Nation - Arkipelago News

Hontiveros slams DOE for ignoring the country’s power issues

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday called on the Department of Energy (DOE), the Energy Regulatory Commission, and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) to show the necessary foresight and competence in addressing the country's power supply shortages. Hontiveros expressed disappointment over the "continued failure" to tackle the worsening energy challenges, particularly during the summer, despite their primary mandates to guarantee supply adequacy and system reliability. “Parang kulang sa energy ang mismong Department of Energy at puro kabig naman ang NGCP. DOE’s mandate demands foresight and competence to ensure adequacy of current and future power supply while the NGCP secures the whole system from disturbances, including unplanned and forced outages. Proactive tayo dapat,” Hontiveros said. “They cannot go on giving us nothing. Kumilos naman sila,” she added. The senator strongly recommended that the DOE reintroduce a "proven industry-standard method" that had been utilized even prior to the enactment of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA). “Energy experts I have spoken with say that the DOE is so much better off using computations through loss of load probability (LOLP), and it is one they are already familiar with. LOLP has a distinct advantage when it comes to forecasting power supply availability. Right now, the agency is computing with a fixed 25 percentage reserve, but it hasn’t been reliable, especially during this summer season,” Hontiveros explained. The LOLP serves as an indicator of the reliability performance of the power supply system, projecting the annual occurrence of days when a brownout could happen. “Kung ginamit lang ng DOE ang LOLP, nalaman sana nito ang kinakailangang dagdag na capacity para hindi lalagpas sa isang araw kada taon ang may brownout imbes na halos araw-araw may yellow at red alert. DOE must reevaluate their methodology,” Hontiveros explained. Hontiveros urged the DOE to enlist experts who could assist in reintroducing the LOLP for planning the nation's power supply. “Hindi sapat magdasal para hindi mag-shut down ang mga power plants natin, kailangang kumilos ang DOE batay sa probabilidad at pleksibilidad na maaring gawin in anticipation of a crisis situation,” Hontiveros said. “Dapat real planning for real development. Sabi nga, nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa.” Regarding NGCP, Hontiveros repeated her plea to prioritize system security over aiming for substantial dividends by the end of the fiscal year. The Senator referred to April data from TransCo, indicating that NGCP had only contracted 46% of regulating reserves on a firm basis, 47% for contingency reserves, and 28% for dispatchable reserves. “Bakit hindi 100%? Pareho din lang ba sila sa DOE na nagdadasal na walang titirik na planta along the way?” Hontiveros asked. 📷 Sen. Risa Hontiveros FB 3 hours ago

DBM allocates ₱87.632 million to support the tobacco industry

Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah “Mina” Pangandaman recently approved the release of a Notice of Cash Allocation (NCA) totaling ₱87.632 million to cover the National Tobacco Administration's (NTA) second-quarter requirements. This approval responds to calls from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the Private Sector Advisory Council-Agriculture Sector Group (PSAC-ASG) to enhance support for the tobacco industry. In a news statement, Pangandaman stated, “We understand that agriculture is part of the backbone of our economy. For this reason, our government ensures that every segment of our agricultural landscape receives the support and resources it needs to thrive.” For the fiscal year (FY) 2024, the NTA has an authorized appropriation of ₱550.504 million, which was already released with an allotment through a Special Allotment Release Order. The DBM reported that ₱175.276 million of this amount has already been issued through a corresponding Notice of Cash Allocation to meet the first semester's requirements. The NTA will use the budget for its operational needs, sourced from 40% of the balance of collections from specific taxes on locally made Virginia-type cigarettes and tariff duties on imported leaf tobacco. This allocation adheres to the guidelines set forth in Section 5 of R.A. No. 4155, as amended by Section 3 of R.A. No. 5447, after allocating shares for LGUs and the BIR. Furthermore, the tobacco fund for FY 2023, amounting to ₱550.504 million, was fully released last year. Funds for the NTA will be charged against R.A. No. 11975, the fiscal year 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA). 📷 National Tobacco Administration FB 3 hours ago

Customs intercepts P791M worth of illegal cigarettes

The Bureau of Customs - Manila International Container Port (BOC-MICP) made a significant interception on Tuesday (May 14), seizing three containers loaded with illegal cigarettes. The contraband, valued at approximately P791 million, consisted of illicit cigarettes and vape products from various brands originating from Singapore. The discovery of these illegal goods was prompted by derogatory information received by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service of MICP (CIIS-MICP) under Deputy Commissioner Juvymax Uy. The shipment, which purported to contain 3,845 cases of tobacco products, arrived at the MICP on May 11, 2024. However, upon physical inspection, it was revealed to contain 4,215 master cases of cigarettes and 1,053 master cases of heat sticks. Further investigation uncovered that the confiscated cigarettes and heat sticks lacked mandatory printed graphic health warnings on their packaging, violating R.A. 11900 and RA 10643. Additionally, the consignee of record was found to be unregistered with the National Tobacco Administration (NTA), contravening NTA Board Resolution 079-2005. District Collector Carmelita M. Talusan, leading the MICP, reiterated the commitment to support Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio's directives of heightened vigilance against smuggling activities. This includes pursuing criminal and administrative charges against those involved. Commissioner Rubio emphasized the agency's dedication to upholding regulations and protecting consumers from potentially harmful products, aligning with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to intensify efforts against illicit vape and tobacco products. A Warrant of Seizure and Detention (WSD) will be issued against the seized shipment for violating various provisions of RA 10863 (CMTA), RA 11900, RA 10643, and NTA Board Resolution no. 079-2005. 📷 Bureau of Customs PH 21 hours ago

Artificial Intelligence (AI) firm unveils its latest tech model GPT-4o

The artificial intelligence firm OpenAI has unveiled its latest technology model, GPT-4o, for phones and other gadgets. It is touted as capable of performing intricate tasks as a virtual personal assistant and tutor, and conversing in a human-like manner. It is the latest model in OpenAI’s popular ChatGPT technology, which is widely used in businesses and other enterprises around the world, as well as for personal purposes. The “o” in GPT-4o stands for “omni,” Latin word for all, pertaining to its wide range of features, including the capability to analyze and provide audio, vision, and text responses in real time, as well as summarize long documents, analyze volumes of data, translate across various languages, answer complex questions in a fraction of a second, and understand and express emotions. OpenAI Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati on May 14, 2024, at 1:00 am Philippine time, hosted a globally-watched livestream demonstration called Spring Update in which she highlighted the strengths of GPT-4o. She shared some of its technical abilities, such as the processing speed and voice mode feature as it responds to audio commands or inputs within 232 milliseconds much like the average human response time, or even better. Murati was later joined in the livestreamed demonstration by OpenAI post training research head Barret Zoph and AI researcher Mark Chen. Zoph and Chen conversed with GPT-4o, which responded in its crisp, realistic female voice. They then asked the AI model to narrate a story, highlighting its use of proper intonation and emotion while doing the narration. They also let GPT-4o demonstrate its vision capabilities by asking it to read a linear equation, and guide them in solving the stated problem. Murati likewise demonstrated the translation ability of GPT-4o by speaking in Italian and then asking the AI model to translate it into English, which it did without any difficulty. GPT-4o can process data, translate, and converse with ease across 50 languages, including Spanish, Chinese, Greek, Japanese, Arabic, Lithuanian, and Portuguese, among others. OpenAI envisions GPT-4o to revolutionize and boost data processing and communication globally. OpenAI is headed by its billionaire Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sam Altman. Amid the praises and celebration for the technological innovation, Altman declared, “We are still just scratching the surface of exploring what the model can do and its limitations.” GPT-4o is available for both the free and paid versions. 22 hours ago

SSS to ensure social security protection of SK members, barangay workers in Taguig City

The Social Security System (SSS) on Tuesday signed multiple agreements with barangay officials in Taguig City for the social security coverage of 4,000 Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials and members and barangay workers in the city. SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Rolando Ledesma Macasaet said SSS will facilitate the issuance of social security (SS) numbers for 3,800 SK officers and members from the 38 barangays of Taguig City through a formal agreement with the Taguig City SK Federation to initiate their SSS membership. Macasaet said that once these SK officials and members have their SSS numbers, they can start paying their monthly contributions and automatically receive social security coverage from SSS. “By starting to save for retirement at a young age, these youth leaders are taking control of their financial future. The earlier they begin, the more time they have to grow their retirement fund,” Macasaet said. Macasaet underscored that these SK officials and members are setting a commendable example for their peers in Taguig City by encouraging them to start building their retirement funds with SSS early. “When you are in your late teens or in your 20s, you have your whole life ahead of you, and saving for your retirement is the least of your priorities. But why should you put off saving for tomorrow when you can start today? Believe me, the best time to save for your retirement is now while you are young,” he explained. Macasaet urged the youth to start their SSS contributions today, assuring them that it is the most affordable and accessible pension scheme in the country. “With seven kinds of benefit programs and various loan privileges, it provides a safety net for their future,” Macasaet noted. Macasaet will also lead the signing of Memorandum of Agreement for the implementation of the KaSSSangga Collect Program that will provide social security protection to 70 job order (JO) workers of the Science Education Institute, a service institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and 60 barangay workers of Barangay North Signal Village in Taguig City and Barangay Pinagkaisahan in Makati City. Moreover, SSS will sign a deal with officials of Barangays South Signal Village, Upper Bicutan, and Napindan in Taguig, Barangay Pinagkaisahan in Makati, and Barangay Don Bosco in Parañaque to establish localized SSS e-center in their barangay offices, as well as agreements to set up SSS e-centers in TCGI Engineers and Medical Doctors, Inc. SSS Senior Vice President for National Capital Region (NCR) Maria Rita S. Aguja explained SSS E-Center sa Barangay is a partnership between SSS and the LGUs wherein SSS sets up localized E-Center at the barangay level which is manned by barangay personnel trained to assist their kabarangay in using the My.SSS Portal. Aguja emphasized that the SSS E-Center sa Barangay was a significant step towards empowering barangay officials by enabling them to assist people in their respective communities in accessing SSS’ online services conveniently from the comfort of their barangay halls, thereby reducing the need for physical visits to SSS offices. In addition, Aguja said SSS will welcome the Makati Development Corporation (MDC) as the newest partner under the Contribution Subsidy Provider Program (CSPP), wherein MDC will subsidize the SSS contributions of spouses of its 10 foremen for six months. Furthermore, SSS will meet with employers, human resources representatives, cooperatives, and the general public during the Stakeholder’s Forum at the New City Hall Building, Taguig City. The forum will focus on discussing the value of SSS membership and will address various queries on SSS benefits and loan privileges. 📷 1 day ago

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Government employees to get mid-year bonus beginning May 15

Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Sec. Amenah Pangandaman has confirmed that qualified government personnel will receive their mid-year bonus starting May 15 this year. “I am pleased to announce that our civil servants will receive their mid-year bonus this year. We know that this is eagerly awaited by our fellow government employees and will significantly assist them in meeting their daily needs,” Pangandaman said. She added “As always, we remind all government agencies and offices to ensure the prompt and timely release of bonuses to their employees, in accordance with our existing rules and regulations. This will begin on May 15." The mid-year bonus is equal to one month’s basic pay of entitled government workers as of May 15. It is given to eligible personnel who have worked at least four months from July 1 of the previous year to May 15 of the current year. The personnel must still be employed in the government as of May 15 of the current year and should have received at least a satisfactory performance rating in the most recent rating period or applicable performance appraisal period. The mid-year bonus will be provided to all civilian personnel, including regular, casual, and contractual employees. This includes appointive or elective positions, both full-time and part-time, in the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches, Constitutional Commissions, other Constitutional Offices, State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), and Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs) covered by the Compensation and Position Classification System (CPCS), as well as local government units (LGUs). The mid-year bonus isn’t just for civilian personnel; it also extends to military and uniformed personnel. This includes members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines under the Department of National Defense, as well as personnel from the Philippine National Police, Philippine Public Safety College, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Bureau of Corrections, Philippine Coast Guard, and National Mapping and Resource Information Authority. They’re all eligible to receive this bonus. The allocation of mid-year bonuses for personnel in provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays will be determined by their respective sanggunian, subject to policy conditions for the purpose under DBM Budget Circular No. 2017-2. Moreover, the appropriations for the grant of the mid-year bonus were comprehensively released to the concerned agencies at the start of the fiscal year. Hence, the provision of said benefits to the qualified personnel is already under the jurisdiction of the concerned agencies. 📷 Department of Budget and Management FB Read more >> 2 days ago

Foreign businesses call for passage of ‘Konektadong Pinoy’ bill

The Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines (JFC) has called on the government to immediately pass the Konektadong Pinoy bill, formerly known as the proposed Open Access in Data Transmission Act, which is pending in the current Congress. The bill aims to strengthen the country’s internet infrastructure and enhance digital connectivity, as it will also reduce costs and expand access to high-quality internet services for all Filipinos, especially those in unserved and underserved areas. “According to a recent World Bank study, only about 33 percent of Filipino households have access to fixed internet,” said the JFC, a coalition of the American, Australian-New Zealand, Canadian, European, Japanese, and Korean chambers, and the Philippine Association of Multinational Companies Regional Headquarters, Inc. (PAMURI), representing a combination of more than 3,000 member-businesses. It added, “Prohibitive costs and lack of internet infrastructure contribute to the prevailing digital divide. The Philippines also lags behind its middle-income peers in ASEAN in internet access, speed, and affordability for mobile and fixed services. We call for swift passage of the Konektadong Pinoy (Open Access) bill to bridge these critical gaps in internet infrastructure and help ensure that families have the internet they need for work, school, and more.” The group noted that the bill is included in the Common Legislative Agenda of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC), and was identified by the Senate as among the LEDAC priority measures. “Passage of this bill will reduce costs and expand access to high-quality internet services by lowering barriers to entry in the data transmission sector and encouraging more competition and investment in data transmission, especially in underserved areas throughout the Philippines,” the foreign businesses underscored. The JFC said that it supported key reforms in the bill, such as the removal of the legislative franchise requirement for data transmission industry participants and adoption of a policy framework that promotes infrastructure sharing. “The Konektadong Pinoy bill will accelerate the growing trend towards digital transformation in the Philippines,” the JFC emphasized. The JFC is a coalition of the American, Australian-New Zealand, Canadian, European, Japanese, Korean chambers and PAMURI. The JFC shared that its member businesses are engaged in some $100 billion worth of trade and over $30 billion worth of investments in the Philippines. They declared support for open international trade, increased foreign investment, and improved conditions for business to benefit both the Philippines and the countries that the group represents. 📷 Marvin Meyer (unsplash) Read more >> 2 days ago

“Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program” to go full blast in July

The 'Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program (FSP)' is a flagship poverty reduction initiative of the government. It aims to reduce the incidence of voluntary hunger experienced by low-income households through monetary-based assistance and will be fully implemented starting this coming July. This was announced by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Undersecretary Edu Punay at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City. “This month po, magsisimula na iyong validation at ating registration ng 300,000 beneficiaries para sa July implementation ng program. Naka-hire na po this month ng 1,000 validators dito sa mga implementation sites. Twenty-one provinces in 10 regions po iyan na na-identify ng ating departamento bilang priority areas," Usec Punay discussed. He bared that the DSWD, being the lead agency in the implementation of the program, is currently completing the final preparations for its full implementation following what he described as its successful six-month pilot implementation in various parts of the country. He noted that the pilot implementation, which started in December 2023 and is about to be completed this month, covered select areas in the National Capital Region (NCR), Bicol Region, Cagayan Valley, Caraga Region, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The program showed a significant positive impact on the lives of the beneficiaries based on indicators that the department had set, he added. The DSWD is currently conducting a complete review and assessment of the results of the pilot implementation, which will then aid the agency in determining the next set of beneficiaries and in further enhancing the program. He explained that under the FSP, the DSWD will provide food augmentation to the bottom one million Filipino households who belong to the food-poor criteria as defined by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and the DSWD Listahanan 3. The beneficiaries will be given monetary-based assistance in the form of food credits which will be loaded onto their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards. These food credits can be used to purchase select food items such as rice, vegetables, meat, and other essential goods from Kadiwa stalls as well as eligible partner supermarkets and merchant stores. 📷 Saturday News Forum Read more >> 2 days ago

“Era of global boiling”

The intense heat, which has been reaching dangerous levels for many weeks now, has been causing the suspension of face-to-face sessions in schools, widely affecting agriculture as well as other industries and livelihoods, and bringing so much discomfort to the people. The extreme heat that we are experiencing now, reminds us of the warning aired by United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres in June 2023, “The era of global warming has ended, the era of global boiling has arrived,” he declared. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has noted that various locations in the country had logged dangerous heat numbers, from 42 degrees Celsius to 51 degrees Celsius. Department of Science and Technology (DoST) Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. warned that global warming would continue until mankind starts reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Global warming, he stressed, is being accelerated by the burning of fossil fuels. Solidum explained that countries must work together to keep from reaching the threshold, the first being the 1.5-degrees Centigrade “industrial-level temperature.” “If it gets hotter (by 2 to 2.5 degrees), we don’t know what will happen and there will be many consequences,” he said. “Era of global boiling” World’s hottest day on record, hottest week, hottest month – these all occurred in 2023, which, as United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres has warned, were evidences that “the era of global boiling” has arrived. “The era of global warming has ended, the era of global boiling has arrived,” Guterres said in June 2023. “Climate change is here. It is terrifying. And it is just the beginning,” he said as he described “children swept away by monsoon rains, families running from the flames, workers collapsing in scorching heat.” The UN, citing data from various weather and climate monitoring centers, said that the Earth experienced its hottest month ever in July 2023, including the hottest week which was on the first week of that month, and the hottest day in history, July 4, 2023, which was even within the hottest three days in a row on world record: July 3, 4 and 5 of that year, marked by an average global temperature of 17.18 degrees Celsius (62.92 degrees Fahrenheit). During those dates, dangerously intense heat threatened the peoples of the world with heat-related health problems, the UN said. Researchers attribute these record heat levels to climate change brought about by a combination of El Niño, a weather pattern that has a global warming effect, and of human activities such as burning of fuels for industries, transportation and daily chores, as well as accumulation of non-biodegradable wastes, neglect and even destruction of the environment such as forests and watersheds, and many others. Scientists point out that “global boiling” is not a scientific term, although they recognize the intention of the UN official to drum up the warning and the call for the world to act. “He [Guterres] tried to come up with an even more compelling and sensational wording to try and get people’s attention, and I think we all understand why he’s doing that, because we have to make the governments take climate change seriously and put it at the top of their agendas,” according to the chairman of Britain’s Climate Change Committee. Secretary Solidum commented, “The term global boiling was used by the UN secretary-general to highlight the fact that we are experiencing global warming and for all countries to act, especially those who burn carbon.” Earth Summit In 1992, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as the Rio Conference or the Earth Summit, was held to discuss the steps that countries should undertake to save the world. The Earth Summit resulted in the establishment of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), to combat "dangerous human interference with the climate system." Its supreme or highest decision-making body is the Conference of the Parties (COP) which meets annually to assess progress in dealing with climate change. In 2014, the historic Paris Agreement on climate change was established to provide an opportunity for countries to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change. The countries adopted the Paris Agreement at the COP21. It has been agreed by countries that a combination of actions – from individuals, governments, industries, and all sectors is needed to address climate change. To address climate change and the “global boiling,” steps must be undertaken at high-level, such as governments’ and industries’ transitioning to the use of clean and renewable energy sources, reforestation and nurturing of the environment, reduction of carbon footprints and the like, and at individual and domestic level, such as simple waste segregation, planting of trees, recycling and several others that ordinary people and household can accomplish. Read more >> 1 week ago

High ranking police officials involved in ouster plot vs. Marcos – Trillanes

Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV claimed on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, that a number of active high-ranking police officials were enlisting people to join a plot to destabilize President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Trillanes claimed in a press conference that ex-service members were also attempting to enlist soldiers in favor of the conspiracy to remove them from power. "Meron pong mga na-identify na active PNP officials, active and retired actually, PNP officials na sumasama dito sa destabilization efforts. Pero base sa impormasyon natin, na-identify na sila and mahirapan na sila gumalaw," Trillanes said. The former senator claimed that although "recruitment" began last year, no one has yet been joined. Trillanes refused to reveal his sources, but did say he had Army friends. When asked if his sources were active duty and in the right position to disclose him such information, he replied, "Yes." Ouster Plot intended to protect ex-president Duterte Trillanes believes the plot is aimed to defend former President Rodrigo Duterte in view of the possibility of an arrest warrant being issued against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the alleged crime against humanity of murder in the country during his drug war. “Ang pakay sa ouster plot ay para patalsikin ang Presidente (Marcos). Therefore, sino ang papalit? Vice President na anak n’ya (Duterte),” he said. According to Trillanes, the ICC may issue an arrest warrant for Duterte by June based on information from people who are "privy to the investigations being done by the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC." “This will come in batches. The first batch si Duterte, the father. The second batch, baka sila (Senator) Bong Go, Bato (Senator Ronald dela Rosa), at si Vice President Sara Duterte. Tapos ang third batch would be some PNP (Philippine National Police) officials and some other senior officials of the Duterte administration,” he said. "Ano na 'yan, kumbaga, it goes without saying. Hindi naman gagalaw itong mga ito pagka walang imprimatur ni Duterte, 'yung tatay. And makikita natin doon sa kanyang mga public pronouncements. These are statements meant to agitate, to incite sedition and rebellion, at 'yun na 'yun," the former Senator added. In response, former Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque claimed the words were "hallucinations and a hangover from his coup d'etat days." No active Police officials involved in ouster plot- PNP There are no current police officers participating in the plot, according to PNP spokesman Police Colonel Jean Fajardo. "Kinausap po natin mismo ang ating chief PNP regarding sa issue kanina maging ang ating intelligence units at wala po tayong namomonitor na sino mang aktibong pulis na involved allegedly dyan sa sinasabing destabilization plot at wala po tayong namomonitor na destabilization plot for that matter," Fajardo said. “Ang pakiusap lang natin kay kagalang-galang na dating senador Trillanes please spare the PNP dito sa issue na at naka-focus tayo sa pagtupad ng ating mandato,” the Spokeswoman added. ICC considers assistance from INTERPOL for arrest warrant vs Duterte, et al. Trillanes stated that the ICC is considering soliciting the assistance of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to carry out the arrest warrant. “Kung idadaan sa Interpol 'yung warrant of arrest, kahit na hindi tayo miyembro ng ICC pero miyembro tayo ng Interpol. May international agreement tayo. Ang ICC naman may cooperation agreement kay Interpol kaya pwede silang magpasa ng red notice diyan,” Trillanes added. The former legislator, a fervent critic of the Duterte administration, stated that a blue Interpol notice may be issued against approximately 50 former and active PNP officials who are among the "persons of interest" in the ICC investigation. President Ferdinand Marcos jr. previously stated that the Philippines will not assist in the ongoing ICC investigation into Duterte's drug campaign since the court has no jurisdiction over the country. Duterte was the mayor of Davao City from 2011 until he was elected President of the Republic in 2016. In March 2019, he ordered the Philippines' withdrawal from the Rome Statute, which founded the International Criminal Court (ICC). Marcos also saw the ICC as a threat to the country's sovereignty, emphasizing that any arrest warrant issued by the body would not be implemented in the Philippines. Read more >> 1 week ago

Hontiveros raises alarm about POGO’s potential ties to hacking and surveillance.

Senator Risa Hontiveros raised concerns on Tuesday about the potential ties between Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and surveillance activities, as well as their involvement in the hacking of government websites. The senator voiced her concerns during the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality hearing regarding the recently raided POGO in Bamban, Tarlac, where extensive scam operations were exposed. “I was very disturbed to hear that there is persuasive information from the intelligence community stating na itong Bamban complex na ito ay ginagamit for surveillance activities, at ang ilang nabalitang high profile cases of hacking of our own government websites ay traceable sa complex na ito,” Hontiveros said in her opening statement. On April 24, the senator inspected Zun Yuan Technology, Inc., a licensed POGO situated in the Baofu compound in Bamban. Following the discovery of Chinese fugitives at the facility, she reiterated her stance on banning POGOs. “Ilang beses na natin pinanawagan na palayasin ang mga POGO sa bansa dahil puro krimen at pugante lang ang dala. Ngayon na may nakikita pang national security issue, ano pa nga ba ang hinihintay ng gobyerno? Bakit hindi parin ipinagbabawal ang mga POGO?” Hontiveros asked. The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) reports that a significant number of cyberfraud and cyberscam investigations worldwide can be traced back to the Philippines. “Tayo na po ay isa sa fastest growing hotspot for scams sa buong mundo. If these scam hubs are so lucrative, hindi na ito titigil. This would just grow and grow. And before we know it, we would be faced with a threat to our national security like nothing we have ever seen before,” Hontiveros warned. “Halo-halong kalamay na ang scams, national security threats, at human trafficking. And let us be clear: POGOs are scam centers. POGOs are a hotspot of fugitives. POGOs are a petri dish for crimes. Kung gusto talaga labanan ng administrasyon ang krimen at ang banta sa ating pambansang seguridad, the President should start with banning POGOs,” Hontiveros concluded. 📷 Sen. Risa Hontiveros FB Read more >> 1 week ago

Comelec aims to stop candidate substitution abuse; CIBAC seeks to remove the option from the Election Code

MANILA -- The Commission on Elections is implementing measures to prevent political groups from exploiting the candidate substitution rule and deceiving the public about their true candidate. CIBAC party-list Representative Bro. Eddie Villanueva has introduced a bill aiming to amend the Omnibus Election Code, proposing the elimination of the option for substitution through candidate withdrawal. Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia announced a shortened period for withdrawing a Certificate of Candidacy and filing substitute candidates for the 2025 elections. Aspirants now have until October 8 to file their COC as substitute candidates. During the filing period from October 1 to 8, candidates can withdraw or be replaced. However, after October 8, changes to candidates will no longer be allowed. Substitution is only permitted in the event of a candidate's death or disqualification, according to Comelec. Some notable candidate substitutions include then Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte substituting for Lyle Uy as a Lakas-CMD candidate for vice president in the 2022 election. In 2016, Rodrigo Duterte replaced Martin Diño as the PDP-Laban presidential candidate. CIBAC party-list supports the move CIBAC Party-List Representative Bro. Eddie Villanueva has voiced strong support for the Commission on Elections’ decision to prohibit candidacy substitution due to voluntary withdrawal after the filing of Certificate of Candidacy (COC). “The route of candidate substitution via voluntary withdrawal has been abused. This makes a mockery of the sanctity of our election process. This needs to be rectified in order to strengthen our electoral process and restore the faith of the voters in our electoral system,” CIBAC Rep. Villanueva explained. “CIBAC filed a bill which seeks to amend our Omnibus Election Code by removing the option of substitution by candidate withdrawal. We are glad COMELEC is in support of such policy direction,” Congressman Villanueva concluded. 📷 CIBAC FB, Comelec FB Read more >> 1 week ago

Heart diseases remain the leading causes of death among Filipinos

Ischaemic heart disease, neoplasms, and cerebrovascular diseases were the top three causes of death in the country in 2023, according to the latest report by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). These were also the leading causes of death in 2022, the agency noted. Based on the information provided, ischemic heart diseases, which occur when the heart weakens due to reduced blood flow into it, were recorded as the leading cause of death with 107,767 cases, accounting for 19.0 percent of the total deaths in the country last year. Neoplasms, or the abnormal growth of cancerous or noncancerous mass, were logged as second with 60,906 deaths accounting for about 10.7 percent. Cerebrovascular diseases, defined as a group of conditions that affect blood flow and the blood vessels in the brain, were the third leading cause of death, with 57,288 recorded cases. "Deaths due to diabetes mellitus recorded 36,039 cases or 6.3 percent share, making it the fourth leading cause of death, while deaths due to pneumonia, which ranked fifth, recorded 34,507 cases or 6.1 percent share," the PSA added. The Department of Health has been warning of lifestyle risks that normally cause heart diseases and even trigger heart attacks. DOH Spokesman and Assistant Secretary, Dr. Albert Domingo, has reminded, "Pay attention to our doctor and take care of our heart health for a better quality of life free from heart problems and the worry of developing cardiovascular diseases.” Last February, the department launched the campaign dubbed, 'Puso ang Piliin ngayong Heart Month (Choose Heart this Heart Month).' The celebration aimed to rally public support for promoting cardiovascular health and wellness, especially in light of the increasing number of people affected by heart disease in the country. Dr. Domingo underscored, “Beyond Heart Month, let’s remember to love our hearts everyday!” Major risk factors for heart diseases include smoking, alcohol use, unhealthy diet, and sedentary lifestyle or lack of physical activity, which all elevate blood pressure, lipids, glucose, and obesity, the DOH emphasized. Dr. Domingo has outlined key recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) for controlling and preventing heart disease at the individual level, stressing the importance of what he termed as 'proactive health management.' He discussed that this includes avoiding smoking or use of tobacco, avoiding excessive or harmful intake of alcohol. reducing salt consumption and avoiding salty foods, increasing the regular consumption of fruits and vegetables, and engaging in regular physical activity, “If you notice symptoms of heart problems in your body such as experiencing chest pains, shortness of breath, swelling in the feet, ankles, or knees, fatigue, or palpitation, visit your nearest health center and consult your physician or health worker,” Domingo advised. Read more >> 1 week ago

Department of Transportation encouraged to work with Landbank and DBP in PUV acquisition

Senator Risa Hontiveros called on the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to collaborate with the Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) in acquiring modern PUVs. These vehicles would then be leased to consolidated transport cooperatives to address the transport shortage caused by the PUV Modernization Program. “This drastic problem requires a drastic solution. Kailangang hingan na ng tulong ng DOTr ang Landbank at DBP, kasama ang mga asset management entities nila, para pwedeng gawing lease contracts na lang muna ang mga amortization contracts para sa mga transport cooperatives na hanggang ngayon, ‘di alam kung kakayanin ba ang modernization program,” Hontiveros explained. She stated the DOTr should utilize its subsidy budgets for 2024 and 2025 to procure modern PUVs for leasing to cooperatives. These cooperatives, she added, could opt for a lease-to-own agreement with the government once the assigned routes demonstrate profitability. Transport cooperatives are hesitant to invest in larger yet more costly modern jeeps due to the lack of clear route plans, making them uncertain about their financial viability. Similarly, banks are reluctant to extend loans to them under these circumstances, as per her observations. “Since the DoTr and Malacañang have forced drivers and operators off their routes and off the roads by saying that only those that have joined coops and corporations can continue to ply their old routes there won’t be enough vehicles on the roads.” Hontiveros said. As part of her suggested solution to address the transportation shortage, she proposes that the DOTr grant authorization to local governments to own and manage modern PUV fleets via service contracting agreements with transport cooperatives. “Kung ganito ang gagawin, maiibsan ng DOTr ang pangamba ng maraming PUV drivers at operators, pati na yung mga napilitan lang na sumali sa transport coops dahil sa April 30 deadline, na lalo lang silang mababaon sa utang dahil mahal na nga ang isang unit ng modern PUV, pwede pa silang malugi dahil hindi nga sila binigyan ng katiyakan sa ruta at kita ng DoTr,” Hontiveros declared. “The DOTr must take the wheel and ensure that the modernization program doesn’t run over the livelihoods of PUV drivers and operators. After all, it is the government that can initially take on the risk of making the investment in modern fleets because it is more knowledgeable about what lies ahead and seems much less afraid of the risks of the modernization program,” the senator asserted. 📷 Philippine News Agency Read more >> 1 week ago

Cedric Lee voluntarily surrenders to NBI

1 week ago