Category: General

HOUSTON: The Pentagon released a study Friday about UFOs, aliens and extraterrestrial intelligence and said it has found no evidence of their existence after investigating sightings of nearly eight decades of unidentified flying objects.

“All investigative efforts, at all levels of classification, concluded that most sightings were ordinary objects and phenomena and the result of misidentification,” said the report, which analyzed government investigations of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) dating to 1945.

The report, mandated by Congress, is dispersed in two volumes of research.

The first is an accumulation of decades-old sightings and the second is focused on more recent research and will be released at a later date, according to Pentagon officials.

While the fascination about UAP sightings in America continues, with conspiracy theories running abound regarding flying saucer landings in Roswell, New Mexico, or aliens being kept at the Area 51 military base north of Las Vegas, Nevada, the Pentagon
report said it found no evidence of alien spacecraft, alien life or that the US government and private companies had reverse-engineered extraterrestrial technology and were hiding it.

“The proliferation of television programs, books, movies, and the vast amount of Internet and social media content centered on UAP-related topics most likely has influenced the public conversation on this topic, and reinforced these beliefs within some sections of the population,” according to the study.

A 2021 government report that reviewed 144 sightings of aircraft or other devices apparently flying at mysterious speeds or trajectories found no extraterrestrial links and did not identify any evidence of extraterrestrial life, but officials did call for better data collection.

The authors of the report by the Defense Department’s All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) said the purpose of the study was to apply a rigorous scientific analysis to a subject that has long captured the American public’s imagination.

“AARO r
ecognizes that many people sincerely hold versions of these beliefs, which are based on their perception of past experiences, the experiences of others whom they trust, or media and online outlets they believe to be sources of credible and verifiable information,” the report said.

Source: Philippines News Agency

The Lotte Scholarship Foundation:he Lotte Scholarship Foundation, an international group from South Korea, and the provincial government of Pangasinan and other higher educational institutions have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to allot 80 slots to students in the province.

The students will be selected from Pangasinan Polytechnic College (PPC), Pangasinan State University, Binalatongan Community College of the local government of San Carlos City, and University of Eastern Pangasinan of Binalonan.

The scholarship grant will cover Academic Year 2024-2025.

For the PPC, the 20 scholars will be among its first batch of students when its academic program starts in August.

Vice Governor Lambino, in an interview on Saturday, said the partnership with Lotte was initiated through the linkages of the provincial government.

‘Lotte Foundation approached the provincial government of Pangasinan. They were presenting opportunities and partnerships here in the province. As stated in the agreement, it is
within the discretion of the educational institutions kung sino ang bibigyan. They (Lotte) screened the four schools, tinignan ‘yung background at nakita naman na being local universities, colleges and the state university, may mga students naman talaga sila na pinaka-underprivileged, marginalized at nangangailangan ng (and went over their background and found out that they really have underprivileged and marginalized students in need of) assistance,’ he said.

‘The MOU does not state the number of years of the scholarship (coverage). It would vary depending on the educational institutions and the course. Just like any scholarship grant, there are maintaining qualifications, academics, behavior, all found in the internal guidelines of each institution,’ he added.

Chang Haesun, chair of Lotte Scholarship Foundation, said they want to support Philippine students whom they hope to become great leaders someday.

She said the scholarship is very important for her as education is the base of everything.

‘I am ple
ased to sign the MOU with the educational leaders of Pangasinan. I am especially very thankful to the governor, vice governor, president of the universities and other associates. I appreciate the cooperation. Lotte Foundation was established 40 years ago and has been providing 3.8 billion (won) to foster global talents,’ Chang said during the signing at the capitol in Lingayen town Friday.

In an interview after the program, she said Lotte Foundation has partnered with 38 schools worldwide in Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Pakistan, Cambodia, Thailand and now the Philippines.

The foundation’s scholarship budget is about 400 billion won (about PHP16 billion).

Goveror Ramon Guico III is likewise elated over the partnership.

‘I would like to assure our partners that the governor, vice governor and all the stakeholders and officials of our partner institutions and agencies will play an active role. We will be very much involved in a lot of the programs that you would like to give to the province and to the hig
her educational institutions,’ he said.:

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The Philippine government is committed to providing Filipino women essential services to improve their health and well-being, the Department of Health (DOH) said as it joined the country in celebrating the National Women’s Month.

In a statement on Saturday, the DOH said breast and cervical cancers are among the pressing health issues Filipino women face today.

The DOH said early detection of these cancers through sound screening programs and management at primary level is an inspiration for its Bagong Urban Care and Ambulatory Service (BUCAS) centers.

By 2028, the agency said it hopes to open 28 centers and serve the poorest sector.

The centers will also have mammogram, HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) screening, and family planning services, among others.

‘We recognize the pivotal role women have, not just in healthcare, but in all nation-building initiatives,’ the DOH said.

‘As we help President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, Jr. pursue Universal Health Care for all Filipinos, we must pro
vide essential services that improve the overall health and well-being of women,’ it added.

Based on the latest data from the Philippine Cancer Society, breast ranks as the top cancer site for both sexes, with 65 percent of cases being diagnosed at an advanced stage.

Cervical cancer ranks second among women in the Philippines.

The DOH is also actively looking into the increasing prevalence of tobacco, electronic cigarettes, and vape use among women.

Citing the Global Youth Tobacco Survey in 2019 and 2021, the DOH said there is an increase from 4.2 percent to 6.9 percent in current tobacco users among girls aged 13 to 15 years old.

The agency said it will double its efforts and align current policies with its commitments to stop the tobacco and vape epidemic.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Military Ordinariate of the Philippines Bishop Oscar Jaime Florencio on Saturday said he does not support the decision of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to allow civilians to own semi-automatic rifles.

‘Personally, I would not want to have our civilians be allowed to possess semi-automatic rifles or any rifles for that matter,” he said in an interview over Church-run Radyo Veritas.

“We are a poor country. Why will we need those guns? Give them to authorities. If civilians are allowed to have guns, it might cause another big problem,” added Florencio.

The military ordinariate cited as an example the United States where mass shootings frequently happen.

‘In America, why do they have such a problem? Because they have a very lax law, wherein anyone can own a gun without that responsibility over a deadly weapon,” he said.

The PNP has amended the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, to allow civilians to regist
er cal. 7.62mm semi-automatic rifles and guns with lower calibers.

In a press briefing last week, Senator Francis Tolentino said authorities “should choose the right people who can possess and carry this kind of gun.”

Senators Imee Marcos and Risa Hontiveros, meanwhile warned against a rise in criminality, arms smuggling and violence, especially in the 2025 midterm elections.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The construction of the PHP4.58 billion Tacloban causeway project that will provide a shorter route from the city’s downtown to the airport has begun with bigger funding this year, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 8 (Eastern Visayas) here reported Thursday.

DPWH-8 Director Edgar Tabacon said the project has an accomplishment rate of 4.28 percent using the PHP880 million under the 2022 appropriations.

For this year, the project has an outlay of PHP1.9 billion.

‘The project is now ongoing after we addressed several issues related to its implementation. The work is now focused on stabilizing the embankment before concreting,’ Tabacon told reporters.

While civil works have only begun this year, there were preparatory activities made last year, according to the official.

The PHP4.58 billion budget is estimated to cover the construction of the 2.57-km. causeway, including a four-lane road embankment that is designed to serve as a storm surge protection structure.

To ensure the contin
uous flow of seawater, the DPWH will install five reinforced concrete box culverts and a bridge that spans 360 meters in length.

This follows a consideration of the suggestion from the city council to extend the initially planned 180-meter bridge design.

The DPWH needs PHP785.58 million for 2025 and PHP1 billion for 2026 to fully complete the project.

The causeway will cross Cancabato Bay, starting at the City Hall complex on Magsaysay Boulevard, up to the Kataisan point of the Tacloban Airport in the city’s San Jose District.

Travel time will be reduced to only 10 minutes from the current 45 minutes.

The structure will complement the future new airport terminal building designed to accommodate international flights.

Aside from being an alternative highway, the causeway will also shield communities from destructive waves.

The original plan was to build a tide embankment structure but it was discontinued due to strong opposition from several property owners in the city’s populated coastal communities.

S
ource: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The Climate Change Commission (CCC) is working on a collaboration project with research centers in the academe to help formulate policies to address environmental concerns.

In an interview, Secretary Robert Borje, the CCC’s vice chairperson and executive director, said in a forum at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) on Friday that schools’ resources can be effectively leveraged to advance efforts to mitigate climate change effects.

CCC is the lead policy-making body of the government tasked to coordinate, monitor and evaluate government programs and ensure mainstreaming of climate change in development plans.

‘We are inviting [the University of Santo Tomas Research Center for Social Sciences and Education (RCSSED)] to join consultations and with the brain power that you will be bringing, we will be in a much better place… this serves as a platform and brings academe closer to policy making,’ Borje told the Philippine News Agency.

He noted that his office is working to improve their planning that
should be data-based and science-driven such that a shift from reaction to a proactive action is needed.

Borje attended the 2nd Policy Expo on Friday that was hosted by the UST-RCSSED which was also participated in by students, researchers, academicians, and volunteer groups, among others.

With the theme, ‘Towards Security Solutions: Creating Strategic Intersections for Scholars and Bureaucrats’, the policy exposition seeks to locate how scholars and research institutions can help government institutions in the pursuit of total security.

Borje said the event seeks to address the socio-economic and educational issues by providing researchers with a platform to use their findings into actionable recommendations for policy formulations.

He said the forum will pave the way for the use of research studies in the policies and documents such as the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP).

The national climate change framework strategy has been translated into NCCAP, which prioritizes food security, water su
fficiency, ecological and environmental stability, human security, climate-smart industries and services, sustainable energy, and knowledge and capacity development.

Meanwhile, in a separate interview, Dr. Frederick Rey, project head of the 2nd Policy Expo, said the presence of the CCC shows thorough commitment in the power of science to provide backbone in the policy decisions.

‘Public administration, management, and governance, in general, should be understood from a holistic perspective; it is not the exclusive domain of policy makers. The academe should extend an effort to reach out to our policy and decision makers to let institutions work together,’ he said.

Rey, who is also a political sociologist and a researcher, said there is an evolving trend in the policy making in the government wherein experts are becoming more familiar with the need for evidence.

He said the universities in the country are a rich asset and a fertile ground for collaboration that must be maximized by national government agen
cies (NGAs) to empower itself.

‘We are still looking for more partner agencies, we expect that the UST-RCSSED will be constantly involved in shaping the policy narratives of the country such as climate change, food security, and technology.

We will be present to guide our policy makers in forging scientific and culturally rooted policies,’ he added.

Source: Philippines News Agency