PH, US tackling ‘gaps’ in defense talks

 News
Oct 032013
 
PH, US tackling ‘gaps’ in defense talks

Philippine Daily Inquirer 5:19 am | Friday, October 4th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines—Negotiators for the Philippines and the United States are addressing certain “gaps” in the key provisions of a framework agreement that would allow increased US military presence in the country amid a territorial dispute with China. What these “gaps in the critical provisions” are that need further discussions, the Philippine panel is not saying. But Defense Undersecretary Pio Lorenzo Batino said that the major provisions are what make the framework agreement “unique from other agreements.” “There’s more work needed to be done on these provisions that will define this agreement. Both parties recognize that we have to work on them with more deliberation,” Batino said. Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Carlos Sorreta, the spokesman of the Philippine panel, said the negotiators were able to cover a large number of provisions in the proposed agreement during the last four rounds of negotations. “However, there remain major details of the substantive issues which both sides need to iron out, and we want to make sure that this agreement would be mutually beneficial,” Sorreta said. The provisions needing “more focused discussions” are contained in the article that covers the scope, agreed installations or Armed Forces of the Philippines facilities, prepositioning of defense equipment, supplies and materiel, ownership, and security. Despite the “gaps,” the panels ended the recent round of negotiations “with optimism,” said Batino. “Both sides look forward to the next round. Therefore, we are very hopeful on finding consensus within the remaining Read More …

CHEd defends P2B grant

 News
Oct 032013
 
CHEd defends P2B grant

PH-CALIFORNIA RESEARCH By Dona Z. PazzibuganPhilippine Daily Inquirer 4:46 am | Friday, October 4th, 2013 CHEd chairperson Patricia Licuanan. PHOTO FROM CHED.GOV.PH MANILA, Philippines—Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) chair Patricia Licuanan defended Thursday the CHEd’s nearly P2 billion annual research grant to select American and Filipino faculty members even as she acknowledged that two newly retired commissioners as well as her finance and administration chief have expressed reservations about it. Licuanan said the oppositions have prompted the CHEd to seek the legal opinion of the Department of Justice before formalizing the arrangement with the newly organized Philippine-California Advanced Research Institutes (PCARI). She said the CHEd wants to have the memorandum of agreement signed soonest so her office can use the P1.763 billion funding allocated for the PCARI project in CHEd’s budget this year, as well as the P1.9 billion earmarked for the project next year. The research grant for PCARI, which is identified with Filipino Silicon Valley entrepreneur Dado Banatao, will get the lion’s share of CHEd’s annual budget and will run for five years. “Recently, they got a bit concerned because they were part of an Ombudsman case involving another project, so they naturally became very cautious,” Licuanan said, referring to former CHEd commissioners Nona Ricafort and Nenalyn Defensor, whose terms ended last July 20 and were replaced last month. The commissioners, however, did not say the grant was anomalous, Licuanan said. But late afternoon on Thursday, Licuanan said Defensor assured her that she did not share Ricafort’s misgivings. Read More …

Laid-off PAL workers ask Francis for help

 News
Sep 302013
 
Laid-off PAL workers ask Francis for help

Philippine Daily Inquirer 5:03 am | Tuesday, October 1st, 2013 Pope Francis: Help sought. AP FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—Apparently inspired by Pope Francis’ call for decent work and social justice, workers laid off by Philippine Airlines (PAL) has sought papal intervention in the labor dispute and in their campaign to be reinstated in their jobs. In a one-page letter to Pope Francis, Gerardo Rivera, president of the PAL Employees Association (Palea), brought to the Holy Father’s attention the plight of the airline workers who were laid off in 2011 as a result of the flag carrier’s decision to implement an outsourcing scheme. “As the only majority Christian nation in Asia, we deem an appeal from Your Holiness to the stakeholders involved—our employer [PAL] and the government—will (persuade them to) exercise moral suasion (that) may prove decisive in a settlement fair to the workers,” wrote Rivera. “We were fired with the intention of being rehired as contract workers doing the same jobs without security of tenure, lower wages, longer hours of work but without benefits,” he said. Such a scheme, the union official said, was “in contravention” of the social teachings of the Catholic Church, which has been advocating the primacy of labor over capital. Rivera said the union members were inspired and overjoyed after hearing the Holy Father call for decent work and social justice on World Labor Day five months ago. In his remarks on the occasion, Pope Francis encouraged governments and those in public service to make an Read More …

DOLE probes reports of 3,000 Chinese illegals

 News
Sep 302013
 
DOLE probes reports of 3,000 Chinese illegals

By Tina G. SantosPhilippine Daily Inquirer 5:02 am | Tuesday, October 1st, 2013 Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz: Strict enforcement. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has ordered an investigation into reports that some 3,000 Chinese nationals were illegally working at construction sites in the country. Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, citing a report by DOLE Region IV-A Director Zenaida Angara-Campita, said that at least 13 Chinese nationals had been found working for a big construction company in Batangas without alien employment permits (AEPs). Baldoz said Campita had ordered the company to obtain AEPs for the Chinese nationals. “This is about strictly enforcing the revised rules for the issuance of AEPs over which our regional offices have direct responsibility,” Baldoz said in a statement. She said she had instructed the DOLE regional directors to look into the matter and, if found to have basis, act to strictly enforce the rules. “They need to submit to me a report on the results of their investigation. I will not tolerate lax enforcement of the rules on the issuance of the AEP,” Baldoz said. She added that the Department of Justice would be given a copy of the report through the Bureau of Immigration for appropriate action. Baldoz’s order to the regional directors included an inventory of the databases on foreign nationals who were issued AEPs and crosschecking this with the companies that applied for the AEPs in their areas of jurisdiction. “They have to check the contracts of employment Read More …

Coast Guard insists it was not liable for death of Taiwanese fisherman

 News
Sep 302013
 
Coast Guard insists it was not liable for death of Taiwanese fisherman

By Tetch Torres-TupasINQUIRER.net 2:28 pm | Monday, September 30th, 2013 AFP FILE PHOTO/PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD MANILA, Philippines—There is no evidence to hold the Philippine Coast Guard liable for the death of a Taiwanese fisherman, according to a joint affidavit it submitted to the Department of Justice stated. In a counter-affidavit, Commander Arnold Dela Cruz, Seaman 1st class Edrando Aguila, Sonny Masangcay and Henry Solomon said Philippine investigators from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) were not allowed to directly examine the vessel used by the fishermen during the incident nor were they allowed to autopsy the body of Hung Shih-Cheng who was allegedly shot by the PCG crewmen on board MCS 3001. The NBI in their complaint alleged that the bullet from the Springfield Caliber 7.62 mm M-14 rifle killed Cheng and that SN1 Endrando Aguila was the one who fired the said firearm. However, in their counter-affidavit, they pointed that Hiyasmin Abarrientos, one of the NBI’s ballisticians, admitted that she was not able to conduct a proper ballistics test and cross-matching on the M-14 as well as the slugs recovered from the boat. While in Taiwan to examine the vessel, she said they found a bullet from a caliber 7.62 mm rifle lodged at the pipe in the ceiling of the fish storage of the vessel but she was not allowed by the Taiwanese authorities to extract the bullet. “In other words, Abarrientos herself admits that the correct and scientific manner by which a ballistics test is conducted is Read More …

Asean parks meet slated

 News
Sep 292013
 
Asean parks meet slated

Philippine Daily Inquirer 4:28 am | Monday, September 30th, 2013 Environment Secretary Ramon Paje: Philippine delegation head. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines is hosting the 4th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Heritage Parks Conference (AHP), which will see 300 delegates, biodiversity experts and scientists tackle ecosystem degradation and the preservation of the Asean region’s natural heritage. Environment Secretary Ramon Paje will lead the Philippine delegation to the conference spearheaded by the Asean Center for Biodiversity (ACB) in Tagaytay City on Oct. 1-4. The conference stakeholders come from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines. ACB executive director Roberto Oliva said there were currently 33 AHPs in Southeast Asia, five of them in the Philippines—Mt. Apo Natural Park, Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park and Mt. Malindang Range Natural Park, all in Mindanao; and Mt. Iglit-Baco and the newest, Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve, both Luzon. The Asean Declaration on Heritage Parks was signed by the environment ministers of the 10 Asean member states in December 2003 in Yangon establishing the AHP Program to promote greater collaboration in the region in the management of the parks.—Jeannette I. Andrade 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: ASEAN , Asean Center for Biodiversity , Environment , heritage parks , heritage Read More …

PH to host Asean biodiversity meet

 News
Sep 072013
 
PH to host Asean biodiversity meet

Philippine Daily Inquirer 5:53 am | Sunday, September 8th, 2013 Environment Secretary Ramon Paje. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines will host next month the 4th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Heritage Parks (AHP) Conference, a regional dialogue addressing biodiversity issues and the sustainable management of protected areas. The four-day meet will be held in Tagaytay City on Oct. 1-4 spearheaded by the Asean Center for Biodiversity (ACB) and hosted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Secretary Ramon Paje announced Saturday. Some 300 delegates from the Asean countries, biodiversity experts, park managers, policy makers, scientists, and representatives of nongovernment organizations, indigenous and local communities, are expected to attend. In a news release, ACB Executive Director Roberto V. Oliva said the conference would update participants on recent knowledge and tools in addressing biodiversity loss, ecosystems degradation and the preservation of Asean nations’ natural heritage. Side events will include a visit to the Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve, the newest AHP. To date, there are 33 AHPs in Southeast Asia, five of them in the Philippines: Mt. Apo Natural Park, Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park and Mt. Malindang Range Natural Park, all in Mindanao; Mt. Iglit-Baco in Mindoro and the Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve. DJ Yap 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. Read More …

Fil-Am YouTube hit remakes ‘90s Top 40 single

 News
Sep 072013
 
Fil-Am YouTube hit remakes ‘90s Top 40 single

SBWIRE/INQUIRER.net US Bureau 12:57 am | Sunday, September 8th, 2013 Michelle Martinez. Screengrab from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FxJs8hH4x4 SAN MATEO, California—If you were part of the US dance-club scene in the mid-‘90s, then you’ll likely remember the Top 40 single “Do You Miss Me?” performed by Jocelyn Enriquez and written by Glenn Gutierrez. The single peaked on several Billboard charts, including the coveted Top 40. The song was both a domestic and international hit. More than 15 years later, San Francisco multimedia producer Anthony Garcia, along with music producer Venice John Valdez (aka Tugbeats) and YouTube celebrity Michelle Martinez, have remade this single by giving it a new electronic dance music track inspired by Super Producer and DJ Dave Guetta. Accompanying the single is a slick new music video.
The support for this project has been overwhelmingly positive from the San Francisco Bay Area music community, with some of its top radio personalities agreeing to be a part of the music video. The list of celebrities includes 99.7 Now’s St. John, 106 KMEL’s LadyRay, 99.7 Now’s Strawberry, 103.3 AMP Radio’s Joe Breezy, and 99.7 Now’s Freska. A large part of the support is due to the song’s San Francisco origin. In addition to introducing the song to a whole new market, Garcia is following the millennial generation’s lead by producing singles and music videos independently, without the luxury of backing from a music label or media company. Garcia produced the majority of this project both on his smartphone and from his living room on Read More …

Politicians steal our dreams

 News
Sep 072013
 
Politicians steal our dreams

By Cristina DC PastorThe FilAm/INQUIRER.net 11:27 pm | Saturday, September 7th, 2013 FILIPINO crane and heavy equipment operators in Saudi Arabia say their piece via social media. Photo courtesy of Junar Elmedo/Inquirer.net NEW YORK—Let’s see now. When was the last time we Filipinos got so angry we marched on the streets to scream, curse and throw insults out of rage? SEAFARERS join the protest, too. Photo by Edgardo Tuangtuang/courtesy of Migrante International/Bulatlat.com I remember being at Edsa People Power 1 in 1986 where millions came out in defiance of the Marcos Dictatorship. That was totally spontaneous. I don’t remember calling a friend saying, “Hey let’s meet at Greenhills and then we can have coffee afterwards.” I remember watching TV and seeing people pouring out into the streets. Inflamed by that scene, the husband and I got on a jeepney in our tsinelas and joined the swelling crowd. I had left the country by the time Edsa 2 happened in 2001, but I doubt I would have joined even if I was back home. The corruption of Joseph Estrada may have been a big issue then but for some reason, it did not get me all riled up maybe because Filipinos knew they were up against an individual with no scruples but voted him anyway. BANGKOK-BASED Filipinos turn a welcome party into a gathering to demand the abolition of the pork. Photo courtesy of Lan Mercado/ Inquirer.net At last Sunday’s rally outside the Philippine Consulate building, I was feeling pretty riled Read More …

PH, Japan hold ‘frank discussions’ on sea disputes

 News
Sep 052013
 
PH, Japan hold ‘frank discussions’ on sea disputes

By Nikko DizonPhilippine Daily Inquirer 3:21 am | Friday, September 6th, 2013 Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines and Japan on Thursday had “very frank discussions” on the territorial disputes in regional seas without specifically mentioning China, which has been aggressively asserting its claim to islands that are within both countries’ territories. Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and visiting Japanese Minister Ichita Yamamoto discussed the territorial disputes at the Department of National Defense (DND) in Camp Aguinaldo. Yamamoto, the state minister for Okinawa and affairs related to Japan’s northern territories, is the third Japanese official to visit the Philippines in the last three months. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe came to visit and met with President Aquino in July and Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera was in Manila in June. In a statement, the defense department said Yamamoto’s visit was “aimed to further reiterate Japan’s position and views under the administration of Prime Minister Abe on regional security issues, especially [in] the East China Sea.” Gazmin and Yamamoto “acknowledged [that] the common concerns of the Philippines and Japan are issues related to maritime security,” the statement said. Arbitration It said Gazmin stressed the need for all parties, whether in the East China Sea or in the West Philippine Sea, to exercise strategic restraint. Gazmin reiterated that the Philippines would continue to deal with the West Philippine Sea dispute through arbitral proceedings under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos). Yamamoto supported the Philippines’ position and “stressed that Read More …

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