PIA Dispatch - Thursday, July 16, 2009

NAM summit states opposition to all form of terrorism

SHARM EL SHEIKH, Egypt, July 16 - Leaders from over 100 Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) countries, gathering here for the 15th NAM summit, set themselves against terrorism by stating a firm opposition to the evil in a final declaration to be adopted by the summit Thursday.

The NAM leaders pledged in the declaration to strengthen solidarity in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, wherever and by whosoever committed, in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter, international law and the relevant international conventions.

Terrorism should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group, stress the leaders.

Taking into account the positions and views of NAM member states, they urged the international community to make more efforts and further progress in formulating a joint organized response to terrorism in all forms, as proposed by the movement's new chairperson, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France in 1986.

They also called for the early finalization of the draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism, strengthening the application of the United Nations Global Counter Terrorism Strategy and convening a high level conference under the auspices of the United Nations.

During the ongoing two-day summit, the heads of state or government of NAM member countries focus their debate on the summit theme of International Solidarity for Peace and Development, as well as on current hotspot international and regional issues, such as global financial crisis, climate change, Middle East peace, food security, energy and nuclear problems.

At the ending of the summit, the leaders are expected to sign the final document and a Sharm El Sheikh Declaration, approving the strategy and action plan of the movement in the coming three years.

Formally founded in September 1961, NAM now groups 118 member states, 17 observer countries and 10 observer organizations. The Movement, which includes nearly two-thirds of UN member states and comprises 55 percent of the world population, focuses on striving for the interests of developing countries all over the world.


RP to start exporting jatropha to US next year

MANILA, July 16 - The Philippines will be looped into the burgeoning clean energy market in the United States as it starts exporting jatropha oil in that country next year.

About 30 million gallons of jatropha oil will be exported by the Philippine unit of Monterey, California-based Abundant Biofuels Corp. from the lumad plantations in Northern Mindanao, the company’s chairman, Dr. Charles V. Fishel, told PNA in an email interview.

Abundant biofuels sells jatropha oil as feedstock to biodiesel refineries in the US. The company offers long-term contracts of up to 10 years in multiples of 50,000 barrels of jatropha oil, with project financing available.

“At this time, most of the fuel to be supplied under long-term contracts would be sourced from the Philippines,” Fishel told PNA. “In this time of worldwide economic uncertainty, the export revenues will help (boost) the Philippines’ balance of payments.”

The company bagged what it described as the “largest contract ever for non-food biodiesel feedstock” last April with JatrophaBioJet Corp., which entered a 10-year supply contract for five million barrels per year with Abundant Biofuels.

Abundant Biofuels’ Philippine subsidiary formed a partnership in 2007 with the Supreme Council of Datus Alimaong – the Holy Warriors (SCODA), which represents ancestral domain holders in Northern Mindanao.

The Philippine subsidiary, where SCODA chairman Apo Amay Tawahig is a board member, has jatropha plantations in various ancestral domains in Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon as part of the Tahas Kasla or Project Jatropha with SCODA.

Some 60,000 hectares were initially identified as plantation sites, to be expanded over three years to cover 260,000 hectares. The lumads will receive profit shares as defined in the partnership with SCODA.

“The Philippines is our base of operations. We have organized our operations so that it can be a training ground for key management personnel from other countries,” Fishel told PNA.

Abundant Biofuels also grows jatropha in Peru, Indonesia and the Dominican Republic, with total plantation capacity of more than three million acres, the company has said in a statement.

Viable Biodiesel Alternative

According to Fishel, jatropha has emerged as a viable biodiesel alternative due to food vs. fuel concerns.

Earlier, the company announced it was prompted to actively offer long-term jatropha supply contracts in view of upcoming environmental regulations in the US that would disqualify virgin soybean oil as a biodiesel feedstock.

“Until recently, there was very little interest in jatropha. Because of ‘food vs. fuel’ concerns, there now appears to be considerable enthusiasm about jatropha oil among US biodiesel refiners. There is increasing pressure on refiners to discontinue use of food crops as refining feedstocks,” he told PNA.

Earlier, Fishel revealed in a company statement that about 100 biodiesel refineries in the US are operating below capacity, with another 47 refineries gone idle.

Various studies have noted this as a direct consequence of the global economic crisis, which has drastically cut the availability of financing.

But there is no doubt that the biofuels industry will be major on a global scale, especially in the US under the Obama administration.

In its Clean Energy Trends 2009 report released last March, San Francisco-based US research firm Clean Edge, Inc. said biofuels would become a $ 105.4-billion industry by 2018.

In 2008, global production and wholesale pricing of ethanol and biodiesel reached $ 34.8 billion, it said. Worldwide biodiesel production stood at 2.5 billion gallons last year, it added.

Aside from the Obama administration’s $ 70-billion stimulus for clean energy and transportation, a presidential directive issued in May 2009 sets the robust course of biofuels use in the US.

The presidential directive calls for the development of the US’ first comprehensive biofuels market development program, including improving the environmental sustainability of biofuels feedstock production.

Emerging Niche: Aviation

Another emerging niche for jatropha oil is the aviation industry, where it has been established that the feedstock is viable as an alternative blend for traditional jet fuel.

“Aviation fuel is expected to become a major market after several hurdles are cleared,” Fishel said.

These hurdles include certification, further development of refining technology, and development of necessary supporting logistics, he explained.

There is broad optimism in the aviation industry about the commercial use of aviation biofuels. A series of test flights, done between December 2008 and January 2009, succeeded in proving the efficacy of both jatropha and algae as alternative blends. Certification of an aviation biofuel standard is underway, with approval seen by the end of next year.

The aviation industry has committed to becoming carbon-neutral by 2020, with airlines expected to channel 10 percent of its fuel requirements into biofuels by 2017. Commercial use in the West is expected to happen as soon as 2011.

Long Term in the Philippines

Fishel said Abundant Biofuels is keen on becoming active in the Philippine market over the long term. “Longer term, our goal is to limit the amount exported to 40 percent or less of the total production in the Philippines. Our primary target market is the domestic market.”

He said the company’s business plan is to refine in the Philippines and to supply a significant part of the country’s biofuel requirements. “We plan to work with the government to obtain the necessary certifications.”

The company is currently completing its initial plantation targets, which Fishel said had been derailed by financing woes brought on by the global economic crisis.

By the end of next year, Abundant Biofuels hopes to finally carry out planting on an additional 250,000 hectares.


DOH declares community level outbreak of AH1N1 in Eastern Visayas
By:Bradley de Leon

The Department of Health on Thursday confirmed a community level transmission of AH1N1 virus in Eastern Visayas.

According to DOH Region 8 Director Edgardo Gonzaga, community level outbreak was declared due to more than 100 cases recorded in the said region.

But health officials reiterated that there’s no need to panic because 73% or 90 confirmed cases were already sent home while 32 are still under medication.


Tropical storm 'Isang' to landfall in Cagayan Valley tonight -- Pagasa

MANILA, July 16 - Tropical storm "Isang" continues to intensify as it heads toward northern Luzon for an expected landfall in the Cagayan Valley region Thursday night, threatening to bring rains throughout Luzon until Friday.

"We expect 'Isang' to make a landfall tonight over Cagayan Valley. It may further intensify before it makes a landfall, so we advise residents of Isabela, Cagayan and Aurora of stormy weather until tomorrow," said Nathaniel Cruz, deputy administrator of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

As of 10 a.m. Thursday, the eye of storm Isang was spotted 240 kilometer east of Casiguran, Aurora with maximum winds of 75 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph. It was heading west-northwest at 17 kph.

Signal No. 2 was hoisted over Isabela, southern Cagayan and northern Aurora while signal No. 1 was raised over the rest of Aurora and Cagayan, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Kalinga, Apayao, Abra, Mt. Province, Ifugao, Benguet, La Union, the Ilocos provinces, Babuyan Islands, Nueva Ecija and Pangasinan.

Isang's circulation continues to extend across southern Luzon, including Metro Manila, hence widespread rains can be expected towards the weekend.

'There is no storm warning signal over Metro Manila but we can expect scattered rainshowers until tomorrow," Cruz said.

Residents near Mayon volcano in Albay are warned against possible mudflows, flashfloods and landslides, he said.

Isang is forecast to exit the country through the South China Sea on Saturday.

"Those living along the coast under signal No. 2 are advised to be on alert against big waves generated by the storm," the Pagasa bulletin said.


DepEd suspends classes in preschool, elementary levels in NCR

MANILA, July 16 - Due to heavy rains spawned by tropical storm "Isang,” Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Jesli Lapus announced the suspension of classes in public and private preschools and elementary schools in the National Capital Region (NCR) beginning at noon today.

Lapus said the suspension of classes in Metro Manila was made upon the recommendation of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

DepEd-NCR Director Teresita Domalanta said the department had already ordered its district supervisors and principals to inform their respective schools on the suspension order


No amnesty to Abu Sayyaf -Malacanang

MANILA, July 16 (PNA) - Amid stiff opposition from a proposition raised by Sen. Richard Gordon, Malacañang said on Thursday it will not grant amnesty to the Abu Sayyaf, saying the group has proven itself to be nothing but a bunch of criminal outlaws.

“They are lawless. They are proven to be kidnappers, gun runners, extortionists and they have been doing illegal things. They don’t deserve to be given an amnesty,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Dr. Anthony Golez stressed during today’s press briefing.

“I have been authorized by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita to advise the media and the public as well that there will be no amnesty granted to the Abu Sayyaf group,” Golez said.

Golez said this decision was arrived at after careful study, after giving due consideration to popular calls for justice and retribution, on one hand, and to the equally pressing imperatives of peace and development in Mindanao, on the other.

He also said this decision not to grant amnesty is consistent with our position that such leniency should be extended only to those accused of political offenses, not common criminals especially those as brutal as the Abu Sayyaf.

“The decision also reflects our confidence that the peace process will not be affected by the denial of amnesty to a fringe gang of bandits and terrorists,” Golez said.

“Our government believes that the peace process can and should continue on the basis of good faith discussions between government and mainstream political rebel groups, following the UN-sanctioned principles of DDR or disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration,” he said.

Ermita earlier said Malacañang would possibly study in depth the proposal of Sen. Richard Gordon, who claimed to have information that some Abu Sayyaf commanders wanted amnesty and livelihood assistance in exchange for laying down their arms.

National Security officials led by Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and some members of the Cabinet security cluster, however, expressed opposition to the idea.

Deputy presidential spokesman for Economic Affairs Gary Olivar admitted the growing public opinion as well as the negative implications on the country’s security ties with other countries could force Malacañang to reject Gordon’s proposal.

Olivar said the strong objections were made even before security officials in Malacañang were to meet and study the proposal.

The Abu Sayyaf – or Bearer of the Sword – wrote its early history in blood, staging kidnappings, bombings and beheadings to draw attention, recruits and funds from the al-Qaeda terror network of international fugitive Osama bin Laden.

The homegrown terror group is listed as a foreign terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union and the United Nations.

Washington is helping the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in its campaign against the Abu Sayyaf.

“There appear to be interpretations that, legally as well morally, there seems to be little ground to stand on to give amnesty to a group like the Abu Sayyaf when some of its actions like the beheading of foreign citizens, the systematic use of ransom, don’t seem to be consistent with any relevant political agenda,” Olivar said.