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Galvez returns as presidential peace adviser
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reappointed former AFP chief Carlito Galvez Jr. as presidential peace adviser after being renamed senior undersecretary of the Department of National Defense. In a statement Saturday, Galvez said Marcos reinstated him as the secretary of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity to help in pushing forward the Bangsamoro peace process because “this is where his heart is.” Galvez was previously appointed as OPAPRU secretary by former President Rodrigo Duterte in December 2018. In January this year, Marcos swore in Galvez as the DND officer-in-charge and later led several activities related to the defense sector. Galvez said he is determined to help the administration “unleash the full economic potential” of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Earlier this weekend, Galvez joined Special Assistant to the President, Secretary Antonio Ernesto Lagdameo Jr. in visiting the BARMM office in Cotabato City to assess the progress and development of peace initiatives in the region. Lagdameo and Galvez also met separately with BARMM Interim Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Embrahim, Minister of Basic, Higher and Technical Education Mohagher Iqbal, and other BARMM officials, to discuss possible areas of cooperation between the national and Bangsamoro government, particularly on initiatives that aim to boost the region’s standing as a commercial and trading center in Mindanao as well as maintaining peace and security situation in the region. Lagdameo is currently the co-chairperson of the Inter-Cabinet Cluster Mechanism on Normalization, the body mandated to coordinate and mobilize national government agencies in the implementation of the Normalization Program for Moro Islamic Liberation Front combatants, their families, and communities. Galvez said there’s remarkable economic progress taking place in the BARMM region. Hence, he recommended the revival of what he described as “sea-lane of commerce” in the South. The president’s peace adviser was referring to the development of a coastal area that stretches from Malabang to the Polloc Port, and further down south to the island provinces of Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi. Galvez cited BARMM as the biggest contributor to the country’s fish industry, followed by the Zamboanga Peninsula (Region 9) and Soccsksargen (Region 12), respectively. The economic activities within the Maguindanao del Norte and BARMM’s Island provinces are expected to increase after the BARMM’s Ministry of Transportation approved Roll On/Roll Off operations in April this year. The post Galvez returns as presidential peace adviser appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Prioritize the poor, bring gov’t services closer to needy
For many of our fellow Filipinos who can barely afford their daily expenses, getting treated in a hospital is oftentimes a burdensome choice that they resort to only if it is a matter of life and death. Usually, our struggling kababayans choose to endure their illness for fear of falling deeper into debt due to huge hospital bills, medicines and other expenses. And by this time, an ordinary disease has already become a serious medical condition. Their plight is what inspired us to initiate the Malasakit Centers program in 2018 which provides one-stop shops where our indigent patients may more conveniently access medical assistance from the government. By bringing together programs of various government agencies under one roof, such as the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, the centers streamline the process of availing medical assistance. I have been appealing to officials and workers in the health sector to prioritize the needs of the poor, especially in public health facilities since these patients have nowhere else to turn to but to seek the help of their government. I also appeal to all hospital staff to be patient and compassionate in guiding Filipinos, particularly the poor, so that they can properly have access to the services offered by our public hospitals and from the medical assistance programs available in any of our 158 Malasakit Centers nationwide. That is why as Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and as the principal author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, I make time to personally check on the operations of our Malasakit Centers across the country, in addition to attending the groundbreaking of Super Health Centers and leading our usual relief distributions for Filipinos in need. On 16 June, I conducted a monitoring visit to two Malasakit Centers in Leyte, where I was honored to be declared as an adopted son of the province through Resolution 2020-337 passed on 24 April 2020 and formally granted on 16 June by the provincial government. During the visit, I recognized the efforts of Governor Carlos Jericho “Icot” Petilla, Baybay City Mayor Jose Carlos “Boying” Cari and Vice Mayor Ernesto Butawan, Vice Governor Sandy Javier, Cong. Carl Cari, Cong. Karen Javier, Board Member Carlo Loreto, and other officials for their commitment to bringing government services closer to their constituents. I also visited the Malasakit Center at Baybay City Immaculate Conception Hospital where we assisted 30 out-patients, 140 in-patients, and 192 front liners, while the DSWD extended financial aid to qualified in-patients. We likewise inspected the Super Health Center and the new boardwalk in the city which I supported to help the community. I then checked on the operations of the Malasakit Center at Ormoc District Hospital in Ormoc City. We also assisted 283 patients and 211 front liners in the hospital, while 133 qualified inpatients received additional assistance from the DSWD. Following this, I led a relief operation for 1,065 struggling residents in the city and attended the ribbon-cutting of the newly constructed pentathlon facility with a dedicated fencing hall, among others — a project I supported as Vice Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance and as Chair of the Senate Committee on Sports, together with the local government led by Cong. Richard Gomez and Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez. Earlier that week, I was in Davao del Norte to participate in the celebration of the first anniversary of an insurgency-free Davao del Norte led by Gov. Edwin Jubahib, held in Tagum City on 13 June. I also personally spearheaded a relief operation for 1,500 struggling residents in the city. Simultaneously, we provided more support to the community in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment which held an orientation for temporary employment to 721 individuals. Following this, I visited the town of Carmen with Mayor Leony Bahague to witness the groundbreaking of its Super Health Center and provide aid to 1,666 more indigents. On 15 June, I was in Quezon City with my team to witness the inauguration of two multipurpose buildings in Barangays Commonwealth and Payatas which I also supported for funding together with Councilor Mikey Belmonte. We likewise aided a thousand indigents in the city with Mayor Joy Belmonte. We then headed to Marikina City to assist 3,000 more struggling residents from Marikina City and the towns of San Mateo and Rodriguez, Rizal, together with Congresswoman Maan Teodoro and Mayor Marcy Teodoro; as well as the local officials from both towns in Rizal, such as Rodriguez Mayor Ronnie Evangelista and San Mateo Mayor Bartolome “Omie” Rivera Jr., among others. We also visited North Cotabato on 17 June, where we celebrated the 54th Araw ng Alamada led by Mayor Jesus Sacdalan and Cong. Joel Sacdalan and helped 840 farmers and 1,500 struggling residents in the town before going to Matalam to witness aspiring athletes in the Serbisyong Totoo Basketball Sports Clinic and to lead another distribution activity for 1,318 more residents from various sectors together with Gov. Lala Taliño-Mendoza. Across the country, my team aided indigent families and various sectors, including 136 in Samal, 33 in Balanga, and 82 in Limay, Bataan; 990 in Tagudin, Ilocos Sur; 150 in Damulog, Bukidnon; 350 in Iligan City; 100 in Tubod, Lanao del Norte; 550 in Malinao and Sto. Domingo, Albay; and two fire-hit households in Carcar City, Cebu. My team also attended the groundbreaking of the Super Health Center in Tiguma, Pagadian City. It is the fundamental right of every Filipino to receive proper medical care and social assistance from our government. I hope that with compassion for our struggling kababayans and the persistence to help uplift their lives, we can collectively ensure that the poor and most needy are not neglected as we continue our pursuit for progress and development. The post Prioritize the poor, bring gov’t services closer to needy appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Give LPE a chance
Newly appointed Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro made a deeply rooted statement about the peace talks between the Philippine government and communist rebels that have dragged on for several decades, with intermittent periods of very little progress and setbacks. Without mincing words, Teodoro said he had always been against entering into peace negotiations with the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army. This is equally consistent with his position that communist rebels are welcome to return to the government fold given an existing program that offers “to help them, rehabilitate them and give them a new life.” Why is this so? For Teodoro, why engage in peace talks when there is Task Force Balik-Loob — a central coordinating body created by Administrative Order No. 10 dated 3 April 2018 that supervises the government’s reintegration efforts for members of the CPP-NPA-NDF, including their immediate family members. The task force is composed of representatives from the DND, DILG, OPAPRU, and other partner government agencies. I couldn’t agree with the Defense Secretary more. In a recent television interview, he said he was never convinced that the Philippine insurgency — the longest-running in Asia — was ideological. His explanation was clear. “This is all about taking power or whatever. The reason, even in other countries, the sole authority of the Communist Party in other countries is a dictatorship in itself. They call it the dictatorship of the proletariat.” We have in front of us a duplicity of the communist agenda — a pro-people advocacy on one hand, and the overthrow of the government on the other. The history of the peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front, CPP’s political wing, is long and complex spanning several decades. When Corazon C. Aquino assumed the presidency after the People Power Revolution in 1986, peace talks were initiated and detained top communist leaders, including Jose Maria Sison and Bernabe Buscayno, were released. Since then, there have been several attempts at peace negotiations between the government and the Reds, facilitated by third-party mediators, including the Catholic Church, various civil society groups, and foreign governments. The most recent attempt at peace talks was in 2016 during the first year in office of then-President Rodrigo Duterte. It, however, broke down in 2017 after both sides accused the other of violating the ceasefire agreement. Duterte, exasperated by the insincerity, formally terminated the peace negotiations with the CPP-NPA in 2018 through Proclamation 360. Despite this, there have been sporadic calls for the resumption of the peace talks, particularly from civil society groups and the international community. More than 40 rounds of peace talks with the CPP-NPA-NDF since 1986 proved futile, marred by spoilers who used violence to attack the peace process. Or were these attempts aimed at forcing their way into negotiations, and alter a process so that their demands would be included in a settlement? Opinions vary, often dependent on political, social, and ideological perspectives. While some people argue that pursuing peace talks is the best way to end the decades-long armed insurgency, others are skeptical about the prospects as evidenced by the little willingness to negotiate in good faith, human rights violations, coupled with unreasonable and unrealistic demands. Peace is a priority for more than 110 million Filipinos who hope to see an end to the decades-long insurgency in the country. If top-level negotiated settlements fail, there is the Localized Peace Engagement or LPE — a viable alternative solution to the armed conflict. Introduced by the national government in 2017 after the breakdown of the peace negotiations with the Reds, let us give this community-based approach to peacebuilding a chance. After all, who wouldn’t want to address the underlying social, economic, and political grievances that fuel armed conflicts? The post Give LPE a chance appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Under the surface
They say that Mayon — that perfectly shaped volcano in the Bicol region — only shows her full glory to those arriving in the city of Albay if (and only if) those people are truly “welcome.” It’s just a fun little myth, of course, which invites visitors to look at the volcano first thing, as soon as they land at the airport where an aerial first view is possible before a full-on feast for the eyes on the ground. I dare say it is still the most glorious-looking volcano in the world, with cracks, dents, and all. It was a sight I took for granted growing up, however. But never again after I saw it shed fiery tears some years ago. By a highway leading to my mother’s hometown, we stood awestruck at its destructive beauty. A lava flow in 2018 brought tourists to the province and we saw the vehicles parked at the same vantage point. It was some other reason that compelled me to visit that year. Should hot lava feel like the tears that fell then, the sear is nothing compared to the pain of loss. Under the surface, cracks form and create wounds that never quite heal. A report on Mayon that year by the Global Volcanism Program described the volcano as being in a “new eruptive episode.” Bicolanos heaved a sigh of relief when the situation did not worsen. For residents, every “episode” means a run of some anxiety, though I personally feel that those who had felt its occasional rumble through the decades are not so easily shaken by the prospect of an earthquake. An eruption is another matter, as Bicolanos have seen gigantic rocks flatten houses in their path. Some of those boulders are still around to remind us all that life is transitory. That we should all blaze a path and not care too much for gathering dust. This and other wisdom are worth gaining from mother nature. This week, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raised to number two the alert level on Mayon Volcano. This means, Phivolcs said, “increasing unrest.” The Phivolcs statement went: “This means that there is current unrest driven by shallow magmatic processes that could eventually lead to phreatic eruptions or even precede hazardous magmatic eruption.” The term “hazardous” is giving me worries I never felt before. Perhaps it is the thought of rocks falling increasingly “from the volcano’s summit lava dome.” Such seismic activity has been noted since the last week of April, reports say. Phivolcs also said, “Mayon’s lava dome increased in volume by approximately 83,000 square meters (m3) since 3 February and a total of nearly 164,000 m3 since 20 August 2022.” Vigilance is an understatement, as I believe experiences from the past should make residents of the province more proactive. Gone should be the extra effort to evacuate forcibly those within the six-kilometer radius permanent danger zone. The animals will warn farmers within the area, but the local government may need to assure people of a safe haven, provisions, and the hope of having future sources of income. That last bit is iffy, to say the least — more like a dream, perhaps. Meanwhile, Taal Volcano remains at alert level 1 although “an increased degassing activity in the volcano, which produced steam-rich plumes that rose 3,000 meters above Taal volcano island,” has been noted. There is heat beneath the surface, aggravated by extreme weather due to climate change. Mother nature can be destructive, yes, but its volatility can often be read or measured ahead. The danger in human actions and reactions is that they are volatile, the destruction measured and felt over time. The post Under the surface appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
India train mishap kills nearly 300
BELASORE, India — At least 288 people were killed and more than 850 injured in a train crash in India on Friday night. The crash occurred near Balasore, in the eastern state of Odisha, when two passenger trains and a goods train collided. The impact of the crash caused carriages to be lifted into the air, twisted, and then smashed off the tracks. Rescue workers used metal cutting tools to pry open gaps in the torn sides of carriages in a desperate search to reach those trapped inside. By Saturday morning, they had pulled out 288 bodies and more than 850 injured passengers. The death toll is expected to rise, as many of the injured are in critical condition. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. Residents and volunteers rushed to help the injured, providing food, water, and blankets. They also helped to carry the injured to hospitals. The crash has caused widespread disruption to train services in the region. All train trips between Balasore and Bhubaneswar have been canceled, and others were running late. The government has announced compensation of 500,000 rupees (about $7,000) for the families of each of the victims. The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, has expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and has ordered a full investigation into the crash. Chronology of rail disasters With hundreds killed and more injured in a three-train collision in India, AFP looked back on some of the worst rail disasters of the last 10 years: Greek collision. On 28 February 2023, a head-on collision between a freight train and a passenger train on the route between Athens and Thessaloniki claimed 57 lives, in the country’s worst rail accident; Stowaways derailed. On 10 March 2022, a freight train loaded with stowaways derailed in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Lualaba province, killing at least 75 people and injuring 125 others. A month later, at least eight people died when a goods train derailed in the same area; Pakistan farmlands. On 7 June 2021, at least 63 people died when a train hurtling through farmland derailed and collided with another passenger service in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province; Taiwan tragedy. On 2 April 2021, at least 49 people were killed and 200 injured when a passenger train collided with a truck that slid down an embankment near the city of Hualien — the island’s worst rail disaster in decades; Pakistan pilgrims. At least 74 people died and more than 40 were injured on 31 October 2019, when a fire broke out on an overcrowded passenger train carrying pilgrims to a religious gathering near Lahore; Crowds on tracks. A speeding train ran over revelers watching fireworks during a Hindu festival in northern India on 19 October 2018, killing at least 60 people; Indian Express disaster. At least 146 people died when an Indore-Patna Express train with around 2,000 people on board derailed in Uttar Pradesh on 20 November 2016, sending carriages crashing into each other; Speeding Cameroon train. A train traveling from the capital Yaounde to the economic hub of Douala derailed on 21 October 2016, killing at least 79 people and injuring around 550 others. It was traveling “abnormally” fast before the crash, the investigation into the crash concluded; Congo accident. A goods train carrying hundreds of illegal passengers flew off the rails in a swampy and inaccessible part of the south of the Democratic Republic of Congo on 22 April 2014, killing at least 136 people. Many had to be buried in mass graves nearby; and Spain derailing. About 80 people were killed and 140 injured when a high-speed train slammed into a concrete wall near the northwestern city of Santiago de Compostela on 24 July 2013. The train had been approaching a curve at more than twice the speed limit. The post India train mishap kills nearly 300 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Taiwan tribe despairs as drought shrinks bamboo crop
Hacking at a bamboo plant with a machete, Avayi Vayayana peels back the shoot's stiff bark as he scans southern Taiwan's mountains, anxious for more of the money-making crop his Indigenous tribe increasingly struggles to find. Generations of the Tsou tribe have lived off Alishan township's bamboo forests, which Vayayana says were planted by his forefathers and typically harvested in April and May. But "the weather in the last few years has really been out of whack", the 62-year-old tribal chief tells AFP. "The rainfall has been delayed and the bamboo shoots' growth is noticeably affected." In the Indigenous village T'fuya, the dark-brown cones of the island's native stone bamboo -- or Phyllostachys lithophila -- have become harder to spot. "The little young shoots will not sprout if there's no rain. After a while, they will die inside the ground," Vayayana says. The February-to-April rains are crucial to the growth of bamboo shoots -- which are popular in Asian cuisine -- but since late last year, there have not been any significant downpours. The Tsou tribe, which has a population of 7,000 in Alishan, has seen their bamboo shoot harvest steadily decline. On a misty May morning, a welcome drizzle finally blankets the bamboo forest Vayayana is working in, but he tells AFP it is too late. This year, his haul is one-third of 2022's harvest. Worse, Vayayana and his family must now also contend with crop-raiding monkeys, he explains after an airgun shot rings out in the distance: his cousin trying to scare away the marauders. "Because many surrounding bamboo forests have died, now where there are bamboo shoots, all the monkeys will go," he says. 'Frontline victims' Southern Taiwan is experiencing its worst drought in decades. Water levels in the Tsengwen reservoir serving the southern Tainan and Chiayi regions plummeted below 10 percent this year, the third such drop since 2018, leaving reservoir beds cracked and exposed. The Tsengwen serves as a primary water source for a massive foundry making the island's precious semiconductors -- soaring in demand globally -- and also supplements the region's rice-growing plains. But for the third year in a row, the government is providing subsidies to farmers not to plant their crops -- a sign of the severe water needs. An hour's drive from the reservoir, Alishan too is experiencing drastic weather changes. From January to April, rainfall declined to 226.5 millimeters (8.9 inches), a more than 50 percent drop compared to the same period last year, according to Taiwan's Central Weather Station. For the Tsou -- whose lifestyle is entwined with nature -- the impact is "comprehensive", says Greenpeace Taiwan's Lena Chang. "They are the frontline victims of climate change," Chang tells AFP. Data compiled by Greenpeace Taiwan shows the drop-off in rain to be persistent. In the past three decades, Alishan has lost an average of 2.6mm of rainfall per year in February and 1.2mm in March -- a vital period for bamboo shoot growth. At T'fuya's crop collection point, villagers offload sacks of bamboo shoots from trucks, weighing them before sending them to factories to be boiled and tinned for mass consumption. "This year, the rain came too late and many bamboo trees are sick. The harvest is very bad," Voyu Baniana, 24, tells AFP. "In my family's plantation, we have none. I can only work for other people this year." New cash crop Those who returned to their villages after a period of working in cities are finding it harder to live off of crops they grew up cultivating. Voyo Yulunana, 43, still remembers the long days he spent as a child harvesting bamboo shoots, the sale of which bolstered the community's living standards. "Buying a car or building a house, we counted on the bamboo," he says. Since Yulunana returned from a brief stint in the city working in construction, he has noticed "the rains don't come when they should". Luckily, his grandfather made a switch to growing coffee beans, which Yulunana and other younger Tsou have shifted toward in the past decade. "Coffee is slowly replacing bamboo shoots as the cash crop" in Alishan, says Yulunana. But even it is not immune to climate change -- a late spring rain affects the plant's flowering season, and the erratic weather last year nearly devastated his family's 400-shrub crop, he said. "At this point, I can get by with just growing coffee," Yulunana said. "Who knows what new crops will appear after coffee?" The post Taiwan tribe despairs as drought shrinks bamboo crop appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Shanghai records hottest May day in 100 years
Shanghai recorded its hottest May day in 100 years on Monday, the city's meteorological service announced, shattering the previous high by a full degree. Scientists say global warming is exacerbating adverse weather, with many countries experiencing deadly heatwaves and temperatures hitting records across Southeast and South Asia in recent weeks. "At 13:09, the temperature at Xujiahui station hit 36.1 degrees Celsius (97 degrees Fahrenheit), breaking a 100-year-old record for the highest temperature in May," a post on the service's official Weibo account read, referring to a metro station in the center of China's largest city. The temperature at the bustling station climbed even higher to 36.7C (98F) later in the afternoon, Shanghai's meteorological service said. That put it a full degree above the old record, 35.7C, which has been recorded four times previously, in 1876, 1903, 1915 and 2018, according to the weather service. Shanghai residents sweltered under the early-afternoon sun, with some apps showing a "feels like" temperature estimate of more than 40C (104F). "I headed out at noon to pick up a delivery, and got a headache after coming back," read one post from Shanghai on Weibo. Another said: "I almost got heatstroke, it's really hot enough to explode." Deadly heat Parts of India saw temperatures above 44C (111F) in mid-April, with at least 11 deaths near Mumbai attributed to heat stroke on a single day. In Bangladesh, Dhaka suffered its hottest day in almost 60 years. The city of Tak in Thailand recorded its highest-ever temperature of 45.4C (114F), while Sainyabuli province in Laos hit 42.9C (109F), an all-time national temperature record, the study by the World Weather Attribution group said. A recent report from the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned that "every increment of global warming will intensify multiple and concurrent hazards". In May, the United Nations warned that it is near-certain that 2023-2027 will be the warmest five-year period ever recorded, as greenhouse gasses and El Nino combine to send temperatures soaring. There is a two-thirds chance that at least one of the next five years will see global temperatures exceed the more ambitious target set out in the Paris accords on limiting climate change, the UN's World Meteorological Organization said. The 2015 Paris Agreement saw countries agree to cap global warming at "well below" two degrees Celsius above average levels measured between 1850 and 1900 -- and 1.5C if possible. The global mean temperature in 2022 was 1.15C above the 1850-1900 average. The WMO said there was a 66 percent chance that annual global surface temperatures will exceed 1.5C above pre-industrial levels for at least one of the years from 2023-2027. The post Shanghai records hottest May day in 100 years appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Chef Tatung Sarthou launches new cookbook
[caption id="attachment_133417" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Chef Tatung Sarthou with his new book Simpol Dishkarte.[/caption] You’ve got to hand it to celebrity chef Myke “Tatung” Sarthou. There really is no stopping him. After making private dining in his home in Antipolo, Rizal, available to destination diners in May last year, he opened one restaurant concept after another in the next few months. There’s Lore Manila, which opened at One Bonifacio High Street Mall in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, on 25 November 2022. Next came Azadore, which is doing very well since it opened its doors to the dining public at Sct. Fernandez corner Sct. Torillo, Quezon City, on 27 March 2023. And the most recent addition to the Chef Tatung restaurants, New York, Cubao, at the Public Eatery, Robinsons Magnolia, Quezon City, just last 26 April. While you are still marveling at how chef Tatung is able to create all these different restaurant concepts, make each of them work, and keep the consistency of the food at all times, he is on to another new venture. Just last week, he launched his latest book, Simpol Dishkarte, at The Alley by Vikings, UP Town Center, Quezon City. [caption id="attachment_133419" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Also found in the book is lengua with cream sauce and mushrooms.[/caption] Not an ordinary cookbook filled with recipes, Simpol Dishkarte is a comprehensive guide for Pinoy cooking, designed to make cooking more enjoyable and stress-free. It teaches kitchen basics in easy terms, so that even those who know nothing about cooking will learn not just the basics but also kitchen hacks, tips, tricks and more. It has its share of recipes, and these are easy to follow, especially since the book is written in spoken Filipino language, or Filipino-English combination. Some even have step-by-step photos and illustrations. [caption id="attachment_133418" align="aligncenter" width="1707"] One of the recipes that can be found in the book is longganisa de rekado.[/caption] “Simpol Dishkarte was written to bridge the skill gap of home cooks to satisfy the discriminating tastes of people who frequent restaurants when served with home-cooked dishes. It is also written for non-English speakers by providing technical and practical know-how in the kitchen to function in a home or even commercial setting,” says chef Tatung. “The book is a perfect primer for non-cooks who want to venture into the kitchen, mga naghahanap ng ibang career or hanapbuhay. It’s suitable for entry-level or community-based food businesses.” [caption id="attachment_133415" align="aligncenter" width="828"] PHOTOGRAPHS BY DOLLY DY-ZULUETA FOR THE DAILY TRIBUNEBook launch at The Alley by Vikings.[/caption] The original book, Dishkarte, was initially published in 2018 and is well-loved by Filipinos all over the world. It was named as one of the top winners of the Filipino Readers’ Choice Award in 2022. Simpol Dishkarte is an updated version, imparting a lot of new knowledge, ideas and recipes. Priced at P390, Simpol Dishkarte is available in all National Bookstore and Fully Booked outlets and online on Amazon, Simpol stores in Shopee and Lazada. The post Chef Tatung Sarthou launches new cookbook appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Grab fined P9M over late refunds
Delivery and ride-hailing app Grab Philippines needs to pay up a fresh P9-million fine, on top of previous penalties, following its alleged failure to fully refund customers. In a press statement on Monday, the Philippine Competition Commission lamented Grab’s inaction to pay back customers more than three years after the PCC first ordered the reimbursement. The latest fine, according to PCC, is on top of the P63.7 million in penalties that the Commission had imposed on Grab over the years since it acquired the Philippine operations of then-lone rival Uber in 2018. The PCC cleared the acquisition at the time after Grab committed to addressing several competition concerns raised by the Commission. Under the Philippine Competition Act, the PCC has the power to review a merger between or among businesses to ensure their transaction does not restrict competition in the market where the merged entity will operate. Surprised Meanwhile, Grab Philippines said they were astounded by the decision of the PCC to impose a fine against them, though they are glad that the PCC has finally come to a decision on the disbursement mechanism for the remaining administrative fees — so they can put the matter to rest. “At the same time, we are surprised at PCC’s decision to fine us — given that we’ve been proactively engaging with them for over a year with proposals for alternative mechanisms to disburse the remaining administrative fees.” Also, Grab Philippines maintained that it has always been 100 percent committed to fully depleting the unclaimed administrative fees, and has made every effort it can to do so. “We proposed alternative disbursement mechanisms and are surprised that the PCC made a decision in February 2023 without informing us — given that we’ve been regularly following up with them. Nevertheless, we will implement the order of the PCC for Alternative Refund Mechanism as required by the PCC Order,” the statement sent to reporters read. “As we have been forthcoming in explaining our legal position, and challenges to the PCC; and have been proactive in proposing alternative disbursement mechanisms, we will be evaluating our legal options regarding the P9M fine,” it added. In a Resolution dated February, the PCC imposed a P6-million fine on Grab for violating three separate Commission orders for the company to return a combined P25.45 million to its customers. The refund orders were issued after Grab failed to deliver on its Price Monitoring Commitment. The earliest Commission order was issued in November 2019, followed by a second order a month later, and a third in October 2020. On each occasion, Grab was given a 60-day deadline to complete the refund from receipt of each order. In the same Commission Resolution, the PCC also imposed a P3-million fine on Grab for providing incorrect and misleading information in the compliance reports that the company submitted concerning the refund orders. In those reports, Grab claimed that it had completed the refund. However, PCC’s review found that only 24.16 percent of the total amount had been returned to Grab’s customers as of June 2021 — more than five months after the deadline for the Commission’s third refund order. It was only after the PCC issued a show-cause order in January 2022 that compliance with the refund order shot up to 73.80 percent as of April last year, but still short of the full refund that Grab had claimed. Lastly, the Commission, in the same Resolution, directed Grab to provide Alternative Refund Mechanism that would allow its customers to claim remaining refunds, barring which the company was ordered to convey the amount to PCC for remittance to the National Treasury. To ensure higher take-up of the refund, the PCC instructed Grab to exhaust different platforms to inform customers about the pending reimbursement. The post Grab fined P9M over late refunds appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Aboitiz Construction achieves 1M safe man-hours in Parañaque site
Aboitiz Construction, Inc. recently achieved a milestone of one million safe man-hours without lost-time injury for its project in Parañaque City. The project involved the construction of a 26,000-square-meter warehouse and office buildings for LBC Express and took place from June 2021 to April 2023. To promote and ensure site safety, ACI regularly conducts emergency response drills, safety awareness sessions, toolbox meetings and site inspections and audits. “This achievement is a clear testament to our commitment toward safety. Across all our project sites, we prioritize safety and uphold operational excellence as we build quality structures for our clients. We are continuously striving to comply with the safety requirements set by the Department of Labor and Employment and the businesses that we work with,” said ACI Chief Operating Officer Ramez Sidhom. The soon-to-be-completed Parañaque hub is the largest warehouse facility of LBC Express by far. Once finished, it will make for more efficient logistics and parcel delivery across the world. ACI has directly provided job opportunities to 393 manpower and subcontracted a total of 301 workers for this project alone. Last March, the company received its recertification for ISO 45001:2018 (Occupational Health and Safety Management System) for its sound occupational health and safety performance, staying true to its purpose of building for businesses to prosper and communities to thrive. The post Aboitiz Construction achieves 1M safe man-hours in Parañaque site appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bong Go aids struggling residents in Misamis Oriental towns
Senator Christopher "Bong" Go on Thursday, 11 May, dispatched his team to Naawan and Jasaan, Misamis Oriental to provide assistance to residents in need. In a video message, Go called upon his fellow Filipinos to unite and support one another during these difficult times. He emphasized the importance of collective action, stating, "Mga kababayan ko, mayro'n lang po kaming kaunting tulong sa inyo. Magtulungan lang po tayo. Sino ba namang magtutulungan kung 'di tayo lang po, mga kapwa nating Pilipino." Held at the Senior Citizen Building in Naawan and the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office in Jasaan, Go’s team handed out vitamins, shirts, masks, and snacks to a total of 100 residents. They also provided shoes, and balls for basketball and volleyball to select individuals. The Department of Social Welfare and Development also extended financial aid to the indigents. Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Go encouraged the residents to seek medical assistance from the Malasakit Centers located at Northern Mindanao Medical Center and J.R. Borja General Hospital in Cagayan de Oro City. Malasakit Centers bring together representatives from the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. These one-stop shops aim to support impoverished patients in reducing their hospital bills to the least possible amount. The Malasakit Centers program was initiated by Go in 2018 and was later institutionalized under the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which he primarily authored and sponsored. To date, there are 157 Malasakit Centers in the Philippines that have helped over seven million poor and indigent patients nationwide, according to the DOH. Go, who serves as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, likewise supported the flood control projects in Magsaysay, Medina, and Gingoog City; construction of multipurpose buildings in Initao, Magsaysay, and Gingoog City; rehabilitation of local roads in Balingasag, Initao, Lagonglong, Laguindingan, Libertad, Lugait, Magsaysay, Manticao and El Salvador City; and construction of water systems in Balingasag and Jasaan. He was also instrumental in the construction of a drainage system and flood control structures along the Iponan River, the acquisition of several ambulance units and fire and dump trucks, and the construction of a three-story multipurpose building in Barangay 33 in Cagayan de Oro City. On 10 May, Go’s team also aided residents in Gingoog City where they distributed similar assistance. They, likewise, aided impoverished communities in the town of Gitagum on 29 April. The post Bong Go aids struggling residents in Misamis Oriental towns appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Making the most of Philippine Summer
Despite perennially reeling from the scorching heat, Filipinos nevertheless look forward to summer to take a break from the rigors of daily life and enjoy the sun, sand and sea. The months of March to May is always a time to enjoy the outdoors, as the Philippines, being a tropical country, is replete with summer destinations that local and foreign tourists go gaga about. Topping these getaway spots, hands down is the beach. With over 7,000 islands, the country boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Among the most popular are Boracay, Palawan and Siargao — all known for their crystal-clear waters, powdery white sands and stunning sunsets. [caption id="attachment_129829" align="aligncenter" width="525"] A boy ignoring warnings not to swim in polluted Manila Bay dives in to beat the summer heat as boats prepare for the fist annual regatta, 26 May 2002, aimed at increasing public awareness on the environment. The Philippine government has been taking steps to clean-up the historic bay, famed for its breath-taking sunsets, which has become a depository for trash and industrial waste in recent years. AFP PHOTO/Joel NITO (Photo by JOEL NITO / AFP)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_129827" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Tourists relax along a beach in Boracay island in Malay town, Aklan province, central Philippines on April 7, 2018. - The Philippine tourism industry scrambled on April 6 to manage the fallout from the temporary shutdown of its world-famous Boracay island, which threw into chaos trips planned by hundreds of thousands of tourists. (Photo by AFP)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_129828" align="aligncenter" width="525"] A surfer takes advantage of the conditions at Big Wave Bay on the southern side of Hong Kong island 05 July 2001 as tyhoon 'Utor' heads nearer to the territory after lashing southern Taiwan and the Philippines. 'Utor' one of the biggest typhoons to hit the South China Sea in thirty years is expected to hit landfall in southern China tommorrow morning coming close to Hong Kong at the same time.AFP PHOTO/Peter PARKS (Photo by PETER PARKS / AFP)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_129830" align="aligncenter" width="525"] A tourist goes airborne while kite boarding in the waters of Boracay island on November 9, 2008. The white sand beach resort island is in center of controversy as investors and property owners accused the government of land grabbing following the 2006 proclamation by the Philippine government that the entire island belongs to the state. Boracay island located in central Philippines draws half a million tourists each year to its spectacular beaches, more than one sixth of tourist visitors to the country. AFP PHOTO/JAY DIRECTO (Photo by JAY DIRECTO / AFP)[/caption] Aside from the beach, summertime is a chance to enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, camping and island hopping. Tourists take advantage of the summer months to explore the natural beauty of the country. [caption id="attachment_129826" align="aligncenter" width="525"] This picture taken on October 12, 2019 shows members of Myanmar's national surfing team resting during a competition on Ngwe Saung beach in Irrawaddy division, ahead of the upcoming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in the Philippines. - Competitive surfing was barely known in Myanmar a few years ago but a group of super-stoked dudes and dudettes from a local beach town are riding a wave of enthusiasm to the Southeast Asian Games for the first time ever. (Photo by Ye Aung THU / AFP)[/caption] Among the more popular hiking spots are Mt. Pulag, Mt. Batulao and Mt Pinatubo which all offer breathtaking views and unforgettable experiences. Of course, we should not forget that summer in the Philippines is also a time for festivities. One of the most celebrated festivals during this season is the Pahiyas Festival in Lucban, Quezon. The festival is held every May in honor of San Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of farmers. During the event, the town is decorated with colorful kiping (rice wafers) and other agricultural products. [caption id="attachment_129831" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Children on a float made of native materials and decorated with vegetables and rice stalks parade on the streets for a contest ahead of the annual "Pahiyas" harvest festival in the town of Lucban, in Quezon province, south of Manila, 14 May 2005. During the festival, residents use native plants, vegetable products and rice paper to decorate their floats, homes and vehicles in imaginative ways. AFP PHOTO/JAY DIRECTO (Photo by JAY DIRECTO / AFP)[/caption] Another popular festival during this time is the Kadayawan Festival in Davao City. The festival is held every August and is a celebration of the city’s bountiful harvest. It is a colorful event that features street dancing, music and a parade of flowers. Whatever one fancies to beat the summer heat, there is always something to look forward to hereabouts. Whether one wants to relax, go on an adventure or celebrate, one can find it here in a paradise even tourists call paradise. The post Making the most of Philippine Summer appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Gawad Yamang Isip Awards and Fashion Night: Celebrating partners
World Intellectual Property Day is just around the corner and the IP Office of the Philippines, or IPOPHL, has a glamorous night in store for everyone to celebrate the event on 26 April. On this evening, IPOPHL will bring you a star-studded Fashion Night and the annual Gawad Yamang Isip Awards to celebrate faces that have been redefining innovation in fashion and various fields. Particularly, the Fashion Night is in line with the theme of this year’s National IP Month: “Women and IP: Accelerating Innovation and Creativity,” as it aims to empower women and help break gender disparities in the fashion and wearables industries. In a 2018 research note on the garment, textile and footwear sector in the Asia Pacific, the International Labor Organization found that women in the GTF sector in the Philippines were paid around 6.5 percent less than men on average. The finding, according to ILO, implied that even when women attained similar or better education and experience than men, they still received lower wages for work of equal value due to gender-based discrimination. With the incentive of the IP system, we envision craftsmanship to serve as a force for good, redefining the Philippine fashion and wearables industries as channels to expand freedoms and opportunities equitably for women. Fashion Night will also celebrate heirloom products that are pivotal in expanding the country’s growing geographical indications map as around 32 percent of IPOPHL’s official list of potential GIs are made up of local textile products. For this event, we have partnered with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Philippine Textile and Research Institute, Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority, and the Philippine Fashion Coalition. We will also be featuring creations by award-winning designers such as JC Buendia, Pablo Cabahug and Jor-el Espina — all members of the PFC chaired by former Trade Undersecretary Carissa Cruz Evangelista. The objective is to showcase the most celebrated pieces of Philippine fashion and other emerging pieces that speak volumes of the innovative genius of Filipinos and Filipinas. As for the Gawad Yamang Isip Awards, this is an annual event conferring the highest IP award on Philippine nationals who have contributed substantially to their respective fields through creating intellectual property (IP) protected products and works. For this event, we will recognize one inventor, one industrial designer, one enterprise and a few artists from the creative sector. This will also mark the first time that the World IP Organization will be giving a national award in the country, mainly to an enterprise that has helped uplift the lives of women through IP. We will also honor women who have helped transform the IP system to benefit more innovators and creators, and also recognize top filers and other partners who have gone above and beyond to support our IP creators and rights holders. The Fashion Night and GYI is just one way for IPOPHL to celebrate men and women whose ingenuity and talent have created IP assets for the good of society and the environment. For IPOPHL, this event will also remind us that it takes many hands to build the foundations of a robust and inclusive IP system. So I hope everyone can join us on 26 April by watching our live streamed event starting at 4 p.m. It will be a night of celebrating creativity, innovation, culture, IP and our ever-expanding network of allies who aim to see an IP system that benefits every Filipino and Filipina. The post Gawad Yamang Isip Awards and Fashion Night: Celebrating partners appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Sangalang to press charges vs accuser
Magnolia slotman Ian Sangalang is set to take appropriate legal actions against the Singaporean businessman who claimed that he was a central figure in a game-fixing incident during the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup finals. Sangalang strongly denied knowing Koa Wei Quan, who is now facing 14 counts of graft charges in the State Courts in Singapore for influencing games played in the PBA and the Thailand Basketball League from April to July in 2018. In a report by Singapore-based The Straits Times over the weekend, Koa alleged that he offered Sangalang a bribe of $5,000 – or roughly P280,000 – just to influence the outcome of Game 5 of the title series between Magnolia and San Miguel. The Beermen won the game in double overtime, 108-99, to clinch the title. Sangalang met PBA commissioner Willie Marcial on Monday to personally deny any knowledge on Koa’s accusations. “It’s not true. I don’t even know him,” Sangalang, who is now mulling legal charges against the Singaporean businessman. “Hindi ko ipagpapalit ang career at dangal ko sa ganung bagay.” Marcial said he was convinced with Sangalang’s explanation and will support him in his bid to clear his name. “He doesn’t know anything in that issue and he will sue the person who dragged his name,” the PBA chief stressed. Court documents showed Koa, who used to own transportation firm Koa Motor, also worked with former PBA player Leo Avenido and a man identified as Sergei Bien Orillo in fixing the outcome of the Philippine Cup finals as well as games featuring Blackwater, Columbian Dyip and Phoenix Super LPG. Aside from the PBA, Koa admitted that he also ran his match-fixing racket in the TBL, where he influenced the game between Provincial Electricity Authority and Thai General Equipment through an offer made to Filipino guard Almond Vosotros. Vosotros now plays for TNT Tropang Giga in the PBA 3x3 event. Two other games in the TBL involving PEA against Mono Vampire and Hi-Tech Assumption Thonburi were also mentioned to have been influenced by Koa while he was in Singapore. He, however, did not specify if the players or teams he mentioned agreed to accept his bribes. Marcial said the league will continue to investigate the matter. The post Sangalang to press charges vs accuser appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DoT seeks satisfying world’s foodies
The Department of Tourism will expand aid to local government units or LGUs for food programs to spur Michelin-starred restaurants offering Filipino cuisine and make the Philippines the ultimate food destination in Asia. “There must be provision of assistance to LGUs to transform their destinations into Creative Cities for Food and Gastronomy,” Tourism Undersecretary Myra Paz Abubakar said last Thursday in an email to the Daily Tribune. She explained, “The ultimate objective is to establish Filipino restaurants that can compete with Michelin-starred restaurants across the world and position the Philippines as the ultimate food destination in Asia.” As the Filipino Food Month, celebrated every April, comes to its end, Abubakar said the support for food programs in LGUs will also ensure Filipino foods will not be forgotten amid the sprouting restaurants serving foreign dishes, such as Korean and Japanese. Gastronomic joys lined up She said the assistance measures are part of the department’s Philippine Experience Program: Culture, Heritage and Arts Caravans. “The program will include Food and Gastronomy destinations and activities in various thematic caravan tours that will be launched in all regions of the country.” Abubakar said new projects under the program will include Market Tours which takes food entrepreneurs and enthusiasts to traditional food markets or palengke where they can buy and learn about local goods and crops. She had said the tourism department will include a Food Map in the upcoming Tourism Mobile App. Although Abubakar was not able to give a target date for the app’s launch, she said the app is taking shape. Before the caravans, the tourism department has been organizing Kain Na! and Food and Travel Festival in partnership with Ayala Malls to spark interest in local cuisine among Filipinos and foreigners. “This food and travel festival has generated awareness and interest in the culinary dimension of the country’s destinations, featuring iconic dishes, local produce, interesting foodie experiences,” Abubakar. A total of 20 food and travel festivals have been conducted since their launch in 2018. The post DoT seeks satisfying world’s foodies appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Toni Garrn to divorce Alex Pettyfer
It’s not new how celebrity couples in Hollywood sail and sink instantly — despite tying the knot. While there are a handful of couples who lead a long and happy marriage, Alex Pettyfer and Toni Garrn are not part of that club. Last 22 April, Toni announced via Instagram Stories that she is divorcing Pettyfer, her husband of two years. Her statement reads: “Alex and I have made the very difficult decision to divorce. We will continue our relationship as friends and co-parents to our angel Luca. Please respect our privacy during this sensitive time. Thank you.” According to E! News, Toni and Alex were first spotted together in February 2019 but People reported that the two had been dating since 2018. Alex proposed to Toni on Christmas eve 2019, wed in October 2020 in Germany and exchanged vows in June 2022 in Greece. They welcomed their first baby together in July 2021. Toni, 30, is a former Victoria’s Secret model while Alex, 33, is an actor best known for his works in I Am Number Four, Beastly, Magic Mike, The Infernal Machine, among others. The post Toni Garrn to divorce Alex Pettyfer appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
A1 marks 25 years with a concert in Manila
The popular British–Norwegian boy band A1 is set to make a comeback in Manila in October, just in time to celebrate their 25th anniversary in the music industry. This is a highly anticipated event for their Filipino fans who have been waiting for the group’s return to the Philippines after their successful concert in 2018. Thus, their upcoming tour is aptly called Twenty Five. A1 has been back to their original line-up, which consists of Paul Marazzi, Christian Ingebrigtsen, Mark Read and Ben Adams, since Paul re-joined the group in 2018 for their 20th Anniversary Reunion Tour, now five years on the band return to celebrate their musical milestone. The concert, which will be held at the New Frontier Theater, Araneta Center in Quezon City, promises to be a night of pure nostalgia and great music for A1 fans. Performing their classic hits from their impressive discography including “Like a Rose,” “Everytime,” “Same Old Brand New You” and “Caught in the Middle” to name a few that Filipinos learned to love over the years. Likewise, the group feels ecstatic to perform in Manila once again. Back in 2020, A1 got a fantastic reaction when Ben performed a duet of “Like a Rose” with popular Filipino star Morissette as an online performance during lockdown. A1 toured Denmark in 2021 and Sweden in 2022. In September 2022 they commenced a headline tour of the UK, where they performed songs from their forthcoming album, although original dates were moved due to pandemic closures and then the Queen’s passing during the tour. Presented by Concert Republic, A1: Twenty Five-Manila will be held at New Frontier Theater on 14 October, 8 p.m. Tickets will go on sale starting 28 April, 12 noon. Available at all TicketNet outlets or log onto Ticketnet.com.ph. The post A1 marks 25 years with a concert in Manila appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
On Earth Day: DBM pushes climate change planning
As the world observed Earth Day, the Department of Budget and Management on Saturday called on its fellow government agencies to intensify climate change planning and programming. “The serious implications that climate change pose are not just a problem for the next generation but also a present danger that is undeniably felt in our time,” DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said. “We need to act now by protecting our planet and its natural resources before it’s too late,” she added. The DBM chief said stakeholders must identify environment-related programs and projects in the preparation of the national budget in line with the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028. “May we keep in mind that we are doing all these to ensure that our economic progress is moving towards a track that is truly inclusive and sustainable for all,” she pointed out. The DBM allocated P2.39 billion for the National Greening Program, which includes provisions for the Protected Areas Development and Management Program, Manila Bay Rehabilitation, and Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Management Program. It also increased the 2023 budget for climate change initiatives. Earth Day is observed every 22 April to mobilize policymakers and society to address the climate crisis. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change highlighted in 2018 the scale of the challenge required to keep warming to 1.5 degrees centigrade. This year, it stressed that global greenhouse gas emissions “have continued to increase, with unequal historical and ongoing contributions arising from unsustainable energy use, land use and land-use change, lifestyles, and patterns of consumption and production across regions, between and within countries, and among individuals.” In addition, it warned that the pace and scale of climate action are still insufficient to tackle climate change. The post On Earth Day: DBM pushes climate change planning appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Thousands in Iba, Zambales receive aid from Sen. Go
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go gave back to the province that took him as its “adopted son.” He helped organize relief operations for the struggling residents of Iba, Zambales on 19-20 April. The initiative was part of Go’s continuous efforts to help address the needs of Filipinos and make sure no one is left behind in the pandemic recovery efforts. Go’s outreach team conducted a distribution activity at the Iba Sports Complex gymnasium where they provided masks to a total of 1,427 residents. Select beneficiaries also received additional items, such as cellular phones, shoes, and balls for basketball and volleyball. Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development extended separate financial assistance. As the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go advised individuals with health concerns to visit the Malasakit Center at President Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Hospital in Iba. Malasakit Centers bring together representatives from the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. These one-stop shops aim to support impoverished patients in reducing their hospital costs to the least possible amount. The program, initiated by Go in 2018, has been institutionalized under Republic Act No. 11463. Go is the principal author and sponsor of the Act. It mandates all DOH-run hospitals and the Philippine General Hospital in Manila City to establish their own centers to provide access to medical assistance programs offered by the government. Currently, there are 157 Malasakit Centers established nationwide which have assisted over seven million Filipinos, according to the DOH. Meanwhile, Go reiterated his commitment to support the establishment of more Super Health Centers across the country, considering how they can significantly help reduce hospital occupancy rates while bringing government medical services closer to the grassroots. In Zambales, necessary funds have been allocated by Congress last year for the DOH to construct Super Health Centers in Iba, Botolan, and Castillejos. Advocated by Go, Super Health Centers are medium versions of polyclinics and are bigger than rural health units, which offer basic services, such as database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray, ultrasound), pharmacy and ambulatory surgical unit. Other available services are eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) service, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation center and telemedicine, where remote diagnosis and treatment of patients will be done. Through the collective efforts of fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds had been allocated under the Health Facilities Enhancement Program of the DOH for 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 in 2023. DOH, the lead implementing agency, identifies the strategic areas where they will be constructed. In its Resolution No. 205 dated 8 August 2022 the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Zambales declared Go as its adopted son, noting that the senator has “embodied the spirit of good governance and public service” by exerting great efforts to help the whole province. “The province of Zambales is truly grateful and honored for having an unwavering partner in the person of Senator Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Tesoro Go, whose efforts deserve commendation and recognition for the love, concern and noble intention to the province,” the resolution read. In a resolution adopted by the Sangguniang Bayan on June 23, 2022, Go was also proclaimed as an adopted son of Iba, citing that Go has shown a big heart for the country, especially to local government units where he poured government resources to empower LGUs. Go, as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, has likewise supported several initiatives in the province, such as the rehabilitation of roads in Botolan, Masinloc, San Felipe, San Marcelino and Olongapo City; rehabilitation of the public market in San Antonio; construction of a seawall in Masinloc; and construction of two multipurpose buildings and installation of solar powered street lights in Botolan. The post Thousands in Iba, Zambales receive aid from Sen. Go appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
The Tiamzons, dead or alive? (1)
A puzzling statement was issued that couple Benito and Wilma Tiamzon were dead. It was not an assumption but a confirmation made by the faceless spokesperson of the Communist Party of the Philippines, Marco Valbuena, on Thursday that their top-ranking leaders did not die from a sea encounter in Catbalogan, Samar but were tortured and killed by the military. Ahead of DNA test results on human remains believed to be the Tiamzons, Valbuena made a premature claim. Philippine National Police chief, Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr., said the PNP Forensic Group has yet to release its official DNA report which is also being awaited by the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The Tiamzons were traveling with eight members of a guerilla group on a boat off Catbalogan City when they figured in a firefight with Joint Special Operations Task Force Trident and the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on 22 August 2022. The military believed the group perished after their boat exploded. Human remains were found in the water in the succeeding days but were not identified. Who really are the Tiamzons? Benito, 71, National Democratic Front consultant, was the vice chairman, executive committee member, and political bureau member of the CPP–New People’s Army-NDF. Wilma, 70, was CPP secretary general and, like her husband, was a member of the executive committee and political bureau of the CPP-NPA-NDF. She was also NDFP negotiating panel national consultant and the National Finance Commission secretary. The couple were arrested on 22 March 2014 and detained at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Camp Crame, Quezon City. Two years after, they were granted bail when the peace talks with the government resumed under the Duterte administration in August 2016. When the peace talks collapsed in 2017, the couple refused to surrender and went into hiding until a Quezon City court ordered their re-arrest in 2018. On 27 November 2020, Benito and Wilma were sentenced to up to 40 years in prison after being convicted of the kidnapping and serious illegal detention of Lt. Abraham Claro Casis and three other Army officers in Quezon in 1988. They were also ordered arrested for 15 counts of murder, issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 32 in Manila on 17 September 2017, in connection with the alleged 1985 purge in Leyte of communist rebels accused of being military informants, known as the “Inopacan massacre.” After running around headless since the death of its ideological founder in December 2022, timing is everything for the orphaned communist groups. Yes, everything happens at the perfect time. And, yes, the NDF’s 50th anniversary on Monday, 24 April is the perfect time. According to security forces, on occasions like this, CPP-affiliated organizations are expected to continue propagating issues and propaganda to portray them as still winning against the government and to expedite their recruitment of new revolutionaries. This is their strategy to portray the AFP as the primary violator of human rights in the country; and that the Philippine and American governments are conspiring to execute the apprehended terrorists. True enough, their digital spokesperson, whose face is always left to everyone’s imagination, announced that at the break of dawn on 24 April, all NPA units have been ordered to stand in formation and silently perform a 21-gun salute to pay respects and give the highest salute to the Tiamzon couple — their heroes for a day. (To be continued) The post The Tiamzons, dead or alive? (1) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»