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DTI pushes for AI research hub; P300-M for consumer protection programs
The Department of Trade and Industry is pushing for the establishment of the Center for Artificial Intelligence Research, however, it remains "unfunded” under the proposed 2024 National Expenditures Program. During the hearing of Senate Committee on Finance’s Subcommittee “M” on DTI’s proposed P7.909 billion budget for the fiscal year 2024 on Tuesday, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual emphasized the idea would help the country's Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises to effectively adopt “artificial intelligence in their business operations. “This is a research [and development] center. The model is the AStar of Singapore…It’s industry-oriented, it's not academic research. It’s a way to help MSMEs to adopt AI in their operations,” Pascual said, citing that large companies in the country “can take of themselves” to implement AI solutions in their businesses. “But this SMES would need assistance and this is the center that could do that plus the continuing research in the impact of AI on employment which jobs will be affected,” he said. The issue of AI ethics will also be addressed through CAIR, he added. “We are working this out, actually with some business groups that can donate…In fact, we have been offered already a place,” the DTI chief said. Pascual explained that the CAIR has been included in the DTI’s plan for revitalizing Philippine industries under the Philippine Development Plan. Meanwhile, DTI’s Competitiveness and Innovation Group, Undersecretary Rafaelita Aldaba said the agency has been requesting funds, amounting to P200 million, for the CAIR since two years ago. Aldana did not give further details as to why the Department of Budget and Management disapproved their requests. Stressing the importance of the AI program, Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda lamented there must be a reason why the CAIR did not get a budget. Legarda asked Aldaba to further provide details on CAIR as the latter noted the DTI doesn’t have enough space in their existing building, “It’s a physical center and its goal is for us to become an AI center of excellence in the region in the near future. It’s going to house our data scientists, researchers, engineers who will be conducting AI [research and development] to support the needs of the industries, including MSMEs, start-ups, large companies, and multi-nationals,” Aldaba said. The CAIR is also eyed to provide capacity building and training and workshops on AI, she added “so that new products and services could come out from the idea. However, Legarda said DTI should not wait for the physical CAIR to be set up before it starts building the capacity of Filipinos concerning AI, adding that developing a physical infrastructure may take at least two years. “And knowing government, that’s so slow. That means all the resources on AI will not ensue until the structure is done,” Legarda lamented. “What I’m saying is that while the infrastructure is not yet set up, we should continue with AI capacity buildings and research.” Senator Mark Villar, who presided over the budget hearing, backed Legarda’s position, noting that DTI should ensure that AI benefits the country. “Other countries are very concerned also about what AI might mean for the labor industry and what the implications are. I think it’s important that we learn how we can leverage it to help our industries,” he said. On the other hand, Pascual appealed to the Senate for an additional P300 million in funding to strengthen the DTI’s consumer protection programs. “We want to reorganize our consumer protection activity by centralizing it because you cannot expect a junior person running after hoarders or profiteers in an area where there are a lot of people of influence that are operating in the region,” he said. “So the plan that we have done, this planning, after the budget submission, is to centralize the consumer protection activity in the head office and have a quick response task force,” said Pascual. “That would require a funding of P300 million to strengthen our consumer protection activities," he added. Villar supported the DTI’s plan citing its significance amid the ongoing inflation being experienced in the country “It is very relevant that the DTI takes a stronger role in monitoring these hoarders and manipulators,” he said. DTI Assistant Secretary Jean Pacheco said the P300 million would fund an inter-DTI strike team to increase their enforcement activities, consumer education and advocacy, complaints handling, and procurement of equipment for the certification and testing of vapes, among others. At least P130 million of the total request will be utilized for the procurement of equipment for DTI’s certification and testing of vape products, which is in line with their implementation of the law regulating e-cigarettes. The post DTI pushes for AI research hub; P300-M for consumer protection programs appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Converge’s 2-M reach mirrors strong demand for cheap internet plans
Converge ICT Solutions Inc.'s low-cost plans have reached more than two million homes, which signifies the strong mass market demand for efficient and affordable internet services. Converge CEO and Co-Founder Dennis Anthony Uy said on Monday that the company will beef up its product portfolio to better serve customers from different income groups. “We are proud to mark this milestone in our mission to leave no one behind as we empower Filipinos with world-class fiber connectivity. This is a result of our effort to expand growth opportunities through providing more affordable connectivity solutions,” Uy said. Converge finished the first half of the year with a total of 1.97 million residential subscribers, including 1.92 million postpaid and 54,000 prepaid customers. It gained over 92,000 net additional subscribers from January to June. Citing internal data, Converge said August has been its best-performing month in terms of sales. As such, analysts expect an upsurge in sales in the second half of the year. “We are encouraged by the continued growth of our residential subscriber base in the first half of 2023. This is further proof of the superiority of our broadband product, coupled with our people’s laser focus on meeting customers’ needs,” said Converge COO Jesus C. Romero. Converge has launched a prepaid product called Surf2Sawa or S2S, which is gaining traction among budget-conscious customers. The market's positive reception of the product was reflected in the 77 percent growth, with over 25,000 net additions in the second quarter compared to the previous quarter. Its postpaid subscribers sustained its steady growth as the newly-introduced low-cost postpaid plan BIDA Fiber complemented the company’s core product, FiberX, which starts at P1,500 a month with a speed of 200 Mbps. Meanwhile, BIDA Fiber costs P888 per month with a speed of 35 Mbps to connect a maximum of six devices. All three products (FiberX, BIDA, and S2S) offer unlimited data consumption. Converge presently operates the biggest fiber-to-the-home network in the country with more than 7.8 million ports nationwide, as of the first half of the year, as well as one of the country's most extensive cable systems with 670,000-kilometer fiber backbone. As of the end of June 2023, its network infrastructure has passed over 16.6 million Filipino homes, equivalent to 62.3 percent of household coverage nationwide. The post Converge’s 2-M reach mirrors strong demand for cheap internet plans appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Brawner denies 2 activists tortured
Armed Forces of the Philippines chief, General Romeo Brawner Jr., on Wednesday denied the allegations of torture by the two young activists who claimed they were abducted by soldiers in Bataan province. Brawner clarified that environmentalists Jonila Castro and Jhed Tamano have undergone the military’s standard operating procedure for the rebel returnees. “We applied everything that is stipulated in our SOP when someone surrenders. We let them undergo medical examination the very first hour that they were brought to our custody when they surrendered,” Brawner said during the Senate deliberation on the proposed 2024 national budget of the Department of National Defense and its attached agencies. Brawner stood firm that Castro and Tamano “voluntarily surrendered” to the Philippine Army’s 70th Infantry Battalion in Plaridel, Bulacan, after going missing on 2 September. “When they surrendered. The first hour, we called for a doctor to do a physical examination on them. That’s why their statements that they were tied up with their other allegations of torture — are not true,” he said. In a government-sponsored press conference last week, Tamano and Castro made a surprising statement that they were “coerced to surrender” and “threatened” by the military. Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said Brawner’s assertion about the surrendering of Tamano and Castro could be backed by the statement of Public Attorney’s Office chief Persida Rueda-Acosta. “Everything that they said was properly debunked by PAO chief Acosta. In that alone, their claims were already destroyed,” Dela Rosa said. Perjury raps Meanwhile, Defense Chief Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said the government is preparing perjury charges against the two activists after they recanted their earlier statements, which were put through a “handwritten affidavit.” “There is a case preparation now, multi-agency case preparation for the filing of perjury charges against them. The sworn statements of the witnesses are being reviewed,” Teodoro said. The post Brawner denies 2 activists tortured appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Brawner denies military torture vs activists Tamano, Castro
Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Romeo Brawner Jr. on Wednesday denied the allegations of torture by the two young activists who claimed they were abducted by the soldiers in Bataan province. Brawner clarified that environmentalists, Jonila Castro and Jhed Tamano, have undergone the military’s standard operating procedure for the rebel returnees. “We applied everything that nandoon po sa ating SOP kapag meron pong nagsu-surrender In fact, ang ginawa po natin pina-medical examination po natin the first hour na nadala po sa ating custody when they surrendered (We applied everything that is stipulated in our SOP when someone surrenders. In fact, what we did was we let them undergo medical examination the very first hour that they were brought to our custody when they surrendered),” Brawner said during the deliberation of the Senate Committee on Finance on the proposed 2024 national budget of the Department of National Defense and its attached agencies. Brawner stood firm that Castro and Tamano had “voluntarily surrendered” to the Philippine Army’s Philippine Army’s 70th Infantry Battalion in Plaridel, Bulacan after going missing for weeks. “When they surrendered. The first hour, we called for a doctor to do a physical examination on them. That’s why, their statements that they were tied up with their other allegations of torture—are not really true,” the AFP chief stressed. In a government-sponsored press conference last week, Tamano and Castro said they were “coerced to surrender” and “threatened” by the military. Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said Brawner’s assertion about the surrendering of Tamano and Castro could be backed by the statement of Public Attorney's Office chief Persida Rueda-Acosta. “Everything that they said was properly debunked by PAO chief Acosta. Wala talaga, sirang-sira sila doon (In that alone, their claims were already destroyed),” said Dela Rosa. Meanwhile, Defense Chief Gilberto Teodoro Jr. noted that the government is preparing perjury charges against the two activists after they recanted their earlier statements which were put through a “handwritten affidavit.” "There is a case preparation now, multi-agency case preparation for the filing of perjury charges against them. The sworn statements of the witnesses are being reviewed,” said Teodoro. The post Brawner denies military torture vs activists Tamano, Castro appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
JV dismayed by DHSUD outlay cut
Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito yesterday expressed disappointment over what he described as the meager allocation of P5.4 billion for the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development for 2024. Ejercito, the author of Republic Act 11201 that created the DHSUD, called for the prioritization of the government’s housing program to address the country’s backlog of dwellings. “It’s really sad that it (DHSUD) is receiving a measly budget of P5.4 billion,” said Ejercito during the Senate deliberations on the department’s proposed budget under the 2024 National Expenditure Program. “Listening earlier, when it’s P1 billion or P2 billion, they can only do about 2,000 (housing) units considering the (construction) costs right now and how it goes up quickly,” the senator said. He said he considers housing and the creation of the DHSUD his “baby,” so he must guard its implementation and budgeting. Ejercito recalled that during the drafting of the DHSUD law, the country’s housing backlog was only two million, but it has since ballooned to more than six million. DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar had told the Senate that they were doing what they could to maximize the budget allocated to them through the “innovative” financing scheme that the government’s “Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino” or 4PH Program had adopted. He pointed out that the 4PH was also tapping the private sector to actively participate in the program. “In previous strategies, P36 billion could only generate 36,000 units. With the new program, P36 billion can produce one million houses,” he said, referring to the partnership that the 4PH offers to the private sector as developers and contractors. The P36 billion is the intended interest support for one million housing units. In response, Ejercito backed the 4PH vision of bridging the country’s housing gap with Secretary Acuzar at the helm. “Like I said before, I think we need somebody like Secretary Acuzar who thinks outside the box because if we’ll just follow the old system, the previous program, the backlog just keeps getting bigger,” Ejercito said. The DHSUD had proposed a budget of P116 billion for fiscal year 2024, but the NEP submitted by the Department of Budget and Management reflected only P5.4 billion. The DBM is proposing to increase the budget to P13.86 billion. “Be rest assured that we will definitely support (the increase), and that’s our target really,” Ejercito said. The post JV dismayed by DHSUD outlay cut appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Repossession of idle SBMA land backed
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito lauded Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Chairman and Administrator Jonathan Tan for his efforts to repossess land underutilized by locators. Ejercito presided over a remote hearing of the Senate Finance Committee on the SBMA with the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan, the Philippine Center for Economic Development, and the Philippine Racing Commission. The senator lauded Tan for auditing the companies that had failed to pay their taxes or had not developed their properties, leaving the land idle. “I’m in and out there; I usually have breakfast, and ride my bike there. I can see idle lands and facilities that are going bad; what a waste,” he said, mainly in Filipino. The SBMA has repossessed 10 parcels of unused land, with 20 more lined up for repossession. Tan said the agency is conducting audits to ensure business vibrancy at the freeport. “That’s a good start on your incumbency, so hopefully you can turn Subic around again. Make it more vibrant again. It should be a prime destination, like way back in the 1990s. Subic Bay is really the place to go,” Ejercito said. The SBMA presented to the Senate committee its 2024 proposed projects, for which the Department of Budget and Management had allocated P661 million intended for road, port, maritime, and traffic control rehabilitation. Senior Deputy Administrator for Support Services Atty. Ramon Agregado asked the Senate for an additional budget of P936 million for future projects of the SBMA, including the construction of a smart city. Agregado said the additional funding will also be used to improve various aircraft movement area visual guides and auxiliaries at Subic Bay International Airport. “We’ll try to scrutinize the additional P936 million you requested,” Ejercito said. The post Repossession of idle SBMA land backed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DepEd will get 25% of 2024 budget
The Department of Education will receive 24.93 percent of the P38.75 billion in the proposed 2024 budget for digitalization funds to boost public service, the Department of Budget and Management said on Wednesday. In a statement, DBM said DepEd is set to receive P9.43 billion in digitalization funds amid the controversial P150 million confidential and intelligence funds for the said agency next year. Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman underscored the need to embrace digitalization as the allocation for said initiative marks a 60.6-percent increase from its P24.93 billion funding in 2023. "Technological advancement has given rise to a growing digital economy which continues to create new forms of work, transforming the employment landscape," Pangandaman said. "Hence, investing in the digitalization of the bureaucracy is crucial not only in enhancing its efficiency but also in generating quality jobs for Filipinos," she added. Pangandaman added that keeping updated on technology and maximizing its uses are in line with the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s whole-of-government approach to connect the entire bureaucracy digitally — not only to cut red tape but likewise to generate employment in the expanding digital economy. Aside from DepEd, several other government agencies will receive the ICT and digitalization budget. These agencies include the Department of Justice (P5.55 billion), the Department of Information and Communications Technology (P5.34 billion for ICT program-related expenditures), the Department of Finance (P3.15 billion), the Department of Interior and Local Government (P2.60 billion); and National Economic and Development Authority (P2.08 billion). The Judiciary (Supreme Court, Presidential Electoral Tribunal, Sandiganbayan, Court of Appeals, Court of Tax Appeals) will also receive P1.44 billion for its digitalization budget. The Department of National Defense (P1.12 billion), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (P913 million), and Other Executive Offices (P890 million) will also receive its share. Meanwhile, a total of P990.631 million will be allocated to the ICT Systems and Infostructure Development, Management, and Advisory Program of the DICT. Further, the National Government Data Center Infrastructure Program, which will get P1.67 billion, aims to reduce government spending by providing resources to government agencies either through colocation or cloud services. In addition, the DICT's National Government Portal, which will have an allocation of P302.86 million, is intended to further streamline public service by connecting all government departments to a single website. Another DICT program, the National Broadband Plan, will receive a budget of P1.50 billion to improve internet speed and allow affordability across the country. A separate P2.5 billion will fund the Free Wi-Fi Connectivity in Public Places and SUCs program, with a target of 50 broadband sites in 82 provinces. The post DepEd will get 25% of 2024 budget appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DENR hopes P60M enough as mining driver
Backed by P60 million in funding, the government is set to launch a more focused mineral exploration regime next year to complement the private sector’s drive to ramp up local production of minerals. Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary for Environment and Integrated Science Carlos Primo David said the planned exploration will particularly target the unveiling of critical minerals that would support the country’s renewable energy transition. These critical mineral resources, such as nickel and chromium, are used in manufacturing batteries for electric vehicles. “The government has a budget of P60 million for mineral exploration. What we want to do is to focus on certain areas,” David told reporters in an interview with reporters at the sidelines of the Mining Philippines International Conference and Exhibition on Tuesday. Not enough fund David, however, noted that the budget would not suffice for a full-blown mineral exploration as it will be equally divided among the 16 regions of the country. “We wanted to focus on that small budget and revive exploration by the government. Hopefully, when we do the initial exploration, there is enough information for the private sector to get interested and continue the exploration,” David said. For David, mining exploration should be initiated by the government either through a Department Administrative Order or Memorandum Circular. Relatedly, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau or MGB was tasked to follow up on previously explored areas that were left or discontinued. In his keynote speech, David pointed out that while the minerals development sector grows, global studies have shown that responsible mining that marries financial viability with environmental sustainability and social development can ensure a longer life of mine, greater acceptability, and license to operate and sectoral stability. “A responsive and responsible mining industry that delivers both corporate and national dividends and abides by the guidelines of the Task Forces of Climate and Nature-related financial disclosures is what we envision for the country,” he said. The post DENR hopes P60M enough as mining driver appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DITO passed 4th technical audit
DITO Telecommunity, a China-backed company that broke the industry duopoly of Globe and PLDT, has passed its fourth government-mandated technical audit that measures its compliance with network coverage and internet speed commitments. In a letter sent to DITO Telecommunity chief administrative officer Adel Tamano, the National Telecommunications Commission or NTC confirmed that it passed its fourth yearly technical audit. The independent audit is part of the conditions outlined in the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity or CPCN given to the company. The Independent Auditor’s Report of Factual Findings from the Conduct of Specified Procedures — Year 4 Committed Levels of Service dated 29 August submitted by R.G. Manabat & Co. to the NTC stated that DITO surpassed its target. As part of the issuance of its CPCN in July 2019, DITO Telecommunity needs to record 70.01 percent network reach with a minimum speed of 55 Mbps in the third year of its commitment period. Notably, the audit showed that DITO now covers 80.65 percent of national population coverage. Affordable Internet fulfilled Its minimum average broadband speed or MABS, meanwhile, clocked in at 74.97 Mbps for 4G and 639.32 Mbps for 5G for all sites with a combined MABS of 357.14 Mbps. “Despite all the challenges that we have faced, we continue to achieve our commitments to government and the Filipino people, to provide affordable world-class service and to serve the underserved. This is in support of the Marcos administration’s drive towards digitalization and Nation-building,” Tamano said. If DITO fails to fulfill its commitments on time, the government forfeits, in its favor, the P25.7 billion performance bond that DITO paid before construction activities. DITO has promised to cover 84 percent of the Philippines and offer a minimum average speed of at least 55 Mbps by the end of its commitment. DITO recently conveyed that unresolved interconnection issues with its rivals have been affecting its subscriber base expansion as well as its development of new products for users. The PCC affirmed DITO’s complaints last year over the alleged anti-competitive behavior of its rivals regarding their interconnection deals. PCC said it found “reasonable grounds to open a preliminary inquiry into the complaints filed by Dito Telecommunity against Globe Telecom and Smart Communications.” Under Executive Order 59 issued by late President Fidel V. Ramos in 1993, interconnection is a mandated and important component of the telco industry as it allows interoperability and exchange of calls, SMS, and other information from one network to another. The post DITO passed 4th technical audit appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Creation of OFW cancer allotment eyed
Senators backed the suggestion to establish an endowment fund for cancer-stricken overseas Filipino workers dedicated to the late Migrant Workers Secretary Ma. Susana “Toots” Ople recently died due to breast cancer. Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, who chairs the upper chamber’s committee on health, has expressed full support for the creation of a cancer endowment fund, as suggested by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, that would greatly help cancer patients across the country. Go was instrumental in securing a P500-million allocation for the Cancer Assistance Fund or CAF in the 2023 General Appropriations Act of the Department of Health. This was after, he noted that DoH did not include any allocation for the CAF in its proposed 2023 budget. This concern was raised in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. During the National Cancer Summit in February this year, Philippine Society of Medical Oncology president, Dr. Rosario Pitargue, reported that cancer is now the third leading cause of death nationwide, with lung cancer as the top cause of mortality, followed by liver, breast, colon, and prostate. There are 184 cases diagnosed in 100,000 patients and 96 deaths related to cancer are reported daily. Based on the estimates by the Glocal Cancer Observatory, about 153,751 Filipinos suffered from various types of cancer in 2020, with 27,163 patients diagnosed with breast cancer, 19,180 lung cancer patients, and 17,364 colorectum cancer patients. Hence, Go is pushing to double the current allocation of the DoH for the CAF in its 2024 GAA so the government could extend assistance to more cancer patients. The post Creation of OFW cancer allotment eyed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Globe brushes off SIM listing impact
Ayala-backed Globe Telecom Inc. hurdled the mandated subscriber identity module, or SIM, registration unscathed as its mobile business revenues remained robust. The company’s mobile business slightly grew in the first half with P54.8 billion in revenues, a one percent increase from the P54 billion a year ago. “We see that SIM registration has no material impact on revenues. We’ve observed our top-ups remain unaffected and acquisitions in the last five weeks are still at least 50 percent higher than pre-deadline run rates,” Darius Delgado, head of Globe Consumer Mobile Business, said. He added: “It’s evident that we have already covered 99 percent of our revenue base.” 30M churned Delgado explained that the 30 million unregistered SIMs Globe deactivated after the SIM registration deadline are predominantly inactive. They were the result of push-selling activities in the past, which were discontinued in the latter part of 2022. Globe’s 53.7 million registered SIMs account for over 99 percent of its revenue-generating subscriber base, consistent with company guidance that the SIM registration exercise will not have any impact on its top-line results for the year. The SIM Registration Act mandated all mobile phone and prepaid broadband users to register their existing SIMs by 25 July, or face SIM deactivation. It was implemented to curb the spread of scams and spam messages. Meanwhile, Issa Guevarra-Cabreira, chief commercial officer of Globe, reiterated the company’s focus on customer quality over quantity. “As we’ve always emphasized, we do not focus on subscriber count but rather on the quality of customers. And we have seen that our ARPUs are improving quarter on quarter as mobility increases,” she said. “This is despite the headwinds that we’re anticipating in the back half, perhaps driven also by the back-to-school and the economic activity that has returned to the country,” she added. The post Globe brushes off SIM listing impact appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Escudero wants BI to reimburse travelers’ expenses after being offloaded
Senator Francis Escudero said the Bureau of Immigration should reimburse the travel expenses of those more than 32,000 passengers who were offloaded from their flights due to prolonged interrogation by immigration officers “in the guise of fighting human trafficking." Escudero made this suggestion as he backed Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri in denouncing the new departure guidelines of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking. “To teach the BI a lesson, they should pay for the troubles they caused Filipinos wanting to travel,” Escudero said. He added that immigration officers should be held accountable for the travel woes experienced by the offloaded passengers. Escudero urged his colleagues to support his call against BI. “May I seek the chamber's support that we include a provision in the proposed 2024 national budget that these 32,404 passengers and anyone who will be offloaded will be reimbursed in so far, as their expenses, is concerned," he said. "This will be chargeable against the immigration fees being collected by the BI since a percentage of this goes to them anyway. Let it hurt them, Mr. President, so that they learn their lessons and they exercise the power given to them not arbitrarily but with due diligence and care," he added. As of the latest immigration records, a total of 32,404 Filipino passengers were not allowed to proceed with their flights in 2022, with only 472 found to be victims of human trafficking or illegal recruitment. “Up to this time, there is no proof and final decision that says that indeed those offloaded will be engaged in prostitution or human trafficking,” Escudero noted. "Therefore, it just behooves the government to reimburse these 32, 404 retroactively, even for previous years, chargeable from the fees collected by the Immigration and I hope that you, Mr. President, can lead us insofar as inserting that special provision in the budget of the BI for 2024," he pointed out,” he added. The post Escudero wants BI to reimburse travelers’ expenses after being offloaded appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Lawmakers want bigger budget for PCG, defense sector
Senators urged the country’s economic team to allocate more funding to the defense sector and the Philippine Coast Guard amid the increasing aggression of China in parts of the West Philippine Sea. Senator Risa Hontiveros on Friday backed the proposal to increase the intelligence fund of the Philippine Coast Guard to strengthen its operations in the WPS. Hontiveros lamented that the PCG is threatened by China almost daily. But, despite facing “a clear and present danger” brought about by China’s increasing hostilities, the PCG is still operating with limited funding. “We have to hold more consultations with the Philippine Coast Guard to determine a respectable amount that could help them significantly deter China’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea,” she said. Hontiveros said that the PCG has only been receiving "a measly" P10 million in intelligence funds annually since 2009, forcing it to rely solely on human intelligence to get up-to-date information when conducting maritime patrols. It is “unacceptable that PCG is receiving intelligence funds far less than those being received by civilian agencies with no direct relation to national security and protection of Philippine territory,” said Hontiveros. "I also must stress that the P10 million for intelligence funds is not only for the PCG's duties over the West Philippine Sea, but for the entire coastal areas and waters of the Philippines. Sa napakaraming banta na nararanasan ng Coast Guard, hindi ba dapat na mas malaki naman sa sampung milyon ang maibigay sa kanila?" she said. Earlier this month, the Senate collectively denounced China’s continued harassment activities against Filipino troops aboard Philippine vessels en route to the WPS, in particular, the recent water cannon incident involving Chinese Coast Guard and Philippine vessels carrying food and other supplies for soldiers stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal. China’s repeated aggressions toward the Philippines within its exclusive economic zone prompted senators to urge the country’s economic managers to also consider increasing the budget of the defense sector. The issue was raised during the Committee on Finance briefing with the Development Budget Coordination Committee on the Proposed 2024 National Expenditure Program last week. Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said he pitied the defense sector after the economic team presented their budget allocation per sector. Under the proposed 2024 national budget, Dela Rosa noted the 37.9 percent allocation for social services, 29.6 percent for economic services, 12.1 percent for debt burden and 15.5 percent for general public services. The defense sector had the lowest funding allocation at only 4.9 percent, he said. “Awang-awa na tayo sa ating mga puwersa doon. Forgive me, my heart goes to the MUP (military and uniformed personnel) because I’ve been there, done that and saw my people dying before my eyes during encounters with the enemy. Kaya kung itong pambabastos ng China na simpleng tubig lang wala tayong panglaban, kawawa naman talaga iyong ating Coast Guard, kawawa iyong ating Navy,” Dela Rosa lamented. The post Lawmakers want bigger budget for PCG, defense sector appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Converge shifts to low-end mart
Fiber broadband and technology provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc. targets increasing its subscriber base following strong market reception for its products and services that seeks to serve low-income households. “We anticipate more opportunities to grow our subscriber base as we innovate products to cater to the demand from specific socioeconomic segmentism,” Converge CEO and co-founder Dennis Anthony Uy said. “The second quarter subscribers grew as a result of the prepaid market gaining significant traction,” Uy added. According to Converge, total net subscriber additions for residential customers reached 92,000 during the first six months, 5 percent higher than a year ago. For the second quarter, there was a 49,000 increase in residential subscribers. The prepaid fiber Internet subscribers reached more than 54,000 as of end-June, nearly doubling compared to the end-March 2023 level. This brings the total residential subscriber base of Converge to 1.97 million. From January to June, the company’s net income after tax increased by P4.3 billion from P3.95 billion last year — representing a net income margin of 24.7 percent. Converge also noted an 8 percent revenue growth to P17.4 billion from January to June, which was buoyed by the sustained growth in its residential subscriber base as well as robust growth for its enterprise business. “Converge continues to reap impressive results in our effort to bolster the availability and affordability of our fiber Internet solutions,” Uy noted. The fiber broadband provider recently introduced its prepaid fiber offering Surf2Sawa to serve households looking for more affordable connectivity, providing flexible top-up options from as low as P50 per day to P700 for 30-day unlimited connectivity. Postpaid broadband unveiled Converge also introduced a more affordable postpaid broadband called Bida Fiber which was tailored for budget-conscious households with a more consistent income. At P888 per month, subscribers can connect up to six devices with an average speed of 35 Mbps, and experience quality and unlimited connection. The post Converge shifts to low-end mart appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Nearly 40 countries at UN back LGBTQ families
Nearly 40 countries at the United Nations backed LGBTQ families on Tuesday, at a time when some Muslim and African nations are contesting sexual orientation and gender identity language in UN forums. "Families play a fundamental role in society. Supporting families is an important element in promoting and protecting human rights," 37 countries said in a statement at the UN Human Rights Council. "This support must be inclusive of all family compositions, including multigenerational and extended families, single-parent households, LGBTIQ+ families and Indigenous kinship groups," Australia's representative said on behalf of several countries. They were mainly from Europe and the Americas, plus Israel, New Zealand and East Timor. They called on countries and UN bodies "to continue to apply an inclusive lens to families, and to ensure that equality, non-discrimination, and the universality of human rights remain at the centre of engagement in supporting families". Argentina, Brazil, Britain, Canada, Germany, Mexico, Spain and the United States were among the signatories. The statement comes as several other countries, notably from the Middle East, are mounting a defence of the traditional family in UN forums. Sexual orientation and gender identity issues will be at the heart of the 53rd Human Rights Council session, which started on Monday and runs until mid-July. Such issues have become contentious in several branches of the UN. Countries in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and many African nations, plus Russia and China, are trying to roll back concepts and language which have been embedded in UN documents for at least a decade. Earlier this month, OIC and African countries were blocking the adoption of the UN labour agency's budget, before agreeing to a last-minute compromise over references to discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. "Promoting a framework around discrimination that does not have the international consensus and reflects priorities of the few risks undermining the spirit of cooperation," said Pakistan's Khalil Hashmi, on behalf of the OIC group, before the vote was finally passed. The World Health Organization has since last year seen attempts to remove such references from its strategy on infection prevention, while the Human Rights Council faces growing opposition to long-standing efforts to monitor for discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The post Nearly 40 countries at UN back LGBTQ families appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
No state pension funds in MIF
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday assured the public the national government will not use state pension funds Social Security System and Government Service Insurance System as “seed funds” to finance the proposed Maharlika Investment Fund. The Chief Executive made the assurance in an interview with reporters at the 86th-anniversary celebration of GSIS, hours after the Senate passed Senate Bill 2020 creating the MIF. The Senate approved the controversial sovereign fund bill, voting 19-1-1 at around 2:30 in the morning of Wednesday following 12 hours of deliberations. Marcos explained, however, that the pension funds themselves could invest in the proposed sovereign wealth fund if they believe it is a “good investment.” “We will not use it as a seed fund. However, if a pension fund decides the Maharlika Fund is a good investment, it’s up to them if they want to invest in it, not only pension funds but corporations,” Marcos said. “Those funds, that’s all they do, they grow their money so they have something to give,” Marcos added. Marcos said this is what GSIS has been doing. He said GSIS makes sure that “they are very solid (and) that they are very stable” so that they could give out all the payments (to its members). “We have to differentiate those two things,” he added. In a separate interview, GSIS president Jose Arnulfo “Wick” Veloso said they would abide by the lawmakers’ decision regarding the MIF. “I don’t have any idea about what other discussions are happening about those things. We will only do one thing, whatever the decision of the lawmakers is because they listen to our people, whatever they want, that’s what we will follow,” Veloso told reporters. “So we are just guided by the direction that is given to us,” he added. Unanimous approval During Tuesday’s plenary session which ran until early Wednesday, senators unanimously approved the fund measure shortly after it was approved on second reading. A total of 19 senators voted in favor of the passage of the Maharlika bill, while only one senator voted against it and one abstained. Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros objected to the measure while Senator Nancy Binay abstained from voting. Senators Aquilino Pimentel III and Imee Marcos, who also opposed the measure, were not present. During the period of individual amendments, senators introduced several changes to the proposed Maharlika Investment Fund, including a ban on government financial institutions such as the SSS, GSIS, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, OWWA Fund, Philippine Veterans Affairs Pension Fund, Office Pension Fund, and other government social welfare entities investing in the sovereign wealth fund. The amendment, which was introduced by Senator Raffy Tulfo, was accepted by Senator Mark Villar, the principal author, and sponsor of the measure. With the approval of the measure in the Upper Chamber, the Maharlika bill is now closer to enrollment for the President’s signature. Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri designated Senators Villar, Pia Cayetano, Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Francis Tolentino and Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III as the Senate contingent to the bicameral conference committee. Contingents from both the House of Representatives and Senate are to convene at 11 a.m. today to reconcile the disagreeing provisions in their respective versions of the Maharlika bill. Economic team lauds Senate Meanwhile, Marcos’ economic team lauded the Senate for passing the Maharlika Investment Fund. “The economic team commends Senate President Miguel Zubiri and Senator Mark Villar for their thorough deliberation and prioritization of the proposed Maharlika Investment Fund Act,” Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said. “The Senate leadership pulled out all the stops to ensure that the bill we bring to the President reflects the administration’s objective of creating a profitable and secure investment fund,” he added. The bill’s speedy approval was backed by Diokno, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Felipe M. Medalla, who were all present during the prolonged Senate session. Budget Secretary Pangandaman, for her part, said the Senate’s version of the MIF has “multiple” safeguards against potential misuse. “This is a great stride towards our long-term progress and will boost our efforts for economic growth,” Pangandaman said. “This includes multiple safeguards — we have an audit committee, there’s an advisory board, and there’s a congressional oversight committee. It adheres to the internationally known Santiago principles, there’s the (Commission on Audit), and it has (a) procurement law, so I think we have enough safeguards,” she added. She highlighted potential financial resources from the Land Bank of the Philippines, the Development Bank of the Philippines, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, central bank dividends, and income from privatization. @tribunephl_tiz @tribunephl_jom The post No state pension funds in MIF appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Marcos assures SSS, GSIS funds won’t be used as MIF seed fund
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday assured the public that the national government would not use state pension funds Social Security System and Government Service Insurance System as "seed fund" to finance the proposed Maharlika Investment Fund. The Chief Executive said this in an interview with reporters after he attended the 86th-anniversary celebration of GSIS, hours after the Senate passed Senate Bill No. 2020 creating the MIF. The Senate approved the controversial sovereign fund bill, voting 19-1-1 at around 12:30 in the morning following 12 hours of deliberations. However, Marcos explained that the pension funds themselves could invest in the proposed sovereign wealth fund if they believe it is a "good investment." "We will not use it as a seed fund. However, if a pension fund decides the Maharlika Fund is a good investment, it's up to them if they want to invest in it, not only pension funds but corporations," Marcos said. "Those funds - that's all they do, they grow their money so they have something to give," Marcos added. Marcos said this is what GSIS have been doing. He said GSIS is making sure that "they are very solid (and) that they are very stable" so that they would give out all the payments. "We have to differentiate those two things," he added. In a separate media interview, GSIS President Jose Arnulfo “Wick” Veloso said that they would only abide with the lawmakers' decision regarding the MIF. "I don't have any idea about what other discussions are happening about those things. We will only do one thing, whatever the decision of the lawmakers is because they listen to our people, whatever they want, that's what we will follow," Veloso told the reporters. "So we are just guided by the direction that is given to us,” he added. Economic team lauds Senate for passing MIF bill Meanwhile, Marcos' economic team lauded the Senate for passing the Maharlika Investment Fund. "The economic team commends Senate President Senator (Juan Miguel) Migz Zubiri and Senator Mark Villar for their thorough deliberation and prioritization of the proposed Maharlika Investment Fund Act," Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said. "The Senate leadership has pulled out all the stops to ensure that the bill we bring to the President reflects the administration's objective of creating a profitable and secure investment fund," he added. The bill's speedy approval was backed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Finance Secretary Diokno, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Felipe M. Medalla, who were all present and seated during the prolonged session. Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, for her part, said the Senate's version of the MIF has "multiple" safeguards against potential misuse. "This is a great stride towards our long-term progress and will boost our efforts for economic growth," Pangandaman said. "This includes multiple safeguards— we have an audit committee, there's an advisory board, and there's a congressional oversight committee. It adheres to the internationally-known Santiago principles, there's (Commission on Audit), and it has (a) procurement law, so I think we have enough safeguards," Pangandaman added. Pangandaman additionally highlighted the Landbank of the Philippines, the Development Bank of the Philippines, income from privatization, funds from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, and dividends obtained from the central bank as potential financial resources. The post Marcos assures SSS, GSIS funds won’t be used as MIF seed fund appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Race against time for US debt crisis bill in Congress
The bill hammered out by US leaders to prevent the country from a catastrophic default on its debts will face one last hurdle this week: Passing Congress. Top Republicans and Democrats scrambled Monday to secure congressional support for the measure, with President Joe Biden feeling "very good" about its prospects despite having just days left before the government starts running out of money. The deal, finalized Sunday by Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy after weeks of frantic negotiations, faces opposition from the progressive and hard-right wings of their respective parties. Ultra-conservative Republicans feel McCarthy should have secured far deeper spending cuts in exchange for raising the debt ceiling and allowing the government to keep borrowing money. The left wing of the Democratic Party is equally unhappy that Biden agreed to any spending limits at all. The House Rules Committee will meet Tuesday to set the parameters for the upcoming vote, now scheduled for Wednesday. Delay tactics Biden and McCarthy both say they believe the bill will pass the House and then move swiftly to the Senate. "I never say I'm confident what the Congress is going to do. But I feel very good about it," Biden said Monday, adding that he had spoken to lawmakers. But organized dissent could force some nerve-shredding delays. The key deadline is June 5 -- when, according to Treasury estimates, the government will no longer have the funds required to pay all its debts and bills. If that scenario morphs into a full-fledged default, the repercussions would be disastrous for the US and the wider global economy. The basic framework of the deal lifts the federal debt ceiling, which is currently $31.4 trillion, for two years — enough to get past the next presidential election in 2024. In return, the Republicans secured some limits on federal spending over the same period. As they finalized the text Sunday, Biden and McCarthy both went into hard-sell mode to shore up support in their parties. Biden's message to dissident Democrats, he said Monday: "Talk to me." Win, win Both Biden and McCarthy were backed by vocal spin operations insisting the agreement clearly represented a victory for their side. "You want to try to make it look like I made some compromise on the debt ceiling -- I didn't," Biden told reporters. McCarthy, for his part, touted the agreement as a "historic series of wins." But like Biden, McCarthy will have to quell members of his own party who aren't keen on the bill. "I want to raise the debt ceiling. It'd be irresponsible not to do it," Senator Lindsey Graham told Fox News Sunday. "But what I will not do is adopt the Biden defense budget and call it a success," Graham said, calling for bigger increases to the Pentagon's budget than currently agreed. "I will not be intimidated by June 5." In reality, the agreement represents a mutual climb down of sorts from Democratic and Republican negotiators. Biden had initially refused to negotiate over spending issues as a condition for raising the debt ceiling, accusing the Republicans of taking the economy, hostage. And the big cuts that Republicans wanted are not there, although non-defense spending will remain effectively flat next year, and only rise nominally in 2025. McCarthy's wafer-thin majority in the House will require significant Democratic backing to balance out Republican dissent. One Republican tweeted out a vomit emoji in response to the deal, with another calling it "an insult to the American people." At the same time, a member of the House Progressive Caucus, Ro Khanna, said a large number of fellow Democrats were still "in flux as to where they're going to be on this." Democrats hold the majority in the Senate, but individual senators could try and hold up the bill with amendment votes that would bring the process perilously close to the June 5 deadline. One element likely to rile Democratic environmental hawks was the surprise inclusion of a measure to accelerate the completion of an oil pipeline project that has been stalled by green concerns. Both the House and Senate are expected to return on Tuesday, after a long holiday weekend. The post Race against time for US debt crisis bill in Congress appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Magat dam refurbishing set
RAMON, Isabela — Senator Imee Marcos on Sunday led the groundbreaking rites of the retrofitting works for the 41-year-old Magat Dam’s spillway backed by a P500-million funding the lady senator is pushing. Marcos said the project will ensure unhampered delivery of irrigation services and hydroelectric power in decades to come. The dam has been the source of irrigation for 85,000 hectares of agricultural lands in Luzon and power generation. “The Magat Dam is a legacy of my father so we have to see to it that it will last for more decades or a century. It is an essential foundation for national development,” Marcos said during the ceremony. It was in 1975 when the construction of the dam started. It was completed in 1982. Later in the day, the senator led the stakeholders’ forum where she underscored the convergence programs of different government agencies for the farmer-irrigators that push hunger mitigation, food and nutrition security, poverty alleviation and wealth creation. She vowed to support pro-farmer funding with “the power of the purse or passing of the budget” at the legislative department. Marcos said one of the legislative measures she has been advocating is the exclusion of value-added tax for diesel and other petroleum products being used by farmers at their farms. pna After the forum, Marcos flew to Ilagan City and later to Santiago City’s Bulwagan hall wherein she led the distribution of cash assistance to 1,000 beneficiaries, amounting to P3,000 each. The post Magat dam refurbishing set appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pascual backs SIM registration extension
Micro, small, and medium enterprises using numerous subscriber identity module or SIM cards have yet to register them all, which may result to huge displacements when these are deactivated by the 26 April deadline., Trade Secretary Fred Pascual said. He said that small firms are largely dependent on their smartphones in transacting with customers In a press briefing in Malacañang, Pascual said the Department of Information and Communications Technology should consider extending the deadline for SIM card registration as it will help in the country’s shift to digital payments. “Digital payments are what we need to happen to further promote and develop our MSMEs because that’s how they can facilitate accessing the market and being able to sell online,” he said. The Trade chief stressed that strictly implementing the deadline will be a “major concern.” Telco giant Globe Telecom backed the call of Pascual so customers can obtain valid IDs — a key requirement for SIM registration that many SIM users lack, preventing them from completing registration. Globe, nonetheless, urged its subscribers to complete the registration process immediately, with 33.067 million of its 86.5 million customer base compliant with the law as of 20 April. “We encourage all our subscribers to register their SIMs as soon as possible to maintain uninterrupted access to mobile and broadband services. Pending response to our appeal for the government to extend the deadline, we call on all Globe SIM users to comply with the law,” said Globe Group President and CEO Ernest Cu. Extension must be considered “If we really need registration, we need to be able to accommodate (adjustment of the deadline). Personally, I will go for it, but I do not know the official position of the concerned department,” the Trade chief noted. Moreover, he said the SIM registration “must be done and make sure that registration happens. It’s like voter’s registration.” On Wednesday, the DICT said the deadline for the SIM card registration period remains, amid clamors from major telecommunications giants Globe, Smart and DITO Telecommunications to extend the registration period. “With the 26 April 2023 registration deadline drawing near, we encourage everyone to register to promote the responsible use of SIMs and provide law enforcement agencies the necessary tools to crack down on perpetrators who use SIMs for their crimes, consistent with the declared policy of the law,” the DICT statement read. The DICT, headed by Secretary Ivan Uy, has the sole prerogative to extend the deadline for another 120 days, stipulated on the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 11934 or SIM Registration Law. According to the National Telecommunications Commission, as of April 18, about 5,399,998 or 36.08 percent have registered for DITO; 32,224,277 or 37.15 percent for Globe; and 36,558,127 or 55.14 percent for Smart for a total of 74,182,402. Further, the NTC said registered users make up 44.15 percent of these active mobile subscribers. The post Pascual backs SIM registration extension appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»