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Phl urges: Intensify fight vs climate change
The Philippines recently urged the global community to enforce immediate and concrete actions amid the worsening impacts of climate change. Speaking at the 58th Session of the Subsidiary Bodie of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Climate Change Commission vice chairperson and executive director Robert E.A. Borje stressed the need to translate the decisions of the 27th Session of Conference of the Parties or COP27 into tangible outcomes which is responsive to the needs of vulnerable developing nations. “As we build on the progress Parties made in Sharm El-Sheikh, we believe in the real possibility that we will be able to transform COP27 decisions into actions with outputs and outcomes that are concrete, relevant, appropriate, responsive to the vulnerable, developing nations’ needs and priorities, and based on best available science and evidence,” Borje said. Borje also raised the alarming effects of climate change in the Philippines and its nearby countries in the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations over the past decade. He lamented that the Philippines suffered loss and damage amounting to US$12 billion — equivalent to a doubled national budget for crucial health services. Within the Southeast Asian region, the Philippines, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand emerged as four of the 10 most vulnerable countries to climate change and disasters — making almost 50 percent of the ASEAN population exposed to hazardous impacts of calamities. Moreover, the ASEAN region endured economic and human losses of US$97.3 billion, nearly matching the global commitment of US$100 billion by Annex I or industrialized countries for the same period, 2009 to 2020, to support vulnerable developing nations. The Climate Vulnerable Forum and V20 Group of Finance Ministers reported a staggering $525 billion worth of loss and damage to 58 vulnerable ASEAN members over the past two decades. “These numbers manifest in no uncertain terms, that in the face of worsening climate change, it is our lives, our livelihood, and our collective future at stake,” Borje said, adding that climate change would really affect people’s livelihood and future living conditions. Borje also shared how the Philippine government prioritized climate change as a critical national concern as the country wants to become climate resilient and put a premium on its accelerated climate action under the country’s development agenda. The Philippines allocated US$8.2 billion or 9 percent of its total national budget for climate change adaptation and mitigation programs this year. Borje underscored the importance of inclusive participation among stakeholders in developing holistic and multidimensional climate solutions. “There’s a need to translate dialogues into actions with concrete, relevant, and appropriate outputs and outcomes as the world is raising time to mitigate the impacts of climate change with only seven critical years remaining until 2030,” Borje said. “It is time to act on our commitments and deliver what we said we will do — with the highest speed and on the largest scale possible,” he added. “This is no longer the time to explore. Now is the time to ensure that we implement and deploy the most appropriate measures so that we no longer need to grieve, but survive and thrive with higher levels of adaptive capacities and climate resilience.” Borje rallied the global community to work harder and “save lives, protect livelihoods, and secure a safe, resilient, and sustainable future for all.” The Philippines was earlier tasked to co-facilitate the pre-COP27 meeting with Poland, tackling climate finance on 13 October in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Following this event, Borje attended the SB58 in Bonn, Germany from 5 to 15 June 2023, for representing the Philippines in discussions on critical issues related to climate change—which will provide a crucial platform for dialogue and negotiation leading up to COP28 in Dubai, UAE this coming November. The post Phl urges: Intensify fight vs climate change appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Go, go, go for the gold!
We have nothing but admiration and best wishes for our national athletes who are currently competing at the 32nd Southeast Asian Games. Together with my colleagues, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senator Francis Tolentino, Philippine Sports Commission Chair Dickie Bachmann and Commissioner Matthew Gaston, among other officials, we took the time last weekend to personally cheer on our representatives in the regional biennial sports meet in Cambodia. There, we witnessed once again the never-say-die attitude and spirit of all our Filipino athletes. As Chair of the Senate Committee on Sports and a firm advocate of long-term and grassroots sports development in the country, I was particularly filled with pride after seeing the dedication, discipline and undeniable talent of our athletes. That is why I remain committed to helping strengthen the development of sports in our communities. Sports keep our young people away from vices and criminality. As I always say, “Get into sports, stay away from drugs!” Last year, I sponsored and defended additional funding for the PSC during its 2023 budget deliberation, particularly for grassroots sports development and in support of athletes joining international competitions. What was supposedly just more or less P200 million proposed annual budget for PSC was increased by P1 billion through our efforts and with the support of my colleagues in the Senate. Particularly, the increase in the PSC’s 2023 budget is intended to support the Filipino athletes in international competitions, such as the Asian Games, SEA Games, Summer Olympics in Paris, ASEAN Para Games, Asian Indoor Martial Arts Games, World Combat Games, World Beach Games, and Asian Beach Games, among others. Portions of the funds were also allotted for the country’s hosting of the FIBA World Cup in 2023 as well as for grassroots sports programs, such as Batang Pinoy, the Philippine National Games, and those under the Sports Development Council. Moreover, funding was allocated for the development of sports infrastructure across the country, as well as for advanced research and development in sports sciences and sports technology. The provision of other financial assistance to Filipino athletes was also funded. I have also authored and co-sponsored Republic Act No. 11470, establishing the National Academy of Sports in 2020 to help ensure that our promising young athletes can further hone their talents while getting quality education. More recently, I filed Senate Bill 423, or the proposed Philippine National Games Act of 2022, with the aim of institutionalizing and providing a structure for a more comprehensive national sports program, linking grassroots sports promotion to national sports development. Meanwhile, together with my team, I was in Batangas province on 8 May where I personally led a series of relief operations for 1,109 indigents in Batangas City and 1,000 more in San Pascual town. As an adopted son of CALABARZON and a fellow Batangueño, I am thankful for being able to serve them to the best of my capacity as a public servant. I likewise visited the newly renovated San Pascual Super Health Center and met with some health workers to listen to their concerns and discuss ways to improve the delivery of healthcare services in their communities. The Super Health Center is an improved version of a polyclinic, which seeks to provide our fellow Filipinos, especially those in remote areas, easier access to basic health services. Through the collective efforts of fellow lawmakers and the Department of Health, 307 SHCs were funded in 2022 and 322 more in 2023. Last Tuesday, we conducted a public hearing by the Senate Committee on Health on mental health. As the committee’s chair, I reiterated that the state of our National Center for Mental Health is in need of utmost attention and improvement to preserve the basic right of all Filipinos to healthcare. Meanwhile, on 10 May, I led a relief effort for 672 fire victims from Pritil Public Market in Tondo, Manila. This was followed by a visit to Nueva Ecija last 11 May, where I personally inspected the Talavera bridge — a project I had earlier supported as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance. I then conducted a monitoring visit to the Malasakit Center at the Talavera General Hospital to personally assess its operations and ensure that indigent patients are given the assistance they need. In line with this, we extended relief to 79 patients and 406 front liners in the hospital while the Department of Social Welfare and Development extended financial aid to the qualified patients. On the same day, my team and I visited the town of Llanera to inspect its Super Health Center and attend the inauguration of the public wet market there, both of which I had advocated and supported. We then assisted 1,000 indigents in the town. As an adopted son of Nueva Ecija, I continue to support the province and help its people as much as I can. Separately, my outreach teams mounted several relief operations last week that benefitted 100 indigents in Veruela, 100 in Sta. Josefa, 40 in Esperanza, and 40 in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur; 227 in Botolan and 163 in Iba, Zambales; 520 Kibawe, Dangcagan, Cabanglasan and Malitbog, Bukidnon; 141 in General Natividad, Nueva Ecija; 2,199 in Gingoog City, 50 in Naawan, and 50 in Jasaan, Misamis Oriental; 332 in Minalin, Pampanga; 129 in Hamtic, Antique; 233 in Casiguran, and 166 in Dilasag, Aurora; and 44 in Sta. Maria and 45 in Malolos City, Bulacan. Fire victims, including 205 in Taytay, Rizal; 58 in Caloocan City; and 12 families in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan were likewise supported through our efforts. In the same way that our athletes remain unyielding in the face of tough competition, I hope that we can all remain resilient in the face of challenges. Through our support for one another and our unbeatable pusong Pilipino, let us all go for the gold and continue bringing honor to our country and our people. The post Go, go, go for the gold! appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
`Compete with all your heart,’ Go tells SEA Games-bound athletes
On Monday, 24 April, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go expressed his full support for Filipino athletes competing in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia as he attended their send-off ceremony at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City. The event was led by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. who encouraged the Filipino athletes to go for the gold and bring back the Philippines' number one spot in the Games. In an interview during the event, Go, as chair of the Senate Committee on Sports and a sports enthusiast himself, said he understands the value of sports in the lives of young Filipinos. "Nandirito po ako to support. Being a sports enthusiast, noon pa talagang mahilig na po ako sa sports," said Go. "And that’s one way of encouraging the youth to get into sports and stay away from drugs. Isa po ito sa pamamaraan na ilayo po natin ang ating mga kabataan sa iligal na droga. Get into sports, stay away from drugs, and keep them healthy and fit," he added. To help in this cause, Go shared that he sponsored and defended additional funding for the Philippine Sports Commission during its 2023 budget deliberation, particularly for grassroots sports development and in support of athletes joining international competitions. "Gaya noon, full support po ako sa ating mga atleta. Not only sa SEA Games, Asian Games, Olympics, full support po ako," he said. Go continued, "In fact, during the budget deliberation, ang budget po ng PSC less than P200 million. Ako po ‘yung nag-defend at nag-suggest ng dagdag sa pondo nila." "Nagdagdag po tayo ng P1 billion sa budget ng PSC including budget na po para sa Southeast Asian Games, sa iba pang mga grassroots program, not only sa international competition, pati sa local," he added. Particularly, the increase in the PSC's 2023 budget reflected in the General Appropriations Act is intended to support Filipino athletes in the 2022 Asian Games, 2023 Southeast Asian Games, and 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Furthermore, athletes competing in the ASEAN Para Games, Asian Indoor Martial Arts Games, World Combat Games, World Beach Games, Asian Beach Games, and World Beach Games will receive similar support. Portions of the funds were allotted for the country's hosting of the FIBA World Cup in 2023 as well as for several sports programs, such as Batang Pinoy, the Philippine National Games, and the grassroots program under the Sports Development Council. There are also funds allocated for the development of sports infrastructure across the country, as well as for advanced research and development in sports sciences and sports technology. When asked about his message to the athletes, Go echoed Marcos' words of encouragement, "Sinabi na rin po ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos kanina, 'Go, go, go for the gold.' Ibig sabihin sana magtsa-champion po tayo. Ibalik natin ‘yung pagiging No.1 natin." Go reminded the athletes that the important thing is to fight and compete with all their hearts, as Filipinos are known for their passion and perseverance. Around 860 Filipino athletes, 76 reserved players, and 347 sports officials, medical personnel, and support staff will travel to Cambodia to compete in 608 events across 38 sports categories from 5-17 May. With the impressive performance of Filipino athletes in the 2021 SEA Games in Vietnam, where they brought home 227 medals, including 52 gold, 70 silver, and 105 bronze, the Philippines is poised to once again make a strong showing in the upcoming games. In the 2019 SEA Games, the Philippines hosted the event and emerged as the overall champion with 149 gold medals, 117 silver medals, and 121 bronze medals. The National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act, or Republic Act No. 10699, entitles SEA Games gold medalists to a P300,000 incentive, silver medalists to P150,000, and bronze medalists to P60,000. During the Duterte administration, Go advocated for additional benefits to medalists. An advocate for grassroots sports development, Go earlier authored and co-sponsored RA 11470, establishing the National Academy of Sports in 2020 as part of his vision to ensure promising young athletes can further hone their talents while getting quality education. The NAS is a government-run academy aimed at developing the country’s future athletes by offering quality secondary education with a special curriculum on sports for gifted young Filipinos who want to enhance their physical and mental capabilities in sports. The senator also filed Senate Bill No. 423, or the proposed Philippine National Games Act of 2022, to provide a structure for a more comprehensive national sports program, linking grassroots sports promotion to national sports development The post `Compete with all your heart,’ Go tells SEA Games-bound athletes appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
P1.1 billion released to restore heritage school buildings
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BDO funds 28 green projects from P52.7 billion bond proceeds
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DBM releases P1.3 billion to light up public schools
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Government posts P88 billion surplus
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Unprogrammed appropriations boosted 2023 budget by P374 billion
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Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1600 GMT, March 11
SEOUL -- South Korea's export fell in double digits in the first 10 days of March due to fewer business days, customs office data showed Monday. Export came to 13.54 billion U.S. dollars in the 10 days, down 13.4 percent compared to the same period of last year, according to Korea Customs Service. (South Korea-Exports) - - - - VIENTIANE -- Participants in the 30th ASEAN Economic Ministers' Retreat.....»»
Agusan Sur highway gets huge chunk of road rehab fund for Caraga
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DENR launches mobile game app for biodiversity conservation
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PLDT back on growth track, doubles profit to P26.61 billion
Telco leader PLDT Inc. returned to growth mode in 2023 as its profit doubled from a year ago, as it cleaned up the P33-billion budget overrun that messed up its balance sheet in 2022......»»
Audit of P10.3 billion free tuition fund sought
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Villar pushes extension, higher budget for RCEF
Sen. Cynthia Villar wants to double the annual guaranteed allocation for the rice competitiveness enhancement fund to P20 billion as she seeks to extend the fund by another six years or until 2030......»»
Philippines bags $1.53B worth of investments in Australia
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has secured deals worth $1.53 billion or P86 billion in investments during the Philippine Business Forum at the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Melbourne, according to the Presidential Communications Office......»»
‘4Ps registered P9 billion deficit due to budget cuts’
The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program of the government had already registered a “budget deficit” of P9 billion after Sen. Imee Marcos slashed its budget by P13 billion......»»
Marcos approves release of P9.7 billion unprogrammed funds for DPWH projects
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‘Imee budget realigning led to millions not receiving 4Ps’
Nearly 4.3 million poor Filipinos were deprived of cash aid under the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in 2023 after Sen. Imee Marcos realigned the 4Ps funding of P13 billion in the national budget to another social amelioration program, a member of the House of Representatives said yesterday......»»
Approved without thinking: P26.7-B ‘mysterious ayuda’
Another last-minute insertion in the 2024 national budget has been bared. The P26.7 billion was slipped in by the bicameral conference committee. Senators and representatives then ratified the bicam report. They are all thus answerable to the people for that hanky-panky......»»
DBM: Infrastructure, capital expenditures breach P1 trillion
Expenditures of the national government for infrastructure and other capital outlays grew to P1.02 trillion from January to November 2023 from only P861.8 billion in the same period in 2022, according to the Department of Budget and Management......»»