13 Mayo 2024, Lunes

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Norway to support Fil law enforcers in rescuing child sex abuse victims

By Nidz Godino

“Norway remains committed to supporting  campaign against OSAEC and will continue to provide financial assistance across various initiatives,” Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik,  Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs state secretary said Norwegian government has committed to helping train Philippine law enforcers to more effectively identify potential child sex abuse victims by teaching them to access available sources of information on perpetrators overseas. 

This initiative by Norwegan officials is part of its program on combating Online Sexual Abuse of Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) globally, with  Philippines long identified as  global hotspot for OSAEC cases.

Philippines currently ranks second in the world, after India, in terms of number of OSAEC cases, according to data by non-profit Save the Children Philippines. 

A 280% spike in OSAEC cases was recorded in 2022 by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF),  attributed to the

country’s visa-free policy, high use of technology and high poverty levels during pandemic. 

Last March, Kravik, met with Department of Social Welfare and Development representatives, district social workers and youth advocates to discuss how OSAEC has impacted their communities. 

Kravik said  promotion of human rights and  rights of children is  “very important part of Norway’s foreign and development policy,” according to  press release.

Norwegian Government, through  long-term presence of  Nordic Liaison Office in Manila, will support  operations of  Philippine National Police (PNP) and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in identifying and rescuing potential OSAEC victims through “information sharing.”

Law enforcers will be educated on how to access “evidence for prosecution of perpetrators in the Nordic countries.”

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Sit-down dialogue also surfaced experiences of one social welfare officer from Manila who said  there is  need for city-wide legislation that will address OSAEC, according to  press release by Plan International Pilipinas,  implements  Norway-funded “Uniting Against OSAEC: Multi-stakeholder Collaborations for  Safer Digital Space Project.”

“Although we have policies within  community, such as those that regulate money remittance centers, we wish to have them in the whole city…and we need additional support to lobby to strengthen programs and services for combatting OSAEC in Manila,” said Honeyleen Montano-Mabaet, a social welfare officer from  City of Manila.

Nicholas Ty,  Department of Justice undersecretary in charge of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, said in February that preventing OSAEC cases require cross-border collaboration among law enforcers. 

“One important step is coordination with our foreign counterparts as online obscenity or OSAEC is usually  cross-border crime,” Ty said.

High-profile rescue operation conducted by the PNP in 2023 involved the rescue of sixteen abused minors with the help of the Australian Federal Police. 

From 2021 to 2022,  staggering 72% of all child abuse cases on average involved sexual abuse or assault, according to data collected by  Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) in government hospitals.

Around 6,600 children were sexually abused in 2022, according to  CWC.

US State Department’s assessment of  Philippines’ protection of children’s rights in 2022 found  country has inadequate prosecutorial and technological resources to catch persons engaged in  sexual exploitation of minors.

13 Mayo 2024, Lunes

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HEADLINES

DSWD to increase 4Ps cash aid

By J.Lo

“I would like to reiterate what DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said  adjusting  cash grants of 4Ps beneficiaries is not just timely but that it also preserves  value of  grants,” Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Assistant Secretary for Disaster Response Management Group Irene Dumlao added due to  continuing rise in inflation rates,  DSWD is pushing for adjustment in  cash grants given to beneficiaries of  Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

Dumlao recognize  need to adjust 4Ps cash aid.

Dumlao noted  DSWD is now working with  National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and  Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in “trying to find  best index to use for  automatic adjustment” of benefits.

According to Dumlao, important for DSWD to work with NEDA and PSA to come up with  right amount to ensure  4Ps grants will be able to cushion  impact of inflation.

She cited inflation rate has inched up to 3.8 percent in April from 3.7 percent in March.

The 4Ps is  national poverty reduction strategy and human capital investment program of  Philippine government and currently caters to 4.4 million household-beneficiaries nationwide.

Under the program, beneficiaries receive cash grants if they comply with  conditions of sending their children to school, bringing them to health centers for check-up and attending  monthly Family Development Sessions.

Family-beneficiaries receive cash grant of P300 a month for each child enrolled in daycare or elementary school; P500 a month for each child enrolled in junior high school and P700 a month for each child enrolled in senior high school for  maximum of 10 months a year.

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Each beneficiary household also gets P750 a month in health and nutrition grants and  P650 monthly rice assistance.

13 Mayo 2024, Lunes

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SCS has most excessive maritime claims challenged by US

By Nidz Godino

“If left unchallenged, excessive maritime claims could permanently infringe upon  freedom of  seas enjoyed by all nations,” US Department of Defense FON report said excessive maritime claims advanced by China and two other claimants in  South China Sea (SCS) were  most operationally challenged by United States forces under  Freedom of Navigation program.

Defense  department released annual FON Report for fiscal year 2023. During  period from Oct. 1, 2022 through Sept. 30, 2023, US forces operationally challenged 29 different excessive maritime claims advanced by 17 different claimants throughout the world.

Excessive maritime claims are unlawful attempts by coastal states to restrict  rights and freedoms of navigation and overflight and other lawful uses of  sea.

These are inconsistent with international law as reflected in  1982 United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). They include  variety of restrictions on  exercise of navigation and overflight rights and other freedoms and lawful uses of  seas.

Annual Freedom of Navigation Report 2023 identified excessive maritime claims in  South China Sea by China, Vietnam and Taiwan that were challenged by US FON Program.

Challenged were China’s straight baselines not drawn in conformance with international law or  Chinese government’s Declaration on Baselines of  Territorial Sea; requiring prior approval for military survey activities in  exclusive economic zone; restrictions on foreign aircraft flying through Air Defense Identification Zone without  intent to enter national airspace; requiring prior permission for innocent passage of foreign military ships through  territorial sea; and Beijing’s claims of “historic rights” in  South China Sea.

Also challenged were Taiwan requiring prior notice for foreign military vessels to conduct innocent passage in  territorial sea and Vietnam’s straight baselines that do not conform with UNCLOS and imposing prior notification for foreign warships to enter  territorial sea.

US rejected unlawful and sweeping maritime claims in South China Sea that pose  serious threat to  freedom of  seas, including  freedoms of navigation and overflight, free trade and unimpeded commerce, and freedom of economic opportunity for South China Sea littoral nations.

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According to  US Navy, China, Vietnam and Taiwan “purport to require either permission or advance notification before  foreign military vessel engages in ‘innocent passage’ through territorial sea.”

US forces also challenged excessive maritime claims by Cambodia in  Gulf of Thailand; Colombia (Caribbean Sea), Croatia (Adriatic Sea); Dominican Republic; Iran (Strait of Hormuz, Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman); Japan (vicinity of Tsushima Strait and Senkaku Islands); Latvia (Baltic Sea); Maldives; Malta (Mediterranean Sea); Oman (Strait of Hormuz); Russia (Bering Strait); Thailand (Andaman Sea); United Arab Emirates (Persian Gulf  and Gulf of Oman), and Yemen (Bab el-Mandep Strait).

“Unlawful and sweeping excessive maritime claims  or incoherent legal theories or maritime entitlement pose  threat to  legal foundation of  rules-based international order,” according to report.

Defense  department said  US is committed to confronting this threat by challenging excessive maritime claims.

“As long as some countries continue to assert limits on maritime rights and freedoms  exceed coastal state authorities nested under customary international law, United States will continue to challenge such unlawful claim,” it said.

Philippines is the only country  can create  artificial island on Escoda Shoal,  island within  country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), according to former Supreme Court associate justice Antonio Carpio.

“Escoda Shoal is part of  200 nautical mile EEZ of  Philippines…as such, only  Philippines can create  artificial island on Escoda Shoal, any structure or artificial island erected by China on Escoda Shoal is illegal under international law,” Carpio told media in  text message.

In such instances  China constructs  artificial island or any structure in Escoda Shoal, Carpio said  Philippines can seek legal options, such as filing  case for damage to marine environment for  destruction of  coral reef.

“Case will be filed with  UNCLOS tribunal,” he added.

Carpio also pointed out  purpose of China in creating  artificial island is to create  military outpost that would “prevent  Philippines from getting  gas in Reed Bank and in other nearby areas.”

13 Mayo 2024, Lunes

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Yet to award online voting contract- Comelec

By Nidz Godino

“Two joint venture companies pre-qualified are still undergoing post-qualification evaluation by technical working group,” Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia said Comelec is still doing post-qualification evaluation and has yet to award  contract for  online voting and counting system (OVCS) for overseas voting in  May 2025 midterm elections.

Garcia issued  statement in reaction to criticisms over  public bidding of  P465-million OVCS project of the commission.

One of the bidders,  was previously declared “ineligible” by Comelec, questioned what it considered  “low bid” of another bidder.

Joint  venture of AMA Group Holdings Corp., Dasan Network Solutions Inc. and Kevoting Inc. twice sought  reconsideration of its bid that was declared “ineligible” first on April 4 before  special bid and awards committee automated election system (SBAC-AES) and second, on April 12 before  Comelec en banc.

According to  joint venture, they were flatly rejected twice without opening  bid.

“Comelec en banc did not reconsider  second motion because  joint refused to pay P2.3 million non-refundable protest fee,  5 percent of project cost,” it said in  statement.

Garcia said  protest fee is  mandatory requirement of  procurement law.

In its motions for reconsideration, AMA-Dasan-Kevoting joint venture argued  SBAC has refused to look into low bid of P112 million by  SMSGT Technologies and Sequent Technologies Joint Venture.

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“Its bid represented only 25 percent of  estimated project cost, raising questions on its capacity to handle  2025 overseas voting system,” AMA-Dasan-Kevoting claimed.

AMA-Dasan-Kevoting said there were deficiencies like failure of  SMSGT-Sequent joint venture to submit 14001 ISO Certification (Environmental Management System) or its equivalent. It also does not have sufficient credentials to prove their internet voting system was successfully used in electoral exercise.

In its second motion for reconsideration, AMA-Dasan-Kevoting joint venture raised  question if SMSGT-Sequent has submitted any written certification from  election authority that it was indeed successful in  previous electoral exercise it handled.

It mentioned that one of its executives admitted in its post-bid evaluation that the only electoral exercise it did was  referendum in Madrid  involved 1.2 million voters.

It said: “SMSGT-Sequent should not be allowed to participate in the first place for failure to prove that ultimately their internet/online voting system has proven track record of being successfully implemented in at least one election year here or abroad; and  proposed internet voting system has been successfully used in  prior electoral exercise.”

13 Mayo 2024, Lunes

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200,000-MT sugar importation needed to sustain shortage

By J.Lo

“This El Niño is different… I have been engaged in farming for so long and this is the first time I have experienced this…when you go out, you cannot endure  heat… I never experienced this…as early as 7 in the morning, I returned inside  house because of  heat,” United Sugar Producers Federation (UNIFED) president Manuel Lamata added producers’ group  underscored  need to import 200,000 metric tons (MT) of sugar to prevent shortage in supply as it confirmed  sugarcane plantations in Negros have been severely damaged by El Niño.

Lamata said local sugar production would be affected as many sugarcane farms would not be able to recover.

Former agriculture secretary Leonardo Montemayor has said  damage caused by  current El Niño episode to  agriculture sector is underreported, adding that former Sugar Regulatory Administration chief Rafael Coscolluela had warned  sugar production in Negros is expected to drop by 30 percent amid impact of drought on sugarcane plantations.

“Sugar plantations did not only dry up, even  cows will not eat  charred sugarcanes,” Lamata said.

He added that local milling would be delayed as  farmers need to plant sugarcane again.

“Once  rains start coming in, we will plant again… what will happen vis-à-vis  supply,  local supply will be delayed…there will be  gap… where  imported sugar will come in. ..we need to import,” Lamata said.

He added importation of 185,000 MT to 200,000 MT of sugar is necessary to prevent  possible shortage in supply.

“We need to import to bridge  gap. ..volume of 185,000 metric tons to 200,000 metric tons is just enough… should not be more than that so that once  milling season starts, we can protect  mill gate prices of farmers,” Lamata added.

UNIFED head asked  provincial government to procure its own airplane that can be used for cloud seeding operations.

“I am pushing for  local government units especially provincial government as sugar producers are here in Negros, it should prepare for clouding seeding plane in  province as  income of  province comes from agriculture,” he said.

12 Mayo 2024, Linggo

Happy 48th Anniversary Mariveles Baptist Church, Mariveles, Bataan

Pinoy seafarer held by Iran freed

By Nidz Godino

“Philippines welcomes  good news that one of  four Filipino seamen at MSC Aries has been released and is arriving home later today,” Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said one of the four Filipino seafarers being held by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards has been released.

Efforts to have  remaining three freed continue with  help of  Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and other nations providing assistance. 

“We appreciate Iran’s gesture and  intercession of India in this matter,” it added in  social media post on X.

“We send thanks to  Department of Foreign Affairs who spared no efforts to secure  release of our brave seafarer,” said Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac.

He added  DMW will remain in constant communication with  DFA to check on condition of  remaining members of the crew still being held by Iranian authorities.                

DMW’s attached agency,  Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), is coordinating with  families of all crewmen, assuring them of  government’s full support and assistance during this difficult time.

“DMW, OWWA and DFA, in coordination with  ship agent and licensed manning agency, are now working to bring  Filipino crew member home to reunite him with his family,” said Cacdac.

He expressed optimism that  three Filipino seafarers will be released soon.

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Released  Filipino seafarer arrived back in the country yesterday, and was welcomed at  Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 by Cacdac and OWWA Administrator Arnell Ignacio.

Four  Filipinos were among 25 crew members of  MSC Aries  seized and held by Iranian naval authorities on April 13, as it was passing through  Strait of Hormuz.

MSC Aries, though registered in Portugal, is said to have links to Israel. Tensions between Iran and Israel in the region continue.

12 Mayo 2024, Linggo

Happy 48th Anniversary Mariveles Baptist Church, Mariveles, Bataan

‘POGO-politics’in midterm polls

By Nidz Godino

AMBAN, TARLAC MAYOR ALICE GUO 

“Problem is that our PAOCC only has 40 members in their team…that’s why they have difficulties in monitoring and conducting raids,” Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, referring to  Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission that led raid in Tarlac warned against  possible emergence of “POGO-politics” following  recent raid on  Philippine offshore gaming operator in Bamban, Tarlac.

Gatchalian revealed Philippine law enforcement agencies are currently conducting surveillance and monitoring of similar activities in other parts of the country.

Hundreds of workers, mostly Chinese, were rescued during  raid at  POGO’s premises at  Baofu compound in Bamban on March 13.

Senate committee on ways and means,  Gatchalian chairs, is investigating such POGO operations, including alleged involvement of Bamban Mayor Alice Guo.

Guo denied her involvement in POGO operations during  Senate hearing on May 7. But her evasive answers about her childhood, including where she was born and her education, raised suspicions both from Gatchalian and Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who attended  hearing.

“We’re giving her benefit of the doubt, so we asked her for  documents to know who she really is,” Gatchalian said in  interview.

Similar to “narcopolitics” experienced in other countries,  senator warned of  emergence of possible “POGO-politics” in the Philippines, noting that  syndicates behind POGO operations have links to people in power.

“Because of their influence, they pay politicians or enforcers or support someone to run for office,” he said.

TODAY’S GOD’S MESSAGE

Proverbs 31:10

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

^10 [a]A wife of noble character who can find?
    She is worth far more than rubies.

Footnotes

1. Proverbs 31:10 Verses 10-31 are an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

Proverbs 31:27-28

²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:

11 Mayo 2024, Sabado

Happy 48th Anniversary Mariveles Baptist Church, Mariveles, Bataan

‘Bloodsicles’, baths keep Mla Zoo animals cool as heatwave hits

By J.Lo

“Bloodsicles” made from frozen ground beef or chicken, animal blood and vitamins are given to big cats to lick.

Manila Zoo is giving tigers frozen treats made of animal blood and preventing lions from mating during  hottest time of the day as  heatwave scorches the country.

Unusually hot weather has sent temperatures in  capital Manila to  record high in recent days and forced schools across  archipelago nation to suspend in-person classes.

As people flock to air-conditioned shopping malls and swimming pools for relief from  extreme heat, animals at Manila Zoo are also trying to cool off.

Preventing heat stroke, particularly among  big cats, was  “main priority”, zoo veterinarian Dave Vinas told media when  mercury hit 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit) in the city.

Water is splashed on walls and ground of concrete enclosures throughout the day to help lower  temperature inside.

Tigers and lions are also regularly sprayed with water and take dips in pools inside their pens.

Wendell,  five-year-old Bengal tiger weighing almost 400 kilograms (882 pounds), pants non-stop as he soaks for hours in  shallow pool.

“Like  tiny cats we have at home, they need to sleep at least 12-16 hours a day…but at this time since it’s really hot they are swimming to relieve heat from the body,” Vinas said.

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Gab,  lioness, looks bored as she sits on  elevated concrete platform after zoo keepers locked her male companion Diego in another pen to prevent them from mating at the hottest part of the day.

“We don’t want to expose them to  mating part in this heat, we don’t want to trigger any heat stroke ,” Vinas said.

Water is also poured over  enclosures housing snakes and turtles to help regulate their body temperature.

While icicles and baths were normal during  hotter months of March, April and May, Vinas said this year’s heat was  most intense he had experienced.

“Even if they get good ventilation,  temperature every year gets worse and worse,” he told media.

“We just find ways to make it better for  animals.”

11 Mayo 2024, Sabado

Happy 48th Anniversary Mariveles Baptist Church, Mariveles, Bataan

Tech-voc trng to be part of all sr high school strands

By Creselda Canda-Lopez

“Scope is either too specific or too broad. ..some interagency committees have  very narrow focus, such as  Interagency Committee on Economic and Financial Literacy, convened in line with RA 10922…this does not foster  systems perspective needed to orchestrate  sector as a whole,” Second Congressional Commission on Education (Edcom II) said Technical-vocational skills training will soon be given to all senior high school students regardless of strand or area of study after  government’s three education agencies agreed to streamline their policies to produce more employable graduates.

Department of Education (DepEd), Technical Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) signed  joint memorandum circular embeds Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in all senior high school tracks.  Department of Labor and Employment is also  co-signatory.

An earlier TESDA press release said its purpose is to “equip high school graduates with industry-relevant skills and knowledge” by including at least one training regulation (a set of competencies for  certain industry or sector) in every grade level in  SHS. By the time  student graduates from senior high school, they would have earned two National Certificates (NCs). 

DepEd and TESDA also signed another joint memorandum circular  requires senior high school students taking  technical-vocational livelihood (TVL) track to undergo assessments to receive  National Certificate (NC) from TESDA.  NC serves as official proof of  person’s mastery of  skill or competency when applying for jobs locally and abroad.

It’s currently optional for Grade 12 students on  TVL track to undergo assessments,  needed to be issued  NC for their skills. Due to  apparent cost of applying for an assessment (average cost being P1,000 per individual) based on TESDA data, only  quarter of senior high school graduates received certificates for School Year 2019-2020. 

2024 General Appropriations Act has funding for  mandatory assessment of Grade 12 TVL learners, as well as  “capability building program” for more DepEd teachers to become accredited competency assessors, TESDA said in its press release.

Finalization  of curriculum guides and pilot implementation in select schools and regions will be conducted in 2025 to assess  effectiveness of  program before launch of  revised SHS curriculum, according to TESDA.

DepEd’s senior high school program differentiates those taking  academic track from technical-vocational track. Academic  track consists of three strands: Business, Accountancy, Management (ABM); Humanities, Education, Social Sciences (HUMSS); and Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM). 

Academic  strands do not have technical-vocational skills training as part of their curriculum. Students instead gain some measure of work experience through 80 hours of work immersion,  private sector group Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) said may be inadequate for employers to consider students as work-ready.

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In  2017 study by PBEd, out of  70 leading companies across all sectors in the Philippines, only 20% were willing to accept senior high school graduates.  

While technical vocational courses remain popular among Filipinos looking to upskill, latest available data shows  graduates of technical vocational programs mostly end up in minimum-wage jobs. 

From 2010 to 2014, TESDA graduates earned only around P10,000 per month on average, according to  National Technical Education and Skills Development Plan (NTESDP) 2018 to 2022.

Second Congressional Commission on Education (Edcom II) identified  absence of cooperation among  country’s three education agencies as an obstacle to enhancing current policies related to students’ learning. 

Finding, as detailed in Edcom II’s Year One report, said  historial context behind  “trifocalization” of the Philippines’ education system,  led  then-sole education agency to split into three different bodies, exposed  “lack of effective coordination among education agencies.”

While several laws and executive orders require  three education agencies to work together, Edcom II found that these have not always been followed effectively.

Edcom II also pointed out  some interagency bodies have “weak institutional arrangements and capacity.”

“Irregularity of meetings and lack of continuity were commonly cited issues in coordinating DepEd, CHED, and TESDA,” Edcom II added.