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Scorching schools: How heat worsens conditions of poor students in PH
[This is the second and last part of a special report on how extreme heat in 2023 impacted the education sector in the Philippines. Click here for the first part.] CEBU CITY, Philippines – The same analysis by Cebu Daily News Digital (CDN Digital) showed that even private schools, which usually have better facilities and.....»»
DENR wants Chocolate Hills resort closed
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources yesterday ordered the implementation of a temporary closure order earlier issued against a resort at the Chocolate Hills in Bohol amid viral social media posts of a swimming pool built right at the foot of the declared National Geological Monument......»»
4 Rite Aid Stores in San Diego County Slated for Closure amid Companys Bankruptcy Plan
Title: Four Rite Aid Stores in San Diego County to Close due to Company’s Bankruptcy Filing San Diego, California – Rite Aid, a leading nationwide.....»»
Tanduay optimistic about entry into competitive Taiwan rum market
Tanduay has a positive outlook about its entry into Taiwan amid stiff competition from other rum brands. “Based on early reviews, we think that the brand will perform well since the Taiwanese market already has a sophisticated taste and is very accepting of brands that offer them something new and unique,” said Marc Ngo, Tanduay International Business Development manager and senior brand manager. He compared the Taiwanese rum market to that of Singapore where people are willing to spend on quality spirits and cocktails. In entering Taiwan, Tanduay partnered with the distributor, Mr. Mixer, Ltd., one of the leading spirits and other liquor distributors in the country. “They believe in the brands and they share our passion for bringing our world-class rums to the Taiwan market,” Ngo said. Mr. Mixer, Ltd recently held a grand launch of Tanduay at Driftwood Bar in Ximending District and invited Taiwan’s premier mixologists Mars Chang and the members of “To Infinity and Beyond Team”, the 2021 World Class competition Taiwan champions, to showcase their outstanding mixology skills as they infused Tanduay rums into unique signature cocktails. Seven world-class rums Tanduay is making its award-winning and best-selling rums available in Taiwan. These include the Tanduay Asian Rum Gold, Tanduay Asian Rum Silver, Tanduay Double Rum, Boracay Rum Coconut, Boracay Rum Cappuccino, Tanduay Dark and Tanduay White. Ngo said they are currently focused on opening and partnering with on-trade accounts to feature their brands and for consumers to try. “At the same time, we are having discussions with big chain accounts for them to carry Tanduay rums in their stores. We are also planning to join the Tainan Cocktail Event on 20-21 October to feature our brands more to local consumers,” he said. The brand’s international business has been on a steady growth trajectory in recent years. Taiwan is the 19th country where Tanduay rums are being sold. In Asia, it is already available in China, Singapore, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. In Europe it is being distributed in France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom, Austria, Poland, Georgia, Armenia and the Czech Republic. It is also available in the United States and Canada in Northern America and Costa Rica in Central America. Apart from its increasing global footprint, Tanduay has received numerous accolades from international competitions, such as the World’s Number 1 Rum recognition from Drinks International Magazine for six consecutive years, and Brand of the Year from the World Branding Awards. Not one to rest on its laurels, Tanduay is eyeing further international expansion in the coming months. The post Tanduay optimistic about entry into competitive Taiwan rum market appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Israel strikes Gaza again amid new violence at border
The Israeli army launched a drone strike on the Gaza Strip on Saturday after violent protests in which three Palestinians were wounded by Israeli fire, sources on both sides said. The early evening strike is one of a series that has come amid near-daily protests at the border by Palestinians after Israel closed the Erez crossing from Gaza. A drone "struck a military post belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization, adjacent to the area where a violent riot was taking place", the army said. It added that "shots were fired toward" Israeli soldiers near the border during the strike, without reporting any casualties. A Palestinian security source told AFP that an "Israeli aircraft had targeted a Hamas surveillance site east of Gaza City", without mentioning any casualties. Earlier in the day, Palestinian demonstrators faced off against Israeli soldiers stationed along the border fence, an AFP journalist reported. Demonstrators set fire to tires and threw stones at Israeli soldiers. Three Palestinians were wounded by Israeli fire, according to the Gaza health ministry. Israel has imposed an air, land and sea blockade on the impoverished Palestinian enclave ever since the Islamist group Hamas seized control in 2007. Thousands of Palestinian workers from Gaza have been prevented from entering Israel by the closure of the Erez crossing, which an Israeli NGO, Gisha, condemned as "collective punishment". Israel has issued work permits to some 18,500 Gazans, COGAT, the Israeli defense ministry body responsible for Palestinian civil affairs, said on Tuesday. Since September 13, six Palestinians have been killed and nearly 100 wounded during violence at the border, according to figures from the health ministry in Gaza. Armed conflict sporadically erupts between Israel and militants in the Gaza Strip. In May, an exchange of Israeli air strikes and Gaza rocket fire resulted in the deaths of 34 Palestinians and one Israeli. The post Israel strikes Gaza again amid new violence at border appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PAL first-half gains bankroll fleet boost
Flag carrier Philippine Airlines or PAL reported on Friday that its net income during the first half of the year more than tripled to P13.6 billion from last year’s P4.1 billion. In a stock exchange disclosure, the company said its operating income during the period also swelled to P17.4 billion from P6.6 billion recorded a year ago. Notably, the airline’s stellar growth was driven by an 89-percent increase in the number of passengers it flew during the period, which reached 7 million as of end-June. Likewise, it logged over 50,400 operated flights, translating to a 56-percent growth from last year’s numbers. This, according to PAL, led to an 81.6-percent improvement in the average passenger load factor. Given this trend, PAL said its passenger revenues climbed to P78.2 billion from P33.1 billion last year. However, its cargo revenue dropped by 54 percent to last year due to fewer cargo charter flights to give way to more passenger flights amid a demand surge. To sustain the growth momentum, PAL said it plans to invest P176.6 billion to acquire nine Airbus A350-1000 long-range jetliners to widen its fleet. Along with it, PAL will also increase its customer care and contact center agents by rolling out a new customer relations management system before the end of the year. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to invest in new aircraft, improved cabins, and enhanced travel experience for our valued customers,” PAL president and chief operating officer Capt. Stanley K. Ng said in the report. “The latest positive financial results enable us to build a better, stronger, and more agile Philippine Airlines that creates greater value for our customers, and we are grateful for their continuing support and patronage.” Within the first half, PAL restored flights to several routes in mainland China and launched nonstop services to Perth along with flights from Clark to Caticlan and Boracay. In addition to an extensive network of 32 domestic destinations served from Manila, Cebu, Clark and Davao, PAL operated the largest network of nonstop flights between the Philippines and North America, Japan, the Middle East and Australia. The post PAL first-half gains bankroll fleet boost appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
GERI profits nearly P1B in H1 amid real estate boom
Buoyed by the robust performance of its real estate, rental, and hotel businesses, Global-Estate Resorts, Inc. or GERI, a subsidiary of Megaworld Corp., delivered a 17 percent growth in its first-half profits. In a stock exchange report on Tuesday, GERI disclosed that its net income during the first six months of the year reached P996 million—a significant improvement from last year’s P848 million. Likewise, net income attributable to owners during the period also increased by 13 percent to PP848-million from last year’s P748-million. Consolidated revenues, on the other hand, surged by 32 percent to P3.9 billion from P3 billion in the same period last year. According to GERI, its real estate arm, which accounted for 79 percent of its total revenues, led the entire company’s growth. From January to June, real estate sales climbed by 32 percent to P3.1 billion from last year’s P2.3 billion. Reservation sales also soared by 39 percent to P11.7 billion during the first half of the year. “Our focus on our tourism townships allowed our company to achieve remarkable growth through the first half of the year,” GERI president Monica T. Salomon said in the report. “The company’s core businesses, especially those in our destination estates, largely benefited from the increasing tourism in our country. This second half, we are determined to leverage our expertise and hope to continue capturing the increasing tourism opportunities in the sector.” Demand for GERI’s residential and commercial properties remained strong, particularly for its projects in Boracay Newcoast, Eastland Heights in Antipolo, Rizal, and Twin Lakes in Laurel, Batangas. Its newest project, the P817-million Ocean Garden Villas Cluster C in Boracay Newcoast, which was only launched earlier this year, is now 94 percent sold as of end-June. Hotel revenues, on the other hand, doubled to P308 million from last year’s P158 million due to higher occupancy and room rates as local tourism and travel recover. Leasing revenues, likewise, rose by 29 percent to P273 million from last year’s P211- million. The contribution of retail spaces to the company’s leasing income grew from the year-ago level as foot traffic and tenant sales already recovered from the slowdown. To date, GERI operates nine tourism estates and integrated lifestyle communities across the country covering more than 3,300 hectares of land. The post GERI profits nearly P1B in H1 amid real estate boom appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Gentle Hands could reopen with conditions
The Department of Social Welfare and Development said Gentle Hands Inc. will not be allowed to operate without first securing a fire safety inspection certificate or FSIC. “We know that if you don’t have an FSIC, you will be put on the negative list and automatically consider your business permit null and void because these permits are provisional and anchored on the fire safety and occupancy permit,” DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian told reporters, shortly after Wednesday’s inquiry by the Senate committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality. DSWD’s fact-finding team, Gatchalian said, is working on the physical, finance and admin, as well as the case and program management of the orphanage. The DSWD earlier issued a cease and desist order against Gentle Hands Inc. for violating Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination, which prompted the Senate to investigate the matter. Even if the orphanage complies with RA 7610, Gatchalian said, the DSWD will still have to complete its assessment of GHI’s compliance with the minimum standards for residential facilities for children. He added that the National Authority on Child Care will also have to assess the orphanage’s help intervention since there was reportedly a “high rate of disruptions” among adopted children. “So there are two (assessments)that are ongoing and we will consolidate the reports and we will publish it as soon as possible,” he said. Gatchalian defended the closure of the orphanage saying it was afforded due process before the issuance of the DSWD’s order. During the inquiry sought by Senators Risa Hontiveros and Koko Pimentel, the allegations that led to the issuance of the cease and desist order against the orphanage were discussed. Among the reviewed topics were the DSWD’s policies on the living standards for residential facilities for children, and the evaluation of the process undertaken by the DSWD on the removal of children from the childcare facility. Hontiveros said it appears that the inquiry has created a polarizing atmosphere among the parties involved amid the significance of tackling the issue. “While it is understandable to some extent given the value we ascribe to our children, it would be good to remind all of us that we are here to seek clarity, and ultimately, to find solutions to problems that impact children who are among the most vulnerable,” she said. The post Gentle Hands could reopen with conditions appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
TUCP: Employers’ stance against wage hike ‘overkill’
The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, whose representative in the Lower House has filed a bill proposing a P150 wage increase for workers, blasted the statement made by eight business groups last week against the wage hike, calling it an "overkill on the poor workers." “It is unfortunate that both employers and economic managers are now ganging up in an 'overkill' on the poor workers' calls to bring up measly real wages to at least be within the poverty threshold. These employers and economic managers are now fearmongering widespread closure of MSMEs and scenarios of spiking inflation should a wage increase be granted,” TUCP vice president Luis Corral said. The statement in question was signed by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Employers Confederation of the Philippines, Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc., Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines, Philippine Hotel Owners Association, Foreign Buyers Association of the Philippines and the United Portusers Confederation of the Philippines, Inc. They insisted that only 16 percent of the labor workforce will benefit from a wage hike, while the remaining number of Filipino workers -- all in informal labor -- will demand more "ayuda" or government’ aid, and that it will also affect many businesses, especially micro, small and medium enterprises. Corral called such statements a "scare-mongering" tactic, and urged them to join in providing the needed help for workers amid challenging economic conditions. “The call for wage increase months ago should have been a wake-up call to the economic managers to save the rapidly deteriorating situation of a majority of the working poor,” Corral said. “Contrary to the argument of resultant MSME closures, the Barangay Micro Business Enterprises and certain retail enterprises are exempt from the minimum wage law. The truth is this 'massive closure' argument is actually camouflage to benefit big employers as there is enough support available for MSMEs, including the increase in consumption that comes with wage increase,” he added. The TUCP has already filed House Bill No. 7871 or the Wage Recovery Act of 2023, which seeks a wage hike that would recover from what it said was the more than three decades of no significant wage increase since the passage of Republic Act Number 6727 or the "Wage Rationalization Act." A Senate counterpart of the measure is Senate Bill Number 2002, filed by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, which TUCP backed. The group also reiterated its other proposals such as having more Kadiwa outlets that would lessen food inflation, reducing the weighted average cost of capital in electricity sources by eight percent, and returning to the original return-on-rate-base in electricity value. The TUCP also proposed a P5,000 one-time government financial aid to minimum wage workers and the instatement of the emergency cost-of-living allowance. The post TUCP: Employers’ stance against wage hike ‘overkill’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Northbound SLEX toll reopens
Muntinlupa City Mayor Ruffy Biazon and the Muntinlupa Traffic Management Bureau yesterday disclosed the reopening of the Alabang northbound toll gate to the South Luzon Expressway. MTMB head Danidon Nolasco said the Alabang toll gate northbound entry was closed because of the Skyway extension project. The southbound entrance of SLEX at the Alabang Toll Plaza was closed to traffic amid the construction of the Skyway project. Private cars were advised to take an alternative route using the Filinvest Entry and/or the National Road to Susan Heights Toll Plaza Entry. Due to the closure, trucks and buses were urged to take the National Road to Susana Heights Toll Plaza Entry. With the opening of the toll gate, the temporary SLEX northbound toll entry in front of Amkor Technology in Barangay Cupang, Muntinlupa had been closed. “The temporary toll entry at Amkor Anam will be closed for the completion of the construction activities,” Skyway Somco said. The post Northbound SLEX toll reopens appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
WHO, Red Cross seek aid access amid Sudan fighting
The Red Cross and the World Health Organization on Tuesday urged Sudan's warring parties to guarantee humanitarian access for those in need as the death toll in the fighting neared 200. Explosions rocked the capital Khartoum on the fourth day of fighting, despite growing international calls for an end to hostilities. "All parties must ensure unrestricted and safe access to health facilities for those injured and everyone in need of medical care," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press conference. The United Nations currently has no access in or out of Sudan. Spokeswoman Alessandra Vellucci said the UN had about 800 international and 3,200 national staff in the country. "We are of course worried for the security, they cannot operate in a regular way," she said. Nearly one-third of the Sudanese population -- almost 16 million people -- needed humanitarian aid at the start of this year. "We have thousands of volunteers who are ready, able, and trained to perform humanitarian services" in the country, said Farid Aiywar, the Sudan head of delegation for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). "Unfortunately, due to the current situation, they are not able to move," he told reporters in Geneva via video link from Nairobi. Aiywar called on all parties to allow humanitarian aid corridors to operate. Civilians are staying indoors but electricity and water have been cut and food supplies are short. Tedros said supplies the WHO distributed to health facilities before the outbreak of violence were now exhausted. He said Khartoum hospitals receiving injured civilians were reporting shortages of staff and lifesaving medical supplies, while they were also being hampered by fuel shortages and cuts to power and water. "There are disturbing reports of some health facilities being looted and others being used for military purposes," he said. "It is also reported that some hospitals are already closed, or on the brink of closure, due to attacks, and a lack of medical personnel and medical supplies. "I urge all sides to heed the calls for a humanitarian ceasefire, to silence the guns and to work towards a peaceful resolution." The post WHO, Red Cross seek aid access amid Sudan fighting appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Fact check: DOH did not recommend shutdown of resorts due to heat wave
The Department of Health did not recommend the closure of Boracay Island and other tourist destinations due to a supposed heat wave, contrary to posts circulating on Facebook......»»
Makati lifts closure order vs Smart after compromise over unpaid taxes
The settlement was reached after Smart submitted to the city government its accounting records amid an ongoing tax case......»»
In photos: Itzy thrills fans, mallgoers with Philippine dream destination, Mahal Kita
Amid confessions of wanting to try halo-halo and visiting Boracay to the delight of Filipino fans, Itzy's mere presence elicited squeals and shrieks from Philippine Midzys (fandom name)......»»
‘Boracay observes capacity limit amid sinkholes’
Rules on the carrying capacity and height limit of structures are being enforced in Boracay after more than 800 sinkholes were found on the resort island......»»
Boracay visitors still welcome
Boracay Island, Malay Aklan — The local government of Malay, Aklan on Monday announced that it will continue to receive tourists coming from different provinces amid new government restrictions in the National Capital Region (NCR) set by President Rodrigo Duterete. In a statement, Malay acting Mayor Frolibar Bautista revealed that while new restrictions – which […] The post Boracay visitors still welcome appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Ynares orders closure of Antipolo mall
Antipolo City Mayor Andrea Ynares on Monday announced the suspension of operations of a mall in Barangay San Roque for alleged violations of health and safety protocols. In a Facebook post, Ynares ordered the temporary closure of IMall when it allegedly disregarded the minimum health protocols imposed by the government amid the ongoing threat of […] The post Ynares orders closure of Antipolo mall appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Plastics makers warn of factory closure
The local downstream plastics industry raised an alarm over the possible closure of plastics factories amid the dearth of local raw materials for plastics manufacturing......»»
Closure of refineries not worrisome — BSP
The impact of the closure of major refineries on inflation is not worrisome amid the continued decline in oil prices in the world market as the country remains a net oil importer, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas......»»
Struggles of Lumad students amidst militarization featured in award-winning documentary
The struggle of the Lumad children to continue their education amid the tension of militarization and closure of their schools is featured in a documentary premiered in the Daang Dokyu Festival......»»