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Give LPE a chance
Newly appointed Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro made a deeply rooted statement about the peace talks between the Philippine government and communist rebels that have dragged on for several decades, with intermittent periods of very little progress and setbacks. Without mincing words, Teodoro said he had always been against entering into peace negotiations with the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army. This is equally consistent with his position that communist rebels are welcome to return to the government fold given an existing program that offers “to help them, rehabilitate them and give them a new life.” Why is this so? For Teodoro, why engage in peace talks when there is Task Force Balik-Loob — a central coordinating body created by Administrative Order No. 10 dated 3 April 2018 that supervises the government’s reintegration efforts for members of the CPP-NPA-NDF, including their immediate family members. The task force is composed of representatives from the DND, DILG, OPAPRU, and other partner government agencies. I couldn’t agree with the Defense Secretary more. In a recent television interview, he said he was never convinced that the Philippine insurgency — the longest-running in Asia — was ideological. His explanation was clear. “This is all about taking power or whatever. The reason, even in other countries, the sole authority of the Communist Party in other countries is a dictatorship in itself. They call it the dictatorship of the proletariat.” We have in front of us a duplicity of the communist agenda — a pro-people advocacy on one hand, and the overthrow of the government on the other. The history of the peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front, CPP’s political wing, is long and complex spanning several decades. When Corazon C. Aquino assumed the presidency after the People Power Revolution in 1986, peace talks were initiated and detained top communist leaders, including Jose Maria Sison and Bernabe Buscayno, were released. Since then, there have been several attempts at peace negotiations between the government and the Reds, facilitated by third-party mediators, including the Catholic Church, various civil society groups, and foreign governments. The most recent attempt at peace talks was in 2016 during the first year in office of then-President Rodrigo Duterte. It, however, broke down in 2017 after both sides accused the other of violating the ceasefire agreement. Duterte, exasperated by the insincerity, formally terminated the peace negotiations with the CPP-NPA in 2018 through Proclamation 360. Despite this, there have been sporadic calls for the resumption of the peace talks, particularly from civil society groups and the international community. More than 40 rounds of peace talks with the CPP-NPA-NDF since 1986 proved futile, marred by spoilers who used violence to attack the peace process. Or were these attempts aimed at forcing their way into negotiations, and alter a process so that their demands would be included in a settlement? Opinions vary, often dependent on political, social, and ideological perspectives. While some people argue that pursuing peace talks is the best way to end the decades-long armed insurgency, others are skeptical about the prospects as evidenced by the little willingness to negotiate in good faith, human rights violations, coupled with unreasonable and unrealistic demands. Peace is a priority for more than 110 million Filipinos who hope to see an end to the decades-long insurgency in the country. If top-level negotiated settlements fail, there is the Localized Peace Engagement or LPE — a viable alternative solution to the armed conflict. Introduced by the national government in 2017 after the breakdown of the peace negotiations with the Reds, let us give this community-based approach to peacebuilding a chance. After all, who wouldn’t want to address the underlying social, economic, and political grievances that fuel armed conflicts? The post Give LPE a chance appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PEZA, DICT sign MOU for `ease of going business’
Philippine Economic Zone Authority Director General Tereso O. Panga and Department of Information and Communications Technology Secretary Ivan John E. Uy signed a Memorandum of Understanding last 18 May at PEZA Head Office for a more synchronized and well-coordinated ICT system in the ecozones. According to Panga, “This partnership is our agencies’ response to the call of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., to ramp up digitalization in government to ensure fast and efficient delivery of services to the public. Additionally, PEZA is committed to carrying out DTI Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual's directive to adopt digital transformation to boost the country's competitiveness as an investment destination, particularly for high-tech and innovator accelerator companies.” “We are once again making another breakthrough as we continuously enhance data security, transparency, and government transactions to better serve our ecozone developers, locators, and investors making the country more conducive to do and expand businesses with,” the Director General added. Agreeing with Marcos' vision for digital transformation, Uy expressed confidence that the MOU signing for e-governance between PEZA and DICT will unify everyone as one government to push for the use of a single operating system for all government transactions. This aims to ensure faster, more streamlined, and more convenient delivery of government services in the country. In support of the government’s digitalization efforts, the signing ceremony proved to strengthen collaborations between PEZA and DICT in achieving and promoting the interconnection and interoperability of their respective systems. Panga highlighted that with the DICT’s help and guidance, the efforts that PEZA has exerted throughout these years, in connection with digitalization, will continue and remain steadfast. That is to enhance office and administrative efficiencies, customer satisfaction, and the delivery of services for a much-improved ease of doing business. Under the signed MOU, the DICT will assess and evaluate as well as assist in the development and enhancement of current applications and systems of PEZA. It will also provide recommendations and strategies for the improvement of the agency’s ICT system. The DICT will also provide an appraisal of the programs and projects that both agencies may agree to develop. It will make sure identified and existing applications and systems of PEZA will be integrated with DICT and of the digitalization aspect of the President’s 8-Point Socio-Economic Agenda. PEZA, being DICT’s digital transformation partner, will in turn provide guidance on its processes and relevant information and data to DICT ensuring that respective systems and applications are interoperable. “By adopting e-governance and advancing the development of various solutions, together, we can eliminate bureaucratic inefficiencies, reduce red tape, and provide faster and more convenient access to critical government services,” Uy stated. Likewise, Panga shared that “PEZA has recently rolled out its e-payment system and is set to launch its e-LOA in June this year to automate the remaining office processes to further enhance the facilitation of ecozone shipments. This will make PEZA among the trailblazers in government into cashless and paperless transactions.” PEZA is also eyeing other high-impact IT infrastructure and automation projects for implementation this year. They include hybrid internet connectivity in the ecozones, an e-container tracking system with the Bureau of Customs, electronic visa, and building permits, an e-financial management system, an Engineering Permits Assessment Monitoring System, a digital marketplace, full integration of the public ecozone command centers, and cyber security solutions. The post PEZA, DICT sign MOU for `ease of going business’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
VP Sara highlights stronger Halal industries
In an effort to attract more tourists to the country, Vice President Sara Duterte underscored the need to strengthen the Halal industries or food and products permitted by the laws of Islam. In separate courtesy calls to Duterte on Thursday, Malaysian Ambassador Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino and Brunei Darussalam Ambassador Megawati Manan said boosting the halal industries in the Philippines will make the country more friendly for Muslim communities. The Vice President said she agreed to establishing programs aimed at strengthening the halal to better serve Muslims and foreign tourists. “With regard to the Halal industry, yes, I agree with you. When I was mayor in Davao City, one of our bigger projects was about tourism. And we were missing out a segment of tourists because there’s much (of them who asked) how strong is the halal industry,” the Vice President told Ambassador Megawati. “Admittedly, we did not have before so we created the Davao City Halal Council to discuss how we can strengthen the halal industry in Davao City,” she added. She also shared that she built a halal slaughterhouse during her term as mayor of Davao City. Meantime, the Vice President also appealed to the collective effort of stakeholders “to have our sights set on an active call for inclusion.” “To all of us, let us never dim the lights of inclusive education,” Duterte said in her keynote speech during the Language and Inclusion Summit at Marriot Hotel in Pasay City. She underscored the Department of Education’s MATATAG agenda in basic education which “only becomes truly meaningful and effective if we can put inclusivity at the center of what we do — if we only make inclusivity the heart and the soul of our reforms and efforts to improve basic education.” “This means that our MATATAG Agenda does not forget, discriminate against, or disregard Indigenous Peoples or our Lumad brothers and sisters, our Muslim communities, or people with disabilities,” said Duterte. The post VP Sara highlights stronger Halal industries appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Biden cuts back Asia tour as hopes rise of debt deal
Joe Biden and opposition Republican leaders on Tuesday offered hope of a deal that could avoid a catastrophic US debt default, although the president was forced to shorten an upcoming Asia tour for further crisis talks. After the latest negotiations ended without a breakthrough, Republican House speaker Kevin McCarthy told reporters there was still "a lot of work to do" to break the high-stakes standoff with Democrat Biden over the borrowing limit. But while stark differences remained, the White House said Biden was "optimistic that there is a path to a responsible, bipartisan budget agreement if both sides negotiate in good faith." And McCarthy likewise indicated he ultimately expected a deal, even if so far "nothing has been resolved." "America is the number one economy in the world. And when we get done with these negotiations, America's economy is going to be stronger," he said. The US president -- who flies to Japan on Wednesday for a G7 summit -- scrapped subsequent stops in Papua New Guinea and Australia, instead returning to Washington on Sunday. The Treasury has warned of grim consequences if the country runs out of cash to pay its bills, which would leave it unable to pay federal workers and trigger a likely surge in interest rates with knock-on effects for businesses, mortgages -- and global markets. The United States could begin defaulting on its debts "potentially as early as June 1," Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Monday, while the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has forecast June 15. The White House said Biden had directed his staff "to continue to meet daily on outstanding issues," and that he would confer with Republican leaders on his return from the G7 meetings. Republicans have continued to insist Biden agree to significant spending cuts in exchange for their support to raise the debt ceiling, ignoring Democratic calls for a "clean" increase of the borrowing limit with no strings attached. Democrats have accused Republicans of using extreme tactics to push their agenda ahead of the so-called "X-date" at which the United States starts defaulting on its debts. In a sign of growing nervousness over what would be the first-ever US debt default, more than 140 top US chief executives sent a letter to Biden and congressional leaders stressing the need for an agreement. "We strongly urge that an accord be reached quickly so that the country can avert this potentially devastating scenario," the letter signed by the CEOs from Pfizer and Morgan Stanley, among others, said. Republicans, who regained control of the House in the 2022 midterm elections, are using their newfound clout to demand cuts of $130 billion from federal agencies and programs in exchange for support for lifting the debt ceiling. This would limit spending in the 2024 fiscal year to 2022 levels. They also want to expedite domestic energy production projects, simplify the process for obtaining permits for pipelines and refineries and claw back unspent Covid relief funding. There are now only three days remaining when the House and Senate are both in session before June 1 -- the day the Treasury predicts the United States could run out of money. Some senators have acknowledged that they may have to cancel the Memorial Day recess beginning Thursday to get a deal finalized. As the X-date draws closer, Democrats in Congress have begun considering a range of alternatives, including using an arcane congressional procedure to bypass McCarthy. They've also contemplated asking Biden to invoke the 14th Amendment to raise the debt ceiling unilaterally, which some legal scholars believe would allow the Treasury to simply ignore the debt limit. But Biden has cautioned that such a move could be challenged in court and has continued to call publicly for Republicans to support a clean increase to the debt ceiling. The post Biden cuts back Asia tour as hopes rise of debt deal appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Biden and McCarthy to reconvene Tuesday for debt limit talks
President Joe Biden will reconvene crunch debt talks Tuesday with senior Republican leaders including House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in another attempt to avert a costly US default. The Treasury has warned that the US could run out of cash to pay its bills as soon as 1 June, leaving it unable to pay federal workers and triggering a likely surge in interest rates with a huge impact on businesses and mortgage holders. The talks have a lot of ground to cover, with the two parties still sharply divided on the terms under which they will agree to lift the government's borrowing cap to pay for existing spending commitments. Republicans continue to insist that Biden agrees to significant spending cuts in exchange for their support to raise the debt ceiling, while Democrats have been calling for a "clean" increase of the borrowing limit with no strings attached. They have accused Republicans of using extreme tactics to push their political agenda ahead of the so-called "X-date" -- the point at which the United States will be unable to meet its financial obligations. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned the X-date could come as early as June 1, while the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office forecast on Friday an X-date of 15 June. Still far apart House, Senate, and White House negotiators met over the weekend in a bid to make progress ahead of the talks, US media reported. When asked Monday whether he was meeting with McCarthy the following day, Biden responded in the affirmative. But McCarthy signaled the two sides still had much to hammer out. "I still think we're far apart," he told reporters Monday at the US Capitol, adding that "it doesn't seem to me yet that they want a deal." "They're not talking anything serious," he went on. "It seems more like they want a default than a deal." Republicans, who regained control of the House in the midterm elections, are using their newfound political clout to demand deep cuts of roughly $130 billion from federal agencies and programs in exchange for their support, limiting spending in the 2024 fiscal year to 2022 levels. They also want to expedite domestic energy production projects, simplify the process for obtaining permits for pipelines and refineries, claw back unspent Covid relief funding, and impose work requirements for social programs. President Biden has rebuffed many of these proposals, accusing Republicans of "holding the economy hostage" to further their political objectives. Four days left Including Monday, there are just four days remaining when the House and Senate are both in session before 1 June. Some senators have acknowledged that they may have to cancel the Memorial Day recess beginning Thursday to get a deal finalized, although there is no official plan to do so. In recent days, Biden has suggested he may have to postpone a planned trip to Asia later this month if the two sides fail to reach agreement, but has stopped short of canceling his visit while the talks continue. As the X-date draws closer, Democrats in Congress have begun considering a range of alternatives, including using an arcane congressional procedure to bypass McCarthy. They've also contemplated asking Biden to invoke the 14th Amendment to raise the debt ceiling unilaterally -- a move opposed by Republicans. The legal argument for doing so hinges around language in the Civil War-era amendment stating that US sovereign debt "shall not be questioned," which some legal scholars believe would allow the Treasury to simply ignore the debt limit. But Biden has cautioned that the move would almost certainly be challenged in court, and has instead continued to call on Republicans to support a clean increase to the debt ceiling. Not doing so could cause a recession, which would be "catastrophic," Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo told CNN Sunday. "The United States of America has never defaulted on its debt -- and we can't," he said. The post Biden and McCarthy to reconvene Tuesday for debt limit talks appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Minority senators agree on proposal to amend EPIRA
MANILA - The two-member Senate minority bloc committed on Monday their support to review and amend Republic Act (RA) 9136, or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA).It is one of the legislative agenda mentioned by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in his first State of the Nation Addres.....»»
Minority senators agree on proposal to amend EPIRA
MANILA - The two-member Senate minority bloc committed on Monday their support to review and amend Republic Act (RA) 9136, or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA).It is one of the legislative agenda mentioned by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in his first State of the Nation Addres.....»»
MLB season begins
Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers take center stage on Thursday as Major League Baseball’s new season gets under way on US soil against the backdrop of a gambling scandal that has engulfed its brightest star......»»
Israel bombs Gaza, fights Hamas around hospitals
Israeli forces pounded besieged Gaza on Wednesday and fought Hamas around several hospitals, despite a UN Security Council demand for a ceasefire. Talks in Qatar towards a truce and hostage release deal involving US and Egyptian mediators have brought no result so far, with Israel and the Palestinian militant group blaming each other. READ: Israel.....»»
His Peace
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Isaiah 26:3.....»»
Six presumed dead after ship destroys major US bridge
Authorities on Tuesday suspended their search for six people missing after a packed cargo ship slammed into a Baltimore bridge, causing it to collapse and blocking one of the busiest US commercial harbors......»»
Baltimore bridge collapses after cargo ship rams it
A major bridge in the US city of Baltimore almost entirely collapsed Tuesday after being struck by a cargo ship, sending multiple vehicles and up to 20 people plunging into the harbor below. Dramatic footage shows a container ship hitting a footing of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, sending the steel-built structure into the Patapsco.....»»
Missing man found dead in Barangay Bonbon
CEBU CITY, Philippines — A 50-year-old man who had been missing for two weeks was found dead in Sitio Golivas, Barangay Bonbon, Cebu City. The victim was identified as Adriano Fuentes Durano, a resident of Kiniasan, Barangay Bonbon, Cebu City. Police Major Philip John Libres, chief of Malubog Police Community Precinct, stated that on Tuesday.....»»
Gela Atayde masaya sa kasalang Ria-Zanjoe: My heart is at peace
ISANG heartfelt message ang alay ng Kapamilya artist na si Gela Atayde para sa bagong kasal niyang kapatid na si Ria Atayde at sa asawa nitong si Zanjoe Marudo. Matatandaang nitong Sabado, March 23, kasabay ng kaarawan ni Ria ay ikinasal sila ni Zanjoe sa Quezon City na in-officiate ni Mayor Joy Belmonte. Sa latest.....»»
Major Dingdong Dantes finishes Naval Combat Engineering Officer basic course
Actor Dingdong Dantes is now a Naval Combat Engineering Officer of the Philippine Navy after receiving a certificate for finishing a basic course......»»
Davao police clueless on Quiboloy’s whereabouts
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 24 March) — Police authorities in the Davao region claim they are still clueless on the whereabouts of Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy. The Senate had earlier ordered the arrest of Quiboloy for his continued refusal to attend its investigation of alleged human trafficking and child abuse. Police major Catheine Dela Rey, Police […].....»»
Police beef up security in Davao region for Holy Week
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 25 March) – Around 3,000 police personnel have been deployed to secure various areas in the Davao region for the Holy Week observance, an official of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-Davao said on Monday. Police Major Catherine Dela Rey, PRO-Davao spokesperson, said the deployment of more security personnel was intended to ensure that […].....»»
Shohei Ohtani says interpreter stole money, denies knowledge of gambling debts
Shohei Ohtani says he was unaware Ippei Mizuhara had gambling debts and that he had been lied to repeatedly by the interpreter who had been by his side since he joined Major League Baseball in 2018.....»»
MMDA allows road works during Holy Week
Road diggings will take place along major thoroughfares in Metro Manila this Holy Week when most motorists are vacationing in the provinces, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority announced yesterday......»»
Resumption of FTA talks seen to spur higher EU investments
The Philippine Economic Zone Authority expects investments from European companies to increase with the resumption of the Philippines – European Union free trade agreement negotiations......»»