President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
will bring in multi-million projects to Zamboanga Sibugay province to hasten
the developmentof the island
municipalities of Olutanga, Talusan and the capital town of Ipil during the province’s 8th foundation
anniversary celebration on Friday.
To
balance economic development with environment protection, the President will
provide P5 million for the energization of eight barangays in Olutanga; conduct
briefing on solid waste management and address climate change in Talusan;
provide an initial P45 million for the improvement of the Ipil feeder airport;
and distribute various livelihood assistance, scholarships, farm implements and
more than P12 million worth of checks for the construction of irrigation
facilities and numerous farm-to-market roads in the province.
MAKILALA, North Cotabato — President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo will visit here on Thursday to conduct an inspection on a
newly-completed bridge that would provide safe travel to motorists and
commuters traversing the vital road network linking Davao and Cotabato
provinces.
The President’s visit is in line with her
administration’s thrust of linking the entire country through an effective transport
network that would open up new economic opportunities and enhance access to
social services.
Following her visit to Pearl Farm Marina in
Lanang, DavaoCity, the President will motor here to
personally look into the P45- million new Malaang main bridge which will serve
as linkage to new route connecting the Davao-Cotabato road.
The Chief Executive will be welcomed by local
officials led by North Cotabato Governor Jesus Sacdalan, Makilala Mayor Onofre
Respicio, 1st District Rep. Emmylou Talino-Mendoza, 2nd District Rep. Bernardo
Pinol and DPWH XII Regional Director Sinaolan Macarambon.
Public Works and Highway Secretary Hermogenes
Ebdane Jr. will brief the President on the status of the new Malaang bridge
that would provide shorter and safer new route to travelers.
The new access road was constructed as a
replacement to the existing double blind curve along Malaang section which have
caused several vehicular road accidents.
DPWH North Cotabato District Engineer Leonardo
M. Martinez, Jr.said a total of six
vehicular accidents occurred in the area last year alone due to the dangerous
double blind curve.
Based on the feasibility study conducted by
DPWH, it was found out that warning signs are insufficient to ensure road
safety.
Thus, Martinez
said “we came up with a recommendation to construct a shorter and safer access
road to assure the safety of motorists. ”
Considering that KidapawanCity is one of the major fruit baskets
here in Mindanao, he said it is important to
assure the continuous flow of traffic along Davao-Cotabato Road as it is one of the
major arterial roads that is being used to deliver goods and services.
The main bridge was constructed in April 2007
and was completed within a year.
But the concrete bridge approaches component has
not yet been implemented pending the resolution of a road right-of-way issue.
Likewise, an additional P20-million funding is
needed for the completion of the remaining concreting works.
RP claim on disputed territories preserved in new baselines law
Lawmakers
assured that the new baselines law has not abandoned nor weakened the
Philippine claim over KalayaanIsland group and Scarborough
Shoal.
By
treating both territories as “regime of islands under the Republic of the
Philippines” as stated by the baselines law, congressional leaders in both
houses said the Philippines exercises sovereignty without attracting unwanted
conflict with neighbors in South East Asia.
China and Taiwan, like the Philippines, have claims over
Kalayaan Island Group and Scarborough Shoal. Other claimants on the Kalayaan
Island Group are Vietnam and
Brunei.
Islands under the principle of regime of islands
will have their own contiguous zones,territorial seas and exclusive economic zones.
Congress passed the baselines law in compliance
with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) where an
archipelagic country like the Philippines is entitled to define territorial sea
of 12 nautical miles, contiguous zone of additional 12 nautical miles,
exclusive economic zone of 200 nautical miles, and extended continental shelf
of up to 350 nautical miles.
Archipelagic countries must have baselines
laws before May 13, 2009 based on the UNCLOS deadline. #
Applications for World War II Filipino Veterans
Equity Compensation Fund now open
World War II Filipino veterans (Filvets) may now
apply for the one-time lump sum payment from the new US economic stimulus law.
The Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) is
now working with US Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA) in receiving and
processing the applications for the World War II Filipino Veterans Equity Fund
after US
President Barack Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of
2009 into law this week. The new law set aside one-time payments to eligible
and surviving Filvets in recognition for their services during the last world
war. Filvets who are US citizens will receive US$15,000 whilenon-US citizens will get US$9,000.
Aside from the PVAO main office at CampAguinaldo
, Quezon City ,
USDVA will be setting up 17 satellite offices in PVAO bureaus starting next
week.
The US Embassy is encouraging Filvets to apply
in person and bring identification documents such passport, driver’s license,
senior citizen ID, Postal ID, voter’s ID, VA claim number, service number,
Philippine Veterans Affairs Office claim number, Philippine Veterans Affairs
Office pension bank account number and US passport for American citizens.
PVAO has prepared wheelchairs, coffee and other
amenities to make the applications of Filvets and accompanying relatives
comfortable.
The Manila Regional Office of the USDA will make
arrangements to obtain the applications for Filvets who could not come in
person. Unfortunately, the lump sum payments are limited only to surviving
veterans and applications from spouses, widows and children of deceased Filvets
will not be accepted.
According to the US Embassy website, Filvets may
be eligible to the one-time payment authorized by the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009 if they are:
*
Persons who served before July 1, 1946 , in the organized military forces of
the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines
, while such forces were in the service of the Armed Forces of the United States ;
*Members of the organized guerrilla forces
under commanders appointed, designated, or subsequently recognized by the
Commander in Chief, Southwest Pacific Area, or other competent authority in the
Army of the United States;
*
Persons who served in the Philippine Scouts under Section 14 of the Armed
Forces Voluntary Recruitment Act of 1945; and
*
Service members in each of the three categories above must have been discharged
or released from service under conditions other than dishonorable.
Eligible Filvets have only until February 16,
2010 to file their claim for the one-time lump sum payments.
PVAO can
be reached through 995-0888 while the US Embassy can be contacted through its
public affairs office at 301-2000 local numbers 2363 and 2230.
GMA urges Filipino and Korean business leaders
to help their countries navigate the global crisis
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has urged
Korean and Filipino business leaders to harness their enthusiasm and wisdom to
help forge a strong and strategic bond of cooperation for the prosperous future
of the Philippines and South Korea.
‘To help our two countries navigate the current
world crisis, let us combine the wisdom of our shared past and enthusiasm to
create a firm and strategic bond of cooperation,” the President told the
business leaders in her keynote address during the dinner that ushered in
February 19-19, 2009 Philippines-Korea Business Forum at the Manila Hotel,
Wednesday night.
The forum presages the upcoming celebration of
the 60th year of the strong bilateral and economic ties between South Korea and the Philippines.
The President said the two countries can look
forward to a brighter future given their vigorous partnership and a meaningful
interaction. To substantiate her confidence in the robust bilateral ties of the
two countries, she declared 2009 as the official “Philippines-Republic of Korea
Friendship Year” and March 3, 2009 as RP-Korea “Friendship Day”
Department of Tourism records show that Korean’s
students and retirees are the biggest tourist groups regularly visiting the
country
President Arroyo also noted that over 900 Korean
companies are currently operating in the Philippines. Among them are Hanjin
Heavy Industries, Korea Electric Power corporation (KEPCO), Samsung, LG and
Eastern Group.
In terms of development cooperation, the chief
executive observed that Korea
has been a dependable partner of the Philippines, and has strongly
helped her administration achieve the set targets of the Medium Term Philippine
Development Plan.
She also noted that Korean companies have also
helped the Philippine government in upgrading major infrastructures including
the Metro Manila North and South Railway Link, the Olongapo-Gapan Road, the
Laguindingan Airport in Mindanao, the modernization of the Cavite Memorial
Hospital in Trece Martirez City, Cavite.
Korean firms, she added, have also significantly
contributed to the country’s information technology and agriculture.
Hosted jointly by the Manila Bulletin and the
Maeil Business Newspaper, the First Phil-Kor Business Forum has Maynila
Ballroom of the Manila Hotel as its venue. Aptly titled “Rediscovering the Philippines: The Pearl of Asia,” the forum is
personally supervised by Ambassador Choi Joong-Kyung, South Korean envoy to Manila.
The forum was also addressed by key officials
and business leaders of the two countries. Former President Fidel V. Ramos will
officially conclude the forum today (Thursday).
Other upcoming events that will highlight this
year’s Phil-Kor festivities include the Philippine-Korean Friendship night and
the 34th International Bamboo Organ Festival on February 24 at the Las Piñas
Church and the Korean Food Festival at the Manila Hotel on March 3, the Korean
Drama and Film week in May and an RP-ROK University Basketball competition in
July.
The series of events will be capped in November
by the Korean Film Festival, RP-ROK Cultural Festival, and the RP-ROK Economic
Forum in Seoul, Korea.
PNOC-AFC signs Jatropha
Partnership with Tagkawayan Farmers
Continuing
its efforts of boosting its nationwide jatropha project, the Philippine
National Oil Company – Alternative Fuels Corporation (PNOC-AFC) signed a Production,
Technical and Marketing Agreement (PTMA) with the Tagkawayan Jatropha Famers
Multi-Purpose Cooperative on 09 February 2009 to cultivate jatropha in the Province of Quezon.
Under the
PTMA, PNOC-AFC will purchase seeds from, and extend technical assistance to the
Tagkawayan Cooperative.
The signing
ceremony held at PNOC-AFC’s office in Makati
was headed by PNOC-AFC’s President and CEO Romeo P. Tolentino and Jose B.
Serrano, Jr., the Chairman of the Tagkawayan Jatropha Famers Multi-Purpose
Cooperative – a conglomeration of landowners willing to allocate a consolidated
517-hectare land located in Quezon for jatropha.
In line
with the government’s policy of reducing dependence on imported oil and
utilizing indigenous renewable energy sources, the PNOC-AFC has the primary
purpose to explore, develop and accelerate the use of alternative energy to
enhance the country’s energy security. Coupled with this mandate is to find
ways to be more environment-friendly with the use of processes that contribute
to the lessening of pollution and effects to global warming.
Biofuels
are currently significantly less carbon neutral than other forms of renewable
energy. A way to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released into the
atmosphere is to use biofuels to replace non-reneweable energy sources.
Jatropha Curcas, known more popularly as “tuba-tuba,” was identified by the
company as the most productive and economical feedstock for biofuel production.
With the
PTMA, PNOC-AFC shall conduct validation of the land’s
size and suitability to propagate jatropha; provide specification of seedlings;
purchase the seeds to be delivered by the Tagkawayan Cooperative at
Php4.50 per kilo; and provide technical know-how and support relative to the
establishment of a nursery.
For its part, the Tagkawayan
Cooperative shall submit a list of farmer-participants; identify lands; secure
loan from the Landbank of the Philippines;
make available the planting materials; and deliver the seeds.
Steadfast on its role of
providing cheaper, cleaner and safer fuels; the PNOC-AFC believes in the
viability of the jatropha project. The company already has several ventures
with farmers’ cooperatives, landowners’ groups and investors all over the
country. (PNOC/PIA9-BST)
Military-initiated dev’t projects in Sulu for 2009 revealed
(Jolo, Sulu) – Joint Task Force Comet Commander Maj
Gen Juancho M Sabban cited recently the military’s humanitarian and development
programs intended for Sulu this year. Under the development program of the
Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines Task Force-Sulu, there are a
total of 60 projects worth $ 6 million.
The projects to be undertaken include the following: 13 road
constructions; eight water distributions; five well projects; seven school
projects; and eight additional infrastructure projects such as market, pier,
radio repeater, drying platform, and health center. The other 19 projects are
already in progress.
“This number is not final yet, it may increase. These
projects were only recently recommended and approved for implementation,” says
US Army Maj Arnel David, Team leader of the Task Force-Sulu Civil Affairs Team.
On the other hand, the AFP’s National Development Support
Command apportioned P39,416,000 for the 45 school projects. Aside from
the aforementioned, P5 million was allotted to the task force’s 44
projects on water system, school and mosque renovations, and livelihood
programs on goat raising, duck raising, seaweeds farming, upgrading
native chicken, and cassava farming. Some of these projects are already
completed. Others are ongoing, while the rest are yet to be undertaken by the
Marine Battalion Landing Teams in their respective areas of responsibility.
According to Maj Gen Sabban, many essential projects shall
still be thought of by the troops, extending a variety of technical assistance
to contribute to national development.
“These projects embody our untiring commitment to help and
assist our Muslim brothers and sisters. The realization of development programs
will nourish the trail of peace in places besieged by strife in the past,”
stresses the military chief.
“It is our hope that the beneficiaries will help nurture
these projects so that the future generation can still use them as they had,”
he added.
Moreover, he said that the conduct of health activities and
civic action programs is maintained. Bringing peace is the military’s ultimate
mission and this could be achieved better through humanitarian
approach.
“The military will continuously
assist the local government units, non-government organizations, and other
agencies with the conduct of humanitarian missions. All humanitarian works of
the AFP in Sulu will be sustained, with or without tactical operations against
the terrorists ASG and JI,” he assured. (42CRU, 4CRG,
CRSAFP/PIA9-BASULTA)
(Jolo, Sulu)
- As a manifestation of their gratitude, pupils from HadjiButuElementary School in Jolo town, paid a
visit to serenade the military troops of Joint Task Force Comet at Kuta Heneral
Teodulfo Bautista, Brgy Bus-bus, Jolo on 18 Feb 2009.
Earlier that same day, they acted as
guests during the military’s radio program rendering the moving songs with
titles: Children for Peace and Peace in Mindanao.
They dedicated their performance to all the soldiers, who are defending the
people of Sulu from all forms of threats to safety.
The Marines who had endured rigid training were awed by the
thoughtfulness that these children exhibited through their serenade. Having a
conducive learning environment is but their right, yet the appreciation in
their eyes was glowing.
School Principal Hadja Nur-Yam
Aking said that it is a gesture of
their appreciation towards the military’s aid in constructing
and renovating 11 classrooms. The said school project, which
was urgently implemented through the emergency
fund of Task Force-Sulu, was inaugurated on 05 Dec 2008.
According to her, prior to the
implementation of the project, both students and teachers were troubled by the
flood problem. Attendance of students dropped, and many of them transferred to
other schools.
“Classrooms then were filled with
water. Instead of classroom instruction, both students and teachers spent the
whole time cleaning and taking out the water from their respective rooms. This
situation is far from ideal in an educational system that already lacks many
resources,” says Mrs Aking.
“In laying down the foundation of education, the significant
help of JTF Comet and the US Forces contributes to a bright future for the
children in Sulu. It is not only the teachers, but also the children who
discovered that the military cares about them,” adds the Principal.
Teacher Jubie Yusop-Fernandez said that now the classrooms were elevated to impede water to
get in, students now do better work in their studies,
attributing it to the new, clean, and well ventilated
rooms.
“Our performance is enhanced as
well,” she said.
Twelve-year-old Fatima Husna Kasim, who wants to become a
teacher, said that she and her classmates now attend classes every day.
“We are always excited to go to school every day because our
classroom is already beautiful. We always keep it clean. We dislike it so
much every time classes are dispersed or holidays are announced,” shares Fatima in Tagalog.
Meanwhile, teacher Jocelyn Juson, who
is also a mother of three said that education is the most important thing to
prepare the children for the future.
“What we really care
about is to ensure that our children can learn in the best environment
possible. Students are more likely to prosper when the ambience is encouraging
to learning,” she said.
In response, JTF Comet Commander Maj Gen Juancho M Sabban
expressed that the military values very much the appreciative waves from both
the children and school staff, a proof of their sense of security with the
soldiers, which generated a jovial atmosphere.
“We are humbled how a school project was transformed into a
world of difference for these children and for the teachers. Our troops are
determined to fight for the children’s rights to education and extend help in
providing an atmosphere most conducive to learning in any simple way we can,”
says Maj Gen Sabban.
“In every challenging time, it is the people’s support and
trust that always uplift the AFPs’ spirit. An appreciation from them is an
inspiration for us to continuously perform our mandated mission with our utmost
best at all times,” he added. (42CRU, 4CRG, CRSAFP/PIA9-BASULTA)