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Ukraine military to collapse without U.S. aid, experts warn
Defense and national security experts are sounding the alarm on the cutting of United States assistance to Ukraine’s military after the US Congress passed a stopgap budget law without funding for Kyiv. “It would be devastating for the Ukrainians” if US aid is halted, Mark Cancian, a senior advisor at the national security think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies, said. “The Ukrainian military would weaken and then ultimately perhaps collapse,” though it “might be able to just hold on on the defensive,” Cancian said. The United States has committed more than $43 billion in security aid since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 — over half the total from all Western donors. It has supplied a vast arsenal to help Kyiv fight to regain territory seized by Russia, ranging from small arms ammunition and artillery rounds to vehicles, sophisticated rocket launchers, tanks and mine-clearing equipment. “Militaries in conflict need a continuous flow of weapons and supplies and munitions to replace what’s destroyed and gets used up,” Cancian said. The European Union is prepared to stand by Ukraine “for as long as it takes” and the EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell reiterated this during the gathering of the bloc’s foreign ministers in Kyiv on Monday. Dozens of countries — especially in Europe — have provided military aid to Ukraine, and while they could increase support, picking up all the slack left by Washington would be a major long-term challenge. It would require a “years and decades-long effort to get Europe to a place where (it) could fully replace the US as a kind of military power, or a defense industrial power,” James Black, assistant director of the defense and security research group at RAND Europe, said. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin — who played a key role in forging an international coalition to back Ukraine, and then in coordinating assistance — called over the weekend for Congress to take action. Lawmakers should make good on “America’s commitment to provide urgently needed assistance to the people of Ukraine as they fight to defend their own country against the forces of tyranny,” Austin said in a statement. “America must live up to its word and continue to lead.” WITH AFP The post Ukraine military to collapse without U.S. aid, experts warn appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Senators alarmed over P10-B cut in proposed DOH 2024 budget
Senators on Monday expressed alarm over the P10 billion budget cut in the Department of Health’s proposed budget for next year. In a statement, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva said the budget slash in the Health department’s proposed budget for 2024 is “definitely concerning.” “We will look into this and raise this issue during the budget hearing of the Department of Health,” Villanueva said. “We also need to look into the Universal Healthcare Program budget which was already not enough for its full implementation,” he said. He continued: “Filipinos still spend around 40 percent out of pocket expenses for their medical needs, which contributes to poverty in the country. This is why we need to ensure that there will be enough funding for programs that directly benefit our indigent patients.” According to the lawmaker, the Philippines could not afford to put healthcare a second priority after what it went through over the past three years of the Covid-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, Senator Risa Hontiveros expressed her disappointment over the budget slash in the Health department, calling the proposed P5.768 trillion national budget “deficient across the board.” “It is always disappointing whenever there are budget cuts in important social services such as health, education, and social assistance, especially since we are still in the middle of a crisis and the economy is still reeling from the effects of the pandemic,” Hontiveros said in a separate statement. She stressed that even if the country is no longer under a state of public emergency, the government could not withdraw its support for public investment in the healthcare system. “Notwithstanding our limited fiscal space, DBCC [Development Budget Coordination Committee] must continue to explore non-monetary measures – such as continuing new and wider PhilHealth benefit packages, as well as coming up with UHC catch-up plan—to ease the burden of Filipinos,” she said. Senator Grace Poe echoed the same sentiment, stressing that a cut in the Health department’s proposed budget is “not the way to go to have a healthy citizenry.” “We will examine carefully the DOH budget when it reaches the Senate,” Poe said. According to Poe, the government should look into the leakages and inefficiencies in spending instead of slashing funds. Likewise, Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. vowed to look into the budget slash in the Health department’s budget once the Senate tackled the budget. “We will definitely look into this when we deliberate the National Expenditure Program in the Senate. Health care should be, as it always has been, a priority in formulating the national budget,” Revilla said. “The current fund allocated for the hospitals appears not enough so we should strive to address the necessity of the sector,” he added. For his part, Senator Ronald “Bato" dela Rosa said he would like to hear first the reason behind the budget slash before making any comments about it. “I will have to know first from the budget proponents the reason behind the cut and where do they intend to transfer such cut before I can make the proper motion,” Dela Rosa said. Over the weekend, Deputy Speaker Ralph Recto revealed that the Health department’s budget will be slashed to P199.1 billion next year from P209.1 billion this year, under the 2024 National Expenditure Program. Recto said the the trimmed budget allocation for the DoH may be attributed to the “big payroll and overhead in maintaining a large bureaucracy, plus rising debt service” which boxed out social services. The post Senators alarmed over P10-B cut in proposed DOH 2024 budget appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
A Moro’s wish for PBBM’s 2nd SoNA
The day after tomorrow being the 4th Monday of July, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will face the nation before a joint Congress assembly for his State of the Nation Address. He will be performing the constitutionally mandated ritual of informing the Filipinos about the country’s political, financial and social condition, and about his future plans. This being his 2nd SoNA, he will likewise submit his accomplishment report card for last year which will be subjected to a surgeon’s scalpel-like scrutiny by gadflies. The politically-oriented public will be all ears to what the President will report. Heavy issues like the environment, the West Philippine Sea, and similar concerns with a global impact will be tackled. But in the Muslim Autonomous Region, Moros wish that something will be said about issues close to their hearts. Hereunder is the bucket list of issues that they hope would be addressed. Foremost of these issues which occupy the minds of Maranaw Muslims is the fate of the compensation promised by the government for victims of the 2017 Marawi siege. While there is a law that mandates its payment, it does not provide funding or the source of funding to implement the law. The burden is shifted to the Office of the President for financing. A yearly appropriation can create problems. A one-time budget appropriation similar to a block grant is ideal. Yes, an amount of P1 billion (a crumb vis-a-vis the huge damage to be compensated) was initially budgeted but it was mainly for the administrative expenditures of the Marawi Compensation Board. The processing of the claims by the MCB is in full swing and pretty soon, hopefully, they will start the process of payment. This presents a huge problem for the Board if the total budget is not predetermined. How will they distribute the money? What will happen if the government fails to appropriate a budget in the coming years (the law says five years) and some legal claimants remain unpaid? What payment mechanism will the MCB adopt? Will it wait for the completion of the processing and pay the victims pro rata based on its evaluation? Will it be on a “first come-first served basis” — the reason there is now a mad scramble by claimants to have their claims processed first? Again, this all depends upon a commitment to provide a one-time budget for the claims. Then it will save the claimants the anxiety and worry of their claims being unpaid. Corollary to this is perhaps a word from the President about Task Force Bangon Marawi. It seems the rehabilitation has reached a dead-end. Nothing is heard about the completion of the city’s rehab, and residents don’t see any ground activity on the projects yet to be finished. Admittedly, the public infrastructure projects promised by the past administration are almost complete, but the national government has an ear-splitting silence about finishing them. In fact, people have the impression the Task Force has folded its tent and become functus officio. A word or two about this will assuage the project’s completion uncertainty. Moros will likewise welcome a word from the President about the speeding up or completion of the decommissioning of the rebels so that they could be integrated into the armed or police forces to legalize the carrying of their firearms in public. Right now, Moros are bewildered about the existence of two armed forces in their area, one from the rebel Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the other, the regular defense and peace-keeping forces of the country. As we had warned before, this could be a potential flashpoint that could ignite an armed confrontation at any time. With the barangay and youth elections fast approaching, this could lead to a situation where one group, which has a registered political party, the Bangsamoro Justice Party, will be in an advantageous position with its armed militia allowed to carry their firearms during the campaign and on election day. This column empathizes with the Bangsamoro Governor Caucus which earlier raised this alarm. Will this wish merit attention from the speech writers of Malacañang? Or are the Moros shooting for the stars? As a caveat to my fellow Moros, there is a great chance these issues will not be mentioned as in past SoNAs. Prepare your minds for this possibility. *** amb_mac_lanto@yahoo.com The post A Moro’s wish for PBBM’s 2nd SoNA appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Online scheme vs crime starts
The Department of Information and Communications Technology or DICT will launch on Monday E-LGU to digitalize various processes of local government units, and E-Report, an online police reporting system to help authorities respond to crimes quickly. Mon Gutierrez, DICT chief of staff for E-Governance, said Thursday that the E-LGU will benefit 1,700 local government units or LGUs. He said more details on the plan will be announced today. In E-Report, Gutierrez said the system will operate on a real-time basis and will be linked to all other data systems of the appropriate police divisions and high-ranking officers. He added that DICT had yet to improve certain parts of the system but the fundamental ones were ready for use. On-time crime reports “The police officers can access developments on an ongoing crime. If a person happens to be a witness to an ongoing crime, he or she would just need to access his or her mobile phone and that would alarm the national police,” Gutierrez said. “The report would be immediately seen by pre-selected supervisors among our police,” he explained in a forum organized by the British Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines. Gutierrez said 37 government agencies have signed memorandums of understanding with DICT to receive technical support on building and using digital technologies. “We sat down and asked them what they wanted to happen as far as their information and communications technology was concerned. We don’t spend money on them because they have their budget. But we will be the advisory agency,” he said. The post Online scheme vs crime starts appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Catch-up Fridays eased for teachers
JENIELITO "Dodong" Atillo, spokesperson of the Department of Education (DepEd-Davao), clarified during the AFP-PNP press conference held on Wednesday morning, March 27, 2024, at the Royal Mandaya Hotel, that the implementation of “Catch-up Fridays” has been streamlined to alleviate any perceived burden on teachers......»»
Baltimore Bridge collapse: Police had about 90 seconds to stop traffic before bridge fell
BALTIMORE — It was the middle of the night when a dispatcher’s warning crackled over the radio: A massive cargo ship had lost its steering capabilities and was heading toward the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Within about 90 seconds, police officers who happened to be nearby responded that they managed to stop vehicle traffic over.....»»
NBI nabs 8 bogus DBM officials
Eight people allegedly posing as officials of the Department of Budget and Management were apprehended by the National Bureau of Investigation in Mandaluyong on Tuesday......»»
Education in Les Roches and flying Boeing
I recently met with Mano Soler, a family friend from Malaga, Spain......»»
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......»»
Fisherfolk raise alarm over demolition of Navotas City fishing structures
“Affected fisherfolk and other residents ‘highly believe’ that the dismantling order is part of the 650-hectare reclamation project in the area.” The post Fisherfolk raise alarm over demolition of Navotas City fishing structures appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
Ched-Davao: Quake drill not just ‘procedural activity’ but necessity
AN OFFICIAL from the Commission on Higher Education-Davao Region (Ched-Davao) said that there is a need to prepare students for disasters and other calamities......»»
Greenwich Inspires Filipinos to Create More Authentic Meaningful Connections, Launches ‘Sarap to Feel G’ Campaign
Greenwich, one of the country’s leading homegrown pizza and pasta makers, is embarking on a massive campaign this year to inspire millions of Filipinos to create more genuine, meaningful connections with each other. The campaign is anchored on having more experiences inspired by authenticity and real “feel-good” togetherness made possible by incredible, great-tasting food. This […].....»»
US lawmakers stand with Philippines vs Chinese sea aggression
Visiting US lawmakers expressed their concern over China’s continued aggression in Philippine waters during their meeting with President Marcos at Malacañang yesterday......»»
[OPINION] Education for life: Weaving ethics in all subject areas
By making ethical reflection a cornerstone of our educational system, we foster a generation capable not only of doing things well, but of doing the right thing.....»»
Illegal road works?: Alarm raised over road development within watershed areas in Barangay Carmen
A DAVAO City Councilor has raised concerns regarding road construction within the watershed areas of Barangay Carmen, Baguio District......»»
Low subsidy forces LRTA to cut budget for train rehab
The Light Rail Transit Authority is cutting its budget for the restoration of trains to make the most of the lower subsidy given to the agency this year......»»
The real pasaways
The local internet came down hard last week on an anonymous teacher who was caught on livestream giving her students a scorching tongue-lashing for what she claimed was their lack of respect and discipline. Almost hysterical, Teacher X called them good-for-nothings without a future. Predictably, netizens deplored her derogatory language, which they equated with child abuse, and called on the Department of Education to investigate the incident and impose some disciplinary measure on the teacher concerned......»»
Government cuts borrowings to P203 billion in January
The Marcos administration slashed its borrowings by 45 percent to P203 billion at the onset of the new year in the absence of new global bond offerings.......»»
Scorching schools: How heat worsens conditions of poor students in PH
[This is the second and last part of a special report on how extreme heat in 2023 impacted the education sector in the Philippines. Click here for the first part.] CEBU CITY, Philippines – The same analysis by Cebu Daily News Digital (CDN Digital) showed that even private schools, which usually have better facilities and.....»»
VP Sara ‘di na pinarusahan ang viral teacher na nanigaw ng mga estudyante
AYON kay Vice President at Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sara Duterte, hindi niya paparusahan ang guro na nanigaw at nakapagbitaw ng hindi magandang salita sa mga estudyante. “Nakita ko yung explanation niya and then, sinabihan ko ang regional office natin na there will be no penalties for the teacher,” sey ni VP Sara sa.....»»