Philippines benefits from new German aid protecting agriculture and food security

Germany just granted new assistance (around EUR 3 million or Php 165 million) to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The money is for a project benefitting also the Philippines: “Scaling-up Early Warning Early Action (EWEA) for agriculture and food security”.

The Embassy is pleased to inform about this new financial support in times of the global COVID-19 pandemic. It underlines that German support for the Philippines continues in times of crisis, and it shows that German aid looks beyond the immediate needs into the wider future.

Said initiative follows a new, forward-looking approach to humanitarian assistance. It supports high risk countries in Africa, Central Asia and the Philippines which are considered vulnerable to natural hazards and conflict. The project aims to protect agricultural livelihoods and food security of vulnerable households by acting before a disaster strikes. Therefore it reduces humanitarian needs, preventing the deterioration of food security and strengthening resilience.
In order to link early warning to early actions that can lessen the impact of a disaster, partner countries will be supported in their risk analysis, activation and implementation process among others.

#germanyinphl #botschaftMNL #humanitarianassistance #agriculture #FAO #EWEA

Philippines’ Samantha Lo missing ...

... at Miss Grand International 2019 welcome party in Caracas, Venezuela

BY JILLIANINA ESTEVEZ ON OCTOBER 16, 2019

Samantha Ashley Lo

The 2019 Miss Grand International held its welcome ceremony and press conference with its official candidates at TELEVEN TV Station in Caracas, Venezuela on October 15, 2019. Filipino beauty pageants were worried why Samantha Ashley Lo, 26, of the Philippines was not among the candidates who participated in the event.

Neither Miss Grand International nor Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Incorporated has released a statement about Lo’s absence. According to reports, the beauty queen from Cebu, Philippines missed her plane to Venezuela when she arrived in Paris, France where she was not allowed to stay for more than one day.

Lo reportedly had a passport issue, was sent back to the Philippines and is currently trying to get a ticket again to go to Venezuela. These claims have yet to be confirmed.

On October 2, 2019, a send-off press conference was held at the Versailles Tent of Novotel Manila Araneta City in Quezon City, Metro Manila for Lo and Bb. Pilipinas Globe 2019 Leren Mae Bautista. Representing the Philippines, Bautista and Lo will compete in Miss Globe 2019 on October 21, 2019 in Tirana, Albania and in Miss Grand International 2019 in Caracas on October 25, 2019.

On October 9, 2019, Lo took to Instagram to share a photo of herself leaving the Philippines while holding the Philippines flag. She expressed her excitement to arrive in Venezuela.

As of October 16, 2019, Lo’s pre-arrival photo is still in Miss Grand International’s Facebook page. If she makes it to the competition and wins, she will become the international beauty pageant’s first ever titleholder from the Philippines.

Lo is an English as a Second Language instructor. She was crowned Bb. Pilipinas-Grand International 2019 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on June 9, 2019.

Gawad sa Kaunlaran

Vice Governor Maricar Zamora receives Gawad sa Kaunlaran Award

 The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) awarded the “Gawad sa Kaunlaran" medal to Honorable Maria Carmen S. Zamora, MNSA last September 17, 2019, during the 11th Re-activation Anniversary of the 701st Infantry (Kagitingan) Brigade, 7th Infantry Division, Philippine Army at Mati, Davao Oriental.

The Vice-Governor was recognized for her meritorious and invaluable achievement in the pursuit of programs that helped create peaceful and conflict resilient communities in the province.

During her three terms as the District I Representative of Compostela Valley, she implemented her SMILE (Social Services, Medical Assistance, Infrastructure, Livelihood Opportunities, and Educational Programs) platform which opened opportunities for Comvalenyo’s to pursue a better life. Her pursuit of providing quality education and skills development led to the creation of the Compostela Valley State College, Educational Scholarship Grants, and TESDA Certified Employment and Skills Trainings.

The commander of the AFP Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom), Major General Felimon T. Santos Jr., pinned the medal to Vice-Governor Zamora.

More than the recognition and accolades, Vice Governor is continuously inspired to pursue her programs because of the improvements it has brought to the lives of her constituents.

The AFP’s Gawad sa Kaunlaran is the second to the highest distinction given to citizens and government officials in relation with socio-economic and other non-combat activities.

Other high-ranking military officials present were Brigadier General Henry Robinson, Assistant Division Commander of the 7th Infantry Division, 10th Infantry Division Commander Major General Jose Faustino, Jr., and 701st Brigade Commander Brigadier General Manuel Sequitin. ---

Photo Caption:  Vice Governor Maria Carmen S. Zamora, MNSA receives her Gawad Kaunlaran Award from the AFP with Major General Felimon T. Santos Jr., Brigadier General Henry Robinson, Major General Jose Faustino Jr., Brigadier General Manuel Sequitin, and Governor Nelson Dayanghirang of Davao Oriental. 

Comval commemorates the 121st Independence Day of the Philippines

COMPOSTELA VALLEY— The province of Compostela Valley celebrates the 121st Independence Day of the country today, June 12, 2019 at the provincial capitol.

This year’s theme, “Kalayaan 2019: Pagbabagong Ipinaglaban, Alay sa Masaganang Kinabukasan.”, signifies the challenges and progressions the country has gone through the years as to how it is visioned in the present as well as the observance of the country’s economic advancements and success.

The proclamation was signed by 98 delegates in 1898 at the home of General Emilio Aguinaldo in Cavite, and was authored by Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista, entitled as the Declaration of Philippine Independence.

Prior to the flag raising ceremony, a wreath-laying was spearheaded by Vice-Governor Manuel Zamora as it offers with solemnity good thoughts and conveying victory, bravery, peace and eternity for the National Flag and the country.

“There is no need for martyrdom to become heroes. Our times call a different form of it. The heroes of today are those who understand the plight of the poor, those who feel their struggles, those who have the heart to help, those who have enough compassion to enter the chaos of another,” Gov. Tyron Uy said.

After the flag raising, the provincial government officials and employees, representatives  from the national government agencies, and other guests attended  a short program at the capitol lobby.

“With gratitude to our freedom fighters and heroes of the past, let me take this opportunity to encourage each of us to be a hero. A hero who can touch the lives of others; a hero who can make a difference and be relevant to others," 1001st Infantry Brigade Commander Gilbert F Saret said. BGen Saret  is the guest speaker of the celebration. 

All government offices are closed for the day as well as the suspension of classes in all levels, with some private establishments also being closed in observance of the national holiday. (Sean Seismundo, ID Comval)

Are Filipinos Asian?

The Philippines is part of South-east Asia geographically. But many Filipinos feel a closer attachment to the West.

By Mong Palatino

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are Filipinos Asians or Pacific Islanders? Is the Philippines part of South-east Asia, Oceania or the Pacific Islands?

Officially, of course, Filipinos are categorized as Asians and the Philippines as part of South-east Asia. But describing Filipinos as Pacific Islanders isn’t necessarily wrong either. In fact, for a long time, Filipinos were known as Pacific Islanders.

The Philippines used to be called the Philippine Islands of the Pacific, and when the Americans first arrived more than a century ago, they described the Philippine Islands as ‘orphans of the Pacific.’

What would have happened if the country hadn’t been united? Luzon, the largest island in the north of the Philippines, could have become a territory of China or Taiwan, while Mindanao in the south could have become a province of Malaysia or Indonesia. The formation of a bigger nation state composed of the Philippine Islands, Taiwan and parts of Malaysia and Indonesia could have been another possibility.They might well have been referring to the geographical distance of the country from mainland Asia. Composed of more than 7000 islands, the Philippine archipelagic state was a political creation of Western colonizers. It was Spain during the 16th century that united the major islands of the Philippines—if it hadn’t occupied the islands, the Philippine nation state wouldn’t have existed.

Philippine society evolved differently from other Asian nations. For example, the Philippines (aside from Timor Leste) is the only Christian-dominated nation in Asia. The blending of Western and native cultures created a unique society that’s neither Western nor Asian.

Many Filipinos are unsure about their identity and although they believe they’re Asians, many also feel closer to the West, especially the United States. Indeed, they seem to be prouder of their Western upbringing than their Asian identity. This colonial mentality has been identified as one of the negative traits of many Filipinos.

South-east Asia is defined as a purely geographical concept in the Philippines and Filipinos often don’t appreciate nor understand the cultural and religious practices of their neighbours. They’re also unaware of Indochina politics.

The Philippines was used as a launch pad by the United States during the Vietnam War. But while panic swept the rest of the region when Cambodia and Thailand almost went to war over a border dispute, the Philippines didn’t express any sense of alarm over the situation.

To Filipinos, their place in South-east Asia is just an accident of geography. This is unfortunate, because the Philippines’ detachment from mainland South-east Asia could have been maximized to exert political leadership in the region. By not being involved with the numerous squabbles in Indochina, the Philippines could have played the role of objective arbiter in the various regional conflicts and disagreements.

But Filipinos seem to be more interested in political events in the West. Instead of ignoring their neighbours, Filipinos should embrace their connection with South-east Asia. 

Facebook in Germany

I was glad and satisfied learning just an hour ago, that Germany's antitrust watchdog restricts Facebook's data collection via other sites.

Facebook faces restrictions in Germany on its collection of data from other sites that it owns like WhatsApp. The social media giant intends to appeal, claiming the watchdog underestimated the competition it faced. Sure, I didn't expect another reaction. But, is  the social media giant abusing its market?

Fact is: the company will only be able to use data from various non-Facebook programs and apps that it owns, such as WhatsApp and Instagram, with explicit user consent. Currently, Facebook bundles together much of the information it gleans from users across its various platforms.

Allow me quoting Mr. Andreas Mundt, president of the antitrust watchdog in Germany, who said yesterday (Thursday, February 8, 2019), "In future, Facebook will no longer be allowed to force its users to agree to the practically unrestricted collection and assigning of non-Facebook data to their Facebook accounts".

Of course, the ruling, which came after a one-year investigation, does not yet have legal force and Facebook has a month to appeal the ruling, which it says it intends to do.

"The Federal Cartel Office underestimates the fierce competition we face in Germany, misinterprets our compliance with the GDPR, and threatens the mechanism European law provides for ensuring consistent data protection standards across the EU," Facebook said.

Well, while living in the Philippines,  I am with Facebook since ten years now. Several friends of mine deleted already their Facebook accounts because they worried that the tech giants are getting more and more out of control. But, aren't all of us already sitting in a glass house?

And here the thing: WhatsApp and Instagram can still collect data from their respective users; however, pooling  this information with a user's Facebook data will only be allowed if that user provides their consent. Operating with double standard?

Facebook can only collect data from third-party websites, such as interfaces that have a "like" or "share" button, with the user's permission. If consent is not given, Facebook can only collect the data to a very limited extent.

The cartel office said that the extent to which Facebook collects data without the consent of a user is "abusive."

It said Facebook could face fines of up to 10 percent of its annual global revenue, which grew by 37 percent to $55.8 billion (€49.2 billion) in 2018, if it fails to comply. Wow.

The antitrust watchdog said Facebook dominates the German market for social networks with 23 million daily and 32 million monthly users, a market share of 95 percent. It pointed out that one of its competitors, Google+, plans to discontinue its social network by April 2019. How about the Philippine market?

However, in its calculations, the cartel office did not consider Snapchat, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Xing as competitors to Facebook. It said those services "offer only a selection of social networking services." It claimed that even if they were included, Facebook, with Instagram and WhatsApp, would still dominate the market.

Anyway, you can still email at doringklaus@gmail.com or follow me in Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin or visit my www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com.

DFA given 5 days to wrap up passport probe

Rainier Allan Ronda (The Philippine Star) 

MANILA, Philippines — The National Privacy Commission (NPC) has given the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) five days to wrap up its investigation into the passport mess.

Speaking to reporters, NPC commissioner Raymund Liboro said yesterday’s initial meeting was brief but productive.

“The NPC’s investigation continues. In their own preliminary probe, the DFA said it is in control of the data. That says a lot already to assuage the public. The data in question is not controlled by any unauthorized parties. That was what today’s meeting with the DFA established. The data is under their safekeeping,” Liboro said.

Liboro added that he looked forward to next Monday’s fact-finding meeting, which will include representatives from both the DFA and Asia Productivity Organization (APO).

“The lessons we could learn from this incident would go a long way in ensuring better government practices. They would form part of the recommendations the NPC shall later issue to government offices contracting third parties,” he said.

Liboro added that the NPC was looking for ways to further protect personal data.

“The law obliges data controllers like the DFA to strictly implement contractual means to protect data when they deal with third parties and government contractors. We look forward to improving on that based on lessons we learn here,” Liboro said.

In the letter-request sent to NPC Tuesday afternoon, DFA’s data protection officer Menardo Macaraig said the department’s “preliminary inquiries on the matter indicate that there was no data breach because the APO protection unit, a government-owned and controlled corporation and recognized government printer, remain in custody and control of said data.”

Macaraig added that the data have not been shared with or accessed by an unauthorized third party, which may use it for illicit purposes.  

The DFA had requested the NPC for 10 more days to provide information on the incident.

The NPC, in a letter dated Jan. 14, invited Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. or the data protection officer of the DFA to a meeting yesterday morning.

“We went there to convey DFA’s request for a postponement. They gave us five days. The meeting will be Monday morning,” DFA office of legal affairs director Anthony Mandap told The STAR.

As this developed, Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday rejected the call of leftist lawmakers for the House of Representatives to investigate the passport incident in the DFA.

“Investigations are not the job of the House – inquiries but not investigations. And inquiries have to be in aid of legislation and in reality, what legislation can we introduce in a few months?” she told reporters.

Arroyo said she was leaving the matter to Camiguin Rep. Xavier Jesus Romualdo, who chairs the committee on good government and public accountability.

Meanwhile, the recruitment and migration sectors lauded the DFA order removing the requirement of birth certificate for passport renewal.

According to Emmanuel Geslani, who has served overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) for 35 years, they do not bring original copies of their birth certificate.

Geslani agreed with Locsin that requiring birth certificates for passport renewal was an additional burden, adding that the old passport is sufficient evidence of a person’s citizenship.

The Consular Affairs Office recently started issuing 10-year-validity passports but there are thousands of OFWs who still hold five-year-validity passports. – With Pia Lee-Brago, Jess Diaz, Rudy Santos

Cinematheque Centre in Nabunturan now open

Finally, Comvalenyo moviegoers can now enjoy watching films and documentaries as Cinematheque Centre Nabunturan formally opens its doors to the public on December 10, 2018.

Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) Chair and CEO, Liza Diño and Nabunturan Mayor Hon. Chelita Amatong spearheaded the ceremonial unveiling of the plaque, blessing of the Cinematheque Centre and ribbon cutting.

Inspired by the community of filmmakers in Nabunturan, Diño said that working together to put up a cinema in the municipality is the most natural thing to do.

“I was really encouraged when I saw the outdoor cinema during the Nabifilmex, here, in Nabunturan by the Municipal Hall. So, parang what if ngayon palang talagang nakikita na natin nagsasama sama ang lahat para ma experience, ma appreciate ang mga cinema na walang physical structure. Pano pa kaya kung magkaroon na?” Diño added.

The opening of the cinematheque also gives the audience more opportunities to watch independent and low-budget films that are not shown in bigger cinemas. As well as, giving the filmmakers another avenue to showcase their works.

The cinematheque is a joint project of the FDCP and local government unit of Nabunturan, with the purpose of bringing films and documentaries that are relevant, educational and enriching. This aims to make the viewing public appreciate and be involved in the promotion of arts and culture.

“This cinematheque center supports all the filmmakers in town. It gives an avenue to showcase their films and being able to let the people appreciate what they could offer in the field of filmmaking,” Mayor Amatong said.

She also assured the full support of the local government to all filmmaking endeavors to the coming years ahead. (Sheldane Mahinay // ID Comval)

EU awards 7 contracts providing clean energy to 40,000 Philippine households

(philstar.com)

MANILA, Philippines — The European Union signed Thursday seven new contracts with civil society groups and other organizations for the implementation of projects helping provide clean energy to 40,000 households in the Philippines.

In a press statement, the EU said the projects will “contribute to electrify remote places and provide income-generating activities to the beneficiary communities.”

The EU’s contribution to these projects amounts to €21 million, which was drawn from the bloc’s Access to Sustainable Energy Programme, or ASEP, that aims to support the electrification of 100,000 households in the Philippines.

EU Ambassador to the Philippines Franz Jessen said ASEP, which will last until 2021, will increase the share of renewables in the country’s energy mix and, in turn, expand access to clean electricity by remote populations.

“These projects will contribute to the implementation of the Department of Energy's objective to reach 100 percent of electrification in 2020 in the country,” the EU said.

The seven projects awarded are:

Strengthening Off-grid Lighting with Appropriate Renewable Energy Solutions (SOLARES): €5 million grant to MAHINTANA - Solar Home Systems (SHS) coupled with livelihood activities will be provided to 5,000 households of poor areas of North Cotabato, Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Maguindanao.

Improving the Lives of People in Off-Grid Communities in Mindanao through the Provision of Sustainable Energy: €4.5 million grant to YAMOG – A total of 5,000 households are targeted in North and South Cohabit as well as in Davao Oriental. 3,800 households will be provided Solar Home Systems while 1,200 will gain access to energy through pico-hydropower.

SolarBnB Microhotel & Island Livelihood Energizer Platform (SMILE): €3.9 million grant to KABANG KALIKASAN (WWF) – This action brings 24-hour energy access to 4 poor, remote island communities by integrating proven components of successful electrification and livelihood projects into a comprehensive small island electrification model while serving growing demand for eco-tourism & adventure travel. Local stakeholders include island communities, EC’s Siargao Electric Cooperative (SIARELCO) and Dinagat Electric Cooperative (DIELCO), the Dinagat and Siargao Tourism Councils, and the Municipality of Carmen.

Renewable energy technology for seaweed value added in Tawi-Tawi (RETS): €4.2 million grant to UNIDO – This action aims to increase electricity access in the island of Tawi-Tawi, particularly in seaweed producing municipalities; improvement of the delivery of community services such as health and nutrition, education, sanitation through the availability of electricity services in off-grid and rural seaweed farming communities and increase the value added of seaweed farming its income generation potential.

Renewable Energy Access for off-grid Communities and Households (REACH): €3.7 million grant to CLOVEK (PEOPLE IN NEED) -  The action aims to enhance social welfare, disaster-resilience and economic growth of vulnerable off-grid communities in remote areas of Northern Samar through innovative, scalable, and sustainable renewable energy technologies and systems.

Renewable Energy for Livelihood and Youth (RELY): €2.2 million grant to SEQUA - The action promotes the use of renewable energy to improve livelihoods and climate resilience in off-grid, poor and remote communities in the Philippines, specifically in Region VII and IV-B.

Clean Energy Living Laboratories (CELLs): The development of centres of excellence on energy access, renewable energy, and energy efficiency €3.8 million grant to Ateneo de Manila University - A Centre of Excellence, based in a University with regional antennas in Davao and Cebu, will be the national reference for renewable energy and correspondent of Energy4ALL initiative.

Deadly smog returns

My column in Mindanao Daily

I am still in touch with one of my previous German language students, an Indian doctor, who turned back to India before starting his work as a doctor in my home country Germany. He sent me an email:

Residents awoke  to find the city blanketed in a toxic fog! A really shocking news.

Of course, we all know that air pollution in the Indian capital has risen to hazardous levels after firecrackers were set off to celebrate Diwali despite a court ban. The Supreme Court had restricted the time frame for setting off firecrackers to only two hours in the night, but the order was openly flouted.

Diwali, the most important Hindu festival in north India, celebrates the victory of good over evil.

The levels of tiny particulate matter (known as PM 2.5) that enter deep into the lungs reached as high as 999 microgramms per cubic meter in some areas of the capital on today's morning, according to reports.

The US embassy tweeted that the air quality measure in Delhi had soared to 526, putting the pollution in the "severe" category and posing a serious health risk to residents.

Last month, the Supreme Court said it wanted to test if banning fireworks would make a difference to Delhi's air quality, ranked among the worst in the world. But despite the restrictions and the two-hour deadline on the night of the festival, residents of Delhi continued to burn firecrackers until late.

People took to social media to express their frustration over residents flouting court orders with impunity.

India is one example. Maybe the worst. I don't know. How about the Philippines? How about the whole world? Fire crackers or not? In my opinion: no fire crackers any more. Here and where ever? Or is it already too late to save our climate and our surroundings? Peak Delhi is people bursting crackers while wearing pollution masks. Wow. I have no words.

Grimly predictable. And I can still hear fireworks going off now, after midnight, in clear contravention of the Supreme Court ban. Said another Indian friend of mine ... .

The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), an emergency government initiative to try and improve conditions, has also launched around Delhi. It bans activities like rubbish burning to try and improve air quality.

Philippines and China set to sign P175 billion railway loan deal

Pia Lee-Brago (The Philippine Star) 

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to sign this month the P175-billion Philippine National Railways (PNR) South Railways project, a 639-kilometer standard gauge railway line between Manila and Bicol.

The project, a component of the PNR Luzon System program, is among the big-ticket infrastructure projects to be funded under an Official Development Assistance (ODA) agreement, a Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) official who asked not to be identified said yesterday.

The official said Xi’s visit will take place after the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit from Nov. 12 to 18 in Papua New Guinea.

Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, the project’s original proponent, said the modern railway project would be a major backbone of economic development in Southern Tagalog and Bicol with spillover benefits to other regions of the country.

“The PNR South Railways project, which we have tediously designed as a key that will unlock the economic potentials of the vast Southern Tagalog and Bicol areas, is now finally coming to realization,"  Salceda said.

Once completed, the project will enhance the connectivity between major airports and seaports in Southern Tagalog and the Bicol regions and as well as serve untapped areas along the route, he said.

The PNR South Railway segment is expected to cut Manila-Legazpi travel down to less than five hours. It runs from Manila to Matnog in Sorsogon with nine major stations – Manila, Los Baños, Batangas City, Lucena, Gumaca, Naga City, Legazpi City, Sorsogon City and Matnog.

Its construction is set to start in the second quarter of 2019 and will be partially operational by the second quarter of 2022.

The DFA said the project forms part of the massive “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program of the Duterte administration. 

German Day of Unity

Department of Tourism warns tourists against bogus travel agents

DOT warns tourists against bogus travel agents

Enlarge Photo

By Bing J. Jaleco 

MANILA, Philippines - DOT Secretary Wanda Teo said hundreds of thousands of Filipino tourists travel domestically during the summer period. 

With the summer season officially on in the Philippines, the Department of Tourism (DOT) reminded the public against bogus travel agencies, which usually offer “too-good-to-be-true” tour packages online. 

DOT Secretary Wanda Teo said hundreds of thousands of Filipino tourists travel domestically during the summer period. 

Based on DOT statistics, at least seven million Filipinos travel around the country between April and May, with Cebu as the top destination for locals. 

With this, Teo said, the public must be ‘WISE’ in their travel plans, an acronym for “Work out your travel plans; Identify tour and travel agencies; See tourism quality seal; and Engage accredited service providers only.” 

The DOT launched the ‘WISE’ campaign last year to help locals avoid being scammed by fake travel agencies that are prevalent on social media. 

“We are in close coordination with the DOT regional offices to make sure that the list of accredited establishment and services are updated and posted in strategic locations, such as airports, terminals, and ports for easy reference,” Teo said. 

She advised the public to verify the legitimacy of travel and tour companies by calling DOT regional offices, or by visiting DOT’s database online at www.accreditationonline.tourism.gov.ph. 

Teo said travellers can also judge the authenticity of the travel agency by checking the tourism quality seal displayed at their offices, websites, and social media accounts. 

She warned DOT-accredited travel agencies found to be involved in illegal activities would be stripped of their accreditation

A boost in Social Security for Overseas Workers

After the Social Security Agreement between the Philippines and Germany had been signed during the visit of President Aquino III to Germany in 2014, the exchange of the instruments of ratification took place today, 23 March 2018, in Manila. The respective governments were represented by German Ambassador to the Philippines Dr. Gordon Kricke and DFA Undersecretary for Policy Enrique A. Manalo.

The “Agreement between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic of the Philippines on Social Security” coordinates the respective security systems especially in the case of employees being deployed in the country of the contracting state.

In other words, qualified Filipino and German employees, who have worked in the Philippines and in Germany, will be able to combine their contributions in both countries in order to benefit from both countries’ social security systems.

Furthermore, as long as the deployment is less than 48 months, the employees have the right to stay in their original system to simplify the process.

This agreement will reinforce bilateral economic ties between the Philippines and Germany and thus create new job opportunities in each country. It shall enter into force beginning 1 June 2018.

Follow this link to see a copy of the agreement (the text in both German and English languages begins at page 419): http://www.bgbl.de/xaver/bgbl/start.xav…

Plastic patch in Pacific Ocean is growing rapidly

By Helen Briggs

BBC News

• 22 March 2018
 
• 161comments

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Image copyrightTHE OCEAN CLEANUP

Image captionDiscarded fishing nets were part of the haul

A collection of plastic afloat in the Pacific Ocean is growing rapidly, according to a new scientific estimate.

Predictions suggest a build-up of about 80,000 tonnes of plastic in the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch" between California and Hawaii.

This figure is up to sixteen times higher than previously reported, say international researchers.

One trawl in the centre of the patch had the highest concentration of plastic ever recorded.

"Plastic concentration is increasing - I think the situation is getting worse," said Laurent Lebreton of The Ocean Cleanup Foundation in Delft, Netherlands, which led the study.

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"This really highlights the urgency to take action in stopping the in-flow of plastic into the ocean and also taking measures to clean up the existing mess."

Waste accumulates in five ocean areas, the largest being the patch located between Hawaii and California.

• Plastic particles found in bottled water
• 'Shame and anger' at plastic pollution
• Earth is becoming 'Planet Plastic'

Image copyrightOCEAN CLEANUP FOUNDATION

Image captionSome of the plastic collected

The researchers used boats and planes to map this area of the North Pacific, where rotating currents and winds cause marine debris, including plastic, seaweed and plankton, to converge.

The three-year mapping effort showed that plastic pollution is "increasing exponentially and at a faster rate than in the surrounding water", said the international team.

Microplastics accounted for 8% of the total mass of plastic afloat within an area of 1.6 million square km.

Of the estimated 1.8 trillions bits of plastic, some were larger than microplastics, including fishing nets, toys, and even a toilet seat.

Erik van Sebille of Utrecht University in the Netherlands, who is not connected with the study, said the amount of plastic discovered was "staggering".

"While their estimates come with large uncertainty ranges, they do report a staggering amount of plastic," he said.

"And they also discovered that the Garbage Patch is moving around much more than anyone expected."

Image copyrightOCEAN CLEANUP FOUNDATION

Image captionModelled mass concentration of plastic in the area

The use of aerial surveys as well as boats could partly explain why the new estimates are higher than in the past.

However, the differences could also be down to increasing levels of plastic pollution in the time since the previous studies were carried out.

Plastic washed out to sea following the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami could account for as much as 20% of plastic accumulating in recent years, the research, published in Scientific Reports, suggests.

What the study found

• Plastics made up 99.9% of all debris in this part of the ocean

• At least 46% of plastic consisted of fishing nets, and over three quarters of the plastic was debris larger than 5cm, including hard plastics, plastic sheets and film

• Although most large items had broken down into fragments, the researchers were able to identify a small number of objects, including containers, bottles, lids, packaging straps, ropes, and fishing nets

• Fifty items in the sample had a readable production date: one from 1977, seven from the 1980s, 17 from the 1990s, 24 from the 2000s and one from 2010

• Only certain types of debris that were thick enough to float stayed and accumulated in this zone, such as the common plastics polyethylene and polypropylene, which are used in packaging.

Source: Scientific Reports

Every year, millions of tonnes of plastic enter the ocean. Some drifts into large systems of circulating ocean currents, known as gyres. Once trapped in a gyre, the plastic will break down into microplastics, which may be ingested by sea life.

The message of the study is clear, said Laurent Lebreton.

"It goes back to how we use plastic," he said.

"We're not going to get away from plastic - in my opinion it's very useful, in medicine, transportation and construction, but I think we must divert the way we use plastic, particularly in terms of single-use plastic and those objects that have a very short service lifespan."