Government ordered UAE to follow Philippine Law or no more Maids

Part of government plan to phase-out DH, DOLE, POLO and POEA – restricting the deployment to set to "0" by 2016

Philippines sets tough terms for sending maids to UAE: Minimum salary at $400

The Philippines has set tough terms for sending domestic workers to the UAE as is the case in Saudi Arabia, stipulating its maids must be paid not less than $400 a month and must have at least eight hours break every day.

The Philippine embassy in Abu Dhabi conveyed its government's terms to private labor recruitment agents in the UAE during a recent meeting in the capital, warning that any agent violating those terms would be put on the blacklist.

Reacting to such a decision, UAE authorities said they would not accept such terms and stressed that domestic workers from any country must be recruited in accordance with the official work contract enforced by the UAE government.

Quoted participants in that meeting, the Arabic language daily Emirat Alyoum said the Philippine embassy told them they must abide by the new regulations or they would be boycotted and banned from handling domestic workers from the Philippines.

"The embassy set the minimum wage for a Philippine maid at $400 (Dh1,470) a month and told labor recruitment agents in the UAE that any office which does not comply with these rules would be completely boycotted," the paper said.

It said the embassy asked those agents to notify it once a Philippine maid arrives in the UAE to take up a job so it will hand her the necessary documents.

"The embassy also stressed that employers must provide a separate room for the maid and that she must have a daily break of at least eight hours.

"It also stressed that the maid should not be assigned any work outside her employer's residence which is listed in the job contract and that the employer must allow her to contact the embassy or her family at home at any time," the paper said.

Other conditions include that employers are not allowed to renew the maid's contract or transfer her sponsorship to any other employer without a prior consent by the embassy.

"Sponsors violating those terms will be subject to penalties defined in the laws governing the hiring of Philippine domestic workers," it said. "In case they refuse to pay her the salary set in the new contract, the maid will be deported to her country."

According to Emirat Alyoum, the maid must be aged between 18 and 23 years and any company violating that limit would be blacklisted.

"Any agreement signed by a foreign embassy in the UAE is not legal," the paper said, quoting Major General Nassir al Minhali, UAE interior ministry assistant undersecretary for naturalization and residence affairs.

"The ministry of interior has a unified job contract for domestic workers coming to the UAE with well defined terms and duties. It guarantees the rights of the employers and the employees…we have not set any wage for domestic workers and any otherwise agreement will not be binding for any one."

The Philippines, one of the largest domestic workers suppliers to the oil-rich Gulf, has been locked in negotiations with Saudi Arabia to enforce similar terms for its maids working in the Gulf Kingdom. The negotiations followed a decision by Manila to halt the travel of its domestic workers to Saudi Arabia two years ago. (http://is.gd/x08tV2)

Emirates 247

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Hundreds of ABUSED Pinay Maids in UAE sought help from Amnesty

Amnesty seekers get directions from an official at the Philippine consulate in Dubai on Tuesday. — KT photos by Juidin Bernarrd

Filipino, Ethiopian illegals heave sigh of relief

Hundreds of amnesty seekers have poured into the Philippine consulate and the Consulate-General of Ethiopia on the first day of the two-month amnesty program for illegal residents.

Filipino Cherry R. said she resigned from her job upon the demands of her company when she ran into trouble with several banks for delinquent accounts. "I wanted to leave the UAE but I was informed by a friend, who went to check with the police and the immigration on my behalf, that two banks had imposed a travel ban. Even at the time my father died, I could not go home. This amnesty is a great opportunity for me to go home or to legitimise my status," she said.

Cherry and her friend Hijasmine were among the hundreds of Filipino amnesty seekers, who reached the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) of the consulate to signify intention to avail themselves of the fourth cycle of amnesty.

"I ran away from my employer five years ago due to maltreatment, lack of rest and insufficient food. I wanted to go home but my employers filed absconding case against me. So, I will take advantage of this amnesty program," Hijasmine said.

Susan E. has also been seeking for amnesty. "I have long wanted to go home and see my family. But, since the day I ran away after my employers failed to give me my salary, I had been trying to fend myself by doing part-time jobs for almost four years. I could not leave the UAE as the employers reported me to the police."

More than 200 amnesty seekers reached POLO to inquire about the process and seek assistance.

Consul-General Frank R. Cimafranca made an appeal to all Filipino organizations in Dubai to assist the needy in getting air tickets during the amnesty period. "Let us all join hands and give our "kababayans" an advance Christmas gift by extending them assistance in securing air tickets to be home for Christmas."

The Consul-General said a request can be put forward to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for funds to acquire air tickets but it might take time. On absconding cases, he said that the consulate needs more information from amnesty seekers as absconding involves breach of contract. Philippine Ambassador Grace R. Princesa said the embassy will seek clarification from the Ministry of Interior on various issues in the amnesty package to better serve the needy.

"We still have to verify what we read in the papers about the 'no ban' issue," the ambassador said.

At the Ethiopian Consulate-General, Fananesh A. said she has been illegally staying in the UAE for five years, and though she wanted to go home, she could not go back due to travel ban from banks. "With this amnesty, I am looking forward to seeing my family again."

Her friend Abenet S. was absconding from her employer, which stopped her from leaving the country.  "My father died and that day I cried for days because I could not go home. I felt I was put in a cage. Now is my time to go. Thanks to the UAE government."

Many Ethiopians have also come forward but no official figures have been released as yet. (http://is.gd/7eJrkR)

Khaleej  Times

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Manila agencies stop hiring Pinay Maids for Kuwait

Manila recruitment agencies stop hiring Filipino domestic helpers – Disagreements over salary

KUWAIT: Some recruitment agencies from Manila have reportedly stopped processing visa for domestic helpers (article 20) amidst disagreements between the Philippines and Kuwait regarding housemaids' salary.

The Philippine government wants to strictly implement its unilateral policy of $400 (KD112.56) monthly salary while the Kuwaiti government asked it to wait till a new domestic labor law pending for two years before the Kuwaiti parliament is approved. Authorities in Kuwait have also informed housemaids' agencies in Kuwait to avoid promising an increase in salaries or recruitment fees of domestic workers unless they receive an order from the Ministry of Interior.

Recruitment offices around the country received a statement from the domestic workers' division in the [Interior Ministry's] Migration General Department, asking them to ignore instructions received from any party other than official state departments regarding the fees for recruiting labor forces or their salaries.

The Philippines government has implemented its unilateral $400 monthly salary for their domestic helpers since 2009 although Kuwait has approved KD60 ($213.23) only and upgraded the amount to KD70 ($248.77) just recently. "As legitimate recruitment agencies, we are caught in the middle of disagreements between two governments and are suffering," disclosed an owner of the Philippine recruitment agency who wanted to remain anonymous. "Since Dec 1, 2012, we stopped processing DH visa.

We want the $400 to be implemented but Kuwait is not ready to implement the amount," the female recruitment agency owner told the Kuwait Times. "When we, employers and domestic helpers encounter any problem, we are there to respond quickly. We mediate and fix their problems. If the employer violates Philippine government's regulations, we handle it ourselves and sometimes we also suffer fines. We can also get suspended if the problem with the employers is not resolved.

The money we earn from recruitment job is just enough to pay penalties and cost for domestic helpers' repatriation. Our demand is clear: we want the two governments to settle their differences in this regard because we are caught in the middle of disagreements. We have been stuck in this impasse since two years and there has been no resolution as yet," she said.

She noted the fact that recruitment for domestic helpers was being stopped not just in case of Kuwait but for the rest of GCC countries also. "Our action is not influenced by any government. We are suffering. Our business is suffering, and we need to take action. This is not just a question of one agency but many agencies from Manila are impacted and we have agreed to stop processing visa for domestic helpers unless there is a clear resolution of this issue or if there are employers willing to pay the Manila demand for $400," she said. The fee for hiring domestic helpers in Kuwait ranges between KD500 and KD800, amount that many consider 'outrageous and ridiculous'. (http://is.gd/87yBFp)

Kuwait Times 

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Pres Aquino urges Filipinos to continue working harder to build greater economic progress for the country

Despite the rosy output and sterling performance shown by the Philippine economy this year marked by "record highs, increase in equities, and outstanding GDP (gross domestic product) growth," President Benigno S. Aquino III called on the Filipino people not to rest on one's laurels and bask in the glory of this global achievement but continue working even harder in order to "build even greater things on top of the foundations we have already laid down."

Speaking at the 20th anniversary of the Philippine Stock Exchange, Incorporated (PSEi) held at the Makati Shangri-la on Monday, the President said that the Philippines has come a long way since he assumed the reins of government two and half years ago.

He said that as of July 2012, the PSEi has recorded 56 record highs (closing at an all-time high of 5,672.70, up by 32.25 points or 0.57%, largely led by property and banking issues) with the average daily turnover pegged at P7.61-billion. This, the President said, coupled with the 7.1 percent GDP growth for the third quarter of 2012, has "surpassed all expectations" and showed that the Philippines has come a long way since then.

"While we certainly have much to be thankful for, I have always believed that every achievement must not only be cause for celebration, but must also motivate us to work even harder. After all, the record highs, increase in equities, and outstanding GDP growth are symbols of the potential we have to create a broader and more dynamic Philippine economy," the President stressed.

He noted that other countries have started to take notice at the remarkable performance of what has been dubbed, the "sick man of Asia" and has begun to show interest at investing here.

"The entire world has begun to train their spotlight on us. Let us prove to them: we are not yet done, we have more to show, and we will build even greater things on top of the foundations we have already laid down. It is up to all of us to harness our potential and steer the economy towards inclusive growth that satisfies the pursuit of profit, promotes equal opportunity, and elevates the standard of living of every Filipino," the President said.

The President lauded the Philippine Stock Exchange for partnering with the government in coming up and implementing various anti-corruption programs "to show prospective and active investors alike that the Philippines is open for business under new management ---management that is putting an end to backroom deals and suspect transactions, so that business, trade, and investment can flourish in an honest and level playing field."

He pointed out that the PSEi has taken the initiative to reciprocate government programs to end graft and corruption such as the Investor Protection and Surveillance Department of the Securities and Exchange Commission to guard against insider trading and other illegal investment schemes and a Capital Market Development Blueprint to improve and expand the Philippine capital market, including proposals to strengthen investor education, through an integration of various programs already offered by the SEC, PSEi and other similar entities, and to improve the equity market by promoting online trading, among others.

These PSEi initiatives include extending trading hours significantly to expand opportunities for the Philippine market and launching the PSEi trade which will open up direct access to our stock exchange; thus speeding up the execution of trades.

The Capital Markets Integrity Corporation, or CMIC, which was incorporated as a wholly owned subsidiary and tasked with monitoring the activities of trading participants; and the PSEi Bell Awards for Corporate Governance, which contributes to the promotion of integrity by recognizing outstanding listed companies and trading participants are two other PSEi-led initiatives "to uphold the integrity of operations in your sector."

"Measures like these are important because investors need to know we are serious about protecting their interests, especially now that confidence in the Philippines is growing by leaps and bounds," the President said.

"In a sense, your efforts mirror the reforms we are undertaking in government. You are demonstrating that good governance is a winning strategy, and that by fostering it in your industry, we are able to level the playing field; we are able to establish an atmosphere where outcomes are predictable, where uncertainty is minimized, and where stability allows business to function smoothly," he added.

"This makes our country a more attractive destination for investments, which creates jobs, empowers consumers, and sustains the virtuous cycle that we are determined to institute—a virtuous cycle whose results we have seen in your achievements," the President said.

Joining the President during the event were Vice President Jejomar Binay, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo and Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima. (www.pcoo.gov.ph)

Asian Journal 

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Singapore concerned – India prepared to Send Warship in West Philippine Sea

India Navy Chief Admiral DK Joshi said India would protect its interests even if it means sending forces in the West Philippine Sea

Singapore concerned over China's West Philippine Sea rule

Dec 3, 2012 (Reuters) - Singapore expressed concern on Monday over China's plan to board and search ships sailing in what it considers its territory in the West Philippine Sea, as tension grows over Beijing's sovereignty claims in busy Southeast Asian waters.

"Singapore is concerned about this recent turn of events," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in response to a recent Chinese media report on new rules that will allow police in the southern Chinese province of Hainan to board and seize control of foreign ships which "illegally enter" its waters from Jan. 1.

Wealthy Singapore, home to the world's second-busiest container port, is the second Southeast Asian country to publicly express concern over the new rules after the Philippines on Saturday condemned the Chinese plan as illegal.

The issue divided Southeast Asian leaders at a summit last month in Phnom Penh, where host Cambodia, a staunch China ally, sought to limit discussion on the mineral-rich sea, where China's claims overlap in places with those of four Southeast Asian countries and of Taiwan.

Tension over the West Philippine Sea, home to a third of the world's shipping activity, is entering a new and more contentious chapter, as claimant nations build up their navies and alliances with other nations, particularly with the United States.

"We urge all parties to the territorial disputes in the West Philippines Sea to refrain from provocative behaviour," the Singapore government said in a statement.

"It is important for all parties to respect the accepted principles of international law ... and refrain from taking actions that could escalate tensions."

China's sovereignty claims over the stretch of water off its south coast and to the east of mainland Southeast Asia set it directly against U.S. allies Vietnam and the Philippines, while Brunei, Taiwan and Malaysia also lay claim to parts.

The tensions illustrate the difficulty of forging a Southeast Asian consensus over how to deal with an increasingly assertive China.

Estimates for proven and undiscovered oil reserves in the West Philippine Sea range as high as 213 billion barrels of oil, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said in a 2008 report. That would surpass every country's proven oil reserves except Saudi Arabia and Venezuela, according to the BP Statistical Review.

Surin Pitsuwan, secretary-general of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, said on Friday the Chinese plan was a "very serious turn of events".

India will protects its interests in West Philippine Sea, says Navy chief

New Delhi: Viewing the rapid modernisation of Chinese Navy as a "major concern", Navy Chief Admiral DK Joshi on Monday made it clear that India would protect its interests in the disputed West Philippine Sea, even if it means sending forces there.

"Yes you are right. The modernisation (of Chinese Navy) is truly impressive... It is actually a major cause of concern for us, which we continuously evaluate and work out our options and our strategies," he told a press conference.

The Navy Chief was replying to a question on contingencies in West Philippine Sea to protect Indian interests there and impression about the Chinese Navy's modernisation.

Answering a volley of questions about West Philippine Sea over which India had a tiff with China in 2011, he said although India's presence in that maritime region was not on "very very frequent" basis, it had interests like free navigation and exploitation of natural resources there.

"Not that we expect to be in those waters very very frequently, but when the requirement is there for situations where country's interests are involved, for example ONGC Videsh, we will be required to go there and we are prepared for that. Are we holding exercises for that nature, the short answer is yes," Joshi said.

Talking about Indian interests in the West Philippine Sea, he said the first of it included freedom of navigation.

"Not only us, but everyone is of the view that they have to be resolved by the parties concerned, aligned with the international regime, which is outlined in UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea), that is our first requirement," he said.

With report from Reuters and IBN Live

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Angry Vietnam – Stamped new China E PASSPORT “INVALID”

Angry Vietnam of New China passport depicting the Territory of the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia and India - VIETNAM Stamped the New China E Passport as "INVALID"

ASEAN Chief: South China Sea risks becoming 'Asia's Palestine'

Jakarta (CNN) -- Southeast Asia's top diplomat has warned that the South China Sea disputes risk becoming "Asia's Palestine", deteriorating into a violent conflict that draws sharp dividing lines between nations and destabilises the whole region.

Surin Pitsuwan, the outgoing secretary-general of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, told the Financial Times that Asia was entering its "most contentious" period in recent years as a rising China stakes out its claim to almost the entire South China Sea, clashing with the Philippines, Vietnam and others.

"We have to be mindful of the fact that the South China Sea could evolve into another Palestine," if countries do not try harder to defuse rather than inflame tensions, he said.

As it has grown economically and militarily more powerful, Beijing has become more assertive about its territorial claims in the South China Sea, which encompasses vast oil and gas reserves, large fish stocks and key global trade routes.

After naval clashes with Vietnam and the Philippines -- which claim parts of the South China Sea alongside Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan -- China has further angered its neighbours by printing a map of its extensive maritime claim, known as the "nine-dotted line" in new passports.

Vietnam has hit back by marking the passports of visiting Chinese as "invalid" and issuing separate visa forms rather than appearing to recognise the Chinese claim by stamping passports.

The US state department on Tuesday said Washington would continue to accept the new Chinese passports as legal documents, adding that countries were free to decide what their passports looked like.

But Victoria Nuland, the state department spokeswoman, added that it was a separate issue "whether it's politically smart or helpful to be taking steps that antagonise countries".

Vietnamese sailors training with a 12.7 mm machine gun on Phan Vinh Island in the disputed Spratly archipelago in 2011

The US has responded to a resurgent Beijing by refocusing its foreign policy on Asia and building closer strategic and military ties with old foes such as Myanmar and Vietnam, which also fear the consequences of potential Chinese hegemony in the region.

Squeezed between these two great powers, southeast Asian nations will come under growing pressure to take sides unless they can stay united, said Mr Pitsuwan, a Thai diplomat who will step down next month after five years as the head of Asean.

He argued that the deteriorating situation in the South China Sea was the result of "the internal dynamics of China", with Beijing focused on upholding its sovereignty and territory because of the recent leadership change, growing prosperity and a sense that the state-building process was still under way.

ASEAN, which is the only high-level forum for security issues in Asia, has fallen into disarray this year as Cambodia, a close Beijing ally and the chairman of the organization, has undermined efforts by the Philippines and Vietnam to form a consensus about how to respond to China's assertive stance.

"Cambodia has to balance itself within an increasingly tense power play," said Mr Pitsuwan. "I think Cambodia did what it had to do -- you have to look at it from their perspective."

He added that the best hope for avoiding conflict was for Asean and China to agree on a binding code of conduct that would discourage nations from trying to seize islands, oilfields and fishing grounds in order to back up their territorial claims.

But this would be challenging given that Asia's political institutions and dispute-resolution mechanisms were still very under-developed relative to the growing region's economic might. (http://is.gd/xFEffT)

CNN – Jakarta 

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FAA level 2 lifted, PAL-Canada routes restored after 15 years; US, Europe Flight Aimed

Upon elevation to category 1: PAL plans new routes to US, Europe

National flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL), a joint venture between taipan Lucio Tan and diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC), is looking at flying at major cities in the US and European countries once the ban on the domestic airline is lifted by the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA).

PAL president and chief operating officer Ramon S. Ang told reporters on the sidelines of the Manila-Toronto send-off ceremony at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport 2 that the airline is patiently awaiting the lifting of the Category 2 status imposed by the FAA on the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

"If Category 2 is lifted by FAA, we hope to fly to New York of course as well as major cities in Europe like London, Paris, and Rome. But we still have to patiently wait for the lifting of Category 2," Ang stressed.

The US FAA in 2008 slapped the Category 2 status on Manila due to failure to comply with safety issued preventing Philippine carriers led by PAL from expanding or mounting more flights to the US.

PAL is in talks with Cayman Airways and the government of Cayman Islands for possible joint venture arrangements to skirt the ban on domestic airlines and service the lucrative US routes.

Ang earlier confirmed ongoing talks with Cayman Airways and the Cayman Islands government.

Cayman Airways was established and started operations in 1968. It was formed following the Cayman Government's purchase of 51 percent of Cayman Brac Airways from LACSA (the Costa Rican flag carrier) and became wholly government owned in December 1977.

After 15 years, the Philippines is again linked with the North American East Coast with the launch of direct Manila-Toronto flights by PAL last Nov. 30, benefitting more than 200,000 Filipinos living in greater Toronto who plan to spend the coming Christmas holidays.

The flights from Toronto every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday would arrive in Manila before six in the morning with enough time connecting to 32 domestic and 26 international destinations.

From Manila, passengers can connect to any of PAL's five daily flights to Hong Kong, thrice daily to Singapore, twice a day to Bangkok and Seoul, once a day to Ho Chi Minh, twice a week to Bali, and many more regional routes.

Starting Jan. 16, PAL said the Toronto flights would increase to four times a week with stop-overs at Vancouver. On March 10, the service would become daily, with the addition of three non-stop flights every week.

PAL is utilizing its new, long-range Boeing 777-300ER, which seats 42 in Mabuhay Class (business) and 328 in Fiesta Class (economy), on the 15-hour, non-stop flight to Toronto.

The luxurious wide-body jet is especially designed for such inter-continental journeys.  Its two GE 90-115BL engines - the largest and most powerful ever built - can readily cover the 13,230 kilometers between the two cities non-stop.

The new service kicks off the peak Christmas travel season, one of the busiest periods in the Philippine travel calendar.

The Ontario capital would be PAL's first foray to the East Coast of North America in 15 years. Toronto is now PAL's 27th international destination and 46th overall.

PAL is in the midst of a massive refleeting program where it intends to acquire 100 new aircraft. It has purchased 65 Airbus aircraft in two separate contracts valued close to $10 billion.

Ang said the airline is still in talks with Airbus and Boeing for the acquisition of the remaining 35 aircraft. (http://is.gd/FIM3uA)

philSTAR

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2nd Philippine Warship-Alcaraz would be delay of deployment from earlier schedule

Deployment would be delay for re-fitting armament system. Mk38 Mod 2 automatic cannon systems to be fitted to Philippine Warship BRP Ramon Alcaraz. A frigate purchased by the Philippines from the United States will be among the first ships in the world to be equipped with state-of-the art cannon systems.

Philippine warship likely to be deployed by April 2013

The Philippine government may have to wait until April 2013 before it could deploy its second warship, even as the tension triggered by the conflicting ownership claims over the islands in the West Philippine Sea is expected to escalate.

Philippine Navy chief Vice Admiral Alexander Pama said on Sunday the scheduled commissioning of BRP Ramon Alcaraz would be delayed due to ongoing repairs and refitting on the Hamilton-class cutter in Charleston, South Carolina.

The 45-year-old frigate was formally acquired for ₱450 million by the Armed Forces from the US Coast Guard on May 22 as part of the US government's military assistance to the Philippines.

"The repairs are still continuing so most probably (BRP Alcaraz) will arrive in the country late March or early April next year," Pama told reporters over the phone.

He said the delay was caused mainly by the installation of the new main engine of the 3,250-ton warship, which was initially scheduled to sail from the United States last May.

"That's why we are taking this opportunity for our personnel to undergo more training," he said.

Asked if the ship would be sent to patrol the country's coastlines in the West Philippine Sea, he said "it will be deployed wherever it may be needed."

In his State of the Nation Address last July, President Benigno Aquino III announced that BRP Alcaraz would be sailing from the United States in January 2013 as part of the much-needed upgrade in the war armaments and equipment of the Armed Forces.

"We are not sending paper boats out to the sea. Now, our 36,000 kilometers of coastline will be patrolled by more modern ships," the President said, referring to the decades-old vessel which the US Coast Guard decommissioned on March 30.

Formerly called USCGC Dallas (WHEC-716), the military's second frigate was named after the late Commodore Ramon "Monching" Alcaraz, a decorated World War II hero who commanded Q-boat Abra, which shot down three Japanese aircraft.

Like its sister ship BRP Gregorio del Pilar, the warship was classified as a high-endurance cutter built in 1968. (http://is.gd/Yk9sV7)

Inquirer Global Nation

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Philippines accepts china passport depicting Spratly Islands as China Territory

Communist China's new E passport depicting Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Brunei, India, Malaysia and Indonesia territory as China's Territory. Philippines accepted for tourism economic benefit 

Philippines accepts new Chinese passports

Manila: The Philippine government has decided to accept the passports of Chinese nationals requesting for visa. The passports depict a map that includes China's claim of the entire South China Sea.

"Visa processing for Chinese e-passport continues its normal course," Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said, when asked if his department has rejected the passports of Chinese nationals following the government's protest and note verbale sent to the Chinese Embassy in Manila in reaction to China's newly-issued electronic passports.

The number of Chinese nationals requesting for tourist visa to the Philippines has "suddenly reached a very high number," said a source, adding this was the reason why the Philippine government has decided not to act on its protest against the new Chinese passports.

The government has been trying to lure tourists to the Philippines to raise more revenue.

China, Taiwan and Vietnam claim the whole of the South China Sea based on their historical rights over the sea-lane. Brunei, Malaysia and Philippines claim some parts of the Spratly Archipelago in the South China Sea, based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) which grants countries 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone starting from their shores.

Vietnam and the Philippines have been embroiled with China's flexing of maritime and naval might in the South China Sea.

Four of the claimants belong to the 10-member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). Read more here (http://is.gd/xsOnDS)

Gulf News

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Philippine Protests Chinas’ illegal action – Calls for international sanction

Protesters in the Philippines demonstrate outside the Chinese Consulate in Manila. In the latest source of tensions between China and the Philippines, Chinese authorities announced plans to search ships that sail through a disputed territory the South China Sea. (Bullit Marquez/Associated Press)

Philippines protests China's threat to search ships

The Philippines on Saturday denounced Chinese plans to search ships sailing through what Beijing says is its territory in the South China Sea in the latest irritant between the countries.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the plans should be condemned by the international community because they violate maritime domains of countries in the region and impede freedom of navigation.

Chinese state media announced the plans, saying southern Hainan province, which Beijing says administers the South China Sea, had approved laws giving its police the right to search vessels that pass through the waters.

Last week the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan and India protested a map on a new Chinese passport that depicts disputed areas as belonging to China.

China's action blasted as 'illegal'

The Philippine statement said it wants Beijing to "immediately clarify its reported plans to interdict ships that enter what it considers its territory in the South China Sea."

It said Manila was concerned that ships entering waters claimed by China, which is "virtually the entire South China Sea … can be boarded, inspected, detained, confiscated, immobilized and expelled, among other punitive actions."

China's action will be "illegal and will validate the continuous and repeated pronouncements by the Philippines that China's claim of indisputable sovereignty over virtually the entire South China Sea is not only an excessive claim but a threat to all countries," the statement said.

The maritime territorial disputes include the Spratly Islands over which China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei have conflicting claims. The Spratlys chain is believed to sit atop rich oil and gas reserves and straddles one of the world's busiest sea lanes. (http://is.gd/tYZlTi)

CBC News 

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Philippine navy rescues 100 sea turtles from Chinese poachers in Palawan

PUERTO PRINCESA, Philippines - Philippine sailors rescued more than a hundred sea turtles from poachers but Chinese nationals who were allegedly buying the endangered animals escaped, the navy said Friday (November 30, 2012).

At least 123 turtles were recovered from three fishpens off the western island of Balabac on Tuesday as part of a campaign against such illegal activities, the navy statement said.

"At least six Chinese nationals were sighted fleeing the area using a speed boat when the raiding party arrived in the area," regional naval chief Commander Rostum Joseph Pena was quoted as saying.

It took two days to remove all the turtles from the fishpens and six of them were found to be dead, he said.

Residents have reported that Chinese financiers were paying local people to gather the turtles for 5,000 pesos (US$120) each, so they could be shipped abroad, the navy commander said.

The turtles were released in a marine reserve, the navy said.

Sea turtles are protected under Philippine law and catching them is punishable by at least 12 years in jail.

Chinese poaching in Philippine waters has become a thorny issue in recent months.

In April, Philippine authorities tried to arrest Chinese fishermen taking sea turtles and other protected species from Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, triggering a standoff with Chinese ships that still continues.

China and the Philippines, along with Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam, have overlapping claims in the South China Sea, which includes major shipping lanes and is believed to be rich in mineral and oil resources. (http://is.gd/mYSnjN)

Asiaone 

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China police prepares to takeover Philippine Naval Ships patrolling in West Philippines Sea

China plans to board Philippine ships

THE commander of the military's Western Command yesterday protested a reported plan of China to board and search ships that will enter its claimed territories in the South China Sea or West Philippine Sea.

"That's a violation of the international passage," said Lt. Gen. Juancho Sabban, commander of Wescom which is in charge of protecting the country's interest in the disputed area.

"That's too much. While we are exerting all peaceful means (to solve the territorial dispute), that is what they are doing," he also said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs declined to comment.

"We need to get more information on that. There are details that we need to find out before we could comment on that," said DFA Assistant Secretary Raul Hernandez.

"If it is true, it will pose a concern to the Philippines and the international community," he also said.

He said media should ask the Chinese Foreign Ministry or the Chinese embassy.

The Chinese Embassy usually does not immediately answer questions. If it does, it comes in the form of a statement that is issued days later.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the Chinese national government should be asked if the position of the Hainan provincial government is the position of Chinese national leadership.

"Instead of asking the Philippine government to comment on a position taken by a local Chinese government official, why doesn't the press ask the Chinese Foreign Ministry or the Chinese Embassy here and confirm if that is also the position they are adopting?" Lacierda said, asking the same question asked by Hernandez.

The China Daily yesterday said that starting January 1, police in Hainan will board and search ships that China considers its territorial waters in the South China Sea, seize control of the ships and order them to change course or stop sailing. Hainan administers China's claims to the islets and atolls in the South China Sea.

China is claiming the whole Spratly Islands, a chain of islands and islets believed in the South China Sea, which is believed rich in oil and minerals deposits. The Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam are claiming parts of the islands and have stationed their troops.

Philippine troops are occupying nine islands including Pag-asa which is about 200 nautical miles of Puerto Princesa City.

Sabban, asked how the military would secure ships that may pass the territorial waters being claimed by China, said, "We have regular patrols (there). We have the Navy and the Coast Guard in the area."

Last week, Sabban visited the troops stationed at the nine Philippine-occupied areas in the Spratlys. It took Sabban four days to complete the visit of the nine islands, the first time for any Wescom commander.

He told the troops "to keep our flag flying mighty. (http://is.gd/8EiHIl)

Malaya

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Philippine economy shines in third quarter, highlights Southeast Asia resilience

A worker counts one thousand pesos bills inside a money changer in Manila November 28, 2012. The Philippine peso hovered around its strongest level in more than 4-1/2 years on Wednesday after stronger growth data, while most other emerging Asian currencies slid on worries about the looming U.S. fiscal crisis and doubt on the Greece debt deal. Credit: Reuters/Romeo Ranoco

(Reuters) - The Philippine economy accelerated more than expected in the third quarter, defying the global downdraft to post the fastest growth in Southeast Asia, where robust domestic demand and strong government spending are helping offset export weakness.

A sharp jump in farm output and construction, higher public and private consumption and a late rebound in exports helped boost Philippine growth by 1.3 percent in July-September from the previous quarter, three times as fast as economists had predicted.

The Philippines, once known as "the sick man of Asia", also posted the second strongest annual economic growth in Asia of 7.1 percent in the third quarter, lagging only China and outpacing the 6.2 percent expansion of Southeast Asia's biggest economy, Indonesia.

The 7.1 percent annual expansion was the strongest in two years.

"There is no denying it, the Philippines is having a fantastic year despite strong global headwinds," HSBC said in a note to investors.

"This is largely due to the fact that policymakers took timely measures to counterbalance an anticipated slowdown of demand from China and the euro zone, as well as the resilient nature of the services-oriented economy."

While Southeast Asia has not been totally immune to the global downturn -- slowing exports are weighing on industrial production -- strong private and public spending is driving robust growth in most of its economies, making the region a magnet for foreign investors.

"A strong performance all around (for the Philippines) and this stellar number continues to paint an overall positive growth picture for Southeast Asia, following the positive surprise out of Malaysia and the sustained momentum seen in Indonesia and Thailand in Q3 as well," said Gundy Cahyadi, economist at OCBC in Singapore.

STRONG CONSUMER SPENDING

In Manila, strong remittances from overseas Filipinos and renewed confidence among consumers and businesses in the economy and the reform-minded government of President Benigno Aquino are fuelling a property boom described as the best in two decades.

The Philippines expects to exceed its growth target of 5-6 percent this year after a strong performance so far that brought its annual growth in the first nine months to 6.5 percent. Indonesia, for its part, expects growth to reach 6.3 percent this year.

Domestic demand from new middle-class consumers, and investment to feed it, are now key growth drivers in Indonesia, with retail sales surging 22 percent in September.

The Indonesian government said on Tuesday it was targeting $40.6 billion in total investment next year, up around 25 percent from this year to take advantage of surging consumer demand.

L'Oreal, the world's top cosmetics firm, opened its biggest factory globally in Java this month and is seeing 30 percent sales growth as it expects Indonesia's beauty market to become the third biggest in Asia.

Consumer confidence in Indonesia was at its highest this year in October, helping push car sales up nearly 24 percent, while the Philippines posted its second best reading in September since the index was introduced in 2007.

Malaysia and Indonesia grew an annual 5.2 percent and 6.2 percent in the third quarter, respectively, although the economy of tiny, much more export-dependent Singapore contracted on an annualized basis.

Thailand grew 1.2 percent in the third quarter from the previous three months and 3.0 percent from a year earlier as factories returned to normal after last year's heavy floods.

With more foreign funds flowing into the region, stock markets in Indonesia and the Philippines both closed at record highs on Monday, with Manila's key share index .PSI hitting a fresh record high after Wednesday's GDP data. The Thomson Reuters South East Asia Index .TRXFLDANPU has climbed some 20 percent so far this year.

Foreign investors have also been snapping up debt issued by Southeast Asian government as they scour the globe for higher yields. Manila's recent sale of global peso notes attracted orders approaching $6 billion, nearly eight times the size of the offer.

But inflows have been a two-edged sword, pushing most regional currencies higher against the U.S. dollar and further undermining the attractiveness of the region's exports. The Philippine peso has appreciated more than 7 percent so far this year, making it emerging Asia's best performing currency and complicating policy decisions for its central bank.

MIXED OUTLOOK

Analysts have mixed views on how much of the region's momentum can be carried into 2013, noting much depends on how long the euro zone's fiscal and economic mess drags on, and whether recoveries in the United States and China continue to gather pace.

"The (growth) outlook for Southeast Asia will be mixed because we have markets with large consumer bases like Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines. What could also drive growth in these countries are investment and government spending," said Enrico Tanuwidjaja, economist for Southeast Asia at RBS in Singapore.

"The rest of the region might be facing a growth slowdown because of external factors," he said.

Unlike many advanced economies, the region's governments have relatively low debt levels, which leave plenty of room for more stimulus if conditions deteriorate further.

Manila has set a record infrastructure budget of over 400 billion pesos ($9.89 billion) next year as it pursues major upgrades of roads, ports, bridges, and airports to speed up growth and boost private investment.

The Philippines has to raise its investment-to-GDP ratio from 20 percent, and match Indonesia's investments of at least 25 percent of GDP, to push growth to 7 percent or higher in coming years, said Tim Condon, regional economist at ING Bank in Singapore.

Central banks in the region also have far more ammunition left to deal with slowing growth than their Western peers, which in some cases have already cut interest rates to near zero.

Indeed, if regional and global growth does pick up, higher inflation may start to kick in towards the second half of 2013, which may put pressure on central banks of the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia to hike interest rates, said Euben Paracuelles, economist at Nomura in Singapore.

But Condon said there were no major demand pressures and rates could remain steady next year in most of the region after central banks eased policy this year.

(Additional reporting by Erik dela Cruz in Manila and Anuradha Raghu in Kuala Lumpur; Editing by Kim Coghill) (http://is.gd/nwKegf)

Reuters 

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3rd Quarter 2012 Philippine Economy Growth 7.1% higher than expected - $17 billion of investment in roads and airports

Pedestrians walk past a billboard outside a shopping mall in central Manila, the Philippines. Photographer: Julian Abram Wainwright/Bloomberg

Philippines 7.1% Growth Surprise May Herald End of Rate Cuts

Philippine growth unexpectedly accelerated last quarter to the fastest pace since 2010 as government spending and investment increased, easing pressure on the central bank to cut interest rates further. Stocks rose.

Gross domestic product increased 7.1 percent in the three months through September from a year earlier, compared with a 6 percent gain in the previous quarter, the National Statistical Coordination Board said in Manila today. The pace exceeded all 22 estimates in a Bloomberg survey, whose median was 5.4 percent.

President Benigno Aquino is increasing spending to a record this year while seeking more than $17 billion of investment in roads and airports. The Southeast Asian nation is forecast to be among the 10 fastest growing economies in 2012, according to a Bloomberg survey, making it less likely that Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas will cut its benchmark interest rate again in December.

"The Philippines is going to rock," said Trinh Nguyen, a Hong Kong-based economist at HSBC Holdings Plc. "The central bank and the government have made timely policy adjustments that are boosting trend growth. With momentum so strong, we think BSP will hold rates and mark the end of the easing cycle."

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PCOMP) erased earlier losses and rose 0.7 percent as of 11:44 a.m. in Manila trading. The Philippine peso was little changed at 40.86 per dollar. It has risen more than 7 percent this year, the best performer among Asia's 11 most-traded currencies tracked by Bloomberg.

Preserving Firepower

Some Asian officials have restrained their stimulus efforts as global expansion slowed, with others refraining from interest-rate cuts to preserve firepower should Europe's debt crisis worsen. Thailand may hold borrowing costs today, economists said, after a manufacturing production index rose in October for the first time in five months. Meanwhile, India may report on Nov. 30 that GDP rose 5.3 percent last quarter.

Bangko Sentral "will be careful to calibrate the use of its enhanced policy tool kit to help ensure" domestic demand price pressures and risks from capital flows are managed, central bank Governor Amando Tetangco said today.

"In the near-term, our policy stance appears to remain appropriate," he said. Full-year growth may be 6 percent to 7 percent, Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said.

Moody's Investors Service raised the country's credit rating to one step below investment grade in October, luring more pledges from companies including Alliance Global Group Inc. and First Gen Corp. The government signed a peace deal with Muslim guerrillas in the mineral-rich south last month, and said it expects about $1 billion of commitments in Mindanao.

Philippine exports rose 22.8 percent in September from a year earlier, as data signaling a recovery in the U.S. and China boosted the outlook for Asian goods. Inflation eased to a four- month low of 3.1 percent in October, while remittances, which make up the equivalent of about 10 percent of GDP, surged to a record $1.8 billion in September.

The Philippine economy expanded 6.5 percent in the January- September period, today's report showed. Public construction in the third quarter climbed 23.7 percent from a year earlier, while government spending gained 12 percent and household spending advanced 6.2 percent. (http://is.gd/XY5vxv)

Bloomberg 

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