Continued vigilance
An uncountable many have welcomed the government move to relax restrictions for people’s visibly trouble-free mobility after going through more than seven months of different stages of lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic......»»
‘Vigilance is key’: Al Shabaab threat rising in Kenya’s northeast
In Kenya's rural northeast, roadside bombs and beheadings that killed two dozen people last month appear to be part of a troubling escalation of violence by Al-Qaeda-linked Islamists, analysts say. A regional economic powerhouse and a popular tourist draw, Kenya has not suffered a high-profile jihadist attack since 2019, when 21 people lost their lives at a hotel and surrounding offices in Nairobi. The recent attacks have been small-scale and focused on minor targets, but have raised fears that Al-Shabaab jihadists, who have been blamed for the assaults, are turning their attention to Kenya as they suffer losses in their native Somalia. Estimated to have between 7,000 and 12,000 fighters, Al-Shabaab has in recent months faced a multi-pronged counterterrorism offensive by the Somali National Army and US-trained "lightning" commandos supported by clan militias known as "macawisley". The militants, who have waged war against the fragile government in Mogadishu for over 15 years, have recently carried out several attacks along Kenya's long and porous frontier with Somalia. Twenty-four people, including 15 security officers, were killed in six separate attacks last month alone. In one of the most grisly assaults claimed by the group, about 30 militants descended on two sparsely-populated villages in Kenya's coastal Lamu county on June 24 and killed five civilians, beheading some of them. One resident, Hassan Abdul, said that "women were locked in the houses and the men ordered out, where they were tied with ropes and butchered". The remote forested mainland is not normally a stopover for tourists visiting the nearby popular Indian Ocean island of Lamu, but the gruesome killings are a signal to Kenya, analysts say. The attacks are a way for "Al-Shabaab to say that despite being under pressure, they still have the firepower and are a force to be reckoned with," said Nicolas Delaunay, International Crisis Group director for East and Southern Africa. "It could also be a way of warning Kenya who has pledged to participate in the Somali government's offensive against the Al-Shabaab," he told AFP. Risk of regional spillover Kenya is no stranger to the long-running Islamist insurgency in Somalia and has been repeatedly targeted by Al-Shabaab since it sent troops into the country in 2011 as part of an African Union force. The militants appear to have been emboldened by the changes in Kenya's security leadership following the election of President William Ruto last August, said Roland Marchal, an Africa specialist at Sciences Po university in Paris. "There is relative disorganisation at the border," Marchal said, adding that Al-Shabaab was seizing the chance to take "revenge" against Kenya for deploying troops in rural central and southern Somalia where the militants remain entrenched. The violence has also threatened to spill into Ethiopia, as the militants try to make their presence felt in Africa's second most populous country. Addis Ababa said last month that it had foiled an attack by the jihadists in the border town of Dollo. Al-Shabaab fighters were chased out of Mogadishu in 2011 by an African Union mission which has been in Somalia since 2007. The militants have also lost some ground in the countryside after Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud last year launched an "all-out war" against the group, describing the jihadists as "bedbugs". But while the gains of the Somali offensive have been significant, the "situation still remains very fragile," African Union Commission chair Moussa Faki Mahamat warned last weekend. Hassan Khannenje, director of The Horn International Institute for Strategic Studies in Nairobi, told AFP that Al-Shabaab was "on the back foot in Somalia". "There is a desire on their part to demonstrate continued relevance and resilience." 'Manifestation of desperation' A US official last month told AFP the recent cross-border attacks by Al-Shabaab were a "manifestation of desperation". But Kenya is taking no chances. A string of major attacks on the Westgate shopping centre in 2013, Garissa University two years later, and the Dusit hotel complex in 2019 left hundreds of Kenyans and foreigners dead. The East African nation earlier this month said it was delaying the planned reopening of its long-closed border with Somalia over the deadly attacks. The phased reopening would not go ahead as announced "until we conclusively deal with the recent spate of terror attacks and cross-border crime," Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki said. Analyst Khannenje said the wave of attacks "should serve as a warning" to Kenya. The post ‘Vigilance is key’: Al Shabaab threat rising in Kenya’s northeast appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Mayon’s lava front collapses
The ongoing restiveness of Mayon Volcano has led to another collapse of its lava front and longer pyroclastic density current flows that produced a “light brown” plume on Monday. In its latest bulletin in the past 24 hours, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said it had monitored two pyroclastic density currents or PDC that lasted two minutes. The two lava front collapses resulted in the formation of a 200-meter-high light brown plume. Mayon also exhibited 295 rockfall events and three volcanic earthquakes while it continued moderate degassing from the summit crater producing steam-laden plumes at 500 meters tall before drifting to the west and west-northwest direction. The volcano has emitted sulfur dioxide at an average of 962 tons daily since 2 July. Phivolcs said Alert Level 3 is maintained at Mayon due to the presence of magma in the crater with the possibility of a “hazardous eruption within weeks or even days.” The six-kilometer permanent danger zone remained off-limits to the public due to the risk of PDCs, lava flows, rockfalls, and other volcanic hazards. Phivolcs also advised communities to exercise increased vigilance against PDCs, lahar, and sediment-laden stream flows along channels draining the volcano edifice, as heavy rainfall could cause channel-confined lahar and sediment-laden stream flows. Flying close to the volcano is not allowed as ash from a sudden eruption may pose a hazard to aircraft. Phivolcs warned that communities on the southern side of the volcano may most likely experience ash fall events based on the current wind pattern. Continuing gov’t assistance Moreover, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on Monday said it has provided around P131.2 million worth of government assistance to residents in the Bicol region affected by the continued restiveness of Mayon. The number of families affected was placed at 11,045 or equivalent to 42,815 persons residing in 26 barangays. Of the number, 5,775 families or 20,134 individuals are currently staying in 28 activated evacuation centers across Albay, while 408 families or 1,427 persons are being aided by either their relatives or friends. Mandatory evac center Amid the ongoing Mayon unrest, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go renewed his call for the establishment of mandatory evacuation centers nationwide so that people would be better served during disasters and emergencies. Go lamented the lack of adequate facilities during times of crisis, including typhoons, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and fires. The post Mayon’s lava front collapses appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Mayon’s collapsed lava front produces a ‘light brown’ plume
The ongoing restiveness of Mayon Volcano has led to another collapse of its lava front and longer pyroclastic density current flows that produced a “light brown” plume on Monday, 3 July. In its latest volcanic bulletin in the past 24 hours, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said it has monitored two pyroclastic density currents or PDCs— that lasted two minutes. The two lava front collapse resulted in the formation of a 200-meter-high light brown plume. Mayon also exhibited 295 rockfall events and 3 volcanic earthquakes while it continued to moderate degassing from the summit crater producing steam-laden plumes at 500 meters tall—before drifting to the west and west-northwest direction. The volcano emitted sulfur dioxide at an average of 962 tons daily since 02 July. Phivolcs said Mayon Volcano is maintained at Alert Level 3 due to the presence of magma at the crater, with the possibility of a “hazardous eruption within weeks or even days.” The six-kilometer permanent danger zone remained off-limits for the public due to the risk of PDCs, lava flows, rockfalls, and other volcanic hazards. Phivolcs also advised communities to exercise increased vigilance against PDCs, lahars, and sediment-laden stream flows along channels draining the volcano edifice, as heavy rainfall could cause channel-confined lahars and sediment-laden stream flows. Flying close to the volcano is not allowed as ash from a sudden eruption may pose hazards to aircraft. Phivolcs warned communities located on the southern side of Mayon Volcano that they may most likely experience ash fall events based on the current wind pattern. The post Mayon’s collapsed lava front produces a ‘light brown’ plume appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BSP keeps rates steady
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas of BSP kept interest rates unchanged at 6.25 percent for the second time this year, as it waits for the effects of its previous rate hikes to take hold and slow down inflation. The policy-making Monetary Board made the decision on Thursday, saying that it wanted to see how the recent rate hikes would impact the economy before making any further changes. Most economists polled by Daily Tribune had expected the BSP to leave its benchmark overnight borrowing rate unchanged as inflation had slowed for a fourth successive month in May. BSP had raised interest rates six times since last September to cool inflation, which has been running above the target for most of the year. In a press briefing, BSP Governor Felipe Medalla highlighted the positive trends in inflation and domestic growth, while acknowledging the lingering risks and the need for continued vigilance. “The BSP’s latest baseline projections continue to suggest a gradual return of inflation to the target band of 2-4 percent over the policy horizon,” Medalla said. “Both headline and core inflation decelerated further in May due mainly to slower increases in the prices of food and energy-related items, affirming expectations of a return to the target range by year’s end,” he added. BSP flexibility seen ING Bank Manila senior economist Nicholas Antionio Mapa expects some flexibility on the BSP’s part. “Despite the pause, BSP will likely remain open to hiking if data developments warrant a response,” he said in a Viber message. He pointed out that the pause is the BSP’s “best option” right now as “hiking in the dark” at this stage, without much data, could lead to costly outcomes. Michael Ricafort, chief economist of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., said BSP might hold on to the rates until the end of next year as it traditionally adopts the decision of the US Federal Reserve. “The markets recently priced in no Federal Reserve rate cut by end-2023 and about 1.25 to 1.50 of total rate cuts by end-2024, so any matching local policy rate cut would be possible up to end-2024.” Ricafort said the BSP policy rate should keep interest rates of commercial banks healthy to still support business activities with consumer demand for goods and services still coming in. Domini Velasquez, chief economist of China Bank Corp., said BSP will also be monitoring movements in foreign exchange as a depreciating peso means higher prices of most goods and services. “For as long as the Philippine peso does not depreciate to the 59 levels like it did in 2022, we think that the BSP can keep its terminal rate at 6.25 percent for the rest of the year even with a narrower interest rate differential with the US Federal Reserve,” he explained. The post BSP keeps rates steady appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BSP keeps rates unchanged
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas decided to keep interest rates unchanged at 6.25 percent for the second time this year, as it waits for the effects of its previous rate hikes to take hold and slow down inflation. The BSP's Monetary Board made the decision on Thursday, saying that it wanted to see how the recent rate hikes would impact the economy before making any further changes. Most economists polled by Daily Tribune had expected the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to leave its benchmark overnight borrowing rate unchanged at Thursday's meeting as inflation had slowed for a fourth successive month in May. To recall, the BSP has raised interest rates six times since last September in an effort to cool inflation, which has been running above target for most of the year. In a press briefing, Governor Felipe Medalla highlighted the positive trends in inflation and domestic growth, while acknowledging the lingering risks and the need for continued vigilance. "The BSP’s latest baseline projections continue to suggest a gradual return of inflation to the target band of 2-4 percent over the policy horizon,” Medalla said. "Both headline and core inflation decelerated further in May due mainly to slower increases in the prices of food and energy-related items, affirming expectations of a return to the target range by year’s end,” he added. While the positive trends in inflation are promising, Medalla emphasized the potential risks to the outlook. These risks include the potential impact of additional transport fare increases and minimum wage adjustments, persistent supply constraints of key food items, El Niño weather conditions and possible knock-on effects of higher toll rates on agricultural prices. Medalla also highlighted the downside risk of a weaker-than-expected global economic recovery. “Given these considerations, the Monetary Board deems it appropriate to maintain current monetary policy settings to allow the BSP to further assess how inflation and domestic demand have responded to tighter monetary conditions,” he said. ING Bank Manila senior economist Nicholas Antionio Mapa expects some flexibility on the BSP’s part. “Despite the pause, BSP will likely remain open to hiking if data developments warrant a response,” he said in a Viber message. The pause is the BSP’s “best option” right now as “hiking in the dark” at this stage, without much data, could lead to costly outcomes, he added “Data-dependent central banks will always choose to see data before making adjustments to policy,” The latest BSP decision to keep interest rates unchanged could be the last policy move for Medalla, whose term ends on 3 July. President Ferdinand Marcos has yet to reveal whether he will reappoint Medalla or choose another candidate. Economists said the decision of who will be the next BSP governor will likely affect the central bank's policy stance. “Marcos’ choice for governor will likely inform our outlook for BSP’s policy stance, but should Medalla be reappointed, we expect BSP to be on hold for at least two more policy meetings before possibly cutting rates once inflation settles back within target,” Mapa said in a separate interview. The post BSP keeps rates unchanged appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
State of public emergency must stay — Go
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go recently expressed his support for the Department of Health’s recommendation to not lift the state of public health emergency due to the coronavirus disease in the country yet. The lawmaker stressed that the lifting the public health emergency will adversely affect the healthcare workers — particularly their allowances — and will endanger the public since the pandemic is not over. Go, in an ambush interview after his visit to the Malasakit Center at Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital in Roxas City, said that the virus cases may experience another surge if the state of public health emergency will be prematurely lifted. To recall, Department of Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire stressed that the country’s healthcare system must be better prepared before lifting the state of public health emergency. She made the remark last week after United States President Joe Biden signed legislation on 10 April to end the national emergency for Covid-19 as he has also earlier announced the end of the separate public health emergency scheduled for 11 May. “No matter what the context would be, our situation right now would be that we are trying to monitor our cases, and we are trying to better prepare our healthcare system,” said Vergeire in an earlier statement. The senator, meantime, emphasized the need for continued vigilance and cooperation from the public in following health protocols as he continues to advocate for holistic benefits for the country’s healthcare workers, both in the public and private sectors, who have been on the front lines of the fight against Covid-19. Go — who also chairs the Senate Committee on Health and Demography — also earlier successfully pushed for the passage of Republic Act 11712 which provides for benefits and allowances to public and private healthcare workers during a state of public health emergency. Public and private HCWs covered by the law are entitled to health emergency allowance for every month of service during a state of public health emergency based on the risk categorization. Under the law, each frontliner will be entitled to a fixed Covid-19 allowance per month of service applied retroactively from July 2021 and additionally, the healthcare workers will be receiving separate compensation if they contract Covid-19 while on duty. For those with mild to moderate symptoms, they will receive P15,000 while individuals with severe symptoms or under a critical state will receive P100,000. For those who unfortunately succumb to the virus, the government will be giving P1,000,000 to the families they left behind. The post State of public emergency must stay — Go appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Continued vigilance
An uncountable many have welcomed the government move to relax restrictions for people’s visibly trouble-free mobility after going through more than seven months of different stages of lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic......»»
Balancing lives and livelihoods (Part 2)
More than ever, vigilance is needed in enforcing measures essential to keeping the public health safe while allowing the continued easing of the country’s economy under new normal conditions......»»
Consumer complaints rise in 2023 – DTI
Online transactions continued to dominate the complaints lodged by consumers at the Department of Trade and Industry last year......»»
SMIC banks on areas outside NCR for growth
SM Investments Corp. (SMIC) of the Sy family is betting big on the countryside to support the group’s continued growth......»»
Financial system resources up 9 percent in January
The total resources of the country’s financial system continued to breach the P30-trillion level, rising by almost nine percent as of end-January, preliminary data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed......»»
Philippines, Germany eye cyber, maritime defense cooperation
The Philippines and Germany are eyeing to expand their defense cooperation to include cyber and maritime domains, President Marcos said, in light of China’s continued dangerous maneuvers and harassment of Filipino supply vessels in the West Philippine Sea......»»
Samar mayor acknowledges DAR’s continued support to farmers
Jiabong mayor Julie Cereno expressed gratitude to the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) for continuously supporting the farmers by providing them with various assistance......»»
Oscars 2024 fashion: Top 10 looks, who wore who
The 96th Academy Awards fashion parade on the red carpet reception simply continued the annual Hollywood spectacle that culminates the awards season annually......»»
Pinay fencer making waves in US NCAA
Filipina fencer Samantha Catantan continued to make progress in the US NCAA, gearing up for a chance to realize her Olympic dream in the Paris Games this July......»»
UAAP men s volley: Green Spikers, Bulldogs continue to roll
The La Salle Green Spikers and the National University Bulldogs continued their hot streaks and made quick work of their respective opponents in the UAAP Season 86 men’s volleyball tournament Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City......»»
Bank lending picks up pace in January
Despite elevated interest rates, bank lending growth climbed to an eight-month high of 7.8 percent in January, amid the continued recovery of the economy......»»
DMW-Davao hails citizens vigilance for foiled illegal recruitment in Davao City
ACTING on a Dabawenyo’s information of an alleged illegal recruitment activity on its official Facebook page, the Department of Migrant Workers-Davao Region (DMW-Davao) endorsed the report to the National Bureau of Investigation-Southeastern Mindanao Regional Office (NBI-Semro) leading to a criminal investigation of three reported illegal recruiters last March 2, 2024 in Toril, Davao City by the City Prosecution Office......»»
Netizens want Cebu BRT construction to proceed: ‘Ipadayun na’
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The fate of the long controversial Cebu Bus Rapid Transit or Cebu BRT project faces yet another crossroads after local politicians argue over the possible repercussions of its continued construction. The transportation project aims to create a bus express lane within Cebu City, with its first phase in continuous operations for.....»»
Cua, Fuertes continue winning ways in PPS Bansalan netfest
Dhea Cua continued to flaunt her exceptional skills in the Davao region swing of the PPS-PEPP junior tennis circuit, scoring another double victory in the girls’ 16- and 18-and-under categories in the Gov. Yvonne Cagas Championships......»»