Born: United States of the Philippines (USP) - CHA-CHA for the Federal States Philippines

The Federal States of the Philippines

Speaking at a briefing for reporters in Malacañang Monday, Leonen explained the ramifications of the agreement's provisions for a transition from the ARMM to Bangsamoro by 2016.

"Insofar as the major political commitments are made by this administration in that framework agreement, we see no necessity for now to amend the Constitution," Leonen said.

Charter Change is required to legalized the new autonomous State in the Southern Philippines.

The previous 14^th congress resolution approved the proposed Federal States of the Philippines which could be seen in this link. Though several changes are expected but the planned Charter Change for the new constitution was approved by the majority member of the senate during the 14^th congress.

Senate of the Philippines, 14th Congress, April 23, 2008, retrieved 2008-04-25 Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr.; Egardo Angara, Rdudolfo Biazon, Pia "Compañera" Cayetano, Juan Ponce Enrile, Francis "Chiz" Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada, Gregario Honasan, Panfilo lacson, Francis Pangilinan, Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Manuel "Manny" Vilar (23 April 2008), Joint Resolution No. 10: A Joint Resolution to convene Congress into a Constituent Assembly for the purpose of revising the constitution to establish a federal system of government, Senate of the Philippines.

The 12 States of the Federal Philippines (USP)

• Federal Administrative Region Manila (MLA)

1. The State of Northern Luzon (NL)
2. The State of Central Luzon (CL)
3. The State of Southern Tagalog; (ST)
4. The State of Bicol (BIC)
5. The State of Minparom (MIN)
6. The State of Eastern Visayas (EV)
7. The State of Central Visayas (CV)
8. The State of Western Visayas (WV)
9. The State of Northern Mindanao (NM)
10. The State of Southern Mindanao (SM)
11. The State of Zamboanga (ZA)
12. The Sultanate State of Sulu and the BangsaMoro (SSB)

Federal Administrative State Manila (ASM) The area known as Metropolitan or Metro-Manila is  hereby constituted as a  Federal Administrative State. It shall comprise the following cities of:

• Manila City
• Quezon City
• Makati City
• Mandaluyong City
• Pasay City
• Pasig City
• Caloocan City
• Muntinlupa City
• Las Piñas City
• Para ñaque City
• Malabon City
• Marikina City
• Taguig City
• Navotas City
• Valenzuela City
• San Juan City and the municipality of Pateros, and all the barangays therein. Until provided otherwise by Congress, it shall be the seat of the Executive Department.

1.) The State of Northern Luzon (NL), Capital Tuguegarao City

The State of Northern Luzon (NL) shall comprise the provinces of llocos Norte, llocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Abra,  Apayao,  Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga and Mountain Province,  and  all  the  cities,  municipalities and barangays therein. Until provided otherwise by the State Legislature, Tuguegarao City shall be the capital of the State.

2.) The State of Central Luzon (CL), Capital Tarlac City

 The State of Central Luzon (CL) shall comprise the provinces of Aurora,  Bataan,  Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales, and the Scarborough shoals  and all the cities, municipalities and barangays therein.  Until provided otherwise by the State Legislature, Tarlac City shall be the capital of the State

3.)The State of  Southern Tagalog (ST), Capital Tagaytay City)

The State of  Southern Tagalog (ST) shall comprise the provinces of  Rizal, Quezon,  Laguna, Batangas and Cavite and all the cities, municipalities and barangays therein. Until provided otherwise by the State Legislature, Tagaytay City shall be the capital of the State.

4.)The State of Bicol(BIC) , Capital  Legazpi City shall comprise the provinces  of  Albay, Camarines Norte,  Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, and Sorsogon, and  all  the  cities, municipalities  and barangays therein. Until provided otherwise by the State Legislature, Legazpi City shall be the capital of the State

5.) The State of Minparom (MIN) , Capital Mamburao, Mindoro Occidental  shall comprise the provinces  of  Mindoro Oriental.  Mindoro Occidental, Palawan, Romblon and Marinduque and the Island, Islets, shoal and reefs that are collectively called the Kalayan Islands or the Spratlys, and all the cities, municipalities and barangays therein. Until provided otherwise by the State Legislature, Mamburao, Mindoro Occidental shall be the capital of the State

6.) The State of Eastern Visayas (EV) , Capital Catbalogan City shall comprise  the  provinces  of  Biliran, Leyte,  Southern  Leyte,  Northern  Samar, Samar  and Eastern  Samar and  all the cities,  municipalities and barangays therein. Until provided otherwise by the State Legislature, Catbalogan City shall be the capital of the State.

7.) The State of Central Visayas (CV) , Capital Toledo City  shall comprise the provinces of  Masbate, Negros Oriental, Cebu, Bohol  and  Siquijor and all  the  cities, municipalities and barangays therein.  Until provided otherwise by the State Legislature, Toledo City shall be  the capital of the State.

8.) The State of Western Visayas (WV) , Capital lloilo City  shall comprise the provinces of Aklan, Antique,  Capiz,  Guimaras,  Iloilo  and Negros Occidental and  all  the  cities, municipalities and  barangays therein. Until provided otherwise by the State Legislature, lloilo City shall be the capital of the State

9.) The State of Northern Mindanao (NM) , Capital Cagayan de Oro City  shall comprise the provinces of Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, Agusan  del Norte, Dinagat Island, Surigao  del  Norte, Lanao  del  Norte,  and  all  the  cities,  municipalities  and  barangays therein. Until provided otherwise by the State Legislature, Cagayan de Oro City shall be the capital of the State.

10.) The State of Southern Mindanao (SM), Capital Davao City  shall comprise the provinces of Agusan del Sur,  Surigao del Sur, Compostela Valley,  Davao,  Davao Oriental,  Davao del  Sur,  South Cotabato, Sarangani, Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat and all the cities, municipalities and barangays therein. Until provided otherwise by the State Legislature, Davao City shall be the capital of the State.

11.) The State of Zamboanga (ZA) , Capital Zamboanga City  shall comprise the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental,  Zamboanga  del  Sur  and Zamboanga Sibugay,  and  all  the  cities,  municipalities  and  barangays, islands, and reefs therein. Until provided otherwise by the State Legislature, Zamboanga City shall be the capital of the State.

12.) The Sultanate State of Sulu and the BangsaMoro (SSB), Capital  Isabela City, Basilan or Marawi City shall be the capital of the State shall comprise the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, (Shariff Kabunsuan)', Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi and all the cities, municipalities and barangays therein. Until provided otherwise by the State Legislature, Isabela City, Basilan or Marawi City shall be the capital of the State. 

The old Sultanate of Sulu comprise the North Borneo, Palawan, Zamboanga Peninsula, Basilan, tawi-tawi, kalayaan Group of Islands (Spratlys) and all island, islet and reefs in the Sulu Sea and North borneo

PIMENTEL FILES RESOLUTION ON FEDERAL SYSTEM

http://www.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2008/0423_pimentel1.asp

CARMONA, CAVITE -- Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Nene" Q. Pimentel, Jr. (PDP-Laban) today said he has completed the draft of a resolution calling on Congress to amend the 1987 Constitution to pave the way for the adoption of a federal system to replace the highly-centralized unitary system of government.

Pimentel said the federalization of the republic is meant to accomplish two main goals: 1. Cause the speedy development of the entire country by unleashing the forces of competitiveness among the component federal states, and 2. Dissipate the causes of rebellion in the country, particularly in Mindanao.

"The federal proposal will hopefully provide a just and lasting redress of the grievances of the powerless and the neglected sectors of society, like the Moro peoples of Mindanao," the opposition senator said in a keynote address at the seminar on federalism hereunder the auspices of the UP Center for Local and Regional Governance/National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP CLRG/NCPAG) and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Manila Southwoods, Golf Country Club, Carmona, Cavite.

Under the 63-page resolution, Pimentel proposed the creation of 11 federal states out of the existing political subdivisions of the country, and one federal administrative region.

To be established are the federal states of Northern Luzon, Central Luzon, Bicol and Southern Tagalog in Luzon; the federal states of Minparom (Mindoro-Palawan-Romblon-Marinduque), Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas and Western Visayas in the Visayas and the federal states Northern Mindanao, Southern Mindanao and Sultanate State of Sulu and the Bangsamoro in Mindanao.

Metro Manila will be converted into a federal administrative region along the lines of Washington D.C. in the United States, New Delhi in India or Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.

"The move to federalize the country is not simply a 'political' undertaking. It is also an economic effort. By creating 11 federal states and by converting Metro Manila as a federal administrative region, we immediately establish 12 centers of power, finance and development throughout the country," Pimentel said.

In contrast, he said that under the existing unitary system that has characterized the government for centuries, the country had only one center of power, finance and development - Metro Manila.

Pimentel said the boundaries of the federal states will cut across the present regional boundaries. He said he has recommended that the component states be constituted out of bigger political territories to provide the environment for competitiveness and sustainability rather than create states and provinces that in many instances might simply be too small to survive as a state.

The resolution defines the territory of the proposed Federal Republic of the Philippines and unequivocally includes the Scarborough Shoal as part of Central Luzon and the Kalayaan Islands as part of the Minparom region.

Pimentel said the resolution disperses the seats of power of the three major branches of government. Thus, the executive department will hold offices in the Federal Administrative Region of Metro Manila, the legislative department in the Federal State of Central Visayas and the judicial department in the Federal State of Northern Mindanao.

"By doing so, the two other geographical regions of the country, the Visayas and Mindanao will now fully appreciate that they are important parts, and merely appendices - of the Republic," he said.

In terms of allocating the resources of the Republic, Pimentel said a formula is provided in the resolution: 30 percent will go to the Federal Government and 70 percent to the component states. Of the 70 percent accruing to the states, 30 percent will go to the state governments and 70 percent to the provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays.

The resolution will require the revision of 14 of the existing 18 Articles of the Constitution and the addition of two new Articles. It was prepared by Pimentel upon the request of some of his colleagues in the Senate and House of Representative, some local government officials and friends from the non-government organization sector.

Senate of the Philippines

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IU USA recommend- Investing in Indonesia and the Philippines for Growth

What we now see is the emergence of a new economic world order. And I think that most in the industry have come to grips with it. Last week MarketWatch came out with its first special report in a new series dubbed the "New Tigers."

 

As they state, the developed world can't be counted on as the "end all, be all" turbine of growth it was once considered. I think we've all heard about its sovereign debt issues. Filling the void are rising, new dynamic economies that have set themselves up to drive global economic growth for decades to come – the new tigers.

 

The first edition looks at the two up-and-coming jewels of Southeast Asia. Here is the case for Indonesia and the Philippines.

 

They've Come A Long Way

 

Remember the Asian financial crisis that started back in July of 1997? It created hysteria that there might be a global economic meltdown because of financial contagion stemming from the region.

 

At that time, the IMF bailed out Indonesia and the Philippines. Now in 2012, both countries have pledged $1 billion each to the International Monetary Fund.

 

In economic terms, Southeast Asia's stock is rising. Indonesia and the Philippines are seen as leading the way. As we stated before, the traditional economic heavyweights are burdened with excess debt, and now we see the historic regional heavy-hitters – China and India – losing some of their luster.

 

What's all the hype about? Here are some intriguing things both countries share:

 

Each country has a rapidly growing economy with rising incomes.

Each country possesses a large and young labor force ( English Speaking people in the Philippines counts a plus factor).

Both Indonesia and the Philippines have a growing middle class.

Both countries have stable elected governments that have passed legislation that has inspired investor confidence.

Both countries have solid banking industries.

And each has a strong position in foreign-exchange reserves that could protect against runs on their currencies.

 

Andrew Swan, head of Asian fundamental equities at BlackRock, stated, "You have a real contrast, which is why these markets have been doing well… We've had three to five years of great growth. But because there is so much room for growth, this can go on for so many more years."

 

More Reasons to be Bullish…

 

Both Indonesia and the Philippines were given credit rating upgrades last year. (Indonesia is now considered investment grade by both Moody's and Fitch.)

Each country's stock market is among the world's best performing over the last four years.

The IMF believes that real GDP in the Philippines will grow by 4.2% in 2012 and by 4.7% next year.

The forecast for Indonesia is even more impressive. The IMF expects their GDP to grow by 6.1% this year and 6.6% in 2013.

Each country's fiscal house seems to be in order. Both have a very different balance sheet than a lot of those developed countries in the West. Indonesia's gross government debt was about 25% of GDP last year. The Philippines debt was about 41% of GDP in 2011. This gives both countries more room to boost their economies if that situation ever arises. In comparison, Japan's debt-to-GDP is above 200%.

 

This only presents the case for economic soundness. This isn't your daddy's or grandfather's emerging markets. Suffice it to say, this also isn't the Western world we've been accustomed to.

 

The special report goes into a lot of information. And I believe this is the heart and soul of what we need to look at. Part II of this piece looks at the strong banking industry in each country and the opportunities out there for global investors. These are plays that everyone will need to consider for years to come.

 

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France, Philippines, Australia will begin drilling 5 wells for oil and Gas Exploration by 2013

 

The Department of Energy expects local and foreign petroleum exploration companies to drill at least five wells in 2013, signifying investors' enduring confidence in the current administration.

 

According to Energy Undersecretary Jose M. Layug Jr., drilling activities are expected to be conducted by French firm Total E&P Philippines BV for Service Contract (SC) 56 in Sulu Sea, Blade Petroleum for SC 6 or Cadlao block, Australian firm Otto Energy Ltd. for SC 50 or the Calauit field, Nido Petroleum Ltd. for SC 63, and BHP Billiton for SC 55.

 

Layug noted that the continuing interest in oil and gas exploration could be attributed to the country's rich potential and to the current high oil price environment, which would make it more economical to conduct such drilling activities.

 

The energy official previously commented that the Philippines is a "sleeping giant" in terms of petroleum exploration. The Philippines has only 27 existing service contracts of which only two are producing. Therefore, he said, "we need to encourage more investors to come here."

 

Total is expected to drill a well after the acquisition of 500 square kilometers of additional 3D data in SC 56, where oil reserves are estimated to exceed 750 million barrels, enough for the country to live on for seven years.

 

A well may also be drilled to tap the potential resource at the Calauit oil field (SC 50), which is said to hold up to 15 million barrels.

 

Also, recoverable resources at the Cadlao oil field (SC 6) are estimated at 7.8 million barrels. Blade Petroleum earlier said that production there could reach some three million barrels of oil in the first year alone.

 

The Philippine government is aggressively pushing for the exploration and development of indigenous fuel resources to enable the country to meet its daily demand and reduce the importation of petroleum products.

 

Inquirer 

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U.S. A -Philippines Start New War Game Exercise Facing Scarborough Shoal

USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) is a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, and the third United States Navy ship of that name. It was named in honor of John Paul Jones' famous frigate, which he had named the French language equivalent of "Good Man Richard," in honor of Benjamin Franklin, the U.S. Ambassador to France at the time. The name Bonhomme Richard is derived from the pen name of Benjamin Franklin, the author of Poor Richard's Almanac. Bonhomme Richard is currently homeported in Sasebo, Japan. The contract to build her was awarded to Ingalls Shipbuilding on 11 December 1992, and her keel was laid down on 18 April 1995. She was launched on 14 March 1997, delivered to the Navy on 12 May 1998, and commissioned on 15 August 1998. On April 23, 2012, the Bonhomme Richard switched homeports when she took the place of the USS Essex (LHD-2) as the command ship for Expeditionary Strike Group Seven

SUBIC BAY, Philippines – Philippine and United States officials on Monday opened a joint training exercise designed to help the two militaries work together to enhance regional security.

The training, called Amphibious Landing Exercises, involve 2,600 United States Marines and 1,200 Philippine Marines and will be held in locations around the northern island of Luzon. The two militaries will train together on disaster relief, humanitarian assistance and maritime security.

"Today, we stand side by side as we face common threats," said Marine Brig. Gen. Craig Q. Timberlake at the opening ceremony.

The exercises are being held during a time of increased tensions in the South China Sea with the Philippines and China involved in a territorial dispute over islands lying near rich energy deposits.

Officials said Monday that the joint exercises have been going on for nearly 30 years and were not related to the territorial dispute between the Philippines and China. They are designed for training and mutual education.

"Amphibious Landing Exercises is an opportunity for an exchange of professional expertise," said Brig. Gen. Remigio C. Valdez, the deputy commander of the Philippines armed forces. "Technological advancement is at the heart of its goal."

There was plenty of technology on display during the opening ceremony of the exercises Monday, held in Subic Bay, a former United States naval base in the Philippines that is now a commercial port.

On the deck of the American amphibious assault ship Bonhomme Richard, where the opening ceremony were held, ground-attack Harrier jets were lined up near CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters. At the pier next to the ship was the Olympia, a nuclear-powered fast attack submarine.

The Philippines fleet, whose largest vessel is a former United States Coast Guard cutter, will have no ships participating in the exercises. Despite that, American officials said the two militaries would learn from each other during the 10 days of joint training.

 

"It's not about the hardware," said Col. John E. Merna, the commanding officer of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. "We have a lot to learn from the Philippines. They are tremendous jungle fighters."

 

The training will involve live fire exercises, a simulated helicopter raid, a demonstration of American aircraft capabilities, disaster preparedness drills and public service activities, such as building classrooms and toilets in impoverished areas.

Philippine sees SUBIC naval port as vital to US

The Philippines said Monday a former US naval base facing the South China Sea could play a key role as a hub for American ships as Washington moves to boost its presence in the Asia Pacific.

 

Formerly the US military's largest facility overseas, the ex-Subic Bay naval base north of Manila has been transformed into a freeport and tourism zone since it was shut down in 1992.

 

But a senior Philippine official pointed out that, with the United States planning to shift the bulk of its fleet to the Pacific by 2020 as it focuses on Asia, it would need natural deep water bays to dock its ships and submarines.

 

"Based on US official pronouncements, there is a strategic rebalancing (of its forces) and that means more assets, more aircraft in the Western Pacific," said Edilberto Adan, a former general who heads the government's Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) commission.

"There are very few ports that can accommodate naval assets and naval carriers, and one of them is Subic.

"As the US begins to implement (the shift), Subic will play an important role because it is one of the important facilities that can service their presence in the Pacific."

Adan was talking to reporters at Subic Bay aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard, an amphibious Marine Expeditionary Unit assault ship taking part in a 10-day joint exercises with Filipino forces.

Subic, along with the nearby Clark Airbase, were key facilities for the United States, the former colonial ruler of the Philippines, during World War II.

 

They then provided logistical support during the Vietnam War in the 1970s, and remained of strategic importance during the Cold War.

 

Clark closed down in 1991 after nearby Mount Pinatubo volcano erupted, covering the base in ash and rendering the facility unusable.

Subic, which is on the northern town of Olangapo facing the South China Sea, survived the explosion.

But, amid strong nationalist sentiment and street protests calling for the US troops to leave the Philippines, the Senate voted in 1992 to end a lease agreement that allowed the bases to operate.

In November of 1992 the last US ship sailed out of Subic.

The Philippines, however, ratified a visiting forces agreement with the United States in 1999, allowing the resumption of large-scale training exercises between the allies.

New York Times,  Inquirer 

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World Bank raises anew Philippine growth outlook, PEZA investment grows 5.36%

The World Bank has again raised its growth forecast for the Philippines, expecting the economy to expand 5.0 percent in 2012 amid a regional slowdown.

The latest outlook, contained in the East Asia and Pacific Data Monitor, is an upward revision from the 4.6 percent in July and 4.2 percent in May.

World Bank's growth upgrade came after the Asian Development Bank last week raised its growth outlook for the Philippines from 4.8 percent to 5.5 percent in 2012, taking into account the country's strength despite global economic woes.

 

The report, released Monday, cited the country's strong performance in the first semester as the Philippine gross domestic product (GDP) grew 6.1 percent, slightly above the government's 5- to 6- percent target for 2012.

"In the Philippines, the acceleration of government infrastructure spending has contributed to the strong growth performance in the first half while revenue growth is supported by tax administration reforms as well as strong GDP growth," the World Bank said.

Economic growth outlook for the East Asia and Pacific region, however, was trimmed to 7.2 percent from 7.6 percent in 2012 given the continued weak external environment. The region grew by 8.2 percent in 2011.

 

For 2013, World Bank projects the Philippines to grow 5 percent, unchanged from its earlier forecast while a rebound is seen in East Asia and Pacific with the region's economy expected to recover to 7.6 percent in 2013 on the back of strong domestic demand in developing countries.

 

"In East Asia, growth among developing economies is expected to decline a full percentage point from 2011 to 7.2 percent this year, before recovering to 7.6 percent in 2013 backed by continued strong domestic demand and aided by an uptick in global trade growth," the report said.

 

The report said that recent policy moves by the European Central Bank has reduced tensions from the eurozone crisis and the announcement by the United States Federal Reserve on a new round of quantitative easing to boost the American economy has helped revive the global equity markets.

However, it warned that disruptions in international financial markets could still cloud the economic outlook for the region.

Further, a slowdown in China remains a concern with weak exports and lower investment growth seen to cut its GDP. China is projected to grow 7.7 percent this year from an earlier forecast of 8.2 percent. Also, it is expected to grow by 8.1 percent next year from the previous forecast of 8.6 percent.

 

The recent global food price increases seem less of a risk to the region as rice markets are not much affected at the moment, the report noted.

 

With the growth prospects, poverty will continue to decline with the share of people living on $2 per day reaching 24.5 percent by the end of 2013, down from 28.8 percent in 2010, it added.

 

The report urged policy makers in East Asia and Pacific to continue managing growth and reducing poverty in an environment that will remain volatile.

 

"The East Asia and Pacific region's share in the global economy has tripled in the last two decades, from 6 percent to almost 18 percent today, which underscores the critical importance of this region's continued growth for the rest of the world," said World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim.

Economic zone investments grow 5.36%

Investment commitments in economic zones grew 5.36 percent year-on-year for the first nine months of 2012, data from the Philippine Economic Zone Authority on Monday shows.

 

According to PEZA promotions group head Elmer San Pascual, investments for the period reached P128.160 billion, up from P121.640 billion a year ago.

 

"This P128.160 billion investment is projected to create 64,107 direct employment and export sales of $5.015 billion," he said.

Except for the export sales, the numbers are a slight uptick from those PEZA announced last week.

"We are still waiting for a number of big investments in the remainder of the year," said San Pascual, adding that these scheduled investments will comprise half of the total investments for 2012.

San Pascual attributed the rise in part to continued optimism for better export numbers in the coming months, despite the current decline in electronic exports.

PEZA is aiming for P323 billion worth of investments in 2012, a 12-percent increase over P288 billion in 2011

Inquirer, GMA News

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₱202.26 million coconut processing plant will rise in Baybay Leyte Visayas

The Board of Investments (BOI) has approved the ₱202.26 million project SC Global Food Products Inc., which will engage in the processing of coconut water and other coconut meat derived products in  Barangay Caridad, Baybay Leyte.

The SC Global Food project will have an annual capacity of 18.72 million liters of coconut water, and 14,257 metric tons of coconut-meat derived products for exports. SC Global Food will export its coconut water production to the United States, while 90% of the coconut meat-derived products will go to other markets. The company will also produce virgin coconut oil, coconut flour, coconut cream, and white coconut meat. The project's commercial operations will begin January 2014 and will employ 200 workers.

Industry reports cited a growing worldwide demand for coconut water as alternative health sports drink. Data from the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) and the United Coconut Associations of the Philippines (UCAP) showed that coconut water exports for the first half of 2012 reached 10.2 million liters, nearly double the 5.7 million liters exported during the same period in 2011.

 

Coconut products exports also grew by as much as 102.9% for the month of June alone this year compared to same period last year, PCA data showed. Country's share of world coconut exports is 59%. Other non-traditional coconut products exported by the Philippines are bath oils and VCO, while traditional coconut product exports include crude coconut oil, copra, desiccated coconut, and copra oil cake or meat. The Philippine coconut industry is a key component of the country's agriculture sector, employing some 3.5M farmers and 25M direct and indirect workers.

The 2012 Investments Priorities Plan (IPP) of the BOI, the investment promotions blueprint of the government, lists the production or manufacture of non-traditional export products as among the activities for investment promotion.

Manila Bulletin 

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Turkish hackers defaced Philippine Government Website like a soccer field

The Philippine Anticyber Crime law 2012 which recently enacted 3^rd October 2012 gains hard opposition from local advocates for "Freedom of Speech" that invited international hacking enthusiasts penetrating weak government web infrastructure and defacing several websites since the law enacted.

 

Now, the Philippine government websites serves as a gaming field for local and  international hackers from Europe, Turkey and possible hacking fanatics from other side of the world who want to test the inviting anti cyber law of the Philippines.

 

There is a saying "He who builds firewalls invites destruction"

 

The recent hacking incidents make the Philippines as a laughing stock for the hackers for enacting the law without building a strong web infrastructure.

 

Just today, 3 Philippine government Web sites were defaced by hackers over the past two days for a variery of reasons. But Anonymous Philippines, which had earlier hacked into several sites to protest the recently-enacted cybercrime law, denies involvement.

 

Government site was defaced early Monday, with a Turkish hacker group appearing to be the culprit this time as reported by GMA News Philippines.

 

Visitors to the site of the Department of Transportation and Communications would see a flag taking the place of the image of the DOTC secretary.

 

"Turkish Hacker.. Ortak Operasyon… Hacked Metehan & AkSüVaRi Gandalf," read the hacker's message.

 

It also read, "The Turkish Republic will be happy, prosperous and victorious."

 

Also, On Sunday, at least two government websites were defaced. But Filipino hacker groups protesting the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 denied involvement in the hacks.

 

Hacked were the Maritime Industry Authority and the Maritime Training Council sites.

 

While the MARINA website appeared to be hacked and defaced by "Ablaze Ever," the MTC site was attacked by "Teamr00t."

 

The attackers of the MTC site said their hack was meant to protest rights violations.

 

Niether of the two sites were accessible as of posting time.

 

Meanwhile, there was no indication that the vandalism was the work of hackers protesting the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

 

Furthermore, a hacker group allied with Anonymous Philippines, #pR.is0n3r, flat-out denied the collective was behind the latest defacements, reiterating Anonymous' pledge to halt attacks for now.

 

"May isang salita yan. Pag sinabi naming hindi kami aatake, hindi kami aatake. Di namin sisirain ang prinsipyo at pinag lalaban namin. Tahimik kami ngayon pero, Expect Us (We have our word of honor. When we say we will not attack, we will not attack. We will not break our word. We keep quiet for now but expect us)," said the hackers.

 

Ironically, #pR.is0n3r even called on government information technology experts to check and restore the hacked sites.

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BREAKING NEWS: Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand Buying Submarines & Warplanes – Philippines Sleeping

 

FEATURE-Southeast Asia splashes out on defense, mostly maritime

 

Oct 8 (Reuters) - Indonesia is buying submarines from South Korea and coastal radar systems from China and the United States. Vietnam is getting submarines and combat jets from Russia, while Singapore - the world's fifth-largest weapons importer - is adding to its sophisticated arsenal.

 

Wary of China and flush with economic success, Southeast Asia is ramping up spending on military hardware to protect the shipping lanes, ports and maritime boundaries that are vital to the flow of exports and energy.

 

Territorial disputes in the West Philippines (South China) Sea, fuelled by the promise of rich oil and gas deposits, have prompted Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines and Brunei to try to offset China's growing naval power.

 

Even for those away from that fray, maritime security has been a major focus for Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore.

 

"Economic development is pushing them to spend money on defense to protect their investments, sea lanes and exclusive economic zones," said James Hardy, Asia Pacific editor of IHS Jane's Defense Weekly. "The biggest trend is in coastal and maritime surveillance and patrol."

 

As Southeast Asia's economies boomed, defense spending grew 42 percent in real terms from 2002 to 2011, data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) shows.

 

High on the list are warships, patrol boats, radar systems and combat planes, along with submarines and anti-ship missiles that are particularly effective in denying access to sea lanes.

 

"Submarines are a big thing," said Tim Huxley, executive director for Asia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. "They can do immense damage without being seen, without being anticipated, and they can do that anywhere in the region."

 

For decades, much of Southeast Asia spent little on weapons other than guns and small tanks. Most threats were internal and the umbrella of U.S. protection was deemed enough to ward off any potential aggression from overseas.

 

With China's growing muscle and more funds available, the shopping lists are getting more sophisticated. Most countries in the region are littoral, so the emphasis is on sea and air-based defense.

 

Malaysia has two Scorpene submarines and Vietnam is buying six Kilo-class submarines from Russia. Thailand also plans to buy submarines and its Gripen warplanes from Sweden's Saab AB will eventually be fitted with Saab's RBS-15F anti-ship missiles, IISS says.

 

Singapore has invested in F-15SG combat jets from Boeing Co in the United States and two Archer-class submarines from Sweden to supplement the four Challenger submarines and powerful surface navy and air force it already has.

 

Indonesia, a vast nation of islands with key sea lanes and 54,700 km (34,000 miles) of coastline, has two submarines now and ordered three new ones from South Korea. It is also working with Chinese firms on manufacturing C-705 and C-802 anti-ship missiles after test-firing a Russian-built Yakhont anti-ship missile in 2011.

 

"STRATEGIC UNCERTAINTY"

 

While it is not an arms race, analysts say, the build-up is being driven by events in the West Philippine (South China) Sea, long-standing squabbles between neighbors and a desire to modernize while governments have the money.

 

Piracy, illegal fishing, smuggling, terrorism and disaster relief also play their parts, along with keeping the influential military happy in places such as Thailand and Indonesia.

 

There is a "general sense of strategic uncertainty in the region" given China's rise and doubts about the U.S. ability to sustain a military presence in Asia, said Ian Storey, a senior fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.

 

"Southeast Asian countries will never be able to match China's defense modernization," he said, citing Vietnam's push for a deterrent. "If the Chinese did attack the Vietnamese, at least the Vietnamese could inflict some serious damage."

 

SIPRI says Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand took the lead in boosting their defense budgets by between 66 and 82 percent from 2002 to 2011.

 

But the region's biggest spender with the best-equipped military is Singapore, a tiny island that is home to the world's second-busiest container port, a global financial centre and a major hub for oil, gas and petrochemicals.

 

The wealthy city-state, along with Malaysia and Indonesia, sits on the Strait of Malacca that links the Pacific and Indian oceans. A teeming shipping route, the strait is also a narrow "choke point" with huge strategic implications for the energy, raw materials and finished goods flowing east and west.

 

At $9.66 billion, Singapore's 2011 defense budget dwarfed Thailand's $5.52 billion, Indonesia's $5.42 billion, Malaysia's $4.54 billion and Vietnam's $2.66 billion, IISS says.

 

The situation is far less intense than in North Asia where China, Japan, the United States, Russia and the two Koreas are involved. But Southeast Asia seems to be following the trend of pursuing military systems that can be used offensively.

 

"It's an indefinite process," said Huxley at IISS. "Governments are likely to go on devoting resources - that are increasing in real terms - to defense and military modernization."

 

Official data on the amount and purpose of the spending is often opaque - how much goes to boots, bullets and salaries and how much to advanced hardware that can project power?

 

The defense spending figures also may not tell the full story. Countries such as Vietnam and Indonesia have used credit arrangements or the sale of energy exploration rights in the past to fund arms imports that did not appear in the defense budget, analysts say.

 

"Vietnam has stopped reporting defense and security budgets as part of its budget reporting, leaving a suspicious gap between total budgeted expenditure and the sum of the reported spending areas," said Samuel Perlo-Freeman, director of SIPRI's Military Expenditure and Arms Production Program.

 

BUYING AND BUILDING

 

With defense budgets in many Western nations under pressure, Asia is attractive for makers of weapons, communications gear and surveillance systems. Lockheed Martin and Boeing's defense division both expect the Asia-Pacific region to contribute about 40 percent of international revenues.

 

"The maritime environment in the Pacific has everybody's attention," Jeff Kohler, a vice president at Boeing Defense, said at the Singapore Airshow in February.

 

Vietnam got 97 percent of its major weapons - including frigates, combat planes and Bastion coastal missile systems - from Russia in 2007-11 but is looking to diversify by talking to the Netherlands and the United States, SIPRI says.

 

The Philippines, which relies on the United States for 90 percent of its weapons, plans $1.8 billion in upgrades over five years as it sees a growing threat from China over the West Philippine Sea squabble.

 

The focus is on the country's naval and air forces that analyst Sam Bateman sees as "rather deficient".

 

"The particular requirement of the Philippines is air surveillance," said Bateman, principal research fellow at the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security.

 

Anti-submarine capabilities are a priority, a Philippine defense department planner told Reuters.

 

Thailand, whose military has staged 18 successful or attempted coups since 1932, has built a patrol vessel designed by Britain's BAE Systems. It plans to modernize one frigate and, within five years, buy the first of two new ones.

 

"We are not saying these will replace submarines but we are hoping that they can be equally valuable to Thailand," defense ministry spokesman Thanathip Sawangsaeng told Reuters.

 

Singapore buys mostly from the United States, France and Germany but also has its own defense industry, centered on ST Engineering. The state-owned group supplies the Singapore Armed Forces and has many customers abroad.

 

"Most countries are either interested in or actively pursuing their own domestic arms industry," said Storey.

 

"It's cheaper than buying from overseas, long-term they're looking at developing their own export markets and, certainly this is true for Indonesia, it insulates them from sanctions from countries like the United States." (Additional reporting by Neil Chatterjee in JAKARTA, Rosemarie Francisco and Manny Mogato in MANILA and Martin Petty and Amy Sawitta Lefevre in BANGKOK; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)

Reuters 

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For the first time Tagalog language is used in USA Election materials

Candidates actively court Filipino-American vote

 

Underscoring the growing Filipino-American power in the ballot box in Nevada, candidates from both political parties are actively seeking the support of the fastest-growing Asian ethnic group in the state.

 

At the launching Friday, Oct. 5, of the Filipino-American Heritage Month, some candidates or their representatives, were on hand for the event at Seafood City in Las Vegas.

 

View slideshow: Filipino-american Heritage Month

 

With patriotic red, white and blue balloon decorations, the popular mall on Parkway Boulevard, a favorite of Filipino-Americans, took the air of a barrio fiesta back in the Philippines as politicians, dressed in traditional Filipino costumes, met potential voters.

 

"As the granddaughter of immigrants who came to this country penniless in search of a better life, I'm proud to honor all the cultures and nationalities that come together to make Nevada a stronger state," said Shelley Berkley, the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate.

 

"Filipino Americans have a long and rich history in Nevada, and as a longstanding friend to the Filipino American community," said Berkley, who is facing a close and competitive race against Republican Dean Heller.

 

Heller recently has earned a endorsement of a group of Filipino veterans who are seeking veterans benefits from the United States after allegedly working for the U.S. Army,either in the regular force or as guerrilla fighters against the Japanese during World War II.

 

Heller has filed a bill that will give those veterans a second look or an opportunity to submit more documents after they were denied recognition in their first efforts to do so.

 

At least five such veterans live in Las Vegas, according to some advocates in the Filipino-American community.

 

Presently a member of the U.S. Congress as a representative, Berkley has consistently supported the Filipino veterans' fight for recognition and benefits through the Filipino Veterans Equity Act and other legislation in the past.

 

"I will continue to fight so that the benefits and recognition that all Filipino veterans deserve and earned after fighting for our country on the battlefields of the South Pacific so many years ago are realized," she said in a statement.

 

There are about 98,000 Filipino-Americans in Nevada, which is considered a swing state in the presidential election.

 

Democrats outnumber Republicans among Asian-Americans, 53 percent to 16 percent. But a large percentage, 31 percent, are either Independents, or refuse to identify their party affiliations.

 

At 25 percent, Filipino-Americans are the most Republican among Asian-Americans.

 

Filipino-Americans are also the largest Asian group in Las Vegas, estimated at about 30,000, but probably more following the 2010 census. Most are employed in the casinos or as healthcare workers.

 

A voter registration drive has been launched and scheduled to end Saturday, Oct. 6, the last day of registration.

 

For the first time in a federal election in Nevada, election materials are available in Tagalog, the dialect most Filipinos speak.

 

Follow Bert Eljera on Twitter @vegaspinoy60 and on Facebook at facebook.com/BertEljera

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