By Florante S. Solmerin | Jan. 31, 2015 at 12:25am
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Officer-in-Command Vice Admiral Jesus Millan said PT PAL Indonesia
(Persero) is building two ships for P3.87 billion to serve as floating
command center with heliports.
“The Philippine Navy is expecting the first and second Strategic
Sealift Vessels (SSV) to be delivered not later than May 2016 and May
2017, respectively,” he said in a statement.
Millan
On November 18, 2014, the Navy said the Department of National
Defense (DND) declared Persero as the “single calculated responsive
bidder” for the sealift acquisition project.
It approved by Defene Secretary Voltaire Gazmin through memorandum
2012-060 on October 30, 2013 with a P4-billion budget sourced from the
Modernization Act Trust Fund of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
According to Millan, the sheips are also intended for humanitarian assistance and disaster response.
“These vessels are critical assets for civil-military operations due
to their capability of transporting large number of soldiers, logistics,
and supplies,” he said.
“Each SSV has the capacity to house three helicopters. The Navy’s
Augusta Westland-109s are programmed to be on-board components of these
vessels.”
Last January 22, Millan and other key officials went to Surabaya,
Indonesia for the first steel-cutting ceremony to signal the start of
construction of the vessels.
The joined Indroyono Susilo, Coordinating Minister for Maritime, the
Chief of Naval Staff of Indonesian Navy, the Ambassador of Indonesia for
the Philippines along with the Board of Commissioners, and Board of
Directors of Persero.
KOTA KINABALU, April 22 (Bernama) -- The Sabah government will be developing 460 acres of land at the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park in Sepanggar, near here, as a Halal hub.
State Industrial Development Minister Datuk Raymond Tan said among the industries aimed at the hub would be manufacturers of flour and pulses based products, fish and processed seafood products, herbal based products, processed livestock products, processed fruits and vegetables and cocoa based products.
The Halal hub to be developed by the state owned Sabah State Economic Development Corporation (SEDCO), would also facilitate supporting activities like research and development, cold storage, packaging and labelling, Tan said when wrapping up his ministry's statement at the Sabah State Legislative Council meeting here Thursday.
On suggestions that palm oil companies under the agriculture areas be included in the industrial zone, Tan said all factories using agriculture areas must change their land usage status to industry as required by section 54 of the Sabah State Land Ordinance.
Quoting the Malaysian Palm Oil Board, Tan said todate there were 121 oil palm factories in Sabah and 34 of them have presented their applications to change the status for land usage while the rest will be asked to do so by the Sabah Land and Survey Department.
Tan said that despite the world economic slump last year, Sabah had continued to be a focus for foreign direct investment in the manufacturing sector.
Meanwhile, State Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Hajiji Noor said the plan for the new township of Sukau, involving a land area of 104 acres in the east coast of Sabah, had been approved.
He said the Housing and Township Development Board had been entrusted with the implementation of the new township project under the 10th Malaysia Plan. -- BERNAMA
Government Cites Wireless Interference, but Apple Tablet Uses Standard Chips
By CHARLES LEVINSON
JERUSALEM—Israel this week has been blocking travelers from bringing Apple Inc.'s new iPad into the country saying the device's wireless technology threatens to create interference with other products, a move that has puzzled people both in Israel and Silicon Valley.
The Ministry of Communications said the ban was instituted earlier this week because the iPad's Wi-Fi wireless technology was built to the U.S. standard, which allows stronger signals than those allowed in Europe and Israel.
"This device's wireless strengths violate Israeli law and will overpower other wireless devices in Israel," ministry spokesman Yechiel Shavi said.
Mr. Shavi said once Apple releases a version of the device built according to European wireless specifications, the ban will be reversed. An Apple spokeswoman said the "iPad complies with international industry standards for Wi-Fi specifications."
The decision has left many scratching their heads. Travelers have been bringing laptops and cellphones configured to U.S. standards, including other Apple devices with the same wireless configuration, into Israel for years without incident. Some Israeli lawmakers alleged on Friday the decision undermines Israel's status as a global leader in the high-tech industry.
Richard Doherty, an analyst with technology consulting firm Envisioneering Group, said Apple is using a standard Wi-Fi chip based on a widely-used industry standard in the iPad, and the Israeli government's decision "does not make sense." "If they're paranoid about the iPad then they should be paranoid about BlackBerrys and the iPhone," he said, adding that the decision "seems to have no technical reason."
According to tests that Envisioneering has run on iPads, Mr. Doherty said the iPad has a smaller antenna and the Wi-Fi transmission is weaker, if anything, compared with other devices of similar size and power. That's because the computer is encased in solid aluminum, and the radio waves transmit only through the small Apple logo in the back of the case.
Customs authorities have confiscated at least 10 iPads so far from travelers arriving to Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport. Travelers have been required to pay for storage fees until they pick up their devices on the way out of the country.
The ban has triggered an angry wave of criticism in Israel, as gadget-happy Israeli consumers fear they will once again be forced to watch with envy as the rest of the world enjoys the latest high-tech toy, as happened with Apple's iPhone which was released in Israel months after it debuted in the U.S. and Europe. Retailers who ordered shipments of the iPad fear their stock will be confiscated at customs.
Mr. Shavi, the ministry spokesman, said anyone who brought wireless devices configured to U.S. standards into Israel in the past should have declared them to customs officials and could have had their devices confiscated. But he didn't know of any incidents in which devices were confiscated.
Some technology experts have speculated the ban could have to do with fears that the more powerful wireless frequency used by American devices could interfere with Israeli military communications technology. Unlike MacBook computers, the iPad uses the same wireless chip as the iPhone, which has a radio receiver and transmitter.
Israel's government has in the past stood up to tech powerhouses. In 2003, the government temporarily suspended purchases of Microsoft Corp.'s software and openly encouraged open source alternatives due to a pricing dispute.
Apple has long lacked a strong presence in Israel. That began to change in late 2008, after Nehemia Peres, the son of Israeli President Shimon Peres, bought the company that has exclusive rights to sell Apple products in Israel, iDigital. Israel's first Apple store opened in Tel Aviv in January 2009. iDigital couldn't be reached for commentabout the ministry's decision to ban imports of the iPad. —Yukari Iwatani Kane contributed to this article.
By Sheila Crisostomo (The Philippine Star) Updated February 05, 2010 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - Six major provinces have no telecommunication link to transmit election results from polling precincts to canvassing centers, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said yesterday.
However, Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said they could use the Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) or satellite antennae to transmit results.
“It does not mean that we can no longer transmit the results,” he said. “We can still transmit using the satellite.”
Site surveys conducted by Smartmatic-Total Information Management Corp. (TIM) showed 30 percent of the country lack access to telecommunication facilities.
These are the provinces of Abra, Benguet, Samar, Leyte, Zamboanga and Tawi-Tawi.
As of March 17, the number of registered voters in Abra was 147,615; Benguet, 328,010; Samar, 442,662; Leyte, 997,244; Zamboanga, 936,797; and Tawi-Tawi, 156,027, according to the Comelec.
Smartmatic started the survey in September last year to determine the availability of telecommunication facilities nationwide.
Anticipating a possible breakdown in telecommunications signals, Smartmatic had procured 5,000 units of BGAN as an alternative means to transmit election results.
Transmission might be delayed
It might take “some time” or until nighttime for the transmission of election results from some polling precincts in remote areas, Smartmatic said yesterday.
Testifying at the House of Representatives, Cesar Flores, Smartmatic president for Southeast Asia, said 30 percent or 40,000 precincts in remote areas will experience delays in transmitting election results.
“We have to wait probably for two hours of delay, but within the day, or by night, we will get the results,” he said.
Flores said Smartmatic will have “at least one technician” in each of the precincts, and that they will adopt a rotation method to maximize the use of satellite technology provided by international firm Imarsat.
“We’re not fooling anybody here,” he said.
“This is the reality on the ground. So far, we already have 5,000 units of satellite antennas.”
Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez asked Flores if such equipment is already factored in the P7.2-billion contract.
Flores assured the House committee on oversight chaired by Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez that the transmission would be done, as provided for in the law and in the contract.
“Right now, we’re investigating if we can transmit because it will take time, and these precincts may have to wait,” he said.
“But we will be rotating the satellite antennas in schools so that we can transmit the results of the elections.”
Executives of telecommunications firms Smart, Globe and Sun Cellular have acknowledged their limitation.
However, they have assured the Comelec, lawmakers and Smartmatic that they will help in the transmission.
“We have already allocated a bigger bandwidth for data transfer,” said Roy Ibay of Smart.
“We admit that there are indeed certain areas that we don’t have any signal,” said Froilan Castelo of Globe.
“But generally, in the streets, we have signal, unlike in those schools which may have high ceilings and whose architectural design is quite different.”
Flores said jamming devices can delay the transmission of election results, but they could not alter the votes.
The entire system of tabulation and transmission can be verified, even by the political parties , he added.
Flores said it is impossible to cheat without leaving a trail, as the system is completely auditable.
The system has enough safeguards against attempts to manipulate results, he added.
Flores said the machines will accept only the digital signature of the authorized Board of Election Inspector member on the transmitted data.
“All data that is transmitted by the machines have an encryption so the server will check if it’s the same encryption that it’s supposed to accept; if not, then it rejects it,” he said.
“The servers will check if the data has these items, it cannot transmit a different package.”
Flores said political parties and accredited poll watchdog groups will be provided with printed copies of the election returns.
They can check if these are the same results being tabulated, he added.
PPCRV to educate voters
Poll watchdog Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) will deploy some half a million volunteers to educate voters on the automated elections.
In a telephone interview, PPCRV chair Henrietta de Villa said aside from educating voters on the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines, they will continue to inculcate in them the need to vote with “principled conscience.”
“It’s not only teaching them how to shade the ballots,” she said.
“What is important is for them to adhere to justice, charity and truth when choosing their candidates.”
De Villa said the PPCRV’s objective is to reach out to voters in far-flung areas.
“We know that they are the ones who need this voter’s education the most,” she said.
Yesterday, the PPCRV organized a special mock election exercise for the media at the Pope Puis XII Catholic Center in Paco, Manila.
Five members of the media, including STARWeek editor Doreen Yu, were randomly chosen to cast their ballots and to feed them into a PCOS machine.
De Villa said the voter’s education campaign would primarily be done in parishes and schools. – With Delon Porcalla
TESDA’s contribution to fuel savings and environment care
February 4, 2010, 10:30am
An automotive mechanic learns how to install the LPG conversion kit, test and adjust calibration, service the LPG system, and remove and replace automotive engine and engine-related systems from a qualified trainor. An automotive mechanic learns how to install the LPG conversion kit, test and adjust calibration, service the LPG system, and remove and replace automotive engine and engine-related systems from a qualified trainor.
The growing popularity and market potential of the auto LPG technology among motorists nationwide created a corresponding demand for qualified automotive service technicians.
To meet the manpower demand, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) opened a special training course for auto LPG conversion technician to automotive mechanics and service technicians.
The special training course started as a joint project of TESDA and ECOS Environmental Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit organization of professionals and businessmen involved in providing technology and promoting advocacies for a cleaner and safer environment.
Venue of the training is the Auto LPG Technical Training Center at the TESDA complex in Taguig City which is jointly run and managed by the partner organizations.
In the Visayas, the TESDA-ECOS technical training center is located at the Cebu Regional Training Center in Banilad.
LPG Technology Center
In August 2007, TESDA and ECOS Foundation forged a memorandum of agreement for the establishment of the technical training center, formulation of training regulation, and promotion and advocacy of the auto LPG technology.
Primary signatories to the agreement were Secretary Augusto Boboy Syjuco, TESDA director general and Syuichi Tajima, ECOS secretary general.
The training in auto LPG conversion, according to Secretary Syjuco is the TESDA’s contribution to the government’s program in fuel savings and environmental care.
“TESDA has promulgated the revised Training Regulations for Automotive Servicing NC III which includes new competencies to keep pace with developments in auto LPG technology,” says Secretary Syjuco.
The additional competencies in the revised training regulations are installation of LPG conversion kit, test and adjustment of LPG calibration, servicing LPG system, and removal and replacement of automotive engine and engine-related systems The Auto LPG Training Center in Taguig City offers two training courses: Auto LPG Engine Re-powering and Auto LPG Retrofitting. Both courses run for 100 hours or 12-14 days training.
Certified Auto LPG Technicians
Graduates of the special training program will have to submit themselves to skills assessment to become certified auto LPG conversion technicians.
TESDA, according to Secretary Syjuco, has formulated and pilot tested the competency tests for LPG retrofitting and conversion and motor vehicle repowering.
Auto LPG technology was commercially introduced in the Philippine land transport industry in 2003.
Since then, this alternative source of automotive fuel has gained wide acceptance nationwide particularly in the public transport sector- passenge jeeps and taxis.
Mufti Ali Gomaa, the Grand Mufti of Egypt and the country’s highest religious legal authority, denounced the use of the Muslim prayer call or verses from the Quran as cell phone ringtones, saying that it trivializes the word of God.
In response to a growing trend of using verses from the Quran or the prayer call for ringtones among Muslim cell phone owners, Mr. Gomaa said the practice “violates the sanctity of the divine words,” according to the Arabic and Muslim news site Al Arabiya, which quoted a copy of the fatwa, or religious edict.
“Picking up the phone is sure to interrupt the verse and this is disrespectful to the holy book,” the fatwa said. Instead, cell phone users might replace the ringtones with other religious songs. And prayer calls should not be used as ringtones, the fatwa said, because it might confuse people and make them believe it was actually time for prayer.
The Grand Mufti issued the fatwa about Quran-related ringtones after it received numerous inquiries about whether their use was appropriate, according to Al Arabiya.
While some Muslims may download prayer call ringtones as a sign of their piety, mobile technology isn’t necessarily embraced from all corners of the Muslim world. A 13-year-old Saudi Arabian schoolgirl will be given 90 lashes and face two months in prison as a punishment for being caught with a camera-equipped cell phone, according to The Daily Mail. Cell phones are prohibited in schools for females, and the girl allegedly assaulted her teacher after the teacher confiscated the phone.
