Compassion for Refugees?

My column in Mindanao Daily, BusinessWeek Mindanao and Cagayan de Oro Times

Is the European Union  (EU) choosing self-interest over compassion for refugees? A very interesting question asked by German TV-commentator Bernd Riegert. And it seems, he is already able presenting his answer: In the EU's game of "refugee bingo," far-right Italian Interior Minister Minister Matteo Salvini can only win. He has little reason to give in to states looking for lasting migration policy.

 "Miserable" was the word German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer used to describe the current situation for migrants fleeing to Europe from Libya. It's a reference to "refugee bingo," cynical jargon for the game the European Union plays whenever a private rescue ship saves dozens of migrants on the Mediterranean Sea and brings them to Italian shores. The EU commissioner for migration gets on the phone with interior ministers from around the bloc, cajoling them to take a handful of people. Then the merciless haggling begins - as Bernd Riegert and many others describe the present situation at the south border of Europe.

Yes, being very honest: the process has become a rallying cry for Italy's far-right interior minister, Matteo Salvini, who has achieved domestic political success by stoking anti-refugee sentiment and presenting himself as the unyielding protector of Italian interests. Close the ports, deter the migrants, problem solved — that's Salvini's populist recipe. And several other opinions go into the same direction.

Fact is: refugees sent to Libya under EU deal face 'catastrophic' conditions. A few EU member states, notably France and my home country Germany, have had enough of this game. They want a lasting arrangement that determines which country takes in how many migrants.

We can probably thank the courageous ship captain Carola Rackete for Seehofer's support in finding a solution. Her daring landing on the Italian island of Lampedusa made global headlines. It's even got German Challencor Angela Merkel's feuding government coalition seeing eye to eye.

If we take a closer look to Europe: no one taking responsibility. Really sad to say.

Yet the today's Helsinki meeting has made clear that nothing will change in the near term. An agreement will have to wait at least until September. Until then, the miserable game continues, largely because Italy and those countries ready to do more cannot agree on one point: Other member states are only willing to accept migrants with a good case for asylum. The rest, accounting for at least 70 percent of all migrants, would have to stay in Italy.

Allow me to quote Riegert again: Salvini wants to see all of the migrants sent elsewhere, immediately, and not be left with the hopeless cases. He knows that it can be difficult to deport them back to their countries of origin. Other receiving countries, such as Germany, know that deportation is now off the table for those who don't stand a chance at asylum. That would explain why they are sticking to the rules as they are: Migrants are registered in the arrival country, in this case Italy, which decides who deserves asylum protection and who doesn't. That can take months, then more months until other EU members agree to actually take those asylum-seekers.

Even if a time-limited redistribution of the relatively few people brought in by rescue ships is agreed to, the larger problem remains. The EU's asylum system needs reform that redefines responsibility and quotas — a huge step for a hopelessly divided bloc that has been negotiating for years and remains far from a solution. The EU's eastern states, along with Italy and Austria, have been the biggest obstacles of all.

Incoming German - European Commission President elect Ursula von der Leyen says she wants to untie this Gordian knot. But she'll only enjoy a very, very little  little success so long as Salvini-like populists in Italy, Hungary and Poland are in charge. Migration is the ongoing European crisis they can repeatedly pick up votes with, no matter that, in absolute figures, the number of people coming to European shores keeps dropping dramatically. So why change course? Is it  a matter of putting self-interest before compassion for refugees and migrants? I can't answer this question at this moment now. Future will show.

Vice Governot Maricar Zamora appointed as Adviser for External Affairs

League of Vice Governors of the Philippines appoints Vice-Governor Maricar Zamora as Senior Adviser for External Affairs

 By: Gerne Boja

Vice-Governor Maria Carmen S. Zamora was appointed by her peers as Senior Adviser for External Affairs of the League of Vice-Governors of the Philippines (LVGP) last July 12, 2014 during their 76th National Assembly last July 12-14 at Sofitel Manila.

 “I am very happy to be part of a strong linkage and network with passionate advocacies in policy and legislative reforms.”, Vice-Governor Zamora said.

 During the 3-Day assembly, the LVGP inducted its members, including Vice-Gov. Maricar Zamora into the League’s vision of effecting changes for local and national development.  The legislator’s also underwent series of activities for the continuing refinement of the local legislative process.
“We look forward to enhancing our skills for the office even as the League offers to build the capabilities of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan” Vice-Governor Zamora shared.

 The LVGP is a non-stock, non-profit and non-government organization composed of the heads of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of each province in the country. The League strives to build a strong advocacy group, to be “one voice” in policy and legislative reforms.

Photo Caption: 

Vice-Governor Zamora with the other Vice-Governors of the different Provinces during the 76th National Assembly of the  League of Vice-Governors of the Philippines.  

SP ComVal eyes ISO Certification

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Compostela Valley is gearing towards getting its ISO accreditation. This is what Vice-Governor Maria Carmen S. Zamora revealed during the Monday Convocation, July 15 at the Capitol Lobby.

“It has been a dream, not only mine but also our governor for our provincial government to be ISO certified… I am happy that I’m taking part in this initiative,” Vice-Governor said.

 In preparation of this undertaking the provincial government of Compostela Valley signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) Program to establish a Quality Management System in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Certifiable to ISO 9001-2015.

 “Before we can think of innovating process para sa ating mga mamamayan, This (Quality Management System) is a necessary first step,” Atty. Engelbert C. Caronan, Jr., MNSA, DAP president said.

 With this partnership, The National Government through DAP has set aside 10 Million Pesos to be used by the Legislative and Executive Branch for a series of training and Capacity Development activities to which they will facilitate.

 As the new legislative building nears its completion, Vice-Governor Zamora motivated the staff under the legislative branch to improve on the efficiency of delivering outputs.

“To complement with the new building; that we have, as a ‘hardware’, I hope we can also improve our ‘software’… I need you to step forward to deliver with efficiency and to meet the demands of legislation,” Vice-Governor Zamora challenged during the SP maiden Session.

The lady vice-governor also added in her maiden speech that she plans to utilize the new facility for empowering Vice-Mayors and Sangguniang Bayan members.

 “I envision this to be a venue to capacitate our legislators through trainings and seminars,” she said.

Besides creating laws and ordinances, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan is the keeper of records of all policies from provincial and local legislators. It is crucial to standardize the internal management of records to efficiently access information.

The Legislative Branch is targeting to transfer to the new building by October 2019. (Gerne Boja)

Photo Caption:

Vice-Governor Maricar S. Zamora, MNSA with Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) President Atty. Engelbert C. Caronan, Jr., MNSA during the Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with the DAP to establish a Quality Management System in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Certifiable to ISO 9001-2015.

Comval holds another "Oplan Pagbabago Tunol Serbisyo"

The province of Compostela Valley under Governor Jayvee Tyron L. UY holds another  "Oplan Pagbabago Tunol Serbisyo" program in the far-flung and conflict affected areas at Purok 4, Barangay Rizal, Monkayo Comval on July 12, 2019.

More than 500 beneficiaries of the said Barangay availed of the different types of government services offered by the different participating National Agencies, private stakeholders and the Provincial and Municipal Government.

The programs and services offered are the distribution of fingerlings by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), consultation and support program for crop insurance by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), turnover of SLPA PAMANA project amounting to Php 300,000.00, facilitate and addressed queries relative to Pantawid Pamilya Program, and information dissemination of DSWDs AICs by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The Department of Agriculture (DA) also turns over 1 unit rice harvester, as well as the conduct of  information dissemination and mobile registration of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), information education campaign for integrated pest management and master listing of farmers by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), and provided ready to eat food samples product by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

On the other hand, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) conducts training needs assessment profiling and free haircut services, while the Department of Education (DEPED) provides schools supplies from kinder to grade-1 students. 

The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) offered libreng tsenilas for school children, libreng gupit and feeding program as well as the Medical and Dental Services by the AFP.

Another services availed by the beneficiaries are the free legal consultations, notarization of documents, late registration and other documents by the Provincial Attorneys Office (PAO). 

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) also conducted information education campaign and student permit application while the Deapartment of Labor and Employment (DOLE) conducted a rigestration program for rural workers association and orientation of livelihood program and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) conducted distribution of fruit bearing trees.

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) conducted orientation on child protection policy for parents and group dynamics for children ages 5-12 years old. 

The private partners joined the program are the Sumiftu which they augmented three nurses and conducted information and education campaign and distributed ripe bananas to the beneficiaries, while the Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative (DANECO) conducted a free membership seminar, received electric bill payments and catered queries of their consumers.

The Oplan Pagbabago Tunol Serbisyo program of the province is another strategy in response to the Executive order no.70 issued by President Rodrigo Duterte for the whole of nation approach to deliver government services to the Geographically Isolated and Depressed Areas (GIDAS) in Comval. Last July 5, the same Tunol Serbisyo was also given to the beneficiaries in Brgy. Araibo, Pantukan. #YestoDavaoDeOro  (Rey Antibo, ID Comval)

Be your own coach!

My column in Mindanao Daily, BusinessWeek Mindanao and Cagayan de Oro Times

Maybe, you're a guide, a commander or a conductor? Maybe, you're  a leader, who really knows how to play the first card in the team? Do you know how to direct, to persuade or to precede?

I found a very nice quotation shared by Dr. John C. Maxwell, the leading authority on leadership, who says, "A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way!" 

"Nearly all men can withstand adversity. If you truly want to test a man's character, give him power", stressed already Abraham Lincoln. Character is what you are doing in the dark. By the way, nowadays, I wouldn't only mention "men"  alone when it comes to leadership. There are innumerable women holding their own. And that's good so... . 

Remember and look around: in the past and at present, one can observe someone at any corner offering us to lead our way. Politicians compete for our vote of confidence. Athletes and entertainers show us their pictures of success. A lot of different religious leaders pledge, promise and bind in flock gathering.

Well, what are some of the traits that a great leader must have or develop character? Is character really enough? How about integrity? Are you, my dear reader, a leader? Is what you are saying AND  DOING, the same? Are your followers wholeheartedly convinced of your integrity?

Albert Einstein, one of my favorite idols had said, "Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with the important matters!"

Leaders in politics, leaders in clergy, leaders in business - many have been lacking this specific trait in the past, because, after all, what they said is not what they did.  A leader is someone with character, integrity, discipline, and the ability to influence others in a positive way.  A leader must be able to motivate his or her people around, rather than manipulate them or run away in times of difficult decisions... !

Albert Einstein claimed that he had no special abilities, only persistence. But that was enough to develop the General Relativity Theory. 

I learned from my Philippine mentor and book author (German-Philippine Relations), the late Monsignor Professor Dr. Hermogenes E. Bacareza already during the late 1980's: "It's important to become your own best friend. Be your own coach. Take to your inner self  as if if you were talking to another person you care deeply about. And, pray!"

Sweden's National Youth Football Association is coming to Davao!

By: Hope Militante Fernandez

Together with Football for Humanity Foundation, Maharlika Sports and Mindanao Peace Council, we will host the NYFA Sweden from July 6-12. Part of their visit is to conduct a 3-day classroom and field training certification course at Tionko Football Grounds and Ateneo de Davao University.

Read More: http://bit.ly/2XwQmf7

#DulaTaBai
#DavaoFootball
#WeLiveFootball

P.S. Watch Sweden vs England for 3rd/4th place playoff of the Women's World Cup this Saturday, 11pm. Championship match is between the US and the Netherlands this Sunday, 11pm.

SPORTANDDEV.ORG

Sweden's NYFA to visit Davao City | sportanddev.org

Copyrights: Football For Humanity Sweden's NYFA to visit Davao City Davao City in the Philippines will be host to international delegates of the National Youth Football Association of Sweden (NYFA) from 6 to 12 July, in partnership with the Football for Humanity Foundation led by founder and preside...

Climate Change ...

... Compounds Hunger and Conflicts

There are still people on this globe proclaiming that there is no climate change. It's useless to convince them any more. Fact is: the climate changed already massive and added to warfare worsening hunger and conflicts worldwide, according to one of Germany's largest aid groups. Welthungerhilfe has said many poor have "no more reserves or resilience left" when hit by extreme weather.
   
The world's southern hemisphere poor were bearing the brunt of climate change caused by rich, fossil-fuel consumers of the global North, Welthungerhilfe President Marlehn Thieme said in Berlin several days ago.

Presenting the Bonn-based organization's annual report for 2018, Thieme said climate change amounted to a "question of justice" in ensuring that resources — still sufficient worldwide to feed everyone — reached the poorest.

Hunger victims, often already cut off to outside help by conflict parties, no longer had livelihoods and sustenance as droughts, floods and storms wrecked their fields and eliminated their farm animals.

Yes,  climate change threatens peace efforts. Climate change is threatening the success of peacekeeping missions, according to a briefing by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) circulating on Tuesday. Eight of the ten countries hosting the biggest multilateral operations "are located in areas highly exposed to climate change," it said.

Germany pushes climate change as security risk. Floods, drought and mass migration: all factors why Germany has made the UN's response to climate change its priority at the Security Council. But political roadblocks at home and abroad could complicate action.

If we watch around, we can easily notice, that weather extremes are compounding plight. Citing Cyclon Idai, which in April ravaged Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe, President Thieme said weather extremes had become an additional "fatal link" hampering aid workers and restoration of communal nutrition.

Drastic declines in land and oceanic harvests amid rising average temperatures required answers in the form of early warning systems, weather insurance and drought-durable seeds.

Allow me to quote Welthungerhilfe's Secretary General Mathias Mogge. He said, "Coupled with warfare, in which conflict parties cut off entire regions from the outside world, extreme weather was a compounding factor".

The spiral of conflict is becoming more and more dramatic. Villagers are loosing their entire livelihoods. Resources like water and grazing land became scarce, leading to further conflict, in societies where people already had little to withstand emergencies.

Reporting on its 2018 efforts, Welthungerhilfe said it had spent €213.6 ($243) million on the fight against hunger and poverty last year. Public donors provided €155.4 milliion for project work. Private donations amounted to €54.9 million. The largest public donor was the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), which provided €38.6 million.

Hunger, thirst and conflicts because of climate change - meanwhile a never-ending story. Daily in our news. Global and local news. We can't keep our eyes closed any more.

A Maiden Voyage ...

... towards a prosperous ComVal

By: Gerne Boja

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of the province of Compostela Valley officially opened its 8th Sanggunian last Tuesday, July 2, 2019, at the new Sangguniang Panlalawigan Session Hall.

In attendance during the maiden session is Vice-Governor Maria Carmen S. Zamora, Senior Board Member Arturo T. Uy, Hon. Nena G. Atamosa, Hon. Kristine Mae T. Caballero-Rañon, Hon. Adolfo C. Ang, Hon. Raul B. Caballero, Hon. Marie Jude M. Fuentes-Lopoz, Hon. Vivencia L. Secuya, Hon. Renato B. Basañes, Hon. Macario T. Humol, and Hon. Joseph T. Jauod, Ex-Officio Members Hon. Raul C. Timogtimog, Hon. Christopher L. Jovita, Hon. Felipe B. Masambo, and Hon. Charlemagne B. Bautista.

Each member laid out their plans and legislative direction for the next three years, highlighting on the partnership between both the executive and legislative branch.

 “The glory and progress of our province should depend on our unified visions and efforts,” said Senior Board Member Arturo T. Uy in his privilege speech.

Part of the strategy of the 8th Sanggunian is to not only create new legislation in support to the administration’s programs but to also review older laws to better fit the current situation of the people.

 “I think it’s about time to revisit all our laws and implement post-legislative review. The purpose of which is to determine whether the piece of legislation is working as it was intended to. If it’s not, to discover why and to address any gap as quickly as effectively as possible,” shared Vice-Governor Maricar S. Zamora.

Governor Jayvee Tyron L. Uy, First District Congressman Manual E. Zamora, Municipal Mayors and Vice-Mayors, as well as the head of offices of the executive branch were present to show their support to the Legislative Branch.

 The success of the maiden session is a reflection of the commitment of the leaders in both the executive and legislative branch to lead with as single vision, and that is to excellence in the service to the people.

Photo Caption: Governor Jayvee Tyron L. Uy and Vice-Governor Marcar S. Zamora with the new set of Board Members during the maiden session of the 8th Sanggunian of the province of Compostela Valley.

Just Wild Weather?

My column in Mindanao Daily, BusinessWeek Mindanao and Cagayan de Oro Times

In the Philippines, we experience the rainy season right now. "Breakthrough" insights into atmospheric dynamics are emerging from "high-maths" —scrutiny of satellite data, say scientists. Their Nature magazine article identifies "significant connections" between extreme rain events, often far apart. Their premise: global rainfall distribution stems "probably" from planetary waves named after the late Swedish-born American meteorologist Carl-Gustaf Rossby. Just wild weather or is it a climate disruption?

Normally, monsoon rains over northern Queensland last a "few days," says Australia's Bureau of Meteorology. Unprecedented downpours began a week ago, with more forecast and troops sent to a disaster zone. Evacuations have included these residents of Rossela, near Townsville, and German and Swiss tourists plucked from the Diamantina River catchment by a local farmer using his private helicopter.

Indonesia, like much of Asia including the Philippines i.e., weathers annual monsoon rains. Last weekend, the Sulawesi islands counted its toll: at least 70 people were killed as rivers burst their banks and landslides buried village homes. Authorities said a state of emergency would remain in place.

My home country Germany experiences records all-time hottest June temperature. Imagine: the last day of June 2019 has beaten all previous temperature highs for the month. Heat-related deaths have been reported in several European countries. Yes, whole Europe is melting.

A pharmacy sign in Carpentras, a village in southeastern France, which shortly held the country's all-time heat record of 44.3 degrees on Friday. The record was topped again later in the afternoon in the southern village of Villevieille, 100 kilometers (60 miles) to the east, which measured a thermometer-busting 45.1 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit).

Germany set its all-time highest June temperature on last Sunday, with 38.9 degrees Celsius (102 degrees Fahrenheit) recorded in the western state of Rhineland-Palatinate. The country has been baking in an early summer heat wave; however, Germany's all-time high of 40.3 degrees Celsius still stands.

Fifty-seven runners at Hamburg's half marathon were hospitalized on Sunday after many collapsed in temperatures of up to 35 degrees Celsius, officials said. Some 141 runners needed treatment in what fire service officials described as "an emergency with mass casualties."

Temperatures in the country's central Rhine-Main region and into eastern Germany were expected to reach up to 39 degrees on Sunday, according to the German Weather Service (DWD).

Organizers of Sunday's Frankfurt Ironman event made contingency plans to keep athletes from overheating.

As huge crowds gathered in Paris for the annual gay pride parade, firefighters sprayed water on revelers, some of whom used rainbow-colored fans and umbrellas to counter the heat, which was expected to hit 38 degrees.

Heat-related deaths have been reported in Germany and France, mainly among the elderly. At least eight people drowned in bathing accidents across the two countries.

France's new record temperature of 45.9 degrees was set on Friday near the southern city of Montpellier, the Meteo-France weather service said. It is just the seventh European nation — along with Bulgaria, Portugal, Italy, Spain, Greece and North Macedonia — to record temperatures above 45 degrees.

During Sunday prayers in Rome, Pope Francis said he was praying "for those who have suffered the most from the consequences of this heat."

Meteorologists blamed a blast of hot air from northern Africa for the scorching early European summer, but temperatures are set to drop for the remainder of the week over much of Europe.

Drownings and wildfires - the amazing side effects of climate change.The heatwave sparked large blazes including in Spain, where firefighters on Saturday fought wildfires just as they finally contained another inferno after nearly 72 hours.Wildfires burned down several houses and at least 550 hectares (1,359 acres) of land in the south of France as temperatures hit upwards of 45 degrees on Saturday.The blistering heat also claimed the lives of a 17-year-old harvest worker in Spain and a 72-year-old homeless man in Italy.

Just wild weather or climate change? Do you know the answer, my dear readers?

Taking Oath

Comval Gov. Uy and other elected government officials take oath

Compostela Valley Province--- ComVal Governor Jayvee Tyron L. Uy together with the newly elected government officials took their oath of office during the conduct of the oath-taking ceremony of elected government officials on June 30, 2019 at the Capitol Grounds, Provincial Capitol, Cabidianan, Nabunturan, Compostela Valley Province.

The oath-taking ceremony was officiated by Hon. Judge Cresenciana DC. Cruz of Regional Trial Court (RTC) 11, Branch 3 in Nabunturan and assisted by Hon. Judge Leah Garnett Solde – Annogui of the Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC).

Second termer Congressman of District – II Hon. Ruwel Peter S. Gonzaga, and first termer Congressman Hon. Manuel E. Zamora of District-I of the province together with the new Vice Governor of the province Hon. Maricar S. Zamora also took their oath of office.


Governor Uy in his message said that his aspirations of a good life for all is embodied in his working platform- "the Bayanihan 4Ps Plus" where the Provincial Government will be divided into five clusters- the Planet or Environment Cluster, People or the Social Protection Cluster, the Prosperity or Economic Growth, Peace or the Peace and Security Cluster and Plus or the Good Governance Cluster.

 He further explain that "it will take a paradigm shift, from being office-focused in terms of programs and projects; the EO mandates the creation of convergence clusters, reminiscent of the bayanihan way we take pride as a province. The clusters will be the primary mechanism in attaining the development goals and thrusts we will set."

Attending the ceremony were the municipal mayors, vice mayors, councilors, barangay officials, heads of National Government Agencies, the men and women in uniform- from the AFP and PNP, friends from the business community, members of non-government and civil society organizations, family and friends of the government officials, and the workers of the provincial government.

 On the other hand, the newly elected board members of District – I, namely: Honorables Nena G. Atamosa, Adolfo C. Ang, Atty. Marie Jude Fuentes-Lopoz, Dr. Renato Basañes, and Joseph Jaoud. While the board members of District-II, are: Honorables Arturo T. Uy, Kristine Mae T. Caballero, Raul B. Caballero, Vivencia L. Secuya and Macario T. Humol who also took their oath of office during the celebration.



“Allow me to thank you for all your help in the last years. No words can perfectly describe how grateful I am... The next three years will be indeed difficult, considering the amount of task we have to fulfill. Brighter and better days are ahead of us. The future is for us to seize, it is for us to claim. The future is here and it is definitely ours,” Gov. Uy ended. (Rey Antibo, ID Comval)