PNA.gov.ph – Page 28 – Author Carlo Carrasco

SIM registration extended by 90 days

April 27, 2023April 25, 2023carlocarrasco

The many millions of people here in the Philippines who own SIM cards but were unable to get them registered now have extra time to do so as the national government announced that the SIM card registration process has been extended for ninety days, according to a news report by the Philippine News Agency (PNA). Take note that the original deadline for SIM registration was April 26, 2023.

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

The registration for the subscriber identity module (SIM) cards will be extended for another 90 days or until July 25, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla announced on Tuesday.

However, after the April 26 deadline, subscribers will have limited access to services until they finally register.

“Most of the services will be cut off with the telcos (telecommunications companies). So, there will be a social media unavailability for those who do not register in the next 90 days,” Remulla said in an interview after attending a Cabinet cluster meeting.

Senator Grace Poe, meanwhile, called for a boost in information dissemination of Republic Act (RA) 11934 or the SIM Registration Act now that the deadline has been extended.

Poe, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Services, said the extension would help clarify the confusion and concerns of registrants regarding the law.

“It should be emphasized that SIMs will still be available in local retailers and sari-sari stores even past the SIM Registration deadline. Users will simply be required to register first before they can activate their new SIMs,” she said in a statement as she welcomed the decision to extend the registration.

“SIM registration was meant to promote the responsible use of SIM and to halt the abuses of scammers and criminals. It is not meant to punish legitimate SIM subscribers, especially those at remote areas.”

She recalled that when the bill on SIM registration was under deliberation, lawmakers considered the compliance of the more than 168 million SIM subscribers and had foreseen the need to extend the registration period to accommodate all users. Poe was the bill’s sponsor in the Senate.

As of April 23, National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) data show that about 82,845,397, or 49.31 percent of SIM cards have been registered.

The breakdown is as follows:

DITO: 5,796,175 or 38.73 percent

Globe: 37,099,437 or 42.77 percent

SMART: 39,949,785 or 60.25 percent

Poe reiterated her call to telecom firms to go down to the grassroots to reach out to more subscribers.

“As most telcos have been enjoying vast profits from their services, they have the corresponding obligation and the necessary resources to track down their SIM users and to widen the opportunity for registration,” she said.

Poe noted that while several locations have been visited for remote registration, more needs to be covered as key areas, such as the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao have yet to be reached, according to data from the NTC.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) should also look into the continuing proliferation of spam messages despite the ongoing SIM registration, she said.

Meanwhile, two days before the SIM card registration deadline, the DICT and its attached agencies met with officials from the country’s three public telecommunication entities (PTEs) – Globe, Smart, and DITO – to discuss concerns on the implementation of RA 11934.

In a statement, the DICT said it exchanged views with the three firms on ways to resolve some issues faced by the registrants, such as barriers in obtaining government-issued IDs and documents, and improvements in the SIM registration process.

Only one of the 17 accepted government-issued IDs and documents is needed to proceed with the registration, the DICT said.

“The possibility of extending the SIM registration period was also discussed during the meeting. We advise everyone to await the official announcement of the Department on the matter,” the statement read.

Filipinos are encouraged to register their SIM cards before the deadline.

“The increasing number of registrants in the past few days is a clear indication that Filipinos share the desire to eradicate online and text scams once and for all,” the DICT said.

RA 11934, which was the first measure signed into law by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Oct. 10, 2022, aims to fight scams being made through text and online messages.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Were you able to have your SIM cards registered successfully before the 90-day extension was announced?

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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Free food and accommodation for delegates at the 32nd SEA Games

April 24, 2023April 20, 2023carlocarrasco

Cambodia, the nation hosting the 32^nd edition of the Southeast Asian Games (also referred to as SEA Games and Cambodia 2023), confirmed that the food accommodation of the delegates to the games will be provided for free due to a recent development, according to a news report published by the Philippine News Agency (PNA). This drew a reaction from the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).

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

Host Cambodia will provide free food and accommodation to all athletes and coaches participating in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games from May 5 to 17.

“This is a very significant development because it means a lot in terms of expenses Team Philippines will incur during the Games,” said Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino on Wednesday.

“We thank Cambodia for putting its best foot forward in its goal to successfully host the SEA Games for the first time,” he added.

Cambodia SEA Games Organizing Committee Permanent Vice President, Dr. Thong Khon, who is also the president of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) and Tourism Minister of Cambodia, informed all the NOCs of the SEA Games Federation of the development in a letter on April 18.

“Under the wise and respectable guidance of His Excellency Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Camsoc will no longer charge any food and accommodation fees to the participating NOCs of the 32nd SEA Games,” Khon said in the letter.

“This decision and leadership by Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen further affirms the Kingdom of Cambodia’s commitment to hosting our regional sports family and international guests in a neighborly environment of solidarity and friendship,” Kon added.

SEA Games hosts normally charge a flat rate of USD50 per athlete or coach – inclusive of food and accommodation – although some hotels charge USD180 for twin sharing.

There are 840 athletes and 300 coaches in the Cambodia-bound Philippine delegation headed by Chito Loyzaga, who will be assisted by Paolo Tancontian and Leonora Escollante. The athletes and coaches will leave by batches based on their competition schedule.

The Philippine Sports Commission has earmarked PHP250 million for the SEA Games preparation, training and participation.

Around 12,000 athletes, coaches and staff from Southeast Asian countries are going to the SEA Games.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Are you anticipating the SEA Games?

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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COVID-19 Crisis: Guidelines for 2nd COVID-19 booster shots for Philippines general population approved

April 21, 2023April 19, 2023carlocarrasco

In the latest development regarding COVID-19 here in the Philippines, it was reported via the Philippine News Agency (PNA) that the guidelines regarding 2^nd booster shots for members of the general population have been approved. Specifically, the Department of Health (DOH) referred to healthy adults at least 18-years-old can avail of the said booster shots and there are three specific COVID-19 vaccines to be used.

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

The guidelines on the administration of the second booster of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines for the general population have been signed.

The vaccines to be used as second booster shots are AstraZeneca, Moderna, and Pfizer.

“We already signed the guidelines nitong isang araw lamang at eto po ay ipapakalat na sa ating mga (just the other day and we’ll disseminate this to our) local government units,” Department of Health Officer in Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said during a media forum on Tuesday.

The jabs would be given to all healthy adults aged 18 years old and above.

“Pwede rin pong ibigay sa mga buntis at saka (They may also be given to pregnant and) lactating women of 18 years old and above,” she said. “Maaari rin po ibigay sa (They may also be given to) immunocompromised populations 18 years old and above, regardless of their priority group classification.”

To ensure that the booster shots are accessible to the communities, Vergeire encouraged the local government units to integrate Covid-19 vaccination in their daily health programs and services in the primary health care facilities.

“Para hindi na po natin kailangan mag-upa ng mga (So that we no longer need to rent) mass vaccination sites,” she added.

As of March 20, a total of 78,443,972 or 100.44 percent of the country’s target population (78,100,578) have been vaccinated against Covid-19, including 8.7 million senior citizens, 10.2 million adolescents, and 5.6 million children.

The above report ended stating that 23,811,248 have received booster shots out of the fully vaccinated (2 shots) population.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? How many people in your local community have been waiting for the availability of 2^nd booster shots? How long did they have to wait? Do you think that the DOH should tackle next the potential 5^th COVID-19 shot (3^rd booster shot) for people who already received two booster shots? Do you think this latest move by the DOH will prevent further COVID-19 vaccines from going to waste?

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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Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) confirms full support for national athletes in the 32nd SEA Games

April 21, 2023April 19, 2023carlocarrasco

With the 32^nd edition of the Southeast Asian Games (also referred to as SEA Games and Cambodia 2023) officially opening in Cambodia in a few weeks’ time, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) confirmed its full support for the national team participating in the big regional sports event, according to a news story published by the Philippine News Agency (PNA). Take note that the Philippine delegation has slightly lesser athletes than previously announced.

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

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) on Tuesday vowed to fully support the members of Team Philippines when they compete in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games scheduled May 5 to May 17 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

PSC chairperson Richard Bachmann said the support includes funding preparation, supplies, manpower and logistics.

Asked to predict Team Philippines’ finish in the biennial meet, Bachmann said he hopes for a better performance this year.

“I just want to support them. If we were fourth place last year, then hopefully we can improve this year,” Bachmann said during his guesting at the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.

Team Philippines will be banking on the 840-strong Philippine delegation that will carry the country’s tricolors in 38 disciplines in the biggest biennial multisport event in the region.

Boxing, one of the country’s medal-rich sports, will be bannered by 2020 Tokyo Olympics silver medalists Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam. Olympian and world gymnastics champion Carlos Yulo and world No. 3 pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena are also strong gold medal contenders in Cambodia meet.

Weightlifting Olympian Elreen Ando and Asian champion Vanessa Sarno will spearhead the national weightlifting squad in the absence of the Philippines’ first Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz who is deep in training to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“Our national athletes have been working hard and hopefully, all their hard work will pay off,” added Bachmann who has been visiting the training and preparations of the different national teams since January.

Aside from the SEA Games, Bachmann also encouraged each National Sports Association (NSA) to look at the bigger picture, especially at other major events that are also set this year like the Asian Games, World Championships, and qualifying events for the Paris Olympics.

“I’m not putting down the Southeast Asian Games, I’m just saying that, we should win that all the time. We have many events this year, suportahan natin ang atletang Pilipino (let’s support the Filipino athletes),” Bachmann said.

The above report ended stating that a send-off party for the national team will be held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City on April 24, 2023, and it will be attended by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of the Philippines, are you confident that the national team will be able to win many gold medals in the SEA Games in Cambodia? How excited are you right now about the SEA Games?

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 tourism gains from influx of South Korean visitors

April 19, 2023April 16, 2023carlocarrasco

Tourism in the Philippines continues to progress in terms of attracting visitors from overseas as tourists from South Korea emerged as the top source of foreign visitors this year, according to a news article published by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

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

South Korea is again the Philippines’ top source of foreign visitors so far this year.

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco bared this on Thursday when she greeted a batch of 300 travelers from South Korea at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport.

The travelers are members of the Korea branch of UNICITY, a direct selling company on health functional foods, cosmetics and household items and with over 60 markets globally.

As a reward to their top agents, sellers, and distributors, UNICITY-Korea sends a big volume of incentive groups to Southeast Asian countries annually.

This year, the company is sending 1,400 people in four batches (April 9, 13, 17, and 21) to Cebu.

Department of Tourism data showed a significant pick up in Korean arrivals since last year, with 428,014 or a 16.13 percent share of the country’s arrivals received between Feb. 10 — when the country eased its borders for leisure travelers — up until Dec. 31, 2022.

“The good news is that as of today, we have over 1.5 million tourist arrivals to the Philippines and our number one top source market are the Koreans. So we’re very grateful to our friends from Korea for continuing to show their love for the Philippines as they have come back in droves, and the UNICITY group in particular, has come with a delegation of no less than 1,400 individuals,” Frasco said.

Upon their arrival, the travelers were welcomed with leis and performances by Filipiniana-clad rondalla serenaders as well as by Sinulog dancers.

Prior to the pandemic, Korea ranked number one in terms of visitor arrivals to the Philippines, with 1,989,322 or 24.08 percent of the country’s total number of arrivals for 2019.

Arrivals from Korea declined drastically during the pandemic, dropping to 338,877 and 6,456, for 2020 and 2021, respectively.

“They’re coming on a daily basis and the numbers are increasing by the day. Last year, they were at number two, because it is the United States that [provided] our number one top source market. But this year, the Koreans have reclaimed the number one spot and we send out the message to all our friends in Korea, that you are more than welcome to keep coming back again and again to Cebu, Bohol, Palawan, and the rest of our beautiful islands in the Philippines,” Frasco said.

PH as ideal MICE destination

Frasco noted that the arrival of a delegation as big as the UNICITY group is a welcome development especially with the DOT “seeing MICE tourism become a very strong product for the Philippines and also for Cebu.”

“They are staying for a few days and we expect that this will contribute greatly to the economy of Cebu in particular, and to the rest of the country in general, considering the multiplier effect of tourism is really so that they will support our local tourism stakeholders, our small and medium enterprises, and the like,” Frasco said.

To further boost the Korean tourism source market and visitor arrivals, the DOT, through its office in Korea, carries out marketing initiatives including an online presentation to educate the MICE (meetings, incentives, conference, exhibitions) players in the Philippines about the Korean MICE market, as well as participation to upcoming key events such as business-to-business fairs, and a MICE roadshow.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the Philippines will continue to attract even more visitors from South Korea? Do you hope to see some of the South Korean visitors settle here in the Philippines and help build up the national economy by establishing legitimate businesses and creating new jobs?

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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Single ticketing system for Metro Manila traffic violations set to launch on May 2, 2023

April 18, 2023April 14, 2023carlocarrasco

Finally the single ticketing system for traffic violations specifically covering Metro Manila will be launched officially on May 2, 2023 now that the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and local government units (LGUs) have formally signed their agreement, according to a news article published by the Philippine News Agency (PNA). Specifically speaking, this new system will be in a pilot testing phase. Previously there was the target to start in April 2023.

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

Metro Manila will implement a single ticketing system for traffic violations starting May 2, following an agreement between the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the local government units (LGUs) of the region, and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Thursday.

In a statement, MMDA Acting Chair Don Artes said the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) and data sharing agreement (DSA) aim to harmonize the existing national and local laws on traffic enforcement, as well as penalties and fines of the most common traffic violations stated in the Metro Manila Traffic Code.

“The pilot testing will be done so the next LGUs that will be onboard will roll out their respective systems seamlessly,” Artes said.

Pilot testing for the single ticketing system will be done by the MMDA and seven LGUs—San Juan, Muntinlupa, Quezon City, Valenzuela, Parañaque, Manila and Caloocan.

The MMDA will provide handheld devices to apprehending officers that can offer cashless payment options to violators.

These devices will be connected to the Land Transportation Management System (LTMS) of the LTO to enable real-time data sharing and verification.

He added that the system will help minimize corruption and eradicate forms of negotiations between the motorist and the officer.

Senator Francis Tolentino, a former MMDA chair, expressed his support for the single ticketing system as he underscored the importance of integration.

“Integration will enable different systems to communicate with each other, to offer a unified solution and that is what you are doing now,” Tolentino said.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., through Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Hubert Guevarra, welcomed the passing of the single ticketing system.

“Let this be a way for all our motorists to become more conscious and respectful of our laws, rules, and regulations,” Marcos said.

LTO chief Jay Art Tugade, through Noreen San Luis-Lutey, also expressed his support for the rollout of the system.

San Luis-Lutey said the signing of the MOA and DSA is monumental for the LTO.

“It is a big milestone for us in terms of enhancing driver discipline through consistent and coordinated law enforcement initiatives,” San Luis-Lutey said.

The single-ticketing system, she said, will work in conjunction with the implementation of the 10-year validity of the driver’s license.

San Juan City Mayor and MMC president Francis Zamora thanked his fellow local chief executives for being part of the landmark legislation.

“The mayors have shown support and love to Metro Manila by amending our traffic ordinances to create a unified traffic code,” Zamora said.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the new Metro Manila traffic violations single ticketing system will succeed in relation to the objectives mentioned in the above report?

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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Overcharged electric bike (e-bike) sparks household fire and causes the death of a family

April 10, 2023April 5, 2023carlocarrasco

Electric bikes (e-bikes) are popular here in the Philippines and they are perceived to be economical and environment-friendly. E-bikes are also favored by fanatics of renewable energy, the climate change fanatics, as well as those who are living with a burning hatred for fossil fuel. However, there is one tragedy that took place recently during Holy Week and it is about an e-bike that was left charging for too long which caused a house fire and the eventual death of a family of five, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) report.

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

An overcharged electric bike was the cause of a fire that killed a family of five here early Monday morning, according to an investigation of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Pozorrubio.

In an interview on Tuesday, Fire Officer 3 Christian Verosil said the e-bike was on the ground floor of the victim’s residence and was left plugged in overnight.

“(Their) electronic bike does not have an automatic switch mechanism that would stop once the charging was completed,” he said.

He said the fire that started through the overcharged bike spread through the wirings of their house until it reached the attic where the casualties were sleeping.

“There are 10 persons in the house. The deceased father (Mark Villanueva) saved the other five members of their household including the elderly and those who were on the ground floor but when he returned to try to save his wife (Dexie) and three children aged six, two, and one, they were trapped and were unable to get out,” Verosil said.

He added that the attic was made of wood which made the fire spread almost immediately and there were no other openings aside from a small window and the attic door.

Meanwhile, Verosil said two neighboring houses were also damaged but there were no injuries or casualties.

He said the damage incurred amounted to PHP9 million.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you own an electric bike, have you been very careful about scheduling its recharge at your home or at your business place? How often do you unplug appliances at your home before going to sleep or leaving the household?

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’ disengagement from any contact and communication with International Criminal Court (ICC)

April 3, 2023March 29, 2023carlocarrasco

Do you honest believe that your country is under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) at all? I had to ask that question because my native Philippines continues to be the ICC’s subject over the issues related to the war against drugs that happened during the administration of previous President Rodrigo Duterte. Recently, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., announced that the nation will be disengaging from any contact and communication with the ICC as a result of the international organization’s latest rejection of the Philippines request related to an investigation about the said drug war, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) article.

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

The Philippines is “disengaging” from any contact and communication with the International Criminal Court (ICC) after it rejected the country’s request to suspend its ongoing investigation into former President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Tuesday.

Marcos made this remark after the ICC Appeals Chamber, in a decision dated March 27, denied the Philippines’ plea “in the absence of persuasive reasons in support of ordering suspensive effect.”

“At this point, we essentially are disengaging from any contact, from any communication I guess with the ICC…We ended up with the same position that we started with and that is we cannot cooperate with the ICC,” he told reporters in a media interview during an event at SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

He said the ICC decision to reject the country’s plea ends the Philippines’ involvement with the Hague-based international court.

“We don’t have a next move. That is the extent of our involvement with the ICC. That ends all our involvement with the ICC because hindi na tayo pwedeng mag-appeal (we can no longer appeal),” he said.

“The appeal has failed. And there’s – in our view, there is nothing more that we can do in the government,” he added.

He said the Philippines “no longer” has any recourse when it comes to the ICC.

“We have not been involved with the actual action. Merely as a comment, we would comment, and the appeal is part of a comment. But we have not appeared as a party in the ICC because we do not recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC. And so that is again, as I said, we have ended up now at the end where we really started,” he said.

He likewise cited “serious questions” about the ICC’s jurisdiction, saying he considered it to be “interference” and “practically attacks on the sovereignty.”

To recall, the Philippine government submitted two requests — a notice of appeal in February and an appeal brief in March — to suspend the probe after ICC authorized its prosecutor, Karim Khan, to investigate alleged crimes committed during the Duterte administration’s anti-narcotics campaign.

In March 2018, Duterte ordered the Philippines’ termination of the Rome Statute that created the ICC after former prosecutor Fatou Bensouda continued with the preliminary examination.

The Philippines formally cut ties with the ICC on March 17, 2019, exactly a year after the revocation of the Rome Statute.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a citizen of the Philippines, do you really believe that the nation must give in to the demands and commands of the ICC knowing that the ties with them had officially ended since 2019? If the ICC keeps on interfering with the sovereignty and internal affairs of the Philippines, would you find that acceptable? How many people in your family believe that the Philippines should follow the ICC?

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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Philippine athletes to the 32nd SEA Games reduced

April 3, 2023March 29, 2023carlocarrasco

With the 32nd edition of the Southeast Asian Games (AKA 32nd SEA Games and Cambodia 2023) all set to launch a little soon, the Philippines will be sending lesser athletes than previously announced, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA). Take note that the Philippines is already facing bigger odds in the SEA Games this May.

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

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino confirmed on Monday that the Filipino athletes going to Phnom Penh for the biennial meet are now down to 840.

“From the previously announced 905, it was reduced to 840,” Tolentino said right after the SEA Games torch rally here, adding that this will be the final count.

He said various reasons behind the reduction of numbers like typographical errors, for example, dual entry and wrong entry.

Tolentino, however, said the POC also had to let go of some reserve athletes and those who cannot make it to the Cambodian capital as their passports have already expired and their renewal process might not make it in time.

Having to let go of such athletes could possibly hamper the Philippine team’s bid to match or even go higher than its fourth-place finish in the overall standings during last year’s edition in Hanoi, the first time the SEA Games were held in an even-numbered year due to a one-year postponement caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

“That’s the big challenge: how can we attain the fourth-place standing or better than that?” Tolentino said.

Despite losing some slots, it is still considered a blessing as the POC was initially targeting only around 600 athletes going to Phnom Penh.

“Medyo mahirap, but dahil sa fighting spirit ng atleta natin at saka nadagdagan (It’s somehow tough, but because of our athletes’ fighting spirit and the increase in number) from 600 to 800, we might [still finish in fourth],” Tolentino said.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think having lesser athletes at the Cambodia SEA Games will have a tremendous negative effect on the Philippines’ campaign on winning medals? Would you happen to know someone from your local community who is officially part of the Philippine team heading to the SEA Games in Cambodia?

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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I Love Israel: Philippine President Marcos cites Israel as a model for achieving water security

March 31, 2023March 29, 2023carlocarrasco

Recently Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., emphasized the need to use new technologies so that the country will be able to improve the management of its water resources and ensure a stable supply for the people, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article. Along the way, Marcos mentioned Israel as a role model that the Philippines can learn from to achieve water security.

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

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday emphasized the need to use new and emerging technologies to improve the management of the country’s water resources and provide safe and affordable water to all.

Marcos made the statement during the opening of the 6th Edition of the Water Philippines Conference and Exposition at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

“I happened to have been given the opportunity to walk around a little bit and see some of the exhibitors. And it is very gratifying to note that in fact, the technologies that are being used, that are being employed in terms of water treatment, in terms of water management are well-known technologies,” he said. “And so, I am very optimistic that the solutions that we need to formulate are out there, the technologies are out there. What has continued to change in the light of climate change is the management, the stratagems on how we manage our water.”

Marcos particularly pointed out that flood control projects have evolved through the years, along with the changing times, noting that these are no longer just exclusively used for that.

“We take the water and we use it for irrigation, we use it for drinking water if we have a treatment plant,” he said, adding that water can be used to produce power with small hydroelectric plants.

He also cited Israel’s experience showing how it promotes the sustainable use of clean water for various purposes despite having a limited water supply.

“I’d spent some time in Israel and I saw how they treat the water because water is very scarce. They live in the desert. Nevertheless, they are able to collect the water during the rainy season, whatever is available, they put fish in it to grow fish. When the summer comes, they take it out, take out the water, harvest the fish, and then that goes to irrigation and so forth,” Marcos said.

He said the Philippines could learn from Israel and apply this approach to achieve water security.

“These are the kinds of thinking that we have to apply to the Philippines because of the crisis that we are facing and how debilitating it will be to the entire economy, to the entire society if our water supply problem continues to get greater, continues to become more dependent on what we have been doing in the past,” he said.

It is very notable that President Marcos mentioned Israel while talking about the state of water in the Philippines. I myself had been to Israel recently on pilgrimage tour and there were times when our tour bus traveled great distances on desert areas, I did not just see sand and rocks. I saw lots of plantations along the road and the sight of lively vegetation in the desert of Israel was astounding. Israel is very well known not only for their highly advanced treatment and management of water, they are also highly proficient on agriculture and creating abundant supplies of food. Very recently, the 65^th anniversary of friendship between Israel and the Philippines was commemorated. We need to pray to the Lord that President Marcos and an official delegation of the Philippines will someday visit Israel and have official meetings with their Israeli counterparts, meet with the Filipino community there and come up with new agreements for greater cooperation between the two nations.

To my fellow Filipinos reading this, I encourage you to accept the truth that Israel is the land God designated specifically for the Jewish people (read Genesis 35:10-12) and His command must be followed by all. If you want to be blessed further by the Lord, do so by loving and blessing the Jewish people (Genesis 12:1-3). I did my part when I was in Israel.

If you truly believe in Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit and God the Heavenly Father wholeheartedly and you continue to be faithful, you should be aware that Christians are meant to stand united with Israel and love the Jewish people no matter what. You can do your part supporting Israel by donating to Christians United for Israel (CUFI). Do not forget to read the Holy Bible, then pray in tongues to the Lord in the privacy of your room with the door shut.

Always be the fearless and aggressive church of Lord Jesus! Always stand in support of Israel and pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

In ending this I Love Israel piece, posted below are Israel-related videos for your viewing pleasure and enlightenment.

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