Category: General

MANILA: The National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) and the Land Bank of the Philippines (Landbank) have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the People’s Development Trust Fund (PDTF).

In a news release on Tuesday, the NAPC said officials of the Landbank had a meeting with NAPC Secretary Lope Santos III about the operations and augmentation of the PDTF.

Trust Account Management Department Vice President lawyer Mario Sabino Jr., Senior Trust Management Officer Miguel Danzalan, and Lending Program Management Group head Crisso Pernito represented Landbank’s Trust Banking Group during the meeting.

The PDTF is a PHP4.5 billion trust fund mandated by Republic Act 8425 for the development and strengthening of microfinance and micro-enterprise services.

Landbank serves as the depository bank while NAPC monitors the implementation of microfinance for capacity building.

It shall be accessed by registered microfinance organizations engaged in providing microenterprise services for poverty reduction and loc
al governments providing microfinance and micro-enterprise programs to uplift the lives of the poor.

Santos said Landbank executives suggested to facilitate the issuance of an executive order to clearly define the bank’s role in the implementation of the PDTF.

‘Fulfilling the PDTF is important as it will assist small businesses and cooperatives which do not meet the requirements for credit assistance,’ he added.

In October 2023, the NAPC also had a meeting with the Bureau of the Treasury officials about the PDTF, ensuring microfinance and microenterprise services for the poor.

‘NAPC remains committed to regaining access to the PHP4.5-billion PDTF mandated by law with hopes of providing better funding support for institutional development and capability-building of program beneficiaries,’ Santos said.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Fair weather and isolated rain showers will continue to prevail over most parts of the country Tuesday, the weather bureau said.

“Generally fair weather will continue, although Caraga and Southern Leyte will experience scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to the easterlies,” Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) forecaster Obet Badrina said.

He added that the eastern section of the country will most likely experience rain showers.

PAGASA forecast partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers caused by the easterlies and localized thunderstorms over Metro Manila and the rest of the archipelago.

Meanwhile, the whole country will still experience light to moderate winds and slight to moderate coastal waters.

A tropical cyclone is unlikely to develop and no low pressure area is expected throughout the week, Badrina said.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Hanoi: The Department of Information Security under the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) has warned of the continued prevalence of online scams after the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday.

Many people have fallen victim to increasingly sophisticated scams, which often target gullible, greedy or technologically illiterate people.

Meta Platforms Inc., the tech company that manages two of the most popular social media platforms in Vietnam, Facebook and Instagram, recently warned users of several common online scams during Tet, including the “Electronic Li Xi (Lucky Money)” scam.

Electronic Li Xi, done using links generated by electronic wallet apps such as Momo or VNPayQR, has become popular in recent Tet holidays. The user would share this link or an image with the QR code for the recipient to click on or scan, and the money will be transferred to their electronic wallet account.

However recently, scammers have taken advantage of this convenient feature to impersonate victims’ acquaintances and s
end malicious links via social media or messaging platforms, usually in the form of links. When users click on the links, they may inadvertently provide personal information and become victims of scams or identity theft.

Scammers also fake text messages of banks, announcing that they have received a gift from the bank. The content of the messages includes links to fake websites which bear a similar interface to actual banking websites.

The fake website tricks people, requesting them to enter information such as their bank account number and password. When the information is entered, the scammers will be able to access the bank account.

The Department of Information Security of the MIC recommends that users verify the identity of the sender before receiving electronic Li Xi.

Users should be careful and vigilant to recognise suspicious signs in messages, such as spelling errors, brand impersonation, or overly large offers. Users should not provide personal information, accounts, passwords, VNeID, one-time a
uthentication codes (OTP), ID card information or bank accounts to any individual or organisation through any form, or follow any instructions from strange phone numbers.

Meta also recommends users set up two-factor authentication to protect their online accounts and reduce the risk of unauthorised access.

Fake online fortune telling scams

Another emerging scam during and after Tet is online fortune-telling. Social media platforms like Facebook and TikTok have seen a rise in individuals posing as spiritual figures offering and advertising fortune-telling services. These advertisements often target those seeking guidance or answers at the start of the new year.

Many people have fallen victim to online spiritual scams because they believe in unfounded fortune-telling, leading to bad consequences for themselves and their families, wasting time and money, and bringing anxiety and confusion.

Authorities warn that engaging with these services can lead to financial loss and emotional distress due to misleading
information.

The Department of Information Security recommends that people not get involved in spiritual scams on social media. Users need to research carefully and verify the source before making any transactions on social media to avoid being scammed./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

ILOILO CITY: The National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) will restore Fort San Pedro or the Fort Nuestra Señora del Rosario, an important cultural property built here in the 15th century.

Mayor Jerry Treñas on Tuesday said he recently talked with NMP Director General Jeremy Barns via Zoom for the preparations on the preliminary works to determine the pre-restoration.

‘They will determine if the old foundation is still there because the old plan still exists. They will start working from the old foundation,’ Treñas said in an interview.

He said the Spaniards defended Iloilo by building the fortress because it was a very significant city during that time.

NMP Western Visayas, in a statement, said it has allotted PHP4 million for the pre-restoration project.

The preparation works will start with an archaeological excavation of up to 1.50 meters deep to locate the remains of the fort’s foundation.

It will also determine the missing parts or added portions but not necessarily structures that will serve as t
he basis for the restoration plan.

NMP Visayas director Ma. Cecilia Tirol, together with Iloilo City government architects, inspected the site early this month.

NMP Archaeology Division, led by archaeologist Dr. Mary Jane Louise Bolunia, also started the review of the 1820 blueprint of the fort, comparing it to photographs taken in the 1930s up to the early 1940s and after World War II.

‘These photos were overlaid with the recent photos of the fort to aid the technical experts in determining the extent of the site that will be covered by the project,’ the statement said.

Fort San Pedro is a typical Spanish-built fortress, which is quadrilateral in shape and measures approximately 60 meters to 60 meters in building footprint. The walls are made from cut coral stones quarried from Guimaras, and are approximately 12 feet high and 30 feet thick.

‘According to historical accounts, fortresses like the Fort San Pedro were constructed by the Spanish to protect the towns from the threats of Moro pirates. During t
he 20th century, the structure started deteriorating and was destroyed during World War II,’ the NMP said.

The area is now used as a park, with remains of the original masonry walls, although still visible, already overshadowed by developments, it added.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Taal Volcano in Batangas province is unlikely to erupt despite the high volume of sulfur dioxide (S02) emission observed from its main crater, the head of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said Tuesday.

Phivolcs recorded 14,211 tons of S02 emission from Taal on Monday, the second time this year a high flux was observed.

The first and so far the highest in 2024 was 15,145 tons on Jan. 25.

The volcano has been generating an average of 10,000 tons per day since January.

“This (high gas emission) only indicates that degassing activity is continuous. This doesn’t indicate an eruption is imminent,” Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol said in a televised briefing.

Aside from gas emission, Bacolcol said other parameters to indicate that eruption is likely include the number of volcanic earthquakes recorded per day.

Only one volcanic earthquake was recorded for the past 48 hours.

Bacolcol, however, noted that volcanic smog (vog) is possible.

“As long as Taal Volcano is s
pewing out S02, there’s always a possibility that vog would form,” he said.

Factors such as wind strength and temperature also affect vog formation, he added. “Since it is currently windy in the area, so we haven’t seen vog yet. The S02 could easily dissipate through rains and strong winds.”

The public, especially residents near the Taal Volcano, are advised to wear N95 face masks, he said.

High concentrations of volcanic S02 could cause long-term health impacts to the communities around Taal Caldera frequently exposed to volcanic gas.

The S02 gas could irritate the skin, eyes, nose and throat, while aerosol particles in vog could penetrate the lungs and could induce the symptoms of asthma.

Bacolcol said that if S02 is inhaled, there should be plenty of water intake. Those who have health respiratory conditions, meanwhile, should see medical doctors.

Alert Level 1 (abnormal) is maintained over Taal Volcano, which means sudden steam-driven or phreatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall and l
ethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas can occur and threaten areas within Taal Volcano Island (TVI).

Entry into TVI, especially the vicinities of the main crater and the Daang Kastila fissure, must remain strictly prohibited.

Source: Philippines News Agency

COTABATO CITY: Anti-narcotics operatives arrested an alleged big-time drug peddler from Sultan Kudarat province and seized PHP3.4 million worth of ‘shabu’ during a buy-bust along Sinsuat Avenue here on Monday night.

Agent Jocelyn Mary of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA-BARMM) said suspect Norhan Padao, of Isulan town in Sultan Kudarat province, was placed under surveillance for a month before the 7 p.m. sting operation in Barangay Poblacion 5.

‘We are determining who his principals are and where he gets his supplies,’ Mary said in the vernacular.

Padao yielded 10 sachets of suspected shabu, weighing 500 grams placed inside a baby diaper, and the PHP600,000 boodle money, Mary said.

It was the ninth big-time anti-drug operation of the PDEA-BARMM in partnership with various security agencies since January, she added.

To date, some PHP22 million worth of shabu has been seized from drug peddlers, mostly in Cotabato City, Maguindanao del Sur,
Maguindanao Lanao del Sur, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, according to PDEA-BARMM.

Source: Philippines News Agency

LEGAZPI CITY: A PHP440.325 million small irrigation dam will soon rise in Ragay, Camarines Sur to benefit hundreds of farmers, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in Bicol said Tuesday.

National Irrigation Administration (NIA)-Bicol Regional Manager, engineer Gaudencio de Vera, said the project includes an 11-meter high zoned dam and 70-meter spillway with the Paculago River as the source of water.

‘We are very excited for the Bicol region. This project will generate an additional 450 hectares of service area and more or less 4,000 metric tons of rice per year,” de Vera said.

“The project aims to improve agricultural productivity through the provision and enhancement of irrigation and drainage infrastructure, thus increasing farmers’ income and standard of living with sustainable irrigation systems,” he added, noting that they are awaiting the program of works to begin the construction.

De Vera said two other dam projects are the subject of a feasibility study to address the irrigation water shor
tage in the towns of Lupi, Baao, and Iriga City in Camarines Sur.

Source: Philippines News Agency