Sunday 10 November 2013

PIA News Dispatch - Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Aquino government assures that preventive measures are in place for likely effect of typhoon Yolanda

The Aquino government assured the public that preventive measures are already in place to avoid human casualties and minimize property damage as super typhoon "Yolanda" is expected to enter the country, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio B. Coloma Jr. said on Wedneday.

"Habang hinihintay ang pagpasok ng super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ sa Philippine Area of Responsibility na tinatayang magaganap Huwebes, ika-pito ng Nobyembre, alas-dos ng umaga, inatasan ng Pangulo si Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, tagapangulo ng National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC), na pakilusin na ang lahat ng provincial and municipal disaster risk reduction and management councils para makapaghanda ang mga mamamayan at maka-iwas sa panganib," Coloma said during the regular press briefing in Malacanang.

The government is also appealing to print and broadcast media to help in the information dissemination to prepare the public for the storm. 'Ito ay alinsunod sa direktiba ng Pangulo na matamo ang layuning zero casualty sa ganitong kalamidad," Coloma said.

According to the weather forecasts, typhoon Haiyan, locally named as Yolanda, is to make landfall over the Philippines on Thursday, that can cause flood and mudslides.

"Pansinin natin ang takbo ng bagyong ‘Yolanda.’ "Kung matutuloy ito sa kasalukuyan niyang direksyon ay maaaring tamaan ng buong pwersa nito ang buong kapuluan. Ang ‘di lang maaapektuhan ay ang dulong hilaga at dulong timog ng ating bansa," he added.

Rescue boats and emergency relief and medical supplies have been prepositioned in strategic areas, Coloma said.

He said all concerned government agencies are on heightened alert to ensure swift response to affected residents, especially those in low-lying and flood prone areas. PND (js)


Philippine government forms teams to assist Filipinos in Saudi Arabia

Malacanang reported that there has been no Filipino arrested in the ongoing crackdown on illegal workers in Saudi Arabia and the government has formed teams that will assist Filipinos who will be detained.

In a press briefing in Malacanang on Wednesday, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. said that based on the report of the Department of Foreign Affairs, the government has started repatriating Filipinos from Saudi Arabia.

As of November 6, a total of 4,587 Filipinos have been repatriated, while 1,433 are awaiting immigration clearance, and 450 others are housed in temporary shelters where they are being provided with food, medicine, and other basic necessities, he said.

There are approximately 660,000 Filipinos in Saudi Arabia, according to official estimates of the Saudi Interior Ministry.

Coloma also said Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario has authorized the hiring of Saudi lawyers to provide necessary legal assistance to any Filipino who would be arrested.

The DFA and the Consulate General, as well as Philippine overseas labor officers, have also formed teams that will visit jails, police stations, and deportation centers to help Filipino workers that may be affected by the “Saudization” policy.

“A team led by Undersecretaries Jesus Yabes of DFA and Parisya Taradji of DSWD are in Saudi Arabia to meet with concerned Saudi authorities and to check the condition of undocumented Filipinos,” Coloma stressed.

“Diplomatic representations are being made to ensure continued Saudi government assistance in repatriation efforts and protection of the rights of undocumented Filipinos,” he added.

“Saudization” is a national policy of Saudi Arabia encouraging employment of Saudi nationals in the private sector, which was largely dominated by Asian, European and American expatriate workers.

The Saudi government has enacted policies to promote “Saudization,” including warnings to companies that will fail to comply with regulations will not get government contracts. PND (as)


Philippines, HK working quietly to resolve row over hostage tragedy

The Philippines and Hong Kong are working quietly to reach a "mutually satisfying" resolution to the three-year-old row stemming from the Manila hostage tragedy.
Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. said Wednesday both sides are seeking to address the issues raised in the wake of the incident.

"Both sides are working quietly to address these concerns and reach a mutual satisfactory conclusion," Coloma said at a media briefing in MalacaƱang.

He also said that if there may be sanctions Hong Kong may impose on Filipinos, the Philippine government is ready to assist those who would be affected.

Coloma said the silent efforts by both sides stemmed from the meeting between President Benigno Aquino III and Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Indonesia.

During their meeting, President Aquino and Chief Executive Leung agreed the Philippines and Hong Kong will "work to reach a mutually satisfactory closure," he said.

Coloma said the issues raised by Hong Kong officials included compensation for affected families, prosecution of those responsible, and adoption of preventive measures.

The crisis stemmed from an incident in Manila on August 23, 2010, where a dismissed policeman took a busload of tourists hostage to demand his reinstatement in the police force.

But the policeman and several of his hostages - including tourists from Hong Kong - were killed in a botched rescue attempt.

Following the incident, Hong Kong has imposed a black travel warning that discourages its residents from visiting the Philippines. PND (jl)


Philippines joins other nations in the 2013 Bali Democracy Forum

The Philippines is participating in the Bali Democracy Forum (BDF), an annual intergovernmental forum on the development of democracy in the Asia Pacific region, Malacanang said on Wednesday.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. said in a press briefing that the country’s representative will be Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda.

The forum, with a theme “Consolidating Democracy in Pluralistic Society,” will be held November 7 and 8.

“For the past three years, the country has been an active participant in the Summit. In 2011, our representative was Vice President Jejomar Binay; in 2012, Secretary Florencio Abad; at sa taon pong ito, ang ating bansa ay kinakatawan ni Secretary Edwin Lacierda,” Coloma said.

The Bali Democracy Forum, initiated by Indonesia in 2008, aims to promote and foster regional and international cooperation in the field of peace and democracy through dialogue-based sharing experiences and best practices that adhere to the principle of equality, mutual respect and understanding, with the participating countries sharing its ownership.

The annual event also becomes the venue for other influential and prominent figures. Among the participants in the BDF are countries that regard themselves as democratic or aspire to be more democratic in the Asia-Pacific region.

Observer countries from the African, European and American region also attend the Bali Democracy Forum. PND (as)


Philippines may discuss ways to work together with Dutch non-government organization using virtual Filipina child to fight human trafficking

The Philippines may seek ways to pool its anti-human trafficking efforts with a Dutch non-government organization that used a computer generated image of a 10-year-old Filipina in a campaign against fight webcam child sex tourism.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. said the Philippines may call the NGO's attention if there are differences in the way they implement their anti-human trafficking efforts.

"If there is a commonality of objective at medyo nagkaroon ng diperensiya doon sa pamamaraan, then we can call their attention and discuss how we can work together in a better manner (If there is a commonality of objective but there are differences in the way we implement them, we can call their attention and discuss how to work together in a better manner)," Coloma said at a media briefing.

He said the Philippine government has been undertaking efforts to stop human trafficking.

Coloma said the government has an inter-agency body combating human trafficking.

The Dutch NGO had used the virtual Filipina to identify over 1,000 adults "willing to pay children in developing countries to perform sexual acts in front of the webcam."

It said the virtual Filipina child had helped researchers identify such adults from more than 65 countries.

According to the NGO, video footage of the child predators had been handed over to the police authorities.

Earlier this year, the Philippines was cited by the US State Department for its efforts to combat human trafficking.


While the Philippines retained its Tier 2 ranking in the US' 2013 Trafficking in Persons Report, the US noted the Philippines is "making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance" with standards against human trafficking. PND (jl)