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RECTO: MONITOR PROJECTS BY WAY OF CCTV, GEO-TAGS
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OVERNMENT should create a “digital map” of government projects and programs that will be implemented next year, to include “livestreaming” of big-ticket public works projects, according to Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto. “Projects should be geo-tagged, and there should be an app in which the status of a project is just a click away,” Recto said.“What we need is a GPS—government project surveillance— system that will not only yield updated data on
construction projects, but also non-infrastructure deliverables like books and hospital equipment.” Recto said if “remote monitoring” is now being used by owners of houses being built, then the same can be done in major government infrastructure projects. He said in the case of infra projects that cost much in funds and inconvenience, “job-site cameras should be installed and real-time footage be made available to the public—if not, a time-lapse video can be uploaded regularly.” “In this age of Facebook Live, these should not be hard and expensive to do,” Recto said. He said if CCTV footage can lead to the capture of criminals, “so can it capture delays in construction.” “Raw live video is the best feedback. Pwede
makita if work is on time, on budget and according to specifications.” For President Duterte, it can be the best monitoring tool of how trillions of tax and borrowed pesos are being spent, Recto said. “He need not wait for Powerpoint reports during Cabinet meetings if he can go on a virtual inspection of projects anytime by just looking at them at the phone of Senator Bong Go,” Recto said. Recto said “remote monitoring” of government projects is not a new idea but one launched three years ago by then Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno. Called Project DIME, or Digital Imaging for Monitoring and Evaluation, the DBM-DOST collaboration employs various technologies like Light Detection and Ranging, Open Roads Platform, Geotagging and drones.
STRONGER THAN SUPER TYPHOON. House Majority Leader and Leyte
Rep. Martin Romualdez (left panel) delivers his message of Malasakit to more than 6,000 ‘Yolanda‘ survivors during the 6th Year Yolanda Anniversary Commemoration at Tacloban City Astrodome. Romualdez said that the people of Leyte remained undeterred in looking to the future with greater confidense and rebuilding once more ‘our homes and our lives.‘
HAZING VICTIMS AS ACCOMPLICES? RIZAL SOLON FILES BILL By Maricel V. Cruz WITH a total of 1,629 out of the more than 33,000 passing the written entrance examinations to the Philippine Military Academy, making a total of 1,629 possible hazing victims in the future, a lawmaker proposed that victims of the banned practice be considered accessories to the crime for their willingness to submit themselves to maltreatment. Despite the official ban on the practice, hazing is still being practiced in the military and the police academies as well as fraternities in colleges and even in high schools, Rizal Rep. Fidel
Nograles said. Thus, the first-term congressman is eyeing amendments to the antihazing law, to include the victims as accomplices, that he hopes will end the culture of impunity surrounding hazing. Nograles, a member of an Ateneo Law School-based fraternity, neophytes who join organizations knowing that these engage in hazing practices should also be held liable under the law as accomplices. “In many cases, students join organizations despite knowing that they will be hazed. We hope that they will be deterred from joining groups with a hazing culture if they are aware that they, too, could be
punished by the law,” Nograles said. Such accomplices, however, have a way out—if they spill the beans and testify for the prosecution, noting that a “Code of Silence or Omerta rules certain institutions where hazing is practiced.” In addition, he said victims who wish to speak out against the acts perpetrated against them could be made state witnesses. “If we afford these victims the protection of the law, to give them assurances against possible retaliation, perhaps future hazing cases would prosper more than fail,” he added. Conceding that the situation faced by military and police who
are maltreated could be different, Nograles’ bill provides that there would be two elements before a victim is considered an accomplice to hazing. First, the applicant must intentionally and deliberately submit himself or herself to hazing. Second, the victim must knowingly cooperate in the actual execution of hazing, meaning that acts of hazing must be performed and the victim willfully allowing himself or herself be subjected to such acts. “If we are to end the culture of impunity in organizations that maltreat their prospective members, we should make the Anti-Hazing Law more stringent,” Nograles said.
BOOST POWER CAPACITY, STAKEHOLDERS TOLD A LEADER of the House of Representatives on Saturday urged stakeholders in the power sector to heighten efforts at increasing power supply to address power interruptions. Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, chairman of the House committee on energy, urged the Energy department and industry players to “act swiftly on the next round of biddings for muchneeded greenfield baseload capacity.” “We call on both public and private sector to boost such crucial government initiatives in finding ways to provide adequate supply at lower cost to the end-users,” Velasco said. His statement came after the Manila Electric Co. finished the signing of Power Supply Agreements with several providers last September for both 1,200 megawatts and 500 megawatts contract capacities to meet its supply needs for baseload.
The PSAs were signed in line with the Energy department’s policy for distribution utilities to contract capacities through competitive selection process to be administered by a third-party bids and awards committee. Velasco stressed the need to secure capacity now given the rising demand for power. “Our country urgently needs additional capacity to support the [Duterte] administration’s golden age of infrastructure,” he said. He noted “the record number of Yellow and Red Alerts that plagued Luzon grid customers this year should not be allowed to recur in the coming years.” Velasco said that ensuring the availability of baseload capacity will benefit the consumers. Maricel V. Cruz
PREPPING FOR YULE. Giant Christmas lanterns are
installed by Manila City Hall workers along the city streets, ushering in the celebration for the longest Yuletide season in this side of the world. Lino Santos
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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com
WORLD VISION COMES TO AID OF QUAKE-HIT KIDS, FAMILIES FOLLOWING the recent earthquakes in southern Mindanao, child-focused development and humanitarian agency World Vision has launched its relief operations for the affected people of Northern Cotabato, including the city of Kidapawan and the hardhit towns of Makilala and Tulunan. “We are committed to support the government-led response in Mindanao. World Vision in the Philippines is particularly concerned for the wellbeing of children,” World Vision’s national director Rommel Fuerte said. In the morning of Oct. 16, magnitude-6.3 earthquake of tectonic origin, hit the province of North Cotabato, with the epicenter located in the town of Tulunan. Days after, another quake of greater magnitude occurred from almost the same location. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology recorded a 6.6-magnitude earthquake, followed by another equally strong quake on Oct. 31 at 6.5 magnitude with a shallow depth of 2 kilometers which triggered more destruction and risk in the province. Based on the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC, Nov 5), the series of earthquakes affected about 188,583 persons or 37,716 families in Regions XI and XII. Over 28,070 persons are currently taking shelter in 32 evacuation camps. Meanwhile, there are 1,493 more families being served outside of the evacuation centers. “They are in a state of shock and Cotabato is going to be more susceptible to aftershocks in the coming days, according to the NDRRMC. “We are appealing to our partners and fellow Filipinos for support so that we can respond to the immediate needs of displaced children and their families. We can do more together,” Fuerte said. At least 1,075 schools were damaged, including about 26 totally damaged. According to the Department of Education, more than three million students are affected due to suspension of classes. Today, child-friendly spaces will be set up to provide psychosocial support to help children cope from the calamity, while temporary learning spaces will also be provided in coordination with the affected schools.
NPA LEADER, 7 MEN SURRENDER IN PALAWAN A LEADER of the Communist New People’s Army, identified as Almar L. Toting Jr. aka Ka Allan surrendered to the personnel of 3rd Marine Brigade, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019 at Sofronio Española in Palawan. Ka Allan, 32, is the Commanding Officer of Bienvenido Valleber Command of SRMA GU-4E, and concurrent Field Operational Commander of KLG-South. He gave up together with seven of his comrades. Ka Allan and his men decided to surrender due to the difficulties they have encountered in evading the unrelenting operations against the communist rebels conducted by the military and police forces under Palawan Provincial Task Force ELCAC. Negotiating team from the 3rd Marine Brigade also contacted Toting’s family, to ensure that his way out of the Communist-Terrorist Group is the best solution in embracing a peaceful and meaningful life, the military said. He had been instrumental in the surrender of other NPA comrades. He helped the authorities in convincing his fellow Communist-NPA-Terrorists (CNTs) to surrender and lay down their arms, the military said. Seven other members of NPA who voluntarily surrendered were the following: alias Ka Resmi (squad member); alias Ka Wilme (squad member); alias Ka Honey(medical officer); alias Ka Troy (liason) and alias Ka Justine (squad member), all under KLGSouth, SRMA GU-4E. A certain aka Ka Randy, a People’s Intel Network based in El Nido and a Ganap na Samahang Masa leader identified as Janeth from Maasin Brooke’s Point also submit themselves to the authorities. Allan and his men also gave up the following: two M16 rifle; two 9mm; one shotgun; magazines; and ammunition. Team WESCOM under Vice Admiral Rene V. Medina expressed his appreciation to the men and women of Joint Task Force Peacock; 3rd Marine Brigade; Joint CMO Task Group West; and Joint Intelligence Task Group West who facilitated the surrender of the rebels.