MANILA – At least 50 families were forcibly taken Sunday from their residences located within the 6-kilometer permanent danger zone of Mayon volcano, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
DSWD Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Romel Lopez said the Bicol Regional Office initiated the forced evacuation following verified reports that several families refused to leave Barangay Anoling, one of the geographically isolated areas in Camalig town, Albay province.
The immediate evacuation was jointly conducted by the Camalig Municipal Police Station, Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office, and Municipal Disaster Response and Management Office, DSWD regional director Norman Laurio said in a statement.
“The 50 families from Barangay Anoling will be given temporary shelter at the Baligang Elementary School. Validation is still ongoing to account for the exact number of families,” Laurio said in his report to DSWD’s Disaster Response and Management Group.
Last month, more than 13,000 residents around Mayon’s 6-kilometer permanent danger zone were evacuated as the volcano had been spewing lava and sulfuric gas.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said on Sunday the volcano has registered 26 volcanic earthquakes and 303 rockfall events over the past 24 hours. (PNA)
MANILA – Local government units (LGUs) nationwide will have new firetrucks after the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) turned over 56 units to the Bureau of Fire (BFP).
In a news release on Sunday, the DILG said the fire trucks will be distributed to Ilocos Region, six units; Cagayan Valley, three; Central Luzon, five; Calabarzon, seven; Mimaropa, four; Bicol, three; Western Visayas, three; Central Visayas, four; Eastern Visayas, two; Zamboanga Peninsula, four; Davao Region four; Soccsksargen, five; Cordillera Administrative Region, two; and Northern Mindanao, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, National Capital Region, and Caraga, one each.
Each truck has a complete set of firefighter’s personal protective equipment and breathing apparatus, hoses and nozzles, foam generating nozzle with alcohol-resistant – aqueous film forming foam, and other tools and accessories using the appropriate fire service standards adaptable to the country’s conditions.
DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said the fire trucks are among the 94 units of 1000-gallon capacity fire trucks under the 2022 BFP procurement plan.
Sixty-three more units and other modern equipment are expected to be procured within the year.
“Ang pamamahagi ng mga makabago at state-of-the-art fire trucks na ito ay isang testamento na pangunahing prayoridad ng ating Pangulong (Ferdinand R.) Marcos (Jr.) at ng DILG ang kaligtasan ng ating mga pamayanan at ng mga mamamayan (The distribution of these modern and state-of-the-art fire trucks is a testament that President Marcos and the DILG’s top priority is the safety of our communities and citizens),” Abalos said during the turnover ceremony at the BFP headquarters in Quezon City on Friday.
He likewise assured of the continued enhancement of firefighters’ skills to realize BFP’s vision to be fully capable of ensuring a fire-safe nation.
“With the modern equipment we are providing our BFP, let us remember that our equipment is only as effective as the individual who runs it,” Abalos said.
Meanwhile, Abalos visited Negros Oriental on Saturday where he stressed to local government executives, Philippine National Police (PNP) officials and representatives of some sectors that “economic development is always intertwined with peace and order.”
He said the military, police and the public must work together for a good peace and order situation and for the economy of the province to take off.
Abalos said after the murder of Gov. Roel Degamo on March 4, Negros Oriental’s peace and order situation is improving due to the efforts of law enforcement authorities.
He noted that the number of crime incidents in the province continues to decrease, according to the PNP data.
“Marami nang nangyari. Ang importante (A lot of things have happened. What’s important is), we should look forward and take control of the situation. We owe it to our province and the people of Negros,” he said in a separate statement on Sunday.
“Hangad ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. na tayo ay magtulungan para makamtan ang hustisya at umunlad ang ekonomiya. Ang Importante ay mabuhay ang probinsya, ang negosyo pumasok, ang mga turista ay pumunta. Palakasin pa natin, pagtulungan pa natin (President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. wants that we work together to achieve justice and develop the economy. The important thing is that the province survives, business enters, tourists come. Let’s make it stronger, let’s work together),” he stressed.
The DILG chief also assured the public that justice will be served for the killing of Degamo and other crime victims. (PNA)
MANILA – A bettor from Tondo, Manila became an instant millionaire after hitting the PHP7.6-million jackpot of the Lotto 6/42 draw on Saturday night.
The winning combination of 03-28-12-26-08-21 carried a total jackpot prize of PHP 7,656,441.80, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) said in an advisory Sunday.
The bettor can claim the check at the PCSO main office in Mandaluyong City upon presentation of the winning ticket and two identification cards.
Lotto winnings of more than PHP10,000 shall be subject to a 20 percent tax under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law.
Prizes not claimed within a year will be forfeited.
Meanwhile, 91 others won PHP24,000 each for guessing five out of the six winning digits; 3,304 bettors will get PHP800 each for four correct digits; and 37,574 will settle for PHP20 each for three correct digits.
The 6/42 Lotto is drawn every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
PCSO urges the public to patronize their games as a large chunk of revenues goes to charity programs. (PNA)
SLOVENIA knocked the Netherlands out of playoff contention with a 25-20, 32-30, 25-22 victory in the final day of the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) men’s tournament Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Tine Urnaut and Klemen Cebulj conspired anew for the Slovenians in the big win to end their Philippine leg campaign and head into the VNL finals from July 19 to 24 in Poland on a high note.
Urnaut unloaded 14 points on 12 attacks and two aces while Cebulj had four blocks and eight hits and an ace for 13 points as Slovenia finished in seventh place with an 8-4 won-lost record.
Slovenia went 2-2 in the final and crucial preliminary leg here, bowing to Poland and Italy before notching a much-needed victory over China.
Ranged against the Netherlands in a must-win duel to qualify to the finals, the world No. 8 Slovenia just would not be denied behind a game-changing second-set escape act that set the tone in the sweep.
Now, Slovenia sets its prize on the ultimate prize.
“It’s an important moment for us. It’s an important game so we’re happy to show what we expect from each other. We played as a team and we’d like to keep it moving forward,” said Cebulj, who sparked Slovenia’s comeback in the second set.
Slovenia controlled the opening salvo en route to a 25-20 win but the Netherlands, with its back against the wall, refused to go down without a fight.
Top spiker Nimir Abdel-Aziz broke out of his slump in anchoring the Dutch spikers’ answer in the second set as his fiery hit pushed them to set point at 24-23 for a potential 1-1 slate.
But Cebulj had other things in mind, drilling a hammer in the ensuing play to force a deuce and pave the way for an extended duel.
Slovenia still trailed at 29-30 in the marathon before a 3-0 run highlighted Alen Pajenk’s block on Abdel-Aziz sealed a 32-30 win that just snowballed to the team’s breakaway in the clinching third set.
Abdel-Aziz, after struggling in losses against Japan and Brazil, fired 22 points as the only bright spot for the Dutchmen, whose 1-3 campaign in the Philippine leg doomed its final hopes.
The Netherlands finished at 5-7 in ninth place, allowing reigning champion France (5-6) and Serbia (6-6) to instead slug it out for the last and eight final slot pending the last elimination games on Monday in California. (ai/mnm)
FILIPINO athletes vying in two major multi-sport continental competitions that were either canceled or postponed have no choice but to reboot, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said on Sunday.
The Association of National Olympic Committees, or ANOC, to which the POC is a member, canceled the World Beach Games set for August 5 to 15 in Bali after the Indonesian government pulled the budget from the 14-sport games only last July 4.
And on Saturday, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) announced that the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG) set for November 17 to 26 in Bangkok and Chonburi were moved to February 24 to March 8 next year.
The OCA, which held its elections also on Saturday in Bangkok with Kuwaiti Sheikh Talal Fahad Al-Sabah winning as president by only four votes (24-20), said the AIMAG was also canceled because of budget concerns and that Thailand is transitioning to a new government administration.
“These are beyond our control. I understand the sentiments of our athletes but this is something that we don’t have a choice about,” Tolentino said. “But as athletes, I trust them to make the adjustments.”
According to Tolentino, Many Filipino athletes who’re supposed to be in Bali or AIMAG are also on the delegation to the Hangzhou Asian Games set for September 23 to October 8.
“They can totally focus on the Asian Games, the biggest competition in Asia,” he said.
Two Filipino surfers—Jay-R Esquivel and Aping Agudo—have so far made the grade for the second edition of the World Beach Games.
They gained qualification via the world championships in El Salvador last month.
“We’ve been working so hard in the past few weeks [in San Jose, La Union] and then we found out that the event was canceled,” Esquivel said. “We’re all sad and disappointed but there’s nothing we can do.”
The ANOC has yet to announce a new host and dates for the World Beach Games, the second global sports event after the FIFA Under-20 World Cup that Indonesia dropped at the 11th hour. (ai/mnm)
Bishop Pablo Virgilio David from the Diocese of Calookan has been reelected as the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
This announcement was made during the CBCP’s 126th plenary assembly held on Saturday, July 8, at the Marzon Hotel in Kalibo, Aklan.
At the age of 64, Bishop David has assumed the role for his second and final two-year term as the head of the CBCP.
The conference currently consists of 87 active bishops, three diocesan administrators, and 43 honorary members who are retired bishops. (ai/mnm)
WORLD No. 1 Poland zoomed to second place following a gritty 25-21, 25-23, 27-25 sweep of Canada in the penultimate day of the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) men’s tournament Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The Poles pulled everything they had though against the also-ran but determined Canadians in the three close sets to stay unbeaten in three matches in VNL’s Week 3 serving as the final leg here.
Poland, which will host the 8-team VNL finals in Gdansk City from July 19 to 24, jumped to 9-2 won-lost record and went pass the United States (8-2) in the team standings ahead of its final game at 7 p.m. against the top-ranked Japan (10-0) on Sunday.
Team USA absorbed a tough 18-25, 25-23, 25-23, 41-43, 12-15 defeat in a marathon battle against Argentina in the other pool games in Anaheim, California, also on Saturday to slightly stumble in the standings.
Perennial aces Wilfredo Leon Venero and 2021 VNL MVP Bartosz Kurek took a backseat in the non-bearing match but Poland still lured a bevy of heroes led by Kamil Semeniuk and Norbert Huber with 11 points apiece.
Lucasz Kaczmarek threw in 10 while Aleksander Sliwka and Karol Klos added eight and seven points, respectively, for Poland, which previously beat Slovenia and Brazil for a perfect run so far in the Philippine leg.
A Semeniuk hammer saved Poland from set point in the third frame before Huber aced back-to-back services for a thrilling 27-25 clincher much to the eruption of a sizeable Filipino crowd.
Poland also grinded out close wins in the first and second set, where Venero dropped two straight attacks to break a 23-all deadlock. Those were Venero’s few shining moments in the straight-set win led by his teammates after exploding for 22 in their big win over Brazil.
Canada, led by Samuel Cooper’s 19 points, slid to 2-9 for a tie with first-game loser China and Cuba at 14th to 16th place.
Canada and China will battle it out to avoid a cellar finish and notch a graceful exit in the first game at 11 a.m. on Sunday.
Brazil earlier wrapped up its campaign in style via 25-19, 25-17, 25-17 rout of China for an 8-4 card behind Felipe Moreira Roque’s 17 points on 12 hits, four blocks and an ace.
Brazil, the former Olympic and VNL champion, went 2-2 in the Philippine leg after losses against Italy and Poland. Its other win, a 3-0 wipeout of the Netherlands on Wednesday, assured its spot in the finals. (ai/mnm)
SENATOR Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada has put forward a proposal to grant free tuition to government employees pursuing a master’s degree in state universities and colleges (SUCs).
Estrada has filed Senate Bill No. 2277, known as the “Government Employees Free MA Tuition in SUCs Act,” which seeks to provide career and non-career government employees with the opportunity to pursue a two-year Master’s Program in SUCs without the burden of paying tuition fees.
“Government workers play a crucial role in the country’s human resources, and it is essential to offer them educational advancement opportunities to improve their skills. By enhancing the professionalization of civil servants, the efficient delivery of public services can be further improved, benefiting the people ” Estrada said.
He said that some agencies, such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), already provide scholarship grants to qualified employees pursuing a master’s degree.
“There are many employees in other government branches who wish to pursue higher education to enhance their personal growth, advance their careers, and serve the public more effectively,” the senator said.
He noted that higher positions in the government require individuals to hold a master’s degree to ensure they possess the necessary capacity and competence to fulfill their responsibilities and make informed decisions for the organization.
As of June 30, 2022, the Inventory of Government Human Resources (IGHR) of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) indicated there are 1,820,457 career and non-career employees in the government.
The cost of a master’s degree varies from P800 to P1,500 per unit, resulting in tuition fees ranging from P19,200 to P50,000 for the completion of a 24-unit program.
Additional fees related to various activities required for the degree are not included in the amount.
To be eligible for the program, non-career contractual government personnel must have at least five years of employment and pass the entrance examination and other admission and retention requirements of the SUCs.
Individuals who have already received government-sponsored graduate education scholarships in any higher education institution, whether public or private, in the country or abroad, are ineligible.
Moreover, those who fail to complete their master’s degree within a year after the prescribed period in their graduate education program will be disqualified.
The proposed legislation aims to provide government employees with the means to pursue higher education and enhance their professional capabilities, ultimately benefiting public service and the nation as a whole, Estrada said. (AI/MNM)
ILOILO CITY – About PHP5 million in bill deposits will be refunded this year by the electric distribution utility More Electric and Power Corp. to its consumers who religiously paid their dues in the past 36 months.
For June, at least 20 eligible consumers were identified but only 15 have submitted their refund applications and 12 received their deposits, ranging from PHP2,500 to PHP8,000, during a simple ceremony at the firm’s office in Iloilo City on Friday.
“Since we started until now, we have almost 30,000 new accounts. So that will accumulate in time,” MORE Power president and chief executive officer Roel Z. Castro said.
The first refund was done last month for three qualified consumers and Castro said it served as a benchmark for other distribution utilities in the country.
In his message during the turnover, Castro said they represent the “responsible consumers.”
“One realization I actually had was that not to discriminate. Being responsible consumer cuts across all sectors. At MORE Power, we feel somehow so happy for holding this program because I would like to make an emphasis on consumers who are responsible,” he said.
The Magna Carta for Residential Electricity Consumers allows consumers to apply for a refund in two instances – when they pay their dues without fail within the past 36 months and when their contract is terminated.
Distribution utilities require a bill deposit of new or additional services equivalent to one month of billing as a payment guarantee.
Iloilo City Assistant Department head Francis T. Cruz, who represented Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, called the turnover ceremony a symbol of the firm’s unwavering dedication to providing the “best possible service” to llonggos.
“By diligently implementing the bill deposit refund mandated by the Energy Regulatory Commission, you demonstrate your unwavering commitment to transparency, accountability, and adherence to our laws.
This exemplary act sets a benchmark for others to follow,” he said.
MORE Power serves about 93,000 customers consisting of the 31,028 connections installed since it took over three years ago and about 62,000 consumers of the previous distribution utility. (PNA)
MANILA – The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines – Episcopal Commission on Youth (CBCP-ECY) on Saturday urged the Philippine delegation to the World Youth Day in Portugal next month to take the opportunity to renew hope for the wounded world.
“WYD aims to bring the message of hope to many young people in a wounded world… where young people are losing hope,” Bishop Rex Andrew Alarcon, head of the commission, said in an article posted on the CBCP website.
The Daet, Camarines Norte prelate said Filipino pilgrims would be able to share their faith and culture with other young Catholic faithful during the WYD in Lisbon from August 1 to 6.
“It’s an opportunity to encounter the Lord through other people, to share our faith and our culture, as well as to be enriched by the giftedness of others,” he said.
Hundreds of young Filipinos, including some bishops, are set to attend the gathering.
This year’s celebration carries the theme, “Mary arose and went with haste” (Luke 1:39).
As of June 30, organizers said more than 600,000 people have already registered for the event to meet and pray with Pope Francis.
Thousands of families have also volunteered to open their homes to pilgrims of the religious event.
Alarcon urged those who will not be able to physically attend the event in Lisbon, to be united spiritually with the pilgrims and follow the events online.
The first WYD was initiated by St. Pope John Paul II in 1985. The gathering usually attracts hundreds of thousands of young people around the world.
Held every three years, the latest WYD was in Panama in 2019. Because of the pandemic, the Vatican decided to move the 2022 Lisbon event to 2023. (PNA)
MANILA – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Friday pledged to look into possible lapses in its inspection procedures to address travelers’ complaints over missed flights due to long queues or lengthy inspection interviews.
During the Laging Handa public briefing, BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco has ordered a probe to address the concerns aired by travelers and assured that the bureau would not tolerate erring personnel.
“Ipinag-utos niya (Tansingco) po na mag-conduct ng investigation ang hepe ng travel control and enforcement unit na siya pong nagku-conduct ng secondary inspection (He ordered the travel control and enforcement unit chief, who holds the secondary inspection, to conduct an investigation),” she said.
“Kung may makita po, halimbawa, na (If, for example, we found) lapses on the part of our personnel, then definitely po, the bureau will recommend to the Department of Justice appropriate sanctions against any erring immigration officer.”
Nonetheless, Sandoval pointed out that the BI’s secondary inspection is part of regular procedures to protect Filipinos from human trafficking schemes.
Under the inspection, several red flags are assessed, including the tracing of fraudulent or fake documents, inconsistencies in information destinations, and even suspicious behavior of travelers.
Sandoval said the BI has been rescuing multiple Filipino travelers from falling prey to scam recruitments through its stringent immigration control.
She said most Filipino victims typically display a tourist profile.
The BI earlier warned aspiring overseas Filipino workers against online recruitment schemes that instruct travelers to leave the country as tourists, only to end up as human trafficking victims abroad.
It also urged job seekers to go through the legal employment procedures under the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).
Visa scammers
Meanwhile, the BI called on foreign nationals wanting to visit the country to be vigilant against scrupulous individuals pretending to be immigration officers.
Sandoval reiterated that the Philippines offers visa-free entry to citizens from 157 countries across the globe, including the United States.
An American citizen recently complained about being charged PHP20,000 via online transaction to secure an entry visa to the country.
She noted that the alleged scammer was reportedly using the logo of the BI and the Philippine Consulate.
She also warned of other scams, such as the love scam wherein foreign nationals are offered to be escorted for a fee. (PNA)
MANILA – Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is expected to visit the Philippines this year, his top diplomat in Manila said Friday as the two states seek to bolster defense and security cooperation.
“It is expected that, by the end of this year, Prime Minister Kishida will visit the Philippines to forge even closer ties and lasting partnerships,” Japanese Ambassador Kazuhiko Koshikawa said during a reception for the 69th anniversary of the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) in Makati.
He said Japan also looks forward to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s participation in the 50th ASEAN-Japan Friendship anniversary celebration in Tokyo this December.
The envoy said cooperation between Manila and Tokyo has “tremendously flourished” since the start of the Marcos administration, especially in the field of defense and security.
Citing developments that threaten the international order, such as the war in Ukraine and tensions over the Taiwan Strait, Koshikawa said Japan would push for a “free and open Indo-Pacific” and partner with Manila in realizing it.
“With the swiftly changing tides in the global environment, the defense and security cooperation between Japan and the Philippines is becoming all the more significant. We are directing all our focus in generating concrete measures that would further deepen our defense partnership,” he said.
Kishida and Marcos met during the latter’s official visit to Tokyo in February 2023, where the Terms of Reference on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) activities of the JSDF in the Philippines was signed.
The two states are also enhancing their partnership with the US, with their coast guards having conducted the first-ever joint trilateral exercise this year.
The first Japan-Australia-Philippines-US Defense Ministerial Meeting was also held last month in Singapore, signaling “growing synergy among like-minded nations at all levels.” (PNA)
MANILA — With El Niño threatening to affect at least 36 provinces amid rising temperatures, Climate Change Commissioner Albert Dela Cruz urged local government units (LGUs) across the country to take preparatory measures to respond to the possible shortage in water supply and agricultural produce towards through the last quarter of the year.
Fresh from an ocular visit to the heavily silted Limahong River and its tributaries in Lingayen, Pangasinan, Commissioner Dela Cruz echoed the warning issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) regarding the adverse effects of the weather phenomenon that may affect the country’s water resources and agricultural production.
“Although El Niño is still ‘weak’ at the moment, it is expected to become stronger in the succeeding months. PAGASA has projected that there will be no large reduction in rainfall volume from July to September but before the year’s end, we may experience dry spells—below normal rainfall conditions for three consecutive months or way below normal for two consecutive months,” the climate official reiterated from PAGASA’s report.
Expected to be affected by the dry spells are the provinces of Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Apayao, Mountain Province, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Metro Manila, Batangas, Laguna, Rizal, Quezon, Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Palawan, Spratlys Islands, Camarines Sur, and Catanduanes while Antique, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Leyte may also suffer the same.
“This is where and when we realize the importance of taking action to the impacts of climate change and global warming. The only way for us to survive these extreme conditions is through mitigation and adaptation, both of which we have been repeatedly urging LGUs to promote and implement,” Dela Cruz pointed out.
With these developments, the climate official concluded by renewing the call to the committee of the People’s Survival Fund (PSD) program, headed by the Department of Finance (DoF) and which the Climate Change Commission (CCC) is a member, to release the remaining more or less ₱600 million to help vulnerable LGUs in committing water security for their constituency. (IA/MNM)
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) recently reported that the Philippines has exceeded 95 million registered Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards, with only two weeks remaining until the July 25 deadline.
Although this news seems positive, there’s an unfortunate downside.
Despite the substantial number of SIM cards complying with the mandatory SIM Card law (RA 11934), digital scammers persist in their efforts to exploit unsuspecting individuals.
These scammers are still actively pursuing their deceitful schemes.
“I still receive calls similar to the modus operandi they used on me almost a year ago,” shared a stall owner in Sto. Tomas City, Batangas, who fell victim to a caller pretending to be a representative from her digital payment platform provider (DPPP).
Her case involved a cunning voice phishing (vishing) scam.
Vishing refers to the fraudulent practice of making phone calls or leaving voice messages, posing as reputable companies, with the intention of coaxing individuals into revealing sensitive personal information, such as bank details and credit card numbers, as stated by Google.
“Fortunately, there is a withdrawal limit on my bank account. Otherwise, my hard-earned savings could have been wiped out,” she remarked.
Nevertheless, the fraudster was able to draw off from her around P200,000 in cold cash
“I believed and trusted that the person was a genuine representative of my DPPP who told me to transfer funds to another account, promising me more perks, bonuses, and discounts on purchases.”
The moral of the story: “We should never trust anyone claiming to be a representative of our banks, DPPP, or other digital payment platforms unless we are directly speaking to them face-to-face.”
The government expects to eliminate such cases and similar incidents as the deadline for the SIM Registration Law on July 25, 2023 approaches.
According to NTC data, there are currently 95,029,414 registered cards, which account for approximately 56.56 percent of the total 168,016,400 SIM cards nationwide.
The agency further reported that among the telecommunications companies, Smart Communications Inc. has the highest number of registrants with 44,982,292, followed by Globe Telecom Inc. with 43,709,775, and Dito Telecommunity with 6,337,347 registered cards.
This new law, enacted during the early stages of the Marcos administration, aims to promote responsible SIM card usage and provide law enforcement agencies with the necessary tools to combat crimes involving their misuse.
It also penalizes fraudulent registration and grants law enforcement access to user data for investigating crimes committed using mobile phones.
In April, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the lead agency responsible for implementing RA 11934, announced its objective of registering at least 100 million SIM cards nationwide.
Initially, April 26, 2023, was set as the first deadline for mandatory registration.
However, due to the low turnout, an additional 90-day extension was approved by Malacañang, which is now set to conclude on July 25, 2023.
Following this extension, the DICT cautioned the public about a potential increase in electronic communication-related crimes, such as mobile text scams and phishing. Secretary Ivan John Uy of the DICT explained that “scammers were given an extra 90-day period to engage in these illicit activities.”
But their days are numbered.
Simultaneously, Secretary Uy reminded everyone that all unregistered SIM cards will be automatically deactivated after July 25, 2023, and users will no longer have access to digital applications and services. (ai/mnm)
According to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), the heat index in Metro Manila could soar to a scorching 40 degrees Celsius.
In light of this, Pagasa has urged the public to take necessary precautions to safeguard themselves against the hot weather.
The heat index refers to the perceived temperature experienced by the human body when the combination of air temperature and relative humidity is taken into account.
“Those venturing outdoors today should make it a habit to carry an umbrella and stay hydrated to shield themselves from the intense heat,” advised Pagasa weather specialist Benison Estareja.
In addition, Pagasa stated that certain areas in Central Luzon, Ilocos Region, Cagayan, and Tuguegarao may also experience high temperatures reaching up to 36 degrees Celsius.
Pagasa’s forecast for Saturday afternoon indicates that most parts of Luzon will have cloudy to partly cloudy skies, with a chance of rain in the western section, particularly over Palawan.
Meanwhile, Mimaropa (consisting of Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, and Romblon) and the Bicol region will have partly cloudy skies, while generally fair weather is expected in the rest of Luzon.
Southern Leyte and Eastern Samar may encounter isolated rain showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening, attributed to the presence of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and easterlies.
Caraga, Davao, and Soccsksargen regions are anticipated to experience light to moderate rains. (ai/mtvn)
In the early hours of Saturday, July 8 (Manila time), Ernest John ‘EJ’ Obiena clinched a silver medal at the Meeting International de Sotteville, held at the Jean Adret Stadium in France.
Just five days after achieving a remarkable height of 5.82m in Sweden, which made him the first Filipino to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics, Obiena managed to clear 5.72m this time, earning him a second-place finish.
Australian athlete Kurtis Marschall, with an impressive personal best of 5.95m, took the top spot and claimed the gold medal in the competition, which featured a field of ten participants, including six from France.
Among the French competitors was Baptiste Thiery, who achieved a personal best of 5.72m, securing the bronze medal in the process.
Obiena surpassed Thiery’s performance, as he cleared 5.72m in just one attempt, while Thiery required two tries to achieve the same height. (ai/mnm)
STREAKING Italy made short work of Slovenia, 25-13, 25-22, 25-17, to catch the leaders in Week 3 of the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) men’s tournament Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Riding big wins over Brazil and Canada, the Italians sustained their drive and rolled past the Slovenians with little to no resistance to stay unblemished in the VNL deciding preliminary leg here.
Italy, with Yuri Romano again leading the onslaught, bumped off the first-game winner Poland for third place in the tight standings just behind Japan and the United States.
The world No. 3 team improved to an 8-3 won-lost record with 23 set points to overtake Poland, which scored a 25-23, 22-25, 25-21, 25-21 win over powerhouse Brazil for an 8-2 card but with only 19 points.
Romano, the 6-foot-6 opposite spiker, drained 16 points on 11 attacks, three service aces, and two blocks as Italy finished off the world No. 8 Slovenia in only one hour and 20 minutes.
“It’s a very good game and a very good performance for us. We won three matches so far and we want to win another one,” said Romano as Italy braces for a gigantic collision with unbeaten Japan on Saturday. “It will be the most difficult match for us, especially against Japan, who have won all their matches so far.”
Alessandro Michieletto and Daniele Lavia produced 13 points apiece to provide coverage for Romano as team captain Simone Giannelli had 18 sets for Italy, which slammed the door down on the usually potent Slovenian offense.
Italy silenced Slovenia with a 14-6 blocking advantage while converting six aces, three of which came from Romano alone, to score two blowout sets save for a closer second frame, 25-22.
Klemen Cebulj carded 16 points while Tine Urnaut put up 13 for Slovenia and even stood its ground against world No. 1 Poland before claiming the scalp of China in the previous days.
The huge loss pulled Slovenia to 7-4 for a tie at sixth to seventh place with first-game loser Brazil entering the homestretch of the VNL Philippine leg that will determine the Top 8 teams advancing to the finals on July 19 to 24 in Poland. (ai/mtvn)
Business Today photo courtesy
The unemployment rate showed improvement as it decreased to 4.3% in May 2023, compared to 4.5% in April of the same year, marking the second lowest rate since April 2005, as reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
This indicates that the number of jobless individuals declined to 2.17 million in May, down from 2.26 million in the previous month and 2.93 million in the previous year.
Moreover, underemployment, which includes individuals seeking additional work, also decreased from 12.9% to 11.7%.
In contrast, a year earlier, the unemployment rate stood significantly higher at 6.0% and underemployment at 14.5%.
MANILA – The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is actively forging international partnerships to bolster Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programs in higher education institutions (HEIs) across the country. In line with the administration’s vision, CHED Chairperson J. Prospero de Vera III has emphasized the importance of preparing Filipino STEM graduates with competitive capabilities.
During the Laging Handa public briefing on Thursday, de Vera stated that CHED is assisting in establishing collaborations with universities from other countries to ensure the President’s directive yields fruitful outcomes for our university programs. Memoranda of agreements (MOAs) have already been signed, and more are in the pipeline leading up to an international conference scheduled in Canada this November.
De Vera shared this update after witnessing the signing of an MOA between the Philippine State College of Aeronautics (PhilSCA), the World Citi Colleges (WCC), and the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) on June 27. This partnership aims to provide aspiring aircraft maintenance specialists and avionics technicians with opportunities for studying, training, and obtaining credentials both in the Philippines and Canada. The agreement was formalized during the British Columbia Council International Education Week 2023 Conference in Victoria, BC, Canada.
Nursing Program
De Vera also provided insights into inter-agency efforts to enhance the curriculum and opportunities for nursing students in the country. He highlighted the government’s short-term, medium-term, and long-term solutions.
As an immediate response, De Vera proposed offering support to nursing graduates who did not pass the licensure examinations by providing access to competitive review classes. He mentioned plans to launch an agreement with the Department of Health (DOH) to assist these nursing graduates who are employed as assistants in government and private hospitals. The CHED, DOH, and private hospitals will explore funding options for the review classes.
De Vera emphasized the need to establish a certificate or diploma program to produce healthcare associates or assistants in the country as a medium-term solution. This program aims to provide support to nurses in a shorter timeframe, rather than waiting for five years. Healthcare associates can assist licensed nurses with basic assessments such as temperature checks, recording and monitoring patients’ blood pressure, and preparing rooms, among other tasks.
Furthermore, De Vera highlighted the long-term implications of lifting CHED’s moratorium on new nursing programs since 2011. This decision will significantly impact the nursing landscape in the country, with an expected production of an additional 3,000 nursing graduates within the next five to six years. Currently, approximately 55 universities have applied to CHED for the reopening of nursing programs. (ai/mnm)
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has announced the implementation of a new maritime curriculum starting from the next academic year, according to the chairperson’s statement on Thursday.
CHED chairperson Prospero De Vera III stated during the Laging Handa public briefing, “We will be using a new curriculum this coming school year as it was included in our report to EMSA [European Maritime Safety Agency] during the scrutiny of non-compliance issues. The need for a revised curriculum was also observed by EMSA.”
De Vera further explained that a workshop was conducted earlier this year, involving the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), CHED, and maritime schools, resulting in the development of the new curriculum.
To address the potential impact on students, De Vera assured that a catch-up plan has already been devised for those affected by the changes. He emphasized, “The implementation will commence in the current school year since it was also included in our compliance report to EMSA.”
Additionally, CHED has entered into a contract with the Center for Educational Management to create an assessment exam for maritime schools to utilize in evaluating applicants for their programs. De Vera shared,
“We have engaged them to design an assessment test. This will allow interested schools to effectively assess the quality of students applying for their maritime programs.”
De Vera concluded by stating, “The implementation of the new curriculum is scheduled for the next school year, alongside the introduction of an assessment test for incoming maritime students. This is in accordance with EMSA’s requirements.”
(ai/mnm)