Dateline Kamuning: The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will conduct its 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓-𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐋 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 𝐄𝐗𝐄𝐑𝐂𝐈𝐒𝐄 with the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) at the vicinity waters off Mariveles, Bataan, from 01 to 07 June 2023. The PCG will deploy BRP Melchora Aquino (MRRV-9702), BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301), BRP Boracay (FPB-2401), and one 44-meter multi-role response vessel, while the USCG and JCG will send USCGC Stratton (WMSL-752) and Akitsushima (PLH-32), respectively. The PCG acquired the BRP Melchora Aquino (MRRV-9702) and the participating 44-meter MRRV through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)- Department of Transportation (DOTr) Maritime Safety Improvement Project. The PCG-USCG-JCG maritime exercise would 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐁𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐘 through communication exercises, maneuvering drills, photo exercises, maritime law enforcement training, search and rescue (SAR)...

Dateline Kamuning:   Surigao del Norte Representative and Chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Committee expressed full support and agreement with NAPOLCOM Vice-Chair Atty. Alberto Bernardo, on the latter’s findings that the PNP system of promotion and performance rating of anti-drug police operatives is seriously flawed as it is geared towards the number of arrests and seizures, leading to staged, fake and fabricated “accomplishments”, to the detriment of innocent people who languish in jail with trumped up charges.  “Imagine, based on these fake accompishments, the officers kept on being promoted until they are high up in the ladder and can control and influence the organization. They have become so accustomed with their illegal activities that they have become a big part of the whole drug syndicate. The promotion is just one part, the worst part is the reward, monetary as well as “saving” a huge chunk of the drug haul, as another form of rewarding themselves. This drug haul is c...

Dateline Kamuning: The economic team, comprised of representatives from the Department of Finance (DOF), Bureau of the Treasury (BTr), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), together with the office of Senator and Defense Committee Chair Jinggoy Estrada, met with members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to kick off dialogues on the military and uniformed personnel (MUP) pension system on May 25, 2023 at Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City. Around 800 soldiers from the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy, and Philippine Air Force were in attendance. The government is fully committed to listening to the sentiments, concerns and issues of MUPs to be able to come up with a fiscally inclusive sustainable pension system. The economic team will continue to hold a series of dialogues with MUPs around the country, including the AFP’s Philippine Army (PA), Philippine Navy (PN), Philippine Air Force (PAF), Presidential Security...

  Dateline Kamuning:   The Philippine government will continue to talk and negotiate with the Kuwaiti officials on its decision to no longer issue new visas to Filipinos who want to work in the Middle Eastern country, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said on Friday.   The President made the statement during an interview with reporters at the 125th founding anniversary of the Philippine Navy in Manila.   “It’s their country. Those are their rules. So, we will just leave that issue open and hopefully we will continue to negotiate with them. We will continue to consult with them at baka sakali, down the road ay magbago ang sitwasyon, maibalik ngayon ang ating mga workers, lalo na ‘yung mga nabitin,” President Marcos said, reacting to the proposal of Pangasinan 3rd District Rep. Rachel Arenas for a total deployment ban of OFWs to Kuwait.   The President said there are around 800 OFWs who failed to enter Kuwait due to the new deployment ban.   “Hopefu...

  Dateline Kamuning: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said on Thursday that he is considering the recommendation of the Société Générale de Surveillance SA (SGS) to conduct pre-shipping inspections in a move to stop the smuggling of agricultural goods and ensure its safety for public consumption.   “This scheme would minimize smuggling. It will be essentially…pre-shipping inspection,” Marcos said after meeting SGS Vice President George Bottomley and Managing Director Cresenciano Maramot in Malacañang.   “Ibig sabihin, bago pa isakay ‘yung produkto sa barko doon sa pinanggagalingan, inspeksyunin na nila para sasabihin nila, ‘totoo ito, tama ang timbang, tama ang quality, tama ang nasa record na pinanggalingan’ — all of these items. Para hindi na natin kailangan gawin dito sa Pilipinas,” he explained.   According to the President, they will extend to cover agricultural invoices so that prior to the arrival of the planes or ships, shipments are paid already, spee...

Dateline Kamuning:  State pension fund Government Service Insurance System   (GSIS) announced today that it is ready to assist in the restoration of the Philippine Postal Office (Philpost) building in Intramuros,  Manila which caught fire last Sunday. GSIS is the first government agency to reach out to the beleaguered public corporation.   “The damaged Philpost building and its contents are insured with the GSIS for P604 million. To facilitate the insurance claims, we immediately dispatched our adjusters to the fire scene today even though no fire-out has been declared yet. We also deployed drones to completely evaluate the affected structures. We are very much aware of the historical significance of the building and we would like to assist in its rebuilding efforts in every possible way,” GSIS President and General Manager Wick Veloso said. The pension fund chief added that GSIS will offer its warehouse in Pasig to serve as Philpost’s temporary workplace. “Philpos...

 Dateline Kamuning: Australia announced a maritime cooperation initiative package for the Philippines, including technical assistance and capacity building for the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) as well as increased Official Development Assistance (ODA) for several initiatives, including the Mindanao peace process. The announcement came following a bilateral meeting between Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong during her official visit to the Philippines. “Building on the already deep and wide-ranging maritime security cooperation between Australia and the Philippines, Minister Wong announced a package of maritime cooperation initiatives, including technical assistance and capacity building for the Philippine Coast Guard; equipment, skills and technology to improve maritime domain awareness and marine protection; assistance to mitigate the environmental impacts of the recent oil spill in Mindoro; and support for women’s leadership in...