Written by Rey Anthony Chiu
Philippine Information Agency
Tackling heated deliberations on power and mediating the controversial spat between Manila Electric Company and state-run insurance system deserve cooling moments and Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo precisely did just that, few minutes after her Bohol Cabinet meeting May 20.
"She was excited, even with limited visibility due to the fast sunset. By the looks of it, she is coming back," a resort staff revealed as the president briefly came to the island after the dive.
Balicasag Resort resident manager Maria Elena Go said the president was excited when she narrated her experience even with limited visibility.
After the Cabinet meeting, the president, accompanied by Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap and navy divers immediately motored to Alona Beach in Panglao, about two hours later than scheduled to hop to Balicasag Island.
Squeezing into a black wet-suit and putting on a transparent plastic mask, on the diveboat before transferring to the flat boat in front of the resort, she momentarily left the world of politics for the underwater wonders of the famous dive-island in Panglao.
Earlier, Representative Edgar Chatto, in a radio interview told listeners that the president wants to see for herself why Japanese divers rate Balicasag as the third most beautiful dive site in the world.
Go, in an interview confessed she was worried about the delay for it was almost dark and visibility is reduced.
For lack of time, the dive briefing, which was set at 2:00 pm in the resort happened 2 hours later, and on the boat instead.
An entourage of Navy divers and underwater photographers documenting the event accompanied the president and Secretary Yap as both descended into the famed Royal Garden.
Immersing themselves first on the north side of the island, the dive point of interest are thick corals that form a kaleidoscopic multi-colored reef teeming with tropical fish. The site, simply named the Royal Garden, is also what most divers refer to the entire marine ecosystem of Balicasag.
From there, the President and her party of divers proceeded to the thrill of swimming though the black coral forest or simply Black Forest, Balicasag resident dive master said.
The dive, he said offers a rare opportunity of swimming through black coral that teems at surpsingly shallow 30 meter depths. Black corals are seldom found above 50 meters.
Speculations bare that the island's shadow combined with the coolness and nutrients provided by currents and upwellings "deceive" the coral into thinking it's at greater depth.
Apart from the black corals, schools of tropical fish-such as moorfish idols, batfish and lionfish - along with assorted nudibranches, including Spanish dancers are there, Balicasag website states.
Other Balicasag points of interest, which the President's party missed are the Cathedral Wall, Divers' Haven, Turtle Point and the Marine Sanctuary dives, all ringing the 25 hectare island off Panglao.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Multi-billion Panglao-Bohol International Airport Launched by Philippine President
By Rey Anthony Chiu - Philippine Information Agency
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo launched the construction of the P4.17-billion Panglao-Bohol International Airport here to boost the tourism and trade potentials of this world-class destination province.
The President led the capsule-laying ceremony in Barangay Tawala assisted by Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Leandro Mendoza, Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Alfonso Cusi, Bohol Gov. Erico Aumentado, and Panglao Mayor Benedicto Alcala.
After the capsule-laying, the President was briefed by Cusi on the status of the project funded through MIAA's P3-billion income and P1 billion from the DOTC.
Cusi informed the President that the international airport is targeted to be operational in the first quarter of 2010 and can accommodate one million passengers per year.
The President said no foreign loans were sourced in the construction of the Panglao International Airport as government revenue agencies have consistently exceeded their targets these past few years.
Upon completion of the project, the President said foreign tourists can now come directly and visit the famous destinations in Bohol that include the Chocolate Hills, a candidate in the Internet search for the New Seven Wonders of Nature, and Balicasag Island, a popular breathtaking dive site which she herself had a look.
The President said Bohol, the tenth largest island of the Philippines, is one of the tourism centers of the country. Located in the heart of the Visayas, it is famous for the tarsier, the world's smallest primate; pristine beaches and dive spots, caves and crystal springs, ancestral homes, and centuries-old churches.
In an earlier interview, Cusi and Mendoza said the Panglao International Airport would not only cater to tourists and cargo but is expected to boost trade, investments and economic activity in Bohol as it would be a magnet for industrial parks and economic zones.
The multi-billion key infrastructure project also merited a good number of critics, one which is led by University of the Philippines Professor of Economics Ernesto Pernia and long-time airport critic and former Panglao Municipal Tourism Committee Chairman Agustin Cloribel.
Working against time in efforts to at least stall or scrap the project, Boholanos for Truth, Accountability and Reform (BOTAR) posted a paid ad in a local paper daring the provincial leaders to clarify issues involving the project.
Questions raised against the plan are its economic viability, serious environmental concerns, perceived corruption and dirty politics.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo launched the construction of the P4.17-billion Panglao-Bohol International Airport here to boost the tourism and trade potentials of this world-class destination province.
The President led the capsule-laying ceremony in Barangay Tawala assisted by Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Leandro Mendoza, Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Alfonso Cusi, Bohol Gov. Erico Aumentado, and Panglao Mayor Benedicto Alcala.
After the capsule-laying, the President was briefed by Cusi on the status of the project funded through MIAA's P3-billion income and P1 billion from the DOTC.
Cusi informed the President that the international airport is targeted to be operational in the first quarter of 2010 and can accommodate one million passengers per year.
The President said no foreign loans were sourced in the construction of the Panglao International Airport as government revenue agencies have consistently exceeded their targets these past few years.
Upon completion of the project, the President said foreign tourists can now come directly and visit the famous destinations in Bohol that include the Chocolate Hills, a candidate in the Internet search for the New Seven Wonders of Nature, and Balicasag Island, a popular breathtaking dive site which she herself had a look.
The President said Bohol, the tenth largest island of the Philippines, is one of the tourism centers of the country. Located in the heart of the Visayas, it is famous for the tarsier, the world's smallest primate; pristine beaches and dive spots, caves and crystal springs, ancestral homes, and centuries-old churches.
In an earlier interview, Cusi and Mendoza said the Panglao International Airport would not only cater to tourists and cargo but is expected to boost trade, investments and economic activity in Bohol as it would be a magnet for industrial parks and economic zones.
The multi-billion key infrastructure project also merited a good number of critics, one which is led by University of the Philippines Professor of Economics Ernesto Pernia and long-time airport critic and former Panglao Municipal Tourism Committee Chairman Agustin Cloribel.
Working against time in efforts to at least stall or scrap the project, Boholanos for Truth, Accountability and Reform (BOTAR) posted a paid ad in a local paper daring the provincial leaders to clarify issues involving the project.
Questions raised against the plan are its economic viability, serious environmental concerns, perceived corruption and dirty politics.
Philippine President Calls for Solution to High Oil Price and Food Shortage
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo called on all political leaders to support government efforts in tackling the twin global challenges of spiraling oil prices and food shortage.
In her opening statement at the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Cabinet group meeting at the Garden Square of the Panglao Island Nature Resort and Spa in the world-famous Panglao Island, the President stressed that too much politicking would not help solve the problem on oil and food.
''We have much to do to bring affordable food, energy and power to our people. I call on all our leaders to help us in this urgent task, and leave the politicking for 2010,'' the President said.
The President added that the people are now feeling the impact of rising oil and food prices and the government continues to implement mitigating measures to ease the burden.
Thus, she called on those who take advantage of the situation to stop and instead help government in its efforts.
''Let us give priority to food, livelihood and the basic needs of our people,'' the President said adding that she remains focused in improving the lives of the people, unmindful of political bickerings.
''(Politicking) will not bring food on the table, affordable electricity and transport fare,'' she said. - Philippine Information Agency
In her opening statement at the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Cabinet group meeting at the Garden Square of the Panglao Island Nature Resort and Spa in the world-famous Panglao Island, the President stressed that too much politicking would not help solve the problem on oil and food.
''We have much to do to bring affordable food, energy and power to our people. I call on all our leaders to help us in this urgent task, and leave the politicking for 2010,'' the President said.
The President added that the people are now feeling the impact of rising oil and food prices and the government continues to implement mitigating measures to ease the burden.
Thus, she called on those who take advantage of the situation to stop and instead help government in its efforts.
''Let us give priority to food, livelihood and the basic needs of our people,'' the President said adding that she remains focused in improving the lives of the people, unmindful of political bickerings.
''(Politicking) will not bring food on the table, affordable electricity and transport fare,'' she said. - Philippine Information Agency
Friday, May 23, 2008
Case Filed Against Palawan Mining Board and Engineer Baltazar Camoy
Philippine News Agency - A civil case for breach of agreement has been filed at the Palawan Regional Trial Court (RTC) against the Provincial Mining Regulatory Board (PMRB) and Engr. Baltazar S. Camoy, the geodetic engineer it hired to conduct revalidation of survey and resurvey of the applied small scale mining area of Agapito A. Salido, Jr. of Aramaywan Metals Development Corporation (AMDC).
Specifically, the PMRB and Caimoy are being sued by plaintiff Salido for "breach of agreement" with nullity of report dated March 31, 2008 and injunction with prayer for temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction.
This recent development came following Salido's failure to convince the PMRB to "partially lift" the suspension of his small scale mining operation in Barangay Aramaywan, Narra.
In his first cause of action, Salido said that in an agreement dated March 28, 2008, notarized before lawyer Nesario Awat of Kilusang Sagip Kalikasan (KSK), the services of Caimoy was commissioned by him and the PMRB to conduct a relocation, ground verification and revalidation survey of the area, the technical description of which is shown in Small Scale Mining Permit (SSMP) 47 issued by the Office of the Governor.
The purpose of the agreement, he stated, was to settle once and for all the exact boundaries of his small scale mining area as shown in his permit.
But on the day of the supposed revalidation, ground verification and relocation at the mine site, Caimoy merely conducted an observation of the discovery or observation post and of the mine pit using his instrument that can allegedly determine the global positions or the global positioning system (GPS).
Salido said Caimoy did not conduct an actual relocation, ground verification and revalidation survey because no monument was ever placed on the ground to determine the exact geographical position of the four corners of his approved mining claim under the SSMP 47, all in violation of the stipulations in the agreement dated March 28.
While Caimoy did identify the discovery or observation post and the mine pit of the mining area, he intentionally and with evident bad faith did not identify and establish the geographical position of the four corners and the point of reference on the ground and their deliberate exclusion from his observation through the GPS, creates a confusion as to the true and exact boundaries of plaintiffs' mining claim and makes it appear that the mine pit or the area explored by plaintiff is outside of his claim covered by the permit.
By allegedly conducting mere observation and only of the discovery or observation post and mine pit, Caimoy's work is incomplete and inconclusive. It also breached the agreement in which he was called to perform, not only to do observation but survey, ground verification and relocation of the whole mining area covered by SSMP 47, to the damage and prejudice of Salido.
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Specifically, the PMRB and Caimoy are being sued by plaintiff Salido for "breach of agreement" with nullity of report dated March 31, 2008 and injunction with prayer for temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction.
This recent development came following Salido's failure to convince the PMRB to "partially lift" the suspension of his small scale mining operation in Barangay Aramaywan, Narra.
In his first cause of action, Salido said that in an agreement dated March 28, 2008, notarized before lawyer Nesario Awat of Kilusang Sagip Kalikasan (KSK), the services of Caimoy was commissioned by him and the PMRB to conduct a relocation, ground verification and revalidation survey of the area, the technical description of which is shown in Small Scale Mining Permit (SSMP) 47 issued by the Office of the Governor.
The purpose of the agreement, he stated, was to settle once and for all the exact boundaries of his small scale mining area as shown in his permit.
But on the day of the supposed revalidation, ground verification and relocation at the mine site, Caimoy merely conducted an observation of the discovery or observation post and of the mine pit using his instrument that can allegedly determine the global positions or the global positioning system (GPS).
Salido said Caimoy did not conduct an actual relocation, ground verification and revalidation survey because no monument was ever placed on the ground to determine the exact geographical position of the four corners of his approved mining claim under the SSMP 47, all in violation of the stipulations in the agreement dated March 28.
While Caimoy did identify the discovery or observation post and the mine pit of the mining area, he intentionally and with evident bad faith did not identify and establish the geographical position of the four corners and the point of reference on the ground and their deliberate exclusion from his observation through the GPS, creates a confusion as to the true and exact boundaries of plaintiffs' mining claim and makes it appear that the mine pit or the area explored by plaintiff is outside of his claim covered by the permit.
By allegedly conducting mere observation and only of the discovery or observation post and mine pit, Caimoy's work is incomplete and inconclusive. It also breached the agreement in which he was called to perform, not only to do observation but survey, ground verification and relocation of the whole mining area covered by SSMP 47, to the damage and prejudice of Salido.
--
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Palawan Philippines Files Case Against 25 Vietnamese Nationals
The Palawan Provincial Prosecutor's Office has filed charges of violation of the provisions of Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines against 25 Vietnamese nationals who were caught smuggling rice into the country through Calanduran Bay in Balabac last May 16.
Commodore Danilo Vilda of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Palawan said the foreign nationals are being sued for specifically violating Section 2530, paragraphs a, d, f, r and (1-1) of the tariffs and customs code. Six Balabac's residents were also included in the cases filed with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
He said one of the Balabac residents is Rabana Ami, owner of M/L Princess Aika, which is also involved in the transport of the sacks of rice from the large Vietnamese ship to Balabac port.
The cases against the Vietnamese fishermen were filed last Tuesday (May 20), the PCG chief said, adding their ship, M/V Binh Phuoc, was responsible for bringing to the country more or less 200 sacks of undocumented rice smuggled from Vietnam. The vessel's captain was identified as Vu Van Trung.
On May 16 at about 8:30 p.m., a text message was received from the commanding officer of MCS 3009 that stated it accosted a Vietnamese cargo vessel whose crewmen were unloading sacks of rice to M/L Princess Aika without pertinent documents at Calanduran Bay.
Initial investigations conducted by authorities disclosed that on April 23, the Vietnamese cargo vessel went to Zamboanga City from Saigon, Vietnam and delivered 135,000 sacks of rice to the National Food Authority (NFA) there. The said vessel arrived in the said city on April 28.
It left Zamboanga port on May 9 supposedly to go back to Vietnam without any load based on records and clearance given by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) of Zamboanga. - Philippine News Agency
Commodore Danilo Vilda of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Palawan said the foreign nationals are being sued for specifically violating Section 2530, paragraphs a, d, f, r and (1-1) of the tariffs and customs code. Six Balabac's residents were also included in the cases filed with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
He said one of the Balabac residents is Rabana Ami, owner of M/L Princess Aika, which is also involved in the transport of the sacks of rice from the large Vietnamese ship to Balabac port.
The cases against the Vietnamese fishermen were filed last Tuesday (May 20), the PCG chief said, adding their ship, M/V Binh Phuoc, was responsible for bringing to the country more or less 200 sacks of undocumented rice smuggled from Vietnam. The vessel's captain was identified as Vu Van Trung.
On May 16 at about 8:30 p.m., a text message was received from the commanding officer of MCS 3009 that stated it accosted a Vietnamese cargo vessel whose crewmen were unloading sacks of rice to M/L Princess Aika without pertinent documents at Calanduran Bay.
Initial investigations conducted by authorities disclosed that on April 23, the Vietnamese cargo vessel went to Zamboanga City from Saigon, Vietnam and delivered 135,000 sacks of rice to the National Food Authority (NFA) there. The said vessel arrived in the said city on April 28.
It left Zamboanga port on May 9 supposedly to go back to Vietnam without any load based on records and clearance given by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) of Zamboanga. - Philippine News Agency
Western Visayas Adopts Batch Request Entry System (BRES)
More local government units in Western Visayas are adopting the batch request entry system (BRES) which is intended to cut short the long queue of applicants at the National Statistics Office (NSO) here requesting for documents in security paper (SECPA).
The BRES is an off line processing by batch where applications for documents such as birth, marriage and death certificates and a certificate of no marriage using SECPA are encoded at the local government level or at the local civil registrar.
Thereafter, the requests are brought at the NSO regional office for processing, which would take about one week.
With the BRES, the applicant is spared of too much expense because the same charges apply when the document is being secured right at the NSO.
The LGU, however, is allowed to put on additional charges to defray the cost of using the town's resources and manpower.
Thirteen towns in Iloilo province namely Calinog, Balasan, Barotac Nuevo, Barotac Viejo, Bingawan, Dingle, Estancia, Janiuay, Lambunao, Leon, Mina and San Joaquin have adopted the BRES.
It is also being implemented in Roxas City and President Roxas town in Capiz; Hamtic and Lauan in Antique; and cities of Kabankalan and Sipalay in Negros Occidental.
NSO regional director Norman Julag-ay said the BRES is not exclusive to residents of a particular LGU such that those from neighboring places can also apply in towns nearest them.
"Some LGUs were hesitant at first to adopt the system but later on they recognized that it is beneficial both to the town and their residents," he said.
An average of 1, 000 applications daily are being processed at the NSO regional office in Iloilo City. - Philippine News Agency
The BRES is an off line processing by batch where applications for documents such as birth, marriage and death certificates and a certificate of no marriage using SECPA are encoded at the local government level or at the local civil registrar.
Thereafter, the requests are brought at the NSO regional office for processing, which would take about one week.
With the BRES, the applicant is spared of too much expense because the same charges apply when the document is being secured right at the NSO.
The LGU, however, is allowed to put on additional charges to defray the cost of using the town's resources and manpower.
Thirteen towns in Iloilo province namely Calinog, Balasan, Barotac Nuevo, Barotac Viejo, Bingawan, Dingle, Estancia, Janiuay, Lambunao, Leon, Mina and San Joaquin have adopted the BRES.
It is also being implemented in Roxas City and President Roxas town in Capiz; Hamtic and Lauan in Antique; and cities of Kabankalan and Sipalay in Negros Occidental.
NSO regional director Norman Julag-ay said the BRES is not exclusive to residents of a particular LGU such that those from neighboring places can also apply in towns nearest them.
"Some LGUs were hesitant at first to adopt the system but later on they recognized that it is beneficial both to the town and their residents," he said.
An average of 1, 000 applications daily are being processed at the NSO regional office in Iloilo City. - Philippine News Agency
TechTeam Global and Rainmaker Asia Establish Service Desk Operations in Philippines
TechTeam Global, Inc., a worldwide provider of information technology (IT), enterprise support and business process outsourcing services, said that it has entered into an agreement with Rainmaker Asia, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rainmaker Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: RMKR), to establish service desk operations in the Philippines. Under the agreement, Rainmaker and TechTeam will jointly build delivery capability in Manila using Rainmaker's existing facility, infrastructure and staffing capabilities.
"After careful consideration of many potential locations, we selected the Philippines based on the availability of individuals with excellent language skills, deep technical skills, a high degree of professionalism and a strong customer service orientation," said Gary Cotshott, President and Chief Executive Officer of TechTeam Global.
"Establishing capability in the Philippines is an important step in the execution of our globalization strategy and will enable our company to offer more service options to existing and new customers. We are impressed with Rainmaker's operational expertise, and we are confident in our ability to team with them to create excellent customer-focused solutions. This agreement provides us with the ability to quickly and efficiently respond to growing customer demand while ensuring high quality service delivery. As part of our strategy, we also expect to establish a TechTeam-owned facility to meet growing customer demand," said Cotshott.
"We are excited to be working with TechTeam to provide services to their Fortune 1000 customers. The addition of new clients such as TechTeam to our recently expanded operations at Rainmaker Asia highlights the high quality services we provide to our clients and their customers," said Michael Silton, President and Chief Executive Officer of Rainmaker Systems.
About Rainmaker
Rainmaker Systems, Inc. delivers sales and marketing solutions, combining hosted application software and execution services designed to drive more revenue for our clients. Our Revenue Delivery Platform(SM) combines proprietary, on-demand application software and advanced analytics with specialized sales and marketing execution services. Rainmaker clients include large enterprises in a range of industries, including computer hardware and software, telecommunications, and financial services industries. For more information, visit www.rmkr.com or call 800-631-1545.
About TechTeam Global, Inc.
TechTeam Global, Inc. is a worldwide provider of information technology, enterprise support and business process outsourcing services to Fortune 1000 corporations, multinational companies, product providers, small and medium-sized companies, and government entities. TechTeam's ability to integrate computer services into a flexible, ITIL-based solution is a key element of its strategy. Partnerships with some of the world's "best-in-class" corporations provide TechTeam with unique expertise and experience in providing information technology support solutions. For information about TechTeam Global, Inc. and its services, call 800-522-4451 from the United States or visit our Web sites at www.techteam.com and www.techteam.eu. TechTeam's common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol "TEAM." - Philippine News Agency and PRNewswire and Asianet
"After careful consideration of many potential locations, we selected the Philippines based on the availability of individuals with excellent language skills, deep technical skills, a high degree of professionalism and a strong customer service orientation," said Gary Cotshott, President and Chief Executive Officer of TechTeam Global.
"Establishing capability in the Philippines is an important step in the execution of our globalization strategy and will enable our company to offer more service options to existing and new customers. We are impressed with Rainmaker's operational expertise, and we are confident in our ability to team with them to create excellent customer-focused solutions. This agreement provides us with the ability to quickly and efficiently respond to growing customer demand while ensuring high quality service delivery. As part of our strategy, we also expect to establish a TechTeam-owned facility to meet growing customer demand," said Cotshott.
"We are excited to be working with TechTeam to provide services to their Fortune 1000 customers. The addition of new clients such as TechTeam to our recently expanded operations at Rainmaker Asia highlights the high quality services we provide to our clients and their customers," said Michael Silton, President and Chief Executive Officer of Rainmaker Systems.
About Rainmaker
Rainmaker Systems, Inc. delivers sales and marketing solutions, combining hosted application software and execution services designed to drive more revenue for our clients. Our Revenue Delivery Platform(SM) combines proprietary, on-demand application software and advanced analytics with specialized sales and marketing execution services. Rainmaker clients include large enterprises in a range of industries, including computer hardware and software, telecommunications, and financial services industries. For more information, visit www.rmkr.com or call 800-631-1545.
About TechTeam Global, Inc.
TechTeam Global, Inc. is a worldwide provider of information technology, enterprise support and business process outsourcing services to Fortune 1000 corporations, multinational companies, product providers, small and medium-sized companies, and government entities. TechTeam's ability to integrate computer services into a flexible, ITIL-based solution is a key element of its strategy. Partnerships with some of the world's "best-in-class" corporations provide TechTeam with unique expertise and experience in providing information technology support solutions. For information about TechTeam Global, Inc. and its services, call 800-522-4451 from the United States or visit our Web sites at www.techteam.com and www.techteam.eu. TechTeam's common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol "TEAM." - Philippine News Agency and PRNewswire and Asianet
Reject Coal: Greenpeace says Philippines at Risk from Climate Change
By Leonard D. Acosta
Philippine News Agency
With a strong message to "Quit coal, save the climate", the Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior docked on Tuesday at the Legazpi City port, marking the start of a month-long campaign on climate change.
The most famous Greenpeace ship arrived from a five-week sail from New Zealand to hold an advocacy campaign, asking the people to act in combating the climate change which is the greatest threat facing the whole world.
"We are here to expose the role in climate change, the greatest threat to life and biodiversity on the planet," Mike Fincken, skipper of the Rainbow Warrior, said in a press conference on board the ship.
"We are here to highlight the urgent need for adaptation of strong mitigation and adaptation measures to tackle the worst impacts of climate change," he added.
Greenpeace study revealed that the Philippines is included in the list of countries most at risk from climate change with Albay province as most vulnerable to extreme weather impacts.
Climate change has been wreaking havoc across the world with increased intensity and frequency of extreme weather events such as floods, droughts and storms, sea level rise, water scarcity, decline in agricultural output, proliferation of pests and diseases and the extinction of species.
In 2006, Albay was pummeled by a series of strong typhoons, including Super Typhoon Reming, as it triggered a massive mudslide on the slopes of Mayon volcano, killing 734 people and causing agricultural damages worth P1.6 billion.
Von Hernandez, Greenpeace Southeast Asia executive director, thus said "it is time for us to wake up."
"There is very little time to waste and the tide is not going to wait either. Coal causes climate change. Climate change is already here and wreaking havoc across the country," Hernandez warned.
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Philippine News Agency
With a strong message to "Quit coal, save the climate", the Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior docked on Tuesday at the Legazpi City port, marking the start of a month-long campaign on climate change.
The most famous Greenpeace ship arrived from a five-week sail from New Zealand to hold an advocacy campaign, asking the people to act in combating the climate change which is the greatest threat facing the whole world.
"We are here to expose the role in climate change, the greatest threat to life and biodiversity on the planet," Mike Fincken, skipper of the Rainbow Warrior, said in a press conference on board the ship.
"We are here to highlight the urgent need for adaptation of strong mitigation and adaptation measures to tackle the worst impacts of climate change," he added.
Greenpeace study revealed that the Philippines is included in the list of countries most at risk from climate change with Albay province as most vulnerable to extreme weather impacts.
Climate change has been wreaking havoc across the world with increased intensity and frequency of extreme weather events such as floods, droughts and storms, sea level rise, water scarcity, decline in agricultural output, proliferation of pests and diseases and the extinction of species.
In 2006, Albay was pummeled by a series of strong typhoons, including Super Typhoon Reming, as it triggered a massive mudslide on the slopes of Mayon volcano, killing 734 people and causing agricultural damages worth P1.6 billion.
Von Hernandez, Greenpeace Southeast Asia executive director, thus said "it is time for us to wake up."
"There is very little time to waste and the tide is not going to wait either. Coal causes climate change. Climate change is already here and wreaking havoc across the country," Hernandez warned.
--
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Philippine President visits Bacolod City Philippines
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will keynote the two-day Local Peace and Security Assembly (LPSA) for Western Visayas on May 21 and 22 at La Planta Centro Hotel in Bacolod City.
Negros Occidental Governor Isidro Zayco said representatives of the national government, headed by National Security Adviser Norberto B. Gonzales, are set to meet with local leaders from various sectors of Region VI to strengthen local initiatives and mechanisms at promoting peace and security in their localities.
Zayco, who said President Arroyo will be the keynote speaker on the second day (Thursday) of the assembly, said LPSA is the continuing consultation drive in the various regions of the country.
He said LPSA for Western Visayas will bring together major stakeholders to agree on solutions to peace and security problems through an action agenda that they themselves would formulate and implement, taking into consideration the unique features of their localities.
He said the action agenda will be presented to President Arroyo at the close of the assembly.
Zayco noted some 200 members of the Cabinet, local government officials, Army and police commanders, leaders of civil society, business groups, religious institutions, and the academe are participating. - Philippine News Agency
Negros Occidental Governor Isidro Zayco said representatives of the national government, headed by National Security Adviser Norberto B. Gonzales, are set to meet with local leaders from various sectors of Region VI to strengthen local initiatives and mechanisms at promoting peace and security in their localities.
Zayco, who said President Arroyo will be the keynote speaker on the second day (Thursday) of the assembly, said LPSA is the continuing consultation drive in the various regions of the country.
He said LPSA for Western Visayas will bring together major stakeholders to agree on solutions to peace and security problems through an action agenda that they themselves would formulate and implement, taking into consideration the unique features of their localities.
He said the action agenda will be presented to President Arroyo at the close of the assembly.
Zayco noted some 200 members of the Cabinet, local government officials, Army and police commanders, leaders of civil society, business groups, religious institutions, and the academe are participating. - Philippine News Agency
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Bohol Newspaper Celebrates 54th Anniversary
Bohol Philippines - The Bohol Chronicle, a local weekly newspaper and Bohol's enduring newspaper here, turned 54 last Friday as it completes more than five decades of uninterrupted service to community journalism.
We who had once worked with this paper can write an account of its life in the fist person. Indeed, the Chronicle's record of existence is the longest in local journalism history.
On May 16, 1954, its maiden issue done in hand-set first appeared in this city.
Tagbilaran, then was a fledging town. To think it could sustain a weekly was, to many, a fool-hardy attempt to defy a tradition of failure.
It has survived on hard work and patient struggle to seek the truth and print it. In turn, this has nourished a strong faith in it from its thousands of readers.
This paper started with a one-man job. Now a full staff works for the paper with an AM and FM radio stations as part of this media outfit.
Where before the first issue of the Chronicle was hand-set and later produced with a modern linotype machine, it is now being printed in off-set process back up by a laser-desk-top computer and jet printer, the latest used in modern-day publishing.
Scanning the back issues of the Chronicle is just like taking a glimpse through the past 52 years of Bohol's history.
Dr. Crispin Maslog, Ph.D., University of Minnesota, who was formerly director of the Institute of Journalism of Silliman University, wrote a case study of the Bohol Chronicle as one of the most successful community newspapers in the Philippines.
With the Institute of Development Communication of the University of the Philippines, Los Baños, Dr. Maslog wrote a book under a Ford Foundation grant entitled "Dragon Slayers in the Countryside" with a Foreword by Joaquin "Chino" Roces which documented outstanding exposes of seven highly respected community newspapers in the country which left great impact in their respective communities.
On the exposes published by The Bohol Chronicle against graft and corruption, Dr. Maslog in his Preface, wrote: "A few cases, however, rise above the others in significance: the Bohol Watergate of The Bohol Chronicle campaign waged by that paper against graft and corruption.
"It is perhaps not too much to think of these community journalists as the modern day St. Georges of our society. We salute these dragon slayers in our countryside."
Excerpts of Dr. Maslog's case study on The Bohol Chronicle follows.
This article was also reprinted in the book "The Rise and Fall of Philippine Community Newspapers" launched by the Philippine Press Institute and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.
The Horatio Alger story of The Bohol Chronicle is an inspiration to the struggling community newspapermen in the Philippines. It shows how the dedication and talent of one man can overcome obstacles and make a success of a local paper that was predicted by a priest to die six months after birth.
When the first issue of The Bohol Chronicle came off its rickety printing press on May 16, 1954, an American priest working with the Divine Word College in Tagbilaran City predicted, half in jest and half in earnest that either the paper of its editor would die in six months. Other papers had come to Tagbilaran City before and they all eventually died.
As a matter of historical fact, the newspaper has never failed to come out with its weekly issue every Sunday during the past years. Neatly bound volumes of all its issues are displayed in the compact and near office of the paper and printing press on Mabini Street (now B. Inting Street) in Tagbilaran City showing how the paper has kept faith with its readers.
The Chronicle is now being printed in offset by its own printing press. This success did not come easily to the late publisher-editor Atty. Zoilo Dejaresco Jr., known to his friends as Jun. He had to work hard, day and night. He had to overcome public apathy to a local paper and lack of advertising support and other serious obstacles along the way in the past 40 years before he reached the prominent position where he is today.
The first issue was very timely from the newspaperman's point of view. A big typhoon smashed Bohol, killed several persons and rendered thousands homeless. This was a big story in that province where typhoons rarely visit, and the paper capitalized on it.
This was the first banner story of the paper, and the paper sold. It was one of the ironies of the journalistic profession - a misfortune for the province, but a fortune for the paper. -- published by the Bohol Chronicle
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