Storm leaves Philippines after 5 dead, 26 missing

by the Associated Press, Friday, June 10, 2011

The Philippine navy is searching for 26 fishermen reported missing in a tropical storm that has drowned at least five people in chest-deep floods.

The fishermen's boat failed to return from the South China Sea. Several days of heavy rains delayed the search operation until Friday, when the weather started to improve.

The national disaster council says a 10-year-old boy drowned in Batangas city south of Manila and a woman died on central Romblon Island. At least three other people died earlier in floods in the southern Mindanao region.

Tropical Storm Sarika is packing winds of up to 40 miles (65 kilometers) per hour and is forecast to make landfall Saturday in China's Fujian province as a tropical depression.

Yahoo News

MajGen Ramiro A. Alivio AFP, magiting na Naval Inspector General, trabaho lang!

By Pasky Natividad
Saksi sa Balita, Thursday, June 9, 2011

Mga katoto kamakailan ay personal na nakapanayam ng inyong katoto si MajGen. Ramiro 'RAM' A. Alivio, produkto ng Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class'79, kung saan kasalukuyang Inspector General ng The Naval Inspector General (TNIG) isang marangal at huwarang Heneral ng Philippine Marine Corps. (PMC), kung saan bantad sa karanasan, maging sa pakikipagtungo at pakikibaka sa katotohanan wika ni katoto, "TRABAHO LANG", naalalaumbagay sa matiyagang pagpupunyagi, naipamalas ang dakilang layuning maitaas ang antas ng PMC.

Batid niyo ba mga katoto, dumanas na ng kung ilang madugong engkentro simula pa ng maitalagang Tinyente hanggang LtCol si katotong Alivio sa ilang kritikal na lugar bago nito narating ang tugatog ng tagumpay hanggang sa maitalaga itong Brigade Commander ng Combat Service and Support Brigade, at sa kasalukuyang bilang The Naval Inspector General (TNIG), patuloy na nagsasagawa ng Annual General Inspection (AGI) sa buong Philippine Navy (PN) Units ng bansa.

Ayon kay katotong Alivio, sa pamamagitan ng AGIs ang Office of The Naval Inspector General(OTNIG) ay nagtamo ng napakahalagang accomplishment na nakadagdag ng malaking pagbabago sa PN units, kung saan posibleng naganap ito sa pamamagitan ng pag adapt ng bagong PN AGI Process para sa taong 2010 na inaprobahan ni katotong PN FOIC, Vice Admiral Alexander Pama nitong nakalipas na buwan ng Enero kung saan may tatlong pangunahing AGI Ratings kabilang na dito ang Performance Rating, OPREVAL, at Rating in Unit Efficiency Rating.

Sa ilalim ng PN AGI Performance Rating mga katoto ay may apat na pangunahing criteria kabilang na dito ang Office Management, Accomplishment Validation, Drills and Exercises, Morale and Discipline Survey (MADS), at ang Inspection of Personnel and Barracks, kungsaan ang tanging layunin ng nasabing emphasis ay maimpluwensiyahan ang PN units na mag ambag ng kanilang sariling pinaiiral na polisiya at pamamaraan na pinaguutos ng Higher Headquarters.

Gayon din ang pinaiiral na Operational Readiness Evaluation Ratings (OR) na may limang bahagi kabilang na ang Personnel Readiness, Training Readiness, Equipment Readiness, Maintenance readiness, at Facilities, kung saan ang readiness condition ng PN ay bahagyang nabago noong nakaraang taong rating na 62.5% kumpara sa ngayong taon rating na 66.2% kung saan ang PR bilang naging output ng yunit at ang OR naman ang siyang naging input ng yunit na kapuwa ito nagdulot ng basehan na makuha ang Efficiency Rating (ER) ng yunit, ito ang magandang basehan para sa assessment kumpara sa mga yunit na nais masubok ang kagalingang makagawa ng bagay na maiambag sa PN sa kabila ng pinagkukunang kaloob sa yunit sa parte ng naturang Operational Readiness.

"With these notable contributions, the Office of The Naval Inspector General is confident that the Philippine Navy, our Navy, will become strong and credible 2020, " wika pa ni katotong Alivio. Onwards Philippine Navy

2011 outstanding Philippine soldiers named

By Ogie Salvador, Thursday, June 9, 2011

CAMP GENERAL EMILIO AGUINALDO, Quezon City, June 9 (PIA) – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has named the awardees of the 2011 search for The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers (TOPS) at the AFP Commissioned Officers Clubhouse, General Headquarters recently.

The search aims to recognize members of the armed forces whose dedication to work, duty and country has been exceptional and worthy of emulation among its members.

The outstanding Philippine soldiers are Colonel Daniel A. Lucero, Master Sergeant Sixto P. Navarrosa, Chief Master Sergeant Billy C. Benebile all from the Philippine Army; Colonel Alexander F. Balutan, Technical Sergeant Rommel Carbon, Data Processor 3 Jairus M. Cenabre all from the Philippine Navy; Colonel Raul del Rosario, Master Sergeant Maria Teresa M. Bitong, Master Sergeant Nelson S. Mercado all from the Philippine Air Force, and Colonel Alexis Tamondong from the Technical Services.

AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo S.L. Oban Jr. attended the presentation of TOPS Awardees. “TOPS shall help uplift our soldiers’ morale in terms of showcasing their honorable service to the Filipino people and significant achievements that validates their upright commitment to protecting the best interest of the Filipino nation,” he said.

“I am encouraging all the winners to be an inspiration and good role models to the many soldiers who are like the awardees, doing exemplary performance of their vowed duties and responsibilities to the Filipino nation,” Oban added.

TOPS 2011 is an annual project undertaken by the Metrobank Foundation and the Rotary Club of Makati Metro, in partnership with the AFP. The Search aims to honor the career achievements of gallant officers and enlisted personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Technical Services.

The awardees received P300,000-cash prize and a trophy courtesy of the Metrobank Foundation. Later this month, the awardees will be honored in the conferment ceremonies in Malacañang to be attended by President Benigno S. Aquino III.

The awardees were judged by their career achievements and exemplary dedication to their service and acts which are instrumental in nation building. The multi-sectoral board of judges was chaired by Associate Justice Jose Perez of the Supreme Court and included Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Sec. Teresita “Ging” Deles, Presidential Commission on Good Government Chair Atty. Andres Bautista, Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo G. Biazon himself a former AFP chief-of-staff during the late Pres. Cory Aquino administration, Navotas City Mayor John Reynald Tiangco, De La Salle University President Br. Narciso Erguiza FSC, and TV5 COO Bobby Barreiro.

PIA

Tanbark shipment caught

By Bong Garcia, Thursday, June 9, 2011

OPERATIVES of the Philippine Navy intercepted Wednesday a shipment of a truckload of tanbark in a private pier in Zamboanga City.

Naval Forces Western Mindanao chief Commodore Armando Guzman said the confiscated tanbark was just unloaded from a vessel, M/L Marwiza, which docked at Wee Bin wharf in the village of Baliwasan, west of the city.

Guzman said the truck, which was about to leave the private port, was loaded with 310 sacks of tanbark.

Harvesting of tanbark has been outlawed in the Philippines because its bark when removed kills mangrove trees, said Guzman.

Mangrove trees provide irreplaceable habitat to diverse species of birds, mammals, crustacea, and fish.

Guzman added that tanbarks are commonly smuggled to Malaysia and Indonesia and are highly valued as a source of organic dye used in making batik cloth.

Sun Star Zamboanga