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Agdao Public Market vendors want variety and vegetable sections merged
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 24 March) – Vendors of Agdao Public Market here are asking the city government to merge the Variety and Vegetable Sections into one section claiming they have difficulties in getting customers because of their location. In a letter addressed to Mayor Sebastian Duterte, the City Administrator’s Office, the City Economic Enterprise […].....»»
Ex-President Duterte appointed administrator of Kingdom of Jesus Christ properties
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 8 March) – Former President Rodrigo R. Duterte has been appointed administrator of the properties of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC). This developed after its founder, embattled international evangelist Apollo C. Quiboloy, has gone into hiding amid the serious criminal charges he is facing in the country and in the […].....»»
Marcos names new LWUA head
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed lawyer Jose Moises Salonga as the new administrator of the Local Water Utilities Administration, which oversees the development of water supply systems in areas outside Metro Manila. .....»»
Marcos appoints businessman Eduardo Aliño as new SBMA head
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has officially appointed and sworn in businessman Eduardo Aliño as the new administrator of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, according to an announcement from the Presidential Communications Office on Friday......»»
New Marina chief named
President Marcos has appointed Sonia Bautista Malaluan as the new administrator of the Maritime Industry Authority the Presidential Communications Office said yesterday......»»
A full-time DA chief
With a new secretary of agriculture appointed, is the campaign promise of P20-a-kilo rice finally attainable?.....»»
Marcos promise of P20/kilo rice ‘not possible’ for now – new DA chief
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s campaign promise to reduce the price of rice to P20 per kilogram is “not possible” for now, newly appointed Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Laurel Jr. said on Monday......»»
Smear campaign
Even before he was formally appointed as the head of the Department of Transportation, Jaime Jimenez Bautista was already the subject of intrigues and a smear campaign, as other parties sought the much coveted position......»»
Celebrating 77 Years of Danish-Philippine Diplomatic Relations through creativity
On 28 September, Denmark and the Philippines marked 77 years of strong diplomatic ties by emphasizing their shared passion for design and creativity. To honor this milestone, the Royal Danish Embassy Manila staged two projects that capture the fusion of Filipino creativity and uniqueness of Danish design, reflecting the richness of the countries’ longstanding relationship. Bridging our countries through LEGO One of the most symbolic representations of this mutual appreciation for creativity is the iconic LEGO – a Danish brand that has found its way to the hearts of many Filipino families, collectors, builder communities, and creative enthusiasts. You can also meet talented Filipinos working in LEGO headquarters in Denmark, driving design processes for various LEGO sets that land on toy store shelves worldwide. Venturing into the heart of the Philippines' historical richness, Danish Ambassador FranzMichael “Dan-Dan” Mellbin and Philippine Ambassador Leo Herrera-Lim explored the Philippines in bricks at the iMake History Fortress LEGO Education Center. The Education Center, nestled in historic Fort Santiago, is a joint project by the Royal Danish Embassy Manila, the Intramuros Administration, and Felta Multimedia, Inc and serves as an exhibition of historical and cultural landmarks in the Philippines – all built using LEGO. The center also conducts workshops to train the youth in architecture, design, engineering, and creativity using LEGO Education modules. Guided by the shared vision of fostering strong connections, the Ambassadors, along with Intramuros Administrator Joan Padilla, Felta Brand Activation Officer Jed Abiva-Sazon, Mme. Eva Fischer-Mellbin, and Mme. Fides Herrera-Lim, took the lead in building a symbolic bridge using LEGO as a representation of the strong connection of the two countries spanning over seven decades. Filipino art LEGO-fied From architectural wonders, LEGO bricks were creatively used as building blocks for classic masterpieces of Filipino maestro and National Artist, Fernando Amorsolo. Project AMORsolo, a mosaic LEGO exhibition by Pinoy LEGO Users Group (PinoyLUG) pays homage to the enduring legacy of the first Filipino National Artist. The exhibit replicates Amorsolo’s iconic paintings “Bayanihan”, “Dalagang Bukid”, and “Early Traders” using LEGO. To support PinoyLUG and masterpieces of Fernando Amorsolo, the Embassy hosted a Project AMORsolo installation in October 2023. During the event, PinoyLUG also unveiled a LEGO brick mosaic based on the iconic Danish artwork “Anna Ancher and Marie Krøyer on the beach at Skagen” by Michael Ancher, specially designed for the celebration. Gracing the event were members of the Amorsolo family including the artist’s daughter Slyvia Amorsolo Lazo and grandson Fernando “Nandy” Amorsolo Lazo, who now leads the Fernando C. Amorsolo Art Foundation dedicated to the promotion of the maestro’s unique style and artistic vision. Named after a playful combination of the Filipino artist’s name and the Spanish term for “love” (amor), Project AMORsolo was born out of interest of PinoyLUG’s members during the pandemic to build projects that go beyond LEGO’s usual notion of “play”, but also represents the Philippines’ rich art and creative culture. Project AMORsolo has been showcased in the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Manila City Hall, and shopping malls around Luzon, and now at the Danish Residence. Wielding the power of design together Both events contribute to the Embassy’s “Design Matters” campaign. This aims to celebrate and increase awareness on Denmark’s design values and drive for innovation while appreciating the Philippines’ artistic heritage and ingenuity. Danish design, characterized by simplicity, functionality, and minimalism, is a way of life. The campaign aims to inspire Filipinos about the beauty and practicality of Danish design, connecting it to the Filipino tradition of craftsmanship and vibrancy. Since September, the Embassy has featured testimonials, parallel design concepts, and collaborative efforts to integrate design thinking into policies. The Embassy looks forward to continue supporting the Philippines in cultivating a deeper appreciation for design and translate creative ideas to meaningful efforts set to improve Filipinos’ lives. The post Celebrating 77 Years of Danish-Philippine Diplomatic Relations through creativity appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Governor’s fight vs EDCA
Despite political pressure, Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba continues to oppose the Enhanced Defense Cooperative Agreement or EDCA sites in his province. Since April this year, he has been announcing publicly his opposition. Mamba also urged Cagayanos to make a united stand and voice their opposition following the announcement by the Presidential Communications Office that EDCA sites were to be established at Naval Base Camilo Osias in Santa Ana and the Lal-lo Airport in the province. I had a chance to meet Mamba last 25 August, and he said he is against any form of neo-colonialism, which is perhaps why he is not in favor of having American military personnel, facilities, and structures in the country, particularly in his province. During the occasion, he was also commended by a retired Philippine National Police general. I suppose we are aware that Governor Mamba is under heavy political oppression due to his opposition to PH-US military relations and new EDCA sites. To Cagayanos, Governor Mamba is undoubtedly the national hero of the new century because his courage and determination are worthy of admiration. Observers said his opposition to the military ties with the US and the new EDCA sites had alienated him from President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., to whom he was once close. In early May, in reaction to Governor Mamba’s opposition to the new EDCA sites, House Speaker Martin Romualdez reiterated that the President’s determination to strengthen cooperation with the US with new EDCA sites was “unshakable.” There were rumors the Speaker asked the Governor to keep quiet on the matter. To Governor Mamba’s supporters, this was a severe warning and a humiliation from the President and the US. On 9 February this year, US embassy personnel met with an assistant of Cagayan Vice Governor Melvin Vargas, named Agatep, mainly to get an update on Governor Mamba’s alleged “irregular vote buying” in the last election. During the meeting, dissatisfaction was expressed with the Governor’s public opposition to the new EDCA sites in Cagayan. Well, should the vote-buying case push through, what could we expect? Should Governor Mamba’s election be overturned, Vice Governor Vargas, who supports the PH-US alliance, would be the likely successor. A friend from the north told me that Katrina Enrile, like her father Juan Ponce Enrile, the Presidential Chief Legal Adviser, is pro-EDCA. To eliminate the local opposition to EDCA, Katrina Enrile allied with Governor Mamba’s political rivals — Vice Governor Vargas and the Lara family. Vice Governor Vargas met with Katrina Enrile on 19 April and stated that he had garnered the support of a majority of the provincial officials regarding the establishment of the two EDCA sites in Cagayan. The new EDCA sites were the President’s decision, and they should not speculate on this. Katrina Enrile’s efforts paid off, as the President appointed her Administrator and Chief Executive Officer of CEZA, the office that manages the Cagayan Special Economic Zone. Interestingly, the Cagayan Special Economic Zone Act of 1995 was proposed and drafted by Juan Ponce Enrile. On 7 April, representatives of the US government met with Mayor Florant Pascual of Lal-lo and president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines-Cagayan Chapter. During the meeting, the American government promised to carry out energy projects through USAID and provide local assistance in exchange for Pascual’s support of the new EDCA sites. On 20 April, Pascual and 18 other mayors publicly announced their support for the new EDCA sites in Cagayan. Soon after, on 15 June, USAID representatives visited the Philippines and announced a $65-million fund for Cagayan and Isabela to support local energy planning and introduce renewable energy technologies, such as solar roofs. The US embassy said the communities near the new EDCA sites in Santa Ana and Lal-lo would also benefit from the grant. The post Governor’s fight vs EDCA appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Aplasca submits courtesy resignation to PBBM
The Office for Transportation Security (OTS) Administrator, Ma.O Aplasca, formally submitted his courtesy resignation to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday afternoon. It was in connection with the statement made by House Speaker Martin Romualdez that he would personally block the approval of the OTS budget and the Department of Transportation. According to Aplasca, he is not ready to sacrifice the agency but he considers it an honorable task in the interest of the majority. As the administrator of the OTS, he said he did not do anything wrong. He added that he just implemented the anti-corruption campaign in all the airports. Aplasca also believes that the men and women of OTS will not fail in their promise to clean up their ranks to realize a convenient and safe transportation system. The post Aplasca submits courtesy resignation to PBBM appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Mediatrix controversy
Author’s note: In the last column, I wrote that the 1951 Pius XII decree that said the Mediatrix apparitions had “no supernatural character or origin” is not binding because it was never promulgated officially. Pope Francis recently appointed a new Prefect of the Dicastery, Cardinal-to-be Archbishop Victor Manuel Fernandez, SJ. Like his predecessor, Fernandez is a Jesuit and an Argentinian. He is the “theological alter ego” of Pope Francis. How will controversial Archbishop Fernandez handle the 70-year-old Mediatrix issue? Will the current Dicastery, which is vehemently anti-Mediatrix, under the helm of Archbishop Fernandez tone down its stance? As a background, there was a decree of the Dicastery but not of Pope Pius XII. The Dicastery of 1951, whose members have died, claimed Pope Pius XII directly approved its decision (not to recognize the Mediatrix apparitions), but it was never formally entered into the Acta Apostolicae Sedis, the official Vatican publication, a requirement of Canon Law for it to take effect. What are the implications if the 1951 Pius XII decree is in truth non-existent? Under the domino principle, this implies that technically all subsequent declarations and orders of the Dicastery for 70 long years are also not binding, including the latest, wherein Lipa Archbishop Gilbert Garcera was ordered by the Dicastery to ban all celebrations of the 75th anniversary of the Mediatrix apparitions. However, the Dicastery never authenticated the Mediatrix apparitions, so the apparition celebrations are rightfully banned. But there is a contradiction that must be resolved — since the original 1951 Pius XII decree is in question. The members of the Dicastery in 1951 were caught in a lie because then apostolic administrator Bishop Rufino Santos stated in his decree of 12 April 1951 that he was still awaiting the Vatican decision regarding Lipa — when the Dicastery reported in its Protocol 226/1949 that a decision had been made, contradicting Bishop Santos. Archbishop Fernandez has to resolve this issue because the evangelization of Asia, which is the focus of Pope Francis, is at stake. Pope Francis looks to the Philippines, the only Christian nation in Asia, as the launch pad for the evangelization of Asia and the “conversion” of China. Conversion means stopping the persecution and massacre of Christians in China, permitting churches there to open, reuniting the Underground Church (who are the target of assassinations) and the Vatican-led Church, and finally, changing China’s belligerence to benevolence in the South China Sea to prevent a full-blown US-China confrontation. The Virgin can bring peace to Asia better than any military solutions. A well-publicized message of Our Lady Mediatrix of All Grace was a warning about China: “Pray hard for China’s dream is to invade the whole world. The Philippines is one of its favorites.” (17 October 1949). There is a Mediatrix shrine in a chapel in a small village near Nanjing that was built by Metropolitan Bank when it was commissioned by the Chinese government to develop two villages. This “foothold” in China is evidence the Virgin Mediatrix is fulfilling her mission of evangelization and conversion. Archbishop Fernandez and Pope Francis must be informed of the history of the Mediatrix to sharpen their perspectives on its geopolitical ramifications. The continued suppression of Mediatrix devotion and of the entire Philippine Church may hamper the Church’s efforts to evangelize Asia. In truth, Satan is scared of the Mediatrix, that is why, in his panic, he tortured Mediatrix visionary Sr. Teresing Castillo, as she wrote in her second diary that the Vatican failed to destroy but which is now available on the Internet. Is Satan behind the suppression of the Mediatrix by using Cardinals in the Vatican without them knowing it? For centuries, Satan has been penetrating the sacred halls of the Vatican and using the Cardinals without their being aware of it. That Satan works in the Vatican is nothing new. Historically, the Spanish Inquisition in the Middle Ages beheaded on mere suspicion about a thousand “heretics.” The ongoing “apostasy” (civil war) within the Vatican, which Fatima prophesied, is another sign of Satan’s works. It is thus in the interest of the Vatican to consider the Marian evangelization that it is suppressing — to have a change of heart. In the end, the Virgin will triumph over the Vatican, if need be, as revealed in the Bible. The Lord said, “I will put enmity between you (Satan) and the Woman (Mary), and between your offspring (demons) and hers (Jesus). Her offspring will crush your head and you will bruise His heel.” Genesis 3:15. “A huge red dragon stood before the Woman about to give birth, to devour her Child. She gave birth to a Son destined to rule all nations. In utter rage, the serpent waged war against the rest of her offspring, those bearing witness to the Son born of Her womb.” Revelation 11:1-17 (excerpts). *** eastwindreplyctr@gmail.com The post Mediatrix controversy appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
UK man swims entire New York river in clean-water campaign
British endurance swimmer Lewis Pugh on Wednesday completed a 315-mile (500-kilometer) journey down New York's Hudson River, highlighting its successful decades-long cleanup as a beacon for other waterways. "Fifty years ago, this was one of the most polluted rivers in the whole world," said Pugh, 53, who was appointed the first UN patron of the oceans a decade ago. "We need to have clean, healthy rivers," he told reporters after completing the unassisted trip from the Hudson's mountain source all the way down to New York City. He said that in New York's industrial past, the river would sometimes change color from day to day, depending on what dyes and other pollutants were dumped or ran off. But after decades of action to clean up pollution, Pugh was able to safely swim down the river, a month-long feat he said will hopefully inspire others. "They're going to be inspired by what happened here and say to themselves: 'If they can do that in the Hudson, surely we can do it in our river and our river can also be saved,'" he said. Pugh has previously undertaken high-profile swims in Antarctica, the North Pole and the Red Sea to advocate for rivers clean enough to swim and fish in safely. His Hudson River feat comes as leaders from the around the globe are set to descend on New York to attend the annual UN General Assembly, during which a historic High Seas Treaty is to be formally signed. The post UK man swims entire New York river in clean-water campaign appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
QCPD week-long crime drive nets 156
Newly appointed Quezon City Police District Director P/Brig. Gen. Redrico ‘Red’ Maranan on Tuesday reported that they have rounded up 156 individuals during its weeklong operations from 3 to 9 September, on all forms of criminality. Maranan said that the police operations were conducted to step up the simultaneous anti-criminality campaigns through the implementation of search warrants, buy-bust operations and other special police interventions. A total of 26 anti-illegal drug operations were conducted that led to the arrests of 50 drug suspects, 25 of whom are users, and 25 are pushers. Also, 71.26 grams of shabu and 114.4 grams of marijuana valued at P498,296 were confiscated. A campaign called “Manhunt Charlie” aims to track down persons with pending Warrants of Arrest was likewise conducted. Arrested were 53 wanted persons wherein 17 are listed as Most Wanted Persons and 36 as Other Wanted Persons. On anti-illegal gambling, 22 operations were conducted, which resulted in the arrest of 50 gamblers and the confiscation of several gambling paraphernalia and bet money of P5,965. Meanwhile, in the campaign against loose firearms, two operations were also completed, which resulted in the arrest of three suspects and the recovery of three firearms. “Our weekly anti-criminality operations are a testament to our dedication to public safety through 24/7 police visibility, foot, bike, and mobile patrol throughout the entire Quezon City. I express my profound gratitude to the men and women of QCPD for their continuous support in making the city safe and secure against all forms of criminality,” Maranan said. The post QCPD week-long crime drive nets 156 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Cacdac to continue Ople’s projects
Newly appointed officer-in-charge of the Department of Migrant Workers, Hans Leo J. Cacdac, on Saturday said he will continue the programs that the late secretary Susan “Toots” Ople spearheaded in their department, and make sure that her vision for the DMW would be achieved. “Malaking gap… big shoes to fill ang kanyang iniwan,” Cacdac said in a radio interview. "She (Ople) set the direction that we will stand by and strengthen," Cacdac added. Cacdac was the department’s undersecretary for welfare and foreign employment before he was appointed DMW OIC. He also served as administrator of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administrator (OWWA) and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). Cacdac said the first task at hand is to defend the DMW’s proposed P15-billion budget at the Senate next week. He also plans to strengthen the P1.2-billion action fund for legal assistance to OFWs. “One of her (Ople) last public statements was that OFWs whose rights are violated will now be able to file cases and get justice," Cacdac said. Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople who died on 22 August 2023 also wanted a cancer fund established for migrant workers and for the digitalization within the agency to continue. In July, the DMW launched an app for OFW meant to streamline the processing of labor and overseas documents. Cacdac said the Saudi government has already formed a technical committee that would implement Saudi King Salman’s orders regarding OFWs with unpaid wages. The DMW has said that at least 10,000 OFWs who had worked for nine Saudi companies that declared bankruptcy following the economic crisis in 2015 would receive “full payment” of their pending wages. So far, Cacdac said, the Saudi government has assured them there is funding and resources for the payout. He added, though, that processing is still ongoing and that the Saudi government has not given a definite timeline on when the money will be released. “There is a challenge in determining who the claimants are and how the distribution will be done in coordination with the Philippine side,” he said. "Ople said last November that the Saudi government would “set aside two billion Riyals (or) about more than P30.2 billion to help our displaced workers,” Cacdac recalled. The funds will cover workers from Saudi OGer, MMG, the Bin Laden group, and other construction companies that declared bankruptcy in 2015 and in 2016, she said then. Ople, Cacdac said, wanted the DMW to feel like the home of overseas Filipino workers. The post Cacdac to continue Ople’s projects appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DBM flags PNP’s P27-B ‘overdraft’
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has been spending a whopping P26.7 billion annually for “unauthorized” excess positions in the organization, covering ranks from Lieutenant Generals and below, according to a Department of Budget and Management (DBM) document, In a letter dated 12 October 2022 addressed to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin C. Abalos Jr., Mary Anne Z. Dela Vega, Director of the Budget Department’s Budget and Management Bureau, submitted a matrix of PNP rank distribution approved by the DBM covering the 226,410 members of the police force. The DBM-approved rank distribution did not match the actual strength and distribution of ranks implemented by the PNP leadership, contrary to existing laws and regulations. The following excess positions were noted in the following ranks: Lieutenant General, 5; Major General, 6; Brigadier General, 24; Colonel, 232; Lieutenant Colonel, 910; Major, 1,410; Captain, 1,835; Staff Sergeant, 31,729; and Corporal, 30,052. The total excess positions stand at 66,203 with a combined annual base pay of P26.707 billion. DILG sources said these excess positions, which go beyond the DBM-authorized number of personnel, are considered “illegal." On the other hand, DBM and DILG data showed that there are 77,190 unfilled positions in the PNP hierarchy, with the rank of Patrolman/Patrolwoman suffering the biggest discrepancy with 66,958 unfilled posts. The DBM-authorized positions for Patrolman stands at 129,926 but the actual strength per PNP record as of 30 June 2023 stood at only 62,968. These unfilled positions have a combined budget of P23.838 billion that was not spent on the recruitment of more Patrolmen and women. “This explains why we severely lack police visibility in our communities. And this has an adverse effect on the overall campaign to preserve peace and order and protect the people from crimes,” said a DILG insider, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Other PNP ranks that remain unfilled include Lieutenant, 1,066; Executive Master Sergeant, 2,382; Chief Master Sergeant, 3,878; Senior Master Sergeant, 463; and Master Sergeant, 2,443. For star rank positions, the DBM allows only three for Lieutenant Generals but there are presently eight officials having that rank. For Major General, the DBM allows only 11 but 17 are now occupying the position while for Brig. General, only 86 are allowed but 110 were appointed to the rank. For non-star ranks, there are only 624 colonels allowed by the DBM but the PNP has 856. The DBM authorized 2,000 for Lt. Cols. but the actual number of officers with that rank stands at 2,910. “… we wish to reiterate that any changes in the PNP’s organizational structure should be supported by a study and recommendation of NAPOLCOM (National Police Commission), to include its impact on the hierarchy and leadership structure of the organization, and subsequently, the same shall be subject to the President’s approval,” the DBM letter said. Napolcom Commissioner Alberto Bernardo, who is also Vice Chairperson of the body, was furnished a copy of the said letter but could not be reached for comment. An earlier letter to the DILG dated 19 July 2018 and signed by then Secretary Benjamin Diokno warned that except for such offices created by the Constitution, the creation of public offices is primarily a legislative function. Therefore, these excess positions in the PNP not otherwise authorized by the DBM are contrary to law and may only be considered ad hoc or temporary positions. Likewise, the realignment of PNP funds to these excess positions was a power reserved only to the President and the use of savings to augment items in the general appropriations law for the executive branch is his sole prerogative and not any police official in the case of the PNP. Executive Order No. 292 or the Administrative Code of 1987, specifically states that; “the General Appropriations Act shall not contain any itemization of personal services, which shall be prepared by the Secretary after enactment of the (GAA), for consideration and approval of the President.” The twin acts of creating excess positions and using realigned savings to fund these posts by the PNP leadership are prohibited by law. “While the Napolcom is duty-bound to advise the president on all matters relating to police functions and administration, it cannot recommend to the President the promotion of Third Level PNP officers to excess and prohibited positions,” the DILG source further explained. The post DBM flags PNP’s P27-B ‘overdraft’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
P20/kilo rice aspiration
Agriculture Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian made a clear admission that reducing the price of rice to P20 a kilo is not possible, but only to a lower price that is affordable. Grilled by House Deputy Minority Leader Mujiv Hataman during the deliberations on the Department of Agriculture’s 2024 budget early last week, Sebastian said, “To be honest, we [have] never discussed those things… with the President.” For ordinary Juans, the idea of cheap rice is enticing and an answered prayer but achieving the goal more than a year after it was promised is a challenge that even agriculture officials themselves find unachievable. DA Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and Regulations Mercedita Sombilla was quoted as saying, “Next two years? Baka mahirap po (It might be difficult).” Even retired University of the Philippines crop science professor, Dr. Teodoro Mendoza, shared the sentiment that the P20 per kilo rice isn’t possible “unless the government subsidizes 55 percent of the market price” given current pricey agricultural inputs. All told, officials of the Department of Agriculture defending the DA’s proposed budget of P167.5 billion for 2024, after being questioned and seared, acknowledged that fulfilling President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s campaign promise to reduce the price of rice to P20 per kilo would be improbable within the next two years. Mind you, reducing rice prices is included in the roadmap but not to P20 per kilo. There is no doubt that nothing tangible backs up the P20/kilo of rice goal. It was never tackled in the DA’s meetings with the President, therefore, there is no plan to trim rice prices. In fact, local commercial rice is sold at P54-P62 per kilo for special quality, P47-P60/kilo for premium quality, P46-P57/kilo for well-milled, and P41-P55/kilo for regular milled. Imported commercial rice is priced at P52-P65/kilo for special quality, P47-P57/kilo for premium quality, and P46/kilo for well-milled. Equally concerning is the fact that the department cannot say when the price will stabilize. The P20 per kilo rice is an “aspiration” of the DA, so says Undersecretary Sebastian. Noble as it may seem, he said the DA would like to make sure farmers will benefit from any agricultural development and have a good income, but cannot provide an assurance on alleviating consumers’ financial burden. Until that P20/kilo aspiration, which often represents an idealized version of the government’s desire and ambition, becomes a powerful driving force that will motivate the agriculture department to work hard and strive for success, arresting the soaring price of the Filipino staple will continue to drag on forever. Here is an instance where aspiration does not fully match the reality that 110 million Filipinos face; when aspiration clashes with reality leading to disappointment, frustration, and a sense of unfulfilled potential. Whatever the litany of reasons our officials present for the sorry state of the rice sector, it is important to strike a balance between aspiration and reality. While it is essential to have dreams and goals that inspire and motivate us, it is also crucial to maintain a realistic perspective. It may involve acknowledging the challenges and limitations of the real world, adapting to changing circumstances, and making necessary adjustments to our aspirations when needed. “I don’t know” is a lame excuse, and so are “I cannot answer that” and “We have not figured it out.” What is important to Filipinos, for now, is to at least feel that our elected and appointed officials explore factors such as market dynamics, production costs, and policy challenges that will realize the aspiration while striving for a sustainable and equitable agricultural system that supports both farmers and consumers. We cannot afford to see more than 10.4 percent, or a third, of Filipino families experiencing involuntary hunger at least once in the past three months, in the next Social Weather Stations survey. It’s not too much to ask from officials entrusted with the country’s future and the welfare of Filipinos. The post P20/kilo rice aspiration appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
QC barangay chair suspended anew
Two 30-day suspension was again slapped against Quezon City Barangay Pasong Tamo chairperson Mae Tagle by the City Council’s Special Investigation Committee Friday. Tagle who was supposed to be back next month as barangay chairperson (village chief) from a 90-day suspension over abuse of power charges was meted another two months’ suspension over three cases filed against her by concerned citizen and the Sangguniang Kabataan officials at City Council’s SIC. The SIC Administrative Order 449-23 was issued for violation of Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and Grave Misconduct, when Tagle allowed the space used as the Barangay Pharmacy to be rented by a private individual. The Botika ng Barangay located at Barangay Pasong Tamo Annex along Luzon Avenue has been turned into a fish and meat store. Such act, the SIC noted, required the concurrence of the Barangay Council documented by a resolution. The second charges for Acts Prejudicial to the Best Interest of Service was due to Tagle’s appointment of Diosdado Velasco as the Barangay Administrator. Velasco ran and lost during the May 2022 polls but Tagle after the polls appointed him, violating the one-year prohibition ban for those who ran and lost in the last national and local elections. The case of nepotism for appointing her daughter as Barangay clerk was dismissed, leaving the two cases to impose a 30-day suspension each, thereby prohibiting Tagle to assume as the Barangay Pasong Tamo Chairman. The SIC resolution order was concurred by the City Council to be implemented for the month of September and October where the next barangay election slated on the 30th. The Special Investigation Committee was an offshoot of a Memorandum of Agreement between the Office of the Ombudsman and the Quezon City Council’s 38 members, led by Quezon City Vice Mayor Gian Sotto as the presiding officer, granting the council authority to hear cases against barangay officials to lessen the Ombudsman office of loads of this kind of cases. The post QC barangay chair suspended anew appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
QC barangay chairwoman meted another 7 months suspension
Two suspensions were slapped against Quezon City Barangay Pasong Tamo chairwoman Mae Tagle by the City Council’s Special Investigation Committee, Daily Tribune found Friday. Tagle who was supposed be back next month as the barangay chairwoman (village chief) from 90-day suspension over abuse of power charges was meted with seven months suspension over two cases filed against her by a concerned citizen and the Sangguniang Kabataan officials at City Council's SIC. The SIC Administrative Order 449-23 was issued for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and Grave Misconduct when Tagle allowed the space used as the Barangay Pharmacy to be rented by a private individual. The Botika ng Barangay located at Barangay Pasong Tamo Annex along Luzon Avenue has been turned into a fish and meat store. Such an act the SIC noted, required the concurrence of the Barangay Council documented by a resolution. Tagle was meted for six months because of this. The suspension order would be served to Tagle on Monday. The second charge for acts prejudicial to the best interest of service was due to Tagle's appointment of Diosdado Velasco as barangay administrator. Velasco ran and lost during the May 2022 polls but Tagle after the polls appointed him, violating the one-year prohibition ban for those who were candidates and lost the last national and local elections. The SIC order on this case was served to Tagle on Friday, 18 August 2023. The seven-month new suspension order, thereby, prohibits Tagle to assume the Barangay Pasong Tamo chairwoman and to even run in the coming elections. The two SIC resolution orders were both concurred by the City Council. The Special Investigation Committee was an offshoot of a Memorandum of Agreement between the Office of the Ombudsman and the Quezon City Council’s 38 members, led by Quezon City Vice Mayor Gian Sotto as the presiding officer, granting the council authority to hear cases against barangay officials to lessen the Ombudsman office of loads of these kind of cases. The post QC barangay chairwoman meted another 7 months suspension appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Giuliani: ‘America’s Mayor’ threatened by anti-Mafia law he spearheaded
Forty years ago, Rudy Giuliani was the fearless Mafia-busting prosecutor whose aggressive use of racketeering laws brought down New York's Five Families. On Tuesday, he was fighting for his own freedom after being ensnared by the very legal strategy he had pioneered. The man once feted as "America's Mayor" for steering the US financial hub through the horror of the 11 September 2001 attacks has experienced a stunning fall from grace. Charged with 13 felonies over the help he is alleged to have given his client and longtime friend Donald Trump in trying to subvert the 2020 presidential election, the attorney is threatened with years behind bars as his 80th birthday approaches. "It's just the next chapter in a book of lies with the purpose of framing President Donald Trump and anyone willing to take on the ruling regime," Giuliani said on X, formerly known as Twitter, after he was charged Monday. It was a typically bombastic response from the 107th mayor of New York City, who played a starring role in Trump's post-election push to cling to power through an allegedly criminal campaign of lies about voter fraud. Giuliani was charged Monday under Georgia's Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Practices (RICO) statute, the plaudits he once earned squandered in a series of increasingly bizarre media appearances around the 2020 election. He is one of 18 co-defendants charged alongside Trump. 'Person of the Year' They included an unwitting cameo in a Sacha Baron Cohen movie in which Giuliani was filmed lying on a hotel bed with his hands down his pants and a post-election press conference held outside a landscaping business surrounded by a crematorium and a sex shop. At another press event, Giuliani and his allies claimed mass voter fraud without a shred of evidence as hair dye streamed in dark rivulets down the attorney's cheeks. Born in an Italian American enclave of Brooklyn on 28 May 1944, Rudolph William Louis Giuliani made his name in his 40s as a pioneering US attorney for Manhattan, using RICO to bring down the high command of the New York mob. Giuliani captured the New York mayorship in 1993 and gained national prominence in the wake of the 9/11 attacks by helping salve the shocked city's soul, earning Time Magazine's prestigious "Person of the Year" honor. "We've undergone tremendous losses, and we're going to grieve for them horribly, but New York is going to be here tomorrow morning, and it's going to be here forever," he declared. The Republican suffered his first big setback in 2008 with a disastrous bid for the White House and appeared adrift until Trump eventually brought him back into the fold. Gaffes and walk-backs After Trump was elected, he appointed Giuliani to fight a federal probe into the campaign's extensive ties to Russia, and the lawyer became a constant TV presence. But gaffes and walk-backs were as much a feature of Giuliani's lawyering as his spirited talk show diatribes -- and he led Trump into trouble as often as steering him away. Never the most reliable spokesman, Giuliani proved susceptible to seemingly unforced admissions -- contradicting Trump's denials over hush money payments to a porn star and his pursuit of a business deal in Moscow before the 2016 election. But the effort to reverse Trump's clear election loss in 2020 appears, in the end, to have sealed Giuliani's downfall. One by one, his post-election court challenges were withdrawn or dismissed as groundless. Giuliani's license to practice has been suspended in New York over his "demonstrably false" claims of a stolen election and the Bar in the nation's capital is considering disbarring him. Long before attracting the attention of a legal system that once basked in his reflected glory, Giuliani acknowledged that representing Trump could end up being his legacy. "I am afraid it will be on my gravestone. 'Rudy Giuliani: He lied for Trump,'" he told The New Yorker in 2019. "If it is, so what do I care? I'll be dead. I figure I can explain it to St. Peter." The post Giuliani: ‘America’s Mayor’ threatened by anti-Mafia law he spearheaded appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»