Category: General

ISTANBUL: In a successful liftoff early Thursday, SpaceX launched NASA’s nearly USD1 billion PACE satellite to monitor the health of the planet, from its oceans to its atmosphere, offering crucial data for understanding and combating climate change, according to the US space agency.

Though the mission faced multiple cancelation threats, PACE’s liftoff was secured by soaring on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

PACE is now on its way to a precise orbit where it will begin its observations above the International Space Station.

It will collect data on aerosols and clouds, scanning Earth every two days to analyze their chemical composition, movement, and interactions.

NASA’s PACE mission aims to explore Earth’s environment by studying ocean health, atmospheric conditions, and ecosystems.

It will monitor plankton, aerosols, clouds, and oceanic conditions to better understand their interactions and influence on the planet’s climate and overall health.

Scientists anticipate that PACE data will provide crucial insight
s into the effects of aerosols on cloud formation and differentiate between various cloud types. Understanding these factors is vital for interpreting climate changes and air quality shifts, said NASA.

In addition, data from PACE’s polarimeters will enhance climate models by providing more accurate atmospheric information, replacing current estimates with direct measurements.

The new polarimetry data will also provide real-time insights into air pollution.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The Philippine government is planning to introduce a “layover tour” program for local and foreign tourists transiting through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco announced Thursday.

Frasco said the Department of Tourism (DOT) is in talks with relevant agencies, including airport authorities to push the launch as early as the second quarter of 2024.

‘For the very first time, mayroon tayong, in the works na ngayon, na layover tours para sa ating mga layover or transit passengers (we have, in the works already, layover tours for our layover or transit passengers),’ she said in an interview.

‘Imagine, just having a few hours but being able to get to know the Philippines through our Philippine Hop-on Hop-off (HOHO) bus tours,’ she added.

The Tourism chief said government agencies are currently negotiating the technicalities of the program, including the process for tourists who will temporarily exit the airport gates for side Manila trips.

‘We’re very hope
ful na isa na naman ito sa mga innovations na ma-introduce natin para mabigyan ang Pilipinas ng added competitive edge to become Asia’s tourism powerhouse (that this will be another innovative program to give the Philippines an added competitive edge to become Asia’s tourism powerhouse),’ she said.

The upcoming tourism program is expected to feature the newly-launched HOHO Pasay-Paranaque, also known as the Entertainment Hub Route.

‘HOHO Pasay-Paranaque’

The DOT rolled out the HOHO Pasay-Paranaque Route on Thursday, which features 13 bus stops to highlight the various ‘entertainment hotspots’ in the two cities.

This is the third of its kind following the HOHO Business and Cultural Hubs launch in Makati and Manila last year.

‘While these cities boast historical landmarks and commercial districts, their emergence as entertainment hubs has been a defining feature that attracts locals and tourists alike,’ the DOT said.

‘Further, their fusion of contemporary entertainment complexes, vibrant nightlife makes t
hem integral pillars in shaping Manila’s entertainment landscape,’ it added.

The 13 designated bus stops in Pasay and Paranaque are as follow:

–Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminals 1, 2, and 3

–Newport World Resorts

–City of Dreams

–Ayala Malls Manila Bay

–Parqal

–Okada Manila

–Solaire Resort

–Luxe Duty Free

–MOA Main Stop

–SMX Convention Center

–MOA Seaside

Both local and foreign tourists in the country may already avail of the new HOHO tour through a mobile application developed for HOHO, where they can book their tour, either guided or do-it-yourself (DIY).

The HOHO app can be downloaded in both the App Store and Google Play Store.

At least three more HOHO hubs are slated to be launched in 2024, namely the Heart Hub (San Juan, Pasig and Mandaluyong), the Lifestyle Hub (Taguig – The Bonifacio Global City), and the Mind Hub that focuses on popular educational institutions located in Quezon City.

The Philippines Hop-On-Hop-Off Travel by the Hubs operates through desig
nated hubs, where tourists have the freedom to choose their preferred destination and duration of stay.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The robust Philippine economy has played an essential role in improving the employment situation in the country, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Thursday.

Marcos made the statement, as he welcomed the increase in employment rate in Dec. 2023, noting that it is an indication that more opportunities are opening up for the Filipino workforce.

He added that the better employment situation signifies an improvement in job quality and stability.

‘This positive momentum is attributed to robust growth across all major industry groups, with construction, agriculture, and services leading the way,’ Marcos said in an X post.

Marcos said the government would pursue upskilling and reskilling initiatives and promote innovation to provide the country’s workforce with the necessary skills and adaptability ‘to thrive in many high-quality employment opportunities’.

‘Looking ahead, our government remains committed to fostering a conducive and enabling environment for employment growth,’ Marcos said.

‘We will
continue to implement both demand- and supply-side interventions, including pro-investment reforms and strategic partnerships, to attract more investments,’ he added.

Marcos also noted that several initiatives such as the Public-Private Partnership Code and the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Housing Program will further stimulate economic activity and create more job opportunities in the country.

In a separate statement, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said the strong-paced employment gains reflect the ‘steady growth’ of the Philippine economy.

‘This strongly proves that this administration’s multifaceted and whole-of-government approach is working towards the enhancement of our labor sector,’ Pangandaman said.

The current administration would continue to strive for a ‘better, brighter Philippines with a well-trained, inclusive, and dynamic workforce,” she added.

The latest Labor Force Survey (LFS) released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Wednesday showed that the underemployment
rate in Dec. 2023 further fell to 3.1 percent from the 3.8 percent recorded in Nov. 2023 and the 4.3 percent posted in Dec. 2022.

The latest unemployment figure was the lowest since the PSA introduced a new methodology for measuring the LFS in 2005.

According to PSA’s report, the number of unemployed Filipinos was estimated at 1.6 million, lower than the reported 2.22 million in Dec. 2022.

The country’s unemployment rate rose to 96.9 percent (50.52 million) in Dec. 2023, higher than the 95.7 percent (49 million) registered in Dec. 2022.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The subcommittee under the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes chaired by Senator Sonny Angara will continue deeper discussions on the Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 6 in the coming weeks.

During the Kapihan sa Senado on Thursday, Angara said the next sessions would focus on the proposed amendments in the three economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution: Section 11 of Article XII or the National Patrimony and Economy; Paragraph 2, Section 4 of Article XIV or the Education, Science and Technology, Arts, Culture, and Sports; and Paragraph 2, Section 11 of Article XVI or the General Provisions.

Amending these specific provisions is seen to remove the restrictions on foreign direct investments in the country’s public utilities, education, and advertising industries.

On public utilities, Angara said the discussions would just be a “reiteration” of the Public Services Act which was already discussed towards the end of the Duterte administration and was already passe
d into law.

“We will just reiterate what is there and give the flexibility, kasi ang isa sa magandang lumabas dun sa hearing, isa tayo sa iilang bansa lang na naglalagay ng economic restrictions or policies sa Saligang Batas (because one of the findings during the hearing is that we are one of the few countries that have economic restrictions or policies in our Constitution),” Angara explained saying this made the country “inflexible” against the changing world economy.

“Yung ibang bansa nagpapasa lang ng batas o polisiya. Eh tayo mag-aamyenda pa ng Saligang Batas (Other countries just pass a law or policy, while we have to amend the Constitution) to adjust to economic trends worldwide,” he added.

Angara said the subcommittee would also allot a session to discuss higher education.

“Kailan siguro klaruhin yung RBH 6 yung wording niya about educational institution. Klaruhin namin na hindi namin nais buksan yung basic education, dahil meron na tayong polisiya diyan, kasi meron na tayong (Maybe it should be c
larified in the wordings of RBH 6 about educational institution. We will make it clear that we do not want to touch basic education because we already have a policy about that, because we have) international schools. They are allowed to operate here but still subject to the regulation of the Department of Education,” the lawmaker noted.

One of the discussions, Angara said, would be on how to give Filipinos the option to acquire joint degrees by allowing prestigious foreign colleges and universities to operate in the country.

“Sa Singapore, merong joint degree offered by the National University of Singapore and Harvard or Yale. So, biro mo, two-in-one yung degree ng anak natin, di ba? Ang binabayad mo isang tuition pero ang degree niya (In Singapore, there is a joint degree offered by National University of Singapore and Harvard or Yale. Imagine, our children will have a two-in-one degree, right? You will pay one tuition but the degree) is accredited by two international institutions,” he said.

Angara said
the next public hearing is scheduled for Monday.

Source: Philippines News Agency

ISTANBUL: In a successful liftoff early Thursday, SpaceX launched NASA’s nearly USD1 billion PACE satellite to monitor the health of the planet, from its oceans to its atmosphere, offering crucial data for understanding and combating climate change, according to the US space agency.

Though the mission faced multiple cancelation threats, PACE’s liftoff was secured by soaring on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

PACE is now on its way to a precise orbit where it will begin its observations above the International Space Station.

It will collect data on aerosols and clouds, scanning Earth every two days to analyze their chemical composition, movement, and interactions.

NASA’s PACE mission aims to explore Earth’s environment by studying ocean health, atmospheric conditions, and ecosystems.

It will monitor plankton, aerosols, clouds, and oceanic conditions to better understand their interactions and influence on the planet’s climate and overall health.

Scientists anticipate that PACE data will provide crucial insight
s into the effects of aerosols on cloud formation and differentiate between various cloud types. Understanding these factors is vital for interpreting climate changes and air quality shifts, said NASA.

In addition, data from PACE’s polarimeters will enhance climate models by providing more accurate atmospheric information, replacing current estimates with direct measurements.

The new polarimetry data will also provide real-time insights into air pollution.

Source: Philippines News Agency

HCM City: All the 17 trains of Metro Route No 1, Ben Thanh – Suoi Tien, in Ho Chi Minh City will continuously run on a trial basis during the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday, said the city’s Management Authority for Urban Railways (MAUR).

Accordingly, contractor Hitachi of bidding package CP3 will make use of the equipment installation suspension to increase pilot operations. The continuous test run aims to complete the testing of remaining equipment so as to put the route into commercial use this year.

Once put into use, the systems of the route will operate harmoniously and almost automatically, so trial operations are compulsory to ensure all equipment are well-connected with one another, MAUR said.

It added that about 40 personnel, mainly experts from Europe and Japan, will be in charge of the test run during the holiday.

Metro Route No 1 consists of 17 trains, each of which comprises three carriages and is 61.5m long. All were manufactured in Japan. Each train can carry a maximum of 930 passengers, incl
uding 147 sitting and 783 standing. The designed maximum speed is 110km per hour on elevated sections and 80km per hour on underground sections.

About 97.5% of the route’s workload has been completed. The facility is expected to become operational in July 2024./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

MANILA: University of the East (UE) leveled the UAAP Season 86 boys volleyball best-of-three championship series at 1-1 after posting a 18-25, 17-25, 27-25, 26-24, 15-11 victory over National University Nazareth School (NUNS) at the FilOil EcoOil Center in San Juan City on Thursday.

UE, eyeing a league-best 14th title, and NUNS, seeking a fifth title, will meet in a rubber match at 1 p.m. on Monday in the same venue.

“Ang sabi ko lang sa mga bata, kung may mangyari sa ending ng high school, ito na ‘yun. Kailangan nating manalo kasi wala na ‘pag natalo kami ngayon. Sa second set, wala kong ginawa kundi aralin lang ‘yung laro at i-motivate sila (I just told the kids, if anything happens at the end of high school, this is it. We have to win because if we lose now, it’s gone. In the second set, I did nothing but just study the game and motivate them),” head coach Raffy Mosuela said after the match that lasted for two hours and 45 minutes.

The Junior Red Warriors, led by outside hitter Lance Babon and skipper J
an Macam, succeeded in fending off their opponents in the fifth set.

The Bullpups, who won Game 1 (39-37, 26-24, 22-25, 25-21), banked on Matthew Abut, Kart Lascuña, Miguel Egger and Dave Lardizabal to claim the first two sets.

Meanwhile, Jancriz Ayco of UST bagged the Most Valuable Player plum. He also took the Best Opposite Hitter award along with teammate Paolo Medino.

The other awardees were Sean Cruz (UST) and Miguel Egger (NUNS), Best Middle Blockers; Rhodson Du-ot (Far Eastern University-Diliman), Best Setter; and John Ian Guevarra (Adamson University), Best Libero.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: San Miguel Corporation (SMC) announced its readiness to take on the modernization of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) after its SMC SAP and Company Consortium’s financial offer was deemed the superior among three bidders during Thursday’s proceedings at the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

Included in the SMC consortium are San Miguel Holdings Corp, RMM Asian Logistics Inc., RLW Aviation Development Inc., and Incheon International Airport Corp (IIAC), each bringing unique strengths to the project.

SMC President and CEO Ramon S. Ang emphasized that the consortium’s financial proposal prioritizes benefits to the government and the Filipino people.

‘Our aim is to elevate NAIA to world-class standard, ensuring an exceptional experience for all travelers with first-rate services and facilities. Our commitment is to ensure this project brings significant value and advantages to our nation, our government, and our kababayans (fellow Filipinos),’ Ang said in a news release.

He lauded th
e DOTr for facilitating a transparent and equitable bidding process.

Ang highlighted its strategic collaboration with IIAC, focused on developing an airport ecosystem that promotes better connectivity, high-quality service, and operational efficiency, alongside offering affordable and accessible travel options for Filipinos.

IIAC is the developer and operator of the Incheon International Airport, the largest airport in South Korea, which opened in 2001.

Incheon International Airport was ranked by air transport research firm Skytrax as the 4th best airport in the world in 2022 and the world’s first airport to be awarded the highest level of customer experience by the trade association of the world’s airports, Airports Council International.

He also pointed to the potential synergies with its ongoing development of the New Manila International Airport (NMIA) project in Bulacan. This concurrent development is expected to enhance operational efficiencies, reduce costs, and optimize flight schedules, contribut
ing to a more connected and accessible Philippines poised for future growth.

‘Our vision is to create an integrated airport network that not only improves the travel experience but also supports sustainable economic growth and elevates the Philippines as a prime hub for tourism, business, and investment in the region,’ Ang said.

In a statement on Thursday, the DOTr said the SMC-SAP and Company has offered to share 82.16 percent of future gross revenues, excluding passenger service charges, with the government.

‘This is in addition to the fixed upfront fee of PHP30 billion and annual fee of PHP2 billion, both payable to the government,’ the DOTr said.

The other bidders were the GMR Airports Consortium which offered 33.30 percent and the Manila International Airport Consortium which offered 25.91 percent.

These three bidders were approved by the pre-qualification bids and awards committee (PBAC) for the NAIA PPP project and ranked their proposals on Thursday.

‘The PBAC will review the financial proposal
s for compliance with the requirements of the Instructions to Bidders, which specify certain requirements for the financial model and financing plan submitted by the bidders,’ it said.

A notice of award is expected to be issued to the winning bidder by Feb. 15.

Source: Philippines News Agency