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COA calls out another procurement fumble of public school teachers’ laptopsMANILA, Philippines — Procurement issues have once again led to the delayed distribution of gadgets to public school teachers, this time involving P53 million worth of laptops and tablets purchased by the Cavite provincial government using its special education fund in 2021. In its annual report for 2022, COA flagged the delayed distribution of 350 laptops worth at least P17 million and more than 4,000 tablets worth P36 million, which public school teachers received "12 to 19 months from the target completion of procurement." Significant delay due to late posting of purchase requestFailure to deliver school gadgets on time was "due to a significant delay in the submission of Purchase Request (PR), posting of procurement opportunity and distribution by the Department of Education (Division Office) to public school teachers and personnel," COA said. COA has instructed the provincial governor to implement "effective measures" for timely purchase request submission and procurement opportunity posting. Alliance of Concerned Teachers Chair Vladimer Quetua said that the delay was a "big inconvenience" to teachers in need of equipment, especially as the laptops were given as the school year was about to end.

There's actually a very simple, straightforward technique to combat this mental paralysis. You'll be surprised by what this fireside-chat approach can do to your English, no matter what form it takes — memo, letter, essay, speech, or feature article. This technique actually uses the same formula that works so well in public speaking. Get the latest newsdelivered to your inbox Sign up for The Manila Times newsletters By signing up with an email address, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy PolicySo next time, when you're finding it difficult to write, simply use the fireside-chat technique. Read this column and listen to its voice recording in The Manila Times: "Learn the fireside-chat technique"Next, June 29, 2023: Too much negation and its dangersVisit Jose Carillo's English Forum, http://josecarilloforum.com.

Puregold scoops up DivimartPuregold explained that the deal covered 14 DiviMart supermarkets, including leasehold improvements, furniture, fixtures, equipment, and merchandise inventory. MANILA, Philippines — Puregold Price Club Inc. acquired a number of DiviMart supermarkets, with plans to convert more into the namesake grocery chain. Puregold explained that the deal covered 14 DiviMart supermarkets, including leasehold improvements, furniture, fixtures, equipment, and merchandise inventory. The disclosure indicated the acquisition gave the listed company access to all DiviMart supermarket locations, which can be converted to Puregold stores under a sublease transaction. Likewise, Puregold disclosed that an additional 18 DiviMart locations are under evaluation for a “possible conversion” into Puregold stores.

REVAMP Joseph Tsai, executive vice chairman of Alibaba Group, speaks to journalists during Alibaba’s 11.11 Global Shopping Festival in Shanghai, China on Nov. 11, 2018. AP PHOTO REVAMP Joseph Tsai, executive vice chairman of Alibaba Group, speaks to journalists during Alibaba's 11.11 Global Shopping Festival in Shanghai, China on Nov. 11, 2018. AP PHOTOTuesday's announcement will see Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Daniel Zhang replaced by Joseph Tsai as chairman and Eddie Wu as CEO, the company said. Following the executive transition, Zhang will continue to serve as chairman and CEO of Alibaba Cloud Intelligence Group, the company said. A record fine of $2.75 billion was later imposed on the tech giant for alleged unfair business practices.

(UPDATE) DECORATED volleyball player Marck Espejo is set for a return in the Philippine men's volleyball team, reinforcing the nationals in the AVC Challenge Cup in Taiwan next month. As part of the national team's preparation for the said tournament, Espejo and company will face the Netherlands and China in a closed-door tune-up games here in the Philippines. Marck Espejo SPIKERS’ TURF PHOTO Marck Espejo SPIKERS' TURF PHOTO"I'm happy that I'm back with the national team and it's a great opportunity to play, facing countries like the Netherlands. We just have to strengthen the jelling of the team, that familiarity with one another," said Espejo, who had stints in Japan, Thailand and Bahrain. "We're at par with other countries in terms of skill but we have to strengthen our chemistry."

Hero’s burial for BiazonFriends, families, and colleagues of the late former senator Rodolfo Biazon attend his funeral rites at the Libingan ng mga Bayani on June 21, 2023. MANILA, Philippines — Former lawmaker and retired Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Rodolfo Biazon was laid to rest with full military honors at the Libingan ng mga Bayani yesterday. And we are here to give the appropriate respects to a soldier,” Centino said in a mix of English and Filipino. “As I said earlier, when I gave the flag to Mrs. Biazon, I told her that… (her husband gave) dedicated, faithful and loyal service to our country. He was a loyal soldier,” Centino added.

Masbate village chief wounded in shootingMANILA, Philippines — A barangay captain was wounded in a gun attack at his home in Mobo, Masbate on Sunday, police reported yesterday. Rodolfo Ygot, 41, was having dinner at his residence in Barangay Barag when two men barged into his home and opened fire. Witnesses said the suspects fled on foot toward an unknown direction. Police still have no leads on the gunmen and the motive for the attack.

The BSP and Mayon Volcano are in suspenseTwo unrelated events that have great significance for the country are currently happening at the same time around this time. Mayon Volcano recently displayed unstable behavior. At the moment, Mount Mayon is on level 3 alert, indicating a tendency towards potential hazardous eruption. Luckily, the volcano was not as close to population centers as Taal Volcano in Batangas province or Mount Mayon in Albay province. Taal Volcano is the second most active volcano in the country.

A woman in her 80s who was swept out to sea during her morning swim near the Sai Wan Swimming Shed was safely rescued Tuesday morning. The distress call came in at around 7 am this morning after the woman’s fellow morning swimmers saw her being swept out to the sea. Marine police and firefighters responded to the scene and rescued the elderly woman. She was brought ashore to the pier on Sai Ning Street before paramedics took her to the hospital for a medical check-up. She did not suffer from any injuries.

Police on Monday arrested a 15-year-old student for bringing a brass knuckle to a Tin Shui Wai school he is attending. The force said the call came in at around 12.12 pm yesterday from a teaching staff of the school on Tin Yip Road, with the staff suspecting the 15-year-old of carrying a sharp object. Officers responded to the scene and found the brass knuckle in the student’s possession, and arrested the student for illicit weapon possession. The student was currently detained for further investigation, with the case now handled by the Yuen Long district crime unit.

MANILA, Philippines — Generally fair weather with hot temperatures will prevail throughout the country on Tuesday amid a monsoon break, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa). ADVERTISEMENTA monsoon break occurs when the southwest monsoon, locally known as habagat, is not able to reach the country. “It will still continue to be clear weather in Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao,” Pagasa weather specialist Aldczar Aurelio said in Filipino. So high temperatures will be recorded.”Isolated rain showers, however, may still occur in the afternoon and evening due to localized thunderstorms. No low pressure area or storms, meanwhile, are currently being monitored within and outside the Philippine area of responsibility.

Four people were sent to the hospital on Monday after a three-car collision involving two trucks and one taxi in Tai Po. The accident happened shortly before 2 pm near Tai Po Kau, with one of the trucks flipped on its side. The 34-year-old truck driver, surnamed Wong, a 37-year-old taxi driver, surnamed Tin, and his two passengers suffered either chest pains or scraped their limbs. They were taken to Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital for medical attention. The preliminary investigation showed that the accident was caused by the taxi cutting into lanes indiscriminately.

United Nations, United States — The United Nations accused Russia on Sunday of continuing to block humanitarian aid deliveries to Moscow-controlled areas in eastern Ukraine that have been impacted by the recent Kakhovka dam rupture. The breach of the dam on June 6 inundated huge swathes of the Kherson region under Russian and Ukrainian control, forcing thousands to flee and sparking fears of an environmental disaster. “The UN will continue to do all it can to reach all people – including those suffering as a result of the recent dam destruction – who urgently need life-saving assistance, no matter where they are,” Brown said. “We urge the Russian authorities to act in accordance with their obligations under international humanitarian law,” she added. Kyiv has accused Moscow of blowing up the dam on the Dnipro River, while Russia has blamed Ukraine.

A visit by Antony Blinken, seen shaking hands with Qin Gang, may lead to a meeting between Xi Jinping and Joe Biden. Biden said he hopes to again meet Xi after their lengthy and strikingly cordial meeting in November on the sidelines of a Group of 20 summit in Bali, where they agreed on US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit. It could also set the stage for meetings between Xi and Biden at multilateral summits later in the year. During his stay through today, Blinken is also expected to meet with China's top diplomat Wang Yi and possibly Xi. After heading into a meeting room, neither Blinken nor Qin made comments in front of reporters who were briefly allowed in.