Arroyo names own daughter as project director of CTI Secretariat

MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / May 21, 2009) - President Gloria Arroyo has named her only daughter, Evangeline Lourdes Arroyo, program director of the newly-created Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) secretariat that will carry out the resolutions formulated by the leaders of six CTI member countries at their summit in Manado, Indonesia, the official Philippine News Agency reported.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde announced the appointment on May 17 over Radyo ng Bayan where he stressed the “very successful participation” of the President and her delegation in the recently-concluded CTI leaders’ summit in Manado.

Though eligible for foreign-service posting, having passed the Foreign Service Officers exams, the young Arroyo had chosen to take a low-profile position in private foundations, away from the glare of publicity.

Arroyo's daughter, according to the PNA, surfs and scuba dives a lot like her parents and is active in nature conservation efforts, particularly the marine ecosystems.

She also headed the Foundation for Information Technology Education and Development as director for strategic development, which conducted MindShare networking sessions at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) in cooperation with the Philippine Venture Capital Investment Group.

The Coral Triangle is a vast marine resource bordering Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste. It is where 70 percent of the world’s coral reefs are found. The breeding ground for fishes and marine resources, it supplies 80 percent of the world’s fish and fishery requirements.

The CTI Leaders Summit was the culmination of the World Ocean Conference of 70 countries which recognized the importance of the Coral Triangle.

The President has underscored the significance of the Coral Triangle to future generations, especially in the CTI nations.

The CTI will primarily focus on areas of cooperation in relation to coral reefs, fisheries and food security, and adaptation to climate change, Remonde said.

At the Manado summit, the CTI leaders adopted a regional plan of action -- a living and non-legally binding document -- to conserve and sustainably manage coastal and marine resources within the Coral Triangle region that takes into consideration laws and policies of each country, he added.

Remonde said the CTI secretariat will initiate the mobilization and effective allocation of sustainable financial resources needed to implement regional and national plans of actions.
The six CTI leaders pledged to set aside their respective allocations for CTI programs. These allocations will be matched by developed countries through the Global Environment Fund administered by the Asian Development Bank. (PNA)

Sulu Province Scores High In Primary Education

SULU, Philippines - Sulu's indicator on primary education posted high in the implementation of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) assisted Sixth Country Program for Children (CPC-6), the official Philippine News Agency said.

This is based on the resent findings of the latest Sub-Regional Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (SR-MICS) conducted late last year.

The SR-MICS, a joint project of the UNICEF and the National Statistics Office, was designed to provide baseline information for assessing the situation of children and women in the 24 provinces and cities covered in CPC-6.

Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator Bertrand A. Chio said during the SR-MICS Analysis Review Workshop held last November 4-6 at the Area Coordinating Center in Patikul town that the MICS results showed that Sulu scored high in primary education indicators. Of the 24 provinces and cities, Sulu, side by side with Pasay City, ranked number one in the indicator pointing to the percentage of children in Grade 1 who survive to Grade 6.

In the same survey, the province however scored alarmingly on indicators pointing to households consuming iodized salt, and on attending early childhood education for ages 3-5. The indicators ranked low for birth registration, exclusive breastfeeding of 0-3 months, birth delivered in health facilities, and for fully immunized babies by 12 months.

Chio said the MICS results reveal that the province is doing well in its advocacy and on its resolve to provide programs to uplift the lives of women and children.

On other indicators such as access to potable water, antenatal care, assistance at delivery, Vitamin A and iron supplementation, and knowledge on children's rights – all have acceptable ratings. In addition, programs to address the problem on early childhood education, and child labor in the province, indicators show that these need to be hastened.

In an official letter, UNICEF representative to the Philippines, Nicholas Alipui informed Governor Abdusakur M. Tan that the MICS report, although it is still a draft, is the most recent, reliable and up to date baseline information on the assessment of the situation of children and women in the 24 provinces and cities covered by CPC-6. Alipui said the MICS report will serve as the basis for developing future plans, programs, policies and advocacy materials for the realization of the rights of children in the provinces and cities covered by UNICEF.

Elated with the results of the survey, Governor Tan attributed the achievement to the continued cooperation, partnership and commitment of the partner agencies like the Integrated Provincial Health Office, the Department of Education, the Department of Interior & Local Governemnt, the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

He also cited the cooperation and advocacy of the Philippine National Police, the state-run dxSM-Radyo ng Bayan, the Department of Labor and Employment, the SDM Vicariate, Provincial Planning and Development Office, local officials and other stakeholders in pursuing programs that would further improve the lives of children and women.

Governor Tan, however, said that are still much to be done to sustain the program and address those indicators that were poorly rated.

Malaysia deports 200 illegal Filipinos

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Oct. 27, 2008) – Malaysia has deported more than 200 illegal Filipinos arrested across the oil-rich state of Sabah, the Philippines foreign affairs said Monday.

It said a total of 221 Filipino deportees arrived by boat over the weekend in Tawi-Tawi and Sulu provinces and Zamboanga City. Among those deported were children and women, said Conrado Cabaquit, a spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in Zamboanga City.

He said 138 deportees have disembarked in Tawi-Tawi and 30 others in Sulu and 53 more in Zamboanga City. Cabaquit said those who are planning to return and work to Malaysia should secure their passport so they can legally enter Sabah.

Cabaquit said the DFA has established a so-called “One Stop Processing Center” where Filipinos who want to travel to Sabah can secure all necessary documents.

The Philippine News Agency also reported that more than 500 undocumented Filipinos had been deported from Sabah earlier this month. Last month, some 900 illegal Filipinos were deported from Malaysia.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Zamboanga City said more than 9,000 undocumented Filipinos have been deported from Sabah since January up to last month. Many of those sent back home were natives of Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, Basilan provinces, all in the Muslim autonomous region and Zamboanga City and other parts of Mindanao.

And many also told tales of abuses by their Malaysian jail guards. Just early this month, a member of the Philippine Congress, Luzviminda Ilagan, accused Malaysian authorities of violating human rights of undocumented Filipinos held in various jails in Sabah, where authorities have been rounding up illegal immigrants and workers.

She said thousands of Filipinos, including women and children, are still languishing in Malaysian jails and suffering from inhumane conditions and had been deprived of their basic rights.

In July, the House of Representatives also passed a resolution calling the Committees on Overseas Workers' Affairs and the DFA to conduct an investigation into the condition of jailed Filipinos in Sabah.

Zamboanga City serves as the transit point for deportees since Malaysia began its crackdown in 2000. Hundreds of arrested Filipinos are being deported every week from Sabah and many of them had told tales of human rights abuses while in Malaysian jails.

Ilagan said the government should provide the deportees with proper housing and livelihood for them not to be tempted to leave the country again in search of a decent life.

She also urged other legislators in the lower house to take up immediate measures to protect undocumented Filipinos, most especially women and children, who face the risk of being detained and abused in Malaysian jails before they are returned to the Philippines. (With reports from Rex Montebon and Erico Rosco)

Former rebels rebuild their lives and dreams

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Above the din of the training room, a baby's cry was heard followed by the soft voice of a young mother hushing and rocking the fragile bundle in her arms.

The nursing mother was 23-year-old "Adela," one of the former New People's Army (NPA) rebels who have returned to the folds of the law.

She sneaked out from the harsh life in the boondocks to reunite with her family and her community. After seven years in the communist movement, she could not find any change for the better in her life.

In fact, she had suffered too much more than she had been promised.

Adela's life was miserable as an NPA rebel.

Then one day, she decided that enough is enough as a guerrilla fighter, as she could not anymore tolerate her miserable life.

She was itching to live a normal life away from the dangers of being an Amazon (woman fighter).

Intensely looking at her new-born child in her arms, she was full of compassion, determined to give her daughter a normal life when she grows up. The new baby in her arms has further inspired her to turn a new leaf.

Like Adela, 33-year-old "Rico" got tired of the battles he had waged for seven years as a high-ranking officer in the Communist movement.

He could no longer bear to see innocent civilians being killed in encounters and meet his wife and kids only once or twice in a year.

Being with his family also matters to 36-year-old "Jojo," who, after five years of fighting the military, decided to come down because he has been worried about his two children.

Separated from his wife, he has been left to fend for his children who are struggling to continue their studies. Jojo felt it is time that he serves them as their father.

Adela, Rico and Jojo are among the hopeful returnees who are now rebuilding their shattered lives and dreams through the government's Social Integration Program (SIP).

Assisted by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), the three former NPA rebel leaders and 46 others were the first batch to undergo a three-day livelihood skills training facilitated by the Department of Agriculture (DA) Region 11 at the Southern Mindanao Integrated Agricultural Research Center in Tugbok, Davao City.

Their batch has also been granted P 2.45 million worth of livelihood support under the SIP on top of the P20,000 immediate cash grant previously handed to every one of them.

Each family has received assistance amounting to P50,000 in kind which include livestock, farm implements, seedlings or sari-sari store, depending of what they chose.

The grant is modest but valuable enough to enable the former guerrillas to start anew a life as law- abiding citizens. (PNA)

US Troops Deployed In Southern Philippines Where Fighting Is Raging

Filipino leader Gloria Arroyo and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and Military chief Alexander Yano inspect MILF weapons recovered by Philippine troops during a visit in Iligan City in Lanao del Norte province on September 18, 2008. (Photo by Rolando Mailo / OPS-NIB)

ILIGAN CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / September 18, 2008) – US troops have been deployed in the southern Philippines, where Filipino soldiers are battling Moro rebels, government media reported Thursday.

It said US forces are operating in Lanao provinces and involved in humanitarian assistance and development, but were also helping the local military in fighting terrorism, the Philippine News Agency said, quoting Filipino army commanders.

It quoted Army Colonel Benito de Leon, commander of the 104th Infantry Brigade, as saying the US forces are also into intelligence purposes which is in keeping with an earlier agreement with the Philippines' supporting the global war on terrorism.

“American troops are based mainly in Zamboanga and just come and go in the Lanao areas for technical purposes in intelligence swapping with domestic counterparts,” he said.

Philippine troops are battling Moro Islamic Liberation Front forces in Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur provinces after rebels launched a series of deadly attacks since last month.

The local military said US troops were already deployed in the province constructing water system and irrigation projects even before rebels, led by Abdurahman Macapaar, mounted attacks that killed dozens of civilians.

Another Filipino army commander, Colonel Rey Ardo, said US military engineers are set to begin water system projects in the towns of Lumbayanague and Masiu, scenes of previous clashes between soldiers and rebels.

“Tapping the vast Lake Lanao, the Americans saw the rich agricultural potential of several towns which are actually considered rice basin of the province,” he said.

The Philippine military said US troops are not allowed to join combat operations, but can engage rebels if they are attacked.

Fierce fighting on Wednesday in Lanao del Sur’s Calanugas town left seven soldiers and one MILF rebel dead and at least 7 more infantrymen wounded in separate MILF attacks.

Peace negotiations between Manila and the MILF collapsed after the aborted signing of a Muslim homeland deal last month.

President Gloria Arroyo also disbanded the government panel negotiating with the MILF and scrapped the territorial deal which would have granted a separate homeland for about four million Muslims in Mindanao.

Arroyo demanded the MILF to surrender three rogue MILF commanders Ameril Kato, Sulayman Panglian and Macapaar, who were tagged as behind the series of attacks before peace could resume.

The MILF rejected the demands and warned that a bigger war could erupt in the restive region if Manila continues its offensive. More than half a million people have been affected by the fighting since last month.

Peace talks last year were also stalled after Manila reneged on the same territorial deal. Malaysia, which is brokering the negotiations, blamed the Arroyo government for stalling the seven-year old peace talks. (Mindanao Examiner)

Photo: Journalists Pay Honor, Tribute To Fallen Colleagues In Philippines

Journalists pray for murdered members of the Philippine media in front of the radio station dxRZ of the Radio Mindanao Network on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 in Zamboanga City. Two RMN broadcasters, Dennis Cuesta and Martin Roxas, were killed in separate attacks last week in the Philippines; bringing to 97 the number of journalists killed in line of duty since President Gloria Arroyo assumed power in 2001. The Philippines is one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists. Many Filipino journalists are also being harassed, coerced and intimidated because of the news they report. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

War And Development Vs Insurgency In Jolo Island

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / 23 Aug) – Manila will pursue a vigorous development and economic programs in an effort to defeat insurgency in the southern Filipino island of Jolo in the Sulu Archipelago, the Philippine News Agency said.

The island’s Governor Sakur Tan said Thursday that President Gloria Arroyo ordered government agencies to help develop Jolo and turn it into a progressive province in the Muslim autonomous region.

“Economic development has always been our primary weapon in addressing terrorism and other problems in the province,” said Tan, who was with the President in Zamboanga City.

Arroyo flew to Zamboanga City to preside over a military conference about the ongoing government operations against the Abu Sayyaf in Jolo and Basilan islands.

The National Disaster Coordinating Council said some 2,751 families have been affected by military operation in Jolo island.

“Despite military offensive, life goes on for everybody in my province. The government is really working hard to achieve peace and development not in the province, but in Mindanao as well,” Tan said.

He said Arroyo has instructed the Department of Trade and Industry to assist the province in the promotion and marketing of its products and other produce.

“There will be a C-130 plane that will transport our produce all the way to Manila and to department stores and supermarkets like Shoemart and Rustans.”

“We’ve just got a call from the Asia-America initiatives, this is the initiative of PGMA of bringing together all efforts of agencies of government in addressing problems of the provinces of Sulu and Basilan,” Tan said. (Jocelyn Alvarez, of the PNA and Mindanao Examiner)

Bright Future Ahead, Arroyo Tells Graduates

MANILA - President Gloria Arroyo on Thursday said the political noise has been bypassed by the investment community as the Filipino people have now entered "the frontier of peace, development, solidarity and prosperity."

Arroyo made the announcement in her address at the 28th Graduation Rites of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) Sansiriningan Class 2007 at Camp Gen. Mariano Castaneda in Silang, Cavite, the government media said.

"The din of political noise has largely been bypassed by the investment community. We have crossed the sound barrier; we have entered the frontier of peace, development, solidarity and prosperity," she said as she expressed elation over the big surge of investments in the country in the past two months.

She said "the surge of investments is coming from all points of the compass, doubling in the first two months of 2007," in contrast to pronouncements of the administration critics that no investments, from both local and foreign, would be coming in due to the political noise.

"The trend is now clear that political stability and democratic continuity is a given for the Philippines and investors are putting their stake in our vision for the future," she said, adding that the government and all its institutions including the police, the fire departments, and the jail management bureau are closing ranks to clean up the mess of the past.

Arroyo explained that because of the successful implementation of her administration's strict reform and fiscal measures, the foreign community now views the Philippines as the next country in the Asian region to become a developed nation in the near future.

She said the government's focus in the economy is paying off in terms of a strong peso, low inflation rate, a robust stock market, rapid inflow of foreign investments and creation of over five million new jobs in the last six years.

"Our unemployment rate is the lowest in the long time and our poverty rate is at the lowest as well," she stressed.

"This is most of all a tribute to Filipinos here and abroad who have kept faith in the great potentials of our nation, a faith that has spread far and wide and across the Asia-Pacific," Arroyo said.

The President's speech hailing the brisk inflow of investments came on the heels of the report by the Department of Trade and Industry that investments in the Philippines increased by 125 percent to reach P26.8 billion in January-February 2007 compared with just P11.9 billion in the same period of last year.

DTI Secretary Peter Favila said that of the total amount, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) approved 80 projects worth P19.97 billion.

The Board of Investments (BOI), on the other hand, approved 49 projects with a total value of P6.81 billion.

Favila reported that China's property giant, the Shanghai-based Shimao Property Holdings Ltd., plans to invest US$ 2 billion-US$ 4 billion in hotels, entertainment and mixed development buildings for office, residential and commercial use in the Philippines, according to the Philippine News Agency.