Philippine officials, looking for a preview of what President Obama’s state department secretary Hillary Clinton, can expect to be asking for from them and ASEAN can be culled from her comments in Europe.”Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged America’s European allies to mobilize the same energy and values that won the Cold War to tackle contemporary problems,”  This includes, “terrorism and climate change.”
In Manila (November 12-13), the Secretary will hold consultations with senior Filipino officials, highlighting the U.S.-Philippines treaty alliance.
Returning to Singapore, the Secretary will join President Obama for the …

As ever unpopular among conservatives the house speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Ca San Franacisco is at present a penalty clause in a proposed health insurance plan in the house may make even her liberal following in San Francisco question this development.
House members released to the public -albeit- by members of the US congress in the opposition republican party a letter from a bipartisan congressional office that discussed penalty provisions for not having health insurance.
As stated in a press release from Republican Congressman Dave Camp, R- Michigan claims that, American families may face …

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo asked municipal mayors, leaders of smaller towns in the country to take the lead and support the Administration’s fight against poverty. Arroyo was speaking at the Mayor’s annual convention of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) held at the Manila Hotel. Arroyo pointed out that the local government executives, with their increased Internal Revenue Allocation (IRA), can help finance micro-enterprises in their localities. Pointing to her Administrations effort in boosting working capital for the fight to create a larger financially independent working class. Arroyo said her …

Amidst new announcements showing the extent of damge to agriculture alone topping 24 Billion Pesos, Thailand Sunday made a gesture to help out the Philippine agriculture department with a large donation of rice for feeding programs and stockpiles for the National Food Authority.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Saturday (Oct. 24, 2009) received Thailand’s commitment to donate 620 metric tons of rice for the victims of typhoons ”Ondoy” and ”Pepeng.”
During the working lunch of the 10 ASEAN heads of state and government, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva handed the Philippine President a …

n the wake of news reports that cast doubts on the participation of MVP, Manuel V. Pangilignan, in the Presidential commision formed by Presidnet Gloria Arroyo in the wake of typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng.
The Executive Secretary of the Palace Saturday in Manila clarified that there “Has been no changes in the make up of the commsion to oversea recontruction efforts in the wake of the back to back disasters to hit the country.” Excutive Secretary Ermita told listeners of Government radio network, the Philippine Broadcasting Systems Radyo ng Bayan,
In …

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo commended today the country’s business sector for the assistance it extended the government in the relief and rehabilitation work.
“My heartfelt thanks to to the members of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), its provincial and regional chapters, and its other affiliate business chambers for their assistance to the victims of typhoons “Ondoy” and “Pepeng,” the President said at the 35th Philippine Business Conference) PBC and Expo at the Manila Hotel this afternoon.  The President asked PCCI and its members to help the government cope …

CANDABA, Pampanga – The United Nations-World Food Program (UN-WFP) assured President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today the whole world is united in helping victims of typhoons “Ondoy” and “Pepeng.”
“The WFP will always be here to support the government of the people of the Philippines to recover and rebuild and to make sure (they receive) basic necessities from us,”
UN-WFP executive director Josette Sheeran said in her opening statement.  Sheeran said the United Nations still believes in the strong spirit of the Filipino people to recover from the tragedy because “the Filipino people are …

If there is a figure in the wake of all the information on donations, offers of assistance, and, relief and recovery pledges.
There is one that needs to considered in looking at the recent floods and landslides caused by back to back typhoons to hit the Philippine Island of Luzon.
If there is one set of underreported news items it is the UN only has so far 19% of the amount it seeks to help the Philippines as part of it’s aid flash appeal.

[]… “The UN Flash Appeal for US$74 M to support …

Clear skys the first in three weeks in most of Luzon allowed rescue and relief operations to work in better conditions. In landslide areas the rush is on to try to get to people who may still be alive trapped in houses buried in mid and rubble.

Rescue teams, refusing to give up are using picks and shovels even buckets and bare hands, to frantically search on even most government authorities say there is little hope to find ant more survivors.  On Sunday more bodies have been recovered from under tons …

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo instructed last night the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) and the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) to provide clean and potable water to calamity areas severely hit by tropical storm Ondoy.
The President issued the instruction at the 36th LWUA anniversary celebration at it’s headquarters on Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City.

According to the President, a large number of typhoon victims were still without basic necessities such as food, water and shelter. In response, LWUA chair Prospero Pichay, Jr. said the agency had already distributed 3,000 food bags to …