Philippines – Page 64

Bishops want to hear PNoy tackle graft, pork, economic growth in SONA

News

Jul 202013

Bishops want to hear PNoy tackle graft, pork, economic growth in SONA

As they join Filipinos in listening to President Benigno Aquino’s State of the Nation Address on Monday, Catholic bishops particularly want to hear Aquino tackle his administration’s actions on economic growth and graft. The bishops also said they want to learn what Aquino will do to curb corruption stemming from lawmakers’ pork barrel funds. President Aquino has so far kept mum on what he will discuss in his SONA. “I hope to hear from you on this, on your next SONA,” Digos Bishop Guillermo Afable said in a July 18 letter to Aquino, excerpts of which were posted on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines news site. He was referring to an alleged P10-billion scam involving the pork of lawmakers supposedly going to dummy non-government organizations. Afable urged Aquino to use his political influence to end the “despicable” practice, saying the Filipino people “deserve better than this.” “It’s about time you come out clean with this and put an end to this shameful practice,” he said in his letter to Aquino. “I know you and your Cabinet will find a more creative, but just and ethical way of bringing the government closer to the people,” he added. For his part, Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco said poor Filipinos have yet to feel the economic growth the government claimed to have accomplished. “The benefits of a good economy should trickle down to the poor and unemployed. As of now the poor and many people do not feel the good economy,” a Read More …

Biz groups urge gov’t to honor contracts with water firms

Economy

Jul 202013

Biz groups urge gov’t to honor contracts with water firms

MANILA, Philippines – The government must adhere to contracts entered into with water concessionaires as doing otherwise may discourage the private sector from participating in the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program, business groups said. In a joint statement, the Employers Confederation of the Philippines, Foundation for Economic Freedom, Management Association of the Philippines and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry expressed concern over calls for changes as well as cancellation of contracts with water concessionaires that have been aired, including by government agents. “Such statements, if accepted, could reinforce perceptions that there are risks to investing under the Philippine PPP program,” the groups said. The groups said they are of the view such scenario is not something the government intends to happen. “We, therefore, urge Philippine authorities to faithfully adhere to the terms of the concession agreements, including following the provisions on dispute settlement that call for international arbitration in the event of differences,” the groups said. They added that demands for tariff adjustments need to be framed strictly within the agreements, and be mindful of the public’s need not just for reliable clean water, sewage and sanitation services but also for other necessary infrastructure. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Water concessionaires Manila Water Co. Inc. and Maynilad Services Inc. are both seeking adjustments in water rates. Manila Water is seeking a P5.83 per cubic meter increase in its basic charge while Maynilad wants an P8.58 per cubic meter rate hike for 2013-2018. Earlier, advocacy group Read More …

Gov’t disowns anti-China rallies to be held worldwide

News

Jul 182013

Gov’t disowns anti-China rallies to be held worldwide

By Christine O. AvendañoPhilippine Daily Inquirer 5:44 am | Friday, July 19th, 2013 Department Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez: Anti-China protests led by private individuals and group. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—The government said it has nothing to do with the planned one-day global action on July 24 by Filipinos around the world to protest against Chinese incursions in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), but will not try to stop it either. “Filipinos have all the right to express and voice out in a peaceful manner their positions and sentiments on the issue of the West Philippine Sea,” said Assistant Secretary Raul Hernandez, the Department Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesperson. ‘In private capacity’ At a news conference, Hernandez stressed that the government “did not sanction” the Global Day of Protest to be staged worldwide by the West Philippine Sea Coalition, saying these were being led by “individuals and groups in their private capacity.” “These are not sanctioned by the government, but being in a democracy, people have a right to voice out their position on different issues,” Hernandez said. Asked whether the protests could inflame the already tense relations between Manila and Beijing, Hernandez said the DFA hoped it would not as people just want to express their positions on the issue. Hernandez also said the global protest action will not affect the Philippines’ arbitration case against China before the United Nations. “The arbitrary tribunal will proceed with the case based upon its rules and merits of this case, Read More …

BSP to study US impact on local economy ahead of policy meeting

Economy

Jul 182013

MANILA, Philippines – The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) will consider how the dovish statements from the United States Federal Reserve will impact on local growth and inflation outlooks as it sets policy next week, its top official said on Thursday. “We will consider the impact of the Fed guidance, market sentiment and actual flow of funds on global and domestic growth and inflation dynamics,” BSP Governor Amando Tetangco, Jr. said in a text message to reporters. On Wednesday night, US Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke told American congressmen that the $85-billion bond buying program, initially thought to be coming to an end, is “not on a preset course,” suggesting it could keep policy accommodative. Over the past month, Asian financial markets, including those from the Philippines, suffered huge losses after the world’s superpower indicated it could taper off cheap money from its quantitative easing “later this year” on signs of recovery. With the latest statement, Tetangco said the US Fed is trying to help investors digest its next move and “hopefully markets will be more circumspect this time around” before making any bets. Thus, investors, he said, are expected “not to place or extend large one way bets” which “often create their own stages for panic by overshooting before and after the fact.” Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Last month, the Philippine Stock Exchange index dropped by as large as 6.5 percent, while the peso weakened toward the 44-peso mark versus the dollar. They have since Read More …

New Saudi rules set rights for domestic workers

News

Jul 172013

Agence France-Presse 11:37 am | Thursday, July 18th, 2013 A maid carries a folding chair for waiting Saudi women along the sea front in the Red Sea coastal city of Jeddah. AFP FILE PHOTO RIYADH—Saudi Arabia has announced new rules to protect the rights of foreign domestic workers, most of whom are from South Asia, but stressed they must “respect” Islam and “obey” their employers. Labor Minister Adel Faqih said the new rules require employers to pay workers “the agreed monthly salary without delay, and give them a day off each week,” in remarks carried by the official SPA news agency. Employers are also required to provide domestic workers with “suitable accommodations, as well as granting them time to rest for at least nine hours each day,” Faqih said. Under the new guidelines, workers are entitled to paid sick leave and a one-month paid vacation after putting in two years of work as well as end of service compensation equal to one month salary after four years, he said. But Faqih also insisted that employees must respect “Islam and its teachings… and obey the orders of the employers and their family members concerning getting the agreed work done.” A domestic worker “does not have the right to reject a work, or leave a job, without a valid reason,” he added. Around eight million foreign workers are employed in the oil-rich kingdom, with most of them coming from South Asia and earning low wages. The number of domestic workers is not Read More …

American pastor laments ‘military harassment’ in Mindanao disaster areas

News

Jul 172013

American pastor laments ‘military harassment’ in Mindanao disaster areas

By Germelina LacorteInquirer Mindanao 11:23 am | Thursday, July 18th, 2013 Armed Forces of the Philippines. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO DAVAO CITY, Philippines—Americans joining a four-day international solidarity mission to disaster areas in Mindanao said they were appalled by the “military harassment” suffered by people even in communities worst-hit by Typhoon Pablo last December. The Rev. Frank Wulf, a pastor of the United Methodist Church in Los Angeles, California, said they would pressure the US government to stop sending military aid to the Armed Forces of the Philippines because they observed that civilians were being made to suffer in communities with a heavy presence of soldiers. 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: Disaster , Military Harassment 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

Bakers warn of higher pandesal prices

Economy

Jul 162013

MANILA, Philippines – A group of bakery owners and bread producers warned that prices of Pinoy pandesal, other bread products, biscuits and noodles would increase by 10 to 15 percent, if the government gives in to the demand of an influential lobby group to restrict the entry of affordable flour from Turkey. The Filipino-Chinese Bakery Association Inc. (FCBA), the group of bakery owners or producers of bread, noodles, cakes, pastries, pizza, siopao, pandesal, cookies, and biscuits from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, said imposing a higher tariff on flour imported from Turkey would increase the price of Pinoy pandesal by 50 centavos to P3.50 per piece from the current P3 apiece. Pinoy pandesal is the brand of affordable bread products produced by small community bakers. “Because of cheaper Turkish flour, Filipino consumers enjoy lower priced breads and other flour-based products such as dry noodles, biscuits and fishballs,” the FCBA said. The FCBA said flour represents more than 50 percent of the total cost of bread production, and an increase in the price of flour would automatically translate to higher prices of bread. “There are 25,000 bakeries operating in the Philippines and many small and medium-sized bakeries are using lower priced flour for them to offer breads within the reach of the Filipino consumers,” the FCBA said. The FCBA said the Philippine Association of Flour Millers Inc. (PAFMIL), which has monopoly of the local flour market, is using its influence on the government to push the Turkish flour out of the country Read More …

Fil-Chinese businessman wins award in China

Economy

Jul 162013

Fil-Chinese businessman wins award in China

MANILA, Philippines – The China Outstanding Business Leaders Forum held the 4th “Outstanding Chinese Business Leader Award” recently at the Beijing National People’s Congress (NPC) Centre, in Beijing, China. Fifty business leaders from all over the world were screened of which 16 were chosen as awardees through an open voting system. All 16 awardees were described as inspiring individuals who epitomize strength, ingenuity, knowledge, vision and represent the “best of the best” in China. Dr. James G. Dy, President of Philippine Chinese Charitable Association Inc. (PCCAI), owner and operator of Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center, and chairman of the Filipino Chinese General Chamber of Commerce Inc., (FCGCCI), was chosen as the lone Filipino-Chinese awardee for this year. The award was presented to Dr. Dy by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries chairman Chen Hao su, son of Marshal Chen Yi. Dr. Dy expressed hope that the recognition will promote better friendship between the Philippines and China and foster unity for the Filipino Chinese community. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Dr. Dy credits the countless hardships and struggles he hurdled as a businessman as the foundation of his success. He recalled that in the past decades, since he started his exploits in the business society; his only capital was blood, sweat and tears which translated into pure hard work. He said his motivation for success is his desire to contribute to society and the Filipino-Chinese community through social services, and the tireless promotion Read More …

11 hostages freed in Philippine Muslim clan feud

News

Jul 162013

11 hostages freed in Philippine Muslim clan feud

Seven children and four other hostages caught up in a decades-old southern Philippines clan war have been freed in a straight swap by the feuding families, the military said Tuesday. The hostages, aged as young as two, were snatched last week in tit-for-tat kidnappings on the remote southern island of Basilan, a hotbed of Muslim guerrillas and other militants that the government does not fully control. The crisis ended when a Muslim clan leader known as “Commander Hassan” agreed to release his eight hostages on Monday, said Lieutenant-Colonel Paolo Perez, commander of an army battalion stationed on Basilan. A rival Muslim clan leader known in the area as “Jiabrin” had freed Commander Hassan’s three daughters late on Sunday, according to Perez, who said the clan dispute had been going on for the past 30 years. “The feud ranges from previous disputes over property, aggravated by killings on both sides,” said Perez, who took part in the negotiations that led to the release of the hostages including the seven children aged between two and 14. About 20 people are believed to have died in battles between the clans over the years, a regional military spokesman said last week. Hassan is a member of the Moro National Liberation Front, a former Muslim separatist rebel group, while Jiabrin is a member of the rival Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the military said. Authorities will not seek to lay charges against those involved in the kidnappings, according to Colonel Carlito Galvez, a local military commander Read More …

Immigration chief Ricardo David resigns

News

Jul 152013

Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David has resigned from his post, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte announced Tuesday. Valte said President Benigno Aquino III accepted David’s resignation, stated in a letter dated July 12. The President’s spokesperson said she has no information on David’s replacement at the moment. David also served as chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. — RSJ, GMA News

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