NCFP to host 2 major int’l chess tilts in Subic

NATIONAL Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) is hosting at least two major international chess tournaments in Subic this year.

NCFP president/chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr. said the country will host the 2010 Asian Continental Individual men’s and women’s championships on April 20 to 30 and the ASEAN age-group chess tournament on June 4 to 13 both at the Subic Exhibition and Convention Center.

As much as US$ 55,000 in cash prizes are at stake in the Asian Individual Championships.

“The year 2009 was a very good year for Philippine chess, especially with GM Wesley So earning a lot of respect from the international community,” said Pichay.

“But we believe the coming year could even be bigger with the country again hosting the Asian Individual Chess Championships and the ASEAN age-group chess tournament,” added Pichay, who plans to host as many as five international tournaments to give the much-needed exposure to the Filipino players.

Pichay said top players from all over Asia are again expected to participate in the nine-round competition, which is considered as one of the biggest chess competitions in the region.

Aside from the juicy cash prizes, at stake in the 2010 Asian Championships of four berths to the 2011 World Chess Cup scheduled in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia.

This will be the third time in four years that the country is hosting the Asian Individual Championships under the able leadership of Pichay and secretary-general and Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino.

NCFP executive/events director Willie Abalos said the ASEAN age-group championship is another must-see event in the chess calendar.

Now on its 11th year, the ASEAN age-group tournament for boys and girls is divided into six categories: 18 years old and under, 16-under, 14-under, 12-under, 10-under and 8-under.

Abalos also said top Asian players have also been invited to add spice to the week-long tournament. correspondent MARLON BERNARDINO - Cebu Daily News

Asean execs meet in Subic on climate change

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Philippines—Representatives of Southeast Asian countries are meeting here to draw up measures to mitigate the effects of climate change during the 3rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations Social Forestry Network (ASFN) conference.

“While there have been programs to address these issues on the national level, this is actually the first time that these efforts are focused at the regional level. Our hope is that the member countries learn from each other’s experiences in dealing with this important issue of climate change,” said Sagita Arhidani, ASFN secretariat officer from Indonesia.

“Taken together, the policies of Asean nations will have a dramatic impact on climate change all over the world,” she said.

The conference ends on Saturday.

The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization said Asean countries have approximately 283.2 million hectares of forests, covering 33.4 percent of these countries’ land area and accounts for 16 percent of the world’s tropical forests.

Neria Andin, assistant director of the Forest Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, said social forestry can improve the socio-economic situation of upland farmers while taking care of the environment.

Dr. Rodel Lasco of the World Agro Forestry Center analyzed the potential benefits of agro-forestry farms. By Robert Gonzaga - Inquirer Central Luzon Desk

Asean forest experts to tackle climate change in Subic meet

A conference on social forestry and its role in climate change mitigation and adaptation in Southeast Asia starts today in Subic, Zambales.

Some 30 forestry experts from member-countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) are taking part in the conference dubbed 3rd Asean Social Forestry Network (ASFN) meeting. The four-day event will focus on Asean members’ efforts to strengthen regional cooperation in promoting social forestry as a strategy toward sustainable forest management.

At the same time, the experts will discuss the role of social forestry in climate change mitigation and adaptation, including ongoing initiatives in climate change mitigation mechanisms in Asean countries.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), through its Forest Management Bureau, is hosting the meeting at the Subic International Hotel. “With the region as having one of the world’s richest biodiversities, governments of Asean countries, including the Philippines, have taken keen interests in the social approach to forestry conservation,” DENR Secretary Lito Atienza said.

According to Atienza, the concept of involving upland communities in the country’s reforestation program could be traced back to the early 70’s through a two-year forest occupancy permit issued by the Bureau of Forest Development to families. The occupancy permit then evolved into a renewable 25-year certificate of stewardship Contract through the Social Forestry Program, now known as the Community-based Forest Management Program (CBFMP).

Atienza, a staunch supporter of the prolife movement, has always maintained on the primacy of the people’s welfare over other objectives in the implementation of any development program. “There is no real development until we have put premium on the people’s welfare. And this is true in forest management, thus, the concept of social forestry.”

FMB director and head of Philippine delegation Marlo Mendoza will keynote the Asean meeting when it formally opens on June 11, with Ali Wafa Pudjiono, secretary of the ASFN secretariat and Pralong Dumrongthai, ASFN chairperson and ASFN leader of Thailand giving the opening remarks.

Comprising the key agenda for the meet include country reports on the ASFN and its strategic plan of action (2007-12); status of implementation of policy framework on  Asean cooperation in forestry, particularly the Asean Charter and the Asean Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint; sustainability plan for the ASFN;  and proposed collaborative projects with partner organizations like the Regional Community Forestry Training Center for Asia and the Pacific in partnership with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.

A field visit to a CBFM site in barangay Cawag, Subic on June 12 will enable the ASFN delegates to dialogue with CBFM beneficiaries comprising about 150 families from the Cawag Upland Farmers Association undertaking agro-forestry and tree plantation development.

A side event on June 10 will have the experts tackle the issue of promoting the role of social forestry in climate-change mitigation and adaptation, while the implementation status of CBFM, including challenges and opportunities, as well as other programs related to CBFM shall be discussed on June 9. Written by Jonathan L. Mayuga - Business Mirror Correspondent

Building knowledge and friendship through the ASEAN Schools Tour

The ASEAN Schools Tour made its sixth stop in Olongapoo City, Philippines. Over 700 students from 38 elementary and secondary schools in the province of Zambales participated in the event at the host school - Olongapo City National High School.

The ASEAN Schools Tour capped three days of fun-filled educational activities that included a Cultural Exhibit on the ten ASEAN member countries; Search for Little Mr Ambassador and Ms Ambassadress; Poster Making; Editorial Cartooning; Essay Writing; and Net Surfing Contest. The ASEAN Quiz was a fitting end that saw 10 teams competing with enthusiastic support and cheering from their classmates and teachers.

Olongapo City Mayor James L. Gordon Jr graced the event along with the head of the ASEAN Secretariat team, Mr. Honorio R. Vitasa, Cluster Director, Bureau for Economic Integration and Finance, and representatives from the Departments of Education and Foreign Affairs of the Philippines.

Next stop of the ASEAN Schools Tour - Da Nang, Viet Nam! (PIA)