Category: General

MANILA: Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Friday stressed anew the need to uphold the protection of women against insurgency and violence as the world marked International Women’s Day.

In a prerecorded video, Duterte said it’s crucial to discuss pressing issues that put women’s welfare and lives at risk.

‘Isaisip natin si Dr. Sharmaine Baroquillo na isang kawani ng pamahalaan na biktima ng karahasan at ang abogadang kasapi ng New People’s Army na namatay sa Bohol habang pinaglalaban ang bulok na ideolohiya ng terorismo at pagpapabagsak sa pamahalaan (Let’s remember Dr. Sharmaine Baroquillo, a government employee, a victim of violence, and the lawyer-member of the New People’s Army [NPA] who died in Bohol while fighting for the rotten ideology of terrorism and government destabilization),’ she said.

Baroquillo was allegedly shot by three men in Buluan, Maguindanao del Sur while on her way to Sultan Kudarat Provincial Hospital on Feb. 3.

The alleged NPA member, Hannah Joy Cesista (alias
Maya or Lean), meanwhile, died during an armed encounter with government troops in Bilar, Bohol on Feb. 23.

‘Nariyan din ang mga ina ng mga kabataang inarmasan at biktima ng panlilinlang ng NPA na hanggang ngayon ay nawawala o di kaya umuwi na wala ng buhay (There are also the mothers of the youth armed and victimized by the deception of the NPA who until now are still missing or came home dead),’ Duterte added.

Moreover, the Vice President mentioned the sacrifices of the female family members of security frontliners.

‘Huwag din nating kalimutan ang mga ina, asawa, o kapatid ng mga pulis at sundalong nagbuwis ng buhay para matiyak lang na ligtas tayo at ang ating bayan (Let’s not forget the mothers, wives, or sisters of policemen and soldiers who have sacrificed their lives to ensure our safety and the country’s security),’ she said.

Duterte further insisted that true support for women entails equal opportunities, freedom to choose and excel in their avenues, access to education, and protection for the fo
undation of Filipino families, among others.

‘Isulong natin ang sapat at angkop na edukasyon para sa publiko. Tulungan ang mga grupong tunay na tagapagtanggol ng karapatan at kapakanan ng mga kababaihan. Suportahan natin ang mga batas para sa kababaihan (Let’s promote adequate and appropriate education for the public. Help groups that are truly fighting for women’s rights and welfare. Let’s support laws in favor of women),’ she said.

The Department of Education (DepEd) likewise lauded women’s contribution to society.

‘Ensuring women’s and girls’ rights across all aspects of life is the only way to secure a prosperous and just economies and a healthy planet for future generations,’ the DepEd said in a separate statement.

This year’s International Women’s Day is celebrated with the theme ‘Investing in Women: Accelerate Progress,’ with the aim to push for the realization of ‘decent work and gender equality’ across all sectors.

Source: Philippines News Agency

CEBU: To ensure health and safety in workplaces, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Central Visayas launched Thursday the 13th Gawad Kaligtasan at Kalusugan Award, a labor official said on Friday.

Dr. Maria Beatriz Villanueva, head of the Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC) of DOLE-7, said the award will recognize the ‘best of the best’ in the area of workers’ safety and health in the workplaces and the community.

‘We want to extend this opportunity to deserving enterprises and individuals to be recognized for their accomplishments and best practices in the field of occupational safety and health,’ Villanueva said.

The OSHC, she said, wants to bring the promotion of the GKK award to the regions because ‘we want as many enterprises and individuals as possible to join.’

She said the best of the best or the exemplary establishments and individuals will be recognized as ‘Gawad Kaligtasan at Kalusugan Champions.’

Private and locally registered companies compliant with occupational safet
y and health standards as prescribed by Department Order 198, series of 2018, or the implementing rules and regulations for Republic Act 11058, are encouraged to join the search.

Those in the public sector or government agencies compliant with CSC-DOH-DOLE Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1, Series of 2020 on occupational safety and health standards for the public sector can also join the award.

Individuals who are designated OSH personnel of GKK-nominated company, who implemented workplace safety and health initiatives that made an impact on its safety and health management system and performed duties beyond their immediate OSH field or area of responsibility can also join.

Micro-enterprises and informal sector with safety and health innovations, improvements, or initiatives in business operation in the fields of transportation, retail, services, food manufacturing, small construction, and agriculture are also eligible for the award.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The White House announced on Friday (Manila time) that 22 high-level business executives will be part of the delegation of US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo in her Presidential Trade and Investment Mission to Manila from March 11 to 12.

The delegation will be exploring business opportunities in the Philippines as part of the two countries’ commitment to further strengthen commercial ties.

Joining Raimondo’s delegation to Manila next week are GreenFire Energy, Inc. president Steven Brown; Sol-Go chairman of the board and chief executive officer (CEO) Scott McHugo; Marquis co-founder, vice president and director of marketing Thomas Marquis; and Ultra Safe Nuclear Corp. (USNC) founder and CEO Francesco Venneri in the power sector.

USNC, together with power company Manila Electric Company (Meralco), is exploring the opportunities in nuclear energy here through micro-modular reactors.

Last month, Meralco executive vice president and chief operating officer Ronnie Aperocho said USNC will be sending
its delegation to the Philippines to present the results of the feasibility study on micro-modular reactors and possible sites of these technologies in the country.

Aside from power firms, US companies that will be part of the trade and investment mission here include digital and technology firms such as Google, to be led by its Southeast Asia and South Asia Frontier vice president Sapna Chadha; Microsoft Corp.’s Office of the President Global Strategic Initiatives vice president Mary Snapp; UltraPass ID co-founder and CEO Eric Starr; InnovationForce founder and CEO Kimberly Getgen; and EchoStar/DISH co-founder and chairman of the board Charlie Ergen.

Senior officials of card payment service providers will also participate in the US mission here including Visa Inc. Asia Pacific chairman Chris Clark and Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth founder and president and EVP for Sustainability Shamina Singh.

United Airlines president Brett Hart is also joining Raimondo’s delegation, following the company’s anno
uncement of a new route-Tokyo-Narita to Cebu, starting July 31.

US logistics companies FedEx and United Parcel Service (UPS) will be represented by their Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa Region president Kawal Preet, and EVP and chief corporate affairs and sustainability officer Laura Lane, respectively.

Other members of the delegation are Capital One Philippines president Sara Murphy, Black and Veatch Corp. Asia Pacific and India president Narsingh Chaudhary, Boston Consulting Group global chairman Rich Lesser, Bechtel East Asia and Pacific regional president Anne-Marie Padgett, and KKR head of Asia Pacific Infrastructure and co-head of KKR Asia Pacific David Luboff.

Raimondo will also be accompanied by President’s Export Council chairman Mark Ein, and CEO, US-ASEAN Business Council president Ted Osius, and Apl.de.Ap Foundation International founder Allan Pineda a.k.a Apl.de.Ap.

In a press chat in Makati City Friday, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Alfredo Pascual said this visit o
f the US Secretary of Commerce is a significant mission to the country as this was initiated by US President Joe Biden himself.

‘The mission was initiated by President (Joe) Biden at the time that our President visited Washington DC,’ Pascual said.

Pascual will also have a bilateral meeting with Raimondo during the latter’s visit here next week.

Raimondo will also be meeting with the Private Sector Advisory Council and Philippine business organizations.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The country’s gross international reserves (GIR) settled at USD102.7 billion as of end-February, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said.

In a statement released late Thursday, the BSP said that preliminary data showed that the GIR level during the month was lower than end-January’s USD103.3 billion.

The BSP’s reserve assets consist of foreign investments, gold, foreign exchange, reserve position in the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and special drawing rights.

“The month-on-month decrease in the GIR level reflected mainly the National Government’s (NG) payments of its foreign currency debt obligations,” the central bank said.

The BSP noted that the net international reserves, which refers to the difference between the central bank’s reserve assets (GIR) and reserve liabilities (short-term foreign debt and credit and loans from the IMF), also slightly decreased to USD102.66 billion from the end-January level of USD102.68 billion.

“The latest GIR level represents a more-than-adequate extern
al liquidity buffer equivalent to 7.7 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services and primary income,” the BSP said.

It is also about six times the country’s short-term external debt based on original maturity and 3.9 times based on residual maturity.

By convention, the GIR is viewed to be adequate if it can finance at least three months’ worth of the country’s imports of goods and payments of services and primary income.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Can Tho: Authorities of Can Tho and a delegation from Germany’s Wernigerode city led by Mayor Tobias Kascha agreed to strengthen cooperation in various fields, with a focus on sustainable green tourism, during a working session in the Mekong Delta city on March 8.

Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Duong Tan Hien said Can Tho boasts a strong agricultural sector, with 80% of its land for farming (nearly 115,000 ha). The city is a hub for services and tourism, with rice, seafood, fruit trees and animal farming forming the backbone of its agricultural industry.

Last year, the city accommodated roughly 6 million visitors, generating a revenue of 5.42 trillion VND (225.8 million USD). Leveraging the advantages provided by the Government’s pilot specific policies and mechanisms for Can Tho’s development, the city aims to maximise its potential and become a stronger economic force.

Hien emphasised the mutual benefits of increased agricultural cooperation between Wernigerode and Can Tho, saying that
it aligns perfectly with Can Tho’s strategic focus on developing its services- tourism.

The city commits all possible support for firms from Germany, particularly those from Wernigerode to do business there, he said.

Hien wished that Mayor Kascha would act as a bridge, facilitating information exchange and business opportunities for Can Tho enterprises seeking to expand into Wernigerode.

Mayor Kascha expressed his desire for deeper cooperation across various sectors. He highlighted Germany’s existing twinning relationships with Ho Chi Minh City and Hoi An, which he believes provide a solid foundation for further locality-to-locality partnerships between Vietnam and Germany.

Wernigerode, like Can Tho, prioritises tourism as a key economic driver, he said, noting the German city’s extensive experience in sustainable green tourism models. He expressed his willingness to share this expertise with Can Tho while learning from the Mekong Delta city’s successful models, particularly those focusing on green touris
m adaptable to climate change.

According to the municipal Department of Foreign Affairs, Can Tho exported 18.15 million USD worth of goods to Germany last year, with rice, aquatic products, agricultural and processed agricultural products, apparel and handicrafts as key currency earners. Its imports from Germany reached 260,000 USD, mostly pharmaceutical materials, machinery and equipment./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

MANILA: Police agents confiscated suspected shabu with an estimated street value of PHP22.6 million from four high-value drug suspects during buy-busts in Pasay City and Iloilo province on Thursday.

In a statement on Friday, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Maj. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said two suspects were arrested in Celeridad Street, Barangay 111, Pasay City on Thursday night by the Southern Police District Drug Enforcement Unit.

Nartatez said both suspects were listed as high-value individuals (HVI) on the drug watchlist.

Confiscated from the duo were 1.830 kg. of suspected shabu worth PHP 12.4 million, buy-bust money, and mobile phones, among others.

Police Regional Office 6 (Western Visayas) Director Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky likewise reported the arrest of alias Pada, 31 and alias Ceasar, 49, both HVI, during a buy-bust in Duran Street, Barangay Sto. Rosario, Iloilo City on Thursday afternoon.

Seized from the suspects were suspected shabu weighing more or less 1,500 grams w
orth PHP10.2 million, buy-bust money, two mobile phones, and a motorcycle.

The four will be charged with violation of Section 5 (sale of dangerous drugs) in relation to Section 26B (conspiracy to sell) of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Source: Philippines News Agency

BUTUAN: The city government of Surigao received a PHP3.6 million livelihood support fund from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

‘The financial support is a substantial boost for the livelihood programs of the city government under the administration of Mayor Pablo Yves Dumlao II,’ the local government said in a statement Friday.

The livelihood fund, released on Thursday afternoon through the Kabuhayan Program of the agency, will be utilized to help 123 individuals from the Muslim community in the city by providing them with livelihood programs and projects.

DOLE Surigao del Norte chief labor and employment officer May Velonta handed over the check containing the livelihood fund to City Councilor Baltazar Abian, who chairs the Labor and Employment Committee of the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

The city government also recognized the continuing support of the DOLE for its livelihood programs and initiatives.

‘The Kabuhayan Program represents a vital initiative aimed at enhancing the capabilities of
impoverished, vulnerable, and marginalized workers in our communities,’ the statement said. ‘The selection is a way of ensuring that the support reaches the intended beneficiaries, especially those facing employment challenges.’

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: A Catholic prelate on Friday urged the faithful to pray for the victims of the March 6 attack of rebels at the Gulf of Aden where three crew members, two of which are Filipino seafarers, were killed.

“In this moment of war, chaos, and uncertainty, let us all turn to God for His divine intervention. Let us pray for peace in the Middle East, entrusting everything in His power and mercy…We are one and united with the families of the victims. We urge them to be strong and lift up everyone and everything to God,” Antipolo Bishop Ruperto Santos said in an interview over Church-run Radyo Veritas.

“We call on the Houthis to stop all the attacks, aggression, and intrusion in the Red Sea. This incident underscores the danger to human life, property, and the marine environment in the area,” the Catholic prelate added.

The attack on MV True Confidence was the first fatal assault due to the tension at the Red Sea, one of the important trade routes from Europe, Middle East and Asia.

According to an official s
tatement by the Indian Navy and released by Anadolu news agency on March 7, the Barbados-flagged Bulk Carrier MV True Confidence was reportedly ‘hit by a drone/missile’ in the south-west of Aden on Wednesday, resulting in fire onboard and critical injuries to some of the crew members forcing the crew to abandon the ship.

“INS (Indian Navy Ship) Kolkata, deployed for maritime security operations arrived at the scene of action and rescued 21 crew members, including one Indian national, from the life raft using its integral helicopter and boats.”

Santos said he is praying for God’s intervention to touch the hearts of contrasting parties and stop the hostility that is affecting innocent people.

“We place our trust in God’s miraculous love for peace, diplomatic settlements, and to soften the hearts of both sides. May each one respect life, promote the common good, and protect the individual rights and welfare,” he said.

It was in November 2023 when the Yemeni militia group, Houthis started attacking the Red Se
a in support of Palestinians at the start of Israel – Hamas militant war.

The group also took hostage 17 Filipino crew members of Galaxy Leader cargo ship at the Red Sea.

Source: Philippines News Agency