Author Carlo Carrasco

All LGUs must fully automate business registration processes by 2028

May 10, 2025May 7, 2025carlocarrasco

The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) recently emphasized that all local government units (LGUs) around the country are required to have their respective business registration processes fully automated by the year 2028, according to a Business Mirror news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Business Mirror. Some parts in boldface…

ALL 1,642 local government units (LGUs) are required to fully automate their business registration processes by 2028 or before the end of the term of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., according to the Anti-Red Tape Authority (Arta).

At a briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday, Arta Secretary Ernesto V. Perez divulged that out of 1,642 LGUs in the country, only 115 LGUs have fully automated their business registration processes as of March 31, 2025 while 1,203 LGUs are “partially automated.”

With only three years left in the Marcos administration, Perez said Arta is intensifying its efforts to make sure that all LGUs across the country will comply with the automation of business registration processes.

Having a fully operational eBOSS or electronic Business One-Stop Shop means being able to streamline the procedures for the filing of applications and issuance of local business licenses, permits, clearances, and authorizations through the LGU’s provision and usage of an “on-demand” single, digital portal, according to ARTA.

“Ang target po before the term of this administration ends in 2028, all LGUs must be compliant. That is why our partners for this are the DICT, DILG and DTI,” said Perez.

With this, the Arta chief revealed that it issued 431 Notices to Explain. “We will file charges against the 134 LGUs that did not respond. Because based on our experience, if they know the government agency is serious and will file charges, they will act on it. I hope they don’t wait for us to file a case against them before they act,” Perez said.

He explained that the Office of the Ombudsman will determine the proper violation and penalty to be imposed on these non-compliant LGUs.

“Our President has a strict directive for all government processes to be streamlined and digitalized,” Perez said, partly in Filipino.

Perez said these LGUs cannot use lack of budget or financial resources as an excuse for non-compliance with eBOSS, “Because there is a free system that DICT developed. This began with the Integrated Business Permitting and Licensing System (IBPLS).”

“The DICT has improved the e-gov.ph and it’s free. The LGU just needs to apply. Meanwhile, those LGUs with budget, they hired third-party service providers,” Perez explained.

Moreover, the Arta chief said LGUs cannot use poor internet connection as an excuse for non-compliance.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Has your local government unit made its business registration processes fully automated already?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Better than Streaming: Jaws 50th Anniversary 4K Blu-ray SteelBook coming this June

May 9, 2025May 4, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back fellow geeks, Blu-ray collectors and movie buffs!

If you love Steven Spielberg’s classic film Jaws and if you are determined to collect the latest thing about it, be aware that the Jaws 50th Anniversary 4K Blu-ray SteelBook will be released commercially on June 17, 2025. In relation to that, customers are welcome to order it in advance by clicking here.

*This is the 4K Blu-ray SteelBook set of Jaws. (photo source – Amazon)*

Posted below are the technical details of the Jaws 50th Anniversary 4K Blu-ray SteelBook sourced from its Blu-ray.com page,

Video

Codec: HEVC / H.265 (70.80 Mbps)

Resolution: Native 4K (2160p)

HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR10+

Aspect ratio: 2.35:1

Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1

Audio

English: Dolby Atmos

English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)

English: DTS 2.0 Mono

French: DTS-HD HR 7.1

Spanish: DTS 5.1

Subtitles – English SDH, French, Spanish

Discs – 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray Disc, Three-disc set (1 BD-100, 2 BD-50), Bonus View (PiP), BD-Live

D-Box, Social network features

Digital – Digital copy included

Packaging – SteelBook, inner print

Playback – 4K Blu-ray: Region free, 2K Blu-ray: Region A

Although I never saw Jaws inside the movie theater, I saw it multiple times from local TV to cable TV, and DVD. It truly still is one of Steven Spielberg’s best works to this day and it should be stated that filmmakers encountered a lot of problems during production at the time. To animate the killer shark, they used physical stuff while shooting on the ocean extensively. Computer-generated graphics and digital editing were not the standard back then. I have yet to view the classic film on high-definition and it should be stated that the Jaws 4K Blu-ray has been available for years now.

*Mark your calendars for June 17, 2025. (photo source – Amazon)*

If you have decided already to order the more affordable and simpler 4K Blu-ray copy of Jaws, click here. If you really want the upcoming 4K Blu-ray SteelBook edition, click here.

If you wish to join a group of movie enthusiasts and talk about cinema, visit the Movie Fans Worldwide Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/322857711779576

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Uninterrupted power supply on Election Day promised

May 9, 2025May 6, 2025carlocarrasco

With the 2025 National and Local Elections all set for May 12, the Energy Task Force on Election (ETFE) gave its assurance to the public that uninterrupted power will be done, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news article of the PNA. Some parts in boldface…

The Energy Task Force on Election (ETFE), led by the Department of Energy (DOE), has assured the public of uninterrupted power supply nationwide during the May 12 midterm polls.

In a virtual briefing Monday, DOE Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said the energy sector is “fully prepared” to provide stable electricity and fuel throughout the voting, transmission, and canvassing periods.

“We assure the public that the energy sector is fully prepared to ensure an unimpeded power supply before, during, and after the elections,” Fuentebella said.

“Contingency plans are in place, and we are in constant coordination with security agencies to help ensure a smooth and secure election process,” he added.

The ETFE, a multi-agency body led by the DOE, works closely with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and security forces, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, and Bureau of Fire Protection to ensure a smooth and credible elections.

Since January, the task force has held regular coordination meetings and inspections to assess readiness and implement contingency plans, while field personnel have conducted maintenance on transmission lines, polling stations, and backup systems, especially in remote and off-grid areas.

The DOE official said the energy sector has mapped out priority areas and is monitoring potential vulnerabilities, particularly in Visayas and Mindanao.

“We have taken all necessary steps to support the smooth and credible conduct of the 2025 elections. The Department of Energy, through the ETFE, stands ready to respond and coordinate with our partners to maintain uninterrupted energy access across the country,” Fuentebella added.

He said the task force will closely monitor potential worst-case scenarios, including the simultaneous occurrence of natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and low-pressure weather systems that could trigger power disruptions.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think stable and sufficient electricity will be provided during and after the elections? Do you think power outages could still happen during the canvassing period?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Philippines inflation rate lands at 1.4% in April 2025, the lowest since November 2019

May 8, 2025May 6, 2025carlocarrasco

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) confirmed that the inflation rate of the Philippines fell down more to 1.4% in April 2025 which is the lowest since November 2019, according to a news report by GMA Network.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report of GMA News. Some parts in boldface…

The Philippines’ inflation rate continued its deceleration streak for the third straight month, remaining below 2% in April, on the back of slower movements of food and transport costs, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Tuesday.

At a press briefing, PSA chief and National Statistician Claire Dennis Mapa reported that last month’s inflation print —which measures the rate of increase in the prices of consumer goods and services— cooled down further to 1.4% from 1.8% in March.

This was the slowest since November 2019, when inflation clocked in at 1.2%.

April’s inflation rate brought the year-to-date rate to 2%, well within the government’s ceiling of 2% to 4% for the entire 2025.

“Ang pangunahing dahilan ng mas mababang antas ng inflation nitong Abril 2025 kaysa noong Marso 2025 ay ang mas mabagal na pagtaas ng presyo ng Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages sa antas na 0.9% [from 2.2% in March],” Mapa said.

(The main contributor to the lower inflation rate in April 2025 versus March 2025 was the slower increase in the prices of Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages with a rate of 0.9%.)

“Ito ay may 82.3% share sa pagbaba ng pangkalahatang inflation sa bansa,” he added.

(This accounted for 82.3% of the decrease in the country’s overall inflation rate.)

The decline in Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages index was brought by the stronger contraction in cereals, such as rice, to -7.4% from -5.2%.

Also contributing to the overall inflation downtrend was the faster contraction in Transport index at -2.1% from -1.1% month-on-month, accounting for 15.2% to the decline.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the inflation rate of the Philippines could go down even further to as low as 1% soon?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Man arrested in Las Piñas City over charges of rape and child abuse

May 8, 2025May 5, 2025carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, police officers arrested a man over multiple charges of rape and child abuse, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. The suspect worked as an office clerk and he turned out to be a highly wanted man in San Fernando City.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…

An office clerk accused of six counts of rape and three counts of child abuse was arrested by members of the Southern Police District Special Operations Unit (SPD-DSOU) in Las Piñas City on Friday, May 2.

Authorities identified the suspect as “Aris,” 44, listed as the No. 2 most wanted person at the municipal level of San Fernando City Police and No. 5 at the provincial level of the Pampanga Police Provincial Office.

He was arrested at Phase 3 in Barangay CAA by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Robert Alexander Razon Malig of the San Fernando Pampanga RTC Branch 45 for six counts of rape under Article 266-A of the Revised Penal Code and three counts of child abuse under Republic Act 7610.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Are you concerned that there could still be a lot of wanted criminals from outside of Metro Manila who could be hiding in the city?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 75

May 7, 2025May 2, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith makes big comeback – This year marks the 20^th anniversary of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith and its impact was felt when it finished 2^nd in the American box office with its anniversary theatrical release. The George Lucas-directed movie grossed $25.5 million on April 25-27, 2025. For the newcomers reading this, Revenge of the Sith’s successful return to cinemas was celebrated by long-time fans as it was George Lucas’ Star Wars, and not the woke garbage from Kathleen Kennedy and the woke Disney company. To learn about the significance of Revenge of the Sith’s return, watch the videos below.

#2 Ashleigh Burton, Popcorn in Bed, VKunia and Decker Shado react to Revenge of the Sith – Revenge of the Sith is the real Star Wars as it was made and released many years before woke Disney made the unfortunate deal with George Lucas. I myself was fortunate enough to have seen the movie inside the cinema during its opening week here in the Philippines way back in 2005. To see how Revenge of the Sith impacts viewers, watch the respective video reactions by Ashleigh Burton, Popcorn in Bed, VKunia and Decker Shado (review) below.

#3 PatmanQC examines the history of Centipede – Centipede was an Atari game that I played a lot on the Atari 2600 a long time ago. It was simple with its game design and yet it was a lot of fun to play with. I never got to play the arcade version of Centipede in the old days but thanks to the Atari 50 collection I own, I finally played the arcade Centipede on my Xbox Series X. The development Centipede is interesting and you can learn more about it and the games by watching PatmanQC’s in-depth video below.

#4 Lunar games retrospective – If you are feeling nostalgic or interested in the Lunar franchise of video games, then Gaming Broductions’ retrospective video should interest you. For the newcomers reading this, the Lunar franchise started on the Sega CD (Mega CD in other markets) with Lunar: The Silver Star which was a Japanese role-playing game (JRPG) developed by Game Arts. Sequels and spin-offs were released in the years that followed and the Lunar franchise was revived for modern consoles with the Lunar Remastered Collection. Watch the video to discover more about Lunar games.

#5 Popcorn in Bed reacts to Cape Fear (1991) – Remember when Robert De Niro played a very bad guy in 1991’s Cape Fear? Believe it or not, that particular movie was actually a remake of the original 1960s version and it even got nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. There were moviegoers who got terrified by Cape Fear in 1991 and you can see for yourselves how it impacted YouTuber Popcorn in Bed in the reaction video below. By the way, Nick Nolte was really good in his role in the film.

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Malacañang declares May 12 (Election Day) a holiday

May 7, 2025May 6, 2025carlocarrasco

To allow voters nationwide to be participate in the 2025 National and Local Elections, Malacañang declared May 12 a holiday, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news article of the PNA Some parts in boldface…

Malacañang declared Monday, May 12, as a special non-working holiday throughout the country for the 2025 national and local elections.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, on the authority of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., signed Proclamation 878 on Tuesday declaring a nationwide holiday to “enable the people to properly exercise their right to vote.”

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) recently urged Marcos to declare May 12 as a holiday to allow registered voters to cast their ballots.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Is there a great majority of your local community members who will actually go out and vote on May 12?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Chinese national caught with high-tech eavesdropping equipment charged by NBI

May 6, 2025May 1, 2025carlocarrasco

The Chinese national who was arrested near the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) building in Manila with high-tech equipment with him has been formally charged by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), according to a news story by the Philippine New Agency (PNA). GMA Network had its own reporter on location when the arrest happened.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news article of the PNA. Some parts in boldface…

The National Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday filed criminal charges against a Chinese national arrested for possession of electronic eavesdropping equipment near the Commission on Elections (Comelec) building in Intramuros, Manila on Tuesday.

Tak Hail Lao, 47, was charged by the NBI before the Department of Justice (DOJ) with misuse of device and illegal interception and system interference under Republic Act No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, and espionage under Commonwealth Act No. 616 or the Espionage Act of 1941.

Speaking to reporters, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said while the charges are bailable, “it will be up to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to decide whether temporary liberty should be granted while the case is pending since the suspect is a foreign national.”

Records from the BI showed that Tak Hail Lao, who uses a passport issued by the Chinese special administrative region of Macau, arrived last April 2 and had no derogatory record.

He was caught in possession of an international mobile subscriber identity device, or IMSI catcher, which can be used to intercept mobile communications, including text messages.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think there could be a lot more Chinese nationals using high-tech equipment in the Philippines doing secret acts of espionage? Do you consider Chinese spies a threat to national security?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Mayoral candidate Carlo Aguilar unveils flood control plan for Las Piñas City

May 6, 2025May 3, 2025carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, mayoral candidate Carlo Aguilar unveiled a plan to deal with the problem of flooding and it involves repairs, expansion and the modernizing of the drainage system, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…

Las Piñas mayoral candidate Carlo Aguilar presented a comprehensive plan to address the perennial problem of flooding in the city, a concern identified as the most urgent issue by residents.

Aguilar said that flooding is closely linked to waste management practices and pointed to improper waste disposal as a key factor contributing to the frequent inundation of streets and neighborhoods in the city.

He laid out a multi-pronged strategy that includes repairing, expanding, and modernizing Las Piñas’ existing drainage system to mitigate flooding across the city.

The mayoral candidate added that the dry summer months should be the perfect time to implement regular cleanup operations of rivers, creeks, and waterways to ensure unimpeded water flow.

“Unclogging our drainage is one part of the solution. But we also need to improve how we manage waste and ensure that our communities are involved in keeping our city clean and flood-free,” Aguilar pointed out.

A major feature of his proposal is the establishment of a more efficient and organized garbage collection system.

Aguilar said that under his watch, the city would strengthen its fleet of garbage trucks which are owned and operated by the local government, rather than relying on costly private contractors. He added that this will help reduce expenses and improve service delivery.

Public education is also integral to Aguilar’s waste management strategy. He plans to launch a sustained campaign to promote proper waste disposal among residents.

“Behavioral change is a vital aspect of waste disposal,” Aguilar emphasized. “Without changing how people handle their trash, we cannot create an effective waste management system.”

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Do you think Carlo Aguilar’s plan on solving the problem of local flooding makes sense? How much taxpayers’ money do you think Carlo Aguilar’s flood control plan will cost?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Bada, Okuma rule Junior Elite contests in 2025 Subic Bay International Triathlon (SUBIT) – NTT AST Subic Bay Asia Cup

May 5, 2025May 4, 2025carlocarrasco

Filipino Darell Johnson Bada dominated the Sprint Junior Elite Men during the 2025 Subic Bay International Triathlon (SUBIT) – NTT AST Subic Bay Asia Cup held yesterday at the Subic Freeport Zone.

Bada won the gold with a time of 1 hour, 1 minute and 46 seconds (1:01:46). Japan’s Main Takata (1:02:10) and Filipino John Michael Lalimos (1:02:26) were second and third, respectively.

“I really want to win so I did my best,” said Bada, who finished third last year with a time of 1:03:22.

“The swim was very hard, the bike was challenging, I broke away early in the running stage,” he added.

Euan Arrow Ramos, the U15 super sprint champion last year, settled for eighth place with a time of 1:07:38. He dropped one of his shoes after the swim phase but still registered the fastest time of 33:08 in the bike phase. However, he ran out of energy in the running stage.

In the Junior Elite Women contest, Yukiho Okuma of Japan clocked 1:08:13 to prevail over Filipinos Anisha Eunice Caluya (1:11:18) and Aira Danara Gregorio (1:12:17).

National athlete Kira Ellis, who has a shin injury, did not finish the race. She clocked 10:16 in swimming and 34:36 in cycling but skipped the running phase as advised by her coaches and physical therapist.

Meanwhile, Dustine Dan Eslay of 2600 Baguio topped the men’s 16-19 category in 1:07:24. in the sprint age group category of the tournament supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Century Tuna, Sante Barley, Milo and Gatorade as the official hydration partner.

Winners in the men’s standard age group were Andie Jimeno (18-24), Rafael Sawali (25-29), Tristan Rene Santos (30-34), Mike Kramer (35-39), Craig Douglas (40-44), Marvin Baldemor (45-49), Junrox Roque (50-54), JT Gonzales (55-59), Cristobal Olivas (60-over).

In the sprint para category, the gold medalists were Edison Badillo (men PTS2); Raul Angoluan (men PTS3); Alex Silverio (men PTS4); Jerome Nelmida and Shyrnel Amiladjid (men PTVI); and Steven and Audrey Coleman (special category).

For local triathlon updates, visit https://www.facebook.com/TriPhil.

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Note: The above news releases was from Triathlon Philippines sent by email. Some parts were edited for this website.

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