Category: General

MANILA: Defending champion National University (NU) barged into the win column at the expense of Ateneo de Manila University, 25-22, 25-15, 25-17, in the UAAP Season 86 men’s volleyball tournament at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Saturday.

Angelo Nicolas Almendras scored 18 points, while Jade Alex Disquitado added 17 points, including two blocks and 15 excellent receptions.

‘Sa game namin, nagkaroon kami ng kumpiyansa sa galaw namin. Malaking bagay yang paghahabol namin nung first set talaga. Pagdating ng second and third set, doon ko nakita na kumpiyansa na ulit maglaro ang players ko kasi ‘yun ang nawala sa amin noong last game namin (In our game, we had confidence in our moves. It was a big thing that we were trailing in the first set. Come the second and third sets, I saw that my players were confident again, something we lost in our last game),” NU coach Dante Alinsunurin said in an interview after the match.

University of Santo Tomas (UST) ended NU’s 34-match streak, 25-23, 26-24, 25-23, on Feb
. 18.

NU’s previous loss was against FEU in Season 81 on Feb. 16, 2019 while UST last beat NU in round 2 of Season 77 (2014-2015).

NU and Ateneo joined De La Salle University and Adamson University in second place at 1-1.

The Falcons downed the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, 27-25, 25-15, 25-22, in the other men’s match.

‘Masyadong na-excite lang ‘yung mga players nung first set kaya sabi ko compose muna kung gusto nating manalo (The players just got too excited during the first set so I told them to compose themselves first if we want to win),” Adamson coach George Pascua said.

Jude Christian Aguilar finished with 10 attacks, three blocks and an ace for the Falcons.

‘Kaya po kami nahabol nung third set kasi parang nag-lay low po kami pero hindi naman ganon ang mindset namin. ‘Yung team captain namin ni-remind kami na kailangan namin tapusin agad. Hindi na kailangan bigyan ng chance ‘yung kalaban (They were able to catch up in the third set because it seemed like we laid low, but t
hat’s not our mindset. Our team captain reminded us that we need to finish immediately. There is no need to give the opponent a chance),” Aguilar said.

Louis Gaspar Gamban had 10 points, 10 receptions, and seven digs for UP, which absorbed its second straight loss.

In the women’s division, Adamson pulled off a 25-22, 25-22, 28-26 win over UP, led by Ishie Lalongisip who delivered delivered 12 points, 16 digs, and seven receptions.

Niña Ytang scored 18 points, while Jenn Gould and Irah Jaboneta chipped in six points apiece for the Fighting Maroons, who dropped to 0-2.

Source: Philippines News Agency

ISTANBUL: US-based social network firm Reddit filed for an initial public offering (IPO) on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), which is a first for a social media company since 2019.

“Our revenue for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2023 was USD666.7 million and USD804.0 million, respectively, representing growth of 21 percent,” the company said Thursday in its filing for the US’ Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Our gross margin for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2023 was 84 percent and 86 percent, respectively,” it added.

The American content rating and forum social network firm said more than 76 million people on average visited Reddit every day in December 2023.

“People come to Reddit in many ways, and the core of our monetization is through advertising solutions based on user engagement. By 2027, we estimate our total addressable market globally from advertising, excluding China and Russia, to be USD1.4 trillion,” said the filing.

While the IPO is planned to take place in March, it i
s expected to be the biggest public offering by a social media firm since Pinterest in 2019.

The company, founded in 2005, plans to trade on the NYSE under the ticker symbol of “RDDT.”

Source: Philippines News Agency

BUENAVISTA: The construction of the PHP1 billion Antique Government Center will now go full swing after the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) 6 (Western Visayas) junked the request of this town’s local government to issue a cease-and-desist order (CDO) against the project.

Antique Governor Rhodora Cadiao said on Friday that DAR-6 Director Sheila Enciso recently issued an opinion dismissing the complaint of engineer Jose Magbanua, San Jose de Buenavista Municipal Zoning Officer, filed last year, questioning the construction of the government center.

Magbanua had sought the issuance of a cease-and-desist order, citing the illegal or premature land conversion of the area for the construction of the center.

The area in question is a five-hectare lot in Barangay Badiang in San Jose De Buenavista, which, according to Magbanua is an agricultural land.

However, Enciso, in her decision dated Dec. 27, 2023, denied the request for lack of merit.

The provincial government received the decision only on Feb. 22, 202
4.

‘On March 27, 2023, DAR opinion LO-2023-0001 was issued by Attorney Napoleon U. Gahit, Undersecretary for Legal Affairs and Concurrent Director of the Bureau of Agrarian Legal Assistance, DAR Central Office, which states that the province of Antique is not required by law to secure a conversion clearance from the DAR prior to change on use of the five hectares, which it acquired through negotiated sale,’ Enciso said.

He said without the submission of the relevant documents to support the request for the CDO, the office was unable to validate the extent of the area where the activity complained about is being committed and the actual status of the land.

With the dismissal of the request for CDO, Cadiao said they are expecting to finish the center within the next 19 months.

She maintained that the center, which is being constructed through transparent and honest dealing, is for the development of the province and the people.

In a separate interview, Vice Governor Edgar Denosta said the government center
would provide a wider and more convenient area for the public while doing business with the provincial government.

‘The people had been waiting for the government center as it would be more convenient for them to transact there,’ he said.

“The provincial government would like to have a government center located (in) an area which is not as busy and as congested as the business district of San Jose de Buenavista that the transacting populace have a hard time finding their vehicles’ parking space.”

The groundbreaking ceremony for the government center was held on April 28, 2023, but the complaint has derailed construction.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Fred Pascual will lead the Philippine delegation in the 13th World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference (MC13) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on Feb. 26 to 29.

Accompanying Pascual are officials from the House of Representatives and various government agencies, such as the Department of Agriculture, Department of Foreign Affairs, Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines, and Philippine Mission to the WTO in Geneva.

For the MC13, the Philippines is working with other members to resolve the impasse in the WTO Appellate Body or come up with a functioning dispute settlement system by 2024.

The Philippines will champion reforms enhancing the WTO’s functions, notification, and transparency mechanism, as well as achieve meaningful outcomes on agriculture negotiation to achieve a permanent solution for public stockholding for food security purposes, and an effective special safeguard mechanism for developing countries, among others.

Mo
reover, the Philippines sees the importance of the second wave of fisheries subsidies negotiations.

Through these, the country targets to establish a balanced approach on the disciplines on overcapacity and overfishing, including an effective and appropriate special and differential treatment for developing and least-developed members.

Significant progress and outcomes are also expected by the end of the discussions on electronic commerce, investment facilitation for development, trade and environment, as well as the integration of micro, small and medium enterprises in the global value chain.

The DTI already convened briefing sessions in preparation for the MC13.

On Feb. 8, a joint briefing for Congress was conducted, which was followed by a briefing for non-governmental organizations and civil society groups on Feb. 15 that was attended by representatives from Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa, Federation of Free Farmers, Federation of Free Workers, Nestle Philippines, and Agap Party
-list, among others.

The Ministerial Conference is the highest decision-making body of the WTO attended by trade ministers and senior officials from the organization’s 164 members.

The last Ministerial Conference (MC12) was held June from 12 to 17, 2022 in Geneva, Switzerland.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Chery Tiggo outplayed newcomer Strong Group, 25-12, 25-17, 25-19, to gain the early lead in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on Saturday.

Mylene Paat had nine attacks and an ace in leading the Crossovers to their second straight win.

EJ Laure added nine attacks, Czarina Grace Carandang and Princess Anne Robles contributed seven points each, and Aby Maraño had six points for Chery Tiggo, which took the match in one hour and 17 minutes.

‘We’re getting better every game. That’s what we’re after. We were able to execute good plays so we’re happy,” coach Emilio “Kungfu” Reyes Jr. said.

Justine Andrea Rebleza, Sheeka Espinosa and skipper Dolly Grace Versoza finished with eight points apiece for Strong Group, which absorbed its second consecutive loss after bowing to Petro Gazz, 12-25, 20-25, 12-25, on Tuesday.

On the same day, Chery Tiggo opened its bid with a 25-6, 25-15, 25-15 win over Capital1 Solar.

It will go for 3-0 against Choc
o Mucho next Saturday.

‘Our first two games are of big help for the team, especially in the fielding of players and the decision-making of our coaches,’ Paat said.

‘Dapat lahat kami ready talaga at magagamit naming ‘tong mga panalo (We should all be really ready and we can use these wins) against Choco Mucho,” she added.

Source: Philippines News Agency

BACOLOD: Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez has lifted the ban on the entry of live pigs, pork and pork products from other parts of the country to address the growing demand and revive the local hog industry.

Benitez signed Executive Order (EO) 09-2024, dated Feb. 23, directing the City Veterinary Office (CVO) ‘to allow the movement of pork and other swine products in the city pursuant to the provisions of Department of Agriculture (DA) Administrative Circular No. 22, series of 2022.’

The mayor was referring to the DA directive that provides national zoning and movement plan for the prevention and control of African swine fever (ASF) and redefines the zone classification.

‘With the increasing demand for pork products, there is a need to issue additional directive to avert any threat of shortage of basic food necessities, and at the same time, prevent the spread of ASF and help revive our local hog industry and its allied industries,” he said.

The mayor said the directive is consistent with the updated DA Adm
inistrative Circular No. 22 and aligned with local issuances and national policies and directives.

Although the ban was already lifted, Benitez maintained that shipments of live pigs, pork, pork products and other related products should be accompanied by necessary permits and pertinent documents when entering Bacolod.

‘To ensure compliance to the DA administrative circular, the CVO shall strictly monitor and screen compliance, particularly on the documentary requirements,’ he added.

Benitez released the EO after he and Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson issued a joint EO, also on Feb. 23, setting aside their joint directive in 2023 and ‘establishing the guidelines for the entry of all live pigs, boar semen, pork, pork products and other related food items from areas with reported cases of ASF.’

Under the DA classification, Bacolod is currently tagged as red (infected) zone while Negros Occidental is identified as dark green (free) zone or cities and municipalities where ASF is not detected an
d are considered of low risk.

‘In view of the different classifications of the Province of Negros Occidental and the City of Bacolod and upon the recommendation of the DA, there is a need to set aside Joint EO No. 1, Series of 2023,’ Lacson and Benitez said.

Earlier this week, Lacson said that Negros Occidental will continue to prohibit the entry of live pigs, pork meat and pork products from red zones to prevent the resurgence of ASF infection.

‘We will continue to follow our policy. We will continue to be strict on the entry of pork products, especially for those from areas color-coded as red,’ he pointed out.

Source: Philippines News Agency

London: Investigation is underway into the case that seven allegedly Vietnamese migrants were detected at Newhaven port in Lewes district of East Sussex county on February 16, according to the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK.

All of the migrants are receiving medical care in hospital, the embassy said.

At the direction of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the embassy has been keeping close contact with local relevant agencies to follow up on the case, and getting ready to take necessary citizen protection measures to ensure that the immigrants are treated humanely and in line with laws in case they are confirmed to be Vietnamese citizens.

According to the UK press, seven migrants, believed to be Vietnamese, were found in the back of a lorry at Newhaven port on February 16.

Ferry operator DFDS, which runs services between Newhaven and Dieppe in Normandy, northern France, confirmed that the migrants were found on board the Seven Sisters vessel, adding immediate medical attention was provided.

Anas A
l Mustafa, 42, from Wales’s Swansea city and accused of assisting the unlawful entry to the UK, appeared at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on February 19. He was remanded into custody and will appear at Lewes Crown Court on March 18./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency