MANILA, Philippines —The Lower House filed a bill that gives additional benefits and discounts to about two million solo parents in the country.

Delia has been raising her two children on her own, having been separated from her husband for 15 years.

She earns about P200 daily from selling and often finds herself borrowing money to make ends meet.

Delia says, the struggles and sacrifices of a solo parent such as herself is no joke.

“Disciplining children is hard. There is no one to consult with; deciding by yourself is very difficult.”

Gabriela party list filed a bill in the Lower House that seeks additional benefits for solo parents like Delia.

The bill states that solo parents should be given a 7-day leave with pay in a year.

Other benefits stated under the bill are:

10% discount when purchasing clothing for 12 years since giving birth
20% discount when purchasing milk and food for children for three years
20% discounts on medicines, vitamins and other medical supplies for 18 years
10% discount on school fees from preschool to college
20% discount on hospital bills of the mother and of the children
VAT exemption among solo parents earning P50,000 monthly

Gabriela party list representative Arlene Brosas, acknowledged the difficulties of raising kids alone and that solo parents need additional help.

But according to United Solo Parents of the Philippines president, Karina Javier, the Solo Parenting Act is not enough to help the increasing number of solo parents.

She said majority of the 2 million solo parents cannot send their children to school due to financial constraints.

Javier said, some parents are looking to get a loan with low interest so they can start a small business while taking care of the children.

Meanwhile, if the bill is enacted, solo parents shall be given id’s and anyone caught falsifying documents to avail of the benefits shall be penalized with a fine of P10,000 to P50,000. (GRACE CASIN/UNTV News and Rescue)

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MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte defended the anti-illegal drugs campaign with increasing number of arrests reaching hundreds of thousands.

He mentioned the issue at the welcoming of repatriated OFWs from Saudi Arabia who arrived yesterday.

Duterte argued that he is just reiterating that the government is doing its best to eliminate illegal drugs and criminality in the country.

“Wala akong balak na maging diktador. Abugado ako, ang nanay ko yellow Friday leader sa Davao. Sabihin nila, mag-marcos—far from it. I am just doing my duty or else I will compromise, makokompromiso ang next generation natin, Kung sino yan? Mga anak iyo pati mga apo ninyo, then we will have a safe country. Sabi nila hindi mangyari, kanila iyon. Hayaan mo sila, may theory tayo eh. Kaniya theory, hindi mangyari- okay, Eh kung mangyari?”

(I have no plans of becoming a dictator. I am a lawyer. My mother was a Yellow Friday leader in Davao. They say I might pull a Marcos — far from it. I am just doing my duty or else I will compromise, our next generation. Who are they? They are your children and grandchildren. Then we will have a safe country. They said it can’t be done. Let them be; we have a theory. Their [critics] theory is that it’s unachievable. Okay, but what if it happens?)

(UNTV News and Rescue)

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Passengers at NAIA Terminal 2 (Photo: Photoville International)

MANILA, Philippines — A common problem at airports is communication between immigration officers and non- English speaking Chinese nationals who enter the country.

For this reason, the Bureau of Immigration shall install twelve Chinese speaking interpreters at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Without translators or interpreters, Chinese tourists are oftentimes prohibited from entering the country because they are unable to clearly explain their purpose of visit in the Philippines. (Victor Cosare / UNTV News and Rescue)

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An aedes aegypti mosquito is seen inside a test tube as part of a research on preventing the spread of the Zika virus and other mosquito-borne diseases at a control and prevention center in Guadalupe, neighbouring Monterrey, Mexico, in this March 8, 2016 file photo. To match…
REUTERS/DANIEL BECERRIL/FILES

Malaysia reported its first case of Zika on Thursday, a woman who tested positive for the mosquito-borne virus after a visit to neighboring Singapore, where 115 people have so far been infected, many of them foreigners.

The 58-year-old victim had shown signs of a rash and fever one week after her return from Singapore on August 21, said Malaysian Health Minister Subramaniam Sathasivam.

“We are carrying out control measures against aedes mosquitoes near the woman’s home to prevent the spread of the virus,” he told a news conference.

The Zika virus, which has spread through the Americas and the Caribbean since late last year, is generally a mild disease but is a particular risk to pregnant women. It has been linked to microcephaly – a severe birth defect in which babies are born with abnormally small heads and underdeveloped brains.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had said Singapore is the only Asian nation with an active Zika virus transmission. Officials in the city-state, one of the world’s largest financial centers and busiest travel hubs, reported the first locally transmitted infection on Saturday and said on Wednesday the number had jumped to 115.

Singapore authorities detected infections in people living outside the initial outbreak area and have identified a potential second cluster. A pregnant woman was among the victims, they said.

“Over time, we expect Zika cases to emerge from more areas,” Singapore’s Minister for Health Gan Kim Yong said in a statement on Wednesday. “We must work and plan on the basis that there is Zika transmission in other parts of Singapore and extend our vector control efforts beyond the current affected areas.”

Five Malaysians in Singapore had tested positive for Zika, including the latest victim’s adult daughter, who works in Singapore, the Malaysian minister said.

Twenty-one Chinese nationals, 13 Indians, six Bangladeshis, and an Indonesian are also among the 115 cases of Zika reported in Singapore, foreign officials said.

Many are believed to be overseas workers at building sites in Singapore, although the Singapore government has not given details of the victims by nationality.

TRAVEL ADVISORIES

The United States, Australia, Taiwan, South Korea and Indonesia have warned pregnant women not to travel to Singapore.

The outbreak and advisories come as the tourism industry in Singapore already faces weak global economic growth. Singapore’s Tourism Board said it was premature to consider any impact on the sector, adding it remained a “safe travel destination”.

More than 55 million people pass through Singapore’s Changi airport every year. In the first half of this year, tourism arrivals topped 8 million, around 1 million more than a year earlier.

Malaysia has asked people visiting Singapore to use repellent and cover up to avoid mosquito bites. Tens of thousands of people travel between the two nations each day, by boat, air and across two land border crossings.

Both Malaysia and neighboring Indonesia have stepped up protective measures following the Singapore outbreak, intensifying checks on people arriving from Singapore, introducing thermal scanners and posting paramedics at airports and border checkpoints.

Zika is carried by mosquitoes, which transmit the virus to humans, but a small number of cases of sexual transmission have been reported in the United States and elsewhere. A case of suspected transmission through a blood transfusion in Brazil has raised questions about other ways Zika may spread.

There is no vaccine or treatment for Zika, which is a close cousin of dengue and chikungunya and causes mild fever, rash and red eyes. An estimated 80 percent of people infected have no symptoms, however. — Reuters

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A man uses a mobile phone in front of an advertisement board bearing the image of Pokemon Go at an electronic shop in Tokyo, Japan, July 27, 2016. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo

Some New Zealand fans of the smartphone game Pokemon Go caught more than they bargained for when they grabbed a thief who broke into a car and held him until police arrived.

The young people were out hunting virtual cartoon characters in the North Island town of Napier on Wednesday night, when they heard a car alarm and saw a masked man run past, New Zealand Police said.

“They didn’t use Pokeballs to catch him, they just held him till police arrived,” police said in a statement, referring to an online tool used to capture the Pokemons that appear in places such as temples and landmarks where people gather.

A 28-year-old man was arrested and will face theft charges in court on Sept. 7, police said.

Nintendo’s Pokemon Go has become an unexpected smash hit, using augmented reality and Google mapping to make animated characters appear in the real world, overlaid on the nearby landscape viewed through players’ mobile phone cameras.

The game has also been blamed for injuries and robberies of distracted users in some countries, prompting authorities to warn gamers to play responsibly.

In Napier, police reminded players their own safety was paramount.

“Capturing little Pokemon monsters isn’t just good for the players because in this case it’s good for the police too, but we don’t want any good Samaritans to get hurt,” said Senior Sergeant David Sutherland. — Reuters

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The government continues to send more troops to Sulu to combat the bandit group Abu Sayaff.

The 63rd Infantry Batallion has deployed another augmentation force that is based in Lope de Vega.

The additional troops are composed of four companies and have a total of 297 soldiers and 14 officers.

The operations in areas not covered by the said troops will be carried out by the 43rd Infantry Batallion and several police personnel.

“We don’t see any signficant effect of this because we have already assessed the situation. And the Police Office Region 8 will also re-align forces to cover the gaps to create this full out of 63 I.B.,” Assistant Commander, BGen. Cesar Idio said.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) says more or less 9,000 troops will enforce the search-and-destroy order of President Rodrigo Duterte against the Abu Sayaff in Jolo, Sulu.

Members of the Joint Sulu Task Force are now going after more than 400 regular members of the bandit group.

Meanwhile, the AFP also allays the fear over the possibility of an Abu Sayaff attack in some areas in Sulu.

AFP says it is just Abu Sayaff’s tactic to divert the focus of the military’s operation.

“This text is meant to divert our focus because they know the operation we are enforcing against them is strong. That’s why they’re using a diversionary tactic to divert our attention,” said AFP WESTMINCOM spokesperson, Maj. Filemon Tan.

The government has announced to intensify its crackdown on the ASG after the bandit group killed 15 soldiers during an encounter last Monday.

The killed troops were given military departure honors.

They were 2lt. Ernan Gusto, SSG. Ruel Catubay, CPl Dhendo Dujo, PFC. Gerald Yubal, PVT. Jona Lumayan, PFC. Rogelio Vincoy, PFC. Nestor Bacaling Jr., PFC. Roselito Arnoco, Sgt. Erwin Almohallas and PFC. Glend Resma.

Pres. Duterte has already vowed to provide asssitance to the families of the fallen soldiers. — Dante Amento | UNTV News & Rescue

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The government once again reiterates its stance that drug killings are not state sanctioned.

The statement was made after a certain church official said that during Martial Law, drug killings were rampant.

“Drug killings are not state-sanctioned and that we also have to clearly and carefully make reference to certain deaths involving policemen may actually be cleansing operations by scalawags in uniform, and these matters are already under investigation,” Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said.

Meanwhile, the Duterte administration says the phase one of its anti-illegal drugs campaign is a success.

Abella says hundreds of thousands of drug-dependents and personalities have surrendered during the first three months of the Duterte administration.

The second phase of the campaign has just started which includes the investigation of police officials who are allegedly involved in illegal drugs operations.

Phase 2 also includes the rehabilitation of hundreds of thousands of illegal drug users.

Various private sectors have expressed their willingness to support and help the government in this endeavor.

Sec. Abella also says the groundwork for the rehabilitation center promised by China has already begun.

“Actually, the initial groundwork has begun. As far as I know, it’s in Northern Luzon,” Abella said. — Rosalie Coz | UNTV News & Rescue

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The proposed budget of Department of Social Welfare and Development for 2017 is more than 129 billion pesos.

The proposed budget has an increase of 18 billion pesos.

One of the reasons for the budget hike is the government’s plan of implementing rice subsidy and the new target of the Duterte administration in the implementation of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4P’s.

“It seems that DSWD is having difficulty to hit your targets,” Appropriations Committee Chairman Rep. Karlo Nograles said.

According to the data of DSWD, in 2015, only 88 percent were disbursed from the total allocated budget. As of July 2016, only 34 percent was disbursed by the department.

DSWD Undersecretary Mateo Montaño explains that most of their programs, the big ticket items are thus have different spending patterns.

According to DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo, they are already investigating the reason why Landbank still has not liquidated the 6 billion-peso funds allocated for the 2015-conditional cash transfer program.

In the deliberation, the house also evaluates the DSWD’s system on how the agency identifies the poor families who will become the benefiries of CCT.

DSWD says it is ready to coordinate with the lawmakers to make the implementation of the CCT program more effective.

The department requests for more than 78 billion pesos for the 2017 to continue the implementation of the 4P’s.

The house sets another hearing for the DSWD budget on September 13 to address more questions from the lawmakers. — Nel Maribojoc | UNTV News & Rescue

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Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief PDG. Ronald Dela Rosa urges the customers of online store, Pinoy Pistol Forum to surrender the gun parts that they have purchased.

This, following the exposè of the store’s owner, Wilford Palma, who was arrested for gun smuggling in Bacalod.

“A customer ordered some lower end parts which will be allegedly used in Pres. Duterte’s assassination,” Palma said.

According to PNP Chief Dela Rosa, a regular customer of Palma and co-dealer Bryan Ta-ala used to order parts of M-16 rifles which will be allegedly used to assassinate President Rodrigo Duterte.

The customer also used to order 100 upper receiver parts, 40 barrels, and 30 riffle bolts.

“Most likely, he is not the gun-for-hire, maybe he was just ordered by the syndicate to purchase the firearms for that purpose,” Dela Rosa said.

Because of this, the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group will immediately launch an investigation.

The Malacañang, on the other hand, remains clueless as to who or what group is behind the assassination plot against the president.

Around 4.5 million pesos of gun parts and accessories were recovered by the CIDG operatives in Bacolod from Palma and Ta-ala with the help of the information coming from the U.S. Homeland Security.

The suspects will face charges of violating Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act. — Lea Ylagan | UNTV News & Rescue

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Amending the Anti-wiretapping Law will aid the Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement agencies in their fight against illegal drugs.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson who heads the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs earlier expressed his agreement in including drug cases in the exemptions for wiretapping.

He explained it can only be those cases concerning national security such as sedition, rebellion, and inciting to sedition.

In the hearing earlier, law enforcers admit that they are a having difficult time catching drug convicts who are still using communication gadgets inside the New Bilibid Prisons.

Through these gadgets, drug lords operate even while in jail.

“You cannot in any way of capable of intercepting electronic communication?” Sen. Lacson asked the PNP Chief in a senate hearing.

“No sir, we are not capable,” PNP Chief Dela Rosa replied.

But Sen. Lacson is skeptic to this.

He says PNP has enough equipment to wiretap devices.

“I know they have available equipment, tracking equipment, monitoring equipment. There is available. Whether or not they have procured it, whether through the procurement law or through other means,” Lacson said.

Sen. Leila De Lima, also agrees in amending the wiretapping law.

“I agree that we should consider relaxing the rules of the law of the Anti-wiretapping Law, in so far as the the convicts are concerned. Because they have no business, really having communication gadgets while inside the Bilibid,” said. Sen. De Lima.

The PNP supports it as well.

Though she agrees to amending the law, Sen. Leila De Lima insists there should be limits in wiretapping for it can be prone to abuse.

She says she is being wiretapped as well.

“They have repeatedly told me, they are saying, that my phones are tapped. Itold them, “I dont care.” Who’s violating the law here? who is violating my rights, especially my right to privacy?”

PNP, on the other hand, denies wiretapping the senator.

“She says she is being wiretapped, is it true? I’m doubting it. I am also thinkng if I am being wiretapped, because sometimes my phone loses signal. I suspect I am being wiretapped, but i hope not,” said Dela Rosa.

Meanwhile, Sen. De Lima is doubting the authenticity of new evidence pointing to two of her former employees having bank accounts related to drug operations.

These accounts were the alleged conduits used by De Lima to receive millions of pesos from drug lords in exchange of protection.

“That is an entire fabrication. First the existence of the accounts. That is a fabrication. I don’t think those two have those accounts. They’re instant millionaires,” said De Lima.

Department of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre confirms having these evidence, but says they are still studying them.

“Our investigation is not yet finished. We are still looking on how these will link to her or not,” Sec. Aguirre said in a statement.

The lady senator meanwhile is hoping DOJ and NBI will be fair in handling these alleged evidence against her.

“My appeal to Sec. Aguirre, to NBI, that they should not let themselves be used. I know that you are competent officials, the DOJ secretary and the NBI director. Don’t be a party to perjury or subornation of perjury,” De Lima addressed the DOJ and NBI. — Joyce Balancio | UNTV News & Rescue

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The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has no definite timeline for its all-out offensive against the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG). It does not want to rush its military operations against the ASG to ensure positive results.

Though the military has grown stronger with the latest augmentation to Basilan and Sulu, the AFP is taking it slowly but surely to ensure that their operations would bring positive results.

AFP Western Mindanao command (WestMinCom) spokesperson, Maj. Felimon Tan, Jr. said, “Kapag masyado tayong nagdedepende sa timeline, kapag malayo ang tingin natin pa, baka hindi tayo mag-react ng mabilis kapag malapit na. Baka naman masyado tayong mag-react na mapeligro naman yung ating mga sundalo.”

(If we depend too much on timelines, and we are looking too far ahead, we may not be able to react as quickly when the time is near. Or we might react aggressively thereby putting the soldiers’ lives at risk)

For now the AFP is confident that the ASG is now moving within a limited territory. Successive encounters prove this as it implies that the bandits have very few places to run to.

“Basta ang sa amin dito may impormasyon. Pag-aaralan natin ng mabuti at magka-conduct tayo ng focus military operations.”

(We have information. We are studying it carefully then we’ll conduct military operations.)

During his visit at the wake of the fallen soldiers the other day, President Rodrigo Duterte said that as much as possible he doesn’t want the troops to suffer the same setback, particularly the beheading of several soldiers by ASG.

(Dante Amento/UNTV News and Rescue)

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MANILA, Philippines — Presidential spokesperson Secretary Ernesto Abella assured the public that recent rumors of death threats cannot stop the president from doing
his regular rounds in the country and even from his trips abroad.

This comes after an arrested gun smuggler admitted that one of his customers allegedly ordered lower end parts of firearms to be used in the assassination of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Well, if I put it with the president, he seems to be pretty much untouched by all these threats. [He’s] concerned but not worried,” said Abella.

The official added that the president has his ways of protecting himself and his family especially considering that the level of security threats he is facing is greater compared to the time when he was Davao City mayor.

Threats are not uncommon to the president especially when he has waged war against corruption, illegal drugs and criminality.

“Well, you know, like if you listen to the President, he eats it [death threats] for breakfast. Meaning to say, it’s not something new to him,” assured Abella.

(Rosalie Coz / UNTV News and Rescue)

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Walter, a Golden Retriever, lies in a MRI scanner at a neurology clinic in Budapest, Hungary, February 9, 2014. Picture taken February 9, 2014. REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo

“Super, well done,” her trainer says, and Maya, a Hungarian golden retriever, happily holds up her left paw, responding to the praise.

Maya works with a group of Hungarian researchers at the Eotvos Lorand University in Budapest, who have scanned the brains of 13 dogs, finding that dogs process words and intonation to work out messages similarly to humans.

The study showed that dogs, like people, use the left hemisphere of their brain to process words, and a right hemisphere brain region to process intonation. Praise activates dogs’ reward center only when both words and intonation match.

“We showed dogs praise words and non-praise words, in both praising and non-praising intonation, and we found that dogs just like humans can separately process word meaning information … in the speech signal and intonational information,” lead researcher Attila Andics of the Department of Ethology told Reuters.

And they do it in a way that is similar to how it is done in the human brain,” he said, adding that the research was unique because how animals process human speech has not been analyzed this way elsewhere.

In the research, 13 dogs of different breeds, including border collies, golden retrievers, a Chinese crested dog and a German shepherd, were trained to lie completely motionless in an MRI scanner for seven minutes so that researchers could measure their brain activity while they listened to words from their trainers.

They had headphones on, and heard praise words in praising intonation like “super”, “well done,” “good boy,” Andics said.

Dogs heard praise words in praising intonation, praise words in neutral intonation, and also some neutral conjunction words, meaningless to them, in praising and neutral intonations.

“The reward center in dogs’ brains became activated for praise words in praising intonation but not for any of the other three combinations,” Andics said.

Andics said the new findings could lead to examining whether dogs can differentiate between speakers and meaningful sentences.

“But also beyond linguistic stimuli, whether they are really happier to hear some types of sounds than other types of sounds. Are there music they like more than other music? We now have an objective measure by looking at the reward center to answer these types of questions,” he added. — Reuters

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TAGUIG CITY, Philippines — The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) might close some programs of around 400 accredited institutions due to non-compliance to the agency’s standards.

TESDA Director General Guiling Mamondiong, says auditing process is now underway to ensure that all the accredited institutions are following the guidelines.

“Para makita natin kung ilang taon silang hindi nagko-comply. Tinitingnan din natin kung ilan ba ang naibigay na scholars dito. Ano ba ang nangyari sa mga scholars na ibinigay natin sa kanila?” Mamondiong said.

(For us to see how many years that they have not complied. We are still checking the number of scholars that were endorsed to them. What happened to these scholars?)

TESDA is also extending the recruitment to the barangay level to reach more deserving scholars.

There are around 42,000 barangays in the Philippines and TESDA is targeting atleast 200 scholars per barangay.

The agency is also ready to grant scholarships to surrendered drug-dependents and returning OFWs who would like to enroll in their programs.

But drug-dependents should complete the rehabilitation program first before they can be accepted in skills training.

Around 700,000 surrendered drug-dependents have been recorded but the government is expecting it to increase up to 1.2 million.

Welding, construction and automotive are among the courses that they can choose from.

“You cannot offer skills training for those who have not tried rehabilitation. They need to be rehabilitated first,” said Mamondiong.

TESDA will also help returning OFWs especially those who recently came from the Middle East.

The agency will assess what other skills they need to gain to get them back on the workforce.

“Bago pa nga sila umuwi dito alam na natin kung anong mga skills ang kailangan nila dito. So, TESDA is prepared.”

(Before returning home, we already know what skills they need here. So, TESDA is prepared.) — Rey Pelayo | UNTV News & Rescue

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The Department of Energy (DOE) is pushing for the revival of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP).

The estimated cost to revive the nuclear power plant is 1 billion dollars.

Instead of the private sector managing the plant, some want it to be operated solely by the government.

If the plant will be back in operation, the cost of power will only be more than one peso per kilowatt hour compared to the more than four peso pero kilowatt hour cost of power today.

DOE said, the Philippines is one of the countries which has the most expensive cost of electricity.

But the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice fears that the 1 billion dollar-cost to revive the plant will be passed on to the consumers.

The group said, instead of reviving the nuclear plant, the money can be used to build more renewable power plants that are cleaner and safer.

“’Yung perang yun ay maaaring gamitin sa pag-develop ng renewable energy sa ating bansa. Nakikita natin ngayon ang pagiging competitive ng renewable energy lalo na ‘yung solar,” Glenn Ymata of the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice said.

(The money can be used to develop renewable energy in our country. We now see how competitive renewable energy is especially solar.)

But according to one of the supporters of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, former congressman Mark Cojuangco said, if the plant will be back in operation, the cost will be easily recovered.

But there is no promise that the cost of electricity will be lower.

“Paano po magmumura ang kuryente? Hindi po dahil sa isang planta na nagbigay ng murang kuryente kundi dahil sa isang fleet na planta na nagbibigay ng murang kuryente,” Cojuanco said.

(How can electricity be cheaper? It does not rely only on a single plant that generates electricity but instead of a fleet of cheaper energy source.)

The low price will come in the future, a decade or two from now. It will not come tomorrow even if you run BNPP,” he added.

DOE Secretary Alfonso Cusi believes that funding for the nuclear power plant will be easy because many stake holders are interested.

“I’m sure there will be a lot of funders because a lot of funders believe in the project, believe in the economic value of having that kind of investment,” said Sec. Cusi.

Earlier, DOE explains that utilizing the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant is safe and it is the safest way to acquire cheaper and sufficient power supply.

In the world, many progressive countries use nuclear power. And there are only a few cases wherein people have died due to accidents caused by nuclear power plants. — Mon Jocson | UNTV News & Rescue

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“There is no need to rush the implementation of Phase 2.”

This is what Philippine National Police – Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) Director P/SSupt. Antonio Gardiola said in a statement earlier today during the inter-agency council meeting on traffic.

However, he admitted that their implementation of the program to put into order the traffic in Metro Manila or Phase 2 would speed-up if the president had emergency powers on traffic.

Based on the structure and manning that the group created for Metro Manila area, a task force commander will lead Phase 1. He will have a supervisor which will manage EDSA, Mabuhay lanes and Arterial road.

Phase 2 will be managed by an area traffic commander, which also has an assigned commander on every traffic zone such as the central, northern, western, eastern and southern area.

(Related article: Emergency powers for Duterte, big help in addressing traffic woes – DPWH)

On the other hand, P/SSupt. Gardiola said, it is difficult to succeed the fight against traffic if there are local government executives who are against it and if their proposed solution contradicts with the ordinances.

“I cannot just enforce on a particular area without the concurrence because there are existing ordinances from the local government units. There should be synchronization. It is hard to raise the baton if there’s someone who is out of tune. I might create animosity, differences from the LGU’s and other agencies,” Gardiola said.

Meanwhile, Gardiola confirmed that PNP Chief PDG. Ronald Dela Rosa has permitted that all members of the PNP Traffic Management Division in Metro Manila be under his leadership.

“That will be used by the I-ACT on the implementation of Phase 2 because this is huge. We need a large human resource,” Gardiola said. — Lea Ylagan \ UNTV News & Rescue

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The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) shall create and policy to implement mandatory drug testing among all students who will enter colleges and universities as one of the admission requirements.

This is aside from the random drug test among students and personnel in all colleges and universities in the country which had begun in 2009.

“Much more if we are able to implement the drug testing as requirement for admission. students will be more deterred and discouraged to use (illegal drugs),” said CHED Executive Director IV, Atty. Julito Vitriolo.

The CHED targets to meet with various agencies next week to begin creating regulations and plans on finalizing the policy by December this year.

Meanwhile, according to the Department of Health, they shall thoroughly evaluate the regulations and ensure that the policies are in accordance with the law.

“We’ll look at the guidelines. There could probably be a period of rehabilitation, and then they can be admitted,” said DOH Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial.

“Let us make as an advocacy among schools that campuses be drug-free as they adopt regulations and guidelines,” Vitriolo said.

Based on data, an estimated 600,000 to 700,000 students in the country shall enter college level in 2018 after finishing senior high school level under the K-12 program. — Aiko Miguel | UNTV News & Rescue

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LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — During the 115th Police Service Anniversary in La Trinidad, Benguet, Police Chief Ronald Dela Rosa has once again reminded the members of the police force to perform their jobs well while protecting human rights.

The police chief also announced a more intensified campaign against illegal drugs.

“Campaign promise to eradicate the drug problem, criminality and the corruption in 3 to 6 months, we are running out of time. Two months have past already and remaining 4 months. I hope we will double, triple or quadrouple our effort in order to reach the target. Otherwise, as I have said, we cannot afford to fail the Filipino people,” Dela Rosa said in his speech.

(Read also: PDEA burns 1.77 billion worth of illegal drugs in Cavite)

In the 115th Police Service Anniversary held at the Camp Bado Dangwa in La Trinidad, Benguet, Gen. Dela Rosa led the destrucion of seized marijuana amounting to half a million pesos.

The Dangerous Drugs Board has confiscated an overall worth of 4.7 billion pesos since August 25 this year based on the record of the Police Regional Office – Cordilllera.

Of the said amount, 2.8 billion pesos were worth of marijuana; P662.8 million were shabu; and P1.9 billion worth of chemicals which can produce 600kg of shabu in Cordillera region.

Also part of the program was the awarding of medals of some PNP personnel followed by the message of the PNP chief.

“Wherever we are, we share a common goal and that is for the protection of our compatriots and to ensure peace. Remove doubts. Our celebration will be more meaningful with the reforms that are happening in our government under the leadership of our President Rodrigo Duterte.” — Grace Doctolero | UNTV News & Rescue

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Mrs. Kristeta Toledo was disappointed to hear the news that they will shoulder the proposed pension increase for SSS pensioners.

She said that it is not fair because their salary is not even enough to buy the needs of their children especially milk for her youngest child.

“Wala nang matitira lalo sa sahod namin. Lalo na may maliit pa ako tapos buntis pa ako, may nagaaral pa ako,” Toledo expressed her sentiment.

(Nothing will be left of our meager salary especially since I have a toddler. I’m also sending my eldest son to school, and now I am pregnant)

But according to SSS President Emilio De Quiros, if the current administration approves the implementation of P2,000 pension increase for members, they would have to increase the contribution from 5% to 6%. Especially if they don’t have any funding mechanism for the pension increase.

“Ang sinsabi namin, kailangan magkaron ng funding mechanism at isa doon ay ang increase on contribution rate,” De Quiros explained.

(What we are saying is that there should be funding mechanisms. And one of those is the increase on contribution rate.)

But members reacted differently to this matter.

“Kung more benefits naman ang makukuha parang reciprocal pero kung itataas and the benefits is not quite reciprocate, that’s a futile move,” said Frederic Sagarino, SSS member.

(If there will be more benefits to us, it’s reciprocal. But if they increase the contribution and the benefits is not quite reciprocated, that’s a futile move.)

“Ang laki na nga ng hulog, tataasan pa. Bawas uli sa budget,” SSS member Berjan Matias complained.

(The contribution now is very big and now they will ask for additional increase.)

But for Lola Marieta Halili, a SSS pensioner, this is a good news.

Because her P3,000 monthly pension is not enough fro buy her maintenance medicine and needs of her 3 grandchildren.

“Sa pagkain, sa lahat. Magkano lang naman ang pension? (…) Minsan, tinitipid. Gusto mo kumain di ka makakain. Gaya ngayon,” said Halili.

(We use it to buy food. But how much is our pension now? (…) Sometimes, we want to buy food but hold back to save my money.)

The bill to increase the pension of SSS pensioner passed in both houses of Congress but was vetoed by the previous administration.

But when President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office this was among his priorities. — Grace Casin | UNTV News & Rescue

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A fisherman repairs his boat overlooking fishing boats that fish in the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, at Masinloc, Zambales, in the Philippines April 22, 2015.
REUTERS/ERIK DE CASTRO

President Rodrigo Duterte wants to meet with Chinese ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua to confirm reports that there are Chinese barges seen near Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough shoal.

These indicate new construction of artificial islands in the area.

However, the president oncea gain says he will not bring up the maritime dispute issue in the upcoming ASEAN Summit, pointing out that the time will come when he will have to meet and have a one-on-one discussion with his Chinese counterpart about the arbitral tribunal ruling.

The president made the statement while leading the launching of Davao International Container Terminal in Panabo, Davao City. — Rosalie Coz | UNTV News & Rescue

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