The Philippines is hosting two Association of Southeast Asian Nations conferences in Mactan, Cebu on November 12 to 16. These are the 13th ASEAN Telecommunications and Information Technology Senior Officials Meeting (Telsom) and the 12th ASEAN Telecommunications and IT Ministers Meeting (Telmin). The Department of Science and Technology-Information and Communications Technology Office (DoST-ICTO) is organizing the two events, with DoST Secretary Mario Go. Montejo as chairman of Telmin. Aside from the 10 ASEAN members, also coming for the two events are officials from the regional group's dialogue partners, such as China, India, Japan, Korea, the European Union (EU) and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

PH Hosts ASEAN ICT Conferences | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online: "Leading the country's senior officials' delegation is Undersecretary Louis Napoleon C. Casambre, ICTO executive director.

"We are looking forward to hosting this very important gathering and exchanging ideas with our ASEAN counterparts, as well as exploring new avenues of cooperation with our dialogue partners. The Philippines is looking at playing a more active role in ICT development in the ASEAN region, particularly in the areas of ICT infrastructure and people empowerment," Casambre said.

Delegates will be tackling "the region’s progress in ICT relative to the ASEAN ICT Masterplan (AIM) and map out policy directions for ASEAN’s ICT initiatives for the coming year," the DoST-ICTO said."

'via Blog this'

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has embarked on an information drive to explain to its members the framework peace agreement it signed with the Aquino administration last month. The MILF emphasized the need to explain the framework agreement so its members could better understand the provisions of the pact signed last Oct. 15 at Malacañang.

MILF explains peace framework to members - The Philippine Star » News » Headlines: "At least six groups have been formed to bring the information campaign to thousands of MILF members in Mindanao, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and Palawan.

Mohammad Muntassir, head of MILF’s Da’wah Department, said the six groups were assigned to their respective areas of coverage namely Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Basilan, Zamboanga peninsula, Lanao, Davao, Maguindanao-Cotabato area, and South Cotabato."

'via Blog this'

The Mindanao Banana Congress this week aims to set a development roadmap for the Philippine banana industry The Philippine industry will hold the inaugural Mindanao Banana Congress later this week, which aims to set a roadmap for an industry still struggling with the fallout of the Chinese trade dispute begun earlier this year. Around 500 delegates are expected at the conference, which will be held in Davao City on 7-8 November. The event is being organised by the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc (PhilExport), with support from the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Some of the topics up for discussion at the conference include linkages between buyers and suppliers, government support programmes, industry growth and development, as well disease issues, traceability and phytosanitary standards, reported the Manila Bulletin.

Mindanao event opens banana discussion - Fruitnet.com  |  The Global Fresh Produce Portal: "“This is an event that shows how important convergence is between the government and private sector especially in achieving industry growth and development,” said DTI’s regional director Marizon S Loreto.
The development of new export markets for Philippine bananas is also high on the agenda for the country’s industry, and Loreto said the government had been looking at opportunities in Russia, Scandinavia, Canada, the Middle East and other ASEAN countries."

'via Blog this'

The Philippines must pass a law increasing the excise levy on liquor and tobacco, or sin tax, to meet its goal of winning an investment-grade rating in four years, Tax Commissioner Kim Henares said. “This is one of two measures that the three major rating agencies have identified as important,” Henares said in an interview in Bloomberg’s Manila office yesterday. “We want to correct a defective system that will increase our revenue and use the funds for health care. Once passed, we think the measure will trigger rating upgrades and positive outlook.”

Philippines Needs to Boost Sin Tax to Win Ratings Upgrade - Businessweek: "Standard & Poor’s raised the nation’s credit rating twice in the past two years, bringing it to one level below investment grade in July, citing a reduced debt burden and improved public finances. The bill that seeks to boost annual collections by at least 60.6 billion pesos ($1.46 billion) and introduce an inflation-adjustment mechanism will test the resolve of President Benigno Aquino, a smoker himself, to battle some of the country’s biggest companies."

'via Blog this'

Wellness in Education Update: The Philippines and Spain have signed five agreements aimed at boosting the two countries’ relations in sports, culture, and education, the Department of Foreign Affairs announced Thursday. The agreements were the results of the first meeting of the Philippines-Spain Joint Standing Committee (JSC) held in Manila on October 23, the DFA said in a statement. “They welcomed the signing of several agreements pertaining to the promotion of the Spanish language and culture in the Philippines, on the mutual recognition of higher education studies and academic degrees, and on sports cooperation,” it said. It noted that among the agreements signed were: Agreement of Collaboration on the Mutual Recognition of Higher Education Studies and Academic Programs between the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) of the Philippines and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports of Spain; Memorandum of Understanding for the Improvement and Promotion of Spanish Language and Culture Teaching between the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport, the Cervantes Institute, and the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation for Development; Sports Cooperation Programme between the Philippine Sports Commission and the High Council for Sport of Spain; Agreement of Collaboration between the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport of the Kingdom of Spain, the Cervantes Institute, the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation for Development; and Agreement of Collaboration between the Philippine Normal University (PNU) and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport of Spain, the Cervantes Institute, the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation for Development for the development of the promotion, teaching and learning of the Spanish language in the Philippines

"The Philippine delegation was headed by Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for European Affairs Elizabeth Buensuceso and other senior officials from the Department of Education , National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Commission on Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Philippine Normal University, National Museum, National Archives, Philippine Sports Commission, and the Information and Communications Technology Office.
The Spanish delegation was led by  Miren Itziar Taboada, director for Cultural and Scientific Relations of the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation and Development of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation."

'via Blog this'Philippines, Spain ink 5 agreements | Inquirer Global Nation:

Wellness in Environment Update: The Philippine government has put 158 caves under the protection of the environment department to safeguard them from treasure-hunters, vandals and looters, it was announced on Saturday. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources said the caves, which are scattered across the country, would be protected both by the department and local governments. Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said caves were a valuable natural resource for their scientific, historical and cultural value. "Yet they are also in constant threat from destructive human activities like vandalism, treasure hunting, pollution and illegal extraction of resources," he said in a statement.

AFP: Philippines puts 158 caves under protection: "Many caves in the Philippines have been illegally excavated by people searching for treasure, valuable minerals, artefacts to be sold as antiques or even stalagmites and stalactites which are sold as decorations.Under the order, 118 caves have been classified as being closed to the general public because they are too dangerous or contain valuable geological formations, threatened species or historical artefacts.Such caves will be accessible only by scientists, researchers or trained spelunkers, the department said.Another 40 caves were listed as "generally safe," and remain open to the general public to visit or for activities such as collecting guano and bird's nests for soup, the department added.
The department's wildlife protection bureau has counted at least 1,756 caves scattered across the Southeast Asian archipelago but only a small number have been checked and classified by authorities.
Copyright © 2012 AFP. All rights reserved."

'via Blog this'