₱2 Billion Project NOAH Philippines – World’s Most Advance Technology

A screenshot demonstrating how Project Noah works in real-time, indicating weather forecasts and water levels at river basins across the Philippine islands

The Philippines is no stranger to disasters. Floods, earthquakes, volcanoes and typhoons frequently ravage the archipelago, making it one of the most disaster-prone countries in the work.

 

But now a new plan aptly dubbed Project NOAH – National Operational Assessment of Hazards – intends to give Filipinos a better chance of overcoming these calamities by providing real-time access to weather information and updating maps, some of which date back to the 1960s.

 

Spearheaded by the Philippine Department of Science and Technology, the ₱2 billion pesos, or $48 million US Dollar , project was launched in July 2012. Automated rain gauges first were installed in river basis around the country, allowing scientists and other experts to track rainfall and river water levels in real time. This month, the project will roll out LIDAR, or Light Detection and Ranging, technology which allows for high-resolution 3D mapping of the country's topography – something which scientists say will help the Philippines' better prepare for potential disasters. The entire country is expected to be digitally mapped within two years, according to scientists running the project.

 

"Using the best technology available is the only way to minimize casualties," said Mahar Lagmay, executive director of Project Noah and a scientist at the University of the Philippines in Manila. "We need to develop a culture of preparedness and safety.

 

He also added that the project will likely draw on newly-developed "super wifi" technology to get around some necessary infrastructural upgrades still lacking in the Philippines.

 

Just weeks after Project Noah was launched by the country's president Benigno Aquino III, the system was quickly tested when monsoon winds and rain dumped unusually heavy rainfall on critical cities in the Philippines, including Manila. The torrential rains caused the most severe floods seen since Tropical Storm Ketsana in 2009 which left the capital submerged for days.

 

Initial assessments of the August floods showed that better tracking and disaster response times helped to limit the death toll to just over 100 people, compared to over 700 during 2009's floods. A report from the United States Agency for International Development, or USAID, said local governments were "managing the situations well", and that that follow-up relief operation was put into action quickly. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the population displaced by the floods reduced by 10% in a week – a far better record than during Typhoon Ketsana, whose impact lasted months though similar levels of rainfall were recorded, according to Project Noah's tracking maps.

 

Mr. Lagmay added that the improved maps could also serve another practical purpose – as a tool for urban planning and development, crucial for private sector investors that are starting to bet big on increased domestic spending in the country including in malls and on real estate. The project has some private sector partners – including San Miguel Corp SMC.PH's Petron oil refinery, Philippine telcos Smart Communications Inc TEL.PH, SUN Cellular and Globe Communications though none of them have pledged funding as yet. Smart Communications, for example, has been working to set up free call stations at disaster evacuation centers with charging facilities and internet provisions and opens SMS channels to receive donations during crisis situations.

 

It is becoming increasingly important for Asian countries to adopt modern disaster relief strategies in the decades to come, experts say. According to a report from the Asian Development Bank, a projected 410 million urban Asians are at risk of coastal flooding in the next decade, with another 350 million at risk of inland flooding – similar to that experienced by Bangkok last year, and Manila this August.

 

Observers note that social media is an important component in Project Noah's success. Comscore ranks the country the world's biggest market for Facebook FB, with more than 90% of its online population using the social networking tool, with an overall internet penetration rate of about 33% of its 100 million people. Representatives from Global Systems Mobile, the system on which many cellular phone networks function, are examining the Philippines to see how mobile phones can help bolster early warning networks elsewhere.

 

Twitter provided some of the fastest alerts about a 7.6 magnitude earthquake off the eastern coast of the Philippines last month. And analysts say social media will become even more useful as radio stations and other broadcast media increasingly rely on the Internet for information.

 

The Wall Street Journal 

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Official: Name Internationalizing “West Philippines Sea” to replaced “South China Sea”

A year and five months after the fact, President Benigno Aquino signed an order renaming South China Sea waters within the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) West Philippine Sea.

 

On September 5, the President signed Administrative Order No. 29, "Naming the West Philippine Sea of the Republic of the Philippines, and for other purposes."

 

"These areas include the Luzon Sea as well as the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal," Mr. Aquino says in the order made public only Wednesday (September 12, 2012).

 

In interview at Camp Crame, President Aquino said he was still looking forward to a meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao, whom he missed seeing at the 20th Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders' summit in Vladivostok, Russia, on Sunday.

 

"I am still hoping that we can have a dialogue where we can have a heart-to-heart talk and [real] sharing of all of our thoughts in total honesty and openness. So that seems to be the way forward to settle all of these things," Mr. Aquino said, referring to the Philippines' territorial dispute with China in the West Philippine Sea.

 

The Aquino administration began calling the South China Sea West Philippine Sea in March last year  (2011) after Chinese patrol ships harassed a Philippine scientific vessel and fired across the bows of Philippine fishing boats in waters within the country's claim in the Spratly chain.

 

In Wednesday's interview President Aquino clarified that AO 29 covered only "portions of the South China Sea."

 

Those waters encompass the Philippines' 370-kilometer EEZ, Mr. Aquino said.

 

Scarborough Shoal, also known as Panatag Shoal, is within the country's EEZ, he said.

 

"I just want to be precise … I'm sure that Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc is within our EEZ and also they have been [part of the country] historical[ly]," Mr. Aquino said.

 

 "Does it help our cause? It is important to clarify which portions we claim as ours versus the entirety of the South China Sea," Mr. Aquino said, explaining to reporters the need to officially rename the area because some countries call it by other names.

 

"We call it West Philippine Sea. There is a portion of it they call East Sea. Each one calls it by another name. Let's make clear what areas we claim as ours," he said.

 

To justify the official renaming of waters to the west of Palawan and Zambales provinces, the order points out that Presidential Decree No. 1599 (issued in 1978) established the Philippine EEZ.

 

In 2009, Congress enacted Republic Act No. 9522, the Baselines Law, which defined and described the baselines of the Philippine archipelago.

 

Sovereign rights of the Philippines

 

According to the AO 29, the Philippines exercises "sovereign rights under the principles of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos), to explore and exploit, conserve and manage the natural resources, whether living or nonliving, both renewable and nonrenewable, of the seabed, including the subsoil and the adjacent waters, and to conduct other activities for the economic exploitation and exploration of its maritime domain, such as the production of energy from the water, currents and winds."

 

It says the Philippines exercises "sovereign jurisdiction" over its EEZ with regard to the establishment and use of artificial islands, installations and structures; marine scientific research; protection and preservation of the marine environment; and other rights and duties provided for in UNCLOS.

 

The order explains that in the exercise of sovereign jurisdiction, "the Philippines has the inherent power and right to designate its maritime areas with appropriate nomenclature for purposes of the national mapping system."

 

The shift to West Philippine Sea, the order says, is without prejudice to the determination of the maritime domain of territories over which the Philippines has sovereignty and jurisdiction.

 

Name:  Internationalizing West Philippines Sea to replaced South China Sea

 

The order directs the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) to produce and publish charts and maps of the Philippines showing the West Philippine Sea.

 

It says the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), in consultation with NAMRIA and other appropriate governmental agencies, will deposit, at the appropriate time, a copy of the order enclosing the official map showing the West Philippine Sea with the Secretary General of the United Nations and notify accordingly relevant international organizations, such as the International Hydrographic Organization and the United Nations Conference on the Standardization of Geographical Names.

 

The order directs all governmental agencies to use the name West Philippine Sea in all communications, messages and public documents, to popularize the use of the name, both domestically and internationally.

 

They are also directed to use the official Philippine maps produced and published by Namria showing the West Philippine Sea.

 

Inquirer 

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Philippines – Korea Inked ₱3 Billion Puerto Princesa Airport Modernization

World 7 Wonders of Nature - Puerto Princesa world's longest navigable Underground river.

The gateway to one of the Philippines' trendiest destinations will soon get a makeover.

 

The declaration of Palawan's Underground River as one of the "7 New Wonders of the World" has drawn record numbers of tourists to the nation's westernmost province.

 

But their introduction to the province is a congested backwater airport.

 

This may soon fade as a bygone era, with a recently signed agreement between Seoul and Manila.

 

South Korea agreed to support the development and rehabilitation of Puerto Princesa Airport by providing a $71.6-million loan ₱2,968,894,000.00 Billion pesos as official development assistance or ODA.

 

Philippines and South Korea signed last month the loan agreement covering the financial side of giving the Puerto Princesa Airport a makeover – officially called the Puerto Princesa Airport Development Project of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

 

The Department of Finance on Wednesday said that Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima signed the agreement on August 23 on behalf of the Philippine government. Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM) chairman and President Yong Hwan Kim signed on behalf of the Republic of Korea.

 

The money would finance the construction of a new passenger terminal with facilities and a new access road.

 

Part of the money will also help improve the runway and finance navigational aids to cover the increasing number of domestic and international flights to and from Puerto Princesa.

 

Once complete, the project is expected to revitalize the transport and trade linkages within the Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area or BIMP-EAGA, Purisima said.

 

The $71.6-million loan (₱2,968,894,000.00 Billion pesos) is the second deal KEXIM and the Philippine government signed this year.

 

A $207.88-million loan agreement for the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project Phase II of the National Irrigation Administration was clinched last month between KEXIM and the Philippine government.

 

GMA News 

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Benham Rise Oil and Gas Exploration to begin 2013 - call for seismic data

Benham Rise is thought to be rich in Natural Gas, Petroleum and Oil. Indonesia is one of the largest supplier of coal in the Philippines released the information for their planned of cease of exporting raw coal products to the Philippines by 2013.

 

The Philippines needs to suffice itself by producing its own coal and should stop dependence from Indonesia.

 

The DOE is in no choice than to start exploring the indigenous coal, petroleum, and natural gas sources in the unexplored rich resource Philippines calling for seismic data to roll out the bidding for exploration in 2013.

 

The Department of Energy (DOE) is looking to bid out portions of the 13-million-hectare Benham Rise in the eastern Luzon Seaboard for oil and gas exploration projects next year.

 

But the DOE will first have to secure seismic survey data to encourage investors, an official said.

 

The DOE, along with other government agencies, is also fasttracking the permitting process for other petroleum projects as the Philippines is largely underexplored compared with its Southeast Asian neighbors.

 

"Now that [Benham Rise] is ours, it might be a good time to acquire seismic data," DOE Undersecretary Jose Layug, Jr. said in a briefing.

 

"It would be nice to do it alongside Philippine Energy Contracting Round (PECR) 5," he added.

 

In April, the 13-million-hectare continental shelf off the east coast of Luzon, near the provinces of Aurora and Isabela, was declared by the United Nations as part of Philippine territory.

 

The area, which is also known as Benham Plateau, is a deepwater fishing ground for deepwater fish like bluefin tuna. It is also believed to be rich in natural gas and manganese nodules.

 

In 2008, the Philippines filed the claim in the area, which is an extinct volcanic ridge.

 

However, the DOE needs preliminary data assessing the resources in the Benham Rise.

 

"For us to be able to offer those areas for PECR, we need data," Layug said.

 

Environment Secretary Ramon Paje earlier said the Benham Rise might contain mineral and gas deposits like those in the Reed Bank in the disputed West Philippine Sea.

 

In the PECR 4 that offered 15 oil and petroleum areas, the DOE received 20 bids for 11 areas. All four areas that failed to secure bids lacked seismic data, Layug said.

 

Specifically, four firms are interested to conduct seismic surveys in the eastern side of the country, Layug said.

 

The DOE previously allowed Western Geco International Ltd. to conduct a $3-million seismic study in 2002, Digicon Berhad in 1992 and Singapore-based Petroleum Geoservices Asia Pacific Ltd. in 1996.

 

Geophysical surveys like seismic studies can indicate features in the oil and petroleum reservoir. However, the DOE lacks funds and financial resources to conduct the surveys on its own.

 

Through the seismic data, a company can propose how many wells they plan to drill to measure resources.

 

On a larger scale, the DOE and other government agencies are continuously implementing reforms identified by the Philippine Upstream Petroleum Task Force that was created by Executive Order 60 last year.

 

"We have a lot of key agencies here because based on what we have seen is when we look at all permits needed to be secured if you're going to conduct exploration activity, at least 200. If you are a foreign investor, you have to secure 200 permits so we try to streamline," Layug said.

The permitting process usually takes one year to obtain, which the task force expects to cut by half by the end of the year, he said.

 

Prior to exploration projects, companies need to secure numerous environmental, national and local permits.

 

Layug said the Philippines is competing with its neighbors in securing capital for exploration purposes.

 

Other efforts of the government include local and international roadshows and efficiency in managing service contracts.

 

To date, there are 27 service contracts in the Philippines involving Shell Philippines Exploration, Nido and BHP Billiton. However, only the Malampaya and Galoc oil fields are in regular production.

 

The DOE is pursuing energy independence and sustainability through the development of indigenous energy resources like coal, petroleum and natural gas.

 

ABS-CBN News

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DND Arming BRP Gregorio del Pilar with Antiship Missiles

 

The Department of National Defense intends to arm its recently-acquired warship, the Navy's Hamilton-class cutter BRP Gregorio del Pilar, with antiship missiles, a DND official said Sunday (September 9, 2012).

 

The official, who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the matter, said the Gregorio del Pilar's weapons system would be upgraded with Harpoon antiship missiles—described as a modern, all-weather, over-the-horizon defense system.

 

The Gregorio del Pilar,a decommissioned US Coast Guard cutter, was acquired last August as the Navy's flagship vessel. Although "combat ready," the US stripped the warship of its most sensitive armaments.

 

The Navy is getting another Hamilton-class cutter from the US, the Coast Guard cutter "Dallas," and this would also be fitted with missiles here, the source said.

 

"These upgrades will make our Hamilton-class cutters more capable vessels. It will definitely satisfy our minimum deterrent capability as far as naval defense is concern," the official said

 

Another Hamilton Class Cutter to Twin-up with BRP Gregorio del Pilar is on the process for farewell from its current port in the USA and would be navigating soon within this year to team up with BRP Gregorio del Pilar in safeguarding Philippine Seas

 

BRP Gregorio del Pilar - Hamilton Class cutter to be armed with antiship missiles 

Inquirer 

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Philippines International Gross Reserves hit up August 2012 to $80.80 Billion USD

The Philippines' gross international reserves (GIR) surpassed the $80-billion mark in August, the highest ever recorded by the Philippines and a big boost to the confidence of the international financial community and foreign investors.

 

According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the GIR hit $80.80 billion as of the end of August, up 6 percent from $75.94 billion as of the same period last year. The latest amount of foreign exchange reserves was also about 1-percent higher than the $79.76 billion posted as of end-July.

 

The sustained rise in the GIR in August was attributed partly to the central bank's foreign exchange operations. The BSP buys foreign currencies in the market from time to time to temper wild fluctuations in the peso-dollar exchange rate.

 

Supply of dollars in the market remained strong given the continued growth in remittances from overseas Filipinos and foreign investments mostly in peso-denominated instruments and in the country's business process outsourcing (BPO) industry.

 

The rise in the country's foreign exchange reserves was also traced partly to dollar deposits placed by the national government at the central bank.

 

The government borrows dollars through loans from foreign creditors or the issuance of foreign currency-denominated bonds. Before the government uses the proceeds from these loans and bond sales to repay maturing foreign debts, it usually parks the funds at the BSP, thus beefing up the country's foreign exchange reserves.

 

The rise in the GIR was also traced to the increase in the prices of gold in the world market. Of the country's foreign exchange reserves, $10.55 billion were in gold holdings.

 

GMA News

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Philippine Azkals Street Dogs Win-over Singapore Lions 2--0 After decades battle

Phil Younghusband rejoices after scoring the Azkals' second goal against the Singapore Lions. Phote: ABS-CBN

The Rising Philippines seen not only in economy, tourist destination, Web Index, Competitiveness but also in Sports.

 

For several decades, the Philippines experienced a losing spell against Singapore Lions in football match.

 

But a pair of goals changed it all for the Azkals on Friday night (September 7, 2012) as the Filipinos outclassed the Singapore Lions...

 

Emelio "Chieffy" Caligdong fired the opening salvo for the Philippines in the 8th minute.

 

Chieffy Caligdong scored an early goal to propel the Philippine Azkals to a breakthrough 2-0 win over Singapore in Friday night's friendly match at Jurong West Stadium.

 

After receiving a pass from Stephan Schroeck, Caligdong eluded two defenders during a counterattack in the eighth minute with a side step move before booting the ball that bounced once before landing on the net for the opening score that rocked a huge Filipino contingent watching the match in the Lion City.

 

In the second half, it was Phil Younghusband's turn to stun the Singaporeans.

 

Phil Younghusband added an insurance goal in the 48th minute to secure the country's first win over Singapore since a 2-0 decision on June 12, 1972 in Jakarta, Indonesia.

 

It was the 14th international goal for Caligdong and the first since scoring two in the Azkals' 2-0 win over Macau in last year's Long Teng Cup in Taiwan.

 

Behind Caligdong, the Azkals rebounded from a disappointing scoreless draw against Cambodia in Phnom Penh when they blew plenty of chances to boot one home in the second half.

 

The Azkals also witnessed the first appearance of Fil-German Stephan Schrock since a scoreless draw against Malaysia in June. Schrock has been busy with his club in the German Bundesliga.

 

Schroeck was eventually chosen as the man of the match for creating scoring chances for the Azkals. Schroeck created another chance for Younghusband, who fired a shot with his left foot for the Philippines' 2nd goal against Singapore in the 48th minute.

 

Pumped up by the victory, the Filipino booters will try to end their three-leg friendly in style when they travel to Vientiane to face Laos Today (September 10, 2012).

 

The Singaporean Lions' closest attempt scoring was Fazrul Nawaz's shot in the 34th minute that was disallowed by officials for offside.

 

There was also a near goal for Singapore in the 43rd minute when Filipino keeper Neil Etheridge's fumble nearly resulted to an own goal.

 

The Azkals' plays against the Lions were much better than the former's performance against Cambodia.

 

The Cambodians held the higher-ranked Azkals to a scoreless draw last Wednesday.

 

Singapore also lacked ferocity in offense with the absence of their injured veteran marksman Aleksandar Duric.

 

Upon arriving back home, the Azkals then focus on their campaign in the Philippine Football Peace Cup against Taiwan, Macau and Hong Kong at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

 

All scheduled friendlies are part of the team's build-up for the AFF Suzuki Cup in Bangkok, Thailand.

 

The Philippines had never beaten Singapore since 1991. The Lions blanked the Azkals, 2-0, in their match last year.

 

Azkals Destiny Today  in Cambodia without Neil Etheridge, Denis Wolf, Paul Mulders

 

The Philippine Azkals go up against lighweight Laos in the final stop of their three-nation ASEAN tour tonight in Vientiane's National Stadium, their confidence boosted by their recent 2-0 victory over long-time tormentor Singapore.

 

"Even though it's only a friendly and at the end of the day, it doesn't really mean that much, it's good for our confidence and team morale. After that game, our confidence should be sky-high," said Fil-British defender Rob Gier, who also serves as the team's scout.

 

Gier, however, cautioned fans against expecting the Azkals to just steamroll their lower-ranked oppositions.

 

"It's going to be a totally different game. We're not at that stage wherein we beat Singapore and then we're already expected to go and thump Laos, five, six, seven-nil. It doesn't happen like that," he said.

 

The Azkals will face the Laotians without three players who starred in their win over Singapore – Phil and James Younghusband and Jerry Lucena. The Younghusbands were excused from the game on the occasion of their mother's first death anniversary while Lucena left due to a commitment with Danish Superliga side Esbjerg fB.

 

"Unfortunately, we will miss the game against Laos but this is an important day for our family and we have spoken with management and they understand," said James.

 

The brothers assured their continuing commitment to the team.  "We remain fully committed to the national team and look forward to rejoining them in other preparations for the Suzuki Cup late this year," said Phil, one of the goal-scorers against Singapore.

 

The Azkals, though, will still parade Fil-German Stephan Schrock, whose highly efficient performance at midfield carried the Pinoys past the Lions.

 

"We have to say that Schrock is in a totally different level, playing in the first division Bundesliga. In recent years, we've never seen a player like Schrock playing for the country," said Philippine Football Federation president Nonong Araneta.

 

Neil Etheridge, Denis Wolf, Paul Mulders will also be around for the game, the third and last friendly in the Azkals' three-nation ASEAN tour. The Azkals earlier played Cambodia to a goal-less draw  in Phnom Penh before nipping Singapore.

 

"We'll be happy with any kind of result. If we go through these three games without conceding a goal, I'll be happy," said Gier.

 

Abs-CBN News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin and philSTAR

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Philippines gets Support for Peaceful West Philippines Sea from ASEAN neighbors + Chile

People's Republic of China President Hu Jintao did not meet President Benigno Aquino III in the APEC sideline meeting but both meet and discussed with Vietnam.

 

Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said President Aquino received support for the Philippines' stance from Malaysia and Vietnam, during bilateral meetings with their leaders.

 

"[On] the West Philippine Sea, we are, of course, we're both on board. Both countries are on board in terms of the six principles that was agreed with ASEAN [the Association of Southeast Asian Nations] and so we are anxious to see how that can be moved forward. Both leaders had expressed the need to be able to adopt a common position in ASEAN in terms of the challenges in the West Philippine Sea. And we are also together in terms of support for the forward movement of the code of conduct," del Rosario said at a media briefing, referring to Aquino's bilateral meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Sri Haji Mohammad Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak.

 

He said Aquino and Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang also pushed close cooperation in "dealing with the challenge that faced both of us."

 

"Vietnam has been a partner of the Philippines in terms of a cooperation to see how we both can address the challenge and be able to also work with other countries within ASEAN and also our other dialogue partners in terms of being able to move forward the objectives which we had closely defined as a peaceful resolution to the dispute in accordance with international law," he said.

 

Aquino held talks with the Malaysian and Vietnamese leaders Sunday. On Saturday, he held talks with Chilean president Sebastian Piñera and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

 

The Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam are all claimants to the Spratly Islands in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

 

But the Philippines and China have also been locked in a territorial dispute since April over the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.

 

The Philippine and Chinese sides had tried to work out a meeting between Aquino and Hu at the sidelines of the APEC summit but scheduling conflicts prevented the meeting from pushing through.

 

On Saturday, del Rosario said Aquino thanked Lee for Singapore's support for the Philippines' position on the West Philippine Sea.

 

"The president expressed his gratitude for the very strong support Singapore has given the Philippines in terms of its position in the West Philippine Sea. Singapore committed to continue its support in terms of a peaceful resolution of the dispute in accordance with international law including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea," he said.

 

He said the two leaders also expressed the need for the ASEAN to "strengthen its solidarity and centrality in being able to reinforce the importance of ASEAN being an entity that would promote peace and stability in the region.

 

GMA News

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Philippines now ratify UN - ILO not just for Filipinos but for 100 Million DH worldwide

The Philippines is the Chairman for the UN International Labor Organization (ILO) who finalized last year, ratified to come into force by 2013

NEW YORK, Sept 6, (UN News Center): A United Nations treaty which provides a set of international standards to improve the lives of millions of domestic workers worldwide has now been ratified by a second Member State, the Philippines, allowing it to come into force by 2013.

The Convention on Domestic Workers, that seeks to protect domestic workers around the world, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said which states that workers around the world who care for families and households must have the same basic labor rights as other employees, was adopted at the annual conference of the UN International Labor Organization (ILO) last year in Geneva.

To enter into force, however, the Convention required ratification by two countries. In June, Uruguay became the first country to ratify it.

The Philippines is the second country after Uruguay to ratify the measure, a move seen as a "significant milestone in the protection of migrant domestic workers," the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

Protected

"Today's ratification by the Philippines sends a powerful signal to the millions of domestic workers who will be protected when the Convention comes into force," said ILO's Director-General, Juan So-mavia. "I hope it will also send a signal to other Member States and that we will soon see more and more countries committing to protect the rights of domestic workers."

Ambassador Evan Garcia, the country's permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva, on Wednesday formalized the Philippines' ratification of the International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention 189, or the Convention on Decent Work for Domestic Workers.

More than 150,000 Filipinos work as household help in different parts of the world, particularly the Middle East, Europe and North America which sets to be phase out by 2015 which means the move for the Philippines it not focuses for the welfare for Filipino Domestic Workers but to all the Domestic Workers around the world.

There are around 53 million domestic workers worldwide but experts put the total number at 100 million as this kind of work is often unregistered, according to recent ILO estimates.

The ILO convention seeks to provide equal protection to domestic workers, assuring decent pay, work conditions and other benefits.

The convention stipulates standards that would ensure that domestic workers are treated with "the same respect, dignity and protection given to other workers," Hernandez said.

Recent ILO estimates based on national surveys or censuses in 117 countries place the number of domestic workers at a minimum of 53 million, but experts say there could be as many as 100 million across the world.

In developing countries, they make up at least four to 12 percent of those in wage employment, and around 83 per cent of them are women, many of whom are migrant workers.

"The new standard covers all domestic workers and provides for special measures to protect those workers who, because of their young age or nationality or live-in status, may be exposed to additional risks," ILO said in a news release.

The Convention also states that domestic workers must have the rights to reasonable working hours, weekly rest of at least 24 consecutive hours, a limit on in-kind payments and clear information on terms and conditions of their employment, as well as the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining.

The Philippine Congress, meanwhile, is discussing various pending measures that would implement the Convention's provisions in the country.

The ILO said the treaty would extend standards to a group which continues to be poorly regulated and remains largely part of the informal sector.

The convention lists basic rights for domestic workers, including reasonable working hours, weekly rest of at least 24 consecutive hours, a limit on in-kind payment, clear information on terms and conditions of employment, and respect for fundamental principles and rights at work, including freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining.

The convention, finalized last year by an ILO committee that the Philippine labor department chaired, will come into force in the Philippines by 2013, the DFA said.

President Aquino signed the convention's ratification earlier this year.

On August 6, the Senate approved on third reading the resolution concurring the ratification of the convention with 20 votes.

In a statement, Somavia said the Philippine ratification of the treaty "sends a powerful signal to the millions of domestic workers who will be protected when the convention comes into force."

Somavia said he was hoping to see more and more countries committing to protect the rights of domestic workers.

So far, No major migrant-receiving country, however, has ratified the convention, noted Migrante International, an organization of overseas Filipino workers.

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Philippine Micro Chips - Cirtek hoping to take over Thailand Electronics Plant

While foreign sales of the country's electronic products saw huge drops in the first half, with June alone seeing a 14.6% annual fall to $1.886 billion, Cirtek says it sees demand picking up this semester.

"We hope to conclude it (negotiation) by the third quarter of 2012. But you know, just like in any M&A (mergers and acquisitions), it's very difficult to predict," said Anthony T. Buyawe, the company's chief financial officer, in a telephone interview on Friday (August 31, 2012) last week.

"But there is common ground for both parties to agree."

Cirtek first announced in June that it was conducting "due diligence for acquisitions outside the Philippines," which the company claimed would "improve its top line."

"We do the same products, but they are more efficient in doing other products, so that would complement us," Mr. Buyawe said, adding that the acquisition will also "boost the company's efficiency" aside from "expanding its capacity."

Cirtek said it provides "turnkey solutions that include package design and development, wafer probing, wafer back grinding, assembly and packaging, final testing of semiconductor devices."

Last July, the company issued $10 million worth of corporate notes to Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co., with proceeds to be used for acquisitions, Mr. Buyawe said.

"The acquisition price is less than $10 million," Mr. Buyawe said, referring to the Thailand-based firm, even as he declined to be more specific.

Excess funds, he said, could help another prospective acquisition in Malaysia.

"We are also looking at a company in Malaysia but we like to finish first the one in Thailand," Mr. Buyawe added.

The expansion comes as the company said it is expecting an additional $2.2 million in annual revenues from new customers while its manufacturing facility in Laguna will be fully utilized by the end of the year, the company said in June.

In 2011, Cirtek booked $3.97 million in net income, up by 10.27% from $3.60 million last year as net sales surged by 7.97% to $37.11 million from $34.37 million, its financial statement submitted to the Philippine Stock Exchange showed.

For its domestic expansion, Mr. Buyawe said the company may build a third manufacturing facility in Laguna by the end of the year.

Mr. Buyawe also said the company is bullish on its prospects this semester, as "demand for electronic devices is expected to pick up later this year."

In the first half, the company's net income rose to $1.75 million, up by 4.16% from the $1.68 million recorded in the same period last year due to higher sales of its products.

Shares of Cirtek slipped 3 centavos or 0.31% to ₱9.65 apiece from ₱9.68 last Wednesday (September 5).

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2012 WW Web Index ranks Philippines 32nd among 61 countries and 7th in Asia Pacific

THE WEB Index 2012's findings are expected to help stakeholders act on areas that need improvement

A GLOBAL INDEX has placed the Philippines in the middle of 61 countries gauged according to their use of and impact from the Web.

The first Web Index 2012, released yesterday by the World Wide Web Foundation - a Geneva- and Washington-based non-profit organization formed in 2009 by Web inventor Sir Tim Berners-Lee - ranked the Philippines 32nd with an overall score of 46.81 and seventh among the 14 Asia-Pacific countries included in the study.

Using 2011 data, the study measured Web use, utility and impact on countries using indicators grouped under three subindices: communications and institutional infrastructure; Web content and use; as well as political, economic and social impact.

Scores range from zero to 100, with the latter serving as the highest mark per indicator.

WW web index top 10 includes

1. Sweden
2. United States
3. United Kingdom
4. Canada
5. Finland
6. Switzerland
7. New Zealand
8. Australia
9. Norway
10. Ireland

WW Web Index lowest to bottom the following

1. Nepal
2. Cameroon
3. Mali
4. Bangladesh
5. Namibia
6. Ethiopia
7. Benin
8. Burkina Faso
9. Zimbabwe
10. Yemen (Lowest)

WW web Index ranked the country in a better 7^th place in the Asia Pacific were

1. New Zealand
2. Australia
3. Singapore
4. South Korea
5. Japan
6. China
7. Philippines
8. India
9. Indonesia
10. Thailand
11. Pakistan
12. Vietnam
13. Nepal
14. Bangladesh

The Philippines saw some of its better scores in the "Impact" sub-index, ranking 32nd globally with a score of 48.37. Under this category, the country ranked 26th (with a score of 58.95) in social impact, 27th (48.98) in economic impact, and 37th (33.56) in political impact.

The country ranked 33rd, with a score of 39.39, in "The Web" sub-index. In this category, it placed 32nd with a score of 34.64 in terms of Web use and 35th with a 39.61 mark in Web content.

It also ranked 33rd, with a score of 48.26, in the "Readiness" sub-index. Here the country ranked 30th, with a score 51.12, in terms of institutional infrastructure and 39th with a 47.41 mark in communications infrastructure.

The study also noted that while the overall index and the impact sub-index were generally "highly correlated" with gross domestic product per capita, the Philippines, together with India, Kenya and New Zealand, "seemed to outperform" in this correlation.

"We hope that the Index will deepen and broaden our understanding of the impact of this most powerful tool on humanity," the World Wide Web Foundation said in the study.

"We believe that if access to the Web increases dramatically, there will be significant social development and greater political interpretation among the billions of people who currently have no voice," it added.

"This year's Index aims to establish a baseline to help policy-makers, international organizations, nongovernment organizations, investors and interested stakeholders identify some of the areas where investment in the Web could yield substantial positive impacts."

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