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Philippines declares 'strategic defeat' of NPA rebels
MANILA, March 26 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines declared on Tuesday a "strategic defeat" of the New People's Army (NPA) rebels, who have been fighting against the government since the 1960s, saying there is no more active guerilla fronts in the country. Eduardo Ano, National Security Adviser and former chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said "thousands" of NPA insurgents have decided to return t.....»»
Keeping it together
It’s no longer unusual, nowadays, for a family to have one or both parents working in another country, or for grown children to relocate abroad for work or start their own family. Single parenting is also quite common, right along there with blended families and LGBTQ unions with kids. Yet even when families are together in one place — one home, compound, neighborhood or city — it takes a lot to stay “together,” literally and figuratively. Perhaps sensing the threats to what is recognized as society’s basic foundation, our government in 1992 decided to declare the last week of September as Family Week, as mandated by Proclamation 60 signed by then President Fidel V. Ramos. Ramos wanted the week to emphasize the importance of the family as “the foundation of the nation” and “as a basic autonomous social institution,” as well as recognize “the sanctity of family life,” as stated in the Constitution of the Philippines. The world may transform in many ways, but the need for family will never change. “No matter how much life changes and the concept of family evolves, it may continue to benefit human health and wellness by offering a sense of belonging and support,” it aptly states in an article on Better Help, which also enumerates the factors affecting family life as “advancements in technology, changing cultural norms, new priorities and advanced forms of communication fueled by the internet.” The sense of belonging one gains from being part of a family — whether it is in a traditional setup, adoptive or “chosen,” a new kind of family defined in these modern times — has a profound impact on one’s well-being. With government providing the impetus for today’s families to connect or reconnect during the annual Family Week, it is up to each one of us to take steps to keep ours together in these fast-paced, nomadic, dysfunctional times. In the local setting, we already see so many signs of the changing dynamics among families. We could wade through studies to figure out all the issues affecting our core foundation, but we believe one may truly gain more understanding by examining our own experiences. Here, we share the views of people in our sphere, in answer to our query: What do you consider as the biggest challenge for your family in these trying times? Gigie Arcilla, Editor-in-chief Dealing with young adult children presents the challenge of establishing boundaries as they seek independence and transition into adulthood. Striking a balance between support and autonomy, as well as providing guidance while allowing room for growth, can be difficult, especially for a single parent. [caption id="attachment_187927" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] STEPHANIE Mayo (fifth, clockwise) with her family. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF Stephanie Mayo[/caption] Stephanie Mayo, Film critic and writer I have senior-citizen parents, and my siblings and I are now at the age when our health naturally starts to decline. Even if someone has health insurance, no one can deny how debilitating and expensive getting sick is. Without health, quality of life is decreased. You also cannot work (no work, no pay for freelancers such as myself) if you are sick. Gratefully, none of us in the family are currently seriously ill. It’s just that given that these trying times are also marked by corruption, medical gaslighting, new diseases and viruses and climate change, health problems have become even more threatening. [caption id="attachment_187926" align="aligncenter" width="993"] PAULINE Songco (fifth from left) and dad Arnold, mom Dhen, grandmother Linda and sister Patricia. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF Pauline Songco[/caption] Pauline Songco, Editor and writer I would say our biggest challenge is finding time to be together. I am always never at home. If I am, I would just be there for a few hours to sleep. I would get up, then go to work again. I find myself having less and less free time than before. My sister is busy with work, and so is my father. My mom is left alone at home with my cats. But, she goes to the gym to occupy herself and to see her friends. Yet, I’m thankful for what we have right now for these are the same things that we used to pray for before. [caption id="attachment_187924" align="aligncenter" width="641"] PAULINE Pascual (first from left) and dad Roy, mom Jocelyn and sister Prizcia. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF Pauline Pascual[/caption] Pauline Joyce Pascual, Lifestyle writer Our family became even closer during the pandemic, and now that things are almost back to normal, it is the family bonding that we used to that we find the most challenging. My sister is studying and getting ready for her time at college while my parents are back in business and I am now working outside of our province. I miss the good old days even though we still saw each other every week. [caption id="attachment_187925" align="aligncenter" width="638"] RAPHAEL, Rachael, Joylen and Ruben Ramos. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF Raphael Ramos[/caption] Raphael Ramos, STEM student at De La Salle Araneta The desire to act in spite of the potential consequences for everyone else. The family members’ immaturity leads to a more serious issue and may stunt each person’s development. [caption id="attachment_187922" align="aligncenter" width="2246"] GEL, Dino, Tei and Maui Datu. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF Dino Datu[/caption] Dino Datu, Chef, journalist and entrepreneur The biggest challenge in families today is creating quality family time. Everyone is so busy and there are so many distractions. While working and school work are necessities, we need to create time to just sit together for regular meals and chat without our electronic devices. Even on rare occasions that everyone is together, dining out, for example, people look at their phones every few seconds. That’s what I think is a big difference between today’s families and those from a few decades back. We often see “perfect” families on social media. Sadly, it seems like that’s the only place it exists. Teresa Laurente, Business Consultant For me, it has to be family, healthcare, children’s education and social media effect on young people. Pamela Palacio, Statistician III, Provincial Government of Bataan Disrespect to God and parents. Negative effect of social media. [caption id="attachment_187920" align="aligncenter" width="1080"] YVETTE Chua-Carrion (fourth from left) beside her husband, businessman Melon. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESYOF Yvette Chua-Carrion[/caption] Yvette Chua-Carrion, Educator and breakthrough life coach In these financially trying times — the budget for groceries, how to have savings for emergencies (which we hope won’t happen), and high gas prices. [caption id="attachment_187919" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] (FROM left) Riley, husband Noel, Tiffany and Ashley. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF Tiffany Cuna[/caption] Tiffany Sison Cuna, Former beauty queen turned entrepreneur Disciplining and inculcating values in our children knowing how the Internet plays a vital role in their lives — it could either influence them positively or negatively. [caption id="attachment_187923" align="aligncenter" width="1170"] JIA Bote and dad Milton. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF Jia Bote[/caption] Jia Bote, Student at the University of Santo Tomas With my father working away from home, the biggest challenge is having more time together as a family. When I was younger, I thought I had all the time in the world to spend time with my family. However, as I grow older, my responsibilities increase, and I have less free time than I used to. I remember spending the peak of the pandemic away from our father, and we could only talk through the phone for months. It was challenging for me not to see my father physically, especially when I go through difficult moments because I believe that we need more of our parents’ wisdom and guidance as we grow older. With the pandemic and the natural course of life, it feels like I have less time and opportunity to be with my father who is also growing old day by day. [caption id="attachment_187921" align="aligncenter" width="1242"] ALEX and Jet Capina (fourth and fifth from left) with their children. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY of Jet Capina[/caption] Jet Capina, retired bank vice president Our challenge is how to make the family complete on weekends. My children have their own gimmicks. Before every Sunday we were together attending church service but after the pandemic each of them esp Paolo is out of the house to be with his gf. I don’t think it’s good to write about it. Our challenge is how to make the family complete on weekends. My children are all good and well behaved but having grown up, the elder ones now and then have their own gimmicks. I am happy that my husband, who often plays golf, is with me always. The post Keeping it together appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Courting disaster (2)
“The judiciary,” once intoned Alexander Hamilton, “has no influence over either the sword or the purse; no direction either of the strength or of the wealth of society; and can take no active resolution whatever. It may truly be said to have neither force nor will, but merely judgment.” Thus, is the Judiciary said to be the “weakest” of the Three Great Branches of Government under the Constitution, as it, to paraphrase Hamilton, holds neither the purse (controlled by Congress) nor the sword (under the command of the Chief Executive)? Someone once joked that in the case, however, of then-Chief Justice Enrique Fernando, he holds the umbrella for Imelda Marcos, but that is something those born after the 1980s will not get. This is why the framers of our Constitution, in their infinite wisdom (and I use the phrase advisedly) had deemed it fit to elevate what had hitherto been merely ruling case law into a constitutional injunction. Section 3 of Article VIII reads: “The Judiciary shall enjoy fiscal autonomy. Appropriations for the Judiciary may not be reduced by the legislature below the amount appropriated for the previous year and, after approval, shall be automatically and regularly released.” Looks good. But in practice, it reduces judicial independence to a chimera. While the budget of the courts may not be reduced from that of the previous year, if a nasty Legislature wants to starve out a nonconformist Judiciary, it may simply opt to maintain its budget at the same level year after year after year. After a few years, with inflation, the courts will be reduced to tatters. And this happens every year, with the high officials of the Supreme Court practically reduced to bringing a begging bowl to Congress when budget deliberations come up in the agenda. This year, around P14 billion was arbitrarily lopped off the proposed budget for the Judicial branch. Now, the court administration is asking that some P6.7 billion be restored if only to upgrade the salaries of court personnel, the hazard pay for judges (who lately have been at the receiving end of gun barrels from disgruntled litigants) and costs for their security in the form of judicial marshals, the creation of more courts to serve a burgeoning caseload, and for the Judicial Integrity Board (who keeps erring judges in line). Methinks this is not too much to ask for, and as a lawyer and therefore an officer of the court, it pains me to see the Supreme Court looking like the poorer relations of Congress begging for alms. This is especially since Congress has notoriously been seen to have granted unto itself huge allocations for its members per district, the combined value of which is far and away higher than what the High Tribunal is asking for. The importance of a strong, independent Judiciary cannot be overestimated in a constitutional government such as ours. Aside from adjudicating private rights amongst competing parties, it is the final bulwark against governmental abuse. As former President Jose P. Laurel, when he was a Supreme Court magistrate, so emphatically articulated in the landmark case of Angara v. Electoral Commission, “(i)n cases of conflict, the judicial department is the only constitutional organ which can be called upon to determine the proper allocation of powers between the several departments of the government.” That is why I wish to make this call to our lawmakers to be not niggardly with the monetary allocation to our courts. It will not serve the ends of good governance well to be penny-wise and pound-foolish with the nation’s coffers. By the same token, kudos to Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Senate President Miguel Zubiri and neophyte Senator Raffy Tulfo, who have all filed bills seeking to strengthen the Judiciary’s fiscal autonomy. For to neglect the courts would necessarily be courting disaster. The post Courting disaster (2) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Uniform ASF policies for NegOr, Cebu
The provinces of Negros Oriental and Cebu have agreed to come up with identical measures for handling the African Swine Fever problem. This was agreed upon during the courtesy call of Negros Oriental Governor Manuel “ Chaco” Sagarbarria to Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia on 29 June 2023. Sagarbarria said that both provinces would sign, in the coming days, a memorandum of agreement that would stipulate identical protocols about biosecurity measures,as well as on the mobility of hogs and related products into their respective territories by lifting the ban on hogs from Bureau of Animal Industry-declared ASF-infected areas. “Now, we have a problem since the live hogs of Negros Oriental cannot cross Cebu. We are vice versa also, we found it a problem with Cebu because it is here where the hogs are being processed. Once it’s processed here, it goes back to Negros,” Sagarbarria said. “Now, gov and I agreed that we will create a MoA between two provinces to make sure to follow the proper protocols and biosecurity, which is also up to standard. We need to know where the hogs are to make sure this is not infected, that way we can secure our borders more,” he added. He cited not only securing the borders but it would support, the local farmers. He added that the measures would be important to alleviate the situation of the hog raisers in his province, who for some time, had to sell their products for a very low price at P85 to P90 per kilo for live hogs. Both Garcia and Sagarbarria said that the two provinces will no longer follow the zoning classifications, but would still implement the biosecurity measures. “More or less, the same measures, requirements, protocols or biosecurity measures are needed. We will not follow the zoning but maybe before we cross, we can do an immediate antigen test that ASF quick test so we can make sure that the pigs are not infected. On their side whatever products that they bring in,we can also test,” Sagarbarria stressed. Earlier, Garcia has called on other local chief executives to exercise their local autonomy and denounce the BAI policies on ASF, which Garcia insist as an economically disruptive policies. The post Uniform ASF policies for NegOr, Cebu appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Building autonomy
Actualizing autonomy in a political government setup is no walk in the park. You do it chip by chip. It is a work in progress in the case of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or BARMM. The first issue is the attitude of the central government’s bureaucracy toward the autonomous entity in delegating part of its power to the latter. Anything less than sincerity in sharing the national power will present a hurdle for the regional government. The national bureaucrats tend toward being reluctant, if not jealous to part away with some of their powers. There will be stumbling blocks strewn along the way that might stymie the actualization process and growth of the autonomy into full-blown governance with minimum interference from the central government. Another worry is literacy about autonomous law. This brings back memory of the infancy of BARMM when a nitwit in one national department refused to sign a document downloading funds to the office of the Chief Minister because of the claim that there is no such position in our government structure. This was laughable. But it germinates the imperative of educating the bureaucrats about the BARMM and its peculiar set-up as a parliamentary form of governance oddly different from that of the national administrative design. It will take time before BARMM blooms in an asymmetrical position vis-a-vis the national government, a status imposed by the imperatives and realities of the present-day zeitgeist. In the meantime, it is the duty of the present leadership of the BARMM to celebrate and support any move that tends to strengthen the autonomy thru the full transfer of national powers to the various agencies of the BARMM. Apropos of this, it was reported recently in mainstream and social media that BARMM took over the “administration of public transit franchises” following the turnover of assets, responsibilities, and related documents from LTFRB-12 previously exercised by the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board of Region 12.” The report says that “the transfer of all assets, digital records, franchises, special permits, provisional authority, and other corresponding documents for routes under BARMM from the LTFRB-12 was deemed necessary after the BLTFRB was granted authority to oversee franchises areas within its jurisdiction. LTFRB Chair Teofilo Guadiz III led the turnover of the tasks and digital copies of franchise documents for routes under BARMM’s jurisdiction to MOTC Minister, lawyer Paisalin Tago representing the BLTFRB. Chair Guadiz, in his remarks, emphasized the full support to the BARMM leaders saying, “This day. . . represents the culmination of the centuries-dream of our brothers in the south for autonomy.” Minister Tago expressed gratitude for the historical milestone for the BARMM region saying, “This is not just a turnover of documents but also a transfer of responsibility and commitment by the LTFRB. We are grateful to the LTFRB for implementing the provision of the Bangsamoro Organic Law.” This step constitutes another building brick in the autonomous structure which will strengthen autonomy. It will no doubt benefit the riding stakeholders and enhance the delivery of public service. It helps that Minister Tago helms the BARMM’s Ministry of Transportation and Communication. He is, by any measure, a hard-working public servant and a veteran regional legislator with decades of public service under his belt. He is trailblazing programs toward modernizing the transport system and enhancing connectivity in the region. This transfer of power and other national administrative mandates to BARMM carries with it the greater challenge of proving that the nascent regional government can steer governance and lead the stakeholders to a life better than the status quo. It can prove the naysayers wrong by carrying out its mandate fully and with integrity. After all, BARMM’s credo is “moral governance” in sync with the Islamic injunction of right and morality. Comes 2025 when the BARMM leadership will face the stakeholders in a husting, the verdict will be handed down whether they were up to the challenge of an autonomous government or not. amb_mac_lanto@yahoo.com The post Building autonomy appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Kuya Bong pushes stronger judiciary fiscal autonomy
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go recently introduced Senate Bill 2111 which seeks to define the scope and extent of the fiscal autonomy of the Judicial Branch of government and ensure that it has the necessary independence and resources to effectively perform its functions, which are critical in upholding the rule of law and ensuring justice for all. “The Judiciary plays a crucial role in upholding the rule of law and ensuring justice for all. It is only fitting that we provide them with the necessary resources and independence to effectively perform their duties,” said Go. The proposed bill — “The Fiscal Autonomy Act of Judicial Branch of Government” — seeks to affirm and strengthen the constitutional mandate and powers of the Judiciary as a co-equal branch of government. It cited that the Judiciary’s fiscal autonomy as mandated under Section 3, Article VIII of the Constitution, which means that appropriations for the Judiciary may not be reduced below the amount appropriated for the previous year, and the releases of the appropriations shall not be conditioned on the submission of any work and financial plan nor any financial report, whatsoever. The proposed bill also mandates that the budget proposal prepared by the Supreme Court shall be incorporated in the draft national budget without any revision. If passed into law, the Department of Budget and Management can suggest revisions to the budget proposal, but it must first consult with the Supreme Court or the Chief Justice in writing regarding their comments and suggestions. The DBM is also mandated to automatically release to the Supreme Court, without need for any request, the monthly cash requirements of the Judiciary. “Fiscal autonomy is important for the Judiciary to ensure its impartiality and independence from other branches of government. This bill is a step towards empowering the Judiciary to fulfill its constitutional mandate,” said the lawmaker. If enacted, the proposed measure shall also create a trust fund called the “Judiciary Trust Fund”, which shall be dedicated to the use of the Judiciary. All the funds collected for or accruing to the Judiciary may be deposited and kept in the said trust fund and from which funds needed for its operation shall be drawn. The Judiciary can still collect legal fees, but the percentage used for cost-of-living allowances and office equipment and facilities will change. All legal fees prescribed in Rule 141 of the Rules of Court will now be part of the Judicial Trust Fund. GM It will also allow the Supreme Court to create new offices and reorganize its administrative structure at the national and regional levels, within the limit of its available resources. This is to help carry out the goals of the bill and enable the Judiciary to take on additional functions and responsibilities. The Supreme Court can decide how many court personnel are needed to keep the Judiciary running smoothly, within the limits of the approved budget and hiring policies. The Supreme Court will also ensure that personnel receive sufficient and competitive compensation to ensure the continuity of service and sustainability, as well as support career development programs. “By guaranteeing the fiscal autonomy of the Judiciary, we are not only upholding the Constitution, but we are also showing our commitment to a fair and just legal system,” said Go. The post Kuya Bong pushes stronger judiciary fiscal autonomy appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
At stake is UP’s autonomy
It’s difficult to say what exactly defense chief Delfin Lorenzana and his strategists at the Department of National Defense intend to do, following the DND’s unilateral termination of a 1989 agreement that binds the military and the police to coordinate with University of the Philippines authorities when there is a need for state security forces […] The post At stake is UP’s autonomy appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Netizens turn to dry humor as they give their take on CSBT transfer plan
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebuano netizens resorted to dry humor as they give their take on social media about the plan of the Cebu Provincial government to move the Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT) from Cebu City to the neighboring Talisay City in the south of Cebu. The CSBT is currently situated along Natalio Bacalso.....»»
NDFP consultants welcome return of peace talks to national level
Detained National Democratic Front of the Philippines peace consultants welcome reported dialogues to revive stalled formal peace negotiations with the Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Government of the Republic of the Philippines, expressing hope to join the talks if efforts succeed. The post NDFP consultants welcome return of peace talks to national level appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
Contagious pertussis disease continues spreading in Philippines
MANILA, March 28 (Xinhua) -- The contagious pertussis has continued spreading in the Philippines, where it has caused at least 40 death cases, after a province near the capital region reported an outbreak of the disease. In a social media post on Wednesday night, the Cavite government posted a resolution declaring the province under a state of calamity "due to the outbreak of pertussis" after logging 36 cases an.....»»
Church visits are allowed only until 10 p.m. – Police chief
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Church visits on Maundy Thursday will only be allowed until 10 p.m. the chief of the Cebu City police announced on Thursday, March 28. Police Colonel Ireneo B. Dalogdog, City Director of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) said that the public is not allowed inside religious places past 10:00 p.m......»»
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.....»»
Pentagon chief reaffirms support after latest China aggression in WPS
Austin emphasized US support for the Philippines in defending its sovereign rights and jurisdiction in a phone call with Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro on Wednesday. .....»»
Antipolo City throws support on Ajido
The Antipolo City government led by Mayor Casimiro “Jun” Ynares III will provide support to Antipolo-born swimmer Jamesray Mishael Ajido, who won the country’s lone gold medal in record-breaking fashion at the recent 11th Asian Age-Group Swimming Championships......»»
Milk tariff collections rise by 31% to P2.4 billion
Revenues raised by the government from various imported milk products jumped by 31 percent to P2.36 billion in 2023, the highest in at least eight years, from P1.8 billion in 2022......»»
Infrastructure projects get better loan terms from Japan
The Philippines has secured better financing terms for two big-ticket infrastructure projects funded by the Japanese government aimed at improving public transport and road connectivity......»»
S& P: Philippines may miss growth goal this year
S&P Global Ratings sees the Philippines again missing its growth targets this year as it kept its gross domestic product growth forecast at 5.9 percent. While the projection is better compared to other economies in the region, it is again below the government’s 6.5 to 7.5 percent growth target......»»
New DCPO chief pledges technology-driven approach
THE new director of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) underscored the utilization of technology to streamline their operations......»»
Victims of Baltimore bridge collapse include those from Mexico, Guatemala
Maryland [US], March 27 (ANI): Among those reported missing following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore in the US are Mexican nationals, CNN reported, citing Rafael Laveaga, Chief of the Consular Section of Mexico's Embassy in Washington. Laveaga refrained from specifying the exact number of missing Mexican nationals when he addressed reporters near the scene on Tuesday. A reporter asked Laveaga: ".....»»
Fisherfolk group urges gov’t to regulate fish prices amid Lent
Fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas on Wednesday urged the government to address the surge in retail prices of fish during the Holy Week......»»