We are sorry, the requested page does not exist
UP Diliman warns of unofficial ads about online courses
The University of the Philippines Diliman on Wednesday warned the public against the spread of advertisements claiming to offer online courses in the university's name......»»
Fake booking scams up – ACG
Fake booking scams increased in the second week of March, the Anti-Cybercrime Group of the Philippine National Police reported yesterday......»»
Killua’s owner sues ‘killer’ of golden retriever
PAWS tells Rappler that Killua tested positive for rabies, but it warns it 'may not be accurate due to the fact that the body had already been buried for five days prior to testing and may have been contaminated'.....»»
3 araw magdidilim ang mundo fake news, pero may solar eclipse –PAGASA
HINDI totoong makakaranas ng “three days of darkness” ang mundo. Ito ang nilinaw mismo ng Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) matapos kumalat ang naturang fake news dahil umano sa pagdaan ng tinatawag na “Photon Belts” simula April 8. Ayon sa weather bureau, walang scientific evidence ang magpapatunay sa balitang ito. “The news.....»»
PRO-7 warns against use of marijuana-flavored vapes
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) has issued a stern warning against the use and proliferation of marijuana-flavored vape products. Police Lieutenant Colonel Gerard Ace Pelare, the PRO-7 spokesperson, said that they will arrest individuals who sell vapes mixed with marijuana oil. The sale and use of marijuana remains.....»»
BI launches anti-fraud section at DIA to detect fake docs
BI launches anti-fraud section at DIA to detect fake docs.....»»
Indonesia catches illegal Philippine fishing vessel
JAKARTA, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia has caught an illegal fishing vessel from the Philippines and its four crew members with fake documents in the Sulawesi Sea, the Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry has reported. Acting Director General of Marine Resources and Fisheries Supervision, Pung Nugroho Saksono, said Thursday that the vessel was caught on Monday, when it was transporting around 2 tons of tuna to.....»»
Pagpanuktok ‘fake news’
Pagpanuktok ‘fake news’.....»»
Catriona Gray reacts to Miss Universe s fake inclusivity issue
Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray hoped that the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) would prove that the pageant's inclusivity shouldn't be seen as "token thing" after owner Anne Jakrajutatip had a leaked viral video about the pageant's alleged "fake inclusivity." .....»»
Herlene Budol reacts to pageant luto, Miss Universe fake inclusivity issues
Kapuso actress and beauty queen Herlene Budol believed that beauty pageants are really fair to every contestant. .....»»
US warns China against armed attack on Philippines
Washington, DC [US], March 19 (ANI): US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned China on Tuesday, stating that any "armed" attack on Philippine vessels in the South China Sea would activate a mutual self-defence agreement between Washington and Manila, underscoring the escalating tensions in the region that could potentially embroil the United States in conflict with Beijing, as reported by The New York Times. Despite th.....»»
Laurel to importers: Use clearances within 30 days
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has issued a memorandum circular directing all importers to utilize their sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances within 30 days amid reports of rampant non-utilization of the permits......»»
Davao City zoning appeals board, review committee reconstituted
The Davao City Government has reconstituted the Local Zoning Board of Appeals (LZBA) and the Local Zoning Review Committee (LZRC) in accordance with the Integrated Zoning Ordinance. The LZBA will handle appeals related to location clearances, non-conformity of existing structures, and administrative fines. The LZRC, on the other hand, will review the Zoning Ordinance, recommend changes to the Comprehensive Land Use Plan, and identify provisions that are difficult to enforce. The LZBA will be led by the City Mayor or City Administrator, while the LZRC will be chaired by the City Planning and Development Coordinator. Both the board and committee will have technical working committees and will be funded by the City Government of Davao......»»
BI reminds departing aliens to settle fees; arrests high-profile Korean fugitive
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Wednesday advised all foreign travelers who are leaving the country during the upcoming Undas holiday break to comply with their immigration departure requirements early to avoid unnecessary queuing at the airport on the date of their departure. BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco reminded registered foreigners who are studying, working, or living permanently in the Philippines that they can obtain their special return certificate (SRC) or re-entry permit (RP) prior to departure at any of the various BI's district, field, satellite, or extension offices nationwide. While foreign tourists who have stayed in the country for more than six months may also secure their emigration clearance certificates (ECC) before departure, Tansingco said securing the required permits early will decrease queueing time by half, as they will not have to line up at the BI’s airport cashiers anymore. The BI chief added that with the complete elimination of all COVID-related travel restrictions, the bureau is anticipating a spike in passengers at all international airports in the country, especially at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), this upcoming December, and this time they are also experiencing a big increase in the volume of New Year's Day travelers. During this peak season, the bureau reminded all travelers that other immigration services are also available online via the BI’s e-services portal at e-services.immigration.gov.ph. Tansingco shared that the bureau also has a one-stop shop (OSS) facility located at NAIA Terminal 3 in Pasay City, where departing aliens may also secure the said documents. He also reiterated previous reminders for passengers to arrive at least three hours prior to their flight and go straight to immigration after check-in. The BI is confident that its operations will be smoother this holiday season as it has deployed additional immigration officers and assigned a rapid response team as well as mobile counters for immediate deployment as necessary. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, 24 October, BI agents detained a South Korean wanted person who was allegedly part of a major narcotics ring that smuggled contraband into Korea from the Philippines. Commissioner Tansingco identified the suspect as Choi Sun Hyeok, a 56-year-old male who was arrested at his residence in Bgy. Lahug, Cebu City by the BI Fugitive Search Unit (BI-FSU) operatives. The BI-FSU operatives were armed with a warrant of deportation, which Tansingco issued pursuant to a summary deportation order that the BI Board of Commissioners issued against Choi in 2017. Tansingco said that Choi would be immediately deported to Seoul, South Korea after the bureau had secured the necessary clearances for his departure. According to the South Korean government, Choi was tagged as a high-profile fugitive, as he is believed to be a member of the so-called MS Alliance syndicate that facilitates the illicit transport of narcotics to Korea. A red notice for his capture was also issued by Interpol this year after an investigation confirmed that he was in the country. According to Interpol’s National Central Bureau (NCB) in Manila, Choi is the subject of a warrant of arrest issued by the Changwon District Court in Korea, where he is charged with violating his country’s narcotics control act. Investigators have also established that this year alone, Choi’s accomplices in the syndicate managed to smuggle into Korea more than 265 grams of methamphetamine by concealing the drug in their underwear. It was gathered that the passport of Choi, who will be committed to the BI detention facility in Taguig City, was already revoked by the Korean government, thus making him an undocumented alien. Choi's name was also placed on the BI blacklist to prevent him from re-entering the Philippines. The post BI reminds departing aliens to settle fees; arrests high-profile Korean fugitive appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Alternergy rechannels IPO money for wind projects
Due to the massive potentials of wind energy as a viable power source, listed renewable energy firm Alternergy Holdings Corp. is reallocating the proceeds of its initial public offering or IPO to provide additional financial support to two of its wind projects. The company informed the Philippine Stock Exchange on Friday that its Board of Directors approved the plan to expedite the development of the projects. Alternergy said the Tanay and Alabat Wind Power Projects, which won in the Green Energy Auction 2 of the Department of Energy, will receive increased funding from its maiden offering. Specific development timeline “Tanay and Alabat Wind Power Projects are following a specific development timeline under GEA 2. Alternergy is fully intent to proceed with the activities leading to immediate construction by the first quarter of 2025 and thus, the reallocation of the IPO proceeds,” Alternergy chairperson Vicente Pérez Jr. said. “The reallocation of proceeds will be a boost for now while the project funding for construction is being finalized,” Gerry Magbanua, Alternergy president, added. The IPO proceeds were supposedly for the Lamut Run-of-River Hydro Power Project and the Offshore Wind Power Projects. Despite the changes, the company assured that pre-development activities for these projects would continue despite the lower budget. “Permitting and securing endorsements and clearances as well as conduct of initial technical studies would proceed,” Pérez said. “We are already on the ground in Lamut, Ifugao engaging the local community while we are in more detailed technical studies for the offshore wind projects. As these activities progress, additional funds will be channeled to support the work programs,” he added. Three leading investment banks tapped Alternergy announced last Monday it has tapped three leading investment banks — BPI Capital, RCBC Capital, and SB Capital — as lead arrangers to raise P12-billion project finance structure for the Tanay and Alabat Wind Power Projects. Alternergy has been investing a significant amount to expand its clean energy portfolio. It aims to develop up to 1,245 MW of additional wind, offshore wind, solar and run-of-river hydro projects. Alternergy was involved in the development of the 33-MW Bangui Bay wind farm in Ilocos Norte — the first commercial wind farm in Southeast Asia at that time. The post Alternergy rechannels IPO money for wind projects appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Lapid seeks 20% discount for indigent jobseekers
Senator Manuel “Lito” Lapid on Tuesday filed a proposed measure seeking to provide a 20-percent discount to indigent jobseekers when they acquire government documents and clearances required during their applications. Once passed into law, Senate Bill 2382 or "Indigent Job Applicants Discount Act” would grant “20 percent discounts for indigent job applicants in the payment of fees and charges for certain certificates and clearances issued by government agencies for employment application.” “He who has less in life should have more in law,” Lapid said, referencing former President Ramon Magsaysay Sr.’s credo which he said inspired him to craft the bill. Lapid underscored the need to provide equal opportunities to indigent Filipinos seeking to be employed. “It is the humble intention of this proposed measure to encourage and assist indigent job seekers in securing gainful employment,” he said. He said the labor opportunities “are seen to be one of the prospective windows that can help improve the well-being of indigent citizens and their family's quality of life.” “Therefore, availment of productive employment opportunities is essential for achieving poverty reduction and sustainable economic and social development,” he added. SB 2382 will cover clearances issued by the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police, marriage and live birth certificates from the Philippine Statistics Authority, and transcript of records and authenticated copy of diploma from state universities and colleges. It also includes medical certificate for local employment from any government hospital licensed by the Department of Health, and medical certificate for foreign employment from any DoH-accredited medical facility for Filipino overseas workers; Tax Identification Number and other documentary requirements issued by the government that may be required by employers from indigent job applicants. Qualified beneficiaries include those whose income falls below the official poverty threshold, and as identified and certified by the PSA based on the criteria set under the Community-Based Monitoring System, as established under Republic Act No. 11315. The city or municipality shall issue the “certificates of indigence” based on the latest CBMS data. Under the bill, any public officer or employee who refuses or fails to provide the benefit granted to the indigent job applicant shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine of not less P5,000 but not more than P20,000. Prosecution for an offense shall be without prejudice to any liability for violation of any other existing laws, including civil service law, rules and regulations. Meanwhile, a job applicant who misrepresents or falsifies any document to avail of benefits or abuses the privilege granted them shall be prosecuted and punished in accordance with the Revised Penal Code, and shall suffer perpetual disqualification from availing of the privileges under this Act. Lapid noted that a counterpart measure from the House of Representatives has been passed on third and final reading last 22 May. The post Lapid seeks 20% discount for indigent jobseekers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Ex-employee questions BI chief’s appointment
The job of Immigration Commissioner Norman Garcera Tansingco may be in limbo following the revelation by a former bureau employee that Tansingco has a pending case before the Office of the Ombudsman. Based on a document obtained by DAILY TRIBUNE, Tansingco is among the respondents in a human smuggling complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman by former Bureau of Immigration Intelligence Division employee Richard de Leon Cabochan Jr. on 21 April 2015. “One of the respondents in the complaint is Atty. Norman Garcera Tansingco. Based on my records, the last pleading I filed in the case was a supplemental affidavit dated 24 June 2015. In addition, I also filed two other cases with your honorable office docketed as OMB CASE NO. IC-OC-14-1351° and OMB CASE NO. IC-0C-14-4768,” Cabochan told DAILY TRIBUNE when sought for comment. Cabochan was prompted to question Tansingco’s appointment through a letter addressed to Ombudsman Samuel Martires dated 19 September 2022, after a clearance was released by Maria Agnes L. Forteza, Graft Investigation Officer I, dated 1 September 2022. An Ombudsman clearance is a requirement for a Presidential appointee. Cabochan, in his letter, said Tansingco is not fit to be installed as BI commissioner because of his pending case before the Ombudsman. “To my displeasure, I came to know that Atty. Tansingco, a respondent in the abovementioned case, was the newly appointed commissioner of the BI. The said event had me surprised because it is my understanding that to be a confirmed appointee of a head of a government agency, one must possess a clean record or background as evidenced by various clearances issued by concerned government offices of the Republic of the Philippines,” Cabochan’s letter to Martirez read. Cabochan said Tansingco was able to fool Malacañang’s steering committee — the Presidential Management Staff — by saying that he was not involved in any criminal or administrative cases. “An investigation of the matter showed that Atty. Tansingco obtained a ‘clearance’ stating that he had no pending criminal or administrative cases with your honorable office. To reiterate, the same was issued last 1 September 2022,” Cabochan said. “I was surprised about this development, considering that it is to my knowledge that the complaint for the alleged human smuggling that I had filed is still being heard by your honorable office and has yet to be resolved, considering that I have yet to receive any document of the results of the proceedings conducted,” Cabochan letter to Martirez read. “Despite such fact, it appears from the abovementioned document that the case I had filed was already resolved without me, the complainant, being duly informed of the same,” he added. Not notified He further asked Martirez why the Ombudsman did not notify him that Tansingco was given a clearance by the Ombudsman, a clear violation of his right to the due process of law. “It is my understanding that this runs counter to the established procedures in the resolution of filed complaints in your honorable office wherein the parties should be duly informed of the results of the proceedings. I further understand that this right to be informed of the results of the proceedings is part of the due process of law as it would allow the parties to seek relief from the decision by filing the appropriate action in case they disagree with the outcome of the proceedings,” the letter said. The post Ex-employee questions BI chief’s appointment appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
8.3K permits for telecom towers granted
More than 8,300 permits and clearances to build cell towers of telecommunications companies have been approved by 668 local government units, or LGUs, across the country, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said Monday. DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. said that as of 15 September, 8,311 permits for telecom towers had been approved by cities and municipalities, while 2,404 permits were still being processed in 229 cities and municipalities. Abalos said the DILG is monitoring the processing of permits and will issue show-cause orders to LGUs that delay the process. He said this is in support of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to improve and digitalize business processes, as he underscored DILG efforts to build smart cities and sustainable communities. Abalos said LGUs are streamlining their regulatory processes in line with Republic Act 11032, or the Ease of Doing Business Act. He cited his experience as a mayor of Mandaluyong City where complaints from the public were immediately acted on. He said Executive Order 32, signed by the President last July, streamlined permit processes for the construction of telecommunications and Internet infrastructure. The EO states that no other national or local permits or clearances shall be required for the construction and operation of telecommunications and internet infrastructure except those required by law. “There is usually a lot of red tape when building a telecoms tower. Because of this executive order, the requirements have been reduced and we expect interconnectivity to improve,” he said in Filipino. He added that efforts are being exerted to adopt digital or electronic facilities for business registration and renewal, and for the assessment and collection of local taxes, fees, and charges, as well as to shift to cashless payments pursuant to EO 170. “We have a joint initiative with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas called Paleng-QR. When you buy vegetables and food at the market, you no longer need to bring cash. Several LGUs across the country are now into cashless transactions through this system,” he explained. The post 8.3K permits for telecom towers granted appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bagong Pilipinas launched at Biliran State U
At least 33 national government agencies brought their services to the grassroots level at the two-day national launching of the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair held at the Biliran Province State University from 26 to 27 August. Lawyer Shawn Capucion, a member of the national secretariat of the fair, said the agencies target serving 17,000 individuals who have various concerns with the different government agencies. “This administration aims to bring government services closer to the people, instead of people going to offices to avail of government services,” Capucion said. The "Bagong Pilipinas" campaign is the new brand of governance and leadership of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration. Marcos Jr. has called government offices to advance the transformation of the government towards a principled, accountable, and dependable government—reinforced by unified institutions of society. Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa and Usec. Maria Francia Miciano-Laxamana led the team from the Department of Health, which brought various medical services and provided medicines and other medical equipment. The DoH provided laboratory and other diagnostic services, including vision screening with prescription lenses provision, cataract screening, disability screening with assistive devices provision, medical and prenatal consultations with medicine provision, dental consultation with scaling, oral prophylaxis, tooth extraction, and a bivalent vaccination program. The Department of Social Welfare and Development, on the other hand, distributed financial assistance to persons with disabilities, senior citizens, indigenous peoples, and individuals in crisis situations. Extension of services for other marginalized sectors, such as drivers and operators in the transportation industry, fishermen, and farmers in agriculture, were also provided. Government licensing, processing of passport applications and renewals, NBI clearances, and other regulatory government functions were also made available. Over the succeeding months, the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair will be launched across 83 provinces in the country to bring at least fifty government programs, services, and turnovers closer to more than one million Filipinos nationwide. The post Bagong Pilipinas launched at Biliran State U appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PBBM backs suggestions to simplify visa applications
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. supports the suggestions of the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) to simplify visa applications for tourists and overseas students. In a statement from the Presidential Communications Office on Friday, Marcos Jr. met with the group during the PSAC Tourism Sector Group's fourth meeting in Malacañang earlier this week. The PSAC recommended standardizing information on application procedures, student visa requirements, clinic accreditation for medical clearance, and diploma criteria for international students. The suggestions also call for the automatic certification of at least Level 3 hospitals nationally for tourists' medical clearances, the revision of documentation requirements to reduce the number of criteria, and the online filing of student visa applications. “We can choose to remove it altogether, the requirement for a medical certificate, or if we will continue to require a medical certificate, as long as it’s a recognized clinic, and it comes out in the actual list of hospitals or something like that, I’m sure there’s a way,” Marcos said. “So, I think the easiest is to align ourselves,” he added. To support government policy promoting the country as an educational hub in the Asia-Pacific region, the Department of Foreign Affairs highlighted Joint Memorandum Order (JMO) No. 01, series 2017, which streamlined procedures for the admittance of international students. According to the JMO, international students may enter the Philippines by applying for a student visa at a Foreign Service Post or by obtaining a temporary visa to convert to a student admission status. The foreign individual must attend in person for an interview and fulfill additional consular procedures after receiving the authorization to obtain the student visa. Officials told Marcos Jr. that applicants may skip the in-person interview to expedite the process. But the candidates will only show up in person if government intelligence agencies recommend doing so for security concerns. In Southeast Asia, the Philippines has the longest processing period for student visas, taking about two months. According to Rene Limcaoco of Hertz Philippines, there is a sizable market for this type of travel. Limcaoc said there were five million applications from international students before the pandemic. He expects ten million international students by 2030. The Philippines had 3.4 million foreign tourists as of 14 August 2023, which is 71.4 percent of the 4.8 million baseline industry target for this year. This year, the nation hopes to make P2.24 billion and employ 5.3 million Filipinos in the tourism industry. This year, it anticipates 85.1 million domestic travelers and 4.8 million overseas visitors. The post PBBM backs suggestions to simplify visa applications appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»