidays for 2014, dates that would inform the public that the embassy is closed for the day, following the release of the Philippine Government’s release earlier. The 19-holiday list contains events in the Philippines and also important holidays from the US. Only two dates are joint holidays for Philippines and US: New Year’s Day and Christmas. From the list, eight are exclusively American holidays and these are Martin Luther King Jr. day (January 20), US President’s day (February 17), US Memorial day (May 26), US Independence day (July 4), Columbus day (October 13), US Veterans day (November 11) and Thanksgiving (November 27). The embassy also lists the Muslim event of Eid-ul-Fitr as one of its holidays, though the date hass yet to be announced. Heroism Day (April 9), Maundy Thursday (April 17), Good Friday (April 18), Labor Day (May 1), Philippine Independence Day (June 12), Ninoy Aquino Day (August 21), Rizal Day (December 30) and the last day of the year are the exclusive Filipino holidays on the embassy’s list.   Related story Philippine holidays for 2014 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: 2014 , Global Nation , Holidays Read More …

YEARENDER: Typhoons blow away early gains in DA’s food sufficiency program

 Economy
Dec 312013
 
YEARENDER: Typhoons blow away early gains in DA’s food sufficiency program

MANILA, Philippines – The series of strong typhoons that entered the country in the second semester of the year dented the production of several industrial and staple crops, prompting the Agriculture department to review its flagship program on food staple production and institute various interventions for the subsector. Significant expansion opportunities in the fisheries and animal industry sectors, however, have opened this year as the Philippines remained free from, avian influenza, foot-and-mouth disease and early mortality syndrome (EMS) that devastated the poultry, livetstock and shrimp industries of neighboring Asian countries. After the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda in November, the Agriculture department conceded that self-sufficiency in rice would not be attained this year. Under the FSSP, self-sufficiency entails covering the annual domestic per capita consumption of 115 kilograms per year while still providing for the 90-day buffer stock requirement. After the super typhoon pummeled Visayas, the country is seen to attain a sufficiency level of 97 to 98 percent this year. To beef up the country’s buffer stock, the National Food Authority Council approved the importation of 500,000 metric tons (MT) of rice from Vietnam which would be shipped in tranches until the end of the first quarter of 2014. Even before Yolanda demolished rice cultivation areas in Visayas, Typhoon Santi battered  in October 214,640 hectares of rice lands in central Luzon, putting pressure on the country’s rice production target of more than 20 million metric tons this year. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Agriculture Secretary Proceso Read More …

HK renews black travel warning vs PHL

 News
Dec 302013
 
HK renews black travel warning vs PHL

Hong Kong on Monday renewed its black warning travel on the Philippines, citing the effects of super Typhoon Yolanda as well as the risk of possible terrorist attacks including on areas frequented by foreigners. In its Dec. 30 update, the Hong Kong Security Bureau said some foreign governments had noted the risk of “possible terrorist attacks.” “Some overseas administrations had noted the risk on possible terrorist attacks, including places frequented by foreigners, such as large shopping malls and convention centers,” it said. It also noted Yolanda’s effects, including “widespread damage. Food and water shortages, deteriorating hygienic conditions, electricity outages and poor communications” in affected areas. Hong Kong has not changed its black travel warning on the Philippines since Aug. 23, 2010, when a dismissed policeman took a busload of Hong Kong tourists hostage to demand his reinstatement.  He and some of his hostages were killed in a botched rescue try. The black travel alert is the most serious in Hong Kong’s three-tier outbound travel alert system. The others include red (significant threat) and amber (signs of threat). The Philippines is one of only three countries to be assigned the black alert. The others are Egypt and Syria. — BM, GMA News

Japan firms to expand in Asia, Oceania

 Economy
Dec 292013
 
Japan firms to expand in Asia, Oceania

MANILA, Philippines – Most Japanese companies with operations in Asia and Oceania including the Philippines intend to expand their business in the next two years, according to the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO). The JETRO’s survey of Japanese-affiliated companies in Asia and Oceania for December 2013 showed that 58.1 percent of 148 Japanese firms based in the Philippines plan to expand their business in the next two years. Meanwhile, 38.5 percent want to maintain the existing level of business and 3.4 percent will reduce their operations here. For the whole of Asia and Oceania, the survey showed that 59.8 percent of the 4,536 Japanese firms are planning to expand in the next two years, while 36.3 percent will maintain current level of business and 3.9 percent will cut their operations. “The most commonly cited reason for business expansion was a ‘sales increase’ at 85.4 percent, followed by ‘high growth potential’ at 46.8 percent,” JETRO said. In the Philippines, it noted that the proportion of firms responding “easy to secure labor force” as a reason for the planned expansion, was relatively high at 12.8 percent. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 In terms of sales outlook, Japanese companies with operations in the Philippines are more optimistic of growth in profits in 2014 than this year. The survey noted that 46.7 percent of Japanese firms in the Philippines expect their profits to rise this year compared to 2012, while 51 percent see their income growing next year over 2013. Read More …

 Older Entries  Newer Entries