On behalf of the United States of America, I extend my best wishes to the people of Cambodia as you celebrate 69 years of independence on November 9.
The United States commends Cambodia for its leadership of ASEAN during a challenging year. We value our cooperation with Cambodia in jointly addressing regional and global concerns, including the crises in Burma and Ukraine. We will continue to stand with Cambodians as they pursue a more prosperous, democratic, and independent future.
Congratulations to all Cambodians on your National Day.
SHARM EL-SHEIKH, EGYPT (8 November 2022) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) today joined with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Nordic Development Fund (NDF) at COP27 to announce grants of $16.5 million for the Blue Pacific Finance Hub, which aims to build ocean and coastal resilience in countries threatened by the impacts of climate change.
The GEF-Least Developed Countries Fund is providing $10 million and ADB $2.5 million, with NDF also providing a proposed commitment of $4 million.
NDF’s contribution will come through the new Ocean Resilience and Coastal Adaptation (ORCA) Trust Fund co-created by ADB and NDF which supports blue economies in Asia and the Pacific, of which Blue Pacific Finance Hub is a window.
The Blue Pacific Finance Hub aims to raise $50 million in grant finance to leverage $500 million in ocean investments to build resilient blue economies in the Pacific.
“Oceans are a lifeline for ADB’s Pacific developing member countries,” said ADB Vice-President for East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Ahmed M. Saeed. “We are grateful to our partners for their contributions and look forward to working with them closely to support the Pacific’s blue economies.”
Marshall Islands Climate Envoy Tina Stege welcomed the announcement: “Marshallese identity and culture are inextricably tied to the oceans. Our economic activities are also closely tied to the sea and marine resources. We must find ways to adapt to the impacts of climate change that threaten our way of life, while also exploring opportunities to develop and strengthen our ocean economies. Grant-based finance and technical support will be key to our efforts.”
The Blue Pacific Finance Hub will particularly help women and communities by funding coastal adaptation, including nature-based solutions, ocean-based mitigation—such as marine renewable energy and shipping decarbonization—sustainable seafood and marine protected areas, and marine pollution control.
ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said that the adoption of electronic payments in malls facilitates an inclusive digital payments ecosystem. During the launch of “Cashless Malling at SM” in Pasay City, BSP Deputy Governor Bernadette Romulo-Puyat underscored that the digitalization of mall transactions will enable more Filipinos to enjoy the benefits of digital finance. These include the safety, convenience, and speed of electronic payments. Meanwhile, BSP Deputy Governor Mamerto E. Tangonan highlighted that digital payments encourage unbanked Filipinos to open a bank or electronic wallet account, which enables them to save money and access credit. Photo below shows BSP Deputy Governors Romulo-Puyat and Tangonan with (from left) Department of Trade and Industry Assistant Secretary Mary Jean Pacheco, Department of Information and Communication Undersecretary David Almirol Jr., SM Supermalls President Steven Tan, SM Engineering Design and Development President Hans Sy Jr., and SM Malls Online App Vice President for Operations Daniel Lim.
SHARM EL-SHEIKH, EGYPT (8 November 2022) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Indonesia today launched a scoping study to map the pathway for the country’s future national capital, Nusantara, to identify, track, neutralize, and reduce carbon emissions.
The assistance was announced at an event at COP27 and is aligned with Indonesia’s commitment toward its nationally determined contributions in line with the Paris Agreement.
ADB will provide technical assistance in the form of a study for the preparation of a comprehensive regionally and locally determined contribution for Nusantara, the first of its kind at the subnational level in Indonesia. A voluntary local review to analyze the localization of the Sustainable Development Goals will also be conducted.
“Active participation of subnational governments, which are at the forefront of national policy implementation, will be critical for countries to achieve their commitments under the Paris Agreement,” said ADB Vice-President for East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Ahmed M. Saeed. “ADB is pleased to help the Nusantara National Capital Authority in taking decisive action in the battle against climate change.”
“This study is another step toward our goal of making Nusantara the world’s first sustainable forest national capital and the first carbon-neutral city in Indonesia by 2045,” said Nusantara National Capital Authority Chairman Bambang Susantono.
The study will identify key activities to help Nusantara meet its net-zero commitment, including protecting and restoring the future capital’s land and forested areas. The authority will also prioritize the rehabilitation and protection of areas with significant conservation value, such as wildlife and biodiversity corridors, and water catchment zones. For its urban area, Nusantara’s development will prioritize low-carbon materials for construction, maximizing energy coming from renewable sources, and access to public transportation.
The technical assistance will be managed by ADB and financed by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. It is expected to be finalized by June 2023.
Nusantara National Capital Authority was established in March 2022 and is a ministerial-level agency that reports directly to the Indonesian President. The authority is in charge of planning and constructing the new capital, and responsible for overseeing the government’s transition to the new city and eventually becoming its manager.
ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.
Based on an initial assessment by the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC), Grab Philippines’ acquisition of Move It likely did not breach the thresholds for compulsory notification. Hence, the parties need not wait for approval from the PCC to consummate the transaction.
Publicly available information suggests that the transaction was entered into by the parties when the P50-billion notification thresholds under Republic Act No. 11494 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act was in effect. Likewise, the publicly announced size of transaction seems to not have breached the thresholds under the Bayanihan Law.
However, the PCC may still launch a motu proprio review of the transaction if it finds reasonable grounds to believe that the deal will result in substantial lessening of competition in the relevant markets.
Transactions in digital markets are often characterized by small tangible assets that fail to meet the triggers for mandatory review. Their importance and utility to consumers, however, rank high in the priorities of the Commission to merit steadfast monitoring.
To note, this new acquisition by Grab Philippines will not affect the company’s existing legal commitments to the PCC relating to its takeover of Uber.
(Background: See Grab’s voluntary commitments to PCC here and remaining refund release order here.)
The PCC earlier expressed its support in amending the Land Transportation and Traffic Code to allow two-wheeled vehicles as a mode of public transportation. Notwithstanding any comprehensive competition review, the Commission considers the availability of motorcycle taxis and future expansion for the entry of more players as an indicator of an emerging market offering additional public transport options for commuters.
For concerns relating to passenger safety, accreditation, and eventual franchising of motorcycle taxis, the PCC defers to the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the Land Transportation Office (LTO), and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
Authorities in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi have sent hundreds of policemen to Dong Tam commune to help the local government build a new Cultural Center in Hoanh village on land claimed by the Catholic church. The controversial site has seen several protests over the years, including one which led to the death of the local spiritual leader.
Police officers, vans and ambulances arrived in Dong Tam on Tuesday last week, according to a local who went by the pseudonym Hoa to protect his identity.
“Hundreds of police officers and riot police were brought to Dong Tam commune on November 1. Ambulances, fire trucks, and cars to arrest people were parked at the communal stadium. All entrances to the commune have been fenced off.
“The entrances and exits to the village are fenced off. Each post is guarded by five to seven policemen. It’s no less [of a provocation] than the day when the Dong Senh land was taken!”
Dong Senh is a piece of land of about 59 hectares (146 acres) in size that has been a flashpoint for land disputes between locals and the city government.
In early 2020, the Ministry of Public Security and the Hanoi Police Department sent about 3,000 riot police to Hoanh village. In the ensuing fight they shot spiritual leader Le Dinh Kinh and arrested 29 locals. Three police officers were reportedly burned to death during the attack, although the police never produced their bodies.
The death sentence was given to two Dong Tam residents and one received a life sentence for murder. Others were sentenced to lengthy prison terms or given suspended sentences for “resisting on-duty state officials.”
Last Wednesday some policemen left Dong Tam, while the rest were stationed on village roads wearing plain clothes. Some officers went into the houses of parishioners who had objected to the construction of the Cultural Center on parish land, according to a woman who wished to be known as Hong, for safety reasons. She said the officers stayed there until the evening and even cooked for a sick woman.
Hong said most of the police officers she came into contact with were very young and appeared to be police academy students. She said they all spoke with a central Vietnam accent. Hong added that strangers entering the commune are checked by police, but locals are free to move around and haven’t had any problems over the past week.
About 80 households in the parish out of around 300 Catholic households oppose the project while about 1,300 households in Hoanh village have expressed no opinion, Hong said.
Since Nov. 1, a small area of land of around 0.7 hectares (1.7 acres) in Hoanh village’s Thuong Lam parish has been surrounded with corrugated iron above head height with a signboard saying “Construction area. Entry prohibited.”
According to parish priest Joseph Nguyen Van Thoan, this land has been owned by the Church for more than 100 years. He said it was bought by Father Loan of the Missionary Society to help the Church carry out its activities.
His claims are backed up by a document received by RFA, issued on June 27, 1956, saying “The Provincial Administrative Committee agrees to grant two acres of land to the parish church… to use for worship and for monks … to live and do religious work.”
The document agreeing to grant land to the parish church, issued on June 27, 1956 CREDIT: Administrative Committee of Ha Dong province/RFA
The reporter contacted Father Thoan about the latest developments on the land but he did not respond. Another local priest said the new Cultural Center could be used by the Church for flower displays, processions or holding Mass.
RFA called the office of the Hanoi People’s Committee, but the person who picked up the phone hung up after the reporter introduced himself. The officer on duty at the My Duc District Police Station said the reporter needed to go to police headquarters to get information.
According to the district government’s Facebook page, the People’s Committee of Dong Tam commune officially started renovation work on an old Cultural Centre in Hoanh village on Nov. 4. It was built in 2008 to be used for community activities by all the villagers. However, the building has deteriorated and needs to be repaired in order to complement the planned new Cultural Center.
The Facebook page says the project has been approved by the relevant authorities and is part of the commune’s new rural development program. It claims the project received the support of the 93.87% of households in Hoanh village.
