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Women shaping Philippine monetary policy
Women have made significant strides as leaders in the Philippine financial services industry even as challenges continue to persist. At the helm are two distinguished female members of the Monetary Board (MB) – the policy-setting body of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) –both of whom are breaking the bias for women in finance......»»
Last Dance for Squires, Junior Altas
Letran seeks to bury the ghost of Game Two while University of Perpetual Help hopes to relive its glory in today’s rubber match for the NCAA Season 99 junior basketball trophy at the Filoil EcoOil Arena......»»
Squires, Junior Altas play for all the marbles
Letran seeks to bury the ghost of Game 2 while University of Perpetual Help hopes to relive its glory as the two battle each other in Saturday’s rubber match at the Filoil EcoOil Arena that will determine who brings home the NCAA Season 99 junior basketball trophy......»»
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)......»»
Acido bags NCAA Jrs. MVP plum
Perpetual Junior Altas gained their share of individual awards in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 99 Juniors Basketball awards ceremony Wednesday at the FilOil EcoOil Center in San Juan City......»»
Overstaying Chinese arrested in NAIA
The Bureau of Immigration at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 reported the arrest of an overstaying Chinese national who attempted to leave the country on 9 August. In the report given to BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco, the arrested Chinese national was identified as Dai Jun, a 27-year-old who attempted to board a Philippine Airlines flight bound for Hong Kong, but the BI-NAIA officers noticed that his name was in the BI’s derogatory records. Tansingco said that the passenger’s name was registered as a hit upon presentation of his passport to their primary inspection officers. Verification with BI records reveals that Dai’s name has been included in the BI’s blacklist since 2021. He was likewise the subject of a watchlist for overstaying and violations of the conditions of his stay. Upon confirmation of his identity, immigration supervisors deferred his departure and arrested him immediately. Now Dai has been transferred to the BI Warden Facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City, pending his deportation. Meanwhile, Commissioner Tansingco ordered the immediate cancellation of visa for a Chinese national who was recently arrested by the NAIA-AIDIATG at the NAIA Terminal 3 for possession of illegal drugs and live ammunition. NAIA-AIDIATG identified the Chinese national as Qian Qiang, 52 years old. The post Overstaying Chinese arrested in NAIA appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Senate tackles airlines’ booking glitches, offloading mess
Growing complaints from various passengers against budget carrier, Cebu Pacific’s overbooking, offloading, and booking glitches have reached the Senate inquiry on Wednesday. This came after Senate committee chairperson, Senator Nancy Binay, filed Senate Resolution No. 575 pushing for an investigation on the customers’ complaints against Cebu Pacific due to recent flight cancellations. During the hearing, Binay said her office was able to compile at least 3,000 complaints from the passengers, which have been aired through social media platforms. “We have since seen it fit to invite our other airlines to this hearing because these problems, it seemed, have only grown in number. Our passengers face inconveniences on multiple fronts on account of flight delays, cancelations, offloading, and overbooking,” Binay stressed. Overseas worker, James Bartolome, said he has yet to receive his refund from Cebu Pacific after his flight going to Qatar was canceled. After knowing that his original flight was canceled, Bartolome opted to book another airline as the budget carrier won’t be able to give him an earlier flight. Senator JV Ejercito said the airport and airline operations will provide the “first and last impressions” to the tourists and potential investors entering the country. “We need to systematize this for our tourism and business climate,” he said, sharing that he was not even spared from experiencing flight delays. Binay emphasized the need to identify problems and immediately craft strategies to prevent similar complaints in the future. Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said that Cebu Pacific and other similar airline companies should acknowledge the impacts of flight cancellations and other airline mess. “Incidents like these could discourage tourists so this hearing should serve as a platform to air the grievances of the frustrated and helpless passengers,” Go said, citing that these may affect the country’s tourism industry and the economy. “Remember that we are still reviving from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he added. Go said the airlines must immediately act and rectify these issues by imposing proper mechanisms for compensating affected passengers—which includes food provisions during flight cancellation and alternative flight schedules. During the hearing, several Cebu Pacific passengers also complained about apparent website errors that resulted in them being charged multiple times for transactions yet it appeared to be unsuccessful. Cebu Pacific chief marketing and customer experience officer, Candice Iyog, explained that there is a part of the flow where if a passenger clicks proceed, it commits the changes even before the passenger pays. “We recognize that and we are taking that feedback as well,” Iyog said. The Cebu Pacific, she added, is already working on “a fix or an enhancement” to the interface of the website, which will likely be ready at the end of this month. “Depending on when it's ready, we're looking at possibly, end of July that we will be able to implement this change in the user experience,” she said. Senator Risa Hontiveros lamented that in several instances when passengers’ original flights were canceled, Cebu Pacific offered flight rebooking and passengers were immediately made to pay before they could confirm their purchase of travel tickets. Citing a passenger’s experience, the airline’s website technical issue made them pay a bill of P16,000-worth of add-ons after availing of Cebu Pacific’s free rebooking option, following the cancellation of flights. Iyog said they recently reminded their customer service agents to allow passengers to get back to their original flight or to remove add-ons that were “accidentally added.” “We don’t want to cancel flights for our passengers. It’s bad business and we don’t want to disrupt our passengers—that’s why we give options,” Iyog noted. Tougher passengers’ rights Meanwhile, Senator Grace Poe slammed the budget carrier for lacking customer service agents directly responding to these complaints. Poe called on for a tougher policy on air passengers' rights to address the cancellations and delays in flights by local airlines besetting travelers. "This pressing public service issue calls for urgent effective solutions as it involves not only the air passengers' rights but also the overall impact on the country's tourism and economy,” she added. While overbooking is a globally accepted practice, Poe said "systematic delays and cancellations are not." Also, Hontiveros pressed that the government agencies should step in to prevent more passengers from being disrupted in their travels due to canceled, rescheduled, and delayed flights in Cebu Pacific and other airline companies. “These kinds of inconveniences disrupt the travel experiences also of tourists, and as the chair said, could negatively affect the tourism sector,” she added. Aside from the reported overbooking, offloading, booking, and flight cancellations, Senator Raffy Tulfo said that adding extra flights daily amid lacking proper airplane maintenance can be called “abuses of the airline companies.” He lamented that it could pose danger and compromise the safety of all airline passengers, “There were safety issues surrounding the uploading, overbooking, and flight cancellations of airlines. If these airlines don’t care about fulfilling their obligations to provide air transport for their passengers, I will not be surprised that they are cutting corners when it comes to safety as well,” Tulfo pressed on. Tulfo said extra flights can also cause fatigue in pilots and flight attendants. For his part, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa wants the Civil Aeronautics Board to become proactive in resolving the massive airline mess in the country. Dela Rosa asked CAB if it is amenable to institutionalize the Air Passenger Bill of Rights in order to protect the public from erring airline companies. "What is your position? Do you agree with the proposal to create a law that will institutionalize the Air Passenger Bill of Rights?" asked Dela Rosa. In response, CAB Executive Director Carmelo Arcilla, said they have been very supportive of the proposal. “But it seems it is not among the priorities of Congress,” he said. Dela Rosa said he is mulling to proposed the bill in the Senate “not to discourage the airline industry but to protect the public interest. The post Senate tackles airlines’ booking glitches, offloading mess appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PAGCOR cracks whip on illegal offshore gaming
As part of inter-agency efforts to curb all illegal offshore gaming activities within the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation recently joined the newly created Clark Security Advisory Council. During the launching of the new Council on 9 June 2023, PAGCOR Assistant Vice President for Offshore Gaming Licensing Atty. Jessa Fernandez announced that that it will impose stricter sanctions on all erring licensed offshore gaming operators and accredited service providers. Fernandez said those who will be found allowing other entities to use the licenses or accreditation given to them will be subjected to hefty penalties, including the cancellation of their licenses or accreditation. Meanwhile, Clark Development Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer Agnes Devanadera stated that the CDC Board approved the recommendation of the CDC management to halt the processing of new lease or sub-lease applications by offshore gaming operators. “The CDC will no longer process or approve the operation of any incoming overseas gaming, even if they already have license from PAGCOR,” she said. PAGCOR has four remaining accredited service providers and one licensed offshore gaming operator inside the Clark Freeport Zone. Prior to the launch of the creation of the Clark Security Council, PAGCOR cancelled the provisional accreditation of Sun Valley Clark as an offshore gaming hub within the Clark Freeport Zone for its failure to ensure the lawful and orderly conduct of offshore gaming by its occupants in its registered sites. PAGCOR likewise cancelled the accreditation of CGC Technologies, an offshore gaming service provider based in Pampanga, after the company's alleged involvement in credit card fraud, serious illegal detention and human trafficking activities. The post PAGCOR cracks whip on illegal offshore gaming appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
An Waray seeks reversal of Comelec decision on partylist cancellation
Regional partylist group An Waray filed a motion for reconsideration challenging the Commission on Elections Second Division’s cancellation of their partylist registration over a questioned assumption of a seat by one of their former nominee way back in 2013. Filed on Monday but was only revealed to the media by Comelec the following day, An Waray is seeking a reversal of the poll body’s decision last Friday, arguing that the partylist gained two seats during the 2013 midterm elections. This, according to An Waray, made the assumption of then-nominee Atty. Victoria Isabel Noel as one of their representatives in Congress legal. To recall, Noel was the then-third nominee during the 2013 midterm elections when An Waray won with 541,205 votes and garnered two seats. However, the resignation of then-second nominee Jude Acidre elevated Noel as the new second nominee, behind then-first nominee Neil Benedict Montejo. However, a recomputation by the National Board of Canvassers, the cancellation of registration of 11 partylists, and the proclamation of Abang Lingkod Partylist as a winner in that year’s polls after a Supreme Court battle led to An-Waray garnering only one seat in Congress, effectively allowing only Montejo and excluding Noel. The partylist also cited the recent decisions on Erwin Tulfo’s assumption of House seat as representative of Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support, arguing that the proclamation was made for the partylist and not for individual nominees like Noel. An-Waray also said that the two seats were granted in accordance with NBOC Resolution No. 0008-13, which canceled the registration of 11 partylists after the 2013 midterm elections. “The respondents disagree and submit that a separate proclamation of a specific nominee is not material nor required for the said nominee to take an oath and assume the office of Member of the House of Representatives,” the motion reads. Arguing that Noel’s assumption of the House seat is legal, An-Waray said that the jurisdiction on such matters should go to the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal or HRET. The petition against Noel’s assumption of the House seat was filed in 2019 by Acidre and Danilo Pornias. Acidre currently represents Tingog Sinirangan Partylist, a Waray-based partylist similar to An Waray, in the House of Representatives. An Waray also has a representative in the Lower House through Congressman Florencio “Bem” Noel. Comelec previously said that the HRET shall have the decision on the issue, using the poll body’s decision as the basis for their actions. The post An Waray seeks reversal of Comelec decision on partylist cancellation appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
An Waray to counter Comelec decision
The An Waray Partylist will counter the decision of the Commission on Elections to revoke its registration for violating the rules and regulations of the poll body by allowing the group’s then-second nominee to sit as a member of the House of Representatives despite having only one seat in the 16th Congress. An Waray Rep. Florencio Noel told the Daily Tribune that they would exhaust all legal measures and including filing a Motion for Reconsideration within the five-day reglementary period given by the Comelec, which began on Friday, to stave off the ruling from becoming final and executory. The plea was triggered by the Comelec’s cancellation of the group’s registration after it found that the An Waray former representative, lawyer Isabel Noel, sister of the incumbent solon of the partylist, committed an offense when she assumed the post of a lawmaker in the 16th Congress, “knowing ‘full well’ that the Comelec has not issued a certificate of proclamation entitling her to do so,” said the poll body on Friday. “Without a Certificate of Proclamation for its second nominee, An Waray was entitled to one seat only in relation to the 2013 National and Local Elections, thus Atty. Noel’s assumption to office as Representative of An Waray had no legal basis,” the Comelec added. The poll body’s declaration followed a 15-page resolution that granted Jude Acidre and Danilo Pornias’ plea filed in 2019 to void An Waray’s accreditation as a partylist, barring it from further participation in the House. To recall, An Waray, in the 2013 polls, was initially entitled to two seats in the lower chamber after being proclaimed as one of the winners of the partylist race but was subsequently recomputed to be one seat only pursuant to National Board of Canvassers Resolution No. 13-030(PL)/004-14 issued on 20 August 2014. “The recomputation of seats was made following the Supreme Court’s order, in Abang Lingkod Party List vs. Comelec, to proclaim Abang Lingkod party-list as one of the winning party-list groups in the 2013 National and Local Elections with the number of seats it may be entitled to, and in view of the then-pendency of the case of Senior Citizens party-list before the Supreme Court,” it said. Further, the polling organization noted that the 28 May 2013, NBC Resolution 0008-13, which An Waray solely relied on, expressly stated that the initial allocation of seats initially allocated is “without prejudice to the proclamation of other parties, organizations, or coalitions which may later on be established to be entitled to one guaranteed seat and/or additional seat.” Thus, Comelec explained that An Waray “clearly” violated Republic Act 7941 or the Party-List System Act, “by arrogating upon itself the authority” to have the lawyer sit in the 16th Congress without legal basis. Comelec spokesperson Rex Laudiangco on Friday noted that the lower chamber has the jurisdiction to expel any member who fails to continually possess all the qualifications and none of the disqualifications. The post An Waray to counter Comelec decision appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Comelec revokes An-Waray partylist registration
The Commission on Elections Second Division on Friday cancelled the party-list registration of regional party-list group An Waray over a violation of Section 6 (5) of Republic Act Number 7941 or the "Partylist System Act." The cancellation stemmed from the assumption of another seat in the House of Representatives in 2013 by Attorney Victoria Isabel Noel, despite the partylist having been allowed only one seat, which was challenged in 2019 by two petitioners including Jude Acidre, former nominee of An Waray. Noel was the then-third nominee during the 2013 midterm elections when An Waray won with 541,205 votes and garnered two seats. At the time, the first and second nominees were Neil Benedict Montejo and Acidre, respectively. But the latter resigned from the party, effectively elevating Noel as second nominee. However, a recomputation by the National Board of Canvassers, the cancellation of registration of 11 partylists and the proclamation of Abang Lingkod Partylist as a winner in that year’s polls after a Supreme Court battle led to An-Waray garnering only one seat in Congress, effectively allowing only Montejo and excluding Noel. The petitioners said that Noel, citing NBOC Resolution No. 0008-13 which cancelled the registration of 11 partylists, took her oath on July 2013 and that she held that position without any intervention. The COMELEC said that NBOC Resolution No. 0008-13 was superseded by NBOC Resolution No. 13-030(PL)/0004-14, the resolution that prompted the recomputation of An Waray’s seats in the Lower House from two to one. “Pursuant to the foregoing, the Commission En Banc sitting as the NBOC did not issue a Certificate of Proclamation to An Waray, entitling its second nominee, Atty. Victoria Isabel Noel, to sit as representative in the House of Representatives in relation to the 13 May 2013 National and Local Elections,” the decision read. In a message to reporters, COMELEC spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said that the decision is yet to become final and executory. However, upon reaching finality, the poll body will then notify the House of Representatives and their electoral tribunal for their decision, particularly as the 19th Congress currently has a member of An Waray through Representative Florencio Gabriel Noel. “Both the House and the HRET may use as basis the COMELEC's resolution and factual findings on the matter,” Laudiangco said. “We have to remember that An Waray's nominee is a sitting member of the HOR, and we have to clearly define the bounds of jurisdictions between the COMELEC, the HOR and the HRET,” he added. The post Comelec revokes An-Waray partylist registration appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
HSBC stays intact, share owners vote
Global lender HSBC on Friday overwhelmingly defeated an activist proposal supported by its largest stakeholder, Chinese insurer Ping An, to spin off the bank’s Asia business. Of the shareholders who voted, more than 80 percent opposed the call to break up the Asia-focused bank, HSBC said in a statement. The vote took place during HSBC’s annual general meeting or AGM in Birmingham, central England. Last March, HSBC assured it is further strengthening its consumer banking business in the Philippines. The AGM came at the end of a week in which the London-headquartered bank posted a surge in quarterly net profit, boosted by rising interest rates and its rescue of the UK arm of failed US lender Silicon Valley Bank. “A large majority of HSBC shareholders voted overwhelmingly to support the board,” HSBC chairman Mark Tucker told the meeting. “That draws a line (under) the debate over the structure of the bank.” Speaking earlier at the meeting, Tucker insisted the proposal to split the bank was not beneficial. “We concluded that the alternative structural options would materially destroy value for shareholders, including putting your dividends at risk. This remains our unanimous view today,” he said. But Ping An, which owns more than 8 percent of HSBC, argued that the lender lags behind international peers and that a recent improvement in performance was tied mainly to rising interest rates, which it claims have peaked. The US Federal Reserve this week hinted that it would pause a policy of lifting borrowing costs aimed at cooling inflation. The European Central Bank on Thursday delivered a smaller interest rate increase than recently as higher borrowing costs begin to take their toll, but said it had “more ground to cover” in fighting red-hot price increases. “It is necessary for HSBC to push for structural reform to fundamentally address HSBC’s underlying market competitiveness issues,” Michael Huang, chairman and CEO of Ping An Asset Management, said recently. Strategic restructuring pushed Ping An had called on HSBC to engage in a “strategic restructuring” that would see it create a separately-listed bank headquartered in Hong Kong. Huang said the proposal would allow the bank to retain control over a separate Asia business, adding that management had “exaggerated many of the costs and risks” associated with a split. HSBC was among a number of major banks to cancel dividends early in the Covid-19 pandemic after an order from the Bank of England, a move that riled some Hong Kong investors. Some retail investors had cited the cancellation of the dividend as a reason to back the spin-off proposal. Friday’s shareholder meeting faced disruption from climate protesters, a common feature this year at annual general meetings being held by major UK companies. “You are happy to profit while the world burns. HSBC stop the greenwash,” one protester shouted as the meeting got underway and before security removed some demonstrators. Environmentalists are pushing for banks to stop funding fossil fuel projects, arguing that while they continue to do, their pledges to help tackle climate change are acts of “greenwashing”. The post HSBC stays intact, share owners vote appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Cebu Pacific flights to Japan on March 18-April 18 Cancelled
Cebu Pacific has temporarily cancelled all flights between Manila and Japan for one month from March 18 until April 18 as the carrier announces cancellation of all flights between Manila, Narita, and Nagoya. Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) limited inbound international passengers at 1,500 for the said period as the Civil Aeronautics Board issued a […].....»»
UAAP reminds member-schools to follow government rules amidst UST probe
University of Sto. Tomas is already looking into the Growling Tigers' so-called "Bicol bubble" overseen by head coach Aldin Ayo. The UAAP, through Executive Director Atty. Rebo Saguisag and President Nong Calanog of De La Salle University, met with the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) on Saturday after reports surfaced on the black and gold's alleged training sessions in their mentor's hometown. And there, the league assured the government agency that actions have already been taken by its member-school in question. "Atty. Rebo said that UST is conducting its own internal probe and promised to report to the UAAP soonest," GAB chairman Abraham Mitra said in a statement. According to Camille Naredo of ABS-CBN News, UST has been in Sorsogon since June. As of late, however, CJ Cansino, doing his duty as team captain, told coaches and management about "their desire to go home." The report went on to say that what he did "was not taken well by Ayo." Not long after, Cansino was kicked off the team and then found himself in the University of the Philippines. That sudden exit and the reasons surrounding it has apparently opened a can of worms that now involved government agencies. For its part, GAB reminded the UAAP and all sporting organizations to follow rules and regulations in the face of the continuing COVID-19 crisis. "The utmost importance is the safety of the players and students," Mitra said. That reminder, Saguisag said, would only be taken into heart by the league. "The league reiterates that it will always be guided by the lead governmental agencies and will not run counter to any of its directives. Hence, the cancellation of Season 82 and the opening of Season 83 will have to wait," he said. ABS-CBN Sports has contacted Coach Aldin, but he has refused to comment on the matter in the meantime. --- Follow this writer on Twitter, @riegogogo......»»
NCAA Season 96 opening depends on health crisis situation
The NCAA remains hopeful that it will be able to hold the shortened Season 96 in the early months of next year. However, Management Committee chairman Fr. Vic Calvo, OP of season host Letran said that everything is still dependent on the situation of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The NCAA is hoping to open the season in March 2021 assuming that the government will allow athletes to resume training by November. “It’s actually 12 to 14 weeks bago mo makuha ang kondisyon mo eh. We’re assuming as early as November based on available data or December. Kaya ang proposed po namin ay March (ang opening),” said Calvo on Tuesday during the online session of the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum where he was joined by former ManComm chairman Peter Cayco of Arellano. “Ang assumption namin dyan kapag in-allow ang practice you count three months saka tayo mag-game. Ayaw naman naming i-sacrifice ang quality ng games,” Calvo added in the session presented by San Miguel Corporation, Go For Gold, Amelie Hotel Manila, Braska Restaurant, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), and powered by Smart. The NCAA announced earlier that only mandatory sports basketball, volleyball, swimming and track and field are the only events to be held in the coming season. But the league is not closing its doors to adding other sports including online chess and E-sports depending on the health situation in the coming months. Calvo also mentioned that health and safety protocols will be observed once the season opens. The league is also considering holding closed-door games while the gyms from member schools will serve as game venues. The ManComm head added that they have different options regarding their plans and programs for the season but their main concern right now is to when they will be able to push through with the opening. “Hopeful naman tayo based dun sa mga reports na naririnig natin na the vaccine is coming on the way. Baka pagdating ng November, for example, pwede na mag-practice, by February pwede na tayo mag-NCAA,” said Calvo. “Depende pa rin naman sa decision ng ManCom then i-suggest naming sa Policy Board. Kasi yung safety issues importante rin yun.” Last March, the NCAA cancelled Season 95 affecting second semester sports volleyball, football, beach volleyball, athletics, lawn and soft tennis and cheerleading. And with the country still trying to cope with the health crisis, the NCAA just like other leagues and sports events could only just hope for the situation to get better. “Mahirap kasi kung tatanungin kami nu’ng definite answer (kung kailan ang opening) hindi kami makakapag-bigay ng ganoon,” said Calvo. --- Follow this writer on Twitter, @fromtheriles.....»»
Kaspersky Shares Cybersecurity Tips for a Peaceful Getaway during the holy week
As the holiday season approaches, the urge to unwind and kick back is natural. And it’s all too common for people to let their guard down completely when connecting to the Internet too– but shouldn’t. Recently, the Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Cybercrime Group shared its findings on identity theft cases in the country. Between November […].....»»
MLB season begins
Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers take center stage on Thursday as Major League Baseball’s new season gets under way on US soil against the backdrop of a gambling scandal that has engulfed its brightest star......»»
Unilab launches hub for health policy issues
Unilab Foundation recently launched the Unilab Center for Health Policy to serve as a venue for stakeholders to examine health policy issues.....»»
‘Danger’ level heat index recorded in 9 areas
Nine areas in the country experienced a heat index classified as “danger” level on Tuesday amid El Nino and the start of the dry and warm season......»»
EAM Jaishankar visits Indian Coast Guard Ship Samudra Paheredar in Manila
Manila [Philippines], March 27 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Indian Coast Guard Ship Samudra Paheredar on Tuesday during its port call to Manila and said that India's Act East policy and Indo-Pacific vision will continue to give it a more contemporary form. He presented his remarks at the Indian Coast Guard Ship Samudra Paheredar on Tuesday and said that his visit and the ship's presence signify th.....»»