Duterte signs 2022 national budget into law
Duterte signs 2022 national budget into lawIn this screengrab, President Rodrigo Duterte attends a signing ceremony for bills that would be enacted. MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday signed into law the proposed national budget for 2022, which gives the government P5.024 trillion for its projects and programs. Related Stories Palace thanks Congress for speedy ratification of 2022 national budgetThe Bicameral Conference Committe report on the proposed national budget set aside P785.73 billion for the Department of Public Works and Highways. In his remarks, Duterte said that the national budget shows the government's "strong commitment to provide a more comfortable and productive life for each Filipino" and also "cements the administration's legacy of real change for future generations." Among the Duterte administration's flagship programs is the "Build, Build, Build" campaign for big-ticket infrasructure projects that the government said is meant to address a lack of investment in infrastructure in past administrations.
Source:Philippine Star
December 30, 2021 17:21 UTC
Scientists urge gov't to develop mangrove forests, seagrass beds to protect coastal residents
Scientists urge gov't to develop mangrove forests, seagrass beds to protect coastal residentsSeptember 2019 photo shows a patch of mangroves in the village of Taliptip in Bulacan province. MANILA, Philippines — A scientist group called on the government to develop mangrove and beach forests, and seagrass beds, which can help protect coastal communities from hazards. Mangrove and beach forests, and seagrass meadows also serve as habitats for commercially important fish and as carbon sinks. Mangrove forests in Del Carmen, Siargao were able to protect coastal communities from storm surge during the onslaught of 'Odette', OneNews reported. “Should eviction become inevitable, concerned government agencies should find relocation sites where residents could still practice their livelihood,” AGHAM said.
Source:Philippine Star
December 30, 2021 14:12 UTC
Philippines stays under Alert Level 2 until January 15
Philippines stays under Alert Level 2 until January 15Filipino Catholics crowd the street fronting the Immaculate Conception Cathedral of Cubao in Quezon City as they attend the sixth Misa de Gallo on Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021. MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines will remain under Alert Level 2 until January 15 despite the uptick in COVID-19 cases and concerns over the heavily-mutated Omicron variant, Malacañang announced Thursday. Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, who is also acting presidential spokesperson, said the entire country will stay under Alert Level 2 from January 1 to 15. The Philippines is seeing an increase in COVID-19 infections as more people go out and join gatherings this holiday season, the Department of Health said. The DOH earlier said the country is “well-prepared” to combat the Omicron variant, which is threatening health systems overseas.
Source:Philippine Star
December 30, 2021 13:42 UTC
Three passenger flights banned for two weeks as HK adds 12 imported cases
Three airlines were ordered to suspend their flights from Helsinki in Finland, Istanbul in Turkey and Manila in the Philippines for two weeks as Hong Kong reported 12 imported cases on Thursday. The new imported cases involved a one-year-old boy, and eight men and three women aged 24 to 61. On the other hand, the center detected 11 Omicron cases, involving eight men and three women aged 21 to 59. Four patients tested positive at the airport, four tested positive during quarantine while the last three tested positive at the community testing centers. So far there are 81 Omicron cases reported in the city.
Source:The Standard
December 30, 2021 11:32 UTC
6 nations including Spain now under PH’s COVID-19 travel red list
MANILA, Philippines — Six countries are now under the government’s COVID-19 travel red list from Jan. 1 to Jan 15, Malacañang announced Thursday. This means travel to and from the said territories is banned. However, a country classified under the green list will be moved to the yellow list if a local transmission of the Omicron variant is detected. The Bureau of Quarantine, the Department of Transportation – One Stop Shop, and the Bureau of Immigration are directed to recognize only the proofs of vaccination thus approved by the IATF, Nograles added. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy PolicyRead Next
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
December 30, 2021 10:07 UTC
US hikes Odette aid to $20 million
MANILA, Philippines — The US government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has raised its humanitarian assistance to victims of Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai) to $20.2 million or over P1.01 billion. It initially pledged $200,000 (about P10 million), then added $1 million (P50 million), before committing another $19 million (P950 million). “We stand steadfast with our longstanding friend, partner and ally in helping support communities devastated by the typhoon. FEATURED STORIESAccording to the US Embassy, Variava also plans to visit affected communities and see ongoing US relief activities. “Since 2010, USAID has provided more than P17 billion ($340 million) in disaster relief and recovery aid, and boosted the disaster risk reduction capacity of over 100 cities and municipalities in the Philippines,” the embassy said.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
December 30, 2021 08:55 UTC
Unusual businesses of 2021
Unusual businesses of 2021Three big businesses stood out in 2021 for me: Mynt, Monde Nissin, and Converge. Because of or despite the pandemic, all have made remarkable strides in pursuing expansion plans during the last two years. Mynt, formerly named Globe Fintech Innovations, got a big boost in 2017 from its partnership with Ant Group, which operates the world’s largest digital payment system called Alipay. For the third quarter of 2021, Monde reported its strongest growth finish on consolidated revenues ever despite all the problems associated with the pandemic. Like Mynt, Converge has experienced phenomenal growth because of the pandemic.
Source:Philippine Star
December 30, 2021 03:56 UTC
Wiretapping case vs Hontiveros a harassment suit — opposition senators
Wiretapping case vs Hontiveros a harassment suit — opposition senatorsMANILA, Philippines — Two members of the Senate minority this week condemned the indictment of Sen. Risa Hontiveros for a years-old wiretapping complaint that they said was a "harassment suit" filed against her by former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre. "We stand in solidarity with Sen. Risa Hontiveros as she faces the wire-tapping case resurrected after years in slumber," Sen. Francis Pangilinan, a candidate for vice president, said in a statement written partially in Filipino. These same arguments were made by Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, a former justice secretary, when Aguirre first threatened to file a wiretapping complaint against Hontiveros in 2017. In a statement, she called the case "meaningless and baseless," adding that she was "determined to fight this harassment." "After [Hontiveros] was charged by Pharmally for bravely investigating their anomalous contracts with the government, this wire-tapping case is revived."
Source:Philippine Star
December 30, 2021 03:38 UTC
Expert’s warning: Coronavirus mutation can only happen among unvaccinated, immunocompromised
MANILA, Philippines — Mutations of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 can only happen among unvaccinated individuals and the immunocompromised, an infectious disease expert said Thursday. That’s the importance why we need to vaccinate everyone, especially for those unvaccinated because mutation will only occur among those that are unvaccinated, among those that are immunocompromised. So we need protection among these populations so that there will be less mutation and less transmission of this COVID-19 virus,” Solante said in an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel’s Headstart. Solante stressed that those not vaccinated against COVID-19 do not have enough antibodies against the coronavirus. This is where people that are not vaccinated, who are immunocompromised, they will be the reservoir of these viruses.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
December 30, 2021 03:23 UTC
Customers 'to suffer' from crew quarantine mandate
Elsa Yuen warned that freight costs may rise after it was announced that aircrew must undergo hotel quarantine. Her warning came after the government announced on Tuesday that starting yesterday, air cargo crew must quarantine for three days at a hotel before isolating at home. But she said hotel quarantine arrangements have already impacted the logistics industry, which would be hit harder if the quarantine period was further lengthened. Yuen also said around 10 percent of cargo crew are considering suspending their job due to the arrangement. Aircrew should still avoid attending gatherings or going to crowded places after their quarantine, Tsang added.
Source:The Standard
December 30, 2021 01:18 UTC
More power to come
They are the powers that be, and yet they still have the powers to come. Warriors win War of the WestThe Phoenix Suns went toe-to-toe with the Golden State Warriors for the best record in the league. In this important game, the Warriors also missed Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins, a first overall draft pick. In the next couple of weeks, this Nets team will also add LaMarcus Aldridge since he already cleared protocols, and Joe Harris. The Warriors and the Nets may have exceeded that number, which is handy because of injuries and Covid.
Source:Manila Times
December 29, 2021 22:27 UTC
Schemes as fancier forms of wordplay - 1
WE will now take up SCHEMES as the second broad class of English figures of speech. They consist of four groups based on degree of deviation from normal word arrangements: structures of balance, changes in word order, omissions, and repetitions. Changes in word order include the anastrophe, parenthesis, and apposition. Omission is the class of schemes that excludes words from normal speech for brevity and quick delivery. Next week, Jan. 6, 2022:: Schemes as fancier forms of wordplay – 2Visit Jose Carillo's English Forum, http://josecarilloforum.com.
Source:Manila Times
December 29, 2021 21:47 UTC
The state of the Philippine music industry and its next big move
Over a year and a half has passed, and no industry has been left unscathed, including Original Pilipino Music. The following statements straight from singers themselves show the state of OPM and its next big move. With God's blessing, though, I had the opportunity of a recording contract again with Star Music, and I'm about to release my new single." Music brought healing and helped me embrace this new season, the new normal. I hope that the music I create will help heal one person at a time in my own little way.
Source:Manila Times
December 29, 2021 20:59 UTC
China to set up five hubs for raw materials
Staff reporter and agenciesChina will set up five world-class raw material manufacturing clusters after setting a rare earth group recently. China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, along with several government agencies raised the 2025 target for the raw material industry in the 14th Five-Year Plan published yesterday. Last week, China has approved setting up a rare earths giant called China Rare-Earths Group by merging three state-run companies. Meanwhile, the Chinese government said it firmly oppose the abuse of export control measures in its first white paper on export controls released yesterday. The Ministry of Commerce said it will accelerate efforts to attract foreign investments next year.
Source:The Standard
December 29, 2021 19:15 UTC