The Philippines

[freemanjud]

Post your paragraphs for the position paper for your country/group and committee in the space below.

[EPIIC2005]

Water and oil resources are very important to the Philippine islands. These play a very big role in the government. The water holds magnificent sights of nature that attract tourism. The coral reefs are also needed to provide a stable environment to the underwater ecosystem. There have been hundreds of thousands of pounds of cyanide sprayed on the Philippine coral reefs each year. We are trying to crack down on such crimes and put an end to the reefs’ destruction. There are spots in the seas near the Philippine islands that contain oil resources. These resources are good for our economy and we would like to keep other countries from claiming it. To keep our country up and running, we need to keep the access to these resources.

-Raymond Zhou, Class V

P.S. I might change my email soon since i forgot the password after i changed it.

[EPIIC2005]

Sorry its kinda late, but here it is. (this is my second posting of this, w/ fixed citations)
On fisheries, the Philippines strongly encourage fellow states to conserve the world’s resources. In the spirit of this, we have made numerous agencies, bills, programs and projects in order to preserve our biodiversity, so that fisheries have something to fish in the future, even if it means limiting fishing now.
Drastic steps are required for the drastic state of the global fishing economy, in which overfishing to the point of extinction has been the fate of many species. Up until the 1980s, an increased catch corresponded to the advancement of fishing technology in all aspects of the industry, and the following ‘fisheries boom’. In “1989, worldwide commercial fishing fleets harvested about 89 million tons, but since then, …while the size of the world fishing fleet has expanded by more than 400%, fish catch has only increased by about 30%.” In the Philippines, “despite the continued expansion of the commercial fishing fleet, total fish catch leveled off at around 1.69 million tons in the early 1990’s” (Green, S.J.). And the big companies aren’t the only ones overfishing. Subsistence fishermen can fish as much as they want. There are no restrictions on how often someone can fish, and a lack of accountability concerning is the catch is legal or not in many countries. These are just some of the factors involved in overfishing.
Another cause of overfishing is cultural attitude toward the profession. Fish are often seen as a renewable source, something that’s always going to be there, and as a stable, secure ‘safety-net’ employment possibility for all. Further, when fishermen see their catch dwindling, they often resort to harmful means, such as poisoning, blasting, or trawling a marine environment. This makes it even harder for fish to reproduce, as well as the practice of catching older, bigger fish, which are actually the ones who reproduce exponentially more than less mature generations. Thus, while the fish population declines, people respond with actions that perpetuate the problem.
The Philippines has responded to this overfishing by applying a policy of biodiversity, conservation, and management. It is in the interest of all parties involved to raise and sustain the fish populations. In order to do this, we have, joined, utilized current, and created various agencies (Philippine Fisheries Development Authority, Maritime and Ocean Affairs Centre, National Agriculture and Fisheries Council, South East Asian Fisheries Development Center, Network of Aquaculture Centers in the Asian Pacific, and more), set up projects through these agencies and more to study the situation and make recommendation to implement the recommendations, and had clear pro-biodiversity policy (Philippine Environment Policy (Presidential Decree No.1151, 1977), Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act (Republic Act No. 9147), National Integrated Protected Areas System Act (Republic Act No. 7586, 1992)). Actions such as these have resulted in such measures as not issuing any new fishing permits for a year, reeducating subsistence fishermen, and encouraging them into other industries and higher living standards, with the help of NGOs. However, the most important reaction that we have had in response to overfishing is the promotion of aquaculture.
Aquaculture is seen as the savior of the overfished seas. It is now more than 40% of our countries total fish production, and is growing at a rate of 10% annually. However, it still is in need of new technologies and advancements, such as disease prevention, information dissemination, feed cost reduction, and marketing to investors, to add on to the big strides already made in this industry. We have already started in this direction with the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (Republic Act No. 8435, 1997), which outlines modernizations methods, and we see possibility in extending this to mariculture and as a safe guard in case of the extreme environmental changes that would follow global warming. Although global warming is predicted to not affect the oceans past 15 km form the coast, where most of our fish live, we worry about coastal areas, which are breeding ground for fish. These lowlands would be ruined by a rise in ocean level. Also, changes in salinity and temperature would force species of fish to move around or adapt. With this instability to consider, it just strengthens our resolve and commitment to aquaculture.
Yet, we do not forget about out oceans as we are letting them replenish. We remember that other parts of the world have different waste disposal methods and that everyone must be vigilant if we are to derive our food form the ocean. Therefore, to protect our seas, the Philippines has passed the Marine Pollution Decree (Presidential Decree 600,1974). “This Decree declares a national policy to prevent and control the pollution of seas by the dumping of wastes and other matter which create: hazards to human health, harm marine living resources, damage amenities, or interfere with the legitimate uses of the sea within the territorial jurisdiction of the Philippines” (Philippines)

"ADB Loans to Philippines to Protect Fisheries Resources." Asian Development Bank. 20 Mar. 2005 <http://www.adb.org/printer-friendly.asp?fn=%2FDocuments%2FNews%2F1997%2Fnr1997101.asp>.

"DA pushes aquaculture for fish-food security ." DA-BFR News . 23 Mar 2005 <http://www.bfar.gov.ph/da-bfarNews3.asp?NewsNum=028>

Green, S.J., White, A.T., Flores, J.O., Carreon, M.F., Sia, A.E. 2003. Philippine Fisheries in Crisis: A Framework for Management. Coastal Resource Management Project, Cebu City, Philippines

IWCT, World Conservation Trust. "Philippines Fisheries Regulations: A Role Model for the World." Sustainable eNews 01 2004. 20 Mar 2005 <http://www.iwmc.org/newsletter/2004/2004-09-04.htm>.

"Philippines." Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation. 23 Mar. 2005 <http://www.apec-oceans.org/economy%20profile%20summaries/philippines-approved.pdf>.

~ Meridith R.

[ShenLong]

In the Persian Gulf, the Republic of the Philippines has great interest in the geopolitical and economic climates. On the war front, the Philippines is an ally of the United States in the war on terror and is actively providing support in the form of humanitarian aid. This is most directly due to a symbiotic relationship between the two countries established by the Philippines’ 1951 mutual defense treaty, which binds the two countries to help each other in case of attack. While the country itself does not play an active role in combat, the country expresses support of the United States cause in Iraq.

The major interest in the Persian Gulf is its crucial supply of crude and purified oil and natural gases. The Philippines is one of the largest importers of oil from the Persian Gulf. Because of this economic dependency, the country has a strong interest in the fortification, protection, and development in the regions contributing to the export of oil. Such key geopolitical hotspots include The Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, and in particular, the Straits of Hormuz.

Maritime terrorism is a problem that is afflicting the Philippines not only in the Persian Gulf but also in their own region. The nation is dealing with Muslim extremists in the south of the country that seeks to disrupt international stability by murdering foreigners and disrupting trade networks. As a response, the nation has accepted the aid of troops from the United States to root out extremist cells in the country as well as in the Persian Gulf.

The Philippines is a developing nation with a strong dependency on oil and natural gas imports. They are also long time allies with the United States. Because of this, the nation supports the United States’ cause in the Persian Gulf and supports its efforts to maintain a stable geopolitical climate in order to prevent disruptions in the oil trade.


http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/philippines.html#oil

http://www.dataxinfo.com/index.htm

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/...k/geos/rp.html

http://www.vic-info.org/RegionsTop.n...e?OpenDocument

-Ke Zhang, II and Amelia George, V

[EPIIC2005]

Since the Asian Financial crisis of 1997, piracy in southern asia has been on the rise, with serious problems for The Philippines. around $16 million US dollars are lost each year to piracy worldwide. As a result, The companies that insure large cargo ships have been forced to raise their prices, driving away many corporations seeking to get into the global trade business. Also, because of the high risk of piracy, companies have stopped trading as frequently, effectively bringing global trade to a standstill.
The Law of the Sea Treaty, or LOST, states the laws of transportation and trade on the water. It sets specific boundaries and rules, and as the Philippines are a archipelagic state, these laws are very important. They set the rules for passage through the islands, through straits and where the high seas begin. LOST states that the twelve miles of sea beginning at the coast of a state is known as the territorial waters. This zone is undeniably part of the state. There is also a 200 mile exclusive economic zone where only the state can work. These important rules come into play when discussing rights of passage through territorial waters. In some cases, a Passage will be too narrow to navigate without entering territorial waters, as is the case with the Straits of Malacca. In this situation, ships should be granted passage.
Another heated issue in The Philippines and around the world today is the impact of human smuggling. Human smuggling is defined as the illegal migration of a worker to a new country with the help of a third party. The Philippines has one of the largest human smuggling rings in the world, and it is easy to see why. The average salary per year per capita in The Philippines is $3,200 U.S. dollars. In nearby Australia, it is 21,400. Filipinos pay a fee to be smuggled across the border and then end up with what is known as a “3-D job”: Dirty, Difficult, and Dangerous.
This industry does no good for anyone. The Filipino government has to pay a lot of money to enforce immigration laws and to pay for prison cells. The people who were smuggled usually end up in severe debt to the people who smuggled them. The Countries that take the cheap labor lose out in the long run by not moving towards high technology production.


Sorry Franklin, I'll do the rest... Sam didn't get back to me on the research that he did, and its like 1:00 AM. Anyway, i did what i could on short notice. sorry i let you down on this one. I'll post the rest friday.

[EPIIC2005]

oops its galen again
i forgot to give the links.

www.brookings.edu/comm/policybriefs/pb137.htm

http://www.vic-info.org/RegionsTop.n...9?openDocument

http://www.appf.cl/pags/apg/press/pa...105111232.html

The next one is a pdf so ill put the title-
Tenth United Nations Congress On the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders
Vienna, Austria,10-17 April 2000

[ShenLong]

The southern Philippines are consistently terrorized by two Islamic fundamentalist terrorist groups. The Jemaah Islamiyah group operates in Southeast Asia whereas the Abu Sayyaf movement is based in the Philippines and operates there specifically. Both have ties to Al-Qaida. The Philippines is an island nation, so obviously the most vulnerable points for terrorism is by water. This delegation is in support of sanctions that would crack down on security for cargo holds in ships, many of which are never even checked with X-Rays and susceptible to being loaded with biological weaponry. The Philippines are also affected greatly by piracy on the high seas with seventy three occurrences happening between January 1991 to 2000. These occur mainly around the Malacca strait, Singapore strait, Gulf of Thailand, Andamean Sea, and the Hong Kong Luzhon-Hainan-Triangle. The Philippines has agreed to the Law of the Sea treaty mostly because it will regulate the waters in the south Pacific that formerly lay unsecured and the cooperation between countries will definitely aid in halting terrorism and piracy.

In response to the recent natural disasters that have struck the south pacific, the Philippines has set up the National Disaster Coordinating Council in order to increase public awareness and prepare the country for similar natural disasters. It involves the cooperation of multiple foreign and local institutions (in the Philippines, Hawaii, Japan, and China) for the prediction of typhoons, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis. This multiple tracking of the same natural disasters are more likely to bring about accurate data and allow for better preparation. It also accounts for the development of disaster management plans and the establishment of real-time dissemination of information for the purpose of disaster management operations. In addition to the NDCC, the Philippines have established the Comprehensive Natural Disaster Risk Management course in order to raise public awareness and train its participants’ knowledge of a specific area of disaster risk management.

One of the Philippines’ largest economic problems is the illegal emigration of its citizens. Ever since overseas employment was legalized in 1974, Filipinos have moved to other countries in search of better employment. Economic problems present in the Philippines due to recent natural disasters have continued to encourage overseas employment, and although many are able to work abroad legally, others go through the option of illegal immigration. Immigrant labor is in high demand in places like Hong Kong and Japan; due to the rapid economic growth middle classes are unwilling to do menial labor that the immigrants are employed for. This human trafficking is usually associated with various crime organizations due to its low risks and high profitability, and is usually responsible for the exploitation and abuse of said immigrants. There are also possibilities of people being kidnapped by these traffickers; though this may be unconfirmed, it is not unlikely. There may also be damages to the economies of countries that rely on migrant workers. The Philippines, like most other countries in the south pacific supports programs like the Global Programme Against Trafficking in Human Beings.

The Philippines hopes to attain economic security by generating employment and providing adequate provisions for its people. In doing so, the Philippines would contribute to the global economy and also minimize the large amount of Filipinos trying to leave the country. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo plans to create six million jobs by 2010 and relieve laws so that entrepreneurs will have more opportunities to generate said jobs. More loans will be given out to starting businesses and up to two million hectares of land will be given for agricultural business purposes. Macapagal’s plan also involves minimizing the national debt and the Philippines have allocated 0.7 percent of their GNP for Official Development Assistance. The Philippines urges the easing of debt for developing countries so that much needed funds can be focused where they are needed most.

“Nation Disaster Coordinating Council”, the Philippine Government, 23 March, 2005
http://www.ndcc.gov.ph/ndcc/

“Launch of the NDCC-WBI Online Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management Framework Course”, World Bank, 23 March, 2005
http://www.worldbank.org.ph/WBSITE/E...332982,00.html

“Human Smuggling and Trafficking: A desk review on the trafficking in women from the Philippines”, UNICRI, 4 April 2000
http://www.aic.gov.au/conferences/ot...uncongress.pdf

“Permanent Mission of the Republic of the Philippines to the United Nations”, AMB. Maria Lourdes v. Ramiro Lopez, 03 November, 2004
http://www.un.int/philippines/statements/20041005.html

“Statement”, Dr. Alberto G. Romulo, 27 September, 2004
http://www.un.org/webcast/ga/59/stat...ieng040927.pdf

“Al-Harakatul Islamia”, International Policy Institute for Counter-Terrorism, 24 March, 2005
http://www.ict.org.il/inter_ter/orgdet.cfm?orgid=3

“Suspect: Militants Team Up in Philippines”, Jim Gomez, 23 March 2005
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...rror_suspect_8

“Anti-Piracy Operations of the Philippines”, Vice-Adm. Eduardo Santos, 24 October 2000
http://www.okazaki-inst.jp/doc/santos(1).doc

-Frankie Ho, I, Melissa Ho V

[ShenLong]

The Philippines has a populace of 80 million citizens with livelihoods greatly reliant on natural resources, including coral reefs. Severe rural poverty and a high population growth rate of 2.2 percent and density of 273 people per km² have put enormous pressure on the remaining resources.

Aquaculture is vital to the economy of the Philippines. Coral reef fisheries supply approximately $1 billion yearly to the nation's wealth and are a base of work for more than a million small-scale fishers. Due to a great demand for high value marine products like shrimp and salmon, there is an increase in the number of intensive culture operations in coastal areas. However, due to dynamite or blast fishing, a practice in which fishermen employ explosives to kill and harvest fish, there is now a progressive decline in the yield, which in turn results in less capital. Although the practice is illegal, it is widely used in forty countries and is a major danger to coral reefs. An explosive the size of a soda bottle is able to break into pieces all stony corals within a three meter radius. In addition, aquaculture has nevertheless contributed significantly to the removal of 75% of the original mangrove habitat. These mangroves are necessary for coastal land building. The result is that the area is less and less inhabitable, both to humans and marine life.
The corrals support the livelihoods of millions of people, not only in the Philippines, but in the world. They provide seafood, building materials, sources for medical products, and draw in tourism, the source of much revenue. Many inhabitants of the islands have no other source of animal protein than the corral, which is a necessary part of every diet. In addition, reefs protect shorelines and communities from storms and erosion.

Despite their extraordinary value, the coral reefs of the Philippines are severely threatened by human actions and global climate change. Global warming is one of the main causes of the devastation and terrible dilapidation of a quarter of the world's coral reefs. Extreme climate changes are causing higher water temperatures, which cause algae living within coral to be expelled. The next part of this destructive chain is the bleaching of coral resulting in the deaths of living polyps. Temperature consistency is so vital that a one-degree change can affect the survival of a reef. Also, the outbreaks of Crown-of-Thorns starfish have damaged many coral reefs completely. Another factor is construction and logging since they cause soil erosion which wash deposits down rivers and waterways into the ocean. This muddies the waters, causing negative effects to the environment, one of which is the prevention of much needed sunshine from reaching the coral.

According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Philippines has established more than 160 marine protected regions under the following names: National Marine Park (one), National Marine Reserve (one), Marine Turtle Sanctuary (seven), Tourist Zone and Marine Reserve (65), Wilderness Area (52), Protected Landscape/Seascape (two), Seashore Park (one) and Fish Sanctuary (31). The Philippines has also embraced a policy which declares that "the management, protection, sustainable development and rehabilitation of protected areas shall be undertaken primarily to ensure the conservation of biological diversity and that the use and enjoyment of protected areas must be consistent with that principle.” In addition, the Filipino Congress passed an act in July of 1992, providing for the establishment and management of what is recognized as the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) by the DENR. Four zones have been identified that are considered representative of major marine biogeographic divisions: the Batanes Islands, Apo Reef, Siargo Island, and the Turtle Islands. Feasibility studies have been fulfilled and documentation of the project is being created in order to serve as a guideline for the development and management of the said areas.

In conclusion, the basic threats to the Philippines’ environment include coastal erosion, sedimentation and nutrient runoff from the land, coral mining, collection and destructive fishing techniques, especially dynamite fishing has caused extensive damage to coral reefs, uncontrolled deforestation in watershed areas, air and water pollution, especially in Manila, and increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps which are important fish breeding grounds. These factors greatly influence the people and their conditions on the many islands that create the Philippines.


Bleakley, Christopher and Sue Wells. “A Global Representative System of Marine Protected Areas”. 20 Jun 2004. 24 Mar 2005. <http://www.deh.gov.au/coasts/mpa/nrsmpa/global/volume3/chapter13.html>

Carr, Jennifer and Penny Langhammer. “Philippines: Human Impact”. 24 Mar 2005. <http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/Hotspots/philippines/impacts.xml>

Chanton, Jeffrey. “Global Warming & Rising Oceans”. Oct 2002. 24 Mar 2005. <http://www.actionbioscience.org/environment/chanton.html>

Feld, Lowell. “Philippines”. 20 Sep 2004. 24 Mar 2005 <http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/philippines.html>

Russell, Kent. “Human Impacts on Coral Reefs”. 29 Apr 2002. 24 Mar 2005. <http://is2.dal.ca/~krrussel/zrussell/xmar/russellst.html>

Zubi, Teresa. “Reef: Ecology”. 15 Oct 2004. 24 Mar 2005 <http://www.starfish.ch/reef/hotspots.html>

Greenpeace Research Laboratories. “Report on the World's Oceans”. May 1998. 24 Mar 2005. <http://archive.greenpeace.org/oceans/globaloverfishing/reportworldsoceans.html>

[ShenLong]

The South China Sea is a tinderbox of political and economic conflict. Even after the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) was established in 1982 at United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), minor feuds between such powers as the People’s Republic of China, Japan, and the Alliance of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)—which includes the Philippines—remained commonplace. The attractive oil and fishing resources of the region and the unclear “200 nautical mile” stipulation of the EEZ have fueled nations to make territorial and exploitation claims inappropriate to their agreements at UNCLOS. Moreover, the Philippines contend that while a simple legal process is not sufficient to resolve issues absolutely, they believe that given the dangerous consequences of military intervention, a major conflict will not break out in the near future. Foreign corporations fear to make substantial investments in the South China Sea as the unstable political situation in the territory could potentially lead to a fiscal crisis.

The People’s Republic of China (PRC) has stated its claim to nearly the entire body of the South China Sea and its resources, ignoring the EEZ of the Philippines and that of other ASEAN nations. In particular, the Philippines lay appropriate claim to Malampaya, Camago, and their gas fields—territories that the PRC have attempted to claim—and have been hoodwinked by PRC and Malaysia in the past when both nations alleged to be fixing “fishing villages” as they established military fixtures on Mischief (1995) and Panganiban Reef. Even following an agreement between the ASEAN and PRC to inform all nations in the region of military activity or aggression, PRC and Malaysia promptly violated the contract.

The area most hotly disputed between nations, and most likely to break out into conflict, is the Spratly Islands—of which a portion justifiably belongs to the Philippines. Since 15 May 1956, the Philippines have ruled and established a state in the eastern South China Sea known as Kalayaan or the “Freedom Land”—spanning an area including Spratly Island Proper, Itu Aba, Pagasa, the Nam Yit Islands, West York Island, North Danger Reef, Mariveles Reef and Investigator Shoal. In 1972, Kalayaan officially became a part of the Palawan province. The annexation of these islands is legal for two reasons: first, because the Kalayaan islands were res nullius following the Japan relinquishment of them in the Treaty of Peace in 1951; and second, under the UNCLOS agreements, the Philippines are the only nation that can extend its EEZ and baseline to include its particular Spratly Islands claims. The PRC cannot legally make these claims in accordance to UNCLOS, as it is not an archipelagic state. Their historical argument that “the findings of Han Dynasty coins and ceramics … [are] a justifiable basis of a Chinese 1990s territorial claim,” moreover, is simply absurd.

Significant to the Philippines is the agreement to keep transportation lanes open in the South China Sea, especially in such chokepoints as the Straits of Malacca, Sunda, and Lombok. Half of the world’s shipping passes through these “chokepoints” and a closure of any one of them would severely affect freight rates, potentially creating a worldwide shipping shortage. Moreover, the Philippines acknowledge the provision in the Law of the Sea that gives vessels “innocent passage” through territorial waters—a boundary determined by a distance of twelve nautical miles—and “transit passage” to naval vessels in the straits. However, the latter posture is illegal in territorial waters.

On the subject of piracy, the Philippines recognize the vulnerability that merchant ships and oil product tanks face in a territory as bustling as the South China Sea. They support the security measures and coordinate patrol implemented by Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore in 1992, so long as these measures adhere to the provisions of the Law of the Sea.

The Philippines is not attempting to disrupt the balance of power in the South China Sea. It neither has nor ever will lay claim to the entirety of the region or the Spratly Islands—as the PRC has outrageously done. In fact, the Philippines is willing to cooperate with the PRC by sending joint investigation teams out with Chinese scientists to assess the potential oil resources of the Spratly Islands. So far, research has estimated 17.7 billion tons of oil and natural reserves in the region. As the EEZ gives nations the right to exploit and cultivate resources under its sovereignty, the Philippines contend that they are legally and rightfully drilling oil in Kalayaan, Malampaya, and Camago. They are not interested in annexation, but in expanding and receiving claim to the territories justifiably theirs by the Law of the Sea Treaty. Finally, the Philippines hope that a legally binding “code of conduct” may be agreed upon by the ASEAN one day, pursuant to the stipulation of sovereignty “without further use of force” set out by the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (2002).

- Lisa Jing, II
- Michelle Yan, V; Bryan Rodriguez, IV

*

http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/schina.html
http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialrepo...hina_Sea1.html
http://www.csis.org/pacfor/pac1599.html
http://www.un.org/Depts/los/conventi...s/closindx.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spratly_Islands
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_China_Sea
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_the_Sea

[EPIIC2005]

Sorry that its late, heres the final copy for Transportation and trade:

Since the Asian Financial crisis of 1997, piracy in southern Asia has been on the rise, with serious problems for The Philippines. around $16 million US dollars are lost each year to piracy worldwide. As a result, The companies that insure large cargo ships have been forced to raise their prices, driving away many corporations seeking to get into the global trade business. Also, because of the high risk of piracy, companies have stopped trading as frequently, effectively bringing global trade to a standstill.
The Law of the Sea Treaty, or LOST, states the laws of transportation and trade on the water. It sets specific boundaries and rules, and as the Philippines are a archipelagic state, these laws are very important. They set the rules for passage through the islands, through straits and where the high seas begin. LOST states that the twelve miles of sea beginning at the coast of a state is known as the territorial waters. This zone is undeniably part of the state. There is also a 200 mile exclusive economic zone where only the state can work. These important rules come into play when discussing rights of passage through territorial waters. In some cases, a Passage will be too narrow to navigate without entering territorial waters, as is the case with the Straits of Malacca. In this situation, ships should be granted passage.
Another heated issue in The Philippines and around the world today is the impact of human smuggling. Human smuggling is defined as the illegal migration of a worker to a new country with the help of a third party. The Philippines has one of the largest human smuggling rings in the world, and it is easy to see why. The average salary per year per capita in The Philippines is $3,200 U.S. dollars. In nearby Australia, it is 21,400. Filipinos pay a fee to be smuggled across the border and then end up with what is known as a “3-D job”: Dirty, Difficult, and Dangerous.
This industry does no good for anyone. The Filipino government has to pay a lot of money to enforce immigration laws and to pay for prison cells. The people who were smuggled usually end up in severe debt to the people who smuggled them. The Countries that take the cheap labor lose out in the long run by not moving towards high technology production.
Another problem tormenting the Philippines is the increase of international oil prices. Recently President Arroyo rejected a plan to buy back Petron Corp. for the Saudis claiming it would “stem a rise in domestic oil prices.” In 1990 Manila sold 40% or ownership to Saudi Oil Co. in order to gain a crucial partner in procuring oil imports. Pressure has been rising from populist politicians for the government to regulate pump prices and scuttle the oil deregulation law, which Congress had passed in the early 1990s so the government would not be forced to subsidize oil prices. Most recently on Monday, the oil price per barrel has reached an all time high of $53.89. This increase has caused the caused the government to shorten the federal governments weekday to four days. As of As of 2003 the Philippines were using 34% of all energy consumption for transportation making this increase of oil prices devastating to both transportation costs and the overall economy.


http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayA...ction=theworld
http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsst...0086/story.htm
http://earthtrends.wri.org/pdf_libra...ne_cou_608.pdf

www.brookings.edu/comm/policybriefs/pb137.htm

http://www.vic-info.org/RegionsTop....59?openDocument

http://www.appf.cl/pags/apg/press/p...0105111232.html

The next one is a pdf so ill put the title-
Tenth United Nations Congress On the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders
Vienna, Austria,10-17 April 2000

[ShenLong]

The Philippines Government recognizes the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of each country, which is measured 200 nautical miles from the baselines of its land in the low water region and occupational territory. Land that was previously uninhabited by humans may be claimed and included into a country’s EEZ after habitation. In regards to the South China Sea, one country should not have dominance over the entire body of water, but rather have it divided dependant upon proximity to the mainland and the country’s reliance on that area. Countries contesting in that region should abide by the Regional Code of Conduct. The Philippines claim a portion of the Spratly Islands. The Government occupied certain islands (Kalaayan) of that region since 1956. These islands are included in the Philippines EEZ according the provisions by the Law of the Sea regarding baselines of archipelagic baselines and regarding occupational rights. The Philippines Government recognizes and exercises its rights in the EEZ, including exploration, exploitation, conserving and managing natural resources.

The Common Heritage of Mankind is accepted by the Philippines under the regulations set by the Law of the Sea.

The Philippines Government aims at providing an efficient supply of energy, and it recognizes the importance of the discovery and development of petroleum resources within the country and off-shore. The Government also recognizes that the Philippines do not have sufficient capital to undertake all necessary projects to adequately exploit these resources, and therefore would propose that foreign companies enter into partnerships of joint ventures with the Government. Local investors, however, will still be encouraged to undertake off-shore drilling, including in areas surrounding Palawan, Sulu Sea, and Mindoro. Natural gas is constantly being developed within the region, and is vital to the economy. The Philippines Government is willing to form partnerships to exploit these resources to the benefit of both contractors.

All minerals within the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Philippines are under the jurisdiction of the State. The State has the responsibility to carry out their utilization, exploitation, development, and conservation. Contracts are given primarily to local investors, but foreign investors will also be considered if an agreement is reached between the contractor and the State.

Regulations are to be followed in mining, focusing around conservation. Antipollution policies must be followed in order to protect the environment. Miners must seek a waste-free development, and also undertake operations towards rehabilitation, regeneration, revegetation and reforestation of mineralized areas. The Philippines acknowledges the urbanization, demand on natural resources, and the toll this is taking on the environment, and will take measures to protect the environment. The State seeks to conserve its natural resources by regeneration and replenishment for continuous benefit. The Government will undertake programs to improve the utilization of renewable as well as un-renewable resources. The Government will continue to exploit resources in order to satisfy these demands without degrading the environment, and ensuring the people safe surroundings. National strategies are being implemented to cope with the depleting resources.

The Government grants Rights of Exploration permits to investors seeking to possibly utilize the natural resources. Nations seeking to explore within the EEZ of the Philippines must first contact and gain permission from the State. The Philippines Government has made continuous progress in providing its people with fresh water, and under the right circumstances and negotiations is willing to increase the desalination of its water sources.


SOURCES:

Wikipedia “Spratly Islands” Online. [Available]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spratly_Islands
Energy Information Administration. “South China Sea Tables and Maps”. [Online] Available: http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/schinatab.html (March 19, 2005)
Energy Information Administration. “Philippines”. [Online] Available: http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/philippi.html (March 20, 2005)
Philippines Government, Republic Act No. 7942: Philippine Mining Act of 1995 (1995)
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Philippines Government, Republic Act No. 7638
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-Monica Mleczko, II

[ShenLong]

And the Philippines claims victory! First delegation to have all of their briefing papers. *Dances*


*Edit* Or maybe not. Good job on finishing anyway guys.

-Frankie