The Philippines officials and mass Hail the Performance of President Noy Aquino

Stressing that he is not used to praising himself, President Benigno S. Aquino III refused to give himself a performance grade as he marked his first 12 months in Malacañang Thursday.

He, however, drew praises from his officials.

Instead of grading himself, the President claimed his biggest achievement was that apathy of the people has been replaced by a renewed partnership with the government.

“My greatest achievement is the transformation in the attitude of the people. If there were resignation, dejection, and apathy before, many people are now taking part so we can achieve a better country. Many people are now helping to reach our goals as soon as possible,” he said in Filipino during a press conference in the Palace.

Aquino marked his first year in office with the signing of the law postponing the election in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), the approval of the proposed 2012 national budget, and a launch of a campaign rallying volunteers.

His government reportedly made some progress in fighting corruption and poverty but encountered many setbacks, including criticisms of slow pace of reforms.

Before he assumed office, the President recalled that the people were indifferent to national issues because they could not expect anything from the government. People were also no longer shaken by scandals that were unearthed before, he said.

“I have listened and read in the newspapers about a passing mark etch. It seems they are asking me to be perfect and it is good that there are people who are pushing you to improve your efforts,” he said.

Asked what grade he would give his administration in its first year, Aquino said: “Hindi ko talaga ugaling magtaas ng sariling bangko. Sorry. (It’s not my attitude to praise myself. Sorry).”

While the President preferred to be silent about his performance, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. and Commodore Jose Miguel Rodriguez, AFP spokesman, hailed the President’s performance in his first year in office.

Ochoa noted that the government has made “significant strides” in promoting good governance, peace and justice, improved social services, and robust economic growth during its first year.

Ochoa, in an interview, said people view that the government is “performing better now than a year ago” based on recent opinion polls.

He said the government sought the swift approval of the 2011 national budget without delay using the zero-based budgeting approach. First steps were also taken “to put our house in order” as the government remains on track to meet its P325 billion deficit target or 3.9 percent of gross domestic product due to improved revenue collections and prudent spending. “We are the first administration to deal decisively with the abuses in our GOCCs (government-owned and -controlled corporations), with the passage of the GOCC Governance Act of 2011,” Ochoa said.

Ochoa likewise cited the removal of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, saying “we have, for the first time in history, held the Office of the Ombudsman accountable in the performance of its functions.” The government also showed that it will not hesitate to mete out justice when it dismissed Deputy Ombudsman Emilio Gonzalez III for mishandling a case of the slain policeman involved in the August hostage crisis in Manila as well as suspended Special Prosecutor Wendell Sulit for alleged involvement in the irregular plea bargain deal with a former military comptroller.

The government also made crucial reforms in the education sector, including free kindergarten education for Filipino children for the first time in history, according to Ochoa.

On economic development, Ochoa cited the launch of the first batch of Public-Private Partnership projects lined up for bidding in 2011. “With an estimated investment of more than a billion dollars, these projects will further boost the economy and provide opportunities for employment. Confidence in the country is also up, as shown by the country’s improved Moody ratings,” he said.

Commodore Rodriguez said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) was re-energized in the first year of President Aquino as its Commander-in-Chief.

Rodriguez said the incentives and various programs given by Aquino in just a span of one year bolstered the morale of the military organization.

Among them, he said, is the housing program, doubling of both the combat and incentive pays of every soldiers assigned to conduct internal security operations in the field.

“The AFP stands invigorated by the first year of the President’s leadership as our Commander-in-Chief,” said Rodriguez.

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the Philippines' president will visit China amid disputed claims over Spratly Islands

The Philippines — President Benigno Aquino III plans to visit China in coming weeks but the friendly gesture doesn’t mean the Philippines is backing down from its assertions Chinese forces intruded in its waters, an official said.

The Philippines alleges Chinese forces intruded at least nine times into Manila-claimed areas in the Spratly Islands since February, allegations that sparked an exchange of diplomatic protests and verbal jabs. Aquino has strongly criticized China, saying two weeks ago that his country would not be bullied by China in the disputed region.

The presidential trip will likely take place in late August or early September, Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said Thursday.

The Spratlys, a chain of barren, largely uninhabited islands, reefs and banks in the South China Sea are claimed wholly by China, Taiwan and Vietnam and partly by the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei. The islands are believed to be atop vast oil and gas deposits.

Chinese Ambassador Liu Jianchao has denied his government committed any intrusion but acknowledged that Chinese vessels were exercising Beijing’s sovereign rights in one incident at the Reed Bank near the Spratlys. Philippine officials complained the Chinese vessels harrassed a Philippine oil exploration ship into leaving the Reed Bank in March.

Just before he traveled last week to Washington, del Rosario said he was told that the Philippine military was verifying another foreign intrusion into a Manila-claimed Spratlys area.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton gave strong assurances that the U.S. is committed to the defense of the Philippines and would provide affordable weaponry amid mounting tensions in the Spratlys, del Rosario said.

Del Rosario said he separately gave U.S. defense officials a list of equipment the Philippines needs to improve its capability to monitor foreign intrusions in its territorial waters near the Spratlys.

Clinton assured del Rosario that the U.S. would honor its 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines that calls on each country to help defend the other against an external attack by an aggressor in their territories or in the Pacific region, he said.

Del Rosario said he told U.S. officials that if the Philippines receives defense equipment, “we become a stronger ally for you.”

China says it has sovereign rights over the South China Sea. It has also criticized the U.S. for its involvement, saying disputes over sea claims should be handled by the parties directly involved.

Copyright 2011 the Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

 

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Philippines' Beauty Queen Wins on Defense of Spratlys

Sarah Osorio, an 18-year-old resident of a South China Sea coral outcrop, was crowned beauty queen of the Philippines’ Palawan province after she backed her country’s claims in the disputed waters.

The win shows the popular appeal of the contest for control of the Spratlys that has sparked rising tensions between China, the Philippines and Vietnam, all vying for untapped oil reserves made more lucrative by the 24 percent jump in crude prices in the past year. The growing nationalism over the South China Sea islands has seen anti-China protests in Vietnam and Chinese gunboats firing at Philippine trawlers.

Osorio said at last week’s pageant she wanted to defend her home islands against aggression by neighboring countries. Her speech touched “the main issue right now,” setting her apart from her rivals, said Rem Divino, one of the judges.

Her victory also illustrates how governments use civilians to stake their claims to the dozens of islands, reefs and banks that make up the Spratlys -- and with them rights to surrounding seabed and any oil that’s trapped beneath it. Communities on islands are a way of asserting jurisdiction, analyst Earl Parreno said.

“There are many ways of letting everybody know your stake without flexing military muscle,” said Parreno, a fellow at the Institute for Political and Electoral Reform in Manila. “They put up structures, they haul people to the islands. Some of these islands are basically uninhabitable. These are artificial communities.”

China’s Claims

China’s overlapped their claims to the South China Sea or also called as West Philippines’ Sea (WPS) to the Philippines Waters extend more than 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles or 864 Nautical Miles) south from Hainan island. Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei also have overlapping claims. Spratlys is just within 200 Nautical Mile or less (130 to 200 Nautical Miles) to the shore of the Philippines. UNCLOS International Laws of Sea guaranteed the Philippines not more than 200 Nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone; More than 200 Nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone of the Philippines, Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia is the called the Disputed Areas which all of those countries will contest in international court who could be the legal owner of each islands.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton last week reaffirmed U.S. commitment to defend its Philippine treaty ally, while China June 28 said disputes in the area were a matter for the countries involved.

“I’ve heard stories from my relatives of fishermen being harassed by the Chinese,” Osorio said in a telephone interview. “They don’t have the right to do that. We own Kalayaan,” as the Spratlys are known locally.

The Philippine Navy said this month it removed territorial markers placed by China on reefs near Palawan in May. Beijing- based China Mobile Ltd. (941), the nation’s biggest phone company, last month said it had extended cellular services to cover the Spratlys, which are known as Nansha and are deemed part of Hainan province.

Taiwan-occupied Dongsha islands, known internationally as the Pratas group, share the same zip code as the city of Kaohsiung, more than 400 kilometers east.

Vietnam Structures in the Spratlys

Vietnam has installed wind turbines and built roads and reservoirs on islands it occupies in the Spratlys, and this month announced plans to develop a marine tourism industry there. Soil is shipped in to grow food, according to state-run Vietnam News Agency.

Vietnam’s claim to the Spratlys dates back centuries, according to a government document. Still, the first recorded Vietnamese child to be born there was in 2009, Vietnamplus said.

China’s rising naval power has rattled its Asian neighbors, giving an opening for the U.S. to tighten military ties with allies such as South Korea, Japan and the Philippines, and forge new relations with former foe Vietnam. The U.S. began drills with the Philippines this week off Palawan and will carry out exercises with Vietnam next month.

Puzzle

Efforts by China, Vietnam and the Philippines to inhabit the islands are an attempt to prove they have occupied and demonstrated control over them to improve their legal claim, said Mark J. Valencia, a maritime lawyer and senior research fellow with the National Bureau of Asian Research, said by phone from Honolulu.

Even though most of the Sptralys islands are within the 200 Nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone of the Philippines; and legally within the Philippine territory based on UNCLOS and the historic fishing water since the ancients of Filipino locals, Still the Philippines tried to show more valid claim by actually human daily activities and presence of the islands.

Part of the problem is “you have to also show that at the time, or for a good period of the time, there was no protest by the other parties,” Valencia said. “That’s certainly not the case here over the last two to three decades.”

Sorting out the territorial claims “would become the most complex jigsaw puzzle on earth,” he said.

The Philippines, China, Vietnam, Malaysia and Taiwan have troops stationed on the Spratlys. The islands and reefs cover 5 square kilometers of land, 1 1/2 times the size of New York’s Central Park, spread over an area roughly the size of Iraq.

Chinese studies suggest the waters sit atop more than 14 times estimates of its oil reserves and 10 times those for gas.

While the Philippine-occupied islands have around 200 registered voters, only about two dozen stay in Osorio’s home island of Pag-Asa at any one time, Palawan Governor Abraham Kahlil Mitra said by phone. Keeping people there is “of big significance that Kalayaan is part of the country,” he said.

Philippine Air Strip in Pag-asa island

Osorio said she stays mostly in the Palawan capital Puerto Princesa, 500 kilometers from Pag-Asa, the biggest of the occupied islands, which has an airstrip that juts out from either side. The youngest child of a municipal councilor father and accountant mother, Osorio said she stays in Pag-Asa during the summer holiday.

Protests erupted in Hanoi this month after Chinese ships cut survey cables of a Vietnam Oil & Gas Group vessel. Chinese ships in March chased away a boat working for U.K.-based Forum Energy Plc (FEP) that was surveying the area. A Chinese frigate fired warning shots at Philippine trawlers on Feb. 25.

“We don’t have the capability to fight with them,” Osorio said. “The solution to the problem is diplomacy.”

 

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FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Philippines' Azkals salvage draw versus Sri Lanka

FIFA World Cup qualifying match for Azkals – Red Sri Lanka 1-1. 

The tough Philippines’ Azkals side fought back to salvage a 1-1 stalemate against Sri Lanka Wednesday (June 29, 2011: 03:00PM Colombo time) in the first leg of their opening round FIFA World Cup qualifying match at the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Substitute Nate Burkey, making his debut for the Philippines, headed home James Younghusband’s saved header in the 50th minute to give the Azkals a precious away goal heading to the second leg in Manila on Sunday.

An away goal will only count if a two-leg series ends up tied on aggregate, meaning a scoreless draw will be enough for the Azkals to go through to the next round against Kuwait.

Playing their first World Cup qualifying match in 10 years, the Azkals fell behind on the 43rd minute when Pordi Chathura’s 20-yard free kick beat a diving Neil Etheridge to his right.

It was an eerie reminder of the late equalizing goal that the Azkals yielded to Myanmar in the AFC Challenge Cup in March.

After a quiet opening half, the Azkals, egged on by about 200 Filipino supporters in the stadium, came alive in the last 45 minutes, keeping the Sri Lankans on their heels.

Stephan Schrock, making his Philippine debut, was an influential figure at central midfield and his passing constantly opened up the Sri Lankan defense.

But except for Burkey’s goal, the Azkals lacked the clinical finishing touch to punish the Sri Lankans, who refused to back down, making the match a rugged affair.

One such incident came in the 18th minute when Phil Younghusband was fouled by midfield enforcer Fazlur, triggering a scuffle in the middle of the field.

James Younghusband got yellow cards in the aftermath of the incident. The Azkals had two other yellow cards – Schrock and skipper Aly Borromeo – who were booked for mistimed challenges.

Phil Younghusband had two glorious early chances saved by Manjula Fernando in the first half, before the Filipino-British striker was substituted by Burkey in the 40th minute for what looked like a hamstring injury.

Putting more pressure on the Sri Lankans immediately after the restart, the Azkals were rewarded with Burkey’s scrappy goal.

Chieffy Caligdong, the only homegrown player in the starting lineup, floated a long free kick into the area that was met by James Younghusband, whose header looked to have crossed the line.

Amid the confusion, Burkey was quickest to react and he banged it home for the equalizer.

Schrock, a standout right back playing for Greuther Furth in the German second division, was still proving dangerous with the ball and his effort from just outside the box just went wide in the 60th minute.

Another chip pass from Schrock offered substitute Ian Araneta with a late scoring chance, but the Air Force striker managed a weak effort that was easily saved by Manjula.

Just when everyone thought the Sri Lankans were playing for a draw, the hosts managed to conjure one more chance when Nimal fired a bristling shot that draw an impressive reflex save from Etheridge in the first minute of injury time.

The Azkals arrive in Manila Thursday night, leaving them with two full days to prepare for the rematch against the South Asians.

 

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The Philippines takes the lead for the Renewable Energy in Asia

Contrary to what many think, it is the developing countries, especially those in Asia, not the developed countries, who are taking the lead in the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

A recent working paper by the World Resources Institute (WRI), an environmental think-tank, called ‘Grounding Green Power” found that developing countries are at the forefront of renewable energy policies.

Already, the majority of installed renewable electricity capacity is located in developing countries. If all of the recently announced policies are implemented by 2035, developing countries will gain more than 1476 Gigawatts of renewable energy capacity; more than the projected 1,389 Gigawatts of fossil fuel-based electricity or 178 Gigawatts of nuclear power during the same time frame, according to projections by the International Energy Agency. This compares to just 851 Gigawatts of combined additional capacity from renewable, nuclear and fossil sources developed countries are expected to build, according to Pete Maniego, chairman of the National Renewable Energy Board of the Philippines, and Lutz Weischer, research analyst at the WRI and lead author of “Grounding Green Power.”

In a paper, they noted that the global energy system is undergoing a transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy and that there are clear signs that the pace of change is accelerating.

According to data from the United Nations, 2009 was the second year in a row that more money was invested worldwide in renewable electricity generation projects than in fossil fuel-powered plants.

Developing countries, especially in Asia, are taking a lead role in this transition. The Philippines is one of the countries on track to be a leader in Asia’s shift to clean energy, if it continues to pursue ambitious goals and makes the right policy choices, the paper emphasized.

It said that in the case of the Philippines, the pursuit of renewable energy is essential for energy security. The Philippines has very little fossil fuel resources, but is blessed with abundant renewable energy sources, including solar, wind, biomass, ocean, small hydro and geothermal.

The Philippines had surpassed Japan as having the highest electricity rate in Asia, according to International Energy Consultants, an Australian consulting firm. The cost of transmitting power and transporting fuel to the more than 7,000 islands of the Philippine archipelago and to isolated missionary areas is very high. Pursuing renewable energy development is essential for the Philippines to attain energy security and economic sustainability, while helping to mitigate climate change and its devastating impacts on vulnerable places like the Philippines.

Maniego and Weischer said that the Philippines could be considered one of the world leaders in renewable energy, with more than 30 percent of its power generation coming from renewable resources. The Philippines is the world’s second largest producer of geothermal power and was the first country in Southeast Asia to deploy large-scale wind and solar technologies.

The Renewable Energy Act passed in 2008 calls for new support mechanisms, including a feed-in-tariff and a renewable portfolio standard, which are expected to be implemented in the next months. Additionally, the Philippine’s Department of Energy launched the updated National Renewable Energy Plan this month, which aims to triple renewable energy supply by 2030.

To ensure success, Philippine decision makers have invested time and energy in figuring out the best way to implement the Renewable Energy Act, including establishment of the National Renewable Energy Board. In collaboration with other agencies such as the Department of Energy and the Energy Regulatory Commission, the Board works to ensure that the National Renewable Energy Plan and the mechanisms foreseen in the Renewable Energy Act are implemented.

The Philippine example is consistent with WRI analysis, which shows that in order for countries to reach their renewable energy targets, they need to set clear and consistent policies, rather than simply pursuing a project-by-project approach. Increasingly, the challenge is not just to establish targets and policies, but to get the details right.

For example, feed-in-tariffs guarantee a fixed payment to renewable energy generators for every kilowatt hour that is fed into the grid; however, it is not easy for regulators to determine the appropriate rate at which to set the tariff. In Asia, 24 countries have feed-in-tariffs, so there is opportunity for countries to learn from each other in order to set the right policies.

The successful transition to renewable energy requires international support, including from institutions like the Asian Development Bank (ADB). In recent years, developing countries are taking a much more active role in determining the direction of their energy policies, moving toward renewable energy for their own good and defining their own strategies.

Donors, therefore, need to be responsive to a country’s demands and focus support on helping countries design and sustain the right policy environment. In the Philippines, the ADB should help by investing in energy projects that support the ambitious targets the Philippines has set for itself. This includes more investment in the replication and scale up of projects that use the wind, geothermal and biomass resources that have already been identified, instead of investing in fossil fuel and large hydropower projects, they added.

Institutions like the ADB have an important role to play in enabling data and knowledge exchange between policy makers and regulators from different countries. As a next step in the Philippines, the ADB’s support should focus on building the institutional capacity and training the engineers needed for a successful roll-out the feed-in-tariff. For instance, technical assistance for the National Renewable Energy Board would accelerate the implementation of the measures foreseen in the RE Act of 2008 and the planning of next steps, Maniego and Weischer said.

The Philippines already has ambitious renewable energy goals. With the right mix of clear policies and international support, it will achieve its targets and at even faster pace, they added.

For comments, e-mail at philstarhiddenagenda@yahoo.com - HIDDEN AGENDA By Mary Ann Ll. Reyes

 

 

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Cebu Pacific Air lowers fares anew to top local tourist destinations

The Philippines’ largest national flag carrier, Cebu Pacific offers a seat sale to top tourist destinations in the Philippines from June 28 to 29, 2011 or until seats last, for travel from August 1 to September 30, 2011.

Passengers can buy P488 seats from Manila to Naga. Naga is the nearest gateway to Caramoan Islands, and the Camarines Sur Watersports Complex.

Meanwhile, P688 seats are also available from Manila and Cebu to Caticlan (Boracay) and Puerto Princesa. CEB flies to Caticlan up to 12 times daily from Manila and twice daily from Cebu. It also flies four times daily to Puerto Princesa from Manila and Cebu.

P688 seats are also available from Manila to Kalibo, Dumaguete, Busuanga (Coron), Laoag, Tagbilaran (Bohol), and from Cebu to Siargao.

“CEB offers the most number of flights to the Philippines’ most popular tourist destinations, making it more accessible to local and foreign visitors. It will continue to provide more domestic flight options in support of the country’s tourism agenda, especially this October, with the arrival of our new aircraft,” said CEB VP for Marketing and Distribution Candice Iyog.

The airline earlier announced it will increase its flights from Manila to Dumaguete (2x to 3x daily), Manila to Boracay (86x to 91x weekly), Cebu to Dumaugete (3x to 7x weekly) starting October 7, 2011.

Effective October 14, 2011, it will also increase its flights from Manila to Busuanga or Coron (2x to 3x daily), Manila to Boracay (13x to 14x daily), and Manila to Naga (3x to 4x daily).

“We have always been committed to promoting our destinations and supporting nationwide events. For example, CEB will add flights to Naga and make it a 5x daily service on November 16 and 20, 2011 in time for the Philippine Ad Congress 2011,” said Iyog.

Guests who don’t have credit cards may also book online and conveniently pay through CEB partner banks and payment centers. Upon booking online, travelers can also select seats in advance and avail of CEB’s web check-in service for a faster check-in process.

CEB currently operates 10 Airbus A319, 15 Airbus A320 and 8 ATR-72 500 aircraft. By the end of 2011, CEB will be operating a fleet of 37 aircraft – with an average age of less than 3.5 years – one of the most modern aircraft fleets in the world. Between 2012 and 2021, Cebu Pacific will take an additional 23 Airbus A320 and 30 Airbus A321neo aircraft

 

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Asian Football teams start on road to the FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014

Asian football teams are on the qualifying rounds for the World Cup Brazil 2014.

June 29, 2011; The Philippines and Sri Lanka fights for the qualifying round which Sri-Lanka and the Philippines’ Azkals scored 1-1 a s of 3:00PM Colombo time.

Less than a year after Spain lifted the World Cup trophy in Soweto, teams from football's largest and most diverse confederation are embarking on qualifying for the 2014 edition in Brazil.

The sixteen lowest-ranked Asian nations are aiming to make it past the first round, with first-leg matches played Wednesday and the return matches on Sunday. Winners will progress to the second stage in late July.

The likes of South Korea, Japan and Australia, which all qualified for the 2010 World Cup, will not enter qualifying for Brazil until the third round begins in September.

This week features Afghanistan against a Palestinian team, Philippines against Sri Lanka and a Southeast Asian derby between Cambodia and Laos.

In other matches, AFF Cup winner Malaysia should be too powerful for Taiwan, Vietnam is expected to beat Macau, Pakistan takes on Bangladesh, East Timor travels to Nepal and Myanmar meets Mongolia.

It is unlikely that any of the teams from the first round will reach the final stages of qualification. For the likes of East Timor, Macau and Taiwan, dreams of Brazil are likely to end three years before the tournament even kicks off. There are other teams, however, which are desperate to keep their chances alive throughout this summer and beyond.

Palestine, the only one of FIFA's 208 members which is not a U.N. recognized state, will meet Afghanistan on neutral ground on Wednesday and then host the return leg four days later at Al Ram on the West Bank.

"When teams come to play on our land, it's a way of recognizing the Palestinian state. That benefits the Palestinian cause, not just Palestinian sports," player Murad Ismael told The Associated Press.

In the past, the Palestinians have struggled to play international games. Palestinian athletes need Israeli permits for most travel, either to cross Israel from Gaza or to enter or lave the West Bank — a hurdle that has often kept players from key matches.

This caused a World Cup qualifier against Singapore in 2007 to be forfeited as the Palestinians couldn't field a full team. The situation has improved and a strong squad is expected to play Afghanistan, with confidence growing after a narrow loss to Bahrain in an Olympic qualifying series earlier this month.

Neither team is expected to get far, though. The Palestinians are ranked No. 171 in the world by FIFA, just six spots behind Afghanistan. The winner will meet Thailand in the second round.

And with Afghanistan unable to play at home due to the ongoing turmoil since the U.S.-led invasion, the first leg will take place in the western Tajikistan city of Tursunzade.

In a south Asian derby, Pakistan captain Zesh Rehman expects his squad to have too much experience for Bangladesh.

Rehman, who played for English Premier League club Fulham before moving to Thailand champion Muang Thong United, is perhaps the best-known player to be in action this week.

"Every game is important but this one has an added incentive as were neighboring countries and it's the first round of the World Cup qualifiers," Rehman told AP. "It's important we take something away from the first leg but as captain I'm confident we can get a win and progress.

"At the moment we have pretty much a full squad to choose from. The good thing is we now have players playing in different countries across the world such as England, America and Denmark which can only be of benefit to the national team."

The winner will face Lebanon in the next round. Former Asian champion Kuwait awaits the winner of the clash between Philippines and Sri Lanka.

Philippines is not a traditional football country but after reaching the semifinals at the AFF Cup, southeast Asia's regional competition, there is an expectation that Sri Lanka will not cause them too many problems.

A number of overseas-based players, who are eligible to play for the team due to having one Filipino parent, have been added to the squad in recent season. Former Chelsea players James and Phil Younghusband have made an impact, Paul Mulders of Dutch club ADO Den Hag is set to make his debut and former German youth international Stefan Schrock is another new addition to the team. The improving results are having a positive flow-on effect in recruitment.

"I am confident that Philippines will beat Sri Lanka, though Kuwait is a different question," said Simon McMenemy, who recently left as Philippines coach. "The team is improving. Players who were qualified to play for the Philippines and playing in better leagues suddenly wanted to play for the country. In the past, they were not so interested in traveling long distances to lose 5-0 or 6-0."

A big game against China is the prize for the winner of the Laos-Cambodia series.

Cambodia's South Korean coach Lee Tae-hoon is two months into a one-year contract and is expecting a tight contest.

"Soccer in Cambodia needs to develop more and this is a good opportunity for us," Lee told AP. "We need to keep working hard with a common purpose.

"Laos are in a similar situation to us and this is a game that both teams will think they can win ... this is an important game, but more important than the result is how we play. If we can show that we are moving forward and moving in the right direction, then that is progress."

Malaysia won the AFF Cup, for members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, in December and should defeat Taiwan comfortably to secure a match against regional rivals Singapore in the next round.

"It will be easy for us in the first round as we play Taiwan and we can beat them easily," former coach B. Satiananthan said. "In the second round against Singapore, I see no problems. Singapore is in transition and depended too much on foreigners who are getting older. We will qualify for the final rounds but honestly we have to be at our best to get a positive result against the giants in Asia."

 

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Development Bank of the Philippines sets up credit facility for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW)

The state-owned Development Bank of the Philippines has set up a financing facility called the “OFW Reintegration Program” to provide loans and other financial products to overseas-based Filipinos.

The facility is aimed at pursuing the national government’s plan of providing income and investment opportunities to overseas-based Filipinos, with a medium- to long-term goal of encouraging them to eventually go back to the Philippines and stay with their families for good.

The facility offers credit to OFWs and their families to fund their business plans. The facility also offers financial products that will help the target market grow their assets.

“The DBP hopes that through the OFW Reintegration Program, we shall be able to help nurture in our overseas Filipino workers and their families a culture of savings, investment and entrepreneurship, along with the values of honesty, discipline and hard work necessary for poverty reduction and economic empowerment of our communities,” DBP president Francisco del Rosario Jr. said in a statement.

Those who can avail themselves of the DBP’s program are OFWs registered with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA)—with ongoing or finished employment contracts.

DBP said these workers could apply for a loan equivalent to 80 percent of the cost of a business venture and must range from P300,000 to P2 million.

Loans from the facility carry an annual interest rate of 7.5 percent, reviewable every year and payable over seven years.

“Loans may be used for construction, renovation, expansion or repair of building for use as business site; working capital for business venture; acquisition of equipment; and other business-related purposes,” DBP said.

DBP said the facility would give priority to investments involving the following industries: franchising, tourism and related industries, health care and allied industries, and agribusiness and related businesses.

Imelda Nicolas, secretary of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), earlier said the government, through the office she heads, has started drafting a road map that would create an environment that provides sufficient investment and income opportunities to OFWs and their families with the end goal of encouraging OFWs to go back home.

She said providing more income-generating opportunities within the country was necessary to allow migrants to go back home without worrying about the financial security of their families.

 

 

 

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2011 Midyear PLUNDER CASE BONUS vs Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

Rumored corrupt former president of the Philippines Gloria Arroyo… only evidence could probe it! Let the Law Speaks

Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was charged with plunder before the Department of Justice (DOJ) June 28, 2011.

Former solicitor general Francisco Chavez accused Arroyo of diverting over P2 billion in fertilizer funds to her campaign kitty when she ran for president in 2004.

In a text message, Elena Bautista-Horn, Arroyo’s spokesman, said: “We can’t comment until we get a copy and read the complaint.”

Meanwhile, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) is preparing to charge Arroyo and former PCSO general manager Rosario Uriarte with plunder for the alleged diversion of some P150 million from the PR funds to “intelligence operations” a few months before the May 10 elections last year.

Lawyer Aleta Tolentino, PCSO director, told The STAR they have uncovered a document bearing Arroyo’s signature that approved the release of the P150-million intelligence fund of the agency.

“We are just gathering other documents prior to the filing of graft charges against Uriarte and possibly former President Arroyo,” she said.

Last week, Chavez pulled out from the Office of the Ombudsman the complaint for plunder, malversation of public funds, violation of the Constitution and election laws against Arroyo.

Chavez said Arroyo had authorized the Department of Agriculture to release P728 million and P1.59 billion from the fertilizer fund program for poor farmers in separate orders in February 2004, as the campaign period was starting.

Chavez said Arroyo cannot pontificate on good governance. “She should not have the temerity to do that because look at her trail – it’s a trail of unmitigated corruption, pillage and plunder,” he said.

Chavez said the funds were purportedly used for Arroyo’s presidential campaign.

“(Respondent Arroyo) caused the release of no less than P728 million and P1.59 billion, or an aggregate amount of P2.318 billion, of public funds of the Department of Agriculture to specific members of the House of Representatives, provincial governors, and city and municipal mayors,” read the complaint.

Chavez submitted almost 200 pages of documentary evidence, including the Department of Budget and Management’s special allotment release orders, Senate Blue Ribbon committee’s reports in 2006 and 2009, and Commission on Audit report, among others.

Chavez included in the list of respondents former agriculture secretary Luis Lorenzo Jr., former undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante, former assistant secretary Ibarra Poliquit, Budget Undersecretary Mario Relampagos, Budget director Nora Oliveros, and so-called runners Jaime Paule, Rose Lingan-Florendo, Leni Aquino and Jane Fabian.

The complaint alleged that the others had “served as conduits in the diversion of funds.”

A case involving the P728-million fertilizer fund scam is now pending before the Sandiganbayan.

However, it does not include Arroyo because the Office of the Ombudsman investigated the case when she was still president enjoying immunity from suit.

Tolentino, who is leading the PCSO legal team looking for alleged anomalies in the past administration, said they are checking statement of assets and liabilities of Arroyo and Uriarte for unexplained wealth and any link to the P150-million intelligence fund for possible filing of plunder charges.

“If we cannot link their assets to the intel fund then we will file graft charges,” she said.

The alleged diversion of P150-million PR fund was contained in a memorandum of Uriarte dated Jan. 4. 2010 to Arroyo.

In her memorandum Uriarte said there is a need to deploy confidential agents to monitor jueteng and other illegal numbers games and to check on other illegal activities that place the PCSO in bad light.

The intelligence operation would also be directed against the diversion of PCSO-donated medicine to drug stores and the operations of Small Town Lottery (STL).

The document has a marginal note “OK” with the signature of Arroyo, indicating the approval of the request.

The Jan. 4, 2010 memorandum is so far the only document that links Arroyo to alleged anomalies in the PCSO.

Other irregularities uncovered by the new PCSO board was the alleged co-mingling and juggling of the multi-billion prize, charity, and operation funds, resulting in the loss of several billions of pesos that could have provided medical assistance to the poor and needy.

Under the PCSO charter, funds generated from sales of lottery and sweepstakes tickets must be allocated to the prize (55 percent), charity (30 percent) and operation (15 percent) funds.

The PCSO has been generating over P20-billion income every year from the sale of tickets of online lottery games, sweepstakes draws and other legal number games

 

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The Philippines taken off US trafficking blacklist

The United States on Monday removed the Philippines and Singapore from a human trafficking watch list that had drawn concerns from the close allies.

The US State Department’s annual Trafficking in Persons Report has become increasingly sensitive for Southeast Asian governments, which face a cutoff of US assistance if they are found to be unresponsive in fighting trafficking.

The latest report elevated the Philippines, Singapore and Laos off the watch list to the so-called Tier 2, which means that the countries do not fully meet standards on human trafficking but are making efforts to do so.

President Benigno Aquino III was delighted about the upgrade.

“The President welcomes this upgrade … and is very very appreciative of the upgrade made by the State Department,’’ Mr. Aquino’s spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said.

Sea change

Lacierda quoted US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as telling CNN that “until the new administration of President Aquino, we didn’t really have the level of commitment we were seeking. We do now and we see a sea change of difference.”

“In response, the Aquino administration expresses its appreciation at these citations and emphasizes our continuing campaign against human trafficking,’’ Lacierda said, in reaction to Clinton’s statement.

Lacierda said the government aimed at moving “toward the abolition of human trafficking.”

In April, Mr. Aquino took the unusual step of saying that his country was off the watch list, leading US officials to clarify that no decision had yet been made.

Intensified effort

In its report, the State Department praised an “intensified effort” by the Philippines. It said the Philippines convicted 25 trafficking offenders, compared with nine the previous year, including first-ever convictions for forced labor.

Sexual exploitation

Releasing the report, Clinton said that as many as 27 million men, women and children suffered from trafficking around the world for sexual exploitation or forced labor.

“Unfortunately, because of the ease of transportation and the global communications that can reach deep into villages with promises and pictures of what a better life might be, we now see that more human beings are exploited than before,” Clinton said.

Vice President Jejomar Binay and Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario also welcomed the removal of the Philippines from the Tier 2 watch list.

Del Rosario said the report was “a clear-cut recognition” of the significant gains made by the Aquino administration in the campaign against human trafficking.

Sustained efforts

In a statement, he lauded the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) under the leadership of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Justice Undersecretary Jose Vicente Salazar and Foreign Undersecretary Esteban Conejos Jr. for its hard work and sustained efforts against human trafficking.

Binay, honorary chair of the IACAT, said the government was committed to strengthen the council and its member-agencies to fight all types of human trafficking.

“Our removal from the Tier 2 watch list is the result of effective coordination from all member agencies of the IACAT and I congratulate the members of the council for all their efforts,” Binay said.

Aid cutoff averted

Susan Ople, a former labor undersecretary, said the Philippines avoided losing billions of pesos in American aid because of the upgrade.

“With this improved rating, the Philippines managed to avert the loss of an estimated $250 million in non-humanitarian assistance from the US government while sending a strong signal to human traffickers around the world,” Ople said in a statement.

Last year, she said US Ambassador Harry Thomas warned a group of Filipinos that the country was “at risk” of losing the P11 billion if it did not curb human trafficking.

Ople, president of the Blas F. Ople Policy Center, a nonprofit organization that is actively involved in the drive against human trafficking, said the upgrade should prod the government to aim for a Tier 1 ranking.

Recruitment process

She said this could be achieved if the government would secure more convictions of human traffickers and by “cleaning up the local recruitment process.”

Indonesia and Cambodia stayed at Tier 2, but Brunei, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam remained on the watch list. The only Asian jurisdictions on Tier 1, meaning full compliance, were South Korea and Taiwan.

US allies have sometimes responded indignantly. Singapore last year lashed out at being put on the watch list and urged the United States to examine its own record, including the treatment of its millions of illegal residents.

The United States gave itself a Tier 1 ranking but offered details about problems at home, including allegations of exploitation by federal contractors.

“I don’t think it’s fair for us to rank others if we don’t look hard at who we are and what we’re doing,” Clinton said.

Elsewhere in Asia, the State Department removed Sri Lanka and Fiji from its watch list. It praised Sri Lanka—often on the receiving end of criticism over human rights—for its first convictions under an antitrafficking law on the island, which is a major source of workers to abuse-prone Arab countries.

Micronesian traffickers

On the other hand, the United States downgraded the Federated States of Micronesia to Tier 3, meaning that some assistance will be suspended to the nation of more than 600 islands that is closely linked to the United States.

The report said that Micronesian traffickers were forcing women into prostitution in the United States with promises of well-paying jobs.

Burma (Myanmar), North Korea and Papua New Guinea remained at Tier 3. In a change this year ordered by the US Congress, countries that stay on the watch list for two consecutive years now automatically drop to Tier 3—although the administration can order an exemption.

China

US Rep. Chris Smith, who authored the 2000 act that set up the report, criticized President Barack Obama’s administration for letting China remain on the watch list again instead of dropping automatically to Tier 3.

“Two years of warning is enough. The Obama administration has again abandoned trafficking victims in China—who are predominantly women. It’s shameful,” said Smith, a Republican from New Jersey.

“Our obligation is to the victims of trafficking, not the dictatorship

 

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Philippines' Azkals National Football Team Could handle Brave Reds

THE Philippine Azkals national football team may have lost their last two tune-up games against two professional teams in Germany, but coach Hans Michael Weiss remained upbeat about their chances of beating the Sri Lanka Brave Reds on Wednesday.

“Our team is ready despite two losses against strong German professional teams. The team is tired, but we will have them in good shape for Wednesday,” Weiss wrote in his Twitter account a day after the Azkals arrived at the capital city of Colombo in Sri Lanka.

The Azkals’ popularity, though, appeared to have no boundaries as they were mobbed by fans while they were training in Duren, Germany and upon their arrival in Sri Lanka.

The first of two games in the World Cup qualifying matches between the Philippines and Sri Lanka starts this Wednesday at the Brave Reds’ own homeground—the Sugathadasa Stadium.

The Azkals and the Red Braves then complete their series on Sunday, 3 p.m., at the football pitch of the Rizal Memorial Track and Field Stadium in Manila.

In their last two tuneup matches, the Azkals bowed to second division squad FC Ingolstdat, 0-4, on Friday, and was also blanked by third division team SV Darmstadt, 0-5, last Saturday.

Overall, the Azkals won two of four test games. They beat by the same margin of 4-1 the Aachen-Duren selection and the SC Bonner under-19 squad.

Weiss said the team will review game tapes of the Brave Reds in their group stage game against Myanmar in the recent 2011 Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup.

The Brave Reds have actually undergone some changes when Sri Lanka announced the new lineup last week, but Weiss said the Azkals will be ready for anything that their foes will bring into their match.

Wess said the tune-up games improved the cohesion of the squad, as he observed that players stayed focused and fought hard together during their two-week stay in Germany.

In their last two matches, the Azkals played without key defensive players Ray Jonsson, Stephan Schrock and Jerry Lucena, along with ailing team skipper Aly Borromeo.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s coach Jang Jung expects the Brave Reds to play even better after he made some changes in the line-up

 

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San Miguel Corporation - Engineering & Construction bid for 3 airport projects in the Philippines

Philippines—Diversifying conglomerate San Miguel Corp. is investing about $300 million to modernize and set up new tourism amenities at the Boracay Airport; the main gateway to the world-famous Boracay Island.

The conglomerate also plans to participate in the public bidding for the public-private partnership airport contracts for Palawan, Bohol and Caraga (Agusan).

The three airport projects were cited by President Aquino on Saturday during the inauguration of the SMC-backed Caticlan airport rehabilitation.

“When we join the bidding, the price becomes reasonable, so we’ll participate in all of them,” SMC president Ramon S. Ang told reporters at the sidelines of the inauguration of the airport project. It was earlier reported that SMC was likewise interested in the NAIA 3 airport terminal privatization.

By the time the Caticlan modernization project is completed by December 2013, it will accommodate three million tourists a year from only 500,000 at present. “We invested here because we saw the potential that we can contribute to [boost] tourist arrivals,” Ang said.

Over the last seven months, SMC has spruced up the Caticlan airport but it would take at least two more years to complete the major upgrading, Ang said.

The $300-million investment will include not only the upgrading of the airport itself but the construction of new amenities like a 5,000-room budget hotel, a world-class convention center and a retail complex that will showcase local souvenirs and a row of seafood restaurants. The tourism amenities, Ang said, would be managed by local operators.

“The airport will make Boracay a more affordable holiday destination for many Filipinos,” Ang said. With the upcoming improvements, he said there would be more regional and domestic flights to Boracay, in turn pulling down airfare costs per passenger from as much as P16,000 during the peak season to as low as P1,500 to P2,000.

The Caticlan airport is envisioned to be at par with the best airports in the region, with its runway planned to be extended from 950 meters to 2,500 meters. The width of the runway will also be doubled to 60 meters, allowing Boracay to handle regional and night landing. Flight volumes are targeted to increase by at least 30 percent.

Airport systems will likewise be streamlined for bigger volume of passengers while departure lounges will be improved. Based on the blueprint, it will also have a jetty port that can handle two international cruise liners at a time, allowing a more efficient transfer to Boracay Island.

To support Boracay’s green initiatives, Ang said the conglomerate would invest in a major water-treatment plant.

Asked whether SMC would start collecting higher terminal fees to recover its investment, Ang said there was no plan to do so as investment could be recovered from other businesses like hotel and retail operations. “We’ll keep the terminal fee affordable,” he said.

He said many international carriers were very much eager to fly to Caticlan once the rehabilitation has been finished.

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Millions North Korea soldiers out of post for Hunger and malnourished-report

North Korea is struggling to feed its army, according to new footage obtained from within the secretive state which shows a soldier complaining that his unit is weak from a lack of nutrition.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation said the video was taken by an undercover North Korean journalist over several months earlier this year and smuggled out of the communist country to China.

It shows filthy, orphaned children begging for food in the streets and a party official ordering a vendor at a private market to give her a donation of rice for the army — once quarantined from food shortages.

“My business is not good,” complained the stallholder.

“Shut up,” replied the official. “Don’t offer excuses.”

One young North Korean soldier is filmed saying to the reporter’s hidden camera that “everybody is weak”.

“Within my troop of 100 comrades, half of them are malnourished,” he said.

Earlier this month, Seoul-based humanitarian group Good Friends reported that enlisted soldiers had been abandoning their posts due to a lack of food since April, with some troops forced to skip meals.

North Korea’s 1.1-million-strong military, under the regime’s “Songun” or “army first” policy, is usually given greater access to food than ordinary citizens.

The ABC said the exclusive video also showed labourers building a private railway track near the capital Pyongyang for ailing ruler Kim Jong-Il’s son and apparent heir Kim Jong-Un.

“This rail line is a present from Kim Jong-Il to comrade Kim Jong-Un,” the undercover journalist is told when he asks the building site supervisor what they are doing.

Asked why he risked his life to shoot the video, the journalist said he was fed up with how people were suffering.

“The life of North Koreans has hit rock bottom,” he said. “I feel very angry about the succession of Kim Jong-Un.”

Japanese publisher Jiro Ishimaru, who instructed the undercover reporter on how to use the camera, told the ABC the footage was important because it showed Kim Jong-Il’s regime weakening.

“It used to put the military first, but now it can’t even supply food to its soldiers,” Ishimaru, who edits a magazine featuring insider accounts of life in North Korea, said.

“Rice is being sold in markets but they are starving. This is the most significant thing in this video,” he said.

Ishimaru works for Asia Press, a Tokyo-based network of independent journalists, which has a team of 10 North Korean volunteers who cover news deep inside the country.

Impoverished North Korea has requested overseas food and relief groups have said that the state faces imminent shortages, saying people are again eating grass and tree bark.

The United Nations has pleaded with international donors to overlook political difficulties in the face of a humanitarian crisis, saying six million people are in danger of not getting enough to eat.

Hundreds of thousands of North Koreans died in a famine in the 1990s, with North Korea depending on foreign aid to help feed its 23 million people since then.

 

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Bank assets of the Philippines up 9.4% to ₱ 7.12 trillion as of Q1 2011

The Bank Assets of the Philippines up and remained stable and resilient as its total resources grew 9.4% in the first quarter of the year, data released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) over the weekend showed.

Statistics showed that the total assets of the banking industry reached ₱ 7.12 trillion from January to March this year or ₱ 614 billion higher than the P6.506 trillion worth of resources booked in the same period last year.

Universal and commercial banks accounted for 89.2% of the industry's total assets while thrift banks cornered 8.3% and rural and cooperative banks shared the remaining 2.6%.

The central bank reported that resources of universal and commercial banks posted a double-digit growth of 10% to ₱6.35 trillion in the first quarter of the year from ₱ 5.77 trillion in the same quarter last year.

On the other hand, assets of thrift banks expanded 6.8% to ₱ 592.5 billion in the first three months of the year from ₱ 554.73 billion in the same period last year.

The BSP said the banking industry's assets continued to expand as more Filipinos turn to savings as a sign of the public's trust in the banking sector.

The industry's assets posted a double-digit growth of 11% to ₱ 7.23 trillion last year from ₱ 6.51 trillion in 2009 with Filipinos saving more while major players continued to mobilize deposits to fund new loans.

Data showed that resources of universal and commercial banks expanded by 11% to ₱ 6.42 trillion last year from ₱5.78 trillion in 2009 and accounted for about 89% of the industry's total assets.

On the other hand, assets of thrift banks grew by 13.1% to ₱ 629 billion last year from ₱ 556.1 billion and cornered a share of 8.7% of the total assets of banks.

Peso-denominated deposits increased by 11.2% to ₱ 4.02 trillion last year from ₱ 3.6 trillion in 2009 while foreign currency deposits climbed 4.2% to P1.1 trillion from ₱1.05 trillion. In all, bank deposits grew by 9.6% to ₱ 5.12 trillion last year from ₱4.67 trillion in 2009.

The BSP said the number of banks retreated by 27 to 758 last year from 785 in 2009 due to mergers as well as the closure of some banks. The number of universal and commercial banks was steady at 38 followed by thrift banks with 73 while the number of rural banks fell to 647 from 674.

The data showed that the operating network including branches of the banking system inched up by 2.9% to 8,869 last year from 8,620 in 2009 reflecting mainly the increase in commercial and rural banks' branches or agencies.

Monetary authorities led by BSP Governor Amando M. Tetangco Jr. believed that 2010 was a banner year for Philippine banks contributing largely to the country's stronger-than-expected economic growth amid the fragile recovery in advanced economies led by the US as well as the debt crisis in Europe.

Tetangco earlier said that the country's sound, stable, and liquid banking system was one of the reasons behind the sustained economic growth after the industry posted healthy growth rates in lending, deposits, and profitability in 2010.

 

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