Globalization evident in PBA
The various countries represented by the PBA’s 12 imports in the Commissioner’s Cup this season reflects the globalization of basketball with FIBA’s initiatives to grow the game world-wide clearly bearing fruit......»»
Apple scraps Jon Stewart show over China, AI clashes: report
US comedian Jon Stewart's talk show on Apple TV+ has reportedly been canceled after just two series due to clashes between its host and the company over topics such as China and artificial intelligence. Stewart told staff that executives from Apple -- which has vast commercial interests in China and AI -- had expressed concern over proposed new content for "The Problem with Jon Stewart," The New York Times said. Apple did not immediately respond to AFP's request for comment. Stewart became a household name in the United States as the host of Comedy Central's long-running "The Daily Show," before stepping down to pursue other interests in 2015. Streaming platform Apple TV+ launched "The Problem with Jon Stewart" as a flagship current affairs show in 2021. The show takes a satirical look at a different topical issue each week. Episodes in the most recent season included "Globalization: Made In America" and "Searching for Allies." Since Apple first established a presence in China in 1993, the US tech giant has grown into a major provider of smartphones, laptops and consumer electronics in the country. Apple chief Tim Cook made a surprise visit to China this month, and he has previously spoken of his company's "symbiotic" relationship with the nation. In an earnings call in August, Cook said Apple views AI and machine learning as "core fundamental technologies that are integral to virtually every product that we build." amz/hg/sst © Agence France-Presse The post Apple scraps Jon Stewart show over China, AI clashes: report appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Protecting Philippine economy
Globalization and the unwavering faith in a free market economy were the economic and political mantras in the 1990s......»»
UniSQ in Toowoomba
Just recently, the 13th Australian Media Traditions Conference was held on the 20th and 21st of September at the University of Southern Queensland, or UniSQ, in the Garden City of Toowoomba in Brisbane on the theme “Beyond Boundaries.” Thirty-six paper presenters, who were largely PhDs and PhD candidates from various universities on the Australian continent and beyond, each had 20 minutes to share their research and scholarly works in the field of communication in the context of the digital age. Most conferees came from the universities of Southern Queensland, Queensland, Macquarie, La Trobe, RMIT, Monash, James Cook, Swinburne, Deakin, South Australia, Melbourne, Canberra and QUT — all in Australia — while two were from the University of China and the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, and one from the University of the Philippines (the only Filipino in the pack). Each day featured a keynote speaker, a morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. Everyone received a ring-bound booklet that contained the individual abstracts and biographies of every participant. The various subthemes delved into — literature, journalism, television drama, civic engagement, music industry, radio, cinema, mobile developments, media/politics/issues, technologies and globalization, SVODs in Australia, creation and content production, and archives (i.e., collection of digital/social media at the National Library of Australia) — were all reflective of the contemporary communication and media ecosystem. For one, this author presented his paper titled, “Scoping the reformative and transformative impact of media traditions.” Let me share, dear readers, what my seminal and expository paper was all about. The terms reformative and transformative simply refer to access to news, entertainment, or information in various modalities, while impact, as a term, refers to “hit,” it denoting who are adversely affected in an era of digital media (i.e., print newspapers, periodicals, magazines and other forms of publishing). These social and economic dimensions are on opposite ends of a continuum. There’s no need to be an apologist for print newspapers since the notion that the “editor is dead” in this digital age is a myth. Neither is there such a thing as the “golden age of journalism,” as one presenter embraced the view — with some authority based on her research — that it never existed. In fact, if it were any consolation, there had been a common point when the portion who got its news via social media was about equal to the portion who got its news from newspapers and that was in 2017. Therefore, if there was a crucial paradigm shift to the digital or social media platform, it must have been an entirely slow and gradual process where the readership of print newspapers slid down and the readership on social media climbed, not to mention that such transformation was only of recent memory or origin. In the case of Americans, and it may be a universal phenomenon elsewhere in the world, television dominates as a news source followed by news websites, in turn followed by radio then social media, in turn followed by print newspapers — in this pecking order. As well articulated with evidence-based data, two age groups, namely, those between 50-54 and those 65 and over, still preferred print newspapers as their news source with lower percentages in the younger age groups (i.e., 18-29, 30-48). More particularly, while most Americans get their news often from social media rather than print newspapers, there is only a marginal variance of 20 percent and 16 percent, respectively, over the period 2016 to 2018. In other words, we can embrace the view that print newspapers “will never die,” very much so in countries with aging populations to the extent possible that it might even overcome social media at some point as a source for news in this…. “digital divide” as well as “age divide.” This media traditions conference at the UniSQ in Toowoomba was probably the most fulfilling intellectual experience for experts, scholars, and practitioners in the present-day communication and digital landscape. The post UniSQ in Toowoomba appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
WTO pushes re-globalization, warns vs rising trade fragmentation
The World Trade Organization in the latest edition of its World Trade Report urged for broader, more inclusive economic integration as it observed the creeping in of trade fragmentation, which it said could threaten global growth and development. The WTO’s flagship publication, launched on 12 September, highlights findings on how “re-globalization” — or increased international cooperation and broader integration — can support security, inclusiveness, and environmental sustainability. The World Trade Report is an annual publication that aims to deepen understanding about trends in trade, trade policy issues, and the multilateral trading system. The 2023 edition confirms that geopolitical tensions are beginning to affect trade flows, including in ways that point towards fragmentation of trading relationships. However, the report contends that, despite these findings, international trade continues to thrive, indicating that talk of de-globalization is still in the nascent stage. Globalization still prevalent The report pointed to globalization as still prevalent as seen from the expansion of digital services trade, environmental goods trade, and global value chains. In addition, global trade continues to demonstrate resilience to recent global crises. The paper examined the relationship between economic integration and three major economic challenges today: Security and resilience, poverty and inclusiveness, and environmental sustainability. Those challenges have buttressed arguments that globalization has not delivered as expected or exposes countries to excessive risks. Many contend that greater economic independence — rather than interdependence — would better serve the well-being of their constituencies. Such views have begun to shape trade policy, warned WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. WTO has observed a sharp increase in the number of unilateral trade measures that if unchecked could ultimately fragment the world economy, she added. Fragmentation extreme costly in economic terms “Meanwhile, opponents of fragmentation argue that it would be extremely costly in economic terms, offers dubious benefits in terms of security, and would unwind the growth and development benefits that economic integration has delivered for people around globe,” she said. “Even worse, far-reaching fragmentation would make it harder, possibly impossible, for the international community to address challenges of the global commons.” The paper also demonstrates how advances in information and communication technologies have made trade in services, particularly digital services, much easier, enabling underrepresented economies, as well as groups such as women and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, to participate in global trade. Trade a powerful force multiplier The report likewise suggests that trade is a powerful force multiplier for unlocking environmental gains. Just as countries can reap economic gains by specializing in what they are relatively good at, the world can reap environmental gains if countries specialize in activities that they are relatively green at. The post WTO pushes re-globalization, warns vs rising trade fragmentation appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Human-centric globalization: Taking G20 to the Last Mile, leaving none behind
Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – these two words capture a deep philosophy......»»
China, U.S. form trade dispute panel
United States Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo on Tuesday reassured Chinese officials in Beijing that her country is not seeking to decouple its economy from China’s. “We seek to maintain our $700 billion commercial relationship with China, and we hope that that relationship can provide stability for the overall relationship,” Raimondo told Premier Li Qiang. Raimondo also told Li that Washington wants to “work with you as two global powers to do what is right for all of humanity.” Earlier on Tuesday, Raimondo met China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng. “Managing that relationship responsibly is critical to both of our nations and indeed to the whole world,” she said during a part of the meeting open to journalists. She stressed the US would “never compromise in protecting our national security,” but added that Washington did not seek “to hold China’s economy back.” The secretary’s meeting with her Chinese counterpart on Monday resulted in a deal to set up a working group to iron out trade disputes of their countries. China commerce minister Wang Wentao and Raimondo also agreed to set up an “export control enforcement information exchange” — described as a platform to “reduce misunderstanding of US national security policies.” The information exchange will convene for the first time at Beijing’s Ministry of Commerce on Tuesday, Washington said. The developments met Washington’s goal of ensuring open communication lines with Beijing. However, China’s “serious concerns” over US trade curbs on Chinese businesses remain. Beijing is referring to the “US Section 301 tariffs on Chinese goods, its semiconductor policies, restrictions of two-way investment, discriminatory subsidies, and sanctions on Chinese enterprises.” Washington defends the policies as necessary to “de-risk” its supply chains. But Wang warned they “run counter to market rules and the principle of fair competition, and will only harm the security and stability of the global industrial and supply chains.” Healthy competition Raimondo is one of a number of senior US officials to visit China in recent months — part of an effort by Washington to improve its working relationship with its largest strategic rival. Relations between the two countries have plummeted to some of their lowest levels in decades, with US trade curbs near the top of the list of disagreements. This month, Biden issued an executive order aimed at restricting certain US investments in sensitive high-tech areas in China — a move Beijing blasted as being “anti-globalization.” The long-anticipated rules, expected to be implemented next year, target sectors such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen sought to reassure Chinese officials about the expected curbs during a visit to Beijing last month. And Raimondo on Monday told Chinese officials that while there was “no room to compromise or negotiate” on US national security, “the vast majority of our trade and investment relationship does not involve national security concerns.” “We seek healthy competition with China. A growing Chinese economy that plays by the rules is in both of our interests,” she said. WITH AFP The post China, U.S. form trade dispute panel appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Filipiniana for football femmes
Members of the FILIPINAS Football team that played to worldwide recognition at the recently concluded FIFA World Cup visited Tesoro’s to be gifted custom-made Filipino attire. [caption id="attachment_172200" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Sofia Harrison (Defender) getting measured by Bella Pangolino for her Ladies’ Barong Tagalog.[/caption] Team Filipinas is an “unlikely story of an unlikely achievement” of how female athletes recruited from at home and from the Filipino diaspora all over the world were cobbled together into a team that was the first to qualify in the FIFA World Cup and even scored a goal against the more experienced FIFA-hosting team of New Zealand. FILIPINAS was formed by volunteer recruiters who dedicated years of free time and effort scouring rosters of Filipino faces and names in rosters all over the world, inviting them to be part of the team. All the young ladies are Filipinos coming from here and other nations such as the United States, Canada, Australia, Norway and Sweden, to name a few. Each one is a volunteer, giving of their time and effort to train and practice wherever the team may be. Isabella “Belay” Fernando, the team’s administrator, said their team manager Jefferson Cheng’s wholehearted support has done wonders for the team. There was also generous support from the Philippine Football Federation, the Philippine Sports Commission and PAGCOR. Touching base with their roots After the tournament, most of the players got to come here to visit their home country. At Tesoros, they were amazed by the store’s wide assortment of both traditional and modern-day Filipino clothing. Beng Tesoro, Tesoro’s stores CEO, said it felt appropriate to gift the apparel to the players as a memento of their visit, an attire signifying they are Filipino. In an increasingly internationally mingled society, there is a counter-movement to express one’s ethnicity, and one’s roots, to stand out in the midst of globalization homogeneity. Providing touchstones as positive markers of identity is more important than ever. We already have a good track record in international beauty contests; we can also attain international recognition in sports that we have a fighting chance in. Moreover, sports do not just foster excellent physical conditioning but teamwork, leadership, and discipline as well. Hence, Tesoro’s welcomes and lauds the FILIPINAS Team for their achievement and looks forward to meeting future Filipino sports champions which is consistent with Tesoro’s’ values which, for nearly eight decades, always championed Filipino arts and crafts, the showcase of the best that the Filipino can do. The post Filipiniana for football femmes appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PPA gears to unveil 19 seaport projects until end-2023
With the aim to further improve the country's gateways serving oceangoing passengers and vessels, the Philippine Ports Authority announced that infrastructure development in ports nationwide will continue in the remaining months, with the completion of another 19 seaport projects before the end of 2023. As of July 2023, the PPA has completed 30 seaport projects during the first year of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. In a statement on Wednesday, the PPA said 19 seaport infrastructure projects are said to be completed by December this year, namely the 11 projects from Luzon, four in the Visayas, and four in Mindanao ranging from the construction and rehabilitation of backup areas, breakwaters, RoRo ramps, and RC Piers, among others. Also, the PPA disclosed that the public can expect convenience and experience improved cargo handling with the upgrading of the general cargo berth at the Port of Sasa in Davao City amounting to P902 million which is the highest funded project among the 19 to be completed before the year ends, followed by the P693 million construction of wharf and port operational area with continuous RoRo ramp at the Port of Catagbacan in Bohol. In addition, set to be completed this year is the construction of the country’s first dedicated cruise ship terminal at Jubang Port in Surigao del Norte amounting to P620 million. "We remain optimistic that we are continuously evolving to be at par with countries observing the highest level of port standards around the world, we already made it as one of the strongest ports in Southeast Asia as of 2023. Here in PPA, we continue to participate in economic globalization by advancing infrastructure development through building high quality ports," said PPA General Manager Jay Santiago. The additional 19 seaport projects also include rehabilitation of Claveria Port, construction of PPA-PCG K9 academy, Puerto Galera port expansion project, and Balingoan port expansion project in Misamis Oriental among others. In addition, PPA is also set to award and commence 47 new port infrastructure projects for the year 2023. Increase in income On the other hand, PPA recorded a 23.18 percent increase of net income in the 1st half of 2023 amounting to P6.9 billion compared to P5.0 billion income for the same period in 2022. Further, the PPA underlined that they posted a record of more or less 12 percent increase of budget utilization every year, which has been a trend for PPA since 2016 with its highest budget utilization rate of 83 percent last year. "Good governance, transparency, and hardwork are among the biggest contributing factors for completing almost 50 infrastructure projects at the end of 2023. This is another milestone for us and a testament that Philippine ports are ready to cater to local and global demands," Santiago added. Other than the increased number of completed projects and high budget utilization rate, the PPA also recorded a 3.23 percent decrease or P142.52 million less in total expenditures as compared to that incurred during the same period last year. The post PPA gears to unveil 19 seaport projects until end-2023 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Taking FIFA’s cue
There is no naturalized player in the Filipinas lineup for the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup but only two of coach Alen Stajcic’s pool of 26, including three reserves, were born in the Philippines, making the team a symbol of globalization in sports......»»
Challenges in Antitrust Law
The passage of the Philippine Competition Act or PCA was a watershed moment for Philippine competition policy. Before its passage, Philippine antitrust laws were scattered into about 30 different laws with outdated provisions and hardly any jurisprudence. In July 2015, Republic Act 10667 was enacted, marking the end of a two -decade congressional push to finally enact a law that would promote fair competition in economic activities and penalize anti-competitive conduct. As international trade became significantly easier with reduced cross-border trade barriers, it became important to look at domestic measures, particularly domestic competition law, otherwise known as antitrust law, to facilitate trade and investment. In the face of globalization and reduced barriers to international trade, the PCA is considered a breakthrough legislation. Before the enactment of the PCA, the Philippine Constitution already provided for a clear mandate to promote competition and prohibit combinations in restraint of trade. Article XII, Section 19 of the 1987 Constitution provides: “The State shall regulate or prohibit monopolies when the public interest so requires. No combinations in restraint of trade or unfair competition shall be allowed.” The fundamental principle espoused by Section 19, Article XII of the Constitution is competition, for it alone can release the creative forces of the market. But the competition that can unleash these creative forces is fair. Ideally, this kind of competition requires the presence of not one, not just a few, but several players. A market controlled by one player or dominated by a handful of players is hardly a market where honest-to-goodness competition will prevail. The Philippine Competition Act addresses many of the issues and inadequacies that prevented an effective competition regime from taking hold in our jurisdiction. The PCA lays down the foundation for creating a working competition regime that can help achieve the goals of economic efficiency as well as the protection of consumer welfare. However, the new competition authority has many challenges to confront. Philippine competition law, being in its infancy, needs to develop its ability to detect and investigate anti-competitive conduct and impose and enforce sanctions for anti-competitive behavior. There is a steep learning curve, considering that competition law engages with esoteric and abstract economic concepts. Overcoming this learning curve will require close engagement with specialists across multiple fields. The road to the PCA’s passage was met with many obstacles, the biggest obstacle being the death of the principal proponent of the House competition bill, Representative Enrique M. Cojuangco Sr. Competition law also faces the challenge of harmonization with the competition laws of other countries. Harmonization is critical because many competition laws apply extra-territorially which means competition laws of two countries may overlap. A recent example of a significant cross-border merger where the extra-territorial application of competition law became an issue is the Grab/Uber case. The number of cross-border mergers will only increase in the years to come as revealed in a 2014 OECD study, which means there will be more contentious mergers across state boundaries. Nevertheless, enacting a competition law in the first place is already a massive achievement. The road to the PCA’s passage was met with many obstacles, the biggest obstacle being the death of the principal proponent of the House competition bill, Representative Enrique M. Cojuangco Sr. Following Representative Cojuangco’s death, House lawmakers gathered to pass House Bill 5286 on second reading, as a tribute to its fallen sponsor. On 10 June 2015, Republic Act 10667, a consolidation of Senate Bill 2282 and House Bill 5286, was finally passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives. It is worth noting that the Philippines is among the last in the Asian region and the world to pass a comprehensive competition law. But as they always say, better late than never. ***** Atty. Lean Carlo Macoto obtained his Juris Doctor degree from the University of the Philippines College of Law and was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2023. He is currently an associate at Aranas Cruz Araneta Parker & Faustino Law Offices. The post Challenges in Antitrust Law appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Philippine Army: Venturing into the cyber domain
The Information Age started at the beginning of the 21st century, and the world evolved to an easier way to connect and communicate with people all over the globe. Information is being used in different ways to gain knowledge and to adapt to the era of globalization. As globalization makes its mark, cyberspace is being used as a platform to protect the interests of each state. The Philippine Army is embracing these changes to keep pace with modernization. The path began in 2012 when the AFP embraced cyberspace as a functional domain of operation and acknowledged cyberspace as an essential tool to counter threats to the rapid growth of technology. In 2016, the Philippine Army created the Cyber Management Branch to facilitate the cyberspace operations of the Army. After a few years of adjustment, the Army formed it’s Cyber Battalion (Provisional) on 16 October 2020. Given the challenging tasks, the Cyber Battalion serves as the vanguard of the Army in cyberspace through proactive cybersecurity operations and by providing preventive, detective, responsive, and predictive control measures, interventions, and implementations to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of Army critical assets, processes and services to provide adequate support to Army operations. The unit’s mission is to prevent security breaches, minimize the risks with the rapid growth of modern technology, and adapt to technological modernization. Today, for the Cyber Battalion’s initiatives and efforts to accomplish its tasks, the Digital Innovations Community presents The Outstanding Cybersecurity Initiative 2023 Award in recognition of the unit’s robustness and effectiveness in cybersecurity measures, proactive threat detection and response, adherence to best practices and industry standards, and impact on preventing security breaches or mitigating risks. The Army also lauded the recognition given to its officers as they steer the unit to greater heights. The same body presents the Cybersecurity Champion Award to this writer for educating and empowering individuals in cybersecurity. Lt. Col. Francel Margareth Taborlupa is the recipient of the Tech Evangelist of the Year Award for spreading awareness and knowledge on technology. As the Philippine Army ventures into the cyber domain, the cyber workforce will be a fundamental unit for securing the agency’s data, constantly improving and adapting to advance technology, and addressing the challenges in cyberspace. Hence, the Philippine Army remains committed to serving the people and securing the land physically and in cyberspace. (With Col. Xerxes Trinidad, Philippine Army spokesperson) The post Philippine Army: Venturing into the cyber domain appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Mercenary attitude
Easily the most head-spinning item of international news the past week was the thwarted armed rebellion by Russia-based mercenaries against Russian leader Vladimir Putin. At this writing, we don’t know how the Russian domestic security crisis will eventually pan out. But the unexpected 24-hour crisis — triggered after mercenary tycoon Yevgeny Prigozhin and his Wagner Group fighters seized critical facilities in Southern Russia before pushing on to Moscow but then abruptly standing down — grievously wounded Mr. Putin politically and put into question his more than 20 years in power. Significant, too is the fact the rebellion nakedly dramatized the return of mercenary armies in modern warfare and the political risks associated with its return. A case of what’s old is new again. The mercenary — simply understood nowadays as an armed civilian paid to conduct military operations in a foreign conflict zone — is not a new thing. Soldiers of fortune throughout history are as old as war itself, earning the colloquial sobriquet “second oldest profession” after prostitution. Only later were mercenaries stigmatized, tabooed, and outlawed when States, wanting a monopoly on the use of force, began to invest in standing national armies. Mercenaries, however, didn’t become extinct but went underground. But after 150 years underground, the private forces were regurgitated in just a few decades of the 20th and 21st centuries and are now growing at an alarming rate in all the domains of war — land, sea, air, and cyber. In fact, as war studies professor Sean McFate says, “In less than 20 years, the private force has proliferated among every (war) domain except space, but that too may change.” It is also big business. “No one truly knows how many billions of dollars slosh around this illicit market. All we know is that business is booming. Recent years have seen major mercenary activity in Yemen, Nigeria, Ukraine, Syria, and Iraq. Many of these for-profit warriors outclass local militaries, and a few can even stand up to America’s most elite forces,” says McFate. The modern mercenaries also frown on their old moniker. Private sector fighters and their employers instead sport euphemistic labels like private military contractors, private security companies, private military companies, private security/military companies, private military firms, military service providers, operational contractors, and contingency contractors. The proliferation of this new warrior class only proves, says McFate, the commodification of modern armed conflict. But other than the marketization of war, mercenaries also informally act as a proxy force fighting on behalf of the geopolitical agendas of the world’s great powers that refuse to let their own troops bleed in unconventional war zones. In fact, the Wagner Group — named after the German composer Richard Wagner — had for years followed “Mr. Putin’s shadowy geopolitical bidding in nations abroad and suffered profound losses on the battlefield in Ukraine before turning its sights on Russia itself.” Filipinos, meanwhile, aren’t strangers to mercenary lucre either. McFate, who once worked in the industry, says, “I worked alongside ex–special forces troops from places like the Philippines, Colombia, and South Africa. We did the same missions, but they got developing world wages and I did not. Mercenaries are just like T-shirts — they are cheaper in developing countries. Call it the globalization of private force.” In my personal knowledge, too, scores of former members of the elite Presidential Security Group or PSG took jobs as “embarked security” on international ships plying pirate waters in the Gulf of Aden, Strait of Malacca, and the Gulf of Guinea. As expected, the former PSG guys were reticent about their “privateer” contracts with London-based private security firms. But McFate explains: “Here’s how it works. Armed contractors sit on ‘arsenal ships’ in pirate waters and chopper to a client freighter or tanker when called. Once aboard, they act as ‘embarked security,’ hardening the ship with razor wire and protecting it with high-caliber firepower. After the ship gets through pirate waters, the team returns to its arsenal ship and awaits the next client.” Email: nevqjr@yahoo.com.ph The post Mercenary attitude appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
De-risking a false proposition — Chinese premier
Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Tuesday called the West’s move to “de-risk” the global economy a false proposition. Speaking to business delegates to the World Economic Forum in the port city of Tianjin in northern China, Li said “the development of economic globalization is such that the world economy has become a common entity in which you and I are both intermingled.” “The economies of many countries are blended with each other, rely on each other, make accomplishments because of one another, and develop together,” he added. “This is actually a good thing, not a bad thing.” The WEF, known colloquially as the “Summer Davos,” is the first of its kind after a three-year hiatus caused by the Covid pandemic. It will last until Thursday. The post De-risking a false proposition — Chinese premier appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bill seeking PNP structural reforms hailed
The Philippine National Police on Thursday said it welcomes the measure seeking to restructure and strengthen the PNP organization, creating additional police offices and appropriating funds to support these reforms. Expressing his gratitude, PNP Chief Benjamin Acorda Jr. extended his thanks to Congress and the National Police Commission for their efforts in prioritizing the restructuring and strengthening of the PNP organization. He acknowledged the necessity of these amendments to empower the PNP and equip it with the tools and structure needed to address contemporary law enforcement challenges effectively. “I must emphasize that this proposal goes beyond making changes to our organization; it represents a profound commitment to making a positive impact on the communities we serve. We have persevered through various legislative attempts, undeterred by previous disapprovals of the PNP reorganization plan,” Acorda said in a statement. The proposed amendments to Republic Act 6975 and RA 8551 are gaining traction in Congress an act restructuring the PNP, creating additional police offices, and appropriating funds therefore, amending for the purpose sections 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 35, 35-a, 36, 67 and 67-a of Republic Act 6975, otherwise known as the “Department of the Interior and Local Government act of 1990,” as amended, and section 32 of republic act no. 8551, otherwise known as the Philippine National Police Reform and reorganization act of 1998. The House Committee on Public Order and Safety chaired by Representative Dan S. Fernandez, has recommended the approval of the proposed substitute bill, House Bill 8327, which consolidates House Joint Resolution 11 and House Bills 5229 and 7351. The bill’s principal authors include esteemed representatives Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, Manuel Jose “Mannix” M. Dalipe, Sancho Fernando “Ando” F. Oaminal, Jorge “PATROL” Bustos and Samier A. Tan, among others. The primary objective of the proposed amendments is to empower the PNP to effectively respond to the evolving landscape of law enforcement. The bill recognizes the need for the PNP to address issues such as kidnapping, human trafficking, terrorism, cyber crimes, illegal drugs, and public safety concerns, including effective humanitarian assistance and disaster response. It also takes into account emerging threats and the impact of globalization and technological advancements. Acorda also expressed his sincere gratitude to the chief PNP retired Gen. Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr., who eagerly pursued this legislative agenda along with him is the able chairman of its committee, Lt. Gen. Rhodel O. Sermonia, Maj. Gen. Robert T. Rodriguez, the Director for Personnel and Records Management, and Maj. Gen. Bernard M. Banac, the Director for Plans, and other members and secretariat who worked together tirelessly from planning until submission of the proposal to the House of Representatives. “Let us remember that this proposed reorganization is not just a matter of policy; it is an investment in the future of our country. By empowering the PNP to be more efficient and effective, we are fostering an environment where our people can live in peace, security, and prosperity. Together, let us build a nation where the rule of law prevails, where justice is served, and where the rights of every Filipino are protected,” Acorda said. With the approval of the substitute bill by the House Committee on Public Order and Safety, it has now moved to the Committee on Rules for consideration on the second reading. The proposed amendments hold significant national importance, providing an opportunity to fortify the PNP’s capabilities and ensure the safety and security of the Filipino people. As the legislative process continues, the proposed bill will undergo further deliberations and revisions to fine-tune its provisions. In the pursuit of restructuring and strengthening the PNP organization, the proposed amendments aim to modernize law enforcement and equip the PNP with the necessary tools to combat emerging threats in the Philippines. The post Bill seeking PNP structural reforms hailed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Canadian vlogger Kulas now a brand-new Filipino citizen
Senators on Monday unanimously granted Canadian vlogger Kyle Douglas “Kulas” Jennerman Filipino citizenship. During a plenary session, the Senate approved on third and final reading House Bill 7185, which seek the naturalization of Jennerman, with 24 affirmative votes, zero negative votes and no abstentions. Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa lauded Jennerman, saying the latter's wholehearted embrace of the Philippines was "clear from the beginning" by naming his social page "Becoming Filipino." “Perhaps, this is a pivotal moment in globalization, wherein we learn to love our identity even more as Filipinos, but we learn it also from the eyes of someone we would at first consider a foreigner,” Dela Rosa said. Dela Rosa thanked Jennerman for featuring the Filipino culture and traditions in his vlogs, and especially for bringing pride to “Bisayang Dako” or the native Visayan people. “Many of us have learned to love our country even more because of your example. Thank you for learning, thank you for staying,” the senator told Jennerman. Senator Joel Villanueva described Jennerman as an exceptional“, while Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri congratulated Jennerman for his successful application to become a Filipino citizen. “I trust that you will live up to this great gift given to you by the Filipino people. You have already done so much to promote our country, to Filipinos and nationals alike, and we look forward to your future contributions as you champion the country that you call now your home. Maybe you can change the name of your vlog from ‘Becoming a Filipino’ to ‘I am a Filipino.' Congratulations, my dear friend,” said Zubiri. Jennerman has been staying in the country for 10 years. Zubiri, Villanueva and Senator Sonny Angara had earlier filed bills for the naturalization of Jennerman. The post Canadian vlogger Kulas now a brand-new Filipino citizen appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Above all, we need peace
It is a great honor to stand before you today to receive the Carlos V European Award. Naturally, I am well aware that this award is not for me alone. I am receiving it also on behalf of the entire United Nations, and for that reason I feel even prouder. Carlos V was not only an emperor but also a man — a man of contrasts. Someone who represented, as few people could, both the progress as well as the challenges and constraints of his era. His reign contributed to the emergence of globalization, thanks in part to the first circumnavigation of the globe which, as you know, served to demonstrate that the Earth is a sphere. That circumnavigation was initially led by a compatriot of mine, Ferdinand Magellan, but was completed by a Spaniard, Juan Sebastián Elcano. We have just celebrated the 500th anniversary of that event. And since commemoration means bringing the past into the present, taking stock and seeing how we are faring, what better occasion to reflect on how much our planet has changed since then. Five centuries later, how would one go about explaining how our world has changed? No doubt he would be fascinated to see how Europe has changed, the union that has been achieved despite centuries of conflict. To see that today, on this continent and beyond, former enemies are now partners in trade, leadership and progress. But he would probably also be surprised to know that, today, those values are still being put to the test. That war is not a thing of the past. That divisions remain and are even growing. That we are burning down our only home. That families are being forced to flee — from war or extreme climate events — on a scale we have not seen in decades. That hunger and poverty are still with us. Yes, some things are difficult to explain — and even more difficult to excuse — to someone that lived more than 500 years ago. As we consider the complex legacy of Carlos V and the global nature of his empire, we can find inspiration to rediscover the universal values, principles and ideas that unite us as a human family. Never since the creation of the United Nations and the European Union have these values been so threatened. Therefore, we must raise our voices today and reaffirm those values. And above all, we need peace. The United Nations, as well as the European Union, were created in the name of peace, after the horror of two world wars. Peace remains our North Star and our most precious goal. Yet the struggle for peace may seem at times like a Sisyphean task. We live in a world today in which peace is elusive and fragile. Violence is rampant in too many corners of the globe. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which is a violation of the Charter of the United Nations and international law, is causing massive suffering and devastation to the country and its people and comes on top of the worldwide economic dislocation triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic. Wars and humanitarian crises are spreading, sometimes before our very eyes, but often far from the spotlight. They are more complex, and interconnected, and their impact is growing by the day. Peace must never be underestimated or taken for granted. We must work to make peace and to keep it, every day, tirelessly. In a world that is tearing itself apart, we must heal divisions, prevent escalation and listen to grievances. Instead of bullets, we need diplomatic arsenals. This is what is set out in the Charter of the United Nations. Negotiation, mediation, conciliation, arbitration: We must try everything to settle our disputes by peaceful means. Of course, there will be lasting peace only if we achieve the full participation and leadership of women at the decision-making table. Now is the time to reaffirm the primacy of peace. Peace among people and peace with nature. Because the war we are waging against our planet is putting humanity’s very survival in danger. Climate chaos is unleashing fires, floods, drought, like here in Spain, and other extreme weather events on every continent. Each year these events are uprooting millions of people who often have to seek refuge in countries and communities that are equally vulnerable. We know that this exacerbates tensions and ignites conflicts. Taking action for our planet is taking action for peace. Hate speech, the polarization, racism and xenophobia are spreading at the speed of a mouse click. In the face of rising xenophobia, racism and extremism, we must defend our common humanity. Today more than ever, in our divided world, building bridges is the only option. *** Excerpts from the UN Secretary-General’s remarks to the Carlos V European Award, Yuste Monastery, Spain, 9 May 2023 The post Above all, we need peace appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Why take over all SIM cards?
A Subscriber Identity Module is, per se, unique to the user. With RA 11934 making SIM registration mandatory, is there foolproof protection left against privacy, identity theft, hackers, and scammers when a “ghost” other than the user gains access to a lot of information and data stored in it? There is neither empirical evidence nor robust studies to validate how mandatory registration lowers crime rates or helps in crime detection. What if those behind surveillance systems render rich businessmen, investors and captains of industry easy prey since a broad range of financial transactions could be tracked or in the case of political activists, red-tagging be made systematically worse? With the explosion of technologies that flattens the world and where knowledge and resources are connecting all over the planet as never before, we should benefit from all it has to offer. In our geopolitical milieu, it has hardly made any headway as a “force for good — for business, the environment and people everywhere” precisely because the bureaucratic norm appears to purposely digress from where globalization is about to take us. The officialdom’s rather “damaged psyche” has made top bureaucrats repressive to the point Congress has even legislated against the open and uninterrupted use of electronic gadgets to keep connected with the world or with every man on earth. The ruling class in our midst wants to “deactivate” our connectedness unto one another unless we have registered our SIMs. Our policymakers should return to the old order some 40 years ago and stick their lives with it as they have proved to be an anachronism of our modernizing times. The SIM card registration issue is short of an invasive approach to police the range and whole breadth of our connectedness where the rest of humankind benefits. Government meddles in all our affairs even as it lacks the agency to run after those using technologies for crime-related activities. Worse, what if an enforcement job is transformed into a profitable cottage industry? Just when the “cost of communication is falling towards zero,” regulatory operatives are reposed with duties too vulnerable to abuse. What the present and past dispensations have done — and they are good at it — is to take us back to the “unflat world.” In so doing, have they not become the new “identity thieves, hackers and scammers” with full access to our financial accounts and over our private and public affairs? It’s like burning the house to get rid of the rat. We must find instructive what Winston Churchill said: “To build may have to be the slow and laborious task of years. To destroy could be the thoughtless act of a single day.” What metrics could have led police or crime-detection officials to equate cell phones with guns? The state requires permits from everyone rather than applies the whip to criminal-specific targets undertaking their unlawful tradecraft with the use of loose SIMs. In no time, the next public signs might read from “No guns allowed” to “No cellphones allowed” in banks, corporate boardrooms and conferences — out of fear of fictional crimes. Our police operatives, policymakers and bureaucrats are way behind tech-wise to even regulate, apply fines and penalties, and exert censorship on global technology. What if our regulatory agents block SMS messages on our cellphones on the unfounded suspicion that some of us are communists, destabilizers, or influential critics as they did in China after the infamous Tiananmen Square massacre on 4 June 1989 when government censors were blocking messages using jamming technology? The absence of legal safeguards to protect against abuse matters. That’s when it creates a chilling effect on people’s rights under pain of systematic suppression. It is therefore the proper subject of judicial oversight given the inherent dangers of a broad-spectrum access to subscriber’s data on all fronts. Absent a comprehensive data protection infrastructure to protect the personal details and data of subscribers — unique to them — this disconcerting policy has to be assailed. The post Why take over all SIM cards? appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Lea tops website’s list of famous Pinoy singers
Lea Salonga topped the list of “20 Famous Filipino Singers” collated by the website singersroom.com. recently. While the choice for the “Miss Saigon” and “Les Miserable” star was hard to contest, some of the entries in the list were subject to debate – mainly by netizens whose idols may not be on the list. Still, the website, obviously coming from the point of view of an outsider, got it right when it said Filipino music “has been celebrated for its emotional depth, catchy melodies, and relatable lyrics that speak to the human experience.” It also pointed out that the choices were based on popularity. A brilliant excuse for omitting such beloved singers like Basil Valdez, Zsa Zsa Padilla and Rico J. Puno. “In this era of globalization, the influence of Filipino music is continuing to spread and gain recognition, making it an exciting time for Filipino singers and music enthusiasts alike,” the website added. It, however, included Bella Poarch, the Fil-American singer and multimedia personality. If that was the yardstick, then maybe Vanessa Hudgens and Olivia Rodrigo should have been there, too? Anyway, finishing second to Salonga at No. 2 was “Asia’s Songbird” herself Regine Velasquez followed in order by Gary Valenciano, Jed Madela, Apl.de.ap, Sarah Geronimo, Arnel Pineda, Ice Seguerra, KZ Tandingan, Moira dela Torre, Kyla, Kuh Ledesma, Jonalyn Viray, Poarch, Freddie Aguilar, Rachelle Anne Go, Sharon Cuneta, Francis Magalona, Bamboo and Angeline Quinto. The post Lea tops website’s list of famous Pinoy singers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Mapua trailblazes road to globalization of education in Philippines
With the technological breakthrough brought about by the use of online tools at the height of the pandemic, Philippine schools quickly adapted to the digital transformation to ensure the continuity of learning through a health crisis......»»