Change is the only constant
Replacement of defective laptops and loading of counting or canvassing programs on the election site would be as easy as 1-2-3. Thus, procurement from a single supplier with SLCC is eliminated, making SLCC not applicable anymore. (Read: "JCOC & DoST support Filipino-made election system, Comelec sees it promising" https://www.manilatimes.net/2016/08/16/featured-columns/columnists/jcoc-dost-support-filipino-made-election-system-comelec-sees-it-promising/280361). ), simplified election operations, compliant with ideal ladderized canvassing vis Batas Pambansa 881, tactical logistical handling, and most of all — transparency through public counting! Hence, it appears that the execution of a federal election system could be patterned in the HES.
Source:Manila Times
June 29, 2022 16:12 UTC
When even the passive voice won't do
THERE are times when we'll find both the active voice and the passive voice falling short of giving us the desired emphasis for a statement. Emphasizing the direct object ("luscious fruits") from the doer's ("we") standpoint: "What we brought to Eve were luscious fruits." "What were brought by us to Eve were luscious fruits." "What we did was to bring luscious fruits to Eve." Emphasizing all the elements: "What happened was that we brought luscious fruits to Eve."
Source:Manila Times
June 29, 2022 11:15 UTC
'Where mind meets machine'
As an emerging trend Industry 5.0 will change our life in many ways. It is noted that "when AI systems are left to function without human assistance, they can occasionally make mistakes or even completely fail." A case in point is "the fatality caused by a self-driving car making AI systems vulnerable for adversarial situations." These systems embodied in Industry 5.0 are expected to incorporate greater human intelligence — how high would be the level of collaboration between man and machines, Industry 5.0 will show us. (The Fifth Industrial Revolution: where mind meets machine) (https://www.thenationalnews.com › opinion › comment) There would hopefully be a balanced collaboration between smart machines and us human beings.
Source:Manila Times
June 29, 2022 11:15 UTC
Three-day hotel quarantine plus four-day medical surveillance upon entering HK: health expert
The quarantine period for inbound travelers should be shortened to three days, plus four days of medical surveillance at home, microbiologist Ho Pak-leung said. The city’s current measures require foreign arrivals to be isolated in designated hotels for seven days. Ho said people under medical surveillance should be barred from restaurants, bars, beauty salons, and fitness centers but could go to their place of work in a “point-to-point” system. Those undergoing quarantine or medical surveillance should wear a location-enabled bracelet to facilitate tracking by the authorities. In addition, Moderna’s bivalent vaccine has been proven to be effective against Omicron BA.4 and BA.5.
Source:The Standard
June 29, 2022 11:06 UTC
Central shooting: One more nabbed, 17 arrested so far
Police have arrested another man in connection with the gang attack and shooting near Lan Kwai Fong in Central earlier this month, with the total number of arrested persons in connection with the violence now reaching 17. In a statement, the force said a 20-year-old non-ethnic Chinese man was arrested on Tuesday for conspiracy to wound with intent. It also noted that two men arrested earlier this week in connection to the case were due to appear in Eastern Court on Wednesday. They were among six men arrested earlier this week in connection with the shooting. Read more:(Video) Shooting in Central district sees three injuredCops gun for triad catch with $250,000 offer
Source:The Standard
June 29, 2022 09:47 UTC
‘No finality yet’: Rappler to appeal SEC shutdown order
MANILA, Philippines — Rappler is prepared to exhaust legal remedies after the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) affirmed its revocation order against the media organization, its chief legal counsel Francis Lim said on Wednesday. ADVERTISEMENTREAD: SEC has ordered Rappler shutdown, says CEO RessaLim, however, said Rappler “strongly disagrees” with the decision as it plans to file a petition for review to the Court of Appeals (CA). “We have 15 days from yesterday to file a petition for review or what a layman knows as appeal to the CA. The lawyer further stressed, “There are powerful, factual and legal grounds to reverse the decision of the SEC which we are now discussing. ADVERTISEMENT“Until our courts of law say that we have to close down by ultimately upholding the SEC decision, it’s business as usual for us,” he said.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
June 29, 2022 06:14 UTC
Militants hit soldiers’ presence in Aklan capital
It cited the deployment of soldiers in the subvillages of Barangay Poblacion on C. Laserna Street in the town center. The soldiers were allegedly showing photographs of Calaor and Tugna to residents and inquiring about their whereabouts. Gen. Marion Sison, commander of the Army’s 301st Infantry Brigade, confirmed the deployment of soldiers at Barangay Cawayan in New Washington town and at Barangay Poblacion in Kalibo. In our previous deployments in other communities, we have heard the same lies from similar organizations and other antipeace, antidevelopment and antipeople groups,” Sison added. ADVERTISEMENTBut House Deputy Minority leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate said the presence of soldiers in the provincial capital was meant to harass leaders and members of progressive organizations.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
June 29, 2022 02:46 UTC
G7 lambasts Beijing over trade practices
ELMAU CASTLE, Germany: Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) on Tuesday condemned China's "nontransparent and market-distorting" international trade practices in an end-of-summit statement that hit out directly at Beijing for the first time. There, the 30-member, United States-led alliance was also poised to toughen its stance against Beijing in an update of its "strategic concept." The US has long cast a wary eye at China over its trade practices, which Washington believes are designed to accord an unfair advantage to Chinese companies over foreign companies. The leaders also voiced concern about human rights violations in China, urging Beijing to respect fundamental freedoms. To offer an alternative to the world's poorest, the G7 on Sunday pledged $600 billion for global infrastructure programs.
Source:Manila Times
June 28, 2022 22:26 UTC
Pass the Land Use Act
A tool exists to correct this — a National Land Use Code — but successive Congresses for nearly 30 years have been unwilling to pass it. As of last year, there were 18 different land use bills pending in the House of Representatives, and four in the Senate. Parameters would be established for sustainable land use at all levels of government in terms of land protection, different types of production, infrastructure use, and settlement uses. Not having a comprehensive land use code has resulted in what anyone can easily see in the Philippines now. Agriculture land is converted, sometimes illegally, for industrial or commercial use, or residential real estate development.
Source:Manila Times
June 28, 2022 22:16 UTC
Philippines Supreme Court rejects last bid to thwart incoming president Marcos
Philippine president-elect FerdinandThe Philippines Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a final bid to disqualify President-elect Ferdinand Marcos from last month's election, local media reported, clearing the way for his inauguration later this week. Marcos, 64, won the May 9 election in a landslide and will be sworn in on Thursday for a six-year term. The Supreme Court justices unanimously dismissed the consolidated cases, media reported. The court did not immediately respond to a request for confirmation and details of its decision had yet to be published. The Marcos camp had long dismissed the petitions as efforts by his opponents to hobble his campaign.
Source:The Standard
June 28, 2022 19:10 UTC
Dr. Shiba, Pawssion Project's shared passion for pets
To give back to the community, the brand has forged a partnership with animal welfare group Pawssion Project. Since its establishment, Pawssion Project has rescued 2000 dogs and cats and regime 1000 of them. It will help us go a long way in this battle for animal welfare," Perez said. For those who want to join this endeavor, simply purchasing Dr. Shiba treats will go a long way as a portion of every purchase will be directly donated to the organization. Dr. Shiba is now available online.
Source:Manila Times
June 28, 2022 09:00 UTC
India arrests Modi critic who runs fact-checking website
NEW DELHI—Indian police on Monday arrested the co-founder of a top fact-checking website who has been a vocal critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, his colleague said. Mohammed Zubair was arrested in Delhi after being called in for questioning in an earlier case, said Pratik Sinha, who runs the Alt-News web site together with Zubair. He has faced several legal cases over the years which his supporters dismiss as politically motivated attempts to silence a critic. On Saturday, police detained activist Teesta Setalvad who hails from Modi’s western home state of Gujarat. Setalvad has been campaigning to have Modi declared complicit in deadly sectarian riots 20 years ago.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
June 28, 2022 08:48 UTC
P62M worth of marijuana plants burn down in Kalinga
MANILA, Philippines — A total of P62 million worth of full-grown marijuana plants have been seized and burned down in Kalinga, Benguet province by police operatives over the weekend. ADVERTISEMENTThe marijuana plantation sites, which have a combined land area of 25,950 square meters, were found in barangays Buscalan, Butbut Proper, and Loccong, Tinglaya. No suspect or cultivator was arrested during the operations, Danao said. Let us further intensify all efforts to hunt down all those responsible behind the planting and cultivation of these prohibited plants,” Danao said. Earlier, the Provincial Mobile Force Company of the Benguet Police Provincial Office also confiscated and scorched marijuana plants worth P848,000 in the province.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
June 28, 2022 05:38 UTC
DTI underscores MSME upskilling programs
STARTING and expanding businesses can avail of several government programs for upskilling and reskilling their workers and financial resources to grow their business. PTTC-GMEA is under the DTI. She said the PTTC also has a program that provides training to startups involved in digital technology and developing digital business solutions for micro, small and medium enterprises or MSMEs as well. For example, its regional program Food Connect aims at assisting food manufacturers to understand the standards, documentation and application of the "gate-to-plate" processes in the food chain. "After the training, they can immediately go into their own entrepreneurial activities," he said.
Source:Manila Times
June 28, 2022 01:58 UTC
Bullfight ban pushed as gallery collapse kills four
Screen grabs and aerial views show amateur bullfighters face off with a bull before a grandstand collapses during a festival in Colombia. A full three-story section of wooden stands filled with spectators collapsed, throwing dozens of people to the ground. A video taken at the scene showed people trying to escape from the stands while a bull continues to roam in the arena. Another person died earlier this month after being gored by a bull during a corraleja in the town of Repelon. While animal abuse is a crime in Colombia, bullfights and cock fights are protected because of the cultural history behind them.
Source:The Standard
June 28, 2022 01:23 UTC