Wellness in Environment: Clean Air Month: PHL Local chief executives encouraged to issue resolutions or enact ordinances on air pollution control

November has been declared as the Clean Air Month through Presidential Proclamation No. 1101 issued in 1997. This brings to fore the issues and concerns and the solutions to the growing problem of air pollution in the country today, especially in the urban cities. Clean Air Month comes in a most opportune time as it provides the chance to strengthen advocacies particularly on the adjustment of fuel quality specifications on aromatics and benzene, on the mandatory emission testing prior to registration of vehicles, among others. The month-long celebration serves as a springboard for it is celebrated in the light of decision to be made on adjustment of fuel quality specifications on aromatics and benzene and issues of transport groups in the mandatory emission testing prior to registration, among others, which also served as springboard for a more intensive campaign against air pollution."

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Peace Update: P31-million for community development to finance projects that will enable former insurgents return to society

Undersecretary Luisito Montalbo, of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) said the P31 million allotted by the government to the largely Central Philippines' based Marxist-Leninist Revolutionary Proletarian Army (RPA) and the Alex Boncayao-Brigade (ABB), is not intended as a direct pay-out to rebels to lay down their arms, but rather intended to finance projects that will enable former insurgents return to society. Montalbo also clarified the project was not initiated during the current administration of President Benigno Aquino III, but was a hold over programme initiated during the presidency of Joseph Estrada in 2000.
"OPAPP is very transparent in its disbursement of funds. The PAMANA website clearly states that the P 31-million is for community development and livelihood projects for three peace and development community sites in Negros Island where there are members of the RPA-ABB," he said."
gulfnews : Funds allotted to Philippines communist group 'not payout': "
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Wellness in Arts: "DiplomART" Cultural Diplomacy through Philippine Visual Arts

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoU) with the Metrobank Foundation, Inc. (MBFI) launching a program dubbed DiplomART: Cultural Diplomacy through Philippine Visual Arts.

Art as ambassador | BusinessWorld Online Edition: "Under the MoU, MBFI will be lending pieces from its art collection -- winning entries to the Metrobank Art and Design Excellence (MADE) competition -- to Philippine embassies and diplomatic residences in other countries. The program will prioritize Beijing, China, a potentially huge market, and eventually cover the rest of the world."

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Peace Update: "Ceasefire Mechanism still in place to prevent violence between MILF & PHL gov't"

"Military spokesman Colonel Arnulfo Burgos said that despite the MILF's fears, a ceasefire mechanism was still in place that would prevent violence between the two sides. He also said upcoming informal talks between the MILF and the government in early-November would hopefully ease the tensions. "We will wait for the feedback from what happens in the peace talks in November," Burgos said. The 12,000-strong MILF are engaged in peace talks with the government and have a ceasefire in place. However the recent violent clashes have stoked popular anger against the rebel group, with growing calls for an "all-out war" against the rebels. Philippine President Benigno Aquino has said he remained committed to the peace process despite the recent violence."
AFP: Philippine Muslim rebels ready 'to fight' if attacked:
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Peace Update: Vietnam & PHL agree for a peaceful and multilateral approach to settle territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said Vietnam expressed support for the Philippine proposal for a zone of peace, freedom, friendship, and cooperation in the West Philippine Sea.

"I think what we committed to do was we embraced the approach of, one, is looking for a peaceful resolution; two, is we want to pursue a rules-based regime; third is we want to do this on a multilateral basis; and fourth is we want to observe the DOC [Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea] and we also are looking for incorporating the Zone of Peace, Freedom, Friendship and Cooperation (ZOPFFC) framework that the Philippines had introduced so that it can further strengthen the implementing guidelines of the DOC," said del Rosario.

Vietnam also clarified during the bilateral meeting that the recently signed agreement between China and Vietnam for bilateral negotiations on the South China Sea only concerns areas not contested by the Philippines."
Vietnam, PH agree on $3B trade by 2016 | ABS-CBN News | Latest Philippine Headlines, Breaking News, Video, Analysis, Features: "
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Peace Update: “... launching attacks to avenge the death of soldiers could put the lives of innocent civilians in danger...war is not the answer"

Palace: No AFP demoralization - The Philippine Star » News » Headlines: "AFP spokesman Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr. said that while they grieve for their comrades who died during the recent clashes, they cannot allow their emotions to overwhelm them.

“We know that people are commiserating with members of the AFP. Their emotions are high. On our part, we feel that way, we are also humans but the answer is not through offensive, that we have to use the barrel of the gun to solve this,” Burgos told dzBB.

“We have to think of this carefully and we have persons in authority who know this better,” he added.

Burgos said launching attacks to avenge the death of soldiers could put the lives of innocent civilians in danger.

“If you want retaliation, we can retaliate but let’s see the casualties not only on the part of the armed forces and the other side but also to the Filipino people. The civilians in the area, the people who will be displaced, we have to study that, we have to consider those factors,” he said, stressing that the military continues to support peaceful ways to resolve the conflict with the MILF."

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Peace Update:PHL has good advantage in agriculture, good opportunity to get partners in business & show what we have & also learn from others-Li Daqiu

A high-ranking Chinese official said yesterday the Philippines has a “very good advantage” in agriculture after a Philippine government official invited Chinese officers and scientists to come and visit the Philippines for cooperation in agricultural technology.

Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya met with Li Daqiu, vice chairman of the Guangxi Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

The 8th China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) is being held in this city, capital of south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. It is co-sponsored by the ministries of commerce/trade and industry of China, the 10 ASEAN member states and the ASEAN Secretariat.

The trade exposition is being held concurrently with the 8th China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit.

During the meeting, Li noted that both countries could further discuss cooperation agriculture and tourism."
Phl has good advantage in agriculture, says Chinese exec - The Philippine Star » News » Headlines: "
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