Street Journal, Author at Street Journal Multimedia Services

Subic Bay Freeport – Elementary students from the Special Education for the Gifted (SPED-G) Kalayaan in this premier Freeport bagged 3rd place in the recent Philippine Robotics Olympiad held at the Ayala Malls Trinoma, Quezon City. During the 23rd Philippine Robotics Olympiad, grade VI students namely, Anne Margarette Inton, Dru Triguero, and Zyrene Tantay placed third in the Future Innovators Category-Elementary Level. The said three students are part of the Aerosense Team mentored by coaches Ma Alon Elago, John Lester Perez and Principal Abdon Bayle. With the theme Earth Allies, the 23rd Philippine Robotics Olympiad Elementary Level RoboMission Finals was held on July 29 at the Felta Multimedia Center where the Aerosense Team displayed their robot, the Aerosense. The Aerosense is an ESP32 Drone-Based System for an Environmental Real-Time Monitoring of Air Quality, Humidity and Temperature. According to the team members, the Aerosense was developed to address critical environmental issues such as air pollution and climate change. “With the rapid urbanization and industrialization of cities, there is a pressing need for effective environmental monitoring solutions,” the team members stated. During the team’s courtesy call to the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño congratulated the members and coaches of Aerosense Team. “We are very proud of your achievements. You have shown that the country’s best and brightest robotics students come from the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. Mabuhay po kayo sa inyong naabot,” he said. The chairman also congratulated SBMA Director Anne Lorraine Adorable Inton, the proud mother of Aerosense member Anne Margarette, for raising a bright and wonderful child. The Philippine Robotics Olympiad is an annual science educational event that primarily aims to challenge the intellectual skills and critical thinking of elementary and high school students.

Quezon second district Mayors take oath as LAKAS- CMD party members

Region 4

Region 4 / Street Journal

By Danny Estacio LUCENA CITY, Quezon- Municipal mayors from the second district of Quezon province have joined the LAKAS-CMD party as announced by House Deputy Speaker David C. Suarez on August 12. Suarez said that House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez administered the oath of the local officials as new members of LAKAS-CMD. Among those who joined the party are Sariaya Mayor Marcelo P. Gayeta, Tiaong Mayor Vincent Arjay Mea, San Antonio Mayor Ariel Wagan, Dolores Mayor Orlan Calayag, and local officials of Lucena City and Candelaria and by Candelaria vice mayor Macario Boonggaling as guest. Present during the event are Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr., Majority Leader Manuel Jose “Mannix” Dalipe, Agusan del Norte 1st District Rep. Jose “Joboy” Aquino II, and Congresswoman Anna Villaraza Suarez of Alona Party List.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) and Universal Robina Corporation (URC), have agreed to continue its potato program, which has been boosting potato farming in the country for the last five years. The recent signing ceremonies were led by (seated, from left): URC’s Vice President for Global Procurement Vicky Yap, Chief Supply Chain & Sustainability Officer David Lim, President & CEO Irwin Lee; Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr., Undersecretary for High Value Crops Cheryl Marie Natividad-Caballero, and Assistant Secretary for High Value Crops Atty. Joycel Panlilio.

URC, government to continue program giving huge boost to potato farming

NCR

NCR / Street Journal

Universal Robina Corp. (URC) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) have agreed to sustain a program that has significantly enhanced potato farming and overall farm productivity in the Philippines. “Since its inception, this program has exemplified the power of public-private partnerships in driving positive change,” said Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. “This agreement solidifies our shared commitment to improve access to quality planting materials, enhance potato production practices and technologies, increase local sufficiency, and ultimately uplift farmers for a sustainable future,” he added. URC – one of the country’s largest food and beverage firms – and the DA will continue providing potato farmers in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Northern Mindanao and Davao access to farm inputs, training and market opportunities for five more years. This falls under the Sustainable Potato Program (SPP) meant to raise the country’s output of a vital staple crop. Since the program started five years ago, URC has distributed 506 tons of generation 3 Granola potato seeds from Canada to more than 900 farmers in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Davao del Sur, and Bukidnon. An estimated 23,000 MT of potatoes have been produced from these seeds, generating a minimum gross income of 920 million pesos. The program has benefitted 15 farmer organizations and contributed to a 4% increase in national potato production. “We at URC are committed to contributing to the country’s sustainable development goals. Through the Sustainable Potato Program, we aim to uplift people’s lives and support the growth of the potato farming industry,” said URC’s President and Chief Executive Officer Irwin Lee.“In collaboration with Canada Agriculture and Agri-Food, and the PEI Potato Board, we provide our local farmers with access to relevant trainings and research,” he added. As part of this initiative, 10 farmers from Cordillera joined a delegation on a potato seeds educational visit to Prince Edward Island last June 9-15. The mission was designed to benchmark farming practices, ensure a continued source of Granola seed variety and explore alternative varieties for a sustainable seed source. Under its Memorandum of Understanding with URC, the DA will provide training on good agricultural practices, seed multiplication, pest and disease management, storage, handling, and marketing.The DA will also organize a Program Management Unit (PMU) in the three regions to oversee the program’s implementation and ensure that targets are met. The Bureau of Plant Industry will facilitate timely import clearances and conduct pest and disease surveillance. In addition to providing high quality potato seeds direct to farmers, URC will collaborate with relevant institutions to offer capability-building opportunities and training for farmers. URC will also leverage its network to establish market access for the potato farmers’ produce. “At URC, we believe in the power of community empowerment and the transformative potential of agriculture,” said Lee. “Our commitment goes beyond business; we are dedicated to changing lives and fostering sustainable growth in every community we touch. Together with our partners, we strive to create a lasting impact, ensuring that our farmers not only thrive but also prosper in evolving agriculture landscape.”

CIDG bust fake dentists in Benguet, unveiled as most wanted couple for massive car rental scam by HPG,PAOCC

CAR

CAR / Street Journal

A married couple posing as dentists in Sablan, Benguet, were uncovered as notorious scammers hiding from the law. The Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) Baguio City Field Unit (CFU) arrested the duo during an entrapment operation on August 2, 2024, exposing not only their illegal dental practice but also much larger criminal activity. The Philippine Dental Association of Baguio City and Benguet Chapter had long suspected Jun Jun and Catherine Banal of being fake dentists. When they failed to produce valid dental licenses, the CIDG seized assorted dental equipment from their three-story residence. The couple now faces charges under Republic Act 9484, the Philippine Dental Act of 2007. The authorities, in coordination with the PNP-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), revealed the true identities of the culprits who victimized one-hundred-forty-nine individuals through “Assumed Balance-Sangla” car rental scam, deceiving car owners by assuming vehicle mortgage balances, then pawning or selling the vehicles with counterfeit documents. Their fraudulent schemes amassed a staggering P300,000,000.00. Several charges have been filed against the BANAL couple before the Angeles City Regional Trial Court branches 56 and 62, as well as the Mabalacat City Municipal Trial Court. These charges include large-scale swindling, estafa, carnapping, and violations of the Bouncing Checks Law. Their web of deceit prompted action from multiple law enforcement bodies. The PNP-HPG, through Case Operation “ARES-ID PARAM,” supported by PAOCC, had been on their trail. The Banal’s had evaded capture by changing their names and moving to Sablan. However, their luck ran out when the CIDG Baguio CFU arrested them for illegal dental services. Following this, the HPG Intelligence Division swiftly acted, and on August 5, 2024, alongside the Regional Highway Patrol Unit Cordillera Administrative Region, served the outstanding warrants. According to USEC Gilberto Cruz, the PNP-HPG, PNP-CIDG, and PAOCC remain dedicated to seeking justice for any additional victims of the couple’s extensive fraudulent activities. “Ang PNP-HPG, PNP-CIDG, at PAOCC ay nananatiling tapat sa paghahanap ng katarungan para sa iba pang mga biktima ng malawakang pang-scam at panloloko ng naturang mag-asawa. Patuloy na susuportahan ng PAOCC ang PNP sa kanilang mga operasyon upang sugpuin ang mga sindikato at tuldukan ang organized crime sa bansa,” Usec Cruz said. (From PAOCC page)

Globe posts solid net income fueled by strong EBITDA growth

Business

Business / Street Journal

Globe’s net income for the first half of 2024 remains solid at Php 14.5 billion, primarily driven by strong growth in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) that effectively offset the increase in depreciation expenses. Excluding the one-time gain from the Globe tower sale, normalized net income stood at Php 11.9 billion, reflecting a significant 19% increase from the previous year. Conversely, Globe’s core net income would have surged by 21% if ECPay had been deconsolidated from its books in the first half of 2023. Nevertheless, Globe’s core net income which excludes the effects of non-recurring charges, foreign exchange, and mark-to-market charges, expanded by 18% year-on-year, reaching Php11.7 billion during the first half of 2024. “Our sustained growth in both net income and core net income is a testament to our continued commitment to delivering exceptional value to our customers while maintaining disciplined cost management. We are pleased with our performance in the first half of 2024, which highlights our focus on strategic priorities and operational efficiencies,” said Ernest Cu, Globe President and CEO. Globe’s mobile business demonstrated resilient growth, achieving record-high revenues of Php58.4 billion by the end of June 2024, compared to Php54.8 billion during the same period last year. Meanwhile, the company’s consolidated EBITDA amounted to nearly Php43 billion, marking a strong 6% increase from the previous year. This growth was driven by a 2% rise in consolidated gross service revenues, coupled with a 2% reduction in operating expenses plus subsidy. EBITDA would have been higher by 7% year-on-year if ECPay’s deconsolidation from Globe’s books was considered as of the first semester of 2023. Additionally, the company’s EBITDA margin demonstrated impressive year-on-year progress, rising from 50% to 52%, surpassing the full-year guidance of 50%. As Globe looks to the future, it is poised to leverage its strong financial performance and strategic investments to drive further growth and innovation in the telecom industry.

SBMA Child Development Center

Region 3

Region 3 / Street Journal

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose Aliño leads the cutting of the ceremonial ribbon to formally open the SBMA Child Development Center at Building 662 in Subic Bay Freeport zone with Senior Deputy Administrator for Support Services Ramon Agregado.

Gov. Guico listed by EduRank as UP Diliman’s Top 79 Notable Alumni

Region 1

Region 1 / Street Journal

By Ruby F. Rayat- PIMRO LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN—Governor Ramon V. Guico III was listed by Edurank.org as among the ‘Top 79 Notable Alumni of the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman.’ The governor joins the ranks of the country’s most revered personalities, like former President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos, Sr., who topped the list, followed by former Vice President Leni Robredo, 6th Philippine President Elpidio Quirino, ace journalist Maria Ressa, politician Jose P. Laurel, lawyer and former Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, musician Ely Buendia, broadcast journalist Jessica Soho, actor JM De Guzman, and beauty queen Venus Raj. EduRank is a reputable independent organization that evaluates higher education institutions all over the world based on various factors like academic reputation, research output, and student reviews. The list was sorted out by Edurank based on wiki pages popularity of the alumni. Listed in the 11th to 25th spots were news anchor Karen Davila; Senator Cynthia Villar; Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III; former Vice President Salvador “Doy” Laurel; Lawyer Salvador Panelo; actor-politician Herbert Bautista; young actor-entrepreneur Nash Aguas; Fil-Am chef Cristeta Pasia Comerford; beauty queen Shamcey Supsup; Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia; independent film actress Mercedes Cabral; former associate justice Antonio Carpio; Senator Nancy Binay; screenwriter and journalist Ricky Lee; and film director Jerrold Tarog. Gov. Guico clinched the 61st spot. UP Diliman is ranked 625th in the world, 125th in Asia, and 5th in the Philippines by aggregated alumni prominence. The university was established on February 12, 1949. Gov. Guico obtained his degree in philosophy at UP Diliman in 1997 and earned his certificate in professional education and his master’s degree in education in 2004.

Cebu Pacific Boosts Clark Hub by Launching Clark-Tagbilaran Flights

Business

Business / Street Journal

Cebu Pacific (PSE: CEB), the Philippines’ leading carrier, further boosts its Clark hub by launching its seventh direct domestic destination, Tagbilaran, making the island province of Bohol now accessible to travelers from north and central Luzon. Starting October 21, 2024, CEB will operate daily flights between Clark and Tagbilaran, allowing passengers to access more domestic destinations from Clark International Airport. As an added treat, CEB has an ongoing seat sale until August 15, 2024 allowing passengers to book their flights from Clark to Tagbilaran for as low as PHP 1 one-way base fare, exclusive of fees and surcharges. The travel period will be from October 21, 2024 to March 31, 2025. “We are thrilled to launch our direct flights between Clark and Tagbilaran. Bohol is known for its natural beauty, cultural heritage, and unique wildlife. This new route supports our commitment to provide every Juan with more opportunities to explore and discover the Philippines, one island at a time,” said Xander Lao, CEB President and Chief Commercial Officer. With direct flights from Clark, travelers may now easily visit tourist attractions in Bohol such as the Chocolate Hills, check out the tarsier which is considered one of the smallest primates in the world, or try out some of the province’s delicacies. Recently, CEB also resumed direct flights between Clark and four other domestic destinations – Davao, General Santos, Iloilo and Puerto Princesa – strengthening connectivity and accessibility to the Visayas-Mindanao region. Aside from these, CEB also operates flights to other domestic destinations including Caticlan and Cebu, as well as to international destinations such as Bangkok, Hong Kong, Narita, and Singapore. CEB currently flies to 35 domestic and 26 international destinations spread across Asia, Australia, and the Middle East.

Service of Arrest Warrant on murder suspect leads to Armed encounter

Vis-Min

Vis-Min / Street Journal

CAMP KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte — A joint police operation led by the Calbayog City Police Station escalated into a fatal shootout while serving a warrant of arrest against a wanted murder suspect at Purok 2, Barangay Victory, Calbayog City, Samar, on August 11, Based on the reports, the accused was identified as alias “Danny,” a 50-year-old member of the Managaysay Potential Private Armed Groups (PPAGs), was targeted in the operation due to a murder warrant issued by the court on November 23, 2016, with no bail recommended. As police attempted to serve the warrant, attempted to evade arrest and engaged in a confrontation with the police. In response, the police acted to secure the situation, resulting in the suspect sustaining fatal injuries. He was rushed to Calbayog District Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. Following the encounter, the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) and the Calbayog City Satellite Forensic Unit (CCFU) processed the site, recovering a caliber .45 pistol loaded with four live ammunition, and four cartridge cases. The suspect was also found in possession of cash and personal items, which were documented for further investigation. The operation was the result of joint efforts involving several law enforcement agencies, including the Provincial Intelligence Team Samar – Regional Intelligence Unit (PIT Samar-RIU) 8; PNP Intelligence Group – Internal and Special Operations Division (IG-ISOD); 123SAC, 12SAB, Special Action Force; and the Regional Intelligence Division (RID) 8 Tracker Team. PRO 8 Director BrigGen.Reynaldo Pawid, emphasized that the collaboration of various police units highlights their strong dedication to upholding the law and protecting the community. He stated, “By working together to carry out court orders and arrest individuals with outstanding warrants, we demonstrate our commitment to upholding justice and safeguarding public safety. This ongoing effort is crucial in reinforcing the rule of law and fostering a secure environment for all.”

Author name: Street Journal

Subic Freeport students bag 3rd place in robotics Olympiad