Transparency, accountability pivotal in Cha-cha talks, senator assures
Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva has underscored the unwavering commitment of the Senate to uphold its word, while placing paramount importance on the principles of transparency and accountability in the ongoing discussions surrounding the amendment of the 1987 Constitution......»»
Frasco seeks House probe on Metro Cebu traffic crisis
MANDAUE CITY, Cebu – On Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, Deputy Speaker and Cebu 5th District Rep. Vincent Franco “Duke” Frasco filed House Resolution No. 1592 that directs the House Committees on Transportation and Good Government and Public Accountability to investigate the traffic crisis that is currently affecting Metro Cebu and identify possible solutions to said.....»»
STATEMENT | A cry for justice for the victims and survivors of the ongoing climate disaster in Davao region
This most recent landslide is only a stark reminder that recurring disasters have occurred, pointing to a lack of corporate accountability and the failure to install mitigating measures to prevent a new landslide and prompt response when a new one occurs......»»
Trkiye: Ensure Accountability for Deaths in Earthquake
The Turkish government has an obligation to ensure that public officials responsible for thousands of defective buildings that collapsed in the February 6, 2023 earthquakes, are held accountable, Human Rights Watch said today. The earthquakes, which devastated Trkiye's southeastern provinces, left more than 50,000 people dead and hundreds of thousands injured.....»»
Analysts disagree over risk of confrontation in WPS - The Manila Times
THE possibility that China will abandon hope of peacefully reuniting with Taiwan is still "more dangerous" to regional and global peace than the continued escalation of tensions in the South China Sea, the head of a US-based maritime transparency project said Monday. The view of retired US Air Force Col. Ray Powell, who heads Sealight, which monitors and reports activities in the South China Sea, contrasted with.....»»
Opinion - South China Sea- Philippines must softly manage disputes or miss out economically
Manilas assertive transparency strategy is touted as a model for managing maritime disputes but it diminishes key economic opportunities. As Chinese investment pours into other Southeast Asian countries, the Philippines must reduce geopolitical risks without acquiescing to Beijing......»»
MIC wants to join global network of SWF
State-run Maharlika Investment Corp. (MIC) is applying to be a member of the global network of sovereign wealth funds (SWF) in a bid to boost transparency and good governance......»»
Unraveling China s information warfare in Philippines
With the Philippine government’s recent transparency initiative in the West Philippine Sea, more and more Filipinos and countries all over the world are now aware of what’s happening in our side of the globe......»»
Public urged to demand transparency from ‘kalye surveys’
Faculty members of the University of the Philippines School of Statistics have warned against the apparent proliferation of surveys carried out with dubious methods, cautioning the public to be critical of social media personalities “doing their own brand of research.”.....»»
View from Manila: ‘Transparency initiative’ shifts focus to Scarborough
Meanwhile, different middle powers want a piece of the Philippine military's Horizon 3 pie.....»»
Safeguarding rule of law through a strategy of assertive transparency
As a rising middle power in the Indo-Pacific, the Philippines is faced with asymmetric security challenges particularly in the maritime domain......»»
Improvement sought in ‘very rotten’ budget process
Congress should exercise greater transparency in its budget process, according to Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III, who called the process “very rotten.”.....»»
NMP nabs 'Outstanding e-NGAs User Entity Award'
NMP's remarkable use of the Electronic New Government Accounting System (e-NGAs) received recognition for its commitment to transparency and the timely submission of financial statements and other reports for FY 2022, as mandated by the Commission on Audit (COA)......»»
Palace on corruption index: Philippines in right direction
The slight improvement of the Philippines in the latest Corruption Perception Index of Transparency International shows that the country is headed in the right direction even as it serves as a continuing challenge to the Marcos administration to do better, Malacañang said on yesterday......»»
EDITORIAL — 115th in transparency
With the recent controversy involving secret funds for both national and local government agencies, people may question the improvement, slight as it is at just one notch, in the Philippines’ ranking in the 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index......»»
DPWH tallies 268 gov’t and school buildings partially destroyed in Hinatuan quake
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Davao Region reported that a total of 268 school and national government buildings were partially destroyed by the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur on December 2. The estimated damage amounted to P108,497,894.84 for school buildings and P1,899,365.60 for national government buildings. The damages included cracks on walls and falling debris such as ceilings. According to Engr. Alexander Turingan of DPWH XI, there were no reported damages in Davao Occidental and Davao del Sur. Franz Irag, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) XI operations head, emphasized the importance of addressing damages to school buildings, which also serve as evacuation centers during calamities. Dean Ortiz, spokesperson of DPWH XI, highlighted the agency's focus on national roads and bridges, clarifying that they will respond to requests to inspect private and government buildings. Architect Kashagar Toghyani, officer-in-charge of the Office City Building Official (OCBO) of Davao City, urged private building owners to promptly engage professional engineers to assess structural integrity, especially for buildings housing more than 10 individuals. He emphasized the necessity of fire inspections and transparency with building occupants to ensure their safety. The recent earthquakes did not affect government buildings in the Davao Region, and DPWH is committed to conducting thorough assessments and ensuring the safety of buildings and their occupants in the aftermath of the quake......»»
Delivery drivers urge Mayor Baste for business permit exemption
Title: Delivery Drivers Seek Exemption from Business Permit Requirement A group of delivery drivers in Davao is urging Mayor Sebastian Duterte to exempt them from the mandatory business permits. The drivers, including those from various delivery apps such as Grab and FoodPanda, are concerned about the financial burden imposed by the business permits, which range from P2,000 to P6,000. They argue that this requirement is unique to Davao City among all cities and provinces in the Philippines. Grab rider Rolando Atico emphasized the need for solidarity among all delivery drivers, regardless of the app they work for. He urged fellow drivers to support each other, as the financial impact may extend beyond just Grab and FoodPanda. Atico also requested Mayor Duterte to reconsider the requirement and reinstate the previous occupational permit, which only cost P125. The group is facing a 30-day deadline to obtain the business permits, and they are citing financial constraints as a reason for their request for an extension. Failure to comply could result in their removal from the delivery platforms, jeopardizing their livelihoods. Additionally, they are advocating for changes to Davao City's Revenue Code, proposing a model similar to Cebu City, where only an occupational permit is required. The drivers are also calling for an inquiry into the lack of transparency and unilateral actions of food delivery companies, particularly concerning rider capitalization and financial concerns. They believe that a thorough investigation will help ensure fairness and equity in their financial obligations and working relationship with the delivery companies. Maribel Paguican, the Business Bureau officer-in-charge, stated that non-certified delivery riders categorized as service contractors must obtain a business permit. She mentioned two permits for occupational and business activities, with a discounted structure for delivery riders. However, concerns have been raised about increased taxes, potentially ranging from P3,000 to P6,000, along with an additional tax on top of the declared income of P1,400. The delivery drivers' plea for exemption from the business permit requirement reflects their concerns about the financial impact and the potential threat to their livelihoods. Their call for solidarity and support from fellow drivers highlights the urgency of the situation. This story sheds light on the challenges faced by delivery drivers in Davao and the implications of the business permit requirement on their financial well-being. It also underscores their efforts to seek fairness and equity in their working relationship with the authorities and delivery companies......»»
Blazers, Knights chalk up pivotal FilOil preseason tourney wins
The College of Saint Benilde Blazers and the Letran Knights notched crucial wins in the FilOil EcoOil ECJ Preseason Cup Wednesday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan as the elimination round nears its close......»»
Where luxury meets lifestyle
THE real estate industry in the Philippines, especially in Davao City, has been pivotal in driving economic growth and transforming urban landscapes through high-end residential projects and exclusive commercial properties......»»
Ginebra s Standhardinger brushes stats aside
After another scoring explosion, Barangay Ginebra’s Christian Standhardinger is focusing on winning the pivotal Game 5 of their PBA Philippine Cup semis series against Meralco over his stats......»»
Kings seize pivotal 3-2 lead
In the first five minutes of the third quarter, Meralco went pounding and created a 15-point separation against Ginebra......»»