DFA: 141 FILIPINOS STILL IN UKRAINE; 45 REFUSE TO LEAVE KYIV

 

 

 

MANILA—There are still 141 Filipinos in Ukraine amid Russia's continuing assault of the former Soviet republic, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday.

 

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Sarah Lou Arriola said 45 of them refused to leave the capital Kyiv.

 

"As of now, meron kaming nakikitang 141 pa na nasa loob pa ng Ukraine. May 45 pa po sa Kyiv. 'Yun po 'yung talagang ayaw pang lumikas," she told TeleRadyo.

 

Of the figure, 15 Filipinos are staying in Lviv, close to the Polish border, while 55 others have fled near the border of Hungary, Arriola said.

 

Meanwhile, 87 Filipino seafarers are docked in ports of Ukraine, she added.

 

"Medyo kalat-kalat po sila ngayon pero marami na rin po 'yung nakatawid," she said.

 

Arriola said 40 Filipinos in Ukraine had already fled to European neighbors—27 in Moldova, 9 in Austria and 4 in Romania.

 

As some Filipinos refused to leave Ukraine, the Philippine government gave them $200 worth of financial assistance.

 

To date, 19 Filipinos so far have returned to the Philippines. Thirteen of them, including 3 students, arrived in Manila on Tuesday night.

 

The International Criminal Court has already opened a war crimes investigation against Russia. Ukraine says more than 350 civilians, including 14 children, have been killed in the conflict.

 

More than 660,000 people have fled abroad, the UN refugee agency said, estimating that a million people are displaced within ex-Soviet Ukraine, which has a population of 44 million.

 

Russia has defied international bans, boycotts and sanctions to press ahead with an offensive it says is aimed at defending Ukraine's Russian speakers and toppling the leadership.

 

 

 

 

 

PH EMBASSY TO PINOYS IN RUSSIA: SANCTIONED BANKS VOW NORMAL OPERATIONS

 

 

 

MANILA—Filipinos in Russia who run into difficulties transacting at their banks and sending money to the Philippines may contact their banks for assistance, the Philippine embassy in Moscow said in a Facebook post Tuesday.

 

Some 70% of Russia's banking system have been targeted for sanctions, part of an international response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

 

The Philippine Embassy said those sanctions have hit hard the Russian Central Bank and other major financially institutions, such as the VTB and Sberbank.

 

"Dahil dito, maaaring makaranas tayo ng mga kaunting isyu sa pagpapadala ng ating pera sa labas ng Russia, partikular upang sustentuhan ang ating mga pamilya," the embassy said.

 

It called on Filipinos in Russia not to panic amid the financial climate.

 

"Nakatanggap po ang Embahada ng sulat mula sa aming bangko, VTB, na puspusan ang kanilang pagtatrabaho upang mapanatiling kalmado ang kanilang mga kliente at kaunti lamang ang maramdamang perwisyo sa ating pang-araw-araw na pinansyal na transaksyon, lalo sa pagwithdraw ng pera at paglipat ng pera sa ibang bansa," the embassy said.

 

"Ayun sa pahayag ng Russian Central Bank, nakahanda itong magbigay ng financial support (in rubles and foreign currency) sa mga bangko na napasailalim sa sanctions. Ang mga bangko na na-sanction ay nangako naman na ipagpapatuloy ang kanilang normal na gawain at magbibigay ng customer support, lalo na sa mga operations na gamit ang ruble currency.

 

 

 

 

 

AS RUSSIA POUNDS UKRAINE, DUTERTE SIGNS EO TO PROTECT REFUGEES, ASYLUM SEEKERS

 

 

 

MANILA— President Rodrigo Duterte this week signed an executive order that institutionalized protection services for stateless people, refugees, and asylum seekers, a document showed on Wednesday.

 

Executive Order No. 163, signed on Feb. 28, establishes an Inter-agency Committee on the Protection of Refugees, Stateless Persons, and Asylum Seekers headed by the Justice secretary, with the head of the Department of Social Welfare and Development as vice-chairperson.

 

The heads of Department of Foreign Affairs, Public Attorney's Office, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines are among the members of the committee.

 

Based on the EO, the committee's main purpose is to help said individuals access services in line with relevant laws, and "improve" their access to courts, healthcare programs, documentation, and skills and livelihood opportunities.

 

The committee, according to the document, will also be coordinating with the United Nations' High Commissioner for Refugees and conduct trainings and capability-building activities.

 

Referral systems and a database should also be in place for the monitoring of these people, it showed.

 

The committee may also tap non-government organizations, civil society groups, and religious groups, to help stateless people and refugees alike to be integrated into the Filipino society.

 

The EO comes amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, causing more than half a million people to seek safety in neighboring countries, according to the UN refugee agency.

 

 

 

 

 

DUTERTE ADMITS SOME CABINET MEMBERS 'PALPAK', OFFERS OTHERS AS 'GIFT' TO NEXT ADMIN

 

 

 

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte this week admitted that some of his aides had failed, but asserted that his Cabinet had the "best minds", which he offered to "gift" to the next administration.

 

Duterte in a taped meeting with officials last Monday said he tapped "valedictorians" to fill his Cabinet.

 

"I got the best minds… May palpak lang ako ng iilang Cabinet member," the President said, without naming anyone.

 

Duterte, who steps down in June, said in the same meeting he was "awed" by the completed projects listed by Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade.

 

"Your passion for achievement has always been there... Maligaya ako sa para sa bayan na kinuha kita," the President said.

 

"Salamat sa—for your tireless toil, and I am ready to pass you on to the next administration as a gift... I’d be happy to hand you over to the—kung sinong ano," he added, eliciting laughter from his aides.

 

But Duterte acknowledged that Tugade wanted to retire.

 

"Sabay-sabay na tayo lahat, puro naman ng… Ang hindi lang retirable dito si Secretary Briones," he said, referring to his 81-year-old education chief.

 

Duterte also acknowledged the performance of COVID-19 vaccination chief Carlito Galvez Jr., Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, and Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III.

 

"You know, Secretary Galvez, so far so good ka... Any superior would be very happy to have you pero lahat naman kayo eh. Ipamana na rin kita para," he said.

 

"Para rin sa bayan na magkaroon ng smooth ano—kung maregalo ko kayo, Tugade, ikaw, Delfin Lorenzana ‘di ayos ang Pilipinas. Sabihin ko, 'Huwag ka na lang kumuha. Retain Dominguez because he will produce money even using printing machines.'"

 

Duterte has yet to name a preferred successor in May's presidential race, after his close ally Sen. Christopher "Bong" Go backed out.

 

 

 

 

 

GOVT PREPARED FOR 'WORST-CASE SCENARIO' AFTER ALERT LEVEL 1

 

 

 

MANILA - The Department of Health is "prepared for the worst case scenario" after Metro Manila and 38 other areas deescalated to the lowest alert level, its chief said Wednesday.

 

The agency observed that the healthcare system managed "during the worst of surges" brought by the delta variant, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said.

 

"We are prepared for the worst-case scenario. Before we decided to deescalate we made an analysis of the capacity of the healthcare system of the country, regionally and locally," he told ANC's Headstart.

 

"What we have observed during the worst of the surges, the delta, ang taas ng ating healthcare utilization and pumutok din ang ating ICU bed utilization rate. 'Yung severe and critical cases were extraordinarily high but we managed it. That was the litmus test."

 

Government has a transition plan into the new normal which will be "finished hopefully mid-next week," Duque said.

 

"This is something we’ll launch after all inputs from different sectors have been submitted.," he said.

 

"The virus is here to stay and we’ll have to learn to live with it. The question is will there be no surges in the future, no we cannot say that. There can still be surges but are we ready to manage."

 

 

 

 

 

HUNDREDS OF EDUCATORS, EX-NEDA EMPLOYEES BACK ROBREDO FOR PRESIDENT

 

 

 

MANILA — Hundreds of former and current heads of schools, colleges and universities, faculty members from the University of Santo Tomas, and former National Economic and Development Authority employees have come out in support of Vice President Leni Robredo’s presidential bid.

 

Over 100 former and current heads of schools, colleges and universities endorsed Robredo and her running mate, Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, saying that they can address the challenges faced by the education sector in the country head-on and hands-on.

 

“As Robredo has demonstrated in her tenure as vice president and especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, her brand of leadership shines through best in times of crisis — one that can find solutions that are context-based, data-driven and equity-oriented,” they said.

 

They prodded Robredo and Pangilinan to prioritize the following under their administration:

 

          Increase education funding to 6% of the country’s gross domestic product

 

          Pay attention to early childhood care and development

 

          Pursue necessary technology-mediated teaching and learning-related reforms to improve the quality of learning in schools

 

          Invest heavily in improving teacher quality

 

          Wage a nationwide campaign to enhance the value of technical and vocational education and training

 

          Align the qualifications learners acquire from formal, non-formal and informal sources with learning outcomes at different levels of the Philippine Qualifications Framework while further developing and implementing the Philippine Credit Transfer System

 

          Rationalize the role of public and private educational institutions ensuring complementarity and improving the efficiency of the entire education system

 

          Expand Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education subsidies

 

          Ramp up investments in research and development in research universities

 

          Ensure coordination between the Department of Education, the Commission on Higher Education and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority

 

          Focus on job creation to ensure that no graduate is left unemployed

 

In endorsing Robredo, the former and current school heads also condemned historical revisionism, particularly the framing of the regime of the deposed dictator Ferdinand Marcos as the country’s “golden years” despite human rights abuses, media censorship and underinvestment in education.

 

 

 

 

 

MARCOS ILL-GOTTEN WEALTH IN AUGMENT REALITY AS CCP OPENS VIRTUAL ART MUSEUM

 

 

 

MANILA —  21AM is a virtual museum by Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) created to present contemporary art exhibitions that probe cyberspace, while interrogating its capabilities to alter human reality.

 

The museum began as a 50th anniversary project of CCP to vitalize critical imagination in the information highway.

 

"This is a digital entity with a vast memory encompassing the CCP's ethnographic and ethnomusicological art. It is an online presentation of its domain of art to the global arena. This 21st century contemporary museum is an intended and dedicated space of critical inquiry," revealed CCP president Arsenio J. Lizaso, during the virtual press briefing on Edsa Day.

 

21AM opened on the day of the 36th anniversary of the EDSA People Power event last February 25. It was meant to celebrate the new museum's mission of participating in the character and arcs of contests for truth.

 

"This project began with an ending - the closing of Museo ng Kalinangan - that was bridged by two rituals. So, in 2020, it became 21AM as part of the country's 100-year democratic project.

 

"The museum will perform an interrogatory agenda on the art market, as it holds all of CCP's inventory into a single base. With its state-of-the-art Accession Record System (ARS), the delineation between art and craft no longer exists, to make navigation easier," apprized curator Marian Pastor Roces said.

 

Conceptual artist Pio Abad and his wife, jeweler Frances Wadsworth Jones, are presenting their work, "The Collection of Jane Ryan and William Saunders: Restitution in Augmented Reality" as its inaugural exhibition.

 

 

 

 

 

THE REST

 

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DELIVERY SERVICES LOOK TO FUEL DISCOUNTS TO GET RIDERS THROUGH RISING PUMP PRICES

 

 

 

MANILA — Two local delivery service providers are relying on private oil firms to provide fuel discounts for their riders amid continuous oil price hikes.

 

Riders' advocacy group Kapatiran sa Dalawang Gulong (Kagulong), composed of 3,000 members nationwide, said this measure will help in tiding over the fuel price increases, but added that full support is guaranteed if the Philippine government steps in to suspend fuel excise taxes and roll out subsidies for the sector.

 

This week, domestic oil firms announced yet another round of fuel price hikes driven by tight global supply. Gasoline rose by P0.9 per liter, diesel increased by P0.8 per liter and kerosene went up by P0.75 per liter for the ninth straight week of 2022.

 

"Actually 'yung unleaded [fuel] ay umaabot na ng P70 per liter doon sa mga malalaking oil companies...So, medyo gipit kami sa ganoong sitwasyon na tumataas 'yung cost namin sa gasolina pero hindi naman tumataas 'yung kita namin. So iyan ang isang major problem," Kagulong Secretary-General Don Pangan told Philstar.com in a Zoom call.

 

Online food delivery service Foodpanda Philippines (foodpanda) said it continues to ramp up its efforts to cushion the impact of rising gas prices by tying up with oil companies, which are committed to giving fuel discounts to their riders.

 

"The welfare of foodpanda’s partners, especially our thousands of Ka-Panda riders on the road, is our top concern amidst the oil price hike," it added. Meanwhile, Grab Philippines (Grab), which provides transportation, food delivery and parcel delivery services, said that their current partnerships with fuel companies will greatly benefit riders.

 

"Our driver- and delivery-partners enjoy fuel discounts from our partner fuel companies as part of our Ka-Grab Rewards Plus program.

 

 

 

 

 

BFP: FIRES UP BY 13%

 

 

 

MANILA — Fire incidents in the first two months of the year increased by nearly 13 percent compared to the same period last year, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said yesterday.

 

There were 2,103 fires from January to March 1, which is higher by 12.88 percent compared to 1,863 incidents during the same period last year, BFP spokesperson Superintendent Annalee Carbajal-Atienza said.

 

Among the leading causes of fires are faulty electrical wiring, she said.

 

In an interview over dzBB, Atienza warned that with warmer days ahead, people could overuse electrical appliances.

 

At least three fires were recorded yesterday, the first day of Fire Prevention Month – two in Metro Manila and one in Western Visayas.

 

The BFP has yet to release a report if there were casualties in the three incidents.

 

Firefighters in Metro Manila held caravans yesterday morning as part of their month-long fire safety awareness campaign, which aims to reduce fire incidents in the country.

 

 

 

 

 

21 CAGAYAN VALLEY TOWNS NOW COVID-19 FREE

 

 

 

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — Twenty-one towns in Cagayan Valley now have zero active COVID-19 cases, the Department of Health reported yesterday.

 

These are in Aurora, Benito Soliven, Cabagan, Cordon, Dinapigue, Divilacan, Maconacon, Quezon, Sto. Tomas and Tumauini in Isabela; Aparri, Buguey, Calayan, Camalaniugan, Iguig, Sanchez Mira, Sta. Praxedes and Sta. Teresita in Cagayan; Saguday and Nagtipunan in Quirino, and Sabtang in Batanes.

 

Isabela, Cagayan, Quirino and Batanes were placed under the most lenient Alert Level 1 starting yesterday until March 15.

 

Nueva Vizcaya will remain under Alert Level 2, according to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).

 

Dr. Edwin Galapon, Nueva Vizcaya IATF chief, said the vaccination rate in the province should increase so it could be downgraded to Alert Level 1.

 

Nueva Vizcaya logged zero new cases with 35 active infections, according to its latest bulletin.

 

Isabela, on the other hand, has vaccinated 83.8 percent of its eligible population, according to the provincial information office.

 

There are 94,525 fully vaccinated residents in the province, which is equivalent to 75.1 percent of its target population.

 

 

 

 

 

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

 

 

 

 

 

KRIS AQUINO UPDATES FOLLOWERS ON HER 'ROAD TO WELLNESS'

 

 

 

MANILA – Kris Aquino turned to social media to update her followers about her “road to wellness” after she had her first treatment over the weekend.

 

On Instagram, the former Kapamilya host said her first Xolair injection went smoothly, adding that her body adapted to it well.

 

“Thank you for your prayers -- supposed to rest this week, then March 13 ang next shot,” she said.

 

After she gets her second shot, Aquino said she and her sons will finally go abroad to seek other treatments.

 

“After 5 days, praying nothing goes wrong, we finally go abroad & I continue my next doses of Xolair and finally tackle my autoimmune and other important health problems. In case magtatanong kayo, still just 85 pounds (38.5 kg),” she said.

 

To end her post, Aquino said: “Thank you for being part of my road to wellness & hopefully better quality of life journey w/ me.”

 

In her post last Friday, Aquino said she trusts God’s plan and timing.

 

“Please 'wag natin i-claim that I’ll be healed, 'wag natin S'yang pangunahan. I continue praying for the Faith to continue Hoping that I’ll get healthy enough for those who still need and love me.”

 

 

 

 

 

SPORTS

 

 

 

 

 

NBA SCORES FEB 28

 

 

 

 

 

FINAL

 

1          2          3          4          T

 

Pacers21-42     32        24        19        28        103

 

Magic15-47       31        24        35        29        119

 

AMWAY CENTER, ORLANDO, FL

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            T. Haliburton IND

 

23 PTS 5 REB 7 AST

 

            W. Carter Jr. ORL

 

21 PTS 12 REB 1 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

1          2          3          4          T

 

Timberwolves33-29       26        38        37        26        127

 

Cavaliers36-25  37        24        27        34        122

 

ROCKET MORTGAGE FIELDHOUSE, CLEVELAND, OH

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            D. Russell MIN

 

25 PTS 4 REB 3 AST

 

            K. Love CLE

 

26 PTS 5 REB 4 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

1          2          3          4          T

 

Bulls39-23         21        25        21        32        99

 

Heat41-21         30        25        36        21        112

 

FTX ARENA, MIAMI, FL

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

Z. LaVine CHI

 

22 PTS 4 REB 4 AST

 

T. Herro MIA

 

20 PTS 6 REB 5 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

1          2          3          4          T

 

Raptors33-27    42        29        29        33        133

 

Nets32-30         27        21        21        28        97

 

BARCLAYS CENTER, BROOKLYN, NY

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

S. Barnes TOR

 

28 PTS 16 REB 4 AST

 

L. Aldridge BKN

 

15 PTS 3 REB 1 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

1          2          3          4          T

 

Hornets30-33    32        21        23        30        106

 

Bucks37-25       32        44        32        22        130

 

FISERV FORUM, MILWAUKEE, WI

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

L. Ball CHA

 

24 PTS 4 REB 2 AST

 

G. Antetokounmpo MIL

 

26 PTS 16 REB 6 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

1          2          3          4          T

 

Spurs24-38       34        24        27        20        105

 

Grizzlies43-20   42        26        28        22        118

 

FEDEXFORUM, MEMPHIS, TN

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

L. Walker IV SA

 

22 PTS 2 REB 3 AST

 

J. Morant MEM

 

52 PTS 7 REB 2 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

1          2          3          4          T

 

Kings23-40       35        24        40        32        131

 

Thunder19-42   32        27        31        20        110

 

PAYCOM CENTER, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            D. Fox SAC

 

29 PTS 4 REB 10 AST

 

            S. Gilgeous-Alexander OKC

 

37 PTS 7 REB 10 AST

 

 

 

 

 

INDICATORS

 

 

 

FOREX $1 = P 51.23

 

 

 

 

 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

 

 

 

Men spend their lives in anticipations, in determining to be vastly happy at some period or other, when they have time. But the present time has one advantage over every other: it is our own. - Charles Caleb Cotton