EU pursues FTA talks with Philippines

By Louella D. Desiderio, The Philippine Star 

(Image CTO Rappler.com)

MANILA - The European Union (EU) is pursuing discussions with the Philippines within the year for a possible free trade agreement (FTA) as the country’s ongoing economic reform process shows readiness to commit to an ambitious bilateral deal.

“We hope this year, we can see more of the meetings we had last year and at least we can conclude the scoping phase (for the FTA) but we are not there yet,” Walter van Hattum, head of economic and trade section of the EU Delegation in Manila told reporters.

The last meeting for scoping discussions for an EU-Philippines FTA was held in November last year when the Philippine delegation led by Trade Undersecretary Adrian Cristobal Jr. visited Brussels in Belgium.

During the last meeting, Hattum said both parties agreed that progress is being made and another meeting should take place again this year to continue discussions to define the parameters of the FTA.
“Since then, we are are waiting for a good moment for our new Commissioner who came to office in November last year…to have a meeting with (Trade) Secretary (Gregory) Domingo to discuss the next steps,” he said.

While the date for the next meeting has yet to be firmed up, he said the EU is closely looking at the economic reforms being undertaken by the Philippines.

Among the reforms in the Philippines the EU is concerned with are the passage of the competition law, the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, and improvements to the procurement policy.

“This kind of economic reform process shows that the Philippines is ready to sign up to an ambitious agreement and that’s a bit what the EU is after. We are not after simply reduction of tariffs. You have that already. GSP+ (Generalized System of Preferences Plus) is giving you tremendous kind of benefits so you don’t need an FTA for that to see it. If you’re going more depth, talking about procurement policy, competition policy, the investment policy, services, that’s where probably the added value of an FTA could be,” Hattum said.

In December, the Philippines was granted beneficiary status to the EU GSP+, a scheme which allows duty-free entry of 6,274 products to the bloc for 10 years.

Prior to securing EU GSP+ status, the Philippines was a beneficiary of the regular GSP program which only covered 6,209 products, with 2,442 products subject to zero duty and the rest slapped with lower tariffs.

While the country is enjoying trade preferences to the EU at the moment, Cristobal said earlier the government would want to have an FTA with the bloc within four to five years to make the benefits permanent.

This, as the EU GSP+ scheme’s benefits can only be provided to low middle income countries and the Philippines which has a per capita income of $3,000 is expected to reach the middle income category or $4,000 per capita income level in the next few years.

DOJ indicts Janet Napoles, husband for tax evasion

by Ina Reformina, ABS-CBN News (Photo CTO ANC)

 

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE) - The Department of Justice (DOJ) has found probable cause to indict so-called "pork barrel scam queen" Janet Lim Napoles and her husband, Jaime Napoles, before the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) for tax evasion.

In an 18-page resolution dated March 13, obtained by ABS-CBN News, the DOJ, through Assistant State Prosecutors Stewart Allan Mariano and Mark Roland Estepa, said there was enough evidence to charge the couple for the combined tax liability of P61.18 million, as assessed by complainant Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

"[A]fter preliminary investigation has been concluded, the gamut of evidence presented absolutely engendered a well-grounded belief that the crimes charged had been committed, and that respondent spouses should be held for trial for violation of Sections 254 (Attempt to Evade or Defeat Tax) and 255 ( Failure to File Return, Supply Correct and Accurate Information, Pay Tax) of the [National Internal Revenue Code], as amended."

"Respondent spouses Janet an Jaime Napoles' income tax liability for taxable years 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 amounts to [P44,711,147.48 millio] and [16,470,402.72 million]," the resolution read.

In its complaint, the BIR alleged that Mrs. Napoles did not supply correct and accurate information in her income tax returns (ITRs) for 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009 and did not file ITRs for 2010, 2011, 2012.
The BIR alleged Mr. Napoles did not supply correct and accurate information in his ITR for 2009 and did not file ITR for 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, and 2012.

The BIR used the expenditure method against the couple, allegeding that they purchased real properties, motor vehicles and other investments that exceeded their declared incomes during the mentioned periods.

The resolution was approved by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Susan Dacanay and Prosecutor General Claro Arellano.

The couple's daughter Jeane Napoles is also facing a P17.8 million tax evasion case filed by the Department of Justice before the Court of Tax Appeals.

Maynilad takes Philippine gov't to another arbitration case

 

 

MANILA, Philippines - Maynilad Water Services on Monday said it took the Philippine government to another arbitration panel in Singapore, this time over government's failure to grant its P3.44-billion financial claims, arising from delays in implementing the water rate hike.

Maynilad said it served the Philippine government, through the Department of Finance, a notice of arbitration and statement of claim last March 27.

The company, controlled by Manny Pangilinan's Metro Pacific Investments, wants the government to compensate the West Zone concessionaire's losses, amounting to P3.44 billion.

"Maynilad served the Republic the Notice of Arbitration and Statement of Claim following the latter’s failure/refusal to pay the amount indicated in the Demand Letters. Pursuant to the Undertaking, the arbitration proceedings shall be conducted in Singapore before a three-man panel," the company said in a disclosure to the stock exchange.

The company claimed it has lost P3.4 billion from January 1, 2013 to February 28, 2015 due to the refusal of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) to implement rate adjustments as ordered by the arbitration panel.

Maynilad said that under the sovereign undertaking, government undertook to compensate the company if its rate adjustments are delayed by MWSS.

Maynilad had earlier won an arbitration case against the government for an average P3.06/cu.m. rate increase.

However, the MWSS has said Maynilad's claims have no legal basis.

Reports that Manila Water lost its own arbitration case against the government has prompted the MWSS to further delay Maynilad's rate hike. - With ANC

BDO's acquisition of One Network Bank gets BSP approval

ABS-CBNnews.com

MANILA, Philippines - The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has approved BDO Unibank's acquisition of the biggest rural bank in Mindanao.

In a disclosure, BDO said the BSP has approved the bank's acquisition of One Network Bank Inc.
One Network Bank has 105 branches and micro-banking offices in the Mindanao and Panay.

"The addition of ONB to the BDO Group will give BDO access to new market segments in Mindanao and Panay Island, which are among the Bank’s targeted growth areas," BDO earlier said.

ONB, which has 80 percent of its branch network in Mindanao, has total assets of P28.1 billion, net loans of P19.7 billion, and a deposit franchise amounting to P17.9 billion as of September 30, 2014.

The Sy-led BDO is the country's largest bank in terms of assets, loans, deposits, capital and trust funds. It has one of the largest distribution networks in the country, with 875 operating branches and 2,542 ATMs nationwide.

PH banks' schedule during Holy Week 2015

MANILA, Philippines - Wondering which banks will be open during Holy Week?
Several banks have issued their Holy Week advisory, saying they will only be open until April 1 (Wednesday).

However, the banks assured their ATMs and electronic channels will be ready to handle transactions and other banking services.

Bank of the Philippine Islands
All branches and kiosks of BPI and BPI Family Savings Bank will be closed from April 2, Thursday to April 5, Sunday. Regular banking
operations shall resume on Monday, April 6.

BDO Unibank
All BDO branches will be open to service the banking needs of the clients and the general public until Wednesday (April 1). Regular banking operations will resume on April 6.

Philippine Savings Bank
PSBank said its 246 branches will be closed after regular banking hours on April 1, Wednesday, and will resume regular operations on April 6, Monday.

“We ensure that our ATMs will have adequate cash for the long weekend. A dedicated team will also monitor and make sure that all ATMs will remain fully functional and accessible,” said PSBank Branch Banking Group Head/FVP Francis Llanera. - via ABS-CBNnews.com

PNoy signs law decriminalizing women's 'premature marriage'

by Aurea Calica, The Philippine Star via ABSCBNnews (Image by Google)

 

MANILA - A widow who shall marry within 301 days from the date of death of her husband, or before having delivered if she shall have been pregnant at the time of his death, will no longer face imprisonment or a fine of P500.

So will any woman whose marriage shall have been annulled or dissolved, if she shall marry before her delivery, or before the expiration of 301 days after the legal separation.

President Aquino has signed into law Republic Act 10655 decriminalizing premature marriage as contained in the Revised Penal Code.

“Without prejudice to the provisions of the Family Code on paternity and filiation, Article 351 of Act No. 3815, otherwise known as the Revised Penal Code, punishing the crime of premature marriage committed by a woman, is hereby repealed,” read RA 10655.

Before the law was repealed, women engaging in premature marriages were punished with arresto mayor (1 month and 1 day to 6 months in prison) and fined an amount not exceeding P500.

Lawmakers said the old law was discriminating to women and no longer served a purpose, which was supposedly to avoid confusion on paternity and filiation of a child who might have been conceived during the previous marriage but born during the subsequent marriage.

“In these modern times, such an outdated, irrelevant provision is no longer needed, considering that paternity and filiation could be easily determined through technology,” they said.
‘An insult’

Joms Salvador, Gabriela secretary-general, said President Aquino’s comparison of his mother, former President Corazon Aquino, with Gabriela Silang is an insult to the 18th century revolutionary.
“Cory Aquino may have succeeded in taking up the fight of her husband Ninoy, but it was never a fight against foreign domination,” she said.

“Cory, in fact, continued centuries-old subservience to US economic and political interests, something which his son Noynoy is carrying on up to this very day.”

In a speech, Salvador said Aquino has practically stamped his support to keep women enslaved to housework and heap upon them the burden of unpaid family work rather than upholding the state’s responsibility to provide social support to women and their families.

“Aquino showed his utter disregard of the plight of women and his responsibility as President to work towards women’s empowerment,” she added. – With Rhodina Villanueva

PH offers Sabah to win Malaysia's support for UN case vs China

By Tessa Jamandre, VERA Files (CTO ABSCBNnews)

The Philippines has offered to downgrade its claim on Sabah in exchange for Malaysia’s support for its case against China before the United Nations.

The quid pro quo was contained in a note verbale the Department of Foreign Affairs handed to a representative of the Malaysian Embassy last week, a week after the visit of Malaysian Defense Minister Dato Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.

The note verbale, a copy of which was obtained by VERA Files, referred to the May 6, 2009 joint submission by Malaysia and Vietnam to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) in which Malaysia claimed an extended continental shelf (350 nautical miles from baseline) that was clearly projected from Sabah.

The Philippines, in an Aug. 4, 2009 note to the U.N. Secretary General, protested the joint submission because it effectively declared Sabah to be a Malaysian territory.

The Philippines claims ownership of Sabah, which is at present occupied by Malaysia, based on the title of the Sultan of Sulu who ceded proprietary rights over the 76,115-square-kilometer land to the Philippines in 1962.

In last week’s note verbale, however, the DFA informed the Malaysian government that it is “reviewing” its 2009 protest and its action would depend on Malaysia’s response to Manila’s two requests related to the South China Sea conflicting territorial claims.

The first request is for Malaysia to “confirm” that its claim of an extended continental shelf is “entirely from the mainland coast of Malaysia, and not from any of the maritime features in the Spratly islands.”

The DFA also requested Malaysia to confirm that it “does not claim entitlement to maritime areas beyond 12 nautical miles from any of the maritime features in the Spratly islands it claims.”
Under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), a state is entitled to 12-nautical-mile territorial sea over which it exercises sovereignty.

Malaysia, like the Philippines, claims parts of the Spratly islands in the South China Sea which is being claimed almost wholly by China, Vietnam and Taiwan. Brunei is another claimant to some parts of the Spratlys.

There are some parts in the Spratlys where the 200 NM Exclusive Economic Zones of the Philippines and Malaysia overlap.

The DFA didn’t issue any statement when VERA Files sought its comment on the note verbale and its implications.

Former Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations Lauro Baja Jr. said the Philippine claim to Sabah will be “prejudiced” if Malaysia accedes to DFA’s request.

“We are in effect withdrawing our objection to Malaysia’s claim of ownership to Sabah,” he said.
A DFA official who requested anonymity, said, however, the Philippine claim to Sabah would remain intact even if Manila withdraws its 2009 objection to Malaysia’s submission to the U.N.
Baja countered, “Even if we are not formally dropping the Sabah claim, it (the withdrawal of the protest) can be used as evidence against our claim.”

A DFA source said officials involved in the case against China before the U.N. Arbitral Court said if Malaysia confirms it doesn’t claim beyond 12 nautical miles from any maritime features in the Spratlys Islands it claims, the Philippine case will be strengthened because one of Manila’s demands for relief from the U.N. court is to declare that certain features, such as rocks, do not generate maritime entitlement beyond 12 nautical miles.

This would clarify that the 12 nautical miles surrounding among others, the Panatag Shoal, also known as Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc (Chinese name: Huangyan Island), are part of the Philippines 200-nautical-mile Economic Exclusive Zone.

The Philippines suit, which primarily sought to nullify China’s all-encompassing nine-dash line map invalid, also wants the U.N. court to rule that submerged features within and beyond 200 nautical miles of the Philippines are not part of China’s continental shelf. This would make China’s occupation of these features a violation of UNCLOS.

A diplomatic source said Malaysia may find the Philippine request “too hard to handle” because it has adopted the policy of “playing it safe” — expressing concern on China aggressiveness in the disputed waters while maintaining good relations with the economic superpower.

“A maritime entitlement of only 12 nautical miles for their reefs, as the essence of the Philippines request, will not be in the interest of Malaysia. Besides, Malaysia will not risk its close economic ties with China, its biggest trading partner,” the source said.

The source said China also protested the 2009 Malaysia-Vietnam submission to the U.N. So even if the Philippines withdrew its objection, the Chinese protest would stand, the source said.
The CLCS would not proceed on the Philippines’ withdrawal of its protest unless and until the Chinese 9-dash line claim is rendered invalid.

Also last week, the Philippines submitted a supplemental argument in answer to China’s position paper on the Spratlys territorial claim. The U.N. is expected to hand down its decision in 2016.
Meanwhile, the Philippines has denounced the massive reclamation of China on its occupied reefs.
Baja said the Philippine position on Sabah is much stronger than its Spratly islands claim.

Economically, the timber and mineral-rich Sabah is much more valuable than Spratlys, he added.
There are more than 600,000 Filipinos in Sabah, most of them considered by Malaysia as illegal residents and are often subject to harassment.

Sabah (North Borneo) originally belonged to the Sultan of Brunei, who gave it to Sultan of Sulu Salah ud-Din Karamat Bakhtiar in 1658 as a reward for helping quell a rebellion. In 1878, Sulu Sultan Jamalul Alam Kiram leased North Borneo to the Hong Kong-based British North Borneo Co. of Baron Gustavos von Overbeck and Alfred Dent for 5,000 Malaysian dollars a year.

In 1946, Overbeck and Dent, without permission from the Sultan, transferred the territory to the British government when the company ceased operations.

On Sept. 11, 1962, Sultan of Sulu Mohammad Esmail Kiram ceded to the Philippine government full sovereignty, title and dominion over the territory. President Diosdado Macapagal filed the Philippines' claim over Sabah with the United Nations.

In 1963, the British government, again without permission from the Sultan of Sulu, transferred Sabah to the newly formed Federation of Malaysia.

Malaysia is currently the broker in the peace talks between the Philippine government and the Muslim rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for the creation of a Bangsamoro, an autonomous political entity in the southern part of the Philippines. — with additional reports by Ellen Tordesillas

(VERA Files is put out by veteran journalists taking a deeper look at current issues. Vera is Latin for “true.”)

Loans to housing sector eyed as agri-agra compliance

Housing project FIle photo

By Louella D. Desiderio (The Philippine Star) 

MANILA, Philippines - The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is open to making loans for housing as an alternative mode of compliance for banks to the Agri-Agra Credit Reform Act in order to address the country’s housing backlog.

Speaking at the Chamber of Real Estate and Builders’ Associations, Inc.’s (CREBA) Third Monthly Business Meeting, BSP Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said reviewing the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 10000 or the Agri-Agra Credit Reform Act to include lending for housing as another mode of compliance is among the ways to address the country’s huge housing backlog.

This, as Guinigundo noted that banks rely on substitutionary compliance provided by RA 10000 given the slight difference in the value of banks’ loans for direct compliance and indirect compliance to the law.

RA 10000 mandates banks to set aside 25 percent of their loanable funds to the agriculture and fisheries sector, of which 10 percent has to be provided to agrarian reform beneficiaries.

The law provides the following alternative modes of compliance for banks: investment in bonds issued by the Development Bank of the Philippines and the Land Bank of the Philippines declared eligible by the Department of Agriculture (DA); subscription to shares of stock of accredited financial institutions such as the Quedan and Rural Credit Guarantee Corp. or the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp.; investment in special deposit accounts of rural financial institutions accredited by the BSP; wholesale lending to accredited rural financial institutions; rediscounting of agriculture and agrarian reform credits; loans for construction of farm-to-market roads and post-harvest facilities; and loans to warehouses or millers or wholesalers accredited by the National Food Authority.

Citing BSP data, Guinigundo said the value of loans extended by banks as direct compliance to RA 10000 reached P178.503 billion as of end-September 2014, while funds for alternative compliance amounted to P158.161 billion in the same period.

At present, he said, implementing agencies of RA 10000, namely the BSP, DA and Department of Agrarian Reform are undertaking a legal review of whether the use of the quota for housing and the education sector could be included in the IRR as an alternative compliance for banks.

“Because the compliance is small, perhaps because the demand is not big, there is scope for allocating these funds to the housing sector,” he said.

The BSP official said that in reviewing the IRR, and in looking at extending loans to the housing sector as an alternative compliance to the law, there are certain considerations.

“The inclusion of the housing sector as alternative compliance should not water down the original intent of the bill to make credit available for the agri-agra sector,” he said.

He said the impact of the revision to business operations of banks should also be looked into.

Aside from reviewing the IRR of the Agri-Agra Credit Reform Act, Guinigundo said other ways to address the housing backlog could include improving access to finance through the bond market for builders and developers, strengthening the government’s secondary mortgage institution, and are tapping other funding resources through the Real Estate Investment Trust Law as well as issuance of overseas Filipino workers’ bonds.

The CREBA had earlier proposed a package of reforms to address the housing backlog estimated at 5.5 million.

House leaders agree: P-Noy won’t be invited

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.

By Jess Diaz (The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines - It’s final: the House of Representatives will not invite President Aquino to its hearings on the Mamasapano incident on April 7 and 8.

And if anyone would present a motion during the inquiry to invite the President, members from the majority will vote it down.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. has informed Minority Leader Ronaldo Zamora that the House majority coalition will not allow an invitation to be issued for Aquino, Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II said yesterday.

“We met last Tuesday and we made it clear that the President will not be invited, that he has already made a sufficient explanation of his role in Mamasapano. The minority did not insist on having an invitation extended to the President,” he said.

Aside from Belmonte, Gonzales and Zamora, others who attended the meeting were Carol Jane Lopez of party-list group You Against Corruption and Poverty, Celso Lobregat of Zamboanga City, Rodolfo Biazon of Muntinlupa, Jeffrey Ferrer of Negros Occidental and Jim Hataman-Salliman of Basilan.

Ferrer and Salliman, as chairmen of the committees on public order and on peace and reconciliation, respectively, will jointly preside over the April hearings.

Gonzales said he expects that some militant party-list representatives would still insist on having the two committees invite Aquino.

“But any motion to that effect would be voted down,” he said.

Last weekend, Belmonte sent a text message to reporters: “Remember, we have had two exhaustive inquiries already. This is just to wrap up. Certainly, we have no intention of inviting him (Aquino) to the inquiry, but would welcome any information he would give.”

The Speaker was reacting to the proposal of Lopez, who belongs to Zamora’s minority group, for the hearing committees to invite Aquino.

Gonzales said it was also agreed during last Tuesday’s meeting that the April hearings would not touch on what the Senate and the PNP Board of Inquiry (BOI) have already investigated.

“It was the consensus that we should not waste time on things that the Senate and the BOI have tackled. The committees should take off from the Senate and BOI reports,” he said.

He said Ferrer and Salliman had promised that they would conduct orderly proceedings.

Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. of Dasmariñas City in Cavite said he supports the decision of House leaders to block any invitation for Aquino to appear in the Mamasapano inquiry.

“We should respect the President’s wish. He declared in his Philippine National Police Academy speech on Thursday that that would be the last time he would speak on the issue. We should respect that,” he said.

He said he also supports the agreement for the hearing committees to focus on what the Senate and BOI inquiries have not covered.

Since the Senate and the BOI have tackled most issues, committee members should zero in on gaps in their reports, he added.

Ulterior motive

Barzaga also accused those asking President Aquino to apologize for the Mamasapano incident of having ulterior motives.

“Clearly, there’s malice behind his call. Their ulterior motive is to destroy the administration using the death of 44 policemen in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on Jan. 25,” he said.

“Their call for an apology is not only malicious but misplaced, because the issue being raised against the President is not even graft-related,” he said.

He said some of those suggesting that Aquino say sorry “have been affected by the administration’s campaign against corruption.”

“They have been exposed as having stolen money from public coffers, as having pocketed public funds,” he added without naming names.

Aquino’s critics renewed their call for an apology after the President’s Thursday speech at the Philippine National Police Academy in Cavite.

In his speech, the President reiterated that he was taking responsibility for the Mamasapano incident but stopped short of saying sorry.

Barzaga said Aquino was “very sincere and direct to the point” in his speech

“Once more, the President took responsibility. He declared he would bring this tragedy with him until his final day. He spoke the truth – the sadness brought about by the deaths of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) troopers could never be remedied by any speech or report,” he said.

The speech also showed Aquino’s human side when he asked for the public’s understanding for what happened in Mamasapano, he said.

He pointed out that the President’s acceptance of responsibility did not mean that he was admitting liability.

“The President is responsible, as Chief Executive, for the workings of government but he cannot be held liable for every error committed in the bureaucracy – from a simple typo error in a memo to the mistakes of those directly serving under him,” he stressed.

He added that the SAF mission to carry out a presidential directive for the capture of three suspected terrorists “was a success in the sense that the police killed their principal target.”

SAF commandos killed suspected Malaysian terrorist-bomb maker Zulkifli bir Hir, alias Marwan, but lost 44 men in ensuing firefights with guerillas belonging to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and its breakaway faction, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

Barzaga joined fellow administration allies in calling for a closure to the Mamasapano incident.
He said Aquino’s critics would be beating a dead horse if they continue to harp on the issue.
Earlier, Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone said he could not understand why some people still want the President to say sorry despite his taking responsibility for what happened in Mamasapano.

“He reiterated on Thursday that as the nation’s leader, he was the one ultimately responsible for the SAF mission and its results. He asked for understanding for whatever lapses he made, as he is only human like the rest of us. He also reiterated that the incident would forever be on his conscience,” he said.

“What more do we want from him? Do we want him to say sorry and beg for forgiveness? I think his critics just want to humiliate him,” he said.

HIV risk not about sexuality – experts

by THOM PICAÑA | Manila Times

BAGUIO CITY: More than half of reported modes of human immunodeficiency virus or HIV transmission in 2014 was through homosexual contact, latest data from the Philippine HIV and AIDS Registry National Epidemiology Center show. Health authorities, at the same time, stressed that this data is indicative of risky behavior, not sexuality.

In a recently concluded media briefing by the Philippine Legislators’ Committee in Population and Development (PLCPD), dubbed: “Break barriers, end the trend: Addressing the HIV epidemic in the Philippines,” it was reported that 95 percent of the HIV cases in the Philippines in recent years involved male patients.

It was reported during the media briefing that modes of transmission were sexual contact at 5,649 for the same period, with males to male sex (MSM) as the predominant type of transmission at 2,928 or 52 percent. Bisexual contact is the second most common mode of transmission with 1,861 recorded cases and heterosexual contact with 860 cases.

The PLCPD briefing was given by representatives from the Department of Health-Cordillera and UNAIDS Philippines.

In 2014, there were 6,011 total cases of HIV in the country reported to the HIV and AIDS Registry, making the reported cases from 1984-2014 to a total of 22,527.

In the Cordilleras, the Philippine Information Agency noted that a similar trend can be noted in the region, as data presented by Dr. Julius Cesar Alcala of DOH-CAR show. Of the 41 recorded cases in the entire region from January to December 2014, 18 of those cases were recorded under homosexual mode of transmission. Bisexual contact is also the second most common mode of transmission with 13 recorded cases and heterosexual contact with 10 cases.

But while statistics show that HIV is prevalent among males and commonly transmitted through homosexual contact, UNAIDS Philippines Country Director Bai Bagasao said: “We have to understand that transmission happens because of behavior and has nothing to do with sexual orientation and gender identity.”

Alcala expressed similar views, saying the “fast and furious” epidemic of HIV/AIDS has nothing to do with who has sex but with risky behaviors, including unprotected sex, sharing of needles, among others. He also related lack of knowledge or proper information to the rise of recorded cases.

According to Alcala, the way to address the issue is through multi-sector participation in the age-appropriate information and education drive backed by adequate government funding.
Activities that contribute to the spread of HIV, such as prostitution, remain rampant in Baguio.

Reports say that with girls with ages raging from 16 and above offeri sexual services to patrons in the Central Business District. Some time ago, the Office of the City Social Welfare and Development Office, along with the city Police Office raided the popularly known Magsaysay Avenue and accosted about 10 suspected female prostitutes in an effort to curb the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
Betty Fangasan, head of the local welfare office took them in at the Silungan Center and taught them vocational courses. After graduation they were given cash as capital for the to start a small business.
But some of the back to Magsaysay Avenue claiming that are not earning enough from their new source of livelihood

“Kahit gusto natin silang tulungan e mismong sarili nila ayaw nilang tulungan at magbagong buhay kaya sa tingin ko ginawa na natin ang misyon natin sa kanila” [Even if we want to help them, we cannot do anything if they do not want to help themselves], Fangasan said.

Shopinas.com nips Philips Gold, shares early lead with Petron

 

By Mark Escarlote  | ABS-CBN Sports

Shopinas.com pounced on Philips Golds’ erratic game as the Lady Clickers collected their second straight win for a share of the lead sweeping the Lady Slammers, 25-18, 26-24, 29-27, Sunday in the Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference at The Arena in San Juan.

Slowly working with their court chemistry, the Lady Clickers tied the idle Petron Blaze Spikers on top of the standings in their first of back-to-back games.      

“Ngayon medyo nakaka-adjust na ng kaunti kasi mas nakikilala na nila ng kaunti yung bawat isa then kahit papano guma-gamble na magbigay ng play,” said Shopinas.com coach Ramil De Jesus after his squad’s follow up four-set victory against the Mane ‘N Tail Lady Stallions last Thursday.

Stephanie Mercado scored all her nine points from kills while Cha Cruz also scored nine with team captain Micmic Laborte had eight for the Lady Clickers, who dealt their former players Michelle Gumabao and Melissa Gohing their second straight loss in as many outings wearing the Philips Gold uniform.

Shopinas.com will take on the Foton Tornadoes on Monday while Philips Gold squares off with Mane ‘N Tail.

The Lady Slammers got close in tying the match in the second set, building a 22-19 lead. Philips Gold got to set point at 24-23 after an error by Mercado.

But the Lady Slammers collapsed in the end game with Shopinas.com reserve April Hingpit scoring on an easy back-against-the-net return that lazily dropped in front of the confused Lady Slammers before Philips Gold gave away the frame with another miscue.

The Francis Vicente-mentored Lady Slammers got another chance of extending the match, reaching set point at 24-23. Leuseht Dawis committed a service error in the ensuing play to tie the set at 24 before Laborte pushed Shopinas.com at match point advantage with a through the block hit.

Direct hire Myla Pablo tipped in the equalizer to the back row, Laborte again gave the Lady Clickers the match point advantage but an error by Shopinas.com and an attack from Hazel Mea turned the set point back to Philips Gold, 27-26.

Lady Slammer Siemens Dadang’s service fell short and Kim Dy blocked Gumabao’s spike to put Shopinas.com back at the helm before Pablo committed Philips Gold’s last of 34 errors with an attack that went straight to the net to end the game.

The loss put in naught a good performance from Gumabao, who had 13 points, and overall top pick Filipino-American Iris Tonelada’s 42 excellent sets.

Jolie delivers empowerment message at Kids’ Choice Awards

 

Angelina Jolie is seen in the audience at Nickelodeon’s 28th annual Kids’ Choice Awards at The Forum on Saturday, March 28, 2015, in Inglewood, Calif. AP - Associated Press via Inquirer

LOS ANGELES— The traditional green slime flowed at the Kids’ Choice Awards, but it was Angelina Jolie’s message of empowerment for youngsters that stuck.

Jolie, who has sought to inspire women with public candor about her own health, said that “different is good” as she accepted the favorite villain award Saturday for her movie role as the title character in “Maleficent.”

When she was young, Jolie said, “I was told I was different. And I felt out of place: too loud, too full of fire, never good at sitting still, never good at fitting in.”

“When someone tells you that you are different, smile and hold your head up and be proud,” she said, then added with a wink, “cause a little trouble. It’s good for you.”

The actress and filmmaker, who disclosed earlier this week that she had undergone additional surgery aimed at preventing cancer, received excited hugs from daughters Shiloh and Zahara when her name was announced.

Other winners at the Nickelodeon channel’s fan-voted awards included Emma Stone, who largely escaped its trademark slime when she accepted the best actress award for her role in “The Amazing Spider-Man 2,” and favorite family TV show “Modern Family,” whose stars including Jesse Tyler Ferguson didn’t get away clean.

Nick Jonas hosted the ceremony, which also honored the group Fifth Harmony as favorite new artist and Liam Hemsworth and Jennifer Lawrence of “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1″ as favorite action stars. The film was voted favorite movie.

Jonas won as favorite male singer but also ended up drenched in the ceremony’s trademark green slime, as did Josh Gad (“Frozen,” Broadway’s “Book of Mormon”), who got slimed by co-presenter Adam Sandler.

Performers included Iggy Azalea with Jennifer Hudson and 5 Seconds of Summer, which ended up taking a goo hit.

Jonas opened the ceremony by noting that One Direction was minus a group member with the exit of Zayn Malik.

“A tough week. … Lot of girls in the house tonight still struggling after One Direction became Two Direction,” he said, then asked, jokingly, “What’s next? Fourth Harmony? 3 Seconds of Summer? No, no. The Jonas Brother?”

One Direction didn’t appear to accept its trophy as favorite music group.

Others taking part in the ceremony included Jamie Foxx, Meghan Trainor, Chris Rock, Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting, Kevin James and Little League Baseball sensation Mo’ne Davis.

Jolie, writing in the New York Times on Tuesday, revealed that she had her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed in hopes of reducing her risk of cancer.

Two years ago, she disclosed that she carries a defective breast cancer gene that puts her at high risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. Her mother died of ovarian cancer, and her maternal grandmother also had ovarian cancer — strong evidence of an inherited, genetic risk that led Jolie to have her healthy breasts removed to try to avoid the same fate.

Saudis ‘very pleased’ with US support for Yemen air campaign

Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the United States Adel Al-Jubeir speaks during a news conference at the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington, Wednesday, March 25, 2015. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

By AP via Manila Bulletin

WASHINGTON (AP) — Saudi Arabia on Friday praised the U.S. for helping an Arab air campaign against Yemen’s rebels.

The Saudi ambassador in Washington, Adel al-Jubeir, said the U.S. has been “very supportive” of the operation politically and logistically. He said the kingdom is “very pleased” with the level of coordination with the U.S., which has established a joint planning cell with Saudi Arabia to coordinate U.S. and military and intelligence support.

Al-Jubeir spoke Friday after meetings with State Department officials.

Separately on Friday, President Barack Obama spoke by telephone with Saudi King Salman to discuss recent developments in Yemen.

Saudi Arabia bombed strongholds of the Shiite rebels for the second day Friday, seeking to knock out their air defenses before a possible ground invasion.

The Houthi rebels control Yemen’s capital and several provinces.

Al-Jubeir said the mission was clear: support Yemen’s legitimate government, protect civilians and prevent militants armed with heavy weapons, ballistic missiles and air power from “controlling, dominating and damaging Yemen and its people.”

Pinoy Pride 30 results: Nietes, Donaire and Pagara prevail

Donnie "Ahas" Nietes remained as the WBO light flyweight champion following a TKO victory over Mexican foe Gilberto Parra at the end of the ninth round. - ABS-CBN Sports & Action

MANILA - Three Filipinos on the four title fights of Pinoy Pride 30: D-Day emerged victorious on Saturday night at the Araneta Coliseum.

As the headliner for the night's fight card, Donnie "Ahas" Nietes did not disappoint after scoring a TKO victory over Mexican foe Gilberto Parra at the end of the ninth round.

It was a tentative exchange on the fight's onset, but slowly heated up as rounds passed. Parra's movement proved a bit troublesome for Nietes. But once the Filipino began landing his shots, Parra had very little to do in response. 

The eighth round of the bout spelled the biggest difference of the fight, when Nietes landed a straight right that floored Parra. The action went on through the ninth, but was eventually stopped by the Mexican's corner.

Nietes solidifies his place as the WBO light flyweight title and as the longest reigning Filipino champion.

Donaire bounces back through second round stoppage of Prado

In the co-main event, five-division world champion Nonito Donaire proved that he is still worthy to fight at the sport's top-level after stopping Brazilian William Prado at the second round of his comeback fight in the Philippines.

Donaire's size advantage of Prado was glaring, and was translated to the pace of the action. "The Filipino Flash's" power shots were landing at will, using his left upper cut to set up his signature left hook.

As the second round began, Donaire kept throwing bombs, leaving Prado unable to throw a significant punch. Having seen enough, the referee stepped in to put the bout to a halt at the 2:15 mark.

Pagara retains title and undefeated record

"Prince" Albert Pagara showed why he is worthy of all the hype after making opponent Rodolfo Hernandez unable to return to action in the fifth round of their battle.

Immediately, Pagara's power proved to be overwhelming for "Fofo", as he was dropped by a straight right in the first round. Having felt the Filipino's power, Hernandez was rattled, but carried on to throw combinations.

As the fight progressed, Pagara's straight rights were still landing at will. Hernandez was already showing signs of slowing down in the fourth, and as the fifth round rang in, he was unable to get up and carry on with the fight after suffering a hand injury.

In the end, Pagara was awarded with the fifth round TKO victory.

Aquino signs 'Book of Condolences' for Lee Kuan Yew

President Benigno S. Aquino III condoled with the people of Singapore as he signed the Book of Condolences Friday for the late Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew who died Monday at age 91.

 

Among those who received the President at the Singapore Embassy in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City were Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario and Scott Loh Chee Heong, the embassy's Charge d' Affaires.

 

The President arrived at the embassy's multi-purpose hall around 4 p.m. Friday and was ushered in front of the signing table, where a picture of the late Singaporean leader was positioned for a moment of prayer.

 

"I, along with the Filipino people, stand in solidarity with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and the people of Singapore in this time of grieving, as we all honor Lee Kuan Yew, whose steady and efficient leadership and whose bold vision transformed Singapore into the city-state that it is today," the President's condolence message read.

 

Lee, Singapore's founding father, died at the Singapore General Hospital, where he had been admitted for severe pneumonia since February 5. Lee would have turned 92 this September.

 

He left behind his sons, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, 63, and Lee Hsien Yang, 57; daughter Dr. Lee Wei Ling, 60; daughters-in-law Ho Ching, 61, and Lee Suet-Fern, 56; seven grandchildren and two siblings. His wife, Madam Kwa Geok Choo, died in 2010 at the age of 89.

 

Lee is widely regarded as the man most instrumental in shaping Singapore. He and his People's Action Party colleagues pushed for self-government in the 1950s, worked to merge with Malaysia in the early 1960s, and strived to secure the country's survival after independence on August 9,1965.

 

He led a pioneer generation of Singaporeans to overcome a series of daunting challenges that confronted his country from rehousing squatters in affordable public housing, rebuilding the economy after the sudden pull-out of British forces and the oil shocks of the 1970s, and a major economic recession in the mid-1980s.

 

Lee served as Singapore's prime minister for 31 years, from 1959 to 1990. At the age of 67, he chose to hand over the premiership to Goh Chok Tong, and took on the role of senior minister, serving as guide and mentor in the Cabinet.

 

When Prime Minister Lee took charge in 2004, the elder Lee became Minister Mentor, spending time thinking about the long-term challenges facing Singapore. - PNA— KBAPI

Palace confident of public support for draft BBL passage

SunStar (Photo CTO UNTV)

MALACANANG expressed confidence on Sunday that the government could get more support from the public on the peace process amid the plan to hold a National Peace Summit to be led by an independent council.

With that, Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda indicated that fears of a possible break out of war in Mindanao due to the stalled peace talks would be unlikely.

"What we are earnestly pursuing right now is what the President (Benigno Aquino III) announced very recently on the National Peace Summit, that we can discuss in a non-impassioned manner the peace process and, specifically, the BBL (Bangsamoro Basic Law)," he said over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

Aquino disclosed on Friday that he invited independent convenors from the church, business, and peace groups to lead the summit where they would discuss and improve the draft BBL, now pending in Congress.

"We are confident that as more stakeholders are involved, and as more people are informed about the peace process in general and the Bangsamoro Basic Law specifically, we will be able to continue to muster the general sentiment," Lacierda said.

Malaysia was reportedly preparing its offshore military bases to intercept Filipino refugees who might flee to Sabah in the event that war erupts in Mindanao due to stalled peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

"We cannot speak for Malaysia," Lacierda said, reacting on the report.

But he stressed that the Palace believes that the sentiment of the people is towards peace.
"It's just that we need to look at the peace process from the prism of all the stakeholders involved, not necessarily in just one incident, the Mamasapano. Nagkaroon ng effect ang Mamasapano but we need to look at the peace process in and of itself," he added.

The deliberations on the proposed BBL were suspended after the tragic anti-terrorism operation launched on January 25 in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, resulting to the death of 44 members of the police Special Action Force (SAF).

Their deaths have resulted on the strong sentiment of most Filipinos against the passage of the Bangsamoro bill. (SDR/Sunnex)