Southeast Asia – Page 105 – Author Carlo Carrasco

Supreme Court tells Metro Manila LGUs to follow MMDA’s ticketing system

March 14, 2024March 6, 2024carlocarrasco

Motorists who travel around the Metro Manila regularly should be aware that the Supreme Court recently officially invalidated local government units (LGUs) of the National Capital Region (NCR) from issuing traffic violation tickets and seizing drivers’ licenses and ordered them to follow the ticketing system of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.

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

The Supreme Court (SC) has invalidated provisions of ordinances by local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila allowing their respective traffic enforcers to issue violation receipts and confiscate driver’s licenses.

“A permanent injunction is hereby issued to enjoin respondent local government units from further issuing ordinance violation receipts; and confiscating licenses through their own traffic enforcers, unless they are deputized by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA),” the court said in its 42-page decision uploaded March 4 and penned by Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa.

This stemmed from a suit filed by 11 transport groups before the Court of Appeals in 2006, claiming that different citations from the MMDA and the LGUs are confusing as some bodies do not recognize tickets by other LGUs or the MMDA.

While the case was pending in 2012, a resolution by the MMDA Metro Manila Council (MMC) then adopted a uniform ticketing system and established a system of interconnectivity among the LGUs involved in transport and traffic management in Metro Manila.

In December of that year, the appellate court dismissed the suit, prompting the petitioners to elevate the case to the high tribunal.

The tribunal, in its ruling, said traffic management in the LGUs is covered by the MMDA Law.

“(T)he Court thus declares as invalid the common provision in the said traffic codes or ordinances of the LGUs in Metro Manila empowering each of them to issue OVR (ordinance violation receipts) to erring drivers and motorists,” the SC said.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction about this recent development? Do you think this new order by the Supreme Court will turn out helpful in the years to come?

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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Las Piñas City’s PESO recognized by DOLE

March 13, 2024March 5, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, the City Government announced that its Public Employment and Services Office (PESO) was recognized by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for its efficient and effective conduct and monitoring of job fairs, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

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

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-National Capital Region (NCR) recognized the Las Piñas Public Employment and Services Office (PESO) for its efficient and effective conduct and monitoring of job fairs that contributed to the increase of employment in the region.

Vice-Mayor April Aguilar said the department was awarded by the DOLE-NCR as best performing PESO in job placement for 2023.

The recognition was given to PESO during the regular flag raising ceremony on Monday, March 4.

Aguilar expressed her pride for the recognition as she reiterated the city government’s commitment to increasing the employment opportunities for Las Piñas residents.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Do you think PESO office deserves the recognition from DOLE? Did anyone in your local community got employed through the services of the PESO over the past twelve 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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The potential danger behind the promotion of the Philippines as an LGBTQIA+ tourist destination

March 12, 2024March 12, 2024carlocarrasco

As many of you my readers should know by now, I blogged a lot about tourism in the Philippines, what the Department of Tourism (DOT) has been doing and what the nation has achieved with regards to attracting foreign tourists.

While DOT has been working very hard to make the nation a more competitive tourism destination in Asia in accordance to the master plan, I am concerned about the department’s involvement with promoting the Philippines as an LGBTQIA+ destination. In fact, I can say it is a big turn-off as it can lead to new incidents and criminal activities that will affect local societies which the stakeholders cannot anticipate.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article of September 28, 2023. Some parts in boldface…

The Philippine government on Thursday vowed to promote inclusive travel in its bid to position the country as an LGBTQI+-friendly destination in the region.

During the first Tourism Pride Summit in Makati City, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said the Philippines plans to implement programs and initiate government interventions to address the unique challenges that the community faces when traveling.

The summit, she said, is one intervention to spark conversation and give members of the LGBTQIA+ a platform where they can share experiences and suggestions on how the government can make travel enjoyable and safe for them.

“Under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., he seeks a tourism industry that is inclusive, where no destination and no stakeholder is left behind in the development of our country,” Frasco said.

“That is why in our effort to reach our hand of collaboration to the farthest reaches of our country, we reach out our hand of collaboration as well to the many sectors that are involved in tourism, especially and including the LGBTQIA+ community,” she added.

Frasco noted that LGBTQIA+ tourism presents vast opportunities for growing the Philippine tourism industry portfolio.

Citing data from the United Nations World Tourism Organization, Frasco said there are an estimated 36 million LGBTQIA+ travelers around the world.

“We recognize the strength of capitalizing on LGBTQIA+ tourism considering that it is a USD200 billion industry that’s only slated to grow at half a trillion dollar industry by 2030,” she said.

Obviously the DOT is determined to attract as many LGBTQIA+ foreign tourists as possible as well as their money so that it could help them reach their financial goals and add to the momentum to make the Philippines a major tourist destination by the year 2028.

If ever a huge influx of foreign tourists who identify themselves as homosexuals/transgender/bisexual/transsexual/intersex/non-binary arrive in the Philippines, there is the potential rise of criminal activities involving the acts of the LGBTQIA+ people in the country. Can they behave themselves? Already there is one local LGBT crime that resulted one death. Can you imagine the possibility of more crime happening as more LGBTQIA+ tourists arrived? Can these people really behave themselves?

I am not just talking about sex tourism but also potential violations such as rape, sexual harassment, sexual assault, theft, scams, molestation, kidnapping, murder and other incidents that LGBTQIA+ tourists could commit here in the Philippines as they know they are favored by the DOT. If these specific foreign tourists could add to crime while touring the country, then the “Love the Philippines” slogan of the DOT could end up having a very dirty reputation plus additional embarrassment for the entire nation.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction about the DOT’s drive to make the Philippines a more attractive destination for LGBTQIA+ tourists? Do you think the DOT continues to ignore the potential danger that LGBTQIA+ tourists could unleash on Filipinos while they tour the country? Did you encounter a homosexual foreign tourist who committed a crime or victimized a member of your local community? Does the majority of the youth in your local community express themselves as LGBT-friendly or even as LGBT rights activists?

Do you think that the Democrats in America, the Islamo-Leftists and woke activists could be funding LGBTQIA+ people to come to the Philippines for vacationing as well as executing secretive efforts to establish new activists among Filipinos who will blindly fight for LGBT rights in the country?

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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Over 300 senior citizens vaccinated for pneumonia in Barangay Pamplona Uno, Las Piñas City

March 12, 2024March 5, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, the City Government announced through social media that their health office vaccinated more than three hundred senior citizens during the pneumonia vaccination drive held in Barangay Pamplona Uno.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the City Government’s social media post dated March 4, 2024. Some parts in boldface…

The City Health Office of Las Piñas conducted another pneumonia vaccination drive for over 300 senior citizens at the Balagtas Covered Court in Barangay Pamplona Uno on Tuesday, February 27.

The event, which saw the participation of Vice Mayor April Aguilar, underscores the Las Piñas City Government’s dedication to the health and safety of its senior residents. This targeted initiative is part of the city’s proactive measures to protect its elderly population from pneumonia, a condition that poses significant health risks to them.

Healthcare professionals were on hand to administer the vaccinations and offer advice on preventive health practices. The organization of the event was carefully planned to accommodate a large turnout, ensuring a smooth and orderly process for all attendees.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Do you think that the City Government’s health office should conduct more pneumonia vaccination activities before the summer heat really gets intense in the city? Are there many senior citizens in your local community who need pneumonia vaccines 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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DILG Secretary tells local governments to improve social protection and monetary management strategies

March 11, 2024March 2, 2024carlocarrasco

In recent times, local government units (LGUs) were urged by Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos to improve their social protection and sensitivity as well as their monetary management strategies, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

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

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. urged local government units (LGUs) to put up measures to enhance their social protection and sensitivity as well as financial sustainability assessment ratings.

He issued the call during the recent Council on Good Local Governance (CGLG) activity in Cebu City, which discussed the proposed criteria for the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) Assessment for 2024- 2025.

During the event, Abalos bared that the LGUs registered the lowest compliance rates during SGLG assessments when it comes to their social protection and sensitivity, and financial administration and sustainability.

On the flip side, Abalos stated that the LGUs registered positive performance and excelled in the following assessment criteria: Health Compliance and Responsiveness; Tourism Heritage Development, Culture and the Arts; and Sustainable Education.

“Natutuwa ako sa mataas na pagpapahalaga ng mga LGUs sa kalusugan, turismo at edukasyon base sa lumabas sa assessment para sa SGLG nitong nakaraang taon. Ipagpatuloy lang natin ang pagsisikap sa mga areas na ito (I am glad about the LGUs’ high appreciation for health, tourism and education based on the results of the assessment for the SGLG last year. Let’s continue working on these areas,” he said.

Together with Abalos, DILG Undersecretary Marlo Iringan also emphasized the significance of aligning the objectives and ensuring the effective execution of the SGLG assessment process.

The SGLG is an award, incentive, honor and recognition-based program for LGUs that aim to challenge them to continue good governance practices while providing better public services.

Relatedly, the DILG noted that a total of 42,000 barangay captains and other newly-elected officials will undergo continuous training to enhance their capabilities in handling various challenges that they may face in the course of their mandated duties as community leaders.

Abalos stressed that the exercise dubbed as “Grassroots Renewal and Empowerment for Accountable and Transparent (GREAT) Barangays” will run until 2025 and is designed to capacitate the village officials in all leadership aspects.

“As the basic unit of local governance, at pinakamalapit sa ating mga kababayan sa komunidad (and nearest to the people in the community), everything starts in the barangay,” Abalos explained.

Through the Local Government Academy (LGA), Abalos pointed out that the DILG ensures newly-elected barangay officials are ready to face the challenges of leadership in the barangays.

“We will prepare our barangay officials,” he said.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction about this recent development? Do you think the DILG is properly doing its job to guide all LGUs on how to do their jobs over a wide series of issues? Do you think your local government or barangay has been neglecting its duties?

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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PNP tells public to avoid scammers and transact only with legitimate companies when booking for travel

March 11, 2024March 2, 2024carlocarrasco

In recent times, the Philippine National Police (PNP) advised people to avoid scammers, protect their personal information and only transact with legitimate companies with regards to making arrangements for travel as the summer season approaches, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article. The PNP’s Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) noticed that scammers have been using digital methods and social media to deceive customers and take their money.

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

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday advised the public to ensure that they are transacting with legitimate companies to avoid falling victims to scams ahead of the summer travel season.

The PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) issued the warning due to the upward trend in vacation or travel accommodation scams last year.

PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo, citing ACG data, said from 39 cases in 2021 and 91 cases in 2022, the police recorded 313 cases in 2023. This year, the police has so far recorded 35 cases.

Criminals utilize social media and digital technology to impersonate legitimate establishments, offering online accommodation services at much lower rates than usual.

However, upon arrival, victims discover that their reservations do not exist in the establishment’s system.

“We would like to take this opportunity to warn and remind our public na mag ingat (to be wary). Katulad ng sinasabi natin (As we have been saying), this is not only limited sa mga (to) vacation scam. Pati nga ‘yung mga nagbebenta ng mga murang services, nagbebenta ng mga ano-anong produkto, mag-ingat tayo especially kung ang kapalit agad nun is magpapadala kayo ng pera without you not knowing kung sino ang mga iyon (This includes those offering cheap services, selling different kinds of products, let’s be wary especially if the scheme means you have to send money without you knowing who are these),” she added.

ACG director Maj. Gen. Sidney Hernia Director urged netizens to exercise utmost caution and refrain from providing personal or financial details online without verifying the legitimacy of the recipient.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction about this recent development? Do you think the scammers have been victimizing a lot of local travelers lately? Have you seen lots of enticing travel promos on social media that promised huge discounts? If you have been traveling lately, do you do your bookings online or over the counter with a travel agency?

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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Dutch bank predicts Philippine economy will grow 5.4% this year

March 8, 2024February 28, 2024carlocarrasco

ING, a bank and financial services firm based in the Netherlands, published its forecast that the economy of the Philippines will grow by 5.4% this year, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

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

Dutch bank ING is projecting a moderate 5.4 percent growth for the Philippines this year, saying the impact of the central bank’s rate hikes could have propelled robust growth but it is handicapped by “soft” capital formation.

The 5.4 percent growth estimate is considerably lower than the government target of 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent this year. It is also lower than 2023’s full-year 5.6 percent growth, which was also below the government’s goal of six percent to seven percent.

ING senior economist Nicholas Mapa, in an ING Manila’s economic briefing on Monday, Feb. 19, said domestic growth seems strong this year but “below par as handicaps persist.”

He said one of these handicaps is the lack in capital formation as an impact of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) cumulative rate hikes since May 2022, for a combined 450 basis points to bring the target reverse repurchase rate or the policy rate to 6.5 percent.

Because of this, Mapa said the “missing link” for a within-target growth is private investment and a National Government spending spree not hampered by a “soft” capital formation.

Capital formation is an integral part of GDP growth. However, capital formation and growth prospects were soft in 2023 due to rate hikes and it could persist this year.

For 2024, ING also forecasts inflation of three percent versus an actual six percent in 2023. The forecast is within the BSP’s target of two percent to four percent. It is also lower compared to the risk-adjusted forecast of the BSP of 3.9 percent for 2024.

Mapa also predict the exchange rate will end with a stronger peso this year at P54.90 since he also expects the BSP’s Monetary Board will cut the policy rate by 50 basis points (bps) from 6.5 percent to six percent, thereby boosting the peso performance.

Based on his presentation during the briefing, Mapa expects the first quarter GDP will perform better at six percent compared to the fourth quarter 2023 GDP of 5.6 percent. By the second quarter, he thinks the economy will grow by 6.3 percent but then will drop to 4.7 percent by the third quarter and further down to 4.5 percent in fourth quarter this year.

He said the rate hikes impact bank lending as well as GDP growth, and that the “elevated rates (has kept) capital formation subdued after years of underinvestment.”

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction about this recent development? Do you think ING’s prediction will turn out correct by the end of this year? Do you think that the economy of the Philippines can somehow grow by at least 6% this 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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Philippines described by Nikkei Asia as “Asia’s epicenter for online shopping scams”

March 7, 2024February 27, 2024carlocarrasco

In recent times, a lot of people here in the Philippines got cheated by a scammer over their huge purchases of tickets for a Taylor Swift in Singapore. This incident serves as a painful reminder that the nation has been hit by a lot of scams online, so much so the Nikkei Asia published a December 2023 article describing the Philippines as “Asia’s epicenter for online shopping scams.”

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

James Relativo thought he had landed a great deal on an electric drum set, but instead the Manila resident was cheated out of his money in a country gaining the dubious distinction as Asia’s worst for online sales scams.

Shoppers across the Philippines have been bilked out of millions of dollars so far this year, with some turning to victim chat groups on Facebook and other social media. A recent report found more than one-third of Filipinos surveyed had been scammed or encountered retail fraud online.

“Some people easily believe in false promises even if they are too good to be true,” warned Alexander Ramos, executive director of the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC).

In retrospect, Relativo might have been more skeptical about a drum set going for 8,000 pesos ($140), less than half the usual price, on e-commerce site Shopee.

But he hit ‘buy’ without hesitating, and soon things turned suspicious. The seller shifted its communications to a messaging app and demanded half the cost of the drums for “refundable taxes.”

More money demands followed until a frustrated Relativo agreed to bypass Shopee’s payment system and settle his remaining balance on GCash, a digital payments platform. He never got his drums.

“I just kept telling him I wanted my money back,” Relativo told Nikkei Asia, his voice laced with exasperation. “It wasn’t like I was dealing with a scammer — he was talking to me, sending me pictures of the drum set being packed.“

The journalist’s saga highlights a bitter experience for a growing number of people in the Philippines, which clocked the highest scam rate for online shoppers across nearly a dozen economies in the 2023 Asia Scam Report, published in November.

Commissioned by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA) and Taiwan-based tech security company Gogolook, the report surveyed 20,000 respondents about their online shopping experiences in Vietnam, China, Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines.

The shopping scam rate in the Philippines led the group at an eye-watering 35.9%, followed by mainland China at 27.2%. South Korea had the lowest incidence, at 4.2%.

The explosion in online shopping has created a lucrative market for scammers. And a lack of cybercrime awareness is aggravating the problem in the Philippines, where people spend an average of 10 hours a day online by some estimates.

“Although (Filipinos) are considered very connected and digitally wired, (they) do not have adequate digital literacy skills,” said Mark Manantan, director of cybersecurity and critical technologies at the Pacific Forum in Hawaii.

The survey found that Filipinos were easy prey for scammers because they “respond too quickly” to sellers’ demands.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction about this recent development? Do you think Nikkei Asia’s article is detailed enough and trustworthy when it comes to gaining a strong awareness about online scams? How members of your household or your local community got scammed online over the past six months? Why do you think a lot of people in the Philippines are so determined to spend a lot of money to watch a Taylor Swift event overseas?

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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Muntinlupa City Council amends ordinances related to companies’ hiring of local residents

March 7, 2024February 27, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the progressive City of Muntinlupa, the City Council amended two local ordinances that affects companies (with operations within the city) with regards to their hiring of local residents, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

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

The Muntinlupa City Council amended an ordinance that requires companies operating in the city to hire 70 percent of their rank-and-file employees from among residents.

Under existing ordinances 08-028 and 96-80, all companies that have at least five employees are mandated to hire at least 70 percent of their rank-and-file employees from among Muntinlupa residents.

Ordinance 2024-151 was passed by the City Council amending the two ordinances.

Under the amended ordinance, excluded in the scope of the local law are the banking sector and any industry mandated by law to implement periodic forced rotation of employees.

Section 6 of Ordinance 96-80 was also amended. Under the new provision, all companies in Muntinlupa including business establishments that contract or avail of rank-and-file employees from service agencies located outside the city are required to submit a yearly report of the list of their employees.

The list will be submitted to the Muntinlupa Public Employment Service Office (PESO) by Sept. 30 of every year.

The PESO monitors all business establishments and companies in Muntinlupa for their compliance with the 70-percent workforce requirement.

According to PESO, the ordinance addresses the unemployment problem in the city by giving Muntinlupeños assurance to be employed by companies.

Under the existing ordinance, companies are required to submit to the PESO and Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) a list of employees as part of requirements in the issuance of business permits.

In the amended law, in addition to submitting the age, address, period of employment in the company, and position and duties of employees, companies are now required to submit the employee’s gender, employees who are classified as persons with disabilities (PWDs) and senior citizens, and the company’s reason for not meeting the 50 percent compliance rating in the employment of Muntinlupa residents.

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 who happens to be looking for a job, do you think the latest move by the City Council will boost your chances of getting hired? If you own a business operating in the city, do you think the amendments will make managing your lineup of employees more challenging?

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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Las Piñas City Government honored for environmental sustainability and stewardship

March 6, 2024February 27, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, the City Government celebrated over the newest honor it received for its support for environmental stewardship and sustainability, according to their social media post of February 26, 2024.

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

In addition, during the ceremony, City Vice Mayor April Aguilar was awarded for Las Piñas City’s substantial support to environmental sustainability initiatives by Engineer Cezar Perillo, head of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO). The award, presented during the “Greenership: Nurturing Partnerships for a Sustainable and Greener Future” forum on February 20, 2024, acknowledges the city’s efforts in backing the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) National Capital Region’s projects.

The award underscores the city’s active engagement in promoting environmental stewardship and its commitment to sustainable urban development. Las Piñas has been instrumental in driving forward initiatives aimed at urban greening, waste management, and reducing pollution, demonstrating leadership in environmental conservation and a proactive approach to tackling ecological challenges.

This recognition during the flag-raising ceremony exhibits Las Piñas City’s enduring dedication to environmental initiatives, fostering a culture of sustainability and community involvement.

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 delighted over the award the City Government received in relation to environmental sustainability and stewardship? Do you think the City Government has done enough on making Las Piñas a true environmental place? Has pollution been reduced all over the city?

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

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