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July 05, 2023 6:20 PM

Many got loans online to buy concert tickets, gadgets and clothes, and now can hardly afford to pay their debts.

The delay is weighing on the government’s hopes for a swift conclusion of the investigation to safeguard the tourism sector’s image.

Following the sexual assault of a female student at the University of the Philippines Diliman, lawmakers have floated proposals to address security concerns on campus, including a bigger budget for campus police and enforcing gender-sensitive policies.

A HEALTH official urged the public to practice proper hygiene to avoid acquiring sore eyes.

Cebu City Health Office head Daisy Villa said sore eyes, scientifically known as conjunctivitis, is "highly contagious." It is caused by viral infection and allergies.

Villa said some of the measures the public may do to prevent themselves from acquiring sore eyes include washing and keeping their hands clean, avoid touching the eyes after touching random objects, and wearing of sunglasses.

For those who are infected, Villa advised them to stay at home to minimize the risk of spreading the infection.

She said household items like door knobs and utensils should be regularly cleaned to prevent contamination, and people should avoid rubbing the infected eye.

Villa also advised to use antibiotic eye drops to soothe irritation and prevent further inflammation. (Ian Christopher Ostulano, NWSSU Intern)

A HEALTH official warned the public to be cautious as several diseases may spread during hot season, including chicken pox, rashes, and hand-foot-and-mouth diseases.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) officially declared the start of El Niño on July 4, 2023.

Cebu City Health Office head Daisy Villa, in an interview with SunStar on Wednesday, July 5, said diseases such as conjuctivitis, hand-footh-and-mouth disease, chicken pox, rashes, and dermatitis are rampant during hot season.

Villa said such diseases occur due to skin dryness.

The dermatitis, though, according to Villa, may occur not only during hot season.

According to the Department of Health, several things that the public may do to prevent acquiring such diseases include keeping and trimming the fingernails short, minimizing scratching to prevent the virus from spreading and to prevent getting skin infection, and washing hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. (Juralyn B. Baldomaro, NWSSU Intern)

SEVERAL sidewalk vendors looked for ways to continue selling their products despite the heat of the sun, including staying hydrated and choosing an area where there are trees.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) declared on Tuesday, July 4, 2023, the start of the El Niño phenomenon in the country, which may emerge in the coming season from June to August with an 80 percent probability and may persist until the first quarter of 2024.

Maria Linda Manatad, who displays her products along Osmeña Blvd. in Cebu City, said she and other vendors prefer to stay in their huge umbrellas to avoid the intense temperature. She makes sure to bring enough water to keep herself hydrated.

Manatad sells food like crackers and biscuits every day, even on weekends.

Junesa Yata, another sidewalk vendor along Osmeña Blvd., said the heat makes her livelihood challenging, but she continued to do so to earn a living, since she has children who are studying.

"Init kaayo, labi na og udto, mga 10 (a.m.) to 3 (p.m.)... kay og dili pud mi maninda, wa man pud mi kan-on, mao baya among panginabuhian," said Yata.

(It's very hot, especially at noon, around 10 (a.m.) to 3 (p.m.)... If we don't sell, we have nothing to eat because that's our livelihood.)

For another sidewalk vendor, Julieta Pono, she prefers hot season because they can still sell, unlike rainy days.

She said they continue to display their goods even in the hot weather because it is still an opportunity to attract customers.

For Arnold Alquiza Dela Peña, who sells different drinks, he sees the hot season as an advantage for him, adding there is a high demand of cold drinks and water when it is hot. (Kyle Andrei Acuña, NWSSU Intern)

The petitioners asked the CA to immediately issue a writ of habeas corpus directing Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Lt. Gen. Andres Centino, Philippine National Police chief PGen. Benjamin Acorda Jr., and Criminal Investigation and Detention Group chief Brig. Gen. Romeo Caramat to present De Jesus and Capuyan before the court. 

THE Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) once again called on the people to return the money that they got from the viaduct of South Road Properties (SRP) in Cebu City after it fell from the backpack of a money remittance firm’s collector.

The collector, only identified as Tony, was bringing about P4 million on a motorcycle when his backpack's zipper broke, causing it to open, letting the money bills fly out into the air past 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 4.

Tony was supposed to deliver the money from a money remittance firm in SRP mall to their office in Mandaue City.

Only around P700,000 was left in his bag.

As of Tuesday afternoon, at least P1.3 million was recovered by Tony.

Later in the evening, another P44,850 in cash was turned over to the police.

The good-natured Cebuanos were once again urged by CCPO Chief Colonel Ireneo Dalogdog to prevail on honesty and return the money they got because it was not theirs.

“Naa may nawong nga makita nato kay naa may video nga gi upload. Kung kinsa man to sila, kung ugaling isa sa inyu, wala mo mag boluntaryo nga i-uli ninyu ang maong kwarta nga inyung napunit, palihog na lang pud para maka tabang mo sa kadtong nawad-an sa kwarta kay dili baya to niya personal nga kwarta,” said Dalogdog.

(Because a video was published, we can see the faces that were there. Whoever they are, if you did not voluntarily return the money you took, please do it right away to assist the guy who lost the money as it was not his own money.)

Dalogdog ordered Mambaling Police Chief Major Jonathan Bethoven Taneo to identify those in the video if they have already returned the money.

The police will be forced to file a theft case against them if they continue to refuse to cooperate despite repeated requests, according to Dalogdog.

The police also coordinated with the Land Transportation Office for the filing of charges against the owners of the vehicles seen in the video who took the money.

“Kung dili ninyu na siya i-uli, sigurado nga kamo ma filan og kaso kung mapamatod-an nga kadtong naa sa video nga among nakita kamo gyud to ang apil sa namunit,” Dalogdog said.

(If you don't return it, you will definitely be charged if it can be proven that you are among those who took the money.)

An investigation is still ongoing at the Mambaling Police Station to find out the exact amount of money brought by the collector. (AYB/TPT)

July 05, 2023 5:10 PM

Social media users noticed the minister's puffy eyes when he appeared in events.

The regional polls will not directly impact Anwar’s two-thirds majority in parliament, but any significant losses for his coalition could lead to questions about his leadership and destabilise his ruling bloc.

Street dwellers and those in need of shelter will receive identification cards and undergo biometric registration under the newly launched "Oplan Pag-Abot" program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development to help the agency monitor their status, the department chief said.

July 05, 2023 4:28 PM

China has been battered by devastating floods and unusually high temperatures in recent weeks.

July 05, 2023 4:15 PM

The Philippine Coast Guard says two of its ships were blocked by larger Chinese Coast Guard vessels on June 30.

POLITICALLY MOTIVATED killings easily grab headlines. In the Philippines, these have been disturbingly frequent. The assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo - so far one of the biggest stories in 2023 — proves this. While the coverage of the killing

CHEERS TO some media for marking LGBTQ+ Pride Month with critical and informative coverage. These news organizations kept the LGBTQ+ community and its rights on the agenda, with reports on the SOGIESC Equality Bill and the future of LGBTQ+ rights in the Philippines.

What's the Story?

A common thread among most reports on LGBTQ+ issues in the country is the SOGIESC (Sexual Orientation, Gende

More than one out of five Filipinos now have at least a high school degree, according to the latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, signifying a significant milestone in the education department’s two-decade crusade to widen access to secondary education.

It follows a similar move by Vietnam over a scene showing a map of the ‘invalidated nine-dash line’ that China uses to assert claims in the South China Sea.

THE Carcar City Government is now preoccupied with the preparations for the upcoming Pasigarbo sa Sugbo or the Festivals of Festivals, which will be held in the city for the first time.

It is said that the city government is 80 percent prepared for the event, which is scheduled on August 27.

Carcar City Mayor Patrick Barcenas told SunStar Cebu that they are putting up tents for guests, installing shelters, checking the water supply, and arranging sleeping accommodations for the contingents.

In addition to this, the city has changed its traffic strategy since the mayor believes that the activities may result in a traffic jam.

"We have a diversion route so that there is no traffic. Gov helped us by paving the road for approximately three kilometers, and we are continuing for about half a kilometer," Barcenas said on Wednesday, July 5.

The mayor claimed that the first 23 schools that would house the contingents from the different local government units (LGUs) throughout the province are already being prepared.

They will also conduct additional inspection rounds of the covered courts where athletes sought refuge during the recent Central Visayas Regional Athletics Association (CVIRAA) Meet.

Barcenas is planning to add more police personnel in the area for the safety of the participants.

"Ready na pod sa atong security. Nakig-meeting nako sa police kay ang atong gihimo sa CVIRAA mao sad atong himoon karon sa Pasigarbo. Nagpadugang sad ko para sa security," the mayor said.

(Our security is ready. I had a meeting with the police because what we did in CVIRAA will also be done in Pasigarbo. I also requested more security).

Recently, Barcenas welcomed the new city police chief, Lieutenant Colonel Mark Gifter Sucalit.

The festival, which will highlight the distinctive cultures, products, and delicacies of the contingents from the around 50 LGUs, is anticipated to draw spectators and tourists. (ANV, TPT)

The latest near miss in the South China Sea follows a tense face-off in April when a Chinese coastguard ship was witnessed blocking a Philippine vessel as it carried journalists near a Manila-claimed atoll.

The last survivors of a bygone age remember when Konyak warriors in the Myanmar borderlands severed the heads of their enemies to keep as trophies.