Philippines and U.S. to Sign New Military Pact

By Rosemarie Francisco and Matt Spetallnick

Members of the Philippine marines are transported on a rubber boat from a patrol ship after conducting a mission on the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, part of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, as they make their way to a naval forces camp in Palawan province, southwest Philippines March 31, 2014.

 "We're not doing this because of China," Evan Medeiros, Obama's top Asia adviser, told reporters.

The United States and the Philippines will sign a new 10-year security pact on Monday that will allow for a larger U.S. military presence as it struggles to raise its defense capabilities amid territorial disputes with China.

The agreement, which establishes a framework for a beefed-up rotation of U.S. troops, ship and warplanes through the Philippines, will be formally sealed just hours before U.S. President Barack Obama arrives on a two-day visit to Manila, U.S. and Philippine officials said.

White House officials touted the deal as part of a "rebalancing" of U.S. resources toward the fast-growing Asia-Pacific region.


The Philippines will be Obama's final stop on a four-country tour aimed at showing sometimes skeptical allies he is serious about the strategic shift.


It comes as China has strengthened its maritime presence in disputed areas in the South China Sea after seizing control of Scarborough Shoal in 2012.

The accord allows for enhanced "rotational presence" of U.S. forces in the country - but not a return of U.S. military bases, U.S. officials said.

It will allow U.S. forces to train and conduct exercises with Philippine forces for maritime security, disaster assistance and humanitarian aid, the officials said.
The White House said the pact did not specify how many U.S. military assets can be deployed but established a legal basis for deciding on a mission-by-mission basis.
Still, Manila's acceptance of an increased U.S. military presence, a politically sensitive issue in the independent-minded archipelago nation, reveals the scale of Philippine anxiety over China.


The Philippine Senate voted to evict the U.S. military from their bases in 1991, ending 94 years of American military presence in the Philippines, and has only gradually allowed the return of U.S. forces for limited operations.


RENEWABLE PACT

The Enhanced Defense Cooperation agreement will run for 10 years, shorter than the United States was originally asking for, two Philippine government officials said, asking for anonymity due to lack of authority to reveal details.


But the deal is renewable depending on the needs of the two oldest allies in the Asia-Pacific region, one source said.


It will be signed by Philippine Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg shortly before Obama meets Philippine President Benigno Aquino in Manila.


The agreement allows the United States to rotate ships, aircraft and troops for a period longer than the current maximum of two weeks during joint military exercises by the two nations, a senior Philippine military source told Reuters.
The United States is expected to gradually deploy combat ships, a squadron of F18s or F16s and maritime surveillance aircraft, the same source said.


Last year, there were 149 U.S. navy ship visits to the Philippines, up from 68 in the previous year, and that number is likely to rise further under the new pact.
"We are considering bases in Northern Luzon like Clark and Subic, and Fort Magsaysay, to accommodate the U.S. forces. We will set aside space in those bases for their troops," the military source said.


Clark and Subic were bases maintained by the United States northwest of Manila until 1991, when U.S. troops were evicted.


Eight years later, the Senate approved an agreement providing for temporary visits by U.S. forces, allowing the staging of joint military exercises.


The new accord also allows the storage of U.S. humanitarian equipment and supplies for disaster response, with some already in the country after super Typhoon Haiyan devastated central Philippines in November, the military source also said.


Pio Lorenzo Batino, undersecretary of Defense and chair of the Philippine panel negotiating with the United States, earlier said the agreement complied with the Philippine Constitution, which meant U.S. forces will have no permanent presence.
Philippine Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago said she would scrutinize the pact, adding any agreement involving the posting of foreign troops and equipment required Senate ratification.


While most Filipinos support the pact to help counter China, there is some opposition on the left.


"We condemn in the strongest terms the brazen treachery of the Aquino regime which is set to sign tomorrow the US-PH Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement," said Renato Reyes of leftist group Bayan.

Philippinen Has Slowest Internet in Southeast Asia

I need the Internet daily. I also struggle daily. Here is why:



PH has slowest internet in Southeast Asia

(C) Philippine Daily Inquirer

Rising Number of Trafficked Fishermen in Tawi-Tawi

by Jake Soriano

 

BONGAO, Tawi-Tawi—Tawi-Tawi authorities are alarmed at the growing number of fishermen from the Visayas who end up here after being recruited by human trafficking syndicates to engage in dangerous compressor diving.

The latest case involves 13 fishermen rescued from a fishing village here on March 15 by a team composed of the Tawi-Tawi Provincial Police Office (PPO), Philippine Marines and the Bongao Inter-agency Task Force Against Trafficking in Persons (BIATFAT).

The case is the eighth recorded by BIATFAT since December 2012, and brings the total number of rescued fishermen to 80, all of them from Cebu and Bohol.

 

 

 

Not just a backdoor transit point, Tawi-Tawi is also a destination for human trafficking victims.

“They have taken a huge risk in accepting compressor diving work here,” said Inspector Elmira Relox, chief of the Tawi-Tawi PPO Women and Children Protection Desk, who led the rescue.

Compressor diving, a dangerous deep-sea fishing method, requires the fishermen to dive into the water without any gear, except for a plastic hose attached to an air pump on the surface. The diver inhales air through the hose when deep underwater.

Police said compressor diving killed one fisherman and incapacitated another. The casualties, both of who had been recruited along with the 13 rescued fishermen, were not identified.

The rescued fishermen told police they started working for a certain Nelson Mohammad in September 2013, with the contract supposed to expire last February.

Mohammad, however, reportedly detained them in his residence after they complained of unfair pay and refused to extend their contract. He also claimed the fishermen still owed him money he had advanced to them in Cebu and their transportation expenses going to Tawi-Tawi.

Police said one of the fishermen escaped by swimming in the shallow waters off the edge of Bongao island and alerted the local authorities to the group’s situation.

Prosecutor Ivy Damayo of the Sea-based Anti-trafficking Task Force said hundreds more fishermen are trapped in dire working conditions on the islands.

The 13 rescued fishermen are from Lapu-Lapu City. The youngest is 19, the oldest 48.

“They were exploited and harassed by their employers,” Relox said.

According to police, fishermen from Cebu and Bohol are lured by recruiters who are known or related to them.

These recruiters advance the fishermen a portion of the promised salary ranging from P10,000 to P15,000 to get them to agree to work in Tawi-Tawi usually on a six-month contract. The fishermen are also promised a share of the profit from the catch.

But the agreements are made only orally. Once in Tawi-Tawi, the deep-sea divers are left to the mercy of their employers, and the promises forgotten.

BIATFAT focal person Rosabella Sulani said the fishermen usually work from 3 p.m. until 7 the next morning.

When their contracts are about to expire, the fishermen are told they still owe their employers money and they would have to stay to be able to pay their debts. The victims, therefore, get caught in a vicious cycle of debt bondage, Sulani said.

 

 

Fishing is a leading source of livelihood in Tawi-Tawi.

 

Fishermen are also regularly threatened with violence, according to police. Their employers usually carry firearms and claim to have a network of contacts among the local authorities in Tawi-Tawi.

Mohammad managed to evade capture when local authorities raided his residence to rescue the 13 fishermen and, according to Sulani, has become the newest addition to the growing list of suspects behind the trafficking of fishermen from Cebu and Bohol to Tawi-Tawi.

He is the first to be identified operating in Languyan town near Bongao, capital of Tawi-Tawi, said Sulani.

The victims told police that Mohammad lives in Sama-Kasulutan in Simandagit, Bongao, reputedly a den for lawless elements, including members of the Abu Sayyaf. He is known to carry firearms, and once fired a gun in the air when he got mad at his employees.

One of the rescued fishermen told police that Mohammad also claims to be well connected to law enforcement officials in Tawi-Tawi.

Three other suspects identified by Sulani allegedly employing compressor divers in the island municipalities of Sibutu and Sitangkai are Anthony Jumat and the brothers “Ugly” and Jimmy Haibit.

BIATFAT records of Bongao cases referred to Zamboanga City show that Jimmy Haibit was charged with human trafficking on July 16, 2013. The case is awaiting resolution.

Also charged was Policarpio “Paul” Mantos, who reportedly recruits fishermen from Cebu and Bohol.

BIATFAT, meanwhile, referred on Jan. 29 a trafficking case against Jumat to the Zamboanga City Prosecutor’s Office. Task force officials said Jumat is also known as a notorious drug pusher in Tawi-Tawi and that he allegedly works with recruiter Jefferson Daño.

Last Sept. 5, BIATFAT rescued a fisherman from Bohol who said as payment for the amount given to him in advance in Bohol, Jumat made him peddle the illegal drug methamphetamine hydrochloride, also known as shabu.

Sulani said some fishermen are forced to use “shabu” to combat tough sea conditions, particularly the extreme cold at night.

No cases have been filed against Mohammad, his recruiter, identified as Eduardo Tumulak, and “Ugly” Haibit. They are at large.

The Tawi-Tawi PPO and the BIATFAT turned over the 13 rescued fishermen to authorities in Zamboanga, who in turn facilitated their return to Cebu.

Relox said catching the employers and recruiters remains a problem for the police. “They are just too good,” she said, referring to human traffickers’ skills at evading authorities.

While many victims have been rescued, only a few are interested in pursuing cases, Damayo said. Among the 80 rescued, she said, “only about three are interested” in legal action against their former employers and recruiters.

(This story is part of VERA Files' project “Human Trafficking Casewatch” supported by the U.S. Embassy's Small Grants Facility and the Embassy of Canada. VERA Files is put out by senior journalists taking a deeper look at current issues. VERA is Latin for true.)

Frohe Ostern! Happy Easter!

ALLEN MEINEN LESERINNEN UND LESERN EIN GESEGNETES FROHES OSTERFEST!

FOR ALL MY DEAR READERS:

I WISH YOU A VERY BLESSED HAPPY EASTER!

Good Bye World? Good Bye Philippines?

A UN panel believes the world could meet a maximum target for global warming if it significantly cuts annual emissions by 2050. According to a report, however, few nations are doing enough to meet the stated goal. 

Annual emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases must drop 40-70 percent by 2050 to keep the global temperature rise below the 2-degree Celsius (3.6-degree F), the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) announced in a report released last Sunday. So far, the opposite has happened: On average global emissions rose by 1 billion tons a year between 2000 and 2010, outpacing growth in previous decades to reach "unprecedented levels" despite some efforts to contain them, the IPCC announced.

"There is a clear message from science," IPCC co-chair Ottmar Edenhofer said. "To avoid dangerous interference with the climate system, we need to move away from business as usual."

According to scientists, failure to meet the 2-degree target could lead to further droughts, rising seas and heat waves. The IPCC adopted its 33-page summary at a weeklong session in Berlin to help guide the nearly 200 governments negotiating a new climate agreement for next year.

Top three emitters

Counting all emissions since the 18th century, the United States remains the top carbon polluter. However, China's current emissions run much greater than those of the US.

Along with China and the US, the EU as a bloc is in the world's top-three emitters. About half of the world's combined emissions since 1750 have come in the past 40 years.

The IPCC will release a larger scientific report this week. A report last month warned that flooding, droughts and other climate impacts could have devastating effects on economies, agriculture and human health, particularly in developing countries.

Global temperatures have risen about 0.8 Celsius since record-keeping started in 1850. The IPCC found that keeping warming below 2 C by the year 2100 will require a shift from oil and coal. That would mean a near-quadrupling of energy from zero- or low-carbon sources such as solar and wind power.

Current pledges by governments to reduce emissions by 2020 have set the world on a path between 3 and 5 degrees C of warming by 2100, according to the IPCC - a potentially catastrophic level. UN climate chief Christiana Figueres, in charge of the talks, has urged countries to raise their collective ambition.

"The only safe path forward is to arrive at a carbon neutral world in the second half of this century," Figueres said.

Dead Roads

Re-published Editorial MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR dated April 3, 2014 with friendly permission of Publisher Marietta Siongco

"Acting Mayor Paolo Duterte has pointed out one of the problems Davao City has that has been making traffic congestion a growing problem. There are some roads, he said, that have become unused and unusable because a number of people have put up permanent structures on them, including homes and businesses. These settlers, he said, have taken over public roads that could otherwise have been used for what they were built for: access of vehicles. Instead, the roads - built with taxpayers' money - have become settlements and even parking lots, benefitting only a few. And in the case of these roads, many of those who have settler are not the stereotypical urban poor who are forced to squat out of poverty but those who have the means to put up real houses. Some are rich enough to rent out the structures they build.

The obvious response should be demolish these structures for being patently illegal. They are built on public land that everyone should enjoy but are beeing kept from the people by a few who are not even in dire need. This, in fact, ist what the acting mayor said he would do, and in this, we agree. Traffic congestion is indeed a growing problem in Davao City, and any relief, no matter how small is welcome. Paolo spoke of at least two areas in downtown Davao, but we are sure there are many other roads that need to be cleared of illegal settlers.

The problem, of course, is that the settlers will not want to move and will fight for their supposed right to stay in these areas. This is where the political will of the city government will be tested. Unlike urban poor informal settlers who often have no choice on where they live and must, by law, be afforded every form of assistance so they can move to their own land, the settlers in question here can well afford to live elsewhere. The government must reclaim these "dead" roads and keep private individuals from keeping public lands to themselves."

War at work

Foreigners' Questions about The Philippines

I am living permanently in the Philippines since January 1999. Meanwhile I got great opportunities: writing for several print papers and hosting radio shows in the Philippines, which are also to be recognized via live stream.

Meanwhile I receive a lot mails daily - mostly from concerned foreigners, who plan to put a business here or to get married to Filipina/Filipino national. Or, they are in need to get help and professional assistance in dealing with several Philippine authorities.

I always like people asking a lot of questions before moving to the Philippines for good. I appreciate that. Anyway, some questions are still hurting me, although I am not a Filipino. Sometimes, I really don't know whether I should laugh or cry.

A doctor from a Western country sent me an email (already many years ago, but it's really a fantasic example!), asking if Filipinos are wearing shoes, because he only and always saw them in slippers. NO COMMENT.

A businessman asked why Filipinos try to avoid to speak (and/or learn) the Spanish language.I suggested to him, to research Philippine History.

Someone mailed and asked, if the Philippines are really such poor, and if we would have hunger here?

Another doctor planned to open up a clinic in the "capital of the Philippines", asking me, if I would enjoy living and working in this capital "Jakarta". I really thought, he was kidding. When I mailed him, that Jakarta is not the capital of the Philippines,he stopped mailing me.

Sometimes, I am wondering myself, why foreigners don't know more about this beautiful country - especially if they are planning to move here for good.

"Do you have tomatoes there?" - An email - just a couple of days ago... .

Maybe those million Philippine Oversea Workers could help to establish a better image of the Philippines. Before Philippine Star columnist Jessica Zafra stated: "It's an entire country outside our national borders. All those Filipinos have friends, former classmates, colleagues and family members living abroad!"

Disputed South China Sea Shoal

SECOND THOMAS SHOAL –  

 A Philippine government ship has slipped past a Chinese coast guard blockade and brought food and fresh troops to a marooned navy ship used as a base by Filipino troops to bolster the country's territorial claims in the disputed South China Sea

The incident Saturday was witnessed by journalists who were invited by the Philippines military to accompany the resupply mission.

Around one hour away from Second Thomas Shoal, a Chinese coast guard ship twice crossed the bow of the smaller Philippine vessel in an attempt to stop it from proceeding. It radioed the Filipinos, telling them to stop entering Chinese territory.

But the Filipino captain maneuvered to shallow waters where the Chinese ship couldn't sail to reach the marooned vessel.

Early this month, Chinese vessels blocked a resupply mission.

The "Rising Tiger"?

Attributed to the government's economic initiatives and political reforms which appear to have begun bearing fruit, the Philippines has been dubbed by the World Bank as the "rising tiger" of Asia. No longer seen as the sick man of East Asia, the country has been showing macroeconomic stability with the government's fiscal situation sound and improving.

Evidently, the continued presence of the country's development set up an ideal platform for public-private partnership.

Philippines - the rising tiger in Asia? Let's hope and pray for this!

For Our Own Protection

Re-published Editorial MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR dated March 15, 2014 with friendly permission of Publisher Marietta Siongco.

"Is martial law back? Yes, but only in Davao City and only during the Araw ng Davao celebration. That means checkpoints all over, heightened police and military alert and thousands of force multipliers employed to secure the city against those with evil minds and criminal intent. Wait, there's more, also no backpacks, no big bags that could conceal a potential weapon and no parking of vehicles along strategic routes.

This was stressed by Davao City Mayor Rodrigo  himself during a command conference with police and military officials. 'It would be as strict as martial law, said Duterte, 'but it is for the protection of the community.'

So why not just scrap the whole Araw ng Davao frenzied preparation for the city's 77th anniversary foundation, one sarcastic observer asked. A preposterous idea, of course. Everything, has been set in motion and the festivities must go on as planned. Too bad, Duterte had gone on a leave of absence from March 13 to April 4 to recharge his batteries and to relieve whatever pain wracks his body.

Meanwhile, Davaoenos have to grin and bear the hassles of a martial-like rule. Anyway, the ultra strict security measures will only last until March 16, Sunday. And it is all being implemented for our own protection.

Up, Up and Away

Re-published column of mine in MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR dated March 14,2014 with friendly permission of my publisher Marietta F. Siongco.

I think, I was at the age of 11 or so, when my first trip by plane took me to Holland. Later, I joined several journeys with German Foreign Aid, International YMCA and other institutions. For the first time, in 1976, I stepped on Philippine soil - just for two days only before heading to Japan. Of course (!), I flew with Philippine Airlines.

Since experiencing several negativism with other airlines during the 1980s, I kept on flying with flag carrier PAL - though really many times PLANE was ALWAYS LATE. A trip back from Davao to Manila could become a nightmare. Several times I missed by international connecting flight.

But I enjoyed the "Mabuhay Miles" as frequent flyer, especially when I observed that PAL has lowered the redemption values on selected PAL international and domestic flights. I also enjoyed treats while taking my pleasure in the comfort and luxury at selected hotels in Hong Kong or Singapore,

Today, while writing this piece, the MIRROR headlines, that PAL Express, sister company of this country's flag carrier, begins suspending most of its inter-islands domestic flights across Visayas and Mindanao. As MIRROR readers could learn via Judy Quiros' article: the Davao-Manila-Davao flights will be the only one that would remain. PAL for its part said the move is also seen to improve PAL's performance, because it is expected to save about $300 million in operating costs annually. Let's wait and see, how the improvement of PAL's performance looks like.

Sometine 2010, reports said already, that PAL mentioned weak passengerdemand mainly pulled down revenues to $1.36 billion. During that time, the airline assured stockholders and the public that it continued to look for ways of improving its financial condition and results of operations. It seems, that Philippine Airlg to ines is still on a long way from sustainable profitability.

By the way: the country's leading low-cost carrier, Cebu Pacific took delivery of its third brandnew Airbus 330 aircraft being on service for Cebu and Davao guests especially during the now summer season. It's amazing to learn, that Cebu Pacific strengthens its domestic network with additional daily frequences from Manila to Bacolod, Zamboanga and other dometic destinations. Here is the thing: Airbus' fuel-saving technology allows to keep fares low. Just to mention one reason ... .

One more thing: I love to fly with Cebu Pacific, because mostly all flights are on time or even before arriving schedule.

Mayor Rody Duterte's Araw ng Davao 2014 Message

Typhoon-hit Philippine Farmers to Reap Harvest

AFP Typhoon-hit Philippine farmers to reap harvest: UN

Farmers in the Philippines will soon reap a harvest after using emergency seed supplies to grow crops following a devastating typhoon that struck during planting season, the UN food agency said Monday.

Super Typhoon Haiyan raked across the central Philippines last November, killing at least 6,200 people with around 2,000 others still missing, while also displacing four million and leaving tens of thousands of farmers without their livelihoods.

Haiyan hit at a "terrible time" between rice planting seasons but timely seed replacements have ensured a second harvest is not lost, said Jose Graziano da Silva, director-general of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

Last year the agency had voiced concerns that without the harvest, vulnerable farmers would not have been able to collect rice for almost a year -- until October or November 2014.

"I am pleased to say that our support got there in time," he said in a speech to local farmers who received 1.76 million tonnes of seeds from the FAO after the typhoon.

"When the crop is harvested (in March or April)... it should yield enough rice to feed 800,000 people for more than a year," he added.

"This means that they will not only be able to feed their families, but also sell the surplus and generate extra income which is crucial for them to fully recover."

Graziano da Silva said Haiyan had destroyed 1.1 million tonnes of crops, along with 33 million coconut trees in a major farming region described by the Philippine government as among the poorest.

He said providing coconut farmers with other sources of income, such as helping them plant faster-yielding crops, was a top FAO priority in the six to eight years it will take for new coconut trees to start bearing fruit.

Constant Vigilance Needed in Fight versus Computer Scammers

It happened all over the world. Computer Scammers are increasingly moving away from email and into social media to exercise their fraudulent activities. A Canadian consumer watchdog said this in a report several days ago.

With the growing popularity of such social media as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and You Tube, the increasing number of platforms was just adding to the avenues where fraud was occuring.

Interesting to read is Danielle Primrose's opinion. Danielle is president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Mainland British Columbia in Canada. Danielle states, "Emails still prevail, and I myself get them as well, but now with texting and smart phones and just the rapidity of social media platforms, Twitter, all of these new accounts are just opening up an absolute new form of scammers to get in there."

Example: By hooking to an app that promised the latest gossip, gullible users are directed to an online survey that puts an advertising commission into a spammer's coffers. Whether the content is non-existent or fake, in come cases a person may end up installing malicious software on a computer after clicking through to the video content, according to the report.

Other scams included "astro-turfing", the practice of posting fake online reviews to boost a business's profile, and "curbers", unlicensed car dealers who sell junk vehicles or others that may be stolen.

There were also phone telemarketers demanding money for fake services and mail lottery scams that targeted not only seniors.

New Bureau of Immigration Departure/Arrival Cards

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) launched the new immigration departure and arrival cards which will be used nationwide effective next month.

The BI-NAIA said the newly designed and printed immigration cards is just one of the projects of the bureau in its coming efforts to simplify frontline services and improve access by the traveling public.

The arrival card is coded blue, while the departure is in red. These cards are used to document passengers, for border management and compilation of tourism statistics.

Unlike the old immigration cards which are printed by airline companies, the BI-NAIA said the new cards are funded by the government, distributed by authorized personnel, and are free of advertisements.

The design and data fields of the cards are aligned with the BI's existing computer systems - the upgraded BI-Information-System (BIIS). The size of the color-coded forms are aligned with that of the standard passport page.

The BI-NAIA said the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) provided valuable inputs to the new cards while the National Printing Office (NPO) was tapped to print the cards and to ensure regular supply.

Happy travelling everyone!