We are sorry, the requested page does not exist
Elvie Vergara continued to suffer violence under employer’s daughter
Elvie Vergara, a domestic helper from Occidental Mindoro who lost her sight as a result of years of torture at the hands of her employers, continued to experience violence at the hands of her employer's daughter. Senator Francis Tolentino revealed this during the resumption of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights’ investigation into Vergara’s case on Tuesday. According to Tolentino, Vergara, who was already blind, continued to experience maltreatment after she was transferred to Danica Gerlyn Ruiz’s residence in Batangas City, the daughter of her alleged abusive employers France and Gerry Ruiz. “When Elvie Vergara was transferred, apparently, for medical assistance to a place in Batangas city, to another member of the household of the Ruiz family, she was also asked to do the same work,” he said. Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Richard Fadullon Jr. supported Tolentino’s presumption, stressing that the nature of the offense to Vergara was continued since she was only transferred to the younger Ruiz. Maria Fe Guillermo Villar, the domestic helper of the younger Ruiz in Batangas City, also validated the claim in her sworn statement. Meanwhile, Danica’s parents, France and Gerry denied Vergara’s claims that they maltreated her for several years which led to her blindness. According to France, Vergara’s wounds were self-inflicted. “She got her wounds because she was too lazy to take baths sometimes. Sometimes, it would take her four to five days before took a bath. She got wounds because she was scratching herself,” she said. France also denied that they took part in Vergara’s loss of sight, as well as the deformation of her nose, attributing it to the latter’s fights with her fellow domestic helpers. “That was caused by her fights with her fellow domestic helpers at the back [of the house]. I only learned about it recently,” she said. For her part, Vergara stood by her claims that she was physically abused by the Ruizes. During the hearing, opthalmologist Dr. Airene Oloroso said fractures in Vergara’s skull, as seen in her computerized tomography or CT scan, could possibly attributed to the latter’s blindness. “If the fracture is severe, it can affect one’s [eye] globe,” Oloroso said. She also noted that Vergara’s left eye, which had already shrunk, may be due to previous injury or trauma. Vergara accused her previous employers of physically assaulting her such as ramming her head in the comfort room’s wall and sink and hitting her with solid materials like belts and clothes hangers. The post Elvie Vergara continued to suffer violence under employer’s daughter appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
New Candaba Viaduct to make travel faster, safer
Motorists can expect a much faster and safer journey to Central and Northern Luzon once the third Candaba Viaduct is completed. The third viaduct will be constructed by NLEX Corp., a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. or MPTC, the tollways unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. The first 5-kilometer Candaba Viaduct connects Bulacan and Pampanga along the North Luzon Expressway. It has been an important bridge for motorists traveling from Metro Manila to Central and Northern Luzon for over 50 years. The viaduct has withstood natural disasters such as typhoons and earthquakes. The current project was recently inaugurated in a groundbreaking ceremony led by House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales, Toll Regulatory Board Executive Director Alvin Carullo, Pampanga Governor Dennis Pineda, Department of Public Works and Highways Region 3 Director Roseller Tolentino, MPTC president Rogelio L. Singson, and NLEX president and general manager Jose Luigi L. Bautista. Targeted for completion in November 2024, the P7.89-billion third viaduct requires the construction of a new bridge between the two existing viaducts. Once completed, the road capacity of the new viaduct will increase from three lanes without shoulders to three lanes with inner and outer shoulders in each direction. These lanes and shoulders will be wide, boosting safety and convenience for travelers. According to MPTC president and CEO Singson, who is a former Public Works and Highways secretary, “This project will not only increase the capacity of the 5-km Candaba Viaduct but will ultimately improve safety and convenience of the motorists and will aid in the acceleration and growth of trade and commerce in Central Luzon.” Speaker Romualdez emphasized the importance of the new bridge which is expected to decongest traffic and reduce travel time for motorists. “This project will not only enhance the efficiency of our transportation network but also contribute to the overall socioeconomic development of the region. It will create jobs, attract investments, and stimulate economic growth,” Romualdez said. The third Candaba Viaduct will be built using green and sustainable engineering practices and comply with the country’s latest bridge design requirements. It will have piers every 20 meters, with each pier supported by two columns and two bored piles, strengthening the structure amid the swampy condition of the natural ground beneath it. NLEX president and general manager Bautista assured motorists the construction of the new bridge would not affect the operation and traffic flow on the two existing viaducts. Based on the studies, constructing the third viaduct is necessary because the existing structures are aging and operating at a lower capacity. Competent engineers and management teams will manage the construction site to ensure efficiency and safety. “This new mobility project will offer easy journeys and make travel safer for the public traveling between Metro Manila and Central and Northern Luzon as there will be a new structure to augment the existing ones and that will safely allow the speed limit to be increased to 60 to 80 kilometers per hour from the current 40 to 60 kilometers per hour,” said Bautista, adding that upon completion, Class 3 vehicles or large trucks will be directed to the new bridge so that the old structures will be relieved of heavy loads. Since 2005, MPTC has been upgrading the viaduct. Among the upgrades were pavement resurfacing, bridge link slab, girder, and deck replacement; girder and column strengthening; and construction of lay-bys or emergency bays in the northbound and southbound directions of the bridge. Since 2020, stricter anti-overloading policies, such as the 33-ton gross vehicle weight limit for the southbound viaduct, were implemented to ensure the safety and stability of the bridge. With projects like the third Candaba Viaduct underway, motorists can expect even more improvements in the quality of the road infrastructure and service along the NLEX. These projects aim to ensure the utmost comfort and safety of motorists traveling to Central and Northern Luzon through the expressway. With the BBM administration’s vision of taking the country into the golden age of infrastructure, this project will certainly add to the many programs in the pipeline that in the end will benefit millions of Filipinos. The post New Candaba Viaduct to make travel faster, safer appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Outages, no wonder
Going by the timeframe that electricity network concessionaire National Grid Corp. of the Philippines or NGCP had presented to the government, the oppressive yellow and red alerts on peak demand periods will end by next month. In a recent statement, the NGCP said more consumers benefited from lower power rates and “better services” since private companies took over transmission operations from the government in 2009. The claim was that its investments had led to a 77-percent decline in transmission outages in the country. NGCP’s statement presented the idea that had the private contractor followed all the requirements in its 2009 contract, problems in the power network would be a thing of the past. The private firm, however, has a sordid record when it comes to keeping its commitments in the concession agreement. It pledged to the Department of Energy that the Visayas-Mindanao interconnection will be completed by next month which the energy department said would immediately add 450 megawatts to the Visayas region. NGCP also indicated that the Cebu-Negros-Panay interconnection will be completed by 30 June. Energy officials estimated that the Visayas region will have more available power with the interconnection plan as a result of the huge volume of stranded power among the islands. The DoE’s rule of thumb is that for every one-degree increase in temperature, around 100 megawatts of additional power would be needed, which explains sudden shortfalls, particularly when it triggers power plant shutdowns. The delayed projects along with the absence of reserve power, thus, has resulted in the predictable alerts when the weather temperature simmers. Another project, albeit delayed, is the Bataan-Pagbilao interconnection with more than 1,000 megawatts, or electricity equivalent to about two heavy power plants that could prevent brownouts in the Luzon grid within the immediate future. NGCP has a long list of pending projects — 32 in Luzon, 39 in the Visayas and 12 in Mindanao — that all affect the supply levels in the regions. Even the worn-out excuse that the projects were delayed because of the pandemic does not hold up since all of these were committed to being completed before the global health emergency happened. An automatic load drop which acts like a circuit breaker is triggered whenever the power supply falls short of demand and the reserve can’t plug the deficit. The procedure is necessary to prevent the tripping of a large plant. NGCP has consistently tried to deflect the blame for the frequent electricity shortage by pointing its finger at the DoE, saying that it has not done enough to bid out new contracts to suppliers. Experts, however, said NGCP contributes to low supply because it cannot complete its transmission projects on time. NGCP also tries to frighten consumers by saying that complying with its contract commitments will mean higher prices for electricity. “These projects involve building transmission lines to power plants so that they can start operating to produce power for the benefit of consumers,” an expert noted. Even before the pandemic, the DoE had been seeking transparency from NGCP and had badgered the private group about securing firm ancillary services. Another excuse for project delays was right-of-way issues that NGCP can’t invoke since its franchise gives it the power to expropriate that the consortium of taipans had abused. An energy official said the purchase of properties were made without informing the National Transmission Corp. or Transco which owns the electricity backbone. They acquired the properties in their name which is against the law. Will wonders never cease for the National Transmission Corp. contractor who seems to have grown too big, in its influence, for comfort? The post Outages, no wonder appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Teachers’ group lauds DepEd move
The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition on Friday acknowledged the action taken by the Department of Education in response to the constant cries of teachers and children to consider the extreme heat and suspend face-to-face classes. This as the Education department released a memorandum signed by Assistant Secretary Francis Bringas which reiterated the agency’s policy “to suspend in-person classes and implement modular distance learning in cases of unfavorable weather and environment such as, but not limited to, extremely high temperatures which may considerably affect the conduct of classroom learning and put the learners’ health and wellbeing at risk.” The DepEd issued the memorandum after some school children fainted in Laguna and Mindoro recently due to the extreme heat. Groups of teachers and even parents call for DepEd to return to the old school calendar. “It will take at least 4 years to gradually return to the old school calendar where the months of April and May are designated as school breaks, for now the alternative methods that can be used are shortened teaching time and modular and online learning,” said TDC national chairperson Benjo Basas. He also acknowledged the issuance of such a memorandum but stressed that returning to the old academic calendar would require adjustments which could take years to implement, while the suffering of teachers and students is felt in real-time. “A more strategic approach is needed, for example, a lower-class size of no more than 25 students, more stable classrooms designed for student comfort and provision of electric fans or even air -conditioning system. Certainly, we will need funds and policies to implement such,” Basas said. The group reiterated that public school teachers have the right to a two-month school break that could be compromised if DepEd immediately reverts to the old system. It cited DepEd Order 34, s. 2022, which sets the August opening of the school calendar for the 2022-2023, 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years. The post Teachers’ group lauds DepEd move appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Progressive : Arlene Damot on embracing married women, all ages in Miss Universe
Mrs. Universe 2023 2nd runner-up Arlene Damot sees the Miss Universe Organization's decision to lift the age requirement and welcome married women as a progressive move......»»
Julia, Carlo kumasa na sa taping sa Japan, magtatambal sa ‘Hold Me Close’
MULING magpapakilig sina Julia Barretto at Carlo Aquino sa kanilang fans! Magkakaroon kasi sila ng reunion movie na “Hold Me Close” mula sa direksyon ni Jason Paul Laxamana. Sa kasalukuyan, sila ay nasa bansang Japan upang umpisahan na ang paggawa ng pelikula. Sa isang Instagram post, ibinandera ng Viva Films ang ilang posters at isang.....»»
Philippines beats India for back-to-back wins in women’s Asia ice hockey tiff
The Philippine women’s ice hockey team picked up where they left off after their opening win in the 2024 IIHF Women’s Asia and Oceania Cup with a 7-0 shutout of India at the Bishkek Arena in Kyrgyzstan on Wednesday......»»
Hoffman boosts bid for Paris Paris
Olympics hopeful Lauren Hoffman yesterday set a new national record in the women’s 400-meter hurdles with a gold medal performance in the Hurricane Collegiate Invitational in Coral Gables, Florida......»»
Infrastructure projects get better loan terms from Japan
The Philippines has secured better financing terms for two big-ticket infrastructure projects funded by the Japanese government aimed at improving public transport and road connectivity......»»
Women empowering women
As we celebrate National Women’s Month in March, here are inspiring messages from women leaders of different industries and sectors......»»
Marcos Jr. eyes stronger maritime ties with India
The Philippines is seeking stronger maritime security cooperation with India to ensure the safety of seafarers from both nations as the world’s oceans are becoming more dangerous for commercial shipping, President Marcos said......»»
Hoffman sets new Philippine hurdles record at Florida meet
Paris Olympics-hopeful Lauren Hoffman on Wednesday set a new national record in the women’s 400-meter hurdles with a gold medal performance in the Hurricane Collegiate Invitational in Coral Gables, Florida......»»
Lalamove empowers aspiring women entrepreneurs to start their small businesses in PangNegosyo program
Lalamove, a leading on-demand delivery platform, has launched the Panalong PangNegosyo program for its thousands of women partner drivers to give out a business-starter package to three lady riders or drivers......»»
Boxing trainer Domingo is confident Jerusalem will upset Shigeoka
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Veteran boxing trainer, Michael Domingo of ZIP Sanman Boxing Team, is confident that his prized ward Melvin “Gringo” Jerusalem will make a repeat of the latter’s January 2023 world title victory in Japan. The Cebu-based Jerusalem will face the defending World Boxing Council (WBC) world minimumweight champion, Yudai Shigeoka, in Nagoya,.....»»
Amparo steps in to replace Andales for the IBF world title bout in Japan
CEBU CITY, Philippines — In a surprising turn of events, world-ranked Jake “El Bambino” Amparo of the PMI Bohol Boxing Stable stepped in as a last-minute replacement for countryman ArAr Andales in facing the reigning International Boxing Federation (IBF) world minimumweight champion Ginjiro Shigeoka on March 31 in Nagoya, Japan. This was confirmed by PMI.....»»
Gilas women off to great start in FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup
The Gilas Pilipinas women had a strong start in the 2024 FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup after coming up unscathed in the first day of the competition Wednesday at the Singapore Sports Hub......»»
PSAC welcomes Blinken’s bid to deepen bilateral ties
Private sector leaders have extended their full support to President Marcos as he deepened ties with the United States during US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s diplomatic visit to the country last March 19......»»
‘Trade with China should continue’
The Philippines should continue to pursue stronger trade ties with China despite rising tensions in the West Philippine Sea, according to the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. and the Department of Trade and Industry......»»
India, Philippines have seen very perceptible growth in recent times: Jaishankar
Manila [Philippines], March 26 (ANI): Hailing ties between India and the Philippines, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is on a visit to the Philippines on Tuesday, said that ties between Delhi and Manila have witnessed a very perceptible growth in recent times. Addressing a joint press briefing with Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo, Jaishankar said, "As you all know, India's ties with the.....»»
Katya mas inuna ang pagbuo ng baby kesa sa kasal nila ni Paulo Pilar
MAS inuna ng engaged couple na sina Katya Santos at Paolo Pilar ang pagkakaroon ng baby kesa ang kanilang pagpapakasal. Iyan ang bonggang rebelasyon ng dating sexy actress nang matanong tungkol sa estado ng relasyon nila ngayon ng kanyang non-showbiz fiancé. Ayon kay Katya, kahit nag-propose na sa kanya si Paolo last January sa Japan,.....»»