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Laguna Police Provincial Office bags the Best PPO Award in CALABARZON
CAMP BGEN PACIANO RIZAL, Sta Cruz, Laguna – Laguna Police Provincial Office (LPPO) was awarded as the Best Police Provincial Office in the CALABARZON region during the Awarding Ceremony coinciding the Flag-Ceremony at Camp Vicente Lim, Calamba City on February 19th, 2024. Laguna Police Provincial Director Police Colonel Gauvin Mel Yamashita Unos, received the award […].....»»
Cebu City buy-bust: 3 nabbed in Calamba drug den
CEBU CITY, Philippines –Law enforcers arrested a 51-year-old man, who was believed to the maintaining a suspected drug den, and two of his alleged visitors during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Calamba, Cebu City Monday night. Reports coming from concerned citizens led authorities to the drug den in Sitio Mangga that is allegedly being operated.....»»
Embo residents get free access to Makati service caravans, medical check-ups
The Makati local government unit said that EMBO residents can avail of free services from the city’s “Lingkod Bayan Caravan,” which is regularly scheduled on a Saturday......»»
REFLECTIONS: GomBurZa and I: The fight goes on
TAGO, Surigao del Sur (MindaNews / 08 January) — I have been to the ancestral house of Fr. Jose Burgos three times. It is one of the major tourist attractions in Vigan City in Ilocos del Sur. The house is smaller than Jose Rizal’s in Calamba, Laguna but it is replete with the necessary conveniences […].....»»
3 killed, 6 injured in 3-vehicle crash in Philippines
MANILA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Three people were killed, and six others injured in a crash involving three vehicles in Laguna province, south of the Philippine capital of Manila, on Wednesday, police said. The police said the crash occurred after a sports utility vehicle (SUV) occupied the opposite lane and collided with two tricycles around 3:30 a.m. local time along a national highway in Calamba City. The c.....»»
Turkish city centenary holds special significance
Standing at the foot of the cliff overlooking Kemaliye, the golden statue of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the father of the nation, evokes the glorious past of this small town in eastern Turkey. Ataturk rewarded the loyalty of the town, nestled between the mountains and the sources of the Euphrates, by giving it his name ahead of creating the Turkish republic out of the ashes of the Ottoman Empire 100 years ago. “The whole country would have wanted to bear his name but he would never have accepted!” said retired hotelier Haci Omer Yalcinkayalar, referring to the modest nature of Ataturk, who will be celebrated on the nation’s anniversary on 29 October. General Mustafa Kemal, hero of the Dardanelles war against the Allies, in 1919 began confronting the Westerners who occupied the dismembered empire to found the independent nation he longed for. His forces found themselves nearing disaster at the gates of Ankara in 1921 when he received a telegram from Egin, a trading town at the crossroads of Anatolia and the Caucasus, with an Armenian population. The telegram read: “Dear Pasha, we have 500 horsemen ready to leave at your command,” recounted Yalcinkayalar. Situated on the caravan routes heading towards Baghdad, Iran and Georgia, the town was prosperous. This is evidenced by the persisting stone and wooden houses that were built along the steep slopes of the mountainside, which town authorities requested to be classified as a UNESCO world heritage site. The entire district had around 20,000 inhabitants including some 6,000 in Kemaliye itself in Ataturk’s time, compared with 1,500 residents today. “In the end, they didn’t have to do it,” Yalcinkayalar said of the offer to send horsemen. But Ataturk did not forget the gesture and, a year later, he wrote to the Egin municipal council to offer his name. “It was given to us as a gift,” said the 73-year-old who has devoted his retirement to his town’s history. “It honors us: With the republic, we joined the civilized world.” Kemaliye has been home to many celebrations including concerts, football tournaments and banquets on every October 29 since the birth of the republic in 1923. In Guzide Tufekci’s family, the story is passed down with enthusiasm: The 60-year-old former literature professor, an enthusiastic Kemalist, recalled what Turkish women owe to Ataturk and the republic. “He opened the way for enlightened Turkish women, intellectuals, to have access to education, to have a profession. We’re proud of him,” she said. Facing a small train station that has served Kemaliye since 1938, a modest cafe is decorated like a museum. Erdal Erdurk, 59, has hung portraits of Ataturk on all the walls — in color, in black and white, in a soldier’s uniform, in a tuxedo or wearing his Astrakhan hat — and hung a huge red flag bearing his image above the entrance. WITH AFP The post Turkish city centenary holds special significance appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Taguig brings mobile health center to ‘embo’ barangays
The Taguig City government brought its health caravan project to Barangay West Rembo, an enlisted men’s barrio or “embo” barangay that is now under its jurisdiction......»»
Dignitaries hail tourism program
An attaché with the Embassy of India and other foreign dignitaries assigned here in the country have given the Department of Tourism a tap in the back for conceptualizing the Philippine Experience Program which showcases the country’s tourist attractions and provinces’ rich traditions and sumptous delicacies. In an interview, Shikha Kumari, Political Attache of the Embassy of India, also extolled the warmth and hospitality of their hosts in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas and Quezon where the second leg of the Philippine Experience took place. “We love the smiles and greetings of people in the locales. Indeed, we felt the love of the Philippines. There’s so much to explore with the Philippines and we can deliver this to our nationals who would want to visit this wonderful country,” she told the DAILY TRIBUNE. Other dignitaries that joined the CALABARZON leg of Philippine Experience and were the recipients of warm Filipino hospitality are Hanada Takihiro, minister and consul general, the Embassy of Japan; Huang Yaping and Liang Hao from the Embassy of China; Indian Attache Saurav Kumar; and representatives from the Embassies of Japan and Indonesia, among other delegates such as social media influencers, tour operators and the mainstream media, including the Daily Tribune. Seeking DoT’s intervention Meanwhile, two local executives in the provinces of Batangas and Quezon have sought the help of the DoT to back and further boost tourism initiatives in their respective municipalities and provinces. Taal, Batangas Mayor Fulgencio Mercado sought the support of Tourism Secretary Cristina Garcia Frasco in realizing the province’s tourism efforts. “We really need these projects in order for us to show our local and foreign tourists what more we can offer to them aside from the wonders of Taal Volcano,” he said during a program at the Taal Heritage Village on Sunday. To recall, Taal Lake is now closed to tourists because of the continuous activities of Taal Volcano. For his part, San Pablo City Vice Mayor Justin Colago expressed his gratitude to the DoT for choosing the city as one of the venues in the second leg of the Philippine Experience. “We want to collect the help that we needed to be able to develop further our destinations, particularly our Seven Lakes. We still need to promote our coconut industry, as well as its by-product ‘buko pie’ as makers of this delicacy were affected by the Covid pandemic,” Colago said. Villa Escudero San Pablo City is also where the famous Villa Escudero is situated; the famed tourist spot closed doors when the contagion hit the country in March 2023. Other places visited by Philippine Experience participants were Museo ni Aguinaldo in Kawit, Cavite; Bakood Festival of Bacoor, Cavite; Casa San Pablo in San Pablo City; Pagsanjan Falls (Cavinti Falls) in Pagsanjan, Laguna; Paete, Laguna for its famous wood carvers and Luman, Laguna, to see local weavers making barongs and ternos. The Philippine Experience Program is one of the many projects of Secretary Cristina Garcia Frasco; it is a program that facilitates a cultural tourism development focused on heritage, culture, and the arts to enhance current tour and domestic circuit offerings, which include food and gastronomy, pilgrimage and wellness, living cultures and heritage, and an arts caravan. The program also aims to diversify Philippine cultural tourism product offerings, equalize opportunities across regions, support the preservation of the country’s heritage, artistic resources and assets, and most importantly, instill a sense of pride and patriotism among Filipinos through a greater appreciation of the country’s inheritance and legacy. The post Dignitaries hail tourism program appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Foreign dignitaries receive ‘Love from the Philippines’
The attache of the Embassy of India and other foreign dignitaries assigned here in the country have given the Department of Tourism a tap at the back for conceptualizing the Philippine Experience Program which showcases the country's tourist attractions and provinces' rich traditions and sumptuous delicacies. In an interview, Shikha Kumari, Political Attache of the Embassy of India, also extolled the warmth and hospitality of the locales of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, and Quezon where the second leg of the Philippine Experience took place. "We love the smiles and greetings of the locales. It's indeed we felt the love of the Philippines. Indeed there's so much to explore with the Philippines and we can deliver this to our nationals who would want to visit this wonderful country," she told the DAILY TRIBUNE. Other dignitaries that joined the CALABARZON leg of the Philippine Experience and felt the warm Filipino hospitality are Hanada Takihiro, minister and co sul general from the Embassy of Japan, Huang Yaping and Liang Hao from the Embassy of China, Indian Attache Saurav Kumar, and representatives from the Embassies of Japan and Indonesia, among other delegates such as social media influencers, tour operators and the mainstream media, including the DAILY TRIBUNE. Seeking for DoT's interventions Meanwhile, two local executives in the provinces of Batangas and Quezon have sought the help of the DoT to back and further boos tourism initiatives in their respective municipalities and provinces. Taal, Batangas Mayor Fulgencio Mercado sought the support of Tourism Secretary Cristina Garcia Frasco in making their province's tourism efforts to be realized. "We really need these projects in order for us to show our local and foreign tourists what more we can offer to them aside from the wonders of Taal Volcano," he said during a program at the Taal Heritage Village on Sunday. Taal Lake is now closed to tourists because of the continuous activities of Taal Volcano. On the other hand, San Pablo City Vice Mayor Justin Colago expressed gratitude to the DoT for choosing the city as one of the venues in the second leg of the Philippine Experience. "We want to collect the help that we need to be able to develop further our destinations, particularly our Seven Lakes. We still need to promote our coconut industry, as well as its by-product buko pie as makers of this delicacy were indeed affected by the Covid pandemic," Colago said. San Pablo City is also where the famous Villa Escudero is situated, which closed doors when the contagion hit the country in March 2023. Other places visited by the Philippine Experience were Museo ni Aguinaldo in Kawit, Cavite; Bakood Festival of Bacoor, Cavite; Casa San Pablo in San Pablo City; Pagsanjan Falls (Cavinti Falls) in Pagsanjan, Laguna; the wood carvers in Paete, Laguna, and the weavers of Lumban, Laguna, home of the famous barongs and ternos. The Philippine Experience Program is just one of the many projects of Secretary Cristina Garcia Frasco, a program that facilitates a cultural tourism circuit development focused on heritage, culture, and arts to enhance current tour and domestic circuit offerings, which include: Food and Gastronomy, Pilgrimage and Wellness, Living Cultures and Heritage, and an Arts caravan. The program also aims to diversify the cultural tourism product offerings of the country, equalize opportunities across the regions, support the preservation of the country’s heritage, and artistic resources and assets, and most importantly, instill a sense of pride and patriotism among the Filipino people through a greater appreciation of the country’s inheritance and legacy. The post Foreign dignitaries receive ‘Love from the Philippines’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
FLI debt papers get top PhilRatings grade
The proposed P10-billion bond float of property developer Filinvest Land Inc., or FLI, has been assigned the highest credit ratings and stable outlooks by the Philippine Rating Services Corporation, or PhilRatings. FLI’s proposed bonds, amounting to P10 billion with a P2-billion oversubscription allowance, were assigned an issue credit rating of PRS Aaa. The high rating was also assigned to FLI’s outstanding bonds, totaling P35.4 billion. Proceeds from the issuance will be used for capital expenditures and debt refinancing. “We are delighted to receive a PRS Aaa rating from PhilRatings for our proposed bond issuance. This rating reflects our healthy fundamentals and underscores our constant focus on growth and financial sustainability,” Tristan Las Marias, FLI president and chief executive officer, said. PRS Aaa signifies the highest credit quality with minimal risk. The capacity to meet financial commitment is extremely strong under the grade. Outlook stable PhilRatings also issued a stable outlook on PhilRatings. An outlook gives a glimpse on the direction of any rating change within one year. A Stable outlook means the rating will likely be unchanged in the next 12 months. PhilRatings said it took “into account the following key considerations: FLI’s established brand name and track record, with geographically diverse real estate products and substantial land bank for future expansion; its sound growth strategies; its improved revenues and operating cash flow, supported by more than satisfactory liquidity and interest coverage” for the outlook. For 2023, FLI will launch condominium and housing developments in Antipolo City, Taytay, Angono, Calamba City, Tanauan City, Trece Martires City, Bacoor City, Dumaguete City, and the Island Garden City of Samal. FLI will also accelerate the development of its township projects in East Town in Cainta, Rizal; Timberland Heights in San Mateo, Rizal; Ciudad de Calamba in Calamba City, Laguna, The Wood Estates in Trece Martires City, Cavite, and Palm Estates in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. The FLI townships will include residential, commercial, transportation, and school components to create a self-sufficient environment that considers the needs of residents and customers in mind. For malls, FLI is currently constructing Marina Town in Dumaguete City which will open by end-2023, and new malls in Filinvest Mimosa+ Leisure City and Activa Cubao which will open by end-2024. These will expand FLI’s retail portfolio by about 55,000 square meters in gross leasable area, or GLA, bringing FLI’s nationwide retail GLA to 300,000 square meters. The post FLI debt papers get top PhilRatings grade appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Filinvest Land bonds earn top credit score, stable outlook from PhilRatings
The proposed bond issuance of full-range developer Filinvest Land Inc. (FLI) has been assigned the highest issue credit ratings and stable outlooks by the Philippine Rating Services Corporation (PhilRatings). FLI’s proposed bonds, amounting to P10 billion with a P2 billion oversubscription option, were assigned an issue credit rating of PRS Aaa. The same PRS Aaa rating was also assigned to FLI’s outstanding bonds, totaling P35.4 billion. Proceeds from these bonds will be used for capital expenditures and debt refinancing. "We are delighted to receive a PRS Aaa rating from PhilRatings for our proposed bond issuance. This rating reflects our healthy fundamentals and underscores our constant focus on growth and financial sustainability. We are grateful for PhilRatings’ trust and confidence in Filinvest Land and aim to continue building the Filipino dream through our various property developments,” said Tristan Las Marias, FLI president and chief executive officer. Obligations rated PRS Aaa (the highest rating assigned by PhilRatings) are of the highest quality with minimal credit risk. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment to the obligation is extremely strong. Each of the ratings was also assigned an Outlook of Stable. An Outlook is an indication as to the possible direction of any rating change within a one-year period and serves as a further refinement to the assigned credit rating for the guidance of investors, regulators, and the general public. A "stable outlook" means the rating will likely be unchanged in the next 12 months. According to PhilRatings, the assigned credit ratings "take into account the following key considerations: (1) FLI’s established brand name and track record, with geographically diverse real estate products and substantial land bank for future expansion; (2) its sound growth strategies; (3) its improved revenues and operating cash flow, supported by more than satisfactory liquidity and interest coverage,” among other factors. For 2023, FLI will launch condominium and housing developments in Antipolo City, Taytay, Angono, Calamba City, Tanauan City, Trece Martires City, Bacoor City, Dumaguete City, and the Island Garden City of Samal. FLI will also accelerate the development of its township projects in East Town in Cainta, Rizal; Timberland Heights in San Mateo, Rizal; Ciudad de Calamba in Calamba City, Laguna, The Wood Estates in Trece Martires City, Cavite, and Palm Estates in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. These FLI townships will include residential, commercial, transportation, and school components to create a self-sufficient environment that considers the needs of residents and customers in mind. For malls, FLI is currently constructing Marina Town in Dumaguete City which will open by end-2023, and new malls in Filinvest Mimosa+ Leisure City and Activa Cubao which will open by end-2024. These will expand FLI’s retail portfolio by about 55,000 square meters in gross leasable area (GLA), bringing FLI’s nationwide retail GLA to 300,000 square meters. FLI is also present in the industrial park and ready-built factory leasing businesses with its Filinvest Innovation Parks in New Clark City, Tarlac, and Calamba City, Laguna. Last 19 August, FLI broke ground on the 25-hectare Filinvest Innovation Park Ciudad de Calamba, an expansion of the 50-hectare Filinvest Technology Park in Ciudad de Calamba. FIP-CDC is envisioned to become a stage for new and relevant products that will catalyze progress in the local community. The post Filinvest Land bonds earn top credit score, stable outlook from PhilRatings appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Sandro reveals smear vs 2 FLs
Ilocos Norte — Presidential son and Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos revealed black propaganda operations against his mother, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and his grandmother, former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos. Sandro graced the opening of the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair in Ilocos Norte, part of the simultaneous nationwide launch on Saturday, 23 September. In a press briefing, Sandro said information relayed to his mother indicated a “Ferdinand Macugay” was doing the rounds of Laoag City, handing out cash to barangay chairpersons and claiming the money came from the current and former first ladies. Hands off politics “I will say this once and once only, our First Lady never interferes in politics, particularly in Ilocos Norte. We all know the First Lady has different advocacies,” the young Marcos said in a statement. He was referring to the “Lab for all caravan” of the First Lady, where health services are brought closer to the people, among her other advocacies. Marcos admitted he was annoyed and angered when he heard about the person “roaming around using the names of my mother and grandmother and the Marcos surname.” “Let’s not tarnish the name of my mother, especially the name of my grandmother, who is already 93 years old,” he said. Sandro said he knows the barangay elections will be heated as it’s been a while since it was last held, but this was not justification for dragging his mother and grandmother into politics. PBBM leads CamSur launch Meanwhile, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. graced the launch of the Nabua, Camarines Sur leg of the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair. The Bagong Pilipinas caravan consolidates programs and services of various government agencies in a one-stop-shop. In his speech, Marcos noted that the government agencies were in “full force” to deliver medical, health, financial, livelihood, and education assistance to “give Filipinos new hope and a new beginning.” “This program is just one of the first initiatives of the government to give Filipinos new hope and a new beginning. Our islands may be detached from one another, but we are united by one spirit and one dream — the new Philippines for the new Filipino,” Marcos said in the vernacular. Lade Jean Kabagani @tribunephl_Lade The post Sandro reveals smear vs 2 FLs appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl Air Force set to receive C-208B reconnaissance plane
A brand-new Cessna C-20B "Grand Caravan" surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft, a grant from the United States, is set to arrive on Tuesday for the use of the Philippine Air Force. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. will grace the ceremonial acceptance, turnover, and blessing of the aircraft at the Clark Air Base in Mabalacat City, Pampanga. It will serve as the third C-208B in PAF service once accepted. The C-208B aircraft has a cruising speed of around 170 knots. It has a range of over 1,000 nautical miles and is capable of transporting eight to nine persons, including the pilot. The country received the first two units of C-208B planes on 27 July 2017, which was part of a USD33-million package through the US National Defense Authorization Act Building Partnership Capacity Program. The post Phl Air Force set to receive C-208B reconnaissance plane appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DTI rolls out rice caravan
Amid the skyrocketing rice prices that necessitated the government’s imposition of a price cap, the Department of Trade and Industry on Friday rolled out its “Rice on Wheels Program for Retailers.” The DTI said that through the caravan, the DTI targets supplying retailers in the public markets with affordable rice stocks. “The DTI will work closely with different government agencies and private stakeholders to ensure that Filipino families will be able to access affordable rice during the implementation of Executive Order 39. We will continue to find ways and means to work with the private sector to stabilize the supply and price of rice in the market,” said Trade Secretary Fred Pascual in a statement. Before the roll-out in different public markets on 11 September, the DTI spearheaded a simultaneous dry-run yesterday in public markets in the cities of Makati, Parañaque and Manila. Through the Rice on Wheels for Retailers program, Bulacan rice millers and traders want to show their support for Executive Order 39, the DTI said. During the roll-out in Barangay Gulod, Novaliches, Quezon City, the Bulacan Rice Millers and Traders group brought a supply of 12,500 kilos to be sold. “The DTI assures the public of its relentless pursuit to provide affordable rice as we nurture a stronger, more accessible market for all. Through a whole-of-government approach, the DTI will continuously collaborate with different government agencies and private stakeholders to ensure the availability of affordable rice supplies for all,” Pascual added. The post DTI rolls out rice caravan appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
RFO Home to Go promo offers easy home ownership
The RFO (Ready-For-Occupancy) Home to Go promotion, launched by Amaia, simplifies home-buying. One benefit of investing in an RFO unit is that prospective buyers can examine the home’s aesthetic first-hand since the unit is already entirely constructed. Also, customers can see the existing community vibe before purchasing. Most RFO homes already have amenities like swimming pools and basketball courts, which residents may readily enjoy. Since the unit is entirely built, buyers can immediately move in, while investors can rent out the unit sooner and get a faster return on their investment. Recognizing the importance of affordability to aspiring property owners and given that each person’s financial requirements and resources are unique, Amaia has partnered with reputable banks such as BPI (Bank of the Philippine Islands) and CTBC (Chinatrust Commercial Bank) to provide several convenient payment options. Since clients may select the plan that best conforms to their budget, they can begin their homeownership journey without financial stress. Amaia’s RFO units are located amidst both the hustle and bustle of the city and the serenity of the suburbs. Project locations include condos in Alabang, Sucat, Cubao, Shaw, Altaraza (San Jose del Monte), Pasig, Mandaue (Cebu), Capitol Central (Bacolod); townhouses in Novaliches, Vermosa (Imus) and Nuvali (Calamba); and house and lot units in General Trias, Cabuyao, San Pablo, Lucena, San Fernando, Cabanatuan, Capas, Urdaneta and North Point (Bacolod). Amaia’s RFO Home To Go is the ideal solution for people looking for a simple and quick path to homeownership. It offers immediate occupancy, significant discounts, affordable payment plans and many projects. The post RFO Home to Go promo offers easy home ownership appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bong Go inspects Siniloan isolation facility
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, personally inspected the isolation facility at the Siniloan Infirmary Hospital in Siniloan, Laguna on Friday, 25 August. Go, also the vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, has supported the said project during the Duterte administration. The senator, an adopted son of CALABARZON, was also joined by Vice Governor Karen Agapay, Mayor Patrick Go, Vice Mayor Carla Valderrama, and Councilors Carl Anthony Puño, Regie De Jesus, and Councilor Ronald Valeroso, among others. "Maraming salamat po Kuya Bong. Ang bayan po ng Siniloan ay taos-pusong nagpapasalamat sa inyong pagdalaw at kami po ay binibigyan niyo ng suporta. Ang sarili naming Infirmary Hospital ay parang Malasakit Center na rin dahil ang mga kapos nating kababayan na lumalapit doon ay nabibigyan natin ng direktang libreng pag-gagamot. Kaya Kuya Bong, maraming maraming salamat po. Talagang 'Go cares'," Mayor Go expressed. Go’s visit not only underscored his dedication to serving the Filipino people but also highlighted the critical need to bolster the nation's health sector, particularly in the wake of the devastating effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. During the inspection, the senator engaged in conversations with the local officials and even healthcare workers to gain firsthand insights into the challenges faced by the health sector. “Sinusuportahan naman natin ang inyong Infirmary Hospital dito po sa Siniloan at gaya ng sinabi ko kung ano po ang makakatulong sa Siniloan sa pag-unlad ng inyong bayan at makatulong po sa mga mahihirap nating kababayan dito po sa Siniloan ay handa po akong tumulong sa abot ng aking makakaya ay tutulong po ako dito po sa inyong bayan,” said Go in an interview after his visit. Go has consistently stressed the importance of continuous investments in healthcare infrastructure, personnel, and equipment especially in the community level. He pointed out that the pandemic had exposed vulnerabilities in the health sector and underscored the need for proactive measures to ensure that the country is better equipped to handle future health crises. Through a series of innovative initiatives, including Malasakit Centers, Super Health Centers (SHCs), and Regional Specialty Centers (RSCs), Go underscored his unwavering commitment to ensuring that all Filipinos have access to quality medical assistance and services. Malasakit Centers, a brainchild of Senator Go, act as one-stop shops that consolidate the available medical assistance programs of various government agencies, ensuring that poor and indigent patients can readily access the support they need. Since its inception in 2018, Malasakit Centers have provided invaluable assistance to more than seven million patients, alleviating the financial burdens that often accompany medical treatments. There are currently 158 operational centers nationwide, including those at Laguna Medical Center in Sta. Cruz and San Pablo City General Hospital in San Pablo City. Go is the principal author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019. Meanwhile, Go’s vision of a more improved healthcare sector extends to the establishment of SHCs, which aim to offer comprehensive healthcare services to communities, especially in underserved areas. Such centers are set to be established in cities such as Calamba, Cabuyao, Sta. Rosa, San Pedro, San Pablo, and Biñan, as well as in the towns of Alaminos, Mabitac, Calauan, Los Baños, and Sta. Maria. The SHCs will offer a wide range of services, including database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray and ultrasound), pharmacy, and ambulatory surgical unit. Other available services are eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) service, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation center, and telemedicine, through which remote diagnosis and treatment of patients are made possible. Through the concerted efforts of the Department of Health (DOH) and lawmakers, adequate funding has been allocated in the national budget for the establishment of 307 SHCs in 2022 and 322 more in 2023. “Ang maganda po diyan early detection, primary care, checkup, konsulta. Diyan ho kayo magpakonsulta sa Super Health Center na itinatayo sa inyong lugar. Early detection (para) hindi lumala ang sakit. It will help decongest sa hospitals, madi-decongest po ang mga hospitals dahil diyan na po gagamutin sa mga Super Health Center,’ Go said. Recognizing the need for specialized care, Go has also championed the establishment of Regional Specialty Centers. These centers focus on specific medical fields, ensuring that patients receive expert care without the need to travel long distances to urban centers. In the Senate, Go principally sponsored and is one of the authors of Senate Bill No. 2212, also known as the Regional Specialty Centers Act, which was recently approved and signed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. into law. “Pangatlong prayoridad ko po bilang chairman ng Committee on Health ito pong establishing regional specialty center. Maglalagay po ng mga specialty center sa mga DOH regional hospital sa buong Pilipinas. It’s a multiyear plan po. Halimbawa, (kung may problema sa) heart, kidney, lung, neonatal, mental, ito pong mga ortho sa mga may karamdaman sa buto, cancer. Ilalagay na po sa lahat ng DOH regional hospital sa buong Pilipinas para ilapit po natin ang serbisyo medikal sa ating mga kababayan,” explained Go. “Ako po ang (isa sa mga) author at (principal) sponsor niyan sa Senado at pasado na ‘yan, napirmahan na po ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos dahil priority po ito ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos. Establishing specialty center in every DOH regional hospital all over the country,” he added. On the same day, Go personally inspected the town’s Sports Complex and provided assistance to 500 struggling residents. The post Bong Go inspects Siniloan isolation facility appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bong Go provides aid to Siniloan indigents
Senator Christopher "Bong" Go has personally reached out to assist hundreds of struggling residents in Siniloan, Laguna, on Friday, 25 August. As a legislator and public servant, Go has been consistent with his efforts to help ensure grassroots communities get the services they need from the government. “Kahit saang sulok kayo ng Pilipinas, tutulong ako sa abot ng aking makakaya. Iyan po ang aking ipinangako sa Pilipino. Hindi ko po matiis na nakaupo lang po sa opisina habang ang mga kababayan natin dito ay nangangailangan po ng tulong,” he said. “Tayo po na nasa gobyerno, sikapin nating ilapit ang serbisyo sa mga tao. Tayo na mismo ang maghatid sa kanila ng tulong na kanilang kinakailangan upang makaahon sa hirap. Siguraduhin nating walang maiiwan sa ating muling pagbangon,” he added. An adopted son of CALABARZON, Go took the opportunity to praise the local officials for their unwavering efforts to ensure the well-being of their constituents. He expressed his admiration and gratitude to those in attendance, including Vice Governor Karen Agapay, Mayor Patrick Go, and Vice Mayor Carla Valderrama, among others. During the event held at Siniloan Plaza covered court, Go's team distributed food packs, masks, vitamins, snacks, and shirts to 500 indigent residents. In addition, select individuals received pairs of shoes, watches, cellphones, and balls for basketball and volleyball. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) complemented these efforts by providing financial assistance under its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program to qualified beneficiaries. Aside from the 500 beneficiaries that day, Go’s team will continue to aid other indigents in Siniloan in the coming days. Advocating for improved access to quality healthcare services, Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, encouraged residents to utilize the services of the Malasakit Centers in the province, located at Laguna Medical Center in Sta. Cruz and San Pablo City General Hospital in San Pablo City. The Malasakit Center, an initiative instituted through Republic Act No. 11463, which Go principally authored and sponsored, consolidates the medical assistance programs of various government agencies including DSWD, Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC), and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). To date, more than seven million poor and indigent patients have benefited from the 158 established Malasakit Centers, as reported by DOH. On the same day, Go also inspected some of the projects he supported in the town as vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, including the isolation facility at the Infirmary Hospital and the Siniloan Sports Complex which were both initiated during the Duterte administration through Go’s efforts. Understanding the importance of sports in fostering community well-being, Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Sports, emphasized the need for modern and accessible facilities to promote grassroots sports development. “Bahagi ng ating layunin bilang Chair ng Senate Committee on Sports na mapalaganap ang grassroots sports development, at mailayo ang iba pang kabataan sa masamang bisyo gaya ng iligal ng droga. Kaya ang payo ko palagi sa lahat lalo na sa mga kabataan, get into sports and stay away from drugs,” Go said. In Siniloan, Go also supported the construction of a multipurpose building. Throughout the province, Go was instrumental in the construction, rehabilitation, and improvement of various roads, bridges, and farm-to-market roads in Famy, Luisiana, Nagcarlan, Paete, and Majayjay. Additionally, the acquisition of ambulances in Liliw, Magdalena, and Nagcarlan, and a garbage truck in Bay, has enhanced transportation and sanitation services. Environmental protection has also been a priority of the senator as he earlier pushed for the funding of flood control projects and lakeshore protection in Bay, drainage canals in Biñan City and Cabuyao City, and river protection structures in Biñan City. Community development is also advocated by Go through the support of the construction, rehabilitation, and improvement of various multi-purpose buildings, covered courts, public markets, and slaughterhouses in Cavinti, Famy, Kalayaan, Liliw, Lumban, Mabitac, Magdalena, Majayjay, Pagsanjan, Pakil, Pangil, Pila, Rizal, San Pablo City, San Pedro City, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa City, Siniloan, and Victoria. Through his efforts, urban development has also been enhanced in the province through the installation of LED streetlights in Biñan City, street lighting in Lumban and Magdalena, and the modernization and upgrading of the public market in Nagcarlan. During the Duterte administration, special attention has also been given to specific projects such as the construction of a pathway and a multi-purpose hall in Bay, the construction of the Department of Public Works and Highways Region IV-A Office, and a satellite evacuation center/isolation facility in Calamba City, and the construction of a two-story Calumpang Public Market in Liliw. "Mga kababayan ko, tandaan n’yo po, mahal na mahal ko po kayo. Maraming salamat. Minsan lang tayo dadaan sa mundong ito, kung anuman pong kabutihan o tulong na pwede natin gawin sa ating kapwa ay gawin na po natin ngayon dahil hindi na tayo babalik sa mundong ito,” he said. “Ako ay patuloy na magseserbisyo sa inyong lahat dahil ako po ay naniniwala na ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo po ‘yan sa Diyos,” concluded Go. The post Bong Go provides aid to Siniloan indigents appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BSP intensifies drive vs mutilated bills
BUTUAN CITY — The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas here disclosed that it is already intensifying efforts to collect unfit legal tender banknotes or bills and mutilated coins through a series of Piso Caravans. The Piso Caravans in the region — which started this month until September — kicked off in Surigao City over the weekend, according to bank officer Glizriel Rose Quijada of BSP’s Mindanao regional office on Monday. Quijada hailed the Piso Caravan in Surigao City after residents in the area positively responded to the call to exchange their unfit banknotes and mutilated coins in booths provided by the BSP during the activity. “After the Surigao City schedule, the Piso Caravan is set to visit Tandag City and Bislig City in Surigao del Sur next month,” Quijada said. A total of 300 pieces of unfit legal tender banknotes in different denominations as well as 4,000 pieces of unfit and mutilated coins were collected during the Piso Caravan in Surigao City. Quijada said the BSP is calling on the public to exchange unfit banknotes, which accumulated dirt or any substance across the surface that results in discoloration, those with apparent markings or writings, limpness or rag-like quality, those with stains and faded prints, and notes with heavy folds or creases. The mutilated banknotes or coins are those with tears or holes or damaged parts, charred or with decayed portions or missing parts. The post BSP intensifies drive vs mutilated bills appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
New PNR norm: Electric trains
When the Philippine National Railways resumes operations after a five-year hibernation, Filipinos will discover an entirely modern railway that will use an all-electric system. By that time, the diesel-powered engines would all be relegated to the train museum. In his speech before the Transport Logistics Forum held at the World Trade Center on 17 August, PNR Chairman Michael Ted Macapagal said the agency is hard at work to complete the North-South Commuter Railway or NSCR, which will run from Clark Air Base in Pampanga to Calamba City in Laguna, a distance of 147 kilometers, for P873.62 billion. The forum was sponsored by the Italian, German, French, and Spanish Chambers of Commerce. Macapagal said that once the project is completed, five years hence, all trains running on diesel fuel will be replaced with a fleet of 60 electric multiple units, “which are at par with world standards in terms of safety and comfort.” Macapagal said PNR is thus rebuilding the country’s railway system from the ground up. “The NSCR is long overdue, while other countries transport people and goods by train, the Philippines depends on cars and trucks to achieve that purpose, which is why we have these daily traffic snarl-ups that cost us, according to studies, the equivalent of $25 billion a year,” according to the PNR chief. The refurbished rail line will be able to transport 800,000 passengers every day. Travel time from one end of the line to the other will be cut in half, from eight to four hours. He said the trip will be even shorter for express train passengers. The PNR is undergoing reconstruction after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said his administration will give priority to the development of more efficient railways for public transport. The NSCR is only the start, revealed Macapagal. “Having set the project in motion, President Marcos now wants to begin construction of the North Long Haul, the South Long Haul, the Panay Railway, North Mindanao Railway, and San Mateo Railway, all spanning a total of 1,024 kilometers,” he indicated. NSCR connects to Ilocandia Of the five projects, the North Long Haul is the most ambitious. It will connect NSCR to the Poro Point Free Port Zone, Laoag International Airport in Ilocos Norte, and Port Irene and Lal-lo International Airport in Cagayan. The chairman said President Marcos regards the railway projects as the country’s framework for economic development. To give way to the construction project, PNR has stopped train operations from Alabang to Laguna. It is set to suspend all operations in Metro Manila also. “That’s why the LTFRB, prodded by PNR, is expeditiously approving franchise applications for additional buses in affected areas,” Macapagal related. As PNR chairman, Macapagal identifies priority projects with the help of the board, which falls under the authority of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista. “If we are a basketball team,” Macapagal said in his address, “Secretary Bautista is the MVP. Of course, President Marcos is the head coach. I’d like to think I am the point guard.” The PNR station in Ligao City, Albay recently reopened after six years of hiatus. Every day, the first PNR trip from Ligao to Naga leaves at 5:30 a.m. and is followed by a second trip at 5:30 p.m. from Naga to Ligao. The cheapest fare is P15 for the first station and goes up to P105 for the entire stretch of the train system. The post New PNR norm: Electric trains appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
El Niño threatens Eastern Visayas rice lands
CALBAYOG CITY — Over 33,000 hectares of rice farms are facing drought when the El Niño phenomenon hits Eastern Visayas towards the end of the year, according to the Department of Agriculture regional office in an information caravan on Thursday. Luisa Capili, focal person of quick response team at the DA regional office, said 30 towns in the region are facing the prospect of drought starting in late October when the El Niño phenomenon will start to be felt. She added that based on the climate outlook of Eastern Visayas out of the 136 municipalities and seven cities in the region, 30 local government units are likely to experience prolonged dry spell that will greatly impact rice and corn production of the region. “While we will still be affected by the El Niño phenomenon, the overall effect will not be severe due to persistent easterly winds falling in the region,” Capili said. She also disclosed that out of the 185,961 hectares of land planted with rice in Eastern Visayas, 33,013 hectares are forecasted to be affected by drought — 9,859 hectares in Samar, 6,294 hectares in Leyte, 4445 hectares in Biliran, 7,110 hectares in Eastern Samar and 6,304 hectares in Northern Samar. These are the towns of Tabango, Villaba, Sta. Fe, Alangalang, Palo, San Miguel and Ormoc City in Leyte; Naval, Caibiran, Biliran and Almeria in Biliran province; Paranas, Pinabacdao, Villareal, Sta. Rita, San Jorge, Gandara and Sta. Margarita in Samar; Quinapondan, Oras, Dolores, Sulat, Arteche, Taft, San Policarpo and San Julian in Eastern Samar; and Lavezares, Catubig, Pambujan and Las Navas in Northern Samar. The post El Niño threatens Eastern Visayas rice lands appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»