Expensive food
Expensive foodAccording to the World Bank, domestic food price inflation remains high in many low- and middle-income countries. In real terms, food price inflation exceeded overall inflation in 59.8 percent of the 164 countries where data are available. It is projected that food prices will decrease by four percent in 2025 before stabilizing in 2026. The latest Hunger Hotspots Report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and the World Food Program (WFP) warns of worsening acute food insecurity in 16 hunger hotspots (covering 22 countries and territories) that will require urgent action between now and May 2025. The Alliance has developed the publicly accessible Global Food and Nutrition Security Dashboard, which provides timely information for global and local decision-makers to help improve coordination of the policy and financial response to the food crisis.
Source:Philippine Star
November 21, 2024 22:06 UTC
CSC opens application for March 2025 career service exam
MANILA, Philippines — The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has opened the application for the March 2025 Career Service Examination for professional and subprofessional levels. In a statement on Thursday, the CSC said the application period for the March 2 exam is set from November 19, 2024 to January 3, 2025. The commission reminded the public that applicants will only be accepted on “a first-come, first-served basis,” adding that regional offices “may stop receiving applications any time before the deadline once it has reached the target number of applicants.”Article continues after this advertisementCSC offices will accept limited applications from December 16-27, 2024 “to give way to the preparation and submission of year-end reports and program or project evaluation reports.”According to the commission, those who seek to take the exam must meet the following qualifications:Filipino citizen;At least 18 years old on the date of filing of application;Of good moral character;Has not been convicted by final judgment of an offense or crime involving moral turpitude, disgraceful or immoral conduct, dishonesty, examination irregularity, drunkenness, or addiction to drugs; andHas not been dishonorably discharged from military service or dismissed for cause from any civilian position in the government. Applicants should not have taken the same level of the Career Service Examination, either through PPT or Computerized Examination, within three months before the date of the exam, or from December 2, 2024, to March 1, 2025Regardless of their educational attainment, those who meet the qualifications need to submit the following requirements:Fully accomplished application form (CS Form No. 100, Revised 2023 – Career Service-Professional/Career Service-Subprofessional) available in CSC Regional/Field Offices, or can be downloaded from the CSC website and printed on legal size bond paper;Four copies of passport-size ID pictures with handwritten name tag legibly showing signature over printed full name;Original and photocopy of any of the valid ID cards accepted for the civil service exam; andExamination fee of P500
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
November 21, 2024 19:50 UTC
Time better spent
Time better spentI was recently invited to be a guest on a news and current affairs program to talk about the ongoing investigations of the quad comm. Go over the two impeachments conducted by Congress, the “imprisonment” of two presidents, controversial brown bag pay-offs, etc. At the end of the day, it was either a grab for power or political vendetta while true legislation is left lacking! They actually had their own version of “citing Nehemiah in contempt,” sent false reports and actively generated disinformation. In hindsight, the walls of Jerusalem that Nehemiah rebuilt was meant to keep the enemies out.
Source:Philippine Star
November 21, 2024 16:41 UTC
Fernandez on IAS removal from PNP: They’ll only conspire with each other
Fernandez, who chairs the House committee on public order and safety, said this would avoid cover-ups among policemen since the IAS is tasked to investigate the irregularities committed by PNP members. Article continues after this advertisementREAD: PNP Internal Affairs probes officers linked to Barayuga slay case“Kasi kasalukuyan po yung ating IAS, nandun po yan sa loob ng PNP. That IAS should be outside or brought to DILG or DOJ, because if it remains a PNP unit, they may only conspire with one another.) “[A]ng pagkakasabi nya po sa ‘kin, kailangan talagang ihiwalay na ang IAS doon po sa PNP,” Fernandez said. Article continues after this advertisement(He told me the IAS should already be separated from the PNP.)
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
November 21, 2024 05:03 UTC
10.8M numbers blacklisted, 2.3M SIM cards deactivated
“The good thing is that the NTC managed to block a lot of SIM cards and prevented spamming and scamming from happening,” he added. “But text scams pretending to be messages sent by banks and e-wallets persist,” Hontiveros lamented. To prevent fraudulent registration, Gatchalian said the NTC required mobile phone users to upload live selfie pictures to validate their SIM cards. Public advisoriesThe DICT earlier reported an increase in scam messages that now imitate legitimate advisories from popular e-wallet services such as GCash and Maya. Remember: Think before you click to avoid falling victim to text scams,” she said.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
November 21, 2024 05:02 UTC
America is ‘profoundly committed’ to PH’s defense – Austin
00:00 The behavior of the PRC has been concerning. 00:07 When it comes to what we will do, I won't make a speculative statement about any hypotheticals. 00:14 When it comes to our mutual defense treaty, what we have emphasized and you heard me emphasize00:21 a couple of minutes ago, that we remain committed to the treaty. I won't speculate on what the next administration will be. 00:34 What I can tell you is what I know.
Source:Manila Bulletin
November 20, 2024 20:37 UTC
‘No storm next week’
‘No storm next week’MANILA, Philippines — No cyclone is expected to enter or form within the Philippine area of responsibility next week after six consecutive cyclones battered parts of the country recently, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. PAGASA said it has not monitored any tropical cyclone-like vortex until Nov. 26, which means that a potential cyclone threat is unlikely by next week. However, there is a low to moderate chance that a cyclone may form by the first week of December. The combined damage of Pepito, Nika and Ofel to the agriculture sector in five regions has reached P265.74 million, according to the Department of Agriculture. Agriculture Assistant Secretary and spokesman Arnel de Mesa said total rice imports as of Nov. 19 have surpassed the total rice imports of 3.6 million MT in 2023.
Source:Philippine Star
November 20, 2024 19:17 UTC
SpaceX launches giant Starship rocket, but aborts attempt to catch booster with mechanical arms
00:45 As well as the operators on console have been actively evaluating the commit criteria for that return to the launch tower. 00:54 And unfortunately, we did not have a pass on those commit criteria. 00:59 So we are no go for tower catch. 01:06 And what an incredible view of splashdown that we got today. 01:19 What a great reorientation by Starship.
Source:Manila Bulletin
November 20, 2024 04:39 UTC
New economic recovery measures unveiled
CHINA has introduced a set of policy measures aimed at stabilizing growth, expanding domestic demand and mitigating risks. The package of incremental policies has a primary goal of achieving high-quality development. Such policy reserves are available, but the decision will depend on the social and economic conditions at the time, Dong said. Calling it "an unprecedented round of macroeconomic regulation," Wu said that the package of incremental policies is comprehensive, complex and involves significant investment. It is designed not only to address immediate challenges but also to tackle key long-term issues in economic development.
Source:Manila Times
November 19, 2024 22:17 UTC
House OKs consolidation of 4 bills banning POGOs
House OKs consolidation of 4 bills banning POGOsWorkers do renovation works around the House of Representatives within the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City on July 3, 2024. The consolidation of House Bills 10725, 10636, 10725 and 10987, which shall now be named the proposed Anti-POGO Act, was approved by the House committee on games and amusements, chaired by Cavite 6th District Rep. Antonio Ferrer. The senior administration lawmaker also asserted that the shutdown order from Marcos “is not enough for a long-term solution if we are to ban POGOs once and for all.”“A legislative ban will ensure that POGOs cannot simply rebrand or return once the current administration ends. In addition, the POGO ban bill mandates the provision of a transition program to help Filipino workers who will be affected by the closure of POGOs. So I urge the department to continue with job fairs and other programs for local POGO workers so that displaced workers would be given meaningful jobs,” Gatchalian said.
Source:Philippine Star
November 19, 2024 22:01 UTC
Hontiveros warns vs emerging guerrilla scam operations
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Risa Hontiveros flagged on Wednesday the “alarming trend” of emerging guerrilla scam operations, allegedly taking over the presence of illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) in the country. Hontiveros, during the Senate’s marathon plenary debates on the proposed 2025 funding of the Department of Information and Communications and Technology (DICT), brought up the matter. Article continues after this advertisementThe DICT, however, opted not to disclose its methodology in order to detect such operations. President Bongbong Marcos, during his third State of the Nation Address in July, ordered the ban of all Pogos in the Philippines. He then subsequently ordered Pagcor to wind down and seize the operations of these firms by the end of the year.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
November 19, 2024 20:49 UTC
No lavish Christmas parties: Marcos asks gov’t agencies to donate savings to typhoon victims
Malacañang on Tuesday, Nov. 19, urged government agencies to do away with extravagant Christmas parties amid the lives lost to and damages brought by the successive typhoons that hit the country. READ MORE: https://mb.com.ph/2024/11/19/no-lavish-christmas-parties-marcos-asks-gov-t-agencies-to-donate-savings-to-typhoon-victimsSubscribe to the Manila Bulletin Online channel! - https://www.youtube.com/TheManilaBulletinVisit our website at http://mb.com.phFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/manilabulletinTwitter: https://www.twitter.com/manila_bulletinInstagram: https://instagram.com/manilabulletinTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@manilabulletin#ManilaBulletinOnline#ManilaBulletin#LatestNewsTranscript Display full video transcript 00:30 you
Source:Manila Bulletin
November 19, 2024 17:35 UTC
DOJ urged to cooperate with ICC on Duterte's drug war
DOJ urged to cooperate with ICC on Duterte's drug warIn this September 25, 2018 photo, members of local rights group Karapatan condemn the killing of human rights defender Mariam Uy Acob. MANILA, Philippines — Human rights group Karapatan has called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to fully cooperate with the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) ongoing investigation into thousands of alleged killings linked to former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs. “There are numerous cases of extrajudicial killings and IHL violations which involved Duterte’s police and military, in his administration’s war on dissent,” she said. Drug war numbersThe government data estimates 6,000 deaths during the implementation anti-drug campaign of the Duterte administration. However, an international human rights group estimates up to 30,000 fatalities which usually consist of small-time drug pushers and users.
Source:Philippine Star
November 19, 2024 15:23 UTC
WATCH: Govt bares plan to import fish after successive typhoons
The Department of Agriculture bares plan to import fish amid successive typhoons at the close of the fishing season in the country. DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said they would wait for the approval to import 8,000 metric tons of small pelagic fish set to arrive in early December. Video by PNA
Source:Manila Times
November 19, 2024 15:19 UTC
DA: Rice production to fall below estimate
DOMESTIC rice production is expected to fall below 19.4 million metric tons (MT) this year due to damage caused by successive typhoons, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Monday. Rice imports, which stood at 3.9 million metric tons (MT) as of Nov. 7, will help mitigate the impact, he added. The DA initially projected palay output to reach 20.44 million MT this year, higher than 2023's record 20.06 million MT. It cut the forecast to 19.4 million MT due to the effects of the El Niño weather pattern earlier this year. The USDA projects the Philippines to produce around 12.3 million MT of milled rice this year, lower than their previous estimate of 12.7 million MT.
Source:Manila Times
November 19, 2024 04:26 UTC