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Sovereign shame
The government should recognize the possibility that Chinese workers in the country are committing espionage amid the escalating territorial friction in the West Philippine Sea. Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro raised the alarm, saying employees of mainly Chinese state firms may be engaged in potential “covert economic and information activities,” including propaganda operations, to sway public opinion in favor of the mainland. Among the workers on the watchlist are “the ones hired by Beijing’s state-run enterprises involved in public infrastructure projects,” according to Teodoro. The Department of National Defense said it is looking into clandestine dealings “happening in the background.” “It’s the activities that we cannot see… that’s what alarms us,” the defense chief said. “The best way to weaken a country, rather than by an overt warlike function or disruption of [its] facilities, is really to take control of [its] internal economy, internal processes, and the like,” Teodoro pointed out. The records of Chinese migrants in the country are inadequate based on previous Senate hearings. No government agency was able to provide the Senate, for instance, with an accurate number of illegal Chinese workers, indicating that they are not being monitored. Labor agencies have also failed to keep track of how many foreign workers are in jobs that, by mandate of the Constitution, should be for Filipinos only. Under the law, foreigners are only allowed to work in jobs that require highly specialized skills and where no Filipinos are deemed competent to do them. During the Senate probe, it was also discovered that as many as 119,000 Chinese nationals who came to the country as tourists are now residents and have jobs in violation of labor regulations. Chinese tourists, through some “gainful” means, were able to obtain special work permits from the Bureau of Immigration. They now work in very diverse areas such as Metro Manila, Clark, Subic, Cagayan and Cagayan de Oro. In one of the inquiries, a Department of Labor and Employment official explained that the special permits were issued without the need for an Alien Employment Permit, or AEP, because the nature of the employment was temporary, lasting from three to six months. The loose process, thus, has allowed foreign workers to enter the country practically unbridled. Senators questioned the discrepancy between the AEPs issued and the number of Chinese workers in the country. Independent sources said that as many as 200,000 to 400,000 Chinese workers are in the country. Four different agencies issue different permits that make the situation worse. The biggest insult by China is that its propaganda work against the Philippines and other opponents in the territorial conflicts is done in this country. Facebook recently removed two networks of fake accounts that were spreading government propaganda, one originating in China and the other in the Philippines. Taken down were 155 Facebook accounts, 11 pages, nine groups and seven Instagram accounts traced to China, and 57 accounts, 31 pages and 20 Instagram accounts based in the Philippines. Such operations breach Facebook’s rules against “coordinated inauthentic behavior on behalf of a foreign or government entity.” The Chinese network used faces created through an AI technique known as GANs (Generative Adversarial Networks). Facebook was able to trace the origins of the accounts because of their visual signatures. “This form of AI is readily available online, and its use (or abuse) by covert operations has exploded in the last year,” according to a report on the social media platform. Identified were a dozen GAN-generated images from the Chinese propaganda operation. Teodoro, who has access to a wealth of information, in revealing the supposed operations being conducted by the Chinese in the country’s backyard, virtually confirmed the problem has reached alarming proportions. It would be easy for the government to keep track of foreign workers if only the appropriate agencies would resist the seduction of human smuggling. In accepting bribes to let the aliens skirt the law, these officials and functionaries have placed our national security at risk. The post Sovereign shame appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PhilHealth tops subsidy recipients
Subsidies to the health sector continued to play a significant role in the government’s slight increase in financial support for state-run businesses in July this year, Bureau of Treasury or BTr data released over the weekend showed. Subsidies to government-owned and controlled corporations, or GOCCs, in July slightly increased by 9.63 percent to P33.24 billion from just P30.32 billion in the same period last year. To pay for operational costs not covered by their profits, the government provides subsidies to GOCCs. The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. received the most subsidies in July, receiving P22.65 billion, or 68.14 percent of all subsidies. PhilHealth received P22.46 billion in the same month last year. The National Irrigation Administration secured the second-highest subsidy at P3.99 billion, while the National Housing Authority came in third with P3.33 billion. Other top monthly recipients included the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority, with P1.29 billion; the National Power Corporation, with P273 million; and the Philippine National Railways, with P155 million. During the month, GOCCs that did not get any subsidy included the Bases Conversion and Development Authority, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, Philippine Postal Corp., Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. and Small Business Corporation. For the seven-month period, subsidies went up by 29.25 percent to P96.94 percent from P75 billion a year ago. Budgetary support for major non-financial government corporations for the January to July period reached P37.36 billion, down 5.03 percent from P39.34 billion in the same timeline last year. Subsidies for other government corporations for the first seven months of the year, on the other hand, increased by 67.03 percent to P59.23 from P35.46 billion. PhilHealth received the biggest subsidy during the first seven months of the year, amounting to P37.68 billion. NIA followed with P25.80 billion, PSALM (P5.0 billion), National Food Authority (P4.71 billion), NHA (P4.52 billion), and Bases Conversion and Development Authority (P2.91 billion). Other top recipients include PFDA (P2.46 billion), Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (P1.93 billion), Philippine Heart Center (P1.24 billion), and Philippine Children’s Medical Center (P1.09 billion). a The post PhilHealth tops subsidy recipients appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Govt subsidies increase 10%, Philhealth still gets lion’s share
Subsidies to the health sector remained a significant role in the government's slight increase in financial support for state-run businesses in July this year, data from the Bureau of Treasury (BTr) showed over the weekend. Data showed that subsidies to government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) in July slightly increased by 9.63 percent to P33.24 billion from just P30.32 billion in the same period last year. To pay for operational costs not covered by their profits, the government provides subsidies to GOCCs. With P22.65 billion in total subsidies for July, the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. received the largest share or 68.14 percent of all subsidies. PhilHealth received P22.46 billion during the same month last year. The National Irrigation Administration secured the second-highest subsidy at P3.99 billion, while the National Housing Authority came in third with P3.33 billion. Other top monthly recipients include the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority with P1.29 billion, the National Power Corporation with P273 million and the Philippine National Railway with P155 million. During the month, GOCCs that did not get any subsidy included the Bases Conversion and Development Authority, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, Philippine Postal Corp, Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp., and Small Business Corporation. For the seven-month period, subsidies went up by 29.25 percent to P96.94 percent from P75 billion a year ago. Budgetary support for major non-financial government corporations for January to July period reached P37.36 billion, down 5.03 percent from P39.34 billion the same timeline last year. Subsidies for other government corporations for the first seven months of the year, on the other hand, increased by 67.03 percent to P59.23 from P35.46 billion. PhilHealth received the biggest subsidy during the first seven months of the year, amounting to P37.68 billion. NIA followed with P25.80 billion, PSALM (P5.0 billion), National Food Authority (P4.71 billion), NHA (P4.52 billion), and Bases Conversion and Development Authority (P2.91 billion). Other top recipients include PFDA (P2.46 billion), Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (P1.93 billion), Philippine Heart Center (P1.24 billion), and Philippine Children's Medical Center (P1.09 billion). The post Govt subsidies increase 10%, Philhealth still gets lion’s share appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
A morning stroll around Tuguegarao
Tuguegarao’s market, the hub of commerce for the capital city and nearby towns in the province of Cagayan, northern Luzon, is a quintessential site in provincial commercial centers with vendors preparing their produce and products to be sold for the day. Bags of pansit and bean sprouts were being unloaded for pansiterias to cook the city’s famous noodle dish, pansit batil potun, widely known as pansit batil patong, while early marketgoers visited the local karinderyas serving dishes such as igado and dinardaraan. An ambulant street-side stall sold meryenda or even breakfast fares best served with coffee — puto, suman, cassava cake, and the made-to-order bibingka of many kinds. [caption id="attachment_176530" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Horno ruins (Photo by Edgar Allan M. Sembrano)[/caption] All activities radiated from the multi-level market which spans one block, a landmark to behold not architecturally but for the space it occupies and the important function it and its immediate areas serve to the community. After all, Tuguegarao is still “the best pueblo for commerce in the valley,” as noted in the early 20th century by Dominican priest Valentin Marin. At the city center, there are quite a number of wooden and mid-20th century bahay na bato which breaks the monotony of the modern concrete structures. Of course, Tuguegarao is known for the San Pedro Cathedral, the seat of the Archdiocese of Tuguegarao, and the much smaller Ermita de Piedra de San Jacinto, both made of bricks and built by the Dominicans during the Spanish colonial period. [caption id="attachment_176532" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Our Lady of Chartres Chapel (Photo by Edgar Allan M. Sembrano)[/caption] The Tuguegarao Cathedral was built from 1761 to 1766 by Fr. Antonio Lobato de Santo Tomas who also built the convent, belfry, a famed bridge, large lime-and-brick kilns, and the 25 parallel streets crisscrossed with the same number of streets forming a grid pattern. The same priest also contributed to the literary scene in the region with his Ibanag-Spanish dictionary, Ibanag grammar, and Ibanag devotional treatises. Cagayan is home to the Ibanag people as well as other ethnic groups such as the Itawes and the Ilocano. The San Jacinto chapel meanwhile was built in 1724, making it 'the oldest' structure in Tuguegarao. It still has its original wooden retablo and an iron fence installed in 1890 by Fr. Romulado Aguado, Tuguegarao’s parish priest that year. It is located east of the Colegio de San Jacinto, now the campus of the St. Paul University Philippines, originally the Colegio de San Pablo founded in 1907 by the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres. [caption id="attachment_176531" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Old building at USL (Photo by Edgar Allan M. Sembrano)[/caption] It was in 1934 that the school transferred to the site of the Colegio de San Jacinto from the Cathedral’s convent following their purchase of the colegio’s property. The colegio was located west of the chapel, the area of which is now part of College Avenue and the SPUP campus. That colegio originally served as the Colegio de Santa Imelda, an all-girls school which operated from 1892 to 1898 and was later converted into the Colegio de San Jacinto, a school for boys from 1901 to 1932. The girl’s college building was erected in 1890 under the direction of Fr. Dionisio Casas, the Dominican Provincial Vicar of that time with plans drawn by a certain Fr. Bruges and funds from the Dominican Province of the Holy Rosary. The front façade measures 75 meters while the side facades of the E-shaped edifice measures 25 meters each. The building is 17 meters wide and 10 meters high. It was of the bahay na bato style where the first level was made from stone and second level of wood. The project cost P75,000. Apart from the school building, then the biggest in the province, there used to be a separate wooden house in the area for the use of the Father Vicar. Both buildings no longer exist today. At present, the SPUP with its sprawling campus is host to many buildings including the impressive Gothic —inspired Our Lady of Chartres Chapel built in the second half the 20th century. During the Spanish colonial period, Tuguegarao was noted to have a carcel (jail), casa tribunal (court house), and schools, all of excellent construction. Today, the jail and courthouse house the Cagayan Museum and Historical Research Center which is at present being renovated. In front of this complex is the Rizal Park with the Rizal Monument. Rizal’s monument replaced that of Fr. Lobato de Santo Tomas in 1918. [caption id="attachment_176529" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Fr. Theophiel Verbist monument (Photo by Edgar Allan M. Sembrano)[/caption] Fronting Rizal Park is the old government center of Tuguegarao, now the Tuguegarao East Central School with the American-era municipio reused as one of the buildings of the school. Few blocks from Tuguegarao’s plaza complex are two brick hornos separated by a covered basketball court. Tuguegarao’s other horno is located in the same village (Barangay Centro 9) at the edge of the Pinacanauan River. These kilns produced lime and bricks for the construction of the city’s Spanish colonial buildings such as the church complex and the cemetery portal, walls and chapel. [caption id="attachment_176527" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Cagayan High School (Photo by Edgar Allan M. Sembrano)[/caption] During the American period, public buildings such as schools were also built. These include the Gabaldon-style Cagayan High School Building and the Cagayan Valley College of Arts and Trades. The Cagayan High School Building still exists to this day while the campus of the Cagayan college which is located in front of the former is now the Cagayan State University after its merger with the Northern Luzon College of Agriculture in 1972 through Presidential Decree 1436. The CSU campus now houses a number of overly decorated buildings, perhaps it most unique feature. [caption id="attachment_176528" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Ermita de San Jacinto (Photo by Edgar Allan M. Sembrano)[/caption] Also during the American colonial period, Dutch Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary priest Msgr. Constant Jurgens founded a school for boys named Cagayan Valley Atheneum inside the Tuguegarao Church complex. This school existed from 1938 to 1946 but it was destroyed during World War II. After the war, it was taken over by the Jesuits and renamed Ateneo de Tuguegarao which operated until 1962. In 1965, it became the Saint Louis College of Tuguegarao under the CICM priests and in 2002, University of Saint Louis Tuguegarao. The university’s campus, located on Arellano, Mabini and Lecaros streets, still has its mid-20th century, U-shaped wooden building and features a number of monuments including those of St. Louis Gonzaga, USL’s patron saint; two for Fr. Theophile Verbist, CICM founder; and the gigantic Good Shepherd at the facade of the Good Shepherd Chapel. Exiting through the schools main campus to Lecaros Street, one is greeted by the Bayani Hall Lecaros, the city’s first condominium building, adding another layer to the city’s history. These layers define what is Tuguegarao now, a bustling commercial center, showing glimpses of its storied past of its peoples. The post A morning stroll around Tuguegarao appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DTI R2 brings Cagayan Valley’s Padday na Lima trade fair back to the metro
Consistent in its pursuit to be a major supplier of minimally processed food and institutionally packed goods, the Padday na Lima Regional Trade Fair of the Department of Trade and Industry Region 2 successfully returned to Metro Manila on 7 August 2023, opening in Alabang, Muntinlupa City, after being held locally in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, for three consecutive years due to the pandemic. DTI Undersecretary for Regional Operations Group Blesila A. Lantayona underlined the agency's efforts to intensify its programs and services and upgrade and upskill MSMEs, and expressed his support and excitement at seeing Cagayan Valley’s offerings back to the metropolis. Mayor Rufino B. Biazon, represented byVice Mayor Artemio Simundac, welcomed guests and participants on behalf of Muntinlupa City, and emphasized the city’s support and appreciation for this regional endeavor, especially Cagayan Valley's choice of their city as the venue for the fair. Dubbed the biggest marketing platform in Cagayan Valley, the weeklong fair brings together top institutional buyers, over 100 local MSMEs and farmers, media industry professionals and NCR-based consumers. Under the theme “Bringing the Flavors and Colors of Cagayan Valley Back to the Metro” and led by DTI Region 2 Regional Director Leah Pulido Ocampo, Padday na Lima showcases the region’s craftsmanship, culture and tastes. This year's edition highlights tourism exhibitions, investment opportunities, new product innovations, business-to-business matching and media experience tours. Mayani co-founder and CEO JT Solis, DeliverE co-founder Pierre Curay, Batanes Governor Marilou Cayco, Nueva Vizcaya Vice Governor Eufemia Dacayo and Quirino Provincial Administrator Carmelita B. Jimenez graced the launch. Artisanal handcrafted products displayed in the fair are also available online through the Padday na Lima webshop at paddaynalima.com, where NCR-based consumers can conveniently place their orders in the comfort of their homes. DTI invites all the mall goers, buyers, resellers, institutional buyers and manufacturers to take advantage of the bounty of Cagayan Valley and support local MSMEs by visiting the fair at Carousel Court, Upper Ground Floor, West Wing, Festival Mall, Alabang, Muntinlupa City until 13 August 2023. The post DTI R2 brings Cagayan Valley’s Padday na Lima trade fair back to the metro appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Dad’s Day treats
Escape at The Pen [caption id="attachment_144658" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Photograph courtesy of the peninsuLa manilaTRIUMPH motorcycle[/caption] The Peninsula Manila offers dads a weekend staycation while indulging in Escolta’s Sunday brunch buffet. Make sure he also gets to experience Salon de Ning’s one-afternoon-only pop-up Pen Ultimate Father’s Day Dream Lounge, where he’ll enjoy complimentary cocktails and pica-pica and snazzy grooming services. The Dream Lounge will offer complimentary male grooming services from Back Alley Barbershop; a display of Triumph motorcycles and automobiles from Rolls-Royce, Lotus and Mini Cooper; For Him skincare by VMV Hypoallergenics whose expert technicians will provide complimentary hand treatments; funky and functional ceramic art from Pottery Sessions, custom-made menswear crafted in Singapore by Common Suits; pens and inks for fountain pen aficionados by Manila Pen; bespoke spectacles by R.E.M. Rapid Eye Movement Manila; rare timepieces from Vintage Grail, collectible vinyls and DJ music; artisanal chocolates from Auro Chocolate; and small bites and innovative cocktails. E-mail ReservationPMN@peninsula.com. Toast to Dad Conrad Manila has an exclusive Father’s Day promo. Brasserie on 3, the hotel’s signature restaurant, presents “Feast to Fatherhood” on 17 to 18 June, with P3,500 nett lunch and dinner buffet. As a special treat, dads dine for free with every four paying adults. China Blue by Jereme Leung has the “Father’s Day Feast Set Menu” from 16 to 18 June, priced at P49,880 nett for 10 persons. At C Lounge, it’s time for “Dad’s Night Out” until 18 June. Starting at 5 p.m., this extraordinary experience is priced at P2,288++ and includes a three-glass whiskey flight, one cigar and five truffle chocolate balls. Bru, Conrad Manila’s beloved café, invites guests to “Treats for Tatay” throughout the month of June. With a minimum purchase of P1,000, dads receive a complimentary Father’s Day mini cake. Conrad Spa offers the ultimate rejuvenation experience for dads with the exclusive “Father’s Day Rejuvenation” package. Visit www.conradmanila.com or call 8833 9999. Day delights [caption id="attachment_144645" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Photograph courtesy of city of dreamsCrystal Dragon’s Chilled Spicy Marinated 25 Heads Chilean Abalone with squids, shrimps, and clams.[/caption] City of Dreams Manila’s Crystal Dragon presents an exclusive Father’s Day menu until 18 June. Choices include Chilled Spicy Marinated 25 Heads Chilean Abalone with squids, shrimps and clams; Double-boiled Sea Treasure Soup with maca, fish maw, conpoy and pork stomach; Roasted Farm Duck with black truffle sauce; Sauteed Australian Asparagus with shrimps and morel mushrooms; and Braised Fujian Fragrant Rice with assorted seafood and eryngii mushroom. Nobu Sunday Brunch features a lavish spread of new-style Japanese cuisine popularized by world renowned chef Nobu Matsuhisa at P4,388. Restaurants at The Shops at the Boulevard are not to be missed. Jing Ting, specializing in Northern Chinese cuisine including fresh hand-pulled noodle dishes, and Red Ginger, which offers authentic Southeast Asian dishes, are both offering menu exclusives for the month of June. Rossi Pizza, Hidemasa, TungLok Signatures, Mango Tree, J. Park Garden, Modern Table and the newly opened Wolfgang’s Steakhouse and Grill are equally worth a visit. Call 8800-8080 or e-mail guestservices@cod-manila.com or visit www.cityofdreams manila.com. Drink of choice [caption id="attachment_144657" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Photograph courtesyof new world makati‘SHAKEN Not Stirred’ gin.[/caption] New World Makati Hotel’s “A Toast to Dad” room package includes breakfast and dad’s cocktails of choice, a hearty buffet feast at Café 1228, all-you-can-eat dim sum at Jasmine, as well as decadent cakes and sweets at The Shop. Whether dad’s drink of choice is a whisky, gin or rum-based concoction, the “A Toast to Dad” room package starting at P8,500++ comes with two creative cocktails from Bar Rouge as well as a complimentary bowl of chips and dip. Room package also includes an overnight stay in a Deluxe or Residence Club Deluxe room with breakfast for two. Book online via bit.ly/NWMFathers DayStay. Superb treats With three delectable combos to choose from, Pizza Hut has Superb Treat for six to nine persons at a P1,899. For a more intimate Father’s Day celebration, there’s the Superb Treat for four, at P1,199. If your dad is the biggest pizza lover that you know, then you’ll never go wrong with the Superb Triple Pizza Treat at P1,199. If you order Pizza Hut ahead of time for your Father’s Day celebration, you’ll get six pieces of WingStreet Buffalo wings for free. Call 8911-1111 hotline or visit www.pizzahut.com.ph. Happy Papi Gringo’s Chicken and Ribs rolls out its Father’s Day special with Papi’s Paboritos. Papi’s Paboritos has all-time Gringo like the Cuban Beef Lechon. Gringo’s Cerveza Wings even makes a comeback in this one, fried chicken wings fried to crisp perfection and flavored with the malty goodness of beer. Pair it with starters like the Caesar Salad and the meaty Angus Bolognese Linguine. Cap the meal with its new Classic Tres Leches, a light and soft sponge cake soaked with three kinds of milk. This limited offering is only P2,198 and is available in all Gringo branches. Visit gringo.ph. Ebi awesome [caption id="attachment_144660" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Photograph courtesy of tokyo bubble teaBIBIMBAP[/caption] For the entire month of June, Tokyo Bubble Tea offers Ebi Tempura Meal Sets featuring three pieces of Tokyo Bubble Tea’s Ebi Tempura, two Tokyo Big Plates and two large drinks. Specially made set meals for those in Cagayan de Oro are also available. Metro Manila branches are located in Banawe, Greenhills, SM Megamall, and Bonifacio Global City. Each set is P899.Tokyo Bubble Tea branches in Cagayan de Oro are located at Centrio Mall and SM CDO Downtown Premier. Each set is only P650. Visit www.tokyobubbletea.com, Grab Food, and FoodPanda. The post Dad’s Day treats appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Second Fresh Depot cold storage unit for Nueva Vizcaya farmers
Following the successful introduction of its first pilot cold storage unit in Benguet, Aboitiz Group’s Fresh Depot has launched its second pilot unit at the Nueva Vizcaya Agricultural Terminal, one of the country’s biggest trading centers located in the Cagayan Valley region. Fresh Depot seeks to contribute to the country’s food sustainability by providing a physical and digital platform for farmers, with cold storage as its springboard. With Fresh Depot’s innovative pilot unit, farmers and traders can now efficiently store their surplus produce and preserve its freshness until it reaches the market. This groundbreaking solution aims to significantly reduce food wastage and enhance the food supply chain in the Philippines. Moreover, Fresh Depot seeks to provide value-adding services, such as establishing a comprehensive database that the government can leverage to enhance their agricultural initiatives. Emilie Sydney-Smith, Aboitiz Equity Ventures chief transformation officer, explained how Fresh Depot can become a game-changer for Philippine agriculture. “Filipino farmers face so many challenges, it can be hard to know where to start. When we saw that cold storage technology could prevent around half of their crops from spoiling between harvest and consumption, this was an obvious answer. Getting paid for most, not half, of their production means that farmers will soon be able to invest in other products that can create a virtuous cycle in their prosperity. Digitally tracking the cold storage usage means we can also help the government understand how they can better support farmers.” NVAT serves as a major vegetable trading hub for farmers, traders and buyers from different parts of Luzon. It was established and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission in December 2001. The Provincial Government of Nueva Vizcaya was the majority stockholder from 2005 to 2013. By 2015, the private sector had gained the majority shares of the corporation. At present, 85.29 percent of shares are owned by the private sector and the remaining 14.71 percent of shares are owned by the government. Gilbert Cumila, general manager of NVAT, is proud to participate in Fresh Depot’s groundbreaking pilot. “We are happy to be collaborating with Aboitiz on Fresh Depot’s pilot program. As part of NVAT and a farmer myself, I see a lot of potential in providing this facility to farmers and traders, enabling them to preserve their fresh produce’s quality before they are brought to the consumption market. This will also open doors to digitize farm data. We are equally committed to make this project a success to help prepare the country’s agricultural sector for the future.” The post Second Fresh Depot cold storage unit for Nueva Vizcaya farmers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
AFP seeks more EDCA sites
The Armed Forces of the Philippines said Sunday the establishment of additional Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement sites with the United States will provide the country with “360-degree protection” in the future. AFP spokesperson, Col. Medel Aguilar, said the expansion of EDCA sites will further help defend the country’s maritime territory so Filipinos can utilize its abundant resources within its exclusive economic zone. “If we are talking about the further expansion of the EDCA, I think this is possible [if] what we want is to protect because we are an archipelagic country and we have so many islands, we have a long shoreline,” Aguilar said, partly in Filipino, Sunday. “If we are to protect our sovereignty and territorial integrity including the protection of maritime resources that should be enjoyed by our people, we need a 360-degree protection capability for the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” he added. The Palace and the Department of National Defense earlier announced the establishment of four additional EDCA sites at the Naval Base Camilo Osias in Sta. Ana, Cagayan; Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo, Cagayan; Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela; and Balabac Island in Palawan. These are on top of five existing EDCA sites in the country, including the Bautista Air Base in Palawan; Basa Air Base in Pampanga; Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija; Lumbia Airport in Cagayan de Oro City; and the Benito Ebuen Air Base in Mactan, Cebu. Defense only The DND and AFP said putting up more EDCA facilities primarily aims to boost the country’s defense capabilities and further protect the national interest of the Philippines. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has assured that the additional EDCA sites will not be utilized for offensive attacks amid the increasingly aggressive activities of China in the West Philippine Sea. On Saturday, Mr. Marcos said the Philippines and China have agreed to open more channels of communication to ensure that engagements between Chinese and Philippine forces do not escalate. Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang met this week in Manila with the President, Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo, and other government officials. Qin’s visit was seen as China’s way of countering the growing influence of the United States in the Philippines, with the two nations holding their biggest Balikatan military exercises this year. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Chairperson Senator Imee Marcos has questioned the selection of the new EDCA sites as they “seem to be random and no longer purposeful” for the modernization of the AFP. Selection process She also raised concerns that government seems to have given up the country’s territorial claims on the western and eastern Philippine seaboard. In response, Aguilar said the new EDCA locations have gone through a stringent and strategic selection process based on the country’s necessities and the need to improve the defense capabilities of the AFP. “In the selection, primarily we relied on the recommendation based on the AFP modernization roadmap,” he said, noting that the western and eastern seaboards of the country were also considered in locating the new EDCA sites. The DND earlier said EDCA will serve as a collaborative agreement between the Philippines and the US, enabling rotational activities to promote better disaster responses and humanitarian efforts. The post AFP seeks more EDCA sites appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Final bell rings for boxing chief Ed Picson
Philippine sports lost a pillar -- both inside and outside the boxing ring. Edgar “Ed” Picson passed away following a long battle with liver cancer, his friend and longtime colleague Joaquin Henson announced. He was 69. A Letran College alumnus, Picson started his television career as a semi-regular in "John N Marsha" -- a highly-successful sitcom featuring comedy king Dolphy and Nida Blanca in the 1980s -- while doing boardwork as a radio DJ. He made it into sports the following decade as he served as commentator for “Blow By Blow,” the weekly boxing program that launched Manny Pacquiao’s professional career. He also served as color commentator for the Philippine Basketball Association and wrote a regular column at the Manila Bulletin. In 2009, his biggest break came. With the group of industrialist Manny Pangilinan taking over the leadership of the Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines from Manny Lopez, Picson was appointed as executive director who will man the day-to-day operations of the organization. A few years later, he was tapped as Vargas’ secretary general replacing Patrick Gregorio. Under Picson, Philippine boxing flourished as he retained the services of longtime coaches like Pat Gaspi, Ronald Chavez and Roel and Boy Velasco while expanding its talent identification program in major provinces like Cebu, Davao and Cagayan de Oro. To make the program more holistic, he hired a foreign mentor in Donn Abnett of Australia and provided the boxers with deep knowledge in strength and conditioning, psychology, nutrition and other sport sciences. The result was truly impressive as his leadership inspired Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam to win a silver medal while Eumir Marcial took home a bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. His achievement was greatly rewarded when Vargas passed him the Abap leadership in November of 2021. To make up for his lingering battle with cancer, he tapped a young sport leader in Marcus Manalo to assist him as his secretary general. The boxers were preparing for the 32nd Southeast Asian Games at the Teachers Camp in Baguio City when news of Picson’s demise broke out at high noon on Wednesday. “It is with deep sadness that I confirm that ABAP president Ed Picson passed away this morning due to complications from cancer of the liver,” Manalo said in a statement. “ABAP will have a special board meeting tomorrow and will come up with an official statement.” Henson said branded Picson as a sports broadcasting “legend.” “ABAP president and dear friend Ed Picson passed away at 11 this morning due to complications from liver cancer,” Henson said in a social media post. “Ed was a legend in sports broadcasting and when Senator Manny revived ‘Blow By Blow’ late last year, he was invited to cover the fights but he declined. He will be missed.” Another broadcasting colleague in Bill Velasco said he will definitely miss Picson, whom he worked with in the PBA panel in the 1990s. “Lost another old friend today. Farewell, Ed Picson, my colleague from Vintage Enterprises in the early 1990’s,” Velasco said. “You were always articulate, level-headed, and spoke your mind. A great sportscaster, voice talent, and boxing official. God bless you, kind sir.” The post Final bell rings for boxing chief Ed Picson appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Tothapi may bagong single, ka-join na sa Sony Music family
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