Taiwan condemns PHL attack on fishing boat, meets PCG chief

 News
May 092013
 
Taiwan condemns PHL attack on fishing boat, meets PCG chief

Taiwan on Thursday demanded an apology from the Philippine government as it condemned the shooting of a Taiwanese fishing boat by a Philippine vessel. At least one fisherman was reported dead in the incident. A report on Taiwan’s Central News Agency said Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the shooting came from an “official Philippine ship.” Earlier, Beijing-based Xinhua News Agency reported on its website Xinhua.net that  a Philippine Navy ship fired upon the fishing vessel in seas south of Taiwan. Quoting the foreign ministry, the CNA report identified the slain fisherman as Hung Shih-cheng, 65, adding the shooting occurred Thursday morning. It said the Taiwanese boat “Kuang Ta Hsing No. 28” was some 170 nautical miles off the southern coast of Taiwan at the time, and was seriously damaged. Aside from an apology, Taiwan demanded that the Philippine government identify those responsible and make compensation for the losses. The CNA report noted there had been past incidents where Taiwanese fishermen operating in the area were arrested and detained by Philippine authorities. But it said there had been few reports of shooting. Quoting Taiwan’s representative to the Philippines Raymond Wang, who met with Philippine Coast Guard head Rear Admiral Rodolfo Isorena, the Philippines found one of its ships shot the Taiwanese fishing boat. It said the type of vessel deployed by the Philippines and the weapons used were not immediately known. A separate report on Taipei Times said the vessel was operating at around 164 nautical miles (304 km) southeast Read More …

2 Chinese spy ships sighted off PH-held shoal

 News
May 092013
 
2 Chinese spy ships sighted off PH-held shoal

By Redempto D. Anda Inquirer Southern Luzon 3:19 am | Friday, May 10th, 2013 PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Philippines—The Western Command is monitoring the presence of two Chinese military surveillance vessels that were reported to have been stationary since Tuesday afternoon near the Philippine-occupied Ayungin Shoal in the disputed Spratly’s region. The two Chinese vessels were identified by other defense sources, who asked not to be identified, as “maritime surveillance vessels.” The vessels were reported to be some six nautical miles west of Ayungin Shoal since Tuesday afternoon. According to the source, the information about the Chinese presence “has been relayed to proper authorities,” including Malacañang and the Department of Foreign Affairs. Wescom spokesperson Lt. Cherry Tindog confirmed that the regional military command has received reports about the Chinese vessels but declined to issue additional information concerning the reported intrusion. Ayungin Shoal, also known internationally as Second Thomas Reef, is one of the reef formations within the six islands where Philippine troops are present and is considered by the country as part of the municipality of Kalayaan. It is closest to Mischief Reef, which until 1995 was occupied by the Philippines until the Chinese built a fortification on it.

Taiwan ‘strongly’ protests to Philippines over fisherman’s death

 News
May 092013
 
Taiwan ‘strongly’ protests to Philippines over fisherman’s death

Agence France-Presse 1:41 am | Friday, May 10th, 2013 TAIPEI—Taiwan demanded compensation from the Philippines Thursday over the killing of a crew member of a Taiwanese fishing trawler that allegedly came under fire from a Philippine government boat. The Guang Ta Hsin 28 fishing vessel carrying four crew—three Taiwanese and one Indonesian—was fired on early Thursday some 164 nautical miles off the southernmost tip of the island, Taiwan’s foreign ministry said. The incident killed 65-year-old Hung Shih-cheng and badly damaged the vessel, prompting Taiwan’s coastguard to dispatch a ship to its rescue, the ministry said. “We strongly protest and condemn that a Philippine government boat attacked our fishing boat and demand the Philippines formally apologize, apprehend the murderer and compensate,” it said in a statement. The ministry did not specify what type of a government boat it was, while Taiwan’s coastguard said it was trying to verify some reports claiming that it was a Philippine navy vessel. Taiwan has ruled itself since 1949, but China still considers the island part of its territory. The Philippines, like most countries, officially recognizes China over Taiwan but maintains trade ties with the island. 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: Taiwan-Philippines-crime-fishing Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s day desk. Believe this article violates Read More …

PH-China defense talks help ease sea dispute tension – DND

 News
May 062013
 
PH-China defense talks help ease sea dispute tension – DND

By Frances Mangosing Philippine Daily Inquirer 5:22 pm | Monday, May 6th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines – Notwithstanding territorial disputes, Philippines and China discussed “evolving regional security situation” and bilateral defense relations among others in its talks recently. “This year’s talks enabled the two sides to exchange views on the evolving regional security situation to include maritime security,” the Department of National Defense said in a statement Monday. It said the dialogue also “served as a platform for the Philippines and China to share perspectives on the regional security architecture to include regional multilateral institutions and relations between regional powers such as that between the US and China.” The dialogue, held last April 27, is the fourth Defense Talks since 2005 and is hosted alternately, with China as country host for this year. Among the activities of the Philippine delegation in China include a visit to National Defense University (NDU),where the Philippines has been sending officers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines. At present it has sent two AFP officers. “Both the Philippines and China acknowledged that the dialogue is indicative of their respective thrusts to continue cultivating good relations notwithstanding divergence of position on certain issues. The talks are in accordance with the declaration of President Aquino and former Chinese President Hu Jintao to have 2012-2013 as the Years of Friendly Exchange for the Philippines and China,” the statement added. The two countries also had the opportunity to review their bilateral defense relations and explore mechanisms “to further promote Read More …

Gov’t hints at ‘rift’ in CPP could be affecting peace talks

 News
May 062013
 
Gov’t hints at ‘rift’ in CPP could be affecting peace talks

By Nikko DizonPhilippine Daily Inquirer 1:54 pm | Monday, May 6th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines–The government on Monday hinted at a rift within the so-called “reaffirmist faction” of the Communist Party of the Philippines that could be influencing the stalled peace negotiations between the government and the communist rebels. Presidential peace adviser Secretary Teresita Deles: Now for the difficult part. INQUIRER file photo Presidential adviser on the peace process Teresita Deles said the government peace panel’s recent consultations with communities affected by the decades-long insurgency have raised one important question: is the government even talking to the right people? “Who are we talking to? Are they the right people? That was the advice to us, that we should examine that question,” Deles said at the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines forum. CPP founder Jose Ma. Sison and Luis Jalandoni are heading the negotiating panel of the CPP and its political arm, the National Democratic Front and armed group, the New People People’s Army. Government chief negotiator Alex Padilla said that according to the government’s intelligence sources, Benito and Wilma Tiamzon, members of the CPP’s Central Committee, are now the ones “in-charge.” Padilla said that one indication that Sison may no longer have control over the CPP’s people on the ground was when the latter reneged on the documents that he himself presented during the “special track” on the talks that was proposed by the CPP-NDF-NPA panel itself. Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, Read More …

Filipino bride, 4 others killed in California limousine fire

 News
May 052013
 
Filipino bride, 4 others killed in California limousine fire

Agence France-Presse 7:15 am | Monday, May 6th, 2013 SAN FRANCISCO—A woman and four members of her bridal shower burned to death in a horrific accident, when their rented limousine caught fire en route to a party in California celebrating her wedding, US media reported Sunday. The limo driver and four women managed to escape the burning vehicle, but the bride and four of her friends perished in the blaze, news reports said. “We don’t know what caused the accident yet,” California Highway Patrol Officer James Evans told The San Francisco Chronicle. “It wasn’t a traffic collision, we do know that, but we are still investigating.” The Chronicle reported that the woman for whom the bridal shower was thrown had recently married and had planned to return to her native Philippines for another ceremony next month. But for unknown reasons, the party-bound vehicle—which was en route to a wedding shower in nearby Foster City—burst into flames on the San Mateo Bridge, just south of San Francisco. The dead women, all in their 30s and 40s, included newlywed Neriza Fojas, 31, of Fresno, according to the Chronicle, which quoted the deceased woman’s sister. 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: Accident , Fire , Philippines , US Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Read More …

Snub by Chinese foreign minister no big deal–Del Rosario

 News
May 052013
 
Snub by Chinese foreign minister no big deal–Del Rosario

By TJ A. Burgonio Philippine Daily Inquirer 3:52 am | Monday, May 6th, 2013 Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, left, shakes hands with Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at Government House in Bangkok, Thailand Wednesday, May 1, 2013. AP PHOTO/SAKCHAI LALIT MANILA, Philippines—Filipinos shouldn’t make a big deal over the failure of new Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to visit the country even as he called at four other Southeast Asian nations, Malacañang said on Sunday. “We have not given a second thought to the visits to four Southeast Asian countries by the new Chinese foreign minister. The visits are his prerogative,” said Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario in a statement released by the Palace. Undersecretary Abigail Valte, deputy presidential spokesperson, agreed. “We recognize perfectly the prerogative of the Chinese foreign minister to set his own agenda for his trips outside his country,” she said in a radio interview. Wang made his first official visits to Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Brunei between April 30 and May 5. Manila and Beijing are locked in a long-running dispute over islands in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). The Philippines has brought the matter to the United Nations. Portions of the South China Sea are being claimed in whole or in part by China, and the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan. Still, Del Rosario said, he looked forward to meeting Wang and working closely with him “at the appropriate time.” “We reiterate our congratulations and wish him great success,” he added.

Phl safe from asset bubbles – BSP

 Economy
May 052013
 
Phl safe from asset bubbles – BSP

MANILA, Philippines – Property loans granted for residential purposes rose the fastest among other household credit last year, but remained of the best quality, boosting the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) belief that the country is still safe from asset bubbles. In its Status of Philippine Financial System Report released last Friday, the central bank said residential real estate loans increased 19.77 percent to P264.2 billion from P220.836 billion a year ago. This accounted for the biggest share in consumer loans, at 42 percent of the total P629.3 billion granted during the same period. Aggregate consumer loans went up 15.28 percent year-on-year. Other consumer loans were auto loans, credit card receivables and those used for other purposes such as purchase of appliances. All recorded gains from their 2011 levels. Despite the marked increase, residential property loans enjoyed the lowest bad loan ratio or the proportion of unpaid loans over the loan portfolio. Bad loans are those that remained unpaid 30 days after the due date. Unpaid credit accounted for 4.1 percent of total residential real estate loans, down from 4.3 percent in 2011. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Last week, BSP Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said there are “no emerging signs” of asset bubble formation in the Philippines despite the affordability of bank credit and surge of inflows from abroad. Asset bubbles are characterized by an upshot in asset prices, such as those in the real estate sector, that they no longer reflect real market rates Read More …

Chinese firms keen on more trade, investments in Phl

 Economy
May 052013
 
Chinese firms keen on more trade, investments in Phl

MANILA, Philippines – Chinese businesses are keen to trade and invest more in the Philippines amid its growing economic growth. Xu Ningning, Executive Secretary General of China-ASEAN Business Council (CABC), said they are willing to cooperate with the Philippines in sectors such as agriculture, fishery, infrastructure, mining, energy, information and communication technology, manufacturing, tourism, engineering service, forestry and some other areas. “There are huge cooperation potential and numerous business opportunities for trade and economic cooperation between China and the Philippines,”  he said during the recent Philippine-China Business Forum organized by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) held here. Ningning said that as Chinese enterprises are eager to “go out”, the Philippines and other ASEAN countries have become their biggest markets. He said the Philippines is one of their preferred markets and investment locations, citing its fast economic growth that is expected to accelerate six to seven percent this year. “At present, the Philippines is actively attracting foreign investments and promoting its industrial development. And China is actively implementing its 12th Five-Year Plan, with its average annual GDP (gross domestic product) growth rate at seven percent as planned,” he added. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 With this, Ningning urged the need to implement the five-year development program for trade and economic cooperation signed by the Philippines and China in 2011 which targeted to expand the volume of bilateral trade to $60 billion by 2016. “The Philippines should actively promote its business opportunities and famous brands Read More …

Volunteer educators are potential good employees – MBC

 Economy
May 052013
 
Volunteer educators are potential good employees – MBC

MANILA, Philippines – Businesses should consider hiring individuals that take part in programs seeking to expand educational opportunities, to get employees that have leadership skills and to be able to contribute to improving the quality of education in the Philippines. Speaking at the joint membership meeting of the Management Association of the Philippines and Makati Business Club (MBC), Wendy Kopp, co-founder and chief executive officer of Teach for All, said businesses could play a role in improving the quality of education in the country. She said businesses could consider hiring individuals that become involved in programs similar to those being undertaken by organizations which are part of the Teach for All network, which seek to improve teaching in schools. “Business people can consider this as an excellent leadership training program,” she said. Teach for All is a global network of national organizations working to expand educational opportunities in their respective countries. These national organizations recruit promising future leaders to teach for two years in high-need schools and to work throughout their lives as leaders in the classroom, in education and across all sectors to address the root cause of educational need. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Here in the country, Teach for the Philippines which is an official network partner of Teach for All, has recruited 54 fellows who are spend its the next two years teaching in 10 of the highest-need public schools in Quezon City. Kopp said hiring individuals that take part in programs Read More …

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