Philippines Defence Forum

[Bob Ong]

PH planning to acquire 3 submarines, other military assets - report
October 7, 2013

MANILA - The Philippines plans to acquire three submarines and among many other military assets, Northern Luzon Command head Major Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang says in a paper cited by the state-run Philippine News Agency.

PNA quoted Catapang as noting that submarines, by their inherent stealth capabilities, may be deployed to monitor and protect the country's extensive maritime domains. The vessels being eyed are conventional-powered or diesel-electric types, and not the nuclear-powered ones.

Also supposedly being eyed is the acquisition of six frigates for anti-air warfare, 12 corvettes for anti-submarine warfare, 18 offshore patrol vessels, and three anti-mine warfare ships.

The PNA said Catapang's paper did not specify when and how much it will cost the Philippines to complete these acquisitions.

An earlier Philippine Navy (PN) study revealed that some P497 billion is needed to fully upgrade its fleet.

Once it has this money, the Navy will acquire the above-mentioned items along with four sealift vessels, 18 landing craft utility vessels, three logistics ships, 12 coastal interdiction patrol boats, 30 patrol gunboats, and 42 multi-purpose assault craft that can be equipped with torpedoes and missiles.

Also envisioned are eight amphibious maritime patrol aircraft, 18 naval helicopters, and eight multi-purpose helicopters.

"Looking at the PN's inventory of mission essential equipment, it is very discernible that the majority of our assets and vessels were acquired not necessarily because they fit into our strategy or operational requirement but because they are available as grant from the US or from our allies," the PN study said.

BEEFING UP | PH planning to acquire 3 submarines, other military assets - InterAksyon.com



Govt spent P500M to build Palawan naval base for US -- leftist fishermen's group

MANILA, Philippines - The government has spent P500 million of taxpayers’ money to build a naval base in Palawan for the use of visiting United States military forces in the country, the leftist fishermen’s group Pamalakaya said in a statement Sunday.

Vice chairperson Salvador France of the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said the Department of Public Works and Highways has released half a billion pesos to complete some major infrastructure, including a 12-kilometer access road from the Luzon mainland to develop Oyster Bay in Palawan which the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Philippine Navy seek to transform into a naval base capable of hosting large US military warships.

France is reacting to the statements of Commodore Joseph Rostum Peña, commander of Naval Forces West, who said that once completed, the Oyster Bay naval base in Palawan could accommodate “at least four large naval vessels.” The Philippine Navy officer said the development of Oyster Bay is part of the Philippine military’s modernization program, which would include the installation of high-powered radar systems in strategic areas from north to south of Palawan facing the highly disputed West Philippine Sea. The radar systems, he said, would allow the AFP to monitor developments in the contested region.

But the leftist fishermen’s leader said the construction of a “mini-Subic naval base in Oyster Bay violates the sovereign rights of the Filipino people.” He said the plan will make Palawan the launching pad of US pivot and Washington's war of aggression in East Asia and the Pacific.

“The plan would (also) have (a) disastrous impact on the livelihood of Filipino fisherfolk and marine environment,” he said.

“The 500 million pesos of hard-earned taxpayers' money had already been spent for this naval base tp be used by US troops in their unjust wars and terrorist activities,” he added.

Stop construction of naval base

France thus urged the Philippine Navy and the DPWH to stop the construction of mini-naval base, warning Commodore Pena that he could face criminal and other charges for violating the sovereign rights of Filipinos and the 1987 Constitution which prohibit the building of foreign bases inside the Philippine territory.

He also urged the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to stop releasing funds for the construction of the naval base.

Earlier, the group said it will officially ask the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and Senate Committee on National Defense to investigate the plan to transform Oyster Bay in Palawan into a naval base for visiting American forces.

Pamalakaya said the plan to convert Oyster Bay into a mini-Subic Naval Base was revived under the administration of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III in response to Washington's gesture to donate frigates in 2011 and 2012.

"We will contest this grand mockery of Philippine sovereignty in the parliament of the streets, in any appropriate court or forum, and in the court of public opinion. US President Barack Obama and the puppet president in Manila should be held accountable for this grandslam crime against national sovereignty and patrimony," France said.

The group said this construction is grossly unconstitutional and would put extreme danger to the lives and livelihood of the people and their environment.

France said a US military base in Palawan is not only to check China’s aggressive expansion into the West Philippine Sea but also to maintain the military hegemony of Washington in the region.

Pamalakaya called on Philippine senators to be extra vigilant as the plan to build a mini-Subic Naval Base in Oyster Bay is in preparation for the signing of the framework agreement on “increased rotational presence” of American forces in the Philippines which would allow more American access to local military bases and even the construction of new US military facilities.

“The Philippine Senate, the ratifying authority of any military agreement in the country, is completely ignored here,” said Pamalakaya.

The group said the Senate should investigate the Oyster Bay project and summon officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of National Defense (DND), and compel them to report on the current status of the US naval base plan and the outcome of the talks between Malacanang and the US government.

Earlier, Foreign Affairs official Carlos Sorreta said the government sees no problem with the construction of US military facilities as long as it is pre-approved by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and that ownership is turned over to the Philippines after every joint military exercise.

Pamalakaya said this planned relocation of AFP air force and navy camps to the former American Naval Base in Subic, Zambales is also part of the grand design to “justify Washington's unlimited access to Philippine bases.”

This would reverse the decision of the Philippine Senate in September 1991 to kick out the US military bases in the country, Pamalakaya said.

The Philippines plans to grant visiting US forces, ships, and aircraft temporary access to more of its military camps to allow for a larger number of joint military exercises than are currently staged each year.

We should really start getting our own machinery for air,land and water assets. While the talks were on progress we need to build our defenses just in case it went wrong. Being prepared is better than to regret later. Our enemy is at our doorstep.

 

[Pinoy]

We should really start getting our own machinery for air,land and water assets. While the talks were on progress we need to build our defenses just in case it went wrong. Being prepared is better than to regret later. Our enemy is at our doorstep.

There should be sacrifice to be made. It is irresponsible to ignore the current external threats or risk losing sovereignty. Our country should increase its military appropriation by at least 2% of GDP.

 

[Pinoy]

Luzon gives biggest economic share
October 14, 2013

LUZON was the biggest contributor to the Philippine economy from 2010 to 2012, but its share in the gross domestic product (GDP) shrank while Mindanao’s grew, based on a post on the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) Web site.

Among the Philippines’ three major island groups, Luzon was the top contributor to the country’s economy with an average share of 37.3% for the three-year period, according to “The Economies of the Regions of the Philippines: Trends and Structures”, written by NSCB Secretary General Jose Ramon G. Albert and posted Oct. 11.

However, Luzon’s share had dropped from 37.5% in 2010 to 37.1% in 2012.

In contrast, Mindanao’s share within the period increased from 14.2% in 2010 to 14.4% in 2012.

Meanwhile, Visayas’ share in the country’s GDP remained the smallest at 12.6% in 2010, 12.9% in 2011 and 12.7% in 2012.

Mindanao also posted the fastest growth rate among the island groups in 2012 at 8.2%. Luzon followed with accelerated growth of 6.3% from 3.3% in 2011. Visayas, though the fastest growing island group in 2011, maintained its 5.6% pace in 2012.

Mr. Albert noted that Mindanao’s economy in 2012 was fueled by industry, which grew 13.3% that year. The services sector, meanwhile, was the main driver for Luzon and Visayas.

As for individual regions, Region XIII (Caraga) saw the highest growth rate, with an annual average of 9.5% for the 2010-2012 period, while Region VIII (Eastern Visayas) saw the slowest, with an annual average of negative 2.1%.

Regions VII (Central Visayas) and XIII were “the most consistent regions in the country”, the post read.

Though Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula) has surpassed its 2010 and 2011 growth rates, Mr. Albert noted: “The recent crisis in Zamboanga City does not augur well for the newfound vibrance of Region IX’s economy.”

“It is estimated that the city accounts for 70% of the region’s output. Estimates ... place economic cost of the standoff at P331 million daily. Had the crisis continued, the region would likely revert to the lethargic state [of] the past two years.”

Luzon gives biggest economic share | BusinessWorld Online



St. Augustine restructures Philippines' $2 bln copper-gold project
Mon Oct 14, 2013

Oct 14 (Reuters) - Toronto-listed St Augustine Gold & Copper Ltd has restructured its stake in the $2 billion King-king copper-gold project in southern Philippines, one of Southeast Asia's biggest undeveloped mines, in a bid to kickstart funding.

St Augustine hopes to begin construction next year, although it faces similar problems to those hounding other big mining ventures in the mineral resources-rich country, including tax issues, security concerns and regulatory hurdles.

King-king, located on the west of the southern Mindanao island, could produce up to 3.2 billion pounds of copper, 5.4 million ounces of gold, and 11.7 million ounces of silver, based on St Augustine's 22-year mine plan.

Under the restructure with 50/50 joint venture partner the Philippines' Nationwide Development Corp (Nadecor), St. Augustine will own King-king's ore milling company and 40 percent of the mining concession. Nadecor will hold the rest of the concession and take a 40 percent stake in St. Augustine.

"This restructuring agreement puts St Augustine and Nadecor in the position to advance the King-king project," St. Augustine country manager Clyde Gillespie told a briefing, saying St Augustine would take take responsibility for raising funding.

St Augustine, which has a market capitalisation of $98.5 million, aims to list on the Philippine Stock Exchange by the second half of 2014 and bring in another foreign partner to help fund the project, Gillespie said.

The restive Mindanao region, home to Muslim rebels, is also the site of Glencore Xstrata Plc and Indophil Resources N.L.'s $5.9 billion Tampakan copper-gold project, whose future is in doubt.

Glencore said in August it would eliminate up to 920 jobs and slash spending at Tampakan, which has faced a provincial ban on open-pit mining, public opposition and difficulty in winning regulatory approval.

Gillespie said King-king would face similar issues, but had worked closely with the local community.

"Security is a challenge, we're on Mindanao island. But what we've found is that as we work closely with the community and with the indigenous people in the area, that we have less challenges from the security perspective," he said.

However, Gillespie warned that legislation being drafted by Manila that would increase the government's share of mining revenues, could make the project unviable. (Reporting by Erik dela Cruz; Editing by Richard Pullin)

CORRECTED-St. Augustine restructures Philippines' $2 bln copper-gold project | Reuters

 

[Pinoy]

Glencore AG to invest $600 million in Pasar

MANILA, Philippines - The local copper smelter of Swiss trader Glencore International AG will finalize this year its decision to invest around $600 million for its expansion.

Fresh investments will fund the expansion of Philippine Associated Smelting and Refining Corp.’s (PASAR) smelting plant and its first venture into power generation, a top company executive said.

“It is being studied now...We will make a decision before the year ends,” PASAR chairman Angel Veloso Jr. said in an interview.

Specifically, PASAR is looking to spend $300 million to expand the copper smelting plant in Leyte and another $300 million for a power plant, he said.

In June, President Benigno S.C. Aquino III’s investment mission in the United Kingdom resulted in the signing of more than $1 billion in business agreements between British and Filipino companies.

PASAR’s parent firm Glencore announced its plan to invest $600 million in the Philippines, which would create up to 700 new jobs.

For the power plant, Veloso said the copper smelter wants to build a 200-megawatt (MW) power plant but the plant’s technology is still subject to the ongoing feasibility study.

“This will be for our own use and also for the possibly of [selling to the] grid and to support the downstream program for copper,” Veloso said.

In April last year, PASAR said it is exploring the possibility of putting up a 60-MW coal-fired power plant.

To date, copper smelting plant in Leyte requires around 32 MW for its operations.

But given the expansion plans, its consumption might more than double to 70 MW, Veloso said.

Excess electricity of around 100 MW can be sold to the grid, Veloso said.

Under the Power Development Plan 2010-2030, the Visayas grid needs 2,150 MW in new capacity but only 654 MW is considered “committed” given the availability of project financing and 186 MW is still indicative.

For the smelting plant, Veloso said the mining boom encouraged the company to expand locally.

PASAR targets to increase output to as much as one million metric tons (MT) of copper concentrates per year from the current capacity of around 700,000 MT, Veloso said.

The refinery, which is inside the Leyte Industrial Development Estate, can also produce 215,000 MT of Grade A electrolytic copper cathodes per year.

“There is no local market to speak of but we have a project with the Trade department to come up with an integrated mining industry from mining down to manufacturing,” Veloso said.

Veloso said the government can encourage firms to supply concentrates to PASAR, which will process and even sell the minerals.

The strategic location of PASAR’s 80-hectare smelting complex gives it access to copper concentrate supplies from Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Canada, Australia, Argentina, Brazil and Chile.

It is also close to refined copper markets of China, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Japan.
PASAR was created by the Philippine government in 1976 to help industrialize the country.

Manila Economic and Cultural Office - Glencore AG to invest $600 million in Pasar



Purisima named best Finance minister in Asia
ABS-CBNnews.com
Posted at 10/13/2013

MANILA, Philippines - Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima was named the best Finance minister of the year in Asia by Emerging Markets.

This is the second time Purisima has received the award, having won it in 2011.

Purisima shared the award with President Benigno Aquino, saying the economic gains were attributed to the President's good governance reforms.

"I must make it clear that this award is not mine. The award recognizes things that were only made possible by President Aquino's commitment to good governance, as well as his honesty, leadership, and astute use of political capital." Purisima said.

The DOF chief also emphasized the government will continue to pursue reforms to eliminate corruption.

"This means to continue to pursue reform in agencies, such as our Bureau of Customs, where corruption has built strongholds. This also means investing further in our people and especially our infrastructure, the roads, power plants, ports, airports and more that form an equalizing backbone for our economy." Purisima said.

Purisima also received the Finance Minister of the Year award from Euromoney in 2012.

 

[Pinoy]

PH, Korea to ink defense pact
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Tuesday, October 15th, 2013

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines will forge a defense pact with South Korea during President Aquino’s two-day state visit to one of Asia’s superpowers this week.

In a briefing on the Korean state visit in Malacañang, Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said President Aquino and President Park Geun-hye will witness the signing of at least one memorandum of understanding (MOU) between their respective defense ministries.

Hernandez said the MOU will cover an exchange of visits between their respective soldiers, humanitarian personnel and international peacekeepers.

During his visit from Oct. 17 to 18, the President will meet with executives of Korea’s “chaebols,” or giant business conglomerates; touch base with the Filipino community in Asia’s third-largest economy; and confer the Order of Lakandula on Rep. Jasmine Bacunay-Lee, who left her roots in Cavite and Davao City to become the first naturalized Filipino-Korean to win a seat in the National Assembly.—Gil Cabacungan

 

[Pinoy]

just a while ago tsk tsk grabe ang lakas nito sana naman walang nasaktan sa lindol

Magnitude 7.4 quake hits Philippines, no tsunami threat

(Reuters) - An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.4 hit the southern Philippines on Tuesday, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii said there was no threat of a Pacific-wide tsunami after the quake.

The quake struck at a depth of about 35 km (22 miles) around Bohol island, to the north of Mindanao island. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

Magnitude 7.4 quake hits Philippines, no tsunami threat | Reuters

 

[Pinoy]

 

[Pinoy]

U.S. default 'unthinkable', but Philippines ready - Purisima
10/14/2013

No one expects the United States to default on its debt obligations, but if it happens, the Philippines, which holds nearly half of its global reserves in U.S. Treasuries, could weather the storm, the Philippines' top finance official said late on Sunday.

"A U.S. default is something unthinkable. But we're facing it from a much stronger position," Philippine Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima told Reuters in an interview.

He added that the Philippines is finally growing at a healthy and steady pace after years of being Asia's economic laggard. Its improved economic performance will help it face this latest global challenge, Purisima added.

"There's really nothing we can do, but focus on the things that we can control and that's why we're continuing to work on our fundamentals."

U.S. Senate talks to resolve the latest fiscal crisis showed signs of progress, but there were no guarantees that the U.S. government shutdown was about to end or that a historic default would be avoided.

The U.S. Treasury reaches its debt ceiling and runs out of authority to borrow on Thursday.

He added that the Philippines does not have a specific action plan in case of a default, because Purisima believes it's not going to happen.

"I am not even thinking of a default. We have full faith and confidence in the United States," Purisima said.

The Philippines held about $38.9 billion in U.S. Treasuries as of July 2013, based on the latest U.S. capital flows data from the Treasury department. That's equivalent to about 47 percent of the Philippines' international reserves in July of $82.942 billion.

The Philippines, a long-time ally of the United States, feels the need to hold U.S. Treasuries because the U.S. is one of the country's largest trading partners.

Yet despite the troubles facing the United States, Purisima believes the U.S. dollar should still be the world's reserve currency.

"The U.S. is still the world's largest economy and it is the most efficient even though its politics has been polarized," said Purisima. "It has the traits and features that make the dollar ideal as a global reserve currency."

The Philippines has been one of the few bright spots in Asia, having been upgraded to investment grade by all three ratings agencies. It has been growing at a solid pace in the last few quarters: the economy grew 7.6 percent from April to June. It has kept pace with China, with the two becoming the region's fastest growing nations this year.

Purisima said the prospect of the Federal Reserve's eventual reduction of stimulus would have a muted effect on the Philippines because it has a current account surplus and it is less dependent on hot money capital flows.

"No one is immune from the Fed's tapering, but global investors have started to differentiate the countries within emerging markets," the finance official said.

"There are emerging market countries that are export dependent, and there are economies like the Philippines that relies on domestic consumption, which means we are less dependent on the vagaries of the global economic environment."

The Philippine peso was down 4.7 percent so far this year against the U.S. dollar, but has been spared the steep losses suffered by its peers in Southeast Asia, as the Fed tapering its bond buying became evident from May until early September. The Indonesia rupiah, for instance, has fallen more than 15 percent in 2013.

In fact, he said the Philippine government intends to raise financing in the offshore debt market next year, "not because we need the money, but because there has been demand for our debt paper." He hasn't decided yet on the size of the bond issue.

(Editing by Nick Zieminski)

By Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss

http://www.4-traders.com/news/US-default-unthinkable-but-Philippines-ready-Purisima--17361337/

 

[Pinoy]

Aquino gives award to outgoing US envoy

Monday, October 14, 2013

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III conferred Monday the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Grand Cross, Silver Distinction (Datu, Katangiang Pilak) on outgoing United States Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas Jr.

The President conferred the prestigious award on the outgoing envoy in recognition of his invaluable contribution to deepening the relations between the Philippines and the United States during a ceremony in Malacanang.

The recognition cited the envoy's "advocacy for a stronger, more robust Philippines-United States defense alliance, playing a key role in the signing of the 2011 Manila Declaration that reaffirmed the Philippines-United States of America Mutual Defense Treaty."

Thomas was also recognized for advancing high-level dialogues and consultations between the Philippines and the US, facilitating the creation of mechanisms such as the Philippines-United States of America Bilateral Strategic Dialogue and the 2+2 Ministerial Consultations.

He was also cited for his outstanding contribution to the Philippine democracy and development, especially for taking the lead on the establishment and implementation of the programs under the Millennium Challenge Corporation and the Partnership for Growth.

Aquino also acknowledged Thomas’es steadfast support to the Philippines in times of calamities, especially for the significant assistance from the US to address the disasters caused by Typhoons Pablo and Sendong.

Thomas was also cited for pursuing activities that nurtured friendship, mutual appreciation and understanding between Filipinos and Americans.

In a press briefing, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte expressed confidence that the relations of the Philippines and the US will continue to be strong under the new ambassador.

"We’re pretty confident that the good relations will remain even with the changing of the representative here," she said.

It was earlier reported that US President Barack Obama has nominated former ambassador to Bolivia Philip Goldberg to replace Thomas.

During the event, Thomas was accompanied by Deputy Chief of Mission for the US Embassy Brian Goldbeck. Also present were Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario; DFA Assistant Secretary Carlos Sorreta; Colonel Rocky Carter, senior defense official-Philippines; and 3rd Secretary and Vice Consul Luke Meinzen.

The Order of Sikatuna was established in 1953 and is conferred by the President of the Philippines upon individuals who have rendered exceptional and meritorious services to the Philippines.

It is also bestowed upon diplomats, officials and nationals of foreign states who have rendered conspicuous services in fostering, developing, and strengthening relations between their country and the Philippines. (SDR/Sunnex)

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2013/10/14/aquino-gives-award-outgoing-us-envoy-308550

 

[Bienvenido]

just a while ago tsk tsk grabe ang lakas nito sana naman walang nasaktan sa lindol

Magnitude 7.4 quake hits Philippines, no tsunami threat

(Reuters) - An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.4 hit the southern Philippines on Tuesday, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii said there was no threat of a Pacific-wide tsunami after the quake.

The quake struck at a depth of about 35 km (22 miles) around Bohol island, to the north of Mindanao island. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

Magnitude 7.4 quake hits Philippines, no tsunami threat | Reuters

This is a natural calamity we cannot control. We just have to stay calm. I send prayers and condolences for the families' victims who died by that strong earthquake.

 

[Bienvenido]

Philippines secures P190-billion loan from allies

FOREIGN Secretary Albert F. del Rosario on Friday said the country has made significant progress in economic cooperation with other countries and obtained grants and loans of more than $4.4 billion—$3 billion from Japan’s official development assistance, close to $900 million from Australia and almost $500 million from South Korea.

He also said the Philippines-European Union Partnership and Cooperation Agreement “would allow both sides to address new challenges on issues such as customs and trade facilitation, energy and migration.”

Del Rosario spoke at the Second Annual Dinner of the US-Philippines Society in New York on September 27. In 2012 alone, he said, the Philippines finalized 43 agreements involving economic cooperation in investment, tourism, development assistance education and care services, and assisted in developing more than 700 trade and business missions.

“The Philippine hosting of the 23rd World Economic Forum on East Asia in 2014 and the annual meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in 2015—the second since 1996—reaffirms the leadership role of the Philippines in the global arena,” he said.

Del Rosario said that in the promotion of economic diplomacy, the foreign office entered into a partnership with the Asian Institute of Management to enhance the skills of its Foreign Service officers who undergo a program on economic diplomacy before being assigned abroad.

“This training is essential to hone our peoples’ skills as the nation’s front liners in identifying and pursuing economic opportunities abroad,” he said.

US President Barack Obama is scheduled shortly to make his first state visit to the Philippines, the eighth by a sitting American president. He said in their meeting in April in Washington, D.C., US Secretary of State John Kerry said the “relations between the US and the Philippines have never been better.”

“President Obama’s visit will reaffirm the strong economic, people-to-people and security links between our countries. Indeed, we are witnessing a more vibrant cooperation,” Kerry said.

Del Rosario said over the years, there have been discussions between the two countries on how to enhance their defense and security cooperation, particularly in maritime security and maritime domain awareness.

He said during the official working visit of President Aquino to the US last year, “our leaders ushered in a new era of strategic partnership, with the US government reaffirming support for Philippine efforts to build the country’s minimum credible defense posture.”

“This broadening and deepening of Philippines-US relations is being positively viewed in the context of the US rebalance toward Asia,” he said, adding that last month, the two countries began discussions on institutionalizing increased rotational presence through a framework agreement premised on mutuality of benefits and in full accord with the Philippine Constitution.

On China, he said, the core issue of the dispute is China’s claim of indisputable sovereignty over nearly all of the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) under its nine dash line position. Del Rosario said this claim is “expansive, excessive and in gross violation of international law, specifically Unclos,” or the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

“China’s continuous overwhelming naval and maritime presence in the area is also contributing to the raising of regional tensions.

“Although the Philippines had undertaken many efforts to peacefully engage China and settle these disputes, these were unsuccessful,” he said.

“Our last resort was to utilize the legal track toward the resolution of disputes,” del Rosario added.

From the Philippine perspective, he said, the rules-based approach contains two elements: The third-party arbitration toward the resolution of disputes, in accordance with the universally recognized principles of international law, specifically Unclos; and the early conclusion of a Code of on the South China Sea between Asean and China toward the management of tensions.

He said the Philippine move to bring China before the UN’s Arbitral Tribunal will benefit everyone.

BusinessMirror - Philippines secures P190-billion loan from allies

Thanks to our allies especially Japan

 

[Pinoy]

Philippine quake damages centuries-old churches

Philippine quake damages centuries-old churches | News OK

Quake toll now 156; 3.2M people affected

Quake toll now 156; 3.2M people affected

 

[Pinoy]

Remittances rose by 6.8% in August
More Filipino workers being deployed abroad, say gov’t officials
By Paolo G. Montecillo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Thursday, October 17th, 2013

Money sent home by overseas Filipino workers (OFW) continued to rise in August, helping sustain consumer demand that drives the local economy, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

BSP officials said that, despite the weakness in the global economy, more cash from abroad entered the country due to sustained demand for Filipino labor overseas.

“The steady deployment of OFWs remained one of the key drivers of growth in remittance flows,” the BSP said in a statement.

Citing data released on Wednesday, the central bank said that cash remittances reached $1.918 billion in August, an increase of 6.8 percent over the same month last year. This brought the year-to-date figure to $14.545 billion—up 5.9 percent year on year.

The cash sent in by land-based OFWs grew by 5.5 percent. About 75 percent of the workers held contracts of at least one year. Government officials consider the length of OFW contracts to be a good indicator for the sustainability of remittances.

Also, cash transfers made by sea-based workers and land-based workers with short-term contracts, grew by 7.4 percent year on year.

Major sources of remittances were the United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Canada and Japan.

Citing data from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), the BSP reported that job orders for Filipino labor continued to grow in August, further strengthening the flow of remittances.

In the eight months to August, approved job orders reached 542,367, of which 39 percent were for posts in the services, production, professional and technical sectors. Job orders mainly came from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Qatar.

The POEA also reported that workers with processed contracts reached 1.164 million in the first semester of 2013.

 

[Pinoy]

Japan Firm bids $300 Million Dollars E-tryke Mass production in the Philippines; more jobs

Japanese electric vehicles maker and distributor Uzushio Electric Co. is making a bid to distribute electric tricycles in the Philippines as the country implements a plan to replace 100,000 gasoline-burning, air-polluting tricycles by 2016.

Tokushi Nakashima, head of BEET Philippine Inc., a local subsidiary of Uzushio Electric Co., told a press conference Monday that his company has submitted a bid to the Asian Development Bank, which is providing $300 million toward the e-tricycle project being carried out in cooperation with the Philippine government.

The company, which opened in March, also registered its e-trike model with the Philippines’ Land Transportation Office, affirming its roadworthiness and making it accessible for interested private consumers.

Nakashima said Uzushio Electric, having developed more than 50 models of electric vehicles in Japan, is ready to help the Philippines solve its environmental woes through participation in the project, while at the same time improve the lives of tricycle drivers who are expected to take home a bigger daily income because electricity costs less than gasoline.

Also called tuk tuks, tricycles, which carry between four to nine passengers, are commonly seen in residential areas of Metro Manila, as well as on highways in the countryside. They are notoriously loud and emit a lot of exhaust.

The Philippine government hopes the e-tricycle project will cut down on noise, save more than $100 million a year in fuel imports, create jobs through local production of e-tricycles and decrease annual carbon dioxide emissions by about 260,000 tons.

An ADB study shows gasoline-fueled tricycles are responsible for more than two-thirds of all air pollution generated by the country’s entire transport sector, and without intervention, the carbon emissions are set to almost quadruple in less than 25 years.

Nakashima said BEET’s e-tricycle is made of five key components, which satisfy the requirements for the Philippines’ various road and weather conditions: a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, an AC motor, an inverter, a vehicle control unit, and a battery management system.

It weighs around 500 kg, accommodates up to seven people including the driver, runs at speeds of up to 60 kph and can cover 50 km on a single charge.

Nakashima said BEET Philippine has tied up with Softbank Mobile Corp. to develop a billing system for lease or loan payment, as well as the integration of an advanced telecommunication system to track the trikes.

BEET Philippine is in talks with potential assemblers in the Philippines in preparation for mass production, he added.

Nakashima declined to disclose how much the company’s e-tricycle units would sell for since the ADB is still assessing its bid, along with those of another Japanese firm, a South Korean one and a Taiwanese one.

Japan Firm bids $300 Million Dollars E-tryke Mass production in the Philippines; more jobs | THE FILIPINO MEDIA

 

[Pinoy]

South Korea to honor President Aquino’s father during state visit
By Marlon Ramos
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Wednesday, October 16th, 2013

SEOUL, South Korea—A recognition from the Korean government honoring his martyred father and namesake will be among the highlights of President Aquino’s two-day state visit here.

The President is scheduled to fly here on Thursday upon the invitation of President Park Gyeun-hye, the newly elected leader of this fast industrializing country considered to be the third-most vibrant economy in Asia.

Aquino said he would not be canceling the state visit to South Korea, expressing confidence that the government has responded adequately to the quake-devastated regions in the Visayas, particularly Bohol and Cebu, which suffered a 7.2-magnitude earthquake on Tuesday.

“I will be going to Bohol and Cebu tomorrow and if possible other areas and if the assessment is that there are a lot of things that are not being taken care of, then we will reconsider the visit,” Aquino said.

The two countries have long had historical ties, deepened by the Philippines’ gesture of sending of combat troops to help defend Korean democracy during the Korean War in the 1950s.

Aquino said Korea had extended the invitation to him three times, beginning from the term of President Lee Myung-bak, Park’s predecessor.

“If we suddenly cancel the visit, we might delay our good relations with Korea,” Aquino said.

Aquino and his official delegation, who will be taking a chartered Philippine Airlines flight, will be welcomed by top Korean officials led by Cho Tae-yul, the second vice minister of foreign affairs, at the Seoul Air Base in Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do.

After offering a wreath at the Memorial Tower of the Seoul National Cemetery, Aquino will proceed to the Blue House, Korea’s seat of power, where a memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation will be signed by officials of the two countries.
Park will host a state dinner on Thursday in honor of the President.

The second and last day of Aquino’s visit will start with a wreath-laying ceremony at the War Memorial, after which he will be presented with a plaque of appreciation for his late father, the assassinated opposition leader Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr., who worked as a news correspondent during the Korean war.

He will also speak before a group of Korean businessmen to invite them to invest in the Philippines.—With a report from Nikko Dizon