Thanks, but no thanks

EUROPEAN Union Ambassador to Manila Franz Jessen said that PH refusal of grants could affect up to 250 million euros in aid. In 2015, EU pledged 325 million euros (118.03 billion) over four years to finance projects in Muslim Mindanao after Manila signed a peace deal with rebels in March, 2014.

Malacañang said that PH was only rejecting aid from the EU that comes with conditions that may interfere with the country’s internal affairs.

*** PH’s move comes days after PDu30 won billions of dollars in pledges from China after the Belt and Road Initiative in Beijing.

The EU bloc criticized President Duterte’s war on drugs, expressing concern over alleged EJK in the administration’s anti-drug campaign, even raising it before the UN Human Rights Council in March.

*** DTI hopes EU keeps GSP for PH goods — News item

Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said the current zero tariff privilege enjoyed by Filipino exporters under the EU-General Scheme of Preference Plus scheme should not be affected by the Duterte government’s decision not to accept grant from EU. “GSP is not a grant, they’re commercial transactions that benefit both sides,” Lopez said.

GSP, which provides market access to our exporters, also allows cheaper PH products for EU consumers and EU investors in the country who export back to EU also benefit from the GSP.

The EU-GSP Plus is tied up to the Philippines’ implementation of 27 core international conventions in on human and labor rights, the environment and good governance. The EU GSP+ program is monitored and reviewed every two years. The 27member states of the EU account for the largest destination of Philippine exports at $901 million. For the first quarter, PH exports to the EU were 15.5% of total PH exports, a growth of 48.3%, making the EU the biggest and our fastest growing export market. PH applied last year and is currently the only country in ASEAN to be accepted in the scheme. *** China building two bridges across Pasig River for free — news sub item Beware the Greeks bearing gifts

*** Putin offers transcript to prove Trump did not pass Russia secrets — News item

Vladimir Putin said that US President Donald Trump had not divulged any secrets during a meeting in Washington with Russian officials and offered to prove it by supplying Congress with a transcript.

Wait a minute, can I get another character witness? — Gar Lising

President Putin thought the accusation that Trump had divulged secrets as l;aughable. He said Russia could hand over a transcript of Trump’s meeting with Lavrov to US lawmakers to reassure them that no secrets were revealed.

A Kremlin aide, Yuri Ushakov, later told reporters that Moscow had a written record of the conversation, not an audio recording.

***

Duterte won’t insist on emergency powers to solve traffic problems.

Weng-weng good enugh?

*** PH Red Cross launches humanitarian ship MV Amazing Grace — News item

The Philippine Red Cross officially commissioned on Monday, the MV Amazing Grace, the country’s first and only humanitarian vessel which the organization will use as an ambulance and disaster response ship. PDu30 christened the new ship last Tuesday(May 9), marking a milestone for PRC, which celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2017.

According to the PRC Chair, Sen. Richard Gordon, the vessel will ensure that life-saving services and goods will reach affected population in the fastest possible time and in the most efficient manner possible. “The ship is the realization of our vision to establish the PRC as the foremost humanitarian organization in the country, capable of delivering timely humanitarian services that save lives and restore the dignity of the most vulnerable,” said Gordon.

I hope Dick Gordon doesn’t regret the nomenclature “Amazing Grace”, if and when he goes toe-to-toe against her for the 2012 presidential derby.

***

Abaya admits signing MRT deal without knowing all details. — News item

Former Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya admitted at a Senate hearing that he signed the maintenance contract of the Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT-3) in 2012 without fully knowing its details.

Abaya admitted at the hearing that he signed the contract with PH Trams despite knowing only limited information on its background and its small paid-up capital of only P625,000.

Next time, check the dotted line before doing something dotty.

*** Duterte’s visits lift troops’ morale — News item

The frequent visits of President Duterte in military camps have boosted the morale of troops fighting the Abu Sayyaf and other terror groups in Mindanao, Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said the “high morale” of the troops is one of the reasons why they are “successful in the campaign against terror groups.”

A chaplain who declined to be named, however avers that the offthe-cuff off-color jokes of the President can bring down the moral. FEEDBACK: