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QUEZON CITY — Periods of cooler than average sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the equatorial Pacific Ocean that started in September 2024 continue to persist and further strengthened reaching La Niña conditions threshold in December 2024, as shown by the recent oceanic and atmospheric indicators. La Niña condition exist if a one-month sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTAs) of -0.5°C or less is observed and an expectation that the 3-month SSTA (Oceanic Niño Index) of -0.5°C or less will be met (i.e., December-January- February (DJF), January-February-March (JFM)). It is likely that this La Niña condition will continue at least until JFM 2025 season as suggested by several climate models.
With this development, higher chances of above normal rainfall in January – February -March 2025 season is expected, which may cause floods, flashfloods and rain-induced landslides. Furthermore, increased chance of tropical cyclone activity within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) during the period is likely.
PAGASA will continue to monitor the country’s weather and climatic conditions. Meanwhile, the public and all concerned agencies are advised to monitor relevant PAGASA information regularly.
For more information, you may call at (02) 8284-0800 local 4801 (Weather Forecasting Section) and 4920/4921 (Climate Monitoring and Prediction Section) or email at [email protected] and pagasa.climps@ gmail.com. (DOST-PAGASA)
MANILA — Malacañang stood firm on Tuesday, Jan. 7, that neither martial law nor term extension is part of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s agenda following the reorganization of the National Security Council (NSC).
The President earlier issued Executive Order 81 which reorganized the National Security Council (NSC).
In a press briefing, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said the Marcos administration is focused on advancing the country’s economic prosperity, improving the health and welfare of the Filipino people, and completing his legacy projects.
“What he has in mind is the economic prosperity of the country, the health and welfare of the people, especially those who are in the lower classes, and the prioritization of his legacy projects,” Bersamin said.
“It’s not about martial law. It’s not about extending himself in power. No, he has no thinking about that. He does not even think in those terms,” he added.
Bersamin made the remarks in response to critics questioning Executive Order 81 that reorganized the NSC.
He said the power falls within the President’s responsibility to ensure that “whoever advises him is within his fullest trust and confidence.” (PND)
MANILA — The Social Security System (SSS) is pushing for a new program to help finance its members’ contribution.
In a press briefing in Malacanang on Tuesday, SSS President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Robert Joseph M. de Claro even invited lawmakers for a discussion over what he called ‘Contribution Subsidy Program’ or CSP.
De Claro said the CSP needs to be disseminated for public information.
“So, actually, I take this opportunity sa ating mambababatas na gustong tumulong sa SSS. Kaysa ipasuspend natin itong increase na ito, bakit hindi tayo umupo at pag-usapan kung papaano n’yo matutulungan ang ating manggagawa by entering into an agreement with SSS on a contribution subsidy program, which is open to all,” De Claro said.
Some lawmakers are opposed to the hike and called on SSS to suspend its implementation.
De Claro said through CSP, funds from well-off private individuals can be solicited to help low-income earning Filipino segments pay contribution for their social protection.
“Private individuals, ‘yung mga nakakaluwag sa buhay. We encourage you also to work with SSS na baka may specific segments of our society na matutulungan natin,” De Claro said.
“Kasi iyon yung aming programa na hindi masyadong nadi-disseminate sa ating mga mas nakakaluwag sa buhay na puwede kayong tumulong for people that you wouldn’t know towards their social protection,” De Claro added.
Meanwhile, the SSS assured the 15 percent increase on mandatory contribution will be the last.
De Claro underscored that a contribution that is more than 15 percent is already irrational, considering the 25-30 percent income tax already deducted from workers’ regular salaries.
“What I can assure the public is that the Social Security Commission and its management team is committed to working on that 15 percent as the last increase,” he said.
“Because it doesn’t also make sense when you have to pay more than 15 percent from your salary — considering that you have to pay your income tax which is around 25-30 percent and liliit talaga ‘yung take home,” De Claro said. (PND)
MANILA — The National Human Settlements Board (NHSB) has set a maximum of 2.3-percent increase in rental for residential units with monthly rate of P10,000 or less–down from last year’s four percent cap.
Based on NHSB Resolution No. 2024-001, the maximum increase in monthly rentals for subject residential units is effective Jan. 1, 2025 up to Dec. 31, 2025.
The NHSB, as the sole policy-making body responsible for providing overall policy directions and program development to various key shelter agencies, acting upon the recommendation of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), passed the new resolution last December.
Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar is the chair of NHSB. Undersecretary Henry Yap, who represents the housing chief in the board, signed the resolution for DHSUD.
The rental cap is being implemented to safeguard housing tenants in lower-income brackets and other beneficiaries from excessive rent increases. The measure was enacted pursuant to Republic Act No. 9653, commonly known as the Rent Control Act of 2009.
The rental cap applies to residential units currently occupied by the same tenants as of 2024, who pay P10,000 or less per month, and who will continue to occupy or renew their lease in 2025. Units with rents exceeding P10,000 per month are exempted from this restriction.
Residential unit refers to “an apartment, house and/or land on which another’s dwelling is located and used for residential purposes and shall include not only buildings, part or units thereof used solely as dwelling places, boarding houses, dormitories, rooms and bedspaces offered for rent by their owners, except motels, motel rooms, hotels, hotel rooms, but also those users for home industries, retail stores or other business purposes if the owner thereof and his or her family actually live therein and use it principally for dwelling purposes.”
If the unit becomes vacant in 2025, the lessor may increase the rent of a new tenant beyond the set limit. This increase is permitted because the new tenant is not covered by the aforementioned resolution. However, in the case of boarding houses, dormitories, rooms, and bedspaces, only one rent adjustment is allowed within the 2025, even if the increase limit has not been reached.
New residential units built and/or leased out in 2025, on the other hand, may set their own rent.
A new limit of one percent shall apply to units occupied by the same tenants as of 2025, paying P10,000 or less per month, and who will continue to occupy/renew their lease in 2026. Residential units with rents above P10,000 per month in 2025 are excluded from the 2026 rental cap.
The tenant is encouraged to to seek alternative dispute resolution with his landlord or lessor through the Barangay Justice System’s mediation/amicable settlement process. Only if the same cannot be settled will it be adjudicated before the court.
Eventually, if the lessor is found guilty, he could face a fine of not less than P25,000 nor more than P50,000 or imprisonment of not less than one month and one day to not more than six month or both, depending on the court’s decision. (DHSUD)
NAITALAGA ang ikatlong pinakamataas na posisyon o third highest post sa Philippine National Police kamakailan.
Ang naitalagang acting Deputy Chief for Operations ng PNP ay si Maj. Gen. Robert Rodriguez na dating hepe ng Area Police Command Visayas.
Ito ay matapos maabot ang mandatory retirement age na 56 noong Disyembre 20, 2024 ni dating PNP Deputy Chief for Operations Lt. Gen. Michael John Dubria.
Nagsagawa rin ng balasahan sa hanay ng iba pang matataas na opisyal si PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil.
Si Brigadier General Jericho Baldeo ay naitalaga bilang officer-in-charge ng Directorate for Information and Communications Technology Management.
OIC naman si B/Gen Christopher Abrahano ng Police Regional Office- Caraga; habang OIC ng Aviation Security Group si B/Gen. Christopher Abecia.
Dalawa pang heneral, si B/Gen Roy Parena ay iniupo na acting Deputy Director for Police Community Relations; at si B/Gen. Dionisio Bartolome Jr. bilang deputy Director for Administration ng PRO-Central Visayas.
Si Col. Mariano Rodriguez naman ay naitalaga bilang Deputy Director for Administration ng PRO-Davao. RUBEN LACSA
SINAMPOLAN ng retiradong pulis matapos arestuhin dahil sa paglabag sa batas trapiko at kawalan ng plaka ng kanyang sasakyan na umano’y nanutok pa ng baril sa traffic enforcer saka tumakas sa Bacoor City, Cavite.
Kasong paglabag sa Threat, Direct Assault at Art. 151 ng Revised Penal Code and R.A. 10591 ang kinaharap ng suspek na si alyas Regino, 62, ng 44 Tallacen , Luna, La Union.
Ayon sa nagreklamong si Marvin Salas y Era, 30, miyembro ng Bacoor Traffic Management Division, pinara niya ang sasakyan ng suspek sa kahabaan ng Molino Boulevard dahil sa paglabag sa obstruction , disregarding traffic sign at walang plaka ang behikulo pero imbes na tumalima ay itinutok ang baril saka tumakas sa direksiyon ng Maynila.
Humingi ng assistant ang biktima kung saan nahuli ang suspek sa Molino Bouleard, Brgy Niog, Bacoor City, bandang alas-1:45 ng hapon subalit muling pinalagan ang arresting officer dahilan upang posasan.
Nakuha sa suspek ang isang kalibre 45 pistol (Rock island,) dalawang magazine at limang bala.
Nasa kustodiya ng Bacoor Component City Police Station ang nasabing retiradong police officer. (Gene Adsuara)
NAKA hospital arrest ang buko vendor na nagpapanggap na miyembro ng Highway Patrol Group (HPG) at umano’y nangongotong sa mga motorista matapos nabaril sa pakikipambuno sa awtoridad sa Gen. Trias City, Cavite.
Ginamot sa ospital ang suspek na si alyas Lawrence, binata, ng Phase 1 Parklane Subd., Brgy San Francico, Gen Trias City, dahil sa tama ng bala sa kanyang katawan mula sa service firearm ni Police Chief Master Sergeant Elan Demate, 45, ng PHPT-Cavite Camp Pantaleon Garcia, Imus City.
Sa ulat, nabatid na ang suspek ay nasa surveillance ng HPG dahil sa umano’y papapanggap nito na miyembro ng HPG at pagsusuot ng uniporme para umano’y makapangotong sa mga dumaraan na motorista.
Naaktuhan siya na naka-uniporme ng HPG at naka-jacket ng NBI sa Phase Parklane Subd., Brgy San Franciasaco, Gen Trias City, bandang alas-10:30 ng gabi.
Pagkasita ay pumalag ang suspek at umano’y sinuntok sa mukha si Demante at humantong sa pambubuno sa baril nito na nauwi sa pagkakabaril sa kanyang dibdib. (Gene Adsuara)
LUNGSOD NG QUEZON — Halos limang milyong “near-poor” na mga Pilipino ang natulungan ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) mula January hanggang December 2024.
“The AKAP program has demonstrated strong impact with Php26.157 billion in funds, or 99.31 percent utilization rate, from the total Php26.7 billion budget allocation for 2024,” sabi ni DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao.
Ang AKAP funds ay naka-allocate sa halos lahat ng rehiyon sa bansa kung saan higit sa 99 percent ng fund obligations ay nagamit sa Cagayan Valley (Region 2), Davao Region (Region 11) and Caraga (Region 13).
Ang AKAP ay nagbibigay ng cash assistance na Php5,000 sa mga eligible beneficiaries ng programa na may kita ng mababa sa poverty threshold at nakakatanggap ng tulong mula sa gobyerno.
Kabilang sa mga tulong sa ilalim ng AKAP ay ang medical, funeral, food, at cash relief na ibinibigay ng direkta sa pamamagitan ng Crisis Intervention Units/Sections (CIU/S) ng DSWD sa Central at Field Offices maging sa Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) at Satellite Offices sa bansa.
Dahil na rin sa nilagdaang 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), inaasahang nasa 5 million minimum wage earners at mga mahihirap na Pilipino ang makikinabang sa AKAP program ng DSWD.
Batay na rin sa direktiba ni Pangulong Marcos, ang DSWD, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) at National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) ay nakatakdang bumalangkas ng AKAP guidelines, bilang isa sa mga kondisyon ng Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
Tiniyak naman ni DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian na ang AKAP, bilang isa sa social protection programs ng ahensya ay hindi magagamit sa pulitika. Ito ay kasunod ng mga ulat na ang Php26 billion budget ng programa ay gagamitin umano para sa 2025 midterm elections.
“The DSWD will not be used by anybody for their political gains not next year, not ever,” paglilinaw ni Secretary Gatchalian.
Nilinaw din ng Kalihim na dumadaan sa masusing pagsisiyasat ng mga social workers ang mga kliyente na nagnanais na makakuha ng tulong pinansyal. May referral man o wala mula sa mga mambabatas at local government unit (LGU) officials.
“Our social workers, and not politicians, determine the beneficiaries. DSWD social workers also process the AKAP applications and determine how much the qualified beneficiaries will get,” sabi pa ni Secretary Gatchalian.
Dagdag pa ni Secretary Gatchalian, kinakailangan aniya ang verification at assessment ng mga social workers upang maiwasan na ang pagkakaroon ng overlapping of assistance sa iba pang mga social protection programs ng ahensya.
Ayon pa kay Secretary Gatchalian, ang AKAP funds ay mula sa budget ng ahensya batay sa nakasaad sa General Appropriations Act na nilagdaan ni President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr nitong December 30.
“There is no GAA line item that entitles any congressional district or LGU to have an allocation in any amount and lodged this with the DSWD that could benefit their constituents. Referrals from legislators and local executives are entertained pursuant to existing DSWD guidelines,”paliwanag pa ni Secretary Gatchalian. (DSWD)