Opinion 11/25/15 (Philippines, China, diplomacy, innovation, journalism, public funds)
Inquirer about Philippines-China diplomacy
Like a good Filipino host, President Aquino avoided mentioning any topic that might upset his guests, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Meeting last week. [...] Mr. Aquino made up for lost time, however, when he took part in a series of summits in Kuala Lumpur the following weekend. Xi wasn’t in attendance, but Chinese Premier Li Keqiang was, and he got an earful. [...] In high-level diplomacy, it seems, the Ecclesiastes principle also holds: There is a time for everything. In Mr. Aquino’s view, the time was ripe for the Philippines to use the language of unmistakable criticism. Hence, he no longer merely “expressed serious concerns,” but criticized China in forthright terms, and seized every opportunity throughout the weekend to do so. [full page]
Sun.Star Cebu on Sun.Star Cebu
In more than three decades of community journalism, Sun.Star Cebu has weathered a lot of changes. One of the most challenging is the way our relationship with readers has changed, and changed dramatically, in recent years. [full page]
Manila Bulletin
It has been 16 months since the Supreme Court struck down the national government’s Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) as unconstitutional, but repercussions from that decision continue to this day. [...] Hundreds of millions in government funds were released over the years under DAP to various agencies and departments of the government. We are counting on the COA to see to it that all still-unspent DAP funds be returned to the Treasury, in accordance with the SC ruling. [full page]
Philippine Star about lack of support for Filipino innovators
[T]he invention of Mijeno: a lamp that runs on saline solution, appropriately named SALt, for Sustainable Alternative Lighting. [...] Another Filipino in fact beat Mijeno by three years, applying for a patent for a similar invention called the Tubig Power lamp in 2012. Stevenson Rejuso is still waiting for the approval of his patent by the Intellectual Property Office. [...] Rejuso and Mijeno have a common lament: they have not received sufficient support from the Department of Science and Technology. [...] It shouldn’t take a US president or a Thai princess to give Filipino innovators what they need. [full page]
