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Binance ban a boon to local crypto firms
Local crypto traders are now experiencing as much as four times higher transaction volumes as investors shift their tokens from Binance......»»
DOH: Pertussis cases 20 times higher since January
The number of pertussis cases nationwide has increased 20-fold this year from 2023, according to the Department of Hea.....»»
India, Philippines have seen very perceptible growth in recent times: Jaishankar
Manila [Philippines], March 26 (ANI): Hailing ties between India and the Philippines, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is on a visit to the Philippines on Tuesday, said that ties between Delhi and Manila have witnessed a very perceptible growth in recent times. Addressing a joint press briefing with Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo, Jaishankar said, "As you all know, India's ties with the.....»»
China blocks use of Intel and AMD chips in government computers – report
The procurement guidance also seeks to sideline Microsoft Windows and foreign-made database software in favor of domestic options, a Financial Times report says.....»»
Airports and trains
Over breakfast some years back, in one of those times I had the opportunity to sit down with tycoon Ramon S. Ang or RSA, together with a small group of fellow journalists, he talked about the importance of having an airport express similar to Hong Kong’s much-touted MTR which connects the airport to the rest of the city. .....»»
Donald Trumps $3.5bn windfall at stake in Spac deal showdow
The Financial Times, known for its in-depth coverage of global business, economics, and politics, is now offering a special subscription deal for its print edition......»»
US warns China against armed attack on Philippines
Washington, DC [US], March 19 (ANI): US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned China on Tuesday, stating that any "armed" attack on Philippine vessels in the South China Sea would activate a mutual self-defence agreement between Washington and Manila, underscoring the escalating tensions in the region that could potentially embroil the United States in conflict with Beijing, as reported by The New York Times. Despite th.....»»
US State Secretary Blinken begins Middle East tour, marks his first stop in Saudi Arabia
Jeddah [Saudi Arabia], March 21 (ANI): US State Secretary Antony Blinken who began his Middle East tour arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, marking his first stop on this trip to discuss efforts to reach an "immediate ceasefire agreement" between Israel and Hamas, The New York Times reported. Blinken's visit to Jeddah came as US President Joe Biden's administration was hoping it could convince Saudi Arabia to establish.....»»
Govt gives cash and aid to flood-ravaged Central Luzon
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said that the government is prepared to provide relief goods, financial assistance, and other forms of help to those affected by the floods in Luzon. Marcos said this in his speech as he visited flood-affected areas in Central Luzon on Monday, 6 August, to assess the damage and pledge assistance to those in need. "We are here to make sure that those in need are provided assistance and that help is distributed effectively," Marcos said. "Things are being managed well here. DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) is here, and they were prepared even before the floods and storms arrived. They've sent their relief goods, and DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment) is ready to assist those who lost their jobs, those needing a little help to bridge the gap," Marcos added. Marcos also urged residents to be prepared for future floods and storms, as climate change is causing the weather to become more unpredictable. "The truth here is that many of those affected by the flooding were not necessarily those in flood-prone areas," Marcos said. "First and foremost, the amount of rain that fell was significant. From the North to Central Luzon region, we need to really prepare for what we call climate change. The weather is changing, not following the patterns of the past. So, we need to be ready." Heavy rains brought by Super Typhoon Egay and Typhoon Falcon caused floods in Central Luzon. The typhoons caused widespread flooding and damage. The government has declared a state of calamity in several provinces in Central Luzon, including Bulacan, Pampanga, and Tarlac. The floods have displaced thousands of people, and have caused millions of pesos in damage. During the distribution of various government assistance to Pampanga, 1,000 beneficiaries received food packs and were provided with P10,000 each through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) Program by the DSWD. Conversely, the DOLE allocated P2.3 million to assist 500 beneficiaries in Pampanga through the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating mga Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) program. The DOLE has a reserve fund of Php65 million designated for approximately 14,000 TUPAD beneficiaries. Additionally, on 4 August, they disbursed another Php30 million for the TUPAD program specifically in Pampanga through their regional office. The agency also granted livelihood assistance amounting to Php6.4 million under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) to seven LGUs, specifically: Candaba, Macabebe, Masantol, Arayat, Porac, and Sta. Ana in Pampanga. Participating in the efforts, the DA presented the Province of Pampanga with a certificate worth P21.6 million. This included 13,354 bags of certified seeds valued at P20.2 million distributed to 8,723 farmer-beneficiaries, 186 bags of hybrid yellow corn and 15 bags of open-pollinated variety worth Php1.1 million given to 154 farmer-beneficiaries, as well as assorted vegetable seeds worth P230,000 provided to 162 farmer-beneficiaries. Following the distribution of aid, President Marcos took part in a briefing at Pampanga Capitol to assess the aftermath of recent typhoons and extensive flooding in the province. This evaluation aimed to determine further assistance that could be offered to those affected by the calamities. The post Govt gives cash and aid to flood-ravaged Central Luzon appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Salient rights of OFWs (1)
Whether it is to find greener pastures or provide for their families, many Filipinos have been compelled to pursue employment opportunities abroad. In fact, the number of Overseas Filipino Workers or OFWs has increased throughout the years. In 2021 alone, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported that there are over 1.83 million OFWs. Under Republic Act 8042, as amended, or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995, an OFW is any person engaged, is engaged, or has been engaged in a remunerated activity in a state of which he or she is not a citizen or on board a vessel navigating the foreign seas other than a government ship used for military or non-commercial purposes or in an installation located off-shore or on the high seas. It is important to note that the constitutional protection granted to labor under Article II, Section 18 of the 1987 Constitution likewise extends to OFWs regardless if they are working outside the Philippine jurisdiction. Here are the salient rights of an OFW pre-employment, during employment, and post-employment. Pre-employment: The Philippine Overseas Employment Agency requires that every employment contract of OFWs must contain the following minimum provisions: Complete name and address of the employer/company; Position and job site of the Overseas Filipino Worker; Basic monthly salary, including benefits and allowances and mode of payment. The salary shall not be lower than the prescribed minimum wage in the host country or the prevailing minimum wage in the National Capital Region of the Philippines, whichever is higher; Food and accommodation or the monetary equivalent which shall be commensurate to the cost of living in the host country, or off-setting benefits; Commencement and duration of the contract; Free transportation from and back to the point of hire, or off-setting benefits, and free inland transportation at the job site or off-setting benefits; Regular work hours and days off; Overtime pay for services rendered beyond the regular working hours, rest days, and holidays; Vacation leave and sick leave for every year of service; Free emergency medical and dental treatment; Just/valid/authorized causes for termination of the contract or of the services of the workers, taking into consideration the customs, traditions, norms, mores, practices, company policies, and the labor laws and social legislations of the host country; Settlement of disputes; Repatriation of worker in case of imminent danger due to war, calamity, and other analogous circumstances, at the expense of employer; and In case of worker’s death/repatriation of OFW’s human remains and personal belongings, at the expense of the employer. The licensed recruitment agency shall, prior to the signing of the employment contract, inform the OFW of their rights and obligations, and disclose the full terms and conditions of employment. It shall likewise ensure that the OFW is provided a copy of the POEA-approved contract to give the OFW ample opportunity to examine the same. Any changes to provisions of the signed employment contract, whether done in the Philippines or abroad, must be approved by the POEA. Otherwise, the alteration, substitution, or change shall be considered null and void. (To be continued) For more of Dean Nilo Divina’s legal tidbits, please visit www.divinalaw.com. For comments and questions, please send an email to cabdo@divinalaw.com. The post Salient rights of OFWs (1) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Disaster resiliency must be prioritized
Typhoons occur very often in our country. Located along the typhoon belt in the Pacific, the Philippines is visited by 20 typhoons on average yearly. Some have been more devastating than most — ravaging lands, destroying properties, and claiming the lives of our affected Filipinos. And because of climate change, in addition to our geographical location in the Pacific, the Philippines is exposed to natural calamities that are getting more often and more severe. While we can’t prevent the entry of typhoons, we could very well stay one step ahead to minimize the damage brought by these natural disasters and hopefully save more lives through a more prepared and proactive approach, better coordination among concerned government agencies, and stronger cooperation from the public. As super typhoon “Betty” entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Saturday, I pray for the safety of all our affected kababayans and hope for an efficient restoration of normalcy once the typhoon passes. I commend our frontline government agencies and local authorities who, days before the typhoon’s entry, so far have reportedly already made necessary preparations to deal with this and its aftermath. These preparations and more go a long way in securing the lives and property of our affected Filipinos. Nevertheless, considering our country’s vulnerability to natural calamities, we must continue instituting measures that will ensure more proactive and effective disaster preparedness and response. Thus, I continue advocating for several disaster resilience measures, including the establishment of the Department of Disaster Resilience through my proposed Senate Bill No. 188. If the bill is enacted into law, the DDR shall serve as an empowered and highly-specialized cabinet level-department with a clear unity of command, responsible for ensuring safe, adaptive, and disaster-resilient communities. It shall lead the crafting and implementation of programs and activities to reduce the risk of all types of natural hazards and effects of climate change and manage the impact of disasters. I have also filed SBN 193, or the proposed Mandatory Evacuation Centers Act, which seeks to require the establishment of evacuation centers in every province, city, and municipality throughout the country that shall provide basic needs and assistance to all evacuees. Also, I have introduced SBN 192, also known as the Rental Housing Subsidy Act, in a bid to provide disaster victims better and more affordable access to the formal housing market through the provision of rental subsidies by the government. Finally, SBN 1709 proposes to amend the provisions of the “Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010” to mandate the grant of hazard pay to the personnel of respective Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices and Barangay Risk Reduction and Management Committees, as well as all accredited community disaster volunteers enlisted to their respective territorial jurisdictions during the State of Calamity declared by the President. Under the proposed measure, all personnel of the LDRRMOs in all provinces, cities, and municipalities and all accredited community disaster volunteers, regardless of their employment status, shall be granted a hazard pay of P3,000 every month if it is enacted into law. This is in recognition of their invaluable sacrifices and contributions in looking after the safety of our people in the face of disasters and even at the risk of their own lives. Similarly, our dedication to public service never ceases. From Monday to Sunday, our work inside and outside the hallowed halls of the Senate continues. On top of our Senate sessions, I led the distribution of aid to 1,663 indigents from Gapan City, municipalities of Cabiao and Peñaranda in Nueva Ecija; 1,000 in Pasig City, as well as 1,201 fire victims in Sta. Cruz, Manila last week. On 25 May, I also visited Davao de Oro for the groundbreaking of the Super Health Center, inspect a two-story multi-purpose building, and led a relief activity for 1,000 residents in Maco town. We attended the groundbreaking of Super Health Centers in Libertad town and Barangay Balubal, Cagayan de Oro City, and spearheaded three relief operations for 1,000 indigents in Libertad, and 2,000 in Barangay Balubal, and another 300 in the city on 26 May. Apart from the groundbreaking of the Escalante City Super Health Center in Negros Occidental on 27 May, I aided 2,000 residents of the city composed of fisherfolks, tricycle drivers, solo parents, persons with disabilities, and senior citizens. I joined the 25th Manlambus Festival where I was able to watch a carabao race and provided aid to 200 carabao owners. On 28 May, I inspected the Sariaya Super Health Center in Quezon province and helped 1,000 indigents in the town. In Lucena City, 1,500 residents received aid. I also joined the Pasayahan Festival and inspected the Lucena City Promenade, whose funding I supported. My outreach teams extended aid to 400 barangay health workers and nutritionists in Macalelon, Quezon; 373 Technical Education and Skills Development Authority graduates in Argao, Cebu; and 1,200 tricycle drivers in San Luis, Pampanga. Indigents, including 81 in Llanera, Nueva Ecija; 500 in Binuangan, Misamis Oriental; 250 in Dipaculao and 233 in San Luis, Aurora. Also, our office joined the dental and medical mission of 150 indigents in Pandan, Antique. In the face of inevitable natural hazards, we all must exert efforts to build a more disaster-resilient nation. Through effective measures, preparations, proper coordination, and widespread cooperation, we can all save lives, help each other recover, and rise again even stronger. The post Disaster resiliency must be prioritized appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DDR creation to bolster disaster response: Go
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go renewed his call for the passage of his proposed Senate Bill 188, or the creation of the Department of Disaster Resilience. The DDR is a specialized department that would be solely responsible for managing the country’s disaster response and mitigation efforts. “We should always be one step ahead whenever there is a disaster. We cannot avoid earthquakes or typhoons, but we should be always prepared so that we can avoid greater damage,” Go said. Senate Bill 188, he said, seeks to address the long-standing issues and challenges in disaster management, including the lack of coordination among government agencies and the absence of a clear chain of command during emergencies because essential functions and mandates are currently spread out to various disaster-related agencies. “We really need to scale up preparedness and resiliency against disasters. That’s why as your senator, I will continue to fight for these proposals and I believe that this is for the good of our country,” he said. If enacted into law, Go said the cabinet secretary-level department shall concentrate on three significant areas — disaster risk reduction, disaster preparedness and response, and recovery and building forward better. He said going around the country to extend aid to Filipinos affected by fire, earthquake, flood, tornado, and volcanic eruption is a fulfillment of a promise. “I’ll go to you as long as I have the time and chance. I help as much as I can, provide a solution to their problems like a sustainable project that would benefit the community, and be able to leave a little smile during your difficulties,” he added. In the wake of the devastation brought by the recent Tropical Depression “Amang,” Go said disaster preparedness must be intensified even more. In support of DDR’s functions and responsibilities, the proposed measure also provides for the creation of an Integrated Disaster Resilience Information System or IDRIS which will serve as a database of all relevant disaster risk reduction and climate change information. Go also filed Senate Bill 1709 aimed at providing hazard pay to disaster response personnel nationwide, considering how dangerous their roles are during disasters. It proposes to amend the provisions of the “Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010” to mandate the local government units to grant a P3,000 monthly hazard pay to the personnel of their respective Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices and Barangay Risk Reduction and Management Committees, and all accredited community disaster volunteers during a State of Calamity declared by the President. “Rescuers and volunteers play a huge role during calamities and disasters because they are the ones who risk their lives to keep our countrymen safe,” Go said. He added: “They deserve to be given proper compensation. Give what is due to them.” The post DDR creation to bolster disaster response: Go appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Contagious pertussis disease continues spreading in Philippines
MANILA, March 28 (Xinhua) -- The contagious pertussis has continued spreading in the Philippines, where it has caused at least 40 death cases, after a province near the capital region reported an outbreak of the disease. In a social media post on Wednesday night, the Cavite government posted a resolution declaring the province under a state of calamity "due to the outbreak of pertussis" after logging 36 cases an.....»»
China urges ROK to stay prudent on South China Sea issue: Chinese FM
BEIJING, March 28 (Xinhua) -- China urges the Republic of Korea (ROK) to stay prudent when it comes to the South China Sea issue, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Thursday. Lin made the remarks at a regular press briefing when responding to a media query about ROK Foreign Ministry Spokesperson's biased and unfactual comments on the South China Sea issue over the past few days. "China.....»»
Cebu City declares state of calamity in 28 mountain barangays due to el Niño
CEBU CITY, Philippines – In response to the escalating effects of the ongoing El Niño phenomenon, Cebu City has declared a “state of calamity” in 28 mountain barangays. This decision comes after a resolution was passed with reports of dwindling water sources and agricultural distress, prompting urgent measures to assist affected communities in the city. .....»»
NBA: James triple-double pulls Lakers past Grizzlies
LeBron James returned from a one-game absence to post a 23-point triple-double on Wednesday and lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 136-124 NBA victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. James sat out the Lakers’ come-from-behind double-overtime victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday with a sore left ankle. READ: NBA: Giannis tows Bucks over Thunder .....»»
Church visits are allowed only until 10 p.m. – Police chief
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Church visits on Maundy Thursday will only be allowed until 10 p.m. the chief of the Cebu City police announced on Thursday, March 28. Police Colonel Ireneo B. Dalogdog, City Director of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) said that the public is not allowed inside religious places past 10:00 p.m......»»
Survey shows Cha-cha still unpopular with Filipinos — Senate leaders
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said that the findings of the survey by private pollster Pulse Asia, which was released on Wednesday, show that Charter change is an "unpopular move.".....»»
Cavite nagdeklara ng ‘state of calamity’ dahil sa ‘pertussis outbreak’
NASA ilalim na ng “state of calamity” ang probinsya ng Cavite. Ito ay dahil dumadami na ang mga nahahawa ng pertussis o whooping cough sa probinsya. Ayon sa provincial government, nakapagtala na sila ng 26 confirmed cases at kabaling na riyan ang anim na namatay dahil sa nasabing sakit. Narito ang datos ng Cavite kaugnay.....»»
Cavite declares state of calamity due to pertussis outbreak
The province’s Sangguniang Panlalawigan declared a state of calamity on Wednesday, according to the Cavite’s information office......»»