Download 02 December 2012 - Philippine Embassy in Norway

NEWSCAPS
December 2, 2012
(POLITICAL)
I. PRESIDENT AQUINO ON MAINTAINING THE GDP GROWTH
 The government is prepared to sustain the country’s economic
growth that reached a record 7.1 percent in the third quarter,
President Aquino told a gathering of his partymates in Cebu City
Friday night.
II. DFA ON CHINA’s REPORTED PLAN TO INTERDICT SHIPS
 The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) yesterday asked China
to “immediately clarify its reported plans to interdict ships that
enter what it considers its territory” in the West Philippine Sea.
 The DFA statement also said that the international community
should condemn this latest Chinese provocation as it violates
maritime domains of countries in the region and impede freedom
of navigation.
III. REP. LAGMAN ON ‘CATHOLIC’ VOTE
 Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said yesterday that lawmakers still
undecided on the Reproductive Health (RH) bill should not fear
the so-called Catholic vote, since it comprises only a small
percentage of the electorate.
IV. THANKSGIVING MASS FOR CARDINAL TAGLE
 President Aquino attended yesterday the thanksgiving Mass
celebrated by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle, who was
elevated to cardinal recently.
 Cardinal Tagle acknowledged President Aquino’s presence as he
took the lectern to deliver his homily.
V. HOUSE PROBE ON PAGCOR PAYOFFS
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 The House of Representatives Committee on good government is
poised to conduct a parallel investigation into alleged anomalies
involving former officials of the Philippine Amusement and
Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) amid fresh revelations that a former
consultant to the state-run gambling agency had received $30
million from billionaire Japanese casino operator Kazuo Okada.
VI. PH SUPPORT ON PALESTINE’s QUEST FOR SELF-RULE
 The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said that the Philippines
voted yesterday to grant Palestine “non-member observer state”
status at the United Nations.

“The Philippines supports Palestine’s quest for self-rule and selfdetermination and we hope that one day an independent
Palestine may live side by side in peace with its neighbors.”
Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Raul Hernandez said.
VII. UK ON STRENGTHENING AMLA
 Steph Lysaght, first secretary of the British Embassy in Manila,
has urged the Philippines to strengthen its anti-money laundering
law as he underlined the importance of legislation in plugging
corruption and terrorist funding.
 The envoy made the statement during a British-funded training
course on the implementation of stronger anti-money laundering
measures held at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) complex
on Nov. 26.
VIII. CCC MODIFICATION PROGRAM FOR PUV DIESEL ENGINES
 The Climate Change Commission (CCC) plans to modify the
diesel engines of jeepneys and other public utility vehicles (PUVs)
plying Metro Manila streets in a bid to reduce soot or “black
carbon” emissions.
 CCC said on Wednesday it planned to introduce a P26-billion
modification program for some 500,000 PUV diesel engines over
a five-year period.
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IX. SENATE’s FAILURE TO REMIT EMPLOYEES’ TAXES ON THE
BONUSES
 The Commission on Audit (COA) has called the attention of the
Senate to its failure to remit millions of pesos in taxes on the
bonuses and allowances for its officers and employees in 2011.
X. DND FAILED ACQUISITION OF ATTACK HELICOPTERS
 Defense Spokesperson Peter Galvez said that the 10 attack
helicopters initially offered by a French firm are no longer
available after Pakistan has reworked its procurement.
 The helicopters were originally produced for Pakistan. However,
Pakistan had some problems with procurement so the helicopters
were opened to the market.
XI. MNLF ON
AGREEMENT
THE
IMPLEMENTATION
OF
1996
PEACE
 MNLF Spokesperson Emmanuel Fontanilla said that they will file
a petition for self-rule before the United Nations if the government
will not comply with its 1996 peace agreement with the group.
XII. LEACHON ON SIN TAX BILL
 Anthony Leachon, a consultant for DOH’s Non-Communicable
Diseases, yesterday debunked claims that higher sin taxes would
intensify cigarette smuggling in the country, saying this is just a
diversionary tactic of legislators opposing the measure.
XIII. MASS LAYOFF OF RPN EMPLOYEES
 Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago called for an inquiry into the
reported mass layoff of personnel recently implemented by the
management of Radio Philippines Network (RPN), which may
have been in violation of some of the country’s labor laws.
XIV. CAYETANO ON THE 2013 BUDGET FOR EDUCATION
 Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said that the most
important component of the education sector – the teacher – may
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not benefit from the increase of funds for education in the 2013
national budget.
 In his rebuttal speech on the proposed 2013 national budget,
Senator Cayetano lamented there is no mention of any additional
pay and employment for teachers.
XV. OFW DEPLOYMENT BAN TO GAZA
 The Department of Foreign Affairs yesterday said that they may
review the temporary suspension in the deployment of new
Filipino workers to Israel and Gaza if the ceasefire in that country
continues to hold.
 The DFA made the announcement in reply to the remarks of
Israeli Ambassador Menashe Bar-on on the Philippine’s decision
to temporarily ban the deployment of Filipino workers to Israel.
XVI. WEATHER
 A typhoon with the international name "Bopha" is moving towards
Mindanao and is expected to enter the Philippine Area of
Responsibility (PAR) early Monday morning, according to the
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services
Administration (PAGASA). It will be named "Pablo" once it enters
PAR.
 PAGASA earlier said that the typhoon is much stronger than
tropical storm “Sendong”, which caused massive devastation in
Mindanao December last year. Disaster managers have been
advised by PAGASA to be on alert for possible effects of the
incoming weather disturbance.
(ECONOMY)
I. SDA FUNDS
 Funds parked at the central bank’s special deposit accounts
(SDA) reached their lowest level in seven months last October,
data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed.
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 SDA deposits totaled P1.653 trillion as of Oct. 31, down 13.61
percent from its peak of P1.878 trillion a month earlier. This was
also the lowest level since March when funds in the facility
reached P1.645 trillion.
II. STRENGTH OF PHILIPPINE BANKS
 In its recent report titled “All You Need to Know About Asian
Banking Sector", the Bank of America-Merrill Lynch (BOFA-ML)
said that the Philippine banks remain in a healthy position – with
high capital base and steady loan and deposit growth – to
continuously support a growing economy.
III. DOE’s ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROJECT
 The Department of Energy (DOE) has partnered with the private
sector, local government units and power distributors for the $45million Philippine Energy Efficiency Project (PEEP) in off-grid
communities.
IV. OIL EXPLORATION WORKS IN CEBU
 Australian upstream oil firm Gas2Grid Ltd. will conduct
exploration works on three prospects in onshore Cebu Island until
early next year.
 The company said that a successful work program will allow them
to fuel a natural gas power plant.
V. IT TOOLS IN BANKING
 Philippine banks should intensify efforts to improve their services
to high net worth (HNW) clients using digital media
communication tools, according to a study jointly conducted by
Standard Chartered Private Bank, SEIC and Scorpio Partnership.
 The study noted that the world’s wealthiest are much more likely
to use the Internet, mobile applications and other digital media
communication tools to create, manage, spend and invest their
money.
VI. FLUOR CORP’s INVESTMENT PROSPECTS
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 Fluor Corp., a firm engaged in engineering and construction
management, is looking to participate in more projects in the
country, particularly in the areas of power, oil and gas and mining,
in line with its goal of growing its business in the Philippines.
(END)
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