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Serpent’s forked tongue
The terrorist organization Hamas, through more than two weeks of conflict, proved that deception is among its expertise, as it led many to believe that it is fighting for freedom and is not sowing mayhem. Its Charter, however, has the elimination of all Jews through a holy war or jihad as one of its objectives. Even after dominating the Palestinian Parliament, Hamas is classified as a terror organization by Canada, New Zealand, Israel, Egypt, Japan, the European Union, Australia, Jordan and the United States. A bit late, the country, nonetheless, seeks the designation of Hamas as a terrorist group under Philippine laws. National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said the tagging of the terror group will be a priority agenda of the Anti-Terrorism Council after the savage 7 October surprise attack on Israel. The assault on peaceful civilian communities was not the first atrocity committed by the group. Israel Defense Forces, or IDF, data showed countless bloodletting attributed to Hamas. The group was responsible for the Haifa bus suicide bombing on 5 March 2003, which killed 17 people. On 12 June 2014, Hamas terrorists kidnapped and later murdered three Israeli teenagers, for which Operation Brother’s Keeper and Operation Protective Edge were launched. Since Hamas’ control of the Gaza Strip, it has used civilian facilities as training grounds for its terror campaign or as cover for its lairs. IDF discovered that Hamas converted a five-story building, originally meant to be used as a national library and provides offices for government services and housing, into a terror training facility. The building had a tunnel dug underneath it for underground warfare training. The IDF struck it following Hamas’ firing of several rockets at Israel. Other Hamas military infrastructure was put up near neighborhoods, including next to schools and mosques. IDF said Hamas solicits funds from international financiers supposedly to uplift the lives of Palestinians but misuses these to buy arms and other activities in support of their terror campaign. Such investments based on IDF investigations included over $120 million since 2014 in materials to build terror tunnels leading into Israel. The indiscriminate firing of rockets at Israel, Hamas, and its allies usually hits civilian facilities in Gaza, such as the cause of the deadly explosion at the Gaza hospital that killed scores of people. “Hamas operatives don’t aim at precise targets, they simply fire rockets and don’t care if it harms their people,” according to IDF. Hamas came to power through an election, which is now believed it merely exploited to rule the Gaza Strip through terror. In January 2006, after Israel disengaged from the Gaza Strip, removing all communities and military installations, Hamas took part in the Palestinian Parliamentary Elections and won a majority of 76 seats, making it the ruling power. After a failed attempt to merge with its rival political party, Fatah, which lost the initial elections against Hamas, violence between both parties escalated into a bloody fight. IDF said people were thrown off rooftops, and public executions occurred in the bitter political rivalry. Since March 2018, Hamas has instigated riots, which it paints as peaceful and widespread protests. “Infiltration attempts and the use of arson kites and firebombs have taken place during the riots. Since the Gaza Strip is half a mile away from Israeli communities, infiltration would endanger Israeli civilians,” the IDF said. Hamas intended to use Gaza civilians as human shields and covers for infiltration attempts and terror. IDF said the world should know the true character of Hamas to understand the constant terror inflicted on Israel and the poor state of the Gaza Strip under its helm. Let the world not fall to the temptation and seduction of evil. The post Serpent’s forked tongue appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Spotify, PPOPCON driving global appetite for P-pop
In the past five years, the P-Pop genre has experienced remarkable growth, captivating audiences with its impressive visual cues, coupled with infectious beats and compelling narratives. From PPOPCON captivating audiences two years in a row to Spotify driving an over 800-percent increase in daily P-Pop streams since 2018, the genre is fast becoming a global genre to watch. According to Blackstar Entertainment, producer of PPOPCON Manila 2023, and PPOPCON executive director Jon Pinto, “The success of PPOPCON 2023 and growth of the P-Pop community has been overwhelming, and together with Spotify, the future holds endless possibilities for P-Pop music for the rest of the year.” With more than 9,000 attendees at PPOPCON 2023, Spotify continues to see the appetite for more of the genre all year round. The especially curated P-Pop On The Rise playlist witnessed a 36-percent surge in streams, connecting artists with fans and enabling music discovery. [caption id="attachment_200891" align="aligncenter" width="306"] THE growth of the P-pop community has been overwhelming the past years, with fans from all ages. | Photographs courtesy of Spotify[/caption] Attendees to the event were also treated to exclusive Spotify online content and exciting on-ground activities that made them feel closer to their P-Pop idols. The phenomenal growth of P-Pop is a testament to the talent and dedication of Filipino artists. Leading the pack is SB19, whose powerful vocals and show-stopping performances have earned them over 2.7 million monthly streams on Spotify. Joining the ranks of top talents for 2023 are RADAR artists ALAMAT, BINI and RADAR alumni BGYO. Solo acts like FELIP, Josh Cullen and PABLO are also making waves. Emerging P-Pop artists KAIA, VXON and G22 add to the list of promising acts, leading to an impressive 250-percent increase in streams on Spotify since early this year. SB19’s track “GENTO” has now surpassed 46 million streams on Spotify. Other notable tracks gaining traction on the platform include G22’s BANG and “Maharani” by Alamat, and “Wild Tonight” by Josh Cullen. The post Spotify, PPOPCON driving global appetite for P-pop appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Global apparel retailer marks 5th year in Phl
Uniqlo marks the fifth anniversary of its Global Flagship Store in the Philippines with fun-filled activities for the public from 13 to 26 October. Since its opening in 2018, the Uniqlo Manila Global Flagship Store has brought customers exciting things over the years. As part of the brand’s appreciation for being part of Filipinos’ daily lives, Uniqlo offers customers an even better shopping experience. Embrace the future Uniqlo Manila’s fifth anniversary theme is “Elevated Store. Elevated Essentials. Embrace the Future.” Bringing the concept to life is Uniqlo’s partnership with five young and distinguished individuals who have achieved global recognition in their respective fields. Each partner represents one of the brand’s biggest item lines which all hold innovative functionality at its core. Food and lifestyle content creator Erwan Heussaff, recognized by the prestigious James Beard Media Awards last June, joins the group for AIRism. Groundbreaking director Martika Escobar, the first Philippine director to win an award at the Sundance Film Festival, represents Heattech. Modeling for the AirSense line-up is entrepreneur Gio Visitacion, owner of the Good Cup Coffee Company and 2020 Philippine Brewers Cup champion. Southeast Asian Games Medalist and Guinness World Record holder Kaizen Dela Serna for UV Protection products. Award-winning singer and actress, popstar royalty Sarah Geronimo for Bra Tops. Coffee experience Uniqlo Coffee, on the second floor of its Flagship Store, brings Filipinos the brand’s cafe-style offerings that first opened in 2021 at the renewed Uniqlo Global Flagship Store in Ginza (Tokyo, Japan). Highlighting the brand’s commitment to being one with the community, the coffee drinks will be made with locally sourced, high quality coffee beans from Mt. Apo. It will feature goods and pastries that mix Filipino and Japanese flavors. As part of its commitment to sustainability, Uniqlo is also set to bring to Manila its Re.Uniqlo Studio, where customers will get to enjoy repair services on their pre-loved Uniqlo items, bringing new life to their favorite LifeWear pieces. Lastly, Uniqlo refreshes its UTme! line-up, collaborating with local artists from all over the country to bring customers unique designs they can customize on t-shirts and tote bags. The artists include Gianne Encarnacion and Ross Du of Metro Manila, Johanna Velasco and Myka Arnado of Cebu, and Kajo Baldisimo of Davao. Muralist Glendford Lumbao also joins in to contribute a piece to be displayed at the new experience areas on the second floor of the Flagship Store. From 13 to 31 October, customers can expect freebies and promos exclusive to the flagship store. Visit www.uniqlo.com/ph/en/. The post Global apparel retailer marks 5th year in Phl appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
8 firms in Makati, 8 in Parañaque deliquents SSS contributors
The Social Security System on Friday announced that eight firms in Makati City and another eight in Parañaque City were cited as deliquents employers for failing to pay their employees' contributions. The citations came from SSS continued Run After Contribution Evaders (RACE) campaign, running against employers who failed to remit monthly contributions of their employees. The Makati-JP Rizal branch has served Notice of Violations to eight deliquents employers in Barangay Tejeros, who incurred a total of P5.25 million delinquencies consisting of P2.86 million of unpaid contributions and P2.4 million of penalties which affects the social security coverage of 105 employees. The employers include two industrial suppliers, a bakery owner, real estate agent, a private hospital, pharmacy, photograph production and a chemical distributor. Among the eight delinquent employers cited for non-remittance of monthly contributions, one of the two industrial equipment suppliers topped the contribution delinquency of P2.41 million broken down into P1.58 million unpaid workers' contributions and over P832,000 penalties for it's 46 employees from April 2022 to August 2023. In Parañaque, the SSS Bicutan-Sun Valley NCR South Division has served notice of violations to eight delinquent employers in Sun Valley and Merville where a total of P1.70 million consisting of P717,000 unpaid contributions and P983,000 in penalties were incurred by the erring employers that include a whole-saler of food and beverages, manufacturer, seller in non-specialized stores, laundry services, food services activities, retail seller of construction materials, salon owner, and manufacturer of miscellaneous articles. Their delinquency has affected 82 employees. The Run After Contribution Evades (RACE) campaign is an activity conducted by SSS to ensure that employers are complying with their obligations as stipulated in Republic Act NO. 11199 or the Social Security Act of 2018. The post 8 firms in Makati, 8 in Parañaque deliquents SSS contributors appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Sikhs protest outside India consulates in Canada
Indian flags were burned and pictures of Prime Minister Narendra Modi were trampled on at protest rallies by Canadian Sikhs outside Indian diplomatic missions in Canada on Monday. “The Indians, they are terrorists, they killed our brother in Vancouver, so that’s why we are protesting here,” Harpar Gosal of Toronto said outside of the Indian consulate in Toronto, referring to the murder in June of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar. “We are not safe back home in Punjab, we are not safe in Canada,” another protesting Canadian Sikh, Joe Hotha, said. Several hundred people gathered in Toronto as well as in Ottawa and Vancouver to denounce Modi’s government. The protests were stirred by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau statements before parliament that New Delhi was possibly involved in the assassination of the Sikh leader, triggering a major diplomatic crisis between the two nations. Nijjar, who was wanted in India for alleged terrorism and conspiracy to commit murder, was shot dead by two masked assailants. The Indian government called the Canadian accusations “absurd” and vehemently denied them. It also advised its nationals not to travel to certain Canadian regions “given the increase in anti-Indian activities” and temporarily stopped processing visa applications in Canada. Jagmett Singh, the leader of the left-wing New Democratic Party and a Trudeau ally, said Trudeau's announcement confirms suspicions that India was interfering in the democratic rights of Canadians. Canada must also put an end to intelligence sharing with New Delhi, Sikh officials said. Since 2018, the two countries have established cooperation on counter-terrorism activities which commits them to financial, judicial and police cooperation, an agreement eyed warily by 770,000 Canadian Sikhs today. WITH AFP The post Sikhs protest outside India consulates in Canada appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
U.S. backs probe on Sikh’s slay
An American official has supported a call by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for India to cooperate in the investigation of a Sikh leader’s assassination in Vancouver in June. “We want to see accountability. And it’s important that the investigation run its course and lead to that result,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters in New York, where he was taking part in the United Nations General Assembly. “We would hope that our Indian friends would cooperate with that investigation as well,” Blinken said, referring to Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Nijjar, who was wanted in India for alleged terrorism and conspiracy to commit murder, was shot dead by two masked assailants. Blinken’s statement came four days after Trudeau linked Indian intelligence agents to the murder of the activist campaigning for the creation of a Sikh homeland called Khalistan. New Delhi insisted it had nothing to do with the killing, adding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had “completely rejected” the accusation when earlier raised privately by Trudeau. Following Trudeau’s bombshell, Sikh leaders in Canada demanded justice for Nijjar’s killing. “We want a full investigation that brings to justice the people involved in this assassination, including those who pulled the trigger and the ones who plotted this assassination,” Harkirt Singh Dhadda, a lawyer and prominent member of the Sikh community in the Toronto area, said. Nijjar’s son also demanded the arrest of his father’s killers. “Hopefully, you can take this a step further and get specific individuals,” Balraj Singh Nijjar told reporters. Jaskaran Sandhu, co-founder of Baaz News, a website for the Sikh community, warned that “if the government doesn’t take a strong stance and send a strong message, all it declares to the world is that it’s open season on our citizens.” Jagmett Singh, the leader of the left-wing New Democratic Party and a Trudeau ally said Trudeau’s announcement confirms suspicions that India was interfering in the democratic rights of Canadians. Canada must also put an end to intelligence sharing with New Delhi, Sikh officials said. Since 2018, the two countries have established cooperation on counter-terrorism activities which commits them to financial, judicial and police cooperation — an agreement eyed warily by 770,000 Canadian Sikhs today. WITH AFP The post U.S. backs probe on Sikh’s slay appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Aboitiz group leads coastal protection bid
The Aboitiz Foundation, Aboitiz Land, and the Communities Organized for Resource Allocation, or CORA, Foundation signed a memorandum of agreement on 13 September to further reinforce their commitment to protecting coastal ecosystems to ensure a cleaner, more sustainable future. The signatories include Aboitiz Foundation president and COO Maribeth Marasigan, Aboitiz Land senior AVP of Legal and Corporate Affairs Atty. Misch Sta. Ana, and Cora Foundation founder and executive director Antoinette Taus. The partnership’s core objective is to unify the strengths and resources of Aboitiz Land, Aboitiz Foundation and Cora Foundation in implementing the “Coastal Clean Up 2.0” in Calubcub II, San Juan, Batangas, the host community of Aboitiz Land’s Seafront Residences. Ramping up ecology protection The Coastal Clean Up 2.0 includes the implementation of capacity development initiatives, as well as the information, education, and communication activities, focused on environmental protection. These efforts target not only the local host communities but also the other stakeholders, too. “With the enduring support of Aboitiz Foundation and CORA Foundation, we are excited to embark on the Coastal Clean Up 2.0 initiative at Seafront Residences. Our strides are bolstered by the expertise of CORA, an organization celebrated for efforts in coastal conservation,” Sta. Ana said. CORA Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to forging sustainable initiatives aimed at addressing pressing global issues including hunger, poverty, inequality and climate change. With a core emphasis on volunteerism, community involvement, and inclusiveness, CORA’s initiatives prioritize the empowerment of marginalized groups, educational institutions, women, and the younger generation. “Nothing can be done without partnerships and collaborations. So to us at CORA, we really feel that this journey is meant to be, and we hope that through this coastal cleanup, it will create the spark or the ripple effect towards so much more,” Taus, a movie artist, said. Meanwhile, Aboitiz Foundation president and COO Maribeth Marasigan emphasized the importance of caring for the environment and how our present actions have a direct impact on our future. The Aboitiz Foundation has been in partnership with the CORA Foundation since 2018, jointly driving the Clean Seas Pilipinas initiative, which focuses on sustainable waste management solutions. The post Aboitiz group leads coastal protection bid appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
ERRAMON Aboitiz: Renaissance man
The Aboitiz family is a big player in Philippine business for over a century. With businesses covering a wide range of industries, including power, banking, food, and infrastructure, the clan’s Aboitiz Group has been creating jobs and opportunities for Filipinos. Founded by Paulino Aboitiz, son of a Spanish farmer who migrated to the Philippines in the late 1800s, Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc., or AEV, has grown from being an abaca-trading and general-merchandise business to a conglomerate with interests in power, banking, food, property, biofuel and construction. The group is undergoing its Great Transformation to establish itself as the Philippines’ pioneering techglomerate. This innovative growth strategy, powered by technology and a renewed entrepreneurial mindset, empowers the entire group to advance businesses and uplift communities. Among the driving forces propelling the Group’s business revolution is Erramon “Montxu” Aboitiz. Montxu previously served as the president and chief executive at Aboitiz Equity Ventures for 10 years from 2009 to 2019. He also briefly held the role of CEO at Aboitiz Power Corp. in 2018. Presently, he serves as a director at AEV and Endeavor Philippines and as chairman of the Board of Directors at Union Bank of the Philippines. Likewise, he serves as a board observer of the Aboitiz & Company. The Asian Institute of Management named Montxu as the new chairman of its Board of Trustees, effective from 1 September 2023. Montxu joined a respected group of successful business leaders who are dedicated to advancing the progress and welfare of Asia and its inhabitants. He was the 7th chairman of AIM, taking over from Peter Garrucho who held the position since 2017. Montxu graduated from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, USA with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, majoring in Accounting and Finance. In 2011, he was awarded the Management Man of the Year by the Management Association of the Philippines and recognized as the Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young. Seven years after that, AIM awarded Montxu with an honorary doctorate in management. Social responsibility runs in Aboitiz blood The Aboitiz Foundation, the social responsibility arm of the Aboitiz Group, donated $10 million to AIM in 2019 — known as the Aboitiz 100th Anniversary Commitment Fund. The fund aims to bridge the local and regional gap in data science and innovation. As a result of this generous donation, AIM’s Aboitiz School of Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship is now able to provide top-notch education and research opportunities in data science, with a focus on practical applications. This is made possible by collaborating with data science professionals and leaders from around the world. Recently, Montxu was elected chairperson of the AIM board of trustees. He is widely recognized for his strong commitment to social responsibility and philanthropy. Regarding the endowment to AIM, Montxu said it targeted assisting AIM in its efforts “to expand its curriculum and facilities towards the direction of a bold future, and the skills and education it will require.” Through his leadership in the Aboitiz Group and the Aboitiz Foundation, he has spearheaded numerous projects that have made a positive impact on local communities. As chairman of the Aboitiz Foundation, Montxu has played a key role in shaping its initiatives. The foundation focuses on three key areas which are education, enterprise development, and environmental conservation. “As businessmen, there is no doubt we seek profits and a return on our capital. But as Filipinos, we are equally guided by a sense of purpose to find meaningful ways of contributing to our communities across the country. This symbiotic relationship of profit and contributing to society is our secret sauce to true sustainability, allowing the Aboitiz Group to drive change for a better world by advancing business and communities,” Montxu added. The foundation implemented various programs and scholarships to improve access to quality education, foster entrepreneurship and livelihood opportunities, and promote sustainability. Aboitiz Foundation has been heavily involved in rehabilitating and improving schools in underprivileged areas. They have renovated classrooms, libraries and other facilities, providing students with better learning environments. The foundation has also donated learning materials and equipment to enhance the educational experience of students. Aboitiz Foundation supports community-based programs that aim to uplift marginalized communities. These programs focus on various aspects such as health, nutrition, livelihood, and disaster resilience. The foundation works closely with local organizations and stakeholders to implement sustainable solutions and empower communities to become self-sufficient. Aboitiz Foundation places significant emphasis on environmental conservation and sustainability. They have initiated projects to protect and restore ecosystems, promote renewable energy, and reduce carbon footprint. The foundation actively supports reforestation efforts, marine conservation, and waste management initiatives. The foundation also has a strong focus on disaster response and preparedness. They have been at the forefront of providing immediate relief and support during natural disasters, such as typhoons, earthquakes and floods. The foundation also works towards building resilient communities by conducting disaster risk reduction and management training programs. Montxu Aboitiz encourages and supports employee volunteerism within the Aboitiz Group. The company promotes a culture of giving back by providing employees with opportunities to engage in community service and volunteer activities. This not only benefits the communities they serve but also fosters a sense of social responsibility among the employees. It also collaborates with various non-governmental organizations, government agencies, and other stakeholders to maximize the impact of their social responsibility initiatives. They work together to address complex social issues and implement sustainable solutions that create lasting change. Aligned with the United Nations Global Compact, AEV drives policies, advocacies, and initiatives to make a lasting impact. The post ERRAMON Aboitiz: Renaissance man appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Short selling eyed as market driver
The Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, seeks to create a regulatory environment that will pave the way for executing short selling to boost local trading activities. Short selling is a practice of betting on the decline of a stock’s price to make a profit. It allows an investor to sell a security that he does not own, consummated by the delivery of a borrowed security, with a commitment to return the borrowed security or its equivalent on a determined or determinable future date. In Asia, short selling is allowed in Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia, among others. Thus, the SEC is targeting the adoption or non-adoption of existing practices in other markets to advance short selling in the country. Likewise, the SEC is also considering requiring the submission of a regular report on all short selling and securities borrowing and lending activities and their compliance with current rules and policies, to better guide the Commission on policies on short selling moving forward. “We are pushing to align the short selling environment with the major Asian markets, which has the potential to promote liquidity, stabilize the market, protect investors, and further unlock the value of shares of Philippine corporations,” SEC chairperson Emilio Aquino said in a press statement on Monday. Innovator, regulator in one “We will balance our role as regulator and market innovator, imposing the necessary restrictions and safeguards while ensuring that they will not stifle investors and trading participants from fully taking advantage of this trading strategy,” he added. The SEC has paved the way for short selling in the country by issuing the relevant rules as early as 2018 when it approved the Philippine Stock Exchange Guidelines on Short Selling Transactions. It has since worked together with the PSE and market participants to ensure that they are ready for the implementation of the guidelines. The SEC has already approved guidelines that will facilitate the conduct of short selling in the local market. The post Short selling eyed as market driver appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
NTF-ELCAC gives Church a seat
The Catholic Church will play a more significant role in the anti-insurgency effort through a recalibrated National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, or NTF-ELCAC, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said yesterday. The task force will now have the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ Episcopal Commission on Public Affairs as a member. “We welcome the CBCP through its Episcopal Commission on Public Affairs to the NTF-ELCAC Executive Committee and we look forward to working with them in pursuing peace and development in all parts of the country, especially in conflict-affected areas,” Año said. The task force indicated an openness to suggestions from the Church in adopting “moral and ethical approaches in addressing the communist insurgency,” as cited by CBCP president and Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David in a recent statement. “We are opening the door of NTF-ELCAC to the Church because it has an important role to play in ending violence and terrorism in the country,” Año said. “For more than 50 years, we have lived with the scourge of the communist armed conflict. With peace now in sight, the Church has an important role to play in ensuring peace and development in the long term,” he added. With the CBCP in the NTF-ELCAC, Año believes that concerns raised by the Church or by cause-oriented groups supported by them could be immediately addressed. “Because of this development, the Church will have more opportunity to relay its concerns, since its mandate is to act as a liaison of the CBCP to the government,” he said, citing the attendance of Fr. Jerome Secillano at the NTF-ELCAC executive committee meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Malacañang on Friday. Año reiterated that the task force’s main mandate is to formulate “whole-of-nation” policies to end armed conflict in the country. “CBCP’s membership in the task force ensures a whole-of-nation’s participation because the religious sector is an important component of the nation,” he said. Intervention in influenced areas Año sees the CBCP making significant contributions to the development of areas previously under the influence of the New People’s Army, as well as facilitating social inclusivity in the pursuit of peace. “Given that we are now on the road to total victory, it’s necessary that we recalibrate the way we do things and the entry of the CBCP to the NTF-ELCAC is one of the changes we have implemented under the Marcos administration,” he said. More rebels rejoin society NTF-ELCAC also expressed optimism the government can sustain its peace-building effort to encourage more rebels to reintegrate into mainstream society. At a forum on Saturday, NTF-ELCAC director Alexander Umpar said that in 2023, a total of 959 villages cleared of the insurgency were included in the Barangay Development Program or BDP, an initiative that aims to bring sustainable development programs to conflict-prone and conflict-affected communities. Under the BDP, each village recipient receives a package of programs, activities, and projects worth a maximum of P20 million. BDP beneficiaries in 2021 and 2022 numbered 822 and 1,406, respectively, he said. Umpar said the NTF-ELCAC is confident that by 2028, it would have attained its goal of achieving lasting peace and development in areas that are vulnerable to armed conflict. “‘By 2028, it is about sustaining the momentum of NTF-ELCAC gains with regard to the dismantling of guerrilla fronts, the reintegration of former rebels, and most of all, building resiliency for our communities under the ambit of good governance toward unity, peace and development,” he said. The government, he said, has dismantled 69 of 89 guerrilla fronts since the creation of the task force in 2018. One of the 20 remaining guerrilla fronts, he said, is active while 19 others had weakened. “‘When we say strategic victory, this (because) of the 19 weakened guerrilla fronts and only one is left to be confronted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” he said. “There are still concerns about the armed groups but they are no longer able to initiate an armed struggle or to topple our government. So, that’s the strategic victory,” Umpar said. On the other hand, NTF-ELCAC director Jose Descallar urged rebels to give up and join the government in its goal of transforming the country into a “new Philippines.” He said the military could shift its focus to “external threats,” once the government is able to address the local insurgency. Meanwhile, Director Emmanuel Santos of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity said the conduct of localized peace engagements has been proven to be the “most effective” approach in addressing the communist insurgency. “We’re localizing the engagement so we will be closer to the people to make them feel that the government is really here,” Santos said. He added, however, that there should be “clear directions” to ensure the full reintegration of FRs into mainstream society. The post NTF-ELCAC gives Church a seat appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
NTF-ELCAC to sustain peace-building efforts
The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict over the weekend expressed optimism that the government would be able to sustain its peace-building efforts to encourage more rebels to reintegrate into mainstream society. At the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, NTF-ELCAC director Alexander Umpar said that in 2023, a total of 959 villages cleared of insurgency threats were included in the Barangay Development Program (BDP), an initiative that aims to bring sustainable development programs to conflict-prone and conflict-affected communities. Under the BDP, each village recipient will receive a package of programs, activities, and projects (PAPs) worth a maximum total of P20 million. BDP beneficiaries in 2021 and 2022 were pegged at 822 and 1,406, respectively, he said. Umpar said the NTF-ELCAC is bullish that by 2028, it would attain its goal of achieving lasting peace and development in areas that are vulnerable to armed conflicts. “By 2028, it is about sustaining the momentum of NTF-ELCAC gains with regards to the dismantling of these guerilla fronts, the reintegration of our FRs, and most of all, building resiliency for our communities under the ambit of good governance towards the unity, peace, and development,” he said. Umpar added that the government has dismantled 69 of 89 guerilla fronts since the creation of the task force in 2018. One of the 20 remaining guerilla fronts, he said, is active while 19 others are already weakened. “‘When we say strategic victory, this is the 19 weakened guerilla fronts and only one is left to be confronted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines),” he said. “There are still concerns about the armed groups but they are no longer able to initiate an armed struggle or topple down our government. So, ‘yun ‘yung (that’s the) strategic victory,” Umpar said. On the other hand, NTF-ELCAC director Jose Descallar urged rebels to give up and join the government in its goal of transforming the country into a “new Philippines.” He said the military could shift its focus on “external threats,” once the government is able to address local insurgency. Meanwhile, Director Emmanuel Santos Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity said the conduct of localized peace engagements has been proven to be the “most effective” approach in addressing communist insurgency. “We're localizing the engagement so we will be closer to the people to make them feel that the government is really here,” Santos said. However, he added that there should be “clear directions” to ensure the full reintegration of former rebels (FRs) into mainstream society. The post NTF-ELCAC to sustain peace-building efforts appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
This writers’ workshop loves Filipino literature
The Palihang Rogelio Sicat discussion on 21 June held in UP Diliman looked and sounded like an art class session. Manolo Sicat, the well-known artist and sculptor, was delivering a demo-lecture on printmaking. He said figures and words can go together in a work of art. [gallery columns="2" size="full" ids="175634,175632"] He had a PowerPoint presentation of print images. A pair of prints of a couple of dancers were passed around. One was in black and white, the other in color. Texture and motion were their immediate charm. “But what has printmaking to do with us?,” said Christian Balagoza, a boyish writer. “We’ll know when we get the printmaking session,” said sir Reuel Aguila, director PRS 16 (2023). Art collab This is the latest PRS innovation. When the session was held a few days later, Sicat conducted an honest-to-goodness printmaking workshop at the UP College of Fine Arts. A colleague, Prof. Ambie Abano, welcomed the group and opened her atelier to show mural-sized prints made from wooden originals. It is the artist’s impressive collection of prints featuring landscapes of lush trees in dark, brooding background. Fellows from the previous online batch joined the art activity. During the three-hour session, everyone polished her rubber board, chiseled images and texts, and finally print the works on paper. They were amazed to pick up the skill fast and admire the results in no time. Thumbs and nails got smudged with sticky ink yet everyone was smiling at the wet and black artworks clipped on wires that crossed the studio. 16 years of PRS This is one of the activities that make PRS unique. Thanks to its founders -- dramatist Reuel Aguila, retired professor now a lecturer at the UP, and fictionist Jimmuel Naval, dean of the UP College of Arts and Letters. The partner is always on the lookout for ingenious ways to improve the workshop, all for the good of young writers. PRS began as an informal workshop of a number of young writers held in the mansion of Ligaya Tiamson Rubin in Angono, Rizal, in 2008. Today, fellows accepted in the workshop are pegged at 15. Fellows like the idea that they are the main commentators of the manuscripts. During workshops, they get to be the lead discussant. “They learn to be critical and not rely too much on the opinion of the panelists,” said Aguila. The PRS is the only writers’ workshop that aspires to be mobile, going around the country to make its appellation ‘national’ true. It literally brings the creative writing life closer to practitioners. PRS collaborates with local governments, and with their support the workshop had been to Palayan City, Nueva Ecija (2009); Baler, Aurora (2010); Alfonso, Cavite (2011); Sta. Cruz, Marinduque (2012); Angeles City, Pampanga (2014); and Makati City (2015). It also cooperates with the academe as in UP Visayas-Tacloban (2017), UP Baguio (2018) and UP Los Baños (2019). There were times PRS stayed at its home base UP Diliman like during the 50th anniversary of the UP Department of Filipino and Philippine Literature (UP-DFPL) in 2017. It went online as Zoom conference twice during the pandemic. With the renowned writer Rogelio Sicat as PRS idol, the workshop chooses Filipino language as its medium of writing literature. It also accepts works from the region’s translated into Filipino. Institutional support PRS is the official outreach program of the UP-DFPL whose incumbent chair Schedar DT Jocson said that from the beginning, it has supported PRS and its objectives. Many of its panelists are from the department, including alumna Dr. Lulu Torres-Reyes, the PRS 16 guest of honor. Other PRS supporters include the UP Sentro ng Wikang Filipino (UP-SWF). “We are honored to be part of a movement that brings Philippine literature closer to the common people. PRS writers enrich the catalog of our website,” said director Jayson Petras. Friends and business people also support PRS, like Palawan Pawnshop / Palawan Express Padala company. Lively discussion about literature An hour of PRS discussion on a story or poem does not exhaust its reading or interpretation. To address the gap, sessions are set beyond the allotted time and well into almost midnight. Fellows do not seem to mind as they are very eager to huddle with seniors who are just as willing to forego of an early bedtime. PRS goes one more step. In 2022, it created post-workshop online sessions. Here, senior and beginning writers discuss new works. Everyone is excited to have these disquisitions that aim to improve writing skills. Dedication is demanded from both sides. The recent PRS workshop had the Sicat siblings Luna and Manolo beaming with pride. They were quite surprised to know that almost 300 young writers had already experienced the workshop. PRS is also proud that esteemed writers served as its panelists, including Bienvenido Lumbera, Edgardo Reyes, Ricardo Lee, Rogelio Ordoñez, Lualhati Bautista, Rosario Lucero, Elmer Ordoñez, Jose Dalisay, Marne Kilates, Jess Santiago, Fidel Rillo, Edgardo Maranan, Lilia Quindoza Santiago, Delfin Tolentino, Bonifacio Ilagan, Frank Cimatu, Joi Barrios-Le Blanc, Chris Millado, Jerry Gracio, Richard Gappi, Eros Atalia, Joselito delos Reyes, Choi Pangilinan and Junley Lorenzana Lazaga. PRS connects the lives of senior and beginning writers. Rogelio Sicat would be proud of this long -running project named after him. The post This writers’ workshop loves Filipino literature appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Digitalization: Walking the talk
In our 28 July article, we spoke about the President’s State of the Nation Address or SoNA. If you recall, he ended the SoNA by stating, “I know that the state of the nation is sound and is improving. Dumating na po ang Bagong Pilipinas.” Among the pillars he mentioned to support and substantiate is the digitalization efforts of this administration. We lifted a couple of direct quotes from the SONA, but we wish to highlight a couple more for today’s article, namely: “Digitalization is the call of today; not the call of the future — but of the present. It is here. It is needed, and it is needed today.” “Digitalization will support the government’s data-driven and science-based planning and decision-making. It is the greatest, most powerful tool, not just to improve the ease of doing business, but also against many forms of graft and corruption.” Just last Tuesday, 22 August, a Department of Budget and Management press release shared the belief that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. fully supports the creation of an e-marketplace where government entities may directly procure products for their needs, like online shopping platforms. In this, PBBM is hitting two birds with one stone. Not only is he advancing his call for digitalization, but he is also putting into practice the policies behind Republic Act 11032, also known as the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018. In addition, there are other points related to this that are worth highlighting. DBM again has shared the very encouraging possibilities they are exploring and working on. It was explained that the idea is to help get rid of the lengthy process of public bidding for certain products, as government entities can buy straight from the virtual market. To ensure the quality of the merchandise to be bought and the dependability of their suppliers, there will be a mechanism to qualify and identify which are the right products and suppliers that will be placed in this marketplace. Whatever and whoever they shall be, it is expected that the featured products will be of excellent quality, are available, and fitting to the real and varied needs of the government. The push for digitalization has nowadays become more important given the government’s desire, for one, to realistically address the complex issues surrounding the Procurement Act which has long been due for review and needed amendments. In maximizing existing digital platforms, how do you improve the processes related to them to ensure that the output they generate is helpful and true to the objectives they seek to attain? Take just one example the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System, the online system that the government is now using as a central portal for all procurement information and its activities. Must certainty of its processes remain or now be modified? The basic requirement for any business entity to be able to participate in the conduct of a government bidding is registration and membership with the PhilGEPS. In registering, all the necessary documents to qualify for membership are submitted, and once on-board the business entity is already presumed to have all its documents verified, approved, and in order. Or at least that is how it should be. So, it begs the question, “Why do you require these business entities, during actual bidding time, to submit their documents again? Will this not just lead to delays, excessive costs, and, worse, opportunities for corruption? Incidentally, when business entities encounter runaway costs, you can be sure that the ultimate party to suffer is the people. All that being said, it remains the duty of the government to ease doing business and fight graft and corruption. PBBM is keen on reducing the burden in certain, if not all, government transactions, and digitalization is one of the promising ways that can now be employed to successfully reach this goal. Digitalization will reduce human intervention, and this will in turn reduce errors and the chances of wrongdoing. Most of the negative comments surrounding elected officials are that they do not deliver the things they had promised during their campaign. It is indeed easy to forget once you have been sworn into office. However, PBBM has displayed consistency and dedication to the goals he mentioned when he took his oath. In this, he is not simply talking the talk; he is veritably walking the talk! The post Digitalization: Walking the talk appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Victorian-era disease hits Scotland’s poorest
A disease linked to poverty and malnutrition that once crippled the crowded slums of 19th-century Britain is on the rise in Scotland, according to data published at the weekend. A total of 442 cases of rickets -- a skeletal disease caused by a sustained lack of Vitamin D -- were recorded in 2022 compared to 354 in 2018, data from 13 of 14 Scottish health boards showed. "Generally preventable conditions such as these are indicative of Scotland having the lowest life expectancy in the UK," Chris Williams, the joint chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners Scotland, told The Sunday Times newspaper. He also suggested environmental factors such as a colder climate could be behind the increase. Rickets, which can lead to skeletal deformities such as bowed legs or knock knees, has been linked to a lack of exposure to sunlight and Vitamin D which is found in foods like oily fish or eggs. Some 482 cases of the disease, which largely disappeared from Britain more than half a century ago after efforts to improve diet and exposure to sunlight, were found across England. Most of the cases in Scotland were recorded in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area with 356 diagnoses. Glasgow is one of the most deprived local authority areas in Scotland with 32 percent of all children in the city were estimated to be living in poverty in 2021-2022, according to Glasgow Centre for Population Health. According to the latest data from 2019, men living in the most deprived areas of the city on average live 15.4 years less than those in the most affluent parts. For women, the gap has increased from 8.6 to 11.6 years. Health workers suggested an increase in diversity in the city plus lifestyle changes to more sedentary, indoor activities and cheaper, unhealthy food may have contributed to the increase in rickets. Other so-called Victorian-era diseases such as tuberculosis and scarlet fever are also increasing in Scotland. Data collated by The Times showed 112 cases of tuberculosis in 2022 and a sharp rise in scarlet fever diagnosis, with 223 cases in 2022 compared with 39 the year before. In England there had been 171 cases of scurvy in 2022, with three recorded in Scotland. "Victorian diseases are diseases of poverty and they are common in parts of the world where people are poor," Stephen Baker, a molecular microbiologist at the University of Cambridge, told the paper. "Rickets is associated with a poor diet and the likelihood of a poor diet may be encouraged by the cost of living." The post Victorian-era disease hits Scotland’s poorest appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
7 delinquent employers caught in Alabang
The Social Security System reported over the weekend that they have served notice of violations to seven establishments in Ayala Alabang and Muntinlupa City for being delinquent employers, under the agency’s Run After Contribution Evaders campaign. In a statement sent to Daily Tribune, SSS said that it’s Alabang-Zapote Branch conducted the RACE operations and found the seven incurring P4.32-million delinquencies consisting of P3.88- million unpaid contributions and over P442,000 penalties that affected the SSS coverage of 84 employees. The violators were involved in value-added reseller of outside plant, engineering services, restaurants, spa activities, petroleum products retailers, construction management and consultancy activities. The nature of delinquency of the seven employers is the non-remittance of SSS monthly contributions. Highest of them was incurred by the restaurant establishment amounting to P1.53-million unpaid workers’ contributions and more than P39,000 in penalties. Based on SSS Alabang-Zapote Branch records the establishment failed to remit the social security contributions of its 33 employees from February 2014 to April 2022. The SSS RACE campaign is being conducted to ensure employers are complying with their obligation as stipulated in Republic Act 11199 or the Social Security Act of 2018. The post 7 delinquent employers caught in Alabang appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
SSS catches 7 delinquent employers in Alabang, Muntinlupa
The Social Security System reported over the weekend that they have served notice of violations to seven establishments in Ayala Alabang and Muntinlupa City for being delinquent employers, under the agency's Run After Contribution Evaders campaign. In a statement sent to Daily Tribune, the SSS said that its Alabang-Zapote Branch conducted the RACE operations and found the seven firms incurring P4.32 million delinquencies consisting of P3.88 million unpaid contributions and over P442,000 penalties that affected the SSS coverage of 84 employees. The violators were involved in value-added resellers of outside plants, engineering services, restaurants, spa activities, petroleum products retailers, construction management, and consultancy activities. The nature of delinquency of the seven employers is the non-remittance of SSS monthly contributions. The highest of them was incurred by the restaurant establishment with P1.53 million in unpaid workers' contributions and more than P39,000 in penalties. Based on SSS Alabang-Zapote Branch records, the establishment failed to remit the social security contributions of its 33 employees from February 2014 to April 2022. The SSS RACE campaign is being conducted to ensure employers are complying with their obligation as stipulated in Republic Act No.11199 or the Social Security Act of 2018. The post SSS catches 7 delinquent employers in Alabang, Muntinlupa appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
8 Taguig employers owe P9M to SSS
The Social Security System yesterday reported that it has issued Notices of Violations against eight employers in Taguig City for incurring P5.37 million worth of unpaid contributions and P3.93 million of penalties. In a statement, SSS said its NCR South Division reported that those who were served with notice of violations were delinquent employers from Barangay Bonifacio, Upper Bicutan and Western Bicutan in Taguig City thereby incurring a total obligation of P9.30 million. The violators were traced from SSS Run After Contribution Evaders campaign conducted to ensure employers are complying with their obligation as stipulated in Republic Act 11199 or the Social Security Act of 2018. Two of the eight employers are involved in operating a school while the others are into real estate, management consultancy activities, bookbinding, motor works, water transportation, and residential building construction businesses. Some 182 employees are affected by the failure of the erring employers to remit their monthly contributions, highest of which is P2.1 million broken down into P922,000 unpaid workers’ contributions and P1.08 million penalties. Based on SSS records, the establishment failed to remit the Social Security contributions of 17 of its employees from June 2000 to July 2023. The post 8 Taguig employers owe P9M to SSS appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
8 employers in Taguig owe over P9M — SSS
The Social Security System reported that it has issued Notices of Violations against eight employers in Taguig City for incurring P5.37 million worth of unpaid contributions and P3.93 million of penalties. In a statement, the SSS said it's the NCR South Division reported that those who were served with notice of violations were delinquent employers from Barangay Bonifacio, Upper Bicutan and Western Bicutan in Taguig City, incurring a total obligation of P9.30 million. The violators were traced from the SSS Run After Contribution Evaders campaign conducted to ensure employers are complying with their obligation as stipulated in Republic Act No.11199 or the Social Security Act of 2018. Two of the eight employers are involved in operating a school while the others are into real estate, management consultancy activities, bookbinding, motor works, water transportation and residential building construction businesses. Affected employees from erring employers are 182 employees for not remitting their monthly contributions, the highest of which is P2.1 million, with a breakdown of P922,000 unpaid workers' contributions and P1.08 million penalties. Based on SSS records, the establishment failed to remit the Social Security contributions of 17 of its employees from June 2000 to July 2023. The post 8 employers in Taguig owe over P9M — SSS appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
MIAA demonstrates NAIA’s emergency response preparedness at CREX 2023
PASAY CITY — The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) showcased its emergency response capability and preparedness during the Crash and Rescue Exercise (CREX) 2023 at the airside premises of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Friday, 4 August. The successful demonstration of this year’s full-scale simulated emergency CREX allows MIAA to ensure that the prescribed plans, guidelines, and organizational setup of the 8th edition of the NAIA Airport Emergency Plan 2023 adequately and effectively address emergencies occurring at or within the immediate vicinity of the country’s main gateway. “A dependable communication and coordination system is essential for a responsive Airport Emergency Plan (AEP). This exercise puts our communication and coordination system to the test, not only among MIAA offices but also with our external partner agencies,” said MIAA officer-in-charge Bryan Co. “We want to assess primary and secondary responders’ ability to respond to an aircraft crash and the resulting mass casualty event, including rescue and fire suppression, treatment and transport of survivors, and crash site security. The exercise also validates the methods for shifting from an emergency situation to normal airport operations following a potential major incident,” Co added. The scenario for CREX 2023 involved a commercial aircraft bound for Subic, CREX flight #0000, carrying 76 passengers and four crew members, that suffered a left engine malfunction during the take-off run after a flock of domestic pigeons crossing the runway was ingested into the aircraft's number one (left) engine, causing the aircraft to crash. The aircraft lost thrust on its number one engine during take-off. The pilot attempted to abort the take-off, but the aircraft veered off the runway and came to a stop on the western portion. A fire broke out on the left wing. In this mock incident, there were 80 casualties, with 72 survivors and eight deceased. In addition to the standard fire suppression, medical, emergency response, and search and rescue activities, this year's CREX edition featured the activation of Cebu Pacific's Accident Site Go Team, marking the first time MIAA partnered with an airline. “Cebu Pacific prioritizes safety and has established processes when it comes to emergency response. We thank the MIAA for the opportunity for us to train together to help ensure that communication systems are in place in the event of a multi-agency response,” Cebu Pacific President and Chief Commercial Officer Xander Lao said as the airline demonstrated its emergency response, particularly in providing support to victims as well as processing and cross-matching victims and family members. The CREX is held to continuously meet security standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). In compliance with ICAO’s Suggested and Recommended Practices, the CREX is held every two years, but the full-scale exercise may not be conducted if the airport’s emergency plan was activated. The last full-scale CREX was on 19 October 2017. Several actual aircraft incidents in the succeeding years then brought to the fore MIAA’s emergency response capabilities. In August 2018, a Plan 1 emergency under its Airport Emergency Plan was activated when a Xiamen Air aircraft veered off the main runway while attempting to land during a heavy downpour. Barely two years after, another Plan 1 emergency occurred in March 2020, when a Lion Air medivac flight caught fire while it was rolling for take-off. The most recent involved a Saudia Airlines flight that went off the taxiway onto the grassy portion when its six right landing gears malfunctioned in June 2022. All passengers and crew were immediately evacuated and brought to NAIA Terminal 1. No one was hurt as a result of the incident. NAIA is rated as a Category IX airport, while MIAA’s current rescue and firefighting capability is Category X compliant, making it ready to respond to an airport emergency involving an Airbus A380. With the support of highly skilled fire and rescue personnel, a medical team well trained and experienced in aviation medicine, a fleet of modern firefighting and medical vehicles, pneumatic aircraft lifting systems, and various other rescue equipment, the MIAA Emergency Services department is on par with its counterparts in the region. “As this is a multi-agency response to a simulated emergency, assessment activities will be done after the exercise, where stakeholders are welcome to share their observations and raise comments and suggestions to improve our airport emergency plan and coordination system. The response is a community effort, and we appreciate everyone’s contribution in our quest to maintain the global standards of safety and security in NAIA,” Co said. “We would also like to thank our secondary responders for their support: Pasay City General Hospital, Ospital ng Parañaque, San Juan De Dios Hospital, Philippine Airforce, Las Piñas General Hospital, Philippine Coast Guard, Taguig City Fire Station, Manila Medical Center, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) – Makati, Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group, Las Piñas City Fire Station, BFP Parañaque, Philippine General Hospital, Philippine Red Cross – Pasay City Chapter, and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority,” Co added. See more photos here: The post MIAA demonstrates NAIA’s emergency response preparedness at CREX 2023 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Confidential and intelligence funds increase P120M in 2024, UP budget cut P2.93B
Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman on Thursday confirmed that there will be a P120-million increase in confidential and intelligence funds for the fiscal year 2024. In a Malacañang press briefing, Pangandaman said the increase is due to additional confidential funds allocated to three government agencies. These agencies include the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), and the Presidential Security Group (PSG). A 2015 joint circular released by five government agencies defines confidential expenses as those of surveillance activities in civilian government agencies. According to the same 2015 joint circular, intelligence funds are those related to intel information-gathering activities of uniformed and military personnel that directly impact national security. Pangandaman justified the increase in the CIF, saying it is necessary to support the government's efforts to protect national security and ensure the safety of the President and other government officials. "The additional funds were allocated for specific purposes. For example, in the case of DICT, the increase is for cybersecurity, which is essential as we push for digitalization," Pangandaman said. "Cybersecurity investment is parallel to our digitalization efforts. Why does it need to be confidential? It's because of the procurement process. You cannot disclose the technical specifications of your cybersecurity projects in the Terms of Reference (TOR) because hackers might see it. If they have access to the specs, our cybersecurity projects and programs won't be effective," she added. Pangandaman said the administration is confident that the proposed allocations for intelligence funds are well-justified. "The additional funds were allocated for specific purposes. We can assure the public that these intelligence and confidential funds will be beneficial to the country," Pangandaman said. In a separate statement, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said there also an increase in the CIF in the Armed Forces of the Philippines; National Security Council; Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity, and; the Office of the Ombudsman. Meanwhile, there has been a decrease in the CIF allocated for the Philippine Competition Commission, the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, and the Department of Justice. On the other hand, the confidential funds of the Office of the President and the Office of the Vice President remain at the same level as the 2023 General Appropriations Act. DBM likewise emphasized the declining percentage contribution of CIF in the national budget in recent years, decreasing from 0.215 percent in 2018, 0.192 percent in 2019, 0.235 percent in 2020, 0.212 percent in 2021, 0.183 percent in 2022, 0.190 percent in 2023, to 0.176 percent in 2024. "With these, the public can remain confident that the disbursement and utilization of the CIF will be done by government agencies with utmost transparency and accountability, in strict adherence to existing guidelines set forth by the Commission on Audit (COA) on the appropriate allocation and use of these funds," DBM said. Budget Cuts Meanwhile, DBM said the budget cut for the University of the Philippines (UP) under the proposed 2024 expenditure plan will not affect student admissions. In the Palace briefing, Pangandaman said the P2.93 billion reduction in the UP budget for 2024 resulted from the removal of budgetary requirements for several infrastructure projects scheduled for completion this year. “So if it's for completion in 2023, we don’t need the funding for 2024,” Pangandaman said. Asked if the budget cut will translate to a reduction in the number of students admitted to UP, Pangandaman said none. The DBM added it also took into account how much of UP's budget was used the year previously when determining the proposed NEP's budget allocation. “Hence, in our review and evaluation of UP’s budget proposals, we considered its absorptive capacity, which is 69.48% as of end-2022,” it said. The post Confidential and intelligence funds increase P120M in 2024, UP budget cut P2.93B appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»