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53% drop in Davao City’s road accidents: DCPO-TEU
The Davao City Police Office-Traffic Enforcement Unit (DCPO-TEU) has reported a significant 53% decrease in road accidents during the first 16 days of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. Deputy Chief Pcpt. Raymundo B. Bacera Jr. revealed these statistics during the ISpeak media forum, citing 213 recorded incidents in 2023, compared to only 102 in 2024. He noted a reduction in the number of vehicles involved, from 120 to 51. Human error was identified as the primary cause of accidents, accounting for 97% of cases, while vehicle defects and road defects contributed to 2% and 1% of incidents, respectively. Private vehicles were involved in 40% of the accidents, with common human errors including texting/calling while driving, overtaking, and speeding. The peak hours for accidents were identified as between 2 pm to 4 pm. Despite the implementation of the New Speed Limit Ordinance, which came into effect on January 11, 2024, Dionisio Abude, head of the City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO), emphasized that the ordinance cannot guarantee the absence of road incidents, highlighting the critical role of driver behavior and driving habits. Since the ordinance's enforcement, CTTMO and DCPO-TEU have issued citations to 730 violators, with private vehicles constituting 49% of the total, followed by motorcycles, taxis, trucks, public utility jeepneys, buses, and public utility vans......»»
Agri expo cultivates growth, opportunities
The Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI) Davao Region Expo, called Kalambuan sa Kaumahan, brought together farmers and university students in Davao City. The event aimed to showcase the products and services offered by farmers in the region. Antonieta Arceo, Director III of DA-ATI Davao Region, highlighted the intensive agricultural training provided to farmers ahead of the expo, emphasizing the importance of developing their skills. Edgardo Haspe, head of City Agriculture's Office, emphasized the significance of the event in celebrating progress in the agricultural landscape. The expo featured top products like organic food, fruits, and fresh vegetables, as well as competitions such as a fashion designing contest using rice-based materials and a Quiz Bee. Additionally, DA-ATI-Davao Region announced opportunities for scholarships in agri-courses, aiming to instill a passion for organic agriculture among grantees. Applications for the Youth Scholarship Grants on Organic Farming for 2023-2024 are currently being accepted......»»
VAWC cases in Davao City rise
The number of reported Violence Against Women and their Children (VAWC) cases in Davao City has increased in 2022 compared to the previous year, according to Lorna Mandin, head of the City Mayor's Office-Integrated Gender and Development Division (CMO-IGDD). Mandin revealed that the cases have risen to approximately 2,000, attributing the previous reduction during the pandemic to limited access and fear of going out. Most cases are from Talomo District, with victims aged 18 to 35 and 36 to 64. The increase in reported cases can be linked to more people reporting incidents compared to 2020 and 2021 when fear of Covid-19 deterred reporting. The IGDD handles cases falling under Republic Act 9262, involving perpetrators with an intimate relationship, not necessarily married. About 20 to 25 percent of these cases opt for psychological intervention. From January to December 2022, CMO-IGDD served approximately 1,206 clients, with 1,191 being women and 15 children. The department provides legal assistance, representation, and follow-up on cases, especially for those in remote areas. The Department of Social Welfare and Development-Davao Region (DWSD-Davao.....»»
Trafficker mom offers own kids for online sexual exploitation
A 32-year-old woman from Talomo District, Davao City has been sentenced to four life imprisonments and ordered to pay a total of P6 million for multiple violations, including the violation of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act and the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act. The woman was arrested after offering to sexually abuse her six-year-old son and one-year-old daughter in exchange for money or other considerations. The presiding judge found her guilty of qualified trafficking, child abuse, and offering child sexual abuse material through a computer system. In addition to the life sentences, she was also sentenced to an additional 14 years in prison and ordered to pay fines and damages. The arrest and rescue operation were carried out by law enforcement agencies in collaboration with social workers. The conviction is seen as a testament to the government's efforts to combat trafficking and online sexual abuse and exploitation of children. The International Justice Mission-Philippines estimates that nearly half a million Filipino children were victims of this crime in 2022 alone. Convictions like this are crucial in deterring such crimes and the community's vigilance in reporting cases is essential. To report information about child abuse, contact the Davao City Hotline or the Philippine.....»»
US army chief and allies discuss Asia-Pacific in India
Army chiefs and senior officers from 30 countries including the United States met in India Tuesday to discuss threats facing the Asia-Pacific region, in the face of concern at an increasingly assertive China. US Army chief Randy George said the region was "critically important", speaking to reporters alongside his Indian counterpart Manoj Pande, and vowed to boost cooperation to "maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific". Generals from Japan and Australia, which make up the "Quad" defense cooperation forum alongside Washington and New Delhi, also took part, as did Britain and France. As the generals met, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that Beijing would oppose the "wanton expansion of military alliances", the latest in a string of warnings as Washington deepens security ties in the Asia-Pacific. Beijing has long said that any effort to establish a NATO-like military alliance in the Asia-Pacific would provoke conflict. Nations present at the two-day conference in New Delhi included Vietnam and the Philippines, both of which have longstanding pending territorial disputes with China. The conference, which launched in 1999, brings together army chiefs and top officers from 30 countries. India's Pande said the region faced challenges on both land and at sea. "These range from territorial disputes over land masses, or in some cases, even over artificially expanded islands to acquire real estate and establish military bases," Pande added, in an indirect reference to China. India has also had to balance its traditional alliance with Russia -- the provider of most of its arms imports, and now a source of cut-price oil -- with growing ties to Washington. "The partnership between India and the US armies is vital for stability in the region, and the relationship between our armies is strong and growing stronger," George said. The post US army chief and allies discuss Asia-Pacific in India appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DA-Davao officials off the hook
The Sandiganbayan on Monday revealed that it has acquitted five former officials of the Department of Agriculture in Davao Region in relation to the alleged anomalous P4.92-million payments to private suppliers in 2004. In its 44-page decision signed 28 July 2023, the anti-graft court junked the graft cases against regional technical director Romulo Palcon, OIC/administrative officer III Godofredo Ramos, budget officer II Gilda Cordero-Panal, regional accountant Mariflor Garcia, and regional cashiers Rita Retino and Corazon Ebero for the prosecution’s failure to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt. To recall, the five DA-Davao region officials were accused of allowing private suppliers Everland Agri Corporation, Mintal Fruit Nursery and Asian Hybrid Technology Inc., to take the payments despite the lack of documentation, among others, in violation of the Government Procurement Reform Act or RA 9184. They allegedly conspired with one another and gave unwarranted benefits to the suppliers by signing Bids and Awards Committee resolutions for the disbursement amounting to P4,916,906 in public funds. However, according to the court’s current decision, the prosecution failed to prove that there was indeed a conspiracy. “On the issue of conspiracy, it is the prosecution that carries this burden of proving its existence... This Court finds that the prosecution failed to fulfill this burden,” said the Sandiganbayan. The anti-graft court also ruled that there was “no showing that the winning bidders conspired or connived with any member of the BAC or any of the accused or whether the accused themselves conspired between and among themselves.” “This alone casts doubt on the culpability of the accused for the crime charged,” it added. The Sandiganbayan also emphasized that it has been consistently demanded that the prosecution bear the burden of proving every element of the offense charged beyond a reasonable doubt, such that a verdict of conviction cannot merely rely on the weakness of the defense but instead on the strength of the prosecution’s evidence. The post DA-Davao officials off the hook appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Local ambassadors urged to adapt to changing global landscape
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday encouraged Filipino ambassadors to find new and diverse “non-traditional” partners for trade, security, and defense. In a meeting with recently appointed Filipino chiefs of mission and ambassadors in Malacañang, Marcos said the Philippines needs to adapt to the changing global landscape in order to remain competitive. He cited the COVID-19 pandemic as an example of a major change that has disrupted the global economy and altered the dynamics of international relations. However, the President underscored that his administration will not take sides in foreign policy disputes. Instead, he said the government should remain neutral. “We do not subscribe to any notion of a bipolar world. We only side, of course, to the Philippines, not to the US, not to Beijing, not to Moscow. That’s very much being independent in what we do,” Marcos said. Marcos also urged the envoys to explore and discuss with him some opportunities or undertakings that might be substantially beneficial to the country and to Filipinos. He said the government is prioritizing agriculture, energy, infrastructure development, and digitalization. “Now, if there are opportunities that would come up, you should explore them and if they're promising enough, then we’ll take it up. We’ll try to see if something can come up. There’s no harm in trying and kung anuman ang mangyari, at least we tried,” Marcos said. “So let us keep looking at those areas. And also what I found many times, you go there and you talk about agri and something else comes up,” he added. Those who attended the meeting with the President were Chief of Mission Carlos Deymek Sorreta, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland; Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Henry Sicad Bensurto Jr. (Republic of Turkiye), Renato Pedro Oabel Villa (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), Raul Salavarria Hernandez (Sultanate of Oman), Paul Raymund Pasion Cortez (Portuguese Republic), Joel Francisco Ignacio (Republic of India), and Maria Angela Abrera Ponce (Malaysia). The post Local ambassadors urged to adapt to changing global landscape appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pasay counts on good, old `kulambo’ to fight dengue
When they start putting up the mosquito nets, it doesn’t mean it’s time to sleep but rather classes are about to begin. That’s how far the local government of Pasay City is willing to go to prevent dengue. On Thursday it announced that they have installed mosquito nets in 1,431 classrooms in the city as part of its campaign against dengue especially with the rainy season approaching by late May or early June. Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano visited classrooms in Timoteo Paez Elementary School in Malibay to personally see the installment of the mosquito nets which are called ‘Olyset Nets.’ The nets were made by Japan-based Sumitomo Chemical Asia which, according to their website, ‘uses hybrid polymer and controlled insecticide release technology to repel, kill and prevent mosquitoes.’ These nets are also ‘prequalified’ by the World Health Organization,’ which is said to be a status of trust and reputation in its safety, quality, and efficacy, according to the Food and Drug Administration. “We aim in Pasay LGU to install air conditioning in our classrooms. 1,000 classrooms have already been installed with air conditions, including kindergarten and senior high school classrooms,” Calixto-Rubiano said. She also ordered heads of schools and businesses and barangay chiefs to implement the “Four O’Clock Habit” campaign against dengue, which involves cleaning up areas where mosquitoes are likely to breed every day at 4 p.m. Last month, the Department of Health reported a 94-percent spike in dengue cases between the first quarters of 2022 and 2023. There are 27,670 cases for this year as compared to 14,278 last year. The post Pasay counts on good, old `kulambo’ to fight dengue appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bong Go urges gov’t to implement price regulatory measures on agri products
Sen. Bong Go has urged the need for stricter enforcement of the government's initiatives to implement a suggested retail price for onions as a way to protect consumers from unreasonable price increase. In an interview on Tuesday, 23 May, Go expressed concern that prices in some parts of Metro Manila remain high as he called on the Department of Trade and Industry to monitor and enforce standard retail prices. “Nababalitaan natin, meron pong mga as high as PhP200 per kilo d'yan po sa Guadalupe Market sa Makati, sa Marikina sa Mega Q Mart po sa Quezon City. At trabaho po ng ating DTI na icheck talaga ang presyo at kung maaari kasuhan po ang mga lumalabag,” said Go. To address the issue, Go proposed investigating possible hoarding or stockpiling activities that may contribute to the price increase. “Bakit mataas ang presyo? Baka mataas din ang bili nila, 'yung puhunan nila. Bakit mataas? Maaari bang merong naghohoard, meron bang nagtatago ng supply kaya tumataas ang presyo. 'Yun ang dapat silipin,” he said. The senator called upon law enforcement agencies such as the National Bureau of Investigation, the Philippine National Police, and the Bureau of Customs to diligently enforce the law. By cracking down on those who exploit the system, Go said that the rights and welfare of ordinary Filipino citizens can be protected. Go also stressed on 22 May the importance of apprehending and prosecuting those involved in smuggling activities and price manipulation that allow them to sell onions at higher prices. Invoking the Anti-Smuggling Law, he cited the need to impose stricter penalties, including imprisonment, on offenders who exploit the market and violate the established price ceiling. By demanding that individuals involved in onion price manipulation face substantial penalties, he hopes to discourage such exploitative practices and protect consumers' interests. “Yung talagang nangsasamantala, totohanang hulihin, ikulong, kasuhan. ‘Yan po ang pakiusap ko sa gobyerno,” he urged. The Department of Agriculture has implemented on Monday price regulations on wholesale onions. These limits are based on the "cold storage price" and are set at PhP115 per kilogram for red onions and PhP100 per kilogram for white onions. To meet the domestic demand, the DA has also authorized traders to import 22,000 metric tons of onions. Meanwhile, addressing the rising prices of agricultural products and the looming issue of importation, Go emphasized the importance of supporting local farmers and implementing measures to enhance agricultural productivity. “Depende po 'yun kung anong agricultural product na tinutukoy natin katulad ng rice. Hindi pa tayo rice sufficient sa ngayon, ang ating bansa. Mapipilitan talaga tayong mag-import at some point kung hindi, magkakaroon tayo ng rice shortage. Siyempre, ideal po sa akin na huwag tayong mag-import,” said Go. “Unahin muna natin ang mga local farmers. Unahin muna nating suportahan ang mga local farmers: more trainings, technology transfer, more fertilizers, itong mga drought-resistant seeds, irrigation, at kailangan talagang suportahan ng gobyerno ang ating local farmers. Kailangang tumaas po ang productivity rate natin lalo na ang maliliit nating magsasaka,” he added. While acknowledging the necessity of imports in some cases, such as the current rice insufficiency in the country, Go stressed the importance of supporting local farmers as well. He suggested that government purchases, such as those made by the National Food Authority, should prioritize local farmers. “Ang importation, kung kailangan lang po, kung nagkakaroon lang ng shortage para hindi tumaas ang presyo, saka na tayo mag-import,” said Go. “Pero unahin muna nating suportahan ang local farmers, sila po ang may binubuhay na mga kababayan natin. Sila po ang mga isang kahig, isang tuka. Dapat po suportahan natin sila,” he urged. The post Bong Go urges gov’t to implement price regulatory measures on agri products appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Mandaue police to tap brgy chiefs in battle vs COVID-19
MANDAUE CITY, Philippines – The Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) will meet with the city’s barangay captains to discuss the enforcement of health protocols in the villages. This is due to the increasing number of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the city. The MCPO is eyeing to curb the increasing number of violators of […] The post Mandaue police to tap brgy chiefs in battle vs COVID-19 appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
DAR to adopt online filing of & lsquo;agri& rsquo; cases
The Department of Agrarian Reform has put into place online filing and processing of agrarian-related cases amid the Covid-19 pandemic......»»
DoH ramping up capacity
Amid alarming projections by experts that COVID-19 cases may reach 100,000 by August, the Department of Health (DoH) on Friday said that it has been ramping up its health system capacity in talks with hospitals. In a media briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that in a meeting with the chiefs of hospitals in […] The post DoH ramping up capacity appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Patriots owner s prostitution case heads to appellate court
By TERRY SPENCER Associated Press FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Prosecutors charging New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft with twice buying sex from massage parlor prostitutes will attempt to save their case this week by arguing to an appeals court that his rights weren't violated when police secretly video-recorded him in the act. Prosecutors will tell the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal during an online hearing Tuesday that a county judge erred when he invalidated the January 2019 search warrant allowing police to install secret cameras at Orchids of Asia spa as part of an alleged sex trafficking investigation. The judge said the warrant didn’t sufficiently protect the privacy of innocent customers who received legal massages, and he barred the videos’ use at trial as well as testimony about what they showed. If the ruling stands, it will deal a fatal blow to the prosecution's case. “Mr. Kraft's guilt is a virtual certainty” and he has no right to benefit from any possible mistakes police made involving innocent customers, Deputy Solicitor General Jeffrey DeSousa wrote in court documents. Kraft's attorneys vehemently disagreed, arguing that if the three-justice panel allows the videos' use, “civil liberties cherished in Florida and beyond” will be endangered. “If the state wins this appeal, then everyone loses, not just the accused,” attorney Frank Shepherd wrote. “Government could run roughshod over privacy and constitutional rights while evading scrutiny.” The Jupiter police recordings led to misdemeanor charges against Kraft and two dozen other alleged Orchids of Asia customers. The spa owners and some employees are charged with prostitution-related felonies. Most cases are in limbo while the appeals are heard. If prosecutors can’t use the videos, they would almost certainly dismiss any misdemeanor charges awaiting trial. Some defendants took plea deals but Kraft refused. The felony cases could proceed, as those have other evidence besides the videos. Kraft, a 79-year-old widower and part-time Palm Beach resident, has pleaded not guilty but issued a public apology. He faces a possible one-year jail sentence if convicted, but would likely receive a fine, community service and other sanctions. Kraft, whom Forbes Magazine ranks as the 82nd richest American with a worth of almost $7 billion, is employing several high-priced attorneys to fight the charges. DeSousa submitted several arguments against Palm Beach County Judge Leonard Hanser's ruling. Among them: — The warrant is valid because police minimized any privacy invasion by having only three detectives monitor video. Any further minimization, such as recording only snippets of each massage, would have made the investigation impossible. — Kraft illegally paid for sex and is lawfully covered by the warrant, even if the justices determine police violated innocent customers' privacy rights. — If the warrant is invalid, the detectives relied on it “in good faith” and a sanction banning the video is too extreme. Shepherd submitted several counterarguments for Kraft. They include: — Detectives' privacy protection efforts were insufficient because they recorded seminude men and women receiving legal massages, making the Kraft recordings also illegal. — Police had enough evidence to charge the spa owners with felonies without recording, making the cameras “wholly gratuitous." — The evidence detectives presented to obtain the magistrate's warrant approval was “deliberately misleading,” negating any argument they acted in good faith. The justices won’t immediately rule after the hearing; decisions usually takes weeks. The losing side will likely appeal to the Florida Supreme Court, which could accept the case or let the justices’ ruling stand. Authorities say the Orchids of Asia investigation was part of a multicounty probe into possible sex trafficking by spa owners who they believe brought women from China and elsewhere to work as prostitutes. About 300 people were charged with various felonies and misdemeanors, but no trafficking charges were pursued — prosecutors say they received no cooperation from masseuses whom they suspect were trafficked. According to police, Kraft's chauffeur drove him to Orchids of Asia on the evening of Jan. 19, 2019, where detectives recorded him engaging in a sex act with two women and then paying an undetermined amount in cash. Investigators said Kraft returned the next morning and engaged in recorded sex acts with a woman before paying with a $100 bill and another bill. Hours later, Kraft was in Kansas City for the AFC Championship game, where his Patriots defeated the Chiefs. His team then won the 2019 Super Bowl in Atlanta, the Patriots’ sixth NFL championship under his ownership. Prosecutors offered to drop the charges if Kraft entered a diversion program for first-time offenders. That would include an admission he would be found guilty if the case went to trial, a $5,000 fine, 100 hours of community service and attending a class on the dangers of prostitution and its connection to human trafficking. The hearing is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. EDT Tuesday on the court's YouTube channel......»»
Ashley Tisdale buntis sa 2nd baby: ‘We can’t wait to meet you!’
MAY exciting news ang Hollywood actress at “High School Musical” star na si Ashley Tisdale sa madlang pipol! Ayon sa kanya, ipinagbubuntis niya ang second baby nila ng mister na si Christopher French. Sa Instagram, ibinandera ni Ashley ang kanyang baby bump at ang caption niya: “We can’t wait to meet you [emoji].” Baka Bet.....»»
Cavite nagdeklara ng ‘state of calamity’ dahil sa ‘pertussis outbreak’
NASA ilalim na ng “state of calamity” ang probinsya ng Cavite. Ito ay dahil dumadami na ang mga nahahawa ng pertussis o whooping cough sa probinsya. Ayon sa provincial government, nakapagtala na sila ng 26 confirmed cases at kabaling na riyan ang anim na namatay dahil sa nasabing sakit. Narito ang datos ng Cavite kaugnay.....»»
Philippines logs 40 pertussis deaths this year
MANILA, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Forty children have died of whopping cough, a respiratory infection also called pertussis, since this year, the Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) has reported. The DOH said in a statement on Wednesday that cases have continued to increase since the start of this year, recording 568 cases from Jan. 1 to March 16. "The total number of cases for the same period in 2023 was.....»»
Kaspersky Shares Cybersecurity Tips for a Peaceful Getaway during the holy week
As the holiday season approaches, the urge to unwind and kick back is natural. And it’s all too common for people to let their guard down completely when connecting to the Internet too– but shouldn’t. Recently, the Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Cybercrime Group shared its findings on identity theft cases in the country. Between November […].....»»
Killua
News on the brutal killing of Killua, the Golden Retriever from Bato, Camarines Sur, has ignited a wave of public outcry, particularly among animal-loving Filipinos......»»
D.C.Plinado Campaign pushed
DAVAO City Councilor Bai Hundra Cassandra Dominique N. Advincula urged Dabawenyos to continue embodying the "culture of discipline", as a legacy, and to be conscious of turning it into the key for the city's growth......»»
Pertussis or whooping cough: 40 child deaths so far this year – DOH
MANILA, Philippines — Assistant Health Secretary Albert Domingo reported on Wednesday that as of March 16 this year, some 40 children had died of whooping cough — a respiratory infection also called pertussis. An increase in new pertussis cases nationwide had been observed nationwide, with 28 cases reported from March 10 to 16. READ: What.....»»