STOPPING CORRUPTION. Several screeners at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport were placed under preventive suspension for allegedly extorting money from a Thai national. Authorities are considering filing of a criminal case aside from pursuing the administrative case. (Screenshots from video posted byPiyawat Gunlayaprasit on Facebook) MANILA-Several screeners at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) were placed under preventive suspension for allegedly extorting money from a foreigner, the Office for Transportation Security (OTS) announced Monday. In a video posted on social media on Feb. 22, a female screener was seen putting something in the pocket of a male screener. The same female personnel allegedly took the money of a foreign passenger. The video also showed that the female personnel returned the money, which the OTS said was 20,000 yen or around PHP8,000. In a TV interview on Monday, OTS administrator Ma. O. Aplasca said the victim is a Thai. "We identified at l
SLOPE PROTECTION. The slope protection project in Barangay Tiep in Bani town, Pangasinan province that was funded with PHP96 million by the Department of Public Works and Highways. It was completed this year to prevent soil erosion and protect motorists from landslides. (Photo courtesy of DPWH Ilocos regional office) BANI, Pangasinan - The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has completed the construction of a PHP96.5-million slope protection structure aimed at securing the safety of travelers and reducing the possibility of landslides in Barangay Tiep in this town. In a statement on Tuesday, DPWH Ilocos Region information officer Esperanza Tinaza said the project covers the construction of a lined canal along the road to ensure proper water flow during heavy rains. "It also includes the construction of stone masonry and laying out of additional active wire mesh and erosion control mat which will increase the stability of the critical slope along Alaminos-Bolinao Road,&
Quake in Trkiye (Anadolu photo) MANILA - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday said discussions are ongoing on the possibility of extending assistance to Syria, which was severely affected when a massive 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Trkiye last week. In a Laging Handa briefing, DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said relevant offices are in talks to identify the kind of aid that could be provided to the Middle Eastern country. "[M]ay ongoing discussion on anong klaseng assistance ang ibibigay po sa Syria. Kasi each country has unique circumstance, unique needs (There is an ongoing discussion as to what kind of assistance would be given to Syria. This is because each country has unique circumstance, unique needs). So, there's a need for matching," she said. The United Nations had earlier launched USD397 million humanitarian appeal to help secure "desperately needed" relief for nearly five million people in Syria. More than 4,400 deaths and 8,100 in
ASSISTANCE. At least 234 farmers in Tarlac City, Tarlac province receive free fertilizers on Thursday (Feb. 9, 2023) from the Department of Agriculture, in collaboration with the city government. A total of 3,852 bags of urea fertilizers were distributed to the farmers whose crops were badly damaged by Super Typhoon Karding (Noru) and Severe Tropical Storm Paeng (Nalgae) that hit the country last year. (Photo courtesy of the city government of Tarlac) TARLAC CITY, Tarlac - Some 234 farmers here have received free fertilizers from the city government and the Department of Agriculture (DA). Mayor Cristy Angeles said at least 3,852 bags of urea fertilizers were distributed Thursday to these farmers whose crops were badly damaged by Super Typhoon Karding (Noru) and Severe Tropical Storm Paeng (Nalgae) that hit the country last year. "Talagang sobra-sobra naman ang bumababang tulong sa Department of Agriculture sa amin na nanggagaling sa national government (The support from the Depart
MANILA - The continued reopening of the economy benefited Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc. (RRHI) which reported on Thursday a 26.7-percent year-on-year jump in net income to PHP5.7 billion. In a statement, RRHI dubbed 2022 as "a stellar year" for the company after noting that the rise in net income last year surpassed its 2019 performance by 41.2 percent. It said earnings per share (EPS) registered a faster expansion of 30.6 percent in 2022 "supported by our ongoing stock buyback program." Similarly, core income also posted a new record after jumping by 39.1 percent to PHP5.3 billion. Consolidated net sales rose by 16.6 percent on an annual basis to PHP178.8 billion due largely to the 11.8 percent increase in same store sales growth (SSSG) and the opening of new stores. "In 2022, our businesses directly benefited from the economy's gradual return to normalcy, including back to face-to-face classes in schools, increased travel and tourism, and the first norm