Department of Foreign Affairs-27October2007-updates

APEC I.T. Center Coordinates Rescue and Relief Operations for Ondoy Flood Victims Posted: 27 Oct 2009 01:29 AM PDT 27 October 2009 – “We are ALIVE! Thanks to ADOC!” Thus declared Mr. Rodelio “Butch” S. Ablir, as he revealed that an APEC Digital Opportunity E-Learning Center established in Navotas to train poor and marginalized children and young adults transformed itself into an operations and nerve center for rescue and relief operations in the aftermath of massive flooding brought about by typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) in the Manila Metropolitan area recently. Mr. Ablir is the Executive Director of the Zone One Tondo Organization (ZOTO) which operates the APEC E-Learning Center in Navotas. His disclosure came during the APEC Digital Opportunity Center (ADOC) 2.0 Week Forum in Taipei on October 6-7. Participants in the forum welcomed the added utility and value of the ADOC facility in Navotas, with ZOTO as the Philippine NGO partner. With the typhoon at its peak, and the scale of the disaster becoming more apparent in the areas situated near the ADOC premises, ZOTO mobilized its volunteers and trainees to map areas requiring rescue and assistance, coordinated the sorting and packing of relief goods, and utilized its facilities as a temporary evacuation shelter. The ADOC is an APEC initiative that seeks to address the digital divide that hinders women, children, the poor and marginalized, as well as the disabled, from utilizing opportunities presented by digital technology, for a better life. ZOTO is a non-government organization operating in 28 areas in Metro Manila and nearby provinces. Their areas of operation are defined as demolition, resettlement or relocation sites. ZOTO launched an ADOC-based computer literacy project in 2008 to provide access to quality computer education for the out-of-school youth, with the view of providing them skills that would enhance the likelihood of their gainful livelihood or employment. Over 500 young people and children in Caloocan, Malabon, and Navotas cities have benefited from the ZOTO ADOC project. The ADOC Center was constructed with the assistance of the Swiss government, with equipment donated by the ADOC Secretariat of Chinese Taipei. Mr. Ablir was with other forum participants from Manila: National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons (NCWDP) Executive Director and Attorney Mateo Acuin Lee, Jr.; Philippine APEC National Secretariat and DFA-OUIER Special Assistant Eric Gerardo E. Tamayo; Mr. Adonis Untalan of the Philippine National School for the Blind; Mr. Josephus Reynes, Special Needs School Instructor of the DepEd Cebu City School System; the Rev. Antonio D. Llanes, Jr., President of the Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation, Integration and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired (ATRIEV); Ms. Lourdes B. Borgonia and Mr. Deterson Omas, ATRIEV Instructors; Ms. Charito Co of the Grace Christian Academy; and Ms. Mabel Gaerlan of the Philippine Resources for the Blind Foundation in Cebu City. Mr. Ablir expressed gratitude to their benefactors for facilitating the establishment of the ADOC in their area. END ShareThis

RP Ambassador to the Court of St. James’s presents credentials to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Posted: 27 Oct 2009 12:04 AM PDT 27 October 2009 – Philippine Ambassador to the Court of St. James’s Antonio M. Lagdameo presented his Letters of Credence to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II last October 13. The Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps Mr. Charles Gray arrived at the Philippine Embassy in London to escort the Ambassador and his spouse, Mrs. Linda Floirendo-Lagdameo, to Buckingham Palace for the official ceremony. Four Embassy officials accompanied the Ambassador. The official party proceeded through the streets of London towards the Palace in two State Landaus provided by the Royal Mews. Following the ceremony held in the Palace’s 1844 room, Ambassador and Mrs. Lagdameo were escorted back to the Embassy by Mrs. Alison MacMillan, Assistant Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps and Deputy Director of the Protocol Directorate of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. A well-attended reception was subsequently held at the Haymarket Hotel next to the Embassy. END ShareThis

RP Reelected to UN Economic and Social Body Posted: 26 Oct 2009 11:57 PM PDT 27 October 2009 – The Philippines was reelected to another two-year term in the United Nations Economic and Social Council (Ecosoc), garnering the biggest number of votes among18 countries that won seats in the 54-member body, the Philippine Mission to the United Nations in New York announced on October 26. In his report to Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo, Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations Hilario G. Davide, Jr. said the Philippines received 185 votes to allow it to continue serving in the body until 2012 when its two-year term ends on December 31. “The Philippines was eagerly supported by countries and reelected to a second two-year term because Member States value the contributions of the Philippines and its diplomats in the Ecosoc,” Ambassador Davide said. He credited the election to the country’s active participation and substantive contributions to the policy work of the body on issues under its purview since 2007. The Ecosoc, which is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, serves as the central forum for discussing international economic and social issues, and for formulating policy recommendations addressed to Member States and the United Nations system. It is responsible for promoting higher standards of living, full employment, and economic and social progress; identifying solutions to international economic, social and health problems; facilitating international cultural and educational cooperation; and encouraging universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. The Ecosoc has the power to make or initiate studies and reports on these issues. It also has the power to assist the preparations and organization of major international conferences in the economic and social and related fields and to facilitate a coordinated follow-up to these conferences. With its broad mandate the Council’s purview extends to over 70 percent of the human and financial resources of the entire UN system. “The Philippines will strive once more to be worthy of the trust and confidence the Member States have reposed in the country by participating actively, working constructively, and exerting every effort to make a positive contribution to the crucial work of the Ecosoc,” Ambassador Davide said. The Philippines, which also topped the elections for the 2007-2009 term in 2006, garnered a total of 185 votes out of a total number of 188 Member States of the UN present and voting. The three other votes were abstentions. Also elected in today’s elections were Bangladesh, Mongolia, and Iraq representing Asia; Belgium, Canada, Italy, and the United States for Western Europe and Other States; Slovakia and Ukraine for Eastern Europe; Argentina, Bahamas, and Chile for Latin America and the Caribbean; and Comoros, Egypt, Ghana, Rwanda, and Zambia for Africa. END ShareThis

RP Embassy in Pretoria Hosts Adobo-Cooking Demonstration Posted: 26 Oct 2009 11:54 PM PDT 27 October 2009 – The Philippine Embassy in South Africa hosted an Adobo-Cooking Demonstration for Filipino children in Pretoria at the Embassy grounds last October 18. The Adobo-Cooking demonstration is the third of the Embassy’s Munting Paaralan series of activities for the year 2009. Aside from being the most popular Filipino dish, it was pointed out that adobo is also the most practical dish to teach children as it requires only a handful of ingredients, is easy to cook, and has a long shelf-life. The cooking demonstration was attended by 18 Filipino children. The program started with the singing of the Philippine National Anthem, followed by a short lecture on Philippine cuisine. Each of the children was given the chance to take part in the cooking process. After Ambassador Reyes was invited to sample the dish with steamed rice, the cooked chicken adobo was served to the children for lunch. END ShareThis

Unified Threat Management (UTM) Appliance Posted: 26 Oct 2009 09:04 PM PDT Invitation to Apply for Eligibility and to Bid: The Department of Foreign Affairs – Bids and Awards Committee (DFA-BAC) is inviting interested bidders to apply for eligibility and to bid for the: Unified Threat Management Appliance Contact: BAC Secretariat, Office of Legal Affairs, 3rd Floor, DFA Bldg. 2330 Roxas Blvd. Pasay City, (tel nos. 834-4116 {Ms. Heidi Gardose} and fax. nos. 832-5359. ShareThis

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