PIA Dispatch - Monday, November 24, 2008

Gov't prepared to pursue peace talks based on authentic consultations

LIMA, Peru – The Philippine government is prepared to go back to the negotiating table with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as soon as positive results are gathered from the ongoing consultations with stakeholders and affected communities in Mindanao.

Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said this was what President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo told United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during their meeting Saturday night (Nov. 22) at the Ministry of Defense (MOD) compound here.

Briefing the Philippine media at the Hotel Las Americas Pardo in Miraflores District here, Dureza said Rice asked the President about the developments in ongoing peace process in Mindanao. The President explained the new paradigm of her administration in pursuing the peace talks with the MILF based on more authentic consultations and not dictated by any armed group.

He said the President, also expressed her gratitude for the continuing US assistance in the Mindanao peace process.

Dureza expressed confidence that the ongoing consultations with the stakeholders as mandated under the new paradigm might be completed very soon.

“There might be a new announcement very soon about the resumption of peace talks with the MILF. But she (President Macapagal-Arroyo) reiterated the bottomline that communities must be secured first and the responsible elements of the MILF must take control,” he added.

Hopefully, Dureza said, positive results from the ongoing multi-sectoral consultations would come out as early as next month to enable the government to address the immediate needs of the displaced families and affected communities in the south.



APEC leaders agree to bolster cooperation to address financial crisis facing region

LIMA, Peru – The Philippines and other leaders of the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) agreed today to further strengthen regional cooperation on all fronts to promote growth and development and pave the way for rapid recovery from the most daunting financial and economic challenges the region has faced since the APEC creation in 1989.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the 20 other APEC leaders issued this proclamation in their final declaration at the close of the two-day 16th APEC Leaders Summit on Sunday afternoon (Nov. 23) at the Ministry of Defense (MOD) convention center here.

Peruvian President Alan Garcia Perez read the Spanish text of the APEC leaders’ final declaration. This was followed immediately by the simple turnover acceptance speech of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore which will host of the 2009 APEC Leaders Summit.

Afterwards, the President and other APEC leaders, garbed in the traditional Peruvian brown-colored “poncho,” had their official group photo taken.

In their declaration, the APEC leaders agreed to liberalize trade and promote investments, support and implement structural economic reforms, improve human security, and promote corporate social responsibility to ensure that all member-economies benefit from globalization.

“The current global financial crisis is one of the most serious economic challenges we have ever faced. We will act quickly and decisively to address the impending global economic slowdown,” the leaders said.

In response to the global crisis, the APEC leaders vowed to oppose protectionism by strongly pushing for the conclusión of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha Round of Talks, and refrain from raising the current levels of applied import tariffs at least until the end of next year.

“We welcome the monetary and fiscal stimulus provided by APEC member-economies and will take all necessary economic and financial measures to resolve this crisis,” the declaration read.

The leaders also endorsed the 2009 work plan for the APEC Regional Economic Integration (REI) agenda, emphasized the importance of strengthening financial markets in the region, and welcomed the capacity-building activities initiated by APEC finance ministers to reform capital markets.

They also affirmed their commitment to strengthen the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPR) in the region as they welcomed the progress being made by the economies to implement APEC’s anti-counterfeiting and piracy initiatives and efforts to improve the patent systems.

The leaders also vowed to improve food security in the region and supported a fully-coordinated response and a comprehensive strategy to tackle this issue through a broad framework for action developed by the United Nations (UN) task force on global food security crisis.

The APEC leaders also agreed to cooperate on disaster preparedness and management, and confront the challenges of climate change.

“As a global issue, climate change must be addressed in a comprehensive manner, through international cooperation under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2009,” they said.

During the summit, the Philippines backed the G20 declaration in Washington last week to reform and strengthen international financing institutions which provide overseas development assístance (ODA) grants and other financial liquidity infusions to developing countries.

The Philippines also reaffirmed its continuing commitment to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), including the fight against poverty, hunger and food security, terrorism, climate change, energy security and clean development.



PGMA unveils Rizal's bust at the Rizal Park in Lima

LIMA, Peru – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo unveiled today the bust of Dr. Jose Rizal at the newly-named Rizal Park in this capital city.

The unveiling rites were held on the last day of her visit to Peru to attend the two-day 16th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Meeting at the Ministry of Defense Convention Center, this city.

Welcoming the President at the Rizal Park at the Avenida La Floresta and Paseo de los Eucaliptos here were La Molina District Mayor Luis Dibos Vargas Prada; Philippine ambassador to Chile, Peru and Ecuador Amb. Maria Consuelo “Baby” Puyat Reyes; and some 50 Filipina nuns and Filipino overseas workers here.

The ceremony was kicked off by Mayor Prada’s welcome remarks, followed by the singing of the national anthems of the two countries, and then by the unveiling of the bronze bust of Rizal by President Arroyo and Mayor Prada.

In his remarks, Mayor Prada said they are honored with the presence of the President, adding that Peruvians can learn from Rizal’s patriotism.

The bust of Rizal was designed by Czech sculptor Libor Piszlac of Litomerice, Czech Republic, the place where Rizal’s friend, Ferdinand Blumentritt, once lived.

The bust is mounted atop a quadrilateral pedestal where four inaugural plaque markers are mounted on each side.

Inscribed in one marker are the words: “Dr. Jose P. Rizal, Heroe Nacional de Filipinas, Nacionalista, Reformador Political, Escritor, Linguistica y Poeta, 1861-1896.”

Inscribed in another marker are the details of the formal inaugural rites led by the President and witnessed by Mayor Prada.

The bust of Rizal was donated by Hans Gunter Schoof -- a German married to a Filipina from Baclayon, Bohol -- who is a passionate admirer of Rizal, especially the national hero’s exploits in Germany.

Schoof now owns a plush resort in Bohol which boasts of a fine collection of Rizal memorabilia.

The establishment of the Rizal Park here was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the Philippine Honorary Consulate in Peru and the municipality of La Molina.


Peru's leading University honors PGMA

LIMA, Peru – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was conferred here today a doctorate degree in science, economic and public administration, honoris causa, from the Universidad de San Ignacio de Loyola, one of the most distinguished and prestigious educational institutions in Peru.

Donning a graduation hood and gown, the President received her diploma and medal from University Director Dra. Lourdes Flores Nano and Señor Lic. Raul Diez Canseco Terry, president and founder of the Organizacion Educativa de Universidad de San Ignacio de Loyola.

Terry said the President is the first Head of State/Government in the Asia-Pacific to be accorded the honor in recognition of her efforts to promote quality education, including the inclusion of the Spanish subject in the Philippine education curriculum.

At the reception that followed, the university official also presented the President with a four-foot image of the Peruvian saint, Sta. Rosa de Lima, also the patron saint of many towns in the Philippines.

After the conferment ceremony, the President proceeded to hear the 6 p.m. special Sunday Mass at the shrine and church of Sta. Rosa de Lima which was officiated by Msgr. Allen Aganon, a Filipino. A number of Filipinos, including priests, nuns, religious workers and others working in Peru, attended the mass.

A devout Catholic, the President has made religious visits in the past to churches and religious shrines on the sidelines of her official and working visits in the Philippines and abroad.

Born April 30, 1586, Sta. Rosa de Lima, the first saint of Peru, was officially proclaimed by Pope Clement X as the Patron Saint of the Americas, Peru and the Philippines on Aug. 11, 1670.

It was also Pope Clement X who canonized Sta. Rosa de Lima as a saint on April 12, 1671.


APEC leaders vow to improve food security to help vulnerable sector

LIMA, Peru — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the 20 other leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) committed today to improve food security to help the poor in the region who are most vulnerable to the impact of tight food supply and escalating food prices worldwide.

In their final declaration here, the APEC leaders said the current volatility of global food prices, combined with food shortages in some developing economies, are affecting gains in reducing poverty in the region.

“The poor are especially vulnerable to increases in food prices. We support a fully coordinated response and a comprehensive strategy to tackle this issue through the Comprehensive Framework for Action developed by the United Nations (UN) Task Force on the Global Food Security Crisis. We will support the application and implementation of this Framework within the region, as appropriate,” the APEC leaders said.

The leaders said APEC members’ individual and collective policy responses to expand food and agricultural supply in the region should strengthen market forces to encourage new investments in agricultural technology and production systems.

They also called for the early conclusion of the stalled Doha Round of Talks of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to open the way for substantial improvements in market access and reduce market-distorting measures in global agricultural trade.

“We commended the work that APEC has undertaken in the area of food and agriculture, and welcome the work plan endorsed by APEC Ministers to refine and strengthen APEC’s agenda to meet current and emerging food security challenges,” the leaders said.

They also vowed to increase technical cooperation and capacity building that will help foster agricultural sector growth, including efforts to increase food production, improve agricultural education, enhance natural resource management, promote the development of next-generation biofuels made from non-food materials, build well-functioning markets and regulatory institutions, and make food storage, transportation, and distribution systems more efficient.

Long before the global credit crunch, the President had directed the Department of Agriculture (DA) to implement a comprehensive agricultural program focused on higher spending on irrigation and rural infrastructure, post-harvest facilities, certified and hybrid seeds, research and development, rural credit facilitation, and establishing more markets for Philippine agricultural products.

The President also secured agricultural grants and loans, including $216.5 million from the United States last June, to help ensure food security amid the rising prices of rice, fuel and other commodities worldwide.

UN and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) officials are currently meeting in Manila on food security to determine how the UN can assist ASEAN in implementing its Strategic Plan of Action on Food Security (SPA-FS).

The meeting is preparatory to a meeting between the UN and ASEAN leaders in Chiang Mai, Thailand to next month.


ASEAN made progress on ASEAN Digital Broadcasting Implementation

ASEAN Member States met to further discuss policy, technology and content issues in regard to the implementation of digital broadcasting in the region.

The 7th ASEAN Digital Broadcasting (ADB) Meeting, co-chaired by Brunei Darussalam and Singapore in Bali, Indonesia on 18 November 2008, successfully concluded with officials agreeing to set up an Interactive Compliance Centre (includes testing of interactive applications in set-top boxes, creating and exchange of interactive applications and training).

Member States recommend that fees should not be imposed on Free-to-Air broadcasters for the use of MPEG4-AVC technology.

Recognizing the importance of using the broadcast technologies to issue early warning systems, Member States agreed to set-up a study group on the Early Warning System on the digital TV platform.

Member States agreed to discuss with the European Union to collaborate in digital terrestrial broadcasting deployment.

Member States aim for early digitalization to reap the benefits of the digital dividend and to ensure that terrestrial broadcasting remains relevant in the face of competition from mobile and internet TV.

Recognizing that Member States are at different stages of digital TV implementation, Member States recommend that ASEAN adopts a phased approach towards Analogue Switch-off.

Member States also underscored the importance of public education and capacity building in preparation for digital roll–out and that there was much scope for sharing of best practices among ASEAN countries.

Noting the different levels of expertise on HD production, Member States agreed to set-up a virtual HD Training Centre to serve as self-help resource to equip members with the necessary skills set for HD production and to collaborate through co-productions.

Taking into account the experience of ASEAN Dialogue Partners, namely China, Japan and Korea, India and European Union in digital broadcasting implementation, ASEAN agreed to engage them for capacity building on content production on HD.


DA provides jobs and livelihood projects for unemployed

The Department of Agriculture (DA) Region 2 is set to generate about 14,000 jobs for unemployed individuals by 2009 through the implementation of the Emergency Employment and Livelihood Programs of the government.

Dir. Lucrecio R. Alviar, DA Regional Technical Director for Administration, said the move is response to the memorandum of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to create and implement emergency employment and livelihood programs especially for those in the low and middle income class of the society. DA formulated three projects that is set to generate jobs and livelihood programs.

For Region 2, Alviar said DA will facilitate the identification and development of new agribusiness lands that is programmed for planting rice, corn, fruit trees, vegetables and fish products.

He also said that agriculturist trained farmers and led extentionist all over Region 2 on organic fertilizer production as one way of providing livelihood to farmers and helping them in lowering cost of fertilizers.

DA and NIA will also facilitate the joint project in the restoration and rehabilitation of irrigation canals and small impounding projects and continue farm-to-market roads and other infrastructure projects on agriculture.

"Through these projects we will be able to generate thousands of jobs and livelihood for the people to ensure that those in the lower and middle level will not be greatly affected by the global financial crisis," Alviar said.

For this program, DA 2 will be given a budget of 300 million pesos to implement the projects while NIA will spend billions of pesos for the irrigation projects. (PIA-Cagayan)


UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon touched by RP hospitality

NEW YORK—United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was profuse in expressing his appreciation to the Philippines, saying he was touched by the kindness and hospitality extended to him during his visit to Manila last month.

"I am touched and deeply honored by how well I was treated and received by the people and the government of the Philippines," the Secretary General told Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Esteban B. Conejos Jr. and Philippine Permanent Representative Hilario G. Davide, Jr. at the United Nations on Friday.

During the 20-minute meeting at his 38th floor office, the Secretary General repeatedly expressed his appreciation to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who accorded him honors befitting a head of state during his visit to Manila from 28 to 30 October to take part in the Second Global Forum for Migration and Development (GFMD).

According to the Philippine Mission to the United Nations, the Secretary General congratulated President Arroyo, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo and Undersecretary Conejos for the successful Philippine hosting of the GFMD and expressed hope that the Philippines will continue to lend its active support to the forum.

The Secretary General thanked the President not only for receiving him but also for hosting a state dinner and conferring on him the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Rajah—the country's highest decoration of diplomatic merit. He also expressed his appreciation to the University of the Philippines for conferring on him the degree of Doctor of Laws honoris causa.

"I regard this as a great, great honor," the Secretary General told the two Philippine officials.

Although the Secretary General briefly met President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo after addressing last month's meeting of the General Assembly on interfaith dialogue, his meeting with Undersecretary Conejos and Ambassador Davide was the first time he sat down with Filipino officials since arriving from the Philippines last month.

The Secretary General expressed regret that he was not able to spend more time with the President during her stay in New York. He said he went down the podium to greet the President who unfortunately had to leave for Manila immediately after she introduced the Philippine-initiated resolution on the promotion of inter-religious and intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation for peace.

The Philippine Mission said the Secretary General also took his time in sharing with Undersecretary Conejos and Ambassador Davide what he said were his many good memories about the Philippines as it was the first country he visited in an official capacity as a junior foreign service officer in the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1976. The Philippines was also the first country he visited after he was appointed Foreign Minister in 2004.

The Secretary General also expressed his high regard for Filipinos, describing them as very talented and very sincere. He mentioned his experience working with former Foreign Affairs Secretary and now Ambassador to Berlin Delia D. Albert and former Ambassador to Vienna and now to Paris Jose A. Zaide as well as Filipino members of his staff at the United Nations.


Aklan to take center stage in the country's campaign to remove VAW

Kalibo, Aklan - Aklan will be one of the sites of the first national congress of the Men Opposed to VAW Everywhere (MOVE) on December 5 – the last day of the 18 – Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW).

Spearheading the 18-Day Campaign to End VAW is the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW) which starts November 25 and will end Dec. 5.

The 18-day campaign, with the theme "CEDAW ng Bayan:ReMOVE VAW, this year will highlight the critical roles of governments at the macro level, and of men, as individuals and groups, at the micro levels in curbing and responding sensitively to VAW.

"While there is a call to get all levels of government to become more VAW – responsive, the Campaign will also recognize concrete efforts of local government units (LGUs) and members of the judiciary in promoting women's human rights and in addressing gender-based violence through the Search for Outstanding VAW-Responsive LGUs and the Gender Justice Awards II. As a kick-off activity, the NCRFW will officially launch the year-long Search on Nov. 25 at the Astoria Plaza Hotel, Ortigas Center, Pasig City," said the online CEDAW campaign brief.

The First National Congress of MOVE will highlight the vital role of men in the fight against VAW, taking off from previous efforts in building a network of male advocates against VAW.

In Aklan, the MOVE Congress for the Visayas Hub will be held at La Carmela de Boracay in Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan.

According to Franklin Quimpo, MOVE-Aklan President, provinces which have confirmed attendance to the Congress on Dec. 5 are Northern Samar, Southern Leyte, Eastern Samar and Masbate.

With the theme "Kilos Mga Kalalakihan! Sugpuin and Karahasan Laban Sa Kababaihan!" the MOVE Congress will be held in four sites simultaneously – Aklan (Visayas), Astoria Plaza Hotel (Metro Manila), Quezon Province (Luzon) and Davao City (Mindanao).

These sites will be linked together through video conferencing. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)