Hontiveros to Gov't: Identify Aid with Unjust Conditionalities

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday challenged the Duterte government to show to the public aid, grants and loans that it deemed had unjust conditionalities and could interfere with the country's state of affairs.

Hontiveros issued the statement after the government decided to reject aid from the European Union (EU) citing unfair conditionalities that could possibly interfere with domestic affairs.

Four questions

"I have four basic questions for the government. First, which of the EU aid packages had unfair conditionalities? Can the government provide the public a list? Second, what exactly were the unjust conditionalities in the said grants and/or aid that could interfere with our national affairs? Third, how could the said conditionalities possibly interfere in our domestic affairs? Fourth, what audit mechanism was used by the government in rejecting the said aid?" Hontiveros asked.

Hontiveros also asked the Duterte government if the billions of dollars in loans acquired from China are free from any conditionalities. The senator said that in the spirit of fairness and transparency, the government should divulge all the details regarding the Chinese loans.


Tied Chinese loans?

"Since the government said that it is their policy to reject all aid and loans from countries with unjust conditionalities, I therefore ask, are Chinese loans without any conditionalities? Are they not tied loans? Are they not tied to Chinese companies, contractors, supplies, technical experts and manpower? Were Chinese loans given with the condition that the Philippines will not enforce against China the UN-supported arbitral decision of the United Nations Arbitral Tribunal? Can the government provide the public the loan contracts and other documents to ascertain that they, too, will not interfere with our national affairs? Are Chinese loans in accordance with the principles on promoting responsible sovereign lending and borrowing by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)? Hontiveros further queried.

Hontiveros said that unless the government can provide the public more information about the supposed unfairness of EU aid, its decision appears to be a retaliation for the criticisms that the regional bloc aired on the human rights situation in the country.



"Walk the talk, conduct a debt audit"

"To answer all these questions, I call on the government to walk the talk and conduct a comprehensive debt audit as called for by Senate Resolution 253 and the debt audit provision we've managed to include in the 2017 General Appropriations Act. There is a strong need to scrutinize all the loan agreements the Philippines has entered into, if they are legitimate and not riddled with questionable processes, contractual obligations, purposes and use. These include the recently acquired loans from China," Hontiveros stressed.

"If the government is serious in rejecting aid and loans with unjust conditions, it must be based on the appraisal of a debt audit process conducted in partnership with social movements working on debt and development issues. The principle of rejecting aid and loans with unfair and onerous conditions should apply to all, whether they are from EU or China," Hontiveros concluded.

Thousands Attended Asia’s Got Talent Season 2 PH Audition

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The most creative and aspiring Pinoy acts turned out in full force today as AXN kicked off its open auditions for the second season of Asia’s Got Talent.

Thousands of talented performers – from magicians, singers and acrobats to dancers and variety acts – headed to QCX: Quezon City Experience to audition for a coveted spot in the record-breaking talent contest and a USD100,000 cash prize.

“Asia’s Got Talent celebrates performers of any age and with any dream and that was certainly the case here in Philippines today. Our first season was won by the Filipino shadow dance group, El Gamma Penumbra, and this has inspired the entire nation to pursue their dreams. I wish all performers who auditioned for Asia’s Got Talent today the very best of luck and I hope to see them shine on Asia’s Got Talent later this year,” Virginia Lim, Senior Vice President and Head of Content, Production and Marketing, Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia.

Billed as the world’s greatest talent competition, “Asia’s Got Talent” welcomed individual and group performers of all ages, who took to the stage with dreams of making it to the next round. 

Pioneer Adhesives, Inc. Launches Pioneer Contact Bond Grupo Sapatero

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Pioneer Adhesives, Inc., makers of Pioneer Contact Bond,  successfully launched Grupo Sapatero on March 17, 2017, an association of local shoemakers and manufacturers, in a bid to help uplift the shoe industry in Marikina City.

The local shoemakers who gathered at the event launch were declared to be the first members of Pioneer Contact Bond’s Grupo Sapatero. This event was held at the historic Kapitan Moy Events Place, the 200-year-old house of Don Laureano “Kapitan Moy” Guevarra, the founder of the city’s shoe industry.

According to Camille Fernandez, Asst. Product Manager of Pioneer Adhesives, Inc.—the said association was initiated to not only provide assistance to the members, but also mount programs like free training and workshops. This effort was greatly supported by local government of Marikina City through the Marikina Shoe Industry Development Office (MASIDO)..

“Pioneer Adhesives Inc., as a leading Filipino-owned company, has always been dedicated to helping the local industry because we also believe in the quality of Filipino craftsmanship. We saw the need to support the shoemakers and manufacturers, who are continues to craft dikit-tibay and tatak world-class products. They have also been doing their best to revive the glory of the Marikina shoe industry,” Fernandez added.

With stiff competition due to the entry of cheaper imported brands, the country’s Shoe Capital has experienced a decline in production. The industry also had to contend with a decline in the number of expert cobblers. Many of them having been forced to look for other forms of employment.

Despite these realities, the local shoemakers remain resilient in making world-class quality footwear. Most of the small and micro-scale manufacturers, also continue the art of crafting quality shoes passing on the legacy to the next generation of cobblers.