Philippines signs defense agreement with Czech Republic

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Posted at Jun 05 2017 03:38 PM

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Defense undersecretary Ricardo David and Czech Deputy Defense Minister Jakub Landovský sign the Czech-Philippine Agreement on Defence Cooperation. Photo from the Czech Embassy in Manila

MANILA - The Philippines and the Czech Republic have inked a defense cooperation agreement last month, the European country's embassy to Manila said Monday.

Philippine Defense Undersecretary Ricardo David Jr. and Czech Deputy Minister Jakub Landovský, Head of Defense Policy and Strategy Division of the Ministry of Defense, represented their respective countries when they signed the agreement in Prague on May 29.

"The agreement spells out areas of cooperation such as defense and security policy, procurement policy, defense logistics, peace-keeping and humanitarian operations, compliance with international treaties of defense, security and arms control, personnel management, military training and education, and other activities that may be agreed by both parties," Jan Vytopil, Deputy Head of Mission at the Czech Embassy, was quoted as saying in the press release from the office.

Czech Ambassador Jaroslav Olša, Jr., added, the countries ought to have a more deepened relationship through cooperation in this day and age "for the betterment of both the Philippines and the Czech Republic."

"This agreement not only shows our aim to promote peace and security for the people and our land, but more importantly, the valued and shared causes and understandings that we aim to adhere by," he said.

Apart from defense, the countries and institutions therein also agreed to cooperate on areas of science, trade, culture, and education.

Sixteen memoranda were signed between different universities in the Philippines and their counterparts in the European state. These accords "open the door to students and professors to be sent to Prague for training and further their degrees," said Vytopil.

A previously signed Agreement on Cooperation in Culture, Education, Science and Sports allowed Filipino students who usually excel in the fields of Engineering, Genetics and Marketing to study in the Czech Republic, said the Embassy.

Additionally, a memorandum of agreement with Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino resulted in the publication of two titles of Czech and Philippine literature in both countries, with two "ground-breaking thick anthologies of short stories from both countries scheduled to be published this summer."

Also among the agreements signed was one between the Czech National Museum of Prague, headed by Director General Michal Lukeš, and the National Museum of the Philippines Director Jeremy Barns. 

This will allow for any upcoming international exhibitions of Filipino artists in the Czech Republic and vice versa, as well as an "in-depth scientific research to be conducted in both countries by our scientists," said the Embassy.

The Czech post also revealed that they have been recently holding "secretive talks" with Czech brewing universities that would make possible to share some of the Czech thousand-year brewing experience with the amazingly colorful new wave of Filipino craft brewers.

Wake up to the climate crisis!

MON, JUNE 5, 2017 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINIONKlaus Doring

This is how protesters gathered outside the White House Thursday, June 1. Indeed, the world is crying and not laughing.

What was agreed in Paris? Climate change, or global warming, refers to the damaging effect of gases, or emissions, released from industry and agriculture on the atmosphere.

The Paris accord is meant to limit the global rise in temperature attributed to emissions. Countries agreed to:

Keep global temperatures “well below” the level of 2 C (3.6 F) above pre-industrial times and “endeavor to limit” them even more, to 1.5 C.

Limit the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by human activity to the same levels that trees, soil and oceans can absorb naturally, beginning at some point between 2050 and 2100.

Review each country’s contribution to cutting emissions every five years so they scale up to the challenge.

Enable rich countries to help poorer nations by providing “climate finance” to adapt to climate change and switch to renewable energy. But – without the U.S.!

There has been widespread international condemnation of President Trump’s announce-ment that the US is withdrawing from the 2015 Paris climate agreement.

UN chief Antonio Guterres’s spokesman called it “a major disappointment” while the European Union said it was “a sad day for the world”. However, senior Republicans and the US coal industry backed the move. Mr. Trump said the accord “punished” the US and would cost millions of American jobs. In an address at the White House, he said he was prepared to negotiate a new agreement or re-enter the accord on improved terms.

“I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris,” he said.

Only Syria and Nicaragua did not sign up to the deal.

Let’s face it, there will be some effects of the US pullout from Paris climate deal. First of all, believe me, the US withdrawal will hurt the deal and the world. There’s no doubt that President Trump’s withdrawal will make it more difficult for the world to reach the goals that it set for itself in the Paris agreement – keeping global temperature rises well under 2 C. The US contributes about 15% of global emissions of carbon, but it is also a significant source of finance and technology for developing countries in their efforts to fight rising temperatures.

Several commentators worldwide voiced out, that there’s also a question of moral leader-ship, which the US will be giving up, which may have consequences for other diplomatic efforts. Michael Brune, from US environmentalists, the Sierra Club, said the expected withdrawal was a “historic mistake which our grandchildren will look back on with stunned dismay at how a world leader could be so divorced from reality and morality”.

The key relationship that brokered the Paris agreement was between the US and China. President Obama and President Xi Jinping were able to find enough common ground to build a so-called “coalition of high ambition” with small island states and the EU. China has rapidly re-affirmed its commitment to the Paris accord and will issue a statement with the EU tomorrow pledging more greater co-operation to cut carbon.

“No one should be left behind, but the EU and China have decided to move forward,” said EU climate commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete. I strongly agree!

Mother Earth and your environment – quo vadis?

Do you trust elder people?

TUE, MAY 30, 2017 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINIONKlaus Doring

Born in 1953, I started my life at a period when more babies have been entering the German population than never before. World War II, more or less the end of the world – as my late grandmother mostly describes that time – has ended eight years ago. It was not the end of everything. The world economic crises changed into another economical world wonder.

During the Sixties, we looked upon the youth culture of Woodstock as a symbol – of the power of music, the pursuit of self expression, the values of peace, love and community, and the rejection of “the establishment” – even in the midst of torrential rain and an aftermath of foot-deep mud.

I enjoyed our flower power peace generation with long hair. Yes, I confess, many times, I was really very cynical about my parent’s values. I really rejected anything that suggested tradition.

By the way, that’s one thing, which can be observed also in the Philippines since a couple of years. I observed such changes since my first visit in the Philippines in 1976. Nowadays, I feel happy, if my nieces and nephews start listening again my ideas and ask my advice.

The slogan “Never trust someone above 30” had to be abandoned since I crossed that divide myself. Now, hopefully at the second half of my present life,  “30” looks impossible young. And let’s be honest to ourselves: Aren’t we facing the same realities our parents did: Raising families, needs to pay for school et cetera et cetera? We have held fiercely to freethinking and the not traditional ways our parents – shaped by the “Depression”, World War II and much more – never got the luxury to feel.

Those of us who have made good money, hold fewer illusions that a big house and a Mercedes (or any other brand!) in the garage are likely to bring happiness. But guys, what seems most precious to us nowadays is not career or success, but time and the freedom to do the things we love to do that hold meaning. Earnings through a job we don’t like might be painful; but isn’t it much more painful to wait for nothing while being fed by a friend?

Failed marriages, difficult mid-life attempts, something that might pass away a family – yes, I think, we know the rarity of solid and long living relationships with a partner, with children or with a hard to find friend.

We may even dare to speak the language that 30 or 40 or even 50 years ago would have seemed uncool. Call it God or something spiritually, but it would probably be the quest for the sense of life, an the hope and faith, that one exists.

Deutsche Botschaft Manila gibt bekannt ...

 Die Botschaft der Bundesrepublik Deutschland in Manila gibt bekannt, 

dass am Mittwoch, den 21. Juni 2017 von 08.00 Uhr bis 12.30 Uhr und von 14.00 Uhr bis 17.00 Uhr ein Konsularsprechtag stattfinden wird in der University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP), Board Room, Office of the President, Iñigo Street, Haupteingang (in der Nähe der N. Torres/Cervantes und Porras Streets), Brgy. Obrero, Davao City (hinter der Victoria Plaza Mall), Tel./Fax: (082) 224-1372. 

Ansprechpartner ist Frau Mirja Mattern, Mitarbeiterin der Rechts-und Konsularreferate der Botschaft Manila. Als Ansprechpartner vor Ort wenden Sie sich bitte an Herrn Klaus Döring, Tel. 082 2271761 oder 0915 219 9002, der voraussichtlich bereits am 20.06.2017 zum Honorarkonsul mit dem Amtsbezirk Mindanao ernannt werden soll. 

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 (rk-10@mani.diplo.de) Informationen und Formulare finden Sie auf der Website www.manila.diplo.de .

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German Consular Day: The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Manila would like to inform you that Ms. Mirja Mattern, Consular officer of the German Embassy of Manila will be present on Wednesday, 21 of June 2017 from 08:00 a.m to 12:30 p.m. and from 02.00 p.m. to 05.00 p.m. at the University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP), Board Room, Office of the President, Iñigo Street, Main Gate (near N. Torres/Cervantes und Porras Streets), Brgy. Obrero, Davao City (in the back of the Victoria Plaza Mall), Tel./Fax: (082) 224-1372. For further details please contact Mr. Klaus Döring, Tel 082 2271761 or 0915 219 9002. The German Embassy is pleased to inform the public that Mr. Klaus Döring is set to be appointed as Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany in Davao City (presumably on the 20th of June 2017).  Applications for Regular Passports have biometric requirements (including fingerprinting) that cannot be fulfilled in Davao and can therefore not be submitted during the Consular Day. Only applications for German Temporary Passports and Children's Passports, which do not have to satisfy the biometric requirements can be accepted during the Consular Day. Unfortunately, visa applications cannot be accepted as well. Inquiries regarding visa applications will not be answered and should be directed to the Visa Section of the Embassy. Kindly contact the Embassy well in advance in case legal documents have to be prepared. You may also visit our website www.manila.diplo.de for information and application forms.

Undue care and anxiety

Undue care and anxiety

TUE, MAY 23, 2017 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINIONKlaus Doring

Life is better than ever, so, why so many people seem to be un-happy? Whenever I hear people saying that everything is bad, I think of my late grandmother, born in 1899 (!) into a really awful world in Germany and its surroundings. The so-called “Golden Twenties” between the two World Wars have been every-thing but golden for her, my relatives and millions of people. “Lola” never complained, even during the sorrowful time in the former East Germany, the “German Democratic Republic.” Lola reached the ripe old age of almost 86.

We hardly count our blessings. We enjoy counting our crosses. Instead of gains, we count our losses. We don’t have to do all that counting – computers do it for us. Information is easily had.

Just remember this: Opportunity doesn’t just knock – it jiggles the doorknob, and “your friend” – the worrier, is with you day and night, at every corner, following your every step. Complaining and grumbling are good excuses, aren’t they? We have time and opportunities to do almost anything. So why haven’t we done it? We have the freedom of bondage or restraint, every one of us in his or her very special way – but, we’re still our old inferior selves.

The job is boring! I don’t find a good job! The house is an unpleasing mixture of tidy and dirty things. It’s a mess! I am not in the mood to arrange my garden. I can’t afford a gardener. That’s life. How sad! No, it’s not MY fault. Of course not!

The whole world is an awful place filled with dreadful and horrible negativism. Especially nowadays. Yes, I confess, I am also surrounded by many worriers who put their fears into me! Politicians, i.e., many times love to search for some grave alarm that will cause individuals to abandon their separate concerns and act in concert, so that politi-cians can wield the baton. Calls to fatal struggles and fights are forever be-ing surroun-ded.

The over-bearing person, who tyrannizes the weak, the person, who wants to domineer and to bluster, is simply nothing else than a worrier, who might claim to be a friend. But he isn’t! Really not! The bullying of fellow citizens by means of dread and fright has been going on since Paleolithic times. The night wolf is eating the moon. Give me silver, and I’ll make him spit out.

Well, when will we start counting our courage and not our fears, or enjoy instead our woes? Wor-rying itself is pointless. Of course,  no society has achieved perfectly rules of law, never-ending educa-tion or unique responsible governments. Let’s seek out the worries but avoid the worriers, because they try to avoid liberty.

No more kids on motorbikes

New law takes effect: No more kids on motorbikes

By Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon, Kristine B. Quintas (The Freeman) | Updated May 19, 2017 

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Two years after it was signed into law by then president Benigno Aquino III, the Republic Act 10666 otherwise known as Children’s Safety on Motorcycles Act of 2015 will be implemented by the Department of Transportation. Philstar.com/File

CEBU, Philippines - Starting today it is now prohibited for small children to ride on motorcycles as the law banning it takes effect across the country.

Two years after it was signed into law by then president Benigno Aquino III, the Republic Act 10666 otherwise known as Children’s Safety on Motorcycles Act of 2015 will be implemented by the Department of Transportation.

Under the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the law, only children whose feet can reach the foot peg, could wrap their arms around the driver’s waist, and wears protective gear such as a helmet may be allowed to ride on a motorcycle with an adult.

The law covers all public roads, including roads where there is a heavy volume of vehicles, where there is a high-density of fast-moving vehicles, or where the speed limit is more than 60 kilometers per hour.

An exception applies only to cases where a child to be transported requires immediate medical attention.

Land Transportation Office-7 Director Alita Pulga said that parents should read and strictly observe the provisions of the law to prevent accident and avoid apprehension. Pulga said the penalty is big enough to low income workers.

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The law provides P3,000 penalty for the first offense; P5,000 for the second; and P10,000 for the third plus suspension of  the driver’s license for one month.  Beyond the third offense, violators will have their licenses revoked.

DOTr believes that this proactive and preventive approach will ensure the safety of the passengers, especially children.

It is a common sight in Cebu that small children, even infants, are transported on motorcycles. Pulga reminded the public that only two are allowed to ride on a motorcycle—driver and one back rider. The new law has been branded by many as anti-poor.

Joy Antolihao, a housewife from Canduman, Mandaue City, said she is opposed to the implementation of the new law because motorcycles are easier to maneuver especially in heavy traffic.

 “Dili ko ganahan sa bag-ong balaod ron kay gamit kaayo ang motor. If magmotor man gud mas dali ka kalusot sa traffic. Ang importante lang jud, sakto sa gear ang driver og ang bata,” Antolihao said.

Richard Romeo, an elementary teacher and father of four, empathized with the people whose only means of transportation is a motorcycle, especially those who live far from the schools and workplaces.

“Para sa ako maayo ang tinguha anang balaoda pero mag unsa man ang mga tawo nga mao ra gyud intawn ang paagi sa pagsakay labi na sa mga lugar layo sa ilang gitrabahoan o eskwelahan? Mamahimo tingali kana kung ang batang sakay kompleto sa panagang sa pagsakay sama sa helmet. Inubanan sa pag amping sa pagdrive sa usa ka tino ug drug-free nga driver,” he said.

Antolihao and Romeo both send their children, ages 3-8, to school every day using motorcycle.

 But Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III said it is not anti-poor because its objective is only to ensure road safety.

The governor said he understands the situation of the poor people, who are just forced to let their children ride the motorcycles even if they know that it is very risky, because of the absence of public utility vehicles in their places.

“Ang uban wa’y helmet. Ang inahan nga back ride gani magdala pa og baby padung simbahan para pabunyagan. Maluoy pud ta ba,” he said.

But he said the law is among the efforts of the government to curb the incidence of road accidents involving children.

 “I agree. We should be strict on that,” he said.

 Davide said it is now high time to strictly implement the Republic Act 10054 or Helmet Law.

“Helmet law should be enforced,” he said.

Authorities earlier said RA 10054 is difficult to implement as some motorists do not use helmets or use it but only if there are authorities in sight.

Any person caught driving a motorcycle without a crash helmet will be fined P1,778 based on the law.

In fact, Cebu City has an existing ordinance that prohibits children below seven years old from riding on motorcycles, but has not also been strictly implemented.

Davide said even the towns and component cities in Cebu have a “very lax traffic rules and we have to face the reality that the towns have no traffic enforcers.”

The World Health Organization’s road safety report showed that 1.25 million people have died globally due to road accidents, with motorcyclists comprising 23 percent of deaths.

 Without action, WHO said road traffic crashes are predicted to rise to become the seventh leading cause of death by 2030.

WHO said wearing a motorcycle helmet correctly can reduce the risk of death by almost 40 percent and the risk of severe injury by over 70 percent.

In a 2015 study, Thinking Machines (TM), a Taguig City-based research team, said motorcycle riders are the most vulnerable to accidents, particularly when they do not wear protective gear.

There would be an 80 percent chance of instant death for victims if a truck and bicycle were involved in an accident, it added.

 TM said motorcycle crashes were over five times more likely to result in death or injury compared with other road accidents. It also said statistics showed that bicycle riders have a 66.8 percent chance of figuring in an accident. 

— with Chiara Lei L. Qu