Category: General

MANILA: Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros is calling for an immediate ban on the operation of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operation (POGO) in the country, saying human trafficking is part of its business model.

Hontiveros made the statement during her inspection Wednesday, together with Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, of a POGO firm in Bamban, Tarlac which was raided for human trafficking and illegal detention.

‘Ginagamit talaga bilang legal cover ang POGO ng mga sindikatong scammer. At kahit pa ligal na POGO, hindi ikinaganda ng Pilipinas ang pag-welcome sa mga sugalang ito (Scammer syndicates use POGO as legal cover. And even POGOs are legal, these gambling hubs never made the Philippines any better),” she said.

“Simula pa lang, nakita na natin na mas pinalala lang ng mga POGO ang mga sakit ng ating lipunan (From the start, that POGOs just worsened the problems of our society),’ she added.

During the inspection, the senators were informed by the Philippine Anti-Organized Crime Commission that six
Chinese fugitives running love scams and cryptocurrency investment scams were found in the premises.

Phones hanging on metal racks were also found, together with numerous SIM cards, presumably used to execute fraudulent transactions.

Hontiveros saw that the alleged POGO hub in Bamban, similar to other scam facilities previously raided, also had offices outfitted with computer workstations, along with instructional guides and scripts used in love scams and crypto schemes.

She filed on Tuesday Senate Resolution No. 1001, seeking to start a probe into foreigners using falsified documents to acquire Filipino citizenship.

She cited in the resolution how findings of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality revealed that the Visa Upon Arrival scheme was abused by Chinese POGO workers who wanted to enter the Philippines unchecked.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The suspension of face-to-face classes in the city of Manila has been extended until April 26 by Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan.

The Manila Public Information Office announced the extension of the class suspension on its Facebook page on Wednesday.

‘Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan declares suspension of face-to-face classes for public and private schools in all levels for Thursday and Friday, April 25-26, 2024,’ the announcement read.

Lacuna-Pangan said this was due to the forecast danger heat index level of 44°C, according to the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO).

Meanwhile, schools have been advised to shift to asynchronous classes.

On Tuesday, face-to-face classes in the city were suspended for Wednesday, April 24, due to the forecast danger heat index level of 43°C.

As of 1:30 pm on Wednesday, the MDRRMO said the heat index has reached 44°C, which is the highest heat index recorded in Manila for this year.

‘Sa ganitong condition, posibleng makaranas ng heat cramps
, at heat exhaustion ang taong nakabilad sa initan. Para ito ay maiwasan ay ugaliing uminom ng maraming tubig. Kung hindi maiiwasang mabilad sa araw ay ugaliin namang magpahinga at sumilong kada 30 minutes upang mabigyan ng oras ang katawan na bumaba ang temperatura (In this situation, heat cramps and heat exhaustion may be experienced by those who are exposed to the sun. To avoid this, drink plenty of water. If sun exposure cannot be avoided, try to go under the shades every 30 minutes to let the body temperature go down),’ MDRRMO said.

The Department of Education (DepEd) earlier announced that its school division superintendents as well as Metro Manila mayors have been authorized to adjust class schedules in their jurisdiction or suspend classes in case of extreme heat.

It also said students and teachers can wear more comfortable clothes as alternative uniforms, subject to guidelines.

Alternative delivery mode

Some 6,695 out of 47,678 public schools nationwide have suspended face-to-face classes due to
scorching temperatures on Wednesday, according to the DepEd.

The DepEd’s data showed the majority of the schools that implemented alternative delivery mode (ADM) were reported in the Cagayan Valley region, with 1,731 schools.

Western Visayas followed with 1,091 schools suspending in-person setting; Ilocos Region with 680 schools; Central Visayas with 470 affected schools; 450 schools in Bicol Region; 426 schools in MIMAROPA (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan); 415 schools in the National Capital Region; 395 schools in CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon); and 335 schools in Soccsksargen.

For the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), around 229 schools have implemented ADM; 117 in Eastern Visayas and 104 in Cagayan Valley.

Less than a hundred schools have also suspended face-to-face classes in Northern Mindanao, Davao region, and Caraga.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Defending champion National University (NU) defeated Far Eastern University (FEU), 25-22, 25-21, 25-20, on Wednesday to earn at least a playoff for a twice-to-beat semis incentive in the UAAP Season 86 men’s volleyball tournament at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

The Bulldogs, who scored a 25-22, 21-25, 25-14, 23-25, 18-16, in their first-round encounter, improved to 11-3 while the Tamaraws remained on top of the standings at 12-2.

If De La Salle University (10-3) loses to the University of Santo Tomas (10-3) on Saturday, NU will get the semis incentive.

But If UST prevails, NU and De La Salle will dispute the No. 2 spot in the Final Four.

‘Sobrang happy ako sa naging performance namin. Importante lang sa amin mag training lang ulit kami kung ano man ang mangyari sa last game ng elimination round (I am very happy with our performance. It’s important for us to train again no matter what happens in the last game of the elimination round),” said NU head coach Dante Alinsunurin after the one hour and 27-
minute match.

Michaelo Buddin led the Bulldogs with scored 17 points and 11 excellent digs.

Nicolas Angelo Almendras chipped in 15 points, Leo Aringo Jr. had 11 points, and Ave Joshua Retamar made eight points, including five blocks, with 17 excellent sets.

Jose Magdalino Javelona finished with 11 attacks, two blocks and five digs for FEU, which got eight points each from Zhydryx Saavedra and Andrei Delicana.

In the other game, Ateneo de Manila University outplayed Adamson University, 25-22, 25-21, 25-17, to end the season in fifth place at 7-7.

Jian Matthew Salarzon and Kennedy Batas scored 21 and 12 points, respectively for the Blue Eagles.

‘Yung season namin is full of ups and downs, especially during the first round. It was an emotional rollercoaster for the whole team so ayun, in general, sayang kasi we’re short by a win or two. Hopefully by next year, makabawi at makapasok sa Final Four (Our season is full of ups and downs, especially during the first round. It was an emotional rollercoaster for t
he whole team, in general, because we’re short by a win or two. Hopefully by next year, we can recover and enter the Final Four),’ said Ateneo head coach Timmy Sto. Tomas.

Jude Aguilar had nine attacks and three blocks for the Soaring Falcons, who placed sixth at 4-10.

Source: Philippines News Agency

BACOLOD CITY: A team from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Mines and Geosciences Bureau-Western Visayas (DENR-MGB Region 6) is conducting a vulnerability and risk assessment (VRA) here as part of the process to update the city’s geohazard map.

Ram Vera, chief of City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) Research and Planning Section, said on Wednesday there is a need to update the city’s susceptibility status since its existing geohazard map is already 11 years old.

‘Our last susceptibility map was in 2013 yet. It’s now 2024, many developments have already taken place in the city,’ Vera said in a telephone interview.

On Wednesday, the assessment started in the first 10 barangays and the next 11 villages will be covered on Thursday.

Vera said the rest of the city’s 61 barangays will be assessed within two months.

Geologist II ER Ramos leads the DENR-MGB team in conducting the VRA, which involves a more expansive look at risk exposures of areas, to update Bacolod’s susc
eptibility map on a scale of 1:10,000, indicating the level of susceptibility of barangays and sitios to landslides and flooding.

According to the DENR-MGB, the VRA is an assessment of the degree of vulnerability and potential risks of an area given the exposure to three elements –population, built-up areas and roads.

With the available data, the VRA produces predictive information on the number of population, extent of built-up areas, and roads that would be affected given their exposure to the varying levels of vulnerability, in the occurrence of rain-induced landslides and floods.

The geohazard map provides information on how susceptible a particular location is to these natural hazards.

Local planners and managers have used the geohazard maps as guide in planning, identifying safe areas for building, evacuation sites, and development, and formulating mitigation and disaster management programs towards more resilient communities, it added.

Source: Philippines News Agency

KUCHING, Seventy-nine (79) percent of the 640 projects under the Integrated Regional Samarahan Development Agency (IRSDA) has been completed as of the first quarter of the year 2024.

IRSDA chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah who is also the Sarawak Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Art said the projects has enabled Samarahan to enjoy rapid development and will have very good infrastructure within the next five-year period.

‘Overall projects under IRSDA are very good, there are one or two sick projects… one of it is the Tambirat Waterfront project under open tender.

‘Everything came fine but somehow part of the waterfront collapsed into the river and now they have to do investigation, whether due to nature or otherwise,’ said Abdul Karim during a press conference after chairing the IRSDA meeting, here today.

Abdul Karim when speaking of the Samarahan Boulevard project which is expected start by end of the year, will become the pride of Sarawak.

‘One of the projects under the
planning is the Samarahan Boulevard. Boulevard will be a pride for all Sarawakians or even in Malaysia,’ he said.

Local media has reported that the Boulevard project (Dataran) to be contructed at a cost of RM100 million in Samarahan will be build near the Al-Mutaqqin Mosque, whereby the place will become an avenue for major events to be organised, especially celebrations related to Independence, concerts and rally.

IRSDA was formed in 2019 to ensure a holistic development of Samarahan through an alternative allocation of RM1.5 billion to help Sarawak achieve a developed state status by 2030.

SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA: The ‘Kadiwa ng Pangulo,’ set from April 29 to May 1 to celebrate Labor Day here, will have on board 36 farmers and fisherfolk availing of the opportunity to market their products.

The Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KAtuwang sa Diwa at gaWa) is a flagship initiative of the Marcos administration, using a market-based approach to implement a ‘direct’ producer-to-consumer food supply and distribution system, Sonie Guanco, chief of the Department of Agriculture – Agriculture Program Coordinating Office (DA-APCO) in Antique, said on Wednesday.

‘There will be 36 farmers and fisherfolk who will be bringing their products for sale during the Kadiwa ng Pangulo,’ Guanco said in an interview, noting that they still have harvest despite the El Niño phenomenon.

In partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and Office of the Provincial Agriculture, the trade fair at the provincial capitol ground will jumpstart the monthly fair in the province to hel
p the target sector market their products.

The Kapatid Mentor Me, Inc. (KAMMI), a group of micro, small and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs) who are recipients of the Kapatid Mentor Me program of DTI, will join the Kadiwa.

They found it to be an opportunity to generate added sales, considering that the crops they use as raw materials depreciated due to the drought caused by the El Niño phenomenon.

‘We have members who are into turmeric, ginger brew, and banana chips processing who will be displaying their products,’ KAMMI president Aben Ortega said in a separate interview.

DOLE will also enroll participants of the Kadiwa in the emergency employment program of DOLE, where they will receive a daily wage of PHP480 for five days.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Hanoi: Eighty-four works were honoured with the 17th National Technical Innovation Awards at a ceremony held in Hanoi on April 23.

Phan Xuan Dung, President of the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA) and Chairman of the Vietnam Fund for Supporting Technological Creations (VIFOTEC) said that in the 17th contest (2022 – 2023), organisers in provinces, cities, ministries, and sectors selected 587 outstanding solutions for the national competition. Eighty-four of them were awarded, including six with the first prize, 12 with the second prize, 24 with the third prize, and 42 with the consolation prize.

The latest competition attracted over 8,000 entries from 55 ministries, sectors, and localities, he said, describing the achievements as a great source of encouragement for scientists, collectives, and individuals to push ahead with working and making innovations to contribute to socio-economic development.

Thousands of scientific research and application projects carried out across socio
-economic and security – defence areas are greatly helping with national reforms, he added.

On this occasion, the organising board decided to commend nine collectives and eight individuals for outstanding performance in popularising and holding the contest. The Vietnam General Confederation of Labour presented the certificate of labour and creativity to the chairs and co-chairs of the solutions winning the first, second, and third prizes. The Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee also honoured the authors aged 35 and below of those solutions.

At the event, organisers also launched the 18th National Technical Innovation Awards (2024 – 2025)./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency