LSIs urged to get PCG approval before buying tickets
CEBU CITY, Philippine –To avoid inconvenience, Cebu City Councilor Joel Garaganera, the Emergency Operations Center czar, urges Locally Stranded Individuals (LSI) to get the Philippine Coast Guard‘s (PCG) approval prior to buying their tickets. Every local government unit (LGU) has different requirements for LSIs coming home and the PCG has to go through these requirements before […] The post LSIs urged to get PCG approval before buying tickets appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
House receives P5.7-T proposed nat’l budget
The Department of Budget and Management or DBM on Wednesday submitted to House Speaker Martin Romualdez the P5.768-trillion proposed national budget for next year, which the lawmaker said would provide Congress enough time to evaluate the soundness of the fund allocations. DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman delivered the proposal, also called the National Expenditure Program, on the date she promised after it was handed over to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last month. “Your submission of the proposed national budget in less than 10 days from the start of the regular session of Congress provides the House ample time to study, discuss, and deliberate on the point of the proposal, and formulate a national budget that is responsive to the development needs of our country,” Romualdez said. Compared to this year’s outlay, the proposed national budget for 2024 is higher by 9.5 percent. Pangandaman had said in June that the national budget should be passed into law swiftly as it had been pre-approved by President Marcos and the government department heads. She said the individual budgets proposed by government agencies totaled P5.90 trillion before the DBM trimmed it down to P5.768 trillion based on the agencies’ fund utilization capacities and the feasibility of their planned projects. The proposed national budget will also undergo Senate deliberations before the consolidated version will be submitted to Marcos for his signature which would make it a law. Pangandaman said priority allocations of the budget include education, infrastructure, and agriculture projects that are aligned with the goals of the administration’s Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028. For agriculture, the allocation was set at P30.87 billion for rice production, P5.28 billion for corn, and P1.94 billion for high-value crops, among others. “Higher investments will also be provided for agricultural support services, such as irrigation and the construction and rehabilitation of fish ports across the country and farm-to-market roads in key production areas,” Pangandaman said. For infrastructure development, the proposed fund amounts to P1.42 trillion or 5.3 percent of the gross domestic product and covers schools, hospitals and health centers, water and power systems, roads, railways and airports. Climate change projects Among other priorities are climate change projects with an allocation of P543.45 billion, its bulk dedicated to water security. Another is social development programs with a proposed fund of P112.8 billion to help 4.4 million families through the cash-transfer program Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program of the Department of Social and Welfare Development. Pangandaman said the pension for indigent senior citizens was doubled to P49.81 billion and would benefit more than 4 million. Meanwhile, the housing allocation was pegged at P9 billion and will be used to shelter 6.5 million families over the next five years. Education received the highest fund proposal as required by the Constitution at P924.7 billion. The Philippines would be “one step closer” to realizing the government’s “transformative vision” for the country once Congress accepts the proposed budget according to President Marcos. In his message, Marcos explained that the proposed budget aims to provide the resources required for government operations and the ongoing pursuit of economic reform. The planned budget is P9.5 trillion more than the P5.268-trillion General Appropriations Act for 2023. “With the Congress’ approval of the proposed (Fiscal Year) 2024 National Budget, we will be one step closer to achieving our transformative vision for the country, the Agenda of Prosperity,” Marcos said. “Our journey has just begun. We will march on — one nation, one people building a better future together,” he added. The President said that the proposed budget for 2024 was a key part of the Philippine Development Plan 2023–2028, which aims to strengthen the country’s capabilities, protect the buying power of Filipinos, and improve output sectors to create more good jobs and products that can compete globally. “In turn, these strategies are to be supported by an enabling environment characterized by macroeconomic stability, infrastructure development, bureaucratic efficiency, strong rule of law, and effective climate action,” Marcos said. The post House receives P5.7-T proposed nat’l budget appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Proposed P5.768T 2024 budget 9.8% higher than 2023
The Philippines would be "one step closer" to realizing the government's "transformative vision" for the country once Congress accepts the proposed National Budget for 2024, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said. The Chief Executive made the remarks in his Budget Message on Wednesday as the Department of Budget and Management turned over the Marcos administration’s proposed 2024 budget or National Expenditure Program worth P5.768 trillion to Congress. In his message, Marcos explained that the proposed budget aims to provide the resources required for government operations and the ongoing pursuit of economic reform. Initial information from the DBM showed that the proposed budget is 9.8 percent higher than the P5.268 trillion General Appropriations Act or the enacted budget for 2023. "With the Congress's approval of the proposed (Fiscal Year) 2024 National Budget, we will be one step closer to achieving our transformative vision for the country, the Agenda of Prosperity," Marcos said. "Our journey has just begun. We will march on — one nation, one people building a better future together," he added. The President said that the proposed budget for 2024 was a key part of the Philippine Development Plan 2023–2028, which aims to strengthen the country's capabilities, protect the buying power of Filipinos, and improve output sectors to create more good jobs and products that can compete globally. "In turn, these strategies are to be supported by an enabling environment characterized by macroeconomic stability, infrastructure development, bureaucratic efficiency, strong rule of law and effective climate action," Marcos said. The President also highlighted the "strong headwinds" the country had to deal with last year as it tried to get its economy back on track. He pointed out that his economic managers made the Medium-Term Fiscal Framework, which is now the "bedrock" of the plan to change the economy, to deal with these problems. The Chief Executive said that the Philippines' gross domestic product grew by 7.6 percent for the whole year of 2022, the biggest since 1976. Marcos said that the country's growth "set the stage" for continued growth in 2023, mentioning that the country's economy expanded by 6.4 percent for the first quarter of 2023, surpassing its Asian peers such as Indonesia, China and Vietnam. The World Bank, he also said, declared that the country could reach above-middle-income status within two years. "Likewise expressing confidence in our country's economic growth, the International Monetary Fund said that it was 'highest among the ASEAN-5', noting its resilience to global pressures," the Filipino leader added. Marcos Jr. likewise cited the country's good credit quality standing, improved revenue performance and high employment rate. "Our immediate economic recovery was the result of the collective effort of the Filipinos. Unity was what made it happen," Marcos said. "For the next five years, we must do more, building on all the gains that we have made – through the same whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach. We need this not only to be effective but to be transformative," he concluded. The post Proposed P5.768T 2024 budget 9.8% higher than 2023 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
E-wallets cause deep disruptions
Digital or e-wallets and peer-to-peer lending are changing how people conduct business, from buying to selling. Data from WNS DecisionPoint estimated that global mobile payments reached $1 trillion in 2020, highlighting the growing influence of FinTech. The mass adoption of e-wallets during and post-pandemic allowed financial institutions to tap into the data gained from these digital wallets. More importantly, financial service providers are given the leverage to make smarter lending decisions in lieu of the absence of financial documents from traditional sources. “E-wallets are a good source of users’ transaction data that can facilitate financial service providers to underwrite loan applications and collection process better,” Henry Aguda, president and CEO of UnionDigital Bank, said during the signing of a partnership with Tala Financing Philippines for the launch of the Tala e-wallet. Answer to inclusion quiz E-wallets allow the unbanked and underserved to create digital footprints that banks, both digital and legacy, could use to establish their credit scoring and include in their database. “The digital footprint will give the unbanked and underserved access to financial instruments, investments, lending facilities, insurance and other services,” Aguda said. According to Aguda, the partnership provides a perfect synergy between UnionDigital and Tala because they are “mission-aligned business-wise and in the execution” of both their plans. Both companies are committed to empowering individuals with access to seamless, secure, and reliable financial services, in addition to enabling customers to achieve their financial goals and build a better future for themselves and their families. Mike Singh, chief commercial and revenue officer at UnionDigital, added the union is also an example of a “perfect marriage” with both parties benefiting from the partnership. “Tala’s maximum loan approval is P100,000. But what if their customer needs to upscale their operations and requires a bigger loan amount? That is where UnionDigital will come in. We can extend a higher loan amount. And the same goes for some credit applicants from our end that we cannot process, and we can send them to Tala,” Singh said, describing the mutual benefits of the collaboration. The post E-wallets cause deep disruptions appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
LSIs urged to get PCG approval before buying tickets
CEBU CITY, Philippine –To avoid inconvenience, Cebu City Councilor Joel Garaganera, the Emergency Operations Center czar, urges Locally Stranded Individuals (LSI) to get the Philippine Coast Guard‘s (PCG) approval prior to buying their tickets. Every local government unit (LGU) has different requirements for LSIs coming home and the PCG has to go through these requirements before […] The post LSIs urged to get PCG approval before buying tickets appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Patriots owner s prostitution case heads to appellate court
By TERRY SPENCER Associated Press FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Prosecutors charging New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft with twice buying sex from massage parlor prostitutes will attempt to save their case this week by arguing to an appeals court that his rights weren't violated when police secretly video-recorded him in the act. Prosecutors will tell the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal during an online hearing Tuesday that a county judge erred when he invalidated the January 2019 search warrant allowing police to install secret cameras at Orchids of Asia spa as part of an alleged sex trafficking investigation. The judge said the warrant didn’t sufficiently protect the privacy of innocent customers who received legal massages, and he barred the videos’ use at trial as well as testimony about what they showed. If the ruling stands, it will deal a fatal blow to the prosecution's case. “Mr. Kraft's guilt is a virtual certainty” and he has no right to benefit from any possible mistakes police made involving innocent customers, Deputy Solicitor General Jeffrey DeSousa wrote in court documents. Kraft's attorneys vehemently disagreed, arguing that if the three-justice panel allows the videos' use, “civil liberties cherished in Florida and beyond” will be endangered. “If the state wins this appeal, then everyone loses, not just the accused,” attorney Frank Shepherd wrote. “Government could run roughshod over privacy and constitutional rights while evading scrutiny.” The Jupiter police recordings led to misdemeanor charges against Kraft and two dozen other alleged Orchids of Asia customers. The spa owners and some employees are charged with prostitution-related felonies. Most cases are in limbo while the appeals are heard. If prosecutors can’t use the videos, they would almost certainly dismiss any misdemeanor charges awaiting trial. Some defendants took plea deals but Kraft refused. The felony cases could proceed, as those have other evidence besides the videos. Kraft, a 79-year-old widower and part-time Palm Beach resident, has pleaded not guilty but issued a public apology. He faces a possible one-year jail sentence if convicted, but would likely receive a fine, community service and other sanctions. Kraft, whom Forbes Magazine ranks as the 82nd richest American with a worth of almost $7 billion, is employing several high-priced attorneys to fight the charges. DeSousa submitted several arguments against Palm Beach County Judge Leonard Hanser's ruling. Among them: — The warrant is valid because police minimized any privacy invasion by having only three detectives monitor video. Any further minimization, such as recording only snippets of each massage, would have made the investigation impossible. — Kraft illegally paid for sex and is lawfully covered by the warrant, even if the justices determine police violated innocent customers' privacy rights. — If the warrant is invalid, the detectives relied on it “in good faith” and a sanction banning the video is too extreme. Shepherd submitted several counterarguments for Kraft. They include: — Detectives' privacy protection efforts were insufficient because they recorded seminude men and women receiving legal massages, making the Kraft recordings also illegal. — Police had enough evidence to charge the spa owners with felonies without recording, making the cameras “wholly gratuitous." — The evidence detectives presented to obtain the magistrate's warrant approval was “deliberately misleading,” negating any argument they acted in good faith. The justices won’t immediately rule after the hearing; decisions usually takes weeks. The losing side will likely appeal to the Florida Supreme Court, which could accept the case or let the justices’ ruling stand. Authorities say the Orchids of Asia investigation was part of a multicounty probe into possible sex trafficking by spa owners who they believe brought women from China and elsewhere to work as prostitutes. About 300 people were charged with various felonies and misdemeanors, but no trafficking charges were pursued — prosecutors say they received no cooperation from masseuses whom they suspect were trafficked. According to police, Kraft's chauffeur drove him to Orchids of Asia on the evening of Jan. 19, 2019, where detectives recorded him engaging in a sex act with two women and then paying an undetermined amount in cash. Investigators said Kraft returned the next morning and engaged in recorded sex acts with a woman before paying with a $100 bill and another bill. Hours later, Kraft was in Kansas City for the AFC Championship game, where his Patriots defeated the Chiefs. His team then won the 2019 Super Bowl in Atlanta, the Patriots’ sixth NFL championship under his ownership. Prosecutors offered to drop the charges if Kraft entered a diversion program for first-time offenders. That would include an admission he would be found guilty if the case went to trial, a $5,000 fine, 100 hours of community service and attending a class on the dangers of prostitution and its connection to human trafficking. The hearing is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. EDT Tuesday on the court's YouTube channel......»»
Waste consciousness urged during Holy Week
A DAVAO City-based environment group urged Dabawenyos to mind their waste during Holy Week......»»
D.C.Plinado Campaign pushed
DAVAO City Councilor Bai Hundra Cassandra Dominique N. Advincula urged Dabawenyos to continue embodying the "culture of discipline", as a legacy, and to be conscious of turning it into the key for the city's growth......»»
Get kids jabbed versus pertussis, parents urged
Get kids jabbed versus pertussis, parents urged.....»»
2 ex-James Bond actors approve of Aaron Taylor-Johnson as next 007
Former James Bond actors George Lazenby and Pierce Brosnan have stated their approval for Aaron Taylor-Johnson should the latter be the next individual to carry the Agent 007 mantle......»»
Fisherfolk group urges gov’t to regulate fish prices amid Lent
Fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas on Wednesday urged the government to address the surge in retail prices of fish during the Holy Week......»»
Public utility trike operators urged to renew franchise, warned vs overpricing
THE Davao City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) conducted a dialogue with the different Tricycle Operators and Drivers’ Associations (Todas) of Toril District to remind drivers of the provisions of the Traffic Code of the City......»»
Stop motorcycle taxi expansion, Marcos urged
Various transport groups yesterday appealed to President Marcos to stop the expansion of motorcycle taxis in Metro Manila amid the impending decision of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board o authorize several companies as players in the pilot study......»»
DA, DTI urged to enforce stricter price monitoring during Holy Week
A lawmaker has called on the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Trade and Industry to keep an eye on possible price surges during the Holy Week and set suggested retail price on basic commodities......»»
Consider alliances with Netherlands, Norway, DFA urged
The Department of Foreign Affairs should consider alliances with non-defense allies like Norway, the Netherlands and other countries for maritime exploration, research and development amid conflict with China over the West Philippines Sea (WPS), Sen. Francis Tolentino said yesterday......»»
Think again before buying bunnies as Easter gifts
SAN DIEGO – With Easter just a week away, animal rescue groups in Southern California are urging people not to buy rabbits as holiday gifts for children. They said that what begins as a well-meaning gesture often leads to abandoned animals when the novelty wears off and families realize they’re not equipped to properly care.....»»
Business groups laud passage of Salt Industry Development Act
Business groups Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport) and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) welcomed the approval of a law that aims to revive the salt industry which is seen to support economic growth and help create jobs......»»
PSA-7: Report to us if PhilSys ID not accepted
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Philippine Statistics Authority in Central Visayas (PSA-7) urged Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) ID holders to report to the agency if some entities do not accept their IDs. PSA-7 chief administrative officer of Edwina Carriaga told CDN Digital in a phone interview that the agency is urging PhilSys ID (National ID).....»»
Tolentino to PPA: Hire veterinarians to assist travelers with pets
Senator Francis Tolentino has urged the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) to hire veterinarians to vet on-site the pets travelers bring along in their trips and making the boarding process on sea vessels a lot easier......»»
Mayor urged to convene film festival council
Mayor urged to convene film festival council.....»»
LTFRB issues over 1,000 special permits to PUVs ahead of Holy Week
To ensure the smooth travel of Filipinos during Lenten season, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) announced the approval of special permits to 1,021 public utility vehicles (PUVs)......»»