The Department of Health (DoH) anticipates a surge in leptospirosis cases due to the incessant rains experienced in various parts of the country over the past few days.
During an interview on dwPM radio, Health Undersecretary Enrique Tayag, who serves as the chief information officer, emphasized that the prevalence of the bacterial infection is expected to escalate as a result of widespread flooding.
Leptospirosis is caused by the leptospira bacteria, which can be present in floodwaters contaminated by animal urine.
Tayag highlighted that areas with accumulated trash and flooding are particularly prone to contamination.
Among the symptoms of leptospirosis mentioned by Tayag are high fever, sore eyes, jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin), as well as difficulties in urination or abnormal urine coloration, which could indicate potential kidney failure.
To prevent infection, Tayag urged the public to wear rain boots when navigating through floodwaters.
Additionally, Tayag cautioned about the potential risk of other waterborne diseases, such as cholera, and emphasized the importance of maintaining cleanliness in one’s surroundings and boiling water that may be contaminated. (AI/MNM)
According to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), police officers opened fire on three television reporters while they were conducting an interview in a village in Pastrana, Leyte.
The incident, which occurred on Friday, was captured on video and shared by the NUJP on Saturday.
The NUJP identified the reporters as Lito Bagunas, Noel Sianosa, and Ted Tomas, all affiliated with San Juanico TV.
They were interviewing farmers at Barangay Jones around 9:30 a.m. when Staff Sergeant Rhea Mae Baleos, a police officer, intervened.
The NUJP alleged that Baleos forcibly took Sianosa’s cellphone, who was recording videos at the time, and forcefully pushed him away.
A few moments later, the journalists heard gunshots. Tomas claimed to have witnessed uniformed police officers firing the shots.
In response, Tomas, in the Filipino language, pleaded with the officers not to shoot, reminding them that they were members of the media.
The farmers, who were the subject of the interview, stated that the reporters were covering a story related to the beneficiaries of a land reform program.
(ai/mnm)
Kai Sotto FIBA PHOTO
Following the conclusion of Kai Sotto’s NBA Summer League stint with the Orlando Magic, coach Chot Reyes of Gilas Pilipinas expects the towering 7-foot-3 center to join the team’s practice on Tuesday, July 18.
Reyes has been in constant communication with Sotto’s camp, and he confirmed to the Manila Times that the 21-year-old basketball prodigy will be joining the national team after his time in Las Vegas.
Sotto’s arrival comes as a timely boost for Gilas Pilipinas, as they enter the final stages of preparation for the upcoming 2023 FIBA World Cup, scheduled to take place next month.
In his debut game in the NBA Summer League, Sotto displayed a decent performance after being sidelined for three games. He contributed six points, four rebounds, and three blocked shots in 13 minutes of playing time during Orlando’s 88-71 loss to Portland on Friday.
Sotto aims to wrap up his Summer League stint with another appearance on the court when the Magic face off against the Boston Celtics on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.
However, it is still uncertain whether Sotto will secure a contract with an NBA team at this stage.
The slender center, who previously played two seasons for the Adelaide 36ers in the Australian NBL, represented Gilas during the fourth window of the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, where the Philippines split their two games.
Sotto had the opportunity to team up with NBA star Jordan Clarkson of the Utah Jazz for the first time in that window, back in August 2022, but Gilas fell short with an 85-81 defeat against Lebanon in Beirut.
Three days later, Gilas Pilipinas bounced back with a dominant performance, crushing Saudi Arabia with an 84-46 victory at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Sotto returned for the fifth window in November, helping Gilas secure a 74-66 win against Jordan, followed by a 76-63 triumph over Saudi Arabia in Jeddah.
During the two FIBA windows he played, the former Ateneo Blue Eaglet averaged 13.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 3.3 blocks.
Gilas is scheduled to travel to China for a mini-pocket tournament from August 2-5, as the team finalizes its preparations for the World Cup.
(AI/MNM)
In an uplifting development, Dwight Ramos, known for his exceptional shooting skills, has been given the green light to join Gilas Pilipinas after recovering from his leg injury.
The 24-year-old Filipino-American wingman made his presence felt during Friday’s practice session at the Meralco gym, bringing positive news to the Gilas Pilipinas team.
According to Dexter Aseron, the team therapist for Gilas, Ramos is in good shape and has been actively participating in practice since Thursday. “All good with Dwight, he’s been practicing already since yesterday (Thursday),” Aseron shared with the Manila Times.
Ramos was unable to take part in the team’s sixth and final tune-up game during their recent training camp in Europe due to his injury. (AI/MNM)
Philippine bet Pauline Amelinckx achieved a remarkable feat by securing the title of first runner-up in the esteemed Miss Supranational 2023 pageant.
The dazzling ceremony took place at Strzelecki Park in Nowy Sacz, Poland’s Malopolska region, adding an extra touch of glamour to the event.
Ecuador’s Andrea Aguilera emerged victorious, claiming the coveted crown as the 14th Miss Supranational.
This achievement marks the highest placement for the Philippines in the competition since Mutya Datul’s triumph in 2013.
Pauline Amelinckx’s impressive performance further solidifies the Philippines’ reputation as a powerhouse in international beauty pageants, maintaining their consistent top finishes for 11 consecutive years.
Sancler Frantz from Brazil was honored with the title of second runner-up and also emerged victorious in the Influencer challenge. Emma Collingridge from the United Kingdom secured the position of third runner-up, while Ngan Dang Thanh of Vietnam, winner of the Fan Vote challenge, proudly claimed the title of fourth runner-up.
Amelinckx was born on August 26, 1995, in Tubigon, Bohol, to a Filipino mother and a Flemish father.
She stayed in Antwerp, Belgium, for ten years, from the age of two to twelve, when she returned to the Philippines. Sourced online/ai/mm)
PATRICK COO (206) in action in the men’s elite race.
MISFORTUNES struck Daniel Caluag and Patrick Coo as Thailand and Japan took the elite category gold medals and, more importantly, berths to the Paris 2024 Olympics at the close of the Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC) BMX Championships at the Tagaytay City BMX Park on Sunday.
Caluag, the Philippines’ sole gold medalist at the Incheon 2014 Asian Games, lost some two seconds when his front wheel got stuck momentarily at the starting gate in the semifinals of the men’s elite race.
The London 2012 Olympian managed to get his desired speed and rhythm at the table top but couldn’t get into the final of the championships calendared by both the International Cycling Union (UCI) and Asian Cycling Confederation and hosted by the PhilCycling and Tagaytay City led by Philippine Olympic Committee president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino.
“Breaks of the game,” said Caluag, 36, who has never ceased to train in the US while juggling his profession as a Registered Nurse—he’s completing his Nursing Administration Masters—and dad to his two daughters and husband to former BMX racer Stephanie, who’s also a nurse in the US.
Coo, a former Asian junior champion, made the final and was in contention to break up front until he was caught in a tight bind also on the table top.
He was unable to squeeze into the front in the process lost his left foot on the pedal and was left behind by the eight-rider final to finish last behind gold medalist Komet Sukpraser.
Sukpraser and women’s elite winner Hatakeyama of Japan earned automatic qualification to the Paris Olympics from the championships witnessed by ACC secretary -general Onkar Singh of India and UCI management committee member Datuk Amarjit Singh of Maalaysia.
Tagaytay City’s hosting of the championships earned praises from both UCI and ACC officials that inspired Tolentino to seek hosting major international competitions in the future.
“It was near perfect,” said Tolentino of the championships. “Near because we missed out on outright qualification for Paris. Breaks indeed.”
Indonesia’s Rio Akbar and Fasya Ahsana Rifki completed the men’s elite podium, while Wanyl Liao of China and Kanami Tanno of Japan finished second and third, respectively, in the women’s elite race.
Also winning on Sunday were Indonesia’s Shifa Maulidina Qotron Nada (women) and Japan’s Hyoga Kiuchi (men) in the junior race and Japan’s Neneka Nishimura (women) and Adiya Fajar Putu Soekarno (men) in the under-23 category.
(ai/mnm)
MANILA – Kai Sotto finally saw action in Orlando Magic’s fourth outing in the NBA Summer League at Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas on Friday (Philippine time).
However, the Magic remained winless, bowing to the Portland Trail Blazers, 71-88.
The Blazers rose to 3-1.
The seven-foot-three Sotto logged 13 and a half minutes of play off the bench against Portland, starting in the second quarter.
Despite the slow start, Sotto showed that he could compete on a higher level, especially on the defensive end as he swatted three attempts, including one against Shaedon Sharpe, a year younger than him at 20 years.
Sotto finished with six points, four rebounds, and one assist.
Orlando scored just seven points in the second quarter and trailed 45-19 at the half.
Michael Devoe led Portland, which decided to give No. 3 pick Scoot Henderson a rest, with 18 points, six rebounds, one assist, and two steals.
Sharpe and Jabari Walker each added 12 points, with Walker also finishing with 10 rebounds.
Dexter Dennis led Orlando with 16 points, one rebound, one assist, two steals, and one block.
The Magic next play the Boston Celtics on Sunday. (PNA)
ANKARA – Türkiye is seeking foreign investment and assistance for the construction of its second and third nuclear power plants amid efforts to wean itself from costly energy imports, officials said.
Since the re-election of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for a third term in late May, several high-ranking officials have made statements about Ankara’s efforts toward energy independence.
Türkiye is in contact with Russia and the Republic of Korea for its planned second plant and China for a third one, Salih Sari, the head of nuclear infrastructure at the energy ministry, told a local nuclear industry conference in late June in Istanbul, semi-official Anadolu Agency reported.
The country plans to build a second nuclear power plant in the northern province of Sinop and a third one in the northwestern province of Kirklareli, according to Sari.
“We are even pressing ahead with site surveys for a fourth nuclear plant project… Türkiye needs 20 gigawatts of nuclear power generation capacity for its 2053 climate goals,” the Turkish energy official said.
Türkiye’s first nuclear power plant, built by Russia’s Rosatom in the southern Mediterranean region of Mersin, will become operational next year. It is expected to provide about 10 percent of the country’s electricity needs when fully operational.
Mithat Rende, an Ankara-based energy analyst, warned of Türkiye’s dependence on Russia in the field of energy despite the volume that had started to decline in the past years, during which Türkiye has seen important discoveries of natural gas reserves.
“Everyone is now more careful. Nobody wants to be solely dependent on a single source or a single country. This is why domestic energy sources have become all the more important,” Rende said.
For Arif Akturk, another energy expert based in Ankara, Türkiye’s economic woes are posing serious obstacles to its further investments in the offshore gas fields.
“In order to be more independent on energy, considerable amounts of investments have to be made, but considering Türkiye’s finances, this is a challenge,” he said.
On Sunday, Türkiye’s new Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar told reporters that Ankara is also negotiating with the United States and Britain on installing modular nuclear facilities in the country.
“Today, we import almost 70 percent of primary energy sources. Türkiye is 92 percent foreign-dependent when it comes to crude oil. We import 99 percent of natural gas,” Bayraktar was quoted by Türkiye’s Daily Sabah as saying.
Türkiye is considering to invest USD200 billion in the energy sector by 2035, particularly in renewables such as wind and solar projects, as part of the country’s goal to reach net-zero emissions by 2053, according to the minister. (Xinhua)
MANILA – Last-minute bargain hunters have saved shares from losses as the local bourse ended in the green while the peso continued to strengthen against the greenback on Friday.
The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) closed this week’s trading with an increase of 46.30 points to 6,624.79, with all shares up by 18.75 points to 3,515.81.
“Although the market was mostly in the red and moved sideways throughout the session, the presence of bargain hunters enabled it to close in the green,” Philstocks Financial, Inc. research associate Claire Alviar said.
Alviar said local shares benefited from the positive economic data from the United States overnight.
Moreover, all counters finished the day in the green, except for Mining and Oil, which shed by 17.97 points to 10,018.79.
Industrial led gainers with 83.38 points growth to end at 9,369.55.
This was followed by Holding Firms, up by 47.15 points to 6,470.77; Property, up by 16.62 points to 2,641.32; Financials, up by 12.49 points to 1,939.83; and Services, up by 4.41 to 1,581.56.
“Among index members, Ayala Land, Inc. was at the top, gaining 3.01 percent while Wilcon Depot, Inc. was at the bottom, dropping 3.81 percent,” Alviar said.
She said net market value turnover stood at PHP5.34 billion on Friday, with net inflow of PHP468.24 million from foreign buyers helping lift the local bourse.
Meanwhile, the peso continues to perform better against the US dollar on the last day of trading this week.
The local currency gained 0.11 to close at 54.40 on Friday from the previous day’s finish at 54.51 to a dollar.
The peso opened the day stronger than Thursday to 54.45 from 54.60.
The currency pair traded between a low of 54.31 and a high of 54.55, bringing the average level at 54.38 to the greenback.
Volume of trade eased to USD1.15 billion from last day’s USD1.41 billion.
“Since the start of 2023, the US dollar-peso exchange rate has already declined by 1.355 or 2.4 percent versus 55.755 in end-2022,” Rizal Commercial Bank Corp. economist Michael Ricafort said.
This means the local currency appreciated compared to its level during the last day of trading in 2022. (PNA)
ILOILO CITY – About 3,600 from the youth sector here participated in the DENR-DOLE-Gugma (Love) Youth cleanup and tree planting activity launched at the Esplanade 4 park on Friday.
The Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) provided seedlings while the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) enrolled the beneficiaries under its Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) emergency employment program for 10 days.
Gugma Youth, an organization of young leaders in the city, will have to plant at least five seedlings and undertake cleanup activities in select areas in the city.
Iloilo City Lone District Rep. Julienne Baronda hopes the initiative will be replicated by other local government units.
She said tree planting and the cleanup drive can help address flooding, which is one of the hazards identified in Western Visayas, including Iloilo City.
“We are mobilizing close to 4,000 youths of Iloilo City. You are part of this very unique program of the government,” she said in her message.
DENR Secretary Ma. Antonia Loyzaga, in her message delivered by Undersecretary Juan Miguel Cuna, said it is deemed fitting that the protection and conservation of natural resources be spearheaded by the country’s most important resource, which is the youth.
“We recognized the intergenerational responsibility of every generation to the rest to preserve the rhythm and harmony of nature for the full enjoyment of that balanced and healthful ecology we deserve,” she said.
She added that the DOLE-TUPAD program empowers the youth to fulfill their obligations.
Under the program, they will be paid PHP450 a day or PHP4,500 each at the end of their contracts.
DENR Regional Executive Director Livino Duran said they have 36,000 available seedlings all over the region ready to supply future tree planting needs.
“This is a continuing activity because we want to make this city a green urban city,” he said. (PNA)
MANILA – As the country commemorates National Nutrition Month, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Chairperson Junie E. Cua reminded local government units (LGUs) that they may use the funds they receive from the agency for the nutrition needs of their constituents.
“We are one with the nation in commemorating National Nutrition Month. I would like to take this occasion to remind our LGUs that they may also use their PCSO shares for their nutrition programs,” Cua said in a press statement on Saturday. “I hope that these shares will particularly help our LGUs implement their policies for children’s nutrition.”
He noted that the PCSO is mandated to share lotto and STL proceeds to LGUs, with cities and municipalities receiving 5 percent, and provinces receiving 2 percent.
In 2022, LGUs received nearly PHP1 billion in shares from lotto and Small Town Lottery (STL) proceeds.
Lotto shares amounted to PHP395,224,629, while STL shares amounted to PHP552,948,639 for a total of PHP948,173,268.
According to Cua, these shares can be used for a broad number of health and medical needs, including medical/dental missions; medicine donation; hospitalization assistance; procurement of medical supplies and equipment; or milk feeding/nutrition program.
As a “special request,” Cua called on LGUs to prioritize their milk feeding/nutrition programs in response to a National Nutrition Council finding that about 35 percent, or four out of 10 Filipino families in the country are unable to eat healthy and nutritious food.
He also cited data from the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) showing that 95 Filipino children die every day due to malnutrition, while 27 out of 1,000 children do not reach their fifth birthday.
The World Bank, meanwhile, said that one out of three Filipino children five years old and below is stunted or small in size for their age due to undernutrition.
On the part of the PCSO, Cua said a special sweepstakes draw for the benefit of the Nutrition Foundation of the Philippines would be held on July 15. (PNA)
MANILA – The storm-enhanced southwest monsoon or “habagat” will continue to bring widespread rains and gusty winds in most parts of Luzon, the weather bureau said Saturday.
In its 4 a.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said monsoon rains will be experienced over the Ilocos Region, Mimaropa (Region 4B), Zambales and Bataan due to Tropical Depression (TD) Dodong and the enhanced southwest monsoon.
Meanwhile, occasional rains will be felt over Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, and Western Visayas due to the southwest monsoon.
PAGASA said cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms will prevail over Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, Bicol Region and the rest of Central Luzon and of Calabarzon (Region 4A).
The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.
Wind signals lifted
PAGASA said all storm signals have been lifted even as Dodong maintains its strength over the West Philippine Sea.
As of 3 a.m. Saturday, the center of TD Dodong was estimated based on all available data at 260 km West of Sinait, Ilocos Sur (17.7°N, 118.0°E) with maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph.
It is moving westward at 20 kph, and may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) between Saturday afternoon and early morning of Sunday.
Strong to gale force winds that will bring rough to very rough sea conditions are expected to affect the western seaboard of Luzon (Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, the western coast of Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island and the western coast of Palawan including Kalayaan Islands.
Fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves.
The rest of Luzon and the Visayas will have moderate to rough sea, while Mindanao will experience slight to moderate sea conditions. (PNA)
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. reiterated the government’s resolve to provide assistance to Filipinos and elevate their quality of life.
In his speech during the distribution of various government assistance in Northern Samar on Friday, the President said the administration is prioritizing help for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
“Nandito po kami para matiyak na ‘yung mga talagang bumagsak, kasi talagang maraming tinamaan ng mabigat, diyan naubos ang kanilang savings, nagsara ang kanilang negosyo, hindi na sila makabalik, ‘yun ang mga hinahanap namin para tulungan dahil ‘yan ang puno’t dulo ng ating ekonomiya, ang mga maliliit na negosyo, ang MSMEs (We are here to ensure that those who slumped, because there are a lot who were hit hard, their savings were exhausted, their businesses closed, those who find it hard to recover, those are what we are looking for to help because they are the roots of our economy, the small businesses, the MSMEs),” the President said.
Marcos said the government wants to invigorate and revive the MSME sector and assured cooperatives of government aid.
He led the distribution of assistance from the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
Serving as the concurrent Agriculture Secretary, the President witnessed the turnover of two four-wheel drive tractors, three multi-cultivators, four pump irrigation systems, a cacao processing facility, various agricultural livelihood projects, four units of hand tractors, four rice threshers and four rice cutters.
The Chief Executive also handed over 21,480 bags of certified rice seeds, 300 bags of hybrid rice seeds, fertilizer discount vouchers, and PHP5,000 each in financial assistance to 1,220 farmer-beneficiaries in Northern Samar.
He likewise supervised the distribution of assistance from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, such as the 16 deep sea fish aggregating devices (payao), three high-density polyethylene cages, 150 sets of seaweed farm implement and fingerlings, and feeds for tilapia production in ponds.
Also given away were 20 units of 30-foot and five 22-foot fiberglass boats, mangrove crablets, and formulated feeds; while the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority donated two hectares of abaca mother block nursery to local government units (LGUs); and four infrastructure projects were handed over to the provincial government.
The President similarly distributed financial assistance, amounting to PHP150,000, to eight distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFW) and scholarship assistance worth PHP10,000 each to two dependents under the OFW Dependent Scholarship Program.
Medical assistance worth PHP30,000 were likewise given to two beneficiaries under the Welfare Assistance Program and financial assistance worth P20,000 to a bereaved OFW family.
The President graced the “Kadiwa ng Pangulo” in Catarman, held at the provincial capitol covered court, which was participated in by 39 sellers from four farmer associations, 15 DTI “Diskwento (Discount) Caravan” exhibitors, DSWD Sustainable Livelihood Program Associations, and LGU exhibitors.
Kadiwa provides farmers and fisherfolk with a ready market where they can sell quality and affordable agri-fishery commodities directly to consumers.
To date, the Marcos administration has already conducted 7,283 Kadiwa activities, generating PHP697.87 million in sales and benefiting 1.84 million households and 3,017 farmers’ cooperatives and associations and agri-fishery enterprises.
Marcos also visited the job fair organized by DOLE in Barangay Dalakit, Catarman town where 30 local employers dangled 328 local vacancies.
DTI and the DA provided special frontline services during the job fair along with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Social Security System, Pag-IBIG Fund, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
PSA data show that some 48.26 million Filipinos are employed as of May 2023, around 2.18 million higher than the 46.08 million employment rate in the same period last year. (PNA)
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. assuaged public worries on the controversial foreign movie “Barbie,” saying it is a “work of fiction.”
In a chance interview on the sidelines of his official engagements in Northern Samar on Friday, including the inauguration of the 11.607-kilometer Samar Pacific Coastal Road project in Laoang town, Marcos echoed the earlier expert opinion of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that a scene in the movie has nothing to do with nine-dash line claim of China in the disputed South China Sea.
In 2016, the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled as illegal the so-called nine-dash line, which Beijing uses to illustrate its claims on at least 80 percent of the South China Sea, and that the invisible demarcation overlaps with the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
“Maganda raw eh, sabi nila (It’s a good one, according to them),” Marcos said of the film.
In response to concerns regarding the alleged tackling of China’s territorial claims, Marcos said the depiction of the boundary line is part of the movie.
“Ang sagot ko doon (My reply to that), what do you expect? It’s a work of fiction,” he said.
The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board will not ban the movie after it “exhausted all possible resources in arriving at the decision, including getting advice from the DFA.
“The Board believes that, all things considered, it has no basis to ban the film Barbie as there is no clear nor outright depiction of the ‘nine-dash-line’ in the subject film, in comparison to films such as Abominable’ and Uncharted,” read the letter signed by MTRCB chairperson Diorella Maria Sotto-Antonio and shared to the media on Tuesday. (PNA)
MANILA – The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Friday received the highest financial audit opinion from the Commission on Audit (COA) for its financial statements in 2022.
In a statement, BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio said the COA’s “unqualified opinion” shows the commission’s “full compliance to International Public Sector Accounting Standards.”
“After more than two decades, we have been recognized for our audit compliance,” he said.
According to COA, an unqualified opinion (also referred to as unmodified opinion) is issued when the state auditor concludes that the financial statements are prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with the applicable financial reporting framework.
Rubio lauded the BOC’s accounting division for its “attention to detail,” which, he said, was crucial to attaining the highest audit opinion.
Likewise, he said the state auditors’ guidance and coordination with the BOC also contributed to securing accountable and strong internal control.
“This recognition from the COA reinforces the BOC’s unwavering commitment to transparency, accountability, and responsible stewardship of public resources,” Rubio said.
He also vowed to continue implementing responsible management of public funds and resources. (PNA)
The Quezon City government has recently exposed approximately 26,000 fraudulent individuals who possessed bogus persons with disability (PWD) identification cards. This significant revelation came to light after the successful implementation of an automated registration system (ARS), which effectively detected and eliminated deceitful applicants and existing cardholders.
Mayor Maria Josefina “Joy” Belmonte disclosed this information while commending the Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) at City Hall for executing a meticulous verification process.
“With the utilization of this automated registration system, we can guarantee that the assistance and support provided will genuinely reach those in need, as the names of individuals who falsely claimed to have disabilities have already been removed,” she expressed.
Mayor Belmonte further emphasized, “The inappropriate utilization of PWD IDs by individuals who are not genuinely disabled is absolutely unacceptable.”
(ai/mnm)
MANILA – Filipino boxing legend Nonito Donaire looks to become a two-time World Boxing Council (WBC) bantamweight champion at an old age as he takes on Alexandro Santiago on July 30 (Philippine Time) at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The showdown between the now 40-year-old Donaire and Santiago, as announced by the WBC on Thursday, will be part of a fight card headlined by a much-anticipated showdown pitting former prospective Manny Pacquiao opponents Errol Spence and Terence Crawford for the undisputed welterweight championship.
The Donaire-Santiago affair was initially part of the card highlighted by a clash between Frank Martin and Artem Harutyunyan scheduled this Sunday (Philippine Time) at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
However, the postponement of the bout between Jesus Ramos and Sergio Garcia led to the adjustment in the schedule of the Donaire–Sanchez bout.
Ramos suffered an injury and had to withdraw from the bout against Garcia.
Garcia will now take on a replacement fighter who will be revealed soon.
The new match remains part of the Spence-Crawford fight card but will not be shown on pay-per-view.
Donaire, one of the Philippines’ modern-day boxing legends, seeks to reclaim the now-vacant WBC bantamweight title.
On May 29, 2021, Donaire, then 38 years old, stunned the world when he knocked out Nordine Oubaali to win the belt and become the oldest living champion in the 118-pound division.
However, “The Filipino Flash” relinquished the belt the following year to Naoya Inoue in their rematch.
Inoue has since moved to the super bantamweight division, vacating all his bantamweight title belts in the process.
Donaire looks to reassert his claim as the oldest bantamweight champ.
However, standing in his way is Santiago.
Santiago came just close to stripping the IBF junior bantamweight title away from another Filipino boxer, Jerwin Ancajas, in 2018.
Ancajas escaped with a controversial split draw. (PNA)
ISTANBUL – FIFA will distribute USD209 million to football sides that released their internationals to play in the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
“FIFA will distribute a total of USD209 million following the release of 837 footballers for a rounded per player daily amount of USD10,950, regardless of how many minutes they played during the tournament,” the world football body said in a statement.
“The total per player is divided and distributed to the club(s) with which the player was registered in the two years leading up to the final competition. As per standard procedure, FIFA will distribute the amounts via the member associations to which the relevant clubs are affiliated,” FIFA added.
FIFA also said among the 440 football sides that will receive a share of the funds following the Qatar 2022 are a number of lower-tier teams, including 78 second-tier sides, 13 third-division clubs, five fourth-tier teams, and one fifth-tier outfit.
England are at the top of the FIFA list of leagues receiving payments from World Cup revenues for releasing players for national team duty in Qatar.
The English Football Association got USD37.7 million from the total fund of USD209 million, Spain is in second place with USD24.2 million, and Germany came third with USD21.3 million in total revenue.
Manchester City collected nearly USD4.596 million from FIFA to top the list of club payments from the World Cup player fund, Barcelona is next with USD4.538 million, and Bayern Munich are third with USD4.331 million. (Anadolu)
MANILA – Filipino squash player Christopher Buraga outplayed his Malaysian opponent to reach the boys’ Under-17 quarterfinal round in the ongoing 7th Borneo Junior Open in Sarawak, Malaysia.
The second-seeded Buraga downed Izz Nabil Iman Bin Shahrizan Azrol, 11-6, 11-8, 16-14, to advance against another Malaysian, Daarvish Thangaraja, who scored an 11-8, 11-3, 11-8 victory over compatriot Kaesaav Selvamanikan.
Also gaining quarterfinal berths were Malaysians Aquil Mirza Naim bin Khairil Fariz, Abdul Fahmi Abd Basir, Tay Jun Ren, Addin Iqwan, Altamis Aqhar Sallam A Sufian and Nittish Manimaran.
In the Under-19 category, Jonathan Reyes defeated Chinese Qianzhi Zhao, 11-5, 11-9, 11-3, to secure a second round berth in the Asian Junior Super Series gold event sanctioned by the Asian Squash Federation (ASF).
He will be up against Malaysian Harold Rynesh Aloysius, who needed only 17 minutes to prevail over countryman Mark Lo Zi Jin, 11-3, 11-3, 11-8.
Last week at the CIMB National Junior Circuit Leg 2, Buraga had to settle for the silver medal after losing to Reyes, 11-7, 4-11, 11-5, 14-16, 9-11 in their first final encounter.
“He (Reyes) played well, he just persevered through every rally, and every time I put pressure on him, he gets all the balls,” said Buraga in an interview on Friday morning.
“All my attacks, and all the pressure, he chases everything, and he is very patient, especially when he is under pressure,” he added.
Buraga is currently No. 10 in the U-17 category of the ASF junior rankings updated every February, April, June, August, October and December.
Korean Na Joo Young holds the No. 1 spot followed by Low Wa-Sern (Malaysia), Ruhan Arya Gondi (India), Wong Lee Hong (Malaysia), KS Arihant (India), Gurveer Singh (India), Ryu Jeonguk (Korea), Aley Afifi (Egypt) and Hashvind Kugan (India). (PNA)
UNITED NATIONS – Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) can be eradicated by 2030 and there is a clear path that ends it, according to a new United Nations (UN) report released on Thursday.
An estimated 39 million people globally were living with HIV (Human immunodeficiency virus) in 2022, UNAIDS said in its latest report.
Some 1.3 million people became newly infected with HIV and 630,000 died from AIDS-related illnesses, according to the report.
“Ending AIDS is a political and financial choice,” UNAIDS said. “The countries and leaders who are already following the path are achieving extraordinary results”.
Progress has been strongest in the countries and regions that have the most financial investments, such as in eastern and southern Africa where new HIV infections have been reduced by 57 percent since 2010, according to the report.
Almost one quarter – 23 percent – of new HIV infections were in Asia and the Pacific where new infections are rising “alarmingly” in some countries.
Steep increases in new infections are continuing in eastern Europe and central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, it said.
These trends are due primarily to a lack of HIV prevention services for marginalized and key populations and the barriers posed by punitive laws and social discrimination, it added.
“There is a definite threat to achieving the end of AIDS by 2030 If we do not close the gaps among all populations,” said Angeli Achrekar, Assistant Secretary General and Deputy Executive Director of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
The report also warned that ending AIDS will not come automatically.
Around 9.2 million people still miss out on treatment, including 660,000 children living with HIV, according to the report.
“There is an opportunity now to end AIDS by increasing political will by investing in a sustainable response to HIV through financing what matters most: evidence-based HIV prevention and treatment, health systems integration, non-discriminatory laws, gender equality, and empowered community networks,” it said. (Anadolu)