Day: December 22, 2021

PHNOM PENH – Cambodia and Vietnam signed seven documents yesterday, to further boost bilateral relations and cooperation, a Cambodian official said.

 

Cambodian Prime Minister, Samdech Techo Hun Sen, and visiting Vietnamese President, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, presided over the signing ceremony after their meeting at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh.

 

The signed documents focused on continued cooperation in security, national defence, justice, border demarcation, economics, trade, education, culture, science and technology, between the two ASEAN member states, said Eang Sophalleth, an assistant to the Cambodian prime minister.

 

Before the signing ceremony, the two leaders held talks, vowing to further promote bilateral cooperation in various fields, for mutual benefit, he said.

 

“The two leaders were satisfied with their bilateral cooperation in economics, trade and investment, and agreed to push for the implementation of the investment protection agreement and the avoidance of double taxation agreement,” Sophalleth told reporters.

 

“They also agreed to further strengthen cooperation in national defence, health, education and justice,” he said.

 

The Vietnamese president arrived in Cambodia yesterday, for a two-day visit, at the invitation of Cambodian King, Norodom Sihamoni.

 

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

MANILA– Philippine President, Rodrigo Duterte, declared a state of calamity in several regions, to speed up relief efforts for victims of Typhoon Rai that ravaged central and southern Philippine last week.

 

In a taped public address, aired late last night, Duterte placed Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and Caraga regions, under the state of calamity, due to the impact of the typhoon.

 

“I have decided to declare a state of calamity. I will sign it now,” Duterte said, adding that, these worst-affected areas have suffered massive destruction and loss of life.

 

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that, 156 people died from the typhoon, while the Philippine National Police reported at least 375 deaths. Many more are missing or injured.

 

Last Thursday afternoon, Typhoon Rai first swept across Siargao Island, off the eastern coast on Mindanao island, in the southern Philippines. It lashed the country for three days, causing flooding and landslides.

 

Rai exited the Philippines on Saturday, leaving a trail of destruction in the central and southern Philippines, including some areas in the main Luzon island.

 

The Chinese government yesterday started distributing relief supplies, to help thousands of victims in the typhoon-ravaged areas.

 

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines, Huang Xilian, said, Chinese relief goods are on the way. “Our hearts go out to all the Filipino families who were devastated by Typhoon Rai, which has caused massive casualties, as well as, property loss,” Huang said.

 

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

YANGON – Over 80 people went missing, in a jade mine landslide, in Myanmar’s Kachin state, in the early hours today, a local village administration official, said.

 

“According to witnesses at the scene, the landslide left over 80 people missing, and rescue operation is being carried out,” U Kyaw Min, official of a village administration office, said.

 

The landslide took place at around 4:00 a.m. local time, burying nearly 100 people, including jade scavengers and vendors, a Hpakant township police officer, said.

 

“There is no data about the exact number of the missing jade scavengers,” the police officer said.

 

The authorities and local rescue organisations are conducting the search and rescue operation, in the slide-stricken area.

 

Deadly landslides are frequent in Kachin state, especially at the Hpakant mining region.

 

Many locals make their living by jade scavenging in the region, and most of the landslides are caused by the partial collapse of tailings, heaps and dams.

 

A major fatal landslide occurred at a jade mining site in Hpakant township in July last year, leaving 174 dead and 54 others injured.

 

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is providing emergency employment to 25,000 informal sector workers affected by typhoon ‘Odette,’ which ravaged provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao last week.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Wednesday allocated P100 million for the flagship cash-for-work Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) to hardest-hit regions. The areas include Western, Central, and Eastern Visayas; Northern Mindanao; and Caraga regions.

Each region will receive P20 million for the emergency employment of 5,000 beneficiaries, Bello said.

“Workers, particularly those in the informal sector, will be given emergency employment for 10 days. They will help in clearing, de-clogging of canals, debris segregation, materials recovery, and other activities needed in the rehabilitation of their communities. Through this engagement, they will not only earn money but also help rebuild their lives and locality,” Bello said.

To determine the eligible beneficiaries, Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns Director Ma. Karina Perida-Trayvilla said the DOLE will be profiling those affected by the calamity.

“The TUPAD program is institutionalized. This is what we implement every time there is a calamity, typhoon, and disasters, including human-made calamities. We will profile those affected by the calamity, particularly our informal sector workers,” said Trayvilla.

Amid the ongoing pandemic and the devastation caused by calamities, Bello stressed the labor department is intensifying the implementation of its emergency employment program.

“TUPAD is a significant amelioration program. Every time we attend pay-out ceremonies, I can see the happiness and pride in our beneficiaries. Because these are not dole outs, these are jobs that we provide them,” Bello said.

A community-based amelioration program, TUPAD provides emergency employment for displaced, underemployed, and seasonal workers for a minimum period of 10 days to a maximum of 30 days, depending on the nature of work to be performed.

The salary of beneficiaries is based on the prevailing minimum wage in the region and is coursed through a money remittance service provider.

 

 

Source: DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT REPUBLIC OF PHILIPPINES

​The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) assures the public that there is adequate supply of currency in areas affected by Typhoon Odette.

Amid electricity and internet connection outages, BSP offices and branches continue to fully service the currency requirements of banks in the Visayas and Mindanao.

The BSP also continues to provide full tellering services and stands ready to assist banks in their currency needs.

In relation to this, BSP also reminds banks in concerned areas to carry out measures to ensure the availability of cash in their ATMs and to service the public’s withdrawal needs.

The central bank is committed to meeting currency demands in typhoon-struck provinces to support the immediate recovery of affected areas.    ​​

 

 

Source: Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)