Philippines Defence Forum

[Cossack25A1]

I don't trust the Aquino government on doing something and it will be Haiyan redux.

Also, a pretty ironic name.
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Super Typhoon Hagupit takes aim on the Philippines
Doyle Rice, USA TODAY 5:14 p.m. EST December 3, 2014

Super Typhoon Hagupit — on track to be the world's most powerful storm this year — is forecast to hit or graze the Philippines by the weekend.

Hagupit strengthened into a typhoon Tuesday and continued to strengthen Wednesday, with sustained winds of 150 mph, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center said.

That is equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane. A typhoon is the same type of storm as a hurricane but is called a typhoon in the western Pacific Ocean.

The storm was about 800 miles east of the Philippines and could be near the island nation by Saturday.

The Philippine government on Wednesday sent food and medical supplies to central provinces in the path of Hagupit, GMA News reported. Residents of coastal villages and landslide-prone communities were told to move to government-designated evacuation areas.

Hagupit — known by the name Ruby in the Philippines — is forecast to either move directly into the Philippines or turn right and only graze the country. The computer models that meteorologists use to predict a storm's track don't agree on the storm's track.

"If the storm takes the track into the Philippines, the impacts will be potentially very severe with widespread flooding, damaging winds, mudslides, storm surge and pounding surf," AccuWeather meteorologist Anthony Sagliani said.

A continued west-northwest track would place the central Philippines in the threat zone, including areas still recovering from deadly Super Typhoon Haiyan 13 months ago, the most intense tropical cyclone at landfall in history, the Weather Channel said.

Haiyan killed more than 6,000 people.

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Super Typhoon Hagupit takes aim on the Philippines

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And oh, to the Chinese members here, you are welcome to insult us once the typhoon hits.

 

[pr1v4t33r]

Bad news for our philippines friends. Better start preparing for the worst. With less than a week to evacuate, people should take first priority to save their live, than their wealth. Still, we hope the best outcome for the philippines.

 

[Zero_wing]

Bad news for our philippines friends. Better start preparing for the worst. With less than a week to evacuate, people should take first priority to save their live, than their wealth. Still, we hope the best outcome for the philippines.

Well its up to the local people but saidly some of our people are stuburn to follow evac orders

 

[Reashot Xigwin]

PH eyes final bidding for 2 new warships
The warships will be the Philippine military's biggest and most capable

Carmela Fonbuena
Published 7:18 PM, Dec 03, 2014
Updated 7:18 PM, Dec 03, 2014

MOST CAPABLE: Philippine Navy's BRP Ramon Alcaraz. Photo by Carmela Fonbuena/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine defense department is confident it can award the contract for the already delayed 2 brand new frigates worth P18.9 billion early next year.

"We may not be able to open it (final bidding) this year but early next year we will be able to award the contract," said Defense Undersecretary Fernando Manalo in a recent interview.

Manalo said he is confident that the bidding will be successful and the project will not be further delayed. "We have more than enough (bidders) to give us the confidence that it is really a competitive bidding," he said.

Six firms have qualified for the contract: Spanish firm Navantia Sepi (RTR Ventures) and South Korean firms STX Offshore & Shipbuilding; Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co Ltd, and Hyundai Heavy Industries Inc; India's Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd of India And Europe's STX France SA.

Manalo said they have completed the pre-bid conference for the second and final stage of bidding for the biggest project under the Armed Forces of the Philippines Revised Modernization Program. (READ: State of PH Navy Modernization: 'Golden days will return')

The frigates project was delayed by the department's failure to immediately finalize the Terms of Reference (TOR), which contains the technical specifications of the project, including the ship design and weapons system.

The two frigates are going to be the country's biggest and most capable warships. The package includes capabilities such as primary and secondary guns, missile system, anti-submarine warfare weapon system, and electronic warfare system.

The frigates should also be able to accommodate a helicopter and rigid hull inflatable boats.

It's a much needed upgrade from the refurbished cutters from US, BRP Ramon Alcaraz and BRP Gregorio Del Pilar.

In the recent pre-bid conference, the bidders were able to comment and recommend changes to the TOR.

"We are just waiting for the submission of the Technical Working Group on the final comments and recommendations," Manalo said.

The Philippine Navy earlier said it needs at least 6 warships to patrol the country's waters.

The other big ticket project is the squadron of fighter jets worth P18 billion. It was awarded to South Korea's Aerospace Industry. – Rappler.com

 

[pr1v4t33r]

It's coming... take cover everyone...

 

[Cossack25A1]

Philippines starts clean-up after Hagupit - Asia-Pacific - Al Jazeera English
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Philippines starts clean-up after Hagupit
Last updated: 09 Dec 2014 08:09

At least 42 people have been killed and thousands of homes destroyed, as storm appears set to leave the Philippines.

Typhoon Hagupit has been downgraded to a tropical storm as it swept out of the Philippines where it killed at least 42 people and wreaked havoc in several parts of the archipelago.

Nearly 1.7 million people evacuated from their homes were preparing to return on Tuesday after the storm passed over the far western islands of the Southeast Asian country and approached the South China Sea.

Despite the destruction it was a far cry from the lethal impact of super typhoon Haiyan last year when thousands were killed or went missing, and over a million homes were wrecked.

Most of the people killed by the recent storm were on the far eastern island of Samar, where Hagupit, the Filipino word for 'lash', initially made landfall as a typhoon on the weekend.

Hagupit struck with winds of 210km an hour, marking it as the most powerful storm to hit the Philippines this year, causing widespread destruction.

It gradually weakened as it travelled west across the central Philippines, passing close to the capital of Manila on Monday night with only a fraction of the forecast torrential rain.

Having seen the disasters caused by Typhoon Haiyan, people moved to evacuation shelters willingly.

In some areas of eastern Samar, aid agencies told Al Jazeera that 80 percent of sturdily-built homes were destroyed.

Despite evacuations, not everyone got out in time. Blocked roads and heavy rains prevented rescue teams to get in by air.

Al Jazeera's Andrew Thomas, reporting from the city of Batangas, some 80km south of Manila, said residents wait for the storm to pass. Winds had slowed down as the storm reached the western Philippines.

Thomas also reported the rain has been heavy for 24 hours and there's still more forecast to come. For most Filipinos, Hagupit was not as ferocious a storm as had been feared.

The Philippines endures about 20 major storms a year, with scientists blaming climate change for the growing number of violent and unpredictable storms.

 

[Ayan81]

42 - 22 - 8 casualties?

 

[Cossack25A1]

42 - 22 - 8 casualties?

Well, the counting of the casualties is still a bit iffy.

 

[Reashot Xigwin]

Aquino checks fighter jets to be acquired from S. Korea
Posted by Maki Catama on 9:40 AM


Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit, President Benigno S. Aquino III inspected FA-50 aircraft at the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) Ltd. in Busan, South Korea.

BUSAN, -- PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III inspected Friday model of FA-50 fighter aircraft that the Philippines has been purchasing from South Korean firm to boost the Armed Forces of the Philippines' defense capability.

Before heading for Manila, Aquino met with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) President and Chief Executive Officer Sung Yong-ha and Republic of Korea (ROK) Air Force officials at the Gimhae Airbase for the inspection of the fighter jets, worth P18.9 billion.

Manila has acquired 12 FA-50 fighter jets from the state-owned Korean aerospace firm.

The Philippines' defense deal with South Korea aims to bolster the Philippine military’s defense capability amid increasing tensions in disputed islands in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, who accompanied the President in Busan, South Korea, said that during the bilateral meeting between Aquino and South Korean President Park Geun-hye on Thursday, Aquino conveyed the Philippines’ intention to pursue a comprehensive strategic partnership with the Republic of Korea.

"He noted that the two countries are ‘sister democracies’ that ‘face the same threats and challenges of an evolving region’, while sharing the ‘values of freedom, respect for human rights, and adherence to the rule of law’," Coloma added.

He also said regional security concerns were discussed during the bilateral meeting as the two leaders reviewed the situation in the Korean Peninsula and in the West Philippine Sea.

“President Aquino reiterated the Philippines’ support for efforts on the peaceful denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and the early resumption of the six-party talks,” he said.

Aquino is set to arrive in Manila Friday night after his two-day trip to Busan where he attended the 25th anniversary of Association of Southeast Asian Nations-ROK Commemorative Summit.

Aquino checks fighter jets to be acquired from S. Korea ~ ASEAN Military Defense Review

 

[Cossack25A1]

Aquino checks fighter jets to be acquired from S. Korea
Posted by Maki Catama on 9:40 AM


Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit, President Benigno S. Aquino III inspected FA-50 aircraft at the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) Ltd. in Busan, South Korea.

BUSAN, -- PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III inspected Friday model of FA-50 fighter aircraft that the Philippines has been purchasing from South Korean firm to boost the Armed Forces of the Philippines' defense capability.

Before heading for Manila, Aquino met with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) President and Chief Executive Officer Sung Yong-ha and Republic of Korea (ROK) Air Force officials at the Gimhae Airbase for the inspection of the fighter jets, worth P18.9 billion.

Manila has acquired 12 FA-50 fighter jets from the state-owned Korean aerospace firm.

The Philippines' defense deal with South Korea aims to bolster the Philippine military’s defense capability amid increasing tensions in disputed islands in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, who accompanied the President in Busan, South Korea, said that during the bilateral meeting between Aquino and South Korean President Park Geun-hye on Thursday, Aquino conveyed the Philippines’ intention to pursue a comprehensive strategic partnership with the Republic of Korea.

"He noted that the two countries are ‘sister democracies’ that ‘face the same threats and challenges of an evolving region’, while sharing the ‘values of freedom, respect for human rights, and adherence to the rule of law’," Coloma added.

He also said regional security concerns were discussed during the bilateral meeting as the two leaders reviewed the situation in the Korean Peninsula and in the West Philippine Sea.

“President Aquino reiterated the Philippines’ support for efforts on the peaceful denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and the early resumption of the six-party talks,” he said.

Aquino is set to arrive in Manila Friday night after his two-day trip to Busan where he attended the 25th anniversary of Association of Southeast Asian Nations-ROK Commemorative Summit.

Aquino checks fighter jets to be acquired from S. Korea ~ ASEAN Military Defense Review

Next, we should look at other jets like JAS 39 or F/A-18

 

[NarThoD]

Next, we should look at other jets like JAS 39 or F/A-18

How about submarines? Well I think its time for PN to acquire subs

 

[Cossack25A1]

How about submarines? Well I think its time for PN to acquire subs

It was also considered but for now the PH Air Force needs to be re-armed as at present, we do not have any jet fighters - the S.211s we have are just light attack aircrafts

 

[Zero_wing]

How about submarines? Well I think its time for PN to acquire subs

That would be again phase three for the Philippine navy they buying Frigates and Corvettes first and new support ships

 

[Bienvenido]

Despite Moody's rating lift, Finance chief says Philippines still 'underrated'
By: InterAksyon.com
December 15, 2014

MANILA – Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima said the Philippines deserves another credit rating upgrade given inroads in trimming its debt and improving its revenue.

The Department of Finance (DOF) chief issued that statement days after Moody’s Investors Service elevated the country further to investment grade territory.

"We welcome news of yet another credit ratings upgrade as a recognition of the robust foundations we built through good governance reforms and prudent fiscal management. Four years down this road, we are growing ever firmer in our conviction that good governance is indeed good economics,” Purisima said, adding that Moody’s latest move is the 21st positive credit rating action bestowed on the Philippines since the start of President Aquino’s term.

"We believe the Philippines is still a notch underrated,” Purisima however said.

Under Moody’s scale, the Philippines is now rated “Baa2,” or two notches above “junk” status, after the debt watcher last year delivered the country its first upgrade to “investment” status. Moody’s latest move puts it ahead of the curve vis-à-vis Fitch Ratings and Standard & Poor’s, both of which had ranked the Philippines as investment grade months earlier in 2013.

Purisima said reforms the Aquino administration put in place has enabled it to improve its revenue performance, with its tax-to-GDP ratio rising to 14.08 percent at end-September. The government is aiming for a 16.6 percent ratio by the end President Aquino’s term.

GDP refers to gross domestic product, which is the amount of final goods and services produced in the country and as such measures economic performance.

Besides the improvement in the tax effort, Purisima also cited the country’s easing debt burden, which has fallen to 37.3 percent of GDP at end-June from 44.3 percent in 2010. The debt-to-GDP ratio peaked at 68.1 percent in 2003.

“These efforts have built strong economic fundamentals with which we will continue to fuel our positive growth trajectory. Improving revenue collection and lowering debt service have increased fiscal space to fund critical investments for our people. In just four years, good governance has freed up fiscal space to allow us to almost double our education and public works budgets, to triple our health budget, and quintuple our social welfare budget," Purisima said.

Despite its recent fiscal gains, the DOF chief said much work remains to be done, citing pending legislation.

“We look to comprehensive and equitable tax reform to align with our peers in ASEAN, enhancements in tax administration, the expansion of the Treasury Single Account, as well as the passage of our priority initiatives pending in Congress such as customs modernization, as well as the rationalization and transparency of fiscal incentives,” he said.

"We are fully convinced that continuing our economic turnaround story rests on our commitment to good governance. We take this upgrade as a reminder to government and civil society that sustaining good governance reforms is the only way to maintain and capitalize on our ever improving trajectory," he added.

Despite Moody's rating lift, Finance chief says Philippines still 'underrated'

 

[Cossack25A1]

Because someone here loves to follow the jarhead-tranny news, I will put an update on it for his own enjoyment.
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Murder raps filed vs. Pemberton in Jennifer Laude slay
By MARK MERUEÑAS, GMA News December 15, 2014 2:36pm (6:36am GMT)

The Olongapo City Prosecutor's Office on Monday has found probable cause to file a murder case against US Marine Private First Class Scott Joseph Pemberton for the killing of Filipino transgender woman Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude.

City Prosecutor Emilie delos Santos confirmed to reporters in Olongapo City that a 23-page resolution of the preliminary investigation recommended murder raps against the serviceman.

Delos Santos said it was still "premature" to say if Pemberton's custody should be transferred with the filing of a criminal case in court.

The city prosecutor said there were "aggravating qualifying circumstances" that convinced the panel there was probable cause to charge Pemberton.

Pemberton, who is accused of killing the 26-year-old transgender woman, was earlier transferred from the US Navy ship USS Peleliu docked in Subic to a US facility in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

The US Embassy in Manila maintained Pemberton is still under US custody despite being detained in a Philippine facility.

Laude was found dead inside a lodge in Olongapo City in October this year. She was last seen with Pemberton whom she reportedly met at a bar.

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Now, who should have custody?

The Laudes expectedly welcomed the filing of the murder case.

"Napakalaking tagumpay po ito dahil ang kaso ay murder. Ibig sabihin, napatunayan ng private complainants na pinatay siya [Laude] sa karumaldumal na paraan," said Atty. Harry Roque Jr., the Laude family's legal counsel.
(This is a big victory because this is now a murder case. This means that the private complainants have proven that the victim [Laude] was killed in a brutal manner.)

"Pero ito ay panimula pa lamang sa isang napakahabang proseso para makamit ang katarungan," he added.
(But this is just the beginning of the long journey in achieving justice.)

Roque said the next issue that should be resolved is who should have custody over the US serviceman.

"Ngayong may ganito nang kasong naisampa, ang tanong saan ngayon ikukulong si Pemberton," said Roque.
(Now that we have filed such case, the question is where will Pemberton be detained.)

The victim's sister, Marilou, thanked the prosecutors who handled the case.

"Umaasa po kami na sa korte ay magiging mahigpit ang pagtutulungan at kooperasiyon ng mga prosecutor," Marilou said.
(We are hoping that the court prosecutors will have strong coordination and cooperation.)

—NB/KG, GMA News

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Murder raps filed vs. Pemberton in Jennifer Laude slay | News | GMA News Online