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'Yolanda' could be a norm for the Philippines in near future, Salceda warns

By: Philippine News Agency
April 8, 2014 6:04 AM
InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5
LEGAZPI CITY -- The onset of the rainy season and the typhoons that come with it have understandably elicited apprehension among many Filipinos who fear another supertyphoon Yolanda (Haiyan) may visit them.
No less that Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, co-chairman of the United Nations Green Climate Fund (GCF) for Southeast Asia and the developing countries, has warned that “Yolanda" may no longer be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but “could be the norm for the Philippines in the near future.”
Salceda, however, said poor nations which are particularly exposed and vulnerable to debilitating weather extremes, could wield the Green Climate Fund as a weapon against the worsening climate impacts.
Salceda said the “Summary for Policymakers,” which was recently approved by the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group II (on Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerably), paints a very grim picture for developing countries like the Philippines which are particularly vulnerable to extreme weather events.
The Summary for Policymakers, drafted March 25 to 29 during the 10th session of Working Group II (WGII-10) in Yokohama, Japan, underlines the need for climate change adaptation, and the need to “act NOW” on the problem.
“It is this urgency for action that I am pushing for, as co-chair of the GCF Board,” Salceda said in a recent interview. The IPCC WG II assesses the vulnerability of socio-economic and natural systems to climate change, the negative and positive consequences of climate change, adaptation options, as well as the inter-relationship among vulnerability, adaptation and sustainable development.
Salceda presided over the GCF meeting in Bali, Indonesia in February, where the need for immediate operationalization of the Fund was discussed, and how to expedite collection of the amounts pledged by developed countries deemed to have contributed much to the exacerbation of climate change. The Bali meeting also explored options to assure balanced allocation for climate change mitigation and adaptation for developing countries.
“We are working for the full and expeditious operationalization of the GCF this year, with an initial resource mobilization to reach a "very significant scale" as decided by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC),” he assured, adding that the GCF Board has in fact sought an informal dialogue soon in Washington D.C. “to help us move forward”.
The IPCC WGII report, he said, has also validated Albay’s disaster risk management and climate change adaptation which he hopes will be replicated throughout the whole country.
Based on the GCF Bali meeting report, Salceda said the recently concluded UN Climate Change Conference or COP19 in Warsaw took a decision to provide additional guidance to the GCF, stressing the need for its full operationalization immediately.
The Philippines, he added, coordinated and negotiated in behalf of the G77 for this decision and other financial decisions taken in Warsaw.

Noli admits 'special program' for Globe Asiatique

by Willard Cheng, ABS-CBN News
Posted at 04/08/2014 9:20 PM | Updated as of 04/08/2014 9:20 PM

But former VP denies special treatment for real estate developer

MANILA - Former Vice President Noli de Castro won't call it "special treatment" but a "special program" to describe the arrangement between Pag-IBIG Fund and Globe Asiatique Realty Holdings Corp. that granted the real estate developer a P5 billion credit commitment line for "township" projects in Pampanga.
As chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) during the previous administration, de Castro also served as chair of the PAG-IBIG Fund.
“Ayaw ko pong tawaging special treatment but this is a special program. And it is under the regular program,” de Castro told the Senate committee on urban planning, housing, and resettlement that reopened an investigation on the housing mess.
De Castro is an anchor of ABS-CBN News' flagship program "TV Patrol."
Senators questioned a July 2009 memorandum of agreement signed by then Pag-IBIG CEO Jaime FabiaƱa and Globe Asiatique Realty Holdings Corporation's president Delfin Lee.
It granted Globe Asiatique a P5 billion funding commitment line over a period of three years as compared to a maximum of P500 million being granted to other developers.
“The only difference, ang pagkakaiba lamang po ay 5 billion pesos ang involved na pera. Pero ipautang ho na initial line na 500 million pesos at pag naubos mo ang 500 million pesos, kinakailangan ang performing accounts ratio mo ay 95 percent. So dapat ang 95% na yun ay pinangangalagaan po ng PAG-IBIG, nasisigurado nila na ang 95% ay talagang totoo bago ka pauntangin ulit ng PAG-IBIG,” said De.
“So wala hong special dito, walang special treatment, only special program dahil ang project po ay township. May simbahan, may munisipyo, may high school, may palengke, may plaza. So ito ho ang pangarap naming development ng mga developers sapagkat naniniwala po kami, ‘yung epekto ng malaking na project na ganito lalong lalo na sa mga manggagawa so ito po ay binigyan namin ng conditions and warranties.”
One condition set was a 5-year buyback guarantee, which meant that the developer commits to buy back the accounts of member-borrowers who defaulted on their loan.
It appeared that Globe Asiatique was the only developer given this privilege since other developers are only given 2 years.
This prompted Senator Koko Pimentel to note Globe Asiatique’s “asymmetric” relationship with Pag-IBIG.
“Ilan itong ganito? How many developers do you have this…. asymmetric relationship kasi ibig sabihin noon iba ang relationship ninyo sa kanila? Ilan ang developers na ganito?” Pimentel asked current Pag-IBIG President and CEO Darlene Berberabe.
“Iisa lamang po, kay Globe Asiatique lamang po,” Berberabe said, confirming the "special" nature of the "arrangement" given to Globe Asiatique.
“Bakit special, paano naiiba ‘yung 2009 na arrangement with the Globe Asiatique? ‘Yun pong ibang Window 1 [developers], mayroon silang buy-back period na two years. Sa Globe Asiaqtiue under the MOA, naging 5 years,” Berberabe said.
“‘Yung Window 1 po, ‘yung other developers under the Window 1, ‘yung membership verification na ginagawa ng Pag-IBIG Fund, is before take-out, sa other working group po under the Globe Asiatique agreement, it’s also post. Ibig sabihin sige, mamaya pagkatapos ko na ulit iche-check kung member ba namin, ‘yung capacity to pay ay okay. Pati po ang ITR and then income affidavit ay post din.”
Berberabe told the committee that the arrangements spelled out under MOA is specific only to Globe Asiatique.
“’Yun pong specific na MOA na ito, ito po kasin kasama sa complaint, sa Globe Asiatique, may specific arrangement po at bukod tangi lang po na Globe Asiatique lang ang may ganoon,” she said.
“’Yun pong memorandum of agreement na mayroong funding commitment line na P5 billion. So parang ginagarantiya ng PAG-IBIG na open ang linya up to P5 billion. ‘Yung iba po kasi may limit na P500 million. So dito po ang features po ng arrangement with Globe Asiatique na espesyal sa kanila, ginawa pong regular program na ang beneficiary ay other working groups. Dati po kasi, ang mga formally employed, nasa formal sector po ‘yung borrowers ng Pag-IBIG fund.”
Berberabe was referring to Pag-IBIG members who are not formally employed, a group categorized under the label “other working group.”
“First time po siya na inapprove ng board na mayroon tayong housing projects that will cater to the other working group, ibig sabihin members from the transport sector, ‘yung mga self employed, may mga sari-sari store, ‘yung mga hindi po makakapagbigay ng employer’s certificate.”
DUE DILIGENCE
Committee chair Sen. JV Ejercito pointed out that Delfin Lee admitted during a Senate inquiry during the last Congress that it was Globe Asiatique that paid the advance for their buyers in order to keep a high performing accounts ratio.
Ejericto asked de Castro if Pag-IBIG conducted a background check or exercised due diligence before providing Globe Asiatique with funds.
De Castro said the agency exercised due diligence.
“May ginawa ba ang ahensya, ang Pag-IBIG noong mga panahon na ‘yun ng background check sa Globe Asiatique, sa mga binubuo nito bago pumasok sa malaklaking transaction na umabot ng ilang bilyon? Nagkaroon ba ng kumabaga due diligence bago sila pinahiram?” Ejercito asked.
“Opo, nagsagawa po ng due diligence at ‘yan lagi ho ang ginagawa ng management ng Pag-IBIG. Bago sila humarap sa board sapagkat marami hong tanong syempre ang board. Normally ang mga members ng board makukulit ho yan. So kung wala kag due diligence, mapapahiya ka sa members ng oard. So ako ay naniniwala na every time humaharap angmanagement sa board ng Pag-IBIG, may due diligence sila sa kanilang gustong mangyari at yun naman hong information na nakukuha namin sa kanila, ang sagot nila sa members of the board, yan ang pinagbabatayan namin kung ia-approve o hindi ang isang program.”
CRY FOR JUSTICE
Meantime, complaints continue to cry for justice, like 44-year-old Evelyn Niebres who bought a property from GA’s Xevera project in Mabalacat, only to find out that the title was named to another person.
Niebres told the committee that she paid for the property in cash. She earns a living by selling barbeque and halo-halo.
Mary Ann Nocum, 32, said she spent her earnings from abroad to buy a GA unit and planned to surprise her family. She said she ended up being surprised when she found out that she should not immediately have the unit’s title.
Josephine Cedo and Juliet Paguibulan said they were offered P1,500 by GA personnel and were asked to sign loan application forms for Pag-IBIG but said they never intended to buy a house.
GA’s legal counsel Willie Rivera denied the accusation.
“Hindi po totoo yun because the higher management would never do that kasi ginawa mo na lahat ng 9,000 or 8,000 house and lot at may mga titulo na yan. Would you do that? Are you going to risk your project? No,” Rivera told reporters.
He said title of properties would be given to buyers once loans are fully paid.
'THERE WAS SPECIAL TREATMENT'

Power Pinoys beat Mongolia, open Asian volley bid on high note

By Joey Villar (philstar.com) | Updated April 8, 2014 - 5:57pm
 4  3 googleplus1  0 
Games Wednesday:
(MOA Arena)
12 nn – Iran vs Japan
 2 p.m. – Oman vs Hong Kong
 4 p.m. – Turkmenistan vs Kazakhstan
(Cuneta Astrodome)
Sportshub ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
4 p.m. – China vs Taipei
6 p.m. –- UAE vs Papua New Guinea
MANILA, Philippines – The loudest cheers came when popular actor Richard Gomez checked in late in the second set. It almost turned into a death knell for the Philippines' PLDT Home TVolution.
With the exception of that forgettable second set stretch when the Mongolians almost turned things around, the Power Pinoys dominated their visiting foes with an emphatic 25-13, 25-23, 25-16 victory to jumpstart their ambitious bid in the Asian Men's Volleyball Club Championship presented by PLDT Home Fibr Tuesday.
Cheered on by a decent-sized crowd at the MOA Arena where Filipino fans witnessed the biggest ever international men's volleyball the country hosted, the Nationals didn't disappoint after displaying an aggressive attacking brand of play centered on Australian imports Cedric LeGrand and William Lewis.
Lewis provided the excellent setting with some extra service aces to boot while the crisp-hitting LeGrand, a member of the 2008 Australian indoor team who emerged the Most Valuable Player in the Victorian Premier League, unleashed entertaining power spikes and finished with a match-high 18 hits, 17 of which coming off attacks.
It left Mongolia, which is not really known for its volleyball, scampering for those LeGrand kills and eventually to its first loss in this tournament  backed by Mikasa, Healthway Medical, Maynilad, Gerflor Spurway, Senoh Equipment, STI, PSC, Makati Mayor Junjun Binay, Pasay City Mayor Antonino Calixto and MMDA Chairman lawyer Francis Tolentino.
After handily taking care of business in the opening set and zooming to another fast, 22-13 start in the second, Phl coach Francis Vicente sent in the 47-year-old Gomez, who served his fourth tour of duty with the national team being a former national fencer, shooter and rowing, that elicited loud cheers from the crowd.
It didn't last long as Mongolia pounced on the spot where Gomez stood and strung together seven of the last eight points as it clawed its way back and cut its once insurmountable deficit to just 23-20.
When Kheeno Franco was reinserted into the game for Gomez, Mongolia kept the momentum and the pressure as it closed the gap even further, 23-24, before skipper Ariunbayar Munkhbayar's faulty service allowed the Filipinos to escape with the second set win.
And then it was a LeGrand and Lewis show all over again.
"Cedric (LeGrand) was very impressive, he kept his promise of playing hard and helping Phl volleyball win this tournament. William (Lewis) too," said Vicente.
Abdilla provided the needed hand as he contributed 12 hits including 11 on spikes with Peter Torres, the former UAAP MVP from National U who was inserted into the team line up in the last minute, chipped in five of his own.
The win pushed the Power Pinoys half a step closer to quarters and another triumph Thursday against Iraq will clinch a sweep of Group A while catapulting it straight to the next round.
Vicente pointed to their speed as the main key.
"Speed was the main factor that carried us in this game. We're not that tall, but we have the speed that's why it was hard for our opponents to beat us. We used our speed to our advantage and it rewarded us with this victory," he said.
All games by the Philippine Team, also known as the Power Pinoys or the PLDT Home TVolution team, will be televised live on TV5, the official broadcast partner of the AMCC. The tournament also has Magic 89.9, Wave 89.1, Jam 88.3, Play 99.5 and KLite 103.5 as radio partners.

Palace: No signs yet of 'Catholic revolt'

By Louis Bacani (philstar.com) | Updated April 8, 2014 - 3:46pm
MANILA, Philippines - MalacaƱang cannot yet say if there would be a conflict between the Aquino administration and the Catholic Church after the Supreme Court (SC) declared most parts of the Reproductive Health (RH) Law as constitutional.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said so far, there are also no indications that a "Catholic revolt" would take place following the SC decision on the controversial birth control measure opposed by religious groups.
"[W]hether there would be a Catholic revolt should it be true that the Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of the Responsible Parenthood Law is something that remains to be seen," Valte said at a televised press briefing on Tuesday.
In his newspaper column on Monday, former Sen. Francisco Tatad raised questions if the government would risk a "Catholic revolt" if the RH Law is declared legal.
Religous groups have been among the staunchest opponents of the Republic Act 10354 or the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012. They claim that it is an anti-life measure since it promotes the use of contraceptives for the artificial family planning method.
On Tuesday, the SC ruled that Republic Act 10354 or the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 was "not unconstitutional" except for parts of Section 7, 17 and 23.
Headlines ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
Section 7, a provision on access to family planning, states that "all accredited public health facilities shall provide a full range of modern family planning methods, which shall also include medical consultations, supplies and necessary and reasonable procedures for poor and marginalized couples having infertility issues who desire to have children."
While Valte decline to comment on the SC decision since she has yet to read it, the Palace official nonetheless said Section 7 is not the only provision on access to family planning.
Valte also assured that the government is prepared to implement the controversial measure.
"We have been ready from the day it has been signed by the President," Valte said.
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South Korea's Award-Winning Endangered Species Research Center


Seoul, Korea-based Samoo Architects & Engineers (SAMOO) recently proposed a design for the National Research Center for Endangered Species that will be constructed in Yeongyang-gun, one of the cleanest environmental areas in Korea. In the winning design, the firm proposed a three-part structure that will blend harmoniously within the surrounding environment while functioning as a central point for research regarding rare plants and animals in the country.
The center features three main sections: The Core Zone hosts the visitors' area, offices, and a quarantine space. The Refresh Zone will contain guest houses and housing for the researchers. And, finally, the main Research Zone is a modular design that will house a combination of indoor/outdoor breeding farms and research facilities, and can be expanded upon as research grows and more space is required.

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