De Lima says Faeldon’s appointment meant to sustain pressure on her

October 17, 2018 | 8:40 pm

SENATOR Leila M. De Lima on Wednesday claimed that the appointment of former Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Deputy Administrator Nicanor E. Faeldon as Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief was meant to ensure that National Bilibid Prison (NBP) inmates will continue to testify in drug cases filed against her.
“The recycled appointment of former Customs chief Nicanor Faeldon to the BuCor after the resignation of Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa is just another step in ensuring that the NBP inmates being used against me continue to be coddled and given special treatment, or pressured and threatened, at least until they finish falsely testifying against me,” she said in a statement.
The senator pointed out that those who had persecuted her in the past “were all discarded” by President Rodrigo R. Duterte, instead of being rewarded.
“All those who continue to pursue this persecution should take a lesson from those who came before them. If they think they will be rewarded by Duterte at the end, they only have to look at what happened to Aguirre, Alvarez, Fariñas, Umali and Roque. Duterte discarded these ambitious sycophants as easily as he had used them, as soon as they had served their purpose,” she said of the President’s associates and political allies.
“There can be no reward in doing injustice to innocent people. In the end, trust and justice will always catch up,” she added.
Mr. Faeldon was appointed to the BuCor after his predecessor Ronald M. Dela Rosa filed his senatorial candidacy last Friday, Oct. 12. Prior to his post in the OCD, Mr. Faeldon was Bureau of Customs (BoC) chief.
Ms. De Lima was detained on February 2017 for her alleged involvement in the illegal drug trading at the NBP when she was justice secretary. But according to her supporters, including some in the international community, Ms. De Lima is a victim of political harassment by the Duterte administration. — Camille A. Aguinaldo

Opposition coalition launched, names 8 senatorial bets

October 17, 2018 | 8:38 pm

THE MAIN opposition Liberal Party (LP) has teamed up with other political and cause-oriented groups, forming an eight-member senatorial line-up for the May 2019 midterm elections to fight what it described as a “creeping authoritarianism” in the political landscape.
Francis “Kiko” N. Pangilinan, LP president and campaign manager of the new coalition, said the groups share a “common set of facts and values” and aim “to reclaim wider democratic spaces to push our common agenda of a progressive and prosperous Philippines primarily through the 2019 national elections.”
The coalition includes the Aksyon Demokratiko party founded by the late Raul S. Roco, party-lists Magdalo and Akbayan, and the Tindig Pilipinas group, among others.
The senatorial slate is composed of Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” A. Aquino IV; former senator and interior secretary Manuel “Mar” A. Roxas II; legal counsel to the vice-president Romulo B. Macalintal; Magdalo Party-list Representative Gary C. Alejano; Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) Chairperson Jose Manuel “Chel” I. Diokno; former Bangsamoro Transition Commission member Samira Gutoc-Tomawis; former solicitor general Florin „Pilo“ T. Hillbay; and former House of Representatives deputy speaker Lorenzo „Erin“ R. Tañada III.
Mr. Pangilinan said the LP’s chosen candidates are “pro-democracy, pro-poor, and pro-progress.”
“That would be the over arching theme of our campaign as we put forward solutions to high prices and inflation, creation of better-paying jobs and increased incomes,” he added.
Sought for comment on the senatorial bids of three former senators who are facing charges relating to the pork barrel scam — Ramon “Bong” B. Revilla Jr., Jose Pimentel “Jinggoy” E. Estrada Jr., and Juan F. Ponce Enrile -— the opposition leader said, “That shows the level of disrespect and cynicism in our democracy and electoral system. I hope our voters will see through that.”
Mr. Revilla, who is in jail while awaiting resolution on his plunder case, filed his Certificate of Candidacy (CoC) yesterday through his wife, Lani Mercado-Revilla.
The 94-year old Enrile, who is out of detention for humanitarian reasons, personally filed his CoC after an earlier filing by a proxy contained errors.
Mr. Estrada, out on bail, filed his COC on Tuesday.
Among the other candidates who made their bids on Wednesday, the last day of the COC filing, were former Presidential spokesperson Harry L. Roque, who is gunning for a Senate seat after announcing earlier this week that he would be the first nominee of party-list Luntian.
Mr. Roque said he is now running under the People’s Reform Party (PRP), founded by the late senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago.
He added that the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) party offered him a seat in its senatorial slate, but he declined.
“I have been offered a seat under PDP-Laban, which I am grateful for, pero ang sabi ko nga (but as I’ve said), if I’m going to run it cannot be as a traditional politician.”
152 SENATORIAL CANDIDATES
After the closing of the five-day filing period, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) reported that it accepted 152 COCs for senator and 185 party-list certificates of nomination.
Comelec Commissioner Ma. Rowena Amelia V. Guanzon noted that only 42 of the party-lists have women as first nominees, or 23% of the total.
“It’s too little,” she said, adding that the minimum for women candidates should be 20%.
The Comelec will release the final list of candidates by December 15.
“We have a deadline to cleanse all the nuisance candidates before December 15,” Comelec Commissioner Marlon S. Casquejo said. — Gillian M. Cortez

Andaya says assassination attempt won’t stop his bid for governor

October 17, 2018 | 8:37 pm

CAMARINES SUR Rep. Rolando G. Andaya, Jr — CONGRESS.GOV.PH

HOUSE MAJORITY Leader Rolando G. Andaya Jr., who represents the 1^st district of Camarines Sur and is running for governor of the province in the 2019 elections, said he is not backing out of his bid despite yesterday’s foiled assassination attempt as he filed his certificate of candidacy. Mr. Andaya alleged that the gunman, a member of the provincial Capitol Complex Security Unit, was directed by his “powerful political figures” in the province. “Kung akala nila matatakot ako, diyan sila nagkakamali. Wala nang atrasan ito (If they think I will be intimidated, then they are mistaken. There is no backing out here),” he said. The gunman, identified as Ray John Musa, approached Mr. Andaya from behind and pulled out a firearm. The gun then fell to the ground, which caught the attention of the House leader’s security officers. The close-in security members, PCI Samuel A. Alforte (Ret.) and Lupi Mayor Roberto M. Matamorosa, subdued the suspect and recovered a .38 revolver. The 26-year-old Mr. Musa was arrested and has been charged with attempted murder and violation of the gun law. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

Japanese fish cage technology attracts investments in typhoon Yolanda areas

October 17, 2018 | 8:35 pm

A FISH cage technology of Japanese firm Nitto Seimo has attracted private sector investment in Samar and Leyte, two of the areas hit by super typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) in 2013. In a statement released yesterday, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which brought the technology through its Partnership with the Japanese Private Sector program, said private investors have already rented the fish cages and are employing displaced fisherfolk as caretakers, harvesters, cage cleaners, net installers, and transporters of harvested milk fish. Some of the typhoon-resistance cages are also operated through two other schemes: family-based fish farming where one family for every barangay operates the fish cage; and association-based. JICA said the project is estimated to have created over 700 jobs. Nitto Seimo has also trained 178 fishermen and members of local government units on using the fish cages that are made of high-density polyethylene and submerged by filling with seawater to avoid damage caused by wind and waves. “Our partnership with Nitto Seimo shows that we can leverage on the technology made by Japanese companies to address development issues in the era of massive climate change,” said JICA Representative Jin Hirosawa.

No opposition to P2.50 jeepney fare hike in Central Visayas

October 17, 2018 | 8:34 pm

A P2.50 jeepney fare increase in Central Visayas is now up for review and recommendation by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-Region 7 (LTFRB-7) after no opposition was presented during Monday’s public hearing. The region’s current minimum fare is P6.50. Students, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities get a 20 % discount. Edwin A. Antepuesto, LTFRB-7 legal and hearing officer, said the petitioners, the Basak-Lapu-Lapu City Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (Balacjoda), have until Oct. 16 to submit all supporting documents. Balacjoda cited rising fuel prices, cost of spare parts, and inflation among the reasons for the provisional fare increase. Mr. Antepuesto did not promise to resolve the matter within the next few days, but he said the petition is considered as an “extreme urgency.” LTFRB-7 Regional Director Eduardo C. Montealto, Jr. said they will immediately send their recommendation to the LTFRB board members for the final decision. — The Freeman

MGB-11, Davao City gov’t to meet on illegal establishments in Marilog’s landslide-prone areas

October 17, 2018 | 8:30 pm

THE MINES and Geosciences Bureau-Davao Region (MGB-11) office is set to meet with the Davao City government to discuss steps that will be taken against businesses located in landslide-prone areas in the Marilog District and operating without permits. MGB-11 Regional Director Noel B. Angeles said last week that they are prepared to close down more establishments, particularly those related to tourism. The agency has closed down seven establishments this year. Mr. Angeles said some of these businesses “operate even without permits and that when they are discovered, they will fight the government.” The Marilog District, an upland area of Davao City along the Davao-Bukidnon Highway, is being positioned as an agri-tourism destination. — Carmelito Q. Francisco

Mayors in Mindanao’s 3 major cities running for re-election

October 17, 2018 | 8:29 pm

INCUMBENT MAYORS in three of Mindanao’s major cities — Cagayan de Oro, General Santos (GenSan), and Davao — have filed their respective Certificates of Candidacy (CoC) for another term in office. Last Monday, GenSan Mayor Ronnel C. Rivera made his bid for a third and last term under the local party People’s Champ Movement Gensan (PCM GenSAn). Davao’s Sara Duterte-Carpio also filed on Oct. 15 under the regional Hugpong ng Pagbabago party, which she founded and was accredited by the Commission on Elections earlier this year. She is gunning for a second term. In Cagayan de Oro, Mayor Oscar S. Moreno filed his CoC yesterday, the last day of filing. Mr. Moreno, now on his second term, is a member of the ruling national PDP-Laban party. Under the country’s 2018 competitiveness index, these three ranked the highest among highly urbanized cities in Mindanao with Davao in 4^th place, Cagayan de Oro in 6^th, and GenSan, 14^th.

Last Day

October 17, 2018 | 8:28 pm

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) officially ends the filling of Certificates of Candidacy (CoC) for senatorial party-list at exactly 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 17.

Nation at a Glance — (10/18/18)

October 17, 2018 | 8:27 pm

News stories from across the nation. Visit www.bworldonline.com (section: The Nation) to read more national and regional news from the Philippines.

Four tips for keeping safe online as a career freelancer

October 17, 2018 | 5:03 pm

The global workforce has seen a sharp rise in independent workers turning to full-time freelancing. These entrepreneurial minds leverage the latest digital tools to turn a dwindling job market into lucrative careers.
But while freelancing has its benefits, the hazards of working online have skyrocketed in recent years. Freelancers are often forced to communicate with strangers online, exchanging files and personal details as part of their daily work. This reliance on virtually anonymous correspondence has made this growing sector the latest target for malicious cybercriminals.
Here are four digital safety tips for freelancers, from the global cybersecurity experts at Kaspersky Lab.

Don’t trust clients that ask you to install suspicious software. If you really must use a third-party program, be sure to run the executable file (.exe) through a web antivirus engine. Also, double check to make sure that this file doesn’t give the client remote access to your computer.
Make sure to disable macros on your Microsoft Office documents. Word docs, Excel sheets, PowerPoint presentations — these can very easily be turned into vehicles for malware through macros. These are essentially executable files in themselves, hidden in seemingly harmless documents you otherwise wouldn’t think twice about downloading. As an extra layer of caution, consider using cloud-based services to edit your documents instead.
Be mindful of phishing schemes. Keep an eye out for sneaky typos in URLs and make sure that websites requesting any login details are secure. Oftentimes scammers will attempt to dupe you into sending them personal information by parading as trusted sources like your Gmail or your bank. Does that URL say ‘metrobank’ or ‘rnetrobank’? Triple check to be sure.
Speaking of banks, when being paid directly, never send photos of your debit or credit cards. There is a whole slew of ways to make secure payments online or on mobile, using nothing but your account number, so there really is no reason for clients to need this information. If they ask for the CVC/CVV or expiration date on your card, they are most surely up to no good.

Boracay rehabilitation efforts to continue past reopening date

October 17, 2018 | 3:30 pm

Days before the world-famous island’s public reopening, Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu calls on government and stakeholder groups to “not be complacent” in continuing rehabilitation efforts. — *DENR PHOTO*

THERE is still a lot more rehabilitation work left to accomplish in Boracay before its looming public reopening next week, Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu said.In a statement on Wednesday, Mr. Cimatu, who also heads the Boracay interagency task force, welcomed Aklanon guests as the first to partake in a “better Boracay.
At the closing of the first day of Boracay’s 11-day dry run, he said both the government and island stakeholders should not be complacent as they are still in the first phase of the rehabilitation.
“While much has been gained already, still a lot remains to be done and we still ask for your extended patience, support, and understanding,” he said, announcing that all projects will continue well past the island’s Oct. 26 soft opening.
Due to the successive typhoons that have passed through the country these past few months, the Environment chief said that they have “lost about 30 to 40 days of work.”
“[B]ut we will be able to compensate for this and finish the drainage system,” he said.
Calling the tourist destination a “cesspool”, President Rodrigo R. Duterte ordered Boracay closed for six months last April 26 to allow government and stakeholder forces to rehabilitate it.
Aside from housing far too many people within the island, several business establishments were found violating environmental laws such as directly dumping untreated waste water into the sea and building their establishments on protected areas.

Seven ways businesses are cloud-powering their workflows

October 17, 2018 | 3:24 pm

So you know what cloud computing is and why businesses worldwide are clamoring to utilize it. But how is it being used, exactly?
According to the latest IDC report on global cloud IT infrastructures, total worldwide spending on cloud IT infrastructure is expected to reach $62.2 billion in 2018, clocking in a year-over-year growth of 31.1%.
But with some firms are apprehensive about uploading their entire systems onto the public cloud, on-premise private cloud systems are becoming popular as gradual approach to transforming an organization’s capacities. With these platforms, firms benefit from a decentralized computing system, while still maintaining control over its sensitive data, says Robin Hernandez, director of IBM Private Cloud Offering Management.
Less than year since IBM launched its AI-powered, on-premise platform, IBM Cloud Private (ICP), hundreds of enterprises worldwide have already jumped onboard. Now, with the wealth of case studies from across various industries available, prospective techpreneurs have a number of ways to get inspired.
Here are seven ways businesses are powering their workflows with the cloud:

Integrating AI into enterprises

Singaporean AI company Sentient.io used ICP to host the country’s first AI-as-a-Service platform, which equips organizations with AI capabilities such as self-learning and problem-solving. In turn, these upgrades help users meet strict data security and privacy requirements and manage the lifecycle of their digital assets, among other benefits.

Designing and developing containers (software containers, that is)

Five9 Vietnam and SK Holdings C&C South Korea have been developing containers, or bundled application platforms holding a software’s complete runtime environment. Through containerization, a piece of software can run across different computing environments regardless of factors like IT infrastructure.

Improving communication among the police

Combining ICP and Kubernetes containers, the New Zealand Police has been developing a mobile-based communications system for their officers, along with other new services. And these same tools are helping them retrofit their existing systems.

Global coordination made easy

Automotive glass manufacturer Fuyao Group China, which supplies to top firms like Toyota, Audi, and Bentley, uses ICP to coordinate enterprise applications across its global manufacturing and administrative operations. This allows for a free flow of information across the organization’s various firms, allowing for a smarter, more agile, and more flexible corporate structure.

Optimizing operations of insurance companies

Aflac Insurance Japan and Ilmarinen Finland use cloud computing to ehance their digital services and IT infrastructure, making their operations speedier and more efficient. In Germany, TechnikerKrankenkasse (TK) developed a new cloud-powered service called TK-Safe which enables customers to access their health insurance data via mobile anytime and anywhere.

Streamlining financial processes

Brazil’s Fidelity National Information Services and Macedonia’s KlirinskiInterbankarskiSistemi AD Skopje are using cloud computing to streamline processes like checking transaction chargebacks and payment-clearing. Meanwhile, KrediKayıtBürosu (KKB), the cloud provider of Turkey’s finance industry, is consolidating and localizing the banking systems of more than 150 banks and financial services companies into one private platform.

Educating outside the classroom

Mangalore University in India is creating a learning platform that can be accessed remotely by any student. With this technology, students at any of its affiliate colleges can “attend” emerging tech courses outside the four corners of their classrooms.
“The cloud has evolved in a very short time from being a way to cut costs to a platform for business transformation and innovation,” Mr. Hernandez said.