Author: ASEAN Tribune

Registration to the government’s national identification program is made easier with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) deployment of PhilSys on Wheels to strategic places and areas of convergence in Negros Oriental, an official said Monday.PSA-Negros Oriental provincial chief Engr. Ariel Fortuito said the move aims to reach more registrants to the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) who may have difficulties going to designated registration sites.’We started last week after we found out there are many people who cannot go to the registration centers for a variety of reasons, so what we did was to deploy mobile registration to the public market,’ he said.He said most people are unable to sign up for the national identification program because they spend most of their time at work.As of Oct. 7, he said a total of 452 individuals were registered, while 247 others were issued their Electronic Philippine Identification or ePhilIDs through the PhilSys on Wheels.The ePhilID is the digital version
of the physical Philippine Identification Card that is sent to the registered owner via the Philippine Postal Corporation.Through the PhilSys on Wheels, Fortuito said he hopes they can achieve their target earlier than scheduled.As of Oct. 8, records at the PSA-Negros Oriental showed the total Step 2 registration output to the national ID system at 1,121,399 individuals or over 87 percent of 1,284,186 of the 5 years old and above population based on the 2020 Census of Population and Housing.Fortuito said the PSA-Negros Oriental employs strategies such as co-location in schools during enrolment; co-location with Civil Registration Service outlets; Mobile registration in sitios or sub-villages; co-location with the Department of Social Welfare and Development; and PhilSys on Wheels.Services offered are Step 2 registration; Mode 1 issuance of printable ephilIDs; acceptance of requests for replacement of damaged PhilID cards; and acceptance of requests for retrieval of lost transaction reference numbers.

Source:
Philippines News Agency

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered on Monday the suspension of Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chair Teofilo Guadiz III amid reports of alleged corruption.”The President does not tolerate any misconduct in his administration and has instructed the immediate investigation of this matter. He strongly condemns dishonesty and duplicity in public service,” the Presidential Communications Office said in a statement.The Department of Transportation is investigating Guadiz, who was also ordered to explain to shed light on the accusations of misconduct regarding the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program.Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said the agency would continue to clamp down on erring officials taking advantage of their posts.In a statement on Monday, Bautista said Guadiz was ordered to explain after allegations of corruption and other irregularities came out, particularly accusations of misconduct regarding the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program.’We
already launched an investigation on the allegations against the LTFRB. While we are already evaluating the alleged irregularities involving [Chairman Guadiz], we also issued a notice to explain against Guadiz for him to shed light on the allegations,’ Bautista said.’We do not tolerate any form of corruption in the DOTr and will not hesitate to impose the stiffest sanction if the evidence so warrants,’ he added.Guadiz, in a statement issued on the same day, said the agency continues to work with other government agencies to ensure efficient and fair service to stakeholders.”As of this morning, nasa opisina naman ako at wala pa po akong nalalaman na anumang opisyal na inihain laban po sa atin pero kung mayroon man, haharapin naman po natin ito dahil malinis po ang ating kalooban [I am in the office and I don’t know of any official charges against me but if any, I will face them because my conscience is clear],” he said.His suspension came after a former senior executive assistant exposed alleged corrupt activi
ties within the board.

Source: Philippines News Agency

A total of 533 individuals here received on Monday cash aid coursed through the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program.Leo Quintilla, DSWD-Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) Director, in an interview on the sidelines of the assistance distribution at the President Fidel Valdez Ramos (PFVR) gym, said the office of Senator Lito Lapid funded the assistance for 333 heads of families, who received PHP3,000 food aid, and for 200 students, represented by their parents for the PHP5,000 educational assistance.He said an individual can apply for this aid program through referral or as a walk-in client, provided that they have not received any cash assistance for at least three months.’They can come anytime if they need help and we will attend to them. They just need to submit the requirement,’ he said, but clarified that the applicants will be screened first.AICS is a continuing assistance of DSWD for those who are in need. It is funde
d either from the DSWD’s funds or from the office of a politician who has identified a particular group of beneficiaries.Aside from the AICS, Lapid also extended a PHP1 million medical assistance grant to indigent patients of the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center.’This will help the poor especially since prices are getting high,’ Lapid said in Filipino during the turn-over ceremony.’I hope that this small amount can be of help to you,’ he added.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Taal Volcano is clear from volcanic smog (vog) on Monday, but the head of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the public should remain vigilant as recurrence is always possible.”They (public) should prepare for the possibility of vog recurrence as long as Taal Volcano continues to emit sulfur dioxide,” Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol told the Philippine News Agency.He said Taal Volcano is “very clear” and its main crater is “very visible” on Monday because the situation was windy, causing vog to disperse easily.Bacolcol clarified that vog could recur and Phivolcs could not say when it would totally disappear.”It depends on (various factors) such as wind speed, how much S02 (sulfur dioxide) the volcano is emitting, rain and temperature,” he said.One could determine if vog completely disappears when the surroundings are clear and there is no haze and sulfuric smell, he added.Vog consists of fine droplets containing volcanic gas such as S02. It could persist due to ther
mal inversion or when layers of the atmosphere don’t mix, causing aerosols to get trapped.It can cause irritation of the eyes, throat and respiratory tract, the severities depending on gas concentrations and durations of exposure.Taal Volcano is on Alert Level 1, which means it is still in abnormal condition and should not be interpreted to have ceased unrest nor the threat of eruptive activity.Entry into Taal Volcao Island, especially the Main Crater and Daang Kastila fissures, and occupancy and boating on Taal Lake are still prohibited.

Source: Philippines News Agency

South Korean Kim Hyo-joo has gone wire-to-wire to capture her sixth career LPGA title in Texas.

Kim cruised to a four-stroke victory at the Ascendant LPGA at Old American Golf Club in The Colony, Texas, on Sunday (local time). She shot a final round of two-under 69 to finish at 13-under 271, with Bianca Pagdanganan and Atthaya Thitikul tying for second at nine-under.

Kim, who had four birdies and two bogeys Sunday, is the second straight South Korean winner on the tour, following the rookie Ryu Hae-ran, who earned her maiden victory in Arkansas last week.

This is Kim’s first title since April 2022. She had a pair of runner-up finishes this year before the breakthrough in Texas.

Kim entered this tournament leading the tour in scoring average at 69.79 strokes per round and also in greens in regulation at 74.37 percent. No player had played more rounds under par than Kim’s 46 prior to this tournament.

She submitted four more under-par rounds at Old American Golf Club.

Kim’s was the fourth win by a Sout
h Korean player this year, which matches last year’s total with six tournaments remaining.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) on Monday said it has inspected electric facilities in nearly 3,000 polling and canvassing centers ahead of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on Oct. 30.In a statement, Meralco said its teams have already checked electric facilities in public schools and barangay halls within its franchise areas while also conducting maintenance activities for its distribution facilities to ensure stable and reliable power service during the election day.’Meralco will be on alert 24/7 to respond to any distribution related problem until the conclusion of the election process. Our crews will be deployed in strategic locations across its franchise area and will be ready to address any possible problem on electricity service,’ Meralco spokesperson and Vice President for Corporate Communications Joe Zaldarriaga said.The distribution utility has 300 generator sets and nearly 800 flood lights on standby in case of unexpected power interruption. It also trimmed trees and rem
oved hazards that could obstruct power lines.Meralco crews are also on standby to respond to any electricity service concern on BSKE day.Meralco advised personnel manning the polling and canvassing centers to refrain from plugging in unnecessary appliances to avoid octopus wiring, which can lead to overloading.’The public, meanwhile, is urged to refrain from using balloons, firecrackers, confetti, party poppers, and the like near overhead lines and facilities to avoid tripping and power interruptions,’ it added.

Source: Philippines News Agency