30 Abril 2024, Martes

more birthdays to come JO GOD-SAVES MONTOJO LOPEZ

welcomes Bagong Bayani Monico Lopez Caranay

supports International Autism Day, April 1-8, 2024

supports DENR Earth Day, Every Day campaign

HEADLINES

Heat index of 57 degrees Celsius, ‘extreme danger’ level

By J.Lo

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)  heat index in the Philippines could reach  “extreme danger” level of 57 degrees Celsius after Iba, Zambales on Sunday recorded 53 degrees Celsius.

Highest  extreme danger heat index of 57 degrees Celsius was recorded on April 20, 2020 in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, PAGASA Impact Assessment and Application Section officer-in-charge Meliton Guzman recalled.

Aside from San Jose,  highest heat index recorded was in Dagupan City, Pangasinan on May 9, 2016 at 55 degrees Celsius and in Aparri, Cagayan on May 18, 2021 at 54 degrees Celsius, based on PAGASA’s records from 2010 to 2023.

In Metro Manila,  heat index could reach 48 degrees Celsius after 45 degrees Celsius was recorded on April 27, Guzman said.

More  than 40 areas will experience  “danger” level heat index today as El Niño and  dry season continue to affect  Philippines, according to the state weather bureau.

Heat  index in Dagupan City, Pangasinan could reach 46 degrees Celsius, PAGASA said. Dagupan City’s heat index yesterday reached 51 degrees Celsius.

Aparri and Tuguegarao City in Cagayan, Coron and Aborlan in Palawan and San Jose in Occidental Mindoro could experience extreme heat at 45 degrees Celsius.

In Metro Manila,  Ninoy Aquino International Airport could experience  44 degrees Celsius heat index, PAGASA noted.

On April 28, Iba, Zambales recorded  “extreme danger” (52 degrees Celsius and above) heat index of 53 degrees Celsius,  highest so far this year, PAGASA said.

Extreme heat will persist until  second week of May, PAGASA noted.

Other areas that could experience  dangerous heat index between 42 and 51 degrees Celsius today are Laoag City, Ilocos Norte; Echague, Isabela; Baler and Casiguran, Aurora; Ambulong, Tanauan City, Batangas; Puerto Princesa, Palawan; Virac, Catanduanes; Iloilo City and Dumangas, Iloilo at 44 degrees Celsius.

Science Garden in Quezon City; Sinait, Ilocos Sur; Batac, Ilocos Norte; Bacnotan, La Union; iba, Zambales; Clark Airport, Pampanga; Subic Bay, Olongapo City; Sangley Point, Cavite; Legazpi, Albay; Pili, Camarines Sur; Roxas City and Mambusao, Capiz; La Carlota, Negros Occidental and Guian, Eastern Samar could record 43 degrees Celsius.

Bayombong, Nueva Ecija; Tayabas City and Alabat, Quezon; Daet, Camarines Sur; Masbate City, Masbate; Tacloban City, Leyte; Maasin, Southern Leyte; Zamboanga City and Butuan, Agusan del Norte could experience 42 degrees Celsius.

South Cotabato is  seventh province to declare  state of calamity due to El Niño,  National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said.

Other provinces that have declared  state of calamity are Occidental Mindoro, Antique, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte and Basilan.

Filipino farmer  pumps water from  well in  desperate attempt to save his wilting vegetables, as  scorching heatwave and  worst drought in years hits crops.

It has hardly rained on his plot of gourds and tomatoes since November, as  El Nino weather phenomenon brings drier conditions and baking temperatures.

“I’m losing  lot of money,”  57 year old farmer, told media, standing barefoot on the cracked ground in  northern province of Nueva Ecija.

His gourds “died before I could even sell them”, pushing him deeper into debt.

El Nino is  naturally occurring climate pattern typically associated with increased heat worldwide, leading to drought in some parts of the world and heavy rains elsewhere.

Unusually hot weather has blasted South and Southeast Asia for  past week, forcing schools to send children home and  authorities to issue health warnings.

Global temperatures hit record highs last year, and  United Nations’ weather and climate agency said last week  Asia was warming at  particularly rapid pace.

More than half of  Philippines’ provinces, including Nueva Ecija, are in drought as El Nino exacerbates hot and dry conditions typical for March, April and May.

Temperatures have sizzled around 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in parts of the country in recent days, with  heat index  what  temperature feels like, taking into account humidity  in one area hitting 53C.

In the Philippines,  ranks among  countries most vulnerable to impacts of climate change,  upcoming harvest is likely to be “below average”, UN has warned.

Crop losses are estimated at more than four billion pesos ($69 million) and farmers face further hardship if drought doesn’t break soon.

It is hoped rain in mid-May will bring some relief, but drier than normal conditions could persist until August, Ana Solis, chief climatologist at the state weather forecaster said.

Joey Villarama, spokesman for  government’s Task Force El Nino, said  current conditions were comparable to  drought during 1997-1998 El Nino,  country’s worst-ever dry spell.

“We are up against nature,it’s very difficult because it’s unpredictable,” Villarama said.

Farmers  in Nueva Ecija normally count on  Pantabangan Dam for irrigation, but levels have fallen nearly 50 metres (164 feet) and it no longer reaches their fields.

Receding  water forced two hydropower plants to shut earlier than usual  worsening already strained electricity supplies, as people crank up air conditioners and fans to cool off.

Some farmers  switched from rice to vegetables,  need less water, but even those are dying.

Farmer’s January harvest was halved by insufficient rain, and those  he did pick were too small to sell at the market.

Now,  groundwater is drying up.

It takes  three times as long to draw water from well as it did before.

Farmer  worries how he will cope if rains do not come soon and his well dries up as others around have done.

“Farming is my only way to earn a living,” Farmer said, fearing he would slip deeper into debt and be unable to send his youngest child to school. “If there’s no water, how can I continue?”

Farmers  in drought-stricken Occidental Mindoro province, south of  main island of Luzon, have started to receive financial assistance.

“You could push your fist through  cracks, that’s how severe it is for  rice farms,” said Daisy Leano, information officer for San Jose municipality.

As dam levels drop, some urban areas have been left without water.

More than 100 cities and municipalities have declared  drought  state of calamity to access emergency funds.

Fire trucks have been deployed in neighborhoods of Bacolod city in  central province of Negros Occidental to deliver water to residents.

In  central province of Cebu, residents has to pump water from  well in another village to cook and bathe, after water from  nearby dam stopped.

“I think this is  hottest and longest dry season I have ever experienced, that it actually affected my everyday life,” Nida said.

29 Abril 2024, Lunes

more birthdays to come JO GOD-SAVES MONTOJO LOPEZ

welcomes Bagong Bayani Monico Lopez Caranay

supports International Autism Day, April 1-8, 2024

supports DENR Earth Day, Every Day campaign

CA ruling vs Bt eggplant, GMO hit

By J.Lo

“Court proceedings that led to this decision are just  latest of very expensive legal struggles initiated by the same group for more than 20 years, not only in the Philippines, to stop  use of modern methods to solve  problems of poverty, hunger and degradation of  environment through plant breeding,” National Academy of Science and Technology – Agricultural Sciences Division (NAST-ASD) said in  position paper legal victory for militant group Greenpeace,  regrettable loss for Filipinos.

This was how the country’s respected academicians and agricultural scientists described  Court of Appeals’ April 17 ruling  granted  petition by Greenpeace and its local allies to impose  moratorium on research and development of genetically modified organisms (GMO), and commercial propagation of Bt eggplant and Golden Rice.

Bt eggplant was genetically engineered to protect  plant from  destructive insect pest. Golden Rice has been fortified with beta carotene to address Vitamin A deficiency in humans.

“Same issues used by Greenpeace to convince  court were earlier dismissed by  Department of Agriculture and repudiated by 129 Nobel Prize Laureates and millions of farmers,”  NAST agricultural scientists and academicians added.

For them,  court decision amounts to  weaponization of  law to favor  extreme ideology about nature  pristine environment must be preserved and modern biological technology is working against this goal.

“This is contrary to our knowledge that nature is characterized by constant change  some of them man-made, but most of  apocalyptic changes were through natural forces… among these are climate change, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes,” they said. 

Composed of  country’s most respected and awarded scientists and researchers,  NAST,  under Department of Science and Technology (DOST), is  country’s highest recognition and scientific advisory body.

“We are alarmed  relatively trivial flaws such as  title of  representative to  local biotechnology regulating body are given undue importance in court deliberations, while insufficiently addressing  bigger question of costs and benefits of  technology to  society, we are finally concerned that  continuing delay in  use of Bt eggplant and golden rice is causing more harm than good,”  NAST-ASD said. 

Experts  noted that as of 2019, similar products had been used safely by 15 million farmers in 29 countries, including  Philippines. 

NAST academicians and scientists reiterated that agriculture biotechnology has been  big boon to  global effort at greatly reducing need to use chemical fertilizers in food production,  becoming intensifying challenge due to climate change and global warming.

Eggplant and rice farming, especially large-scale rice farming, currently makes use of much fertilizer spray and pellets to assure  harvest of commercial eggplants and rice grains by farmers.

29 Abril 2024, Lunes

more birthdays to come JO GOD-SAVES MONTOJO LOPEZ

welcomes Bagong Bayani Monico Lopez Caranay

supports International Autism Day, April 1-8, 2024

supports DENR Earth Day, Every Day campaign

7-to-4 work sched takes effect May 2

By J.Lo

New  work hours for local government offices in Metro Manila will become effective on May 2, said San Juan Mayor and Metro Manila Council (MMC) president Francis Zamora.

Instead of  initial target date of April 15, new work hours for local government offices in Metro Manila will become effective on May 2, said Zamora.

Employees of Metro Manila’s 17 local government units (LGUs) will report for work from 7 in the morning  to 4 in the afternoon, instead of current 8 in the morning   to 5 in the afternoon, according to MMC Resolution 24-08.

He said  body believed  new work schedule will spare around 112,000 employees of Metro Manila LGUs getting stuck in traffic jams during rush hour, as well as help in decongesting major roads in  metropolis.

Zamora assured  public that while work in Metro Manila LGUs would end at 4 in the afternoon,  skeletal force will remain to attend to transactions until 5 in the afternoon.

For his part, MMDA acting Chairman Romando Artes said  adjusted work schedule for LGU employees of Metro Manila will become  advantage for them because they will be able to use their vehicles before  enforcement of number coding scheme.

At present,  number coding policy  bans vehicles from traversing major roads on certain days depending on  assigned plate numbers is effective from 7. to 10 in the morning  . and from 5 in the afternoon to 8 in the evening

Traffic decongestion program in Metro Manila is one of the key strategic infrastructure programs of  Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), aimed at easing traffic flow and improving transportation efficiency in metro.

Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan after attending  Bagong Pilipinas town hall meeting on traffic concerns convened by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in San Juan, where he also discussed some of  infrastructure projects to alleviate bottlenecks and provide alternative routes to ease traffic congestion in Metro Manila.

Bonoan said program focuses on  improvement and expansion of national road network by building more by-passes, diversion roads, expressways, flyovers, interchanges and underpasses.

Key highlights of  DPWH decongestion plan include expansion and upgrading of transportation infrastructure as well  construction of new roads and bridges. 

Completion  of  18-kilometer Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 mainline  has reduced travel time from Buendia to Balintawak from two hours to 15-20 minutes. 

Tomas Claudio-Polytechnic University of the Philippines Sta. Mesa Section is ongoing, and out of  target 28 ramps, 22 are completed, three are ongoing and the other three ramps are in  planning stage.

Another project that will decongest and bypass EDSA is  7.7-kilometer NLEX-SLEX Connector Road, targeted for completion this year. This elevated expressway mostly running parallel to Philippine National Railways rail track from Caloocan to Plaza Dilao in Manila will reduce travel time from SLEX to NLEX from two hours to 20 minutes.

Project  is 95 percent complete and now has three interchanges located in C3 Road/5th Avenue in Caloocan, and España and Magsaysay Boulevard in Manila.

Another project is  32-kilometer Southeast Metro Manila Expressway (C6 Expressway – Phase I) will reduce travel time from Bicutan to Batasan from two hours to 30 minutes.

C5 South Link Expressway will reduce travel time from R-1 Expressway to SLEX/C5 from 40 minutes to 10 minutes. 

Merville to C5/SLEX and E. Rodriguez to Merville Sections are operational.

Laguna Lakeshore Road Network Project-Phase I involves the construction of a 51-kilometer road network along Laguna Lakeshore from Calamba to Bicutan,  will cater to  increasing traffic volume in southern corridor of Metro Manila.

44-kilometer Cavite-Laguna Expressway is expected to reduce travel time from CAVITEX in Kawit to SLEX Mamplasan in Laguna from two hours to 35 minutes. 

17.4-kilometer SLEX Mamplasan to Silang-Aguinaldo Interchange is already operational, while  remaining sections will be completed next year. 

DPWH is also prioritizing  construction of new bridges crossing  Pasig River and Manggahan Floodway. This will provide alternative linkages between major thoroughfares and increase  number of usable roadways that would decongest traffic in EDSA and other major roads in Metro Manila.

Three bridges have been completed , Binondo-Intramuros Bridge, BGC-Ortigas Center Link Road Project and Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge. 

Design  and build contracts for  other three bridges are ongoing, with civil works to start this year.

Civil works for  North and South Harbor Bridge and Palanca-Villegas Bridge crossing Pasig River are targeted to start by yearend or early part of next year, while construction of Eastbank-Westbank Bridge 2 crossing Manggahan Floodway is set to commence this September.

One of the landmark projects included in Inter-island Linkage Bridge Program is  32-kilometer Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge across Manila Bay,  set to be  country’s longest bridge once constructed.

Costing P219 billion, it is  biggest and  single most expensive project of DPWH aims to reduce travel time between Bataan and Cavite from five hours to 45 minutes bypassing Metro Manila.

Transport road and bridge rehabilitation project along EDSA aims to mitigate  large economic losses due to traffic in Metro Manila.

Project  is currently proposed for inclusion in  Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) technical cooperation project for large-scale road and bridge replacement and rehabilitation, including total rehabilitation of EDSA.

Improving  structural integrity and seismic resilience of existing bridges remains  top priority for  government.

Among  key projects critical to attaining this objective is  rehabilitation and replacement of Guadalupe and Lambingan bridges, under  JICA-funded Metro Manila Priority Bridges Seismic Improvement Project, set to commence this year.

This will ensure safety of about 365,000 motorists who traverse EDSA through  Guadalupe Bridge, and about 30,257 motorists who pass by Lambingan Bridge every day.

Bonoan said DPWH will also continue assisting MMDA in road clearing and removal of obstructions, as well as promote active transport by building more bike lanes and pedestrian infrastructure in coordination with  Department of Transportation.

Seven House members  backed Marcos in banning government officials from using sirens and blinkers.

In  joint statement, Reps. Migs Nograles (PBA party-list), Jil Bongalon (Ako Bicol party-list), Pammy Zamora (Taguig), Zia Alonto Adiong (Lanao del Sur), Paolo Ortega (La Union), Jay Khonghun (Zambales) and Cheeno Miguel Almario (Davao Oriental) said  President’s issuance of Administrative Order 18 is  welcome move.

“This administrative order is very laudable, especially since we all know, and we have all not been oblivious to the fact that some of our government officials have indeed been abusing  use of these sirens and blinkers,” said Nograles.

Order  covers all elected and appointed officials, except those authorized to use devices. 

29 Abril 2024, Lunes

more birthdays to come JO GOD-SAVES MONTOJO LOPEZ

welcomes Bagong Bayani Monico Lopez Caranay

supports International Autism Day, April 1-8, 2024

supports DENR Earth Day, Every Day campaign

F2F classes suspended due to heat, PUJ strike

By Creselda Canda-Lopez

“In view of  latest heat index forecast of  Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration and  announcement of  nationwide transport strike, all public schools nationwide shall implement asynchronous classes/distance learning on April 29 and 30, 2024,” Department of Education (DepEd).said onsite classes in public schools have been suspended today and tomorrow due to  extreme heat forecast nationwide and  transport strike.

Public school teachers and personnel are not required to report to schools, DepEd added.

Activities organized by Regional and Schools Division Offices such as athletic meets and other programs could still push through as scheduled “provided  measures for  safety of all participants have been carefully considered,” DepEd noted.

Private schools may implement  same measures during  same period, DepEd said.

Onsite classes have been suspended for most of April due to intense heat  made classroom conditions too harsh for learning.

DepEd has since instructed schools to implement alternative delivery modes should  extreme heat render classroom instruction unbearable for students and teachers.

Education sector unions, groups and other stakeholders have been calling on DepEd to abandon its current phased transition toward  old school calendar but DepEd remains firm in its decision to slowly revert.

DepEd is currently ironing out details of  immediate transition with President Ferdinand  Marcos Jr. as he earlier said his administration is open to immediately reverting to  old school calendar to avoid harsh classroom conditions amid extreme heat during summer.

Both  Alliance of Concerned Teachers and Teachers’ Dignity Coalition have presented proposals to immediately shift to  old calendar in  coming school year 2024-2025 without affecting  school break and school days.

Earlier, various groups called for  return to  old school calendar, citing  heat experienced by students during March and April.

Lawmakers sought to intervene by filing proposals to shift to  old calendar, stressing current school calendar from August to June is inappropriate in the country.

DepEd previously issued DepEd Order No. 3, s. 2024 on Feb. 19, adjusting end of current school year to May 31 from June 15. It also set opening and closing dates for SY 2024-2025 on July 29, 2024 and May 16, 2025, respectively.

In Parañaque City, all public schools will shift to online classes today and tomorrow.

“This is due to  latest heat index forecast released by Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration as well as  transport strike,” Mayor Eric Olivarez posted on Facebook.

Learners from District 2 are advised to go to school at 8 in the morning to 12 noon today for  distribution of allowances, he noted.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri has appealed to Marcos to revert  summer school break to April and May.

Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte-Carpio should also consider returning to  old school calendar, Zubiri said.

“Due to  extreme heat this summer these past few days, I’m appealing to the Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte,  maybe we need to study and bring back  April-May break,” he said.

There have been many complaints of children experiencing heatstroke, he noted.

“Our kids could come back on June 15 or second week of June…they will no longer experience this kind of heat and hardship when it comes to their studies…maybe  only ones that can afford it are  private sector classrooms with air conditioning…in our public ones in  province, there are no electric fans, nothing,” he said.

School calendar was adjusted following  COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2022.

“They made  vacation from June to August so that they could be free from  typhoon,” he recalled.

“But we see here in summer, week after week, there will be  suspension of classes due to extreme heat… so I would suggest we just go back to our summer break of March, April and May…and then let’s remove  vacation break from June to August because we can see severe torture for our students,” he added.

29 Abril 2024, Lunes

more birthdays to come JO GOD-SAVES MONTOJO LOPEZ

welcomes Bagong Bayani Monico Lopez Caranay

supports International Autism Day, April 1-8, 2024

supports DENR Earth Day, Every Day campaign

HEADLINES

Quiboloy’s arrest lies in hands of PNP, NBI

By Nidz Godino

“We have issued  warrant of arrest, we’ve conducted, I believe, OSSA chief Gen. Roberto Ancan has conducted coordinations with  PNP and NBI,” Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said  arrest of Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Apollo Quiboloy is now in the hands of  Philippine National Police (PNP) and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

Zubiri signed  warrant of arrest against Quiboloy on recommendation of Sen. Risa Hontiveros, chair of  Senate committee on women and children, said  Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms (OSSA) has properly coordinated with law enforcement agencies for Quiboloy’s arrest.

The Senate president signed  warrant of arrest against Quiboloy to force the latter to attend  Senate investigation into allegations of his abuses against his former members.

Quiboloy has denied  accusation. He and his associates have been charged with child abuse and sexual abuse offenses, with cases filed in Davao City court.

He is also facing  non-bailable human trafficking case before  Pasig City court.

“Quiboloy’s arrest is now in the hands of  PNP and NBI; it is no longer in our hands… OSSA can’t do it, I explained it to Sen. Risa Hontiveros…that’s not  OSSA’s job,” Zubiri said.

He explained that OSSA’s job is to protect  Senate and  senators, and to serve warrants or subpoenas, “but we don’t have hunter teams, we don’t have that in the Senate.”

TODAY’S GOD’S MESSAGE

New International Version (NIV)

Job 19:25

²⁵ I know that my redeemer^[a] lives,
    and that in the end he will stand on the earth.^[b]

Footnotes

1. Job 19:25 Or vindicator
2. Job 19:25 Or on my grave

28 Abril 2024, Linggo

more birthdays to come JO GOD-SAVES MONTOJO LOPEZ

welcomes Bagong Bayani Monico Lopez Caranay

supports International Autism Day, April 1-8, 2024

supports DENR Earth Day, Every Day campaign

Oldest living conjoined twins 62

By J.Lo

“Would we be separated…absolutely not…my theory is why fix what is not broken?” George Schappell said in  1997 documentary, Lori and George Schappell,  world’s oldest living conjoined twins, have passed away aged 62.

Leibensperger Funeral Homes confirmed  twins died in Hospital of  University of Pennsylvania in  United States.

When the twins were born in 1962, their skulls were partially fused and had to share vital blood vessels and 30% of their brains specifically the frontal and parietal lobes.

George had spina bifida (deformed spine) and couldn’t walk, so he sat in  wheelchair-type stool able-bodied Lori pushed around.

Medical professionals said  twins wouldn’t live past 30 years old, however, they became  oldest conjoined twins ever in 2015 when they beat  record of 53-year-olds Masha and Dasha Krivoshlyapova.

Each managed their own lives since turning 24: Lori worked at  hospital laundry and was  trophy-winning 10-pin bowler, while George toured the world as  country singer.

They took turns spending the night in each other’s bedroom and practicing separate hobbies, even showering separately with  curtain serving as  barrier.

28 Abril 2024, Linggo

more birthdays to come JO GOD-SAVES MONTOJO LOPEZ

welcomes Bagong Bayani Monico Lopez Caranay

supports International Autism Day, April 1-8, 2024

supports DENR Earth Day, Every Day campaign

Digital transactions reduced carbon, GCash’s new feature

By J.Lo

“Sustainability is embedded in the way GCash conducts its business, and we’ve provided ways for our users to see how their actions on app also contribute to environment-friendly actions  ultimately protect our planet and contribute to  greener future,” GCash Sustainability head CJ Alegre stated finance app and cashless ecosystem GCash has announced its newest update, Green Transaction Alerts,  allows users to see  grams of carbon they reduced by digitally sending money and doing bank transfers.

GCash’s newest feature is  latest innovation to underscore  fintech giant’s commitment to sustainability. In 2019, GCash commissioned  China Beijing Environmental Exchange to compute carbon emissions of manual transactions converted to digital ones. Green Transaction Alerts make use of the same computations and metrics, allowing users to see their reductions in carbon emissions by transacting digitally.  Reductions  in carbon emissions are realized when users forgo  consumption of paper and plastic or  use of electricity and transportation when they do their manual transactions.

Green Transaction Alerts complement other in-app sustainability features of GCash, including  award-winning GForest, allows users to contribute to reforestation efforts through gamification. As of 2024, total of 2.7 million trees have been planted by GCash, resulting from users’ digital transactions.

“We continue to look for ways to become  even more sustainable company, and more importantly, to provide avenues for Filipinos to take action for the planet and this is only  beginning as will gradually make these alerts available for other transactions in  coming months…combining  power of tech with innovation and creativity, we hope this will form  habit for Filipinos to consciously act towards creating  positive impact with every simple digital transaction they make,” Alegre added.

28 Abril 2024, Linggo

more birthdays to come JO GOD-SAVES MONTOJO LOPEZ

welcomes Bagong Bayani Monico Lopez Caranay

supports International Autism Day, April 1-8, 2024

supports DENR Earth Day, Every Day campaign

Chavit opposed transgender people, mothers joining Miss Universe

By Cynthia Montojo

“Ahhhh ‘yun nga… maraming… kagaya noon ahhh… noong ginawa ko rito, may nag-o-object, mga women’s group,” former Ilocos Sur Vice Governor Luis “Chavit” Singson reacted over Miss Universe Organization’s (MUO) move to allow transwomen and women with children to compete at  prestigious pageant Miss Universe.

In his interview with Society of Philippine Entertainment Editors (SPEED), Singson explained why he was not in favor of the move.

“Kaya nag-additional ako… para lang sa kapakanan ng mga babae, ganu’n… napagastos tuloy ako…so ngayon, ahhh nagpapasok sila ng may anak…hindi na Miss Universe iyon. Miss Universe, e, masisira na ‘yun… hindi dapat,” he added. 

Singson said  MUO should stick to its old rules. 

“Iyon lang dapat…at saka lahat, buong mundo, ‘pag ginagawa ang Miss Universe, hotel lang sila,..maski noong araw…dahil takot silang may mangyari…international issue, pero nu’ng nakuha ko, hindi ko sinasabi sa kanila, nilabas ko lahat…binayaran ko na kayo, gawin ‘ko ang gusto ko…inilabas ko sa buong Pilipinas para mabawi natin…ppinakita ko lahat ng magaganda sa Pilipinas…then after that, sabi nila, the most successful Miss Universe… Philippines!”

28 Abril 2024, Linggo

more birthdays to come JO GOD-SAVES MONTOJO LOPEZ

welcomes Bagong Bayani Monico Lopez Caranay

supports International Autism Day, April 1-8, 2024

supports DENR Earth Day, Every Day campaign

Foreign actor’ behind FMJ audio deepfake

By Nidz Godino

“Before, we see on social media quote cards or memes, now it’s different because there’s now fake voice…so, it is really important to stop this type of fake news because it has  potential to cause serious damage to our foreign relations and national security,” Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Assistant Secretary Patricia Kayle Martin said  “foreign actor” is likely behind audio deepfake of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. where he supposedly ordered  Armed Forces to intervene if China poses  threat to Philippines.

Martin said  Department of Information and Communications Technology suspects  foreign actor is behind  deepfake. She did not elaborate.

Government  is considering filing cases against those behind  manipulated audio, Martin said.

Fabricated  audio of the President has now been taken down on social media platforms, she added.

Deepfakes are  advanced form of digital content manipulation through  use of generative artificial intelligence or AI. It can manipulate audio to sound like  specific person saying things they never did.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has also ordered  National Bureau of Investigation to conduct  probe into  audio deepfake.

PCO flagged manipulated content earlier this week and denied such  directive from the President.

Fake  audio recording circulated this month amid rising tensions between  Philippines and China in  West Philippine Sea.

Martin urged  public to stop spreading fake news, stressing it may endanger country’s foreign relations and national security.

According to her, social media platforms like Google, TikTok, Meta (Facebook and Instagram) and X (formerly Twitter) expressed willingness to help  government in fighting online threats.

Meanwhile, citing deepfake audio of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Speaker Martin Romualdez has asked  officials and members of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP) to continue combatting fake news, misinformation and disinformation, especially in social media.

According to Romualdez, KBP should intensify  fight against these concerns as they “undermine public trust in institutions.”

“Your role as custodians of truth is imperative in countering misinformation and upholding  public trust,” he said.

Romualdez underscored  “integrity of our broadcasters is more crucial than ever” in an era marked by “redefinition of  media landscape due to evolving technology … and where misinformation can spread rapidly.”

Romualdez has appealed to KBP to continue policing its ranks vigilantly.