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Hoffman sets new Philippine hurdles record at Florida meet
Paris Olympics-hopeful Lauren Hoffman on Wednesday set a new national record in the women’s 400-meter hurdles with a gold medal performance in the Hurricane Collegiate Invitational in Coral Gables, Florida......»»
DOTr collects P19 milion fines from illegal PUVs
The Department of Transportation has collected P19 million in fines during its nationwide crackdown on illegal or colorum public utility vehicles from Feb. 1 to 2.....»»
BSP collects P510 million via coin deposit machines
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has collected over half a billion pesos worth of coins as part of efforts to bring them back to circulation and address the shortage due to improper storage or disposal......»»
IC collects over P500 million fees in 2023
The government collected more than P500 million in registration and supervision fees from insurance firms last year......»»
Customs collects P884B, files 90 criminal cases
Customs collects P884B, files 90 criminal cases.....»»
Cebu City collects P1.6M revenue from Colon night market operations
The Cebu City Government has raked in a total of P1.696 million in “arkabala” fees collected from vendors operating in the Colon night market from November 2022 to November 2023. City Treasurer Mare Var Reyes disclosed this during a press conference on Friday, December 8. The “arkabala” fee ranges from P10 to P50 and is.....»»
BOC collects P814 billion in 11 months
The Bureau of Customs collected P814 billion in 11 months and is poised to surpass its full year target on the back of improved tax collection despite lower import volumes......»»
Israel says Hamas used North Korea, Iran weapons in attack
The Israeli military said Thursday that a portion of the weapons used by Hamas in its 7 October attacks were manufactured in Iran or North Korea. The military made the statement during an official media tour in which it displayed a variety of weapons recovered from communities in southern Israel attacked by the militants. A range of landmines, rocket-propelled grenades, and homemade drones were part of the haul displayed. Part of the arsenal included Iranian-made mortar rounds and North Korean RPGs. "I think about five to 10 percent of the weapons here [were] made in Iran," said an Israeli military official, who helped oversee the clearance of munitions from areas that came under attack. "And 10 percent [are] North Korean. The rest of it was made inside the Gaza Strip," the official added, speaking on condition of anonymity. Hamas is believed to rely on extensive smuggling networks to bring weapons into the besieged Gaza Strip. The group also produces its munitions, including the rockets it has repeatedly fired at Israeli cities. "I think the most surprising thing was the amount of weapons that they brought inside Israel," the official said. In southern Israel, troops have taken over many of the communities attacked on 7 October including Holit, where on Thursday AFP saw a soldier manning a gun pointed towards Gaza. Scorched homes and bullet holes were visible in the small kibbutz, not far from the Egyptian border, where at least 10 people were killed by militants, according to a volunteer with Zaka, a charity that collects bodies following Jewish practice. Hamas's shock 7 October attacks, the worst in Israeli history, saw throngs of Hamas gunmen pour into Israel from Gaza, killing more than 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping 224 more, according to official tallies. Israel has retaliated with relentless strikes that Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry said have killed more than 7,000 people, also mainly civilians -- a toll expected to rise substantially if Israeli troops massed near the border move into the Palestinian territory. The post Israel says Hamas used North Korea, Iran weapons in attack appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘The Eras Tour’ serves up Taylor Swift, larger than life
That Taylor Swift is a great songwriter is no longer in question. What’s up for debate is whether she’s a great concert artist as well. By artist we don’t mean a gifted vocalist. The era of the pop concert as a singing showcase and a straightforward live onstage performance of recorded music ended in 1990 with Madonna’s third concert tour. Called Blond Ambition, the highly theatrical show combined music, spectacle and, most crucially, storytelling with a several-act structure based on themes or narrative arcs, deconstructed songs and elaborate sets to redefine the pop concert as performance art. It has since been the template and gold standard by which all concerts, especially those by female superstars, have been measured. Yes, even Madonna’s own subsequent tours have been assessed through the Ambition lens and, arguably, none of them has quite equaled the one that gave the world the cone bra as an icon of female sexuality and woman power. [caption id="attachment_201371" align="aligncenter" width="1987"] LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 11: Taylor Swift attends "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" Concert Movie World Premiere at AMC The Grove 14 on October 11, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)[/caption] Feast for the eyes Swift’s The Eras Tour, as seen in the filmed concert currently showing in cinemas worldwide, certainly serves up a feast for the eyes. Most of it is courtesy of the massive stage consisting of a backdrop that stands several stories high, a huge main platform and a long runway that juts well into the audience floor and features its own diamond-shaped mini-stage with a “hyperactive” central hydraulic platform consisting of several mobile blocks that rise to various heights throughout the almost three-hour show. It’s not only one of the biggest stages ever built for a pop concert, but is also probably the biggest LED installation ever assembled in and outside the music world. And it’s never not in use, lighting up the cavernous 70,000-seat SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles (where the movie was filmed over three shows) with eye-popping digital images, pre-recorded videos and live footage from the concert itself. The set is so massive that it makes Swift and her troupe of dancers look like ants. But thanks to the big screens, she literally looks larger than life to the live audience at different points in the show. The film does the opposite, and is the better for it: It brings Swift into the intimate space of the cinema and, thus, closer to the audience. Eras further highlights and celebrates the main thing that has helped the 33-year-old singer-songwriter conquer the pop world, the core attribute that makes Taylor Swift Taylor Swift: relatability. [gallery columns="2" size="full" ids="201372,201370"] It’s all over her music: a repertoire of mostly slow and mid-tempo ballads that tell about the blush, excitement, joy, ecstasy, frustrations, confusion, sadness, heartbreak, anger and regrets of modern-day romantic relationships, in creative confessional journal prose that listeners of all ages, colors and persuasions find no difficulty accessing and plugging into. It’s all over her wholesome, winsome, non-threatening all-American girl-next-door public persona. This is on fuller display in her performance in Eras than even in her 2020 documentary movie, Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince, which chronicled mostly the period between her Reputation Tour in 2018 and the release in 2019 of her seventh studio album, Lover. Between the many floral, even pastoral, and fluid graphic images onscreen and the tasteful, immaculate set pieces, between the squarely schematic album-era sectioning and the billowy ball gowns and sparkly and sexy but modest bodysuits, between the Cheshire-Cat grin Swift wears through most of the show, even during moments in some heartbreak songs, and her dorky cheerleader energy, The Eras Tour plays like Little Miss Sunshine & The Hearty Princess. It’s all what anyone would expect from the reigning America’s Sweetheart. Thoroughly entertaining It’s a great Taylor Swift show, for sure — thoroughly entertaining and one that sends stans to Swift heaven. But it stops at being a Taylor Swift show with a faithful rendition of her songs when, for something called Eras, it should be giving audiences, both fans and casuals alike, more to chew on than what they already know and are familiar with — a recast, a reinterpretation, a recontextualization of her music and impact. [caption id="attachment_201373" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] US singer-songwriter Taylor Swift performs onstage on the first night of her "Eras Tour" at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on March 31, 2023. (Photo by SUZANNE CORDEIRO / AFP)[/caption] The show is content to be a pop concert about Taylor Swift. Coming almost 20 years into her career, it should’ve reached for the world outside of Taylor Swift, or even just a small part of it: What do Taylor and her songs, for instance, say about the times we are living in? The Eras Tour could have aspired to life and art, or at least something approaching it, and thereby become a truly era-defining experience. The post ‘The Eras Tour’ serves up Taylor Swift, larger than life appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BSP collects P115 million worth of coins
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has collected P115 million worth of coins as part of efforts to bring them back to circulation and address the shortage due to improper storage or disposal......»»
SM Foundation innovates to spread environmental good
[caption id="attachment_193417" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Health workers in San Fernando, Cebu Primary Healthcare Facility water the locally sourced plants using the water from the rainwater harvesting system.[/caption] Rainwater harvesting is a way of collecting and storing rainwater for later use. It is an effective and adaptable way to conserve water and reduce reliance on main water supplies. Due to its efficacy, it has been applied by many civilizations in history and is being utilized today by forward-thinking institutions as a sustainable water management strategy. SM Foundation, Inc., for one, has embraced this by installing rainwater harvesting systems in two of the local health centers it recently refurbished–Brgy. Irawan Birthing Facility in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, and San Fernando, Cebu Primary Health Care Facility. SMFI’s Health and Medical Programs proactively implemented this innovation to help sustain the health of the local community while preserving the environment. Ready in times of emergency Dr. Alfredo P. Manugas VI, Municipal Health Officer and Health Department Head of San Fernando, Cebu Primary Health Care Facility, said that while water is crucial to their operations, water supply is not always available in their municipality, even their center. “The rainwater harvesting system is essential in our health facility because the water supply in our municipality is not available 24/7,” he said. “We are now provided a source of water in times of emergency or any interruption of water supply. Our staff and visitors can use rainwater for cleaning, flushing the toilet bowls, and watering the plants.” [caption id="attachment_193418" align="aligncenter" width="525"] SMFI Health and Medical Programs senior project manager Albert Uy runs through how the system functions.[/caption] SMFI ensures that the facility is convenient and manageable to maximize its purpose. It operates without electricity, increasing its sustainability. To harvest water for non-potable use, it collects rainwater from the roof and gutter. The water is filtered through vinyl-coated mesh filters to ensure its quality before being stored in the 800-liter storage tank. To guide users for safe recycled water use, all faucets connected to the facility have visible labels. Alongside this innovation, SMFI also used air-cleaning paints, LED lighting fixtures and appliances, and locally sourced plants to create a clean and comfortable environment for patients and health workers. These green innovations exemplify SMFI's commitment to the environment and community health within the broader context of the SM Green Movement. With the social impact of the two rainwater harvesting systems, SMFI targets to replicate this initiative in other health centers in its pipeline, further improving water security in the face of challenges. [caption id="attachment_193422" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Health worker use the rainwater harvesting system for their outdoor cleaning needs.[/caption] The post SM Foundation innovates to spread environmental good appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DSWD Project LAWA to improve community resilience amid El Niño
The Department of Social Welfare and Development over the weekend said that Project LAWA or the Local Adaptation to Water Access will improve the resiliency of communities affected by the El Niño phenomenon. Project LAWA, which was simultaneously launched in Davao de Oro, Ifugao, and Antique on Thursday (31 August), is an early action plan of the government to mitigate the impacts of drought and dry spells by establishing small farm reservoirs (SFRs). “By building water-harvesting facilities, our farmers and fisherfolk will be ready for the effects of El Niño and climate change," DSWD Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications Romel Lopez said. "They can use SRFs to improve the production of crops or they can use it as fishponds for an additional income,” Lopez, who is also the DSWD spokesperson, pointed out. The LAWA project targets to construct 90 SFRs in the nine local government units (LGUs) in Davao de Oro, Ifugao, and Antique. The three provinces were chosen based on the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration’s (PAGASA) geophysical map which showed that Davao de Oro, Ifugao, and Antique would be severely affected by El Niño. To assist the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized families of Indigenous Peoples (IPs), farmers, and fisherfolk, the DSWD, through its cash-for-training and –work program, will provide financial support as an alternative income in exchange for the work rendered by the beneficiaries while constructing the alternative water resources. “Through this cost-efficient and small-scale infrastructure for community-based rainwater retention, production of crops will not be affected, hence the continuous income of our farmers,” the DSWD spokesperson explained. According to the Department of Agriculture-Water Resources Management Division, SFR is a smaller version of Small Water Impounding Projects (SWIP) that “collects rainfall and runoff for use by a single farm, with height of less than 4 meters and reservoir area of 300–1,500 square meters serving about half to a hectare of farmlands.” In partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP), the DSWD is exploring the possibility of applying vermicomposting to Project LAWA in 2024 to further provide the beneficiary- communities with alternatives to increase crop yield. The post DSWD Project LAWA to improve community resilience amid El Niño appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Clip OWWA’s wings
As the pandemic is over, the Commission on Audit should go into a more detailed scrutiny of the huge amount that the government allotted to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration totaling P17.36 billion in the Emergency Repatriation Fund or ERF. State auditors did not question the use of the ERF and even commended OWWA for the use of the fund in response to the coronavirus plague. As a result of the urgency of the situation and the provisions of the Bayanihan laws exempting purchases from the Government Procurement Reform Act, the CoA did not have the full accounting arsenal to look into the purchases. The huge amount involved and the previous experiences with the OWWA should require a double-check. According to the CoA 2022 report, of the P17,367,559,655.88 OWWA received for the ERF, P17,367,559,406.09 or 99.9999986 percent was utilized for accommodations, transportation, financial assistance, and other Covid-19 incidental expenses of repatriated overseas Filipino workers or OFWs. In several instances, OWWA even exceeded its budgeted ERF and had to draw from the succeeding year’s budget. CoA indicated that P2.3 billion was used to pay for expenses incurred in 2020 that were not covered by that year’s budget. The overshoot increased to P5.035 billion for 2021 since CoA said the expenses were not obligated and were paid through the 2022 budget. CoA, initially in the 2020 report that looked into 2019 transactions not covered by the Bayanihan law’s procurement law exemptions, questioned the purchase of hygiene kits and sanitary napkins totaling P822,420 from a construction store in Pasay City “which cannot be found in the address stated.” Upon further probe by the CoA, it was found that the supposed hardware store was fictitious and the address was that of a private residence. Then OWWA Administrator Hans Cacdac had a hard time explaining the purchase of the feminine kits from a hardware store, more so that it couldn’t be found at the address. CoA also found that the procured hygiene kits, which were not itemized, were outrageously priced at P160 each, while the sanitary napkins were priced at up to P35 per pad. Cacdac promised an internal investigation which was something that was lost in the swirl of the global emergency that erupted in early 2020. That was when the ERF was bolstered with allocations from the national budget and Bayanihan laws 1 and 2. The ERF was extensively used previously to repatriate OFWs from war zones. According to the CoA 2022 report, of the P17.37 billion ERF, P13.3 billion was used for hotel accommodations, P449 million for food, P3.6 billion for travel expenses, P9.7 million for subsidies, P5.5 million for supplies, P2.4 million for hospitalization, drugs and medicine, P15.1 million for cremation services, and P90,200 for other expenses. OWWA, in a long-winded acknowledgment of the initial CoA clearance of the use of the funds, was quick to give credit to its suppliers who, it said, “were a huge help to us in the government in extending help to all Filipinos.” It then concluded, without CoA’s express acknowledgment, that the ”payables in 2020 are legal.” Several of the items in the ERF, however, would have to be checked as returning workers during the pandemic did not benefit from the program as they had to pay through their noses the hotel bills and other myriad health processes during the quarantine period as the pandemic raged. No one could recall travel expenses being paid for by OWWA to bring those in distress home. Even the pernicious nasal tests had to come out of the pockets of the migrant workers, at an overprice, as some had to shell out P10,000 for a single test. Also, overspending the ERF budget for a year should be checked since OWWA collects billions of pesos yearly with its membership fee of $25 paid every two years by each OFW. The catch in the OWWA collections is that you’ll never know the privileges and benefits due a member unless you spend time researching it which the busy migrant workers don’t have. OWWA membership is mandatory as the fee is a required item on the departure slip of an OFW. Most overseas workers will attest that they never interacted with CoA unless it involved the payment of fees and, of course, making them go through the expensive quarantine process during the health emergency. There was a plan to abolish the OWWA since its functions overlap with agencies such as the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency and the Department of Labor and Employment. It is time to hold an earnest review of the abolition proposal. The post Clip OWWA’s wings appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
NEDA looks to satellite technology to verify inflation policy
The National Economic and Development Authority is looking into how satellite technology could be used to verify data from rice fields, help keep prices under control, and make sure there is enough food for everyone. In a statement, NEDA Officer in Charge Assistant Director Rory Jay S.C. Dacumos said they are currently evaluating how useful the Philippine Rice Information System is for studying inflation. "Currently, we (use Philippine Statistics Authority) data to inform our inflation policy, but to enhance our inflation analysis, we need to augment our data sources," Dacumos said. "This is particularly important in the case of rice, our staple, and amid volatile weather situations," Dacumos added. Hence, Dacumos said NEDA sent a research team to the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, to evaluate the potential of the PRISM in providing valuable insights for the government's proactive measures to manage inflation. In the discussions during the study visit, it was pointed out that PRiSM can provide validated rice field data to their registered stakeholders every 7th day of the succeeding month compared to the quarterly PSA data. In the discussions during the study visit, it was pointed out that PRiSM can provide validated rice field data to their registered stakeholders every 7th day of the succeeding month compared to the quarterly PSA data. “We have also learned during the lectures and the field demonstration that the PRiSM data is reasonably accurate. So, we can see how this could enhance our policy recommendations on inflation,” Dacumos said. PRiSM collects rice field data through satellite Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) sensing, which is unaffected by cloud cover. The data collected through the SAR has up to 95 percent overall accuracy, vis-a-vis the ground-validated data with the help of PRiSM data collectors in the field across the country using a mobile application to record and upload data more efficiently. When the SAR images are insufficient, PRiSM can process secondary data, such as data collected using drones. A satellite, Sentinel-1A, provides the SAR images used by PRiSM. The next satellite, Sentinel-1C, is set to be launched within the year and has the potential to further augment PRiSM’s operations. The compiled data is presented in the form of rice area maps that indicate the locations where rice has been planted, the timing of rice planting, estimated rice yield, areas of rice affected by flooding due to heavy rains and tropical cyclones, and areas where rice cultivation has been impacted by drought. “PRiSM is currently only applicable to rice, but according to PhilRice, the technology and methodology of PRiSM could also be adapted for monitoring other crops,” Dacumos said. PRiSM began full operation in 2018 under PhilRice to assist the Department of Agriculture in making well-informed decisions for policy formulation and planning. Since then, PhilRice has been continuously improving the methodology and technology of PRiSM. Meanwhile, NEDA chairs the Inter-Agency Committee on Inflation and Market Outlook. The committee was formed to provide high-level policy advice on how to address the recent high inflation. Fulfilling this mandate involves providing anticipatory policy advice, which requires the analysis of timely data. The post NEDA looks to satellite technology to verify inflation policy appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Quick AI response as small biz magnet
Digital banking powered by artificial intelligence or AI is increasingly becoming the norm. How fast and flexible industry players can maximize benefits from this technology to provide credit to most small businesses is the edge, Edwin Bautista, president and CEO of Union Bank of the Philippines, told the Daily Tribune. [caption id="attachment_164549" align="aligncenter" width="585"] Edwin R. Bautista, president and CEO, UnionBank of the Philippines[/caption] “All we know is AI will disrupt industries, so the earlier you try to figure out how to adopt it, the better. Now, the question is, how many financial institutions are prepared to make that bet of lending using alternative data sources using AI?” Bautista said. UBP’s digital banking arm UnionDigital Bank is shifting gears to provide small businesses with accessible loans using AI. It collects data from the Internet and humans and organizes them into qualitative and quantitative categories to generate text, images, audio and videos. Many small business owners usually need financial statements on paper, as they sell products and services primarily online through social media, such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. However, Bautista said their financial capabilities could be traced and analyzed even without the formal documents required by traditional banks, such as income tax returns, financial statements, and trading partners profiles. He stressed AI does not discriminate. “When you look at the smaller businesses, they appear as an underground economy, so they cannot produce those kinds of documents. AI will help us because what it does is it puts together different information about that particular business or person and flow of sales so it can give a prediction on whether the small business owner will pay you back or not.” This technology is critical to lenders, including informal lenders, as micro, small and medium enterprises comprise 99 percent of all businesses in the country and drive most of its economic activities. Global market researcher McKinsey & Company said Philippine-based lenders can boost their growth by tapping the country’s bankable population, which is expected to expand by 30 percent to 85 million by 2030, along with owners of small and medium enterprises. “The Philippines has an estimated 15 million informal entrepreneurs and self-employed workers. Meanwhile, retail lending is heavily concentrated in a narrow band of wealthy households,” the researcher said. McKinsey reported a few domestic digital banks had gained traction, with three digital banks, including UnionDigital, growing a total market value by $3 billion. In contrast, traditional banks only saw a $2.2 billion growth between January 2021 and January 2023. However, McKinsey stressed digital banks in the Philippines have been limiting their services to mobile payments. “While competition in digital financial services intensifies, dominant players have yet to emerge outside the mobile-payments subsector. Six digital banks have recently launched operations in the Philippines, but none lend at scale.” Unlike informal lenders, Bautista said digital banks can reach more borrowers as AI learns about all people with access to the Internet and produces sound data correlations. “The theory is that if you have many friends and are grounded in a particular community, chances are you will not just run away from your debt. The minute borrowers go outside their community. It’s challenging for informal lenders because they already do not know the people they are lending to.” With the developments in AI, Bautista said UBP is redesigning its brick-and-mortar banks by tapping digital technologies and its UnionDigital to exchange market insights, systems, and people skills to boost mutual growth. “We think we can be the number one Consumer Bank in the Philippines in the next three years. Why? Because Our growth path is based on broadening the base on which we can learn to adapt. You can only do that if you’ve transformed your front, middle, and back office accordingly.” Bautista said this means the ever-changing skills development of people of both banks. While AI has been demonized by some of the labor force and business owners worldwide, saying it will replace traditional jobs and employees, Bautista said the future remains uncertain. Still, it can also highlight innately human jobs. “AI may rather have pluses and minuses. You will be affected negatively, but you will also have a positive impact if new jobs are generated.” Bautista said proof of this is the human eye, intuition, and brain need to verify whether AI-generated data matches customers’ changing preferences and needs. “So today, I can know instantly what my customer sentiments are. If my back-end operations take me six months, what good is knowing today if I can act on it? And the only way I can act is I have people with the ability to modify their things and a back end that allows me to change my products and features near real-time.” The post Quick AI response as small biz magnet appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Viable aggie solution needed
It was a soporific SoNAta from the halls of Congress. But there were sudden drumbeats that perked up his audience. President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. surely knows how to spice up his speeches. “The campaign against illegal drugs shall continue,” “bilang na ang araw ng mga smuggler,” amnesty to rebels, national integration of the power grid, digitalization of the government bureaucracy, continuation and expansion of infrastructure projects of the PRRD administration, and the creation of a Department of Water Resource Management, among others. But how can we reconcile the good news about the economic growth PBBM has boasted about against the backdrop of inflation? Dispersing Kadiwa rolling stores all over the country will not provide relief from the high cost of consumer commodities. It is a Band-aid solution at best. It is a consolation, however, that President Marcos cited agriculture as the backbone of the Philippine economy and that increasing agricultural productivity must be addressed. His approach, however, is not too comforting as it looks like it was discussed in an air-conditioned room rather than proven in the field by actual practice. He wants farmers to use biofertilizer which, according to him, is cheaper. The fact is, it is not. Biofertilizer as the name suggests is made up of micro-organisms that increase the supply of essential nutrients in plants. Whether this type of fertilizer is available in the country is a big question and if it is, will the volumes suffice? Biofertilizer collects nutrients around the root system of plants. In the process, which could take long, the basic elements needed by the plant, among these, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium or NPK, are fed to the plants although the levels of each are not ascertained. With chemical fertilizer, NPK levels are set and are immediately available to the plants. Furthermore, in preparing fields for planting, either by direct seeding or transplanting seedlings, farmers actually spray biocides first to eliminate the pesky snails that eat the growing seedlings. Biocides will effectively kill microorganisms as well so there goes your expense on biofertilizer. Furthermore, in the stages of palay growth, various infestations happen, among them, stem borers and black bugs, which prompt farmers to spray insecticide. Admittedly, biofertilizer is an excellent soil conditioner. Moreover, not all biofertilizers are created equal. Some producers cook their raw materials, like chicken dung and animal manure, killing all the microorganisms and still calling it biofertilizer. In Davao City, the Davao Thermo Biotech Corporation, a pioneering firm engaged in the processing of biodegradable garbage waste into fertilizer, is currently producing biofertilizer through a special process by composting hyperthermophilic bacteria that drive the temperature up to over 100 degrees C naturally. The hyperthermophilic microbes heat that high in the second week and fix the basic nutrients, the NPK, on the finished product. The product has proven excellent to apply to cacao trees. It has also given dramatic results in experimental Cavendish banana plantations. But we are in a crucial stage. Rice-producing countries, among them, Vietnam, Thailand, and India, are not in the mode of exporting rice. What we need is an immediate solution to address the impending rice shortage. Marcos should jettison the “Tontos” who told him that biofertilizer was cheaper than chemical fertilizer. He should move fast and strike a government-to-government deal with China, the biggest fertilizer producer in the world. This would bring down the cost of fertilizer by more than 50 percent. Fertilizer should be available by mid-September in time for the next planting season. Toward the end of the year, we will see bumper rice harvests and stave off a rice shortage. In the meantime, let us see smugglers and hoarders of agricultural products going to jail. We are tired of the empty rhetoric. The post Viable aggie solution needed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Digitalization is way to go
Recognizing the transformative potential of technology, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., in his second State of the Nation Address last Monday, set forth a bold vision for the Philippines over the next five years — to accelerate the digitalization of the nation. In an increasingly interconnected and technologically advanced world, the digital revolution, no doubt, has become a catalyst for socioeconomic progress and innovation. Digitalization refers to the process of leveraging technology to transform traditional systems, services, and industries, enabling enhanced efficiency, connectivity, and access to information. By embracing digitalization, the Philippines can unlock new opportunities across various sectors, including healthcare, education, finance, agriculture and governance. The move towards digitalization aims to improve citizen services, foster innovation, attract investments, and promote inclusive growth. A crucial prerequisite for realizing a digitalized Philippines is the establishment of a robust digital infrastructure. Reliable and high-speed Internet connectivity is paramount to empowering businesses, entrepreneurs, and individuals to participate in the digital economy. President Marcos Jr.’s administration must prioritize the expansion of broadband networks, particularly in rural and underserved areas, bridging the digital divide and ensuring equal access to opportunities for all citizens. Digitalization requires a skilled and adaptable workforce equipped to navigate the complexities of the digital age. The government must invest in education and training programs that emphasize science, technology, engineering, and mathematics or STEM subjects, as well as digital literacy. This would empower citizens to embrace technology and capitalize on the opportunities it brings, contributing to the growth of the nation’s knowledge-based economy. The President’s vision must extend to nurturing a vibrant ecosystem for digital entrepreneurship and innovation. This involves creating a conducive environment for start-ups, including streamlined regulations, access to funding, and support networks. By fostering innovation, the Philippines can attract both domestic and foreign investments, propelling economic growth and job creation. Digitalization presents an opportunity to enhance governance and public service delivery. E-governance initiatives can streamline bureaucratic processes, reduce corruption, and enhance citizen engagement. Implementing secure and accessible digital platforms for government services can improve the overall efficiency and transparency of public institutions. Healthcare and education are two critical sectors that stand to benefit significantly from digitalization. Telemedicine and e-health initiatives can expand access to healthcare services, particularly in remote areas with limited medical facilities. Likewise, digital education platforms can democratize learning, making quality education more accessible to all Filipinos. Despite the promising prospects, achieving a digitalized Philippines entails navigating various challenges. Cybersecurity is a pressing concern as increased digital reliance can expose the nation to cyber threats and attacks. The government must prioritize the development of robust cybersecurity measures to safeguard critical infrastructure and sensitive information. Moreover, digitalization should not exacerbate existing social and economic disparities. The government must ensure that no one is left behind in this transformative process, especially marginalized communities who may face barriers to accessing digital resources. Data privacy is another crucial consideration. As the country collects and utilizes vast amounts of data, there must be strict regulations in place to protect individuals’ privacy rights and prevent potential misuse of information. As a whole, the President’s vision for a digitalized Philippines over the next five years presents both opportunities and challenges. By focusing on enhancing connectivity, empowering the digital workforce, supporting innovation and entrepreneurship, and embracing digital governance, the Philippines can position itself as a digital leader in the region. Achieving this vision, however, requires strategic planning, collaboration with stakeholders, and a commitment to inclusive and sustainable development. As the country embarks on this journey towards a digitalized future, the vision must be aligned with the welfare and aspirations of all Filipinos, leaving no one behind in the pursuit of progress and prosperity. The post Digitalization is way to go appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Soap secret
Recycling is one way people can reduce waste. For one group of Filipinos working in Hong Kong, they collect leftover bar and liquid bath soap from hotels for recycling. Jennifer Montero is among the recycling volunteers who use a refining machine to grate and remove the outer layer and dirt from the collected used soap before re-molding them into new ones. Collected bottled liquid soap is poured into a pail and repacked in plastic containers. The recycled soap is shipped to the Philippines by the group called Soap Cycling Philippines and donated to remote communities that lack access to soap, including daycare centers. A much bigger group of soap recyclers called Clean the World collects used soap from hotels worldwide and ships the stuff to two recycling plants in Orlando, Florida, and Las Vegas, Nevada in the United States. Last month, CTW posted on TikTok a video of its soap recycling operations. The video showed the soap grating machine pushing out noodle-like strands, which are then heated, mixed with water, sanitized by bleaching, and molded into good-as-new individual bars of soap, the New York Post reported. The video went viral getting more than 22.7 million views. There were thousands of comments but not all were happy to see the used soap recycling process. One disgusted commenter vowed to bring “my own soap” in his next hotel stay, according to NYP. After seeing the video, another netizen said using a hotel’s liquid soap in sealed dispensers attached to the wall was preferable from now on. One comment summed up the dread stirred by the hotel soap recycling. “The idea of someone’s pub hairs making it in just rubs me the wrong way,” the netizen said, referring to the grating of the top layer of used soap to remove stuck-on hair. The post Soap secret appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DPS collects 92.13 tons of garbage in city-wide clean-up drive on Saturday
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebu City’s Department of Public Services (DPS) collected at least 92.13 tons of garbage during a clean-up drive held on Saturday, June 10, 2023. This volume is equivalent to 43 truckload of garbage, according to Coastal Management Task Force (CMTF) head Reymarr Hijara. Hijara told CDN Digital that the 12th city-wide […] The post DPS collects 92.13 tons of garbage in city-wide clean-up drive on Saturday appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
US averts first-ever default with 11th-hour debt deal
US senators voted to suspend the federal debt limit Thursday, capping weeks of fraught negotiations to eliminate the threat of a disastrous credit default just four days ahead of the deadline set by the Treasury. Economists had warned the country could run out of money to pay its bills by Monday -- leaving almost no room for delays in enacting the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which extends the government's borrowing authority through 2024 while trimming federal spending. Hammered out between Democratic President Joe Biden and the Republicans, the measure passed the Senate with a comfortable majority of 63 votes to 36 a day after it had sailed through the House of Representatives. "No one gets everything they want in a negotiation, but make no mistake: this bipartisan agreement is a big win for our economy and the American people," Biden said in a statement posted to social media. He said he would sign the bill "as soon as possible" and address the nation Friday. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer added that the nation could "breathe a sigh of relief" after avoiding a "catastrophic" economic collapse. "But, for all the ups and downs and twists and turns it took to get here, it is so good for this country that both parties have come together at last to avoid default," he said. The bill -- which now heads to Biden's desk to be signed into law -- ended a day of intense back-and-forth between party leaders and rank-and-file members who had threatened the bill's quick passage with last-minute gripes about the details. Democratic leaders had spent months underlining the havoc that a first default in history would have wrought, including the loss of millions of jobs and $15 trillion in household wealth, as well as increased costs for mortgages and other borrowings. 'Behind the eight ball' The late evening drama came after a series of failed ballots on amendments sought mainly by Republicans who were threatening at one point to hold up the process, dragging it deep into the weekend. Senators elected to offer 11 tweaks to the 99-page text, many objecting to funding levels for their pet projects -- from border control and Chinese trade to taxation and the environment -- and each requiring a vote. Defense hawks upset at Pentagon spending being capped at Biden's budget request of $886 billion threatened at one point to derail the bill's passage entirely. In the end, they fell in line after being offered a commitment to a separate bill providing cash for Ukraine's defense against the Russian invasion, and promoting US national security interests in the Middle East and in the face of Chinese aggression against Taiwan. "As currently written, this bill puts our military behind the eight ball... The first and most important dollars we allocate each year in the budget are those to protect and defend the United States and our interests," said South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham. America spends more money than it collects through taxation, so it borrows money via the issuing of government bonds, seen as among the world's most reliable investments. Around 80 years ago, lawmakers introduced a limit on how much federal debt could be accrued. Politically toxic The ceiling has been raised more than 100 times since to allow the government to meet its spending commitments -- usually without drama and with the support of Democrats and Republicans -- and stands at around $31.5 trillion. Both parties see raising the debt limit as politically toxic, although they acknowledge that failure to do so would plunge the US economy into a depression and roil world markets as the government missed debt repayments. Republicans hoped to weaponize the extension to campaign against what they see as Democratic overspending ahead of the 2024 presidential election, although hikes in the debt ceiling only cover commitments already made by both parties. Kevin McCarthy, the top lawmaker in the Republican-led House, had touted the bill he spent weeks negotiating as a big victory for conservatives, although he faced a backlash from hardliners on the right who said he made too many concessions on spending cuts. He fell one short of the 150 votes -- two-thirds of his caucus -- he had promised to deliver in the lower chamber as he fought to quell a right-wing rebellion, and needed Democratic help to advance the bill to the Senate. On the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue, the vote was being touted as a major victory for Biden, who managed to protect almost all of his domestic priorities from deep cuts threatened by Republicans. "This legislation protects the full faith and credit of the United States and preserves our financial leadership, which is critical to our economic growth and stability," said US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. The post US averts first-ever default with 11th-hour debt deal appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»