TODAY’S GOD’S MESSAGE

Proverbs 9:10

¹⁰ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
    and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

23 Octubre 2024, Miyerkules

supports 35th National Statistics Month October, Advancing data and statistics through digital transformation,a  road to empowered nation

supports World Food Day October 16, 2024

No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

No to SOGIE bill

PM for any hospital discharge problem

Happy Birthday Loida Tajan-Ocampo, more birthdays to come

Happy Birthday Rosita Belmonte-Jose more birthdays to come

Happy Birthday Jo Ephraim Lopez more birthdays to come

Duterte to attend first Senate hearing

By Nidz Godino

“The former president told me that he is going to attend  Senate hearing regardless of who is presiding,” Sen. Ronald dela Rosa told reporters in  Viber message after begging off from  quad committee hearing  at  House of Representatives on extrajudicial killings during his administration, former president Rodrigo Duterte has committed to attend first Senate hearing on the same issue on Monday.

This was according to Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, who said Duterte had told him of his readiness to attend hearing next week.

Senate Blue Ribbon committee will lead  investigation on EJKs.

 “This is the first time he will attend  hearing related to what he did or did not do when he was president,my hope is that there will be  clear, peaceful and comprehensive exchange of views and providing information that will not lead to any kind of fight, confrontation and hot temper,” Senate President Francis Escudero said at  press conference.

Escudero noted that there will be no special treatment to be extended to Duterte. “It’s not that there is no special treatment, but I expect t committee will give him full respect, not only as  Filipino, not just as  person, but because he was  former president of our country,” the Senate President said.

Senate Minority Aquilino Pimentel III,  spearheading  Senate probe, said other invited resource persons for  Oct. 28 hearing are retired police colonel Royina Garma, former National Police Commission head Edilberto Leonardo, former senator Leila de Lima, alleged drug personalities Kerwin Espinosa and families of victims of  war on drugs.

“He said he was willing to attend. ..so I said, since he willing to attend… I’ll invite him…but I’ll still start with Garma…should be stated first what the issue is,” Pimentel said in a phone patch interview with Senate reporters.

Pimentel said they are still finalizing list of resource persons to be invited for Monday’s hearing.

“Victim families are OK to be present, and Garma is OK too…but either way, what I want to say first is, what happened in the Philippines’ declared war against illegal drugs?” Pimentel stressed.

Pimentel said Dela Rosa and Sen. Bong Go can use  hearing as opportunity to ask questions to resource persons or air their side.

“Dela Rosa and Go will be given time…all senators, we will give time for our hearing to be orderly…limited time, they could use that time to ask. ..they could also use that to read their statement,” Pimentel added.

Pimentel  expects  hearing on Monday to last six to seven hours, and there is really time for former president Rodrigo Duterte to explain in case his name is mentioned.

De Lima was wishing Duterte gets well soon so he would be able to face  investigation of  House quad comm.

“I hope, he gets well na so he would have  health to face  music. So to former president Duterte, I hope you get well soon so you will have  strength to face everything,” she told reporters on sidelines of  quad comm hearing

She said the former president could be held liable for crimes against humanity under  15-year-old Philippine law.

At recent  quad comm hearing,  ninth, De Lima cited Republic Act (RA) 9851 of 2009  defines and punishes crimes against international humanitarian law, genocide and other crimes against humanity.

She argued  RA 9851, enacted two years before  Philippines became  signatory to  Rome Statute of  International Criminal Court (ICC), covers  systematic killings under Duterte’s drug war.

“Crime of EJKs carried out by state security forces and their agents in  implementation of  war on drugs falls under  general category of ‘other crimes against humanity’ under Section 6,  consists of acts ‘committed as part of  widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population, with knowledge of the attack,’” De Lima said, quoting the law.

“These acts include willful killing, extermination, torture and enforced disappearance, among others,” she pointed out.

De Lima emphasized  under RA 9851, those crimes are non-bailable and could be punished by life imprisonment.

She added that  law holds not just  direct perpetrators responsible, but also those  leadership positions who order or induce such crimes. “According to Section 8,  person who orders, solicits or merely induces  systematic attack on civilian population and which thereafter occurs or is attempted is liable as  principal, same applies to anyone who contributes to  commission of the crime by  group of persons acting with  common purpose,” De Lima explained.

De Lima further pointed out that RA 9851 does not exempt government officials, including heads of state, from criminal responsibility.

“Section 9 provides that ‘official capacity as  head of state or government shall in no case exempt  person from criminal responsibility under this Act, nor shall it, in and of itself, constitute  ground for reduction of sentence,’” De Lima said.

The former senator stressed  crimes under RA 9851 are not subject to prescription, meaning those responsible can be prosecuted at any time.

“Crimes defined and penalized under this Act, their prosecution and  execution of sentences imposed on their account, shall not be subject to any prescription, they can be hunted for life,” she said,

De Lima also noted that  Philippines recognized  authority of international courts like  ICC to prosecute crimes against humanity even before joining Rome Statute in 2011.

“Through this law, we have recognized  jurisdiction of  ICC over crimes against humanity committed in the Philippines even before we ratified  Rome Statute as  binding treaty,” De Lima said.

Garma admitted before  quad committee last night that Duterte called her up once through her cellphone last week, but didn’t stop her from giving her testimony.

Garma was initially reluctant to answer  query of ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro, with whom she hugged when they bumped into each other in  comfort room, since Garma has been detained at  Batasang Pambansa Complex.

“Tumawag po…he just explained na mapagkakatiwalaan ang Iglesia …sabi niya mapagkakatiwalaan sila sa pera,” she said, referring to Iglesia member Edilberto Leonardo whom Garma tagged as the one who handled alleged cash reward system for drug kills.

Asked if Duterte meant Leonardo could be trusted with money matters, Garma replied, “It can be interpreted that way, maybe, your honor.”

“Hindi niya ako pinigilan,..actually, nag-sorry po ako…yes, I said sorry.” Garma said, referring to Duterte. “”

Garma also admitted last night to Castro that it was her daughter,  special child who is now with her at  Batasan Complex, who advised her to spill  beans on alleged extrajudicial killings in previous administration. 

23 Octubre 2024, Miyerkules

supports 35th National Statistics Month October, Advancing data and statistics through digital transformation,a  road to empowered nation

supports World Food Day October 16, 2024

No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

No to SOGIE bill

PM for any hospital discharge problem

Happy Birthday Loida Tajan-Ocampo, more birthdays to come

Happy Birthday Rosita Belmonte-Jose more birthdays to come

Happy Birthday Jo Ephraim Lopez more birthdays to come

Headlines

Palace suspends gov’t work, classes in Luzon on October 23,31

By Nidz Godino

“Suspension of work for private companies and offices is left to  discretion of their respective heads,” Office of the Secretary (OES) said Malacañang suspended government work and classes in Luzon for Wednesday, October 23, due to Tropical Storm Kristine.

Kristine is forecast to further intensify and make landfall over Isabela or northern Aurora on Wednesday.

“In view of the inclement weather brought about by Tropical Storm “Kristine” affecting  whole country, particularly Island of Luzon, work in government offices and classes at all levels in Luzon are hereby suspended on 23 October 2024,” OES said.

Government agencies whose functions involve first response to disasters will continue with their operations.

As these developed Malacañang has suspended work in government offices and classes in all levels nationwide from 12 noon onwards on Oct. 31 to provide state employees full opportunity to properly observe All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

Suspension  of work comes from Memorandum Circular 67 signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.

Agencies whose functions involve  delivery of basic and health services, preparedness or response to disasters and calamities, and,or performance of other vital service, however, are not covered by the order.

Suspension  of work for private companies and offices, meanwhile, is left to  discretion of their respective heads,  memo read.

Nov. 1 was previously declared by Malacañang as  special non-working day.

TODAY’S GOD’S MESSAGE

Galatians 6:2

² Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

22 Octubre 2024, Martes

supports 35th National Statistics Month October, Advancing data and statistics through digital transformation,a  road to empowered nation

supports World Food Day October 16, 2024

No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

No to SOGIE bill

PM for any hospital discharge problem

Happy Birthday Loida Tajan-Ocampo, more birthdays to come

Happy Birthday Rosita Belmonte-Jose more birthdays to come

Happy Birthday Jo Ephraim Lopez more birthdays to come

5,753 teachers pass DepEd exam for school administrators

By Creselda Canda-Lopez

Yearly, 22,000 examinee slots for school administrators are distributed nationwide in each region and priority is given to those who have served as head teacher for one year, assistant school principals without NQESH eligibility, teachers-in-charge and master teachers.

Over 5,000 teachers nationwide are now qualified to become school principals after passing  Department of Education (DepEd)-administered examination for school heads.

Under DepEd Memorandum 059, out of nearly 22,000 takers of  2023 National Qualifying Examination for School Heads (NQESH), 5,753 or 26 percent passed for appointment to entry-level school principal positions.

Rest  of  takers who scored below  required indicators were advised to take next NQESH.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara said  NQESH aims to “increase  department’s pool of qualified aspiring principals to fill in existing and continuous vacancies due to retirement, promotion or vacancies.”

Top-performing takers were all from school divisions in Metro Manila, including Quezon City, Mandaluyong, Pasay, Manila, Valenzuela, Malabon, Navotas, Parañaque and Taguig-Pateros.

Marlon Maravilla,  teacher from Quezon City, was named top overall scorer with  grade of 92.10.

Angara said  NQESH serves as an opportunity for head teachers to progress and for  DepEd to continue its baseline assessment of all aspiring school heads’ competencies and learning needs.

He added  it also assesses and identifies learning and professional development needs of potential school heads to prepare them to lead  school.

Aspiring school heads take  NQESH every year, but to qualify for examinations, they must have spent at least a year as head teacher or two years as master teacher or teacher-in-charge.

Also qualified to take  test are those with Teacher III rank or other positions within same salary grade who have had five years teaching experience or incumbent public school teachers who have had managerial and supervisory experience in  DepEd-recognized private school or private and state university or college.

Those who have aggregate experience of all  qualifications are also eligible.

DepEd  would release  rating of all takers to their regional offices.

2 Octubre, 2024 Martes

supports 35th National Statistics Month October, Advancing data and statistics through digital transformation,a  road to empowered nation

supports World Food Day October 16, 2024

No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

No to SOGIE bill

PM for any hospital discharge problem

FMJ expands West Cebu Industrial Park

By Nidz Godino

Designating  several parcels of land in Balamban, Cebu for inclusion into  special economic zone President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has expanded  West Cebu Industrial Park.

Parcels  of land are located at Barangays Arpili and Buanoy, and have  aggregate area of 176,783 square meters, according to Proclamation No. 710 signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin by  authority of Marcos last Oct. 16.

Proclamation  was issued upon  recommendation of  board of directors of Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and covers 19 lots.

West Cebu Industrial Park is operated by  Cebu Industrial Park Developers Inc.,  joint venture between Philippine conglomerate Aboitiz Group and Japan’s Tsuneishi Group.

PEZA special economic zone hosts  variety of global enterprises employing over 14,000 skilled Filipinos across medium to heavy industries, according to  website of Aboitiz InfraCapital Economic Estates.

PEZA gives fiscal and non-fiscal incentives to registered business enterprises depending on location and industry priority. Fiscal incentives include income tax holiday of four to seven years and availment of special corporate income tax rate of five percent or enhanced deductions for 10 years for export-oriented firms; and income tax holiday of four to seven years and availment of enhanced deductions for five years for domestic market enterprises.

22 Octubre, 2024 Martes

supports 35th National Statistics Month October, Advancing data and statistics through digital transformation,a  road to empowered nation

supports World Food Day October 16, 2024

No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

No to SOGIE bill

PM for any hospital discharge problem

NPC to lower electricity costs

By J.Lo

“Look for ways to reduce  UCME…. I know that hybridization is one and connecting to  grid could be another,” Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian told NPC officials  National Power Corp (NPC) should work to reduce  universal charge for missionary electrification (UCME) subsidy to possibly bring down electricity rates for consumers connected to  main transmission grid.

During  recent Senate hearing on proposed budget of  NPC, Gatchalian said  government-owned and controlled corporation is mandated by law to energize far-flung, off-grid areas and islands in the country.

UCME is used to subsidize  more expensive cost of providing electricity in off-grid areas.

“I’m very optimistic that one day, benefit of hybridization and rationalization of  UCME would translate to lower subsidy,”  senator said.

Gatchalian,  vice-chair of Senate committee on energy, however, noted that UCME subsidy has steadily increased over the years, from P7.34 billion in 2015 to P24.62 billion in 2024.

At present,  NPC is pushing to accelerate  hybridization of its small power utilities group diesel power plants using renewable energy resources.

NPC officials said hybridization lowers cost of energy by P2 to P3 per kilowatt hour.

NPC said  with  completion of  hybridization for 16 projects, power firm expects to generate up to P1.3 billion in savings from fuel costs by 2025.

NPC, however, accounts for only 30 percent of energy supply in missionary areas, while 70 percent is provided by new power providers (NPPs).

“How do we convince  NPPs,  account for 70 percent, to hybridize…I understand they have supply contracts, so we should explore  possibility of incentivizing or compelling them, if necessary, to hybridize… UCME subsidy is steadily increasing,” Gatchalian said.

At the same time, the senator urged NPC to pursue  rationalization study of  UCME that  Department of Energy has conducted.

TODAY’S GOD’S MESSAGE

Proverbs 15:23

²³ A person finds joy in giving an apt reply—
    and how good is a timely word!

21 Octubre, 2024 Lunes

supports 35th National Statistics Month October, Advancing data and statistics through digital transformation,a  road to empowered nation

supports World Food Day October 16, 2024

No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

No to SOGIE bill

PM for any hospital discharge problem

DOST to address Ph plastic polluter tag

By Nidz Godino

“According to the SEA circular,  initiative from  UN Environment Programme and Coordinating Body on Seas of East Asia,  Philippines is one of the world’s worst offenders on marine plastic pollution, with 0.28 – 0.75 million tons per year of plastic entering oceans and coastal areas in Manila Bay,” Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. will pursue  initiative to promote circular, green and sustainable economy that will address  country’s notoriety as one of the world’s top plastic polluters especially of oceans.

Solidum said DOST is now implementing their Science, Technology and Innovation for Circular Economy (STI4CE) initiative that actively supports research and development projects and efforts at adoption of sustainable plastic and packaging materials technologies by communities and industries.

 “This is  result of  limitations we see in  linear economy…for too long, our economic model has followed  linear trajectory of ‘take, make and dispose,’” Solidum said.

Under their STI4CE framework push, Solidum said DOST has already supported 53 R&D initiatives to advance  circular economy concept aimed at managing plastic waste generation in the country.

DOST and corporate giant SM Investments Corp. have meanwhile forged  partnership to advance  development and adoption of sustainable plastic materials and improve plastic waste management strategies in the country.

DOST and SMIC agreed to collaborate on essential and sustainable plastic initiatives, including joint research and development, training programs and conferences.

“Being  responsible company is important to SM and plastics are  real sustainability issue for the country…we are keen to work with our many stakeholders to reduce plastics use in the Philippines…we always look for practical solutions,” Timothy Daniels, consultant for investor relations and sustainability, said. 

SM group, most notably its retail and mall teams, has been taking steps to reduce plastic use, recognizing that key contributors of plastic waste include bags at retail outlets, product packaging, as well as plastic water bottles and food packaging.

Standardized  waste segregation policy called RDC (Recyclable, Disposable and Compostable) and  mall-wide campaign called Waste-Free Future are currently being implemented.

SM, through SM Prime Holdings, partnered with Japanese company GUUN to develop infrastructure for systematic waste management and resource recovery. This partnership will implement  Japanese technique of reducing landfill impact. Technology converts non-recyclable and hard-to-recycle packaging into alternative fuel.

21 Octubre, 2024 Lunes

supports 35th National Statistics Month October, Advancing data and statistics through digital transformation,a  road to empowered nation

supports World Food Day October 16, 2024

No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

No to SOGIE bill

PM for any hospital discharge problem

Alice Guo is spy, but ‘not  special one’

By Nidz Godino

“Guo hua Ping was  spy but not  special one… just so happens there is  copy of her state security background there…and her situation with Mr. She has lot of similarities,” Guo’s friend and cellmate, Wang Fu Gui,  files of self-proclaimed Chinese spy She Zhijiang point to dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo also known as Guo Hua Ping) being a spy just not a special one. 

In  bombshell Al Jazeera documentary, She alleged Alice Guo was  spy, entrusting his friend and cellmate, Wang Fu Gui, with secret files that confirmed Guo’s status as a spy.

Wang said  field agents are recruited by  state security. He explained there are special hacking teams and chambers of commerce in charge of information collection from agents abroad. 

“Guo Hua Ping’s fake Filipino identity is such  secret and weakness that she can only listen to state security,” Wang said. 

Wang went as far as to say that Guo’s campaign for mayor was funded by Chinese state security. 

Asked if Philippine offshore gaming operators have something to do with spying operations, Wang said that there was  connection. 

“There’s also  fact that all of this is totally connected to  Belt and Road,  also just part of  huge United Front and intelligence strategic plan for the whole world, including foreign colonization tactics,” Wang said. 

 Belt and Road Initiative is China’s massive infrastructure project  spans multiple countries, which aims to establish  new, modern “Silk Road”. 

Meanwhile, China’s United Front is  network of  Chinese Communist Party with various allies to achieve specific objectives.

Sen. Rissa Hontiveros’ team has attempted to contact She himself, who is in the custody of Thai officials. However, She remains under strict surveillance. 

National Bureau of Investigation has found  Alice Guo’s fingerprints matched with Chinese national Guo Hua Ping.