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Church visits are allowed only until 10 p.m. – Police chief
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Church visits on Maundy Thursday will only be allowed until 10 p.m. the chief of the Cebu City police announced on Thursday, March 28. Police Colonel Ireneo B. Dalogdog, City Director of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) said that the public is not allowed inside religious places past 10:00 p.m......»»
One more city in Philippines declares pertussis outbreak
MANILA, March 25 (Xinhua) -- The government of Iloilo, a city in central Philippines, on Monday declared an outbreak of pertussis after it confirmed seven out of 15 reported cases, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said. Iloilo is the third city to declare an outbreak of pertussis, or whopping cough, after Quezon and Pasig, two cities in the capital region, announced last week that they hav.....»»
Davao City Council moves hearing on traffic-causing road construction works
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews – 26 March) – The Davao City Council rescheduled to Tuesday, April 2, the second hearing on the suspended road construction works in the locality after key officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – Davao region failed to show up Friday. The DPWH-Davao key officials are reportedly in […].....»»
DPWH-Davao: Coastal Road lights inactive due to stolen wires
THE Department of Public Works and Highways-Davao Region (DPWH-Davao) confirmed that a portion of lights along the Davao City Coastal Road are inactive due to wire theft......»»
One more city in Philippines declares pertussis outbreak
MANILA, March 25 (Xinhua) -- The government of Iloilo, a city in central Philippines, on Monday declared an outbreak of pertussis after it confirmed seven out of 15 reported cases, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said. Iloilo is the third city to declare an outbreak of pertussis, or whopping cough, after Quezon and Pasig, two cities in the capital region, announced last week that they hav.....»»
Nueva Ecija submerged in floods; Thursday classes suspended
By Zorayda S. Tecson GAPAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, Dec. 16 (PNA) — Governor Aurelio Umali on Wednesday announced the suspension of classes in all levels, both in public and private, on Thursday........»»
How Hong Kong became a fencing powerhouse and cheered up a city
Hong Kong is one of the smaller Asian Games teams by population, but when it comes to fencing the city is a regional heavyweight with ambitious medal hopes. Edgar Cheung won gold at the Covid-delayed Tokyo Games two years ago -- Hong Kong's first Olympic fencing title and first Olympic gold in any sport in a quarter of a century. It turned Cheung into a celebrity overnight and prompted parents across the Chinese territory of 7.5 million people to rush and sign their children up for fencing classes. Cheung's historic win in the foil competition was a much-needed dose of good news for a city mired in social unrest and pandemic gloom at the time. With more funding and public attention as a result, Cheung and his team-mates now hope to stamp their mark on the Asian Games in Hangzhou when they open on Saturday. Despite a strong record at recent editions, including eight medals in the sport in 2018, Hong Kong is yet to win fencing gold at the Asian Games. "No matter for individual or team events, I hope we can (win gold at last)," the softly spoken Cheung, 26, said. The city will have 24 fencers, 12 women and 12 men, at the Games. Another gold-medal contender is 29-year-old Vivian Kong, who is ranked number two in the world in women's epee. There is also Ryan Choi, who along with Cheung was part of the Hong Kong team that won bronze in the men's team foil at the world championships in July. Cheung said the Hong Kong team have "improved greatly" since the 2018 Games in Jakarta. The left-hander, who has recovered from a recent wrist injury, told AFP he wanted to "prove to our competitors they need to beware of us". - Pathway to success - Fencing in the city stretches back decades, to when Hong Kong was a British colony, with its amateur fencing association founded in 1949. The city had occasional success in the early 2000s, but it was the 2010 Asian Games, where Hong Kong fencers won seven medals, that first established them as a regional powerhouse. Local organisers made efforts to popularise the sport, bringing classes to schools and community hubs in the past two decades -– that is where Cheung had his first taste of fencing. Fencers also benefited from a reform to Hong Kong's pipeline for discovering and training talent which allowed Cheung to devote himself to the sport full-time when he was 17 with his parents' blessing. Cheung's final bout at the Tokyo Olympics drew hundreds of fans who crowded into a Hong Kong mall to watch the live broadcast, popping champagne corks after he emerged victorious. Days later, then-city leader Carrie Lam announced more funding for elite Hong Kong athletes, including an expansion to the fencing hall at the institute where Cheung trains. Fencing schools reported a spike in applications, although observers say interest has since tapered off somewhat. - Warning for star man - Gregory Koenig, who previously coached in his native France and also Taiwan, began working with Hong Kong's fencers five years ago and has developed a close relationship with Cheung. He had a warning for Hong Kong's star man, who has slipped to seventh in the men's foil world rankings. "When you're Olympic champion it's very hard because everybody has an eye on you and everybody's fighting hard against you," Koenig said. He said he told Cheung: "You have to understand that many people fight all their life to reach the goal you've already reached." "Okay, do you think you reached the maximum level and you want to stop here? Or are you still motivated for more?" Koenig says he told Cheung. "He told me, 'No, I really want to put my name in the history of fencing.'" hol/pst © Agence France-Presse The post How Hong Kong became a fencing powerhouse and cheered up a city appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
MORE Power Unveils Enhanced E-Billing Program with Exciting Raffle Promo
Iloilo City - In a move that underscores its commitment to customer convenience, MORE Power is elevating its E-Billing Program to new heights. On September 1st, the company officially introduced E-Billing via its Facebook Page, "MORE Power Iloilo”. Gone are the days of hassles associated with paper statements, as MORE Power proudly presents its E-Billing service under the banner of "Less Stress Na, Easy Access Pa." Accessing your electronic statement of account has never been simpler. MORE Power offers customers the choice of utilizing a QR Code or a dedicated link, both readily available on their Facebook Page and various materials including banners strategically placed in different barangays and at their Customer Services Office located in Hotel Del Rio. This initiative marks a significant milestone in MORE Power's ongoing commitment to streamlining its processes and delivering advanced services to its valued customers. With e-Billing, consumers can conveniently access their electricity bills anytime, anywhere, putting their statements at their fingertips. E-Billing offers an electronic rendition of monthly electricity Statements of Account, accessible via email or push messaging. MORE Power's E-Billing offers an array of benefits to its customers: • Convenience - Consumers can effortlessly retrieve their bills at any hour, no matter their location, enabling a hassle-free experience. • Accuracy - E-Billing is delivered directly to your designated email address, accessible through your registered online account, ensuring precision in every transaction. • Environmentally Responsible - By eliminating the need for paper bills, e-Billing contributes to environmental sustainability by conserving precious trees. • BIR Compliance - MORE Power's issuance of e-Billing is fully recognized and certified by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), guaranteeing compliance with government regulations. • Timely Delivery - Customers will receive their bills promptly on the cut-off date, providing ample time to prepare the necessary payment. During the E-Billing launch event, which was an integral part of the "MORE Power at Your Service" initiative, hosted by Miss Joy Fantilaga, Strategic Communication Officer, Miss Maricon Garrido, the Customer Care Manager, discussed a step-by-step walkthrough on how to register for E-Billing. Garrido succinctly explained the straightforward registration process, which entails scanning the QR Code or following the link and providing basic information including a 12-digit account number, email address, and contact number. Upon successful registration, customers receive email and text notifications confirming their enrollment, with electronic billing statements commencing the subsequent billing cycle. Miss Maricris Cabalhin, VP for Marketing, Corporate Affairs and Customer Care, enthusiastically disclosed that registered E-Billing users will have the exciting opportunity to participate in the monthly raffle draw. "All customers who successfully enroll in E-Billing automatically become eligible for our Monthly Raffle. Furthermore, customers who were previously registered for E-Billing and opted to discontinue receiving hard copies of their statements before the promo period are also included in the Raffle Draw," Cabalhin announced. In the Monthly Draws, each month from September to November, 50 fortunate winners will walk away with Php500 worth of E-Gifts, selected through electronic raffle. For the Preliminary Draws in December and January, the stakes are raised, with 50 winners receiving Php500 worth of E-Gifts and an additional 20 winners receiving Php1,000 worth of E-Gifts, all determined through electronic raffle. The Grand Draw, a highlight scheduled for February 2024 during MORE Power's 5th Anniversary celebration, marks the milestone of the franchise granted to MORE Power in February 2019. The Grand Draw promises a grand spectacle, with coveted prizes such as an E-Bike and an E-4wheel vehicle awaiting the fortunate winners. The post MORE Power Unveils Enhanced E-Billing Program with Exciting Raffle Promo appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
QC orders localized class suspension
The Quezon City government early morning Monday left the discretion of suspending classes due to continuous rain to barangay and school officials , Angelbert Apostol, the city information chief, announced. Those who immediately ordered the suspension of classes are Barangay Holy Spirit for its (Public Pre-school to Senior High School — Morning and Afternoon Class); Barangay Bagong Silangan (Public Pre-school to Senior High School) and Barangay Payatas (Public Pre-school to Senior High School). Apostol said the discretion is allowed through Memorandum Circular No. 10-A series of 2022 under the Department of Education Order 037 series of 2022. Suspension of classes in private schools, on the other hand, is left to the discretion of school officials. Apostol added that decision to suspend classes is left to the barangay for having their own “pre-disaster risk assessment” in consultation with school officials. Over a year ago exactly on 22 August 2022, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte issued a Memorandum Circular No. 10 instructing the local School Division Office and Public and Private Education Institutions to adhere to Localized Suspension of Classes due to typhoons, floodings and other weather disturbances and calamities. The circular noted an “automatic suspension classes” based on Department of Education 014 Series of 202, that dictated “classes shall automatically be suspended in case the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration has declared the following typhoon signal: Signal Number 1 — all public and private pre-school kindergarten classes; Signal Number 2 or higher — public and private pre-school kindergarten elementary and secondary classes. College and university level classes are suspended if the typhoon signal is raised to Number 3, pursuant to Commission on Higher Education Memorandum Order No. 15 Series of 2019 ordering an automatic suspension of classes on Higher Education Institutions when Signal Number 3 is raised by PAGASA. It also carries an order that suspension of work in public schools “shall be in accordance with DepEd Order No. 14 Series of 2021 and CHEd Memorandum Order No.15 Series of 2012 for HEIs.” Meanwhile, the cities of Parañaque and Pasay yesterday suspended classes in all levels in public and private schools due to inclement weather. Parañaque City Mayor Eric Olivarez ordered the suspension in all levels both in public and private schools upon the recommendation of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. The mayor said the recommendation of suspension of classes by the DRRMO was due to the continuous southwest monsoon rains enhanced by typhoon “Hanna.” Residents were told, especially those living in low-lying areas, to immediately call the city government in case of emergencies through its hotline numbers. (For landline: 8820-PQUE (7783), for Smart : 0961-096-6341 and for Globe users at 0956-394-0176.) All residents were advised by the mayor to just stay home for their safety. Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano also suspended online and face-to-face classes in all levels both in public and private schools. The mayor advised residents living in flood-prone areas to be alert and vigilant as rains continue to pour. The post QC orders localized class suspension appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DAR launches New Agrarian Emancipation consultations
The Department of Agrarian Reform on Monday announced that it held simultaneous public consultations with its stakeholders last 1 September 2023 to obtain inputs to the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the New Agrarian Emancipation Act or Republic Act 11953. The committee tasked by DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella to draft the IRR is chaired by DAR Undersecretary Napoleon Galit with DAR Undersecretaries Luis Pangulayan and Marilyn Barua-Yap, LBP EVP Alex Lorayes, Administrator Gerardo Serios and NIA Administrator Eddie Guillen as members. Representatives of agrarian reform beneficiaries from all 15 regions including the BARMM and concerned farmers groups and civil society organizations participated in the public consultations. Undersecretary for Field Operations Atty. Kazel C. Celeste led the Luzon leg which was held at the Great Eastern Hotel in Quezon City. Undersecretary for Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Jesry T. Palmares led the Visayas leg which was held in Passi City, Iloilo while Undersecretary for Mindanao Affairs, Amihilda J. Sangcopan led the Mindanao leg which was held at the World Palace Hotel in Ecoland, Davao City. The ARBs and farmers’ groups raised clarificatory questions on the coverage of the NAEA and the process of obtaining condonation and the termination of payment of just compensation to landowners and gave inputs to the DAR officials present during the consultations. The summary of discussions will be submitted to the IRR drafting committee for inclusion in the draft IRR which will be finalized during the full committee meeting with Estrella on 7 September 2023. The journey of the NAEA — the singular bill passed by Congress from among the 22 priority bills of the administration — started barely a year ago when President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order 4, Series of 2022, imposing a one-year moratorium on the payment of amortizations by agrarian reform beneficiaries. The post DAR launches New Agrarian Emancipation consultations appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl, Australia boost partnership, mull more bilateral military exercises
The Armed Forces of the Philippines and Australian Defense Forces are mulling more bilateral military exercises that will further strengthen and boost both of their military forces. This development came after ADF chief Gen. Angus Campbell paid a courtesy call to AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. on Tuesday at the AFP general headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. Brawner and Campbell discussed the existing defense partnership between the Philippines and Australia as well as the joint Exercise ALON. "We want to showcase the close ties that we have among our Armed Forces. We would also like to thank you for the recent exercise,” Brawner said. For his part, Campbell emphasized that the ongoing Philippine-Australia bilateral drills serve an “expression of an important message and a demonstration of cooperation among partner nations.” “We want to make sure that the particular form of the military is evolving in ways that the Armed Forces of the Philippines want and that would see mutual benefit and partnership. I want to make sure that we remain a partner that listens and adapts,” Campbell said. Brawner, meanwhile, thanked the Australian Defense Force Chief for the continuous support that they have given to the country. "All have seen how the relationship between both our Armed Forces has grown, from counterterrorism and now shifting to territorial defense. There is a lot of room for us to work together,” Brawner said. [caption id="attachment_176884" align="aligncenter" width="1800"] AFP Chief General Romeo S Brawner Jr. welcomed Chief of Australian Defense Force General Angus Campbell during arrival honors conducted at the general headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on 29 August 2023. (Photo by AFP PAO)[/caption] From Comprehensive to Strategic Partnership Department of National Defense Undersecretary Ireneo Espino on Tuesday also announced that the Philippines and Australia are now elevating bilateral relations from a Comprehensive Partnership to a Strategic Partnership following their biggest bilateral Cooperative Amphibious Serial exercise. “Indeed, the importance of our two countries' place on security partnership comes at the crucial junction in our regional security landscape with challenges becoming more complex by the day,” Espino said during the closing ceremony of Philippines-Australia Exercise ALON 2023, which was held at Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City. “Our partner can rest assured that DND stands ready to further heighten the Philippines' friendship and cooperation with Australia,” he added. Meanwhile, Bgen, Jimmy Larida, executive director for Exercise ALON-23, described the newly concluded combined amphibious drills between AFP and ADF as a “very resounding success,” noting that the strategic objectives were met throughout the exercises. “We were able to identify what particular procedures where we are already good in dealing with Australia and what particular tactical procedures that we should improve further so we will do everything to improve during the next iteration of this exercise,” Larida said. AFP Public Affairs chief, LtCol. Enrico Gil Ileto, said the largest bilateral exercise conducted between the AFP and ADF included an air assault exercise in Palawan on 21 August and a combined amphibious assault exercise in Zambales on 25 August —which was carried out by launching a combined amphibious landing force from the Navy ships to secure the beach landing sites, followed by parachute insertion to seize the objectives and a simultaneous landing via landing craft and USMC MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft. The Palawan air assault exercise in Rizal was designed to simulate realistic combat scenarios, enhancing the forces’ preparedness and operational readiness across air, sea and land actions. It featured over 600 soldiers from the AFP, ADF and USMC, and close air support by Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F-35A Lightening II and E-7A Wedgetail. Ileto said the assets used in these drills included HMA ships Canberra and Anzac, with the Tarlac-class BRP Davao Del Sur (LD 602), close air support from RAAF F-35A Lightning II aircraft, Australian Army M1A1 Abrams tank and two Philippine Marine Corps Amphibious Assault Vehicles. To mark the final phase of the exercise, the AFP and ADF will hold a live fire training as the final phase in Capas, Tarlac on 31 August. Exercise ALON was designed to enhance both military forces’ capability in conducting combined operations and improved their tactics, techniques and procedures for amphibious operations. Participants were composed of 1,000 personnel from the AFP and 1,200 from the ADF, with support from 150 US Marine Corps. The post Phl, Australia boost partnership, mull more bilateral military exercises appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl, Australia boosts partnership, mulls more bilateral military exercises
The Armed Forces of the Philippines and Australian Defense Forces are mulling more bilateral military exercises that will further strengthen and boost both of their military forces. This development came after ADF chief Gen. Angus Campbell paid a courtesy call to AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. on Tuesday at the AFP general headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. Brawner and Campbell discussed the existing defense partnership between the Philippines and Australia as well as the joint Exercise ALON. "We want to showcase the close ties that we have among our Armed Forces. We would also like to thank you for the recent exercise,” Brawner said. For his part, Campbell emphasized that the ongoing Philippine-Australia bilateral drills serve an “expression of an important message and a demonstration of cooperation among partner nations.” “We want to make sure that the particular form of the military is evolving in ways that the Armed Forces of the Philippines want and that would see mutual benefit and partnership. I want to make sure that we remain a partner that listens and adapts,” Campbell said. Brawner, meanwhile, thanked the Australian Defense Force Chief for the continuous support that they have given to the country. "All have seen how the relationship between both our Armed Forces has grown, from counterterrorism and now shifting to territorial defense. There is a lot of room for us to work together,” Brawner said. [caption id="attachment_176884" align="aligncenter" width="1800"] AFP Chief General Romeo S Brawner Jr. welcomed Chief of Australian Defense Force General Angus Campbell during arrival honors conducted at the general headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on 29 August 2023. (Photo by AFP PAO)[/caption] From Comprehensive to Strategic Partnership Department of National Defense Undersecretary Ireneo Espino on Tuesday also announced that the Philippines and Australia are now elevating bilateral relations from a Comprehensive Partnership to a Strategic Partnership following their biggest bilateral Cooperative Amphibious Serial exercise. “Indeed, the importance of our two countries' place on security partnership comes at the crucial junction in our regional security landscape with challenges becoming more complex by the day,” Espino said during the closing ceremony of Philippines-Australia Exercise ALON 2023, which was held at Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City. “Our partner can rest assured that DND stands ready to further heighten the Philippines' friendship and cooperation with Australia,” he added. Meanwhile, Bgen, Jimmy Larida, executive director for Exercise ALON-23, described the newly concluded combined amphibious drills between AFP and ADF as a “very resounding success,” noting that the strategic objectives were met throughout the exercises. “We were able to identify what particular procedures where we are already good in dealing with Australia and what particular tactical procedures that we should improve further so we will do everything to improve during the next iteration of this exercise,” Larida said. AFP Public Affairs chief, LtCol. Enrico Gil Ileto, said the largest bilateral exercise conducted between the AFP and ADF included an air assault exercise in Palawan on 21 August and a combined amphibious assault exercise in Zambales on 25 August —which was carried out by launching a combined amphibious landing force from the Navy ships to secure the beach landing sites, followed by parachute insertion to seize the objectives and a simultaneous landing via landing craft and USMC MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft. The Palawan air assault exercise in Rizal was designed to simulate realistic combat scenarios, enhancing the forces’ preparedness and operational readiness across air, sea and land actions. It featured over 600 soldiers from the AFP, ADF and USMC, and close air support by Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F-35A Lightening II and E-7A Wedgetail. Ileto said the assets used in these drills included HMA ships Canberra and Anzac, with the Tarlac-class BRP Davao Del Sur (LD 602), close air support from RAAF F-35A Lightning II aircraft, Australian Army M1A1 Abrams tank and two Philippine Marine Corps Amphibious Assault Vehicles. To mark the final phase of the exercise, the AFP and ADF will hold a live fire training as the final phase in Capas, Tarlac on 31 August. Exercise ALON was designed to enhance both military forces’ capability in conducting combined operations and improved their tactics, techniques and procedures for amphibious operations. Participants were composed of 1,000 personnel from the AFP and 1,200 from the ADF, with support from 150 US Marine Corps. The post Phl, Australia boosts partnership, mulls more bilateral military exercises appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
QC all set for class opening
The Quezon City government is gearing up all of its efforts and resources to aid students and teachers for the school year 2023-2024 to ensure a smooth and orderly opening on 29 August. “Education is a community responsibility. We want to make sure that our children are given the right tools, environment, and guidance to help them learn and develop their potential,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said. According to the Schools Division Office of Quezon City they are expecting over 458,000 students for the coming school year. Being one of the cities with the highest student population, the City strives to address the challenges that remain present in the education sector, primarily school congestion and quality of learning. In coordination with the Schools Division Office, the City aims to implement various strategies to address classroom shortage. Proposed interventions include the construction of mid-rise school buildings and institutionalization of blended learning. “Congestion is still an issue since QC is the biggest division in the country in terms of student population and there are no more buildable spaces. We have started building vertically in some areas. We are also institutionalizing the blended learning modality. Congested grades will shift to blended modality where there will be three days of face-to-face classes and two days of asynchronous or synchronous classes,” Belmonte said. “Together with the Schools Division Office and the Education Affairs Unit, we are also considering a school service or bus system to transfer excess students to QC schools that have not reached their full absorptive capacity,” she added. Moreover, the city is in the process of introducing the QC Voucher system for elementary learners similar to what is being done now at the senior high school level, where students will be given a voucher to enroll in accredited QC private schools. The LGU is also open to leasing unused buildings in private schools that can serve as extension facilities to congested public schools. Several schools are also undergoing renovation in an effort to provide a better and more conducive learning environment for the students. Part of ensuring that all QCitizen learners are ready to go back to classes, the city has started the distribution of learning kits to all K to 12 learners. The post QC all set for class opening appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
QC all set for start of school year
The Quezon City government is gearing up all of its efforts and resources to aid students and teachers for the school year 2023-2024 to ensure a smooth and orderly opening on 29 August. “Education is a community responsibility. We want to make sure that our children are given the right tools, environment, and guidance to help them learn and develop their potential,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said. According to the Schools Division Office of Quezon City (SDO QC), it is expecting over 458,000 students for the coming school year. Being one of the cities with the highest student population, the city strives to address the challenges that remain present in the education sector, primarily school congestion and quality of learning. In coordination with the Schools Division Office, the city aims to implement various strategies to address classroom shortages. Proposed interventions include the construction of mid-rise school buildings and the institutionalization of blended learning. “Congestion is still an issue since QC is the biggest division in the country in terms of student population and there are no more buildable spaces. We have started building vertically in some areas. We are also institutionalizing the blended learning modality. Congested grades will shift to blended modality where there will be three days of face-to-face classes and two days of asynchronous or synchronous classes,” Belmonte said. “Together with the Schools Division Office and the Education Affairs Unit, we are also considering a school service or bus system to transfer excess students to QC schools that have not reached their full absorptive capacity,” she added. Moreover, the city is in the process of introducing the QC Voucher system for elementary learners similar to what is being done now at the senior high school level, where students will be given a voucher to enroll in accredited QC private schools. The LGU is also open to leasing unused buildings in private schools that can serve as extension facilities to congested public schools. Several schools are also undergoing renovation in an effort to provide a better and more conducive learning environment for the students. As part of ensuring that all QCitizen learners are ready to go back to classes, the city has started the distribution of learning kits to all K to 12 learners. QC Education Affairs Unit (EAU) Officer-in-Charge Maricris Veloso said that the distribution of school supplies for enrolled students has commenced, while public school teachers can expect an additional 1,000 laptops within the year. Since 2020, the city has distributed over 6,000 laptops to its public school teachers. Teaching and non-teaching personnel can likewise expect the continuous provision of monthly and quarterly allowances. The city government will provide additional sets of tables and chairs for teachers, 15,000 tablet armchairs for elementary schools, 10,000 tablet armchairs for secondary schools, and 5,100 sets of kiddie tables and chairs for kindergarten learners. Furthermore, QC will also procure 141,880 storybooks, 80,000 workbooks, SMART TVs, computers, and CCTVs, underscoring safety in schools. Efforts to improve the internet connectivity in schools as well as free internet access for hybrid learners, and provision of assistive technology for inclusive learning are also underway. As part of the city’s learning recovery initiatives, it is also implementing its tutoring program dubbed "Zero Illiteracy sa QC," to help improve students’ fundamental skills in reading and numeracy. “Our objective for the upcoming opening of classes is to ensure that learners will have their educational needs met and to lessen the parents’ worry,” the mayor said. SDO QC also noted that an Education Summit in consultation with education stakeholders; parents, barangay, school heads, learners, and teachers was conducted prior to the opening of classes. Oplan Balik Eskwela hotlines and help desks are also operational, and traffic management has been planned in coordination with the barangays and concerned city departments. “Let us help our students achieve learning excellence by actively engaging in our children’s education and being one with the city government,” Schools Division Superintendent Carleen Sedilla said. With all these preparations in motion, the city ensures the successful opening of classes for School Year 2023-2024. The post QC all set for start of school year appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Next-gen Toyota ‘Tamaraw’ to roll out next year
The roll-out of the next-generation Toyota “Tamaraw” is expected in the third quarter of next year, a Toyota Philippines official said on Tuesday, 22 August. In an interview during the sidelines of Toyota Motor Philippine's 35th Anniversary at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Taguig City, Toyota Motor vice president for Corporate Affairs, Atty. Rommel Guttierez said the concept car has no details yet, but the model name ‘Tamaraw’ will likely be changed. “Even the production is not yet certain for the concept car, but certainly, it will be produced here, as announced by our executives,” he said. In his speech, Toyota chairperson Akio Toyoda announced that the company will invest P4.4 billion ($78.2 million) to develop two new models in its facility in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, “designed for emerging markets,” noting the enormous potential for growth in the country, “from both a business and technology standpoint." Gutierrez said part of the P4.4 billion investments will go to localization or Toyota parts will be produced in the country. “There are a lot of suppliers involved here because they will be producing the deck that will be used on the newest model depending on the purpose. The new model can be used as an ambulance, patrol car, rolling store, pickup truck, and even modernized jeepneys,” he said. He said the parts that will be produced in Sta. Rosa plants might be exported if the international market wishes to produce the model in their countries. The production of parts of the new model would hire an additional workforce, according to Guttierez. In terms of price point, Guttierez failed to provide an estimated amount per unit. He said the newest model of Toyota Tamaraw might be included in the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy or CARS program, as “Toyota still needs the help of the government.” “Any form of support would really be crucial to this project. It’s still the decision of the Board of Investments, but we will coordinate with them to discuss what appropriate program will support this model,” he said. Under the CARS program, the government provides fiscal and non-fiscal incentives to participating car manufacturers that can meet the requirements set by the policy. A participating car manufacturer should be able to sell 200,000 units of its enrolled vehicle model under CARS and invest in localizing critical parts of the vehicle. Toyota's Vios and Mitsubishi's Mirage were the enrolled models for the CARS program. Last May 2023, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. extended the P27-billion program with the aim of boosting the domestic car manufacturing industry. Last July, BoI managing head Ceferino Rodolfo said the CARS program has been driving the growth of the local assembly of vehicles in the country. He said the localization rate of car manufacturing has increased because of the program. The post Next-gen Toyota ‘Tamaraw’ to roll out next year appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DA, Nestlé intensify urban agri efforts
Nestle Philippines and the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry on Tuesday announced the sealing of its partnership that will advance efforts to promote urban agriculture as an easy and practical way to help Filipino communities achieve food self-sufficiency while improving their access to and consumption of more plant-based food. Through a memorandum of agreement signed earlier this year, the three-year partnership will enable DA-BPI and Nestle’s brand MAGGI to jointly conduct skills-building activities that demonstrate sustainable ways of growing vegetables in the home, or under-utilized areas of communities, schools, and other urban spaces while enriching families’ abilities to create nutritious, delicious and balanced meals using their own homegrown produce. With the agreement, MAGGI will be responsible for creating programs to engage with communities, which include on-ground and online workshops featuring expert agriculturists from DA-BPI who will teach science-based methods of vegetable crop production in limited spaces. “Nestlé Philippines believes in a collaborative approach to building communities, and we are proud to stand alongside the Department of Agriculture in inspiring a farm-to-fork movement among Filipino families and communities. We believe that food security is key to the health of all and that there’s no better way to build a strong nation than by ensuring that healthy food is accessible to everyone,” said Joey Uy, Corporate Affairs head, Nestlé Philippines. Everyone has a role For his part, DA-BPI director Glenn Panganiban stressed that it is the government’s task alone but everyone has a role to play in food security, and the key to ensuring that Filipinos will always have FAITH — or Food Always in The Home — is to work together. “Through this partnership, we can teach more Filipinos to grow their own food by providing proper mentoring and assistance, as well as other forms of support from the government and private partners like MAGGI,” he said. Also under the agreement, MAGGI will produce and distribute learning materials on vegetable production and affordable plant-based recipes, as well as starter kits that contain planting essentials such as seed trays or basic implements; along with compost and various vegetable seeds produced by DA-BPI. Last July, the 2023 MAGGI Sarap Sustansya Advocacy kicked off as part of the brand’s celebration of Nutrition Month. The various initiatives under the advocacy during this month-long observance were anchored on the theme, “Healthy Diet Gawing Affordable for All.” Accessibility of good nutrition The advocacy emphasized the accessibility of good nutrition, beginning with the Nestlé Kasambuhay for Good Festival at the Quezon City Memorial Circle where DA-BPI conducted a urban gardening lecture and MAGGI held a live cooking demo. MAGGI is also committed to continued cooperation with the Food and Nutrition Research Institute, or FNRI, and the National Dieticians’ Association of the Philippines sharing data resources on the prevailing nutrient deficiencies in the Philippines and working closely with them to enhance fortification of MAGGI products. The post DA, Nestlé intensify urban agri efforts appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Brawner Jr. is next AFP chief — Palace
Malacañang on Wednesday announced that Philippine Army Commander, Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., will serve as the next Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines replacing General Andres Centino who will be appointed Presidential Adviser on the West Philippine Sea. “Lieutenant General Romeo Brawner will be the next Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and will take the place of General Andres Centino who was re-appointed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to the said post earlier this year,” the Palace said an announcement made through the Presidential Communications Office. It was not known though when Brawner will assume the top AFP post. Brawner was appointed Commanding General of the Philippine Army on 20 December 2021. He graduated in the Top 2 in the Philippine Military Academy “Makatao” Class of 1989 and has been serving the military organization in various capacities for 34 years. He served as company commander of the 6th Special Forces Company; battalion commander of the 2nd Special Forces Battalion; operations officer of the Special Forces Regiment (Airborne); chief of staff of the 6th Infantry “Kampilan” Division; chief of public affairs of the Philippine Army; spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines; and commander of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment. Brawner is also a former brigade commander of the 103rd Infantry Brigade in the aftermath of the Marawi Siege in 2017. He once served as Commandant of Cadets at the Philippine Military Academy, where he played an important role in the total eradication of hazing and maltreatment in the Cadet Corps. Brawner later served as the first deputy chief of staff for Financial Management, J10, of the AFP. He is also the former commander of the 4th Infantry “Diamond” Division, where he supervised the unit’s combat operations that resulted in the decisive neutralization of Jorge Madlos or “Ka Oris,” the notorious commander of the National Operations Command of the New People’s Army. Malacañang said that Brawner has exemplified the highest levels of excellence in his military schooling, a top notcher in his classes in the Special Forces Operations Course, Intelligence Officer Course, and the AFP Comptrollership Course. Brawner acquired three Master’s degrees in Information Management from the Ateneo de Manila University; Business Administration from the Asian Institute of Technology in Thailand and from the European School of Management, Oxford, United Kingdom; and a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College. Brawner also received numerous awards and recognitions, including The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers or TOPS in 2013 from the Metrobank Foundation and Rotary Club of Makati; and the Lapu-Lapu Award from President Rodrigo Duterte, for his valuable contributions to the neutralization of Abu Dar, the last of the original leaders of the Maute-ISIS faction. In March this year, Brawner was inducted into the US Army War College or UASWC International Fellows Hall of Fame in recognition of his service in the highest command position in the Philippine Army. The post Brawner Jr. is next AFP chief — Palace appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
India announces new French fighter jet deal as Modi visits Paris
India announced a new multi-billion-dollar deal for French fighter jets on Thursday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Paris for a two-day trip that will see him feted as the guest of honor during France's national day celebrations. India's defense ministry said that the country intended to order 26 more Rafale jets as well as another three Scorpene-class submarines, with the price and other terms still being worked out. India is one of the biggest buyers of French arms, and Modi announced a landmark deal for 36 Rafale fighter jets during a 2015 trip to Paris that was worth around 4.0 billion euros at the time. Some of those Indian-piloted Rafales will take part in a flypast on Friday during France's Bastille Day military parade where Modi will sit alongside French President Emmanuel Macron as guest of honour. "This closeness is not limited to just the leaders of two countries, it is in fact a reflection of the unwavering friendship between India and France," Modi told an enthusiastic crowd of Indians living in France on Thursday evening. Despite differences over the war in Ukraine and tensions over human rights in India, Western democracies are courting Modi and India as a counterweight to China in Asia. Macron's red carpet welcome comes weeks after Modi was given the rare honor of a White House state dinner in Washington -- a city he was once banned from visiting. "India is one of the pillars of our Indo-Pacific strategy," an aide to Macron told reporters this week on condition of anonymity. Human rights But amid the pomp and diplomatic courting in France, a resolution from the European Parliament on Thursday served as a reminder of Modi's controversial leadership style and Hindu nationalist agenda that has critics at home and abroad. Sitting in Strasbourg in eastern France, EU parliamentarians approved a motion that urged India to end violence in the country's restive northeastern Manipur state and to protect minorities there. Clashes between the majority Meitei, who are mostly Hindus, and the mainly Christian Kuki tribe have left at least 120 people dead, 50,000 displaced and over 1,700 houses destroyed, the parliament said. It criticized the "nationalistic rhetoric" of the local state government, run by Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party. Modi's role during Bastille Day in France was "an affront not only to India's minority communities, journalists and human rights defenders but also to India as a democracy," the text's chief negotiator, Pierre Larrouturou, said. A protest called against Modi drew only a few dozen people in central Paris on Thursday. Strategic partnership Modi has visited France four times since Macron came to power in 2017, while Macron was honored with a state visit to New Delhi in 2018. Aides on both sides have talked up the personal chemistry between the two leaders and pointed to cooperation on climate change, space technology, and nuclear power as part of a 25-year-old "strategic partnership" between France and India. Modi told the French newspaper Les Echos that bilateral trade had doubled in the last nine years and Macron's "thinking really matches ours". India and France "are naturally compatible" and "we see France as one of our foremost global partners," Modi added. Few observers expect Macron to raise rights concerns with Modi publicly. "The fact that explains France's relative success in this relationship is that unlike the US, the UK, Canada, Germany and a few other European countries, you've hardly seen France commenting on the internal affairs of India," Constantino Xavier from the Centre for Social and Economic Progress, a New Delhi-based think tank, said this week. "That has been appreciated on the Indian side." Modi has been dogged by allegations he was complicit in religious violence during his tenure as chief minister of the western state of Gujarat in 2002 when around 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed in sectarian riots. The Indian government and judicial probes have cleared him of culpability. Since his first crushing electoral victory in 2014, he has also been denounced by rights groups for increased discrimination and violence towards the country's Muslims, as well as stifling independent media. "Diversity is the biggest strength of our democracy," he told the meeting on Thursday evening that also lauded the country's economic growth. Many European and American businesses, including US tech giant Apple, are ramping up production there to mitigate the threat of supply chain disruptions from China. The war in Ukraine has heightened concerns in the West about the risk of conflicts disrupting the flow of key raw materials and technology from China, but it has also exposed a rift with India. New Delhi, which has long sought to balance its ties with Moscow and the West, has declined to condemn Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine and has emerged as a top buyer of discounted Russian oil during the biggest conflict in Europe since World War II. The post India announces new French fighter jet deal as Modi visits Paris appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Department of Agrarian Reform partners with BARRM Agri Ministry
The Department of Agrarian Reform on Sunday announced that it has linked arms with its counterpart from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) in a bid to improve the standards of living of the farmers and fisher folks in the Bangsamoro region. Just last week, Amihilda Sangcopan, DAR Undersecretary for Mindanao Affairs Office, led the conduct of the “Workshop on Strengthening Coordination between the DAR and the MAFAR” held at the University Hotel, University of the Philippines-Diliman, Quezon City. Sangcopan revealed the full support of DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III to the partnership between the DAR and MAFAR expressing that: “the partnership is vital for spurring rural development and sustaining the gains of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).” Estrella stressed the readiness of the DAR to extend assistance to MAFAR, considering that it is still in its infancy period when it comes to implementing various agrarian reform programs and to harnessing its agriculture-based industry. “We, in the DAR, are excited to work closely with MAFAR to address the enormous challenges it is facing to attain stability and sustainability in the management of the land our fellow Bangsamoro farmers are tilling,” Estrella said. DAR Undersecretaries Luis Meinrado Pangulayan of the Planning, Policy and Research Office, Jeffrey Galan of the Finance Management and Administration Office, and 18 representatives from MAFAR, led by MAFAR Bangsamoro Director-General for Agrarian Reform Services Taugan S. Kikay, attended the said workshop, which also intended to produce the draft Memorandum of Understanding between the two agencies. For his part, Kikay expressed his gratitude to the DAR “for its readiness to work with us in pursuit of the sustainable and fruitful development of the Bangsamoro farmers.” The partnership gained ground during the conduct of the workshop, highlighted by the impending implementation of a “big-ticket” project: The Acceleration Support Program for ARC Development in the Bangsamoro (ASPADeB). The post Department of Agrarian Reform partners with BARRM Agri Ministry appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DAR partners with BARRM Agri Ministry
The Department of Agrarian Reform on Sunday announced that it has linked arms with its counterpart from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform in a bid to improve the standards of living of the farmers and fisher folks in the Bangsamoro region. Just last week, Amihilda Sangcopan, DAR Undersecretary for Mindanao Affairs Office, led the conduct of the “Workshop on Strengthening Coordination between the DAR and the MAFAR” held at the University Hotel, University of the Philippines-Diliman, Quezon City. Sangcopan revealed the full support of DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III to the partnership between the DAR and MAFAR expressing that: “the partnership is vital for spurring rural development and sustaining the gains of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.” Estrella stressed the readiness of the DAR to extend assistance to MAFAR, considering that it is still in its infancy period when it comes to implementing various agrarian reform programs and to harnessing its agriculture-based industry. “We, in the DAR, are excited to work closely with MAFAR to address the enormous challenges it is facing to attain stability and sustainability in the management of the land our fellow Bangsamoro farmers are tilling,” Estrella said. DAR Undersecretaries Luis Meinrado Pangulayan of the Planning, Policy and Research Office, Jeffrey Galan of the Finance Management and Administration Office, and 18 representatives from MAFAR, led by MAFAR Bangsamoro Director-General for Agrarian Reform Services Taugan S. Kikay, attended the said workshop, which also intended to produce the draft Memorandum of Understanding between the two agencies. For his part, Kikay expressed his gratitude to the DAR “for its readiness to work with us in pursuit of the sustainable and fruitful development of the Bangsamoro farmers.” The partnership gained ground during the conduct of the workshop, highlighted by the impending implementation of a “big-ticket” project: The Acceleration Support Program for ARC Development in Bangsamoro. The post DAR partners with BARRM Agri Ministry appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»