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NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand's ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union. "I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union of our ratification of the New Zealand European Union Free Trade Agreement (NZ-EUFTA)......»»
Philippines-European Union FTA talks resume in H2
The Philippines and the European Union (EU) are looking to resume formal negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) in the early part of the second half of the year, according to the Department of Trade and Industry......»»
‘Government should help exporters hurdle EU barriers’
The government must seek the removal of some trade barriers imposed by the European states to allow exporters to maximize the opportunities of the country’s prospective free trade agreement with Europe, an industry group said......»»
Philippines, EU resume free trade agreement talks
MANILA, March 19 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines and the European Union (EU) resumed negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) on Monday, the Philippines' Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) announced Tuesday. "Strengthening economic engagement with the EU remains a priority for the Philippines," said Philippine Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual, adding that the Philippines aims for an ambitious, b.....»»
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.....»»
US State Secretary Blinken begins Middle East tour, marks his first stop in Saudi Arabia
Jeddah [Saudi Arabia], March 21 (ANI): US State Secretary Antony Blinken who began his Middle East tour arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, marking his first stop on this trip to discuss efforts to reach an "immediate ceasefire agreement" between Israel and Hamas, The New York Times reported. Blinken's visit to Jeddah came as US President Joe Biden's administration was hoping it could convince Saudi Arabia to establish.....»»
PSAC paves way for health deal
The Private Sector Advisory Council from the Healthcare Sector, or PSAC-Health, with the Department of Health, the Commission on Higher Education, and the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc., signed a memorandum of agreement with President Bongbong Marcos as a witness to facilitate employment for underboard BS Nursing students. During their degree, these students will become CHED-certified and work as Clinical Care Associates in healthcare industries. “The Clinical Care Associates Upskilling Program, formalized through the Joint Administrative Order 2023-0001, is a groundbreaking endeavor, and I am confident that it’s a program that will help address the lives of healthcare workers in the country today,” President Marcos said. PSAC-Health has worked with DOH, 55 private hospitals, seven public hospitals, and CHED, along with 19 Higher Education Institutions, to implement the Joint Administrative Order in response to the country’s critical shortage of qualified nurses. “To the underboard nurses out there who are contemplating what to do next: I call on you to apply for this program and embrace the support being wholeheartedly given to you by the government and the institutions we represent,” Marcos added. Strategic interventions implementor “The Commission commits to working with other government agencies and PSAC to implement all the strategic interventions that President Bongbong Marcos approved in a whole-of-government and whole-of-the-nation approach,” said CHED Chairman Julian Prospero de Vera III. “I am confident that this policy would be extremely impactful as it addresses the problems and obstacles and allows our current registered nurses to focus more on high-value-added roles and functions,” PSAC Healthcare Sector Lead Paolo Borromeo said. On 19 July 2023, Chairman Prospero de Vera III of CHED and Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa ceremonially signed and launched JAO 2023-0001, also known as the “Implementing Guidelines for the Nurse Workforce Complementation and Upskilling Program for Clinical Care Associates. “This landmark initiative resulted from a collaborative effort between the government and the Private Sector Advisory Council Healthcare Sector Group.” Implementing the JAO showcases the power of government and private sector collaboration. The PSAC-Health has played a vital role in shaping the Nurse Workforce Complementation and Upskilling Program, ensuring its alignment with the vision of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration. Leading hospitals and higher education institutions, including Healthway Medical Network, Metro Pacific Hospitals Inc., Mt. Grace Hospitals Inc. and the Philippine Private Hospitals Association Inc. have pledged their commitment to the Clinical Care Associates program by participating in the MOU signing event. Higher education institutions such as Our Lady of Fatima University, Far Eastern University, St. Paul University Philippines, Trinity University of Asia, National Teachers College and National University are also pivotal partners in shaping the future of healthcare in the Philippines through this program. The post PSAC paves way for health deal appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PSAC paves way for agreement with DOH, CHED, and PHAPi with PBBM
The Private Sector Advisory Council from the Healthcare Sector (PSAC-Health), together with the Department of Health (DOH), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. (PHAPi), signed a memorandum of agreement with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as a witness to facilitate employment for underboard BS Nursing students. During their degree, these students will become CHED-certified and work as Clinical Care Associates in healthcare industries. “The Clinical Care Associates Upskilling Program, formalized through the Joint Administrative Order [2023-0001], is a groundbreaking endeavor, and I am confident that it’s a program that will help address the lives of healthcare workers in the country today,” President Marcos said. PSAC-Health has worked with DOH, 55 private hospitals, seven public hospitals, and CHED, along with 19 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), to implement the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) in response to the country's critical shortage of qualified nurses. “To the underboard nurses out there who are contemplating what to do next: I call on you to apply for this program and embrace the support being wholeheartedly given to you by the government and the institutions we represent,” Marcos added. "The Commission commits to working with other government agencies and PSAC to implement all the strategic interventions that President Bongbong Marcos approved in a whole-of-government and whole-of-the-nation approach," said CHED Chairman Julian Prospero De Vera III. “I am confident that this policy would be extremely impactful as it addresses the problems and obstacles and allows our current registered nurses to focus more on high-value-added roles and functions,” said PSAC Healthcare Sector Lead Paolo Borromeo. On 19 July 2023, Chairman Prospero De Vera III of CHED and Secretary of Health Dr. Teodoro Herbosa ceremonially signed and launched JAO No. 2023-0001, also known as the "Implementing Guidelines for the Nurse Workforce Complementation and Upskilling Program for Clinical Care Associates (CCAs)." This landmark initiative results from a collaborative effort between the government and the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) Healthcare Sector Group. Implementing the JAO showcases the power of government and private sector collaboration. The PSAC-Health has played a vital role in shaping the Nurse Workforce Complementation and Upskilling Program, ensuring its alignment with the vision of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.'s administration. Leading hospitals and higher education institutions, including Healthway Medical Network (HMN), Metro Pacific Hospitals Inc. (MPHI), Mt. Grace Hospitals Inc., and the Philippine Private Hospitals Association Inc. (PPHAPI), have pledged their commitment to the Clinical Care Associates program by participating in the MOU signing event. Higher education institutions such as Our Lady of Fatima University, Far Eastern University, St. Paul University Philippines, Trinity University of Asia, National Teachers College, and National University are also pivotal partners in shaping the future of healthcare in the Philippines through this program. [caption id="attachment_191577" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Private Sector Advisory Council Lead Convenor Sabin Aboitiz (left) with President Marcos and PSAC Healthcare Sector leads[/caption] The post PSAC paves way for agreement with DOH, CHED, and PHAPi with PBBM appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Escudero to TESDA: Offer ‘tailor-fit’ training to former drug dependents
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority should offer training and livelihood programs ‘solely’ for former drug dependents who have undergone rehabilitation, said Senator Francis Escudero on Tuesday. Escudero made the recommendation after a meeting with the members of the Senate Committee on Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education and TESDA officials earlier the day. In a public hearing, the Senate panel discussed Senate Bill 2115 and its counterpart House Bill 7721—both proposed measures seeking to institutionalize technical-vocational education and training or TVET and livelihood programs for former drug dependents— an anti-drug campaign that reintegrates them into the mainstream society. The senator said that he was surprised to learn that TESDA does not have any exclusive livelihood and training program for rehabilitated drug users. "If we will institutionalize TESDA's training and livelihood programs for rehabilitated drug dependents, we might as well design something that will specifically cater to them,” Escudero said. During the discussion, TESDA representative Joyce Balong confirmed that the government only prioritizes former drug users in their existing livelihood and training programs. Hence, Escudero ordered the consolidation of the two bills and referred them to a technical working group or TWG so they can better specify the training or livelihood programs that fit exclusively for rehabilitated or former drug dependents. Escudero also instructed the TWG to consider the existing Memorandum of Understanding or Memorandum of Agreement of the Dangerous Drug Board in formulating the new ‘tailored-fit’ programs for the rehabilitated drug dependents, partnering with various government bodies including the Department of Labor and Employment, the Commission on Higher Education and TESDA. Escudero is also rallying for possible additional functions for CHED in the institutionalization of such programs in support of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. He said there’s a need to create sustainable programs for the treatment and rehabilitation of individuals who have fallen victim to drug abuse or dangerous drug dependence. The TESDA records showed almost 9,000 former drug dependents were awarded scholarships in 2021, with more than 8,000 of them successfully completing various courses initiated by the TVET program. Escudero agreed with Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, the author of Senate Bill 2115, to include the crafting of exclusive training and livelihood modules for the former drug dependents in the proposed measure. SB 2115 seeks the institutionalization of TESDA's programs as a vital component of the recovery journey of the former drug dependent. “This will allow them to find meaningful employment and rebuild their lives,” said Escudero. The post Escudero to TESDA: Offer ‘tailor-fit’ training to former drug dependents appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Philippine colleges partner with top Canadian unis for nursing
Miriam College and World Citi Colleges are partnering with top Canadian universities to produce world-class nurses, said Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairperson Prospero De Vera III during the Laging Handa public briefing. "If Miriam College and Camosun College in Canada signed a memorandum of agreement to have international programs including health sciences; WCC [World Citi Colleges] has also signed up with various universities there—University of Manitoba and the rest in nursing. So we have many Philippine universities now that have already signed agreements or starting to sit down together with the top Canadian universities to produce world-class nurses," De Vera said. According to him, some of the Philippine universities that offer nursing programs have aligned their curriculum with the nursing curriculum in Canada. "What they did is that they created a common curriculum that is patterned to the nursing curriculum in Canada so that Filipino students will have credentials that are recognized in Canada," De Vera said. He said World Citi Colleges has signed an agreement with the network of hospitals in Ontario, wherein the hospital training of their students will be done in Canada. "So, we focus on that [nursing] because, you know, we are famous for our nursing graduates, and foreign universities recognize that we have good products when it comes to health care," De Vera said. "So, those agreements, the other agreements, were already signed before I came to Canada. Other Philippine universities have already signed the agreements in the past two to three months, and some more will be signed in the coming months until November because there is a big international conference in Canada in November—several Philippine schools are going there to launch their partnership agreements in November on nursing program, health sciences. Those are the programs they focus on. All of that is in response to the instruction or to the call of the President that we focus on degree programs in STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics] and degree programs that have connections with industry," the CHED chair added. De Vera said the Department of Health, the private hospitals and CHED will work together to fund the partnership with foreign universities to produce additional nurses. "We should help nursing graduates to pass a licensure test, and that's what we're doing right now actually. Other universities have already started giving free review classes for their graduating students and their alumni who have not passed the licensure exam," he said. "So, that's what we have presented to the President—long-term, medium-term and immediate steps that can be undertaken. The President ordered CHED to continue what he's been doing to address the nursing crisis," the CHED chair added. Just recently, the Philippine State College of Aeronautics (PhilSCA) and the World Citi Colleges (WCC) also signed a memorandum of agreement with the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) to produce world-class Filipino aircraft maintenance specialists and avionics technicians for the domestic and international aviation industry. This agreement is a result of the CHED-initiated project entitled “Twinning and Training Program for a ladderized Diploma Program in Aircraft Maintenance Technology”, that leads to a Bachelor’s Degree in Aircraft Technology between PhilSCA, WCC and BCIT. This initiative is a response to the call of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for educational institutions to focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics programs. “This MOA signing is timely as we celebrate the first year of the Marcos administration and a response to his call to produce world-class graduates that can practice their profession all over the world,” De Vera said. “CHED’s presence here today is the manifestation of our deep interest in further strengthening our close bilateral relationship with Canada in promoting the internationalization of HEIs and a signal that the Philippines is open for business for universities that are interested in transnational education,” he added. The post Philippine colleges partner with top Canadian unis for nursing appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
CHED, PSC commit to the future
The Commission on Higher Education and Philippine Sports Commission signed a landmark Memorandum of Agreement for the Holistic Development of Tertiary School Sports......»»
Cavite nagdeklara ng ‘state of calamity’ dahil sa ‘pertussis outbreak’
NASA ilalim na ng “state of calamity” ang probinsya ng Cavite. Ito ay dahil dumadami na ang mga nahahawa ng pertussis o whooping cough sa probinsya. Ayon sa provincial government, nakapagtala na sila ng 26 confirmed cases at kabaling na riyan ang anim na namatay dahil sa nasabing sakit. Narito ang datos ng Cavite kaugnay.....»»
Cavite declares state of calamity due to pertussis outbreak
The province’s Sangguniang Panlalawigan declared a state of calamity on Wednesday, according to the Cavite’s information office......»»
Roque: Xi, Duterte agreed to keep West Philippines Sea status quo
The Philippines under former president Rodrigo Duterte had a “gentleman’s agreement” with China to keep the status quo in the West Philippine Sea, a former Cabinet official said yesterday, as fresh tensions surround the WPS due to recent incursions by Beijing that targeted a Filipino resupply mission and a research team......»»
Companies State it Takes More Than 6 Months to Fill Cybersecurity Positions
The latest Kaspersky survey found that 48% of companies require over half a year to find a qualified cybersecurity professional. A lack of proven experience was cited as one of the biggest challenges, along with the high cost of hiring and global competition in talent acquisition. With global labor markets continuing to clamor for InfoSec […].....»»
State of calamity declared in Iloilo due to pertussis
Iloilo City was placed under a state of calamity yesterday due to an outbreak of pertussis......»»
Ched-Davao: Quake drill not just ‘procedural activity’ but necessity
AN OFFICIAL from the Commission on Higher Education-Davao Region (Ched-Davao) said that there is a need to prepare students for disasters and other calamities......»»
PSAC welcomes Blinken’s bid to deepen bilateral ties
Private sector leaders have extended their full support to President Marcos as he deepened ties with the United States during US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s diplomatic visit to the country last March 19......»»
Jaishankar calls on Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong, values his perspective on current state of world
Singapore, March 25 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called on Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Monday and conveyed the greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Jaishankar valued Lee Hsien Loong's perspectives on the current state of the world. In a post on X, Jaishankar stated, "Honoured to call on Prime Minister @leehsienloongat The Istana. Conveyed the personal greetings of PM @narendramodi. V.....»»
DENR defends LLDA on lake sharing
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources defended yesterday the decision of the Laguna Lake Development Authority to increase the share of commercial operators in Laguna de Bay, saying it was the local government units who recommended to President Marcos the modification in the sharing agreement as small fisherfolk could not meet the required supply of fish......»»