Canadian Ambassador Peter Sutherland turns over a sack of seedlings to Emilio Punio, barangay captain of Guinsaugon, St.Bernard, Southern Leyte, as a symbol of Canada’s assistance to the village that was hardest hit by the mudslides last February.
While most of us have moved on to other tragedies and have forgotten the victims of the mudslides in Guinsaugon early this year, the Canadian government cares about those who have been left behind and is helping them recover from the misfortune.
Ambassador Sutherland visited Southern Leyte recently to see the projects that received assistance from the Canadian International Development Agency through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives.
The Leyte Center for Development and the Citizens Disaster Response Center are two organizations that are implementing one of the projects that directly benefit the survivors of Guinsaugon. Canada Fund gave PhP 2.5 million for economic assistance and disaster response training to the affected areas in St. Bernard.
More than 600 families in six affected barangays have been given seeds, farm tools, and farm animals such as goats and ducks, as livelihood assistance. The grant was also used to for capacity-building activities that trained community leaders in disaster preparedness and mitigation.
The Canadian government contributed more than PhP 13 million for relief and rehabilitation of the communities affected by the landslides. “Canada’s relief and rehabilitation projects were designed not only to offer immediate assistance and aid to those affected by the landslides in February, but also to provide training and long-term help. By making civilians better prepared, government officials better equipped and the natural environment more resilient, Canada’s emergency assistance to Southern Leyte will help ensure that the next time disaster strikes, there will be fewer communities affected and fewer lives lost,” Ambassador Sutherland said.
More recently, the Canadian government has contributed almost PhP 7 million in the aftermath of Typhoon Milenyo and Php 45 million for victims of Typhoon Reming.
What the Canadian Ambassador did was the right way…donate the money and goods to the victims and people instead of Malacanang and other government agencies.
Off topic: Recently, some criticized veteran columnist Ducky Paredes for change of tone towards GMA and Malacanang. I must admit I was and still am an avid follower of Ducky’s column. However, I now treat him with reservation since I myself have notices his change. Below is a portion of his recent column. I don’t know why Ducky has to concur with Bunye’s statement. Doesn’t Ducky know that Bunye is the Malacanang Press Secretary and Spokesman?
“Secretary Ignacio Bunye is correct when he says: ‘What is needed right now is unity rather than division. It is very important that we unite not just for elections but also for pushing the reforms that we have started. I believe more than ever we need the people behind these reforms so that we can move forward.’
Apparently, the administration has given up on Charter Change. It has realized that the time is just not ripe for this. Now can everyone else also pipe down and, perhaps, we can get back to enjoying the Christmas season.
After all, what is there to still rally against when even Gloria Arroyo – after her allies in the Lower House – has given up on changing the constitution during her current term?
If you still will march in the streets and disrupt traffic and everyone else’s lives, you have to be a professional agitator. There is no more need for this since the enemy has disappeared and has already surrendered.
This has also given Senate President Manny Villar the upper hand. He is now urging the Lower House to get back to the business of legislation. This was the exact, same thing that the House was telling the Senate just a few months back.”
Let us give Credit to CIDA (Canadian International Developments Agency) and its field workers for their dedications and finding the right way of channeling the much needed help to the survivors and families of Guinsaugon and also for Ambassador Peter Sutherland for his personal involvement and visible representation of Canadians. CIDA has its share of criticisms, but like any aid agencies dealing in different foreign governments had sometimes has to deal around with local “authorities” and bear the blames for some mishandled funds at home. But with the guidance of good Embassy Staff, they have been doing great jobs all over the Globe lately. thanks guys, you make us proud..
Ellen:
Sans any publicity, schools and houses have been built with Japanese donations to the rebuilding of not just Guinsaugon but the whole province of Leyte.
Money for such project have been generated through some fund raising campaign conducted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Japan particularly by the city office of Minato Borough of Tokyo where the Philippine Embassy is located. What I cannot understand, though, is why they would have the name of the Great Switik there on the project that was carried out with Japanese donations.
http://www.rpweb.ph/Southern%20Leyte%20Status%20Report%20November%2013.ppt
http://www.rpweb.ph/Southern%20Leyte%20Status%20Report%20November%2013.ppt
http://www.rpweb.ph/Southern%20Leyte%20Status%20Report%20November%2013.ppt
Vic, do you suggest that people immigrate to Canada? Let me refresh my question: Without being bias since you’re now a Canadian, do you advise Filipinos who include my relatives to immigrate to Canada or US? Which of the two countries is better?
Vic,
Congrats to your Ambassador Sutherland by personally taking charge of CIDA’s assistance to Guinsaugon. Ang babait ninyo :).
It happened only very recently, but Guinsaugon tragedy seemed almost forgotten. That’s how Glueria treats the needy.
noel, people should immigrate to which country they want and where they will be accepted. Right now, Canada has a backlogged of 800,000 plus pending applicants, even as we accept in 300,000 (somewhere in that number) of immigrants anually. Canada can only take so much every year. For profesional wanting immediate recognition of their trained profession, especially in medical care, the U.S. is the better option. I have more family members, (my two youngest sisters and families) resides and work in the U.S. and so is my Nephew and Niece and family, who immigrated recently as R.N.s. I could be biased, because I enjoy the relative security of social services and our more benefits toward the Senior Citizen, but the U.S. has also the medicare and social services that are as good. And if you are making a lot of money, the U.S. has a lower rate of taxes compares to Canada. And of course the weather, my sis keep bugging me because they are living in California, been there and it is a beautiful place, especially the northern bay area. But anyway as soon as you become citizen of either country, movement between the two countries, as to work and residency is free. My sister and her husband, both MD’s living and working in New York are Canadians.
Thanks Vic. But, I’m told that while Canadian immigration is more tolerant and the officers are less strict to Americans entering Canada, US immigration people are not as nice. They are more strict to Canadians entering the US. I find this rather unfair. A case in point is the plan to require Canadians to present passports when traveling to US. My compadre now lives in Winnipeg. I don’t know where it is. He used to live and work in the US for several years then went out of status. He’s now a Canadian citizen. Here’s the problem: Because of his previous immigration problem in the US, he is barred for some years before he could re-enter the US. Why is this so? He’s now a Canadian citizen with Canadian passport. Some advise him just to cross the border by presenting his Canadian passport and it’s going to be fine. But, lawyers told him it’s risky. If the border guard finds out, he would be detained and deported. Then, he might be banned forever to enter US. Are all these true?
I base the above query on the premise that Americans and Canadians don’t need visas to enter each other’s country. Why is my compadre being barred from entering the US?
noel, the free movements between two countries is based on the premise that the subject is free of any violation of each country’s law. The later requirements of passport for entering and getting into U.S. is more for security reason, because Canada could be used as a transient for people planning to enter U.S. illegally.
we still need visa to enter each other border, but that visa is granted right on the border without pre-application or pre-approval and the visa could be just a nod or a wave by an immigration officer, or a refusal could also be arbitrarily apply to anyone deemed not suitable or have violations or criminal records in either countries, but could always ask the court to have these records taken off if pardoned had been granted or been cleared from previous violations. So the rule of thumb still remains, stay out of trouble and everything just fine..
Still, you did not answer my query completely, Vic. Anyway, I understand that more than ever security is among the priorities the two countries should focus especially after 9/11. Canada is not the only country that could be used as transient for people planning to enter the US illegally. What about those from the US coming to Canada illegally? My point is…and I have made it clear at the outset of my query…the US immigration people seem to be more strict than their Canadian counterpart.
The only other country that border the mainland U.S. is Mexico and not only that the U.S. is much stricter with their treatments with their southern neighbor but it has armed guards along the border. The perception that Canadian immigration officers are not as strict as their U.S. counterpart is quite misleading. Each country has different immigration rules to follow, but both are always on guard for illegals and undesirables aliens. It is just that Canadians in general have the impression as well-behaved, as proven how our tourists are treated different that Americans and also Canadian Custom and Immigration Officers are Unarmed, they give the impression of well behaved and not as strict. But I have been out and in-in both countries numerous times, sometimes just for a day of driving a passenger to Buffallo airport (cheaper to fly within the u.s.) and have not experienced any difficulties on both entries. So the strictness could be the different rules each immigration people has to follow and I have no clue of what the u.s. immigration laws are..
I agree, Vic. Canadian immigration people are more well-behaved. I just don’t understand why they are not allowed to carry firearms as protection. Do you agree with this no-arm policy? For one thing, Canadian immigration laws are more tolerant. I have a question on family sponsorship, though. Adult Children could sponsor parents but parents cannot sponsor their children. Siblings cannot sponsor one another too. Going back to being strict…well, you may disagree with me Vic but don’t you think both sides (countries) are more strict to minorities or colored than Caucasians? Whites have no problems crossing the border; but if you’re a visible minority especially Middle-Eastern looking one, then that’s different.
wala talagang kahihiyan ang bogus na presidenteng magnanakaw ng puwesto! sa halip na ang gobyerno niya ang magbigay pala sa mga nasalanta ng kalamidad upang makabangon at makaahon ay ibang lahi pa ang unang unang sumasaklolo!
tsupi! gloria, alis d’yan! kapal mo!
Noel, the Canadian immigration policy is evolving, or changing as the need arise. i was sponsored by my elder sister, but that was discontinued. then it was followed that dependent parents can bring along their single children regardless of age, but then again too many cheaters that some with grandchildren still maintain to be single to come with parents. Now parents can only sponsor children under 2l years, or dependants. parents of certain age are considered dependants of children. fiancee and spouses are also classified as dependants. Crossing the border has no preference in color when it comes to Canadian side, because it is in violation of the Charter and it will be a bonanza for litigation lawyers as you know, government here can be sued by its citizens. Crossing the U.S. they are particular of your place of birth, nothing more than the reason of Security. Like if my passport state that I was born in Jolo instead of Iloilo, then the U.S. custom may take a little interview the first time and if everything ok then bookmark my identity as a o.k. so next time it will be just a wave in. Before 9/11 U.S. border officers didn’t even bother to check our id’s, now the scan the passport, routine procedure. there are cases of selective racism, but that is very rare and not the normal occurence and if the Media got hold of it, it is dealt promtly and severely. But it is never a policy of either government, that I know for sure.
As for our border officers and customs unarmed, well, it is proposed even our court officers too, because they sometimes escort dangerour offenders. But so far only Police Officers are authorized to carry arms for performance of duty, not even our soldiers can carry them in person other than in training or on duty. weird, but criminals do carry them all the times.
off topic
Top Ten Emerging Markets in 2006
Business Week, 12/25/06-01/01/07
1. Peru
2. Vietnam
3. Venezuela
4. China
5. Serbia
6. Croatia
7. Morocco
8. Poland
9. Indonesia
10. Russia
*****
Saan ang pinagmamalaki ng bogus economist Glueria na may mga investors na pumapasok sa bansa, na ang kabuhayan ng Pinas ay umuunlad? Lumulobo lang e bulsa ng mga Pidals ang lapdogs!
chi, sinilip mo ba ang likuran ng pahina kung saan mo nabasa ang report na iyan? hanapin natin, baka nasa isang sulok lang!
Mrivera,
Gumamit na nga ako ng magnifying glass para hanapin kung nasaan ang pinas, naga-disappear talaga. Then I suddenly remember sabi mo “dry up” na noon pa. Tinigilan ko ng maghanap. heheh!
Yes Vic, Canadian immigration changes laws so often that people are already confused. Fortunately, there are so called Provincial Nominee Programs of some Provinces. Violation of Charter? You can say that again and again…but you know that immigration officers have disretionary power and they can discriminate without being obvious. Racism is still alive not only in Canada but everywhere…even in our own country. Ever wonder why some of our people hate Capampangan?
chi, magnifying glass pala ang ginamit mo, eh. hindi mo nga makikita! bakit ‘kamo? dahil nasa malayong kalawakang makikita lamang sa pamamagitan ng pinaka-powerful na telescope. that is, beyond the farthest galaxy!
haaay, naku! kawawang bayan natin. kung saang napakalayong kawalan ng pag-asa napadpad mulang agawin ni gloria mukhang bato ang kapangyarihan at lokohin pa’t dayain ang sambayanan.