DEMAND for housing and office space in the Philippines is expected to remain high on the back of impressive economic growth. Despite an increase in new space, property developers expect vacancies in premium residential and office space across business districts to remain scarce.
EU, PHL agree to expand justice reform program. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima (left), European Union Ambassdor Guy Ledoux (center), and DILG Sec. Mar Roxas II sign a memorandum of agreement expanding the EU-PHL Justice Reform Program. The EU will support the program with a euro 10 million (P570M) grant. GMA News The European Union has earmarked P570 million or about €10 million to improve the Philippines’ justice system to benefit the poor and disadvantaged people. This was formalized Thursday through the launch of European Union-Philippine Justice Support Programme II (EPJUST-II), the third of similar funding programs by the EU in the country. In his speech, Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas highlighted the importance of the financial support from the EU, particularly for poor Filipinos who could not afford the services of lawyers. “With the assistance from the EU, we can address the justice situation in the country. We can help the poor and the voiceless. They would now be given this access and they can better realize their hopes and their rights as citizens of this country,” he said. Aside from giving poor Filipinos access to justice, the funding also seeks to address extra-legal killings and enforced disappearances. For several years, human rights groups have scored the Philippines’ dismal human rights record, particularly during the Arroyo administration when cases of extra-judcial killings soared to more than 1,000. But when President Beningo Aquino III assumed the presidency in 2010, the United Nations noted a significant decrease in reported Read More …
Agence France-Presse 9:16 am | Thursday, July 11th, 2013 BRUSSELS—The European Union on Wednesday allowed carriers Philippines Airlines and Venezuela’s Conviasa back into European airspace on the grounds of improved safety and compliance with EU regulations. The EU executive, the European Commission, removed the two from a blacklist—the EU air safety list—after slapping an operational ban on the Filipino flag-carrier in 2010 and on Conviasa in 2012. The decision to lift the bans was an element of the EU’s updated list which now leaves 280 airlines from 20 states still barred from flying in the EU. “Today we confirmed our willingness to remove countries and airlines from the list if they show real commitment and capacity to implement international safety standards in a sustainable manner,” said the EU’s Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas. Earlier in Manila, EU ambassador Guy Ledoux said Philippines Airlines will be allowed to fly into the 28-member bloc from Friday, which will spur tourism and business links. “This is a tremendous achievement in such a short period of time,” Ledoux said. He added that the EU would conduct further reviews so other Philippine carriers would also be able to fly to Europe as well. “This decision is very encouraging and is the first success of CAAP (Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines) and Philippine Airlines,” he told reporters. 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 Read More …
Students and employees at the University of the Philippines will soon be getting their @up.edu.ph email addresses as part of the state university’s eUP program. UP Manila Information Management Service Director Romeo Villarta Jr. said the eUP email will use the Google App for Education accounts that provide 30 GB of mailbox space. “The University of the Philippines, through the eUP Program, has created a new system-wide email service. The plan is to provide email addresses for all UP students and employees. These email addresses will be using the email domain name of @up.edu.ph. These eUP email addresses will be used by students and employees in accessing the information services to be provided by eUP,” Villarta said. Users can activate their account by logging in at http://google.com/a/up.edu.ph, Villarta said. Aside from 30 GB of mailbox space, the new eUP e-mail service allows use of other Google services, such as Gmail, Google+, Google Drive, and Google Groups using the UP account. He added the eUP email account is different from the UP Manila email service (@post.upm.edu.ph), though holders of the UP Manila accounts can continue using them. “The user has the option to utilize both accounts for email purposes. But for eUP purposes, the eUP email using @up.edu.phmust be used for authentication purposes,” he said. But as of Wednesday, he said email accounts for some employees and students, particularly freshmen, have not been created yet. He said UP Manila will coordinate with eUP to resolve this issue. — ELR, GMA Read More …
Malacañang on Wednesday expressed doubts on a report by National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) showing growing inequality between the rich and the poor in the Philippines in terms of income. At a press briefing, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda maintained that “real growth” is being experienced by Filipinos in the low income level. “I’m not sure if that [report] is correct. There has been a growth even in the lowest levels and if you notice the growth, for instance, there’s a growth of eight percent in the lowest level,” he said. Lacierda was reacting to an NSCB study that revealed that Filipinos from the high-income class enjoyed a 10.4-percent growth in income in 2011, while those in the low-income group only experienced an 8.2-percent growth. Lacierda pointed out that these figures are still above the 3.2-percent inflation rate, which means that growth is being experienced in all levels of society in the Philippines. He added that the Aquino administration is determined to achieve inclusive growth before Aquino’s term ends in 2016. “From the very start of our administration, we have said that we are going to bat for inclusive growth and it’s not gonna happen overnight. We are continuously doing and making sure that no one would be left behind,” Lacierda said. Last April, the NSCB reported that poverty incidence in the country during the first half of 2012 was at 27.9 percent, which was almost the same rate six years ago. — Andreo Calonzo/KBK, GMA News
A SPECIAL team from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) will be coming to the Philippines to monitor the implementation of the amended copyright law, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) told reporters yesterday.
One of Philippines’ largest fraternities/sororities – Gamma Epsilon Fraternity/Gamma Lambda Epsilon Sorority – with chapters from all over the archipelago and international chapters all over the world is celebrating its Golden Anniversary this year with members on the west coast holding its Southern California gathering in the City of Riverside. Hosted by Brod Jerry Corrales, […]
The first day of the holy month of Ramadan is not a holiday, Malacañang said Monday. In a post on its Twitter account, the Official Gazette said it made the clarification after receiving many queries about whether Tuesday is a holiday because of Ramadan. “[Regarding] queries: Tomorrow, July 9, 2013, is not a nationwide holiday,” it said. However, the date of the start of Ramadan varies—July 9 in some countries, July 10 in others. According to MakkahCalendar.org, the Philippines will be among the countries that should start Ramadan on July 10. Ramadan is the most sacred month of the Islamic calendar, during which Muslims fast from dawn until sunset, and offer prayers. The Official Gazette pointed out that Proclamation 495 does not include the start of Ramadan on its list of holidays. It also noted that separate proclamations will be issued for the observance of Eid’l Fitr and Eidul Adha. — BM, GMA News
Philippine Daily Inquirer 5:35 am | Monday, July 8th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) on Saturday warned Filipino nurses seeking work abroad about fixers offering jobs in Germany. The POEA earlier announced Germany was hiring 500 nurses from the Philippines. ZAV, the agency authorized to recruit Filipino health professionals under German law, has the final say in the selection of candidates, the POEA said. POEA chief Hans Leo Cacdac advised jobseekers to report fixers through tel. 7221144 or 7221155, or e-mail info@poea.gov.ph, or via facebook.com/ poea.official or twitter.com/poeaNews.—Tina G. Santos 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: Germany , jobs , Nurses , Philippine Overseas Employment Administration , Philippines 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
114TH ANNIVERSARY RITES By Michael Lim UbacPhilippine Daily Inquirer 12:25 am | Monday, July 8th, 2013 BALER, Aurora—Spanish film writer-director Jesús Valbuena, a descendant of one of the 33 Spanish soldiers who survived the 11-month siege by Filipino revolutionaries of Baler in 1899, is eternally indebted to the people of this town. The “adopted son” of Baler has kept coming back to Aurora every June 30, Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day, to keep alive the cultural and historical ties between the two countries. Aurora is the site of the Siege of Baler, the last and historically significant story of the Philippine war of independence against Spain. “I am alive, thanks to Balerianos,” a tearful Valbuena told residents during ceremonies marking the 11th year of the Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day, which also coincided with the 114th anniversary of the attack and the 500th year of Spanish presence in the Pacific. With his wife, Anabel Izquierdo Rubio, Valbuena flew in from Spain to attend this year’s commemoration. He said the siege took place at the “sunset” of the once powerful Spanish empire that ruled over the Philippine archipelago for 333 years. Generosity “My wife and I try to teach our three kids (Adrian, David and Raquel) … to have dignity in defeat and humbleness in victory, and we try to teach them that, one day, the last will be the first,” he said. He said that during the siege, the generosity of Filipinos became “the universal legacy that this town has given the world.” “So Read More …