Category: General

Health authorities in Negros Oriental are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a grade school boy who died on Wednesday after being bitten by a rabid dog last month.

Dr. Liland Estacion, Provincial Health Officer (PHO), denied claims that a hospital has refused to admit the boy, a 10-year-old from Barangay Inawasan, Pamplona town, after exhibiting symptoms of rabies.

Estacion said an initial report received by her office said that a stray puppy bit the boy on his left foot last December 22.

No medical treatment was made and the boy was brought instead to a ‘tandok’ or folk doctor.

On Monday, the boy experienced shortness of breath, and pain in his genital area, chest, and leg.

Two days later, he showed fear of water, one of the common signs of rabies in a patient, and his family brought him to the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital (NOPH).

She said the hospital did not turn them down but told them that his was a rabid case and could not be treated anymore.

‘The hospital did not tu
rn away the patient but suggested that he would be placed in an isolation room to prevent the spread of rabies and for public safety as rabid people tend to be aggressive,’ she said.

According to the PHO chief, the family allegedly absconded and took the boy from the hospital isolation room to Barangay Bagacay where he died on Wednesday after the symptoms worsened.

He died at around 2 a.m. due to cardiac arrest.

Meanwhile, health authorities in Pamplona and this capital city have undertaken contact tracing for persons who had come into close contact with the boy.

Dr. Ma. Sarah Talla, City Health Officer here, said they immediately gave prophylaxis treatment to the contacts and were told to have their repeat vaccines after the prescribed period.

Estacion said this is the first rabies case in Negros Oriental for this year as she urged dog owners to have their pets vaccinated against rabies.

Source: Philippines News Agency

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board, chaired by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., has approved the changes in the implementation of two high-impact projects, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said Friday.

The approval was made in a meeting convened by Marcos at Malacañan Palace in Manila on Friday, Balisacan said in a press briefing.

Balisacan said the NEDA Board approved the negotiated parameters, terms, and conditions (PTCs) of the upgrade, expansion, operations, and maintenance of the Laguindingan International Airport Project in northern Mindanao.

‘These PTCs were negotiated between the government, represented by the Department of Transportation and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, and the Original Proponent of the unsolicited public-private partnership (PPP) project,’ Balisacan, who also serves as NEDA director general, said.

‘Following the approval of the modified PTCs, this PHP12.75-billion project will now undergo the comparative challeng
e process following the rules under the newly enacted PPP Code,’ he added.

Balisacan said prospective challengers will be given 90 days from the publication of the invitation for comparative proposals to submit their proposals, while the Original Proponent will be given 30 calendar days to match responsive comparative proposals.

If no comparative proposals are received, the project will be awarded to the Original Proponent by May 2024, Balisacan added.

Approved in July 2023, the Laguindingan International Airport’s expansion project aims to enhance regional development and promote tourism in northern Mindanao and its neighboring regions.

Adjustment in timeline, scope

Balisacan said the NEDA Board also approved the request to extend the implementation period and change in the scope of the Department of Trade and Industry’s Rural Agro- enterprise Partnership for Inclusive Development and Growth (RAPID) Growth Project.

He noted that the PHP4.78-billion RAPID Growth Project aims to support around 78,000 far
ming households by expanding on-farm and off-farm activities and generating employment opportunities in rural areas.

‘The project seeks to support the growth and development of micro, small, and medium enterprises or MSMEs with strong backward linkages to farmers, and to provide them access to the needed capital to sustain their businesses,’ Balisacan said.

‘It will also create business partnerships between MSMEs and farmers to ensure a steady source of high-quality raw materials for the production needs of agro-enterprises.’

2023 PH dev’t report

Meantime, the NEDA Board also discussed the 2023 Philippine Development Report, an evidence-based report which contains updates on the major programs, projects, and policies implemented last year.

Balisacan said the report, which will be made public by the end of January, evaluates the country’s performance based on the outcome indicators identified in the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028 and tracks the progress of bills under the Marcos administratio
n’s legislative agenda.

‘At the same time, the PDR is a forward-looking document that considers and anticipates both internal and external developments and scenarios. It identifies the lessons we have learned. These translate into urgent priorities and plans of action to ensure we remain on track to meet our goals by 2028,’ he said.

‘In summary, the Philippine economy generally performed well in 2023, though we recognize the magnitude of the challenges we faced and which continue to persist,’ Balisacan added.

Balisacan said the report motivates the government to work harder to sustain rapid and inclusive growth, attract more job-generating investments, ensure food security and keep prices affordable, improve the quality of education, build sustainable communities, and ramp up digitalization efforts.

He said the current administration remains committed in attaining a full-year economic growth rate of 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent for 2024 to generate economic opportunities, increase employment, raise per capi
ta incomes, and elevate the economy to “upper-middle-income- country” status by 2025.

‘The Marcos administration remains steadfast in carrying out its transformation agenda as we expedite the approval of game-changing projects and ensure that all of the government’s programs and policies support our unified pursuit of a Bagong Pilipinas (New Philippines),’ Balisacan said.

‘Despite the challenges, we will keep up in expanding our investments by ensuring that infrastructure development will get at least 5 to 6 percent of our GDP (gross domestic product) to sustain the momentum that we have already started.’

Source: Philippines News Agency

Three workers in the plate-making plant of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) have been arrested for organized theft of license plates, with another suspect still at large.

In a press conference at the LTO headquarters in Quezon City on Friday, LTO-Intelligence and Investigation Division (IID) Chief Renante Melitante said the arrests were made in an operation with the Philippine National Police (PNP) after a report of suspicious activity at the plant in December.

‘We immediately informed [LTO Chief, Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II] about what is happening and binigyan niya kami ng direktiba na magkaroon ng (and he gave us a directive to hold an) intelligence build-up,’ Melitante said

By the first week of January, he said a witness, who is also a worker at the plant, surfaced and expressed willingness to give a testimony, in addition to the closed circuit television (CCTV) camera footage of the suspects.

‘Sa direktiba [ni Mendoza], gumawa po tayo ng letter (Based on the directive of Mendoza, we sen
t a letter) to the PNP and to the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) itself for the coordination of the operation,’ he said.

The license plates stolen by the suspects were ‘made-to-order’ and had no presence in the LTO system or corresponding documents, while having the same security and authentication features as legitimate plates, making their use ideal for criminals.

After manufacturing these illegal plates, he said the suspects will hide them within the plant, while the mastermind is responsible for bringing them out of the plant.

‘Itong leader nila, nakita din po sa CCTV kung paano ilabas sa planta, na tinatago at sinu-suksok sa likod. And then inilalagay po sa box ng motor niya. And then pagkatapos po, kapag off-duty na, dala-dala na niya (Their leader, he was seen on CCTV how it’s done, he’ll hide it in his back then he’ll place them at the box of his motorcycle. And after duty, he’ll bring them home),’ Tan said.

The arrests were made on Thursday by members of the Quezon City Po
lice District (QCPD) and the Special Project Group of the DILG, after one of the suspects was spotted taking out some of the stolen license plates.

The three arrested suspects were not identified but were on ‘job order’ status in addition to the alleged mastermind who is still at large.

The mastermind began working at the LTO in 2018, while the arrested suspects have been working at the LTO since 2019 and 2020.

These stolen plates, he said, can be used by criminals in the “doble plaka (double plate)” and “labas casa (outside the dealership)” schemes.

‘Kumbaga mas madali na nila napapalitan yung record o yung identity ng car so it will be harder for law enforcement na habulin (They can easily change the record or identity of the car so it will be harder for law enforcement to chase these criminals),’ he said.

The “doble plaka” scheme involves changing the license plate of a vehicle while the “labas casa” scheme is a scam that targets public school teachers by enticing them to apply for a pre-arranged car
loan and will then steal the car once the loan is approved.

Melitante assured that the illegal activities inside the LTO’s plate-making plant will be rooted out.

Meanwhile, QCPD director Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan said the suspects had been threatening their fellow LTO personnel within the plate-making plant.

He said the suspects are temporarily under the custody of QCPD and will face charges of qualified theft and robbery.

Source: Philippines News Agency

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is looking to establish at least four new offices in popular tourist areas in the country this year.

In a statement on Friday, BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said these offices would rise in Siargao Island, Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur and the provinces of Sorsogon and Davao del Sur, and other popular tourist destinations.

He added that they also looking at transferring more offices to malls “to make things more convenient for the transacting public”.

Tansingco said the BI’s offices in Cebu, Surigao, Las Piñas, Olongapo, and Nueva Ecija transferred to bigger locations last year, while their Camiguin Field Office started its operations at the Provincial Capitol Building in Mambajao town.

Also, the BI’s physical annual report for foreigners in Metro Manila has been transferred from its head office in Intramuros to two new locations.

These offices are located at the 3rd Level Center Atrium of Robinsons Place Manila and the Government Service Express (GSE) Unit of the
SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City, which are open from Mondays to Fridays, excluding holidays, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Apart from opening new offices, he noted that many of its services, including visa extensions are now available online.

‘We are bringing our services closer to the general public to facilitate compliance with immigration policies. With these developments, there will be no more excuse not to comply with immigration requirements,’ Tansingco said.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Hanoi: Domestic and foreign tour packages during the upcoming Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday are still available for booking, travel firms have said.

High airfare prices are among the reasons why many tourists have cancelled or changed their travel plans for the upcoming holiday, making it a tall order for tour operators to sell trips with airfares.

According to Deputy Director of the Domestic Tourism Division at Saigontourist Travel Services Co., Ltd Vu Hai Sam, road trips departing from Ho Chi Minh City, priced from 4.3 million VND (175 USD), have been on offer.

Tours to the northern localities, ranging from 9-15 million VND have been attractive to visitors as well, he said.

Regarding foreign tours, long-haul trips have closed for booking but tours to countries with simple visa procedures still have vacant slots, Sam said, adding trips to Hawaii, Maldives, India and Bhutan are the apples of tourists’ eyes and their prices remain unchanged from normal.

Marketing Director at Viettravel Nguyen Nguyet Van Kh
anh said her company has sold out tours to Europe, Australia and the US and still opens bookings for domestic tours and those to Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore and Malaysia.

As purchasing power before Tet lagged behind expectation, travel firms have let their customers book tickets close to the holiday, said Marketing Director of Vietluxtour Tran Thi Bao Thu, highlighting the firm has made early preparation for spring tours.

Meanwhile, Communications and Marketing Director at TST Tourist Nguyen Minh Man said many customers have chosen after-Tet tours due to their good prices./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Speaker Martin Romualdez on Friday assured local manufacturers of modern jeepneys that the government will prioritize Philippine-made vehicles for the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).

During a dialogue with local jeepney manufacturers and other House leaders in Makati City, Romualdez said prioritizing locally-made vehicles in the PUVMP would increase the potential for job creation and other advantages of supporting domestic manufacturing.

“Ang priority po natin ay (Our priority is) Philippine-made [jeepneys] as this will bring out Philippine jobs and all other benefits,” Romualdez said.

Romualdez also gave assurance that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. would support this initiative.

‘Asahan nyo po na si Presidente Ferdinand Marcos Jr., kagaya ng kanyang ama, ay suportado ang anumang Philippine-made initiatives (Rest assured that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. like his father, will be supportive of any Philippine-made initiative),’ Romualdez said. “Itong gobyerno (This government),
this Congress will be very much behind you and supportive of your industry.”

Romualdez cited the importance of supporting homegrown talent, noting that the innovation and expertise demonstrated by the local manufacturers deserve recognition and support.

He said local jeepney manufacturers play a crucial role in reshaping the nation’s public transport to meet modern standards.

The local jeepney manufacturing sector was represented by Elmer Francisco and Ed Sarao of the eFrancisco Motor Corporation and Sarao Motors, respectively.

Romualdez was joined in the dialogue by Deputy Speaker David Suarez and House Committee on Appropriations Chairman Elizaldy Co.

Francisco informed House leaders on a possible investment to expedite the PUVMP, particularly exploring the viability of securing USD200 million, around PHP11 billion, from the Maharlika Investment Fund following his consultation with Maharlika Investment Corp.’s (MIC) CEO, Joel Consing.

Suarez said Congress is swiftly working on a unified approach to fi
nd a delicate balance between advancing the modernization of the public transport system and accommodating the requirements of those aiming to adhere to consolidation standards.

President Marcos has extended the consolidation deadline for public utility vehicles until April 30 upon the recommendation of Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) reported that 145,721 units or 76 percent of PUVs and utility vehicle (UV) express have consolidated.

Under the government’s PUV Modernization Program, operators and drivers will be organized into cooperatives or corporations to ensure the efficiency of its operations with an upgraded fleet of low-carbon emission, safe, and efficient PUV units.

In a statement, LTFRB chairperson Teofilo Guadiz said the Board will adhere to President Marcos’s directive to extend the consolidation of PUVs until April 30.

“Operators and drivers are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity provided by the President,” he
said.

The House Committee on Transportation has also adopted a resolution urging President Marcos to reconsider the lapsed Dec. 31 consolidation deadline.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Friday led the turnover ceremony of about PHP115.46 million worth of farm and fisheries equipment and supplies eyed to boost food production and sustainability.

During the event at the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Agricultural Training Institute-National Training Center (ATI-NTC) at the Benguet State University (BSU), Tiu Laurel said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has made specific instructions to help the farmers and make farming bankable.

‘Improving the situation of the agricultural stakeholders is not an easy task but with the collaboration and cooperation of everybody, achieving the goal of making the lives of farmers better is achievable,’ he said.

Among the assistance distributed during the day are PHP5,000 aid under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RCEF-RFFA) in the DA’s Rice Banner Program, four-wheel tractor, hand tractor, transplanter, seeder, rice reaper, harvester, and rice mill.

Also, recircu
lating dryer from the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development Mechanization (PhilMech), benefitting 10 farmers’ cooperative and associations; multi-cultivators from the High-Value Crop Development Program (HVCDP); vegetable seeds, ameliorant, high-density polyethylene pipes for Typhoon Egay-affected rice farmers; and six community irrigation projects in all provinces of the region worth PHP41 million.

Tiu Laurel, who visited the Cordillera for the first time as Agriculture Secretary, also checked the cold chain facility of the Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center (BAPTC), which is jointly run by the DA and BSU.

He also had a dialogue with vegetable industry stakeholders to determine how the Agriculture department can strengthen the Kadiwa ng Pangulo, a program that directly connects farmers and producers to consumers.

Tiu Laurel said at least one trading post will be established per province as market access for agricultural producers.

He also agreed to a suggestion to have the 20 or at least some of t
he vegetables that are among the ingredients of ‘chopsuey’, a sauteed mixed vegetables dish, as a banner program, and to allocate funds to boost the agriculture sector in the Cordillera that is focused on highland vegetables.

Source: Philippines News Agency