3rd PMA graduate killed in Zamboanga

 The long-drawn conflict in Zamboanga City has claimed the life of another Philippine Military Academy (PMA) graduate as government security forces continued with their clearing operations within the constricted area to flush out the remaining members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

   Army spokesman Lt. Col. Randolf  Cabangbang on Tuesday identified the latest fatality as first Lt. Francis Damina, 28, a member of PMA Class 2008.

   Damian is the third military officer killed in Zamboanga in a span of 15 days.

   Cabangbang said that Damian was wounded during a clearing operation in Barangay Santa Barbara on Monday.

    The fallen officer is assigned to the 33^rd Light Reaction Battalion, Special Operations Command.

    First to fall was first Lt. Kristopher Rama, a native  of Norzagaray, Bulacan and a member of PMA Class of 2008. He was shot dead by a MNLF sniper on September 1 9.

   Rama was followed by 2^nd Lt.Florencio Mikael Meneses, 27, member of PMA Class 2008.

   Meneses was wounded on September 13 while his troops were conducting clearing operations at Barangay Catalina. He died at Ciudad Zamboanga Hospital from gun shots wounds in various parts of his body.          

     Meanwhile, Lt Col. Ramon Zagala, chief Public Affairs Office, Armed Forces of the Philippines on Tuesday that six more hostages have been rescued by soldiers in Barangay Catalina.

     “We are still conducting clearing operations. We have rescued six more hostages,” he said.

      Zagala claimed that there were only small of resistance from the remaining MNLF who were already running out of ammunitions.

      But the situation, Zagala stressed, remains critical because they have to meticulously conduct a house- to- house search in the constricted area.

                                                                        WILLIAM B. DIMASUPIL   (MANILA TIMES)             

Philipines in global rice map as Dona Maria is exported through French and USA

The Philippines anticipates to put its name in the global rice map as “Dona Maria” premium rice is set to be exported in October at 156 metric tons (MT) through one of world’s largest retailer, the French Carrefour.

   SL Agritech Corp., (SLAC), producer of Dona Maria Jasponica and Miponica brown and white rice, is all set for a  shipment of the Dona Maria hybrid rice for distribution in Carrefour retail chain in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

   A separate 19.5 MT of Dona Maria rice will also be shipped to Los Angeles, California by October.

   A famous supermarket chain, Carrefour is known to be the world’s second largest retail group in terms of revenue, the second in profit just next to Wal Mart.  It is the largest retail group in Europe.

   The price is expected to be attractive for the country’s foreign exchange receipt and for farmers tilling the hybrid rice.  It is being set at $1,250 per MT. Price of regular milled rice hovered at just $500 to $550 per MT in the international market.

   “DA will not allow you to export at less than $1000 per ton.  DA provided for us the opportunity to export rice when we shipped to Dubai the first time (last May),” said SLAC Chairman Henry Lim Bon Liong.

   The shipment through Carrefour involves eight containers of around 20 MT per container. At this rate of 160 MT per month for Dubai alone, yearly shipment could reach to 1,920 MT.

   If this volume of export can become consistent, it will be more than enough for the Philippines to hit the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) earlier export target of 200 MT by 2014.

   Moreever, the export volume for the Dubai and US markets are further hoped to increase.

   “This is just for market penetration,” said Donna T. Lim, SLAC assistant vice president-supply chain.

   Its initial purchase order is for October to December arrival in Dubai.

   The company has come up with a little different package for the Dubai market to attract Filipinos to patronize local farmers’ produce.

   “Fifty percent (of the Dubai population) is Filipinos.  They’re eating rice that is imported from Thailand.  We did a little twist on our packaging to ask them to help support Filipino rice so they may support Filipino farmers,” said Lim.

   For the export to Los Angeles, SLAC will be shipping through international trader Triple A.

   The company also expects the distribution of Dona Maria through Carrefour to possibly reach other Asian and Middle East markets in the future.  These may include Qatar, Saudi Arabia China, and Indonesia.

   The international market has apparently developed an interest in Philippine rice as DA officially adopted a rice export strategy particularly for fancy rice.  DA facilitated shipment of an initial 35 MT to Dubai, 15 MT to Kuwait and Hong Kong, and 11.55 MT to Germany, Hong Kong, Macau,  Canada, and the Netherlands.

   SLAC accounted for the export of 20 MT of Dona Maria Jasponica and Miponica brown and white rice during the May shipment.

   “DA’s export has attracted the international market already.  It has attracted the attention of big buyers, so Carrefour talked to us,” said Lim.

SSS extends assistance to strife-stricken members in Zamboanga

 The Social Security System (SSS) has launched an assistance package to help members in conflict-affected areas in Zamboanga City recover from the losses caused by the strife, a top official said.

SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emilio S. de Quiros Jr said affected members can avail themselves of the package consisting of salary loans, house repair and improvement loans with reduced annual interest rate, and advance monthly pensions.

 “We hope to help relieve some of the burden of our members who are presently compromised and troubled by the unfortunate situation in Zamboanga City through some form of assistance that they can use to start anew,” De Quiros said.

The assistance package includes the Salary Loan Early Renewal Program (SLERP), which allows members to renew their salary loans earlier than the prescribed date of one year after the release of their existing loans. In addition, the SSS also provides the lifting of sanctions imposed on borrowers in affected areas who availed of the agency's Loan Penalty Condonation Program.

“The SSS will also waive the service fee of one-percent on new salary loans of affected members. The same eligibility requirements, interest rate and repayment terms on salary loans will apply,” De Quiros said.

Members receiving pensions for retirement and disability, and survivor pensioners may also get in advance their three month’s worth of pensions under the SSS assistance package. Their regular pensions will automatically resume right after the three-month period covered by the advance payments.

“Affected pensioners must submit an application form certified by their respective Barangay Chairman or a certification from the Barangay Chairman attesting their residency in the conflict-affected area.” De Quiros said

In the absence of regular postal services in Zamboanga City, the SSS Chief stressed that the generated checks for benefit and salary loan may be sent to its SSS Zamboanga City branch or to an SSS-designated location, where member-borrowers can safely claim their checks.

The deadline of applications for the SLERP and advance release of pensions is on October 31, 2013.

Aside from the SLERP and three-month advance pensions, the SSS has also reduced the interest rates for the SSS Direct House Repair and Improvement Loan to six-percent per annum for any amount that will be applied for under this type of loan.

“We will accept applications for house repair and improvement loans up to one year after the date of issuance of the SSS Circular,” De Quiros said.

He added that the loan must be solely used for house repair and improvement, which is payable in multiples of five years with a maximum of 20 years.

“Applicants must not be more than 60 years old and have at least 24 monthly contributions of which three are posted within 12 months prior to the month of filing of the application.” De Quiros said.

The state-pension fund has previously opened a similar relief package to members who were affected by typhoons “Maring” and “Labuyo” that hit parts of Luzon last August.

Two NPA killed on extortion

 

                                     Two NPA killed on extortion

 

 

NSFA, Panacan, Davao City – Two still unidentified NPAs on extortion activities were killed during encounter with government troops on security patrol in Brgy Ima, Sison, Surigao del Norte Friday morning. The clash also resulted to recovery of four assault rifles, improvised explosive device, radios, medical kit, backpacks and subversive documents while no casualty on the government side.

 

The 45-minutes firefight resulted to the death of 2 NPA bandits while their companions ran away to escape.

 

Eastern Mindanao Command Chief Lt. Gen. Ricardo Rainier G. Cruz III lauded the concerned residents who reported the presence of the bandits. He further extolled the involved troops who instantly responded in area. “In the spirit of bayanihan, we will always win in this fight against extortion activities and harassments by the NPA bandits”. Lt. Gen. Cruz said.