STATEMENT OF EDGARDO J. ANGARA ON THE PASSING OF NELSON MANDELA

MANILA-I join the world in mourning the passing of Nelson Mandela, a true icon of peace and freedom.  

Although faced with adversity, Mandela personified temperance and compassion, the same virtues that would propel him to become the father of modern South Africa.  

Even behind bars, he sought to see his people freed from the fetters not just of racism, but also of poverty, unemployment, and social discord, the other trappings of apartheid.     

As South Africa’s first black President, Mandela ensured that reconciliation, not retribution, was the tone of the reparation efforts, a path littered with significant challenges.  

Mandela once said, “There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere and many of us will have to pass through the valley of the shadow of death again and again before we reach the mountain tops of our desires.”

His life exemplifies how patience, hard work and unwavering commitment are essential to achieving one’s utmost vision.

This is the greatest legacy he leaves the world, a lesson which our newly elected officials must imbibe into their public service.   

Mandela's death marks a truly sad moment in the history of the world, one definitely made better because of his example.

Legarda Pays Tribute to Mandela

MANILA-“The world grieves over the death of the man whose courage inspired the dawning of a new South Africa and empowered victims of social injustice in other parts of the world,” said Senator Loren Legarda as she paid tribute to former President Nelson Mandela of South Africa.

Mandela died late Thursday (Friday, PHL time) at his home in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Legarda recalls the time she met Mandela when she was still a journalist. It was during the South African President’s state visit to the Philippines in 1997.

“It was a great honor to have met President Nelson Mandela. He was a leader who earned your respect with his presence alone because even with his power and influence, he remained kindly and unassuming. His humility was his true greatness,” said Legarda.

“He was a humble leader who gave credit to the effort of the people around him. He never gave the impression that the leadership was all about him, but that he was a man who was tasked to execute the ideals and ideas of his organization. He even told me during my interview that he did not see the need to run for reelection because he believed in the tradition of collective leadership,” she added.

A lawyer by profession, Mandela joined the African National Congress in 1944 to fight the apartheid policy of the South African government. He was sentenced to life imprisonment for sabotage and treason in 1962, which gained him international attention as a symbol of resistance against social injustice. In 1994, Mandela became the first black President of the Republic of South Africa, ending generations of apartheid.

Five Steps to Prevent Disasters and Save Lives

MANILA-Twenty-five typhoons have already visited the country this year, with the strongest, Typhoon Yolanda, revealing the gravity of disaster risk that Philippine communities are facing.

Senator Loren Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committees on Climate Change and Environment and Natural Resources, said that Yolanda is the new benchmark for disaster prevention and preparedness, stressing that “like all natural hazards, Yolanda was inevitable but its disastrous effects could have been prevented or mitigated if we were more prepared.”

As UN Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Asia-Pacific, Legarda shares wise pointers on making communities resilient, drawn in five steps to save lives and prevent massive destruction of property.

1. Manage risks rather than manage disasters

In the lingo of disaster reduction experts, this is simply called “risk governance.” Local government units (LGUs) must determine if certain risks are prevalent in a community making it vulnerable to the effects of a landslide, flooding, tsunami, storm surge or earthquake.

Local disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) plans must be crafted to address these threats and funds should be sufficiently allocated to effectively carry out these plans.

The World Bank estimates that for every dollar invested in disaster reduction measures saves seven to ten dollars in losses from natural disasters.

A good example is Barangay Cunsad in the Municipality of Alimodian, Province of Iloilo. In July 2012, when the heavy rains of Typhoon Gener triggered major landslides in Cunsad, they recorded zero casualty. This is because, when the natural signs of impending landslide showed up in the populated barangay of Cunsad, the municipal government immediately sought the help of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for risk assessment and heeded the advice of geologists to relocate the residents.

2. Make every Filipino 'disaster-literate'

Sound policies and political will to implement do not complete the formula for effective disaster prevention because there needs to be cooperation from the public. Early and mandatory evacuation would be useless if the people do not understand the need for such efforts.

Raising public awareness should be made to resonate loudly and as far deep into the communities as possible. If some of our people do not yet see how the issues could affect them, still it is our responsibility to draw them in. The government can conduct training for building the resilience of families covered by the Conditional Cash Transfer Program, together with the DSWD and the League of Barangays.

During the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda, all 500 houses in the island of Tulang Diyot (Municipality of San Francisco, Cebu Province) were destroyed but the entire population was saved because of prompt evacuation led by former Mayor of San Francisco, Cebu Province, Alfredo Arquillano, a UNISDR Champion. Arquillano said that “when it was clear how bad the typhoon would be, we decided to evacuate all 1,000 people. Because we’ve done so much work on disaster risk everyone fully understood the need to move to safety.”

3. Let the science work for you

Adequately preparing for a disaster means knowing it fully well and the dangers it brings. Having experts gather and validate scientific data allows the accurate prediction of events, which could then be matched with the best practical solutions. When and where a typhoon will strike, and how, are critical knowledge that will allow the community to timely seek safer ground and fully protect their homes and properties.

With high reliability of disaster data, it is expected that the private sector will be more confident to enter into risk financing schemes without fear of massive losses.

4. Protect the environment

Building on good risk reduction practices means going back to the very basics: protecting our ecosystems and natural buffers such as mangrove forests to mitigate floods, storm surges and other hazards.

Our environment and its ecosystem support human life and provide the basic materials for our economy, such as food, fuel and clean water. The ecosystem also sequesters carbon emissions, regulates erosion and landslides, and reduces floods.

In Montalban, Rizal, a group of women farmers started to practice agroforestry to adapt to the prolonged wet season; while in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, a group of women fisherfolk reforested over a hundred hectares of mangrove areas to protect their settlements from storm surges and secure additional source of food for their families.

5.  Preparation is half the battle won

While disaster prevention should be the greater focus of our efforts, response preparedness is likewise important to prevent further casualties.

Contingency plans are crucial in times of disasters. Communities must draw and test regularly their response plan way ahead of any disaster event and improve constantly on early warning systems and emergency management capacities.

LGUs must have the political will to implement forced evacuation when called for.  Shelters for evacuees should be well designed, built strong, and prepared ahead of time with emergency supplies of food, water, medicine, shelter, and toiletries, while government agencies are ready to augment the basic needs of evacuees.

Local disaster and risk reduction management officers should be alert. Quick communication, particularly real-time updates, is also vital in ensuring effective disaster response with first responders and search and rescue teams ready for dispatch anytime.

A good example is the Purok System in the Municipality of San Francisco, Camotes Island, Cebu Province, which won the 2011 UN Sasakawa Award for Disaster Reduction. The Purok System allows the immediate self-organization within villages and focuses on addressing the vulnerability of every barangay in the municipality by mobilizing local resources in creating local and practical solutions based on the unique needs of every community.

For Legarda, these five steps are achievable with smooth coordination among agencies of government, all sectors of society, and the citizens.

“The key is to work together, as one community, as one nation. We must rebuild communities aware of the lessons of Yolanda, Sendong, Pablo, the Bohol quake and all other major disasters that have brought us to our feet. We must not rebuild the risks. We must rebuild stronger, wiser and smarter,” said Legarda.

Drilon eyes US practice as model for country’s disaster response

MANILA-Senate President Franklin M. Drilon said today that the country’s experience during the past disastrous events should pave the way for needed reforms in the country’s disaster response ability, before the next calamity on the scale of super typhoon “Yolanda” hits the country once more.

Drilon voiced out his proposals during today’s joint press conference, hosted during the courtesy call made by the new United States Ambassador Philip Goldberg.

The US envoy had earlier talked with Drilon regarding future developments and issues on Philippine security and foreign policy.    

Drilon emphasized that government should improve its capability to prepare for and handle the threat of large-scale natural and man-made calamities. 

“The country would do well to look at international practices, especially by advanced countries like the United States regarding disaster preparedness, coordination and response to beef up its own disaster strategy, which was extremely challenged and found wanting during the rampage of  super typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan),” said Drilon.

“We’re looking at that to see the best practices we can adopt here so we’ll be able to respond effectively to disasters that will visit us in the future. No question about that,” he stressed. 

Drilon notes the developments and advances made by the United States with its Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), a federal agency which was responsible for the country’s response when its southern parts were hit by Hurricane Katrina, and when Hurricane Sandy struck the US eastern seaboard.

“I understand a lot of improvements were adopted by FEMA after Hurricane Katrina, which definitely helped during Hurricance Sandy.  We can learn from the bureaucratic management at the federal level of the US government on how they respond to disasters,” Drilon explained.

Drilon then suggested that a similar approach could be taken with the Philippines, and that the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), currently the country’s main disaster strategy body, could be revamped into a permanent and completely independent government entity.

“In our case, we still have an ad hoc council that handles long-term relief and rehabilitation. We should look at the possibility of having a permanent government structure instead of what we have today, to make it more bureaucratically dynamic,” he said.       

Still, Drilon emphasized that executive initiatives to improve coordination of the country’s response to damages from calamities are already ongoing, even as legislative proposals are “still under thorough discussion.”

“Because of the current lack of a permanent structure, the President found the need to appoint a rehabilitation czar in the person of former Senator Lacson,” Drilon noted.

During the courtesy call, the Senate President also thanked Ambassador Goldberg and the US government, for “the quick and valuable assistance that the US extended to the Philippines, by committing nearly $52 million worth of assistance on the relief operations for recent calamities.”  

Senate Labor Committee tackles OFW welfare bills in Overseas Filipinos Month

MANILA-Coinciding with the observance of the Overseas Filipinos Month, the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development tackled various legislative measures promoting the welfare of migrant workers.

 

Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, Chairman of the Senate Labor Committee, presided last Tuesday the committee hearing which discussed separate pending bills seeking to create a charter of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and Magna Carta for Seafarers.

 

The body took up the proposed Magna Carta for Seafarers which will give flesh to the minimum labor standards on employment, recruitment and job placement of seafarers, and welfare mechanisms set forth by the Maritime Labor Convention, 2006. It also provides compulsory benefits and defines fundamental rights of the sea-based workers.

 

The so-called “Seafarers’ Bill of Rights” is one of Sen. Estrada’s priority measures for the 16^th Congress and is included in the list of twelve priority measures identified by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

 

“With Filipino seafarers comprising more than a quarter of the 1.2 million seafarers around the globe, the enactment of this bill is indeed imperative. I really hope we can pass this bill which guarantees our seafarers their right to humane working conditions and just compensation at the soonest time possible,” Sen. Estrada said in his opening statement.

 

The stakeholders, including the Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, United Filipino Seafarers, Associated Marine Officers’ and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines, expressed full support to the proposed legislation. Nonetheless, a technical working group meeting is scheduled on Tuesday, December 10.

 

The Labor Committee also discussed the proposed OWWA Charter, which shall lay the formal legislative foundation for the defined functions and powers of the OWWA.

 

Sen. Estrada noted that the OWWA is a creation of different issuances of the executive over the years.

 

Meanwhile, the Migrant Workers Act, as amended, provides that the OWWA shall undertake the repatriation of workers in cases of war, epidemic, disasters or calamities, among others. It shall likewise formulate and implement welfare programs for overseas Filipino workers and their families while they are abroad and upon their return.

 

“As said by Administrator Carmelita Dimzon during the hearing, ‘What are we really? The Commission on Audit applies the same auditing rules for government-owned and –controlled corporations and financial institutions, while we treat our office as a national government agency.’ It appears that there is confusion on what OWWA is and the proposed charter seeks to remedy this situation,” Jinggoy noted.

 

Sen. Estrada added that this problem manifests on sluggish response by the agency on rescuing, repatriating and assisting distressed and runaway overseas Filipino workers.

 

Under Senate Bill 24, the proposed OWWA Act of 2013 principally authored by Sen. Estrada, defines the nature, scope and functions of OWWA; membership, contribution and collection; OWWA board of trustees, secretariat and other personnel; guiding principles on the benefits and services for OFWs; and fiscal management, budget policy and administration of its funds.

 

The country is observing the Overseas Filipinos Month, following the declaration made by the late President Cory Aquino through Proclamation 276. The decree which declares the month of December as Overseas Filipinos Month recognizes and honors overseas Filipinos who “contribute to building up the Philippine economy through their taxes and remittances.”

Clark-based Japanese firm helps ‘Yolanda’ survivors in Visayas

CLARK FREEPORT-Clark Freeport-based Japanese firm SMK Electronics Philippines Corporation sent three truckloads of relief supplies to areas in the Visayas, which were stricken by Super Typhoon Yolanda last month.

 

“The supplies, which weighed at least 9.8 tons, consisted of 4,000 food packs and non-food items including medicines and candles,” Clark Development Corporation (CDC) General Affairs and Human Resources Manager Herrie Raymond Rivera said.

 

“SMK is grateful for the assistance of Philippine Air Force and the United States Navy, which provided for the transportation of the much-needed supplies to the families in the Visayas,” Rivera added.

 

Earlier, CDC through its Vice President for Operations Franco Alejo Madlangbayan turned-over 12 checks amounting P1,249,650 to the Department of Social Welfare and Development as part of its “Bangon Bayan” initiative. 

Korean peace icon cites growth of Nueva Ecija

PALAYAN CITY, Nueva Ecija – A peace and development icon from South Korea has heaped praises on the political leadership in Nueva Ecija for steering the province to economic growth and development over the years.

          Dr. David Yoo, president of the Global Peace Festival Foundation Korea (GPFFK) told Filipino and foreign contingents that their group has noticed the massive development works being done in the province by the provincial government under the leadership of Gov. Aurelio Umali.

          “The Global Peace Festival Foundation of Korea has gone to Nueva Ecija no less than 40 times where we launched our project in 13 villages. We saw development and we were very impressed,” Yoo said in a speech during a dinner banquet at the Sierra Madre Suites here hosted by the provincial government Monday night.

          Yoo, along with other GPFF officials, visited the province for two days where they launched its “All Lights Village (ALV)” project by donating dozens of solar lamps to impoverished families in remote communities in the province.

Yoo noted that the province, the Philippines’ rice granary, has also been providing quality rice to Korean people. He said Korea has been helping the Philippines in its development efforts.

He noted that the Philippines is the only country in the world which persuaded the international community not to invade Korea six decades ago during the Korean war.

He added that Filipinos have shared knowledge with the Korean people, including in the construction of buildings in his country. “It is now the turn of Koreans to return the favor. That’s why we are building ideal communities,” he said.

He added that 80% of communities all over the world live in poor conditions. “Once we build ideal communities in Nueva Ecija, we can spread it all around the world. Let us make a better world together,” he said.

          Yoo, along with GPFF Philippines president Dr. Michael Zablan, Habitat for Humanity Philippines president and chief executive officer McCharlie Ayco (HHP) and Global Peace Foundation (GPF) founder and international chairman James Flyn made a courtesy call on Umali at the old capitol in Cabanatuan City Monday morning where the governor presented to them the symbolic key to the province.

Aside from Umali, the visitors were welcomed by provincial administrator Alejandro Abesamis, Board Member Edmund Abesamis and officials of the Department of Education led by Region 3 director Dr. Isabelita Borres and Nueva Ecija schools division superintendent Dr. Edna Santos-Zerrudo.

They then proceeded to the nearby Nueva Ecija High School gymnasium to grace the regional peace camp and leadership seminar. The school has been chosen as pilot school in implementing the character-based education and service learning program.

Afterwards, Yoo’s group launched the 4^th ALV internation service project 1 (ISP1), a housing project for residents of sitio Cabiao, Barangay Bagumbayan, Llanera through partnership with GPFF, HHP and the municipal government led by Mayor Lorna Mae Vero.

They then proceeded to sitio Pulong Uway, Barangay Marcos Village in this city for the inauguration of the 13^{th ALV} together with Mayor Rianne Cuevas. They also planted trees in the two areas.

On Tuesday, Yoo’s group participated in the Global Peace Advocates Assembly (GPAA), a walk for peace from the Palayan City central School to the Nueva Ecija Convention Center.

The assembly, which carries the theme : “”One World, One Family, One Celebration,” was participated in by thousands of GPFF volunteers from the Philippines and various nationalities, local officials and students.

The ALV, a component of the global peace leadership exchange project (GPLEP) of the GPFF Philippines and GPFF Korea, has been helping the Aquino administration in lighting up sitios through donation of safer, less expensive, healthier and environment-friendly solar lamps in place of kerosene lamps.

Yoo said the ALV complements the electrification project launched by President Aquino in Malacanang on January 21 last year where he announced that 30,000 sitios in the country were being targeted for electrification.

Through this LED lanterns, children can study their lessons at night and other family members can do their household chores during nighttime and spare them the risks of using paraffin lights and kerosene lanterns which pose as fire hazards aside from posing health risks such as respiratory illness for women and children due to indoor air pollution.

           Last year, over 300 families in this city and in the municipalities of Laur and Gabaldon received the solar lanterns while ALVs were launched in three big sitios. (Manny Galvez)

Palayan turns 48, Malacañang declares Dec. 5 special non-working day in NE capital

PALAYAN CITY, Nueva Ecija–All roads lead to this provincial capital today as local officials, led by neophyte lady Mayor Adrianne Mae J. Cuevas observe this city’s austere 48^th anniversary celebrations amid the devastation wrought by typhoon “Santi.”

          Third district Rep. Czarina Umali, wife of Gov. Aurelio Umali will be the guest of honor and speaker in this year’s anniversary rites, which carry the theme: “”Kaunlaran at Kasaganaan Tungo sa Bagong Palayan Now Na! (Progress and Bounty towards a New Palayan Right Now!).

          President Aquino, through Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., issued last November 20 Presidential Proclamation 687 declaring December 5, 2013 a special non-working day throughout the city to enable the people to celebrate and participate in the event.

        

       The executive committee for this year’s anniversary rites, led by overall chairman, Kapisanan ng mga Magsisibuyas sa Nueva Ecija (Kasamne) general manager Rolando Manangan, launched the kick-off ceremony yesterday with an ecumenical service at the Palayan City Conference Center (PCCC) followed by the launch of a service caravan involving medical and dental mission, birth registration and other social services, the coronation of the Mr. and Ms. Day Care 2013 and the barangay and awards night at the Nueva Ecija Convention Center.

       

      Today, a get-together for the city’s elderly will be held at the PCCC followed by parade of the Mr. and Ms. Day Care 2013 in the afternoon. 

       

           Cuevas said the city was one of those hardest hit by “Santi” in October and there had been calls to exercise austerity after some P300 million worth of crops was damaged in the city.

 “In the aftermath of Santi, it was demanded that there should be austerity but since this is just a once-a-year activity, we decided to celebrate it. And we did pursue austerity by not inviting showbiz celebrities,” she told a media briefing.   

This year’s anniversary rites come on the heels of a major facelift undertaken by the fledgling Cuevas administration which implemented drastic political and administrative reforms, starting with the renovation of the city hall.

      

      Cuevas said the city, apart from being the seat of the provincial government, also would like to claim for it a rightful place as an agro-industrial center in the province.

   

       Presently, Cuevas has been inviting a number of investors to set up businesses in the city in line with her administration’s vision to turn it into an investors’ haven.

          This city was created as the new capital of Nueva Ecija on June 19,1965 by virtue of Republic Act 4475 signed by then-President Diosdado Macapagal. It first rose to prominence when it hosted the National Jamboree of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines in 1969 at its campsite, attended by thousands of scouts from Asia-Pacific countries. 

          The campsite is considered the BSP’s largest regional campsite where the Josefa Llanes Escoda national training center is also housed.

          The city also hosts the headquarters of the Army’s 7^th Infantry Division at the Fort Magsaysay Military Reservation, considered one of the largest military training camps not only in the country but also in southeast Asia. (Manny Galvez) 

NOLCOM eyes conduct of climate change summits in all provinces in area of responsibility

CAMP AQUINO, Tarlac City-Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines is eyeing the conduct of climate change summits in all provinces within its area of responsibility or those from regions 1,2,3, and Cordillera.

“Preparation for calamities is not an easy thing to do. It is too tedious, that it may require us a year or two to really arrive at a 100% fully equipped status. The need to make the public aware about these environmental phenomena is indeed important,” NOLCOM Commander Lieutenant General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said.

Taking into account the aftermath of super typhoon “Yolanda” in the Visayas, Catapang underscored awareness and responsiveness as key elements in gearing the public during calamities, which could only be achieved by doing summits.

“Awareness is important. The terminologies we use during calamities should be clear and understandable to the public. Teaching them the meaning of these scientific terms helps them in responding appropriately,” he added.

Catapang vouched for the development of crisis management protocol encouraging not only government officials but also ordinary citizens as well to take the initiative in facilitating and providing assistance to areas affected by calamities.

“We only have one common enemy and that is climate change. Let’s help each other in terminating this adversary,” Catapang underscored. (Lorie Gene C. Cruz)

City of San Fernando to hold 2013 Giant Lantern Festival on December 14

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga-Its all systems go for the City of San Fernando’s staging of the 2013 edition of its internationally renowned Giant Lantern Festival (GLF) on December 14.

 

“10 barangays will battle for this year’s crown which will be held in Robinsons Starmills. Participants include defending champion Del Pilar” GLF 2013 Organizing Committee chair Mariano Castro Jr. said.

 

A total of 250 personnel from the Philippine National Police shall be deployed in the event area while San Fernando Rescue Unit will be on full alert.

 

“Aside from the main competition on December 14, we have other activities in line with the GLF. We are going to have an Inter-Village Christmas Decor Competition from December 2-5, Lantern Parade Competition on December 6, Diplomatic Reception on December 15, and Lantern Exhibitions at Robinsons Starmills from December 15-21,” Castro added.

 

The 20-foot tall lanterns shall also be displayed in Telebastagan on December 22, Greenfields on December 23, San Fernando City Proper on December 24, Nepo Complex in Angeles City on December 27, and Marquee Mall on December 28 and 29.

 

According to historical accounts, the festival, which is locally known as “Ligligan Parul” (Showdown of Lanterns), is believed to have started in 1908 when Franciso Estanislao pioneered the lantern making industry in San Fernando.

 

Estanislao is said to have built a giant lantern for a Christmas procession during that year.

 

However, it was only in 1931 when the first lantern competition was formally organized. The inaugural contest was in honor of Aurora Aragon Quezon – wife of former president Manuel Quezon.

 

Through the years, several innovations were introduced in the competition namely the use of batteries in 1940, molding of steel wire as frame in 1950 and rotors in 1957.

 

Rotors are aluminum tubes that are moved so hairpins and a series of bulbs connected to these are exposed to the electricity source. The movements dictate when the bulbs will light up and project images.

 

Last year’s GLF attracted an estimated 350,000 local and foreign tourists.

 

Beginning today, December 3, smartphone users can download the “Ligligan Parul” app, which contains the history of GLF, full schedule of activities, names of participating barangays, and top 10 food destinations in San Fernando.

 

Updates are also available in the festival’s official Facebook page (www.facebook.com/GiantLantern) and Twitter account (@GiantLantern).

International law is the best recourse in South China Sea territorial spat, says expert

MANILA-Stanford University senior fellow Donald Emerson says clarifying the notoriously ambiguous “U-shaped line” by the Court of Arbitration under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea is a good first step in order for all claimants in the South China Sea territorial dispute to frame their positions attuned to international law.

He added that while a comprehensive solution is presently beyond reach, the priority need is for mutual accommodations that are modest enough to be achievable, but significant enough to be worth the effort to pursue.

“Tensions urgently need to be addressed on multiple fronts in alternative ways.  Recourse to international law is a prime option. Other channels include bilateral and multiple negotiations—bilateral, minilateral, and multilateral—designed to induce, end, and/or alter specific actions by the parties concerned,” he said.

Emmerson’s policy concerns run from specific issues such as sovereignty disputes in the South China Sea to broad questions involving China-Southeast Asia relations, the American “rebalance” toward Asia, and the future of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Emmerson will speak at a roundtable discussion organized by the Angara Centre for Law and Economics titled "What Is to Be Done? Resolving Maritime Disputes in Southeast Asia" on December 5 at the Marriott Hotel, Resorts World Manila.

The event will be keynoted by former Senator Edgardo J. Angara, who recently concluded over two decades of distinguished service as a Philippine legislator. Among his landmark reforms include laws on arts and culture, agriculture, education, good governance, health and social welfare. He also served as chairman of the Congressional Commission on Education (CHED), Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Chairman of the Philippine National Bank, and Executive Secretary.

A former UP President, Angara also led the creation of the UP Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea (UP-IMLOS), a highly specialized academic research institution based in the UP Law Center devoted to maritime affairs.

Other featured speakers include Ian Storey of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore, Yoichiro Sato of the Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University in Japan, Shen Dingli of Fudan University in China, and Professor Harry Roque of the University of the Philippines.

The forum and roundtable discussions will be moderated by Prof. John Nye of George Mason University, Executive Director of the Angara Centre.

The event is sponsored by Asia United Bank. 

Army’s 48IB clashes with NPA remnants in Bulacan

CAMP AQUINO, Tarlac City-The 48^th Infantry Battalion (48IB) of the Philippine Army on Saturday clashed with remnants of Platoon Sierra Madre of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Sitio Maputi, Barangay Camachin, Dona Remedios Trinidad in Bulacan.

 

“Led by 2LT. Edwin Lauro, 48IB had a 30-minute exchange of fire with around 25 NPA remnants. There were neither casualties nor injuries on the government side while a number of the insurgents were badly wounded. Pursuit operations is still on-going,” Armed Forces of the Philippines Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) Chief Information Officer Captain Gina Daet disclosed.

 

The troops were able to recover one M14 rifle, one laptop, one portable DVD, one cellular phone, one transistor radio, one sack of rice, one sack of canned sardines, two back packs, and a volume of subversive documents.

 

“We will not allow these armed groups to continue their illegal activities in collecting foods from less fortunate… we will assure to the residents that our forces will provide enough security,” NOLCOM Commander Lieutenant General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said.