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Monday, August 17, 2015
Saturday, August 15, 2015
Tornado in Pikit, Mindanao
The Tornado hits 3 villages in Pikit and destroys 154 houses
KIDAPAWAN CITY– At least 154 houses, including two madrasahs and a mosque, were destroyed when a tornado or a violent whirling windstorm hit three villages in Pikit, North Cotabato, around 545 p.m., Thursday.
Tahira Kalantongan, municipal disaster risk reduction and management officer (MDRRMO) of Pikit, said the strong tornado surprised residents of barangays Manaulanan, Pamalian, and Punol – all located near the Rio Grande de Mindanao, one of the country’s largest rivers located in Central Mindanao.
Of the damaged houses, the worst hit was Barangay Punol with 141; Pamalian, 8; and Manaulanan, 2.
Two madrasahs and a mosque in Barangay Punol were also destroyed when tornado hit the village.
Aside from houses, several trees were also uprooted, reports said.
Of the victims, worst hit were from Barangay Punol, who, until today, still suffer from the effects of flash floods.
The village is still underwater, according to Kalantongan. Yet, they refuse to leave homes.
Many of them used bancas as their temporary shelter.
Read more at http://www.mb.com.ph/tornado-hits-3-villages-in-pikit-destroys-154-houses/#iax6A2l0FYU7Xrrw.99
Thursday, August 13, 2015
Konsularsprechtag in Davao City der Deutschen Botschaft Manila
Konsularsprechtag in Davao City
Bitte beachten Sie, dass wegen der biometrischen Daten (u.a. Fingerabdrücke) nur noch vollständige Anträge auf Ausstellung vorläufiger Reisepässe und Kinderreisepässe – nicht jedoch Anträge für Europapässe – entgegengenommen werden können.
Leider können Visaanträge in Davao City nicht gestellt werden. Die Visaabteilung in Manila ist nicht mit der USEP in Davao vernetzt. Bitte haben Sie Verständnis, dass aus diesem Grunde auch Fragen zu einzelnen Visaanträgen nicht beantwortet werden können.
Für eine erfolgreiche Bearbeitung Ihres Anliegens (z. B. Beglaubigungen etc.) setzen Sie sich bitte rechtzeitig zwecks Vorbereitung der Urkunde mit der Botschaft in Verbindung (vw-1@mani.diplo.de).
The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany would like to inform you that the Head of the Consular and Legal Section, First Secretary and Consul Mr. Ulrich Koehler will be present on Thursday, August 20, 2015 in Davao City.
For further information: Telephone (082) 227 - 1761 or 0915 - 2199002.
Informationen und Formulare finden Sie auf der Webseitewww.manila.diplo.de
For further information: Telephone (082) 227 - 1761 or 0915 - 2199002.
Informationen und Formulare finden Sie auf der Webseitewww.manila.diplo.de
Abu Sayyaf Behaeds Village Chief in Sulu
(Philippine Star)
The Abu Sayyaf group, known to have links with other terror groups in neighboring Indonesia and Malaysia, gained worldwide notoriety for bombings and kidnapping activities. Philstar.com/File photo
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Abu Sayyaf insurgents beheaded one of its male captives they held hostage in Sulu province after negotiation for his safe release failed.
Navy Captain Roy Vincent Trinidad, chief of staff of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao and Joint Task Force Zambasulta, identified the victim as Rodolfo Bulagao.
Bulagao, a barangay captain of Aliguay Island in Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte, was abducted last May 4 along with Philippine Coast Guard personnel Seaman 2nd Class Gringo Villaruz and Seaman 1st Class Rod Pagaling.
Trinidad said the decapitated head was found around 9:45 p.m. Tuesday by a civilian in Barangay Labah, Maimbung town.
The local police was immediately alerted and recovered the remains of Bulagao, which were brought to the Sulu Provincial hospital for proper disposition.
There was no immediate report on what prompted the execution of the victim though the Abu Sayyaf group issued threats last June to execute one of the three victims taken from Dapitan City if the government will not pay the huge ransom.
The group issued its warning through a video clip posted on social media, showing all three hostages.
In the more than three-minute video clip, each of the victims were directed to speak and appealed for their safety from the possible beheading.
“The reports we received, there was failure of negotiation,” Trinidad said without elaborating.
There were reports that the Abu Sayyaf group directly negotiated with Bulagao’s family, demanding P500,000 ransom in exchange for the release of the victim.
It was not clear how much ransom the Abu Sayyaf demanded for the release the two Coast Guard personnel.
Trinidad said the remains of Bulagao were scheduled to be transported by the Navy late Tuesday afternoon and the victim’s family requested for privacy from the media.
Trinidad said negotiation is still ongoing for the release of the two Coast Guard personnel and other hostages.
Among the captives still in the hands of the Abu Sayyaf group were foreigners Elwold Horns of Holland, Malaysian Thien Nyuk Fun, Cambodian Bernard Then Ted Fen, Korean businessman Noui Hong Sung and long-time captive Japanese national Toshio Ito.
The local victims were Mayor Gemma Adana of Naga town, Zamboanga Sibugay province, Coast Guard personnel Villaruz and Pagaling and three-year old Ace Jay Garban, a scion of a known political clan in Pitogo town, Zamboanga del Sur.
Monday, August 10, 2015
Increased Risks Seen Affecting Philippine Growth
(The Philippine Star)
In its quarterly report on the Philippines, Global Source revised downwards its 2015 gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for the Philippines to 6.1 percent instead of the previous projection of 6.7 percent made in May. Photo by Paulo Alcazaren
MANILA, Philippines - New York-based think tank Global Source Partners slashed the country’s economic growth projections amid increasing foreign investor caution, more volatile global financial markets, and risks of a stronger El Niño weather disturbance.
In its quarterly report on the Philippines, Global Source revised downwards its 2015 gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for the Philippines to 6.1 percent instead of the previous projection of 6.7 percent made in May.
“External risks have increased since our last report. Our outlook, which sees GDP growth at 6.1 percent in 2015 and 6.5 percent in 2016, is one of guarded optimism,” the think tank said.
Global Source pointed out weak export markets have dampened sales across several product lines.
It also cited the impact of the Greek debt debacle as well as the stock market crash in China in lowering the country’s GDP growth outlook.
“As well, continuing anxieties over Greece and its repercussions on the euro plus fears of herding out of Asian/emerging markets equities have increased volatilities in financial markets with players watchful of potentially disruptive capital outflows as the US normalizes monetary policy, expected later in the year,” it added.
On the other hand, it explained “guardedness stems not only from exports’ vulnerability to softening external demand but also from what we think is increasing investor caution, especially on the part of foreign businesses, as seen in lower investment pledges and translations into actual foreign direct investments (FDIs).
The baseline case considers measures to help cushion the impact on farm output of an El Niño-induced drought, the policy stance of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), and that the markets have already priced in the impending interest rate hike by the US Fed.
“We expect any capital outflows associated with such gradual adjustments to be manageable in light of the BSP’s more than ample foreign exchange reserves to cover importing and debt servicing requirements,” it said.
For the second quarter, the company sees the country’s GDP falling below six percent due to uncertainty about government spending, wider trade deficit, and declining investment pledges.
Global Source said its worst-case scenario involves a repeat of the first quarter performance reflecting lethargic government spending and the drag from net exports accompanied by large crop losses from a severe El Niño.
Risks also include the erosion of consumer and investor confidence due to disruptive financial price adjustments as well as more and more investors sidelined by a hazy 2016 political outlook where no clear frontrunner emerges among multiple contenders.
“Weather forecasters are warning of a possible severe El Niño episode by 4Q15, raising the specter of ravaged crops and price spikes. Mixed into this unpleasant brew is politics, where the immediate issue is a possible multi-contender presidential race in 2016 with no clear frontrunner, specifically one who can assure bureaucrats of continuity in the executive branch, key in our view to unlocking promised state spending,” the think tank said.
Under its best-case scenario, the think tank expects President Aquino to inspire greater confidence by rallying supporters behind presidential candidate Mar Roxas on the promise of reform continuity, ensuring the credibility of the vote and the count, and laying the foundation for next stage reforms that would allow the next president to hit the ground running.
“The tactic is a clever one intended to translate popular support for the President, who has managed to spring back from low ratings in the wake of the Mindanao crisis early this year, into votes for Mr. Roxas, who is lagging in presidential preference polls. If it succeeded in painting the other contender, vice president Jejomar Binay, who is hounded by allegations of corruption, as one taking the “crooked” path, so much better,” Global Source said.
The think tank sees inflation averaging 1.6 percent instead of 2.2 percent this year, which is below the BSP target of two to four percent. It sees the BSP keeping interest rates steady this year with the overnight borrowing rate at four percent and the overnight lending rate at six percent.
Global Source is also looking at a weaker peso at P46.1 to $1 instead of P44.65 to $1 this year.
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