Standard Chartered revised up 2011 economic growth forecast for the Philippines to 5.7 percent

Economy: British-owned Standard Chartered Bank revised upwards its 2011 economic growth forecast for the Philippines to 5.7 percent from the original 5.4 percent.

In a research note, Standard Chartered economist Vincent Tsui said the investment bank raised the country’s GDP growth forecast to 5.7 percent instead of 5.4 percent this year due to the projected strong investment inflows in the second half.

“In anticipation of more broad-based and sustainable growth dynamics ahead, we raise our 2011 GDP forecast to 5.7 percent from 5.4 percent previously. We expect growth momentum to pick up in the second half,” he stressed.

Tsui said the investment bank raised its GDP growth forecast for the third quarter of the year to 6.4 percent instead of six percent but lowered its growth forecast in the fourth quarter to 6.8 percent instead of seven percent.

“We expect the strong investment pipeline to remain a key growth driver in the coming quarters. While we expect headline GDP growth to slow further in the second quarter due to the high base effect and temporary disruptions to electronics manufacturing from the Japan earthquake, the underlying  fundamentals of the economy remain solid. We believe headline GDP growth is set for a strong rebound in second half,” Tsui added.

He pointed out that the growth in the second half would be fuelled by investments instead of consumer spending.

“Near-term weakness aside, we believe the shift from consumer spending to business investment as the Philippines’ key growth driver deserves more market attention,” Tsui added.

The National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) reported late last month that the country’s GDP growth slowed down to 4.9 percent in the first quarter of the year from the revised 8.4 percent in the same period last year due to weaker government spending and slow global trade. The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) was expecting a growth of between 4.8 percent and 5.8 percent for the first quarter.

“Even so, we believe the weaker headline numbers mask underlying strength in an economy that is now driven by more sustainable and balanced growth dynamics,” the economist said.

The sharp drop in government spending in the first quarter of the year helped the Aquino administration post a budget surplus of P61 billion in the first four months of the year, a complete reversal of the P131.6 billion budget deficit booked in the first four months of last year.

“This is in line with our expectation that this year’s budget deficit will narrow to P256 billion due to fiscal prudence and stronger tax collection on the back of buoyant domestic demand,” Tsui said.

The Aquino administration hopes to trim the budget deficit to P300 billion or 3.2 percent of GDP this year from a record level of P314.5 billion or 3.7 percent of GDP last year. It has committed to trim the deficit to two percent of GDP starting 2013 until the end of the term of President Aquino on 2016.

Standard Chartered reported that inventory restocking particularly of durable equipment resulted to a sharp 37 percent rise in gross capital formation in the first quarter of the year reflecting the booming investment activity in the country.

It added that remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) remained strong despite the tensions in the Middle East and North African (MENA) states as well as the disaster in Japan while foreign direct investments (FDIs) would pick up later this year in light of the public private partnership (PPP) scheme of the Aquino government.

“The launch of 10 infrastructure projects this year as part of the government’s PPP initiative is also expected to attract $1 billion of FDI inflows and support construction-related sectors,” Tsui explained.

Tsui said the investment bank sees the country’s GDP expanding by six percent in 2012 and 2013.

The Philippines posted its strongest growth in 34 years after its GDP expanded by 7.6 percent last year exceeding the revised growth forecast of five percent to six percent set by economic managers. It was on the verge of a recession when its GDP growth slowed down to 1.1 percent in 2009 from 3.8 percent in 2008 due to the full impact of the global financial crisis.

The Cabinet-level Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) has set a GDP growth target of between seven percent and eight percent this year and next year.

Bangko Sentral Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said the country’s GDP would grow slower than expected this year as the economic growth targets were set by the DBCC prior to the tensions in the MENA region and the disasters in Japan.

“We think the economy will continue to grow this year. The government is projecting seven percent to eight percent although that projection was arrived at prior to the events at the MENA region as well as the earthquake, the tsunami and the nuclear disaster in Japan,” Tetangco said earlier.

 

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Philippines accuses China of 'serious violations' in South China Sea

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) shows the light Blue Dotted line as 200 Nautical Mile Economic Zone for the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia. The Blue dotted line includes most part of the Kalayaan Island Group (Spratly) of the Philippines. UNCLOS did not show any China’s territory in the West Philippines Sea. The Philippines recorded already 6 invasion by china to the West Philippine Sea As of June 3, 2011.

The Philippines has accused China of “serious violations” in the South China Sea following at least six aggressive acts in the disputed territory, raising worries Beijing may be fortifying its claims in the potentially oil-rich region.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said it had filed a protest before the Chinese Embassy “over the increasing presence and activities of Chinese vessels including naval assets in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).”

China’s actions “hamper the normal and legitimate fishing activities of the Filipino fishermen in the area and undermines the peace and stability of the region,” the DFA said.

The Philippine military has reported that a Chinese surveillance vessel and navy ships were seen unloading building materials and erecting posts in the vicinity of Iroquois Reef and Amy Douglas Bank – an uninhabited undersea hill claimed by the Philippines about 230 kilometers from southwestern Palawan province.

It is part of the Spratlys but well within the Philippines’ 200-mile exclusive economic zone, the DFA said.

The DFA said the diplomatic protest follows a series of protests it filed since March, after two Chinese vessels harassed a Philippine exploration ship at Reed Bank, prompting the Philippine military to send war planes and Coast Guard ships to the area.

Last month, Chinese jet fighters had reportedly intruded into Philippine airspace also in the vicinity of Reed Bank, part of the Kalayaan group of islands in the Spratlys that the Philippines claims.

“The actions of the Chinese vessels in Philippine waters are serious violations of Philippine sovereignty and maritime jurisdiction and also violate the Asean-China Declaration of Conduct on the South China Sea,” the DFA said.

President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday said that the Philippines was planning to file a protest at the UN for the series of incursions.

“There are six or seven [incursions] happening after February 25. We are completing all the necessary data and then we will present it to them [China] and then file it with the appropriate body, which is the UN,” he said.

Those acts included the reported firing last February by a suspected Chinese naval vessel to scare away Filipino fishermen from Quirino, or the Jackson Atoll, in a Spratlys area claimed by Manila, said officials, who spoke anonymously because of the sensitivity of the subject.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila said the “the reported ‘incursion of Chinese ships’ is not true.” But, it acknowledged the presence there of a Chinese marine research ship “conducting normal maritime research activities in the South China Sea.”

The DFA said both Manila and Beijing agreed to “keep the channels of communication open and continue dialogue on the South China Sea issue.”

 

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26 million students in the Philippines will troop to Schools in June 6 - SY 2011-2012

The Department of Education (DepEd) said it is ready for the opening of the 2011-2012 school year today, with an expected 25.7 million students trooping to public and private pre-school, elementary and high schools nationwide.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro said his agency had made all the necessary preparations through Oplan Balik Eskwela (OBE) and Brigada Eskwela or National Schools Maintenance Week.

“Months before the opening of classes, the department has already taken steps to prepare all public elementary and high schools across the country. With this, we are optimistic that all our preparations are in place and we are looking forward to a smooth opening of classes,” said Luistro.

Nationwide, DepEd is expecting a total enrollment of 25.7 million students, 22.05 million or 86 percent of whom are in public schools and an estimated 3.65 million are in the private schools.

Of said total enrollees, 7.73 million are in secondary level, with 5.85 in public schools and 1.88 in private schools; and 15.47 million are in elementary, with 14.25 million in public schools and 1.22 million in private schools.

The department is also anticipating 1.93 million kindergarten pupils who will have their first taste of education under the universal kindergarten program.

The universal kindergarten program will be the initial phase of DepEd’s ambitious K (Kindergarten)+12 Basic Education Curriculum (BEC), which aims to add additional two years of senior high school to the current 10 year BEC with only six years of elementary and four years of high school.

Luistro also emphasized the department’s efforts to meet the Education For All (EFA) goal by improving the participation rate amongst students.”

“Making pre-school or kindergarten mandatory was a strategy in meeting the EFA goal, in view of studies that showed a child’s going through pre-school resulted in better learning competencies to prepare him or her to enter Grade 1,” he said.

“Our measures are not only geared towards the opening of classes but also to enjoin parents to send their children to school.”

DepEd reminds parents and school administrators that basic public education is free and that no collection of fees should be done in June and July, as per DepEd Order No. 41 series of 2011.

“The only way to achieve higher outcomes in these preparations is to engage all sectors of society. DepEd is very grateful for the overwhelming support of our stakeholders for our programs,” he added.

The recently concluded Brigada Eskwela mobilized the local communities, local government units, private sector and non-government organizations in the repair and construction of school buildings.

The OBE-Information and Action Center Task Force is currently operating at the DepEd Central Office to address common problems encountered during school opening, provide information and coordinate with government agencies, communities and other educational stakeholders.

OBE is an inter-agency task force composed of the Department of Health, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of the Interior and Local Government along with the Philippine National Police, Department of Transportation and Communication, Department of National Defense, Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical, Astronomical and Scientific Administration, Metro Manila Development Authority, Manila Waterworks and Sewerage System with its concessionaires Maynilad and Manila Water, and Meralco.

Police on heightened alert

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) also declared its readiness to secure 1,063 schools in Metro Manila during the opening of classes today.

“We are ready for any eventuality,” said NCRPO director Chief Superintendent Alan Purisima after personally conducting last-minute inspections of schools, bus and train stations and seaports.

Purisima said the 17,000-strong NCRPO remained on heightened alert since last week as he declared that deployment of personnel today would start at 4 a.m.

“Each school would be covered by uniformed policemen. We will see to it that the opening of classes would be smooth and orderly,” said Purisima in an interview.

At least 2,445 policemen and 3,305 force multipliers would be deployed in the vicinity of schools to deter crimes. The NCRPO would also establish parents’ desks in each school to extend assistance to students, especially those coming from the provinces.

The NCRPO will also roll out the Master Plan “Sandigan” that will give emphasis to the police security containment ring system in the vicinity of schools, bus and jeepney terminals, and other crime-prone areas.

In cooperation with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), traffic enforcers will likewise be visible in said places to oversee the smooth flow of traffic and to ensure the safety and security of motorists, commuters and the general public.

Purisima also said that they will deploy the MASCO or motorized anti-street crime operatives and police mobile patrols to augment police presence. Added to the force are the bus marshals on public utility vehicles.

Good weather on opening day of classes

Meanwhile, good weather conditions will prevail over most parts of Luzon, including Metro Manila, today but the chief of the government meteorological agency advised the public, especially students, to bring their umbrellas as rains will likely persist in the afternoon.

Nathaniel Servando, acting administrator of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said sunny weather will prevail over Metro Manila and most parts of Luzon in the morning due to a ridge of high pressure area and short-lived rains in the afternoon.

“We are now in the southwest monsoon season but experiencing a break, that’s why we may still experience short duration rainfall especially in the afternoon due to thunderstorms,” Servando told The STAR.

But he said the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) may bring rains over Mindanao and that a shallow low pressure area may affect the Visayas and Mindanao beginning tomorrow afternoon, and will move towards eastern Luzon by Thursday.

“The low pressure area has a slim chance of developing into a tropical depression,” Servando said.

PAGASA officials had said three or four tropical cyclones are expected to enter the country this month

 

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Hongkong based firm will invest Million Dollars for RORO - PPP & Natural Gas in the Philippines

Hong Kong firm Hopewell Holdings Ltd. is planning to participate in the government’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program by investing in a transport linkage between Luzon and the Visayas.

In an interview with reporters, Department of Trade and Industry Assistant Secretary Felicitas A. Reyes said Hopewell is eyeing a toll road and RORO (roll on roll off) terminal in order to connect the islands.

Hopewell, the flagship group of Chinese tycoon Sir Gordon Wu, has expressed interest to invest in toll roads and putting up ferry service for cargo trucks and buses to further connect Luzon – with San Juan, Batangas as starting point — to the central business hubs of the Visayas.

It would also explore other PPP projects and would identify specific projects interests in the long run.

Reyes, who is also officer-in-charge of the Board of Investments (BOI), said the focus of the Chinese group is the eastern seaboard, also known as the Spine of the Philippines. “We presented to Wu the road project and the idea was to combine the RORO or the nautical highway with toll roads.”

When asked if the project will present problems since it is not included in the current PPP list, Reyes said it could be presented to the proper agencies and will not be considered an unsolicited project.

The DTI said Wu has expressed willingness to put up a 200-kilometer, 10-lane toll road as well as a ferry service for cargo trucks and buses to further connect Luzon with the Visayas, specifically Iloilo, Bacolod and Cebu.

Hopewell had already invested several years ago in two power projects during the time of President Corazon C. Aquino.

Other Hong Kong-based firms that have expressed willingness to ramp up their investments in the Philippines are Luen Thai International Group, Youngor Group and Energy World Corp. (EWC), Reyes added.

The Luen Thai International Group is now in the process of stepping up production of its world-renowned Coach brand of bags by expanding its facility in Tarlac which will boost the Philippine vision of creating a global supply chain city that will link up with its other major plant in Dongguan, China. Aside from fashion apparel, Luen Thai has extensive interests in shipping, aviation, logistics, insurance, property development, tourism and high brands in other garments subsectors.

Meanwhile, the Youngor Group of Eddie Chung and Mark Pressly is planning to put up a $20-million state-of-the-art textile knitting facility as well as a possible $100-million cutting-edge weaving facility on top of its existing smart shirt facility in Clark which now boasts over 4,000 personnel.

EWC, on the other hand, is also in the stage of providing a possible solution to the enormous power requirements of the Tampakan Xstrata mining project. EWC has proposed setting a LNG terminal and storage-hub that will house a 500-megawatt gas-fired power facility. The gas tankers of EWC will source LNG from Papua New Guinea and other parts of Australia and Indonesia and can replenish its LNG facilities in the country if the need arises.

 

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Philippines shops for US Made Defense Weapon for Armed Forces Modernization

In Washington DC, in the course of increasing concern over renewed tensions in the West Philippine Sea and South China Sea, the Philippine Embassy in the United States is shopping for excess defense equipment from the United States under Washington’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.

Jose L. Cuisia Jr., the Philippine ambassador to the United States, said he has asked the Department of National Defense and Armed Forces of the Philippines back home to provide him with a wish list of military equipment they will need to shore up the country’s defense capability.

He said he expected the defense department to “prioritize” its modernization goals, but was careful not to explicitly link the purchase of US excess defense articles to the Philippine military’s job of securing the territorial sovereignty of the country in the face of China’s alleged intrusions into the areas of the disputed Spratlys group claimed by the Philippines.

“There are defense articles that will be available, and that’s why I’m asking the Philippine Marines, Philippine Navy, Philippine Air Force and Philippine Army what their needs are,” said Cuisia who made this disclosure during a visit of former President Fidel Ramos at the embassy last week.

It is part of Cuisia’s job to negotiate with US officials contracts for the purchase of US military hardware. The FMS program is a standardized method for the sale by the US of defense equipment, services and training to foreign countries and governments.

Cuisia said the negotiations with the US are only after the defense department, in consultation with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, has determined “what the country needs.”

He said he has already seen the list provided by the Philippine Navy, but the other service commands—the Army and Air Force—have yet to come up with their own wish lists.

Hamilton class cutter

On May 13, Cuisia marked his debut as the new ambassador to Washington by signing the certificate of transfer of the decommissioned US Coast Guard Hamilton class cutter to the Philippines. (The cutters are called “Hamilton class” after their lead ship, the Hamilton, named after Alexander Hamilton, the first US Secretary of the Treasury.)

While in the US Coast Guard service, the vessel saw action in maritime safety and security missions, including drug and migrant interdiction, and search and rescue.

The patrol vessel, whose two 1,800 horsepower gas turbines can propel it to speeds of up to 28 knots, will be renamed the BRP Gregorio del Pilar. It is the biggest ship ever to be acquired by the Philippine Navy, and will be sailed to the Philippines in July 2011.

Philippine military officials have high hopes of acquiring a few other relatively modern patrol ships.

Cuisia, however, seemed lukewarm to purchasing a decommissioned US warship because of the high price tag, even if it’s being sold at a “very big discounted price.”

“Is that what we really need? Do we need another one, or do we need something else?” he said.

“Do we need a US Made frigate? Maybe that’s not what we need. Maybe what we need are fast patrol boats to go after pirates, after Abu Sayyaf, etc.,” he said.

Caution vs arms buildup

Ramos warned Philippine defense officials against promoting an arms buildup in the Spratlys group, a reputedly oil-rich chain of islands and reefs, which is claimed wholly or in part by the Philippines, China, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and Taiwan. Arms buildup is not so necessary but if the whole country claiming the Spratly islands in the Philippines waters are keep on advancing their arm weapon, then it is necessary for the Philippines to strengthen their arm forces and equipment to gain respect from the country who are abusing the Philippine waters.

“There’s a buildup on many sides—even us. This is a little tiny buildup, which is the (purchase of a) Coast Guard cutter. Why don’t we use all this money that’s being budgeted for an arms buildup for peace, development and prosperity?” he said.

Escalating tensions in the Spratlys, which straddle busy international shipping lanes, is a relic of the Cold War, said the retired general who met with Cuisia and the Filipino community here during a 12-day swing of the US in May.

Ramos urged President Benigno Aquino III to accept an invitation from Chinese President Hu Jintao to visit Beijing. He said this would help ease the tension over China’s recent alleged intrusions.

As early as March, Mr. Aquino has been invited by China to make an official visit, but Malacañang has yet to set a date.

Philippine Arm Forces Weapon Modernization

The purchase of new Defense weapon for the Philippines is just coincidentally with the recent activity in the spratlys. It’s been a long time that the Philippines did not make any upgrades in its defense weapon which results to failure to identify and detect invaders in the Philippine waters and horizon by the armed forces.

The Philippines has been bullied as titled weak because of its capability to depend its territory so the recent upgrades and further on the way upgrades for the Philippine defense weapon is very important. The reaction of Mr. Ramos maybe a feeling of a little shame and insecure since he is a soldier and President Aquino is an economist. During the Ramos term when he was a president of the Philippines, he fail to make any upgrade of the Philippine defense weaponry. During his term, the corruption of the AFP is rampant and seems to be tolerated by him.

As the Philippines could afford for Frigate, submarines and etc even at a higher price then why not to include them in the DND wish list?

Joint patrol of rivals

Ramos envisions a “common defense” of the South China Sea instead of rival claimants locked in a perpetual war mode, pointing their arsenals against each other.

His proposed setup is akin to a joint patrol of contested waters in which all claimant countries would contribute forces to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.

“What do we do with these existing armies? Why don’t we in Asia Pacific agree to treat each other like partners in peace and prosperity instead of us potential rivals 10 years from now?” he said.

For this idea of Ramos, this is good but it seems to be impossible as china and Vietnam want to takeover most part of the Philippine waters and islands in the West Philippines Sea for their greed dream to control the oil and gas of the region? They are thinking for their own well not for the region. They want more power both weapon and economy and it is a competition not sharing what each other have.

If the Philippines will not level up, then the bottom line is the Philippines would be abuse buy the neighboring countries. The sense of having modern defense weapon is to gain respect and capability to protect its territory rather than being bullied by the neighboring countries and maybe in the next day they will squat the islands of the Philippines. What can this old man Ramos do if this will happen?

Ramos noted the marked changes in the global security environment after the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989, which precipitated the disintegration of the Soviet Union and with it, the threat of international communism.

Yes, it is true but it makes sense also that the Philippines will dream to be part of the so called well-armed nation. The Philippine is still developing and it could be imbalance if only the Philippine economy will grow but its capability to protect it territory is less. It must be Economy and Power will grow together; and part of power is weaponry advancement.

In both the Korean War and Vietnam War, the US had pursued a policy of containment, triggering the mushrooming of US military bases in Asia and around the world as the free world’s response to the advance of communism, he said.

The Philippines sided with the US in both wars, nurturing a political, economic and military relationship in post-World War II which did not always sit well with communist China.

But with China embracing capitalism, its economy is set to eclipse the US in 2016, as the International Monetary Fund recently predicted.

The real enemy

According to Ramos, the real enemy in the 21st century is no longer one country against the other.

“That’s outmoded. That’s a Cold War mentality,” he said.

“The force which is being applied one against the other and then continues to escalate should not just be identified with the No. 1 and No. 2 superpowers (the US and China) because who is the enemy? What is the enemy now? It’s international terrorism. It’s endemic disease. It’s climate change. It is poverty,” Ramos said.

“Can you imagine how much better the quality of life all around the world, especially in the Philippines and in China and in many parts of the world, would be if the huge amount of dollars, of yuan and pesos will be devoted to economic and social development?” he said.

The Ramos Peace and Development Foundation is working toward this goal of regional stability and prosperity, he said.

To end the Spratlys tension

It is just very simple to end the tension in Spratlys. Since the UNCLOS formulated the LAW of the SEAS then the very thing is just to implement it. Any country will violate must be sanctioned. That’s all!. Vietnam will return to its UNLCOS allowed limit of 200 Nautical Mile Exclusive Economic Zone, the Philippines, Malaysia, China and Brunei will obey and follow the law of the UNCLOS and it could be the end of the tension.

 

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USS Chung-Hoon DDG-93 Destroyer of the US send to the Western Pacific region

The Pearl Harbor-based guided-missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon has deployed to the Western Pacific June 1, 2011.

The Navy says the ship's 280 sailors are expected to work with coalition partners also in the region. The vessel left Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Wednesday morning.

Last year, the Chung-Hoon and the Philippine Coast Guard practiced boarding and searching vessels in the Sulu Sea when the destroyer went to the region.

The ship provided support for U.S. and Philippine counterinsurgency efforts against militants in the southern part of the Philippines. It also participated in exercises with other U.S. forces off Guam and in drills with the Singapore navy.

Chung-Hoon, commanded by Cmdr. Stephen S. Erb, is deploying under the Middle Pacific Surface Combatant deployment concept in which Pearl Harbor-based ships deploy in support of operations primarily in the Western Pacific. The crew of about 280 Sailors will conduct integrated operations in conjunction with coalition partners deployed to the Western Pacific.

Guided-missile destroyers are multi-mission anti-air warfare, anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare surface combatants. They operate independently for support of carrier and expeditionary strike groups and surface strike groups.

Chung Hoon provides deterrence, promotes peace and security, preserves freedom of the sea and provides humanitarian assistance / disaster response as part of CNSG MIDPAC.

The guided-missile destroyers USS Chung-Hoon took part the combined alliance maritime and air readiness exercise "Invincible Spirit" in the seas east of the Korean peninsula from July 25-28, 2010 conducted by the Republic of Korea and the United States.

In March 2009, the heavily armed USS Chung-Hoon escorted the US navy surveillance ship Impeccable, which found itself at the centre of a naval standoff with Chinese boats in the South China Sea.

USS Chung-Hoon is the 15th Flight IIA Arleigh Burke- class guided missile destroyer and the first ship in the Navy named after Navy Rear Admiral Gordon P. Chung-Hoon.

It is armed with one Mk-45 5"/62 caliber lightweight gun, two Mk-41 VLS for Standard missiles and Tomahawk ASM/LAM, two 20mm Phalanx CIWS, two Mk-32 triple torpedo tubes for Mk-50 and Mk-46 torpedoes, according the U.S. Navy. It also has two SH-60 (LAMPS 3) helicopters

 

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United States deployed USS Chung-Hoon destroyer to the western Pacific region amid Spratlys tension

A 9,200 tons -509 feet 6 inches (153.30 m) USS Chung-Hoon (DDG-93) is an Arleigh Burke-class Aegis destroyer serving in the United States Navy. Chung-Hoon was named in honor of Rear Admiral Gordon Pai'ea Chung-Hoon (1910–1979), recipient of the Navy Cross and the Silver Star. Deployed June 1, 2011 tot the Western Pacific.

The United States is deploying the Pearl Harbor-based guided-missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon to the Western Pacific amid escalating tension between China and its neighbors over the oil-rich Spratly islands of the Philippines. USS Chung-Hoon departed Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on June 1, 2011 for an independent deployment to the Western Pacific, U.S. Navy said.

The US Navy said the ship’s 280 sailors were expected to work with coalition partners also in the region. The vessel left the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam base in Hawaii Wednesday.

Last year, the Chung-Hoon and the Philippine Coast Guard practiced boarding and searching vessels in the Sulu Sea when the destroyer went to the region.

The ship provided support for US and Philippine counterinsurgency efforts against militants in the southern part of the Philippines. It also participated in exercises with other United States forces off Guam and in drills with the Singapore navy.

The Obama administration was quietly shifting its strategic focus toward more emphasis on Southeast Asia, due to the recognition that the region’s importance is growing in the military, diplomatic, and trade arenas, the Foreign Policy magazine reported in its Web site Friday.

“There has been really extraordinary progress made, particularly in the last couple of years or so with a number of countries in strengthening our military-to-military relationships and our overall relationship with Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Australia certainly, as well as our traditional allies in Thailand, Japan, and Korea,” Foreign Policy quoted outgoing US Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

On Thursday, President Aquino said the Philippines would file a new protest at the United Nations accusing China of territorial incursion.

China’s embassy in Manila earlier denied the Philippine government’s allegations its ships intruded into the Spratly Islands close to the Philippine coast to build new structures and fortify its claim in the potentially oil-rich region.

Mr. Aquino said he was still hoping to visit Beijing later this year

 

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United States fears clashes in South China Sea - Gates

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) shows the light Blue Dotted line as 200 Nautical Mile Economic Zone for the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia. The Blue dotted line includes most part of the Kalayaan Island Group (Spratly) of the Philippines. UNCLOS did not show any China’s territory in the West Philippines Sea. The Philippines recorded already 6 invasion by china to the West Philippine Sea As of June 3, 2011.

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates warned Saturday that clashes may erupt in the South China Sea unless nations with conflicting territorial claims adopt a mechanism to settle disputes peacefully.

“There are increasing concerns. I think we should not lose any time in trying to strengthen these mechanisms that I’ve been talking about for dealing with competing claims in the South China Sea,” he said.

“I fear that without rules of the road, without agreed approaches to deal with these problems, that there will be clashes. I think that serves nobody’s interests,” Gates told a security conference in Singapore, before flying to Kabul.

The islands at the center of the long-running dispute are the Paracel archipelago and the more southerly Spratlys, both potentially resource-rich outcrops that straddle strategic shipping lanes.

China, the Philippines, Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam have laid claim to overlapping sections of the territories.

Gates called on the countries involved to build on a 2002 agreement between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China setting a “code of conduct” aimed at resolving disputes peacefully.

Diplomatic tensions have risen in recent weeks following allegations of increased Chinese activity in the area.

On Friday, President Benigno Aquino said the country had documented up to seven incidents in less than four months in which China trespassed into what Manila considers its territorial waters.

One of the incidents involved a Chinese vessel allegedly opening fire on Filipino fishermen, he added.

In May, Chinese maritime ships confronted a Vietnamese oil exploration vessel between the Paracels and the Spratlys.

Hanoi also reported that Chinese ships fired warning shots at Vietnamese fishermen near the Spratly islands last Wednesday, which the Chinese foreign ministry has denied.

“As far as I know, the relevant reports are purely without foundation. China is dedicated to maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea,” spokesman Hong Lei said in a statement.

“China wishes to work with relevant countries to make the South China Sea a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation.”

 

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The Philippines Starts - Online Protest Against China's Invasion in Spratlys of the Philippines Waters

While the Malacañang Palace Manila said that preparations are underway for the Philippines’ protest before the United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the Spratlys issues, the online protest headed by young Filipino Netizens is already started today June 4, 2011.

Filipinos are aware of the laws in UNLCOS and Filipinos are confident that the UNCLOS will listen in their protest as it is the law of the sea formulated by the United Nations. The 200 Nautical Mile Economic Zone is stressed in the protest that china must obey the law of the United Nations.

Filipinos are fighting for their territory as it is under the Philippine water where most of the Islands of the Spratly are located.

Other group of Filipinos want to ask the government to issue an order to drive away all countries invading the island within the Philippine territory of 200 Nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone by the UNCLOS.

Online Protest stressed the message below as shown in the site http://spratly.highkot.com/

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WE FILIPINOS AROUND THE WORLD DENOUNCED THE INVASION OF CHINA IN OUR PHILIPPINE WATERS IN THE WEST PHILIPPINE SEA. WE CALL THE UNCLOS TO ACT OF THIS CHINA’S BELLIGERENCE IN OUR COUNTRY. WE CALL THE UNCLOS TO CONDEMN CHINA’S AGGRESSION

Our Spratly Islands – ( Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), of the Republic of the Philippines is harmed by China . It is in the our West Philippine Sea, within the Philippine waters of the UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF THE SEA (UNCLOS) - 200 Nautical Mile Exclusive Economic Zone of the Republic.

• We condemn the chinas’s abuse of power in Asia.

• We denounce the china’s invasion to the Philippine waters

• We criticize the china’s firing of the Filipino Fishermen in the Philippines waters

• We call the UNCLOS to CONDEMN china for their illegal excursion to the Philippine territory

• We call UNCLOS to act on china’s violation of 2002 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties (DOC) in the South China Sea

• We call the united nation to CONDEMN china’s triggering tension in the ASEAN Nation.

WE FILIPINOS AROUND THE WORLD ARE PEACE LOVING PEOPLE AND WE DENOUNCED CHINAS AGGRESSION TO OUR PHILIPPINE TERRITORY

================

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the government is preparing what it can present to the UNCLOS.

“We will prepare accordingly and we hope for the best and again, we prepare for the worst,” she said. “We reiterate our commitment to resolve the dispute peacefully.”

Valte said that President Aquino has always pushed for a “diplomatic resolution of any conflict that will arise in connection with the West Philippine Sea.”

“We wish to stress that the way we are approaching these incidents is that we are fully committed to resolving it in a very diplomatic manner and a peaceful manner as well,” she said.

Malacanang has said that the new construction by China in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) is a “cause for concern”

The DFA had requested clarification from the Chinese Embassy on the recent sightings of a China Marine Surveillance (CMS) vessel and other People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ships at the vicinity of Iroquois Reef-Amy Douglas Bank in the West Philippine Sea. These ships reportedly unloaded building materials, erected an undetermined number of posts, and placed a buoy near the breaker of the Amy Douglas Bank.

The Amy Douglas Bank is located southwest of Recto (Reed) Bank and east of Patag (Flat) Island and is well within the Philippines’ 200 nautical miles Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). There are currently no structures on the said bank and the latter is unoccupied, according to a DFA statement.

The posts and buoy placed by the Chinese at the vicinity of the Amy Douglas Bank, however, are about 26 nautical mile east of Patag Island and 125 nautical mile from mainland Palawan.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario had said that “any new construction by China in the vicinity of the uninhabited Amy Douglas Bank is a clear violation of the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties (DOC) in the South China Sea.”

It will be recalled that during the dialogue between President Aquino and Chinese Defense Minister Liang in May, an agreement was forged between China and the Philippines to continue engaging in dialogue towards an amicable settlement on the disputed Spratly islands.

Both parties also agreed that the best way to solve the issue is to continue to engage into dialogue, not just between China and the Philippines, but also other countries that are claimants to the Spratlys.

 

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FW: The Dangerous PAYPAL (Scam) don't be compromise

Paypal gain popularity in the western country particularly in its Origin in the USA but it already have so many issue like hidden charges, Double charging, and a collector of the most sensitive information which is the Credit card. This is paypal business they earn double and you lost triple.  Every time you join the known secured but unsecured financial system like this, you put your risk morethan your capacity to protect yourself.

How to consider Paypal earn double and you lost triple for 200% loss?

1.    When you join this online Paypal money you exposed your personal information to a company whom you didn’t know if they would really care your protection or not (loss 90%). Your loss is already 90% for exposing your sensitive personal information to Paypal a chance for identity theft is even more than 90%. A certain government authority now is spying Paypal’s transaction because the soaring cases of Identity theft had leaked that information are from Paypal insider. 

2.    Second is when they require you to add your financial ticket is another risk. When you add your bank account and credit card to them is the most stupid things in one’s life. The Personal information is  already leaked plus the financial information which means they are holding your life now risk 80%

3.    After you added your bank account and credit card account as a process of verification, they will start charging you. Though Paypal will refund your after your verification  but they will still charged you for the transaction 20%

 

How Paypal earn double while members loss is triple?

1.    Form adding your credit card and bank account information, you were already charged.

2.    When you send money, they will charge you for 3.4% + another hidden charge

3.    When your money receiver got the money he/she would be charge again 3.4% + another hidden charges. Every transaction is already deducted with 6.8% from the gross amount plus hidden charges.

 

Paypal’s Dangerous hidden charges

The sad thing for Paypal is their hidden charges. You would not know how much is the hidden charges they will owe to all members in their every transaction. The risk of your personal information plus the risks of your bank account plus the risk of your credit card information plus the double charging and hidden charges will mean PAYPAL is a form of SCAM.

 

Paypal’s alibi for Securing your account for your fall

1.    2 strategy of Paypal for ups and downs members. If they think that you are a moneyed and valuable person for their business, all they have to do is to limit your account with any manufactured reason. If they think that they could not Earned money from you also because you are a smart member, they will do the same. They will limit your account to that you will leave Paypal. Their priority are those people who are valuable and moneyed. They will limit the account for any manufactured reason for them to contact paypal. After then they will ask very sensitive question as the key for your final loss. They will dig you up including a very secret information in your life so they could use it for “Identity theft” information.

2.    They pretend to be very secured online but you are not secured with Paypal insider. They will collect your vital information and rank you for their future plan.

3.    Paypal is not secure because you don’t have any hold of evidence and documents that your money is in the right hand. If you think of a secured E-money use the credit card or any other E-money that will send you a real public documented evidence that your fund is insured and secured plus an online “keyguard”. If you are not in the USA, be careful, you would spend thousands to call paypal office for your delayed money and they will not act fast on it. Asia, Europe, South America, Middle East and Oceania is not advisable to use paypal. Be careful of the Paypal back to back Scam.

From: Global News Online

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The Dangerous PAYPAL don't be compromise

Paypal gain popularity in the western country particularly in its Origin in the USA but it already have so many issue like hidden charges, Double charging, and a collector of the most sensitive information which is the Credit card. This is paypal business they earn double and you lost triple.  Every time you join the known secured but unsecured financial system like this, you put your risk morethan your capacity to protect yourself.

How to consider Paypal earn double and you lost triple for 200% loss?

1.    When you join this online Paypal money you exposed your personal information to a company whom you didn’t know if they would really care your protection or not (loss 90%). Your loss is already 90% for exposing your sensitive personal information to Paypal a chance for identity theft is even more than 90%. A certain government authority now is spying Paypal’s transaction because the soaring cases of Identity theft had leaked that information are from Paypal insider. 

2.    Second is when they require you to add your financial ticket is another risk. When you add your bank account and credit card to them is the most stupid things in one’s life. The Personal information is  already leaked plus the financial information which means they are holding your life now risk 80%

3.    After you added your bank account and credit card account as a process of verification, they will start charging you. Though Paypal will refund your after your verification  but they will still charged you for the transaction 20%

 

How Paypal earn double while members loss is triple?

1.    Form adding your credit card and bank account information, you were already charged.

2.    When you send money, they will charge you for 3.4% + another hidden charge

3.    When your money receiver got the money he/she would be charge again 3.4% + another hidden charges. Every transaction is already deducted with 6.8% from the gross amount plus hidden charges.

 

Paypal’s Dangerous hidden charges

The sad thing for Paypal is their hidden charges. You would not know how much is the hidden charges they will owe to all members in their every transaction. The risk of your personal information plus the risks of your bank account plus the risk of your credit card information plus the double charging and hidden charges will mean PAYPAL is a form of SCAM.

 

Paypal’s alibi for Securing your account for your fall

1.    2 strategy of Paypal for ups and downs members. If they think that you are a moneyed and valuable person for their business, all they have to do is to limit your account with any manufactured reason. If they think that they could not Earned money from you also because you are a smart member, they will do the same. They will limit your account to that you will leave Paypal. Their priority are those people who are valuable and moneyed. They will limit the account for any manufactured reason for them to contact paypal. After then they will ask very sensitive question as the key for your final loss. They will dig you up including a very secret information in your life so they could use it for “Identity theft” information.

2.    They pretend to be very secured online but you are not secured with Paypal insider. They will collect your vital information and rank you for their future plan.

3.    Paypal is not secure because you don’t have any hold of evidence and documents that your money is in the right hand. If you think of a secured E-money use the credit card or any other E-money that will send you a real public documented evidence that your fund is insured and secured plus an online “keyguard”. If you are not in the USA, be careful, you would spend thousands to call paypal office for your delayed money and they will not act fast on it. Asia, Europe, South America, Middle East and Oceania is not advisable to use paypal. Be careful of the Paypal back to back Scam.

From: Global News Online

Continue reading

Never use PAYPAL if you don't want to be compromise

 Paypal gain popularity in the western country particularly in its Origin in the USA but it already have so many issue like hidden charges, Double charging, and a collector of the most sensitive information which is the Credit card. This is paypal business they earn double and you lost triple.  Every time you join the known secured but unsecured financial system like this, you put your risk morethan your capacity to protect yourself.

How to consider Paypal earn double and you lost triple for 200% loss?

1.    When you join this online Paypal money you exposed your personal information to a company whom you didn’t know if they would really care your protection or not (loss 90%). Your loss is already 90% for exposing your sensitive personal information to Paypal a chance for identity theft is even more than 90%. A certain government authority now is spying Paypal’s transaction because the soaring cases of Identity theft had leaked that information are from Paypal insider. 

2.    Second is when they require you to add your financial ticket is another risk. When you add your bank account and credit card to them is the most stupid things in one’s life. The Personal information is  already leaked plus the financial information which means they are holding your life now risk 80%

3.    After you added your bank account and credit card account as a process of verification, they will start charging you. Though Paypal will refund your after your verification  but they will still charged you for the transaction 20%

 

How Paypal earn double while members loss is triple?

1.    Form adding your credit card and bank account information, you were already charged.

2.    When you send money, they will charge you for 3.4% + another hidden charge

3.    When your money receiver got the money he/she would be charge again 3.4% + another hidden charges. Every transaction is already deducted with 6.8% from the gross amount plus hidden charges.

 

Paypal’s Dangerous hidden charges

The sad thing for Paypal is their hidden charges. You would not know how much is the hidden charges they will owe to all members in their every transaction. The risk of your personal information plus the risks of your bank account plus the risk of your credit card information plus the double charging and hidden charges will mean PAYPAL is a form of SCAM.

 

Paypal’s alibi for Securing your account for your fall

1.    2 strategy of Paypal for ups and downs members. If they think that you are a moneyed and valuable person for their business, all they have to do is to limit your account with any manufactured reason. If they think that they could not Earned money from you also because you are a smart member, they will do the same. They will limit your account to that you will leave Paypal. Their priority are those people who are valuable and moneyed. They will limit the account for any manufactured reason for them to contact paypal. After then they will ask very sensitive question as the key for your final loss. They will dig you up including a very secret information in your life so they could use it for “Identity theft” information.

2.    They pretend to be very secured online but you are not secured with Paypal insider. They will collect your vital information and rank you for their future plan.

3.    Paypal is not secure because you don’t have any hold of evidence and documents that your money is in the right hand. If you think of a secured E-money use the credit card or any other E-money that will send you a real public documented evidence that your fund is insured and secured plus an online “keyguard”. If you are not in the USA, be careful, you would spend thousands to call paypal office for your delayed money and they will not act fast on it. Asia, Europe, South America, Middle East and Oceania is not advisable to use paypal. Be careful of the Paypal back to back Scam.

 

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2 OFWs could face jail in Saudi Arabia

MANILA, Philippines – Two Filipino engineers in Saudi Arabia have been threatened by their employer that they could not return home after filing a case before a court against the latter last month, a migrant workers' right group disclosed.

Migrante eastern region chapter said Gerardo Almonte, and Mark Davis, both mechanical engineers, have sought the group's help after Mohammad Al Haider Group of Companies based in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, refused to give them an exit clearance.

The two engineers, who worked for the company since August 2008, have filed their resignation letters, telling their employer that they would no longer be renewing their contract because they would be returning to the Philippines for "good."

But instead of issuing an exit clearance to Almonte and Davis, the employer even threatened to file a case against them, preventing them from returning to their country.

Migrante has already endorsed the case to Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz for appropriate action. - By Dennis Carcamo (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)

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