by anyajulia | Oct 28, 2009 | Foreign Exchange, Headlines, Major Events
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, together with the 9 ASEAN leaders, want to set up a permanent regional emergency rice reserve due to the increased frequency and intensity of natural disasters that hit the region.
This was dsicussed by the ASEAN and China, Japan and South Korea, or ASEAN Plus 3 at the 12th ASEAN Plus 3 Summit.
The ASEAN leaders noted that the East Asia Emergency Rice Reserve (EAERR) Pilot Project is due to expire in February 2010. It is thus necessary to transform the project into a permanent aid mechanism under the ASEAN Plus 3 Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR).
They urged their respective agriculture and foreign ministers to work closely towards the early realization of APTERR in order to ensure the continuation of regional food security mechanism after the expiration of the EARR Pilot Project. (PIA)
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by anyajulia | Oct 28, 2009 | Foreign Exchange, Headlines, National News
The National Public-Private Reconstruction Commission may borrow from the People’s Republic of China’s $15 billion commercial credit. This is to repair infrastructure projects damaged by typhoons Ondoy in Metro Manila and typhoon Pepeng in Northern Luzon.
The People’s Republic of China announced during the 12th ASEAN-China Summit that it will raise the preferential part of the commercial credit by $5 billion to demonstrate its support for ASEAN-China cooperation. (PIA)
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by anyajulia | Oct 27, 2009 | Headlines, National News
DSWD informed that for the Ondoy victims who would like to avail of the Balik Probinsiya Program, they must first go to the Local Government Units where they are currently residing and inform the LGU about their wish.
If the LGU assistance is not sufficient, the victims may go to the DSWD NCR Office at Legarda, Sampaloc, Manila, to request for augmentation.
Balik probinsiya entails the DSWD providing transportation and other assistance to families desiring to start anew in the province or city of their choice. Aside from transportation they are provided with food supply good for one month and household items. Upon arrival at their destination, they are linked to appropriate government agencies that will help them get started.
DSWD’s “Balik Probinsya” is a long-time project of the agency which aims to provide assistance to squatter families seeking to return back to their respective rural areas, and to decongest Metro Manila of squatter families residing in the riverbanks and other flood-prone areas. (PIA)
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by anyajulia | Oct 27, 2009 | Foreign Exchange, Headlines, Major Events
The US arrest of a 64-year-old American citizen for allegedly coming to the Philippines in 2007 and 2008 to engage in illicit sex with two Filipino girls is a breakthrough in protection of Filipinos and fighting human trafficking.
The arrest was made through the excellent international cooperation between Philippine and US law enforcement agencies.
Reports say that the suspect has been identified as Donald Mathias, a native of Florida. He is facing charges of child abuse. The charges contained in the complaint carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. (PIA)
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by anyajulia | Oct 27, 2009 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
A self confessed environmentalist who has been thinking globally but acted locally sees a better world, with the signing of an act that institutionalizes the country’s response to climate change.
It finally veers environmental sustainability advocacy into the mainstream, cries an advocate who pleaded not to be identified.
Himself silently engaging in environment work and paralleling legislative advocacy, he said he sometimes felt his efforts are just drops in an ocean.
He claimed the Philippine Climate Change Act of 2009 or Republic Act No. 9729 has now mainstreamed programs and strategies that allow communities to deal with the effects of disasters and weather aberrations.
The said the law makes it a government policy to formulate and establish programs and strategies to deal with the increased frequency and intensity of disasters as a result of changes in the climatic pattern.
Also citing the provincial government’s efforts to map out disaster areas, form search and rescue teams and regularly perform disaster drills are steps on the right track, but a national framework strategy and program on climate change would be a huge help.
Still admitting he has not read the law, he hopes the strategies focus more on mitigation and adaptation: two instruments to battle climate change.
Reports appearing online bare that under the law, an autonomous policy-making body, known as Climate Change Commission, to be headed by the president, will set up, coordinate, monitor, and evaluate action plans for the express purpose of preparing the country against heavy rainfall that bring floods and landslides, as well as strong winds, as a result of typhoons.
The law also creates a roadmap to reduce risk of disasters on one hand and keep local carbon emissions within manageable levels on the other.
Called Disaster Risk Reduction or DRR, this program includes emergency preparedness and rescue and relief operations.
The Climate Change Commission will have as members the presidents of the League of Provinces, League of Cities, League of Municipalities, and the Liga ng mga Barangay, to mark the crucial involvement of local communities in addressing climate change.
“This pioneering landmark bill is the first in ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) and probably in Asia,” bill sponsor Loren Legarda said. (PIA)
