Lawmaker bats for better pay for Filipino nurses, investments in health sector

January 2, 2025 | 8:44 pm

A CONGRESSMAN on Thursday raised concerns over the inadequate pay of Filipino nurses, prompting many to practice overseas rather than in the Philippines, as the country faces a growing shortage of nurses.

“We are not paying our new nurses enough to encourage them to practice their profession,” Quezon City Rep. Marvin D. Rillo said in a statement. “We must invest more in our nurses if we want to retain some of them in the local health sector.”

Many Filipino nurses have decided to pursue a career unrelated to medical practice, with some opting to work as “real estate agents, insurance agents, or car sales agents” and enter business process outsourcing companies, according to Mr. Rillo, a vice-chairperson of the House of Representatives higher education panel.

“Largely due to the pressure to survive, some of them will likely try to seek immediate employment, even if it means taking on other jobs and not practicing nursing,” he said.

Bills seeking to increase the entry-level pay of government nurses have been filed at the Philippine Congress, with the proposals pending in the House of Representatives appropriations panel and Senate civil services committee.

The congressman also said the country is facing a nurse shortage due to fewer graduates from nursing schools and “nonstop overseas migration.”

The World Health Organization in 2020 pressed the Philippine government to provide “greater investments” into the country’s health sector as the country faces a possible 250,000 nurse shortage by 2030.

Philippine schools produced about 37,000 new nurses in 2024, which dwarfs in comparison to the average 63,800 nurses the country produced annually a decade ago, according to Mr. Rillo.

Federation of Free Workers President Jose Sonny G. Matula earlier told BusinessWorld demand for healthcare workers would further rise this year as global health challenges underscored the need for more robust healthcare systems, increasing the need for professionals. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Fourth impeachment complaint vs VP Sara eyed next week

January 2, 2025 | 8:43 pm

VP Sara Duterte — VICE-PRESIDENT SARA DUTERTE-CARPIO — HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PHILIPPINES FACEBOOK PAGE

THE PHILIPPINE House of Representatives is expecting a fourth impeachment complaint to be filed against Vice-President (VP) Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio on Monday, a House official said on Thursday.

House Secretary-General Reginald S. Velasco did not identify who will file the complaint nor the congressman who will endorse the complaint, but said a lawmaker from the House majority caucus floated the possibility of filing ouster charges against the embattled vice-president.

“They haven’t said how many will endorse it yet. They just said to wait for the fourth complaint,” he said in a phone interview with reporters in Filipino. “It was given to me in confidence. So, I cannot reveal their names until they actually file the fourth complaint.”

Ms. Duterte faces a slew of impeachment raps at the House, with previous impeachment complaints seeking her removal from office due to her inability to account for the use of P612.5 million worth of secret funds in 2022 and 2023.

The three impeachment complaints, filed by civil society groups, activists, and clergymen, similarly alleged that Ms. Duterte committed graft, corruption, bribery, and betrayal of public trust.

The Office of the Vice President did not immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment.

Meanwhile, about “10 to 12” lawmakers from both the House majority and minority blocs expressed their willingness to endorse the filed impeachment complaints, according to Mr. Velasco. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

DoH records 48 new road accidents

January 2, 2025 | 8:42 pm

person-lying-ground-after-car-accident — RAWPIXEL.COM-FREEPIK

THE Department of Health (DoH) on Thursday recorded 48 new road accidents linked to the holiday season, bringing the total to 577.

The tally was 33.5% higher than the total number of road mishaps recorded from Dec. 22, 2023 to Jan. 2, 2024, DoH said in a statement.

Of the 577 cases, 415 were involved in motorcycle accidents, while 500 were found not wearing safety accessories when the incident happened, the agency said.

There were 108 cases involving those who were under the influence of alcohol.

Most of the cases were men aged 20 to 24.

Health Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa at a press briefing called for stricter implementation of the Helmet Use Law, especially in provinces.

“We’re not surprised that 90%, or 9 out of 10 of these riders who were injured did not wear helmets,” he noted in Filipino.

“Next year, we have to monitor those who are not wearing helmets because they will not get injured if they do so.”

Citing data, Mr. Teodoro said Cagayan Valley and Caraga regions posted the highest cases of road incidents.

Also on Thursday, the Health department said it had logged 188 fireworks-related injuries on Dec. 31, or New Year’s Eve, and three cases on the night of Jan. 1.

These bring the total number of cases from Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 to 534, 9.8% lower than the 592 cases logged during the same period last year.

Kwitis, a legal firework, has become the top cause of the injuries so far, DoH said.

The agency earlier said that improvised cannons called boga were the leading cause of injuries. DoH said 5-star and whistle bombs were also the leading causes of fireworks-related injuries.

DoH said 443 of the total cases were male. It added that 322 of the cases were aged 19 and below.

Meanwhile, the DoH said cerebrovascular disease cases fell by 35.9% during the recent holiday season in comparison to last year’s.

Cases of acute coronary syndrome or heart attack, meanwhile, rose by 50%, the agency said.

It added that bronchial asthma cases rose by 55% compared to the same period last year. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

PHL envoy to attend Trump inauguration

January 2, 2025 | 8:42 pm

PHILIPPINE Ambassador to the United States (US) Jose Manuel del Gallego Romualdez will attend United States President Donald J. Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20, on behalf of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., according to Malacañang.

The US government invited the chief of diplomatic missions, as well as their spouses, to represent their respective countries at Mr. Trump’s inauguration, Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cesar B. Chavez said in a statement late on Wednesday.

This comes amid reports that Mr. Marcos was not invited to attend the inauguration.

“The Palace confirms that the Secretary of State, on behalf of the Joint Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, invited the Chiefs of Diplomatic Missions, along with their spouses, to represent their respective heads of state and their governments at the principal inaugural events,” Mr. Chavez said.

“There is no confirmation regarding whether the President will visit the US to meet with President Trump in the early months of 2025,” he added.

Mr. Romualdez, speaking to Super Radyo DZBB on Thursday, said there had been no formal invitation for heads of state to the inauguration but disclosed that some of them such as Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Hungarian President were informally asked to attend the event.

“President Trump’s invitation to President Xi was very informal,” he explained in mixed English and Filipino. “He called the Hungarian President so it’s very informal.”

“Now, he said in an interview that if they wanted to attend then they should.”

Earlier, when asked if Mr. Marcos was invited to Mr. Trump’s inauguration, Mr. Romualdez said, “As a matter of policy, no head of state is invited.”

“Only ambassadors represented in Washington are invited,” he said at that time. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Siquijor is top destination for foreign travelers

January 2, 2025 | 8:41 pm

Siquijor-beach-tourism — OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE OF THE SIQUIJOR PROVINCIAL TOURISM OFFICE

SIQUIJOR Island has become the top emerging destination for international travelers coming to the Philippines, according to digital travel platform Agoda.

In its latest New Horizons list, the island, located in central Visayas, has seen a growing appeal among tourists from China, South Korea, the United States, Australia, and Germany.

“Known for its mystical reputation, pristine beaches and lush natural beauty, the island sets itself apart from its more widely known counterparts like Boracay, Siargao and Palawan,” Agoda said.

The annual New Horizons list compares the rankings on accommodation bookings in the last two years to identify the highest climbers in both domestic and international travel.

Agoda also cited Bohol as the top trending destination for Filipinos traveling locally, according to the list.

“The rising popularity of Siquijor and Bohol opens up new horizons for travelers to experience the charm of the Philippines’ lesser-known destinations,” Michael Hwang, Agoda Philippines country director, said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Hanoi, Vietnam has been cited as a rising tourist destination among Filipinos traveling abroad, Agoda said.

This will likely be driven by the increase in direct flights from Manila to Vietnam, according to the travel platform.

Topping the New Horizons ranking for Asian travelers is Shanghai, China. This was followed by Jeju Island (South Korea), Paris (France), Nha Trang (Vietnam), and Fukuoka (Japan). — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

Abra shootings doubled in 2024

January 2, 2025 | 8:38 pm

BAGUIO CITY — Noting a doubled frequency of shooting incidents in Abra in 2024, newly installed Abra police director Col. Gilbert A. Fati-ig vowed tighter security measures this 2025.

The number of recorded shooting incidents from January to December 29, 2024 in the province reached 40, with most occurring in the province’s capital town of Bangued (13 incidents).

The number of victims was not provided by the Abra police.

Mr. Fati-ig also noted that only six of the 27 towns in the province of Abra have no recorded shooting incidents in the past year.

The Abra police linked most of the cases to personal quarrels fueled by excessive alcohol intake among those involved.

Mr. Fati-ig said he has instructed all the units of the provincial police to intensify visibility, mobile and foot patrol to thwart shootings and to institute more checkpoints because according to him, most of the suspects were on motorcycles and bigger vehicles.

Alarmed by the number of shootings, La Paz town mayor and League of Mayors of the Philippines national president Joseph Sto. Niño “JB” B. Bernos said shootings and all other forms of violence in Abra “must be put to a stop.” To achieve this, he said, “police visibility is very important.” — Artemio A. Dumlao

Cop, tricycle driver wounded in Maguindanao del Norte ambush

January 2, 2025 | 8:37 pm

COTABATO CITY — A policeman and a tricycle driver were wounded in a gun attack in Barangay Awang in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte on Tuesday.

Brig. Gen. Romeo J. Macapaz, director of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR), told reporters on Thursday that motorcycle-riding gunmen opened fire first at the Toyota Hilux pick-up truck driven by their apparent target, Police Cpl. Tohami L. Musa, a Tausug from Tawi-Tawi, forcing him to return fire.

The wounded Mr. Musa, who belongs to a unit of PRO-BAR in Tawi-Tawi, defended himself, his wife and their child from their attackers, forcing them to escape after their exchanges of gunfire at the intersection of the Isulan-Cotabato and Cotabato-Upi routes in Barangay Awang.

The ambush scene is not too distant from a substation of the Datu Odin municipal police and the Army’s Camp Siongco, where the headquarters of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division is located.

A tricycle driver, Ghob Naga, was wounded in the ensuing crossfire, now recuperating in a hospital.

Recordings of security cameras in business establishments around captured Mr. Musa alighting from his bullet-riddled vehicle and engaging their attackers in a gunfight.

Mr. Macapaz said personnel of the Datu Odin Sinsuat Municipal Police Station, led by their chief, Lt. Col. Samuel Roy M. Subsuban had enlisted the help of local executives in the municipality in identifying the perpetrators of the ambush.

Mr. Musa, whose wife, a resident of Cotabato City, survived the ambush unscathed, said he had no idea who attacked them. — John Felix M. Unson

Eala advances to Final Four of Workday Canberra International

January 2, 2025 | 7:21 pm

RED-HOT Alex Eala essayed a 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 comeback win against home bet Taylah Preston to march on to the Final Four of the Workday Canberra International on Thursday in Australia.

Ranked No. 147 in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), Ms. Eala capitalized on Ms. Preston’s sloppy play in the decider behind an aggressive service and return game to score the quarterfinal win in one hour and 52 minutes.

The 19-year-old Filipina sensation forced Ms. Preston, WTA No. 170, to four errors including two in the rubber set to complete a near shutout and move closer to a pro title to start the New Year.

Holder of five singles and three doubles titles in her young career, Ms. Eala did it after rising all the way from the qualifiers, where she proved her billing as the No. 1 seed by sweeping her way to the main draw.

The proud graduate of the Rafael Nadal Academy in Spain first trounced a pair of home bets in Catherine Aulia, 6-1, 6-2, and Alana Subasic, 5-7, 6-0, 6-1, in the qualifiers to advance.

Ms. Eala, a former US Open junior champion, then beat Austria’s Sinja Kraus, 6-2, 6-4, in the Round of 32 and Dutch standout Arianne Hortono, 6-3, 6-3, in the Round of 16.

A deep run in Canberra should be an added fire to Ms. Eala’s motivation for a much-awaited stint in the Australian Open from Jan. 12 to 26 in Melbourne.

This will be her first Grand Slam tourney this year after a series of near-breakthroughs in 2024, including qualifying round finals stints in the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open.

In those majors, she came so close to etching history as the first player to ever play in a Grand Slam main draw, which she hopes to finally achieve in the Australian Open, where she’s a former junior doubles champion. — John Bryan Ulanday

PHL will field 20-strong delegation to Asian Winter Games

January 2, 2025 | 7:20 pm

THE PHILIPPINES will field in its biggest delegation to the Asian Winter Games set next month in Harbin, China with hopes of setting the stage for accomplishing in the Winter Olympics what the country did in the last two Summer Olympics where it snared a total of three gold medals.

“We’ve already accomplished the dream in the Summer Olympics — three gold medals in consecutive games,” said Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Abraham Tolentino, referring to feats by of lifter Hidilyn Diaz, who struck gold in Tokyo four years ago, and gymnast Carlos Yulo, who snared a pair of mints in Paris last year.

“And that dream we want to also achieve in the Winter Olympics,” he added.

Although the POC has no official record of the nation’s participation in the quadrennial meet, which will be now on its ninth edition, the Tagaytay City mayor and PhilCycling chief believes the 20-strong squad they are fielding should be the most ever.

“And our athletes are competing in six of the 11 sports on the Harbin program,” he said.

Mr. Tolentino said he hopes the Harbin meet will start the Filipino athletes’ dream of also claiming a gold in the Winter Games, slated for Feb. 6 to 22 next year in Italy.

“The Winter Olympics are as extremely tough as the Summer Olympics, but we have proven that it could be done,” Mr. Tolentino said.

The team will be composed of curling’s Marc Angelo Pfister, Enrico Gabriel Pfister, Christian Patrick Haller, Alan Beat Frei, Jessica Pfister, Benjo Delarmente, Kathleen Dubberstein, Leilani Dubberstein, Sheila Mariano and Anne Marie Bonache, figure skating’s Paolo Borromeo, Aleksandr Korovin, Cathryn Limketkai, Isabella Marie Gamez and Sofia Lexi Jacqueline Frank, alpine skiing’s Francis Ceccarelli and Talullah Proulx, freestyle skiing’s Laetaz Amihan Rab, short track speed skating’s Peter Joseph Groseclose and snowboarding’s Adrian Tongco.

Richard Lim is the chief of mission. — Joey Villar

Another triple-double for Hart sends sizzling New York Knicks past visiting Utah Jazz

January 2, 2025 | 7:20 pm

JOSH HART posted his second straight triple-double and Karl-Anthony Towns finished with at least 30 points and 10 rebounds for the third consecutive game on Wednesday night as the undermanned New York Knicks pulled away from the visiting Utah Jazz in a 119-103 victory.

The Knicks extended their winning streak to nine games despite the absence of star point guard Jalen Brunson (calf), who missed a game for the first time this season, and backup guard Miles McBride, who was slated to start for Brunson before he was scratched due to a tight left hamstring.

Hart didn’t score until the final seconds of the first half yet still finished with 15 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists. Towns had 31 points and 21 rebounds as he became just the third Knicks player in team history — joining Hall of Famers Bob McAdoo and Patrick Ewing — to record at least 30 points and 10 rebounds in three consecutive games.

New York’s Mikal Bridges finished with 27 points while OG Anunoby had 22 points. Precious Achiuwa scored 12 points off the bench and put the Knicks ahead for good at 26-25 when he opened the second quarter with a dunk.

Rookie Tyler Kolek, who produced 36 points and 11 assists while playing almost 40 minutes earlier on Wednesday for the G-League Westchester Knicks, added two points and four assists in 12-plus minutes for the parent club after being pressed into duty by the injuries to Brunson and McBride.

Collin Sexton and reserve Jordan Clarkson scored 25 points apiece for the Jazz, who raced out to an 18-8 lead before taking their fifth straight loss. Lauri Markkanen (16 points, 10 rebounds) posted a double-double, though he shot just 6-for-22 from the field and 1-for-10 from 3-point range. Keyonte George scored 15 points, and Johnny Juzang added 10 points.

The Knicks began taking control in the second, when Towns scored 10 points and the hosts led by as many as 13 points. The Jazz pulled within 77-73 on Clarkson’s 3-pointer with 3:01 left in the third, but New York mounted an 18-6 run bridging the quarters and eventually led by 20 down the stretch. — Reuters

Arsenal beats Brentford to close gap on Liverpool

January 2, 2025 | 7:19 pm

LONDON — Arsenal showed they can cope without the injured Bukayo Saka as they began the year in style by recovering from an early sucker-punch to beat Brentford 3-1 away and move back into second place in the Premier League on Wednesday.

Forward Saka, arguably Arsenal’s most influential player this season, has been ruled out for at least two months after hamstring surgery, dealing a blow to the club’s title hopes.

A visit to a Brentford side who have been impressive at home this season felt like a must-win game for Arsenal but things began badly as Bryan Mbeumo gave his side a 13^th-minute lead with the home side’s first attack.

Arsenal did not panic, though, and Gabriel Jesus continued his recent resurgence to equalize before halftime.

Mikel Arteta’s side came out firing in the second half and Mikel Merino put them ahead five minutes after the restart after Brentford failed to deal with a corner.

Three minutes later Gabriel Martinelli produced a clinical volleyed finish to put Arsenal in complete control.

The victory lifted Arsenal above Chelsea and Nottingham Forest with 39 points from 19 games with leaders Liverpool on 45 from 18. Injury-hit Brentford’s second home defeat of the season left them in 12^th spot with 24 points from 19 games.

Defeat would have left Arsenal nine points behind Liverpool, who also have a game in hand, but the way they reacted to going behind suggests they can still be a factor in the title race.

Arteta will also have been impressed with 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri after handing him a first Premier League start.

“I think the team showed a lot of composure. To keep insisting, keep attacking them,” Arteta, whose side are unbeaten in 11 games in all competitions, said.

“We can only win our next match and see what happens. It’s not in our hands, but what is in our hands we need to make sure we do it.”

Arsenal did not lose a London derby in 2024 and have started off in similar fashion.

They were caught cold, though, when Brentford burst forward in the 13^th minute and Mbeumo was given too much space to cut in from the right and fire a shot past David Raya.

Raya was almost left red-faced soon after when he allowed a Mbeumo shot to burst through his gloves but he managed to race back and claw the ball off the line.

It proved a pivotal moment as less than a minute later Brentford was guilty of failing to clear the ball and it eventually arrived for Thomas Partey to fire a shot that was parried by Mark Flekken and Jesus dived to head in the rebound.

It was the Brazilian’s sixth goal in his last four games for Arsenal in all competitions, as many as in his previous 48 games for the club.

“I keep working and everyone at the club can tell how I work every day, not just me but everyone. I don’t give up and it is not easy to play for a big club like Arsenal,” Jesus said.

Arsenal’s efficiency from set-pieces was evident again early in the second half when a corner caused chaos in the area and Merino was able to fire home a loose ball.

Martinelli gave the visitors breathing space with a superb finish when the ball came out to him on the edge of the box. — Reuters

Broncos’ Sean Payton: Chiefs earned right to rest players

January 2, 2025 | 7:19 pm

THE BRONCOS would clinch a playoff berth with a win on Sunday, and Denver coach Sean Payton isn’t concerned that the opposition won’t be at full strength.

Denver (9-7) plays host to the Kansas City Chiefs (15-1), who have wrapped up AFC West title and the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC playoffs. The Chiefs will hold out quarterback (QB) Patrick Mahomes and other starters in the regular-season finale to keep the squad healthy for a run at a third consecutive Super Bowl title.

Payton said on Wednesday, “Like I said to the team this morning, ‘Our focus has got to be on this team in general.’ They’ll be, I’m sure, some different people in different places.

“Credit to Kansas City, (Chiefs coach) Andy (Reid) and his team. When you go 15-1, then you’re afforded those decisions. I’ve been in that position where your team might need a break here or there. They’ve earned that and that’s part of the deal. For us, it’s about understanding what we’re seeing scheme-wise and being ready to play our best game.”

Chiefs backup QB Carson Wentz will get the start in place of Mahomes. Wentz owns a 47-45-1 record as an NFL starter but is on his fifth team in five years and has made just one start over the past two seasons, a win for the Los Angeles Rams one year ago this week.

“He’s in this league for a reason,” Payton said. “He’s big, and he’s strong. He was a first-round draft pick. We spoke during the offseason a little bit with him and his agents. It’s the player but it’s also everything around it and understanding what they’re trying to do.”

The Broncos would wrap up a wild-card berth with a victory or if both Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals lose or tie this weekend.

“I’ve got a lot of confidence in the team,” Payton said. “Yes, it’s a big game. Like I said before, I think we’ll play in bigger, but this is a big game. It’s a division opponent. We’re playing a team with championship pedigree. They’re well-coached and we’ve got a tremendous amount of respect for what they’ve accomplished.

“We understand (that) we’re going to have to play well. That’s what gets you excited about coaching in this league. It’s what gets you excited about playing in this league. It’s important we have a good week of preparation.” — Reuters