Australia Eyes Further Trade
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Australia eyes further trade relations with Philippines
“Trade between the two countries was underdone over the last decade,” Trade Minister Simon Crean told reporters during the press briefing on the PhilippinesAustralia Ministerial Meeting.He noted that while the Asean region is Australia’s biggest trading partner with an average of about $71-billion worth of transactions annually, the Philippines last year only cornered around $2.5 billion in two-way merchandise trade. Australia’s economic relationship with the Philippines has not kept up with the growth of our trade with Asean,” said Minister for Foreign Affairs Stephen Smith, adding that while Australian investments in the Asean region grew by as much as over 100 percent in the last decade, their investments in the Philippines only increased by 16 percent in the same period. There is a considerable room for improvement of trade relations between Australia and the Philippines,” Crean said. For one, Smith cited the “great potential” of the local mining industry. The recent growth in Australian investment in the Philippines, which rose from just under $900 million in 2001 to over $1.5 billion last year, is largely driven by the mining sector,” he said. the Australian market. Aquino also cited a shortage in skilled workforce in Australia Philippine Trade Senior Undersecretary Thomas Aquino said Australian firms are particularly interested in mining copper and nickel here. Aquino added that governors of several provinces, including mineralrich Marinduque and Occidental Mindoro, have expressed interest to allow entry of potential Australian mining investments in their localities. He also said that local manufacturers of automotive parts and assemblers of small vehicles target supplying Australian car companies. Australia imports about two-thirds of automotive parts, hence there is a big business opportunity for local parts makers, he said. Agriculture and food products could also be important exports to Australia, Aquino said, but he noted that the Australian government has stringent rules in allowing entry of food products. He suggested that local food manufacturers and agricultural producers adapt to Australian standards to get into, especially in the healthcare sector, that the Philippines’ human resources could very well fill in. The two countries are currently facilitating for a freer but orderly movement of labor in their territories,” he said. Meanwhile, Smith noted that Australian products are also getting wider acceptance among Filipino consumers. He cited Australian cosmetic products that are selling well in local boutiques, processed food, as well as Australian goats being imported to develop the local meat and dairy sector. Smith also said that some Filipino horse breeders and racers are also looking at Australia to source thoroughbred horses for the racing industry.
500 Telstra jobs head to Philippines • •
Ben Schneiders October 9, 2008
MORE than 500 Telstra call centre jobs, including at least 200 in Melbourne, are to be transferred to the Philippines. TeleTech, the United States outsourcing firm that employs the workers, has confirmed the cuts. It refused to say how many jobs would be lost because of the decision but a union and employees who spoke to The Age said the number would exceed 500, with the cuts to occur by March. A call centre in Bourke Street, Melbourne, and a separate site in Sydney would lose at least 200 positions each, one employee said, with the workers told earlier this week. The Age reported on Saturday that hundreds of jobs were set to be cut. The affected staff are not employed directly by Telstra but deal with the company's customers after they have bought a product or service. A TeleTech statement said that "select" operations in Melbourne and Sydney would be relocated to the Philippines. "This strategic decision reflects TeleTech's commitment to enhance the quality of service it provides to Australian consumers," it said. The decision follows a move by Telstra to award a contract to TeleTech for sales support positions as it reduced the number of contractors it used. Community and Public Sector Union national president Louise Persse said the move by Telstra would see 500 jobs lost at TeleTech and possibly another 500 would go as contractors in Victoria lost their Telstra deals. Total job losses from the move could stretch into the thousands as the former Telstra contractors were forced to shed staff, she said. Telstra has referred inquiries about the job losses to TeleTech.
Oil spills - Philippines, Indian Ocean and Lebanon
International — Oil is harmful to the environment every step of the way. It leaks from pipelines, spills from ships, creates smog in our cities, and is heating up our planet. Marine ecosystems already stressed by over fishing and destructive fishing practices, toxic pollution and climate change are now taking big hits from recent large oil spills. [ Jump to: Effects, Clean up, Map, Philippines, Indian Ocean, Lebanon. ] It also has to be said that while these recent dramatic spills are making the headlines, oil spills actually occur every day. Every year millions of gallons of oil enters the ocean from routine ship and car maintenance, off shore oil drilling operations and ship spills. Effects
of
an
oil
spill
While the size of a spill is obviously important, the amount of damage done can depend even more on other factors like the type of oil spilled and the location of the spill - as well as temperature, wind and weather. Oil can have a smothering effect on marine life, fouling feathers and fur. It is a toxic poison that birds and mammals often ingest while trying to clean themselves. Fish absorb it through direct contact and through their gills. The fumes and contact with oil can also cause nausea and health problems for people in affected areas. Even when the oil does not kill, it can have more subtle and long lasting negative effects. For example, it can damage fish eggs, larva and young - wiping out generations. It also can bio-accumulate up through the food chain as predators (including humans) eat numbers of fish (or other wildlife) that have sub-lethal amounts of oil stored in their bodies. More on the effects of oils spills from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.
Clean energy act sets Philippines up for $3 billion rebate
The savings would come from increasing the country’s renewable energy share in its power generation mix from 0.16 per cent to 41 per cent from wind, solar, ocean, runof-river hydropower and biomass. Today 26 per cent of the country’s power comes from burning imported coal, whilst 23 per cent comes from burning oil. Last year the country imported 101.4 million barrels of oil alone, costing US$7.5 billion. “In passing this landmark legislation, the Senate has just paved the way for the country’s drive towards energy independence and low-carbon growth,”� said WWF’s Asia Pacific Energy Policy Manager Raf Senga. “By tapping our massive reserves of clean energy resources — a competitive advantage that was largely neglected in the past — the Philippines now stands a far better chance of attaining sustainable development whilst contributing to global efforts to prevent dangerous climate change.”� A separate Renewable Energy Coalition analysis says that renewable energy sources can reduce the country’s oil imports by half, and the savings can be used for social and infrastructure programs. “We can send 17 million children to school, build 250,000 classrooms, establish 135,000 health centres, feed three million families and build 38,000 kilometres of farm-to-market roads,”� said Renewable Energy Coalition spokesperson Catherine Maceda. The landmark legislation aims to accelerate the development and use of the nation’s vast renewable energy resources through fiscal and non-fiscal incentives for investors. It also assures investors in wind, solar, ocean, run-of-river hydropower and biomass premium rates in electricity generated from these clean sources through feed-in tariffs.
Activists protest US presence in southern Philippines
A Filipino anti-war coalition has demanded the closure of US military bases in the southern Philippines, where American troops are aiding local forces battle Abu Sayyaf militants and other rebel groups. It said US troops have put up small bases inside Philippine military facilities in Zamboanga City and in other parts of central Mindanao where the American forces are said to be participating in combat operations against rebels. Sen. Rodolfo Biazon and members of the Legislative Oversight Committee on the Visiting Forces Agreement (LOVFA) inspected US facilities in Zamboanga City last week and said they found no military facilities, but only administrative buildings used by the US forces in humanitarian missions and joint trainings with local troops in Mindanao and Sulu archipelago.
Philippines protests at BBC's comedy show involving Filipino The Philippine government protested a popular comedy program aired by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for allegedly humiliating a Filipino maid, reports said on Tuesday. Officials from the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said that the Philippine embassy in London has sent letters to different British government offices, including the Mayor of London, and the BBC itself to protest the "slur" on Filipino domestic workers in Britain. Besides, British Ambassador to the Philippines Peter Beckingham was summoned to the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs by Secretary Alberto Romulo to discuss the matter, the Philippine News Agency reported. The protest came after BBC aired an episode of the TV show "Harry and Paul" on Sept. 26, in which a woman playing the character of a Filipino housemaid was ordered by her employer "Harry" to dancing lasciviously in front of his friend "Paul." "It was revolting. It was disgusting and an insensitive and racist attempt to satirize a scene of exploitation," said Risa Hontiveros, a Philippine lawmaker, demanding an apology from the BBC. She said that "by making a horrible scene of exploitation an object of ridicule, the show trivializes an act of abuse commonly experienced by Filipina workers abroad." The BBC did not comment immediately but the British Embassy in Manila issued a statement saying the BBC has editorial independence and the views expressed and portrayed by the network "are completely independent" from the government. It said Filipinos in Britain "are an important part of British society, making invaluable contributions to our scientific and service sectors, and enriching UK culture."
UNITED NATIONS ASSISTING PHILIPPINES AFTER TYPHOON
The typhoon, which lashed the country at the end of last week, destroyed more than 76,000 homes and damaged nearly 154,000 additional residences. Some 83,000 people have sought shelter in 29 evacuation centres. And while main roads have been cleared, widespread power and communications outages continue in most of the affected areas. The disruption of the water supply also remains a major source of concern. On 3 December, Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declared a state of national calamity and authorized the release of one billion Philippine pesos to fund relief and rehabilitation efforts to repair the damage sustained due to the onslaught of three successive typhoons Xangsane, Cimarron and Durian. The Government has also indicated its readiness to accept assistance from the international community, identifying priority needs as: drinking water and water purifying tablets; medical teams, social workers and medicines; food; blankets and mattresses; tents and tarpaulins; and generator sets. However, the NDCC has stated that there is no need for international search and rescue teams. The international community is providing emergency relief assistance. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is considering an application for funding from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) for the purchase of emergency supplies. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has dispatched emergency health supplies for 10,000 people for three months, as has provided 4,000 family packs consisting of rice, canned goods, mattresses and blankets. The UNICEF also led a joint United Nations inter-agency assessment mission to Albay province today. Additional cash and in-kind contributions have been provided by Australia, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Republic of Korea, Singapore, and the United States, as well as the Saipan Filipino community and Telecoms sans Frontières,. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has despatched a Field Assessment and Coordination Team (FACT) to support the Philippines Red Cross Society to assess the situation in the disaster-affected areas.
UNSpecial Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions ends Philippine visit I have spent the past ten days in the Philippines at the invitation of the Government in order to inquire into the phenomenon of extrajudicial executions. I am very grateful to the Government for the unqualified cooperation extended to me. During my stay here I have met with virtually all of the relevant senior officials of Government. They include the President, the Executive Secretary, the National Security Adviser, the Secretaries for Defence, Justice, DILG and the Peace Process. I have also met with a significant number of members of Congress on different sides of the political spectrum, the Chief Justice, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Chair of the Human Rights Commission, the Ombudsman, the members of both sides of the Joint Monitoring Committee, and representatives of the MNLF and MILF. Of particular relevance to my specific concerns, I also met with Task Force Usig, and with the Melo Commission, and I have received the complete dossier compiled by TF Usig, as well as the report of the Melo Commission, the and the responses to its findings by the AFP and by retired MajGen Palparan. I have also visited Baguio and Davao and met with the regional Human Rights Commission offices, local PNP and AFP commanders, and the Mayor of Davao, among others. Equally importantly, roughly half of my time here was devoted to meetings with representatives of civil society, in Manila, Baguio, and Davao. Through their extremely valuable contributions in the form of documentation and detailed testimony I have learned a great deal. Let me begin by acknowledging several important elements. The first is that the Government’s invitation to visit reflects a clear recognition of the gravity of the problem, a willingness to permit outside scrutiny, and a very welcome preparedness to engage on this issue. The assurances that I received from the President, in particular, were very encouraging. Second, I note that my visit takes place within the context of a counterinsurgency operation which takes place on a range of fronts, and I do not in any way underestimate the resulting challenges facing for the Government and the AFP. Third, I wish to clarify that my formal role is to report to the UN Human Rights Council and to the Government on the situation I have found. I consider that the very fact of my visit has already begun the process of acting as a catalyst to deeper reflection on these issues both within the national and international settings. Finally, I must emphasise that the present statement is only designed to give a general indication of some, but by no means all, of the issues to be addressed, and the recommendations put forward, in my final report. I expect that will be available sometime within the next three months.
The Philippines at United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Representatives of 17 countries – including four of the country's main aid donors – raised questions on the Philippine government's human rights record in Geneva, Switzerland on April 11 as Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, who also chairs the Presidential Human Rights Committee (PHRC), led a 44-man delegation in delivering a presentation on the human rights situation in the Philippines before the 47-member United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). Ermita delivered his presentation during the deliberations of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on the Philippines. The UPR is a new mechanism that was established under General Assembly Resolution 60/251, which established the UNHRC on March 15, 2006. The said resolution provides that the UNHRC shall "undertake a universal periodic review, based on objective and reliable information, of the fulfillment by each State of its human rights obligations and commitments in a manner which ensures universality of coverage and equal treatment with respect to all States; the review shall be a cooperative mechanism, based on an interactive dialogue, with the full involvement of the country concerned and with consideration given to its capacity-building needs; such a mechanism shall complement and not duplicate the work of treaty bodies..." Ermita drew the material for his 38-minute presentation from the Philippine National Report (PNR) submitted to the UNHRC. The PNR emphasizes the creation of the Commission of Human Rights under the 1987 Philippine Constitution, which Ermita noted antedates the Paris Principles on Human Rights. Ermita also stressed the creation of the Office of the Ombudsman, also under the 1987 Constitution, which is tasked to investigate high government officials. He noted that both chambers of Congress have Committees on Human Rights; and that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) all have Human Rights Offices.
Russians shoot the Philippines
It was a cool night with temperatures ranging between three and six degrees when the photo exhibit of the Russian photographers who shot the Philippines was formally presented at the Art Gallery Solianka, one of the most popular art galleries in Moscow. The many faces of the Philippines were captured through the lenses of five leading Russian photographers who fell in love with the many islands of the country. This is one of the efforts of the Department of Tourism to create a greater awareness of the Philippines in Russia. “They say a picture paints a thousand words,” said Undersecretary Phineas Alburo at the opening of the exhibit. “Tonight, we are happy to share with you the beauty of the Philippines through the lenses of our Russian photographer friends.” The photos at the exhibit ranged from seascapes to festivals, from people on the streets to wonderful sunsets, each capturing a different facet of the country. Featured photographers were Boris Tarasov, Svetlana Nosova, Aleksey Stoyda, Igor Veselev and Sergey Ilin.The exhibit ran until Sept. 29. This is a preview of a much bigger Philippine photo exhibit that will be held at the Municipal Duma of Russia during the opening of congress in November, which is expected to draw much attention from Russia’s elite and media.The exhibit featured an extensive collection of superb underwater photos taken in the popular dive sites in the Philippines. This event intends to pay attention to Russia’s thriving dive market segment. With the Philippines in the center of the center of marine biodiversity in the world, the country’s dive sites are among the best worldwide. The photo exhibit follows a strategic campaign which includes participation in Russia’s main dive event, the Golden Dolphin Dive Festival held every February. This year, familiarization trips have also been conducted for representatives of Russia’s top diving schools and dive clubs. With this campaign, the Department of Tourism hopes to attract responsible divers who are true lovers of the marine environment to come visit our shores.
“Trade between the two countries was underdone over the last decade,” Trade Minister Simon Crean told reporters during the press briefing on the PhilippinesAustralia Ministerial Meeting.He noted that while the Asean region is Australia’s biggest trading partner with an average of about $71-billion worth of transactions annually, the Philippines last year only cornered around $2.5 billion in two-way merchandise trade. Australia’s economic relationship with the Philippines has not kept up with the growth of our trade with Asean,” said Minister for Foreign Affairs Stephen Smith, adding that while Australian investments in the Asean region grew by as much as over 100 percent in the last decade, their investments in the Philippines only increased by 16 percent in the same period. There is a considerable room for improvement of trade relations between Australia and the Philippines,” Crean said. For one, Smith cited the “great potential” of the local mining industry. The recent growth in Australian investment in the Philippines, which rose from just under $900 million in 2001 to over $1.5 billion last year, is largely driven by the mining sector,” he said. the Australian market. Aquino also cited a shortage in skilled workforce in Australia Philippine Trade Senior Undersecretary Thomas Aquino said Australian firms are particularly interested in mining copper and nickel here. Aquino added that governors of several provinces, including mineralrich Marinduque and Occidental Mindoro, have expressed interest to allow entry of potential Australian mining investments in their localities. He also said that local manufacturers of automotive parts and assemblers of small vehicles target supplying Australian car companies. Australia imports about two-thirds of automotive parts, hence there is a big business opportunity for local parts makers, he said. Agriculture and food products could also be important exports to Australia, Aquino said, but he noted that the Australian government has stringent rules in allowing entry of food products. He suggested that local food manufacturers and agricultural producers adapt to Australian standards to get into, especially in the healthcare sector, that the Philippines’ human resources could very well fill in. The two countries are currently facilitating for a freer but orderly movement of labor in their territories,” he said. Meanwhile, Smith noted that Australian products are also getting wider acceptance among Filipino consumers. He cited Australian cosmetic products that are selling well in local boutiques, processed food, as well as Australian goats being imported to develop the local meat and dairy sector. Smith also said that some Filipino horse breeders and racers are also looking at Australia to source thoroughbred horses for the racing industry.
500 Telstra jobs head to Philippines • •
Ben Schneiders October 9, 2008
MORE than 500 Telstra call centre jobs, including at least 200 in Melbourne, are to be transferred to the Philippines. TeleTech, the United States outsourcing firm that employs the workers, has confirmed the cuts. It refused to say how many jobs would be lost because of the decision but a union and employees who spoke to The Age said the number would exceed 500, with the cuts to occur by March. A call centre in Bourke Street, Melbourne, and a separate site in Sydney would lose at least 200 positions each, one employee said, with the workers told earlier this week. The Age reported on Saturday that hundreds of jobs were set to be cut. The affected staff are not employed directly by Telstra but deal with the company's customers after they have bought a product or service. A TeleTech statement said that "select" operations in Melbourne and Sydney would be relocated to the Philippines. "This strategic decision reflects TeleTech's commitment to enhance the quality of service it provides to Australian consumers," it said. The decision follows a move by Telstra to award a contract to TeleTech for sales support positions as it reduced the number of contractors it used. Community and Public Sector Union national president Louise Persse said the move by Telstra would see 500 jobs lost at TeleTech and possibly another 500 would go as contractors in Victoria lost their Telstra deals. Total job losses from the move could stretch into the thousands as the former Telstra contractors were forced to shed staff, she said. Telstra has referred inquiries about the job losses to TeleTech.
Oil spills - Philippines, Indian Ocean and Lebanon
International — Oil is harmful to the environment every step of the way. It leaks from pipelines, spills from ships, creates smog in our cities, and is heating up our planet. Marine ecosystems already stressed by over fishing and destructive fishing practices, toxic pollution and climate change are now taking big hits from recent large oil spills. [ Jump to: Effects, Clean up, Map, Philippines, Indian Ocean, Lebanon. ] It also has to be said that while these recent dramatic spills are making the headlines, oil spills actually occur every day. Every year millions of gallons of oil enters the ocean from routine ship and car maintenance, off shore oil drilling operations and ship spills. Effects
of
an
oil
spill
While the size of a spill is obviously important, the amount of damage done can depend even more on other factors like the type of oil spilled and the location of the spill - as well as temperature, wind and weather. Oil can have a smothering effect on marine life, fouling feathers and fur. It is a toxic poison that birds and mammals often ingest while trying to clean themselves. Fish absorb it through direct contact and through their gills. The fumes and contact with oil can also cause nausea and health problems for people in affected areas. Even when the oil does not kill, it can have more subtle and long lasting negative effects. For example, it can damage fish eggs, larva and young - wiping out generations. It also can bio-accumulate up through the food chain as predators (including humans) eat numbers of fish (or other wildlife) that have sub-lethal amounts of oil stored in their bodies. More on the effects of oils spills from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.
Clean energy act sets Philippines up for $3 billion rebate
The savings would come from increasing the country’s renewable energy share in its power generation mix from 0.16 per cent to 41 per cent from wind, solar, ocean, runof-river hydropower and biomass. Today 26 per cent of the country’s power comes from burning imported coal, whilst 23 per cent comes from burning oil. Last year the country imported 101.4 million barrels of oil alone, costing US$7.5 billion. “In passing this landmark legislation, the Senate has just paved the way for the country’s drive towards energy independence and low-carbon growth,”� said WWF’s Asia Pacific Energy Policy Manager Raf Senga. “By tapping our massive reserves of clean energy resources — a competitive advantage that was largely neglected in the past — the Philippines now stands a far better chance of attaining sustainable development whilst contributing to global efforts to prevent dangerous climate change.”� A separate Renewable Energy Coalition analysis says that renewable energy sources can reduce the country’s oil imports by half, and the savings can be used for social and infrastructure programs. “We can send 17 million children to school, build 250,000 classrooms, establish 135,000 health centres, feed three million families and build 38,000 kilometres of farm-to-market roads,”� said Renewable Energy Coalition spokesperson Catherine Maceda. The landmark legislation aims to accelerate the development and use of the nation’s vast renewable energy resources through fiscal and non-fiscal incentives for investors. It also assures investors in wind, solar, ocean, run-of-river hydropower and biomass premium rates in electricity generated from these clean sources through feed-in tariffs.
Activists protest US presence in southern Philippines
A Filipino anti-war coalition has demanded the closure of US military bases in the southern Philippines, where American troops are aiding local forces battle Abu Sayyaf militants and other rebel groups. It said US troops have put up small bases inside Philippine military facilities in Zamboanga City and in other parts of central Mindanao where the American forces are said to be participating in combat operations against rebels. Sen. Rodolfo Biazon and members of the Legislative Oversight Committee on the Visiting Forces Agreement (LOVFA) inspected US facilities in Zamboanga City last week and said they found no military facilities, but only administrative buildings used by the US forces in humanitarian missions and joint trainings with local troops in Mindanao and Sulu archipelago.
Philippines protests at BBC's comedy show involving Filipino The Philippine government protested a popular comedy program aired by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for allegedly humiliating a Filipino maid, reports said on Tuesday. Officials from the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said that the Philippine embassy in London has sent letters to different British government offices, including the Mayor of London, and the BBC itself to protest the "slur" on Filipino domestic workers in Britain. Besides, British Ambassador to the Philippines Peter Beckingham was summoned to the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs by Secretary Alberto Romulo to discuss the matter, the Philippine News Agency reported. The protest came after BBC aired an episode of the TV show "Harry and Paul" on Sept. 26, in which a woman playing the character of a Filipino housemaid was ordered by her employer "Harry" to dancing lasciviously in front of his friend "Paul." "It was revolting. It was disgusting and an insensitive and racist attempt to satirize a scene of exploitation," said Risa Hontiveros, a Philippine lawmaker, demanding an apology from the BBC. She said that "by making a horrible scene of exploitation an object of ridicule, the show trivializes an act of abuse commonly experienced by Filipina workers abroad." The BBC did not comment immediately but the British Embassy in Manila issued a statement saying the BBC has editorial independence and the views expressed and portrayed by the network "are completely independent" from the government. It said Filipinos in Britain "are an important part of British society, making invaluable contributions to our scientific and service sectors, and enriching UK culture."
UNITED NATIONS ASSISTING PHILIPPINES AFTER TYPHOON
The typhoon, which lashed the country at the end of last week, destroyed more than 76,000 homes and damaged nearly 154,000 additional residences. Some 83,000 people have sought shelter in 29 evacuation centres. And while main roads have been cleared, widespread power and communications outages continue in most of the affected areas. The disruption of the water supply also remains a major source of concern. On 3 December, Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declared a state of national calamity and authorized the release of one billion Philippine pesos to fund relief and rehabilitation efforts to repair the damage sustained due to the onslaught of three successive typhoons Xangsane, Cimarron and Durian. The Government has also indicated its readiness to accept assistance from the international community, identifying priority needs as: drinking water and water purifying tablets; medical teams, social workers and medicines; food; blankets and mattresses; tents and tarpaulins; and generator sets. However, the NDCC has stated that there is no need for international search and rescue teams. The international community is providing emergency relief assistance. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is considering an application for funding from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) for the purchase of emergency supplies. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has dispatched emergency health supplies for 10,000 people for three months, as has provided 4,000 family packs consisting of rice, canned goods, mattresses and blankets. The UNICEF also led a joint United Nations inter-agency assessment mission to Albay province today. Additional cash and in-kind contributions have been provided by Australia, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Republic of Korea, Singapore, and the United States, as well as the Saipan Filipino community and Telecoms sans Frontières,. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has despatched a Field Assessment and Coordination Team (FACT) to support the Philippines Red Cross Society to assess the situation in the disaster-affected areas.
UNSpecial Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions ends Philippine visit I have spent the past ten days in the Philippines at the invitation of the Government in order to inquire into the phenomenon of extrajudicial executions. I am very grateful to the Government for the unqualified cooperation extended to me. During my stay here I have met with virtually all of the relevant senior officials of Government. They include the President, the Executive Secretary, the National Security Adviser, the Secretaries for Defence, Justice, DILG and the Peace Process. I have also met with a significant number of members of Congress on different sides of the political spectrum, the Chief Justice, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Chair of the Human Rights Commission, the Ombudsman, the members of both sides of the Joint Monitoring Committee, and representatives of the MNLF and MILF. Of particular relevance to my specific concerns, I also met with Task Force Usig, and with the Melo Commission, and I have received the complete dossier compiled by TF Usig, as well as the report of the Melo Commission, the and the responses to its findings by the AFP and by retired MajGen Palparan. I have also visited Baguio and Davao and met with the regional Human Rights Commission offices, local PNP and AFP commanders, and the Mayor of Davao, among others. Equally importantly, roughly half of my time here was devoted to meetings with representatives of civil society, in Manila, Baguio, and Davao. Through their extremely valuable contributions in the form of documentation and detailed testimony I have learned a great deal. Let me begin by acknowledging several important elements. The first is that the Government’s invitation to visit reflects a clear recognition of the gravity of the problem, a willingness to permit outside scrutiny, and a very welcome preparedness to engage on this issue. The assurances that I received from the President, in particular, were very encouraging. Second, I note that my visit takes place within the context of a counterinsurgency operation which takes place on a range of fronts, and I do not in any way underestimate the resulting challenges facing for the Government and the AFP. Third, I wish to clarify that my formal role is to report to the UN Human Rights Council and to the Government on the situation I have found. I consider that the very fact of my visit has already begun the process of acting as a catalyst to deeper reflection on these issues both within the national and international settings. Finally, I must emphasise that the present statement is only designed to give a general indication of some, but by no means all, of the issues to be addressed, and the recommendations put forward, in my final report. I expect that will be available sometime within the next three months.
The Philippines at United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Representatives of 17 countries – including four of the country's main aid donors – raised questions on the Philippine government's human rights record in Geneva, Switzerland on April 11 as Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, who also chairs the Presidential Human Rights Committee (PHRC), led a 44-man delegation in delivering a presentation on the human rights situation in the Philippines before the 47-member United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). Ermita delivered his presentation during the deliberations of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on the Philippines. The UPR is a new mechanism that was established under General Assembly Resolution 60/251, which established the UNHRC on March 15, 2006. The said resolution provides that the UNHRC shall "undertake a universal periodic review, based on objective and reliable information, of the fulfillment by each State of its human rights obligations and commitments in a manner which ensures universality of coverage and equal treatment with respect to all States; the review shall be a cooperative mechanism, based on an interactive dialogue, with the full involvement of the country concerned and with consideration given to its capacity-building needs; such a mechanism shall complement and not duplicate the work of treaty bodies..." Ermita drew the material for his 38-minute presentation from the Philippine National Report (PNR) submitted to the UNHRC. The PNR emphasizes the creation of the Commission of Human Rights under the 1987 Philippine Constitution, which Ermita noted antedates the Paris Principles on Human Rights. Ermita also stressed the creation of the Office of the Ombudsman, also under the 1987 Constitution, which is tasked to investigate high government officials. He noted that both chambers of Congress have Committees on Human Rights; and that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) all have Human Rights Offices.
Russians shoot the Philippines
It was a cool night with temperatures ranging between three and six degrees when the photo exhibit of the Russian photographers who shot the Philippines was formally presented at the Art Gallery Solianka, one of the most popular art galleries in Moscow. The many faces of the Philippines were captured through the lenses of five leading Russian photographers who fell in love with the many islands of the country. This is one of the efforts of the Department of Tourism to create a greater awareness of the Philippines in Russia. “They say a picture paints a thousand words,” said Undersecretary Phineas Alburo at the opening of the exhibit. “Tonight, we are happy to share with you the beauty of the Philippines through the lenses of our Russian photographer friends.” The photos at the exhibit ranged from seascapes to festivals, from people on the streets to wonderful sunsets, each capturing a different facet of the country. Featured photographers were Boris Tarasov, Svetlana Nosova, Aleksey Stoyda, Igor Veselev and Sergey Ilin.The exhibit ran until Sept. 29. This is a preview of a much bigger Philippine photo exhibit that will be held at the Municipal Duma of Russia during the opening of congress in November, which is expected to draw much attention from Russia’s elite and media.The exhibit featured an extensive collection of superb underwater photos taken in the popular dive sites in the Philippines. This event intends to pay attention to Russia’s thriving dive market segment. With the Philippines in the center of the center of marine biodiversity in the world, the country’s dive sites are among the best worldwide. The photo exhibit follows a strategic campaign which includes participation in Russia’s main dive event, the Golden Dolphin Dive Festival held every February. This year, familiarization trips have also been conducted for representatives of Russia’s top diving schools and dive clubs. With this campaign, the Department of Tourism hopes to attract responsible divers who are true lovers of the marine environment to come visit our shores.
