MALACANANG has issued Executive Order (EO) No. 44 establishing the “Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program” as a flagship program of the national government.
“The ‘Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program’ of the DSWD is hereby declared as a Flagship Program of the National Government. The DSWD, as the primary government entity responsible for the implementation and management of social welfare development programs in the country, shall be the lead implementing agency of the Food Stamp Program,” said the EO, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Thursday.
“The DSWD shall undertake the necessary steps for the successful implementation and expansion of the Food Stamp Program including, but not limited to, the identification of eligible beneficiaries and collaboration with relevant stakeholders to ensure efficient and timely distribution and use of food stamps.”
The DSWD was also mandated by the order to work with other national government agencies (NGAs) and local government units (LGUs) for its implementation. It also ordered relevant NGAs and all participating LGUs to provide full support to, and cooperate with, the DSWD to ensure the effective implementation of the order.
The DSWD was also directed to determine the appropriate staffing pattern and corresponding qualification standards for the creation of additional positions necessary for the administration and operation of the Food Stamp Program and submit to the budget department, for review and approval, the proposed changes in the organization structure and staffing pattern of the DSWD.
The EO’s implementing rules will be crafted by the DSWD, 30 days from its effectivity. Its implementation with be funded by DSWD’s appropriations and its partner agencies.
The “Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program” is one of the major programs of the DSWD, which aims to decrease the incidence of voluntary hunger experienced by low-income households by providing monetary-based assistance through Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards that can be used in purchasing select food commodities from eligible partner merchant stores.
For the Food Stamp Program to be successful, a whole-of-government approach is required, enjoining all NGAs and LGUs to participate and support the program.
Its implementation is in line with the Philippines’ commitment to realize the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal No. 2 of ending hunger, achieving food security, improving nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture by 2030.
In addition, one of the objectives of the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 launched in June this year as well as the administration’s 8-Point Socioeconomic Agenda is to ensure food security and proper nutrition in the country by providing accessible, safe and nutritious food for all Filipinos. *PND*
Kaso ng lepstospirosis umakyat sa 108% sa Quezon City
UMAKYAT ang bilang ng kaso ng leptospirosis sa Quezon City sa 108.27% mula Enero 1 hanggang Oktubre 7 ngayong taon kumpara sa katulad ng panahon noong nakaraang taon, ayon sa Quezon City local government unit.
Itinalaga ng Quezon City Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance ang 277 kaso ng leptospirosis mula Enero 1 hanggang Oktubre 7, 2023.
Ang district 2 ang may pinakamaraming bilang ng sakit na nasa 72 habang ang district 5 ang may pinakamababang kaso sa 28.
Samantala, 33 leptospirosis cases sa siyudad ang naitalang namatay, ayon pa sa lokal na pamahalaan. Hiniling naman ng lungsod na agad magtungo sa ospital o center ang may sintomas ng sakit para sa tamang gamot. Kabilang sa sintomas ang mataas na lagnat, sakit ng ulo, panginginig ng katawan, pagsusuka, pagkukulay dilaw ng bata, mapupulang mata, diarrhea at rashes. Gayunman, ang ilan ay walang sintomas ngunit nakakakuha ng sakit.
Nalalabing NPA sa Kultan Kudarat pinasusuko na ng militar
HINIMOK ng mga lokal na ehekutibo sa Sultan Kudarat province ang mga nalalabing miyembro ng New People’s Army na sumuko kasunod ng pagkamatay ng kanilang lider sa maikling engkuwentro sa mga sundalo sa bayan ng Kalamansig.
Kinumpirma ni Brig. Gen Michael Santos, kumander ng Philippine Army 603rd Infantry Brigade, Maj. Gen. Alex Rillera ng 6th Infantry Division, at mga miyemro ng municipal peace and order council sa Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat, ang pagkamatay ni Ray Masot Zambrano.
Wanted si Zambrano sa mahigit isang dosenang kasong criminal sa iba’t ibang korte sa Region 12 at top leader ng Timlas Platoon ng Far South Mindanao Region Command ng New People’s Army.
Nauna umanong magpaputok ang kampo ni Zambrano sa mga opisyal ng 37th Infantry Battalion na nagtungo sa lugar matapos ireport ang presensiya sa masukal na lugar sa Obial village, Kalamansig.
Sinabi ni Santos na matagal nang inirereklamo ang kalupitan ng grupo ni Zambrano at nang makit ito sa lugar ay agad ipinaalam sa militar.
Iniwan ng mga kasama si Zambrano maging ang kanyang armas na AK-47 rifle at 45 caliber pistol at iba pang gamit nang malapit na silang masukol.
Sunog tumupok sa P4.2M ari-arian sa Friday the 13th
NILAMON ng apoy ang filtration system sa Barangay Felisa, Bacolod City noong Biyernes ng hapon.
Sinabi ni FO2 Rolin Paulan, na nagsimula ang apoy sa filtration system ng facility. Agad kumalat ang apoy kung saan nakaimbak ang mga lumang gulong, ayon pa sa report ng Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Bacolod, bandang alas-5:33 ng hapon.
Walang iniulat na ansaktan sa sunog na tumagal ng halos tatlong oras. Hindi pa rin batid ng arson investigators ang sanhi ng apoy.
Paulan said the fire was raised to second alarm due to the existence of combustible materials.
No injuries were reported and fire out was declared at 7:33 p.m. The BFP has yet to determine the cause of the fire.
House of Representatives website hacked
ANONYMOUS user ‘3musketeerz’said they hacked the website of the House of Representatives, Sunday morning.
The press releases and committee schedules on the website were also altered.
The homepage of its website earlier showed a troll face meme.
“Happy April Fullz Kahit October palang! Fix your Website,” the meme read.
In a statement, HOR secretary-general Reginald Velasco said that they are now investigating what happened with the help of the Department of Information and Communications Technology as well as other law enforcement agencies.
“While we work to restore the website fully, we ask for patience and understanding,” he emphasized.
“We are committed to ensure the security and integrity of our digital platforms, and we will implement additional measures to prevent such accidents in the future,” added Velasco.
For now, the House advised the public “to be cautious of any suspicious emails of communications” that claim to be from them.
“We will keep the public updated as more information becomes available,” Velasco said.
The HOR website was defaced earlier in the day with a “You’ve been hacked” meme as well as a message that read: “Happy April Fullz kahit October pa lang!”
The note also stated that it was hacked by a certain “~3MUSKETEERZ.”
The website is inaccessible, as of writing.
We wish to inform the public that the official website of the House of Representatives experienced unauthorized access earlier today. Immediate steps have been taken to address the issue, and we are working closely with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) and law enforcement agencies concerned to investigate the matter.
While we work to restore the website fully, we ask for patience and understanding. We are committed to ensure the security and integrity of our digital platforms, and we will implement additional measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
For the moment, we advise the public to be cautious of any suspicious emails or communications that claim to be from the House of Representatives.
We will keep the public updated as more information becomes available.
PH farmers getting younger – DA
THE average age of Filipino farmers has decreased with younger generation opting to join the agriculture sector, according to a Department of Agriculture official on Saturday.
DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa disclosed that the previous average age of farmers in the country was 57 years old and this has decreased to about 49 to 50 years old, based on their registry system.
“Bumababa, ibig sabihin maraming pumapasok na mas bata kasya iyong nauna,” he said in a news forum in Quezon City.
De Mesa also said that the numbers of farmers and livestock growers are not decreasing.
“Actually, hindi bumababa iyong number of farmers, iyong registry system natin we have 12 million na magsasaka, iba-iba ito from rice, corn, coconut kasama na iyong fishers dito, kasama na rin dito iyong mga livestock growers,” he said.
He added that this could also be attributed to those individuals who have retired early and decided to pursue their love for farming.
“Actually marami rin—lalo na iyong mga nasa gobyerno nasa private nakilala ko after nilang magsilbi ay babalik sila sa love for farming,” he said.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who is also DA Secretary, has been actively advocating for younger generations, especially the youth to help increase the productivity of the agriculture sector.
Among the programs the DA has recently launched is the Young Farmers Challenge (YFC), which offers financial grant assistance for the youth who will engage in new agri-fishery enterprises.
The agency also continues to offer scholarship for agriculture-related courses.
Sufficient number of cops to be deployed for Monday transport strike, PNP says
The Philippine National Police (PNP) will deploy policemen in areas where drivers and operators of a transport group will converge during a transport strike on Monday, Oct. 16.
PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo also urged the members of transport group Manibela to police their own ranks in order to avoid unnecessary confrontation with the policemen that will be deployed.
“We want to assure the public that the PNP has a sufficient number of personnel that will be deployed in areas where the protest actions would be held. Our personnel patrol in these areas,” said Fajardo.
Manibela chairman Mar Valbuena earlier said that aside from the transport strike, they will also hold a protest action in front of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) office in Quezon City to demand accountability in the alleged corruption activities in the agency involving franchise approval.
President Marcos has already suspended LTFRB chairman Teofilo Guadiz III pending the result of the ongoing investigation which started when his former executive assistant claimed rampant corruption in the agency that also allegedly reached the office of Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista.
Guadiz’s former executive assistant Jeff Tumbado, however, already retracted his statement in an affidavit submitted to a Quezon city court.
Fajardo, on the other hand, urged the protesting transport group not to compel other drivers to join them in their strike.
“We will respect their right to air their sentiments but they should also respect the right of other drivers not to join,” said Fajardo.
Manibela said the transport strike will be primarily in Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon).
Several local government units have already declared suspension of classes while a number of them have committed to deploy vehicles to assist the passengers who would be stranded.
Cop, ex-policeman caught selling shabu in Muntinlupa City
A POLICEMAN and an ex-cop were arrested after they were cught selling shabu in Muntinlupa City, operatives of the National Capital Region Police Office said over the weekend.
The suspects were identified as Patrolman Rey Palomar Baldonasa, 25, currently assigned at the Drug Enforcement Unit of NCRPO; and Carlos Rivera Navarro, 31, previously assigned with the Caloocan City police but who had been declared absent without leave by the Philippine National Police.
They were arrested by operatives of the Station Drug Enforcement Unit of the Muntinlupa City Police Station during a buy-bust operation along Purok 10, Amparo Street, Barangay Poblacion, Muntinlupa City.
The Muntinlupa cops teamed up with elements of the NCRPO in the buy-bust operation, during which two 9MM Canik pistols and drugs with a street value of P68,000 were seized from them.
Baldonasa and Navarro will be charged with violation of Article 2, Sections 5, 11, and 26 of Republic Act 9165, otherwise known as the “Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition, in relation to Batas Pambansa 881 or the Omnibus Election Code.
The arrested cops were put in the custody of the Muntinlupa City Police.
In Pasig City, a female drug peddler tagged as a high-value target was arrested by the police in a drug operation in Pasig City Thursday evening. The suspect was identified only as alias Masel, 46 years old, a resident of Barangay Rosario, Pasig City.
She was arrested in an operation conducted by operatives of the Pasig City Police Station’s DEU at Tramo GSIS Road, Barangay Rosario.
Seized from the suspect were several sachets of suspected shabu weighing more or less 15.8 grams with a standard drug price of P107,440.
The suspect will be charged for violating Republic Act 9165.
Overseas Filipino Workers are estimated at 1.96 million
The number of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) or Filipino workers who worked abroad during the period April to September 2022 was estimated at 1.96 million. This indicates an increase of 7.6 percent from 1.83 million OFWs in the same period of 2021. Of the total OFWs, the number of Overseas Contract Workers (OCWs) or those with existing work contracts was posted at 1.94 million. On the other hand, other OFWs who worked abroad without working visa or work permits such as tourist, visitor, student, medical, and other types of non-immigrant visas but were employed and working full time in other countries was estimated at 26 thousand. (Table 1 and Figure 1)
In terms of percent share to the total OFW, OCW had the larger share at 98.7 percent, while other OFWs had 1.3 percent share. (Table 1)
Majority of Overseas Filipino Workers are women
Of the estimated 1.96 million OFWs in 2022, 1.13 million (57.8%) were females, while 828 thousand (42.2%) were males. The same trend was observed in 2021 where 1.10 million (60.2%) OFWs were women, while 726 thousand (39.8%) were men. (Table 1)
Among age groups, the largest number of OFWs was in age group 30 to 34 years old which accounted for 23.4 percent of the total OFWs. The 45 years and over comprised the second largest group (22.7%), followed by the 35 to 39 years age group (18.0%). (Table 2)
Among the female overseas workers, the largest share (24.4%) belonged to age group 30 to 34 years, followed by the 35 to 39 years age group, which comprised 21.0 percent of the 1.13 million female OFWs. On the other hand, among male overseas workers, age group 45 years and over comprised the largest share of 28.4 percent, while those in age group 30 to 34 years had a share of 21.9 percent. (Table 2 and Figure 2)
Four in every ten OFWs are in elementary occupations1
Across occupation groups, OFWs engaged in elementary occupations1 made up the largest share of 44.4 percent of the total OFWs in 2022. Service and sales workers were the second largest group of OFWs with 15.5 percent, while plant machine operators and assemblers were the third largest group accounting for 12.4 percent. (Table 2)
Among the 1.13 million female OFWs, majority (69.8%) were engaged in elementary occupations, followed by service and sales workers at 14.4 percent and professionals at 6.6 percent. On the other hand, among the 828 thousand male OFWs in 2022, the largest shares of workers were in the following occupations: plant and machine operators and assemblers (28.0%), service and sales workers (17.1%), craft and related trades workers (15.3%), technicians and associate professionals (15.0%), and elementary occupations (9.7%). (Table 2 and Figure 3)
1 Elementary occupations involve the performance of simple and routine tasks which may require the use of hand- held tools and considerable physical effort. It includes: cleaning, restocking supplies and performing basic maintenance in apartments, houses, kitchens, hotels, offices and other buildings; washing of cars and windows; helping in kitchens and performing simple tasks in food preparations; delivering messages or goods; carrying luggages and handling baggage; doorkeeping and property watching; stocking vending machines or reading and emptying meters; collecting garbage; sweeping streets and similar places; performing various simple farming, fishing, hunting or trapping tasks performing simple tasks connected with mining, construction and manufacturing including product-sorting and simple hand-assembling of components; packing by hand; freight handling; pedalling or hand-guiding vehicles to transport passengers and goods; driving animal-drawn vehicles or machinery.
CALABARZON has the largest proportion of OFWs
Across the country’s 17 regions, CALABARZON contributed the largest number of OFWs, which was estimated at 15.3 percent of the estimated 1.96 million OFWs in 2022. This was followed by Central Luzon or Region III (13.3%), Western Visayas or Region VI (11.1%), National Capital Region (10.9%), and Ilocos Region or Region I (9.1%). (Table 2 and Figure 4)
In 2022, Luzon accounted for majority (62.7%) of the total OFWs, followed by Visayas at 20.7 percent and Mindanao at 16.6 percent. (Table 3)
Saudi Arabia is the leading destination of OFWs
In 2022, the top five destinations of OFWs were the following: Asia (80.8%), Europe (9.0%), North and South America (6.3%), Australia (2.9%), and Africa (1.0%). Of the total 1.96 million OFWs in 2022, about 23.0 percent worked in Saudi Arabia, followed by United Arab Emirates at 13.7 percent. Other countries in Asia with large number of OFWs include Kuwait (7.7%), Hong Kong (6.1%), Qatar (5.8%), and Singapore (5.0%). (Table 5 and Figure 5)
Total Remittance reached 197 billion pesos in 2022
Among the 1.96 million OFWs, 41.7 percent sent remittance between 40 thousand pesos to less than 100 thousand pesos, while 20.7 percent remitted at least 100 thousand pesos from April to September 2022. (Table 6)
The total remittance of the OFWs during the period April to September 2022 reached 197.47 billion pesos. This includes cash sent (145.40 billion pesos), cash brought home (43.90 billion pesos), and in kind (8.17 billion pesos). (Table 7 and Figure 6)
Of the 145.40 billion pesos cash remittance of the OFWs sent to the country, 103.45 billion were from Asian countries. (Table 8)
The average remittance sent by every OFW from April to September 2022 was placed at 111 thousand pesos, higher than the 91 thousand pesos average remittance in the same period of 2021. (Tables 1 and 7)
