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Sara Duterte’s P2.7B confidential expenses as Davao mayor should be probed—Castro
Davao City’s confidential expenses that ballooned to P2.697 billion during Vice President Sara Duterte’s stint as mayor should be probed by the Commission on Audit, a lawmaker said Monday. The call for investigation was prompted by the 2022 report of the CoA, which found that Davao City spent P2.697 billion on confidential expenses between 2016 to 2022, or an average of PP385.3 million per year over the preceding six years. Duterte served as the Davao City mayor from 2016 to 2022 before she assumed the VP post in July of last year. Based on CoA findings, Davao City incurred P144 million of confidential expenses in 2016, which was more than doubled to P293 million in 2017 and further climbed to P420 million in 2018. The city’s confidential fund expenses further grew to P460 million in 2019 and were maintained consistently for the subsequent years of 2020, 2021, and 2022. In an interview on Monday, ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro, who sought the CoA probe, stressed that the P2.697 billion totality of confidential expenses of Davao City in the previous six years “could have been utilized more effectively to benefit the education sector, specifically by providing much-needed support to teachers.” “We were shocked also [by] the report of the CoA. With this controversy of confidential funds, we are thinking of asking the CoA to investigate,” she said. “The CoA should file an audit observation memo and then ask them to explain maybe the misuse of funds and then file necessary legal action.” She added, “Imagine more than a million a day spent for the confidential funds in a city. I just wonder how it was spent and where it was spent. So, we want the CoA to review if the city government of Davao City led by Vice President Sara Duterte by then really followed the guidelines or the joint circular 2015-01.” The said joint circular outlined by CoA with the Departments of Budget and Management, National Defense, and of the Interior and Local Government, and Governance Commission for GOCCs, contains guidelines on the entitlement, release, use, reporting, and audit of confidential and intelligence funds that are in the General Appropriations Act. Daily Tribune has been asking for Duterte’s comment, but she remained mum on the issue. While Castro admitted that the local government units are entitled to confidential funds for peace and order maintenance, it was “ironic” that Duterte sought allocation of such funds given that she claimed Davao City was “very peaceful, disciplined, and well” during her tenure. "So why is it necessary to have an increasingly confidential fund?" the lawmaker stressed, noting such a fund should be used for other fruitful endeavors. "I remember the time the teachers of Davao City were asking for city allowance, but she did not grant it. Instead, she refused and even got mad with ACT (Alliance of Concerned Teachers) during that time," Castro pointed out. While none in the law limits the amount of confidential funds, the militant lawmaker pointed out that it should be rationalized. A proposed law aimed at imposing a cap and limit on confidential funds, streamlining the allocation of such that would promote transparency and accountability, is currently being crafted, according to Castro. It will be filed in Congress when the session resumes in November. The post Sara Duterte’s P2.7B confidential expenses as Davao mayor should be probed—Castro appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
AI takes backseat to good cop work
SULHAMSTEAD, UK (AFP) — Artificial intelligence and facial recognition software are seen by some as the future of crime-fighting around the world. But British police say it has to go hand in hand with more traditional methods of detection, including the use of so-called “super-recognizers.” Forces across the country have been using officers who have an exceptional memory for faces and an above-average ability to identify people. Only one percent of the population has the “super-power,” said Tina Wallace, a surveillance expert with Thames Valley Police. Her team began recruiting the specialist officers in 2017 and now have about 20 on their books, including Alex Thorburn, an officer for 17 years. “I’ve always been good with faces. So when they put a notice out about the tests, I did it!” Thorburn told AFP. “I was shown pictures, dated between 10 and 30 years old, of 10 people. I had to find them in the crowd in the shopping center.” “I found them all, but they looked a lot different from how they did in the photos. That was really interesting.” As AI and facial recognition technology develop at a rapid pace, human skills should not be discounted, insisted Neville. “It isn’t really a competition with facial recognition,” he said. “They can be used together. AI is good with high-quality, front-on images (as with passports at airport e-gates).” According to Neville, demand for super-recognizers is growing, particularly from police forces in Germany and Australia. Professor Davis has posted a basic 14-point test online for anyone curious to check if they have the powers of recall that make them a super-recognizer. “If you get less than 10 or 12, you are not going to be a super-recognizer,” he said. “But if you reach 14, contact me please!” The post AI takes backseat to good cop work appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bulacan water world
The government should probe the connection between the recent destructive flooding in Bulacan and Pampanga to the construction of the massive San Miguel Corp. airport project. Residents, environmental groups and scientists had foretold the damaging effects on the environment of disturbing the ecology of the area. Experts have said delicate ecosystems are under threat from the $15-billion airport development called the New Manila International Airport. It is currently the Philippines’ most expensive infrastructure deal ever and will cover an area seven and a half times the size of New York’s Central Park which is 3.41 square kilometers. When completed, it will cater to approximately 100 million passengers a year and is targeted to be one of the busiest airports by passenger traffic globally. Despite the denials and assurances of SMC officials that the project will include spillways and other anti-flood structures, the almost one week of continuous rain as typhoons Egay and Falcon passed near the northern Philippines point to the worst fears of the residents transpiring. The provinces of Bulacan and Pampanga have been placed under a state of calamity due to the flooding that has persisted days after the typhoons passed and the southwest monsoon rain had stopped. Some 172 barangays in 16 towns and three cities in Bulacan are still affected by floods ranging from six inches to seven feet, according to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. London and Washington-based group Global Witness said in a report that the project’s environmental costs are already significant as hundreds of mangrove trees, “which not only absorb and store climate-wrecking carbon dioxide but also form natural flood barriers,” had been cleared. Environmental and climate-related damage is expected to worsen and permanently damage natural habitats on the airport development site, the report added. A census of waterbirds in Manila Bay, according to Global Watch, revealed that their presence has declined by over 20 percent since 2017. Massive land reclamation projects — like the airport — are set to see these numbers dwindle even further. SMC promised to construct a $1-billion spillway from Bulacan’s upstream river sources to drain directly to Manila Bay, saying it will resolve the flooding problem of the province. An SMC official even boasted during a meeting with residents and representatives of environmental groups that “SMC is not stupid that it will build an airport only to be flooded.” Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment warned against relying on the SMC promises as recent typhoons showed the location as being increasingly prone to flooding as a result of the reclamation and airport construction. The waterways from Bulacan’s ridges down to its reefs are complex systems that cannot be simply resolved with just a spillway, according to environmental advocates. Recent torrential monsoon rains were cited as an example, as the flood comes not only from waters in the Sierra Madre but also from extreme rainfall directly falling on Bulacan’s river basin and from coastal overflow. Continuing land subsidence, aggravated by groundwater extraction, is worsening the flood situation in Bulacan, according to a geological expert. The urban sprawl resulting from the expected influx of over one million workers and 100-200 million air passengers constantly in transit in the area, if the SMC Aerotropolis were built, would intensify land subsidence and increase the exposure of populations to flooding hazards. Engineering solutions and simplistic development promises are always impressive until you start looking into the devil in the details, according to the expert. With an average number of typhoons that uses up all the letters of the alphabet each year, Bulacan and nearby provinces are destined to be constantly submerged in exchange for the Aerotopolis. The post Bulacan water world appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl has widest employment gap in STEM
New data from LinkedIn reveals that women continue to be significantly underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics roles globally, making up 29 percent of the STEM workforce, with 8 in 10 leadership roles filled by men. LinkedIn data finds that the widest STEM gender gap in APAC is in the Philippines, along with the US and UK, at 22 percent. In the Philippines, women comprised 58.8 percent of the workforce in non-STEM fields but only 36.3 percent in the STEM workforce. Gender gaps in STEM employment in the Asia Pacific region were also seen in Australia (21 percent), Singapore (15 percent), and India, with the smallest gap at five percent. As STEM roles are among the fastest growing and most in-demand, professionals will likely be more resilient to economic pressures. With the increasing importance of STEM to the global economy, it is imperative to take steps toward leveling the playing field for women to ensure they will benefit from industry advancements. LinkedIn’s new data highlights two trends: Women in STEM are graduating but not staying in the field. While women graduate globally with STEM degrees, fewer are entering the STEM workforce. The sharpest drop in female representation (7 percentage points) happens between graduation and entering the STEM workforce, which only decreases as they start climbing the leadership ladder. In the Philippines, women comprised 4 out of 10 (41 percent) of STEM graduates in 2017, but only slightly more than three out of 10 (36.6 percent) were in the STEM workforce a year later. The drop in representation between graduation and joining the workforce has been stable at around 11 percent from the 2017 graduating batch, but it spiked to 14 percent in 2021. Lack of female role models in the field contributes to the drop off of women working in the STEM industry. LinkedIn data shows that in countries where the decline in female representation from graduation to joining the STEM workforce is less significant, the disparity between men and women in STEM jobs tends to be minor. The average drop off in female representation between graduation and entering the STEM workforce in Singapore (8 percent), India (4 percent), and Italy (10 percent) are smaller, which results in negligible gender gaps in STEM jobs at 15 percent, 5 percent, and 12 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, countries like the Philippines (14 percent), Australia (17 percent), and the US (20 percent) show higher dips in female representation post-graduation, resulting in broader gender gaps in STEM employment at 22 percent, 21 percent, and 22 percent, respectively. The Global Gender Gap Report and LinkedIn’s data show that systemic change is needed to make workplaces more fair and equal to future-proof women’s careers and be more resilient to labor market uncertainty. “While action is already being taken to close the gender gap, we need to go further and faster to level the playing field. Enabling more women to enter and advance in rapidly growing sectors such as STEM will help make them more resilient to external economic shocks,” Atul Harkisanka, Head of Emerging Markets and Country Manager for the Philippines of LinkedIn, said. “Furthermore, our data shows that women tend to stay in STEM if they have role models to look up to. Organizations can create mentoring and training programs for women in STEM, where they can support women to stay in the workforce and further their careers. They also provide invaluable guidance and support networks, facilitating a path toward leadership roles through the influence of inspiring role models. Inclusive hiring practices, visibility of women in top jobs, and upskilling and career growth opportunities for women, particularly in high-growth and high-earning sectors like STEM, will help correct this worrying trend. Still, we need to act now,” he added. The post Phl has widest employment gap in STEM appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Egypt clinic helps women reclaim bodies scarred by genital mutilation
Intissar was only 10 years old when she was forced to undergo genital mutilation, but 30 years later, one clinic is offering help for some of the millions of Egyptian women affected by the still-rampant practice. Intissar, a journalist who like other women cited here spoke under a pseudonym to protect her identity, recalls having spent 30 years "completely deprived of pleasure, without any connection to my body". Her story closely resembles that of millions of Egyptian women and girls who have gone through female genital mutilation (FGM) at a young age, despite state-sponsored efforts seeking to curtail the practice. But for three years, one clinic has sought to change the reality of many of these women. In 2020, surgeons Reham Awwad and Amr Seifeldin became the first to offer clitoral reconstruction surgery in Egypt through their clinic, Restore FGM. Surgery is "the last resort", Awwad told AFP in her Cairo clinic. A common first step in the clinic's treatment is psychosexual counseling coupled with plasma injections, which Awwad said "can reduce the need for surgery by 50 percent". The plasma injections allow for the regeneration of damaged tissue without subjecting women to new, invasive procedures. Nourhan, also using a pseudonym, described chronic pain and a severed sense of pleasure in the two decades since she underwent genital mutilation at 11. Now in her 30s, the suffering has given way to "completely new sensations", Nourhan told AFP eight months after going under the knife again for reconstruction surgery. But more than the physical effects, Nourhan said she finally felt "in charge of my body again". Holiday peak Intissar recounted the day that her grandmother took her -- with the consent of her parents, a doctor and a principal -- to perform the harmful practice. When she cried, her grandmother "would tell me this was for my own good, that I was better this way", she told AFP. Under the grandmother's care, she spent her summer vacation recovering. Now aged 40, the prospect of undergoing reconstructive surgery offers her renewed hope. Lobna Darwish, gender officer at the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, urged "prevention campaigns in schools right before the holidays", citing seasonal peaks of FGM during those periods to allow time for recovery after the procedure. In Egypt, the Arab world's most populous country with a largely conservative society, 86 percent of ever-married women aged 15 to 49 have undergone FGM, according to the latest official figures from 2021. Most commonly, they are subjected to the partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora, which according to the World Health Organization can cause pain, bleeding, infections, painful sexual intercourse and complications during childbirth. The practice -- misguidedly meant to reduce libido and preserve women's chastity -- has been illegal in Egypt since 2008, and is regularly condemned by both Muslim and Christian religious authorities. Yet it remains widespread, not only in Egypt but in multiple other African countries and beyond, often cutting across social classes. Egypt marks its national day for the elimination of FGM on June 14, and every year, government-sponsored TV advertisements list its dangers. While experts say the awareness campaigns have largely scared off parents from what they were told was a dangerous procedure performed by suspect midwives in rural backrooms, a rebranding has kept FGM alive. Parents began opting for what seemed like a safer option, with official figures now showing three-quarters of procedures in Egypt are done by doctors. Intissar, who has studied the practice, said it was being promoted for its "aesthetic" value. When Nourhan and her then eight-year-old sister were recovering, she recalled how the women in their family praised not just the religious and moral virtues of FGM, but how "it was better and cleaner". In reality, Intissar said, FGM aims "to disconnect women from their bodies and their pleasure". Self-discovery Egypt has regularly toughened penalties on both doctors and parents over FGM, but both Darwish and Awwad described an uphill battle against ignorance. "We need proper sex education in schools, and to raise awareness of the dedicated hotline" created in 2017, Darwish said. Awwad noted that "at no point... do doctors learn about reconstructive surgery". And women are scarcely given the chance to get to know their own bodies. At every first consultation, the surgeon gives her patients a mirror so they can look at their genitals -- often for the first time. Intissar was shocked and furious. "Up until that point, I thought they had only removed a small piece of skin. But then I found out they had taken the entire labia and part of the clitoris," she said, recalling how right then she had decided to reclaim her agency. But the decision takes time and money. Nourhan fundraised for a year to be able to afford the surgery, which costs 40,000 Egyptian pounds (around $1,300) -- 10 times the country's average monthly salary. "Authorities need to... offer reconstructive surgery in public hospitals," she argued. In the meantime, Nourhan managed another personal victory: banding together with her mother to save her two nieces from undergoing FGM. The post Egypt clinic helps women reclaim bodies scarred by genital mutilation appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
What we know about India’s worst rail tragedy in decades
India's deadliest train disaster in decades killed at least 275 people and injured hundreds more, a tragedy officials have said was linked to an electronic signal system. While a final report has not been released into Friday night's crash near Balasore in the eastern state of Odisha, local media quoting preliminary investigations have pointed to human error connected to the signaling system. Trains resumed operations on tracks past the crash site on Monday. Here is what we know so far: What happened? The Coromandal Express, a passenger train travelling from Kolkata to Chennai, was diverted onto a loop line on Friday evening and slammed into a stationary goods train loaded with tons of iron ore. The collision flipped the carriages of the Coromandal Express onto another track. The derailed compartments then struck the rear carriages of another fast train, the Howrah Superfast Express from India's tech hub Bengaluru, which was passing in the opposite direction. The two fast trains were carrying more than 2,000 passengers. Trains in India are usually packed at this time of year, with many people travelling during school holidays. What went wrong? Ashwini Vaishnaw, India's railway minister, has suggested the crash happened due to the "change that occurred during electronic interlocking". That refers to a complex signal system designed to stop trains colliding by arranging their movement on the tracks. "We have identified the cause of the accident and the people responsible for it," Vaishnaw said, but added it was "not appropriate" to give details before a final investigation report was completed. Local media have quoted a preliminary investigation report, with the Times of India saying a "human error in signaling may have caused the collision between three trains". India's Railway Board has recommended a high-level probe into the disaster by the federal investigating agency. How many died? The death toll has been revised several times since the crash. Officials had initially reported it stood at 288 but the Odisha state government has since revised the toll downwards to 275 after some bodies were mistakenly counted twice. Of the 1,175 injured, 382 were still being treated in hospitals, authorities said Sunday. However, many fear the death toll could still rise because medical centres are overwhelmed by the number of casualties. It is the worst crash since 1999, when 285 were killed when two passenger trains collided at Gaisal in West Bengal, an accident blamed on human error. India's worst crash was in 1981, when an overcrowded passenger train plunged into a river during a cyclone in Bihar state, killing about 800 people. India's safety record India has launched a $30 billion railway infrastructure modernization in a bid to boost the economy and connectivity, and Vaishnaw said last month tracks were being "upgraded very rapidly". In 2022, India built 5,200 kilometers (3,230 miles) of new tracks, and upgraded or replaced about another 7,500-8,000 kilometres, Vaishnaw said. But analysts say that while accidents have reduced over time, India's antiquated rail system still has a long way to go. An average of 20,000 people died each year between 2017 and 2021 in rail accidents -- collisions, derailments and other causes -- according to official records. A report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, the country's top audit authority, said derailment was the reason for 69 percent of the accidents. Defective tracks, poor maintenance and old signaling kit combined with human error were the main cause, it said. Indian Railways, the world's fourth-largest rail network, runs some 14,000 trains daily with 8,000 locomotives over a vast system of tracks some 64,000 kilometers (40,000 miles) long. The trains carry more than 21 million people each day. The post What we know about India’s worst rail tragedy in decades appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Finnish Jazz forward Markkanen wins NBA Most Improved award
Finnish forward Lauri Markkanen of the Utah Jazz was named the NBA's 2023 Most Improved Player on Monday after boosting his scoring average by nearly 11 points a game. The 25-year-old Finnish forward earned his first All-Star selection this season and finished with career highs of 25.6 points and 1.9 assists plus 8.6 rebounds a game. Markkanen, who boosted his scoring average by an NBA-best 10.87 points a game this season, also had career-best shooting averages of 49.9 percent from the floor and 87.5 percent from the free throw line for the Jazz. "It feels amazing," Markkanen told NBA telecaster TNT from Helsinki, where he is fulfilling Finland military service requirements. "It's a huge privilege to be in this position." The 7-footer (2.13m), whose parents were both pro basketball players, was selected seventh overall by Minnesota in the 2017 NBA Draft and played for Chicago and Cleveland before being traded to Utah last September in the deal that sent Donovan Mitchell to the Cavaliers. "Just being in the right place at the right time," Markkanen said of his campaign. "I really wasn't the isolation player this year. I always give credit to guys finding me when I was open. I just tried to show up every night and be consistent. "I really tried to learn and step into that leadership role in the locker room. I'm still working on that." When it came to the military, Markkanen said he had plenty of others who wanted to play him one-on-one, but none yet who outranked him. "Days are pretty long but it has been pretty fun," he said. "Made a lot of new friends. We have to go through it together." He's the first European player to capture the award since Greek star Giannis Antetokounmpo of Milwaukee in 2017 and the first Jazz player ever to win the award. Other finalists for the award were New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson from the United States and Canadian guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder. The post Finnish Jazz forward Markkanen wins NBA Most Improved award appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Antipolo City throws support on Ajido
The Antipolo City government led by Mayor Casimiro “Jun” Ynares III will provide support to Antipolo-born swimmer Jamesray Mishael Ajido, who won the country’s lone gold medal in record-breaking fashion at the recent 11th Asian Age-Group Swimming Championships......»»
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......»»
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......»»
Metro Manila, Davao, Zamboanga sizzle as heat index rises
Metro Manila sizzled on Monday after the heat index reached 42 degrees Celsius......»»
Philippines braces for La Nina, continues to deal with El Nino
MANILA, March 26 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines will continue to implement measures to lessen the impact of the El Nino weather phenomenon, as it braces for the opposite La Nina weather pattern, Philippine Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum said Tuesday. Solidum said in a news conference that the Department of Science and Technology's record showed that as of Sunday, 37 provinces across the country hav.....»»
Galunggong retail price up 20 percent
The retail price of galunggong or round scad has increased by 20 percent as fish demand rises during the Holy Week......»»
Upson income drops despite record revenue
Listed IT products retailer Upson International Corp. posted record high revenue in 2023 but lower gross margin and higher expenses dragged down profit for the year......»»
James Yap fulfilled after record All-Star appearance in Bacolod homecoming
James Yap claims the record for most PBA All-Star Game selections, seeing action for Team Mark in an entertaining clash with Team Japeth that ended in a draw in Bacolod City.....»»
Knowing one’s IP right
Copyright registrations at the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines or IPOPhl reached record-high levels last year. And this, according to IPOPhl, signifies increased awareness of the importance of copyright registration......»»
GT Capital posts record high core earnings in 2023
GT Capital Holdings Inc., the listed conglomerate of the Ty Group finished 2023 with all-time high core earnings, buoyed by record-setting financial results from core businesses......»»
Ma-inspire, maantig ang puso sa pelikulang ‘White Bird: A Wonder Story’
NAAALALA niyo pa ba ang 2017 hit movie na “Wonder?” Makalipas ang pitong taon, mayroon na itong follow-up movie na pinamagatang “White Bird: A Wonder Story” na eksklusibong mapapanood sa Ayala Malls Cinemas. Ang bagong pelikula ay base rin sa nobela na isinulat ni RJ Palacio na author din ng “Wonder.” Inspiring at talaga namang.....»»
Davao Region crime rate drops by 13.05%
THE Police Regional Office (PRO-Davao) has reported a significant 13.05 percent decrease in the crime rate across the Davao Region from January to February 2024 compared to the same period last year......»»
‘Squid Game’ star O Yeong-su nakonbikto sa kasong sexual misconduct
Nakonbikto sa kasong sexual misconduct ang sikat nga “Squid Game” actor nga si O Yeong-su. Gikunpirmar kini sa usa ka local court niadtong Marso 15. Si Yeong-su gipasakaan og kaso nga sexual misconduct human sa iyang pagpasakit og usa ka babaye niadtong 2017. ALSO READ: ‘Squid Game’ star indicted over sexual misconduct Matud sa report.....»»