PGMA cancels visit to rubber plantation town due to bad weather, reschedules trip
MAKILALA, North Cotabato – Heavy rains forced this morning the cancellation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s visit to this town which boasts of one of the biggest rubber plantations in North Cotabato.
The President was scheduled to arrive here from General Santos City to meet with local residents and officials, and visit the rubber plantation of the Platinum Rubber Development Inc. at Sitio del Asuncion in Barangay Poblacion.
But after two attempts to take off with the President aboard, the pilot of the presidential helicopter gave up, saying it was impossible to proceed to Makilala because of bad weather conditions, North Cotabato Gov. Jesus N. Sacdalan said.
“Humihingi po ng paumanhin si Presidente dahil sa kabiguan niyang makapunta rito,” Governor Sacdalan told local officials, residents, and rubber stakeholders who waited for the arrival of the President at the Platinum Rubber Development plantation.
“Masyadong malakas ang ulan at zero visibility ang General Santos City kaya nag-decide ang mga piloto ng presidential chopper na huwag ng ituloy ang pagpunta rito ng Presidente,” he said.
“Pero huwag kayong malungkot dahil bibisita pa rin dito si Presidente,” Sacdalan said.
He informed his constituents that the President has rescheduled her visit Makilala late next month or Sept. 1, the founding anniversary of Kidapawan City.
Despite the failure of the President to arrive here, the program of activities for the occasion was held as planned.
Jake Sandique, owner of the Platinum rubber plantation, briefed the Kidapawan media, local leaders, and residents on the status of the rubber industry in the province.
PGMA to bring cheers to typhoon Frank victims in Cotabato City Tuesday
COTABATO CITY -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will bring cheers and gifts to some 500 victims of flooding due to the onslaught of tphoon Frank on Region 12 or South Central Region.
The President, who will be visiting the province of Shariff Kabunsuan and Cotabato City on Tuesday will inspect the Notre Dame Village Elementary School in Rosary Heights 8, this city, where 506 persons whose houses were submerged in water due to flooding caused by heavy rains brought by typhoon Frank and the heavy siltation of the Rio (River) Grande de Mindanao were housed in tents.
The President shall bring with her a team of doctors and dentists to check on the health condition of the flood victims.
The President will also be bringing with her food packs, boxes of medicine and other goodies.
Earlier in the day, the President will be given a briefing on the extent of damage caused by typhoon Frank on the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao and Region 12 during the National Anti-Poverty Commission Cabinet-Regional Disaster Coordinating Council -ARMM meeting at the 6ID Headquarters in Shariff Kabunsuan province.
It is expected that the President will approve the proposed Comprehensive Rio Grande Flood Control System.
The heavy siltation on Rio Grande de Mindanao (Grand River of Mindanao) last June 21 caused heavy flooding in Cotabato City and neighboring areas.
About 62 hectares of the river were covered with water hyacinths or water lilies.
Volunteer groups that included civic organizations such as the Rotary and Karancho, the church, the military and the police, and the local government units did a bayanihan act to remove the water lilies from the river.
These volunteers will also get the chance to meet the President when she inspects the Delta Bridge also on Tuesday afternoon.
PGMA inspects backyard Jatropha farm in GenSan City
GENERAL SANTOS CITY - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo inspected today a backyard or community-based jatropha plantation here to showcase the potential of jatropha as the foremost feedstock for biodiesel under the government's alternative fuels program.
The President arrived 10 a.m. in Sitio Lanton, Barangay Apopong here at the plantation of the family of Datu Sabel Utap, a partner grower of the Philippine National Oil Company-Alternative Fuels Corporation (PNOC AFC) which was mandated to accelerate the utilization and commercialization of alternative fuels in the country.
Welcoming the President were some 300 farmer/growers and local officials led by City Mayor Pedro Acharon Jr., City Lone District Rep. Darlene Antonino and Barangay Apopong Chairman Ruel Pacquiao, younger brother of people's champ Manny pacquiao.
The President was briefed by PNOC AFC Chairman Renato Velasco on the status of jatropha production in the SocSKSarGen area.
She was informed that some 411 hectares were already planted to jatropha in SocSKSarGen; 140.57 hectares in GenSan; 238.36 hectares in Sarangani; 17 hectares in South Cotabato and 15 hectares in Sultan Kudarat.
Jatropha planters now earn some P35 per kilo of jatropha seeds in the sub-region which can still open up hundreds of thousands of non-agricultural lands for jatropha production.
PGMA comes to the rescue of 49,138 typhoon Frank victims in Region 12
POLOMOLOK, South Cotabato – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo directed today government agencies to sustain the ongoing relief operations and hasten rehabilitation efforts to ease the plight of the 49,138 families in Region 12 adversely affected by Typhoon Frank last month.
The President issued her directive as she presided over the Regional Disaster Coordinating Councils (RDCC) 12 meeting at noon today at the Kalsangi Clubhouse of Dole Philippines here in Polomolok.
Dureza said the President directed that rehabilitation be also focused on agricultural areas "particularly in Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat, the rice granary of the region which has some 5,000 hectares of ricelands.”
Dureza said a task force would also be created with the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) as member for a collective and consolidated effort for the rehabilitation of affected areas in Mindanao.
Among those present were the governors, congressmen, mayors and other regional officials in the region.
Also present during the meeting were National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) Chairman and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, Presidential Assistant for the Peace Process ret. General Hermogenes Esperon, Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Alexander Yano and Press Secretary Jesus Dureza.
RDCC 12 chairman Chief Supt.Felizardo Serapio Jr. reported that many typhoon victims remain in evacuation centers while floodings still persist in several areas such as Cotabato City; Misayap, North Cotabato; Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat and some parts of North Cotabato.
Serapio said the President ordered the clearing of the massive amount of water hyacinths (lilies) and the facilitation of the dredging and other engineering works to clear waterways, catchbasins and major water tributaries to stop the flooding in the region.
Serapio reported that the total damage to infrastructure, agriculture, livestock and private properties amounted to P2.483 billion, affecting 49,138 families or some 245,675 individuals.
Since the aftermath of the typhoon, the President has been conducting relief distribution and RDCC meetings in affected provinces to ensure the delivery of needed services and ease the plight of the typhoon victims.
Dureza urges oil companies to keep public, gov't posted on rationale for price hikes
PRESS Secretary Jesus Dureza said Sunday it is incumbent upon the oil industry players to explain to the government and to the public -- in the language ordinary people can understand -- the rationale for any increase in oil prices to avoid confusion and discord.
At a press conference yesterday, Dureza said Malacanang is just as interested as the people to know the compelling reasons behind every oil price increase because, like it or not, the government, specifically the Arroyo administration, is blamed every time the price of fuel goes up.
“They (oil companies) have to relay to the public, explain to us in government (the rationale for any price hike) because rightly or wrongly, maski ano ang sabihin mo ang sinisisi ay ang gobyerno, which should not be the case,” Dureza said.
He added that any oil price adjustment in the future should be explained early by the oil industry in the “language of the masa, not in the technical language of experts in the industry.”
It was Dureza who announced yesterday the decision of Filipinas Shell and Petron Corp., two of the country’s three biggest oil industrial players, to roll back their diesel fuel prices by one-half to P1.50 per liter following an urgent appeal by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for the price cutback.
Shell and Petron raised the pump price of diesel fuel by P3 Saturday, pushing the price of diesel to almost P59 per liter, the highest-ever for the commodity in the local market.
The President had directed Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes to convey to the officials of the two oil firms her appeal for a price rollback.
Dureza said that even with the price rollback, “there is still a need (for the oil industry) to continuously explain to the public why they have to increase.”
Statement of Press Secretary Jesus Dureza Re: Asean Charter Ratification
THE Senate has the sole prerogative to act on it in the manner it deems fit.
Although we wish it can be acted upon expeditiously, the Senate makes that determination. ###
PGMA to witness turnover of nine newly built classrooms to city government of Lapu-Lapu City on Wednesday
LAPU-LAPU CITY – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will witness the turnover of the Deed of Donation of nine newly-built classrooms to Lapu-Lapu City when she visits this city on Wednesday, July 23, 2008.
The new classrooms form part of the 21 classrooms donated by philanthropist Ramon Chiu to the Gun-ob High School, one of the numerous institutions of learning in Central Visayas that have benefited from the efforts of Mr. Chiu.
Upon her arrival, the President will cut the ribbon and unveil the marker of the nine classrooms formally opening them to the public.
Aside from the classrooms, a covered court is also included in the turnover ceremonies, effectively turning Gun-ob High School into a "complete high school.”
Gun-ob National High School traces its roots to 1996 when it was first opened as a night high school with only four teachers and a handful of students.
In 2002, Ramon Chiu visited the office of the barangay captain and offered to build an 11-classroom building provided the local government provides school building site.
After only a year of construction, the new Gun-ob High School was completed and opened its doors to enrollees for school year 2003-2004.
From an initial enrollment of 573 students with 14 teachers, Gun-ob High School enrollees swelled to 748 in school year 2004-2005 and increased further to 816 in 2005-2006.
Seeing that the increasing student-classroom ratio in Gun-ob High School was getting out of hand, Chiu again offered to build an additional nine classrooms.
And the rest, as they say, is history.
Today, there are 1,427 students and 28 teachers in Gun-ob High School enjoying the school's excellent atmosphere that has become highly conducive to learning.
Palace welcomes positive survey result in Mindanao
PRESS Secretary Jesus Dureza said today that Malacanang “welcomes the positive result of the survey showing that Mindanao has improved significantly from 16 down to 12.3.”
“This clearly shows that the government efforts yielded positive results in spite of challenges of peace and security that afflict Mindanao,” Dureza said.
Dureza, however, admitted that “there’s still a lot of work to be done by the government in Visayas and Mindanao.”
But, he said, “President Arroyo will continue to work hard to improve the lot of the most poor and vulnerable.”
In another development, Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said the “Senate has the sole prerogative to act” on the ratification of the proposed Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Charter “in the manner it deems fit.”
“Although we wish it can be acted upon expeditiously, the Senate makes that determination,” Dureza said.
Capture of 2 kidnappers in Sulu, an early success
JOLO, SULU—Joint Task Force Comet Commander M/Gen Juancho M Sabban congratulated the soldiers under the 3rd Marine Brigade for successfully accomplishing the manhunt operation against the kidnappers of TV crew and a university professor in Sulu.
Two suspected teenage kidnappers of Ces Drilon, Angelo Valderama, Jimmy Encarnacion, and Prof. Octavio Dinampo, were arrested in a Marine checkpoint, set up by the 5th Marine Battalion Landing Team in Patikul, Sulu last Friday.
3rd Marine Brigade Commander Col Eugenio Clemen PN (M) identified the suspects as 18-year old Nadzmir Amirul alias Abu Kudama, and 14-year old companion, adding that the two, who were spotted on board a motorcycle towards Jolo town were apprehended at 3:35 pm Friday in Barangay Timpook, Patikul.
Col Clemen said that the arrest came as intelligence operatives recognized one of the suspects, who was clad in a camouflage uniform, wearing an inverted cap in a footage taken by cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion during the captivity.
“However, the capture is still an early success against the kidnappers,” says M/Gen Sabban.
“The ultimate success is when kidnapping finally becomes oblivion. This will only happen when we will be able to take away the underlying conditions that force people to either resort or support unlawful activities. Hence, we conduct various development projects meant to strengthen the foundation of peace. These provide expanded economic opportunities to the people we serve,” he said.
Nevertheless, this recent achievement undoubtedly demonstrates that our troops are up to the task of bringing the kidnappers to justice.
“This is an explicit warning to them that they cannot freely escape from the whip of the law,” he stressed.
The AFP will continue to keep a close watch on the other kidnappers on the loose.
“Our troops are utilizing all legal means to seize the remaining outlaws responsible for the kidnapping. It is imperative that all those responsible be held accountable the soonest.”
Drilon, Jimmy Encarnacion, and Prof. Octavio Dinampo were released on June 17, while Angelo Valderama on June 12. They were abducted by armed men on June 8. (42CRU-Jolo, 4CRG-CRSAFP/PIA-BASULTA)
Comprehensive assessment of Cyclone Nargis impact provides clearer picture of relief and recovery needs
TODAY, the Government of the Union of Myanmar, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United Nations (UN) released the Post-Nargis Joint Assessment (PONJA) report.
This assessment – commissioned as part of the tri-partite cooperation between the Government of the Union of Myanmar, ASEAN and the United Nations – provides the first comprehensive picture and objective analysis of the devastating impact on the people in the Ayeyarwady Delta and Yangon affected by Cyclone Nargis, which struck Myanmar on 02 and 03 May and killed over 84,530 people, with a further 53,836 still reported missing.
Cyclone Nargis was the most devastating natural disaster in Myanmar’s history, and the assessment of damage and losses confirms a similar scale of impact to that of the Indian Ocean Tsunami in Indonesia in 2004, especially at the household and community level.
The cyclone and resulting storm surge destroyed about 450,000 homes and damaged 350,000 others. 75 per cent of health facilities in the affected areas were destroyed or severely damaged, together with around 4,000 schools.
The cyclone wiped out the livelihoods of families overnight, flooding over 600,000 hectares of agricultural land, killing up to 50 per cent of draught animals, destroying fishing boats and sweeping away food stocks and agricultural implements. This has left households extremely vulnerable – in mid-June, 55 per cent reported having only one day of food stocks or less, and have relied in part on the steady flow of relief supplies. The total economic losses amount to about 2.7% of the projected 2008 GDP, with the effects of the cyclone concentrated on a region important for agriculture and fishing in Myanmar.
National, regional and international responders have been working since early May to urgently bring assistance to the affected communities, especially the most vulnerable groups, in the face of continuing logistical and operational challenges.
The PONJA Report provides a broad and objective framework of the scale, scope and priority areas where assistance is needed to help the people of the Delta recover from this traumatic and devastating event.
Recovery needs, which are estimated at just over a total of US$1 billion over the next 3 years, include the most urgent priorities of significant food, agriculture, housing, basic services and support to communities for restoring their livelihoods and rebuilding assets. The relief and early recovery activities presented in the revised Appeal issued on 10 July by the UN are designed to meet these urgent priorities in the coming months until April 2009, for which some USD 303.6 million is being requested.
“While significant progress has been made to date, we are still in the relief phase of this aid operation,” said John Holmes, UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs. “Nearly three months after Cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar, the Government and its humanitarian partners are continuing to assist the humanitarian needs of the most vulnerable communities,” Holmes emphasised. "That said, funding for parallel early recovery activities also is needed to urgently restore sustainable livelihoods, ensure access to basic services, and help revitalize communities”.
Significant efforts and cost are projected for housing, education, restoring livelihoods and religious buildings over the next three years. According to consultations with communities during the assessment process, schools and religious centres are the most urgent rebuilding priorities, while assistance for repairs and grants for livelihoods are the highest priority for immediate assistance.
Over 90 per cent of these needs are at the community level and can be addressed through community-based approaches. The indicative estimate of recovery needs and costs is preliminary and will need to be updated over time, reflecting the experience of other natural disasters in the region which demonstrate the importance of refining assessments and recovery plans at a sectoral level.
This is the first time that ASEAN has played such a leading role in responding to a natural disaster affecting one of its Member States. ASEAN facilitated and coordinated international assistance to the survivors of the cyclone as well as the conduct of this assessment. At their special meeting on 19 May, ASEAN Foreign Ministers established the ASEAN Humanitarian Task Force for the Victims of Cyclone Nargis, headed by the Secretary-General of ASEAN, which works closely with the United Nations and the Myanmar Government to coordinate international assistance.
Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr Surin Pitsuwan said, “By linking hands with the UN, the international NGOs, and the rest of the world, ASEAN has shown how international humanitarian cooperation can work to help bring relief and assistance to the victims of Cyclone Nargis. At the same time, ASEAN is putting into action its pledge to build a caring and sharing community.”
Dr Surin added, “This PONJA Report is but one of the many steps needed to help the Nargis victims recover from the devastation. The road to recovery will be long and more post-PONJA activities will be needed to help the affected communities get back on their feet again. The international community has expressed their support that ASEAN continues its presence in Myanmar for the relief and early recovery phase in the next 12 months.”
The Tripartite Core Group, a working level mechanism, brings together ASEAN, the Myanmar Government, and the United Nations to provide guidance and address issues related to the response effort. This joint assessment and strong coordination mechanism will provide the foundation for the enormous efforts still required to help the affected population recover from the cyclone.
As well as providing the basis for the way forward, the PONJA assessment also identifies a number of principles that should guide relief and recovery efforts, including building local capacity, monitoring delivery, quality and impact of aid, and involving communities at all stages of the relief and recovery process.
Applying these principles as part of a continued inclusive process between the Myanmar Government, the international community and local communities will be essential to meet the needs of the cyclone-affected population and to help build the resilience of Myanmar communities to prepare for and face future disasters.
The full PONJA report is available online at: www.asean.org/21765.pdf and http://yangon.unic.org.
Myanmar ratifies ASEAN Charter
Myanmar today presented its Instrument of Ratification of the ASEAN Charter to the Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr Surin Pitsuwan. Myanmar is the seventh ASEAN Member State to have ratified the Charter.
In a simple ceremony, Myanmar’s Foreign Minister U Nyan Win handed over the instrument of ratification to Dr Surin on the sidelines of the 41st Meeting of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers in Singapore. Dr Surin thanked Myanmar and he hopes that Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand will deposit their instruments of ratification soon. In his speech, Dr Surin said, “I believe we are on course and on time to celebrate the full ratification of the ASEAN Charter by the time of the 14th ASEAN Summit in Bangkok at the end of this year.” Dr Surin added, “The ASEAN Charter will help build an ASEAN Community that everyone can be proud of.”
The ASEAN Charter will come into force on the 30th day following the date of the deposit of the tenth instrument of ratification with the Secretary-General of ASEAN
Click here for the Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr Surin Pitsuwan’s Remarks at the Ceremony for the Deposit of Myanmar’s Instrument of Ratification of the ASEAN Charter, Singapore, 21 July 2008Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr Surin Pitsuwan’s Remarks at the Ceremony for the Deposit of Myanmar’s Instrument of Ratification of the ASEAN Charter, Singapore, 21 July 2008
The 41st ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) was officially opened this morning in Singapore
IN his opening address, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the Cyclone Nargis crisis tested ASEAN’s unity. The outcome was a realistic and meaningful ASEAN-led process to facilitate an international humanitarian assistance effort. The Singapore Prime Minister said while many difficulties still lie ahead, ASEAN played an important role in bridging the gap of trust between the Myanmar government and international organisations like the United Nations and World Bank. On the ASEAN Charter, Mr Lee said the timely ratification and implementation of the Charter will itself be a signal of ASEAN’s resolve.
The opening ceremony was attended by the Foreign Ministers of ASEAN, Papua New Guinea and Timor Leste; and the Secretary-General of ASEAN. Their spouses and AMM delegates also were in attendance.
The Ministers and delegates witnessed the launch of the ASEAN Studies Centre. The centre is led by former Secretary-General of ASEAN Rodolfo Severino. The new centre will work closely with the ASEAN Secretariat to undertake policy research on ASEAN. For more on the opening of the 41st AMM, log on to http://www.41amm.sg/amm/
Click here for the Opening Address by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the 41st ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, Singapore, 21 July 2008
The 41st ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, Post Ministerial Conferences and 15th ASEAN Regional Forum to take place in Singapore, 17-24 July 2008
THE 41st ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM), the Post Ministerial Conferences (PMC) and the 15th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) will take place in Singapore from 17 July - 24 July 2008.
Singapore's Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo as the ASEAN Chairman will host the meetings in Singapore. During the AMM, the Foreign Ministers will discuss topics ranging from the ongoing efforts to create an ASEAN Community by 2015 to the ratification of the ASEAN Charter. The Ministers will also exchange views on regional developments, including the ASEAN-led humanitarian assistance efforts for the victims of Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar.
The ASEAN Foreign Ministers will meet separately with their counterparts from the ASEAN Dialogue Partners to explore ways to further intensify cooperation. The Foreign Ministers of the ASEAN+3 process will meet to chart the next steps of ASEAN+3 cooperation. For the East Asia Summit countries, the Foreign Ministers will hold Informal Consultations to discuss regional and international issues. The ARF Ministers will exchange views on developments in the region.
Key documents expected from the meetings include a Statement on the Plan of Action to Implement the ASEAN Charter; the Democratic Peoples’ Republic of Korea's accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia; and, the Singapore Declaration on the 15th ARF. Separately, the Post-Nargis Joint Assessment Report will be released.
For the schedule of programme, please visit the official website of 41st AMM: http://www.41amm.sg/amm/index.php/web/programme/programme_schedule.
Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr Surin Pitsuwan’s remarks at the ceremony for the deposit of Myanmar ’s instrument of ratification of the ASEAN Charter
Excellencies, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of ASEAN Member States; Ladies and Gentlemen,
I thank His Excellency Nyan Win, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Union of Myanmar, for depositing Myanmar ’s instrument of ratification of the ASEAN Charter with me today.
This is the seventh instrument of ratification of the ASEAN Charter that I have received so far. Just three more, and then the ASEAN Charter will enter into force on the 30th day following the date of the deposit of the tenth instrument of ratification with the Secretary-General of ASEAN.
I am very optimistic that the three remaining ratifications - by Indonesia , the Philippines, and Thailand - will also be deposited with me soon. I believe we are on course and on time to celebrate the full ratification by the time of the summit in Bangkok at the end of this year.
In Bangkok, I understand that the Thai host has already planned a rather elaborate ceremony to commemorate the full ratification of the Charter. They have found the original table that the founding five members sat and signed the ASEAN Declaration that brought ASEAN into being on 8 August 1967. Of course, this time, the ten of them will have to squeeze around that table.
On 7 January 2008, after I took over as Secretary-General of ASEAN, my dynamic predecessor, Ambassador Ong Keng Yong of Singapore, warned me that upon receiving the first instrument of ratification from Singapore, do not expect that the second will come next week. Of course, we have waited and now we have the seventh and I am sure the eighth, ninth, and tenth will complete this history of journey of ASEAN into becoming a legal personality in the international arena.
Today, after receiving this seventh instrument of ratification of Myanmar , I can say I am now seven times luckier and happier than when I was handed over this position from His Excellency Ong Keng Yong.
I believe the ASEAN Charter will help us build an ASEAN Community that we can all be proud of. Already we have generated tremendous excitement around the world and they are expecting so much out of the ASEAN and they believe with the completion of the ratification of the Charter, we will really be a new ASEAN worthy of full respect, cooperation and interaction with.
On that note, I want to thank all the Foreign Ministers for being here, recognising and acknowledging this seventh instrument of ratification of the ASEAN Charter.
Thank you. ###
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