DSWD uses AI vs cyberattacks

June 4, 2024 | 8:33 pm

THE DEPARTMENT of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Tuesday that it receives 25,000 cyber incidents monthly and employs artificial intelligence (AI) to deter most of them.

“We get 25,000 incidents every month. A huge percentage of this incident gets priority that gets validated by AI, leaving only a few, needs to be validated manually,” DWSD Assistant Secretary and Chief Information Officer Julius B. Gorospe said during a Palo Alto Networks media briefing. Only an average of 20% of said cyber incidents are validated by a human, he said.

Mr. Gorospe said cyber incidents refer to attempts to hack the system or a software running that tries to steal passwords but excludes social media account hacking.

Mr. Gorospe said this is in response to the rising number of incidents when there’s only a “handful” of cyber team members in the DSWD department.

Last year, the DSWD National Capital Region office’s account was hacked and posted a fake announcement of the distribution of cash aid under the DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP). This led to parents and students flocking to the DSWD NCR office. “Unfortunately, Facebook is outside of our system. Dealing with social media companies Facebook, and Twitter, sounds difficult because they have their own policies to take down a post for example,” he said when asked about the mentioned attacks.

In response, DSWD has its own security operations center (SOC) which directs to DSWD Secretary Rex T. Gatchalian.

“We are building a team at a SOC team in-house. We don’t want to outsource it, we would like to develop our own talents eventually,” said Mr. Gorospe, also noting that the department has technology partners such as Palo Alton Networks that supply educational assistance to address the skills and cybersecurity personnel gap.

According to Palo Alto Networks Regional Vice President for ASEAN Steven Scheurmann, AI is important to win the fight against cybercriminals.

“We want to secure AI by design, we’re embedding precision AI in our portfolio. We want to simplify that cybersecurity is important in a country like the Philippines,” Mr. Scheurmann added.

He is referring to Palo Alto Networks’ Precision AI™, which incorporates machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) with generative AI (GenAI) for real-time applications, to defend against AI-supported threat tactics.

According to the cybersecurity firm, it partners with DSWD using its Incident Response (IR) services, and AI-driven solutions like Cortex XSIAM and Cortex XDR to combat threats. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante

Visa-free travel to Taiwan till ’25

June 4, 2024 | 8:33 pm

TAIWAN’S Ministry for Foreign Affairs on Tuesday announced that it is extending its visa-free entry program for Filipinos to July 31, 2025 starting August this year.

In a statement, the ministry’s Bureau of Consular Affairs said the agency decided on the extension, which also gave visa-free entry to citizens from Thailand and Brunei, during an April 12 meeting with other government agencies.

Taiwan launched the visa-free entry program in September 2022 and was originally set to expire by July 31, 2023 but had been extended to the same date this year.

The ministry said the move was to promote the government’s New Southbound Policy, which aims to boost Taiwan’s relations with its Southeast Asian neighbors.

Those with diplomatic or service passports, and Filipino vessel or aircraft crew will not be eligible for the visa-free travel program.

“MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) will continue to review and fine-tune visa policies, with a view to strengthening bilateral exchanges and attracting more visitors while ensuring border and public security,” Taiwan’s Bureau of Consular Affairs said. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

BIR gets tough on vape stamps

June 4, 2024 | 8:32 pm

vape-PHILSTAR-FILE-EDD-GUMBAN — PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN

THE BUREAU of Internal Revenue (BIR) said that it will seize and file criminal cases against vape manufacturers and sellers that do not adhere to the use of mandatory revenue stamps.

“The BIR will now presume that any vape product not bearing BIR stamps to have not paid the required excise tax,” it said in a statement on Tuesday. “Violators of the mandatory internal revenue stamps on vape products will result into the seizure of the illicit vape products and criminal cases against the businessmen and possessors of those illicit vape products.”

Earlier, the BIR said that all vape products being sold in the country must bear the stamps starting June 1.

“Internal revenue stamps on vape products are now mandatory. Violators will not only suffer the seizure of their illicit vape products, the businessmen and possessors of these illicit vape products will also face criminal cases,” BIR Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui, Jr. said. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson

IP communities get El Niño aid

June 4, 2024 | 8:32 pm

KORONADAL CITY — Up to 15,750 ethnic Blaans and non-indigenous settlers in Tampakan town, South Cotabato benefitted from the joint El Niño relief missions in the past three weeks of tribal leaders, local executives and a private mining company.

Thousands of Blaan farmers in the mineral-rich Tampakan town lost their upland rice, corn and other short-term crops due to the prolonged drought because of the El Niño weather pattern.

Tribal leader Nora D. Sukal told local radio on Tuesday that rice, food packs and other relief supplies have been distributed to Blaans in secluded areas of Tampakan since May by local executives and the Sagittarius Mines Incorporated.

Domingo N. Collado, an appointed Indigenous People’s (IP) Mandatory Representative to the municipal council of Tampakan, separately told reporters on Tuesday that officials of their local government helped facilitate the SMI’s outreach activities, also supported by the administration of South Cotabato Gov. Reynaldo S. Tamayo, Jr.

“Blaan farmers and their non-Blaan neighbors had no income in the past four months from farming due to the drought,” Mr. Collado said.

About five more tons of relief supplies were also distributed to drought-stricken communities in other towns of South Cotabato last week, he said.

Two local officials, Vice Mayor Bai Naila M. Malinta of Columbio, Sultan Kudarat and Mayor Maria Theresa D. Constantino of Malungon, Sarangani, confirmed on Tuesday that the SMI, contracted by Malacañang to operate starting next year the Tampakan Copper-Gold Project in Blaan ancestral lands in Tampakan, already spent in the past six years more than P2 billion for its corporate social responsibility projects in tribal enclaves in their municipalities, in Tampakan and Kiblawan, Davao del Sur. — John Felix M. Unson

CoA flags Maragondon funds

June 4, 2024 | 8:31 pm

CoA-Commission on Audit — PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

THE COMMISSION on Audit (CoA) has flagged the municipal government of Maragondon, Cavite over unliquidated cash advances from confidential funds totaling P6.2 million between 2009 and 2014.

The cash advances for confidential funds made in 2009, 2010, 2013, and 2014 remain outstanding under the local government unit’s 2023 books despite the submission of liquidation reports to CoA.

Whilst these were during the tenure of three different former mayors, the CoA said Maragondon’s accountant should update the municipal’s liquidation of the cash advances for confidential funds.

The municipal government of Maragondon did not immediately respond to a request clarifying the matter.

Local government units are allowed to have confidential funds to bankroll their peace and order and public safety plans.

Meanwhile, state auditors also flagged the local government’s P180,000 worth of cash advances meant for the seminar and traveling expenses of four municipal officials.

“Cash advances for seminar and traveling expenses totaling P180,000.00 of four municipal officials… remained unliquidated in the books of accounts as of Dec. 31, 2023,” CoA said.

CoA auditors recommended that Maragondon’s local government withhold the municipal officials’ salaries until they provide a liquidation report of their cash advances. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

PHL detects variant blamed for COVID-19 surges

June 4, 2024 | 8:30 pm

crowd-shoppers-public market — PHILIPPINE STAR/WALTER BOLLOZOS

THE PHILIPPINES on Tuesday said it had detected a variant believed to have spurred COVID-19 infection waves in other countries, including Singapore.

The Department of Health (DoH) said the country had detected two cases of KP.2, 30 cases of JN.1, and two cases of JN.1.18, citing recent sequencing data by the University of the Philippines – Philippine Genome Center (UP-PGC).

KP.2 and KP.3 variants, which are both descendants of JN.1, are nicknamed in other countries as “FLiRT” to describe amino acid changes in the COVID-19 virus’ spike protein.

“It may be likely that there are earlier KP.2 cases, but because of limited sequencing we have not detected and reported this earlier,” the DoH said.

DoH said the earliest sample collection date for JN.1 in the Philippines was November 2023. For KP.2, it was May 2024.

It said JN.1.7, JN.1.18, KP.2 and KP.3 are all considered variants under monitoring.

“Their detection along with the slow increase in the number of new cases and the plateau in number of occupied COVID-19 beds aligns with the international observation that the new variants under monitoring continue to be clinically mild and manageable,” DoH said.

All Philippine regions remained at low risk from COVID-19 as of May 27, and the DoH said it “still does not see any need for travel restrictions.”

Travel curbs “may impair the flow of other essential health goods and services,” it added.

DoH said there was an average of 319 cases daily from May 21 to 27, higher than the previous week’s 202 but is still fewer than around 500 per day at the start of this year.

It was also fewer than the about 1,750 per day in the middle of May last year, it added.

“The average number of daily reported severe, critical, and ICU COVID-19 admissions as of May 27 is much less than its level in the middle of May 2023,” it said, adding that 22 out of the new cases reported from May 21 to 27 were severe or critical.

DoH said it had logged 20 deaths related to COVID-19, five of which occurred in the last two weeks.

It said only 14% or 174 out of 1,235 of intensive care unit beds for COVID-19 patients had been occupied as of May 27. It added that 15% or 1,601 out of 10,910 COVID-19 beds had been used.

“Severe and critical COVID-19 cases admitted in various hospitals total to only 185 or 10% of total admissions, based on hospital reports in the DoH Data Collect application,” it added. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

BCDA belies looming garbage crises

June 4, 2024 | 8:29 pm

BAGUIO CITY — The state-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) belied on Tuesday that there is a looming garbage crisis with the imminent closure of the Tarlac sanitary landfill.

BCDA Public Affairs Department Chief Zyrelle del Prado said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) Region III already came out with a report that there are two existing facilities in Pampanga that may be utilized upon the Tarlac sanitary landfill’s closure.

The Metro Clark Waste Management Corp.’s (MCWMC) 25-year contract for the Kalangitan sanitary landfill facilities in Capas, Tarlac is due to expire worrying various local government units (LGUs), including Baguio City, bringing their solid waste in the facility.

Pursuant to the legal opinion of the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC), BCDA’s statutory counsel, extending the contract between Clark Development Corporation (CDC) and MCWMC beyond October 2024 would be against the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Law, the framework used in bidding and awarding the contract for the project, the BCDA stressed in a statement sent to journalists Tuesday.

BCDA maintained that a sanitary landfill is no longer consistent with the government’s vision of transforming New Clark City into a premier investment and tourism destination.

It vowed to assist LGUs, government agencies, and locators to explore alternative solutions for their waste disposal requirements to ensure non-disruption of solid waste management services. — Artemio A. Dumlao

Lawmakers urge swift funding for teaching supplies allowance

June 4, 2024 | 8:29 pm

teacher-students-classroom — PHILIPPINE STAR/ EDD GUMBAN

THE GOVERNMENT should immediately look to fund a newly signed teaching allowance law before schools start in July this year to allow teachers to make necessary classroom preparations, lawmakers said.

“I prod [the] DBM (Department of Budget and Management) and the Department of Education (DepEd) to find ways to release the teaching supplies allowance as early as July or August so the teachers will have these funds at the opening of the next school year,” Bohol Rep. Kristine Alexie B. Tutor said in a statement.

“Early release of the teaching supplies allowance in July or August will make our teachers and schools more prepared to welcome their students in the opening week of classes,” she added.

Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Monday signed the Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act of 2024, a law increasing the allowance of public school teachers to P10,000 from P5,000.

The increased teachers’ allowance could be disbursed in full this year if the DBM and DepEd could immediately find available funding, Quezon Rep. Reynante U. Arrogancia said in a separate statement.

If not, he recommended the government to disburse the allowance in two tranches this year

“The sooner the allowance increase is disbursed to the classroom teachers, the better because that will reduce the out-of-pocket expenses of teachers and parents,” Mr. Arrogancia said.

He said funding for the teachers’ allowance for 2025 should also be included in DepEd’s budget proposal for next year.

“There is enough time to include the higher allowance in the budget because there’s still at least seven weeks for the Department of Budget and Management and the Department of Education to do that before the President delivers his next State of the Nation Address.”

INCREASE TEACHERS’ PAY — CASTRO
House Deputy Minority Leader and Party-list Rep. France L. Castro said the government should now look at increasing teachers’ salaries after the approval of the expanded allowance.

She proposed that teachers’ salaries be raised to P50,000 for both public and private schools.

“It’s time for the government to prioritize the welfare of our teachers, who are the backbone of our education system,” Ms. Castro said in a separate statement.

House Speaker and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez said an increase in teachers’ salaries is already “programmed” for the upcoming budget deliberations.

“We understand the need to increase the salary and allowances of teachers,” Mr. Romualdez said based on an interview transcript sent to reporters. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

DoF backs Senate MUP bill — Estrada

June 4, 2024 | 8:27 pm

THE DEPARTMENT of Finance (DoF) has backed a Senate bill seeking to overhaul the pension system for military and uniformed personnel (MUP), but said that the guaranteed increase in their salaries should be studied first, Senate President Pro-Tempore Jose “Jinggoy” P. Estrada said on Tuesday

At a media forum at the Senate, Mr. Estrada said senators are still debating on whether Senate Bill No. 2501, which he sponsored, should increase the salaries of MUPs yearly and if both new military officers and uniformed personnel should both contribute 7% to the fund.

The Senate is set to continue floor debates on the bill that seeks to will overhaul the pension system for the military and police by requiring them to contribute 7% of their monthly income. The National Government will contribute double the rate.

Under the measure, other uniformed personnel would have to contribute 9% with a government top-up of 12%.

If passed, the reform would allow a guaranteed 3% yearly increase in the base pay of active personnel and in the pension benefits of retirees over the next decade.

Mr. Estrada said he has proposed to require both military and other uniformed personnel to both contribute 7% instead of a higher rate for the latter.

He said he had consulted Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto and other DoF officials if the government can afford to impose the 7% contribution. He said they told him it was a viable provision, but suggested removing the guaranteed salary increases provided in the measure, citing the need for more study.

“I will strive for the MUP bill to be made into law and this has been long overdue and I think the government badly needs this in order to avoid bleeding the coffers of our government,” he said.

“There are just small problems with the increase of salaries of MUPs,” he said in mixed English and Filipino.

The House of Representatives approved a similar measure in September last year.

Employment of jeepney drivers helps ease struggles in PUVMP

June 4, 2024 | 8:20 pm

Employment of jeepney drivers would be more progressive and can help enact the Public Utility Modernization Program (PUVMP), a passenger advocacy group said.

According to Primo Morillo, convenor of The Passenger Forum: “Magandang plano na gawing employed yung ating mga transport workers. Magkaroon ng transition papunta sa ganon. It is a more progressive relation of production,” [It’s a good plan to employ our transport workers to help them transition into the modernization program. It is a more progressive relation of production] he said.

Mr. Morillo added that being employed could provide benefits that drivers and operators do not have right now

“Mayroon silang leave, meron silang benefits, meron silang kumbaga kita kahit na may sakit sila or may grumaduate na anak, diba? Kumikita pa rin sila kasi empleyo,” [In case they get sick, or they want to celebrate with their families, they can still earn money because they are employed] he elaborated on the possible benefits drivers and operators could have if they were employed.

According to Mr. Morillo, jeepney drivers refused to consolidate due to a lack of information on how PUVMP can improve their livelihood.

“Hindi malinaw kung paano makakatulong sa tsuper at operator yung programang iyon…dapat mayroong ganoong programa at natutukan yon ng ating gobyerno…sa totoo lang kung mapapaliwanag ito, marami po talagang tatanggap nito,” [It is not clear how PUVMP could help drivers and operators.If the government had an initiative aimed to educate them on the benefits of the program, drivers would’ve supported it] he said.

Apart from informing the people, Mr. Morillo also proposed a “route rationalization plan” to strategically convince consolidation and disperse subsidies equally.

“Yung route rationalization plan, makakatulong din yun para maidentify natin ano yung madaling iconsolidate at madaling i-modernize na ruta kasi halimbawa…may mga ruta talaga na malaki ang kita at kaya nilang mag modernize pwedeng hindi ganon kalaki yung subsidy na kailangan. Pwedeng yun ang unahing phase,” [Route rationalization plan can help identify areas that can easily be consolidated and modernized…Routes that earn higher are less dependent on subsidies making those easier to modernize. That can be the first phase.] he explained on strategizing the PUV consolidation.

“Pero yung pinakamahirap na mga ruta, yung maliliit ang kita, yun ang ihuhuli mo kasi baka ang kailangan doon full subsidy kasi maliit lang yung kita ng mga tsuper.” [But for those on the hardest routes with lower income, they should receive higher subsidies to aid in their transition to modernization.]

Approximately 1,900 jeepney units were unauthorized and deemed illegal in Metro Manila because of expired franchises. Meanwhile, 81% or 160,000 units nationwide has consolidated with the government’s modernization program. – Almira Louise S. Martinez

Novak hurts knee, rivals smell blood

June 4, 2024 | 7:45 pm

PARIS — Defending champion Novak Djokovic produced a superhuman effort to subdue Argentine Francisco Cerundolo 6-1, 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 on Monday and reach the quarterfinals of the French Open, as the top seed shrugged off a knee issue for a milestone win.

Big-hitting women’s title contenders made short work of their opponents earlier as second seed Aryna Sabalenka thrashed American Emma Navarro 6-2, 6-3 while fourth seed Elena Rybakina eased to a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina.

Russian 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva then outclassed former compatriot and newly-French Varvara Gracheva 7-5, 6-2 to end home hopes in the afternoon, but all eyes were on a potential upset that was brewing on Court Philippe Chatrier.

Mr. Djokovic, who is chasing a record-extending 25^th Grand Slam title was taken to five sets for the second time in less than 48 hours but showed his class to seal a record 370^th match victory at the majors that broke a tie with retired Swiss great Roger Federer.

The Serb also celebrated reaching his 59^th major quarterfinal — the most by any men’s player — to eclipse his long-time rival Federer again, while an 11^th five-sets Roland Garros win tied him with Gael Monfils and Stan Wawrinka in the Open Era.

“Again a big, big, big thank you because once again like the last match. The win is your win,” an exhausted Mr. Djokovic told the crowd in fluent French.

But Mr. Djokovic’s title rivals in Paris will be smelling blood after another up-and-down display.

The 37-year-old showed no early signs of fatigue from his marathon third-round win over Lorenzo Musetti, a 4-1/2 hour epic that ended in the early hours of Sunday morning, as he blitzed claycourt specialist Mr. Cerundolo in the opening set.

He sustained a right knee issue early in the next and needed treatment on court before saving four break points to draw level at 3-3 with a backhand bullet, but allowed his opponent a way back in by surrendering his serve in the 12^th game.

Mr. Cerundolo grabbed another break early in the next set to go 3-0 up and comfortably got ahead in the clash as alarm bells began to ring for Mr. Djokovic in a second straight match at the claycourt Grand Slam he has won thrice.

The finish line seemed to appear in sight for Mr. Cerundolo when he raced up 4-2 in the next set, but the 25-year-old squandered the advantage as Djokovic sent down two big serves and produced a spectacular drop en route to holding for 6-5 before levelling the contest. Having dropped serve after a fast start in the deciding set, Mr. Djokovic took a nasty tumble during a point and ranted about the state of the Court Philippe Chatrier surface.

He dusted himself off and the smile returned shortly after as he executed a sensational drop volley while doing the splits at 3-3 and celebrated the point by lying on the court with his arms outstretched in a superhero pose.

With the crowd firmly behind him, Djokovic closed out a superb victory and paid tribute to fans on the main showcourt at around 9 p.m. local time.

“I actually felt great coming into the match, as good as I could under the circumstances and played really well in the first set,” Djokovic told reporters.

“Then in the third game of the second set, I slipped, one of the many times that I slipped and fell today. That affected the knee… At one point I didn’t know, to be honest, whether I should continue or not.”

Next up for the tournament’s top seed is a rematch of last year’s final against Norway’s Casper Ruud after the seventh seed defeated American Taylor Fritz 7-6(6), 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.

Alex de Minaur broke a long Australian jinx as the 11th seed battled from a set down to stun Daniil Medvedev 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-3 and become the first man from his nation in two decades to make the last-eight at Roland Garros.

He will face fourth seed Alexander Zverev after the German outlasted 13th seed Holger Rune 4-6, 6-1, 5-7, 7-6(2), 6-2 in a match that ended in early morning hours. — Reuters

Yuka Saso zooms to 6^th in world rankings

June 4, 2024 | 7:44 pm

FIL-JAPANESE Yuka Saso’s smashing return as US Women’s Open titlist has also propelled her back into the Top 10 of the women’s golf rankings.

Ms. Saso, who scooped up her second crown in golf’s biggest event and a cool $2.4 million (around P140 million) Sunday in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, climbed to sixth with 239.85 points from a season-low 30^th the previous week.

This marks Ms. Saso’s second highest career ranking after she reached No. 5 for a week in 2021. This was on the heels of her breakthrough US Women’s Open triumph — achieved under the Philippine flag then — which catapulted her into ninth position. The parbuster who will turn 23 in two weeks had been outside the Top 10 over the last two years, though, as she struggled to regain her winning form.

Prior to landing at sixth this week, Ms. Saso last occupied a spot among the 10 best lady golfers in the planet in March 2022 when she hit ninth after taking 10^th place in the Honda LPGA Thailand.

Saso was the biggest climber in the latest world rankings released Monday, which saw American Nelly Korda maintaining top spot with 515.58 points despite missing the cut in Lancaster.

Bianca Pagdanganan, who didn’t play in the US Women’s Open after placing seventh in the preceding Mizuho Americas Open, slipped one place to 118^th with 41.81 points. — Olmin Leyba