Blue Ribbon needs & lsquo;bill of particulars& rsquo; to start probe
Sen. Richard Gordon on Wednesday said the Senate Blue Ribbon committee which he heads cannot initiate a probe into the corruption issues revealed by Sen. Manny Pacquiao as these are based only on newspaper accounts......»»
Marcos seeks Congress support on 12 key bills
In his second State of the Nation Address delivered at the House of Representatives on Monday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sought Congress' support to pass 12 pieces of legislation that would influence the economy, agriculture, fisheries, local government as well as transparency in government. He asked for support from the members of the Senate and the House of Representatives to pass and amend the excise tax on single-use plastics, VAT on digital services, rationalization of mining fiscal regime, motor vehicle user’s charge/road user’s tax, and military and uniformed personnel pension that all fall under the country’s Medium-Term Fiscal Framework. Congress, Marcos said, should also amend the Fisheries Code (RA 8550), the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act (10845) and the Cooperative Code (RA 9520) to combat the woes that hound the agriculture sector and direct affects the Filipino consumers. “Our Fisheries Code must be revised to incorporate and strengthen science-based analysis and determination of fishing areas. This approach will protect both the interests of our fisherfolk and our fisheries and aquatic resources,” Marcos said. “To this end, we will seek the support of Congress to amend the Code to guarantee the sustainable development of our fisheries sector in harmony with environmental balance,” he added. The Chief Executive also vowed to intensify efforts to prevent agricultural smuggling and hoarding, which he said continue to hurt Filipinos’ pockets. During the last quarter of 2022, prices of agricultural products, particularly onion, soared to as high as P500 to P700 per kilo. This prompted the House to to start a probe in January and to expedite the passage of a bill that would amend the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act. Meanwhile, the legislature must also enact a New Government Procurement Law and New Government Auditing Code, “ to make government procurement and auditing more attuned to these changing times,” Marcos said. “We will give effect to the mandate of the Constitution and the Local Government Code, as clarified by the Supreme Court, very soon. Almost all the required Devolution Transition Plans of the LGUs are done. To fully prepare them for optimal devolution, the necessary technical and financial assistance is being extended to our local governments,” he added. The other priority bills he laid out during his speech were on anti-financial accounts scamming, the Tatak-Pinoy (Proudly Filipino) law, The Blue Economy law, ease of paying taxes, LGU income classification and The Philippine Immigration Act. The post Marcos seeks Congress support on 12 key bills appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Coaching great John Thompson of Georgetown dead at 78
By JOSEPH WHITE AP Sports Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — John Thompson, the imposing Hall of Famer who turned Georgetown into a “Hoya Paranoia” powerhouse and became the first Black coach to lead a team to the NCAA men’s basketball championship, has died. He was 78 His death was announced in a family statement released by Georgetown on Monday. No details were disclosed. “Our father was an inspiration to many and devoted his life to developing young people not simply on but, most importantly, off the basketball court. He is revered as a historic shepherd of the sport, dedicated to the welfare of his community above all else,” the statement said. “However, for us, his greatest legacy remains as a father, grandfather, uncle, and friend. More than a coach, he was our foundation. More than a legend, he was the voice in our ear everyday.” One of the most celebrated and polarizing figures in his sport, Thompson took over a moribund Georgetown program in the 1970s and molded it in his unique style into a perennial contender, culminating with a national championship team anchored by center Patrick Ewing in 1984. Georgetown reached two other title games with Thompson in charge and Ewing patrolling the paint, losing to Michael Jordan’s North Carolina team in 1982 and to Villanova in 1985. At 6-foot-10, with an ever-present white towel slung over his shoulder, Thompson literally and figuratively towered over the Hoyas for decades, becoming a patriarch of sorts after he quit coaching in 1999. One of his sons, John Thompson III, was hired as Georgetown’s coach in 2004. When the son was fired in 2017, the elder Thompson -- known affectionately as “Big John” or “Pops” to many -- was at the news conference announcing Ewing as the successor. Along the way, Thompson said what he thought, shielded his players from the media and took positions that weren’t always popular. He never shied away from sensitive topics -- particularly the role of race in both sports and society -- and he once famously walked off the court before a game to protest an NCAA rule because he felt it hurt minority athletes. “I’ll probably be remembered for all the things that kept me out of the Hall of Fame, ironically, more than for the things that got me into it,” Thompson said on the day he was elected to the Hall in 1999. Thompson became coach of the Hoyas in 1972 and began remaking a team that was 3-23 the previous season. Over the next 27 years, he led Georgetown to 14 straight NCAA tournaments (1979-92), 24 consecutive postseason appearances (20 NCAA, 4 NIT), three Final Fours (1982, 1984, 1985) and won six Big East tournament championships. Employing a physical, defense-focused approach that frequently relied on a dominant center -- Alonzo Mourning and Dikembe Mutombo were among his other pupils -- Thompson compiled a 596-239 record (.715 winning percentage). He had 26 players drafted by the NBA. One of his honors -- his selection as coach of the U.S. team for the 1988 Olympics -- had a sour ending when the Americans had to settle for the bronze medal. It was a result so disappointing that Thompson put himself on a sort of self-imposed leave at Georgetown for a while, coaching practices and games but leaving many other duties to his assistants. Off the court, Thompson was both a role model and a lightning rod. A stickler for academics, he kept a deflated basketball on his desk, a reminder to his players that a degree was a necessity because a career in basketball relied on a tenuous “nine pounds of air.” The school boasted that 76 of 78 players who played four seasons under Thompson received their degrees. He was a Black coach who recruited mostly Black players to a predominantly white Jesuit university in Washington, and Thompson never hesitated to speak out on behalf of his players. One of the most dramatic moments in Georgetown history came on Jan. 14, 1989, when he walked off the court to a standing ovation before the tipoff of a home game against Boston College, demonstrating in a most public way his displeasure against NCAA Proposition 42. The rule denied athletic scholarships to freshmen who didn’t meet certain requirements, and Thompson said it was biased against underprivileged students. Opposition from Thompson, and others, led the NCAA to modify the rule. Thompson’s most daring move came that same year, when he summoned notorious drug kingpin Rayful Edmond III for a meeting in the coach’s office. Thompson warned Edmond to stop associating with Hoyas players and to leave them alone, using his respect in the Black community to become one of the few people to stare down Edmond and not face a reprisal. Though aware of his influence, Thompson did not take pride in becoming the first Black coach to take a team to the Final Four, and he let a room full of reporters know it when asked his feelings on the subject at a news conference in 1982. “I resent the hell out of that question if it implies I am the first Black coach competent enough to take a team to the Final Four,” Thompson said. “Other Blacks have been denied the right in this country; coaches who have the ability. I don’t take any pride in being the first Black coach in the Final Four. I find the question extremely offensive.” Born Sept. 2, 1941, John R. Thompson Jr. grew up in Washington, D.C. His father was always working — on a farm in Maryland and later as a laborer in the city — and could neither read nor write. “I never in my life saw my father’s hands clean,” Thompson told The Associated Press in 2007. “Never. He’d come home and scrub his hands with this ugly brown soap that looked like tar. I thought that was the color of his hands. When I was still coaching, kids would show up late for practice and I’d (say) ... ‘My father got up every morning of his life at 5 a.m. to go to work. Without an alarm.‘” Thompson’s parents emphasized education, but he struggled in part of because of poor eyesight and labored in Catholic grammar school. He was moved to a segregated public school, had a growth spurt and became good enough at basketball to get into John Carroll, a Catholic high school, where he led the team to 55 consecutive victories and two city titles. He went to Providence College as one of the most touted basketball prospects in the country and led the Friars to the first NCAA bid in school history. He graduated in 1964 and played two seasons with Red Auerbach’s Boston Celtics, earning a pair of championship rings as a sparingly used backup to Bill Russell. Thompson returned to Washington, got his master’s degree in guidance and counseling from the University of the District of Columbia and went 122-28 over six seasons at St. Anthony’s before accepting the job at Georgetown, an elite school that had relatively few Black students. Faculty and students rallied around him after a bedsheet with racist words was hung inside the school’s gym before a game during the 1974-75 season. Thompson sheltered his players with closed practices, tightly controlled media access and a prohibition on interviews with freshmen in their first semester -- a restriction that still stands for Georgetown’s basketball team. Combined with Thompson’s flashes of emotion and his players’ rough-and-tumble style of play, it wasn’t long before the words “Hoya Paranoia” came to epitomize the new era of basketball on the Hilltop campus. Georgetown lost the 1982 NCAA championship game when Fred Brown mistakenly passed the ball to North Carolina’s James Worthy in the game’s final seconds. Two years later, Ewing led an 84-75 win over Houston in the title game. The Hoyas were on the verge of a repeat the following year when they were stunned in the championship game by coach Rollie Massimino’s Villanova team in one of the biggest upsets in tournament history. Success allowed Thompson to rake in money through endorsements, but he ran afoul of his Georgetown bosses when he applied for a gambling license for a business venture in Nevada in 1995. Thompson, who liked playing the slot machines in Las Vegas, reluctantly dropped the application after the university president objected. Centers Ewing, Mourning and Mutombo turned Georgetown into “Big Man U” under Thompson, although his last superstar was guard Allen Iverson, who in 1996 also became the first player under Thompson to leave school early for the NBA draft. “Thanks for Saving My Life Coach,” Iverson wrote at the start of an Instagram post Monday with photos of the pair. The Hoyas teams in the 1990s never came close to matching the achievements of the 1980s, and Thompson’s era came to a surprising and sudden end when he resigned in the middle of the 1998-99 season, citing distractions from a pending divorce. Thompson didn’t fade from the limelight. He became a sports radio talk show host and a TV and radio game analyst, joining the very profession he had frustrated so often as a coach. He loosened up, allowing the public to see his lighter side, but he remained pointed and combative when a topic mattered to him. A torch was passed in 2004, when John Thompson III became Georgetown’s coach. The younger Thompson, with “Pops” often watching from the stands or sitting in the back of the room for news conferences, returned the Hoyas to the Final Four in 2007. Another son, Ronny Thompson, was head coach for one season at Ball State and is now a TV analyst. ___ Joseph White, a former AP sports writer in Washington who died in 2019, prepared this obituary. AP Sports Writer Howard Fendrich contributed......»»
No abuse of discretion in Pharmally probe – Gordon
Former senator Richard Gordon has objected to the Supreme Court (SC) ruling that the Senate Blue Ribbon committee committed grave abuse of discretion in citing Pharmally officials in contempt......»»
NIA’s incomplete, substandard projects slammed
Senator Raffy Tulfo on Thursday lambasted the National Irrigation Administration over the alleged irregularities persisting in its several irrigation projects. In a public inquiry by the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, Tulfo raised alarm on the agency’s numerous irrigation projects that have been pending for more than five years describing it were “failed, uncompleted and substandard projects.” During the probe, Tulfo asked NIA acting chief Eduardo Guillen if there was any corruption within the agency. Guillen replied: “I think they said that all, even abroad, all organizations have certain corruption.” Tulfo got irked and told Guillen not to involve other organizations. “Don’t include other organizations here. I’m just talking about NIA Let’s accept it. You agree?,” Tulfo said. “Because the only time you can solve a corruption problem in the agency you are handling is to accept that there is corruption. Because, if you don’t accept that there is corruption, how can you solve that corruption problem? Denial is not the right answer to solve any problem,” he added. Guillen then said there were “lapses” within the NIA. Tulfo replied that “lapses” and “corruption” are not the same. He also told Guillen not to “sugarcoat” his answers before the senate panel. “If there’s corruption, we must solve this. So you admit that there’s corruption?” Tulfo has again asked Guillen. The NIA acting chief meanwhile replied “Yes, that’s is why we’re trying to fix the system.” Tulfo lamented that lapses are still “unacceptable.” “Don’t imply that there are no problems, just lapses. It’s unacceptable in my terms,” he said. The post NIA’s incomplete, substandard projects slammed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Aboitiz’s ‘Byaheng Digiskarte’ campaign wins IABC Gold Quill Award
The Aboitiz Group won the prestigious 2023 International Association of Business Communicators Gold Quill Award of Merit for its groundbreaking corporate social responsibility initiative, “Byaheng Digiskarte.” The initiative was crafted to spur the recovery and growth of micro, small and medium enterprises and cooperatives adversely affected by the pandemic. “Byaheng Digiskarte” comes from “byahe,” meaning journey, and “digiskarte,” a portmanteau of “digital” and “diskarte,” meaning strategy. Leveraging digital tools and innovative business approaches, the pioneering project empowers beneficiaries to adapt swiftly to an ever-evolving business environment. This included onboarding members to digital platforms so that they could start online businesses. Going beyond economic revitalization, “Byaheng Digiskarte” also aims to foster financial inclusion by encouraging the unbanked segment of the Filipino population to open their first-ever bank accounts through the Aboitiz-led Union Bank of the Philippines. Renowned globally as a community of accomplished communication professionals, the IABC confers its highly coveted Gold Quill Awards to acknowledge excellence in strategic communication. The Gold Quill Blue Ribbon Panel evaluators, made up of communication experts boasting decades of experience, reviewed 395 entries from 16 countries against the IABC Gold Quill Award criteria and Seven-Point Scale of Excellence. The Gold Quill Awards reception will be held in Toronto, Canada on 6 June 2023, where the Aboitiz Group’s “Byaheng Digiskarte” program will be recognized among exceptional communication works from around the world. Said one of the judges: “The entry was easy to understand and the opportunity, audiences and goals were easy to follow. It is apparent the team put thought into the different audiences, how to reach them and how to reinforce the key messaging.” Praising the Aboitiz Group’s exceptional work, another judge added, “You demonstrated a strategic mindset in showcasing a well-executed project that not only accomplished but exceeded its stated objectives during a challenging pandemic. Great work!” [caption id="attachment_135101" align="aligncenter" width="525"] After planting and harvesting their own farm produce, farmers and agripreneurs were provided equipment by the Aboitiz Foundation to process food products such as pickles, tea and jam.[/caption] As the Aboitiz Group advances on its “Great Transformation” to become the Philippines’ first “techglomerate,” “Byaheng Digiskarte” reflects this commitment to innovation, digital transformation and drive to positively impact surrounding businesses and communities. By leveraging technology to uplift businesses and promote financial inclusion, the Aboitiz Group sets the stage for a future where technology and innovation are at the forefront of operations. “This project is close to our hearts as we believe in the power of innovation to transform lives. We saw the need to bridge the digital divide in underserved communities, particularly in the area of digital literacy. Receiving the Quill Award is a great honor, but it is also a reminder of the responsibility we have to continue making a positive impact in the communities we serve. We take this recognition as an inspiration to do even more and to do it better,” Aboitiz Foundation president and chief operating officer Maribeth Marasigan said. Since its launch in April 2021, Byaheng Digiskarte has made significant headway, involving extensive visits to remote areas across the Philippines, collaborative consultations and partnerships with government agencies and private enterprises. Through mentoring sessions and the provision of cutting-edge tools, this initiative has assisted farmers and agripreneurs affected by the pandemic, leading to income growth. As of December 2022, over 127 cooperatives with nearly 10,000 members have received comprehensive training, which includes digital marketing, equipment handling, reputation building and financial management, among other vital skills. Two cooperatives, comprising over a thousand members, have successfully digitized their internal coop processes, while 19 cooperatives with more than 6,000 members have ventured into new cooperative businesses. “Byaheng Digiskarte” has also facilitated almost a thousand beneficiaries in opening their first bank accounts with UnionBank, solidifying the Aboitiz Group’s commitment to providing accessible financial services. The post Aboitiz’s ‘Byaheng Digiskarte’ campaign wins IABC Gold Quill Award appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bong Go wants to decongest National Center for Mental Health
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go highlighted the urgent need to improve the National Center for Mental Health and to ensure that all Filipinos have access to proper healthcare. During a public hearing conducted by the Senate Committee on Health on mental health on Tuesday, 9 May, Go, who chairs the committee, raised concerns regarding the need for decongestion of the NCMH. “The state of the National Center for Mental Health is in need of utmost attention and improvement to preserve the basic right of all Filipinos to health care,” said Go. “How can we decongest NCMH in order to improve its current state? Where can we transfer recovered patients who have nowhere to go?” he added. The senator also emphasized the need to provide appropriate intervention and care for admitted patients while also looking into the cases of those who are already considered ‘fit’ to be discharged but have nowhere to go or no family to go back home to. “Is the DSWD capable to accommodate them in halfway houses? Kawawa naman. Alam niyo masarap mabuhay sa mundong ito, isang beses lang tayo dadaan, bigyan po natin sila ng halaga, yung buhay nila. Ma-enjoy naman nila after being committed doon sa mga hospital facilities,” Go said. Go also asked concerned authorities to look into the present referral system for patients with pending cases. He cited that some patients admitted to the mental health hospital who are facing cases in court must be properly assessed to determine whether they should remain in NCMH or be tranferred to other facilities. “What should be the proper referral system for patients with pending cases? Dahil nababalitaan ko marami pong mga may kaso na nandodoon pa sa mental health (hospital),” said Go. “Bakit sila nako-commit doon? Ngayon, kung pwede na silang lumabas, magaling na sila, maaari bang ibalik na po doon sa kulungan para ma-decongest naman po itong mga mental health facilities natin?,” he added. Health authorities during the hearing responded to Go’s concerns, highlighting the protocols in place to determine whether someone has a mental illness, including a neuropsychiatric screening test. Patients who are committed to mental hospitals with a court order are already considered to need psychiatric treatment, and mental health professionals assess their fitness for trial or the need for further treatment. Those deemed mentally competent will face trial for their actions. In a separate interview at the Senate after the said hearing, Go addressed the allegations of corruption at NCMH, stating that if there are reports of wrongdoing, an inquiry can be done and referred to the Blue Ribbon Committee. Meanwhile, the senator also emphasized the importance of providing proper care to patients in the NCMH, including providing them with the necessary medication and nutrition. “Ibigay po sa kanila what is due to them. Tao po itong mga pasyente, kahit na may problema sila sa mental health. Paano gagaling kung ‘di ibibigay sa kanila ‘yung nararapat na gamot at pagkain na naayon po sa kanila. Tulungan po natin, mahalin po natin ang mga pasyente natin,” he said. Go, an advocate of improved mental healthcare, has filed Senate Bill No. 1321, or the proposed “Specialty Centers in Every Region Act of 2022”. The bill aims to establish specialty centers in select DOH-hospitals across the country, with mental health services as one of the specialties offered. Additionally, Go has filed SBN 1786, which would require public higher education institutions to establish Mental Health Offices on their campuses. He also serves as co-author of Senator Sherwin Gatchalian’s SBN 379, otherwise known as the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act, which aims to provide mental health services, emotional, developmental and preventive programs, and other support services in the basic education level. Meanwhile, one of the key initiatives he pushed for in the 2023 budget is the improvement of benefit packages of the PhilHealth. According to Go, the 2023 budget includes a special provision for the improvement of benefit packages of PhilHealth including mental health packages. This provision is crucial given the sharp increase in mental health issues and the inaccessibility of mental health services. “Mayroon pong P1.86 billion ang DOH for mental health medicines, under the 2023 national budget. Mayroon din pong P12 million budget for mental health awareness and hotline,” Go shared. “We have consistently advocated for increased funding for medical (mental) health programs. For example, in 2021, the DOH was granted an additional P384 million for its mental health program, while in 2022, an additional P200 million was allocated for the same purpose,” he cited. The post Bong Go wants to decongest National Center for Mental Health appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
LIVE: Senate Blue Ribbon probe on ‘Sugar Fiasco 2.0’
The Senate Blue Ribbon panel is starting Monday its investigation into the allegedly anomalous importation of sugar into the country ahead of the effectivity of a sugar order issued by the Sugar Regulatory Administration......»»
Blue Ribbon probe into national ID delays pushed
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III said there is “cause to believe” that there is malfeasance, misfeasance and nonfeasance on the part of the leadership of the Philippine Statistics Authority, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and other agencies tasked to oversee the production and distribution of the national ID......»»
Senate probes alleged human smuggling at NAIA
The Senate Blue Ribbon committee will start today its inquiry into the reported outbound smuggling of foreigners at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport that exposed security vulnerabilities in the country’s main gateway......»»
Pimentel calls for Blue Ribbon probe into agricultural smuggling
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III is asking the Blue Ribbon panel to investigate what he said was “rampant and unabated” agricultural smuggling in the country which has greatly affected farmers, fisherfolk and consumers......»»
Senate Blue Ribbon probe sought into Pagcor’s POGO auditor
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian has asked the Blue Ribbon panel to investigate the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.’s “seemingly anomalous” engagement of a third-party auditor for offshore gaming companies......»»
Senate panel to probe 44 million COVID-19 vaccine doses wastage
The Senate Blue Ribbon committee is geared to scrutinize what happened to the 44 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine that were wasted, according to Sen. Francis Tolentino......»»
‘Start-Up PH’ nina Bea at Alden pinagtalunan sa vlog ni Ogie Diaz: ‘Alam mo, ‘you’re so sama! So bad!’
SA pagdiriwang ng ikalawang anibersaryo ng YouTube channela “Showbiz Update” ay kumpleto sina Mama Loi, Ate Mrena, Dyosa Pockoh at Ogie Diaz. Napag-usapan ng lima ang tungkol sa programang “Start Up PH” nina Alden Richards at Bea Alonzo na magtatapos na pala at hindi pa napapanood ni Ogie. Sinimulan ni Mrena, “Matatapos na ang Start […] The post ‘Start-Up PH’ nina Bea at Alden pinagtalunan sa vlog ni Ogie Diaz: ‘Alam mo, ‘you’re so sama! So bad!’ appeared first on Bandera......»»
Blue Ribbon probe, ‘di magiging political circus – Tolentino
MANILA, Philippines- Tiniyak ni Senador Francis “Tol” Tolentino na hindi magiging political circus ang lahat ng gagawing imbestigasyon ng Senate Blue Ribbon Committee na walang katapusang kuwento na walang napupuntahan sa 19th Congress. Inihayag ito ni Tolentino, chairman ng komite matapos himukin ang kasamahan sa komitet na sundin ang “roadmap” na kailangang meron “hanggananan at […] The post Blue Ribbon probe, ‘di magiging political circus – Tolentino appeared first on REMATE ONLINE......»»
& lsquo;Breakthrough infection& rsquo; sickens only a few& mdash;FDA
Fewer than 1 percent of more than 9.1 million people who had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the start of August have experienced a “breakthrough” infection, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Friday......»»
Researchers start & lsquo;Long COVID& rsquo; data
The quest to unravel the mysteries behind Long COVID took a step forward with the launch of an internationally-coordinated attempt to capture standardised data on the condition......»»
SMB-Ginebra Sunday game postponed
The game between San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra has been postponed, reducing today’s triple-bill into double-header as the PBA continues to impose what it calls ‘precautionary’ measure intended to secure the safety of everyone in the face of danger that’s still lurking......»»
Beijing urges US to halt & lsquo;demonizing& rsquo; China
Beijing---Beijing urged Washington to stop “demonizing” China on Monday as rancor marked the start of talks with the highest-level US envoy to visit under President Joe Biden’s administration......»»
& lsquo;End to endo& rsquo; bill least priority& mdash;Paras
Ending labor contractualization or “endo” is “somewhat” no longer a legislative priority for President Rodrigo Duterte in his last year in office, one of his advisers said Thursday......»»
House declares PH Rise portion & lsquo;protected area& rsquo;
The House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources on Wednesday approved a bill declaring a portion of the Philippine Rise a protected area......»»