Not So Good News [Archive] - Page 2

kiretoce

March 29th, 2007, 10:41 PM

:ohno: Not in a favorable light again! :gaah:

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Angelina Jolie Adoption Betting Odds: Philippines & Somalia (http://www.hecklerspray.com/angelina-jolie-adoption-betting-odds-philippines-somalia/20077660.php)
By Stuart Heritage March 29th, 2007

We're in the penultimate day of our superbly-observed and only marginally tasteless Angelina Jolie adoption betting odds, where we decide to seize upon the public mood by trying to get you to make money from guessing where Angelina Jolie adopts from next.

But, look, we're going to level with you here. We've come across something we weren't really anticipating. As always, we've been rattling through these betting odds from the bottom up - and that's great fun when it comes to dashing off jokey profiles about why Angelina Jolie would want to adopt a nice little Welsh kid. But now that the week is nearly over we've realised that now we've kind of committed ourselves to write jokey profiles about why Angelina Jolie would want to adopt a baby from the battlefields of Somalia. Hear that sound? That's us shooting ourselves in the foot.

Still place bets, though. Seriously, Somalia is a steal.

Here are the Angelina Jolie adoption betting odds - for the Philippines and Somalia -with help from Paddy Power…

Philippines - Angelina Jolie is now the proud owner of four children; one from Cambodia, one from Ethiopia, one from Vietnam and one from her very own uterus. Think of the mess that those kids must make. And getting a cleaner in every day, well that's just an added expense isn't it. So what's a socially aware millionairess to do when she's got tons of mess to clean up but can't be bothered to pay a cleaner? Simple - go to the Philippines and adopt a child from there. In the Philippines they pretty much train their babies to housekeep from day one, we heard. Plus instead of learning maths at school they learn how to clean rich people's swimming pools. Angelina Jolie would need to adopt an older child, though - after all, you can't expect a toddler to lift a sofa up to vacuum underneath it, can you? Credit Angelina with some dignity. Current Angelina Jolie adoption betting odds - 7/1

Somalia - We genuinely can't understand why Somalia isn't higher up the list of countries that Angelina Jolie wants to adopt from. On paper Somalia ticks all the boxes - hit by the tsunami in 2004, wounded by torrential rain and flooding in 2007, torn apart by civil war, almost finished off by air raids from Ethiopia… any one of those would normally be enough to attract a fleet of well-meaning celebrities to help their cause. And here's the kicker - there has been no effective national government in Somalia for 16 years. Angelina could probably stroll in, kidnap a baby and leave again without anyone even noticing. And isn't that a win-win situation for everyone? Current Angelina Jolie adoption betting odds - 6/1

Tomorrow - China and India! But if that's too long to wait - or you feel like making more money than you know what to do with - head right over to the Paddy Power Angelina Jolie adoption betting odds page to see the latest, and best, betting odds.

diz

March 29th, 2007, 10:52 PM

:wtf:

Lili

March 29th, 2007, 11:28 PM

^^ What is that writer talking about?! What an ignoramus.

Anyway, I will suggest that Angelina Jolie should adopt a child from Eastern Europe or from Kazakhstan or Uzbelistan, or from the Middle East, or from Bangladesh.

This just so the races will be more diverse. She's got two South East Asian kids already. I guess, she's got a penchant for us South East Asians. We're just so cute, charming and well-behaved.

crappypants

March 30th, 2007, 07:43 AM

putting the philippines and somalia in the same light.

demented_pigeon

March 30th, 2007, 08:20 AM

death327

March 30th, 2007, 11:33 PM

I want to be adopted by Angelina... becasue of Brad Pitt! :)

tigidig14

March 31st, 2007, 01:24 AM

^e kung si gma ang mag-adopt sayo para pasanin mo sya lagi-lagi

3cr

March 31st, 2007, 06:06 AM

The truth, the media and PGMA
By Fernando Fajardo
Inquirer.Net/Cebu Daily News Editorial
Last updated 12:10pm (Mla time) 03/30/2007
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/opinion/view_article.php?article_id=57893

ACKNOWLEDGING the power of the media to “change the nation,” President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at the Publish Asia Summit in the Manila Hotel last Tuesday urged journalists to report more on the good news. She said, “All of us, all of you will serve your time well by having good news that unite and inspire.”

I am sorry, Madame President. You cannot tell the media what to report or report more only of the good news. What if there were no good news or very little? If the media people follow your advice, what then will become of them? They will just be like your propaganda machine that does nothing but report things highly favorable to your administration to glorify you.

Madame President, you have Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye, who never tires telling the public many good things about you and what you do, even to the extent of twisting the truth like he did in his expose of the Garci tapes. Twisted or not, every word he makes never fails to find its way to the press. As President, you also have the media following your every move, recording everything you say and do for the consumption of the people.

Thus, Madame President, you and your government do not lack media exposure. However, if you find the reports not to your liking, do not blame the media. The media do not manufacture news. They merely report what is going on, including that which merely entertains. What more is there to report on the current election campaign, for example, if the candidates would rather sing, dance, wave, smile and shake hands instead of telling our people why they consider themselves most fitting for the position they seek?

Remember, Madame President, that life in the country is not necessarily what you believe it to be or what your underlings picture it to be to make you happy. You say the economy is booming, but the masses cannot understand the meaning of economic boom when they find themselves in squatter colonies and often hungry because of their low income, unemployment, or underemployment.

You also boast of the rising Philippine stock index, but who own stocks? I doubt if even one percent of the Filipinos own stocks. Moreover, who are the big stockholders? They are not even true-blooded Filipinos. They live in gated enclaves and marry their own kind. Madame President, the only true Filipinos you find in their homes are their atsays and atsoys. Forget the stocks.

To you, Madame President, the flood of dollars from our OFWs, including our “super maids” in foreign homes, is heaven-sent. It makes our peso strong versus the U.S. currency. That is good news because you have the misguided thought that a strong local currency is always good for the country; because it makes our imports, many of them luxury goods for the rich, cheaper, and because it makes easier paying our huge foreign loans, but how much of which went to corrupt hands or spent for ineffective programs and projects. Are you telling us to hide this part of the story of the peso? Good or bad, the media will report the story, and more so of the bad things if only to make our leaders in government such as, Madame President, do something.

At the summit, Madame President, you also said you have no tolerance for human rights violation and deplored the killing of militants who opposed your policies. You say this only after you feel the heat of the mounting criticism here and abroad, the most telling of which is the guilty verdict for violation of human rights the Permanent People’s Tribunal in the The Hague handed to you last weekend. What have you done, Madame President, in this regard? In your last SONA, you honored the military people believed responsible for human rights violations instead, a big contrast to what you are saying now.

Throughout the country, suspected leftists are being murdered or abducted even now. Smalltime criminals in Cebu were gunned down like rabid dogs in the last couple of years even if they had already served their punishment in jail. They may be a thorn in our society but remember that their presence not only serves to remind us of the imperfectability of mankind but also signify the failure of the government to provide a more equitable and decent way of life to its people. Let us break the cycle of violence as you said in the summit, Madame President, but let it not be done by creating more violence initiated or abetted by government.

Finally, Madame President, you welcome the European Union’s planned inquiry into the killings, as well as the United States’ offer to help seek “impartial justice” for the victims in the country. Is that good or bad news? To me, it is a shame that it now takes foreign intervention to initiate and find solutions to our own problems. That is bad news, Madame President, but you created it yourself.

_______________________________________

Trivializing hunger
By Alecks Pabico
GMA News Editorial
http://www.gmanews.tv/blogs/alecks-pabico/archives/16-Trivializing-hunger.html

THE recent Social Weather Stations survey showing a record-high 19-percent hunger incidence among Filipinos has elicited yet another callous response from Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who said that she too had experienced going hungry once.

"Even I have missed one meal in the last three months," quipped Arroyo in an obvious dig at the question used by the SWS to solicit responses from survey respondents about going hungry or missing a meal in the last three months.

The polling firm's use of the phrase "nakaranas ng gutom at walang makain" (experienced hunger and did not have anything to eat) in its survey question specifically refers to hunger that is involuntarily suffered by households.

But Arroyo would rather take it literally. And in doing so, she has only succeeded in trivializing the serious problem of hunger, if not making a mockery of the ordeal of an estimated 3.4 million hungry Filipino families nationwide.

Because missing a meal in the last three months is a matter of choice for Arroyo while the same cannot be said of the nearly one in five households that continue to endure hunger simply because they don't have any choice at all — or much more enjoy privileged access to the presidential banquet.

Arroyo would later grant that insufficient income could be contributing to Filipinos' hungry stomachs. Well, it should given that the combined rate of unemployment (7.8 percent) and underemployment (21.5 percent) at 29.3 percent has hardly eased since 2004, when it was at 29.4 percent, which as Elmer Ordoñez wrote in i Report in 2005 was "the worst in the last four years."

Said the former undersecretary of agriculture and trade and industry: "With less income from employment, people would obviously have less money to buy food. Let’s not even go to where they are getting the money they are spending."

And to think that inflation has eased at 3.2 percent to date — the lowest since December 2002 at 2.5 percent — from an average of 6.2 percent last year.

What is making matters worse, Ordoñez argued is the inequitable growth in the country where about half of the national income goes to only 20 percent of our population. In contrast, he said, citing an Asian Development Bank study, that the poorest 20 percent of the population improved their income by only 0.5 percent for every one-percent growth in average income. This over the period from 1985 to 1997 when the poverty incidence dropped from 44 percent to 33 percent.

Still, Arroyo would rather place the blame elsewhere, repeating her earlier refrain in reaction to the SWS hunger survey that the people should also be partly faulted for their poor spending habits that prioritize luxuries (including vices) over basic necessities.

Arroyo's assertions, however, do not have the backing of government's very own data. The latest Family Income and Expenditure Statistics (FIES) survey, which was conducted by the National Statistics Office in 2003, found that Filipinos spent only an average of 1.1 percent for cigarettes and 0.7 percent for alcohol, compared to 43 percent for food out of their total income. These figures, in fact, have not changed since the last survey that was done in 2000. (see table)

True, there is a continuing slide in the share of family expenditure on food items, which the FIES survey noted as an indication that the spending pattern of Filipino families may be tending towards less spending on food. The slight decline (0.8 percent) in family spending on food items also showed an increase in expenses on food consumed outside the home compared to food consumed at home.

On the other hand, increased spending were monitored on transportation and communication as well as in fuel, light and water, personal care and effects, clothing, footwear and other wear, medical care, durable furniture and equipment and miscellaneous expenditures such as those for special family occasions and gifts and contributions.

But these expenditure items are not commonly what the poor will spend their income on. That is why groups like the Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) Philippines rush to defend them, saying that what Arroyo calls as luxuries are in fact "small dignities, the poor's mechanism to escape the harsh realities of poverty."

3cr

March 31st, 2007, 06:19 AM

Lacson airs fears of P5B funds mis-use
BY JP LOPEZ
Malaya
http://www.malaya.com.ph/mar31/news7.htm

CEBU CITY — Re-electionist Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Friday said a Team Unity senatorial candidate was a recipient of part of the P5 billion fund of the National Irrigation Administration.

Lacson, a candidate of the Genuine Opposition, said the administration candidate who was a former local executive official will receive P50 million of the fund.

He refused to identify the candidate.

Lacson earlier revealed a new plan of the NIA to release P5 billion in funds for "development" projects.

Lacson said the principle of "presumption of regularity" may no longer hold during the election period because of the Arroyo government’s track record of using multi-billion-peso funds to bankroll the campaigns of administration candidates.

Lacson said the release of the fund is highly dubious because it was timed during election period.

He warned the NIA and other government agencies planning to release billions of pesos in funds for projects, especially at this time, to make sure they implement "concrete" instead of "ghost" projects.

Otherwise, Lacson said he would be forced to disclose the list of recipients of such "projects," including governors, mayors and lawmakers of areas where such ghost projects are listed.

"I have in my possession a list of ‘recipients’ and ‘beneficiaries,’ which can be easily updated through my networks in the countryside," he said.

Lacson said all the recipients were administration allies.

He admitted though there is yet no irregularity in the release of the funds. "For all we know, baka meron ngang project," he said.

"(But) P5 billion is P5 billion. Forewarned is forearmed," Lacson said.

Lacson lamented that small fish were made to answer to the alleged overpricing of a P365-million street lighting project for the Association of Southeast Asian (Asean) Summit last January.

The Office of the Ombudsman has slapped a six-month preventive suspension on 19 government officials in Cebu, including the mayors of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu cities.

The suspension order stemmed from the Ombudsman’s ongoing investigation into apparent overpricing of the project.

The funds for the lampposts were part of the P7 billion to P8 billion road users’ tax collected annually.

Lacson said aside from the local officials, some national government officials should be held responsible for what he said was "technical malversation."

"Road users’ tax collected annually should be for the maintenance of roads. It should not be diverted to other purposes," he said.

Rep. Francis "Chiz" Escudero, another GO candidate, urged Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez to bring investigations into the lampposts controversy all the way to the top

Escudero said the Ombudsman should spare no one, not even an administration favorite like Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., who was public works secretary at the time of the summit.

"The graft body should also upgrade the charge to plunder, considering the amount involved," he said.

_____________________________

P2M per camera for Asean meet? Graft probers smell overprice
By Jolene Bulambot
Inquirer
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view_article.php?article_id=58038

CEBU CITY—Graft investigators are also looking into what could be another scam in projects related to the 12th Asean summit held here, this time involving surveillance cameras that could have cost the government at least P2 million each from a total budget of P90 million.

Virginia Palanca-Santiago, acting deputy Ombudsman, said the anti-graft office would look into allegations that the surveillance cameras installed in the cities of Cebu, Lapu-lapu and Mandaue were also overpriced.

The government, through the Department of Public Works and Highways, bought 42 surveillance cameras that were installed in the Asean ceremonial routes—the streets traversed by heads of state and delegates.

The P90 million budget means that each of the 42 pieces of surveillance cameras cost the government P2.14 million each.

The investigation came after Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez ordered the Ombudsman Visayas to expand the scope of its investigation to include other projects undertaken for the summit mainly by the DPWH, which received P1.5 billion for various summit beautification projects.

But it was also prompted by the claim of local businessman Crisologo Saavedra, the whistleblower in the P365-million lamppost scam, that the surveillance cameras were overpriced, too.

Saavedra was, however, a losing bidder in the surveillance camera project.

His firm, Pelican/Cebesos Development Corp., lost to Manila-based Triton Communications, but he kept saying his bid was lower. He was accused of failing to deliver the cameras after winning the bid.

Investigators from the Presidential Anti Graft Commission (PAGC) were told by Philippine National Police officials in Cebu that the PNP officials have not yet signed the papers signifying that they were accepting the Triton cameras because those that have been delivered did not match specifications.

Some of the surveillance cameras, it was learned, were not functioning and some units were transferred to traffic intersections because a piece of equipment that should be used together with the cameras and pieces of radio communications has not arrived.

Though some of the cameras did not function during the Asean summit, the Department of Budget and Management still released P61 million to their supplier, Triton.

Santiago said another P21 million was to be released as a second payment to the firm.

Santiago said officials of the DPWH ignored several calls from Ombudsman investigators inquiring into the status of the P21 million balance payment.

“It seems they’re (DPWH officials) eluding us,” said Santiago.

She said she would ask Ombudsman Gutierrez to issue another order stopping the release of the P21 million.

“We called up DBM but as of this time, there is no fund yet for the release of the P21 million. Precisely, we want to know from DPWH if they will be the one to release the fund but they were not cooperating. In view of this, we would be constrained to ask for the (cease and desist) order. It is safer that way than not knowing that 21 million would be released anytime,” Santiago said.

An official of DPWH Central Visayas, who refused to be named, confirmed that the agency already paid 80 percent of the P90 million budget for the surveillance cameras.

The official said the agency would pay the remaining 20 percent after the final inspection and formal turnover of the surveillance cameras to the police regional office.

Chief Supt. Silverio Alarcio, head of the police regional office, said a team from the PNP, DPWH and Commission on Audit would conduct a final inspection before the PNP formally accepts the project.

3cr

March 31st, 2007, 08:10 AM

No rapid growth without industrialization — ADB
The low level of investments in the country due to a weak business environment is a major impediment to high-level growth, according to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in its annual Asia outlook report.

The economy must grow faster than five percent to six percent if it wants to reduce poverty and cut its unemployment rate, the ADB yesterday said.

Jesus Felipe, principal ADB economist, said the country needed to boost its manufacturing sector, not solely rely on services to drive economic growth.

“There is nothing wrong with nurturing the services sector but you have to diversify,” Felipe told reporters.

“Industrialization is a step that cannot be bypassed, and without industrialization, there would be no rapid growth,” he said.

The manufacturing sector just recently broke a 12-month string of contraction, based on government data.

The economy grew 5.4 percent in 2006 and the ADB expects it to expand at a similar rate this year.

Industries accounted for around a third of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2006 and contributed 1.6 percentage points to growth.

Services generated a stronger three percentage points of growth and made up about 48 percent of GDP.

“Countries that do not change cannot sustain rapid growth,” Felipe said.

The Philippines should “move its resources to higher value added sectors, produce and export a more sophisticated range of products and increase its labor productivity,” he said.

ADB country director Thomas Crouch added the Philippines could expand more than the projected 5.4 percent this year if improvements in public finances are sustained and if investment is boosted through wider and deeper reforms. Balancing the budget, while increasing infrastructure and social spending, would help improve the country’s investment rates, Crouch said.

The key challenge for the country, according to the ADB, is to move to a higher growth trajectory and create more and higher-quality jobs for the unemployed, underemployed and new entrants into the labor force.

It noted economic growth and employment have lagged behind the government’s medium-term targets of 6.8 percent to 7.8 percent in 2008 and seven percent to eight percent by 2010.

For the country to meet its own targets, which would translate to an increase in employment by an average of 1.4 million to 1.6 million annually, will require sustained efforts to improve the investment climate, the ADB said.

“Inadequate investment is the main factor that has curtailed growth and employment. The medium-term targets, for example, were based on investment picking up at double-digit annual rates in 2006 to 2010 to reach 28 percent of GDP by 2010, almost twice the current level,” it said.

ADB said in agriculture, which accounts for 36 percent of employment, investment has been weak because of farmers’ poor access to credit and support services, expensive inputs, high costs of transport, and the incomplete land reform program.

In manufacturing, it cited macroeconomic instability and uncertainty in economic policies; inadequate infrastructure services, especially of power and transport; and corruption and the costs of complying with regulations, especially related to customs, trade, and labor markets, for weak growth.

While improvements in the fiscal position have since fostered greater macroeconomic stability, the still-high debt and the large share of interest payments in the budget expose the economy to swings in sentiment in financial markets and underscore the importance of containing the risk premium with steady progress on reforms.

“Further increases in revenues as a share of GDP, reduction of debt and interest payments, and restraint in other current expenditures are required to deploy necessary resources toward development spending on infrastructure and social programs,” according to the ADB.

3cr

March 31st, 2007, 09:37 PM

Gov’t lowers sights on growth target for RP
Daily Tribune
http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20070401hed4.html

A Malacañang official yesterday said the Arroyo administration has lowered its growth target for the country due to several factors that substantially derailed its expectations for higher revenues from State coffers.

According to the Palace official, who requested anonymity, the government inter-agency Development Budget Coordinating Committee (DBCC) lowered the earlier projected target revenue collections for the Bureau of Internal Revenues (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs (BoC) this year after the Asian Development Bank (ADB) recently issued out its own growth projection figure for the country which it placed at a measly 5.4 percent for 2007.

It cited a restrained growth in the region and around the world for coming up with the assessment.

The government had earlier placed the growth projection for the country at 6.1 to 6.7 percent.

“Following the ADB report, the DBCC lowered the revenue assumptions this year for both the BIR and the BoC,” the Palace official said.

He said the DBCC has revised the revenue target for the BIR specifically at P718.67 billion, down from the original target of P765.9 billion, and lowered the BoC’s target to P165.12 billion from the original P228.2 billion.

“This means the tax collections of the two agencies would be lowered by more than P100 billion from the original target P994.1 billion. The new tax revenue is expected at P890.209 billion, which includes income from other government agencies,” he said.

An official of the DBCC also said the committee changed its assumptions as a result of the softening prices of oil in the world market, which translates into lower collectible taxes by the agencies.

Financial experts, meanwhile, welcomed the government’s lowering of its revenue target, saying such an “inaccurate” setting of economic targets will spook credit rating agencies whenever quarterly or yearly goals are not met by the revenue agencies.

The risk of being downgraded by the credit rating agencies will result in a bigger negative impact on the economy, they added.

The financial experts recalled what had happened last year where the government’s original revenue assumptions based on an optimistic growth projection did not materialize as the gross domestic product (GDP) slowed down during the second half of the year.

As a result, the BIR was only able to collect P652 billion, short of the state-pegged P675.4 billion target.

“There should be some sort of flexibility in the way we set our revenue targets as economic outcomes are fluid in nature,” a financial expert, who refused to be identified, said.

“Luckily, the inspired performance of the BIR in 2006, which posted a collection growth rate of about 20 percent, mitigated the more serious impact of faulty goal projection,” he added.

The government last year assigned the BIR a 24.5 percent collection growth rate, which was a figure unheard of in recent years as collections slumped from 1998 to 2004 when the agency posted an average of just about 7 percent collection growth rate.

Historical data show the last time the BIR breached the 20 percent growth plateau was in 1997 or before the Asian financial crisis, when the agency posted a 21.6 percent increase year-on-year.

venntro

April 2nd, 2007, 07:36 AM

^^ So they can't meet the 7-8-9 growth target that Salceda wanted for 2007-2009. Too bad. It's still early and I hope we can still reach the goals.

crappypants

April 2nd, 2007, 08:15 AM

well we can always lower the target but witht the aim of surpassing it. in that cas the result to foreign investors will be more dramatic.

3cr

April 9th, 2007, 07:57 AM

Yep!
Add this to the biggest problem...

http://www.gmanews.tv/video/5488/Philippine-Agenda-Corruption

Gotta love those lampposts..

Here's another one!
Rey E. Requejo
Original Article at http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=police4_april2_2007

The Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal-3 may further delay its opening after engineering consultants hired by the government to assess the facility’s condition, found serious defects that will expose it to great risks, including possible collapse, a lawyer said.

Jose Bernas, one of the initiators of the anti-dummy law charges against officials of Philippine International Air Terminals Co. Inc. and its foreign partner Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Worldwide, said the findings of Ove Arup and Partners —an independent professional engineering consultant—were submitted to the government last week.

He said the firm found out that the facility’s “seismic provisions are either inadequate or missing, exposing earthquake risk, and the strength of concrete is below standard.”

Citing portion of the report, copy of which [was] obtained by Standard Today, Bernas said “70 cored concrete specimens yielded compressive strength lower than specified design. Of these, 43 and 23 yielded values lower than 85 and 75 percent, respectively. Twelve of the cored samples yielded concrete strength below 25 mpa (mega pascals). The specified strength is 40 mpa.”

About 30 percent of post-tensioned flat panels were found to have design deficiencies. The combined areas of these deficiency floor panel represent about 15 percent of the total floor area of the terminal, he added.

“If an earthquake strikes, the lives of estimated 10,000 passengers who are at the terminal during the operation, will be at high risk. This is a disaster waiting to happen.”

The report cited non-structural walls, which showed cracks and no drawing details that may collapse in earthquake. [sic]

Architectural defects, including the omission of [a] tunnel that would hamper the transit of passengers to domestic routes interconnecting the facility to terminals 1 and 2, were also noted.

“Unaided walking distances that do not meet bid documents exceed maximum length. More moving escalators [are] needed to meet standards,” the document stressed.

The retail and concession areas also exceeded bid requirement[s] but “poor mix,” particularly where 87 percent of F and B at fourth level; about 41 percent of the concessionaires located beyond security area that may not pass the International and Federal Aviation standards, Bernas said. [sic--this paragraph does not make much sense; possible uploading errors?]

Apart from these structural defects, the engineering firm also found the toilets of the terminal to be undersized that may not be able to accommodate the 1 person per sqm during peak hours.

The baggage handling specified in the bid is 8,000 bags per hour, but actual computation showed that the facility can only handle 3,500 to 4,000 bags per hour.

According to Bernas, given the serious defects, the government should cancel the expropriation proceedings plan to take over the operation of the facility and have other parties come in to correct the defects for the safety of the passengers.

dattebayo

April 9th, 2007, 12:37 PM

ano na ba yung latest percentage ng below poverty line ng Pinas? sbi ng iba pinaka malaki na daw sa SE asia, pero di ako naniniwala. nkalgay kasi sa wikipedia 26% in 2003 pa, tpos sa iba nman 40% nung 2001.

le Reine

April 9th, 2007, 07:18 PM

^depends kung anong agency ang gumawa ng survey. Meron kasi silang iba-ibang definition ng poverty. For example, sa World Bank, 20%+ ang poverty rate natin kasi they are using the 1$ or 2$ a day standard. Sa SWS eh 50% kasi self-rated poverty. Sa government, I think it should be below Php35 to be considered impoverished kaya nasa 30%. Yung IBON, aba malay ko kung paano naging 80% yung sa kanila. 90% pa nga ata, if I'm not mistaken.

So, do we have the hishest poverty rate in SEA? Of course not! That's just common sense. Kamusta naman kaya sa Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar at Indonesia? Pero, in the five largest economies in SEA (meaning Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and Singapore), the Philippines would have the highest or the second highest poverty rate. My point is simple. If you want to compare countries, you should at least set some clear standards/definitions on a certain concept like poverty rate. Different countries have various definitions of poverty, so you should consider that while comparing them. Don't take figures/stats as they are. you should at least know the context in which those were taken. Wala lang, just a simple advice.

venntro

April 10th, 2007, 09:23 AM

UN sees RP food shortfalls in ’07
F.A.O.: PHILIPPINES, IRAQ FACING AN 'EXCEPTIONAL' LACK OWING TO DISASTERS, CROP FAILURES

By Jennifer A. Ng
Reporter

THE United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has included the Philippines on its list of 33 countries that require external assistance to deal with reported critical problems of food insecurity.

In the April issue of FAO’s “Crop Prospects and Food Situation,” the UN unit categorized the Philippines and Iraq as the two countries that could face an “exceptional shortfall in aggregate food production/supplies as a result of crop failure, natural disasters, interruption of imports, disruption of distribution, excessive post-harvest losses, or other supply bottlenecks.”

In the case of the Philippines, FAO said its projection of a possible shortfall in food supply this year was based on the losses caused by successive typhoons that battered the country especially during the last quarter of 2006.

The FAO report, however, did not make a projection as to the magnitude of the shortfall in the country’s food supply for this year.

FAO said 32 other countries aside from the Philippines would require external assistance to deal with their food problems this year.

This despite projections by the UN unit that the production of the world’s basic food crops such as cereal and rice would post increases this year.

For 2007, FAO has projected that world cereal production would increase 4.3 percent to a record 2,082 million tons.

The bulk of the increase is expected in maize, with a bumper crop already being gathered in South America, and a sharp increase in plantings expected in the United States, according to the report. A significant rise in wheat output is also foreseen, with a recovery in some major exporting countries after weather problems last year.

FAO forecast coarse grains production to rise 5.6 percent to 1,033 million tons, and wheat to increase 4.8 percent to about 626 million tons. Global rice production in 2007 could rise marginally to 423 million tons in milled terms, about 3 million tons more than in 2006, FAO said.

venntro

April 10th, 2007, 09:28 AM

Rising food import bill signals production woes

GENUINE Opposition senatorial candidate Aquilino Pimentel III said Monday the national government must declare “food security as a priority program to prevent the further spread of hunger.”

Campaigning in the rural areas, Pimentel noted that poverty and hunger are even more pronounced in rural areas than in urban places because of the failure of the government to prioritize food production.

Pimentel lamented that for the past decades Philippine production in rice, corn, meat and poultry has been deficient. “As a result we have been importing food products, costing us billions of pesos in foreign exchange,” he added.

“The national food import bill has been increasing from $714 million in 1993 to $2.38 billion in 2003. Despite the claim of policymakers that food importation would bring down food prices, the fact is that the price of rice, fish and meat in our country has continued to rise beyond the purchasing capacity of the average family,” Pimentel said.

The failure of local food production to keep up with the needs of the population can be attributed, Pimentel said, not only to backward production methods but also to the “precipitate efforts of our government to lower tariff protection for our farmers because of foreign pressure.”

He pointed out that since 1981, the Philippines has been pursuing a comprehensive and radical program of trade liberalization. Through the Tariff Reform Programs I–IV, the Philippines had unilaterally reduced nominal tariff rates from 23.5 percent in 1993 to 7.71 percent in 2001. Under the common effective preferential tariff scheme, tariff rates were reduced to zero on about 60 percent of all Philippine products on the inclusion list for the Asean Free Trade Area, Pimentel lamented.

As a result, according to Pimentel, agricultural employment declined from 11.29 million jobs in 1994 to 11.22 in 2003 despite the government’s insistence that joining the WTO would create half a million jobs annually. Real wages continued to fall, the highest fall (including even nonagricultural wages) being experienced in Muslim Mindanao, Pimentel added.

With government support lacking, agricultural productivity has also declined relative to the increasing needs of the expanding population, he said.

“Clearly we must reexamine our tariff policy on agricultural products. We must provide our farmers with the same protection that the United States, Europe and Japan provide their own farmers,” said Pimentel. “We should prioritize local food production so that we will become less dependent on imports.”

venntro

April 10th, 2007, 11:16 AM

RP loses P13B/year in revenues on smuggling of ‘sin’ products
By Des Ferriols
The Philippine Star 04/10/2007

A recent study reveals that at least P13.2 billion worth of revenues a year is lost to technical smuggling of so-called ‘sin’ products such as cigarettes and alcohol.

Commissioned by the Department of Finance, the study shows that foregone revenues from technical smuggling of sin products reached P52 billion from 2000 to 2005.

According to the study, the revenue losses consisted of about P2.8 billion in tariff losses, P36.9 billion in excise tax losses and P11.1 billion in value-added tax losses.

Top revenue leakages were spirits (P22.3 billion for the period covered in the study), cigar and cigarettes (P20.5 billion) and wines (P6.1 billion).

The study was conducted to determine revenue losses from technical smuggling of goods with a special focus on heavily excisable sin products which showed huge revenue foregone for these products.

According to the study, it undertook the identification of the duty-free shops where imports were sizeable in nominal terms: $27 million for tobacco and $62 million for spirits.

The study explained that to help increase its collection, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) routinely distinguishes the countries whose recorded exports to the Philippines were inconsistent with the accounted imports of the Philippines.

"Discrepancies between the Philippines and her partner country are indicative of unrecorded importation activities or leakages," the study explained.

The study said leakages and corresponding tariffs were detailed by product and country of origin while the excise and VAT were computed on the basis of the total taxable volumes so the country breakdowns were not provided.

Based on the results of the study, Hong Kong and Singapore consistently showed extremely high leakage rates and large absolute amounts in discrepancies of about $400 million per year.

Since these were not tobacco producers, the study said the products were most probably cigarettes.

Malaysia, Australia, China and Macau, on the other hand, show very high leakage rates but the amount was only 10 percent of the losses from Hong Kong and Singapore.

The study said tobacco-exporting countries like Brazil and Malawi also appeared in the list, but the products involved were unmanufactured tobacco and not cigarettes.

On a per product basis, the study said the leakage rates were most troublesome for tobacco and cigarettes 80 percent for Hong Kong and Singapore which together account for 75 percent of total leakages.

The same was true for beer where the leakage rate was close to 100 percent, fermented liquors (80 percent) and other liquor (90 percent).

On the whole it was estimated that the government loses at least P64 billion a year in revenues from the leakages in Customs tax and tariff collections due to technical smuggling from the country’s major trading partners.

A new study shows that from 2000 to 2005, estimated revenue losses were huge: Over P79 billion in tariffs and close to P176 billion in value-added taxes for a grand total of P255 billion or P64 billion a year.

marxman

April 10th, 2007, 11:40 AM

jgacis

April 10th, 2007, 11:52 AM

But we are doing better now compared to 2 years ago... who will you credit that to??? to the opposition whose main purpose now is to oppose??? it aint gonna spread to the masses that fast... there are so many factors that inhibits our progress...

I agree. The opposition provides nothing but political bantering. If they can't provide suggestive solutions that actually show some thought into it, they provide nothing to this country but more burden to the burden we already have... :ohno:

Progress takes time, it is a process that can take years. It is not an overnight miracle cure. :ohno:

heathcliff

April 10th, 2007, 12:02 PM

The truth, the media and PGMA

That is shirking responsibility on the part of the media. Scandal sells, and they continue to feed the public’s appetite for scandal because of their greed for higher ratings. It doesn't matter if PGMA has a whole press corps working for her - what matters is what the mainstream media is itself dishing out.

I think it's our media which is in denial - in denial of its responsibility in educating and instilling better values in its captive audience.

smokingunmanila

April 10th, 2007, 02:14 PM

Pwede ko bang sagutin si Fajardo paragraph per paragraph...trip ko lang

OtAkAw

April 10th, 2007, 04:20 PM

^^Do it, kung andyan lang sana siya, ang sarap lasunin ng cyanide.

I'm tired of people who pretend that they are blind.

Askal82

April 11th, 2007, 02:20 AM

I agree. The opposition provides nothing but political bantering. If they can't provide suggestive solutions that actually show some thought into it, they provide nothing to this country but more burden to the burden we already have... :ohno:

Progress takes time, it is a process that can take years. It is not an overnight miracle cure. :ohno:

What matters most to people right now is to get three square meals a day than the political muck you hear in their bedtime stories. Kumakalam na nga ang sikmura, may bangayan pa. The electorate majority (masa) has always been excluded from reaping the benefits and services of the people they elected to represent their interests in the national government except during election season kasi kapwa mga hangal din ang hinahalal.

marxman

April 11th, 2007, 07:24 AM

what do i think of responsible journalism... hmmm... not many of our journalist practice this... all they want are scoops... so they will be known... and be made anchors... (not all though -- there are still who are really resposible)...

try to look for polls... asking people who they trust the least... ironically journalists top the list. hehe...

for me responsible journalism is telling the truth and trying to help our country... if what your writing is not for the better good of our county then dont publish it... keep it to your d**n selvs...

marxman

April 11th, 2007, 07:27 AM

is there any way we can contact that journalist???

marxman

April 11th, 2007, 07:30 AM

prioritizing the truth and not just for profit that the newspaper companies get, news company ratings... for the scoops (dont know spelling???)...

marxman

April 12th, 2007, 04:29 AM

I really wonder what could happen if the majority of the Senate and Congress will be to the people who call themselves "OPPOSITION"???

*if they win... they will try to impeach the leader who is doing her duty for our country...
*while doing this... our economy will go back to where it was during the estrada tragedy...
*we will again loss the confidence of the international community in terms of economics...
*the people who call themselves "OPPOSITION" will then try to rebuild our country (as if they could)...
*then the cycle will continue...

im really afraid if the OPPOSITION wins... they will destroy our economy...
you know why i can say this??? coz there main goal is to oust/impeach PGMA... all the time they've been trying to discredit her... Lets hope im WRONG...

Maybe ill go straight for TU this elections... I hope you people who are concerned for our country would do the same...

tootsjap

April 12th, 2007, 04:36 AM

wrong thread

marxman

April 12th, 2007, 04:38 AM

PGMA cannot focus in making our country better if she is on impeachment trial...
we cant work well if something is bugging us RIGHT???

Risk Taker

April 13th, 2007, 10:40 AM

More Pinoys say quality of life worsened in past three years

By HELEN FLORES

The Philippine Star

Despite government claims that the economy is improving, more than half of Filipinos feel that their personal quality of life has worsened in the last three years, according to an opinion poll conducted by research firm Pulse Asia.

"Despite the Arroyo administration’s pronouncements that there have been significant improvements in the country’s economic situation over the past several years, a majority of Filipinos (54 percent) claims that they are worse off now than three years ago – marginally higher than the January 2007 figure of 49 percent," Pulse Asia said in its latest pre-election survey on the quality of life.

The survey was conducted from April 3 to 5 using face-to-face interviews of 1,800 respondents aged 18 years and above.

"Pulse Asia undertook this pre-election survey on its own without any party singularly commissioning the research effort," Pulse Asia said.

Forty-nine percent to 62 percent of Filipinos across the country’s geographic areas and socioeconomic classes expressed this view, except those in the best-off class ABC, where almost the same percentages say that their personal situation has either worsened or remained the same between 2004 and 2007 (42 percent versus 43 percent).

Filipinos living in Metro Manila who say their personal quality of life has worsened rose from 47 percent in April 2004 to 55 percent in April this year.

Thirty-five percent said their personal circumstances have remained the same as in 2004. Only about one in 10 Filipinos (11 percent) feels that his/her personal situation is better now than in 2004, it said.

Pulse Asia said the percentages of those whose personal quality of life improved or remained the same are practically constant but the percentage of those whose personal circumstances worsened has increased from 46 percent in April 2004 to 54 percent in April 2007.

Meanwhile, about two in three Filipinos (65 percent) feel the situation of most of their countrymen is worse now than in 2004, the survey firm said.

Pulse Asia said they asked their respondents not only about the condition of their families, but also about their perception of the quality of life of most Filipinos and their families taken collectively.

Asked about the national quality of life, 65 percent of Filipinos said it has worsened over the past three years – a sentiment expressed by sizable to big majorities (60 percent to 76 percent) across the country’s geographic areas and socioeconomic classes, Pulse Asia said.

Around three in 10 Filipinos (27 percent) said the quality of life of most Filipinos did not change – positively or negatively – between 2004 and 2007 while only seven percent say the same has improved during this time.

"The current overall figures are nearly the same as those recorded in January 2007. Thus, it appears that the reported gains from the economic reforms put in place by the Arroyo administration are not yet being felt by most Filipinos," Pulse Asia said.

Pulse Asia’s nationwide survey has a plus or minus 2.3 percentage points error margin at the 95 percent confidence level.

The research firm said as the interviews for this pre-election survey were being conducted, news headlines were dominated by reports on the hostage-taking incident on March 28 in Manila involving 26 schoolchildren, President Arroyo’s call for an election campaign ceasefire during the Holy Week, the show of force of the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats during their convention on April 2.

source:abs-cbnnews.com

marxman

April 13th, 2007, 10:52 AM

venntro

April 16th, 2007, 07:31 AM

Slow pace of public spending worries experts

By Jun Vallecera
Reporter

THERE is increasing dissatisfaction in and out of government over the slow pace of public spending, particularly on infrastructure, and how this has made monetary management, for example, more complicated.

The private sector has taken notice and has advocated for intelligent and more rapid infrastructure development than is displayed by Malacañang at the moment.

The Economic and Policy Reform Agenda (Epra), a private advocacy group led by former socioeconomic planning chief Cielito F. Habito, has noted the diminishing public spending on infrastructure, down to only 2.2 percent of local output or the gross domestic product in 2005 from 3.5 percent in 2000.

Senior government officials, speaking anonymously, said on Friday the strengthening public sector has created more space for spending on vital projects as ports, roads and bridges.

“Surely there is scope for additional spending,” officials said, more in frustration than anything else.

That government has mishandled its own objective is shown by the Bureau of Treasury’s penchant for rejecting bids or canceling the sale of government IOUs altogether.

While this has allowed domestic interest rates to move down and approach levels enjoyed by First-World economies, the government forgets it still operates on a sizeable budget deficit this year, officials said.

BTr chief Omar Cruz never hesitates to reject bids or cancel the scheduled sale of government bonds, knowing his revenue stream—boosted by foreign inflows—keeps the treasury well-stocked.

“Sooner or later something has to give,” officials said, hinting of likely complications arising from holding back on infrastructure spending.

Lead Epra advocate Habito has noted Manila ranked even lower regionally on infrastructure spending, from 47th place in a roster of 61 countries in 2002 to 56th place in 2006.

Malaysia was ranked 31st and Thailand 48th place.

“From the point of view of competitiveness, we clearly lack infrastructure. As to how much more the government should spend, well, the national government has outperformed its deficit goal for some time now,” frustrated government officials said.

Public expenditures in the first two months this year quickened by only two percent, just a fraction from year ago growth of 15.8 percent, data from the Department of Finance show.

Although revenue collection also quickened due to a number of fiscal reforms, the deficit this year should not be substantially higher this year than last year’s P62.2 billion.

These are frustrating numbers for senior government officials.

smokingunmanila

April 16th, 2007, 08:04 AM

Nakaka tawa..bakit lumalabas bigla itong gutom and naghihirap issue ngayong election....

venntro

April 16th, 2007, 08:07 AM

^^ That Cielito Habito is an ERAP supporter under the guise of an economist. Nothing good comes out of the mouth of that guy.

venntro

April 17th, 2007, 06:12 AM

Philippines likely to overshoot 2007 deficit target- Credit Suisse

The Philippines will likely exceed its programmed budget deficit of P63 billion for 2007 and hit P96.9 billion on weak state income in the absence of new fiscal measures, Credit Suisse said in its latest report.

"Public finances are still improving but revenue mobilization and debt reduction have a long way to go. We see no overspending risk before congressional elections in May. The main challenge is to increase the tax revenue to GDP ratio," said Credit Suisse economist Cem Karacadag.

"Absent new fiscal measures, the tax revenue to GDP ratio will likely stay constant and the government’s fiscal deficit to GDP ratio reach 1.5 percent in 2007, above the target of 1 percent."

Improving finances of state enterprises and the social security system, however, should keep overall public sector deficits below 1 percent of GDP in 2007-2008 and reduce public debt to GDP to about 72 percent in 2008 from 84 percent in 2006, Credit Suisse said.

The Department of Finance will annouce the first-quarter budget deficit data on April 23.

Credit Suisse expects the national government to meet the fiscal target for the first quarter, due to extra income from the privatization of some state-owned assets.

"In particular, we estimate a fiscal deficit of P48.8 billion for the first quarter, broadly in line with the government’s target. The first-quarter fiscal performance, however, will reflect P25.8 billion in receipts from the sale of the government’s stake in the Philippines Long Distance Telephone Company.

heathcliff

April 17th, 2007, 10:32 AM

Nakaka tawa..bakit lumalabas bigla itong gutom and naghihirap issue ngayong election....

Poverty is being used by oppositionists as propaganda material against the administration, but they have failed to look at their lackluster performance as lawmakers. Being part of the government, they are also accountable to the people. What have they done towards alleviating the plight of the poor? How have they spent their time in Congress? How have they helped the present administration towards poverty alleviation? What's galling is that voters especially in the class D and E continue to swallow the blandishments of unworthy candidates.

beads_strawberries

April 17th, 2007, 10:54 AM

They blame the administration for all those hunger and poverty issues, as if they have done something to alleviate the situation of these people. They can only blame other people but not themselves. But if we look at it, they should be held responsible for all their dramatics.

They have done nothing during their incumbency but to file impeachment complaints? If they are really concerned about the people's welfare, they should have done something to for us instead of filing those unnecessary impeachment complaints.

Here they are offering the same solution: ousting a working president. How can that resolve the problem? It could only assure political instability.

smokingunmanila

April 17th, 2007, 01:42 PM

by random sampling...dito siguro mga 90% of us appreciate or support the current administration....bakit sa mga surveys...iba lumalabas...don't tell me..we are an elite force here....

Insanedriver

April 17th, 2007, 02:11 PM

^^ Probably most people in that survey are the less fortunate citizens. Besides... during my last visit, people are swarming the grocery stores and Department stores like there's no more tommorow... Even in SM San Lazaro, where most of the visitors came from the nearby tondo are Queuing up for taxi bringing with them full trolleys...

OtAkAw

April 17th, 2007, 04:22 PM

All of this simply has something to do with the Filipino's penchant for dire pessimism.

marxman

April 18th, 2007, 11:51 AM

sad to say... its because only few of us filipinos are intelligent voters

Lili

April 18th, 2007, 03:15 PM

This is really sad.

Updated:2007-04-18 05:58:27
Body of Missing Peace Corps Volunteer FoundBy OLIVER TEVES
AP

U.S. Embassy, AP
Julia Campbell, from Fairfax, Va., was last seen on April 8. She is one of 137 Peace Corps volunteers in the Philippines.

MANILA, Philippines (April 18) - Philippine police opened an investigation after a body believed to be a missing American Peace Corps volunteer was found Wednesday in a shallow grave in a northern mountain town where she disappeared while hiking.

Maj. Gen. Rodrigo Maclang told The Associated Press there was no immediate forensic confirmation that the body belonged to Julia Campbell, 40, from Fairfax, Virginia.

But regional police commander Chief Superintendent Raul Gonzales said the body was fair-skinned and clad in clothes similar to those that Campbell was last seen wearing.

The remains were found buried in a dry creek, with a foot sticking out, in the vicinity of Batad village, where Campbell was last seen, Gonzales said.

"There is a probability that there was foul play," Gonzales told the AP, adding the police will now treat it as "a crime incident."

U.S. Embassy spokesman Matthew Lussenhop said American authorities could not immediately confirm it was Campbell's body, saying embassy and Peace Corps officers are helping police recover and identify the remains.

He said the Peace Corps office in Washington has been "in close touch with the family throughout this process."

Police earlier speculated that Campbell may have fallen off a cliff. She went missing April 8 in the village outside Banaue town in Ifugao province north of Manila, where she had planned to view famed mountainside rice terraces.

Ifugao provincial police chief Senior Superintendent Pedro Ganir told the AP by telephone that a stray dog had dug out one foot when soldiers discovered the body, which was placed in the creek and covered with dirt.

A pair of reading glasses was found near a trail about 160 feet from the body, with one of the lenses laying nearby. Police also recovered a sandal they believed belonged to the woman.

"This is no longer an accident," he said.

Tschetter said more than 80 people - including police commandos, soldiers, and volunteers - were involved in the search, backed by four helicopters and four tracking dogs.

Ganir earlier said Campbell, wearing blue denim jeans, black shirt and a shawl, was last seen buying soda from a store in Batad.

She was only wearing sandals and had bought a bus ticket to return to Manila by April 9, indicating she did not plan to extend her stay or make a long hike to a spot to look at the rice terraces, he said.

Campbell is one of 137 Peace Corps volunteers currently in the Philippines.

She had been teaching English at the Divine Word College in Albay province's Legazpi city, southeast of Manila, since October 2006. She previously taught at a public school in Donsol in nearby Sorsogon province, said Nora Gallano, assistant dean of Divine Word's College of Liberal Arts.

Associated Press writer Teresa Cerojano contributed to this story.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2007-04-14 05:39:36

http://news.aol.com/topnews/articles/_a/body-of-missing-peace-corps-volunteer/20070414053909990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001

dinabaw

April 18th, 2007, 03:28 PM

bitoy

April 18th, 2007, 06:54 PM

^^ A sad note in the Philippines indeed.

Campbell brought cheers to disaster victims

By Ephraim Aguilar
Southern Luzon Bureau
Last updated 09:09pm (Mla time) 04/18/2007

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines -- It was hot and dusty at the evacuation center but gales of children’s laughter filled the air as US Peace Corps volunteer Julia Campbell played parlor games.

Sweat streamed down her exhausted face but she gamely struggled to bring cheer to victims of devastating typhoon Reming sheltered at the Gogon Elementary School.

She distributed prizes, hugged children and made them forget the terrible tragedy on November 30, 2006, that left more than 900 people dead or missing and hundreds of thousands homeless.

The 40-year-old Julia, whose body was believed to be found in the mountains of Banaue in Ifugao province in the northern Philippines, had been working with the evacuees for weeks when I first saw her last year.

I saw her again last December, along with other Peace Corps volunteers who put up a Christmas tree, made a snowman, cooked food and organized a Christmas party for the young survivors of the deadly typhoon.

She told me she had waded through waist-deep flood waters brought by Reming, but what she went through as a volunteer teacher based in Legazpi City at that time was nothing compared to what the children had experienced.

“They are too young to experience such a great disaster and it was really hard for them to understand everything,” Julia said of the young survivors.

She recalled the story of 10-year-old Almera, who had lost her family except her mother in the torrent of sand and rocks. When Almera was rescued, Julia recounted, her whole body except her head was buried in mud.

Campbell was a journalist for The New York Times and various other newspapers for 15 years. She said she decided to leave her job and volunteer for the Peace Corps after the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center bombing.

“I lived near ground zero,” Julia said. “I wanted to show people in the world what Americans are really like because after 9/11, people had the impression that Americans are bad, selfish and greedy.”

She added that most of them in the Peace Corps were not rich. Most came from the middle class and received no salaries, except for a small living allowance.

“I wanted to reach out to people. I wanted to volunteer and do it full time,” Julia said.

continue.........(reading this story) (http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view_article.php?article_id=61195)

dattebayo

April 19th, 2007, 02:44 AM

this wil bring another bad impression about the philippines and bring down our tourism. who's responsible for her death?

Risk Taker

April 19th, 2007, 06:22 AM

bitoy

April 19th, 2007, 07:55 PM

this wil bring another bad impression about the philippines and bring down our tourism. who's responsible for her death?

Not only that, when government officials would let this statement out of hand, this issue would become more intriguing.

Justice chief: Campbell was ‘careless’

By Tetch Torres
INQUIRER.net
Last updated 04:43pm (Mla time) 04/19/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez on Thursday said US Peace Corps volunteer Julia Campbell may have tempted fate by being “careless and irresponsible.”

"She was careless and irresponsible. She took a lonely walk by herself in [that] deserted area," Gonzalez said.

Secretary Gonzales should think first of what he is going to say to the media. O baka wala nga talagang utak itong secretary of justice natin.

ikra

April 19th, 2007, 08:38 PM

damn.. i do hope they reolve her cause of death soon :( what a sad loss..

@justice chief: what a dumb comment from him

dattebayo

April 19th, 2007, 11:35 PM

so far, I don't see any headlines about campbell in bbc and cnn. sobrang busy kasi about sa gunman sa virginia.

beads_strawberries

April 20th, 2007, 03:40 AM

^^ At least, we're not having a bad image in the international community. It was really sad for Julia, though. I've seen interviews with her foster families and the children which she had given scholarships. She had touched their lives, really.

Hopefully, justice will be given to her. The authorities are now busy finding the prime suspect for the killing of the peace volunteer.

Risk Taker

April 20th, 2007, 05:01 AM

Not only that, when government officials would let this statement out of hand, this issue would become more intriguing.

Secretary Gonzales should think first of what he is going to say to the media. O baka wala nga talagang utak itong secretary of justice natin.

damn.. i do hope they reolve her cause of death soon :( what a sad loss..

@justice chief: what a dumb comment from him

indeed dumb... idiotic... insensitive comment from the injustice secretary himself!!! what an arrogance he displays even to people like Julia who have done kind deeds to the Philippines :ohno:

dinabaw

April 20th, 2007, 05:11 AM

^^ yeah sad indeed this would discourage i think future volunteers to our country:( ...any updates on the cause of her death?
what's happening here why i can't access the last page 'page 16' of this thread, huh??

the authorities are homing on robbery and rape , but recently they found the bag and items are still intact including money and she was fully cloth when they found her body buried in a shallow grave but her face was strucked by a hard object .
I was sad when a girl from donsol cried and sang one of Julia''s favorite tagalog song.

smokingunmanila

April 20th, 2007, 05:11 AM

It should be resolved soon...catch the culprit and punish him or her...it's a person who is doing sacrifice for our country and this is what she gets in return...indeed full trust is not advicesable in many occasions....

dinabaw

April 20th, 2007, 05:14 AM

so far, I don't see any headlines about campbell in bbc and cnn. sobrang busy kasi about sa gunman sa virginia.

It's ironic Julia lives in Virginia and she is going home in Norfolk(?) in June ..sad week for Virginians

beads_strawberries

April 20th, 2007, 05:17 AM

crappypants

April 20th, 2007, 05:22 AM

why is it usually the good ones who die early and of a tragic death as well.
Very sad for her and hope she is in peace now with our lord.
It only takes one idiot to undermine all the years of hard work . remember how the kidnapping in palawan affected the tourism industry there for years. :ohno:

smokingunmanila

April 20th, 2007, 05:24 AM

Aren't they taking a chance that it was an accident that happened? Who on earth would kill a nice person like Julia...I just can't imagine ...if ever there is...na possess na yun ni satanas....

venntro

April 20th, 2007, 05:31 AM

^^ There are those types of people who take advantage of others no matter how nice they are.

crappypants

April 20th, 2007, 05:35 AM

very true. there is just plain evil out there and it exists.

Risk Taker

April 20th, 2007, 05:39 AM

the authorities are homing on robbery and rape , but recently they found the bag and items are still intact including money and she was fully cloth when they found her body buried in a shallow grave but her face was strucked by a hard object .
I was sad when a girl from donsol cried and sang one of Julia''s favorite tagalog song.

thanks, i'm really hoping that it's not the cause of her death :ohno

crappypants

April 20th, 2007, 05:41 AM

yeah i hope she just fell off or slid or something. though why would her body be buried if it was an accident.

dinabaw

April 20th, 2007, 05:43 AM

^^ but by the evidence( strucked her face w/ hard object not by accidental fall) and being buried in a shallow grave concludes murder but they are still not sure what is the motive.

imo it was a case of failed robbery,maybe the culprit thought someone saw him and got scared and ran leaving the bag .

smokingunmanila

April 20th, 2007, 05:50 AM

Baka mga opposition may gawa nito para GMA would look bad...pwede din yan.....

smokingunmanila

April 20th, 2007, 05:51 AM

sabi ko na nga ba kung sino mga satanas ehhh :)

smokingunmanila

April 20th, 2007, 05:56 AM

Not only that, when government officials would let this statement out of hand, this issue would become more intriguing.

Secretary Gonzales should think first of what he is going to say to the media. O baka wala nga talagang utak itong secretary of justice natin.

Yang senile na matanda na yan..nakaka sira talaga kay GMA....dapat dyan mag retire na or tanggalin...puros away ang alam....nakaka bwisit talaga!:bash:

heathcliff

April 20th, 2007, 06:05 AM

this wil bring another bad impression about the philippines and bring down our tourism. who's responsible for her death?

I hope not, as this is an isolated case, and it doesn't involve us as a people. IT COULD HAPPEN TO ANYONE.

It is always heartening to know of people like Julia Campbell who have made it their life's work to reach out to the less fortunate. Her tragic death shouldn't stop others from following in her footsteps.

bitoy

April 20th, 2007, 06:06 PM

Ifugaos see tourists shying away from rice terraces (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view_article.php?article_id=61611)

Abu Sayyaf beheads seven captives in Sulu
(http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view_article.php?article_id=61569)

(UPDATE 3) Abu Sayyaf beheads seven captives in Sulu (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view_article.php?article_id=61411)

:ohno:

OtAkAw

April 20th, 2007, 06:29 PM

^^It's very predictable that foreign and even domestic tourists would no longer visit the Rice Terraces without feeling fear. This would be very bad for the Ifugaos and the people relying on tourism.

Smallville

April 21st, 2007, 08:25 AM

It is unfortunate what happened to this young lady. As an American who has been all over the Phillippines I would never think of going anywhere by myself and I am a guy. A lady should especially not do that in a foreign country. This is not a reflection on the Philippine people. Julia made a mistake hiking by herself and she ran into someone that was evil that wanted to harm her.

We have evil people here in America to. Look what that South Korean Cho guy did to all those poor students.

I will continue to visit the Philippines with my wife and spend our money there. The Philippines is a great country and shouldn't be judged by one event that could have happened as well here in America.

venntro

April 21st, 2007, 08:27 AM

^^ I think it's an isolated incident and should not be generalized to the detriment of the Philippines.

venntro

April 21st, 2007, 09:49 AM

Campbell thought all Filipinos are ‘nice’ -- friend

By Thea Alberto
INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines -- Julia Campbell’s stint in the Bicol region led her to believe all Filipinos are nice, a grieving friend of the US Peace Corps volunteer said.

"She thought Filipinos were nice. Akala niya mababait lahat kasi 'yun ang ipinakita ng lahat ng taga-Bicol [She thought everyone was nice because that was what everyone in Bicol showed her]," lamented Evelyn Cadag, 38, a member of Campbell's foster family in Donsol, Sorsogon province, where the American volunteer stayed for over a year.

"She's a wonderful person. She fell in love with the people of Donsol," said Cadag as she waited for police forensics experts to finish the autopsy on Campbell at the Loyola Memorial Chapels in Guadalupe, Makati City.

Campbell went missing while hiking in Batad, Banaue on Easter Sunday, April 8. Her body was found buried in a shallow grave in the village 10 days later, an apparent homicide victim, according to authorities.

Police say they have identified the suspect and are seeking a warrant to arrest him.

Cadag described Campbell, who was a journalists before volunteering with the Peace Corps, as street-smart, not scared to go places because she could speak Tagalog and even Bicolano.

Cadag said she had been asked by Campbell to accompany her on trips to tourist spots, including the Banaue rice terraces, where her life would end.

"She was really adventurous. She wanted to tour, she wanted to travel around the country," Cadag said.

This was also probably the reason why Campbell, 40, never married, she added.

"Gusto niya kasi talaga mag-ikot [She really just wanted to travel]. She even wanted to go to Africa," said Cadag.

Cadag, who was teary-eyed at one point during the interview with INQUIRER.net and the Philippine Daily Inquirer, said she was shocked to learn of Campbell's death.

"She's really a great person. Hindi ako makapaniwala [I cannot believe this]," said Cadag.

"Ganun yata talaga…kapag mabait ka, maaga kang kinukuha [It must be that way…when you are good, you are taken from life early]," she said.

venntro

April 21st, 2007, 09:53 AM

US, Australia warn of fresh terrorist attacks in RP

Australia and the United States have warned of an impending major terrorist attack in the southern Philippines, where al Qaeda-linked militants recently beheaded seven hostages.

In an advisory to its citizens circulated late Friday, the US embassy said the attack could take place anywhere in Mindanao, the country's main southern island.

"The embassy has information that a terrorist group may be planning to carry out bombing attacks in central Mindanao over the next several days," the travel notice said.

It asked Americans to "carefully consider plans" to visit the area, keep a low profile and avoid going to public places, including a national sports festival scheduled in Koronadal City from April 22 to 28.

Australia also warned its citizens against traveling to Mindanao and the adjoining islands of Basilan, Jolo and Tawi-Tawi, where al Qaeda-linked militants are operating.

"Recent credible information indicates terrorists may be in the advanced stage of attack planning," it said. "The attacks may be imminent and could occur at any time, anywhere in Mindanao."

It said there was a "very high threat" of terrorist attacks, including kidnappings.

Philippine troops have been engaged in a two-pronged counter-terrorism offensive against the Abu Sayyaf, the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in Jolo.

MNLF rebels led by Islamic firebrand Habier Malik last week shelled an Army base, killing two soldiers and a civilian and triggering heavy government reprisals.

Elsewhere in Jolo, troops are also on the trail of an Abu Sayyaf faction which on Thursday beheaded seven workers seized three days earlier.

MNLF was the country's main Muslim separatist group until it sealed a peace pact with Manila in 1996.

Despite settling for limited autonomy, implementation of the agreement has been fraught with difficulties, with many hardline MNLF commanders still controlling armed units that constantly engage the military.

The government said there appeared to be evidence that Malik may have joined forces with the Abu Sayyaf, which, like the JI, is on the US government's list of foreign terrorist organizations.

Several Indonesian JI militants, including two wanted for deadly bombings in Bali, Indonesia in 2002, are believed to be fighting alongside Abu Sayyaf militants in Jolo.

bitoy

April 21st, 2007, 10:06 PM

It's in the local TV news here abroad, the local police recovered a bloodstained pole used to pound rice made of hard wood near the home of a suspect, who has gone into hiding.

Even if this is an isolated case or act of random violence as some of you have said, there would still be an impact towards our country. May she rest in peace and the killer be punished according to what he deserves.

Her blog is somewhat tied up and her blogmates are really saddened on what happened to her in our country.

Only a few foreigners have trust and faith in our country that it could be better, but one less soul to be a part of it on what most of us have ignored.

marxman

April 23rd, 2007, 03:07 AM

yeah its very sad she had to die in the hands of the people she thought were nice(if its true she was murdered)... may she rest in peace...

but i really think it was a bit careless on her part travelling alone... it is really not safe to travel alone in a foreign place... even we filipinos should be carefull if when travelling alone in a foreign country...

Filipinos are nice people... but there will always be, not so nice guys in every society even in other places... we just need to be carefull... and not let our guards down...

venntro

April 23rd, 2007, 10:11 AM

OFWs still being recruited for Iraq despite ban -- DFA

By Veronica Uy
INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines -- Notwithstanding a ban that has been in place since 2003, overseas Filipino workers continue to be recruited to jobs in war-torn Iraq, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Monday.

“I would like to remind our fellow Filipinos, especially those who wish to work abroad, that the government’s ban on the deployment of Filipino workers to Iraq still stands,” Foreign Affairs undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Esteban Conejos Jr. said in a statement issued in reaction to reports that foreign companies continue to recruit Filipinos for employment in different areas in Iraq.

“This ban is in force to ensure that our nationals are protected, and that they are not exposed to undue harm,” Conejos added.

He cited the report of the Philippine embassy in Stockholm, Sweden saying a company wrote to say it was interested in recruiting Filipino household service workers for employment in Kurdistan, northern Iraq.

The ban on worker deployments to Iraq was imposed soon after truck driver Angelo Dela Cruz, was abducted there. Months after the ban was imposed, Roberto Tarongoy was also kidnapped in Iraq in 2003

OtAkAw

April 23rd, 2007, 10:24 AM

Campbell thought all Filipinos are ‘nice’ -- friend

This is really heartbreaking. For a fact I know that most of us Pinoys treat foreigners, most especially Caucasians as though they were local deities or something, that's why many foreigners fall in love with Pinoys the minute they interact with us.

If I had the power, I would impale the person who murdered her. So many people out there who are better off dead (like Usama bin Laden or Abu Sayyaf leaders), why this very nice lady? It's just very saddening.

athan

April 23rd, 2007, 01:28 PM

Sometimes i feel these fresh warnings of terrorist attacks and negative travel advisories are politically motivated. (i.e to control the surging peso and rising Philippine economy.) But, whatever.

Lili

April 24th, 2007, 02:28 AM

From New York Post:

PEACE CORPS 'KILLER' ID'D
AP
April 23, 2007 -- MANILA - Police identified a woodcarver as a suspect in the murder of Peace Corps volunteer Julia Campbell, a former journalist from Brooklyn, and were seeking a possible accomplice, officials said early today.

Suspect Juan Dontugan, 25, from the village of Batad, is married to a woman who sold Campbell a soda before she left on a solo hike.

He's been at large since April 9, a day after Campbell was reported missing.

She was killed by multiple blows to the head with a blunt instrument. Her arms were injured, indicating that she tried to fight back, police said.

N.Y. GAL SLAIN IN ASIA
GRIM PHILIPPINE FIND
By JOHN MAZOR and TODD VENEZIA

April 19, 2007 -- The death in the Philippines of a former Brooklyn journalist - who decided to "drop out of the rat race" and join the Peace Corps - was no accident and a criminal investigation has been launched, officials said yesterday.

Julia Campbell, 40, had vanished 10 days ago while taking a hike in the island nation's picturesque Banaue region.

When Philippine authorities found her body in a shallow grave, they thought she had fallen from a cliff.

But Senior Superintendent Pedro Ganir of the Ifugao provincial police said yesterday, "This is no longer an accident."

Officials said they ruled out involvement by communist rebels, because they had not been operating in the area.

Campbell had worked as a journalist for publications such as Star magazine, The New York Times, the St. Petersburg Times, Court TV, FoxNews.com and People magazine. She recently reported for CNN on a major storm that hit the Philippines.

She had earned a reputation for aggressively pursuing stories.

"She was a very dogged, very hardworking reporter," said former Times colleague Michael Cooper. "When doing street reporting, she was always sure to ring the 10th doorbell, not just leave after a few."

"She loved being a reporter," said Liz McNeil, East Coast news editor for People. "She was very dedicated and had a lot of compassion."

But after 15 years in journalism, Campbell wrote on her Internet blog, "at the age of 38 I decided to step out of the rat race of New York, join the Peace Corps and board a plane for Manila."

Campbell had been helping children at a school in a rural village for the corps.

The discovery brought a mix of grief and closure to the family of the Brooklyn Heights woman.

"It's been an incredible ordeal," said her sister, Geary Campbell Morris.

"We're grateful she's been found. Not knowing was very, very difficult. She's going to be so greatly missed, but she leaves behind a wonderful legacy."

Campbell had been anticipating her return to New York to begin classes in August at NYU's Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.

"Everywhere she went she was admired and loved," said her neighbor and friend, Catherine Quayle, 39. "But she was ready to come back to New York."

smokingunmanila

April 24th, 2007, 02:40 AM

This is really heartbreaking. For a fact I know that most of us Pinoys treat foreigners, most especially Caucasians as though they were local deities or something, that's why many foreigners fall in love with Pinoys the minute they interact with us.

If I had the power, I would impale the person who murdered her. So many people out there who are better off dead (like Usama bin Laden or Abu Sayyaf leaders), why this very nice lady? It's just very saddening.

Obvious ba...sino ba may connection sa abu sayaf ever since..at nakihati ng ransom money nung presidente pa sya? diba sya yun....so up to now, may connection pa din yan....

smokingunmanila

April 24th, 2007, 02:44 AM

I think the suspect tried to rape her....then Julia knowing a little self defense tried to fight back the the guy hit her accidentally causing her death...tried to hide her body but had little time because people passes by that track...then went to his wife..said what happened and went to hide in one of his relatives somewhere in Luzon....that is what I'm reading.

venntro

April 24th, 2007, 04:01 AM

Based on news reports, police saw a camera near the scene of the crime where Julia Campbell was found.

3cr

April 24th, 2007, 10:22 PM

ROTATING BROWNOUTS INEVITABLE
RP has scant power reserves
By MYLA IGLESIAS
Malaya
http://www.malaya.com.ph/apr25/busi2.htm

Lasse Hollopainen, Philippine Electricity Market Corp. president, yesterday said that while the country has enough electricity supply, it has no reserves to speak of and that it is nearing "power poverty".

"Scarcity is a major concern and I think the government will have to act to fix it on time", he said.

Holopainen said Power Development Plan, has to be reviewed, especially the longer-term security supply as the country is nearing "power poverty".

He added that electricity prices will remain high next month due to the expected surge in demand due to the hot weather.

Hollopainen added, the forced and unplanned outages have also severely constrained supply and increased reliance on more expensive oil based plants."

Rotating brownouts may be inevitable next month since peak demand is 200 megawatts more than what is available.

Mario Pangilinan PEMC vice-president, said demand will rise to about 6,700 MW or higher by May.

"Under the demand aspect, since the opening of the WESM, we were able to register the highest peak demand this at around 6,600 megawatts this month. And we expect this demand to be surpassed in the coming month also because May is the historical annual peak for the Luzon grid, where we expect the demand to rise to about 6,700-megawatts or higher," he said. .

Pangilinan said available capacity is at 6,500 megawatt.

He claimed that WESM can meet energy requirement and that it is the reserve requirement it cannot meet.

The reserve requirement is around 13.2 percent of the total energy requirement or at least 700 megawatts. The reserve requirement was just too low," he added.

The WESM prices increased from P 3,372 per MW hour (MWh) in January to P3,678 MWh in February and P 4,923 MWh in March.

" Since this is the beginning of summer , we hope that some of the cheaper generating units will become available soon otherwise , WESM prices will remain high during this period" Holopainen said .

The consumer can help the situation by being prudent in using electricity during peak demand hours of 9:00 am to – 3:00 pm according to Holopainen .

Pangilinan said the PEMC has observe that in every degree centigrade rise in temperature is equivalent to 117 MW rise in peak demand in April.

Last March the average was 83 megawatts.

Pangilinan also said that there will be higher oil consumption by May, "If the cheaper power plants will still not be able to be operational," he added.

venntro

April 25th, 2007, 07:09 AM

Garbage crisis looms in Central Luzon
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/04252007/economy03.html

By Jonathan L. Mayuga
Correspondent

AN official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) warned Tuesday of a looming garbage crisis in Central Luzon owing to the failure of concerned authorities to enforce the six-year-old solid-waste management law.

Regidor de Leon, DENR Central Luzon executive director, said that at a daily generation rate of about half a kilo of garbage per person, with about eight million people, Central Luzon could generate as much as 4,000 tons of garbage per day, or 1.44 million tons annually, enough to create a mountain of garbage similar to the Payatas dump site in Quezon City in just a year.

“This is definitely a lot of waste. If we cannot address this problem now, we will soon find ourselves buried in our own trash,” he warned.

De Leon said reducing, reusing and recycling waste are just some of the more “practical and doable” solution to the worsening garbage problem. He added only 70 percent of Central Luzon’s daily garbage, or 2,800 tons, are collected by dump trucks hired by local governments.

The remaining 30 percent, or roughly 1,200 tons end up in canals, vacant spaces, street corners, market places, creeks and rivers, and eventually, into the sea.

The DENR, together with corporate giant SM Prime Holdings in Clarkfield Pampanga, the Clark Development Corp. (CDC), and the Environmental Practitioners Association (EPA) launched a massive campaign to promote waste segregation and recycling through a market fair where recyclable waste may be sold at a fee.

Started by EPA four years ago, the Waste Market Event invites the public to sell their recyclable materials such as papers and cartons, plastic bottles, automobile batteries, aluminum cans, old computers, electronic equipment, and ink printer cartridges, among others, to accredited recycler industries in a given buying station during the fair, says public affairs officer Donaver Guevarra of DENR in Central Luzon.

“It is important to increase public awareness on waste management to effectively address the worsening garbage problem in the country. Recycling must be a way of life of every Filipino,” he said at the opening of the waste market fair at SM Clark in Pampanga.

Guevarra said Metro Manila generates about 6,500 tons of solid waste daily, 75 percent of which is recyclable but only 5 percent is actually recycled.

venntro

April 25th, 2007, 07:36 AM

ROTATING BROWNOUTS INEVITABLE
RP has scant power reserves

crappypants

April 25th, 2007, 07:39 AM

^^please try to look above you.

venntro

April 25th, 2007, 08:04 AM

RP faces UN blacklisting over torture
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/04252007/nation04.html

By Estrella Torres
Reporter

THE Philippines faces the risk of being blacklisted by the United Nations for its failure to submit a report on torture cases in the country for the last 17 years, said Commission on Human Rights chairman Purificacion Quisumbing.

Quisumbing said the last time that the Philippines submitted a report on torture cases was in 1989 when she was still serving as assistant secretary on human rights at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

“We face the possibility of being blacklisted in the UN because there is a protocol in the UN Convention on Torture that requires countries that ratify the treaty to submit a report on cases of torture in their jurisdiction every four years,” said Quisumbing.

The Philippines ratified the UN Convention on Torture in 1986 during the administration of President Corazon Aquino. Quisumbing said the report submitted in 1989 was the first and the last report by the Philippines.

“Cases of torture usually happen in detention centers,” said Quisumbing citing that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), an agency handling city and provincial jails is the agency that should submit the report on torture cases.

The report would then be submitted by the DFA to the UN Human Rights Council.

An official of the DFA’s United Nations and International Organizations (UNIO) office admitted that there are indeed 14 backlog reports that should be submitted to the UN.

These include the reports on the compliance of the Philippines on the UN Convention on Torture and the Convention on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers and their Families.

“There are at least eight reports in the pipeline. We have now drafted the report on torture and we are just waiting for the DILG and the Department of Justice to finalize it, said the Unio official.

He admitted that the backlog of the Philippine reports to the UN was caused by the failure of various government agencies to cooperate with the Unio.

heathcliff

April 25th, 2007, 09:55 AM

OtAkAw

April 25th, 2007, 07:29 PM

^^We can't help it, they are No. 1 after all. They've got power like POWER.

Askal82

April 26th, 2007, 05:29 AM

Why doesn't the UN blacklist the U.S. with its widely publicized torture of detainees? Oh right, I forgot the U.S. owns the United Nations. All it can do is bully third world countries and meddle in their internal affairs.

The Abu Ghraib incident is still fresh in our memories.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Ghraib_torture_and_prisoner_abuse

Risk Taker

April 26th, 2007, 06:16 AM

Why doesn't the UN blacklist the U.S. with its widely publicized torture of detainees?

because they're killing and torturing terrorists (their own definition)and not their people unlike us, we're killing our own people and political enemies of the government. ironic nga eh kasi ang daming rogue states that are un members, they're torturing their own people too but it's only pinas that is facing blacklisting??? that's how biased the world is but still we can't deny that the killings in the philippines happened and the perpetrators should be punished.

jgacis

April 26th, 2007, 11:39 AM

jgacis

April 26th, 2007, 12:53 PM

MANILA TIMES

Thursday, April 26, 2007

3 workers hurt in grenade blast

COTABATO: Three workers were injured in a grenade attack on the office of a US-funded project in the troubled southern Philippine island of Mindanao, police said Wed*nesday.

Three men were seen throwing at least two grenades at the office of the Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) late Tuesday, said regional police Chief Supt. Frederico Dulay. Three people were injured.

GEM is a project funded by US assistance to boost the economy of the southern island of Mindanao, which is plagued by both Muslim and communist insurgencies.

Regional Gov. Emmanuel Pinol said the attack was triggered by GEM’s refusal to pay “protection money” to suspects who have been demanding such payments through cell-phone text messages.

He did not say which group was behind the attack but in the past, former Muslim rebels have resorted to extortion of road projects to get money.

:ohno: These "PROTECTION MONEY" demands need to stop one day. Extorting money from airport contractors, farmers, and foreign corporations only contributes in destroying our beloved nation.

bitoy

April 26th, 2007, 06:00 PM

“We face the possibility of being blacklisted in the UN because there is a protocol in the UN Convention on Torture that requires countries that ratify the treaty to submit a report on cases of torture in their jurisdiction every four years,” said Quisumbing.

The Philippines ratified the UN Convention on Torture in 1986 during the administration of President Corazon Aquino. Quisumbing said the report submitted in 1989 was the first and the last report by the Philippines.

“Cases of torture usually happen in detention centers,” said Quisumbing citing that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), an agency handling city and provincial jails is the agency that should submit the report on torture cases.

The Philippine government just have to report any incidents of torture in their own jurisdiction to the UN. That's all it takes.

Kung walang kinidnap, pinahirapan ang mga Military authorities/PNP or walang pinugutan ng ulo ang abu sayaff or walang mga pinatay at pinahirapan na mga na news journalist ng mga kapwa nila Pilipino eh di wala. But they have to submit a report na walang torture case sa Pinas. :wink2:

“There are at least eight reports in the pipeline. We have now drafted the report on torture and we are just waiting for the DILG and the Department of Justice to finalize it, said the Unio official.

He admitted that the backlog of the Philippine reports to the UN was caused by the failure of various government agencies to cooperate with the Unio.

So, they admitted that their are such cases and their lame reason is a backlog and failure of different agencies to cooperate, then who is at fault?

The US ba? :lol:

The American torture incidents not only in Abu Ghraib are being dealt with. The US Military way of extracting information from enemy combatants is very complicated and sometimes could be in violation of the human rights.

jgacis

April 26th, 2007, 08:17 PM

The US ba? :lol:

The American torture incidents not only in Abu Ghraib are being dealt with. The US Military way of extracting information from enemy combatants is very complicated and sometimes could be in violation of the human rights.

You bring up an interesting point. How do you handle prisoners of war who have no respect for human rights themselves? Do people actually think that Abu Ghraib prisoners have any respect for human life at all? Can you actually compare them to your local pickpocket?

How can one follow the guidelines of the Geneva Conventions Act when the prisoners themselves do not follow the protocols or rules themselves.

Yes, the Abu Ghraib tainted U.S. reputation. What those FEW people did was WRONG. But as a military member of the U.S. Armed Forces, those involved in no way reflect me or my other fellow airman/soldiers who respect and follow the rules in the US military.

When you look at the entire scope of military operations, its easy to pinpoint specific events and use that as the posterchild for all military conduct. That is nothing more than a pure excuse to fingerpoint others in blame to make sense of their own personal assessment of their OWN problems.. :ohno:

Lili

April 27th, 2007, 02:07 AM

Why doesn't the UN blacklist the U.S. with its widely publicized torture of detainees? Oh right, I forgot the U.S. owns the United Nations. All it can do is bully third world countries and meddle in their internal affairs.

The US does not own UN but it just pooh poohs it's resolutions. The US went ahead with the Iraq war notwithstanding the thumbs down of the UN General Assembly. USA couldn't care less when it wants its way. It wants to be the Super Police of the world. I doubt it even submits reports on torture cases to the UN.

The question raised now is if the United Nations remains relevant in this current world condition when we have a leviathan super power such as the USA who can go against the grain, and when rogue states sit as members of the UN. I don't think the salvo "One Nation, One Vote" matters anymore.

^^ Another example of poor filipino mentality and why the Philippines still struggles today. :ohno:

So why is it an example of poor Filipino mentality?

You bring up an interesting point. How do you handle prisoners of war who have no respect for human rights themselves? Do people actually think that Abu Ghraib prisoners have any respect for human life at all? Can you actually compare them to your local pickpocket?

How can one follow the guidelines of the Geneva Conventions Act when the prisoners themselves do not follow the protocols or rules themselves.

I don't think your reasoning is justification enough to condone those atrocities done to prisoners of war.

Yes, the Abu Ghraib tainted U.S. reputation. What those FEW people did was WRONG. But as a military member of the U.S. Armed Forces, those involved in no way reflect me or my other fellow airman/soldiers who respect and follow the rules in the US military.

Exactly, which is why they are being punished by the military tribunal for their wrongdoing.

dinabaw

April 27th, 2007, 02:55 AM

The US does not own UN but it just pooh poohs it's resolutions. The US went ahead with the Iraq war notwithstanding the thumbs down of the UN General Assembly. USA couldn't care less when it wants its way. It wants to be the Super Police of the world. I doubt it even submits reports on torture cases to the UN.
The question raised now is if the United Nations remains relevant in this current world condition when we have a leviathan super power such as the USA who can go against the grain, and when rogue states sit as members of the UN. I don't think the salvo "One Nation, One Vote" matters anymore.

Well their will come a time that the US will not be as "super power" as today and 3 or 4 super powers will emerge i just hope we will never see or experience another world war I and world war II.

Lili

April 27th, 2007, 03:02 AM

We will not because those wars are over. Just being cheeky. :D

dinabaw

April 27th, 2007, 03:04 AM

^^ ok another world war :D

jgacis

April 27th, 2007, 03:21 AM

So why is it an example of poor Filipino mentality?

Because of the generalized bashing of his statement, in my opinion. Why do you think I quoted him? He is free to say his sentiments, so can I... :ohno:

I don't think your reasoning is justification enough to condone those atrocities done to prisoners of war.

I brought up the issues as questions but I never condoned it. Those questions reflect the problems we are facing in the war against terror. The U.S. is not perfect, but it can't be blamed as if other external factors cannot be taken into account. :ohno:

Exactly, which is why they are being punished by the military tribunal for their wrongdoing.

That's a given. And by the way, the atrocities you state against the prisoners of war is an understatement when you look at all the other atrocities (like the beheadings) given to captives out there by these pool of insurgents. Again, I'm not saying what was done in Cuba was right, but don't act like the enemy are saints themselves. Guards and military personnal are also spitted-on, given death threats to their families, and physically/psychological abused from prisoners as well....

Lili

April 27th, 2007, 03:51 AM

3cr

April 27th, 2007, 03:54 AM

Investors warned after govt breaches budget-deficit ceiling
By Angelo S. Samonte, Reporter
Manila Times
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/apr/27/yehey/business/20070427bus2.html

INVESTOR interest in helping the Philippines raise enough cheap money to meet its funding requirements may wane, after a United States-based financial services giant cut its rating of Manila’s debt papers from overweight to market weight.

In reducing its rating, Merrill Lynch cited mounting fundamental risks brought on by the government’s poor revenue collection performance in the first quarter. Also a cause for concern was the upcoming midterm election.

“The credibility of the government’s fiscal performance is at risk, in our view. We are disappointed to see that the tax revenue performance was quite poor in the first quarter. Going forward, the poor revenue performance may jeopardize the attainment of the annual fiscal deficit target,” the financial services company said.

“In addition to the worsening fiscal outlook, we also foresee rising political risks in the context of the forthcoming election,” it added.

Merrill Lynch said the Philippines’ success last year in reining in its budget deficit was the basis for the country’s appeal to investors.

“The fiscal performance in the first quarter has confirmed our concerns about the sustainability of the fiscal strategy,” the company said.

Merrill Lynch had maintained that the ultimate success of the government’s fiscal reform program hinges on the ability of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), which accounts for the bulk of the Philippines’ tax collections, to meet its targets.

“So far, the outcome has been disappointing, with poor tax revenue performance and reliance on privatization receipts, which in our view, raises serious doubts about the quality of fiscal adjustment,” the company said.

This week, the government reported incurring a P52-billion budget deficit in the first three months of the year, a figure higher than its P45.8-billion ceiling for the quarter.

The under performance was due to the P18.5-billion shortfall over the first quarter P255.8-billion revenue target.

No new tax measurers needed, say analysts

Securities analysts and fund managers, however, said the government has no need of new tax measures to make up for the first quarter’s disappointing collections.

“I think [it boils down to] tax management. If you notice that corporate tax, not everyone is paying the 35-percent corporate income tax. A lot of them are just paying 12 percent and they’re finding ways of going around it,” Francisco Liboro, PCCI Securities president, said

“The focus should be on tax management and tax collection,” Karen Roa, Philam Asset president, said.

The possibility of government breaching its full-year P63-billion deficit ceiling worries the market as this may put pressure on the government to borrow more, driving interest rates higher.

Lili

April 27th, 2007, 04:00 AM

^ The fact that the corporations are not paying 35 % corporate income tax and are able to pay less due to legal tax avoidance measures instead of illegal tax evasion schemes means that their tax lawyers and accountants are good and doing their work. It is a different story if the BIR is unable to collect tax dues or go after tax evaders or that they auditing and collecting efforts are poor and inefficient.

jgacis

April 27th, 2007, 04:08 AM

^^ Surely, when you brought up those questions, those were not really open-ended questions on your part but you are laying the premise of your rationale to defend the treatment of prisoners of war and there you go again in your last statement there trying to justify your position by citing the atrocities done by the insurgents. The UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment does not operate that way. No exceptional circumstances whatsoever, whether a state of war or a threat of war, internal political instability or any other public emergency, or that the prisoners are themselves guilty of such atrocious acts may be invoked as a justification of torture. And who is saying or acting like the enemy are saints themselves? No one is saying or viewing them as such. :ohno:

Those were open-ended questions and they do specifically relate to the issues I mention. That's the real problems we face today and shaping the SOP (standard operating procedures) of U.S. military handlement of POWs.

It's good you cite the UN Convention rules, you're right, we should follow them. Those soldiers should be punished. Now tell that to those who have utter disregard for human rights as well. They don't abide by no rules... :ohno:

And who is saying or acting like the enemy are saints themselves? No one is saying or viewing them as such. :ohno:

Well, when you say "ATROCITIES" against prisoners, I rest my case. My definition of ATROCITY is different than yours in this sense. It's that simple. I'm referring to the ones you can download off islamic websites.. :ohno:

lightning099

April 27th, 2007, 04:12 AM

The Philippine Star 04/27/2007

The US embassy is concerned about the government’s rush to sign a shady supply deal with a Chinese telecom firm. Ambassador Kristie Kenney said so in a letter to Economic Planning Sec. Romulo Neri on Apr. 20, a day before President Arroyo witnessed the hurried contract signing in China.

Malacañang announced the contract signing, but the Department of Transportation and Communications has yet to disclose the document.

Kenney urged Neri "to avoid undue haste and take the time to carefully review" the competing offers for a national broadband network. The NBN would fuse all government landline, cellular and Internet needs into one system, to be supplied by ZTE Corp. of Shenzhen for $330 million (P16 billion). Kenney said "multiple American firms" had told her of the planned purchase, and thus stressed "open competition and transparency."

Kenney’s letter came in the wake of a complaint — also to Neri — from an American firm about the sudden entry of ZTE into the picture. California telecom specialist Arescom said "we strenuously object to the Chinese proposal and seek clarification" on why it bagged the contract from nowhere. Arescom noted that ZTE’s bid "is almost identical to ours, using similar technology, but which will cost more than double our offer of $135 million."

"This is the first we have heard of this Chinese project," Arescom said, "whereas the documentation for our proposal has taken several years to go through your government process."

Another early competitor, Filipino-owned Amsterdam Holdings Inc., also lambasted the DOTC last month for rushing to accommodate latecomer ZTE. It lamented that the agency ignored its earlier offer to build an NBN worth $240 million but at no cost to the government.

In a letter to The STAR Neri said the Commission on Information and Communications Technology first broached the NBN to the Cabinet-level National Economic and Development Authority in Oct. 2006. He stressed though "that the choice of contractor for the project is the main responsibility of the DOTC, and they are in a better position to clarify any concerns on the proposals of AHI and Arescom."

Neri said he learned of Arescom’s offer only when it wrote to him, and has asked the DOTC for its position on the issue. The DOTC has yet to reply.

Last Dec. 5 AHI gave DOTC an unsolicited proposal to build the NBN in three years on its own expense. It would integrate all national agencies, provincial and city halls, state universities and hospitals but charge them 25 percent less than current rates, recovering its investments from private subscribers. Under the Build-Operate-Transfer Law, an agency must initiate a study of the unsolicited bid within 60 days. DOTC ignored the rule and entertained instead an unsolicited proposal in Feb. from ZTE.

ZTE’s offer was inferior and would break four laws. It would only supply the government with the broadband infrastructure, but the latter would have to operate and maintain it. This is contrary to the Telecoms Development Act, which requires government to privatize all its telecom facilities. Under the ZTE deal, government would need to borrow the $330 million from a Chinese bank and issue a sovereign guarantee of repayment — both of which are barred in B-O-T projects.

The signing came during the election period, a breach of the Election Code that bans procurements during campaigns — unless issued a Comelec waiver. DOTC insiders say ZTE at first quoted $300 million, then negotiated it down to $262 million, but raised it to $330 million for the signing. A Comelec bigwig and a powerful official’s spouse jointly pushed for ZTE, prompting the DOTC and NEDA to endorse it posthaste.

The supple contract also did not undergo public bidding. Ironically this broke the e-Procurement Law, which requires competitors to submit by Internet to an agency simultaneous bids on a specified day and time.

Insiders say that when ZTE’s price dropped to $262 million, $130 million of it was for kickbacks and $132 million would be for the hardware. Part of the kickback already was advanced to silence protests.

Up to two months ago, the NBN was not even a priority; hence, the unhurried unsolicited bid from AHI and the long process of accreditation that Arescom went through. Big amounts reportedly changed hands to consider solely ZTE’s proposal in the end.

ZTE is notorious for unethical means to land contracts. The mayor of Mexico City is presently under investigation for commissioning it to set up wireless "hotspots" in parks and government offices for hundreds of millions of dollars, when the city is in dire need of water and electricity. ZTE is blacklisted in Ecuador and Ethiopia for overpricing, and in Indonesia for price dumping. Several local telecommunication firms also had been sold inferior ZTE wares.

Lili

April 27th, 2007, 04:13 AM

^^ That hasty award of a the telecommunications / broadband contract is quite problemmatic again. It might put the government in hot water again. :ohno:

Well, I see your arguments in your own arguments as well. :ohno:

Those were open-ended questions and they do specifically relate to the issues I mention, that's the real problems we face today.

It's good you cite the UN Convention rules, you're right, we should follow them. Those soldiers should be punished. Now tell that to those who have utter disregard for human rights as well. They don't abide by no rules... :ohno:

Well, when you say "ATROCITIES" against prisoners, my definition of ATROCITY is different than yours. It's that simple... :ohno:

^ The UN Convention was the premise of the discussions here. This is why we are having this exchange in the first place. It came from that posting of an article that states that the Philippines will be blacklisted by the UN for failure to submit reports.

One difference, if you may, is that the USA is a signatory of that convention. What then is the significance of the international rules of law and treatises if the US itself will circumvent it? Because the USA still seeks to abide by these conventions, those erring military officers were court martialed. No need to defend their acts by saying that those prisoners are vicious and have committed atrocities themselves.

P.S. It is hard to rebut or respond when you keep on changing or editing your posts AFTER I have responded to these.

3cr

April 27th, 2007, 04:20 AM

US solon calls on GMA to move fast on killings
Daily Tribune
04/27/2007
http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20070427hed4.html

A letter written by an American legislator, Rep. Ellen Tauscher, to President Arroyo urging her to move speedily against the political murders of leftist activists and other militants, had Malacañang quickly saying it will imme-diately explain its side to the congresswoman.

Press Sec-retary Ignacio Bunye, however, was careful in his comments even as he thanked the US legislator for the concern she has expressed. But he stressed that the Arroyo administration has not been negligent in its duty and obligation to solve the killings.

“We thank Congress woman Tauscher for her concern and we will communicate to her the fact that this adminis-tration deplores the killings, be they from the Left or the Right, against journalists or against activists, and is committed to breaking this cycle of violence that has long plagued the Philippine political envi-ronment once and for all,” Bunye said .

The Palace repeated the oft-repeated statement that Mrs. Arroyo has formed an independent fact-finding team such as the Melo Commission to solve the pending cases of extra-judicial killings; that special courts have been es-tablished by the Supreme Court (SC) and that concerned agencies like the Department of Justice, Department of National Defense and Armed Forces of the Philippines in coordination with the Commission on Human Rights have already been tapped to conduct separate probes on the matter.

Since the time Mrs. Arroyo announced these moves, there has been nothing released by way of information on the status of various probes allegedly being undertaken by different departments on the political murders.

Tauscher who is a member of the US House Armed Services Committee which oversees the disbursement of foreign military financing, in her letter urged Mrs. Arroyo to allow leftist groups to enjoy the political space under the Philippine Constitution.

“In order to stem the ongoing extra-judicial killings and to renew public faith in the political and military institutions in the Philippines, I urge you to move quickly to prosecute those responsible for the crimes and to make clear that political policy toward the left-wing parties in Congress does not extend to the condoning of murder as tactic to limit these parties from operating freely.

“Moreover, I urge you to not only provide legitimate political space for leftist groups, but to also ensure that counterinsurgency strategy, especially at the local level, does not include extra-judicial killings of political activists,” she said.

She also pointed out that it is through investigations and “credible prosecution of the murders” that will help demonstrate that the military does not enjoy immunity from prosecution and that Mrs, Arroyo’s government does not condone such practices.

Tauscher also made mention of the flawed witness protection program of the Arroyo administration, saying a “climate of fear” prevails among the civilians as a result of the political killings, as well as “the general sense that the murders will go unprosecuted and the witnesses unprotected from reprisal killings.”

There was mention as well as the funds from the US government that benefit the Philippines, saying that “In the face of security threats within your country and our countries’ long-standing cooperation on security matters, the Philippines has received the largest increase in US foreign assistance in the East-Asia Pacific region since 2001, particularly in the form of foreign military financing.”

The Palace spokesman said the government of Mrs. Arroyo protects human rights and will continue to address the problem of political killings.

“According to the Presidential Human Rights Committee, at least 60 cases of unlawful killings have been brought to court or are with prosecuting authorities as of April this year. Four cases have resulted in convictions of the accused. This government is dedicated to the protection of human rights and will continue to take the necessary measures to address this issue,” he added.

Tauscher’s letter dated April 5 and sent to Mrs. Arroyo said: “Recently...Filipino-Americans and my constituents in the 10th Congressional District have raised concerns regarding the occurrence of extra-judicial killings of left-wing political activists. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, which oversees the disbursement of foreign military financing, I am concerned about legislations that have been raised that members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are responsible for the murders.

“I urge you to move quickly to prosecute those responsible for the crimes and to make clear that political policy toward the left-wing parties from operating freely. Moreover, I urge you to not only provide legitimate political space for leftist groups, but to also ensure that counterinsurgency strategy, especially at the local level, does not include extrajudicial killings of political activists,” Tauscher said.

Aside from this, she also suggested that the witness protection program and the mandates governing the Commission on Human Rights in the country be strengthened.

In a related development, a ruling by the Supreme Court (SC) has turned down the plea of Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Satur Ocampo to have his trial for multiple murder case transferred to Manila from Hilongos, Leyte.

In a three-page resolution, the SC en banc explained that Ocampo’s claims are not compelling and weighty enough to grant the transfer of venue.

Ocampo had cited the threat to his life and his witnesses and the hostile environment in Hilongos which the militant solon described as highly militarized,

Turning down the arguments the SC said “the reasons advanced by petitioner Ocampo are not compelling and weighty enough to grant the desired transfer venue of trial from Hilongos, Leyte to Metro Manila” the high court said.

“His allegations of serious threat to his life and that of the defense witnesses are common features of high-profile cases. Petitioner is a public figure with a large following of supporters from different mass based groups.

Wherever the venue of the criminal case is going to be, his presence during the trials will always be emotional and tension-filled. Hence, when emotions run high, threats or retaliation, unfortunately, come naturally,” it added.

The SC also noted it would be financially punishing for the relatives of at least 30 victims of alleged summary executions to shoulder the expenses of travel, including accommodation, to attend court hearings in Manila.

Although Leyte judge Judge Ephrem Abando was agreeable to the transfer of venue, prosecutors opposed it and said Ocampo’s fears are plain and unfounded speculation.

“For a change of venue to be granted, the situation should be such that neither the prosecution nor the defense witnesses can testify freely or voluntarily in the place where the trial is being held. In the present case, we find the possibility of petitioner Ocampo’s allegations remote,” the SC stressed.

jgacis

April 27th, 2007, 04:30 AM

^ The UN Convention was the premise of the discussions here. This is why we are having this exchange in the first place. It came from that posting of an article that states that the Philippines will be blacklisted by the UN for failure to submit reports.

One difference, if you may, is that the USA is a signatory of that convention. What then is the significance of the international rules of law and treatises if the US itself will circumvent it? Because the USA still seeks to abide by these conventions, those erring military officers were court martialed. No need to defend their acts by saying that those prisoners are vicious and have committed atrocities themselves.

I never did defend those military officers acts. :ohno:

The US itself will circumvent it? The US circumvents many things, as well as the other DOZENS of countries in the UN... :ohno:

Askal82

April 27th, 2007, 05:11 AM

bitoy

April 27th, 2007, 05:32 AM

You bring up an interesting point. How do you handle prisoners of war who have no respect for human rights themselves? Do people actually think that Abu Ghraib prisoners have any respect for human life at all? Can you actually compare them to your local pickpocket?

How can one follow the guidelines of the Geneva Conventions Act when the prisoners themselves do not follow the protocols or rules themselves.

Yes, the Abu Ghraib tainted U.S. reputation. What those FEW people did was WRONG. But as a military member of the U.S. Armed Forces, those involved in no way reflect me or my other fellow airman/soldiers who respect and follow the rules in the US military.

When you look at the entire scope of military operations, its easy to pinpoint specific events and use that as the posterchild for all military conduct. That is nothing more than a pure excuse to fingerpoint others in blame to make sense of their own personal assessment of their OWN problems.. :ohno:

In any military forces there are always some scalawags, but as much as possible the US still maintain a very good stand on proper interrogation of prisoners.
US prison standards as compared to others are more humane and follow strict procedures. Gitmo is more like a club-med than the prisons in Iraq or Afghanistan.
What others did to disgrace our uniform is really a permanent stain that will remain in the US military history, but as you and I and others that follow the military code it will be a reminder that unexpected things do happen that is part of our stay with the military.

bitoy

April 27th, 2007, 05:39 AM

US solon calls on GMA to move fast on killings
Daily Tribune
04/27/2007
http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20070427hed4.html
.

Naku pre' buti hindi si Erap nakareceived ng ganyang request. Baka madaliin ni Erap ang pagsalvage sa mga kalaban niya. :lol: J/K

Anyways that shows how slow our government is coping up with ugly events that other nations sees from the media.
Then if the foreign military and humanitarian assistance for the Philippines gets delayed or have been cut-off, they will whine and complain.

bitoy

April 27th, 2007, 05:46 AM

The Abu Ghraib incident was no different from the 'water cure' (aka. water intoxication) and other forms of torture and humiliation Filipinos endured and swallowed during the Filipino Insurrection (aka. Filipino-American War).

Be fair, you have to include the Filipino revolution against Spain and the Japanese atrocities during WWII which none of us have witnessed but were written on some history books or told by those who have witnessed themselves.

Askal82

April 27th, 2007, 05:57 AM

Be fair, you have to include the Filipino revolution against Spain and the Japanese atrocities during WWII which none of us have witnessed but were written on some history books or told by those who have witnessed themselves.

Yes, all of them were atrocious to the Filipinos and are highlighted in most historical textbooks except the American torture and humiliation part during the 'benevolent assimilation'. I think we should blame the authors of those textbooks that didn't tell us the whole story about it.

OtAkAw

April 27th, 2007, 08:33 AM

^^Well, most of the atrocitie scommitted to us by POWERFUL foreign nations in the past bear little importance in the international arena. The Massacre of Manila which killed more than 100,000 Filipinos, a known Japanese atrocity is not even mentioned in many WWII-related media projects that I've seen, read, heard of, whatever. When people talk about the Jewish genocide, the rape of Nanking, the genocide of Pol Pot, the massacre in Rwanda, they tend to conjure deep, saddened emotions. Pero sa atin, walang ganon, kasi people hardly know that a "massacre" occured in Manila.

jgacis

April 27th, 2007, 01:38 PM

Yes, all of them were atrocious to the Filipinos and are highlighted in most historical textbooks except the American torture and humiliation part during the 'benevolent assimilation'. I think we should blame the authors of those textbooks that didn't tell us the whole story about it.

Now you make more insightful sense than your other last post! :)

Saying that "The Abu Ghraib incident was no different from the 'water cure' (aka. water intoxication) and other forms of torture and humiliation Filipinos endured and swallowed during the Filipino Insurrection (aka. Filipino-American War)." is not really a strong argument since those two events were under different circumstances. The "ATROCITIES" experienced maybe similar, but for entirely differently reasons.

You're right, many history books are biased based on the background of the authors. I won't argue about that. But I have also read Philippine history books from American authors who are not clearly biased, and explain our history on both sides.

By the way, the American atrocities during the Filipino-American war happened because of the perceived threat of filipino insurgents against the colonial goals of the U.S. at the time. Unfortunately, many of those American troops where from states west of the Mississippi: the factory workers, office workers, drifters, farmers, etc. etc. There wasn't a professional military force sent to the P.I. from the states in my opinion. This contributed to the atrocities since these National Guard soldiers hardly knew nothing about the country they were going to fight in. The last major war many of these troops remembered was the American Civil War and the skirmishes with the native american indians. Atrocities committed by U.S. troops somethings reflected those with battles against the Apaches (American Indians) and the "us and them" attitude.

I totally agree U.S. committed atrocities against filipinos. But back then we didn't have THE SITUATION ROOM with Wolf Blitzer on CNN. Only telegraph cables and couriers. The atrocities we do hear about are from the stories passed down from the news press, U.S. Senatorial hearings, and diaries from all the participants who lived through it.

This is what happens when a government doesn't have a clear plan with a country. We can blame the U.S. in the past, but if our Philippine government doesn't have a clear plan today as well, we will continue to repeat history.

From the beginning, Americans manipulated Emilo Aguinaldo and deprived him from seeking the personal victory he sought to liberate our country. Only when he realized a revolution was necessary did the Americans commit to these atrocities. Frankly, I really don't believe Philippine Independence day was through the date marked by Aguinaldo. When the Americans defeated the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay, it was just another imperialistic country taking over from another imperialistic country. Emilio Aguinaldo was never taken seriously by the Americans and actually surrendered to them.

The good thing was that Americans knew the morality of the situation, although it took years. While the U.S. presidency changed throughout the years, there was a CLEAR timetable when the U.S. would relinquish it's authority back to the Philippine leadership and concede to the wishes of independence sought by the filipinos. Compare this to the Spaniards, you can see this was a HUGE difference in thinking by the Americans. The colonial legacy of the Spaniards left a demoralizing imprint among filipino leadership and the Americans wanted to insure that the filipinos were capable of leading themselves.

Where the Americans right in thinking this way? I think there is no right or wrong answer to that. Everyone can form their own assumption. And I think that no matter what one thinks about this, what is more important is to just move on and focus how we can continue to improve our country.

I respect other people's opinion in this forum. But from my point of view, the U.S. has done more good than bad for the Philippines. I think the hardest part for most people is to stop thinking one has to be perfect to be accepted. That's not true. No one is perfect, man or nation. The U.S. is definitely not perfect, but I seek the net results that have already occured and accept our history as a learning lesson for the better, not worse. There are other countries that are worse than us. This is just my opinion.....

Sinjin P.

May 3rd, 2007, 05:49 AM

RP losing Taiwan coco market (http://businessmirror.com.ph/05032007/headlines08.html)
EXECS’ FAILURE TO RESOLVE DISEASE CONCERNS BLAMED

THE Philippines has lost about $20 billion a year in export revenues from export of young coconuts to Taiwan in the last four years due to Manila’s refusal to allow Taipei agricultural officials to check on coconut farms and processing plants of coconut products to address concerns on cadang-cadang viroid infection.

Ambassador Hsin Hsing Wu of the Taiwanese Economic and Cultural Office (Teco) in Manila said although agriculture ministers from the Philippines and Taiwan agreed last year to temporarily lift Taiwan’s ban on young coconut products pending the inspection, “We are still waiting for the Philippine government to send us a formal invitation so our agricultural experts can come to visit the Philippine coconut plantations and processing plants.”

He said Taiwanese agricultural experts will then make recommendations on how the Philippine coconut producers could address the disease that has been infecting young coconut products. “If measures are taken by the Philippines in the prevention of the disease on coconut products then we would resume the importation of young coconut products.”

He noted the Philippines is losing huge revenues for its failure to allow Taiwanese experts to check on the coconut plantations. Cadang-cadang is a lethal disease of coconuts. Its presence is signaled by a yellow-bronze coloration of the lower fronds in the crown. The infection causes cessation of nut production and crown diminution.

The infection, which can only be found so far in Philippine coconuts, has been causing the premature death of more than 40 million coconut palms and annual export-revenue losses of around $40 million. --E. Torres

DoggMann

May 4th, 2007, 09:59 PM

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view_article.php?article_id=64193

Burgos case: EU shocked, cites RP’s culture of impunity

By Juliet Labog-Javellana, TJ Burgonio, Volt Contreras
Inquirer
Last updated 03:05am (Mla time) 05/05/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- The European Commission’s chief envoy to the Philippines yesterday expressed “shock” over the disappearance of an activist son of the late press freedom icon Joe Burgos, saying that human rights abuse had apparently become a daily occurrence in the country.

“Hardly a day goes by without a fresh reminder of the essential importance of human rights. Just this week, we’ve seen the appalling case of the abduction of Jonas Burgos and two companions here in Quezon City,” Ambassador Alistair MacDonald, head of the EC delegation in Manila, said in a program at the Commission on Human Rights’ central office.

“I’m pleased to see that the CHR is looking into this, but frankly I am shocked about what this suggests about the culture of impunity in this country,” MacDonald said.

“As long as the killings and abductions are taking place, [an investigation] is not enough; unless these stop, it won’t be enough,” he told an audience that included other foreign diplomats invited by the CHR.

MacDonald, who recalled having frequently read the newspaper Malaya especially when Joe Burgos was still its publisher in the 1980s, apparently made special mention of Jonas Burgos’ case, as indicated by the last-minute scribbles he had made on the margins of a prepared speech.

P58-M project

Ironically, the latest in a series of EC statements lamenting the rise of politically motivated crimes under the Arroyo administration was made on the same occasion that the commission granted another hefty sum for the promotion of human rights in the Philippines and three other Southeast Asian nations.

MacDonald and CHR Chair Purificacion Quisumbing yesterday jointly signed a P58-million, EC-funded project for the improvement of human rights “mechanisms” in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.

The major activities under the project include meetings, conferences or workshops aimed at spreading human rights awareness in the region and sharing “best practices” in rights protection and pushing for these in each country’s policies or legislative agenda.

Asked in an interview if the continuing killings and forced disappearances would now sway the EC into reconsidering its policy of extending grants to the Philippines, MacDonald said: “I’m not convinced that cutting development assistance—using it as a political weapon—is a good tactic.”

The diplomat also observed that political violence was “growing very rapidly as we get closer to elections” on May 14. He said this was “not unusual in the Philippines.”

‘Not a joke’

But even National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales said he was “scared” about Jonas Burgos’ fate.

“I’ve been looking for him even before [news of his disappearance] came out in the newspapers,” Gonzales said in a phone interview. “We need to find him because this is not a joke. This is a big blow to the reputation of the government. I don’t know why these things are happening at this time.”

Gonzales said some bishops had called him earlier to help search for Burgos, a 36-year-old agriculturist who had been working closely with peasant farmers, and who was abducted on April 28 at the Ever Gotesco Mall in Quezon City.

He said he had mobilized intelligence sources to look for the young Burgos upon the instruction of President Macapagal-Arroyo.

“The President is definitely alarmed. She called me up [and told me] to look for him,” Gonzales said.

But Gonzales said he had no clues so far as to the whereabouts of the young Burgos and who might have been behind his abduction.

“He’s not in any military camp,” Gonzales said.

Asked what that meant, he said: “I’m scared. But we will not stop [our search].”

Gonzales said Jonas Burgos’ abduction could not have come at a worst time.

“This tragic incident is not good for the government. When you have those political killings and disappearances, what image is being created? That the government [is not in control],” he said.

Gonzales said he had been studying Jonas Burgos’ background to help determine who might be behind his abduction.

“I want to know who Jonas really is. Is he just a peasant volunteer? I want to have a profile of him,” Gonzales said.

‘Land of lawlessness’

Amnesty International campaign coordinator Wilnor Papa said Jonas Burgos’ disappearance had reinforced the Philippines’ image as a “land of lawlessness.”

Papa said the disappearance was alarming: “For [the abductors] to do this to a son of a great Filipino is a slap on the faces not only of human rights defenders, but also of all Filipinos. His father is like a national hero; he’s done a lot for the country.”

According to Papa, the disappearance was proof that the country was heading to an era reminiscent of the “wild, wild West where lawlessness was the norm.”

“Nobody is getting arrested and jailed. It’s no wonder investors and tourists are pulling out of the country,” he said in a phone interview. “If there’s anything good that should come out of this, it would be to rouse Filipinos to demand justice and a stop to the [killings] and disappearances.”

Papa said that to show it was serious in cracking the case, the government should take concrete steps by conducting a thorough investigation and arresting the suspects.

“It’s not a case of who did it. It’s a case of what the government should do about it. Beyond mere pronouncements, it should do something concrete. They say they’re doing something about it, but how come these things are still happening?” he said, adding:

“The government is tasked to protect its citizens and their human rights. If it can’t do this, it’s useless.”

Warning

Danilo Ramos of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas said he had advised the members of the Alyansang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (AMP) to be careful about security in view of Jonas Burgos’ disappearance.

“They should be conscious of their security while doing their job. We gave them this advisory at the height of the killings and disappearances in 2006, and we reiterated it during our recent meeting late last month,” Ramos told the Inquirer.

Half of the 191 who had disappeared since 2001 came from the ranks of farmers, according to Ramos.

Jonas Burgos had been training AMP members in organic farming and sustainable agriculture since 1999 in Bulacan, where the Burgos family lives on a farm.

Having worked that long with the group, he is considered a volunteer of the AMP, which is the KMP’s provincial chapter in Bulacan.

“If [the abductors] can’t get the officials, they target those next in line,” KMP information officer Carl Ala said.

waketrex

May 6th, 2007, 10:00 PM

so wait is the NBN project now settled?
ARESCOM Wins $135 Million Nationwide Wireless Broadband Project (http://www.bbwexchange.com/pubs/2007/05/07/page1423-576424.asp)

jbkayaker12

May 6th, 2007, 11:17 PM

.
Then if the foreign military and humanitarian assistance for the Philippines gets delayed or have been cut-off, they will whine and complain.

Perhaps that could be a blessing in disguise, the Philippines rely too much on hand outs instead of creating ways to improve its revenue collection and improve on its governance mainly when it comes to financial matters. On the same token Filipinos relying too much on hand outs from the Philippine government.:)

Askal82

May 6th, 2007, 11:40 PM

^^ The beggar mentality. Ever wonder why noontime shows are so popular? The Wowowee incident is no accident.

3cr

May 7th, 2007, 01:43 AM

RP seeking more aid from US special fund
By DES FERRIOLS
The Philippine Star
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryID=76245

The Arroyo administration is asking for more funding from the Millennium Challenge Account, a special fund created by US President George W. Bush in the wake of the terrorist attacks in 2001.

Finance Secretary Margarito Teves said his department is preparing to make representations with the Millennium Challenge Corp. (MCC), which manages the fund and determines which countries qualify for the funding.

So far, Teves said the Philippines has only qualified for small grants and has not been able to access the so-called Compact assistance offered by the bilateral fund facility.

MCC explained that the Philippines was ineligible for broader MCC compact assistance because of persistent problems with public corruption.

The issue of corruption is one of the 16 factors used by the MCC as basis for selecting the countries for the Compact program.

According to MCC, Compact eligibility is reserved for countries that score above the median on independently measured indices such as political and economic freedom, investment in education, control of corruption, respect for civil liberties, health care spending, fiscal and trade policies, and judicial fairness.

Teves said the country would have to meet certain criteria such as increased public investments in social and health programs in order to qualify for significant financial assistance from the MCC.

Teves said the Arroyo administration plans to make a presentation before the MCC in November, detailing its efforts to meet these criteria.

"At present, we are about 0.1 percent below the median and it should be easy to go over that in order to get more funding," he said.

According to Teves, the performance hurdles were divided into three criteria: public investments, economic freedom, and fiscal management.

Under public investments, he said the MCC wants to see higher spending for immunization, primary education and health services.

Under economic freedom, he said the MCC wants to see significant reduction in the number of days it normally takes to start up a business in the country.

Finally, Teves said the MCC wants to see continued improvement in the government’s revenue performance.

Thus far, the MCC has extended a grant of $21 million under its Philippines Threshold Program, which is focused on improving revenue administration and anti-corruption efforts.

The MCC grant was intended to reduce corruption by strengthening the Office of the Ombudsman as well as the three agencies under the Department of Finance – the Revenue Integrity Protection Service, the Bureau of Internal Revenue, and the Bureau of Customs.

The MCC board of directors approved the Philippine program in June last year. The Philippine government said it would match the MCC Threshold fund with a similar amount.

__________________________________

IPU finds persecution raps vs gov’t credible
BY JP LOPEZ
http://www.malaya.com.ph/may07/news5.htm

A DELEGATION of the committee on human rights of the Inter-Parliamentary Union said it has found enough basis for allegations of persecution hurled by left-leaning party list lawmakers against government authorities.

The IPU delegates, led by Sen. Sharon Carstairs and IPU secretary general Anders Johnsson, were in the country from April 18 to April 21.

The group looked into the cases of militant congressmen who are either facing arrest or have been arrested.

"The delegation believes this case to be highly significant for the future of democracy in the Philippines and looks forward to its settlement in line with human rights and democratic principles," it said in a preliminary statement.

The delegation noted the continued detention of Anakpawis party list Rep. Crispin Beltran and the filing of multiple murder charges against Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo.

The persecution of lawmakers, the IPU noted, has been affirmed by authorities who claimed that they were being charged "on account of their membership to the Communist Party."

"It appeared to the delegation that the statements, in particular of the governmental and prosecuting authorities, revealed a presumption of guilt on their part," the IPU said in a two-page summary of its report.

The committee report was submitted during the IPU session in Bali, Indonesia last month. The group said it would try to persuade the Philippine government to act on the issues raised during the session.

Johnsson, in an earlier interview with reporters, said the IPU would not in any manner interfere with the country’s internal affairs.

"The delegation was unable to dispel the IPU’s concern that the charges, which are broad and unsubstantiated and based on questionable evidence, in addition to the sequence of the various prosecution steps, tend to demonstrate that non-legal motives may underlie the prosecution of the parliamentarians concerned," the mission stated. It said this was reinforced by efforts of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez "to lay charges against the parliamentarian concerned and to obtain their exclusion from the political process."

This includes the filing of multiple murder charges against Ocampo in March, which served as a basis for his arrest.

It said the prosecution apparently presented a weak case against Ocampo which prompted the Supreme Court to order his release on bail although murder is a non-bailable offense.

The delegation further noted the continued detention of Beltran based on a two-decade-old rebellion charge filed against him.

The mission has raised the matter to national security adviser Norberto Gonzales and the justice secretary. The national security cabinet cluster has said it would not oppose Beltran’s release pending trial.

However, the Solicitor General still has to formally manifest this decision to the Supreme Court, before which an urgent motion for Beltran’s release is pending.

"The delegation wishes to thank the National Security Advisor for his efforts to raise the issue within the national security cluster, and trusts that Mr. Beltran will be released pending trial at the earliest possible time," it said.

The delegation further noted the attempt to cancel the registration of the left-leaning political parties filed before the Commission on Elections last February.

The petition was filed based on the complaint of two widows whose husbands, they claimed, were murdered on orders of Ocampo.

However, the delegation was told that no police investigation was carried out in this regard.

Based on the complaint, the Comelec decided to mark with an asterisk in the electoral list the contested party list groups, which tells voters that disqualification proceedings are pending.

"The delegation finds this procedure questionable since it may seriously prejudice the political parties concerned," it said.

"The delegation notes that the criminal cases against the parliamentarians concerned are pending before the Supreme Court, and it has no doubt whatsoever that the Court will examine these cases in a fully independent manner and as quickly as possible," IPU said.

jgacis

May 7th, 2007, 10:50 AM

Monday, May 07, 2007

Governor opposes Sultan
Kudarat inclusion in ARRM

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato: Claiming the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is “only for Muslims,” Sultan Kudarat Gov. Pax Mangudadatu vowed to oppose the proposed inclusion of his Christian-dominated province to the expanded autonomous region as a concession in the ongoing peace negotiations between the government and Moro rebels.

Mangudadatu, a member of the government peace panel negotiating peace with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), said it would be illegal to place Sultan Kudarat under ARMM, saying 90 percent of its more than 600,000 constituents are non-Muslims.

The MILF was reportedly asking for the inclusion of Sultan Kudarat to an expanded autonomous region being offered by the Philippine government as part of a proposed final peace agreement.

President Arroyo’s spokesman, Ignacio Bunye, was quoted by national dailies last week as saying that Mala*cañang has instructed the government peace panel to conduct more studies and consultations regarding the MILF’s proposal to include Sultan Kudarat as part of an expanded autonomous region.

He said the government and the MILF have agreed to resume formal peace negotiations after the May 14 election.

Mangudadatu said he has already consulted several lawyers over the matter and they contended that the province may not be included in the autonomous region unless the residents themselves would allow it.

Mangudadatu, who is running for congressman in the province’s First District under the administration party Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi), said Sultan Kudarat constituents had made their position clear when they refused to join ARMM through two previous plebiscites.

In the August 2001 referendum for the expanded ARMM, at least 115,571 registered voters of Sultan Kudarat voted “no” for the province’s inclusion in the autonomous region while only 4,782 voted “yes.”

Mangudadatu scored speculations that have been spreading in his province that he and his son, Rep. Suharto Mangudadatu, are the ones who are allegedly pushing for the province’s transfer to ARMM.

The elder Mangudadatu, who is now on his final term as governor, is facing former Sultan Kudarat representative Angelo Roncal Montilla of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) in the congressional race.

His son, Representative Suharto, is currently running for governor under Kampi. He is facing former Tacurong City mayor Geronimo Arzagon of the NPC.

:wtf: Why do we need more autonomous locations in our country??!!! :ohno:

OtAkAw

May 7th, 2007, 02:12 PM

^^Oh, some Islamic Extremists are really big problems for a nation. Even Thailand is suffering the same problem.

But the fight for autonomy is not uncommon. Spain, one of the world's largest economies and known industrialized nation is fighting to keep the Basques and Catalans, two entities constantly fighting for autonomy, in its grasp. It's not new, the Philippines government simply needs to cope up with the problem and learn how to deal with it properly.

3cr

May 7th, 2007, 10:54 PM

True so true... Aside from electricity/power, infrastructure, both physical and virtual, badly needs to be improved upon as well inorder to be more competitive with our neighboring countries.

RP not e-ready
Editorial by Ching Wong

IN the sitcom 30 Rock, the abrasive network boss Jack Donaghy buys a pager because he wants to make a point to his subordinate, Liz Lemon, who is dating the only beeper salesman left in Manhattan.

“Okay, very funny. You bought a pager from Dennis. Will you take it off now please?” she says.

“Oh I can’t,” he replies smugly. “I’m expecting a call from 1983.”

When the latest results of 2007 E-Readiness Ranking by the Economist Intelligence Unit came out recently, it certainly felt like we were waiting for a call from 1983.

The study, which ranks 69 countries according to how well they use information and communications technology to benefit their economies, put the Philippines at the bottom fourth, at No. 54 in a tie with India.

Elsewhere in Asia, countries were improving their e-readiness standing, often dramatically. Hong Kong shot up to No. 4 this year, from No. 10 in 2006, while Singapore moved up to No. 6 from No. 13. South Korea, Taiwan, Japan and Malaysia also saw their e-readiness rankings improve. Thailand, which slipped two spots, was still five steps ahead of us at No. 49.

In Asia, only China, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Vietnam and Indonesia were ranked lower than the Philippines.

We could take some solace in our two-step improvement over 2006, when we came in at No. 56 out of 68 countries—but we’d only be fooling ourselves. Despite slight gains in 2003 and 2007, the trend in the last seven years has been clearly downward. In 2001, the Philippines ranked No. 39 in a field of 60 countries. This has steadily slipped to No. 49 in 2002, to No. 51 in 2005, and No. 54 in 2007.

It’s interesting to note that this decline came about even though our E-readiness Score—a composite number based on six criteria, with a maximum of 10 points—has risen steadily over the years. In 2001, our E-readiness score was just 3.98. In 2007, it had risen to 4.66. These two trends suggest that while we have built up our ability to use technology gradually, most of the other countries in the world, including many of our neighbors in Asia, have adopted a much more rapid pace. Clearly, we are being left behind.

The six criteria used for the E-readiness Score point to areas in which we need to improve.

1) Connectivity and technology infrastructure. Making up 20 percent of the score, this takes into account the number of broadband connections, mobile phones, Internet users, personal computers, wireless hotspots and secure Internet servers there are in relation to the total population. It also takes into account how affordable broadband access is, and a country’s willingness to use digital identity cards. In this category, the Philippines scored a dismal 2.70, leaving much room for improvement. Only Sri Lanka (1.80), Vietnam (2.25) and Indonesia (2.10) were ranked lower.

2) Business environment. Accounting for 15 percent of the total score, this covers such factors as the strength of the economy, political stability, taxation, competition policy, the labor market, and openness to trade and investment. Here, the Philippines scored reasonably well, with 6.43 points.

3) Social and cultural environment. This covers the level of education; Internet literacy; degree of entrepreneurship; technical skills of the workforce; and the degree of innovation that a society fosters and accounts for 15 percent of the E-readiness Score. The Philippines scored only 4.40.

4) Legal environment. Accounting for 10 percent of the score, this covers the effectiveness of the traditional legal framework; laws covering the Internet; the level of censorship; and the ease of registering a new business. Here, too, the Philippines scored below the half-way mark, with 4.65.

5) Government policy and vision. Making up 15 percent of the score, this takes into account government spending on technology as a proportion of gross domestic product; digital development strategy; e-government strategy; and online procurement. The country scored 5.05 in this category.

6) Consumer and business adoption. Accounting for 25 percent of the score, this category covers consumer spending on technology per person, the level of e-business development and online commerce, and the availability of online public services for citizens and businesses. The Philippines scored 5.10 in this category.

While there’s room for improvement in all categories, it’s clear from these scores that we continued to be weighed down most by our poor connectivity and technology infrastructure. We may have a lot of mobile phones, but that’s just a part of the equation. We simply don’t have enough computers for the number of people we have, and broadband services are still much too expensive for most of the population.

Now, was that your beeper or mine?

_____________________________________

RP trails Asian neighbors in new e-readiness ranking
By Chin Wong
http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=interactive1_may7_2007

THE Philippines continues to lag most of its Asian neighbors in its ability to apply information and communications technology to the economy, according to the 2007 E-Readiness Rankings of the Economist Intelligence Unit.

In the latest survey, the country moved up slightly in rank from No. 56 in 2006 to a tie with India at No. 54, with an e-readiness score of 4.66 out of a perfect score of 10. The ranking put the Philippines in the bottom third of the 69 countries included in the survey.

In contrast, Hong Kong, with a score of 8.72, shot up in the list from No. 10 in 2006 to No. 4 this year. Singapore improved its standing from No. 13 in 2006 to No. 6 this year, with a score of 8.60.

Other Asian countries that improved their e-readiness rankings this year were South Korea (No. 16 from No. 18), Taiwan (No. 17 from No. 23), Japan (No. 18 from No. 21), and Malaysia (No. 36 from No. 37).

Thailand, with an e-readiness score of 4.91, was still six ranks ahead of the Philippines at No. 49, despite a two-step drop fro 2006.

In Asia, only China (4.43), Sri Lanka (3.93), Pakistan (3.79), Vietnam (3.73) and Indonesia (3.39) were ranked lower than the Philippines.

Overall, Denmark (8.88) and the United States (8.85) retained their No. 1 and No. 2 rankings. Sweden (8.85) tied for the No. 2 spot, and was followed by Hong Kong (8.72), Switzerland (8.61), Singapore (8.60), the United Kingdom (8.59), the Netherlands (8.50), Australia (8.46) and Finland (8.43).

The e-readiness score measures a country’s ability to use technology, taking into account its connectivity and technology infrastructure (20 percent), its business environment (15 percent), the social and cultural environment (15 percent), the legal environment (10 percent), government policy and vision (15 percent) , and consumer and business adoption of technology (25 percent).

In these measures, the Philippines scored poorly (2.70) in connectivity and technology infrastructure, and managed its best score for business environment (6.43), which measures factors such as the strength of the economy, political stability, taxation, competition policy, the labor market, and openness to trade an investment. Despite the country’s low infrastructure rating, the Economist Intelligence Unit singled out the Philippines for its advances in mobile technology.

“The Philippines (54th) continues to have a long and innovative relationship with mobile commerce, and now m-commerce service sites are becoming more integrated with Filipinos’ broader online activity,” the report said. “New mobile ‘loading’ sites (where money is transferred, usually from friends and relatives abroad, to a local mobile phone linked to a bank or debit account)... also operate like social networking sites, offering users chat and other services. The rationale is solid: the ‘loading’ of overseas remittances is a major source of income for the relatives of 7 million Filipinos abroad—a vast majority of whom rely on online and mobile portals to manage and transfer funds.”

3cr

May 9th, 2007, 01:11 AM

Yikes! If this is indeed the current state of our health care system, eh papaano na ang medical tourism bid ng Pinas niyan?

Poor healthcare traced to exodus of doctors, nurses
By JENNY F. MANONGDO
http://www.mb.com.ph/MAIN2007050993536.html

The quality of healthcare system in the country is deteriorating rapidly owing to the massive and continuing exodus of doctors and other medical professionals, according to a recent study.

Professor Emmanuel A. Leyco, director of health management programs of the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), said that based on his study, a meager 12 percent of the country’s skilled nurses and 32 percent of doctors are left to treat the sick.

The study also revealed the "inequity of hospital services and funds" which has put the entire country’s healthcare situation in a crisis over the last few years.

In his paper titled "A Looming Crisis in Healthcare," Leyco stressed that "access to healthcare in the country is limited because hospitals are inadequate in far-flung areas; health care professionals are leaving the country and the country’s financial resources are not allocated fairly."

Leyco presented the results of his study to a media forum organized by the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP).

The study also looked into the "maldistribution" of private hospitals where 57 percent is located in Luzon while 27 percent is in the National Capital Region.

Leyco’s study also showed that infant and maternal deaths are also ‘consistently high’ with most cases occurring in Mindanao.

Leyco also lamented that there are only 37.3 percent of government hospitals that are accredited by Philhealth.

But the most pressing problem, he said, is the unstoppable migration of healthcare workers which is already "at a critical level."

Dr. Jaime Galvez-Tan of the National Institute of Health (NIH) earlier said there are 3,000 doctors currently enrolled in nursing schools while 3,000 physicians have left the country in the year 2000 to work abroad as nurses.

Enrollment in medical schools is declining while nursing schools are mushrooming.

Leyco also lamented that healthcare is not a priority of the government and proposed for a "people’s summit to encourage the government to focus on health issues in the country."

zeejay

May 9th, 2007, 08:35 AM

marxman

May 11th, 2007, 03:51 AM

Bayan Muna, Akbayan keep lead in SWS poll

At least 17 party-list groups poised to win

Inquirer
Last updated 05:26am (Mla time) 05/11/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- At least 17 of the 93 party-list groups could win seats in the House of Representatives, with Bayan Muna topping the list followed by Akbayan, according to results of a nationwide survey conducted by Social Weather Stations on May 2-4.

Bayan Muna had 8.4 percent of the votes, followed closely by Akbayan with 8.2 percent.

Although the number of votes they got last week declined from last month’s 10.4 percent (Bayan Muna) and 9.8 percent (Akbayan), the two groups could retain their current three seats each.

Fifteen more groups have a statistical chance of winning at least one seat each in the House.

Under the 2-percent rule, a group that gets 2 percent of the votes cast for the party-list system is entitled to one seat in the House, according to SWS. A group can have a maximum of three seats, or 6 percent of the votes.

Under this rule, the 17 party-list groups could take a total of 23 seats in the House.

However, the Supreme Court’s “Veterans Formula,” in its October 2000 decision in Veterans Federation Party v the Commission on Elections, provides that the allocation of seats to party-list groups depends on the total number of votes garnered by the top party-list.

Other party-list groups that made the cut were Luzon Farmers Party (Butil, 4.9 percent), Buhay Hayaan Yumabong (Buhay, 4.2 percent), Gabriela (3.9 percent), Advocacy for Teacher Empowerment Through Action, Cooperation and Harmony Toward Educational Reforms Inc. (A Teacher, 3.6 percent) and Ahon Pinoy (Ahon, 3.5 percent);

Citizen’s Battle Against Corruption (Cibac, 3.4 percent), Aangat Tayo (AT, 3 percent), Agricultural Sectoral Alliance of the Philippines Inc. (Agap, 2.7 percent), Anakpawis (2.7 percent) and Ahonbayan (2.6 percent);

Cooperative-Natcco Network Party (Coop-Natcco, 2.3 percent), Abakada Guro (Abakada, 2.2 percent), Kabataan (2.1 percent), Anak Mindanao (Amin, 2.1 percent), and Kapatiran ng mga Nakulong na Walang Sala Inc. (Kakusa, 2 percent).

Butil and Buhay were each poised to get two seats, while the rest of the groups would each get one seat, according to SWS.

However, if the Veterans Formula were applied, all the groups would get only one seat each, except for Bayan Muna, which would still get three seats.

Poised to retain their current seats in the House were Buhay (2), and Gabriela, Cibac, Coop-Natcco and Amin (1 each).

Anakpawis is poised to retain only one of the two seats it currently holds.

Nominees

The nominees of Bayan Muna are Satur Ocampo, Teodoro Casiño and Neri Colmenares.

Akbayan -- Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel, Walden Bello and Enrico Dayanghirang.

Butil -- Leonila Chavez, Agapito Guanlao and Herminio Ocampo.

Buhay -- (1st set) Hans Christian Señeres, Hermenegildo Dumlao and Antonio Bautista; (2nd set) Rene Velarde, Ma. Carissa Coscolluela and Wiliam Irwin Tieng.

Gabriela -- Liza Maza, Luzviminda Ilagan and Flora Belinan.

A Teacher -- Mariano Piamonte, Ulpiano Sarmiento III and Carolina Porio.

Ahon -- Dante Francis M. Ang II, Bernardo F. Ople and Ernesto Herrera III.

Cibac -- Emmanuel Joel Villanueva, Luis Lokan Jr. and Cinchona Gonzales.

Aangat Tayo -- Daryl Grace Abayon, Eden Debulgado Rivera and Meriam Lasta Paylaga.

Agap -- Nicanor Briones, Cesar Cobrador and Rosalinda Dacanay.

Anakpawis -- Crispin Beltran, Rafael Mariano and Joel Maglunsod.

Ahonbayan -- Edgar Catarongan, Edgardo Manda and Raden Sakaluran.

Coop-Natcco -- Guillermo Cua, Jose Ping-ay and Cresente Paez.

Abakada -- Jonathan de la Cruz, Samson Alcantara and Cecilia Dy.

Kabataan -- Raymond Palatino, Enrico Almonguerra and Mary Francis Veloso.

Amin -- Mujiv Hataman, Ariel Hernandez and Arnel Arbison.

Kakusa -- Ranulfo Canonigo, Omar Rivera and Ma. Jesusa Sespeñe.

Only 53 percent of voters

The last installment in the three-part series of SWS surveys with the Philippine Daily Inquirer, parent company of INQUIRER.net, as its exclusive media partner also found that 53 percent of some 45 million registered voters chose a party-list group from the official Commission on Elections list. This was equivalent to 23.9 million votes.

The survey used face-to-face interviews with 1,200 registered voters divided into random samples of 300 each in Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.

Just below threshold

Groups “just below the threshold but within statistical reach” include Abanse! Pinay (1.9 percent), Cocofed-Philippine Coconut Producers Federation Inc. (Cocofed, 1.8 percent), Abono (1.7 percent), Advocates for Special Children and the Handicapped Movement (Asahan Mo, 1.5 percent), Alagad (1.5 percent), Veterans Freedom Party (VFP, 1.5 percent), 1-United Transport Koalisyon (1-Utak, 1.5 percent) and Suara Bangsamoro (Suara, 1.5 percent).

Alyansang Bayanihan ng Magsasaka, Manggagawang Bukid at Mangingisda-Adhikain at Kilusan ng Ordinaryong Tao (Aba-Ako, 1.4 percent), Alyansa ng Mamamayang Naghihirap (1.3 percent) and Association of Philippine Electric Cooperative (Apec, 1.3 percent).

Angat Ating Kabuhayan Pilipinas Inc. (Anak, 1.2 percent), Akbay Pinoy OFW-National Inc. (APOI, 1.1 percent), Bagong Alyansang Tagapagtaguyod ng Adhikaing Sambayanan (BATAS, 1 percent) and Assalam Bangsamoro People’s Party (Assalam, 1 percent).

“Allowing for sampling error, with a survey outcome of 3 percent or more, it is statistically safe to say that a party has truly reached the threshold of 2 percent. On the other hand, a survey outcome of below 1 percent makes it statistically very unlikely that the threshold has in truth been reached,” SWS said in a statement released Thursday.

Incumbent party-list groups that scored below the statistical threshold include An Waray (0.6 percent), Alliance of Volunteer Educators (AVE, 0.1 percent), Ang Laban ng Indiginong Filipino (ALIF, 0 percent) and Partido ng Manggagawa (PM, 0 percent).

An Waray is currently represented by Florencio Noel; AVE by Eulogio Magsaysay; ALIF by Acmad Tomawis, and PM by Renato Magtubo.

Results by area

Akbayan, Gabriela and Ahon met the 2-percent threshold across all areas -- Metro Manila, Luzon outside Metro Manila, the Visayas and Mindanao.

Bayan Muna and Kabataan satisfied the 2-percent rule in all areas, except in Mindanao, where Bayan Muna only got 1.7 percent and Kabataan received none (0 percent).

A Teacher and AT missed the threshold only in Metro Manila (1.2 percent and 1.8 percent, respectively), while Cibac missed it in the Visayas (0 percent).

Butil (11 percent) and Ahonbayan (5 percent) drew their support mostly from respondents in the balance of Luzon; Buhay from Metro Manila (11 percent) and the balance of Luzon (5.6 percent), and Amin and Kakusa, from Mindanao (10.3 percent and 7.8 percent, respectively).

Coop-Natcco received most of its votes from the Visayas (4.2 percent) and Mindanao (3.3 percent), while Abakada from Metro Manila (3.7 percent) and Mindanao (5.5 percent).

Results by class

By socioeconomic class, the top five groups -- Bayan Muna, Akbayan, Butil, Buhay and Gabriela -- along with Ahon, Anakpawis and Abakada, satisfied the 2-percent threshold across all classes ABC, D and E.

A Teacher (1.6 percent), AT (0 percent), Ahonbayan (0 percent), Kabataan (1.6 percent) and Amin (0 percent) missed the threshold among members of class ABC, while Cibac (1.8 percent), Agap (1.2 percent) and Coop-Natcco (1.8 percent) missed it in class E.

Kakusa drew much of its support from class E (5.7 percent). Kate Pedroso, Inquirer Research

EXPECT MORE RALLY and PROTEST to come to our streets... vandalising, causing instability, traffic, stopping business... giving headache to ordinary filipino drivers...

if there would only be votes for negating the votes of these party lists (especially the troublesome ones)... they wouldnt win a single seat...

beads_strawberries

May 11th, 2007, 08:43 AM

EXPECT MORE RALLY and PROTEST to come to our streets... vandalising, causing instability, traffic, stopping business... giving headache to ordinary filipino drivers...

if there would only be votes for negating the votes of these party lists (especially the troublesome ones)... they wouldnt win a single seat...

^^ I understand your predicaments. After all, they are the same groups who want to topple down the government but running under the guise of party-list organizations. It's really ironic for these party-list groups to condemn the government when they are part of it.

It's worth noticing that the votes for these left-leaning party-list groups decline as Election Day comes near. Maybe that could help you ease a little. Or better yet, let's just not vote for these groups. There are a lot of party-list groups who are truly representatives of the marginalized sectors, anyway.

3cr

May 14th, 2007, 09:25 AM

2007 Investment Priorities Plan delayed :ohno: :ohno: :ohno:
By BERNIE CAHILES–MAGKILAT
Manila Bulletin
http://www.mb.com.ph/BSNS2007051493866.html

Approval of the proposed 2007 Investment Priorities Plan, a crucial list of priority areas of economic activities eligible for a juicy package of government incentives, has been delayed for over a month now as government officials are caught in the middle of an election fever.

Trade and Industry Secretary Peter B. Favila told reporters the inter-agency committee led by the Board of Investments already submitted the IPP to the Office of the President last March 30 after conducting thorough consultations with various agencies.

"Yes, we are busy," Favila replied as to why Malacañang has not acted on it yet and said the IPP may possibly be approved after the elections.

Favila said he has already received some queries as to the status of this year’s IPP but said that while the 2007 IPP has yet to be approved, the 2006 IPP continues to be in effect.

Officials said that there were instances in the past where IPPs got approved as late as September because of some contentious issues.

On instance that an IPP’s approval is delayed, the current IPP stays until the new one is approved.

The IPP is crucial because the BOI has pinned its hopes on the realization of the targetted 12 percent growth in investments this year.

An IPP serves as investors’ guide on the selected areas that have been identified for priority promotion and development and therefore eligible for government tax and fiscal incentives and any delay would impact on businessmen, who are making plans and projections with the help of the IPP.

One controversial inclusion in this year’s IPP is cement projects that are integrated with mining operations. The grant of incentives to cement projects was also endorsed by the Department of Finance despite opposition by the existing cement players.

Telecommunications projects for unserved areas are also entitled to incentives.

The mining sector has been removed from the 12 preferred priority sectors but Republic Act 7942 or the Mining Act is listed in the Mandatory Inclusions of the IPP.

The proposed 2007 IPP has also maintained the RED (Retention, Expansion and Diversification) program to cover the activities of existing investors either considered as global players or engaged in strategic industries that are encouraged for retention, expansion or diversifications of their operations in the country.

The following is the complete list of the 12 preferred areas of the draft 2007 IPP: agriculture, fishery and support services; healthcare and wellness products and services; information and communications technology; electronics; motor vehicle products; energy; infrastructure; tourism; shipbuilding/shipping; iron and steel; R & D/training institutions and; machinery and equipment, raw materials and intermediate inputs in support of the activities listed in the IPP.

The R & D listing covers in-house R & D activities of any manufacturing/producing firm and commercial R & D activities of private firms and research institutions.

This also covers Centers of Excellence and training institutions specializing in developing skills for manufacturing, agriculture, fishery, mining, tourism, infrastructure, and service sectors.

The BOI has carefully crafted this year’s proposed IPP in light of criticisms that its penchant for granting incentives triggered a huge government revenue loss.

Incentives registered with the BOI are granted as long as eight years of income tax holiday, preferential duty rate, among other incentives.(BCM)

3cr

May 15th, 2007, 01:10 AM

What slows BOT projects down?
By Cielito Habito
Inquirer
Last updated 06:26pm (Mla time) 05/13/2007
http://business.inquirer.net/money/columns/view_article.php?article_id=65663

MANILA, Philippines -- SOMETHING interesting happened at a very well-attended public hearing held by the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) last week. The hearing concerned the most recent round of proposed amendments to the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) Law, the law governing private sector participation in public infrastructure provision.

This is the law that permitted independent power producers to rescue us from drastic power shortages in the early 1990s, when the government didn't have the money to build the power plants itself. It is the same law that brought us the Skyway from Magallanes to Bicutan, and the improvement of both the North and South Tollways out of Metro Manila, at no cost to the government. It also made it possible for Manila Water Co. and Maynilad Water Services Inc. to provide water supply services to the eastern and western parts of Metro Manila, respectively, which led--at least in the case of Manila Water--to a phenomenal improvement in quantity and quality of water services within the 10 years the private concessions have been in place.

Cutting its own arm
Neda found itself in the awkward position of seemingly pushing for revisions to the BOT guidelines that would actually cut off its own arm--by taking away its own critical role in the evaluation and approval of BOT projects. It is now open knowledge that the revisions did not come from Neda, but are in fact being pushed by Malacañang. Accounts have it that the President herself has asserted that as Senate author of the BOT Law in the early 90s, she had never meant for each BOT project to be scrutinized by Neda and the inter-agency Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) chaired by the secretary of finance. Thus, she wanted the guidelines "corrected" to reflect this intent.

The premise, faulty as it may be, is that the ICC/Neda evaluation of individual BOT projects has been an unnecessary hurdle that gets in the way of attracting more private sector investments in our much-needed infrastructure facilities. The proposed solution? Let the implementing agencies be responsible for evaluating and approving their own BOT projects. By removing a layer of approval by an oversight body, more private sector investments in BOT will come in, BOT projects will move much faster, and we will all be happier, right?

Faulty premise
Well, not quite.

The speaker from the World Bank pointed out that what really slows down BOT projects in the country are factors arising from lack of rigorous project preparation and appraisal, including by oversight agencies. Such lack has opened the way for anomalous contracts and corruption within implementing agencies, ultimately leading to delays due to court litigation and endless legal impediments. Naia 3 is the most notorious example.

The lawyer from the private sector said essentially the same thing: Private BOT investors want a process that will withstand any future legal, financial, technical and procedural concern that may be raised against a project or its proponents. I volunteered my own observation from my past Neda days, pointing to factors after approval as the more crucial sources of delay. I recalled how certain high-profile projects for which Neda received strong pressure to accelerate the evaluation and approval process subsequently languished after approval anyway, due to financing, right-of-way, or legal delays especially from lawsuits by losing bidders. In other words, we hurried up for nothing.

Will eliminating oversight evaluation and approval by ICC help the situation, then? Will we be ensured of this critically needed rigorous appraisal by leaving it to the agencies proposing the projects to do it? Isn't there likely to be a conflict of interest here? It doesn't take a genius to answer this one.

Priority projects
Past Neda chief Dante Canlas called attention to a curious revision being proposed that would delete reference to the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan, the Medium Term Public Investment Program, the Regional Development Investment Programs and LGU development plans in defining priority projects. The proposed revision would give agencies full leeway in defining their list of priority projects--regardless of agreed and well-deliberated development priorities already articulated in the above plans.

This smells like a naked attempt to open the door even wider to unsolicited BOT projects--the exceptional case provided in the BOT Law that became the norm in past years rather than the exception. Delay-causing controversies have consistently hounded such unsolicited BOTs. Thus, in past wide public consultations on amendments to the same IRR (which were quietly swept aside by Malacañang in favor of these latest revisions), there was strong sentiment that we move away from unsolicited BOTs and have more solicited ones where the government prepares the detailed project documents according to its needs and priorities. And yet Malacañang wants to move in exactly the opposite direction.

I said it during the hearing, and I'll say it again here: These proposed revisions do not appear to reflect a desire to streamline the BOT process for the sake of the public interest, including that of the private investors, but for the sake of certain particular interests who want to avoid the often-difficult questions asked by the ICC--for obvious reasons.

kiretoce

May 17th, 2007, 03:24 PM

Group urges UN members to reject RP in right council (http://www.asianjournal.com/?c=186&a=20316)

MANILA, Philippines -- An Asia-wide human rights advocacy group is urging members of the United Nations General Assembly (GA) to reject the Philippines' bid for another term in the world body's Human Rights Council (HRC) because of the worsening human rights situation in the country.
In a statement, the Asian Legal Resource Center (ALRC) also took to task the Asian group in the UN for resorting to a so-called "clean slate," meaning presenting only four candidates for the equal number of HRC seats available to the bloc when the GA votes on May 17.

Aside from the Philippines, Bahrain, India and Indonesia are also seeking reelection at the end of their one-year terms, while the Asian group is suggesting Qatar to replace current HRC member Bahrain.

The Hong Kong-based ALRC, which holds general consultative status with the UN's Economic and Social Council and is a sister organization of the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), said the clean slate is a tactic that poses "a serious threat to the credibility and functioning" of the HRC because, by presenting only as many candidates as seats available, it precludes any real choice and "opens the door to gross violators becoming members of the HRC."

"The fact that the country [Philippines] is even vying for re-election is in itself an attack on the integrity of the HRC," it said.

"Given that Asia is proposing a clean slate for these elections, it must be feared that the Philippines will be reelected," it added.

"The members of the General Assembly are strongly urged to circumvent the clean slate tactic and, based on the existing irrefutable evidence of grave rights abuses, cast blank ballots when asked to vote concerning the Philippines' candidacy," the ALRC said.

It also urged UN members to "make use of the option to cast write-in votes for other members of the General Assembly from the Asian region that are evaluated as having records that better match the sought standards for members of the HRC."

Detailing its objection to the Philippines' reelection, the ALRC said it and the AHRC had documented 49 extrajudicial killings since the country became an HRC member on May 9 last year "and do not claim that this is an exhaustive list" and that other groups have placed the number of killings since 2001, when the Arroyo government came to power, at close to 900, not counting 198 forced disappearances.

It also noted the growing international outcry over the human rights situation in the country, which "attracted the attention" of the HRC during its fourth session in March this year.

This, said the ALRC, should disqualify the Philippines from HRC membership since GA resolution 60/251 establishing the Council expects members to uphold "the highest standards in the protection and promotion of human rights."

The ALRC also noted statements by state security officials, notably police Deputy Director General Avelino Razon, who described the May 14 elections as "generally peaceful" despite more than a hundred deaths.

It said Razon's "lack of sensitivity concerning these deaths is highly revealing."

While acknowledging that the number of killings during this year's elections has been lower than in 2004, the ALRC said Razon's comment "show[s] the extent to which the lives of Filipinos are valued by the police and authorities in the Philippines."

It also said that "the killings do not occur in a vacuum and are not the country's sole problem, but are in fact a very visible and extreme symptom of a much deeper breakdown of governance, justice and human rights in the country."

The group also debunked government claims that it is doing everything it can to stop the killings, saying "the range of bodies that have been created, allegedly to address this situation, have thus far proven to be smokescreens rather being than of any actual consequence for the victims or their families."

kiretoce

May 17th, 2007, 03:44 PM

You want to smoke? (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/dav/2007/05/17/life/you.want.to.smoke..html)

Cigarette smoking causes lung cancer. This fact has been recognized in the United Kingdom and the United States in the early 1950s yet. Subsequent studies have confirmed this claim.

"Scientific data shows that smoking is associated with 30-40 percent of all cancer deaths," says Dr. Tanquilino Elicano Jr., one of the country's cancer experts. "Cancer risk increases with intensity of the habit, duration and the amount of tar in the cigarettes."

But despite this, Filipinos continue to smoke. In fact, results from the study conducted by the National Nutrition and Health Survey showed that the smoking prevalence in the country is higher than that in Singapore (24.2 percent), Japan (47.4 percent) and the United States (24.1 percent).

Unknowingly, lung cancer is just one of the many diseases smokers likely to get. Consider these: Emphysema. Emphysema is one of a group of lung diseases referred to as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that can interfere with normal breathing. Other diseases that come under COPD include asthma and chronic bronchitis.

"Emphysema is most common in men between the ages of 50 and 70 who have smoked heavily for years, but the disease is becoming more common in women as they join the ranks of heavy smokers," notes "The Medical Advisor: The Complete Guide to Alternative and Conventional Treatments."

Emphysema is a widespread disease of the lungs and people having this illness are particularly vulnerable to pneumonia, bronchitis, and other lung infections.

Heart-attack. A person's chance of getting a heart-attack increases by threefold if he smokes. A heart attack usually occurs when a blockage in a coronary artery greatly reduced or cuts off the blood supply to an area of the heart," the Merck Manual of Medical Information states. "If the supply is greatly reduced or cut off for more than a few minutes, heart tissue dies."

Medical science says smoking promotes the hardening of the arteries and reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.

"Cells in the heart muscle that do not receive enough oxygen-carrying blood begin to die," says Dr. Rafael D. Castillo, a cardiologist who works at the Manila Doctor's Hospital.

"The more time that passes without treatment to restore blood flow, the greater the damage to the heart." Rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis may be the oldest known ailment on earth.

Mummies uncovered in Egypt had it, prehistoric man had it, and dinosaurs had it.
There are several forms of arthritis and the most common is rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the body's immune systems attacks the joints leaving sufferers in severe pain and with reduced mobility.

Initial analysis of data from a research done by the Stanford University showed that smoking is a risk factor for developing rheumatoid arthritis among men.

"Smoking is associated with the production of rheumatoid factor, so it is not surprising that it should increase the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis," said the study, which appeared in "Arthritis Research and Therapy."

Impotence. Until the early 1970s, experts thought that most erection problems pointed to underlying problems in the psyche.

Today, the medical community recognizes that almost half of all impotent men have a physical or structural problem that's at least partly responsible.

Take smoking, for instance. Smoking has also been observed to cause slower penile erection among men because excessive nicotine in the bloodstream "causes constriction of the penile artery, the blood vessel necessary in male erection," to quote the words of Dr. Priscilla Tablan, a chest physician at the Lung Center of the Philippines.

She also said smoking might seriously hamper a man's potency or ability to sire children.

Cervical cancer. "Cervical cancer cases in developing countries of the region are almost four times more numerous than in developed countries," reports Dr.
Gauden Galea, cancer specialist of the WHO regional office in Manila. In the Philippines, more than 4,000 new cases are reported each year.

According to the Singapore Cancer Society, some of the risk factors associated with cervical cancer include: sexual intercourse at an early age; multiple sex partners; genital infections such as herpes and human papilloma virus (HPV); and first pregnancy before the age of 20. Smoking, anyone?

bitoy

May 17th, 2007, 11:10 PM

Kuya Cesar’ dies at 69

Inquirer
Last updated 02:16am (Mla time) 05/18/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- Veteran radio broadcaster Cesar Nucum, known for decades and to millions of Filipinos as “Kuya Cesar,” died of an apparent heart attack at the age of 69 on Thursday.

~~~ may you rest in peace kuya.

marxman

May 18th, 2007, 11:55 AM

i was expecting tootsjap here...

death327

May 19th, 2007, 03:06 AM

^^ sorry medyo off topic ito... pero ano/sino ba si tootsjap?

OtAkAw

May 19th, 2007, 08:11 AM

^^A forumer who's both a staunch critic of the current administration (he's very eloquent about it) and a fanatical supporter of the country's political opposition. Nagkakagulo nga sa mga ibang threads dahil sa kanya, sikat ano?

normandb

May 19th, 2007, 02:53 PM

^^ sorry medyo off topic ito... pero ano/sino ba si tootsjap?

hanapin mo sa friendster tapos kaibigann mo :lol: lonely daw sya

amigo32

May 19th, 2007, 02:58 PM

lonely lang sya ha pero hindi sya soldier.:lol:

richard24

May 19th, 2007, 03:00 PM

dodot lost in pasig., well, the eusebios are back.

jgacis

May 21st, 2007, 09:14 PM

Just received a call from my kaibigan at the call center (she works there) in Market! Market! (Global City) across from Serendra that there was a bomb threat early this morning at the mall (a little before 3 a.m.).

So far everything ok. People were evacuated from the mall. It's sad things like this continue, even in a growing area like Taguig. :ohno:

MNL

May 21st, 2007, 09:29 PM

Oh gosh, good thing it was false. Thank god.

Insanedriver

May 21st, 2007, 09:34 PM

^^ kung hindi spotlight nanaman tayo sa buong mundo :lol:
CNN, ABC, Reuters...
Mas malala
BBC!!! hehe

kyle@1008

May 21st, 2007, 09:38 PM

but na highlight na naman tayo sa BBC,... thanks to that coin toss....

MNL

May 21st, 2007, 09:45 PM

Bakit ganoon? Pagsobrang sama ng balita nanguuna tayo sa CNN, BBC, etc. Pero pag good news hindi nila sinasabi.. Kagaya ngayon, elections was "relatively peaceful" pati "stocks in all-time high" pati "Philippine Peso: 6-year high" (tama ba). Media talaga oh. Napanood niyo ba yung Talk Asia ni Imelda Marcos? Pinahiya niya yung host na biniblame niya ang media sa bad publicity ng bansa.:)

MNL

May 21st, 2007, 09:47 PM

Pwede ba tayo magrally? Sa london lang ba ang office ng BBC?:lol: or punta tayo sa HK para sa CNN?:lol:

bitoy

May 24th, 2007, 08:28 PM

Police colonel killed by robbers
By Karlo Baylosis

The newly assigned deputy chief of the Makati City police was shot dead by robbers in Quezon City late Wednesday.

Superintendent Joven Bocalbos, who sidelines as a passenger van driver, was shot in the head by one of the five holdup men who had posed as passengers while he was driving his Nissan Urvan along Commonwealth Avenue in Tandang Sora.

Police said Bocalbos was recognized by the robbers as a police officer before he was shot.

Witnesses said Bocalbos tried to distract the robbers while reaching for his service firearm before one of the suspects shot the victim in the head.

One of the robbers then shoved the bleeding Bocalbos aside and took over the wheel while the others divested the passengers of their cash and valuables, police said.

The robbers drove off to Mandaluyong City where they left the vehicle in Shaw Boulevard with Bocalbos and the terrified passengers inside.

read more.........
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=4364

My cousin was a Q.C. police also and drove a taxi after hours of work, nahold-up din siya buti na lang hindi pinatay, he was pistol-whipped and some by-standers took him to a hospital on a tri-cycle. He quit moonlighting and resigned to go abroad and join his family.

le Reine

May 25th, 2007, 12:38 AM

^kamusta naman yun? baligtad na ang nangyayari... pulis na ang hinohold-up

Rolls-Royce

May 25th, 2007, 01:30 AM

Pwede ba tayo magrally? Sa london lang ba ang office ng BBC?:lol: or punta tayo sa HK para sa CNN?:lol:

Ang BBC ay worldwide. Meron sa Gaza, Washington, meron din silang office dyan sa Maynila sa pagkakaalam ko, maliit nga lang. Sad to say pero hindi lang BBC ang naglalagay sa atin sa bad light. ITN din part ng ITV dito sa UK. Hayup na BBC na yan, wag ko kayang bayaran ang license fee ko, kaya lang baka makulong ko. It's the people's license fee that keeps the BBC going.

ThisFire

May 25th, 2007, 04:35 PM

dodot lost in pasig., well, the eusebios are back.

That's bad news. But with the Eusebios and their ways, this result is hardly credible. They tampered with it. They are not only criminals, but people say they are murderers.

3cr

May 30th, 2007, 10:53 PM

The Big Bang
HIDDEN AGENDA By Mary Ann Ll. Reyes
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Business&p=49&type=2&sec=27&aid=2007060264

With the smoke from the embers of the recent electoral contest clearing up slowly, political observers are starting to focus on how the 13th Congress will close following its resumption tomorrow.

The view is that the 13th Congress intends to end with a big bang, especially since it has been among the most colorful congresses in the country’s legislative history. And among the probable fuses that could trigger that bang is House Bill 6035 also known as the Affordable Medicine Act.

The big bang is the looming result of the expected collision between legislators supporting the passage of the bill and giant international pharmaceutical companies who see it as inimical to their interests. The group, represented by the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP), reportedly fielded its best lobbyists and could have succeeded in preventing the passage of the bill on third reading – except that one of the 13th Congress’ leading patriots, Makati Rep. Teddyboy Locsin, bared the lobby group’s plot to torpedo the proceedings.

The image of the lobbyists fleeing after the angry Locsin revelation will be difficult to erase from public memory.

The rumor is that the effort will be centered this time on getting a good number of solons to absent themselves from the sessions so that an absence of a quorum can be declared and the passage of the bill shelved when Congress attempts to pass the bill during the plenary session.

The efforts to torpedo the bill is understandable. House Bill 6035 is bold and brave and gives the government sufficient teeth to battle the high prices of vital treatments. For one, the bill allows for parallel importation of cheaper versions of the pricey drugs sold by multinationals in the Philippine market – and which, for some mysterious reasons are sold at just about 50 percent the local price in other Asian countries.

The bill also prevents the practice of “evergreening” patents, a scheme where a patent holder injects a few modifications on an existing product and thereafter wins a patent extension or a new patent altogether. Evergreen patents mean that the product cannot be manufactured by generic drug companies, which could have sold them at more affordable prices to suffering Filipinos.

The argument being advanced by the lobby groups is that the Affordable Medicine Act violates the sanctity of patents and could open the door to the entry of fake medicines.

But recent developments seem to have torpedoed such arguments, especially after the US Court of Appeals uncovered that multinational Pfizer’s patent on the pricey Norvasc treatment was invalid.

Filipinos will now have to think twice whether the “patented” multinational products that they are purchasing are indeed what they claim they are.

The view is that depriving Filipinos of affordable medicine by blocking House Bill 6035 will merely make Filipinos keep paying the high cost of treatments, regardless of what is fake – the drug or the patent.

So this will be an interesting show – the battle of two powerful forces just before the historic 13th Congress draws to a close.

Energy Price Manipulation?
HIDDEN AGENDA By Mary Ann Ll. Reyes
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Business&p=49&type=2&sec=27&aid=2007060264

Energy industry experts have confirmed that the worst fear of local households, manufacturers and businessmen regarding the price-fixing at the wholesale electricity spot market - resulting in the sudden spike in the price of electricity at the trading floor and the importation of overpriced coal - may find its way to consumers.

While electricity consumers are still smarting from the effects of price manipulation last year at the electricity trading floor, they must now brace for yet another highly controversial move by the National Power Corp. (Napocor) when it purchased overpriced coal as fuel for independent power producers (IPPs) and its power plants.

Napocor has the capability to shut out market activity through dictated prices, and discourage competition in the process, as the dominant player in the electricity trading floor (wholesale electricity spot market (WESM). Taking the US example however, the WESM can only be successful when all market participants are private entities.

Now we are left with a very important question. Why was WESM allowed to operate despite the monopoly being enjoyed by the government through Napocor, which controls 80 percent of power being traded at WESM.

WESM may have tried its best to protect the integrity of the spot market, being a very young institution, but ended up in a head-on collision with Napocor.

In the next few months, electricity consumers can expect to bear the brunt of an additional hike of up to P0.50 per kilowatthour. And mind you, this was contrary to Napocor’s claim that there would no electricity price increase in the coming months.

Trading prices at the WESM during April billing cycle soared to P8 per kwh due to the importation of hundreds of thousands of tons of coal at unbelievable prices.

Did Napocor create this artificial energy crisis to justify its importation of pricey coal?

News reports said volume of electricity traded during the March 26 to April 25 billing cycle reached 540 million kwh amounting to P4.4 billion. The impact of the drastic rise in WESM prices to Meralco customers was calculated at P 0.50 per kwh, to be lumped as a component of its generation charge. The giant utility firm procured P2.2 billion worth of its electricity demand from the WESM last month.

The pass on of such rate adjustment will be deferred until such time that the Energy Regulatory Commission approves the utility’s application. But just the same, it will be passed on and would trigger “rate shocks” in consumers’ electricity bills.

Magdiwang

May 31st, 2007, 02:42 AM

remittances to slow down in 2008
By Des Ferriols
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Page: 1
Remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are projected to grow by a slower five percent next year due to a drop in the number of overseas deployment this year.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando M. Tetangco Jr. told reporters that OFW remittances that pass through banks are expected to grow by only five percent in 2008.

For this year, total remittances are expected to hit $14 billion, a notable 9.3-percent growth from the $12.8-billion inflows recorded in 2006.

Tetangco, however, said the five-percent growth projection is still subject to periodic review and could still change depending on emerging trends of workers’ deployment later in the year.

The BSP said it is taking a conservative projection of total remittances in 2008 based on the expected slowdown in the US economy and the resulting slowdown in some of its major trading partners that are also the country’s top labor destinations.

In an earlier research paper, JP Morgan also indicated a similar slowdown in OFW remittances in 2008 due mainly to the base effect of this year’s record high remittance level.

In the first quarter of the year alone, remittances from Filipinos working abroad surged by a double-digit rate of 24 percent to hit $3.5 billion from $2.8 billion a year ago.

In March, Tetangco said OFW inflows surged by 26.4 percent, resulting mainly from competing remittance schemes offered by financial institutions, and enhanced links established with foreign counterparts.

“Over the years, financial institutions have continuously forged tie-ups with remittance centers overseas, thus, increasing access to financial services and facilitating transfers by overseas-based Filipinos to their beneficiaries,” Tetangco said.

Remittances continued to post significant growth even with the decline in the number of deployed OFWs during the first quarter of 2007 compared with last year’s deployment level.

According to Tetangco, first quarter 2007 data from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) show that the total number of deployed workers contracted year-on-year by 10.6 percent to 251,009.

The aggregate numbers of land-based and sea-based workers at 191,937 and 59,072, respectively, were lower by 9.2 percent and 14.8 percent compared to the levels a year ago.

However, Tetangco said the profile of deployed workers has been changing, with the deployment of more professionals and higher-paid workers in the field of medical and healthcare, information technology, education, maritime, hotel and food industries, among others.

Askal82

May 31st, 2007, 04:51 AM

^^ It should be a wake up call that Philippines can not solely depend from OFW remittances. The time has come when economic alternatives to generate income other than remittances such as direct investments should be given more priority.

ThisFire

May 31st, 2007, 07:08 PM

^^ Yes, time and time again, this really is old news and an old idea that jokingly seems to not be that known! There's a saying that goes something like, "Clean the mess in your own backyard first."

Maybe they're in denial. We'll see.

3cr

June 8th, 2007, 09:10 AM

Sus ku po walang katapusang gastos itong airport na to! Ano ba yan! :ohno: :ohno: :ohno:

P13.5b earmarked for airport
By Joyce Pangco Pañares
Manila Standard
http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=police3_june8_2007

The government has secured the commitment of the Development Bank of the Philippines for a $300- million (P13.5 billion) loan to cover the additional work and repairs at the unopened Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal-3 including payment to the facility’s builders.

General manager Alfonso Cusi, of the Manila International Airport Authority, said the bank will “syndicate” the money which was lower than the $392 million being asked as just compensation alone by the consortium that built the terminal.

“The DBP said they can release the money with 30 to 60 days once we have the final valuation for the terminal,” Cusi said in an interview at the Villamor Air Base yesterday.

But the final valuation is stayed as the MIAA moved to question the court-ordered $1.9 million (about P87.4 million) fee for the appraiser of Terminal-3, DG Jones and Partners-Philippines.

“We have referred it [court order] to the Office of the Solicitor General for some verification. We are asking the appraiser to justify why it would cost that much.”

Judge Jesus Mupas of the Pasay Regional Trial Court Branch 117 ordered the government last week to submit a “certificate of availability of fund” to cover the appraisal fee of the court-appointed DG Jones and Partners.

The fee will cover $1.4 million as a fixed lump sum fee for the ongoing valuation of work in place; $200,000 for the valuation of remaining works to be completed; and $300,000 as provisional sum for a joint survey or inventory.

The appraisal is a requirement for the government to pay the Philippine International Air Terminals Co. Inc., the consortium that built the terminal before it was expropriated in December 2004.

In September last year, the court has released a “writ of possession” to MIAA after the government released the P3 billion proffered payment to Piatco that will pave the way for full state control of the facility.

The government has been pushing for a final valuation that is lower by $392 million being claimed by Piatco and its German partner, airport developer Fraport AG, an expert witness said the firm overstated its construction cost claim.

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said DG Jones and Partners should take into consideration the affidavit of fraud examiner Howard Silverstone in determining the balance of payment to be released.

Silverstone was tapped by the Philippine government as an expert witness in the arbitration case lodged by Fraport before the Washington-based International Court for Settlement of Investment Disputes.

Silverstone claimed that only $33 million was actually coursed through Piatco as opposed to the $425 million settlement being claimed by Fraport for its investments in the airport facility.

The fraud examiner also told the international arbitration court that both Fraport and Piatco have refused to open their books of accounts, making it difficult to determine the construction cost of Terminal-3.

The government has earlier expressed its intention to float treasury bonds to cover the balance of payment due the consortium.

Piatco built the terminal under a build-operate-transfer contract but the government in 2002 revoked the contract for allegedly being tainted with graft.

In March last year, about 80 to 100 sq. m. of the arrival area ceiling collapsed, prompting the government to tap a group of structural engineers to assess the integrity of the entire structure.

Aside from the structural repairs and reinforcements for the ceiling, MIAA also has to release $6 million (P300 million) for the final constructions to make the airport terminal fully operational.

3cr

June 8th, 2007, 09:19 AM

Bora’s worsening crisis
By REY GAMBOA
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=80064

Competition is truly a wonderful thing. It has cut down the cost of most services such as calls and text messaging; now, air travel could be as cheap as riding inter-island ferries, or even cheaper, if one believes the promo advertisements of some airlines.

This largely healthy rivalry among the country’s airlines has spurred domestic tourism such that Filipinos – who used to spurn local travel because travel (plus hotel stay) to Hong Kong is cheaper than going to Davao – are now jetting to Boracay, Batanes and Palawan.

Philippine tourism is indeed getting a boost as local airlines, and regional carriers, as well, now try to outdo each other in offering promo fares going as low as P1 (excluding taxes and surcharges).

Recent reports that Cebu Air Pacific and rival Air Philippines Inc. have acquired a fleet of turboprop planes are definitely welcome news to the growing number of domestic travellers. Before yearend, Air Philippines will start trips to Boracay, and by the first quarter of next year, Cebu Air will do the same. Filipinos are definitely in for more accessible and affordable travel within the country.

Downside

Yet there is a downside, and that has something to do with the fact that the small island of Boracay, listed as one of the top 10 beach destinations in the world, is potentially imploding.

Last year, there were half-a-million visitors to this seven-kilometer island of 10.3 square kilometers. Much of the activity is concentrated on the island’s four-kilometer white beach shoreline, battered daily by jet skis and pump boats, pummelled by incessant partying, pigging out and sunbathing, and abused by endless littering and loitering.

How much more of these thoughtless holiday activities must Boracay endure before concerned stakeholders – the government, its local units, business establishments and the tourists themselves – decide to do something to battle the island’s deterioration?

Can Bora, the island’s hip name, really support another half-a-million guests that bigger airlines and the expansion of existing providers like Asian Spirit and Seair will bring in the next three to five years? (Asian Spirit mounts more than 15 flights daily to Bora, while Seair has at least eight daily trips.)

There’s also traffic coming from Kalibo, Aklan where the bigger carriers unload tourists who don’t mind an hour of road trip to get to Caticlan, the take-off port to the fine white sand beaches and clear blue waters of Bora. There too are the growing budget travellers who take the ferry boats or buses that load onto Roro (roll-on, roll-off) water vessels.

Within the year, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, one of the leading hotel groups in the region, will open a beachfront resort supposedly with 170 guest rooms and 50 deluxe villas, definitely a strong competition to the existing five-star Discovery Resorts.

Bora is burgeoning with the rapid development. I’m sure I’m not the only one thinking aloud whether it can really support this extent of progress without the corresponding infrastructure needed to preserve its integrity.

Threatened landscape

Those fortunate enough to have visited Boracay in the 80s, when power supply within the island was unreliable and lodging infrastructure were mostly semi-concrete inns, would hardly recognize the Bora of today.

They may generally be more appreciative of the bright lights and big hotels, but not the algae lining the shore or the loudspeakers blaring out music till dawn because of the almost non-stop nocturnal beachfront gigs. Is this an acceptable price for success, progress and competition?

I don’t think anybody would begrudge airlines flying to Boracay, especially if they offer lower fares that would be make the island more accessible. It’s just that the influx of more tourists both local and foreign when authorities haven’t put in place any strong ecological program is simply scary.

By the accounts of the Boracay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the island produces between seven to 10 metric tons of solid waste. That was before the guest list hit 500,000. Traffic is projected to rise at 10 percent yearly.

Bora’s garbage disposal is spotty. The Chamber and other environmental groups have initiated a system for segregation, collection, and disposal of waste to preserve the island and assist in its ecological sustainability. But that project is taking its sweet time to crystallize, and so far, segregation hasn’t been carried out.

There too is the issue of waste water treatment, recycling and the creation of a new dumpsite. Sewage connection is still unresolved. The Boracay chamber is complaining that less than 60 percent of its 300 resorts are connected to the system; it does not help that local government is not going after violators.

And this brings us to government action, or inaction, for that matter. The island sorely lacks the road system that would allow for easier travel and better access to other parts of Bora that can be developed to ease the congestion along the prime white beaches.

Like most issues in this country, the government is probably waiting for some sort of a tipping point before it decides to do anything about Boracay’s problems. Well, we might as well continue to enjoy the island’s allure while it’s still around.

smokingunmanila

June 8th, 2007, 09:26 AM

Poor Boracay, it's not a haven anymore...lahat vultures sa pera ang andyan..that's all I can say...

marxman

June 8th, 2007, 09:52 AM

they should promote more places like... bantayan island here in cebu, sumilon island, malapascua... its really good...

jgacis

June 8th, 2007, 10:33 AM

^^ Oo, Cebu has really nice places.

If they would only get rid of the A.R.M.M. and the islamic insurgents, then more tourists and filipinos themselves can also visit Zamboanga and the Sulu archipelago (which have very beautiful islands and beaches).

smokingunmanila

June 9th, 2007, 06:19 AM

Ang BBC ay worldwide. Meron sa Gaza, Washington, meron din silang office dyan sa Maynila sa pagkakaalam ko, maliit nga lang. Sad to say pero hindi lang BBC ang naglalagay sa atin sa bad light. ITN din part ng ITV dito sa UK. Hayup na BBC na yan, wag ko kayang bayaran ang license fee ko, kaya lang baka makulong ko. It's the people's license fee that keeps the BBC going.

May nakita akong BBC sa orangke quiapo

Bitoy's Baboy at Carni (bisayan accent):lol:

Askal82

June 9th, 2007, 09:38 PM

Like I say, they are causes of their own demise. If Bora's environment is not addressed properly at the soonest, the cow they're milking from at present will die.

Rolls-Royce

June 10th, 2007, 01:42 AM

May nakita akong BBC sa orangke quiapo

Bitoy's Baboy at Carni (bisayan accent):lol:

I think it's time for us Filipinos to stop poking fun at somebody's accent. I'm not too sure if everyone in Manila can speak English perfectly well with American or British accents for that matter. Here in the UK, there are a lot of accents and some of them are even thicker than Visayan accent, but they're not being laughed at. Accents are unique, therefore we should respect it. A lot of Tagalogs I know are being laughed at the way they speak English, but that's another matter. It's high time that we should stop poking fun at 'Bisaya' accent, at the end of the day not everyone in the Philippines speak Tagalog as their first dialect. Yun lang po! Respect!:)

FrancisXavier

June 10th, 2007, 04:55 AM

yan! napagalitan ka pa tuloy.:lol:

jonno

June 10th, 2007, 05:27 AM

Bora’s worsening crisis
By REY GAMBOA
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=80064

[QUOTE]How much more of these thoughtless holiday activities must Boracay endure before concerned stakeholders – the government, its local units, business establishments and the tourists themselves – decide to do something to battle the island’s deterioration?

Being proactive is not really our government's style. What can you expect from a highly centralized slow moving bicameral system?

Can Bora, the island’s hip name, really support another half-a-million guests that bigger airlines and the expansion of existing providers like Asian Spirit and Seair will bring in the next three to five years? (Asian Spirit mounts more than 15 flights daily to Bora, while Seair has at least eight daily trips.)

Yes, they could. It's not the numbers per se that is the problem but a better management system.

There’s also traffic coming from Kalibo, Aklan where the bigger carriers unload tourists who don’t mind an hour of road trip to get to Caticlan, the take-off port to the fine white sand beaches and clear blue waters of Bora. There too are the growing budget travellers who take the ferry boats or buses that load onto Roro (roll-on, roll-off) water vessels.

Same thing; number of traffic per se is not a problem. What they need is a better traffic management system and upgraded infrastructures.

Within the year, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, one of the leading hotel groups in the region, will open a beachfront resort supposedly with 170 guest rooms and 50 deluxe villas, definitely a strong competition to the existing five-star Discovery Resorts.

Good!

Bora is burgeoning with the rapid development. I’m sure I’m not the only one thinking aloud whether it can really support this extent of progress without the corresponding infrastructure needed to preserve its integrity.

It could be supported as long as the corresponding infrastructure are upgraded.

They may generally be more appreciative of the bright lights and big hotels, but not the algae lining the shore or the loudspeakers blaring out music till dawn because of the almost non-stop nocturnal beachfront gigs. Is this an acceptable price for success, progress and competition?

It adds life to the place; no problem at all.

I don’t think anybody would begrudge airlines flying to Boracay, especially if they offer lower fares that would be make the island more accessible. It’s just that the influx of more tourists both local and foreign when authorities haven’t put in place any strong ecological program is simply scary.

I agree. Well, do our national government have time to tackle ecological issues like that? Bio fuels has the potential for us to earn billions of dollars a year (aside from the huge environmental benefits) - it took the Senate less than 2 years to get it approved. The Senate - Congress have yet to approve UP's charter change, cheaper medicines, changing the name of the streets, new banking laws, drink driving law, national park issues, Australia - Philippines defence treaties and millions of other things...in addition the Senate would launch human rights investigations, etc. etc....even if they work 24/7 there's simply not enough time to cover all these issues and boracay crisis is simply a "trivial" concern

By the accounts of the Boracay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the island produces between seven to 10 metric tons of solid waste. That was before the guest list hit 500,000. Traffic is projected to rise at 10 percent yearly.

No problem as long as the proper waste disposal system is in place.

Bora’s garbage disposal is spotty. The Chamber and other environmental groups have initiated a system for segregation, collection, and disposal of waste to preserve the island and assist in its ecological sustainability. But that project is taking its sweet time to crystallize, and so far, segregation hasn’t been carried out.

Being proactive is not really in our vocabulary. Our slow moving political system is simply incapable of such.

There too is the issue of waste water treatment, recycling and the creation of a new dumpsite. Sewage connection is still unresolved. The Boracay chamber is complaining that less than 60 percent of its 300 resorts are connected to the system; it does not help that local government is not going after violators.

I remember reading the coliform issue more than 10 years ago in Boracays' water. It stuck to my mind; that's why I never bothered to visit Boracay. In today's world where info travels a million times faster - a negative publicity such as that again could be the end of good money coming in to Boracay - in fact I wonder if Boracay's really attracting well heeled Westerners or just the unemployed, pensioner westerners who are living off their social security. Once our infrastructure, facilities, etc. improve in this country we'll be getting "higher value" tourists - the once that really got money - Filipinos ain't seen nothing yet!

Like most issues in this country, the government is probably waiting for some sort of a tipping point before it decides to do anything about Boracay’s problems...

That's our trademark - we HATE being swift and proactive.

_________________________________________________--

Maybe it would give pressure to boracay to do something if a strong competitor comes in - I agree with one of the forumers, Hamilo Coast has enormous potential and yes the whole area which is really huge and is owned by SM utilizing the latest eco tourism concepts so I guess they would be much better than Boracay in that aspect.

dinabaw

June 11th, 2007, 07:31 AM

GLIMPSES
A state of independence

By Jose Ma. Montelibano
INQUIRER.net
Last updated 01:30am (Mla time) 06/08/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- One hundred or so years ago, Filipinos declared their independence from Spain. One hundred or so years later, that declaration of independence remains hollow, a form infirm, without much substance, an elusive dream for many, and a continuing opportunity of exploitation for some.

I know that independence is not merely the absence of foreign masters. There are no more Spanish, American and Japanese troops occupying and pacifying Filipinos, except maybe in some areas in Mindanao where American influence is magnified by troop presence. Occupation and domination, though, are not necessarily physical anymore. If the natives of the Philippines are willing to submit to foreign interests without force of arms, virtual colonization is achieved more easily, more cheaply, and needs only the collusion of the political and economic elite.

The Filipino is simply not yet independent. Our form of government often serves as an effective mirage. We call ourselves a democracy, we have a president, a vice president and a whole executive branch, we have a Congress, we have a judiciary structure, we have freewheeling media and even more freewheeling elections. How can a nation have all these yet not be independent?

Corruption. Poverty. Violence. These are why a democracy is not so, a sovereign state is not so, an independence is not so. A corrupt nation can never be free, not until corruption is contained to just a crime and not a national lifestyle of societal leadership and authority. An impoverished nation can never be free, not until poverty is contained to just a tiny corner of the population and can be dismantled with more focus and determination from government. A violent nation can never be free until violence is contained to just random occurrences that are universally condemned as they happen.

As Filipinos journey towards the light of integrity and honor, as they learn the responsibility and diligence to match social justice and humane economic programs, as they find the courage to stand up for peace in a collective and visible stance against violence, then independence simply becomes a consequential fruit of their struggle. Battling evil, though, is an easier task than doing good, maintaining good, and making good the norm of personal and societal life. It is ultimately the achievement of good, the common good, that raises independence to an ideal state, as the common good is the minimum guarantee of citizens belonging to a strong nation.

Today is a struggle to discard historical baggage that imprisons millions of Filipinos. Corruption, poverty and violence wield a powerful influence in the national psyche and behavior. Laws, technology and programs are no match for an environment that is dominated by social cancers. Before anything clean and objective can reach people, it is distorted and poisoned by immoral smog that chokes the freedom and independence of Filipinos. Identical laws, technology and programs will have very different impact and results in an environment where justice and responsible citizenship are the key features of its operating system.

It is disheartening to accept that independence remains elusive, but it is more horrible to witness the pitiful state of the poor. Independence is not a state where Filipinos are separate from one another; rather, independence cannot exist unless solidarity is a valued virtue that translates to Filipinos helping the needy among them.

The recent elections show that the process of change from colonial rule, oligarchic governance to emerging democracy can be a slow one. Yet, it moves on with all its challenges and actually has achieved remarkable progress. As "trapo" [traditional politicos] and commercialism in the electoral process continue to pollute our journey towards our honor, we cannot remain blind to the awesome effort of many Filipinos to vote candidates symbolizing change.

What many misunderstand is that we are all in a process, carrying our past, living our present, and moving towards our future. These three dimensions of life are happening simultaneously, and allow a voter to sell his vote for mayor but freely choose a senatorial candidate of his preference. Therefore, a voting public that was characterized as shockingly commercial in the local and congressional contests voted for several opposition senatorial candidates who had much less money to spend.

The greatest struggle is building up inside the hearts and minds of Filipinos. They want change but are afraid to move strongly towards it. The poor want relief and social justice but are not willing to fight for it. Voters want fair and honest elections yet tolerate cheating if not participate in it by selling their votes. Many among the rich and the learned want decency and integrity to dominate politics yet will not dig deep into their pockets to promote candidates with the virtues they want.

If the pain and suffering of Filipinos have not yet reached their tipping points, they will before we know it. Fr. Ed Panlilio made it, Grace Padaca made it, Trillanes made it, Peter Cayetano made it. Even the Ang Kapatiran candidates Bautista, Sison and Paredes entered the senatorial race amid jeers and skepticism but finished with no one laughing at them anymore.

The change is happening. It only needs to happen faster, stronger and in more areas. That is the tipping point, when change attains a momentum that can be felt and seen. It might be that only one more trigger, through an event or even a person, can cause the floodgates to open. It will happen, not if, only when. And because it will, Filipinos must now be aware of their options. When their energies erupt, they must quickly find the channels that can turn their dreams into reality.

http://opinion.inquirer.net/viewpoints/columns/view_article.php?article_id=70107

bitoy

June 11th, 2007, 08:09 PM

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070611/capt.mla10206110635.philippines_kidnapped_priest_mla102.jpg

Giancarlo Bossi, left, leads rites to wed a Filipino couple at a Catholic church in Zamboanga, Sibugay province, southern Philippines.

Italian priest abducted in southern Philippines
The Associated PressPublished: June 10, 2007

MANILA, Philippines: Gunmen abducted an Italian Roman Catholic priest on Sunday as he traveled to a remote village in the southern Philippines to celebrate Mass, police said.

Police and army officials blamed Islamic militants for Giancarlo Bossi's disappearance, but at least one prominent insurgent group denied involvement.

Giancarlo Bossi, 57, was riding his motorcycle in Zamboanga Sibugay province's Payao township, about 800 kilometers (500 miles) south of Manila, when about 10 armed men blocked his path and seized him, said Senior Superintendent Francisco Cristobal, the provincial police chief.

Police received reports that the captors took the priest to nearby islands, Cristobal said, adding that no demands have been made for Bossi's release, and no one has claimed responsibility.

Cristobal said he suspected Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels who operate in Zamboanga Sibugay, despite a cease-fire agreement with the government. He did not elaborate, but said that al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf guerrillas, notorious for ransom kidnappings, are not known to be active in the area.

The MILF is the largest Muslim separatist group in the predominantly Catholic Philippines.

Mohagher Iqbal, an MILF peace negotiator, denied his group was behind the abduction, saying the MILF was trying to find out who had seized Bossi.

He said he had heard the abductors fled to an island between Zamboanga peninsula and Basilan island, and that an MILF-government joint action group — formed to isolate and interdict kidnapping groups and criminal gangs in the southern Philippines — was trying to track down the group.

Col. Godofredo Paderanga of the local army division blamed "lawless elements" under a certain Commander Khidi, but did not elaborate.

Iqbal said Commander Khidi is not an MILF member but that he belongs to the notorious Abu Sayyaf group. Cristobal insisted that Khidi is a known MILF commander.

Police and the military were coordinating land and sea patrols to search for Bossi, Cristobal said.

The southern Philippines is home to several armed groups, including Islamic militants, communist rebels and crime gangs.

In 2001, the criminal Pentagon group, which is on a U.S. list of terrorist organizations, abducted an Italian missionary who was rescued several months later. Several other Filipino and foreign Catholic priests have been targeted in the past.

Bossi — who hails from the city of Milan — was assigned as parish priest of Payao in April and is a member of the Pontificio Instituto Missioni Estere, Cristobal said.

Sandalo Gianni, an official from Bossi's mission, appealed to his captors to free him.

"Father Bossi is a good man and there is no reason to hold him against his will," he told the local Mindanao Examiner newspaper.

In Rome, Pope Benedict XVI, without directly mentioning Bossi, condemned the "abominable" kidnapping of priests and other people around the world and demanded the kidnappers free their hostages.

OtAkAw

June 12th, 2007, 09:21 AM

^^Hay nako mga Muslim Extremists talaga ang hilig MAGPAPANSIN! This is BAD, really, absolutely BAD, B.A.D.!!!

jgacis

June 12th, 2007, 10:19 PM

:ohno: Here's another crazy idiot...

Binay warns vs. GMA’s ‘legacy of terror’

The opposition warned Tuesday that the last three years of Mrs. Arroyo would be remembered as “a period of terror” unless decisive steps are taken to stop the killings and forced abductions.

“I am sure that Mrs. Arroyo, who will be out of office by 2010, does not want to leave behind a legacy of unsolved killings and abductions, especially when most of the victims are critics of her administration,” Makati Mayor and United Opposition (UNO) president Jejomar C. Binay said.

Binay cited recent events such as the killing of an election official in Maguindanao and the abduction of an Italian priest as indicators that the peace and order and human-rights situation is far from improving.

Human-rights advocates have placed the number of political killings under the Arroyo administration at 863, with most of the victims coming from cause-oriented groups. The number of forced disappearances has been pegged at 196, while 51 journalists have been reported killed since 2001.

Binay said the police and the military have been unable to stop the killings and abductions of government critics “despite orders from President Arroyo herself and pressures from international allies.”

“When an order from the President is apparently ignored, then one cannot help but ask if the administration is really in command of the situation,” he said.

He urged the President to go beyond giving orders to the police and the military and demand concrete results.

Binay said he is backing a Senate probe into political killings and disappearances as proposed by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada to make authorities accountable for their “inaction.”

“The probe could also shed light on charges that some police and military personnel are involved in these cases, especially the abduction of Jonas Burgos, son of press freedom icon Joe Burgos,” he added.

Excuse me Mr. Binay, but political killings have been existent BEFORE and will probably continue AFTER the president leaves office in 2010. These were problems before Gloria and you yourself Mr. Binay were even BORN!!

Mr. Binay acts as if he can label the current administration with hypocritical impunity... :ohno:

I think when Mr. Binay leaves office (in which he will probably still be a ghost mayor on payroll) he will leave his own "LEGACY OF CORRUPTION"... :ohno:

Danny19

June 12th, 2007, 10:40 PM

It's so bad to hear that so many people were abducted in the Phils especially in the south of troubled Mindanao!!!! Such kidnappings are destroying our image and so no tourist will come and join our beautiful country!!!! No investments will take place. I hope that we can handle such bad things not only kidnappings but also the whole terror acts by militant muslims and communists! Those bad groups have to be eliminated! But i think it will be a very very long way and hard to clear those bad terror groups! GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES

jgacis

June 13th, 2007, 07:51 AM

^^ And if you pay close attention to those kidnappings, all of them in one way or another relate to the A.R.M.M. and the terrorist groups down there (ie. MNLF, MILF, Abu Sayef).

The southern Philippine has always been a hotbed of islamic political unrest with close proximity to its muslim neighbors (ie. Indonesia). GMA needs to get rid of the A.R.M.M. and NOT recognize Islamic Sharia in our beloved country...

Filipino muslim leaders have the right to administer their religion down there, but not at the expense of abusing national interest (ie. kidnappings, beheadings, bombs, etc.) throughout our country.

heathcliff

June 13th, 2007, 08:07 AM

:ohno: Here's another crazy idiot...

Excuse me Mr. Binay, but political killings have been existent BEFORE and will probably continue AFTER the president leaves office in 2010. These were problems before Gloria and you yourself Mr. Binay were even BORN!!

Mr. Binay acts as if he can label the current administration with hypocritical impunity... :ohno:

I think when Mr. Binay leaves office (in which he will probably still be a ghost mayor on payroll) he will leave his own "LEGACY OF CORRUPTION"... :ohno:

True. Binay’s new city hall is famous for astronomical overpricing. If he's really innocent of the charges against him, then he should answer them in court, not hide behind counter-accusations that the administration is targeting its critics, especially since even the administration's staunchest supporters are being prosecuted by the Ombudsman.

bitoy

June 13th, 2007, 09:27 PM

Army Sgt. Richard V. Correa

25, of Honolulu; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.; died May 29 in Ilbu Falris, Iraq, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his position during a dismounted patrol. Also killed was Staff Sgt. Joseph M. Weiglein.

http://www.militarycity.com/valor/2799067.html

2nd Pangasinense sacrifices life in Iraq

(http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view_article.php?article_id=71171)

Army Ranger wanted fiancee to finish college
(http://www.beachesleader.com/articles/2007/06/07/beaches_leader/news/doc4666c7ac9ee35809205200.txt)

3cr

June 15th, 2007, 11:00 AM

BIR tax administration deteriorating
Malaya
http://www.malaya.com.ph/jun15/busi3.htm

The Department of Finance is reported to be alarmed over the inability of revenue agencies primarily the BIR in meeting collection targets.

A source from the Department of Budget Management said that DOF is now unsure the BIR and the BOC can deliver the P63 billion needed to help it meet targets.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue holds the lion’s share of P47 billion of the total, while the Bureau of Customs is assigned P16 billion.

Sources from the Department of Budget Management said the Department of Finance fretted over the inability of the BIR to meet its first-quarter goal, which is 25 percent or roughly P12 billion of its full-year target this year.

Last year, the BIR, which collects about 80 percent of total revenues, generated P40 billion from tax administration efforts alone.

DBM sources said Finance Secretary Margarito Teves is due to submit a memorandum to President Arroyo this week listing measures on how to cap the slippage in revenue collection and ensure the government hits its revenue goal this year.

Officials said if the two revenue agencies are successful in collecting taxes, there would be no need to implement new tax measures to enable the government raise additional revenues and stick with its P63-billion deficit program this year.

The DOF shuns the introduction of new tax measures because of the burden it imposes on the public and the time needed to seek Congress’ approval for them.

Both the BIR and the BOC missed their collection goals in the first quarter and collections through May were slipping compared to last year, DBM sources said.

The shortfall in collections resulted in a higher deficit than programmed in the first quarter.

According to a DBM official, the BIR’s collection efficiency remains weak at 60 percent, even falling from 70 percent in 1997.

DBM sources said there has been "rampant cheating" in tax payments across the whole "spectrum" of the tax system, as reflected in the weak BIR collections in the first four months.

Taxpayers were not complying with the payments except the salaried individuals whose withholding taxes are deducted automatically and the listed firms, which pay their taxes on the basis of their publicly declared income statements.

DBM sources pointed out the need to identify the areas where tax collection is weak but the agencies, particularly the BIR, are not willing to be audited for its performance.

The DOF will hold a mid-year review of the government’s 2007 revenue goals shortly aimed at finding ways that would compensate for the losses in tax collection and ensure the revenue and budget deficit goals are attained this year.

The government aims to balance its budget by 2008.

3cr

June 16th, 2007, 11:32 AM

Teves will quit for good Monday
Manila Times
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/june/16/yehey/top_stories/20070616top4.html

By Angelo S. Samonte and Sam Mediavilla, Reporters

Finance Secretary Margarito Teves said Friday that he would submit his irrevocable resignation on Monday.

Teves said he did not know if other members of the President’s economic team would also resign.

Malacañang had announced that the President was asking for the courtesy resignations of the chiefs of agencies and firms run by the government, but made it clear it had nothing to do with the result of the May elections, in which the administration lost control of the Senate.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita has said the resignations would give the President a free hand in reorganizing the bureaucracy.

What was not clear is if the President’s instruction covered Cabinet members as well.

There were reports that the main revenue-generating bureaus, Internal Revenue and Customs, would be included in the shake-up.

Teves volunteered to turn in the courtesy resignations of the economic managers including Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya, on Monday.

Andaya said the handing of courtesy resignations was agreed at in their meeting Thursday, but added that the submission would depend on the President.

“If we’re asked, but so far there is no instruction,” Andaya said in a news briefing.

He said the filing of courtesy resignations by members of the economic team could send mixed signals to the local and foreign investors.

On Friday, Palace spokesman Ignacio Bunye said the resignations cover only top executives of state-owned corporations, not Cabinet members.

“Any news purporting to expand the coverage of the order to include members of the Cabinet is totally inaccurate. No such order asking the resignation of Cabinet members was made,” Bunye said in a written statement.

He said the President was very specific when she issued the directive to GOCCs and GFIs at a meeting last Saturday where he and Trade and Secretary Peter Favila were present.

le Reine

June 16th, 2007, 01:13 PM

^oh no... no please... he's too good to get out of the cabinet.

heathcliff

June 18th, 2007, 11:41 AM

Well, PGMA has revamped her cabinet several times already. It's actually good because it prevents bureaucrats from becoming entrenched in any one particular department, which is conducive to corruption. Even the Hyatt 10 who thought themselves indispensable were replaced with better people with topnotch credentials.

lightning099

June 18th, 2007, 02:54 PM

Inquirer.net

CEBU CITY, Philippines -- Norkis Trading Co., Inc. will cease operating its production and assembly facility for Yamaha motorcycles next month.

Norkis, in a company statement, cited the government's zero tariff policy resulting from free trade agreements as reason for its decision.

The company noted that the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) allows Japanese manufacturers to bring their finished products into the country without any tariff coverage.

Another reason cited for the shutdown is the expiration next month of Norkis’ technical collaboration agreement with Yamaha Motors Co. Ltd. of Japan.

The shutdown would affect 364 permanent employees who were offered early retirement packages, Norkis said.

Norkis has already formally notified the Department of Labor and Employment.

Norkis media consultant Willie E. Capulong said the company expected to reach an agreement with the affected employees before the closure next month.

The company has been looking at other ways to provide livelihood to the employees affected by the facility shutdown, Capulong added.

He denied reports that politics could be the reason for the company's decision to shut down its assembly operation.

Luigi Quisumbing, grandson of Norkis founder Norberto Quisumbing Jr., ran for a provincial board seat in the May 14 polls but lost to incumbent Congresswoman Nerissa Soon-Ruiz.

Capulong said the company made the decision based purely on business factors.

The Norkis Group will embark on an expansion program of its retail financing businesses.

Norkis will put up 25 new retail financing units in the next two years, 15 of which will be in Luzon and 10 in the Visayas and Mindanao regions.

Norkis Trading, as the flagship company of the Norkis Group of Companies, would provide the funds for the retail financing units.

The company said its investment portfolio in the retail financing business has reached almost P7 billion, servicing over 150,000 accounts nationwide.

In Visayas and Mindanao, Norkis firms engaged in retail financing include Norkis Distributor Inc., Cebu Filipino Marketing Resources Corp., Northern Mindanao Finance Services Group Inc., and Southern Mindanao Finance Services Group Inc. Those based in Luzon are Norkis Automotive Resources Corp. and Auto Solutions Inc.

The Norkis Group also plans to provide remittance services for Filipino migrant workers through its nationwide network of 200 branches.

The retail financing business kept the Norkis Group afloat during the difficult years that followed the Asian financial crisis in 1997. It has contributed over 50 percent of the group's profit in the last few years, prompting the Quisumbing family to review its corporate goals.

Capulong said 70 percent of Norkis retail outlets would continue to exclusively sell Yamaha motorcycles, while the remaining branches would start selling other brands.

Founded in 1962 as the sole assembler and distributor of Yamaha motorcycles, Norkis Trading has been recognized as a substantial revenue contributor by the Bureau of Customs.

lazybum

June 18th, 2007, 06:43 PM

tigidig14

June 19th, 2007, 03:03 AM

Army Sgt. Richard V. Correa

25, of Honolulu; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.; died May 29 in Ilbu Falris, Iraq, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his position during a dismounted patrol. Also killed was Staff Sgt. Joseph M. Weiglein.

http://www.militarycity.com/valor/2799067.html

[URL="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view_article.php?article_id=71171"]2nd Pangasinense sacrifices life in Iraq

i came from fort drum. i tried to recognize the face since i know so many pnoi from 2nd brigade (dus). we had little pilipino association there. i was very active since i get free pnoy ulam from the pnoy's family haha. Im saddened from what happen
sad story about the wife too

jonno

June 19th, 2007, 04:34 AM

RP trading costs too high–WB

CUSTOMS BUREAU’S NEW IMPOSITIONS FOR SCANNERS WORSENED BUSINESS WOES
By Jun Vallecera
Reporter

THE World Bank has adjudged the Philippines the most expensive place there is in Asia from which to trade with the rest of the world.

In a report, the World Bank found that Manila charges the most per container van of export or import materials, higher than Singapore, China or Thailand.

According to the World Bank, port and terminal handling costs in the Philippines total $1,336 per 20-foot container versus only $335 in China, $382 in Singapore and $848 in Thailand.

It concluded Manila has the highest cost among the countries it surveyed, adding this was a “cause of concern for the Filipino exporters/importers.”

The study found the cost for shipping anything out of Manila in a 20-footer already totals $994, which includes $500 for domestic transshipment from Cebu to Manila, for example; cargo handling or arrastre of another $175; $45 for the terminal handling charge and $274 as port charges.

The World Bank said the $994 per 20-footer figure accounts for the bulk of the total cost to export from the Philippines.

This was on top of another schedule of fees that total $721.21 per container van.

The fee charged the exporter or importer by a foreign shipping company for transporting vans from Cebu to Manila already costs $500.

This was on top of a $30 fee for the bill of lading, the terminal handling charge of $30, chassis rental of $9, a fuel adjustment factor of $70, even a telex release fee of $35, a loading fee of $11, cargo handling/arrastre fee of $46.02 and export wharfage of $5.19.

Except for the export wharfage, arrastre and loading fees, the World Bank said all these fees went to the foreign shipping liners.

The charges had been such that Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and Neda chief Romulo Neri was scandalized to learn that even the Bureau of Customs seems to have taken advantage of the situation by charging exporters fees for the use of its x-ray scanning machines.

Industry sources said Neri reminded BOC chief Napoleon Morales it was never the intention of the National Economic Development Authority for the bureau to impose a scanning fee.

Neri said the fee was needless, as Manila can recover the cost of purchasing the equipment out of the increase in customs duties and taxes.

Reports claimed Morales charges $50 as security fee per 40-foot container, and $25 per 20-footer containers.

The Philippines obtained a loan from the Chinese government to make the purchase of the x-ray scanning machines possible.

Sources also said Finance Secretary Margarito Teves was similarly scandalized and has promised to “look into the matter” quickly.

3cr

June 21st, 2007, 09:43 AM

BIR chief fired, blames economic team
Inquirer
http://business.inquirer.net/money/topstories/view_article.php?article_id=72463

MANILA, Philippines -- After over a week of speculations, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Wednesday fired Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Jose Mario Buñag for the bureau’s failure to achieve its tax collection target.

Buñag is the first agency head to be removed after the President asked officers and directors of 117 government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs) and government financial institutions (GFIs) to resign in the first wave of a post-election revamp.

Arroyo announced her decision at a luncheon with media executives in Malacañang.

Buñag, who declined an offer to serve as ambassador to Switzerland or the Netherlands, told reporters that he was put on the chopping block for the “bungled” policies of Arroyo’s economic team led by Finance Secretary Margarito Teves and Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, in a press briefing, said of Buñag: “Well, I know that he was asked to resign, and as a matter of fact, you might say that this is part of the instruction of the President to [ask for] the submission of resignations of the GOCCs and the GFIs.”

Ermita said the President designated BIR Deputy Commissioner for Operations Lilian Hefti as officer-in-charge.

Buñag said in a press statement: “There are higher authorities in the government’s financial institutions who would like to wash their hands of responsibility for the dire consequences of their unrealistic, failed and bungled policies, and who look for a sacrificial lamb and a scapegoat to which they can assign the blame.

“So be it. Their time to answer for their failure and incompetence will also eventually come.”

He added, “I am grateful to the President for having given me the opportunity to have served the government. Although the task of tax collection is very difficult and intricate, dependent upon variables in economic development and growth, as well as the accuracy of the estimated collection goal, we have tried our best to meet the administration’s expectations.”

Buñag said the BIR in 2006 exceeded by 22 percent the collection of the previous year. “We also surpassed our real collection target by P30 billion,” he said.

The sacking of Buñag had been expected after Teves said last week the President had expressed concern about “slippages” in the BIR’s tax collection. Arroyo even created a new office to help improve tax collection.

At an Independence Day reception in Malacañang, Buñag denied that he had resigned and said tax collection in the first two quarters of the year was even higher by 10 percent.

Teves said the BIR’s collection was short by P9.5 billion as of March.

Inquirer sources in Malacañang said another official likely to get the ax was Efraim Genuino, chairman of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor). He reportedly received an angry call from President Arroyo for failing to give financial support to the administration’s senatorial candidates in midterm elections last month.

Study on tax shortfall

On Tuesday, the Department of Finance presented a study analyzing the tax collection shortfall.

Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran said that while some macroeconomic factors adversely affected tax collection, as Buñag had tried to point out, these had little effect on the shortfall. Inefficiency was largely the reason, he said.

In setting the BIR’s collection target, the government assumed that inflation would hit 3.3 percent in the first quarter, but the actual rate stood at only 2.7 percent. It was also assumed that interest rate on government securities would average at 5.3 percent, but it only settled at 3.6 percent.

A slower-than-expected inflation adversely affects the BIR’s ability to meet its collection target on value-added tax on goods and services. A lower-than-assumed interest rate results in lower taxes on income from bank deposits.

The study said that GDP growth in the first quarter was assumed to be only 6.1 percent but it reached 6.9 percent. Higher economic growth means higher income by households and businesses, and should, therefore, result in higher tax collection.

The study also said bank deposits and sales of government securities were higher than expected, which should have a positive impact on tax collection.

The BIR was tasked with collecting P155.2 billion in the first quarter, but it turned in only P143.1 billion. From January to May, it collected P285.6 billion. It has to generate P87.7 billion in June to meet the first-half goal of P373.3 billion.

With the below-target tax collection, the government breached its target limit of P45.8 billion for the budget deficit in the first quarter. The deficit reached P52.0 billion.

The full-year target ceiling for the budget deficit is P63.0 billion, compared with P64.8 billion in actual deficit last year, which was a sharp fall from P146.8 billion in 2005.

_________________________________

Fired BIR chief tags Teves on fiscal window-dressing
By Ruben Hortelano and Sherwin C. Olaes
Daily Tribune
http://www.tribune.net.ph/business/20070621bus1.html

Relieved Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Jose Mario Buñag admitted having window-dressed the fiscal books last year saying, on the proddings of Finance Secretary Margarito Teves, large taxpayers were asked to make advance payments by a quarter.

As a result, the budget managed to end 2006 with a P62.2 billion deficit which was the lowest in eight years because of the ramped-up revenue collections and constricted spendings as a result of a rollover of the 2005 budget. Wranglings in Congress and Malacañang blocked the passage of the 2006 budget.

The government had originally set a 2006 budget deficit goal of P125 billion, or 2.1 percent of gross domestic product.

Total government revenues reached P978.7 billion last year, exceeding the target by P4.6 billion.

In his statement to the media on his relief, Buñag cited “higher authorities in the government’s financial institutions who would like to wash their hands of responsibility for the dire consequences of their unrealistic, failed and bungled policies.”

Buñag said he was made a “sacrificial lamb and an scapegoat” by the unnamed officials.

“Their time to answer for their failure and incompetence will also eventually come,” he said.

Buñag said he was not accepting President Arroyo’s offer for him to take an ambassadorial post. Buñag said he wanted to take a long-deserved rest from the duties of a government official and to be able to explore other options.

The office of Buñag issued a press statement saying the advance tax payments that Teves initiated resulted in a drastic drop in the BIR collections in the first quarter, in turn, causing the BIR to miss its target.

One of the major factors for the low tax collection was taxes paid in advance by large taxpayers last year, which, it said, Teves was fully aware of, as it was Teves who insisted on this.

“Such advance payments were made by various taxpayers upon the personal calls and requests made, as is well-known in the BIR, by no less than Finance Secretary Margarito Teves himself to the President/CEOs of taxpayers,” the statement read.

It said the requests made by Teves were strongly criticized by Buñag and Assistant Commissioner Nestor Valeroso of BIR’s Large Taxpayers Service.

President Arroyo replaced Buñag with Lilian Hefti, a BIR veteran, as interim chief of the agency.

Buñag’s termination was announced a day after the government reported a P1.7-billion deficit in May against a target of a surplus that was necessary to meet a P63-billion deficit target for the year, which is fast becoming unreachable by the month. The deficit in the first five months was already P41.8 billion.

“The President has announced that Hefti has been designated as officer-in-charge of the BIR,” Eduardo Ermita, executive secretary, told reporters.

The BIR statement said the impact of the advance tax payments made in 2006 has affected the 2007 performance of the BIR’s Large Taxpayers Service in particular, which would have seen a more remarkable increase.

The statement said the practice of advance tax payments was prohibited when Buñag was appointed as BIR commissioner.

“While it should be noted that there is nothing illegal in making the advance payments because the Tax Code allows taxpayers to pay their liabilities on or before fixed dates, huge advance payments distort the collection performance, the goals for which are set on a year on year basis,” according to the BIR statement.

Advance payments made for a particular year are automatically integrated as part of the goal of the ensuing year plus the corresponding growth rate, the statement said.

The statement also questioned Teves’ early “pushing of the panic button.” It said targets should be discussed at the end of the year, not at the end of the early quarters of the year.

BIR admitted that it failed to achieve the target collection for this year imposed by the Development Budget Coordination Committee and the Department of Finance.

But BIR defended this, saying that the imposed targets “are humanly impossible” to be achieved because of the economy’s performance that was lower than target last year.

The statement also cited the government’s failed assumptions on T-bill interest rates and on deposit interest rates.

“Historically, since 2002, realized indicators have generally been lower than the assumptions. In short, if the assumptions do not pan out, as in fact, they did not, it is unreasonable to expect that the BIR would still meet its target. It is humanly impossible for the BIR to be outperforming the economy, to say the least,” the statement said.

There were reports that Mrs. Arroyo had sent an emissary to Buñag to offer him a job as ambassador “somewhere in Europe.” Buñag, however, declined Mrs. Arroyo’s offer.

Teves said Mrs. Arroyo became concerned after being told that the country had incurred a P1.7-billion deficit in May as against the P5.8-billion surplus in the same period last year.

Teves, for his part, said the BIR was expected to report additional collection of P10.2 billion as a result of several measures meant.

3cr

June 21st, 2007, 10:06 AM

Budget gap widens; ‘07 target in danger
Malaya
http://www.malaya.com.ph/jun20/busi1.htm

The Philippine government budget was deeply in the red last May at P1.7 billion as tax collection failed to keep pace with spending, raising more doubts about the full-year target.

In comparison, the previous month’s surplus was P12 billion and last year’s surplus was P5.8 billion.

The January to May deficit, however was narrower by P2.4 billion this year from last year from P44.2 billion to P41.8 billion largely due to lower interest payments.

However, the May figure brought the government above its P31.3-billion deficit program for the first half of the year and that means it has to post a surplus in June to meet the target.

The government is aiming for a P63-billion deficit this year before closing the gap next year.

Finance secretary Margarito Teves said revenue growth was sluggish for the first five months, growing by just 7.7 percent this year from 22 percent last year, with Bureau of Internal Revenue collections "lagging behind" the 9.9 percent nominal GDP growth in the first quarter.

Teves said the government hopes to compensate the shortfalls with revenues from the sale of state assets, including shares in San Miguel Corp. and Manila Electric Co., scheduled in the second half.

Revenues would also be augmented with at least P10 billion from dividend payments of state-owned corporations, Teves said.

In May, revenues surged by five percent to P94.1 billion while expenditures rose by 14 percent to P95.9 billion.

Collections of the BIR, which collects about 80 percent of total revenues, amounted to P66.7 billion, up eight percent from last year but fell below the P73.4-billion target.

The Bureau of Customs collected P17.5 billion, slightly lower than P17.6 billion last year and the P19.7 billion-target for the month.

For the first five months, revenues amounted to P432.6 billion, up by 11 percent from last year.

The BIR posted P285.6 billion, about seven percent higher than last year, while the BOC P75 billion, about two percent lower than P76.2 billion last year.

Meanwhile, expenditures for January-May stood at P474.4 billion, 9.3 percent more than last year.

Interest payments on debts amounted to P14 billion in May, P13.5 billion lower than last. Payments through May reached P123.2 billion, declining from P144.2 billion last year.

Teves said net of interest payments, expenditures actually grew by 20 percent in May and 21 percent in January-May.

"Savings in interest payments have been helping the government in boosting spending in necessary infrastructure and social services," Teves said.

The government posted a deficit of P52 billion in the first quarter, exceeding the P45.8-billion program.

It aims to post a P14.5-billion surplus in the second quarter, and deficits of P22.7 billion and P9 billion in the third and fourth quarter

3cr

June 23rd, 2007, 08:41 AM

Cost of living in 2006 rose due to inflation
By Darwin G. Amojelar, Reporter
Manila Times
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/june/23/yehey/business/20070623bus2.html

KEEPING one’s family from sliding into poverty became costlier last year due to higher consumer prices and an increase in the sales tax, according to the National Statistics Coordination Board (NSCB).

Romulo A. Virola, NSCB secretary-general, said the country’s monthly poverty threshold stood at P6,211 last year, up from P5,853 the previous year.

This means that Filipino families of five should have earned P204 daily to sustain their minimum basic food and nonfood needs.

The NSCB explained that the threshold was based on the prevailing prices in 2006. Data from the National Statistics Office (NSO) showed that the inflation rate rose 6.2 percent.

The government also last year raised the value-added tax (VAT) rate by 20 percent in a move aimed at generating more revenues and trimming its budget deficit.

In Metro Manila, families of five should have earned a monthly income of P8,254, of which P4,920, or 60 percent, should have been allocated for basic food needs and P3,334 for basic nonfood needs.

In rural areas, the poverty threshold stood at P5,885 last year from P5,540 in 2005.

Among provinces, excluding the four districts of the National Capital Region (NCR), the annual per-capita poverty threshold was highest in Batangas with P18,404 followed by Cavite, P 17,876 and Abra, P17,682.

The poverty threshold was lowest in Siquijor at P 12,016, Negros Oriental, P12,120; and Zamboanga Sibugay, P12,153. Of the 10 provinces with the lowest annual per-capita poverty thresholds, two were in Luzon, five in the Visayas, and three in the Mindanao areas.

3cr

June 26th, 2007, 10:37 AM

Attache in hot water over loss of $330-million contract documents
By Katrice R. Jalbuena, Reporter
Manila Times
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/june/26/yehey/top_stories/20070626top7.html

A commercial attaché assigned in China is facing malversation charges after losing the original copies of a mul*timillion-dollar broadband contract signed by a Chinese company and the Philippine government.

The National Bureau of Investigation has recommended the charges filed with the Ombudsman against Emmanuel Nino Wee Ang, 31, a commercial attaché and director of the Philippine Trade and Investment Center assigned to the Philippine consulate in Guang*zhou, Guangdong, China.

The NBI said Ang is responsible for the disappearance of the original copies of a memorandum of agreement between the government, represented by the Department of Transport and Communication, and the Chinese company ZTE Corp.

The contract was reportedly worth $330 million.

Five copies of the agreement were signed on April 21 by DOTC Secretary Leandro R. Mendoza and Yu Yong, ZTE Corporation vice-president, at the VIP room of the International Airport in Haikou, Hainan province. The ceremony was witnessed by Ambassador Sonia Brady, DTI Secretary Peter Favila and other members of the Philippine delegation.

After the delegation left the VIP room, Ang, who organized of the ceremony, collected all the documents and placed them in a cardboard envelope.

Ang and Allan Liu, a Chinese who worked as a trade assistant and interpreter at the Philippine consulate, then collected their luggage and rode a van to the Meritus Mandarin Hotel where they checked in.

At around midnight, Ang woke up to start packing his luggage for the flight home the next day. He called Liu and requested for the MOA documents, but Lu said he could not find them. They searched for the envelope with the help of hotel housekeeping and security but could not find it. They also called the driver of the van and returned to the airport VIP room to check. They did not find the envelope there either.

The hotel’s video surveillance revealed that the envelope was on the luggage cart that took the baggage of Ang and Liu to their rooms. It also showed that no one had entered the rooms.

___________________________________

‘A national shame’
PhilStar
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Opinion&p=49&type=2&sec=25

Who would want to steal the original copies of a multimillion-dollar contract? Someone who wants to keep details of the deal hidden. That’s the growing suspicion as the nation ponders the mysterious loss of the two original copies of a contract signed in the presence of President Arroyo between the Department of Transportation and Communications and Chinese telecommunications firm ZTE Corp. last April in China.

Questions regarding the $330-million broadband deal are so numerous several business groups have called for its scrapping and the US government has openly called for transparency in the contract. The government cancelled the TV show of a columnist of this paper on sequestered IBC-13 after he wrote extensively about the deal. An anti-graft investigator who had sought out the columnist regarding the contract has been sacked.

The timing alone of the signing is being questioned, having fallen within a period covered by an election ban. President Arroyo left her husband’s sickbed for an economic forum in China, witnessing the signing before flying back to Manila. Last week DOTC Assistant Secretary Lorenzo Formoso disclosed during a public forum – accidentally, it seemed – that the two original copies of the contract were lost hours after the deal was signed. Formoso said the story was kept secret because it was “a national shame.”

With that cat out of the bag, the signatory for the Philippines, DOTC chief Leandro Mendoza, said charges had been recommended against the country’s commercial attaché in China, Emmanuel Nino Wee Ang, for losing the original documents. As of yesterday the NBI had not yet filed any case against Ang.

If something is being hidden, it probably stinks. Inevitably, the public is smelling something fishy in this contract. The stench will foul up even Malacañang unless the administration comes clean on the details of the deal. Members of the incoming Congress are itching to conduct an investigation. Yesterday Palace officials said the President had ordered Mendoza to explain the contract. Coming so late in the day, Mendoza will have to persuade a suspicious public that his explanation is in line with transparency rather than mere damage control.

3cr

June 27th, 2007, 10:27 PM

Filipino diplomat caught shoplifting music player, Gucci perfume in South Korea?
By Pia Lee-Brago
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20070627160

A Filipino diplomat was allegedly caught on camera shoplifting at a duty free store inside a US military base in South Korea.

The Korea Herald, a leading daily in South Korea, said in a news report that the Filipino diplomat was caught shoplifting at the Yongsan Military Base PX (Post Exchange) shopping center.

The diplomat allegedly took a music player and a bottle of Gucci perfume last November but the incident was revealed only recently.

The suspect was only identified as someone from the Philippines. Because of the incident, United States Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Gen. Burwin Bell reportedly banned Filipino diplomats from using other Yongsan facilities.

The Herald said Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo secretly met with Base Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Sargeant at the sidelines of his official visit to Seoul last week to discuss the incident.

The report added that the US military was considering legal action against the Filipino diplomat.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Administration Franklin Ebdalin, however, said the Department of Foreign Affairs is not aware of the shoplifting incident involving a Filipino diplomat.

Ebdalin said the Home Office has not received a complaint from base authorities in South Korea.

A Filipino diplomat, who asked not to be named, said the report was “fabricated” and was part of a campaign to put the Philippine Embassy and officials of the diplomatic mission in a bad light.

“We’ve already asked for a copy of the tape but until now we haven’t received it,” the source said.

Magdiwang

July 1st, 2007, 07:00 AM

PRESS RELEASE
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

Brief surfacing of Sherlyn Cadapan, a "brutal, inhuman fascist act"--CPP
June 30, 2007

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today described the brief surfacing of abducted student activist Sherlyn Cadapan last April as a "brutal, Big Brother-type fascist act" of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

CPP spokesperson Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal said that the way the UP student activist was briefly surfaced and shown to her in-laws under heavy armed escort and with her lips virtually sealed, only to bring her back shortly to their secret custody, was "a cruel, brutal, heinous and inhuman act done in a fascist manner that could only have been conceived by the fiendish and sadistic minds of psywar and dirty-war operatives of the AFP."

Cadapan, fellow student activist Karen Empeno and farmer Manuel Merino, who were doing field research among peasants in Hagonoy, Bulacan, have been missing since they were abducted more than a year ago. Witnesses disclosed that in June 26, 2006 the three were taken at gunpoint from the house they were staying in Hagonoy and hauled off in a vehicle to the headquarters of the 56th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Iba, Hagonoy. A witness, Mildred Benitez, testified that she and some others saw the vehicle used by the abductors parked in the said headquarters.

Cadapan and her abducted companions are believed to be held in the AFP's secret detention cells. A former military prisoner in Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija testified in a habeas corpus case filed at the Court of Appeals that he saw two women resembling Cadapan and Empeno being held and tortured in secret detention cells in the same military camp.

Cadapan's family said that, last April 11, Sherlyn visited her mother-in-law' s house in Calumpit, Bulacan. Sherlyn was accompanied by six armed escorts, who were not wearing uniforms but were obvious to the family to be members of the military. Cadapan and her armed escorts stayed very briefly. Cadapan could hardly talk as her escorts prevented her from freely speaking with her relatives. Cadapan's relatives saw that she was not her former cheerful and talkative self.

Rosal said the way Cadapan's abductors and jailers conducted the brief encounter was aimed to instill a chill of fascist terror among her family and loved ones.

According to the Cadapan family, uniformed military personnel visited the same house the following day and taunted the residents, saying that they received information that Sherlyn passed by the house. "Obviously, the objective of the AFP was to make it appear that Sherlyn is not in their hands but with the New People's Army."

"Sherlyn is a victim of the AFP's ongoing campaign of terror targetting activists and other forces exposing and opposing the rottenness, corruption, brutality and puppetry of the Arroyo regime," said Rosal.

Sherlyn's friends and relatives fear that she and other secret prisoners are being subjected to terrible physical, psychological and emotional torture. Sherlyn's family and human rights advocates have expressed grave concern that the military is holding Sherlyn's new-born child to compel her to do whatever she is asked to do. Cadapan was two months pregnant when abducted by the military and was expected to give birth last January.

"The CPP joins the family and friends of Sherlyn, human rights advocates and the entire Filipino people in demanding the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) immediately surface and release her, Karen Empeno and Manuel Merino," Rosal said.

"At the same time, we demand that the AFP acknowledge the abduction and reveal the status of prisoners Leo Velasco, Prudencio Calubid, his wife and several companions, Rogelio Calubad and son Gabriel, Leopoldo Ancheta, Philip Limjoco and several scores of others who have been abducted by military operatives since the first quarter of 2006," said Rosal.

Even if under tight guarding by her jailers, the fleeting surfacing of Sherlyn at least gives her family and friends some glimmer of hope of recovering her, and others abducted by the military's secret operatives.

Reference:
Marco Valbuena
Media Officer
Cellphone Numbers: 09179776392 :: 09282242061
E-mail:cppmedia@ gmail.com

bloodyred

July 4th, 2007, 11:13 AM

Philippines to miss 2007 tax collection goal-reports
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=83412

The Philippine government is likely to miss its tax collection target for the year by P25 billion due to the weak performance of the country's two main revenue collectors, local newspapers reported.

The Philippines' financial markets are vulnerable to a budget setback and a tax revenue shortfall in the first five months of this year are fanning worries Manila may be losing its grip over public finance again.

The newspapers, quoting an unnamed government source, said on Wednesday the country was projected to collect only 978 billion pesos of the 1.003 trillion pesos tax goal for the whole year.

The expected shortfall will push total revenues down to P1.094 trillion from the full-year target of P1.119 trillion.

Economic managers are scheduled to present the emerging numbers to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo later on Wednesday, the reports said.

The Philippines' Bureau of Internal Revenue accounts for more than two thirds of revenue and the Bureau of Customs makes up about 20 percent of collections.

A top finance official admitted the Philippines, whose deficit in the first five months of the year was nearly 11 billion pesos above the first half target, could miss its full-year tax collection goal but declined to outline the size of a possible shortfall.

"There is a possibility but (we are) not yet sure," Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran told Reuters, adding that the government would be able to plug any weakness in collections from savings on debt repayments.

"The interest savings are expected to reach 23 billion pesos by the end of the year," he said.

"Everything will be offset. We have privatisation and programmes to improve tax administration. We have many options."

Financial markets are building in expectations that the government will not meet its full-year deficit goal of 63 billion pesos or 0.9 percent of gross domestic product, compared with one percent in 2006.

But Finance Secretary Margarito Teves has insisted the goal will be met through the sale of state assets, which he has said will raise about P100 billion.

Analysts have warned, however, that investors will lose confidence in the government if it relies on one-off stake sales to plug holes in its budget rather than tackling endemic tax evasion and official corruption. - Reuters
____________________________________________

Direct foreign investments fall by 71.9% in Q1 of 2007
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/49447/Direct-foreign-investments-fall-by-719-in-Q1-of-2007

Direct foreign investments (DFIs) in the Philippines fell by 71.9 percent in the first quarter of 2007 from the amount recorded in the same period in 2006. According to a statement of the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB), the total approved FDIs in the said periods fell from P63.5 billion to just P17.9 billion.

Japan put in the most FDIs, with at P6.9 billion, pledged mainly to the manufacturing sector, followed by the US with P4.3 billion, and the Netherlands, with P3.6 billion.

"The first quarter saw a drop in investment pledges to the manufacturing sector, a robust growth for the private services sector, and a notable infusion of fresh investment pledges to the trade and mining sectors," the NSCB said.

Although the pledges to the manufacturing sector fell in the quarter, it was still the top recipient to commitments with the lion's share of 70.1 percent or P12.5 billion of the total approved investments from foreign nationals during the quarter, amounting to P12.5 billion.

Pledges to the manufacturing, the NSCB said, was kept afloat mainly by two projects approved by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), one dealing in vehicle transmission assemblies and the other in media recording heads.

The pledges of the two projects total P8.9 billion, which is 71.4 percent of the FDIs pledged to the
sector during the quarter, the NSCB said.

Private sector services grew by 33.1 percent to P4.9 billion in the first quarter of 2007,with investments coming from commitments to operate call centers and business process outsourcing services.

Foreign investors also made pledges to the trade industry at P126.8 million and mining industry with P104.3 million.

jbkayaker12

July 4th, 2007, 12:24 PM

allan_dude

July 4th, 2007, 10:57 PM

Deadly viral disease threatens to wipe out Vizcaya citrus farms (http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV2007070597184.html)

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya -- OceanaGold (Philippines) Inc. has warned of the spread of a citrus disease in this province which is threatening farm productivity in the country’s citrus capital.

The spread of the disease, called the "huang long bing," is slowly eating up on the revenue of citrus farms in Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya.

The disease can destroy harvestable fruits by more than 50 percent.

"Huang long bing," also called the citrus greening disease, is one of the most destructive citrus diseases. It is manifested by the yellowing of the leaf which then results in poor yield.

Almost all of the citrus areas in Kasibu covering more than 1,200 hectares are affected by the disease at different levels of severity, authorities said.

OceanaGold has been planning to expand its technology-demonstration farms in Nueva Vizcaya (where its mining project is located) as part of its Social Development and Management Program (SDMP). But the spread of the disease may stop the company from planting citrus.

"We’re planning to go on a community-wide farming program, but when I visited our site, I found out citrus has fungal infection. They said it’s so prevalent in the province that agriculturists discouraged us from doing it," said Lucy Esconde, OceanaGold environment manager.

Dr. Elena Sana, assistant professor at the Nueva Vizcaya State University (NVSU), said citrus farms in the province are planning to expand citrus planting up to 2,000 hectares. But the eradication of the disease has to be given priority.

Citrus tristeza virus (CTV), carried by an aphid species, mainly the black citrus aphid, is also infecting the province’s citrus farms.

CTV, also a highly destructive pest, caused in 1981 the death of 50 million citrus trees worldwide.

The Nueva Vizcaya Citrus Task Force has been formed to implement a plan to control the disease, but the task force needs financing to implement a disease eradication plan.

"We also need fund for the task force. We need to have a legal entity to be able to raise fund for it," said Sana.

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) has donated disease detection laboratories for the task force which will be operational by year end. The task force was formed by the NVSU, the Kasibu municipality, and the Malabing Valley Multi-Purpose Cooperative and the Kasibu Citrus farmers’ cooperative.

OceanaGold is also collaborating with the Department of Agriculture (DA), and the provincial agricultural office in Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino on the eradication of citrus diseases. (SG)

heathcliff

July 5th, 2007, 09:16 AM

Arroyo remind me of the vice president of a management company that I used to work with. Everytime a manager does not deliver what is expected, the vice president of the said company terminates the manager without batting an eyelash.

I can see where Arroyo is coming from and I agree with her actions. It is a way of keeping her cabinet on their toes all the time and in a way it can also prevent corruption for she requires her cabinet to deliver and meet her high standards which can and will benefit the populace in the long run.

Maybe GMA already learned from her experience with Dinky et al. Hayun kahit palpak sa DepEd, may paawa effect pa nung isisisante na sana, pinagpasensyahan pa rin ni madam. Tapos lumabas na kumukumisyon pala siya sa DepEd, kaya inunahan na nila ng dyaraaann... Hyatt 10.

So now she's not settling for anything less than performance.

jbkayaker12

July 5th, 2007, 10:50 AM

Oh Dinky, good riddance!:)

bloodyred

July 5th, 2007, 01:39 PM

Maybe GMA already learned from her experience with Dinky et al. Hayun kahit palpak sa DepEd, may paawa effect pa nung isisisante na sana, pinagpasensyahan pa rin ni madam. Tapos lumabas na kumukumisyon pala siya sa DepEd, kaya inunahan na nila ng dyaraaann... Hyatt 10.

I think Dinky is the former DSWD Secretary.;)

le Reine

July 7th, 2007, 10:42 PM

^yeah, she's the DSWD secretary. Oh that girl. I still want to grill her alive! Ahaha... she's plastic.

Sinjin P.

July 8th, 2007, 08:32 AM

^ I love the highlights on her hair, parang 'yung sa manok. :lol:

TheAvenger

July 9th, 2007, 08:20 AM

Video of OFW set to return home, just click it below

http://www.gmanews.tv/largevideo/latest/8866/Over-100-overstaying-OFWs-set-to-return-home

NOVO ECIJANO

July 9th, 2007, 08:28 AM

^yeah, she's the DSWD secretary. Oh that girl. I still want to grill her alive! Ahaha... she's plastic.

well she led the cabinets to sing "if we hold on together" during a meeting only to ask gma to resign the next day.

heathcliff

July 9th, 2007, 09:10 AM

I think Dinky is the former DSWD Secretary.;)

Oops. I stand corrected, sa DSWD pala siya. Dinky was due for the chopping block because of her knee-jerk decisions - especially her dole-out policy that jarred with PGMA because it was prone to corruption, from which Dinky was alleged to have benefited.

Oh that girl. I still want to grill her alive! Ahaha... she's plastic.

Tama ka. Her 180-degree turnaround was incomprehensible. I mean, if your boss has been a friend to you, even if you believed she did something unethical, would that justify joining those who vilify her (and this in just a few days) instead of just quietly resigning, minus the fanfare?

Unfortunately for the Cory clique who thought they were indispensable to PGMA, the latter coolly selected a new economic team among people with even superior credentials.

zeejay

July 10th, 2007, 06:52 AM

I agree. Dinky Soliman and Butch Abad, et. als' resignation in 2004 was just for the show. They thought the wothdrawal of support would disable President Arroyo to work well and handle the government. In a matter of days Soliman and Abad were already seen joining the anti-Arroyo forces asking for her rersignation. As if they did not work with Mrs. Arroyo for three years to leave her just like that. I agree that when GMA changed the composition of her team when some of her cabinet officials abandoned her there was more order in the handling of the different posts in the exceutive branch.

crappypants

July 10th, 2007, 07:26 AM

i cannot stand that lady and her streaked hair. she is such a twofaced character /actress.

crappypants

July 14th, 2007, 07:09 PM

tignan mo tong kahayamukan ng lapid na to.
napakagarapal. ang dami sigurang mansion nito sa korea.

Who pocketed millions in lahar quarry fees?
POSTSCRIPT By Federico D. Pascual Jr.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
WOW!: Pampanga Gov. Eddie Panlilio collected in his first two weeks in office an average of P1 million DAILY in quarrying fees — against a measly P30 million reported for the entire past YEAR by his predecessor.

Quarry operators have been taking the same amount of sand (actually lahar from Mt. Pinatubo) from the heavily silted rivers and waterways of Pampanga, so how come only a trickle flowed into the coffers of the capitolio under the past administration?

The stark difference — a potential P370 million vs P30 million (in one year) — appears to validate the quarrying scam as a key issue in the May 14 election that saw the 53-year-old parish priest of Betis winning the governorship from Gov. Mark Lapid.

* * *

POLL ISSUE: Quarrying was among the points discussed by Among Ed, as he is more popularly called, in a forum last Friday of the Capampangan in Media Inc. at the Annabel’s resto in Quezon City. It was his first presscon with mainstream media in Manila.

Within hours of his assuming the governorship on July 2, all 82 personnel having to do with quarry collections were replaced to see what would happen.

In just five days, P6.2 million was collected. By July 11, the provincial government had earned P9.8 million in quarrying fees. That averaged P1 million a day — during the rainy season when quarrying was even in a slump.

* * *

SHARING SCHEME: For every truck carrying sand/lahar, the government collects P150. Under existing arrangements, 30 percent goes to the town where the quarry site is located, 40 percent to the barangay, and 30 percent to the provincial government.

Among Ed announced that from now on, the beneficiary towns and barangays will get their shares promptly at the end of each month. Several mayors have expressed elation over the new policy.

Towns without quarrying sites will not be left out. Among Ed said they would get 30 percent of the share earmarked for the provincial government.

* * *

DILEMMA: In response to questions, the governor said he was not just about to file charges over missing quarry collections. He added that he was leaving any prosecution to the Tanodbayan, where graft cases had been filed before the elections.

This stance of Panlilio has not sat well with three mayors, including Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo who said that the governor should be more forceful in his approach to the alleged corruption in the Lapid administration.

He said he would have wanted Panlilio, if he is not ready to initiate additional charges, to submit the documents he had discovered to theTanodbayan to buttress the charges already being investigated for filing with the Tanodbayan.

Obviously, one big dilemma of the new governor is how to strike a balance between achieving unity (through conciliatory and consultative moves) and weeding out corruption in the capitolio and prosecuting grafters.

* * *

CANLAS IDEA: The discussion on quarrying drew from former Public Works Deputy Minister Aber Canlas who was in the forum a suggestion that the bountiful lahar deposits be tapped systematicaly for providing jobs and generating income.

Reacting to CAMI member Sonny Valencia’s observation that lahar is a finite resource that would run out in time, Canlas said it has been there for centuries and is continually replenished during the rainy season by upstream deposits from Pinatubo.

Canlas, a native of Floridablanca and an acknowledged “miracle worker” when it comes to civil engineering projects, said that displaced cabalen, numbering thousands, can be organized for cottage industries using lahar as raw material.

This free gift of God, he said, can be used for making hollow and solid blocks, decorative and pre-cast figures that can be sold at prices lower than the prevailing market prices. “We can beat any supplier in the country,” he said.

* * *

ON TO S.C.: As announced in an anonymous newspaper ad, Stradec is making good its threat of taking to the Supreme Court its losing fight against the compromise agreement between the Philippine National Construction Corp. and Radstock Securities Ltd.

That’s actually well and good. Never mind that the ad is riddled with errors and misleading statements. Our justices will see through that and what it represents.

The facts presented and ruled upon in the Regional Trial Court seem clear: There were two valid loans from which the money was used by the company CDCP Mining. Valid guarantees of those loans were issued by the parent company Construction and Development Corporation of the Philippines, forerunner of PNCC.

Actually, if there is anything that gives lie to claims of a so-called sell-out, it is Stradec’s argument that it be given the PNCC — lock, stock, and barrel — for P1.2 billion.

* * *

BARGAIN: The P1.2-billion figure was offered during the failed 2000 privatization of PNCC. The exercise failed because Titoy Pardo, said to be among the few honest men in the Estrada administration, refused to play along with what could have been a virtual giveaway.

There was little chance of the PNCC auction turning out to be a bidding war among giants. In the first place, every Tom, Dick and Harry in town knew that PNCC was hobbled by major debts — to private corporations, to banks and to the government.

These debts would have embroiled PNCC’s new owner in decades of litigation. Some sectors would have us believe the government should not have acknowledged some of these debts, but hiding such secrets from prospective investors is not the best policy anywhere anytime.

Besides, governments are duty-bound to reject offers that are grossly disadvantageous. Even by 2000 standards, P1.2 billion was worse than bargain basement level.

3cr

July 14th, 2007, 11:48 PM

The trafficking of people
By Fr. Shay Cullen
Manila Times
http://www.manilatimes.net/

The trafficking in women and children and men too as modern slaves is the third-biggest earning illegal business in the world today after illegal arms trading and drugs. It is a problem that is getting worse as global poverty grows in the poor countries and millions more are vulnerable to any kind of false promise of a good job. Those promises are fake, and the hapless victims are frequently sold into factories, plantations, sweatshops or brothels where they are held against their will and in subhuman conditions. The good thing that is happening is that the political leaders are beginning to task this seriously and are devoting more time and effort to raise awareness and help the victims.

Slavery thrives because we all love a bargain; we want our luxuries to be of the highest quality and as cheap as possible. Likewise the corporations that supply us the products that are supposed to satisfy our appetites for fancy food, fashionable clothes and a consumerist lifestyle are out to maximize profits. But all this comes not cheap as we think but someone else pays for it, some with pain and blood and with their lives sometimes.

Take chocolate for example. We all love it, we all want it and we all consume it in vast amounts. It is not good for us, of course, but it is not good either for the thousands of poor people who are exploited, beaten, cheated and even enslaved. The Ivory Coast supplies almost half the world’s supply of the cocoa bean and much of it grown and gathered and process by hundreds of thousands of exploited and enslaved people, many of them young boys. Some are beaten almost to death when they try to escape from the plantation.

I related before the story of the Philippine workers held against their will on a sugarcane plantation in the province of Batangas, south of Manila, and treated like slaves, they received no money and could not leave. They had to work up to 12 hours cutting the sugarcane and were told that they were deeper in debt every day. The NBI antitrafficking unit rescued them and we have yet to hear if the prosecutors brought the culprits to justice. Thousands more are enslaved in other ways in brothels and nightclubs and are in debt and can never leave until the mounting debt is paid.

Trafficking is the modern form of slavery. The victims lose all control over their lives, they are not free to leave, they are coerced into working and many times they are beaten if they refuse.

In a recent international conference held at Wilton Park Sussex, South of London last June we heard of children being trafficked into Britain and turned them over to the social services. It was reported that 64 of them have disappeared out of care and no one knows where they are. These missing children are not apparently of interest to the media. There is no news of them. Where are they? We have to stop the trafficking of people and during my presentation I made some suggestions what can be done to stop the flow of persons into this life of exploitation and misery and abuse.

We can treat the victims as such, humans abused and given the shelter and protection and encourage them then to testify against the abusers and traffickers and give them a chance to get a work with dignity. We can hold our government responsible as to how they spend the foreign aid money with great diligence and demand an end to slavery and abuse and trafficking to the countries from where it goes on with impunity.

We can challenge the corporations to be open in their operations and guarantee there is no exploitation. Especially those who use the cocoa, sugar made with slave or exploited labor. We can help Fair Traders by buying the products and promoting them to others.

Above all we have to continue to demand our political leaders act decisively in demanding the nations like Ivory Coast to end the exploitation. These are just Christian actions and we are challenged to do something meaningful and worthwhile to lessen the exploitation of the poor. Many are poor because of our desire to have everything so cheap. We should demand that all our products are free forms of child labor and exploitation.

_____________________________

They are human beings—not mere items on a hit list
Manila Times
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/july/15/yehey/top_stories/20070715top1.html

"Karapatan has a list of 863 victims. Their friends and families suspect the military and the police and their special agents and auxiliaries of having killed them. The Armed Forces of the Philippines also has a list of 1,335 victims of CPP-NPA liquidation teams. The Manila Times publishes this special report as its contribution to the Supreme Court-sponsored National Consultative Summit on Extrajudicial Killings and Enforced Disappearancaes—Searching for Solutions tomorrow and Tuesday, July 16 and 17, at the Manila Hotel."

We in The Manila Times have only one appeal to make to the participants of the Summit. Never to forget that the victims are human beings.

We print the pictures of 39 of them.

They often appear as mere statistics in the presentations of human rights groups as well as of the government, the military and the police.

They have been killed—robbed of their God-given gift of life. Some of them were tortured and humiliated before they were killed. They were deprived of their dignity as human beings in the last hours of their lives.

Karapatan, the leftist human-rights group that some government officials and generals want to count among the so-called enemies of the state for being affiliated with other groups that are closely kinked with the National Democratic Front, has a count of EJK victims that the military and the police dispute.

Karapatan says the EJK victims from January 2001 to the end of May 2007 total 863.

Karapatan says in that period 8 businessmen, 22 church workers, 418 farmers, 4 fisherfolk, 9 government employees, 26 human-rights workers, 74 indigenous peoples, 9 local government officials, 65 Moros, 41 professionals, 10 unborn persons, 4 of unknown designations, 32 urban poor, 65 workers, and 120 youth and students. All in all 863.

Karapatan bitterly protested its exclusion from the set of groups invited by the Supreme Court to join the summit. Ernesto B. Francisco Jr., a lawyer and admirer of the organization wrote the Chief Justice and expressed surprise “that about 99 percent of the victims of extrajudicial killings do not seem to be represented in the summit. Indeed, it is ironic that a national effort to help the victims of extrajudicial killings might not hear the voice of the victims.”

“With all due respect,” the letter writer continued, “for the summit to be successful, it should have the cooperation and participation of groups like Karapatan and other organizations which happen to be identified with the Left. These groups have been in the forefront of the campaign against extrajudicial killings ever since.

“Without the participation of Karapatan and other organizations identified with the Left, there is also that great possibility that the summit will suffer the same fate as the Melo Commission, which fate was primarily brought about by the fact that it was boycotted by the Left,” Atty. Francisco said.

Some observers have tried to guess what in the mind of the justices when they decided not to invite Karapatan and other leftist groups. They believe the justices do not want the Summit to turn into a debating match between Karapatan and similarly minded groups against the AFP and PNP representatives to the summit.

Anyway, what Karapatan will say will be brought to the attention of the justices and the other participants, through other participants who respect Karapatan.

The PNP view

The PNP’s Task Force Usig, which is very much engaged in helping solve the problem of the killing of media personnel, will present a position paper at the summit.

In its review of the current situation, Usig presents these figures from 2001 to the present.

Party-list members killed: 116, of which 55 are now active cases in court and 61 under investigation.

Newsmen killed: 27, of which 21are now active cases in court and 6 are under investigation.

Total militant party-list members and newsmen (whether militant or not) killed 143, 76 cases filed in court and 67 still being investigated by Usig.

Usig reports that the highest number of party-list members slain was recorded in 2006 and the lowest in 2003. In 2007, 4 valid cases were recorded, 1 case of frustrated homicide with abduction and 5 cases of abduction were also recorded.

Out of Karapatam’s list of 836 victims, Usig has acknowledged only 122, has excluded 529, is working to verify 185 cases.

Out of Amnesty International list of 57 EJK victims Usig has acknowledged 23, has excluded 27 and is still verifying 7l.

Out of Bayan Muna’s list of 131victims, Usig has acknowledged 71, excluded 59 and is verifying 1.

Usig maintains that “considering the evidence at hand, TF Usig is pursuing all angles including the possible involvement of the CPP/NPA, ultra rightist elements, other destabilizing forces and organized crime groups or “a combination” of these groups.

There will surely be participants in the summit, however, unleftist they may be, who will present the Karapatan viewpoint.

Although government officials have berated the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights for having made a report that does not just give a slap on the wrist to the military and the government, the participants in tomorrow’s summit will most likely pay heed to what he said.

crappypants

July 15th, 2007, 08:32 PM

Edu declares war vs child pornography
By Maridol Rañoa-Bismark
Monday, July 16, 2007
The sight is revolting. A girl in her early teens sits half naked, her legs spread apart. Another girl, even younger and in ponytail, stares at you while a suggestive photo (too lurid for the minds of our decent readers) is shown right beside her.

Beside these despicable videos is another shocker: Animation films showing child porn.

It’s so sickening, it makes you want to throw up in disgust.

But these are the kinds of photos plastered on videos sold alongside such GP viewing fare as Mr. Bean in malls found in Makati, Pasig and others where OMB (Optical Media Board) agents recently went to conduct lightning raids. The raids yielded a big harvest of child pornography in video format.

Adding insult to injury, these malls are near schools and churches where impressionable minds converge. That’s why OMB Chair Edu Manzano, OMB Executive Director, lawyer Rosendo Meneses, and Cyrus Paul Valenzuela, OMB’s Legal Department OIC, have decided to move. They know it will take ages if they file a case against child pornographers as OMB officials. Technicalities (e.g. under whose jurisdiction the case will fall under) will get in the way.

“The videos, some of them showing Filipino children, are sent and replicated abroad,” Edu reports. “I can easily tell which videos are replicated abroad and which are not.”

True enough, some videos carry titles in Chinese characters.

So he, Meneses and Valenzuela decided to do it the fastest way they know how. They have decided to file cases against child pornographers as private individuals. Thus, the case will henceforth be known as People of the Philippines vs Child Pornographers.

This way, they avoid getting bogged down by red tape that usually delays a case for months, even years, on end. This way, child pornographers who prey on innocent children for profit will get what they deserve, faster. The criminal offense will put the peddler of child porn behind bars for at least six years and at most 12 years.

Edu and company have also launched a signature campaign starting with members of media they presented the grim facts to. The campaign will spread to a much wider sector and surely earn massive support against heartless child predators.

The OMB is also inviting everyone to check out its website, www.omb.gov.ph, for updates on anti-child pornography campaign.

Edu and company have sought help from concerned agencies like the Social Welfare and Development Department, the Philippine National Police and Bantay Bata. They are also looking into other sources of help, like the Education Department, schools and even Friendster, the favorite medium of today’s youth, to spread the word and sound the alarm, louder, for all the world to hear.

The battle is far from easy. Meneses reports that the owner of a store peddling child pornography hit him with a Monobloc chair during one of the raids. Violence is as real as the carton-full of pornographic materials OMB men seize raid after raid.

“We deploy moles who first survey the place. Then we make our move,” Meneses loosely describes their strategy.

In the provinces, OMB operatives (only 15 nationwide) travel by sea (the agency has little finances, that’s why) as advance party. The minute Edu arrives the airport, there is no time to lose. He goes straight to the place where the raid will be conducted.

Sometimes, these weekend sorties entail only an overnight stay, enabling Edu to be back in Manila the very next day.

The threats that come with the job have become so common, they have become nothing to him. In fact, he has learned to live with them all these years.

“I sleep soundly at night. I’m in by 8:30 p.m. and wake up at 3 a.m. I have no worries. I believe that if it’s your time, it’s your time,” Edu explains.

He is at his OMB office at 8 a.m., signs all the papers himself, answers calls from Malacañang and other offices. He leaves the office at 5 p.m., then hies off to ABS-CBN, where he tapes Pilipinas: Game KNB twice a week, 6 to 10 p.m.

The arrangement, Edu says, “is an act of God.” The ABS studios are only two to three blocks away from OMB. Thus, Edu can juggle his time in-between jobs with ease.

His early morning schedule has made a night life virtually impossible for him. But Edu has no complaints. He’s been there, done that. And the early-to-bed-early-to-rise routine is doing him good. It’s giving Edu’s skin a healthy glow.

Still, he can’t help but stumble upon doubting Thomases along the way. They come up with questions like: Till when will Edu pursue his anti child pornography campaign? Won’t this be just a case of ningas cogon?

“Open my wallet and you see photos of my children inside,” replies Edu. That’s as good a promise as any that he will pursue his new battle till kingdom come.

heathcliff

July 17th, 2007, 12:21 PM

[SIZE="4"]They are human beings—not mere items on a hit list
Manila Times
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/july/15/yehey/top_stories/20070715top1.html
...

The same thing can be said of those soldiers killed and mutilated like animals in the Tipo-tipo ambush. But why are so-called human rights groups like Karapatan silent on this issue? Don't those soldiers have any human rights? Then again, Karapatan is identified with the communists, and the CPP is even extolling the killing and mutilation of the soldiers.

kiretoce

July 18th, 2007, 12:20 AM

Philippine global competitiveness dips three notches (http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/july/18/yehey/business/20070718bus1.html)

The Philippines slipped three notches in a survey of the world’s most competitive nations.

According to the 2007 World Competitiveness Scoreboard, the country slid to 45th place, its lowest ranking in five years, out of 55 nations rated. The Philippines was in 42nd place last year.

This year it had an index score of 47.163 points compared with 49.01 points last year.

Switzerland-based Institute of Management and Development (IMD) blamed the Philippines’ descent on its poor energy infrastructure and government policy.

The United States ranked first with 100 points, followed by Singapore, 99.12 points; Hong Kong, 93.54 points; Luxembourg, 92.207; and Switzerland, 90.43. Other Asian countries in the survey include Malaysia, 23rd; Japan, 24th; India, 27th; Korea, 29th; Thailand, 33rd; and Indonesia, 54th.

IMD took into account four competitiveness factors—economic performance, government efficiency, business efficiency and infrastructure. These factors are further broken down into 314 criteria.

The Philippine ranking was held back in the areas of infrastructure, state of efficiency and education. Under infrastructure, the country ranked 51st in maintenance and development of infrastructure, 52nd in distribution of infrastructure, 49th in energy infrastructure and future energy supply, and 53rd in research and development.

Under the state of efficiency, the country ranked 47th in legal and regulatory framework, 50th in implementation of government decisions, 52nd in transparency of government policy, and 52nd in political parties’ understanding of today’s economic challenges.

The Philippines, however, fared well in the cost of living index, central bank policy, stock market index, compensation levels, high-tech exports and investment in telecommunications.

Cesar B. Bautista, co-chairman of the National Competitive Council, said the most urgent national task is to improve the country’s human resource competency and energy infrastructure.

“We need to lower our electricity rates to attract more investors and construct infrastructure that would move the products of the country,” he said.

The Asian Institute of Management (AIM) Policy Center, IMD’s partner institution, recommended the development of policies to ensure cost competitiveness and self-sufficiency in the energy sector.

The AIM Policy Center said policies must address the gap between demand and supply without compromising affordability of energy sources.

“The country scored low in terms of ease in doing business and starting an enterprise. Legislation and regulation must work to support businesses to accelerate its competitiveness,” the center said.

“Education is an investment in terms of improving the capacity of our human resources. The education system must also be responsive to the demands of businesses and improve their competitiveness,” it added.

kiretoce

July 18th, 2007, 07:59 PM

Human trafficking on the rise, with easy pickings in RP (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=84977)

Trafficked into slavery as a young girl, Geralyn Quezo, 17, sits quietly by the window of a halfway house amid the deafening cacophony of life in Manila's main pier.

Now and then a smile breaks from her cracked lips, only to quickly fade as memories of her ordeal come flooding back in a wild see-saw of emotions.

"I am now free. But now I do not know what to do," she told Agence France Presse at the Bahay Tuluyan refuge for rescued victims of human trafficking on a busy roadside at Manila's North Harbor.

A distant relative had duped Quezo's father into allowing her to travel with him to Manila when she was barely 12, supposedly for a leisure trip. That hot summer day was the last time she saw her family in impoverished Muslim Mindanao.

The relative turned out to be a broker for a human trafficking syndicate, but decided to keep Quezo as his personal slave. For three years, the young girl worked for him as a cook, nanny and maid -- and was not paid a cent.

She thought her parents had given her up for dead and it was not clear why they never made the trip to Manila to search for her.

"Perhaps they did not have money. We lived on a remote farm, and we lived a day to day existence," Quezo said. "They may have given me up as a lost cause because I had many other siblings they needed to feed."

She lost all contact with the outside world, she said, and would cringe at the sound of passing vehicles. At night she would curl up in a corner and cry herself to sleep.

Then one day, her captor forgot to lock the gates and Quezo escaped, only to end up lost in the dank alleys of Manila's slums, working odd jobs that paid enough to buy food and the clothes on her back.

She later met social workers who referred her to the Visayan Forum Foundation, a non-government organization that works to combat trafficking and which runs the halfway house.

Quezo is now rebuilding her life, learning livelihood skills that should help her reintegrate into society. She remains hesitant about going home, fearful of her parents' reaction.

"I don't know if they would still remember me. I only have a vague memory of their faces," she says.

Human trafficking is on the rise

Sad as Quezo's case may be, it is an increasingly common one in the Philippines, which international advocacy groups say has in recent years become a major source of cheap illegal labor in Asia.

Human trafficking has also become the dirty secret of economic expansion, with many criminal organizations preying on unsuspecting rural families who send their young children off on false promises of money and prosperity.

Often, they end up in the hands of illegal recruiters who sell them as virtual household slaves.

Many end up in suburbs around Manila, working in clubs and bars or forced into slavery, said Marina Ullegue, who runs Bahay Tuluyan.

"Many think that once they get to Manila, they will end up shoveling money on the streets before going abroad. The sad reality is that they end up being trafficked and abused," she said.

There have been cases of Filipinas trafficked to Europe and Africa, where they ended up working in brothels.

In one celebrated case, a group of Filipinas recently rescued from the Ivory Coast said they thought they were in France.

Ullegue said: "It is easy to lure these mostly uneducated people to leave their rural homes, and traffickers know how to make a pitch."

Many of those rescued by the foundation at first were distrustful and angry that they were being prevented from earning money they could send home, she said.

"The emotions are so high because they want to help their families, but many do not realize that they have fallen in the net of recruiters."

Bruce Reed, the International Organization of Migration's (IOM) regional representative in Southeast Asia, said human trafficking has become a major policy challenge for governments in Asia.

He said many victims are trafficked domestically within Asia, although there has been a rising trend of shipping people across continents.

"The causes of trafficking in the region are rooted in poverty, limited educational and employment opportunities," Reed told a recent forum in Manila.

"We all can cite instances where the demands for labour outstrip the legal sources of supply, creating opportunities for traffickers to step into the breach," he said.

In the Philippines, while there are no figures, internal trafficking has become a "lucrative underground economy," the Visayan Forum said.

"The demand for human commodities in brothels, sweatshops and even in households is evident," it said in a recent study.

The study said Manila remains a major exit point of trafficking to other countries as well, although the porous southern border in the Zamboanga peninsula is also widely used as a jump-off point for undocumented Filipinos heading for nearby countries.

3cr

July 24th, 2007, 01:53 AM

Quezon City turning into ‘colorum capital’
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/july/24/yehey/metro/20070724met5.html

QUEZON CITY might not be the “carjacking capital” of the country anymore, but it is slowly turning into a colorum capital.

Reports said illegal vehicles have infiltrated almost all areas in the city because traffic enforces who are supposed to go after these colorum vehicles are the ones protecting them.

Owners of legitimate public utility vehicles have not complained since they are afraid that these traffic enforcers might get back at them, according to a source.

The source said that illegal FX, vans, buses and even jeepneys have been operating freely in the city driven by the most undisciplined drivers who load and unload passengers anywhere along the road.

Areas that are heavily infested by illegal vehicles are Cubao at the vicinity of Araneta Center, North Triangle, Muñoz, Quezon Avenue, Commonwealth Avenue, MRT stations and commercial centers in the city.

In Cubao, colorum FX and vans have been occupying Aurora Boulevard as their terminal causing heavy traffic congestion. Traffic enforcers from Quezon City and the Metro Manila Development are also useless because the barkers are control the traffic flow.

It is also ironic that the headquarters of the Land Transportation Office and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board are located in the city.

If the situation will not be addressed, Quezon City will indeed become the colorum capital of the country.

Besides Quezon City, the cities of Mandaluyong, Pasig, Makati, Pasay and Manila also have a serious problem with colorum vehicles.

3cr

July 24th, 2007, 02:03 AM

1,821 DepEd personnel have symptoms of TB
By Jonathan M. Hicap, Reporter
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/july/24/yehey/metro/20070724met1.html

AT least 1,821 teachers and nonteaching personnel were found to have suggestive symptoms of tuberculosis after they underwent x-ray examinations, according to Dr. Thelma Santos, the Department of Education center director.

Santos said that 598 teachers are undergoing treatment, and 44 have already finished treatment and have been declared free of the disease, she added.

The education department has allotted P40.11 million this year for the treatment of TB among its personnel. Through its Health and Nutrition Center, the DepEd will strengthen the implementation of the Tuberculosis (TB) Prevention and Control Program for teachers and nonteaching personnel.

Santos said TB treatment takes six months. A person who has taken anti-TB medicine for two weeks is no longer contagious, she added.

In partnership with the Department of Health, DepEd will adopt the Comprehensive and Unified Policy on TB Control in the Philippines (CUPTBCP), which utilizes the Directly Observed Treatment Short Course Strategy (DOTS).

The health department will assist in providing the needs of the program while DepEd will be responsible for the integration of TB prevention messages in the school curricula. Both government agencies will be in charge of program execution, which will be supervised by DepEd regional directors and school division superintendents.

“Prevention is the best step we can take against TB,” said Education Secretary Jesli Lapus.

“Through this joint effort, we will ensure that our teachers and students are well-informed on how to prevent TB within their respective communities.”

He said components of the program include the dissemination and education on health information, health service delivery, regular monitoring of the program’s implementation and accomplishments, collaboration with Parent-Teacher-Community Associations and the solicitation of administrative support for funding and other needs.

Local governments, the private sector and parent-teacher-community associations will also be involved in creating TB awareness.

“The support of the whole community is vital in this campaign,” Lapus said. “Ensuring their well-being is essential in boosting the academic performance of our educators and pupils in our schools.”

Espma

July 25th, 2007, 02:14 AM

Paradox for Philippines as Chinese set up shop
By Roel Landingin in Manila

Published: July 24 2007 18:24 | Last updated: July 24 2007 18:24

She hardly speaks any English or Tagalog but that does not stop the white-haired grandmother from China’s southern Fujian province from running her clothes store in Divisoria, Manila’s bargain shopping centre. She has three Filipina assistants and she haggles with customers via a calculator.

Like many of the shop- owners in the “168” mall – which, in Cantonese, sounds like “prosperity all the way” – the grandmother is a recent arrival from China and part of a new wave of immigrants who have arrived in the Philippines.

The woman refuses to give her name but says she landed in Manila in 2002 from the southern city of Shishi with her son and his wife, who were escaping China’s one-child policy. The couple had a second child in the Philippines and plan to eventually return to Fujian, where the husband runs a clothing factory. Another son and his wife followed for the same reason and are awaiting the birth of their second child. The clothes store was set up to generate an income while they prepare their return to China.

The family are part of a wave of immigrants leaving China even as rapid economic growth is transforming the world’s most populous nation. Most head to the US, Canada and other rich western countries, often as illegal aliens. But each year thousands also seek to make their fortunes in a middle*-income country growing only half as fast as China.

The trend has created an immigration paradox. The Philippines, perhaps best-known in recent years for its outgoing migrants, has become a destination for immigrants in its own right.

The new Chinese arrivals are drawn by a combination of weak law enforcement and huge fortunes to be made selling cheap Chinese goods to a swelling Filipino middle class. Feeding the growth of that middle class is the one in 10 of the country’s 86m people who are working abroad and their remittances, which reached $12.8bn (€9.25bn, £6.2bn) last year and have helped to drive consumer spending and economic growth.

According to Teresita Ang-See, an expert on Chinese in the Philippines, there are 80,000-100,000 illegal or overstaying Chinese nationals in the country, roughly a tenth of the million or so ethnic Chinese living in the Philippines. The latest influx has come in part because of Manila’s move in 2005 to liberalise entry procedures for Chinese tourists and investors, a move that helped triple the number of Chinese visitors to 133,000 last year.

But their growing presence in the Philippines is resented by many Chinese-Filipinos who have worked hard to assimilate. Many local Chinese consider the recent arrivals unfair competitors in business and fret that they could stir up resentment of the existing Chinese minority.

The Chinese-language press in Manila is full of bitter exchanges between the new and old immigrants. “Although the new immigrants appear to be better educated, they are considered more uncivilised, uncouth and ill-mannered,” says Go Bon Juan, director for research at Kaisa (Unity), a group promoting links between the local Chinese and Filipinos. “Even young students in Chinese-language schools tend to dissociate themselves from classmates who are newcomers.”

The resentment is even more pronounced among businessmen, in part because the new arrivals have a “tendency to be brash and pushy in their business transactions”, says Mr Go.

Many are drawn to illicit activities such as smuggling and drugs, he says. But they also stand accused of violating the law in more benign ways. Filipino law prohibits non-citizens from retailing but the rules are openly violated by new Chinese immigrants, whereas previous generations would often simply register businesses in the name of Filipino spouses or associates.

There are also questions about how long the new migrants want to stay. Immigration officials say some recent arrivals from China are using the Philippines as a transit point for entry to western countries using fake documents. According to the Bureau of Immigration, eight in 10 of the foreign nationals now caught attempting to enter the US illegally on flights from Manila are mainland Chinese.

“The Chinese come here as legitimate tourists or investors but try to leave for the US or Canada using forged passports or visas,” says Danilo Almeda, an immigration spokesman. But “the illegal scheme hurts the Philippines’ image and makes life harder for overseas Filipinos who have to face extra scrutiny from immigration officials all over the world”, he adds.

3cr

July 26th, 2007, 07:53 AM

Bad news for 800,000 commuters: MRT 3 in dire financial straits
LALA RIMANDO, Newsbreak
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/43692/Bad-news-for-800000-commuters-MRT-3-in-dire-financial-straits

The government is scrambling to find a timely solution to avert a potential financial crisis involving the rail system.

For the sake of the 800,000 commuters of the existing rail system along Edsa, the government has to settle a financial problem it caused and is just waiting to explode. The deadline? August.

Herein lies the trouble: The government has not been paying the lease rentals on time. Roberto Lastimoso, the general manager of Metro Rail Transit Authority, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) subsidiary operating MRT 3, admitted in a radio interview that the government agency is eight months behind the lease rental payments.

Based on our computation, using the guidelines in the project agreement between the Metro Rail Transit Corporation or MRTC and DOTC, the aggregate amount of the delayed payments is in the vicinity of US$30 million or P1.4 billion.

Lastimoso added that even their maintenance payment obligations to Sumitomo Corporation’s Japanese subcontractor, Tespi Corporation, is four months behind. That would amount to something like $7 million or P335 million.

Lastimoso attributes this to the fact that they could not raise the train fare to a break-even level because of potential adverse reactions from the very price-sensitive riding public.

Bad Deal?

The current financial obligations of the government related to the 17-kilometer MRT 3, the rail system along Edsa, can either be seen as a ghost of a bad deal or an opportunity to right a mistake. Just like other major infrastructure projects that highlight the many ways a public-private partnership can go wrong, MRT 3 has its own story to tell.

MRT 3 is under a build-lease-transfer (BLT) scheme between a Filipino consortium and the DOTC, on behalf of the government.

The consortium, called the Metro Rail Transit Corporation (MRTC), included the following members: Ayala Land, Inc. of Makati’s famed Ayala family; Anglo-Philippine Holdings Corporation associated with the National Bookstore chain; Fil-Estate Management, a subsidiary of the Sobrepena family’s property and pre-need empire (now crumbling); Ramcar, Inc, battery manufacturer and exporter, of the Agustines family, and; Greenfield Development Corporation, the investment arm of pharmaceutical industry leader, United Laboratories.

The Filipino investors infused US$190 million (about P9.3 billion) in equity and raised loans worth $462 million (about P22 billion) from a group of international and local banks. The loans had the sovereign guarantee of the Philippine government.

Under this BLT scheme, MRTC built MRT 3 as the borrower and project executor while still in-charge of maintaining the system. Since MRT 3 started operating in 2000, government’s lease and its role as the operator of the rail line also commenced. When the lease expires after 25 years, the government will have full control of the project. This scheme is supposed to free the government from the intricate procedures associated with project financing.

As the lessee, the government was also supposed to pay lease rentals. But what was harshly criticized about the project were the lease payments payable during the 25-year period. The rental schedule assured MRTC of an after-tax, after-debt-service, after-expense return on their investments of 15 percent per year.

Sovereign Guarantee

Critics said this put all the business risks and the pressure to increase the usage of MRT 3 on the government since the consortium’s profits were already guaranteed.

By 2002, some members of the MRTC, such as the Sobrepenas and the Agustines of the Ramcar Group, were having financial difficulties in their other businesses, while the Ayalas eventually decided to bow out of the consortium. Thus, some of the consortium members decided to cash in, rather than wait for the government to complete all its future lease rental payments. They tapped the capital markets and packaged these future payments into a financial product called zero-coupon bonds.

In effect, the original investors who cashed in, such as the Sobrepenas and the Agustineses, passed on the “waiting time" to those who snapped the bonds. To the bondholders, the MRTC bonds are attractive because they get a hefty 15 percent profit on their money. What’s more, the receivables that back these bonds are coming from the Philippine government and have attached sovereign guarantees to them. In other words, they are supposed to be considered a “safe" investment.

What this financial exercise did was change the hierarchy of who owes whom. It used to be that the monthly lease rentals of the government were paid to the MRTC consortium. Now those in the consortium who have cashed in are out of the picture, and instead, the government’s lease rentals are paid to the bondholders as part of their regular bond coupon payments, or the equivalent of the interest earnings of, say, a time deposit in a bank.

Fare Subsidy

Recall that before MRT 3 started operations in 2000, the calculated fare that was approved was about P30 per passenger. The Estrada administration, however, decided to charge only somewhere between P9 and P15 because that’s what they thought the passengers would be able to afford.

When President Arroyo took over, her officials decided to continue subsidizing the fares. The subsidy comes from the national government budget, and needs to go through the usual time-consuming government appropriation and disbursement routes. Unlike the debt rental payments, which are covered by automatic appropriations in the national budget, the lease rentals are not.

That explains the late payments, but not why the allocated budgets are still inadequate to cover the lease rental dues even when the budget is disbursed on time. According to Philratings, the local rating agency monitoring debt instruments like the MRTC bonds, subsidy received from the national budget in 2006 was only P1.2 billion, or half the requested subsidy of P2.1 billion for that year. They expect the subsidies for 2007 will also not be enough.

In its February 2007 report, Philratings said, “The government agency is not likely to achieve a significant reduction in past due rentals without increasing national government budget subsidies to MRT operations, as fare box revenues of the MRT 3 system are not sufficient to fully pay monthly [lease rental payments]."

The budgeted subsidy itself needs to be adjusted because when the project was finalized in 1997, the going rate of the peso to the dollar was P27. Currently, even if the peso rates are stronger in the P48-level coming from previous highs of P54, the discrepancy is still too wide. All the obligations—the lease rentals, maintenance, and the debt rental—are denominated in US dollars, but the revenues from the fare box are in pesos.

With all these factors, DOTC will naturally fall behind its obligations.

Can DOF meet the deadline?

The big difference since 2002, however, is that one of the obligations, the lease rentals, is now the an obligation due to bondholders, some of whom are handled by fund managers who don’t want to upset their clients because they invested in something that could not pay on time.

So far, even if the government has been perennially late in dispensing the required monthly lease rental payments to the trustee bank, in this case, the Bank of New York, which pools all these monthly payments in time for the semi-annual coupon payments, the funds in the pool have been enough to meet the scheduled coupon payments.

However, the perennially late monthly payments underscore the possibility that there will not be adequate accumulated amounts by August 7, 2007, when the first tranche of bonds will mature. By that time there should be about US$69.2 million or P3.4 billion in the bag already, which may not be likely.

It is because of this upcoming date in August that the officials of the Department of Finance—not the DOTC—are rushing to find a way to refinance or re-package their obligations.

Meeting the August deadline is now out of the hands of the DOTC because when the bondholders decide to call the government in default of its obligations to them, it is automatic that the other foreign denominated obligations of the government will also be set in default. This will wipe out whatever goodwill or excellent payment records the Philippines has with the international capital markets.

Hostile Bondholder

But besides the capital markets, the finance department might have to face the possibility of dealing with a hostile bondholder. A Newsbreak source familiar with the details of the bond obligations said that most of the bonds are now in the hands of Elliot Associates, a financial outfit known as a “vulture fund," or one that is expert in buying distressed and cheap debt assets mostly from emerging markets. They scour all possible means, including bankruptcy laws and international litigation, to push for their target to settle with them.

Elliot is famous for having compelled the government of Peru to settle a sovereign-bond related issue after Elliot won court cases all over Europe, US and Canada.

Meantime, the option to buy out the bondholders, which was floated as early as 2005, was supposed to lessen the pressure on the government as far as meeting the rentals is concerned. If the bondholders are out of the way, then the government will not have to be concerned with the threat of a default call or go through a negotiation process with a hostile vulture fund.

Recently, too, the Philippine’s good reputation in the international capital markets has been highlighted in media to push the option of borrowing to fund the buy-out. Why not take advantage of the cheap interest rates, observers say. After all, the government can borrow funds from the capital markets way below the 15 percent cost of the bonds.

Buy Out Bondholders?

But these are not without flaws. The option of buying out the bondholders just relieves the government of the fact that the MRT 3 is not profitable and will still keep on bleeding the national government’s coffers with annual subsidies.

Newsbreak asked Finance Secretary Margarito Teves about the MRTC bonds but he prefers not to give out details. “We will are still talking to the justice department so we will know what should be our parameters if we restructure the contract or seek appropriation from Congress [to finance the buy-out.]"

Restructuring the contract may mean the bondholders will have to take a cut, or the government will have to find a new partner that will consent to lower profits.

How the finance department will balance everybody’s interest is worth watching.

raf

July 27th, 2007, 08:13 AM

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view_article.php?article_id=78971

this is a very bad signal, and worse things to come, seemingly.

3cr

July 27th, 2007, 08:17 AM

Drought, blackouts loom
By Donnabelle Gatdula and Paolo Romero
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20070725160

More rotating blackouts lasting for two hours or more loom as soaring temperatures continue to push power demand and gnaw on the limited supply of water, coal and other fuels for power plants.

Yesterday, four- to five-hour blackouts hit Metro Manila and nearby provinces as major power stations failed to cope with a sudden surge in demand.

The blackout yesterday came three months after a similar unexpected spike in demand triggered a massive power outage in Metro Manila and a large portion of Northern Luzon.

The situation may worsen as early as next week if the delivery of coal from China fails to arrive as scheduled or if the water level at dams that feed hydropower plants remains at critically low level.

As of 1 p.m. yesterday, blackouts covered large areas of Pasig, Mandaluyong, Quezon City and Makati in Metro Manila, as well as large areas in Cavite, Bulacan and Laguna.

The power supply cutback from the National Power Corp. prompted the selective power rationing by the Manila Electric Co. yesterday.

The power shortfall was estimated at 466 megawatts and that rotating blackouts were implemented as early as 8:45 a.m. “to address this deficit and to maintain system balance,” a statement from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market read.

It was learned that National Power Corp. had to divert one panamax shipment of Newlands Australian coal to the 1,200-megawatt Sual plant in Pangasinan from the 600-megawatt Masinloc coal-fired power facility last July 23 to avert a two-day blackout that could have started an hour before President Arroyo’s State of the Nation Address.

Napocor’s System Operator revealed that it had issued a “red alert” status hours before the President’s SONA due to the low coal inventory at Sual.

Coal supplier Glencore Far East Philippines AG, reports said, reluctantly diverted the coal shipment when Napocor invoked “national interest.”

Napocor, in a statement, said the situation would normalize as “additional capacities” from coal and oil-fired plants arrive and as cloud seeding continues.

“The rains are not coming in as expected, causing low inflows of water into the dams that provide fuel to hydropower plants such as Angat, Magat, Pantabangan, San Roque and Binga,” National Power President Cyril del Callar said.

“If you will notice during the afternoons for the past two weeks, rains have been falling in Metro Manila, causing our temperature to decrease. The rains are due to our cloud seeding operations, and we will continue doing this as long as it is required,” Del Callar added.

He said that the National Disaster Coordinating Council or NDCC, on Mrs. Arroyo’s orders, would provide two more aircraft for cloud seeding to Napocor.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) for its part expressed alarm over the extended dry season.

The prolonged dry spell has left Napocor’s hydropower plants at Magat, Pantabangan, San Roque, and Binga critically short of water supply.

“The situation is really quite alarming,” said Pagasa deputy director for research and development Dr. Nathaniel Servando, during a climate forum at the Pagasa main office in Quezon City.

Servando said that aside from Metro Manila, “below normal rainfall” was also reported in Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Apayao, Mountain Province, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Nueva Vizcaya, Cavite, and Agusan del Norte. In June, Bataan, Pampanga and Zambales and Metro Manila received below normal rainfall.

He said areas with “below normal” rains for three consecutive months could be declared under drought condition.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Soils and Water Management of the Department of Agriculture said it is conducting its own cloud seeding operations to increase Angat Dam’s water level.

Leilanie Naga, BSWM cloud seeding officer, said Napocor and the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System have sought her agency’s help in inducing rains over Angat Dam, which supplies 97 percent of the water needs of Metro Manila and most of the farms in Central Luzon.

But Rodolfo German, the general manager of the Angat River Hydro Electric Power Plant of Napocor, said the cloud seeding operations have hardly improved the dam’s water level.

Angat’s water level continued to drop from 173.73 meters on Monday to 173.10 meters yesterday.

German said the 245-megawatt power plant was able to generate only 70MW on Tuesday.

Weather specialist Rusy Abastillas, however, said nine to 12 tropical cyclones might enter the Philippine area of responsibility beginning next month up to December, with the fourth quarter’s cyclones mostly induced by the northeast monsoon or amihan.

Palace steps in

President Arroyo has directed disaster and security officials to implement emergency measures to counteract the effects of the erratic climate.

Mrs. Arroyo gave the instruction at an emergency briefing after the “National Multi-Stakeholders’ Dialogue on Disaster Risk Reduction” at the New World Renaissance Hotel in Makati City. Mrs. Arroyo also urged the public to pitch in by conserving water and power as well as protecting the environment.

“We need everybody to conserve water to mitigate this disturbance,” she said after a briefing from Science Undersecretary Graciano Yumul, officials of the National Disaster Coordination Council, and National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales.

Yumul warned of a water crisis in Luzon in the coming weeks if rains do not come.

“We declared May as the start of the rainy season, but from June to July we have not been having the normal amount of rainfall. It’s more like summer,” Yumul said.

“During this time, it is supposedly raining in Bicol and dry in Mindanao, but because of the abnormal weather condition, it’s the other way around,” he said, adding that satellite images of Metro Manila have shown summer-like conditions.

He said the effects of the lack of rain in the past weeks have already taken their toll on the nation, including declining agricultural productivity and the rising incidence of “red tide” in Lingayen, Pangasinan and in the Bicol region. The red tide is expected to invade Manila Bay anytime soon, he said.

He also told Mrs. Arroyo of the increased threats of bush and urban fires as well as surge in health concerns, including asthma.

“If this worsens into a drought, it would be the first time that we would be experiencing El Niño like-conditions in a period in which we expect the La Niña,” he said at the briefing.

El Niño is a climate aberration characterized by a long dry spell. La Niña, on the other hand, is marked by a prolonged rainy season.

The President also instructed Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap to initiate the planting of crops that require less water.

She also asked the NDCC to launch an information drive on the need to conserve water, and directed Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno to undertake fire prevention measures, including the removal of fire hazards.

Geothermal plant turnover

The California Energy (CalEn) turned over yesterday the operations of three geothermal power plants in Ormoc, Leyte to the Philippine National Oil Corp. (PNOC). The turnover is required under the build-operate-transfer (BOT) scheme between the government and CalEn in 1997.

Mike Pierce, manager of the Malitbog plant, said the facility is in good condition after 10 years and is comparable to the best in the world. Malitbog, one of the three plants, is the world’s biggest geothermal facility. The two other plants are the Mahanagdong A and B.

Malitbog has a 232MW capacity while the two other plants have a combined 180MW capacity.

Pierce expressed gratitude to plant workers who, he said, “exhibited selfless dedication to their jobs for the past 10 years.”

In the turnover ceremony in Barangay Milagro in Ormoc, Leyte Vice Gov. Mimietta Bagulaya representing Gov. Jericho Petilla said that geothermal energy does not only help the local economy but enhances the national economy as well.

PNOC VP-for Energy Sector Danilo Catitig said the BOT project has earned Leyte worldwide acclaim as the largest wet steam field. PNOC will absorb the plants’ 82 personnel as a result of the turnover.

______________________________

Drought seen lasting until end of the year
Malaya
http://www.malaya.com.ph/jul27/news2.htm

WEATHER bureau officials yesterday said the low level of rainfall in the last two months is "alarming" as it warned that the dry spell could last until the end of the year.

Dr. Prisco Nilo, Pagasa deputy director for operations and services, said only two typhoons entered the Philippine area of responsibility from January to July, much lower than the expected eight typhoons.

He blamed the low level of rainfall on the high pressure area over Luzon that prevents cloud formation and rainfall.

A high pressure area, a type of weather system where there is downward motion of air, prevents water vapor to be carried upward for condensation to occur and clouds to develop.

Nilo said the high pressure area also causes the inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ), which should have been located north of Luzon at this point, to be unusually "displaced to the south," preventing the ITCZ to move upward to Luzon.

The ITCZ appears as a band of clouds, usually thunderstorms that circle the globe near the equator and is responsible for the wet and dry seasons in the tropics.

Because of this, according to Nilo, the rainfall levels both in June and July are lower by 40 percent than what was expected.

"In August, the forecast is that some areas will still have deficiency in rainfall by 20 to 40 percent," Nilo said.

Pagasa director Martin Rellin said possible scenarios include:

1. The dry spell will persist only until the third quarter of this year, with the rains coming in the last quarter.

2. The rising sea surface temperature over the Pacific Ocean will develop into La Niña in September and October, making rainfall conditions to be near normal to above normal over most areas in the Philippines.

But Rellin said the worst-case scenario is that the developing drought could last until the end of this year.

He said practically all the six dams being monitored by Pagasa, namely Angat, San Roque, Binga, Ambuklao, Magat and Pantabangan, have water levels that are below normal.

The water level at Angat dam, the main source of Metro Manila’s water, last Wednesday was at 173 meters, seven meters below the critical level of 180 meters.

Susan Espinueva, head of flood forecasting and warning section, said that at present, Angat dam has lost 30 percent of its capacity to supply water for domestic use, irrigation and power generation.

She said if the rainfall levels will still be lower by 40 percent than what is expected this month, Pagasa will declare a drought.

Weather specialist Rene Molino said two low pressure areas will bring rains over certain portions of the country.

He said there is already a low pressure area over Northern Luzon while another is expected to develop east of Mindanao next Monday.

But Nilo said the rains from the two low pressure areas will not be substantial.

The National Disaster Coordinating Council has embarked on an information drive on the possible drought with focus in Luzon where the average rainfall was recorded below 40 percent.

"We are feeling the dry spell in Region 1, Region 2, Region 3, parts of Region 4, and parts of Region 5 and CAR (Cordillera Administrative Region). These are the areas we are going to watch," said Dr. Anthony Golez, NDCC spokesman and Office of the Civil Defense deputy administrator.

Golez said the NDCC will also launch an information drive in Metro Manila on conserving water and electricity.

"The information drive includes: if you are using three pails in your bathing, it may be possible to just use one," he said.

"We are having water conservation measures… we also have to go in water recycling, we have to come up with the rehabilitation of our deep wells and water harvesting facilities, those are important," Golez also said.

"We can say that this is drought if by August the rainfall is still below normal. So by September, Pagasa can already inform us that we are entering that stage," he said.

Golez said the impending drought is due to global warming and climate change. "All of this is incorporated with what the other countries are also experiencing," he said.

3cr

July 27th, 2007, 08:28 AM

Napocor seeks another emergency purchase
By Donnabelle Gatdula
PhilStar
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20070726200

As the country faces another energy crisis, the National Power Corp. is scrambling to buy nearly P21 billion worth of diesel and fuel oil next month for its plants and power barges.

An invitation to bid published in The STAR showed that Napocor was looking for a supplier of fuel oil for its power stations and barges from August to December this year.

It was not clear if Napocor still has enough fuel to run its oil-based plants until the delivery of the purchased fuel.

At Malacañang, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye defended Napocor’s planned P21-billion fuel purchase. He said that President Arroyo, in her State of the Nation Address on Monday, “mentioned the use of power barges as interim solution to the expected power shortage in the Visayas.”

The pre-bid conference, according to the paid announcement, will only be held on Aug. 3 and the bidding process will be on Aug. 15.

Napocor has been criticized for its failure to anticipate the delay in coal shipments to one of its independent power producers, which apparently was one of the factors that triggered the rotating blackouts last Wednesday.

The power firm said the sudden rise in demand last Wednesday overstretched the capacities of many of its plants, prompting it to cut power supply to distributors, particularly the Manila Electric Co.

Napocor also blamed the low water level at major dams for the underperformance of its hydroelectric plants.

A similar massive power outage last April in Metro Manila and some parts of Luzon had also been blamed by Napocor on the sudden spike in power demand.

Sources said fuel supply problems might recur if Napocor fails to improve its procurement processes.

For its part, Napocor said the power situation in the Luzon grid has returned to normal, even as it reiterated its appeal to the public to save water and energy.

Data from Napocor’s Power Economics Department show that the Luzon grid will have an available capacity of 6,397 megawatts (MW) in the morning, more than enough to supply the projected morning peak demand of 6,000 MW.

In the afternoon, the total available capacity is expected to go up to 6,642 MW, as against the expected afternoon peak of 6,300 MW.

Given such a supply-demand scenario, Luzon will have power reserves of 397 MW in the morning and 342 MW in the afternoon. In the evening, reserves are expected to be even higher at 607 MW. This means that the Luzon grid will have a buffer supply of 300-600 MW after the system’s entire electricity demand has been served.

No manual load dropping has been scheduled for today, but Napocor remains on heightened alert.

Despite what it considers an improving power situation, Napocor said the public should not abandon energy conservation measures.

Napocor advised power consumers to do “power-intensive” chores like ironing clothes and doing the laundry using the washing machine during the so-called “off-peak” hours or early morning or late afternoon.

Electrical appliances that are not in use should be unplugged, Napocor added. Electric fans and stoves should be kept clean and well-maintained, while refrigerators should be defrosted regularly to keep them running efficiently, Napocor said.

____________________

Population growth straining resources
2.36% expansion deemed ‘explosive’
BY REINIR PADUA
Malaya
http://www.malaya.com.ph/jul27/news1.htm

THE National Statistics Office yesterday said the population growth rate of 2.36 percent could be considered as "explosive" for a small country like the Philippines.

This growth rate during the period from 1995 to 2000 was based on the last population census in 2000 which placed the population at 76.5 million as of May 1, 2000.

According to the NSO projection based on the 2000 census, the population will grow to 88.7 million this year.

The NSO made the statement at the launching of the population census to be undertaken in August.

The 2007 census is targeted for release in February next year.

NSO administrator Carmelita Ericta said if the 2007 census report will show the same growth rate, "the government needs to step up efforts to support the population."

Dr. Socorro Abejo, officer-in-charge of NSO’s Household Statistics Department, said that based on a "demographic point of view," the support given by the government cannot cope with population growth.

"If the government’s ability to support the population does not cope with population growth, the economic conditions of the families will be affected," she said.

She noted that neighboring countries like Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, and Thailand have "much lower population growth rates," or below 2 percent.

With a budget of P1.6 billion, this year’s census will involve 37,000 NSO-trained census takers, more than 7,000 team supervisors and almost 2,000 census area supervisors.

Ericta said the census includes not just demographic characteristics but also data on socio-economic conditions like education and occupation of residents, on housing and even temporary relocation sites, and on barangays.

She said data gathering will be done through interviews or self-administered questionnaires.

Ericta said updated information on the size of the population will give government planners, policy makers and administrator data on which to base their social and economic development plans and programs.

She said it also serves as for basis for Internal Revenue Allotment for the local government units; apportionment of congressional seats for the legislative branch; creation of new LGUs; and upgrading of an LGU.

It is also being used by businesses and industries in feasibility studies for existing and planned products and services.

Louman

July 28th, 2007, 05:50 AM

tigidig14

July 28th, 2007, 06:17 AM

^thats old news, yeah they know that type of stories since the 80s

red_jasper

July 30th, 2007, 01:56 PM

THIS IS A HORRIBLE CRIME COMMITTED AGAINST OUR KABABAYANS!

kevinb

July 31st, 2007, 11:14 AM

RP needs to grow at China's pace to become first-world in 20 years (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/53601/RP-needs-to-grow-at-Chinas-pace-to-become-first-world-in-20-yrs)

CHERYL ARCIBAL, GMANews.TV
07/31/2007 | 03:32 PM

The Philippines will need to grow at the same pace as China's economy in order to achieve first world status in 20 years, as envisioned by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the Asian Development Bank said Tuesday.

"The Philippines should emulate China by posting 9.5 percent growth continuously for 25 years. Maybe then, it would become a first world country," ADB chief economist Ifzal Ali said.

The Philippine government has a gross domestic product growth target of between 6.1 percent and 6.7 percent for 2007, and between 6.1 percent and 6.8 percent for 2008.

According to the preliminary report of the "A Snapshot of Asia in 2005: Purchasing Power Parity", the Philippines, at 16,663 Hong Kong dollars, falls just below the regional average of 20,545 Hong Kong dollars in per capita GDP in 2005.

The ADB said that there is a strong correlation between high levels of GDP per capita and high living standards.

Citing the Purchasing Power Parity in 2005 in Asia, Ali said the Philippines will need 77 years at a per capita gross domestic product 3.7-percent average growth rate to approximate the economic well-being of Brunei.

Ali said the country will need 23 years to catch up with Thailand's living standards.

Purchasing Power Parity is an idea popularized by The Economist's Big Mac Index which prices hamburgers in global cities for a quick and crude comparison of living standards. - GMANews.TV

Much worse news. :ohno:

heathcliff

July 31st, 2007, 11:40 AM

WEATHER bureau officials yesterday said the low level of rainfall in the last two months is "alarming" as it warned that the dry spell could last until the end of the year.

According to the Office of the Civil Defense, rains are expected to come within two weeks, contrary to this earlier report that the dry spell will continue until the end of the year.

The government is already implementing cloud seeding to mitigate the impact of the dry spell. It is increasing the number of aircrafts conducting sorties over Angat Dam and other parts of Luzon.

Rolls-Royce

July 31st, 2007, 12:29 PM

I found this at a political blog. This sounds bad but it doesn't sound like it's the first time it has happened. Apparently, Filipino workers were tricked into working on building the American embassy in Baghdad. They thought they were going to get work in Dubai at some five star hotel.

evRPwwyno_c

I hope our government hears about this!

51 Filipinos who are supposed to be working in Dubai and many of them did not speak any English? This is something that we have to worry about as well. Given the fact that he was on the same plane as those Filipinos, we must be dreaming that we are an English-speaking country then. I hope he's just wrong otherwise, we are just so full of rhetorics when we say we are an English-speaking nation. This should be a wake up call for all of us.

crappypants

July 31st, 2007, 07:49 PM

DoggMann

July 31st, 2007, 08:53 PM

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view_article.php?article_id=79839

‘Big-time graft on the rise’

Watchdog blames gov’t air of secrecy
By Kristine L. Alave
Inquirer
Last updated 02:01am (Mla time) 08/01/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- The shroud of secrecy surrounding high-level government contracts has led to the rise of “grander” and more lucrative corrupt practices in the Arroyo administration, anticorruption crusaders said Tuesday.

But red tape and petty corruption, such as bribery, have decreased because of the anti-red tape executive order issued by Malacañang last year, Vincent Lazatin, executive director of Transparency and Accountability Network (TAN), said.

The executive order reduced transaction fees and trimmed bureaucratic dealings in several frontline agencies.

“Bribery is going down. But the grand or bigger types of corruption are on the rise,” said Segundo Romero, a senior fellow at the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), which presented Tuesday corruption prevention studies under its Corruption Prevention Action Project.

The observation tends to support foreign businessmen’s perception of corruption in the country’s public sector.

Asked early this year by the Hong Kong-based Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC) to assess the corruption problem in the public sector, the businessmen gave an average score of nine. In the PERC grading system, zero is the best possible score and 10 the worst.

A survey conducted by Social Weather Stations from March 4 to May 11 also found that the scale of corruption in the government remained high.

Lazatin said it was becoming more difficult for watchdog groups to get information and gain access to documents in the Arroyo administration.

“It’s much, much harder. I think there is a decrease in transparency and good governance,” Lazatin said in an interview at the DAP presentation.

Departments in the Arroyo administration have been stingy about releasing documents and information of public interest, he said.

Contracts with Japan, China

Lazatin cited the government’s refusal to disclose the documents and papers on the controversial Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement and the more recent $330-million broadband contract between the Philippine government and the Chinese telecommunication firm, ZTE Corp.

It’s also harder to obtain statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) of government officials and politicians, and some agencies have resorted to dilatory tactics, Lazatin said.

Lazatin’s group has asked the Office of the Ombudsman to release the SALN of Commission on Elections Chair Benjamin Abalos Sr. but the agency still has not acted on the request despite several calls, he said.

Lazatin and Romero said the atmosphere of confidentiality was breeding bigger types of corruption, such as kleptocracy, plunder and cronyism.

All the secrecy gives high-level government officials more chances to funnel wealth from the public coffers and undermines efforts at the bureaucratic level to eradicate corruption, Lazatin said.

‘Mother of all corruption’

Romero noted that the May elections also contributed to the rise of the more lucrative corruption practices.

“Elections are the mother of all corruption. You have guns, goons and gold. And ‘Hello Garci,”’ Romero said, the last referring to the taped conversations between Ms Arroyo and former Election Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano supposedly to rig the 2004 presidential election.

The studies presented in the first batch of the DAP anticorruption course focused on the “glitches” in the system.

These problems may be small and “undramatic,” but if accumulated over time, these little things translate to tremendous losses for the government, officials said.

Romero said the 12 studies on various flaws made by the students -- all career officials at several agencies -- would be implemented in their respective departments.

In a study by Eden Caluya, it was revealed that the Department of Public Works and Highways was losing millions of pesos on car rentals for foreign-funded infrastructure projects.

High-end vehicles

Because foreign-funded works are exempt from the cap set by the Department of Budget and Management and there is no clear departmental guideline on car rentals, it has become a practice in the DPWH to rent high-end vehicles instead of the cheaper and more appropriate pickup trucks for construction projects, Caluya said.

“Elimination of corruption vulnerabilities even in the smallest activities should be addressed and not taken for granted because these small areas, with their rate of recurrence, can make a big difference and/or create a great impact,” Caluya said.

Bureau of Customs

Another study at the Bureau of Customs (BOC) demanded changes in the control procedures and inventory of accountable forms.

Marinel Nario, the BOC employee who made the study, noted that such forms were overlooked and that there were “significant weaknesses” in the requisition, issuance, reporting and monitoring of the forms, which are collected for the BOC’s financial statements.

As a result, there is “wastage and inefficient use of government funds.”

The lack of controls can also lead to the unauthorized use of the forms, Nario said.

Louman

August 1st, 2007, 04:24 AM

51 Filipinos who are supposed to be working in Dubai and many of them did not speak any English? This is something that we have to worry about as well. Given the fact that he was on the same plane as those Filipinos, we must be dreaming that we are an English-speaking country then. I hope he's just wrong otherwise, we are just so full of rhetorics when we say we are an English-speaking nation. This should be a wake up call for all of us.

If you watch wowowee, usually the poorer the contestant is, the less likely they will have good English. Sounds like these kidnapped workers were from the poorer regions of the country where desperation for jobs has allowed this to happen.

red_jasper

August 1st, 2007, 04:26 AM

3cr

August 1st, 2007, 09:58 AM

Energy prices in spot market seen to jack up electricity bills
By Euan Paulo C. Añonuevo Reporter
Manila Times
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/aug/01/yehey/business/20070801bus1.html

CONSUMERS should brace for higher electricity bills in the coming months, as the price of energy sold at the country’s spot market has been shooting up in recent sessions, according to market operator, the Philippine Electricity Market Corp. (PEMC).

“Basically what happened in the past few days is that it took out the coal, so we started clearing oil—so Malaya, Limay—we’re clearing. So the prices went up to almost P10 or more than P10 for that period,” Lasse Matti A. Holopainen, PEMC president, said.

Holopainen is referring to the rising share of the more expensive oil-based energy traded at the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), as state-owned National Power Corp. (Napo-cor) began dispatching the crude oil-based power plants to make up for the failure of coal-fed and hydroelectric facilities to generate at full capacity.

The use of costlier oil-based plants to generate the country’s power requirements is due to poor rainfall, which has prevented hydro plants from running at full capacity. Hydro plants usually run at full capacity at this time of the year given the rainy season. Rainfall so far, however, has been below the levels seen in the past.

Besides hydroelectric plants, the country normally taps coal-fed generating facilities, but these have failed to run at full capacity because coal deliveries have been delayed. The delivery delays and the below-capacity generation of hydro plants led to eight-hour rotating brownouts across the Luzon grid last week.

Although the prices of electricity in the spot market have been volatile the past month, the recent power interruptions only exacerbated the situation, pushing prices further up, Holopainen said.

Since last summer, when the country faced similar power troubles, PEMC has been seeing pricing error notices at the spot market. A pricing error means it is unsure if there is going to be enough electricity or not, as nobody’s bidding at the market.

“We just told the Department of Energy and the Energy Regulatory Commission about the pricing error notices, but right now I guess they were more concerned about the actual physical security rather than price. But again it’s a precursor and you can use the market to start seeing these things,” he said.

PEMC’s market surveillance committee is already looking into the pricing errors to determine whether they were caused by a “capacity withholding issue.”

“But again if it’s [a] fuel sourcing issue, again I think that is national in terms of security of supply is primary and it’s not even the economic policy. But again, that’s beyond the market, that’s more of system security and policy issue as to how much fuel should be stocked up,” Holoainen said.

Although beyond the scope of PEMC’s responsibility, he said there is still a need to ensure that fuel supplies in the country’s other power plants are adequate to prevent a repeat of last week’s outage.

“Forget about the price of power for the meantime. We have to talk about getting power to the household everyday, which is more important than the market and than the price,” he said.

___________________________

A lot of catching up to do for RP
BY BERNARDETTE S. STO. DOMINGO
Business World
http://www.bworld.com.ph/content.php?id=003

Poor Filipinos are unlikely to experience prosperity in the next 20 or even 70 years if the Philippines continues to grow at an annual rate of less than 6%, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) yesterday said.
The ADB said the country still has a long way to go to catch up with progressive Asia-Pacific countries such as Brunei, Singapore, and Taiwan; and China’s special administrative regions of Macau and Hong Kong.

The Philippines, it stressed, is among the smallest and poorest economies in the Asia-Pacific. The ADB report runs counter to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s bid to make the Philippines a First World country in 20 years.

"For the Philippines to achieve First World state, it needs to emulate China and grow at extraordinary growth rates for the next 25 years in a row. By then, we can start thinking of the Philippines becoming a first-world country," ADB chief economist Ifzal Ali said.

The ADB yesterday released preliminary results of the International Comparison Program in Asia and the Pacific: Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) study, which compared the economic well-being and living standards of 22 economies in 2005.

It used the Hong Kong dollar as the reference currency.

In terms of divergence between rich and poor countries, the Philippines ranked 14th out of 22 with a per capita real gross domestic product (GDP) of HK$16,663, below the regional average of HK$20,545.

Estimates were also done using assumed growth rates and how long it would take some countries to reach certain levels of per capita real GDP.

In the case of the Philippines, the ADB said it would take about 23 years for the country to reach Thailand’s present per capita real GDP level and 77 years to reach Brunei if it grows at an average annual per capita rate of 3.7%.

The People’s Republic of China, meanwhile, needs only 16 years to reach the HK$100,000 per capita real GDP level but nearly 30 years to catch up with Brunei, based on an annual per capita growth rate of 9.2%. India needs more than 30 years to come up to the HK$100,000 per capita real GDP level, and almost 50 years to match Brunei’s per capita real GDP if it continues to grow at an annual per capita rate of 6.5%.

The Philippines ranked 13th when economies were compared based on actual final consumption of households - comprising what they purchase and what they are supplied for individual use by the government (principally education and health).

The five economies that topped the list were Hong Kong (HK$125,303 per capita); Taipei (HK$109,108); Singapore (HK $99,706), Brunei Darussalam (HK$81,744), and Macau (HK$67,639). Nepal, Bangladesh, Lao PDR, Cambodia, and Vietnam were at the bottom.

Based on the price level index, which is the ratio of PPP to the exchange rate, Fiji Islands and Hong Kong were the two costliest places to live in, followed by Macao , Singapore, and Taipei. China ranked eighth and India was 16th. Price levels in the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia were very similar and were close to the Asian average.

The cheapest places were Lao PDR, Vietnam, Iran, Cambodia, and Nepal.

Mr. Ali said the report provides a snapshot of what Asia looked like in 2005 as well as a benchmark to compare how things will move until the next study is published.

Victor Abola, University of Asia and the Pacific economist, said the study may have used a relatively high computation.

"They were assuming a GDP of less than 6% or less; well, that’s their assumption. If the Philippines is entering into different growth path now, then it will be shorter than that," he said.

Economist Ernesto M. Pernia of the University of the Philippines said the ADB’s assumption was a possible scenario based on historical data, adding the country has been growing at an average growth rate of only 4% to 4.5% over the past 10 to 15 years.

"Clearly the area of investment is the number one priority in terms of speeding up economic growth to achieve a higher economic status. Investment is critical as well as good governance. Population growth rate also need to be addressed; those are the critical areas," he said.

heathcliff

August 1st, 2007, 10:19 AM

the world bank, adb has always been biased againts the PHils.
they never really have good predictions for our country. their gdp forecasts are always lower . we have been stigmatized by our own fault .
Anyway let's not get discouraged by the daunting task, if they can catch up and overtake us in two decades ,i'm sure we can also if the will is there.
life is a cycle. who knows what can happen. what's more important is we concentrate on the task ahead.

You know what, the ADB and other institutions have also predicted that the Philippines would end up like Argentina, reneging on its debts. That prediction has not come true, and in fact our little president has gotten us out of the quagmire by instituting tax reforms even at the cost of public disapproval. It was not too long ago that Financial Times has been lauding OUR success story. This after decades of the Philippines being the butt of an old joke ("the country of the future - and always will be"). With the right person at the helm, we will prove the pessimists wrong again and again.

3cr

August 1st, 2007, 10:57 AM

Poverty level in RP remains high, says IMF’s De Rato
By Iris C. Gonzales
PhilStar
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Business&p=49&type=2&sec=27&aid=2007073167

Poverty in the Philippines remains stubbornly high despite the promises of globalization, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) yesterday said in a speech before the business community.

IMF managing director Rodrigo de Rato, who is in the Philippines for a visit, said that emerging and developing countries like the Philippines have not fully felt the benefits of globalization and are instead experiencing inequality.

“In both emerging and developing economies, absolute poverty remains stubbornly high. The National Statistical Coordination Board estimated that 30 percent of people still lived in poverty in the Philippines in 2003,” De Rato said, adding that these realities are leading people to question the benefits of globalization.

Nevertheless, he cited the government’s efforts to address inequality.

“In several of these areas, the Philippines is leading the way. The government and central bank have steadfastly pursued sound macroeconomic policies and leaders in the Philippines are acting with imagination and innovation to improve the position of the Philippines’ poorest citizens,” De Rato said.

He urged countries including the Philippines to make sure that the fruits of growth are widely shared and that the poorest people are protected from the costs of adjustment.

He also urged the government to increase investment in education and technology and in infrastructure.

“Governments can take direct aim at inequality by replacing non-targeted tax exemptions and subsidies, for example for petroleum products and electricity, with targeted social assistance,” De Rato said.

The IMF expects the Philippine economy to grow by close to six percent this year and in 2008, lower than the government’s official projections.

The multilateral lender said the government needs to step up its tax collection efficiency and raise more revenues in order for the economy to grow.

The IMF’s projection is lower than the government’s gross domestic product growth forecast of 6.1 to 6.7 percent for 2007 and 6.2 to 6.8 percent next year.

“We expect the Philippines to grow at rates close to six percent in 2007 and 2008, and growth in the ASEAN-5 (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) together – Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam to average about the same in each year,” de Rato said.

The IMF took into account risks that the Philippines and the rest of Asia are facing. It said that while the economic prospects for Asia including the Philippines are generally good, there are risks from a dramatic rise in private equity buy-outs and threats posed by financial globalization.

De Rato said that the situation in the global oil market, the potential instability from capital inflows and the danger against a backlash against globalization pose threats to growth.

“There are considerable vulnerabilities on the supply side, with respect to both production and refining, and a supply shock could be much more damaging to global growth,” the IMF chief said on the global oil market.

With respect to the risks from financial globalization, De Rato said not many countries realize such dangers.

“There are also risks associated with financial globalization, and I am concerned that these are still not fully appreciated.

Rato said the trouble in the US sub-prime housing market was an example of such risks and called for a fresh look at lenders’ underwriting standards and more borrower education.

De Rato also pointed out the backlash of globalization and that gains associated with it have been distributed quite unequally.

Speaking later to reporters, De Rato said that on the fiscal side, the government needs to improve tax collection efficiency if it wants to achieve its goal of balancing the budget by 2008.

“More work needs to be done if the authorities are going to realize and materialize their fiscal plan. There is a need to raise more revenues and step up tax collection efficiency,” he said.

On the monetary side, the IMF executive said the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has been very successfully in containing inflation despite external shocks.

At the same time, he urged monetary authorities to continue strengthening the banking sector by encouraging more mergers and consolidation in the industry.

flesh_is_weak

August 1st, 2007, 12:57 PM

watching the news on TV felt like being in an end-of-the-world Hollywood film...disaster, disaster, and more disaster...tornadoes, hailstorms, a volcano gone berserk, climate change, and pigs dropping down dead...all in our backyard...

3cr

August 6th, 2007, 05:46 AM

‘RP running out of hospitals’
By Mayen Jaymalin
Monday, August 6, 2007
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20070805128

The number of hospitals in the country has dropped by 55 percent in the last 20 years, the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) said yesterday.

“Based on a survey conducted by the PMA, instead of increasing, the number of hospitals, both private and public, dropped from a total of 2,000 in 1987 to only 890 at this time,” said Dr. Santiago del Rosario of the PMA committee on legislation.

The Department of Health (DOH), however, disputed the PMA’s claim, insisting there had been no significant drop in the number of hospitals in the past years.

Del Rosario said the number of hospitals may dropfurther in the coming years with a new government policy that prevents private hospitals from “detaining” patients until they settle their hospitalization bills.

He said if the policy continues, “more hospitals will go bankrupt and close down and it’s a bigger problem for the Filipino people.”

According to Del Rosario, the country is facing a shortage of medical professionals because they prefer to work abroad. A more serious problem would be a crisis in public health care, he said.

“The country is now experiencing a deteriorating health situation which could lead to a health crisis if not properly addressed,” Del Rosario said.

Del Rosario said the PMA is calling on the national government to address not only the high cost of medicines but also the insufficient funding for health care.

PMA has also submitted to Malacañang and Congress a proposed “system of payment” that would enable poor patients to pay their hospital bills and prevent closure of more hospitals in the country.

“It’s an opportunity for our lawmakers to help our indigent patients and help solve the looming health crisis by looking into the possible enactment of a law on repayment system,” Del Rosario said.

Earlier, the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) advised mothers about to give birth to go to other hospitals as its facilities are now overburdened by a sudden increase in the number of babies born with complications.

PGH spokesman Michael Tee said hospital management has decided to limit admission after observing a significant rise in the number of newborns born with complications and thus needing confinement in its nursery.

But lawyer Nick Lutero, director of the DOH’s bureau of licensing and regulation, said there is no truth to the claim of the PMA that a significant number of medical facilities were forced to close down due to bankruptcy.

“The number (of operating hospitals) may be fluctuating because of the changes in the categories but there is no truth to the report of over 50 percent drop in the number of hospitals in the country,” Lutero told The STAR in an interview.

“If there were hospitals that have closed down, there were also new hospitals that have been opened up for the past 20 years,” Lucero said. “We are the ones licensing the new hospitals, so we have the more accurate reflection of the health situation in the country.”

Lutero said he could not immediately provide the exact figure of licensed hospitals nationwide but he is sure that the number has remained almost the same compared to 20 years ago.

Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya said Saturday that in the proposed 2008 General Appropriations Act, P15 billion is allocated for the Department of Health (DOH).

According to Andaya, the 2008 budget of the DOH is P2.7 billion bigger than its 2007 budget, a proof of the government’s pledge to make the health sector a major recipient of its social payback program.

The planned 22 percent hike in the budget of the health department puts it next to the Department of Science and Technology, whose 2008 budget will be hiked by 51 percent, in the list of agencies getting the largest budgetary increase next year.

3cr

August 6th, 2007, 06:58 AM

YouTube a new vehicle for NPA propaganda
By Ike Suarez, Tech Times Contributor
Manila Times
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/aug/06/yehey/techtimes/20070806tech1.html

YouTube, the online video forum, accessible to anyone in the world with Internet broadband connectivity, now appears to be a new guerrilla front for the New People’s Army in its 38-year insurgency to overthrow the Philippine government and establish a Stalinist society in the country.

An examination of this online video portal shows that the National Democratic Front has uploaded a number of propaganda videos into it with a view to rebut the charge they are a terrorist group as classified by the United States State Department.

The videos appear professionally done with the composition of the camera shots, their sequencing, and voiceovers produced by crews familiar with television work and broadcast news. A group calling itself ISNYP Media, which claims to be an official propaganda arm of the National Democratic Front, has produced them.

The videos have been uploaded by ISNYP Media itself or by a certain Jake25 whose commentaries in the feedback section give the impression he is an official NPA propagandist or at least a rabid sympathizer.

The videos also offer a subscribe button for online viewers interested to regularly receive online feeds from the National Democratic Front.

An examination of the commentary sections show that the videos have elicited passionate reactions for and against these videos with Jake25 often taking the cudgels for the Maoist rebels.

An example would be the series of online videos showing the capture of a Philippine Army 1st lieutenant and a private first class and their subsequent release in March and August 2004, respectively. The Philippine Army junior officer and enlisted man were captured in an encounter in Barangay Bataan and Tinamba, Camarines Sur.

The voice-over has been done by a propagandist of the Romulo Jallores Command of the New People’s Army who has identified herself as Luisa. Though her face is not shown in the videos, she narrates events in Filipino with a well-modulated voice typical of television reporters in the Philippines.

The scripts for the voice-over have also been written in line with standard formats for television newscasts and documentaries.

Stressed is the message that the NPAs treated the two prisoners humanely and in line with the protocols of the Geneva Convention. The NPA is therefore not a terrorist group as branded by the US State Department.

As of this article’s writing, most of these videos have drawn a total of from over 1500 to 2000 online views.

One video shows the capture of 1st Lt. Ronaldo Fidelino and Private First Class Ronel Nemeno. Another shows their days in captivity with the NPA.

A third shows a cultural show done by the NPA for them. A fourth shows their release.

Their release features a speech done by NDF Spokesman Greg Bañares who again stressed that the NPA is not a terrorist group. The ceremonies also feature a sequence showing an NPA unit, its members clean-cut and neatly dressed smartly performing close order drills.

The videos have elicited a few dozen comments, all of them hotly partisan for or against the NPA.

One unfavorable comment in Filipino is a poster claiming he is an OFW coming from Bukidnon. He accuses the NPA of extorting revolutionary taxes from even very small landowners.

In several postings, Jake25 repeats variations of the theme that the NPA is the true army of the people.

The NPA is only one of the many dissident groups worldwide now using YouTube as a propaganda forum.

It is also being used by other political groups considered as legitimate in their countries as a vehicle for projecting their political agendas. Among these are presidential hopefuls in the United States who seek to be the Republican’s or Democrats’ standard bearers in the November 2008 US presidential elections.

crappypants

August 6th, 2007, 07:04 AM

i think it's mostly the old foggies who behave badly. the young students seem very respectful naman.

kiretoce

August 7th, 2007, 01:47 AM

Not so wholesome Cebu (http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/aug/07/yehey/opinion/20070807opi4.html)

Bird watchers on Olango Island, Cebu, could watch strange birds on the uninhabited Sulpa Islet on August 2. A Japanese couple was having sex—with penetration and everything—on the beach while two companions were video filming the scene. Policemen promptly arrested the four Japanese after bird sanctuary wardens on nearby Olango Island who caught the action on their binoculars, alerted the police in Lapu-Lapu City.

The story naturally made it to the headlines in the local news. Newspaper photographers took pictures of the steamy video footages and the pictures were published on the front pages of the local papers. The penetration part was, of course, blurred but probably few if any readers had problems imagining what was hidden. The four Japanese—three men and a woman—pleaded guilty to a violation of Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code, paid a fine of P6,000 each and were released.

Tourism officials were upset about the incident which, according to them, has damaged the image of Cebu as a wholesome tourism destination. However, those of us who live in Cebu know that it is so-so with the wholesome image of Cebu as a tourist destination. Thousands of young women work in establishments that sell sex. The women are forced to let men—Filipino as well as foreign—grope them, as this is part of guest relations. The customer-friendliness goes as far as stripping inside private rooms. And, of course, going out with the customer if he wants to have sexual intercourse. The managers of the establishments would usually deny that they have anything to do with this, but the fact is that no less than our government has imposed on the female guest relations officers (GROs) the keeping of an updated health card. This card is the government’s assurance to the customer that the girls are free of sexually transmitted diseases. We don’t want our foreign tourists to contract an STD or HIV in this wholesome tourism destination, do we?

Some years ago I attended a press forum with officials of the local Departments of Tourism and Health. They were arguing for the health card to protect Cebu’s image as safe and clean for foreign tourists who come here and seek sexual services.

An NGO workers once told me about some Japanese men who returned to a mountain barangay in Cebu City where they were going to have fun with some children. During the sightseeing earlier that day, the parents had approached the men and offered them their children. Other parents have no calms about pushing their teenage daughters into relationships with foreign men—I remember meeting a Swedish national on Bantayan Island. He had two teenage girls in tow. The parents of the girls had told them to befriend the Swede. With the aggressive promotion of the Philippines as a retirement haven, expect more of this kind of prostitution.

Foreign men are occasionally caught in hotel rooms taking nude photos of teenage girls. Once, a foreigner was arrested in Cebu City for shooting his own video in a hotel room. He was having sex with a young girl while her female friend was filming the couple.

What harm did the four Japanese do? While what they did was extremely stupid, they did not involve any Filipinos in their activity. They didn’t prostitute or corrupt any minors. They offended the senses of the general public, but probably the policemen have viewed the videos more than once, and not for purely investigative purposes. The punishment the Japanese was meted—a fine against pleading guilty—for once gives us hope that the justice system is fair, reasonable and efficient.

Sex sells and the four Japanese who could thank the timely intervention of the police for not getting a severe sun burn, were top news in Cebu for a day. The Japanese had to leave the country without their video. End of story. But thousands of Filipino women, girls and boys continue to service their male customers, many of whom are foreign tourists, risking their health and destroying their self-worth, their dignity and their lives. Not enough is being done to confront and end this continuing crime. Authorities, instead of regulating prostitution through the issuance of health cards, should work harder to create jobs that will uplift rather than destroy the human spirit.

Dvorak

August 7th, 2007, 03:31 AM

Metro workers get wage hike
By Mayen Jaymalin
Tuesday, August 7, 2007

Private sector minimum wage workers in Metro Manila will get P12 more daily.

Labor Secretary Arturo Brion said the regional wage board in the National Capital Region (NCR) approved the salary increase as well as the inclusion of the P50 emergency cost of living allowance or COLA in the daily basic pay. This pegs the daily minimum wage in Metro Manila at P362.

National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) executive director Esther Guirao said the pay hike would take effect only after the publication of the new wage order.

She declined to disclose other details of the wage order, which was approved after a series of deliberations among representatives of employers, workers and the government. The order covers only private sector minimum wage workers.

Militant labor groups expressed dismay over what they described as a “minuscule” salary increase.

The Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) said that the salary hike granted by the wage board was not enough to enable workers to cope with the rising prices of essential commodities.

Labor officials said the board, in setting the amount of wage increase, had to strike a balance between the capability of employers and the needs of workers.

Employers are strongly opposed to salary increase, saying it is unreasonable at this time, citing no significant changes in the consumer prices index.

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) is seeking a P75 across-the-board increase in daily basic pay for workers in Metro Manila and other regions.

heathcliff

August 7th, 2007, 10:01 AM

3cr

August 9th, 2007, 11:59 AM

Angat water level up but still not enough
PhilStar
Thursday, August 9, 2007
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20070808141

Continuous rains have raised the water elevation at the Angat Dam in Bulacan by more than a meter in just 24 hours. However, it remained at least eight meters below critical level.

And though belated, the onset of the rainy season has made the need for President Arroyo to seek emergency powers irrelevant, Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. declared yesterday.

“It’s beginning to rain, and in significant quantities. The President does not need emergency powers, she has more than enough powers,” the Pangasinan congressman told reporters when asked whether additional powers would be necessary.

Two tropical storms in the past days have brought more rains to the country, with water elevation at Angat Dam climbing to 171.40 meters as of 8 a.m. yesterday compared to 170.30 meters recorded at the same time Tuesday, said Raul Agustin, a special operations officer of the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Office.

This was the first time the water elevation at the dam showed a significant increase since it dropped to a critical 180 meters last July 1 amid the dry spell.

Agustin told The STAR that water elevation at the dam is expected to climb a little more as the rains continue.

On Tuesday, the water level at the Magat Dam in Ramon, Isabela also went up by a meter from its critical mark after a series of cloud seeding operations reinforced by at least two days of natural rainfall spawned by tropical storm “Chedeng.”

Because of the lower than normal rainfall in June and July, more than 127,000 hectares of farmland have withered in northern Luzon, the Office of Civil Defense said.

Rice and corn farms that rely on seasonal rain for irrigation have been devastated, as have some 41,000 hectares of fishponds.

La Union Rep. Thomas Dumpit Jr. made good his promise Monday that he will file a House resolution urging the House of Representatives to give the Chief Executive emergency powers “on a restrictive scope” to address the dry spell with focus on calamity-stricken areas.

Dumpit filed House Resolution 107 that would give Mrs. Arroyo such powers, “in view of the expediency and high proportion of the crisis and in order to effectively” address the dry spell.

But De Venecia said the issue of giving emergency powers to the President was not discussed in the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council meeting in Malacañang, which only means that it does not merit any government action.

“The Senate said she does not need it. And the President herself did not ask for it,” De Venecia added.

During Congress Night of the Manila Overseas Press Club last Tuesday, De Venecia said Dumpit’s resolution would have to stay docked until such time as emergency powers are needed.

Meanwhile, water concession firms in Metro Manila yesterday decried the alleged considerable volume of “continued, unexpected release” of raw water from Angat Dam by the National Power Corp. (NPC) to the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) even when rains continue to pour over farmlands in Bulacan and Pampanga.

In a statement, Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Manila Water Co. said the continued and unexpected release of a substantial volume of raw water by NPC for irrigation purposes threatens water supply for Metro Manila next year.

Maynilad and Manila Water said the NPC action is against existing agreements that water releases to irrigation should be stopped when Angat Dam’s water level reaches 180 meters and below.

The concessionaires of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) also pointed out that because of the sudden release by NPC, the Ipo Dam had overflowed, resulting in water running over to Bustos Dam and adding to the flooding of several Bulacan towns.

Jess Matubis, corporate communications manager of Maynilad, said rains coming into the country, particularly in Luzon, during these months should be preserved to bring back the water elevation of Angat Dam to its critical level of 180 meters at the least, and eventually to 212 meters in order to ensure adequate water supply until next summer.

On the other hand, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said the rains being experienced in Metro Manila have helped lower the temperature in the metropolis, but is “still not enough to water the farm lands of rice producing provinces such as Isabela, La Union, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija and others which are only experiencing minimal rain showers, according to reports.”

“We need a total of 5,000 liters or eight drums of water in order to produce a kilo of rice,” Yap clarified.

He also assured the public that there is no reason for rice prices to go up as there are enough rice stocks in the warehouses of the National Food Authority as well as in commercial stockrooms and households.

In an interview with The STAR, Yap pointed out that the NFA’s rice stock is good for 15 days, while that of commercial rice suppliers and dealers is good for an additional 12 days.

Local households, Yap said, are estimated to have a supply of up to 30 days.

Furthermore, Yap said, rice farmers in the Visayas, particularly in Panay which is experiencing good weather conditions are set to harvest their palay which will add another 18 days to the existing rice supply.

3cr

August 9th, 2007, 12:15 PM

‘Where have all the P20-billion typhoon funds gone?’
Daily Tribune
http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20070810hed6.html

A Catholic bishop has asked government authorities where the publicized P20-billion relief and rehabilitation funds for last year’s typhoon victims went as hundreds of families remain in tents and makeshift homes in public schools and “danger zones” in Bicol province.

Speaking over a church-owned radio station, Legazpi Auxiliary Bishop Lucilo Quiambao yesterday said the government reportedly released P20-billion assistance funds to areas affected by last year’s typhoons “Milenyo” and “Reming” which destroyed homes and farms in the province.

“We are wondering what happened to the P20-billion funds,” he stressed.

The prelate noted that he already asked Cabinet officials during a meeting in Malacañang last month but not much has happened since then.

“First, they said they cannot do public works programs because of the election ban. Today, after the election ban has been lifted, they still have to do infrastructure programs,” Quiambao said.

He said severely affected residents began building their homes in areas inundated by flooding “as they have no other place to go.”

According to him, the government’s assistance is badly needed in addition to the funds donated by the church and non-government organizations (NGOs).

Quiambao reported the Catholic church and other NGOs have contributed around 80 percent of the relief assistance to typhoon victims.

“There are organizations and NGOs willing to build houses but there are no relocation sites,” he added.

Quiambao said the National Housing Authority has not made any land preparation to commence construction of houses.

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) yesterday reported that some 8,088 persons have evacuated to safer grounds while 53,120 others were affected by floods caused by heavy rains brought about tropical storms “Chedeng” and “Dodong” in Luzon since Wednesday and Thursday.

As of yesterday, two fatalities in Luzon were reported while seven were injured.

Records showed that Southern Luzon have 5,050 evacuees, Central Luzon have 2,805 and Metro Manila 233.

Three-to-four-foot deep floods hit Gapan in Nueva Ecija while one-to-three foot deep floods submerged Olongapo City.

The NDCC confirmed that Bulacan province was declared under the state of calamity.

The NDCC, in its 2 p.m. update, said residents of some towns in Nueva Ecija province were being prepared for evacuation.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration forecast monsoon rains in Luzon and the Visayas, triggered by “Dodong”

The storm, which packs maximum sustained winds of 75 kph with gusts of up to 90 kph, was spotted 260 kilometers northeast of Basco in the northernmost Batanes province at 8 a.m., as it moved closer to Taiwan while Chedeng has left the Philippine area of responsibility, it added.

Malacañang, for its part, yesterday decided to extend the suspension of classes until today in areas still affected by flooding.

The National Capital Region, however, is not included in the advisory.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said classes in elementary and high school levels are still suspended in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Benguet, Pangasinan, Zambales and Bataan.

______________________________________

Poverty fight gets harder as Asia modernises: experts
PhilStar
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?News%20Flash&p=54&type=2&sec=91&aid=2007080949

MANILA (AFP) - The struggle to lift 600 million Asians out of poverty is becoming harder despite the region's hectic pace of modernisation, experts told a regional conference here Thursday.

By 2015, Asia is expected to enjoy a 42 percent share of global economic output but it will still be home to half the world's poor, most of them living in rural areas, according to the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

"It is becoming more difficult to confront poverty in Asia," the research institute's director-general Joachim von Braun told reporters on the sidelines of the Manila conference.

He said governments were becoming less generous in targetting the poor.

Lawrence Greenwood, vice president of the Asian Development Bank which is hosting the gathering, said that even as millions emerge from poverty as Asian economies soar, "we are seeing rising inequality" between poorer rural areas and wealthier urbanites.

The ability of Asian farmers to link up with the global market will become an important factor, he said, as will increasing environmental degradation, climate change and the drive from hydrocarbon-based fuels to ones derived from crops.

Keijiro Otsuka of Japan's National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies said increased rice and wheat yields from scientific breakthroughs coupled with state investment in the farm sector in the 1970s "triggered the transformation of rural Asian economies by stimulating investments in schooling."

Despite reduced farm sizes from growing populations, people were able to move out of poverty "by diversifying their income away from rice to non-rice crops, livestock, and non-farm sources," said Otsuka.

Otsuka cited long-term household data in rural villages in the Philippines, Thailand, Bangladesh and India.

"The resulting economic growth was the most pro-poor in history and led to the most rapid and widespread reduction in poverty over four decades that has ever been witnessed," said Peter Timmer, a senior fellow of the US think-tank Center for Global Development.

Non-farm income -- from trading, services, transportation, handicrafts and remittances -- and small-scale manufacturing has risen to outshine agriculture and make up 51 percent of income in Asia's rural areas, according to an IFPRI paper.

By contrast, the share of agriculture in the gross domestic product of East Asia and the Pacific fell to just 13 percent in 2005 from 32 percent in 1975, the paper added.

IFPRI data show just 614 million Asians now live on less than one dollar a day, from nearly one billion in 1990.

However, progress has been mixed, with the most dramatic improvements seen in China and the rest of East Asia. Now, almost three in four of the region's poor live in South Asia.

3cr

August 10th, 2007, 08:53 AM

Group says Arroyo exception sets bad precedent for watershed protection
Malaya
http://www.malaya.com.ph/aug10/metro2.htm

GROUPS opposing the proposed housing project at the La Mesa Watershed yesterday accused President Arroyo of endangering the country’s some 450 watersheds by including the clause "subject to private rights" in declaring the La Mesa Dam as a protected watershed last July.

Forester Valerio Mendoza, watershed management specialist of Bantay Kalikasan, said this sets a bad precedent that could allow people to settle inside watersheds if they are given titles to the land. "This is a showcase of how the government stands its ground on the preservation and management of the environment."

The group is actively opposing the proposal to construct a housing village for retired workers of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System within the watershed since the presence of settlers in the area could threaten the water quality of the dam. La Mesa supplies 80 percent of Metro Manila’s potable water.

"We pose the strongest objection to the statement that the protected La Mesa Watershed is subject to private rights. Being issued by the highest office in the land, this puts in peril the few remaining watersheds in the country," the Save the La Mesa Coalition also said in a statement.

Marlou Mendoza, acting program director of Bantay Kalikasan, said Arroyo’s declaration of La Mesa Dam as a protected watershed is "meaningless" because the exception dilutes it. "You can only put an exception that won’t antagonize your main objective," he said.

"We feel the highest office in the land should take on all measures to ensure the safety and conservation of our natural resources – and that matters of collective interest should be placed above the interests of the few. We are not against the housing rights of 1,400 people. Efforts should be taken to find an alternative housing site for them," the group said.

Covering a total land area of 2,659 hectares, the La Mesa Dam holds a reservoir of water coming from the trans-basins of Umiray, Angat and Ipo watersheds.

heathcliff

August 10th, 2007, 09:25 AM

Group says Arroyo exception sets bad precedent for watershed protection
Malaya
http://www.malaya.com.ph/aug10/metro2.htm
...

The best venue to settle the conflicting claims regarding the proposed housing project would be in court. The court can determine whether the government’s act is in consonance with the constitutional provisions on the protection of the environment. After all, there may be more complicated issues here than what we see and hear in the media.

dattebayo

August 15th, 2007, 09:02 PM

Rather reports on defective poll machines assembled in RP
08/14/2007 | 07:52 PM

NEW YORK - With the 2008 election season heating up, familiar scapegoats continue to take the hit for past hang-ups at the polls. Those include bad graphic design (Florida's confusing "butterfly ballot" in 2000) and software glitches in certain voting machines.

But this week's edition of "Dan Rather Reports" explores other culprits: the very paper from which punch-card ballots were made, and glaring shortcuts in how certain touch-screen voting machines were produced — some components of which were reportedly manufactured in the Philippines.

"Our story is not that the election would have turned out differently in 2000 if certain things hadn't happened. No one can know that," Rather said Monday. But his eight-month investigation has "dug down vertically as deep as we were capable of doing" to probe the brewing problems—including on-camera interviews with workers who had a front-row seat.

The hourlong news program premieres Tuesday at 8 p.m. EDT on cable's HDNet channel, with subsequent re-airings and streaming online video.

Rather's report begins with the current congressional bid by Democrat Christine Jennings, who lost her 2006 race by 369 votes in Florida's Sarasota County, where touch-screen machines showed 18,000 ballots with no candidate selected in that race.

How could that happen?

The broadcast hears from Gene Hinspeter, an electronic operations specialist in nearby Lee County, who speaks of a "calibration issue" with the touch-screen devices: on a misaligned display, choosing one candidate's name might actually trigger a vote for another candidate.

The touch-screen machines are hard to keep calibrated, says Hinspeter. He describes them as "unreliable."

While the touch-screens at issue were manufactured in the U.S., they are one of many components assembled in a factory in the Philippines.

Eddie Vibar, an electrical engineer who worked there between 1999 and describes the bare-bones performance testing ("They shook the machines"). He adds that conditions were oppressive at the factory, where the temperature sometimes rose above 90 degrees and only a few air conditioners were operative.

"It's hard to do repairs while you're also holding a fan or a piece of cardboard (to keep cool)," explains Vibar. He says he earned about $2.50 a day.

In a separate interview, Landen Tuggle, an American dispatched to overhaul factory operations, says that, despite his best efforts, 15,000 to 16,000 potentially defective voting machines were shipped to the U.S.

Rather's report also takes a look back at the fiasco that spurred the widespread changeover to touch-screen machines: the 2000 election, notably in Florida, where "hanging chads" and other irregularities caused havoc. In that state, more than 50,000 punch cards were discarded as invalid because voters appeared to have voted for more than one presidential candidate (or none).

Rather interviews seven former employees of the company that made punch cards used in Florida. They agree that after decades of maintaining high production standards, their company in 2000 began opting for cheap, even defective, paper.

"It's the flour for the bread," says one former worker. "I mean, if you don't have good paper, you won't make good ballots." - AP

3cr

August 16th, 2007, 02:40 AM

Metro Manila at a standstill as flash floods inundate major roads
Business World
http://www.bworld.com.ph/content.php?id=073

Traffic In most of Metro Manila was at a standstill early until midday yesterday as heavy rainfall flooded major thoroughfares.

The situation was complicated by an exodus of students going home after classes in the elementary and secondary levels within the National Capital Region (NCR) were suspended by the Department of Education late in the day, followed by a similar declaration from the Commission on Higher Education for the collegiate level, and the high tide level of Manila Bay that made it more difficult for the floodwater to recede.

By 1 p.m., Malacañang also suspended all offices in Metro Manila upon the recommendation of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC).

In a briefing, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said the country should brace for more rains today and tomorrow as tropical storm "Egay," which has intensified into a super-typhoon with winds of up to 175 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 200 kilometers per hour, is inducing the southwest monsoon rains into Luzon.

Meanwhile, Malacañang has declared that classes in all levels are still suspended today in NCR, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Bataan.

All government employees will resume work today.

Throughout yesterday morning, low to zero visibility from the downpour hounded motorists.

In Baclaran, the traffic went bumper-to-bumper from the interchange at the corner of Roxas Boulevard and Epifanio delos Santos Ave., while flooding also hampered vehicular flow at the Cubao underpass.

In Makati City, the local government lifted the number-coding ban the whole day yesterday.

Even President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her security convoy were not spared from the gridlock. A radio station reported that the presidential convoy, traveling from Malacañang, was forced to slow down and take alternate roads en route to an official engagement in a call center in Eastwood City, Libis, Quezon City.

Metro Manila Development Authority-Metro Base Director Efren Aguilar said yesterday’s flooding was caused by heavy rains dumped by Egay and the unexpected 12-meter high tide of Manila Bay at 11:25 a.m.

"Manila Bay’s high tide is usually at 10 meters. With the heavy rainfall combined, Metro Manila’s main streets were really affected and many areas were submerged in flood," Mr. Aguilar told BusinessWorld in a telephone interview.

As this developed, some parts of Metro Manila yesterday experienced brief power outages. Affected were parts of San Juan, Quezon City, Taguig and Mandaluyong.

In a television interview, Elpi O. Cuna, Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) vice-president for corporate communications, said the power outages were caused by the automatic shutdown of some lines, which is done during bad weather to protect electronic facilities from damages and to avoid accidents.

Meralco said it has prepared for incidents that could affect the power situation in its franchise area.

3cr

August 17th, 2007, 09:10 AM

P18-M funds for Hanjin’s Subic project misused
Daily Tribune
http://www.tribune.net.ph/business/20070817bus3.html

SUBIC, Zambales — Task Force Hanjin, a probe body created by the provincial government, has uncovered alleged P18-million fund anomalies intended for infrastructure development of the resettlement site for displaced residents.

Zambales Gov. Amor Deloso said the task force headed by former Vice Gov. Ramon Lacbain has unearthed the anomalous infrastructure projects which deprived the relocated residents of their opportunity to have better relocation facilities.

Deloso alleged that most of the P18-million financial support funds provided by the Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Inc. for various infrastructure projects were wasted due to massive graft and corruption allegedly committed by local government officials in cahoots with contractors.

Hanjin, South Korea’s fifth largest shipbuilder, is investing $1 billion for a ship-building project in Subic. Hanjin is occupying 249 hectares for a shipyard for the first phase and another 100 hectares for the second phase in the Redondo peninsula.

The fund was meant for the relocation site of the informal settlers that would be displaced due to Hanjin’s sprawling project.

Documents showed that the P18-million fund was released to North Bound Hardware and General Merchandise through a purchase order that passed through the office of Subic town Mayor Jeffrey Khonghun.

Hanjin officials have reportedly refused to add more funding for the improvement of the relocation site unless the P18-million funds earlier released would be properly audited by its recipient.

The task force is also questioning the release of funds allegedly even without being subjected to proper government auditing procedures.

In his report, Lacbain noted the lack of school facilities, potable water supply, road network and drainage system in the Agusuhin relocation site despite of huge allocation of funds intended for these infrastructure development.

Lacbain explained that elementary and high school students have been forced to share two school buildings after the newly constructed two separate school buildings with six classrooms collapsed due to soil erosion.

He added the school buildings funded by Hanjin collapsed due to the absence of proper and required soil analysis and structural defects.

The task force also noted cracks and damages on the two existing school buildings, being occupied and shared by more than 200 elementary and 250 secondary students, which may also collapse due to unstable foundation.

_______________________________

Billions in taxes lost in oil smuggling
PhilStar Editorial By Boo Chanco
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Business&p=49&type=2&sec=27&aid=2007082198

Ate Glue, Gary Teves and the Customs people have to redeem themselves from that “hot car carnage” episode, a PR gimmick that didn’t deliver. Probably it was because they hyped it too much without proper prior study. I heard Gary trying hard to explain later on to Korina and Ted on DZMM that the really hot cars they earlier mentioned couldn’t be touched due to legal technicalities. Korina was not happy with Gary’s explanation.

The “carnage” didn’t deliver the pogi points expected because it also went against the grain of common sense from common folks. Every other guy you meet on the street would say the cars were “sayang” and should have been sold in auction instead to raise money for the poor or for other government projects.

People disregard the fact that selling those cars in auction had been part of the modus operandi of the car smugglers for years. The same smugglers who imported the cars, or their proxies, would bid for them and save on taxes because they somehow manage to fix the bids at much lower levels than taxes and penalties.

Then there are those who say that by ordering the destruction of the cars, Ate Glue may have delivered a message to smaller smuggling syndicates but she created a smuggling monopoly under the protection of someone really powerful that no Customs official would dare cross. That may or may not be true but it sounds credible to the common tao given the public’s low confidence level on this administration’s ability to do the right thing.

The PR disaster over the “carnage” was compounded by the scandal surrounding the DOF junking of a ruling made by dismissed BIR Chief Jojo Buñag on the increased specific tax that should be levied on each pack of Pall Mall cigarettes. Government stands to lose close to P100 million because DOF reversed Jojo’s ruling that was perfectly legal based on the new sin tax law. And to think… Jojo was fired because he was not collecting enough.

The credibility of this administration’s tax collection effort will again be severely tested by the seriousness of their efforts to stop the scandalous rampant smuggling of petroleum products. Smuggled oil products now account for about 20 percent of petroleum products being sold in the market. Diesel and Dual Purpose Kerosene account for most of those. About P10 billion is lost in tax revenues per year for every 10 percent of the market demand that is supplied by smugglers… so P20 billion a year is lost.

The oil companies have been complaining about this problem for quite a while now. They find it strange that while the economy has been growing five to six percent every year for the last three years, reported oil and petroleum product imports have been declining on an average about seven percent per year from 2005 to year to date 2007. Even if economic growth is spurred by services and agriculture which are low in energy intensity, one would expect some growth. Even if we take into account the shift to natural gas and coal for the power sector, the worse case scenario is flat growth.

There must be pretty politically influential people behind the smuggling of petroleum products for it to flourish at a time when Gary Teves is nervously scrounging for revenue sources to meet fiscal targets. The smugglers also provide unfair competition to the oil companies that pay the proper taxes.

I have asked my former colleagues in the oil industry and they enlightened me on how smuggling is done these days. One way is to under declare volume or value or both. Main savings is on 12-percent VAT plus the three-percent duty. Diesel is now zero specific tax. For dual purpose kerosene (DPK), they declare the shipment as kerosene but actually sell as Jet A1 used by aviation. There is a big difference in specific tax.

Smuggling is most rampant in Subic. For imports into Subic, they ship it out as if it is re-exported so that no duties and taxes are paid. By ship, it is either declared as export to another country or as bunkering to an international vessel. By land, it is declared as intended for a locator in a special economic zone which is treated as export. Subic supposedly accounts for about 30 to 40 percent of smuggled products. Other suspected smuggling points include a Bataan import facility and a depot in Bicol.

In fairness to DOF, they have recently started to implement some of the recommendations of the Petroleum Institute of the Philippines to control oil smuggling. For instance they are now putting marker dyes for kerosene imports (therefore cannot be used as Jet fuel), marker dyes for diesel re-exported out of Subic (prima facie evidence if detected in locally sold diesel). They have also started to reconcile PEZA fuels receipts versus issuances from Subic as smugglers are using fake delivery orders to genuine locators.

The Petroleum Institute also expressed support for recommendations of the Presidential Anti Smuggling Group (PASG) now awaiting approval by Ate Glue to include pre shipment inspection to determine quantity, price and quality. I guess the next move is Malacañang’s.

Oil smuggling is not as visible as the smuggling of flashy luxury cars. But the revenue leakage is far greater. If Gary Teves means business, he would spend more time and energy working on this one.