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Philippines, Indonesia start talks on fishing pact
Sunday, May 17, 2015

Pole-and-line-e1413563999589.jpg


THE Philippines and Indonesia have initiated talks that could signal the revival of a bilateral fishing agreement that lapsed in 2006, the Department of Agriculture said Sunday.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala met with Susi Pudjiastuti, Indonesia's Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF), while he was in Jakarta recently to take part in the World Economic Forum and its adjunct event called Grow Asia Agricultural Forum.

Alcala said the Indonesian official agreed to his suggestion to have both parties convene a technical working group that will meet “at the soonest possible time” to flesh out the issues, including the concerns of Filipino-owned fishing companies in Indonesia regarding MMAF’s strict enforcement of its policies and regulations.

Earlier this year, Pudjiastuti announced she would not issue new licenses to foreign fishing companies in a bid to protect Indonesia’s territorial waters and fishing grounds from illegal fishing.

The fisheries ministry likewise wants to impose a 100-percent Indonesian manning on foreign-owned fishing vessels with licenses to fish in their waters.

These new policies from Indonesia’s six-month old administration have affected a number of Filipino-owned companies operating in the country, the DA said.

Some reports indicated that a number of Filipino-owned but Indonesian-flagged fishing vessels have temporarily suspended operations in Indonesia while waiting for clarification on the new government policies.

Alcala said that while the Indonesian minister made it clear that these policies are not likely to change anytime soon, she assured him Filipino personnel of confiscated and apprehended boats would be “well-taken care of.”

“It was a very constructive, sincere exchange of ideas about what should be done about a matter that concerns both our countries,” said Alcala, who was accompanied during the meeting by Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Maria Lumen Isleta and other DA officials.

He said Indonesia was particularly concerned about the economic and environmental impact of poaching.

On his part, Alcala informed Pudjiastuti that the Philippine government continues to carry out measures that will help deter and eliminate illegal fishing practices, including the recent enactment of Republic Act 10654 that revised the old national fisheries code.

Pudjiastuti lauded these efforts.

Under RA 10654, sanctions have been raised to as high as P45 million for commercial fishing violators, and $2.4 million for poachers.

The revised law also requires the installation of a Monitoring, Control and Surveillance system in “all Philippine flagged fishing vessels regardless of fishing area and final destination of catch,” which would make it easier to ensure compliance with fisheries regulations.

Through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the DA also continues to train new law enforcers to beef up its anti-IUUF campaign.

To date, 200 law enforcers have been trained out of the targeted 700 for this year.

On the issue of manpower, the Indonesian minister clarified that they allow two non-Indonesian masters in an Indonesian-flagged boat, provided that the contract for foreign crew will be for a maximum of three years, after which fishing companies are “mandated to transfer technology” to their Indonesian employees.

She said that the new regulation is designed to give Indonesians more income and livelihood opportunities. (SDR/Sunnex)

Philippines, Indonesia start talks on fishing pact | Sun.Star
 
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National Development(?) News:

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Stakeholders detail West Valley Fault quake plans
By Pia Hontiveros
CNN Philippines

Updated 17:29 PM PHT Thu, May 21, 2015


Two studies, one funded by Japan in 2004 and another by Australia in 2011, reported the possible impact of a 7.2-magnitude West Valley Fault earthquake if and when it hits Metro Manila.

Geologists say that an earthquake of such magnitude could hit Metro Manila in our lifetime, which could result in a horrible scenario of 37,000 deaths, 600,000 injured, 500 fires, thousands of collapsed structures, and power and communications outage, among others.

Related: New Phivolcs atlas shows detailed view of quake fault

In this report, stakeholders from both the public and private sectors detail their disaster preparedness plans in case the "big one" strikes. This report aired over CNN Philippines' Network News on May 20, 2015.

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Stakeholders detail West Valley Fault quake plans - CNN Philippines
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57 subdivisions, villages traversed by West Valley Fault
Pia Ranada

Published 9:40 AM, May 21, 2015
Updated 3:58 PM, May 21, 2015


Residential buildings will suffer the most damage from a 7.2-magnitude quake, says Phivolcs. What do you do if your house is on an active fault?


MANILA, Philippines – Maps recently released by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) allow people to see the location of the West Valley Fault and East Valley Fault in Greater Metro Manila.

The question now is: do you live on an active fault?

Rappler compiled a list of subdivisions or residential villages that appear to have active faults.

At the end of this article, there is also a compilation of screengrabs from the Phivolcs maps showing where the faults are in those subdivisions.

The list only includes places where houses appear to have been built on top of an active fault or where, based on the subdivision's structure, houses are likely to be built on top of the fault.

Affected subdivisions are diverse: from enclaves of the rich like Loyola Grand Villas in Quezon City, to the depressed Maharlika Village in Taguig.

Rappler found that 57 subdivisions or residential villages are transected by the West Valley Fault, a 100-kilometer active fault that can generate a 7.2-magnitude earthquake. (INFOGRAPHIC: How powerful is a magnitude 7.2 earthquake)

Only one subdivision, Gloria Vista Subdivision in Rizal province, is transected by the shorter East Valley Fault which can generate a 6.5-magnitude earthquake.

But we encourage you to take a look at the Valley Fault System Atlas yourself in case we missed something.

According to studies, residential buildings will suffer the most damage during a 7.2-magnitude earthquake because many of them do not follow building standards. Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum Jr said that at least 40% of all residential buildings in Metro Manila would either be heavily or partially damaged.

Subdivisions or villages with the West Valley Fault:

Rizal (Rodriguez)

  • Amity Ville
  • Christine Ville
Marikina

  • Loyola Garden Village
  • Loyola Subdivision
  • Monte Vista Village
  • Industrial Valley Subdivision
  • Cinco Hermanos Subdivision
  • Wood Crest Subdivision
Quezon City

  • Sunnyside Heights Subdivision
  • Doña Anna Village
  • Fil-Heights
  • Filinvest Homes II and Villa Amor Uno
  • Northview Subd
  • Loyola Grand Villas
  • White Plains Subdivision
  • Queensville Court
  • Greenmeadows
  • Blue Ridge B
Pasig

  • Valle Verde 6
  • Valle Verde 5
  • Valle Verde
  • Valle Verde 3
  • Valle Verde 1
  • Kawilihan Village
Makati

  • East Rembo
  • Pembo
  • Rizal
Taguig

  • Pinagsama
  • Pinagsama Phase II
  • Pan-Am Village
  • North Signal Village
  • Central Signal Village
  • South Signal Village
  • Maharlika Village
  • Camp Bagong Diwa
Parañaque

  • Posadas Village
Muntinlupa

  • Solid Mills Village
  • Embassy Village
  • Liberty Homes
  • Carmina Compounds
  • L&B Subdivision and Compound
  • UP Side Subdivision
  • Country Homes Alabang
  • Planas Ville
  • Camella Homes Alabang 3
  • Country Homes Subd and Jose Marey Subdivision
  • Camella Homes
  • Susana Heights Village 1
  • Susana Heights Subd Phase I
  • St Anne Homes
  • Real Ville Subdivision
Laguna

  • Adelina 1A Subdivision
  • GSIS Village
  • Elnor Homes
  • Sampaguita Village
  • United San Pedro Subdivision
Cavite

  • Wedgewoods Subdivision
Next steps

What do you do if your house looks like it's near a fault?

Don't panic.

According to Phivolcs, you'll only need to consider moving out if your home is right on top of the fault or within 5 meters of it.

This is because your house may be at risk when the ground shifts beneath it during an earthquake.

Even if your home is outside the 5-meter bufferzone, it will still be subject to intense shaking during a 7.2-magnitude earthquake. You need to make sure it was built properly. (See groundshaking simulation map on this story: What dangers await when the West Valley Fault moves?)

You can consult a structural engineer to check if the building strictly follows the National Building Code of the Philippines.

Your local government also has building officials responsible for checking if structures in your city or province follow safety standards. But in many cases, these inspectors are handling too much work to look into each building.

If your house is made from concrete hollow blocks, you can do the checking yourself using Phivolcs' checklist for earthquake-ready houses.

Looking to buy a house far from any active fault?

The Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB) says they now require subdivision developers to get certification from Phivolcs to prove their project is far from a fault.

To be sure, you can ask the developers to show a copy of the certificate.

What do you do if your subdivision, city or province isn't in the list? Don't be complacent.

A 7.2-magnitude earthquake will be so strong it will likely be felt even in cities without the West Valley Fault.

The Manila Cathedral in Manila, for instance, has been damaged many times by earthquakes generated by the fault.

Have your homes checked for safe building standards, don't take earthquake drills for granted, and always be ready for any scenario.

Subdivisions or villages with active faults:

Solid red lines, including those with branches, indicate that Phivolcs is certain of the presence of the fault. Broken red lines indicating the location of the fault is an approximation.

Pictures are in the link.

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57 subdivisions, villages traversed by West Valley Fault
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Yes the place am living is not part of the fault line

If earthquake is greater than 7.0 on the Richter scale and hits Manila, government can go down, economy crashes and their will be tons of casualties.

This is what we get when we put all the government and businesses in one city in a disturbing centralized manner. Worse, this is what we get when we let politicians who are more busy fattening their hundreds of piggy banks and creating mansions in USA.
 
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If earthquake is greater than 7.0 on the Richter scale and hits Manila, government can go down, economy crashes and their will be tons of casualties.

This is what we get when we put all the government and businesses in one city in a disturbing centralized manner. Worse, this is what we get when we let politicians who are more busy fattening their hundreds of piggy banks and creating mansions in USA.

Well that take some time for development luckily manila is not the only center soon we have more like in cebu etc.
 
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Well that take some time for development luckily manila is not the only center soon we have more like in cebu etc.

It would have been sooner if the political system of PH had been changed into a federal system earlier; thus, if Manila goes down, we still have other places left to continue doing business unlike today which is making others feel uneasy because of the highly-centralized system.
 
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It would have been sooner if the political system of PH had been changed into a federal system earlier; thus, if Manila goes down, we still have other places left to continue doing business unlike today which is making others feel uneasy because of the highly-centralized system.

Me too but the Philippines needs political maturity more and like the economy it takes decades to do
 
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Business News:

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GDP growth seen at robust 6.6% in Q1
By Kathleen Martin (The Philippine Star)
Updated May 24, 2015 - 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine economic growth in the first quarter this year is seen remaining robust despite slowing in the fourth quarter of last year, UK-based investment bank Barclays said.


The bank, in its latest Emerging Markets Weekly, has forecast Philippine growth to have settled at 6.6 percent in the first quarter, faster than the 5.6 percent posted in the same period last year, but slower than the 6.9 percent seen in the previous three months.

“Growth to slow from an exceptionally strong Q4, but underlying trend to remain robust, supported by government spending,” Barclays said.

Official first quarter gross domestic product (GDP) data will be released on May 28.

Barclays said first quarter expansion in Asian emerging markets could have been slower given weak activity elsewhere pulling down growth.


The International Monetary Fund last month said the Philippines should continue to be Southeast Asia’s growth driver this year.

Philippine economic growth slowed to 6.1 percent last year from 7.2 percent in 2013, short of the government’s 6.5 to 7.5-percent target. However, the growth rate was among the fastest in Asia last year.

IMF resident representative Shanaka Jayanath Peiris said a slower first quarter growth is expected given the stellar fourth quarter level.

Risks to growth this year may come from the slowdown in economic activity in Japan and China, as they are the biggest trade partners of the Philippines.

The divergence in monetary policies in advanced economies also pose a risk as they could result in shifts in interest rates and tighter financial conditions.

Peiris, however, said lower oil prices could be a boost to the Philippine economy this year as the country is an importer of the commodity.

“Indeed, headwinds such as slowing China growth, soft demand from Europe and a more gradual US recovery, continued to weigh on the region’s Q1 growth,” Barclays said.

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GDP growth seen at robust 6.6% in Q1 | Business, News, The Philippine Star | philstar.com
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Phl readiness in PPP most improved in AsPac – EIU
By Lawrence Agcaoili (The Philippine Star)
Updated May 24, 2015 - 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines - The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has tagged the Philippines as the most improved country in Asia-Pacific in terms of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) readiness.

In a report entitled “Evaluating the environment for Public-Private Partnerships in Asia-Pacific, The 2014 Infrascope,” the EIU said the Philippines joined the developed PPP market group with an overall score of 64.6, improving to 7th place from the previous rank of 8th under the emerging market category with an overall score of 47.1.

The Philippines joined Korea (3rd), Japan (4th), India (5th), and India – Gujarat State (6th) in the developed PPP market with a score ranging between 60 and 79.9.

Australia topped the list with a score of 91.8, followed by the United Kingdom with 88.1.

“By finishing in 7th position, it (Philippines) is among those which have improved the most. It recorded the most-improved regulatory and institutional frameworks and is one of the leading countries in the study for improved investment climate and financial facilities,” the EIU stated in the study.

The report pointed out that the Philippines has one of the oldest Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) policies in the Asia-Pacific region, but has introduced a new sub-national regulatory framework and has used its increased capacity and transactional experience in recent years to promote capacity-building in emerging PPP markets within the region.

In terms of regulatory framework, the Philippines improved its rank to 4th with a score of 68.8 from 7th place in 2011 with a score of 43.8. Australia was in 1st place with 100 followed by UK with 96.9 and Korea with 90.6.

“The Philippines is the most improved country in overall rankings and the regulatory framework category as a result of significant regulatory reform in recent years, new biddings and selection procedures, better dispute resolution mechanisms, and a wider role for the national PPP Unit. Institutional roles have been further streamlined under the new PPP regime,” the report said.

In terms of institutional framework, the Philippines likewise increased its ranking to 4th place with a score of 66.7 from 8th place with a score of 41.7 in 2011. The Philippine ranked 9th in terms of operational maturity, from 10th place in 2011 and jumped to 7th place in terms of investment climate from 13th place. It was ranked 8th in terms of financial facilities and 6th in terms of subnational adjustment.

“In the Philippines, in addition to training and capacity building, regulatory amendments have improved evaluation and bidding timelines, giving bidders a longer time to prepare, and streamlined the formalities for small and municipal contracts,” it added.

The EIU cited the PPP Center’s “wider role” in the implementation of the PPP program as a significant factor in the country’s improvement.

It added that the PPP Center has produced guidance on how to conduct multi-criteria analysis (MCA) in project selection, while the newly-created PPP Governing Board has prepared more detailed policies on matters such as risk allocation and private-sector compensation rights.

According to EIU, the feat was achieved despite the controversies surrounding some projects, including the award of the P17.5 billion Mactan Cebu international airport expansion project to the tandem of GMR Infrastructure of India and Filipino-owned Megawide Construction Corp.

“This and earlier controversies related to the bidding and award procedures for major transport infrastructure projects indicate certain weaknesses in public-sector decision making. At present, most PPP stakeholders see the dispute resolution mechanism as transparent and fair, though the whole process can be inefficient due to the length of time it takes to reach a final decision,” it said.

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Phl readiness in PPP most improved in AsPac – EIU | Business, News, The Philippine Star | philstar.com
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Exports to start recovery in H2

By Kathleen A. Martin (The Philippine Star)
Updated May 24, 2015 - 12:00am


MANILA, Philippines - Exports should start increasing in the second half of the year on the expected recovery of trade partners, the research arm of Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co. said, despite the contraction recorded in the first quarter of the year.


Merchandise exports fell 0.2 percent to $14.247 billion in the first quarter from $14.277 billion in the same period last year.

“The lackluster export performance may serve as a drag to first quarter GDP (gross domestic product) growth, which is expected to be slower compared to the same quarter in 2014,” Mabellene Reynaldo, research analyst at Metrobank, said in a report.

“Expect exports to be slightly higher in the second half of the year as the US economy continues to strengthen. The long term trade picture is seen to improve with the recovery of the Philippines’ major trading partners,” she continued.

In the month of March alone, outbound shipments climbed 2.1 percent to $5.377 billion from $5.268 billion in the same month last year. This reversed a 2.96-percent contraction in February and also a 0.02-percent decrease in January.

Electronic products, which made up 43 percent of the total exports, grew 4.5 percent to $2.332 billion in March from $2.232 billion a year ago.

The increase in March exports was also due to higher shipments and sales of coconut oil, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, metal components, other mineral products, and clothing and accessories.

Japan accounted for the biggest chunk of Philippine exports in March at 20.8 percent, followed by the United States (16.4 percent), and China (10.9 percent).

Last year, merchandise exports went up nine percent to $61.81 billion from the $56.698 billion seen in 2013. The largest export markets last year were Japan, the US, China, Hongkong, and Singapore.

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Exports to start recovery in H2 | Business, News, The Philippine Star | philstar.com
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Moody’s says PH economy grew 7.3% in 1st quarter
Amy R. Remo
Philippine Daily Inquirer

4:11 AM | Saturday, May 23rd, 2015


The Philippine economy grew by 7.3 percent in the first quarter of the year, according to Moody’s Analytics.

Jumping the gun on the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Moody’s Analytics confirmed the continued growth of the economy under the Aquino administration in a report posted on ABS-CBN’s online portal on Friday.

Moody’s Analytics, a think tank, is an affiliate of Moody’s Investors Service, one of the world’s three major credit rating agencies.

At press time, there was no immediate comment from Malacañang or the finance department, as the official report on the country’s first quarter gross domestic product (GDP) has yet to be released.

National Economic and Development Authority Director General Arsenio M. Balisacan and PSA National Statistician Lisa Grace S. Bersales will release the 2015 First Quarter Performance of the Philippine Economy on May 28.

Moody’s Analytics credited the strong performance of the economy in the first quarter of the year on government’s higher infrastructure investment and spending.

“Moody’s said strong electronics exports also gave the economy a lift due to improved global demand especially from the US. Likewise, the country is expected to benefit most from low oil prices with businesses and even consumers able to spend more due to savings from fuel costs,” said Moody’s Analytics, in a report posted on ABS-CBN’s online site.


Apec’s 3rd fastest growth in 2014

The report said a 7.3 percent growth would help the economy be on track to meet the Aquino administration’s full year target of 7 to 8 percent.

In 2014, the economy posted a full-year growth of 6.1 percent.

Also in 2014, the Philippines posted the third fastest GDP growth among the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) economies, next to Papua New Guinea and China.

In Apec’s latest economic trends analysis titled, “Economic Resilience Amidst Global Headwinds,” the Philippines is seen growing by 6.7 percent this year, and 6.3 percent in 2016, enabling the country to remain as the third fastest growing economy among Apec members.

On the whole, the Apec members is seen to grow at a faster pace of 3.2 percent within the next two years on the back of a strong domestic demand and lower oil prices.


Silent

Citing data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Apec said in its latest economic trends analysis that the economic growth in the near term would also hinge on the impact of the United States’ economic resurgence and normalization of the monetary policy.

Last year, Apec economies proved resilient amid challenging external conditions as the bloc posted an average growth of 2.9 percent, which was similar to the level in 2013, but lower compared to the 3.4 percent world GDP growth estimate by the IMF.

This was amid uncertainties surrounding the path of oil prices and the timing of monetary normalization in the US.


Upside opportunities

This year, upside opportunities for growth would come mainly from domestic factors, particularly robust household spending that is ably supported by steady government consumption and investment, according to economic trends analysis.

In turn, accommodative conditions marked by low interest rates and strong credit growth remain important determinants of private consumption expenditures.

Falling oil prices continue to generate positive impact for oil importers via the consumption channel by increasing households’ purchasing power, the report stated.

Downside risks meanwhile are largely external in nature.


Uncertainties

“Uncertainties surrounding the trajectory of oil prices and the timing of US monetary policy normalization combined with slower economic activity in China will impact on the near-term GDP growth of Apec economies. The steady and significant decline in oil prices is expected to directly affect oil exporters, weighing down output levels,” it said.

As economies rebalance towards domestic drivers of growth, Apec members will now need to strengthen private consumption through more inclusive and sustainable growth.

“This will require both increasing labor productivity and innovation to raise wages and living standards, as well as reducing income uncertainties through safety nets and social insurance to allow households to smooth consumption.


Fiscal consolidation programs

Economies could consider implementing fiscal consolidation programs, where appropriate, that will take into account spending rationalization, revenue generation and subsidy reforms, which will make public funds available for programs aimed at improving economic inclusiveness, sustainability and innovation,” the report stated.

Such programs, in turn, will need to cover skills development, investments in infrastructure (including regulatory and financial reforms), making labor markets more open for women and disadvantaged groups, and enhancing institutions and governance at all levels to strengthen transmission mechanisms between policy and inclusive growth.

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Moody’s says PH economy grew 7.3% in 1st quarter | Inquirer Business
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PH backs support for small enterprises at APEC meet
Associated Press 11:48 PM
Saturday, May 23rd, 2015


The Philippines’ top trade official on Saturday called for support for the integration of micro, small and medium enterprises in global trade, which he said would help reduce poverty and inequality in the Asia-Pacific region.

Trade has been a powerful growth engine in the 21 economies comprising the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, where MSMEs account for over 97 percent of all businesses, said Philippine Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo.

Manila is pushing for greater support for the integration into the global trade and value chain of MSMEs, which provide jobs to more than half the workers in the Asia-Pacific region.

Domingo opened an APEC trade ministers’ meeting Saturday on the central Philippine resort island of Boracay, one of many meetings hosted this year by Manila before the APEC summit in November, a government statement said.

Domingo said these small businesses “play an important role in poverty alleviation and long-term growth” in each of the APEC economies and the region as a whole.

Such enterprises represent 98 of all registered businesses in the Philippines, employ about 60 percent of the nation’s work force and account for about one-third of the country’s gross domestic product, according to the Philippines’ Department of Trade and Industry.

The Philippines is seeking the adoption the “Boracay Action Agenda” to globalize MSMEs, which Manila says will foster the participation of these enterprises in regional and global markets.

The move will prioritize the simplification of procedures and documentary requirements for such enterprises, allow them to take advantage of electronic commerce platforms, encourage trade through online publication of tariff procedures and requirements, provide possible innovative financing, and strengthen institutional support, the Trade Department said.

The trade ministers also will discuss support for the multilateral trading system and regional economic integration and start groundwork for the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, it said.

Domingo has said the APEC trade ministers are expected to come out with the terms of reference for the study of the free trade area within the year so the study can commence in 2016.

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PH backs support for small enterprises at APEC meet | Inquirer Business
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Military and Defense News:

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Supplier of 'antiquated' military choppers was favored: witness
By Ryan Chua, ABS-CBN News
Posted at 05/20/2015 3:39 PM | Updated as of 05/20/2015 5:49 PM


But officials say chopper purchase was aboveboard

MANILA - The P1.25-billion contract to supply the Philippine military with refurbished utility helicopters was ''tailor-fitted'' for a company favored by certain officials of the Department of National Defense (DND), according to a person who claimed to have personal knowledge of the deal.

Rhodora Alvarez, a government employee who had close ties with Thach Nguyen of aircraft supplier Rice Aircraft Services Inc. (RASI), told the Senate Blue Ribbon committee that the UH-1 chopper specifications were designed so that only RASI could meet them.

These included a mechanism for maintaining the helicopter's main body, which other companies do not have.

''This is to prove to you the allegation that the project was tailor-fitted,'' said Alvarez, who said she served as a link between RASI and Department of National Defense officials when the deal was being negotiated.

''Alam nila na si Rice ay mayroong available helicopters. Ang hindi nila alam, hindi naman pala ito world-class. Hindi naman pala ito fully refurbished, at hindi naman ito best in the world.''
(They knew Rice had available helicopters. What they didn’t know was that those were not world-class, not fully refurbished, and not the best in the world.)

Nguyen was RASI's former representative in the Philippines. He now faces a lawsuit in the United States for misrepresenting himself as a state department official.

Alvarez said Defense Undersecretary Fernando Manalo, chairman of the agency's special bid and awards committee, used to be an agent for RASI. Manalo denied this.

Alvarez also said the choppers delivered to the Philippine Air Force in 2014 were of low quality.

For instance, she said none of the helicopters was able to fly when the military recently launched an all-out offensive against Muslim rebels in Mindanao.

Undersecretary Pio Lorenzo Batino said the DND is conducting an internal probe into the matter.


NEGOTIATED PROCUREMENT

The contract for supplying 21 helicopters went to the joint venture of RASI and Eagle Copter Ltd. through a negotiated procurement after several unsuccessful public biddings.

Only seven choppers were delivered to the Air Force, however. The contract was terminated after RASI and Eagle Copter failed to deliver the other units on time.

Senator JV Ejercito questioned the awarding of the contract to RASI -- albeit already with a partner -- which joined the public biddings but was disqualified and later found to have submitted fake documents.

Alvarez said DND Assistant Secretary Patrick Velez even blew his top when he found out RASI submitted fake documents such as financial statements. But the deal still pushed through, she said.

Velez told the committee that the agency did not know the documents were fake during the bidding and even when the negotiated procurement was made.

''What was already submitted by the joint venture were contracts by Eagle Copters and financial documents of Eagle Copters,'' he said.

''That's the reason we were not able to look into that.''


EXTORTION?

It was unclear why Alvarez, an employee of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, came out to speak on the issue. At the hearing, she said she was doing it for the country.

Senators, however, required her to submit a sworn statement supporting her claims.

Manalo said Alvarez only wanted to extort money from RASI.

''Noong madiskubre ng Rice ang malaking pera na ginastos niya na hindi niya ma-explain, suddenly, nag-demand siya na, 'Bigyan n'yo ako ng 15 percent. Otherwise ipapakansela ko ang kontrata'
(When Rice discovered huge amounts she spent but could not explain, she suddenly demanded 15 percent from the project, otherwise she would have the contract cancelled),'' he told reporters after the hearing.

Manalo also said Alvarez was among those who defended the deal with RASI when DND officials met to terminate the supply contract after the deliveries were not made on time.

''Hindi 'yon ang picture ng taong magsasabi na masama ang helicopter
(That’s not someone who would say the choppers are bad),'' he said.


OLD, BUT IN GOOD CONDITION

Defense officials, meanwhile, stood by their decision to purchase refurbished UH-1 helicopters that a senator described as antiquated, saying they followed the right processes in buying them and that the choppers are in good condition despite being old.

Velez said the choppers are in ''operational condition and can be upgraded to improve their capabilities.''

''The AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) does not buy obsolete equipment,'' he said.

Velez also said there was no intention to defraud the government when the choppers were bought, and that the DND only wanted to address the capability gap in the poorly equipped AFP despite its limited budget.

''That is not a crime,'' he said. ''That is our collective responsibility.''


ZOMBIES

Wednesday's hearing was prompted by a resolution calling for a probe into the purchase of 50-year-old helicopters, which for some lawmakers defeated the purpose of the military's modernization program.

Senator JV Ejercito, who filed the resolution, pointed out in an earlier interview that the German-made helicopters are older than retiring military personnel.

They were put on sale after being decommissioned by Germany's military.

''It just doesn't seem right that we are on a modernization program and yet we are buying antiquated 50-year-old helicopters,'' he said at the hearing.

''These are zombies already. They were in a graveyard in Germany.''


ABOVEBOARD

Manalo said lack of time was one of the reasons the contract was awarded to RASI-Eagle Copter in a negotiated manner after several failed biddings.

He stressed that the process was aboveboard, and that RASI-Eagle Copter was not a favored supplier. He also vouched for the quality of the choppers

''I would like to reiterate that contrary to the allegations the UH-1 helicopters delivered to the Philippine Air Force were all in good condition, reliable, and compliant with the requirements of the Philippine Air Force,'' said Manalo.


WHO'S RESPONSIBLE

Still, Senator Francis Escudero noted the contract was still given to RASI-Eagle Copter despite its questionable record and failure to deliver the other choppers on time.

''Shouldn't someone be held responsible for this? This is already negligence on someone's part,'' he said.

Ejercito also said he has spoken with some Air Force pilots on what they thought about the refurbished choppers.

One of the helicopters reportedly needed to have a change of engine after only three months in operation.

''When we asked the ordinary pilots who will be using these on a day-to-day basis, they said they were not confident in flying these refurbished helicopters,'' Ejercito said.

Air Force officials maintained, however, that the helicopters are working well and even better than other units in their fleet.

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Supplier of 'antiquated' military choppers was favored: witness | ABS-CBN News
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Politics and International Diplomacy News:

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Phl to join Bangkok meet on Rohingya crisis next week
By Edu Punay (The Philippine Star)
Updated May 23, 2015 - 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines will join a 15-nation meeting in Bangkok, Thailand next week to address the migration crisis involving thousands of Rohingyas who escaped persecution in Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima bared this yesterday after meeting with United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) representative to the Philippines Bernard Kerblat.

In an interview, De Lima said the Philippine government has been invited to the meeting. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will lead the delegation.

Representatives of the United States and Australia will also join the meeting on May 29, which will be attended by members of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), she added.

De Lima said the Philippines might present its position on issues concerning refugees and asylum as well as formally offer aid in whatever collective action by participating nations aimed at addressing the plight of the boat people.

She said the UNHCR had earlier asked the Philippines to send rescue boats to the seas in Indonesia and Malaysia where about 3,000 Rohingyas have been drifting for the past few days, but clarified that the government has not yet decided on it.

“That’s something that we can also endorse, but it’s not going to be my decision,” she said.

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Asec. Javier Jimenez said they would likely tap disaster quick response funds in case of relief efforts for Rohingya refugees.

Kerblat, for his part, confirmed that the regional meeting was called by the royal government of Thailand and will also be attended by three UN organizations.

He pointed out that the issue “cannot and will not be solved by a single state. But it will be solved through a process of consultation, gathering all impacted states, plus friends of the issue in the region, including the Philippines.”

“Although the Philippines is not affected, we believe it has a lot to contribute to the debate, to the search for solutions, through goodwill and exchanges,” he added. – With Janvic Mateo, Pia Lee-Brago, Rainier Allan Ronda

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Phl to join Bangkok meet on Rohingya crisis next week | Headlines, News, The Philippine Star | philstar.com
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SCS / West PH Sea News:

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Chinese blast fishing off Pag-asa threatens island's livelihood
(philstar.com)
Updated May 24, 2015 - 11:05am


MANILA, Philippines — Residents of Philippine-occupied Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea are not fazed by the growing Chinese' militaristic presence in the disputed waters, but the foreigners' economic practices leave Filipinos worried.

Mary Joy Batiancila, Pag-asa administrator, said fisherfolk are deeply concerned about the banned fishing activities of Chinese and Vietnamese fishermen who intrude in what the Philippines considers as its exclusive economic zone.

Philippine Coast Guard, Pag-asa barangay officials and fishermen would regularly chase or warn illegal fishers away but they kept on returning.

"They are engaged in blast or dynamite fishing. They also use cyanide," Batiancila said.

As a result, the natural ecosystem and the "bahura" or coral reefs around Pag-asa Island are destroyed and the source of livelihood of Filipino fisherfolk are adversely affected.

"[The foreign fishing activity] leads to a drop in the fish catch or incomes of our own fishermen," she said.

Kalayaan town mayor Eugenio Bitoon-on said these illegal fishing activities made local officials of Kalayaan and Palawan province alert worried over the condition of the sea, considered one of the richest fishing grounds in the country.

Batiancila, meanwhile, said the area around Pag-asa alone is abundant with turtles, dolphins, manta rays and various kinds of fish.

Pag-asa is surrounded by around 20 to 30 hectares of reefs that are home to aquarium and commercial fish.

It provides livelihood and food for the island's 200 dwellers. It is often visited by rare types of turtles like the endangered leatherback.

Just some three nautical miles away from Pag-asa is a sandbar islanders call the "Secret Island," Batiancila said.

The island is also home to teeming marine life which the Islanders are keeping watch over.

About 25.7 kilometers from Pag-asa is Subi Reef, also of the Spratlys or Kalayaan Island group.

On Subi Reef, China government are undertaking massive reclamation and building structures, in the process destroying sea life and hectares upon hectares of coral reefs.

Bitoon-on said the Chinese seem bent on transforming the reef into a man-made island.

Chinese and Vietnamese fishermen often visit Subi Reef and the Secret Island to gather giant clams from the area, leading to a significant decline of the resource, according to recent surveys by the Coast Guard and local officials.

"We cannot perform arrests against them even though we have the maritime police with us. We do not have facilities and transportation to stand against them," Batiancila said.

She said the least authorities could do is chase away the foreign fishers every chance they get.

"But we can never engage them," she said.

Despite not having the right facilities, the people of Pag-asa and the local officials of Kalayaan and Palawan expressed utmost support in protecting the natural treasures of West Philippine Sea.

Bitoon-on said he is thankful for the support the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Coast Guard extend to Pag-asa.

He said he is confident Pag-asa residents are secure and safe in their homes on the island.

For now, local government is keen on developing another means of livelihood for their consistuents—a tourism route through West Philippine Sea which will include Pag-asa Island.

Bitoon-on said the new industry would help generate more jobs and income for those residing in the Kalayaan islands.

AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang, in his May 11 visit in Pag-asa Island, called on people to continue backing the country's maritime and territorial claims despite stiff opposition, especially from China.

"This is ours!" Catapang declared, thereby setting a battle cry for the Philippine military in asserting sovereignty over the potentially gas-rich maritime features.

The military leader assured residents of security for tourism-related plans for the disputed areas, expressing optimism that the rich reefs around Pag-asa will attract domestic and international tourism. - Priam Nepomuceno, Philippine News Agency

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Chinese blast fishing off Pag-asa threatens island's livelihood | Headlines, News, The Philippine Star | philstar.com
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Miscellaneous News:

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Filipino turns ordinary car into autonomous vehicle
Gervie Kay S. Estella
Philippine Daily Inquirer

12:59 AM | Sunday, May 24th, 2015

SINGAPORE—A Filipino professor in Singapore has converted an ordinary car and two buggies into driverless vehicles, and is now working on an autonomous car system that may soon be part of the city-state’s public transportation system.


Marcelo Ang Jr., 56, oversees a 12-member group of students and staff members called Autonomous Vehicles Group (AVG). They developed two driverless golf buggies and an autonomous compact car that are “environment-friendly” and “cheaper” than other versions of their kind.


Ang, an associate professor of National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Department of Mechanical Engineering, said the vehicles would enable the old, handicapped and intoxicated people to “drive” safely to their destinations.



“My motivation in starting this project is my wanting to become independent when it comes to driving,” said Ang, also the Director of NUS’ Advanced Robotics Center. “As I grow older, I feel it’s very important to be independent and mobile, to go to the library and shop without having to rely on my kids.”



The vehicles were developed in cooperation between NUS and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), through the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART).



Ang supervises the group, together with Emilio Frazzoli, his counterpart at MIT.



NUS-SMART’s version may be similar to Google’s Self-Driving Car that has $150,000 worth of equipment. But the former is “cheaper,” with the conversion costing only around $30,000. The Singaporean vehicle can also navigate indoors, underground, and even in areas with no Global Positioning System (GPS) signal, said James Fu Guo Ming, SMART project lead.



This program is “proof that you don’t have to be a $300-billion giant company like Google to work on an autonomous vehicle,” said Fu, who is also a former student of Ang. “The work here is being done mostly by students with the help of research staff.”



Ang’s team is not only focusing on converting vehicles, but is also developing the Mobility-on-Demand (MOD) system.



Robotics


Users will be able to use their smartphones to book autonomous vehicles, which will take them to the nearest train station where they can ride toward their final destinations.



Ang said MOD was created to “supplement Singapore’s public transportation system” and solve the so-called “first-mile” or “last-mile” problem, where passengers have difficulty traveling from their starting location to transportation networks, such as bus, train and ferry stations, and vice versa.



“In Singapore, this is much needed because trains are very efficient, while buses are not,” Ang said. “After I arrived to my destination, the car will go to the next person who needs it. If you have this system, would you want to still own a car for everyday commute?”



The project is funded by the Singapore National Research Foundation through SMART at the Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE). It is part of the country’s Smart Nation initiative, launched by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in 2014.



Ang had several other programs on robotics since he started working at NUS in 1989, including the Ship Welding Robotic System. But he said the MOD system is one of his most important projects.



“If implemented, the system will be one of my greatest legacies,” Ang said. “The transportation system affects all sectors of society, including the rich and the poor, and it will have a great impact to everybody.”



The father of three boys has been into robotics since he was young. He remembered tinkering with broken things at home in Manila, including toasters, ovens, fans, door locks and even their car, and finding ways to fix them.



He studied Mechanical Engineering at De La Salle University, where he taught for a year before getting a job at Intel Philippines Manufacturing Inc. He later left for Hawaii and took up his master’s degree also in Mechanical Engineering at University of Hawaii at Manoa. He then earned his PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Rochester in New York.



City of the future


Ang was teaching at University of Rochester when he was offered to be a professor at NUS. At that time, Ang said, Singapore was “not as developed as it is today.”



“Ambassador HE Professor Tommy Koh said Singapore aims to be the city of the future, and he asked me to join NUS so I can become part of it,” Ang said.



Ang immediately packed his bags for Singapore and, in three months, brought his family to settle in the country.



NUS and the Singaporean government made true their promise to support Ang’s projects. When the National Research Foundation offered a grant in 2010 for programs on future urban mobility, Ang pitched the concept of the “robot car” and of converting cars into autonomous vehicles to Damien Chong and Qin Baoxing, his students at the time who just recently earned their PhD and are now part of AVG.



The team was able to launch two driverless golf buggies—DJ (Driverless Jockey) and BX (Buggy Xtreme), named after Chong and Baoxing—which ferried passengers at a speed of 10 kilometers per hour around the Chinese and Japanese Gardens in October last year. The AVG also launched Singapore’s first locally developed driverless car called SCOT, which is designed for operations on public roads.



Unlike other driverless cars which are retrofitted with expensive 3D laser sensors, SCOT relies on low-cost off-the-shelf Lidar sensors, which enable the car to drive even in tunnels and places where GPS signals would be hindered, according to a statement from SMART.



Human error


Fu said the autonomous vehicles would provide a safer mode of transportation, more productivity, better use of road infrastructure, and transportation access even to those who cannot drive.



“Accidents are due to human error, as some people are texting, calling or even watching movies while they are driving. If the cars are driving by themselves in a very predictable manner, it would be safer,” Fu said. “At the same time, while you are inside the car, you can be doing other things like checking your e-mail and Facebook, and watching YouTube, all in safety as the car drives for you.”



Ang said the Singaporean government is supporting the prototyping stage for the MOD system, including the development of the autonomous vehicles. The group is also planning to take the car to the “One North” area, a place designated for field trials of autonomous vehicles and where many pedestrians and vehicles are present. The trial will probably start next month, he added.



But Ang wants one more thing—to see this technology in his own country, the Philippines.



“Definitely, I want to see these autonomous vehicles in the Philippines, where there is a lot of urban development and traffic, and the population is very huge,” Ang said. “It would be nice if we have autonomous vehicles and a shared-car system-mobility on demand. This may be a solution to our traffic problems and will definitely make people more productive.”


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Filipino turns ordinary car into autonomous vehicle | Inquirer Business
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Business News:

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What's With the Philippine Economy?

A disappointing quarter has some worrying about Manila’s prospects


By Prashanth Parameswaran
May 29, 2015


Over the past few years, the Philippines has emerged as one of the most vibrant economies in the world, shedding its old image as “the sick man of Asia.” Manila closed out last year as Asia’s second-fastest rising economy, after China, with a 6.1% growth rate.

Yet the first quarter statistics for 2015 are a bit worrying. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, growth in the Philippine economy slowed in the first quarter of 2015 to 5.2%, its weakest level in three years and way below the 6.6% mark many had predicted.

The slowdown has been attributed to several factors. Exports dropped dramatically – growing just 1% on year compared with 12.8% in the fourth-quarter – amid declining external demand across some of Manila’s main trading partners such as Japan and China. Government spending was also quite low at 4.8%, nearly half what it was in the fourth quarter of last year.

The key question, though, is whether this is just a blip or the start of a slower growth trend for the rest of the year. Philippine officials are convinced that it is the former. The country’s economic planning chief, Arsenio Balisacan, says government spending and exports can be expected to pick up in the coming quarters. Philippine Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima also told CNBC that despite the focus on government spending, private sector figures were still quite encouraging in the first quarter. Investment also expanded significantly by around 10.1% on year, while household consumption also rose relative to the previous quarter.

More generally, the fundamentals of the Philippine economy are quite strong. For instance, in a report released last month, the World Bank noted that strong remittances, falling oil prices, and upbeat consumer and business sentiments indicated strong growth for 2015. It suggested that a 6.5% growth was not out of reach.

But the report also warned of general risks to near-term growth, some of which played into the country’s sluggish first quarter in 2015. These include delays in the planned execution of the 2015 budget, delays in investment (in particular those under private-public partnership projects) and a tepid global economy. The lower 5.2% growth rate, and the underlying trends, make the government’s 7-8% growth forecast for 2015 – and even the World Bank’s lower 6.5% figure – look quite optimistic for now.

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What’s With the Philippine Economy? | The Diplomat
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Business News:

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Mitsubishi bags Panglao airport
By Darwin G. Amojelar
May. 27, 2015 at 11:25pm


A joint venture of Mitsubishi Corp. and Chiyoda Corp. of Japan has won a P7-billion contract from the government to build a world-class, eco-friendly airport in Panglao Island, Bohol.

Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said the New Bohol (Panglao) Airport would replace Tagbilaran Airport as Bohol’s main gateway.

Six Japanese consortiua submitted bids last year for the Panglao airport, which will be financed by an official development assistance loan worth 10.8 billion yen (P4.5 billion) from the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

Tagbilaran Airport, the 11th busiest airport in the country, served around 789,800 passengers in 2013 despite its small size of only 850 square meters.

Construction of the P7-billion New Bohol Airpot will begin in June and is expected to be completed within 30 months or by late 2017 to early 2018. The project involves the construction of a 2,000-meter runway and a modern passenger terminal building.

The first greenfield airport under the Aquino Administration will be 10 times bigger than the Tagbilaran Airport, with a floor area of around 8,800 square meters. This will also boost the annual passenger capacity to 1.7 million passengers.

The planned airport, in line with Bohol’s eco-tourism branding, will have environmentally friendly and energy-saving features such as the installation of LED lights. Only the pre-departure area will have air conditioning, operating with solar powered energy while the rest of the areas will be open.

“Tourists in Bohol continue to grow each year that passes. Unfortunately, the current airport may not be able to accommodate the increase over time. This gives us the need to cater to the increasing number of tourists and this means modernizing and expanding the airport with a design that is of international standards,” Abaya said.

The Transportation Department is also in the process of bidding out the operations and maintenance contract of the airport.

The winning bidder will take over O&M upon the completion of civil works.

Japan International Cooperation Agency chief representative Niwa Noriaki said aside from the construction of New Bohol Airport, the government of Japan assisted the Philippines in the development of the air transport sector through completed projects including Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2, Mactan Airport, New Iloilo Airport and Air Navigation Facilities Modernization Projects Phase 1 to III.

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Mitsubishi bags Panglao airport - Manila Standard Today
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Politics and National Security News:

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Noy to raise sea dispute issue with Abe
By Aurea Calica (The Philippine Star)
Updated May 30, 2015 - 12:00am


MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino is expected to raise the West Philippine Sea dispute during his meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Japan next week.

However, there is no word yet if the Philippines will specifically ask Tokyo to join calls for China to stop its massive reclamation activities in disputed waters.

Aquino will leave for Tokyo on June 2 for a state visit until June 5.

The President’s visit would boost relations between the two countries on all aspects including defense and security, according to Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Asian and Pacific Affairs Minda Cruz.

Malacañang has reiterated its position that China should stop reclamation activities in the West Philippine Sea, Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. of the Presidential Communications Operations Office said.

On Thursday, US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter told Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin in a meeting in Hawaii that Washington’s pledge to defend the Philippines remained “ironclad” and called for an end to land reclamation in the South China Sea.

Asked about the message Aquino’s trip would send to China amid concerns over its reclamation activities, Cruz said the meeting between the President and Abe would focus on bilateral ties between the Philippines and Japan.

But it would include enhanced relations and cooperation on defense and security to maintain peace and stability in the region, Cruz said.

“It has always been that way… The Philippines and Japan had been cooperating on a lot of regional issues. Both countries put importance on freedom of navigation, observance of international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea as well as the movement of free trade,” Cruz said.

Cruz said Japan had always been active in helping the Philippine Coast Guard build its capacity to patrol the country’s internal waters.

She noted that the Philippines and Japan had been allies in a lot of issues being part of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum and East Asia Summit.

“The South China Sea issue is an issue that remains important to us, and I think to the rest of the region and the rest of the world. So we expect this issue to be discussed during the President’s state visit,” Cruz said.

Asked about direct military assistance from Japan, Cruz said, “we are not defense allies but our strategic relationship is anchored not only on security but also on political security, economic, cultural as well as social areas.”

“So for the defense cooperation… we have been very active in terms of capacity building for the Philippines and training between the two sides... I think that will continue to be enhanced by both sides,” she said.

Cruz expressed hope that the foreign and defense ministers of the two countries would be able to have regular meetings to boost defense cooperation.

On Thursday, Coloma said the Philippine position had long been for the observance of the status quo in the West Philippine Sea, which was contrary to what China was doing.

Coloma said the Philippines and other countries, including the US had expressed concern over China’s reclamation activities in the South China Sea.

He added there was no reason to doubt Washington’s promise of “ironclad” support for the Philippines given its close military and defense ties under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.

Meanwhile, President Aquino will address the Japanese parliament during his state visit to Japan from June 2 to 5.

In November 1986, Aquino’s mother, Corazon, spoke before the parliament following the restoration of democracy in the Philippines.

Cruz said it would be an opportunity for the President to present the available opportunities in the Philippines in terms of business and people-to-people exchanges.

“I think it is of interest for Japan to see how the Philippines has been doing,” she said.

Cruz noted that Japan and the Philippines have developed strong ties over the years.

Aquino will be welcomed by Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo where a state banquet will be hosted in honor of the President.

The Chief Executive would also hold a meeting with Japanese investors.

He is scheduled to speak at the special session of Nikkei Future of Asia Conference 2015 and would interact with the Filipino community in Japan.

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Noy to raise sea dispute issue with Abe | Headlines, News, The Philippine Star | philstar.com
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SCS / West PH Sea News:

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Impasse over China's island-building shows no sign of easing
By Lolita C. Baldor (Associated Press)
Updated May 31, 2015 - 10:43am


SINGAPORE — China vigorously defended its South China Sea land reclamation projects in the face of persistent criticism from U.S. leaders at an international security summit Saturday as the standoff in the Asia-Pacific region shows few signs of abating.

U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter and other officials sharply condemned the artificial island-building, but provided no details on what steps the U.S. may take to press China into diplomatic talks.

Carter said China's land reclamation was out of step with international rules, and that turning underwater land into airfields would not expand its sovereignty.

He and others said the U.S. opposes "any further militarization" of the disputed lands. That was a reference to two large motorized artillery vehicles that officials said China had placed on one of the artificial islands.

Chinese officials, in public statements and a private meeting, defended the construction and slammed the U.S. for interfering.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the U.S. was "making absurd remarks about China's long-established sovereignty and rights, stirring up trouble and slinging accusations regarding China's appropriate and rational construction activities on its islands. China resolutely opposes this."

David Shear, the assistant U.S. defense secretary for Asian issues, told reporters that a private meeting with Chinese Rear Adm. Guan Youfei, the chief of foreign affairs at the defense ministry, was "spirited and candid."

"There aren't any silver bullets to resolving this," said Shear. "It's going to take time, and it's going to take some determined diplomacy by us and with our partners."

At the conference, U.S. senators and officials from other Pacific nations questioned whether the U.S. would take action.

Carter and other officials, including Adm. Harry Harris, who just took over U.S. Pacific Command, declined to talk about what diplomatic or military steps the U.S. would be willing to take.

U.S. Sen. John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the U.S. should not invite China to a major military exercise in the Pacific in 2016. But Harris said China has already been invited, and that the two countries must engage if they are to build a better relationship and lessen the chances for misunderstandings.

But, he said, "we always have the option of changing our approach."

He also said he was concerned by the artillery weapons, which were discovered at least several weeks ago. Two U.S. officials who are familiar with intelligence about the vehicles say they have been removed. The officials weren't authorized to discuss the intelligence and spoke only on condition of anonymity.

The Pentagon would not release any photos to support its contention that the vehicles were there.

China's assertive behavior in the South China Sea has become an increasingly sore point in relations with the United States, even as President Barack Obama and China's President Xi Jinping have tried to deepen cooperation in other areas, such as climate change.

"Turning an underwater rock into an airfield simply does not afford the rights of sovereignty or permit restrictions on international air or maritime transit," Carter told the audience at the International Institute for Strategic Studies summit.

China's actions have been "reasonable and justified," said Senior Col. Zhao Xiaozhuo, deputy director of the Center on China-America Defense Relations at the People's Liberation Army's Academy of Military Science.

Zhao challenged Carter, asking whether America's criticism of China and its military reconnaissance activities in the South China Sea "help to resolve the disputes" and maintain peace and stability in the region.

Carter responded that China's expanding land reclamation projects are unprecedented in scale. He said the U.S. has been flying and operating ships in the region for decades and has no intention of stopping.

While Carter's criticism was aimed largely at China, he made it clear that other nations who are doing smaller land reclamation projects also must stop.

One of those countries is Vietnam, which Carter is scheduled to visit during this 11-day trip across Asia. Others are Malaysia, the Philippines and Taiwan.

Carter said the U.S. will continue to sail, fly and operate in the region, and warned that the Pentagon will be sending its "best platforms and people" to the Asia-Pacific. Those would include, he said, new high-tech submarines, surveillance aircraft, the stealth destroyer and new aircraft carrier-based early-warning aircraft.

One senior U.S. defense official has said the U.S. was considering more military flights and patrols closer to the projects in the South China Sea, to emphasize reclaimed lands are not China's territorial waters.

Officials also are looking at ways to adjust the military exercises in the region to increase U.S. presence if needed. That official was not authorized to discuss the options publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

One possibility would be for U.S. ships to travel within 12 miles of the artificial islands, to further make the point that they are not sovereign Chinese land.

___


Associated Press news assistant Liu Zheng in Beijing contributed to this report.


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Impasse over China's island-building shows no sign of easing | Headlines, News, The Philippine Star | philstar.com
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US opposes 'further militarization' of South China Sea
By Lolita C. Baldor and Matthew Pennington (Associated Press)
Updated May 30, 2015 - 10:15am


SINGAPORE — China's land reclamation in the South China Sea is out of step with international rules, and turning underwater land into airfields won't expand its sovereignty, Defense Secretary Ash Carter told an international security conference Saturday, stepping up America's condemnation of the communist giant as Beijing officials sat in the audience.

Carter told the room full of Asia-Pacific leaders and experts that the U.S. opposes "any further militarization" of the disputed lands.

His comments came as defense officials revealed that China had put two large artillery vehicles on one of the artificial islands it is creating in the South China Sea. The discovery, made at least several weeks ago, fuels fears in the U.S and across the Asia-Pacific that China will try to use the land reclamation projects for military purposes.

The weaponry was discovered at least several weeks ago, and two U.S. officials who are familiar with intelligence about the vehicles say they have been removed. The officials weren't authorized to discuss the intelligence and spoke only on condition of anonymity.

The Pentagon would not release any photos to support its contention that the vehicles were there.

China's assertive behavior in the South China Sea has become an increasingly sore point in relations with the United States, even as President Barack Obama and China's President Xi Jinping have sought to deepen cooperation in other areas, such as climate change.

Pentagon spokesman Brent Colburn said the U.S. was aware of the artillery, but he declined to provide other details. Defense officials described the weapons as self-propelled artillery vehicles and said they posed no threat to the U.S. or American territories.

While Carter did not refer directly to the weapons in his speech, he told the audience that now is the time for a diplomatic solution to the territorial disputes because "we all know there is no military solution."

"Turning an underwater rock into an airfield simply does not afford the rights of sovereignty or permit restrictions on international air or maritime transit," Carter told the audience at the International Institute for Strategic Studies summit.

And while his criticism was aimed largely at China, he made it clear that other nations who are doing smaller land reclamation projects also must stop.

One of those countries is Vietnam, which Carter is scheduled to visit during this 11-day trip across Asia. Others are Malaysia, the Philippines and Taiwan.

Asked about images of weapons on the islands, China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said she was "not aware of the situation you mention."

She also scolded Carter, saying the U.S. should be "rational and calm and stop making any provocative remarks, because such remarks not only do not help ease the controversies in the South China Sea, but they also will aggravate the regional peace and stability."

Carter appeared to strike back in his speech, saying that the U.S. is concerned about "the prospect of further militarization, as well as the potential for these activities to increase the risk of miscalculation or conflict." And he said the U.S. "has every right to be involved and be concerned."

But while Carter stood in China's backyard and added to the persistent drumbeat of U.S. opposition to Beijing's activities, he did little to give Asia-Pacific nations a glimpse into what America is willing to do to achieve a solution.

He said the U.S. will continue to sail, fly and operate in the region, and warned that the Pentagon will be sending its "best platforms and people" to the Asia-Pacific. Those would include, he said, new high-tech submarines, surveillance aircraft, the stealth destroyer and new aircraft carrier-based early-warning aircraft.

But he said little about how to solve the stand-off with China, other than calling for diplomatic talks and peaceful resolutions.

One senior defense official has said the U.S. is considering more military flights and patrols closer to the projects in the South China Sea, to emphasize reclaimed lands are not China's territorial waters. Officials also are looking at ways to adjust the military exercises in the region to increase U.S. presence if needed. That official was not authorized to discuss the options publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

One possibility would be for U.S. ships to travel within 12 miles of the artificial islands, to further make the point that they are not sovereign Chinese land.

The U.S. has been flying surveillance aircraft in the region, prompting China to file a formal protest.

U.S. and other regional officials have expressed concerns about the island building, including worries that it may be a prelude to navigation restrictions or the enforcement of a possible air defense identification zone over the South China Sea. China declared such a zone over disputed Japanese-held islands in the East China Sea in 2013.

Last June, the U.S. called for a freeze on construction work in disputed areas, but Beijing only increased its land reclamation. In recent months, commercial satellite imagery has put a spotlight on the rapid expansion of artificial islands.

China has said the islands are its territory and that the buildings and other infrastructure are for public service use and to support fishermen.

___

Pennington reported from Washington. AP news assistant Liu Zheng in Beijing contributed to this report.

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US opposes 'further militarization' of South China Sea | Headlines, News, The Philippine Star | philstar.com
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Philippines may get caught in crossfire between U.S., China

By JC Gotinga, CNN Philippines
Updated 17:35 PM PHT Fri, May 29, 2015


(CNN Philippines) — Cannon fire welcomed U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter at Pearl Harbor — the site of the infamous Japanese attack that dragged the U.S. into the Second World War IN 1941.

During his visit there, Carter made it clear: The U.S. does not want a war in the South China Sea, part of which Filipinos call the West Philippine Sea.

But Carter was also clear in saying that the U.S. would stand with its allies against provocations from China.

"China's actions are bringing countries in the region together in new ways," he said. "And they're increasing demand for American engagement in the Asia-Pacific, and we're going to meet it. W e will remain the principal power in the asia-pacific for decades to come."

China's Foreign Ministry hit right back, saying the U.S. is "messing up" the Asia-Pacific region and that it's using double standards in addressing the issue.

For China, it's the U.S., along with other claimant countries like the Philippines, who are the intruders.

Philippine Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin was in talks recently with Carter, who affirmed that Washington's alliance with Manila is ironclad.

Chito Santa Romana, a former Beijing bureau chief of ABC News, said that alliance is a double-edged sword.

In an interview on Thursday (May 28) Santa Romana, who's president of the Philippine Association for China Studies, said: "The Philippines, being the treaty ally, you now face the risk of being involved in a great power rivalry. There is a strong possibility that the Philippines could be caught in the crossfire between the two powers."

Just a day before, on Wednesday, the Chinese military released a document stating its strategy in the South China Sea. It shows a shift from defense to the possibility of offense.

Santa Romana pointed out that neither the U.S. nor China would want to start a war.

But if both sides keep tailing each other's military planes and ships in the disputed waters, one false move could lead to catastrophe.

"The greater risk is that with the two sides now challenging each other, how much restraint can they exercise to minimize the risk of a miscalculation?" Santa Romana said.

The underlying issue, he added, is the power contest between the U.S. and China.

And although the geopolitical situation is increasingly volatile, the strong economic ties between the two nations ensure that they themselves will want to keep their tensions under control.

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Philippines may get caught in crossfire between U.S., China - CNN Philippines
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Business News:

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Mitsubishi bags Panglao airport
By Darwin G. Amojelar
May. 27, 2015 at 11:25pm


A joint venture of Mitsubishi Corp. and Chiyoda Corp. of Japan has won a P7-billion contract from the government to build a world-class, eco-friendly airport in Panglao Island, Bohol.

Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said the New Bohol (Panglao) Airport would replace Tagbilaran Airport as Bohol’s main gateway.

Six Japanese consortiua submitted bids last year for the Panglao airport, which will be financed by an official development assistance loan worth 10.8 billion yen (P4.5 billion) from the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

Tagbilaran Airport, the 11th busiest airport in the country, served around 789,800 passengers in 2013 despite its small size of only 850 square meters.

Construction of the P7-billion New Bohol Airpot will begin in June and is expected to be completed within 30 months or by late 2017 to early 2018. The project involves the construction of a 2,000-meter runway and a modern passenger terminal building.

The first greenfield airport under the Aquino Administration will be 10 times bigger than the Tagbilaran Airport, with a floor area of around 8,800 square meters. This will also boost the annual passenger capacity to 1.7 million passengers.

The planned airport, in line with Bohol’s eco-tourism branding, will have environmentally friendly and energy-saving features such as the installation of LED lights. Only the pre-departure area will have air conditioning, operating with solar powered energy while the rest of the areas will be open.

“Tourists in Bohol continue to grow each year that passes. Unfortunately, the current airport may not be able to accommodate the increase over time. This gives us the need to cater to the increasing number of tourists and this means modernizing and expanding the airport with a design that is of international standards,” Abaya said.

The Transportation Department is also in the process of bidding out the operations and maintenance contract of the airport.

The winning bidder will take over O&M upon the completion of civil works.

Japan International Cooperation Agency chief representative Niwa Noriaki said aside from the construction of New Bohol Airport, the government of Japan assisted the Philippines in the development of the air transport sector through completed projects including Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2, Mactan Airport, New Iloilo Airport and Air Navigation Facilities Modernization Projects Phase 1 to III.

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Mitsubishi bags Panglao airport - Manila Standard Today
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This is in Bohol Province yes? This is going to be great ! :)
 
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Vietnamese software firm opens site in Cebu

Sunday, May 31, 2015
By
KATLENE O. CACHO
vietnam.jpg

Vietnamese Connections. FPT Software Chairman Hoang Nam Tien (left) and Managing Director Tran Duy Vinh of FPT Software Philippines Corp. take questions during the opening of the software development company’s first development center in Cebu City. (Sun.Star Foto/Allan Defensor)


A VIETNAMESE software development firm has expanded its operations to Cebu.

FPT Software opened last Friday its first development center in the Philippines in Ebloc 3 of the Cebu IT Park with an initial head count of 62 software engineers.

“We are very delighted to have the Philippines in our globalization strategy...Placing an office in the Philippines is an important step of FPT Software’s Asean expansion strategy, and Cebu is the forerunner in this game. We aim to make FPT the leader of Asean in the global IT World Cup,” said Hoang Nam Tien, FPT Software chairman. (Asean stands for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.)

FPT is the largest Vietnamese IT company and ranked ninth in the Forbes Top 50 listed companies there. It operates in 19 countries and reported its latest revenue at US$1.65 billion.

The new center, according to the company, will help fulfill its global strategy and continuous growth, and is part of a drive to have 30,000 employees by 2020.
“With the right people, right place, right time setting up, our office in Cebu has been extremely fast and smooth. We already have a spacious office, a strong management team and have also transferred some important projects to Cebu,” Tien said.

Promising

FPT Software Philippines targets to add 200 software engineers to its resource pool by the end of this year. By 2020, the company hopes to employ 2,000 workers in the Philippines.

The Philippines is considered a promising destination for the software industry due to its number of IT and engineering graduates, as well as employees trained in the business process outsourcing-information technology-knowledge process outsourcing (BPO-IT-KPO) sector. Workers’ good command of English, high productivity, efficient support from the government and favorable conditions regarding IT infrastructure were also cited in its favor.

“Filipinos’ excellent English communication skills, right work attitude and impressive technical skills, specifically on software development, on top of your inherent warm hospitality, are some of the factors that made us choose to expand operations in the Philippines,” said Tien.

“Cebu is just the starting point. We will be closely looking at other key cities for future expansions.”

FPT Software Philippines leased a 600-square-meter area in EBloc 3 with an initial capacity of 120 seats to run the daytime operations. The firm is also looking at bringing their BPO services here.

Job prospects

Government and private officials welcomed FPT Software’s entry to Cebu, saying that their presence is a big boost to Cebu’s growing BPO-IT-KPO industry.

“FPT’s expansion here is an Asean integration in the making,” said Ezekiel Sarcauga, officer-in-charge of the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) 7.

President Greg Gabison of the Cebu Educational Development Foundation for Information Technology (Cedf-IT) said FPT’s presence is a welcome development as it will help strengthen Cebu’s footing in the KPO industry.

“This high-value outsourcing industry opens opportunities for our computer science and IT graduates,” said Gabison, adding that Cedf-IT was instrumental in bringing FPT to Cebu.

Annually, Cebu produces around 3,500 IT graduates. Some 30-40 percent land in IT companies, while the rest take on call center or technical support jobs.

FPT Software is also introducing its new development center in Myanmar, which is expected to be opened in June 2015. These new grounds are expected to be “a backyard” of Vietnam to help FPT Software better meet the growing demands for software globally, the company said in its website.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on June 01, 2015.

Vietnamese software firm opens site in Cebu | Sun.Star

Vietnam & Philippines :enjoy:
 
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