VP Duterte’s security group now has temporary residence at AFP HQ
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte’s security group now has a temporary residence inside the general headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Quezon City. Article continues after this advertisement“I had the pleasure of attending the blessing of the new facilities and vehicles of the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG) at Camp Emilio Aguinaldo last week,” she wrote in Filipino. “It was successful because of the cooperation of the AFP and the Office of the Vice President so that they have a proper office and temporary residence,” she added. Article continues after this advertisementREAD: 400 AFP personnel assigned to VP Duterte’s security group – spoxThe AFP explained that the number of Duterte’s security detail members increased because her security group is now under the Presidential Security Command (PSC). Duterte’s security group was a hot topic in July after she confirmed that the Philippine National Police (PNP) pulled out all 75 members of her security group.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
October 17, 2024 08:36 UTC
DoST pushes AI-based farm management tech
THE Department of Science and Technology (DoST) has developed an artificial intelligence (AI)-based system utilizing drones to optimize farm management. The AI-based system is also applicable in other productivity areas, performing optimized searches and mapping regions efficiently. The Hawks AI system utilizes drones for various field monitoring applications. Asimov-Hawks serves as the aerial component of the DoST flagship research and development program in AI and robotics. It is funded by DoST-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development, and is implemented by the department's Advanced Science and Technology Institute.
Source:Manila Times
October 17, 2024 04:45 UTC
Megaworld wins big in digital awards
Megaworld wins big in digital awardsMANILA, Philippines — Property builder Megaworld Corp. has won two recognitions from an international award-giving body that judges the ability of organizations to adapt to the digital era. Megaworld ended up as winner in two out of eight categories at the 2024 Future Enterprise Awards Philippines of International Data Corp. (IDC). Megaworld chief data scientist Francis Adrian Viernes was named Chief Information Officer of the Year for leading the company in its digital transformation and urban safety programs. UNO Digital Bank was given the Special Award for Digital Innovation for attracting Filipinos to join the banking system. The Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Rice Information System was conferred the Special Award for Sustainability for becoming the country’s first satellite-based rice production monitor.
Source:Philippine Star
October 17, 2024 04:42 UTC
AI: Friend or foe?
AI: Friend or foe? I’ve observed firsthand how AI has transformed the fintech industry in the Philippines and beyond. This distinction between goal-oriented AI and ethically guided AI is crucial. Bias and hallucination issues in AI are being addressed, but the conversation about ethics in AI development is just beginning. However, the real challenge is for governments to create new job opportunities that can accommodate the workforce displaced by AI.
Source:Philippine Star
October 17, 2024 04:42 UTC
War in Mideast would impact global economy
WASHINGTON, D.C. — World Bank President Ajay Banga on Tuesday warned that a significant widening of the Israel-Gaza war could lead to major impacts on the global economy, calling the steep loss of civilian lives in the region "unconscionable." Speaking in a Reuters NEXT Newsmaker interview, Banga said the war has had a relatively small impact on the global economy thus far, but a significant widening of the conflict would draw in other countries that are larger contributors to global growth, including commodity exporters. "First of all, I think this unbelievable loss of life women, children, others, civilians, is just unconscionable on all sides," Banga said. "The economic impact of this war, on the other hand, depends a great deal on how much this spreads." More than 42,000 Palestinians have been killed in the offensive so far, according to Gaza's health authorities.
Source:Manila Times
October 17, 2024 04:17 UTC
47,000 deaths seen if ‘big one’ hits Metro
47,000 deaths seen if ‘big one’ hits MetroMANILA, Philippines — Up to 46,993 casualties and 156,000 injured people should be expected if a 7.2-magnitude earthquake hits Metro Manila, a former Office of Civil Defense (OCD) official said yesterday. The Philippines prepared a master plan 20 years ago, Pama noted. Even just the basics, the base statistics of it already needs to be revisited,” he said. Pama is the former executive director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. And the stories are being added every year.”A review of the 2004 master plan is underway after the United Nations said the Philippines must prepare for the eventuality of a “big one,” according to Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga.
Source:Philippine Star
October 16, 2024 20:31 UTC
Congress urged to pass measure imposing margin-based taxes, royalties for mining firms
Congress urged to pass measure imposing margin-based taxes, royalties for mining firmsPresident Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. delivering his speech as he awards 13 mining firms of the 2023 Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Award on Oct. 16, 2024. “As we look ahead, I urge all our dedicated agencies and esteemed members of Congress to support the Rationalization of the Mining Fiscal Regime,” he said. RELATED: No mining expansion needed for Philippines' energy shift – think tankBut what does this mean for mining companies if the Marcos administration’s Rationalization of the Mining Fiscal Regime is passed? Margin-based royaltiesThe House version of the mining fiscal regime is looking to impose royalties on income generated by mining companies. The highest possible tax is 10%, which is imposed on income equivalent to more than 80% of a mining operation’s gross output.
Source:Philippine Star
October 16, 2024 18:47 UTC
The lure of politics: Some celebrities shun the circus
According to a study done in 2015 and submitted to the UP Diliman Journals, the probability of celebrities winning if they seek election to public office was highest among the poor. But the number of voters belonging to upper economic strata was much lower than those in the lower rung of the economic ladder. If I am really determined to enter politics, I have to serve the people. Dolphy died in 2012 staying true to his commitment to shun politics. Election winSome popular figures, however, are staying away from the political circus.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
October 16, 2024 14:34 UTC
Indian airplane forced to divert after latest bomb hoax
BENGALURU, India — An Indian passenger aircraft was diverted on Wednesday after the latest in a string of hoax bomb threats made to airline companies involving the country. The Akasa Air flight, which was flying from India's capital New Delhi to the southern city of Bengaluru, "received a security alert" and the flight was ordered to return as a "precaution". Akasa Air said emergency response teams were monitoring the situation and that the captain had followed "all required emergency procedures for a safe landing in Delhi". Singapore scrambled fighter jets on Tuesday to escort an Air India Express plane after an email warning about a possible bomb on board, the city-state's defense minister said. Air India also said on Tuesday one of its planes from New Delhi to Chicago had to make an emergency landing in Canada because of "a security threat posted online".
Source:Manila Times
October 16, 2024 10:21 UTC
‘Defective’ case junked vs teacher behind Commonwealth VIP video
MANILA, Philippines — A Quezon City court has junked the criminal case filed against a private school teacher who shared on social media last year a video of a police officer identifying Vice President Sara Duterte as the “VIP” behind the closure of a portion of Commonwealth Avenue, causing heavy traffic in the area. Verdo Pantollano, identifying Duterte as the supposed VIP who caused the closure of a portion of the busy thoroughfare to allow her convoy to pass through. In his motion filed through his lawyer, Chel Diokno, Munar pointed out that the amended complaint filed by Pantollano remained “defective” as it still did not contain a specific offense as the original complaint. Upon learning who the “VIP” was, the motorist’s curiosity turned to irritation as he panned his camera to show rows of cars and motorcycles caught in heavy traffic. Subscribe to our daily newsletter SIGN ME UPThe QCPD, for its part, immediately relieved Pantollano, who was reinstated a week after the incident.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
October 16, 2024 01:25 UTC
Taoist and victim’s mother found guilty in village house ‘exorcism’ case
A High Court Jury has found a self-proclaimed Taoist practitioner to be guilty of murdering an intellectually impaired woman, while the victim's mother was convicted of aiding and abetting the indecent assault against her daughter. The 54-year-old defendant Dunsany Cheung Chi-choi was found guilty of murdering 21-year-old Ng Yan-yu in September 2019. Ng was discovered dead in a village house in Sai Kung. Meanwhile, Ng's 57-year-old mother Ng Ma Yu-kang was found guilty of aiding and abetting Cheung to carry out his acts. Both Cheung and the mother were remanded until their next court appearance on Friday for sentencing.
Source:The Standard
October 15, 2024 21:06 UTC
Marcos Jr. seeks more investments in disaster risk reduction
Marcos Jr. seeks more investments in disaster risk reductionPresident Marcos is joined by Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction head Kamal Kishore, UNDRR Regional Office for Asia-Pacific chief Marco Toscano Rivalta, and ministers and heads of delegation attending the 2024 Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction at the grand staircase of the PICC yesterday. MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos yesterday called on countries in the Asia-Pacific region to increase investments and funding in disaster risk reduction measures in the face of more destructive disasters brought by climate change. In his speech during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR) in Pasay City, Marcos emphasized that facing calamities and disasters is a common struggle across the region. The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 gave the international community profound guidance in their disaster risk reduction efforts, according to the President. Highlighting the theme of this year’s conference, “Surge to 2030: Enhancing ambition in Asia-Pacific to accelerate disaster risk reduction,” the President said nations are called to lead the global effort to reduce disaster and climate risks, protect the people and build sustainable economies.
Source:Philippine Star
October 15, 2024 20:30 UTC
Wounded warriors
We too get scratched or bruised, but they are the “wounded warriors” fighting the different types of cancer, the “one in a million disease,” the heart disease from birth, the genetic imperfection, the mental health challenge, visual impairment or loss of sight, that those in the “normal” world don’t see, don’t know and can’t understand. The reason is because we don’t talk enough about it, we are uncomfortable discussing such grave, life-threatening medical issues. I don’t know how many patients’ organizations there are in the Philippines but what I discovered is that most of them are DIY, set up by patients or family. We deplore all forms of vaccine misinformation and disinformation that has affected vaccine confidence to the detriment of Filipino children. * * *When I wrote about doctors and leaders in public health deciding to join the 2025 elections as candidates, I mistakenly placed Dr. Minguita Padilla as a senatorial aspirant.
Source:Philippine Star
October 15, 2024 20:30 UTC
Man hospitalized after pushed into moving bus in San Po Kong
Police are hunting down a man in his 30s after pushing a pedestrian off the sidewalk and into a moving bus as it was departing from a bus stop in San Po Kong. Police received a report around midnight on Tuesday that a 49-year-old man was pushed onto the road by a man outside 638 Prince Edward Road East. The man slammed into the door of the departing bus and fell to the ground, injuring his face and hand. He remained conscious and was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital. The case was identified as assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Source:The Standard
October 15, 2024 19:50 UTC
Fresh news headlines all about ancient vexations
A RECENT news cycle turned out the following news headlines:– More than 16 million families consider themselves poor– 11,000 OFWs ignore pleas to evacuate Lebanon– Rice-for-All selling rice at P43 per kilogram. On the surface, the three recent news headlines reported on issues that appear to be disparate and unrelated. Thirteen percent of Filipino families rated themselves as "borderline poor," a data point that suggests a nation overwhelmed by poverty. Rice at P43 per kg is not cheap, but the only thing cheaper than that is plastic rice, which is for subhumans. You can segue from stories on massive poverty to staying put in war-torn Lebanon to selling P43 per kg rice at Kadiwa stores seamlessly without missing a connecting thread.
Source:Manila Times
October 15, 2024 17:31 UTC