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Amazon launches test satellites in challenge to Musk’s Starlink
Amazon launched two satellites on Friday as part of its plan to deliver the internet from space and compete with Elon Musk's Starlink service. The Atlas V rocket carrying the satellites lifted off from Cape Canaveral in Florida at 2:06 pm local time (6:06 pm GMT). The launch was carried out by the United Launch Alliance (ULA) industrial group, a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin. Once up and running, the company founded by Jeff Bezos says its Project Kuiper will provide "fast, affordable broadband to unserved and underserved communities around the world," with a constellation of more than 3,200 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO). "We've done extensive testing here in our lab and have a high degree of confidence in our satellite design, but there's no substitute for on-orbit testing," said Rajeev Badyal, Project Kuiper's vice president of technology. The company has said it would invest $10 billion in the project and has booked 77 heavy-lift launches with commercial providers Arianespace, ULA, and Bezos-owned Blue Origin. The first operational satellites of the Kuiper project are due to be launched in early 2024, according to Amazon, which hopes for initial tests with customers at the end of next year. The test on Friday attempted to establish contact between the probes and Earth, deploy their solar panels, and confirm that all instruments are operating correctly and at the desired temperatures. The two prototypes will then be removed from orbit and disintegrated in the Earth's atmosphere at the end of the test mission. These services are designed to provide internet access to even the most remote and underserved areas around the world, including war zones or disaster-struck areas. Musk's SpaceX launched the first batch of its more than 3,700 operational Starlink satellites in 2019 and is by far the biggest player. Musk's ownership of Starlink caused uproar in Ukraine last month when it was revealed that he refused to turn on the service for a planned attack by Kyiv forces on Russia's Black Sea navy fleet last year. London-headquartered OneWeb is another early entrant in the emerging sector. Given the technology's strategic importance, governments are also keen to join the rush into the sector. China plans to launch 13,000 satellites as part of its GuoWang constellation, while Canada's Telesat will add 300 and German start-up Rivada is eyeing 600. That will be in addition to the European Union's Iris project -- 170 satellites -- and the 300-500 satellites planned to be launched by the US military's Space Development Agency. The post Amazon launches test satellites in challenge to Musk’s Starlink appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Makati subway facing delays due to SC ruling
The Makati City subway project, the first underground railway project undertaken by a local government unit, is facing another headwind after its alignment was adversely affected by the tug-of-war between the cities of Makati and Taguig over territorial disputes. In a stock report on Wednesday, private proponent Philippine Infradev Holdings, Inc. disclosed that the project alignment is no longer viable as the depot and a few stations, which were supposed to traverse through Makati City properties, were found to be within the jurisdiction of Taguig City instead as ruled by the Supreme Court or SC. "Under the Joint Venture Agreement executed between the Makati City Government and the Company, the depot and a few stations of the Makati City subway system will be in the affected areas. Also, the alignment of the subway will no longer be feasible," the company informed the stock exchange. Particularly, the SC decision affected the Makati City subway project's depot in Cembo as well as the planned stations in the University of Makati in West Rembo, and Ospital ng Makati in Pembo. Thus, Infradev said it has reached out to the Makati City government, through an Intent Notice, to discuss the next course of action that they should take following the SC order. In April 2022, the SC Third Division ruled with finality that the disputed areas, Bonifacio Global City and nearby Enlisted Men’s Barrio or EMBO barangays, were under Taguig City's jurisdictions. However, before Taguig City’s courts assume pending litigations over the said areas, which used to be part of Makati, it first needs to secure a writ of execution. A writ of execution is a legal order issued by a court that qualifies the enforcement of a judgment or court decision. In 2019, the Makati City Government signed the Joint Venture Agreement with Infradev and its partner after the company hurdled the competitive Swiss Challenge and obtained approval for the construction, operation, and management of the intra-city subway. Under the joint venture, Makati would only contribute land it currently owns for the project. The subway aims to connect key points in Makati like the current Central Business District at the corner of Ayala and Sen. Gil Puyat Avenues, Circuit City, Makati City Hall, University of Makati, Ospital ng Makati and other new growth areas within the city. The subway is planned to have up to 10 air-conditioned, underground island stations whose entrances will be linked to destinations across the city. The project can accommodate up to six-car trains, with room for over 200 persons per car, with more than 700,000 passengers per day to be accommodated and served by the proposed mass transport system. The post Makati subway facing delays due to SC ruling appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Designer Jie -jie Aisa on muse Nikki de Moura
So far, the city of Cagayan de Oro in Mindanao has produced two beauties of international caliber: Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach and Miss InterContinental 2021 Cinderella Faye Elle “Cindy” Obeñita. Hoping to make it a Beauty Queen Trinity is Nikki Advincula de Moura, the newly crowned Miss Grand Philippines who will compete for the global title in Vietnam come October. [caption id="attachment_173643" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Miss Grand Philippines 2023 Nikki de Moura, wearing a terno by Jie-jie Aisa, in front of the Saint Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral in Cagayan de Oro. | Photograph Courtesy of James Paculba.[/caption] There are great expectations that De Moura, who is of exquisite mix of Brazilian and Filipino blood, will finally snatch the elusive Miss Grand International crown. Helping her to achieve this feat is her glam team from Cebu and her beauty camp in her native CDO. At the national finals, De Moura wore a creation by Eclectic Image Fashion Studio by Jie-jie Aisa for the national costume competition. It was called “Oportunidad de Oro” or “Golden Opportunities,” inspired by the city’s mythical golden fish which is believed to be its protector. It was one of the top five in the category. For her homecoming after her victory, De Moura once again wore a Jie-jie Aisa creation. “The gown beautifully blends two symbolic colors — green, representing unity and #KaubanTaUY, and gold, paying homage to CDO’s renowned title as the City of Golden Friendship,” the designer noted. “A true embodiment of grace and local pride, Nikki shines bright during her homecoming motorcade, capturing hearts of Kagay-anons and embodying the essence of this remarkable city. Thank you to LGU-CDO headed by Mayor Rolando ‘Klarex’ Uy for making this possible.” Incidentally, the bustling city is in the midst of celebrating its Higalaay Festival, a major highlight of which is the Mindanao Fashion Summit from 23 to 25 August at the Ayala Centrio Mall. As the president of the Designer’s Assembly, Jie-jie will lead his group’s presentation on the second day, 24 August. “As the president, my key duties and responsibilities encompass leading and guiding the organization’s strategic direction, fostering a collaborative environment among budding designers, overseeing project initiatives, coordinating events and workshops and representing the interests of our members within the design community,” the genial designer said. “I am dedicated to ensuring the growth and success of our group by nurturing creativity, facilitating skill development and promoting meaningful engagement within the design industry.” On the eve of the 12th Mindanao Fashion Summit, the designer, who considers Gil Macaiba III, the late Benjie S. Manuel and Cary Santiago as influences, recounts his collaborative relationship with his muse, De Moura. Origins “My acquaintance with Nikki de Moura developed through mutual connections within the fashion and pageant industry. Our paths crossed after a local beauty camp in Cebu City introduced her to our camp in Cagayan de Oro City, the #TeamAmega. Since I am the official designer of our beauty camp, I had the opportunity to design her creative national costume as well as her outfits during her homecoming. “The idea of a creative collaboration for her gowns/outfits emerged organically from recognizing the synergy between our camp’s visions, we jointly initiated the collaboration, fueled by a shared passion for crafting unique and captivating ensembles that would resonate with her style and my design expertise.” Muse “Nikki exemplifies the essence of a stunning Jie-jie Aisa muse through her remarkable blend of grace, confidence and distinctive style. Her ability to effortlessly carry both traditional and contemporary ensembles reflects the dynamic spirit of the Jie-jie Aisa brand. Nikki’s poise and fashion-forward sensibilities resonate with the brand’s commitment to celebrating cultural heritage while embracing modern aesthetics. As a local fashion designer, collaborating with such a muse has been an inspiring journey, elevating my creations to new heights of elegance and sophistication.” Collaborations “Throughout the collaboration between myself as a local fashion designer and Nikki, we found common ground in our enthusiasm for integrating indigenous design elements into the collection. However, there were nuanced differences in our visions, particularly concerning the color palette’s vibrancy and the extent of embellishments. By fostering open dialogue and embracing a spirit of mutual respect, we arrived at a compromise that elegantly balanced the client’s preference for a more subdued palette with my inclination for bolder accents. This harmonious negotiation resulted in a collection that seamlessly reflects both Nikki’s refined taste and my artistic perspective.” Pride “I am immensely proud of Nikki’s accomplishments, both as Miss Teen Philippines 2019 and more recently as Miss Grand Philippines 2023. These achievements reflect not only her individual dedication and perseverance but also the embodiment of our nation’s beauty, talent and grace on esteemed platforms. Nikki’s success brings honor not just to herself but also to the Philippines, and it is a privilege to have contributed to my journey as a local fashion designer. Her victories inspire me to continue creating designs that complement and enhance the remarkable qualities of individuals like Nikki.” Preparations “From our perspective, the entire #TeamAmega is wholeheartedly committed to providing unwavering support to Nikki during her time in Vietnam. As for her national costume, we are awaiting confirmation from the Miss Grand Philippines Organization regarding my potential involvement in designing her ensemble. Rest assured we are eagerly prepared to contribute our expertise to ensure her representation is nothing short of exceptional.” Challenges “As a designer, crafting pageant gowns presents a unique set of challenges that require a delicate balance between artistic expression and meeting specific criteria. Ensuring that the gown captures the contestant’s individuality while aligning with the pageant’s theme and standards demands meticulous attention to detail. “Additionally, incorporating elements that reflect cultural authenticity and modern aesthetics requires thoughtful navigation. The challenge lies in harmonizing these diverse aspects to create a gown that not only enhances the contestant’s beauty and confidence but also makes a lasting impression on the judges and audience.” “Working with beauty queens brings its own distinct dynamic compared to designing for everyday women. Beauty queens possess a heightened sense of stage presence and a requirement for gowns that accentuate their elegance under the spotlight. The meticulous attention to fit, silhouette and materials is magnified.” The post Designer Jie -jie Aisa on muse Nikki de Moura appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DENR, UNDP other countries commits to Circular Economy through EPR
The Philippines produces 163 million plastic sachet packets, 48 million shopping bags and 45 million thin-film bags daily. Thirty-three percent of these are disposed of in landfills and dump sites, while 35 percent are leaked into the open environment and oceans. These are the primary reasons why the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act of 2022 or Republic Act 11898 has been enacted to ensure full compliance of industries related to plastic use and production. Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga tackled this over the weekend during the launching of LOOPFORWARD, a joint undertaking between the DENR and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Pasay City. “The EPR Act institutionalized the extended producer responsibility mechanism as a practical approach to efficient waste management, focusing on waste reduction, recovery and recycling and the development of environment-friendly products that advocate the internationally-accepted principles on sustainable consumption and production, circular economy and producers’ full responsibility throughout the life cycle of their product,” Loyzaga said in her speech delivered in front of UNDP Resident Representative Selva Ramachandran, Japan, Germany, Spain, US and the European Union representatives along with EPR author Senator Cynthia Villar. "Climate and environmental risks make up the majority of global risks perception in the next decade. So thus we need sustained, concerted, and evidence-informed investments and actions to protect and enhance our natural ecosystem environmental protection for all the different ecosystems that we have from land and sea, and of course we know that environmental protection, our ecosystems, biodiversity and climate change are inextricably linked. A failure in one of these dimensions will cascade well into the other," Loyzaga explained. In the Philippine setting, she cited that 61,000 million metric tons of waste were generated daily. Between 12 to 24 percent of these are plastic waste in various forms. According to a World Bank study conducted in 2019, Loyzaga said, it was reported that around 70 percent of the material value of plastics is lost to the Philippine economy each year. "This is equivalent to roughly a value loss of $790 million to $890 million per year," Loyzaga further explained. "As a country, we are in pursuit of the right combination of science and technology, policy and practice. Locally and through our global partners we are trying to make this possible just as we are discovering the true value of our global capital. The science, engineering, technology and innovation that support circularity are within reach by tapping into expertise both nationally and internationally," she added. Ramachandran, on the other hand, said that while there was significant progress over the last century, the growth was accompanied by excessive abuse of resources and environmental degradation. “The 2023 Circularity Gap Report indicates that only 7.2 percent of the global economy is circular. The rising extraction and use of material has shrunk global circularity from 9.1 percent in 2018 to 7.2 percent in 2023. This leaves a significant circularity gap. The world almost exclusively relies on new materials, more than 90 percent of materials are either wasted, lost or remain unavailable for reuse for years,” Ramachandran said. He added that studies place the Philippines among the highest ocean plastic waste polluters globally. According to Ramachandran, the challenge at hand is how to leapfrog the implementation of EPR in the Philippines. “We can no longer afford to remain business-as-usual and only focus on downstream solutions. We challenge the obliged enterprises to put more focus on waste avoidance and reduction, including through product redesign to improve reusability, recyclability or retrievability, and employing reuse and refill strategies," the UNDP Resident Representative said. “LOOPFORWARD: Linking Opportunities and Partnerships Towards ,” campaign was launched for full compliance and effective implementation of the EPR Act of 2022 by industries and other entities through attainment of time-bound waste recovery targets. It highlights the relevance of the EPR concept and law, gain better understanding among its stakeholders, and convene and gain commitments from the country’s biggest private firms referred to as the “obliged enterprises” under the law. It also seeks to gather support and open possible areas for collaboration among national government agencies, local government units, and development partners. The EPR approach is practiced in many countries around the world. It focuses on waste reduction, recovery, and recycling, and the development of environment-friendly products that advocate the internationally-accepted principles of sustainable consumption and production, and the circular economy. The DENR is the lead implementer of the EPR law and the LOOPFORWARD campaign. The campaign is supported by the CCC and the governments of Germany, Spain, and the European Union under the NDC Support Project for the Philippines, as well as the Government of Japan through the Accelerating NDC through Circular Economy in the Cities Project. The post DENR, UNDP other countries commits to Circular Economy through EPR appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
ICC keep out
The position of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to end any engagement with the International Criminal Court since it is a waste of time and government resources is appropriate since the same position was taken by two magistrates of the tribunal. Judge Marc Perrin de Brichambaut, the presiding officer of the ICC pre-trial chamber, and Judge Gocha Lordkipanidze, who both voted against continuing an investigation into the war on drugs, opined that the Court could not exercise jurisdiction over the Philippines since the country had withdrawn from the Rome Statute before former Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda requested authorization to commence an investigation. “In the present situation, it would be counter-productive and a waste of the Court’s resources to allow an investigation to proceed, only to declare later in the proceedings, when a challenge is made with respect to a specific case arising from this very situation, that the Court has no jurisdiction,” the dissenting judges said. President Marcos put a period to the ICC debate on Friday, saying the government would no longer be in touch with the international tribunal after it rejected the Philippine government’s plea to suspend its investigation into former president Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drugs campaign. “We will no longer negotiate with the ICC. Just as we were saying from the start, we will not cooperate with them in any way, shape, or form,” Marcos stated firmly. “So, I suppose that puts an end to our dealings with the ICC.” Moreover, Marcos said his administration would “continue to question” the ICC’s jurisdiction in investigating the Philippines’ drug war. “Why would the issue be raised in The Hague? It should be discussed here. That’s it. We have no appeals pending. We have no more actions being taken,” the President said. Last March, the ICC denied the Philippines’ plea to suspend its investigation “in the absence of persuasive reasons in support of ordering suspensive effect.” Before the statement of Marcos, the government submitted a notice of appeal in February and an appeal brief in March to suspend the probe after the ICC authorized its prosecutor, Karim Khan, to investigate alleged crimes committed during the war on drugs of the previous administration. In March 2018, then-president Duterte ordered the Philippines’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute that created the ICC after former prosecutor Fatou Bensouda continued with his preliminary examination. The Philippines formally cut ties with the ICC on 17 March 2019, exactly a year after the revocation of the Rome Statute. In September 2021, the ICC launched a formal inquiry into the drug war but suspended it two months later after the Philippine government vowed to re-examine the cases in question. The ICC prosecutor in June 2022 requested to reopen the inquiry as it was “not satisfied” with what the Philippines was doing. According to the two dissenting justices, the issue of jurisdiction was not properly addressed in the ICC proceedings. They said: “While the Pre-Trial Chamber had already made similar findings on jurisdiction in its previous Article 15 decision, which are referred to in the Impugned Decision, Article 15 of the Statute does not foresee the participation of the State concerned in the relevant proceedings, and the Statute does not provide for the possibility of a State to file an appeal against a pre-trial chamber’s ruling in the context of Article 15 proceedings.” The dissent indicated that “the Philippines was neither a party nor a participant in the Article 15 proceedings in this situation. It is only in the context of Article 18 proceedings that the Philippines had the opportunity to raise the issue of the Court’s jurisdiction.” The point raised by the magistrates was that the appeal was made on a different provision of the Rome Statute which was not properly addressed by the pre-trial chamber. “As such, we consider that the Philippines’ challenge regarding the Court’s jurisdiction is properly raised on appeal and the Appeals Chamber should have addressed it on the merits,” according to the dissenters. The ICC may have some deeper agenda in proceeding with the probe considering that even its judges believe that what will be undertaken is a waste of time. Closing the door on the prejudiced tribunal was the correct move in protecting the nation as a sovereign state. The post ICC keep out appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bong Go inspects Super Health Center in Tagbilaran, Bohol
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go emphasized the significance of health facilities in the country as he personally inspected the Super Health Center being constructed in Tagbilaran City, Bohol on Monday, July 17. In his speech, Go shared that the government intends to establish more than 600 Super Health Centers across the nation. He added that such centers are poised to play a crucial role in addressing the nation's healthcare needs, ensuring comprehensive medical care and strengthening the country's healthcare system. “Itong Super Health Center marami rin ang itatayo sa buong Pilipinas, higit 600 ang itatayo (sa buong Pilipinas) at 13 sa Bohol ang itatayo na Super Health Center. Ang Super Health Center is a medium type of a polyclinic. Mas maliit sa hospital, mas malaki po sa mga Rural Health Unit. Pwede po diyan ‘yung birthing, panganganak, dental, laboratory, x-ray at pwede po itong i-expand,” he explained. Accessibility is a key pillar of the Super Health Center initiative, Go underscored. He likewise emphasized the importance of bringing healthcare services closer to the people, especially in areas where access to quality medical care remains a challenge. By establishing Super Health Centers throughout the country, the government aims to ensure that every Filipino, regardless of their location, can avail themselves of essential healthcare services without the burden of long-distance travel or prohibitive costs, the senator added. The Super Health Center is a medium version of a polyclinic yet an improved version of the rural health unit. The services available in the center include 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 center; and telemedicine, which makes remote diagnosis and treatment of patients possible. In Bohol, aside from the one in Tagbilaran City, funds have been allocated to construct Super Health Centers in Buenavista, Candijay, Dauis, Sagbayan, Talibon, Antequera, Balilihan, Bien Unido, Carmen, Panglao and Ubay — the last one’s groundbreaking was attended by Go last April. During the inspection, Go, who is an adopted son of the city, was accompanied by Tagbilaran City Mayor Jane Yap, Vice Mayor Adam Jala, and former mayor Baba Yap. Cortes Mayor Iven Lim and Dauis Vice Mayor Miriam Sumaylo were also in attendance. As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and principal author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, Go also continues to monitor the operations of Malasakit Centers nationwide to ensure efficient provision of medical assistance particularly to poor and indigent patients. Acknowledging the hesitancy of many Filipinos to get medical care due to financial barriers, Go initiated the Malasakit Centers program in 2018. It was later institutionalized under the Republic Act No. 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019. The Act brings together all relevant agencies, including the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, under one roof to reduce the hospital expenses of the patients by covering services and other fees. “Special ang araw ngayon dahil nandito at sinamahan tayo ng numero uno na senador sa lugar ng Tagbilaran (City), walang iba (kundi si) Senador Bong Go! A very (good) example kung gaano kabilis at aksyon agad ng atin senador, last week tumawag kami ni Baba Yap sa kanya (kasi) may isang pasyente sa San Isidro na nangangailangan ng kidney transplant. Ngayon ang kanyang operasyon at (tumulong si) Senador Bong Go through the Malasakit Center,” cited Mayor Yap. In the city, there is a Malasakit Center at Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Medical Center (GCGMH), which he also checked the operations on the same day. There is also one at Don Emilio Del Valle Memorial Hospital in Ubay. Go, as principal sponsor in the Senate, was also instrumental in the passage of Republic Act No. 11883 which converts GCGMH to Governor Celestino Gallares Multi-Specialty Medical Complex. On the same day, Go also visited several infrastructure projects that he earlier supported. These projects included the ongoing construction of the Governor Celestino Gallares Multispecialty Medical Complex, as well as the Cortes Municipal Park and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management building in Cortes. Additionally, he also attended the opening of the Inter-Barangay Basketball League in Cortes town and provided assistance to indigent athletes, coaches, referees, and barangay workers of the town. Lastly, he also attended the 73rd Commencement Exercise of Bohol Institute of Technology International College System. #### The post Bong Go inspects Super Health Center in Tagbilaran, Bohol appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
UST’s Cerebro fuels mentoring
Educators face a formidable challenge behind school offices and classroom doors, particularly in teaching their subjects effectively. Yet, what may seem like a hurdle for most has sparked an incredible innovation journey for Justine Itugot, a teacher and CEO of startup Cerebro. Similar to the well-known Learning Management Systems such as BlackBoard and Canvas, Cerebro is also used to organize, execute and evaluate specific learning processes. Cerebro’s competitive advantage lies in providing standard materials for general education subjects designed specifically for the K-12 market, allowing teachers to save time on preparation. It helps teachers save up to 400 hours of teaching time. However, in contrast to the founders of BlackBoard and Canvas, who were experienced entrepreneurs, teachers run Cerebro, and the challenge lies in making their venture profitable. To hone their business skills, the team opted to join several start-up incubator programs, one of which was the TOMASinno Center of the University of Santo Tomas. Cerebro is now being used by 30 schools, among the prominent ones is the San Sebastian College. Program catalyst Itugot recalled the role of the National Service Training Program during his college years at UST, delivered online by the non-teaching staff. This program became the catalyst for the creation of his venture in 2019. “I would often wonder how they managed to teach NSTP, and the explanation was that all the resources they required were already available, so all they had to worry about was how to conduct the lesson,” he stated. Itugot began his journey by creating a website for e-learning, despite limited computer systems and website development skills. Simultaneously, he established a tutoring center in Cavite City with his co-teachers. They noticed that students were enrolling in subjects outside their specialized knowledge. Itugot then collected learning resources from expert teachers in those subjects and integrated them into his e-learning platform, laying the foundation for his innovative education venture. Filling the gaps Itugot and his team actively engaged in multiple start-up programs, including the premier Philippine acceleration program called IdeaSpace. Yet, he acknowledged that there was still a knowledge gap that needed to be filled, which led him to officially become an incubatee of UST on 23 March 2022. “The UST incubation program is essentially a return to fundamentals, contrasting with acceleration programs that prioritize rapid growth but may overlook the basics,” the CEO said. Although the university’s incubation program did not provide direct financial grants, Itugot emphasized that it facilitated networking opportunities for incubatees to connect with potential investors. He further mentioned that the program equipped his team with a deeper understanding of their business and enabled them to refine their business strategy. Itugot recalled how Cerebro was able to receive a research and development grant from the Department of Science and Technology on 29 July 2023 after facing two rejections by presenting a comprehensive and well-defended business plan to a panel of experts, all while being supported by the university’s incubation program. Cerebro completed the program on 1 December 2022, with Itugot highlighting the ongoing support received after its conclusion. “Our office is actually located in UST, at the TOMASinno center, and being part of the program has granted us exposure to the vast network of Thomasians and alumni. These connections have been invaluable to us,” he stated. The CEO also noted that the program consistently provides feedback on their business decisions, resembling the guidance typically offered by consultancy services. The post UST’s Cerebro fuels mentoring appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
2,000 hajj pilgrims hit by heat stress
More than 2,000 pilgrims have suffered heat stress during the hajj pilgrimage, Saudi officials said Thursday, after temperatures soared to 48 degrees Celsius (118 degrees Fahrenheit) during the annual rites. Over 1.8 million people performed the days-long hajj, mostly held outdoors at the height of the Saudi desert summer. Many elderly were among the worshippers after a Covid-era maximum age limit was scrapped. Saudi officials said about 1,700 heat stress cases were recorded on Thursday alone -- as huge numbers of pilgrims remain at the holy sites, a day after the main rituals finished -- added to the 287 reported earlier. "The number of heat stress cases since the beginning of this day has reached 1,721," the Saudi health ministry said, urging people to stay out of the sun and drink plenty of water. Officials did not provide a death toll but at least 30 people died during the pilgrimage, according to numbers announced by various countries which did not list causes of death. Iran's oldest pilgrim this year, aged 114, died of a heart attack, the semi-official Fars news agency said, reporting 10 Iranian deaths. Eight Algerians and four Moroccans died, officials said, while an Egyptian pro-government media outlet said eight pilgrims from the country had passed away. Hundreds of people were treated for heart problems, including one 78-year-old Filipino man who had successful open-heart surgery in Mecca, the health ministry said. The real figure for heat stress -- which includes heatstroke, exhaustion, cramps, and rashes -- is probably far higher, as many sufferers were not admitted to hospitals or clinics. People struggling in the heat was a common sight, especially after the day-long outdoor prayers at Mount Arafat where overheating phones shut down and shade was hard to find. The hajj has a history of deadly catastrophes including stampedes and militant attacks, but this year's main challenge came from the extreme temperatures. The kingdom dispatched thousands of paramedics and set up field hospitals to help contain the risks. It was the biggest hajj since 2.5 million visitors came in pre-Covid 2019. The Gulf climate is so harsh that in 2021, the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned parts of it could become uninhabitable by the end of the century due to global warming. Maximum summer temperatures of 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) could become an annual occurrence by the end of the century, experts say. The post 2,000 hajj pilgrims hit by heat stress appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Tied up in court
One of the victims of the “President Injunction” (writ of preliminary injunction) that would have helped consumers wade through the weekly seesaws in prices was the freezing of the Department of Energy’s policy to unbundle the cost of fuel. Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile coined the phrase to criticize the overarching power of judges to decide the fate of business deals and regulatory decisions with the strike of their gavel. DOE Circular 2019-05-0008 or the “Revised Guidelines for the Monitoring of Prices on the Sale of Petroleum Products by the Downstream Oil Industry in the Philippines” would have required oil companies and ultimately pump stations to break down the cost of oil products. The details should have been like the Meralco monthly bills in which consumers have a fair knowledge of where their hard-earned money is spent. San Miguel Corp. energy arm Petron Corp., however, secured in 2019 a TRO against the DoE order, guess where? In an eight-page order, the Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court granted Petron’s application for a WPI against the DoE following an earlier 20-day temporary restraining order on the oil refiner’s petition filed on 25 June 2019. The Mandaluyong RTC found a “clear and unmistakable right” to stop the DoE from implementing the said policy while the court “hears the main petition for declaratory relief so as not to render the judgment ineffectual.” Familiar maneuver Much earlier, SMC also won a TRO from the same RTC stopping the Power Sector Assets Liabilities and Management Corp. from dissolving an independent power producer agreement due to P30-billion arrears of its unit South Premier Power Corp. in running the then government-owned Ilijan natural gas plant. Since 2015, the TRO remains, depriving the government of the opportunity to collect from SMC. It obtained from the Court of Appeals a WPI on the Energy Regulatory Commission ruling to stop two SMC-generating companies from breaching their own contracts with Meralco by seeking a “temporary” rate increase despite the straight-pricing contract they held. The WPI effectively set aside the power supply agreements that ERC had sought to uphold. Consumer groups said the DoE price unbundling circular would have introduced greater transparency to help prevent overpricing of oil products. The circular would make the weekly movement of petroleum prices more transparent. Unbundling will expose the international content, taxes and duties, biofuel cost, and oil company revenues in oil bills. Fuel companies have long been suspected of overpricing especially after the Oil Deregulation Law took effect in 1998. The law’s primary goal was to dismantle the oil cartel by allowing the entry of new players to challenge the domination of Shell, Caltex and Petron, thus supposedly letting market forces determine fuel prices. Shell, Caltex, and Petron still dominate the Philippine oil industry and they remain among the most profitable firms in the country despite the deregulation law. The post Tied up in court appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Cold chain system project empowers Benguet farmers
On 21 June 2023, Tachikawa Jumpei, First Secretary and Agriculture Attaché of the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, attended the inauguration ceremony for the solar-powered cold storage facility in Buguias, Benguet. The event was also graced by Benguet Governor Melchor Diclas, Buguias Mayor Ruben Tinda-an, Department of Agriculture-Agriculture Training Institute Training Center Director Remelyn Recoter, Japan Agricultural Exchange Council Executive Director Sakamoto Ryoji and other LGU and ATI officials. Farmers in Benguet frequently face the challenge of earning low income despite harvesting competitive and high-quality produce. While Benguet is known as the “Salad Bowl of the Philippines” and has a favorable climate for growing vegetables, it suffers from an unstructured production system, subpar post-harvest handling procedures and unstable product prices. To aid Benguet farmers, the Japan Agricultural Exchange Council, a Japanese NGO, has been implementing the Japan International Cooperation Agency Grassroots Cooperation Project since 2007. Among other things, JAEC has carried out dissemination activities for safe vegetable farming techniques and improved post-harvest procedures. However, the activities for this initiative were suspended in 2019 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2021, through the funding support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, JAEC commenced the Safe Vegetable Production Technology Dissemination and Vegetable Distribution System Improvement Project. Benguet farmers were equipped with various Japanese farming technologies under this initiative. This project will also enable the development of a cold chain system through the completed solar-powered cold storage facility in the Municipality of Buguias, Benguet, as well as other cold storage supplies and equipment. By enhancing the quality of the produce through an effective distribution system, farmers’ incomes are expected to improve and their losses to decrease, while consumers may benefit from buying healthy, fresh and quality vegetables. The post Cold chain system project empowers Benguet farmers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Blinken urges open lines of communication with China
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Wednesday for open lines of communication as he spoke with China's foreign minister, ahead of planned face-to-face discussions in Beijing. Relations between the world's two largest economies have tanked in recent years over Taiwan, trade and human rights, among a litany of other issues. Blinken is due in Beijing on Sunday for talks aimed at calming nerves, after a previous planned visit was abruptly cancelled in February. In his call with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, which took place Wednesday Beijing time, Blinken said they "discussed ongoing efforts to maintain open channels of communication as well as bilateral and global issues". State Department spokesman Matthew Miller also said Blinken had stressed "the importance of maintaining open lines of communication to responsibly manage the US-PRC relationship to avoid miscalculation and conflict". Blinken "made clear the US would continue to use diplomatic engagements to raise areas of concern as well as areas of potential cooperation", Miller said. A Beijing readout of the call struck a more confrontational tone, reporting that Qin had warned that relations between the two countries had faced "new difficulties and challenges" since the beginning of the year. "It's clear who is responsible," Qin said, according to the Chinese foreign ministry. "China has always viewed and managed China-US relations in accordance with the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation put forward by President Xi Jinping," he added. - Blinken in Beijing - Blinken's planned visit to Beijing would be the first trip by a top US diplomat to China since his predecessor Mike Pompeo in October 2018. Presidents Joe Biden and Xi met in Bali in November and agreed to try to prevent tensions from soaring out of control, including by sending Blinken to Beijing. But Blinken abruptly cancelled a trip scheduled in early February after the United States said it detected -- and later shot down -- a Chinese surveillance balloon flying over the US mainland. The two sides have more recently looked again to keep tensions in check, including with an extensive, closed-door meeting between Biden's national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, and senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi in Vienna last month. Biden has sought limited areas for cooperation with China, such as climate change, in contrast with the more fully adversarial position adopted at the end of the administration of his predecessor Donald Trump. But two countries remain at deeply at odds over many issues. The White House last week accused China of operating an intelligence unit in Cuba for years and upgraded it in 2019 in an effort to enhance its presence on the Caribbean island. A base in Cuba, which lies 90 miles (150 kilometers) off Florida's southern tip, would be viewed in Washington as a direct challenge to the continental United States. Asked about the base at a regular press briefing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said he was "unaware of the situation" before criticising US policy on Cuba. bur-oho-ehl/je/kma © Agence France-Presse The post Blinken urges open lines of communication with China appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
China operating intel unit in Cuba for years
China has been operating an intelligence unit in Cuba for years and upgraded it in 2019 in an effort to enhance its presence on the Caribbean island, a White House official said Saturday. "This is well-documented in the intelligence record," the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said in confirming China's intelligence presence. US media in recent days had reported that Beijing was planning to set up a spy base on the island, which is located just off American shores. When President Joe Biden took office in January 2021, "we were briefed on a number of sensitive PRC efforts around the world to expand its overseas logistics, basing, and collection infrastructure globally," the administration official said, using an acronym for the People's Republic of China. "This effort included the presence of PRC intelligence collection facilities in Cuba," the official said. "In fact, the PRC conducted an upgrade of its intelligence collection facilities in Cuba in 2019." The developments come as Chinese leader Xi Jinping has pushed a rapid expansion of the country's security presence around the world. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to travel to China next weekend, rescheduling a visit that was canceled in February after a tension-filled incident involving a suspected surveillance balloon passing over the United States. A base in Cuba, which lies 90 miles (150 kilometers) off Florida's southern tip, would present the most direct challenge yet to the continental United States. China warned the United States Friday against "interfering in Cuba's internal affairs," in response to the media reports on a planned base. When asked about the base at a regular press briefing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said he was "unaware of the situation" before criticizing US policy on Cuba. "As we all know, spreading rumors and slander is a common tactic of the United States, and wantonly interfering in the internal affairs of other countries is its patent," said Wang. The US official said the administration believes that diplomatic efforts "have slowed the PRC down" in developing its activities in Cuba. "We think the PRC isn't quite where they had hoped to be," the official said. Earlier this year, China sent what the US called a high-altitude surveillance balloon across the United States. It floated from west to east above sensitive military installations before it was shot down by a US fighter jet. The post China operating intel unit in Cuba for years appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Food policy: Food stability (4)
So far, I have discussed the first three dimensions of food security which are Accessibility, Food Utilization, and Food Availability. This article is the last on food security. Food stability is achieved when the supply and demand of a particular good are met in the market. Prices increase when demand exceeds supply. This imbalance happens when production cannot catch up with demand. The government must create policies and programs to improve production or create liberal import policies to keep the price of commodities stable without compromising the growth of the local producers. The Philippines’ food security concern is not isolated from the rest of the world. The challenge of maintaining a sufficient supply of food is being experienced regionally and globally by both progressive and developing countries. According to Gabriela Camacho’s research paper, “Corruption and Food Security,” corruption can aggravate food insecurity by affecting food availability, like when households must pay bribes instead of using the money to buy food. At different points in the food value chain, there is the likelihood of corruption which worsens any food crisis. From production to processing, from storage to delivery, corruption diminishes supply and increases the value of goods. Given the context in which the Philippine Food Security Program operates, one must bear in mind that food security is indeed a complex national and regional security concern. While we can measure the success and failure of any food security program by looking simply at how the four dimensions of food security are addressed by the government’s policies, we also need to understand how the insecurity drivers could influence the program’s outcome. Although this article discusses only one of the drivers for Food Stability, the objective is to be able to examine this issue from one angle to get ideas to address it and propose policy recommendations that might fill in some aspects of the policy gaps. Closely related to food stability is price stability. The price stability of food commodities in the Philippines is determined by its food importation policy. To protect the local agricultural sector, the government imposed Quantitative Restrictions on basic commodities such as rice, sugar, and corn. In the Philippines, a price increase occurs when the supply of food commodities cannot match the increasing demand. In most cases, the inability to supply demand for food commodities is a result of poor production output. This inability could be resolved by getting supplies from other countries. However, due to importation restrictions, the supply gap continues to affect prices. An example of this import restriction can be read in Section 23, No. 10 of the 1992 Magna Carta for Small Farmers: “Importations shall not be allowed of agricultural products that are produced locally in sufficient quantity. Importation policies should include the protection of new and developing crops such as soybean, ramie, sorghum, and wheat. Importation policies shall be reviewed periodically by the Government in consultation with farmers’ organizations.” Under the Price Act of 1992 (RA 7581), it is the policy of the state to always ensure the availability and accessibility of all basic and prime commodities. This includes the implementation of price controls or the curtailment of all illegal acts of price manipulation such as hoarding, profiteering, and cartels. In the case of the price of rice, it was only in 2019 that the QR on rice importation was removed and private rice dealers could import rice more freely. But the QR on other agricultural commodities has remained in force until such time that the country will remove all its tariff barriers to give way to a fully free market economy. Thus, instability in other food commodities may still be an issue our leaders need to address and experience. Given the four dimensions of food security — Accessibility, Food Utilization, Food Availability, and Food Security — I am optimistic that we will all do our share to help the government achieve its goal of providing us Filipinos with this basic security that is innate to our human existence. The post Food policy: Food stability (4) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Plastic pollution: Treaty talks get into the nitty-gritty
Countries grappling with the "immense" task of ending plastic pollution began a new round of talks in Paris on Monday, amid protests and warnings of the urgency to act. Representatives of 175 nations with divergent ambitions met at the UNESCO headquarters with the aim of making progress towards reaching by next year a historic agreement covering the entire plastics life cycle. As the talks opened, the head of the negotiations, Gustavo Meza-Cuadra Velazquez of Peru, said the challenge was "immense, as we are all aware here, but it is not insurmountable". "The world's eyes are on us," he said. French President Emmanuel Macron urged participating nations to put an end to a "globalized and unsustainable" production model, where richer countries export plastic waste to poorer ones. "Plastic pollution is a time-bomb and at the same time already a scourge today," he said in a video message, adding that the materials, based on fossil fuels, posed a risk to global warming goals as well as to biodiversity and human health. He said the priorities of the negotiations should be first to reduce the production of plastics and to ban "as soon as possible" the most polluting products like single-use plastics. The stakes are high, given that annual plastics production has more than doubled in 20 years to 460 million tonnes, and is on track to triple within four decades. Two-thirds of this output is discarded after being used once or a few times, and winds up as waste. Less than 10 percent is recycled, while more than a fifth is dumped or burned illegally. Environmental groups have raised concerns about the influence of industry lobbying on the talks, with protests outside the venue on Monday carrying signs saying "Kick industry out". "What do we want? Global plastic treaty! When do we want it? Now!" protesters chanted. In nature, microplastics have been found in ice near the North Pole and in fish navigating the deepest recesses of the oceans. In humans, microscopic bits of plastic have been detected in blood, breast milk, and placentas. Plastic also contributes to global warming, accounting for 3.4 percent of global emissions in 2019, according to the OECD. Gushing pollution In February 2022, nations agreed in principle on the need for a legally binding UN treaty to end plastic pollution around the world, setting an ambitious 2024 deadline to reach an agreement. Policy actions to be debated during the talks include a global ban on single-use plastic items, and production caps on new plastic production. Delegates in Paris have to narrow down what elements should be included in the eventual draft treaty text, though technical debates had already slowed down the schedule on Monday. Environmental groups are concerned the treaty may not include targets to reduce overall plastic production. Reduction of plastic use and production is part of a plan by the High Ambition Coalition of some 50 nations led by Rwanda and Norway and including the European Union, Canada, Chile, and –- as of a few days ago -- Japan. But many countries are reluctant to aim for absolute cuts in production, insisting that recycling and improved waste management are the answer. These include China, the United States, Saudi Arabia, and other OPEC countries, all of which have large petrochemical industries. The head of the UN Environment Programme, Inger Andersen, told the delegates that a throwaway plastic culture was "gushing pollution galore, choking our ecosystems, warming the climate, damaging our health" and that the most vulnerable were the hardest hit. To applause, she added: "We cannot recycle our way out of this mess". Sprint The Paris meeting, which runs to June 2, is the second of five sessions in the process. One more meeting will be held this year and two in 2024 before the treaty is set to be adopted by the middle of 2025, said Jyoti Mathur-Filipp, executive secretary of the negotiating committee, adding that it would be a "sprint". Organizers said limited space at the venue was causing the access limitations, adding that there were some 612 organizations listed to attend in total, with around 40 linked to the business. Campaigners kept the pressure on over-access to the venue during the day. Tweeting a picture of a group of around three dozen campaigners, the Center for International Environmental Law called for greater public participation in the process. "We will not be silenced!" said CIEL's Jane Patton, adding that fewer than a third of those pictured had been allowed into the venue. The post Plastic pollution: Treaty talks get into the nitty-gritty appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Special twinbill: ‘Lungs’ and ‘Every Brilliant Thing’
Three years after it was abruptly halted by the Covid-19 pandemic, The Sandbox Collective returns with a twinbill show featuring Duncan Macmillan’s plays Every Brilliant Thing and Lungs. With Sandbox Festival 2023, patrons will have the opportunity to purchase a single, same-day ticket good for both shows. The shows will run one after the other, with a 20-minute interval in between. From 17 June to 15 July, the plays will run at the Zobel de Ayala Recital Hall, second floor of the Maybank Performing Arts Theater, 9th Avenue cor. 26th Street, BGC, Taguig City. The Sandbox Collective’s managing artistic director, Toff de Venecia, hopes that Sandbox Festival 2023 will give audiences a fresh perspective on how one experiences theater. Twinbills are not an entirely new concept in theater; however, spending three hours at the theater might be unfamiliar to some Manila theatergoers. “I’m very excited for the twinbill experience of Duncan Macmillan’s works, and see how these award-winning one-act plays will resonate with each other, adding to how the world has changed dramatically since we first staged them in 2018 and 2019, thereby impacting the audience’s overall experience and takeaway,” DeVenecia said. Interactive play Every Brilliant Thing is a one-act, interactive play that follows the story of a young child growing up with a parent suffering from mental illness. The show has been staged in multiple countries and has also been translated into different languages, such as Mandarin, Arabic, Spanish and Hebrew. Taking on the challenge once again in Every Brilliant Thing is actress, model and TV host Teresa Herrera, who will alternate performances with theater actress, multimedia host, entrepreneur and Gawad Buhay awardee Kakki Teodoro. For the 2019 run of Every Brilliant Thing, both Herrera and Teodoro picked up Gawad Buhay nominations for Outstanding Female Lead. Jenny Jamora, who directed all its previous runs, will once again step in as director. She, too, won Outstanding Stage Direction for a Play at the 12th Gawad Buhay Awards. Meanwhile, multimedia comedy artist and master impersonator Jon Santos will bring a Filipino-translated performance of Every Brilliant Thing to the local stage. Tasked with the play’s Filipino translation is award-winning playwright, translator, actor and director Guelan Luarca, the recipient of the 2022 Gawad Rolando Tinio Translator’s Prize by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. Changed world In March 2020, Lungs was set to be staged, and the actors and The Sandbox Collective’s creative team sought to answer the topical questions, “What world are we leaving the future generations?” and “Even if I wanted children, with everything going on around us, what kind of world would I be leaving them?” Three years down the road, the world has changed in exactly the way the play’s characters feared. On the heels of those questions comes a new one, brought on by the current state of our society: What does it mean to stage a play with characters so fearful of a far-off future in our present time, now that so many of those fears have come true in the real world? Lungs received seven Gawad Buhay nominations during its original 2018 run, including Female Lead Performance in a Play for returning cast member Sab Jose. For this festival, Jose will be joined by Gawad Buhay-nominated theater actor Reb Atadero, who was last seen in Breakups & Breakdowns and Ang Huling El Bimbo. [caption id="attachment_137900" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Sab Jose, Brian Sy, Justine Peña and Reb Atadero.[/caption] The 2023 run will also welcome theater actors Brian Sy and Justine Peña as they step into the shoes of Lungs’ anxiety-ridden characters. Peña’s performance in Uncle Jane earlier this year was lauded by critics and theatergoers alike, while Sy’s turn in Coriolano garnered him a Gawad Buhay Award for Best Male Featured Performance in 2020. Serving as the show’s assistant director in 2018 and 2020, Gawad Buhay awardee Caisa Borromeo now takes the reins as director for Lungs. The post Special twinbill: ‘Lungs’ and ‘Every Brilliant Thing’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Students optimistic on quake detection robot
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Students from the Information and Communication Technology High School in Pampanga — a public school in Barangay Sindalan here — has created a robot that can detect an earthquake along with the intensity level. Dubbed as the Safe Quake the robotic device does not only detect the incoming quake, but will also provide notification by sending text messages using integrated software. Senior high school students Ron Gabriel Soliman, Austin Paul Magtoto, Lorenzo Raphael Cabaero and Kim Ezekiel James created the Safe Quake as their entry for the upcoming Federation of International RoboSports Association RoboWorld Cup and Summit. The FIRA RoboWorld Cup and Summit will be held in Wolfenbüttel, Germany on July. Vice Governor Lilia Pineda and the provincial board has expressed their support to the students for their trip to represent the country in the FIRA cup. Pineda said that the Provincial Government will also ask support from the Department of Science and Technology to provide guidance in their invention. The student inventors cited that they created the report to help save lives during the natural occurrence of an earthquake. In 2019, these students have already showed their creative geniuses, winning a competition in Korea for their iParol. The FIRA RoboWorld Cup and Summit is founded by Professor Jong-Hwan Kim, KAIST, Korea in 1996 — is the oldest robot soccer competition in the world. FIRA has grown to a major robotics competition with the goal using sports as benchmark problems for state of the art research in robotics and other related areas. FIRA also includes the FIRA Air competition for autonomous flying robots, FIRA Challenge for robotics research with great societal benefits such as urban search and rescue robots, and FIRA Youth for the next generation of researchers. The post Students optimistic on quake detection robot appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Go affirms importance of universal access to healthcare in Davao speech
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go recognized the importance of Universal Health Care, particularly amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. He made that emphasis as he attended the opening ceremonies of the 49th Midyear Convention Surgery and Universal Health Care at the SMX Convention Center in SM Lanang Premier, Davao City on Thursday. In his speech, Go cited that the passage of the Universal Health Care Act in 2019 was a significant milestone in the country's journey toward achieving a more equitable and comprehensive healthcare system. However, he also acknowledged that the implementation of the law is not without challenges. “Alam kong malayo pa talaga sa ngayon ‘yung (buong) implementation nitong UHC. Noon, naaprubahan po ito, napirmahan ni dating pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte noong 2019, malayo pa tayo sa ating inaasam na perpekto po na (implementasyon ng) Universal Health Care,” said Go. “Kailangan pa natin mag-invest sa ating healthcare workforce, mapabuti ang ating mga pasilidad, at dagdagan ang accessibility ng ating mga kababayan sa mga essential medicines at medical supplies,” he said. One of the major challenges in the implementation of UHC cited by Go based on reports is the shortage of health facilities and healthcare workers. “Ang challenge po dito ang trabaho po ng ating DOH (Department of Health), maimplementa ng maayos ang roadmap po ng UHC. Ang very challenging po dito, ‘yung health facilities, ‘yung pagkukulang po ng bilang ng ating mga health workers na ‘yung iba po’y nagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa,” said Go. “Hindi ko naman po masisi na pumupunta pa ‘yung mga nurses sa ibang bansa. Gusto ko rin pong tingnan itong issue na ito, itong mga nurses na napakababa po ‘yung sweldo dito sa ating bansa sa mga private hospitals. Naiintindihan ko naman po, binabalanse naman po ng mga private hospitals (ang kanilang finances) para po ma-sustain nila (ang operasyon),” he added. Despite these challenges, Go emphasized the government's commitment to ensuring that every Filipino can be provided access to affordable health care. “As chair po ng Committee on Health, mayroon po akong oversight function over dito po sa (implementation of) UHC. Kung may reklamo po kayo… pwede po nating tawagin ang DOH, pwede nating tawagin ang PhilHealth, kung mayroon kayong (concern), pwede natin silang imbitahan at tawagin,” he assured. Meanwhile, to complement the implementation of the UHC Act, Go shared that the government has launched several initiatives aimed at improving access to healthcare and making it more affordable. These include addressing rising out-of-pocket expenses on health and establishing or upgrading public hospitals. He also shared the ongoing operations of the Malasakit Centers program, the establishment of Super Health Centers, and the expansion of specialty centers in the country. “I have earlier advocated for an easier and more accessible availing of government assistance. We have passed Republic Act No. 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Law to establish a one-stop shop in DOH hospitals,” said Go. “Malasakit Centers provide accessible and efficient medical assistance to Filipinos by serving as a centralized hub for accessing different government health programs and services from the DOH, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, and PhilHealth,” added Go. According to the DOH, the Malasakit Centers program has already aided over seven million Filipinos across the country. Go is the principal author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019. Additionally, Go is pushing for the establishment of Super Health Centers, which are medium-sized polyclinics strategically positioned throughout the country to offer basic healthcare services to Filipinos at the grassroots level. Go also introduced Senate Bill No. 1321, also known as the "Specialty Centers in Every Region Act of 2022," aimed at establishing regional specialty centers in DOH hospitals across the country. The establishment of specialty centers is part of the health-related legislative agenda included in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 signed by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. During his speech, Go also urged the DOH and Department of Budget and Management to expedite the release and distribution of the mandated allowances for healthcare workers. He also called on PhilHealth to ensure prompt payments to hospitals and health professionals and to consider the financial condition of private health facilities and health professionals. “Alam n’yo po, during the time ng pandemya, nagsalita talaga ako sa Senado. Noong may doctor na namatay, dapat may death benefit silang matatangap but it took two months bago i-release,” lamented Go. “Kawawa naman, nagluluksa ‘yung pamilya. Dapat nga ihatid ‘yung check doon mismo sa doon sa pamamahay ng mga naiwang pamilya. Bakit tatagalan? Anyway, na-Ombudsman na po ‘yung nag-cause ng delay,” he shared. Acknowledging that there is still much work to be done to improve the conditions of healthcare workers, Go expressed support for the review of the Magna Carta for Public Health Workers to update it and address the needs and concerns of health workers. In this regard, Go urged the DOH and the Department of Labor and Employment to review the salaries and compensation of private healthcare workers to make them more competitive. Moreover, Go called for the removal of barriers preventing Filipinos from accessing healthcare services, especially those who are marginalized and vulnerable. “Kailangan natin tiyakin na ang mga benepisyo ng Universal Health Care Act ay maihahatid sa mga tunay na nangangailangan nito, at walang mapag-iiwanang Pilipino,” he said. To conclude, Go urged healthcare workers to prioritize the needs of the marginalized and vulnerable, particularly the poor, helpless, and hopeless Filipinos. “Unahin po natin ang mga mahihirap nating kababayan, ‘yung mga helpless, ‘yung mga hopeless po nating mga kababayan,” said Go. “Let us continue to work together towards achieving a truly universal and equitable healthcare system. I believe that through collaboration and cooperation, we can overcome the challenges we face and build a brighter future for the health and well-being of all Filipinos,” he ended. The post Go affirms importance of universal access to healthcare in Davao speech appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
World record holder Kosgei suffers London Marathon disappointment
Kenya's world record holder Brigid Kosgei hopes her injury problems were not as bad as feared after she retired from the London Marathon less than four minutes into Sunday's race. The 29-year-old, who won the London Marathon in 2019 and 2020, cut a forlorn figure as she pulled up lame. The two-time Chicago Marathon champion, the world record holder for women running in a mixed-sex marathon, had been suffering from hamstring and knee problems but said on Friday she felt they were "not so bad". Even a fully fit Kosgei would have faced a daunting challenge to win a third London Marathon. Yalemzerf Yehualaw, a 23-year-old Ethiopian, is aiming to follow Kosgei in winning back-to-back London Marathon titles. The field also includes reigning Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir. Dutch runner Sifan Hassan was enduring a tough baptism of fire over the distance -- the 5,000 and 10,000 meters Olympic champion had been in the leading group but was dropped and holding her side after the hour mark. The post World record holder Kosgei suffers London Marathon disappointment appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Credibility challenge
International Criminal Court probers will continue to be barred from the Philippines because the government has a responsibility to the nation not to let them in. Assistant Solicitor General Justice Angelita Miranda said the core issue in the government’s defiance of the ICC’s effort to investigate the drug war is about defending sovereignty. “While we adhere to international laws, the Philippines has a functioning judiciary and the ICC should respect that,” Miranda said on the weekly Daily Tribune program, Straight Talk. International lawyers have said that the principle of complementarity compels the ICC not to interfere in the judicial processes of the country. Through the maneuverings of the opponents of former President Rodrigo Duterte, led by destabilizer Antonio Trillanes IV, the ICC was provided with an alibi to probe the anti-narcotics campaign. Trillanes’ henchman, Gary Alejano, filed a haphazard impeachment complaint against Duterte in 2017, shortly after the destabilizer’s pawn, lawyer Jude Sabio, filed the crimes against humanity complaint with the ICC against the then president. Alejano knew that the impeachment case would not prosper but that was part of the grand scheme of Trillanes to activate an ICC investigation. The president could only be removed through impeachment and proving that the process would not prosper gave the excuse that legal remedies to run after Duterte had been exhausted, opening an opportunity for ICC to enter the picture. Miranda said she supports Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla when he says he will personally meet the ICC prosecutor when he lands in the country and escort him back to where he came from. Sabio’s petition to the ICC was the product of figures concocted by the political foes of Duterte such as on the existence of the Davao Death Squad during his term as Davao City mayor and the alleged 20,000 deaths linked to the anti-narcotics campaign. Proof of the partisan nature of the complaint lodged with the ICC was very evident, yet the tribunal took it upon itself to still pursue the preliminary examination despite Sabio’s withdrawal of the charges after admitting it was a Trillanes operation. Sabio came out in the open after a dispute over his retainer with Trillanes. In 2019, after ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda started her preliminary examination of the crimes against humanity complaint, the Philippines completed its withdrawal from the 1998 Rome Statute which created the international court. Despite the country’s pullout, the prosecutor pointed out that the ICC retained jurisdiction over crimes committed in the Philippines between 2011 and 2019 when it was still a member of the ICC. The inconsolable enemies of Duterte then challenged the disengagement before the Supreme Court which issued a decision siding with the then president as the chief architect of foreign policy. The filing of the ICC case in April 2017 was primarily intended to deflect a determined campaign against drug syndicates but it resulted in the probe of the drug network in the New Bilibid Prison that led to the detention of Senator Leila de Lima, who was justice secretary when the shabu factory in the maximum security prison flourished. The evidence against Duterte and various personalities that the ICC associated with the drug war relied mainly on the testimonies of Arturo Lascañas and Edgar Matobato, who were characters in Trillanes’ stable. Various probes, including Senate inquiries, proved that the revelations of both were a canard as they were drawn from the myth surrounding Duterte. Initially dug up were the supposed vigilante killings when the president was Davao City mayor. The yarn was proven to be without proof in investigations conducted by the Senate. The partisan aim of the Sabio complaint was evident after it hauled practically the entire officialdom of the Duterte administration in the insane petition. Along with the president in the complaint were then Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre, Philippine National Police chief Ronald de la Rosa, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, former Interior Secretary Ismael Sueño, National Bureau of Investigation Director Dante Gierran, and Solicitor General Jose Calida. Even Senator Richard Gordon was included for coming out with a Senate report that threw out the testimony of Trillanes factotum Matobato. The investigations debunked allegations that the extrajudicial killings were state-sponsored. The Palace labeled the allegations as mere vicious noises in the futile campaign to oust Duterte which was its real intention. The plot of the hypocrites now is to brand the Marcos administration as shielding Duterte from prosecution which will not find favor among Filipinos who entrust their overwhelming confidence to both leaders. In contrast, the ICC is trying to shore up its credibility by going after the Philippines. The post Credibility challenge appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pacio braces for career s biggest challenge in ONE title defense vs Brook
Though having faced much adversity in his road as a champion, having made three title defenses since regaining his belt against Yosuke Saruta in 2019, Pacio believes that this looming fight will be one for the books......»»