Duterte to call for special session for Bayanihan 2
Duterte to call for special session for Bayanihan 2.....»»
Bong Go honored with Gawad Pagkilala Award at San Mateo’s 451st Founding Anniversary
On the 451st Founding Anniversary of San Mateo, Rizal, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go was honored with the Gawad Pagkilala Award at the Municipal Stadium on September 21, in recognition of his significant contributions to the community. In his speech, Go extended his gratitude to the residents of San Mateo for their warm welcome, saying, “Sa araw na ito, sa pagdiriwang ng ika-451 na anibersaryo ng pagkakatatag ng San Mateo, Rizal, ako po ay lubos na nagagalak na maging bahagi ng makasaysayang okasyon na ito.” "Nais kong magpasalamat sa inyong lahat, sa mga kababayan ko dito sa San Mateo, sa mainit na pagtanggap at pagsalubong sa amin sa inyong bayan. Salamat rin sa parangal na iginawad ninyo sa akin. With or without award ay patuloy lang akong magseserbisyo sa aking mga kapwa Pilipino sa abot ng aking makakaya,” he added. Go then emphasized the importance of unity and cooperation in the progress of the community. "Ang bayanihan ay hindi lamang simpleng kataga, ito ay isinasabuhay natin at ito ang nagpapalakas sa ating komunidad, at nagbibigay inspirasyon sa ating lahat upang magkasama tayo sa pagharap ng mga pagsubok at hamon," he stated. Go also lauded the local government led by Mayor Bartolome Rivera for their service to the community, saying, "Nais kong bigyan ng papuri ang aking mga kapwa lingkod-bayan, sa inyong walang sawang serbisyong ibinibigay sa inyong bayan.” Go extended further support to residents who may need medical assistance from the government. Go mentioned that there are Malasakit Centers in the province that they can reach out to if they need support with their medical-related expenses. “Sa mga pasyente, lapitan niyo lang ang Malasakit Center dahil para ‘to sa inyo. Kung may hospital bill kayo, nandiyan ang mga ahensya ng gobyerno na tutulong para mabayaran ito,” said Go. A brainchild of Go, the Malasakit Centers program is designed to help ensure that indigent patients have convenient access to the medical assistance programs offered by partner agencies. Go is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program. Currently, there are 159 operational centers that have assisted more than seven million Filipinos nationwide, according to the Department of Health. In Rizal, the Malasakit Centers are located at Antipolo City Hospital System Annex IV, Casimiro A. Ynares Sr. Memorial Hospital in Rodriguez, Bagong Cainta Municipal Hospital, and Margarito A. Duavit Memorial Hospital in Binangonan. On the same day, Go also personally attended the Super Health Center groundbreaking ceremony in the town. The event was also attended by local officials, including Governor Nina Ricci Ynares, Mayor Rivera, Vice Mayor Jaime Romel Roxas, and Municipal Health Officer Dr. Nyl Jarem Amorsolo, among others. Super Health Centers shall provide convenient access for basic healthcare delivery, offering a wide range of medical services to communities. These Super Health Centers provide services such as database management, outpatient care, birthing facilities, isolation units, diagnostic services (including laboratory, X-ray, and ultrasound), pharmacies, and ambulatory surgical units. Additional services include eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) care, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation centers, as well as telemedicine for remote diagnosis and treatment. Aside from San Mateo, more Super Health Centers are funded across Rizal, including two in Antipolo City and one of each in Binangonan, Jala-Jala, Rodriguez, San Mateo, Taytay, Tanay, Angono, Cainta, and Cardona. Moreover, the senator also shared that he is the principal sponsor and one of the authors of the recently passed Republic Act 11959 or the Regional Specialty Centers Act. The said law mandates the establishment of Regional Specialty Centers within existing DOH regional hospitals. Meanwhile, as an adopted son of CALABARZON, Go assured the residents of his continued support. "Ako naman po bilang inyong Senator Kuya Bong Go at bilang adopted son ng CALABARZON, asahan niyo patuloy akong tutulong sa inyong pag-asenso sa abot ng aking makakaya," he said. "Sa pagbibigay ng oportunidad sa ating mga mamamayan, patuloy nating pinatutunayan na ang pagtutulungan at pagkakaisa ay isang epektibong daan patungo sa ating pagbangon muli mula sa mga pagsubok na ating hinaharap,” he added. Go concluded his speech with a call for continued unity and compassion for others, saying "Nawa'y magtuloy-tuloy ang inyong pag-unlad. Nawa'y patuloy tayong magkaisa, magtulungan, at magbayanihan upang maging inspirasyon sa iba't ibang komunidad sa buong bansa.” The post Bong Go honored with Gawad Pagkilala Award at San Mateo’s 451st Founding Anniversary appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Nina Lim-Yuson — A lifetime of girl scouting
The president of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines, Nina Lim-Yuson, grew up in a family and home of Girl Scouts. Her grandmother, Pilar Hidalgo-Lim, was one of the co-founders of the GSP. “It was actually my Lola Pilar who suggested to Josefa Llanes Escoda, the GSP founder, to go to America to learn about girl scouting.” This tidbit of history, Nina shared in an online interview with the DAILY TRIBUNE. Pilar Hidalgo-Lim became GSP president, and so did Nina’s mother, Estefania Aldaba-Lim, who served as secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Nina’s sister too, the eminent broadcast journalist, Cheche Lazaro, was a Girl Scout. Coming from a lineage of women achievers, Nina could not have chosen a different path. It was scouting that formally introduced the family to social responsibility, skills development and citizenship. Her brothers were also Boy Scouts. “I started when I was six years old and it was my Lola Pilar who inducted me as a Brownie. It used to be called Brownie because we were still using the American pattern,” she related. She belonged to Troop Number One, the first to be organized by the GSP national headquarters. In high school at the Jose Abad Santos Memorial School of the Philippine Women’s University, she became a junior and later a senior Girl Scout. College would briefly end her Girl Scouting as she focused on her studies. Along the way, she also danced with the Bayanihan Folk Dance Company. It was not unexpected that she would return to scouting, her first love, and her first extra-curricular activity. For the last 36 years, she has been active in various organizations and volunteer work. She founded the Museong Pambata. She is a recipient of The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service and is active in its various social development efforts. What Nina brings to her post is the legacy of leadership that had been passed on to her through generations of women leaders in the family. “My Lola Pilar was my idol. She was such a nice person and I never knew her totally as a president. I knew her more as a loving lola from all the stories she related when we rode up to Baguio. “My mother, on the other hand, was the opposite. She was very career-minded. I learned naman from her a lot of things, like being thrifty and having a list of things to do. In terms of organization, she was like that. Because she was in government. And, you know, when we started Museo, while it was actually my concept, I learned a lot from her. She would call me up at 5 o’clock in the morning and she would rattle off what needed to be done, like ‘number one, number two and so on.’ That was her. And I’m glad that I worked with her for six years in Museo. She was the president and I was the executive director for six years. I took over in 2000 as president and chief executive officer. And then, I stepped down in 2017.” Girl Scouts who read and tell stories Nina was elected president of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines for the term 2021-2024 during its 2021 national convention. From day one, she shared, “My purpose was to reach out to the community-based troops because we have always been school-based. Many young women now have social problems so we need to reach out to the communities through our community-based troops.” Also on top of her priorities is literacy development, a cause that she addressed even in the Museo Pambata. She explained, “My advocacy has always been education. So, I was very concerned because the Asian Development Bank reported in 2022 that the World Bank found out that our Filipino children at ages 9 and 10 cannot read. So, I felt that because girl scouting is all over the country, with 96 local councils, the organization could serve as a vehicle for improving literacy in our country. “We started the Girl Scout Storyteller project because storytelling affects the heart first before the mind. When young people start with storytelling, they will love the stories and then the written word. They would then want to read. “We now have storytelling in economically challenged communities and we have partners. We sent out 2,500 books throughout the country with the help of our partner couriers.” Initially, she sought the help of her family foundation “to give a donation. I also sought the help of Ging Montinola, who is into literacy development. Together, we founded the literacy program. We are building this fund to cover the cost of buying children’s books. We will have a storytelling contest next year.” Raising funds for Camp Escoda Nina then shifted the conversation to another major endeavor that she is spearheading as GSP president — fundraising for the 27-hectare Camp Josefa Llanes Escoda in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija, which was donated by the provincial government during the term of Governor Amado Aleta, the father of consul and civic leader Fortune Ledesma. “Palayan is beautiful because it has rolling hills, but it doesn’t have electrical and water facilities and roadworks. It doesn’t have a swimming pool, and it’s so hot in Nueva Ecija. It also does not have a conference hall. This is a big one-time fundraising project because it’s for the future of the girls who are going to the camp. Because as of now, if you go camping there, you have to walk up the hills to get your drinking water. You have to make buhos to take a bath.” She recalled, “In my time as a young Girl Scout, which was of another era, we had to walk in the dark to fetch water to fill up two drums. I was so scared because there were tuko in Los Baños. That taught me to be courageous. Camps really build up your lifetime skills and attitude. Camping is very integral in girl scouting and boy scouting. So, this camp will serve a purpose. It just needs various basic facilities to make it world-class and convenient with the proper amenities, but the girls will continue to learn all those survival techniques and appreciate nature right on the camp.” She praised architect Pippo Carunungan, “who is an environmental planner. He surveyed the site and drew up everything. It will be a beautiful camp, he said, because it’s a gift of nature.” First Lady as Chief Girl Scout Nina recently led the Girl Scouts in a fundraising ball attended by the “First Lady, Liza Araneta-Marcos, who is our Chief Girl Scout. It’s mandated in the GSP constitution that whoever is the female president of the country or the First Lady is the Chief Girl Scout. In the past, we had Imelda Marcos, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. All the first ladies were all Chief Girl Scouts. “Mrs. Liza Marcos spoke before us and she promised to help. She said, ‘We will make it the best campsite.’ Everyone was excited to see her and she obliged everyone who asked to have selfie with her. She is very friendly. She is really a Girl Scout.” Nina shared, “A generous couple is sponsoring the swimming pool at P6 million, while a gentleman entrepreneur is sponsoring the perimeter fence at P1.5 million. Many other businessmen and leaders have pledged to help build this dream GSP project. “We really need to raise about 50 million to have a very good camp. But when the First Lady heard about it, she said, ‘It has to be P250 million.’ But, really, when we have the funds, we can have deep toilets that have running water instead of tabo-tabo. Since we have a little Pampanga river that runs across the camp, we can build a bridge that crosses it and then the girls can have white-water rafting there in the Pampanga river. “Camp Escoda will be a very important and significant venue for our Girl Scouts to gather, bond, learn new skills and develop as morally upright citizens of the country and the world. It is especially so because camping is integral in any Girl Scout’s life. If you don’t have camping, it’s like half of your scouting life is missing. Every Girl Scout remembers that time of her youth. And being the national camp, it will welcome Girl Scouts representing the 96 councils from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao who will participate in various events and trainings.” Girl Scouts of all ages As GSP president, Nina travels to various parts of the country. “We have regional conferences aside from the meeting of the Central Board when regional heads and executives come to Manila. “I had just come from Baguio where I stayed for two-and-a-half days. I met our young Girl Scout representatives from ages 14 to 18. I enjoyed listening to them and exchanging ideas with them. I am so happy that we have a wealth of intelligent girls who want to serve the country. They are the ones who are going to take over. “It’s amazing that GSP is no longer limited to old people on the board. We finally have young ones on the board. Our Escoda committee is headed by Jade Delgado from Iloilo. Then we have Justine Bautista. She’s a psychometrician. She heads the Program Committee, which is a big committee because when we were in Baguio, we had 86 girls from all the councils throughout the country. Many of them are running for SK. “So, in my 70s now, which I don’t feel at all, I don’t take any medicines or something like that. Being with young people is what inspires me. Because at 15, 16 or 17, they already know that they have some kind of a mission.” Nina proudly shared that the venue of the Baguio conference, 'Ating Tahanan' on the South Drive was bought during the tenure of my Lola Pilar. We have four buildings there, including the houses of Senator and actor Rogelio de la Rosa and Carlos Valdes, the accountant. Lola Pilar, according to Carlos Valdes, twisted his arm to get a low price. I’m so thankful for all those who preceded me because they bought these places. It’s on South Drive which is so valuable. We even have a reserved forest behind us.” As she looks forward to the next camping and gets even busier raising funds for Camp Escoda, Nina feels elated that “every one of us in the Girl Scouts has been together in our various undertakings. The nice thing is we are now intergenerational because we try to bring in the old with experience, institutional memory and their wisdom born of their long life, and the young who are full of enthusiasm, energy and new ideas.” A star scout for a granddaughter While Nina does her part for the bright future of girl scouting in the country, her personal family too has not stopped contributing to the roster of members to this worldwide organization. Today, a granddaughter of hers, seven-year-old Rocio Yuson de Guzman, is a Star Scout. She is the daughter of Nina’s daughter, Nicky. No grandmother could have been prouder. Nina said, “Rufio loves being a star scout. When I arrived from the recent world conference in Cyprus, I came back with some badges and I gave some to Rufio who is very proud of the little badges that I got for her.” For sure, Nina will pass on not just the badges to Rufio. More importantly, she will give her granddaughter the once-in-one’s-childhood experience of being a Girl Scout and learning “the values that are identified in the Girl Scout Promise and Laws. I think that while there is so much to enjoy and learn, it is the inculcation of these values that would mold her into a well-rounded human being. As we all know, a Girl Scout’s honor is to be trusted. A Girl Scout is loyal, thrifty, courteous… and so on. It’s like a mantra -- the values that one lives by. “I have reached that point when it is not about success or what one accumulates in life, whether awards or accomplishments or material things. It is more about what I can share and scouting gives me that honor and privilege — to do my part in helping mold our young girls and making them aware even at an early age that they have a mission and worthy purpose in life. It is not just about being good and outstanding on your own but it is also about helping others to become better in what they’re doing and live better lives. “And I need not look far. As a grandmother, I dote on my Star Scout granddaughter, Rufio. There’s a world out there for her to discover and in which she has a role to play and use the skills and values she will learn from scouting.” The post Nina Lim-Yuson — A lifetime of girl scouting appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Barangay at Kalinisan Day’ launched Saturday
Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos on Thursday urged all 42,027 barangays and the public to join the national launching of “Barangay at Kalinisan Day” (BarKaDa) on Saturday, 16 September. Abalos said this is in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s call for bayanihan. BarKaDa is a nationwide community-based clean-up drive program, geared to maintain and provide a healthy and safe environment and prevent the spread of diseases through proper solid waste management. Simultaneous BarKaDa activities will be held in 29 esteros and creeks in the Cities of Manila, Quezon, Caloocan, Pasig, Las Piñas, Mandaluyong, San Juan, and Pasay. In Memorandum Circular 2023-133, Abalos urged barangays to pass an ordinance or resolution declaring one day of the week as BarKaDa, preferably every Saturday. During BarKaDa, barangays are expected to conduct coastal clean-up, dredge clogged waterways, prune thick bushes or branches, and dismantle breeding places of mosquitoes in coastal areas, waterways, creeks, public parks, roads, and other public spaces within their areas. The post ‘Barangay at Kalinisan Day’ launched Saturday appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DILG’s ‘Barangay at Kalinisan Day’ to be launched in NCR
Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abaloso on Thursday urged all 42,027 barangays and the public to join the national launching of “Barangay at Kalinisan Day” (BarKaDa) on Saturday, 16 September 2023. Abalos said this is in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s call for bayanihan. “Halina’t makiisa, halina’t maki-BarKaDa sa Sabado, September 16. Magtulong-tulong tayong linisin ang ating mga pamayanan para sa mas maayos at ligtas na kapaligiran,” Abalos said. BarKaDa is a nationwide community-based clean-up drive program, geared to maintain and provide a healthy and safe environment and prevent the spread of diseases through proper solid waste management. Simultaneous BarKaDa activities will be held in 29 esteros and creeks in the cities of Manila, Quezon , Caloocan, Pasig, Las Piñas, Mandaluyong, San Juan, and Pasay. In Memorandum Circular 2023-133, Abalos urged barangays to pass an ordinance or resolution declaring one day of the week as BarKaDa, preferably every Saturday. During BarKaDa, barangays are expected to conduct coastal clean-up, dredge clogged waterways, prune thick bushes or branches, and dismantle breeding places of mosquitoes in coastal areas, waterways, creeks, public parks, roads, and other public spaces within their areas. DENR coastal clean-up Also on Saturday (16 September), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources will conduct a separate cleanup activity in various sites in coastal areas in Metro Manila. The coastal cleanup day is in line with Presidential Proclamation No. 470 Series of 2003 declaring every 3rd Saturday of September as International Coastal Cleanup Day in observance of the Global Coastal Cleanup celebration. With a theme: "Clean Season for Healthy Fisheries" in harmony with the United Nations Decade of Oceans Science for Sustainable Development - Ocean Decade Challenge 3, which aims to Sustainably Feed the Global Population. The sites fro the cleanup include the SM by the Bay in Pasay, Wetland Park in Las Piñas and Parañaque, Tanza Marine Tree Park and Barangay Tongos in Navotas, Tullahan River in Barangay San Bartolome in Quezon City, Pasig River in Lawton Ferry Station and Baseco Beach in Manila, H2O Hotel in Ocean Park also in Manila, and at the back of Solaire Hotel in Parañaque City. The center of activity will be held in Balanga City Wetland and Nature Park in Bataan. The post DILG’s ‘Barangay at Kalinisan Day’ to be launched in NCR appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Gov’t torn on school opening issue
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday said the government has yet to decide on the proposal to return the opening of classes to its pre-pandemic schedule. Asked during an ambush interview in Manila if he supports the call to implement the old academic calendar, Marcos said the Department of Education is currently conducting a study to determine the best course of action. “Returning to the old school schedule? We’re discussing that. We were talking with the teaching staff here. I asked them about their preference,” Marcos said. The Chief Executive acknowledged that the issue on the academic calendar is a complex one, given the changes caused by the pandemic and the need to address climate change. Marcos also underscored the importance of considering the welfare of both the students and the teachers. “The current schedule is very hot, and even the children are suffering. So, we need to study what’s best to do,” Marcos said. “We don’t have a preference like this one is better or better. We’re just looking at what’s best for both the kids, especially the children, and for the teachers and non-teaching staff. We need to consider that if we expose them to excessive heat, they might be unable to do their jobs properly and might even get sick,” he added. The Brigada Eskwela 2023 prompted the President to visit Victorino Mapa High School in Manila, where he examined several classrooms. During the visit, Marcos received information about the ongoing maintenance activities at the school, which are geared toward getting everything ready for the commencement of the new academic year on 29 August. “We have once again seen how important it is, especially here in the Philippines, for all, including parents, teachers, and whoever volunteers when it comes to our children, to truly have the willingness to help to enhance their schooling experience,” President Marcos said in a brief message during the event. “And perhaps this is something new as well because we underwent a lockdown, we made some progress, and now this is probably the very first — this is the first school opening that’s somewhat normal after the lockdown. Normal, but we have made many changes and addressed many complaints, which are what our DepEd Secretary and Vice President Sara Duterte have persevered and worked hard for,” he added. Marcos also made a PhP1 million donation to the school in addition to paint and cleaning materials that he has extended for its Brigada Eskwela program. Launched in 2003, Brigada Eskwela is an annual nationwide school maintenance program that engages education stakeholders to contribute their time, effort, and resources to prep schools for the opening of classes. On August 7, the DepEd conducted the national kick-off of the 2023 Brigada Eskwela at the Tarlac National High School, which will run from August 14 to 19. This year’s Brigada Eskwela carries the theme, “Bayanihan para sa Matatag na Paaralan,” and will run for six days up to 19 August. The post Gov’t torn on school opening issue appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Return to old school schedule? Not yet, says PBBM
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday said the government has yet to decide on the proposal to return the opening of classes to its pre-pandemic schedule. Asked during an ambush interview in Manila if he supports the call to implement the old academic calendar, Marcos said the Department of Education is currently conducting a study to determine the best course of action. "Returning to the old school schedule? We're discussing that. We were talking with the teaching staff here. I asked them about their preference," Marcos said. The Chief Executive acknowledged that the issue on the academic calendar is a complex one, given the changes caused by the pandemic and the need to address climate change. Marcos also underscored the importance of considering the welfare of both the students and the teachers. "The current schedule is very hot, and even the children are suffering. So, we need to study what's best to do," Marcos said. "We don't have a preference like this one is better or better. We're just looking at what's best for both the kids, especially the children, and for the teachers and non-teaching staff. We need to consider that if we expose them to excessive heat, they might be unable to do their jobs properly and might even get sick," he added. For the Brigada Eskwela 2023 project, the President visited Victorino Mapa High School in Manila, where he examined several classrooms. During the visit, Marcos received information about the ongoing maintenance activities at the school to get everything ready for the start of the new academic year on 29 August. "We have once again seen how important it is, especially here in the Philippines, for all, including parents, teachers and whoever volunteers when it comes to our children, to truly have the willingness to help to enhance their schooling experience," Marcos said in a brief message during the event. "And perhaps this is something new as well because we underwent a lockdown, we made some progress, and now this is probably the very first -- this is the first school opening that's somewhat normal after the lockdown. Normal, but we have made many changes and addressed many complaints, which are what our DepEd Secretary and Vice President Sara Duterte have persevered and worked hard for," he added. Marcos also made a P1 million donation to the school in addition to paint and cleaning materials that he had extended for its Brigada Eskwela program. Launched in 2003, Brigada Eskwela is an annual nationwide school maintenance program that engages education stakeholders to contribute their time, effort and resources to prepare schools for the opening of classes. On 7 August, the DepEd conducted the national kick-off of the 2023 Brigada Eskwela at the Tarlac National High School. This year’s Brigada Eskwela carries the theme, “Bayanihan para sa Matatag na Paaralan,” and will run for six days from 14 to 19 August. The post Return to old school schedule? Not yet, says PBBM appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
NIA relies on ‘hand tag bayanihan’ in El Niño worst-case scenario
The National Irrigation Administration over the weekend said it will have to rely on "hand tag bayanihan" if the effect of the El Niño phenomenon worsens. "It's the 'convergence approach' from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. We call it in NIA as 'hand tag bayanihan' in a worst-case scenario (El Niño effect)," Engineer Eduardo Guillen, acting NIA administrator said. The approach, according to Guillen, is the convergence of other government agencies to help NIA mitigate the effect of El Niño not only on irrigation but most especially on the lives of farmers and farm workers. "Let's say they (farmers) will be hampered planting their crops, the Department of Labor and Employment will come in, we will take advantage of the situation to desilt, clear the canals and waterways. TUPAD funds will be used for this. Same with DSWD, which will offer cash for work and food for work program. Mitigating the problem by helping each other through national government efforts. DPWH included," Guillen explained in mixed Filipino and English. Areas that they will focus on include the Ilocos Region, and Visayas Region, where calendar cropping planning will have to be carried out. "May plano po kami bago mag-release ng tubig or six months prior to iyong pagsasaka, mayroon na po kaming calendar planning diyan na naka-coordinate ngayon po sa DA para sa proper farm inputs( We planned to release irrigating waters six months before planting. We have the calendar planning coordinated with DA (Department of Agriculture) for porper farm inputs)," he added. Guillen added that they will also be using the 'alternate wetting and drying system' that can reduce 30 percent of irrigation waters. "So ang forecast, halimbawa, ng weather bureau ay makita namin na around 20 percent ang maaapektuhan, at least covered pa rin po (So, if the forecast of the weather bureau is 20 percent (farmland) will be affected, at least it is still covered)," the NIA official explained. He said if it worsens, particularly those at the end of the irrigation path, they will ask the DA for high-value crop input that does not need much watering like corn and mongo. Water pumps and solar pumps will also be distributed. Priority irrigation projects Guillen said also in the pipeline are three irrigation projects under a Public-Private-Partnership set-up. The development of the Tumauini River valued at around P8 billion can irrigate approximately 8,200 hectares. The Upper Banawan Projects cost P6 billion and can benefit Ilocos Sur, and the much-awaited Ilocos Norte-Ilocos-Sur-Abra Irrigation Projects or INISAI, are estimated to need P20 billion in funding. The post NIA relies on ‘hand tag bayanihan’ in El Niño worst-case scenario appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Endings and beginnings
Was it anticlimactic? When the World Health Organization announced recently that Covid-19 “is no longer a public health emergency of international concern”, I expected a more intense reaction from people. From the whole world, actually. Instead, there was nothing. Ho-hum. Moving on. It seems that more than three years after WHO first declared the pandemic in March 2020, people had become immune to the exciting news. Blasé, passive, indifferent. Call it what you may — this is another side of the pandemic, the one where the numbness has set in after years of unprecedented challenges with no end in sight. Yet that is, indeed, just one side. We all know that the health restrictions also caused many people to step up — do something — just to keep earning money. We met over a hundred of them just today (9 May at the Bellevue Manila) during the Daily Tribune’s inaugural Asian Innovation Forum where MSMEs participated in a discussion of various ways the Filipino entrepreneur can compete in a vastly changed world. If the WHO says it is “time to transition” — in their case “to long-term management of Covid-19,” it must be said that many Filipino small business owners had already done just that, over the last three years. And while it may seem like the end is in sight for the pandemic — or, indeed, that the end has come, if the WHO’s pronouncement is the basis — for our entrepreneurs, it is just another beginning. Transitioning into a world in flux is the secret to growth for small businesses aiming for a bigger share of the market. When competitiveness is key, one must innovate to keep ahead of the game. It was heartwarming to see so many business owners joining the DT forum and being really engaged in the short talks delivered by our esteemed speakers and panelists: Atty. Rowel Barba, Director General of the Intellectual Property Office Philippines; George Royeca, founder and CEO of Angkas; PCSO’s Frederick Imson, representing Honorable Mel Robles; UnionDigital’s Dr. David Hardoon; Kim Lato, founder, and CEO of Kimstore; Ida Tiongson, president and CEO of Opal Portfolio Investments Inc., and Rowena San Jose, chief trade-industry development specialist of the Department of Trade and Industry-National Capital Region. Ms Catherine Mary Biazon, head of Gender and Development of Muntinlupa, gave a talk on the city’s innovations and accomplishments toward the cause of women empowerment. I must admit that I was riveted by all their topics. This is unusual as any discussion on tech and finance naturally makes my mind drift off. Yet the stories that were shared on how they persevered through challenging times; how passion carried them through any obstacle simply because they believed in their ideas and dreams; as well as the other side of the coin, where practical steps must be taken to legitimize, grow and strengthen a brand — they resonated with me. The big turnout at the AIF, the perfect mix of speakers, and the resolve we felt when we witnessed the active exchange of ideas during the event inspired us to continue with this advocacy of helping “serve the lifeblood of our economy, the MSMEs, by boosting their confidence and helping open avenues for their growth and development,” as I hoped to say during my welcome remarks. “We take inspiration from our present leaders in urging a Bayanihan mindset — and this is one way that we, as a media organization, have been able to do that — using our platforms and resources, to harness the information, create the opportunity and put together the right people to help build a stronger community… and ultimately for the Filipino entrepreneur to get a foothold in a wider market.” The post Endings and beginnings appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
VP Sara Duterte’s New Year’s message to Pinoys: Carry on with resiliency, bayanihan spirit
MANILA, Philippines – To mark her first New Year’s Day as the country’s second-in-command, Vice President Sara Duterte urged Filipinos to remain rooted to “our sense of nationhood, enduring spirit of bayanihan and unshakeable resiliency” in 2023. In a message released on Sunday, Duterte sounded the call for the nation to “continue to carry the […] The post VP Sara Duterte’s New Year’s message to Pinoys: Carry on with resiliency, bayanihan spirit appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Marcos Jr. rings in New Year with unity call: ‘Bayanihan’ will keep us going
MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Sunday urged Filipinos to “embody the true meaning of solidarity” in 2023 as he stressed that the spirit of “bayanihan” will keep the nation going amid all challenges. In his New Year message, Marcos said he “[joins] the entire Filipino nation with hope and optimism in […] The post Marcos Jr. rings in New Year with unity call: ‘Bayanihan’ will keep us going appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Unused Bayanihan funds likely to return to treasury
The P18.4-billion unutilized funds under Bayanihan 2 will most likely be returned to the national treasury following President Duterte’s failure to call for a special session of Congress for purposes of extending the funds to fight the COVID-19 pandemic......»»
Palace confirms P18.4 billion Bayanihan 2 funds unobligated
Malacañang yesterday confirmed that more than P18 billion under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or Bayanihan 2 remains unobligated but it is unsure whether President Duterte would call for a special session to extend the fund’s validity......»»
Duterte urged: Call for special Congress session to pass Bayanihan 3
(Updated 4:19 p.m.) Congress is on break until May 17 but Drilon said the Senate is prepared to hold a special session to pass another economic stimulus package, or Bayanihan 3, and expand the government’s cash subsidy program amid the strict lockdown placed on the Metro Manila and nearby areas. .....»»
Congress promises PSC funding for Tokyo Olympics
Lawmakers promised to heed the Philippine Sports Commission’s call for financial support for the Tokyo Olympics next year. Congressmen who are members of the Committee on Youth and Sports Development gave a positive response when the government’s sports arm lobbied for Tokyo 2021 budget in the House of Representatives. "Rest assured that we will do our part to get the funding for this Olympics. All hands are in. Dapat lahat tayo dito. This is the best chance we have," said committee head Rep. Eric Martinez. He added that they would discuss the matter with the Department of Budget and Management and schedule it the soonest time possible because the athletes "need that budget for the Olympics." PSC Chairman William 'Butch' Ramirez during the regular committee meeting on Wednesday bared the sports agency's need for its slashed funds to continue supporting the training and competitions of Tokyo Olympic Games qualifiers and hopefuls vying for slots. "We were one of those government offices who also contributed to the Bayanihan Act. The DBM deducted from us. Para sa amin malaking bagay 'yun kasi kasama doon 'yung Olympic budget namin. Hanggang ngayon po bakante 'yan. It's an opportunity for us to ask, we need your help," expressed Ramirez. After presenting the Olympic budget request of more than P182 Million for Tokyo-bound athletes and hopefuls made by Chef de Mission (CDM) Mariano Araneta to the PSC, the sports agency chief highlighted the push Congress can give to the country's Olympic dream. "Rep. Bambol Tolentino has initially supported ‘yung P180 million na allowances ng atleta which was approved by the bicam, and to be approved by the President. Thank you sa lahat ng congressman na sumuporta. Pero 'yung Olympic budget namin, we are hoping again for your support," said Ramirez. The PSC chief informed the body that "the Philippine Sports Commission is operating on the savings coming from PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation)" and that "when we talk about the elite athletes of the national team, the budget being used is the NSDF (National Sports Development Fund)” prompting PSC to lessen grassroots sports program related to local government units. "Dito kami naka-focus sa elite athletes. We still have some budget just enough for us to reach December," admitted Ramirez in his response to Committee Vice-Chair Jericho Nograles' inquiry on the PSC's funds. To aid in the government’s effort to address the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, P596 million from the National Sports Development Fund and another P773 million from the General Appropriations Act by the DBM was slashed from the PSC’s budget. Gymnast Caloy Yulo, pole vaulter EJ Obiena and boxers Irish Magno and Eumir Marcial already qualified for the Summer Games. Eighty-two more hopefuls are training to earn spots in the Tokyo Olympics. .....»»
Jovelyn Gonzaga: A soldier s heart
National team star Jovelyn Gonzaga continues to fulfill her duty as a soldier serving the locally stranded individuals (LSI) inside the Philippine Army camp in Taguig. Since the start of the lockdown, Gonzaga as well as other volleyball players and coaches, who are also enlisted military personnel, heeded the call in the war against the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in different fronts as frontliners. The opposite hitter of the Army Lady Troopers in the Premier Volleyball League and Cignal in the Philippine Superliga has been on duty in Fort Bonifacio since the start of the community quarantine four months ago. Gonzaga in a lengthy but heartwarming post on her Instagram account shared her experience and realizations while on her tour of duty. “With this pandemic crippling our nation. I once again feel the importance and value of what we do as soldiers serving the country,” she wrote. “We are tasked to take care of the LSIs. And the inspiration I am getting every day on duty from our displaced countrymen despite of all the challenges surrounding their conditions is really remarkable.” View this post on Instagram 1/2 PROUD ARMY.. I remember the days when I was just starting my playing career. I was hesitant and full of doubt until I find my niche and understand my deeper why? Why am I doing these things? And where is passion coming from. All my life since I started playing volleyball, I always make it a point that my resiliency is always in check. Though there were some instances that I intend to give up? However, the desire in me to do better withstand all these challenges. That same resiliency and passion is what keeps me going until now. As a professional volleyball player and as a soldier. Serving the country is in my DNA, while playing for the country and as a soldier serving my countryman. With this pandemic crippling our nation. I once again feel the importance and value of what we do as a soldier in serving the country. We are tasked to take care of the LSI’s. And the inspiration I am getting every day on duty from out our displaced countrymen despite of all the challenges surrounding their conditions is really remarkable. And instead of me writing about them? I would rather write something from me and the lessons I’ve learned meeting them first hand. And this is my story. My regular day is training, duty and training. Sometimes go out for other stuff but most often times it’s me being a soldier and an athlete altogether. When we were call to duty in taking care of the LSI’s? Mixed emotions hit me. There’s excitement, pity and I would say fear of the unknown as we took on our new tour of duty within our territory. As we received our first batch of LSI’s. You can see in their eyes the struggles they’ve been through. However, you can also sense the sigh of relief from their actions that things will be better compared to their previous conditions. You can feel in the air the longingness of our LSI’s to go home and be with their families. Regardless of their uncertainties with regards to the acceptance of their home provinces on returning LSI’s. We all know that not all provinces are welcoming their LSI’s due to the danger of spreading Covid-19 in their respective places. @yourphilippinearmy To be continued..... A post shared by Jovelyn Gonzaga (@bionic_ilongga) on Jul 12, 2020 at 6:34pm PDT The Ilongga spiker said that she can also relate to the plight of the LSIs holed up in the camp while waiting for clearance to get back to their homes. “I remember when I was just new here in Manila. I am always looking forward to that opportunity that I can go home and visit my family. I know the struggle of being far from your family. But then again, I think, my condition is far away better than their current situation,” Gonzaga posted. Gonzaga continued by saying that the resiliency and the spark of hope in the eyes of the LSIs serves as her inspiration. View this post on Instagram 2/2 PROUD ARMY Longing to go home is somewhat I can personally relate. I remember when I was just new here in Manila. I am always looking forward to that opportunity that I can go home and visit my family. I know the struggle of being far from your family. But then again, I think, my condition is far away better than their current situation. This is where I draw my inspirations. These LSI’s desire to come home notwithstanding all the hassles and challenges are very admirable. This is where you will feel the value of having a family to come home to. The strong family ties we Filipinos have will always be the reason and the foundation of each and every LSI’s I met and will be meeting in the next coming days. The Filipino bayanihan spirit is very evident since no one is too selfish not to share what they have to help others. The resiliency I have and the toughness these LSI’s are showing is what made us Filipinos invincible amidst any circumstances. This experience I am in right now will always be my driving force in serving my country more. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas. Mabuhay tayong mga Filipino. @yourphilippinearmy Collab w/ @iamjlac ♥? A post shared by Jovelyn Gonzaga (@bionic_ilongga) on Jul 12, 2020 at 6:38pm PDT With positive cases still on the rise, LSIs in different holding facilities could be looking at an extended time away from their families. But rest assured that military personnel like Gonzaga will always be there to serve......»»
Duterte to call for special session for Bayanihan 2
Duterte to call for special session for Bayanihan 2.....»»
MILF cites non-Moro governor’s support to peace process
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front on Wednesday awarded a non-Muslim governor of a province outside of the Bangsamoro region a special citation for supporting the peace overture between the MILF and Malacañang since its inception in 1997......»»
CCLEX safety enhancements pushed after US bridge tragedy
Cebu City, Philippines — In light of recent events, a call for increased CCLEX safety measures has been made to the Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corporation (CCLEC) by a Cebu City legislator. Councilor Rey Gealon penned a resolution urging CCLEC to implement precautionary measures at the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway to prevent disasters, considering the high.....»»
Roque bares Duterte, China agreement to respect status quo in WPS
Roque bares Duterte, China agreement to respect status quo in WPS.....»»
Numerous Individuals and Businesses Profit from Trump Media Stock
Former President Donald J. Trump’s social media company, Truth Social, had a successful first official trading session on the Nasdaq, with shares surging and approaching.....»»