Philippines Protested for Chinas’ New Sansha City in the International Waters of West Philippines Sea

The Philippines on July 7, 2012 protested China's move placing virtually the entire West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), including the Philippine territory of Macclesfield Bank and its surrounding waters, under the jurisdiction of a newly created city.

Manila's protest came as the latest sour turn in relations between the Philippines and China, which have yet to find a temporary solution to their dispute over Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal), a resource-rich reef in the West Philippine Sea just west of Zambales province.

Also on the following day, President Aquino urged the Chinese authorities to "balance their statements with the truth" in response to their accusation that he was trying to stir tension in the West Philippine Sea by asking for US help in monitoring the disputed waters.

Aquino convened his Cabinet—the second time in a week under an administration that rarely holds full Cabinet meetings—to discuss territorial issues with China and hear views on dealing with the country's increasingly aggressive neighbor.

Strongest statement to China

The President issued his strongest statement yet since he threatened last week to send government vessels back to Panatag Shoal unless China called its ships and fishing boats home.

"It's not clear with me what the provocative statements that have been said to have come from Philippine officials, but we know there are many things being said from the other side," Aquino told reporters in Malacañang.

"They should read what has been written from their end and, with all due respect, perhaps they should balance what they are saying with the truth," he said.

"It has been almost three weeks since our Coast Guard vessel pulled out of [Panatag Shoal]. If [China's] vessels … have also gone home, there's already no more issue," the President said. "So who could be the one prolonging this [dispute over] Panatag Shoal?"

Asked when he would order government vessels back to Panatag Shoal, Aquino said, "That will be, of course, dependent on the weather."

Macclesfield Bank is a huge underwater group of reefs and shoals located east of the Paracel Islands, southwest of the Pratas Islands and north of the Spratly Islands in the center of the West Philippine Sea. 

Macclesfield Bankis beyond 200 Nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone of Vietnam and China and located in the center of the West Philippine Sea.

The Philippines claims Macclesfield Bank and administers it through the provincial government of Zambales. It is one of the largest atolls in the world, covering an area of 6,500 square kilometers, and is surrounded by excellent fishing waters.

Policy of de-escalation

China's Ministry of Civil Affairs said in June that putting Macclesfield Bank, the Paracels and the Spratlys under Sansha would "further strengthen China's administration and development" of the three island groups.

There was no immediate comment from the Chinese Embassy in Manila on the Philippines' Macclesfield protest.

The Philippines on June 15 stepped back from a two-month maritime standoff with China at the shoal and had since imposed a policy of deescalation.

But on July 2, 2012, President Aquino said the government might ask the United States to deploy spy planes over the West Philippine Sea to help monitor the disputed waters.

And on Wednesday, after weeks of inaction, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) protested China's latest move that impinged on Philippine sovereignty over its parts of the West Philippine Sea.

Diplomatic protest

In a statement issued Thursday, the DFA said it summoned Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Ma Keqing on Wednesday and handed her a note protesting China's recent declaration that placed Macclesfield Bank under the prefectural oversight of newly established Sansha City.

In June, China's State Council declared Macclesfield Bank, Paracel Islands and Spratly Islands—known in Chinese as Zhongsha Islands, Xisha Islands and Nansha Islands—parts of Sansha City, to tighten its grip on contested parts of the West Philippine Sea amid territorial disputes with the Philippines and Vietnam.

The DFA said the extent of Sansha's jurisdiction "violates Philippine sovereignty over the Kalayaan Group of Islands and Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal)."

China's move also "infringes on Philippine sovereign rights over the waters and the continental shelf of the West Philippine Sea," the DFA said.

The expansive jurisdiction of Sansha, the DFA said, "contradicts the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" between China and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)." The Asean and China signed the nonaggression accord in 2002.

The DFA reiterated that the Kalayaan Group and the Bajo de Masinloc, which Manila also calls Panatag Shoal, and their surrounding waters "form an internal part of Philippine territory and maritime jurisdiction."

Help from treaty ally

On asking the United States for spy plane overflights, Aquino said the Philippines was well within its right to ask an ally for assistance in monitoring its own territory.

"America is a treaty ally. We have a lack. They have a capability," Aquino said. "If ever our capability would fall short, I believe we can approach them to add to our situational awareness, especially in the West Philippine Sea."

Aquino said, however, that asking for US help in monitoring is just an option, correcting a report that seemed to indicate permission has been given for overflights.

The meeting on the territorial dispute with China began at about 1:30 p.m.

Talks, not ships

Among those seen going into the meeting were Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Senator Antonio Trillanes IV. Enrile is a former secretary of national defense, while Trillanes is a former Navy officer.

As the Cabinet prepared for the discussions, Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo urged Malacañang to deescalate the growing tensions with China over Panatag Shoal.

Pabillo said the government should continue talking to the Chinese instead of sending back ships to the shoal.

"We can achieve [peace] through dialogue," Pabillo said. "Don't aggravate the situation [by sending the ships back]. Hold dialogues."

Situation stable

On Tuesday, Liu Weimin, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told a press briefing in Beijing that the situation in the West Philippine Sea was stable with no Philippine vessels at Panatag Shoal.

But China, the Chinese Embassy in Manila quoted Liu as saying, is "willing to continue to hold dialogues and consultations" with the Philippines on their dispute over Panatag Shoal.

GMA News

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New Consistent & Organized Mining Policy of the Philippines lauded by COMP – Investors dream

Signal to all investors to com in!

The issuance of the long-awaited Executive Order No. 79 on mining reforms drew generally positive reactions from the mining industry in the Philippines.

The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) said the policy offered solutions that would encourage the development of the country's mineral resources.

"We submit that legislation should also include a review of the Local Government Code, the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act and the Internal Revenue Code in a purposive effort to harmonize conflicting provisions of these laws with the mining policy," COMP said in a statement.

"Our members applaud the policy's directive to ensure consistency of local ordinances with the Constitution and national laws, as well as LGU cooperation," it said.

The COMP said it respected the government decision to close certain areas to mining, adding that environmentally critical and protected areas should be preserved for future generations.

It also lauded the Aquino administration's intent to improve the small-scale mining industry, and to develop downstream industries.

"We view the time spent on developing the policy as recognition of the important role of responsible mining as a catalyst for economic growth. The mining policy is a signal to all investors of government's desire to establish a consistent and stable business environment founded on a level playing field. We are hopeful that the policy will harmonize conflicting interests, encourage investments, and foster sustainable development especially in the countryside where it is greatly needed," COMP said.

Increasing Tax Collection

Philippines said it was seeking to increase royalties from mining companies while imposing more restrictions to protect the environment and local communities.

The policy contained in a new executive order signed by President Benigno Aquino said no new mining permits would be approved until Congress passed a bill backing the increase.

The order, announced by Environment Secretary Ramon Paje after months of heated debate between mining firms, environmentalists, tribal groups and church leaders, seeks to impose a 5% royalty on the companies' gross earnings compared to the existing 2% tax.

"Basically, the executive order intends to increase the revenues of government from mining," Paje told reporters.

The order extends a moratorium on mining permits that Aquino imposed last year when he was still drafting the new executive order. Paje stressed the order would respect existing mining agreements with the 33 mining operations already in the country, but would be imposed on new entrants.

He said existing contracts would be reviewed to ensure the companies are complying with their obligations.

Paje said if the law was passed by 2016 the country could earn an additional ₱16 Billion Pesos ($381 Million US Dollars) from the higher royalties.

In addition, the order designates all abandoned mine waste and tailings as state property, allowing the government to extract any remaining minerals. This could potentially raise another ₱ 50 Billion Pesos, Paje added.

The order also bans mining in 78 areas designated as "eco-tourism" sites and in "prime agricultural and fishing areas", and imposes controls on poorly-regulated "small-scale mining industry", particularly banning the use of mercury, which can poison the environment.

Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima expressed confidence the new order would help the industry and boost revenues.

"We are confident that by investing in a stronger regulatory framework and a more equitable revenue sharing mechanism, we are improving mining's long-term growth potential," he said in a statement. The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines said it welcomed the new rules, hoping it might end lengthy debates over the sector.

"We are hopeful that the policy will harmonize conflicting interests, encourage investments, and foster sustainable development especially in the countryside where it is greatly needed," a chamber statement said.

The executive order still leaves hanging the issue of whether local governments can overrule mining permits issued by Manila, an issue affecting a potential project by Swiss giant Xstrata. The project worth some $6.0bn in the strife-torn island of Mindanao has been delayed by the local government's ban on open-pit mining. While the new order asserts national laws are above local ordinances, Paje said it would be up to the courts or the local government department to determine if the open-pit ban would hold up.

The Philippines is believed to have some of the biggest mineral reserves in the world—the government estimates the country has at least $840bn in gold, copper, nickel, chromites, manganese, silver and iron ore deposits.

However, the minerals have been largely untapped, partly because of a strong anti-mining movement led by the influential Catholic Church, while poor infrastructure and security concerns have also kept investors away.

Options

The order also says the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) may continue to grant and issue exploration permits, which allow a person or entity to explore for minerals in a specified area. No actual mining or mineral extraction may be conducted during the exploration phase of a project.

But those given exploration permits and those who actually discover minerals shall be given the preferential option when government issues a mineral sharing agreement.

The EO said the DENR shall likewise review existing mining contracts and agreements for possible renegotiation of the terms and conditions.

The order says the grant of all mining rights and mining tenements over areas with known and verified mineral resources and reserves shall be undertaken through competitive public bidding, not through a first come, first served basis.

 Mining Ban Areas

 As a clear concession to the anti-mining advocates, the order closes the following areas to mineral contracts, concessions, and agreements:

Areas expressly enumerated under Republic Act No. 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995;

Protected areas categorized and established under the National Integrated Protected Areas System under RA No. 7586 or the "National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992;

Prime agricultural lands, in addition to lands covered by RA No. 6657 or the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law of 1988, including plantations and areas devoted to valuable crops, and strategic agriculture and fisheries development zones and fish refuge and sanctuaries declared as such by the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA);

Tourism development areas, as identified in the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP); and other critical areas, island ecosystems, and impact areas of mining as determined by current and existing mapping technologies, that the DENR may identify.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has identified at least 78 sites it wishes to preserve, Paje said.

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A Church in the Philippines makes 3 Guinness World Records

Iglesia ni Cristo (INC)  A non-Catholic Church of Christ broke three Guinness health world records in 8 hours one event in Parola, Manila.

The whole day health mission of Iglesia ni Cristo's (INC), sponsored by the Felix Manalo Foundation to celebrate INC's 98th year in Manila's depressed area on July 7, 2012 broke 3 Guinness world records, Guinness official adjudicator Tarika Vara said.

About 4,128 people in Parola, Tondo underwent dental health check, which beat India's record of 3,377, said Vara.

About 8,026 residents were given blood pressure reading, which beat the 7,203 record of Kuwait Heart Foundation, which was achieved on October 28, 2011, said Vara.

At the same time, 5,217 residents underwent numerous blood glucose level (BGL) tests, beating the 3,573 record achieved by the Novo Nordisk Education Foundation in Bangalore, India, on November 13, 2011, said Vara.

About 200 doctors, 600 paramedics, hundreds of nurses and other volunteers participated in the eight-hour medical mission.

The medical mission extended X-ray, ultrasound, 2D-echo and laboratory services, apart from putting up temporary 10 hospital beds for minor surgeries.

INC also distributed medicines and wheelchairs to Parola's residents, including 50,000 bags with rice, noodles, and canned goods.

About 100,000 people who live in nearby depressed areas in Tondo also flocked to Parola where the medical mission was held.

"This was truly extraordinary…. I have truly not seen anything like this not just as a representative of Guinness world record, but in my life," said Vara, after she and INC general auditor Glicerio B. Santos Jr, finished the tally.

INC's victory was also a victory for the Philippines, said Vara.

Some 5,000 residents were displaced by fire at Parola's Isla Puting Bato last month.

Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) is founded in the Philippines on July 27, 1914 the country's religious group known to demand block voting from its estimated five million members, making it also an influential political group.

Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) which is founded in 1914 and Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) or Philippine Independent Church which is founded in 1902 are the only 2 pioneering churches in the Philippines. Both churches followed Christianity but of absolutely opposite system.

The Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) or Philippines Independent Church advocates full and unlimited freedom and democracy while Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) are fully united as "One for All" and "All for One",  known of demand block voting and strictly follow the order of their leader . 

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