Ni Claire Hecita

 

ITINANGGI ng Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) ang napaulat na umano’y ginawa nitong kapalit ng COVID-19 vaccine ang mga Pilipinong nurses at overseas Filipino workers sa mga bansang Germany at United Kingdom.

Magugunitang, nabatikos si Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello matapos nitong alukin ng exemption mula sa 5-year limit ng overseas deployment ng mga Pilipinong health worker at OFWs ang UK ambassador nang makipag-usap dito tungkol sa donasyong bakuna.

Ayon kay Bello na naturukan na ng COVID-19 ang mga OFW at Filipino nurses bago pa man umalis ang mga ito patungong UK.

Tinitiyak umano ng pamahalaan ang kaligtasan ng mga health workers bago ang deployment.

Walang kakulangan aniya ng nurses ang bansa bagkus mayroon pa raw ‘oversupply’ nito.

Ni Karen David

 

IPINAHAYAG ni DITO Chief Technology Officer Adel Tamano, sa paglulunsad ng DITO Telecommunity sa Marso 8 uunahin nila na mag-rollout sa key cities sa Mindanao at Visayas tulad ng Davao at Cebu.

Inisyal aniyang maaabot ng DITO’s Services ang 17 cities at municipalities na may 10 hanggang 20 points of sales maging online.

Nakatakda namang ilunsad ang DITO Services sa National Capital Region bago matapos ang 2021.

Nangako ang DITO na maide-deliver ang minimum average speed na 27 mbps.

Ni Vic Tahud

 

DUMARAMI na ang nagugutom na mga Pilipino, dahilan kung bakit dapat nang ilagay muli sa Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) ang bansa.

Ito ang inihayag ni Department of Trade and Industry Sec. Ramon Lopez sa Laging Handa press briefing.

“Each day po na walang pagkain ‘yong ibang kababayan natin, each day na nagugutom at na-mamalnourish po sila, ano ho kaya ang gagawin natin sa kanila, ‘yon ang big question,” ani Lopez.

Ayon pa kay Lopez, hindi na dapat pang hintayin pa na maabot pa ang herd immunity bago pa mabuksan ang ekonomiya.

Ani Lopez, dapat ngayon pa lamang ay unti-unti nang buksan ito para sa mga nagugutom na mga Pilipino.

 

 

 

 

 

GT Foundation, Inc. and Metrobank Foundation, Inc. virtually kicked off the 2021 Bags of Blessing. The kickoff ceremony was led by (L-R) Metrobank Group chairman Arthur Ty, GTFI honorary chair Mary Ty, Federal Land chairman and GTFI president Alfred Ty, MBFI president Aniceto Sobrepeña, GTFI vice president Anjanette Dy-Buncio, and NASSA/Caritas Philippines executive secretary Fr. Antonio Labiao. Their hand gesture in the photo signifies “Hope for Prosperity.”

 

As part of its Chinese New Year celebrations, the GT Foundation, Inc. (GTFI), together with Metrobank Foundation, Inc. (MBFI), virtually kicked off their gift-giving tradition called ‘Bags of Blessing’ on February 11, 2021.

In partnership with the National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA)/Caritas Philippines, through the assistance of select Metrobank branches, 18,000 families from 33 sites and 3 sectors will receive food packages by presenting their issued vouchers in identified supermarkets from February 12 to February 26. The priority beneficiaries chosen this year are families whose source of living and income was affected by the ongoing pandemic, survivors of recent natural calamities, members of indigenous peoples (IPs) tribes, and selected teachers, soldiers, and police officers.

 

The kickoff ceremony was led by Metrobank Group chairman Arthur Ty, Federal Land chairman and GTFI president Alfred Ty, GTFI honorary chair Mary Ty, GTFI vice president Anjanette Dy-Buncio and MBFI president Aniceto Sobrepeña. Joining them were National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA)/Caritas Philippines executive secretary Fr. Antonio Labiao, NASSA/Caritas Philippines communications and partnership development coordinator Jing Henderson, and NASSA/Caritas Philippines head of resource generation and mobilization officer Analyn Julian.

 

“Today marks yet another milestone for us at the GT Foundation as we embark to widen the reach of the Bags of Blessing targeting an increased number of beneficiaries, from the usual 10,000 families to 18,000 families in 33 sites this time,” shared GTFI president Alfred V. Ty. “The sharing of Bags of Blessing is not only about gift-giving and keeping Chinese traditions alive but also to contribute to the national goal to curb hunger. Through our little contribution, we aim to bring food to the tables for the nutritional needs of the average Filipino earner,” he added.

 

“Nang nabalitaan ko na isa ako sa makakatanggap ng Bags of Blessing, labis akong nagalak kasi sa panahon ngayon napakahirap nang maghanap ng trabaho, Ngayong nahinto ako sa pagtatrabaho, malaking tulong ito para sa pamilya ko (When I heard that I will be one of the recipients of the Bags of Blessing, I was filled with joy since it’s difficult to find a job during this period. Now that I’ve stopped working, this is a big help for my family),” said Reynaldo Baria, a beneficiary from Iloilo City.

 

To this, MBFI president Aniceto Sobrepeña cites the jubilee year for Christianity in the country, the theme of which reflects the Bags of Blessings’ aspiration. “This year, we’re commemorating the 500th year of Christianity in the Philippines with the theme, “Gifted to Give.” Bags of Blessing is the brainchild of the late Metrobank Group founder and chairman Dr. George Ty Siao Kian. It is inspired by the traditional ang pao, a red envelope containing cash used to deliver best wishes and luck. Instead of cash-giving, specially designed red bags containing P1,000 worth of grocery items are distributed to indigent families. Bags of Blessing carries the same message: that the language of giving transcends differences and prevails even over tough situations,” he said.

 

Meanwhile, Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo mentions NASSA/Caritas Philippines’ Alay Kapwa program whose mission strongly identifies with the purpose of Bags of Blessing. “Nagpapasalamat kami sapagkat ang GT Foundation ay aming naging partner sa gawaing ito, at ating maisakatuparan at maisabuhay muli ang isa sa mga hangarin ng Alay Kapwa program: ang makatulong sa ating mga kababayan lalung-lalo na ngayon sa panahon ng pandemya. Isang inspirasyon ito para sa maraming may kakayanang makatulong sa ating kapwa. (We’re grateful that GT Foundation became our partner in this initiative, and we’ll be able to fulfill and live out the aspiration of the Alay Kapwa program: to help our fellowmen especially during this time of pandemic. This is an inspiration to those who have the capacity to help).”

 

Sites chosen this year are the City of Manila, City of San Juan, Caloocan City, Quezon City, Parañaque City, Navotas City, Valenzuela City, Makati City, Taguig City, Malabon City, Pasay City, Pasig City, Mandaluyong City, Muntinlupa City, Las Piñas City, Marikina City, and Pateros for the National Capital Region (NCR). Balanga City, Bataan; City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan; Batangas City; Bacoor City; General Trias City; Imus City; Biñan City; City of San Pedro; City of Santa Rosa; Iloilo City; Baguio City; Antipolo City; Cebu City; Mandaue City; Lapu-Lapu City; and Davao City will comprise the countryside.

 

*****

 

Since its inception in 2009, the GT Foundation, Inc. (GTFI) has pursued the philanthropic initiatives of Dr. George S.K. Ty and his family. It has done so by investing in strategic development programs that empower communities, primarily in the areas of education, health, and calamity assistance. In 2018, GTFI continued to support interventions that contribute towards sustainable progress of the nation as a whole.

 

 

Ni Vic Tahud

 

SA gitna ng kakulangan ng suplay ng baboy sa merkado dahil sa ilang araw na pork holiday dahil sa price ceiling ng gobyerno, tumaas ang presyo ng lechon ng P3-K ngayong Chinese New Year.

Sinabi ng isang vendor, bumaba ang tubo nila ng halos kalahating porsyento simula pa noong Disyembre.

Kabilang sa mga tumaas ang presyo ay ang pork products gaya ng chicharon. Maging ang mga karinderia na nagtitinda ng ulam na may karneng baboy ay nagtaas na rin ng presyo.

Matatandaang, nangako ang Department of Agriculture na magsu-suplay ng karneng baboy sa Metro Manila araw-araw para matugunan ang kakulangan sa suplay ng baboy at mapanatiling mababa ang presyo.

Ni Arjay Adan

 

BILANG parte ng priority programs ng Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Central Luzon sa taong ito, magpapatuloy ang mga isinasagawang trade fairs.

Ayon kay DTI OIC-Regional Director Leonila Baluyut na layon nito na masuportahan ang micro at small enterprises sa rehiyon upang madagdagan ang kita nito at makapagbigay ng income at employment sa mga probinsya.

Aniya, sa pamamagitan ng pakikilahok sa iba’t ibang mga trade fairs, online o pisikal man, masisiguro nila na ang mga micro, small at medium enterprises (MSMEs) ay patuloy na kikita upang masustentuhan ang kanilang operasyon.

Sinabi ng opisyal na sa taong ito, ang regional office at pito nitong provincial offices ay nakatakdang makilahok sa hindi bababa ng 19 trade fairs kabilang na ang pinaka inaabangang ika-23 na likha ng Central Luzon trade fair.

Sinabi rin na Baluyut na upang maihanda ang mga MSMEs sa new normal course ng transacting, inihahanda ng ahensya ang e-commerce sa pamamagitan ng pagsasanay at pag-uugnay nito sa mga sikat na online selling platforms.