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Philippine men’s volleyball coach puts premium on performance for 2025 worlds
Philippine men’s national volleyball team coach Sergio Veloso said that performance will be the main factor in building the team roster for the Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) men’s world championship next year......»»
CLI allots higher capex, partners with Japan firm
Cebu Landmasters Inc. is hiking its capital spending to P14.5 billion this year as it gears up for growth and expansion following a strong financial performance in 2023......»»
Cebu Landmasters FY23 profit: P4.6-B (up 29%)
Cebu Landmasters [CLI 2.85 unch] [link] teased its FY23 performance at an analyst briefing where it revealed full-year net income of P4.6 billion (up 29%) and total revenues of P18.8 billion (up 20%)......»»
AREA ASSESSMENT | DA conducts survey for cloud seeding as dry spell damage in NegOcc reaches P77.7M
AREA ASSESSMENT | DA conducts survey for cloud seeding as dry spell damage in NegOcc reaches P77.7M.....»»
DPWH Steering Committee conducts progress review of JICA-Assisted Road Network Development in Mindanao
An assessment of progress and consultation with the relevant stakeholders was undertaken by the Steering Committee of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the implementation of Road Network Development Project in Conflict-Affected Areas in Mindanao (RNDP-CAAM) to enhance infrastructure project delivery in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). DPWH Senior […].....»»
High expectations from winners (4)
Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte-Carpio took very seriously the job given to her by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to prepare a curriculum relevant to producing competent, job-ready, active, and responsible citizens. In her report on basic education in the Philippines, she revealed in detail the problems confronting it, the teachers, and learners; and crafted means to overcome them, guided by the Constitution and the convention on the rights of the child, reaffirming our country’s commitment to improving the quality of basic education in the Philippines. “The four learners at home — one in kindergarten, one in Grade 4, one in Grade 7, and one in Grade 9 — enable me to see different kinds of problems being experienced by learners every day.” “In my work as Secretary of Education, I am in the company of 28 million Filipino learners throughout the country. I can see numerous problems faced by them every day.” “Four learners at home, plus 28 million more throughout the land, these, my countrymen, make my interest in the future of Philippine education a very personal matter.” “Filipino learners are not academically proficient. In time, Filipino learners experience emotional abuse and exhaustion. Some of them suffer from psychological fatigue. And being academically insecure, many of them may fail to meet the standards of a demanding and competitive world. These are caused and triggered by conditions present at home, in our communities, and even in our schools as a result of problems ingrained in our system. This is the truth. This is our future. But this is a future that we can change. That is why we are here.” “We have to take good care of our teachers. They are the lifeblood of the Department of Education. Without our teachers, our mission to carve a better future for our children will fail.” “And to empower our learners with the relevant skills and knowledge, we shall focus on upscaling their knowledge and capacities as public servants. The assessment of the K-12 curriculum revealed the weak teaching methods of our teachers in addressing 21st-century skills. Studies done by the Research Center of Teacher Quality, the World Bank, and UNICEF showed that our teachers need further support, particularly in explicitly and strategically teaching critical thinking and problem-solving skills.” “While critical thinking was the most evident in the curriculum, it was also the least taught to students by the teachers. Instead, lessons leaned towards conceptual or content-based teaching. And lessons lacked in-depth processing to cultivate critical thinking and problem-solving. Finally, there appears to be insufficient knowledge on developing 21st-century skills, including higher-order thinking skills among learners. This is not the fault of our teachers—whose dedication, integrity, and commitment to serving Filipino children and the country strengthen our collective effort to achieve our shared dreams for our learners. The sad reality is that the system has failed them.” “This is the system that burdens them with backbreaking and time-consuming administrative tasks, a system that provides no adequate support and robs them of the opportunity to professionally grow and professionally teach, assist and guide our learners.” “Our teachers must return to our classrooms and they must teach.” Studies and tests were conducted to measure the literacy of the learners. It was discovered that the issue of literacy is alarming in our basic education. We must address it appropriately and effectively. The 2018 study results showed that 81 percent of Filipino learners could not deal with basic math problems, 81 percent had trouble understanding texts of moderate length, and 78 percent could not recognize correct explanations for scientific phenomena or draw valid conclusions from given data. “We can do better than this,” Sara said. “We are better than this. Studies like these are opportunities for us to thoroughly examine our system and defects that hurt our children’s abilities.” (To be continued) The post High expectations from winners (4) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Asian Institute of Management appoints Erramon Aboitiz as new chairman
UnionBank of the Philippines chairman of the Board of Directors Erramon "Montxu" I. Aboitiz has taken on a pivotal role as the new chairman of the Board of Trustees at the Asian Institute of Management beginning 1 September 2023. Aboitiz joins an esteemed group of accomplished business leaders who share the commitment to advance the growth and well-being of Asia and its people. Montxu is the seventh chairman of AIM, succeeding Peter Garrucho who assumed the role in 2017. Montxu served as the president and CEO of Aboitiz Equity Ventures for a decade from 2009 to 2019, and briefly as the CEO of Aboitiz Power Corporation in 2018. Additionally, Montxu is a former trustee of the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation before Aboitiz Group president and CEO Sabin Aboitiz assumed the same role. Montxu earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a major in Accounting and Finance from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, USA. In 2011, he received the Management Man of the Year award from the Management Association of the Philippines and was recognized as Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young. Seven years later, AIM conferred an honorary doctorate degree in management on Montxu. In 2019, the Aboitiz Group, through its social responsibility arm the Aboitiz Foundation, made a $10 million donation to AIM, marked as the Aboitiz 100th Anniversary Commitment Fund. The said fund is being used to address the local and regional gap in data science and innovation. With this donation, AIM’s Aboitiz School of Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship conducts world-class teaching and research with real-world applications with data science professionals and leaders. The post Asian Institute of Management appoints Erramon Aboitiz as new chairman appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Duterte giveth, Diokno taketh
Since his call in 2017 to veto Republic Act 10931, the law granting free higher education, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno has been singing the same dissonant melody. A similar theme can be heard in his most recent attempt to cast doubt on the program’s long-term viability, which is frequently praised as one of the Duterte administration’s legacies. However, as Diokno continues to bang his well-worn drum, it becomes increasingly obvious that his arguments are out of tune and lacking in both substance and harmony. The frequently repeated assertion by Diokno that the free college program is “anti-poor” because of its supposed bias toward wealthy students doesn’t ring true with logic or facts. His claim that wealthy students have supplanted their less advantaged peers in the competition for openings at state universities and colleges lacks supporting data. He tries to play the fiscal unsustainability card by asserting that the program is an exorbitant financial burden for the government. This perspective is myopic because education spending continues to be one of the most effective ways to boost the economy and create jobs. In fact, a World Bank report has said that every dollar spent on education generates ten times as much in economic benefits, thus emphasizing the real worth of such expenditures under RA 10931. Additionally, Diokno ignores the reality that the program has been in force since 2018 after President Duterte rebuffed his veto campaign. After six years of effective implementation, for Diokno to suddenly pronounce it untenable sounds more like pessimism than a valid criticism. Diokno also veers away from the upbeat chorus that is led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his predecessor, former President Duterte, as he continues to play his dirge. His persistent pessimism has turned him into a maestro of despair rather than a conductor of progress. The Finance chief certainly needs a lot of the can-do attitude of both Marcos and Duterte, the latter with the bravado and tenacity he showed in guiding the country through the turbulent waters of the Covid-19 pandemic. Diokno should learn to instill confidence in the hearts of the populace, or he should just hand the job to someone who would tackle it with more vigor. Diokno claims that wealthy kids who can afford review lessons and other incidental costs are disproportionately benefited by RA 10931. This claim is again without basis as a lot of impoverished students have gained access to higher education without having to pay tuition thanks to this law. A thorough assessment by the Commission on Higher Education showed that the free college program has dramatically increased enrollment rates among students from low-income families. This should lay bare the falsity of Diokno’s claims. If we may add, the CHEd study also resonated with people by emphasizing its contribution to closing the achievement gap between the affluent and the less fortunate. Probably most befuddling of all was Diokno’s unsettling claim that the program benefits students who live close to public universities and colleges. This conflicts with what we see on the ground, of students renting bed space or living with their relatives so they can be near their schools, wherever they may be located. Additionally, the value of an educated citizenry transcends geographical boundaries in the grand scheme of nation-building. It’s ironic that for a Finance chief, the needed comprehension of the complexity of not only our economy and the numbers but also how they relate to society and people seems absent from Diokno’s spiel opposing free higher education. His quest to repeal RA 10931 has fallen short of capturing the long-term benefits of investing in education to improve the lives of underprivileged youngsters. Diokno’s desire to take away what Duterte and Congress have given would be a step backward and an assult in the minds of millions of Filipino students. While undermining President Duterte’s legacy, Diokno’s dissonant song poses a threat to muffle the dreams of numerous Filipino students, one that is intended to deprive them of the opportunity to pursue higher education and the prospect of a better future. The post Duterte giveth, Diokno taketh appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
MIAA demonstrates NAIA’s emergency response preparedness at CREX 2023
PASAY CITY — The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) showcased its emergency response capability and preparedness during the Crash and Rescue Exercise (CREX) 2023 at the airside premises of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Friday, 4 August. The successful demonstration of this year’s full-scale simulated emergency CREX allows MIAA to ensure that the prescribed plans, guidelines, and organizational setup of the 8th edition of the NAIA Airport Emergency Plan 2023 adequately and effectively address emergencies occurring at or within the immediate vicinity of the country’s main gateway. “A dependable communication and coordination system is essential for a responsive Airport Emergency Plan (AEP). This exercise puts our communication and coordination system to the test, not only among MIAA offices but also with our external partner agencies,” said MIAA officer-in-charge Bryan Co. “We want to assess primary and secondary responders’ ability to respond to an aircraft crash and the resulting mass casualty event, including rescue and fire suppression, treatment and transport of survivors, and crash site security. The exercise also validates the methods for shifting from an emergency situation to normal airport operations following a potential major incident,” Co added. The scenario for CREX 2023 involved a commercial aircraft bound for Subic, CREX flight #0000, carrying 76 passengers and four crew members, that suffered a left engine malfunction during the take-off run after a flock of domestic pigeons crossing the runway was ingested into the aircraft's number one (left) engine, causing the aircraft to crash. The aircraft lost thrust on its number one engine during take-off. The pilot attempted to abort the take-off, but the aircraft veered off the runway and came to a stop on the western portion. A fire broke out on the left wing. In this mock incident, there were 80 casualties, with 72 survivors and eight deceased. In addition to the standard fire suppression, medical, emergency response, and search and rescue activities, this year's CREX edition featured the activation of Cebu Pacific's Accident Site Go Team, marking the first time MIAA partnered with an airline. “Cebu Pacific prioritizes safety and has established processes when it comes to emergency response. We thank the MIAA for the opportunity for us to train together to help ensure that communication systems are in place in the event of a multi-agency response,” Cebu Pacific President and Chief Commercial Officer Xander Lao said as the airline demonstrated its emergency response, particularly in providing support to victims as well as processing and cross-matching victims and family members. The CREX is held to continuously meet security standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). In compliance with ICAO’s Suggested and Recommended Practices, the CREX is held every two years, but the full-scale exercise may not be conducted if the airport’s emergency plan was activated. The last full-scale CREX was on 19 October 2017. Several actual aircraft incidents in the succeeding years then brought to the fore MIAA’s emergency response capabilities. In August 2018, a Plan 1 emergency under its Airport Emergency Plan was activated when a Xiamen Air aircraft veered off the main runway while attempting to land during a heavy downpour. Barely two years after, another Plan 1 emergency occurred in March 2020, when a Lion Air medivac flight caught fire while it was rolling for take-off. The most recent involved a Saudia Airlines flight that went off the taxiway onto the grassy portion when its six right landing gears malfunctioned in June 2022. All passengers and crew were immediately evacuated and brought to NAIA Terminal 1. No one was hurt as a result of the incident. NAIA is rated as a Category IX airport, while MIAA’s current rescue and firefighting capability is Category X compliant, making it ready to respond to an airport emergency involving an Airbus A380. With the support of highly skilled fire and rescue personnel, a medical team well trained and experienced in aviation medicine, a fleet of modern firefighting and medical vehicles, pneumatic aircraft lifting systems, and various other rescue equipment, the MIAA Emergency Services department is on par with its counterparts in the region. “As this is a multi-agency response to a simulated emergency, assessment activities will be done after the exercise, where stakeholders are welcome to share their observations and raise comments and suggestions to improve our airport emergency plan and coordination system. The response is a community effort, and we appreciate everyone’s contribution in our quest to maintain the global standards of safety and security in NAIA,” Co said. “We would also like to thank our secondary responders for their support: Pasay City General Hospital, Ospital ng Parañaque, San Juan De Dios Hospital, Philippine Airforce, Las Piñas General Hospital, Philippine Coast Guard, Taguig City Fire Station, Manila Medical Center, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) – Makati, Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group, Las Piñas City Fire Station, BFP Parañaque, Philippine General Hospital, Philippine Red Cross – Pasay City Chapter, and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority,” Co added. See more photos here: The post MIAA demonstrates NAIA’s emergency response preparedness at CREX 2023 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Cyber education, a must
“Digitalization is the call of today, not the call of the future, but of the present. It is here. It is needed, and it is needed today.” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. highlighted in his second SoNA his administration’s agenda for all government agencies and local government units to digitalize all their services. He called for the digitalization of payments, business registrations, issuances of permits and licenses, loan applications and revenue collections. The digitalization efforts, he stated, should be made to streamline processes for ease of doing business, combat corruption and make decisions in a data-driven and science-based manner. I commend this push for e-governance and e-commerce by the President. He is right. The digital age is upon us and we must invest in digital technology and infrastructure for our economy to be globally competitive. Cyber Education Law However, the very basic foundation needed for the government’s digitalization efforts should be the investment in human capital. We know that our labor is the country’s biggest asset and the factor that keeps our economy afloat. We export labor, remittances flow, and these in turn fund local consumption. That is why there is an urgent need for us to legislate the incorporation of cyber-education among our population and we must start with our basic education. Investing in cyber-education is not a novel idea. It is a model of development in many advanced countries. As the World Economic Forum or WEF found out in a study, countries like Israel (which currently ranks 8th in the Cyber Risk Literacy and Education Index) show that cyber-risk education and connected institutions can contribute significantly to the national economy by producing more jobs and greater innovation. It concluded that cyber-investment in human resources, i.e., prioritizing cybersecurity education earlier than most and regular assessment of cyber-risk literacy of children and youth at key points in their development and education, is an investment for the future and has been found to have led to a wealth of cyber-related innovation and economic growth among top-ranking countries. The UK, Australia, Canada, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Germany, France, and, recently, China, are also investing heavily in cybersecurity education. These countries recognize that cybersecurity education is essential to protecting the digital economy and both public and private digital infrastructure from cybercrimes and cyberattacks. As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, the need for cybersecurity education will only grow. Digitalization will positively impact Filipinos’ lives but concomitant negative issues have emerged related to Internet use. Some of the most common cybersecurity crimes and offenses in the world today continue to emerge and develop, some of which President Marcos Jr. mentioned in his speech, such as identity theft, phishing and other online scams. Current statistics also show the vulnerability of Filipino children in the digital space. A recent study claimed the Philippines is a global hotspot for Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children or OSAEC. A sharp increase in possible OSAEC cases has been recorded by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, from 1.34 million in 2020 to 3.19 million in 2021, the second highest in the world behind India. In 2018, the Department of Justice Office of Cybercrime received 579,006 cyber tips on the online sharing, re-sharing, and selling of child sexual abuse images and videos. According to the study, sexual exploitation negatively impacts cognitive functioning, as well as mental health, including post-traumatic stress disorder and depression; and across the life course, it can negatively impact the physical, psychological, social, educative and economic well-being of children victims. The foregoing examples are just among the many important reasons to introduce cybersecurity education in the K-12 system. We must educate users of technology, especially children, on the potential risks they face when using internet communication tools, such as social media, chat, online gaming, email and instant messaging, to cultivate cybersecurity awareness at the primary school level. Verily, investing in cybersecurity awareness among the young population will have several positive impacts on the Philippine economy and quality of life. The post Cyber education, a must appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Manila Trench, ‘Big One’ need to be taken into account — DENR Chief
As the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) conducts a cumulative effect assessment on the Manila Bay reclamation projects, the Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga said on Wednesday that businesses must take into account the "Big One" and the potential of tsunamis in the project. In a Palace briefing, Yulo-Loyzaga said sea level rise and diverse geological occurrences "need to be considered" due to the Manila Trench near Manila Bay. For context, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the Philippines is vulnerable to tsunamis due to offshore faults and trenches. "We have what is called the Manila Trench. It is located in Manila Bay. That is the geological event we are looking at in terms of the generation of a potential tsunami. So far, I have not seen it in the studies submitted by the proponents," the DENR chief said. "On the geological hazards: So far, what I have observed in terms of the studies I have examined for reclamation projects is the reference to the 7.2 magnitude movement of the West Valley Fault," Yulo-Loyzaga added. She pointed out that the developers involved in the Manila Bay reclamation project should consider sea level rise because of the extraction of groundwater from the coastal areas of the area. Yulo-Loyzaga added that the "Big One," if it strikes Metro Manila, may hinder relief efforts because it may "generate some movement in the waters. Yulo-Loyzaga mentioned that air and marine transportation was intended for rescue and relief efforts if a 7.2 magnitude earthquake happens. "You can search up 'Oplan Metro Yakal Plus' to see how reclamation projects might affect that plan," she said. But Loyzaga cited certain advantages of some reclamation from an economic standpoint. This is why a cost-benefit analysis is crucial when determining how something will affect the environment. To accomplish this, the DENR is currently working on a cumulative impact assessment on reclamation projects, primarily composed of Filipino scientists. She had earlier stated that they were checking the compliance of the ongoing initiatives. According to the Philippine Reclamation Authority, there are 22 reclamation projects in Manila Bay. The post Manila Trench, ‘Big One’ need to be taken into account — DENR Chief appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Graft buster clears Cusi
Citing the presumption of regularity, the Office of the Ombudsman threw out the graft complaint of a New York-based billionaire against former Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, other Department of Energy officials, Davao City-based executive Dennis Uy, and several others over the sale of 90 percent of the shares of the Malampaya natural gas consortium. On 18 October 2021, US-based geologist Balgamel Domingo and Filipino-American anti-Duterte leaders Rodel Rodis and Loida Nicolas-Lewis filed charges against Cusi, Uy, and the others involved in the sale of the Malampaya stake to the Udenna group of Uy. In a copy of the ruling obtained by the Daily Tribune, the Ombudsman said it could not delve into the complaint on the legality of the transaction since “the authority to make such a determination belongs to the court.” “Seemingly, this complaint is in actuality a collateral attack on the validity of the Share Sale and Purchase Agreement,” it said. The decision declared that “matters of such tenor are not determinable in a preliminary investigation before the Ombudsman’s Office.” “Without any judicial determination decreeing the illegality of the Share Sale and Purchase Agreement, this Office is left with nothing but to acknowledge its validity,” the ruling said. The Ombudsman cited a precedent in the case of Teresita Buenaventura vs Metrobank, in a ruling that stated: “The burden of showing that a contract is simulated rests on the party impugning the contract.” “This is because of the presumed validity of the contract that has been duly executed,” the Ombudsman ruling read. “Wherefore, the criminal charges for violation of Section 3(e) and of Republic Act 3019 against the respondents are dismissed for lack of probable cause.” The ruling was signed by members of a Special Panel of Investigators composed of Ronald Allan Ramos, Josephine Mae Rosapapan, Francisco Alan Molina and Bonifacio Mandrilla. Prime takes control The operation of the Malampaya project was recently assumed by the Razon group’s Prime Energy which bought a 45-percent stake from Malampaya Energy XP, or MEXP, of the Udenna group. MEXP had bought the shares of Shell Philippines Exploration B.V., or SPEX, in the consortium. The Department of Energy had branded the complaint a political move since the two Fil-Am lawyers in the suit were prominent in the “Oust Duterte” movement in the United States. The complaint alleged that Cusi and other energy officials had granted “unwarranted benefits and advantage” to Uy’s UC Malampaya in the buyout of Chevron’s share in the consortium. Udenna, through spokesperson Raymond Zorilla, said there is “no law requiring approval of the transfer of shares of companies that have an interest in Malampaya.” Zorilla said the transfer of Chevron and Shell shares underwent strict bidding processes and due diligence by both multinational oil and gas players. “The share sales were above board and legal and had to pass scrutiny by Philippine regulators, international lenders, and the said private multinationals involved,” Zorilla added. Cusi, in an interview with Daily Tribune, had said the DoE was not involved in choosing the buyer of the shares of Shell and Chevron in the Malampaya project. “The DoE did not get involved in the sale (of shares). We don’t know that they are selling. Our question was what their standards are for choosing Udenna. Why didn’t you choose the big companies, and why Udenna?” he said. Industry experts said the sale of shares was a private transaction that the accusers, who are US lawyers, should have been very familiar with. Cusi said the DoE, during his watch, went beyond its mandate by reviewing the technical, legal, and financial aspects of the transactions, the results of which were provided to the public. Political agenda The complaint, he said, had an underlying political agenda connected to his being the head of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan or PDP Laban. “It is not only political propaganda against me, but it also has a destabilization background… because I’m the president of the PDP.” The complaints, in turn, stemmed from the unending Senate inquiries on the Malampaya deals. The DoE said the Senate probes and the controversies that resulted from them had caused costly delays in the review process that would ultimately affect the country’s energy security. To refute a recent remark by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, the DoE, in a statement said: “The inquiries of Senator Gatchalian are causing undue delay to the timeline of the consortium corporations, and this may eventually take its toll and put our energy security at risk.” The DoE’s approval of the sale of shares of stock of Chevron Malampaya LLC, one of the three corporations in the Malampaya Gas Field Project Consortium, had been dubbed by Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy, as “lutong Macau.” It also backed the Udenna assessment that the deals were above-board. “When the sales were made, both Chevron Philippines, which owned Chevron Malampaya, and Shell Petroleum NV, owner of SPEX, followed rigorous global standards,” the DoE said. Nicolas-Lewis was part of a 25-person delegation from the US-Philippines Society, a private group comprising business executives and diplomats, who met with Duterte a week before his inauguration as president in 2016. Nicolas-Lewis was then accompanied by former Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Cuisia, PLDT chair Manuel V. Pangilinan, retired American diplomats, and executives of Coca-Cola, SGV, JP Morgan, and other top corporations. Nicolas-Lewis is the sister of former National Anti-Poverty Commission chairperson Imelda Nicolas, who was one of the “Hyatt 10” Cabinet members who turned against then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2005. Imelda and most of the Hyatt 10 members ended up getting key posts in the administration of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. Imelda was made head of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas. Nicolas-Lewis plot bared In February 2018, former President Duterte bared intercepted conversations that indicated Nicolas-Lewis was behind efforts to push the International Criminal Court, or ICC, to probe his war on drugs. Duterte revealed a recorded conversation between Lewis and another political opponent whom he did not name. “I was listening to the tapes of their conversation. It was provided to me by another country, but the conversation was somewhere in the Philippines and New York,” Duterte said. He said that among the recordings was one in which Lewis allegedly told another person: “See you in the headquarters when the case is filed.” Duterte then said in a public address that he was aware of developments on the ICC case and that lawyer Jude Sabio, the main complainant in the case, was a paid hack of Magdalo Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and Rep. Gary Alejano, both failed putschists. Sabio withdrew his complaint before the ICC and revealed that the case was the handiwork of the dirty tricks factory of Trillanes. In 2016, Duterte pointed to Lewis as the financier of an alleged destabilization plot against his administration. Nicolas-Lewis invested heavily in the failed presidential campaigns of Liberal Party bets Mar Roxas in 2016 and Vice President Leni Robredo in 2022. The post Graft buster clears Cusi appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Dyed-in-wool hypocrites
Taking the position of ignoring the International Criminal Court is the proper move of the government to counter a proceeding oozing with prejudice and hypocrisy. In “Observations on behalf of Victims on the Philippines Government Appeal against the Decision Authorizing the Resumption of the Investigation,” Prosecutor Karim Khan had practically prejudged the domestic justice system. The ICC official stated, “In relation to the proceedings conducted by the PNP-IAS (Philippine National Police-Internal Affairs Service, as well as the DoJ (Department of Justice) Panel and its case referral to the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) and NPS (National Prosecution Service), the Philippines attempted to justify its assertations by evoking an overall case analysis through a three-phase procedure.” Khan added: “In its assessment of internal disciplinary proceedings conducted by the PNP-IAS, the Chamber emphasized that the information provided suggests that such procedure does not have the (primary) aim to further criminal proceedings and it is not known whether it leads to criminal investigations.” It was not stated how Khan concluded that the agencies had not initiated serious investigations into the deaths related to the war on drugs of former President Rodrigo Duterte. Khan claimed the Chamber “properly concluded that said proceedings do not meet the threshold for a deferral.” “Regarding the mandate of the DoJ Panel and its case referral to the NBI and NPS, the second and third stages of the process, according to the Philippines, the Chamber concluded that: (i) ‘nanlaban’ cases referred to the NBI concerned administrative liability; (ii) the charts submitted by the Philippines of 250 NPS cases not only contained limited information but also had no information on the initiation of criminal investigations and prosecutions against those involved; (iii) there is lack of information on how the DoJ Panel conducts its review and if it investigates by itself; and (iv) the DoJ Panel reviewed a low number of cases. In sum, Khan said the Chamber reasonably found that it “appears that the DoJ Panel review does not amount to relevant investigations within the meaning of Articles 17 and 18 of the Statute.” He then assessed that the three-phase procedural cycle claimed by the Philippines as demonstrating the overall “investigative processes connected to the anti-illegal drug operations” was flawed. The cycle that Khan referred to is how the litigation system works, however slow, in the country in which foreign entities, even the ICC, have no business passing judgment. Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra, who represented the country in engaging the ICC, called the impending probe an indictment against the entire legal and judicial system and encroaching on Philippine sovereignty as an independent and law-abiding nation. “The Philippines is not legally and morally bound to cooperate with the ICC,” he said. Guevarra pointed out that while it remains unclear when the Philippine government’s appeal will be resolved, the ICC ruled to proceed with the investigation in the meantime. According to the top state lawyer, the ICC pre-trial chamber authorized the resumption of the drug war probe in January but the Office of the Solicitor General filed an appeal brief on 13 March that sought the reversal of the tribunal’s decision. The decision on the Philippine petition “may come in a few months, maybe it will take years, yet the ICC appeals chamber has denied our reasonable request to suspend the investigation until the issues of jurisdiction and admissibility of the Philippine situation have been resolved to our satisfaction,” Guevarra said. The implication was that there was a deeper agenda in the ICC’s rush to conduct the probe on the Philippines. “It places us in the same class of rogue nations where the rule of law is not respected. It tends to humiliate us in the eyes of the international community, and this affront is irreversible and uncorrectable even if we eventually win on the merits of our appeal,” Guevarra said. From the start, the ICC aimed to make the Philippines a showcase of a developing nation bowing to Western impositions. It just happened that the Philippines, as a sovereign nation, refused to bow down. The post Dyed-in-wool hypocrites appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Aboitiz Construction clocks in 10-M safe man hours in Surigao del Norte project site
In line with its commitment to prioritizing safety in the workplace and promoting it among its team members and stakeholders, as of June 2023, Aboitiz Construction achieved 10 million safe man hours without lost time injury in its maintenance works for Taganito HPAL Nickel Corporation in Claver, Surigao del Norte. From 2012 until the second half of 2023, Aboitiz Construction’s maintenance project team achieved this significant milestone through the continuous implementation of occupational health and safety programs and constant communication with the firm’s partners. “This recent milestone is proof of our efforts to undertake projects with operational excellence while taking into consideration the quality of our outputs and the safety of our people. At Aboitiz Construction, we ensure that our team members are always reminded about safety and they get home to their families safely after work,” said Aboitiz Construction vice president for operations maintenance Alex Garciano. In order to promote safety, the project site regularly conducts a series of safety awareness training, emergency preparedness and response drills, site inspections and audits, checking of personal protective equipment, risk assessments, and daily toolbox meetings to discuss safety matters. [caption id="attachment_160424" align="aligncenter" width="525"] SAFETY FIRST. Aboitiz Construction takes pride in being compliant with 45001:2018 or the Occupational Health and Safety Management System across all project sites.[/caption] All safety-related campaigns are in line with the company’s compliance to 45001:2018 (Occupational Health and Safety Management System), which is the management systems standard for sound occupational health and safety performance. “We congratulate Aboitiz Construction’s Maintenance Team for your recent safety milestone. Aside from your commitment to incident prevention, we recognize your unending reviews and analysis of programs that emphasize the importance of safety for all employees. Continue and strengthen your commitment while delivering safe work practices and participating in various awareness and prevention activities,” said THPAL assistant manager in maintenance department Ryan Huervas. Since 2012, Aboitiz Construction has been involved in the maintenance works for an industrial plant in Claver. Over the past decade, the firm has provided jobs to nearly 1,000 workers from the local community. The scope of work includes preventive maintenance, instrumentation, electrical works, and conditional monitoring to ensure more efficient operations of the plant. “At Aboitiz Construction, we envision to become the country’s premier contractor and client partner where all our team members promote excellence and safety as we build a better future for a better Philippines,” Garciano said. The project in Surigao del Norte is under the newly introduced business segment of Aboitiz Construction, which is Industrial Maintenance Services. The firm has been actively involved in bidding and project coordination for the maintenance needs of various power plants, cement, and mining facilities in the country. The post Aboitiz Construction clocks in 10-M safe man hours in Surigao del Norte project site appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Mt. Inayawan in Lanao del Norte now a protected area
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources on Friday said the biodiversity-rich Mount Inayawan Range Natural Park (MIRNP) in Nunugan, Lanao del Norte is now a protected area of high conservation importance. In a statement, DENR said MIRNP was officially launched as an ASEAN Heritage Park (AHP) in ceremonies held during the 64th Araw ng Lanao del Norte-Environment Day celebration last 28 June. DENR OIC Assistant Secretary for Field Operations - Western Mindanao Arleigh Adorable and DENR Region 10 Regional Executive Director Henry Adornado joined Lanao del Norte Governor Imelda “Angging” Quibranza-Dimaporo, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, and other stakeholders in launching MIRNP as the 53rd AHP across the Southeast Asian region. The event saw the unveiling of the official landmark marking MIRNP as the eleventh AHP in the Philippines and the fourth in Region 10. Other AHPs in the country are Mt. Apo Natural Park in Cotabato, Mt. Iglit-Baco Natural Park in Mindoro, Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park in Bukidnon, Mt. Malindang Range Natural Park in Misamis Occidental, Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve in Laguna, Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park in Palawan, Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary in Davao Oriental, Mt. Timpoong-Hibok-Hibok Natural Monument in Camiguin Island, Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary in Agusan del Sur, and Pasonanca Natural Park in Zamboanga City. The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), as the secretariat of the AHP Programme, shall provide the park’s protected area staff with capacity-building activities as well as logistical support for activities under the park’s management plan. Adorable said the MIRNP is of biological importance to the residents of Nunungan as it functions as an industrial and domestic water source and irrigation for Kapatagan Valley, the rice granary of Lanao del Norte. “Based on the recent Biodiversity Assessment and Monitoring conducted by DENR Region 10 and representatives of the local government unit of Nunungan, Lanao del Norte, MIRNP is an important refuge of a great number of diverse endemic fauna and flora species found in the old growth and mossy forest in the higher areas,” Adorable said. MIRNP is the largest remaining virgin forest in Lanao del Norte and is a critical watershed in the province. It covers three major lakes: Malaig, Pantar, and Sungod. It sustains the residents in the Municipality of Nunungan and those in the adjacent municipalities of Sapad, Kapatagan, and Lala. For the locals, the mountain is the center of their belief, their protector, and the provider of their needs for many centuries. The park’s flora is dominated by dipterocarp species while its fauna includes the endangered Philippine Eagle and Philippine Deer, and the rare Mindanao flying squirrel, Giant Scops Owl, White Collared Kingfisher, Philippine Warty Pig, and Mindanao hornbill. It is considered a Key Biodiversity Area and is also regarded as one of the 17 Important Bird Areas. MIRNP was legislated as a national park on 22 June 2018 pursuant to Republic Act No. 11038 or the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act. It covers an area of 4, 236 hectares and the 25 barangays of Nunungan. The DENR’s Biodiversity Management Bureau supports the protection of MIRNP through technical assistance in its protected area development and management initiatives. These include support to demarcation, updating of MIRNP's Protected Area Management Plan, reviewing of reports, and providing recommendations and guidance to resolutions issued by the Park's Protected Area Management Board. MIRNP was declared as an AHP during the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Environment on 31 October 2022, following the signing of the AHP certificate by the Secretary General of the ASEAN Dato Lim Jock Hoi and the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment Chairperson Dr. Siti Nurbaya Bakar. The post Mt. Inayawan in Lanao del Norte now a protected area appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Mt. Inayawan in Lanao del Norte now a protective area
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources on Friday said the biodiversity-rich Mount Inayawan Range Natural Park (MIRNP) in Nunugan, Lanao del Norte is now a protected area of high conservation importance. In a statement, DENR said MIRNP was officially launched as an ASEAN Heritage Park (AHP) in ceremonies held during the 64th Araw ng Lanao del Norte-Environment Day celebration last 28 June. DENR OIC Assistant Secretary for Field Operations - Western Mindanao Arleigh Adorable and DENR Region 10 Regional Executive Director Henry Adornado joined Lanao del Norte Governor Imelda “Angging” Quibranza-Dimaporo, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, and other stakeholders in launching MIRNP as the 53rd AHP across the Southeast Asian region. The event saw the unveiling of the official landmark marking MIRNP as the eleventh AHP in the Philippines and the fourth in Region 10. Other AHPs in the country are Mt. Apo Natural Park in Cotabato, Mt. Iglit-Baco Natural Park in Mindoro, Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park in Bukidnon, Mt. Malindang Range Natural Park in Misamis Occidental, Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve in Laguna, Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park in Palawan, Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary in Davao Oriental, Mt. Timpoong-Hibok-Hibok Natural Monument in Camiguin Island, Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary in Agusan del Sur, and Pasonanca Natural Park in Zamboanga City. The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), as the secretariat of the AHP Programme, shall provide the park’s protected area staff with capacity-building activities as well as logistical support for activities under the park’s management plan. Adorable said the MIRNP is of biological importance to the residents of Nunungan as it functions as an industrial and domestic water source and irrigation for Kapatagan Valley, the rice granary of Lanao del Norte. “Based on the recent Biodiversity Assessment and Monitoring conducted by DENR Region 10 and representatives of the local government unit of Nunungan, Lanao del Norte, MIRNP is an important refuge of a great number of diverse endemic fauna and flora species found in the old growth and mossy forest in the higher areas,” Adorable said. MIRNP is the largest remaining virgin forest in Lanao del Norte and is a critical watershed in the province. It covers three major lakes: Malaig, Pantar, and Sungod. It sustains the residents in the Municipality of Nunungan and those in the adjacent municipalities of Sapad, Kapatagan, and Lala. For the locals, the mountain is the center of their belief, their protector, and the provider of their needs for many centuries. The park’s flora is dominated by dipterocarp species while its fauna includes the endangered Philippine Eagle and Philippine Deer, and the rare Mindanao flying squirrel, Giant Scops Owl, White Collared Kingfisher, Philippine Warty Pig, and Mindanao hornbill. It is considered a Key Biodiversity Area and is also regarded as one of the 17 Important Bird Areas. MIRNP was legislated as a national park on 22 June 2018 pursuant to Republic Act No. 11038 or the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act. It covers an area of 4, 236 hectares and the 25 barangays of Nunungan. The DENR’s Biodiversity Management Bureau supports the protection of MIRNP through technical assistance in its protected area development and management initiatives. These include support to demarcation, updating of MIRNP's Protected Area Management Plan, reviewing of reports, and providing recommendations and guidance to resolutions issued by the Park's Protected Area Management Board. MIRNP was declared as an AHP during the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Environment on 31 October 2022, following the signing of the AHP certificate by the Secretary General of the ASEAN Dato Lim Jock Hoi and the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment Chairperson Dr. Siti Nurbaya Bakar. The post Mt. Inayawan in Lanao del Norte now a protective area appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Digital innovation starts with ‘a light’
With digital technology and the need to electrify everything in full swing, stable and reliable power is more critical than ever. Add to the impending power crisis and the upcoming El Niño phenomenon in the third and first quarters of this year and the next, energy may play an outsized role in furthering technological advancement. On the island of Samal in Davao City, Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower) subsidiary Davao Light and Power Co. Inc. (Davao Light) and the Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (Aboitiz Foundation) donated ad Electrical Installation and Maintenance laboratory to the Samal Senior High School in the Island Garden City of Samal called Project e.Lab. “This new EIM laboratory is more than just a physical structure; it is a symbol of our shared commitment to education and unwavering belief in the power of knowledge and transformed lives,” said Samal Senior High School principal Percival Villegas. “It is a testament to our community’s unwavering spirit of collaboration and determination to provide all students with the very best possible learning environment.” A classroom was refurbished and converted into an EIM workshop and assessment facility to be used by high school learners taking up the EIM strand. It is meant to help address the community’s need for electricians supporting ICAGOS’ continuing progress. “Samal needs more skilled workers since a lot of businesses are still willing to invest in the island,” IGACOS Mayor Al David Uy stated. Samal Senior High School became a beneficiary upon the recommendation of the Department of Education-Region XI. The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority provides training for EIM teachers and conducts competency assessments for the students en route to earning a National Certification. “We are equipping public schools with standard facilities to implement hands-on learning for students who wish to pursue a career in electrical works and engineering,” said AboitizPower Distribution Utilities Chief Operating Officer Anton Perdices. He noted how Davao Light supports the DepEd’s Technical Vocational Livelihood projects. Since 2014, Davao Light and Aboitiz Foundation have donated EIM laboratories to 40 public schools. This is in line with the company’s transformative goal of helping pave the way for the development of cities via the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 4 or to provide quality education for all. The post Digital innovation starts with ‘a light’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bong Go conducts monitoring visit of Malasakit Center in Naga City
Sen. Bong Go, who serves as the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, conducted a monitoring visit of the Malasakit Center at the Bicol Medical Center in Naga City, Camarines Sur on Saturday, 3 June. During his visit, Go reiterated his full support for initiatives that can improve the country's healthcare system. He specifically requested that special attention be given to the underprivileged and vulnerable members of society who have nowhere else to turn to for help. “Huwag pong pabayaan 'yung mga mahihirap, 'yung mga helpless at hopeless nating kababayan na wala pong matakbuhan kung 'di tayong nasa gobyerno,” said Go, urging the medical staff to be patient and compassionate when attending to indigent patients. “Sa totoo lang, hindi naman pupunta ‘yung mga mayayaman dito sa government hospital. Ang pumupunta rito ‘yung mga mahihirap po. Asikasuhin po natin sila, iyan lang po ang pakiusap ko,” he added. Go’s advocacy for better health access for Filipinos prompted him to initiate the Malasakit Centers program. The senator highlighted that there are now 157 Malasakit Centers nationwide that serve as one-stop shops for medical assistance programs, streamlining the process of availing such programs. First established in Cebu in 2018, the Malasakit Center is a brainchild of Go which houses agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office to assist particularly poor and indigent patients with their hospital bills. Go is the principal author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019. According to DOH, more than seven million Filipinos have benefitted from the program so far. The post Bong Go conducts monitoring visit of Malasakit Center in Naga City appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Aboitiz Construction achieves 1M safe man-hours in Parañaque site
Aboitiz Construction, Inc. recently achieved a milestone of one million safe man-hours without lost-time injury for its project in Parañaque City. The project involved the construction of a 26,000-square-meter warehouse and office buildings for LBC Express and took place from June 2021 to April 2023. To promote and ensure site safety, ACI regularly conducts emergency response drills, safety awareness sessions, toolbox meetings and site inspections and audits. “This achievement is a clear testament to our commitment toward safety. Across all our project sites, we prioritize safety and uphold operational excellence as we build quality structures for our clients. We are continuously striving to comply with the safety requirements set by the Department of Labor and Employment and the businesses that we work with,” said ACI Chief Operating Officer Ramez Sidhom. The soon-to-be-completed Parañaque hub is the largest warehouse facility of LBC Express by far. Once finished, it will make for more efficient logistics and parcel delivery across the world. ACI has directly provided job opportunities to 393 manpower and subcontracted a total of 301 workers for this project alone. Last March, the company received its recertification for ISO 45001:2018 (Occupational Health and Safety Management System) for its sound occupational health and safety performance, staying true to its purpose of building for businesses to prosper and communities to thrive. The post Aboitiz Construction achieves 1M safe man-hours in Parañaque site appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PRO-7 conducts threat assessment on elected and appointed government officials
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The intelligence officers of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) are conducting threat assessment on elected and appointed government officials in the region. This is in line with the recent directive of Police General Rodolfo Azurin Jr., chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), to have threat assessment on […] The post PRO-7 conducts threat assessment on elected and appointed government officials appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»