Jack Ma tests internet in the Philippines: Not good!

By Ian Nicolas Cigaral (philstar.com) 

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In this 2015 photo, Jack Ma participates at a United Nations climate change event. UN photo/CC

MANILA, Philippines — Chinese tech magnate Jack Ma tried to test the Philippines' internet speed upon his arrival here, and he was not happy about the result.

Ma made his assessment during his lecture at the De La Salle University on Wednesday, which was also attended by executives of the Philippines' telecoms duopoly—PLDT, Inc. and Globe Telecom, Inc.

"I arrived late last night and I tried to test the speed of Philippine [internet], it's not good," Ma said, drawing cheers from his audience.

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Last May, cloud service provider and content delivery network Akamai Intelligent Platform reported that the Philippines has the slowest and most intermittent internet connection speed in the world.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier threatened both PLDT and Globe with new competition from China if their services do not improve.

Last year, these two firms together agreed to buy conglomerate San Miguel Corp. out of the sector for $1.5 billion, pledging to invest heavily to boost internet service. The acquisition was the country's biggest corporate transaction in nearly three years.

Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1

The Court of Appeals, in a decision dated October 18, ordered the Philippine Competition Commission to permanently stop its review of the deal and recognize its validity.

Opportunities

Despite the bad internet service in the country, Ma said he sees this as an opportunity for concerned parties to improve Manila's internet connectivity.

He also said it would be "unfair" to blame "anybody" for the country's poor internet connection as recalled starting his e-commerce business at a time when China's internet speed was "much worse" than the Philippines'.

"But this is the potential, this is the opportunity and I encourage your government, entrepreneurs, everybody that we work together to improve the speed and coverage of the internet," the Chinese billionaire said.

"Opportunities exist in the areas most people complain," he added.

"We have to make sure that everybody is connected."

Automation against corruption

Still on the topic of technology, Ma also urged the Philippines to promote cashless transactions to eradicate corruption.

"We should make the Philippines a cashless society. When you have cashless society, [there is] no corruption. A lot easier," he said.

"So Philippines, I think you have the opportunity to make the world's best fintech (financial technology) because you have so many mobile phones. You have more than 7,000 islands. It's impossible for banks to have offices in 7,000 [islands] covering everywhere. But mobile phones [can] cover everywhere," he added.

According to international magazine Forbes, Ma is back on top as Asia's richest businessman as he continued to grow the world's largest e-commerce businesses, Alibaba Group. His real-time net worth is at $38.3 billion.

He last visited the country in November 2015 to speak before the business leaders at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation CEO Summit. Ma was among the speakers along with former US President Barack Obama.

The killer number one

THU, OCTOBER 26, 2017 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINIONKlaus Doring

The report is just on my desk. Maybe also on yours. I didn’t get surprised anymore. Maybe you too!

Pollution kills more people each year than wars, disasters and hunger, also causing huge economic damage, a study says. Almost half the total deaths occur in just two countries.

Environmental pollution is killing more people every year than smoking, hunger or natural disasters, according to a major study released in The Lancet medical journal last  Thursday. One in every six premature deaths worldwide in 2015, could be attributed to diseases caused by toxins in air or water, the study says.

Of the 9 million people killed prematurely by pollution, air pollution was the main cause of deaths, responsible for 6.5 million of the fatalities, followed by water pollution, which killed 1.8 million.

Meanwhile air pollution is also the ‘top health hazard in Europe’. The estimate of 9 million pre-mature deaths, considered conservative by the authors, is one and a half times higher than the number of people killed by smoking, and three times the death toll from AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined. It is also 15 times the number of people killed in war or other forms of violence.

Ninety-two percent of pollution-related deaths occurred in low- or middle-income developing countries, with India topping the list at 2.5 million, followed by China at 1.8 million.

Economic costs reach no limit in the polluted sky. The report also attributed massive costs to pollution-related death, sickness and welfare, estimating the costs at some $4.6 trillion (€3.89 trillion) in annual losses — or about 6.2 percent of the global economy.

“What people don’t realize is that pollution does damage to economies. People who are sick or dead cannot contribute to the economy. They need to be looked after,” said one of the study’s authors, Richard Fuller, who is head of the global pollution watchdog Pure Earth.

“There is this myth that finance ministers still live by: that you have to let industry pollute or else you won’t develop. It just isn’t true,” he said. And it’s so very true!

According to the study, the financial burden also hits poorer countries hardest, with low-income countries paying 8.3 percent of their GNP to tackle the harm caused by pollution, as compared with 4.5 percent in richer countries.

The Lancet editors Pamela Das and Richard Horton said the report came at a “worrisome time, when the US government’s Environmental Protection Agency, headed by Scott Pruitt, is undermining established environmental regulations.”

Pruitt announced this month that the US, a major producer of air pollution and greenhouse gases, would be pulling out of former President Barack Obama’s Clean Power Plan. The plan, which aimed to cut carbon dioxide emissions from electricity production, was expected by the EPA to also reduce smog and soot in the air by 25 percent and thus avoid thousands of premature deaths through asthma and other lung conditions.

Das and Horton said the latest findings should serve as a “call to action.” “Pollution is a winnable battle … Current and future generations deserve a pollution-free world,” they said.

Sure, we all hear and read daily calls to action. But really happened? No deeds follow. Just empty words and statements… . Quo vadis Mother Earth?

Five months battle with IS in Philippines City ends

  

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CLARK, Philippines - A five-month battle against Islamic State supporters in the southern Philippines that claimed more than 1,100 lives has ended following a final battle inside a mosque, defence chiefs said on Monday.

The conclusion of the conflict ended immediate fears that IS would establish a Southeast Asian base in the southern city of Marawi. But concerns remained about its longer-term intentions and capabilities for the region.

"We now announce the termination of all combat operations in Marawi," Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told reporters on the sidelines of a regional security meeting in Clark, a northern Philippine city . "There are no more militants inside Marawi city ."

Hundreds of local and foreign gunmen who had pledged allegiance to IS rampaged through Marawi, the principal Islamic city in the mainly Catholic Philippines, on May 23. They then took over parts of the cityusing civilians as human shields.

An ensuing US-backed military campaign claimed the lives of at least 920 militants, 165 soldiers and 47 civilians, according to the military.

More than 400,000 residents were displaced as near-daily air strikes and intense ground combat left large parts of the city in ruins.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte travelled to Marawi on Tuesday last week and declared the city had been "liberated", a day after the Southeast Asian leader for IS, a Filipino militant named Isnilon Hapilon, was shot dead there.

However the continued fighting in subsequent days raised questions over whether the city was indeed free of militants.

"The presence of the Maute-ISIS was confined to two buildings: one of them a mosque," armed forces chief General Eduardo Ano told reporters on Monday as he explained the situation in Marawi following Duterte's liberation proclamation.

"That is where the last fighting occurred and that is the place where we rescued (an) additional 20 hostages. "In that fighting, we gave the chance for these militants and terrorists to surrender. But they fought to the last breath so we had no choice."

The bodies of 42 militants were recovered after the final battle , including two women and five foreigners, according to Ano, who spoke at the same briefing as Lorenzana in Clark.

Hapilon, who was on the US government's list of most wanted terrorists, was killed along with one of group's other leaders, Omarkhayam Maute, according to the military.

The militants had been able to defy the relentless bombing raids that destroyed entire neighbourhoods by sheltering in basements and travelling through tunnels, according to the military.

The military had also said its opponents hid inside mosques, and that soldiers had been ordered not to bomb or fire artillery at such buildings.

The Philippines' Muslim minority regards the southern Philippines as its ancestral homeland.

Muslim rebels have been battling in the south since the 1970s for independence or autonomy, with that conflict claiming at least 120,000 lives.

The nation's biggest Muslim rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, is in talks with the government to end the rebellion, and its leaders regularly denounce IS.

But there are more extreme groups with no interest in peace, some of which were originally part of the MILF. Hapilon and Maute led small armed groups that declared their allegiance to IS in recent years, and they formed an alliance aimed at taking over Marawi and establishing a regional caliphate for the Middle East-based jihadists.

Duterte imposed martial law across the southern third of the Philippines immediately after the Marawi fighting erupted, saying it was needed to contain IS's influence spreading throughout the region.

When asked on Monday whether marital law would be lifted, Lorenzana said a decision had not yet been made.

US Defence Secretary James Mattis on Monday praised the Philippines for its success.

"One of the first things I'm going to do when I get there is commend the Philippine military for liberating Marawi from the terrorists," Mattis told reporters on board a flight to the Philippines to attend the security meeting in Clark.

Mattis praises Philippines for IS battle

US Defence Secretary James Mattis on Monday praised the Philippines for its successes in battling Islamic State supporters, as he began an Asian trip aimed at reaffirming American support for regional allies.

Mattis echoed Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's statement last week that Filipino forces had "liberated" the southern city of Marawi, after five months of bitter urban fighting that had claimed more than 1,000 lives, even though battles have continued.

"One of the first things I'm going to do when I get there is commend the Philippine military for liberating Marawi from the terrorists," Mattis told reporters on the flight to the Philippines, according to an official transcript.

"It was a very tough fight as you know in southern Mindanao (the local region). And I think the Philippine military sends a very strong message to the terrorists."

Gunmen who had pledged allegiance to IS occupied parts of Marawi, the Islamic capital of the mainly Catholic Philippines, on May 23 in what Duterte said was a bid to establish a Southeast Asian caliphate there.

Hundreds of insurgents withstood a US-backed military campaign, including near daily air strikes and artillery fire, that displaced more than 400,000 people and left large parts of Marawi in ruins.

Duterte last week travelled to Marawi to declare it had been "liberated", a day after the Southeast Asian leader for IS, Isnilon Hapilon, was shot dead there.

However deadly fighting has continued, with the military reporting dozens of militants are still resisting in a small pocket of the city .

Mattis flew to the Philippines to attend a meeting hosted by Southeast Asian defence ministers at the former American military base of Clark, two hours' drive north of Manila.

The Philippines is a former American colony and the two nations are bound by a mutual defence treaty.

But relations have soured under Duterte as he has sought to build closer ties with China and Russia.

Defence ministers from Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Russia are also scheduled to attend the two-day Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) event.

Mattis' Asia trip, which will also take him to Thailand and South Korea, comes ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit to Asia next month.

Some American allies in the region have become wary of Trump's interest in Asia.

Mattis sought to reassure allies. "The US remains unambiguously committed to supporting ASEAN," Mattis said.

Comval remains peaceful and normal

PNP, PA: Comval remains "peaceful, normal"

By Fe F Maestre

 Nabunturan, Compostela Valley Province--- Comval Provincial Police Office (CVPPO) headed by P/SSupt Marvin Manuel Pepino bared Compostela Valley "remains relatively peaceful and normal despite the proclamation of Martial Law in Mindanao with crime situation in the area of responsibility manageable."   

The updates, along with the reports from other law enforcement agencies,  were given during the quarterly meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) chaired by Gov. Jayvee Tyron L. Uy on October 24, 2017 at the provincial capitol.

Between July-September 2017, PSupt Jay Dema-ala reported a 44.25% crime solution efficiency (CSE) which is the percentage of solved cases out of the total number of crime incidents handled by the law enforcement agencies.  The same record shows that there is a significant decrease in the crime volume of 226 compared to the 334 crimes committed on the same period last year.

The crime statistics further showed a decline in the average monthly crime rate (AMCR) of covering the same period which now stood at 9.89% from 14.47% in 2016.

Further, the CVPPO also bared efforts on its illegal drugs operations. Covering the period of January-October 23, 2017, the CVPPO conducted a total of 154 operations with 170 individuals arrested. Of these operations, a total of 28.63 grams of Shabu and 188.3 grams of Marijuana were confiscated. 

Demaala, however added that the next updates will be reported by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). This follows after a memorandum was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on October 10, 2017 tasking the PDEA “as sole agency” to lead the war on drugs, specifically on the conduct of anti-illegal drugs campaign and operations.

“Of course, this will not cover those ‘in flagrante delicto’ or those caught in the very act of committing a misdeed,” he added.

Meanwhile, Col. Erwin Bernard Neri, the  new Commander of the 1001st Brigade based in Maco, Compostela Valley, assured the council of their continued peace-keeping efforts as he also expressed his gratitude for the support of everyone.

"I would like to  assure the members of this council  that the Armed Forces of the Philippines, through the Philippine Army, is doing its best to maintain peace and security...there are still some challenges...The security condition at this point of time is very manageable but again we still need your cooperation, your involvement, the cooperation of all other agencies just to secure the province against all forms of threat particularly the armed groups of CPP-NPA and the local terrorist groups," Neri said.

Gov. Uy, who recently delivered his 1st State of the Province Address last October 18, acknowledged the concept of peace as "elusive but possible through our collective efforts."

Stating the province's accomplishments in terms of peacekeeping efforts, he also recognized the importance of strong collaboration among different agencies and sectors.

"The multisectoral coordination among our people is the first step that has opened doors for sincere dialogues, strong collaboration, understanding and more progressive ways to involve the public in the deliberative efforts of the government especially in Peace and Order Programs," the governor said. (Fe F Maestre/ Info Division, Comval)

Photo captions:

1. (sopa)

Comval Governor Jayvee Tyron L. Uy together with the heads of the national agencies, Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police during the "1st State of the Province Address (SOPA)" on October 18, 2017 at the SP Session Hall, Provincial Capitol.(Photo by m. lasaca/PS Comval)

2. (PPOC)

The conduct of quarterly meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) chaired by Gov. Jayvee Tyron L. Uy on October 24, 2017 at the social hall, provincial capitol, Cabidianan, Nabunturan, Comval. (Photo by m. lasaca/PS Comval)

3. (PMCC) 

Comval Governor Jayvee Tyron L. Uy attended the Program Monitoring Coordination Center (PMCC) meeting held on October 23, 2017 at DENR Office-XI, Davao City.(Photo by G. Getubig, Info-Division Comval)

Lessons from history: Towards Democracy

German Embassy Manila shared UP Deutscher Verein's album.

Yesterday at 9:00am · 

Last October 12, Mr. Thorsten Gottfried, First Secretary for Culture of the German Embassy Manila, presented at the Alternative Classroom Learning Experience (ACLE) event organized by the UP Deutscher Verein. Mr. Gottfried talked about the eventful "Fall of the Berlin Wall" which ultimately changed the fate of the German nation towards a country of where values of democracy, freedom and human rights are strongly held.

Presenting on the Philippine experience of the 1986 EDSA Revolution was Prof. Josephine Dionisio of the UP Department of Sociology. Both events marked historical turning points in Germany and the Philippines respectively.

UP Deutscher Verein added 26 new photos to the album: ACLE 2017: Fall der Diktatur — at University of the Philippines.

October 14 at 7:35pm · 

Am 12. Oktober 2017 haben wir einen ACLE über den Fall der Berliner Mauer und die 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution veranstaltet. Herr Thorsten Gottfried (First Secretary for Cultural Affairs) der deutschen Botschaft und Frau Prof. Josephine Dionisio von dem UPD Sociology Department halten ihre Vorträge über die zwei unvergesslichen historischen Ereignisse. Mit der Hilfe von Herrn Prof.Danilo Manarpaac als Moderator hatten die TeilnehmerInnen und unsere Gäste eine erhellende und eingehende Diskussion über die Gemeinsamkeiten und Unterschiede der zwei Geschehen.

Wir möchten noch mal alle TeilnehmerInnen und Gäste für einen erfolgreichen ACLE herzlich bedanken.

Bis nächstes Mal!

—

Last Thursday, 12 October, UPDV held an ACLE about the Fall of the Berlin Wall and the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution. Herr Thorsten Gottfried, First Secretary for Cultural Affairs of the German Embassy, and Prof. Josephine Dionisio of the UP Department of Sociology talked about the two unforgettable historical events. With the help of our moderator, Herr Danilo Manarpaac, the attendees and the guests had an enlightening and interesting discussion about the similarities and differences of the two events.

Once again, we would like to thank all the participants and guests for making our ACLE a massive success.

'Til next time!

Germany Legacy in Davao City (IV)

Saint Arnold Jannsen, founder of the religious SVD congregation

By: Antonio V. Figueroa

In recent times, German legacy has extended to Education with the opening of an institute offering German language (among others) at a local state-funded industry.

In trade, Germany was one of the export markets of Davao logs during the logging boom in the 1950's. These raw materials were returned to the country s finished products.

In recent years, abaca, then one of the region's global products, has found its niche in some of German-made automobiles and upholsteries.

Born on September 20, 1891, in Hessen, Germany, Captain Henry (Heinrich) Gilsheuser (spelled popularly, though erroneously, as Gilhouser in books and newspaper accounts) was educated in the public schools of Germany and New York City. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1898 and served in the Spanish-American War. On March 9, 1903, he was appointed third lieutenant in the PC, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel.

He was a district secretary of Cotabato and after reappointed to the same post. He was also governor of the province of Lanao twice (1910-12, 1915-17) where he left a legacy of civil and industrial development before retiring. In 1910, Gen. John J. Pershing, commander of the military and governor of the Department for Mindanao and Sulu, appointed him governor for Davao City (Jan.1, 1910 - Jan. 31, 1912).

Gilsheuser's qualities were recognized by Governor-General Francis Burton Harrison, the American colonial administrator in the country (October 1913 - February 1921), who appointed him chief lieutenant "in the work of civilization and organized government." The recognition was largely inspired by the achievements he accomplished as a civil service official.

In his official functions, Gilsheuser was ably assisted by district secretary Robert A. Gillmore, a first lieutenant in the Philippine Scout who joined the civil service on May 17, 1910; and district governors George C. Charlton, a captain the Philippine Scout, who was appointed on June 6, 1910, and Levi E. Case, a PC captain, who was appointed January 12, 1903.

Through the decades since the Philippines and Germany signed an agreement of cooperation on April 25, 1955, German assistance to the Filipinos, including relief and disaster assistance, has been in the millions of deutschmarks (DM), the then German currency.

Historically, a year before Davao was conquered by Basque judge Don Jose Oyanguren y Cruz, the first German consular office was established in Manila in 1849.

(To be continued!)

Philippines and European Union 'compromise language' on grants

By Genalyn D. Kabiling

The European Union (EU) is reportedly planning to give another development aid worth 70 million euros to the Philippines despite the recent tirade by President Duterte.

Former Senator Edgardo Angara, currently President Duterte’s special envoy to the EU, said this would be on top of the 250 million euros recently extended by the  EU for peace and development efforts in Mindanao.

Former Senator Edgardo Angara

“I think they will give us an additional 70 million euros,” Angara told reporters at the sidelines of a regional forum in Pasay City. “I think for Mindanao pa rin,” he added.

Following the President’s complaint against foreign aid that comes with conditions, Angara said the Philippines and EU have already reached a “compromise language” on the issue of grants and other development aid.

“We agreed on a formula that the project to be funded by their grant will be our choice through NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority). If they want to revoke or cancel it, it will only be upon mutual consultation. That’s acceptable to us,” he said.

“Because the President was right, why would you give aid that has conditionality,” he added.

Prior to the new arrangement, Angara said the EU had the authority to cancel the aid if “we are violating labor rights, environmental rights and human rights.”

“Now before they do that, we will consult with each other. That’s democratic,” he said.

Angara claimed that reports that the government was rejecting EU aid were already “stale news” following the new arrangement negotiated by the two parties.

“Let’s not revive the warfare. That’s over. That’s stale news,” he said.

The President recently said he was not inclined to accept foreign development aid that comes with conditions that could harm the country’s sovereignty.

In his tirade against the European Union for allegedly meddling with local affairs, the President said the country may be poor but could survive without foreign assistance.

“Kaya ganun na lang ang tingin ko diyan sa EU. Kaya ko ‘yan sila minumura kasi they do not know how to respect sovereignty [That’s why I look the EU that way. That’s why I am cursing them because they do not know how to respect sovereignty],” he said.

“Kailangan natin aid pero kung ganun lang naman, tuturan ka kung paano gawin tapos ‘yung they begin to sukit-sukit — ‘yung try to examine the papers, ‘yung pedantry [We need aid but if that’s the way it’s given, they will teach you how to spend it, they try to examine the papers, the pedantry],” he added.

He said the country cannot be “forever depending on aid.” “That’s very stupid of some public officials to talk of aid as if it is a matter of survival of our country if we do not accept it,” he added.

Damp more rain in the Philippines

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 20) — Rains still prevail over the Visayas and parts of Luzon on Friday as typhoon Paolo and a low pressure area (LPA) continue to hover over Philippine territory.

In its 11 a.m. advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said moderate to occasionally heavy rains will prevail over the Visayas, Mimaropa, and Bicol in Luzon.

Residents in these areas are warned against possible flash floods and landslides.

Cebu and Bohol are experiencing light to moderate rains which may continue until the afternoon, PAGASA said at 11 a.m.

An orange rainfall warning is raised over Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Samar and Biliran. This warns residents of flooding and landslides.

PAGASA also said sea travel will be risky off the coasts of Northern Luzon, Palawan, eastern seaboard of Central and Southern Luzon, western and eastern seaboards of the Visayas, and western, northern and eastern seaboards of Mindanao.

The inclement weather is caused by two weather disturbances affecting the country: Typhoon Paolo, which was spotted 860 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes, and an LPA 105 km south of Occidental Mindoro.

Paolo has slightly accelerated Thursday morning. It is now moving at 16 kph, and is expected to leave Philippine territory by Sunday morning

It has maintained its strength, packing maximum sustained winds of 130 kph near the center and a gustiness of up to 160 kph.

Rain has poured over parts of the Philippines the past week due to the two weather systems. On Thursday, Zamboanga City declared a state of calamity after heavy rains earlier this week left five dead, one missing, and forced the evacuation of thousands of families from their homes.

READ: Zamboanga City in state of calamity as thousands evacuate due to heavy rains