Philippines, Indonesia seek to strengthen cooperation for energy security
MANILA, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines and Indonesia on Wednesday agreed to strengthen energy cooperation to safeguard energy security. Energy ministers of the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on energy cooperation at the presidential palace in Manila, where Indonesian President Joko Widodo was received by his Philippine counterpart Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos. Widodo arrived i.....»»
Australian lawmakers talk up security cooperation during Taiwan visit
A leading Australian opposition lawmaker visiting Taiwan this week has highlighted the importance of security cooperation between Taiwan and Australia.In a meeting with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen Monday, Andrew Wallace, the deputy chair of Australia's Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, said that in an ever-changing geopolitical landscape, security cooperation is 'paramount.'.....»»
China s Xi lauds ties with Indonesia during president-elect visit
Chinese President Xi Jinping praised China's strong ties with Indonesia during a meeting Monday with President-elect Prabowo Subianto. Xi laid plans for regional peace and affirmed China's commitment to deepen maritime cooperation with Indonesia.State broadcaster CCTV reported that Xi told Prabowo that bilateral ties "have entered a new stage of jointly building a community with a shared future." He also added t.....»»
Top Putin ally meets Cuba’s Raul Castro to discuss security cooperation – Interfax
'Various issues of Russian-Cuban cooperation in the field of security were discussed,' Russia's security council says, adding Moscow 'remains committed to the spirit of strategic partnership between the two countries'.....»»
Philippines, Indonesia agree to boost ties
MANILA, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- The leaders of the Philippines and Indonesia on Wednesday agreed to strengthen bilateral ties. Indonesian President Joko Widodo was received in the morning by his Philippine counterpart Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos during a three-day official visit in Manila. After the meeting in the presidential palace, Widodo said during a news conference that he discussed with Marcos ways to e.....»»
DOE slates 3rd round of Green Energy Auction
Another round of the Green Energy Auction will be conducted this year as part of the country’s utilization of renewable energy resources and attainment of energy security and reliability, the Department of Energy said......»»
EAM Jaishankar discusses security, maritime cooperation with his Philippine counterpart in Manila
Manila [Philippines], March 26 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is on an official visit to Manila, held a 'warm and productive' meeting with Philippines Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Enrique Manalo on Tuesday and discussed wide-ranging issues of security and maritime cooperation. During the meeting, both leaders exchanged views on global, regional, and multilateral issues, including Indo-Pacific, ASEAN,.....»»
Xinhua world news summary at 0730 GMT, Jan. 29
MANILA -- Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos left for Vietnam on Monday for a two-day state visit to boost cooperation. "Maritime cooperation will be one of the cornerstones of the strategic partnership which we are going to forge, and we hope to strengthen this aspect during my visit to promote peace and stability in our region," Marcos said in his departure speech. (Philippines-Vietnam-Visit).....»»
Indonesia International Open 2024 10-ball title JEFFREY IGNACIO TINALO SI HK-BORN FILIPINO ROBBIE CAPITO
MANILA—Ginapi ni Jeffrey Ignacio ang Filipino na ipinanganak sa Hong Kong na si Robbie Capito, 10-3, Huwebes, Enero 25 para pamunuan ang Indonesia International Open 2024 sa Jakarta, Indonesia. Tinalo ni Ignacio si world number 1 Francisco Sanchez Ruiz ng Spain, 10-6, sa semifinal habang dinaig ni Capito si Jonas Magpantay ng Pilipinas, 10-7, para ….....»»
Indonesia’s Mount Marapi erupts again, no reported casualties
AGAM, Indonesia — Indonesia’s Mount Marapi erupted again on Sunday, spewing smoke and ash high into the air, but no casualties were reported. The Marapi Volcano Observation Post in West Sumatra province recorded an eruption with an ash column about 1,300 meters (4,265 feet) high from its peak, followed by ash rain. Sprays of ash.....»»
Philippine president leaves for Vietnam for 2-day state visit
MANILA, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos left for Vietnam on Monday for a two-day state visit to boost cooperation. "Maritime cooperation will be one of the cornerstones of the strategic partnership which we are going to forge, and we hope to strengthen this aspect during my visit to promote peace and stability in our region," Marcos said in his departure speech. He adde.....»»
Indonesian Vice President to visit New Zealand
Indonesia's Vice President Ma'ruf Amin will visit New Zealand next week, the first here by an Indonesian leader since 2018, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters has announced."New Zealand and Indonesia have a strong partnership," Mr Peters says. "The Vice President's visit is an opportunity to discuss how we can strengthen this further, building on 65 years of par.....»»
Delivery drivers urge Mayor Baste for business permit exemption
Title: Delivery Drivers Seek Exemption from Business Permit Requirement A group of delivery drivers in Davao is urging Mayor Sebastian Duterte to exempt them from the mandatory business permits. The drivers, including those from various delivery apps such as Grab and FoodPanda, are concerned about the financial burden imposed by the business permits, which range from P2,000 to P6,000. They argue that this requirement is unique to Davao City among all cities and provinces in the Philippines. Grab rider Rolando Atico emphasized the need for solidarity among all delivery drivers, regardless of the app they work for. He urged fellow drivers to support each other, as the financial impact may extend beyond just Grab and FoodPanda. Atico also requested Mayor Duterte to reconsider the requirement and reinstate the previous occupational permit, which only cost P125. The group is facing a 30-day deadline to obtain the business permits, and they are citing financial constraints as a reason for their request for an extension. Failure to comply could result in their removal from the delivery platforms, jeopardizing their livelihoods. Additionally, they are advocating for changes to Davao City's Revenue Code, proposing a model similar to Cebu City, where only an occupational permit is required. The drivers are also calling for an inquiry into the lack of transparency and unilateral actions of food delivery companies, particularly concerning rider capitalization and financial concerns. They believe that a thorough investigation will help ensure fairness and equity in their financial obligations and working relationship with the delivery companies. Maribel Paguican, the Business Bureau officer-in-charge, stated that non-certified delivery riders categorized as service contractors must obtain a business permit. She mentioned two permits for occupational and business activities, with a discounted structure for delivery riders. However, concerns have been raised about increased taxes, potentially ranging from P3,000 to P6,000, along with an additional tax on top of the declared income of P1,400. The delivery drivers' plea for exemption from the business permit requirement reflects their concerns about the financial impact and the potential threat to their livelihoods. Their call for solidarity and support from fellow drivers highlights the urgency of the situation. This story sheds light on the challenges faced by delivery drivers in Davao and the implications of the business permit requirement on their financial well-being. It also underscores their efforts to seek fairness and equity in their working relationship with the authorities and delivery companies......»»
Philippines, Australia boost collab in maritime security, cyber technology
The Philippines and Australia on Thursday signed agreements to strengthen their civil and defense maritime commitments, and cooperation on cyber technology. .....»»
US-Phl-Japan trilateral security cooperation essential
During the state visit of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to the Philippines last November where he delivered a speech before a joint session of Congress, he highlighted the trilateral cooperation between the United States, the Philippines and Japan to protect the freedom of the South China Sea......»»
Police: No truth to bomb threat at PI’s prayer rally
The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) has debunked a text message claiming a bomb threat at the People's Initiative (PI) “Unity for One Nation, One Prayer” rally in San Pedro Square. The message warned of possible explosions at Rizal Park, one of the rally venues. Despite the lack of credible threats, the police urged vigilance and cooperation from the public for safety. Approximately 300 police personnel were deployed to secure various rally points, with additional support from volunteers and security clusters. Task Force Davao also activated a high alert status as part of the city's security measures. Captain John Louie Dema-ala confirmed that the circulating threat was unfounded and aimed at intimidating rallyists. Despite this, nearly 17,000 Dabawenyos joined the rally to oppose the proposed Charter change (Cha-cha) movement. The police and security forces remain vigilant and are conducting ongoing investigations into the social media threat......»»
Rare beetle discovered in Mt. Hamiguitan sanctuary
In a recent discovery, a rare long-horned beetle, Paraskeletodes hamiguitanensis, was found in the Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary (MHRWS) in Davao Oriental. The beetle was unearthed during a scientific expedition led by the Provincial Government of Davao Oriental and conducted by a team from Davao Oriental State University (DOrSU). Dr. Milton Medina, a Filipino coleopterist, confirmed the uniqueness of P. hamiguitanensis through careful morphological examination, highlighting distinct differences from its closely related counterpart found in Sulawesi, Indonesia. The discovery sheds light on the limited knowledge of beetle taxonomy in the Philippines and underscores the need for increased scientific and conservation efforts in biodiversity hotspots like the Philippines and Sulawesi. Concerns were raised about the global trade of beetle species and the rapid loss of forest cover in the Philippines, emphasizing the vital role of protected areas like Mt. Hamiguitan as essential sanctuaries for biodiversity. The researchers emphasized the need for cooperation with DENR-Davao in promoting biodiversity conservation and encouraged young scholars to explore beetle taxonomy. The discovery of P. hamiguitanensis and several other beetle species in the area underscores the rich biodiversity of Mt. Hamiguitan, with ongoing research aiming to describe more species and uncover many undiscovered ones in the region......»»
Japan to strengthen ties with EU to counter China s increasing market dominance
Tokyo [Japan], April 29 (ANI): Several agreements will be soon made between Japan and the European Union to ensure better cooperation on economic security, including strengthening supply chain resilience for semiconductors and other critical materials, Japanese news organization Kyodo News stated quoting its government sources on Sunday. The initiative is being pursued as a way to reduce dependency on countries like China.....»»
Basic Energy, Renova sign MOU for construction of 50MW Mabini Wind Energy Project
I reported last week on Basic Energy and its progress toward signing a memorandum of understanding with Renova Inc. to set the framework for signing an eventual Joint Development and Shareholders Agreement for the construction of the 50MW Mabini Wind Energy Project......»»
NEWS BRIEFS | 27 February 2024
Energy exploration in BARMM opened for bidding The Department of Energy has opened four areas in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao for exploration, development, and production of indigenous energy sources. Energy Undersecretary Alessandro Sales said coal exploration marked as “PDA-BC-1” covering 14,856 hectares in Kapai and Tagoloan towns in Lanao del Sur is […].....»»
Basic Energy signs MOU for joint development of 50MW Batangas wind project
Basic Energy announced that its board authorized the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Renova Inc., a Japanese renewable energy company, to set the framework toward signing a definitive Joint Development Shareholders’ Agreement for the 50 megawatt Mabini Wind Energy Project......»»