PH verifying report US used Manila as spy hub

 News
Nov 042013
 
PH verifying report US used Manila as spy hub

By Frances MangosingINQUIRER.net 3:42 pm | Monday, November 4th, 2013 Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines — The government is verifying among its intelligence communities a report from Australian media that the country has been used as a key “listening post” by the United States’ National Security Agency. “We are checking with our intelligence community. We are discussing if anything’s happening. So far there are no signs,” Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin told reporters at Camp Aguinaldo on Monday. The foreign media report said that Australia is sharing information with NSA, an agency involved with whistleblower Edward Snowden’s leaks. “A secret map released by Snowden revealed the US had also set up surveillance facilities in embassies and consulates, including in Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Phnom Penh, Bangkok, Yangon, Manila, Hong Kong, Taipei, Shanghai and Beijing,” the ABC News said. The ABC News also said that it was the same map that Snowden released to Der Spiegel, a German news magazine. It showed listening posts around the world including Manila. Renato Reyes, Secretary General of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, said the use of Philippines as a listening post with or without the knowledge of the government, is “a violation of our sovereignty as a nation.” “It opens us to violations of our right to privacy. Even Malacañang could be subject to surveillance. All the affairs of government could be monitored by a foreign entity,” he also said. Reyes also said the new US ambassador should explain to the public the real Read More …

New Zealand provides P30-M assistance to PH quake, flood victims

 News
Nov 042013
 
New Zealand provides P30-M assistance to PH quake, flood victims

INQUIRER.net 2:55 pm | Monday, November 4th, 2013 New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Murray McCully (L) MANILA, Philippines–New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully announced Monday that New Zealand is providing $NZ850,000 (approximately P30 million) in humanitarian assistance to the Philippines following the recent disasters that have hit Central Visayas and Mindanao. “We are deeply sympathetic to the plight of people affected by these crises,” said New Zealand Ambassador Reuben Levermore, in an official statement sent via email to media companies. “We hope that the assistance announced today by Minister McCully will aid in the rapid recovery of the communities affected by the Bohol Earthquake and flooding in Zamboanga.” New Zealand’s assistance package will contribute $500,000 through UNICEF as one of the key implementing partners of the United Nations appeal following the Bohol earthquake. Another $100,000 has been allocated to draw on New Zealand technical expertise to help the Philippine government further assess the earthquake damage and prepare for reconstruction work. Ambassador Levermore said that New Zealand’s contribution responds to the international appeal launched by the United Nations after a new assessment revealed that an estimated 370,000 people had been left living in temporary shelters after the 7.2 earthquake struck two weeks ago. In addition, $250,000 is being provided for urgent water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities for the conflict-displaced population living in Zamboanga City, where recent flooding has placed significant pressure on emergency shelters and created serious health risks. The New Zealand Aid Programme already supports disaster risk management and Read More …

OFWs allege abuse in Saudi immigration crackdown

 News
Nov 032013
 
OFWs allege abuse in Saudi immigration crackdown

Filipina domestic helper Amor Roxas (C), 46, weeps upon arriving at the Philippines’ main international airport on Nov 4, 2013 as she recounts her ordeal after being expelled from Saudi Arabia, where an amnesty for illegal workers expired at the weekend. She is among 30 Filipinos who were deported from Riyadh a day after the amnesty ended, while thousands more without proper working permits remained trapped there, officials say. AFP MANILA, Philippines – Thirty Filipino workers expelled from Saudi Arabia returned home Monday and alleged they were abused amid a crackdown on illegal migrants there. They were among an estimated 6,700 Filipino workers stranded in parts of the oil-rich Middle Eastern kingdom where an amnesty for undocumented foreigners ended over the weekend. “They treated us like animals,” said domestic helper Amor Roxas, 46, who burst in tears while narrating her ordeal. She claimed Saudi police rounded them up and placed them in a crowded cell for four days before they were paraded from the immigration center to the airport. “Our feet were chained,” added Yvonne Montefeo, 32, in between sobs. Saudi Arabian embassy officials in Manila did not want to comment on the allegation of abuse. Migrante International, a support group for Filipino overseas workers, said 1,700 other workers remained stranded in Jeddah waiting for their documents to be processed so they can return home while about 5,000 more were scattered in Riyadh, Al Khobar and Dammam and also needing consular assistance. It warned that the Filipinos “are in danger Read More …

Landmark pact offers 40M people hope

 News
Nov 022013
 
Landmark pact offers 40M people hope

At least 40 million people depend on the sea in areas bounded by three countries—the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia—that have entered into an agreement to protect and jointly manage the rich marine resources that these areas hold. ORLANDO MALIWANAG DAVAO CITY—On the map, the Sulu and Celebes Seas look like semi-enclosed twin basins separated only by a chain of islands called the Sulu archipelago. Experts from the Sulu-Celebes Sea Sustainable Fisheries Management Project (SCS-SFMP), however, noted that the marine life in these two water basins is not separate: The Pacific Ocean flows into Sulu Sea in Northern Mindanao and between the Sangihe-Talaud archipelago in North Sulawesi. “Surface waters from one basin overflow to the other every two weeks,” SCS-SFMP said. Bounded by the Philippines’ southwest coast, Malaysia’s Sabah island on north Borneo and Indonesia’s Sulawesi island, the Sulu and Celebes seas form the Sulu Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion (SSME), a large marine ecosystem now considered one of the world’s 200 most critical, which over 40 million people depend on for food and livelihood. Food security On Wednesday, Oct. 30, a three-country commitment to protect and manage this common marine area was signed with the hope of ensuring food security for over 40 million people, said Romeo Trono, regional project manager of the SCS-SFMP of the United Nations Office for Special Services. The landmark agreement, which environment and fisheries officials from the three countries signed, called for the implementation of a strategic action plan to deal with the impact of declining resources Read More …

Senator Jinggoy Estrada departs for the US

 News
Nov 022013
 
Senator Jinggoy Estrada departs for the US

Senator Jinggoy Estrada promised the Philippines that, like Gen. Dougls MacArthur shortly after his harrowing escape from Corregidor, “he will return.” This was before the Senator left for the United States on Saturday morning amid the political controversies dogging him, including the P10 billion Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scandal. Sen. Estrada insisted he would return to the Philippines before the Senate session resumes on November 17 according to a report on GMA’s “Balitanghali” program on Saturday noon. The Senator added that he isn’t avoiding the imminent Senate probe where Janet Lim Napoles, alleged pork barrel scam queen, will be attending and scheduled to be questioned for her involvement in the said scam. Earlier, the Justice Department requested that the Department of Foreign Affairs cancel Estrada’s passport due to the plunder and malversation raps he was facing. But since this was only a complaint and not a charge the “hold departure” order was not implemented. Among some of those also recommended for passport cancellation were Senators Bong Revilla and Juan Ponce Enrile. The Ombudsman filed plunder and malversation of public funds raps on September 16 against Estrada, Revilla, and Enrile, among others. Sen. Estrada left to accompany his wife who sought treatment in the US after discovering a lump on her breast. – KDM, GMA News 

US urged to probe death of OFW who fell off oil rig

 News
Nov 022013
 
US urged to probe death of OFW who fell off oil rig

By Tarra QuismundoPhilippine Daily Inquirer 4:53 pm | Saturday, November 2nd, 2013 Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Cuisia Jr. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO MANILA, Philippines–The Philippine Embassy in the United States has called on American authorities to investigate the death of a Filipino worker who fell off an oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico a week ago, expressing concern over the safety of Philippine citizens employed in off-shore facilities in the US. Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Cuisia Jr. made the appeal to the US Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) following the death of 38-year-old welder Peter Jorge Voces. “The Philippines expresses its deep concern over the safety of Filipinos working in offshore oil facilities in the US,” Cuisia said through the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C.’s Twitter account. “Although we hope Mr Voces’ death was not the result of platform safety issues, we expect the BSEE to thoroughly investigate the incident,” he said. Voces was killed Sunday night after an empty storage tank fell and pushed him overboard as he worked with a crew to dismantle a platform in an area called Vermillion Block 200 located some 88.5 kms south of Freshwater Bayou in Louisiana. It was not clear how the tank fell on Voces. US Coast Guard search and rescue crews found him on Tuesday morning pinned underwater just below the platform. Cuisia on Friday also phoned Voces’ widow in the Philippines and assured him of the Philippine government’s assistance Read More …

Franchising and Business Opportunities Seminar Held at Philippine Consulate General

 Entertainment
Nov 012013
 
Franchising and Business Opportunities Seminar Held at Philippine Consulate General

Consul General Maria Hellen M. Barber-De La Vega addressing the audience. Los Angeles, 30 October 2013. – A seminar on Franchising and Business Opportunities in the Philippines was held at the Rizal Hall of the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles on 29 October 2013. This event was held in cooperation with the Philippine Trade and Investment Center, Los Angeles (PTIC), the Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) and the Council on Trade and Investments for Filipino Americans (COTiFA). In her remarks, Consul General De La Vega mentioned that the Philippine Franchising Industry is poised to register sustained growths of 20% in 2013 and 30% in 2014 based on the number of franchises.  The Philippines is also emerging as one of the best destinations for overseas expansion for franchising firms. PFA Vice Chairman Bing Sibal-Limjoco gave an informative presentation on topics such as: the Philippine Franchising Sector; How to Invest in the Right Franchise Wisely; and, How to Franchise your Business.  About 56 Fil-Am entrepreneurs expressed interest on Philippine franchising. Seated (L-R) Consul General De La Vega, PFA Vice Chairman Limjoco, PNB General Manager Ric Ramos with DTI Representative Dinsay and members of COTIFA. PFA Vice Chairman Limjoco lecturing to the audience. (L-R) Consul General De La Vega; PFA Vice Chairman, Bing Sibal-Limjoco; PNB General Manager Ric Ramos and DTI LA Representative Jose Dinsay.

U.S. Embassy closed on Nov. 1 for All Saints’ Day

 News
Oct 312013
 
U.S. Embassy closed on Nov. 1 for All Saints’ Day

INQUIRER.net 3:33 pm | Thursday, October 31st, 2013 US Embassy in Manila, Philippines. AP FILE PHOTO The Embassy of the United States in Manila and its affiliated offices will be closed to the public on Friday, November 1, 2013, in observance of All Saints’ Day, a Philippine holiday. The Embassy and its affiliated offices will resume services on Monday, Nov. 4. 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: all saints’ day , Global Nation , Holidays , u.s. embassy Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s day desk. Believe this article violates journalistic ethics? Contact the Inquirer’s Reader’s Advocate. Or write The Readers’ Advocate: c/o Philippine Daily Inquirer Chino Roces Avenue corner Yague and Mascardo Streets, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines Or fax nos. +63 2 8974793 to 94

EU to give P148M in humanitarian aid to quake-ravaged Central Viasayas

 News
Oct 312013
 
EU to give P148M in humanitarian aid to quake-ravaged Central Viasayas

By Dennis Atienza MaliwanagINQUIRER.net 2:53 pm | Thursday, October 31st, 2013 EU Ambassador Guy Ledoux FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—The European Union is providing P148 million in humanitarian aid to about 350,000 people who lost their homes and livelihoods when a powerful earthquake ravaged Bohol island and nearby provinces in Central Visayas. “We have seen the destruction and suffering caused by the powerful earthquake,” EU ambassador to the Philippines Guy Ledoux said Thursday. “We stand by the people of the Philippines in this hour of need and this EU assistance reaffirms our commitment to immediately respond to the needs of the families affected by the disaster,” he said. The quake that struck underneath Bohol on October 15 left 222 people dead, 796 injured and eight missing mostly on the resort island, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said in its latest report Thursday. The aid, made available through the EU’s Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO), is intended for the emergency  needs of the victims, such as shelter, water and sanitation, primary health care and the management of evacuations sites, the EU Delegation to the Philippine said. Ledoux said that two humanitarian aid experts—Torben Bruhn, regional health coordinator of ECHO based in Bangkok and Arlynn Aquino, humanitarian aid officer in the Philippines—went to the Bohol towns of Calape, Maribojoc and Loon shortly after the tremor jolted the island to determine the priority needs of the affected population. They noted that most of the houses collapsed and access to Read More …

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