Author: ltadmin

MANILA: The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) on Tuesday fully awarded the reissued 20-year Treasury bonds (T-bonds).

The reissued T-bonds fetched an average rate of 6.189 percent, lower than the 6.250 percent coupon set upon the original issuance and the prevailing secondary market benchmark.

The Treasury bond has a remaining term of 19 years and 11 months.

Total tenders amounted to PHP60.9 billion.

The BTr raised the full program of PHP30 billion, bringing the total outstanding volume for the series to PHP60 billion

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Lawmakers at the House of Representatives on Tuesday commended President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for his commitment to maintaining law and order without resorting to violence.

In a press conference, PBA Party-list Rep. Margarita Nograles said the law enforcement strategy of the Marcos administration steers clear of extrajudicial methods.

‘You don’t take the laws into your own hands. You do not violate the laws. So, nakakatuwa (I am pleased) and congratulations to this administration for doing that,’ Nograles said.

During his meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin last week, President Marcos said the recalibrated anti-narcotics campaign seems to be effective, even though the proliferation of illegal drugs in the Philippines remains a problem.

‘It’s a big problem, but our approach has changed significantly,’ Marcos told Scholz after the latter inquired on his approach to illegal drugs.

‘I diametrically opposed to handling the drug problem in that way, by confrontation, by violence, an
d it really requires so much, much deeper understanding on the problem and the much deeper solution,’ he added.

The Marcos administration’s new approach to addressing illegal drugs is focused on rehabilitation, reintegration, and preventive education programs, specifically for the youth.

He added that part of the reforms is the reorganization of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to get rid of police officers involved ‘in some of the more nefarious practices’ that were undertaken during the previous administration.

Lanao del Norte 1st District Rep. Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo attributed the reduced crime rate to President Marcos’ background as a former governor of Ilocos Norte.

‘When it comes to crime, as a President, you need to have a strong bond with your mayors and governors, and I think that’s one of the advantages or assets that President BBM has in this administration,’ Dimaporo said.

“He has a very clean and very good relationship with our local chief executives and any problems at the LGU (local g
overnment unit) level, he tries his best to resolve,’ he added.

Dimaporo also highlighted the President’s commitment to upholding international standards in law enforcement and protecting the rights of Filipino citizens, serving as a positive example for the global community.

‘I think that’s a general tone that he has, and it cascades down to the police, and with the good relationship with the mayors and the governors,’ he said.

Government data revealed a significant decline in recorded crimes during the first full year of the Marcos administration in 2023, with only 198,617 crimes reported.

This figure contrasts sharply with the 295,382 crimes logged in 2017.

Moreover, index crimes have plummeted threefold from 107,899 in 2017 to 38,436 in 2023.

Source: Philippines News Agency

DUMAGUETE: Reports of violence against women (VAW) in Negros Oriental have risen this year, a police official said Tuesday.

Lt. Helen Aldirite, head of the Women and Children Protection Desk of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO), said during the Kapihan sa PIA (Philippine Information Agency) forum here that for the first two months of this year, the province has already recorded 18 more VAW incidents than in 2023.

NOPPO records showed 62 VAW incidents in January and February, compared to 44 during the same period in 2023.

Aldirite said more women are coming out in the open to report abuses and file cases against their abusers.

She said interventions and other activities conducted by the police and other organizations have empowered them to fight for their rights.

“Over the past years, we have done a lot of interventions, such as dialogues, with women now educated on their rights and laws affecting them,” she said.

Domestic violence involving spouses tops the list of abuses against wome
n, although Aldirite could not give specific figures.

Gemelyne Espina, program manager of the Department of the Interior and Local Government-Negros Oriental, said they conduct trainings on a community savings program for women to become financially independent.

Women tend to be abused by their husbands if they are solely dependent on them, Espina said.

Hilton Edrial, head of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, said this year, they have assisted 84 women so far with psychological evaluation and medical examination related to VAW.

Some PHP3 million have been allocated for psychological evaluation and training not just of women but inclusive of all sectors, such as children, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer group, he said.

Aldirite and other forum panelists said a common reason of victims’ non-filing of cases is fear or stigma.

Source: Philippines News Agency

CEBU: The Cebu City police will increase the presence of security forces in Roman Catholic churches and pilgrim sites during Holy Thursday and Good Friday, a police official said Tuesday.

Lt. Col. Janet Rafter, Cebu City Police Office deputy director for operations, said police personnel, an augmentation force from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and civilian force multipliers would secure Tabor Hills in Barangay Talamban and Good Shepherd in Banawa, Guadalupe.

The two pilgrim sites are favorite destinations for Catholics who want to pray the Stations of the Cross and reflect on the Passion of Jesus Christ.

Apart from religious sites, the police will also augment their forces in terminals, ports, and other destinations.

‘We have already instructed our commanders to engage the barangays but based on our previous experience, we did not have a problem with the force multiplier as they are helping the police,’ Rafter told reporters.

She did not state the exact number of security forces to be deployed du
ring the Holy Week.

However, Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare confirmed that the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 (Central Visayas) would deploy about 6,000 personnel to help maintain peace and order during Lent.

Pelare said the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard would send their contingents to help the police secure the region during the Holy Week.

Source: Philippines News Agency

CEBU: The Cebu City police will increase the presence of security forces in Roman Catholic churches and pilgrim sites during Holy Thursday and Good Friday, a police official said Tuesday.

Lt. Col. Janet Rafter, Cebu City Police Office deputy director for operations, said police personnel, an augmentation force from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and civilian force multipliers would secure Tabor Hills in Barangay Talamban and Good Shepherd in Banawa, Guadalupe.

The two pilgrim sites are favorite destinations for Catholics who want to pray the Stations of the Cross and reflect on the Passion of Jesus Christ.

Apart from religious sites, the police will also augment their forces in terminals, ports, and other destinations.

‘We have already instructed our commanders to engage the barangays but based on our previous experience, we did not have a problem with the force multiplier as they are helping the police,’ Rafter told reporters.

She did not state the exact number of security forces to be deployed du
ring the Holy Week.

However, Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare confirmed that the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 (Central Visayas) would deploy about 6,000 personnel to help maintain peace and order during Lent.

Pelare said the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard would send their contingents to help the police secure the region during the Holy Week.

Source: Philippines News Agency

LAOAG: Three centenarians in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte received their cash gifts of PHP100,000 each from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Tuesday.

Municipal social welfare and development officer Racquel Isidora Guzman said the cash gifts and letters of felicitation were handed to Magdalena Lorenzo of Barangay Poblacion and Catalina Ternio of Barangay Ligaya at the municipal hall.

The cash and letter for Marciana Domingo of Barangay Caunayan were delivered at home.

DSWD staff conducted validation of the centenarians’ documents submitted by the local government unit, such as birth certificate and senior citizen identification card.

Ilocos Norte focal person for older persons Carol Domingo told the Philippine News Agency that there nearly 100 of the 70,000 senior citizens in the province are centenarians.

“Most of them are women and they said they loved eating organic fruits and vegetables during their prime,” she said.

The Centenarians Act of 2016 grants all Filipinos who reach the
age of 100, whether residing in the country or abroad, a cash award of PHP 100,000.

Less fortunate centenarians receive an additional PHP15,000 from the province.

Source: Philippines News Agency