ORMOC CITY-Four persons were apprehended by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in a buy-bust operation that leads to the dismantling of an alleged drug den in Baybay City.

The operation, conducted in Purok Violeta of Barangay Zone 1 last Saturday at about 11:17 pm, resulted in the arrest of Jaime Morales, considered to be the owner of the alleged drug den and his co-maintainer Ruem Baclayon 34; Danilo Moreno, 37, and Alfredo Biterbo III, 31.

A 15-year old boy was also arrested by the PDEA who was immediately brought to the city social welfare and development office.

PDEA Regional Director Jacqueline De Guzman said that confiscated from the suspects were four sachets containing white crystalline substances suspected to be shabu weighing about 10.02 grams with an estimated market value of P67,500, and various drug paraphernalia.

The suspects will be facing violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and are now detained at the Baybay City police office’ lock-up facility.(ROBERT DEJON)

TACLOBAN CITY – The local government unit of Arteche, Eastern Samar is pushing for the development of an ecotourism site that would boast the largest mangrove forest in the province.

Mayor Roland Evardone said Friday the municipal government has already asked the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) to fund the construction of a boardwalk within the 169-hectare mangrove area in the coastal village of Beri.

The budget requirement is P20 million, he told Philippine News Agency in a phone interview.

Evardone said TIEZA has yet to respond to the request.

“Part of the project is to declare some parts of the mangrove forest as protected areas for different marine species. This is in support of our coastal resource management plan,” he said.

Evardone said the mangrove forest in Beri is the largest mangrove forest in Eastern Samar and a natural habitat for different flora and fauna.

Mangrove forests also provide natural infrastructure and protection to nearby populated areas by preventing erosion and absorbing storm surge impacts during extreme weather conditions such as hurricanes or typhoons.

Arteche is a third-class town with a 58.66 percent poverty incidence. The town has 16,320 population as of 2020.
(SARWELL Q. MENIANO/PNA)

Globe Group and the British Embassy in the Philippines have come together to bolster the Philippines’ digital infrastructure defenses. This support was a focal point of discussion at the UK Cybersecurity Reception, an event that highlighted the critical need for enhanced cybersecurity measures in the country.

During the Fireside Chat on “Cybersecurity capacity building needs in the Philippines and the UK,” Atty. Irish Salandanan-Almeida, Globe Group’s Chief Privacy Officer, articulated the company’s extensive measures in combating the digital threats intensified by the pandemic.

She noted Globe’s combined strategy of technological advancement, talent development, and public awareness, which includes offering cybersecurity solutions, implementing robust content filtering systems, and spearheading educational initiatives.

“The reason why scams and spam messages are so rampant now is because they (fraudsters) want to get customer data. And so we’re impressing upon our customers and partners the importance of having the right cybersecurity culture and using the appropriate cybersecurity solutions,” said Almeida.

Globe has recently poured in nearly $90 million in cybersecurity alone on top of its $20 million infrastructure investment to combat spam and scam messages. It also has a team of 97 people focused on information security and data privacy.

Together with sophisticated cyber tools and dedicated manpower, the company ensures that its employees and customers are protected online through initiatives such as the Digital Thumbprint Program in partnership with the Department of Education and “Safe Space: A Kid’s Guide to Data Privacy,” a data privacy book for children developed with the support of the National Privacy Commission.

“We prioritize education and awareness across the Globe Group. It’s really important that we know how to practice online safety in our day-to-day activities,” she added.
British Ambassador to the Philippines, Laure Beaufils, on the other hand, shared the United Kingdom’s goal of strengthening the cybersecurity partnership with the Philippines by identifying opportunities for collaboration and sharing best practices on how to address collective challenges in cybersecurity.

“Cybersecurity must be a top priority for both the United Kingdom and the Philippines in order to ensure the safety and security of our citizens and promote economic development and prosperity. The digital landscape is an integral part of our daily lives, from critical infrastructure to personal communications, and protecting it is essential to safeguarding our economic prosperity and national security,” she said. “The Philippines and the UK alike are prioritizing defending their citizens against cyberattacks and we are pleased to be working together.”

Beaufils mentioned the UK’s collaboration initiatives, including the first UK-South East Asia Women in Cyber Fellowship, where Almeida was a delegate, and Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) Assistant Secretary Mary Rose Magsaysay is joining as a mentor. The programme will empower women from the South East Asia region by providing networking opportunities, access to speakers and expertise from the UK and South East Asia. Another one is the £13M Conflict, Stability, and Security Fund’s cyber package, aimed at enhancing cybersecurity capabilities in the Philippines.

The UK Cybersecurity Reception underscored the need for a multi-faceted approach to address cybersecurity challenges. The event brought together government officials, industry leaders, and cybersecurity experts to share insights and strategies for a more secure digital environment. The discussions focused on the importance of public-private partnerships, international cooperation, and the need for continuous innovation in cybersecurity technologies and practices.

The commitment from Globe Group and the British Embassy to assist the Philippine government in its cybersecurity efforts emphasizes the global nature of cyber threats and the importance of collaborative approaches to address these challenges effectively.
(PR)

TACLOBAN CITY— The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) continues to offer skills training and assessment to assist public transport drivers and operators in Eastern Visayas affected by the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).

According to TESDA Regional Director Gamaliel B. Vicente Jr., a total of 2,158 beneficiaries have graduated since the launch of the ‘Tsuper Iskolar’ program in 2019. Of this number, 596 have either found employment or started business ventures.

In addition, there are 1,125 enrolled beneficiaries in their chosen program in December 2023. They are expected to complete their training between January and February 2024.
Vicente clarified that 90 displaced persons had already availed themselves of the program based on the number of enrolled beneficiaries as of December 2023. Among these numbers, the province of Leyte has a significant number of beneficiaries, followed by Northern Samar.

Scholars in this program receive skills training, skills assessment, and entrepreneurship training for certificates of competency qualifications.

They can also get up to P350 per day for food and transportation expenses for a maximum of 35 days through the training support fund.

The skills training mostly availed in the region are driving, electrical installation and maintenance, bread and pastry production, and hilot (wellness message) National Certificates II.

“Hangga’t mayroong nakalaang pondo para sa TESDA, palagi kaming handang tumugon para sa ikauunlad ng ating mga kababayan. Sa ngayon, ang huling pondo na inilipat sa atin ng DOTr ay noong December 2023, kung saan nasimulan na din ang pagsasanay ng mga benepisyaryo at inaasahan na magtatapos sila nitong buwan hanggang Pebrebo,” Vincente responded when asked how long the Tsuper Iskolar program would be available in the region.

(Translation: As long as there is allocated funding for TESDA, we are always ready to respond to the development of our fellow citizens. The last funds transferred to us by the DOTr werein December 2023, when the training of beneficiaries also began, and it is expected that they will finish this month by February.)

John Steve Blanca, a resident of Tacloban City, completed the Heavy Equipment Operation (HEO)—wheel loader NC II—through the Tsuper Iskolar program. He is a family member or dependent of an affected transport worker.

“Nang marinig ko ang balita mula sa Tito ko na may libreng training, dali-dali akong pumunta sa 777 para mag inquire. Laking pasasalamat ko dahil sa isa na lang ang kailangan para ma kompleto ang slot,” Blanca said.

(Translation: When I heard the news from my uncle that there’s free training, I immediately went to 777 to inquire. I’m very grateful because only one slot is needed to complete the training.)

He added that this training will enhance his knowledge of driving, enabling him to operate the HEO wheel loader. It’s a significant opportunity for him because it has changed his perspective on life. He is wholeheartedly grateful to TESDA and DOTr for providing free training and allowances, which helped him in his daily training.

“Inaanyayahan ko ang lahat ng mga tsuper pati na rin ang kanilang mga kamag-anak na pumunta sa pinakamalapit na TESDA Provincial office sa inyong lugar upang alamin ang mga available na scholarship programs sa inyong lugar dahil sa TESDA, lingap ay maasahan,” Vicente suggested inviting other public transport workers in the region.

(Translation: I invite all drivers and their relatives to visit the nearest TESDA provincial office in your area to inquire about the available scholarship programs. With TESDA, reliable assistance is guaranteed.)
(LDL/AAC/PIA Leyte)

Manila-United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Assistant Administrator for Global Health Dr. Atul Gawande visited the Philippines from January 29 to February 1 to reaffirm the partnership between the United States government and the Philippines’ Department of Health (DOH) in strengthening the Philippine health system and addressing health challenges, including the fight against tuberculosis (TB) and HIV.

In Manila, Dr. Gawande met with Philippine Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa and key government partners to explore ways to strengthen primary health care in line with the Philippines’ Universal Health Care goals. The Philippines is one of seven focus countries for “Primary Impact,” USAID’s global flagship effort to enhance the delivery of primary health care in partner countries. Through this program, USAID supported the DOH and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation to roll-out Universal Health Care, protecting families from falling into poverty due to health care costs.

“The DOH is honored to be a partner of USAID in strengthening health systems, promoting positive social norms and behaviors, and improving the quality of primary health care,” Secretary Herbosa said at an event commemorating the completion of USAID health programs implemented in the Philippines between 2018 and 2023. “The DOH is committed to our partnership with USAID as we continue to work towards a healthy Philippines.”
“The Philippine government is pursuing an ambitious plan to radically strengthen primary health care—the key scaffolding to enable longer life and better health for all Filipinos,” Dr. Gawande said. “USAID is proud to be a partner in ensuring the plan’s success.”

From 2018 to 2023, USAID invested more than P14.6 billion ($260 million) in health programs in the Philippines to address TB and HIV, promote family planning, community-based drug rehabilitation, and mental health, and support the country’s COVID-19 response.

USAID’s partnership with the DOH has helped identify more than 750,000 people with TB and linked them to treatment. USAID also helped increase the TB case notification rate by 36 percent between 2022 and 2023.

Through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program, USAID contributed to revolutionizing the Philippines’ HIV response by enrolling more than 24,800 people on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)—an effective HIV prevention drug—and starting almost half of the country’s HIV treatment clients on the optimized drug regimen, TLD, which has fewer side effects.

To help ensure life-saving medicines and supplies are continuously available, USAID supported the DOH to digitally track their supply chain at national and regional levels. USAID also developed community-based drug rehabilitation treatment protocols for low- and moderate-risk users, and established community-based drug rehabilitation services in 22 local government units.

While in Manila, Dr. Gawande joined the DOH in commemorating World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day on January 30 with the launch of the “Philippine Multi-Disease Elimination Plan,” developed through technical advisory support from USAID. USAID also trained health workers in disseminating information and monitoring cases of Neglected Tropical Disease lymphatic filariasis, a parasitic disease spread by infected mosquitoes that affects the lymph nodes and lymph vessels.

In a keynote lecture to students, faculty, and medical staff at the University of the Philippines Manila, Dr. Gawande emphasized the importance of building strong primary health care systems to contribute to economic development and stability. He later met officials of the National Poison Management and Control Center to discuss the need to address lead poisoning which severely affects the health, development, and learning of children.

Dr. Gawande also visited health facilities in Quezon City and Bataan where he engaged partner donors, local government officials, and communities to understand challenges and explore opportunities that can bolster Filipinos’ access to quality health care. (PR)