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BFP snubs Belmonte’s fire marshal pick
The controversy continues on the ranks of the Bureau of Fire Protection as reports that the leadership of the BFP is snubbing the order of Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte of appointing a fire marshal in the Quezon City Fire Department. This comes as Daily Tribune discovered that most of fire safety inspectors and firefighters at the QCFD are saying that there exist the alleged “bata-bata” system and a “quota system” in the agency. Just recently, the QCFD held a turnover ceremony at the BFP National Capital Region office where Sr. Supt. Florian Guerrero was named as the next District Fire Marshal of Quezon City, replacing Sr. Supt. Aristotle Bañaga. Bañaga, was relieved because of unfortunate fire incident a couple of months ago where a fire gutted a residential house converted into a warehouse located at Barangay Tandang Sora which resulted to 15 deaths — which included retired General George Ancheta. Ancheta was an uncle of Quezon City Council Majority Leader Dorothy Delarmente, who is also the chairperson of the Committee on Laws, Rules and Internal Government. During the council’s investigation, it was discovered that there were indeed lapses committed by QCFD for their failure to conduct the required yearly inspection based on the provision of the Fire Code of the Philippines and its Revised IRR. Though records showed that there were inspections undertaken in the year 2021, it failed to notice an unauthorized business activities at the address where the blaze killed 15 people. Because no inspection was conducted in 2022 and 2023. The incident prompted Belmonte to recommend to Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. — who has jurisdiction over BFP — the relief of Bañaga and his Fire Safety Enforcement Section head Chief Inspector Dominic Salvacion. Abalos then ordered another thorough investigation and let BFP chief director Louie Puracan handle the situation. Puracan instructed Bañaga to take a leave and passed the judgement to BFP-NCR chief Region head Chief Supt. Nahum Tarroza who immediately issue an order dated 18 September 2023, appointing Bañaga’s deputy, Supt. Gilbert Arellano as “caretaker” of the Office of the Quezon City Fire Marshal. However, Tarroza has also appointed Supt. Rowena Gollod, an “under rank” official, who was in “floating status” for being assigned at the Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit as the Deputy Fire Marshal, replacing Arellano. BFP sources disclosed that Tarroza is allegedly trying to prevent the city government from appointing its own choice for fire marshal because the BFP leadership allegedly benefits from the “bata-bata” and “quota system” in which fire marshals are required to “remit” certain amount of money to the BFP for every Fire Safety Inspection Certificate that they issue. This quota system allegedly could bring in as much as P100,000 per month for BFP higher-ups. In Quezon City, the fire marshal should allegedly accumulate and “remit” P300,000 monthly. P100,000 each for BFP national and metropolis office, and for two DILG padrinos who are holding an Undersecretary positions, a former Quezon City official and the other, a retired firefighter, who could influence Abalos on every BFP issue. Appreciating the BFP gesture of relieving Bañaga and Salvacion without any administrative orders, Belmonte wrote Puracan on 2 October 2023, expressing her thanks to the BFP and recommended that she preferred to have Sr. Supt. Dennis Molo — a former QCFD Deputy — as the Chief of the QCFD and Arellano as his deputy. “As a seasoned Fire Officer, F/SSupt. Molo has generously shared extensive knowledge, experience and expertise with the City Goverment. His contributions in the crafting of public safety policies, formulating and recommending fire safety plans, executing on-the- ground operations and proposing engagement with potential national and international partners-stakeholders have been highly appreciated. For his part, F/Supt. Arellano, as lawyer, has been instrumental in his knowledge of the Fire Code, DILG directives and other relevant laws.” Belmonte wrote in her recommendation letter to Puracan. Puracan then responded to Belmonte by rationalizing his decision in designating Guerrero and brushed aside the Mayor’s recommendation to assign Molo as QCFD Marshal by saying the latter should process first his transfer to the BFP-NCR, as Molo was already assigned at BFP-Region 4A office. The post BFP snubs Belmonte’s fire marshal pick appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
CA junks telco’s frequency plea, mandamus case vs. NTC
The Court of Appeals junked the petition for mandamus filed by NOW Telecom Company Inc. against the National Telecommunications Commission or NTC over the company's provisional authority or PA application to operate a cellular mobile telephone service within specific frequency ranges. In a 16-page decision, the appellate court's Special Ninth Division said "the court is powerless" to grant NOW Telecom's plea, especially since the company failed to show a clear legal right to the frequencies it sought. The CA said the decision, penned by Associate Justice Tita Marilyn B. Payoyo-Villordon and concurred in by Associate Justices Myra V. Garcia-Fernandez and Walter S. Ong, followed a careful examination of the case. The case began from NOW Telecom's request for NTC's automatic approval issued by the Anti-Red Tape Authority or ARTA. NOW Telecom had filed a petition for mandamus under Rule 65 of the Revised Rules of Court to compel the NTC and former Commissioner Gamaliel Asis Cordoba to stick to ARTA's resolution and OAA both dated 1 March 2021. These ARTA documents stated that NOW Telecom's application for a PA to operate in the frequency range 1970 Mhz-1980 Mhz paired with 2160 Mhz to 2170 Mhz and 3.6 GHz to 3.8 GHz frequency ranges was automatically approved by operation of law. It followed Republic Act 11032, otherwise known as the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018. However, an ARTA resolution dated 17 June 2022 reversed the previous decisions and formally recommended NOW Telecom's application for frequency assignment to the NTC. NOW Telecom's mandamus petition was notably based on its claim for the rights to specific frequency ranges, alleging that the NTC had unjustly neglected its duty to assign them. Yet, court records showed that as early as December 2005, NTC already found NOW Telecom to be non-compliant and was disqualified from the assignment of 3G frequency bands due to unpaid supervision and regulation fees or SRF and spectrum user fees or SUF amounting to P2.6 billion. NOW Telecom has a pending petition filed before the Supreme Court for this penalty imposed by the NTC. NOW Telecom received its PA in January 2006, but it was not specific to 3G and under the condition of paying its outstanding SRF and SUF obligations. In December 2017, NOW Telecom was designated the 20MHz contiguous bandwidth, 3520 to 3540 MHz, under the 3.5 GHz on the same condition that it resolved its outstanding SUF and SRF fines. NOW Telecom's Provisional Authority was extended until September 2020, but the NTC reiterated that the company failed to fulfill the conditions regarding SUF and SRF. Despite the issues hounding the company, NOW Corp. CEO Mel Velarde said he hopes the "Marcos administration" will aid the immediate settlement of its cases as a way of maintaining a "level playing field." _ The post CA junks telco’s frequency plea, mandamus case vs. NTC appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Budget season
Marathon meetings were held this week in the Senate and the House of Representatives in line with the budget season leading to the approval of the ever-increasing P5.7-trillion budget for 2024. The yearly “budget-serye” (budget series) never fails to disappoint in bringing out issues that extract the tiniest of details in our government that are given monetary figures in the form of public funds, amounting to millions and even billions of pesos. And every year, we see how the majority gets its way, especially early in the Administration, such as where we are right now. My biggest pet peeve in these sessions is the consistent usage of incompetent sponsors for specific government offices who deserve much better. These sponsors, whose mandate is to defend their sponsored government office before the increasingly knowledgeable and wise interpolators, must be technically and legally verbose and experts in the Philippine budget process. Clearly, this is all wishful thinking since we see neophyte, inarticulate, incapable, yet extremely loyal sponsors who would do anything to prove their worth to the powers that be, even if it means being humiliated and trending on social media for the wrong reasons. Indeed, this is the time for the opposition lawmakers to shine and feast on the mental shortcomings of their counterparts. The Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives finds itself in the limelight as it engages in its own “hunting season” against willing victims, may they be Cabinet secretaries or, gasp, the Office of the Vice President, whose massive confidential and intelligence funds are being questioned repeatedly anew. Lo and behold, we have a statement from the House Appropriations Committee chairman that these OVP allocations will be realigned to more deserving government agencies, i.e., the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard. However, we have yet to see the indisputable evidence to prove this happened. Nevertheless, it is a fair and conclusive presumption to say that the majority will still get its way despite the awkward and unconvincing defenses and sponsorships in favor of the government agencies. Is the budget process faulty? It appears not since the correct agencies still receive what is due them. The problem, in my humble opinion, lies in the implementation of these budgets granted to them. For instance, the alleged spending by the OVP of its confidential funds amounting to P125 million in 19 days or 11 days, whichever is true, is a problem of implementation, not allocation. What prevented the OVP from spending this amount earlier? What’s likely is that the OVP rushed the spending so they would not be accused of failure in spending public funds for the right and correct reasons. The other issue on the alleged unconstitutional transfer of funds by the Office of the President to the OVP, while the GAA of 2023 was in effect, is likewise the product of faulty, inefficient implementation of the law. It is illegal for a government office, such as the Office of the President, to casually assign a portion of its fund to the OVP because this renders the budget process faulty and even useless. If there is something that may be attributed to faulty implementation, it can be its failure to set proper safeguards that would lead to the enforcement of new ones. In fact, a Supreme Court decision on the alleged unconstitutional transfer made by the OP to the OVP is in the works. This would place the 2023 “budget-serye” on record as the landmark budget season that would define those in the coming years. For comments, email him at darren.dejesus@gmail.com. The post Budget season appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Belmonte calls for reforms in BFP-QCFD
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Monday called on the Bureau of Fire Protection to undertake reforms in the BFP - Quezon City Fire District (QCFD). Belmonte made the call as results of the probe conducted by the city government and the Quezon City Council revealed lax inspection, backlog in the examination of businesses, and other lapses in the performance of the BFP-QCFD. "The BFP should look into how the BFP-QCFD fulfilled its mandate in the light of tragic loss of lives and properties due to recent fires in the city. Were the BFP-QCFD leadership remiss in their duties? They should hold their personnel accountable if proven guilty of inefficiency," she said. Belmonte earlier sought the relief of two officials from the BFP-QCFD following a review of the performance of the agency prompted by the tragic loss of lives caused by the fire last 31 August in Tandang Sora. An evaluation conducted by the city government of each fire incident that occurred this year showed on average, more damage, injury, and death compared to the previous year. “The capability and effectiveness of the BFP-QCFD in responding to these fires have lessened significantly. The city government recognizes that each fire has its own distinct volatile circumstances. Nonetheless, the severity of this year's incidents necessitates a call for a change in the leadership of the agency. A change is needed for the welfare of our citizens. We look forward to a better performance from the BFP," Belmonte said. The two officials were identified as BFP-QCFD fire marshall, Fire Senior Superintendent Aristotle Bañaga, and the chief of the QCFD Fire Prevention Branch, Fire Chief Inspector Dominic Salvacion. Data from the BFP revealed that from January to August 2023, there were 153 fires recorded in the city, while there were only 219 fires from January to December 2022. With a third of the year left, there have already been eight firefighters and 63 civilians injured compared to only two firefighters and 60 civilians for the entirety of last year. Moreover, there were already 24 deaths in the first eight months of this year while there were 30 from January to December 2022. There were 8,362 individuals or 2,380 families affected by the fires up to August this year, higher than the whole of last year’s record of 7,295 individuals or 2,005 families. “For this reason and to protect the people of Quezon City, I am calling upon the national leadership of the Bureau of Fire Protection to assign to us a new fire marshall for the QCFD and a new inspection head,” Belmonte added. Belmonte also called on the BFP to be more transparent in their own investigation of the Tandang Sora fire. “The BFP has failed to reciprocate the city government’s efforts to exercise transparency. They resisted our calls to be apprised of the progress of their own probe, or to our requests for coordination. We therefore ask the BFP to cooperate fully with the city government as mandated by law, to ensure full transparency and clarity in these investigations. Our people demand more, and the victims and their families deserve nothing less,” Belmonte said. Belmonte earlier ordered the City Legal Department to form a Special Panel of Investigators to probe the incident and if warranted by evidence, to file the appropriate case(s) against pertinent and surviving officers of the business establishment involved in the deadly fire in Tandang Sora. Local government personnel found to be liable after the conduct of the investigation will likewise face administrative and criminal charges. “The city government continues to thoroughly investigate the devastating fire of August 31. It has coordinated with and interviewed its departments, the barangay, the homeowners association, the relatives of the victims, and the survivors, to ascertain the circumstances that brought about this tragedy. We will leave no stone unturned, and we will not spare even our own officials and personnel,” the mayor added. The mayor assured the residents that the city government will continue to beef up the city’s fire prevention measures and efforts. On 14 September, Mayor Belmonte extended financial assistance to the families of the fire victims. Earlier, the city government helped arrange for the cremation of the remains of the victims, among others. The post Belmonte calls for reforms in BFP-QCFD appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Mandaue biz chamber seeks waste reduction collab
The Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry disclosed on Monday that it is prepared to work with the city government to come up with a “win-win” solution to reduce plastic waste in Mandaue City, Cebu province. “The Mandaue City Government understands this predicament. Thus, they are willing to discuss with us to come up with a win-win solution, to ensure better compliance and ultimately, to move forward in our sustainability goals. We are working with them to create an enabling environment to follow the spirit of the law,” said MCCI president Kelly Ko in a statement. This comes as Mandaue City Environment and Natural Resources Office head Architect Araceli Barlam announced that they will talk with City Councilor Jennifer del Mar — chairperson of the City Council’s Committee on Environment — about proposing a local ordinance patterned with Extended Producer Responsibility Act of 2022 or Republic Act 11898. Under the EPR law, large businesses must properly and effectively recover, treat, recycle or dispose of their products once they have been sold and consumed. Medium-scale enterprises are likewise urged to adhere to the guidelines, although they are not required to. The law covers flexible plastic — whether single-layer or multi-layered with other materials such as sachets, labels, laminates and other packaging used to carry, protect, or pack items for transportation, distribution or sale. However, Ko acknowledged that should the rule will be put into practices, the Mandaue plastic makers may have trouble coming up with effective strategies to speed up plastic recycling. He pointed out that some city-based plastic producers distribute their goods outside of Mandaue, adding that a lot of high-value garbage which include PET bottles used for soft drinks and mineral water are collected and taken to junkyards and recycling facilities, making it challenging to monitor and assign credit to any particular company. Barlam said that in addition to meeting with MCCI, they will coordinate with the city’s Business Permit and Licensing Office to identify how many plastic-producing companies in Mandaue may be impacted once the law is implemented. The post Mandaue biz chamber seeks waste reduction collab appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Breach of trust
Dear Atty. Maan, I have been working at a toy manufacturing company for the past decade. Last week, our team manager was caught with various valuable toy parts during a routine outgoing inspection for which she had no authorization to take from the warehouse. Although she was given a chance to explain, her employment was eventually terminated for stealing company property and loss of trust and confidence. She had been with the company for more than two decades. Do you think the termination was commensurate with the offense she committed, Atty? Elaine *** Dear Elaine, Article 297. [282] of the Labor Code of the Philippines provides: Termination by Employer. — An employer may terminate an employment for any of the following causes: (c) Fraud or willful breach by the employee of the trust reposed in him by his employer or duly authorized representative[.] Further, the Supreme Court ruled in various cases that Two requisites must concur for a valid termination of employment due to loss of trust and confidence. First. Breach of trust and confidence must be premised on the fact that the employee concerned holds a position of trust and confidence, where greater trust is placed by management and from whom greater fidelity to duty is correspondingly expected. The essence of the offense for which an employee is penalized is the betrayal of such trust. In the case of Wesleyan University Phils. v Reyes, employees vested with trust and confidence were divided into two classes: (a) the managerial employees; and (b) the fiduciary rank-and-file employees. As explained by the Court: To the first class belong the managerial employees or those vested with the powers or prerogatives to lay down management policies and to hire, transfer, suspend, lay-off, recall, discharge, assign or discipline employees or effectively recommend such managerial actions. The second class includes those who in the normal and routine exercise of their functions regularly handle significant amounts of money or property. Cashiers, auditors, and property custodians are some of the employees in the second class. Second. There must be some basis for the loss of trust and confidence. The employer must present clear and convincing proof of an actual breach of duty committed by the employee by establishing the facts and incidents upon which the loss of confidence in the employee may fairly be made to rest. This means that “the employer must establish the existence of an act justifying the loss of trust and confidence.” Otherwise, employees will be left at the mercy of their employers. Presence of the above-mentioned conditions would warrant the validity of termination on the ground of breach of trust and confidence under the law. Hope this helps. Atty. Mary Antonnette Baudi The post Breach of trust appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Tolentino wants stiffer punishment vs. abusive domestic help employers
Senator Francis Tolentino on Thursday said he would craft a new law to amend Republic Act 10361, or the ‘Batas Kasambahay’ to constitute stiffer penalties against abusive employers. In a television interview, Tolentino, who chairs the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, said the penalty for any violations of the provisions of the law is “too small.” “The Kasambahay Law is good but I think it has to be amended. Even the fine is just P10,000 for the violations being done by the employers,” he said. “So, I would look at strengthening the law further and making it not just a turf of the Department of Labor and Employment but also include the Department of the Interior and Local Government because barangay captains should have their own databases,” he added. The Senate panel on Justice and Human Rights on Wednesday conducted an investigation into the alleged physical and mental abuse of Elvie Vergara, a domestic helper from Occidental Mindoro. Vergara went blind after long years of serving the family of Jerry and France Ruiz, who allegedly tortured her. “Perhaps, if we really made focus on our OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) working abroad, domestic helpers, there should be a local bureau or agency in charge of domestic helpers. Not just for the purposes of hotlines but for purposes of really educating, not only the domestic helpers themselves but also the employers on their responsibilities,” he said. Tolentino also proposed the creation of a “special court” that would handle cases involving domestic helpers. “I would suggest that… this is not too much since I sit in the Judicial Bar Council, that there should likewise be a special court to handle cases involving domestic helpers,” he said. According to the lawmaker, who is also a lawyer, the Supreme Court could assign a special court per region to hear cases of domestic helpers. “It will draw more inspiration, perhaps awareness, greater awareness on the part of domestic helpers as well as inform the employers that indeed the law can reach them wherever they are,” he said. The post Tolentino wants stiffer punishment vs. abusive domestic help employers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
NFA rice negotiation ‘obviously ultra vires’ — PRISM
The Philippine Rice Industry Stakeholders Movement over the weekend said that it has reached to their attention that officials of the National Food Authority were in India to negotiate, on behalf of the government, rice importation. "If this is true, we would like to ask for a clarification regarding this matter, which we believe runs counter to the provisions of the Rice Tariffication law which authorizes only the President to negotiate upon the recommendation of National Economic Development Authority and the Department of Agriculture," the PRISM said in a statement sent to Daily Tribune. "Any discussion about importation initiated by the NFA is obviously ultra vires," they added. PRISM said a closer look at the international rice market situation would reveal "problems beyond the control of our local businesses and the government." Filipino private importers who have booked supplies from Vietnam, as early as the first quarter, are now faced with the dilemma of Vietnamese importers canceling their contracts in favor of other countries affected by India’s rice export ban. Its response to current rice issues is to "reiterate our commitment to the President to ensure the availability of affordable rice. Second is to address the issues and concerns about the rice supply." PRISM boasted that on 7 July 2023, and last Saturday, along Tomas Morato near Scout Borromeo Streets, "we have successfully launched the P38 per kilo Tulong sa Bayan Bigas para sa Mamayan." It added that they have done the same in various areas in NCR, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao "through our Rice Retail networks, Barangay and LGU Caravans, and Kadiwa outlets. Since then until this time, we still continue selling the P38 per kilo rice in the respective channels chosen by our stakeholders." Despite different challenges and turn of events due to typhoons "Egay" and "Falcon" and the unexpected declaration of India’s export ban, PRISM reiterated their commitment to ensuring the availability of the P38 rice per kilo, "to continue our commitment to this advocacy." "Today, we are strengthening our advocacy, we encourage more rice traders to join in this effort to help more of our Kababayan," the movement said. According to PRISM, recent concerns have surfaced regarding the high price and availability of rice, leading to speculations that intend to disturb the confidence of the public and the normal course of the local market. "We acknowledge and stand by the President's assurance of sufficient rice supply and recognize the importance of addressing the affordability of rice amidst the current inflationary pressures," it said. "It is of utmost importance that PRISM stands together with our efforts aligned with the President's vision for prioritizing local rice production and stabilizing the local market supply without having to resort to revenue-draining government-led importation," it added. "We, therefore, urge the National Food Authority (NFA) to rally behind this directive and channel its energy into supporting methods that increase domestic production, as specified by the President," PRISM said. "We acknowledge the problem besetting the local rice industry, but certainly it is not the availability of rice, but its affordability primarily due to inflation." "As farm gate costs (currently at P21 to 25 per kilo of palay-fresh palay) are affected by price fluctuations in the market, we urge the NFA, whose current support price of P19 per kilo (clean and dry) is far below the current farm gate price, to seize the ongoing budget season and approach the Congress for higher budget allocation that will benefit local farmers and strengthen the local industry instead of pushing for importation that will drain government funds in favor of foreign suppliers," they explained. "The NFA should focus on its role as mandated by the Rice Tarrification Law / RA 11203 to build its buffer stock exclusively from local farmers and rice millers instead of imported sources. This move is also more consistent with the President’s objective to support local farmers and strengthen OUR rice industry," it further explained. "We are thus urging that relevant authorities engage in diplomatic discussions with Vietnamese counterparts to find a mutually beneficial resolution and honor the contracts of our importers," PRISM urged. "Complicating our rice situation, careless statement of a certain DA official has maliciously criticized our members’ effort to subsidize a limited supply of P38.00 per kilo rice during lean months that was intended for our indigent kababayan. In one interview this official insinuated that this effort, which was motivated by the President’s directive to provide affordable rice, was meant to be “playing” with the market prices even if it's only offered to the poorest of the poor with a maximum purchase of 5 kilos a day," the group said, preferring not to name the DA official. Prior to the roll-out of this initiative, they added, "our organization sought clearance from the President during several meetings in Malacanang and from the DA’s Undersecretary in charge of the National Rice Program," they said. There were also pronouncements that the DA inspectorate, together with the NBI, intends to inspect warehouses to prevent traders from hoarding. "While we understand and appreciate this initiative, we urge the government to exercise caution due to the ambiguous legal definition of hoarding. Even if the intention is sound, in this current situation, warehouses with limited stocks might come out as a reflection of our dwindling rice supply and be used by those pushing for government importation," PRISM explained further. However, for warehouses that hold stocks as commercial buffers for their regular customers, such may be misinterpreted by the media as hoarding, even without going through the legal process. This can negatively impact the reputation of legitimate traders. "Careless exercise of lawful inspections will only worsen the situation and create a chilling effect that can disturb the normal course of the market," the group said. The group is requesting that the President, who also holds the position of DA secretary, devise a better strategy for communicating the government's "rice policy framework and situational response." This should be done in a way that ensures accountability and prevents any confusion or negative public and industry feedback "We strongly encourage the President to assign just one Usec for all agencies involved in the rice program (NIA, NRP, and NFA)," PRISM said. "Furthermore, we strongly encourage the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) to release pertinent data and statistics on rice production and stocking in an up-to-date manner instead of a 3-month delay, to properly guide private and government stakeholders in timely decision making," the group suggested. The post NFA rice negotiation ‘obviously ultra vires’ — PRISM appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Makati resists Taguig City attempt to takeover 14 public schools at EMBO
Taguig City personnel's attempt to take over the 14 schools in ten enlisted men's barrio (EMBO) on Saturday, 12 August was thwarted by a barricade of combined force of residents non-government organizations, Bantay Bayan, and the police. As early as 6:00 a.m. the barricade was put up near the said schools as they get ready for the arrival of those ordered to take over the schools. In a one-page notice to proceed signed by Dr. Cynthia L. Ayles, officer-in-charge of the Schools Division Superintendent of Taguig City, Mr. Alvin I. Riberfa, the authorized representative of Joint Ventures of Best Security Agency, Inc. and Best Arms Security Agency Inc., was directed to assign and deploy the necessary number of security guard to man the public schools. The schools indicated in the notice are Fort Bonifacio Elementary School, Cembo Elementary School, South Cembo Elementary School, Pitogo Elementary School, East Rembo Elementary School, Comembo Elementary School, West Rembo Elementary School, Pembo Elementary School, Makati Science High School, Benigno S. Aquino High School, Tibagan High School, Bonifacio High School and Pitogo High School. However, Makati City General Services Officer Arnold Magpantay quickly directed Jaime M. Dimaano, authorized the representative of Greatstar Security Services Inc. to implement strict security measures and safeguard the property by not allowing the personnel from Taguig City to enter the school premises without written consent from the city government of Makati. The concerned residents, bantay bayan, NGOs, and the police of Makati City immediately deployed their personnel to prevent the apparent takeover without the necessary papers from the city government of Makati and even from the court. When the entourage from Taguig City composed of the Traffic Management Office and the supposed security guards to be deployed arrived they failed to implement the takeover because they could not show any pertinent papers for their action. Earlier, Makati City Mayor Abby Binay said the schools and other facilities at the 10 EMBO barangays are titled with the city government and said it cannot be taken by Taguig City even if they have won the jurisdictional case as per the Supreme Court ruling. Further, Makati City challenged Taguig City to show their numbers to make sure that they can give the necessary services amounting to P9 billion the city has been giving its 322,000 residents that will be under their wings now base on the court ruling. Residents are also wary of the free maintenance medicines, school uniforms and other services Makati has been giving them since time immemorial. The only response the residents has been receiving from Mayor Lani Cayetano is that they can give the necessary services without elaborating where the city government will get it. The post Makati resists Taguig City attempt to takeover 14 public schools at EMBO appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US economy adds 209,000 new jobs as hiring slows
Hiring in the United States slowed in June, the Labor Department said Friday, providing a much-needed signal that the American economy is cooling ahead of another interest rate decision later this month. The figures came in below analysts' expectations, providing some respite for the US Federal Reserve as it mulls a return to interest rate hikes later this month to tackle inflation still well above its long-term target of two percent. The world's biggest economy added 209,000 jobs last month, down from a revised figure of 306,000 in May, the Labor Department said. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate edged down to 3.6 percent, remaining close to historic lows, underscoring the enduring strength of the labor market. The hiring figure came in below the median expectation of 240,000 new jobs in a survey of economists conducted by MarketWatch, while the unemployment rate was in line with predictions. All three major US stock indexes on Wall Street finished the day in the red amid growing expectations of additional interest rate hikes this year "It's a step in the right direction, but we're not near the level that we would need to see to be convinced that the labor market is significantly cooling down," Oxford Economics' lead US economist Oren Klachkin told AFP. Even with job growth easing, average hourly earnings ticked up by 0.4 percent month-over-month, rising by 4.4 percent on an annual basis. "The labor market is still very strong, wages are still rising at a very strong pace, unemployment is still very low, and nonfarm payrolls rose at a pace that is way above what the Fed wants," Klachkin said. Bidenomics in action US President Joe Biden hailed Friday's jobs report as evidence of "Bidenomics in action." "Our economy added more than 200,000 jobs last month -- for a total of 13.2 million jobs since I took office," he said in a White House statement. "That's more jobs added in two and a half years than any president has ever created in a four-year term," he added. June's new jobs came mainly from increases in employment in government, health care, social assistance, and construction, the Labor Department said. "The economy has proven remarkably resilient, with smaller businesses absorbing layoffs at larger firms," KPMG chief economist Diane Swonk wrote in a note to clients. July hike pretty certain Minutes published earlier this week of the Fed's last meeting showed that several members of its rate-setting committee supported another hike in June to tackle high inflation. Ultimately, the Federal Open Market Committee voted to pause the Fed's campaign of 10 consecutive rate increases, indicating that two additional increases would likely be needed before the end of the year to bring inflation back down. Speaking shortly after the jobs report was released on Friday morning, Chicago Fed president Austan Goolsbee suggested the US central bank had more work to do to tame inflation. "Overall the job market is outstanding, and is getting back to a well-balanced, sustainable level," he told CNBC. "The consensus of almost all the FOMC in the statement of projections is that, over this year, we will have one or two more hikes. I haven't seen anything that says that's wrong," he said. Friday's labor data underscores the likelihood the Fed will return to its campaign of interest rate hikes later this month, according to Oxford Economics' Klachkin. "Given where the data stand right now I think that a hike this month is pretty certain, and I would say that there are even risks of more hikes in the second half," he said. "The Fed is expected to raise rates at least another half percent before it pauses," KPMG's Swonk said, adding that a hike in July was "all but a done deal" at this point. Futures traders now assign a probability of more than 90 percent that the Fed will raise its base rate by a quarter percentage point at its next meeting on July 25-26, according to data from CME Group. The post US economy adds 209,000 new jobs as hiring slows appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Canada opens investigation of Titanic sub implosion
Montreal, Canada —Canadian authorities on Saturday began a probe into the implosion of the Titan submersible, whose disappearance near the wreckage of the Titanic with five men aboard had set off a multinational search-and-rescue operation. "Our mandate is to find out what happened and why and to find out what needs to change to reduce the chance or the risk of such occurrences in the future," said Transportation Safety Board (TSB) chair Kathy Fox. "We know everybody wants answers, particularly the families and the public," she told reporters in St. John's, Newfoundland. The full probe could take between 18 months to two years. TSB investigators on Saturday boarded the Canadian-flagged Polar Price cargo ship, which had set sail from St. John's last weekend to bring the ill-fated Titan to its launch point in the North Atlantic. The Transportation Safety Board routinely probes air, rail, marine, and pipeline accidents with the aim of improving transportation safety. It does not assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability. The US Coast Guard said Thursday that all five people aboard the submersible had died after the vessel suffered a "catastrophic implosion." A debris field was found on the seafloor, 1,600 feet (500 meters) from the bow of the Titanic. Meanwhile, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) was looking into whether any criminal laws had been broken in the chain of events that led to the deaths of the Titan adventurers. The investigators' job is to determine "whether or not a full investigation by the RCMP is warranted," said Newfoundland and Labrador Superintendent Kent Osmond. "Such an investigation will proceed only if our examination of circumstances indicates criminal federal or provincial laws may possibly have been broken." jle/acb/tjj © Agence France-Presse The post Canada opens investigation of Titanic sub implosion appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Canada probing Titan’s deadly implosion
Canadian authorities announced Friday that they would investigate the loss of the submersible Titan and five people aboard during a dive to the Titanic wreck earlier this week. The Titan was towed out to sea by the Canadian-flagged Polar Prince cargo ship last weekend, but contact was lost about an hour and 45 minutes after the submersible launched into the ocean depths. The Canadian Transportation Safety Board said it would “conduct a safety investigation regarding the circumstances of this operation.” All five occupants of the submersible perished, according to a statement released by the US Coast Guard on Thursday, after it experienced a “catastrophic implosion.” A debris field was found on the seafloor, 1,600 feet (500 meters) from the bow of the Titanic. The somber announcement brought to an end a global search and rescue effort that had captured the world’s attention ever since the small tourist vessel vanished in the North Atlantic four days earlier. The Transportation Safety Board routinely probes air, rail, marine and pipeline accidents with the aim of improving transportation safety. It does not assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability. The independent agency said it has sent investigators to St. John’s, Newfoundland, from where the Polar Prince set sail, “to gather information, conduct interviews, and assess the occurrence.” “In the coming days, we will coordinate our activities with other agencies involved,” it added in a statement. The post Canada probing Titan’s deadly implosion appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Mayor Chan: Sending cops to Negros Oriental can help maintain peace, order in CV
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Philippines — Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan said that sending some of the city’s policemen to Negros Oriental would help maintain peace and order not only there but in the whole region as well. “Andam ra gyud ang Lapu-Lapu nga motabang ug mosuporta sa maong gipahigayon nga temporary nga pag-assign sa atong […] The post Mayor Chan: Sending cops to Negros Oriental can help maintain peace, order in CV appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Calbayog mayor’s slay: Judge inhibits self
The Supreme Court will have to assign a new judge to handle the trial of nine policemen indicted in the killing of Calbayog mayor Ronaldo Aquino and three other persons in March last year......»»
DILG chief urges LGUs to assign reps in drug raids
TACLOBAN CITY - Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. has urged local government units (LGUs) to assign a representative to serve as a mandatory witness in raids against illegal drugs.Abalos said several drug-related cases had been dismissed bec.....»»
John Lloyd pinayuhan ni Iya: Ginalingan mo kasi masyado, pars, ayan tuloy…
Sa segment nilang “SMS” o “Short Message sa Sikat” naatasan sina Iya, Camille at ang mga celebrity guests nilang sina Mike Tan ng “Nagbabagang Luha” at Zonia Mejia ng “Heartful Café” na magbigay ng maikling mensahe sa mga artistang maa-assign sa kanila. Unang natanong si Zonia kung ano ang advice niya kay Miss Universe Philippines […] The post John Lloyd pinayuhan ni Iya: Ginalingan mo kasi masyado, pars, ayan tuloy… appeared first on Bandera......»»
Assign COVID-19 marshals in public transport – lawmaker
To ensure strict compliance with health protocols in public transportation, a House leader wants marshals to be deployed in buses, trains and jeepneys which tend to load passengers beyond the limit during rush hour......»»
Khalil namahagi ng regalo sa mga pasyente ng PCMC; fans pipili ng mga bida sa BL series na ‘Pa-Mine Pare’
NAG-SHARE ng kanyang blessings ang Kapuso singer-actor na si Khalil Ramos sa Philippine Children’s Medical Center o PCMC. Kahit tapos na ang kanyang kaarawan, inihabol pa rin ng binata ang kanyang tulong at suporta para sa mga kababayan nating nangangailangan at sa mga bayaning frontliners na naka-assign sa PCMC at patuloy na naglalaan ng kanilang […] The post Khalil namahagi ng regalo sa mga pasyente ng PCMC; fans pipili ng mga bida sa BL series na ‘Pa-Mine Pare’ appeared first on Bandera......»»
DILG wants impartiality in road clearing assessment
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Friday issued a directive mandating local government units (LGUs) to exercise impartiality when evaluating compliance with road clearing operations as the Feb. 15 deadline is approaching. In a memorandum, Interior Undersecretary Bernardo Florece Jr. directed DILG regional offices not to assign validation […] The post DILG wants impartiality in road clearing assessment appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Duque to mall operators: Assign social distance monitors
As people start to flock to malls for Christmas shopping, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III urged mall operators to assign individuals who will monitor public compliance with physical distancing protocols......»»