News Roundup 03 September 2024
Sep 03, 2024 • 5 min Read
PH Navy logs largest Chinese ship presence in West Philippine Sea | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Navy has logged the biggest-ever presence of Chinese ships and warships in the West Philippine Sea since it began publishing its weekly tallies.
A total of 203 ships of China Coast Guard (CCG) and Chinese maritime militia (CMM) as well as Chinese warships were recorded from Aug. 27 to Sept. 2, according to Navy data released on Tuesday.
Even before this, the record showed the highest number of 163 Chinese vessels from August 20 to 26.
The uptick in Chinese ships is largely attributed to a significant increase in deployments at Escoda (Sabina) Shoal, where the number of Chinese vessels rose from 53 during the August 20-26 period to 71 between August 27 and September 2.
This increase in numbers comes amid the mounting tensions between the CCG and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in the area.
The situation intensified on Aug. 19, when BRP Cape Engaño and BRP Bacagay were subjected to aggressive maneuvers by CCG vessels while traversing the waters off the shoal, damaging both ships.
On Aug. 25 CCG vessels blasted water cannons against a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel there.
Then on Aug. 26, Chinese vessels prevented BRP Cabra and BRP Cape Engaño from resupplying BRP Teresa Magbanua, prompting the latter to run on critical supply.
The military resorted to helicopters to deliver supplies, according to Armed Forces of the Philippines chief General Romeo Brawner Jr.
Full Story at: PH Navy logs largest Chinese ship presence in West Philippine Sea | INQUIRER.net
OVP urged to prove financial aid beneficiaries are real | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Vice President (OVP) should prove that the 977,615 beneficiaries of its financial aid are not “ghost beneficiaries,” Manila Second District Rep. Rolando Valeriano said on Tuesday.
In his privilege speech at the lower chamber’s plenary session, Valeriano questioned the proposed budget of the OVP for 2025 and the status of its “ayuda” (aid) programs reportedly limited within the National Capital Region (NCR) from 2023 to 2025.
“Sa kanilang 2025 budget proposal, mayroon silang 977,615 beneficiaries. Nasaan ang patunay nito? Totoong tao ba ang mga ito o ghost beneficiaries? Nasaan ang listahan ng verified beneficiaries? Nasaan ang mga resibo? Nasaan ang mga patunay? Wala,” Valeriano said.
(In their 2025 budget proposal, they have 977,615 beneficiaries. Where is the proof that these beneficiaries are real people, not ghost beneficiaries? Where is the list of the verified beneficiaries? Where are the receipts? None.)
“Sabi ng OVP sa kanilang budget proposal, nagkaroon daw sila ng 793 strategic partnerships noong 2023. Nasaan ang listahan ng strategic partnerships at mga strategic partnership agreements?” he asked.
(In their budget proposal, the OVP said they had 793 strategic partnerships in 2023. Where is the list of strategic partnerships and strategic partnership agreements?)
Full Story at: OVP urged to prove program beneficiaries are real (inquirer.net)
DepEd in the dark on how VP Sara spent confidential funds | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education’s finance unit is not aware of how Vice President Sara Duterte spent the department’s P112.5 million in confidential funds in 2023.
DepEd Undersecretary Annalyn Sevilla told the House appropriations committee on Monday, September 3, that the finance department was not involved in the “process of utilization and liquidation” of the secret fund.
After releasing three-quarters of the P150-million confidential fund lodged in the agency’s 2023 budget, Sevilla said the finance unit “recorded [the confidential funds] as liquidated because we were given a copy of the cover letter only of the liquidation.” DepEd did not release the remaining confidential funds for the fourth quarter of 2023 because no request was made.
Sevilla explained that DepEd adhered to the Commission on Audit’s 2015 joint circular that governs the release of confidential funds through cash advances.
“There is a three-month requirement, that it (the confidential fund) should be released on a quarterly basis. The next is liquidation, which should be upon the head of the agency to the Commission on Audit,” she added.
Full Story at: DepEd in the dark on how VP Sara spent confidential funds | Philstar.com
1.5 million DepEd laptops, items stuck in warehouses since 2020 – Angara | PHILSTAR.COM –MANILA, Philippines (Updated 11:35 a.m.)— More than 1.5 million Department of Education items, including laptops, books, and classroom furniture, have been sitting in warehouses undelivered since 2020, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said Monday.
During the House appropriations committee’s deliberations of DepEd’s proposed P793-billion budget for 2025, Angara bared that he was surprised to learn of the stockpiled equipment upon being briefed.
“I was surprised to find out that the equipment there has already been four years old, since they have been there since 2020,” Angara said in a mix of English and Filipino.
“So, we contacted the Air Force and others to help us remove them… We’re doing our best to get them out so that the materials don’t deteriorate,” the DepEd chief said, adding that they aim to get the items out by end-September.
Angara took over the department in July. He succeeded Vice President Sara Duterte who stepped down from the office she occupied since 2022. Leonor Briones served as secretary from 2016 to 2022 under Duterte’s father, former president Rodrigo Duterte.
Angara told lawmakers about the undelivered items upon being asked by Rep. France Castro (ACT Teachers party-list) about the status of the department’s computerization program.
Castro asked DepEd for an update after the Commission on Audit (COA) highlighted delays, non-delivery and inefficiencies in the program in its 2023 report on the agency.
Omar Romero, DepEd’s undersecretary for legal affairs, said 90% of the goods remaining in the department’s third-party logistics partner have been pulled out and being prepared for distribution by the regional and school district offices.
The value of digital devices like laptops typically decreases by about 5% per month, according to IT experts. This means they are commonly depreciated beyond their useful life after three years.
Full Story at: 1.5 million DepEd laptops, items stuck in warehouses since 2020 – Angara | Philstar.com
