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Pagasa: Less chance of tropical cyclone forming in March
MANILA, Philippines — Meteorologists from Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) stated that there is a low chance of a tropical cyclone forming or entering the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) this March. The likelihood of experiencing typhoons remains low this month, but it is still possible, said Benison Estareja, weather specialist from Pagasa,.....»»
One to two storms expected in December, says Pagasa-Mactan
Cebu City, Philippines –One or two tropical cyclones are expected in this December, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration in Mactan (Pagasa-Mactan) said. Pagasa said this is the normal number of storms on the last month of the year. But historical data shows that there is only a 60-70 percent chance that any.....»»
Budgetary leverage
By passing a financing bill at the last minute, the United States Congress avoided a federal government shutdown this week. However, the Biden administration’s top priorities, including defense financing for Ukraine, were left out of the final package. For countries like the Philippines, which has cozied up anew to Uncle Sam, this is cause for concern because America has practically left Ukraine high and dry without the full backing it needs to defend itself against Russia. Okay, so Biden said they “will not walk out of Ukraine.” Still, without funding, that’s just lip service. Having perfected the art of emotional suasion at one end of the pole and brinkmanship on the other, we would not be surprised if Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky would tell Biden: “Show us the money.” Sacrificing Ukraine casts doubt on America’s dependability as a coalition partner and ally, even as it stakes a claim to a long tradition of backing democracies in their fight for independence. The Philippines should take note. In the US, it’s clear that whatever the executive branch pledges, the US Congress can always override or, as made apparent again now, starve of funding. That’s the power of holding the purse string that could certainly affect America the mighty’s projection of power. From propping up South Vietnam with billions of dollars in war materiel only to leave Saigon in a huff — with choppers flying off the rooftop of the US Embassy in a hasty, humiliating retreat in 1975 — to giving substantial aid to Israel and Middle Eastern countries, the US has not stopped its posturing as the “policeman of the world.” As in Vietnam and Afghanistan, where in the latter it also abruptly pulled out its forces, thereby allowing the Taliban to retake the country in 2021, the US, for all its fire-and-brimstone statements at the start of the Ukraine-Russia war, may have turned its back on its legal and moral responsibility to aid Kyiv. As an adversarial state under madman Vladimir Putin, Russia has been destabilizing international norms, and Ukraine, by fighting back, has been sending the strong message that autocratic governments cannot make the globe their playground. By not including money for Ukraine’s defense in the 2024 spending bill, the US has lost the chance to demonstrate its dedication to the defense of democracy. But such are the vagaries of the budgeting process in the United States and, of course, the Philippines, with the latter’s form of government and jurisprudence loosely patterned after America’s. In the US, government shutdowns have happened before and will happen again when the legislature and the executive branches are unable to reach an agreement on priorities and lawmakers do not enact a budget in a timely manner. The budget can also be wielded as a political baton with which to make the executive branch more malleable. An example would be the 2013 shutdown in an attempt to defund the Affordable Care Act. Frequent disagreements on spending priorities between the two parties in the US Congress have led to stalemates, with neither side willing to pass the budget unless their demands were met. Budget delays had caused negative effects on the economy and public services. Some may argue that past shutdowns of the US federal government would show the Philippines has a more mature budgetary system in place, as a failure to pass the budget for a new fiscal year only results in a reenacted budget. But the problems associated with a reenacted budget abound. There’s the delayed implementation of new programs and projects. This, as a reenacted budget only allows for the funding of existing programs and projects. A reenacted budget also limits government flexibility to respond to changing needs. For example, if the economy experiences a downturn, the government may need to increase spending on social programs or infrastructure projects. However, this is not possible under a reenacted budget. But probably the biggest risk associated with a reenacted budget would be corruption, as it can give the executive branch more leeway or elbow room to fund projects while reallocating “savings” from projects that had been funded previously. In the shadow of budgetary bludgeoning and political brinkmanship, the recent passage of the US funding bill left Ukraine’s defense hanging by a thread, a stark reminder of the capriciousness of budgeting processes in both the United States and the Philippines, where legislative complexities often take precedence over strategic imperatives. The budget’s power to shape policy and dictate priorities, as seen in the Philippines with past reenacted budgets, illustrates the pitfalls of wielding fiscal levers as political weapons. In both nations, the budgeting process, while designed to reflect the will of the people, is susceptible to political posturing, causing disruptions and imperiling the very ideals of democracy it should be upholding. The post Budgetary leverage appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Thousands of rice farmers treated to PhilRice field day
Thousands of farmers across the country had been feted in the traditional Lakbay Palay field festival, where all eight stations of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) opened their doors for farmers to personally view the progress and benefits of the latest palay seeds technologies done in the premier rice research institute of the country. Department of Agriculture Undersecretary for Rice Industry Development Leocadio Sebastian said the dry season Lakbay Palay is held every March or April and the wet season every September or October. Sebastian said the participants toured the 140 hectares of PhilRice field in Science City, Nueva Ecija. The farmers also had the chance to look into the available seeds and soil nutrients of the private sector exhibitors during the two-day festival from 27 to 28 September. Farmers learn PhilRice-developed technologies which include Palayamanan system, a rice-based farming system they can adopt to lessen the economic effects of El Nino, high yielding varieties and farm machinery, according to DA official. He added that about 10 public and private agencies and cooperatives also pledged their support to the “BIDA RiceBIS, Be the rice’s best” movement, which aims to increase farmers’ market opportunities. The regular Lakbay Palay, which started in 1992 as Farmers’ Field Day, was changed into Lakbay Palay in 2012 under the administration of PhilRice Executive Director Eufemio T. Rasco Jr. It held before October each year or the start of the planting season for the dry season crop. The 2023 Lakbay Palay wet season festival was simultaneously held in all eight stations of PhilRice with the biggest festival held at the PhilRice Central Experiment Station in Munoz, Nueva Ecija. The other stations that held simultaneous Lakbay Palay were Batac, Isabela, Los Banos, Bicol, Negros, Agusan and Midsayap. The farmers that attended on both days of the Lakbay Palay in Nueva Ecija were from Zambales, Bulacan, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Tarlac and Aurora provinces. The farmers were divided into 500 persons a day but the number was exceeded on the second day as many walk-ins showed up. PhilRice Executive Director Dr. John de Leon said farmers are welcome to visit the 140-hectare research and development farm and the new Crop Protection Division for any of their inquiries and concerns. PhilRice Deputy Executive Director for Development Dr. Karen Barroga urged the farmers to work in clusters so they could meet the required rice volumes of potential private sector partners for their produce. She cited the case of Negros Occidental farmer-cooperative who is now selling 500 bags a week to Merzci, a famous palalubong and fastfood chain in the region for its business and corporate social responsibility activities. This was made possible through the Rice BIS (Business Innovation System) of PhilRice, which links farmers to private sector buyers so they can enjoy better market prices for their produce. Another partnership was forged by PhilRice between the farmers of Zambales and Bicol who are now supplying the Kiwanis International for their feeding programs for poor communities, she said. Dr. Val Perdido, who represented Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian for Rice Industry Development, exhorted the farmers to improve their yields using both new technologies and better farming practices so the country can meet its food sufficiency and nutritional goals and improve the farmers’ incomes. He said Nueva Ecija farmers have proven yields of six tons a hectare but most other areas produce four tons or less. He mentioned that the Department of Agriculture is giving production assistance to farmers (in fertilizers and biofertilizers) in addition to the certified seeds, training and machineries provided under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) program. A farmer cooperative officer, Vincent Gonzales of St. Vincent Parish Multupurpose Cooperative in Dupax del Sur, Nueva Vizcaya narrated to the participants that their coop was founded in 1979 by a Belgian priest to help farmers– who borrow from loan sharks for their daily subsistence with a capital from 400 members of P4,000 has now grown to 5,600 members with a total material asset of P424 million. The coop is now able to support members through loans and social development activity, scholarship grants, medical assistance and food packs (for the disabled and the aged). It had received numerous awards including the Most Outstanding SIPAG award in 2022 from Senator Cynthia Villar. The post Thousands of rice farmers treated to PhilRice field day appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bayani Fernando, a true public servant (1)
On 22 September 2023, in a freak and unfortunate accident, the country lost a man who spent much of his life in dedicated public service. Bayani Fernando, a popular, beloved three-term mayor, a two-term Congressman of Marikina, a few months Secretary of Public Works, and an eight-year Chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, passed away at age 77, creating a vacuum in the kind of leadership exercised by, unfortunately, a few public servants. In a toxic atmosphere of politics, his entry into public service was a refreshing gust of wind. Putting aside his business interests (he founded the BF Group of Companies, engaged in construction, steel, manufacturing, and real estate), he plunged head-on to an unfamiliar terrain. He lost in his first try and emerged victorious in his second. Thereafter, he carved a name for himself as a strict, disciplinarian and creative Mayor of Marikina for three consecutive terms. He has become a legend in local administration. He transformed Marikina from a 4th class municipality to a model city of cleanliness and orderliness, receiving citation after citation in different fields of endeavor. As Mayor, he launched a crusade against all forms of transgressions of law. He stopped illegal vending and destroyed the confiscated food and merchandise to show he meant business. He instilled discipline among the employees. He made the dirty and odorous public toilets in City Hall look and smell like hotel restrooms. He re-settled the informal settlers, not by transferring them to other cities but by providing them with lands and shelter inside the city. Bayan as he is called by his pretty and equally dedicated public servant wife, Marides Carlos- Fernando, dredged the Marikina River of filth and garbage, developed the banks into flood control outlets, and converted both sides of the river as a park. He commenced massive repairs and cementing of roads. He built an efficient drainage system and created sidewalks all over Marikina. He established health centers in the barangays. He enforced the law on everyone, exempting no one. He removed illegally parked vehicles and enforced traffic rules strictly. He made the public market clean and stalls orderly and sectionalized. Garbage was regularly collected. Public service became efficient and prompt. Employees were courteous and sported smiles as they rendered service to Marikeños. Under his watch, the economy of Marikina grew. His other half, a UP product, from whom he derived his inspiration to serve faithfully Marikina, continued the caring Fernando kind of governance. He brought his creative and authoritative leadership as Chairman of the Metropolitan Development Authority to Metro Manila. He brought back the sidewalks to the pedestrians, which were invaded by vendors selling their wares. He forcibly evicted squatters along the railroad tracks, esteros, and those living under the bridge. He made innovative projects that dramatically lessened the chaos that used to vex Metro Manilas. He improved on the nightmarish traffic congestion. He introduced the U-turn slots and constructed food bridges that made crossing the streets convenient and safe. He was a hands-on government worker, ensuring the projects he initiated ran smoothly, and those implementing them were on their toes. He didn’t back down from pressures and resistance coming from powerful politicians and businessmen. He didn’t leave anything to chance or rely on the people he tasked to do a particular job. He had to be there inspecting, correcting, and innovating on anything he put his mind to. Tragically, this admirable character trait brought him to his demise. (To be continued) The post Bayani Fernando, a true public servant (1) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
P20/kilo rice still doable — BBM
Rice could still be sold at P20 per kilo once the agricultural sector and the cost of production return to normal, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Tuesday. Marcos told reporters in Zamboanga that several factors, including natural calamities, reduced yields, and global events, have resulted in rice prices rising, forcing his administration to impose a price cap. “There’s always a chance that if we improve our production and make it efficient, we won’t be greatly affected by storms, and the assistance we provide to farmers can be put to good use,” he said. “When we lower the cost of production, the price of rice will also decrease. Everything will go down as well. As long as we have a higher yield, we can cut the prices,” the President added. Bringing down the price of rice to P20 per kilo was Marcos’ campaign pledge, something he said he remains optimistic about as government moves to optimize the value chain for the commodity. The value chain for rice production comprises all the activities in bringing rice from the farm to the consumer. It involves a variety of stakeholders, including farmers, input suppliers, millers, traders, retailers, and consumers. “We set a price cap. We told everyone not to… for consumption. I said, don’t buy above the price cap because they shouldn’t sell beyond the price cap,” Marcos said. “We’re always looking at it, not just because we always talk about improving the farmers’ production.” Marcos said he increased the purchase price of palay or unmilled rice to support farmers and to ensure that there will be enough rice to meet the country’s needs. He said the Philippines faces several challenges, including the El Niño phenomenon, which could lead to drought and reduced rice production. “We see that when El Niño arrives, there might be drought, and the harvest won’t be good because there won’t be enough rain,” he said. “That’s why all the different Asian countries are making sure they have reserves, they have buffer stocks. And that’s why they’re all competing,” he added. Marcos also warned that the government would continue to crack down on illegally imported rice. He made the statement as he oversaw the distribution of 1,500 sacks of confiscated smuggled premium quality rice to Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries in Zamboanga City. The distributed rice was a portion of the 42,180 smuggled rice sacks worth P42 million seized by government officials on 15 September from a warehouse in Barangay San Jose Gusu, Zamboanga City. Marcos said the illegally imported rice was seized because the warehouse manager could not say where the rice came from and where the tax and tariff payments were made. “These are the ones that were apprehended; these are the ones who recently purchased NFA during this season. So, as you can see, we will fill up this warehouse, and we will increase it. We will make the buffer stock larger to somewhat mitigate the price increases,” Marcos said. “We need to tighten surveillance on illegally imported smuggled rice... and with our counterparts at Customs, do not allow any smuggled rice to enter,” he added. The post P20/kilo rice still doable — BBM appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
LPA unlikely to turn into TD, expect thunderstorms for the next 3 days
The state weather bureau said the trough or extension of a low-pressure area inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility is unlikely to develop into a tropical depression, but it is expected to bring scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over the parts of the country in the next three days. In its latest weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration, said that most parts of the country, including Metro Manila will only experience isolated rain showers and thunderstorms. PAGASA weather specialist Grace Castañeda said there’s no other weather disturbance that has been monitored within the PAR. "We could expect better weather conditions in the coming days as we have not monitored any weather disturbance except the LPA which has a slim chance to develop into a storm," Castañeda said. However, any changes will be closely monitored, she added. The trough of LPA will be affecting the eastern portions of Central Luzon and Southern Luzon. While, scattered rain showers and thunderstorms will prevail over the Bicol, Aurora, and Quezon. Similar conditions will persist mainly in the western portions of Southern Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao, but caused by the southwest monsoon, locally known as “habagat” In particular, over Metro Manila, Mimaropa, the rest of Central Luzon, the rest of Calabarzon, La Union, Pangasinan, Benguet, Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Soccsksargen. The LPA was last tracked over 610 kilometers east of Itbayat, Batanes, as of early Wednesday. Meanwhile, PAGASA warned that moderate to heavy at times brought about by the LPA’s trough and the southwest monsoon may cause flash floods and landslides in affected areas. The rest of the Philippines will only have isolated rain showers or thunderstorms. The post LPA unlikely to turn into TD, expect thunderstorms for the next 3 days appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BBM: Our calm, kind, gentle President
The most challenging thing is to write an essay about the country’s President who is celebrating his birthday. I should probably go back to the years when he was the “crush ng bayan.” From London, he would come home for vacation and would be met at the airport by his doting parents, with his mother kissing him on the forehead. He was very fashionable, from his haircut to his clothes and, well, he was the epitome of “cuteness” as cute could be. He did not sport long hippie hair but had bangs and his lips were well-pronounced. His mom took pride in his looks. “Kamukha ko (he looks like me),” she would say. Bongbong grew into the Oxford student who would come home and occasionally appear on television. I recall in 1973, he and his friends danced the latest craze on live television. He was, by then, oozing with appeal, his shy and boyish smile adding to the enigma that comes with being the president’s son. Many years later, I saw him when he and his sister Irene graced the opening of a project in Isabela. I am trying to remember if it was for natural gas or the largest dam in Asia. But he was there on the stage set up at the Cauayan airport, looking fresh and friendly, although he was smiling at everyone and no one in particular. I stood alone, away from the other welcomers, and somehow got him to look at me. I looked at him like I was telling him I know you or we know each other, and he stared back, smiling too, looking like he was wondering if he might have seen me before somewhere. It was one of my tricks. [caption id="attachment_183135" align="aligncenter" width="525"] The President has a long way to go, but that’s no reason for him to relax and wait for things to happen. | Photograph courtesy of BBM FB[/caption] Much would be said of the young gentleman, of his not being who he was supposed to be because he had died somewhere. Also, that he had killed someone who had called his father a dictator. Bongbong Marcos, for better or worse, was the fodder for both favorable and malicious talk. He became governor of Ilocos Norte in the mid-1980s when he took over from his aunt, Elizabeth Keon. At the same time, he wore the military uniform of the officer rank bestowed on him by his father, the President. Moving fast forward, Bongbong Marcos became a congressman and a senator, ran for vice president, and lost. Sometime after he caught Covid-19. After he had lost the vice-presidential contest and was protesting its result, he appeared on Daily Tribune’s online show, Spotlight. I remember only a little, not because he or his remarks were forgettable, but I blame my old age for not remembering. But I recall a pleasant interview, for he was relaxed and calm, and while he seemed occupied by his electoral protest, he was at the same time accepting of it. It was the Marcoses’ turn to be cheated, people said. The next presidential election had him and Leni Robredo, along with others, slugging it out. And while everyone had taken to microphones to condemn and attack him and his father, martial law and the dictatorship, he remained silent. He chose not to participate in the debates, leaving it to his supporters and fans to fight back for him. One UP professor who may have been unbiased took a liking to him, like an older woman in love for the first time, gushing over the assets of a fine, young, sexy gentleman. But that was not unexpected. Bongbong Marcos, after all, was the “crush ng bayan” from the time he was a teenager. Today, he is the President of the Philippines. I was talking with one youthful matron who possesses both beauty and wisdom and whose family was best known to be in the opposition against the Marcoses. She said that when President Rodrigo Duterte began his term, she gave him a chance to prove himself because he had been elected. As her gauge for the success of a presidency had much to do with how the stock market fared, she was disappointed because stocks dived very low to the depths. She gave RRD a failing mark. When BBM became President, she also gave him a “chance.” She told me, “I have yet to see what will happen next because he has just finished his first year, and it is too early to know how well or evil he has done. The people elected him, he is now the President, so let’s give him a chance.” The woman’s statement, I believe, more or less sums up the general feeling of the Filipino people. Here is one President perceived to be good and kind, and one who is not to be feared compared to his father or even his daring and feisty elder sister. One would hear, “Matatakot kayo pag si Imee ang presidente (You would be afraid if Imee were president),” which is people’s way of saying what they feel and think about the Marcos siblings. So, we have a kind President who has had to deal with all kinds of issues and problems: Typhoons, the pandemic, and now the rice shortage. I have always been a BBM fan (after all, he was “crush ng bayan” in our youth), and even if he had not become a statesman in the tradition of many of our top legislators, one thinks of him as a pleasant guy who plays it cool and is lovable. Now comes a wife who is perceived to be running the show. All because, like it or not, she has the educational credentials; she proved herself in the Big Apple; and as her husband himself would tell one and all, she has excellent organizational abilities. She ran the campaign, many would assume, although she much preferred to keep to the sidelines. Like it or not, Liza Marcos, the First Lady, is a potent mover in this administration. Her many worthy projects in the creative industry, health care, education, and environment, along with her brand of diplomatic maneuvering using Filipiniana fashion as a vehicle for international friendship, bode well for this administration. We got two leaders for one vote, and we are better off as a nation. To the President’s credit, he recognizes the role his wife plays in his administration, and that speaks of a man secure in his position as the head of his family. Regarding cronyism, BBM has his friends in the business sector, top men and women, titans and tycoons, czars and magnates, who accompany him on his travels abroad. One of them described their roles as similar to those of club guest relations officers — entertaining guests and clients. We are told that they talk with their counterparts on the international scene, wherever the presidential itinerary takes them. Hence, the public does not see the usual kind of cronies who are there for what they could take. These friends want to help because if this administration succeeds and the economy improves, the Filipino people, including the business sector, will live better lives. The greatest challenge to BBM, everyone perceives, is the conflict with China over the West Philippine Sea. In this regard, BBM has proved to be wise, circumspect and decisive. He has the backing of the international community and his people. We hope he will pass the test, because if he passes it we are all together the victors. BBM deserves our prayers and hopes for the best of his administration. If he succeeds, and we hope he does, we will rise as a people. The President has a long way to go, but that’s no reason for him to relax and wait for things to happen. There are some things that people feel he should handle with steel gloves, akin to his father’s style, and that is up for him to decide. A kind and gentle President may be all we need to make this nation great again, and there’s Bongbong Marcos to take on the role and fulfill the promise of a happy, progressive, and peaceful country and people. BBM is not only the best-looking President, but the kindest and, of late, the most eloquent, as he is proving himself to be. He is also the coolest. The post BBM: Our calm, kind, gentle President appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
A Chinaman’s chance
(Lest anyone take quick offense, let me say at the outset that I am not a racist. My use of the term is simply for purposes of this column and for context.) Before people became overly sensitive about perceived racist remarks, we used to say — when someone had only a remote chance of succeeding at something — “he doesn’t have a Chinaman’s chance.” I was reminded of that phrase recently when Huawei, one of China’s biggest phone companies, released two weeks ago the Mate 60 Pro, its latest flagship phone, without much fanfare. And never had such a quiet launch made so much noise around the globe. For a bit of context, during the Trump administration, an oppressive trade sanction was put in place by the United States against the selling of advanced microprocessors to Chinese companies, in order to prevent the Chinese from catching up with the US in 5G technology. Not only was the ban imposed on American manufacturers, but pressure was also brought to bear on chip makers in other countries allied with the US. The first to dutifully comply was Korean electronics giant Samsung, which must have regretted its decision, seeing as how it lost 60 percent of its sales almost overnight. For a while, Huawei was in a panic, as it halted the production of 5G phones when stockpiles of the banned chips ran out; for a while, it was reduced to selling mobile phones with obsolescent technology. But the Americans and their cronies did not count on the resilience of the Chinese people, a relentlessness that has helped its civilization survive after more than 2,000 years of foreign intervention. Forced to do without imported chips, Huawei focused all its efforts on developing a substitute. In a couple of years, its team of hundreds of technology experts, mathematicians, engineers, and metallurgists did the seemingly impossible: They created a 5G chip without any help from anyone. One could, therefore, not fault Huawei for releasing its 5G phone at the very same time that US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo was in Beijing on an official visit — as if to say, “In your face, America!” This Chinese triumph is but one of many instances where US attempts to undermine Chinese trade backfired big time on America. In 2011, China was banned by the US Congress from joining the Space Station program of NASA. China promptly built its own space station, the Tiangong, 10 years later. Sometime after, when America was developing the Global Positioning System, it also shut out China, which then launched its own satellites to power its own positioning system. The West also demonized China for being the “world’s biggest carbon polluter,” so its factories started working on lithium-ion batteries (90 percent of whose raw materials are mined in China) and now it dominates the electric car market worldwide. Using the status of the dollar as a world currency, the West imposed other trade sanctions on China, thus impelling it to put up its own version of the World Bank and organizing the BRICS countries that will no longer use the dollar as a medium of exchange. A total of 721 big Chinese companies were blacklisted from trading with US corporations; the Chinese started trading with most of the emerging economies and became the second largest economy in the world. It would appear that it still hasn’t sunk in with the American leaders that their days of global hegemony are long over. There is a new challenger on the scene whose government is more committed to making it stronger economically, militarily, and diplomatically. As the new generation of Americans struggles with questions of pronouns, transitioning, decriminalizing robbery and drug use, and legalizing abortion, the young people of China are concentrating on mastering math and technology, becoming part of a disciplined army, building their GDP, and making their society orderly and crime-free. If this keeps up, it will be America that will, ironically, not have a Chinaman’s chance to prevail. The post A Chinaman’s chance appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bong Go supports new five-year plan to combat malnutrition
Senator Bong Go, the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, expressed his support for the recently launched "Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition 2023 – 2028," and described it as a pivotal advancement in the country's ongoing battle against malnutrition. The plan, spearheaded by Department of Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa and Department of Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum, Jr., was officially unveiled on Monday, 4 September. The senator was keen to point out that this initiative must build upon the solid foundation laid by the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte in addressing hunger and malnutrition while overcoming the adverse effects of the pandemic. Herbosa, who also chairs the National Nutrition Council Governing Board, emphasized the importance of nutrition in the early stages of life. Go echoed Herbosa's sentiments, stating, "Hindi natin maaring balewalain ang nutrisyon ng ating mga anak. If we do, we are setting them up for a lifetime of challenges that could have been easily prevented." Under the Duterte administration, the government enacted several laws and launched various programs aimed at combating malnutrition. Among these were the School-Based Feeding Program, which provided nutritious meals to undernourished public school children, and Republic Act No. 11148, or the "First 1,000 Days" law, which focused on maternal and child health during the earliest days of life. The new PPAN outlines a comprehensive approach to tackling malnutrition, focusing on three major interventions: increasing the availability and access to nutritious food, promoting social and behavioral change for better feeding practices, and improving access to quality nutrition services. These interventions include the establishment of food gardens, regulation of unhealthy food, offering maternal health service packages, and integrated maternal and child health nutrition services. The plan has identified 34 provinces as priority areas for these interventions, including Leyte, Sulu, Negros Occidental, and many others. "This is a comprehensive approach to a problem that has long plagued our nation. With the collective efforts of the government, private sector, and the Filipino people, we can break the cycle of malnutrition and give every Filipino child a chance for a healthier, brighter future,” concluded Go. The post Bong Go supports new five-year plan to combat malnutrition appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DoT chief seeks Rotarians’ support for tourism projects
A partnership with the Rotary Club of Manila, along with other Rotary Clubs in the country can realize the government’s objective of transforming the Philippines into a tourism powerhouse in Asia. [caption id="attachment_179067" align="aligncenter" width="2430"] Department of Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, in her speech as guest speaker of the Rotary Club of Manila during the Club's weekly meeting at the Manila Polo Club last 31 August, said it was her ‘sincere hope that with the partnership of the Rotary Club, as well as its members and the captains of industry who contribute in one way or another to the project of nation-building, we can ensure that our country — through tourism — will have a more primary role in Asia as a tourism powerhouse.’[/caption] This was the call made by Tourism Secretary Maria Christina Frasco after presenting the stance of the tourism industry in the country before members and officers of the Rotary Club of Manila during the Club’s membership meeting at the Manila Polo Club last Thursday, 31 August 2023. Frasco reported that the efforts of the DoT, along with the whole-of-government approach ordered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in implementing the department’s projects with an eye to restoring the glory of the tourism industry has resulted as of 30 August 2023 into 3.6 million international arrivals, surpassing the total number of international arrivals last 2022. The figure is already 75.92 percent of the country’s target of 4.8 million tourist arrivals this year. “Philippine tourism contributed 6.2 percent to our gross domestic product in 2022; it is being hailed by our economic managers as the second growth driver in the first six months of this year,” she said. By the end of 2022, Frasco said the tourism industry has contributed over P1.87 trillion to the Philippine economy as a composite of international and domestic spending, representing a 67 percent recovery since 2019. “Tourism also contributed over 5.5 million in tourism employment, an 11 percent share of the national employment, and also represents over 93 percent in recovery from 2019 data,” she added. Frasco also said that the rallying of Philippine tourism after the battering it got from the pandemic stands at 66.3 percent, higher than the 54 percent average recovery of ASEAN nations in 2022. As per tourism receipts, Frasco said the industry has already breached P285.9 billion as of 31 July 2023. Pillars of Tourism The Tourism secretary stressed that to give the Philippines a fighting chance at standing shoulder-to-shoulder with its neighbors in the ASEAN region, her department had crafted the National Tourism Development Plan 2023-2028, which does not only focus on the promotion of tourism alone but also in analyzing and understanding the essential pillars of tourism. Approved by President Marcos Jr. last May 2023, the NTDP provides a framework to guide the development and implementation of programs, projects, and activities towards a sustainable, innovative, inclusive, and globally competitive tourism industry. NTDP’s seven strategic goals include improvement of tourism infrastructure and accessibility; cohesive and comprehensive digitalization and connectivity; enhancement of overall tourist experience; equalization of tourism product development and promotion; diversification of the tourism portfolio through multidimensional tourism; maximization of domestic and international tourism; and strengthening tourism governance through close collaborations with national and local stakeholders. Putting the Plan into concrete action, the DoT hopes to have an accumulated total of 51.9 million tourist arrivals and 34.7 million tourism-related jobs in the country by 2028. Frasco said in terms of infrastructure, the DoT has partnered with the Department of Public Works and Highways to improve accessibility in the regions with tourism sites. “This is by constructing, rehabilitating and adding tourism roads leading to tourist destinations. This year, over 158 kilometers of tourism roads have already been constructed,” she said. Aside from this, Frasco said the DoT has also coordinated with the Department of Transportation in improving connectivity, primarily in the country’s gateways for the improvement of flights and tourist journeys. With this, Frasco said the country is starting to see robust recovery of connectivity in the country, including a 100 percent increase in flights in Clark International Airport; a 614 percent increase in flights in Kalibo International Airport; and over a 300 percent increase in flights in Mactan-Cebu International Airport, among other airports in the country. Moreover, she said they also partnered with the Department of Information and Communications Technology for the purpose of improving internet connectivity across 94 tourist destinations in the country. Connectivity in 47 of these destinations have already improved, according to Frasco. e-VISA Furthermore, Frasco said the DoT has engaged with other government agencies, namely the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Justice, the DICT, and the Bureau of Immigration for the streamlining of the visa application process, aiming to enhance convenience and accessibility for all international travelers, starting with Chinese visitors. Last 24 August, the DFA implemented the Philippine e-Visa system in Philippine Foreign Service Posts in China. The Philippine e-Visa will allow foreign nationals entering the country for tourism or business to apply for temporary visitor visas remotely through their personal computers, laptops and mobile devices. Other initiatives conceptualized by the DoT to improve the tourism experience include the “Hop in Hop Off” project; being part of the “Love the Philippines” tourism slogan; the “Philippine Experience”; facilitating a cultural tourism circuit development focused on heritage, culture, and arts to enhance current tour and domestic circuit offerings, which include Food and Gastronomy, Pilgrimage and Wellness, Living Cultures and Heritage, and an Arts caravan. In order to equip Filipino tourism workers, the DoT is set on training 100,000 of these workers and capitalize on the world-renowned Filipino hospitality. “We have already managed to train over 71,000 Filipino workers,” Frasco said. Optimistic “Frasco said the Marcos administration remains optimistic about tourism recovery and the resurgence of the nation. “Our numbers will indicate that tourism will continue to be a top economic driver that will provide massive employment and livelihood opportunities to Filipinos and our MSMEs,” she said. With the launch of the enhanced “Love the Philippines” branding, Frasco maintained that it would give the country a better opportunity to be reintroduced to the world. The post DoT chief seeks Rotarians’ support for tourism projects appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Libya foreign minister suspended after Israel meeting
Libya's internationally recognized prime minister has suspended his top diplomat after she met her Israeli counterpart, with news of the encounter triggering demonstrations in a country that does not recognize Israel. Oil-rich Libya, which plunged into chaos after dictator Moamer Kadhafi was toppled and killed in 2011, has been divided since 2014 between the UN-supported government of Prime Minister Abdelhamid Dbeibah in Tripoli and a rival administration based in the country's east. Angry protesters took to the streets of the capital and other western cities on Sunday night, blocking roads with burning tires and waving Palestinian flags, after it emerged that Najla al-Mangoush had met with her Israeli counterpart in Rome last week. Mangoush was "provisionally suspended and subject to an 'administrative investigation'", Dbeibah's government said, hours after Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said the "unprecedented" meeting had taken place. On Monday, Libya's Internal Security Agency (ISA) said Mangoush had not been authorized to leave the North African country after reports on social media that she had flown to Turkey overnight as the protests flared. Internet users had posted the tracking details from the FlightRadar website of a flight said to be carrying Mangoush from Mitiga airport in Tripoli to Istanbul. "Surveillance cameras will prove this" is false, the ISA said in a statement. Mangoush "is on the travel ban list until she submits to the investigation", said the security agency. Turkey's Anadolu news agency, citing security sources, said Mangoush had already left for Istanbul following the diplomatic furor. There was no official confirmation of the flight from Ankara or Tripoli, however. 'Chance and unofficial encounter' The Libyan foreign ministry had in a statement defended the meeting with Cohen as a "chance and unofficial encounter". The minister had reiterated "in a clear and unambiguous manner Libya's position regarding the Palestinian cause", it said, while accusing Israel of trying to "present this incident" as a "meeting or talks". The Israel foreign ministry statement had quoted Cohen as saying that the two had discussed "the importance of preserving the heritage of Libyan Jews, which includes renovating synagogues and Jewish cemeteries in the country". "Libya's size and strategic location offer a huge opportunity for the State of Israel," he added. The statement said the meeting in Rome had been hosted by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. But on Monday the Israeli foreign ministry appeared to backtrack on Cohen's statement, saying that neither it nor the minister had anything to do with the "leak" about his meeting with Mangoush. The ministry did not offer details or clarify who was behind the so-called leak. "Contrary to what has been published, the leak regarding the meeting with Libya's foreign minister did not come from the foreign ministry or the foreign minister's office," the ministry said in a statement released to journalists. Tajani's office on Monday referred all questions to the Libyan and Israeli authorities. However, an Italian diplomatic source said the Italian minister had not himself been present at the meeting. In recent years, Israel has pushed for normalizing ties with some Arab countries as part of US-backed deals known as the Abraham Accords. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hardline government has come under intense criticism from Arab states because of surging violence in the West Bank and for backing the expansion of Jewish settlements in the occupied territory. The post Libya foreign minister suspended after Israel meeting appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Grumbling mounts
There continues to be discontent among certain sectors regarding the proposed policy on military pensions, and now there is another idea floated to scrap the free college education. Just like a low rumbling sound of thunder, affected sectors are grumbling over Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno’s statement that the free access to state university education is “unsustainable” — which is indicative of a potential effort to repeal a landmark legislation enacted during the administration of President Rodrigo R. Duterte, who appointed Diokno as Budget and Management secretary and then Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas governor. For six years as a member of Duterte’s economic team, we were oblivious to Secretary Diokno’s opposition to Republic Act 10931, or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act of 2017. Straight from the horse’s mouth during a forum organized by the University of the Philippines School of Economics on 19 August, he said the law is anti-poor since “there are more poor people who do not attend college.” To say that subsidizing college education really “consumes a lot of funds” is irresponsible, anti-Filipino and anti-development. RA 10931 was embraced by Filipinos during a period when the financial situation of the government appeared stable. The blame for becoming indebted to finance the efforts to control the pandemic falls neither on the people nor on the national government. Fast forward to post-pandemic, there is no convenient excuse for sacrificing human investment through debt for education to support lavish government expenditures in the wake of the national government pronouncements that the gross national product increased to P5.643 billion in the second quarter of 2023 from P5.592 billion in the first quarter of 2023. Truth be told, 2.46 million students were beneficiaries of a free college education during the academic year 2021-2022. It is not only they who are reaping the rewards of one of the “most long-lasting” legacies of former president Duterte’s administration, but their families, communities, and the country. Jade Baguna, a Tertiary Education Subsidy or TES program graduate in Social Work, cannot help but share the positive impact of the policy on his life and his family. Despite facing challenges like long walks to and from school and a meager weekly allowance during high school, the program enabled him to complete his degree, achieve the eighth position in the board examination, and become a Social Work instructor. The Finance Secretary may have lost his train of thought that investing in free college education has long-term economic benefits. A well-educated workforce is crucial to driving innovation, technological advancements, and economic growth. By providing access to higher education, the country can nurture a pool of skilled professionals who will contribute to various industries, drive entrepreneurship and attract investments. At a time when the need to rejuvenate an economy is paramount, scrapping free college education may limit the availability of qualified workers, hinder economic development and reduce global competitiveness. One of the most compelling arguments for a free college education is that it promotes equal opportunity and social mobility. By removing financial barriers, individuals from all socioeconomic backgrounds can pursue higher education based on merit and potential rather than financial means. This ensures that talented and motivated students, regardless of their background, have a fair chance to improve their lives and contribute to society. Sec. Diokno’s sustainability concerns sparked a debate. Commission on Higher Education Chairperson Prospero de Vera said there is nothing better than for a country to invest in its young people and produce highly skilled manpower. “It’s the best anti-poverty strategy. You educate an individual, you make him employable, and you make sure the poverty stops with him or with her,” he said. For Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Representative Rufus Rodriguez, taking out the scholarship program is synonymous with seeing a decay of education in our country. “Education is the great emancipator of people from the bondage of poverty. With education you are able to move forward with your family,” he said. Senator Francis Tolentino has this to say: “Perhaps the lack of money of the national government should not be the reason why they cannot be given the opportunity to study. Education is a basic human right. We need to provide our youth with the necessary basic tertiary education.” Higher education provides a holistic learning experience and fosters personal growth and critical thinking. It promotes civic engagement, social responsibility, and the development of well-rounded citizens. By scrapping free college education, we risk limiting these benefits and creating a society that is less educated, less informed, and less equipped to tackle complex societal challenges. Time and again, it pays to revisit Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Access to education should not be seen as a privilege but as a fundamental right. In other words, recognizing education as a human right implies that every individual is entitled to receive an education, without any form of discrimination, as it is legally protected. The post Grumbling mounts appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Absent Trump expected to steal show at Republican debate
Eight Republican presidential candidates face off for the first primary debate of the 2024 cycle on Wednesday -- with frontrunner Donald Trump bidding to steal the spotlight despite spurning the showdown. The former president announced at the weekend that he would not be in Milwaukee for the two-hour event, depriving a chasing pack of rivals -- whom he leads by a historic margin -- of the opportunity to take shots at him. "President Trump has already won this evening's debate because everything is going to be about him," said Chris LaCivita, a senior aide on the 77-year-old billionaire's campaign. "Only President Trump has the policy ideas, the fortitude, and the polling to go head-to-head with Crooked Joe Biden in the general election." With the largest polling lead in more than 40 years of Republican presidential nominating contests, Trump has made clear he sees no benefit to standing on a debate stage and opening himself up to hits from the rest of the field. He announced Wednesday that he is planning counterprogramming that will consist of a pre-recorded interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, to be posted online just as the debate gets underway. "'SPARKS WILL FLY.' ENJOY!" he teased on his social network, Truth Social. Despite his no-show, Trump is expected to loom over the debate stage in Wisconsin's largest city, with his multiple prosecutions set to be the subject of questions from the Fox News hosts moderating the event. I can take it The former reality TV star is even planning to deprive his rivals of post-debate headlines as he surrenders to authorities in Atlanta Thursday afternoon over his fourth indictment of the year, for an alleged criminal conspiracy to steal the 2020 election. His former attorney Rudy Giuliani, who is charged with racketeering in the case alongside Trump and 17 other co-defendants, headed to Georgia's capital hours before the debate to turn himself in. "I'm a big boy. I can take it. I have fought battles much worse than this," Giuliani, a former federal prosecutor, told reporters outside his New York residence. For Trump's closest rival, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, the name of the game will be to reverse his flagging poll numbers and demonstrate that he is a viable alternative to the frontrunner. Candidates will likely be asked about competition with China and America's foreign policy in Ukraine and Russia -- an issue that caused DeSantis to stumble early in the campaign. With a seismic shift needed to dethrone Trump, many commentators were viewing the debate as primarily a showcase for candidates angling to be Trump's running mate. Lower profile candidates like businessman Vivek Ramaswamy will see the debate as a chance to introduce themselves to the wider public -- and perhaps make their case for jobs in a future Trump administration. "Tonight's Republican undercard event really shouldn’t even be called a debate, but rather an audition to be a part of President Trump's team in his second term," LaCivita said. Not a coronation However, analysts have argued that with more than four months until the first nomination votes in Iowa and New Hampshire, it is way too early to call the race. "If the same person finishes first or second in Iowa and New Hampshire, this becomes a two-person race no matter how many other people (are) in it... Nobody's caught the wave yet but somebody's going to and when they do, Trump's going to have a race on his hands," former US senator Judd Gregg told political outlet The Hill. Trump dodged a debate in Iowa in 2016, ensuring that his closest rival Ted Cruz took all the heat, although the Texas senator went on to win the Iowa vote days later. The DeSantis team is expecting a similar dynamic on Wednesday, although US media reported that political newcomer Ramaswamy is also likely to be attacked over inconsistencies in his policy statements. Trump won't have it all his way, though, with distant underdogs Chris Christie and Asa Hutchinson both hoping for a breakout moment skewering the former president and his former vice president Mike Pence unlikely to pull his punches. Christie is also expected to go after DeSantis over his awkwardness on the campaign trail and a memo posted online by the leading political organization supporting his campaign, urging him to defend Trump. "I think it's fair when these other candidates say it's not a coronation, it's an election," debate co-moderator Bret Baier said in an interview this week with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt. The post Absent Trump expected to steal show at Republican debate appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
“No more on the Job Training
The on-the-Job Training (OJT) period of the Marcos, Jr. Administration has come to an end, which means critics will now have a chance to voice their opinions on the government’s actions, particularly concerning its supporters in the coming days. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. himself announced during his State of the National Address (SONA) to […].....»»
PAGASA: Northern Luzon due to LPA trough off Japan
The trough of a low-pressure area off Japan will bring rains over extreme northern Luzon, particularly in Batanes, according to the latest weather forecast of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. Weather specialist Rhea Torres said no LPA has so far been monitored inside the Philippine area of responsibility that will directly affect the country. Southwest monsoon or "habagat" will dominate the weather system bringing cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms over the Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Caraga, and Palawan (Kalayaan Islands). PAGASA warned of possible flooding and landslides during moderate with at times heavy rains. While Metro Manila and the rest of the country will experience hot and humid weather but there are still chances of isolated rains due to the Southwest Monsoon or the Localized Thunderstorm. PAGASA observed a few cloud clusters east of northern Luzon and Mindanao and over the West Philippine Sea. It said the cloud clusters appear to have a low chance of developing into tropical cyclones. No gale warning is hoisted throughout the country. The post PAGASA: Northern Luzon due to LPA trough off Japan appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
NSC: China using ‘psychological warfare’ against Phl
China is utilizing all means to divide the stand of Filipinos over the issues concerning the West Philippine Sea/South China Sea by insisting on the supposed promise of the country to remove BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, an official of the National Security Council said Thursday. In a radio interview, Malaya believes that China’s manipulation of information is “becoming dominant” over the Philippines’ stand on its sovereign rights to WPS. “Kasi syempre mas makakaganda sa aknila kung tayo bilang bansa hindi tayo nagkakasundo so gumagawa sila ng mga paraan through their own political operators sa ating bansa na ma-undermine yung ating posisyon (Of course, it would be better for them if we are divided as a country so they are making ways through their own political operators here in our country to undermine our position),” Malaya said. Hence, Malaya said the Filipino people should "unite, understand and support" the position of the Philippines. Meanwhile, Malaya dared former Palace spokesperson Rigoberto Tiglao to provide evidence to his recent claim that the administration of former President Joseph Estrada promised to remove the BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal in 1999. “Kung meron po sya talaga syang pruweba ilabas na niya..kasi para tayong nahuhulog sa narrative ng China. Sila ang nagsabi nyan na meron silang kasunduan diumano sa ating bansa so kailangang ilabas nila (If he has evidence, then he must show it. Because we are like falling into the narrative of China that repeatedly saying that our country entered to that supposed agreement so they need to show it),” Malaya stressed. Tiglao said the Estrada administration had actually committed to removing two Philippine vessels within the WPS. And from that commitment, Tiglao said only the BRP Benguet, which was stationed at Scarborough Shoal, was removed. Malaya, in response, said Tiglao should present legal documents that would back his claims. “Napapasok tayo sa trap nila ano na imbes na tayo ay magkaisa bilang isang bansa nagbabangayan tayo kasi diumano may mga traydorso ang sa tingin namin ito yung parte ng tinatawag na psychological warfare or cognitive warfare ng Tsina para hindi tayo magkaisa sa posisyon natin (We are falling into a trap instead of standing as one country, we are now fighting and calling each other a traitor. We believe that this is a kind of psychological warfare or cognitive warfare so we can't have one position)," Malaya said. China has repeatedly expressed a dim view of Manila’s granting military bases access to Washington under the Philippines-United States bilateral Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement or EDCA, at the height of maritime tensions on the WPS/SCS and China-Taiwan ongoing dispute. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro earlier lambasted China’s theory and insisted “it is not ideal.” “Ito ay propaganda. Okay EDCA sites, WPS. So lumalabas na talaga ang intensyon ng China na wala itong kinalaman sa Taiwan, nasa West Philippine Sea talaga. Yun ba ang sinasabi nila ngayon na ang EDCA site ay mag attract ng galaw ng China sa WPS? Ito ay propaganda lang po ng China ito,” Teodoro told reporters last Tuesday in a chance interview. Teodoro likewise believes that China is exploiting the supposed connection of the EDCA sites and the Taiwan situation as justification for occupying and setting up seven permanent militaries around the Spratly Islands in the WPS. Moreover, Malaya warned the Filipinos that China's narrative on the Ayungin Shoal is getting powerful. “Nagbabangayan tayo dito sa ating bansa mas lumalakas yung kanilang posisyon at tayo ay pumapasok dun sa naratibo ng Tsina (We are fighting each other here in our country, their position is getting stronger while we are entering the narrative of China),” he said. Malaya also reechoed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s recent statement on the matter saying: “There is no such agreement, and if ever there is one it has already been rescinded.” “That should have put an end to the issue,” Malaya stressed. The post NSC: China using ‘psychological warfare’ against Phl appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
50% chance 2023 will be warmest year on record — NOAA
There is a nearly 50 percent probability that 2023 will be the warmest year ever recorded and next year could be even hotter, US government climate experts said Monday. "2023 to date has been the third warmest on record," National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) chief scientist Sarah Kapnick told reporters. "It is virtually certain -- over 99 percent chance -- that 2023 will rank among the five warmest years on record with a nearly 50 percent probability that 2023 will rank warmest on record," Kapnick said. Gavin Schmidt, director of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, said next year could be even hotter than this year because of the Pacific warming phenomenon known as El Nino. "The biggest impact of El Nino will actually occur in 2024," Schmidt said. "So we're anticipating that not only is 2023 going to be exceptionally warm and possibly a record warm year, but we anticipate that 2024 will be warmer still." The European Union's climate observatory Copernicus reported last week that July was the hottest month ever recorded on Earth, and NOAA figures released on Monday were in line with the EU data. "The average global surface temperature in July was 2.02 degrees Fahrenheit (1.12 degrees Celsius) above average, ranking it as the warmest July in NOAA's 174-year record," NOAA said. NOAA also said that global ocean surface temperatures hit a record high in July for a fourth consecutive month, as El Nino conditions that emerged in June continued. Kate Calvin, NASA's chief scientist and senior climate advisor, said "climate change is having impacts on people and ecosystems all around the world. "Along with changes in temperature, we're experiencing other changes in climate like sea level rise, declines in Arctic sea ice, wildfires, heavy precipitation events, and more," Calvin said. Bill Nelson, the administrator of the US space agency, said it is "self-evident that the Earth is heating up. "Mother Nature is sending us a message," Nelson said. "And that message is we better act now, before it's too late to save our climate, in other words, to save our planet." The post 50% chance 2023 will be warmest year on record — NOAA appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Outlook upgraded, says Tokyo’s R& I
Tokyo-based debt watcher Rating and Investment Information Inc., or R&I, kept the country at investment grade BBB+ while upgrading the country’s outlook from stable to positive due to the economy’s continued resilience in the face of global headwinds. In a statement on Monday, the debt watcher said the country has been performing well despite uncertainty surrounding the global economy. R&I cited the economy’s strong performance, improving fiscal position, and stable political environment as reasons for the upgrade. The agency also noted that the Marcos Jr. administration’s policies are supportive of economic growth and poverty reduction. Steady policies “In terms of economic policies, the Marcos Jr. administration has continued the previous administration’s policies to address key infrastructure development and structural reforms, leading to better prospects that the country will make progress in raising income levels, which has been a key challenge,” R&I said. “R&I will upgrade the rating once the factors such as the economic growth path sought under the Philippine Development Plan 2023 to 2028, the stable macro-economic condition, and the improving trend of fiscal position are confirmed,” the debt watcher added. R&I also said that the country’s strong growth in gross domestic product or GDP in 2022 by 7.6 percent “has continued” into 2023. The economy grew by 6.4 percent in the first quarter of 2023. The growth made the Philippines one of the fastest-growing economies among R&I-rated peers like Indonesia and Mexico. The government’s goal for growth in 2023 is for it to be between 6.0 and 7.0 percent. The debt watcher stressed that it doesn’t see the country’s current account deficit on the negative side as the government is spending a lot on infrastructure, which will help the economy grow. R&I also took note of the country’s steady inflows from abroad Filipino remittances and foreign direct investments, as well as its enough foreign reserves, when talking about the country’s external payments. Countries with investment-grade ratings can get cheaper loans from development partners and foreign debt capital markets because they are less likely to default on their loans. In a separate statement, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said the Philippines’ strong macroeconomic fundamentals, improving fiscal position, stable political environment, strong banking system, and comfortable external payments led to the affirmation and revised outlook. A “BBB+” rating is two levels above the minimum investment grade and only one level lower than an “A-” rating. Diokno also said that the R&I’s better outlook got the Philippines closer to the government’s goal of getting an “A” rating before 2028 or before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ends his term. Road to A “We are firmly on track to our ‘Road to A’ and remain committed to further improving the country’s investment climate through structural reforms to enhance the quality and pace of infrastructure development,” he added. Diokno said that the good outlook means there is a good chance that the Philippines’ credit rating will improve. But he also said that this would rely on things such as meeting the goals for economic growth set out in the Philippine Development Plan, keeping the economy stable, and making progress toward improving the country’s finances. The post Outlook upgraded, says Tokyo’s R&I appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Japan debt watcher keeps Phl credit rating, upgrades outlook to ‘positive’
Tokyo-based debt watcher Rating and Investment Information Inc. kept the Philippines' investment grade credit rating at BBB+ and changed the country's stable outlook to positive due to the Philippine economy's continued resilience in the face of global headwinds. In a statement on Monday, the debt watcher said the Philippine economy has been performing well despite uncertainty surrounding the global economy. R&I cited the Philippine economy's strong performance, improving fiscal position, and stable political environment as reasons for the upgrade. The agency also noted that the Marcos Jr. administration's policies are supportive of economic growth and poverty reduction. "In terms of economic policies, the Marcos Jr. administration has continued the previous administration's policies to address key infrastructure development and structural reforms, leading to better prospects that the country will make progress in raising income levels, which has been a key challenge," R&I said. "R&I will upgrade the rating once the factors such as the economic growth path sought under the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, the stable macro-economic condition, and the improving trend of fiscal position are confirmed," the debt watcher added. R&I also said that the country's strong growth in gross domestic product in 2022 by 7.6 percent "has continued" into 2023. The Philippine economy grew by 6.4 percent in the first quarter of 2023, making one of the fastest-growing economies among R&I-rated peers like Indonesia and Mexico. The government's goal for growth in 2023 is for it to be between 6.0 and 7.0 percent. The debt watcher stressed that it doesn't see the country's current account deficit on the negative side as the government is spending a lot on infrastructure, which will help the economy grow. R&I also took note of the country's steady inflows from abroad Filipino remittances and foreign direct investments, as well as its enough foreign reserves, when talking about the country's external payments. Countries with investment-grade ratings can get cheaper loans from development partners and foreign debt capital markets because they are less likely to default on their loans. In a separate statement, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said the Philippines' strong macroeconomic fundamentals, improving fiscal position, stable political environment, strong banking system, and comfortable external payments led to the affirmation and revised outlook. A 'BBB+' rating is two levels above the minimum investment grade and only one level lower than an 'A-' rating. Diokno also said that the R&I's better outlook got the Philippines closer to the government's goal of getting an "A" rating before 2028 or before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ends his term. "We are firmly on track to our 'Road to A' and remain committed to further improving the country's investment climate through structural reforms to enhance the quality and pace of infrastructure development," Diokno said. Diokno said that the good outlook means there is a good chance that the Philippines' credit rating will improve. But he also said that this would rely on things such as meeting the goals for economic growth set out in the Philippine Development Plan, keeping the economy stable and making progress toward improving the country's finances. The post Japan debt watcher keeps Phl credit rating, upgrades outlook to ‘positive’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»