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DPWH tallies 268 gov’t and school buildings partially destroyed in Hinatuan quake
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Davao Region reported that a total of 268 school and national government buildings were partially destroyed by the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur on December 2. The estimated damage amounted to P108,497,894.84 for school buildings and P1,899,365.60 for national government buildings. The damages included cracks on walls and falling debris such as ceilings. According to Engr. Alexander Turingan of DPWH XI, there were no reported damages in Davao Occidental and Davao del Sur. Franz Irag, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) XI operations head, emphasized the importance of addressing damages to school buildings, which also serve as evacuation centers during calamities. Dean Ortiz, spokesperson of DPWH XI, highlighted the agency's focus on national roads and bridges, clarifying that they will respond to requests to inspect private and government buildings. Architect Kashagar Toghyani, officer-in-charge of the Office City Building Official (OCBO) of Davao City, urged private building owners to promptly engage professional engineers to assess structural integrity, especially for buildings housing more than 10 individuals. He emphasized the necessity of fire inspections and transparency with building occupants to ensure their safety. The recent earthquakes did not affect government buildings in the Davao Region, and DPWH is committed to conducting thorough assessments and ensuring the safety of buildings and their occupants in the aftermath of the quake......»»
About 20 dead in Thai fireworks factory blast; no survivors found
BANGKOK — A blast at a fireworks factory north of Bangkok on Wednesday claimed the lives of approximately 20 individuals, according to the police. Despite ongoing inspections by authorities, no survivors have been located at the site yet. It was not immediately clear what caused the incident, which took place mid-afternoon in Suphan Buri province.....»»
Travel agencies group warns about cheap, illegal operators
The Davao Travel Agencies Association (DTAA) has issued a warning about unregistered and illegal travel and tour operators in their area. These operators have been found to be offering travel and tour services without proper licensing, leading to issues such as lack of refunds, scheduling problems, and other travel arrangement discrepancies. Pia Partoza Montano, a travel agency owner and Vice-President for the Travel and Tours Sector of DTAA, emphasized the prevalence of these unauthorized operators, particularly in inbound tourism, and the challenges in monitoring and regulating them due to their large numbers. Montano also highlighted the potential risks associated with using these unregistered agencies, as they may offer cheaper rates but could lead to problems in case of incidents. To address this issue, the Department of Tourism-Davao (DOT-Davao) has introduced a QR code system to help the public verify the legitimacy of travel agencies by accessing data on authorized and registered operators. The DOT-Davao encourages travelers to transact with accredited enterprises to ensure the quality and reliability of their travel arrangements. Currently, there are at least 109 registered travel and tour agencies in Davao City under DOT-Davao's accreditation. The DOT-Davao also provides information on the requirements for registration and renewal for travel agencies on their official website. This warning serves as a reminder for the public to be cautious and discerning when engaging with travel and tour operators to avoid falling victim to unauthorized and illegitimate services......»»
DOJ lied to UN expert on red-tagging—Karapatan, NUJP
“We are aghast when the DOJ said that it has sufficient mechanisms to address red-tagging. What are they talking about? Either these are nowhere to be found, or if these mechanisms indeed exist, are rendered useless for victims of rights violations." The post DOJ lied to UN expert on red-tagging—Karapatan, NUJP appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
Interview: ISU chief hails next generation stars rising at Gangwon 2024
GANGNEUNG, South Korea, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The next generation stars in ice skating are rising at the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games, chief of the global skating governing body has said. "Next-generation stars can compete [at a] global level. Just like many other sports, this is an event where we get to see the rising stars, the next generation stars," Kim Jae-youl, president of the International Skati.....»»
LIST: 21 medicines added to VAT-exempt list
The Bureau of Internal Revenue has expanded its list of medicines which are exempt from the value added tax......»»
Philippines remains on FATF gray list
The Philippines failed anew to exit the gray list or list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring after falling short in addressing the remaining concerns on its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing regime, according to global dirty money watchdog Financial Action Task Force......»»
PH businesses warned against rising ransomware, phishing threats
MANILA —Cybersecurity company Fortinet has cautioned Philippine businesses about a potential rise in ransomware and phishing incidents this year. They emphasize that hackers are persistently launching digital attacks to disrupt operations for financial motives. According to a survey by Fortinet and conducted by International Data Corp. (IDC), ransomware and phishing attacks are the primary cyber.....»»
Free leptospirosis meds, anti-tetanus vaccines for flood-affected residents
Summary: The Davao City Health Office (CHO) is providing free medicines for leptospirosis and anti-tetanus shots to residents affected by floods. Dr. Tomas Miguel Ababon, CHO Officer-In-Charge, announced the availability of these medications during a media forum, emphasizing their dispatch during emergencies. He highlighted the proactive response of health district staff, ensuring that evacuation centers are equipped with prophylaxis for leptospirosis. Additionally, tetanus toxoid, dressings, and antibiotics are available for flood-related injuries. Ababon emphasized that these services and medications are provided free of charge. He advised seeking a doctor's guidance for the dosage of prophylaxis medicine, as well as the administration of antibiotics due to potential allergies. Despite recording 17 cases of leptospirosis in the first two weeks of the month, no related deaths were reported. This initiative aims to safeguard the health of flood-affected residents in Davao City......»»
LIST: Celebrate Chinese New Year with these festive activities, feasts, and more
Gong Xi Fa Cai! Ring in the Year of the Dragon with these symbolic treats and dishes......»»
PSSO warns anew vs building structures atop dikes, coastal road
The Davao City Public Safety and Security Office's (PSSO) Coastal Road and Davao River Monitoring Team has issued a renewed warning to Dabawenyos against constructing buildings on top of dikes and along the coastal road. This caution follows the dismantling of 334 illegal structures from October 2020 to the third week of January 2023. PSSO Head Angel Sumagaysay emphasized that these structures, including house extensions, kitchen extensions, cages, and sala extensions, are typically found atop or attached to dikes and gabions near the Davao River. Recent operations in the Talomo District involved the removal of a hut at Purok 8 Iñigo, Matina Pangi, and a reconstructed fisherman's kiosk at the Punta Dumalag section of the Coastal Area. Sumagaysay highlighted that the PSSO collaborates with barangays to identify and address illegal structures, and owners are given the choice to self-demolish or have the PSSO carry out the demolition. Sumagaysay stressed that illegal structures on dikes and gabions pose risks to the structure's integrity, potentially leading to increased flooding and related issues. He urged residents living near the river to refrain from constructing any form of extension or additional structure on the dikes, emphasizing the need to preserve their stability to prevent flooding and overflow. The PSSO does not have a specific target number of structures to dismantle, but rather identifies them during monitoring and inspection, working in coordination with barangays and purok leaders. Sumagaysay hopes that the public comprehends the purpose behind these dismantling efforts, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding the dikes to mitigate flooding risks......»»
5 Filipinas in Forbes’ list of 50 inspirational women
Five Filipinas, including Filipina actress Dolly de Leon and Ayala Land Inc. president Anna Ma. Margarita Dy, made it to Forbes’ 50 Over 50: Asia 2024 list, which features “50 inspirational women across Asia-Pacific who are proving that the years after 50 are the new golden age.”.....»»
Grey list
Grey is just a shade lighter than black. Being on the grey list is just one grade better than being on the black list. Not too many shades there......»»
Nearly 50,000 UK businesses on verge of collapse - report
Construction and real estate are among the hardest hit sectors, researchers say The number of UK businesses on the brink of bankruptcy skyrocketed by more than a quarter at the end of last year amid a "debt storm" triggered by a series of interest rate hikes, a report from a group of insolvency specialists re.....»»
P38 daily wage hike for Davao region workers
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 20 February) – The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-Davao Region (RTWPB-Davao) has approved a P38 daily increase for minimum wage earners in the region, to be implemented in two tranches starting next month. In an announcement released by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-Davao on February 19, it said […].....»»
US threatens Turkish businesses over Russia trade
American officials have reportedly visited Trkiye to persuade banks and companies to cut ties with the sanctioned country Turkish businesses are at risk of being banned from carrying out currency operations if they continue to trade with Russia, RIA Novosti reported on Wednesday, citing the news outlet Aydinlik. .....»»
PPP mode draws interest from Swedish businesses
Businesses in Sweden are open to investing in the Philippines via public-private partnerships amid improving macroeconomic fundamentals and business climate......»»
Why small businesses fail
Contributing editor Jeff Hayden writes in Inc. Magazine that most US businesses are small......»»
Navigating Challenges in B2B Cross-Border Payments
Cross-border payments are vital to B2B operations, enabling businesses to extend their reach globally. While these transactions offer opportunities for international trade, they also present.....»»
DavNor vice guv denies involvement in ayuda scam
The Vice Governor of Davao del Norte has denied any involvement in the alleged ayuda scam following claims made during a Senate hearing chaired by Senator Ronald Bato Dela Rosa. The hearing revealed that public officials in Davao de Oro and Davao del Norte were linked to illegally using cash assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and funds from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for political campaigns. Vice Governor De Carlo Oyo Uy refuted the allegations, stating that there is no truth to the claims. In response, Governor Edwin Kuya Gov Jubahib emphasized that he was protecting the welfare of his constituents and the country's budget. He called for the punishment of those involved. The governor had previously requested an investigation into the ayuda scam after individuals in the provinces received less than the intended assistance. The vice governor announced plans for a separate investigation to clear his name and clarified that the DSWD is solely responsible for the identification, assessment, validation, and distribution of cash assistance to beneficiaries......»»