Cabinet meets Monday on MGCQ shift; unclear if Duterte to announce decision in address
Metro Manila, the economic center of the Philippines and home to more than 12 million people, remains the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country with more than 225,000 cases......»»
Roque: Xi, Duterte agreed to keep West Philippines Sea status quo
The Philippines under former president Rodrigo Duterte had a “gentleman’s agreement” with China to keep the status quo in the West Philippine Sea, a former Cabinet official said yesterday, as fresh tensions surround the WPS due to recent incursions by Beijing that targeted a Filipino resupply mission and a research team......»»
Netanyahu says Israel ‘preparing’ Gaza ground war
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that Israel is readying a ground war in Gaza, pressing ahead with plans that have troubled allies and threaten to worsen an already cascading humanitarian crisis. Facing ever-louder international calls to temper Israel's ferocious 19-day bombing campaign in the Hamas-controlled territory, Netanyahu delivered a nationally televised address. He told fellow Israelis still grieving and angry after Hamas's bloody attacks: "We are in the midst of a campaign for our existence," while insisting Israel will decide how the war is prosecuted. On 7 October, throngs of Hamas gunmen poured from Gaza into Israel, killing 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping 222 more, according to official tallies. US President Joe Biden is among the foreign leaders stepping up public calls for Israel to "protect innocent civilians" and to follow the "laws of war" as it pursues Hamas targets. Thousands of Gazans are already believed to have died in Israel's aerial assault, with the toll expected to rise substantially if tens of thousands of Israeli troops massed around Gaza move in. Biden on Wednesday said he had privately suggested Israel should get hostages out if possible before any ground invasion. "It's their decision, but I did not demand it", Biden said, as he called on Congress to allocate more money for Israeli defense. Speaking in Cairo, French President Emmanuel Macron warned: "A massive intervention that would put civilian lives at risk would be an error." But boasting of "raining down hellfire on Hamas" and killing "thousands of terrorists", Netanyahu said his war cabinet and the military would determine the timing of a "ground offensive" to "eliminate Hamas" and "bring our captives home." "I will not detail when, how, or how many," he said. 'It's a massacre' Gaza's Hamas-controlled health ministry puts the number of Palestinian deaths at 6,500, including many children and 700 people killed in a single 24-hour window this week. AFP could not independently verify the ministry's claims, and US President Biden has stated he has "no confidence" in the Hamas ministry figures. While the exact toll from the war in Gaza is unclear, the depth of the suffering is not in question. Entire neighborhoods have been razed, overflowing hospitals carry out procedures without anesthetic, and residents have been forced to use ice cream trucks as makeshift morgues. "They're not waging war on Hamas, they're waging war on children," raged Abu Ali Zaarab, after his family home was bombed in the southern town of Rafah. "It's a massacre." About 1.4 million people -- more than half the population -- have been displaced, according to the United Nations. The UN says 12 of the territory's 35 hospitals have closed due to damage or insufficient fuel, and a key UN aid agency serving almost 600,000 Palestinians "began to significantly reduce its operations." Israel has cut off Gaza's normal supply corridors for water, food, and other necessities, and fewer than 70 relief trucks have entered the impoverished territory since the war began. None contained fuel, which Israel fears Hamas will use for rockets and explosives. Aid agencies have warned that more people will die if medical equipment, water desalination plants, and ambulances stop operating because of a lack of fuel. Once the generators stop, hospitals will "turn into morgues", the Red Cross has warned. Hospitals are also struggling with a shortage of medicines and equipment. "There's not enough anesthetic," said Ahmad Abdul Hadi, an orthopedic surgeon working at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis. "The wounded are in severe pain but we can't wait for the procedure, so we're forced to do the operation. We performed a number of surgeries without anesthetic. It's tough and painful, but with the lack of resources, what can we do?" A regional 'explosion' The war has sparked fears of a regional conflagration if it draws in more of Israel's enemies. Since October 7, Israel has launched thousands of reprisal strikes in Gaza, but it has also hit targets in Lebanon and Syria. Late Wednesday, Lebanon-based Hezbollah fired what Israel said was a surface-to-air missile at an Israeli drone. Israel's military said it had intercepted the missile and "struck the source of the launch" in retaliation. Hamas, Hezbollah, and Syria's government are backed by Iran, which denies Israel's right to exist. Tehran's top diplomat on Wednesday accused Israel of carrying out "genocide" in Gaza. Jordan's King Abdullah became the latest leader to warn that ongoing violence could "lead to an explosion" in the region. His wife Queen Rania accused Western leaders of a "glaring double standard" for not condemning Israel's killing of Palestinian civilians in its bombardment of Gaza. Violence has also risen sharply in the occupied West Bank, where health officials said more than 100 Palestinians had been killed, mostly in raids by Israeli troops or in clashes with Israeli settlers. The post Netanyahu says Israel ‘preparing’ Gaza ground war appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Israel says at ‘war’ after rocket barrages, militant infiltration
Palestinian militants have begun a "war" against Israel, the country's defense minister said Saturday after a barrage of rockets were fired and fighters from the Palestinian enclave infiltrated Israel, a major escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Violence between Israel and the Palestinians has been surging for almost two years, with fatalities in the occupied West Bank hitting a scale not seen in years. At least two people were killed in Israel, officials said. Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Palestinian militant group Hamas has "launched a war against the State of Israel." "Troops are fighting against the enemy at every location," he said in a statement. AFP journalists said Israel's military began air strikes on Gaza, following the rocket barrage from inside the territory which is sealed off from Israel by a militarized border barrier. "Dozens of IDF fighter jets are currently striking a number of targets belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip," the military said. Rockets had earlier streamed across the sky repeatedly after the first launches from multiple locations across the Palestinian territory from 6:30 am (0330 GMT), AFP journalists in Gaza City reported. The armed wing of Hamas, which controls Gaza, said it was behind the aerial assault, saying its militants had launched thousands of rockets and its fighters seized an Israeli tank. Israel's army did not immediately comment on the tank claim when contacted by AFP. Israeli security chiefs convened over the violence, which occurred on Shabbat and during a Jewish holiday. Air raid sirens wailed across southern and central Israel, and the army urged people to stay near bomb shelters. AFP journalists in Jerusalem heard multiple rockets being intercepted by Israeli air defense systems. Sirens blared across the city on more occasions than in any Gaza conflict in the past three years. "We decided to put an end to all the crimes of the occupation (Israel). Their time for rampaging without being held accountable is over," the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades said. "We announce Operation Al-Aqsa Flood and we fired, in the first strike of 20 minutes, more than 5,000 rockets." Hundreds of Gazans flee Hundreds of residents fled their homes in eastern Gaza to move away from the border with Israel, an AFP correspondent said. Men, women and children carrying blankets and food left their homes, mostly in the northeastern part of the territory, the reporter said. Israel's military said Hamas launched "massive shooting of rockets", while at the same time "terrorists infiltrated into Israeli territory in a number of different locations". Hamas "will face the consequences and responsibility for these events", it said in a statement. In Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, some Palestinian residents cheered and blew their car horns as sirens blared. A regional council for Israeli communities northeast of Gaza said its president was killed in an exchange of fire with attackers from Gaza. Separately, a woman in her 60s was killed "due to a direct hit" in Israel, the Magen David Adom emergency services said. Fifteen others were wounded, two of them seriously, medics said. An AFP photographer in the coastal city of Tel Aviv saw a gaping hole in a building, with residents gathered outside. Hamas calls to 'join battle' Hamas called on "the resistance fighters in the West Bank" as well as "our Arab and Islamic nations" to join the battle, in a statement posted on Telegram. The United States condemned the Hamas fire and urged "all sides to refrain from violence and retaliatory attacks." "Terror and violence solve nothing," the US Office of Palestinian Affairs wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Israel has imposed a crippling blockade on Gaza since 2007 after Hamas took power. Palestinian militants and Israel have fought several devastating wars since. The latest violence follows heightened tensions in September, when Israel closed the border to Gazan workers for two weeks. The shutdown of the crossing came as Palestinian demonstrators along the border burned tires and threw rocks and petrol bombs at Israeli troops, who responded with tear gas and live bullets. Resuming workers' passage on 28 September had raised hopes of calming the situation in impoverished Gaza, home to 2.3 million people. In May, an exchange of Israeli air strikes and Gaza rocket fire killed 34 Palestinians and one Israeli. So far this year at least 247 Palestinians, 32 Israelis and two foreigners have been killed in the conflict, including combatants and civilians on both sides, according to Israeli and Palestinian officials. The vast majority of fatalities have occurred in the West Bank, which has been occupied by Israel since the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. There has been a rise in army raids, Palestinian attacks targeting Israelis and Israeli settler violence against Palestinians and their property. The rising violence this year came against the backdrop of divisive judicial reforms introduced by the hard-right government of President Benjamin Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption charges he denies. Several far-right ministers in Netanyahu's cabinet live in West Bank settlements deemed illegal under international law. The post Israel says at ‘war’ after rocket barrages, militant infiltration appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Survey drop, disinformation, or portent?
The political whirlwind that swept the Marcos-Duterte tandem to a smashing victory in the May elections of 2016 and the air of euphoria following it appears to have gradually dissipated one year and three months following their assumption to office as President and Vice President, respectively. There has been almost a whispery voice of discontent among those in the populating bearing the brunt of the escalating prices of basic commodities and a crescendo of pessimism felt by those who have been used to responsive and aggressive governance. What could have produced the huge fall in the approval and trust ratings of the redeeming and resurrected Marcos scion and the redoubtable charming yet feisty daughter of the controversial but beloved former President? Could it be the systematic and relentless barrage of negative propaganda against the current administration unleashed by the vociferous left inside and outside Congress helped, unsurprisingly, by the ominous silence of the political allies of the two, who obviously are following the baton of the one who wields and disburses the funds and largesse they need for their districts and their own evolution? The conductor’s body language speaks volumes of the obsession to be the heir apparent of the leader of the present dispensation. The fall in the trust and approval ratings of PBBM is not his own doing. The spiraling of prices of almost all commodities, including oil and gasoline, is global. The Russia-Ukraine war, the China-Taiwan friction, the US-Russia cold war, the China-US increasing bilateral tension, and other conflicts involving other countries have affected the trade and commerce of the world, putting a monkey wrench on the best-laid plans and programs of those who run the business of the world. They contribute to the present dislocation in the world’s economy. While PBBM has envisioned a program of government that — as he puts it in his first State of the Nation Address — would bring to fruition the dream of the Filipino people to live comfortable lives under a regime of peace and orderly society, he cannot, however, do this alone. He needs competent, dynamic, creative, selfless, and honest co-government workers who will implement the plans he has laid down. Unfortunately, while there are members of his Cabinet and allies in Congress who are doing well in their respective domains quietly and efficiently, there are, however, not a few of them who either have lackluster performance or are dead woods whose incompetence and grandstanding derail his visions and frustrate the expectations of the people. PBBM has been dragged down by these dead weights, triggering this fall in the surveys. Vice President and Secretary of Education Inday Sara Duterte’s fall on the surveys presents a different dimension. Her competent handling of her department has brought dramatic changes in the public educational system. Not only has she quelled the irregular, inefficient, and corrupt practices in the education sector, but she has even initiated and launched activities protecting the safety and health of the students and public school teachers, even as she improves the quality of education. Her enormous popularity, however, has become a magnet for orchestrated and systematic false disinformation and untruthful narratives about her and her office. This early — those eyeing the presidency five years from now have sent demolition forces to tarnish her popular image and taint her unblemished reputation. Those who are gullible among those respondents in the surveys apparently have been misled or hoodwinked into believing the falsities thrown at her. On the other side of the coin, could this abrupt and sizable decrease in the approval and trust survey be a portent? Could it be a foreshadow of an oncoming political upheaval? Could it be a handwriting on the wall? Could it be a wake-up call? The post Survey drop, disinformation, or portent? appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Defeated’ Armenians turn ire on leader
Armenia’s government faces new woes after losing Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan forces as citizens vented their ire on their leader. Anti-government demonstration erupted in Yerevan and the protest on the mishandling of the Nagorno-Karabakh crisis continued Friday. Opposition parties are taking part in the rallies, accusing Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of too many concessions to Baku and demanding his resignation. Protesters were blocking streets across the Armenian capital to prevent Pashinyan’s cabinet meeting as opposition leaders announced plans to impeach him in parliament. On Wednesday and Thursday, dozens of protesters were detained outside Pashinyan’s offices for throwing bottles and stones, and attempting to break into the building. Opposition politician Andranik Tevanyan was among those detained. Riot police have used stun grenades against the demonstrators. Pashinyan appealed for calm in a televised address. On Tuesday, Azerbaijan launched a military operation to retake the Armenian-populated enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh which had been under Armenian separatists’ control since the 1990s war between the Caucasus arch foes. Armenian separatists agreed to lay down their arms on Wednesday as part of a Russian-brokered ceasefire plan that halted Azerbaijan’s 24-hour offensive to retake land at the center of decades of conflict. A ceasefire was agreed upon by the two sides with Russian peacekeepers as monitors, while Azerbaijan and the separatists held their first direct peace talks Thursday. WITH AFP The post ‘Defeated’ Armenians turn ire on leader appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
UN chief convenes ‘no nonsense’ climate summit, without China or US
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is set Wednesday to host a climate meeting marred at its outset by the absence of speakers from the world's top two emitters, China and the United States. Despite increasing extreme weather events and record-shattering global temperatures, greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise and fossil fuel companies reap handsome profits. Guterres has thus billed the "Climate Ambition Summit" as a "no nonsense" forum where leaders or cabinet ministers will announce specific actions that deliver on their commitments under the Paris Agreement. The bar for making the podium was set high, with the UN chief making clear that only leaders who had made concrete plans to achieve net-zero greenhouse emissions would be allowed to speak. After receiving more than 100 applications to take part, the UN finally released a list on Tuesday night of 41 speakers which did not include China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan or India. "Tomorrow, I will welcome credible first movers and doers to our Climate Ambition Summit," Guterres said Tuesday. Several major leaders didn't bother making the trip to New York for this year's UN General Assembly, including President Xi Jinping of China and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak from the United Kingdom, who said he was too busy. US President Joe Biden, who addressed the General Assembly on Tuesday, sent his climate envoy John Kerry to the meeting -- though Kerry won't be permitted to speak. "There's no doubt that the absence of so many leaders from the world's biggest economies and emitters will clearly have an impact on the outcomes of the summit," Alden Meyer of climate think tank E3G said. He blamed competing issues -- from the Ukraine conflict to US-China tensions and rising economic uncertainty. "But I think it's also the opposition in many of these countries from the fossil fuel industry and other powerful interests to the kind of transformational changes that are needed," said Meyer. Catherine Abreu, executive director of nonprofit Destination Zero, said it was "perhaps a good-news story that we see Biden not being given a speaking slot at the summit" because the United States is continuing to expand fossil fuel projects even as it makes historic investments in renewables. "I think about this as being a correction from past summits, where leaders have been given the opportunity to take credit for climate leadership on the global stage, while they continue to pursue plans to develop fossil fuels, and continue driving the climate crisis back at home," she added. While the United States won't take the rostrum, California will be represented by Governor Gavin Newsom. From Britain, London Mayor Sadiq Khan will also attend. Growing anger The event is the biggest climate summit in New York since 2019, when Greta Thunberg stunned the world with her "How Dare You" speech before the UN. Anger is building among climate activists, particularly younger people, who turned out in thousands last weekend for the "March to End Fossil Fuels" in New York. Observers are eager however to see what Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and European Union President Ursula von der Leyen say both on their own goals and on financing commitments for the developing world. The failure of advanced economies, responsible for the majority of historic emissions, to honor their promises to the worst affected lower-income nations has long been a sore point in climate talks. There are some bright spots, including the announcement that Colombia and Panama are joining a grouping called the Powering Past Coal Alliance -- particularly notable as Colombia is the world's sixth biggest coal exporter. Wednesday's summit comes weeks ahead of the COP28 climate talks in the United Arab Emirates, where goals include tripling renewable energy by 2030, and ending by 2050 the generation of fossil fuel energy that isn't "abated" by carbon capture technology. The post UN chief convenes ‘no nonsense’ climate summit, without China or US appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Ukraine battles Russia in legal front
Ukraine was in the offensive against Russia on Tuesday in both battle and legal fronts claiming its forces broke enemy defense lines and telling the International Court of Justice that Moscow’s aggression is a threat to international law. Ukraine’s ground forces commander Oleksandr Syrskyi announced Monday they have broke through Russian defense line in the area of Bakhmut. Ukraine’s defence ministry also said Monday its troops had recaptured a total of seven square kilometers last week near Bakhmut and also along the southern front. The air force said it had brought down 18 out of 24 Russian attack drones over the Black Sea regions of Odesa and Mykolaiv overnight Sunday. Russia, however, said that with the strikes it had hit storage facilities for British Storm Shadow cruise missiles and ammunition with depleted uranium — a controversial weapon supplied by the United States to Kyiv. Twisting international law At the ICJ in The Hague, Netherlands, Ukraine’s lead speaker Anton Korynevych told the court, sitting just a few metres from his Russian opponents in the Peace Palace, that “Russia is not above the law. It must be held accountable,” for attacking Ukraine. “You have the power to declare that Russia’s actions are unlawful, that its continued abuses must stop, that your orders must be followed and that Russia must make reparations,” he told the judges. Korynevych said Russia’s use of the Genocide Convention to justify a war of conquest twists international law into a tool for human right abuses and destruction.” “Russia’s defiance is also an attack on this court’s authority. Every missile that Russia fires at our cities, it fires in defiance of this court,” he added. On Monday, Russia’s legal team argued that ICJ has no jurisdiction over the case. The team said that if Kyiv denies Moscow’s accusation of genocide of pro-Russian Ukrainians,”why is the court even considering a case under the Genocide Convention.” Thanking US Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky is in the United States on Monday to address the United Nations General Assembly in New York and meet with President Joe Biden. “I will thank the US for its leadership in supporting our struggle for freedom and independence,” Zelensky said on X, formerly Twitter. “I’m... pleased to announce that the M1 Abrams tanks that the United States had previously committed to will be entering Ukraine soon,” US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Tuesday at the opening of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Germany. The tanks are part of more than $43 billion in security assistance pledged by the US since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. WITH AFP The post Ukraine battles Russia in legal front appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Can’t get it up?
GoRocky, a pioneering men’s health startup, is proud to announce the successful completion of its pre-seed funding campaign. This funding marks a significant milestone for GoRocky, reinforcing its commitment to revolutionizing men’s health in the Philippines. The round was led by key investors including reputable investors and tech leaders from Germany and the Philippines, Buko Ventures, IdeaSpace Investments, Pulse 63, and Kaya Founders. GoRocky is on a mission to address stigmatized chronic conditions like erectile dysfunction by offering discreet, affordable, and accessible health treatments. The company’s innovative approach combines online assessments, doctor prescriptions, and medicine deliveries to empower men to take control of their health. Patients can simply fill out an anonymous four-minute questionnaire, and a licensed doctor reviews their responses before prescribing the necessary medication, which is then discreetly delivered to their doorstep at an affordable price. The Philippines is home to a staggering number of men silently suffering from various stigmatized health conditions. Approximately 14 million men in the country experience erectile dysfunction, 16 million grapple with hair loss, and another 15 million struggle with skincare issues. Due to the pervasive stigma surrounding these conditions, most men opt to suffer in silence rather than seeking treatment. GoRocky aims to change this narrative by creating a culture shift in how men approach their health. “Many men suffer in silence from stigmatized conditions. They often avoid the issue, do not talk to their closest ones and would not dare to talk to a doctor in person. We try to help men cross that bridge. GoRocky’s mission is to break the silence surrounding men’s health issues and make discreet, effective treatments readily accessible to all,” said Kiyanusch Braun, CEO and co-founder of GoRocky. The post Can’t get it up? appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bong Go shares Gibo’s stance against proposed MUP reform
Senator Christopher "Bong" Go expressed his alignment with Defense Secretary Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro Jr.‘s stance against the proposed military pension reform particularly on the issue of imposing mandatory contributions and removing the automatic indexation for military pensioners. "It was also reported that Secretary Teodoro does not agree with the proposed mandatory contributions and the removal of the automatic indexation of our military personnel," Go stated during the Commission on Appointments committee hearing on Wednesday, 13 September. "Hindi rin po ako sang-ayon dito sa mandatory contributions at pagbago sa automatic indexation," he stressed. Go then elaborated on his stance, emphasizing that there are alternative ways to address financial needs without affecting the pensions of current retirees and those still in active service. “Bagama’t naintindihan po natin ang sitwasyon ng ating mga finance managers at tumataas na budgetary needs ng gobyerno at sa posibleng paglobo ng kakailanganin na pondo po para sa pension, naniniwala ako na may ibang paraan upang matugunan ito nang hindi maapektuhan ang pension ng ating kasalukuyang mga retirees at mga nasa active service," he added. He further suggested some of these alternative methods, "Katulad ng pag-improve sa pagkolekta ng buwis o pag-eliminate po ng corruption sa gobyerno.” Go also took the opportunity to remind his colleagues of the efforts made during the term of former president Rodrigo Duterte to increase the salaries of military and uniformed personnel. "Huwag nating kalimutan na noong panahon ni dating pangulong Rodrigo Duterte, nagsikap tayo na mapataas ang sweldo ng ating uniformed personnel," Go began. He then elaborated on the collective efforts made to achieve this salary increase. "Nagpursige din tayo upang maisakatuparan ito noong hindi pa po ako senador at naniniwala po ako na marami pong sumuporta dito sa last Congress," he continued. Go also expressed his concerns about the potential impact of mandatory contributions on the increased salaries. "Naniniwala rin po ako na hindi natin dapat bawiin sa pamamagitan ng contributions ang matagal na nilang inasam na pagtaas ng sahod,” he said. The senator further emphasized the need to consider the long-term impact of the proposed pension reform on the lives of current military personnel. “Huwag naman po sanang bigay-bawi. Tandaan natin na marami sa ating kasundaluhan ay mayroon ng plano sa kanilang mga matatanggap kapag magreretire. Nakaplano na yan, naka-loan, may babayaran na yan at pamilya...nakalaan na yan para sa kanilang mga anak,” he said. “Kung iisipin natin, yung ikakaltas po sa kanila ay halos katumbas ng isang sakong bigas at napakahalaga po nito, lalung-lalo na po sa mga ordinaryong sundalo. Maliit na bagay lamang ito na para sa ating mga sundalo dahil sa sakripisyo po na inalay nila para mapanatili ang ating seguridad,” he added. Go has consistently emphasized the need for fiscal stability while ensuring the welfare of military and uniformed personnel. He has previously suggested that any pension reform should not adversely affect pensioners and those still in active service. “Buhay ang isinasakripisyo nila para mapanatili ang seguridad ng bansa. Iba po ang sakripisyo nila dahil buhay po ang nakataya dito. Kahit isang boto lang ako dito, palagi kong ipaglalaban kung ano pong makakabuti sa mga nagseserbisyo sa bayan,” assured the senator before. On the same day, Go expressed his full support for Teodoro's ad interim appointment as Secretary of the Department of National Defense (DND). "As we discuss the welfare of our uniformed personnel, it's crucial that we have a competent and reliable individual leading the DND. I fully support the ad interim appointment of Secretary Gibo Teodoro for this role," Go declared. He praised Teodoro's previous performance as DND secretary under the administration of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, stating, “Sec. Gibo Teodoro Jr. is a man of competence and integrity. Ito po ay napatunayan na nung una siyang manungkulan bilang Kalihim po ng Department of National Defense noong panahon ni pangulong Arroyo." He also mentioned that Teodoro's primary objectives during his previous term were focused on modernizing the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and DND personnel, upholding human rights, and taking a proactive approach to disaster risk management. The senator also took the opportunity to discuss his own advocacy for disaster preparedness. "Like Secretary Gibo, I share the same advocacy in strengthening our country’s disaster preparedness and response, which is why I filed for the creation of the Department of Disaster Resilience (DND).” Earlier, Go filed Senate Bill No. 188, which aims to establish the DDR to centralize efforts, streamline coordination, and ensure a more swift and effective response to emergencies. “This proposed department will be headed by a cabinet secretary. Napapanahon na po. Sana magkaroon tayo ng isang timon na nakatutok po,” he added. The creation of the said department, if enacted into law, shall concentrate on three key result areas, namely: disaster risk reduction, disaster preparedness and response, and recovery and building forward better. Towards the end of his speech, Go extended his trust and confidence in Teodoro. "Mr. Secretary, you have my full trust and confidence. Ako po ay naniniwala that under your watch, mas lalo pa ninyong mapapalakas ang ating defense department at mga programang nakapaloob dito," he concluded. The post Bong Go shares Gibo’s stance against proposed MUP reform appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Nurturing agri growth: Marcos’ birthday wish
More people wish a head of State a happy birthday than typical, as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will find as he celebrates his 66th birthday today. Wishes for good health and happiness and the success and accomplishment of all his commitments and obligations throughout his administration have flooded in. Before he spends his birthday in Singapore today, attending a summit and the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix, Marcos expressed his wish for an improved agriculture sector. In an interview with reporters, Marcos said he wants the sector to be more productive and resilient to climate change. He also expressed his wish for the government to understand the weather better so it could better help farmers. “(My birthday wish is) for (the) agriculture (sector) to improve and for us to know the real weather, whether it’s the wet season or dry season, so that we can help our farmers. That’s still my prayer up to now,” Marcos said. Marcos issued Executive Order 39, imposing a price cap on rice to control the soaring prices. He also gave the responsible government agencies the job of reducing the number of agricultural hoarders and smugglers. But he considers the “best” birthday gift the issuance of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 11953, or the New Agrarian Reform Emancipation Act. “As we chart a path towards a more self-sufficient and equitable Philippines, this administration reaffirms its commitment to enrich the lives of our farmers, ensure the rapid industrialization of our farmlands, and promote sustainable and inclusive growth in the countryside,” he said. He visited the Department of Agrarian Reform office in Quezon City to attend the release of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the New Agrarian Emancipation Act and to sign the Executive Order extending the moratorium on the repayment of agricultural debts of farmer-beneficiaries. At the event, Daily Tribune asked government officials to present their birthday wishes for Marcos, who concurrently heads the Department of Agriculture. “May God give President Marcos Jr. good health and more wisdom as he leads our country to a brighter future,” said one senior presidential protocol officer. Amid the good wishes, others turned the President’s birthday celebration into a platform to remind him of the pressing matters he must address as the land’s highest official. “I am hoping for more fruitful years to come with Marcos’s administration, especially in easing the plight of the poor people and our (economic) situation,” one DAR employee said. Economic vision for the future As Marcos celebrates another year of life, he continues to chart his vision for the future of the Philippines. One key aspect of this vision is economic development. He has advocated for policies to spur economic growth, job creation, and poverty reduction. His focus on economic issues resonates with many Filipinos who prioritize financial stability and opportunities for their families. In October last year, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said that Marcos’s performance in his first 100 days in office was commendable. Zubiri lauded the President’s choice of Cabinet members, particularly his economic team. He also noted the frequent Cabinet meetings called by the President, which he deemed a positive practice. Best Phl salesman The President, he said, is the “best salesman” for the Philippines, sending signals to investors that the Philippines is open for business and investment. For context, the latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that approved foreign investment pledges grew by 27.8 percent in the year’s second quarter. The PSA data released on Tuesday showed that total foreign investments approved by investment promotion agencies during the period amounted to P59.09 billion from P46.26 billion FI in the same quarter of 2022. Vision for agriculture Marcos has made agriculture one of the top priorities of his administration. His extension of the moratorium on farmers’ repayment of their agrarian debts by two years has benefited them as they don’t have to make payments until 13 September 2025. “I have just signed an Executive Order for the two-year extension of EO 4, 2023, because other beneficiaries were not covered when the IRR was introduced and when we implemented the original EO’s moratorium,” Marcos said. While acknowledging these achievements, engaging in a broader discussion of his presidency is essential, recognizing both the positive strides and the challenges faced during his time in office. As with any political figure, President Marcos’ legacy is complex and multifaceted. The post Nurturing agri growth: Marcos’ birthday wish appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PEZA secures P10.8B investments from Japan, signs MOU for automation of ICT systems
In conjunction with the visit of the members of the President’s Cabinet to improve economic ties with Japan, PEZA pursued a five-day outbound mission to Tokyo resulting in P10.8 billion in solid investment expansion commitments from PEZA-registered Japanese enterprises. Held from 28 August to 2 September 2023, PEZA participated in an investment forum organized by junca Global Holdings and a series of business-to-business meetings that capitalized on investment leads sought by PEZA, and those from Sumitomo Corporation and the First Philippines Industrial Park, Inc., one of PEZA’s leading developer-operators. PEZA also explored new strategic areas of collaboration with Kiraboshi Bank, one of the leading regional banks in Tokyo, and with the Organization for Small & Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation JAPAN, a government agency under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in charge of supporting the needs of Japanese SMEs. Further, PEZA entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with NEOJAPAN that will allow PEZA to use NEOJAPAN’s desknet’s NEO and Appsuite, free of charge to PEZA until the end of 2023. In an investment promotion forum organized by junca Global Holdings on 29 August, Director General Tereso O. Panga highlighted Japan’s contribution to the Philippine economy, stating “Our top country investor, Japan, has a total of P766.550 billion investments from 1995 to June 2023 making up for the 27.37 percent of PEZA’s overall investments by country. This investment comes from 877 Japanese locators with 339,751 direct employments as of May 2023 and exports of $ 6.370 billion from January to May this year.” The said forum was attended by representatives from various industries, specifically from renewable energy/alternative fuel to water recycling, real estate, financial services, food processing, cosmetics manufacturing and distribution including research and development on sprayed stem cell therapy, and human resource training and management. Panga also reported that “2023 is proving to mark the significant rise of the semiconductor industry with several industry leaders proceeding with their expansion plans to address the projected demand in their products due to the rise of the electronic vehicle industry and steady technological advancements in the downsizing of gadgets and their parts.” “PEZA will make sure that the country will be poised to receive these investments as we have a small window to get the manufacturing of new high-tech products into the Philippines given the competitiveness of the industry,” he added. The mission allowed PEZA to secure P10.8 billion in investment commitments from Japanese companies, namely the Terumo Corporation (P1 billion), Taiyo Yuden (P1.6 billion), TDK Corporation (P7.2 billion) and Almex Technologies (P1 billion). Panga’s statement is further solidified by the P111.207 billion in investments already approved by the PEZA Board for the first nine months of 2023, and expansion announcements by some of PEZA’s biggest locators such as Knowles (Philippines) Electronics Corporation, Terumo, Wipro Philippines, Inc., and Isla Import Terminals, Inc. According to Panga, “Taiyo Yuden CO., LTD. has an investment plan to operate their business in Taiyo Yuden (Philippines), Inc. We are proud to have locators such as Taiyo Yuden grow inside PEZA’s ecosystem since 1989. The ongoing investment plan covers the calendar year 2023-2024, with the total investment amounting to P1.6 billion. This signifies a continued era of trust and confidence in the country’s investment facilitation climate.” The Metal Power Inductor is Taiyo Yuden’s newly patented product with cutting-edge technology. The Philippine facility is the first manufacturing site aside from the facilities in Japan. The new product is the world’s first multilayer-type metal power inductor with the latest multilayer technology and its unique metal material characteristics. On the other hand, the TDK Corporation, an electronics manufacturing company that uses leading magnetic technology will have its first expansion from 2023 to 2026 while its second expansion will begin in 2024. TDK’s new product is a bio-magnetic sensor for monitoring heartbeats. Promising investment leads are also in the pipeline such as the partnership with Kiraboshi Bank, LTD., As one of the largest regional banks in Tokyo, Japan, Kiraboshi Bank caters to a large network of enterprise clients including PEZA registration-eligible business enterprises. Meanwhile, talks with the SME Support JAPAN led to the possible inclusion of the Philippines in the conduct of CEO Business Meetings that will allow direct linkage between Japanese SMEs and PEZA RBEs. PEZA also considers the partnership as a promising prospect since the Philippines is in a position to address the human resource needs of Japanese SMEs that are looking to expand operations. According to SME Support Senior Director General Soma Hirohisa they are “looking forward to the possible partnership with PEZA to produce more success stories for Japanese SMEs, similar to those who setup manufacturing facility in the ecozones to export these products to Japan and other global markets.” On the other hand, Kaneko Cord Co., LTD. is a company engaged in various industries such as the production of electrical wires, cables, and the manufacture of medical tubes and caviar productions is interested in transferring its Japan-based operations to the Philippines. Kaneko representatives later lauded the productive meeting with PEZA, stating that the meeting “surely expedited the beginning of [their] business in the Philippines.” Meltec Corporation also have plans to expand their operations in the Philippines due to the country’s strategic location to its clients and the presence Filipinos workers with high-quality skills and positive attitude. On 1 September 2023, PEZA entered into an MOU with NEOJAPAN that will allow PEZA to use NEOJAPAN’s desknet’s NEO and Appsuite, free of charge to PEZA for a limited period. The use of these groupware solutions will allow PEZA to digitize, automate, and centralize most of its internal documents and processes under a secure IT environment. With this partnership, PEZA will be taking the lead in government administration, being one of the first Philippine government agencies to use the product as a standard operating office system. In Japan, desknet’s NEO is used by 40 percent of all Japanese LGUs, ministries such as the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication, universities such as The University of Tokyo, and large enterprises such as Toyota, Mitsubishi Motors, Mizuho, Pilot and Fujifilm. Represented by Panga and Corporate Center Senior Director Tsuneko Aoki, PEZA and NEOJAPAN inked the engagement geared toward exploring areas of collaboration and cooperation in developing, improving and automating the administrative processes of PEZA through the adoption of appropriate ICT systems. In Japan, desknet’s NEO is used by 40 percent of all Japanese LGUs, ministries such as the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication, universities such as The University of Tokyo, and large enterprises such as Toyota, Mitsubishi Motors, Mizuho, Pilot and Fujifilm. The MOU is also in compliance with Republic Act No. 10173 or the Data Privacy Act of 2012 and Confidentiality of Information. This is part of PEZA’s initiatives towards contributing to the goal of the Department of Trade and Industry of promoting digital transformation in the Philippines that is science, technology, and innovation-driven. The post PEZA secures P10.8B investments from Japan, signs MOU for automation of ICT systems appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Economic team supports rice price cap as sound ‘stop-gap’ measure
Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno and Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman reiterated on Monday their support for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s order to impose a rice price cap. In a statement, Diokno underscored the importance of immediately implementing a comprehensive set of measures aimed at securing long-term stability within the rice market. "Executive Order No. 39 was issued by the President as the chief executive and the concurrent secretary of the Department of Agriculture. EO 39 serves as a lifeline, extending much-needed relief to Filipinos grappling with the high rice prices,” he said. Under EO No. 39, the mandated price of regular milled rice is P41 per kilogram while well-milled rice is at P45 per kilogram. The Finance Secretary said the economic team views EO 39 as an essential stop-gap measure that needs to be supplemented with additional measures to achieve long-term rice price stability in the country. “We agree with the President that implementing a price cap on rice is the most prudent course of action at the moment to achieve two critical objectives: stabilizing rice prices and extending immediate support to our fellow countrymen," he added. The Finance chief said the President has directed the economic team to implement measures that will mitigate the negative impact of the price controls on rice retailers and farmers. In a separate statement, Pangandaman said the EO will “effectively serve” as an “active stop gap” to address the market’s current circumstances. Pangandaman added that current measures warrant a special mitigating measure. “In an ideal scenario, we can let the market dictate prices. However, as NEDA noted, we are now faced with extraordinary factors that we have to consider," Pangandaman explained. “I join the Chairman and Co-Chairman of the Economic Development Group of the Cabinet in supporting this measure because it is necessary at this time to help those most affected by the otherwise uncontrollable sharp increase in the price of rice,” Pangandaman added. Diokno said in a briefing last Friday that Marcos did not consult the economic team before imposing the order. The economic managers were in the 14th Philippines-Japan High-Level Joint Committee Meeting on Infrastructure Development and Economic Cooperation in Tokyo during the last week of August when Marcos made the announcement, he said. "We were in Japan when that was announced. I was sitting with (NEDA Secretary) Arsi (Balisacan) and we were talking to Japanese investors. Of course, we were shocked." Diokno, the head of the Marcos administration's economic team, said the price cap shouldn't be imposed for too long because it is not sustainable. Price controls "don't really work" under ideal market conditions, and "it has adverse effects if allowed to linger for a longer period," he added. The post Economic team supports rice price cap as sound ‘stop-gap’ measure appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
MERALCO TO SPONSOR STUDIES OF ASPIRING FILIPINO NUCLEAR ENGINEERS
The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) on Monday launched the Filipino Scholars and Interns on Nuclear Engineering (FISSION) program in a proactive bid to develop skilled professionals and advance the Philippines’ push for the integration of nuclear power in the country’s energy portfolio. During the opening day of the 3-day Giga Summit organized by Meralco Power Academy (MPA), Meralco Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan announced that the company will invest in local talents and support aspiring Filipino nuclear engineers to help accelerate the development of the country’s technical and regulatory talent pipeline through education and training in the highly specialized field of nuclear engineering. “Meralco will send some of our engineers to a two-year graduate program targeting local talents who are graduates and practicing Mechanical, Electrical, Material Engineering, and related areas in universities in the US, in Canada, Korea, Japan, France,” Mr. Pangilinan said. Part of FISSION’s objectives is to address identified gaps that could impede the government’s transformative initiatives, such as the absence of expert safety regulators and technical professionals capable of operating nuclear technologies, specifically the small modular reactors (SMR) and micro modular reactors (MMR). Scheduled to run from 2025 to 2027, this two-year graduate program will be offered to graduates and practitioners in the fields of Mechanical, Electrical, Materials, and Metallurgical Engineering, Physics, and other related disciplines. Meralco is eyeing top global engineering universities, including the University of California in Berkeley, the University of Illinois, the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, and Université Paris–Saclay, for the program. FISSION will also include a one-year immersion and internship from 2027 to 2028 at partner SMR facilities abroad like Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) and Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC), both of which are participating in the ongoing Giga Summit. Upon completion of the graduate and internship programs, Meralco will implement a Re-entry Action Plan to facilitate the scholars’ return to the Philippines in 2029. The scholars are expected to render their expertise to the company and to the Philippine government. The application process for the pilot batch of the program will open in 2024. Meralco will announce qualifications and other details of the program in the coming months. As one of the country’s major players in the energy industry, Meralco has been proactively preparing for the introduction of nuclear technologies in the Philippines In March 2023, the company expressed its readiness to provide scholarships to help the country develop local nuclear energy experts. Mr. Pangilinan has underscored the importance of establishing a regulatory framework and cultivating a pool of skilled professionals to lead the adoption and advancement of nuclear energy in the Philippines. “Hopefully, this is the start of exploring and considering seriously new options for this country to achieve smarter and greener future,” Mr. Pangilinan concluded. Through the MPA, Meralco will play a pivotal role in supporting these initiatives and forging partnerships with relevant government agencies, including the Department of Energy and the Energy Regulatory Commission, the academe, and private sector partners to collectively shape a sustainable energy future for our nation. ### The post MERALCO TO SPONSOR STUDIES OF ASPIRING FILIPINO NUCLEAR ENGINEERS appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
India becomes first nation to land spacecraft near Moon’s south pole
India on Wednesday became the first nation to land a craft near the Moon's south pole, a historic triumph for the world's most populous nation and its ambitious, cut-price space program. The unmanned Chandrayaan-3, which means "Mooncraft" in Sanskrit, touched down at 6:04 pm India time (1234 GMT) as mission control technicians cheered wildly and embraced their colleagues. Its landing comes days after a Russian probe crashed in the same region and four years since the previous Indian attempt failed at the last moment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi smiled broadly and waved an Indian flag on a live broadcast to announce the mission's success as a triumph that extended beyond his country's borders. "On this joyous occasion I would like to address the people of the world," said Modi from the sidelines of the BRICS diplomatic summit in South Africa. "India's successful moon mission is not just India's alone," he added. "This success belongs to all of humanity." The Chandrayaan-3 mission has captivated public attention since launching nearly six weeks ago in front of thousands of cheering spectators. Politicians staged Hindu prayer rituals to wish for the mission's success and schoolchildren followed the final moments of the landing from live broadcasts in classrooms. Chandrayaan-3 took much longer to reach the Moon than the Apollo missions in the 1960s and 1970s, which arrived in a matter of days. India used rockets much less powerful than the ones the United States used back then, meaning the probe had to orbit the Earth several times to gain speed before embarking on its month-long journey. The lander, Vikram, which means "valor" in Sanskrit, detached from its propulsion module last week and has been sending images of the Moon's surface since entering lunar orbit on August 5. Now that Vikram has landed, a solar-powered rover will explore the surface and transmit data to Earth over its two-week lifespan. Ambitious program India is closing in on milestones set by global space powers such as the United States and Russia, conducting many of its missions at much lower price tags. The South Asian nation has a comparatively low-budget space program, but one that has grown considerably in size and momentum since it first sent a probe to orbit the Moon in 2008. The latest mission has a cost of $74.6 million -- far lower than those of other countries, and a testament to India's frugal space engineering. Experts say India can keep costs low by copying and adapting existing technology, and thanks to an abundance of highly skilled engineers who earn a fraction of their foreign counterparts' wages. In 2014, India became the first Asian nation to put a craft into orbit around Mars and is slated to launch a three-day crewed mission into Earth's orbit by next year. Wednesday's landing had been eagerly awaited by the Indian Space Research Organisation after the frustrating failure of its previous mission at the last hurdle in 2019. Back then, mission control lost contact with the Chandrayaan-2 lunar module moments before its slated landing. 'Very, very important' Former ISRO chief K. Sivan told AFP that India's efforts to explore the relatively unmapped lunar south pole would make a "very, very important" contribution to scientific knowledge. Only Russia, the United States and China have previously achieved controlled landings on the Moon. Russia launched a lunar probe in August -- its first in nearly half a century. If successful, it would have beaten Chandrayaan-3 by a matter of days to become the first mission from any nation to make a controlled landing around the south pole. But Luna-25 crashed on Saturday after an unspecified incident as it prepared to descend. The post India becomes first nation to land spacecraft near Moon’s south pole appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Gibo requests on MUP acceptable — solon
Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, chairperson of the House ad hoc committee on Military and Uniformed Personnel created to resolve issues plaguing its pension system, is buying Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro’s proposals in the bill recently approved by his panel and vowed that his concerns will still be accepted. “As chair of the Ad Hoc Committee, I would like to assure the Secretary that his requests are acceptable. We will adopt the Teodoro proposal of indexation for all retired and retirables and a transitioned contribution scheme,” Salceda said in a text message to reporters. While the deliberations on the panel-approved bill were already terminated, Salceda assured that Teodoro’s amendments would still be introduced to the plenary floor. “My job is to get a bill that will work fiscally but is also acceptable to all stakeholders. So, of course, if Secretary Teodoro has major concerns, part of my job is to accommodate. Not without DoF (Department of Finance) concerns, of course, but that’s for them to settle in the Cabinet,” the economist-lawmaker said. Salceda made the assurance days after the Defense chief raised concerns on a substitute bill, in the consolidation of other measures, all intended to propose reforms in the MUP pensions system, such as the mandatory contribution, that hurdled Salceda’s panel. Teodoro opposed the measure, saying it does not conform to the national government’s intent concerning the MUPs’ pension. The Defense chief believes that the imposition of mandatory monthly contributions “without a transition phase will definitely have an impact on our soldiers.” Under the panel-approved bill, those in active service will be required to contribute 5 percent of their base and longevity pay during the first to three years of the MUP pension reform implementation, 7 percent in the fourth to sixth year, and 9 percent in the seventh year onward. The government will contribute its counterpart 16 percent to the pension fund of those in active service during the first three years, 14 percent during the fourth to sixth year, and 12 percent in the seventh year onward. But for Teodoro, soldiers’ pensions and entitlements, including the 100-percent automatic indexation, shall remain unchanged. The MUP pension system, which the DoF has earlier warned is fiscally unsustainable, was among President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s priority legislation. Mr. Marcos wants Congress to reform the pension system by passing his proposed MUP pension law, which he listed as one of his priority legislation in his second State of the Nation Address. Salceda, however, explained that only new entrants would contribute 9 percent with a government counterpart of 12 percent. “And I will heed the request for full indexation for those who are retired and due for retirement,” he said. “Of course, the proposal will add some 1.2 trillion more to the actuarial reserve deficiency from the current 2.2 trillion under the current substitute bill.” According to the solon, they will still clarify the request with the DoF and the DND since they are hearing clarifications that they just want to ensure that those who have given 20 years of service or more will not pay contributions or be subject to lower indexation. “Our initial impression from the statement is that they don’t want anybody from the active service to pay any contribution or to give up any amount of indexation,” he stressed. “I would also like to remind all stakeholders that the aim of fiscal sustainability is to ensure that the pension system is substantially preserved in a way that can still be guaranteed by the State. In other words, a reform that is not too expensive, but also not too disruptive,” he added. Further, he said that there could be some pushback from the DoF and the economic managers on Teodoro’s proposal. So, we hope that within the executive, they will sort their position out.” The post Gibo requests on MUP acceptable — solon appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Managers: Phl remains on track
Despite the lackluster 4.3 percent in the second quarter, growth this year is expected to reach the target range of 6 percent to 7 percent gross domestic product expansion, according to Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno. “To do this, we will expedite the implementation of government programs and projects, to provide fiscal stimulus to increase the productive capacity of the public and private sectors and address the adverse recent impacts of typhoons.” Diokno added. Economic managers gathered in Fort Ilocandia in Laoag City to hold the Post-State of the Nation Economic Briefing that discussed the country’s economic situation and plans on 14 August. Diokno said in 2022, GDP increased 7.6 percent from 5.7 a year ago and a 9.5 percent contraction in 2020. Diokno said the economic team is determined to pick up government expenditure in the third and fourth quarters. Revenue collections remain robust from January to June as these totaled P1.9 trillion up 7.7 percent or P132.6 billion year-on-year which is also higher than the mid-year program by 2.7 percent. Hence, Diokno said they have already pipelined 194 infrastructure flagship projects worth P8.3 trillion of which 132 are located in Luzon that will address irrigation, water supply, flood management, agriculture, digital connectivity, physical connectivity, health, and power and energy. Diokno also highlighted some of the projects like the Laoag International Airport Development Project, the EDSA Greenways, the TPLEX Expressway Expansion Project, the Laguna Lakeshore Road Network Project, the Ilocos Norte-Sur-Abra Irrigation Project, and the Naga Airport Development Project. “The Philippines is determined to be a world leader in the race to net zero and the Ilocos Region will be a strategic partner in this mission. Dubbed to be the renewable energy capital of South East Asia, Ilocos Norte is emerging to be a promising player in the clean energy arena. Being home to the first and largest wind farms in the country,” Diokno stressed. In his address, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Eli Remolona Jr., said from a peak of 8.7 percent in January, headline inflation slowed to 4.7 percent in July due to improving domestic food supply conditions and lower global oil prices. However, he also admitted that core inflation remains high at 6.7 percent although it has already started to decline due to the monetary tightening. The BSP has responded to inflation by aggressively raising its policy rate, as of today, the BSP has raised policy rates by 425 basis points. Prices reined in “The good news is that inflation expectations are still well anchored. The markets continue to believe that we will hit our target range by 2024 and stay there in 2025,” Remolona said. Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman also gave an update on the use pf the budget for 2023. Pangandaman said at the end of July, the total amount of the national budget that has been released already is around 93 percent. “And we expect all our government agencies including all the cabinet members present here, to spend your budget so we can help grow the economy,” Pangandaman said. While for next year, the government budget will amount to 5.768 trillion and it is 21.7 percent of the GDP it has already been submitted to Congress last August 2 and the budget is expected to be passed earlier than expected. The National Economic Development Authority said it wanted to lower the poverty level to single digit. For Socioeconomic Planning Undersecretary Carlos Bernardo Abad Santos, the government has effective regional development plans. In the Ilocos Regional Development Plan from 2023-2028, the NEDA expects the Ilocos region to have a 7 percent to 7.5 percent growth while lowering the poverty incidence by 7.3 percent. ‘Build, Better, More’ under BBM;s watch Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan said the “Build, Better, More” program of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is very much aligned with the medium-term development plan for 2023 to 2028 and is consistent with the 8-point economic agenda of the president. Bonoan said that from July 2022 to May 2023, the DPWH has built, maintained, rehabilitated, widened, and upgraded 4,082 kilometer of roads, 497 bridges, built 2,103 flood control projects, 55 evacuation centers, 216 kms farm to market roads, 8 kilometers of farm to mill roads, 138 kilometers tourism roads, 18 kilometers of roads to seaports, railway stations, and airports, 4,038 classrooms, and 6,002 rainwater collector system. “Because of climate change, we have to address and be building and developing resilient and sustainable communities in the 18 major river basins in the country,” Bonoan said. Some of the major projects that the department would like to continue are converting the Daang Maharlika which is actually now Asian Highway 26 which starts in Laoag City and will go around Cagayan Valley and has extended all the way to Zamboanga City. Bonoan says that they want to convert this backbone of the national highway into seamless travel. “In other words, there should be no major stops along the way, along this Maharlika highway,” Bonoan said. Bonoan said they’re going to build 12 major bridges, and the first bridge is the Cavite-Bataan Interlink bridge with a span of more than 32 km. Should it be completed, this will be the second-longest bay bridge in the world. The department also plans to start the Luzon Spine Expressway which will run from Laoag City to Bicol, Bonoan says that this will be 1,073 kms more. As for Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, major Department of Transportation projects like the New Manila International Airport in Bulacan, Metro Manila Subway, EDSA Greenway Projects, EDSA Busway, MRT-3 Rehabilitation, LRT-1 Cavite, LRT-2 West Extension, MRT-7, and the modernization and capacity expansion of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport are proceeding. For the Department of Information and Communications Technology Ivan John Uy, there is already a cybersecurity plan for 2023 to 2028 which is a consolidated output of all the stakeholders in designing which includes the best practices all over the world. “We’ve ramped up in our cybercrime detection, we are busting cybercrime syndicates all over the country especially those that are dealing with scammers,” Uy said. Uy said agency is also enhancing cybersecurity status by designing courses to upgrade cybersecurity professionals. He admits that worldwide, there is a 3 million job vacancies on cyber security. DICT said by the end of the year, the department will have Two Terabits of capacity from Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan all the way to Manila and we should expect very good Internet connectivity by the start of next year especially on the Luzon area. These structures also open opportunities to data centers and BPOs along the places mentioned which produces employment. DICT expects that foreign investment opportunities and interest in those areas will boom. The post Managers: Phl remains on track appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Canada PM Trudeau and wife announce separation
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Wednesday that he and his wife of 18 years, Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau, are separating. In a post on Instagram, the prime minister said "that after many meaningful and difficult conversations, we have made the decision to separate." A statement from his office added that the couple have signed "a legal separation agreement." It said the public can expect to continue seeing them and their three children together as "they remain a close family" and both parents will be a "constant presence in their children's lives." They asked for privacy ahead of a family vacation scheduled for next week. Trudeau and his wife, a former entertainment reporter, were childhood friends and reconnected in 2003 while co-hosting a charity ball. They soon started dating and married in 2005 in Montreal. They have three children together: Xavier, 15, Ella Grace, 14, and nine-year-old Hadrien. The separation is the first for a Canadian prime minister since Trudeau's late father Pierre Trudeau, who split from Margaret Trudeau in the late 1970s and eventually divorced in 1984 during his final months in office. Sunny days, heavy storms In his 2014 memoir "Common Ground," the younger Trudeau recalled that the "dark drama" at home and his parents' eventual divorce had been hard on him. His own breakup comes as Trudeau's ruling Liberals are struggling in the polls against the opposition Conservatives ahead of elections expected before the end of 2025. Trudeau announced last week a major shakeup in his cabinet with the stated goal of strengthening his economic team ahead of that looming campaign. This involved changing more than two-thirds of his political inner circle, with seven new recruits joining the cabinet and around 20 ministers reassigned to new roles. Sophie Gregoire, 48, had been a constant presence at her 51-year-old husband's side at political events over the past decade, as he took the party from third place to form a government in 2015, and through two more winning ballots in 2019 and 2021. But she has appeared in public less in recent years, at times lamenting the struggles of marriage, saying last year in a social media post that they had "navigated through sunny days, heavy storms and everything in between." Trudeau himself has also hinted at difficulties, writing in his memoir: "Our marriage isn't perfect, and we have had difficult ups and downs, yet Sophie remains my best friend, my partner, my love. We are honest with each other, even when it hurts." On their latest anniversary in May, Trudeau posted a photo online of the pair holding hands as they drove along a remote Canadian highway in a motor home, with the caption "Every mile of this journey together is an adventure. I love you Soph." The post Canada PM Trudeau and wife announce separation appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Graft buster clears Cusi
Citing the presumption of regularity, the Office of the Ombudsman threw out the graft complaint of a New York-based billionaire against former Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, other Department of Energy officials, Davao City-based executive Dennis Uy, and several others over the sale of 90 percent of the shares of the Malampaya natural gas consortium. On 18 October 2021, US-based geologist Balgamel Domingo and Filipino-American anti-Duterte leaders Rodel Rodis and Loida Nicolas-Lewis filed charges against Cusi, Uy, and the others involved in the sale of the Malampaya stake to the Udenna group of Uy. In a copy of the ruling obtained by the Daily Tribune, the Ombudsman said it could not delve into the complaint on the legality of the transaction since “the authority to make such a determination belongs to the court.” “Seemingly, this complaint is in actuality a collateral attack on the validity of the Share Sale and Purchase Agreement,” it said. The decision declared that “matters of such tenor are not determinable in a preliminary investigation before the Ombudsman’s Office.” “Without any judicial determination decreeing the illegality of the Share Sale and Purchase Agreement, this Office is left with nothing but to acknowledge its validity,” the ruling said. The Ombudsman cited a precedent in the case of Teresita Buenaventura vs Metrobank, in a ruling that stated: “The burden of showing that a contract is simulated rests on the party impugning the contract.” “This is because of the presumed validity of the contract that has been duly executed,” the Ombudsman ruling read. “Wherefore, the criminal charges for violation of Section 3(e) and of Republic Act 3019 against the respondents are dismissed for lack of probable cause.” The ruling was signed by members of a Special Panel of Investigators composed of Ronald Allan Ramos, Josephine Mae Rosapapan, Francisco Alan Molina and Bonifacio Mandrilla. Prime takes control The operation of the Malampaya project was recently assumed by the Razon group’s Prime Energy which bought a 45-percent stake from Malampaya Energy XP, or MEXP, of the Udenna group. MEXP had bought the shares of Shell Philippines Exploration B.V., or SPEX, in the consortium. The Department of Energy had branded the complaint a political move since the two Fil-Am lawyers in the suit were prominent in the “Oust Duterte” movement in the United States. The complaint alleged that Cusi and other energy officials had granted “unwarranted benefits and advantage” to Uy’s UC Malampaya in the buyout of Chevron’s share in the consortium. Udenna, through spokesperson Raymond Zorilla, said there is “no law requiring approval of the transfer of shares of companies that have an interest in Malampaya.” Zorilla said the transfer of Chevron and Shell shares underwent strict bidding processes and due diligence by both multinational oil and gas players. “The share sales were above board and legal and had to pass scrutiny by Philippine regulators, international lenders, and the said private multinationals involved,” Zorilla added. Cusi, in an interview with Daily Tribune, had said the DoE was not involved in choosing the buyer of the shares of Shell and Chevron in the Malampaya project. “The DoE did not get involved in the sale (of shares). We don’t know that they are selling. Our question was what their standards are for choosing Udenna. Why didn’t you choose the big companies, and why Udenna?” he said. Industry experts said the sale of shares was a private transaction that the accusers, who are US lawyers, should have been very familiar with. Cusi said the DoE, during his watch, went beyond its mandate by reviewing the technical, legal, and financial aspects of the transactions, the results of which were provided to the public. Political agenda The complaint, he said, had an underlying political agenda connected to his being the head of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan or PDP Laban. “It is not only political propaganda against me, but it also has a destabilization background… because I’m the president of the PDP.” The complaints, in turn, stemmed from the unending Senate inquiries on the Malampaya deals. The DoE said the Senate probes and the controversies that resulted from them had caused costly delays in the review process that would ultimately affect the country’s energy security. To refute a recent remark by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, the DoE, in a statement said: “The inquiries of Senator Gatchalian are causing undue delay to the timeline of the consortium corporations, and this may eventually take its toll and put our energy security at risk.” The DoE’s approval of the sale of shares of stock of Chevron Malampaya LLC, one of the three corporations in the Malampaya Gas Field Project Consortium, had been dubbed by Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy, as “lutong Macau.” It also backed the Udenna assessment that the deals were above-board. “When the sales were made, both Chevron Philippines, which owned Chevron Malampaya, and Shell Petroleum NV, owner of SPEX, followed rigorous global standards,” the DoE said. Nicolas-Lewis was part of a 25-person delegation from the US-Philippines Society, a private group comprising business executives and diplomats, who met with Duterte a week before his inauguration as president in 2016. Nicolas-Lewis was then accompanied by former Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Cuisia, PLDT chair Manuel V. Pangilinan, retired American diplomats, and executives of Coca-Cola, SGV, JP Morgan, and other top corporations. Nicolas-Lewis is the sister of former National Anti-Poverty Commission chairperson Imelda Nicolas, who was one of the “Hyatt 10” Cabinet members who turned against then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2005. Imelda and most of the Hyatt 10 members ended up getting key posts in the administration of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. Imelda was made head of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas. Nicolas-Lewis plot bared In February 2018, former President Duterte bared intercepted conversations that indicated Nicolas-Lewis was behind efforts to push the International Criminal Court, or ICC, to probe his war on drugs. Duterte revealed a recorded conversation between Lewis and another political opponent whom he did not name. “I was listening to the tapes of their conversation. It was provided to me by another country, but the conversation was somewhere in the Philippines and New York,” Duterte said. He said that among the recordings was one in which Lewis allegedly told another person: “See you in the headquarters when the case is filed.” Duterte then said in a public address that he was aware of developments on the ICC case and that lawyer Jude Sabio, the main complainant in the case, was a paid hack of Magdalo Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and Rep. Gary Alejano, both failed putschists. Sabio withdrew his complaint before the ICC and revealed that the case was the handiwork of the dirty tricks factory of Trillanes. In 2016, Duterte pointed to Lewis as the financier of an alleged destabilization plot against his administration. Nicolas-Lewis invested heavily in the failed presidential campaigns of Liberal Party bets Mar Roxas in 2016 and Vice President Leni Robredo in 2022. The post Graft buster clears Cusi appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DoTr chief’s CLA endorsement questioned
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista could face graft charges for endorsing a foreign-owned container monitoring system without undergoing the usual bidding process or a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) from the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA). Industry insiders who asked not to be named noted the unusual decision by Bautista to endorse the Container Ledger Account (CLA) as an alternative to the controversial container deposit imposed by international shipping lines on importers and brokers for the use of their containers. The (DoTr order) violates Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. In essence, the DoTr endorses container deposits and favors a foreign private entity to collect them. The Transportation chief wrote a letter to all shipping lines about the order, contradicting President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s instructions during a Cabinet meeting. In his 12 July letter to Joseph Collantes, operations manager of RCL Feeder Pte. Ltd., and Jesus Sedano, owner’s representative of RCL Feeder, Bautista said: “The delay in refund of container deposits and unreturned deposits in millions of pesos continue to burden and create financial difficulties for many importers that has become an industry problem. Various stakeholders have raised this matter for government intervention in the transport and logistics services sector.” The DoTr secretary added: “The Department of Transportation urges Shipping Lines/Shipping Agents/NVOCCs to accept the following alternative for container deposit practice in the Philippines.” He continued, “Discontinue container deposit practice or continue to collect container deposits contingent upon the ability to refund within 14 days, and subscribe to container deposits from Container Ledger Account subscribers or other providers that offer equivalent services.” But industry insiders questioned Bautista’s order saying the CLA still needs to undergo an RIA from the ARTA. “They are pushing for the CLA, but it did not undergo an RIA. Since 2021, it has been vended by the Association of International Shipping Lines. Then let us read between the lines,” the source told Daily Tribune. Further, the source revealed that during a Cabinet meeting, Bautista endorsed the CLA to President Marcos, apart from reporting that the Trusted Operator Program-Container Registry and Monitoring System or TOP-CRMS will be reviewed by ARTA. Still, the President aired contentions to the CLA. “The President said ‘baka ma-pingpong yan (CLA) [it might by bounced around].’” Bautista told the President, “No, because ARTA is currently reviewing it.” “Then why did the Secretary endorse it to international shipping lines without ARTA releasing the RIA?” the source asked. Only an option ARTA Director General Ernesto Perez was quick to admit the CLA had not undergone an RIA because it was not implemented by way of a regulation by a particular government agency. “No, it has not. To my knowledge, probably because it is not being imposed by way of a regulation by a government agency. But if a stakeholder can show that (the regulation) is being imposed by a government agency-DoTr, then we can ask that it be subjected to an RIA. Otherwise, if it is only an option and the shipping lines are not required to use CLA, then there is no regulation by DoTr to be subjected to an RIA,” Perez explained. ARTA is doing an RIA of all Administrative Orders issued by various government agencies to ensure that regulations are subjected to proper consultations and evidence-based analyses before issuance. The RIA is being done to help government agencies, local government units, and other government instrumentalities enact sound and effective regulations that benefit citizens and stakeholders without causing any undue burden or cost. ARTA on CLA Based on the Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) of ARTA to CLA obtained by Daily Tribune, the source said the CLA is not workable, as it requires the voluntary participation by the CLA principals or subscribers. “Being voluntary, the CLA cannot ensure the issue of the delay in the refund of container deposits. Moreover, CLA also does not address the issue of deductions from the container deposit or amounts associated with alleged damage to containers,” the ARTA RIS on the CLA said. Further, the ARTA RIS stated that considering that the refund of the container deposit is dependent on the approval of the Shipping Line/Shipping Agent/NVOCC (Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier), it seems the same issue as the current system, described under Option 1-Status Quo or Do Nothing, remained. The post DoTr chief’s CLA endorsement questioned appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
The vagaries of resignation (1)
The alleged involvement of high-ranking police officers, three generals, and 15 colonels, in the recycling, selling, and distribution of the prohibited drugs, if true, is the worst act that those who are tasked to enforce the law could commit. Such a commission is a crime, a betrayal of the trust reposed on them by the people, a violation of their oath of office as public servants, and unpardonable malfeasance in office. Based on their alleged participation in the illegal drug trade, their courtesy resignations, which submission was required of them by the Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government, and upon the recommendation of the five-man committee and the National Police Commission, mandated to evaluate their performance as police officers and to probe their engagement in the nefarious and illegal drug cartel, have been accepted by the President, as announced by the latter in his State of the Nation Address. The announcement was received with thunderous applause by the audience composed of the members of the Senate and the House Representatives, members of the Cabinet, Diplomatic Corps, local government officials, and other dignitaries and guests. Without delving into the reason for requiring almost a thousand higher-level of police officers to submit their courtesy resignations, and its acceptance by the Chief Executive, a citizen would welcome such development given the widespread talked-about and public perception of police personnel dipping their hands into the huge cookie jar of illegal drug money. The immediate reaction is one of elation from those who have heard of the termination of their services because they would certainly think that those whose resignations were accepted were guilty of serious misdemeanors or crimes, and therefore deserving of their being kicked out from the service. It is, however, vital to know the antecedents of the filing of their resignations to give objective and appropriate remarks on the issue. A few months ago, the DILG Secretary publicly announced that based on his department’s and the PNP’s investigation, there were a few ranking police officers involved in the prohibited drug activities hence, there was a need for a cleansing of the police organization. He, thereafter, decided that the best way to get rid of these police scalawags was to ask for almost a thousand police generals and colonels to hand in their courtesy resignations. Immediately this lawyer, on various platforms, including this column, criticized the DILG honcho on the inappropriateness and illegality of the directive. Inappropriate because if you want to exclude less than five police officers from the hierarchy, why include those who are on the list of suspected drug coddlers? It is illegal because the order (certainly not a plea, nor a request and neither an appeal, anybody who says otherwise is a poor liar) to resign violates the security of tenure given to all employees of the government. The phrase “courtesy resignation” is, in reality, a demand/directive to resign laced with threats and intimidation, which failure to comply with would result in adverse repercussions to the one who disobeys the same. This writer argued that the legal way to pluck out from the police force these scoundrels was to file administrative and/or criminal charges against them and be given the opportunity to defend themselves under the constitutional guarantee of due process. The argument of the DILG head that it would be only tedious to apply the regular way to removing errant police officers but they could, meanwhile, use their position to influence the outcome of the administrative/criminal case, is hogwash. Under the law, there is an automatic preventive suspension of 90 days upon the filing of the complaint and therefore there is no way the suspended police officer could interfere with the legal process using his/her position. A 90-day suspension is sufficient for law enforcement authorities to prosecute the suspected criminals in uniform. If they have enough evidence to hurdle the requirement of proof beyond a reasonable doubt in court, then the accused will be placed behind bars. By just asking them to resign, the suspected guilty ones were given the opportunity not only to make hay on their criminal activities but to cover up their crimes using their office and position as they remained in office for 7 months for the acceptance of their resignations. (To be continued) The post The vagaries of resignation (1) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»