Private education system seen collapsing with prohibition billStudents from Rafael Palma Elementary School shed tears of joy as they graduate from elementary on July 13, 2023. MANILA, Philippines — The private education system will collapse if students are allowed to take their examinations without paying their tuition fee first, according to private school groups. In a statement signed yesterday by multiple groups representing private schools, they claimed that many private schools will close, thousands of teachers and staff will lose their jobs and thousands of students will be disenfranchised. “Without tuition, or if its timely collection is impaired, private schools would be paralyzed or worse, cease or close operations altogether. “Students in private schools find no long-term relief in this Senate bill.

‘15-year sentence for Ranara’s murderer an insult’MANILA, Philippines — Overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Jullebee Ranara’s 17-year-old murderer has been sentenced to 15 years in prison by a court in Kuwait, but Migrante International said the sentence is an insult to her family and the government should push for longer jail time. “The sentence on her murderer is an insult to Jollebee’s family, Filipino migrants and all Filipinos seeking justice for her,” the group posted on Facebook on Sept. 15. Concepcion noted that the government should order the Philippine embassy in Kuwait to be more alert and attentive to OFWs’ complaints and cries for help. They should also push for measures that will improve the working and living conditions of Filipino domestic workers and OFWs in Kuwait,” she said. “The Philippine government should take serious measures to create decent jobs at home and not depend on foreign investors and countries to provide employment to Filipinos,” she added.

Aerial patrols conducted earlier this month by Wescom air assets showed that three areas in the WPS, including Rozul Reef, were experiencing heightened swarming activities by Chinese maritime militia vessels. Carlos said the increased presence of Chinese maritime militia vessels in these areas raises concerns regarding the potential implications for the Philippines' maritime security, fisheries conservation, territorial integrity, and preservation of the marine environment. The presence of the Chinese vessels in the WPS is concerning, given the Philippines' rights within its EEZ, Carlos added. I think we can file a new case," Jardeleza said. For example, if we spent more gasoline, if they water cannoned us, these are what the lawyers called damages," Jardeleza said.

Kumamoto Castle, a much loved landmark for over 400 years, was extensively damaged in 2016 by a major earthquake. When restoration work began, a serious problem was soon encountered – how to recreate its traditional tiled roofs. Tiles made of fired clay are excellent insulators, but each tile is slightly different, potentially causing gaps. Tilers fix this by chiseling away a few millimeters, but for the castle, this was a huge task involving tens of thousands of tiles. We'll see how the mighty efforts of these artisans have brought hope and revived spirits in the region.

LRT-2, MRT-3 and PNR to give 'free rides' from September 16 to 20Passengers board and alight trains from various Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2) stations in Manila on July 31, 2023. "In solidarity with the celebration of the Philippine Civil Service Anniversary, the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) will offer free rides [to government workers] within the LRT-2 from September 18 to 20," said the LRTA-LRT2 in Filipino. The said free rides would be available from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. in the morning. "The [DOTr] and [PNR] will offer FREE RIDES to our fellow senior citizens and persons with disabiliities (PWDs) in celebration of the Peñafrancia Festival!" "The said free rides will kick-off from September 16 to 17, 2023 within the Naga - Ligao and Naga - Sipocot - Naga lines."

Top Indian builder of airports eyes more projectsAirplanes are seen at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on May 16, 2023. The Indian firm has been in the Philippines for the past 11 years, operating the Mactan and Clark airports, according to PCO. The GMR Group is a multinational conglomerate headquartered in New Delhi. Grandhi was accompanied by his brother-in-law Srinivas Bommidala, chairman of GMR Airports and the one in charge of the group’s international airports and energy interests. In 1999, when India privatized (the) airports, we built airport, six airports in India,” Bommidala told the President.

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia holds a press conference on the Task Force Against Premature Campaigning for the Barangay and Sanggunian Kabataan Elections (BSKE) at the Comelec office in Intramuros, Manila, on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023. PHOTOS BY RENE H. DILANSo far, a total of 626 BSKE candidates have been issued show cause orders (SCOs) by the poll body in the past four days. As of Friday, September 15, Garcia said the poll body has yet to receive any response from concerned BSKE aspirants. "As such, the removal of all election materials will continue in public places," the memorandum stated. During the election campaign period, any candidate, either alone or in collaboration with other contenders, is allowed to conduct peaceful online political gatherings, rallies, or similar events.

Three packs of mushrooms imported from a regulated prefecture in Japan have been marked and sealed by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department for the sake of prudence after the importer was suspected of breaching the food safety order. The mushrooms from Tochigi Prefecture were found during the food label inspection by the Centre for Food Safety on Friday. The products were not accompanied by a radiation certificate and exporter certificate, which is required to prove that the radiation levels do not exceed the limited levels and are safe for consumption. According to the food safety order, all vegetables, fruits, milk, milk beverages, and dried milk originating from Chiba, Tochigi, Ibaraki, and Gunma prefectures are allowed to be imported into Hong Kong only if they are accompanied by a radiation certificate and an exporter certificate issued by the Japanese authority. The Centre is following up on the case and will take appropriate action, including informing the Japanese authorities and suing the concerned importer if needed.

There was no negligence involved in the original inspection of the three luxury homes on the Redhill Peninsula in Tai Tam, said the Development Secretary Bernadette Linn Hon-ho on Saturday, after unapproved building works were uncovered due to the recent heavy rains. In a RTHK interview, the minister said authorities are gathering evidence and will file criminal charges based on it. High-end residential estates were not included in proactive inspections, but those near hillsides and the sea will be given priority, Linn added. "Because for houses built on the slope, if there are any unauthorized building works, there will be a slope stability angle. According to Mak, 2,300 applications have already been submitted from residents and merchants who have suffered losses from the storm.

A driver was nearly hit by a vehicle in Cheung Sha Wan on Friday morning while rushing to avoid getting ticketed. As traffic police continue to step up their work for illegal parking, many drivers attempt to avoid getting ticketed by any means possible. Suddenly, a man in a green shirt rushed onto the road, with the driver blaring his horn to warn the hurried man. Fortunately, the man was not hit by the vehicle. The driver who posted the clip stated that the rushing man should take care of his life and said money is not the main thing he should be worried about.

AT least six countries are interested in having their navies carry out joint patrols with the Philippines in the tension-shrouded South China Sea. But Brawner said Germany, Canada and France are also open to joint patrols. Brawner said joint patrols are "definitely in our plan and right now we are in the process of working with the other countries." Brawner said Canada and France also supported the idea of joint patrols during the recent Defense Chiefs' meeting in Fiji last July. He said at least three other countries are also carrying out joint patrols.

A 20-year-old man died in the early hours of Friday after he stumbled into a moving train leaving University Station. The man was said to be hit in the head by the moving train and bounced back onto the platform. He suffered severe injuries to his head and was certified dead on the scene after paramedics arrived. After reviewing CCTV footage, officers said the man could be seen a little unsteady on his feet before he lost his balance and fell onto the side of the moving train. Officers are now investigating whether the man had consumed alcohol before the incident happened.

GINZA is a district close to the center of Tokyo. Almost every store has a spot in Ginza, even souvenirs are available, so there are tons of possibilities for pasalubong. This district might be gaining popularity, but not a lot of people know the secret side of Ginza. Instead of a shopping district, walking through the streets is like sneaking a peek into someone's closet. All in all, Ginza is one of the places in the world that lives up to the hype.

8 cops in Jemboy killing dismissedPeople pay respects to 17-year old Jerhode Jemboy Baltazar in his wake in Navotas City on August 11, 2023. MANILA, Philippines — Eight police personnel involved in the killing of 17-year-old Jemboy Baltazar have been dismissed due to evidence showing they attempted to escape accountability over the incident. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez approved the dismissal of eight police officers due to “substantial evidence” that they were “administratively liable” for Baltazar’s killing in August. RELATED: ‘Buhay pa sana anak ko’: Cops barred Jemboy Baltazar's father from retrieving his bodyCarpio and dela Cruz were dismissed for serious grave neglect of duty because they did not personally supervise their team during the operation, the resolution read. Once dismissed, the police officers will lose their benefits, and they will be permanently barred from holding any other government positions.

With the industrial accidents, including three fatal ones occurring on the same day, these statistics sounded the alarm for the construction industry. “The biggest risks on construction sites have always been people’s attitude and safety culture,” Ho observed. In underscoring CIC’s zero tolerance to industrial accidents, Ho pointed out that safety culture is at the heart of the whole industry. “Complacency is the greatest obstacle in our concerted effort to achieve industrial safety," he emphasized. But it is incumbent on all industry stakeholders to take up the responsibilities to enhance construction safety and 'Say No to Danger' together.