Author: malaysiang

LEGAZPI CITY: The Police Regional Office in Bicol (PRO5) reported on Friday that at least three persons died while four were hospitalized due to food poisoning on Wednesday in Libon, Albay.

In a report, Lt. Col. Malu Calubaquib, PRO5 spokesperson, said the seven victims from Barangay Tambo ate pufferfish locally known as “butete” that one family member caught.

Based on the report of the Libon Municipal Police Station, the fatalities were two male fishers aged 36 and 49, and the latter’s 47-year-old wife.

Those who survived and being treated at the Bicol Regional Hospital and Medical Center were a seamstress, 23; a housewife, 21; and two students aged 13 and 10.

“After eating, after a few minutes, they experienced stomach ache and vomiting. They were rushed to Pantao District Hospital for medical attention. The four victims who survived were transferred to the Bicol Regional Hospital and Medical Center in Legazpi City for further medical attention and monitoring,” Calubaquib said.

Due to the incident, the
Albay Provincial Health Office (PHO) issued an advisory telling the public to avoid eating pufferfish as it is poisonous and could kill those who consume it.

According to the World Health Organization, “butete” carries a toxin called “tetrodotoxin”, found in its ovary, liver, intestines, skin, and sometimes in the muscles.

The symptoms of poisoning due to pufferfish ingestion include numbness of the lips and mouth, body weakness, salivation, stomach pain, and vomiting. If left untreated, the poison can cause paralysis, difficulty breathing, and death within four to eight hours.

The Albay PHO said “butete” poisoning has no cure, only the symptoms could be treated. “If you suspect that you feel any of the above symptoms after eating ‘butete’, immediately go to the nearest hospital,” its advisory said.

“The public is also reminded that the sale and distribution of ‘butete’ as food is prohibited by the Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) based on Fisheries Administr
ative Order No. 249 Series of 2014,” it added.

Source: Philippines News Agency

The ongoing Rahmah Sale Programme (PJR), which is reflective of the government’s genuine concern for the needy, is proving to be the main draw for people from all walks of life at the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) 2024 Carnival in Perlis.

A visitor from Sanglang near Arau, Syahirah Ahmad, 30, said the main attraction for her at the three-day carnival starting today at Dataran Lapang in Kangar Jaya here was the Rahmah Sale which allowed her to buy kitchen items at below-market prices.

‘I came early at 9 am to buy kitchen items at the Rahmah Sale. I will not miss the opportunity after seeing an advertisement from KPDN’s Facebook about the Rahmah Sale,’ she told Bernama at today’s sale.

Syahirah, who is self-employed, described the sale as a success as it eases the burden of the people to meet their family needs.

Sharing the same opinion, a civil servant Hasrul Razin, 42, from Bintong, Kangar said the Rahmah Sale at the 2024 KPDN Carnival offered many essential items at lower prices t
han in stores.

‘Thank goodness, the Rahmah Sale here has a lot of goods, from kitchen items to laundry products. Previously, I didn’t think there was any washing detergent for sale, but it’s here this time at a more economical price for the public,’ he said.

Meanwhile, Perlis KPDN director Norazah Jaapar said the organisation of the PJR in the state as of April recorded a sales value of RM1.4 million from 69 events held.

‘I am glad this PJR has benefited 40,000 consumers and we are continuing the Rahmah Sale concept at various venues and outside areas and the Rahmah Sale is on the move in Perlis,’ she said.

Norazah said the public can come in large numbers to enliven the 2024 KPDN Carnival, which offers a variety of interesting programmes including the Rahmah Sale, people’s folk sports competition, lucky draws and the Buy Malaysian Goods campaign.

‘The KPDN Carnival, which is being held for the first time in Perlis, features comfortable booths for people to shop for goods and engage in various activities
,’ she said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

MANILA: The Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF), the flagship program of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. that brings government service and assistance directly to the people, is rolling out a total of PHP580 million to 111,000 beneficiaries in Zamboanga City during its two-day festival of services from Friday to Saturday.

“Mismong ang pamahalaan na ang pupunta sa lalawigan ninyo, hindi niyo na kailangang maglakbay at gumastos para pumunta sa mga sentro sa probinsya para makakuha ng serbisyo at ayuda (The government is the one that goes to your province, you don’t need to travel and spend money to go to centers to get services and assistance,” House Speaker Martin Romualdez told the beneficiaries at the kick off program at the Zamboanga City Coliseum on Friday.

‘Ito ang pagsasabuhay ng mga hangarin ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. para sa mamamayang Pilipino, ang makakuha ng direktang serbisyo dahil ang pamahalaan ang pupunta sa kanila. (This is the embodiment of President Marcos’ aspirations for the Filipino peo
ple, for the people to receive direct services because the government will be the one going to them). This is the very essence of inclusive development and responsive governance.’

The caravan in Zamboanga City marks the 16th installment of the program of the Marcos administration that brings together 417 government services from 47 agencies under one roof, including cash aid payouts.

Zamboanga City is also the fifth Mindanao province to be visited by the Serbisyo Fair, next to Bukidnon, Agusan del Norte, Sultan Kudarat, and Davao de Oro.

The BPSF will also go to Tawi-Tawi in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and Davao del Norte in the next weeks.

Of the PHP580 million that will be rolled out in Zamboanga City, PHP273 million will be in the form of cash assistance.

A city-wide payout to 67,311 beneficiaries of the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations of the DSWD worth PHP252 million will also be conducted.

A total of 355,000 kilos of rice were also distributed to quali
fied beneficiaries in Zamboanga City.

Other city-wide activities include various scholarship programs of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and Commission on Higher Education (CHED), as well as livelihood assistance for various sectors of pre-identified eligible beneficiaries.

Coinciding with the BPSF is the launch of the Start-up, Incentives, Business Opportunity and Livelihood program and the Integrated Scholarship and Incentives for the Youth Program – which seek to provide aid to struggling small entrepreneurs and students who need assistance with the costs of higher education learning.

A total of 3,000 SIBOL beneficiaries in Zamboanga City received PHP5,000 each from the AICS Program, along with five kilograms of rice at the distribution at the gymnasium of Claret School of Zamboanga City on Friday.

For the ISIP for the Youth, a total of 3,000 students will be given PHP2,000 each in financial assistance every six months, also through the DSWD AICS, to cover tuition and other exp
enses.

They also received five kilograms of rice each at a simple ceremony at the Western Mindanao State University Gymnasium.

Meanwhile, identified student beneficiaries will be enrolled under CHED’s Tulong Dunong Program where students can get scholarship assistance per semester, amounting to PHP15,000, and priority slots under the Government Internship Program after graduation.

Unemployed parents or guardians may also be enrolled in the Department of Labor and Employment’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/ Displaced Workers program.

Show of solidarity, support

The BPSF in Zamboanga City is also the biggest so far in terms of attendance of members of the House of Representatives, with 85 lawmakers attending the event.

This display of unity in the BPSF, Romualdez said, is proof of the solidarity of the Legislature with Marcos in passing important legislation.

‘This harmony enables lawmakers to enact meaningful reforms and initiatives under the President’s leadership. Nakikita naman natin a
ng dedikasyon ng ating mga kinatawan sa Kongreso na makita ng personal kung paanong nakaka-benepisyo sa mamamayang Pilipino ang bawat batas na dumadaan sa Kongreso at sa bawat programa na ating pinopondohan (We can see the dedication of our representatives to witness personally how every law that was passed and funded by Congress benefit the Filipino people),’ Romualdez said.

He said the turnout of lawmakers also proves the ‘unprecedented unity’ of government officials in the program, and underscores the commitment of the House of Representatives to serve as’ true champions of the Filipino people.’

Lawmakers present during the event included Majority Leader Manuel Jose ‘Mannix’ Dalipe, Zamboanga City 1st District Rep. Khymer Adan Olaso, Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales, Jr., Deputy Speaker David Suarez, Deputy Speaker Yasser Balindong, and Deputy Majority Leader Erwin Tulfo.

Also in attendance were Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla and her son Rep. Bryan Revilla, and several members of the “Young Guns” like
Reps. Zia Alonto Adiong, Margarita Nograles, Cheeno Miguel Almario, and Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez, among others.

Source: Philippines News Agency

The Ministry of Health (MOH) is conducting a comprehensive study on human resource planning involving doctors, medical specialists and nurses at government health facilities.

Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the study aims to ensure that human resources align with public health facilities.

“…human resource planning must be superimposed on the development of the facilities, ensuring that they align…we want (health) facilities to be developed together with human resources involving the specialists or the whole team.

“For example, a cardiac surgeon in the OT (operating theatre) needs teamwork. Being a specialist is one thing, but scrub nurses are also required,” he told reporters at the ceremony to hand over Baling Hospital’s new building and Kepala Batas Health Clinic here today.

He was asked about the need for over 28,000 medical specialists by 2030 to meet the country’s healthcare facility requirements.

The move is also to ensure that healthcare facilities could fully operate to provide servi
ces to the public, he added.

He said the additional building at Baling Hospital would reduce congestion at Kulim Hospital and Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Alor Setar.

The new RM124.7 million building that accommodates nine specialisation areas increases the hospital’s bed capacity to 210 beds and has four operating theatres, eight Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds and eight Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) beds.

Completed on Feb 26, the new building will open its doors to the public on June 10.

Meanwhile, the RM31 million Kepala Batas Health Clinic, completed on Feb 29, is to replace the existing health clinic that could no longer accommodate the current need for healthcare services.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

MANILA: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday said the international support for the Philippines in asserting its sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea (WPS) is vital in ensuring stability in the maritime domain.

In a media interview in General Santos City, President Marcos said he remains thankful for the global support amid China’s aggression in the disuputed waters.

“Kami’y nagpapasalamat sa lahat ng mga iba’t ibang bansa kahit na nanggagaling sa malayo pa ngunit sila ay handang tumulong sa atin (We are grateful to the various countries, even those from afar, for their willingness to support us),’ he said.

Marcos particularly welcomed intentions of the French government to join the military exercises in the WPS to uphold the freedom of navigation.

President Marcos said support from the international community will also guarantee that the global economy will not be impacted.

‘Kaya’t lahat ng tumutulong sa atin, lahat ng tumutulong sa Pilipinas, kami’y nagpapasalamat at ito ay magiging mal
aking bagay, malaking tulong para mapayapa at maging stable ang West Philippine Sea (We thank everyone supporting the Philippines because this would be a significant help to ensure peace and stability in the West Philippine Sea),’ the President said.

Around 16,000 Filipino and American soldiers took part in the “Exercise Balikatan” drills from April 22 to May 10.

The first multilateral maritime exercise (MME) among the Philippines, United States, and France ended on April 30.

The five-day MME culminated in a series of demonstrations, including a photo exercise showcasing professionalism and coordination in a simulated formation sailing scenario, and documenting operations through proper photographic techniques for military purposes.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is the best Prime Minister for the Indian community in this country, as evidenced by various aids provided to the community using an equality-based formula rather than a racial one, according to a PKR leader.

Political secretary in the PKR President’s Office Manivanan Gowin said among the aid channelled to the Indian community is a RM100 million fund for the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (MITRA) for socioeconomic development programmes.

In addition, there is a special fund of RM50 million for Indian Women’s Empowerment (PENN), RM60 million for Indian entrepreneurs’ development through the ‘SPUMI Goes Big’ programme, RM20 million for the development of Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil (SJKT) infrastructure and RM10 million to assist in land acquisition for SJKT construction.

The former Member of Parliament for Kapar said RM68 million is allocated for early schooling assistance to 455,021 Indian students and over RM474 million for Rahmah Cash Aid (STR) to 62,375 individuals.

”
Only he knows and comprehends the situation of the Indian community and despite facing various racist criticisms and ridicule from the opposition, he bravely moves forward to help all layers of society, including the Indian community,” he said in a statement today.

Manivanan said the country had previously been presented with a formula of racial aid distribution and Anwar is the only Prime Minister who uses an equality formula to serve and contribute to the Malaysian people.

“So it is clear that not only domestically but also internationally, Anwar is the best Prime Minister for Malaysia,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

MANILA: Philippine shares continued to decline on Friday as investors remained cautious due to elevated inflation and interest rates, while the peso moved sideways.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) went down by 30.53 points to 6,511.93.

All Shares also shed 4.42 points at 3,477.13.

“Philippine shares wrapped up the trading week on a downward note as investors exercised caution amidst persistent concerns over inflation and elevated interest rates,” Regina Capital Development Corp. head of sales Luis Limlingan said.

Almost all sectors closed in the red except Holding Firms and Mining and Oil, which went up by 22 points and 87.69 points, respectively.

Advancers led decliners at 109 to 84, while 48 shares were unchanged.

The peso, meanwhile, moved sideways closing at 57.42 to the dollar from 57.38 on Thursday.

It opened the day at 57.30 and traded between 57.255 and 57.44, bringing the weighted average to 57.32.

Total volume of trade fell to USD1.02 from Thursday’s USD1.09 billion.

Source: Phi
lippines News Agency