PH ties with Vietnam, Laos now stronger—Manalo

VIETNAM has vowed to support President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s priority on food security, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Friday.

The commitment was made during the two-day official visit of Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo to Hanoi from Aug. 1 to 2.

Manalo also assured Laos of the Philippines’ support in its efforts to establish institutions that will address vari- ous challenges it is facing as a nation.

Manalo said the Philippine government will back Laos’ intent to build resilience among its people by forming institutions and seeking various forms of cooperation, such as health, education, and climate.

Citing the changing landscape of global security and challenges, the agency said Manalo’s visit to both countries paved the way for the two states to explore new areas of cooperation such as digital econo- my, renewables, and food security.

“Vietnam reiterated its existing support to the Philippines and pledged to continue working with the Philippines to enhance trade and investments between the two countries, and will continue to support President Marcos’ priority on food security,” the DFA said.

In 2022, the Philippines imported 3.218 million metric tons of rice from the Southeast Asian state. Rey E. Requejo

DEMAND FOR ALLOWANCES.

Healthcare workers rally in front of the Department of Health headquarters in Sta. Cruz, Manila, demanding the agency release their health emergency allowances that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vowed to give to healthcare workers who have been at the forefront of the battle against COVID-19. Norman Cruz

A BAGUIO City court has found two Philippine Military Academy cadets guilty of slight physical injuries in the case of Darwin Dormitorio, who died due to alleged hazing in September 2019.

In a 92-page ruling, Baguio City Municipal Trial Court in Cities Branch 1 Judge Roberto Mabalot sentenced Julius Carlo Tadena and Christian Zacarias to 30 days in prison.

He ordered them to each pay the Dormitorio family P100,000 in moral damages and P50,000 in attorneys’ fees.

Zacarias, initially charged with less serious physical injuries, allegedly kicked the right side of Dormitorio’s body on the morning of September 17, 2019, after Dormitorio failed to follow his instructions to get up from the bunk bed and stand straight.

Dormitorio had been holding his stomach and was in pain after he was allegedly maltreated by other cadets in the previous weeks.

Tadena, on the other hand, was initially charged with serious physical injuries for allegedly using a taser on Dormitorio’s scrotum in the evening of the same day.

‘Place power, telco lines underground’

A LAWMAKER on Friday recommended to the Department of Energy and the National Electrification Administration to formulate and implement a long-term plan for the underground laying of electricity power lines and telecommunications cables that should be done gradually over the next 15 years.

Bagong Henerasyon Party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera said underground power lines and telecoms cables that include satellite internet should be central to ensuring post-disaster continuity and survival, especially in the most calamity-prone localities.

Herrera said the feasibility of laying cables and power lines underground could be studied.

“This multiyear undertaking is, I believe, the appropriate solution to end the repeated isolation of coastal towns and remote islands often in the path of typhoons—as we have just experienced with Super Typhoon Egay,” she said.

QC offers veterinary internship to schools

QUEZON City Mayor Joy Belmonte has launched an internship program for veterinary medicine students from different universities and colleges in Luzon.

“Part of the veterinary medicine curriculum is exposure to off-campus learning experiences. Through our comprehensive internship program, we hope to provide valuable hands-on and actual experience to soon-to-be veterinarians,” she said.

“Our Quezon City Veterinary Department will serve as their training ground until they graduate and practice their profession. Actual practice is different from theories. Students can learn more from training,” Belmonte added. Rio Araja