PH's energy options after Japan nuke crisis

The nuclear crisis in Fukushima, Japan due to the magnitude 9.0 earthquake that hit the country prompts the Philippines' Department of Energy (DoE) to reconsider nuclear options as part of its long-term energy agenda.
Energy Secretary Rene D. Almendras said "we better do a really good study of the safety issues."
The DoE had earlier planned to conduct safety studies for nuclear power development. It has also started looking into other disaster-related dilemmas, such as possible oil refinery blaze and electricity shortages, for its planning. The Aquino government has already allotted P100 million for its feasibility study.
Staunch proponents of nuclear energy in the Philippines have backed down.

OFWs in Libya Demand Repatriation Amid Violent Clashes

In the recent report of the Department of Foreign Affairs to the House of Representatives, there are 25,737 Filipinos in Libya, where 2,738 are women and 22,999 are men, working as medical workers, professors or skilled workers. Most of them, Migrante International said, are caught between the riots and are clueless as to how they would be brought out safely from Libya.
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
Bulatlat.com
MANILA — Even before the violent protest actions against the 41-year rule of Moammar Gadhafi erupted, 17 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were already asking the Philippine embassy in Libya to facilitate their immediate repatriation. But their request was not acted upon. Now, with the violence sweeping Libya, their loved ones back home worry if they could ever be repatriated......  OFWs in Libya Demand Repatriation Amid Violent Clashes

Usapang pangkapayapaan ng GPH-NDFP, matagumpay na nagtapos

By Pinoy Weekly Staff  February 22, 2011

Nagtapos ang unang round ng usapang pangkapayapaan sa pagitan ng Government of the Philippines at National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) sa Oslo, Norway nang nalampasan ng dalawang panig ang isa sa pangunahing balakid sa usapan.
“It has been a roller coaster ride all the way, so to speak, and until a few moments ago, no one could be quite sure whether the talks would end up on a high or a low point, or whether it might stall once more,” ayon kay Luis Jalandoni, tagapangulo ng NDFP peace panel sa kanyang panghuling pananalita.
Ani Jalandoni, maraming napagkasunduan ang dalawang panig. Pangunahin dito ang pagsang-ayon  ng GPH na hindi “terorista” ang Communist Party of the Philippines, New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), at chief political consultant ng NDFP na si Prop. Jose Maria Sison. Ginamit ng gobyernong Arroyo ang bansag na ito para puwersahin ang NDFP na pumirma sa isang dokumento ng capitulation o pagsuko.
“We welcome the declaration of the GPH that the CPP, NPA and NDFP are not terrorist organizations and therefore peace negotiations with us are possible and appropriate,” ayon kay Jalandoni. Ngunit inilinaw niya na marami ang kailangan gawin para siguruhing nirerespeto ito ng iba’t ibang departamento ng gobyerno, partikular ang mga puwersa ng pulisya at militar...

http://pinoyweekly.org/new/2011/02/usapang-pangkapayapaan-ng-gph-ndfp-matagumpay-na-nagtapos/