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Japan policy paper to focus on US, Philippines to counter China
Tokyo [Japan], March 23 (ANI): Japan released a draft of its annual foreign policy report stating that it will pay attention to the importance of boosting collaboration with the United States and the Philippines to counter China's assertive behaviour in the Indo-Pacific region, Kyodo news reported on Thursday. The Diplomatic Bluebook for 2024 will also underscore that Tokyo "cannot afford to waste even a moment" to solve.....»»
Japan policy paper to focus on US, Philippines to counter China
Tokyo [Japan], March 23 (ANI): Japan released a draft of its annual foreign policy report stating that it will pay attention to the importance of boosting collaboration with the United States and the Philippines to counter China's assertive behaviour in the Indo-Pacific region, Kyodo news reported on Thursday. The Diplomatic Bluebook for 2024 will also underscore that Tokyo "cannot afford to waste even a moment" to solve.....»»
Philippines, Japan, US foreign officials prepare for tri-summit
As the Philippines prepares for a trilateral summit with Japan and the US on April 11, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro met on Thursday in Tokyo with Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Okano Masataka and US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell to discuss regional security issues and economic cooperation......»»
House approves bill seeking revocation of SMNI’s franchise
House approves bill seeking revocation of SMNI’s franchise.....»»
Senate approves bill on BJMP control of provincial jails
MANILA, Philippines — The Senate passed a bill on Monday aiming to transfer the control and supervision of all provincial and sub-provincial jails from the local government to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP). Senate Bill No. 2352 or the Jail Integration Act, was approved on third and final reading, with 19 affirmative,.....»»
CCS approves Rs 19,000 cr mega Indian Navy deal for BrahMos missiles
By Ajit DubeyNew Delhi [India], February 22 (ANI): In a mega boost for the Indian Navy, the Cabinet Committee on Security has cleared the acquisition of over 200 BrahMos extended-range supersonic cruise missiles for deployment on its warships. The deal worth around Rs 19,000 crore was cleared in a meeting held on Wednesday evening, top government sources told ANI. The contract is set to be signed in the first week of Marc.....»»
CCS approves Rs 19,000 cr mega Indian Navy deal for BrahMos missiles
By Ajit DubeyNew Delhi [India], February 22 (ANI): In a mega boost for the Indian Navy, the Cabinet Committee on Security has cleared the acquisition of over 200 BrahMos extended-range supersonic cruise missiles for deployment on its warships. The deal worth around Rs 19,000 crore was cleared in a meeting held on Wednesday evening, top government sources told ANI. The contract is set to be signed in the first week of Marc.....»»
Senate maritime committee approves archipelagic sealanes bill
Sen. Francis Tolentino formed a technical working group to fine tune the consolidated bills designating archipelagic sea lanes in the Philippines......»»
Senate approves bill waiving college entrance exam fees for qualified students
Qualified students applying for admission to private colleges and universities will no longer be required to pay for entrance exam fees under a new Senate bill greenlighted on final reading......»»
Senate approves P5.77-trillion national budget for 2024
The 2024 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) — or House Bill 8980 — received 21 affirmative votes and no negative votes, while one senator abstained......»»
Israeli Cabinet approves ceasefire with Hamas that includes release of 50 hostages
Israeli Cabinet approves ceasefire with Hamas that includes release of 50 hostages.....»»
Manhunt for US shooter presses on, leaving small town in fear
Thousands of anxious small-town Maine residents began a second day under lockdown Friday as police waging a sprawling manhunt struggled to find a US Army reservist accused of killing 18 people in America’s deadliest mass shooting this year. Dozens of law enforcement agents surrounded the family home of the suspect, Robert Card, 40, but by mid-evening agents left the property in Bowdoin, near Lewiston, Maine, to hunt for him elsewhere. A wide area around Lewiston remained locked down Friday, more than 24 hours after Card allegedly went on a rampage in which 13 people were also wounded. People in Lewiston were on edge, buzzing with talk of Card and the massacre. "Uneasy," said resident Jeremy Hiltz, when asked how he felt. "It's a small community . When something like this happens, everybody knows somebody" affected." Authorities erected roadblocks, ordered schools and businesses closed, and told residents to stay indoors. Governor Janet Mills said the suspect was considered armed and dangerous. Card was seen in surveillance footage pointing a semi-automatic rifle as he walked into the Just-in-Time bowling alley on Wednesday. In early evening, law enforcement agents surrounded the Card family home in Bowdoin, bringing in armored vehicles, and sending up drones and a helicopter. State police warned "please come outside" and "we don't want anyone to get hurt" over a loudspeaker near the home, but later said the warnings were routine and not confirmation that Card was inside. One longtime neighbor, Dave Letarte, said news of the shooting "floored me." "I would have never expected that from him," he told AFP of Card. Joseph Walker, a manager at the Schemengees Bar & Grille, was among those killed Wednesday night, his father, Leroy Walker, told NBC News. Walker said his family was "suffering and dying in a nightmare we don't understand." "We were up all night. We didn't know where to go, who to turn to," he said. Terror at bowling alley One survivor told television reporters that he was 15 feet (5 meters) from the gunman when he opened fire at the bowling alley. He thought at first it was a balloon popping. "And as soon as I turned and saw it was not a balloon and he was holding a weapon, I just booked it down the lane and I slid basically into where the pins are and climbed up into the machine and was on top of the machines for about 10 minutes until the cops got there," he said. Card is a member of the US Army Reserve, but had not been deployed in any combat zone. US media reported that he had recently been sent for psychiatric treatment after he said he was hearing voices. Hundreds of police in military style camouflage gear, as well as FBI agents, flooded the search zone in what Lewiston police chief David St. Pierre called "an all-hands-on-deck approach." Republicans oppose new laws This latest shooting is one of the deadliest in the United States since 2017, when a gunman opened fire on a crowded music festival in Las Vegas, killing 60 people. Mass shootings are common in the United States, a country with more privately owned guns than people, and strong political opposition to even minor restrictions on access. The country has recorded at least 565 mass shootings this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, a nongovernmental organization that defines a mass shooting as four or more people wounded or killed. President Joe Biden called Maine's governor to offer federal support, and ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff at the White House and all government buildings. Biden added that the gun violence that plagues the United States "is not normal, and we cannot accept it," urging lawmakers to pass a bill banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. A Maine Democrat who holds a seat in the US House of Representatives, Jared Golden, flipped on this ban, saying that after the shooting in his state his previous opposition to such a restriction, which is supported by most in his party, was a mistake. "I have opposed efforts to ban deadly weapons of war, like the assault rifle used to carry out this crime," Golden said Thursday. "The time has now come for me to take responsibility for this failure," he added. But in a reminder that Congress will not be considering stronger gun ownership laws anytime soon, the newly installed Republican speaker of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, told Fox News that the reason for so many mass shootings in the United States "is the human heart, not guns." The post Manhunt for US shooter presses on, leaving small town in fear appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Hunt for ‘armed and dangerous’ US gunman who killed 18
Hundreds of police in the US state of Maine hunted Thursday for a fugitive gunman who killed 18 people at a bowling alley and a bar, as President Joe Biden mourned "yet another senseless and tragic mass shooting." The rampage in the small northeastern city of Lewiston also left 13 people wounded, three critically, in the deadliest shooting this year in America. A wide area around Lewiston was locked down during the tense search as authorities erected roadblocks, ordered schools and businesses closed, and told residents to stay indoors. Governor Janet Mills said the suspect was "considered armed and dangerous, and police advised that Maine people should not approach him under any circumstances." "This attack strikes at the very heart of who we are and the values we hold dear," Mills told a press conference. "This is a dark day for Maine." Police named the suspect as 40-year-old Robert Card -- seen in surveillance footage pointing a semi-automatic rifle as he walked into the Sparetime Recreation bowling alley. Police converged on the home of Card's father in nearby Bowdoin early Thursday evening, closing off roads. One longtime neighbor, Dave Letarte, said news of the shooting "floored me." "I would have never expected that from him," he told AFP of the younger Card. Joseph Walker, a manager at the Schemengees Bar & Grille, was among those killed the night before, his father Leroy Walker told NBC News. Walker said his family was "suffering and dying in a nightmare we don't understand. "We were up all night. We didn't know where to go, who to turn to," he said. Terror at bowling alley News outlets broadcast footage of people fleeing in terror from the Sparetime Recreation bowling alley after the shooting started Wednesday evening. One survivor told television reporters that he was 15 feet (5 meters) from the gunman when he opened fire. He thought at first it was a balloon popping. "And as soon as I turned and saw it was not a balloon and he was holding a weapon, I just booked it down the lane and I slid basically into where the pins are and climbed up into the machine and was on top of the machines for about 10 minutes until the cops got there," he said. Card is a member of the US Army Reserve. US media reported that he had recently been sent for psychiatric treatment after he said he was hearing voices. Hundreds of police in military-style camouflage gear and FBI agents flooded the search zone in what Lewiston police chief David St. Pierre called "an all-hands-on-deck approach." "We continue to work tirelessly in bringing the situation to an end," he told reporters, vowing "to locate and hold the person accountable." Biden called Maine's governor to offer federal support and ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff at the White House and all government buildings. "Once again, our nation is in mourning after yet another senseless and tragic mass shooting," he said. Biden added that the gun violence that plagues the United States "is not normal, and we cannot accept it," urging lawmakers to pass a bill banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Daily mass shootings Police and rescuers reportedly arrived at the Sparetime Recreation bowling alley at about 7:15 p.m. in response to an active shooter, and then received reports of another shooting at the Schemengees Bar & Grille. In surveillance images of Card at the bowling alley, he appeared calm and composed as he moved through the doorway with his rifle raised. Officers located a "vehicle of interest" -- a white sport utility vehicle -- in Lisbon, a town around eight miles (12 kilometers) from Lewiston. The shooting is one of the deadliest in the US since 2017, when a gunman opened fire on a crowded music festival in Las Vegas, killing 60 people. Mass shootings are alarmingly common in the United States, a country with more guns than people, and attempts to clamp down on their spread are always met with stiff resistance. The country has recorded at least 565 mass shootings this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, a nongovernmental organization that defines a mass shooting as four or more people wounded or killed. Efforts to tighten gun controls routinely run up against opposition from Republicans, staunch defenders of the constitutional right to bear arms. The political paralysis endures despite widespread outrage over recurring shootings. The post Hunt for ‘armed and dangerous’ US gunman who killed 18 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
How nations allow or restrict legal gender change
A small number of countries have made it easier for transgender people to change their legal gender, while other nations have restricted such changes, notably Russia and Pakistan. Here is a snapshot of the situation around the world. Exception, not the rule According to the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA), 24 UN member states have legally allowed people to change their gender on the basis of self-identification. In about 40 other countries, the legal and administrative process can take years and may include requirements such as psychiatric diagnosis, hormone treatment, gender confirmation surgery, or even sterilization. Making it easier Argentina has led the way on transgender rights, allowing a change of gender on national ID cards with a simple declaration since 2012. Several Latin American countries have followed suit. Denmark was the first European country in 2014 to allow adults to apply for a gender change without undergoing medical or psychological assessments, with Belgium, Ireland, Malta, Norway, Portugal, and most recently Spain following suit. Since 2017, France has allowed transgender people to change their status on their ID documents without treatment, surgery, or sterilization but they must receive court approval. The issue of trans rights sparked a fierce row in 2022 in Scotland, where parliament passed a bill making it easier for people to self-identify their gender that was sensationally vetoed by London. The German cabinet in August 2023 signed off plans under which Germans will be able to change their name or legal gender by making a simple application to their local registry office. The law still has to go to parliament. Hesitating Sweden, one of the world's most liberal countries, was the first in the world to authorize physical and legal gender reassignment for adults in 1972. But last year it began restricting hormone therapy available for children diagnosed with gender dysphoria, such as puberty blockers, citing the need for caution following a strong increase in demand. It also restricted access to mastectomies for teenage girls wanting to transition. Finland in 2020 had already restricted hormone treatment for minors. Making it harder Russia adopted new legislation in July 2023 banning "medical interventions aimed at changing the sex of a person" and "the state registration of a change of gender without an operation". President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly railed against transgender rights in his speeches. Pakistan's religious judiciary ruled in May that landmark transgender legal protections from 2018 are un-Islamic and therefore void. An appeal is being sought with the Supreme Court. Pakistan continues to recognize the existence of a third gender, neither masculine nor feminine, as do India and Nepal. Restricting gender-affirming treatment, such as puberty blockers for minors, has become a major campaign of US conservatives. Arkansas in 2021 became the first US state to ban physicians and health workers from offering transition-related treatment to transgender minors. A federal judge in June overturned the ban. Around 20 states, including Florida and Texas, have passed similar laws. Anti-LGBTQ sentiment in Hungary has escalated during the rule of Viktor Orban's right-wing government. In May 2020, the country passed a law making it impossible for transgender people to change their name and gender on their ID documents. The post How nations allow or restrict legal gender change appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
House approves MUP pension reform bill
The House of Representatives approved on third and final reading yesterday a consolidated bill providing for a pension system deemed financially draining by some quarters for military and other uniformed personnel......»»
Senate approves expanded coverage of Centenarian law
Senators on Monday approved on the third and final reading a measure seeking the expanded coverage of monetary benefits to 80-year-old and 90-year-old Filipinos under the Centenarian Law. The Senate Bill 2028 or Expanding the Coverage of the Centenarians Act, Filipino senior citizens living in the Philippines or abroad shall be granted P10,000 upon reaching 80 years old, P20,000 upon reaching 90 years old, and P100,000 upon reaching 100 years old. The bill was sponsored by Senator Imee Marcos and introduced by Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III. Marcos pegged life expectancy among Filipinos at 79 years for men and 83 years for women. "The rising cost of living and healthcare expenses has made it very difficult for our senior citizens to afford basic necessities...it is hoped that more of our elderly population may be able to benefit from the Centenarians Act and that they may be inspired to further prolong and enjoy their lives even beyond a century," Marcos said. Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority data, Senator Win Gatchalian said there were some 7.5 million senior citizens in the country in 2015, of which, around 10 percent or 790,000 were estimatedly aged 80 to 90 years old. Once the measure is enacted, Gatchalian noted that senior citizens will be able to receive a cash gift, totaling P100,000 in three equal tranches. Senator Ramon Revilla Jr., the bill’s co-author and co-sponsor, said passage of the bill in the Senate serves as a testimony to the special Filipino culture of providing for the elderly. Revilla noted the cash gift should be advanced “so that our elderly can still enjoy it as many beneficiaries are too old to enjoy the cash gift they receive.” Under the present law, only those who reach the age of 100 enjoy the benefit of the P100,000 cash gift. The proposed measure stipulates that beneficiaries are eligible to receive their cash gifts within 1 year of reaching the ages of 80, 90, and 100. The adjustment, to be determined by the National Economic and Development Authority, will be based on the average annual inflation in the preceding three years. NEDA will be tasked to consider inflation when dividing the cash gift into three payments. Gatchalian said the P100,000 cash gift, which will be equally distributed in three tranches to octogenarians, nonagenarians, and centenarians will help pay their living expenses, medicines, healthcare, and other necessities. SB 2028 also mandates the Philippine Statistics Authority, in coordination with the Departments of Interior and Local Government, Information and Communications Technology, and the local government units, to establish a data management system recording relevant information of individuals covered by the Act. The post Senate approves expanded coverage of Centenarian law appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bong Go provides help to micro-entrepreneurs in flood-hit General Santos City
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go continues efforts to help boost the economic recovery of communities affected by calamities and other crises. His team delivered aid to flood-stricken micro-entrepreneurs in General Santos City on Thursday, 14 September. Go’s team held the relief operation at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) office. Eight small business owners received masks, vitamins, shirts, snacks, and balls for basketball and volleyball while there were also select recipients of shoes from Go. Meanwhile, with the aim of bolstering local communities and nurturing economic recovery, DTI distributed livelihood kits to provide additional support for the recovery of affected micro-businesses. “Ang programang ito ay ating isinulong noong administrasyon ni dating pangulong Duterte at patuloy na sinusuportahan ngayon para maipagpatuloy ang pagtulong sa ating maliliit na negosyante na naapektuhan ng sakuna at krisis,” Go said. “Tuturuan ang mga benepisyaryo na magnegosyo at bibigyan ng negosyo kits para palaguin ito. Masarap sa pakiramdam kapag pinaghirapan at pinagpawisan mo ang iyong negosyo at napalago mo ito. Ang maayos na kabuhayan ang isa sa mga magiging susi sa pagginhawa ng pamumuhay ng iyong pamilya,” he explained further. Moreover, Go reiterated his push for the passage of Senate Bill No. 188, which seeks to establish the Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR), The proposed SBN 188 aims to establish a Cabinet-secretary-level department to develop holistic measures for better disaster preparedness. In his video message, Go highlighted that, if established, the DDR would focus on three critical areas: disaster risk reduction, disaster preparedness and response, and recovery and building forward better. By concentrating on these significant aspects, the proposed department aims to improve the country's ability to mitigate risks, effectively respond to disasters, and facilitate a sustainable recovery process for affected communities. “Parati po akong umiikot sa buong Pilipinas dahil ‘yan po ang aking pangako, pupuntahan ko po kayo basta kaya ng oras at panahon ko… Sunog, lindol, baha, buhawi, putok ng bulkan pinuntahan ko po iyan lahat para makatulong sa abot ng aking makakaya, makabigay ng solusyon sa problema nila, makabigay ng proyekto na makakabenepisyo sa lugar, at makapag-iwan po ng kaunting ngiti sa panahon ng inyong pagdadalamhati,” he said. As chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go reached out to residents with health concerns and advised them that they may visit the Malasakit Centers at Dr. Jorge P. Royeca Hospital in the city or South Cotabato Provincial Hospital in nearby Koronadal City. Go principally authored and sponsored Republic Act No. 11463, also known as the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019. The center is a one-stop shop where poor and indigent patients may take advantage of the medical assistance programs offered by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. To date, there are now 159 Malasakit Centers nationwide. Apart from the Malasakit Centers, Go has also been pushing for the establishment of more Super Health Centers across the country. In General Santos City, two Super Health Centers have been funded to be established. The Super Health Centers offer basic medical services, such as database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray, ultrasound), pharmacy, and ambulatory surgical unit. Other available services are eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) service, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation centers, and telemedicine, through which remote diagnosis and treatment of patients are made possible. “Sa mga kapatid ko, sa mga kapitbahay ko, mag-ingat kayo parati at magdasal tayo. Nandito lang kaming mga lingkod-bayan niyo at handang magserbisyo sa inyong lahat sa abot ng aming makakaya, puntahan niyo lang kami at handa kaming magserbisyo sa inyo sa abot ng aming makakaya,” said Go. As vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has also supported several projects in the province including the construction of roads in Banga, Lake Sebu, Norala, Tantangan, and Surallah; acquisition of a dump truck for the local government of Norala; construction of riverbank protection in Koronadal City and T’boli; installation of street lights in Koronadal City, Norala and Tupi; and the construction of a slaughterhouse in T’boli. On the same day, Go’s team also provided similar assistance to micro-entrepreneurs also affected by heavy rains in Lutayan and Columbio, Sultan Kudarat. The post Bong Go provides help to micro-entrepreneurs in flood-hit General Santos City appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bong Go shares Gibo’s stance against proposed MUP reform
Senator Christopher "Bong" Go expressed his alignment with Defense Secretary Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro Jr.‘s stance against the proposed military pension reform particularly on the issue of imposing mandatory contributions and removing the automatic indexation for military pensioners. "It was also reported that Secretary Teodoro does not agree with the proposed mandatory contributions and the removal of the automatic indexation of our military personnel," Go stated during the Commission on Appointments committee hearing on Wednesday, 13 September. "Hindi rin po ako sang-ayon dito sa mandatory contributions at pagbago sa automatic indexation," he stressed. Go then elaborated on his stance, emphasizing that there are alternative ways to address financial needs without affecting the pensions of current retirees and those still in active service. “Bagama’t naintindihan po natin ang sitwasyon ng ating mga finance managers at tumataas na budgetary needs ng gobyerno at sa posibleng paglobo ng kakailanganin na pondo po para sa pension, naniniwala ako na may ibang paraan upang matugunan ito nang hindi maapektuhan ang pension ng ating kasalukuyang mga retirees at mga nasa active service," he added. He further suggested some of these alternative methods, "Katulad ng pag-improve sa pagkolekta ng buwis o pag-eliminate po ng corruption sa gobyerno.” Go also took the opportunity to remind his colleagues of the efforts made during the term of former president Rodrigo Duterte to increase the salaries of military and uniformed personnel. "Huwag nating kalimutan na noong panahon ni dating pangulong Rodrigo Duterte, nagsikap tayo na mapataas ang sweldo ng ating uniformed personnel," Go began. He then elaborated on the collective efforts made to achieve this salary increase. "Nagpursige din tayo upang maisakatuparan ito noong hindi pa po ako senador at naniniwala po ako na marami pong sumuporta dito sa last Congress," he continued. Go also expressed his concerns about the potential impact of mandatory contributions on the increased salaries. "Naniniwala rin po ako na hindi natin dapat bawiin sa pamamagitan ng contributions ang matagal na nilang inasam na pagtaas ng sahod,” he said. The senator further emphasized the need to consider the long-term impact of the proposed pension reform on the lives of current military personnel. “Huwag naman po sanang bigay-bawi. Tandaan natin na marami sa ating kasundaluhan ay mayroon ng plano sa kanilang mga matatanggap kapag magreretire. Nakaplano na yan, naka-loan, may babayaran na yan at pamilya...nakalaan na yan para sa kanilang mga anak,” he said. “Kung iisipin natin, yung ikakaltas po sa kanila ay halos katumbas ng isang sakong bigas at napakahalaga po nito, lalung-lalo na po sa mga ordinaryong sundalo. Maliit na bagay lamang ito na para sa ating mga sundalo dahil sa sakripisyo po na inalay nila para mapanatili ang ating seguridad,” he added. Go has consistently emphasized the need for fiscal stability while ensuring the welfare of military and uniformed personnel. He has previously suggested that any pension reform should not adversely affect pensioners and those still in active service. “Buhay ang isinasakripisyo nila para mapanatili ang seguridad ng bansa. Iba po ang sakripisyo nila dahil buhay po ang nakataya dito. Kahit isang boto lang ako dito, palagi kong ipaglalaban kung ano pong makakabuti sa mga nagseserbisyo sa bayan,” assured the senator before. On the same day, Go expressed his full support for Teodoro's ad interim appointment as Secretary of the Department of National Defense (DND). "As we discuss the welfare of our uniformed personnel, it's crucial that we have a competent and reliable individual leading the DND. I fully support the ad interim appointment of Secretary Gibo Teodoro for this role," Go declared. He praised Teodoro's previous performance as DND secretary under the administration of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, stating, “Sec. Gibo Teodoro Jr. is a man of competence and integrity. Ito po ay napatunayan na nung una siyang manungkulan bilang Kalihim po ng Department of National Defense noong panahon ni pangulong Arroyo." He also mentioned that Teodoro's primary objectives during his previous term were focused on modernizing the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and DND personnel, upholding human rights, and taking a proactive approach to disaster risk management. The senator also took the opportunity to discuss his own advocacy for disaster preparedness. "Like Secretary Gibo, I share the same advocacy in strengthening our country’s disaster preparedness and response, which is why I filed for the creation of the Department of Disaster Resilience (DND).” Earlier, Go filed Senate Bill No. 188, which aims to establish the DDR to centralize efforts, streamline coordination, and ensure a more swift and effective response to emergencies. “This proposed department will be headed by a cabinet secretary. Napapanahon na po. Sana magkaroon tayo ng isang timon na nakatutok po,” he added. The creation of the said department, if enacted into law, shall concentrate on three key result areas, namely: disaster risk reduction, disaster preparedness and response, and recovery and building forward better. Towards the end of his speech, Go extended his trust and confidence in Teodoro. "Mr. Secretary, you have my full trust and confidence. Ako po ay naniniwala that under your watch, mas lalo pa ninyong mapapalakas ang ating defense department at mga programang nakapaloob dito," he concluded. The post Bong Go shares Gibo’s stance against proposed MUP reform appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Senate approves bill on school-based mental health program
The Senate on Monday approved on the third and final reading a bill institutionalizing the promotion of mental health and well-being in basic education. The Senate Bill 2200 or the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act, was approved with 22 affirmatives, zero negative votes, and zero abstentions during the chamber’s plenary session. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chairperson of the chamber’s committee on basic education, said the school-based mental health program will cover out-of-school children in special cases that include learners with disabilities or conditions, indigenous peoples, children in conflict with the law, learners in emergency situations, and other marginalized sectors. SB 220 mandates the Department of Education to establish and maintain care centers in every public basic education institution. “Care Centers will be mandated to equip learners with skills and information for prevention, identification, and proper response and referral for their own and others’ mental health needs,” said Gatchalian, who also sponsored and authored the bill. Gatchalian said the bill also provides for the creation of the new plantilla positions of Mental Health Associates I to V, and Mental Health Specialists I to V “to address the need for sufficient personnel” running the School-Based Mental Health Program. The bill also seeks the conversion of existing plantilla positions of Guidance Counselors and Psychologists in the DepEd to Mental Health Specialists, he added. There were only 1,192 filled positions for both guidance counselors and coordinators within the DepEd as of July 2022. For School Year 2023-2024, the DepEd said that more than 26 million learners are enrolled, with 404 learners from public schools having died due to suicide for School Year 2021-2022. In a manifestation, Senator Risa Hontiveros said the newly approved bill would further strengthen Republic Act 11036 or the Mental Health Act. Hontiveros said accelerating the mainstreaming of a school-based mental health program would contribute not only to ensuring the physical but also the psychological safety of the learning environment. “I do hope that our education authorities will be up to the challenge of institutionalizing and sustaining mental health programs in our schools,” she said. The post Senate approves bill on school-based mental health program appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Gov’t, businesses told to adopt AI boom
The government and private sector need to collaboratively launch a nationwide effort to push for the adoption of science-backed artificial intelligence or AI to help communities and businesses keep up with the rapid technological advancement. In an interview with reporters last Friday, Dr. Sanjay Sarma, CEO, president, and dean of the Asia School of Business or ASB, reiterated that AI is developing at an unprecedented pace and will be everywhere soon. “AI can potentially replace jobs so let’s accept that. The Philippines should become the country that leads the world in how to use AI, in call centers, for instance,” Sarma told reporters. “Here in the Philippines, it has to be a national effort. The government needs to be cognizant that this is an epic moment. It's like, you know, climate change is going to damage the environment, it will hurt a lot of people. This is technology change is just like climate change,” he said. Unlike other technologies such as automated teller machines or ATMs, which took about 15 years to be widely accepted, AI is a development that needs urgent adoption. Like ATMs, which previously raised concerns about replacing the job of bank tellers, AI will help industries develop further. “Bank tellers did not lose their jobs. Bank tellers did something more advanced, which is selling mortgages and things like that. The job changed because of technology,” he explained. Thus, in blending in with the changes brought about by AI, Sarma proposed that local industries like the business process outsourcing sector should upgrade more into becoming a technology space. “At this level, you have to go up because the attack comes from below. It's like a tiger, you know, it's chasing you, You climb a tree, and the tiger learns to climb the first 10 feet, well, you have to climb higher. So you have to go higher up in the cognitive stock to go higher,” he said. To complement the benefits of AI, Sarma noted that the local service industry workers, for instance, have to do the things that technology cannot. “For example, this Chat GPT cannot negotiate with you, can't do any planning, can't do dispute resolution. It can't calm an angry customer. So you have to figure out what the technology can do and what humans can do, that the technology can't. And you're to develop human capital in those directions.” Sarma is a professor of mechanical engineering and the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is a leading authority in AI, the Internet of Things, and Education. ASB, established in 2015 by Bank Negara Malaysia in collaboration with MIT Sloan School of Management, aims to be a premier business school that develops transformative and principled leaders who will contribute to the advancement of the emerging world, particularly in Asia. Last July, Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers asked the Congress and Palace to consider creating an agency that will oversee responsible AI use in the country. Barbers cited that at least 520,000 employees across different industries may be affected by the integration of AI. In March, he filed a bill eyeing to create the Artificial Intelligence Development Authority, which will serve as an AI monitoring body tasked to supervise the “development and deployment of AI technologies.” Primarily, it will ensure compliance with AI ethics principles and guidelines and protect the “rights and welfare of individuals and communities affected by AI technologies.” The post Gov’t, businesses told to adopt AI boom appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»