Day: July 16, 2024

MANILA: The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has decided to take its electronic systems offline following a ransomware attack to protect data of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) around the globe. In an advisory Tuesday, the DMW said it, however, activated other systems and processes to ensure continuous delivery of services to OFWs. ‘As a result of a ransomware attack on DMW online systems, the Department through its Management Information Technology System had to take pre-emptive measures to protect OFW data and information, such as taking the systems offline,’ the advisory read. The DMW said issuance of the electronic or online

MANILA: The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Tuesday lauded the adoption of a United Nations Human Rights Council (UN-HRC) resolution that seeks to protect and promote the human rights of seafarers around the world. The resolution will allow the Philippine government to ‘advance the rights and interest of Filipino seafarers’ who make up over a quarter of the roughly 2 million seafarers globally, the DOTr said in a statement. ‘Aspiring for the Philippines to be recognized as the ‘Maritime Capital of the World,’ we will ensure the rights and welfare of Filipino seafarers are properly protected,’ it said. The resolution

BACOLOD CITY – The Bacolod City Comprehensive Health Program (BacCHP) already has 104,000 registered members as of Tuesday. Of the total, almost 5,000 cardholders have already availed of hospitalization services since the flagship health program began in May 2023. Under the BacCHP ordinance, the city government guarantees PHP15,000 for the hospital bills of each cardholder and their dependents. In an interview, BacCHP focal person Mae Cuaycong said the city government spends PHP9 million to PHP10 million each month for patient admission payments in all partner-hospitals. ‘Our funds are getting low so the last instruction of the mayor (Alfredo Abelardo Benitez)

MALASIQUI, Pangasinan – Over 3.1 million hectares (ha) in the Ilocos Region have been planted with tree seedlings since the National Greening Program (NGP) started in 2011, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said Tuesday. At the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas forum hosted by the Philippine Information Agency in San Fernando City, La Union on Tuesday, DENR-Ilocos Region Executive Director Crizaldy Barcelo said the seedlings planted, mostly in upland forests, have an 85 percent survival rate. These include mostly indigenous species and high-value crops like mango, bamboo, mangrove and coffee. Barcelo said tree-planting activities now include protected areas.

LEGAZPI CITY – A total of 239 students from Albay province received on Tuesday a financial grant under the Student Monetary Assistance for Recovery and Transition (SMART) program of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). In an interview during the payout at Embarcedero de Legazpi, Jean Cardiño, CHED Bicol chief administrative officer, said each beneficiary received PHP25,000 in one-time assistance, totaling PHP5.97 million. “The SMART Grant Program is a project of the commission being given a one-time fixed financial grant to qualified students for as long as they are enrolled in an undergraduate program for the school year 2023-2024,” she