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THE HAGUE -- Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced his departure from politics on Monday, two days after his fourth government collapsed.

In a short statement prior to the debate on the fall of the government in The Hague, Rutte stated that he will no longer be available as leader of his People's Party for Freedom and Democracy in the next elections. (Netherlands-PM-Rutte)

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TASHKENT -- U

Moscow says there are no grounds for an extension or renewal of the deal, which expires next Tuesday, as most of Ukraine’s agricultural goods have gone to ‘well-fed countries’.

By: CMFR Staff

Posted on: July 11, 2023, 2:35 pm

NEWSROOMS JOINED the furor on social media over the lackluster slogan to promote Philippine tourism. Extended coverage included criticism of the high price of the PR campaign and reflected the deepening public dismay when a promotional video

July 11, 2023 8:40 AM

The “Wild Boars” team had entered the caves in June 2018 and were trapped by floods.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raised on June 8 the status of Mayon Volcano in Albay to Alert Level 3 after it showed an “increased tendency towards a hazardous eruption.”

July 11, 2023 7:58 AM

Ms Kim accused the US Air Force of intruding into the North’s “economic water zone” on Monday.

Thirteen parties were charged after an investigation following the 2019 eruption which killed 22 people.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people in Cameroon are all too aware of homophobic rhetoric and violent attacks against them. This has been highlighted once again in the outpouring of vitriol before a

The girl, who was 11 when she was raped, had engaged in self-harm and had suicidal thoughts to cope with distress from the incident.

(Nairobi) - Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied Arab militias summarily executed at least 28 ethnic Massalit and killed and injured dozens of civilians on May 28, 2023, in Sudan's West Darfur state, Human Rights Watch said today. Many of these abuses committed in the context of the armed conflict in Sudan amount to

THE Cebu Provincial Government will work with the Department of Tourism (DOT) to increase the number of Tourist Rest Areas (TRAs) throughout the province, as it aims to attract more visitors and promote economic growth.

Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia made this commitment during the official turnover and inauguration of the TRA in Barangay Poblacion, Medellin town in northern Cebu on Monday, July 10, 2023.

Medellin’s TRA is the first among the 10 TRAs in the country to be completed and inaugurated.

Three other TRAs in the province that broke ground last year have yet to be completed. These are located in Carmen town in northern Cebu, and Carcar City and Moalboal in southern Cebu.

The six other TRAs that are still under construction are in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, Baguio City, Palawan, Bohol, Samal Island in Davao Del Norte, and Bukidnon.

A Tourist Rest Area, one of the DOT’s flagship programs under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., encompasses a 300-square-meter zone with a coffee shop, pasalubong center, tourism information area, comfort rooms, and charging stations. Tourists can use the facility for free.

Garcia said the Province will match the number of TRAs that the DOT will construct in the province. The governor is the mother of DOT Secretary Christina Frasco, who recently faced criticism due to the agency’s tourism campaign “Love the Philippines” and the now-deleted tourism audiovisual presentation featuring stock footage of locations outside the country.

The official turnover and inauguration in Medellin were attended by several public officials, demonstrating support for the tourism secretary. A municipality under the fourth congressional district, Medellin is located 119 kilometers north of Cebu City.

Capitol’s TRA

Governor Garcia said that while there will be a total of four TRAs in Cebu Province, the Province will start by constructing only one TRA because the DOT has yet to complete the construction of the other three TRAs.

Garcia said Bogo City, Medellin’s neighbor, will receive the first TRA sponsored by the Capitol.

In an interview, Garcia expressed the possibility of constructing more TRAs than those planned by the DOT, as she intends to supplement the project in cities and municipalities throughout the province.

“If the mayors ask, we just cannot refuse,” she said.

The governor said that a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signing ceremony with the DOT is scheduled for August. The MOA will outline her plans to replicate the TRA project, adopting the same model and architectural design as the tourism agency.

Garcia added that the DOT will incentivize the best-managed TRA in the future, and the TRAs built by the Capitol can participate in the rewards program.

Boost for Medellin

Medellin Mayor Joven Mondigo Jr. said he is grateful that his town is the recipient of the DOT’s first batch of Tourist Rest Areas.

Mondigo said the facility will significantly boost tourist arrivals in his town, especially since many residents who lost their jobs due to the closure of sugar mills during the Covid-19 pandemic have turned to tourism as a source of income.

Manifesto

Forty-four mayors, 12 district representatives, business leaders, members of the diplomatic community, and other stakeholders signed a manifesto of support for Frasco following the tourism video fiasco.

In her speech, Frasco said she is thankful for the support she received from the Cebuanos during these challenging times.

“My grandfather, former governor Pabling (Pablo) Garcia, always used to say that when the heart is full, the mouth cannot speak. Let me begin by simply saying thank you. Daghan kaayong salamat (Thank you very much),” she said.

Frasco also revealed plans to build an additional 15 TRAs in various locations throughout the country. But she did not give specifics on the plan.

THE recent rains and unpredictable weather have caused delays in the construction of Package 1 of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT).

This is according to CBRT project overseer Roberto “Bo” Varquez, who said that workers typically prepare the site in the morning for concreting at night. However, the rains that have been occurring on several nights have hampered their work.

“The weather is very unpredictable, and it’s a big concern for us,” Varquez said in a mix of Cebuano and English.

He also said his office is monitoring the situation and that the City Government has extended support to the contractor, Hunan Road and Bridge Construction, allowing them to work on weekends.

If the inclement weather persists, Hunan Construction might consider subcontracting work on some areas, but there is no final decision yet, according to Varquez.

The center islands in some portions along Osmena Boulevard from Fuente Osmeña Circle to Abellana National School have already been removed. The two skywalks along the route are also scheduled for removal within this month, Varquez said.

Varquez said the removal of center islands is necessary due to the limited width of the roads, and to ensure smooth bus operations.

The CBRT overseer said they have requested the Department of Transportation (DOTr) that the bus route from Package 1 be extended all the way to the Cebu Business Park, which is part of Package 2, even before the infrastructure for Package 2 is built, to get commuters to be familiar with the route.

Phase 1 of BRT project has a budget of P16.3 billion, and is composed of three packages.

Package 1, awarded to Hunan Construction for P900 million, covers 2.38 kilometers from the Cebu Provincial Capitol to the Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT).

Package 2 consists of 10.8 kilometers of routes from the Provincial Capitol to Cebu IT Park in Barangay Lahug, and another route from CSBT to the South Road Properties (SRP).

It is composed of two routes: one is from the Provincial Capitol to Cebu IT Park traversing Escario Street, Gorordo Avenue, Archbishop Reyes Avenue and M.J. Cuenco Avenue, while the other is from CSBT to SRP traversing N. Bacalso Avenue.

Package 3 will include 22.1 kilometers of routes from the Cebu I.T. Park to Barangay Talamban and from the SRP to Talisay City.

Varquez asked the public to be patient, saying once Package 1 is ready, people can start to see and appreciate the value of the CBRT.

THE Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged two infrastructure projects in the town of Compostela in northern Cebu, citing issues on non-implementation, unused government funds and insufficient detailed engineering design.

In its 2022 Audit Report, COA revealed that Compostela had not implemented the construction of Community College despite receiving P6 million in funding assistance for it from the Cebu Provincial Government, and that it had also not utilized as of the end of 2022 the P3 million in Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) it received for the building of a multi-purpose hall in Barangay Poblacion.

The COA also cited the insufficient detailed engineering design that caused the delay in the implementation of the construction of Phase 1 of the multi-purpose building.

The state auditor added that the non-implementation and non-utilization of these funds have deprived the constituents of the use and benefit of the projects.

Community College

On Dec. 29, 2020, the Municipality of Compostela received financial assistance from the Province of Cebu for the three-phase construction of a community college. However, as of December 2022, the fund remained unutilized, COA reported.

The state auditor said the project was procured and awarded to a contractor on Feb. 29, 2022, and on March 3, 2022, a notice to proceed was issued by the previous administration of Froilan Quiño to the contractor.

However, suspension orders were issued on March 7 and March 25, 2022, due to the relocation of the site and the election ban, respectively, while orders to resume were then issued on March 11, 2022 and July 1, 2022.

COA also reported that a separate procurement for the backfilling project (the process of filling in the excavated area around a foundation or structure) for the proposed Community College was conducted with the final payment of this recorded in February 2022.

But the agency found out that the contractor for the project had zero accomplishment as it did not resume the construction works for the project.

Multi-purpose building

A Local Government Support Fund amounting to P3 million was awarded to the Compostela local government unit (LGU) on Sept. 30, 2020 for the construction of a multi-purpose hall in Barangay Poblacion. However, it remained unutilized for over two years and was not reverted back to the source agency.

COA said this contradicts the Guidelines on the Release and the Utilization of the LGSF-Other Financial Assistance (FA) to LGUs in the Fiscal Year 2020 General Appropriations Act provided under Department of Budget and Management Legally Binding Contract (LBC) 122 dated Jan. 31, 2020.

According to Item 3.15 of the LBC, if at any point before Dec. 31, 2021, the LGU determines that the funds can no longer be utilized, for example when the program(s) and the project(s) cannot be implemented for any reason or when the same have been funded from other sources, the amount received by the same LGU from the LGSF-FA to LGUs shall be immediately reverted to the National Treasury.

The fund should have been returned to the source agency in compliance with the above-mentioned guidelines on Dec. 31, 2021.

However, COA found out that the former mayor awarded the contract for the construction of Phase 1 of the multi-purpose building only on Feb. 15, 2022, with the notice to proceed awarded on Feb. 21, 2022.

However, the municipal engineer failed to present necessary data on the project and upon deeper inquiry, personnel from the Municipal Engineering Office claimed that the project was 80 to 90 percent finished.

Furthermore, the COA said detailed engineering investigation, survey and design for the project was not sufficiently carried out by the Compostela LGU prior to the implementation of the project as evidenced by the suspension order and variation order issued by the Municipality on July 4, 2022 due to the inadequate backfill materials to stabilize the slab on the ground, contributing to delays in the project.

The election ban had already earlier suspended work on the site from March 25-June 30, 2022. The two suspension orders thus extended the completion date of the project from June 20, 2022 to Nov. 4, 2022.

COA said the Compostela LGU violated Section 17.6 of the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184 stating that no bidding and contract awards must be given to a contractor unless the “detailed engineering and investigations, surveys and designs” including the right-of-way acquisition for the project has been carried out.

Recommendations

COA recommended that the Compostela LGU examine the extent of the delay and consider imposing liquidated damages or terminating the contract with the contractor for the unimplemented construction of the Community College pursuant to Section 9 of Annex E of the Revised IRR of RA 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act of 2003.

Replying to the COA, the Compostela LGU said it is preparing the documents for the termination of the contract for the proposed Community College, citing its infeasibility and its requirement of more funds for completion. The town will also request the realignment of the funds to its other priority projects.

As for the multi-purpose building, the state auditor recommended, and Mayor Felijur Quiño agreed, that the Compostela LGU request for an extension from the source agency for the utilization of the funds and project implementation, or else the funds must be returned to the source agency.

COA also suggested that the municipal planning and development officer and the municipal engineer ensure that projects funded from assistance are timely implemented in accordance with the guidelines.

The Compostela LGU also agreed to the COA’s recommendation to conduct reasonably accurate and sufficient detailed engineering for all its projects henceforth to reduce or eliminate the need for variation orders that delay the completion of projects. (EHP with Claudine Flores, CNU Intern)

THE Commission on Elections in Central Visayas (Comelec 7) has delisted over 20,000 voter registrations in the province of Cebu ahead of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on Oct. 30, 2023.

The data provided by Comelec 7 to SunStar Cebu show that as of July 10, 2023, there were 20,633 delisted voters in Cebu.

In a statement last week, the Comelec’s central office said that as of July 7, some 381,906 voter registration records nationwide have been deleted or abated.

A large majority of records delisted are those with identities of two or more voters’ fingerprints based on the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (Afis)—244,775.

Coming in second are voters who have already transferred to another city or municipality— 131,574.

Other reasons for deletion include voters found to have double/multiple records at the city/municipal level (3,306); voters who are deceased as reported/confirmed by the local civil registrars (2,075); and voters who failed to vote twice in two succeeding regular elections (176).

Final list

The Comelec aims to release the certified and final computerized voters’ lists for the BSKE by Aug. 1.

In Cebu, majority of the removed registrations were voters who transferred to another city or municipality—9,172 voters.

A total of 6,215 voters with two or more fingerprints detected by the Afis were removed from the list.

A total of 5,231 confirmed deceased voters and 15 voters with multiple or double records in the city or municipality were also delisted.

With these changes, the number of voters for BSKE 2023 in Cebu province reached 3,384,185.

However, the Comelec 7 said these figures may be subject to change due to the ongoing evaluation process. (UP CEBU INTERN CHRYS CHELSEA BERNALES, HDT / SunStar Philippines)

July 11, 2023 5:44 AM

US air surveillance assets conduct routine reconnaissance flights around the peninsula..

The BBC gets rare access to a South Korean facility that helps those arriving from the North.

Decision by electronic components giant a setback in New Delhi’s quest to become a global chip hub amid US-China tech war, analysts say.

While the rich world agonises over the latest tech, Bangladesh is getting on with future-proofing its educational system using low-cost, high-impact digital tools.

At least one person dies after a huge metal construction girder falls onto a busy road in the Thai capital.

The Associate Minister of Health (Mori Health) has today announced the appointment of three new members to the Board of Te Aka Whai Ora, the Mori Health Authority. They will support current members in providing oversight, insight, and foresight for the organisation.

The new members are: