Author: malaysiang

MANILA: The streamlined process for the filing of survivorship claims seeks to honor the invaluable service of deceased prosecutors, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said Thursday.

“No amount of money will ever be enough to pay off the priceless service our dearly departed prosecutors have rendered for the country in order to uphold the Rule of Law and guarantee the efficient administration of justice. Their remaining loved ones have sacrificed so much for the welfare of the Filipino people by sharing with society the time and life of our deceased prosecutors, hence, it must be the State’s obligation to ensure their loved ones are well taken care of and given a bright future ahead,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said in a statement on Thursday.

Under Republic Act 11643, the family of qualified prosecutors shall now be eligible to receive survivorship benefits, which cover all accrued retirement benefits that a deceased prosecutor ought to have received if he or she were still alive.

DOJ Department
Circular 038 series of 2023 provides that ‘claims may only be filed by the legitimate surviving spouse, dependent child/children of the qualified prosecutor, or legal guardian or duly authorized representative of the qualified beneficiary/ies pursuant to the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of RA 11643.’

The IRR of RA 11643 was signed by Remulla on Oct. 27, 2023.

Upon completion of documentary requirements and necessary forms, the claim may be filed before the Personnel Division of the DOJ or any Regional, Provincial, or City Prosecution Office nearest to the beneficiaries’ actual residence.

Electronic filing is encouraged for early evaluation purposes only, as the original and/or certified true copy of the documentary requirements must be filed.

The receiving office shall pre-assess the completeness of the documents presented and after proper validation, endorse them to the Government Service Insurance System. Approved survivorship claims shall be paid to the qualified beneficiaries upon the rele
ase of funds by the Department of Budget and Management.

‘This would truly help the surviving spouse or dependent children of a deceased prosecutor, as they are now armed with the know-hows of processing their benefits,’ Remulla said.

‘I am certain that our dearly departed would be given peace and serenity on the other side of life with this development.’ (PNA)

Source: Philippines News Agency

The Philippines will face a greater risk of cyberattacks from foreign cyberthreat groups, especially in the coming elections, a threat assessment presentation said.

“Cyberattacks are anticipated in the mid-term 2025 and 2028 national elections” and could disrupt the peaceful and orderly conduct of the polls, the presentation showed during the National Security Cluster Communications of the “Bagong Pilipinas” Media Engagement and Workshop held at the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) here Thursday.

The threat assessment also warned that the ‘misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) could become a destructive tool in (the) cognitive domain (and) have a divisive effect in the public and social order during (the) PHL election period.”

Without directly identifying the source of the cyberthreats, the threat assessment noted that the challenge to the country’s “cybersecurity defense domain” will come from ‘foreign adversaries.’

These cyberattacks are considered “hybrid warfare” and will target information
and communications technology networks of the national government and private entities, it said.

The threat assessment comes on the heels of recent cyberattacks on several government websites, purportedly from Chinese hackers.

In February, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said it foiled a cyberattack that targeted various government email addresses, including that of the Philippine Coast Guard and even the private website of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

It said other targets were government Google Workspaces, specifically the domain administrators of the Cabinet Secretary, the Department of Justice, the Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department of the Congress, the National Coast Watch System, and the DICT.

Also in January, the DICT was able to thwart the attempted hacking of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration’s web applications. (PNA)

Source: Philippines News Agency

The United States has made a preliminary decision to impose up to a 43.5 percent anti-dumping tariff on aluminum extrusion imports from South Korea, officials said Friday.

The U.S. Department of Commerce plans to impose 2.42 percent anti-dumping tariff on aluminum extrusion produced by Shinyang Metal and 43.56 percent on other firms that have not responded to its investigation, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

The rate for ALMAC Co., another South Korean company, was set at zero.

The announcement came after the U.S. department launched an investigation into aluminum extrusion imports from 15 countries in October, following the petition from the U.S. Aluminum Extruders Coalition and the United Steelworkers Union.

“As the preliminary decision sets relatively lower anti-dumping margins on aluminum extrusion compared to other rivals, the move is anticipated to have only a limited impact on the sector,” the industry ministry said in a statement.

The U.S. department set anti-dumping ta
riffs of up to 376.85 percent and 82.03 percent on imports from China and Mexico, respectively.

The ministry added it will continue to closely monitor the decision’s potential impact on the market.

The commerce department will issue its final verdict in September, followed by the U.S. International Trade Commission’s final decision on the industry impact in November.

In March, Trade Minister Cheong In-kyo sent a letter to the U.S. commerce secretary and engaged in various high-level discussions to convey Seoul’s concerns.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Consumers with excessive water consumption in Metro Manila and nearby provinces may receive warning notices from the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) amid the El Niño phenomenon.

During the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing on Thursday, MWSS Water and Sewerage Management Department Manager Patrick Dizon said they would investigate sudden spikes in residential bills.

“Kung napatunayan po na wala naman pong leak sa kanilang kabahayan ay wa-warning-an po natin sila (If it’s proven that there’s no leak in their households, we will warn them),” he said.

Besides warnings, they will also receive recommendations on how to conserve water and minimize consumption.

All other customers will also be notified of their usage trends.

“Makaka-receive po sila ng mga notices po sa kanilang mga billing, kung iyong mga kanilang naging konsumo po ay tumaas ba o bumaba (They will also receive notices in their billing if their consumption went up or down),” Dizon added.

These are part of the measures d
iscussed with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Water Resources Management Office, he said.

The DENR earlier urged the public to apply the prescribed conservation action (PCA), which includes refraining from using garden hoses in watering plants, cleaning driveways, and washing cars, among others.

For its part, the MWSS is implementing low water pressure to avoid water wastage every 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Dizon assured consumers that these low water pressures will not result in unannounced service interruptions.

“Hindi naman po tayo mawawalan po ng tubig sa mga oras po na magka-conduct kami ng mga (We will not lose water during our conduct of) pressure management strategies, at hihina lamang po iyong atin pong pressure (the pressure will just decrease),” he said.

Dizon said both Maynilad and Manila Waters will announce any service interruption, which is typically done for regular maintenance and leak repairs.

On April 29, the DENR announced a full allocation to both irrigation and do
mestic supply despite the declining water level in the Angat Dam.

This is equivalent to sustaining 50 cubic meters per second for the MWSS and 24 CMS for the National Irrigation Administration.

As of Friday, the water elevation in the Angat Dam stood at 186.86 meters, slightly above the 180-meter minimum operating level. (PNA)

Source: Philippines News Agency

Tbilisi has turned down a US invitation to Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze for an official visit due to a ‘pre-condition.’

Washington apparently urged Georgia to temporarily halt an ongoing parliamentary discussion on a controversial ‘foreign agents’ bill.

‘Today, the US ambassador’s statement was issued, stating that high-ranking Georgian government officials were invited to the US, but the Georgian side declined,’ a Georgian Foreign Ministry statement said.

‘Meetings with arrangements do not embody the spirit of cooperation, which should be founded on mutual respect and trust,’ it added.

The statement said that Kobakhidze was invited to the US under the condition that the Georgian parliament temporarily suspend talks on the draft bill before the visit, adding that an explanation was given to the US ambassador.

Earlier in the day, US Ambassador to Tbilisi Robin Dunnigan said in a statement that they recently invited senior members of Georgia’s government for bilateral talks, but that the Geor
gian side declined.

The parliament of the South Caucasus country voted Wednesday in support of the second reading of a controversial ‘foreign agents’ bill, despite weeks-long protests against the draft legislation sweeping the capital.

The bill requires organizations, including media outlets, which receive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad to register with the state. It also obliges them to publish annual financial reports.

The bill, first introduced in March 2023, was shelved after it triggered mass protests resulting in the arrest of 66 people and the injury of more than 50 law enforcement officers.

Last month, Mamuka Mdinaradze, the parliamentary leader of the ruling Georgian Dream party, said they would resubmit the draft legislation on the “transparency of foreign influence” to parliament.

Critics say the bill would undermine democracy and have labeled it as a “Russian law,” but members of the ruling majority say it would boost transparency.

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili a
lso declared that she would veto the bill.

However, Georgian Dream can override the president’s veto by collecting 76 votes, after which the parliament speaker can sign the bill into law.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The suspected gunman in the 2019 killing of broadcaster Eduardo ‘Ed’ Dizon in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato has been arrested, the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) said on Friday.

Citing a report from the Special Investigation Team (SIT), PTFoMS Executive Director Undersecretary Paul Gutierrez said Junell Jane Andagkit Poten, alias “Junell Gerozaga,” 33, was arrested on Thursday night in Barangay Saguing, Makilala, Cotabato by the Police Regional Office (PRO) 12 and the Makilala Municipal Police Station.

An informant provided authorities with positive information on the whereabouts of Poten.

Dizon, a radio commentator for Brigada News FM in Kidapawan City, was gunned down by two armed suspects on the night of July 10, 2019.

He sustained five bullet wounds and died on the spot.

Gutierrez said Poten’s arrest demonstrates the Marcos’ administration’s continuing effort to create a safe media environment for journalists, as well as its commitment to the rule of law and the delivery
of justice to victims of violent crimes.

‘These accomplishments by the government again prove that no one can escape from the long arms of the law and that thru the PTFoMS guiding its member-agencies, it has an effective and working mechanism to address all violence against the life, liberty, and security of all members of the media,” Gutierrez said.

Gutierrez also commended Department of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla for creating the SIT Dizon to handle the murder case of the Mindanao-based radio broadcaster.

Previously, one of the suspects was acquitted while another was granted bail.

According to the DOJ, PTFoMS was belatedly informed that one of the suspects, Sotero “Jun” Jacolbe, was granted bail and subsequently acquitted by the Davao Regional Trial Court last March 8.

The alleged mastermind, Dante Encarnacion Tabusares (alias Bong Encarnacion), was similarly allowed to post a PHP500,000 bail by the court on March 11, a week after his voluntary surrender at the Davao City Police Office.

‘With the arrest of Gerozaga, we are also confident this will strengthen the case against Encarnacion, the alleged mastermind,’ Gutierrez said.

According to information gathered by the PTFoMS, the suspects plotted to kill Dizon over his stringent criticism of Encarnacion and the KAPA Ministry that was ordered closed by the government in 2019 for being a front for a financial scam.

Encarnacion was the leader of KAPA-North Cotabato at the time. (PNA)

Source: Philippines News Agency

With climate change threatening crops, the city government of Batac in Ilocos Norte is eyeing to establish a solar power irrigation system in Barangay San Mateo, where a small water impounding dam is located.

Batac City Mayor Albert Chua confirmed this on Friday as representatives of the Climate Change Commission (CCC) conducted a field validation of the city’s various infrastructure projects for funding by the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP).

He said the proposed solar power irrigation system is a big boost to increase the productivity of farmers as it will maximize water collection and storage to augment water supplies and increase the likelihood of growing high-value crops during the summer.

‘The solar irrigation system will be a big help to our farmers. Irrigation is always a challenge in Batac that is why we continue to dredge our water ways and construct more farm reservoirs to address water shortage especially during summer,’ he said.

The proposed solar irrigation project is located in a
n area overlooking the national highway connecting Batac to Banna town.

Chua said the location is feasible for the proposed project because it has continuous water supply even during summer time.

‘We have checked on other areas and the site is the most feasible for solar irrigation to benefit farmers in rain-fed areas for them to save on fuel. To help achieve food sufficiency, the Marcos administration has been pushing for a nationwide solar-powered irrigation program which include Batac City in Ilocos Norte as one of the pilot sites,’ he said.

‘We are grateful to our governor for recommending Batac as one of the field validation sites of the CCC. We hope that this will materialize soon,’ he added.

Apart from constructing solar irrigation system, the city government is also urging its farmers to plant drought-resistant crops as response to climate change. (PNA)

Source: Philippines News Agency