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ADB OKs 450-mln-USD loan to boost Philippines health system
MANILA, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) Wednesday said it has approved a policy-based loan of 450 million U.S. dollars to help the Philippines strengthen health policy reforms. The program will also improve Filipinos' access to medicines and health services, sustain universal health care (UHC) coverage, and increase financing for the UHC, the bank said. "The Build UHC Program is part o.....»»
ADB OKs 450-mln-USD loan to boost Philippines health system
MANILA, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) Wednesday said it has approved a policy-based loan of 450 million U.S. dollars to help the Philippines strengthen health policy reforms. The program will also improve Filipinos' access to medicines and health services, sustain universal health care (UHC) coverage, and increase financing for the UHC, the bank said. "The Build UHC Program is part o.....»»
ADB OKs $450-million loan for universal health care in Philippines
The Manila-based lender’s Build Universal Health Care Program aims to amplify the government’s initiatives in implementing key reforms outlined in the Universal Health Care Act of 2019.....»»
How to Build Your Emergency Fund from Scratch
Nothing is ever certain for everyone. As much as we are doing everything to take care of ourselves, our health and wealth are things that may easily be put at risk at a moment’s notice. That is why being prepared is always a plus. As more people are beginning to understand the importance of having […].....»»
Serpent’s forked tongue
The terrorist organization Hamas, through more than two weeks of conflict, proved that deception is among its expertise, as it led many to believe that it is fighting for freedom and is not sowing mayhem. Its Charter, however, has the elimination of all Jews through a holy war or jihad as one of its objectives. Even after dominating the Palestinian Parliament, Hamas is classified as a terror organization by Canada, New Zealand, Israel, Egypt, Japan, the European Union, Australia, Jordan and the United States. A bit late, the country, nonetheless, seeks the designation of Hamas as a terrorist group under Philippine laws. National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said the tagging of the terror group will be a priority agenda of the Anti-Terrorism Council after the savage 7 October surprise attack on Israel. The assault on peaceful civilian communities was not the first atrocity committed by the group. Israel Defense Forces, or IDF, data showed countless bloodletting attributed to Hamas. The group was responsible for the Haifa bus suicide bombing on 5 March 2003, which killed 17 people. On 12 June 2014, Hamas terrorists kidnapped and later murdered three Israeli teenagers, for which Operation Brother’s Keeper and Operation Protective Edge were launched. Since Hamas’ control of the Gaza Strip, it has used civilian facilities as training grounds for its terror campaign or as cover for its lairs. IDF discovered that Hamas converted a five-story building, originally meant to be used as a national library and provides offices for government services and housing, into a terror training facility. The building had a tunnel dug underneath it for underground warfare training. The IDF struck it following Hamas’ firing of several rockets at Israel. Other Hamas military infrastructure was put up near neighborhoods, including next to schools and mosques. IDF said Hamas solicits funds from international financiers supposedly to uplift the lives of Palestinians but misuses these to buy arms and other activities in support of their terror campaign. Such investments based on IDF investigations included over $120 million since 2014 in materials to build terror tunnels leading into Israel. The indiscriminate firing of rockets at Israel, Hamas, and its allies usually hits civilian facilities in Gaza, such as the cause of the deadly explosion at the Gaza hospital that killed scores of people. “Hamas operatives don’t aim at precise targets, they simply fire rockets and don’t care if it harms their people,” according to IDF. Hamas came to power through an election, which is now believed it merely exploited to rule the Gaza Strip through terror. In January 2006, after Israel disengaged from the Gaza Strip, removing all communities and military installations, Hamas took part in the Palestinian Parliamentary Elections and won a majority of 76 seats, making it the ruling power. After a failed attempt to merge with its rival political party, Fatah, which lost the initial elections against Hamas, violence between both parties escalated into a bloody fight. IDF said people were thrown off rooftops, and public executions occurred in the bitter political rivalry. Since March 2018, Hamas has instigated riots, which it paints as peaceful and widespread protests. “Infiltration attempts and the use of arson kites and firebombs have taken place during the riots. Since the Gaza Strip is half a mile away from Israeli communities, infiltration would endanger Israeli civilians,” the IDF said. Hamas intended to use Gaza civilians as human shields and covers for infiltration attempts and terror. IDF said the world should know the true character of Hamas to understand the constant terror inflicted on Israel and the poor state of the Gaza Strip under its helm. Let the world not fall to the temptation and seduction of evil. The post Serpent’s forked tongue appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Countless proclamations yet no action – HPFPI President
Speaking during the Philippine Forum 2023 at the PICC, People’s Federation of the Philippines Incorporated National President Maria Theresa Carampatana lamented the seeming inaction to address housing problems. She claimed that they have yet to see the implementation of several government programs. “There are so many proclamations that have not been taken care of, so if there is a solution, why not implement it immediately?” Carampatana said. She added: “If we are slow to come up with solutions and slow to take action, we will not achieve anything.” Carampatana outlined the primary issues and problems of poor citizens who have remained stigmatized due to insecurity of land and housing tenure, irregular jobs, and limited participation in development planning. Housing programs, she said, are equally important as appropriating funds for education and basic services. “If housing is not given the same focus as education and basic services, and if that continues, the problem of house deficits will increase,” she said. Carampatana presented priority actions and solutions: People-led Housing and Urban Development, Diversified Housing Modalities and Finance Mechanisms, and Security of Tenure for Urban Poor Communities. Warlito G. Quirimit, chief of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Public Housing and Settlements, said the department has outlined resettlement housing options as a solution to the existing problem. “Under this framework, we are building resettlement housing options that must be available and affordable to the affected families. Included in this framework it also requires community development,” Quirimit said. Quirimit also added that the purpose of the community-based initiative is to promote the participation of the affected families in the urban poor community. “The community-based initiative approach, which was issued under the Memorandum Circular 2019-714 under this strategy is designed to build on community initiative and promote the participation of the affected families through their community associations in relation to the resettlement decision-making process. The community association participates in the project planning and in the implementation, particularly in the choice of permanent housing in resettlement projects, through financing in the selected sites and other commitments to participate in the project implementation process,” He said. The 4PH program, a centerpiece of the Marcos Administration, calls for the development of one million housing units annually until 2028 to address the housing needs and backlogs, while also improving target beneficiaries’ affordability by lowering the affected families’ monthly amortization and facilitating access to both end-user financing and developmental loans. The Philippine Urban Forum 2023 tackled issues fostering meaningful dialogues, exchanging ideas from urban experts, promoting innovations and best practices, and finding solutions to the complex challenges that urban centers face. The post Countless proclamations yet no action – HPFPI President appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Leftists weave yarns, scams
The desperation of left-wing groups to remain relevant has pushed them to resort to “elaborate hoaxes and fraudulent money-making schemes,” the National Security Council said on Saturday. NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said the attempts to defraud came in the guise of manufactured claims against government security agencies. Earlier, the Philippine National Police reported that two young women involved in an anti-reclamation campaign in Manila Bay were missing, and this was linked to their advocacy. Malaya said Jhed Tamano and Jonila Castro had surrendered to the Philippine Army’s 70th Infantry Battalion in Doña Remedios Trinidad town in Bulacan on 12 September, contrary to leftist groups’ allegation that government security forces had abducted the two. “They had actually bolted their organization and sought the help of the authorities for their safe return home,” he said. Fake fundraising Malaya accused the leftist groups of soliciting funds from the public and making it appear that the security forces were irrelevant in protecting the general safety. “They collect money through GCash with the intent of using this to discredit and put the government in a bad light. They want the international community to believe that this country is a failed state,” Malaya said. “The Karapatan-led offensive included a shameless fundraising drive to collect money from the public purportedly to help locate the two young girls. It turned out, however, that the two had bolted their underground organization and went under the care of a friend,” he said. Karapatan is a militant group purportedly advocating for the protection of human rights. Malaya slammed Karapatan’s massive disinformation campaign, “Surface Jonila and Jed Network,” saying, “This was made out of manufactured threads of storylines using the Internet that even the media, the viewing public, and the government became victims of the elaborate deception.” Karapatan was among the first groups to sound the alarm after the two anti-reclamation activists went missing. With help from the Department of Justice, the NSC and PNP’s Cybercrime Group have started to build a case against the scammers from the leftist groups. “We will certainly investigate their possible liabilities in relation to the Revised Penal Code, anti-cybercrime law, and other special laws. We’re working now with the Department of Justice on the possible filing of charges against them,” Malaya said. Not an abduction Meanwhile, Police Capt. Carlito Buco of the Bataan Provincial Police Office said Tamano and Castro were in a safe house with their parents. Citing the police’s final investigation report, Buco said Tamano and Castro were not “abducted” and could not be declared “missing persons.” “The two young girls were staying at a Methodist church in Orion town as far back as 1 September and had been planning to leave their organization,” he said. The post Leftists weave yarns, scams appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Malaya warns vs. elaborate hoax, money scams by leftist group
The public should be vigilant against falling prey to “elaborate hoax and fraudulent money-making schemes” by the leftist groups, the National Security Council warned on Saturday. NSC Assistant-Director General, Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya, said that these fraud activities are carved out of manufactured claims against security agencies of the government. Malaya’s warning stemmed from the report of the Philippine National Police stating that two young women said to be involved in environmental campaigns around Manila Bay who were reported missing have surfaced in Bulacan. Malaya said Jhed Tamano and Jonila Castro reportedly surrendered to the Philippine Army’s 70th Infantry Battalion in Doña Remedios Trinidad town on September 12, contrary to the claims of the leftist groups the two were abducted by government security forces. “They had actually bolted their organization and sought the help of authorities for their safe return home,” he added. Malaya accused the leftist group of pooling financial resources from the people to make it appear that the government security forces are irrelevant. “Kumakalap po sila ng pera gaya nang sa GCash with the intent of using this to discredit and put government in a bad light. They want the international community to believe that this country is a failed state,” Malaya lamented. “The Karapatan-led offensive included a shameless fundraising drive to collect money from the public purportedly to help locate the two young girls. It turned out, however, that the two students bolted their underground organization and went under the care of a friend,” he added. Malaya then slammed the Karapatan’s massive disinformation campaign “Surface Jonila and Jed Network” saying, “These are made out of manufactured threads of storylines using the internet that even the media, the viewing public, and the government became victims of the elaborate deception.” Karapatan, a human rights organization, was one of the first to sound the alarm when the two anti-reclamation activists went missing. The NSC and PNP’s Cybercrime Group, through the help of the Department of Justice, have already started to build up a case against these scammers from the leftist groups. “We will certainly look into their possible legal liabilities in relation to the Revised Penal Code, anti-cybercrime law, and other special laws. We’re working now with the DoJ for the possible filing of charges against them,” Malaya said. Not an abduction Meanwhile, PCapt. Carlito Buco of the Bataan Provincial Police Office Tamano and Castro have already met their parents and currently staying in a safe house Citing the police’s final investigation report, Buco said Tamano and Castro were not “abducted” or cannot be declared “missing persons.” “The two young girls were staying at a Methodist church in Orion town as early as September 1 and had been planning to leave their organization,” he added. The post Malaya warns vs. elaborate hoax, money scams by leftist group appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Stiffer penalties for economic sabotage backed
Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said imposing stiffer penalties against individuals engaged in economic sabotage will serve as a “proactive and prompt response” to the alarming cases of smuggling in the country. Dela Rosa backed the introduction of Senate Bill 2432 or the “Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act,” at the recent Senate plenary session earlier this week. “I must say that this is truly a proactive and prompt response to the alarming number of cases of smuggling in the country,” Dela Rosa said. “At the same time, and more importantly, this is a decisive action towards the protection of our Filipino farmers,” he added. The proposed bill seeks to repeal Republic Act 10845 or the “Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016” which the lady senator deemed as a “failure” after the Bureau of Customs, its lead implementing agency, recorded zero number of convictions seven years after its enactment. Dela Rosa stressed the need to create an Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Council, “in order to more fully and effectively implement” the proposed law should it would be enacted. “To assist the Council in the prosecution of crimes, a Special Team of Prosecutors shall be created. At the same time, the bill also proposes to create an Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Enforcement Group to assist the Council in matters relating to enforcement,” Dela Rosa added. Dela Rosa then urged Congress and the public to support the measure to ensure justice, bring renewed hope, and build a better life for our local farmers. “If we take care of our farmers, of their dreams and hopes for the future, then we are also taking care of the dreams and hopes of the rest of the nation. Let us cultivate, rather than destroy, their optimism,” he said. The post Stiffer penalties for economic sabotage backed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Stable, reliable power for ARCA South Taguig
The Manila Electric Company has energized a new smart substation in Taguig City to ensure the provision of stable and reliable power for Ayala Land Inc.’s Arca South development and the adjacent communities in the area. Entailing a capital investment of P597 million, the new 115 kV-34.5 kV gas-insulated switchgear substation was commissioned with an initial capacity of 83 megavolt amperes but will ultimately house three transformer banks with a combined capacity of 249 MVA that will support the existing and future energy requirements of the Arca South development, a new business and lifestyle district in Taguig City. [caption id="attachment_182269" align="aligncenter" width="1167"] Meralco senior vice president and chief revenue officer Ferdinand O. Geluz. Ayala Land senior vice president and group head Robert S. Lao, Taguig City District 2 Councilor Alexander S. Penolio, Meralco chairman and chief executive officer Manuel V. Pangilinan and Meralco executive vice president and chief operating officer Ronnie L. Aperocho.[/caption] Aside from catering to the growing energy needs of the Ayala estate, the Arca South substation will also improve voltage regulation in parts of Taguig City, provide operational switching flexibility during contingencies and contribute to system loss reduction in the area. Some of the communities and establishments that will benefit from the new substation include AC Health’s Healthway Cancer Care Hospital, Ayala Malls Arca South, Alveo Veranda, Avida Towers Vireo, Landers Superstore Arca South, Maharlika Village, Puregold FTI Taguig, Sunshine Mall Plaza, Taguig Pateros Hospital and Technological University of the Philippines-Taguig. “As we continue to build upon the foundations of Arca South, we are ensuring that the energy needs of this community are met with efficiency and resilience. This substation represents more than just a physical structure; it represents our dedication to sustainable urban development. It is a cornerstone of progress, enabling us to power homes, businesses and innovations that will drive Arca South's growth and development,” Robert Lao, Ayala Land senior vice president and group head for Ayala Land Estates, said. Meralco executive vice president and chief operating officer Ronnie L. Aperocho, for his part, said the development of the Arca South substation forms part of Meralco’s unceasing support to commercial customers like Ayala Land that play a vital role in the country’s economic growth and development. “The opportunity to participate in the master planning of Ayala estates has allowed Meralco to serve more customers and further cement our commitment to keep the lights on. As a testament to that, this newly energized smart substation in Arca South Taguig will provide safe, adequate and reliable capacity to serve the existing and future power requirements of this particular Ayala Land development, and the adjacent communities in the area,” Aperocho said during the inauguration of the project. The Arca South project is the latest development in Meralco’s longstanding partnership with Ayala Land. Over the past several years, Meralco has energized nearly a hundred projects of Ayala Land and its subsidiary, Makati Development Corporation, including One Ayala and Seda Manila Bay. In addition, Ayala Land consistently provides a substation lot provision for its estate developments. Meralco has been investing heavily on projects that will not just improve its electricity distribution system, but also contribute to ensuring that the infrastructure to support the government’s nation-building efforts are in place. “We share a common goal, which is to uplift the lives of our people and we encourage the active participation and engagement of the private sector in the present economic programs,” Meralco chairman and chief executive officer Manuel V. Pangilinan said during the inauguration. The post Stable, reliable power for ARCA South Taguig appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Super Health Center breaks ground in Lian; Bong Go lauds DOH, local gov’t
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, commended the Department of Health and the local government of Lian, Batangas for the groundbreaking of its Super Health Center on Thursday, 31 August. The groundbreaking was also supported by local officials, including Gov. Hermilando Mandanas, Vice Governor Mark Leviste, Mayor Joseph Peji, and Vice Mayor Ronin Leviste. In a video message, Go said the groundbreaking marked a significant step towards bringing quality government medical services closer to Filipinos and strengthening the nation's healthcare system. “Ito po ay isang makabuluhang pagkakataon upang ipahayag ang aking lubos na pagpupugay sa inyong lokal na pamahalaan sa pag-usbong ng Super Health Center dito sa inyong bayan,” said Go. “Ito ay isang malaking hakbang para mapalapit ang gobyerno sa mga Pilipino, lalo na sa mga nangangailangan ng serbisyong medikal. Sa pamamagitan ng Super Health Center, magiging accessible sa inyong komunidad ang primary care, free consultation at early detection ng sakit para maiwasang lumubha pa ito,” he continued. Go, an adopted son of CALABARZON with familial roots in Batangas and Davao, also continues to support the construction of more Super Health Centers in the province. Under the 2022 national budget, Super Health Centers in the province were funded in San Pascual, Agoncillo, Calatagan, Lipa City, Malvar, and Taysan, aside from the one in Ibaan. In 2023, more centers were identified to be established in the towns of San Juan, Tingloy, Lian, and San Jose. In addition, two more Super Health Centers were funded in Lipa City. These centers will offer database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray, ultrasound), pharmacy, and ambulatory surgical unit. Other available services are eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) service; oncology centers; physical therapy and rehabilitation centers; and telemedicine, which makes remote diagnosis and treatment of patients possible. Through the collective efforts of fellow lawmakers, enough funds have been allocated to build 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 in 2023. DOH, which is the lead agency in implementing the program, identifies the strategic locations for the construction of these centers. Go also emphasized the importance of strengthening the nation's healthcare system, highlighting the lessons learned from the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. "Napagtanto natin sa mga pagsubok na dala ng pandemyang COVID-19 ang kahalagahan ng malakas at handang healthcare system. Kailangan nating ituloy ang paglalagay ng pondo sa ating healthcare infrastructure upang masiguro na may access ang bawat Pilipino sa dekalidad na serbisyong pangkalusugan." he asserted. The Super Health Center in Lian, Batangas, is just one of many initiatives spearheaded by Go to improve healthcare accessibility in the country as he also remains supportive of the continued operations of Malasakit Centers and the establishment of regional specialty centers nationwide. Go also offered to help those with medical concerns. The senator encouraged the public to visit Batangas Provincial Hospital in Lemery and Batangas Medical Center in Batangas City where there are Malasakit Centers ready to assist with their medical-related expenses. The Malasakit Centers Act of 2019 was institutionalized under Republic Act No. 11463, which Go principally authored and sponsored in the Senate. The Act aims to provide convenient assistance to indigent patients and help them with their hospital bills and other health-related expenses. To date, there are 158 Malasakit Centers nationwide. Go also proudly cited the enactment of RA 11959, also known as the Regional Specialty Centers Act. He played a pivotal role in principally sponsoring and authoring this legislation in the Senate, which was recently signed into law by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on 24 August. The Regional Specialty Centers Act mandates the establishment of specialized healthcare centers within the existing DOH regional hospitals. On the same day, the Super Health Center in Calatagan was inaugurated. The post Super Health Center breaks ground in Lian; Bong Go lauds DOH, local gov’t appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Medical miracle
It is commonly recognized that Taiwan is one of the world’s leading producers of information and communication technology products. However, it is not so widely known that the country is among the world’s top medical-care providers with advanced capabilities in biotech and pharmaceuticals. Taiwan has ranked No. 1 in the world in Numbeo’s mid-year “Global Health Care Index by Country” for five consecutive years with a score of 85.9 this year, on top of South Korea, Japan, France and Netherlands. Numbeo is the world’s largest database of user-contributed data about cities and countries which calculates a health score for each country based on technology, medical personnel qualifications, medical equipment, waiting times, accessibility of medical locations and staff friendliness. When it comes to health expenditure index, Taiwan ranked first as well with a score of 157.8. One National Geographic Channel documentary in 2012 dubbed the medical miracle in Taiwan and mentioned that among the world’s 200 best hospitals, 14 of them were located in Taiwan, which made Taiwan one of the best and most affordable countries in Asia for patients to seek medical help. One of the significant reasons Taiwan is able to provide high quality medical care is because being a doctor is one of the most sought-after jobs and only those who score the highest in college entrance exams can enter medical school. That’s why the smartest and top talents in Taiwan are doctors. On top of that, Taiwan began hospital accreditation programs in 1978, accrediting specific teaching hospitals providing practicum for medical students. The accreditation of hospitals was conducted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare but the Joint Commission of Taiwan was given the task in 1999. JCT aims to help healthcare organizations improve their service with recognition of accreditation and certification, thereby achieving the mission of enhancing healthcare quality in Taiwan. To develop and strengthen bilateral cooperation in South and Southeast Asian countries, the One Country, One Center project was launched in June 2018 with India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam as primary partners. The New Southbound Policy countries are linked with hospitals in Taiwan to expand professional training programs, build medical industry collaborations and provide health consultation services for Taiwanese working and doing business in partner-countries. In 2018, 336 medical professionals from partner countries were trained in medical centers in Taiwan and 69 enterprises were introduced to the target region. Despite its high-quality services and relatively low costs, Taiwan is often overlooked as a medical tourism destination. In fact, Taiwan offers quality medical services especially in living-donor liver transplantation, craniofacial surgery, cardiovascular therapeutics, artificial reproductive technology and arthroplasty surgery. Moreover, to establish a smart health environment, Taiwan is integrating its leading-edge information technology capacities with innovative medical management. For instance, Taiwan has a high success rate of 81 percent for heart, liver and kidney transplants compared to 77 to 79 percent in the United States, and on average, the hospital and surgery costs are just 1/6 of the United Kingdom, 1/5 of the US and 1/3 of Japan, which makes Taiwan one of the best destinations for medical tourism. Another example is infertility treatment. The trends of delayed marriage and nonmarriage in Pacific Asian countries have a great impact on their fertility rates and thus cause infertility problems for many couples. Consequently, healthcare facilities are also promoting tourism packages for couples to receive infertility treatment in Taiwan. The post Medical miracle appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bong Go assists ‘sakadas’ in Antique
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go’s team visited Sibalom, Antique on Friday, 25 August, to provide assistance to sugar migrant workers, or sakadas. The said relief activity not only highlighted his dedication to public service but also underscored the importance of strengthening the agricultural sector in the country. Recognizing the important role of farmers in upholding food security, Senator Go, who is a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, has consistently championed the reinforcement of agricultural support systems. He stood as one of the authors behind Republic Act No. 11901, which broadened the scope of the financing system for agriculture, fisheries, and rural development. Go also co-sponsored and co-authored in the Senate the measure that became RA 11953, also known as the New Agrarian Emancipation Act. The law condones loans incurred by agrarian reform beneficiaries, including interests, penalties, and surcharges. Furthermore, the senator also filed SBN 2117, which aims to provide full crop insurance coverage for agrarian reform beneficiaries, as well as SBN 2118 which aims to provide better insurance coverage and services to farmers and help mitigate the impact of natural disasters on the agricultural sector, if enacted into law. "Nais kong hikayatin ang lahat ng mga lingkod-bayan na makiisa sa pagtulong sa ating mga magsasaka. Ang kanilang mahalagang papel sa ating pagkain at ekonomiya ay di-matatawaran. Suportahan natin sila sa pamamagitan ng pagpapalakas ng kanilang sektor at pagpapalaganap ng mga programa na tutugon sa kanilang mga pangangailangan. Sa pagkakaisa, makakamit natin ang mas maunlad at masaganang buhay para sa ating mga magsasaka,” Go urged in his video message. Go’s team, together with the team of Governor Rhodora Cadiao, held the distribution at the University of Antique, where 1,000 sakadas received masks and shirts from Go while select recipients received shoes, mobile phones, and balls for basketball. The Department of Social Welfare and Development also provided financial assistance. Continuing his message, Go expressed his concern that access to medical assistance programs remains a pressing issue in many regions, especially in rural areas. It is for this reason that the senator mentioned that there is a Malasakit Center at Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital in San Jose de Buenavista if they may need medical assistance from the government. Malasakit Centers bring together representatives from DSWD, Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. These one-stop shops aim to support poor and indigent patients in reducing their hospital costs to the least possible amount. Go is the principal author and sponsor of RA 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019 which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program. According to DOH, the Malasakit Centers program has already benefitted over seven million Filipinos, with 158 Malasakit Centers established all over the country. The senator then mentioned that there will also be a Super Health Center set to be established in the town. Super Health Centers offer basic health services, including database management, outpatient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray and ultrasound), pharmacy, and an ambulatory surgical unit. Other services available include eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) care, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation centers, and telemedicine, which enables remote diagnosis and treatment of patients. DOH has identified more locations in Antique to build Super Health Centers, in addition to Sibalom. These include Culasi and San Jose de Buenavista. Acknowledging the necessity for specialized care, Go has championed the establishment of Regional Specialty Centers. These centers focus on specific medical fields, ensuring that patients receive expert care without the need to travel long distances to urban centers. In the Senate, Go served as a principal sponsor and co-author of the Regional Specialty Centers Act. This legislation has been recently approved into law by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. Go, vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, also supported the acquisition of a motor vehicle in Sibalom, multi cabs in Laua-an, and an ambulance unit in San Jose. The senator likewise supported the expansion of a water system in Libertad, improvement of the Tobias Fornier Municipal Hall, flood control projects in Hamtic, San Jose and Laua-an, construction of solar streetlights in various barangays in Barbaza, improvement of a public park in Belison, construction of a covered court in San Remigio, construction of a bridge in Patnongon, and road improvements in Laua-an, San Remigio, Sebaste, Sibalom, and Valderrama. On 23 August, Go’s team was in Tobias Fornier, where they provided assistance to the beneficiaries of the medical and dental mission held in the town. The post Bong Go assists ‘sakadas’ in Antique appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Shanghai billionaire
Author’s Note. This story is inspired by true events in Manila, Philippines in the early 1950s. Mawan is a rags-to-riches guy, like a few other famous Filipino Taipans. He stowed away on a cargo ship in Shanghai bound for Manila. Upon reaching Manila, he jumped ship in the dark of night and found his freedom from great poverty to less poverty. He slept in front of a bank on Plaza Cervantes until the police shooed him away. He was forced to sleep under a nearby footbridge along the bank of the Pasig River. For six months, he survived by trading in junk, old newspapers, and empty bottles (dyaryo-bote). He was a “no-English-no-read-no-write” kid. Maning, the bank manager, who often saw Mawan loitering outside the bank and was getting annoyed, asked him in Pilipino where he was from. Mawan answered in Cantonese. It was the beginning of an instant friendship as the manager was once a Shanghai boy himself. Mawan blurted out his story of adventure. Maning adopted Mawan as his own son and gave him a job as a janitor at the bank. He slept in the garage of the manager’s Chinatown home. To cut the story short, in 10 years, Mawan graduated from janitor to clerk to supervisor at the bank. He later resigned, and in another 10 years, graduated from junk shop owner to stockbroker. He became a billionaire at the age of 33. At that time, China bought most of the global supply of coal, which was fuel for cement plants, inducing a nationwide coal shortage. Cement stocks fell to their lowest point and that was when Mawan used all his savings to purchase stocks of the largest cement plant in the country. He ignored Maning’s warnings that it was a dangerous move. When the shortage was over and coal was once again available for cement production, Mawan’s stocks soared to the stratosphere and, at their peak, he unloaded at 55 times their purchase price. He, in fact, caused the stock to take a deep dive as many investors followed his move. He married the daughter of a Chinese billionaire and had a daughter, Melissa. Mawan spoiled her, but he knew that she would not be able to survive in a cruel world with a silver spoon in her mouth. So, he yanked her out of her comfort zone and immersed her in mud, sending her to live with the laborers he had contracted to build a huge mall in Cebu City. MELISSA: Papa, thank you for letting me help your workers. I’m so bored reading books, I’m going crazy. MAWAN: Can you manage to live in a small beach shack with no maid and no car? MELISSA: I am so happy helping the workers, I can take any kind of discomfort. But I got a worker’s daughter as my maid. I’m on top of the world, Papa. Melissa grew in the spirit in her whole new world. From her pocket money, she gave small loans to the beleaguered workers and paid their hospital bills when they got sick. MAWAN: Be careful, Melissa. The workers may not pay you back. MELISSA: I don’t have a problem. They know that if they don’t pay me back, they will lose their jobs. I hired a micro-lending consultant to teach them how to save money to pay off their loans. So far, I have zero bad debts from loans of half a million pesos, Papa. Mawan was so happy that his daughter had turned out so well after he had dipped her in the mud. Then, suddenly, he developed cancer of the prostate, stage 1. He had it cured immediately, but the doctor warned that he needed to rest to strengthen his immune system. MAWAN: Melissa, I want you to drop everything and take over. I need to rest. MELISSA: Go on a world tour, you and Mama. Take a slow tour of the Yangtze River for a month. Visit the ancient Buddhist temples outside Shanghai. I will take care of business. The hardship she experienced in Cebu strengthened Melissa’s spirit. She was ready to be the youngest CEO in Chinatown. MAWAN: (Upon returning home after two months in China.) Our immersion in China was the greatest gift you gave us, Melissa. It opened my eyes. We met so many people who made us happy. Now I know. The world is not just about building corporate empires but also spiritual empires. MELISSA: My world with the workers was your greatest gift to me. Your wisdom opened my heart. It was a great exchange gift. Somehow, happiness healed Mawan’s cancer. He adopted Melissa’s style, immersing himself in the workers as the key to his healing. eastwindreplyctr@gmail.com The post Shanghai billionaire appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DSWD’s reading program ‘Tara Basa!’ aids low income students and struggling readers
The Department of Social Welfare and Development on Monday announced that the student tutors in partnership with the Ateneo Center for Educational Development have started simultaneous reading sessions for the struggling and non-reader Grade 1 beneficiaries of the Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program. Under the program, each student-tutor will teach 10 elementary learners every session. The college students have undergone a series of orientations and training, which will comprise the Youth Development Workers after its pilot launch on 2 August. According to DSWD spokesperson Asst. Secretary Romel Lopez, said YDWs will receive cash assistance worth P570 per day for 20 days from the DSWD through a cash-for-work scheme, in exchange for their service. The Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program is the reformatted educational assistance program of the department that seeks to build an ecosystem of learning by training college students from low-income families who are in difficult situations to become YDWs. The Tara, Basa! pilot implementation targets 6,386 student tutors and 584 YDWs enrolled in 20 selected state or local colleges/universities in Metro Manila. The student-tutors were trained and given capability-building sessions on how to effectively teach reading to be conducted by the Ateneo Center for Educational Development (ACED). The college students were from Pasig City, Quezon City, Makati City, and Parañaque City while other pilot areas in the National Capital Region will conduct the training sessions in the coming days. To monitor the performance and progress of the learners, the Department of Education (DepEd), the DSWD’s partner agency in this project, will conduct Comprehensive Rapid Literacy Assessment (CRLA). As tutors, the participating college students will teach struggling or non-reader grade school learners who are vulnerable, at risk, or affected by the effects brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. YDWs, meanwhile, will help conduct parenting sessions to capacitate parents and guardians to become ‘Nanay-Tatay teachers’. “Young Filipinos are the pillars of our country’s future. Through Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program, we are encouraging their involvement in nation-building by helping them to become more involved in their communities and build the skills and confidence that they need to become future leaders,” the DSWD spokesperson said. A total of 63,877 Grade 1 learners currently enrolled in 490 public elementary schools are expected to participate in the program with their parents or guardians. The parents and guardians of struggling or non-reader grade school learners will also receive cash assistance worth P235 per day for 20 days for aiding their children in their learning and reading sessions, as well as other related activities. “The program will strengthen family and community support for elementary school children by capacitating parents and guardians on the care and protection of their children,” Lopez said. While the program would begin rolling out in Metro Manila, Lopez said the DSWD was planning to expand the program nationwide depending on its success in the NCR. "The inputs we would be getting from our pilot implementation will be included in our plans should we expand the program nationwide," he added. He noted that reading ability data for students in the NCR was more accessible than in the provinces, prompting DSWD to first launch the program in the capital. According to DepEd in NCR, more than 49,000 students in the region from Grades 1 to 3 have difficulty reading. The post DSWD’s reading program ‘Tara Basa!’ aids low income students and struggling readers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PAL first-half gains bankroll fleet boost
Flag carrier Philippine Airlines or PAL reported on Friday that its net income during the first half of the year more than tripled to P13.6 billion from last year’s P4.1 billion. In a stock exchange disclosure, the company said its operating income during the period also swelled to P17.4 billion from P6.6 billion recorded a year ago. Notably, the airline’s stellar growth was driven by an 89-percent increase in the number of passengers it flew during the period, which reached 7 million as of end-June. Likewise, it logged over 50,400 operated flights, translating to a 56-percent growth from last year’s numbers. This, according to PAL, led to an 81.6-percent improvement in the average passenger load factor. Given this trend, PAL said its passenger revenues climbed to P78.2 billion from P33.1 billion last year. However, its cargo revenue dropped by 54 percent to last year due to fewer cargo charter flights to give way to more passenger flights amid a demand surge. To sustain the growth momentum, PAL said it plans to invest P176.6 billion to acquire nine Airbus A350-1000 long-range jetliners to widen its fleet. Along with it, PAL will also increase its customer care and contact center agents by rolling out a new customer relations management system before the end of the year. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to invest in new aircraft, improved cabins, and enhanced travel experience for our valued customers,” PAL president and chief operating officer Capt. Stanley K. Ng said in the report. “The latest positive financial results enable us to build a better, stronger, and more agile Philippine Airlines that creates greater value for our customers, and we are grateful for their continuing support and patronage.” Within the first half, PAL restored flights to several routes in mainland China and launched nonstop services to Perth along with flights from Clark to Caticlan and Boracay. In addition to an extensive network of 32 domestic destinations served from Manila, Cebu, Clark and Davao, PAL operated the largest network of nonstop flights between the Philippines and North America, Japan, the Middle East and Australia. The post PAL first-half gains bankroll fleet boost appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
The new landlord: Renting out property
It is no small task to take on the role of a "landlord." Renting out your house comes with challenges and responsibilities, especially for first-time landlords. There are plenty of issues to consider, like getting good tenants, marketing your property, rental payments, addressing tenant issues, and many more. Committed to providing investors with sound investment opportunities, SM Development Corporation (SMDC) has officially launched its leasing and tenancy management arm, SMDC Good Stays, and opened its very first office last July 21 at Air Mall, right within the complex of SMDC's Air Residences off Ayala Avenue in Makati City. Intending to help investors realize the potential of their real estate investments, SMDC Good Stays provides end-to-end leasing and tenancy management services that allow unit owners to maintain and monetize their units professionally. A partner in enriching lives Renting out a property comes with the responsibility of curating a functional and enjoyable living experience for tenants. To ensure higher occupancy rates, lessors must provide tenants feel support during their stay. Whether they rent to relocate for work, move closer to school, build their family roots, or go through life's transitions. [caption id="attachment_169481" align="aligncenter" width="624"] SMDC Good Stays offers comprehensive leasing and tenancy management services to ensure a prosperous and hassle-free investment experience with SMDC.[/caption] With SMDC Good Stays, investors no longer have to worry about the complexities of attracting reliable tenants, preparing for tenant occupancy, or ensuring that their property and tenants are cared for. The leasing arm takes charge of all aspects — from property marketing, tenant sourcing, unit fit-out assistance, contract preparation, and documentation to facilitating general cleaning, repairs, and maintenance. Opportunities abound According to a Q2 2023 Leechiu Property Consultants (LPC) Inc report, the residential sector will remain resilient. As more and more companies revert to a work-from-office set-up, and thanks to the increased office take-up from the BPO and IT-BPM industries, demand from renters is likely to remain strong. Boundless opportunities, therefore, await investors who choose to ride this growth momentum. According to David Leechiu, Co-Founder and CEO of LPC, data shows rental rates of SMDC developments are competitively-priced, making SMDC properties the top choice in the rental market. At the core of this strong stance is SMDC's award-winning business model that continues to make SMDC properties appealing to renters — prime locations; spacious, hotel-like lobbies; health-oriented, resort-style amenities; professional property management services; and most of all, streamlined and efficient customer experience. Tried and tested A professional leasing management partner is a must, especially for investors who want to minimize the stress of renting out a unit. Jeremias Delos Reyes, a Hawaii-based engineer and investor of Air Residences, says the peace of mind, convenience, and returns of having a credible team to manage your leasing business is incomparable. "As an overseas Filipino, having a trustworthy leasing management arm for my home property was paramount. SMDC Good Stays not only had a physical office [ensuring legitimacy], but their responsive agents also ensured a smooth process [and] took care of everything [for me]. Within two to three months, my property was generating passive income," Delos Reyes shared. Embark on a fulfilling investment journey with SMDC, and discover why SMDC Good Stays is your trusted and dependable partner in your real estate success. The post The new landlord: Renting out property appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Idolizing Danny Dolor (The man I might have been if I had at least P500 million)
Here’s sharing with you Cyber Proust’s (now Proust Redux) winning piece when he joined the 2010 Philippine Star Lifestyle Journalism Contest sponsored by Rustan Commercial Corporation and the Stores Specialists, Inc. The announcement called for feature articles, as many as one could submit, about heroes, dead or alive. Cyber Proust submitted three — one about his mother; another about a blogger who tells stories about his clan and people like them, making for a good read for people interested in Philippine upper class but not necessarily high society; and this one, about Danny Dolor, Cyber Proust’s patron and benefactor when Cyber Proust had not yet declared himself rich. Here goes: My hero, my icon, the man I’d rather be When people are asked who they want to be if they ever get the chance to live their lives all over again, they almost always say they want to be the same person. If you ask me the same question, I’d have the same answer, only because I want to keep the same set of parents. But if I could keep my Dad and Mom, and still be someone else, I’d look at you straight in the eye, and declare, I want to be Danny Dolor. I can think of a hackneyed thousand and one reasons why I prefer to breathe and eat and live like Sir Danny, but let me stick to the quintessential five. First, he is rich which we all want to be. He is an art lover which I profess to be. He is a trailblazer even if he is a Libran who prefers balance, while I am an Arian who always wants to be the first. He was a good son who took care of his mother in her old age, which every good son should do especially if he were single. I am single, but I was always away from home, too busy changing and finding writing jobs. The closest I got to emulating Sir Danny was spending endless nights conversing with my mother whenever I was home during Christmas breaks. Sir Danny, on the other hand, never travelled abroad because he wanted to be by his mother’s side every night of the year. When he visited Lipa, their hometown, he would pick up his mobile phone to check on his mother and sister Fe in their Makati home, rattling off his orders to their yaya — check their temperature, don’t forget the medicine after their merienda, and so on. Finally, Danny Dolor is a good Catholic who hears Sunday Mass, fingers his beads when in the car, and joins the procession on Good Friday beside his own Mater Dolorosa. How I wish I could give away lands on which to build churches, donate thousands of portfolio bags for priests attending their annual convention, and build a museum in honor of a townsman, Alfredo Maria Obviar, who may yet be the first Filipino bishop to be beatified and, in God’s time, canonized. First conversation I am lucky to have an icon whom I have seen up close. I have seen Danny Dolor when he goes into a trance as he describes his first conversation with National Artist Atang de la Rama, to whom he became a friend and confidante, or fits of laughter as he recalls the usually funny repartee between his friends Sylvia La Torre and Oscar Obligacion when the latter was still alive. For all the secrets and fun times we have shared, I stick to calling him Sir as I did the first time I interviewed him in his thickly-carpeted, air-conditioned and perfume-smelling den. I had known about the man before I ever met him. I knew about his Tribung Pinoy which concertized all over the country in the late 1970s all the way to the mid 1980’s. I never saw them perform in person, but I read about Danny Dolor and his gang of sopranos, tenors and baritones who rendered their harana, danza, balitaw and, of course, kundiman, in schools and churches, and quixotic venues like the Culion Leper Colony in Palawan, the mental hospital and the women’s correctional where the patients and inmates cried, sang, danced and thanked him because no one ever came to sing for them. The path-breaking Danny Dolor also produced the first ever concert at the Cultural Center of the Philippines featuring an all-Filipino-traditional-music repertoire. Danny Dolor’s house, at that time when I interviewed him, was along Tamarind corner Banaba in uppity Forbes Park. In the den, paintings, sculptures, plaques, and trophies vied for the attention of first-time guests. I immediately liked a Zalameda portrait of a basketball player, but what impressed me was a plaque with Latin inscriptions which, my host explained to me, was his papal award. He next brought me to the lanai, thrice as large as the den, where beside the lacquered opium bed stood a gigantic St. Joseph. He showed me a life-size oil portrait of Charito Solis, Ramon Valera ternos worn by Gloria Romero and his sister Fe, and original drawings of Darna by Mars Ravelo. The man, who knows his art, takes pride in his penchant for everything Filipino. It is an interest that goes a long way back to his childhood during the Japanese occupation. In the family hacienda where they evacuated, he listened to the farmers sing native songs. In grade one a year or two later, the young Danny sang Bayan Ko before his classmates, to the shock of the teacher who probably expected Jack and Jill. When Sir Danny was in grade school, he watched Filipino films in the movie houses along Rizal Avenue. As a high school student, he listened to the Mabuhay singers over the radio. In college, he watched Tawag ng Tanghalan on television. Is it any wonder that he should mount a best-selling exhibit of movie ads from the golden years of Philippine cinema? Or that he has maintained, for more than ten years, a column in the Philippine Star, “Remember When?” featuring the movie stars and great musical talents of yesteryears? Danny Dolor is unique in that he straddles the worlds of show business and high society, which many find incompatible. Not with him who has produced movies, including Indie films, and concert tributes honoring luminaries of the silver screen like Director Hermogenes Ilagan and movie queen Carmen Rosales. His involvement in the upper strata, on the other hand, is never without a good reason. For example, he collaborated with the socialite businesswoman Nedy Tantoco in organizing the best-selling Ramon Valera retrospective exhibit. If he is chummy with the grand dame Imelda Cojuangco that’s because he is a loyal and trusted officer the Cofradia de la Inmaculada Concepcion, of which she is the chair. Every year, come Feast of the Immaculate Conception, they gather hundreds of children from depressed areas to receive their first holy communion. Imagine the mix For all of these, he takes a break from his duties as chairman of various companies that include a hospital, hotel, educational institution, bank and subdivisions. Imagine the mix — movies, music, church, business and high society. And he dances the Rigodon too. How can one not desire such completeness? There’s something though he’d rather not be said about him. In my times of need, he does not hide under his canopied bed, and in the milestones of my life, he gives me a thick red envelope. Once I ran out of cash to pay my rent, I called him up and told him that if only I could touch the tip of his pants, I was sure to have what I needed. Scolding me first for being such a cheap copy of the woman in the bible, he said Yes to my pleadings, while reminding me to help him prepare another souvenir program for yet another concert tribute for another forgotten gem of Philippine music. The man does not believe in outright charity. Not to me, anyway. And while he is patient with me, he insists that I “fix” my life for “all these things you delight in will soon come to pass” and “if you do not take care of yourself, who will?” and so on. From his mother, he passes on a classic gem, “Never do anything that people will notice from afar,” a rough translation of “Huwag kang gagawa ng kahit anong matatanaw mula sa malayo.” In short, don’t be a show-off. My hero and icon, Danny Dolor, is not only a model for living the successful and well-lived life that I dream about. He is also a saviour, a mentor and an angel who, despite the “professional distance” we keep between us as a “client” and as a “talent,” if the relationship must breed results, has come closest to being my “Tito” and best friend. Sir Danny will not be pleased with this article. He will think that I need to borrow money from him again. The post Idolizing Danny Dolor (The man I might have been if I had at least P500 million) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Catapang’s problems awe lawmakers
Accepting to head the Bureau of Corrections, or BuCor, at a time when it was embroiled in so many controversies is a challenge that Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said he could not turn down. Catapang said so in answering a question by Rep. Bienvenido Abante on what convinced him to accept the BuCor post under the Department of Justice headed by Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla. The BuCor chief appeared in a recent hearing of the House Committee on Public Order and Safety that tackled, among other issues, the entry of contraband into the BuCor’s main penitentiary, the New Bilibid Prison. “I’m not one to turn my back on a challenge,” the former Armed Forces of the Philippines chief said. “I think I’m still good for the service of the country. Give me your trust and confidence, and I will do it.” Abante moved during the hearing for the committee to conduct an ocular inspection of the NBP along with representatives of the Department of Budget and Management. Chaired by Rep. Dan Fernandez, looked into the proposed budget of BuCor, which manages several other penal facilities across the country and which plans to build a super-prison. Rep. Arnie Fuentebella told the committee that the problems at the NBP are not for Bucor or Catapang to solve alone, but for the government as a whole. Among the problems that need drastic solutions, according to Fuentebella, is the congestion at the NBP, for which a moratorium on the acceptance of new detainees was ordered by Remulla. Asked who foots the bill every time a prisoner gets sick, Catapang told the committee that persons deprived of liberty are each allotted P15 for medicine and P70 for food each day. “We shoulder the expenses (for medical care) and get the budget from our maintenance and operating expenses,” Catapang explained. Hearing that, Fuentebella proposed to Catapang for the BuCor to forge a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Health for the latter to help defray the PDLs’ medical expenses. Likewise, BuCor can enter into an agreement with the Department of Social Welfare and Development to help the NBP and other prison facilities in providing livelihood programs for PDLs. “I don’t envy you,” Rep. Romeo Acop told Catapang. “Had you consulted me before accepting the job, I would have advised you not to accept it. Your people are your problem, and so are the people they are guarding.” The post Catapang’s problems awe lawmakers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DSWD starts training student-tutors for ‘Tara, Basa!’ program
A Department of Social Welfare and Development official on Sunday said they have started the orientation and training of college students who will compose the army of tutors and will be called Youth Development Workers (YDWs) for the "Tara, Basa!" Tutoring Program. According to DSWD spokesperson, Assistant Secretary Romel Lopez, YDWs will receive cash assistance worth P500 per day for 20 days from the DSWD through a cash-for-work scheme, in exchange for their rendered service. The "Tara, Basa!" Tutoring Program, which was launched on 2 August this year, is a reformatted educational assistance program of the DSWD that seeks to build an ecosystem of learning by training college students from low-income families who are in difficult situations to become YDWs. Its pilot implementation targets to capacitate 6,386 student-tutors and 584 YDWs enrolled in 20 selected state or local colleges/universities in Metro Manila. The student-tutors will be trained and given capability-building sessions on how to effectively teach reading to be conducted by the Ateneo Center for Educational Development (ACED). Among the areas which started the training and orientation of student-tutors were Pasig City, Quezon City, Makati City, and Parañaque City. The other pilot areas in the National Capital Region will conduct the training sessions in the coming days. The training for the YDWs is scheduled for 10 to 12 August, while the official learning sessions with parents and Grade 1 students will begin on 14 August. To monitor the performance and progress of the learners, the Department of Education (DepEd), the DSWD’s partner agency in this project, will conduct the Comprehensive Rapid Literacy Assessment (CRLA). As tutors, the participating college students will teach struggling or non-reader grade school learners who are vulnerable, at risk, or affected by the effects brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. YDWs, meanwhile, will help conduct parenting sessions to capacitate parents and guardians to become "Nanay-Tatay teachers". “Young Filipinos are the pillars of our country’s future. Through 'Tara, Basa!, Tutoring Program, we are encouraging their involvement in nation-building by helping them to become more involved in their communities and build the skills and confidence that they need to become future leaders,” the DSWD spokesperson said. A total of 63,877 Grade 1 learners currently enrolled in 490 public elementary schools are expected to participate in the program with their parents or guardians. The parents and guardians of struggling or non-reader grade school learners will also receive cash assistance worth P235 per day for 20 days for helping in the preparation of the needs of their children for their learning and reading sessions and other related activities. “The program will strengthen family and community support for elementary school children by capacitating parents and guardians on care and protection of their children,” Lopez said. While the program would begin rolling out in Metro Manila, Lopez said the DSWD was planning to expand the program nationwide depending on its success in the NCR. "The inputs we would be getting from our pilot implementation will be included in our plans should we expand the program nationwide," he added. He noted that reading ability data for students in the NCR was more accessible than in the provinces, prompting DSWD to first launch the program in the capital. According to the DepEd, in the NCR, more than 49,000 students in the region from Grades 1 to 3 have difficulty reading. The post DSWD starts training student-tutors for ‘Tara, Basa!’ program appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»