Day: March 15, 2024

Thua Thien: A train route connecting the central city of Da Nang and Hue city of the central province of Thua Thien – Hue named ‘Central Heritage Connection’ will be put into operation in late March on the occasion of the Liberation Day of Thua Thien – Hue (March 26) and Da Nang (March 29).

The information was announced at a working session between representatives of the provincial People’s Committee and the Vietnam Railway Corporation (VNR) on March 14.

The service is expected to offer an impressive journey for tourists as they can admire the natural beauty along the route passing through the Hai Van Pass, which was named among the 10 most beautiful drives in the world by renowned US magazine Travel Leisure.

Every day, there will be four tourist trains traveling between Hue and Da Nang and vice versa. The service will be directly managed and operated by the Hanoi Railway Transport Joint Stock Company (Haraco).

The People’s Committees of Thua Thien – Hue province and Da Nang city will support the VNR and
Haraco by implementing policies related to transportation connectivity, ensuring security and order, and tourism services.

According to the VNR, the Hue – Da Nang section includes 12 stations with a length of 102 km, with three located on steep mountain passes.

Each train consists of seven carriages, including one community carriage where passengers can enjoy and experience artistic, culinary, and shopping activities.

Travel time from Hue to Da Nang by train takes from 3.5 hours to four hours. However, the trains can run into the centre of the two cities, making it convenient for passengers, especially tourists.

According to Deputy General Director of VNR Tran Anh Tuan, authorities of Thua Thien- Hue have collaborated with tour organisers to promote the heritage train route on social media platforms.

Vice Chairman of the Thua Thien – Hue provincial People’s Committee Hoang Hai Minh said he hopes the daily trains will not only serve tourists but also connect the heritage lands of the central region./.

S
ource: Vietnam News Agency

Thua Thien: A train route connecting the central city of Da Nang and Hue city of the central province of Thua Thien – Hue named ‘Central Heritage Connection’ will be put into operation in late March on the occasion of the Liberation Day of Thua Thien – Hue (March 26) and Da Nang (March 29).

The information was announced at a working session between representatives of the provincial People’s Committee and the Vietnam Railway Corporation (VNR) on March 14.

The service is expected to offer an impressive journey for tourists as they can admire the natural beauty along the route passing through the Hai Van Pass, which was named among the 10 most beautiful drives in the world by renowned US magazine Travel Leisure.

Every day, there will be four tourist trains traveling between Hue and Da Nang and vice versa. The service will be directly managed and operated by the Hanoi Railway Transport Joint Stock Company (Haraco).

The People’s Committees of Thua Thien – Hue province and Da Nang city will support the VNR and
Haraco by implementing policies related to transportation connectivity, ensuring security and order, and tourism services.

According to the VNR, the Hue – Da Nang section includes 12 stations with a length of 102 km, with three located on steep mountain passes.

Each train consists of seven carriages, including one community carriage where passengers can enjoy and experience artistic, culinary, and shopping activities.

Travel time from Hue to Da Nang by train takes from 3.5 hours to four hours. However, the trains can run into the centre of the two cities, making it convenient for passengers, especially tourists.

According to Deputy General Director of VNR Tran Anh Tuan, authorities of Thua Thien- Hue have collaborated with tour organisers to promote the heritage train route on social media platforms.

Vice Chairman of the Thua Thien – Hue provincial People’s Committee Hoang Hai Minh said he hopes the daily trains will not only serve tourists but also connect the heritage lands of the central region./.

S
ource: Vietnam News Agency

MANILA: The national government posted a budget surplus of PHP88 billion in January this year, up by more than 90 percent from a year ago’s PHP45.7 billion.

“The fiscal outturn was brought about by a faster 21.15% year-over-year increase in revenue collection outpacing the 10.39% expansion in government spending,” the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) said in a report on Friday.

Total revenues during the month rose to PHP421.8 billion from PHP348.2 billion last year, driven by higher tax collections which comprised 91.31 percent or PHP385.2 billion of the total collection.

The remaining 8.69 percent or PHP36.6 billion was generated through non-tax sources.

The national government’s disbursements, meanwhile, amounted to PHP333.99 billion, higher by 10.39 percent than last year’s spending of PHP302.4 billion.

Primary expenditures, which accounted for 77.77 percent of the total, inched up to PHP259.6 billion from P255.4 billion posted a year ago.

Meanwhile, interest payments, which accounted for the remaining 2
2.23 percent, rose to PHP74.2 billion.

Source: Philippines News Agency

TACLOBAN CITY: The national government has released PHP337.34 million in cash aid to families affected by the devastating flood in Northern Samar late last year, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) regional office reported Friday.

The emergency cash transfer (ECT) has benefited 110,968 shearline-affected families in the province as of March 13, DSWD regional information officer Jonalyndie Chua said in a phone interview.

Each family received PHP3,040 under the DSWD’s ECT program.

‘ECT is unconditional cash support for early recovery. The payout to the affected families in Northern Samar will continue as directed by DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian to ensure the early recovery and rehabilitation of those affected,’ Chua said.

The latest to receive the financial aid are 16,235 families in Catarman, the capital town of Northern Samar.

Earlier, the DSWD distributed cash aid in Lavezares, San Jose, Gamay, Lapinig, Mapanas, Palapag, Allen, Bobon, Lope de Vega, Rosario, Catubig, Laoang, Pambujan
, San Vicente, Mondragon, San Roque, Las Navas, Silvino Lobos, Capul, and San Isidro towns.

The DSWD hoped to finish the cash distribution to the remaining recipients within the month.

The national government is pouring in PHP374.32 million to help 123,133 families affected by the devastating flood in Northern Samar.

Local government units provided the list of recipients, which was validated by DSWD personnel.

ECT is an unconditional cash grant that may be used by the beneficiary for any purpose that would aid in their day-to-day needs for the repair of their damaged house.

Cash aid is seen as an adaptive strategy for bridging the gaps between immediate disaster relief, humanitarian response, and early recovery support through the provision of unconditional cash to victims of disasters and emergency situations requiring interventions.

Massive floods last November affected 609,870 people in 691 villages in Northern Samar, Samar, Eastern Samar, Biliran, and Southern Leyte.

It destroyed some 57 houses and
partially damaged 249 others.

Northern Samar’s heavy floods were caused by an unprecedented 618 millimeters of rainfall in 24 hours, or the equivalent of nearly six weeks’ volume of rainfall in a single day.

The DSWD has yet to announce if there will be an ECT payout in other affected provinces.

Source: Philippines News Agency

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY: An organization advocating for gender equality revealed that men still play an essential role in preventing gender-based violence.

During the gender and development (GAD) enhancement activity here on Friday, the Gender Advocates Normin, Inc. (Gani) emphasized the role of men in understanding violence and how it can be prevented.

Gani said organizations, such as Men Opposed to Violence Everywhere (Move), help build a society founded on respect and empathy.

Army Maj. Daisy Baguioz Gani president, said partners such as Move help create a safe environment where everyone is valued and heard.

Gani is an inter-agency association of women and men in government service in Northern Mindanao which promotes GAD initiatives in institutions.

“Today, we embark on a journey of advocacy, education, and empowerment,” she said.

National Telecommunications Commission-10 Director Teodoro Buenavista Jr. said Move is a complementing initiative for the Magna Carta movement on women.

“The success of this p
rogram depends on the behavior of men,” he said.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros is set to request Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri to issue a warrant of arrest against Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.

Hontiveros said Quiboloy’s camp is asking to resolve the show cause order through a Senate plenary hearing.

“Sa totoo lang, wala nga sa [Senate] Rules ang show cause order (The truth is the show cause order is not even in the Senate Rules). It was a courtesy extended to Sen. Robin [Padilla], at the request of the SP [Zubiri]),” Hontiveros said in a statement Friday.

“Kung wala nga sa Rules ang show cause order, much less wala sa Rules na kailangan ng (If the show cause order is not in the [Senate] Rules, much less is the) hearing in plenary to resolve the show cause order,” she added.

Hontiveros cited previous cases, such as that of Senator Cynthia Villar who cited Davidson Bangayan in contempt and ordered his arrest even if criminal charges were already filed against him.

She said Senator Ronald dela
Rosa continued to hear the disappearance of Catherine Camilon even though charges were filed against the police officer who was believed to be involved.

Senator Imee Marcos, Hontiveros said, also presented witnesses with covered faces and using aliases in her hearing on people’s initiative.

“At si SP [Zubiri] mismo, noong Senate hearings sa pagpatay kay Horacio Castillo, hindi niya tinanggap ang right against self-incrimination excuse at ginamit doon ang contempt power ng Senado (And SP Zubiri himself, during the Senate hearings in the killing of Horacio Castillo, he did not accept the right against self-incrimination excuse and used the contempt power of the Senate),” she said, noting it resulted in the passage into law of the Republic Act No. 11053 or the Anti-Hazing Law.

The Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family and Gender Equality chaired by Hontiveros received Friday Quiboloy’s response to the show cause order which was issued by the panel last Wednesday, asking the KOJC head to explain why he c
ontinues to refuse to appear before the panel’s proceedings.

Source: Philippines News Agency