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Tropical cyclone Egay is forecast to steadily increase in strength and may reach the severe tropical storm category today as state weather forecasters are not ruling out a possible landfall scenario over Northern Luzon.

As the Philippines approaches the tail end of the peace process, soldiers are now tasked to shift from being war fighters to peacemakers, President Marcos said.

Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo will be the guest of honor and speaker during the awards ceremony of the Foundation for Liberty and Prosperity (FLP) on July 28 at the Stephen Fuller Hall, Asian Institute of Management in Makati City.

President Marcos has appointed fiber internet tycoon Dennis Anthony Uy as his special envoy to South Korea for digital transformation.

While it vows to exercise restraint, the Philippine National Police yesterday urged leaders of cause-oriented groups to police their own ranks to ensure a peaceful outcome of President Marcos’ second State of the Nation Address tomorrow.

Malacañang suspended work in government offices and classes in public schools in all levels in Metro Manila for tomorrow because of possible bad weather and a three-day transport strike that organizers claimed would paralyze transportation in the capital region.

Will the Marcos administration finally be able to end the license plate shortage that has troubled transport officials and motorists since 2016?

The government may resort to “outright confrontation” in dealing with prosecutors from the International Criminal Court who might insist on entering the country to investigate thousands of extrajudicial killings allegedly committed by security forces in the conduct of the Duterte administration’s war on drugs, a ranking justice official said yesterday.

Former Department of Health secretary and now Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin will seek a reinvestigation on the graft and technical malversation charges filed against her and four other former and incumbent officials in connection with the agency’s Dengvaxia vaccination program during the Aquino administration.

 

NEW DELHI, 22nd July, 2023 (WAM) - The UAE is committed to playing an active role in the international efforts to shape a better future for societies and people around the world through creating job opportunities and enhancing human resources' contribution to a sustainable development cycle, Dr. Abd

It is not only content creators who use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to write compelling material. Government offices and officials have also been known to use AI to write their speeches.

The first to come out with a confession was United States Democratic Representative for Massachusetts, Jake Auchinclos, on January 26, 2023. He became the first member of the US Congress to deliver an AI-written speech before the House of Representatives. A CNN report said Auchinclos’s speech was, aptly enough, in support of a measure to establish a joint AI research center to be run by the US and Israel.

Auchinclos’s speech written by ChatGPT, a text-based artificial intelligence, sounded direct, straightforward, and without emotion. It was based on the prompt fed to ChatGPT: “You are Jake Auchincloss, a Member of Congress. Write 100 words to deliver on the floor of the House of Representatives. Topic: the importance of the United States–Israel Artificial Intelligence Center Act, which the congressman will re-introduce this term.”

His speech stated that the proposed legislation “will cement a mutually beneficial partnership between the United States and Israel on artificial intelligence research” and how the collaboration will “ensure that the United States maintains a leadership role in AI research and development...” All sounds good but boring because ChatGPT’s response depends on the question or the prompt.

Auchinclos, in the CNN interview, also spoke of how AI can potentially be harmful and that there is a need to “counteract any kind of dystopian future.” He pushed for more players and said the technology should be made available to universities, non-profit organizations, small companies and public officials “so everybody can have a hand in shaping it, and it works for everybody.” The AI “is a tool, not a master,” and should amplify human creativity and productivity, “not allow it to create economic or social conditions that years from now we will try to change.”

The US legislator may not be the only public official to deliver an AI-written speech, but he was the first to admit it. It is tempting to think how the next government speech is factual and not made up since ChatGPT is a tool that responds based on the question it is fed and the data it can access.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is set to deliver his second State of the Nation Address at the House of Representatives on Monday, July 24, 2023. He promised that his speech will be a “very simple” performance report to Filipinos.

I don’t think his speechwriters will use ChatGPT as the text-based technology has limitations. If they do use the tool, they have to be transparent and have to acknowledge that it was written with the help of AI, as Auchinclos did after his speech, and that the report does not veer away from the truth.

There are ways to check if something was written by AI.

It is not only content creators who use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to write compelling material. Government offices and officials have also been known to use AI to write their speeches.

The first to come out with a confession was United States Democratic Representative for Massachusetts, Jake Auchinclos, on January 26, 2023. He became the first member of the US Congress to deliver an AI-written speech before the House of Representatives. A CNN report said Auchinclos’s speech was, aptly enough, in support of a measure to establish a joint AI research center to be run by the US and Israel.

Auchinclos’s speech written by ChatGPT, a text-based artificial intelligence, sounded direct, straightforward, and without emotion. It was based on the prompt fed to ChatGPT: “You are Jake Auchincloss, a Member of Congress. Write 100 words to deliver on the floor of the House of Representatives. Topic: the importance of the United States–Israel Artificial Intelligence Center Act, which the congressman will re-introduce this term.”

His speech stated that the proposed legislation “will cement a mutually beneficial partnership between the United States and Israel on artificial intelligence research” and how the collaboration will “ensure that the United States maintains a leadership role in AI research and development...” All sounds good but boring because ChatGPT’s response depends on the question or the prompt.

Auchinclos, in the CNN interview, also spoke of how AI can potentially be harmful and that there is a need to “counteract any kind of dystopian future.” He pushed for more players and said the technology should be made available to universities, non-profit organizations, small companies and public officials “so everybody can have a hand in shaping it, and it works for everybody.” The AI “is a tool, not a master,” and should amplify human creativity and productivity, “not allow it to create economic or social conditions that years from now we will try to change.”

The US legislator may not be the only public official to deliver an AI-written speech, but he was the first to admit it. It is tempting to think how the next government speech is factual and not made up since ChatGPT is a tool that responds based on the question it is fed and the data it can access.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is set to deliver his second State of the Nation Address at the House of Representatives on Monday, July 24, 2023. He promised that his speech will be a “very simple” performance report to Filipinos.

I don’t think his speechwriters will use ChatGPT as the text-based technology has limitations. If they do use the tool, they have to be transparent and have to acknowledge that it was written with the help of AI, as Auchinclos did after his speech, and that the report does not veer away from the truth.

There are ways to check if something was written by AI.

About 15,000 protesters demanded arrests after a video showed two naked women surrounded by men groping their genitals and dragging them into a field in Manipur where more than 130 people have been killed since violence erupted in May.

THE chairman of the Alyansa sa mga Mamumuo sa Sugbo-Kilusang Mayo Uno (AMA Sugbo-KMU) has reminded the state and employers that everyone has the right to create or join a labor union, based on the “Freedom of Association” provided in the Constitution.

Jaime Paglinawan, during the “Dole (Department of Labor and Employment) 7 Talks” program on Friday, July 21, said the provision allows employees, through a legal representation, to voice out and call upon their employers to address their concerns over wages, benefits, and other terms, and negotiate.

Only 47 unions

“Based on our monitoring, even though our data was still in 2019 but it is still close to reality, we have only 47 registered labor unions, of which a few of them have a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) in Central Visayas,” Paglinawan said.

CBA is a contract in which working people, through their unions, can negotiate with their employers in terms of employment, pay, benefits, hours, leave, job policies and many more.

He added that aside from issues with their employers, red-tagging and harassment from state forces also factor in as to why only a few labor unions exist in the region.

AMA Sugbo-KMU had pleaded anew to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) 7 to hasten the investigation on these incidents.

Death threats

It and other progressive groups filed an inquiry on Monday, July 17, seeking an update on the investigation from a complaint they filed two years ago regarding red-tagging and death threats against union leaders, among others.

Paglinawan said in a press statement on Monday that since the first submission of the complaint on Jan. 17, 2021, the case has not been resolved. Instead, the alleged incidents of harassment have only worsened, he said.

On June 29, Renato Gimenez, a former unionist, said he was harassed by a man claiming to be an intelligence officer. Casmero Mahilum, also a former unionist, said he had a similar experience. According to Mahilum, he was followed and pressured to become an informant.

Paglinawan said both incidents could be considered harassment and intimidation against labor leaders who advocate for workers’ rights, pointing out that both Gimenez and Mahilum were active in defending their coworkers’ rights against unfair labor practices of their employer.

He said that although the CHR 7 has responded to their inquiry and claimed that the office is taking action, it did not specify what actions have been taken.

The labor group condemned the death threats and red-tagging they received from state officials, which should be defending workers’ rights, and called on the CHR 7 and other agencies to put an end to this alarming practice. (EHP, AML)

@ALEX: I read your article last week about the differences between relationships, and I wanted to share a personal situation my girlfriend and I are facing. We’ve been together for three years now, both in our thirties and with stable careers. As we’ve grown closer, we’ve reached a point where we are seriously considering marriage. However, there’s one significant challenge we’re struggling to resolve — we come from different religious backgrounds. While I won’t specify which ones, both of our families are deeply committed to their respective faiths, making it near impossible for anyone to compromise. Even in the venue of the marriage rites or which religion our children should adopt. Neither of us is giving in. It doesn’t help that whenever we consult elders, they would suggest one of us should convert to the other’s religion. I admire your reasonableness and the support you’ve provided as a virtual friend to many. Your insights could be valuable as we navigate this complex situation.

DJ: I greatly understand how religion unifies and strengthens a relationship. What saddens me is how it can also tear relationships apart. Opposite attracts but I’m glad you’re not putting a sock over your religious differences. Good job! Both of you are working through issues instead of rushing into decisions just for the sake of becoming mister and misses which can lead to regrets later on. Have you considered premarital counseling? Your elders have spoken. Seeking guidance from a neutral party can help facilitate conversations about important topics.

What made you say that you’re both standing your ground? Is there mutual respect? Sure, you grew up with different perspectives but neither belief system is inherently right or wrong. That’s just my opinion. How open are you for a religious mashup? If it’s a Venn diagram, focus more on where the overlaps are. I do know of certain denominations that hold a savage commitment to their faith. If you and your girlfriend fall in these types of groups, it looks like it’s going to be an uphill climb.

You mentioned your individual beliefs hold a fundamental place in each other’s lives. Thus, neither of you should cancel the other’s conviction. I was born and raised as a Catholic. But my upbringing took place in a culturally rich and religiously diverse environment. Early on, my parents taught me openness about different practices. Stereotyping often is but a result of lack of knowledge. And through time, I’ve seen how faith guides us in our individual journey. Pretty much like a GPS. Somehow, we still end up at the same destination. Can both of you support this vibe when it comes to raising your own kids? Are you cool about exposing them to both religions, freely exploring their beliefs?

If your families are deeply committed to their respective faiths, I hope you have open-minded friends. If there will be barriers, it helps to have people who can serve as translators. By now it’s clear I’m an advocate of inclusion. Given how complex our world has become, there’s a greater call to foster a sense of belonging particularly if you’re with the majority, to create a space where anyone can feel accepted and valued. Besides, welcoming people into our lives without judgement is part of loving and love is a core teaching to many religions.

Perhaps, this is you and your partner’s calling. Part of Cupid’s target. Love’s tag team. Think about it. Are you glowing up at honoring each other’s belief? If things are like looking for a needle in a haystack, do you still laugh while you’re searching? Even if faith has been a foremost part of you and your partner’s life, you can still slay the relationship. It’s like you prefer sunrise, she likes sunset and you have the whole day covered. A lifetime of disagreements, though, can be devastating. Heads up. It’s still ultimately up to you and her.

THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 7 has delivered President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s mandate to the agency during his State of the Nation Address (Sona) a year ago, particularly on expanding programs on emergency response.

According to DSWD 7 Director Shalaine Lucero on Saturday, July 22, 2023, they’ve already prepositioned goods in different local government units (LGUs) in the region.

In his speech during his first Sona on July 25, 2022, Marcos ordered the agency to lead the initiative in assisting calamity victims.

Lucero said prepositioning goods was not previously possible after former president Rodrigo Duterte suspended the practice due to the alleged illegal distribution of relief items by erring politicians.

Lucero said it was during the time of former DSWD secretary Erwin Tulfo when they started prepositioning goods in different areas, focusing on placing more family food packs in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (Gidas).

Marcos had named Tulfo to head the DSWD, but the former broadcaster stepped down in December 2022 after the Commission on Appointments bypassed his appointment twice.

Tulfo was replaced by Valenzuela 1st District Rep. Rex Gatchalian last Jan. 31.

Stockpile

Lucero said they have considerably raised the stockpile of relief goods to provide sufficient food packs to families affected by typhoons, floods and other disasters.

She said they have prepositioned 46,000 food packs in 57 of the 132 LGUs in Central Visayas, adding that they took into account the archipelagic setting of the region to explain how they came up with the numbers.

She said LGUs are supposed to share prepositioned food packs with nearby areas that also need them.

Aside from prepositioned goods, Lucero said they also have food packs on standby that are easily accessible when disasters strike.

Lucero said the region needs at least 50,000 food packs, but they have around 60,000 on standby at all times.

She assured that if there is a need to respond to a disaster, the agency can immediately attend to the call, saying that “if there is an LGU that needs help, we are ready to respond swiftly.”

She also identified the cities of Canlaon and Guihulngan, both in Negros Oriental, as Gidas due to the threat of Mt. Canlaon and the ongoing skirmishes between the military and rebels, respectively.

Warehouses

She said they have warehouses in Cebu, Bohol and Negros Oriental, which are manned by well-trained supervisors to manage the appropriation of goods to avoid spoilage.

Lucero said they also make sure goods that are given to calamity victims are fit for human consumption.

She said boxes containing food packs are printed with the expiry date.

The director added that the rice they use is of good quality, and can last up to a year in storage.

To make sure that food packs don’t go to waste, the LGUs can distribute them as part of their food-for-work program three months before their expiry date.

According to Lucero, an average food pack usually contains six kilos of rice, eight sachets of coffee, eight packs of instant noodles, three cans of sardines and three cans of corned beef, and is worth around P550.

She said a food pack can sustain a family of five for two days.

‘Security concerns with respect to Chinese investments in India were flagged during the deliberations,’ Indian media reported an official as saying.

THE Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) 7 has submitted a list of achievements one year since the agency was ordered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to help enable the public and private sectors to achieve their mandates using technology.

DICT 7 Director Frederick Amores said their core focus is to improve infrastructure and awareness, and strengthen economic industry and opportunity while being a world-class service provider.

Satellite communication

He said they tapped the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices of Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor for capacity and capability building activities and training, and set up very small aperture terminals (VSATs), which enable satellite communications and data transfer from and to everywhere around the world; deployed satellite phones; and introduced an IP radio system and basic networking; among others, at local government units (LGUs).

He said they’ve been working with LGUs to help them prepare for faster communication accessibility during disasters.

He said 10 percent of the LGUs in the region already have VSATs.

He said the agency’s ICT Literacy and Competency Development Bureau, which is tasked to capacitate the public with ICT literacy, has been implementing programs and conducting trainings to equip individuals with the necessary information and skills for ICT competency, particularly on managing Bitcoins and cryptocurrencies through Bitskwela.

Business permit licensing

He said they also developed the Integrated Business Permit Licensing System (iBPLS), an online application that helps LGUs expedite the processing and issuance of business permits, building permits, certificates of occupancy and barangay clearances.

He said one of the main goals of Marcos’ administration is the digitalization of the bureaucracy.

“The DICT has developed a system [iBPLS] for them to use, free of cost,” he said.

As of now, 41 of 132 LGUs in the region have adopted the system, he said.

“Local governments have the option to either make their own just like what Cebu City did. The most important is they are able to deliver their services digitally,” Amores said.

As part of the National Broadband Plan, DICT 7 has connected 81 agencies in Cebu to the government network, providing high-speed broadband connection.

Other achievements:

Installed 137 free wifi in the region;

Connected with several government agencies to train cyber warriors to provide cybersecurity;

Showcased start-ups, business process outsourcing and ICT development in the countryside; and

Partnered with the Department of Trade and Industry and Department of Science and Technology for a start-up program.

“DICT is relatively a small department compared to other offices. We have to leverage what we have. We can move by partnering with other organizations, local governments, other government agencies in growing up our programs... So I think the mindset should be collaboration, the national government collaborating with the local government, other agencies, private organizations. We have so many examples here of collaborations with the private sector to achieve common goals,” Amores said. (Claudine Flores, CNU Intern)

IN A bid to address the worsening traffic congestion, the Cebu City Government has launched a comprehensive Road Recovery Program, along with several road widening and opening projects.

The Road Recovery Program, spearheaded by the city’s Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW), focuses on rehabilitating and improving existing roads to ensure smoother traffic flow, said Cebu City Councilor Jerry Guardo during SunStar’s online program “Beyond the Headlines” on Monday, July 17, 2023.

The program includes repairing potholes, resurfacing damaged roads and improving road markings and signage for better visibility.

The City has also identified the urgent need for diversion roads to divert traffic away from heavily congested areas.

Guardo said one of the major projects under the Road Recovery Program is the construction of diversion roads, which will provide motorists with alternative routes.

He added that the DPWH is working closely with urban planners and engineers to identify suitable locations for these diversion roads, ensuring they effectively alleviate traffic congestion.

Simultaneously, the City has initiated road widening projects to accommodate the growing number of vehicles.

Guardo said widening existing roads will not only increase their capacity but also enhance safety by providing additional lanes for motorists. To ensure the success of these projects, the local government has allocated funds for road infrastructure development.

The funds will be utilized for road repairs, widening and the construction of diversion roads, said Guardo. (Juralyn Beso Baldomaro NWSSU intern)

Fashion has long been associated with glamour, luxury and excess. However, there has been an increasing trend toward sustainable fashion in recent years. Claudia Bezza-Yeung’s Santorini Cruise Collection launched in May is a perfect example of how fashion can be both stylish and environmentally friendly.

The collection showcased on a runway at the Kandaya Resort in Daanbantayan, Cebu was a breath of fresh air in the world of fashion. Inspired by the picturesque island of Santorini, her designs exude elegance, sophistication, and a touch of Mediterranean charm. Bezza-Yeung’s designs were not only stunning but also made from sustainable materials. From organic cotton to recycled fabrics, every piece in the collection had an eco-friendly touch.

The color palette chosen for this collection is worth noting. Soft pastels, such as pale blues and pinks, are juxtaposed with bold pops of color like romantic pinks and vibrant yellows. This combination creates a visually striking contrast that adds depth and interest to each look.

What set this debut apart was not just the attention to detail but also the use of sustainable materials in terms of production practices. Bezza-Yeung ensured that her garments were ethically made, with fair wages and safe working conditions for all involved. This commitment to sustainability extended beyond just the clothes themselves; even the packaging was eco-friendly, using recycled materials and minimal waste.

In addition to being environmentally conscious, Claudia’s designs were also versatile and timeless. The pieces could easily transition from day to night or from beachwear to evening wear. This versatility is essential in promoting sustainability as it encourages consumers to invest in pieces that can be worn for years rather than discarded after one season.

“The collection, as with all our pieces, is made from discarded fabric that we source from China and Dubai,” shared designer Claudia Bezza Yeung. “The fabrics for this collection were acquired at different times, and were kept in storage since the pandemic, and it was only recently that they all came together with this vision: Santorini!”

Overall, Claudia Bezza-yeung’s Santorini Cruise Collection Seaside Debut was a testament to how fashion can embrace sustainability without compromising on style or quality. By using eco-friendly materials and ethical production practices while creating beautiful designs that stand the test of time, Bezza-Yeung has set a new standard for the fashion industry. It is a reminder that fashion can be both glamorous and sustainable, and that we all have a role to play in making the industry more environmentally friendly.