2nd High Endurance Warship BRP Alcaraz left South Carolina Monday Arriving the Philippines

The BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF-16) docked at Charleston, North Carolina. Credit: US Coast Guard

Cuisia to BRP Ramon Alcaraz crew: We are for peace but be prepared to defend Philippine territory

CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – As the newest Philippine warship makes its way to the Philippines from Charleston, South Carolina, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Cuisia Jr. told the officers and crew of the BRP Ramon Alcaraz that the Philippines will exert all efforts to ease the tension in the West Philippine Sea, but is also ready to defend it, if needed.

"To be able to make sure the BRP Alcaraz will be properly managed, I think you had a very extensive training, I'm sure the Filipino people are eagerly waiting," Cuisia said.

On the eve of its departure to the Philippines, Cuisia visited the vessel and congratulated its officers and crew for a job well done.

For about a year, the BRP Alcaraz underwent a $15.6 million retrofitting and extended refurbishment while its officers and crew underwent training with the US Navy.

Formerly known as USCGC Dallas, the BRP Alcaraz is the second Weather High-Endurance Cutter the Philippines has acquired from the US government.

The 378-foot warship and its 88 Filipino officers and crew will be joining its sister ship, the BRP Gregorio Del Pilar, which was also acquired from the US Navy in 2011.

"I want to take this opportunity to thank the US Government and the US Coast Guard," Cuisia said.

The Philippine envoy also said that the name of the newest warship comes with great responsibility. World War II hero, Commodore Ramon Alcaraz, was credited for downing three enemy planes during the Japanese invasion and for having a distinguished record during his service to the Philippines.

The BRP Ramon Alcaraz left South Carolina on Monday morning (June 10, 2013) and is expected to arrive in the Philippines in the first week of August.

What's onboard?

Frigate for Philippines is equipped with latest gun.

BRP Ramon Alcaraz is fitted now with 2 Mk38 Mod 2 automatic cannon systems as among the first ships in the world to be equipped with state-of-the art cannon systems.

The Mk38 Mod 2 is designed to counter high-speed maneuvering surface targets and will be installed also in almost all US surface ships by 2015. It was commissioned by the US Navy following the terrorist attack on the USS Cole in 2000.

"The Pentagon has awarded a $1.8 million (₱ 74.4million) contract for the purchase of modern weapons systems which are installed now in the BRP Ramon Alcaraz. Capt Elson Aguilar, Naval Attache at the Office of the Defense and Armed Forces Attache at the Philippine Embassy, was quoted as saying last year that that acquisition of the 25mm autocannons are part of a $24 million contract with BAE systems for the purchase of 21 units of the remotely controlled naval gun systems and spare parts for both the US and Philippine navies.

Two 25mm autocannons fitted on the BRP Ramon Alcaraz as part of the frigate's air and surface defense system. The remotely controlled chain gun system can fire as many as 180 25m rounds per minute at targets as far as two kilometers.

He added that the autocanon can be fired manually if the sensors are damaged or if the vessels lose power.

"The Mk38 Mod 2 will allow the Alcaraz and the Del Pilar to track and fire at targets automatically in both day and night using single shot, low speed or high-speed automatic fire," Aguilar said, adding that the autocannon can be fired manually if the sensors are damaged or if the vessels lose power.

The two Mk38 Mod 2 systems will complement the existing weapons system that consists of the Mk75 76-mm Oto Melara main battery and four M2HB .50 caliber machine guns.

The addition of the modern ships to the Philippines fleet will be a big boost for the navy which had long suffered the reputation of being among the most poorly equipped in Southeast Asia.

It is the second Hamilton-class cutter acquired by the Philippines under the Excess Defense Article and Military Assistance Program.

The first, the Del Pilar, was turned over to the Philippine Navy in May 2011.

With report from ABS-CBN News and Gulf News

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15 food products from Taiwan Banned in Singapore, Malaysia & the Philippines; contains Maleic Acid- FDA

After the Warning advisory from Singapore and Malaysia, the Philippines followed Banning the Taiwan Products that contains HO2CCHCHCO2H which is said to harm human's kidney.

THE Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the Philippines banned 15 food products from Taiwan as they contain maleic acid with a chemical symbol HO2CCHCHCO2H.

In an advisory, the FDA said that aside from not being registered in the country, the 15 food products have been found to pose health hazards due to the presence of maleic acid.

"Maleic acid is NOT an approved additive for manufacturing food products," said the FDA.

The 15 Banned products from Taiwan were identified as the following:

1. Hong Tapioca Starch
2. Redman Black Tapioca Pearl
3. Sun Right Indica Rice Powder
4. Top 1 Tapioca Pearls
5. Tea World Tapioca Starch Ball
6. Unbranded Starch Ball
7. Ding Long Tapioca Pearls
8. Sun Chi Noodles
9. T & M Resources Corp Tapioca Pearls
10. Pure Tea Tapioca Pearls (White)
11. Pure Tea Tapioca Pearls (Black)
12. Full Free Green Tea Tapioca Ball
13. Full Free Yam Tapioca Ball
14. Long Kow Vegetarian Instant Rice Noodle
15. Long Kow Rice Noodle with Thick Soup.

The FDA said the long-term consumption of high levels of maleic acid could harm one's kidney.

The health agency said the ban is being imposed in accordance to the provisions of the Consumer Act of the Philippines, and the FDA Act of 2009, which prohibits the manufacture, importation, exportation, sale, offering for sale, distribution, transfer, non-consumer use, promotion, advertising, or sponsorship of any health product that is adulterated, unregistered or misbranded, products contaminated with unsafe substances.

"Products contaminated with maleic acid are, thus, considered illegal," said the FDA.

The ban shall remain unless the concerned food products are tested for safety by the FDA on the presence/absence of maleic acid to the said products and are subsequently registered.

"The FDA shall continue to monitor the entry of food products from Taiwan in the Philippine market," assured the FDA.

The ban comes amid the tension between Taiwan and the Philippines spurred by the fatal shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman in the disputed waters off Batanes last May 9 by the Philippine Coast Guard. (HDT/Sunnex)

With report from Sun Star, Channel New Asia & Silliyal

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Philippine Inventors and Scientist Decries for NO Support from the Government

Francisco Pagayon meets fellow inventors.

Filipino inventors showcase products in Quezon City shop

Filipino inventors have formed a cooperative and set up a showroom in Quezon City to put on display their best inventions and introduce them in the market.

Francisco Pagayon, president of the Filipino Inventors' Society, says the group established the Filipino Inventors' Society Producer Cooperative to serve as the business arm of the organization.

FISPC then set up a showroom at the ground floor of Delta Building at the corner of West Avenue and Quezon Avenue to put on public display many useful local inventions in a show of Filipino ingenuity and entrepreneurship.

The showroom houses various innovative products that are designed for fuel and energy conservation, environmental protection, water purification, alternative medicine, personal care and recreation.

It showcases the Filipino genius as it contains inventions on the following:

• Police patrol weaponry
• Car care
• Home protection
• Agriculture
• Food and health supplements, and many others that could not be found elsewhere, says Pagayon.

Among these inventions are solar-powered postharvest facilities and converters, anti-car napping computerized security system, Anos firetrucks for narrow streets in major cities, fire blanket, water-fueled flashlights, green engine oil products, anti-fungal soap, organic medicine and other organic products.

Pagayon says the showroom is in response to the lack of government support and official indifference to the plight of many inventors, who have been frustrated by their inability to find a niche in the local market and obtain commercial success for their inventions.

An inventor himself, Pagayon has mass produced the multipurpose Probaton truncheon for Filipino police personnel and village watchmen.

He says the inventors grouped themselves together amid the lack of state support and indifference to Filipino inventors.

"While inventors in other countries are held in awe and respect by their governments to obtain state support and patronage, Filipino inventors have to live with the frustration for the lack of support," Pagayon says.

"They hardly enjoy state subsidy, tax or credit incentives, and patronage for their invention products," he says.

Pagayon and other inventors then opted to find ways to alleviate the plight of many inventors. His answer: entrepreneurship.

FIS, established on Oct. 14, 1943, is the oldest non-government group of Filipino inventors, researchers, technologists, scientists, industrial designers and engineers.

The group aims to generate, produce and market indigenous inventions and technologies to help attain economic progress and industrial prosperity for the country.

With report from Manila Standard Today

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