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PHL applauds Israel-Hamas peace deal, cites hope for hostages, Pinoys in region

THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday welcomed the landmark peace agreement between Israel and Hamas, describing it as a ‘monumental step’ toward de-escalation and lasting peace in the Middle East.

In its official statement, the DFA said the breakthrough offers renewed hope for civilians caught in the conflict, especially hostages and the people of Gaza.

‘We welcome this breakthrough and congratulate the peacemakers,’ the DFA said, commending the sustained diplomatic efforts of the United States, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey. ‘Their persistence has brought about the necessary pause in hostilities and secured the release of hostages.’

The DFA emphasized the significance of the peace deal for the safety and welfare of the estimated two million Filipinos living across the region, as well as thousands of Filipino seafarers who regularly transit its strategic waters.

The department also cited the impact of maritime violence linked to the conflict.

Following Israel’s retaliatory strikes on Gaza, Houthi rebels launched sympathetic attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden targeting Israeli-linked vessels. In at least four major incidents since November 2023, 89 Filipino seafarers were affected.

Of those, four were confirmed dead, two remain missing, and 26 were taken hostage before being released. The remaining 57 were safely rescued or repatriated.

‘The Philippines hopes this initial step will usher in long-term peace and stability in the region,’ the DFA said, reaffirming its commitment to protecting Filipino lives and livelihoods amid geopolitical shifts.

The peace plan, announced earlier this week, includes a phased ceasefire, the release of hostages and prisoners, and a coordinated surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Mediators have described it as the most significant diplomatic development since the war erupted in October 2023.

The Middle East remains a vital region for the Philippines-not only for its maritime routes but also for its large Filipino workforce. Over 865,000 Filipinos reside in Saudi Arabia, 700,000 in the United Arab Emirates, and tens of thousands more in Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Israel, working in healthcare, construction, hospitality, and domestic services.

The DFA reiterated its support for international efforts that uphold human dignity, protect civilians, and foster inclusive recovery and regional stability.

Minding the wind

The meteorological agency of the Philippines has recently declared the ‘habagat’ to be over. Known as the Southwest monsoon, ‘habagat’ is one of the two kinds of winds or seasons in the country. The agency has announced the arrival of the ‘amihan,’ the Northeast monsoon.

A wind pattern, monsoon is best understood when seen from its derivation ‘mawsim’ the Arabic term adapted by Portuguese sailors. The concept penetrated into the English vocabulary in the form of the Dutch monssoen.

In the Philippines, the monsoon is characterized by other elements such as strong rain and even storms and typhoons. The habagat occurs with high humidity and brings in pressure from April to October. The transition is not that marked and, for those who have experienced the change in seasons-as in from summer to autumn-the shift does come after a night. Or when one wakes up and there is a bit of chill by the open window.

I grew up with a grandmother-Emilia and a host of grandmothers and grand-aunts-who possessed the confidence of a maga. More or less. She was particularly adept at the directions of the wind, and was careful to note the hues of the early morning clouds or the haze of the early evenings.

This became even more complicated with the tales she remembered, the origin myths she has endless collections of. Putting them all together was like beholding an almanac of beliefs that guided her and the community.

Amihan, the harbinger of cool and cold wind, when the days have suns that shine bright, pleasantly dull and pale, was also about the good, slow life. In our old rambling house, I recall this grandmother who would look out during the month of October-usually mid-month and almost near the days of the All-Souls’ and All-Saints’ Day-when a particular rhizomatous grass begins to wave its silver blooms.

‘It’s seeking the wind to blow them away,’ the grandmother almost in a prophecy would declare the meaning of the profusion. Indeed, by December, the wind became visible by the tiny specks produced by the tall, hardy grasses. This would go on for a few more days.

The change between monsoons or seasons can be abrupt, or it could happen overnight. There were years when the season took weeks to settle.

The old people in the household were the ones concerned about these changes; the young were not.

My grandmother, for example, would look at the part of the kitchen or the porch and note how the shadow had already shifted-the chair that once held the cooler space would now be under the glare of the morning sun. Or, she would call our attention to a particularly raucous bird on top of the fence.

‘It must be after the ripening papaya,’ my grandmother would nearly admonish us. But the bird always had the monopoly of that ripening fruit. That was hers when the right season came for them.

Growing up in a small town, the flight of domestic ducks or geese never escaped observation. When the wind was of particular import and direction, the women and men were always looking at how high these fowls were flying above the roofs. One particular afternoon, there was a shrill cry from the other end of the neighborhood. A younger aunt was hysterical upon seeing the fattest goose of the priest soaring high above the steeple of the convento. The goose must have felt in its ancient feathers the arrival of the strongest typhoon. We must all brace for the danger!

Far from the crowd, the poor aunt did not see the origin of the fowl’s fear – the ferocious dog running after the goose that flew so high it alerted falsely the arrival of a calamity.

In the same household also lived a great grandmother-the mother of my grandfather, Elpidio. She was a healer who kept a bottle of leeches. It was said she generally consulted the little creatures and marveled at their behavior. When these tiny crawlers crept up the side of the bottle my great-grandmother kept in her room, she knew rain would come or a great flood was about to occur.

At times, without my meaning to, whenever, I see a row of ants parading slowly up my wall, I know the rainy days are here. When this happens, I thank my grandmother and grand-aunts for all the magic they have taught me. Quietly.

ST. VINCENT-POLITICS-Taiwanese diplomat says her country will not ‘provoke nor yield’ to China

Taiwan’s Ambassador to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Fiona Huei-Chun Fan, says her country, which is is celebrating its 1th National Day on Friday, ‘will neither provoke nor yield’ to China.

China regards the Taipei as a renegade province and has vowed to bring it under the ‘One China’ policy.

But speaking at a ceremony to mark the celebration, Fan said that the East Asian island which lies between the East and South China Seas, stands at the frontline of defending democracy in the face of ‘constant challenges from Communist China – through military intimidation, economic coercion, diplomatic suppression, and disinformation campaigns.

‘Yet, Taiwan remains calm, determined, and resolute. We will neither provoke nor yield,’ she said, adding Taiwan will continue to defend its sovereignty, safeguard its democracy, and preserve peace and stability in the region.

‘Neither Taiwan nor the PRC (People’s Republic of China) is subordinate to the other. Taiwan’s future will always be determined by the will of its 23 million people,’ the Taiwanese diplomat said.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines is among a handful of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries that enjoy diplomat relationship with Taiwan. The others being St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, Belize and Haiti.

‘We will keep working with like-minded democracies, including St. Vincent and the Grenadines, to ensure that the Indo-Pacific remains a region of peace, freedom, and shared prosperity,’ Fan said.

She said that since Taiwan and St. Vincent and the Grenadines established diplomatic relations in 1981, the two countries have enjoyed a partnership built on mutual respect, shared prosperity, and unwavering faith in democratic values.

‘We are especially grateful to Prime Minister (Ralph) Gonsalves for his impassioned call at the United Nations General Debate this past September , a powerful affirmation of Taiwan’s rightful place in the international community,’ Fan said.

She also thanked Kingstown for its continued support in Taipei’s campaign to join the UN’s health, climate change, civil aviation, and crime prevention agencies.

Fan noted that Taiwan celebrates its 114th National Day just days before St. Vincent and the Grenadines marks its 46th anniversary of independence, saying ‘we not only celebrate our shared history, we also celebrate our shared vision for the future’.

She said her country is the 22nd largest economy in the world, ranks sixth in global competitiveness and fourth in economic freedom.

‘Our exports have exceeded US$475 billion, and our GDP (gross domestic product)per capita now stands at US$34,000, a reflection of the hard work and resilience of our people.

‘We are also proud to say that Taiwan is also a global digital partner, with our brand ASUS and ACER, etc. producing 70 per cent of laptops worldwide. Taiwan produces 90 per cent of the world’s AI (artificial intelligence) servers, placing us at the very heart of the global artificial intelligence supply chain.’

Fan said many of the world’s leading tech companies, including Google, Microsoft, and Micron, have established research and development centres in Taiwan, reaffirming Taiwan’s role as a trusted and indispensable partner in the digital age.

‘But Taiwan’s technology is not meant for Taiwan alone. Our progress is meaningful only when it helps our allies grow with us, and nowhere is that more evident than here, in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.’

She noted that the two countries have worked together to install 320 CCTV cameras across St. Vincent and the Grenadines, supported by an AI-powered Police Security Analytics Centre.

In agriculture, the Young Farmers Training Programme, a three-year initiative, is designed to modernise local farming and strengthen climate resilience.

Through the use of IoT-based environmental controls and smart plant factories, 75 young Vincentian farmers will receive training in crop production, post-harvest handling, and agribusiness management.

And the top graduates will receive entrepreneurship coaching and seed funding to launch their own ventures.

Taiwan’s livestock project has doubled pig production and quality through the introduction of purebred animals, artificial insemination, and improved nutrition.

‘And of course, one of the proudest achievements in our bilateral cooperation is the construction of the Arnos Vale Acute Care Hospital.’

Taiwan has lent St. Vincent and the Grenadines US$125 million, from which the government has awarded a US$78 million contract to a Taiwanese firm for the construction of the hospital.

‘This hospital stands as a symbol of our friendship and our shared belief that good health is the foundation of national development.

‘Out of the 12 buildings planned, two buildings for administration and pharmacy have already begun to rise, and another two for diagnostics and general ward will be structurally completed by the end of this year,’ she said, adding that the project is slated to be completed over the next two years.

NGAs, LGUs must stop buying imported rice-Senator Kiko

SEN. Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan wants all national government offices, agencies and their local government units must stop buying imported rice-and instead purchase directly from local producers-for their food programs to help improve the livelihoods of rice farmers.

The agreement was reached with the consensus of Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ Dy III, Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francis ‘Kiko’ Laurel, Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Conrado Estrella III, ULAP National President Gov. Dakila ‘Dax’ Cua, Isabela Gov. Rodolfo ‘Rodito’ Albano III, House Committee on Agriculture and Food chair Rep. Mark Enverga, House Committee on Agrarian Reform chair Rep. Leah Bulut-Begtang, and National President of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines Mayor Inno Dy.

The senator and chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform welcomed the support of key government officials and local chief executives during a meeting with DAR, DA, lawmakers, and the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) on Thursday, Oct. 9.

‘As far as government purchases of rice are concerned, it has to be locally produced rice. Government corporations, agencies, and local governments should not buy imported rice. They should buy local,’ Pangilinan said.

‘This is what must be done, because our farmers are really badly affected. And if possible, Mr. Secretary, it should be prohibited for government, our departments, to procure imported rice-it should be locally produced rice,’ Dy added.

This comes amid the senator’s appeal to Malacañang to issue executive orders on setting a minimum floor price for wet and dry palay for government purchases.

Setting a floor price for palay for government purchases will stabilize the incomes of farmers, who have been forced to sell palay for an average of P7.66 per kilo-way below the production cost of P13.51 per kilo-because of abusive traders and middlemen.

Noting that the government is the country’s biggest employer, Pangilinan pointed out how government agencies and instrumentalities can provide the biggest market access to local food producers such as farmers and fisherfolk.

This falls in line with Pangilinan’s 2019 Sagip Saka Act, the landmark law that he authored and passed to allow all national government offices, agencies, and local government units to directly purchase produce from farmers and fisherfolk without public bidding.

It aims to improve the livelihood of farmers and fisherfolk by providing them direct access to government purchases of food that amount to an estimated P150 billion annually.

Pangilinan said state colleges and universities, military camps, jails, and social amelioration programs must source their food directly from local agricultural workers under the Sagip Saka law.

Earlier, the senator underscored the need for the executive and legislative branches of government to work together to achieve food security and rural development, as well as uplift the welfare of farmers and fisherfolk. This follows his campaign message of ‘walang kulay ang gutom’ as he aims to address the pressing issues of hunger and food insecurity.

Pangilinan explained that the government must take the lead in empowering farmers and saving them from abusive trade practices by fully implementing the Sagip Saka law.

CARIBBEAN-TECHNOLOGY-CTU signs agreement towards fully unlocking region’s date potential

The Trinidad-based Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) says it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a Curaçao company describing it as a ‘giant step towards fully unlocking the region’s data potential’.

The CTU said that the agreement was formalised recently with DataAxis, a technology company aimed at accelerating data-driven governance, regulatory harmonisation, and digital services across the Caribbean.

The three-year agreement was signed at the recently held CTU’s Annual ICT Week 2025 in Jamaica.

‘By partnering with DataAxis, we are committing to not just policy and intention, but tangible, tech-enabled progress. We will see real changes in how data is used, shared, and leveraged for the public good across the Caribbean,’ said CTU Secretary General, Rodney Taylor.

The CTU said that the collaboration is intended to improve visibility and enhance usage in the areas of data management and monetisation, deliver regulatory and infrastructure support, streamline governance and legal frameworks and spearhead pilot projects and capacity-building initiatives in selected member states.

It said that these efforts are aimed at delivering improvements in areas such as land registry systems, automating licensing and permit processes and harmonising registry standards and improving cross-border cooperation.

DataAxis’s chief executive officer, Guershon Nahr said his company is pleased to partner with the regional body in such an ambitious and critical venture.

‘DataAxis is driven and proud to share its expertise with the Caribbean Telecommunications Union in a strategic alliance as together we seek to better prepare this region for the technological innovations and dynamic, industry-sweeping change that will continue to characterise the ICT industry well into the foreseeable future,’ Nahr said.

The CTU said that the MoU is also expected to facilitate more robust cross-border cooperation and service delivery monitoring, along with providing support for CTU’s agenda of regulatory harmonising, particularly in spectrum management, service delivery monitoring, and ICT infrastructure resilience.

Additionally, joint training initiatives will build capacity for local institutions in data governance, API management, and monetisation strategies, it added.

Thousands of families to secure land rights under 4PH program

MORE than 5,700 families living in government-proclaimed residential areas are set to receive Certificates of Entitlement (COEs) under the Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) program.

Housing czar Jose Ramon Aliling said the certificates will cover four Presidential Proclamations (PP): PP 550 in Los Baños, Laguna; PP 463 in Lucena City, Quezon; PP 1538 in Iloilo City; and PP 397 in Caloocan City.

The COE provides security of tenure to long-time occupants of government-proclaimed lots while their applications for full land ownership are processed.

It is one of the new modalities introduced under the expanded 4PH to formalize occupancy and prevent the displacement of informal settler families.

Aliling said COEs for Iloilo City, Lucena City and Los Baños are targeted for release during the National Shelter Month celebration this October, while those for Caloocan City are expected to follow within the year.

Initially, around 840 family beneficiaries are scheduled to receive their COEs before the year ends

The agency earlier reported that 63,000 housing units have been constructed since 4PH was launched, with another 268,000 units under financing and assistance programs.

Despite this progress, the government remains short of its 300,000-unit target by 2028, as outlined in the Philippine Development Plan.

CARIBBEAN-AGREEMENT-CRFM signs agreement with OECS and UWI

The Belize-based Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) says a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) will guide and formalise the cooperation between them.

‘For many years, the CRFM and the OECS have collaborated on initiatives to support their respective member states. The informal relationship has worked well for both the CRFM and the OECS, but there is a need to establish official relations,’ said CRFM executive director, Dr. Marc Williams.

‘As a result, the signing of the MoU will initiate a collaboration that will guide and formalize cooperation between the CRFM and the OECS for the execution of related and relevant activities in specific areas of fisheries-related matters.’ said Williams, who signed the accord with OECS Director General, Dr. Didacus Jules.

Jules said that the MoU, which spans 2025 to 2028, ‘represents bringing the collaboration between the OECS and the CRFM to a whole new level.

‘It covers governance and management of fisheries, providing support for further integration in the Blue Economy sector. building resilience, harmonization of safety at sea programmes, insurance products for fishers, making available information and guidance to support fisheries research, and joint research initiatives, economic development for fisherfolk and communities. focusing on empowerment of youth and women in the fisheries value chain, agriculture and fisheries linkages, trade markets and business development,’ he added.

Williams described the MoU as a pivotal instrument for solidifying and strengthening the established relationship between the CRFM and the OECS, eight of whose members Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadine, are also members of the CRFM.

Meanwhile, the CRFM said that it has also signed an MoU with the University of the West Indies (UWI) which will be executed through the UWI Five Island Campus in Antigua and Barbuda.

Williams, who signed the agreement with Professor Carl Justin Robinson, the Campus Principal, said that thefive-year MoU will lead to the establishment of a mutually beneficial relationship for educational and academic collaboration in the areas of mutual interest.

These include the blue economy development, marine spatial planning, climate change adaptation, ecosystems resilience, and resource mobilisation.

He noted that the Centre of Excellence for Oceanography and the Blue Economy (COBE), a collaboration between the Antigua and Barbuda government, the UWI, the Commonwealth Secretariat, and the Association of Commonwealth Universities, will support the CRFM in its efforts to advance blue economy development in the Caribbean, in collaboration with regional and global partners.

CARIBBEAN-MIGRATION-EU approves mechanism to reinstate visas over golden passports

Nationals of several Caribbean Community (CARICCOM) countries that enjoy visa-free entry into the Schengen area for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period, may soon have that situation revoked.

The European Parliament has passed new rules that make it easier for the European Union (EU) to revoke visa-free access for countries whose citizens pose security threats or fail to respect human rights.

The legislation, negotiated between Parliament and Council representatives, passed with 518 votes in favour, 96 against, and 24 abstentions. It still requires formal adoption by the Council and will come into force 20 days after publication in the EU Official Journal.

Under the revised rules, the European Commission can launch the visa suspension process either on its own initiative or following a request from an EU member state. The process begins with a temporary halt to visa-free travel and can become permanent if the concerns are not resolved.

The reform is designed to ensure that short-term entry privileges remain conditional on security, human rights compliance, and legal obligations, giving the EU a precise tool to respond to evolving risks.

The legislation applies to 61 countries that currently allow short-term stays in the Schengen Zone of up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa.

Among the Caribbean countries likely to be affected are Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, as well as British Overseas Territories.

Under the updated framework, the European Commission can begin by temporarily suspending visa-free entry for a country if there are concerns about safety, serious criminal activity, overstays, or a spike in rejected asylum applications.

If these issues remain unresolved, the suspension can be made permanent, but so far, the only instance of revoked visa-free travel has involved Vanuatu.

The reforms introduce several new triggers for removing visa privileges. These include hybrid threats, such as the manipulation of migration by a foreign state, including investor citizenship programmes, violations of international law or UN mandates, and failure to comply with international court decisions.

Existing factors, like general security risks or lack of cooperation on returning migrants, remain part of the criteria.

The EU parliament has set clear thresholds. They said a a 30 per cent rise in serious crimes or overstaying incidents and a 20 per cent low approval rate for asylum applications will prompt action.

In exceptional circumstances, the Commission can adjust these limits based on well-supported evidence. The rules also allow the EU to target government officials responsible for human rights violations or other breaches, enabling selective suspension rather than punishing entire populations.

MR.DIY Philippines wins ESG Business Award for job creation in PHL

Leading home improvement retailer MR.DIY Philippines has been honored for Job Creation in the Philippines at the ESGBusiness Awards held September 25 at The Westin Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The award celebrates the company’s outstanding contribution to building livelihoods in provinces where opportunities are needed most.

The winning entry highlighted MR.DIY’s efforts in Samar and Leyte-two provinces that were hardest hit by Typhoon Yolanda in 2013.

Six years after the disaster, MR.DIY began expanding its footprint in the region and has since established 38 stores, generating over 300 full-time jobs for local residents and creating sustainable livelihoods that keep families together.

‘For MR.DIY, expansion is not just about opening stores-it’s about opening doors of opportunity,’ said Ms. Roselle Marisol Andaya, Chief Executive Officer of MR.DIY Philippines. ‘Every store we open is a commitment to empower families, strengthen communities, and bring progress closer to home.’

By hiring locally in close partnership with LGUs, MR.DIY has helped reduce the need for residents to migrate in search of work. Beyond direct employment, the company has stimulated indirect job creation through local contractors, transport providers, logistics partners, and mall vendors.

The entry of MR.DIY stores in smaller towns also spurs new markets, making affordable goods more accessible and encouraging other businesses to invest in the area.

To ensure sustainable growth, MR.DIY invests heavily in its people through its 4Es methodology (Education, Environment, Exposure, Experience) and Shift Supervision Leadership Track, providing employees with the training and opportunities they need to build lasting careers.

These initiatives reflect MR.DIY’s belief that it doesn’t just hire people-it develops them into confident team leaders and future supervisors.

This recognition from ESGBusiness underscores MR.DIY’s dedication to embedding social responsibility at the heart of its operations, proving that business growth and community empowerment can-and should-go hand in hand.

TRINIDAD-POLITICS-Opposition legislators stage walk out

Opposition legislators Friday staged a walk out of from the Parliament accusing the Speaker Jagdeo Singh of having a ‘biased and prejudicial behaviour’ towards them.

The 13 members of the main opposition People’s National Movement (ONM), including Opposition Leader, Pennelope Beckles, said that they ‘were left with no choice but to leave today’s sitting,” adding ‘the pattern of unfair treatment and rulings has continued unchecked and unaddressed.

‘It is now beyond question to unbiased observers that the current Speaker of the House has failed in his duty to act impartially and to uphold the Constitution and the Standing Orders of Parliament.

‘Since assuming the Chair, the Speaker has consistently rejected the majority of Urgent Questions and Prime Minister’s Questions filed by the Opposition. His refusal to maintain established precedent on Supplemental Questions is a direct challenge to accountability and transparency in the conduct of the people’s business.,’ the opposition legislators said.

They said that another constant feature of recent parliamentary sittings has been the ‘uneven and biased application of the Standing Orders.

‘The Speaker routinely overlooks inappropriate behaviour from Members of the Government, including disorderly conduct and offensive remarks, yet is quick to silence Members on the Opposition Bench.’

They said that Friday’s sitting ‘was no exception’ and that when they attempted to make contributions, ‘government members ‘were permitted to shout, disrupt and engage in unparliamentary behaviour without restraint or reprimand, while Opposition Members are met with repeated interruption and censure from the Chair’.

The opposition legisltors said that they have been constitutionally elected to serve the people of Trinidad and Tobago, ‘representing almost 400,000 citizens’ and that ‘any attempt to silence their voices, curtail their contributions, or restrict their right to question the Government will not be tolerated’.