Peace Update: PHL gov't & MILF struggled to convince sceptics within their ranks on why they should engage in peace talks while clashes occur

Earlier reports from Basilan island said 20 people were killed when soldiers clashed with the MILF on Tuesday, with each side accusing the other of breaking a seven-year truce.

Now, the Philippine military has told Radio Australia's Asia Pacific program, that the military was pursuing a bandit group under a local commander, Long Malat, who was not linked to the MILF or the militant Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG)

Western Mindanao Command spokesman, Lieutenant-Colonel Randolph Cabangbang, said ten soldiers were missing after the clash, and the military is pusuing the bandit group who are believed to have taken them hostage.

He insisted Tuesday's clash has not jeopardised the peace process.

"What we were operating against yesterday was a bandit group, not linked to the ASG and not linked to the MILF.

"But since the encounter took nine hours, we saw that some members of the ASG and some members of the MILF participated in the encounter. That is why I believe that the MILF also suffered some casualties." he said."
Australia Network News:Stories:Philippines peace process intact after armed clashes: "Asian Foundation's Steven Rodd told Connect Asia that peace talks were stalled in April but are likely to resume shortly.

But strains on both sides could increase if clashes between troops and rebels continue once new peace talks begin.

Both the government and the MILF have struggled to convince sceptics within their ranks on why they should engage in peace talks while clashes occur.

The Abu Sayyaf is a bandit group involved in terror and kidnapping activities in Basilan and another southern province - Sulu - while the MILF is involved in current peace talks with the government.
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Wellness in Arts & Environment: 13yr old Filipino artist Trisha Co Reyes won top prize in UN painting contest on environment

The awarding was held at the Tunza International Children and Youth Conference on the Environment in Bandung, Indonesia last month."

In a simple ceremony at the DENR Central Office in Quezon City, DENR Secretary Ramon Paje also handed Reyes a plaque of recognition for obtaining the top prize in the International Children’s Painting Competition on Environment organized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) also presented Reyes with a four-year college scholarship in any DENR-endorsed college or university, which include tuition and other school fees for the regular semesters and summer courses; monthly stipend of P3,000; book and school supplies allowance of P1,500 per semester; and P700 per summer course; and thesis or research allowance not exceeding P10,000.

DENR scholarship grant for children of non-DENR personnel is given to deserving high school students, as provided for under DENR Administrative Order 06.

Filipino painter wins top UN prize | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online: "
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DOST Update: Technology designed to enhance access to healthcare in remote villages as answer to problem of ‘doctorless’ municipalities

The National TeleHealth Initiative will use wireless technology to enhance access of rural patients to health experts in different cities. An “RxBox” will be stationed in health centres in local government units (LGU) where real-time remote monitoring of health signals can be done by experts stationed at the Emergency Case and Coordination Center.

Critical cases can be monitored in real time even in hospitals outside the reach of wired network structures. The RxBox can also be stationed in any rural health centre with an attending physician, as well as in selected Multipurpose Community Telecentre sites.

The technology also aims to empower the aid-dependent local communities to become self-reliant integrated societies responsible for their own health security."
The Philippines to implement nationwide TeleHealth initiative | Articles | FutureGov - Transforming Government | Education | Healthcare: "
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PHL Peace Update: "Peace entails winning the hearts and minds of the aggrieved and afflicted while retaining the allegiance of the rest.”

Philippine Development Plan for 2010-2016 now contains a chapter on peace, in which it is declared that “promotion of the peace process shall be the centerpiece of the internal security program.” The Plan notes that “peace is not just the absence of war or conflict,” but rather also “entails winning the hearts and minds of the aggrieved and afflicted while retaining the allegiance of the rest.”"
Going beyond ‘peace’ | Inquirer Opinion: "
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Wellness in Culture: "Juan' Time urged to observe in Iligan City PHL

Iligan City councilors here are supporting the resolution endorsed by fellow legislator Councilor Michelle Sweet urging all local and national offices to base their watches on Philippine Standard Time (PST). This is in consonance with the campaign of the Department of Science and Technology (Dost) called "Juan" Time that aims to synchronize the time in the country.

The move also hopes to erase the negative comment that Filipinos do not come on time in appointments/events, which is also known as Filipino Time.

Sweet observed that radio stations have different time and even different departments of City Hall and other establishments.

PST is the official time from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration or Pagasa since 1978 in accordance with a law. (PR)"
Iligan City councilors back resolution urging offices, establishments to observe ‘Juan Time’ | Sun.Star: "
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PHL Workers Update: DoLE prepared Emergency Employment Program for Residents & Agriculture Workers hardest-hit by typhoons “Pedring” and “Quiel.”

Region 1 office of the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) has prepared a P4-million emergency employment program for residents of the most adversely-affected areas of typhoons “Pedring” and “Quiel.” DoLE Region I Director Henry John Jalbuena said Tuesday that Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz approved the release of the fund as emergency assistance to agriculture workers in hardest-hit municipalities of the region.

He said the assistance will provide immediate relief to workers whose source of income has been impaired as a result of the successive typhoons which ravaged Northern Luzon this September and October. “While the agriculture industry is recovering from its losses, the DoLE will provide emergency employment to the affected workers in small infrastructure projects,” he added. The DoLE-Regional Office identified 17 cities and municipalities in Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan as recipients under the program."
DoLE prepares P4-M emergency employment | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online: "
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Wellness in Economics: DTI's "One Town, One Product (OTOP) program" created 444,709 jobs from 2005 to 2010

During the opening ceremony, Undersecretary Merly Cruz of the DTI-Regional Operations and Development Group said that the OTOP program has set its sights on generating two million jobs by 2016. She told local executives, entrepreneurs and expo participants that this and other OTOP goals can be achieved by enabling the growth of ‘progressive municipalities’ that have local economies generating their own products and services.

The program has so far created 444,709 jobs from 2005 to 2010 a substantial figure that the DTI wants to more than triple under the present administration. President Aquino has given his nod to continue the OTOP program as a flagship government undertaking to expand the trade of products highlighting the distinct culture and tradition of the different provinces, cities and municipalities."
DTI launches 2nd OTOP program | The Manila BulletinThe OTOP program has surpassed almost all its performance indicators from 2005 to 2010. The DTI reported at the expo that OTOP during this period generated investments worth 11.197 billion pesos (50 percent above the program's target); 16.558 billion pesos in domestic sales (over by 34 percent); exports of $677.2 million (over by 30 percent); and, assisted in the development of 45,820 micro, small and medium entrepreneurs or MSMEs (over by 71 percent). Newspaper Online: "
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