Category: General

Hanoi: The Authority of Information Safety (AIS) under the Ministry of Information and Communications has asked information security units of agencies, organisations and businesses to roll out drastic measures to ensure safety for information systems under their management, with priorities on monitoring and early warnings.

The move was made after many information incidents have been reported recently, causing losses in property and harming the reputation of agencies, organisations and businesses as well as the national information security. According to the AIS, the trend of cyber attacks, especially ransomware, is increasing.

The authority asked information security units to complete examination and evaluation of information safety of their information system before April 15. If any loophole is detected, the units must immediately apply correcting measures, especially for information systems that store and process personal information and personal data, it asked.

The authority stressed the need for drasti
c implementation of tasks stated in Directive 09/CT-TTg issued by the Prime Minister on February 23, 2024 regarding strengthening information safety following different levels, ensuring that all operating information systems have their safety level approved within September, and all information security protection plans are fully implemented no later than December.

Along with applying the four-layer information safety model and maintaining connections and information sharing with the AIS’s National Cyber Security Centre, information safety units are requested to build plans to respond to incident and periodically back up systems and important data, the authority said, requesting them to periodically perform threat hunting and engage in the national network of cyber information security incident response as well.

Following alerts by the authority and relevant agencies, the units should regularly check and update information security patches for important systems, while using AIS-developed platforms such as I
RLab (Information Retrieval Lab) and DFLab (Digital Forensic Lab) platforms to receive early warnings and support in incident solving, the authority suggested./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

MANILA: Duty Free Philippines (DFP) on Monday announced a 5-percent discount for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and balikbayan at its flagship store, Fiestamall, in Parañaque City.

OFWs and balikbayans (Filipinos visiting or returning after a period of living abroad) can avail of the discount starting on April 2, by presenting their Balikbayan Plus Card and passport at the Customer Registration Counter.

To be eligible for the Balikbayan Plus Card, balikbayans must present their passport.

“We are delighted to extend this special discount to our hardworking OFWs and beloved Balikbayans,” DFP Chief Operating Officer Vicente Pelagio Angala said.

“This initiative demonstrates our appreciation for their contributions and welcomes them back home with exciting perks and benefits,’ he added.

Apart from the Balikbayan Program benefits, cardholders can enjoy exclusive discounts and privileges at DFP partner merchants such as Kingsford Hotel, Holiday Inn Express, and Isecure Networks and Business Solution Inc.

An
gala noted the Balikbayan Plus Card aims to enhance the shopping experience for OFWs, enabling them to enjoy additional savings and exclusive offers while shopping at Duty Free Philippines.

The card also grants access to discounts and privileges at select partner establishments, providing a VIP experience for returning Filipinos.

Duty Free Philippines Corporation is an attached agency of the Department of Tourism that allots its earnings to the development of national tourism programs and projects.

Source: Philippines News Agency

SHARIFF AGUAK: The police have launched a manhunt against the killers of a village councilor and three others in separate gun attacks in Mamasapano, Maguindanao del Sur and Buldon, Maguindanao del Norte over the weekend.

Lt. Lou Christian Villones, Mamasapano town police chief, said Barangay Pimbalkan councilor Ansari Salim was killed on the spot while his companion, Sgt. Mansor Sianga, was injured at about 3 p.m. Saturday.

Villones said the two were on board a pickup truck driven by Sianga when ambushed by still unidentified gunmen.

Responding police found about a dozen empty shells from firearms of various calibers.

In Barangay Tukanalipao of the same town, Villones said two men on a motorbike were attacked on Sunday.

A certain ‘Jun’ was killed while his companion ‘George’ sustained injuries.

In Buldon, farmers Abdulgani Kasan and Latip Gapor were likewise gunned down in Barangay Piers.

Investigators said the gun attacks could have been triggered by personal grudge or family feud.

Source: Philippin
es News Agency

MANILA: The Task Force El Niño on Monday urged local government units (LGUs) to consider suspension of in-person classes amid the possible effects of rising temperatures, especially on learners.

During the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Assistant Secretary and Task Force El Niño spokesperson Joey Villarama said LGUs can exercise their authority to suspend face-to-face (F2F) learning.

“Kung kayo po ay nakaka-experience ng extreme heat sa inyong lokalidad, nasa sa inyo po ang kapangyarihan po para i-shift ang inyong face-to-face classes to online classes (If you’re experiencing extreme heat in your locality, the power to shift the face-to-face classes to online classes is in your hands),” he said.

Villarama stressed that LGUs should not only consider “convenience” but also the possible adverse effects of surging temperatures on learners and teachers.

“Kung hindi po talaga viable at hindi na po talagang advisable na tumungo pa sa mga classroom ang ating mga kabataa
n, pati ang ating mga teacher, ay mag-shift na po tayo sa (If it’s no longer viable nor advisable for our youth to go to the classroom, even to our teachers, shift it to) online classes,” he said.

At home, learners should also have access to adequate clean drinking water and stay in a well-ventilated area, he added.

Department of Education (DepEd) Assistant Secretary Francis Bringas, meanwhile, said learners and teachers have the option to wear more comfortable clothes inside school premises subject to dress codes.

The DepEd earlier mentioned that school heads also have the authority to declare class suspension, besides LGUs.

As of Monday, the DepEd reported 13 areas in four regions that suspended in-person classes from preschool to senior high school, both in public and private schools due to sweltering temperatures.

Dagupan City, Pangasinan in the Ilocos Region suspended F2F classes until April 4.

Other areas that suspended onsite classes on Monday were Iloilo City and Dumangas, Iloilo province; Roxas
, Capiz; Kabankalan City, Silay City, Himamaylan City, and Bago City in Negros Occidental; and Guimaras in Western Visayas; as well as Pagadian City Pilot School and Buenavista Integrated School in Zamboanga Peninsula; and Banga and Tantangan in South Cotabato.

Preventing heat stroke

Meanwhile, former Health Secretary and House Deputy Majority Leader Janette Garin advised drinking water as soon as one feels thirsty to avoid conditions caused by the dry weather, like potentially fatal heat stroke.

“It’s so important that you carry a water bottle or water container. Do not wait for the time that you are thirsty that you have to drink water. Even with just a little desire to drink or if you feel that the heat is unbearable, drink water,’ she said in a media briefing at the House of Representatives in Quezon City on Monday.

The Iloilo 1st District Representative warned that heat stroke may happen without the person even knowing it.

She emphasized the importance of ventilation, particularly between 10 a.m. an
d 2 p.m. when the heat is intense.

Coughs, colds, and fever may also happen due to hot weather.

The Department of Health also instructed moving to a cool or shaded place when experiencing intense heat to prevent heat stroke.

Applying cold compress to the armpits, groin, neck, and, back, or soaking in cold water, could also help.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Hanoi: ‘Colours of Vietnamese ethnic groups’ cultures’ will be the main theme of activities to be held at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism in the suburbs of Hanoi in April 2024.

As part of events to respond to the Vietnamese Ethnic Groups’ Culture Day (April 19), activities will contribute to promoting and upholding unique traditional cultural values of the ethnic communities, thus attracting tourists during national holidays.

Many special events aim to commemorate Hung Kings – the legendary founders of the nation, and mark National Reunification Day (April 30), and May Day (May 1).

The reenactment of a mountainous market of Cao Bang province will be the most attractive event. It will spotlight the cultural space of ethnic groups of Lo Lo, Mong, Tay, Nung and Dao, their traditional cuisine and specialties, traditional arts, and folk games.

The Mong people in Cao Bang will introduce melodies of Khen (panpine) art, which plays an important role in their cultural and spiritual life
.

Meanwhile, Dao (Dao Tien) and Nung ethnic groups will showcase their traditional handicrafts of beeswax batik printing on fabric, and incense-making, respectively.

A rain praying festival will be reenacted by 15 artisans from the Lo Lo ethnic group in Bao Lac district.

Visitors to the village at the weekend will also have a chance to watch art performances with traditional musical instruments by ethnic groups from the Central Highlands and Mekong Delta regions./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

MANILA: The country’s manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) recorded a modest growth in March this year at 50.9.

March’s PMI was slightly lower than February’s 51 but a PMI above 50 is still considered growth.

The manufacturing PMI gauges the health of the local sector, with scores above 50 signaling improvement and below the neutral score mean deterioration.

S and P Global Philippines Manufacturing PMI reported Monday that the marginal easing in the health of the local sector was mainly due to material shortages.

‘The downturn came despite firms in general recording sustained demand for goods. However, if firms are able to successfully secure materials and build their stocks, the downturn in output could be fleeting,’ S and P Global Market Intelligence economist Maryam Baluch said.

Philippine factories’ hiring activities supported the manufacturing PMI in the previous month.

Job generation was recorded for two consecutive months, with the highest growth rate in 1.5 years.

Factories were also
rebuilding inventory levels, ending the first quarter of the year with fresh and strong expansions both in pre- and post-production stocks.

Cost pressure among manufacturers was also at its weakest since October 2020.

‘Sentiment among manufacturers weakened and was the least optimistic in nearly four years. Firms were concerned that increased market competition would limit growth prospects. However, hopes of demand conditions domestically and globally strengthening continued to buoy confidence levels,’ Baluch said. (PNA)

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva on Monday filed a resolution strongly condemning China’s unprovoked aggression, continued harassment, and illegal actions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

In Senate Resolution No. 980, Villanueva said China’s actions violate the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) ruling and threaten Filipinos, the Philippine national security, and marine resources.

“The foregoing acts of aggression and the Chinese government’s response display a pattern that has been consistently employed by China, notwithstanding the PCA Award and the provisions of the UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea). As in previous incidents, the People’s Republic of China has continued to ignore the PCA Award and deny the harassment and intimidation claims of the Philippines,” he said.

On March 23, the Armed Forces of the Philippines reported that the Chinese Coast Guard harassed and used water cannons against the wooden resupply boat that was en route to the BRP Sierra Madr
e in Ayungin Shoal, causing injuries to its crew members.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources also reported that a group of Filipino scientists near Pag-asa Island was harassed on the same day when a Chinese helicopter hovered closely above them.

“China’s actions and response to the recent incident in the West Philippine Sea are concerning, considering the agreements reached between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and President Xi Jinping in San Francisco last November 2023 to ease and manage tensions, and the discussions during the 8th Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea last January 17, 2024 wherein both sides agreed to calmly deal with incidents through diplomacy and committed to avoid escalation of tensions in the Ayungin Shoal,” Villanueva said.

He noted that while President Marcos already directed concerned agencies and instrumentalities to implement a “response and countermeasure package,” the Department of Foreign Affairs and other agencies should exhaust all legal and
diplomatic mechanisms to end China’s aggression and protect Philippine sovereignty.

Meanwhile, Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros said BRP Sierra Madre should not be removed in Ayungin Shoal, following revelations of a supposed “gentleman’s agreement” between former president Rodrigo Duterte and China to maintain the status quo in the WPS.

“The BRP Sierra Madre should remain on Ayungin. Our troops have been risking their lives to guard that ship. Huwag nating balewalain ang hirap at sakripisyo nila (We should not ignore their hardships and sacrifices),” Hontiveros said in a statement on Monday.

‘More importantly, the current chief executive (President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.) has rescinded any concession that was made to China,’ she added.

Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, in a recent interview, said Duterte’s so-called gentlemen’s agreement with China called for the Philippines to refrain from constructions and installations in the WPS, but clarified that it was just verbal and sho
uld not apply under the administration of President Marcos.

Hontiveros, nevertheless, criticized Duterte for ‘prioritizing’ his relationship with China over the Philippines’ national interest.

“Duterte also never accorded our 2016 Arbitral Award its much-deserved respect and reverence,” she said.

Reason, not emotion, should prevail

Meanwhile, Senator Imee Marcos on Monday said the country should engage in proper talks with China and other claimants in the WPS through ‘prevalence of reason and not emotion.’

In a statement, the senator said the government should encourage its citizens to “take the path of peace and understanding.”

“Maging matatag tayo sa gitna ng hamon na ito, ngunit dapat manaig ang kalmadong pag-iisip, mahinahong pananalita, at kalkuladong mga desisyon (Let us be strong in the midst of this challenge, but calm thinking and speech, and calculated decisions, should prevail),” she said.

“Nagsisimula ito sa maayos na pakikipag-usap sa China at iba pang mga bansang claimant din ng mga isla
at iba pang features sa West Philippine Sea (It starts with proper talks with China and other countries that are also claimants of islands and other features in the West Philippine Sea),” she added.

If emotional approach will continue to prevail, she warned that this would lead the country “to a dangerous path that will cost us more than just Filipino pride.”

“To prevent yet another regional conflict, what we need instead are solutions for peace from those who claim to be our genuine allies. Even declarations of support lack credibility where a rules-based international order is loudly invoked amid the mute refusal to ratify the UNCLOS,” she said. (PNA)

Source: Philippines News Agency