DOTr chief assures Libreng Sakay to continue till December
MANILA - Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista on Thursday assured the public that the "Libreng Sakay" (free ride) program along the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (Edsa) Busway will continue at least until December 31 this year.In an interview during the launch of the new Roxas Boulevard S.....»»
PhilHealth’s Statement: Update on Temporary System Downtime
PhilHealth issued an official statement on temporary system downtime. Here's the full statement: OFFICIAL STATEMENT UPDATE ON TEMPORARY SYSTEM DOWNTIME September 23, 2023, as of 8:00 PM In view of the information security incident that we detected early morning of September 22, 2023, please be apprised that access to all systems including the website, HCI and Member Portal, and e-Claims were disabled or unplugged immediately as part of the information security containment measures being implemented by PhilHealth. Affected systems shall be restored at the soonest possible time after the completion of the needed configuration and reinforcement of existing information security measures. We are working to restore these systems on Monday, September 25, 2023. PhilHealth’s Management assures the public that the incident is under control and that no personal information and medical information has been compromised or leaked. We have already coordinated with the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT), National Privacy Commission (NPC), Cybercrime Units of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to conduct forensic investigation and assessment. In the meantime, the following procedures shall be observed in the interim until the affected systems are restored: Members and their qualified dependents shall continually be entitled to the benefits of the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) with the submission to accredited healthcare providers a photocopy of the member’s PhilHealth Identification Card (PIC) or Member Data Record (MDR) or any identified acceptable supporting documents. Self-earning individuals and professionals paying their premium contributions may pay directly to PhilHealth’s existing Accredited Collecting Agents with over-the-counter payments. Accredited healthcare facilities are advised to continue deducting PhilHealth benefits and devise temporary arrangements with patients who are for discharge for them to avail of their benefits. Note: The rule on the filing of claims is covered by the previous Advisory on PhilHealth System Optimization wherein the filing period is extended to another 60 days for claims covering June 01, 2023 to September 30, 2023. Employers may submit their reports once the Electronic Premium Remittance System (EPRS) has been restored Meanwhile, PhilHealth continues its operations and processes transactions that can be done manually while configurations are ongoing. PhilHealth asks for the public’s understanding regarding this untoward incident. Further inquiries may be coursed through the PhilHealth Callback Channel at 0917-8987442, the PhilHealth Official Facebook Page @PhilHealthOfficial, or at any PhilHealth Regional and Local Health Insurance Offices. (Sgd.) EMMANUEL R. LEDESMA, JR. President and Chief Executive Officer The post PhilHealth’s Statement: Update on Temporary System Downtime appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Only 30% passes PNP entrance exams
A total of 11,363 or 30.01 percent of the 37,859 examinees hurdled the police examinations conducted by the National Police Commission last 17 to 18 June in 30 designated testing centers nationwide. The announcement came after the Napolcom En Banc issued Resolution No. 2023-1056, dated 18 September 2023, approving and authorizing the release of the results of the PNP Entrance and Promotional Examinations. The total number of passers is distributed, as follows: 5,641 passers of the PNPE Examination representing 20.21 percent of the 27,908 PNPE examinees, and the combined 5,722 passers constituting 57.50 percent of the 9,951 in-service police officers who took the PNP Promotional Examinations. The 5,722 police officers who successfully passed the promotional examinations per category are broken down, as follows: Police Officer 1st Class Examination for Police Major and Police Lieutenant Colonel (60 passers); Police Officer 2nd Class Examination for Police Lieutenant and Police Captain (231 passers); Police Officer 3rd Class Examination for Police Master Sergeant, Police Senior Master Sergeant, Police Chief Master Sergeant and Police Executive Master Sergeant (3,099 passers); and Police Officer 4th Class Examination for Police Corporal and Police Staff Sergeant (2,332 passers). The eligibility conferred upon passing the PNPE Examination is one of the requirements for appointment in the PNP as a Patrolman/Patrolwoman, while passing the corresponding promotional examination is a requirement for promotion to a higher rank. The Napolcom assures the public of its readiness, through its Police Examination System, to detect and address examination anomalies using answer pattern analysis, and thereby warns examinees to refrain from committing any form of irregularity, such as cheating, impersonation, perjury, or violation of examination rules, otherwise, they shall be sanctioned with perpetual disqualification from taking future Napolcom examinations. The list of successful examinees will be posted at the Napolcom One-Stop Shop, 7th Floor, Napolcom Central Office located at DILG-Napolcom Center, Napolcom Building, EDSA corner Quezon Avenue, West Triangle, Quezon City and can be viewed at the Napolcom website at www.napolcom.gov.ph. Individual Certificate of Eligibility or Report of Rating will be sent by mail to all examinees. Certification of successful examinees may be issued upon request by the Napolcom Central and Regional Offices. The post Only 30% passes PNP entrance exams appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
NAPOLCOM: Only 30% pass the PNP Entrance Exam
A total of 11,363 or 30.01 percent of the 37,859 examinees hurdled the police examinations conducted by the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) last 17-18 June 2023 in 30 designated testing centers nationwide. The announcement came after the NAPOLCOM En Banc issued Resolution No. 2023-1056, dated September 18, 2023, approving and authorizing the release of the results of the PNP Entrance (PNPE) and Promotional Examinations. The total number of passers is distributed, as follows: 5,641 passers of the PNPE Examination representing 20.21% of the 27,908 PNPE examinees, and the combined 5,722 passers constituting 57.50% of the 9,951 in-service police officers who took the PNP Promotional Examinations. The 5,722 police officers who successfully passed the promotional examinations per category are broken down, as follows: Police Officer 1st Class Examination for Police Major and Police Lieutenant Colonel (60 passers); Police Officer 2nd Class Examination for Police Lieutenant and Police Captain (231 passers); Police Officer 3rd Class Examination for Police Master Sergeant, Police Senior Master Sergeant, Police Chief Master Sergeant and Police Executive Master Sergeant (3,099 passers); and Police Officer 4th Class Examination for Police Corporal and Police Staff Sergeant (2,332 passers). The eligibility conferred upon passing the PNPE Examination is one of the requirements for appointment in the PNP as a Patrolman/Patrolwoman, while passing the corresponding promotional examination is a requirement for promotion to a higher rank. The NAPOLCOM assures the public of its readiness, through its Police Examination System, to detect and address examination anomalies using answer pattern analysis, and thereby warns examinees to refrain from committing any form of irregularity, such as cheating, impersonation, perjury, or violation of examination rules, otherwise, they shall be sanctioned with perpetual disqualification from taking future NAPOLCOM examinations. The list of successful examinees will be posted at the NAPOLCOM One-Stop Shop (NOSS), 7th Floor, NAPOLCOM Central Office located at DILG-NAPOLCOM Center, NAPOLCOM Building, EDSA corner Quezon Avenue, West Triangle, Quezon City and can be viewed at the NAPOLCOM website at www.napolcom.gov.ph. Individual Certificate of Eligibility or Report of Rating will be sent by mail to all examinees. Certification of successful examinees may be issued upon request by the NAPOLCOM Central and Regional Offices. The post NAPOLCOM: Only 30% pass the PNP Entrance Exam appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Sara assures poll teachers’safety
Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte has assured the safety of teachers serving in the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections. This after the Department of Education, the Commission on Elections, and the Public Attorney’s Office signed a memorandum of agreement Monday afternoon. “We hope that teachers who will serve in the elections will be protected from harassment, intimidation, and other forms of threats to their lives,” Duterte said. The agreement will provide a system to ensure teachers serving as members of the Electoral Board and other DepEd personnel involved in the electoral process will receive legal assistance. Anchored on the desire to fully implement the provisions of Republic Act 10756 or the Election Service Reform Act, the memorandum of agreement was signed by Duterte, Comelec chair George Erwin Garcia, and PAO chief Persida Acosta at the Comelec office in Palacio del Gobernador in Intramuros. Teachers tasked to serve during the elections expose themselves and their families to the dangers of being intimidated, harassed, or even killed, as violence often flares up between warring politicians. Despite these, teachers continue to serve in the elections out of their commitment, courage, and love of the country, Duterte said. “This is purely because of their love of country,” she said. The Vice President emphasized the important role of teachers in the successful conduct of the elections, calling them the frontline government representatives who will ensure the smooth flow of the election process. “We owe them our gratitude, assistance, protection, and legal support,” she said. Duterte also called on the Comelec to release the allowances of teachers serving in the elections on time. Duterte was grateful to the Comelec and PAO for the initiative that showed their concern for the safety and welfare of teachers. The post Sara assures poll teachers’safety appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DSWD chief assures fire-hit family of aid
Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian over the weekend met with the family whose three members died from the fire that gutted a garments shop in Tandang Sora, Quezon City. Gatchalian extended personal financial assistance to the family and assured them that they could also expect additional aid from the DSWD as they go through this difficult time. The family hails from Rizal, Mindoro Occidental, and was accompanied by Rizal Mayor Sonny Pablo during their visit to the DSWD Central office in Quezon City. During the meeting, Secretary Gatchalian and Mayor Pablo discussed ways to further assist the bereaved family. The post DSWD chief assures fire-hit family of aid appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PBBM assures strict implementation of rice price ceiling
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday assured the public that the government would strictly implement the price ceiling on rice, which was set at P41 per kilogram for regular-milled rice and P45 per kilogram for well-milled rice. In a media interview in Palawan, Marcos said that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Department of Justice (DOJ) will be the lead agencies in monitoring the implementation of the price ceiling. "We have put together a structure for the continuing monitoring," Marcos said. "These agencies already have regular inspections when it comes to other issues, so they will now apply the price ceilings that I have ordered in the EO that I signed yesterday." For context, the Chief Executive, through Executive Order No. 39, has imposed price limits on rice across the country in response to what Malacañang has described as an "alarming" increase in the retail price of the national staple, exceeding P60 per kilogram. Marcos said that the government will focus its efforts on Metro Manila, where the problem of rising rice prices is most acute. However, he urged the public to report any retailers who are selling rice above the price ceiling to the police, the DA, the DTI, or their local government. "If you find someone selling rice above the price ceiling, please report it," Marcos said. "We need your help to ensure that everyone has access to affordable rice." The price ceiling on rice was set in response to the recent surge in rice prices. As of 28 August, the average price of regular milled rice in Metro Manila was P42 per kilogram, while the average price of well-milled rice was P48 per kilogram. The price ceiling is expected to help ease the burden of rising rice prices on consumers, especially the poor and vulnerable. However, it remains to be seen how effective the price ceiling will be in preventing retailers from selling rice above the set price. The post PBBM assures strict implementation of rice price ceiling appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Empowering Filipinos with inclusive next-generation technology
Over the past decade, the telecom industry has disrupted our lives more than the century that preceded them. The advancement in telecom technology has transformed all industries, with economic fundamentals shifting to adapt to the mobility and digitally connected lifestyle. Indeed there is no limit to what can be connected, the size of the connection, or even the services provided in the connected world. There is no limit to what the connected experience demands. "While we embrace the power of technology, we also recognize the significance of making these advancements accessible to all. Inclusivity is the driving force behind our innovation as we strive to empower individuals and communities with our transformative mobile and broadband solutions," said Evelyn Jimenez, DITO Telecommunity chief commercial officer, at the launch of their latest products DITO Mobile Postpaid FLEXPlans and DITO Home UNLI 5G WIFI. She said the rollout aims to empower all Filipinos and telecommunities by giving them access to affordable high-speed 5G connectivity. DITO is also making its presence felt after OpenSignal, an independent mobile analytics company, awarded DITO multiple noteworthy awards in their latest report: Upload Speed Experience, Availability, Excellent Consistent Quality, and Core Consistent Quality. DITO even dislodged Smart Communications from the top spot in the Excellent Consistent Quality category after scoring a record-breaking 58.8 percent versus Smart's 56.7 percent. Moreover, on Core Consistent Quality, DITO soared to a 79.9 percent rating, knocking-off Globe Telecom, from the top spot, only registered 77.7 percent. Incidentally, DITO's Upload Speed has also risen remarkably, with a score of 5.2Mbps. At the same time, the Availability Award they received recognized DITO for providing a robust and reliable network connection in places where people commonly go, allowing users to access DITO's network and stay connected easily. All these accolades in just their 2nd year of operations are a breakthrough achievement for the people's fave new telco, DITO Telecommunity. Postpaid plan for everyone DITO Mobile Postpaid FLEXPlans, the telco provider's newest mobile service, gives every Filipino a chance to upgrade to postpaid. Customers can choose from affordable and flexible SIM-Only Plans (with a locked-in period of 6 months) or Handset Plans (with a locked-in period of 24 months). For as low as P588 a month, Filipino customers can enjoy the benefits of DITO Mobile Postpaid, such as generous data allocation, data rollover, UNLI all-net calls and texts, premium handset offerings, and a bonus Prime Video subscription for 12 months. For Handset Plans, DITO partnered with Samsung for premium yet affordable phones that customers can choose from. Samsung Galaxy A02 is accessible for all plans, Samsung Galaxy A04 is free for FLEXPlan 888, while Samsung Galaxy A14 5G is free for FLEXPlan 1288. Samsung Galaxy S23 is also available with a corresponding cash-out requisite which can be viewed via this link dito.Ph/postpaid/handsets. Other Samsung handsets will also be available soon. DITO Postpaid plan customers are entitled to other FLEXible mobile service features such as Advance Pay, Mobile Number Portability, and Choose Your Number. Advance Pay allows SIM-Only Plan subscribers to make advance payments for their monthly subscription fees with a discount of up to 40 percent. It would also be good to note that customers can easily use Mobile Number Portability to carry over and keep their favorite Prepaid or Postpaid number as they switch to DITO Postpaid. They may also choose their number or purchase a vanity number for their new DITO postpaid plan. Customers using these features must apply for their DITO Mobile Postpaid FLEXPlans via DITO Experience Stores only for proper handling and servicing. To ensure the convenience of customers, DITO assures a fast and straightforward application process for their postpaid plans. Interested customers may apply for a DITO Mobile Postpaid FLEXPlan through the DITO APP, DITO Experience Stores, and Device Retail Partner Stores nationwide (Rulls, MemoExpress, EC Panda). They need to bring the following: Proof of Identification (at least one valid government ID), Proof of Financial Capacity (For example Certificate of Employment, Credit Card Bill Statement, and the like), Proof of Billing that reflects the Customer's Address, and a selfie (for applications made via the DITO APP). "DITO wants all Filipinos to have equal opportunities to reach their digital aspirations. By introducing our DITO Mobile postpaid offerings, we want to break the notion that postpaid plans are too expensive and reserved for a select few. At DITO, we're proud to say that there's a postpaid plan for everyone," affirmed Jasper Evangelista, DITO director for Brand and Marketing. The post Empowering Filipinos with inclusive next-generation technology appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DSWD chief assures PBBM payout for 4Ps beneficiaries being expedited
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian has assured President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr that funds for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) would go to the intended recipients as the Department tries to speed up the reassessment of the 4Ps beneficiaries. In a press briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday (August 15), […].....»»
Vietnam deal assures Phl of stable rice supply — Romualdez
Cordial relations between the Philippines and Vietnam guarantee the former a stable rice supply at affordable prices. This was according to Speaker Martin Romualdez, who said Vuong Dinh Hue, President of the National Assembly of Vietnam, has vowed to supply the country with rice at low cost, upholding the pact between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh over rice trade. Romualdez met Hue during the 44th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly held in Jakarta. Vietnam, the world’s third-largest rice exporter, is the primary source of Philippine rice imports. The country is one of the biggest buyers of Vietnam. The farmers’ group Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. had warned that Filipinos should brace for a P4 per kilo increase in the retail price of rice until mid-September as a result of the rising cost of palay. Marcos had also expressed concern about the country’s rice supply in light of the widespread damage to farmlands caused recently by typhoon "Egay" and the threat posed by the El Nino phenomenon on rice production. India's export ban imposed on 20 July was likewise a threat to the country, considering it is the world’s largest rice exporter. The ban is expected to cause ripples in global rice prices that would affect millions of consumers, particularly in Africa and Asia. Vietnam's commitment to affordable rice supply, on the other hand, will give the Philippines relief. according to Romualdez. It would not only assist in bolstering the country's rice supply but would also mitigate potential spikes in the commodity's price amid possible shortages. The House chief assured Hue that the Philippines is keen to provide Vietnam with specific products and materials it may need to meet the demand of its industries or consumers. The post Vietnam deal assures Phl of stable rice supply — Romualdez appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PBBM assures public enough rice supply
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assured the public over the weekend that the country had enough rice supply and that the government was closely monitoring the National Food Authority (NFA) buffer stock ahead of El Niño and other expected calamities. In his latest vlog, the Chief Executive underscored that the country's rice supply is still enough after typhoons "Egay" and "Falcon", including the Southwest Monsoon (habagat) ravaged several parts of the country and damaged the agriculture sector. For context, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Sunday that the agriculture sector damage and losses due to inclement weather reached an estimated P2.9 billion. The latest situational data from the NDRRMC showed that the Department of Agriculture recorded billions worth of damages in the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Bangsamoro Region, and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR). "We have an ample supply of rice, and there is nothing to worry about," Marcos said. "Our farmers should expect that we won't be importing if the supply here in the Philippines is sufficient. Hopefully, you won't be worried. We have rice," he added. Marcos, who also heads the Department of Agriculture (DA), said the government is ensuring that the NFA increases its buffer stock for several reasons. The Chief Executive pointed out the increasing number of disasters in the Philippines and that other Southeast Asian countries needed to increase their rice supplies ahead of El Niño, expected to occur either late this year or early 2024. He added that other countries that export rice, such as India, have begun to restrict or halt their rice exports. "All of us are preparing for the El Niño. That's why the challenge is that everyone buys things all at once," Marcos said. "We are looking for our friends. Fortunately, I have met many of them during my travels, and we are now in communication. Perhaps, we might be allowed to import from them. However, we will only do so if the supply is not sufficient," he added. The post PBBM assures public enough rice supply appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
AFP assures only well-trained professionals to handle mandatory ROTC
The Armed Forces of the Philippines will make sure that the Reserve Officers' Training Corps will be implemented accordingly and professionally by well-trained military handlers, especially should it becomes mandatory, newly-designated AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., said Friday. In a chance interview with reporters, Brawner cited the cases of hazing and physical and verbal abuse as well as other malpractices related to the ROTC in the past; hence, the AFP is preparing for proper and relevant conduct of the program in the future. “We are going to do away with that, by making sure that we have a professional core of soldiers and officers who will take care, take charge and manage the new program of the ROTC so ‘yun yung gusto nating gawin (that’s what we wanted to do), that is why right now, we are already training our core of professionals, officers, enlisted personnel who will handle the ROTC,” he said. “Ayaw na natin maulit ‘yung nangyari noong nakaraang programa ng ROTC (We don’t want the old practices to happen again in the ROTC program).” While the AFP is still waiting for the legislation of the ROTC bill, Brawner said there are ongoing preparations already in place. “The way that I understand it, it will not be the Department of National Defense who will be the lead agency rather it will be DepEd. So but the implementation will be done by the Department of National Defense, particularly the Armed Forces of the Philippines. So on our part, we are now preparing,” he noted. ‘ “Looking at the past experience that we have in ROTC, there are abuses in the past.” Expressing his full support for the revival of mandatory ROTC, Brawner said it will prepare every Filipino youth not only to become soldiers “but to become good citizens” that are ready to fight “any challenge or any threat —whether it is man-made or natural calamities.” ROTC in the Philippines is currently being taken optional by tertiary students, through the NSTP STP Act of 2001, following the death of the University of Santo Tomas sophomore cadet Mark Welson Chua, who had exposed corruption in the university’s ROTC program. The bill seeking mandatory ROTC is currently being discussed in the Senate plenary. President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as well as vice-president and Education Secretary, Sara Duterte, earlier backed the revival of the program, making it mandatory for all Filipino students. The post AFP assures only well-trained professionals to handle mandatory ROTC appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PPA assures all-weather care of passengers
Philippine Ports Authority general manager Jay Santiago has directed all 25 Port Management Offices to take care of passengers affected by the El Niño phenomenon and monsoon season. “Since passengers” welfare remains to be our utmost priority, I instructed all the PMOs to make sure that we are able to immediately cater to the needs and concerns of the passengers. We provide porridge in public ports nationwide to ensure that waiting passengers have something to eat in case their trip is delayed or canceled,” Santiago said. The PPA chief also said that mobile phone charging and water refilling stations are also available for all passengers for free. During inclement weather, PPA closely works with the Philippine Coast Guard and local government units to ensure passenger safety at the ports, including the transport of passengers from ports to evacuation centers. “Apart from precautionary measures in place at ports during inclement weather, we would also like to ask for understanding from the public at times that queues get longer than expected at ports since passengers and vessels accumulate within its vicinity when rough seas cause trip cancellations,” Santiago said. Aside from ensuring functional generator sets for emergency use during power outages, PPA PMOs regularly inspect their facilities to guarantee proper maintenance and good working condition of all its equipment, he added. Meanwhile, PPA promptly initiated rehabilitation works to facilities damaged by typhoons. The post PPA assures all-weather care of passengers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BI assures enough manpower at departure area
Amid concerns over the crowding at the airport’s immigration departure area, the Bureau of Immigration assured the public Thursday that it has enough staff to assist those who will fly out of Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. In his statement, BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said that the immigration booths in NAIA 3 are always fully manned as the bureau has already beefed up the number of BI officers deployed at the premiere port. Tansingco added that although their manpower at the airport is more than enough, these long queues of passengers could not be avoided due to many factors, foremost of which is the recent transfer of several airlines from NAIA 1 to NAIA 3 that resulted from the impending shutdown of international flight operations at NAIA 2. The BI chief disclosed that the recent transfer to NAIA 3 of China Southern Airlines, Gulf Air, Jeju Air, Thai Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Jetstar, Starlux and Scoot has caused a 10-percent increase in the average number of passengers who depart from NAIA 3 daily. Tansingco also attributed the congestion problem at NAIA 3 to other factors, such as limited space, flight delays and diversions caused by bad weather, and the frequent declaration of lighting alerts that result in the simultaneous disembarkation of passengers from affected flights. “We are constantly coordinating our efforts with the Manila International Airport Authority in seeking the best solution to address this perennial problem of overcrowding in our immigration areas at the NAIA,” the BI chief added. “Among these are the installation of additional BI counters and expanding the space of our departure area.” He reiterated that the BI has already addressed its previous problem of manpower shortage in light of the continuous hiring by the bureau of new immigration inspectors. “In fact, due to the augmentation of our manpower, we have granted the request of our airport terminal heads outside Metro Manila, such as those in Clark, Mactan, and Davao, by reassigning immigration officers to their turfs, Tansingco said. The post BI assures enough manpower at departure area appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Marcos assures SSS, GSIS funds won’t be used as MIF seed fund
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday assured the public that the national government would not use state pension funds Social Security System and Government Service Insurance System as "seed fund" to finance the proposed Maharlika Investment Fund. The Chief Executive said this in an interview with reporters after he attended the 86th-anniversary celebration of GSIS, hours after the Senate passed Senate Bill No. 2020 creating the MIF. The Senate approved the controversial sovereign fund bill, voting 19-1-1 at around 12:30 in the morning following 12 hours of deliberations. However, Marcos explained that the pension funds themselves could invest in the proposed sovereign wealth fund if they believe it is a "good investment." "We will not use it as a seed fund. However, if a pension fund decides the Maharlika Fund is a good investment, it's up to them if they want to invest in it, not only pension funds but corporations," Marcos said. "Those funds - that's all they do, they grow their money so they have something to give," Marcos added. Marcos said this is what GSIS have been doing. He said GSIS is making sure that "they are very solid (and) that they are very stable" so that they would give out all the payments. "We have to differentiate those two things," he added. In a separate media interview, GSIS President Jose Arnulfo “Wick” Veloso said that they would only abide with the lawmakers' decision regarding the MIF. "I don't have any idea about what other discussions are happening about those things. We will only do one thing, whatever the decision of the lawmakers is because they listen to our people, whatever they want, that's what we will follow," Veloso told the reporters. "So we are just guided by the direction that is given to us,” he added. Economic team lauds Senate for passing MIF bill Meanwhile, Marcos' economic team lauded the Senate for passing the Maharlika Investment Fund. "The economic team commends Senate President Senator (Juan Miguel) Migz Zubiri and Senator Mark Villar for their thorough deliberation and prioritization of the proposed Maharlika Investment Fund Act," Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said. "The Senate leadership has pulled out all the stops to ensure that the bill we bring to the President reflects the administration's objective of creating a profitable and secure investment fund," he added. The bill's speedy approval was backed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Finance Secretary Diokno, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Felipe M. Medalla, who were all present and seated during the prolonged session. Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, for her part, said the Senate's version of the MIF has "multiple" safeguards against potential misuse. "This is a great stride towards our long-term progress and will boost our efforts for economic growth," Pangandaman said. "This includes multiple safeguards— we have an audit committee, there's an advisory board, and there's a congressional oversight committee. It adheres to the internationally-known Santiago principles, there's (Commission on Audit), and it has (a) procurement law, so I think we have enough safeguards," Pangandaman added. Pangandaman additionally highlighted the Landbank of the Philippines, the Development Bank of the Philippines, income from privatization, funds from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, and dividends obtained from the central bank as potential financial resources. The post Marcos assures SSS, GSIS funds won’t be used as MIF seed fund appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PNP chief assures PAO lawyers of their safety
Acknowledging their role as public defenders, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. assured lawyers of the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) of their safety from threats, even from police officers......»»
Mandaue City HUDO assures Brgy Looc fire victims of temporary housing
MANDAUE CITY, Philippines – The head of the Housing Urban and Development Office (HUDO) in Mandaue City assures fire victims in Barangay Looc that they will be transferred to the temporary housing located behind the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC). HUDO Chief Lawyer Johnbee Biton, said that the 120 units that are currently constructed and […] The post Mandaue City HUDO assures Brgy Looc fire victims of temporary housing appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
PRO-7 chief assures Lapu-Lapu mayor: More cops to secure city streets
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Philippines — More policemen will secure the streets of Lapu-Lapu City this holiday season. Police Brigadier General Jerry Fornaleza Bearis, Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) director, assured Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan during the police officer’s courtesy call to the Lapu-Lapu mayor on Dec. 23, 2022. During their casual chat, […] The post PRO-7 chief assures Lapu-Lapu mayor: More cops to secure city streets appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Quick Take: Finance chief Diokno assures peso s 'recovery' and 2 more market updates
Maybe Mr. Diokno is having a hard time getting used to his new desk (he was the BSP Governor during the Duterte years)......»»
DOTr chief assures Libreng Sakay to continue till December
MANILA - Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista on Thursday assured the public that the "Libreng Sakay" (free ride) program along the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (Edsa) Busway will continue at least until December 31 this year.In an interview during the launch of the new Roxas Boulevard S.....»»
Araneta in tip-top shape 2 days before world title eliminator — trainer
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Omega Boxing Gym chief trainer Julius Erving Junco assures Filipino boxing fans that his prized ward, Christian “The Bomb” Araneta is in tip-top shape two days before the latter’s second world title eliminator bout versus African Sevinathi Nontshinga on April 24, 2021 (April 25 in Manila) in South Africa. In an […] The post Araneta in tip-top shape 2 days before world title eliminator — trainer appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»