Category: General

The Department of Agriculture-National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (DA-NFRDI) has reiterated its commitment to continue research to benefit Filipino fishers.

During its 5th anniversary celebration on Monday, NFRDI Executive Director Lilian Garcia urged the body to keep their focus on meeting their targets.

‘The most important is that we do our duties and focus on what should be done so that we can serve Filipinos and impact their lives. And in our case at NFRDI, it is through research for (the) development of our fisheries,’ Garcia said in a speech.

With its theme ‘NFRDI: Going Above and Beyond the Limits,’ the agency is set to conduct weeklong activities highlighting research and development (R and D) until Feb. 23.

These include the display of aquaponics setup and trivia contests for R and D awareness, lectures in basic research, lessons on freshwater ornamental fish breeding and production, tree planting, and various contests, among others.

Earlier, the NFRDI conducted a series of di
spersal of over 11,000 tilapia fingerlings disposal in Batangas and Mindoro, following its aquashade technology production.

Aquashading technology, which reduces water temperature by around three to four degrees Celsius, utilizes installed nets over the pond to protect tilapia breeding from excessive sunlight.

According to the NFRDI, this makes it ‘favorable for tilapia reproduction’, even during summer months.

Besides this, fishers in Pangasinan also adopted NFRDI’s modified bamboo raft technology for oyster production.

According to the NFRDI-Aquaculture Research and Development Section, the adoption of the said technology has resulted in a ‘significant surge’ in oyster production in Anda, Bani, Bolinao, Alaminos City, and Sual

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The House Committee on Public Order and Safety on Monday extended its inquiry into police officers involved in the alleged illegal arrest of four Chinese nationals after a Philippine National Police (PNP) official refused to cooperate with the panel.

‘Gusto na sana naming i-dismiss na itong investigation at palayain na yung mga pulis na na-contempt pero wala tayong magawa kundi ituloy ito (We would like to dismiss this investigation and release the cops who were cited in contempt but we can’t do anything but continue this probe),’ committee chair, Rep. Dan Fernandez of Sta. Rosa, Laguna, said during Monday’s resumption of inquiry.

Fernandez decided to extend the inquiry after Col. Lynette Tadeo of the PNP-Directorate for Personnel and Records Management (DPRM) refused to submit all the names of dismissed police personnel.

Tadeo cited Republic Act (RA) 10173 or the Data Privacy Act of 2012 but Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop insisted the House of Representatives has a mandate to require police authorities
to present documents being asked of them.

Citing Section 13, Paragraph F of RA 10173, Acop said the processing of sensitive personal information shall be prohibited, except in the following cases, including ‘the processing concerns such personal information as is necessary for the protection of lawful rights and interests of natural or legal persons in court proceedings, or the establishment, exercise or defense of legal claims, or when provided to government or public authority.’

‘This body has Constitutional and statutory mandate. Sabihin mo sa boss mo (You tell your boss),’ Acop told Tadeo.

House Deputy Majority Leader and ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo warned of another contempt if the PNP continues to ignore the panel’s request.

‘May I remind our officials from the PNP that this is a congressional inquiry, this is not a talk show, this is not a press conference na pwede niyong i-withhold (that you can withhold) [the information],’ Tulfo said.

Tulfo said if the guests do not trust the inquiry, t
hey can request for an executive session.

Tadeo replied that they will comply.

The House panel set its next inquiry on Feb. 26.

Earlier, the committee cited police officers Brig. Gen. Roderick Mariano, Lt. Col. Jolet T. Guevara, Col. Charilie Cabradilla, Maj. Jason D. Quijana, Maj. John Patrick Magsalos, and Staff Sergeants Roy G. Pioquinto, Mark J. Democrito, and Danilo L. Desder in contempt for refusing to withholding information.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Monday said it has intensified its watch against a form of illegal recruitment where victims are lured through a “fixed marriage”, which is supposedly run by a big syndicate.

In a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing, BI deputy spokesperson Melvin Mabulac revealed that they so far logged three cases of this scheme at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

“Tiningnan po natin iyong nangyari noong February 13, nakakuha po ng marriage certificate ang isang Chinese na ito at doon sa isang agency na nag-apply siya doon sa China. At ang naging part ng ating biktima, ang ginawa niya, nagpadala siya ng kanyang mga certificate of no marriage, iyong kanyang birth certificate, iyong kanyang ID (We looked at the incident that occured last Feb. 13, when a Chinese national obtained a marriage certificate from an agency and applied in China. The part of the victim was she sent her certificate of no marriage, her birth certificate and her ID),” Mabulac said at the Bagong Pilipi
nas Ngayon public briefing.

‘At iyon ang ginawang parang kasama sa mga dokumentong isinubmit doon sa agency at nagbayad iyong Chinese ng PHP40,000. At nito lamang February, ang marriage certificate ay pinadala sa ating biktima dito sa Pilipinas at iyon ay kanyang ginamit bilang isang presentasyon na siya ay aalis at kasama na iyong kanyang asawang Chinese (The victim’s documents were submitted to the agency and the Chinese national paid PHP40,000. This February, the marriage certificate was sent to the victim here in the Philippines and that was what she used in departing together with her Chinese spouse),’ the BI official added.

Mabulac said they are thoroughly scrutinizing the documents of passengers to curb this activity.

He, meanwhile, reminded the public especially those looking to work abroad not to fall prey to this illegal activity and to always check available jobs abroad before agencies engaged in overseas employment.

‘Kaya pinapaalala po natin sa ating mga kababayan, if ever po kayo po nag-iint
eres na magtrabaho sa ibang bansa, kayo po (ay) dumaan sa ating DMW (Department of Migrant Workers) (To our kababayans, if ever your are interested to work abroad, go through the DMW),’ the BI official added.

He also noted that if a person would like to get married, he/she has to apply for a spouse visa or fiancé visa and they also have to go to the Commission on Filipino Overseas for verification.

Filipinos should also undergo a PEDOS (Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar), to ensure their safety and protection overseas while married to a foreign national.

Addressing queues

Meanwhile, Commissioner Norman Tansingco addressed a recent post on X (formerly Twitter) on immigration queues.

He said that despite the queues, passengers were speedily processed and the area was empty in 40 minutes.

In the post, a netizen complained of long lines on Monday morning after his flight landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1.

Tansingco noted that queues are expected as eight flights carrying al
most 1,800 total passengers arrived at the same period.

‘Our immigration officers had to process all these flights that arrived at the same time,’ he said in a statement.

The BI chief added that he has been closely monitoring airport operations, and said that heavy queuing was observed at around 6:20 a.m., but the arrival area was clear by 7 a.m.

Source: Philippines News Agency

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has chosen Legazpi City in Albay province as one of the newest members of its Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC).

In a statement on Monday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the city was chosen to be one of 64 GNLCs from 35 countries during a virtual event on Feb. 14.

‘These cities have demonstrated exceptional commitment to fostering lifelong learning opportunities for all within their local communities,’ the DFA said.

The GNLC, it said, aims to bring together cities committed to promoting lifelong learning through policy dialogue, peer learning, and collaboration among its members to discuss innovative ways to develop, improve, and monitor learning cities strategies.

In particular, GNLC members encourage collaboration among education, training, cultural institutions, and other stakeholders such as government officials, civil society groups, and businesses.

‘With the inclusion of Legazpi City, the Philippines
now has two cities listed in the GNLC,’ it said.

Balanga City in Bataan was chosen to join the GNLC in 2015.

According to the UNESCO website, members of the GNLC ‘effectively mobilize its resources in every sector to promote inclusive learning from basic to higher education; revitalizes learning in families and communities; facilitates learning for and in the workplace; extends the use of modern learning technologies; enhances quality and excellence in learning; and fosters a culture of learning throughout life.’

The GNLC network supports achieving all 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) of the UN, particularly SDG 4 which calls for inclusive and equitable quality education and promotes lifelong learning opportunities for all.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: – Senator Francis Escudero on Monday said the enactment of four measures into laws by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. would boost the country’s education sector.

‘I thank President Marcos for his expeditious action on our bills,” Escudero said.

“Malaking bagay ang mga bagong batas na naipasa upang patuloy natin na mapalakas ang sistema ng edukasyon sa bansa (These new laws will help to continue boosting the education system in the country),’ he added.

The laws cover four state-run higher educational institutions, namely, Pampanga State Agricultural University (PSAU), Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU), Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) and the Bulacan State University (BulSu).

Under Republic Act (RA) 11978, the DMMMSU is now allowed to establish a College of Medicine at the university’s La Union campus in the municipality of Agoo. It will primarily offer a Doctor of Medicine program, including an Integrated Liberal Arts and Medicine Program.

The program will con
sist of basic science and clinical courses using a learner-centered, competency-based and community-oriented approach to develop ‘a corps of professional physicians to strengthen the healthcare system of the country.’

RA 11977 established the PSAU campus in the town of Floridablanca, with a mandate to offer short-term, technical-vocational, undergraduate and graduate courses.

RA 11979 converted the PUP campus in Parañaque City into a regular campus that will offer short-term, technical-vocational, undergraduate and graduate courses within its areas of competency and specialization.

Both the PUP Parañaque City campus and the PSAU Floridablanca campus will be headed by an administrator to be appointed by the universities’ respective boards.

Meanwhile, RA 11980 revised the university charter of BulSu to expand the institution’s curricular offerings and the composition and powers of its governing board and encouraging the specialization of its constituent units.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Subdivisions and future housing developments will soon be required to set aside an area for information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure, after such proposal hurdled second reading in the House of Representatives.

During the plenary session on Monday, the chamber approved through voice voting House Bill 9870, or the proposed Housing Development Digital Connectivity Act.

To ensure digital connectivity in urban centers and populated areas of the country, the measure requires all housing projects, subdivisions, villages, or residential properties to allocate an area within its designated open space for the establishment of ICT infrastructure and related amenities.

It seeks to amend Presidential Decree No. 957, which mandates the developer of a subdivision to allocate open space for parks, playgrounds, and recreational use.

According to PD 957, as amended by PD 1216, for subdivision projects spanning one hectare or more, the owner or developer shall reserve 30 percent of the gross are
a for open space.

Developers can also provide an area for ICT infrastructure from the net saleable lots outside the mandatory 30 percent of the gross project area for open space to reserve the area for parks, playgrounds, and recreational use.

The ICT provider can obtain the area for ICT infrastructure and facilities through direct purchase based on the fair market value of the land or through a long-term lease.

All ICT infrastructure to be built in an existing subdivision shall be non-exclusive and shall be accessible for shared use by ICT providers.

The bill provides for the compensation to the local government unit, the homeowners’ association, the developer or the private lot owner for the use of such open space.

Source: Philippines News Agency