IATA pushes single airport system for Phl

 Economy
May 052013
 
IATA pushes single airport system for Phl

MANILA, Philippines – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is pushing for the continued improvement of the operations of the congested Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and the establishment of an alternative gateway within the metropolis. Albert Tjoeng, IATA’s assistant director of corporate communications for Asia Pacific, said the organization is supporting a single airport solution that is easily accessible from the city.  “The priority for Manila is to maximize the effective capacity and throughput from the existing facilities.  IATA has provided guidance to the authorities in this regard, such as building rapid exit taxiways and better slot management. But there is a need to develop a long term solution to the airport needs of the Manila area,” Tjoeng said in an e-mail. Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya earlier said Malacañang is carefully studying three options including the possibility of shutting down and selling NAIA to reach a decision on whether the Philippines would adopt a single or twin airport system. Abaya said the first option involves a single airport system wherein the government would shut down and sell the congested NAIA and develop the Clark International Airport in Pampanga. The second option, he revealed, involves dual system wherein the government would develop Clark and at the same time maximize the operations of NAIA until 2025 while looking for an alternative site for a new airport that would be 25 kilometers or 30 minutes away from the existing gateway. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 The DOTC Read More …

In Alex Padilla’s peace quest, a battle with extremes

 News
May 052013
 
In Alex Padilla’s peace quest, a battle with extremes

Kuwento By Benjamin PimentelINQUIRER.net 3:22 pm | Sunday, May 5th, 2013 Something Alex Padilla told me years ago makes it clear that he has a toughest job in the government – but also the clearest sense of why that job is important. “Two related truths I believe in on this matter are these,” he told me in a January 2011 email after he was named head of the government peace panel and as peace negotiations with the underground left were set to begin. “First, government cannot defeat this insurgency through military action alone. And second, the CPP/NPA/NDF could never achieve victory through armed struggle.” “I don’t expect both extremes to agree, of course,” he continued, “but we have taken the stance that we are not only negotiating with the left but actually negotiating with the entire Filipino people as our main audience and these ‘truths’ are widely agreed with.” Two years later, the negotiations have come crashing down. The good news is that, while the peace talks have failed, the government, as Padilla himself said in a report, will try to take “a new approach to pursue peace.” Not exactly sure what that means. How you can pursue peace without negotiating a peace agreement? (Unless this new approach actually involves waging war.) The other good news is that Alex Padilla has a bit more time to do the job, at least based on a deadline he imposed on himself. “I have also been candid enough to say that I do Read More …

PAL flights to New York to start once US lifts ban

 Economy
May 012013
 
PAL flights to New York to start once US lifts ban

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine Airlines will soon be able to mount flights to New York once the United States Federal Aviation Administration lifts its ban on additional flights from the Philippines. The ban comes after the US FAA downgraded the country’s standing as a member of the International Civil Aviation Organization, placing the Philippines in Category 2 or unsafe status. After a five-day audit early this year, ICAO found out that the country managed to address and resolved its safety concerns, seen to bring the Philippines back to Category 1 status. “With the lifting of the US FAA sanction, we can go to New York already,” PAL President and Chief Operating Officer Ramon Ang said. PAL currently flies to Honolulu, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Ang said that according to a meeting of civil aviation authorities in Brussels, Belgium, the 27-nation European Union, which also imposed a similar sanction, is likely to lift its own three-year ban on Philippine air carriers “within the year.” 

Philippines suspends live shrimp imports

 Economy
Apr 302013
 
Philippines suspends live shrimp imports

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) – The Philippine government today suspended the import of all live shrimps and susceptible crustaceans to prevent the entry and spread of shrimp diseases such as Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS) in the country. The Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) said it issued the suspension on the recommendation of shrimp disease expert Dr. Donald Lightner and after local shrimp operators expressed concern over the possible entry of infected shrimps from heavily-affected countries The DA said the Philippines remains free from EMS, a disease characterized by massive mortalities during the first 30 days. Infected shrimp samples show slow growth, corkscrew swimming, and pale coloration.   The government said it will closely monitor airports and seaports to ensure that infected shrimps from heavily-affected countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia will not enter the country.

Philippines to buy 187,000 tons of rice from Vietnam

 Economy
Apr 302013
 
Philippines to buy 187,000 tons of rice from Vietnam

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) – The Philippine government announced today that it had decided to  import 187,000 tons of milled rice from Vietnam to beef up stocks before the onset of the typhoon season in July. State-run National Food Authority (NFA) said Vietnam had given the “best offer” for the supply of 187,000 tons of 25 percent broken rice grade. NFA administrator Orlan A. Calayag said Vietnam’s Southern Food Corp. offered the best bid at $459.75 per ton. Vietnam and Thailand submitted bids for the right to supply the volume during a government-to-government tender held on April 3.   The Philippines may no longer need to import more rice as it expects another record harvest this year. For 2013, Philippine paddy rice output is projected to go up by 11 percent on year to 20 million tons. 

Liquidity expands 11.4 pct in March

 Economy
Apr 302013
 
Liquidity expands 11.4 pct in March

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) – Demand for money in the Philippines grew by 11.4 percent on year to P5.1 trillion ($123.9 billion) in March, the local central bank said today. On a monthly basis, seasonally-adjusted domestic liquidity or M3 also expanded at a faster pace of 1.5 percent compared with the 0.2 percent month-on-month growth in February. The central bank said the sustained expansion in net domestic assets (NDA) was the main driver in the growth of money supply. The Philippine government said the continued expansion in domestic liquidity in March indicates sufficient liquidity to sustain the growth momentum of the economy. 

Unknown disease prompts BFAR to ban shrimp imports

 Economy
Apr 302013
 
Unknown disease prompts BFAR to ban shrimp imports

MANILA, Philippines – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic resources indefinitely suspended the importation of live shrimp and crustaceans to prevent an unknown disease from spreading in Philippine waters. “We are dealing with a disease unknown to us, all the more that measures must be undertaken,” BFAR Director Asis G. Perez said last week in a shrimp industry meeting with the operators and importers. The state agency instructed its Fish Health Officers, Quarantine Officers and the Law Enforcement Quick Response Team to implement monitoring, control and surveillance protocols at the ports of entry, airports and seaports in the country.  BFAR said the measure is meant to prevent the spread Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS), characterized by massive shrimp deaths during the first 30 days. Infected samples exhibit slow growth, corkscrew swimming and pale color. Currently, no known pathogen has been found causing the disease, the state agency said. The order came after the recommendation of Dr. Donald Lightner, a shrimp disease expert. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 “The Philippines remains EMS-free as of the moment and BFAR is exhausting all efforts to remain so,” Perez said, adding that the country is well-positioned as this opens the opportunity for the Philippines to expand its shrimp exports. 

US green card limbo: for one Filipino, a long wait

 News
Apr 302013
 
US green card limbo: for one Filipino, a long wait

2:32 pm | Tuesday, April 30th, 2013 This recent undated photograph obtained courtesy of Elizabeth Arnulfo shows Arnulfo Babiera (R), who applied for a US green card a decade ago, in the hopes of reuniting with his sister, Elizabeth Arnulfo (L), a naturalized citizen. But at the current rate, his wait could extend until 2027.a naturalized citizen. But at the current rate, his wait could extend until 2027. Foreigners seeking to immigrate to the United States under the family reunification program may however see changes on the horizon, with a new reform seeking to resolve the four million cases in limbo, like that of Babiera. AFP PHOTO WASHINGTON—Arnulfo Babiera applied for a US green card a decade ago, in the hopes of reuniting with his sister, a naturalized citizen. But at the current rate, his wait could extend until 2027. Foreigners seeking to immigrate to the United States under a family reunification program may however see changes on the horizon, with a new reform seeking to resolve the four million cases in limbo, like that of Babiera. “That is my dream, going to the United States of America — to earn more, to support my family here. My income would be greater than it is here,” Babiera told AFP by telephone from his home in Davao, in the southern Philippines. Babiera, a 58-year-old employee of a recruitment agency, earned the right to come to the United States when his sister Elizabeth filed a green card application on his behalf in Read More …

Invitation to the 11th Annual “Brown Strokes on a White Canvas” Art Exhibit

 Entertainment
Apr 292013
 

In commemoration of Asian American Pacific Heritage Month, the Embassy of the Philippines in Washington, D.C. and the Philippine American Foundation for Charities, Inc. Cordially invite you to the 11th Annual “Brown Strokes on a White Canvas” Art Exhibit Featuring established and future famous artists from the Filipino-American Community May 29 to May 31, 2013 […]

BOC inks pact with Russia, Netherlands

 News
Apr 292013
 
BOC inks pact with Russia, Netherlands

By Jerry E. Esplanada Philippine Daily Inquirer 3:52 am | Tuesday, April 30th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines—The Russian Federation and the Netherlands have joined the growing list of countries that have forged customs cooperation agreements with the Philippines. Commissioner Ruffy Biazon said this would boost the Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) campaign against all forms of smuggling, commercial fraud and transnational crimes. He said the agreements would initiate information exchanges for the benefit of all countries and provide assistance in the areas of trade statistics, customs law enforcement, human resource development, technical know-how and trade facilitation. In a text message to the Inquirer on Monday, Biazon said these were the second and third agreements entered into by the BOC since he assumed office in September 2011. “The first agreement, which involved Mexico, was signed last year,” he said. Biazon disclosed the BOC was holding exploratory talks and negotiations for similar arrangements with a number of nations. He did not identify the countries. “We’ve had similar agreements with the United States, South Korea, Australia, China, Taiwan and Israel. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) also has multilateral agreements, which we are a part of,” he said. Borders divide, customs connect Citing the World Customs Organization motto, “Borders divide, customs connect,” Biazon said the country’s agreement with Moscow “is expected to enhance cooperation between the customs agencies of the Philippines and Russia.” “The cooperation agreement between the two countries is expected to prevent breaches of customs laws and protect their economic, fiscal, social Read More …

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