Category: General

MANILA: The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) and Volleyball World announced on Wednesday night the selection of the Philippines as host of the prestigious Men’s World Championship next year.

The tournament, featuring the world’s top 32 teams, will be held on Sept. 12 -28, 2025.

According to the news report on the FIVB website, the Philippines was selected among “an extremely competitive field of potential hosts” and after a strict evaluation process, its bid was found “to be particularly strong; with its emphasis on ensuring a continued growth of the event and the country’s commitment to the development of volleyball globally.”

“This prestigious event will not only inspire a new generation of athletes but will also help to encourage increased participation in sport at all levels in the country and wider region,” FIVB president Dr. Ary Graça said after the official awarding ceremony held at the FIVB headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.

“We are confident that the Philippines, supported by our in
novative Volleyball Empowerment program, will host an extraordinary World Championship that will leave a lasting legacy and help to cultivate an even brighter future for our sport globally.”

Volleyball World CEO Finn Taylor said the decision underscores FIVB and Volleyball World’s dedication to expanding volleyball’s global footprint and engaging with fans worldwide.

‘The Philippines, with its proven track record of hosting major volleyball events and passionate fanbase, is well-positioned to deliver an exceptional championship that will showcase the best of the sport,” he said.

The Philippine bidding delegation was led by Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) board member, Senator Pia Cayetano, who said that the successful bid to host the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship further ‘reinforces the country’s track record’ in staging world-class events.

‘With the support and commitment of both our government, and the private sector, we can be certain that it will be a fantastic spectacle,’
she said.

The former national volleyball athlete said it has been her personal advocacy to make sports more accessible, especially to the Filipino youth, and bringing the international competition to the Philippines would give the Filipino people the opportunity to witness it first-hand.

‘We also have the honor of welcoming 32 teams, as well as a global audience where they can experience world-renowned Filipino hospitality and colorful Filipino culture,’ Cayetano said.

As part of the event, the Department of Tourism will integrate the “LOVE THE Philippines” promotional campaign, highlighting the country’s beauty and hospitality, to a global audience.

‘The Philippines’ hosting of this global volleyball event bolsters our sports tourism portfolio, driving economic growth, highlighting the country’s diverse array of tourism offerings that promise a truly unforgettable Philippine experience,’ Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco was quoted as saying in the FIVB press release.

‘We are eager to showcase to the i
nternational volleyball community the many reasons to Love the Philippines: from our award-winning destinations, our mega biodiversity, our deep well of culture and heritage, the tapestry of traditions and talents across our islands, and the warmth and hospitality of the Filipino people. We reiterate the Department of Tourism’s full support and commitment to ensure the successful hosting of the FIVB Volleyball Men’s Championship in 2025.’

Source: Philippines News Agency

ISTANBUL: Vietnam President Vo Van Thuong stepped down from his position on Wednesday, the ruling Communist Party said in a statement.

The party said Thuong, who served only for one year, was guilty of “violations and shortcomings.”

His resignation was accepted by the central committee.

He also stopped serving on the Politburo and the 13th Party Central Committee and as chairman of the Council for National Defense and Security, the party said.

As for the reasons for his abrupt resignation, the party said, ‘His violations and flaws have negatively affected the public perception and the reputation of the party and the state.”

Born in 1970, Vo was elected president on March 2, 2023.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Hanoi: The Vietnam Geological Department (VGD) and the US Department of State’s Bureau of Energy Resources partnered to host a technical training session on economic geology and mineral resource reserve valuation methods in Hanoi on March 21.

This event was within the framework of a Memorandum of Understanding previously signed by the both sides.

Speaking at the session, VGD Deputy Director Le Quoc Hung said Vietnam possesses around 60 different types of mineral resources across over 5,000 mines and exploitation sites, ranking second globally in terms of rare earth reserves.

The session aims to equip the Vietnamese mining officials with information and knowledge on rare earth elements, particularly their integration into the global supply chain up to international practices, he added.

Sharing his insights on the prospects of the rare earth market, David Bird, a mining valuation expert from Deloitte’s mining consulting group in the US, said the demand for this mineral is projected to surge significant in t
he coming decade, driven by the growing use of rare earth permanent magnet (REPM) in electric vehicles, wind turbines, and other purposes. Notably, this will translate into increased demand for rare earth elements such as neodymium REO and magnetic praseodymium.

The session explored key areas such as the rare earth supply chain and market development strategies, economic geology fundamentals, asset valuation methods, ownership rights and financial regimes.

Participants proposed solutions to rare earth development such as investing in eco-friendly processing technologies, issuing stable tax policies and fees for a minimum period of around 10 years, and ensuring transparent project implementation processes.

On the occasion, a seminar on the sustainable development of Vietnamese rare earth resources was also held./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

BAGUIO CITY: A PHP3 billion (USD55 million) 15-megawatt (MW) waste-to-energy project in Sablan, Benguet aims to help this city lower waste management cost.

In a briefing here Wednesday night, Robert John Sobrepeña, board chair of publicly listed Metro Global Holdings, said the green energy project will help the local government lower its PHP200 million average monthly waste management expenses.

“Baguio no longer has to bring the garbage to Tarlac. We will feed it (the garbage) to run the turbines that will produce power,” he said.

The General Services Office earlier said the city produces an average of 500 metric tons of garbage daily, although around 65 of the wastes are recyclables and biodegradable.

It said the garbage is hauled to a private engineered sanitary landfill in Capaz, Tarlac at PHP2,200 per ton.

Sobrepeña said they have signed a memorandum of agreement with officials of Baguio City, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba, and Tublay for the energy project on 7.8-hectare property at the boundary
of the municipalities of Sablan in Benguet and Burgos in La Union.

“We have been conducting several dialogues with the community that will host the project, explaining to them about the project and assuring them that there will be no accumulation of garbage in the process of producing energy,’ he said.

Sobrepeña said the project will still undergo the Free Prior and Informed Consent process as mandated by the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act.

He hopes to have the initial permit after the Holy Week and commence with the project before the end of the year.

The infrastructure component of the project is expected to be completed in two to three years.

Sobrepeña said the company will collect the garbage at no expense to the local governments.

He said Baguio City officials also indicated willingness to invest in the project.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The Supreme Court (SC) has dismissed an administrative complaint filed against a Nueva Ecija prosecutor due to lack of substantial evidence.

The tribunal approved the findings and recommendation of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) and dismissed the administrative complaint filed by Mila Acosta against Cabanatuan City Prosecutor Christopher Singson.

‘(T)he primary purpose of administrative disciplinary proceedings against delinquent lawyers is to uphold the law and to prevent the ranks of the legal profession from being corrupted by unscrupulous practice — not to shelter or nurse a wounded ego.’ the court said in its six-page resolution dated Feb. 5, and uploaded online March 14.

The SC added that the ‘court will only wield its power to disbar when substantial evidence would prove the lack of fitness to engage in the practice of law.’

Acosta filed the complaint after she was dissatisfied with the prosecutor’s resolution of the perjury case she initiated.

On Sept. 20, 2010, the complain
ant wrote a letter to the provincial prosecutor of Nueva Ecija to follow up the status of the case pending before the prosecutor at the time.

She later discovered that the case was already dismissed by the prosecutor in August of that year.

The IBP said the complainant, who subsequently filed an affidavit of desistance, failed to substantiate her allegation that the opposing party in her complaint gave a white envelope to the respondent.

‘No proof was adduced to support this contention. Thus, it remains to be a naked claim,’ the SC said.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte Thursday said no penalty shall be imposed against the teacher who went viral for scolding learners live on the video-sharing platform TikTok.

In an ambush interview on the sidelines of engagements in Cambodia as president of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO), Duterte said she has already read the explanatory statement of the involved teacher.

“Sinabihan ko ang Regional Office natin na (I told our Regional Office that) there will be no penalties for the teacher. Just to remind the teacher that if she’s angry, she has to pause,” she said.

Duterte added that it is normal for individuals to reach tipping point.

However, the teacher could’ve paused and gave the class a break.

“Ang una kong naging reaction is tao lang iyong teacher. Lahat tayo umaabot sa punto na nagagalit tayo, lalo ‘pag nafu-frustrate tayo (My first reaction was, the teacher is just a human being. We all reach our angry point, especially when we get fr
ustrated),” she said.

Duterte, meanwhile, assured that interventions are in place in case a need arises for involved learners.

“Mayroon naman tayong psychosocial support para sa ating mga (We have psychosocial support for our) teachers. We have teachers that are trained for stress debriefing,” she said.

To date, a public school teacher handles an average 25 to 45 learners per class, some 55, Duterte said.

Teachers’ training

Meanwhile, Duterte said the DepEd may adopt Cambodia’s strategy for the capacity and skills improvement of teachers.

“Nakita natin na pwedeng tutukan iyong kanilang teacher training program, reforms na ini-implement (We saw that we can focus on their teacher training programs, [and] reforms being implemented,” she added.

She also lauded Cambodia’s efforts in advancing strategies to realize the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in ensuring access to quality education.

Besides this, the Vice President said she hopes to get the support of Cambodia for the
SEAMEO’s priorities, flagship projects, and international partnerships.

Source: Philippines News Agency