by anyajulia | Nov 16, 2009 | Foreign Exchange, Headlines, National News
AMERICA, through U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced an additional $5.2 million in disaster relief and recovery assistance to the Philippines, upping the US aid to almost $20 M since three storms ravaged most parts of Luzon.
According to Secretary Clinton, the additional assistance will meet vital education, water and sanitation, health, and disaster preparedness needs of the country.
Secretary Clinton visits the Philippines on a two-day trip to show solidarity with the Filipino people in the wake of Tropical Storm Ketsana (local name Ondoy), Typhoon Parma (Pepeng), and Typhoon Mirinae (Santi), which have affected over 10 million people and claimed almost a thousand lives.
In Marikina, Secretary Clinton visited Malanday High School, in one of the areas hardest hit by the floods. The school lies next to the Marikina River, which overflowed onto the school grounds.
Secretary Clinton, along with U.S. Ambassador Christie Kenney, Education Secretary Jesli Lapus, Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Esperanza Cabral, and Marikina Mayor Fernando opened a Book Fair.
The American Brother’s Brother Foundation, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), donated 50,000 reading books to Malanday High School and Elementary School teachers.
The teachers were able to select books along with other materials donated by USAID, such as desks and ceiling fans, to gain a new start after the floods.
The Malanday High School, Elementary School and Health Clinic are part of the U.S. Embassy’s Community Partnership Program.
Last weekend over 100 U.S. Embassy employees and family members worked side by side with Malanday community members to repair the schools and Health Clinic.
The Community Partnership Program is a long-term initiative of the U.S. Embassy to participate in the local community as neighbors who work together to improve the health and vitality of Metro Manila. (PIA)
by anyajulia | Nov 13, 2009 | Foreign Exchange, Headlines, Major Events
Philippines and Indonesia ties mark 60 years. Established in 1949, key players of the two neighboring countries have gathered to celebrate the major gains of the Philippine-Indonesia bilateral ties.
On the occasion of the 60 Years Diplomatic Relations between Indonesia and Philippines held last month, the continuing Philippine-Indonesia relations is viewed as a “catalyst” in the growth, stability and security of the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-the Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).
The two countries have been strong trade and investment partners, marked by the bullish and sustained economic exchanges.
The strong Philippine-Indonesia relations was also noted with establishing closer ties between each local government unit as seen through the success of the Jose Abad Santos-Glan and Sarangani Cooperation Triangle (JAGS-CT) which effectively generated concrete gains in the sisterhood agreement on trade, tourism and education. (MEDCo)
Click here for full article.
by anyajulia | Nov 12, 2009 | Foreign Exchange, Headlines, National News
Japanese liner Fuji Maru, the cruise that promotes camaraderie between Japanese and ASEAN youths, is bringing in 350 youth ambassadors from ASEAN countries. They are participants to the 36th Ship for Southeast Asia Youth Program (SSEAYP).
Launched in January 1974, SSEAYP seeks to broaden the youths’ global perspectives, as well as strengthen their motivations and abilities in international cooperation by participating in discussions, introductions of each country and various exchange activities both onboard the friendship cruise and in countries it visits.
SSEAYP is sponsored and carried out annually by the Government of Japan with the active participation of the Southeast Asian countries. (PIA)
Click here for full article.
by anyajulia | Oct 28, 2009 | Foreign Exchange, Headlines, Major Events
At the 15th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, ASEAN leaders eyes intra-regional connectivity wanting to enhance both in terms of transportation and communication.
ASEAN has the potential to become the transportation, information and communication technology and the tourism hub of the region.
Intra-regional connectivity will benefit all ASEAN member states through enhanced trade, investment, tourism and development.
The concept will complement regional efforts to make ASEAN Community by 2015 a reality by fostering a sense of shared cultural and historical linkages.
Noting the importance of the Internet in business, education, and development, the leaders agreed that it is also crucial to complete the ASEAN ICT Masterplan in 2010 to enhance intra-regional information and communications technology linkages.
They also concluded that they must seek the support of their dialogue partners notably China, Japan, and South Korea, establish the necessary fund. (PIA)
Click here for full article.
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)
Click here for full article.
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)
Click here for full article.
