17 Octubre, 2024 Huwebes 

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Happy Birthday Loida Tajan-Ocampo, more birthdays to come

Headlines

‘POGOs go micro, moving underground’

By J.Lo

“They disintegrated into several micro-units, and now they have multiplied,” Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) PAOCC spokesman Winston Casio said despite directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.to wipe out Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) several appear to be continuing their activities as “micro-units” operating underground.

Casio said they have monitored a lot of “legal” POGOs that have shifted to underground operations.

 “We’re practically more than a year now since we started our operations against POGOs… and we’re nowhere near 50 percent of our target,” he stressed.

Marcos earlier ordered closure of all POGOs, including rebranded internet gaming licensees or IGLs, by the end of the year.

According to Casio, all work visas or employment permits issued to foreigners working in POGOs or IGLs expired last Tuesday.

“There should be no one working in  IGL as of today…they should be  winding down, they should be using the 59 days given to them by  Bureau of Immigration to sell whatever properties they have, to buy their tickets to leave the country  basically to settle their affairs,” he said. .

But based on their monitoring, Casio said many POGOs are still operating.

“This goes to show how big the problem is,” he added, citing recent operations conducted by  Philippine National Police (PNP) and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

“We are currently doing case buildup..in the next few days, we will continue with our operations… all POGOs should be closed down,” said Casio.

Several foreign financiers are also still in the Philippines, said Casio, citing  recent arrest of POGO kingpin Lin Xunhan, alias Lyu Dong, who was arrested in Biñan City, Laguna last week.

“We are looking at four who are still here in the Philippines,” said Casio.

Authorities have permanently closed down  IGL operation in Biñan City on Tuesday night as part of  government’s continued crackdown on POGOs.

At around 10 in the evening, authorities locked down  New Wave Internet Gaming Licensee and its mother company, New Wave Infotech Limited Philippines Inc., that occupies six floors of Southwoods Tower Number 2 in Barangay San Francisco, Biñan.

Operation  was led by personnel from  Business Permit and Licensing Office of Biñan City, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. and PAOCC.

But upon inspection, authorities discovered  computers inside New Wave’s office were already disassembled and hard drives were missing, potentially hindering efforts to uncover evidence of illegal activities.

Casio identified  POGO firm as being linked to Lin Xunhan, who was arrested by authorities and tagged as  “godfather” of POGOs in the country.

According to Casio, New Wave Technologies originated from other POGO firms previously raided by authorities.

“Lin Xunhan is the ‘big boss’ of New Wave,  has ties to other POGOs we’ve already shut down,” Casio said.

Seventeen Chinese nationals were arrested during NBI raid at  suspected POGO hub in Tagaytay City, Cavite on Tuesday.

NBI Director Jaime Santiago declined to disclose details about  operation, occurred at  resort in Barangay Francisco.

Raid  was based on  tip that  Chinese national was being tortured in  POGO hub. Victim  was rescued in the operation.

 Suspects , now under  custody of  NBI cybercrime division, allegedly rented  portion of  resort in December last year.

Meanwhile, police seized computers and other gadgets at  suspected POGO firm in Moalboal, Cebu on Oct. 9 where 38 Chinese nationals were arrested.

Operatives of  Criminal Investigation and Detection Group implemented  search warrant at the hub in Barangay Saavedra at around 5:24 in the morning, CIDG director Maj. Gen. Leo Francisco said in  statement.

 Police  raiding team confiscated 30 computers, 212 cell phones, four laptops, routers, modems, charges, cords, cable wires, landline phones and keyboards. Six vehicles were seized and are undergoing verification.

Local officials of Porac, Pampanga, including Mayor Jaime Capil, are facing  graft complaint before  Department of Justice in connection with  POGO firm Lucky South 99 earlier raided in the municipality allegedly involved in human trafficking, cybercrime and other illegal activities.

PAOCC and PNP-CIDG filed  complaint on Oct. 16 against Capil, Vice Mayor Francis Laurence Tamayo, councilors Rohner Buan, Rafael Canlapan, Adrian Carreon, Regin Clarete, Essel Joy David, Hilario Dimalanta, Michelle Santos, Hilario Dimalanta, Essel Joy David and John Nuevy Venzon as well as business permit and licensing officer Emerald Vital for violation of Section 3 of Republic Act 3019 or  Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

According to San Fernando, Pampanga City Prosecutor Leonardo Santos,  respondents violated Section 3(j) of RA 3019 for granting  business permit to Lucky South 99 from 2021 to 2023 despite defects on its documents and application forms.

Senators Risa Hontiveros and Sherwin Gatchalian expressed alarm at  proliferation of smaller POGO hubs.

Two senators are leading the year-long investigation into  trafficking of persons forced to do scams in compounds fronting as POGOs,  most prominent  is  Bamban, Tarlac hub linked to dismissed mayor and accused Chinese spy Alice Guo.

Meanwhile, as former presidential spokesman Harry Roque continues to evade arrest, PNP is not discounting  possibility that some personalities are coddling him, as there is no record from  Bureau of Immigration that he has left the country.

PNP public information officer Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo has warned Roque’s coddlers to stop protecting the former spokesman of  Duterte administration or face criminal cases.

In another development,  Interagency Council Against Trafficking held its second regional meeting in Southeast Asia, emphasizing  urgent need for collaborative efforts to combat human trafficking across borders. 

TODÀY’S GOD’S MESSAGE

Psalm 25:14-15

¹⁴ The Lord confides in those who fear him;
    he makes his covenant known to them.
¹⁵ My eyes are ever on the Lord,
    for only he will release my feet from the snare.

16 Octubre, 2024 Miyerkules 

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183 trimmed to 66 senatorial aspirants for 2025 elections

By J.Lo

Trimmed  down to 66 Commission on Elections names senatorial aspirants for 2025 midterm elections. 

Comelec en banc adopted recommendation of its law department to consider following as its partial / initial list of names of aspirants for senator next year. 

The list is as follows:

1. ABALOS, BENJAMIN JR. DE CASTRO – “PARTIDO FEDERAL NG PILIPINAS”
2. ADONIS, RONALDO MANGAMPO – “MAKABAYANG KOALISYON NG MAMAMAYAN”
3. AMAD, WILSON CARITERO – INDEPENDENT
4. ANDAMO, JOCELYN SANTOS  – “MAKABAYANG KOALISYON NG MAMAMAYAN”
5. AQUINO, PAOLO BENIGNO AGUIRRE – “KATIPUNAN NG NAGKAKAISANG PILIPINO”
6. ARAMBULO, RONNEL GONDRANEOS – “MAKABAYANG KOALISYON NG MAMAMAYAN”
7. ARELLANO, ERNESTO RILLERA – “KAMALAYANG KAYUMANGGI (KATIPUNAN)”
8. BALLON, ROBERTO AMIDO – INDEPENDENT
9. BINAY, MAR-LEN ABIGAIL SOMBILLO – “NATIONALIST PEOPLE’S COALITION”
10. BONDOC, JAMES PATRICK ROMERO – “PDP-LABAN” 
11. BONG REVILLA, RAMON IR. BAUTISTA – “LAKAS-CMD”
12. BOSITA, BONIFACIO LAQUI – INDEPENDENT
13. BROSAS, ARLENE DURAN – “MAKABAYANG KOALISYON NG MAMAMAYAN”
14. CABONEGRO, ROY JERUSALEM – “DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF THE PHILIPPINES (DPP)”
15. CAPUYAN, ALLEN ARAT – “PARTIDO PILIPINO SA PAGBABAGO” 
16. CASIÑO, TEODORO ACEVEDO – “MAKABAYANG KOALISYON NG MAMAMAYAN”
17. CASTRO, FRANCISCA LUSTINA – “MAKABAYANG KOALISYON NG MAMAMAYAN”
18. CAYETANO, PILAR SCHRAMM JULIANA – “NACIONALISTA PARTY”
19. DE ALBAN, ANGELO CASTRO – INDEPENDENT
20. D’ANGELO, DAVID DELANO – “BUNYOG PAGKAKAISA PARTY”
21. DE GUZMAN, LEODEGARIO QUITAIN – “PARTIDO LAKAS NG MASA (PLM)”
22. DELA ROSA,RONALD MARAPON – “PDP LABAN”
23. DORINGO, EUFEMIA PET – “MAKABAYANG KOALISYON NG MAMAMAYAN”
24. ESCOBAL,ARNEL BONDILLES – “PARTIDO MAHARLIKA”
25. ESPIRITU, RENECIO IR. SANTOS – “PARTIDO LAKAS NG MASA”
26. FLORANDA, MODESTO TOQUE – “MAKABAYANG KOALISYON NG MAMAMAYAN”
27. GAMBOA, MARC LOUIE SANTOS – INDEPENDENT
28. GO, CHRISTOPHER TESORO LAWRENCE – “PDP-LABAN” 
29. GONZALES, NORBERTO BORJA – “PARTIDO DEMOKRATIKO SOSYALISTA NG PILIPINAS” 
30. HINLO,JESUS JR. VILLANUEVA – “PDP-LABAN” 
31. HONASAN, GREGORIO BALLESTEROS – “REPORM PH-PEOPLE’S PARTY”
32. JOSE, RELLYJR. NUFABLE – “KILUSANG BAGONG LIPUNAN”
33. LACSON,PANFILO MORENA – INDEPENDENT
34. LAMBINO, RAUL LOYOLA – “PDP-LABAN”
35. LAPID, MANUEL MERCADO – “NATIONALIST PEOPLE’S COALITION” 
36. LEE, WILBERT TE – “AKSYON DEMOKRATIKO”
37. LIDASAN, AMIRAH ALI – “MAKABAYANG KOALISYON NG MAMAMAYAN”
38. MARCOLETA, RODANTE DIZON – INDEPENDENT
39. MARCOS, MARIA IMELDA ROMUALDEZ – “NACIONALISTA PARTY”
40. MARQUEZ, NORMAN CORDERO – INDEPENDENT
41. MARTINEZ, ERIC MORALES – INDEPENDENT
42. MATA, RICHARD TESORO – INDEPENDENT
43. MATULA, JOSE SONNY GITO – WORKERS AND PEASANTS PARTY (WPP)
44. MAZA, LIZA LARGOZA – “MAKABAYANG KOALISYON NG MAMAMAYAN”
45. MENDOZA,HEIDI LLOCE – INDEPENDENT
46. MONTEMAYOR, JOSE JR. CABRERA – “PARTIDO PEDERAL NG MAHARLIKA”
47. OLIVAR,JOSE JESSIE DELA CALSADA – INDEPENDENT
48. ONG, WILLIE TAN – “AKSYON DEMOKRATIKO”
49. PACQUIAO, EMMANUEL DAPIDRAN – “PARTIDO FEDERAL NG PILIPINAS”
50. PANGILINAN, FRANCIS PANCRATIUS NEPOMUCENO – “LIBERAL PARTY OF THE PHILIPPINES”
51. QUERUBIN, ARIEL PORFIRIO OLIVA – “NACIONALISTA PARTY”
52. QUIBOLOY, APOLLO CARREON – “WPP”
53. RAMOS, DANILO HERNANDEZ – “MAKABAYANG KOALISYON NG MAMAMAYAN”
54. REVILLAME, WILFREDO BUENDIA – INDEPENDENT
55. RODRIGUEZ,VICTOR DAYRIT – INDEPENDENT
56. SAHIDULLA, NUR-ANA INDANAN – INDEPENDENT
57. SALVADOR, PHILLIP REYES – “PDP LABAN”
58. SINGSON, LUIS CRISOLOGO – INDEPENDENT
59. SOTTO, VICENTE III CASTELO – “NATIONALIST PEOPLE’S COALITION”
60. TAPADO, MICHAEL BALAIS – “PARTIDO MAHARLIKA”
61. TOLENTINO, FRANCIS NG – “PARTIDO FEDERAL NG PILIPINAS”
62. TULFO, BIENVENIDOTESHIBA – INDEPENDENT
63. TULFO, ERWINTESHIBA – “LAKAS-CMD”
64. VALBUENA, MARIOJR. SOLIVEN – INDEPENDENT
65. VERCELES, LEANDRO BUENCONSETO – INDEPENDENT
66. VILLAR, CAMILLE AGUILAR – “NACIONALISTA PARTY”

16 Octubre, 2024 Miyerkules 

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

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PNP probes cop’s part in slay of Tanauan Mayor Halili

By J.Lo

“Criminal Investigation and Detection Group will continue to investigate, including  review of all related cold case files and further interviews with relevant parties, in the 2018 killing of former Tanauan City, Batangas mayor Antonio Halili…we are also in the process of retrieving case records and examining new evidence,” Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said  Police organization is currently investigating  possible involvement of  police officer in Halili slay, who was reportedly shot by  sniper during morning flag-raising ceremonies. Probe  comes after retired police colonel and former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager Royina Garma  mentioned  certain “Major Albotra” as having knowledge of  assassination. However, no first name was provided during the hearing.

PNP subsequently reviewed its records and identified five individuals with  surname Albotra, four of whom had already retired. Fajardo said  Capt. Kenneth Albotra is the only active officer among them.

She stated that Capt. Albotra, who was assigned to Police Regional Office 7 at the time of the incident, has denied any involvement in the murder.

PNP has not placed Albotra under any form of restriction, pending  results of  ongoing probe.

Amid  allegations of  war on drugs reward system in  PNP, Military Ordinariate of the Philippines Bishop Oscar Jaime Florencio tells aspiring police officers may  “good force” be with you.

“To those who are aspiring to be part of  police force, be sure to have that conviction that you are ready to serve the country, serve God, serve our people, our community and also to  best of your values, you have to have that force, not ‘evil force’ but  ‘good force’ that is in you… good intention,  good values that you have embraced”, Florencio said.

16 Octubre, 2024 Miyerkules

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Amihan  season set to begin,colder days coming

By J.Lo

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said colder days may be felt as early as next week due to onset of northeast monsoon or amihan.

Cold dry air and cooler temperatures brought by northeasterly wind flow are expected to prevail in next few weeks.

Southwest  monsoon’s official termination was declared by PAGASA on Oct. 7.

State weather forecasters monitored strengthening of high-pressure system over East Asia, influencing weather patterns in the country.

Isolated rains due to easterlies are forecast over Metro Manila, rest of Luzon and Eastern Visayas.

Isabela, Aurora, Quezon and Camarines Norte may see cloudy skies with scattered rains.

16 Octubre, 2024 Miyerkules

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Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

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Headlines

Ph, US anti-submarine, coastal defense drills

By J.Lo

“Focusing on anti-submarine warfare and joint patrol operations, exercise highlights both nations’ commitment to enhancing interoperability and collective defense capabilities in maritime security,” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said it was  show of force and test of interoperability by  militaries of the Philippines,  United States and other major allies,  kicked off their joint maneuvers in different parts of the country both at sea and on land.

In West Philippine Sea,  Philippine Navy and  US Navy conducted anti-submarine and night patrol exercises as part of their Sama-Sama (together) military drills. Japan, Australia, Canada and France will later join  exercise.

 Naval  maneuver took place against  backdrop of  increasing number of Chinese vessels  including warships  in  West Philippine Sea.

Based on monitoring by  Philippine Navy, Chinese vessels in Philippine waters totaled 34 from Oct. 7 to 13, up from 28 the previous week.

In Pili, Camarines Norte and in other parts of  Bicol Region, Filipino and Australian soldiers held war drills as part of  second leg of this year’s Exercise Kasangga 2024.

 Joint  exercise, involving 216 Philippine Army personnel and 50 Australian soldiers, will run until Nov. 8.

 Western Mindanao Command of AFP, meanwhile,  spearhead two-week capability enhancement drill dubbed as Joint, Combined and Inter-Agency Maritime Security Training Exercise.

Trinidad said  launch of  Sama-Sama advanced maritime drills in  West Philippine Sea was  success.

Participating in naval exercise were  Philippine Navy’s guided missile frigate BRP Jose Rizal and US Navy destroyer USS Howard.

Activities , he said, included  Combined Anti-Submarine Exercise (CASEX) involving Torpedo Exercises using  Expandable Mobile Anti-Submarine Warfare Training Target.

He noted  both navies were able to hone their anti-submarine warfare techniques in  realistic and controlled environment.

In addition to CASEX, both navies also conducted Joint and Combined Patrol (Night Steaming in Company), simulating real-world scenarios of patrolling contested waters.

“Drill aimed to enhance coordination between participating units in  nighttime operational setting, improving response capabilities in crisis situations,” he explained.

Trinidad said Philippine and US naval forces also executed Search and Rescue Exercises and Shipboard Casualty Care drills, “further demonstrating their readiness to respond to both traditional and non-traditional maritime security challenges.”

Trinidad said ongoing Sea Phase of Sama-Sama 2024 highlighted shared objective of both Philippines and US to address maritime security challenges through cooperation and joint operations.

“These activities not only focused on combat readiness but also on humanitarian assistance and disaster response, integral aspects of modern naval operations,” he stressed.

He emphasized participation later of Royal Canadian Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and other allied navies would be another demonstration of commitment of Philippines and its allies to peace and stability in Indo-Pacific region.

Trinidad said Sama-Sama 2024, now on its seventh iteration, “represents continuing evolution of bilateral maritime exercises, fostering stronger relationships among participating forces and enhancing overall regional security capabilities.”

In Camarines Norte, Army spokesman Col. Louie Dema-ala said soldiers of 9th Infantry Division based in Camp Elias Angeles made up Philippine contingent in Exercise Kasangga 2024 with Australian troops.

Dema-ala said combined exercise covers critical areas of military operations such as urban operations, close combat techniques, combat shooting and tactical casualty care.

Soldiers will also undergo training in explosive assault breaching, cybersecurity operations, mortar gunnery with forward observers and Civil-Military Operations exchanges, he said.

Earlier, from May to June, first leg of joint training exercises was held in Gamu, Isabela involving at least 100 Filipino soldiers from 86th Infantry Battalion of 5th Infantry Division and 50 troops from Australian Army.

First  leg of exercises covered reconnaissance, mortar, drone operations, logistics, signal operations, jungle and urban warfare, tactical combat casualty care and breaching operations.

In Zamboanga City, Westmincom chief Lt. Gen. William Gonzalez said JCIMSTX seeks to enhance and synergize maritime security and operation readiness through collaboration among different military security units of AFP, their foreign counterparts and relevant law enforcement agencies within operation area of his command.

Philippine Navy denounced Chinese for their “continued illegal presence in West Philippine Sea” that it said “blatantly disregards 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling and violates our sovereignty and sovereign rights.”

“This also highlights need to continue modernizing defense and security capabilities of AFP.,,we in AFP remain committed to upholding international law and defending integrity of our national territory,” the Navy said in  statement.  

TODAY’S GOD’S MESSAGE

Psalm 19:14

¹⁴ May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
    be pleasing in your sight,
    Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

15 Octubre, 2024 Martes

No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

No to SOGIE bill

PM for any hospital discharge problem

Megaworld enters Ilocandia with P15 B Laoag township

By J.Lo

“We are already present in Central and Western Visayas,  two fastest growing regions when it comes to  local economy, and now it is time to be in Ilocos to complete our presence in  three fastest growing regions in the country today,” Megaworld president Lourdes Gutierrez-Alfonso said property developer Megaworld Corp. is bringing its residential expansion to  north of Luzon by investing P15 billion to build  township on  coastline of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.

Megaworld is putting up  84-hectare mixed-use, beachfront estate on  western end of Laoag, to be called Ilocandia Coastown once completed in 10 years.

Aside from  residential feature, Ilocandia Coastown will boast of its own 1.4 kilometer beach line, including  area for sand dunes  Laoag is famous for.

Likewise,  township will stand close to five-star hotel Fort Ilocandia and is 15 minutes away from  Laoag International Airport,  main gateway to  Ilocos Region. Also,  property is less than hour’s drive from tourist spots in Ilocos Norte like  Paoay Church.

Alfonso said  developer decided to expand in Laoag to take advantage of its economic spurt. Based on data from  Philippine Statistics Authority, Ilocos Region  where Laoag is located was  third fastest growing region in 2023.

Central Visayas registered  quickest growth of 7.3 percent, followed by Western Visayas’ 7.2 percent. Megaworld is already present in these regions.

Moreover, Laoag is listed as part of Digital Cities 2025 under  Department of Information and Communications Technology,  identifies prospective areas ripe for information technology and business process management investments.

Based on  final design, Ilocandia Coastown will feature upscale units,  shop house district and  commercial district, with  town center in the middle that would serve as its focal point. It will draw inspiration from Filipino and Spanish architecture for its general design.

Ilocandia Coastown will be Megaworld’s 34th township development. History is also made for the company, marking  first time that Megaworld has set foot in Ilocos Region.

Megaworld’s parent Alliance Global Group Inc. believes  expansion to Laoag would bring in business opportunities for the company, particularly in tourism.

For 2024, Megaworld has allocated P55 billion for its capital expenditures, to be spent on putting up new projects and completing existing developments.

15 Octubre, 2024 Martes

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Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

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DOT eyes Ph as top health and wellness hub

By Nidz Godino

“This combination of modern healthcare and time-honored traditions makes Philippines unique and appealing destination for those seeking  complete wellness experience,” Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said Department of Tourism (DOT) seeks to position  Philippines as  hub for affordable healthcare and wellness services, expanding beyond its renowned beaches, islands and mountains to attract  wider range of tourists.

Philippines hosted second International Health and Wellness Tourism Congress, featuring exhibit of local businesses offering products and services designed to promote relaxation through taste, scent and touch.

Frasco, in her keynote address, said  travelers today seek more than just fun and adventure. Tourists are increasingly looking for meaningful experiences  enhance well-being and improve quality of life, she added.

In response,  DOT is enhancing health and wellness tourism by integrating  country’s medical services with traditional Filipino healing practices, such as  Hilot massage technique, while also incorporating organic products into its offerings.

Frasco said  primary offerings include preventive care, cosmetic procedures, dental services, ophthalmology, orthopedics, spas and nature retreats.

According to Frasco,  country also attracts tourists with its affordable yet high-quality services.  Medical Tourism Index reported  medical procedures in the country are 40-80% cheaper compared to Western countries. 

“Pricing of  Philippines is very competitive in terms of its ability to offer health and wellness tourism packages…and most importantly,  Filipinos’ hospitality is really second to none,” she said. 

Tourism department is also working to establish Tourist First Aid Facilities in Boracay, Panglao, Siargao, and El Nido, along with  Medical Tourism Concierge at Manila’s international airports. 

Frasco added initiative benefits economy by creating additional tourism jobs for Filipinos, in addition to generating revenue from  country’s status as  tourism hotspot. 

In his opening speech, Agora Group CEO Hadi Malaeb emphasized five pillars  Philippines must strengthen to become  key player in  health and wellness tourism sector: world-class infrastructure, accreditation, talent development, holistic wellness experiences, and public-private partnerships.

This is why  DOT is concentrating its efforts on ensuring  local hospitals, wellness centers, dental clinics and other medical facilities meet international quality standards.

According to Paulo Tugbang, DOT director for product development,  Philippines ranked 24th out of 46 countries in  2020-2021 Medical Tourism Index, placing third in Southeast Asia.

 Medical Tourism Index is published by  Medical Tourism Association and ranks countries based on  quality of care they provide and  attractiveness of their destinations for medical tourism.

Malaeb also said  Philippines could position itself as  “leading destination” in  health and wellness global market, catering to  average of 80,000 tourists annually.  

“So right now,  figure is around 80,000 arrivals per year, and are mainly from  surrounding areas here in neighboring counties. … jn the future, some experts predict that within  next five or ten years, this number can jump to around half a million,” Malaeb told reporters.

While Agora Group reported 80,000 annual arrivals,  Department of Tourism clarified their data shows over 250,000 tourists visiting  Philippines yearly.

Frasco said  Philippines has attracted buyers from 38 countries who are considering investing in the country’s health and wellness tourism sector.

The 2nd Health and Wellness Tourism Congress is  two-day event themed “Aruga,” highlighting  Philippines’ commitment to care and nurturing.

15 Octubre, 2024 Martes

No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

No to SOGIE bill

PM for any hospital discharge problem

Headlines

Chronic underfunding killed once-celebrated mother tongue education

By Creselda Canda-Lopez

“While using  child’s first language in instruction is consistent with theories in pedagogy, it has been difficult to implement due to  highly centralized structure of DepEd,” Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) in its Year One report led  filing of  bill  discontinued  use of mother tongue instruction from kindergarten to Grade 1. 

Government’s axing of mother tongue instruction for kindergarten to grade 3 has drawn protests from education experts and advocates, who assailed officials for simply ditching  policy rather than fixing its funding and implementation issues.
 
Two faculty members of  University of the Philippines Diliman  specialize in language studies and education, as well as Filipino advocacy group Tanggol Wika, believe recently passed law discontinuing  use of mother tongue in early education has stymied  program’s potential benefits before they could be fully realized.

 Bill downgrades mother tongue instruction as  option in class, lapsed into law last week without  president’s signature.

For years, debates over  value of  nationwide policy compelling  use of mother tongue (language first learned at home) in classrooms have drawn  rare divide in  education sector.

Studies on the program show mixed results. Data  Department of Education (DepEd) presented in congressional hearings found no evidence  mother tongue education benefited multilingual classes with diverse home languages. In contrast, research on monolingual classes all students share  home language painted  opposite picture.

Very  inclusion of t mother tongue in  K to 12 curriculum was not without basis. Briefer   from DepEd itself in 2016  cited experiments in Iloilo and Rizal from 1948 to 1966 show students taught in their native language mostly outperformed those taught in English.

Consensus  among education experts, even before  passage of  law removing mother tongue policy, was  DepEd was simply ill-prepared to implement it on  national scale: structure-wise, personnel-wise and budget-wise. 

Under  soon-to-be-defunct Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE),legislated through  passage of  K to 12 law, DepEd used 19 languages. This includes Tagalog, Kapampangan, Pangasinan, Iloko, Bikol, Ybanag, Sinugbuanong Binisaya, Hiligaynon, Waray, Bahasa Sug, Maguindanaoan, Maranao, Chavacano, Ivatan, Sambal, Akianon, Kinaray-a, Yakan and Sinurigaonon. 

“Top-down, DepEd assigned official mother tongue for each area without language mapping and allowing flexibility and giving guidance to multilingual areas,” said Mercedes Arzadon,  faculty member of  University of the Philippines College of Education.

Arzadon,  has long specialized in mother tongue education research, also pointed to  lack of specialists in the department to lead  overall implementation of MTB-MLE. 

“There has been no champion or expert for Multi-Language Education ,MLE from within  system…for  long time, it was led by someone in  position without any real power… I wish there could have been at least  consultant,” Arzadon said.

She stressed that  former regional director and undersecretary who studied  principles of the program after leaving the department “said it’s his first time to understand the program.” 

“If only there had been funding, they could have created  task force like they are doing now with  PISA… would have allowed for  development of materials appropriate for  language and for training teachers,” Arzadon said, adding only Grade 1 teachers were trained in 2011. 
 
Amid criticisms  DepEd was too centralized in its approach to mother tongue education, Arzadon said  department could have created supervisor positions focused solely on mother tongue instruction. Instead,  policy became “extra work” for Filipino and English supervisors.

She also noted  long hours  DepEd’s MLE focal persons put into creating primers on using  mother tongue to bridge to Filipino and English. “They just finished, and it takes time to implement,” she said.

In  2008 report  aimed to build on  momentum of  growing pushback against “pro-English proponents” in education, then-Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino Chairman Rolando Nolasco set out four conditions he said would guarantee mother tongue education’s success.

“One, there has to be  good curriculum, one that is cognitively demanding…two, we will need good teachers who are competent in  required language, content and methods, three, there must be good teaching materials , error free… four, community support and empowerment must be present ,” Nolasco said.

Over  decade later, in  Senate hearing in 2022, DepEd bared  only 78,872 of its targeted 305,099 educators were trained for  use of  mother tongue as  medium of instruction.

State think tank Philippine Institute of Development Studies also found in  study less than 10% of over 16,000 schools it analyzed had fully complied with  main aspects of  MTB-MLE implementation, namely in orthography, grammar, learning resources and dictionary. 

This is why Tanggol Wika sees  “abolition” of MTB-MLE as  step backward, when documented evidence of DepEd’s shortcomings had long been public knowledge.

“Any shortcomings in  implementation of MTB-MLE from 2013 to 2023 should not be blamed on the program itself but on  lack of funding for  education system,” Tanggol Wika said.

Lack  of learning materials and insufficient training for teachers “results directly from  failure of Malacañang” to make  once-celebrated policy  success, Tanggol Wika added.

“Previous DepEd secretaries did not address  reasonable demands of teachers concerning MTB-MLE and  entire education system…  positive impact of MTB-MLE would have been more significant if  government had fully funded all  necessary components for its proper implementation since it began in 2013,” Tanggol Wika  said.

Removing mother tongue instruction, for Aldrin Lee,  linguistics professor published  open letter on the matter, was tantamount to subjecting students to  “forced use of English” already seen in several facets of public life.

From attending court hearings to applying for jobs, Filipinos are forced to use English,  language not their own, he said. 

“New ideas they conceive and develop using our language require them to think about how to translate them into English, leading many to simply abandon their thoughts if it seems too difficult,English is  significant barrier to  growth of Filipino knowledge.”

While  new law appears to favor Filipino, Tanggol Wika said it is “closer to maintaining  status quo of  English-centric language policy” as it does not require  use of Filipino outside of subjects where it is already used. 

“Initiatives related to MTB-MLE have been  lifeline for several endangered languages in the Philippines; thus,  murder of MTB-MLE seems like  murder of these endangered languages as well,” Tanggol Wika said.

Arzadon believes  four conditions Nolasco set for mother tongue education to be  success is happening, “but it takes time because  situation is broad and diverse.” She added: “For example, in Benguet, many people were initially angry about  changes but later accepted them.”

“Maybe it’s about community support and empowerment because you can’t rely on DepEd alone for such  radical change..’. there needs to be strong support for multilingualism from  government, media, and other sectors,” she added.

The way forward now is for regions and provinces  “worked hard to make it happen,” such as Bicol Region and Western Visayas, among others, to hopefully continue implementing the program, Arzadon said.

Whether or not schools and teachers will  on their own and without  impetus to do so build on their gains remains to be seen. 

But  unspoken loss is clear:  Philippines was  first in Southeast Asia to have  law explicitly calls for  use of mother tongue education. 

Now, it is one of  many that do not have one.