Tag: journalism

Muntinlupa City Now in a State of Calamity due to COVID-19 Crisis

Muntinlupa City Now in a State of Calamity due to COVID-19 Crisis

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Muntinlupa City Now in a State of Calamity due to COVID-19 Crisis

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Muntinlupa City Hall.

Today the City Government of Muntinlupa declared a state of calamity in response to the increasing number of cases of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the country.

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi announced the declaration following the passing of an ordinance to enable the city’s emergency response team to speedily access the local calamity fund.

“The move to place the city under the State of Calamity will allow us to purchase PPE for frontliners, medicine, food, supplies and other equipment to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 in Muntinlupa,” Fresnedi said.

Following the declaration, the Muntinlupa City Council also approved the anti-hoarding ordinance that restrict bulk-buying of basic commodities to address the public’s panic buying.

Further, the City Council approved a liquor ban to prevent gathering opportunities for city residents in the duration of the community quarantine. Ordinances on the temporary closure of malls, except for stores providing essential services, and closure of public and private recreational facilities such as gyms, beauty parlors, spas, and the like, were approved in a special council session on Monday.

The City Government eyes to provide relief goods for informal settlers and displaced workers affected by the temporary closure of establishments. The public has been advised to stay indoors and consider cancelling non-essential travels as Muntinlupa also imposes curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. starting March 16 until April 14.

Muntinlupa City announced its first confirmed case (PH139) as per update of DOH on March 15. The patient is a 44-year-old female and is currently monitored and being treated at Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.

Muntinlupa City Health Officer Dra. Teresa Tuliao said the City Government with the DOH has been conducting contact tracing for persons who came in contact with PH139 who tested positive for COVID-19.

As of March 16, Muntinlupa CHO recorded 33 Persons Under Monitoring (PUM) and 38 Persons Under Investigation (PUI) in the city.

The City Government already installed designated triage areas to serve as quarantine rooms in Ospital ng Muntinlupa. Barangays were also instructed to install isolation areas for residents suspected to have contracted with the virus for monitoring by the local health office.

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi urged the city residents to remain calm and to be vigilant in the emergency situation. The local exec encouraged the public to refrain from sharing unverified news but follow official sources such as the City Government of Muntinlupa and DOH’s social media accounts.

For concerns related to community quarantine and COVID-19 testing, Muntinlupa City residents may reach hotline nos. 0977-240-5217 or 0977-240-5218.

This is an official Press Release issued by the City Government of Muntinlupa. Some parts were edited for this website.

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 and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments.

Mayor Fresnedi envisions Muntinlupa to be a “smart city,” leads its 25th anniversary

Mayor Fresnedi envisions Muntinlupa to be a “smart city,” leads its 25th anniversary

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Mayor Fresnedi envisions Muntinlupa to be a “smart city,” leads its 25th anniversary

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Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi with local officials in the celebration of the town’s silver anniversary last March 2. In his message, Fresnedi accounted Muntinlupa’s progress to its residents which he claimed as the city’s greatest resource. The local exec also highlighted the City Government’s sustainability initiatives in developing Muntinlupa as a “smart city” with focus on programs for education. (source – Muntinlupa PIO)

This past Sunday (March 1, 2020) was the 25th anniversary of Muntinlupa as a City highlighting the historical date of March 1, 1995 which was the day when then Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos signed into law the key legislation (Republic Act Number 7926) that converted Muntinlupa from a municipality into a city.

On the morning of March 2 at the City Hall grounds, the City Government commemorated the silver anniversary. While considered as one of the youngest cities in the Philippines, Muntinlupa has become a front runner in its class in terms of competitiveness and quality of life for its residents.

The City Government organized a simple program for the city’s 25th founding anniversary and the celebration kicked off with a Thanksgiving Mass followed by a flag raising ceremony. Those who attended the program were Congressman Ruffy Biazon, Mayor Jaime Fresnedi, Vice-mayor Temy Simundac, City Councilors, City Administrator Engr. Allan Cachuela, barangay officials, and partners from the private sector and national government agencies.

In his message, Mayor Fresnedi accounted Muntinlupa’s progress to its residents which he claimed as the city’s greatest resource. He also highlighted sustainability efforts of the City Government in developing Muntinlupa as a “smart city” with focus on programs for education.

“As we look forward to the coming years, we are certain that the direction of Muntinlupa is only geared towards development and becoming a smart city of the future. For this reason that I commit to prepare every Muntinlupeño, focusing on their education, and to construct necessary infrastructure to enable residents face new challenges and adapt to emerging trends,” Fresnedi said.

The mayor highlighted the City Government’s initiative on expanding scholarship program from elementary to graduate school. He noted the recent allowance hike, including the increase of cash gifts awarded to board topnotchers and latin honor graduates. Muntinlupa City holds the highest number of scholarship program beneficiaries in the country with over 71,000 scholars.

Further, Fresnedi highlighted the construction of four school building, Aquatic Center, Track and Field Oval, groundbreaking of engineering college Colegio de Muntinlupa’s Building 2, and among others.

It is remembered that on March 1, 1995, Muntinlupa was converted from a municipality to a highly urbanized city and became the 65th city of the Philippines by virtue of Republic Act 7926. Today, it has transformed as one of the leading investment hubs in the country with nine equally progressive barangays and a population of 504,509.

The city has been recognized as a model city in the country bench-marked by LGUs in the country and garnered several awards from various governing bodies.

Some of the citations include the Seal of Good Governance from DILG, Seal of Child-Friendly Local Governance from Regional Committee for Welfare of Children, Red Orchid Award, Jose Rizal Award for the fourth consecutive year, Gawad Bayanihan Award, Rank 1 (NCR) for Local Revenue Collection from Economic Enterprises, Rank 3 (NCR) for Manila Bay Clean-up Rehabilitation and Preservation Program, citation from National Anti-Drug Abuse Council (ADAC), Gawad Pilak from the Landbank of the Philippines, Most Business-Friendly City Award in 2018, Green Banner Award and Outstanding LGU in Nutrition Program Management in 2018, MERALCO Luminaries Award in 2018, Government Efficiency and Resilience Award (3rd Place) from National Competitiveness Council in 2017 and 2018, respectively; and Union Internationale des Transports Publics Awards in 2017, among others.

This is an official Press Release issued by the City Government of Muntinlupa.

 

 

325 Avail of Health Services in Tahanan Village

325 Avail of Health Services in Tahanan Village

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Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from the Century Club of Tahanan, Inc., by means of an interview, witnessing their event and doing research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

325 Avail of Health Services in Tahanan Village

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Patients sitting in line for their turn to be served in the Tahanan Village clinic at the clubhouse.

No surprise about it. The Century Club of Tahanan, Inc. (CCTI) headed by its president Flor Umali organized another successful health-check activity this morning at the poolside of their village clubhouse in Tahanan Village (Barangay BF Homes, Parañaque City) attracting three hundred and twenty-five residents and homeowner association employees. That is twenty-five more than the patients who attended CCTI’s previous health-check activity of September 2019.

As before, their medical mission supported by Barangay BF Homes, the Tahanan Homeowners Association (THA) and some corporate sponsors, started at 6AM and already a lot of people lined up to be the first to avail of health services. Take a look at the pictures I took.

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Patients at the registration table.
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Patients getting examined and treated.
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The table with prescription medicine.

A lot of the patients previously paid P350 to avail of the health-check package that includes good and bad cholesterol check, Triglycerides, Creatinine, SGOT, ECG, blood sugar count, total cholesterol count, BUN, Urice Acid, SGPT, CBC and urinalysis. There were also many who arrived for eye check-up, PSA, Hba1c, T3, T4, TSH and Na, K and Ci (electrolytes).

Those who had themselves tested will receive the results soon.

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Century Club of Tahanan president Florencia Umali.

This health-check activity is a project of the CCTI in coordination with the THA which is the main authority of the village. Also present during the activity were CCTI’s Vice President Vivian Villegas and Treasurer Herminia Salgado.

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. Also my fantasy book The World of Havenor is still available in paperback and e-book format. 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 as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com

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 and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments.

Muntinlupa City wins DOH Gawad Jose Rizal Award anew for 4th consecutive year

Muntinlupa City wins DOH Gawad Jose Rizal Award anew for 4th consecutive year

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Muntinlupa City wins DOH Gawad Jose Rizal Award anew for 4th consecutive year

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Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi (4th from right) presents Gawad Jose Rizal Award and Gawad Bayanihan Award during the local government’s flag raising ceremony last February 17. This year is the fourth time that Muntinlupa earned the Jose Rizal Award from DOH, the highest citation conferred to any organization for its blood donation programs. Shown in the photo: (L-R) Coun. Cornelio Martinez, Coun. Valentino Niefes, CHO consultant Dra. Magdalena Meana, CHO chief Dra. Teresa Tuliao, CHO exec Dr. Juancho Bunyi, Coun. Louie Arciaga, Coun. Marissa Rongavilla. (source – Muntinlupa PIO)

For the fourth straight year, the City Government of Muntinlupa received the Gawad Jose Rizal Award from the Department of Health (DOH) through the Philippine Blood Center in recognition of the city’s outstanding blood donation program.

The City Government received the prestigious award for blood donation programs during the Dugong Bayani 2019: “Dugong Alay, Ligtas Na Buhay” Awarding Ceremony at Century Park Hotel Manila last February 14.

The award is the highest recognition given by DOH to an organization that conducted mobile blood donation activities and donated more than 2,000 blood units. Every year, DOH recognizes organizations with significant amount of blood unit collections donated to the Philippine Blood Center.

Muntinlupa City was also given the Gawad Bayanihan Award for having the highest blood unit collection among Local Government Units in Metro Manila in 2019.

Receiving the award were Coun. Allan Camilon, CHO chief Dra. Teresa Tuliao, CHO execs Dra. Magdalena Meana, Dr. Juancho Bunyi, and other local officials.

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi thanked all city residents who have participated in various mobile blood donations for their unwavering support to the city’s blood donation programs.

The mayor vowed to continue the local government’s initiative in blood donation services. Fresnedi actively participates in local mobile blood donation schedules and is a Blood Galloner for 2015-2016.

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This is an Official Press Release from the City Government of Muntinlupa

 

 

 

Allowances, Cash Incentives of 71,000 Scholars and Academic Achievers of Muntinlupa Raised

Allowances, Cash Incentives of 71,000 Scholars and Academic Achievers of Muntinlupa Raised

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Allowances, Cash Incentives of 71,000 Scholars and Academic Achievers of Muntinlupa Raised

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Mayor Jaime Fresnedi and members of Muntinlupa City Council awarding local scholars during the city’s flag raising ceremony. (photo issued by Muntinlupa PIO)

With the new developments in the educational assistance program in Muntinlupa City, local students have all the reasons to be motivated and to study hard.

The City Government of Muntinlupa announced that the City Council has approved an ordinance increasing the annual allowance of scholars in the city and cash gifts given to honor graduates and licensure examination top-notchers.

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi signed the City Ordinance No. 2020-054 amending sections of Ordinance 17-107 providing for an expanded Muntinlupa scholarship and educational assistance program and other incentives to students and academic achievers on February 5.

More than 71,000 scholars in Muntinlupa City are set to receive an allowance hike depending on their scholarship category.

Students in elementary, alternative learning system, junior and senior high school will have a P1,000 increase in annual allowance. The allowance of elementary/ALS students is raised from P3,000 to P4,000 per year, while allowance of junior and senior high school students are raised from P4,000 to P5,000 and from P5,000 to P6,000 per year, respectively.

Further, State Universities and Colleges students, including beneficiaries of Continuing Assistance for Reintegrating Students Program, can now receive a maximum incentive of P10,000 per semester. From base allowance of P5,000, college scholars will receive an additional P2,500 for having a GWA of 1.76 to 2.0 or P5,000 for having a GWA of 1.75 or better (or its equivalent grading system).

The City Government also increased cash gifts for its Honor Graduates Incentives Program and Licensure (Bar and Board) Examination Topnotchers.

Cash incentives for latin honor graduates residing in Muntinlupa were raised up to P10,000. Cash gifts for Summa Cum Laude graduates increased from P20,000 to P30,000, while for Magna Cum Laude, it is raised from P15,000 to P20,000. Cum Laude graduates will still receive P10,000.

In addition, the City Government raised the cash gifts given to licensure examination top-notchers by up to P100,000 and introduced a new bracketing system. For Bracket A which include Post Baccalaurate (Bar and Physician Board Examination) passers, Top 1 will receive P200,000, Top 2-5 will have P100,000, while Top 6-10 will get P50,000.

For Bracket B which cover Baccalaurate Degree (PQF Level 6) examination passers, Top 1 will have P100,000, Top 2-5 will have P50,000, while Top 6-10 will get P25,000. While Bracket C – NCIII, NCIV Certifications and Diploma Levels (PQF Level 3-5) topnotchers, Top 1 will receive P30,000, Top 2-5 will have P20,000, while Top 6-10 will get P10,000.

The development in Muntinlupa’s scholarship assistance also include the opening of additional slots for Educational Development of Government Employees (EDGE) program. The EDGE program will be expanded from catering to 20 slots for Undergraduate courses of City Government Employees to opening 50 slots while increasing slots for Graduate and Masteral program from 60 slots to 100 slots for Public School Teachers and 50 slots for City Government Employees.

The Muntinlupa City Council through Education Committee Chairperson Coun. Paty Katy Boncayao recognized the need to increase both the amount of allowances and number of beneficiaries to sustain the rising needs of the students due to inflation and other affecting factors.

Muntinlupa City holds the most number of scholarship program beneficiaries in the country with over 71,000 scholars. The City Government through the Muntinlupa Scholarship Program offers a comprehensive educational assistance program for students in elementary to college, including technical-vocational, graduate school, and for students taking up law and medicine.

Established in 1990, the scholarship program in Muntinlupa City initially catered to college students in local universities including the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa, then called Muntinlupa Polytechnic College.

In 2013, under the leadership of Mayor Jaime Fresnedi, the City Government expanded to an inclusive scholarship bracketing as educational assistance was made available for elementary and high school students.

The mayor stressed his commitment to assist city residents in their education through financial assistance and other services. Fresnedi hoped that the scholarship program will inspire students in Muntinlupa to strive for academic excellence and be able to participate in nation building.

Muntinlupa Scholarship Program is headed by EnP. Alvin F. Veron and is located at Plaza Central Building, Brgy. Poblacion with tel. no. 8831-5971.

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This is an Official Press Release from the City Government of Muntinlupa

Muntinlupa City Government tells motorists to brace for heavy traffic as Skyway begins construction in West Service Road

Muntinlupa City Government tells motorists to brace for heavy traffic as Skyway begins construction in West Service Road

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Muntinlupa City Government tells motorists to brace for heavy traffic as Skyway begins construction in West Service Road

Traffic along the highway will only get heavier soon as the City Government of Muntinlupa advised motorists and commuters to get ready for worse traffic as the construction of Skyway Extension Project in West Service Road takes full swing.

Specifically, starting February 16, operator Skyway O&M Corp. and project contractors EEI Corp. and Cadcor Builders and Trading Corp. will break ground in West Service Road from southbound Alabang At-grade Toll Exit to Alabang Hills Subdivision.

“We are scheduled to drill 38 bored piles for eight weeks. Target timetable involves six weeks of construction from Alabang Toll Exit to Alabang Hills and two weeks for the remaining areas up to Sucat Interchange,” Cadcor representative Joselito Fajardo said.

With the construction of Skyway Extension Project, Skyway’s Lane 3 southbound and the northbound lane of West Service Road will be closed.

Muntinlupa Traffic Management Bureau chief Danidon Nolasco said upon coordination with Skyway, one-way traffic will be implemented from South Station to Alabang Hills Subdivision for southbound while traffic up to Sucat Interchange will remain two-way.

He added that Skyway is set to open a temporary opening near the South Station Exit to allow vehicles to pass through from West Service Road to Alabang Viaduct.

With the anticipated heavy traffic in Muntinlupa, Nolasco asked Skyway executives to augment the City Government’s traffic management efforts especially in choke points including East Service Road, Sucat Interchange, and Alabang Viaduct.

This past January 23, the City Government organized a stakeholders meeting with Skyway execs and representatives of commercial establishments and homeowners associations (HOAs) situated in West Service Road to discuss traffic advisories and construction updates.

Skyway Traffic Operations head Jerry Torres said that southbound Alabang At-grade and Bunye South Station Exits will also be closed starting February 16 until completion of the project. Torres said motorists may take the SLEX Filinvest or Susana Exit Toll Plaza.

For Class 1 and 2 vehicles from Makati headed to Alabang or Alabang-Zapote Road, motorists may take the Filinvest Exit then turn right at Corporate Ave, then right Civic Drive, and right again to Corporate Ave, then turn right to Alabang-Zapote Road towards destination.

For Class 1, 2, and 3 vehicles headed to Alabang, Putatan, and National Road, motorists may take the Susana Exit then turn right at Susana Heights Ave, and turn either left or right on National Road to destination.

The Skyway Extension Project is expected to be completed on December 2020.

Las Piñas City to Donate P1 Million to Taal Volcano Eruption Victims

Las Piñas City to Donate P1 Million to Taal Volcano Eruption Victims

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Las Piñas City to Donate P1 Million to Taal Volcano Eruption Victims

Las Piñas City Mayor Imelda T. Aguilar announced recently that the City Government is donating P1 million as financial assistance to the victims of the Taal Volcano eruption specifically those in the municipalities of Agoncillo and Lemery in Batangas. The City Council presided by Vice Mayor April Aguilar-Nery approved a resolution authorizing the release of P500, 000 to each municipality.

Mayor Aguilar said that “the donation is a gesture of the people of Las Piñas to help the residents of Agoncillo and Lemery rebuild their lives.”

For its part, the Las Piñas City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (LPCDRRMO) has initiated a relief drive to provide assistance to the remaining evacuees in the different evacuation centers. The various departments of the city government, national offices based in Las Piñas and non-government organizations have turned over their donations to the LPCDRRMO, the office in-charge of distributing the donated relief goods. Mayor Mel Aguilar and Vice Mayor April Aguilar-Nery had also donated hygiene kits to the residents of Lemery, Batangas.

City Administrator Reynaldo Balagulan has already notified Mayor Daniel Reyes of the Municipality of the Agoncillo and Mayor Eulalio Mendoza Alilio of Lemery about the donation of the City Government of Las Piñas. The turn- over of the cheque will be held next  week.

This was a Press Release issued by the City Government of Las Piñas today for this website.

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 and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tahanan Village Health Check-Up Activity Scheduled for February 22, 2020

Tahanan Village Health Check-Up Activity Scheduled for February 22, 2020

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The Century Club of Tahanan, Inc. (CCTI), a private club of senior citizens living in Tahanan Village, Barangay BF Homes, Parañaque City, will be sponsoring on February 22, 2020 (Saturday) starting at 6AM (end at 10AM) the next Health Check-up (Executive Laboratory Check-up) activity at the poolside of the Tahanan Village clubhouse (where the village clinic is also located).

Open to all residents of the village, there will be a wide variety of services and examinations that people can avail of for their respective health-related needs or inquiries.

“We encourage the Tahanan Village residents to take advantage of the generously discounted health services as well as the convenience of the venue which is at the poolside of the clubhouse at the park,” Century Club of Tahanan, Inc. president Florencia Umali stated to me.

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File photo of CCTI president Florencia Umali (seated, foreground) helping patients during the September 28, 2019 health check-up activity in Tahanan Village.

Indeed, to make the most out of their money, villagers can pay only P350 for a health-check package that includes good and bad cholesterol check, Triglycerides, Creatinine, SGOT, ECG, blood sugar count, total cholesterol count, BUN, Urice Acid, SGPT, CBC and urinalysis. These said services would have cost almost P1,300 at regular rates. That’s a tremendous amount of more than P900 in savings.

All of those who intend to avail of the health services related to blood testing are advised to bring their own urine sample and should have fasted between 10 hours to 12 hours.

Other health services people can choose from are PSA, Hba1c, T3, T4, TSH and Na, K and Ci (electrolytes). There will also be a free computerized eye refraction service as well.

The results of the medical tests will be released on March 1 at the Tahanan Village clinic. Free consultation is also offered.

With the discounts and venue convenience at hand, potentially hundreds of villagers could show up and avail of the services on February 22. It is recalled that the CCTI’s last health check-up activity in Tahanan Village attracted 300 people.

This health-check activity is a project of the CCTI in coordination with the Tahanan Homeowners Association, Inc. (THA) which is the main authority of the village.

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. Also my fantasy book The World of Havenor is still available in paperback and e-book format. 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 as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com

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 and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments.

My Observations: Crime Incidents in Parañaque Involving Chinese Nationals to Continue Even More?

My Observations: Crime Incidents in Parañaque Involving Chinese Nationals to Continue Even More?

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A few weeks ago, I called Parañaque City a hot spot for criminal incidents involving foreigners from China. As far as South Metro Manila is concerned, Parañaque registered 140 crime incidents involving Chinese nationals versus 54 in Las Piñas City and 19 in Muntinlupa City as per the findings of Southern Police District (SPD).

Think about it. There were 213 crime incidents involving Chinese nationals in South Metro Manila and Parañaque (the city of BF Homes subdivision, Manila Memorial Park and those lavish casinos and hotels by the bay) got almost two-thirds of that.

The trend of such crime continues to happen in the said city as confirmed by the January 20, 2020 news report by the Philippine Daily Inquirer. The report was about a police raid on a sex den inside a budget hotel that resulted the apprehension of a Chinese national who allegedly managed the place and the rescue of several Chinese women who allegedly were forced into prostitution.

Below are notable excerpts from the report.

Excerpt 1: The alleged manager of the sex den, Cai Ye Gui, also from China, was arrested. He now faces charges for violation of the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012.

Excerpt 2: A tip from one of the victims’ clients led to the rescue of 11 Chinese women allegedly forced into prostitution inside one of the branches of a budget hotel chain in Parañaque City on Sunday.

Excerpt 3: The victims claimed they were promised jobs in the country, but ended up being forced into prostitution.

Excerpt 4: Similar to other sex dens raided by authorities, the business catered exclusively to Chinese nationals, especially to men working in Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) companies and their service providers. Bookings could be made through the WeChat app or in person.

So the prostitution joint was handled by a male Chinese national to cater to foreigners from China and their workers were ladies also from China who were promised jobs in the Philippines only to end up working as prostitutes against their will.

As for the app called WeChat, that is the most popular messaging app in China (according to CNBC) owned by Tencent (full corporate name Tencent Holdings Limited) which is a Chinese multinational conglomerate.

Based on the details of the Inquirer report, it seems that WeChat is used for communication and business for the raided sex den. This brings me to an excerpt from CNBC’s article…

Excerpt 1: One of the primary uses of WeChat is messaging. Just like WhatsApp, you have a list of conversations that you’re engaged in.

You can add people in a variety of ways.

When people exchange contact details in China, you often see one person scanning the other person’s phone. Each WeChat user has a unique barcode known as a QR code. One person can scan the other user’s QR code to add them to WeChat. You can also use a phone number or ID to add a person and search for people nearby.

WeChat is one of the main ways people communicate in China. Even when doing business, people prefer WeChat to email. It’s even more prevalent because services like Facebook are blocked here.

And here is a look at the commercial side of WeChat.

Excerpt 2: If you’re buying something online in China, there will be an option to purchase with WeChat Pay. You will need to put in a passcode or use a biometric authentication tool to authorize the transaction.

Instant money transfers to your WeChat contacts can also be made via the messaging function, which makes it easy to split bills or just move money around China. It is possible to be nearly cashless in China and actually go out for the day without a wallet.

If WeChat was actually used for payments (in addition to booking) for services at the sex den by Chinese users who are physically present here in the Philippine, how were they able to make it work locally? WeChat’s financial transaction feature was supposed to work only in China.

To say the least, the app made bookings convenient for Chinese nationals before visiting the illegal joint in Parañaque City. The name of the budget hotel (which had the sex den inside) was not revealed in the Inquirer report but it was described to be located near the corner of Quirino Avenue and NAIA Road.

As for the legal aspect of the latest Parañaque sex den raid involving Chinese nationals, the law enforcers and lawyers will have to figure out how to effectively apply the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012 on the suspects and other violators.

If found guilty, the suspects will be penalized for twenty years imprisonment and a fine of P1 million to 2P million for the act of trafficking, 15 years imprisonment and a fine of P500,000 to P1 million for attempted trafficking, and life imprisonment and a fine of P2 million to P5 million for qualified trafficking.

This latest crime makes Parañaque look bad and it is a fact that there are lots of Chinese nationals living and working in the said city.

Also let me add here the December 23, 2019 the city sisterhood agreement between Parañaque and the Chinese city of Anshan. On face value, the agreement looks like a pretty and promising way of the two cities becoming closer together. According to a Manila Standard report, the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Parañaque and Anshan should “create opportunities for mutual growth, since both cities share similar environmental protection and tourism endeavors.”

There were other objectives that include “providing for better cooperation in conducting reciprocally planned and sanctioned programs geared towards the improvement of government administration, tourism, cultural preservation, environmental protection, education, technology, arts, and the holding of various endeavors mutually beneficial to both parties.”

What needs examining here is how many tourists from Anshan (a city of more than 3 million people) will come to Parañaque for tourism, how many of those same tourists will be setting up businesses locally, how many of them will take residence in the city, and are they all willing to follow the local and nationals laws at all.

What guarantee is there that Anshan tourists will not commit any crimes in Parañaque or anywhere else in the Philippines?

If there is anything that will prevent a city or a nation from prospering and becoming more competitive with others, it is crime. Other factors that will do the same include corruption, sinister propaganda, misuse of taxpayers’ money, sub-par public service and lack of financial discipline.

It is a sad truth that Parañaque is not too competitive with other Philippine cities and was not heralded for local governance. Now the city has a crime wave involving foreigners from China.

For those of you reading this who have genuine love for the country, start praying to the Lord that the crime wave will not harm Filipino families living inside the villages. Start reading the Holy Bible and apply its lessons on your life by heart.

Duty Free Philippines Grows 4% in 2019

Duty Free Philippines Grows 4% in 2019

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DutyFreeLogo

Hey everyone! Have you shopped at a Duty Free Philippines yet? Me? I have not been to a Duty Free Philippines outlet or shopping center for quite some time now.

Duty Free Philippines Corporation (DFPC) announced today that it grew 4% in 2019 in terms of year-on-year sales growth. Notably, the achieved growth was a clear improvement  over the 2% growth it achieved in 2018.

To put things in perspective, the consolidated sales reached a total of $226 million in 2019 compared with $217 million the previous year.

In relation to the latest statistics, DFPC chief operating officer Vicente Pelagio Angala said the Philippines’ hosting of the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) and the opening of Duty Free Luxe have significantly contributed to the upswing.

He said the growing number of tourists visiting the newly-rehabilitated Boracay Island via Kalibo Airport has been beneficial to DFPC sales.

When it comes to the top source markets, 85% came from Filipino tourists, balikbayans (visiting Filipinos who live overseas) and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Confectionery is still the major growth driver, with 31 percent share of the total sales, followed by liquor (21 percent), fragrance and cosmetics (18 percent), and fashion merchandise (10 percent).

The DFPC claimed it has met a number of significant milestones last year, including the opening of “Go Lokal’s” Marahuyo this past November.

“In line with the directive of Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat and in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), we have augmented our product portfolio which now includes more local artisans,” Angala said.

With the agency’s strong commitment to giving top local products a global audience, DFPC was recognized as “Highly Commended CSR Initiative of the Year “at the 2019 Frontier Awards in Cannes, France for supporting The Micro Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

The DFPC has expanded the list of exclusive brands that it carries which now includes: Gucci Beauty, Armani Beauty, Hogan, and MCM. Last year, it also embarked on the renovation of the Fiestamall and NAIA Terminal 1 Arrival stores.

DFPC is expected to maintain the momentum in 2020 with the opening of Duty Free store at the Hilton Sun Valley Resort inside Clark Freeport Zone by the first quarter of this year.

For everyone’s reference, the DFPC is the country’s sole operator of the duty-and tax-free merchandising system, and a vital component of the DOT as it contributes to the efforts in the development of the country’s tourism infrastructure, programs, and projects through revenue remittances. There are Duty Free Philippines outlets and shopping centers around the Philippines including Parañaque City (Fiestamall shopping center), Cebu province, and Clark International Airport to name a few.

For further learning, posted below is the official FAQ of Duty Free Philippines.

DFPFAQ

Check out their online store at https://www.dutyfreephilippines.ph/