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S. Korean migrant’s tale to open Asia’s biggest film festival
The world premiere of Jang Kun-jae's "Because I Hate Korea" will open Asia's largest film festival Wednesday night as it looks to rally from a year marked by scandal and budget cutbacks. The South Korean director's tale of a disillusioned young woman who relocates to New Zealand is among 209 official entries from 69 countries set to unspool at the Busan International Film Festival, which runs until 13 October. Eighty will be making their world premieres in the southern port city. This year's edition comes as organizers grapple with the fallout from former festival director Huh Moon-yung's resignation in May amid accusations of sexual misconduct. The scandal saw BIFF's 2023 budget reduced by about 10 percent as sponsors withdrew in the wake of the allegations, according to organizers. Kang Seung-ah, now serving as acting deputy director, acknowledged they had endured a "difficult phase" before assembling a lineup she said was "more substantial than ever before". Opening night director Jang, who noted he'd attended BIFF far more as an audience member than a filmmaker, told a late afternoon news conference he had sought to address serious questions with his film. "I believe it's necessary to pay attention to the fact that many young people are finding it difficult to navigate through Korean society. I started questioning whether our society is providing a fair and equitable foundation for young people to pursue their dreams," he told reporters after a preview screening. Based on the best-selling Chang Kang-myoung novel, "Because I Hate Korea" received support from BIFF's Asia Project Market back in 2016. South Korea has transformed itself into a cultural powerhouse since then thanks to the explosive success of the Oscar-winning "Parasite" and the Netflix series "Squid Game". "Many people are now showing great interest in Korean content such as K-pop, K-movies, and K-dramas. Living in such an era, they might develop a certain fantasy about South Korea, I think," Nam Dong-chul, the festival's acting interim director, told reporters. But "I thought it might be good to consider these views from the perspective of people living in Korea and especially the youth in South Korea", he said of the opening night choice. "They might have different thoughts and experiences." Frequent Bong Joon-ho collaborator Go Ah-sung, who delivered a memorable performance as the protagonist of "Because I Hate Korea", was unable to attend the festival due to a back injury. 'Dear Jinri' Despite Go's absence, the festival will still feature serious star power, with acclaimed Hong Kong actor Chow Yun Fat scheduled to receive the Asian Filmmaker of the Year award. Three of Chow's films -- "A Better Tomorrow" (1986), "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" (2000) and 2023's "One More Chance" -- will be screened in his honour. Other highly anticipated screenings include "Dear Jinri", a documentary that features late K-pop star Sulli's last and incomplete project. Sulli, born Choi Jin-ri, took her own life in 2019 after a long struggle with online bullying. The film includes her final media interview, which has not been disclosed previously. Korea's filmmaking diaspora will also be showcased with a special series of screenings that includes "Searching" (2018), starring John Cho, and director Celine Song's Sundance favorite "Past Lives". Netflix's highly anticipated "Yellow Door: 90s Lo-fi Film Club" will also have its world premiere at BIFF. The documentary spotlights South Korea's renowned cinephile generation of the 1990s, acclaimed "Parasite" director Bong among them. "The Movie Emperor", director Ning Hao's satirical take on the Chinese film industry starring Hong Kong actor Andy Lau, is set to close the festival. Ning's comedy "deftly captures the fine line between the film industries in Hong Kong and mainland China", as well as the "delicate relationship between Western film festivals and Asian filmmakers", according to the program notes. The post S. Korean migrant’s tale to open Asia’s biggest film festival appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Sara Duterte’s P2.7B confidential expenses as Davao mayor should be probed—Castro
Davao City’s confidential expenses that ballooned to P2.697 billion during Vice President Sara Duterte’s stint as mayor should be probed by the Commission on Audit, a lawmaker said Monday. The call for investigation was prompted by the 2022 report of the CoA, which found that Davao City spent P2.697 billion on confidential expenses between 2016 to 2022, or an average of PP385.3 million per year over the preceding six years. Duterte served as the Davao City mayor from 2016 to 2022 before she assumed the VP post in July of last year. Based on CoA findings, Davao City incurred P144 million of confidential expenses in 2016, which was more than doubled to P293 million in 2017 and further climbed to P420 million in 2018. The city’s confidential fund expenses further grew to P460 million in 2019 and were maintained consistently for the subsequent years of 2020, 2021, and 2022. In an interview on Monday, ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro, who sought the CoA probe, stressed that the P2.697 billion totality of confidential expenses of Davao City in the previous six years “could have been utilized more effectively to benefit the education sector, specifically by providing much-needed support to teachers.” “We were shocked also [by] the report of the CoA. With this controversy of confidential funds, we are thinking of asking the CoA to investigate,” she said. “The CoA should file an audit observation memo and then ask them to explain maybe the misuse of funds and then file necessary legal action.” She added, “Imagine more than a million a day spent for the confidential funds in a city. I just wonder how it was spent and where it was spent. So, we want the CoA to review if the city government of Davao City led by Vice President Sara Duterte by then really followed the guidelines or the joint circular 2015-01.” The said joint circular outlined by CoA with the Departments of Budget and Management, National Defense, and of the Interior and Local Government, and Governance Commission for GOCCs, contains guidelines on the entitlement, release, use, reporting, and audit of confidential and intelligence funds that are in the General Appropriations Act. Daily Tribune has been asking for Duterte’s comment, but she remained mum on the issue. While Castro admitted that the local government units are entitled to confidential funds for peace and order maintenance, it was “ironic” that Duterte sought allocation of such funds given that she claimed Davao City was “very peaceful, disciplined, and well” during her tenure. "So why is it necessary to have an increasingly confidential fund?" the lawmaker stressed, noting such a fund should be used for other fruitful endeavors. "I remember the time the teachers of Davao City were asking for city allowance, but she did not grant it. Instead, she refused and even got mad with ACT (Alliance of Concerned Teachers) during that time," Castro pointed out. While none in the law limits the amount of confidential funds, the militant lawmaker pointed out that it should be rationalized. A proposed law aimed at imposing a cap and limit on confidential funds, streamlining the allocation of such that would promote transparency and accountability, is currently being crafted, according to Castro. It will be filed in Congress when the session resumes in November. The post Sara Duterte’s P2.7B confidential expenses as Davao mayor should be probed—Castro appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Farmers urged: Enlist with RSBSA
Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Leo Sebastian over the weekend urged farmers to register for the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture as part of the minimum requirement to obtain certified seeds through the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund. Sebastian — who also heads the Rice Industry Development — made the call following the release of a midterm evaluation report by the International Rice Research Institute which showed that many farmers who could be recipients of certified seeds are not yet registered in the RSBSA. The RCEF budget allocation was evaluated based on the results from the quantitative and qualitative assessments using four criteria — quantitative impact on yield, inclusivity of the component, budget utilization and efficiency in achieving stated targets. The seeds component received high marks on all four criteria, which suggests overall efficiency of the program in meeting its goals and relevance for individual farmers but many farmers who could be recipients of CS are not yet registered in the RSBSA during the period covered in the evaluation. Sebastian also said that despite the high utilization rate of certified seeds that farmers received from the RCEF seed component, the Philippine Rice Research Institute confirmed that 3 to 5 percent of farmers had experienced late delivery of certified seeds. The midterm evaluation also brought up the need to establish a mechanism to identify locations where delivery is late, followed by synchronization of the timing of seed delivery with the cropping calendar in areas where late seed delivery was experienced. RCEF was designed to improve the competitiveness of rice production in the Philippines to increase the income of farmers. Central to current efforts in promoting the competitiveness of rice farming is the creation of the RCEF made through the passage of the Rice Tariffication Law in March 2019. The four component programs of RCEF — seed, mechanization, extension and credit — aim to help attain the goal of improving the competitiveness of Filipino rice farmers, increase their income, and sustain the resilience and responsiveness of the industry. The post Farmers urged: Enlist with RSBSA appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Farmers encouraged to register with DFA program
Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Leo Sebastian, head of the Rice Industry Development, urges farmers to take advantage of registering with the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture as part of the minimum requirement to obtain certified seeds through the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF). Sebastian said the call was made through a midterm evaluation report conducted by the International Rice Research Institute, which noted that farmers should be encouraged to register to take advantage of the RCEF. The RCEF budget allocation was evaluated based on the results from the quantitative and qualitative assessments using four criteria: quantitative impact on yield, inclusivity of the component, budget utilization, and efficiency in achieving stated targets. "The seeds component has high marks on all four criteria, which suggests the program is meeting its goals and relevance for the individual farmers. However, many farmers who could be recipients of CS are not yet registered in the RSBSA during the period covered in the evaluation," Sebastian explained. He added that despite the 95 to 97 percent utilization rate of certified seeds that farmers receive from the RCEF seed component, the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) confirmed that 3 to 5 percent of farmers had experienced late delivery of certified seeds based on surveys that were echoed by focused group discussions and key informant interviews. The midterm evaluation, which was up to July 2023, also brought up the need to establish a mechanism to identify locations where delivery is late, followed by synchronization of the timing of seed delivery with the cropping calendar in areas where late seed delivery was experienced. RCEF was designed to improve the competitiveness of rice production in the Philippines to increase the income of farmers, according to Sebastian. "Central to current efforts in promoting the competitiveness of rice farming is the creation of the RCEF made through the passage of the Rice Tariffication Law in March 2019," the DA official said. "Section 13b. of Republic Act 11203 creating RCEF provides that PhilRice use 30% of the RCEF (P3 billion) to implement the development, propagation and promotion of certified inbred rice seeds to rice farmers and the organization of rice farmers into seed grower associations/cooperatives engaged in seed production and trade," he farther explained. Specifically, the seed component aims to: 1. Increase utilization of certified inbred rice seeds in provinces with a high potential of improving competitiveness; 2. Improve quality, availability of, and access to certified inbred rice seeds; and 3. Increase the number of organized farmers engaged in seed production and trade. Since the RCEF implementation in 2019, rice supply has become more stable with record production of 19.96 million tons (palay terms) in 2021. Rice production slightly declined in 2022 with 19.76 million tons, but this level is still much higher than rice output in the first two years of the RCEF program. The midterm evaluation said rice yield also increased from 4.04 tons/ha in 2019 to 4.11 tons/ha in 2022. Domestic rice production is also complemented by imports with an average volume of 3 million tons (milled terms) over the period 2019-2022. Aside from improvements in national rice output, prices of milled rice decreased much more rapidly following the RTL. This enabled the country to compete with prices in its rice-producing neighbors like Thailand and Vietnam. "The evaluation noted that rice inflation declined with RCEF leading to stabilized prices of milled rice. Likewise, there was a pronounced decline in farmgate prices of palay between 2019 and 2021 but prices were relatively stable since 2022, enabling farmers to enjoy stable rice prices because they are shielded from periods of abnormally low prices and this enhances efficiency in the farm sector," Sebastian said. RCEF was designed to improve the competitiveness of rice production in the Philippines to increase the income of farmers. Central to current efforts in promoting the competitiveness of rice farming is the creation of the RCEF made through the passage of the Rice Tariffication Law in March 2019. The four component programs of RCEF – seed, mechanization, extension, and credit aim to help attain the goal of improving the competitiveness of Filipino rice farmers, increasing their income, and sustaining the resilience and responsiveness of the industry. To this end, the four programs collectively target to contribute to increasing yield up to 5t/ha in medium-yielding provinces and 6t/ha in high-yielding provinces. They also strive to contribute to reducing production costs by 30 percent, reduce postharvest losses to 12 percent and trim down marketing costs by P1/kg. The post Farmers encouraged to register with DFA program appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl lacks drug rehab centers
The Philippines is not only lacking in human resources for mental health but also in drug treatment and rehabilitation centers, the Department of Health said Wednesday. During the launch of the Treatment and Rehabilitation Center-Bicutan’s addiction training programs, Health Assistant Secretary Charade Mercado-Grande said that not all provinces in the country have their own TRC. “We can say that in the Philippines not all the provinces have a TRC but our TRC referral network located in different parts of the country is working,” Mercado-Grande said. She added: “We recognize the need to increase (TRCs) but we cannot say the department is not responding because they are given a chance to enhance their facilities every year. The same goes for their patients in terms of their budget.” Presently, there are only 32 government-accredited TRCs in the country. Under Section 75 of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, the national government shall “establish at least one drug rehabilitation center in each province.” Based on statistics from the Dangerous Drugs Board in 2019, there were 4.7 million lifetime users of drugs aged 10 to 69, of which around 1.67 million were considered current drug users. Likewise, the country is in dire need of human resources for mental health, particularly for addiction treatment, she said. “Are there enough drug rehab or drug care workers in the country? I will say no, we are lacking,” said Dr. Alfonso Villaroman, TRC-Bicutan Chief of Hospital. Citing a World Health Organization situational assessment for mental health, Villaroman said the current ratio of psychologists in the country is 0.1 percent per 100,000 population. “There is a lack of nurses who practice addiction. Only 200 social workers work as addiction specialists or addiction workers. Especially, doctors, there are only a few of us in the government, so we are really lacking,” he said. To cover the lack of drug rehabilitation facilities in the country, the Health Department said it is increasing the bed capacities of existing TRCs. Dr. Manuel Panopio, health program officer of the DOH-TRC, said the addiction training program is the “first of its kind” in the long history of the country’s fight against the use of illegal substances. “The services that are being provided by the different drug rehabilitation centers exist. What we did was to formalize and, at the same time, standardize the training programs for the development of our patients,” he said. “It’s like, we should know only one thing, we should provide the same services to our patients,” he added. “We do not have a formal or standardized program.” Mercado-Grande said the agency will look into adopting addiction training programs that will standardize programs in all public treatment and rehabilitation centers in the country. “This is one of the programs that we will consult with the department where all TRCs may meet and adopt a standard training. We will discuss it,” she said. During the training, trainees will learn how to assess the mental health and well-being of people who use drugs, TRC-Bicutan said. Likewise, trainees will learn to analyze addictive behaviors and related issues. The post Phl lacks drug rehab centers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Go affirms importance of universal access to healthcare in Davao speech
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go recognized the importance of Universal Health Care, particularly amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. He made that emphasis as he attended the opening ceremonies of the 49th Midyear Convention Surgery and Universal Health Care at the SMX Convention Center in SM Lanang Premier, Davao City on Thursday. In his speech, Go cited that the passage of the Universal Health Care Act in 2019 was a significant milestone in the country's journey toward achieving a more equitable and comprehensive healthcare system. However, he also acknowledged that the implementation of the law is not without challenges. “Alam kong malayo pa talaga sa ngayon ‘yung (buong) implementation nitong UHC. Noon, naaprubahan po ito, napirmahan ni dating pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte noong 2019, malayo pa tayo sa ating inaasam na perpekto po na (implementasyon ng) Universal Health Care,” said Go. “Kailangan pa natin mag-invest sa ating healthcare workforce, mapabuti ang ating mga pasilidad, at dagdagan ang accessibility ng ating mga kababayan sa mga essential medicines at medical supplies,” he said. One of the major challenges in the implementation of UHC cited by Go based on reports is the shortage of health facilities and healthcare workers. “Ang challenge po dito ang trabaho po ng ating DOH (Department of Health), maimplementa ng maayos ang roadmap po ng UHC. Ang very challenging po dito, ‘yung health facilities, ‘yung pagkukulang po ng bilang ng ating mga health workers na ‘yung iba po’y nagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa,” said Go. “Hindi ko naman po masisi na pumupunta pa ‘yung mga nurses sa ibang bansa. Gusto ko rin pong tingnan itong issue na ito, itong mga nurses na napakababa po ‘yung sweldo dito sa ating bansa sa mga private hospitals. Naiintindihan ko naman po, binabalanse naman po ng mga private hospitals (ang kanilang finances) para po ma-sustain nila (ang operasyon),” he added. Despite these challenges, Go emphasized the government's commitment to ensuring that every Filipino can be provided access to affordable health care. “As chair po ng Committee on Health, mayroon po akong oversight function over dito po sa (implementation of) UHC. Kung may reklamo po kayo… pwede po nating tawagin ang DOH, pwede nating tawagin ang PhilHealth, kung mayroon kayong (concern), pwede natin silang imbitahan at tawagin,” he assured. Meanwhile, to complement the implementation of the UHC Act, Go shared that the government has launched several initiatives aimed at improving access to healthcare and making it more affordable. These include addressing rising out-of-pocket expenses on health and establishing or upgrading public hospitals. He also shared the ongoing operations of the Malasakit Centers program, the establishment of Super Health Centers, and the expansion of specialty centers in the country. “I have earlier advocated for an easier and more accessible availing of government assistance. We have passed Republic Act No. 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Law to establish a one-stop shop in DOH hospitals,” said Go. “Malasakit Centers provide accessible and efficient medical assistance to Filipinos by serving as a centralized hub for accessing different government health programs and services from the DOH, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, and PhilHealth,” added Go. According to the DOH, the Malasakit Centers program has already aided over seven million Filipinos across the country. Go is the principal author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019. Additionally, Go is pushing for the establishment of Super Health Centers, which are medium-sized polyclinics strategically positioned throughout the country to offer basic healthcare services to Filipinos at the grassroots level. Go also introduced Senate Bill No. 1321, also known as the "Specialty Centers in Every Region Act of 2022," aimed at establishing regional specialty centers in DOH hospitals across the country. The establishment of specialty centers is part of the health-related legislative agenda included in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 signed by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. During his speech, Go also urged the DOH and Department of Budget and Management to expedite the release and distribution of the mandated allowances for healthcare workers. He also called on PhilHealth to ensure prompt payments to hospitals and health professionals and to consider the financial condition of private health facilities and health professionals. “Alam n’yo po, during the time ng pandemya, nagsalita talaga ako sa Senado. Noong may doctor na namatay, dapat may death benefit silang matatangap but it took two months bago i-release,” lamented Go. “Kawawa naman, nagluluksa ‘yung pamilya. Dapat nga ihatid ‘yung check doon mismo sa doon sa pamamahay ng mga naiwang pamilya. Bakit tatagalan? Anyway, na-Ombudsman na po ‘yung nag-cause ng delay,” he shared. Acknowledging that there is still much work to be done to improve the conditions of healthcare workers, Go expressed support for the review of the Magna Carta for Public Health Workers to update it and address the needs and concerns of health workers. In this regard, Go urged the DOH and the Department of Labor and Employment to review the salaries and compensation of private healthcare workers to make them more competitive. Moreover, Go called for the removal of barriers preventing Filipinos from accessing healthcare services, especially those who are marginalized and vulnerable. “Kailangan natin tiyakin na ang mga benepisyo ng Universal Health Care Act ay maihahatid sa mga tunay na nangangailangan nito, at walang mapag-iiwanang Pilipino,” he said. To conclude, Go urged healthcare workers to prioritize the needs of the marginalized and vulnerable, particularly the poor, helpless, and hopeless Filipinos. “Unahin po natin ang mga mahihirap nating kababayan, ‘yung mga helpless, ‘yung mga hopeless po nating mga kababayan,” said Go. “Let us continue to work together towards achieving a truly universal and equitable healthcare system. I believe that through collaboration and cooperation, we can overcome the challenges we face and build a brighter future for the health and well-being of all Filipinos,” he ended. The post Go affirms importance of universal access to healthcare in Davao speech appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Coconut farmers are poorest agri people
Coconut farmers are now the poorest people in the agriculture sector, much poorer than when they were 30 years ago. This was the assessment of Danny Carranza, a coconut farmer and member the Kilusan Para sa Tunay na Repormang Agraryo at Katarungang Panlipunan (Katarungan). (MB FILE, Keith Bacongco) Carranza blamed the coconut farmers’ poverty on the low copra prices, inability to intercrop and modernize, and now the COVID-19 pandemic, which isolates some of them who are living in far-flung areas. “If you’re going to compare, we are much poorer now than we were back in 1990,” said Carranza. Carranza said the “crisis in coconut” that started in the 1990s was never resolved, but even worsened especially when farmers failed to diversify and intercrop before copra prices, dictated by world prices, crashed in 2019 and in the previous years. “The price of copra is improving, reaching P16/kg from P8/kg last year, but that is still not enough,” Carranza said, adding that farmers’ income from a hectare of coconut plantation does not reach P10,000 anymore. At present, about 95 percent of the 3.5 million hectares of coconut farms in the Philippines are meant to produce copra, which is the material for coconut oil manufacturing. But with the collapse of the prices of coconut oil in the world market over the last two years, prices of copra have also dropped plunging farmers into deeper poverty. According to the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), prices of copra at farmgate as of October 15 stood at P21.86/kg, which is higher compared to P14.55/kg price level during the same day last year. But Carranza said that it normally takes three to four years for coconut farmers to recover when a typhoon hits their plantation because coconut trees don’t recover fast. Several typhoons have devastated coconut trees lately. “Farmers’ income is dictated by world prices, they don’t have enough funds to modernize their industry, and the government has failed to support them in the diversification of their coconut plantations,” Carranza said. “Then things got worse because of climate change. And then, because of lockdown, a lot of farmers who live in far-flung areas were isolated and couldn’t deliver their produce,” he added. In 2018, farmers working in coconut farms only received a daily nominal wage rate of P264, based on Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data. To alleviate the current situation of coconut farmers, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has announced that it will soon distribute a P5,000 worth of assistance to coconut farmers, which will be withdrawn from the agency’s P24-billion stimulus package granted under ‘Bayanihan 2’. The problem, according to Carranza, is that the assistance may only benefit farmers who own 1 hectare of coconut plantations or less. The PCA is also setting aside a portion of its budget to finance on-farm and off-farm livelihood projects for coconut farmers such as intercropping and livestock. Meanwhile, Pambansang Kilusan ng Magbubukid sa Pilipinas (PKMP) Chairman Eduardo Mora said the legal team of Senator Bong Go pledged to help coconut farmers push for provisions that they want to be included in the Coco Levy Act, the proposed law that will pave the way for the release of the P100-billion coco levy fund. “It was the office of Senator Bong Go that informed us that the senate version of Coco Levy Act was already passed in third and final reading. But his legal team also assured to help us in the congress version of the law, in bicameral, and in the drafting of the IRR [implementing rules and regulation] of the law,” Mora told Business Bulletin. Mora’s group, which represents more than a hundred thousand coconut farmers in the country, has been calling for increased farmers’ representation in the planned coconut trust fund management committee. Coconut farmers also don’t want the funds to be handled by PCA, Mora said. Business Bulletin already sought for Agriculture Secretary William Dar’s reaction regarding the farmers’ opposition of the Coco Levy Act, but he hasn’t responded yet. .....»»
PRA to review policy on retirees’ age requirement
The Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA), an attached agency of the Department of Tourism (DOT), is set to reassess the age requirement for foreign nationals seeking retirement in the country after senators raised concerns over national security on Monday. The issue stemmed during the Senate budget hearing for the DOT when the senators were caught by surprise after PRA general manager Atty. Bienvenido Chy revealed that the agency has been accepting foreign immigrants as retirees who are as young as 35 years old. Sen. Richard Gordon and Sen. Nancy Binay were alarmed as Chinese topped the list of foreign retirees, at a time when the country faces the threat of the growing number of illegal Chinese workers from the Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGOs). But Chy cited that he had already inherited the policy and did not attempt to change it, to which Gordon expressed dismay. In a message to reporters, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, who also chairs the agency, said the Board of Trustees will meet to reassess the policy, stressing that they will move for its immediate repeal. “I have directed GM Bienvenido Chy of the PRA to review and change this long-standing policy,” she said. Based on the Cumulative Gross Enrollment of foreign retirees in the Philippines as of Dec. 31, 2019, there are 26, 969 Chinese nationals from China who decided to retire in the country, followed by Korea (13, 912), India (5,971), Taiwan (4, 801), Japan (3, 950), United States of America (3, 615), Hong Kong (1, 836), Great Britain (1, 571), Germany (778), and Australia (743). An additional 4, 069 foreign nationals also chose to enroll as retirees in the Philippines. According to PRA, the Cumulative Gross Enrollment also includes all active retirees or active Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV) holders. These are retirees who continue to keep their retirement visa as their status of stay in the Philippines. Aside from the principal retiree, SRRV holders were also joined by their spouses and dependents to stay in the Philippines. The PRA data also revealed that Chinese top the list of foreign principal retirees belonging to the 35 to 49 years old age bracket, which prodded the senators to grill the PRA chief for job sufficiency issue. The data said that the greater majority of foreign retirees reside in the National Capital Region with 36,862 immigrants or 52.63 percent. Others were scattered in Region 1, Cordillera Administrative Region, Region 2, among others. .....»»
PH most fiscally transparent country in ASEAN, says DBM chief
The Philippines ranked as the most fiscally transparent country in Southeast Asia based on the 2019 Open Budget Survey released by the International Budget Partnership, according to Department of Budget and Management Secretary Wendel Avisado......»»
P1.1 billion released to restore heritage school buildings
The Department of Budget and Management has released P1.1 billion to conserve and restore heritage school buildings in the country......»»
How safe is our space?
Safe Spaces Act (Bawal Bastos Law) or the Republic Act No. 11313 was enacted into law in April 2019. It was signed by former President Rodrigo Duterte to increase protection against sexual harassment whether online or in the physical space. This covers all forms of gender-based sexual harassment (GBSH) committed in public spaces, educational or training institutions, workplaces, and online spaces......»»
Learn how to monitor, evaluate government programs and projects
Pursuant to National Budget Circular 565 mandated by the Department of Budget and Management, key LGU officials and officers are required to strengthen their institution’s results-based monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of all government programs and projects......»»
ADB OKs $450-million loan for universal health care in Philippines
The Manila-based lender’s Build Universal Health Care Program aims to amplify the government’s initiatives in implementing key reforms outlined in the Universal Health Care Act of 2019.....»»
SMNI suspension urged for alleged violations
Davao City-based legislator and Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) Partylist Representative Margarita “Migs” Ignacia B. Nograles has proposed a resolution urging the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to suspend the operations of Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI). The resolution alleges that SMNI has violated the terms of its franchise and disseminated false information, failing in its responsibility to the public. This move is in response to multiple complaints filed against SMNI, including accusations of fake news peddling and baseless red-tagging of individuals, groups, and organizations. Specific incidents cited in the resolution include attacks on ACT Teachers Partylist Representative France L. Castro and false claims about House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez's foreign travel expenses. SMNI's host, Jeffrey “Ka Eric” Celiz, admitted to providing inaccurate information on air, further fueling the allegations against the network. Pending the Committee on Legislative Franchises' recommendations on SMNI's alleged violations, Nograles emphasized the urgency for the NTC to halt the deliberate dissemination of false information that may erode public trust. The 25-year franchise of SMNI was renewed in 2019, and the network has not yet issued an official statement regarding the resolution. In a related development, the House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Franchises cited Celiz and former National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) spokesperson Lorraine Badoy-Partosa in contempt for refusing to disclose their source of erroneous information and being evasive about their income from co-producing their show. Both anchors will be detained at the House premises until the committee's report is adopted in the plenary. This story highlights the growing scrutiny on SMNI's operations and the calls for accountability amid allegations of spreading false information......»»
AirAsia’s woes
Just recently, Malaysia-based budget airline AirAsia’s co-founder Tony Fernandes found himself at the receiving end of a huge blowback after sharing a photo of himself receiving a massage while shirtless during a management meeting......»»
Ex-UK leader Johnson to join right-wing broadcaster GB News
Britain's former prime minister Boris Johnson announced Friday that he was joining the right-wing broadcaster GB News, the latest Conservative politician to take a presenting role on the contentious channel. The scandal-tarred Johnson, who was ousted from power last year by Tory MPs and quit as a lawmaker in June, will start his new "presenter, program maker and commentator" post in early 2024, GB News said. The channel was launched in mid-2021, billing itself as a right-wing, pro-Brexit competitor to mainstream broadcasters such as the BBC and Sky News, and has stoked controversy ever since. It has drawn comparisons to the US network Fox News for its unabashedly populist agenda, blurring the distinction between fact-based reporting and opinion while hiring high-profile right-wingers. In its latest setback, the channel sacked two of its presenters this month after an on-air sexism row that generated nearly 8,500 complaints to media watchdog Ofcom. Ofcom has opened several probes into GB News over alleged breaches of the broadcasting code of neutrality for TV news outlets after it hired several prominent members of the ruling Conservatives as presenters. Johnson, 59, said he was "excited" to be joining "an insurgent channel with a loyal and growing following", saying he would be offering his "frank opinions on world affairs". "I will be talking about the immense opportunities for Global Britain -- as well as the challenges -- and why our best days are yet to come," he said. GB News's editorial director Michael Booker called Johnson "the most influential prime minister of our generation". "As well as his political skills, he's an incredibly talented journalist and author," he said. Johnson, a former Daily Telegraph columnist who currently writes a weekly column for The Daily Mail, first worked as a journalist for The Times, where he was sacked for making up a quote. He moved on to become Brussels correspondent for The Daily Telegraph, where he made his name writing exaggerated claims about the European Union, including purported plans to standardize the sizes of condoms and bananas. He then entered politics, becoming an MP in 2001 and later serving two terms as London mayor before realizing his life-long dream of being prime minister in 2019. The post Ex-UK leader Johnson to join right-wing broadcaster GB News appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
4Ps program cannot be used for electioneering — DSWD
The Department of Social Welfare and Development reiterated on Friday that its Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) cannot be, in any way, used for electioneering or any partisan political activities. “Sa atin pong mga kababayan, kahit sino pong mangako sa inyo na kayo'y mapapasama sa 4Ps program, malamang hindi ho magkatotoo 'yan. Hindi ho magkatotoo 'yan… DSWD data lang po ang tatanungin, DSWD personnel din lang po ang makakapag-assess po sa inyo, hindi po kahit sinong kandidato (To our kababayans, whoever promises to you that you will be included in the 4Ps program, it will not come true… only DSWD data will be used, only DSWD personnel can assess you, not just any candidate.),” Assistant Secretary Romel Lopez said According to 4Ps National Program Management Office (NPMO) Director Gemma Gabuya, the program only utilizes the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) or a list to identify the profile of poor beneficiaries. Gabuya, however, stressed that the inclusion to the list does not guarantee any provision of cash aid or automatic inclusion to the 4Ps since it is only a database that can be used to determine who and where the poor are. Exiting 4Ps households Following the memorandum of Secretary Rex Gatchalian on 19 July to defer the exit of 4Ps beneficiaries who were tagged as non-poor, the 4Ps NPMO conducted a reassessment of 1,158, 249 non-poor 4Ps households using the Social Welfare and Development Indicators (SWDI) from July to September. Based on the result of the reassessment, Director Gabuya said about 761,150 households are not yet capable of exiting the program, while 339,660 beneficiaries were already under the self-sufficiency level. “Isa sa main factors is the COVID kasi maraming nawalan ng trabaho. Alam naman natin na ang mga 4Ps, ang mga trabaho nila hindi naman talaga matataas yung kanilang mga income(One of the main factors is the COVID because many lost their jobs. We know that 4Ps members, do not have huge income.),” Gabuya explained. The 4Ps is a human capital development program that aims to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty among poor households by investing in the health, nutrition, and education of poor households. In 2019, the program was institutionalized as a regular program of the DSWD and a national poverty reduction strategy of the national government through Republic Act 11310 or the 4Ps Law. Under the law, the program beneficiaries will now only be covered for a maximum of seven years. and will be closely monitored using the social case management process. The post 4Ps program cannot be used for electioneering — DSWD appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Come hell, high water,Christmas comes
Despite challenges from inflation and other difficulties because of the geopolitical shifts, Filipinos still look forward to celebrating Christmas on expectations of bonuses and the observance of family traditions. Based on historical data, Kantar, the world’s leading marketing data and analytics company, expects households to increase their spendings on food and beverage during the holidays compared to ordinary months. “The Christmas spirit is felt as early as September. Spending in the fast-moving consumer goods typically starts in December when Filipinos receive additional disposable income through their 13th month pay and other incentives,” Nino Nierva, account director, Worldpanel Division, Kantar Philippines, said. “What we’ve observed, based on our analyses of the spending habits of over 5,000 households’ year-on-year, is that Filipinos spend mostly on food and beverage items from December to January versus the rest of the year.” There is a spending uplift of 7 percent in the total FMCG segment during the height of the Christmas season last year, or from December 2022 to January 2023, compared to other months, or from February to November. This translates to approximately P6 billion more spent every month within the holiday period. Specifically, Filipinos spent 11 percent more on food and 9 percent more on beverage categories during the holidays. This trend also extends to dairy products (6 percent higher), which include all-purpose cream and condensed milk that are key ingredients of fruit salad, a staple Christmas dessert in the country. In contrast, the health and beauty category takes a back seat during this same period based on a 4 percent decline in growth last year, according to Kantar’s study. Season of eating, shopping Data from Kantar further showed that holiday feasts must-haves will continue to take-over the shopping baskets of Filipinos in the remaining months of the year. These items, which registered significant growth in December 2022, are expected to remain a priority for households. These are spreads (up 34 percent), canned fruits (up 25 percent), alcoholic beverages (up 24 percent), noodles and pasta sauces (up 21 percent), lechon sauce (up 17 percent), condensed milk (up 9 percent), mayonnaise (up 8 percent), and all-purpose cream (up 6 percent). However, Kantar notes that inflation continues to impact FMCG in terms of pack size and brand choices. In particular, households, strapped for cash, may buy less holiday meal staples like pasta sauces or cheese, and may choose to purchase more affordable brands of canned fruits, all-purpose cream and noodles. Tight budget not a problem While Filipinos continue to patronize sari-sari stores, they will still visit hypermarkets, supermarkets and groceries to check their options during the holiday season. According to Kantar, Filipinos still buy from sari-sari stores and they spend an average of P1,309 per month during the holidays. This is followed by hyper and supermarkets where 7 out of 10 homes visit the channel with an average monthly spend of P1,559. Aside from their own purchases, households will likewise make extra room in their pantry for FMCG products that they receive as gifts. The post Come hell, high water,Christmas comes appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Crypto crackdown intensifies on Hamas finance
Cryptocurrency has become the latest front in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, analysts say. Israeli and US authorities have intensified their financial hunt into Hamas in recent days as they track illicit funds via digital currencies. Ari Redbord, global policy head at crypto tracking specialist TRM Labs, said there is now less crypto transfer activity on pro-Hamas support networks as a result. "We are seeing a lot less activity in some respects since the war began," Redbord told AFP. This is "primarily because Israel has been very aggressive and successful in taking down these fundraising efforts", he added. Israel has bombed Gaza in response to an unprecedented cross-border attack by Hamas militants who, while firing a massive rocket barrage, killed more than 1,400 people and took 222 hostages on 7 October, according to Israeli authorities. Israeli strikes have now killed more than 6,500 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Shadowy world Cryptocurrency is regarded as a speedy way to move cash that is unregulated by any central bank and is less traceable than a traditional bank transfer. The shadowy world of digital units, based on decentralized blockchain technology, has gained notoriety for illicit transactions due to its under-the-radar appeal. Two weeks ago, Israeli police revealed they had located and frozen accounts linked to Hamas that sought "to solicit donations on social networks" via Binance, the world's biggest cryptocurrency exchange. A Binance spokeswoman said it "follows internationally recognized sanctions rules, blocking the small number of accounts linked to illicit funds". Redbord, formerly a senior US government adviser, said Hamas had adopted crypto from 2019 at the latest, to seek funding via the Telegram messaging network and even on its own website. Hamas decided in April that it would no longer accept cash via Bitcoin due to increased global surveillance of the world's biggest digital unit. Crypto fundraising is now operated via a network of Hamas-linked support groups. TRM Labs has closely monitored virtual crypto wallets linked to such support groups since the start of the war. And it has concluded that much smaller amounts of cash than usual are being moved. Two weeks after the attacks, support group Gaza Now received less than $6,000 in one of its crypto wallets, Redbord noted. That compared with $800,000 in total since the wallet's creation in August 2021. Meanwhile, authorities are well aware that digital assets are a minor part of a complex funding picture. The US State Department estimates that Iran funnels $100 million per year to Palestinian groups including Hamas. 'Small piece of puzzle' "Cryptocurrency is a very small piece of a larger financing puzzle for Hamas," said Redbord. "They are looking to Iran; they're... imposing taxes on the Palestinians; they have a network of charities and a diaspora of supporters who are sending donations not in cryptocurrencies." "But crypto does play a role," he said. Digital currencies still represent a significant revenue stream for Hamas and other allied groups. Crypto addresses identified by Israel as being linked to Hamas received about $41 million between August 2020 and July 2023, according to Israeli analytics and software firm BitOK. Other crypto addresses linked to Islamic Jihad received in excess of $154 million between October 2022 and September 2023, with some still active, it adds. Some players in the sector simply turn a blind eye. "Some cryptoasset businesses are intentionally or unwittingly allowing misuse of the crypto ecosystem," said Joby Carpenter, an expert on the industry. "This trend is magnified where exchanges are based in lightly or unregulated jurisdictions," he told AFP. The post Crypto crackdown intensifies on Hamas finance appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Solon lambasts ‘conflict of interest’ as private firms leading ASF vaccine trials
A lawmaker on Wednesday grilled the Bureau of Animal Industry for allowing private suppliers to lead vaccine trials on African Swine Fever. In a Senate hearing on Wednesday, BAI Director Paul Limson admitted that they are just “monitoring” the field trials. Limson's remarks came after Senator Cynthia Villar mentioned that the BAI should be leading the trials to make more independent assessments of the vaccines. “Justify niyo nga sa akin bakit ninyo ginagawa, kasi ako nasho-shock (Can you justify it to me why are you not doing it because its shcoking me). You don't think there is a conflict of interest?" Villar, who chairs the Senate panel on agriculture, asked Limson. Limson cited the Food and Drug Administration guidelines stating that "the initiation, management, and or financing of clinical trials" is the responsibility of sponsors—these could be individuals, companies, institutions, or organizations. the FDA guidelines also allow sponsors to tap Contract Research Organizations to conduct the trials. Meanwhile, Villar also criticized the private suppliers of vaccines for apparently hastening the process even if there are no approved vaccines for ASF yet. She then suggested that the budget should be realigned first in the indemnification of hog raisers affected by the disease while waiting for the approval of ASF vaccines. The Department of Agriculture-BAI has earlier asked the Food and Drug Administration to certify a Vietnam-made ASF vaccine for its immediate distribution in the country. It was followed by the bureau’s endorsement to the FDA for the issuance of a Certificate of Product Registration—which will allow the commercial release of the vaccine in the country. On June 2, BAI Assistant Director Arlyn Vytiaco said they have recommended the AVAC doses—which have been proven "effective" - following the completion of safety and efficacy trials in at least six areas in Luzon. Vytiaco noted that 100 percent of the hogs who were vaccinated during the trials produced antibodies, and showed "no ill or side effects.” However, the BAI was still requesting the FDA for the CPR of the vaccine. The first ASF case was detected in the Philippines in 2019. Villar lamented that “lack of vaccine or effective treatment has made the control of the disease very challenging.” The post Solon lambasts ‘conflict of interest’ as private firms leading ASF vaccine trials appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»