Author: ltadmin

MANILA: A leading milk, dairy, and juice producer in Qatar is planning to establish a large-scale, fully integrated dairy facility in the Philippines, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.

In a statement on Friday, DTI said Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual met with officials of Baladna in Qatar on May 16, to discuss the company’s possible investment in the country.

‘The Philippine government stands ready to support Baladna to realize its planned investments in the country. Through a whole of government approach, the DTI and the Board of Investments are ready to facilitate business-to-business meetings and introductions to potential joint venture partners for Baladna,” Pascual said.

“Additionally, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is actively identifying suitable locations for the proposed dairy facilities,’ he added.

During the meeting, Pascual said there is a substantial demand for dairy products in the Philippines, with imports amounting to almost PHP3 billion.

He said addressing this demand
while supporting local production is a key priority for the current administration.

Pascual said the DTI will collaborate with the DA to craft policies that create a level playing field for all milk and dairy producers in the country.

‘We look forward to the realization of this landmark investment. We are confident that together, we can Make it Happen in the Philippines,’ he said.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) on Friday assured transparency in the investigation launched by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on prison strip searches on visitors of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).

In a statement BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. debunked claims by militant groups of a possible whitewash in the investigation of strip searches on female visitors of inmates at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) .

‘The Commission on Human Rights, they are at the forefront of this investigation, so how can there be a possibility of whitewash? Let us stick to the facts and not muddle and politicize the issue,’ he said.

‘We submitted to this investigation to prove that we have nothing to hide, in fact, we welcomed this investigation by the CHR which started Monday afternoon,’ he said, noting that the seven corrections officers involved with the strip cavity search were just awaiting the subpoena from CHR for them to submit their sworn statements.

He reiterated that BuCor is one with th
e CHR in its mission to recognize and uphold human rights, more so with persons deprived of liberty.

‘As a matter of fact, in December 2022, just less than two months after I was appointed as BuCor Director General, I signed a memorandum of agreement with CHR Chair Richard Palpal-latoc for closer cooperation and coordination towards ensuring the prevention of violations, and protection of the human rights of PDLs in all our operating prison and penal farms,’ he said.

Meanwhile, Catapang said there are no political prisoners at BuCor-run correctional facilities, saying those jailed in their facilities are ‘convicted by courts due to criminal acts they committed.’

Based on records, the two complainants in the strip cavity search against the NBP, Gloria Almonte and Maricel Alcántara, have been in and out of the NBP 19 times and 16 times, respectively.

Almonte began visiting her husband on Nov. 4, 2023. Her husband, Dionisio Almonte, was sentenced to up to 17 years for rebellion.

Alcantara, on the other hand
, began visiting her husband on Nov. 12, 2023. Her husband, Philip Alcántara, was sentenced to up to nine years for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The Bureau of Customs (BOC) would implement new guidelines on the different service fees, dues, and charges being collected from various stakeholders for its service starting next month.

In Customs Administrative Order (CAO) No. 02-2024 dated May 11 and made public Friday, the BOC said the measure seeks to ensure consistency in the rates of fees, dues, and charges imposed and to establish a mechanism for the payment of overtime work and other services provided by the bureau.

The CAO, which takes effect on June 10, covers all such fees to be collected by the BOC from shipping lines, airlines, air express operators, importers, exporters, Customs brokers, freight forwarders, consolidators, de-consolidators, logistics providers, transhippers, operators of Customs bonded warehouses, free zone locators, registered enterprises, third party solutions providers, and all other entities served by the bureau.

Under its provisions, service fees collected will be channeled into a Trust Fund, to be used for the p
ayment of allowances and overtime services for Customs personnel.

Among the services covered by these fees are vessel supervision, aircraft supervision, free zone locator supervision, annual supervision for Authorized Economic Operators, underguarding for transfers, off-hours services, special flight supervision, and various processing and storage fees.

Meanwhile, Customs dues and charges will be collected separately and will accrue to the General Fund.

These dues and charges encompass a wide range of transactions, including processing fees for goods declaration, balikbayan boxes, import and export transactions, appeals, legal opinions, accreditation charges, permit fees, registration charges, and service charges for document issuance and certification.

‘The implementation of this Customs Administrative Order is a crucial step in furtherance of standardizing our fee structures and establishing clear guidelines on the collection of Customs Fees, Dues, and Charges,’ Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio said in a s
tatement.

‘We are doing this to establish uniformity, ensure transparency in our operations, and provide a mechanism for the payment of overtime work and other services delivered by the BOC,’ he said.

Source: Philippines News Agency

BACOLOD CITY: The City of San Carlos in northern Negros Occidental is implementing a pioneering initiative called the Social Services System (SOCSERVE), using information technology (IT) to ‘revolutionize the delivery of social services.’

The project, developed by the Information Technology and Computer Services Office (ITCSO) and turned over to its end-user, the City Social Welfare Development Office (CSWDO), targets senior citizens, solo parents, and persons with disabilities (PWDs).

On Friday, the city’s Tech4Ed Help Desk Center opened to cater to the elderly residents who want to register for the SOCSERVE and avail of other e-government services.

‘A number of senior citizens have already come to the center to register,’ the ITCSO said in its advisory posted on Facebook.

Registration is also ongoing for senior citizens in villages with their own Tech4Ed Centers.

SOCSERVE’s key features include a comprehensive registration process, issuing and management of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) identification (ID)
cards, streamlined service delivery, data management, remote accessibility and digital inclusion, and security and privacy protocols.

‘By streamlining registration processes and embracing automation, SOCSERVE ensures that eligible individuals promptly receive the assistance they need. This centralization of data and automation not only reduces bureaucratic obstacles and errors but also enhances transparency in delivering services,’ the ITCSO said.

Information Technology Officer II Joseph Binghay said the issuance of ID cards is scheduled for every barangay, and there will be a house-to-house registration for PWDs and bedridden elderly.

In March this year, Mayor Renato Gustilo issued an executive order directing the CSWDO to establish a comprehensive and centralized system for managing the membership records and issuing PVC ID cards for senior citizens, solo parents, and PWDs.

He also directed the ITCSO to develop the management information system.

On April 30, the ITCSO turned over the SOCSERVE to the CS
WDO, and the registration process for senior citizens started on May 15.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The National Anti-Poverty Commission-Formal Labor and Migrant Workers (NAPC-FLMW) on Friday called on stakeholders to create ‘appropriate and acceptable solutions’ for Sofitel Philippine Plaza’s employees.

Philippine Plaza Holdings Inc., owner of Sofitel Philippine Plaza, plans to close the hotel allegedly for safety reasons on June 30.

Reports from international consultants and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) declared that the integrity of the hotel, as well as its working conditions, were no longer safe.

While the management made it clear that its 500 employees would receive proper pay, the NAPC-FLMW said the employees are hopeful that the hotel will re-open once the renovation is done.

‘However, the sector cannot help but question their real intention whether to permanently close Sofitel or reopen when renovations are completed,’ it said in a statement.

The commission said the hotel’s owners should disclose the audit report regarding the alleged unsafe structure and clarify its i
ntent on the hotel’s future.

‘The DOLE, in motu proprio, should step in and call an immediate dialogue with Sofitel, GSIS on lease issues, Department of Tourism, Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Philippines, and the hotel’s union,’ it said.

‘We also call on the Pasay City local government unit to proactively make recommendations and aid Sofitel in rectifying whatever structural problems the building has to preserve the ‘iconic’ landmark and architecture.’

The Commission also urged Accor S.A., owner of the Sofitel brand, to enforce their agreement to protect the rights and welfare of its workers and ‘to ensure the best solution for the case.’

Source: Philippines News Agency

ISTANBUL: Astronomers from around the world unveiled Thursday signs of an ongoing merger between two galaxies and their massive black holes at a time when the universe was a mere 740 million years old by using the James Webb Space Telescope.

The discovery represents the furthest detection of a black hole merger to date and the earliest instance of the phenomenon ever observed in the universe’s history, according to the European Space Agency.

One of the black holes possesses a mass equivalent to 50 million times that of the sun.

The colossal black holes likely played a significant role in shaping the development of their host galaxies.

But there is still a gap in understanding about how the entities grew to such immense sizes.

The detection of gigantic black holes within the first billion years after the Big Bang suggests an incredibly rapid and early growth process.

The James Webb Space Telescope is now offering fresh insights into the early-stage growth of black holes.

Distinctive spectroscopic featur
es associated with actively accreting matter onto massive black holes enable astronomers to detect them.

‘We found evidence for very dense gas with fast motions in the vicinity of the black hole, as well as hot and highly ionised gas illuminated by the energetic radiation typically produced by black holes in their accretion episodes,’ said lead author Hannah Ubler from the University of Cambridge in the UK.

The findings were published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

Source: Philippines News Agency