Tag: State of the Nation Address (SONA)

Parañaque Congressman Yamsuan seeks passage of Equal Maternity Protection Act

Parañaque Congressman Yamsuan seeks passage of Equal Maternity Protection Act

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Following the 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA) of Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Parañaque’s 2nd District Representative Brian Yamsuan seeks passage of House Bill No. 224 (Equal Maternity Protection Act) which is one of his more notable proposals in the House of Representatives, 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…

Parañaque City 2nd Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan has highlighted the significance of one of his pet bills in the 20th Congress following President Marcos’ his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) earlier this week.

In a statement Wednesday, July 30, Yamsuan sought the passage of House Bill (HB) No.2240, or the Equal Maternity Protection Act. It aims to provide maternity cash benefits for women workers in the informal sector.

Specifically, the measure seeks “a one-time direct maternity cash benefit per delivery” to informal sector female workers “equivalent to the prevailing minimum wage rate in their region of residence multiplied by 22 days”.

Once the bill becomes law, a female worker in the informal economy who lives in Metro Manila where the prevailing minimum wage rate is P695 will receive P15,290 from the DSWD after giving birth.

Yamsuan’s proposal covers women workers in the informal economy who are not members of the Social Security System (SSS), whether on a regular or voluntary basis. These include freelancers, own-account workers, home-based workers and workers in unrecognized or unregulated employment relationships.

In his SONA last Monday, July 30, President Marcos expressed a renewed commitment to expand opportunities for low-income Filipinos to set up small businesses. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said that among the expected beneficiaries of this SONA commitment are women.

“Malaking bahagi ng ating mga informal workers na kasama sa pagpapasigla ng ating ekonomiya ay mga kababaihan at karamihan sa kanila ay walang benefits na natatanggap mula sa gobyerno. Ang ating panukalang batas ay layuning mabago ang ganitong di-patas na pagtrato sa kanila,” Yamsuan said.

(A big chunk of our informal workers who contribute to energizing our economy are women and many of them do not receive any benefits from the government. Our bill aims to change this unfair treatment of them.).

HB No.2240 intends to amend certain provisions of Republic Act (RA) No.11210, or the Expanded Maternity Leave Law in which eligibility is limited only to women who are SSS members and contributors.

Yamsuan said that in his district alone where he has helped provide jobs and livelihood opportunities through his Bigay Negosyo and Dagdag Pangkabuhayan programs, the majority of the beneficiaries were women.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, do you find the details of Congressman Yamsuan’s proposal clear and concise? Do you think the proposal will be able to help a lot of women in the informal sector once it becomes a law? If you are a 2nd district voter of Parañaque, do you like what Congressman Yamsuan is doing?

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

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

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

Land Transportation Office (LTO) urges motorists to avail of online driver’s license renewal

Land Transportation Office (LTO) urges motorists to avail of online driver’s license renewal

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Recently the Land Transportation Office (LTO) urged motorists to take advantage of the online driver’s license renewal process which would save them time and money when compared to personally doing it at physical renewal centers, 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…

Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Assistant Secretary Vigor D. Mendoza II urged all its clients to avail of the online driver’s license renewal in order to save time and money for the transaction.

By availing of the online platform, Mendoza said motorists would save time and money compared to personally going to LTO offices just to renew their driver’s license.

“With this digital platform, our kababayan, especially the busy workers, will save more time, energy and even their hard-earned money if they avail of this because they no longer have to go to LTO offices for this particular transaction,” said Mendoza.

“And another benefit of this technology is we are able to reduce human intervention, which means that this is an effective anti-fixer and anti-corruption platform,” he added.

The online driver”s license renewal, which was mentioned by President Marcos in his State of the Nation Address (SONA), can also be accessed through the eGov app.

Mendoza said he already instructed all Regional Directors to amplify the traditional and social media campaigns to promote online driver’s license renewal. The online driver’s license renewal is fully available not only in the country but also abroad.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Have you tried renewing your driver’s license online as the LTO stated? Is the online driver’s renewal system functional and efficient? How many motorists in your local community prefer to have their licenses renewed at the physical offices of the LTO?

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

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

Ban on POGOs all over the Philippines declared

Ban on POGOs all over the Philippines declared

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During his 3rd State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., declared a nationwide ban on all Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article. Marcos pointed out the negative effects POGOs had on the country such as money laundering, scamming, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, and murder to name some.

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

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has heeded snowballing calls to ban Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) in the country, an industry marred by controversies and illegal activities.

During his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, Marcos acknowledged that POGOs have already “ventured into illicit areas furthest from gaming, such as financial scamming, money laundering, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, brutal torture, even murder.”

“The grave abuse and disrespect of our system must stop. Kailangan nang itigil ang panggugulo nito sa ating lipunan at paglalapastangan sa ating bansa (It is now imperative to stop this chaos that is wreaking havoc to our society and desecrating our country). Effective today, all POGOs are banned,” Marcos exclaimed prompting the crowd at the Batasan Pambansa in Quezon City to break into cheers.

The President also ordered the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation to cease operations of POGOs by the end of the year, as well as the Department of Labor and Employment to help workers who will be displaced.

Finance Secretary Ralph Recto and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, key figures of the administration’s economic team, have supported the calls to ban POGOs, which mostly cater to clients from mainland China and employ a large number of Chinese-speaking foreign workers.

Several lawmakers and business groups have also urged the President to impose a total ban on POGOs.

Aside from money laundering activities, crimes attributed to the POGOs have expanded over the past years and now include human trafficking, abduction, homicide, illegal detention, kidnap-for-ransom, theft, robbery-extortion, serious physical injuries, swindling, grave coercion, investment scam, cryptocurrency scam, and love scam.

For added insight, watch this GMA Network news video of President Marcos making the declaration.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the newly declared nationwide ban on POGOs will reduce the connected criminal acts? Are there many POGO-connected foreigners living in your local community? Do you think the ban on POGOs will result in lesser Chinese nationals coming into the country? Do you think the closures of POGOs will affect a lot of small businesses that sold products or services to them?

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

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

High-priority infrastructure projects to be financed by Maharlika Investment Fund

High-priority infrastructure projects to be financed by Maharlika Investment Fund

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Just days after signing into law the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF), President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., stressed during his 2nd State of the Nation Address (SONA) that the new law will finance the high-priority infrastructure projects of the Philippines, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.

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

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday said the newly established Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) would be used to fund high-priority projects.

“For strategic financing, some of the nation’s high-priority projects can now look to the newly established Maharlika Investment Fund, without the added debt burden,” Marcos said in his second State of the Nation Address (SONA).

The MIF is the Philippines’ first-ever sovereign wealth fund designed to catalyze economic development by mobilizing government financial assets.

“In pooling a small fraction of the considerable but underutilized government funds, the Maharlika Fund shall be used to make high-impact and profitable investments, such as the ‘Build Better More’ program,” Marcos said.

He said the gains from the Fund shall be reinvested into the country’s economic well-being.

To ensure sound financial management, Marcos assured that a group of internationally recognized economic managers shall oversee the operations of the Fund, guided by principles of transparency and accountability.

“This guarantees that investment decisions will be based on financial considerations alone, absent any political influence,” Marcos said.

“The funds for the social security and public health insurance of our people shall remain intact and separate.”

The Department of Finance (DOF) earlier said the Fund can look into big-ticket infrastructure such as in green and blue projects, countryside development, and other employment-generating projects.

For the newcomers reading this, if you want to understand what a sovereign wealth fund is and how it would work with the Philippines in mind, watch the video below…

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Were you able to watch President Marcos’ 2nd SONA?

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

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

Marcos emphasizes digitalization and online payment systems

Marcos emphasizes digitalization and online payment systems

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During his 2nd State of the Nation Address (SONA) this past Monday, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., emphasized the focus on digitalization and online payment systems for efficiency, achieving public service, easing the processes of doing business and cutting graft and corruption, 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…

During his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said digitalization helps in frontline services, back-end functions, as well as supports the government in “data-driven and science-based planning and decision-making.”

“Digitalization is the call of today; not of the future –but of the present. It is here. It is needed, and it is needed today,” Marcos said.

He said government streamlining efforts through digitalization has so far “significantly boosted efficiency” such as in government payments, company and business registration, issuance of permits and licenses, loan applications, and revenue collections.

“All our digitalization efforts will be linked to our payment systems, whose digital transformation has been accelerating at a remarkable rate,” he added.

In 2022 alone, Marcos said digital payments accounted for 42 percent of total retail payments for businesses, individuals, and by the government.

“Its high trajectory is now well-positioned to achieve Bangko Sentral’s target of 50 percent of total retail payments by this year,” he said.

Digital payments – Marcos cited the rise in the share of retail digital payments to 42 percent of the total in 2022, almost near the 50 percent share target of the Bangko Sentral ng ng Pilipinas (BSP) by this year.

Based on the BSP’s 2022 Status of Digital Payments report released last June, digital payments were only 1 percent of the total in 2013.

It rose to 10 percent in 2018, 14 percent in 2019, 20.1 percent in 2020, and 30.3 percent in 2021.

Retail payment transactions grew by 611.7 million in terms of volume in 2022 relative to the previous year, BSP data show.

In 2022 alone, payments made by persons accounted for 68.6 percent of the total, and were followed by the payments made by businesses, 30.3 percent; and payments made by the government, 1.1 percent.

Of the total, 90.6 percent of digital payments volume were accounted for by person-to-business (P2B) payments, 73.7 percent; person-to-person (P2P) and business-to-person (B2P), 14.7 percent; and salaries and wage payments, 2.2 percent.

Authorities have attributed the big rise in digital payments to the impact of the pandemic, which prevented most people from going out, thus the need to do online transactions for most of their purchases.

Marcos said the country’s financial system, which he describes as “the nerve center of our economy”, “remains strong and stable.”

He said banks, the monetary policy’s transmission arms, “have strong capital and liquidity positions.”

With the easing of restrictions put in place during the pandemic, Marcos said, “transactions once again flourished—alongside the booming e-commerce that was undeterred by the pandemic.”

“In 2022, the digital economy contributed PHP2 trillion, equivalent to 9.4 percent of our GDP (gross domestic product). The economy is revived and rejuvenated, backstopped by a favorable enabling environment and the strong rule of law,” he said.

eGov PH app – To eliminate redundancy and further ensure ease of use, Marcos showcased the eGov PH mobile app that aims to integrate all key government services for the convenience of its users.

“The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has been directed to consolidate all these digitalized government services into the eGov PH app to establish the National Government Portal and the Philippine Business Databank, and to improve the internet speed in our country,” he said.

On the other hand, Marcos said the National ID System will serve as the core of a “digitally transformed network of government services.”

To date, he said the National ID System reported around 87 percent total registration.

“We are now closer to establishing a complete, accurate, and reliable digital database of our entire population. This has already been integrated into the eGov PH app, and can be accessed by our citizens,” he added.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Have you been using digital or online methods to settle your dues with government units?

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

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

Las Piñas City Government receives plaque of appreciation for hosting 1st leg of Pre-SONA (State of the Nation Address) caravan of President Marcos

Las Piñas City Government receives plaque of appreciation for hosting 1st leg of Pre-SONA (State of the Nation Address) caravan of President Marcos

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Recently in the City of Las Piñas, the City Government hosted a pretty significant event related to public service which was the first leg of the 2023 Pre-SONA (State of the Nation Address) caravan of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. In return, the City government received a plaque of appreciation from the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), 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…

The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) awarded the city government of Las Piñas with a plaque of appreciation for hosting the first leg of the 2023 Pre-SONA (State of the Nation Address) caravan of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on May 10.

The plaque of appreciation was received by Vice- Mayor April Aguilar and Public Information Office (PIO) Chief Paul San Miguel during the Monday regular flag raising ceremony held at the Las Piñas City Hall quadrangle on May 15.

The PIA gave the Las Piñas city government a plaque of appreciation for its unwavering and invaluable support to the “Nagkaka1sang Bumabangon: The 2023 Pre-SONA Caravan.”

The Pre-SONA caravan is an initiative of the Philippine government to gather feedback and insights from various sectors of society for President Marcos’ upcoming SONA and to extend the services of different agencies in the key sectors of health, security, and social welfare development.

The city government said booths were set-up by various government agencies during the caravan which was held at the Verdant covered court.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a Las Piñas City resident, what is your reaction to this new development? How do you feel about your city being involved in the pre-SONA caravan?

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

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

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

Get ready for the “Build, Better, More” infrastructure program

Get ready for the “Build, Better, More” infrastructure program

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If there is something highly significant done by the previous administration under former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte that a lot of people will benefit from, it would be the “Build Build Build” infrastructure program which was designed to grow the economy, reduce poverty and solve congestion. This resulted in expansion and improvements through projects on roads, bridges, highways, airports and also water resources. For more on the impact of “Build Build Build”, click here and here.

Of course, the 6-year term of Duterte was ultimately insufficient to complete all the projects of the program (note: the incomplete ones are still continuing) and now we have a new leader with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., who specifically mentioned infrastructure during his State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Yesterday, it was reported by the Manila Bulletin that a new infrastructure program under the Marcos administration has officially been announced as “Build, Better, More”. Other than the name, there are notable details listed which will give people a clear idea about what to expect about the continued development of Philippine infrastructure.

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

“Build, Better, More”–or BBM for short–is officially a program of the Marcos administration, and the executive branch is asking P1.196 trillion from Congress in order to fund it next year.

Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman acknowledged during a press conference with House reporters Monday, Aug. 22 that the BBM program was an “expansion” of the previous Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure modernization initiative.

BBM is also the initials of the incumbent President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

The BBM program was listed as a “spending priority” on the DBM’s briefer on the 2023 National Expenditure Program (NEP), which the agency submitted to the House of Representatives Monday.

“A total of P1.196 trillion has been allocated for the government’s 2023 infrastructure programs,” read a statement from DBM, referring to the budget being sought from lawmakers.

“The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will receive [a] P718.4-[billion] budget in 2023, while the Department of Transportation will receive P167.1 [billion] in 2023–an increase by 120.4 percent for its P75.8-[billion] budget in 2022, which covers the augmented funding requirements for various foreign assisted railway projects,” it stated.

Pangandaman said during the presser that BBM includes “convergence programs with Department of Tourism, Department of Education, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Trade and Industry”.

“Related po doon sa Build, Better, More program natin (Related to our Build, Better, More program), which is an expansion of the Build, Build, Build program are programs po under the DOTr,” the DBM chief noted.

Among the major transportation infrastructure projects that will be implemented include the North-South Commuter Railway (costing P75.1 billion), Metro Manila Subway Project (P26.3 billion), and Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1 Cavite Extension Project (P2.7 billion).

Also linked to the BBM program are more specific infrastructure initiatives such as the Network Development Program (P140.4 billion), Asset Preservation Program (P88.5 billion), and Bridge Program (P38 billion).

Pangandaman said that the Network Development Program’s purpose is to “expand the connectivity and road systems across the country”. On the other hand, the Asset Preservation Program involves “maintenance, rehabilitation, and reconstruction”.

“We also have the Bridge Program po, [the] construction and maintenance and repair of bridges,” she added.

In his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 25, Marcos said, “The backbone of an economy is its infrastructure. The infrastructure program of the Duterte administration must not only continue but, whenever possible, be expanded. We shall confidently build on this firm foundation established by my predecessor. As it is in building an edifice, we must keep the momentum and aspire to Build Better More.”

The 2023 NEP, which is the precursor of the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) or proposed national budget, will be scrutinized first in the House of Representatives. It will eventually endorse to the Senate its GAB after they approve it on third and final reading.

Regardless of who is in-charge in the national government, I personally favor the widespread, massive development of infrastructure projects around the country. In my honest opinion, improved and expanded infrastructure will pave way for better economic growth covering vast sectors like industry, commerce, tourism, real estate, agriculture and more. The past Build, Build, Build and the new Build, Better, More are clearly more than just about solving traffic congestion. The Marcos administration now has the task of implementing the new infrastructure program which will not only improve infrastructure but also create new jobs.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Are you glad that President Marcos and his administration are focused on continuing the momentum of massive infrastructure development that his predecessor started? What kind infrastructure projects would you want the nation government to start working on?

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

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

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

President Marcos on nuclear power plants in the Philippines

President Marcos on nuclear power plants in the Philippines

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Last March, I highlighted an article published by the Philippine News Agency (PNA) related to nuclear power for the Philippines. Personally, I favor the use of nuclear power and the construction of nuclear power plants in the Philippines not just because it will provide clean and abundant energy but also because technologies and other means related to it all have advanced through the years. 

That being said, it was good that our new President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., mentioned nuclear power during the recent State of the Nation Address (SONA) specifically referring to the nation’s strategy towards building new nuclear power plants.

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

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. again expressed his desire to adopt nuclear energy as part of the country’s power mix, but said the government’s strategy has to be rethought.

“I believe it is time to re-examine our strategy towards building nuclear power plants in the Philippines,” Marcos said in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.

Marcos, however, did not mention the revival of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP), a project during his late father Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s regime which has been mothballed for more than three decades.

In 1976, Marcos Sr. ordered the construction of the $2.3-billion BNPP, but it was shelved after three years due to safety concerns.

The Duterte administration had pegged the cost of reviving the BNPP at around $1 billion.

The President, instead, said that “there have been new technologies developed that allow smaller scale modular nuclear plants and other derivations thereof.”

In October 2019, Russian State Nuclear Energy Corp. (Rosatom) Overseas JSC and the Department of Energy (DOE) signed a memorandum of intent on cooperation to conduct a pre-feasibility study on the construction in the Philippines of nuclear power plants based on small modular reactor (SMR) technology.

Nevertheless, Marcos said the Philippines will comply with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regulations for nuclear power plants “as they have been strengthened after Fukushima.”

The President said that public-private partnerships will play a role in realizing the goal of adopting nuclear power.

In the Philippine Senate, there is already support for President Marcos’ plan. Posted below is an excerpt from the Philippine News Agency article. Some parts in boldface…

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said Tuesday he will fully support the plan of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to explore the country’s potentials on nuclear energy as a cheap and reliable source.

Marcos said in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday that if the country wants to attract investors, both local and foreign, energy-level production must be increased.

“Why not? We are one of the few countries that have not looked at the nuclear option in Southeast Asia. The countries that are developing nuclear power in Asia — Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, even Singapore, are looking at the nuclear option, smaller nuclear power plants, and even Myanmar. We’re already left behind,” Zubiri said in an interview with a news channel.

Despite being a renewable energy advocate, as evidenced by the Renewable Energy Act which he authored, Zubiri admitted that there are not enough efforts to produce the energy requirement the country needs over the next six years.

“If you want to have an 8-percent GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth rate, we better have an energy sector that is robust, that can deliver the power the different industries need to be able to power other programs and projects,” he said.

A nuclear power plant, Zubiri said, might take six years to develop starting from its infancy, but can deliver thousands of megawatts from a single plant.

He said the facility must be built right, strong enough to withstand calamities, and away from earthquake faults.

Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, a known environmentalist, said she is open to exploring the possibility of nuclear energy but it must be considered “clean energy”.

“I may not be an expert in nuclear energy. I am open to hearing discussions and consultations with various stakeholders and experts in science on nuclear energy. I have read that nuclear energy is said to be clean. However, what about the nuclear waste? I am interested to know how it will be handled. At the same time, the safety measures,” she said.

Senator Francis Tolentino is likewise in favor of nuclear energy, which he learned has zero emission.

Meanwhile, the government of France is willing to help the Philippines on nuclear power development. France itself has been a major nuclear power player and therefore their willingness to share their expertise is significant for Filipinos. Posted below is an excerpt from the PNA article. Some parts in boldface…

The French government is keen to help the Philippines develop its nuclear power program as the Marcos administration looks for other reliable sources of energy.

French Ambassador Michèle Boccoz said the embassy has met with some of the Cabinet members and nuclear power was listed among the key areas Paris and Manila could cooperate on.

“(T)here’s obviously an interest. As I said, we have an experience and expertise in many different sectors of renewable energy, including the nuclear sector,” Boccoz said at a reception in Makati City on Tuesday.

She said working on small modular reactors is “probably much more realistic” than reviving the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant.

“I think that this is a thing of the past because the technologies have evolved so much that it wouldn’t really make sense to work to build this kind of project and it’s probably too big and it probably needs too much of the grid to be operational,” she added.

“So having a sort of more modular systems is probably much more realistic and also in terms of the terrain here and the systemic risks and others. These are much smaller units that can be much more easily protected.”

Boccoz, meanwhile, clarified that talks are still in the “very early stages” as Manila has to put in place a framework first.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about the renewed national interest about nuclear power? Are the climate change extremists and modern day Leftists still lying to you that nuclear power is bad while unreliable energy forms like solar and wind power are better? Are you willing to give nuclear power in the Philippines a chance?

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

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

COVID-19 Crisis: During SONA, President Marcos declares no more lockdown

COVID-19 Crisis: During SONA, President Marcos declares no more lockdown

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During his first State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., stated that there would be no more lockdown in the Philippines in relation to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. Take note that new cases of COVID-19 have been rising nationwide but they have not reached the point of overwhelming the healthcare system.

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

“We will no longer implement a lockdown.”

This was among the most resounding remarks President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. pronounced during his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 25, that lasted for more than an hour.

The President said while there are new variants of the coronavirus being discovered at the present, the Philippines can no longer afford to go through another lockdown, so he pronounced that under his administration, there will no longer be lockdown.

“Sa ating sitwasyon ng pangkalusugan, nariyan pa rin ang banta ng Covid-19 lalo’t may mga nadidiskubreng bagong variant ng coronavirus, pero hindi na natin kakayanin ang isa pang lockdown (In our health situation, the threats of new Covid-19 variants are still here, but we can no longer afford another lockdown),” Marcos said.

“Wala na tayong gagawing lockdown (We will no longer implement a lockdown),” the President added, earning an applause from the legislature.

Marcos said health protocols will, however, be implemented depending on the current situation.

For added context, watch this Inquirer news video below.

In relation to President Marcos’ remark of no more lockdown, the Department of Health (DOH) it will act to strengthen the nation’s healthcare system. The DOH shall carry out the directives of the President on recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic while improving access to primary and specialty healthcare. Both the DOH and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) have been directed by Marcos to organize another rollout of booster shots for COVID-19.

Personally, I strongly agree that there should be no more lockdown even if there would be another surge of COVID-19 cases. As we have seen before, a single lockdown caused heavy damage on the economy (limited or shut businesses, loss of income, increased unemployment) and on people. I believe our nation has what it takes to live on with COVID-19, move forward and rise up stronger from the crisis. To achieve true forward momentum, there is still the need to organize wide-scale COVID-19 vaccination operations (note: the national government has to deal with stored vaccines nearing expiration), declare a lot more people eligible for the 2nd booster shot (note: DOH still needs to do any real work on this) and convince people strongly to follow health protocols. There is also the possibility of modifying the COVID-19 alert level system. What President Marcos declared in his speech is clearly related to the COVID-19 exit strategy.

In relation to all of these, I urge you and members of your local community to get vaccinated or boosted, and keep following health protocols to truly achieve improved resistance against COVID-19. Never let the anti-vaccine fanatics fool you, even though they become violent and/or more aggressive towards you and your local community with their lying and fearmongering.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about President Marcos’ no more lockdown remark? Do you believe that the Philippines can move forward with COVID-19? Has anyone from the anti-vaccine extremists been hounding you, or even harassing you? Are many members of your local community eager to get their 2nd booster shots?

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

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

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

Parañaque City police officers arrest gun ban violators

Parañaque City police officers arrest gun ban violators

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According to a GMA Network news report, Parañaque City police officers arrested three people for allegedly violating the implemented ban of guns in relation to the State of the Nation Address (SONA). The notable thing here is that the apprehension happened outside of Parañaque City.

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

Parañaque City cops arrested three people on Monday for violation of the ongoing six-day gun ban for the safety of the first State of the Nation Address of President Bongbong Marcos.

Unang Balita reported on Monday — SONA Day – that authorities acting on a tip tailed and cornered the suspects on Ongpin Street in Binondo, Manila.

Police said the suspects immediately surrendered.

An initial police investigation indicates the suspects were carrying service firearms as they were supposedly private security agents of a company.

Authorities said the three will face complaints for violating the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition.

According to the report, the suspects have refused to give any further statement.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about this latest news development? Could there be gun smuggling or a lot of loose firearms (unregistered weapons) within the City of Parañaque that could be connected to this recent development?

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

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

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