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Keeping it together
It’s no longer unusual, nowadays, for a family to have one or both parents working in another country, or for grown children to relocate abroad for work or start their own family. Single parenting is also quite common, right along there with blended families and LGBTQ unions with kids. Yet even when families are together in one place — one home, compound, neighborhood or city — it takes a lot to stay “together,” literally and figuratively. Perhaps sensing the threats to what is recognized as society’s basic foundation, our government in 1992 decided to declare the last week of September as Family Week, as mandated by Proclamation 60 signed by then President Fidel V. Ramos. Ramos wanted the week to emphasize the importance of the family as “the foundation of the nation” and “as a basic autonomous social institution,” as well as recognize “the sanctity of family life,” as stated in the Constitution of the Philippines. The world may transform in many ways, but the need for family will never change. “No matter how much life changes and the concept of family evolves, it may continue to benefit human health and wellness by offering a sense of belonging and support,” it aptly states in an article on Better Help, which also enumerates the factors affecting family life as “advancements in technology, changing cultural norms, new priorities and advanced forms of communication fueled by the internet.” The sense of belonging one gains from being part of a family — whether it is in a traditional setup, adoptive or “chosen,” a new kind of family defined in these modern times — has a profound impact on one’s well-being. With government providing the impetus for today’s families to connect or reconnect during the annual Family Week, it is up to each one of us to take steps to keep ours together in these fast-paced, nomadic, dysfunctional times. In the local setting, we already see so many signs of the changing dynamics among families. We could wade through studies to figure out all the issues affecting our core foundation, but we believe one may truly gain more understanding by examining our own experiences. Here, we share the views of people in our sphere, in answer to our query: What do you consider as the biggest challenge for your family in these trying times? Gigie Arcilla, Editor-in-chief Dealing with young adult children presents the challenge of establishing boundaries as they seek independence and transition into adulthood. Striking a balance between support and autonomy, as well as providing guidance while allowing room for growth, can be difficult, especially for a single parent. [caption id="attachment_187927" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] STEPHANIE Mayo (fifth, clockwise) with her family. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF Stephanie Mayo[/caption] Stephanie Mayo, Film critic and writer I have senior-citizen parents, and my siblings and I are now at the age when our health naturally starts to decline. Even if someone has health insurance, no one can deny how debilitating and expensive getting sick is. Without health, quality of life is decreased. You also cannot work (no work, no pay for freelancers such as myself) if you are sick. Gratefully, none of us in the family are currently seriously ill. It’s just that given that these trying times are also marked by corruption, medical gaslighting, new diseases and viruses and climate change, health problems have become even more threatening. [caption id="attachment_187926" align="aligncenter" width="993"] PAULINE Songco (fifth from left) and dad Arnold, mom Dhen, grandmother Linda and sister Patricia. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF Pauline Songco[/caption] Pauline Songco, Editor and writer I would say our biggest challenge is finding time to be together. I am always never at home. If I am, I would just be there for a few hours to sleep. I would get up, then go to work again. I find myself having less and less free time than before. My sister is busy with work, and so is my father. My mom is left alone at home with my cats. But, she goes to the gym to occupy herself and to see her friends. Yet, I’m thankful for what we have right now for these are the same things that we used to pray for before. [caption id="attachment_187924" align="aligncenter" width="641"] PAULINE Pascual (first from left) and dad Roy, mom Jocelyn and sister Prizcia. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF Pauline Pascual[/caption] Pauline Joyce Pascual, Lifestyle writer Our family became even closer during the pandemic, and now that things are almost back to normal, it is the family bonding that we used to that we find the most challenging. My sister is studying and getting ready for her time at college while my parents are back in business and I am now working outside of our province. I miss the good old days even though we still saw each other every week. [caption id="attachment_187925" align="aligncenter" width="638"] RAPHAEL, Rachael, Joylen and Ruben Ramos. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF Raphael Ramos[/caption] Raphael Ramos, STEM student at De La Salle Araneta The desire to act in spite of the potential consequences for everyone else. The family members’ immaturity leads to a more serious issue and may stunt each person’s development. [caption id="attachment_187922" align="aligncenter" width="2246"] GEL, Dino, Tei and Maui Datu. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF Dino Datu[/caption] Dino Datu, Chef, journalist and entrepreneur The biggest challenge in families today is creating quality family time. Everyone is so busy and there are so many distractions. While working and school work are necessities, we need to create time to just sit together for regular meals and chat without our electronic devices. Even on rare occasions that everyone is together, dining out, for example, people look at their phones every few seconds. That’s what I think is a big difference between today’s families and those from a few decades back. We often see “perfect” families on social media. Sadly, it seems like that’s the only place it exists. Teresa Laurente, Business Consultant For me, it has to be family, healthcare, children’s education and social media effect on young people. Pamela Palacio, Statistician III, Provincial Government of Bataan Disrespect to God and parents. Negative effect of social media. [caption id="attachment_187920" align="aligncenter" width="1080"] YVETTE Chua-Carrion (fourth from left) beside her husband, businessman Melon. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESYOF Yvette Chua-Carrion[/caption] Yvette Chua-Carrion, Educator and breakthrough life coach In these financially trying times — the budget for groceries, how to have savings for emergencies (which we hope won’t happen), and high gas prices. [caption id="attachment_187919" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] (FROM left) Riley, husband Noel, Tiffany and Ashley. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF Tiffany Cuna[/caption] Tiffany Sison Cuna, Former beauty queen turned entrepreneur Disciplining and inculcating values in our children knowing how the Internet plays a vital role in their lives — it could either influence them positively or negatively. [caption id="attachment_187923" align="aligncenter" width="1170"] JIA Bote and dad Milton. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF Jia Bote[/caption] Jia Bote, Student at the University of Santo Tomas With my father working away from home, the biggest challenge is having more time together as a family. When I was younger, I thought I had all the time in the world to spend time with my family. However, as I grow older, my responsibilities increase, and I have less free time than I used to. I remember spending the peak of the pandemic away from our father, and we could only talk through the phone for months. It was challenging for me not to see my father physically, especially when I go through difficult moments because I believe that we need more of our parents’ wisdom and guidance as we grow older. With the pandemic and the natural course of life, it feels like I have less time and opportunity to be with my father who is also growing old day by day. [caption id="attachment_187921" align="aligncenter" width="1242"] ALEX and Jet Capina (fourth and fifth from left) with their children. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY of Jet Capina[/caption] Jet Capina, retired bank vice president Our challenge is how to make the family complete on weekends. My children have their own gimmicks. Before every Sunday we were together attending church service but after the pandemic each of them esp Paolo is out of the house to be with his gf. I don’t think it’s good to write about it. Our challenge is how to make the family complete on weekends. My children are all good and well behaved but having grown up, the elder ones now and then have their own gimmicks. I am happy that my husband, who often plays golf, is with me always. The post Keeping it together appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Thailand’s ancient town of Si Thep added to world heritage list
Thailand's ancient ruined town of Si Thep, a 1,500-year-old complex of temples, monasteries and other buildings, was added to UNESCO's world heritage list on Tuesday. The site in Phetchabun province -- some 200 kilometers (120 miles) north of Bangkok -- is Thailand's first cultural site to be recognized by UNESCO since 1992. Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin thanked the UN cultural body for the decision but an expert warned the complex is not ready for an influx of tourists. Archaeologists date the statues and buildings of Si Thep, built by the Dvaravati civilization, to between 1,500 and 1,700 years ago. At its peak the town was a thriving cultural and trading metropolis that celebrated Hindu and Buddhist beliefs. The decision was announced by UNESCO at a meeting in Riyadh, and in a prepared video message, Srettha thanked delegates for the listing. Si Thep was "a treasure not only for people all over the world, but for people of all generations," he said. "I look forward to welcoming you all to the site". Phatcharavat Wongsuwan, minister of natural resources and environment, said it was a "proud moment" for his country. Speaking at a press conference in the capital Bangkok, he invited people "to cherish the beauty of Si Thep, the new UNESCO site of Thailand." But Chulalongkorn University history and heritage lecturer Phacha Phanomvan said the site was "completely unprepared" for a sudden spike in visitor numbers. "The work starts now," she told AFP, warning of a lack of basic infrastructure including no waste management, roads in poor condition and no parking spaces for large tour buses. She is worried about undiscovered sites and looting of artefacts which could fetch higher prices on the black market because of the heritage listing. "Si Thep was already one of the most looted sites in Thailand in the 1970s and 1980s," she said. The site also has unresolved land boundary and zoning issues affecting nearly 300 local villagers including dozens of households without title deeds. Officials said that from September 20 to 24 it will be free to enter Si Thep, which is Thailand's fourth site on the UNESCO cultural heritage list. UNESCO already recognizes historic Ayutthaya and Sukhothai towns, as well as archaeological site Ban Chiang in northeastern Thailand. Thai officials hope the UNESCO listing will help attract more tourists -- a vital part of the kingdom's economy, which has struggled in the pandemic's aftermath. The post Thailand’s ancient town of Si Thep added to world heritage list appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Abalos gathers LCEs, PNP, MMDA to work on EO 39
Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. on Saturday gathered the local chief executives, officials of the Philippine National Police, and Metro Manila Development Authority to work hand-in-hand in implementing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s Executive Order No. 39 imposing a price ceiling on rice. In a press conference at the MMDA headquarters, Abalos said they will "fill the gap" of personnel mandated to strictly monitor if rice retailers are following the President's order. "While the DA (Department of Agriculture) and Department of Trade and Industry were tasked as the lead agencies to (carry out) order the price ceiling," the manpower of the two agencies is not enough to do the job of maintaining the price of rice in local markets, especially in the metropolis, that the EO dictates it must be sold at P41 for regular milled rice and P45 for well-milled rice. "DTI said they only have 30 personnel (for the task). Metro Manila is about 17 million," Abalos explained, stressing that LCEs should tap their market masters, with PNP officers and MMDA enforcers in carrying out the President's order. An information drive, he said should also be intensified for everyone to follow. "Matulungan tayo rito. Because of the widespread practice of price manipulation and hoarding. Nagalit na ang Presidente kaya gumawa ng mandatory price ceiling," Abalos said. He also warned public officials who would be found to be "conspiring with hoarders and price manipulators" would face administrative cases and permanent disqualification from holding positions in public service. EO 39 was issued following the joint recommendations of the DA and DTI to President Marcos Jr. who signed the order on Friday, August 31. The need to implement the initiative arises from the unreasonable increase in the retail prices of rice despite the sufficient supply owing to the recent arrival of rice imports as well as the expected surplus of locally produced rice. Fraudulent activities in the rice industry including illegal importation and price manipulation are laid out to be the main contributing factors affecting not only the cost of the commodity but also the steady access of people to rice as a basic necessity aside from the oil price fluctuations in the global market. According to Republic Act No. 7581, the President, upon the recommendation of the implementing agency, or the Price Coordinating Council, may impose a price ceiling on any basic necessity or prime commodity in compliance with the conditions set by the law. RA 7581, or the Price Act was enacted in 1992, allowing the state to provide effective and sufficient protection to consumers against hoarding, profiteering, and cartels. The post Abalos gathers LCEs, PNP, MMDA to work on EO 39 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Senators vow to scrutinize 2024 Health budget cut
Several lawmakers on Monday raised concern over the massive slash in the Department of Health's proposed 2024 national budget. Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. said the upper chamber will look into the matter and maintained that sufficient budget allocation for the country’s healthcare system should be prioritized. “We will definitely look into this when we deliberate the National Expenditure Program in the Senate. Health care should be, as it always has been, a priority in formulating the national budget,” he said. Revilla lamented that the current DoH funding allocated for hospitals seems insufficient as it will be smaller compared to the 2023 budget. “Efforts should be made to better meet the needs of the [healtcare] sector,” he said. Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said he will look into the reason why the budget proponents decided to cut the DoH budget. “I will have to know first from the budget proponents the reason behind the cut and where do they intend to transfer such cut before I can make the proper motion,” he said. Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel said wasted allocations will be unacceptable amid the massive budget slash. "There should be no wastage and leakages when it comes to the purchase of vaccines, medicines, vitamins and other supplies. We should not cut the budget for basic services. But in calculating the amounts needed for basic services, we should also not allow the bloating of these amounts," he said. Meanwhile, Senator Francis Tolentino said the government should provide more funding to four specialty hospitals. “During the deliberations, we will ask for the specific reasons for the reductions. The four specialty hospitals deserve more resources considering that they treat non-communicable chronic diseases that are long-lasting such as pulmonary fibrosis and other cardiovascular ailments, among others, affecting a large segment of our population,” Tolentino said. Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, meanwhile, insisted the government should allot additional budget to the DoH to allow it to further improve the healthcare system nationwide. Go earlier vowed to push for a “higher budget” for the DoH when its proposed 2024 budget reaches the Senate. The DoH has allocated P306.1 billion in its 2024 national budget — lower than the P314.7 billion it received for the year 2023. Last year, the Department received the third-highest budget among government agencies with the full backing of the Senate. The post Senators vow to scrutinize 2024 Health budget cut appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
EMBO teachers worried over Makati-Taguig feud
While the cities of Makati and Taguig are engaged in a tug-of-war on who should exercise control and management of the 14 schools in the enlisted men’s barrio, teachers are wary about its effects on the learners. Raniel Enguancho Biala, a grade 10 teacher at the Benigno Aquino High School in Barangay Comembo, in an interview, said the opening of classes is just around the corner but the dispute between the two cities are affecting the preparation not only of the students but all the stakeholders including teaching personnel. He said there is an urgent need for the writ of execution to be released immediately because it will give them the guide. Biala is basing his observation in an interview with Mayor Abby Binay and he quote, “It is a written command authorizing the office of the said city to implement the decision that has become final and executory.” “So we are waiting for that order because it is a legal basis to the basic issue of who will manage the 14 public schools in the 10 barangays that have been the subject of the Supreme Court ruling,” said the teacher. While the WoE is yet to be issued by the court everything is hanging and the teachers are waiting for a meeting this week so they would know what will they do when the classes open on 29 August. Bial said at present the situation is somewhat hazy and as a teacher he is receiving messages from the parents about what will happen to their children if the school supplies are not given to their children. The free school supplies were rejected by Mayor Lani Cayetano, who proposed that it be given to the victims of calamities. The problem, according to the teacher, is what will be the benefits they (teachers) will get from Taguig City that include the students since in two weeks time the classes will open but they have yet to see some development. Even if there are the so-called meetings held by officials, the needs of the teachers for their teaching chores are not highlighted and what is being tackled are the needs of the students which are also vague. “It seems they are talking always about the needs of the students but the needs of the teachers are not mentioned. I think they need to consider it also because in the case of Makati City we are provided without basic needs that we can utilize in our teaching chores,” said the teacher. The teachers of the EMBO barangays are provided with laptops and other materials and also allowances. But now the teachers feel that they will go back to the basics of using cartolinas when they teach because it is possible that the laptops issued to them by Makati City will be taken away. The post EMBO teachers worried over Makati-Taguig feud appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PBBM: Forget farm imports
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is making sure the calamity that struck Northern Luzon as a result of typhoon “Egay,” which primarily devastated vegetable farms, will not be taken advantage of as he barred imports. The President declared on Saturday the country “would not import vegetables” despite many agricultural areas having been affected by the recent onslaught of storms. “That will not become a policy. We will not import any agricultural product unless we see that the supply is so low that the prices will become out of reach of ordinary consumers,” Marcos said, after receiving reports of many vegetable farms in Benguet having been affected by “Egay.” Marcos led the situational briefing with different agencies and local officials in Abra, which has been placed under a state of calamity along with the Mountain Province. No repeat of past In the aftermath of past typhoons, prices of agricultural products spiked, which, in turn, was used by unscrupulous traders to push the Department of Agriculture to allow importations. Later, it turned out that in several cases, such as with the recent onion shortage, the market was manipulated by cartels in the sector. Marcos, who is concurrent secretary of the Department of Agriculture, said the government will review the local vegetable supply to determine remedial measures to stabilize prices. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that “Egay” caused P833.88 million worth of agricultural damage. NDRRMC said some 76,093 fisherfolk and farmers were reeling from the impact of the typhoon as well as the ongoing effects of the southwest monsoon or habagat. The agricultural production loss in volume due to “Egay” was placed at 103,958 metric tons, affecting over 91,651.56 hectares of crop area. A state of calamity was declared over the Ilocos provinces, Cavite, Sanchez Mira in Cagayan and Sablayan in Occidental Mindoro due to the destruction from the tropical cyclone. The declaration put in effect an automatic price freeze on basic commodities. The government said it has distributed P39.69 million worth of assistance in the form of family food packs, financial aid, blankets and others. Marcos led the distribution of various assistance to the affected farmers and fishers such as seeds, medicines, and biologics for livestock and poultry and fingerlings. The President ordered the DA to prepare the department’s Survival and Recovery Loan Program and the quick response fund to promptly assist the typhoon victims. He said the government will also provide building materials to affected families. Agencies and local governments were ordered to prioritize the provision of assistance to families affected by “Egay,” as he assured that the government will immediately follow through with recovery and rehabilitation efforts. Rice gets priority During the distribution of government assistance in Abra province, the President directed the government to find rice suppliers “so that the National Food Authority could provide all the emergency support.” “Again, rice for me is the most important,” he said, adding that more assistance and food packages were on the way. Marcos directed the government to find rice suppliers “so that the National Food Authority could provide all the emergency support.” The President noted that the authorities were only waiting for the areas to be cleared of the aftermath of the typhoon, including landslides and floods. “It will be followed through with recovery and rehabilitation efforts and then rebuilding initiatives. That is why we are looking as to how big was the damage and how many houses were destroyed so we can provide them building materials so they can rise again and go back,” Marcos said. He said the government will also prioritize the restoration of the power supply in the typhoon-hit areas in the Ilocos Region and Cordillera Administrative Region. Although the government wants to restore power quickly, Marcos said the “huge number of toppled poles and power lines will make immediate electricity restoration difficult.” “That is why it is going to take a little time. So, of course, we are going to do it as quickly as possible but that can’t be rushed. It needs to be restored, if not the substations will be destroyed,” he added. The post PBBM: Forget farm imports appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Marcos: No importation despite storms affecting agri-production areas
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. declared Saturday that the country “would not import vegetables” despite many agricultural production areas in the country being affected by the recent onslaught of storms. “That will not become a policy. We will not import any agricultural product unless we see that the supply is so low that the prices will become out of reach the ordinary consumers,” Marcos said citing that many vegetable farms in Benguet were affected by Typhoon "Egay". Marcos, who also serves as the concurrent secretary of the Department of Agriculture, said the government will review the local vegetable supply to determine remedial measures to stabilize agricultural prices. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that "Egay" left with P833.88 million worth of agricultural damage in the country. NDRRMC said some 76,093 fisherfolk and farmers are reeling from the impact of the typhoon as well as the ongoing effects of the southwest monsoon or habagat. The agricultural production loss in volume due to "Egay" was logged at 103,958 metric tons, affecting over 91,651.56 hectares of crop area. The government earlier raised a state of calamity over the Ilocos provinces, Cavite, Sanchez Mira in Cagayan, and Sablayan in Occidental Mindoro due to the tropical cyclone. Hence, an automatic price freeze on basic necessities has been placed in the affected areas. The government said it has already distributed P39.69 million worth of assistance in the form of blankets, family food packs, and financial aid, among others. Marcos led the distribution of various assistance to the affected farmers and fishers such as seeds, medicines, and biologics for livestock and poultry, and fingerlings. The President ordered the DA to prepare the department’s Survival and Recovery Loan Program and the quick response fund to promptly assist the typhoon victims. Marcos said the government will also provide building materials to the affected families. The post Marcos: No importation despite storms affecting agri-production areas appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
UNITED AND PRODUCTIVE House of Representatives
Given its record harvest of legislation, the House of Representatives under the leadership of Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez concluded the First Regular Session of the 19th Congress on a high note. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez Speaker - 19th Congress, House of Representatives First Regular Session Legislative Accomplishments BILLS PASSED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES LEDAC Priority Bills: SIM Registration Act (RA 11934) Postponement of Barangay and SK Elections to October 2023 (RA 11935) Amending the Fixed Term of the AFP Chief of Staff and other High-Ranking Officials (RA 11939) Agrarian Reform Debts Condonation (RA 11953) Maharlika Investment Fund (RA 11954) Magna Carta of Seafarers E-Governance Act / E-Government Act Negros Island Region Virology Institute of the Philippines Passive Income and Financial Intermediary Taxation Act National Disease Prevention Management Authority or Center for Disease Control and Prevention Medical Reserve Corps Philippine Passport Act Internet Transaction Act / E-Commerce Law Waste-to-Energy Bill Free Legal Assistance for Police and Soldiers Apprenticeship Act Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Law Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers Valuation Reform Eastern Visayas Development Authority Leyte Ecological Industrial Zone Government Financial Institutions Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enterprises for Economic Recovery National Citizens Service Training Program Rightsizing the National Government National Land Use Act 30-Year National Infrastructure Program Department of Health Specialty Centers Act/Regional Specialty Hospitals Ease of Paying Taxes Local Government Unit Income Classification Amendment to Universal Health Care Act Bureau of Immigration Modernization Act Philippine Salt Industry Development Act Social Impact Bills: HB 5001 - No exam fees in private HEIs for underprivileged students who rank in the top 10 in high school HB 00005 - On-site, in-city, near city, and off-city resettlement program based on people's plan HB 0227 - Protection and welfare of caregivers HB 00988 - Increasing service incentive leave HB 00454 - Enhanced protection, security, and benefits for media workers HB 4477 - Greater responsibility and accountability from private employment agencies, amending Batas Kasambahay HB 04479 - Expanding prohibited acts of discrimination against women on account of sex, amending Labor Code HB 06416 - Strengthening mental health services of state universities and colleges HB 06483 - Abolition of "no permit, no exam" practice in college HB 06509 - Free legal assistance to uniformed personnel for the performance of duty HB 06492 - Freedom of Religion Act HB 00206 - Lowering the optional retirement age of government workers from 60 to 56 HB 06574 - Promotion and delivery of mental health services in basic education HB 06572 - Establishment of public schools of the future in technology HB 06680 - Free full insurance coverage to all qualified agrarian reform beneficiaries HB 01270 - Protection and promotion of the welfare of workers in the film, television, and radio entertainment industry HB 06716 - Mandating the establishment of fisherfolk resettlement areas HB 06718 - Protection and incentives for freelance workers HB 07354 - Evacuation centers in every city and municipality HB 04605 - Right of married women to retain their maiden surnames HB 06772 - Presidential power to suspend or adjust PhilHealth premium increases HB 07387 - Expanding the services for crop insurance HB 07535 - P1 million for centenarians HB 07561 - Mandatory insurance coverage and benefits for all line workers HB 07584 - Abolition of "no permit, no exam" in elementary and secondary classes HB 07909 - Extension of estate tax amnesty HB 07718 - Strengthening the law against illegal recruitment Quote (SFMGR): “As the House of Representatives amply demonstrated, we remain committed to implementing policies that will further stimulate economic activity, attract investments, and generate employment opportunities for our fellow Filipinos. We will not allow any distraction to derail our efforts at finding appropriate and timely solutions to the problems affecting the lives of our people.” House Leaders: Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio "Dong" D. Puno Deputy Speakers: Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Isidro T. Ungab Roberto V. Puno Camille A. Villar Kristine Singson-Meehan Raymond Democrito C. Mendoza Ralph G. Recto Vincent Franco "Duke" D. Frasco Majority Leader Manuel Jose "Mannix" M. Dalipe Minority Leader Marcelino C. Libanan Senior Deputy Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander "Sandro" A. Marcos The post UNITED AND PRODUCTIVE House of Representatives appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Prices rise and fall
In the law of supply and demand, it’s generally held that prices rise and fall. Differently stated, if supply is greater than demand, the price is low; when demand is greater than supply, the price is high. Along with this market behavior, there’s either government failure or market failure as corrective tools to protect consumers or producers, even both. The average family household is most concerned about its monthly water and electricity bills as these are the two basic necessities of urban living. Roads constitute a public good but not so in the case of toll expressways. Water is likewise a public good but, again, not so when it is managed by water concessionaires (i.e. Manila Water and Maynilad). Electricity also ceases to be a public good when it is run by electric cooperatives in some rural areas or Meralco in the case of Metro Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon. On the issue of electricity, Dr. Maria Fe Mendoza has written, “Politics and Dynamics of Electricity Regulation: The Case of ERB and Meralco.” Quickly, as a sort of “disclaimer” found in the End Notes of her 60-page article is thus: “Caution and restraint have been initially exercised in presenting this case study so as to uphold the principle of sub judice when discussing court decisions.” She calls it her two cents-worth of opinion in the spirit of academic freedom. The contemporary scene wherein the Court of Appeals nullified the decision of the Energy Regulatory Commission to deny the rate hike petition jointly filed by power distributor Manila Electric Co. and two units of conglomerate of San Miguel Corporation due to losses overshadows the “findings and inferences” embedded in Mendoza’s well-documented research on regulatory governance. Specifically, in the instant case, the “surge of fuel costs” may have compelled SPPC and SMEC to suspend the power supply agreement with Meralco as the CA denied their rate hike proposal. Meanwhile, the largest electricity distribution utility suffers from daily losses, while consumers live in fear of imminent rate increases. Meralco’s hands appear to be tied after it was denied a rate hike and the termination of its contracts (i.e. Meralco to suspend PSA). If we contextualize developments affecting the regulator arising from these so-called “quasi-judicial” and “judicial proceedings” within ERB and the courts, it would be easy to validate the interesting findings of Dr. Mendoza. For scholars of public policy, there ought to be a shift in bureaucratic mindset — one perhaps that can accommodate the notion that typical problems arising from rate adjustments gravitate around a management issue. Interestingly, as a lesson learned, Dr. Mendoza has this to say, viz., “With regard to who benefited, the study learned that rate regulation is a pendulum of forces and legal maneuvers that swayed in favor of the utility firm at some points and tilted in favor of the consumers and the regulator at other points.” Further, she adds: “Because of the quasi-judicial nature of the processes and procedures adopted by ERB for rate regulation, ERB would insist it was only following rules. Thus, the ERB (i.e. Case 93-118, as cited) transcended beyond the quasi-judicial policy arena towards the judicial arena and became regulation by lawsuits.” Truly, in iteration, “due to the legal mindset of most of our leaders and regulators, reforms in the regulators and our model of regulation would take a lot more time and, hence, debates, deliberations, hearings and other legal and policy proceedings would be required before consensus is arrived at and change effected.” As suggested, regulation can be redefined as not a question of facts or of law. Both regulator and regulated could be more pragmatic to achieve a win-win further down the policy path — increased “managerialization” of government as against “judicialization.” The post Prices rise and fall appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Old school calendar reversion should be reviewed, says Go
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go recently stressed that he will leave it up to the expertise of concerned officials especially Department of Education to decide on the proposed reversion to the old academic calendar as he underscored the need to prioritize the welfare and optimal learning conditions for students. “We will leave that to our education officials. They will form a group to study the proposal to return to the old academic calendar where school breaks run from April to May,” said Go in an ambush interview after his visit to Ibaan, Batangas on Friday. To recall, the Department of Education has initiated a review process to evaluate the potential benefits and challenges of reverting to the old academic calendar. According to DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa, the decision to consider reverting to the old academic calendar stems from several factors, stressing that the agency recognizes the need to address weather-related disruptions that often lead to class suspensions, extended school breaks, and subsequent disruptions to the continuity of learning. Previously, a survey of around 11,000 teachers conducted in the last week of March found that at least 67 percent of public school teachers experienced “intolerable” heat inside the classroom, distracting students and affecting their attendance. Go asserted that the DepEd, being the primary authority in matters of education, is equipped with the expertise and experience needed to thoroughly evaluate the situation. As he continues to aim for the improvement of the education sector, Go co-authored and co-sponsored Senate Bill 1964 or the proposed “Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act” which aims to institutionalize the grant of a teaching allowance for public school teachers. Under the proposed measure, which was recently approved on third and final reading in the Senate, the grant of the cash allowance authorized shall cover all public school teachers engaged in teaching basic education curriculum. The DepEd will recognize and implement the policy guidelines and learning delivery modalities for the teachers. The teaching allowance will be used for the purchase of teaching supplies and materials, payment of other incidental expenses, and the implementation or conduct of various LDMs. “By granting a teaching allowance to public school teachers, we are not only recognizing their dedication and hard work but also ensuring that they have the necessary resources to provide the best education possible to our students,” Go said. The post Old school calendar reversion should be reviewed, says Go appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Food policy: Food stability (4)
So far, I have discussed the first three dimensions of food security which are Accessibility, Food Utilization, and Food Availability. This article is the last on food security. Food stability is achieved when the supply and demand of a particular good are met in the market. Prices increase when demand exceeds supply. This imbalance happens when production cannot catch up with demand. The government must create policies and programs to improve production or create liberal import policies to keep the price of commodities stable without compromising the growth of the local producers. The Philippines’ food security concern is not isolated from the rest of the world. The challenge of maintaining a sufficient supply of food is being experienced regionally and globally by both progressive and developing countries. According to Gabriela Camacho’s research paper, “Corruption and Food Security,” corruption can aggravate food insecurity by affecting food availability, like when households must pay bribes instead of using the money to buy food. At different points in the food value chain, there is the likelihood of corruption which worsens any food crisis. From production to processing, from storage to delivery, corruption diminishes supply and increases the value of goods. Given the context in which the Philippine Food Security Program operates, one must bear in mind that food security is indeed a complex national and regional security concern. While we can measure the success and failure of any food security program by looking simply at how the four dimensions of food security are addressed by the government’s policies, we also need to understand how the insecurity drivers could influence the program’s outcome. Although this article discusses only one of the drivers for Food Stability, the objective is to be able to examine this issue from one angle to get ideas to address it and propose policy recommendations that might fill in some aspects of the policy gaps. Closely related to food stability is price stability. The price stability of food commodities in the Philippines is determined by its food importation policy. To protect the local agricultural sector, the government imposed Quantitative Restrictions on basic commodities such as rice, sugar, and corn. In the Philippines, a price increase occurs when the supply of food commodities cannot match the increasing demand. In most cases, the inability to supply demand for food commodities is a result of poor production output. This inability could be resolved by getting supplies from other countries. However, due to importation restrictions, the supply gap continues to affect prices. An example of this import restriction can be read in Section 23, No. 10 of the 1992 Magna Carta for Small Farmers: “Importations shall not be allowed of agricultural products that are produced locally in sufficient quantity. Importation policies should include the protection of new and developing crops such as soybean, ramie, sorghum, and wheat. Importation policies shall be reviewed periodically by the Government in consultation with farmers’ organizations.” Under the Price Act of 1992 (RA 7581), it is the policy of the state to always ensure the availability and accessibility of all basic and prime commodities. This includes the implementation of price controls or the curtailment of all illegal acts of price manipulation such as hoarding, profiteering, and cartels. In the case of the price of rice, it was only in 2019 that the QR on rice importation was removed and private rice dealers could import rice more freely. But the QR on other agricultural commodities has remained in force until such time that the country will remove all its tariff barriers to give way to a fully free market economy. Thus, instability in other food commodities may still be an issue our leaders need to address and experience. Given the four dimensions of food security — Accessibility, Food Utilization, Food Availability, and Food Security — I am optimistic that we will all do our share to help the government achieve its goal of providing us Filipinos with this basic security that is innate to our human existence. The post Food policy: Food stability (4) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Zero hunger is possible
As grade school students back in the day, one of the more important lessons drilled in our young minds was to know the basic needs of man. In the relatively simple and peaceful universe we lived in then, we were told these were food (and water), clothing, and shelter. Years later, a more sophisticated, technologically advanced, and complex environment exposed men to new challenges and corresponding changes. To that simple three-item list were added — apart from the basic physical needs — emotional, mental, and spiritual necessities, and a host of others, including, and most especially now, communication facilities or an Internet connection. Within the Philippine setting, Undersecretary Dennis Mapa, our National Statistician and economist, appended health, education, and personal care as essentials. High on the list is food, and rightly so, for the nutrients we get from it make our bodies strong and healthy as these replace cells worn out from wear and tear. Yet a United Nations Sustainable Development Report released last year revealed alarming news: between 720 million and 811 million persons were suffering from hunger, roughly 161 million more than in 2021. And in the same year, a staggering 2.4 billion people, or above 30 percent of the world’s population, were moderately or severely food insecure, lacking regular access to adequate food. On the home front, despite our vaunted natural resources and seemingly inexhaustible bounty from the land and seas around us, a survey has shown that one out of 10 households in the Philippines suffer from “food insecurity.” The survey also cited the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Region VIII (the six provinces and seven cities in Eastern Visayas), and Region XII (the Mindanao provinces of Cotabato, Sarangani, South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat) as the three most “food insecure” regions of the country. It may not be a coincidence that these three areas are among the country’s poorest regions. Admitting this is a national concern, the government has said it considers food security a top priority. Late last year, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said they were watching out for surges in the prices of goods and services due primarily to recent typhoons that hit the country, affecting workers who complained their wages were barely enough to buy or pay for their basic needs, especially food. He added that the administration was bent on ensuring consumers an adequate and affordable food supply. Food security has been defined as “when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life,” according to the 1996 World Food Summit. At the same time, food should be readily available, easily accessible, prepared and eaten the right way (nutrition-wise), and procured regularly, the world body added. In the Philippines, the most common food security problems are poor or inadequate agricultural harvests attributed to practices or methods that have either been discarded or have not been adopted or kept pace with the times. Suggestions have been floated as possible solutions to food security like introducing more diversified crops, improving infrastructure, building new road networks linking farms to markets, enhancing or restructuring current trade practices and policies, working on programs and advocacies to combat the adverse effects of climate change and maintain sustainable green economies. Boosting agricultural production would mean “more investments in the food value chain and research and development to enhance farm productivity and improve the efficiency of post-harvest processes,” Balisacan said. “Getting the government to facilitate private investments in marketing infrastructure including storage, transport, and logistics, and continuing to provide cash transfers and fuel discounts are crucial to achieving durable food security.” Is zero hunger attainable? The optimist (and farmer) in me believe it is possible, but only when we aggressively push for renewable agricultural practices and work hard at growing more crops on every piece of land available. Then, we can say that we will never be hungry again. The post Zero hunger is possible appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Sara visits Masbate clash site
Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Monday distributed school supplies to Masbate students affected by clashes between communist rebels and security forces. Duterte said a total of 1,513 students from different schools in the province received the PagbaBAGo kits. The PagbaBAGo campaign is a program that aims to instill the importance of basic education and nurture the right attitude among young Filipinos to succeed in life. It was the same program Duterte implemented when she was still mayor of Davao City. It is now part of the Vice President’s activities during her visits to cities and towns across the country. Aside from distributing the bags, Duterte also talked to the children’s parents, convincing them to practice responsible parenthood and family planning. The Vice President visited seven different public schools in this province weeks after classes were disrupted by armed clashes following the reported presence of the New People’s Army in communities near a school. Duterte visited Palani Integrated School in Balud, Guindawahan Elementary School in Pio Corpuz, Locso-an Elementary School and Arriesgado Sevilleno High School in Placer, Villa Hermosa Elementary School and Villa Hermosa National High School in Cawayan, and Masbate National Comprehensive High School in Masbate City. Face-to-face classes were suspended for a week in six Masbate towns following the clashes — affecting over 55,000 learners and 2,815 school personnel. Duterte earlier condemned the NPA for causing learning disruption in Masbate. During the school visits, Duterte stressed to the learners the significance of education in ending the cycle of poverty. At the Locso-on Elementary School in Placer town, she reminded students to duck and seek cover when they hear gunfire. A day after the 22 March clash in Placer town, a video of Locso-on school children who were panicking and crying in fear while gunshots were being heard went viral online. The Vice President also held dialogues with school heads and teachers, listening to their concerns about the education sector, such as providing school buildings, lessening the paper works of teachers, and providing stress debriefing following the clashes. The post Sara visits Masbate clash site appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Christmas 2020 for workers and farmers
HOTSPOT Tonyo Cruz Two things workers are looking forward to at the end of each year are the 13th month pay and the Christmas bonus. And it seems about two million workers may not get any 13th month pay at all, if the Duterte government would have its way. The reason? Because of the pandemic. In reaction, Kilusang Mayo Uno chairperson Elmer Labog issued his shortest statement yet this year, unable to hide labor’s frustration: “It is the government’s responsibility to bail out MSMEs in times of emergencies.” Indeed, it is the state’s obligation to support and prop up micro, small and medium-scale enterprises especially now in the time of pandemic. By saying MSMEs could dispense with the 13th month pay, the government is practically passing on its responsibility to MSMEs. Workers continue to give their share through the cheap, underpaid and overstressed labor power that makes sure MSMEs continue to function and perform their role as main engines of the economy. The government must do its job: Bail out the MSMEs. It is quite surprising that the Duterte government seems disinterested in bailing out MSMEs, considering the avalanche of news about the borrowings here and there. According to Sonny Africa, executive director of the think-tank Ibon Foundation, the borrowings has reached a historic high: “It took 118 years for the country’s debt to reach P6.1-trillion in 2016. President Duterte is taking just six years to more than than double that to P13.7-trillion in 2022.” Again, the reason for the borrowing has been “because of the pandemic.” Regardless of where the money goes, and whether or not MSMEs and workers received only a drop from it, they would pay the entire debt through more and higher taxes for years to come. Workers are not asking for something they have not earned through hard work. They earned that 13th month pay. It is not an optional thing. It is part of the law. The pandemic should oblige the state to bail out our MSMEs to enable them to fully function, and to give the workers’ their due under the law. Workers have given and lost a lot because of the pandemic. Workers have not asked for free rides to work, but the government fails to provide adequate and safe mass transport. Workers have asked for free mass testing in their companies and communities, but the government has other ideas. Workers and their families would have fared better with unemployment benefits amid the dismal pandemic response of government, but it seems the same government wishes to push them instead to pawnshops and loan sharks. We haven’t even factored in the laid-off, underemployed and unemployed workers, as well as the undetermined number of overseas Filipino healthcare workers stranded in the country since April. They all don’t wish to be “patay-gutom” and “pala-asa”. They don’t wish to stay unemployed and be dependent on aid. They are ready to work and earn their keep. But since the president made policy decisions affecting their ability to obtain work, it is the government’s obligation to bail them out as well. The situation of our nation’s farmers is no different. For instance, rice farmers continue to produce our national staple. The pandemic made even worse the effects on them of the combined power of policies such as rice tarrification, the stranglehold of Big Landlords, the vast influence of rice cartels, and the continued operation of illegal rice importers. Price monitoring by Bantay Bigas and the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas reveals the outrageously low palay prices nationwide, which means ruin to our nation’s rice farmers: Negros Occidental and Bicol region P10; Capiz P10-P11; Caraga P11; Tarlac P11-12; Ilocos Sur and Nueva Ecija P11-13; Camarines Sur P11.50-14; Bulacan and Mindoro P12; Isabela P12-P13.50; Pangasinan P12-P12.30; Antique P12.50; Agusan del Sur P13; Davao de Oro P13.14; Davao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and South Cotabato P13.50; North Cotabato P14; and Lanao del Norte P15. If you look at it, plantitos and plantitas today pay 20 to 50 times more for ornamental plants, compared to the prices traders and the NFA offer to our farmers. According to Bantay Bigas and KMP, the government procures way less than 20 percent of the produce of rice farmers. And then we hear that the NFA would rather import rice from other countries, at pandemic-affected prices at that. Without any state intervention, by way of NFA buying rice farmers’ produce at P20 per kilo, and providing loans to farmers, there could be worse rural poverty in the coming months and years. Between our workers and farmers, their families have been made to sacrifice a lot since March, with prices of basic goods spiking, with new and higher expenses arising from online classes for the children. There cannot be no aid for them. Neither should workers and farmers shoulder the burden of the failure or refusal of government to provide funding for bailouts sorely needed by MSMEs, and be forced to accept new national debts to pay for policies such as rice tarrification and importation. The government knows the scale of the problem. The Department of Labor and Employment says 13,127 companies have either laid off workers or permanently closed. The response cannot be “pass the burden to workers”. The answer should be: “the state must do everything to rescue the companies and the workers.” OFWs across the world should be familiar with bailouts and economic protections because of the pandemic. Many countries that host OFWs enacted huge bailouts and stimulus to their economies, partly so that migrant labor could continue to be employed. They enjoy health insurance, and special COVID19 coverage. Governments handed out checks to both citizens and companies. Is it too much to ask that the same be done in our own country? Or do Filipinos have to go abroad to experience such social and economic protections?.....»»
Lola Amour bassist Raymond King nibiya sa banda human sa 8 ka tuig
Raymond King, bahista sa indie-rock band Lola Amour, nipahibalo sa iyang pagbiya sa grupo. Niingon siya nga mopursue siya og “long-term plans” apan sa makasubo nga ang banda way labot niini. Si King nibutyag niini sa usa ka statement nga gibuhian niya pinaagi sa Lola Amour nga Facebook page sa Miyerkules, Marso 27. “Hey! This.....»»
Marc Pingris dinenay na may ‘something’ sila ni Kim Rodriguez
PINABULAANAN ng basketbolista at tinaguriang “Pinoy Sakuragi” na si Marc Pingris ang mga kumakalat na balitang may namamagitan sa kanila ng aktres na si Kim Rodriguez. Sa kanyang Facebook page ay diretsahang sinagot ng asawa ni Danica Sotto ang mga intriga ibinabato laban sa kanya. “Walang katotohanan ang mga lumalabas na balita tungkol sa amin.....»»
Ashley Tisdale buntis sa 2nd baby: ‘We can’t wait to meet you!’
MAY exciting news ang Hollywood actress at “High School Musical” star na si Ashley Tisdale sa madlang pipol! Ayon sa kanya, ipinagbubuntis niya ang second baby nila ng mister na si Christopher French. Sa Instagram, ibinandera ni Ashley ang kanyang baby bump at ang caption niya: “We can’t wait to meet you [emoji].” Baka Bet.....»»
Andrea Brillantes niregaluhan ng Rolex nina Whamos at Antonette
NAWINDANG ang Kapamilya actress na si Andrea Brillantes matapos itong makatanggap ng mamahaling relo na Rolex mula sa social media personalities na sina Whamos Cruz at Antonette Gail del Rosario. Sa isang video na ibinahagi ni Whamos sa kanyang Facebook page ay sinurpresa nila ang dalaga na nag-celebrate ng birthday kamakailan. “Mayroon na naman tayong.....»»
Killua
News on the brutal killing of Killua, the Golden Retriever from Bato, Camarines Sur, has ignited a wave of public outcry, particularly among animal-loving Filipinos......»»
SPC grad No. 4 in MTLE
The San Pedro College (SPC) took to Facebook on March 27, 2024, congratulating Ai-Jay Vidal Cortez for placing fourth in the March 2024 Medical Technology Licensure Examination (MTLE)......»»