Process ongoing as PBA reviews Abueva s suspension
The ball is officially on the PBA's court when it comes to the fate of Calvin Abueva. Just recently, Abueva revealed that he has completed his PBA-mandated requirements as he hopes to end his suspension and return to the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters. As of now however, the process to reinstate Calvin is still ongoing. "Nag-usap na kami ni Calvin last Thursday. Magka-usap kami, kamustahan, maganda ang kwentuhan at lahat," PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial said during the most recent PSA forum. "Sinabi ko sa kanya, may proseso pang gagawin. Pero ang maganda, nagka-usap na kami. Naintindihan niya ako, naiintindihan ko siya," Marcial added. Abueva recently told veteran sportscaster Sev Sarmenta on "Sports Page" that he already met his requirements. [Related: Abueva waits for PBA decision on his suspension] "Actually, right now tapos na po lahat. Result na lang ang hinihintay," Calvin said. "Hanggang ngayon yun na lang hinihintay ko, kung anong result na saabihin ni Commissioner dun sa mga ginawa ko," he added. The process is ongoing but Marcial says he's not at liberty to divulge more information regarding Abueva's case. Calvin has been suspended from the PBA since June of 2019. "Hindi ko pwede isiwalat sa inyo kung paano, para sa proteksyon at ikabubuti ng lahat," Commissioner Willie said. — Follow this writer on Twitter, @paullintag8.....»»
Abueva still has to go through a process – Marcial
By JONAS TERRADO PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial said there’s still a process that needs to be taken before the indefinite suspension of Phoenix Super LPG star Calvin Abueva is lifted. Marcial bared in Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association that he had a positive discussion last week with Abueva, who said in an […].....»»
With complete requirements, Abueva waits for PBA decision on his suspension
The Calvin Abueva saga is about to come to an end. Abueva says that he's completed all his requirements and the decision is now up to the PBA to reinstate him or not. [Related: PBA: Abueva needs to complete psychological tests to end suspension] In June, Calvin revealed that he just needs to complete his psychological tests in order to move his reinstatement process along. Two months later, Abueva now says he's all done. "Actually, right now tapos na po lahat. Result na lang ang hinihintay," Calvin told veteran sportscaster Sev Sarmenta on the One Sports show, "Sports Page." "Hanggang ngayon yun na lang hinihintay ko, kung anong result na saabihin ni Commissioner dun sa mga ginawa ko," he added. Abueva has been suspended for over a year now. Calvin's indefinite suspension was handed down in June of 2019 after a series of on-court incidents capped by him giving a clothesline to TNT import Terrence Jones. As time passed and with the help of his treatment, Abueva feels refreshed and is overall just in a better place in his life. "Ang laki ng pagbabago sa mga nangyari sa akin sa past year na dumaan. Naging malinaw lahat sa pagi-isip ko kung ano yung dapat temper at attitude mo," Calvin said. — Follow this writer on Twitter, @paullintag8.....»»
PBA: GAB hopes a more tamed Calvin returns from suspension
Calvin Abueva's PBA suspension has dragged on for more than a year now. While it appears that Abueva is very close to completing his PBA requirements for reinstatement, the ongoing pandemic seen as one of the main reasons for the delay, it's no secret that his return to basketball still could take a while. [Related: PBA: Abueva needs to complete psychological tests to end suspension] Abueva's final reinstatement is still up to the decision of the PBA Commissioner and the PBA Board. When he does come back though, all eyes will definitely be on him. Calvin could be on a more tighter leash and any more of his previous shenanigans might mean harsher punishment in the future. "As everybody knows, we have observed his improper and unprofessional decorum in the games. You think he's worth called being a professional player? Minsan unbecoming na of a professional player," Games and Amusements Board Chairman Baham Mitra said on the recent Philippine Sportswriters Association forum when the name of Calvin was brought up. "Ako I believe in him, he's a very good player. Pero sana naman mag-tame down na ng konti, nakaka-sakit na siya eh. Nakaktakot baka mamaya maka-injure siya ng ibang professional," he added. The GAB has not taken any action regarding the case of Abueva, who was indefinitely suspended last year on top of a P70,000 fine for a number of offenses in Phoenix's opening weekend in the 2019 Commissioner's Cup, including a clothesline on TNT KaTropa import Terrence Jones. If the PBA decides to reinstate Calvin, the GAB will simply acknowledge it although the professional board prefers if Abueva can communicate with them as well. "We are separate with what the PBA is doing. There has been no communication between Calvin and the GAB. In case the PBA thinks na okay na siya, then he will have to also try to at least reach out to us. Sabi ko nga, we don't want to over regulate. We always believe in self-regulation," Mitra said. "Ngayon, kung nadisiplina na siya, he can probably present what steps and proper therapy sessions he has undergone. Then if he convinces the Board, then okay lang din naman samin," he added. Abueva's ongoing suspension is certainly one of the harshest punishments a PBA player has received in recent years. With that being said, the Chairman Mitra has issued a reminder to all players about their responsibilities as professional athletes. "Remind po natin yung mga players no, lahat po kayo may lisensya sa Games and Amusements Board," he said. "We don't want to overstep, but we're here and we're watching. Turning pro comes with responsibilities," Mitra added. — Follow this writer on Twitter, @paullintag8.....»»
PBA: Abueva needs to complete psychological tests to end suspension
Calvin Abueva getting his mind right is the only thing he needs to be reinstated in the PBA. In a rare interview following his now year-long suspension from the league, Abueva revealed the mystery requirement that's holding him back from the PBA. The Phoenix star just needs to complete his psychological tests in order to complete his reinstatement process. "Ngayon, sayang nga nagka-pandemiya, hindi na sunud-sunod yung session ko about sa psychology," Abueva said on the 2OT podcast of PBA broadcasters Magoo Marjon and Carlo Pamintuan. "Sa dalawang psych ko, naka-tulong sakin at naging kumportable ang buhay ko. Hinihintay ko na lang ang apat na session ko dito para maka-balik," he added. Earlier this week during the PSA Forum, Commissioner Willie Marcial gave a vague update on Abueva, saying the COVID-19 pandemic stalled the Beast's reinstatement. [Related: PBA: Phoenix's Calvin Abueva remains indefinitely suspended] However, the PBA chief didn't go into specifics on Abueva's actual requirements. For his part, Calvin reveals that he's completed the rest of what the PBA wants him to do in order to play again. "Actually tapos na, yung mag-hingi ng apology sa Board, sa PBA fans, at lalong-lalo na sa mga nasaktan ko," he said. "Yung mga community service na kailangan kong gawin [tapos na rin]. Yung pinapagawang community service sakin, dinoble ko pa, kasi opportunity ko rin sa buhay ko na maka-tulong din. Di naman ako mayaman, pero alam ko yung lugar ko. Ang pangatlo yung drug test na nakumpleto ko," Abueva added. Abueva has been indefinitely suspended since June 4, 2019. Calvin got his punishment after separate incidents in the 2019 Commissioner's Cup. In a matter of three days, Abueva made lewd gestures towards the girlfriend of then Blackwater rookie Ray Parks Jr. and clotheslined TNT import Terrence Jones. — Follow this writer on Twitter, @paullintag8.....»»
Ex-FIFA vice-president Temarii charged over 2022 World Cup vote
FIFA's disgraced former vice-president Reynald Temarii of Tahiti has been charged with corruption by French prosecutors probing Qatar's 2022 World Cup bid process. The charge, the first to emerge from the years-long investigation, is for passive corruption and was confirmed by France's financial crimes prosecutors. Temarii is a former president of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC). But he was forced out in 2010 after being implicated in a vote-selling scandal during an undercover newspaper sting before the controversial awarding to Qatar of last year's football showpiece. Temarii was banned for a year by FIFA on November 17, 2010, ruling him out of the infamous December 2 vote at FIFA's headquarters in Zurich. The OFC was entitled to organize someone to vote in his place, with the first of their votes designated for Australia and then if necessary to the United States, the favorites for the 2022 staging rights over Qatar. But Temarii appealed his ban on the night of 30 November, having initially accepted his suspension. His appeal, as per FIFA rules, deprived the OFC of a vote on 2 December, with Qatar eventually winning the ballot over the USA 14-8. The French investigation, set up in 2019, was particularly interested in a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris on 23 November 2010, just over a week before the vote, between then-French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Qatari prince Tamim ben Hamad al-Thani –- who became Emir in 2013 –- and UEFA president at the time Michel Platini who subsequently voted for Qatar. Temarii was hit with a separate eight-year ban in 2015 for receiving 300,000 euros to cover his legal expenses for his 2010 appeal from former FIFA executive member Mohamed bin Hammam, a key player in securing the World Cup for his home country, Qatar. Bin Hammam was banned for life from football in 2012. The post Ex-FIFA vice-president Temarii charged over 2022 World Cup vote appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Australia’s Phl stakes up
It’s due season for the Philippines, an increasingly lucrative investment destination that embodies a shift in the center of gravity in the regional economy. The country’s bullish business prospects post-pandemic are propped up by the recent increase in direct investments, which continue to inspire business confidence in the Philippines. Among the flurry of such inflows is Australian, what with the country’s AUD89.9 million (P3.32 billion) worth of official development assistance (2023 to 2024) to the Philippines. This came at the heels of a productive meeting between Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and DFA Sec. Enrique Manalo last week, a fund that will be channeled mostly to programs on inclusive economic growth, education, training and scholarships, disaster and climate resilience, and peace and stability in the Bangsamoro. Ongoing cooperation in the areas of science and innovation, people-to-people exchanges, law and justice is also uppermost, as well as defense, maritime, and counter-terrorism. Wong said Australia considers providing drones and other technology as a part of maritime cooperation package to buttress the Philippines’ position in waters adjacent to many sovereign interests. Manila and Canberra are a long-standing “important security partner” in the region according to Wong, who added that Australia also thinks trilateral partnerships with the Philippines on joint patrols in the West Philippine Sea is also possible. The fund is on top of Canberra’s AUD10.95-million (P405 million) pledge for the establishment of a new immunization information and strengthened laboratory network and surveillance systems in the Philippines for health emergencies like the recent pandemic. The Philippines had received approximately P3.1-billion ODA last year. The bulk of it was pivotal in the realization of the peace process in the Bangsamoro. The two countries are exploring investment cooperation on critical minerals and the improvement of two-way tourism. “Work and holiday visa arrangement” are also high on the negotiation table. Wong’s high-level visit to Manila earlier this month may serve as a precedent to a possible in-person meeting between President Marcos Jr. and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese come the Asean-Australia Summit in March 2024, or a bilateral visit soon. The post Australia’s Phl stakes up appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
KSA unpaid claims process ongoing
The Department of Migrant Workers on Friday announced that the processing of long-overdue claims of 12,000 overseas Filipino workers in bankrupted Saudi Arabia-based construction firms is already ongoing on the KSA side. DMW Secretary Susan Ople and Undersecretary Bernard Olalia said that the current process involves the cross-checking of the list of claimants using the list from the agency and legal documents and database from a recently-created default company committee. Ople, citing KSA Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Ahmad bin Sulaiman Al-Rajhi, said that the funding for the unpaid claims of OFWs is now at the Ministry of Finance. “We no longer inquired about the amount, but what is clear is that it is there and it is sufficient to pay not just the claims of unpaid workers, but all the other claims including those of their own people,” Ople said. They also reported the now-close communication between the KSA and Philippines said with Olalia as its focal person. He said that this is a huge development considering the difficulty in waiting for the news since the issue on unpaid claims way back 2015 and 2016. Prior to this, the DMW has designated an e-mail to gather and verify all existing claims from OFWs who have worked with these Saudi companies. Ople previously said that 12,000 claimants have been verified, as well as 2,000 more Filipinos who are claiming unpaid dues but without their iqama or Saudi residency permit numbers. She added that nine companies have been identified by the KSA government as those who have longstanding dues to OFWs, but the names of these companies will be disclosed soon. With the KSA determining the official list of claimants based on both countries’ records, Ople said that they are trusting the process, hoping that all Filipino claimants will be paid in full. The post KSA unpaid claims process ongoing appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Kuwait OFWs affected by ban receive boost
The Department of Migrant Workers on Thursday led the distribution of financial aid and assistance in job matching for overseas Filipino workers whose employment was affected by the suspension of new entry and work visas in Kuwait. Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac and Assistant Secretary for Licensing and Adjudication Francisco Ron de Guzman were present in the distribution of assistance to the first batch of OFWs whose work was halted by the ban. They were part of the 815 OFWs who were not allowed to enter Kuwait. Each OFW was given a P30,000 worth of financial aid from DMW as well as assistance in seeking other overseas employment elsewhere. “Part of our job matching is to assist not only the workers, but also the recruitment agencies in speeding up the processing of documents so that our workers could already go ahead to their chosen countries of destination,” De Guzman said. Cacdac also vowed OFWs who could immediately find jobs to be easily granted their overseas employment certificate. “Hopefully, all through the end of May and the month of June, we could finish the granting of job opportunities to them,” Cacdac said. Two weeks ago, Kuwait’s Interior Minister Sheikh Talal Al-Khaled Al-Sabah instated the suspension of granting of work and entry visas to OFWs as the Philippines was said to have violated their labor agreements. Prior to this, the two countries’ labor ties went rough following the reported death of Jullebee Ranara, whose body was discovered along the desert and the abuse to Myla Bagbag who jumped off a building unit to escape her employer. Following the talks between the two countries last week, DMW said in a rather limited statement that they have defended their actions on securing the welfare of OFWs. Cacdac said that there is still uncertainty on when the suspension for OFW visas in Kuwait will last, but he said that talks are still ongoing between the two countries. He added that the deployment ban for new household service workers in Kuwait is still in effect. “As of now, we still don’t know when the suspension will end. We are continuing to hope that this will lead to a pathway to labor diplomacy. This is something that we’re anticipating with the Department of Foreign Affairs,” Cacdac said. The post Kuwait OFWs affected by ban receive boost appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Join DepEd agenda, Sara asks private sector
Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Thursday urged the private sector to join the government in implementing the Department of Education’s MATATAG agenda. “As the vice president and secretary of Education, I strongly encourage the private sector to join hands with the government and our development partners to ensure that we can achieve our objectives in education,” Duterte said in a speech for the Department of Education Partners Convergence. “With the help of our partners, we can provide alternative ways of learning, and develop lifelong learning skills, which will enable students to learn in the safety of their homes, especially during emergencies and disruptions,” she added. Duterte said learners will recognize that true learning is an ongoing process and that they never stop growing and developing as individuals through the MATATAG agenda. “They will remain committed to continuous self-improvement and self-reflection, finding ways to improve and expand their own knowledge and skills so that they can better support those around them,” she said. Duterte said that “being matatag” means cultivating resilience, perseverance, and determination, not only in their own studies but also in supporting others who may be struggling or disadvantaged. “Our matatag learners will be the pillars of strength and stability for their fellow learners, providing a steady hand to guide them through the ups and downs of their educational journeys. And these learners will define the future of the Philippines,” she added. Duterte said Filipino children must be given a chance to compete on an equal playing field with the rest of the world. “They are the future of our nation and investing in their education today will bring great benefits to our country in years to come,” she said. “We greatly appreciate the support we have received from our partners and stakeholders, but we also recognize the challenges we still face in achieving our goals,” the Vice President added. She also commended all the participants who have come together from different organizations with a shared goal of improving the lives of learners and people in developing communities. “To be a matatag partner means to be strong and unwavering in the face of challenges and adversity. It means being steadfast in our dedication to the learning and growth of our Filipino learners and acknowledging the essential role that teamwork and solidarity play in achieving these goals,” Duterte said. “As Matatag partners, we recognize that education is not just about academic achievement, but it is also about personal growth, building character, and developing life skills. And, ultimately, to be a Matatag partner means to be part of something greater than ourselves,” she added. In the past two months, the DepEd has gathered representatives of Official Development Assistance (ODA) partners to align their programs to the MATATAG agenda. “Our ODA partners provided insights and suggestions for regions that may need more programs, and they identified the key areas into which partners can provide their technical assistance,” Duterte said. Duterte said local partners also expressed their support to reinforce the MATATAG agenda by renewing their commitment to providing relevant assistance to the Department of Education. “Let us work together to prioritize our interventions in education, including increasing the number of quality teachers, ensuring that our school facilities are adequate, and providing access to modern technologies that will enhance the learning experience of our students,” she added. The post Join DepEd agenda, Sara asks private sector appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Aboitiz sets P800M West Cebu Estate industrial expansion
BALAMBAN, Cebu — Aboitiz InfraCapital, the infrastructure arm of the Aboitiz Group, is spending P800 million this year to bankroll the 39-hectare industrial expansion of the West Cebu Estate. Rafael Fernandez de Mesa, President of Cebu Industrial Park Developers, Inc. and Head of Aboitiz InfraCapital Economic Estates, said the company will mobilize the budget to kick off the estate’s transformation into a critical economic hub in the region. “Construction is ongoing. This year, we've earmarked about P800 million to develop this and we're now in the process of pinpointing additional investment that we’ll be pouring in over the next few years to develop a commercial district, which will include the neighborhood commercial,” De Mesa said in an interview with reporters on Wednesday. “We're very excited about this ongoing expansion This will diversify our locator mix, which will now include light to medium manufacturing,“ he added. The industrial expansion is part of the first phase of the planned expansion in West Cebu Estate. It is scheduled to be completed by next year. The next phase includes the establishment of the so-called West Cebu Exchange — a commercial complex that will host food outlets, retail shops, basic services, a supermarket, and a transportation hub. AboitizInfra eyes finishing the final phase of the expansion by 2025. The expansion plans, according to the company, will also generate 16,000 new jobs on top of the current 14,000 work population in the area. Formerly West Cebu Industrial Park, the West Cebu Estate, a 540-hectare mixed-use development, is a joint venture between the Aboitiz Group and Tsuneishi Holdings of Japan. It is home to some of the world’s leading maritime companies such as Australia’s Austal Philippines. It also houses the 283-hectare Philippine Economic Zone Authority registered zone tagged as the “Shipbuilding Capital of the Philippines.” The Aboitiz Group and its partners celebrated the 30th anniversary of West Cebu Estate on Wednesday, 25 May. "As we go along our journey of becoming the Philippines' first tech glomerate, we remain committed to expanding and transforming West Cebu Estate, and other economic estates, into future-ready, master-planned developments by leveraging on the synergies and capabilities with the bigger Aboitiz Group,” Cosette V. Canilao, Aboitiz InfraCapital President and Chief Executive Officer, said. The post Aboitiz sets P800M West Cebu Estate industrial expansion appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Peace process a shared responsibility
A counterterrorism advisor from the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands in the Philippines traveled to the Bangsamoro region and Northern Mindanao to see firsthand the distribution of birth certificates to Moro Islamic Liberation Front fighters in Camp Bilal, Munai, Lanao del Norte. Joining non-government organizations and representatives from the government of the Philippines, Roy Hans witnessed over two days the impact of the ongoing peace process in the Bangsamoro, and spoke with MILF combatants, community members, and internally displaced people to hear their perspectives on the ongoing Bangsamoro transition. Over 400 former and current MILF fighters, their families, comrades of the Bangsamoro Islamic Women Auxiliary Brigade, and members surrounding MILF camps from Camp Bilal and the municipality of Balo-i received copies of their Certificates of Live Birth as part of the Access to Legal Identity and Social Services for Decommissioned Combatants implemented by IDEALS Inc. ALIAS DC aims to support the Bangsamoro peace process by providing former and current MILF revolutionaries and members of conflicted communities in the Bangsamoro with birth certificates to facilitate access to socioeconomic and development programs. Following the distribution, Hans also held short dialogues with former combatants in Balo-i. The discussions laid bare the decommissioned combatants’ desire for brighter futures for their children and livelihood opportunities, which they hope will materialize throughout the course of the peace process. On 28 April, Hans visited Marawi City’s ground zero, and took part in a community visit and conversation with IDPs from Bakwit Village Phase 2 in Saguiaran, Lanao del Norte. Internally displaced people and representatives from civil society organizations conveyed the importance of continued assistance and the culturally inclusive rehabilitation of their city. Since March, the ALIAS DC project has distributed 1,136 COLBs out of the 35,665 total applications it received in Muslim Mindanao. ALIAS DC is a civil registration project funded by the European Union in the Philippines, Australia in The Philippines, and The Asia Foundation. The post Peace process a shared responsibility appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PNP overhaul of anti-drug units ongoing
The Philippine National Police said dissolving special operations units attached to the PNP-Drug Enforcement Group is part of efforts to overhaul its anti-illegal drugs operations. PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo admitted that there were already initial discussions that the 17 SOUs could not just be disbanded since there is more than 1,000 PNP personnel that would be affected. She added that all top units of the PNP were already asked for comments, conclusions and recommendations in connection with the proposed deactivation of PDEG’s SOUs. “Once all the inputs are in, this will be submitted to the Office of the Chief PNP and if approved, it will be submitted to the National Police Commission for review,” Fajardo told reporters in a press briefing held at Camp Crame. PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda earlier said that should the proposal be approved, all the operations of PDEG are COPLAN (case operational plan)-based and that much of the illegal drugs campaign would be delegated to regional and provincial Drug Enforcement Units. Meanwhile, more than 700 policemen assigned to the 17 SOU of the PDEG are set to be recalled and be subjected to a values formation and moral recovery program. Fajardo said the PDEG leadership under Brig. Gen. Faro Olaguera is now preparing for the recall of all its SOU personnel while the discussion on whether or not the 17 units would be disbanded is ongoing. The 17 SOU units of PDEG represent the 17 regions in the country. “According to him (Olaguera), they are now preparing for the possible transport of their personnel here at the National Headquarters (Camp Crame, Quezon City) and they are also preparing for the billeting area for them,” Fajardo said. “And should they be transported here at the NHQ, they will be included in the program that is now being prepared and spearheaded by the Directorate for Human Resources and Doctrine Development for them to undergo values formation and moral recovery program and other reorientation courses,” she added. The deactivation of PDEG’s SOUs became a hot topic in the PNP over the involvement of some anti-narcotics policemen to illegal drugs activities that include recycling and pilferage of confiscated illegal drugs. The recent and biggest controversy that hit the PNP was the October 2022 operation in Manila wherein PDEG personnel, some of them were assigned to the PDEG-SOU of Region 4A, were accused of stealing kilos of shabu from the 990 kilos confiscated from a lending agency owned by dismissed police master sergeant Rodolfo Mayo Jr. Former PNP chief Rodolfo Azurin, Jr. was also quoted saying that the reason why he would not attend on-site presentations of confiscated illegal drugs is that such successful operations are sometimes included in the playbook of illegal drugs syndicates to make it appear that the drug war is winning. Two police generals and two police colonels were also recommended to be kicked out of the police service and be slapped with criminal and administrative charges for illegal drugs involvement. All of them turned out to be former officials of the PDEG. Earlier, Acorda also said policemen will undergo “proper vetting” before they will be assigned to police units involved in the continuing war against illegal drugs. Acorda made the pronouncement amid recent findings about the involvement of some personnel of the PDEG in illegal drugs. More than 40 personnel of the PDEG were disarmed, ordered restricted and are now under investigation over allegations of drug protection racket, pilferage and recycling of confiscated illegal drugs. “The anti-illegal drug campaign shall be done by ensuring proper vetting of PDEG and Drug Enforcement Unit personnel to make sure that only those who have successfully undergone an honest vetting process will be assigned with anti-illegal drug units,” he said Acorda, who used to be the head of the PNP’s Directorate for Intelligence, wants to maximize all the information that must be obtained in ensuring that anti-narcotics personnel of the PNP are all clean. He said the vetting process will be done from the PDEG down to the station level of drug enforcement units. Fajardo said the move is also aimed at ensuring that those who have a derogatory record will not be returned to the PDEG or any PNP anti-illegal drugs unit -- the issue behind dismissed Mayo. “The background investigation will further be intensified and field commanders were the ones tasked to conduct it and all their findings were tasked to be written so that if there would be problems later on, we would hold them accountable,” said Fajardo. Fajardo said there is also an ongoing review of the existing policies in the conduct of background investigations. The post PNP overhaul of anti-drug units ongoing appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Power transmission strife probe sought
A lawmaker on Monday is seeking an investigation into the country’s series of power interruptions and electrical disturbances for the past weeks, insisting that the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines should be held liable. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian — who is also the vice-chairperson of the committee on Energy — filed Resolution 607 calling for a Senate inquiry into the series of disturbances in the country’s power transmission system “in the hope of ensuring a reliable and continuous electricity supply.” “These successive transmission system disturbances caused inconvenience to communities and losses to businesses,” said Gatchalian. “The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines as the operator of the transmission system in the country should be held to account for the root cause of these disturbances.” The senator made the call after the NGCP placed the Luzon grid under red and yellow alerts after reporting the power plant outages due to the tripping of the Bolo-Masinloc 230kV Line 2 on 8 May. He also cited that it led to the tripping of 2 units of the Masinloc Coal Power Plant which, in turn, caused a power loss of 659 megawatts in the Luzon grid. “Such disturbances brought power interruptions in the franchise areas of various distribution facilities across Luzon island,” said the senator, adding that in the Meralco franchise, in particular, more than 300,000 customers in Paco and Sta. Mesa in Manila, Caloocan, Malabon, Batangas, Antipolo in Rizal, San Pedro and Biñan in Laguna, and San Rafael and Pulilan in Bulacan were affected by the tripping activity. To recall, Meralco on 9 May reported power supply cuts due to a temporary system imbalance caused by a sudden plant outage, saying that the power supply disruption was caused by an automatic load dropping of approximately 290 MW as a result of the tripping of the Duhat-Hermosa 290kV line. On 27 April, the NGCP reported a system disturbance in the Visayas, causing a loss of 322.3 MW and power interruptions that persisted until 30 April. More than 1.5 million households were affected by the power interruptions in the islands of Panay, Guimaras and Negros. The power outages last up to 12 hours. Meanwhile, Senator JV Ejercito is seeking to review the NGCP’s franchise and assessment of its performance after receiving reports that foreign shareholders have more control of the company. “Utilities that are concerned with national security should remain with the national government, controlled by the Philippines,” Ejercito said. As this developed, more senators on Monday expressed their openness to the call to review the Congressional franchise given to the NGCP due to the recent power outages in several parts of the country. Senator Grace Poe, chair of the Senate Committee on Public Services, said that her panel is open to the review of the congressional franchise of the NGCP “as it concerns a critical need of Filipinos.” “The recurring power outages being experienced by millions of households amid the scorching months should not be the norm,” Poe said. “We must also exercise vigilance when it comes to our power lines, to ensure that electricity running from Luzon to Mindanao remains under the control of Filipinos amid security concerns raised by senators.” Senator Risa Hontiveros echoed the same sentiment, saying there is nothing wrong with the Upper Chamber if it would review the franchise of the privately-owned corporation. “Even during the previous Congress, we have started, in a way, the review of at least some provisions in the franchise because the government is not only one that has an obligation in this contract but the corporation itself,” Hontiveros said. In other developments, the Energy Regulatory Commission is already doing its part by auditing the NGCP on the completion of the transmission projects as part of the ongoing rate reset process of the grid operator, ERC chairperson Monalisa Dimalanta told Daily Tribune. Dimalanta’s remark came in response to Albay Rep. Joey Salceda’s call to ERC to use its powers under Republic Act 9511 or the NGCP franchise to mandate performance improvements in the transmission company following blackouts caused by delays and damage to the company’s transmission lines. “If you recall, NGCP’s allowable revenues are set on a 5-year cycle supposedly, but the last one happened back in 2010, which set NGCP’s allowed revenues and corresponding rates for 2011-2015,” Dimalanta said. She added that the power regulator is already “conducting the review and reset now for the past years (2016-2022) and in parallel the process to set their revenues based on forecasted expenses for 2023-2027.” Salceda tapped the ERC to conduct a performance audit on the NGCP after its supposed deadline for its major three major projects -- the Cebu-Negros-Panay connection and the Mindanao-Visayas interconnection -- that was due by August this year. With Edjen Oliquino The post Power transmission strife probe sought appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BuzzFeed to close news operation
BuzzFeed announced Thursday that it was shutting its news division as part of layoffs, signaling the end of one of the most notable news websites of the internet era. The company cited challenges including recession in the tech sector and the struggling stock market, with CEO Jonah Peretti admitting he was partly at fault for the closure. "We are reducing our workforce by approximately 15 percent today... and beginning the process of closing BuzzFeed News," Peretti wrote in a memo to staff. The announcement is the latest to rock the US media landscape as outlets battle with falling reader numbers and lower advertising revenue. Shares in BuzzFeed, known for its viral content and journalism, plunged more than 20 percent on Wall Street following the news. Peretti said the company had come to the conclusion that it "can no longer continue to fund BuzzFeed News as a standalone organization." He added that it would now concentrate its news output on its HuffPost website. Peretti also cited the coronavirus pandemic, less capital, a decelerating digital advertising market, and "ongoing audience and platform shifts." "Dealing with all of these obstacles at once is part of why we've needed to make the difficult decisions to eliminate more jobs and reduce spending," he said. Peretti conceded that he could have reacted differently to the challenges. "I could have managed these changes better as the CEO of this company and our leadership team could have performed better despite these circumstances," he wrote. Peretti admitted that he had decided "to overinvest in BuzzFeed News because I love their work and mission so much." "This made me slow to accept that the big platforms wouldn't provide the distribution or financial support required to support premium, free journalism purpose-built for social media," he wrote. BuzzFeed, created in 2006, first became known for its lists and topical quizzes. Awards But in 2011 it founded BuzzFeed News, which won a number of awards and became a symbol of a new wave of internet media companies. It received plaudits for its investigative work and won a Pulitzer Prize in 2021 for coverage of the Chinese government's detention of Muslims in Xinjiang. But it was criticized after it published a cache of unverified information about Donald Trump known as the "Steele Dossier." BuzzFeed defended the decision by saying the public had a right to read the unsubstantiated claims since many in Washington already had. Ultimately, making money was Buzzfeed's problem and Peretti said he regretted that he "didn't hold the company to higher standards for profitability." The New York-headquartered company announced in May 2020 that it would shutter part of its loss-making news operations in Britain and Australia as it scaled back global ambitions to cut costs. In November of that year, BuzzFeed bought the Huffington Post news site from Verizon without disclosing the amount. "Moving forward, we will have a single news brand in HuffPost, which is profitable, with a loyal direct front page audience," Peretti wrote. Newsroom employment has declined steadily in the United States, falling from 114,000 in 2008 to 85,000 in 2020, according to a 2021 study by the Pew Research Center. Layoffs have taken place at CNN, NBC, MSNBC, and Vox Media in recent months. The post BuzzFeed to close news operation appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
LIV boss Norman says ‘long list’ of players want to join rebel tour
LIV Golf boss Greg Norman says "a long list" of players want to join the rebel tour as Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson on Wednesday conceded it would benefit from more depth. Norman, who is preparing for the Saudi-backed circuit's first event in his Australian homeland this week, said some of the names would "surprise" people. "It's an ongoing process. We've got a long list of players who want to come in. We just don't have the ability today because players are under contract," he told NewsCorp Australia, without giving names. "But we'll get to a position where there will be a relegation series and places will start opening up. "It's incredible the amount of players who want to come on board," he added. "It would surprise you how good those names are." Bankrolled by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, LIV split the golf world last year by luring away top stars from the US PGA Tour and DP World Tour (formerly the European Tour) with lucrative contracts to its 54-hole, no-cut experiment. Now in its second season, it has faced resistance from traditionalists and struggled for credibility in the United States, in particular. Campaigners accuse Saudi Arabia of "sportswashing" -- using sport to deflect from its human rights record, including the murder and dismembering of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in its Istanbul consulate in 2018. But LIV looks to have been embraced by Australians with tickets selling out for this week's event in Adelaide. Koepka, runner-up at the Masters two weeks ago, and current British Open champion Cameron Smith are among the top names who have defected to LIV. They headline the action at The Grange Golf Club this week. Phil Mickelson, who tied for second with Koepka at Augusta, and Dustin Johnson also jumped ship to LIV, as did Patrick Reed, who finished fourth at the Masters. There have been no more recent big-name defections, and if there are it would be another setback for the US PGA Tour. Koepka, who had a two-stroke lead going into the final round at the Masters but imploded to finish four strokes behind winner Jon Rahm, said he had not spoken to any players about making the move to LIV because it was "not my style". But he added: "I'm sure there's a bunch of guys who are still looking to come over, whether that be college players, younger players, to guys who have played on the PGA Tour and the DP Tour. "And yes, you can always add depth to anything -- the stronger we get, the better we are." Two-time major winner Johnson agreed that more star power was needed to grow LIV. "Obviously the better players we have playing the stronger LIV gets and it's better for the game," he said. "But I haven't talked to Greg this week, so I can't really comment too much on what he was saying." The post LIV boss Norman says ‘long list’ of players want to join rebel tour appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Unsound climate studies sneak into print: scientists
Misleading studies sowing doubt about climate change are getting into peer-reviewed journals, scientists warn, citing recent papers linked to a lawsuit in Germany whose authors denied conflicts of interest. Observers have long questioned the growing number of research journals that take fees from eager academics but often publish their work without rigorous review. Biased authors, they say, are taking advantage of an overloaded assessment system, undermining the scientific evidence that provides the bedrock for climate action. "The recent explosion of so-called 'predatory journals' is creating problems that are pro-actively explored by climate sceptics," said Carl Schleussner, a scientist at research group Climate Analytics. "It opens the door to those who want to willingly get dubious research out there." AFP Fact Check's full investigation is published at u.afp.com/i2qZ. Peruvian glacier study One study denied that human-driven warming was to blame for the melting of a Peruvian glacier and consequent flood risk. Two of its authors are former executives of RWE, a German energy company targeted by a lawsuit over the glacier, and both are prominent climate contrarians. Their study appeared in November 2022 in the Journal of South American Earth Sciences, which is owned by the major Dutch publisher Elsevier. Like many others, the journal charges authors for submissions, which are then supposed to be vetted by qualified experts before being published. The paper attacked the findings of an earlier study by scientists at Oxford University that a plaintiff in the Peruvian case -- a local farmer who says RWE's carbon emissions contributed to warming -- is citing as evidence. Nathan Stansell, a palaeoclimatologist at Northern Illinois University, is one of the scientists whose work was cited in the German-led paper. The paper was "fraught with misinformation, mischaracterizations and bias," he told AFP. It presented a "debunked argument that since it was warm in medieval times, then there was nothing alarming about recent warming. "The bulk of the paleoclimate community recognises that the groups trying to spread this fallacy cannot compete with sound scientific data." Two other scientists cited in the study, Ben Marzeion of the University of Bremen and Jorge Strelin of Cordoba University in Argentina, also told AFP their work was misused. Strelin said a graphic in the study, drawing on one used in his own work, omitted data showing the sharp retreat of one glacier over recent decades. The two ex-RWE men, lead author and geologist Sebastian Luening and chemist-turned-politician Fritz Vahrenholt, did not respond to AFP's requests to comment. The author of the Oxford study, Rupert Stuart-Smith, submitted to the journal a formal scientific rebuttal of Luening's paper, contesting its use of certain data and detailing what he called "inaccurate or misleading assertions." Elsevier communications executive Andrew Davis told AFP the journal's editors "did not detect unethical behaviours and it is their belief that the two research groups simply did not agree with each other." But the publisher acknowledged the failure to include a disclosure of the authors' links to RWE in the study. The disclosure did appear in a preliminary "pre-proof" of the paper but disappeared from the version published in November 2022. "The publisher would like to apologize for any inconvenience caused," Elsevier said in an email to AFP. It said the disclosure would be added back into the study after approval from the authors. Firm denies funding study Another paper on the Peru glacier appeared in the journal Remote Sensing, from publisher MDPI, in 2021. The study reviewed three years of data on ice-flow velocity and assessed the risk of avalanches and floods, concluding that there was no evidence that a flood was imminent. Stansell said this conclusion should have been dealt with in a separate study as it "seems out of place and doesn't relate directly with their principal findings". A 2022 article by investigative media group SourceMaterial said the study was produced with funding from RWE. It cited the authors as denying this. The authors did not respond to AFP. RWE spokesman Guido Steffen told AFP the study "was made independently from RWE and the court case and it was not funded or paid for by RWE." Regarding the Luening study, he said: "We did neither commission that study nor play any role in producing it." Extreme weather study slammed In September 2022, top climate scientists called for the withdrawal of a paper that claimed scientific evidence of a climate crisis was lacking. The peer-reviewed paper by four Italian scientists appeared in the European Physical Journal Plus, from prestigious science publisher Springer Nature. Four scientists told AFP the study manipulated data and cherry-picked facts about extreme weather events. In response, Springer Nature put a warning notice on the article and said it was investigating. In late March 2023 Christian Caron, executive publisher of Springer Nature, told AFP the investigation was "progressing but still ongoing. "Additional material received as part of the investigation is currently following the usual procedures of an extensive peer-reviewing process, which may take more time than anticipated." Payment for publication is a time-honoured part of the business model among peer-reviewed journals. Their reputation relies on being the gold standard in scientific publishing, through external reviewers who are supposed to weed out false papers and reject sketchy or biased use of data. But the low-cost advantages of publishing on the internet have led to an explosion of peer-reviewed journals and, say some, standards have fallen. Ivan Oransky, co-founder of Retraction Watch, a blog that tracks thousands of withdrawals of academic papers each year, told AFP some authors sought to get unsound work published in journals with a lax peer-review system that used unqualified reviewers. "A lot of junk gets through peer review," he said. "It is really time that everybody admitted that, so that we can try and do better." The post Unsound climate studies sneak into print: scientists appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
AI perils
Good Catholics that we Filipinos are, striking images of a supposedly vigorous Pope Francis stepping out stylishly clad in an immaculate-white puffer winter jacket certainly turned our heads. The images went viral on social media the other week and are now considered by social media watchers among the year’s best memes. There’s just one problem: we had been fooled. The pictures weren’t real. In fact, a Web culture expert calls the pope images “the first real mass-level AI (artificial intelligence) misinformation case.” The pictures were generated by the generative AI program Midjourney, which produces images based on text prompts. Midjourney is but one creation of the ongoing worldwide generative AI arms race which has prompted frantic calls to stop its further development. Should we Filipinos be worried by the pope’s images? Up to now, I have not felt a true sense of alarm over the risks inherent in digital technologies. But the dizzying speed by which generative AI has taken off is something else. Take for instance the generative AI program ChatGPT. Newsworthy ChatGPT started slow last November. But by January, ChatGPT had registered 100 million users. Social media wonder TikTok, despite its alleged privacy lapses, took nine months to hit the same numbers. ChatGPT, as described by one expert, “is a bot that engages in conversational dialogue — you feel like you’re literally chatting with it.” A complex language-model software technology, ChatGPT, once prompted, literally mines the internet and dishes out answers in respectable English. Enterprising students have turned ChatGPT into a handy tool and, in the process, unleashed stormy debates — still ongoing — among educators worldwide. (In case you’re wondering what a bot is, it is a software application that is programmed to do certain tasks, typically boring repetitive tasks. Bots are automated.) Anyway, these generative AI vanguard tools are increasingly vital in our digital era and we need to keep up with them. The possibilities of what AI can achieve or how much further it will transform our screen-tapping consciousness we can’t foretell, however. But we are at a crossroads. As one technology expert puts it, “That is where we stand now, at a crossroads, and many of us — dare I say most of us, and especially those of us who dwell in the margins of society — will fall victim to more intelligently designed schemes, from email fraud and identity theft to online harassment.” For us Filipinos, that’s no idle threat. Given that we Filipinos are one of the heaviest users of social media in the world — Filipino internet users spend 3 hours and 43 minutes on social media daily — we have cause for more worry once newer sophisticated fakery schemes are unleashed on our already disinformation-damaged society. Not believing that we don’t have a disinformation-damaged society is delusional. It is not for nothing that the country was once described by a Facebook executive as “patient zero” in the global disinformation epidemic. A recent study showed that we Filipinos top the world in consuming daily vlogs from YouTube hustlers and playing video games — stark evidence that Filipino culture is oriented towards the visual rather than text. At any rate, advanced manipulated images from Midjourney and others give us a sense of where manipulated generative AI pictures and videos are heading — straining further our abilities to distinguish real pictures and video clips from fake ones. Bad actors have already deployed fake videos and pictures now running riot in our weaponized social media ecosystem that is, more than anything else, a propagandist’s playground. Yet, as algorithmic knobs and levers behind these new image generators are tweaked, these new tools will be incredibly adept at further remaking Filipinos with fakeries. The past six years have conclusively shown the Filipino has been remade after unbridled fakeries uncaged the barbaric, inhumane horrors lurking in the dark depths of the Filipino psyche and soul. Are we all ready and prepared against more fakery horrors coming our way, threatening to remake us even more? Email: nevqjr@yahoo.com.ph The post AI perils appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DENR reviews clearance process for solar and wind projects, studies alt fuel use for shipping
The embassies of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden on Thursday held a high-level dialogue to tackle sustainable and innovative solutions to address climate change. .....»»
STREAMING REVIEWS: From dark places
Stanley Tucci in ‘Inside Man’ Today, we have two shows that examine the dark places that spring up from us being human. One is a Limited series called Inside Man, while the second is an indie feature film, On the Count of Three. Inside Man (Netflix) – This four episode Limited Series works on the premise of a quotation from one of the main characters, Jefferson Grieff (Stanley Tucci), a convicted felon on death row: ‘Everyone is a murderer. You just have to meet the right person’. From there, the series unfolds as an examination into the dark corners any person can find themselves in, as they do things in the name of love, family, protecting their loved ones, or doing good. The series proposes that there’s a myriad of ways we can disguise our murderous streak, or channel circumstances to justify to ourselves the horrible acts we are all capable of doing – that is, taking the life of someone else. The other main character is a vicar in an English village, Harry (David Tennant). The series is created by Steven Moffat who gave us Sherlock a few years back, so you can already imagine how twisted and convoluted this will get, and how deductive reasoning will play a big part in the exposition. And you won’t be disappointed. There’s a strong opening scene involving sexual harassment on a public train, and it introduces us to a local journalist, Beth Davenport (Lydia West), and her savior’ Janice (Dolly Wells). Now I have to say some suspension of disbelief is required when things spiral out of hand to set the stage for what follows. You’ll be screaming to the screen, exhorting Harry to come clean about a USB drive entrusted to him which contains pedophile porn. But if you let that pass, what follows is a suspenseful ride, buoyed by two rewarding performances from Tucci and Tennant. On the Count of Three (Video On Demand) – This indie feature teeters on a tightrope, balancing between psychological drama and farcical comedy. The two main characters are played by Jerrod Carmichael and Christopher Abbott, and they’re friends who for circumstances that are unique for each, now contemplate suicide but just can’t figure out how to go about achieving it. So they hit on the crazy solution of each one taking the life of the other at an agreed upon moment. But before that, they’ll spend one day trying to remember what it was like when life was actually enjoyable and worth living, or seeking retribution from those who hurt them. It’s a premise that’s not cookie cutter in any way, and you can appreciate the challenge in making it work. Christopher Abbott and Jerrod Carmichael in ‘On the Count of Three’ Tiffany Haddish and Henry Winkler provide able support, with portrayals that are definitely out of left field for the two, the opposite of typecasting. And I must confess that while the dark, gallows humor can be quite funny and entertaining, even I could feel the stretching of the premise and how it can be draining. At some point, you’re just wondering if they’ll actually perform the pact effectively, or if one last trick up the sleeve of the Director (Carmichael himself) and the writers will be played out. What the film does provide is a searing examination into male mental health, and how honest and upfront this film tackles the issues. The dark comedy elements may not sit well with everyone, but you can’t deny the strength of the film. .....»»
No decision yet on PBBM s first PNP chief: Abalos
MANILA - The selection process is ongoing for the first Philippine National Police (PNP) chief that will serve under the administration of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos on Sunday belied reports that Lt. Gen. R.....»»