tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47208917033548046922024-03-19T19:44:43.265+08:00Insight Mindanaokini Telling your story turn into our newsInsight Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596210743582267830noreply@blogger.comBlogger135125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720891703354804692.post-89280059322578685272016-11-07T09:16:00.001+08:002016-11-07T09:16:37.722+08:00Manny Pacquiao emerged victorious against Jessie Vargas<div class="bg-caption" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjgWMNZswNh8T6Yps5b2JRCpXYEOJiD4bjHZKasZgQrL6RbZBu3rTkQ8_5HX4gcJ4TsCkNMr_d1DfnND5-bbCcc2kAMbpg1G3T5B1PBhWDnN_BOs7aRTmPs8bGYV8MRTzc8RxTShUAac/s1600/pacman-vargas.jpg" border="0" width="100%"/><br />
<span id='caption'>Manny Pacquiao emerged victorious in the WBO Welterweight Championship boxing match against Jessie Vargas on Saturday, November 5, 2016 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas</span><br />
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LAS VEGAS (November 5, 2016 at Thomas & Mack Center) – Manny Pacquiao win over Jessie Vargas via unanimous decision — the judges scored the fight 118-109 twice and, bizarrely, 114-113 in favor of Pacquiao, who ended a brief retirement and regained the WBO welterweight belt he once held.<br />
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He won despite a training camp in which his days frequently began before dawn, ended as the clock neared midnight and included precious little time for either rest or family.<br />
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He knocked Vargas down with a sharp, straight left in the second. He pushed the pace and opened a cut on Vargas’ right eyeline and swelled up the right side of his face. He consistently beat Vargas to the punch and had little difficulty in controlling the action.<br />
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“Fighting Manny Pacquiao is like playing a very fast game of chess,” Vargas said. “You have to be alert at all times because there were a lot of punches coming in. He was very fast. He was very sharp.”<br />
Pacquiao’s long-time rival, Floyd Mayweather, who beat Pacquiao in a hugely hyped fight down the street a year-and-a-half ago, was unexpectedly seated at ringside. When Pacquiao saw Mayweather as he was awaiting the first bell, he raised his hand, smiled and nodded.<br />
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It doesn’t necessarily mean a fight between them is imminent. Arum mentioned super lightweight champion Terence Crawford, super featherweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko and welterweights Keith Thurman and Danny Garcia as potential opponents, though he stressed he needed to discuss things with Pacquiao.<br />
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<b>ALSO READ: <a target='_blank' href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/boxing/2016/11/05/manny-pacquiao-vs-jessie-vargas-live/">'We will see': Manny Pacquiao refuses to rule out Mayweather rematch after defeat of Jessie Vargas</a></b><br />
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Watch the Manny Pacquiao vs Jessie Vargas full replay and boxing highlights on the video below.<br />
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<iframe width="100%" height="410" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9zaaQXiaWJI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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Source: <b><a target='_blank' href="https://www.yahoo.com/author/kevin-iole">Kevin Iole</a></b> (Yahoo Sports)<br />
Insight Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596210743582267830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720891703354804692.post-91105072874987088002016-11-03T12:39:00.000+08:002016-11-03T12:46:57.254+08:00Duterte tackles labor reformby <b>Manolo Serapio Jr and Neil Jerome Morales, Reuters</b><br />
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MANILA, Philippines -- In four years, Ivan Rey Tan worked with seven businesses. From a doughnut shop to a baby products store, the firms only hired workers on short-term contracts to rein in costs, and none of his jobs lasted longer than five months.<br />
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Tan is among 28 million Filipinos employed on short-term contracts, an astonishing 70 percent of the Asian nation's workforce. Now, President Rodrigo Duterte's government is aiming to bar the employ-on-contract practice because it offers no job security, health or other benefits and tramples on workers' rights.<br />
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The government is still to amend any of the labor laws, but Duterte has already warned employers to stop hiring workers on such contracts.<br />
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His plans have not created as much of a furor as his controversial war on drugs, but employers in one of the world's fastest growing economies are up in arms. They say ending short-term contracts would mean up to 30 percent additional costs for businesses, forcing them to hire fewer people and driving away prospective investors.<br />
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If the state forces all companies to make all their employees permanent, "we will bring the government to court," said Donald Dee, head of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines. "You cannot do that."<br />
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"In today's business environment, there is no such thing" as permanent employment, Dee said. "If they push that, no madman would do business here."<br />
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Other employers said pushing the reform could mean a downturn in the Philippines' enviable rate of economic growth, which at 7 percent in the second quarter was among the highest in the world.<br />
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The law allows employers to hire workers to meet demand at peak times. These contracts typically span five months to avoid a six-month rule that would require employers to make an employee permanent.<br />
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The practice is popularly called "endo," an abbreviation of "end of contract."<br />
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In 2011, the labor agency allowed companies to engage contractors to supply workers for short-term jobs, helping spread the practice of "endo" to job-intensive sectors such as retailing and manufacturing.<br />
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Duterte has said he wants the number of jobs with these contracts halved by year-end and eradicated next year.<br />
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There are pending bills in Congress to end such contractual work in what would be the first overhaul of the labor law since 1989 but no legislation has yet been passed.<br />
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Nevertheless, Duterte ordered an inspection of all companies shortly after assuming office on June 30, warning that any company that would not end short-term contracts risked closure.<br />
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"You will not only lose your money, you will lose your pants," Duterte said on August 1. "You are creating a very serious dissension in the society."<br />
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<b>SEE ALSO: <a target='_blank' href="http://www.gov.ph/2015/05/29/overseas-recruitment-agencies-covered-by-new-labor-laws-compliance-system/">Overseas recruitment agencies covered by new Labor Laws Compliance System</a></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqD7taovfqGlAEqnjKS6toF-JoewTJkppstA3_mqmkOCCTtARdW0VJwzqBpvkkAJNq7Evl5JgWIYHUtQWAv4AOfT2p0F1otCnbvIGSQjdqRjUzPzPEx956N5rdnogt3DqAbWTUI4_jTI/s1600/labor_file_pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqD7taovfqGlAEqnjKS6toF-JoewTJkppstA3_mqmkOCCTtARdW0VJwzqBpvkkAJNq7Evl5JgWIYHUtQWAv4AOfT2p0F1otCnbvIGSQjdqRjUzPzPEx956N5rdnogt3DqAbWTUI4_jTI/s1600/labor_file_pic.jpg" width="100%"/></a><br />
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<b>Costs could climb</b><br />
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Duterte has a "tendency to be really forthcoming and forceful," said Edmund Tayao, a political science professor at the University of Santo Tomas.<br />
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"Regardless what the president says, if there are legal options available for business groups, then they have every reason to fight it," said Tayao.<br />
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"But of course, if you are a businessman and you would like to have less headaches, you'd try as much as possible to comply."<br />
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Labor Undersecretary Joel Maglunsod estimated that up to 70 percent of the country's 39-40 million workforce members are on short-term contracts.<br />
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"A worker is not a commodity, a machinery or instrument of production. We should respect their dignity," said Maglunsod, a former labor rights activist.<br />
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"Contractualization is a neo-liberal policy, an attack on the livelihood, salary and jobs of workers," he said in an interview.<br />
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Although it's just four months into Duterte's term, 16,626 contract workers have been made regular staff, said Maglunsod.<br />
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But Dole Food Company, one of the firms that the labor agency said had recently made 554 contractual staff in its banana cultivation business permanent, was unsure where the agency got its number from.<br />
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"While we hire workers as needed from time to time, we haven't hired such a large number of workers at one time in the recent past," Dole lawyer Marianne Aniceto said in response to a Reuters query. But she said Dole outsources "certain services to cooperatives."<br />
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Maglunsod said the government also hired workers on contract and more than 50 percent of state employees were short-term. "There's budget to do it (make them permanent) if the government wants to," he said.<br />
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The labor reform plan "can increase the operating cost in certain industries which are very labor intensive," said Barclays Bank economist Rahul Bajoria.<br />
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To limit any potential economic damage, the government could resort to imposing fines and penalties "rather than shutting down certain businesses that would be negative for the economy because you're directly putting people out of jobs," Bajoria said.<br />
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Tan, who has worked at seven jobs in four years, said he was happier now that he was employed at a toy store which signed him up to a longer, one-year term through a contractor.<br />
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But Duterte was clear he wants contract jobs gone for good, warning all companies in August: "If you do not take care of the workers, then I cannot take care of you."<br />
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source: <b><a target='_blank' href="http://www.msn.com/en-ph/news/national/with-war-on-drugs-well-underway-duterte-tackles-labor-reform/ar-AAjO5Hu?li=BBr8Mkn">InterAksyon</a></b><br />
Insight Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596210743582267830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720891703354804692.post-31668630207610378252016-11-03T12:22:00.000+08:002016-11-03T12:22:00.134+08:00Americans sick and tired of presidential election<div class="bg-caption" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiflBXADoNVkWy501BIDN0srJ2fWCtUhKA6qEjOvJ5BXzhDiyjGGQ-AYno_OSRE2iSeKyvSf6YUpYtQbW3z7x3vFoHrPvAsdGt63wnPuMWsQ2WJ8gGe3JMy0wdfkbcA930OpKDW9nNTStQ/s1600/american-election.jpg" border="0" width="100%"/><br />
<span id='caption'>A rolling art installation commenting on the state of politics in America sits in the road in Manhattan.PHOTO: AFP</span><br />
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MOUNT VERNON (AFP) - Insults, obscenities, vitriol and sleaze: Americans have just about had it with this year's White House race.<br />
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As the clock ticks down to Election Day, many are counting the minutes until the end of what often seemed like a bad political reality show, headlined by two deeply unpopular stars, Mr Donald Trump and Mrs Hillary Clinton.<br />
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"It's torture, we're traumatised," said Ms Moira Hahn. "I'll be glad when it's over. Every day, it's worse, more vulgar, more violent, more divisive."<br />
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The 64-year-old lawyer from Pennsylvania travelled to Virginia days before the Nov 8 election for a dose of American history at Mount Vernon, home of the country's first president George Washington, an hour south of the nation's capital.<br />
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Like her, visitors come from across the country to explore the old plantation with its splendid view of the Potomac River that flows toward Washington.<br />
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Maryland schoolteacher Nancy Murphy calls the entire campaign "an embarrassment." "When we teach, we like to bring up the election, to teach the children about the democratic process," she said. "But we don't bring it up this time."<br />
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"I'm tired of the commercials, the negative aspect," she added. "I don't know about (the candidates' positions on) the issues, they just talk about each other."<br />
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In front of the tomb holding the remains of the former president (1732-1799) and his wife Martha, a small group recites the pledge of allegiance to the American flag, the daily ritual of schoolchildren across the country.<br />
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Presidential history is respected here."The best thing George Washington did was introduce the peaceful transfer of power from one administration to another," Ms Hahn said. "And we kept that tradition, it has kept us internally peaceful, all these years except for the Civil War."<br />
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"Now one of our candidates is talking about not following that tradition," she added with indignation at the threat from Mr Trump, "and that is very upsetting."<br />
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Whether they support the Democratic candidate Clinton or her Republican rival, the visitors appeared equally fed up, and anxious.They decry what they call the candidates' lack of dignity and vision, the campaign's viciousness and flood of trivial information.<br />
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"I've never seen anything like this," said Mr David Long, a septuagenarian pastor who had already voted early.<br />
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Even Dom, a tin-whistle player entertaining visitors in period costume, joined the discussion."It's too long," he said of the campaign that began way back in the spring of 2015. "And they spend so much money."<br />
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He says he won't vote for either Mrs Clinton or Mr Trump. "If a party wins, the other is going to be so disrespectful."<br />
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Ms Susan Marek, 63, who travelled from Texas with three high school friends to tour Washington's historic sites, said she has already voted - and feels relieved.<br />
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"It was very nasty, I didn't like the language on both sides," she said. "And the media was really going after Trump, it didn't seem fair."<br />
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Other visitors say they have cancelled news magazine subscriptions - "they only talk about the election" - or stopped following the campaign on television.<br />
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In the yards of nearby houses, signs that traditionally support one or another candidate have been supplanted by expressions of frustration.<br />
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"Everybody sucks. We're screwed 2016," reads one sign."Giant Meteor 2016. Just end it already," says another.Others read "Nope and Noper" and "None of the above."<br />
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On the internet, sites sell T-shirts saying "It's not funny anymore. Where are the real presidential candidates?"<br />
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Back at Mount Vernon, Ms Jo Ann, 71 - who declined to provide her last name - says she believes Election Day won't end the bitter struggle. "We're going to relitigate the Clinton stuff forever."<br />
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Ms Lori Misemer, 54, who works at a large Missouri investment company, was among the very few who appeared not to be concerned.<br />
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"I believe we still have a great future ahead of us," she said. "There are all kinds of uncertainty, but we're going to support whoever becomes president."<br />
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But Mr Gilbert Luiz, 23, who voted in Nevada, believes there are lessons to be learned from this year's "nasty" election.<br />
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"It's kind of a wake-up call that Americans needed. People are going to pay more attention, and invest more time and energy in their candidates," he said. "Because frankly I don't think anyone is happy with how we got our two candidates."<br />
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source: <b><a target='_blank' href="http://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/end-it-already-americans-sick-and-tired-of-presidential-election">The Straits Times</a></b><br />
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Insight Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596210743582267830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720891703354804692.post-21073013846758962122016-11-02T08:24:00.000+08:002016-11-03T12:51:46.898+08:00China confirms end to Shoal blockadeBy <a href="http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/11/01/1639357/china-confirms-end-shoal-blockade" target="_blank"><b>Jaime Laude</b></a>, Associated Press<br />
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<div class="bg-caption" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjSgI-bRhYwVNa5h2YJmphSnQa8XlwsWUkf5vIadS3sj5adVJPAn91eX9oeioqC2Mdozt3XNBTWQzjoBK6YCruOQ13KveHOqRCmeZvXnDbmjqfIdRK3UUmZIzLDVLyNPkOTN7CpTlm1Xs/s1600/2-1102-WillieLomibao.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjSgI-bRhYwVNa5h2YJmphSnQa8XlwsWUkf5vIadS3sj5adVJPAn91eX9oeioqC2Mdozt3XNBTWQzjoBK6YCruOQ13KveHOqRCmeZvXnDbmjqfIdRK3UUmZIzLDVLyNPkOTN7CpTlm1Xs/s1600/2-1102-WillieLomibao.jpg" width="100%" /></a><br />
<span id="caption">SHOAL HAUL Filipino fishermen fresh from a trip to Panatag Shoal return with their fish harvest. Unlike before when they were driven away by Chinese coast guards, they now tell stories of the Chinese sharing food, liquor and cigarettes with them. — Photograph by WILLIE LOMIBAO / Photo taken from <a href="http://globalnation.inquirer.net/148494/chinese-coast-guards-share-food-with-filipino-fishers" target="_blank">Inquirer.Net</a></span></div><br />
China has confirmed it is no longer driving away Filipino fishermen from Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.<br />
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Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters in Beijing her government made “proper arrangements” after President Duterte expressed concern about access to the shoal.<br />
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Hua said the issue had been handled “based on the friendship between China and the Philippines.”<br />
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Last week, Filipino fishermen began returning from the shoal with plenty of catch.<br />
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The Chinese relaxing of their hold on Panatag came days after Duterte’s return from his state visit to Beijing last Oct. 21.<br />
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During the visit, Duterte said he discussed with Chinese President Xi Jinping the maritime dispute. Duterte had also announced during his visit his foreign policy pivot to China.<br />
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<b>SEE ALSO: <a href="http://insight.mindanaokini.com/2016/10/filipino-fishermen-may-be-able-to.html" target="_blank">Filipino fishermen may be able to return to Scarborough Shoal, says Duterte</a></b><br />
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In Manila, the development at the shoal remains a puzzle to Philippine officials.<br />
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National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said they welcomed the development but stressed there was no agreement between the Philippines and China that prompted the latter to cease its blockade of the shoal to Filipino fishermen.<br />
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“There was no expressed agreement but it seems like the traditional rights of our fishermen are being respected. There is no talk of the territorial rights. There is no talk on assertion of rights but they respect our traditional rights,” Esperon said.<br />
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The Chinese seized the shoal – also called Bajo de Masinloc – in 2012 after a standoff with the Philippine Navy, which tried to arrest Chinese poachers in the area. The Chinese have not left the shoal since then.<br />
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A UN-backed international tribunal based in The Hague declared in July that Panatag Shoal is a common fishing ground.<br />
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The tribunal, in the same ruling, invalidated China’s massive nine-dash line claim in the South China Sea and West Philippine Sea.<br />
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Located 124 nautical miles from Zambales, Panatag Shoal is well within the country’s 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).<br />
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As of yesterday, Esperon said there were no more Chinese naval ships around the shoal and what remained were only coast guard ships.<br />
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Esperon also maintained that despite the development, the Philippines is not surrendering its sovereignty over the area to China, which was invoking its “historical rights” to assert its claim.<br />
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“Maybe not now but when we go to another round of talks, we’ll again assert it,” he said.Insight Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596210743582267830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720891703354804692.post-12639101509152343932016-11-02T01:16:00.000+08:002016-11-03T09:23:26.445+08:00Duterte's Talked the Peso to Its Lowest Level in Seven Yearsby <b><a target='_blank' href="http://www.bloomberg.com/authors/APKnnmrJ-HI/lilian-karunungan">Lilian Karunungan</a></b><br />
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<div class="bg-caption" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhS7boBB1yr3VJI0U1S1nTbqnKdJx0gyBDAUwiCw4GQ7RxRuugQgMFfRivAb38XCGLjKRxhiceQ9sKPWqDsSrXSEicFrLFgQ2rYFI49OELfBww9pM4nxlGva3KbStpfAW23n1oaE2Lg3w/s1600/du30.jpg" width="100%" /><br />
<span id='caption'>Rodrigo Duterte / Photographer: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Bloomberg</span><br />
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The last time the Philippine peso neared 50 to the dollar, the global financial system was melting down and the central bank raised interest rates to defend it. This time, it has been driven by the president cursing his trading partners and his finance chief accepting the declines.<br />
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Credit Suisse Group AG and Rabobank Groep predict the currency will weaken past 50 per dollar next year, a level last seen in November 2008. Pioneer Investment Management Ltd. doesn’t see the peso as a long-term, strategic investment. The currency fell to a seven-year low of 48.618 in October, and was Asia’s worst performer in the third quarter, when it fell 3 percent.<br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_j5nTiH98NsDTSjGkjv7xHXPkZfVc_-nQ3zTV6_EQ_uOwUEyG4rvHno1PyeOEwpy4vnpiH-uglilGXUCgvkcNDfalyUqV5UfekVnNrDv3eT9qK3Mx40oKKJwUWdaPyEcuIqHf_Kab2c8/s1600/PesoData.png" width="100%" /><br />
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Global funds have pulled more than $600 million from Philippine stocks since inflows this year peaked in August as Rodrigo Duterte cursed while talking about President Barack Obama and announced a “separation” from the U.S. during an official visit to China. Concerns that his outbursts may jeopardize investments in the nation’s more than $20 billion business outsourcing industry have forced his administration’s top officials to assure companies their interests will be protected as the leader builds new global alliances.<br />
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“Economic impact is difficult to gauge at this stage and may only be seen longer term, but the uncertainty on his foreign policy could deter foreign investment,” said Trang Thuy Le, a macro strategist in Hong Kong at Credit Suisse. “For now, we think it warrants a higher degree of risk premium and volatility to be priced in the Philippine peso.”<br />
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A gauge of swings in the peso climbed to a two-year high of 7.3 percent on Oct. 12 after Duterte said he may travel to Russia after official visits to China and Japan. One-month implied volatility was at 6.1 percent on Tuesday, compared with a 12-month low of 4.4 percent in August.<br />
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The Philippine currency closed at 48.41 per dollar on Friday. Local markets were shut Monday and Tuesday for holidays. The peso has weakened from a seven-month high of 45.85 on June 9, before Duterte started his six-year term.<br />
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<b>Peso Forecasts</b><br />
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Credit Suisse predicts the currency will drop to 50.3 by March, while Rabobank expects that level to be reached by June. The forecasts compare with the median estimate of 48.2 by mid-2017 in a Bloomberg survey of strategists. Rabobank’s projection mainly reflects its expectations of a weaker Chinese yuan and is yet to factor in political tensions with the U.S., according to Michael Every, its head of financial markets research for Asia Pacific in Hong Kong.<br />
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<blockquote>“What would concern me is an abrupt drop,” Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said in an Oct. 26 interview in Tokyo. “The rate of change is the most important. If it is orderly, if it is rational, it is OK.”</blockquote><br />
<b>Remittances Impact</b><br />
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American companies account for more than 70 percent of the business-process outsourcing industry’s revenue, which is estimated at $22.9 billion this year, according to IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines. The industry is set to become a key foreign-exchange earner amid fluctuations in the amount of money remitted by overseas workers, which makes up about 10 percent of the country’s gross domestic product. Exports have fallen for 17 straight months.<br />
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While American companies will continue operating in the Philippines unless official sanctions are imposed, the peso may slide further should the president continue to surprise markets with his “unorthodox rhetoric,” according to Stuart Allsopp, head of country risk and financial markets strategy in Singapore at BMI Research, a unit of Fitch Group.<br />
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Pioneer Investment sees declines in the peso as offering a potential short-term buying opportunity as Duterte’s efforts to boost spending may augur well for Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing major economy, said Hakan Aksoy, a fund manager in London at the firm, which oversees $249 billion globally. GDP expanded 7 percent in the second quarter, the quickest pace in two years.<br />
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Even so, the peso could retest the 2008-low and become more volatile as Duterte’s violent anti-drug campaign faces international criticism and the country’s external finances deteriorate, according to Loomis, Sayles & Co., which manages $245 billion. Remittances fell in five of the past 13 months, official data show, and the central bank estimates the current-account surplus will narrow to $3 billion in 2017 from $5.8 billion this year due to rising imports.<br />
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“Uncertainty in Philippine political landscape is the catalyst, but not the sole reason” for the peso’s weakness, said Celeste Tay, a senior sovereign analyst in Singapore at Loomis. “Current-account surplus is thinning and remittance trend is arguably negative.”<br />
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Source: <b><a target='_blank' href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-11-01/duterte-seen-talking-peso-beyond-50-level-reached-in-2008-crisis">Bloomberg Market</a></b><br />
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Insight Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596210743582267830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720891703354804692.post-25980608569358471482016-11-01T23:59:00.000+08:002016-11-03T11:38:52.960+08:00Philippine special envoy Ramos quits; aide says China mission accomplished<div class="bg-caption" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbRlO6Puc985GyLoCATzNsDqcSFdIn4OjzR5SuEBspdc8MsfDd6m4AohupWCMdULrMYPO7J2f5zMLm6uXsbk6dTVT4ReHpZZmpjwL88t8pl0QXT67op8BkoC-zotqoZkOiSxlHptDBbo0/s1600/Ramos_Fidel_02.jpg" width="100%" /><br />
<span id='caption'>Former President Fidel V. Ramos. Photo taken from <a target='_blank' href="http://thestandard.com.ph/news/headlines/220316/fvr-quits-china-job-is-done.html">Manila Standard</a> website</span><br />
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The Philippines' former president Fidel Ramos has quit his job as special envoy to China, aides said on Tuesday, but the government has yet to act on his resignation, weeks after the current Philippine leader visited Beijing.<br />
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President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Ramos, a mentor who he said persuaded him to run for office, as special envoy to China to help repair ties soured by an international arbitration case in a maritime territorial dispute which went in Manila's favor in July, sparking outrage in Beijing.<br />
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Ramos's decision to quit a job he had barely started was due to the progress made during Duterte's visit, including what appears to be an end to China's blockade of a disputed fishing zone.<br />
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"He has done his job," a Ramos aide told Reuters. "President Duterte has visited Beijing and our fishermen are back in the disputed Scarborough Shoal. He has accomplished his mission."<br />
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The aide declined to be named because he was not authorized to speak to the media. Ramos' office said an official statement would soon follow.<br />
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Ramos, an 88-year-old statesman widely respected in a country he led from 1992-1998, was quoted by GMA News Online as saying his China role was only to "break the ice".<br />
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Ramos is a supporter of Duterte but has recently turned critical of the maverick leader. In a newspaper column, he described Duterte's first 100 days in office as a "huge disappointment and letdown", an assessment that contrasts starkly with popular opinion.<br />
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Ramos said Duterte had spent too much energy on his war on drugs and neglected poverty, the environment and rising living costs and he described the president's hostility and mixed statements towards old ally the United States as "discombobulating".<br />
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But a Ramos aide on Tuesday said the resignation had nothing to do with his view on Duterte's performance.<br />
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"Please, do not put meaning into this, he remains a team Philippines player," the aide said.<br />
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The government gave little comment on the circumstances behind Ramos's resignation.<br />
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Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said Ramos "was instrumental in the softening of ties", while presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said it was Duterte's decision whether or not to accept the resignation.<br />
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As his first step towards softening ties with China, Ramos spent five days in Hong Kong in August meeting "old friends" - a diplomat and an academic - and described his trip as an "ice breaker".<br />
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The two countries had previously had no high-level contact for five years.<br />
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Ramos never made it to China, however. His office in September said a trip there had been postponed. A few weeks later, Duterte went to Beijing himself, accompanied by about 200 businessmen, and plenty of fanfare.<br />
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"I still consider myself a part of the Duterte team whether they like it or not," Ramos was quoted as saying by local media.<br />
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Source: <b><a target='_blank' href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-philippines-china-ramos-idUSKBN12W3B2">Reuters</a></b> (Reporting By Manuel Mogato; Editing by Martin Petty and Simon Cameron-Moore)Insight Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596210743582267830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720891703354804692.post-35524262978142379332016-11-01T11:52:00.001+08:002016-11-03T09:08:25.787+08:00Fisherman’s son draws “Tatay Digong” portrait<div class="bg-caption" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRZ9-za_5e3pUJWhe3IxTizOMqI728w0kygJ-rtJ6sp_Evi4ATSAAsV-DlDloMTdLlbXH2v3lfuBQ8aMTpcqFJ9OhsGZHBCLVJPnoeUuyglTcQO0Dm7Yk9eYJbQX27dbMqXJ2RTxkwYjE/s1600/king-rodriguez-photoshot.jpg" width="100%" /><br />
<span id='caption'>PRESIDENTIAL PORTRAIT ARTIST. Macky Bongabong, who painted President Rodrigo Duterte's official portrait in Malacañang Palace, meets his subject. Photo credit by <a target='_blank' href="https://www.facebook.com/king.rodriguez.9">King Rodriguez</a></span><br />
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A fisherman’s son from Mindanao has able to reach the aisle of Malacañang Palace through his Presidential portrait entitled “Tatay Digong.”<br />
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The name behind the viral portrait is Macky Bongabong, a son of a fisherman from Sangali, Zambaoanga City.<br />
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In an interview, Bongabong narrated his story that he grew up with an appreciation for the arts, despite having no formal education or training on it.<br />
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On his early years, Macky Bongabong joined almost all of the art competitions in his school and in their town, and even dreamed of going to other places to compete. Every time he won, he would always hand his cash prize to his mother, to provide for the family.<br />
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To pursue his art career, he moved to Davao City, painted and sold jeepney sign cards at the sidewalks and was paid for a daily basis.<br />
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Due to his hard work and determination, Bongabong was able to rent a space in a shopping mall in Davao City, then later moved to a bigger mall.<br />
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The biggest project came to his life when the Office of the President made request for him to draw a portrait.<br />
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At present, his masterpiece hangs on the wall of Malacañang Palace. <br />
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In Facebook post, he expressed his thanks to the President who we calls Tatay and “Who would have thought a boy, just sewing fishing nets by the port, skin burnt by the sun, would later be a part of Philippine history, his artwork hanging beside the works of Fernando Amorsolo and other national artists?”<br />
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Source: <b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/150818-viral-meet-fisherman-son-painted-tatay-digong-portrait-malacanang">Rappler</a></b> Insight Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596210743582267830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720891703354804692.post-26575777177303721282016-10-31T23:10:00.000+08:002016-11-02T15:21:30.240+08:00Paragliding fun fly a success<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGAV4ggy6HZi1s5ZYL4KcPnbkt3vQdQabfVFw4nb1C4eX6u3Xtw3z086UPKBcG690PYKwADsyFnDFt8Xf727R-ycVrmYy1t9lt5D1Bp2oWVu9pMWHjWxseYNIeofzZUnY4QGL2ao3Fwgs/s1600/jake_narte.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGAV4ggy6HZi1s5ZYL4KcPnbkt3vQdQabfVFw4nb1C4eX6u3Xtw3z086UPKBcG690PYKwADsyFnDFt8Xf727R-ycVrmYy1t9lt5D1Bp2oWVu9pMWHjWxseYNIeofzZUnY4QGL2ao3Fwgs/s1600/jake_narte.jpg" width="100%"/></a><br />
MAASIM, Sarangani (October 31, 2016) - Rhea Salawapanding, a 12-year old Blaan kid of nearby Bawing, General Santos City is in awe as colorful parachutes take off during the final day of the National Paragliding Fun Fly at the Paragliding Bay View Resort Monday, October 31. The entire duration of the activity has a good streak of weather which made the activity successful. (Jake Narte/ SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglSeBEHYZNfCFvURO-Y2MmutIV3SSs4hYub2gX50IIsTtbfr_9ZrrlYEFc5QWZvfnVeqJ2qCyAYoACLWJ0e9sgAJmw69HcCM-14dEJmj9QMGy3gnF1JV5UoCUnft6yTtdxw1dkkOKmqIs/s1600/jakenarte2.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglSeBEHYZNfCFvURO-Y2MmutIV3SSs4hYub2gX50IIsTtbfr_9ZrrlYEFc5QWZvfnVeqJ2qCyAYoACLWJ0e9sgAJmw69HcCM-14dEJmj9QMGy3gnF1JV5UoCUnft6yTtdxw1dkkOKmqIs/s1600/jakenarte2.jpg" width="100%"/></a><br />
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<b>Fun fly takes off in Sarangani</b> <br />
MAASIM, Sarangani (October 31, 2016) - People of all ages flock in the first day, October 29, of Sarangani’s celebration of the National Paragliding Fun fly held at Barangay Tinoto on October 29-31. The provincial government in partnership with Sarangani Paragliding Team hosted the event. (Jake Narte/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)<br />
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<center><iframe width="100%" height="410" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z93xDL3tGVI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></center>Insight Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596210743582267830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720891703354804692.post-66617083652416101862016-10-31T11:39:00.000+08:002016-11-03T12:22:49.982+08:00Sen. Pacquiao wants investigation of Yolanda fund mishandling<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2F0fYg8T0CZtobTjMqs-zwWCZNJVKP3-coTmUIS7fHx0P8t6RFOp-QpiNYmrAczecIt8JddCVYD8U1awBU6svxKb2foop7RB0zi2-c46y1B-6ai-8RTTQnWk7HGx7nLpSPZ4XSwmQR3w/s1600/mannypacman.jpg" width="100%" /><br />
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Although in Los Angeles, California preparing for his upcoming fight, The Boxing World Champion and Senator Manny Pacquiao couldn’t neglect his work as a public servant, October 30.<br />
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Balancing his career, Sen. Pacquiao urges Senate to conduct an investigation regarding the Yolanda fund irregularities as he continues his battle cry for anti-corruption.<br />
“The Senate should conduct a probe to ferret both the truth. This should be construed as plain and simple muckraking or political persecution. Those who were involved must be punished if proven guilty mishandling the funds,” Pacquiao said in an interview.<br />
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Last October 24, Secretary Judy Taguiwaldo of the Department of Social Welfare and Development revealed there were at most 200,000 supposed to beneficiaries of post-Yolanda emergency welfare assistance who did not receive any financial help.<br />
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The boxing champ expressed his disappointment towards the people who would refuse to give help to the needy while achieving their selfish plans<br />
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Remembering what happened, Sen. Pacquiao personally visited the affected areas last December 2013 and distributed a P10M worth relief goods, which was borrowed from his friend since the Bureau of Internal Revenue freeze his account back then.<br />
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Pacquiao further stressed corruption in the distribution of calamity aid to victims must be stopped and the victims shouldn’t be abused.<br />
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Meanwhile, the 8-time multi-division world champion commended the DSWD, NDRRMC and other government agencies involved in the preparation and information dissemination during the Super Typhoon Haima (Lawin), which wrecked several places in Northern Luzon two weeks ago.<br />
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“The preparation and the response made by DSWD and other government agencies were commendable. You see, the number of casualties was minimal despite the fact that Typhoon Lawin was stronger and expected to be more devastating compared to Yolanda,” Pacquiao exclaimed.<br />
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Source: Philnews TrendInsight Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596210743582267830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720891703354804692.post-9795461673849711392016-10-29T10:07:00.000+08:002016-11-02T15:30:41.320+08:00Education Congress 2016 key to economic growth in Gensan<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJsmgiORvlySdP5oykXH1GWJhQ1Eir7UxbRmwstINGNoMRYeYP8Rby4hD7owyhkLNN7uMEXJdUmjuXnhLdPH8dPuTFDlkqxUhK062i187VCeliiArI4C_AfKykiGQb7vt1lA9Ll59txT8/s1600/russel_delvo2.jpg" width="100%" /><br />
GENERAL SANTOS CITY (28 October 2016) - City Mayor Ronnel Rivera welcomes guests and delegates during the Educational Congress 2016 Thursday, October 27, with the theme “Synergy and Collaboration: Unifying Thresholds in the Implementation of Institutionalized K-12 Curriculum” held at Greenleaf Hotel. Mayor Rivera emphasized that he will create General Santos City as an Educational Hub of the Region and strengthen efforts that will elevate the role of education sector in propelling the city towards economic growth. (Russell Delvo/ Gensan CPIO)<br />
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9eHXIM5moSarxPjIllGMKGlEq6VWsqlJvNATzgVMGcUboeYk-aO1WRvxuSiwc-CmXuJ1yzUVJteXPq5mhJzSs9bJ0FBGnv992DQIpeFJiKKGFkVcH8-KGHbTrnLjBIlImOpGMCQJ1P4Y/s1600/education-congress2016-1.jpg" width="100%" /><br />
Insight Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596210743582267830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720891703354804692.post-37307243372743547532016-10-28T13:49:00.000+08:002016-11-03T09:24:24.460+08:00Pres. Duterte's China, Japan visits to reshape Philippine agricultureIn less than 120 days<br />
By <b><a target='_blank' href="https://www.facebook.com/351448724937603/photos/pcb.1146153065467161/1146133945469073/?type=3">Manny Piñol</a></b><br />
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<div class="bg-caption" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQk4z554VQer6TlS9QttnCrusGzdsjo0P-8EV2q9M3pmPZ112NGZkH-3evrr6cXku0Qravw0OowKsUu3BeWARi9EfJBwg0YV9V0msXrSko37QeAcV-wq_cZciuye2hJjmNNsoF6lfSNTE/s1600/mannypinol.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQk4z554VQer6TlS9QttnCrusGzdsjo0P-8EV2q9M3pmPZ112NGZkH-3evrr6cXku0Qravw0OowKsUu3BeWARi9EfJBwg0YV9V0msXrSko37QeAcV-wq_cZciuye2hJjmNNsoF6lfSNTE/s1600/mannypinol.jpg" width="100%"/></a><br />
<span id='caption'>Photo with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Pres. Rody Duterte taken while in Japan State Visit</span></div><br />
President Rody Duterte's State Visits to two of the country's biggest trading partners in Asia in a span of two weeks may yet result in the dramatic reshaping and modernisation of Philippine agriculture.<br />
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For me, the fruits of the President's rigorous travels are now the proving to be the realisation of the wish I shared with him during our recent travel to the island-province of Basilan on Oct. 10.<br />
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Apparently impressed and happy with the tractors, fishing boats, seeds and fertilisers which we readily gave to the farmers of Basilan whose coconut farms were devastated by insects which killed the trees, President Duterte turned to me and asked "What more do you need? How many more tractors?"<br />
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I immediately pounced on that opening and told him what needed to be done to lift farmers and fishermen from poverty and help them produce more food for the country.<br />
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"Mr. President, if we deliver our interventions to Philippine agriculture and fisheries by piecemeal, we will never be able to change things," I told him.<br />
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I also warned him that if he does not deliver all the needed interventions during his Presidency, the country may never have another leader who deeply understands agriculture like him.<br />
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That was when I told him that under his Presidency, the following interventions must be delivered:<br />
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1. Mechanization and modernisation of the rice and corn industry by acquiring farm tractors, rice cultivators, planters, harvesters, dryers, mills and storage and processing facilities.<br />
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These interventions would lower the cost of production and reduce post harvest losses which run up to 16% of the total harvest. It would also empower the farmers to get a better price for their produce.<br />
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2. Establishment of fish ports, fish landings, cold storage, ice-making and processing facilities in key fishing grounds and fish production areas of the country.<br />
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According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), almost 40% of the fish catch and harvest of fisher folks and high value marine products farmers are spoiled because of the lack of post harvest facilities.<br />
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3. Completion of the construction of the remaining 3,500 kilometres of farm to market roads all over the country to facilitate the transport of products to the market.<br />
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I asked him to consider availing of long term loans from either or both China and Japan so that these important agriculture and fisheries infrastructure facilities are established and completed during his Presidency.<br />
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The other aspects of Philippine agriculture like support to high value crops, including processing and manufacturing, could be handled by the Department of Agriculture through its annual budget allocation.<br />
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The President just nodded after listening to me in that brief moment in Lamitan City, Basilan.<br />
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Little did I know that he remembered everything that I shared with him.<br />
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In Beijing last week, I received a pleasant surprise when he announced that Philippine agriculture and fisheries would get the biggest share of the estimated $6-B which China would grant to the the Philippine government.<br />
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Last night in Tokyo, he once again repeated the same sales pitch emphasising that Japan's support to Philippine agriculture would greatly contribute to the attainment of peace in the country and in lifting Filipinos out of poverty.<br />
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During the state dinner with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the Prime Minister's official residence last night, I was seated beside the agriculture minister of Japan and we talked about the possibility of a Yen Loan for the acquisition of farm equipment including post harvest facilities.<br />
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Today, as I leave Japan for two more engagements in Canada and the United States to promote Philippine agriculture products, I feel like I am on Cloud 9.<br />
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I am now imagining a Philippine rural scene where concrete roads lead from the farms to the market, where tractors, planters, harvesters and processing mills are humming and working in the countryside and where the bountiful harvest from the country's coastal waters reach the wet markets of the big cities and even the remotes villages in the country.<br />
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A dream?<br />
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Not anymore. President Duterte is making all of this a reality.<br />
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<object width="400" height="224" > <param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://www.facebook.com/v/1349796258414374" /><embed src="http://www.facebook.com/v/1349796258414374" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="224"> </embed> </object> Insight Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596210743582267830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720891703354804692.post-61402234271633994692016-10-27T14:15:00.000+08:002016-11-01T22:59:26.314+08:00Tourism event honors indigenous people of SOCCSKSARGEN<div class="bg-caption" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Q3nbXgyz8h5tK-DTXRmhczfiCPQ1yPqSyAJHgYXahZJZ72qujpBq506AcHfg-xWZt3R_708C7FVjaPCGkJT2G6Q7kY6NAcerXGLjHht0NMQdNp_YZ_LS3T0vs6lynfW-4qFNPl7P3TU/s1600/ip-day.jpg" width="100%" /><br />
<span id='caption'>1st Provincial Indigenous Peoples Day:South Cotabato celebrates the 1st Provincial Indigenous Peoples Day with the theme:" Pagsasakapangyarihan ng Katutubo Tungo sa Pagkakaisa, Kapayapaan at Kaunlaran" at the South Cotabato Gym and Cultural Center, October 25, 2016. Photo taken from <a target='_blank' href="https://www.facebook.com/Provincial-Government-of-South-Cotabato-125255954223968/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1106562992759921">Provincial Government of South Cotabato</a> facebook</span><br />
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KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato Oct. 26 (PIA) -- SOCCSKSARGEN Region's indigenous culture takes the center stage in a festival organized by the Department of Tourism 12 at the Veranza Mall in General Santos City and other parts of the region from October 26-31.<br />
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Dubbed as "TAU SOX: Festival of the First Peoples," the event is a recognition of the significant contributions of the indigenous peoples' cultural heritage to the tourism industry of SOCCSKSARGEN Region or Region 12.<br />
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"Cultural tourism is the best tourism asset of Region 12. This is the very reason why a lot of tourists visit the region," Nelly Nita Dillera, regional director of the Department of Tourism said.<br />
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"The authentic culture of the Tbolis, Blaans, Tirurays, Maguindanaons and Manobos is very much alive in the provinces of the region; it is but proper to pay them respects," Dillera added.<br />
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Dillera explained that the event name "Festival of the First Peoples" stemmed from the historical theory that the first settlers of the Philippines may have settled in the SOCCSKSARGEN.<br />
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Proof to this claim, according to Carlo Ebeo, former official of the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts, is the anthromorphic jars in the Ayub Cave in Maitum, Sarangani that dated from 5 BC to 225 A.D.<br />
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The area has been declared as an Important Cultural Property of the Philippines "just a step towards becoming a National Cultural Treasure."<br />
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Dillera elaborated that the main feature of the TAU SOX is the exhibit of traditional houses at the first and second floors of the Veranza Mall where authentic living artisans will demonstrate traditional practices including Blaan's tabih weaving, Tboli's embroidery designing, Maguindanaon's brasscasting, Tiruray's mat weaving, and Manobo music.<br />
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These traditional houses also display heritage identifiers such as the Maitum jars, Kulaman jars, Mabal Tabih, Lang Dulay's collection, antiquated brass wares, century-old inaul, musical instruments and ornaments.<br />
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Tourism operators have installed booths in the area and offer tours to cultural sites in the region.<br />
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While most of the events are being held in General Santos City the festival also features parallel cultural heritage in several parts of SOCCSKSARGEN Region including traditional rituals and performance at the Old City Hall in Cotabato City (October 26), traditional food and amd cook fest at the New City Hall in Koronadal City (October 27), and traditional sports and games at the city gymnasium of Tacurong City.<br />
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These off-site events will be accompanied by forums intended to generate better understanding of the practices of the indigenous peoples of the region. <br />
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Anchored on the theme, "Transcending boundaries, finding commonalities," the festival also celebrates October as the Indigenous Peoples' Month.<br />
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The TAU SOX: Festival of the First Peoples is being co-sponsored by the local government units, the NCCA, National Commission on the Indigenous Peoples, and the indigenous peoples mandatory representatives of LGUs. (DEDoguiles-PIA 12)<br />
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Insight Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596210743582267830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720891703354804692.post-80881592141980848892016-10-25T08:05:00.000+08:002016-11-03T12:23:26.729+08:00Filipino fishermen may be able to return to Scarborough Shoal - Duterte saysBy <b><a target='_blank' href="https://asiancorrespondent.com/author/ac-news/">Asian Correspondent Staff</a></b> <br />
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<div class="bg-caption" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9fGEvL8h9TSOu746g07NiAwKBMqXr5fZGeGTDvvCQUVQ4leXDQ4EMN0d6VzVnysmn5zGkeAJX1ExVRBij0JKbyl-Dw3Leos9JKXcDoax0DK5Fd98IJC1CvVXpUK9qPEkkopVcVav4WUI/s1600/PH_CN_Bilateral-Meeting.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9fGEvL8h9TSOu746g07NiAwKBMqXr5fZGeGTDvvCQUVQ4leXDQ4EMN0d6VzVnysmn5zGkeAJX1ExVRBij0JKbyl-Dw3Leos9JKXcDoax0DK5Fd98IJC1CvVXpUK9qPEkkopVcVav4WUI/s1600/PH_CN_Bilateral-Meeting.jpg" /></a><br />
<span id='caption'>Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands after a signing ceremony in Beijing, China, Thursday, Oct. 20, 2016. / Photo taken from <a target='_blank' href="http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2016/10/22/Duterte-Filipino-fishing-rights-Scarborough-Shoal-leave-it-to-the-Chinese-authorities.html">CNN Philippines</a></span><br />
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FILIPINO fishermen may be able to return to the China-held Scarborough Shoal in a few days, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said, following his discussion on the territorial rift in the South China Sea with Chinese leaders during his trip to Beijing last week.<br />
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During discussions, Duterte said he insisted to his Chinese counterparts that the shoal off the Philippines’ northwestern coast belonged to his country. He noted, however that the Chinese also asserted their claim of ownership.<br />
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“Let us just wait for a few more days, maybe we could return to Scarborough Shoal,” he said during a speech in Manila on Saturday, as quoted by Reuters.<br />
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China, however, has yet to indicate whether it would lift its four-year blockade of the shoal, the agency reported.<br />
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“I’m not sure if they will fulfill (what was discussed),” Duterte said.<br />
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The president was addressing the matter during a speech Saturday in Tuguegarao City where he handed out aid to victims of Typhoon Haima.<br />
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He did not, however, offer further details on the discussions, including whether China imposed any conditions on the possible return of Filipino fishermen to Scarborough, where they have been driven away by Chinese coast guard ships for years.<br />
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Duterte was in Beijing last week to cement ties with China and forge a new commercial alliance amid his country’s deteriorating relationship with the United States, a long-time ally of the Philippines.<br />
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Duterte’s predecessor Benigno Aquino III had brought the maritime dispute to international arbitration after China seized the shoal in 2012.<br />
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In a July 12 ruling, the international arbitration court said China had no historical title over the South China Sea and that it had breached the Philippines’ sovereign rights.<br />
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China has since said that it rejects the ruling, which ramps up pressure on the Asian powerhouse to scale back its military expansion in the area, and that it would continue to resolve the dispute with its neighbours.<br />
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Source: <b><a target='_blank' href="https://asiancorrespondent.com/2016/10/filipino-fishermen-may-return-scarborough-shoal/">Asian Correspondent</a></b> (Additional reporting by the Associated Press)<br />
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Insight Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596210743582267830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720891703354804692.post-36879681700303367192016-10-23T08:41:00.000+08:002016-11-03T11:28:22.271+08:00Filipinos learn Gross National Happiness<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXS2PPQMZ2Zc5hBEwhWH77ZmH_eQvcLe2G97mvbc-B_TcEVjY-vmIg9a3Ey9aOmu_73LjpaP0dxBN_DTeJDF3ruTU2b3xDWk01wOQVrbAHKUQhwUPbBSiki6qVexLRV5_xcanuCThEVrE/s1600/KimTiblani.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXS2PPQMZ2Zc5hBEwhWH77ZmH_eQvcLe2G97mvbc-B_TcEVjY-vmIg9a3Ey9aOmu_73LjpaP0dxBN_DTeJDF3ruTU2b3xDWk01wOQVrbAHKUQhwUPbBSiki6qVexLRV5_xcanuCThEVrE/s1600/KimTiblani.jpg" width="100%"/></a><br />
DAVAO CITY (October 22, 2016) – Sarangani Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon (2nd from right) meets Dr. Saamdu Chetri (extreme left) during the Lecture Series on Sustainable Area Development and Management on October 18. Dr. Chetri, Bhutan's Gross National Happiness Centre executive director, was invited by Environment and National Resources Secretary Gina Lopez to have lectures in the country to inspire Filipinos in finding balance between materialistic and non-materialistic aspects of life, and other vital elements to human happiness. Sec. Lopez hopes that the lecture would lead to the creation of an action plan by various leaders of sectors and organizations in the priority areas including Sarangani, based on the principles of GNH. (Kim Tiblani/PROVINCIAL GOVERNOR'S OFFICE)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiad9BrhvlYPLwdVfg-IZymr-vZKqDOcgcF5CMvbvx14vBqtHxmW4bDEbl-kwtGqFgt6eVPnWYnvp7j1p4HCd6asHBjIp7BTkF_26YPzJtn1SIPRc37Zlbw65E2a2kESLDOGP4YqufiAA/s1600/KimTiblani.2.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiad9BrhvlYPLwdVfg-IZymr-vZKqDOcgcF5CMvbvx14vBqtHxmW4bDEbl-kwtGqFgt6eVPnWYnvp7j1p4HCd6asHBjIp7BTkF_26YPzJtn1SIPRc37Zlbw65E2a2kESLDOGP4YqufiAA/s1600/KimTiblani.2.jpg" width="100%"/></a><br />
<b>Sarangani in Sec. Lopez’ 29 top priorities</b><br />
DAVAO CITY (October 22, 2016) – Sarangani Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon (extreme left) talks to Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Gina Lopez (second from left) during the Lecture Series on Sustainable Area Development and Management on October 18. Sec. Lopez invited Bhutan's Gross National Happiness Centre executive director Dr. Saamdu Chetri (3rd from left) to share about gross national happiness (GNH) as an alternative indicator of the country's economic and social well-being in aims to inspire Filipinos in finding balance between materialistic and non-materialistic aspects of life, and other vital elements to human happiness. Sarangani is one of the 29 top priority areas identified by Sec. Lopez as models for sustainable development. (Kim Tiblani/PROVINCIAL GOVERNOR'S OFFICE)Insight Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596210743582267830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720891703354804692.post-44757228764736579262016-09-30T00:47:00.000+08:002016-11-02T10:12:12.356+08:00The US press is lying to the American people about war in Syria – UN Peace Council told<div class="bg-caption" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhScCQ__ahyRNygx8uR920Um4U4CX1c4yXj6sMhvhoHuOhq-Cq5oke8Zcork2MTT4BOp4VmgGDReJpKahaYUSlXUhHr4E1YD6wY8OAvD6MujStUSRmi6lFyriU7X8CnpzA67FlgKPK_k-k/s1600/UN-SC.png" width="100%" /><br />
<span id='caption'>UN Peace Council</span><br />
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A long video of the UN Peace Council in a press conference revealed the truth about what is going on in Syria is not a civil war, it is a mercenaries invasion supported by the United States government.<br />
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<center><iframe width="100%" height="400" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/c8JppJyVxYU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></center>Insight Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596210743582267830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720891703354804692.post-78854333968818572662016-09-27T09:46:00.000+08:002016-11-03T11:40:12.429+08:00Executive Legislative Agenda taking shape<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVGKxy5uCkfjTiZtIJzQ7hllSiVWuKfzJi83Cy44ads9G9FbZ1G5jngRNtPhE_lPWx7HPvnu0idS6aAqfnEIgPCR36wNdCdv_Bj3H21nWx1fGC7q2eJoNWYDXrrCPr_lXnddI9dAxLiC4/s1600/russel_delvo.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVGKxy5uCkfjTiZtIJzQ7hllSiVWuKfzJi83Cy44ads9G9FbZ1G5jngRNtPhE_lPWx7HPvnu0idS6aAqfnEIgPCR36wNdCdv_Bj3H21nWx1fGC7q2eJoNWYDXrrCPr_lXnddI9dAxLiC4/s1600/russel_delvo.jpg" width="100%"/></a><br />
GENERAL SANTOS CITY (26 September 2016) - Mayor Ronnel Rivera joins the two-day Executive Legislative Agenda (ELA) Workshop Monday, September 19, at Greenleaf Hotel with all the City Hall department heads, city councilors and Sangguniang Panlungsod employees. Mayor Rivera gave his message of direction during the event to better guide the city’s executive and legislative officials and employees. (GENSAN INFO OFFICE/Russell Delvo)Insight Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596210743582267830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720891703354804692.post-73175776946503734502015-04-02T23:30:00.000+08:002016-11-03T12:24:00.867+08:00Sarangani villages receive P40-M development projects<div class="bg-caption" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqmNp1FkTRvyh1y0wmHgo-l9eYDlxDQ708y4dK6uhsuQg128ffl-X0BkWrIr4yI-HhcJ8mByckUYthpnW4kSLJNQo6Kb2hnFJ6jnlvVe4Lu-lOZyaRClG9f68jXviN-YepIYOeYN_2Nrg/s1600/limpin_dilg.jpg" border="0" width="100%"/><br />
<span id='caption'>Flor Limpin (right), DILG provincial director for Sarangani leads local officials in the ground breaking ceremony of more than P40-M worth of farm-to-market road projects and peace center in former conflict-stricken villages in Maasim, Sarangani.</span><br />
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The Department of Interior and Local Government is set to implement more than P40 million worth of development projects in former conflict-stricken villages in Maasim, Sarangani.<br />
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Flor Limpin, DILG provincial director for Sarangani, said the funding will be charged against DILG-led PAMANA (Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan) Projects which aims to spur development in impoverished areas which were once stricken by conflict between government forces and rebel groups.<br />
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He said a farm to market road worth P20 million and a P1 million peace center will be constructed in Barangay Lumatil while Barangay Daliao gets funding for the construction of P20 million worth farm-to-market road, a water system project worth P3.5 million and P1.5 million peace center.<br />
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The two coastal villages were once strongholds of Moro National Liberation Front which signed a peace agreement with the government in 1996.<br />
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"The construction of farm-to-market roads is expected to boost agricultural production in area where local farmers could easily transport their produce to the market," Limpin said.<br />
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Maasim Vice-Mayor Uttoh Salem Cutan, a former MNLF commander, underscored the cooperation among the various stakeholders in the local communities to support the peace and development initiatives of the government. <br />
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"The stability of peace and security is deemed necessary to spur development projects in the former conflict-stricken areas," said Cutan, who once served as executive director of the Southern Philippines Council for Peace and Development (SPCPD).<br />
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Lumatil village chair Boni Sultan thanked the national government for prioritizing their community to receive development projects.<br />
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"The farm-to-market road was the first project given by the national government to our community," Sultan said.<br />
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reported by <b>Mindanao Media Services</b>Insight Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596210743582267830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720891703354804692.post-90759667806605706262015-03-22T11:57:00.000+08:002016-11-02T13:24:23.790+08:00Civic Journalism Going Beyond Print: PPI holds Seminar-Workshops in GensanThrough the advent of internet and social media, the local newspapers is facing a challenge not to hesitate in using newer forms of media in reporting the news, including multimedia reporting. The print journalists are encourage to consider digital multimedia reporting as the way to go, this is a way to attract readers and survive in today’s digital age.<br />
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Ariel C. Sabellino, PPI Executive Director<br />
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So what is civic journalism? What are the essentials? How is it different from other kinds of journalism—or is it different at all? How can print publications also practice good multimedia reporting? These are among the key issues discussed during the seminar-workshop on “Civic Journalism: Going Beyond Print” -- recently conducted by the Philippine Press Institute (PPI) from March 19 to 21 at Stonewood Hotel, General Santos City, with support from Nickel Asia Corporation and Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation. About 20 reporters and editors from PPI member-newspapers in Mindanao participated in the seminar-workshop, which includes write shop, field work, and critique. Selected campus journalist also take part in the activity.<br />
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Michelle P. So, Editor-in-Chief, Sun Star Superbalita Cebu<br />
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<b>What is Civic Journalism?</b><br />
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According to <b>Michelle P. So</b> – a resource person in the seminar-workshop, “Civic journalism is reporting of a public concern using the voice of a community to bring about awareness and discussion of, and action on, that concern.” It means we report what our community cares about. We listen to what the ordinary people have to say and bring this up to the local government. It's covering the news “from the citizens up, not from the expert down.”<br />
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Ariel Sebellino, PPI Executive Director, explained that “Civic journalism is not there to compete with other types of journalism. It in fact reinforces other forms of journalism. It reinforces excellence in reporting and journalism’s role to the society.”<br />
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May Anne S. Cacdac, Editor-in-Chief Sun Star Baguio<br />
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<b>May Anne Cacdac</b>, who serves currently as PPI trustee for Luzon, provided tips and pointers on how to write the prospectus – a template on writing the story output. Likewise, Tess Bacalla provided the tips and techniques for writing online based story or the so-called “Visual Storytelling.”<br />
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Tess Bacalla - freelance journalist and writer for Vera Files<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><embed align="center" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649" width="100%" height="500" flashvars="offsite=true&lang=en-us&page_show_url=/photos/heckynomic/sets/72157651136064610/show/&page_show_back_url=/photos/heckynomic/sets/72157651136064610/&set_id=72157651136064610&jump_to=" allowFullScreen="true" ></embed></div>Insight Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596210743582267830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720891703354804692.post-46573920910031105102015-03-21T23:30:00.000+08:002016-11-02T00:57:07.878+08:00Coastal erosion takes toll on local economy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnMJefItmRlYEFzCyHBT_Jjo_5ZCFtu7QJunRpvxMCmsGOmZTPY5IHO-IvQ1Qw0LFQwLo9lzc39dvK6Mk6693kU_iHfLZbHBer14_E2vrIXQ3NORL0xYyzas1ZGOMqEmZ6nZPlz-0ILbYE/s800/tinago-1.jpg" width="100%" /></div><b><span style="font-size: 20px;">GENERAL SANTOS CITY – A phenomenal coastal erosion in Purok Tinago, Barangay Dadiangas South here had adversely affected the trading activities between this city and Saranggani, Davao Occidental.</span></b><br />
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Local authorities had recommended the closure of the port which serves as berthing place for motorized boats plying the General Santos-Saranggani Island route following the coastal erosion that posed environmental risks to residential houses and other structures within the shoreline in Purok Tinago.<br />
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Local disaster officials said the coastal erosion on February 15 had affected more than 40 families living within the danger zone along the shoreline.<br />
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At least 200 people had lost their livelihood following the closure of the port for almost a month now.<br />
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Carding Desinorio, the operations manager of the stevedoring firm at the private seaport, said the closure of the jetty had taken a toll on the livelihood of at least 100 people who worked as labourers in the port.<br />
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He claimed that the port was built by his grandparents way back in 1950s.<br />
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“Nearly 100 people became jobless since the closure of the port wherein motorized boats are no longer allowed to berth at the port area,” Desinorio said.<br />
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Barangay chair Alvin Veneracion ordered the temporary closure of the jetty after City Mayor Ronnel Rivera declared the area as “no-build zone.<br />
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Aside from the imminent danger caused by the coastal erosion to the port, it does not have the necessary permits from the Philippine Port Authority.<br />
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“What they have in their possession was the business permit for their stevedoring business but none for the operation of the port,” the barangay chair said.<br />
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Veneracion noted that the government was not even collecting taxes from the port operations. <br />
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Due to financial difficulties resulting from the closure of the port, Desinorio said many of the displaced labourers could now hardly make both ends meet.<br />
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A certain Saysay whose husband used to work in the port said that before the closure they could afford to buy nine kilos of rice and a big pack of milk every week.<br />
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“But now we could only buy two kilos of rice and a small pack of milk in a week,” she complains.<br />
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A port checker who asked not to be identified said he was earning P600 per day to supervise the unloading of copra, charcoal, corn and dried fish from Sarangani Island and the loading of rice, groceries and household accessories bound for Sarangani Island, which could be reached for 10 hours ride by sea.<br />
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<b style="font-size: 20px;">RELOCATION</b> <br />
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The city government had relocated some 38 families within the “no build-zone’ in Purok Tinago, Barangay Labangal to Promise land in Barangay Mabuhay following the erosion in the coastal area.<br />
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City disaster risk reduction and management officer Dr. Agripino Dacera Jr. said the affected families had to be relocated to avoid possible disaster brought about by the coastal erosion which created a steep cliff underneath the sea.<br />
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He said the 38 families were ordered to vacate their house within the “no-build zone” while another batch of more than 130 families whose houses were built along the shoreline in Purok Tinago will be relocated soon.<br />
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Barangay chairman Alvin Veneracion said they conducted an evaluation on the socio-economic profile of the affected families and those qualified ones were given assistance for their relocation.<br />
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The city government provides P15,000 financial assistance to each family while Gawad Kalinga, a non-governmental organization, will also shell out P15,000.<br />
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Local officials were inclined to enforce the “no-build zone area” within the areas affected by the coastal erosion amid the opposition of some affected residents to vacate their homes and be relocated in a new community which is far from their work and livelihood. <br />
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Reported by <b>Mindanao Media Services</b><br />
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Insight Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596210743582267830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720891703354804692.post-1402541101811094062015-03-07T23:30:00.000+08:002016-11-03T11:40:40.200+08:00Bloodletting in Maitum for dengue patients<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgy7DXeAMlEbaZVQ6iF3LcuJ-Rwg7L_zYED7yRsmJoD2j1JlEx11H39gVbfrjT-_d6_e6uZj4K1nBKTAbDW0y3i78BV4aYdr-l0VT3DNGBtfEUBAYm34x4LNTXYDdeCTLVqgb879KCWV54/s800/bloodletting.jpg" width="100%"/><br />
</div>MAITUM, Sarangani (March 6, 2015) - Senior Police Officer 3 Reginal Delfin of PNP Maitum relaxes while donating blood during the bloodletting program at Maitum Municipal Auditorium Wednesday, March 4. The program was spearheaded by the Municipal Risk Reduction Management Council in partnership with the Kabalikat Civicom, Municipal Health Office and Philippine National Police (PNP). This is in response to the recurring cases of dengue fever in the municipality. The program aims to help dengue patients and others who would need blood.<br />
(Joylyn Ty/MAITUM INFORMATION OFFICE)Insight Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596210743582267830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720891703354804692.post-36490472425339231232015-01-26T23:30:00.000+08:002015-04-03T10:27:10.120+08:00Duterte leaves political fate to God<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;font-size:11px;font-family:Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggD4x7_bmIDNHdRRYGJmv3op9K35z7bCaA_z09qgcdM6q6lUOYRGi4dDT5R_K0x1GgoVSfAkDzjJSHTP94I5n7dzER2pgr5hpPavQ6XGZCj3_eFfxfzaAT_FFOWB3kWc0y5TXn7hJGm21G/s640/Davao-OCIO-Duterte-for-president.JPG" width="100%"/><br />
Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. File photo <a target='_blank' href="http://www.philstar.com">philstar.com</a><br />
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Davao City Mayor Rody Duterte, egged on by an enthusiastic crowd of sectoral and student leaders in Butuan City to run for President, has declared he will leave his political destiny to God.<br />
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"I am praying and meditating that God would enlighten me and guide me in a making a decision," Duterte said, a statement considered by many as the most positive sign that he may yet yield to the call to run for President. <br />
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"I don't talk to God but I will wait for a sign from Him which would indicate that He wants me to be President," Duterte said earning a wild applause from the crowd which gathered at the Dona Ynes Convention Center in Butuan City recently.<br />
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"I will yield to God's will," Duterte said.<br />
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The forum on Federalism was the first leg in a series of meetings scheduled in key cities all over the country to advance his Federalism advocacy while at the same time "listening to the voices of the people" on the issue of the Presidency.<br />
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Admitting that the idea of the Presidency which started as a joke by close friends had "gone out of control," Duterte said he is now overwhelmed by the endless appeals from the people to consider the Presidency.<br />
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His almost 2-hour speech on Federalism and governance marked the first time that he, either by intention or omission, did not repeat his previous declaration that he was not interested to run for President.<br />
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In previous public statements, the colorful and controversial Davao City Mayor consistently brushed off suggestions on the Presidency, even threatening in jest that he would shoot those who were pushing him to consider a run for the country's highest political position in 2016.<br />
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"I came here with a vision, not ambition," he said as he rattled off what he said should be done by the next President of the country under a Federal Parliamentary form of government.<br />
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Starting off with the phrase "If I become President," Duterte said he would end the 46-year-old Communist insurgency which has claimed the lives of thousands of Filipinos and stunted the growth of the country.<br />
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"We have to sit down and talk and end this conflict. This cannot go on for another generation," he said.<br />
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Duterte also said that the Federal system of government which he proposes would be the best fall back option in case the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, which is now being discussed in the Senate, would fail to pass the Constitutional test.<br />
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"We cannot fail in the effort to address the Bangsamoro issue or else we will go back to the days of terror and violence like in the 1970s," he said.<br />
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After his forum on Federalism, Duterte met with a group of political leaders including barangay officials who also urged him to consider the Presidency.<br />
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"This is a very fruitful first leg of the Listening Tour," said former Transportation Secretary Pantaleon "Bebot" Alvarez.<br />
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The second leg of the "Listening Tour" will be in Zamboanga City on Sunday while the third leg will be in Pagadian City on Monday.<br />
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From Mindanao, the Duterte Federalism Advocacy group will move to the Visayas and then Luzon, including Palawan.Insight Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596210743582267830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720891703354804692.post-57502372429029739262015-01-25T23:30:00.001+08:002016-11-02T09:49:49.566+08:00POLITICAL HARASSMENT<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2XzOjRNUMYjReAHB76gd6Ap-RklAXSBH1flJsrHrkEWWdAZDHEheNbTN_3JyOrP5XFmPkBPGoy3fnRP19Lc2O7heFIxhzhJMYVXNLGxUwfrwkdYGUJ6enB97_6KYG3ImnAlKNhtVJ3G8W/s1600/cynthia2-748619.jpg" width="100%"/><br />
</div>Cotabato City Administrator lawyer Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi (left) describes as political harassment the filing of charges linking her to the Maguindanao massacre during a press conference held in Cotabato City last Thursday. Guiani-Sayadi was among the 50 new suspects in the massacre case including local politicians in Maguindanao. Also in photo are Mamasapano town mayor Benzar Ampatuan and former Rajah Buayan Mayor Jack Ampatuan who were also implicated in the Maguindanao massacre which claimed the lives of 58 people including 32 journalists. (Photo by JAZZTEIN JUBELAG / Mindanao Media Services)Insight Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596210743582267830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720891703354804692.post-77871107273367720462015-01-25T23:30:00.000+08:002016-11-02T15:31:57.293+08:00Gensan City Government holds transportation summit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDNm_Lsq2IlhpFsqNuHnERadQCxD25MNKZmjXqRvgfGvc4i07LST6SACM4SUpsVn3DiVOAou4CvosQJtqhsDrY3JVxkzjECagrGx1TNqfT-JmCtVx80DFPfa1EIhGmB99tTSwHgVxvSazu/s1600/Drivers,+city+official+in+transportation+summit.JPG" width="100%"/><br />
</div>GENERAL SANTOS CITY (23 January 2015) - Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) drivers got a chance to give their recommendations to City Mayor Ronnel Rivera and the rest of panelists of the first Public Transportation Summit Thursday, January 22, on how to solve the existing problems of the transport system of the city. The mayor thanked them for their suggestions and stated that what these drivers raised will be listed and will be integrated to the transportation management plan. (Gensan CPIO/ Russell Delvo)Insight Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596210743582267830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720891703354804692.post-19676524183358076642015-01-15T23:30:00.000+08:002016-11-01T10:40:32.113+08:00Barangay Bula celebrates Sto. Niño patronal festival<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;font-size:11px;font-family:Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAR5PjFY8vtLI680FASR7FYlMHkFI2xSA9-XCMEsPn8WADuN8t2Xn_MM43Q8LwHkgMIrLOi4ovFuwSSmei0J2nps84ZTOT0tWTWZ0tRvoan_cAnONSiPCRpCTq_yDDoYP2UwRWSmN-QveN/s800/gensan-02.jpg" width="100%"/><br />
The amphibian boat (center) carrying the statue of Sto. Nino heads towards the shoreline of Queen Tuna Park after the fluvial parade for the patronal festival of Barangay Bula Thursday, January 15. The Sto. Nino was then brought back to the Bula Parish Church through a foot procession. (Gensan CPIO/ Russell Delvo)<br />
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GENERAL SANTOS CITY (16 January 2015) – At least 200 fishing vessels sailed the waters of Sarangani Bay to join the fluvial procession for the Feast of Sto. Niño Thursday (January 15).<br />
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The Feast of Sto. Niño is one of the most awaited festivals here in General Santos City.<br />
It is a celebration centered in Barangay Bula as a way of giving thanks to the patron saint for the bountiful catch of fishing firms that have flourished in the city.<br />
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City Mayor Ronnel Rivera was present to show support for the festival and explained why it is a very significant event.<br />
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“Gensan is a city made and built by fishing. A huge portion of our economy is sustained and developed by our fishing industry for decades already. It is a good thing that we celebrate… and we give thanks,” Mayor Rivera said.<br />
In line with that, the SOCKSARGEN Federation of Fishing and Allied Industries has already stated that they support Mayor Rivera in strengthening the fishing industry of the city.<br />
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“We may not expect a huge rise in the industry anymore but we do not expect also a big fall. The fishing industry will remain stable for the years to come,” the mayor said.<br />
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The fluvial parade is one of the most anticipated events of the festival. It features Bula’s fishing vessels sailing from the shore of Gensan at Queen Tuna Park towards Sarangani Bay and then back while carrying the statue of Sto. Niño.<br />
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A fishing boat from the RLG Fishing Company carried the Sto Niño statue and led the fluvial parade which started at around 6:30am and came back to shore at around 8:30am.<br />
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Later the Sto. Niño was handed to an amphibian vessel owned by Domeng Congson to be transported to Barangay Bula. This part of the festival is locally known as the “Salubong”.<br />
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Devotees rushed towards the amphibian vessel as it reached the shoreline in attempt to get a flower from its decorated bow. The faithful believed that the flower will bring blessing and abundance for an entire year.<br />
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Some devotees have also brought their own Sto. Niño statues to partake in the celebration.<br />
More or less 2,000 people were present during the fluvial parade.<br />
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Aside from the parade, the Isda-Isdaan Festival is also integrated in the Patronal Feast of Barangay Bula giving more color and flavor to the activity.<br />
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It was anticipated that thousands of people from other barangays of Gensan were coming to Bula for the celebration.<br />
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The Joint Task Force Gensan and Philippine National Police deployed additional personnel in the area to beef up security throughout the duration of the festival. (Gensan CPIO/ Ian John M. Lagare)Insight Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596210743582267830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720891703354804692.post-7084775270038893312014-12-22T23:30:00.000+08:002016-11-03T09:24:55.973+08:00GenSan circumferential road nears completion<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;font-size:11px;font-family:Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3QTopusGa8fWv5r69sosRmDVZ5y4MkUZaJBtByQJq7edZ31-C737QZbJTibN91YukxM8Noqhq_CAwrDWPC46tMXjtlT-zbed2tYEJUlLc_IpB1b11JzzJPPJNH5SVC7pWVn_TbJs885L0/s1600/Silway+Bridge+to+connect+Mabuhay+and+Apopong.jpg" width="100%"/><br />
Photo by Russell Delvo / Gensan CPIO<br />
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General Santos City – The construction of the P1-billion circumferential road here will soon be completed after the city government negotiated with residents whose houses may be expropriated to make way for the project.<br />
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Arturo Valero, regional director of the National Economic and Development Authority-12 (NEDA-12), said construction of the road project recently resumed following the negotiation made by City Mayor Ronnel Rivera with some 40 families who were affected by the project.<br />
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Valero said the construction of the bridge connecting Barangays Mabuhay and Apopong that will complete the circumferential road project had been hampered in the past due to issues involving the road-right-of-way. The bridge alone was supposed to have been finished last March.<br />
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The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) sought the assistance of Rivera who held series of dialogues with the affected families.<br />
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“I had to intervene so that this project can proceed but at the same time, I should not set aside the welfare of my constituents. These negotiations will prove that we can come up with a win-win solution as long we meet halfway,” Rivera said.<br />
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The DPWH had resumed the construction of the bridge which costs P60 million.<br />
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The circumferential road, if completed, is expected to decongest traffic along the city’s major thoroughfares and provide a better connection between the city and its neighboring areas.<br />
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</div>Insight Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596210743582267830noreply@blogger.com0