Philippines braces for La Nina, continues to deal with El Nino
MANILA, March 26 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines will continue to implement measures to lessen the impact of the El Nino weather phenomenon, as it braces for the opposite La Nina weather pattern, Philippine Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum said Tuesday. Solidum said in a news conference that the Department of Science and Technology's record showed that as of Sunday, 37 provinces across the country hav.....»»
KATRIBU on the impact of Maharlika Investment Fund on the Moro and Indigenous Peoples
A speech delivered by Beverly Longid, KATRIBU National Convenor, during the Maharlika Investment Fund forum organized by the First Quarter Storm (FQS) Movement......»»
At least 7 burn to death, 4 others hurt in Cotabato road mishap
The commuter van burst into flames upon impact.....»»
QR Codes: A Scan Towards Simpler Transactions
Quick Response codes (QR codes), those ubiquitous black and white squares, are now more than just a shortcut to websites. They’re now revolutionizing the way we pay, offering a faster, more secure, and surprisingly error-free alternative to traditional methods. For those still on the fence about using QR codes, Here’s how they can streamline your […].....»»
From the Newsrooms: February 11 to 17, 2024
WITH PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr's clear signal of his approval, it was no surprise for the media to pick up the heightened discussion of charter change (Chacha) in the Senate.On February 12, the Senate was clearly engaged in the process as its Subcommittee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes began its second deliberation of the Resolution of Both Houses No. 6 amending three constitutional provi.....»»
From the Newsrooms: February 11 to 17, 2024
WITH PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr's clear signal of his approval, it was no surprise for the media to pick up the heightened discussion of charter change (Chacha) in the Senate.On February 12, the Senate was clearly engaged in the process as its Subcommittee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes began its second deliberation of the Resolution of Both Houses No. 6 amending three constitutional provi.....»»
The mystical, mysterious PI
The Senate committee on constitutional amendments and revision of codes and its newly created Senate sub-committee kick off their own legislative process to tackle the highly contentious Charter change (Cha-cha) bills......»»
Dabawenyos living on active faults warned
Residents of barangays Catalunan Pequeño, Sto. Niño, and Tugbok in Davao City have been warned about the dangers of living on active fault lines in their area. The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), in partnership with other government agencies, launched a week-long Walk the Fault Activity to educate residents on how to respond to strong earthquakes. The activity targets three barangays and includes information campaigns and walks along the fault lines. The CDRRMO emphasized the importance of disseminating information to grassroots leaders and urged residents to follow advisories and stay updated on the latest developments through the Davao City Disaster Radio. The activity also highlighted the need for compliance with building codes to minimize damage during earthquakes......»»
Philippines eyes codes of conduct to keep peace in South China Sea
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, speaking at a forum in Hawaii, says the priority was maintaining order and having agreed rules to follow.....»»
LTO innovates responses to backlogs
The Land Transportation Office, or LTO, now under the leadership of Atty. Vigor Mendoza II, has committed to implementing innovative solutions to immediately address the piles of problems “inherited” from the previous leaderships. Mendoza, whom Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista tasked to help the agency improve its current state, expressed confidence that he could turn the LTO around and make it more efficient and effective. He said this aligns with the Marcos administration’s marching orders to digitalize and bring government services closer to the people seamlessly. Mendoza has already begun to execute some changes, such as streamlining the driver’s license application process, implementing a new online vehicle registration system, and reducing the number of fixers at LTO offices, among others. Speaking in a recent interview on DAILY TRIBUNE’s Straight Talk, Mendoza disclosed that his agency is studying cost-effective ways to produce license plates. Presently, the LTO has a manufacturing plant with eight machines working to produce license plates, but as recently directed by Bautista, the agency is looking at outsourcing them instead of producing them. “We make the plates ourselves, although we are studying if maybe it is high time to review whether the LTO should produce or outsource the plates. I told Secretary Bautista that in terms of efficiency, it might be less costly and faster if we outsource it,” Mendoza said. “We are thoroughly studying those options to weigh which will be less costly to the government. Thus, finally, we could resolve all the backlogs,” he added. Million plates a month Mendoza added that the agency’s plate-making plant could produce a million monthly plates to replace all the backlogs — from the old green plates to the new white ones. He said before the end of November, the license plate backlog will hopefully be fully addressed. With production in full swing, a motorist with a newly acquired four-wheel vehicle can claim his license plates within 10 days. In the meantime, new motorcycle owners can now get their plates immediately. This significantly improved from the previous year when motorists took years to get their plates. To recall, in March, ex-LTO chief Jay Art Tugade issued a memo suspending the production of license plates due to a shortage of materials. Online portal needs full utilization Mendoza said the LTO is also working on finally utilizing the Land Transportation Management System, or LTMS, a P3.14-billion portal created to address Filipinos’ motoring concerns. He lamented that the underutilization of the online portal, which he described as just one of the many inherited problems of the agency, was a misuse of government funds. “The system design is incomplete, and you know that as much as possible, we want to be fully digital as instructed by the President. We want motorists to be able to apply for a license and register their vehicles through that platform,” Mendoza said. “We supposedly have all the facilities. There will be no need to go to LTO offices as it will also address the issues of fixers. However, we cannot do all these until we fully resolve the website’s functionalities,” he said, adding that the LTO would need the developers to provide them with some missing source and application codes. The LTMS was jointly developed by German technology firm Dermalog and its local partners, Holy Family Printing Corp., Microgenesis, and Verzontal Builders Inc. The project went through competitive bidding in May 2018. The LTO’s online portal is a one-stop shop that will integrate all LTO services in a single contactless database system and digital platform. “We are waiting for their reply. I have been open since my first day in office, and I’ve been very open to them. There is a problem, let us talk about it. However, they have not replied to my letters on the source code and application code issue. We have to protect the government’s interest, and the government’s interest is to get the source and application codes so we can do the enhancements ourselves,” Mendoza said. According to the new LTO chief, hiring another third-party team to resolve the LTMS issues might cost the government at least another billion pesos. Mendoza asked why the government does not just find another software developer, saying: “We already paid for the contract.” “If we do it, maybe they will spend another billion just to complete everything, so the government will save a lot if we do it ourselves. We have DICT with us, and LTO is also hiring technical people for us to be able to do it ourselves. So, we can do it, we don’t need foreigners to teach us.” The post LTO innovates responses to backlogs appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Maintain probity, Gesmundo tells magistrates
In celebration of the Judicial Integrity Board’s third founding anniversary at the Court of Appeals auditorium, the Supreme Court recognized the board’s indispensable role in the pursuit of transparent and accountable justice. Associate Justice Jose Midas P. Marquez, addressing the gathering, heralded the JIB’s pivotal function, emphasizing that the judiciary “must uphold transparency and accountability to inspire public confidence and trust.” Chief Justice Gesmundo, through Justice Marquez, conveyed the significance of the JIB’s creation as the institution responsible for ensuring that judicial officers and court employees perform their duties in strict accordance with established codes of conduct. Gesmundo underscored that “judicial accountability is vital to the preservation of the rule of law and the effectiveness of the justice system.” He stressed that justices and judges must uphold the four standards mandated by the Constitution: Integrity, competence, probity and independence. These standards, he noted, apply universally to all judiciary officials and employees, regardless of rank, salary grade, educational attainment, or gender. The post Maintain probity, Gesmundo tells magistrates appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Paris Fashion Week opens with drama and dashes of humor
Paris is the last of the big four fashion weeks in the busy September calendar that sees back-to-back events in London, New York, and Milan. The biggest story this season has been a new creative director at Gucci. The debut by Sabato de Sarno in Milan on Friday was a relatively low-key affair but gave a boost to the share price of French parent company Kering, which has been struggling lately to keep up with its major rival, LVMH. The first day of Paris Fashion Week always focuses on emerging designers and there was excitement this year about avant-garde newcomer Marie Adam-Leenaerdt from Belgium, who brought a dash of much-needed humor to the opening show. It opened with a chorus singing "Let's go to the beach!" only to follow it with a series of decidedly un-beachy gray, formal, and structured outfits before introducing some more summery Barbie pink and sky-blue dresses. "There's something very Belgian about it," the 27-year-old designer told AFP backstage. "It's important for me to play with the codes and have some paradoxes." Also showing on Monday was Victor Weinsanto, a former classical dancer who trained in fashion with Jean Paul Gaultier and loves to bring cabaret to the catwalk. There were doses of humor -- opening with an extravagant wedding gown that he said was designed for "a woman who gets married entirely in Swarovski". But he also showed a more serious side, with structured and chic pieces alongside more offbeat items like hooded suit jackets. Far from a newcomer, but long absent from the official line-up in Paris, is Pierre Cardin, which returned to the catwalk for the first time in 25 years last season and was back with a glamorous show on Monday night. The label's founder died in 2020 and his nephew Rodrigo Basilicati-Cardin is currently in charge but is embroiled in a bitter succession dispute with family members who have accused each other of fraud and other crimes. The post Paris Fashion Week opens with drama and dashes of humor appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DTI slates Cashless Expo 2023
To promote the benefits of micro, small and medium enterprises to be onboarded to digitization, particularly in adopting digital payments, the Department of Trade and Industry is kicking off Cashless Expo 2023 in November. On Thursday, Trade and Industry Secretary Fred Pascual signed a memorandum of agreement with GoDigital Pilipinas Movement Inc., for the upcoming exposition. “This multifaceted approach in encouraging small businesses to adopt digital payments is aligned with the goal of the government to promote digital inclusivity through innovation to ensure that local enterprises remain globally competitive. Through a whole-of-government approach, the DTI will partner with both public and private stakeholders to foster digital transformation and wider accessibility for our enterprises,” according to Pascual. The objectives of the MoA are to increase digital payment adoption by merchants and encourage cashless transactions among consumers. Following the e-Commerce Philippines 2022 Roadmap launched earlier last year, the agreement further strengthens the aim of the DTI in promoting digitalization and financial inclusion among merchants and consumers. The Cashless Expo 2023, scheduled on 17 to 19 November 2023, is a collaboration between the DTI Digital Philippines E-Commerce Division and the GoDigital Pilipinas Movement. Further, it aims to ramp up efforts to increase digital payments across the nation. The event is supported by other government agencies such as the Department of Tourism, the Department of Agriculture and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, along with the private sector and digital payment enablers. The Cashless Expo 2023, the first cashless expo in the Philippines, will be a three-day trade show that will feature MSMEs that pioneer entirely cashless transactions. It will also showcase businesses using digital payment methods like e-wallets, debit/credit cards, online bank transfers, and QR codes or Near Field Communication technology to enable contactless transactions. The DTI Chief stressed the significance of digital transformation to enable MSMEs to be globally competitive, saying, “This event takes us one step closer to our goal of encouraging the adoption of digital payments across all industries. As the DTI works on science, technology and innovation driven approaches, we encouraged both public and private sectors to work with us in ensuring that digital transformation will happen in the Philippines.” The post DTI slates Cashless Expo 2023 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Padilla backing pro-charter midterm bets
Senator Robinhood “Robin” Padilla on Tuesday said he is willing to support the candidacy of anyone who would back his proposal to amend the economic and political provisions of the 1987 Constitution. In a television interview, Padilla, who is pushing for a federal type of government, stressed the need to have a unicameral and parliamentary system of government to ensure progress. “In the coming polls, I will campaign for candidates who may not be famous or don’t have money but believe that we need to amend our Constitution,” he said. “You need to help me. All of this will hinge on 2025 when the people will decide whether the country will move forward or backward,” he added. The lawmaker, who chairs the Senate panel on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes, urged Filipino voters to elect someone who may be “nameless, and penniless but believes that we need to amend the 1987 Constitution.” “So long as we have senators who believe only in the 1987 Constitution, we will remain dreamers,” he said. Padilla also said “it is time” to open the discussion on extending the term of presidents, as well as allowing them to run for a second term. “What is wrong with having a second term? I don’t understand the opposition to it because six years is too short for a good president, though too long for a bad one,” he said. Under the current charter, the president is limited to a single six-year term. During the first regular session of the 19th Congress, Padilla failed to gain enough support among his colleagues to amend the economic provisions of the Constitution through the Constitutional Assembly. The post Padilla backing pro-charter midterm bets appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
AI will soon power restaurant operations
Online food and grocery platform foodpanda and software company TabSquare are joining hands to empower restaurants with artificial intelligence or AI-powered in-restaurant solutions. The collaboration is part of a region-wide partnership, including other Asian markets like Singapore, Malaysia, and Taiwan, to help restaurant partners digitize their ordering, payment, and customer engagement-related processes. In the Philippines, the announcement was made during foodpanda’s recent partner vendors summit, entitled “CRAVE: Creating Relationships and Advancing Vendor Experiences.” At the event, partner vendor attendees were provided a firsthand end-to-end experience using TabSquare, showcasing its convenience, seamless operations, and efficiency. With TabSquare’s Smart QR solution, foodpanda’s vendor partners can automate tasks, including order processing and payments, while ensuring enhanced profitability. It also contributes to labor savings by minimizing order errors and reducing staff workload. foodpanda Philippines commercial director Luis Antonio Yanga says, “By offering digital menus through QR codes, we enable customers to place orders and make payments via TabSquare’s platform effortlessly. This enhances the dining experience by seamlessly bridging the offline-to-online gap and providing efficient solutions for thousands of partner vendors and merchants.” Delivering convenience to diners and restos alike With foodpanda and TabSquare’s combined data and predictive technologies, restaurant partners can enhance customer engagement and retention. Restaurant owners can review the transactions via TabSquare’s analytics, which provides valuable insights to support partners in improving menu items, pricing, and promotions, among other things. “This enables restaurant owners to identify trends and personalize subsequent experiences based on customers’ purchasing history,” Yanga said. Moreover, digital menus offer numerous advantages, including reduced reliance on wait staff, minimized employee turnover, decreased losses on food and finances due to human error, and more efficient menu changes without costly reprints. According to foodpanda and TabSquare’s data, restaurants using this digital solution can see up to 10 percent higher bill sizes, up to 50 percent reduction in staff costs, and better customer satisfaction. At the same time, restaurants on foodpanda see an average of at least a 10 percent uplift in business performance since joining the platform. In the dining service, there has been a massive shift in digitally-led solutions and services, which TabSquare believes will further enhance the appeal of its services. The post AI will soon power restaurant operations appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Super Typhoon Saola sweeps towards southern China megacities
Tens of millions of people across southern China hunkered down Friday as Super Typhoon Saola swept toward the megacities of Hong Kong and Shenzhen, forcing the cancellations of hundreds of flights, shutting businesses, and closing schools. Packing sustained wind speeds at 210 kilometers (130 miles) per hour as it moved toward Hong Kong, Saola could be one of the most powerful typhoons to hit Guangdong if it makes landfall in the province. By 11 am (0300 GMT), it was 180 km east-southeast of Hong Kong, where the stock market canceled trading because of the T8 signal -- the city's third-highest typhoon warning level. By late morning, neighboring Shenzhen in Guangdong announced the suspension of work, businesses, and market activity from 4 p.m., while transportation will be halted in the evening. "Apart from emergency response personnel and livelihood protection personnel, people are advised not to go out," said the emergency response department of Shenzhen, a city of 17.7 million. "The city will open all shelters for the public to take refuge." Authorities had already issued the highest typhoon warning for the storm, which Chinese state media said would make landfall "in the coastal areas stretching from Huilai to Hong Kong" on Friday afternoon or evening. Across the mainland border in Hong Kong, the city's weather observatory warned that Saola could skirt within 100 kilometers south of the territory, causing a storm surge around Victoria Harbour. "There may be serious flooding," it said, adding that the eastern coastal areas could see water levels reach the heights of 2018 when Typhoon Mangkhut hit Hong Kong and injured more than 300 people. Streets were deserted as a drizzle blanketed Hong Kong Island, with wind and rain expected to pick up later. Businesses and homes around Hong Kong duct-taped glass displays and windows, while office buildings near the harbor barricaded their entrances to prevent water damage. Surfers took advantage of the high winds -- expected to reach 63 kilometers per hour -- and tackled the huge waves generated by the coming typhoon at a Hong Kong beach. Flights mostly normal A direct hit on Hong Kong is rare, but the observatory said it would "assess the need to issue higher tropical cyclone warning signals" in the evening -- with the possibility of raising the threat level to the highest "T10". Hong Kong's airport authority said the morning departing flights were "mostly normal" but from 2 pm, arriving and departing flights have "basically been canceled". "As of now, we have had 366 flights canceled and 40 flights delayed... Thanks to the support of airlines and our various service providers, we could ensure that 600 flights today operated normally," Wing Yeung, general manager of Airport Authority terminal operations, told reporters. Hong Kong's flagship airline Cathay Pacific had already canceled all flights in and out of Hong Kong between 0600 GMT Friday and 0200 GMT Saturday. Its subsidiary, budget airline HK Express, announced it was canceling 70 Friday and Saturday flights in and out of Hong Kong. Saola displaced thousands earlier this week as it passed the northern Philippines, but no direct casualties have been reported so far. Southern China is frequently hit in summer and autumn by typhoons that form in the warm oceans east of the Philippines and then travel west. While they can cause temporary disruption to cities like Hong Kong and Macau, fatalities have become much less common thanks to stronger building codes and better flood management systems. The post Super Typhoon Saola sweeps towards southern China megacities appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Hong Kong grounds flights, closes stock market as Typhoon Saola nears
Hong Kong grounded flights, shut down its stock market, and closed schools on Friday as Super Typhoon Saola barrelled towards China's southern coast. The finance hub issued a T8 threat warning -- the city's third-highest -- around 2:40 am, and the city's bourse said the" morning trading sessions for all markets will be canceled". Saola's wind speeds topped 205 kilometers (127 miles) per hour as it came within 230 kilometers east-southeast of the financial hub around 8:00 am local time (0000 GMT), Hong Kong's observatory said. It will bring "heavy squally showers and violent winds", the observatory said, adding weather would "deteriorate rapidly" throughout the day. Streets were deserted Friday morning as a light drizzle blanketed Hong Kong island, with wind and rain expected to pick up later. A direct hit on Hong Kong is rare, but the observatory said it would "assess the need to issue higher tropical cyclone warning signals" in the evening. Airline Cathay Pacific said it canceled all flights in and out of Hong Kong between 0600 GMT Friday and 0200 GMT Saturday. Its subsidiary, budget airline HK Express, announced it was canceling 70 Friday and Saturday flights in and out of Hong Kong. On China's mainland, authorities issued the highest typhoon warning for the storm, which state media said would make landfall "in the coastal areas stretching from Huilai to Hong Kong" on Friday afternoon or evening. Guangdong province also declared a windstorm emergency level I -- the highest level of emergency response. Several cities delayed the start of the school year as a precaution. China's transport ministry has deployed 16 rescue-and-salvage ships and nine rescue helicopters to areas set to be hit by the storm, state news agency Xinhua said. Saola displaced thousands earlier this week as it passed the northern Philippines, but no direct casualties have been reported so far. Authorities in Hong Kong's neighboring casino hub of Macau said they were eyeing the possibility of issuing the city's third-highest typhoon warning on Saturday. Southern China is frequently hit in summer and autumn by typhoons that form in the warm oceans east of the Philippines and then travel west. While they can cause temporary disruption to cities like Hong Kong and Macau, fatalities have become much less common thanks to stronger building codes and better flood management systems. The post Hong Kong grounds flights, closes stock market as Typhoon Saola nears appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Paleng-QR now available in Mandaue
The city government of Mandaue in Cebu has launched the digital payment Paleng-QR as it helps the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas expands the population of Filipino adults with bank accounts. “Paleng-QR aims to strengthen the financial resilience of Filipinos and help them maximize economic opportunities through inclusion in the formal financial system,” BSP Governor Eli Remolona Jr. said in a statement released Friday. Payments facilitated Paleng-QR facilitates payments for various purchases of businesses and customers at public markets by scanning QR codes using their e-wallets and banking mobile apps which offer other financial services. “This then leads to access to other welfare-enhancing financial services, such as formal credit in a digital way, and then access to savings, insurance, and of course, investing,” Atty. Charina B. De Vera-Yap, BSP’s financial inclusion and consumer empowerment officer, said. BSP targets to increase bank account holders from 51 percent of Filipino adults to 70 percent and cashless payments up to 50 percent of all retail transactions this year. Enabling Filipinos to thrive in digital era “We aim to enable more Filipinos to thrive in this digital era. The Department of the Interior and Local Government or DILG fully supports the Paleng-QR because we believe in this policy research-backed project, which emphasizes that in order for Filipinos to really adopt cashless transactions, the palengke is the right place to start,” DILG regional director Leocadio Trovela said. According to Fintech Alliance Philippines, the majority or 37 percent of the 285 digital financial firms in the country focused on e-payments last year, while 20 percent offered loans. Filipinos who are capable of owning bank accounts could increase from 65 million to 85 million, or 30 percent higher, by 2030 as digital wallet providers and banks become more popular, data from global market analyst McKinsey & Company revealed. The post Paleng-QR now available in Mandaue appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Make Your Daily Transactions Easier with QR Codes
Quick Response (QR) codes have been prevalent in the Philippines in recent times as the country is now on a fast track to being a digitalized society, with this, more options have been made for people to be able to utilize the new medium for payments, quickly picking up steam. Nowadays, you’ll see QR codes […].....»»
EEI ventures in EV business
EEI Power Corporation, a subsidiary of the Yuchengco-led EEI Corp., is entering the electric vehicle business through a new company that it will establish. In a report to the stock exchange on Friday, EEI disclosed that EEI Power tapped Sysnet Integrators Inc. for the plan to start a corporation to own, operate and offer an integrated electric vehicle charging system. The system that they develop will have a combination of software solutions and equipment for managing electric vehicle supply equipment or EVSE. EEI Power will have a 40 percent interest in the new corporation. SysNet, on the other hand, will own the rights, licenses, technologies, and source codes for the System. SysNet is a company with more than 20 years of expertise in the distribution, installation, and construction of telecommunication products, facilities, software, multi-media content, equipment and related products — including cloud services and solutions focused on infrastructure, software and platform as a service. Solar Rooftop System Last month, EEI Power announced that it will build a one-megawatt peak Solar Rooftop System in Tarlac City with Japanese partner International Wiring System (Phils) Corp. or IWSP. The parties recently formalized the partnership, which is part of several deals under the joint marketing efforts of EEI Power and Nippon Steel Trading Corporation-Manila Office. The system — composed of 1,832 pieces of VSUN 550-watt monocrystalline solar photovoltaic panels — is expected to provide at least 40 percent of the daytime load requirement of IWSP’s Building 6 and will yield an annual average energy output of 1,296,675 kWh. The post EEI ventures in EV business appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»