Facebook Instagram Linkedin Twitter Youtube
Home Blog Page 1623

Lawmaker wants temporary operation license for Elon Musk’s Starlink

BRISA PALOMAR/PACIFIC PRESS/SIPA USA VIA REUTERS CONNECT

A RESOLUTION urging the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to provide Elon Musk’s Starlink Internet Services Philippines, Inc. a temporary license to operate was filed at the House of Representatives last week.

Albay Rep. Jose Ma. Clemente S. Salceda wants the NTC to give Starlink a provisional authority to build, own, and operate satellite ground radio stations for at least a year, while its franchise is undergoing the legislative mill, according to House Joint Resolution No. 21 filed on January 23.

“Starlink Philippines was the first accredited Satellite Systems Provider and Operator in the Philippines and the first wholly foreign-owned company authorized to provide internet access services to Filipinos,” Ilocos Norte Rep. Angelo Marcos Barga said in House Concurrent Resolution No. 40, which was filed on January 22.

Starlink is a satellite internet service of Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX). According to its website, SpaceX continues to launch satellites into orbit to bring high-speed broadband to rural and remote areas.

Bills seeking to provide Starlink a 25-year franchise to operate have been filed at the Senate and House of Representatives last year. Both versions require Starlink to improve internet access to areas with scant connections, while also hiring residents near where a satellite station would be constructed.

Starlink’s domestic internet service operations started in Feb. 2023 and is currently operating under accreditations provided by the Department of Information and Communications Technology and the National Telecommunications Commission. – Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Legal education reforms sought

THE PHILIPPINE Chief Justice called for reforms to modernize the country’s legal education system, underscoring the need to prepare lawyers for the challenges posed by a rapidly evolving global landscape.

Speaking at the 2025 Philippine Association of Law Schools, Inc. (PALS) Annual Convention in Pampanga, Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo said current legal education must adapt to address technological advancements, internationalization and emerging issues such as environmental law and artificial intelligence (AI).

“AI and other technological tools are reshaping the practice of law, from legal research and document review to predictive analytics and case strategy,” he added.

He highlighted the need for a curriculum that integrates theoretical knowledge, practical expertise, and the values necessary for ethical and responsible legal practice.

Collaboration among stakeholders, especially between the Legal Education Board and PALS, was emphasized as essential for driving the necessary reforms in the legal education system. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Sex education lessons sans law questioned

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

A House of Representatives committee on Monday questioned the Department of Education (DepEd) for implementing sex education in Philippine schools despite the lack of an enabling law.

A 2018 DepEd order allowing schools to teach sex education could even be unconstitutional, Manila Rep. Bienvenido M. Abante, Jr. said, claiming that the 1987 Philippine Constitution places focus on “preserving moral values and protecting the youth.”

“We promote morality, we preserve moral values, and we protect our youth… in the Constitution, and [DepEd] Order No. 31 of 2018 is highly unconstitutional,” he told lawmakers.

“We will question this in the Supreme Court,” he added.

The Education department issued the 2018 sex education memorandum to raise students’ understanding regarding the “cognitive, emotional, physical, and social aspects of sexuality” in an age-appropriate manner.

The Education department is still implementing the sex education order, but it is currently undergoing review, DepEd Undersecretary Filemon Ray L. Javier said in the same hearing.

“There’s no decision to suspend. But the directive from us is to totally review Department Order No. 31… to ensure that its implementation is correct,” he said.

Sex education has been incorporated into the Philippine curriculum across all grade levels since the approval of the Reproductive Health Act of 2012.

“You have a different issuance, which complicates the matter and normalizes comprehensive sexuality education (CSE),” Pasig Rep. Roman T. Romulo, who heads the House basic education panel, said in mixed English and Filipino.

“[This] normalizes CSE, which is not yet a law. There is no CSE Act yet,” he added.

Measures seeking to make sexuality education a mainstay in the school curriculum have faced backlash from conservative sectors of the predominantly catholic country. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

PBEd helps 200 youth find jobs

PHILIPPINE STAR/RYAN BALDEMOR

A WORKFORCE development initiative has helped 200 Filipino out-of-school youth secure jobs in construction and automotive industries, addressing skills shortages in high-demand sectors while tackling unemployment, the Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) said on Monday.

“Our out-of-school youth often face barriers in accessing training and employment opportunities, limiting their ability to showcase their full potential,” Hanibal E. Camua, PBEd deputy executive director for programs, said in a statement.

Project Human Capital Investment for Work Readiness and Employment (HIRE), was implemented by PBEd with funding from Wells Fargo. Conducted between June 2023 and September 2024, it offered enterprise-based education and training in South Cotabato, Mindanao and Pasig City.

Participants received training subsidies, mentoring, and core skills development to prepare them for employment, PBEd added.

It said the project aligns with the recently enacted Enterprise-Based Education and Training framework, which institutionalizes private sector involvement in technical-vocational training.

“Project HIRE harnesses private sector involvement in training, ensuring that young individuals… acquire the precise skills industries need,” Mr. Camua added.

Philippine Statistics Authority, in its October 2024 Labor Force Survey, found that 774,000 youth were not in education, employment, or training. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Dawlah terrorist killed in Lanao del Sur encounter

COTABATO CITY — Soldiers shot dead a member of the outlawed Dawlah Islamiya-Maute Group in a brief encounter in Barangay Kalangan in Piagapo, Lanao del Sur on Saturday.

Lt. Gen. Antonio G. Nafarrete, commander of the Army’s Western Mindanao Command, told reporters on Monday that personnel of the 44th Infantry Battalion were patrolling in a secluded area in Barangay Kalangan when the terrorists attacked them from two directions, sparking a gunfight that left one of them dead and a soldier wounded.

The soldiers were dispatched to the area to check on reports by municipal officials and barangay leaders about the presence of Dawlah Islamiya-Maute Group members collecting money and food from villagers at gunpoint.

Radio reports on Monday morning in cities in Central Mindanao stated that villagers in Barangay Kalangan identified the slain terrorist as Usman, who died instantly from multiple gunshot wounds sustained in the encounter.

Soldiers found beside the cadaver of Usman an M16 rifle, an M14 rifle, a pack of incendiary powder, and components of improvised explosive devices.

Mr. Nafarrete said they are thankful to local officials and traditional community leaders helping Army units in Lanao del Sur track down the few remaining local terrorists moving around the province. — John Felix M. Unson

87 more NPA members in Bukidnon surrender

COTABATO CITY — A group of 87 New People’s Army (NPA) guerillas, from different indigenous tribes in Bukidnon, surrendered on Friday and promised to help convince their few remaining comrades in the province.

The 87 tribesmen agreed to surrender through the joint intercession of local executives in Bukidnon, officials of the 89th Infantry Battalion under Lt. Col Antonio G. Bulao and his two immediate superiors, Brig. Gen. Mario T. Angcao of the 1003rd Infantry Brigade and Major Gen. Allan D. Hambala of the 10th Infantry Division (ID).

Mr. Hambala, commander of the 10th ID, told reporters on Monday that local executives in Bukidnon and different line agencies will cooperate in returning them to their ancestral lands to get reunited with their families and thrive peacefully as farmers.

The 87 NPA members renounced their membership with the group during a symbolic rite last Friday in Barangay Nacabuklad in San Fernando, a hinterland town in Bukidnon.

They first turned in their firearms and improvised explosive devices to Army officials before they pledged allegiance to the government in the presence of their tribal leaders, police and Army officials led by Mr. Hambala.

More than 500 NPA members had surrendered in the past 18 months to units of the 10th ID in cities and provinces in regions 10 and 11. — John Felix M. Unson

Chiefs beat Bills in AFC final game, will play Eagles in Super Bowl LIX

KANSAS CITY quarterback Patrick Mahomes ran in two touchdowns and threw for another as the Chiefs beat the Buffalo Bills 32-29 in the AFC Championship game on Sunday to advance to a Super Bowl match-up against the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Chiefs will make their fifth trip to the NFL title decider in six years and could become the first team to hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy three years in a row if they beat the Eagles, who thrashed Washington in the NFC Championship game.

The Super Bowl in New Orleans on Feb. 9 will be a rematch of the NFL Championship game in 2023 when the Chiefs defeated the Eagles 38-35.

The Bills have not won a road playoff game since 1993 and while they staged an inspired second-half fightback they eventually buckled under the deafening roar of the Kansas City fans at Arrowhead Stadium in the final moments.

“I’m just so proud of my teammates and how they responded,” Mahomes said. “I’m just at a loss for words — excited for New Orleans.”

Buffalo trailed 21-16 at the half but came alive in the third quarter after running back James Cook made a flying leap into the end zone on fourth and goal, stretching his arm to get the ball over the line.

Mahomes, who threw for 245 yards and a touchdown, answered with a 10-yard scramble into the end zone five minutes into a nerve-searing fourth quarter and converted on a two-point attempt to take the lead back.

Bills quarterback Josh Allen leveled it four minutes later, converting on fourth and goal with a four-yard pass to Curtis Samuel, but the momentum flipped yet again as Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker made a 35-yard field goal on the next possession.

The Chiefs’ defense then amped up the pressure on Allen on the Bills’ final drive, with a deep pass to Dalton Kincaid slipping through the tight end’s hands.

“It’s not about one guy, it’s not about a couple guys, it’s about the whole entire team,” said Mahomes. “When we needed the defense to get stops, they got stops. Offense, we made plays. That’s why we’re so special — it was a team effort.”

Earlier on Sunday, the Eagles thrashed the Commanders 55-23 with running back Saquon Barkley rumbling for three touchdowns and quarterback Jalen Hurts accounting for four scores — three rushing and one passing.

“We just took it a play at a time,” said Hurts. “Can’t do any of those things without the guys around me, the preparation we put in.

“We’ve got to finish it.”

The Eagles will play for their second Super Bowl title after the heartbreaking loss to the Chiefs two years ago, when they squandered a 10-point halftime lead. — Reuters

Chiefs early 1.5-point favorites against Eagles

ODDSMAKERS at three leading sportsbooks have listed the Kansas City Chiefs as 1.5-point favorites to beat the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9 in New Orleans.

BetMGM, DraftKings and FanDuel also all have the total at 49.5 points. The game is a rematch of Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 12, 2023, when the Chiefs won 38-35 in Glendale, Ariz.

The books couldn’t fully agree on the moneylines, though. DraftKings and BetMGM listed the Chiefs at -125 and the Eagles at +105, while FanDuel has Kansas City at -132 and Philadelphia at +112.

The Chiefs, who edged the visiting Buffalo Bills 32-29 in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday night, will try to become the first team in NFL history to win three straight Super Bowls. Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes has been named the game’s MVP three times, coming away with the award at each of the past two Super Bowls.

Kansas City has won four Super Bowls in six appearances all-time.

The Eagles, who are headed to their fifth Super Bowl, took advantage of four turnovers by the visiting Washington Commanders for a 55-23 win in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday afternoon.

Philadelphia won its only Super Bowl title by beating the New England Patriots 41-33 on Feb. 4, 2018, in Minneapolis. — Reuters

Beermen await their fate in the final stretch of PBA quarterfinal chase

SAN MIGUEL BEERMEN — FACEBOOK.COM/PBAOFFICIAL

Games on Wednesday
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
5 p.m. – Eastern vs NLEX
7:30 p.m. – Ginebra vs Meralco

Games on Friday
(PhilSports Arena)
5 p.m. – Meralco vs Magnolia
7:30 p.m. – TNT vs Rain or Shine

DEFENDING CHAMPION San Miguel Beer (SMB) is sitting on pins and needles as it awaits its fate in the final stretch of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinal chase.

At 5-7, the Beermen lurk outside the Magic 8 at No. 10 with two playdates left in the elimination stage and two rivals for the last playoffs ticket — NLEX (5-6) and Magnolia (5-6) — in position to hand them the boot in their next assignments this week.

The Road Warriors will try to boost their Last-8 drive with their sixth win on Wednesday against Hong Kong Eastern (7-4) at the Smart Araneta Coliseum while the Hotshots will seek the same versus Meralco (7-3) on Friday at the PhilSports Arena.

A victory by both NLEX and Magnolia will set them up for a knockout for No. 8 while sending SMB to the exits alongside Blackwater (3-9), Phoenix (3-9) and Terrafirma (1-11).

If one wins and the other loses, the winner will catch the last bus to the post-elims while the loser will join the Beermen on early vacation.

But if both the Road Warriors and the Hotshots will fall, a triple tie for eighth will ensue and the troops of coach Leo Austria, thanks to a superior quotient (1.0120), will get to face NLEX (1.0051) in a rubber match for eighth while the Hotshots (0.9833) will bow out.

The Beermen, who conceded a crucial 115-97 setback to TNT last Sunday, are hoping to avoid becoming the first team in 20 years to miss the playoffs in its title retention campaign.

The last titleholder to crash out of the playoffs picture was Barangay Ginebra in the 2005 Fiesta Conference.

As a franchise, SMB last failed to go past the eliminations in the 2015 Commissioners’ Cup, with a 4-7 record.

“There’s still a chance, it might be slim but still a chance, so we’ll see how those results (games of NLEX and Magnolia) go,” said SMB sniper Marcio Lassiter, whose team has struggled to find a suitable import for the mid-season tournament. — Olmin Leyba

Unbeaten Creamline faces Nxled in All-Filipino Conference

CREAMLINE COOL SMASHERS — PVL

Games on Tuesday
(PhilSports Arena)
4 p.m. – Nxled vs Creamline
6:30 p.m. – PLDT vs Cignal

CREAMLINE puts its immaculate record on the line as it tangles with Nxled even as sibling rivals Cignal and PLDT face off on Tuesday in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the PhilSports Arena.

The Cool Smashers, eyeing a historic 11th championship, have won their first five outings including a 25-19, 25-19, 25-18 win over the Capital1 Solar Spikers last week and a win in their 4 p.m. duel with the Chameleons (0-7) would keep the former unscathed.

Tots Carlos is expected to suit up again after her return last game from multiple game absences due to load management when she scattered 10 points in a limited time.

The former many-time MVP would be a big boost to a proud franchise that is already loaded with stars headed by Jema Galanza, Bernadeth Pons and battle-scarred Michele Gumabao and Alyssa Valdez.

At 6:30 p.m., it will be the turn of the HD Spikers (5-1) and the High Speed Hitters (4-3) to battle with the former eyeing to stay in the top two and the latter seeking to reclaim a place inside the magic four. — Joey Villar

West-leading OKC Thunder halt Portland Blazers’ win streak

SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER scored 35 points and Jalen Williams added 24 as the visiting Oklahoma City (OKC) Thunder beat Portland 118-108 on Sunday to snap the Trail Blazers’ season-best four-game winning streak.

Isaiah Joe had 16 points off the bench for Oklahoma City, which led by as many as 19 in the second quarter. Isaiah Hartenstein returned after missing five games due to a left calf strain and had 14 points, 12 rebounds and six assists.

The Blazers scored the first 10 points of the fourth quarter to pull within 93-88 with 9:04 left before the Western Conference’s No. 1 team answered with four 3-pointers during a 12-2 run.

Anfernee Simons hit a 3-pointer with 2:37 left to cut the Portland deficit to 110-104, but Oklahoma City scored eight of the next 10 points to seal the victory.

Hartenstein recorded his 16th double-double in 25 games this season for the Thunder, who shot 47.2% from the field and 33.3% (10 of 30) from 3-point range.

Deni Avdija led Portland with 28 points. Toumani Camara made all five of his 3-point attempts and finished with a career-high 24 points, Scoot Henderson added 25 points, Simons had 14 and Shaedon Sharpe chipped in 10.

Portland shot 45% (18 of 40) from 3-point range but was outscored 52-22 in the paint.

The Blazers have lost 15 straight meetings with Oklahoma City, including three this season.

Portland took an early 10-point lead after making each of its first four 3-point attempts, but Oklahoma City tied the game at 27 by the end of the first quarter after closing the period on a 17-7 run.

The Thunder carried the momentum into the second quarter and moved ahead 57-38 on Gilgeous-Alexander’s 3-pointer with 4:28 left.

Avdija had 19 points in the first half for Portland, which had its deficit down to 66-53 at intermission. Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams had 17 points apiece to lead Oklahoma City before the break. 

Camara scored 13 points in the third quarter to keep Portland within striking distance. The Blazers trailed 93-78 at the end of the period. — Reuters

Australian Open champion Sinner wants to match hardcourt successes on grass and clay

JANNIK SINNER — AUSOPEN.COM

MELBOURNE — Double Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner set his sights on mastering clay and grass courts to make himself a complete player after the Italian claimed his third hardcourt Grand Slam title on Sunday.

The world number one retained his Melbourne Park crown with an emphatic 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-3 victory over Alexander Zverev in Rod Laver Arena, four months after his US Open triumph, to further underpin his status as the hottest player on the surface.

Sinner has reached the semifinals at the French Open and Wimbledon in the last two seasons but the 23-year-old said he hoped to assert his authority on clay and grass this year.

“You have to be a complete player, not only on one surface but on also the other two,” Sinner told reporters.

“I believe last year wasn’t a bad season at all on clay and on grass. I can do better, yes, but let’s see. I mean, these are questions that I can answer by playing.”

Sinner, who has won 37 of his last 38 matches on hardcourts, said he would dedicate his time and energy to going far in the other Grand Slams.

“I’m still young and I have time to adjust, especially on grasscourts, because I’ve never played the juniors. It was new when I arrived on the tour,” Sinner added.

“It’s exactly that what I like; the difficulties trying to understand where I can improve. Hopefully I can show that when the season arrives.”

Sinner’s latest triumph showed his ability to stay fully focused despite a doping case stemming from two failed drug tests in March last year that is hanging over his head.

Cleared to continue playing by tennis anti-doping bodies, the Italian could face a ban of up to two years after the World Anti-Doping Agency appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and a hearing is set to start on April 16.

“I’m very proud,” Sinner said about his ability to shut out the noise and let his tennis do the talking.

“It’s tough to describe. Many things happen off the court, what you maybe don’t know. When I go on court, even if sometimes it’s very difficult to block these kind of things, I have the team and people who are close to me who trust me.

“That for me is even more important because I can talk with them very openly. When I go on to the court, I try and focus on the match. I know the match can be three, four, five hours, but that’s the gap of the day where I have to be very focused.

“In the gym, trying to keep your routine, then you think a bit less about what’s happening. Of course, it’s still a little bit in the back of your mind. I know that I’m in this position now. So (there’s) nothing I can change.” — Reuters

1...1,6221,6231,624...13,780Page 1,623 of 13,780
© 2024 BusinessWorld Publishing.
All rights reserved.
Read our privacy guidelines
Facebook Instagram Linkedin Twitter Youtube