Full T-bill award as rates drop
The government continued to award in full the short-term securities on offer, as demand picked up and rates declined across the board......»»
T-bill rates up across the board
Demand went down while rates increased for short-term securities, but the government sustained its full award streak and raised P15 billion......»»
Advancing OFWs’ welfare, protecting Filipinos abroad
Overseas Filipino Workers, or OFWs, are indeed modern-day heroes. They help boost our economy, but more importantly, they help uplift the lives of their families to give them a better future and also showcase Filipinos' talents, skills, and work ethic to the world. I was in London, United Kingdom last week for an official trip upon the invitation of the British Group Inter-Parliament Union. Led by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and co-head of delegation Senator Grace Poe, we embarked on several meetings aimed at strengthening relations of the Philippine Senate with our counterparts in the UK parliament to exchange best practices in policymaking while enhancing bilateral relations, fostering economic security, exploring areas of cooperation between the two countries, and promoting the welfare of Filipinos working there. As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, I also expressed my gratitude to the UK for donating vaccines during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic. Moreover, we thanked them for other development assistance extended by the UK to the Philippines and for their help in strengthening the Bangsamoro Region. As vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Migrant Workers, I also maximized the visit to highlight efforts in promoting the welfare of more than 200,000 OFWs in the UK, particularly the more or less 40,000 Filipino nurses working there. We were able to raise to the UK policymakers the concerns of Filipino nurses regarding their rights to proper benefits, just compensation, and a safe working environment. We should be proud of Filipino medical frontliners in the UK, particularly nurses who are among the world’s finest. Take, for example, May Parsons, a Filipina-British nurse who became known globally for administering the first COVID-19 vaccine outside of a clinical trial and receiving the UK's George Cross Award. I have co-sponsored a Senate resolution earlier recognizing and commending her achievement. After our official meetings, I met with a group of OFWs, some of them were fellow Dabawenyos, Filipino Muslims, Ilonggos, and Ilocanos, among others. The stories they shared were proof of how resilient our OFWs are. Despite their sacrifices, homesickness, and worries about their families in their hometowns, they maintain their cheerfulness and positive outlook. I brought some good news to our OFWs by informing them about the establishment of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) through Republic Act No. 11641, a legislation for which I am proud to be one of the authors and co-sponsors in the Senate. This measure streamlines the organization and functions of all government agencies related to overseas employment and migration to better address the needs and concerns of migrant workers. I have also filed Senate Bill No. (SBN) 2297 to institutionalize the OFW Hospital and ensure its continuous operation in San Fernando City, Pampanga, primarily intended for OFWs and eligible dependents. More importantly, a Malasakit Center is operational there to help reduce their out-of-pocket expenses. The establishment of the DMW, the OFW Hospital, and its own Malasakit Center are just a few of our dreams that are now realities for Filipinos to benefit from. These are testaments of our commitment to promote the welfare of migrant workers and their dependents. However, we acknowledge that there is more work to be done. That is why we continue to listen to their concerns, serve them to the best of our abilities, and pursue initiatives to further their cause. I have also filed SBN 2414, which seeks to establish OFW wards in Department of Health (DOH) hospitals if enacted into law. While our efforts continue to safeguard the welfare of Filipinos abroad, our commitment to serve Filipinos facing challenges in their communities remains unwavering. This week, we had groundbreaking ceremonies for Super Health Centers in Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte; Brgy. Labangon in Cebu City; Pitogo, Zamboanga del Sur; and in Tigbauan, Iloilo. Through the collective efforts of DOH, LGUs, and fellow lawmakers, we continue to advocate for establishing more community health facilities to help bring public health services closer to those needing medical attention. We have also assisted 1,000 indigents in Llanera, Nueva Ecija, with the office of Cong. Jose Padiernos; 500 members from various sectors in Barangay Mintal, Davao City; 1,900 in Caloocan City, with the office of Congresswoman Mitch Cajayon-Uy. In Cebu City, we also distributed aid to 1,700 residents of the South District with Congressman Edu Rama; 450 in Nagcarlan, Laguna, with Mayor Elmor Vita and Councilor Rey Comendador; and 333 in Pulupandan, Negros Occidental, in collaboration with the Malasakit@Bayanihan group. We also aided 1,000 United Senior Citizens Association members of Quezon City, with Congresswoman Mila Magsaysay, Senator Robin Padilla, and private sector volunteer organizations. My office also extended additional aid to 93 displaced workers in Lumban, Laguna; 210 in Pilar; 217 in Carmen and Batuan in Bohol. DOLE also gave qualified beneficiaries temporary employment. We also supported 200 scholars during their TESDA Orientation in Daet, Camarines Norte. There are also 43 residents of Davao City and nine in La Paz, Agusan del Sur, who were victims of fires and 32 victims of flooding in Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat. They were provided separate assistance and the livelihood kits they received through the DTI program, which we advocated for before and continue to support. We also supported 283 victims of past fires in Cagayan de Oro City by giving separate aid in addition to the emergency housing assistance received from the NHA through a program we pushed for so that they could buy materials like nails, roofing, and other necessities for home repairs. My office also provided immediate help to victims of recent fires, such as 50 families in Baseco, Manila City, and 11 families in Brgy. Alabang, Muntinlupa City. No one is exempt from facing life’s hardships. However, our OFWs have shown us how resilient Filipinos can be. Let us learn from them and, more importantly, do our part in uplifting their lives by advocating for their welfare, promoting their rights, protecting their families, and providing the genuine public service they deserve. The post Advancing OFWs’ welfare, protecting Filipinos abroad appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Iran women’s activist Narges Mohammadi wins peace Nobel
The Nobel Peace Prize was on Friday awarded to imprisoned rights campaigner Narges Mohammadi, honored for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran. Mohammadi's award comes after a wave of protests that swept Iran after the death in custody a year ago of a young Iranian Kurd, Mahsa Amini, arrested for violating Iran's strict dress rules for women. Mohammadi, a 51-year-old journalist and activist, has spent much of the past two decades in and out of jail for her campaign against the mandatory hijab for women and the death penalty. She is the vice-president of the Defenders of Human Rights Centre founded by Iranian human rights lawyer Shirin Ebadi, herself a Nobel Peace Prize laureate in 2003. Mohammadi was honored "for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all," said Berit Reiss-Andersen, the head of the Norwegian Nobel Committee in Oslo. "Her brave struggle has come with tremendous personal costs. Altogether, the regime has arrested her 13 times, convicted her five times, and sentenced her to a total of 31 years in prison and 154 lashes," Reiss-Andersen said in the jury's citation. Speaking to reporters after the announcement, she called for Mohammadi's release. "If the Iranian authorities make the right decision, they will release her. So she can be present to receive this honor, which is what we primarily hope for," she said. The recent protests in Iran "accelerated the process of realizing democracy, freedom, and equality in Iran," a process that is now "irreversible", Mohammadi told AFP last month in a letter written from her prison cell. She and three other women held with her at Tehran's Evin prison burned their hijabs to mark the anniversary of Amini's death on 16 September. Iran is ranked 143rd out of 146 countries on the World Economic Forum's gender equality ranking. Iranian authorities cracked down harshly on last year's "Woman, Life, Freedom" uprising. A total of 551 protesters, including 68 children and 49 women, were killed by security forces, according to Iran Human Rights, and thousands of others were arrested. The movement has since continued in other forms. In what would have been unthinkable a year ago, women now go out in public without the headscarf, in particular in Tehran and other big cities, despite the risks. Wearing the hijab is one of the pillars of the Islamic Republic. Authorities have stepped up controls, using surveillance cameras among other things, and have arrested actresses who post pictures of themselves on social media without the hijab. No prospect of freedom In September, Iran's conservative-dominated parliament announced heavier penalties for women who refuse to wear it. "This year's Peace Prize also recognizes the hundreds of thousands of people who in the preceding year have demonstrated against the theocratic regimes policies of discrimination and oppression targeting women," Reiss-Andersen said. Offenders will face heavy prison sentences if the "Hijab and Chastity" bill is approved by Iran's Guardian Council. Incarcerated this time since November 2021, Mohammadi has not seen her children, who live in France with her husband, for eight years. Considered a "prisoner of conscience" by Amnesty International, she told AFP in her letter that she had "almost no prospect of freedom." The prize comes on the 20th anniversary of the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Ebadi, who was honored "for her efforts for democracy and human rights", especially those of women and children. This year's prize also symbolically coincides with the 75th anniversary of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In 2003, Ebadi defied conservative Iranians by refusing to wear the hijab when she received her prize in Oslo. If she remains behind bars, Mohammadi will not be able to make the trip to Oslo to receive her award, consisting of a diploma, a gold medal, and $1 million, at the annual prize ceremony on December 10. The Peace Prize has on several occasions honored jailed activists, including last year when it went to Ales Bialiatski of Belarus, whose prize was accepted by his wife, and Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo in 2010, whose chair remained empty. The post Iran women’s activist Narges Mohammadi wins peace Nobel appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
San Mateo fetes Go on 451st anniversary
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go had been honored with the Gawad Pagkilala Award at the San Mateo Municipal Stadium in recognition of his contributions to the community. “On this day, as we celebrate the 451st founding anniversary of San Mateo, Rizal, I am overjoyed to be a part of this historic occasion,” he said on Thursday. Go then emphasized the importance of unity and cooperation in the community’s progress. “Bayanihan is not just a simple word; we live it and it is what strengthens our community and inspires us all to face challenges together,” he said. Go also commended the local government led by Mayor Bartolome Rivera for their service to the community. He also extended support to residents who may need medical assistance from the government. He told them that there are Malasakit Centers in the province that they can reach out to if they need support with their medical-related expenses. “Patients, please approach the Malasakit Center because it is for you. If you have a hospital bill, government agencies are there to help pay for it,” Go said. The Malasakit Centers program, a brainchild of Go, 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 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. The post San Mateo fetes Go on 451st anniversary appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
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......»»
Legarda eyes expanded TESDA mandate in future
Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda today shared her vision for the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) as it nears its third decade of existence. Legarda, a staunch supporter of the state agency, shared her desires for the agency, which has helped countless lives for almost three decades. “I want to envision TESDA expanding even further — where every Filipino has the opportunity to acquire the skills and tools they need to pursue their dreams and contribute to national progress,” said Legarda during her keynote address at TESDA’s anniversary celebration at SM Megamall. “Upskilling and reskilling must be an option that is available to all,” she added. “We must transform lives beyond the limitations of social and economic boundaries. TESDA has a large role to play in answering the demands of the labor sector and in shaping a labor force that is responsive, fit, and adaptive.” For her role in promoting various livelihood programs in her home province of Antique, Legarda was bestowed the National TESDA Kabalikat Award in 2021. Among the programs pushed were the Barangay Kabuhayan Skills Training Program (BKSTP), Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP), and Special Training for Employment Program (STEP), which has benefitted over 18,000 Antiqueño trainees since 2016. During the passage of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, Legarda ensured that access to tertiary education included those in the technical-vocational sector. As one of her first pieces of legislation to open her fourth term in the Senate, Legarda pushed for the passage of Senate Bill No. 6, a proposed measure that seeks to create the Department of Technical Education, Training and Certification. Once passed, it will strengthen the role of the TESDA to serve as a leading partner in the development of the Filipino workforce. She also praised the agency for being at the forefront of web-based education through the TESDA Online Program, which has produced 3,220,912 course completions in 2022 alone. “The world is changing at a rapid pace — technology, automation, and digitalization are reshaping industries and demanding new skill sets,” remarked Legarda. “TESDA must be at the center of this. Our businesses and industries must connect with our educational institutions to assess, plan, and strategize our approach to providing quality technical-vocational education,” she continued. The post Legarda eyes expanded TESDA mandate in future appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
QC welcomes road-renaming measure approval
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Sunday welcomed the Senate’s approval of a measure renaming Agham and BIR Roads after the late Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago. “We wholeheartedly support the Senate’s move to rename these two roads after Senator Santiago,” Belmonte said. “It is a great honor for our city to have a road named after a senator who fearlessly fought against corruption and stood up for the rights of the people.” To recall, the Senate approved on third and final reading with 22 affirmative votes and zero negative votes or abstention House Bill 7413, which seeks to rename Agham Road and BIR Road to “Senator Miriam P. Defensor-Santiago Avenue.” Santiago, who passed away in 2016, was a well-respected lawyer and politician. She served as a judge, commissioner and senator. She was also the first Asian judge to be elected to the International Criminal Court. For her bold and moral leadership in cleaning up a graft-ridden government agency, Santiago received the Magsaysay Award for Government Service, known as the Asian equivalent of the Nobel Prize, in 1988. Belmonte said that Santiago’s legacy will be remembered by renaming these two roads after her. “She was a true public servant who dedicated her life to making the Philippines a better place,” said the Quezon City mayor. For her bold and moral leadership in cleaning up a graft-ridden government agency, Santiago received the Magsaysay Award for Government Service, known as the Asian equivalent of the Nobel Prize, in 1988. The post QC welcomes road-renaming measure approval appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
QC supports renaming two roads after late Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Sunday said they welcomed the Senate's approval of a measure renaming Agham and BIR Roads after the late Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago. "Buong puso po nating sinusuportahan ang hakbang na ito ng Senado na ipangalan kay dating Senador Miriam Defensor-Santiago ang dalawang kalsada ng ating lungsod," Belmonte said. "Napakalaki pong karangalan para sa ating siyudad na dalhin ang pangalan ng ating senadora na walang takot na lumaban kontra katiwalian at tumayo para sa kapakanan at karapatan ng taumbayan," she added. With 22 affirmative votes and zero negative votes or abstention, the Senate approved on third and final reading House Bill 7413 seeking to rename the roadways of Agham Road and BIR Road to “Senator Miriam P. Defensor-Santiago Avenue." Santiago, who passed away in September 2016 after a long battle with lung cancer, held various positions in three branches of government. She served as presiding judge of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court and worked as Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and Secretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). She also served as Senator for three terms. “Siya rin ang una nating Asian judge na nahalal sa International Criminal Court, unang Pilipino na napili bilang commissioner para sa International Development Organization at nagsilbi rin bilang Legal Officer ng UN High Commission for Refugees sa Geneva, Switzerland. Patunay ang lahat ng kanyang pwestong hinawakan kung gaano siya kagaling. Nararapat lamang na mabigyang-halaga ang kanyang pagiging mahusay na lingkod-bayan,”Belmonte said. For her “…bold and moral leadership in cleaning up a graft-ridden government agency”, Defensor-Santiago received the Magsaysay Award for Government Service, known as the Asian equivalent of the Nobel Prize, in 1988. The post QC supports renaming two roads after late Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago 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......»»
Clarence Avant, ‘Godfather of Black Music,’ dies at 92
Clarence Avant, the entertainment executive who is counted among the music world's most impactful figures, died over the weekend, a statement from his family said Monday. He was 92 years old. Avant "passed away gently at home" in Los Angeles on Sunday, said his children Nicole and Alex Avant, as well as Nicole's husband, Netflix executive Ted Sarandos. "Through his revolutionary business leadership, Clarence became affectionately known as 'The Black Godfather' in the worlds of music, entertainment, politics, and sports," the statement said. "Clarence leaves behind a loving family and a sea of friends and associates that have changed the world and will continue to change the world for generations to come. The joy of his legacy eases the sorrow of our loss." Avant was born on 25 February 1931 in small-town North Carolina, the oldest of eight. After spending most of his childhood in North Carolina he moved to New Jersey as a teenager, getting his start in the music business as a club manager of Teddy P's Lounge in Newark. He later was mentored by the longtime Louis Armstrong manager Joe Glaser. He went on to become one of the most revered players in music and beyond, an advocate and mentor who pushed the boundaries for Black entertainers in an industry rife with racism. Avant helped establish Venture Records, the first joint effort between a Black-owned music company and a major record label, in this case, MGM. He later launched Sussex Records and signed the likes of Bill Withers. Avant worked at an array of other labels, produced films, and also brokered deals for Black athletes including baseball superstar Hank Aaron. "He's the perennial godfather of our business," Quincy Jones said in 2006, in an interview with Billboard. "Everyone in our business has been by Clarence's desk if they’re smart." 'True pioneer' Avant also consulted at Motown and worked with other top producers including Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis as well as Babyface. He's been credited with burnishing the careers of countless artists, including Jones as well as Pharrell Williams, Snoop Dogg, and Whitney Houston. "Clarence Avant connects us all through his incredible impact since before I was born up until now. He's the godfather to so many of us -- and not just African Americans, most of the industry," Pharrell said in a statement in 2019, ahead of the release of the Netflix documentary "The Black Godfather." In 2021, Avant's wife of over 50 years, Jacqueline, was fatally shot at age 81, during a break-in of the couple's Beverly Hills home. Earlier that year Avant received special accolades from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Recording Academy has also bestowed a number of honors on him and in 2007 he received the Thurgood Marshall Lifetime Achievement Award from the NAACP. Tributes to Avant began pouring out upon news of his death, including from Jay-Z's company Roc Nation, which hailed him "a true pioneer" who "burst through doors and tore down ceilings, changing lives and providing opportunities for generations." "Clarence Avant isn't just the 'Godfather Of Black Music,' he is our cultural Godfather," the company said. Bill and Hillary Clinton, the former US president and secretary of state, said in a joint statement they were "saddened by the passing of our friend." "It was impossible to spend time with him and not come away feeling more positive and wanting to follow his example." The post Clarence Avant, ‘Godfather of Black Music,’ dies at 92 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Doja Cat recreates personal paintings in ‘Paint The Town Red’ music video
GRAMMY award-winning global superstar Doja Cat has released her new single and music video “Paint The Town Red” via Kemosabe Records/RCA Records. The music video, directed by Nina McNeely and Doja Cat herself and shot in Los Angeles, is based on three paintings that the artist designed. Each one of the scenes in the video is a recreation of the paintings. Last month, Doja Cat painted the artworks on her Instagram Live as she chatted with fans and previewed her new song. This is the first official single from Doja Cat since she announced her first North American headline tour, The Scarlet Tour, beginning this fall with special guests Ice Spice and Doechii. Before this, she dropped her track and video “Attention” to critical acclaim, with Rolling Stone calling it “scorching.” Doja Cat was also featured on the cover of V Magazine last month for “The Global Music issue.” Earlier this year, she was featured alongside label mate SZA on the remix of her #1 Hot 100 song “Kill Bill”. She was also named one of Time100’s Most Influential People of 2023, gracing the cover of one of four global Time Magazine April issues and performing at the exclusive Time100 Gala. With over 20 billion worldwide streams to date, Doja’s creativity and showmanship as a performer have been praised time and again. Her Grammy-winning album Planet Her came out in June 2021 and dominated the charts, debuting at #1 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart and #2 on the Billboard Top 200 and Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and generating the highest first day Spotify streams for an album by a female rapper. The post Doja Cat recreates personal paintings in ‘Paint The Town Red’ music video appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘The Exorcist’ director William Friedkin: ‘maverick, Wildly talented, game-changer’
William Friedkin, film director and brainchild of Hollywood classics The French Connection and The Exorcist, died on 7 August at 87 years old. Friedkin died from heart failure and pneumonia at his home in Bel Air, said his wife and former Paramount Pictures producer Sherry Lansing. Friedkin was one of the young filmmakers who defined a new generation of cinema in the 1970s with his exotic, robust and thrilling films. [caption id="attachment_169249" align="aligncenter" width="1007"] William Friedkin got his big break in the film industry with the neo-noir action thriller 'The French Connection' in 1971.[/caption] Before making his film debut with Good Times in 1967, Friedkin started his directorial career in television series and documentaries. In 1970, he directed the queer film The Boys in the Band, with a screenplay by Mart Crowley based on his landmark play. The Boys in the Band was one of Hollywood’s first explicitly gay films, at a time when there was little to no queer representation in mainstream film. Friedkin got his big break in the film industry with the neo-noir action thriller The French Connection in 1971, which earned widespread recognition from audiences and critics. With this film alone, he bagged five Academy awards, including Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Picture and Best Director. Friedkin gained further acclaim with the 1973 film The Exorcist, based on William Peter Blatty’s best-selling novel. The film earned 10 Academy Award nominations and is now considered one of the greatest horror movies in cinema. Aside from The French Connection and The Exorcist, Friedkin also directed the films Sorcerer (1977), Cruising (1980), The Hunted (2003) and Killer Joe (2011). Hollywood saw an outpouring of tributes over Friedkin’s passing, among them from actresses Ellen Burstyn and Linda Blair, who starred in The Exorcist; Emmy award-winning producer Jason Blum, American film director Francis Ford Coppola and more. Burstyn, who gained her second Oscar nomination when she played the helpless mother in The Exorcist, eulogized the director in a statement: “My friend Bill Friedkin was an original; smart, cultured, fearless and wildly talented. On the set, he knew what he wanted, would go to any length to get it and was able to let it go if he saw something better happening. He was undoubtedly a genius.” Meanwhile, Blair, who starred as the 12-year-old possessed girl in The Exorcist, honored Friedkin in an emotional Instagram post: “Like Sidney Poitier‘s famous movie To Sir with Love, how do you put into words appreciation to the person that changed your life forever, along with the world? Billy Friedkin was a game changer, thought outside the box, was a genius with an incredibly bold personality and extraordinary imagery that electrified colleagues and moviegoers alike, and remained a true maverick throughout his career in the film industry.” “It was an honor to know him and I am deeply saddened at this time,” she added. “He changed my life forever, along with the world through my performance, and all my performances throughout my career. The post ‘The Exorcist’ director William Friedkin: ‘maverick, Wildly talented, game-changer’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl cinema in the first year of BBM
Here, we look back at the state of the Philippine film industry since he took the seat of power 13 months ago. When President Marcos Jr. became the 17th leader of the nation, the country was on the brink of the “new normal.” The campaign elections even saw multitudes of crowds in the streets, the Filipinos’ political passion overpowering the fear of a Covid-19 infection. Covid-pandemic viewing By May 2022, the month of the presidential campaigns, the Department of Health said the country was at “minimal-risk case classification” with an average of only 159 cases per day. By June 2022, when the President took his oath, 69.4 million Filipinos had been fully vaccinated. Along with the country, the Philippine film industry started healing. On the same month, the country went under Covid-19 Alert Level 2, with 50-percent allowed capacity in indoor cinemas. Live film festivals The Marcos administration saw the return of Filipino film festivals in theaters. On Marcos’ fifth month as president, the QCinema International Film Festival, with the theme “in10City,” held hybdrid screenings — in-person and online. The Metro Manila Film Festival in December 2022, six months into the new presidency, went full force in cinemas for the second time during the pandemic. Earlier, in 2020, during the Duterte administration, the festival was held online for the first time, and the following year, in December 2021, after level alert measures in the Philippines were relaxed, the MMFF finally went back to the cinemas. However, only around 300 cinemas (down from the usual 900) were allowed to screen the MMFF entries. Meanwhile, the 18th edition of the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival was held from 5 August to 31 October 2022 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, in select mall cinemas and online. But what made a mark during the Marcos administration’s first year was the inaugural edition of the 2023 Summer Metro Manila Film Festival. The SMMFF was held in Metro Manila and throughout the Philippines. Organized by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority in partnership with the Cinema Exhibitors Association of the Philippines, the first MMFF was supposed to be held in 2020, but was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2023, held from 8 to 18 April 2023 with the theme “Tuloy-tuloy ang Saya,” the summer festival featured eight entries and, like its December counterpart, even held a Parade of Stars. About Us But Not About Us by Jun Lana, produced by The IdeaFirst Company, Octobertrain Films and Quantum Films, emerged as the first Best Picture of the summer festival. [caption id="attachment_161372" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] About Us But Not About Us by Jun Lana[/caption] The Film Development Council of the Philippines’ sixth edition of its own mini-film festival, held during the Marcos administration’s third month, headed back to cinemas, offering free access to award-winning classic films of the new National Artists for Film and Broadcast Arts at TriNoma Cinema in Quezon City and in all Cinematheque centers nationwide (Manila, Iloilo, Negros, Davao and Nabunturan). CCP closes for renovations On 1 September 2022, CCP president Margarita Moran-Floirendo announced during a hearing of the Senate committee on cultural communities, that The Cultural Center of the Philippines — home to the Cinemalaya festival — will close its doors starting January 2023 for renovation and structural retrofitting works, and will reopen in March 2025. This marks the first time that Cinemalaya, on its 19th year, which has the theme “ilumiNasyon,” will be held at various venues inside the adjacent Philippine International Convention Center, from 4 to 13 August 2023. The rise of political films With the country deeply driven by polarized political views, the Marcos administration saw a war between political commercial films. [caption id="attachment_161370" align="aligncenter" width="1800"] ‘MAID in Malacanang’ stars Cristine Reyes, Diego Loyzaga and Ella Cruz. | Photograph courtesy of viva[/caption] On 29 July 2022, Darryl Yap’s period drama Maid in Malacañang, touted as “the most controversial film of the year,” was released to packed cinemas. The movie, about the Marcos family’s last three days in Malacañang Palace before they were forced into exile, premiered at SM North EDSA and was released nationwide on 3 August 2022. Yap, who passionately campaigned for Marcos, became a controversial filmmaker with the release of his Marcos film. Leni Robredo supporters tried to boycott the film, with some Filipino movie critics exposing themselves as heavily political and non-neutral with their reviews, accusing the film of propaganda and historical revisionism. The attempt to quash the movie’s release failed and it became a box-office hit, with producer Viva Films releasing a statement that it earned a whopping P21 million on its opening day and P63 million three days after its release. It was the first time in Philippine cinema history that local theaters nationwide saw a deluge of moviegoers lining up to watch a movie on the big screen, mostly driven by political affiliation. Another unsuccessful political attempt to diminish the film’s release was Vince Tañada’s re-release of his Martial Law film Katips to counter Maid in Malacañang. Tañada’s film eventually won Best Picture at the Famas Awards. MIM actress Ella Cruz’s remark during a press conference, that “history is like tsismis,” further fanned the flames of political debate online. Eight months later, in March 2022, Viva released Yap’s second installment in his Marcos trilogy, Martyr or Murderer, which now focused on Ferdinand Marcos and the assassination of Ninoy Aquino. Two anti-Marcos movies rose to combat the film — Joel Lamangan’s Oras de Peligro, released on the same day, and Tañada’s movie adaptation of his musical play Ako Si Ninoy, released one week earlier. Movie buffs, political analysts, film critics, the press and social media influencers dove into feverish commentaries on the three films, and Philippine cinemas were ignited and, for a while, became alive with social discourse. New FDCP head On 21 July 2022, Tirso S. Cruz III officially assumed his position as the head of the country’s national film agency, the Film Development Council of the Philippines. He replaced Liza Diño, who was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as FDCP chairperson on 12 August 2016. [caption id="attachment_161368" align="aligncenter" width="736"] FDCP chair Tirso Cruz III. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF FDCP[/caption] Cruz, a veteran actor, said that the target of the FDCP under the Marcos administration was to support local films, not just in Metro Manila, but also from regional filmmakers. He also professed support for film students and highlighted archiving as part of the FDCP’s agenda, with 42,000 materials in its archives to be salvaged. MTRCB In September 2022, the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board released a statement addressing the controversy about its proposal to expand its jurisdiction to online streaming services like Netflix, Vivamax, Amazon Prime and other streaming platforms. The MTRCB said it was responding to multitudes of complaints from parents and other concerned groups demanding that the agency regulate movie and TV online platforms to protect children from harmful viewing. The Marcos administration has seen a continuous boom in streamers, which began during the pandemic, with Vivamax becoming one of the leading local streamers due to the popularity of Filipino sexploitation films. On 23 February 2023, MTRCB chairperson Lala Sotto-Antonio expressed her gratitude to Senators Francis “Tol” Tolentino, Grace Poe and Sherwin Gatchalian for the separate bills they filed that would amend and expand the board’s mandate. “We welcome the move to amend the charter of the MTRCB as it will allow the agency to adequately adapt to changes in technology and the ever-evolving needs of the viewing public and our other stakeholders,” Sotto-Antonio said before the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media chaired by Senator Robinhood C. Padilla. Eddie Garcia Act In January 2023, the chamber passed through voice voting House Bill 1270, or the proposed Eddie Garcia Act, at the House plenary session. [caption id="attachment_161367" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] HOUSE Bill 1270 has been proposed in honor of the late actor Eddie Garcia. | Photograph courtesy of gma-7[/caption] Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte authored the bill, which aims to provide workers in the movie, television and radio entertainment industry opportunities for well-paid employment and protect them from economic exploitation, abuse and harassment, as well as hazardous working conditions. The bill was named after the late veteran actor Eddie Garcia, who died in 2019 after suffering a neck injury while shooting the television series Rosang Agimat, produced by GMA Network. According to Villafuerte, productions would go from 16 to 24 continuous work hours per set and would rush productions to save costs. The proposed law mandates that normal work hours of the worker or talent shall be eight hours a day; overtime work should not exceed more than 12 hours in a 24-hour period; and the total number of work hours shall not exceed 60 hours in a week. Paul Soriano Relatively unknown to most Pinoy moviegoers, filmmaker Paul Soriano was put on the limelight as the man behind the President’s advertisements — way back from campaigns since Marcos started out as vice governor, and then, governor of Ilocos Norte, up until his senatorial campaign, and eventually his campaign for the vice presidency and presidency. [caption id="attachment_161371" align="aligncenter" width="781"] PRESIDENTIAL Adviser on Creative Communications Paul Soriano. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF ig/PAUL SORIANO[/caption] Of course, the opposition in the film industry predictably canceled Soriano, the blood nephew of First Lady Liza Cacho Araneta-Marcos. Dolly de Leon It was also during the BBM era that Filipina actress Dolly de Leon gained international fame for her performance in the 2022 Cannes Palme d’Or winner Triangle of Sadness. [caption id="attachment_161366" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Dolly de Leon gained international fame for her performance in the 2022 Cannes Palme d’Or winner ‘Triangle of Sadness.’ | Photograph courtesy ofig/dolly de leon[/caption] The 54-year old film, television and theater actress made history by becoming the first Filipino actor to be nominated at the British Academy Film Awards and Golden Globe Awards. Filipino movie fans and critics, having been exposed to global content since the rise of the streamers, plus the proliferation of self-published movie reviews, are generally still disappointed with the output and system of the Philippine film industry, but filled with hope that, with full support from the government, Philippine cinema will finally become truly internationally competitive, sustainable and recognized. The post Phl cinema in the first year of BBM appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bong Go champions rights of farmers during CLOA distribution in Davao City
Sen. Bong Go has vowed to continue supporting the rights and empowerment of farmers, particularly agrarian reform beneficiaries during the distribution of Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) in Davao City on Friday, 7 July. In a video message, Go recognized the efforts of the Department of Agrarian Reform XI and its dedication and diligence in implementing the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling project, which was funded by the World Bank. "The awarding of computerized titles to our ARBs is a testament to the progress we have made in empowering our farmers and giving them the tools they need to thrive," Go said. Go underscored the significance of Republic Act No. 11953 or the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, which was signed by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on the same day. “Being a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, I took great pride in co-sponsoring and co-authoring Senate Bill No. 1850, which served as the Senate version of RA 11953. This legislation marks a significant step towards empowering our agrarian reform beneficiaries and fostering their economic independence leading towards enhanced food security,” Go cited. He said that the legislation serves as a catalyst for change by freeing farmers from the burden of debt, enabling them to concentrate on nurturing their lands and ensuring a sustainable livelihood. Go acknowledged the vital role played by farmers in ensuring food security and advancing the nation's economy. He assured the ARBs that the government will always look out for their welfare. "To the 1,000 agrarian reform beneficiaries and various stakeholders present here today, I want you to know that the government will not abandon you," Go said. "The government recognizes all your valuable contributions to our food security and the advancement of our country's economy,” added Go. Meanwhile, Go’s team distributed balls for basketball and volleyball and shirts to the beneficiaries present at the Arcadia Event Center in Ecoland, Davao City. The post Bong Go champions rights of farmers during CLOA distribution in Davao City appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Multiple grammars of land reform law
The newly-minted Republic Act No. 11953 is a class legislation, at least insofar as it is pro-landless poor, but that is not to say that the landowners will not be justly compensated in the same breath. The latter may turn out to be not even the “silent losers” in this highly experimental stroke of legislative genius. Some cynics might even suspect it to be Adam Smith’s concept of the “invisible hand.” Recall that in another imminent enactment, namely, the “Maharlika Investment Fund,” the Land Bank of the Philippines will contribute P50 billion as its equity as if this will not badly affect its capital build-up as a government financing institution. With the New Agrarian Emancipation Act of 2023, the P58 billion that agrarian reform beneficiaries owed to Land Bank was, in effect, written off. It is as though this huge sum of “foregone revenues” coupled with the seed money it will download to the MIF would still allow Land Bank to sail on an even keel. Pareto efficiency has become the name of the game — “an economic state where resources cannot be reallocated to make one better off without making at least one individual worse off.” How clever of the government to turn Land Bank into neither victim nor villain. Never strange bedfellows, the Department of Agrarian Reform and Land Bank will formulate the necessary Implementing Rules and Regulations. Meanwhile, there’s always a lone voice in the Lower Chamber who plays harbinger of unfolding scenarios. He calls the new land reform law the “best and biggest accomplishment’ of FM Jr. in his first year, it being “historic in scale, in world view, and in what it will bring to the people,” and an “important step toward rural and agrarian justice.” If that were not preaching to the choir, what is? As it now graphically appears, the P500-billion capitalization, “fund-raising project” if you will, for the Maharlika Investment Corporation is akin to an empty vault that has to be filled with tons of money. We are all led to believe that funds create wealth when it should be the other way around. As Jim Morrison says, “Whoever controls the media, controls the mind.” No less than the House Speaker plays poster boy for the administration’s policy agenda. Recall that Executive Order No. 4 signed on the President’s 65th birthday (i.e. 13 September 2022) is “implementing a moratorium on the payment of the principal obligation and interest of the amortization due and payable by agrarian reform beneficiaries.” Wonder how a supposedly one-year relief from the debt burden has been lifted forever when RA No. 11953 supersedes EO No. 4 as a mere placeholder. In the one-year freeze or if not enabling Land Bank to collect payment from the farmer-beneficiaries of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, the former loses billions in revenue. What adds insult to injury in the context of the new policy configuration is that all 30 annual amortizations will be written off. How well Land Bank can absorb the shock seems behind us. With the new emancipation law, the good President has written off P58 billion, benefiting around 654,000 ARBs and involving a total of 1.18 million hectares of awarded lands. When FM Jr. thought of “continuing economic relief to ARBs” to help them “recover and ensure food security in the county amidst global uncertainties,” the requisite impact report implementing the order has become moot and academic. That original Senate Bill No. 1112 authored by the President’s senator-sister is meant to emancipate ARBs from the debt burden through the free award of agricultural lands — individually titled rather than collectively; zero compensation for the Land Bank instead of P58 billion in receivables (i.e. amortization payments); a CLOA free of the 10-year restriction; and condonation and individual titling that will complete the emancipation of landless farmers. Once duly titled — fast-forwarding to the future — into whose hands will the agricultural lands fall? The post Multiple grammars of land reform law appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
T-bill rates up across the board
The government ended yesterday four consecutive weeks of full award for short-term securities after rates increased across the board ahead of the monetary policy decision of the US Federal Reserve......»»
Manning agents plead for equal protection over disability claims
Rumors of the scrapping of the escrow provision in the Senate version of the proposed Magna Carta for Seafarers have alarmed manning agents. Captain Reynaldo Casareo, president of Cargo Safeway Inc., one of the biggest crewing agencies in the country, said Wednesday the Senate Committee on Migrant Workers headed by Senator Raffy Tulfo should clarify whether or not the Senate bill will have an escrow provision like the MCS version already passed by the House of Representatives. Casareo said they want protection against seafarers who collude with ambulance chasers to get payments for permanent disability suffered on duty when the injury is not really permanent. “Senator Tulfo, please also listen to the agencies and shipowners being abused by ambulance chasers and not those seafarer groups that clearly have different intensions,” Casareo said. Another manning executive who requested not to be named also appealed to the senator. “If Senator Tulfo has indeed believed that the escrow provision is anti-seafarer, then this is bad. It was supposed to help ship owners that are providing opportunities to our seafarers. We hope he will listen to us.” Kabayan Partylist Representative Ron Salo, chairman of the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs, inserted in the MCS bill the provision for the creation of an escrow account that would strengthen the fight against ambulance chasing. Co-author and OFW Party-list Rep. Marissa “Del Mar” Magsino earlier said the provision was intended to address the inimical practice of ambulance chasing perpetrated by unscrupulous lawyers and litigants to the prejudice of employers and manning agencies. “The proposal is to place in escrow the monetary award (for disability claims) in favor of a seafarer if the employer or manning agency concerned has appealed the decision for judicial review,” Magsino said. “To counter-balance it, the seafarer is given the option to file a corresponding bond as a security, if he wishes to move for the execution of the decision pending appeal. These twin mechanisms are precise to prevent the dissipation of the monetary award in the hands of the winning party in the absence of a final judgment,” she said. During the Maritime Familiarization Workshop for Media organized by the seafarers’ union AMOSUP over the weekend, Atty. Iris Baguilat, chairperson of the ALMA Maritime Group and president of Dohle Seafront Crewing (Manila), said seafarer deployment dwindles yearly because of several factors, including the rampant illegal practice of ambulance chasing. Quoting the employers’ group International Maritime Employers’ Council, Baguilat said “Ambulance chasing is the biggest threat to Filipino seafarer employability” since it made them expensive due to their lawyers’ erroneous claims. She said that the Department of Migrant Workers reported that, based on National Conciliation and Mediation Board data alone for 2018 to 2022, between 28 percent and 30 percent of the monetary awards by NCMB amounting to over P2.57 billion have been reversed by higher courts for being erroneous. “Most of this award has not been returned to the shipowners,” Baguilat said. The post Manning agents plead for equal protection over disability claims appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BTr makes full T-bill award
The government finally made a full award of P15 billion in short-term securities after three months as demand soared and rates slipped in anticipation of a pause in the rate hike cycle of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas......»»
Mariners’ Magna Carta seen enacted this year
The Senate version of the awaited Magna Carta for Filipino Seafarers bill will pass this year, one of the measure’s authors OFW Partylist Rep. Marissa “Del Mar” Magsino said. The House of Representatives approved last March its version of the measure which seeks to protect the rights and interests of Filipino seafarers before, during and after employment, especially in the event of maritime accidents, epidemics or pandemics, or other natural or man-made crises. “We are certain that this year, or during the tenure of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the law will be passed. If passed by the Senate, a bicameral deliberation will take place to thresh out the nitty gritty and to refine the issues that are being questioned by some groups. But definitely, the majority of Senators are supportive of the bill,” Magsino said during the annual general membership assembly of the Association of Licensed Manning Agencies on Friday in Pasay City. Escrow provision A contentious portion of the proposal is the escrow provision, in which under Section 51 of HB 7325, the monetary award for seafarers from the National Labor Relations Commission will be deposited to an escrow account until the “issuance of judgment by the appropriate reviewing court or when the employer or manning agency fails to perfect the appeal or petition for review.” In a speech, Magsino said the provision was intended to address the inimical practice of “ambulance chasing” perpetrated by unscrupulous lawyers and litigants to the prejudice of employers and manning agencies. “The proposal is to place in escrow the monetary award in favor of a seafarer if the employer or manning agency concerned has appealed the decision for judicial review. To counter-balance it, the seafarer is given the option to file a corresponding bond as a security, if he wishes to move for the execution of the decision pending appeal. These twin mechanisms are precise to prevent the dissipation of the monetary award in the hands of the winning party in the absence of a final judgment,” the lawmaker said. She added additional safeguards were put in place so that the amount in escrow shall not include claims for salaries, statutory monetary benefits, or those originally determined by the employer or manning agency to be legally due to the seafarer. “Also, the fees in obtaining or maintaining the escrow account shall be paid by the employer or the manning agency. But of course, the interest earned by the amount in escrow shall ensure the benefit of the prevailing party. To me, the arrangement is fair enough,” Magsino averred. She said: “On the other hand, the allegations of connivance of some arbiters, mediators, and officials of the National Labor Relations Commission with litigants and counsels are an entirely separate issue but must also be addressed.” She expressed the need to continue the efforts to maintain the country’s position as the premier supplier of seaboard labor in international trade by pursuing programs and activities geared toward the global competitiveness of Filipino seafarers and in compliance with the standards of the local and international maritime communities. The post Mariners’ Magna Carta seen enacted this year appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
T-bill rates ease
Rates went down for short-term securities, allowing the government to partially award P12.8 billion in Treasury bills, but inflation woes remain, particularly on oil prices that could impact borrowing here and abroad......»»