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PPP Code IRR out; 20 projects up for approval
Around 20 solicited projects that are part of the government’s infrastructure flagship program are expected to be submitted to the National Economic and Development Authority Investment Coordination Committee for approval this year, the Public-Private Partnership Center said, following the signing of the implementing rules and regulations of the PPP Code......»»
A skilled workforce — a critical component of Phl energy transition
Amid the Philippine energy transition, Aboitiz Power Corporation recognized the growing scarcity of skilled power industry workers and, hence, the necessity of developing a workforce that can adapt and willingly carry the important task of ensuring energy security, affordability, and sustainability for today’s and tomorrow’s Filipinos. “There has to be a workforce now and in the future that will keep our energy system functioning and serve the needs of our country,” said AboitizPower chief people officer MaLu Inofre. “However, among our most difficult challenges is building a skilled talent pipeline that can effectively adjust and work with the fast-paced transformation within the industry's energy mix, digital systems and regulations.” “It has become exceedingly vital to ensure that workforce skills align with the changes of the times,” she further explained. “In the same way, attracting talent in a competitive global market is crucial to a sustainable, efficient, and innovative Philippine power sector that meets our country’s growing energy demands and sustainability objectives.” Inofre made her remarks during the first Philippine Power Industry HR Forum at Shangri-La The Fort, Taguig City. The event was presented by the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Inc. in partnership with AboitizPower. Young academic and professional achievers were recruited and trained by AboitizPower to operate, monitor, and control the company’s National Operations Control Center, which oversees over 20 renewable energy facilities spread across the country all from one central location. In the Philippines, the Department of Labor and Employment said that an estimated one million skilled workers in engineering, architecture and construction are lacking. They cited “Power Plant Maintenance Engineer” and “Maintenance/Powerplant Engineers” as among the hard-to-fill occupations in the country. This can be due to a lack of qualified applicants or brain drain (or when better opportunities abroad are taken advantage of by skilled locals). “Between 2016 and 2021, the employment in the power industry declined by 15,444 individuals,” said DOLE Bureau of Local Employment Director Patrick P. Patriwirawan Jr. during the same event. “The Philippines saw an increase in the employment in the renewable energy industry last year but could have employed more if not for the delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic on various project developments in the sector.” Inofre added that a major factor influencing the labor shortage is the shift in the type of skills sought by employers, especially as the sector tries to balance the entry of renewable energy whilst maintaining traditional energy systems. “Knowing this, upskilling will be key to facilitating a just transition for those who will be affected by the transition to a greener economy, as well as the new generation of workers. It is imperative that we successfully cultivate both thermal and renewable energy, so that we can ensure reliable and affordable energy supply for the country,” she said. Meralco Power Academy Program management director Engineer Marc Lester Malibiran explained that, on top of upskilling the workforce, the industry should also help develop interest for the sector, especially in the youth. In a panel discussion, AboitizPower Chief People Officer MaLu Inofre (2nd from right) said that the energy industry must come together to craft and implement programs that strengthen the talent pipeline for the Philippine power industry. “The Philippines boasts a young and vibrant population brimming with innovative potential. By investing in talent development, we tap into this dynamic workforce, harnessing their fresh ideas and energy,” he said. “Unfortunately, we are seeing a decline in both take-up and completion of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), averaging only a 21 percent completion [rate].” “Young Filipinos avoid STEM as it is seen to be an intimidating course of study. This is important to know as this signals us to develop programs that remove this preconceived notion,” he added. The Philippine Power Industry HR Forum served as an avenue for human resources professionals in the Philippine power industry to connect, collaborate and communicate ideas, knowledge and best practices. Sentiments from the breakout sessions revealed that skills and competency gaps or mismatch, a limited external talent pool and difficulty in retaining talent due to global and local competition are the most cited challenges in the human resources field of the Philippine energy sector. A panel discussion moderated by Atty. Jose Layug Jr. of Divina Law saw Michael Page regional director and country head Albert Perez, Meralco chief HR officer Edgardo “Egay” Carasig, Philippine Independent Power Producers Association, Inc. president Atty. Anne Estorco Montelibano and ACEN chief HR officer John Philip Orbeta discuss the need to calibrate existing government programs to be more in sync with the needs of the energy industry. This includes building competencies within communities to turn locals into more competitive applicants. Meanwhile, another panel discussion moderated by AmCham Human Capital & Resources Committee co-chair Ernie Cecilia had Global Business Power Corporation VP-Human Resources Maria Luz Blanco-Uriarte, One Renewable Energy Enterprise, Inc. founder and president Erel Narida and AboitizPower’s Inofre talk about how retaining workers involves investing on their skills, ensuring talent mobility opportunities and giving them a sense of purpose. “The energy industry must create an acceptable, progressive plan to resolve the talent crisis. AboitizPower, for one, makes an effort to resolve the shortage of estimated skilled workers in our industry by maintaining academic-industry linkages with universities in the country, providing long-term scholarships [and] establishing programs with TESDA that help promote electrical engineering skills at the grassroots level, among other initiatives,” Inofre said. “Through similar initiatives, I believe we can successfully empower a community of like-minded individuals who work towards implementing human resource programs that strengthen the talent pipeline for the Philippine power industry,” she concluded. The post A skilled workforce — a critical component of Phl energy transition appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pascual pushes for ASEAN trade upgrade
Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual, who graced the 37th Meeting of the ASEAN Free Trade Area Council in Semarang, Indonesia on Saturday, has called on Philippine counterparts in the ASEAN region to address long-standing issues that affect the fruition of preferential market access in the region through the upgrade of the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement, or ATIGA. ATIGA aims to achieve a free flow of goods in the region resulting in fewer trade barriers and deeper economic linkages among member states, lower business costs, increased trade, and a larger market and economies of scale for businesses. Through ATIGA, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand have eliminated intra-ASEAN import duties on 99.65 percent of their tariff lines. Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Vietnam earlier have reduced their import duties to 0-5 percent on 98.86 percent of their tariff lines. During the meeting, Secretary Pascual maintained that the upgrade of the ATIGA is an opportune time to address trade issues within ASEAN. Further, the DTI secretary also recommended the establishment of a mechanism to address timely resolution of trade issues to fully realize the benefits of ATIGA and encourage stakeholders to utilize the agreement. As part of the country’s efforts to digitize trade, Pascual also reiterated the Philippines’ commitment to the enhancement of the National Single Window or TradeNet. He reported that the Philippines is on track to fully issue and accept electronic Certificate of Origin Form D within the year. Pascual said the DTI is working closely with the Bureau of Customs and the Department of Finance in said endeavor. Meanwhile, in a closed-door meeting with ASEAN Business Advisory Council Chair Arsjad Rasjid and the Philippines delegation to the ASEAN-BAC composed of George Barcelon and Josephine Romero, Pascual welcomed the key initiatives of the private sector under Indonesia’s ASEAN 2023 chairmanship. The post Pascual pushes for ASEAN trade upgrade appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Cheers as FIBA nears
As the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 opening day nears, PLDT and Smart gathered dignitaries and heads of embassies and consulates in the Philippines to promote camaraderie among nations in the most anticipated global sports event this year. “We are grateful to be able to come together to celebrate the upcoming FIBA World Cup 2023. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that we can host the world’s biggest stage in basketball alongside Japan and Indonesia,” said Alfredo S. Panlilio, PLDT and Smart President and CEO, who also heads the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 local organizing committee. “The FIBA World Cup goes beyond basketball: it is about the heart and capabilities of all participating countries, and our ability to bring honor to our nations. We are eager to showcase our countrymen’s love for the sport and promote Filipino hospitality, while promoting the sportsmanship and culture of the countries that will play here in the Philippines,” he added. Dignitaries and special guests representing 25 countries attended the event hosted by PLDT Enterprise in Makati City. The event also served as an opportunity for the Philippine government, represented by Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco and Foreign Affairs Senior Special Assistant Alex Lamadrid, to present the plans of the government to support this global event. “The FIBA World Cup gives opportunities for Filipinos themselves to show their love for country, because what we will see is a great sense of nationalism in cheering for the Philippine team. This nationalism which will be replicated throughout the citizens of the world whom we are very eager to welcome to the country as we host the World Cup,” said Frasco. “The Department of Foreign Affairs, for its part, will continue to pursue and take advantage of the universal appeal of sports in bringing people together, to bridge cultural or social differences, and bring more cooperation in the spirit of mutual benefit and development,” said senior special assistant Lamadrid. The role of PLDT Chairman and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Chairman Emeritus Manuel V. Pangilinan is central to the story of how the Philippines came to host the FIBA Basketball World Cup. After losing the bid against China in 2015, Pangilinan, who was then chair of SBP, started to form a multi-country consortium to win against competitor countries. And the rest is history. “The FIBA World Cup is an apex event in basketball, and it’s good for Filipinos to see how Gilas can compete with the rest of the world. It is the sporting event of the year, and we’ve gotten the full support of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., the Philippine Sports Commission, the Philippine Olympic Committee, and various government agencies as well as the private business sector. We are very thankful for them; we couldn’t have done this without their help. This is truly a national effort,” said Pangilinan. The post Cheers as FIBA nears appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Graft buster clears Cusi
Citing the presumption of regularity, the Office of the Ombudsman threw out the graft complaint of a New York-based billionaire against former Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, other Department of Energy officials, Davao City-based executive Dennis Uy, and several others over the sale of 90 percent of the shares of the Malampaya natural gas consortium. On 18 October 2021, US-based geologist Balgamel Domingo and Filipino-American anti-Duterte leaders Rodel Rodis and Loida Nicolas-Lewis filed charges against Cusi, Uy, and the others involved in the sale of the Malampaya stake to the Udenna group of Uy. In a copy of the ruling obtained by the Daily Tribune, the Ombudsman said it could not delve into the complaint on the legality of the transaction since “the authority to make such a determination belongs to the court.” “Seemingly, this complaint is in actuality a collateral attack on the validity of the Share Sale and Purchase Agreement,” it said. The decision declared that “matters of such tenor are not determinable in a preliminary investigation before the Ombudsman’s Office.” “Without any judicial determination decreeing the illegality of the Share Sale and Purchase Agreement, this Office is left with nothing but to acknowledge its validity,” the ruling said. The Ombudsman cited a precedent in the case of Teresita Buenaventura vs Metrobank, in a ruling that stated: “The burden of showing that a contract is simulated rests on the party impugning the contract.” “This is because of the presumed validity of the contract that has been duly executed,” the Ombudsman ruling read. “Wherefore, the criminal charges for violation of Section 3(e) and of Republic Act 3019 against the respondents are dismissed for lack of probable cause.” The ruling was signed by members of a Special Panel of Investigators composed of Ronald Allan Ramos, Josephine Mae Rosapapan, Francisco Alan Molina and Bonifacio Mandrilla. Prime takes control The operation of the Malampaya project was recently assumed by the Razon group’s Prime Energy which bought a 45-percent stake from Malampaya Energy XP, or MEXP, of the Udenna group. MEXP had bought the shares of Shell Philippines Exploration B.V., or SPEX, in the consortium. The Department of Energy had branded the complaint a political move since the two Fil-Am lawyers in the suit were prominent in the “Oust Duterte” movement in the United States. The complaint alleged that Cusi and other energy officials had granted “unwarranted benefits and advantage” to Uy’s UC Malampaya in the buyout of Chevron’s share in the consortium. Udenna, through spokesperson Raymond Zorilla, said there is “no law requiring approval of the transfer of shares of companies that have an interest in Malampaya.” Zorilla said the transfer of Chevron and Shell shares underwent strict bidding processes and due diligence by both multinational oil and gas players. “The share sales were above board and legal and had to pass scrutiny by Philippine regulators, international lenders, and the said private multinationals involved,” Zorilla added. Cusi, in an interview with Daily Tribune, had said the DoE was not involved in choosing the buyer of the shares of Shell and Chevron in the Malampaya project. “The DoE did not get involved in the sale (of shares). We don’t know that they are selling. Our question was what their standards are for choosing Udenna. Why didn’t you choose the big companies, and why Udenna?” he said. Industry experts said the sale of shares was a private transaction that the accusers, who are US lawyers, should have been very familiar with. Cusi said the DoE, during his watch, went beyond its mandate by reviewing the technical, legal, and financial aspects of the transactions, the results of which were provided to the public. Political agenda The complaint, he said, had an underlying political agenda connected to his being the head of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan or PDP Laban. “It is not only political propaganda against me, but it also has a destabilization background… because I’m the president of the PDP.” The complaints, in turn, stemmed from the unending Senate inquiries on the Malampaya deals. The DoE said the Senate probes and the controversies that resulted from them had caused costly delays in the review process that would ultimately affect the country’s energy security. To refute a recent remark by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, the DoE, in a statement said: “The inquiries of Senator Gatchalian are causing undue delay to the timeline of the consortium corporations, and this may eventually take its toll and put our energy security at risk.” The DoE’s approval of the sale of shares of stock of Chevron Malampaya LLC, one of the three corporations in the Malampaya Gas Field Project Consortium, had been dubbed by Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy, as “lutong Macau.” It also backed the Udenna assessment that the deals were above-board. “When the sales were made, both Chevron Philippines, which owned Chevron Malampaya, and Shell Petroleum NV, owner of SPEX, followed rigorous global standards,” the DoE said. Nicolas-Lewis was part of a 25-person delegation from the US-Philippines Society, a private group comprising business executives and diplomats, who met with Duterte a week before his inauguration as president in 2016. Nicolas-Lewis was then accompanied by former Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Cuisia, PLDT chair Manuel V. Pangilinan, retired American diplomats, and executives of Coca-Cola, SGV, JP Morgan, and other top corporations. Nicolas-Lewis is the sister of former National Anti-Poverty Commission chairperson Imelda Nicolas, who was one of the “Hyatt 10” Cabinet members who turned against then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2005. Imelda and most of the Hyatt 10 members ended up getting key posts in the administration of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. Imelda was made head of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas. Nicolas-Lewis plot bared In February 2018, former President Duterte bared intercepted conversations that indicated Nicolas-Lewis was behind efforts to push the International Criminal Court, or ICC, to probe his war on drugs. Duterte revealed a recorded conversation between Lewis and another political opponent whom he did not name. “I was listening to the tapes of their conversation. It was provided to me by another country, but the conversation was somewhere in the Philippines and New York,” Duterte said. He said that among the recordings was one in which Lewis allegedly told another person: “See you in the headquarters when the case is filed.” Duterte then said in a public address that he was aware of developments on the ICC case and that lawyer Jude Sabio, the main complainant in the case, was a paid hack of Magdalo Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and Rep. Gary Alejano, both failed putschists. Sabio withdrew his complaint before the ICC and revealed that the case was the handiwork of the dirty tricks factory of Trillanes. In 2016, Duterte pointed to Lewis as the financier of an alleged destabilization plot against his administration. Nicolas-Lewis invested heavily in the failed presidential campaigns of Liberal Party bets Mar Roxas in 2016 and Vice President Leni Robredo in 2022. The post Graft buster clears Cusi appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Maharlika a milestone for Marcos admin – Salceda
The Maharlika Investment Fund is a “major milestone” for the Marcos administration as it places the Philippines in the economic map of the ASEAN Region, House committee on ways and means chair Joey Salceda said......»»
IPOPHL lauds seizure of P240-million fake goods
The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines or IPOPHL, acting chair of the National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights, lauded its member, the Bureau of Customs, specifically the BoC-Port of Subic, after intercepting P240-million counterfeit wearables. The goods carried the logos of mainstream brands, such as Adidas, Nike, H&M, Uniqlo, Zara, Cotton-On, Shein, and even the homegrown brand Bench. Others were also labeled with the luxury fashion house names, such as Gucci, Lacoste, Louis Vuitton, Armani Exchange and Balenciaga Paris. The fake wearables, shipped in two container vans from Dhaka, Bangladesh, were to be sent to a consigned group called Bonne Volonté Consumer Goods. “We laud the BoC’s Port of Subic for its vigilance and unrelenting efforts to foil counterfeiters and prevent counterfeit goods from pervading our local markets,” director general Rowel Barba said. Barba expressed gratitude to deputy commissioner for intelligence group Juvymax Uy, Port of Subic district collector Carmelita Talusan; Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority chair and administrator Jonathan D. Tan, and Customs intelligence and Investigation services director Verne Enciso. “We hope the Customs’ successful action serves as a lesson to all violators: focus your energy on legitimate activities rather than harm society. You are only risking your business to see your capital down the drain, just like what has happened to the makers and traders of these fake shirts,” he added. P350-M ukay-ukay seized In another report, an implementation of a Letter of Authority of BoC on several warehouses in Marilao, Bulacan, resulted in the discovery of an estimated P350 million worth of used clothing (ukay-ukay), mosquito coils, fake goods, and other imported products from China. The LoA, issued by the BoC, was implemented on Thursday, 13 July 2023, by agents of CIIS-MICP National Container Port, led by Enciso, on warehouses at Phil. Asia Pacific Realty Compound, Villarica Road, Sta. Rosa 1, Marilao, Bulacan. “The team inspected the warehouses and found them to contain used clothing or ukay-ukay, mosquito coils, IPR-infringing goods, and other suspected smuggled imported goods,” the commissioner said. He revealed that the allegedly smuggled goods inside the warehouses would amount to more or less P350 million. “Several warehouses were found to contain smuggled goods after we served the LoA to the warehouse admin and respective warehouse representatives,” he said. Philippine National Police-Marilao and barangay officials also helped serve and implement the LoA. On the other hand, Intelligence Group Deputy Commissioner Junmax Uy said that the warehouses had been sealed, and the team temporarily placed padlocks. “Ongoing inspection is being conducted on the subject warehouses. This is to be followed by an inventory of the goods, which would be conducted by our assigned Customs examiner and witnessed by CIIS and ESS agents,” he added. The post IPOPHL lauds seizure of P240-million fake goods appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Chona Mejia Lopez: tireless club woman
I recently interviewed Angelina “Chona” Lopez, a dear friend whose daughter, Bettina Osmeña, is as much a dear friend of mine, and the grandmother of, yes, another chum, Eduardo Lopez, a champion polo player. I have had the opportunity to see Chona on many social occasions, a number having to do with her involvement in the Zonta International. A long time ago, I worked for a club woman who was hosting the awarding ceremonies of the Best Asian Leaders. At one point of the program, I realized that the person assigned to give the flowers to the honoree had not arrived, so I was in a quandary as to who I should ask to do the honors. Then, I saw Chona, who sat quietly in one corner, happy being part of the audience, and asked her if she would go up the stage later to hand over the bouquet. She smiled and said that she couldn’t do it because “I may be performing a role that is intended for someone else.” I had no time to think of her answer but, later, I realized this was one lady who knew her manners and protocol. In what I would learn as her typically gracious way, she told me she could not do it, while reminding me that someone should be up there on the stage, and not she. Talk about propriety and grace and Chona Mejia Lopez comes to my mind to this day. Of course, here is one lady who does not care about any opportunity to shine. Almost self-effacing but simply relaxed and unmindful of attention, Chona remains in my book to be one of the sweetest ladies of Manila’s 400. I wish there were more women like her! Networking Recently, I had a brief tete-a-tete with the ageless Chona. As our conversation geared toward her involvement in civic work, I asked her why she joined Zonta, originally a club for professional women. Or, for that matter, why did she join clubs at all? Her response: “I join clubs for various reasons. As a minority Asian woman working in the United States as a financial advisor at Prudential Bache, I joined the Filipino-American Chamber of Commerce of San Francisco as a way of networking. Prudential Bache was then the third largest investment house in the world. After a few years as a member of the chamber, I was elected as the first woman president in the 20-year history of the chamber. Its membership was made up of top executives of US companies with presence in the Philippines, such as Bechtel, Bank of American, Citibank, Dole Foods, etc., and Filipinos working in top level positions in San Francisco. “But business networking is just one aspect of joining clubs. I also join as a way of giving back to society or serving the less fortunate. While living in San Francisco, California, I joined The Little Jim Club, a non-profit fund-raising auxiliary for Child Development Services of the California Pacific Medical Center. The main objective of the club is to support orthopedic and other medical services for children of indigent families who do not have medical insurance coverage. Eventually, I became a director of the club, whose members are women movers and shakers of San Francisco society.” 'I do club work to have a meaningful life, a purpose for my existence. We are here not just to indulge ourselves but to help others.' “When I returned to the Philippines after 11 years living in California, I joined the Zonta Club of Makati and Environs Foundation. It is part of Zonta International, a leading global organization of professionals whose main objective is to advocate for women’s rights and to empower women worldwide through service and advocacy. After two years of joining the club, I was elected as a director, and the following biennium, I became president of the club. I was later on elected as Area 5 director, with 19 clubs under my supervision. I have been a member for 19 years now.” Scholarship She next talked about the Zonta projects that she is so passionate about. She said, “The three projects of Zonta Club of Makati and Environs that are closest to my heart are the DUYAN project in Marillac Hills, which provides psychological care and assistance to minors who are victims of sexual abuse. Another project is our 30 unit Zonta-GK Village in Taguig, It provided funds for building homes for 30 indigent families. This was a project during my term as president of our club. The pride of having a decent home has had great impact on the lives of these 30 families. We also have an educational project that funds the scholarship of young women taking up male-dominated courses like engineering. This has greatly improved the lives of the scholars and their families when after graduation, they got employed in large corporations. Some are now gainfully employed in Europe.” While club work occupies much of her time, Chona knows her priorities. In their order, she said: “These are family, business and club work.” That she has kept to the last instead of enjoying life as a lady of leisure, she explained, “I do club work to have a meaningful life, a purpose for my existence. We are here not just to indulge ourselves but to help others. By joining a club, your job or position has clear-cut responsibilities, time set aside for meetings and project work, etc. It is a structured way of giving back to society which relieves me of the effort of thinking and planning how to do so.” “Because I am now in my rather late senior years, I am no longer as active and as busy as I have been the past 30 years. For the past five biennia, I was always appointed as chair of a district committee. I now devote my time more for the club, not in the district level anymore. Even in the club level, we have so many younger, active, dynamic and very efficient members so the older ones can relax a bit and guide the highly motivated younger ones to take over the reins of the club. The club is truly in good hands to continue Zonta’s work and mission in the next 10 years and beyond.” The post Chona Mejia Lopez: tireless club woman appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Kuya Bong reiterates push for accessible public health services
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go has reiterated his commitment to promoting initiatives aimed at improving healthcare accessibility, such as the establishment of more Super Health Centers in the country. The lawmaker — during his attendance to the groundbreaking of yet another Super Health Center in Lala, Lanao del Norte — recognized the urgent need to address the basic health service requirements of Filipinos, particularly those residing in underserved areas. Go, who also chairs the Senate Committee on Health and Demography — emphasized that the idea of Super Health Centers stems from the need to bridge the healthcare gap that exists between urban and rural regions. He also cited that underserved areas often lack proper healthcare infrastructure, resulting in limited access to essential services such as diagnostics, treatment and preventive care as he pushed for the initiative in 2021. To address these challenges, Go envisions Super Health Centers as healthcare hubs that offer a wide range of services, including database management, outpatient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: X-ray and ultrasound), pharmacy, and an ambulatory surgical unit. Other services available include eye, ear, nose, and throat care, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation centers, and telemedicine, which enable remote diagnosis and treatment of patients. Meanwhile, Go acknowledged the commitment of all local officials, including Governor Imelda Dimaporo, Congresswoman Sittie Aminah Quibranza Dimaporo, Lala Mayor Angel Yap, and Vice Mayor Cesar Yap Jr., among others, for ensuring that those in grassroots communities get access to government health services. GM Also, in commemoration of Eid al-Adha, Go led a relief operation for indigents at the municipal evacuation center and provided relief items, such as grocery packs, masks, vitamins, and snacks to 1,000 struggling residents. The senator also gave away cellular phones, bicycles, shoes, shirts, watches, and balls for basketball and volleyball to select recipients. In addition, a team from the Department of Social Welfare and Development extended financial assistance. As vice chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go also supported several initiatives in the town, such as the construction of flood control and drainage structures and farm-to-market roads. He also helped in the completion of solar-powered street lights in some barangays. On the same day, Go visited Tubod and inspected the construction of a new legislative building, another infrastructure project he supported, and led a relief effort for 1,000 disadvantaged individuals. He was also in Nunungan where he joined the 64th Araw ng Lanao del Norte celebration and assisted more indigents. Go also joined the launch of the Mt. Inayawan Range Natural Park as an ASEAN Heritage Park. The post Kuya Bong reiterates push for accessible public health services appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Go bares 629 funded SHCs, cautions tapping nursing grads
Congress has set funding for the construction of more than 600 Super Health Centers nationwide in 2022 and this year, according to Senator Christopher “Bong” Go. The chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography also expressed support for tapping nursing graduates to bolster the country’s dwindling number of hospital workers but advised the Department of Health to proceed with caution to avoid compromising the quality of healthcare service. “With the help of lawmakers, 307 Super Health Centers are funded for year 2022 and another 322 for 2023 in the entire Philippines,” Go said in a video message during his team’s relief distribution mission in Obando, Bulacan on Friday, 23 June. In the province, the cities of San Jose del Monte, Meycauayan and Baliuag; and the towns of Balagtas, Bulakan, San Miguel, Guiguinto and Pandi will have such facilities catering to residents of remote communities under the 2022 national budget, he said. The 2023 budget covers the building of SHCs in Baliuag City and in the towns of Angat, Marilao, Paombong, Plaridel, San Ildefonso and San Rafael, Go added. On 21 June, Go visited San Rafael for the groundbreaking of the town’s SHC and led a relief operation for indigents there. On top of traditional services, SHCs will provide diagnostics; pharmacy, ambulatory surgery; eye, ear, nose, and throat; oncology; physical therapy and rehabilitation and telemedicine services. Go also encouraged Bulakeños to go to Malasakit Centers for their health concerns as there is one such counter at the Bulacan Medical Center in Malolos City, Rogaciano M. Mercado Memorial Hospital in Sta. Maria, and Ospital ng Lungsod ng San Jose del Monte in San Jose del Monte City. The Malasakit Centers, a brainchild of Go, helps patient get help from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office in paying for their medical bills. ‘Uphold professional standards’ Meanwhile, Go urged the DoH to thoroughly study the proposed hiring of unlicensed nurse as there are existing laws and regulations meant to uphold professional standards and protect lives. “They (nursing graduates) must pass the standard,” Go reiterated in an ambush interview after personally aiding victims of the Mount Mayon unrest in Tabaco City, Albay on Thursday, 22 June. “We cannot compromise the standard here because we have to prioritize the life and health of every Filipino.” Earlier, DoH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa proposed that nursing graduates who scored 70 to 74 percent in licensure test be employed as supplementary workforce in the healthcare system but assigned with restricted responsibilities. ‘Nursing graduates who did not pass the board exam cannot be granted temporary or special licenses.’ Herbosa mentioned that Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma is open to the proposal and intends to hold discussions with the Professional Regulation Commission regarding the issuance of temporary licenses for such graduates. The PRC has clarified that nursing graduates who did not pass the board exam cannot be granted temporary or special licenses to work in public hospitals in the absence of a law allowing such. He pointed out that Republic Act 9173 solely provides special or temporary permits for licensed foreign nurses. However, PRC Commissioner Jose Cueto Jr. said that in exceptional circumstances like epidemics or national emergencies, the health secretary may provide limited authorization to medical graduates. Go said he remains open to amending existing laws to strengthen the health workforce while still being compliant with standards. However, the senator emphasized that the goal must be to continue improving medical education in the country to produce enough number of qualified healthcare professionals. Go has filed the Advanced Nursing Education bill that offers leadership roles, specialization and recognition to professional nurses. The measure also integrates community immersion in the nursing curriculum to encourage community service and introduce masteral and doctoral degrees in nursing. The post Go bares 629 funded SHCs, cautions tapping nursing grads appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Senate tackles airlines’ booking glitches, offloading mess
Growing complaints from various passengers against budget carrier, Cebu Pacific’s overbooking, offloading, and booking glitches have reached the Senate inquiry on Wednesday. This came after Senate committee chairperson, Senator Nancy Binay, filed Senate Resolution No. 575 pushing for an investigation on the customers’ complaints against Cebu Pacific due to recent flight cancellations. During the hearing, Binay said her office was able to compile at least 3,000 complaints from the passengers, which have been aired through social media platforms. “We have since seen it fit to invite our other airlines to this hearing because these problems, it seemed, have only grown in number. Our passengers face inconveniences on multiple fronts on account of flight delays, cancelations, offloading, and overbooking,” Binay stressed. Overseas worker, James Bartolome, said he has yet to receive his refund from Cebu Pacific after his flight going to Qatar was canceled. After knowing that his original flight was canceled, Bartolome opted to book another airline as the budget carrier won’t be able to give him an earlier flight. Senator JV Ejercito said the airport and airline operations will provide the “first and last impressions” to the tourists and potential investors entering the country. “We need to systematize this for our tourism and business climate,” he said, sharing that he was not even spared from experiencing flight delays. Binay emphasized the need to identify problems and immediately craft strategies to prevent similar complaints in the future. Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said that Cebu Pacific and other similar airline companies should acknowledge the impacts of flight cancellations and other airline mess. “Incidents like these could discourage tourists so this hearing should serve as a platform to air the grievances of the frustrated and helpless passengers,” Go said, citing that these may affect the country’s tourism industry and the economy. “Remember that we are still reviving from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he added. Go said the airlines must immediately act and rectify these issues by imposing proper mechanisms for compensating affected passengers—which includes food provisions during flight cancellation and alternative flight schedules. During the hearing, several Cebu Pacific passengers also complained about apparent website errors that resulted in them being charged multiple times for transactions yet it appeared to be unsuccessful. Cebu Pacific chief marketing and customer experience officer, Candice Iyog, explained that there is a part of the flow where if a passenger clicks proceed, it commits the changes even before the passenger pays. “We recognize that and we are taking that feedback as well,” Iyog said. The Cebu Pacific, she added, is already working on “a fix or an enhancement” to the interface of the website, which will likely be ready at the end of this month. “Depending on when it's ready, we're looking at possibly, end of July that we will be able to implement this change in the user experience,” she said. Senator Risa Hontiveros lamented that in several instances when passengers’ original flights were canceled, Cebu Pacific offered flight rebooking and passengers were immediately made to pay before they could confirm their purchase of travel tickets. Citing a passenger’s experience, the airline’s website technical issue made them pay a bill of P16,000-worth of add-ons after availing of Cebu Pacific’s free rebooking option, following the cancellation of flights. Iyog said they recently reminded their customer service agents to allow passengers to get back to their original flight or to remove add-ons that were “accidentally added.” “We don’t want to cancel flights for our passengers. It’s bad business and we don’t want to disrupt our passengers—that’s why we give options,” Iyog noted. Tougher passengers’ rights Meanwhile, Senator Grace Poe slammed the budget carrier for lacking customer service agents directly responding to these complaints. Poe called on for a tougher policy on air passengers' rights to address the cancellations and delays in flights by local airlines besetting travelers. "This pressing public service issue calls for urgent effective solutions as it involves not only the air passengers' rights but also the overall impact on the country's tourism and economy,” she added. While overbooking is a globally accepted practice, Poe said "systematic delays and cancellations are not." Also, Hontiveros pressed that the government agencies should step in to prevent more passengers from being disrupted in their travels due to canceled, rescheduled, and delayed flights in Cebu Pacific and other airline companies. “These kinds of inconveniences disrupt the travel experiences also of tourists, and as the chair said, could negatively affect the tourism sector,” she added. Aside from the reported overbooking, offloading, booking, and flight cancellations, Senator Raffy Tulfo said that adding extra flights daily amid lacking proper airplane maintenance can be called “abuses of the airline companies.” He lamented that it could pose danger and compromise the safety of all airline passengers, “There were safety issues surrounding the uploading, overbooking, and flight cancellations of airlines. If these airlines don’t care about fulfilling their obligations to provide air transport for their passengers, I will not be surprised that they are cutting corners when it comes to safety as well,” Tulfo pressed on. Tulfo said extra flights can also cause fatigue in pilots and flight attendants. For his part, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa wants the Civil Aeronautics Board to become proactive in resolving the massive airline mess in the country. Dela Rosa asked CAB if it is amenable to institutionalize the Air Passenger Bill of Rights in order to protect the public from erring airline companies. "What is your position? Do you agree with the proposal to create a law that will institutionalize the Air Passenger Bill of Rights?" asked Dela Rosa. In response, CAB Executive Director Carmelo Arcilla, said they have been very supportive of the proposal. “But it seems it is not among the priorities of Congress,” he said. Dela Rosa said he is mulling to proposed the bill in the Senate “not to discourage the airline industry but to protect the public interest. The post Senate tackles airlines’ booking glitches, offloading mess appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Philippine para athletes brace for battle
With almost everyone accounted for, the Philippines braces for battle in the 12th ASEAN Para Games unfurling Saturday at the Morodok Techno National Stadium here. The 246-strong contingent arrived in two batches Monday and Tuesday nights with the team from e-sports, which will debut as a demo event, flying in tomorrow in time for the biennial, 12-sport spectacle in this Cambodian capital. Walter Torres, Philippine Sports Commission board member and the country’s chief of mission, and deputy chief of mission Irene Soriano flew in a few days early with Philippine Paralympic Committee president Mike Barredo and PSC chair Richard Bachmann joining them today and Saturday night, respectively. “It’s the biggest in the history of the ASEAN Para Games,” said Torres referring to the country’s delegation count. “It’s really to get them going in the international scene since this is the starting point of everything.” Torres said he was able to get a commitment from the squad in improving on their 28-30-46 (gold-silver-bronze) haul and fifth-place performance in Surakarta, Indonesia last year. “If we make it to fourth, that would already be an achievement,” Torres said. Athletics, chess and swimming should again carry most of the brunt of the country’s campaign after accounting for all 28 mints by the Filipinos in Surakarta a year back. Coaches Tony Ong of swimming and Joel Deriada of athletics echoed the same target of eclipsing, if not replicating, their hauls of 12 and six in the last staging of this biennial competition. The fantastic swimmers, headed by flag-bearer and triple-gold winner Ariel Aligarbes, will have 12 entries, the same number of gold they won in Surakarta, while the Jerold Mangliwan-led brady athletics bunch has 23. The magnificent woodpushers of quadruple gold medalist Sander Severino should also come into the games expecting a golden juggernaut after scooping up a whopping 10 the last time out. There is also optimism that the country could produce golden moments in other disciplines including the awe-inspired men’s wheelchair basketball, which booked a direct spot to the Hangzhou Asian Games this October after a historic bronze medal effort in the Asia-Oceania title in Thailand last month. “Gawin lang naming lahat ng aming makakaya para maka-gold,” said skipper Rene Macabenguil, who was part of the country’s best finish in the games — a silver last year in 2005 back in Manila. The post Philippine para athletes brace for battle appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
IDAHOBIT observation highlights diversity and unity
On 17 May, the LGBTQ+ community, their allies and many agencies observed International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexphobia and Transphobia or IDAHOBIT, which is meant to raise awareness on the discrimination, marginalization and violence experienced by the LGBTQ+ community. This year’s commemoration carried the worldwide theme “Together Always: United in Diversity.” For the Philippine LGBT Chamber of Commerce, the theme “reminds us of the importance of solidarity towards battling discrimination.” “[W]e encourage business owners, leaders and influential individuals to raise our flag with pride, in their respective businesses and communities, in signaling allyship and respect for the LGBTQIA+ people. Let us promote an environment where people come together against stereotyping and discrimination, and where they are introduced to organizational values that effectively advocate a diverse workspace that includes everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics,” they said. For the Southeast Asian network ASEAN SOGIE Caucus, the day “aims to celebrate and appreciate the accomplishments of our LGBTQIA+ community, but the day is also the commemoration of our collective struggles.” IDAHOBIT “marks one of the most momentous turning points in the struggle for gender equality — the declassification of homosexuality as a disorder by the World Health Organization. A breakthrough in the recognition of the natural diversity in society and a step forward to materializing a just and equal world,” according to UP (University of the Philippines) Babaylan. “However, in this modern reality, it cannot be denied that our systems are plagued with the constant threats of impunity, indifference and violence. In the Philippines alone, many names have been victims to the rampant narratives of discrimination... the need to hold the line and ensure rights for all remains an arduous endeavor. From the margins to the center, every identity is met with oppression and challenged by circumstances,” the campus-based LGBTQ+ explained. “To this day, we remember each story and utter every name as a promise that the struggle lives on so that nobody might be next and that justice be served to those that came before us.” They further said: “As such, the movement finds itself emboldened with the pride and power of the collective. We recognize that there is no greater system than that of the people in pursuit of a shared goal: respect for human rights, reclamation of identities and acceptance of diversity.” UP Babaylan held a week-long celebration for IDAHOBIT called Here for Queers. From 17 to 19 May, the group organized the Intergalactic Expo Bazaar at the Rainbow Crosswalk, in front of the West Wing of Palma Hall, featuring queer-owned businesses. Aside from booths selling food and clothes, there is also a booth offering free HIV testing in partnership with HASH. [caption id="attachment_137956" align="aligncenter" width="525"] PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF UP BABAYLAN | UP Babaylan’s Intergalactic Expo Bazaar at the UP Diliman campus.[/caption] On 19 May, the Multidimensional FSL Workshop was held, where speakers Erika Allosa and Abraham Bagasin from Pinoy Deaf Rainbow taught the basics of Filipino Sign Language as well as sexual orientation, gender identity and expression and sex characteristics or SOGIESC. Here for Queers culminated with Benefit Concert: An Interstellar Night on 20 May at the Sky Bistro Ever with drag queens Mrs. Tan, Myx Chanel, Maria Christina, Inah Demons, Aries Night and Korona Dvil, and other performers Stef Aranas, Pixie Lanrador, Pointyyy, Lance Reblando taking center stage. Profits will be donated to Pinoy Deaf Rainbow. On IDAHOBIT, Pride PH intensified its call on schools to recognize and accept transgender at non-binary students. The group continues to help students with their schools that refuses to be inclusive. Aside from LGBTQ+ groups, foreign embassies also joined in celebrating IDAHOBIT. The German Embassy Manila has partnered with Zamboanga City-based Mujer LGBT Organization for the Human Rights Caravan to engage with local government units in Mindanao by providing gender and sexual orientation sensitivity training and teaching the importance of anti-discrimination policies especially when providing services to their LGBTQ+ constituents. The Caravan has been to Dipolog City, Isabela, Pagadian City, Tawi-Tawi and Zamboanga City. According to the embassy, “As co-chair of the Equal Rights Coalition, Germany is working to promote respect, acceptance and equality for all sexual orientations and gender identities. We encourage societies to reflect on the impact of homophobia, biphobia and transphobia and take action to combat these forms of discrimination.” The United States Embassy in the Philippines said that “the United States reaffirms our commitment to end discrimination and violence so that all of our LGBTQI+ friends, colleagues, neighbors and family may live freely with dignity and equal respect for their human rights.” “Countries are stronger when the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex persons are protected and respected,” they emphasized. The post IDAHOBIT observation highlights diversity and unity appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Go, go, go for the gold!
We have nothing but admiration and best wishes for our national athletes who are currently competing at the 32nd Southeast Asian Games. Together with my colleagues, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senator Francis Tolentino, Philippine Sports Commission Chair Dickie Bachmann and Commissioner Matthew Gaston, among other officials, we took the time last weekend to personally cheer on our representatives in the regional biennial sports meet in Cambodia. There, we witnessed once again the never-say-die attitude and spirit of all our Filipino athletes. As Chair of the Senate Committee on Sports and a firm advocate of long-term and grassroots sports development in the country, I was particularly filled with pride after seeing the dedication, discipline and undeniable talent of our athletes. That is why I remain committed to helping strengthen the development of sports in our communities. Sports keep our young people away from vices and criminality. As I always say, “Get into sports, stay away from drugs!” Last year, I sponsored and defended additional funding for the PSC during its 2023 budget deliberation, particularly for grassroots sports development and in support of athletes joining international competitions. What was supposedly just more or less P200 million proposed annual budget for PSC was increased by P1 billion through our efforts and with the support of my colleagues in the Senate. Particularly, the increase in the PSC’s 2023 budget is intended to support the Filipino athletes in international competitions, such as the Asian Games, SEA Games, Summer Olympics in Paris, ASEAN Para Games, Asian Indoor Martial Arts Games, World Combat Games, World Beach Games, and Asian Beach Games, among others. Portions of the funds were also allotted for the country’s hosting of the FIBA World Cup in 2023 as well as for grassroots sports programs, such as Batang Pinoy, the Philippine National Games, and those under the Sports Development Council. Moreover, funding was allocated for the development of sports infrastructure across the country, as well as for advanced research and development in sports sciences and sports technology. The provision of other financial assistance to Filipino athletes was also funded. I have also authored and co-sponsored Republic Act No. 11470, establishing the National Academy of Sports in 2020 to help ensure that our promising young athletes can further hone their talents while getting quality education. More recently, I filed Senate Bill 423, or the proposed Philippine National Games Act of 2022, with the aim of institutionalizing and providing a structure for a more comprehensive national sports program, linking grassroots sports promotion to national sports development. Meanwhile, together with my team, I was in Batangas province on 8 May where I personally led a series of relief operations for 1,109 indigents in Batangas City and 1,000 more in San Pascual town. As an adopted son of CALABARZON and a fellow Batangueño, I am thankful for being able to serve them to the best of my capacity as a public servant. I likewise visited the newly renovated San Pascual Super Health Center and met with some health workers to listen to their concerns and discuss ways to improve the delivery of healthcare services in their communities. The Super Health Center is an improved version of a polyclinic, which seeks to provide our fellow Filipinos, especially those in remote areas, easier access to basic health services. Through the collective efforts of fellow lawmakers and the Department of Health, 307 SHCs were funded in 2022 and 322 more in 2023. Last Tuesday, we conducted a public hearing by the Senate Committee on Health on mental health. As the committee’s chair, I reiterated that the state of our National Center for Mental Health is in need of utmost attention and improvement to preserve the basic right of all Filipinos to healthcare. Meanwhile, on 10 May, I led a relief effort for 672 fire victims from Pritil Public Market in Tondo, Manila. This was followed by a visit to Nueva Ecija last 11 May, where I personally inspected the Talavera bridge — a project I had earlier supported as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance. I then conducted a monitoring visit to the Malasakit Center at the Talavera General Hospital to personally assess its operations and ensure that indigent patients are given the assistance they need. In line with this, we extended relief to 79 patients and 406 front liners in the hospital while the Department of Social Welfare and Development extended financial aid to the qualified patients. On the same day, my team and I visited the town of Llanera to inspect its Super Health Center and attend the inauguration of the public wet market there, both of which I had advocated and supported. We then assisted 1,000 indigents in the town. As an adopted son of Nueva Ecija, I continue to support the province and help its people as much as I can. Separately, my outreach teams mounted several relief operations last week that benefitted 100 indigents in Veruela, 100 in Sta. Josefa, 40 in Esperanza, and 40 in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur; 227 in Botolan and 163 in Iba, Zambales; 520 Kibawe, Dangcagan, Cabanglasan and Malitbog, Bukidnon; 141 in General Natividad, Nueva Ecija; 2,199 in Gingoog City, 50 in Naawan, and 50 in Jasaan, Misamis Oriental; 332 in Minalin, Pampanga; 129 in Hamtic, Antique; 233 in Casiguran, and 166 in Dilasag, Aurora; and 44 in Sta. Maria and 45 in Malolos City, Bulacan. Fire victims, including 205 in Taytay, Rizal; 58 in Caloocan City; and 12 families in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan were likewise supported through our efforts. In the same way that our athletes remain unyielding in the face of tough competition, I hope that we can all remain resilient in the face of challenges. Through our support for one another and our unbeatable pusong Pilipino, let us all go for the gold and continue bringing honor to our country and our people. The post Go, go, go for the gold! appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bong Go lauds PBBM’s successful visit to Indonesia
Senator Bong Go commended President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.'s visit to Indonesia for the 42nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit from 10 to 11 May, emphasizing that the summit was a great opportunity for the President to engage with leaders from other countries and strengthen the Philippines' ties with its neighbors. In an ambush interview after his visit to Tondo, Manila on Wednesday, 10 May, Go said that Marcos’ attendance at the ASEAN Summit is a significant step towards promoting regional cooperation and addressing common challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recovery. "I fully trust President Bongbong Marcos will advance our national interest. Uunahin po niya ang interes ng ating mga kababayan. And I’m sure marami po silang pwedeng pag-usapan at makakaengganyo po ng mga investors dito sa ating bansa,” Go stressed. “‘Yan po ang trabaho ng presidente kapag umiikot, to encourage investors and pursue the nation’s interests. Kapag maraming investors, maraming negosyo, marami pong trabaho ang maibibigay po sa ating mga kababayan,” he added. The ASEAN Summit is a gathering of leaders from the ASEAN member states and their dialogue partners. It is held biannually to discuss issues of common concern, including political, economic, and social cooperation, as well as regional security and stability. President Marcos' attendance at the summit was aimed at further enhancing the Philippines' role in the region and promoting closer ties with ASEAN member states. On Friday, 12 May, President Marcos reported the gains from his participation in the ASEAN Summit, highlighting, “During our meetings with ASEAN leaders, I emphasized the importance of upholding the international rules-based system which has underpinned regional security, peace and order in our region.” “I believe that the Summit was a success and that it charted new directions that were initiated by the chairman, (Indonesian) President (Joko) Widodo, and with the concurrence of all the member states. And many new ideas were ventilated and many of those were adopted and we will see – hopefully see some progress on the political front and certainly on the economic front,” the President continued. Go also earlier highlighted that the government is on the right track, so far, and reiterated his commitment to supporting programs aimed at uplifting the poor. "After almost one year or about ten months po ng administration, so far, so good naman po. Nasa right direction naman po ang ating administrasyon ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos. I’m here to support kung ano po ang makakatulong para sa mga mahihirap,” expressed Go in an ambush interview at the Senate after the public hearing conducted by the Committee on Health on mental health on May 9. For his part, Senator Go, as Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, highlighted his support for the President’s priority measures such as establishing more specialty centers nationwide. Go earlier filed Senate Bill No. 1321, or the proposed "Specialty Centers in Every Region Act of 2022", which aims to establish specialty centers in select Department of Health hospitals throughout the Philippines. These centers are expected to cater to services, such as mental health, cardiology, renal, neonatal, and cancer, among others. The Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, signed by President Marcos Jr., also includes the establishment of specialty centers as part of its health-related legislative agenda. The post Bong Go lauds PBBM’s successful visit to Indonesia appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Back ‘nano businesses’, Marcos tells Asean
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday urged the Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states and the region's business community to back "nano businesses", as they contribute to the region’s overall economic growth and narrows the development gap. Marcos made the call during the ASEAN Leaders' Interface with Representatives of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Business Advisory Council. Nano businesses are currently an informal and unacknowledged business category. “These nano businesses are also described as ‘solopreneurs’ and they are home-based businesses, among whom are make-up artists, vulcanizers, independent dispatch riders, vendors, repairers and market women and men in the various open markets,” Marcos told the ASEAN-BAC gathering. “They play a very important but often unrecognized role all across our countries. But by classification, they often do not meet the MSME (micro, small and medium enterprise) micro-business criteria, which is the category for the smallest businesses. They are largely unaccounted for, but these informal business settings constitute a large portion of all our economies,” he added. ASEAN Business Advisory Council chair Mohammad Arsjad Rasjid Prabu Mangkuningrat supported Marcos’ call to recognize and support nano businesses. Mangkuningrat is also the Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The ASEAN has kept its position as the fifth largest economy in the world in 2021 with US$3.3 trillion of combined gross domestic product among the 10 ASEAN member states. Intra-ASEAN trade continues to hold the largest share of ASEAN total trade, contributing 21.3 percent to total merchandise trade in the region in 2021, constituting 21.7 percent and 20.9 percent shares of ASEAN’s total merchandise exports, respectively. The post Back ‘nano businesses’, Marcos tells Asean appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Envisioning smart, sustainable cities at AI Summit PH 2023
What will the cities of tomorrow be like? Aboitiz Data Innovation, the Data Science and Artificial Intelligence arm of the Aboitiz Group, brings together key players and industry movers championing sustainable smart cities, as well as power generation and distribution, at the inaugural AI Summit Philippines (AI Summit PH 2023). Organized in partnership with Aboitiz Equity Ventures and Union Bank of the Philippines, the two-day summit will be held at the Marriott Grand Ballroom in Pasay, Philippines on 10 to 11 May 2023, with industry and government leaders and forward-thinking entrepreneurs sharing real-world use cases, lessons learned and valuable insights. The AI Summit PH 2023 offers attendees an array of events, including talks, panel discussions, knowledge sessions and networking opportunities with tech innovators and game-changers. The summit will focus on three streams: Powering Smart Cities through Data, Data Science and Transformation in Financial Services, and Operationalizing Data Science and AI. Imagine a city where everything is interconnected, more livable and environmentally friendly — where people can move around seamlessly, where energy is generated and consumed sustainably, where lives are enhanced by efficient services, and where the livelihoods of communities are improved. As the world becomes more urbanized, smart cities play an important role in accommodating the growing population. With AI and advanced technologies as enablers and catalysts, a smarter, greener, more livable world is not impossible to attain. Path to the future Opening the Summit is Third District of Negros Occidental Representative Dr. Jose Francisco “Kiko” Benitez with a keynote on “Reimagining a Sustainable and Equitable Philippines with AI.” Representative Benitez brings insightful expertise as the chairman of the House Committee on Housing and Urban Development and a member of the House Committee on Information and Communication Technology. One of the summit’s highlights is a plenary discussion on “Defining the Smart Cities of the Future.” This path to the future requires collaboration between the government, the private sector and other important stakeholders. From the public sector, panelists include Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas, who will share his insights on the government’s role in enabling smart city development. He will be joined by IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines president and chief executive officer Jack Madrid and Aboitiz InfraCapital president and CEO Cosette Canilao. This session will delve into the potential benefits of smart city development, including public services, increased economic growth and enhanced sustainability. AIC is already providing Filipinos with a glimpse of the cities of the future across its economic estates. LIMA Land and Cebu Industrial Park Developers president Rafael de Mesa will participate in a breakout session on “AI and the Future of Sustainable Cities: Challenges and Opportunities.” He will be joined by CAZA Principal and award-winning architect Carlos Arnaiz, Arup Associate principal of Cities and Planning Tony Chan and AECOM Asia ESG Services Business lead Sylvester Timothy Wong. The session will be moderated by ADI chief operating officer for Smart Cities Alvin Ng. Technology trends A breakout session will cover the topic of “Unlocking The Benefits of AI in Achieving Sustainability.” Among the panelists are Environmental Resources Management South and Southeast Asia managing partner Wei Chee Liew and members of the academe Dr. Godofredo Ramizo Jr., fellow and principal investigator, Nanyang Technological University; and Dr. Immanuel Koh, assistant professor, Singapore University of Technology and Design. The session will be moderated by ADI chief marketing officer Felicia Li-Gaillard. In another breakout session, “The Future of Smart Cities: AI-Enabled Innovation and Transformation,” summit participants can learn about technology trends, challenges and opportunities in the smart cities landscape from around the region. Moderated by ADI head of AI and Innovation Center of Excellence Dr. Adrienne Heinrich, the panelists include Amazon Web Services ASEAN Business Development Manager Dr. Chomchana Trevai, KPMG APAC head of Technology Darren Young, Johnson Controls APAC chief technology officer Sachin Gupta and AboitizPower Distribution head of Corporate Services Jokin Aboitiz. On the power front, a discussion on the regulatory frameworks in support of AI in utilities will be tackled by Energy Strat Asia managing director and founder Tim Rockell and Analytics Association of the Philippines president Michelle Alarcon. Another summit highlight is the plenary panel discussion on “Power Fueling Urban Development and Economic Growth,” which will be participated by OceanPixel Chief Executive Officer Dr. Michael Abundo, University of San Carlos Associate Professor and Industrial Engineering Department Chairperson Dr. Lorafe Lozano and Chief Operating Officer for Power Luis F. Gonzalez. There is much more that lies in store. Join ADI and like-minded visionaries for two days of insightful talks, solutions showcase and networking opportunities to share ideas and make meaningful connections that may one day change the world for a sustainable future. For more information about the event, visit www.aiphsummit.ph. The post Envisioning smart, sustainable cities at AI Summit PH 2023 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
`Compete with all your heart,’ Go tells SEA Games-bound athletes
On Monday, 24 April, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go expressed his full support for Filipino athletes competing in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia as he attended their send-off ceremony at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City. The event was led by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. who encouraged the Filipino athletes to go for the gold and bring back the Philippines' number one spot in the Games. In an interview during the event, Go, as chair of the Senate Committee on Sports and a sports enthusiast himself, said he understands the value of sports in the lives of young Filipinos. "Nandirito po ako to support. Being a sports enthusiast, noon pa talagang mahilig na po ako sa sports," said Go. "And that’s one way of encouraging the youth to get into sports and stay away from drugs. Isa po ito sa pamamaraan na ilayo po natin ang ating mga kabataan sa iligal na droga. Get into sports, stay away from drugs, and keep them healthy and fit," he added. To help in this cause, Go shared that he sponsored and defended additional funding for the Philippine Sports Commission during its 2023 budget deliberation, particularly for grassroots sports development and in support of athletes joining international competitions. "Gaya noon, full support po ako sa ating mga atleta. Not only sa SEA Games, Asian Games, Olympics, full support po ako," he said. Go continued, "In fact, during the budget deliberation, ang budget po ng PSC less than P200 million. Ako po ‘yung nag-defend at nag-suggest ng dagdag sa pondo nila." "Nagdagdag po tayo ng P1 billion sa budget ng PSC including budget na po para sa Southeast Asian Games, sa iba pang mga grassroots program, not only sa international competition, pati sa local," he added. Particularly, the increase in the PSC's 2023 budget reflected in the General Appropriations Act is intended to support Filipino athletes in the 2022 Asian Games, 2023 Southeast Asian Games, and 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Furthermore, athletes competing in the ASEAN Para Games, Asian Indoor Martial Arts Games, World Combat Games, World Beach Games, Asian Beach Games, and World Beach Games will receive similar support. Portions of the funds were allotted for the country's hosting of the FIBA World Cup in 2023 as well as for several sports programs, such as Batang Pinoy, the Philippine National Games, and the grassroots program under the Sports Development Council. There are also funds allocated for the development of sports infrastructure across the country, as well as for advanced research and development in sports sciences and sports technology. When asked about his message to the athletes, Go echoed Marcos' words of encouragement, "Sinabi na rin po ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos kanina, 'Go, go, go for the gold.' Ibig sabihin sana magtsa-champion po tayo. Ibalik natin ‘yung pagiging No.1 natin." Go reminded the athletes that the important thing is to fight and compete with all their hearts, as Filipinos are known for their passion and perseverance. Around 860 Filipino athletes, 76 reserved players, and 347 sports officials, medical personnel, and support staff will travel to Cambodia to compete in 608 events across 38 sports categories from 5-17 May. With the impressive performance of Filipino athletes in the 2021 SEA Games in Vietnam, where they brought home 227 medals, including 52 gold, 70 silver, and 105 bronze, the Philippines is poised to once again make a strong showing in the upcoming games. In the 2019 SEA Games, the Philippines hosted the event and emerged as the overall champion with 149 gold medals, 117 silver medals, and 121 bronze medals. The National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act, or Republic Act No. 10699, entitles SEA Games gold medalists to a P300,000 incentive, silver medalists to P150,000, and bronze medalists to P60,000. During the Duterte administration, Go advocated for additional benefits to medalists. An advocate for grassroots sports development, Go earlier authored and co-sponsored RA 11470, establishing the National Academy of Sports in 2020 as part of his vision to ensure promising young athletes can further hone their talents while getting quality education. The NAS is a government-run academy aimed at developing the country’s future athletes by offering quality secondary education with a special curriculum on sports for gifted young Filipinos who want to enhance their physical and mental capabilities in sports. The senator also filed Senate Bill No. 423, or the proposed Philippine National Games Act of 2022, to provide a structure for a more comprehensive national sports program, linking grassroots sports promotion to national sports development The post `Compete with all your heart,’ Go tells SEA Games-bound athletes appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘ASEAN leaders prioritizing MSMEs, digitalization’
ASEAN Business Advisory Council chair for the Philippines Joey Concepcion has expressed elation at regional leaders’ view of entrepreneurship and their digitalization as a key driver of inclusive growth in the region......»»
JG Summit core profit soars in 2023
Core earnings of conglomerate JG Summit Holdings Inc. soared in 2023 following a significant turnaround in its airline business, with Cebu Pacific returning to full-year profit for the first time since the pandemic......»»