pinay<3pinoy

(BusinessWorld) EIGHT CITIES and one town in different parts of the country launched their five-year digital city roadmaps on Thursday, aimed at creating more than 100,000 local jobs, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) announced.

“Of the 31 cities launched as part of the Digital Cities Program in June last year, nine cities successfully completed their five-year roadmaps and launched them today,” the DICT said in an e-mailed statement.

These are the cities of Balanga, Batangas, General Santos, Iligan, Legazpi, Puerto Princesa, Tuguegarao, and Zamboanga; and the first-class municipality of Taytay in Rizal.

DICT Secretary Gregorio B. Honasan II said these local governments’ information and communications technology roadmaps should “improve the readiness of their localities for the digital economy.”

“The goal is not just to recover from the economic slowdown, but to further boost growth for our local industries and our local communities,” Mr. Honasan noted.

The digital city roadmaps also aim to bridge the progress gap in the countryside, he added.

The DICT, Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines, and Leechiu Property Consultants, Inc. launched the “Digital Cities 2025” program last year, covering 25 locations and 31 cities.

These areas are expected to attract an estimated P70 billion in investments from business process outsourcing companies in the next few years… Read More

(SunStar) FOR the second consecutive day, over 100 cases tagged as recoveries were validated as mortalities, sending the daily death toll closer to 200.

In its case bulletin Thursday, July 8, 2021, the Department of Health (DOH) reported 191 additional deaths, 5,484 new cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) and 3,925 new recoveries.

The additional deaths, which were the highest since the 196 reported on June 11, included 152 cases that were previously tagged as recoveries, higher than the 123 cases reclassified as deaths a day earlier.

These raised the Covid-19 death toll in the country to 25,650. The case fatality rate remained at 1.76 percent.

The new infections brought the total case count in the country to 1,455,585. Nine duplicates, including six recoveries, were removed from the tally.

Testing output improved on July 6 to 49,926 as all laboratories were able to submit their data to the Covid-19 Document Repository System. The daily positivity rate remained high at 11.3 percent, although it has stayed below 12 percent for the 10 day in a row.

Of the total cases, 3.4 percent or 49,036 were active cases in hospitals and isolation facilities.

Meanwhile, a total of 1,380,899, or 94.9 percent of the cumulative cases, have now recovered from infection.

Globally, deaths from Covid-19 has crossed 4.0 million, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a media briefing on July 7. More than 185 million have been infected… Read More

(CNN Philippines) Metro Manila – The country received a total of 1,124,100 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines from Japan on Thursday.

“Let me assure everybody that throughout the rollout we will prioritize the safety and quality of the vaccines we will be distributing,” President Rodrigo Duterte said as he welcomed the arrival of the donated doses at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.

Japan’s donation is on top of over two million AstraZeneca vaccines from the COVAX Facility that will arrive on July 9. Co-led by the World Health Organization, Gavi, and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, COVAX aims to ensure all participating countries have equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.

Japan also pledged donations to other Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.

The Philippines has so far received over 17 million vaccine doses – both donated and procured.

The national vaccination program is currently prioritizing medical frontliners, senior citizens, people with comorbidities, essential workers, and indigent individuals.

The government aims to vaccinate up to 70 million Filipinos by the end of the year in hopes of achieving herd immunity… Read More

(BusinessWorld) THE PHILIPPINES should keep its strong ties with China because the economic giant would play a key role in global affairs for decades to come, President Rodrigo R. Duterte said on Monday night.

The Southeast Asian nation could “count on China as a friend and partner for peace and development,” he said in a virtual speech during the Communist Party of China (CPC) and World Political Parties Summit.

Mr. Duterte heads the ruling PDP-Laban, which signed a cooperation deal with Chinese communist party in 2017.

“To further build mutual trust and confidence, we must sustain our constructive dialogue and peaceful engagement,” he said. “This is crucial as the bilateral relations between our two countries expand and deepen.”

The President, who led a foreign policy pivot to China away from western super powers such as the US, said the CPC had overseen China’s “extraordinary rise to prosperity, lifting over 800 million Chinese out of extreme poverty and driving global growth in the process.”

The Philippines got P1.2 trillion in investment and loan pledges from China to boost big-ticket infrastructure projects. Critics have said few of these promises materialized.

As China’s sole political party celebrated its 100th anniversary, Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed to keep China’s influence on the global stage, saying it would continue to champion cooperation over confrontation and will “open up rather than closing our doors.”.. Read More

(CNN Philippines) Metro Manila – Reigning Australian Open and French Open girls doubles champion Alex Eala emerged victorious in her Wimbledon girls doubles debut on Wednesday.

Eala teamed up with her 2020 Australian Open co-champion Priska Nugroho of Indonesia as they opened their Wimbledon campaign with a resounding sweep of the duo of Japan’s Erika Matsuda and United States’ Valencia Xu, 6-0, 6-0.

The match held at the Court 4 of the All England Club lasted only 32 minutes.

The Eala-Nugroho tandem showed their experience by winning 19 out of their 20 first serve points. They also notched six out of their eight break points.

Eala and Nugroho recorded 77% in their receiving points as well to complete their domination over Matsuda and Xu.

In the second round, the Eala-Nugroho duo will wait for the winner of the first round match between the tandem of Switzerland’s Chelsea Fontenel and United States’ Ashlyn Krueger, and the pair of France’s Oceane Babel and Belarus’ Evialina Laskevich.

Eala is also scheduled to play in the second round of the girls singles meet against Spain’s Ane Mintegi Del Olmo… Read More

(PhilStar) MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) released yesterday the names of 19 military personnel among the 49 who died in the C-130 plane crash in Patikul, Sulu last Sunday.

On the list of fatalities were Majors Emmanuel Makalintal and Michael Vincent Benolerao, First Lieutenant Joseph Hintay, Technical Sergeants Mark Anthony Agana and Donald Badoy, Staff Sergeants Jan Neil Macapaz and Michael Bulalaque and Sergeant Jack Navarro, all from the Philippine Air Force (PAF).

Also confirmed dead were Capt. Higello Emeterio from the AFP Medical Corps and First Lieutenant Sheena Alexandria Tato from the AFP Nurse Corps.

From the Philippine Army, those identified were Sergeant Butch Maestro, Privates First Class Christopher Rollon and Felixzalday Provido, Privates Raymar Carmona, Vic Monera, Mark Nash Lumanta, Jomar Gabas, Marcelino Alquisar and Mel Mark Angana.

The AFP has transported 11 of them – Captain Emeterio, Sgt. Maestro, T/Sg. Agana, PFC Rollon, PFC Provido and Privates Gabas, Alquisar, Lumanta, Angana, Carmona and Monera – to their respective hometowns.

Yesterday, the remains of 1st Lt. Tato were being transported via C295 aircraft while the others already identified were being prepared for air and land transport to their respective hometowns.

Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, AFP chief of staff, said efforts are still focused on identifying the 30 other bodies pulled out of the wreckage of Sunday’s crash, which has been a challenge since some of them were burned beyond recognition.

“Since the other day, burn experts sent by Mayor Sara Duterte and our partners in the Philippine National Police – the SOCO (Scene of the Crime Operatives) – have been helping examine and recognize the bodies,” Sobejana said in an interview with GMA News.

Sobejana also clarified only 49 military personnel and not 50 – as earlier reported – are confirmed dead from the accident. Three civilians on the ground were also killed as a result of the accident.

Not overloaded
Amid speculations over the cause of the crash, the PAF gave assurance yesterday that the C-130 cargo plane was not overloaded when it ploughed into the ground and burst into flames in Patikul, just off a cliff from the runway of the Jolo Airport.

“It was well within the operational limits and capacity when it left Laguindingan Airport with 96 passengers compared to its maximum capacity of 120 passengers,” said Lt. Col. Maynard Marino, PAF spokesman.

“This is contrary to the circulating rumor that the aircraft was overloaded,” he added.

Marino said there were 12 PAF personnel together with 84 Army troopers on board the aircraft. The 12 PAF personnel were three pilots, five crew members, three S-7 team members and one other passenger.

At present, members of the PAF’s 220th Airlift Wing Aircraft Accident Investigation Board are on site investigating the crash.

The team, Marino said, is composed of personnel of various specializations like pilots, maintenance, medical and other technical fields who are gathering evidence and conducting interviews, among others, to determine the cause of the accident.

For his part, Sobejana said: “Our people can be assured of the AFP’s transparency. However, the investigation process takes time. All factors are being considered in our deliberate efforts to ensure the accuracy of the findings.”

Condolences
Meanwhile, Lt. Gen. Allen Paredes, PAF commanding general, recognized the sacrifices and dedication of all soldiers and airmen who perished last Sunday.

He also assured the families of the PAF casualties of assistance and expressed his condolences to them.

United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III also offered condolences to the victims’ families and help in the investigation of the crash involving an aircraft acquired by the AFP from the US six months ago.

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said Austin extended his condolences through a phone call to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Tuesday.

Kirby said both leaders closed the call by reaffirming their commitment to further strengthen the US-Philippines alliance.

Soldier-athletes Eumir Felix Marcial and Hidilyn Diaz said they are dedicating their stints in the upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympics in honor of their comrades who died and were injured in the crash.

At the House of Representatives, two congressmen are donating P5 million to victims of the tragedy.

House accounts committee chair Paolo Duterte and appropriations committee chair Eric Yap raised the fund from their own pockets and donations from friends in the business sector… Read More

(CNN Philippines) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 6)— The death toll in the aftermath of the military plane crash in Sulu climbed to 53, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said Tuesday. The crash was one of the country’s deadliest air force disasters in at least four decades.

AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Cirilito Sobejana confirmed another soldier died from his injuries, raising the number of fatalities among the military to 50. Three civilians on the ground were also killed in the crash, which also left 46 soldiers and four civilians injured.

Fatalities identified
In an interview with CNN Philippines, Sobejana said the remains of at least 16 fatalities have already been identified.

“As we speak, 16 na po ‘yung mga na-identify na (we have already identified 16) cadavers,” Sobejana told News Night, adding that the bodies will thereafter be brought to their respective families.

Sobejana earlier said identification of the bodies proved to be a “hard task” as the victims were burned “beyond recognition.”

“Sunog na sunog po sila dahil hindi sila nakalabas nung sumabog ‘yung C-130,” he said in a separate interview with The Source.

[Translation: They were really burned as they were not able to get out of the plane when the C-130 exploded.]

Most of the victims were fresh graduates from military training.

Sobejana said they are using DNA tests and dental records to identify the charred remains.

Critical condition
Some of the wounded survivors are still in critical state, Sobejana said, as he expressed hope the death toll would not rise any further.

A team of burn specialists from Davao arrived in Zamboanga to help treat the injured, he added. Sobejana said they continue to coordinate with medical facilities — including those in Metro Manila, Davao, and Cebu City — regarding the possible transfer of wounded survivors.

Aid for victims
Families of the victims are set to receive assistance from the Philippine Army, which vowed financial assistance and psycho-social support for the bereaved kin.

Senator Pacquiao said he will also donate ₱50,000 to the families of those who died, and ₱20,000 for those injured… Read More

(GMA News) A father cannot help but lament the loss of his daughter who was a substitute passenger in the C-130 flight that crashed in Sulu.

According to a report on “24 Oras” on Tuesday, retired Colonel Wilfredo Tato said his daughter Lieutenant Alexandria Tato boarded the C-130 flight on Sunday as a substitute passenger, taking the place of a nurse who decided at the last minute not to go.

“Anak, sa pagpanaw mo, ‘wag mong kalimutan na mahal na mahal ka namin. Ang hindi ko lang maintindihan, bakit sa ganitong paraan ka kinuha ng Panginoon? ‘Yan ang hindi ko maintindihan, bakit sa ganitong paraan?” Wilfredo said.

(Child, with your passing, don’t forget that we love you very, very much. What I can’t understand is why God would take you this way? That’s what I don’t understand, why in this way?)

“Sinabi naman niya sa akin na, ‘Pa, may kasama ako dito na ilalagay sa Jolo may sakit ‘yong anak kaya ako na lang ang ipinalit.’ Tapos, ‘Pa, okay lang at least gusto ko rin dahil doon Pa, makakapag-aral ako through online gamit ang bagong laptop,'” he added.

(She had told me that someone else was supposed to be sent to Jolo, but that someone’s kid got sick. So my daughter was sent instead. She told me that she liked being sent there as she could keep studying online using her new laptop.)

On July 3, Wilfredo said his daughter told him the flight had a slight problem. He told his daughter not to take the flight. A day after, Alexandria boarded the C-130 aircraft.

“Panay hagulgol ni misis, pati ako. Para akong sira ulo na nakaupo sa tabi tapos bigla akong sisigaw,” he said.

Alexandria was among the over 50 people killed in the crash in Sulu’s Patikul town.

Alexandria’s remains will be brought to the Villamor Airbase for military honors. Afterward, her remains will be brought to her family.

“Me, as a father, deep inside of my heart, ‘pag nailibing na ‘yong anak ko, at tsaka ko ipa-follow up pagpa-DNA dahil mahal na mahal ko ‘yong anak ko na gusto kong matiyak na ‘yong anak ko na nailibing, ‘yon ba si Rhea? So I need confirmation through DNA,” Wilfredo said.

(After I bury my daughter, that’s when I’ll see to the DNA test. I love my daughter very much and I want to be sure that it was my daughter that I buried.)

President Rodrigo Duterte said he wants to give more financial benefits to the Armed Forces of the Philippines as he condoled with the military on Monday… Read More