Day: July 2, 2024

SEOUL, The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) failed Tuesday to table a contentious bill mandating a special counsel investigation into the military’s response to a Marine’s death last year.

The DP had planned to introduce the bill immediately after the end of an interpellation session, but the session was adjourned about two hours after it began due to sparring between rival party lawmakers and failed to resume.

The special probe bill calls for a special counsel to look into allegations that the presidential office and the defense ministry inappropriately interfered in the Marines’ investigation into the death of Cpl. Chae Su-geun, killed during a search mission for victims of heavy downpours in July 2023.

The DP-led bill had initially passed through the previous assembly but was voted down in a revote after President Yoon Suk Yeol vetoed it. The DP proposed it again after the new National Assembly came into office in late May.

The ruling People Power Party (PPP) has been adamantly against the bill,
and threatened earlier in the day to launch a filibuster should the DP push to pass it.

During the interpellation session, however, DP Rep. Kim Byung-joo called PPP lawmakers “out of their minds” for allegedly using the term “South Korea-U.S.-Japan alliance” in a party commentary, prompting strong protests from the PPP lawmakers over his language.

South Korea is allies with the United States, but the notion of an alliance involving Japan would be a highly sensitive matter due to public resentment of Tokyo’s 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula.

The row forced the session’s suspension, with the PPP demanding an apology from Kim and Kim reportedly refusing.

The DP is expected to table the special probe bill Wednesday following another interpellation session, though the PPP could respond with a filibuster, which could then disrupt Thursday’s interpellation session.

A filibuster involves lawmakers holding the floor for extended periods as a way to prevent a parliamentary vote or delay the passage of
a bill.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

SEOUL, The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) failed Tuesday to table a contentious bill mandating a special counsel investigation into the military’s response to a Marine’s death last year.

The DP had planned to introduce the bill immediately after the end of an interpellation session, but the session was adjourned about two hours after it began due to sparring between rival party lawmakers and failed to resume.

The special probe bill calls for a special counsel to look into allegations that the presidential office and the defense ministry inappropriately interfered in the Marines’ investigation into the death of Cpl. Chae Su-geun, killed during a search mission for victims of heavy downpours in July 2023.

The DP-led bill had initially passed through the previous assembly but was voted down in a revote after President Yoon Suk Yeol vetoed it. The DP proposed it again after the new National Assembly came into office in late May.

The ruling People Power Party (PPP) has been adamantly against the bill,
and threatened earlier in the day to launch a filibuster should the DP push to pass it.

During the interpellation session, however, DP Rep. Kim Byung-joo called PPP lawmakers “out of their minds” for allegedly using the term “South Korea-U.S.-Japan alliance” in a party commentary, prompting strong protests from the PPP lawmakers over his language.

South Korea is allies with the United States, but the notion of an alliance involving Japan would be a highly sensitive matter due to public resentment of Tokyo’s 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula.

The row forced the session’s suspension, with the PPP demanding an apology from Kim and Kim reportedly refusing.

The DP is expected to table the special probe bill Wednesday following another interpellation session, though the PPP could respond with a filibuster, which could then disrupt Thursday’s interpellation session.

A filibuster involves lawmakers holding the floor for extended periods as a way to prevent a parliamentary vote or delay the passage of
a bill.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

MANILA: Low-cost airline Cebu Pacific (CEB) has just made the largest aircraft order in Philippine aviation history, purchasing 152 aircraft from Airbus.

In a disclosure on Tuesday, the airline said it signed a memorandum of understanding with Airbus for the aircraft order worth PHP1.4 trillion (USD24 billion).

“The order is designed to provide CEB with maximum flexibility to adapt fleet growth to market conditions, with the ability to switch between the A321neo and A320neo,” CEB chief executive officer Michael Szucs said in a statement.

The Gokongwei-led airline’s order is for up to 102 A321neo and 50 A320neo.

CEB has also selected Pratt and Whitney GTF engines to power the future aircraft.

Meanwhile, the purchase agreement is expected to be completed in the third quarter this year.

“When finalized, the deal will be a significant milestone for the local airline industry and a testament to CEB’s unwavering commitment to support the Philippine growth story,” the airline said.

‘Very good sign’ for econ
omy

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. welcomed CEB’s multi-billion-dollar plan to acquire new aircraft from Airbus.

The President told CEB officials during their courtesy call in Malacañang Tuesday that their plan ‘is a very good sign’ for the Philippine economy.

‘It gives us great deal of encouragement that if we get it right, we can actually get something done and make the transformation of our economy. Make it happen,’ President Marcos said, as quoted in a Presidential News Desk news release.

Szucs said the order is an indication of the company’s confidence in the Philippine economy.

‘This is an enormously a bold step. We wouldn’t be doing it without having confidence in the direction the country is going,’ Szucs told President Marcos.

The CEB officials led by Lance Gokongwei, president and chief executive officer of JG Summit Holdings, Inc., which owns Cebu Pacific, informed President Marcos of its investment plans and government support to keep the Philippine aviation industry competitive.

Szucs s
aid the company led the domestic airline market with 54 percent market share, followed by the Philippine Airlines (29 percent) and AirAsia (17 percent). Its first quarter 2024 revenue reached PHP25.3 billion with total assets at about PHP200 billion.

CEB was awarded Best Airline at the Routes Asia 2024 Awards in February 2024 in recognition of its contributions to airport and destination marketing in the Asia Pacific region, specifically the resumption of its Clark hub operations and launching of 15 domestic and international destinations in April last year.

Currently, CEB flies to 35 domestic and 25 international destinations.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Low-cost airline Cebu Pacific (CEB) has just made the largest aircraft order in Philippine aviation history, purchasing 152 aircraft from Airbus.

In a disclosure on Tuesday, the airline said it signed a memorandum of understanding with Airbus for the aircraft order worth PHP1.4 trillion (USD24 billion).

“The order is designed to provide CEB with maximum flexibility to adapt fleet growth to market conditions, with the ability to switch between the A321neo and A320neo,” CEB chief executive officer Michael Szucs said in a statement.

The Gokongwei-led airline’s order is for up to 102 A321neo and 50 A320neo.

CEB has also selected Pratt and Whitney GTF engines to power the future aircraft.

Meanwhile, the purchase agreement is expected to be completed in the third quarter this year.

“When finalized, the deal will be a significant milestone for the local airline industry and a testament to CEB’s unwavering commitment to support the Philippine growth story,” the airline said.

‘Very good sign’ for econ
omy

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. welcomed CEB’s multi-billion-dollar plan to acquire new aircraft from Airbus.

The President told CEB officials during their courtesy call in Malacañang Tuesday that their plan ‘is a very good sign’ for the Philippine economy.

‘It gives us great deal of encouragement that if we get it right, we can actually get something done and make the transformation of our economy. Make it happen,’ President Marcos said, as quoted in a Presidential News Desk news release.

Szucs said the order is an indication of the company’s confidence in the Philippine economy.

‘This is an enormously a bold step. We wouldn’t be doing it without having confidence in the direction the country is going,’ Szucs told President Marcos.

The CEB officials led by Lance Gokongwei, president and chief executive officer of JG Summit Holdings, Inc., which owns Cebu Pacific, informed President Marcos of its investment plans and government support to keep the Philippine aviation industry competitive.

Szucs s
aid the company led the domestic airline market with 54 percent market share, followed by the Philippine Airlines (29 percent) and AirAsia (17 percent). Its first quarter 2024 revenue reached PHP25.3 billion with total assets at about PHP200 billion.

CEB was awarded Best Airline at the Routes Asia 2024 Awards in February 2024 in recognition of its contributions to airport and destination marketing in the Asia Pacific region, specifically the resumption of its Clark hub operations and launching of 15 domestic and international destinations in April last year.

Currently, CEB flies to 35 domestic and 25 international destinations.

Source: Philippines News Agency

CEBU: Local authorities are strengthening anti-rabies awareness campaign and other pro-active measures to address the rising cases as of the first half of 2024.

During the Open Line Forum here Tuesday, Dr. Alice Utlang, head of the Cebu City Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF), said they recorded 13 rabies cases as of end-June this year, up from the seven reported in 2023.

‘Wala na-hit ang 80 percent population sa kaso na dapat bakunahan (We failed to reach the 80 percent population of dogs that are supposed to get vaccination)’ she said.

Utlang said the vaccination rate is required for effective control of rabies, a preventable viral disease of mammals usually transmitted through the bite of an infected animal.

She said the low coverage emphasizes the urgent necessity for pet owners to fulfill their responsibility in preventing the further spread of rabies by having their pets vaccinated.

She added impounding stray dogs is not enough, citing the need for strict enforcement of regulati
ons and penalizing erring pet owners.

Under a city ordinance, an owner of any pet found without proper vaccination will face fines amounting to PHP5,000.

She added that if an unvaccinated pet is involved in a biting incident, the fine will be similarly enforced.

Source: Philippines News Agency

LEGAZPI: The Department of Health-Center for Health Development in Bicol (DOH CHD-5) reported a high treatment success rate for tuberculosis (TB) cases for the first quarter of 2024.

During Tuesday’s “Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas” briefing held at Bicol Medical Center in Naga City, DOH-Bicol officer in charge Regional Director Dr. Rodolfo Antonio Albornoz said data from the Infectious Disease Cluster showed out of 7,008 drug-sensitive TB cases, there was a 92 percent treatment success rate.

“Stock transfers to facilities and timely allocation of TB medicines continue with the help of DOH pharmacists,” he said.

Albornoz said the department is implementing the 8-point health action agenda for the Universal Health Care in the Bicol Region, where TB is included.

“This is an important guide for achieving Universal Health Care in the Bicol Region, where our countrymen have access to quality and competent health services, especially in the eight priority health outcomes,” he added.

He was referring to TB/ human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV), immunization, WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene), road safety, hypertension and diabetes, cancer, nutrition and maternal health.

Albornoz noted that recently, the health agency received a fully equipped mobile van that would help the DOH screen and diagnose TB and other lung and respiratory diseases in the six provinces.

The mobile van is equipped with an X-ray machine, electrocardiogram (ECG) machine, refrigerator for sputum collection, hand washing area and fire extinguisher.

TB is an infectious disease that most often affects the lungs and is caused by a type of bacteria. It spreads through the air when infected people cough, sneeze, or spit. It is preventable and curable.

For persons living with HIV, DOH Bicol recorded 64 percent or 1,738 receiving antiretroviral therapy.

“The DOH Bicol will have an additional three treatment hubs that will be built this year at Camarines Norte Provincial Hospital, Eastern Bicol Medical Center in Catanduanes and Sorsogon Provincial Ho
spital,” Albornoz said.

He added that they continue to provide testing kits to the provincial health offices for hospitals and local government units.

“Symposiums and other promotions are also being conducted to further expand knowledge on HIV,” he said.

Source: Philippines News Agency