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DTI – ASEAN CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS DIALOGUE ON ASEAN ECONOMIC INTEGRATION YIELDS POSITIVE RESULTS
The DTI recently held a dialogue with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to address their concerns regarding the deepening integration process of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). These include environment and climate change, protection of workers, women, indigenous peoples, and social inequality, among others. The ASEAN CSOs hoped that these will be discussed during the 31st Meeting of the High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Economic Integration (HLTF-EI) scheduled on 15-16 February in Metro Manila. During the dialogue, Trade and Industry Undersecretary for Industry Development Dr. Ceferino S. Rodolfo explained the role of HLTF-EI in providing overall guidance to the AEC process and assured the group that “the concerns expressed here today will be proposed by the Philippines for discussion with the trade vice ministers of ASEAN during the HLTF-EI Meeting.” Undersecretary Rodolfo is the Philippine HLTF-EI Lead. “The Philippines’ agenda priorities focus on inclusiveness and innovation. Consultations with our stakeholders ensure that these priorities are aligned with the domestic agenda. Hosting ASEAN this year gives us the opportunity to advance our country’s interests and provide the way forward in ensuring that regional economic integration guarantees inclusive and sustainable growth of the region’s citizens.” He emphasized that as Chair of ASEAN 2017, the country is advancing matters on social disparities which include issues ranging from energy, environmental protection and climate change mitigation, women empowerment, education, decent employment and labor standards, and safeguards against race-to-the-bottom policies. Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) President Dr. Eduardo Tadem noted that the Philippine Chairmanship of ASEAN for 2017 provides an avenue to articulate observations, views and insights on the country’s participation in ASEAN and in FTAs... read moreMastermind of the murder of Atty Mascarinas Identified
Bohol police operatives identified the alleged mastermind of the brutal killing of lady lawyer Atty Mia Manuelita Mascarinas-Green as Lloyd Lancer Gonzaga, owner of the Alona Embrace Hotel in Barangay Tawala, Panglao Bohol. Policemen of the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) monitored the hotel before the search warrant was implemented. However, the suspects and Gonzaga were able to evade the lawmen. The team composed of the PIB, Tagbilaran police, Provincial Public Safety Battalion (PPSB) and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) recovered two grenades, a .45 pistol, a .38 revolver and a two packs of shabu. Gonzaga was previously arrested on October 13, 2016 for possession of illegal firearms and drugs. Also arrested with him was Romarico Benegian who was from Davao Del Norte but is residing in Panglao. The city government of Tagbilaran is offering a reward of Php100,000 for the information that will help resolve the case. This was revealed by City Administrator Edi Borja who also said that Mayor Baba Yap will order the release of the funds to help solve the case quickly. There are also reports that the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Bohol Chapter will offer a Php500,000 reward money. There are no official reports yet of the motive but various posts on social media are pointing to a heated argument in a recent court session between the victim Mascarinas-Green and Gonzaga. Mascarinas-Green is representing a client against Gonzaga in a property dispute. File photo of Lloyd Lancer... read more
Aris pushes for eco-zone, mitigate climate change
By JUNE S. BLANCO BETTER job opportunities for his constituents, and a cleaner, greener and fresher earth. These are the ends-in-view Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado (Bohol, 2nd District) is pursuing so that he filed twin bills last week. House Bill (HB) 5951 proposes to establish a special economic zone in Bohol. On the other hand, HB 5549 which he co-authored, aims to improve air quality and mitigate the effects of climate change. To manage and administer the special economic zone, the bill also proposes the creation of the Northern Bohol Special Economic Zone Authority (NBSEZA) with the corresponding appropriation. But, Aumentado said, businesses and industries that locate in the NBSEZA must only be light, and environment-friendly. These must complement, not compete, with agriculture and tourism which are Bohol’s prime economic drivers, he emphasized. Heavy industries, he noted, tend to be detrimental to the environment. The bill is now being studied by the House committees on Economic Affairs and on Trade and Industry. Meanwhile, Aumentado said, HB 5549 aims to require parents to plant one tree for every child born to them. The bill is now being studied by the committees on Natural and Resources, on Ecology and the Special Committee on Climate Change. Among others, the committees will finalize the mechanics of the requirement, including the types of trees recommended and the planting area for families who do not own land. The solon said when passed, this law will be the country’s contribution to the mitigation of the effects of climate change. He said the Philippines cannot compare to Bhutan wherein 70% of its land area...Outboxed, outclassed – Pacquiao fans want Mayweather next
Arlington, Texas — Manny Pacquiao Sunday, dominated before a large crowd, a strangely gun-shy Clottey, outpunching him from bell to bell. Pacquiao has indeed successfully defended his crown with ease. Last Sunday’s fight has left fans and experts hankering for a once-in-a-lifetime fight between him and the undefeated American Floyd Mayweather Jr. “I want that fight, the world wants that fight, but it’s up to him,” Pacquiao said. Pacquiao exuded confidence in last Sunday’s fight. The New York times said that two hours before stepping into the ring, the man who had captured a record seven world titles in seven weight divisions watched NBA basketball on television. Pacquiao, who was recently named Fighter of the Decade, ran his win streak to 12 straight fights. Click here for full article from...Local News/ Bohol Balita
Bohol LMB brothers to 4 human rights monitors
BOHOL Local Monitoring Board (LMB) acts as the big brother to the country’s peace advocates when it becomes a learning model for the five provinces with set up but dormant human rights monitoring teams. And like them, the vigilant and working Bohol LMB also hopes to learn something from these groups at a workshop set here on the third week of this month. Visiting Bohol this December 16-18 are LMBS in San Jose Tarlac, Bondoc Peninsula in Quezon Province, Negros Occidental, Masbate and Sorsogon, all dormant boards wanting to learn from Bohol. LMB Chairman Romeo Teruel said the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) brings to Bohol the four set up LMBs across the country. It presents to us a perfect opportunity to learn from other peace building processes across the country and at the same time enrich our processes, says Romeo Teruel, LMB In efforts to cascade monitoring of the observance of the agreements entered into by the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Communist Party of the Philippines, New Peoples Army and the National Democratic Front, both camps put in the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC). But even with the mechanism set up in the national levels, Boholanos saw an opportunity to bring down the level of monitoring to the provinces and the OPAPP was just too supportive of the move, Teruel explained. The setting up of the local LMB by virtue of an executive order by the governor pushed members to actively engage in monitoring insurgency related human rights violations as well as put up human rights education and advocacy...Bohol to open 50 has resettlement for KRs
INTERNATIONAL Human Rights Day, December 10, becomes even more meaningful to the Boholano Kauban sa Reporma (KRs) as the provincial government opens a 50 hectare resettlement site for them to finally own lands in their efforts to be in the mainstream. On the same day when the United Nations pushed for the adoption of the Universal Declaration on the Human Rights after the vicious attack on Pearl Harbor was retaliated with the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, where the war cause the death of multitude of innocent civilians. With the Philippines as one leading signatory to the declaration, it also vows to advance the cause of rights protection, premier of which is taking alternatives to rebels who decide to go the way to peace. Then popularly called Kanhi Rebelde, Bohol’s KRs now name their new haven Kalayaan Resettlement which would be their new home after finally giving up the fight against the government. With the office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) and the office of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the Provincial government has allocated hectares of farm lots and residential areas to finally afford KRs a decent living while partnering with government in development. Now made even more ideal with some members of the resettlement as non-rebels, the Kalayaan resettlement site puts in the governments social integration component, explains an OPAPP functionary who came to Bohol recently. How could former rebels really assimilate ordinary life when they would be resettled in a land occupied by former comrades who used to think alike? asked a member of the Provincial Peace and Order Council in an interview....CHR sees only 23 rights cases recorded in ’09
BOHOL Commission on Human Rights (CHR) had only 23 cases of alleged human rights violations, but most of the complaints are against public officials or the military and police. Documents furnished by the CHR showed that a total of 29 alleged violators are from the ranks of barangay officials, the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Army, agents of the Philippine Drugs Enforcement Agency (PDEA), government employees and retired public school teacher. Some civilians, which also include a dive instructor put in a combined 8 respondents to total the 37. The data also shows that the government, who is supposed to lead the human rights advocacy as constitutional mandate needs to double up and internalized its sincere efforts to spread human rights and advance the cause, cites one observer at the Kapihan. Sectors in government especially barangay officials and the police ought to know more than the ordinary civilians about the human rights, and that they must be last to be complained, observed one at the Kapihan. The weekly forum tackled the theme Human Rights as a key to Peace and Development in preparation to the Human right Week December 4-10. Clearly with human rights advocacy as an after-effect of irrelevant insurgency problem, Director Alejandro Alonzo Jr said there has been a note correlation between insurgency and human rights violations. He pointed out that in 1999, or at the time when insurgency was at is peak, CHR Bohol recorded 57 alleged violations, the number drastically cut down to half or even lower in 2008 when insurgency in Bohol has become irrelevant. This year CHR Bohol tallied the 23 cases since...PRO-7 exceeds target in accounting firearms as extended deadline of gun amnesty ends
As the one-month extended deadline for the gun amnesty period ended on November 30, the Police Regional Office (PRO-7) reported that they have exceeded the target in account firearms by 30 percent. PRO-7 were targeting 7,895 firearms to be accounted from July to November but has accomplished more than its target volume with 10, 714 firearms accounted for within the gun amnesty period. Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to reduce the number of loose firearms circulating in the country through Executive Order 817 or the National Firearms Control Program. Police estimated there are 1.1M loose firearms nationwide. In Central Visayas, loose firearms are estimated to reach 52T with slightly over 21T having expired licenses. PRO-7 urged those who have not availed of the gun amnesty to still process the renewal of expired license or register undocumented guns but they just have to pay the regular fees plus the arrears. (PIA/FCR) Click here for full...PRO-7 to meet Comelec on possible election hotspots in Central Visayas as filing of COCs ends
The Police Regional Office (PRO-7) will meet with Commission on Elections (Comelec-7) to check the list of political aspirants and in what areas as basis to determine the possible election hotspots in Central Visayas this 2010 elections. PRO-7 C/Supt. Lani-o Nerez during this morning’s ‘Talakayan sa Isyung Pulis’ (TSIP) Forum bared that they have yet to check who are the political personalities involved in particular areas in the coming polls before they can assess whether a specific area is considered under the watch list of Areas of Concern (AOC). A town, city or province is considered an AOC if there is possible conflict between warring political parties. But an election hotspot is more serious as there is already a previous history of election related violence, this is learned. The Philippine National Police (PNP) is limiting to two the number of police security escorts per politico but this could be increased upon request by the politician but only on a temporary basis such as going to an area considered high-risk, Nerez declared. Police security escorts are also ordered to be in uniform but when the election period kicks off, Nerez said police security escorts are taken out because approval for security escorts will have to be determined and approved by the Comelec. The PRO-7 chief however said, the political situation in Central Visayas is very far from Mindanao as “politicos here are mature” although they are continually monitoring and assessing any possible eruption of violence if ever. (PIA/FCR) Click here for full...National News
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