Filipino peacekeepers in Golan Heights now
‘reposition’ in safe camp
After almost a two-day standoff with
Al-Qaeda-linked Syrian rebels, the Filipino peacekeepers in Golan Heights are
now safe and repositioned in Camp Ziuoani, a Palace official said on Sunday.
“As of 7:00 a.m. today, lahat po ng mga Filipino
peacekeepers mula sa Position 68 at Position 69 ay naka-reposition na sa Camp
Ziuoani,” said Presidential Communication Operations Office Secretary Herminio
Coloma, Jr., in a press briefing over radio station dzRBRadyo ng Bayan.
On August 29, Syrian rebels overran the position
of Fijian United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), taking their
firearms and holding the 44 Fijian peacekeepers hostage.
Since then, the rebels advanced and surrounded
the positions held by Filipino peacekeepers, until they attacked on Saturday
(August 30) morning.
The Filipino peacekeepers on early Sunday
morning were able to escape and reposition themselves in Camp Ziuoani.
Coloma said Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin
and Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Pio Catapang lauded
the Filipino peacekeepers for their gallant effort in defending their
positions.
“Pinapurihan nina Secretary Gazmin at General
Catapan ang ating mga magigiting na kawal sa kanilang matatag at ‘di matinag na
determinasyong ipagtanggol ang lugar sa Golan Heights na sakop ng kanilang
responsibilidad. Patunay ito sa determinasyon ng Pilipinas na gampanan ang
commitment nito sa United Nations,” said Coloma.
The Communication Secretary also thanked the
nation-members of UNDOF together with the government of Syria, Israel, Qatar
and the United States for their support to defuse the tension in Golan Heights.
The UNDOF is composed of 1,223 troops from six
countries: Fiji, India, Nepal, Netherlands and the Philippines. PND (ag)
Malacañang welcomes World Bank’s new financial
package
Malacanang welcomed on Sunday the World Bank’s
announcement that they will extend a 22.4 billion pesos financial package
intended for rural infrastructure development and assistance for Filipino fishermen
and farmers.
“Ikinagagalak natin ang pagpapahayag ng World
Bank hinggil sa US 508-million dollars o 22.4 bilyong pisong loan at financial
package para sa Pilipinas,” Presidential Communication Operations Office
Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., in a press briefing over radio station dzRB
Radyo ng Bayan.
This financial package called the Philippine
Rural Development Project (PRDP) to be implemented by the Department of
Agriculture will benefit more or less 2 million farmers and fishermen.
Under the PRDP, more than 70 percent of the fund
will go to infrastructure projects that include: farm-to-market roads, bridges,
tire trucks, communal irrigation, potable water systems, post-harvest
facilities, production facilities, fish landings, fish sanctuaries, storage
facilities, trading posts, greenhouses, solar driers, and slope stabilization
works.
Among the benefits of the financial grant is
increasing the level of the annual household incomes (real household income) of
farmers and fishermen by no less than five percent.
Also included in the financial package is a 7
million pesos grant aimed in at strengthening the conservation efforts of
marine-protected areas of Tayabas, Quezon; Green Island in Palawan; Ticao Pass
between Sorsogon and Masbate; Guimaras; Danajon Bank in Bohol; and, Guiuan,
Eastern Samar. PND (ag)
Palace hails Gilas Pilipinas’ gallant effort
against Croatia team
Malacañang hailed on Sunday the impressive
performance shown by the Philippine men’s national basketball team, Gilas
Pilipinas, despite an 81-78 overtime loss against Croatia to open its FIBA
World Cup bid last Saturday evening (Manila time) in Seville, Spain.
Presidential Communications Operations Office
(PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said the entire Filipino nation is behind
Gilas Pilipinas, cheering and supporting all the way, as they compete against
the world’s best basketball teams.
“Nakikiisa ang Pangulo sa buong sambayanan sa
paghahatid ng pagbati sa ipinakitang galing at determinasyon ng ating mga
manlalaro ng Gilas Pilipinas sa kanilang laban kontra Croatia. Sa kabila ng
matinding pagsubok at hamon, nagawa ng Pilipinas na lumaban hanggang huli at
umani sila ng paghanga sa mundo ng basketball,” Coloma said over Radyo ng
Bayan.
President Benigno S. Aquino III himself, in his
interview with Bombo Radyo Philippines last Wednesday, said the Philippines'
return in the world basketball stage after a 36-year absence is a “great
opportunity for us to show our talents and our collective attitude as a
nation—that we don’t give up easily.”
Those words rang true in Saturday’s game as
Gilas Pilipinas (ranked 34th by FIBA) nearly caused an upset against a
much-favored Croatian team (ranked 16th by FIBA) in their first game of the
elimination round in Group B.
Croatia started the game strong, capitalizing on
its height advantage, and established a 15-point lead. It took a while for the
Filipinos to respond until they made a run towards the end of the first half,
knocking down three-point shots, with team captain Jimmy Alapag even completing
a rare four-point play opportunity.
Gilas Pilipinas relied on the shooting prowess
of guard Jeff Chan and naturalized center Andray Blatche during most of the
second half to keep the game close, even taking a three-point lead towards the
end of regulation, but it was Croatia that came on top in overtime.
Notwithstanding the loss, Malacañang remains
positive and urged the entire Filipino nation to continue cheering for Gilas
Pilipinas regardless of the results of their remaining games ahead. The
Philippines is scheduled to play against Greece next, followed by Argentina,
Puerto Rico, and Senegal respectively.
“Sa mga manlalaro ng Gilas Pilipinas, kabilang
na ang coaching staff, nasa likod ninyo ang buong sambayanang Pilipino at
sama-sama ang ating panalangin sa inyong pakikiharap sa mga pinakamahuhusay na
basketbolista sa buong mundo. Isigaw natin ang battlecry: “Laban Pilipinas!
Puso!” Coloma said. PND (hdc)
