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King Charles, leaders offer support to Princess of Wales after cancer announcement
LONDON — Britain’s King Charles, political leaders, and the US White House offered support to Kate, Princess of Wales, after she said tests following abdominal surgery showed cancer had been present and she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy. Buckingham Palace, on behalf of Britain’s King Charles “His Majesty (HM) is ‘so proud of Catherine for her.....»»
PPP Code IRR out; 20 projects up for approval
Around 20 solicited projects that are part of the government’s infrastructure flagship program are expected to be submitted to the National Economic and Development Authority Investment Coordination Committee for approval this year, the Public-Private Partnership Center said, following the signing of the implementing rules and regulations of the PPP Code......»»
Apple Developing Strategy to Address EU Core Technology Fee Impact on Apps Going Viral
Apple recently made headlines with the announcement of a 0.50 euro Core Technology Fee that apps distributed using the new EU App Store business terms.....»»
Biden prodded on joint WPS patrols
Members of the United States House of Representatives’ Foreign Affairs Committee condemned China’s “unlawful” actions in the West Philippine Sea that led to collisions of a Philippine resupply boat and its Philippine Coast Guard escort ship. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul and Rep. Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY), along with Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific Chairwoman Young Kim (R-CA) and Ranking Member Ami Bera (D-CA), issued a joint statement to express their support for the Philippines. “We unequivocally support the Philippines and condemn the unlawful actions by the Chinese Coast Guard in the South China Sea,” the US lawmakers said. “The Chinese Coast Guard and maritime militia vessels intentionally hit PCG ships over the weekend and continue to violate international law, endanger Filipino crew members, and obstruct Philippine vessels’ access to their own exclusive economic zone,” they added. The 22 October incident was “part of a larger pattern of the People’s Liberation Army Navy, its maritime militia, and the Chinese Coast Guard’s aggressive and provocative behavior in the South China Sea, where it actively intrudes in other states’ exclusive economic zones,” they said. Over the weekend, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea accused the CCG of performing “dangerous blocking maneuvers” that resulted in a collision with the Unaiza May 2, an indigenous boat contracted by the AFP for its routine resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre. During the mission, a Chinese maritime militia vessel “bumped” the PCG ship, BRP Cabra, on its port side. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the PCG to investigate the incident. The American legislators also backed US President Joe Biden’s announcement of increased joint patrols with the Philippines and other partners in the South China Sea and his administration’s reaffirmation to uphold its commitment under the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty. Earlier this week, the White House said US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan assured Philippine National Security Advisor Eduardo Año of US support in safeguarding its sovereign rights in the WPS under the two nations’ MDT. Signed in 1951, the Philippines and the US agreed under the MDT that an armed attack on either of the parties would be considered an attack on the other, thus, joint actions may be taken by the US and the Philippines to protect each other. Meanwhile, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said the collisions would convince more countries to undertake freedom of navigation sorties with the Philippines in the WPS. “I believe it will invite more countries that have an interest in freedom of navigation to participate not only in joint patrols but in other security engagements with the Philippines,” Teodoro said. Teodoro said the Philippine government is considering many options to address China’s increasing aggression in the WPS. The post Biden prodded on joint WPS patrols appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
IRR suspension: Delicate balance
Malacañang’s announcement of the suspension of implementing rules and regulations of the Maharlika Investment Fund on 18 October, ten days short to two months after its release, was no surprise to many. Critics of the sovereign wealth fund recently raised concerns about its legality by filing a legal challenge with the Supreme Court. They argued that the fund needed to be properly established in accordance with constitutional requirements. The petitioners said the economic viability assessment mandated by the Constitution was not fulfilled, and the creation of the MIF, under Republic Act 11954 or Maharlika Investment Fund Act of 2023 signed on 18 July, infringed upon the central bank’s independence. The President was surprised, not by the IRR suspension, but by how alarming news reports were interpreting the suspension order “somehow as a judgment of the rightness or wrongness of the Maharlika Fund.” When the IRR of a law is suspended, the guidelines and procedures necessary to put the law into effect are temporarily halted or are still being finalized. For all intents and purposes, the IRR provides specific details on how the law should be implemented, including the processes, requirements, and timelines involved. To say that more improvements could be made, specifically to the MIF’s organizational structure to make it a better organization, is deemed a sugar-coated narrative rather than owning up to the flaws or imperfections. If an IRR is suspended, it could indeed affect the law’s implementation. Without clear guidelines and procedures, government agencies and individuals may face uncertainties or difficulties in complying with the law’s requirements. This could lead to delays or a lack of implementation, and hinder the intended objectives of the law. The suspension of the IRR, which offers an opportunity to identify and rectify such unintended outcomes, is a temporary measure and does not necessarily mean the law is invalidated. It may be a temporary setback for various reasons, such as legal challenges, revisions, or policy changes. Once the IRR issues are resolved, the law’s implementation can proceed with clarity to facilitate its smooth execution. Within the realm of governance and legislation, a delicate balance exists between effective enforcement and essential flexibility. The recent suspension memorandum signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin exemplifies such circumstances — an afterthought that the IRR warrants a critical evaluation. Laws, like the Maharlika Investment Fund Act, are designed to address specific issues, but the world is dynamic and constantly evolving. What may have been effective at the time of enactment, though just a little more than a year ago, may need to be made more suitable and adequate in the face of changing realities. Suspending IRRs acknowledges the need for flexibility, allowing for a reassessment of the law’s applicability in the present context, and ensuring that the legislation remains relevant and adaptive to the challenges of an ever-changing society. On to the end of 2023 — a timeline set by the President for the MIF to be operational, the thorough study of the IRR must engage relevant stakeholders, including government agencies, legal experts and affected parties, to gather diverse perspectives and ensure an inclusive decision-making process. Only by involving those directly impacted by the law can the suspension’s objective be tailored to address their concerns, leading to a more equitable and effective legal framework for the controversial MIF, devoid of self-serving interests. The post IRR suspension: Delicate balance appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Biden recognizes two Pacific nations in move to counter China
President Joe Biden said the United States officially recognized the Pacific nations of Cook Islands and Niue Monday, as he hosted regional leaders in a bid to wrest influence from China. The announcement came at the start of a summit with the 18-member Pacific Islands Forum, where US officials said the president was announcing a more assertive American stance in the region. Biden said in statements that Washington recognized the Cook Islands and Niue as "sovereign and independent" states and would establish diplomatic relations with both. The move would help maintain a "free and open Indo-Pacific region," said Biden. Biden added that the deals to recognize the two nations would also help curb illegal fishing, deal with climate change in a vulnerable region and boost economic growth. The Cook Islands and Niue together have fewer than 20,000 inhabitants but constitute a sprawling economic zone in the South Pacific. Both are self-governing nations in "free association" with New Zealand, meaning that their foreign and defense policies are in varying degrees linked to Wellington. After decades of being treated as a relative backwater, the South Pacific has become an important arena for competition between the United States and an increasingly assertive China. China has dramatically ramped up its economic, political and military footprint in the strategic ocean region. 'Assertiveness' There is "no question that there is some role that the PRC has played in all this," a senior White House official said on condition of anonymity, referring to China by the abbreviation of its formal name. China's "assertiveness and influence, including in this region, has been a factor that requires us to sustain our strategic focus." The forum brings together states and territories scattered across the Pacific Ocean, from Australia to sparsely populated micro-states and archipelagos. But China's influence will be felt through the absence of the prime minister of the Solomon Islands, now closely aligned with Beijing. Manasseh Sogavare, who was in New York last week to attend the UN General Assembly, did not extend his stay in the United States. "We're disappointed that he's chosen not to come to this very special summit," another White House official said. Biden had been due to follow up last year's inaugural summit with a meeting of Pacific leaders this May, in Papua New Guinea. But he cut short an Asia trip and returned stateside to address a debt-ceiling crisis. For the Washington summit, Biden has prepared a full program, kicking off with an afternoon of American football on Sunday. The leaders traveled by train to Baltimore, where they were guests of honor at an NFL game between the port city's Ravens and the Indianapolis Colts. Monday's agenda features meetings and a lunch with Biden. On Tuesday, the leaders will meet with top officials on climate and the economy, and spend time with US lawmakers. The post Biden recognizes two Pacific nations in move to counter China appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Only 30% passes PNP entrance exams
A total of 11,363 or 30.01 percent of the 37,859 examinees hurdled the police examinations conducted by the National Police Commission last 17 to 18 June in 30 designated testing centers nationwide. The announcement came after the Napolcom En Banc issued Resolution No. 2023-1056, dated 18 September 2023, approving and authorizing the release of the results of the PNP Entrance and Promotional Examinations. The total number of passers is distributed, as follows: 5,641 passers of the PNPE Examination representing 20.21 percent of the 27,908 PNPE examinees, and the combined 5,722 passers constituting 57.50 percent of the 9,951 in-service police officers who took the PNP Promotional Examinations. The 5,722 police officers who successfully passed the promotional examinations per category are broken down, as follows: Police Officer 1st Class Examination for Police Major and Police Lieutenant Colonel (60 passers); Police Officer 2nd Class Examination for Police Lieutenant and Police Captain (231 passers); Police Officer 3rd Class Examination for Police Master Sergeant, Police Senior Master Sergeant, Police Chief Master Sergeant and Police Executive Master Sergeant (3,099 passers); and Police Officer 4th Class Examination for Police Corporal and Police Staff Sergeant (2,332 passers). The eligibility conferred upon passing the PNPE Examination is one of the requirements for appointment in the PNP as a Patrolman/Patrolwoman, while passing the corresponding promotional examination is a requirement for promotion to a higher rank. The Napolcom assures the public of its readiness, through its Police Examination System, to detect and address examination anomalies using answer pattern analysis, and thereby warns examinees to refrain from committing any form of irregularity, such as cheating, impersonation, perjury, or violation of examination rules, otherwise, they shall be sanctioned with perpetual disqualification from taking future Napolcom examinations. The list of successful examinees will be posted at the Napolcom One-Stop Shop, 7th Floor, Napolcom Central Office located at DILG-Napolcom Center, Napolcom Building, EDSA corner Quezon Avenue, West Triangle, Quezon City and can be viewed at the Napolcom website at www.napolcom.gov.ph. Individual Certificate of Eligibility or Report of Rating will be sent by mail to all examinees. Certification of successful examinees may be issued upon request by the Napolcom Central and Regional Offices. The post Only 30% passes PNP entrance exams appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
NAPOLCOM: Only 30% pass the PNP Entrance Exam
A total of 11,363 or 30.01 percent of the 37,859 examinees hurdled the police examinations conducted by the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) last 17-18 June 2023 in 30 designated testing centers nationwide. The announcement came after the NAPOLCOM En Banc issued Resolution No. 2023-1056, dated September 18, 2023, approving and authorizing the release of the results of the PNP Entrance (PNPE) and Promotional Examinations. The total number of passers is distributed, as follows: 5,641 passers of the PNPE Examination representing 20.21% of the 27,908 PNPE examinees, and the combined 5,722 passers constituting 57.50% of the 9,951 in-service police officers who took the PNP Promotional Examinations. The 5,722 police officers who successfully passed the promotional examinations per category are broken down, as follows: Police Officer 1st Class Examination for Police Major and Police Lieutenant Colonel (60 passers); Police Officer 2nd Class Examination for Police Lieutenant and Police Captain (231 passers); Police Officer 3rd Class Examination for Police Master Sergeant, Police Senior Master Sergeant, Police Chief Master Sergeant and Police Executive Master Sergeant (3,099 passers); and Police Officer 4th Class Examination for Police Corporal and Police Staff Sergeant (2,332 passers). The eligibility conferred upon passing the PNPE Examination is one of the requirements for appointment in the PNP as a Patrolman/Patrolwoman, while passing the corresponding promotional examination is a requirement for promotion to a higher rank. The NAPOLCOM assures the public of its readiness, through its Police Examination System, to detect and address examination anomalies using answer pattern analysis, and thereby warns examinees to refrain from committing any form of irregularity, such as cheating, impersonation, perjury, or violation of examination rules, otherwise, they shall be sanctioned with perpetual disqualification from taking future NAPOLCOM examinations. The list of successful examinees will be posted at the NAPOLCOM One-Stop Shop (NOSS), 7th Floor, NAPOLCOM Central Office located at DILG-NAPOLCOM Center, NAPOLCOM Building, EDSA corner Quezon Avenue, West Triangle, Quezon City and can be viewed at the NAPOLCOM website at www.napolcom.gov.ph. Individual Certificate of Eligibility or Report of Rating will be sent by mail to all examinees. Certification of successful examinees may be issued upon request by the NAPOLCOM Central and Regional Offices. The post NAPOLCOM: Only 30% pass the PNP Entrance Exam appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Better welfare and support for the ‘kuya ng kalsada‘
Move It, a homegrown motorcycle taxi company powered by Grab, recently launched a comprehensive rider-partner welfare and engagement program at the “Move It Tropang Malupet“ event held at the PICC Forum, which welcomed thousands of rider-partners as well as aspiring applicants eager to join Move It’s growing communities of “kuya ng kalsada.” Dedicated to enhancing the economic well-being of local motorcycle taxi service providers, the expanded “Tropang Malupet” welfare program encompasses optimized earning opportunities, economic assistance, aid and relief initiatives and community engagement. Move It continues to find ways to improve the lives of its rider-partners and their loved ones and help them achieve upward socioeconomic mobility. With Grab's support, Move It strives toward being the safer, more reliable and most affordable motorcycle taxi that Filipinos can always depend on. [caption id="attachment_185482" align="aligncenter" width="1004"] Move It general manager Wayne Jacinto introducing the expanded ‘Tropang Malupet‘ program.[/caption] In his remarks, Move It general manager Wayne Jacinto highlighted the impact of the upgraded Move It app to the experience of passengers and the earnings potential of rider-partners. The new Back-to-Back Booking feature on the app allows rider-partners to accept a new booking even as they accomplish an ongoing one, boosting their productivity on the platform. With the BTB Booking feature, tech upgrades and growing consumer demand, the earnings potential of rider-partners has doubled versus last year. To guarantee that rider-partners are able to achieve optimum earnings on the platform, Move It offers the lowest commission rate in the industry, complemented by income-boosting initiatives. Among these is Ka-Move It Rewards, an incentive scheme designed to reward rider-partners who successfully complete missions such as achieving specific booking targets, maintaining high passenger ratings and fulfilling minimum online hour requirements. Through Move It Parcel Delivery, on the other hand, rider-partners can accept parcel-delivery orders during non-peak hours for motorcycle hailing. The company‘s dedication to its rider-partners goes beyond offering livelihood opportunities. Recognizing the challenges they encounter on the road, it has introduced the Move It Malasakit Social Welfare Program, which extends financial assistance to rider-partners in need of emergency top-ups or those who experience accidents while online, complementing the existing insurance coverage allocated for Move It rider-partners. Move It Malasakit also covers aid and relief for rider-partners during calamities and national emergencies. Powered by leading superapp Grab, Move It is now also able to extend Grab's microfinancing programs to its rider-partners, providing an essential financial lifeline for them. And rider-partners are now eligible to apply for educational support through GrabScholar, a comprehensive educational support program comprising bursary support, BPO career acceleration opportunities and even full-ride college scholarships. Move It rider-partners have also been given full access to GrabAcademy, an online learning feature embedded in the driver app. GrabAcademy contains online classes on road safety, computer basics and passenger handling. Move It consistently organizes forums and town halls with its rider-partners to facilitate discussions on upcoming features and to promptly address situations faced by the community. In addition to these activities, the company also offers supplementary programs tailored to the interests of its rider-partners. For instance, an exciting announcement made at the event was the launch of Ka-Move It Liga — an inter-community basketball league with a grand prize of P300,000 and various consolation prizes totaling more than P500,000 in value. This initiative is set to bring rider-partners together in a spirit of competition and unity. The post Better welfare and support for the ‘kuya ng kalsada‘ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Economic team supports rice price cap as sound ‘stop-gap’ measure
Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno and Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman reiterated on Monday their support for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s order to impose a rice price cap. In a statement, Diokno underscored the importance of immediately implementing a comprehensive set of measures aimed at securing long-term stability within the rice market. "Executive Order No. 39 was issued by the President as the chief executive and the concurrent secretary of the Department of Agriculture. EO 39 serves as a lifeline, extending much-needed relief to Filipinos grappling with the high rice prices,” he said. Under EO No. 39, the mandated price of regular milled rice is P41 per kilogram while well-milled rice is at P45 per kilogram. The Finance Secretary said the economic team views EO 39 as an essential stop-gap measure that needs to be supplemented with additional measures to achieve long-term rice price stability in the country. “We agree with the President that implementing a price cap on rice is the most prudent course of action at the moment to achieve two critical objectives: stabilizing rice prices and extending immediate support to our fellow countrymen," he added. The Finance chief said the President has directed the economic team to implement measures that will mitigate the negative impact of the price controls on rice retailers and farmers. In a separate statement, Pangandaman said the EO will “effectively serve” as an “active stop gap” to address the market’s current circumstances. Pangandaman added that current measures warrant a special mitigating measure. “In an ideal scenario, we can let the market dictate prices. However, as NEDA noted, we are now faced with extraordinary factors that we have to consider," Pangandaman explained. “I join the Chairman and Co-Chairman of the Economic Development Group of the Cabinet in supporting this measure because it is necessary at this time to help those most affected by the otherwise uncontrollable sharp increase in the price of rice,” Pangandaman added. Diokno said in a briefing last Friday that Marcos did not consult the economic team before imposing the order. The economic managers were in the 14th Philippines-Japan High-Level Joint Committee Meeting on Infrastructure Development and Economic Cooperation in Tokyo during the last week of August when Marcos made the announcement, he said. "We were in Japan when that was announced. I was sitting with (NEDA Secretary) Arsi (Balisacan) and we were talking to Japanese investors. Of course, we were shocked." Diokno, the head of the Marcos administration's economic team, said the price cap shouldn't be imposed for too long because it is not sustainable. Price controls "don't really work" under ideal market conditions, and "it has adverse effects if allowed to linger for a longer period," he added. The post Economic team supports rice price cap as sound ‘stop-gap’ measure appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BI to replace 50% of manual counters with E-gates
The Bureau of Immigration is now planning to replace half of its manual counters with electronic gates to increase the efficiency of its airport operations. BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco made this announcement on Monday, 4 September, after requesting an increase in the BI’s budget. According to the BI, it follows a 45-second immigration processing time for travelers, adopted from the Guidelines on Advance Passenger Information published jointly by the International Air Transport Association and the International Civil Aviation Organization. While the 45-second standard is meant for check-in counters to allow for manual keying of passenger data, BI has committed to and placed an obligation on itself to process passengers within that time frame. Tansingco said that the BI’s IT programs are lined up to further reduce the processing time without compromising national security. He added that the procurement of e-gates has been included in the BI’s approved information systems strategic plan for 2024–2026. The E-gates, which are identical to those used in advanced countries, can reduce processing time to as little as 8 seconds per passenger. When compounded, this would greatly speed up the traveler's processing time. The BI chief claimed that currently, the Bureau only has 21 e-gates, which are distributed throughout the arrival areas of all major international airports in the country, with the majority of them placed at the NAIA. The Bureau is preparing to purchase E-gates beginning in 2024, and by 2026, it expects to have a total of 43 E-gates established across the country. The agency estimates that this project will cost 1.9 billion, which is required to keep up with equivalents elsewhere. "E-gates are now the standard in most countries," said Tansingco. "We want things to be faster and more efficient to better improve the experience of our travelers," he added. Meanwhile, Tansingco said that their operations are prepared for the expected influx of passengers during the Christmas season. He added that the "ber" months are here again, and because of this, they expect a higher volume of arriving and departing passengers. Apart from deploying hundreds of immigration officers, with the latest batch of graduates numbering 108, the BI has in place the Rapid Response Procedure, executed in all international ports of entry and exit during peak hours or critical periods, to address the sudden influx of travelers by augmenting the number of officers assigned at a specific terminal through the mobilization of other IOs assigned at other offices. Mobile counters have also been deployed to process passengers despite the limited immigration space in our airports as compared to the allocated immigration space in other countries. The BI intends to open green lanes at the departure area, which will cater to airline crew, frequent travelers, and OFWs before the year is over. The post BI to replace 50% of manual counters with E-gates appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Govt preps for new amnesty package
The government is now preparing a “new amnesty package” for non-State armed groups to bring them into mainstream society, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said, stressing that it would be a “landmark move” towards peace and development for the country. Bersamin likewise noted that the amnesty program was in the works following the announcement of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. during his State of the Nation Address when he sought concurrence for the initiative. "In a landmark move toward reconciliation and reintegration, the Philippine government shall soon establish a new amnesty package that would allow members of non-State armed groups to relinquish their arms and return to society," Bersamin said in his message, which was delivered by Undersecretary Severo Catura, during the International Humanitarian Law Day on Saturday. The Executive Secretary said the amnesty program would provide a "dignified pathway" for the former combatants to rebuild their lives, become productive, and contribute to society's progress. "More importantly, this initiative shall be a bold step toward ending the vicious cycle of violence, and fostering a culture of forgiveness and unity that promotes national healing," he added. Bersamin said the Marcos administration's move to institutionalize a program to encourage the rebels to return to the fold of the law shows its adherence to international humanitarian laws, which promotes peace and sustainable development. The Philippines embraces IHL as a cornerstone for human rights advocacy in the midst of such challenging circumstances, Bersamin emphasized. "In its adherence to IHL, the State acknowledges its duty to protect civilian populations and non-combatants from harm at all times, and to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches those in need. This commitment lays the groundwork for a safer environment where human rights are respected, and innocent lives are safeguarded,” he added, assuring that Marcos administration would continue to observe genuine consultations and listen to affected communities to know their needs. "These consultations empower local voices and promote socio-economic development in marginalized communities, acting as deterrents against the allure of extremist ideologies," Bersamin said. The post Govt preps for new amnesty package appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pursuing sustainable dev’t, food security
Asia is the world's largest rice consumer, accounting for 90 percent of global rice consumption. According to a business website that made use of data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service, the Philippines is among the top 20 countries with the highest rice consumption per capita. Data shows that the country's almost 113 million population consumes around 16.50 million metric tons of rice every year. The affordability and availability of rice have been cited as the primary reasons for Filipinos' penchant for eating rice. Thus, the proliferation of restaurants in the country serving "unlimited rice" has always been a fool-proof marketing strategy to entice customers. India's announcement in July that it would restrict the export of non-basmati rice has jolted not just the country but the global rice market. India is the world's largest rice exporter, accounting for over 40 percent of the global rice trade. It is on this note that I am calling for stronger government interventions in the agricultural sector. Unfortunately, India's decision comes at a time when the country is grappling with flooded rice fields as a result of recent calamities. But we cannot blame India for its decision to prioritize its domestic market. We have to be prepared as this could trigger a rice crisis affecting millions of Filipinos who consider rice a staple food. It is high time that we provide our local farmers with much-needed support to boost domestic rice production by offering them drought-resistant rice seeds, more fertilizers, additional irrigation, increased training, and easy access to credit facilities with low-interest rates. Our government must focus on short-term remedies such as exploring alternative sources like Vietnam and Thailand. But more importantly, we must implement long-term interventions that will lead to sustainable rice production. I have always been an advocate of sustainability and self-sufficiency to achieve food security which is a top priority of the current administration. Meanwhile, I have remained committed to visiting various parts of the country, not only to provide assistance but also to address the concerns of our people. On 5 August, we attended the blessing and ribbon-cutting ceremony of the two-storey Malasakit Center Building at Cotabato Regional and Medical Center in Cotabato City. We aided 647 patients and 2,535 medical frontliners including security guards, utilities, and other hospital staff. Meanwhile, qualified beneficiaries were given financial assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Joining us were CRMC Chief of the Hospital, Dr. Ishmael Dimaren, Maguindanao del Norte Rep. Bai Dimple Mastura, Matnog Mayor Zohria Bansel-Guro, Sultan Kudarat Mayor Tucao Mastura, and Vice Mayor Shameem Mastura. We also participated in the inauguration of the new Super Health Center (SHC) in the town of Libungan, where we assisted 1,000 indigent beneficiaries together with Vice Governor Efren Piñol, former vice governor Shirlyn Macasarte, Mayor Angel Rose Cuan and Vice Mayor Jims Fullecido. At the invitation of Mayor Angel Rose Cuan, we attended the town's Inter-Barangay Basketball Championship as part of its 62nd Founding Anniversary and 8th Katambolit Festival. We then headed to Midsayap to attend the groundbreaking of the SHC and assist 1,000 struggling residents together with Rep. Samantha Santos, Vice Gov. Efren Piñol, Mayor Rolando Sacdalan, and Vice Mayor Vivencio Deomampo Jr. On 4 August, we witnessed the groundbreaking of the SHC to be built in Monkayo, Davao de Oro. We visited the construction and renovation of the public market funded through our efforts. We also distributed assistance to 1,000 indigents in the area accompanied by Congresswoman Maria Carmen Zamora, Vice Governor Jayvee Uy, and Board Member Herv Apsay, among others. On 3 August, we were in Batangas to witness the groundbreaking of the Batangas Provincial Medical Center (New Provincial Hospital) in the municipality of Tuy. We also led the distribution of aid to 1,700 residents, with the support of Governor Dodo Mandanas. We were joined by Vice Gov. Mark Leviste, Congressmen Eric Buhain and Ray Reyes, Tuy Mayor Jose Jecerell Cerrado, San Luis Mayor Oscar Lito Hernandez, Vice Mayor Maan de Gracia, Lian Vice Mayor Ronin Leviste, and other local officials. We then went to Davao City to attend the 1st General Assembly of the Philippine Councilors League-Occidental Mindoro. On 2 August, we visited Caloocan City and witnessed the groundbreaking of the SHC, along with Health Secretary Ted Herbosa, Congresswoman Mitch Cajayon-Uy, Congressman Oca Malapitan, Mayor Along Malapitan, and Vice Mayor Karina Teh. We distributed aid to 980 impoverished residents in collaboration with the offices of Cong. Cajayon-Uy, Councilor Ed Aruelo, and Councilor Wewel De Leon. For those affected by Typhoon Egay, we distributed food packs and assisted 5,000 beneficiaries in Minalin, Arayat, and various towns in Pampanga; 500 in Bauang, La Union; 700 in Calumpit, and 1,700 residents from Hagonoy, Guiguinto, and San Miguel in Bulacan; 900 in Dagupan City, San Fabian, and Calasiao in Pangasinan; 200 in Binangonan, Rizal; and 200 in San Antonio, Zambales. We also assisted 89 fire victims in various barangays in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. We also provided help to 1,200 impoverished residents of Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija; 1,049 in San Pedro City, Laguna; 800 in Tabaco City, Albay; and 67 more in Pulupandan, Negros Occidental. We also helped people in Bulacan, including 66 in Santa Maria, 66 in Paombong, 66 in Baliwag, 66 in Bustos, 66 in Obando, and 66 in Norzagaray. In Batangas, we also assisted 500 beneficiaries from Calaca, 400 in Tanauan City, and 57 more in Batangas City. The post Pursuing sustainable dev’t, food security appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PBBM visit to Vietnam slated Jan.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is set to visit Vietnam in January 2024 — his 12th international trip since he assumed the presidency mid last year. Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, currently on a four-day official visit to Vietnam, announced this in his speech in Hanoi at the 10th Philippines-Vietnam Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation. “President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recently finished his first year in office and we have seen a remarkable display of trust and confidence between our two countries. We welcome the President’s recent sideline meetings with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in the last two Asean summits,” Manalo said. “We also look forward to President Marcos’ state visit to Vietnam in January next year, where he and President Vo Van Thuong could meet to discuss how to raise our bilateral ties to even greater heights,” he added. The announcement came barely a week after Marcos went on a three-day state visit to Malaysia, a day after he delivered his second State of the Nation Address. According to the Presidential Communications Office, the President’s visit to Malaysia yielded up to $285 million worth of investment pledges. Areas of cooperation Manalo said the Philippine government is looking forward to discussing important areas of cooperation with Vietnam, particularly maritime, trade, and investment promotion, people-to-people exchanges, and cooperation in ASEAN and other multilateral fora. “I am also looking forward to exchanging views with you on pertinent regional and international issues, mainly on how we can promote peace and stability in the region and the greater international arena,” he said. On Tuesday, the DFA chief expressed the country’s intent to forge stronger maritime cooperation with Vietnam in the South China Sea, where both countries are claimant states. “Our geographies and status as major littoral and claimant states in the South China Sea make maritime cooperation a vital point of interaction between our two countries, as economic and security partners. As in centuries prior, this body of water connects our peoples, despite some differences,” Manalo said. “Beyond its strategic significance, the South China Sea is the lifeblood of millions of Filipinos and Vietnamese people who depend on the sea for their livelihood,” he added. He continued: “As maritime nations at the heart of this seascape, it is a given that we consider safe and secure seas and sound marine ecosystems as integral to the future of our peoples and our region.” Like the Philippines, Vietnam has overlapping claims with China over the Paracel and Spratly Islands, which remain the main point of contention between the two countries. The post PBBM visit to Vietnam slated Jan. appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PBBM to fly to Vietnam in January 2024
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is set to visit Vietnam in the first month of 2024, adding another state visit to his growing list of international trips. Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, currently on a four-day official visit to Vietnam, announced this in his speech in Hanoi at the 10th Philippines-Vietnam Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation. “President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recently finished his first year in office, and we have seen a remarkable display of trust and confidence between our two countries. We welcome the President’s recent sideline meetings with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in the last two ASEAN Summits,” Manalo said. “We also look forward to President Marcos’ state visit to Vietnam in January next year, where he and President Vo Van Thuong could meet to discuss how to raise our bilateral ties to even greater heights,” he added. The announcement came barely a week after Marcos went on a three-day state visit to Malaysia, a day after his second State of the Nation Address. According to the Presidential Communications Office, the president’s visit to Malaysia yielded up to $285 million worth of investment pledges. ‘Areas of cooperation’ Manalo said the Philippine government is also looking forward to discussing important areas of cooperation with Vietnam, particularly in maritime cooperation, trade and investment promotion, people-to-people exchanges, and cooperation in ASEAN and other multilateral fora. “I am also looking forward to exchanging views with you on pertinent regional and international issues, mainly on how we can promote peace and stability in the region and in the greater international arena,” he said. On Tuesday, the DFA chief expressed the country’s intent to forge stronger maritime cooperation with Vietnam in the South China Sea, where both countries are claimant states. “Our geographies and status as major littoral and claimant states in the South China Sea make maritime cooperation a vital point of interaction between our two countries, as economic and security partners. As in centuries prior, this body of water connects our peoples, despite some differences,” Manalo said. “Beyond its strategic significance, the South China Sea is the lifeblood of millions of Filipinos and Vietnamese people who depend on the sea for livelihood,” he added. He continued: “As maritime nations at the heart of this seascape, it is a given that we consider safe and secure seas and sound marine ecosystems as integral to the future of our peoples and our region.” Like the Philippines, Vietnam has overlapping claims with China over the Paracel and Spratly Islands, which remain the main point of contention between the two countries. The 9th Philippines-Vietnam JCBC was held in Manila in 2019, attended by then-Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. and Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and then-Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh. The post PBBM to fly to Vietnam in January 2024 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
UAE vows to allow ‘peaceful’ assembly of climate activists at COP28
The United Arab Emirates said Tuesday it would allow environmental activists to "assemble peacefully" at this year's UN climate talks, despite a prohibition on unauthorized protests in the Gulf state. The oil-rich UAE, set to host COP28 from November to December in the business hub of Dubai, requires official permission for protests but effectively bans demonstrations it deems disruptive. At the upcoming UN climate talks "there will be space available for climate activists to assemble peacefully and make their voices heard," it said. The announcement was made in a joint statement with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) released on Tuesday and published by the UAE's official WAM news agency. The statement was released after COP28 president Sultan al-Jaber and UNFCCC chief Simon Stiell signed a bilateral agreement in Abu Dhabi that provides the legal basis for organizing and hosting the climate talks. "We are firmly committed to ensuring that UN values are upheld at COPs," the statement quoted Stiell as saying. The UAE is a major oil producer and one of the world's largest emitters of CO2 per capita. The choice for it to host COP28 has sparked criticism from environmental groups who warn that the involvement of a major oil exporter could slow progress in the fight against global warming. Non-government groups including Human Rights Watch have also warned that the Gulf state's restrictions on freedom of expression could hinder the meaningful participation of climate activists. "Civil society actors will struggle to effectively play their role in pushing for ambitious action to address the climate crisis in a country whose government has such an abysmal human rights record," HRW warned in a March report. Large protests have been common at most previous COPs, and limited rallies were allowed at the last UN climate talks in Egypt, where authorities regularly crack down on demonstrations and detain activists. The COP27 Egypt host faced criticism over restrictions that made for a tight protest space, where activists had to request accreditation 36 hours in advance and provide detailed information on the organizers and on the protest. Approved demonstrations were only allowed during certain hours, and in a specific purpose-built area that saw heavy security presence. The post UAE vows to allow ‘peaceful’ assembly of climate activists at COP28 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Denmark seeks limits on protests involving Koran burnings
The Danish government said Sunday it would explore legal means of stopping protests involving the burning of holy texts in certain circumstances, citing security concerns following backlash over such incidents that saw the Koran desecrated in Denmark and Sweden. Noting that such protests played into the hands of extremists, the government wants to "explore" intervening in situations where "other countries, cultures, and religions are being insulted, and where this could have significant negative consequences for Denmark, not least with regard to security," it said in a statement from the foreign ministry. "This must of course be done within the framework of the constitutionally protected freedom of expression and in a manner that does not change the fact that freedom of expression in Denmark has very broad scope," it added, stressing it is one of the country's most important values. Several recent protests involving desecrations of the Muslim holy book have raised diplomatic tensions throughout the Middle East and the two Nordic countries. The Danish government noted that the protests have "reached a level where Denmark, in many parts of the world across continents, is being viewed as a country that facilitates insult and denigration of the cultures, religions, and traditions of other countries." It added that the "primary purpose" of some of the actions had been to provoke and "could have significant consequences." Both Danish and Swedish envoys have been summoned to a slew of Middle Eastern nations. In a separate statement, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said he had been in close contact with his Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen, and that a similar process was already underway in Sweden. "We have also started to analyze the legal situation already... in order to consider measures to strengthen our national security and the security of Swedes in Sweden and around the world," Kristersson said in a post to Instagram. On Thursday, Sweden's government ordered 15 government agencies -- including Sweden's armed forces, several law enforcement agencies, and the Swedish tax agency -- to strengthen the country's ability to prevent terrorism in response to a worsened security situation. The announcement came a day after the government said the country had become the target of disinformation campaigns. Saudi Arabia and Iraq have called for a meeting, expected to be held on Monday, of the Jeddah-based Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to address Koran desecration in both Sweden and Denmark. The post Denmark seeks limits on protests involving Koran burnings appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DoT aims to position Philippines as one of Asia’s LGBTQ-friendly destinations
Department of Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco unveiled plans and programs aimed at inclusive tourism development and towards positioning the Philippines as one of Asia’s most LGBTQ-friendly destinations, including the mounting of the first-ever Tourism Pride Summit this September. Frasco made the announcement during her keynote address at the Philippine Financial and Inter-Industry Pride Summit 2023, where she noted the massive opportunities for the development of LGBTQ+ tourism in the Philippines, with the community being one of the fast-rising sectors of society across the globe, with over 35 million travelers from this sector. Last month, she welcomed a courtesy visit from the executives of the PFIP for its partnership with the DoT on the Tourism Pride Summit in time for Tourism Month. In addition to hosting the Tourism Pride Summit with the PFIP, the DoT has identified LGBTQ+ tourism as a priority under the Office of Special Concerns of the Office of the Secretary. It also sees to it that employees receive training on relevant topics including sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics or SOGIESC awareness and the basics of gender and development. “We at the Department of Tourism take pride in having a multitude of numbers from your community across the tourism value chain in all of the regions of the Philippines–from our personnel and, accommodation and services sector, from the frontline, managerial, supervisory, and upper echelons of the tourism industry, and even including our frontline tourism personnel in our local government units, from our pasalubong makers, to our choreographers, our artistic directors, costume makers, festival dancers, our various members of the Department of Tourism regional offices that are also members of the community. You are very well represented in the Department of Tourism and in the industry itself and your contribution to the success of tourism is invaluable,” Frasco said. She expressed her elation as she joined the organization in celebrating “love, and the gains that the PFIP has made in its 10-year existence” and prefaced her message by sharing her experiences as mayor of Liloan in Cebu. “At that time when I was involved in advocacies concerning various sectors, from women, children, senior citizens, PWDs and the like, I observed that while all of the other sectors of society in our community in Liloan had been organized in and federated and had a voice in local governance, the LGBT community did not have such a voice,” she shared. Directly addressing this observation, she said she organized and federated the Liloan LGBTQ, making Liloan the first municipality in Cebu to have a fully federated LGBT federation in all barangays. “The consequence of that recognition from the local government unit was that we ensured that the LGBT community had a voice, not only in terms of fighting for their rights or equality as far as the passage of laws and ordinances protecting them from discrimination, but rather, also a voice in governance,” Frasco said. Frasco also said that she pursued programs and initiatives in support of the community, including the construction of a gender-equal comfort room at the municipal plaza. Each of the municipality’s council and committee also has an LGBTQ+ representative. “I share with you this story, if only to give you my assurances that the work that you have been doing for the past 10 years has resulted in the grass roots recognition and implementation of the necessity for LGBTQ+ equality, equity, and recognition. It is not a mere aspiration that we must look to but, rather, it is happening, it is succeeding, and I congratulate and thank all of you — especially the PFIP — for your relentless support for this movement,” she said. She added, “This love of country, pride of place, pride of community, I see very well in the PFIP, your Board of Trustees, your officers, your members, your delegates who are present here today, for indeed expressing love for one another, is also an expression of love for our country.” “And so, you have my full unequivocal support, and I am very eager to partner with PFIP and with all of you, to ensure that we accomplish our goal of making the Philippines one of the most [LGBTQ-friendly] places in Asia, and I am sincerely hopeful for your support for our effort to give our fellow Filipinos and the rest of the world all the reasons to love the Philippines,” Frasco further said. To further support the LGBTQ+ community, Frasco during the summit also pledged a personal donation from herself and her husband, House Deputy Speaker Duke Frasco, amounting to P500,000 to support the PFIP’s educational scholarships for underprivileged students that are members of the community. The post DoT aims to position Philippines as one of Asia’s LGBTQ-friendly destinations appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
The vagaries of resignation (1)
The alleged involvement of high-ranking police officers, three generals, and 15 colonels, in the recycling, selling, and distribution of the prohibited drugs, if true, is the worst act that those who are tasked to enforce the law could commit. Such a commission is a crime, a betrayal of the trust reposed on them by the people, a violation of their oath of office as public servants, and unpardonable malfeasance in office. Based on their alleged participation in the illegal drug trade, their courtesy resignations, which submission was required of them by the Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government, and upon the recommendation of the five-man committee and the National Police Commission, mandated to evaluate their performance as police officers and to probe their engagement in the nefarious and illegal drug cartel, have been accepted by the President, as announced by the latter in his State of the Nation Address. The announcement was received with thunderous applause by the audience composed of the members of the Senate and the House Representatives, members of the Cabinet, Diplomatic Corps, local government officials, and other dignitaries and guests. Without delving into the reason for requiring almost a thousand higher-level of police officers to submit their courtesy resignations, and its acceptance by the Chief Executive, a citizen would welcome such development given the widespread talked-about and public perception of police personnel dipping their hands into the huge cookie jar of illegal drug money. The immediate reaction is one of elation from those who have heard of the termination of their services because they would certainly think that those whose resignations were accepted were guilty of serious misdemeanors or crimes, and therefore deserving of their being kicked out from the service. It is, however, vital to know the antecedents of the filing of their resignations to give objective and appropriate remarks on the issue. A few months ago, the DILG Secretary publicly announced that based on his department’s and the PNP’s investigation, there were a few ranking police officers involved in the prohibited drug activities hence, there was a need for a cleansing of the police organization. He, thereafter, decided that the best way to get rid of these police scalawags was to ask for almost a thousand police generals and colonels to hand in their courtesy resignations. Immediately this lawyer, on various platforms, including this column, criticized the DILG honcho on the inappropriateness and illegality of the directive. Inappropriate because if you want to exclude less than five police officers from the hierarchy, why include those who are on the list of suspected drug coddlers? It is illegal because the order (certainly not a plea, nor a request and neither an appeal, anybody who says otherwise is a poor liar) to resign violates the security of tenure given to all employees of the government. The phrase “courtesy resignation” is, in reality, a demand/directive to resign laced with threats and intimidation, which failure to comply with would result in adverse repercussions to the one who disobeys the same. This writer argued that the legal way to pluck out from the police force these scoundrels was to file administrative and/or criminal charges against them and be given the opportunity to defend themselves under the constitutional guarantee of due process. The argument of the DILG head that it would be only tedious to apply the regular way to removing errant police officers but they could, meanwhile, use their position to influence the outcome of the administrative/criminal case, is hogwash. Under the law, there is an automatic preventive suspension of 90 days upon the filing of the complaint and therefore there is no way the suspended police officer could interfere with the legal process using his/her position. A 90-day suspension is sufficient for law enforcement authorities to prosecute the suspected criminals in uniform. If they have enough evidence to hurdle the requirement of proof beyond a reasonable doubt in court, then the accused will be placed behind bars. By just asking them to resign, the suspected guilty ones were given the opportunity not only to make hay on their criminal activities but to cover up their crimes using their office and position as they remained in office for 7 months for the acceptance of their resignations. (To be continued) The post The vagaries of resignation (1) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Some BSP services suspended for SONA
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on Monday told banks and their clients that it suspended some services today ahead of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s second State of the Nation Address (SONA). "Following the announcement by Malacañang of work suspension in government offices, the following services are suspended on 24 July 2023, Monday," BSP said in a tweet. These services include processing transactions involving money, PhilPaSSplus, trading in dollars and pesos, and financial activities. In a separate statement, Philippine Clearing House Corp. sent out a note indicating that it will likewise pause all clearing activities for the day as a result of the suspension of PhilPaSSplus service. The post Some BSP services suspended for SONA appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»