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Dateline PH, Quezon City (2025)

25/09/2024

House panel receives ‘hard evidence’ alleging VP Sara gave cash to ‘influence’ ex-DepEd exec

FORMER Department of Education (DepEd) Undersecretary Gloria Jumamil Mercado submitted nine envelopes to the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability on Wednesday, claiming they were evidence of regular cash payments from Vice President Sara Duterte intended to influence her during her time as the agency’s head of procuring entity (HOPE).

Visibly emotional, Mercado pulled out the envelopes, each labeled “HOPE,” and said that they used to contain P50,000, totaling P450,000.

This submission came in response to the Vice President’s denial of giving her monthly cash payments over a nine-month period.

“Kasi ang sakit naman noon. Ordinaryo lang akong trabahante, tapos inaano ka ng Vice President. It’s very painful,” Mercado said as she handed over the envelopes to the committee during the interpellation of House Deputy Majority Leader and Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre.

Mercado explained that she never opened the envelopes while at DepEd, only discovering their contents after her retirement.

Upon receiving advice, she donated the money to a non-government organization (NGO), which provided her with a receipt that she also offered to the committee as evidence.

In her testimony, Mercado revealed that she received the envelopes monthly between February and September 2023 from Assistant Secretary Sunshine Fajarda, allegedly on behalf of Vice President Duterte.

Mercado, who resigned in October 2023, suggested that her departure was due to her refusal to bypass procurement guidelines.

The submission of the envelopes was part of Mercado’s effort to clear her name amid the allegations made by the Vice President.

Duterte had accused Mercado of soliciting P16 million in donations from the private sector without her knowledge, describing her as a “disgruntled” former official and promising to provide a paper trail to back up her claims.

Addressing this accusation, Mercado explained that the P16 million in question was intended to fund equipment for the DepEd Guru app and other technological improvements aimed at connecting teachers and automating the application process at the agency.

She emphasized that these donations were in the form of equipment, not cash, and that no improper actions were taken.

“There was no money involved there. These are equipment donations, not cash,” she clarified, adding that the two corporations involved were willing to provide affidavits confirming that no cash solicitation occurred.

Mercado, reflecting on her 40 years of public service, expressed the personal hurt she felt in the face of the accusations.

“It’s very painful. I’ve served the Republic for 40 long years, and then this happens,” she said.

25/09/2024

Produksyon ng yellow corn sa Calabarzon tumaas ng 20.3-K metriko tonelada

MULA sa 17,019.08 metriko toneladang produksyon ng dilaw na mais sa rehiyon ng CALABARZON noong unang semestre sa taong 2023, tumaas ito sa 20,393.46 metriko tonelada ngayong 2024 batay sa datos na nakuha ng Department of Agriculture IV- CALABARZON (DA-4A) Corn Program katuwang ang mga lokal na pamahalaan.

Ayon sa pagtatala ng Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), nanguna rito ang kontribusyon ng lalawigan ng Quezon na umabot ang ani sa 4.18 metriko tonelada kada ektarya sa mahigit 3,700 ektaryang lawak ng taniman.

Inilahad ito sa mga serye ng DA-4A Corn Program 1st Semester Assessment para sa taong 2024 simula noong ika-11 hanggang ika-20 ng Setyembre kasama ang mga Agriculture Extension Workers (AEWs) mula sa iba’t ibang lalawigan na bumubuo sa rehiyon.

Sa pahayag kay Christian Castillo na isang AEW mula sa Candelaria, Quezon, dumami ang produksyon ng dilaw na mais sa tulong ng Corn Enhancement Production Program (CPEP) na nagbibigay sa kanila ng mga interbensyon gaya ng binhi at pataba.

Samantala, bukod sa dilaw na mais na karaniwang para sa mga pakain sa alagang hayop, patuloy ang panghihikayat ng Kagawaran na mapalakas pa ang produksyon ng puting mais na siyang kinokonsumo ng tao pagdating sa mga lutong putahe sa bawat hapag ng pamilya.

25/09/2024

Panel okays education, healthcare, kids welfare, econ dev’t bills

THE House Committee on Ways and Means, chaired by Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, approved several unnumbered substitute bills this week, addressing vital legislative initiatives across education, healthcare, child welfare, environmental assessment and economic development.

Approved was the unnumbered substitute bill to House Bills (HBs) 2363, 6790, 6973, 8829, 8860, 9060 and 9632, which propose revisions to the charter of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. The committee also approved the substitute bill to HBs 6503, 8056, 8489 and 8589, aimed at updating the Philippine National Maritime Academy Charter. Both bills were unanimously approved without amendments.

Also approved was the substitute bill to HB 10144 or the proposed Sentro Rizal Act. It seeks to enhance cultural programs by appropriating necessary funds and repealing certain provisions of the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009.

The committee on health also endorsed to Salceda’s committee the substitute bill to HB 10144, the Health Maintenance Organizations Bill, aimed at ensuring access of all Filipinos to quality healthcare access by establishing a regulatory framework for health maintenance organizations (HMOs).

The committee on ways and means also approved the substitute bill to HBs 3111, 5032 and 5694 or the Traditional and Complementary Medicine Bill. It aims to strengthen the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Complementary Health Care.

Also approved was the substitute bill to HBs 4591, 5577, 7196 and 8163, as endorsed by the committee on welfare of children. It seeks to reorganize the council for the welfare of children at the Philippine Commission on Children, with the necessary funding support.

Other bills the committee of ways and means approved were:

• The substitute bill to HBs 1423, 7959 and 8594, as proposed by the committee on ecology, which would establish the Philippine Environmental Assessment System Act.

• HB 10678, as submitted by the committee on trade and industry, establishing the Clark National Food Hub. Author and Leyte Rep. Anna Victoria Veloso-Tuazon emphasized the urgent need to improve market access for farmers and fisherfolk, many of whom are facing high poverty rates.

• Bills establishing special economic zone in Surigao del Sur, Ilocos Norte, Antique, Camarines Norte, New Clark City and Quirino, all aimed at bolstering local economies, as submitted by the committee on economic affairs, in conjunction with the committee on trade and industry.

25/09/2024

DOST Rizal Joins DOST -ASTI’s 37th Year Anniversary, ASTICon

On behalf of DOST-CALABARZON& #39;s Regional Director, Ms. Emelita P. Bagsit, Provincial S&T Director Fernando E. Ablaza attended the DOST-Advanced Science and Technology Institute (ASTI) ” 37th Year Anniversary, Advance Science and Technology Innovation Convention (ASTICon) with the theme, “ Together We Can" in Novotel Manila, Araneta City, Cubao, Quezon City.

Day 1 highlighted the Signing of Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the Project REINN (Resilient Education Information Infrastructure for the New Normal). The MOA Signing event was attended by the following stakeholders: Municipal Mayor Rafael A. Tanjuatco of the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Tanay, and the representatives from the internet service providers (ISPs) ASTROLINK and MGRP.

PD Ablaza delivered his message in support of the project and encouraged all stakeholders - researchers, industry leaders, and policymakers - in continuing the collaborative work to ensure the success of the project.

Project REINN is an initiative led by the DOST-ASTI that develops application frameworks and infrastructures to support the shift to remote learning and to narrow the digital divide in the country.

25/09/2024

P1-B inilabas ng DBM para sa 2024 Marawi siege victims compensation

Inapubrahan ni Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah “Mina” F. Pangandaman ang pagpapalabas ng Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) na nagkakahalagang P1 bilyon para sa Marawi Siege Victims Compensation para ngayong taon.

Ang alokasyon na ito ay magbibigay ng kompensasyon para sa 574 benepisyaryo/tatanggap, partikular na para sa mga nasirang ari-arian at mga death claim.

Binigyang-diin ni Secretary Mina ang kahalagahan ng pagpapalabas ng pondo bilang bahagi ng patuloy na pagsisikap ng gobyerno na bigyang tulong ang mga naapektuhan ng labanan.

“As a daughter of Mindanao, I can say na malaking tulong po itong P1-billion Marawi Siege Victims Compensation para tuluyang makabangon ang mga kababayan natin sa Marawi. Gusto po ng administrasyon ni President BBM na mabigyan ng sapat na suporta at kakayanan ang mga apektadong pamilya na maibalik sa normal ang kanilang pamumuhay,” pahayag ni Sec Mina.

Ang tulong pinansyal na ito, na nakalaan para sa mga biktima ng krisis sa Marawi noong 2017, ay naglalayong ipagpatuloy ang pagbibigay ng kinakailangang suporta para sa rehabilitasyon at muling pagbangon ng lungsod. Sakop ng kompensasyon ang mga claim para sa mga tuluyan at bahagyang nawasak na istruktura, gayundin para sa mga binawian ng buhay noong panahon ng labanan.

Nakabalangkas sa Section 41 ng Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) RA No. 11696 ang isang patas at mabisang proseso sa pagtukoy ng halaga ng kompensasyon. Makatatanggap ng kabayaran ang mga kwalipikadong claimants batay sa lawak ng pinsala sa kanila, kasama ang residential, commercial, o personal na ari-arian.

Ang Marawi Compensation Board, na nalikha sa ilalim ng RA No. 11696, ang mamamahala sa distribusyon ng pondo. Ang kompensasyon ay walang buwis, na nagtitiyak na matatanggap ng mga benepisyaryo ang buong halaga. Para sa mga nasawi sa labanan, tatanggap din ng kompensasyon ang kanilang mga pamilya alinsunod sa Code of Muslim Personal Laws of the Philippines o Civil Code of the Philippines. Kung pumanaw na ang orihinal na may-ari ng ari-arian, maaaring mag-claim ng kompensasyon ang mga legal na tagapagmana sa pamamagitan ng pagsusumite ng kinakailangang dokumento.

Ang SARO, na inapubrahan noong ika-24 ng Setyembre 2024, ay magmumula sa FY 2024 General Appropriations Act.

25/09/2024

House panel issues show-cause order to OVP execs for skipping probe on VP Sara’s alleged fund misuse

FOLLOWING the example of Vice President Sara Duterte, five officials from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) also skipped Wednesday’s congressional inquiry into her use of public funds, prompting the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability to issue a show-cause order demanding their explanation.

The officials named in the order include Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez (chief of staff), Assistant Secretary Lemuel Ortonio (assistant chief of staff), Rosalynne Sanchez (director of Administrative and Financial Services), special disbursing officer Gina Acosta and chief accountant Julieta Villadelrey.

Should these OVP officials fail to provide a satisfactory explanation or if the committee deems their response insufficient, they will face a contempt order, potentially leading to their arrest and detention.

The committee, chaired by Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua, directed the officials to explain why they should not be cited for contempt after ignoring the invitation to attend the hearing. The directive followed a motion by Antipolo City 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop, the committee’s vice chair.

Although the panel had invited 17 OVP officials, only OVP spokesperson Michael Poa, appointed on Aug. 19, was present. However, Poa informed the committee that he was not authorized by the Vice President to speak on behalf of the OVP during the proceedings.

According to the committee secretariat, several OVP officials were seen before the hearing began but disappeared once the proceedings started.

Duterte was also absent from the hearing. In a letter dated Sept. 23, she informed Chua that she would not attend what she called an “unnecessary” hearing and again urged the committee to terminate the probe.

The investigation stemmed from a privilege speech delivered by Manila 2nd District Rep. Rolando Valeriano, accusing Duterte of mismanaging the funds of the OVP based on findings from the Commission on Audit (COA).

COA disallowed over P73 million of the P125 million in confidential funds allocated to the OVP in 2022, nearly 60 percent of the total.

Even more alarming, COA found that this amount was reportedly spent in just 11 days, from Dec. 20 to 31, 2022, averaging P11 million per day.

In its Notice of Disallowance, the COA ordered Vice President Duterte, along with Acosta and Villadelrey, as “accountable officials,” to return the disallowed P73 million to the government.

The audit body also questioned P500 million allocated over 2022 and 2023, with only 10 percent or P51 million cleared without issue, leaving the bulk of the funds under scrutiny.

The Chua panel also expanded its probe to cover the alleged failure of the Department of Education (DepEd), under Duterte’s leadership, to deliver ICT equipment to teachers and students, as well as concerns over the proper utilization of funds.

The investigation focuses on concerns over DepEd’s failure to utilize nearly P9 billion of its P11.36 billion budget for ICT equipment in 2023, resulting in a low utilization rate of 19.22 percent.

The committee will further examine the 2023 COA report, which exposed serious operational deficiencies in DepEd’s computerization program.

The report noted that only 50 percent of the program’s budget had been utilized, with no substantial accomplishments for the year.

25/09/2024

7 DEADLY SKIN PRODUCTS TAINTED WITH MERCURY BEING SOLD ONLINE

Toxic watchdog BAN Toxics issued a warning about seven (7) China-made skin whitening creams available for sale on online shopping sites Shopee and Lazada after detecting mercury content. Four of the products have been banned by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Using a Vanta C Series Handheld XRF Chemical Analyzer, the skin lightening creams, priced between 80 PHP and 264 PHP, were found to contain excessive amounts of mercury, with levels ranging from 115 to 5,150 parts per million (ppm), exceeding the regulatory limit.

JiaoLi HuiChuSu Face Cream 7 Day Specific Eliminating Freckle (already banned by the FDA)

JiaoLi HuiChuSu Miraculous Cream (already banned by the FDA)

Szitang 7-days Specific Whitening & Spot A-B Set Cream (already banned by the FDA)

Szitang 10-day Whitening and Spot Day & Night Set (already banned by the FDA)

BL Vterly Day and Night Retinol & Collagen Cream

PEARL NATURAL Whitening & Anti-Aging Cream

Day and Night Whitening Anti Freckle Melasma (Green)

According to the World Health Organization Fact Sheet on Mercury and Health, mercury is considered one of the top ten chemicals of major public health concern. Exposure to even small amounts of mercury can cause serious health problems and poses a threat to the development of a child in utero and during early stages in life. Mercury can also have toxic effects on the nervous, digestive, and immune systems, as well as on the lungs, kidneys, skin, and eyes.

“We are dismayed that skin lightening creams tainted with mercury continue to prevail in online markets despite regulations on the use of mercury in personal care products,” said Thony Dizon, Toxics Campaigner, BAN Toxics.

“The ongoing use of hazardous chemicals in beauty products must be stopped.”

BAN Toxics cautions the public to be vigilant when purchasing skin lightening creams that are regulated by the FDA to prevent exposure to toxic mercury.

“We call on the regulatory agencies—the FDA and the Department of Trade and Industry—to investigate and immediately conduct enforcement actions against online shopping platforms that violate existing health and safety regulations and e-commerce laws in the country,” the group stated.

25/09/2024

CONGRESSIONAL SPOUSES, MVP COMPANIES PARTNER FOR AFP HEALTHCARE

Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez (3rd from left), Congressional Spouses Foundation Inc.(CSFI) President Rose Marie Arenas (3rd from right), Chairperson Yedda Marie K. Romualdez (2nd from left), MVP Group of Companies Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan (left), AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. (2nd from right) and Makati Medical Center Foundation President Dr. Victor Gisbert (right), signs the Manifesto of Partnership and Support for the Bagong Bayaning Mandirigma Casualty and Cancer Care Center (BBM-CCCC) during a simple ceremony at the Speaker's Social Hall in the House of Representatives Tuesday (Sept. 24, 2024). The BBM-CCCC is a joint project of CSFI-19th Congress and the MVP Group of Companies for the AFP Medical Center.

12/09/2024

SOGIESC Equality bill na nagpoprotekta sa mga karapatan ng LGBTQIA+ community suportado ni Tulfo

BUO ang suporta ng isang mambabatas sa S*xual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression and S*x Characteristics (SOGIESC) Equality bill sa Kongreso na nagpoprotekta sa mga karapatan ng LGBTQIA+ community sa bansa.

Sinabi ni House Deputy Majority Leader, ACT-CIS partylist Rep. Erwin Tulfo sa kanyan interpelasyon nitong Miyerkules, na ang panukalang batas na pinangunahan ng author nito na si Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman, ipinahayag niya ang kanyang kasiyahan sa nasabing panukala.

“Now, I would just like to point out before I close, being a Catholic, a Roman Catholic, a former seminarian, the Catholic Church, though considered a conservative religion through Pope Francis now supports civil legislation that gives same-sex couples rights in areas such as pensions, health insurance, and inheritance,” ani Tulfo.

“The Roman Catholic Church now accepts same-sex attraction, and it says that it is not sinful. And it welcomes everybody in the house of God, including the LGBT community. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I support the passage of this bill,” dagdag ng mambabatas.

Bilang tugon, kinilala naman ni Cong. Roman, si Rep. Tulfo at ang kapatid nito na si Sen. Raffy Tulfo, dahil sa kanilang mga “gender sensitive” na programa sa radyo at palaging pagsuporta sa LGBTQIA+ community.

“Nais ko rin pasalamatan sana ang ating nagtatanong ngayong hapon si Rep. Tulfo sapagkat sa kanyang programa sa radyo at kahit na rin po ang kay Sen. (Raffy) Tulfona programa, ay napaka-gender sensitive nila,” sabi ni Roman.

“Natutuwa po ako na mga taong lumalapit sa kanila na bahagi ng LGBTQIA

community ay tinatrato na may paggalang, tinatanong muna ano ba ang iyong pronoun of choice at wala po silang nararanasan na diskriminasyon,” dagdag ng mambabatas.

Sinabi rin ni Roman na dapat tularan ng media ang magkapatid na Tulfo para sa pagsuporta sa SOGIESC Equality Bill.

“Sana ganito lang po, sa pamamagitan ng mga magagandang halimbawa sa media po, mainstream media. At dumadami naman po, syempre, sa social media ang sumusuporta sa panukalang batas na ito, ay mapapalaganap natin at mapaparating sa bawat sulok ng ating bansa ang kahalagahan ng pagkakaroon ng isang batas na magpoprotekta laban sa diskriminasyong nakabase sa SOGIESC at sexual orientation and gender identity and expression,” ani Roman.

Sa kanyang interpelasyon, nais siguraduhin ni Tulfo na ang panukalang batas na nagbabawal ng diskriminasyon ay tunay na makakatulong sa ekonomiya at makakahikayat din ng dayuhang pamumuhunan sa bansa.

Bilang isang media practitioner, iminungkahi rin ni Tulfo ang isang epektibong kampanya ng pagpapalaganap ng impormasyon upang ipaalam sa publiko ang tungkol sa nasabing anti-discrimination bill.

12/09/2024

More grade school learners undergo vision screening from DOH

BY Glen S Ramos

THE Department of Health (DOH) – Ilocos Region continues its vision screening for Grades 2 and 3 school learners in La Union with a total of 410 elementary pupils of the Bauang North Elementary School screened during yesterday’s activity in Bauang, La Union.

Regional Blindness Prevention Program Coordinator Francisco S. De Vera, Jr., said that vision screenings for school children are essential to help identify vision problems that can affect their learning and development. “Mas maaga nating malalaman ang problema nila sa kanilang paningin, mas makakapagbigay tayo ng early intervention upang ito ay mabigyan ng solusyon at hindi na lumala pa.”

“The vision screening test assesses visual acuity, ito yung gaano kaliwanag ang paningin ng isang bata sa iba’t-ibang distansya. Kasama rin dito ang screening for color blindness at depth perception, ang ability ng isang bata na makakita ng makatite mga bagay-bagay in three dimensions, including yung size ng object at gaano ito kalayo sa kanya,” De Vera explained.

According to grade school teachers of Bauang North Elementary School, the most commonly observed behaviors of some of their students during their reading exercises are squinting, and blinking. These are signs that a student has vision problems which may eventually lead to their poor academic performance and reduced grades.

De Vera added that teachers may not also be aware of their student’s vision problems. “That is why we are also educating them on blindness prevention and awareness for this problem to be given due attention.

“School learners found to have vision impairment will be referred to the Ilocos Training & Regional Medical Center (ITRMC) Ophthalmology Department for proper care and treatment,” he assured.

The regional office will be visiting the San Fernando City North Central School on September 13, 2024 to continue the vision screening activity. There are now more than 1,000 grade school learners screened during the three activities conducted in Catbangen Central School and Lingsat Elementary in San Fernando City and Bauang North Elementary School in La Union.

The activity was conducted in collaboration with the Department of Education Schools Division of La Union Office.

12/09/2024

BAN Toxics joins global call for Southern Dental Industries to immediately stop production of Mercury-added Dental Amalgam

Following the recent announcement by Southern Dental Industries Limited (SDI) that it will cease production of dental amalgam by 2028 or earlier, environmental NGO BAN Toxics raised concerns that the timeline set by the world’s leading manufacturer of dental amalgam is unacceptably delayed.

SDI, an Australian-based company engaged in the research, development, manufacturing, and marketing of dental products, made this announcement during an investors' conference on August 27, 2024, according to a statement by the European Network for Environmental Medicine.

The statement also included a letter from The World Alliance For Mercury-Free Dentistry, appealing to SDI to end dental amalgam production sooner.

“We find it deeply alarming that SDI will continue the production of dental amalgam until 2028. That is four more years of toxic mercury being released into the environment. BAN Toxics joins the World Alliance For Mercury-Free Dentistry, the European Network for Environmental Medicine, and other advocates in the fight to eliminate mercury worldwide, in calling the attention of SDI,” said Jam Lorenzo, BAN Toxics Deputy Executive Director.

In dentistry, amalgam is commonly used as a filling material for cavities in teeth. About half of a dental amalgam filling is liquid mercury, with the rest being a powdered mix of silver, tin, and copper. Mercury binds the alloy particles to create a strong, durable filling. However, a global effort to phase out mercury use in dentistry has gained momentum due to concerns over its environmental and health impacts.

Mercury is a highly toxic, naturally occurring heavy metal. It is a neurotoxin that can cause irreparable damage to the central and peripheral nervous system. Inhaling Mercury v***r can adversely affect the nervous, digestive, and immune systems, as well as the lungs and kidneys, and can potentially be fatal. It has long environmental persistence and global mobility—cycling through the atmosphere, ocean, and land. Its emissions and releases can bioaccumulate and biomagnify in the food chain, posing a significant threat to human health and the environment.

A study done by BAN Toxics in 2015 concluded that Mercury emissions from dental clinics and institutions “can be substantial and usually exceed general accepted human exposure limits.” Dental amalgams are the primary source of mercury exposure for individuals who have them while dental professionals are also at risk of Mercury intoxication from inhaling mercury v***rs during the storage, preparation, and use of dental amalgam.

According to the UNEP Global Mercury Partnership, an estimated 30% to 40% of mercury in amalgam enters solid waste streams and accumulates in water, soil, and the atmosphere. Meanwhile, the World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry states that research findings indicate about 60% of amalgam from capsules ends up directly in the waste during processing. Mercury from fillings is also emitted or released into the environment through cremation, burials, and excretion.

Based on reports and other official documents from the Minamata Convention on Mercury, 45 countries have already banned the use of dental amalgam by law. This includes the Philippines, which issued the Department of Health (DOH) Administrative Order (AO) 2020-0020, titled 'Guidelines on the Phase-out of Mercury Use in Dental Restorative Procedures,' in 2020. Additionally, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Circular No. 2022-003 bans all mercury-added thermometers, sphygmomanometers, dental amalgam capsules, and liquid mercury for use in dental restorative purposes.

However, market monitoring conducted by BAN Toxics earlier this year revealed that some dental supply stores in Manila are still selling mercury-added dental amalgam. A quick search on the popular online platform Shopee, as of writing, also showed the availability of dental mercury from domestic sellers. According to their Shopee accounts, the sellers are based in Bacoor, Las Piñas, Cebu City, and Davao City. Additionally, a number of China-based sellers of dental amalgam can also be found.

“While there is no evidence of SDI dental amalgam products entering our country, we cannot rule out the possibility that these products may be re-labeled and sold through online platforms or enter our country illegally. Given mercury’s nature as an indestructible, persistent pollutant with global mobility, the emissions and releases from SDI’s continued production of amalgam should be considered a global concern,” Lorenzo said.

According to their website, SDI has distributors and retailers in over 100 countries throughout the world and offices and warehouses in the US, Germany, and Brazil. In the Philippines, there is only one official distributor of SDI products. BAN Toxics reached out to this distributor in October 2022 and found that they are no longer selling dental amalgam.

SDI is the last publicly traded manufacturer of dental amalgam fully transitioning to mercury-free alternatives. Major competitors from the US, such as Dentsply Sirona and Kerr, have generally left the business. SDI's 2023 Annual Report mentioned that they “continued to benefit from two of the main amalgam competitors leaving the category.” The same report noted that their North American sales increased by 7.3% due to this fact. SDI also reported that dental amalgam represented approximately 17.6% of their total sales, with sales rising from $15,328,000 in 2022 to $18,977,000 in 2023.

Ironically, SDI had received a $3 million grant from the Commonwealth Government in 2019 that successfully developed amalgam replacement products. In 2023, SDI became a co-financing partner of the GEF7 Project to phase down dental amalgam, contributing $4.5 million in-kind. SDI's role in the project is to share knowledge and experience from the dental industry's transition from manufacturing dental amalgam to alternative mercury-free dental restorative materials.

“It shouldn’t be ‘business as usual’ when it’s public health and the environment that is at stake. We urge SDI to prioritize global well-being over profit and end their production of mercury-added dental amalgam immediately,” Lorenzo said.

12/09/2024

Pondo P31.93-B inilabas na ng DBM para sa taas-sahod ng government employees

KASALUKUYAN nang ipinatutupad ang pagtaas ng sahod sa mga ahensya ng gobyerno matapos simulan ng Department of Budget and Management (DBM) ang pagpapalabas ng pondo para sa nasabing layunin.

Ito ay matapos pirmahan ni President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. ang Executive Order No. 64 na nag-aapruba ng Salary Standardization Law VI (salary increase) para sa lahat ng sibilyan na kawani ng gobyerno noong ika-2 ng Agosto 2024.

Kahapon ng 1:00 ng hapon, ika-10 ng Setyembre 2024, may kabuuang P31.93 bilyon na ang nailabas na pondo para sa 257 na departamento/ahensya, habang mahigit 58 naman ang kasalukuyang nasa proseso.

"We are doing everything we can so that we can release the budget to all agencies as soon as possible. Ito po 'yung pinakahihintay ng ating mga kasamahan sa gobyerno. Of course, we also urge the heads of the departments and agencies to distribute immediately the salary differential since 'yung increase po is retroactive starting January of this year," pahayag ni DBM Secretary Amenah “Mina” Pangandaman.

Ayon sa pinakabagong datos ng DBM, ang pondo para sa salary adjustment ay nailabas na sa mga sumusunod na departamento/ahensya:

Congress of the Philippines
Office of the President
Office of the Vice President
Department of Agriculture
Department of Budget and Management
State Universities and Colleges
Department of Education
Department of Energy
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Department of Foreign Affairs
Department of Health
Department of Information and Technology
Department of Interior and Local Government
Department of Justice
Department of Labor and Employment
Department of Migrant Workers
Department of National Defense
Department of Public Works and Highways
Department of Science and Technology
Department of Social Welfare and Development
Department of Trade and Industry
National Economic Development Authority
Other Executive Offices (OEOs)
Civil Service Commission
Commission on Audit
Commission on Human Rights
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority

*SSL VI dashboard, inilunsad*

Sa ngalan ng transparency, accountability, at good governance, inatasan ni Sec. Mina ang pagsasagawa ng Salary Standardization Law VI (SSL VI) dashboard. Ito ay isang kasangkapang dinesenyo para magbigay ng real-time data sa mga ipinalabas na budget para sa mas madaling pagmonitor at epektibong oversight.

"This dashboard reflects our commitment to transparency and open government. What we want is for the people and our stakeholders to be informed as well as updated in real-time about our budget releases," ani Budget Secretary.

Ang salary increase dashboard ay aktibo na sa official website ng DBM at pwede nang ma-access sa pamamagitan ng link na ito: https://www.dbm.gov.ph/

Ang pagpapalabas ng mga pondo na may kaugnayan sa salary increase ay base sa mga isinumiteng request ng mga ahensya sa DBM sa kani-kanilang pagkalkula ng salary adjustment at mga requirements.

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