Bill renaming Del Monte Avenue after FPJ opposed
Residents and parishioners are opposing the proposed legislation that will rename Del Monte Avenue in Quezon City after the late movie actor Fernando Poe Jr......»»
Cops arrest drug suspect on birthday eve
A high-value target was arrested a day before his birthday in a buy-bust operation carried out by the personnel of Parañaque City Police SDEU that took place at 4:20 p.m. on 16 September along Filipinas Avenue, Brgy. San Isidro in Parañaque City. The apprehended suspect was identified by P/BGen. Roderick D. Mariano, director of Southern Police District (SPD), as Nasrudin Ayob Libas, alias Camsa, 33 years old. Coincidentally, his birthday falls on 17 September. The police confiscated during the operation five heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing a white crystalline substance believed to be shabu, with an estimated combined weight of more or less 100 grams, valued at P680,000; one genuine P1,000 bill used as buy-bust money; and one blue coin purse. The seized illegal drug items will be handed over to the Southern Police District Forensic Unit (SPDFU) for quantitative and qualitative analysis. The suspect was transported to the Parañaque City Police Station for proper documentation and disposition. Complaint for Violation of Section 5 and Section 11 of Article II of Republic Act No. 9165 was filed against the suspect through inquest proceedings before the Office of the City Prosecutor in Parañaque City. The post Cops arrest drug suspect on birthday eve appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
QC welcomes road-renaming measure approval
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Sunday welcomed the Senate’s approval of a measure renaming Agham and BIR Roads after the late Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago. “We wholeheartedly support the Senate’s move to rename these two roads after Senator Santiago,” Belmonte said. “It is a great honor for our city to have a road named after a senator who fearlessly fought against corruption and stood up for the rights of the people.” To recall, the Senate approved on third and final reading with 22 affirmative votes and zero negative votes or abstention House Bill 7413, which seeks to rename Agham Road and BIR Road to “Senator Miriam P. Defensor-Santiago Avenue.” Santiago, who passed away in 2016, was a well-respected lawyer and politician. She served as a judge, commissioner and senator. She was also the first Asian judge to be elected to the International Criminal Court. For her bold and moral leadership in cleaning up a graft-ridden government agency, Santiago received the Magsaysay Award for Government Service, known as the Asian equivalent of the Nobel Prize, in 1988. Belmonte said that Santiago’s legacy will be remembered by renaming these two roads after her. “She was a true public servant who dedicated her life to making the Philippines a better place,” said the Quezon City mayor. For her bold and moral leadership in cleaning up a graft-ridden government agency, Santiago received the Magsaysay Award for Government Service, known as the Asian equivalent of the Nobel Prize, in 1988. The post QC welcomes road-renaming measure approval appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
QC supports renaming two roads after late Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Sunday said they welcomed the Senate's approval of a measure renaming Agham and BIR Roads after the late Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago. "Buong puso po nating sinusuportahan ang hakbang na ito ng Senado na ipangalan kay dating Senador Miriam Defensor-Santiago ang dalawang kalsada ng ating lungsod," Belmonte said. "Napakalaki pong karangalan para sa ating siyudad na dalhin ang pangalan ng ating senadora na walang takot na lumaban kontra katiwalian at tumayo para sa kapakanan at karapatan ng taumbayan," she added. With 22 affirmative votes and zero negative votes or abstention, the Senate approved on third and final reading House Bill 7413 seeking to rename the roadways of Agham Road and BIR Road to “Senator Miriam P. Defensor-Santiago Avenue." Santiago, who passed away in September 2016 after a long battle with lung cancer, held various positions in three branches of government. She served as presiding judge of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court and worked as Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and Secretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). She also served as Senator for three terms. “Siya rin ang una nating Asian judge na nahalal sa International Criminal Court, unang Pilipino na napili bilang commissioner para sa International Development Organization at nagsilbi rin bilang Legal Officer ng UN High Commission for Refugees sa Geneva, Switzerland. Patunay ang lahat ng kanyang pwestong hinawakan kung gaano siya kagaling. Nararapat lamang na mabigyang-halaga ang kanyang pagiging mahusay na lingkod-bayan,”Belmonte said. For her “…bold and moral leadership in cleaning up a graft-ridden government agency”, Defensor-Santiago received the Magsaysay Award for Government Service, known as the Asian equivalent of the Nobel Prize, in 1988. The post QC supports renaming two roads after late Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Senate OKs bill renaming QC roads after Miriam Defensor-Santiago
According to the House Bill 7413, which garnered 22 affirmative votes with no negative votes nor abstentions, the roadways of Agham Road and BIR Road will be renamed to “Senator Miriam P. Defensor-Santiago Avenue.".....»»
Legarda: OPM a vital avenue to preserving Filipino heritage
Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda praised the vibrant Filipino music scene as an integral part of preserving Filipinos' cultural identity and heritage. Legarda, a staunch defender and promoter of Filipino culture, said that original Pilipino music is another avenue in chronicling history. "OPM is a fun way to reconnect with the Filipinos' psyche – it helps us advance Filipino arts and culture and promote our impressive work to the world," Legarda said in commemoration of the Linggo ng Musikang Pilipino celebrated this week. "Filipinos are known all over the world for their exemplary musical skills. The propagation of OPM is another way of letting everybody else know how we are as a people," she added. The four-term senator sponsored and authored Senate Bill 1841, or the bill amending Republic Act No. 10066, also known as the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, to enhance the preservation of the Philippines' cultural assets. The bill mandates the local government units to conduct a cultural heritage mapping of their areas for both tangible and intangible, and natural and built heritage. Moreover, under the proposed measure, the Department of Education shall formulate the cultural heritage education programs both for local and overseas Filipinos to be incorporated into the formal, alternative, and informal education, with emphasis on the protection, conservation and preservation of cultural heritage property. "With the establishment of the Cultural Education Program, we can help promote not only mainstream OPM but to help preserve the indigenous music various ethnic groups in the Philippines have been creating for hundreds of years," said Legarda. "Recognizing the past and enriching the present are important steps to help safeguard the Philippines' intangible cultural heritage for our future," she added. The Linggo ng Musikang Pilipino was established under Proclamation No. 933, s. 2014 to achieve the long-term goal of revising OPM. It is also seen as a way to advance Filipino art and culture and contribute to the development of the economy through employment and revenue streams to various industries. The post Legarda: OPM a vital avenue to preserving Filipino heritage appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bong Go throws support to grassroots sports development programs
Championing grassroots sports development initiatives in various local communities, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go personally witnessed the opening of the inter-barangay basketball league in Cortes, Bohol on Monday, July 17. The basketball league is in partnership with the Philippine Sports Commission and the local government led by Mayor Lynn Iven Lim. Addressing the crowd gathered at the ampitheater, the chair of the Senate Committee on Sports underscored the significance of sports in promoting physical fitness and diverting the youth's attention away from illegal vices, including drug abuse. As an ardent supporter of grassroots sports development, Go recognized the pivotal role that athletics play in nurturing a healthier and more productive citizenry. “Sporting events, such as the basketball league in Cortes, not only provide an avenue for physical exercise but also encourage teamwork, discipline, and camaraderie among participants,” he said. Go emphasized the importance of promoting sports activities as a means to promote a drug-free community. He highlighted the prevalence of illegal drugs in various communities and expressed his commitment to combat this menace by promoting productive activities that inspire individuals, especially the youth, to stay away from harmful substances and become productive members of society. "Kaya ganun na lang po ang galit ni (dating) pangulong Duterte sa iligal na droga. Kapag pumasok po ang droga, papasok po ang kriminalidad, papasok po ang korapsyon. Mabibili po 'yan. 'Yan po ang kinatatakutan natin dito, kapag bumalik po ang iligal na droga, hindi na po magiging safe maglakad ang mga anak natin," said Go. “Kaya isa rin po sa pamamaraan na ine-engganyo ko po ang kabataan to get into sports, stay away from drugs. Ilayo po natin ang mga kabataan sa droga through sports. Get into sports, stay away from drugs,” he added. The event was also attended by Congressman Edgardo Chatto, Vice Governor Dionisio Victor Balite, Tagbiliran City Mayor Jane Yap, Dauis Vice Mayor Miriam Sumaylo, and Cortes Councilor Ira Lim, among others. "Senator, maraming salamat sa iyong panahon, alam ko kung gaano ka ka-busy.... On behalf ng mga mamamayan dito sa Cortes, maraming salamat mula sa aming puso sa lahat ng iyong tulong sa amin dito.... Ang game changer natin na makapagbigay ng maayos na pag-unlad, especially sa ating mga kababayan, andito ang biggest regional hospital at… ang tumulong sa pagpasa ng batas para maisakatuparan ito ay si Senator Bong Go," Mayor Lim said. Mayor Lim likewise thanked Go for the projects he supported in Cortes as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, including the acquisition of a multipurpose vehicle, the construction of a multipurpose building, and the improvement of the municipal public park and hall grounds. Go also underscored the importance of creating opportunities for young athletes, including scholarships, training programs, incentives and continuing investments in local sports facilities. It can be recalled that in 2021, Go visited Bataan and participated in the presentation and signing of the Deed of Donation for the land where the Philippine Sports Training Center (PSTC) was proposed to be constructed in Bagac. The creation of the PSTC aims to promote sports in the country and achieve excellence in international sports competitions. Meanwhile, Go authored and co-sponsored the measure that became Republic Act No. 11470, establishing the National Academy of Sports (NAS) in 2020. NAS is a government-run educational institution that offers quality secondary education with a special curriculum on sports for gifted young Filipinos who want to enhance their physical and mental capabilities in sports. Go also filed Senate Bill No. 423 or the proposed Philippine National Games (PNG) Act of 2022. The measure aims to institutionalize “a truly comprehensive national grassroots sports program, which will harness the vast potential of the citizenry in discovering and developing champion athletes who could excel in international sports competition, thus giving the country pride and international goodwill and addressing the long-standing problems of Philippine sports in general.” “As chair of the Senate Committee on Sports, I am one with President (Ferdinand) Marcos Jr. in highlighting the importance of sports in nation-building. I reiterate my firm commitment to always look after the welfare of our athletes and to push for long-term and grassroots sports development,” Go previously said. It can also be recalled that Go played a crucial role in pushing for additional funding for sports development in the country. He effectively advocated for a boost in the 2023 budget of the PSC, specifically designating an extra one billion pesos to aid athletes, both at the international level and in grassroots initiatives. On the same day, Go visited several infrastructure projects he supported the funding of as vice chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, including the ongoing construction of Governor Celestino Gallares Multi-specialty Medical Complex in Cortes, and the Cortes Municipal Park and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management building, both in Cortes town. He also led a distribution activity for athletes, coaches, and barangay workers in Cortes town. After Cortes, Go went to Tagbilaran City to inspect the city’s Super Health Center and the Malasakit Center at Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital. Lastly, the senator attended the 73rd Commencement Exercise of Bohol Institute of Technology International College System. The post Bong Go throws support to grassroots sports development programs appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Kudos, Dr. Eric Olivarez (2)
Complementing Dr. Eric’s energetic move to expedite the march of Parañaque to becoming a premier city south of Manila is Congressman Edwin Olivarez of the First District of the City, who authored 10 local bills to nationalize 10 avenues in various barangays of the city, upgrading them to wide national roads: Local bill, filed on 2022-08-08, an act converting Palanyag Road in Barangay San Dionisio, Parañaque City, into a national road and appropriating funds therefor, read: 2022-08-10; Local bill, filed on 2022-08-08, an act converting A. Bonifacio Extension in Barangay San Dionisio into a natrional road and appropriating funds therefor, read: 2022-08-08; Local bill, filed on 2022-08-10, an act converting Dr. Victor Medina in Barangay San Dionisio into a national road and appropriating funds therefor, read: 2022-08-10; Local bill, filed on 2022-08-08, an act converting Canaynay Avenue in Barangay San Dionisio into a national road and appropriating funds therefor, read: 2022-08-10; Local bill, filed on 2022-08-08, an act converting C. Rivera Street in Barangay Baclaran into a national road and appropriating funds therefor, read: 2022-08-10 Local bill, filed on 2022-08-08, an act converting Airport Road in Barangay Baclaran into a national road and appropriating funds therefor, read: 2022-08-10; Local bill, filed on 2022-08-08, an act converting Tomas Claudio Street in Barangay Baclaran into a national road and appropriating funds therefor, read: 2022-08-10; Local bill, filed on 2022-08-08, an act converting Multinational Avenue in Barangay Santo Niño into a national road and appropriating funds therefor, read: 2022-08-10; Local bill, filed on 2022-08-08, an act converting Lopez Road in Barangay San Isidro into a national road and appropriating funds therefor, read: 2022-08-10; Local bill, filed on 2022-08-08, an act converting G.G. Cruz Street in Barangay Baclaran into a national road and appropriating funds therefor. read: 2022-08-10. Youth, energy, and talent in the workforce, and the superior academic background of the local chief executive, plus the cooperation of the heads of departments and offices constitute the total formula for success in good local governance. A functional Commission on Audit on the local scene makes it easy for the office of the chief accountant to cleanse the accounts and eliminate discrepancies and reconcile the bank accounts with the subsidiaries and reduce to an easy and manageable level the differences between the accounting records and the general service office reports. Hard work and a lot of intelligence within the accounting department contributed to the amazing success of enabling the 16 Punong Barangay of Parañaque City to submit the 16 annual audit reports of the 16 barangays of the city. Perhaps, this is the first time this happened in the whole country. Parañaque City stands today at the highest level of readiness among NCR cities to adapt its accounting system to digital audit that is being initiated by CoA Chairman Gamaliel Cordoba. The Office of the Chief Accountant is studying how to imbibe the development by CoA of an easy-to-implement and technology-driven government accounting system compliant with the international standard to ensure that all revenues and expenditures are recorded accurately and promptly, and enhancing auditing guidelines for engagement to cover contracts entered into via social media. The post Kudos, Dr. Eric Olivarez (2) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
MIF inking seen ahead of SoNA
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is set to sign the Maharlika Investment Fund bill on 18 July, less than a week before his second State of the Nation Address on 24 July. The Presidential Communications Office confirmed that the signing of the MIF bill is on Marcos’ schedule for next week. The MIF Act of 2023 is currently an enrolled bill, which will undergo legal scrutiny and await the President’s final approval. Once enacted, the MIF law will provide an additional avenue for development financing, particularly for projects that are “considered risky but strategically important and have the potential for long-term returns.” Dev’t tool Socioeconomic Planning Undersecretary Rosemari Edillon earlier said the establishment of the MIF, the country’s first sovereign wealth fund, will prompt the Philippines to sustain and complete its development programs while targeting to become an “upper middle-income country” by 2025. The post MIF inking seen ahead of SoNA appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
MIF signing ahead of PBBM SONA
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is set to sign the Maharlika Investment Fund bill on 18 July less than a week before his second State of the Nation Address on 24 July. The Presidential Communications Office confirmed that the signing of the MIF bill is part of Marcos’ schedule for next week. The MIF Act of 2023 is currently an enrolled bill, which will undergo legal scrutiny and await the President’s final approval. Once enacted, the MIF will provide an additional avenue for development financing, particularly for projects that are “considered risky but strategically important and have the potential for long-term returns.” National Economic and Development Authority Undersecretary Rosemari Edillon previously said the establishment of the MIF, the country’s first sovereign wealth fund, will prompt the Philippines to sustain and complete its development programs while targeting to become an “upper middle-income country” by 2025. Edillon said the MIF will serve as means for the Philippines to upgrade its current lower-middle income classification—a goal that has been outlined in the Philippine Development Plan for 2023 to 2028. Marcos certified the MIF bill as” urgent" and if passed into law the sovereign fund will be used to invest in a wide range of assets, including foreign currencies, fixed-income instruments, domestic and foreign corporate bonds, commercial real estate, and infrastructure projects. Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno earlier said that legislating Maharlika Investment Fund would help the government further hasten the completion of the 'big-ticket' projects. The bill mandates the Maharlika Investment Corp. to facilitate the sovereign fund which will act as the "sole vehicle for the purpose of mobilizing and utilizing the MIF for investments in transactions in order to generate optimal returns on investments. The post MIF signing ahead of PBBM SONA appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
NEDA: Establishing MIF preparatory for Phl’s upgrade to ‘upper middle income’ status
The National Economic and Development Authority believes that the establishment of the Maharlika Investment Fund will prepare the Philippines to sustain and complete its development programs while targeting to become an “upper middle income country” by 2025. In a news forum on Saturday, NEDA Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon said the MIF could be a gateway for the Philippines to upgrade its current lower-middle income classification—a goal that has been outlined in the Philippine Development Plan for 2023 to 2028. “This transition will have significant implications for the country’s fiscal situation and access to concessional loans, like the Official Development Assistance,” she said. Based on the 2021 Philippine Statistics Authority data, the Philippines is under the lower-middle income classification with $3,000 or P182,438 gross national income per capita. The GNI per capita of lower middle-income status ranges from $1,086 to $4,255. Once the Philippines transitioned to upper middle-income status, Edillon said the country will no longer be qualified for concessional loans. According to NEDA official, concessional loans offers low-interest rates and extended grace periods to countries with below upper middle-income status. Once the Philippines achieves its target status, Edillon said the country will have to rely on market rates for debt financing, which she pressed “would be challenging for the government.” Citing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, Edillon said the Philippines were not able to raise its credit rating “to achieve the desired creditworthiness, which could have improved debt financing conditions.” Hence, the Philippine government came up with exploring innovative ways to push for financing income-generating programs and attracting investments. Edillon said, one of which is the establishment of the MIF. She underscored that the “MIF aims to attract equity financing rather than debt financing”— which allows investors to become partners in projects, sharing in the risks and rewards of the venture, such as the flagship infrastructure programs of the Marcos administration. The MIF law is currently an enrolled bill, which will undergo legal scrutiny and awaits the President’s approval. Once enacted, Edillon said the MIF will provide an additional avenue for development financing, particularly for projects that are considered risky “but strategically important and have the potential for long-term returns.” Edillon also noted that the government is now working on the implementing rules and regulations of the MIF, which will help facilitate its operation and contribute to the country’s future investment and expenditure needs. The post NEDA: Establishing MIF preparatory for Phl’s upgrade to ‘upper middle income’ status appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bong Go aids indigents, inaugurate two new multipurpose buildings in QC
Senator Bong Go personally extended aid to disadvantaged communities in Barangay Payatas, Quezon City on Thursday, 15 June. Held at Doña Aurora covered court, Go and his team distributed grocery packs, vitamins, snacks, and masks to 1,000 indigent residents. They also gave select individuals new pairs of shoes, cellular phones, bicycles, and balls for basketball and volleyball. Prior to the relief activity, Go also attended the inauguration of two multipurpose buildings in Brgys. Commonwealth and Payatas. As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, he was instrumental in securing the necessary funding for the construction of these projects. In his speech, Go reminded everyone to stay cautious following a recent earthquake, saying, “Bago ‘yan gusto ko lang pong ipaalala sa inyo mag-ingat tayo dahil bago lang po nag-earthquake.” Go also emphasized the importance of safety and urged citizens to heed the government’s instructions in times of emergencies. “Pero ingat tayo ha, kung ano ‘yung paalala ng ating gobyerno, ni Mayor. Kung lumabas kaagad sa ligtas na lugar sundin po natin ang paalala ng inyong mga local government officials ha, nakikiusap ako sa inyo para ligtas kayo,” he urged. On Thursday, Mindoro Island experienced an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 on the Richter scale. The impact of the seismic activity was felt in Metro Manila, as well as in the neighboring provinces. As the country is prone to various calamities such as typhoons, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions, Go stressed that his proposed Senate Bill No. 188, which seeks to establish the Department of Disaster Resilience, would centralize efforts, streamline coordination, and ensure a more swift and effective response to emergencies. To complement the DDR, Go also filed SBN 193, or the Mandatory Evacuation Center Act, which aims to ensure the availability of safe and clean evacuation centers in every city, municipality, and province across the country. Meanwhile, as Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go then encouraged the public to avail of medical assistance from any of the 11 Malasakit Centers in the city. Malasakit Centers in Quezon City are located at the Lung Center of the Philippines, Novaliches District Hospital, Philippine Heart Center, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, East Avenue Medical Center, Veterans Memorial Medical Center, Philippine Orthopedic Center, National Children’s Hospital, Philippine National Police General Hospital, and Quirino Memorial Medical Center. Go is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program. To date, 158 operational centers have helped more than seven million Filipinos nationwide, according to the DOH. “Sa mga pasyente, lapitan niyo lang ang Malasakit Center dahil para ‘to sa inyo. Kung may hospital bill kayo, nandiyan ang mga ahensya ng gobyerno na tutulong para mabayaran ito,” said Go. Go also continues to bring government medical services closer to the grassroots as he advocated for the establishment of Super Health Centers in various parts of the country. In Quezon City, necessary funds have been allocated for the DOH to construct Super Health Centers in six different barangays. The senator also sponsored in the Senate the passage of RA No. 11501 in 2020, increasing the QMMC’s bed capacity from 500 to 1,000 beds; and RA No. 11561 in 2021, increasing the EAMC’s bed capacity from 600 to 1,000 beds. He likewise supported the rehabilitation of the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center and VMMC road networks, road and drainage improvement works along the Quirino Highway and P. Dela Cruz Road, construction of an advanced cardiac catheterization laboratory and expansion of the new emergency room building at the EAMC, and construction of a five-story multipurpose building at Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo. Ending his message, Go expressed his gratitude to local officials, including Mayor Joy Belmonte, Councilor Mikey Belmonte, Councilor Godie Liban, and others, for their unwavering dedication and service to the people they represent. “Bilang inyong senador, tutulong ako sa abot ng aking makakaya at isusulong ko ang mga proyekto, panukala at adhikain na makakatulong sa bawat Pilipino. To the best of my ability, aalalay ako sa pag-unlad ng inyong komunidad,” Go stressed. “Sa mga kababayan natin dito, alam kong mahirap pa rin ang panahon ngayon pero ipagpatuloy niyo lang ang inyong suporta sa gobyerno at tuloy lang din ang malasakit natin sa bawat isa. Tayo ay makakaahon din mula sa krisis na ito,” he encouraged. On the same day, Go also extended his assistance to indigent residents from Marikina City, and Rodriguez and San Mateo, Rizal. The post Bong Go aids indigents, inaugurate two new multipurpose buildings in QC appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Regional Specialty Centers eyed
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, author and principal sponsor of the Regional Specialty Center bill, recently stressed the significance of these facilities in providing accessible and specialized healthcare services to Filipinos across the country. In an ambush interview after attending the groundbreaking for the Super Health Center in Digos City, the lawmaker explained that the primary objective of these specialty centers is to bridge the gap between the people and essential specialized healthcare services. To recall, Congress on 31 May ratified the Bicameral Conference Report on the Regional Specialty Centers Act and the measure will soon be transmitted to the Office of the President for the approval of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. By establishing these specialty centers in various regional hospitals, Go believes that it will alleviate the burden faced by patients who have to travel to Manila and other urban areas for specialized treatments. He also said that the Department of Health will identify the regional hospitals capable of housing the specialty centers. The senator stressed the importance of bringing medical services closer to Filipinos who may face challenges in accessing healthcare in Metro Manila. Many citizens lack the means to travel to the capital, have no relatives there, and face additional expenses such as transportation, accommodation and food. With the establishment of the Regional Specialty Center, patients will have the opportunity to receive top-notch medical care from government health facilities in their own regions, saving them time, money and effort. Go also revealed plans to expand specialized medical services at the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City to include renal care, brain and spine treatment, and orthopedic services, eliminating the need for patients to travel to the Philippine Orthopedic Center in Quezon City, for example. According to the DoH’s timeline, the establishment of specialty centers in National Capital Region will take place in Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center, Quirino Memorial Medical Center, East Avenue Medical Center, Tondo Medical Center, Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center, Valenzuela Medical Center, Las Piñas General Hospital and Satellite Trauma Center, Rizal Medical Center, and Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Sanitarium. He also said that the Department of Health will identify the regional hospitals capable of housing the specialty centers. In Luzon, specialty centers will be established in Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center, Region I Medical Center, Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center, Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center, Cagayan Valley Medical Center, Region II Trauma and Medical Center, Southern Isabela Medical Center, Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center, Bataan General Hospital and Medical Center, Mariveles Mental Wellness and General Hospital, Batangas Medical Center, Ospital ng Palawan, Culion Sanitarium and General Hospital, Bicol Medical Center, Bicol Region General Hospital, Geriatric Medical Center, Bicol Medical Center, and Bicol Regional Hospital and Medical Center. The Visayas region will witness the creation of specialty centers in Western Visayas Medical Center, Western Visayas Sanitarium and General Hospital, Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Medical Center and Eastern Visayas Medical Center. In Mindanao, specialty centers will be established in Zamboanga City Medical Center, Northern Mindanao Medical Center, Mayor Hilarion A. Ramiro Sr. Medical Center, Southern Philippines Medical Center, Davao Regional Medical Center, Cotabato Regional and Medical Center, Caraga Regional Hospital, Adela Serra Ty Memorial Medical Center, and Amai Pakpak Medical Center. The post Regional Specialty Centers eyed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US averts first-ever default with 11th-hour debt deal
US senators voted to suspend the federal debt limit Thursday, capping weeks of fraught negotiations to eliminate the threat of a disastrous credit default just four days ahead of the deadline set by the Treasury. Economists had warned the country could run out of money to pay its bills by Monday -- leaving almost no room for delays in enacting the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which extends the government's borrowing authority through 2024 while trimming federal spending. Hammered out between Democratic President Joe Biden and the Republicans, the measure passed the Senate with a comfortable majority of 63 votes to 36 a day after it had sailed through the House of Representatives. "No one gets everything they want in a negotiation, but make no mistake: this bipartisan agreement is a big win for our economy and the American people," Biden said in a statement posted to social media. He said he would sign the bill "as soon as possible" and address the nation Friday. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer added that the nation could "breathe a sigh of relief" after avoiding a "catastrophic" economic collapse. "But, for all the ups and downs and twists and turns it took to get here, it is so good for this country that both parties have come together at last to avoid default," he said. The bill -- which now heads to Biden's desk to be signed into law -- ended a day of intense back-and-forth between party leaders and rank-and-file members who had threatened the bill's quick passage with last-minute gripes about the details. Democratic leaders had spent months underlining the havoc that a first default in history would have wrought, including the loss of millions of jobs and $15 trillion in household wealth, as well as increased costs for mortgages and other borrowings. 'Behind the eight ball' The late evening drama came after a series of failed ballots on amendments sought mainly by Republicans who were threatening at one point to hold up the process, dragging it deep into the weekend. Senators elected to offer 11 tweaks to the 99-page text, many objecting to funding levels for their pet projects -- from border control and Chinese trade to taxation and the environment -- and each requiring a vote. Defense hawks upset at Pentagon spending being capped at Biden's budget request of $886 billion threatened at one point to derail the bill's passage entirely. In the end, they fell in line after being offered a commitment to a separate bill providing cash for Ukraine's defense against the Russian invasion, and promoting US national security interests in the Middle East and in the face of Chinese aggression against Taiwan. "As currently written, this bill puts our military behind the eight ball... The first and most important dollars we allocate each year in the budget are those to protect and defend the United States and our interests," said South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham. America spends more money than it collects through taxation, so it borrows money via the issuing of government bonds, seen as among the world's most reliable investments. Around 80 years ago, lawmakers introduced a limit on how much federal debt could be accrued. Politically toxic The ceiling has been raised more than 100 times since to allow the government to meet its spending commitments -- usually without drama and with the support of Democrats and Republicans -- and stands at around $31.5 trillion. Both parties see raising the debt limit as politically toxic, although they acknowledge that failure to do so would plunge the US economy into a depression and roil world markets as the government missed debt repayments. Republicans hoped to weaponize the extension to campaign against what they see as Democratic overspending ahead of the 2024 presidential election, although hikes in the debt ceiling only cover commitments already made by both parties. Kevin McCarthy, the top lawmaker in the Republican-led House, had touted the bill he spent weeks negotiating as a big victory for conservatives, although he faced a backlash from hardliners on the right who said he made too many concessions on spending cuts. He fell one short of the 150 votes -- two-thirds of his caucus -- he had promised to deliver in the lower chamber as he fought to quell a right-wing rebellion, and needed Democratic help to advance the bill to the Senate. On the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue, the vote was being touted as a major victory for Biden, who managed to protect almost all of his domestic priorities from deep cuts threatened by Republicans. "This legislation protects the full faith and credit of the United States and preserves our financial leadership, which is critical to our economic growth and stability," said US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. The post US averts first-ever default with 11th-hour debt deal appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bill renaming Del Monte Avenue after FPJ opposed
Residents and parishioners are opposing the proposed legislation that will rename Del Monte Avenue in Quezon City after the late movie actor Fernando Poe Jr......»»
Bill renaming Quezon City Del Monte Avenue after FPJ lauded
Former president Joseph Estrada has lauded a Senate bill seeking to rename Del Monte Avenue in Quezon City after the late actor Fernando Poe Jr......»»
Why Franciscans oppose Lapid bill to rename Del Monte Avenue after FPJ
The Franciscan Order said there is "great historical value" to the name of Del Monte Avenue......»»
Anti-Terror Bill: Are We a Step Closer to Dictatorship Again?
Pinoy baby boomers might be wondering: are we headed back to the dark days of martial law? A time when kleptocrats reigned supreme, when both free speech and human rights were thrown under the bus. Back then, one would hear rumors about the Marcoses and their ultra-lavish lifestyles. There were stories like how Imelda Marcos could order American department stores like Saks Fifth Avenue to temporarily close their doors to the public so she and her entourage of Blue Ladies, could shop in private......»»
88% of Pinoys oppose Cha-cha – Pulse Asia
Public opinion on Charter change, which last year was roughly divided among Filipinos, is now largely skewed toward those opposed to changing the country’s Constitution, a survey conducted by Pulse Asia showed......»»
House leaves Quiboloy’s fate to Senate
The House of Representatives will no longer pursue and implement the warrant of arrest it issued against pastor Apollo Quiboloy after it approved on final reading the bill revoking the franchise of the evangelist’s alleged TV network......»»
NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand's ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union. "I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union of our ratification of the New Zealand European Union Free Trade Agreement (NZ-EUFTA)......»»