Asia – Page 84 – Author Carlo Carrasco

Las Piñas City qualifies as a 2024 Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) awardee

November 15, 2024November 14, 2024carlocarrasco

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) just released the official list of Seal of Good and Local Governance (SGLG) awardees for 2024 and the City of Las Piñas made it, the City Government announced via social media. Las Piñas is one of the fourteen National Capital Region (NCR) cities that were declared awardees.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt of the City Government’s social media post (translated from Tagalog). Some parts in boldface…

Las Piñas City was honored with the prestigious Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) 2024 from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in recognition of the smooth and effective governance of the city under the leadership of Mayor Imelda Aguilar and Vice Mayor April Aguilar. This award is only given to local governments that pass the strict standards of DILG in various aspects of public service and governance.

The SGLG focuses on ten key categories, including Financial Administration and Sustainability, which assesses proper and transparent use of city funds; Disaster Preparedness, which ensures disaster preparedness; Social Protection and Sensitivity, which emphasizes addressing the needs of the poor and vulnerable Sector; Health Compliance and Responsiveness, which promotes effective health services; Sustainable Education, which aims to improve the quality of education; Business-Friendliness and Competitiveness, which facilitates business; Safety, Peace, and Order, which promotes safety and order; Environmental Management, which values environmental care; Tourism, Heritage Development, Culture, and Arts, promoting tourism and cultural appreciation; and Youth Development, encouraging active participation of youth in governance.

Through this recognition, Las Piñas City proved its continuous dedication in providing quality service for the welfare of its residents.

There is a grand total of 714 SGLG awardees nationwide for 2024. For full transparency, displayed below is the entire 2024 SGLG awardees list from the DILG. Feel free to download a copy.

wp-1731560433405 Download

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 happy with the way the City Government has been doing public service and governing? Are there certain things that you wish the City Government could improve on? Does this new development impact your way of choosing which candidates to vote for in the May 2025 local elections?

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 at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

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

Muntinlupa City qualifies as 2024 Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) awardee

November 15, 2024November 14, 2024carlocarrasco

The City of Muntinlupa made it as an awardee of the 2024 Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) as recorded in the official list of awardees that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) released online.

For 2024, there is a grand total of 714 SGLG awardees nationwide covering cities, municipalities and provinces. Among them are 14 National Capital Region (NCR) cities and Muntinlupa City is one of them.

For transparency, posted below is the 2024 SGLG list of awardees from the DILG. Feel free to download a copy.

wp-1731560433405 Download

It should be recalled that Muntinlupa City was also an SGLG awardee in previous years (click here, here and here).

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, are you very happy that Muntinlupa is once again an SGLG awardee?

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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Call center agent apprehended in Parañaque City for online sexual abuse

November 14, 2024November 5, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the city of Parañaque, police officers arrested a call center agent for violating the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. It turns out the suspect was one of the most wanted individuals by the police.

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

A call center agent, identified as one of the Top 5 most wanted individuals at the station level, was nabbed by the Parañaque City Police during a manhunt operation conducted on Monday, November 4 for breaching the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act.

According to Southern Police District (SPD) Director, PBrig. Gen. Bernard Yang, the arrest took place at approximately 3:00 p.m. in Barangay Marcelo Green, Parañaque City.

Director Yang further stated that the suspect was taken into custody under a warrant issued by Judge Zandra Tubat Bato of the Imus Cavite Regional Trial Court, Fourth Judicial Region, Branch 22, dated October 1, 2023, with a recommended bail set at ₱200,000.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, do you consider online sexual abuse a serious problem affecting your community?

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 October 2024 inflation rate settles at 2.3%

November 14, 2024November 5, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently it was announced that the inflation rate of the Philippines for October 2024 settled at 2.3%, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article. By comparison, the nation’s inflation rate was at 4.9% in October 2023.

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

Inflation continued to settle within the government’s 2 to 4 percent target despite a slight uptick in October this year.

In a briefing on Tuesday, National Statistician Dennis Mapa said headline inflation during the month was at 2.3 percent, slightly higher than the 1.9 percent recorded in September this year. Inflation in October last year, however, was higher at 4.9 percent.

The latest data brings the national average inflation rate from January to October 2024 to 3.3 percent.

Mapa said the higher inflation in October was primarily influenced by the faster increase in food and non-alcoholic beverages at 2.9 percent from 1.4 percent in September 2024.

Despite the increase, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) are optimistic that inflation will remain within target this year.

“The latest inflation figures confirm that we are on track to keep inflation within target. The government is fully committed to ensuring price stability and protecting Filipino households from undue shocks,” NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said in a statement.

Balisacan assured the public that while recent weather disturbances posed challenges to the country’s food supply and logistics, the government will work “relentlessly to keep food available and prices steady, particularly for essential commodities.”

“With targeted support and streamlined food supply chains, we aim to ensure that food is affordable and accessible for Filipino families, especially those most vulnerable to price shocks when disasters hit us,” Balisacan said.

To mitigate the impact of natural disasters, Balisacan said the Department of Social Welfare and Development is implementing the Building on Social Protection for Anticipatory Action and Response in Emergencies and Disasters Program.

The program provides social safety nets and capacity-building measures to support affected communities.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration earlier forecast that La Niña will persist until the first quarter of 2025, with two to eight tropical cyclones expected to affect the country until April 2025.

“The President has mobilized all of government to ensure relief efforts are comprehensive and delivered on time. In addition, he has directed us to craft a robust solution to build the resilience of families and communities amid the onslaught of severe typhoons,” Balisacan said.

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 nation will end up between 2% to 4% for the final two months of the year?

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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Three men apprehended in Las Piñas City for illegal gambling

November 13, 2024November 4, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, an operation conducted by the local police resulted in the arrests of three men for illegal gambling and the illegal possession of a firearm, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

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

Three men engaged in illegal gambling were arrested by members of the Las Piñas City Police Zapote Substation during the conduct of “Oplan Galugad” on Saturday, November 2.

Las Piñas City Police chief, PCol. Sandro Tafalla identified the suspects as alias “Jiapar”, 39;, alias “Rolando”, 60 and alias “Romeo”, 41.

The suspects were arrested at around 2:50 a.m. at Lopez Compound, Barangay Daniel Fajardo, Las Piñas City.

Tafalla said members of the Zapote Police Substation were conducting “Oplan Galugad” against lawless elements when they spotted the suspects engaged in illegal gambling (cara y cruz) activity.

Authorities recovered a 9 mm caliber pistol with three live ammunition in the possession of Jiapar, assorted bet money in different denominations used in illegal gambling, and three pieces of one peso coins used as flippers.

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? Is illegal gambling a serious problem in your local community right now?

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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Wanted man arrested in Las Piñas City for acts of lasciviousness

November 12, 2024November 3, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, a man was apprehended by local police officers for violation of acts of lasciviousness, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. The suspect also turned out to be one of the most wanted persons in the city.

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

A man placed by the police as top 3 most wanted person was arrested by Las Piñas City Police Warrant and Subpoena Section (WSS) for violation of acts of lasciviousness on November 2.

Col. Sandro Tafalla, Las Piñas City police chief, said the suspect identified as alias “Jear,” 36, was arrested at around 1:30 p.m. in Barangay Talon Tres, Las Piñas City.

Tafalla said the suspect was arrested by virtue of warrant of arrest issued by Judge Mildred Jacinto Marquez of Las Piñas City Family Court Branch 2 under Criminal Case Nos. 24-0929, 24-0930, and 24-0031 for acts of lasciviousness with a recommended bail of P540,000.

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 know anyone who caused acts of lasciviousness in your local community over the past six months?

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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68.6 million registered voters for 2025 National and Local Elections

November 12, 2024November 4, 2024carlocarrasco

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) recently announced that almost sixty-nine million voters got registered for the 2025 National and Local Elections, according a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article. The figure was almost three million more than what was counted in 2022.

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

The country has now close to 69 million registered voters for the 2025 midterm elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Sunday.

Latest Comelec records showed that 68,618,667 registered voters nationwide may participate in the forthcoming polls, with Region IV-A or Calabarzon topping the highest number of voters at 9,764,170.

Region III (Central Luzon) came in second with 7,712,535 registered voters, followed by the National Capital Region (Metro Manila) with 7,562,858.

Regions VII (Central Visayas) and V (Bicol Region) came in fourth and fifth at 4,407,337 and 4,066,662, respectively.

On the other hand, the Cordillera Administrative Region with 1,111,859 voters and Caraga (Region XIII) with 1,889,616 voters posted the lowest number of registered voters.

The total is higher than the May 2022 national polls with 65,745,526 voters and the village and Sangguniang Kabataan (youth) elections in October last year with 67,839,861.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Are there many members of your local community who intend to vote in the 2025 National and Local Elections?

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 3rd quarter economic growth settles at 5.2%

November 12, 2024November 8, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently it was announced that the economy of the Philippines expanded by 5.2% in the 3^rd quarter of 2024, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.

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

The Philippines remains one of the fastest growing economies in the region despite the slowdown in the third quarter of the year, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said on Thursday.

Philippine economic growth settled at 5.2 percent in the third quarter, lower than the 6 percent recorded in the same period last year.

The latest data brought the year-to-date gross domestic product (GDP) expansion to 5.8 percent, slightly under the 6-percent lower end of the government’s growth target for this year.

“Our economy continues to grow steadily; the latest GDP figures indicate continuous expansion. Of the countries that have reported their third-quarter GDP growth rates, we remain one of the fastest-growing Asian economies,” Balisacan said in a briefing at the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) office in Quezon City.

“We follow Vietnam, which posted a 7.4 percent growth rate, and are ahead of Indonesia (with 4.9 percent), China (4.6 percent), and Singapore (4.1 percent), ” he added.

Among the major economic sectors, industry and services grew by 5 percent and 6.3 percent in the third quarter.

National Statistician Dennis Mapa said, however, that agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector contracted by 2.8 percent.

Balisacan explained that the contraction in the agriculture sector was due to the effects of El Niño, seven typhoons, and Habagat. He added the fishing ban in Cavite and Bataan due to the oil spill, and cancellation of fishing trips due to bad weather conditions, also affected fishing and aquaculture.

“Likewise, livestock production decreased due to the recent outbreaks of African swine fever (ASF), such as in Batangas last August,” he said.

Balisacan said the successive typhoons also suspended classes and work in government and some private offices, resulting in administrative delays.

Household final consumption expenditure grew by 5.1 percent, which Balisacan attributed to the slower consumer price inflation. Government final consumption expenditure slowed to 5 percent from 6.7 percent.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the economy of the Philippines will grow much faster in the 4^th quarter?

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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Have you been to X-Site amusement center inside Festival Mall lately?

November 11, 2024October 23, 2024carlocarrasco

In times of prosperity or hardship, Festival Mall (originally named Festival Supermall) in Filinvest City, Alabang, Muntinlupa City continues to attract families and shoppers. Since the mall’s early days in 1998, its amusement center X-Site kept on succeeding on attracting visitors and providing them bouts of varied fun in return to what the customers paid for. X-Site is a lively form of entertainment-focused capitalism that just keeps on moving forward and attracting visitors.

Located at the 3^rd floor (note: officially referred to as the 2^nd Level or 2L or 2^nd Floor by the mall. The 1^st floor and 2^nd floor of the mall are referred to as Lower Ground Floor and Upper Ground Floor respectively), the X-Site Amusement Center has a wide floor space with a high ceiling.

The way it was designed, X-Site has several arcade games (lots of fun retro games included), merchandiser games, a virtual reality ride, KTV booths, motion-sensing dance spot, the ring toss, entertainment stores, indoor sports games, redemption games, bumper cars, and the indoor roller coaster (which explains the need of having a high ceiling). Watch below the YouTube video and the images I prepared below.

*At the arcade games section inside X-Site.*

Having a high ceiling made it possible to have an indoor roller coaster (tracks above the machines and people in this image). Other amusement centers in Alabang had lower ceilings which made their places feel small or tight when compared to X-Site.

*Some newer machines plus indoor sports games added into the arcade games section.*

*This is the place for those who love dancing and music.*

When I was much younger and Festival Mall was still new, I played lots of games at the arcade of X-Site. Elevator Action Returns, Tekken 2, Tekken 3, Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes, Street Fighter Alpha 3 and Tekken Tag Tournament were some of the games I played there as far as I could remember. I never rode the indoor roller coaster because my fondness for roller coasters had faded away even before Festival Mall opened its doors (May 1998).

Back in 1998, I know a few friends whose had not even visited Festival Mall (at the time we talked) yet they already heard of the positive word-of-mouth feedback about the indoor roller coaster of X-Site.

*The indoor roller coaster of X-Site remains a favorite ride for those who kept coming back.*

On December 25, 2023, I visited Festival Mall to look around. I passed by X-Site and I saw an unusually large number of people there composed of young people, children and their parents/guardians.

For the newcomers reading this, December 25 here in the Philippines is a time of having fun during the Christmas season and also it is the day when the annual Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) opens in cinemas. This explains why a lot of people spend time at the shopping malls and it is a cultural thing here in the Philippines.

Considering the fact that the original cinemas of Festival Mall have deteriorated leaving only 2 or 3 screens operating (note: the mall also has modern cinemas at the expanded side), a lot of people still visited the mall to watch the MMFF movies that opened on December 25. As for the large number of people who flocked to X-Site that same day, I can only speculate that some of them might have been moviegoers passing the time as they wait for the next screening of movies to watch.

*I took this shot of X-Site on December 25, 2023. Look at the high number of people on the floor.*

If you plan to visit Festival Mall in Alabang and if you are craving for fun rides or games, then you might want to visit X-Site Amusement Center.

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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 engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Three men arrested for armed robbery inside a village in Parañaque City

November 11, 2024November 1, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the city of Parañaque, three who were involved in an armed robbery that took place inside a village were apprehended by the local police, according to a news report by the Daily Tribune.

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

Three suspected robbers involved in an armed robbery at a residence in Multinational Village, Parañaque City, have been arrested by the Parañaque City police.

According to a report received by Police Brigadier General Bernard R Yang, District Director, a group of six armed male suspects entered the parking lot of a house located at the intersection of Matthew Street and Multinational Avenue. The victims, two Chinese nationals and four Filipinos residing in the house, were held at gunpoint. The suspects bound the victims with duct tape and tied up the in-house security guard, S/G Julius, before moving to the master’s bedroom.

The primary victim, identified as Lin, Chinese national, was threatened and forced to open a vault, from which the suspects stole approximately ₱700,000.00 in cash, ₱280,000.00 from another victim, Yu, and assorted jewelry valued at around ₱400,000. The suspects fled the scene in a sedan, exiting through Multinational Gate 1.

Through coordinated follow-up operations, Parañaque City Police Station’s intelligence and operational teams traced the suspects’ vehicle movements. Witness testimony led to the identification of one suspect, alias “Brian.”

As a result of diligent investigative efforts, law enforcement apprehended three individuals, alias “Brian” (38), John (33), and Jevic (29), all drivers by occupation. Three additional suspects, identified as alias Ruel (40), Ramel (40) and alias Agustin (37), remain at large, with ongoing efforts to locate them.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, are you concerned that there could armed robbers who would dare to enter gated villages and rob households? How do you think the group of armed robbers in the news report managed to enter the village and proceeded to rob the victims?

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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