Marcos signs law to fight text scams

DONE! President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signs the SIM Card Registration Act, the first bill he signed into law as the Chief Executive, on Monday, Oct. 10, 2022. Vice President Sara Duterte, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Sen. Mary Grace Poe and Rep. Sandro Marcos look on.  Contributed photo

By Kristina Maralit October 11, 2022 

DONE! President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signs the SIM Card Registration Act, the first bill he signed into law as the Chief Executive, on Monday, Oct. 10, 2022. Vice President Sara Duterte, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Sen. Mary Grace Poe and Rep. Sandro Marcos look on.  Contributed photo

PRESIDENT Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Monday signed the SIM Card Registration Act, the first legislation enacted under his administration. The law aims to curb text scams and spam.

The ceremonial signing was held in Malacañang with Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, House Speaker Martin Romualdez and other stakeholders standing as witnesses.

"I commend the legislators from the House and from the Senate for coming up with this timely and necessary law. It is the first legislative measure that successfully passed the approval of the bicameral panel of both houses in the 19th Congress," the Chief Executive said, adding that such a law "has long been overdue."

"Truly, the legislation is going to be welcomed by many of our people, especially now with reports of the commission of various crimes using mobile phones, including proliferation of text scams and spam. Indeed, with the signing of this law, we set the important tone that it is our national policy to ensure that technology shall only be used to improve our people's lives," he added.

Filipinos rank among the world's heaviest users of social media, and the country has become a key battleground for misleading or fake news.

Many mobile phone users in the Philippines use pre-paid SIM cards that they buy over the counter without giving their names and addresses to providers.

Republic Act 11394 mandates all public telecommunications entities (PTE) or direct sellers to require buyers of subscriber identity module cards to present a valid identification document with a photo.

It likewise directs telecommunication companies to disclose the registered full name and address of the subscriber upon a duly issued subpoena or order from a court.

The PTEs are also given 30 days to submit a list of their authorized sellers or dealers to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC). This should be updated quarterly.

KUWTT: Marcos signs law to fight text scams | Oct. 11, 2022

The Palace earlier said that the enactment of the bill will "significantly boost government initiatives against scams committed through text and online messages, which have become more prevalent this year."

Marcos believes that scams will drastically decline as the new law is seen as "an effective means of regulating the issuance of SIM cards to curb the spread of spam text messages and scams."

"We will soon be able to provide law enforcement agencies the tools needed to resolve crimes perpetrated with the use of these SIM cards as well as providing a strong deterrence against the commission of wrongdoings," he said.

"To cover all users of SIM cards in this Act, telecommunications entities are mandated to ensure the registration of existing prepaid SIM card phone subscribers within a prescribed period. Failure to comply results to the grant of authority for telecommunications entities to automatically deactivate services to the specific SIM Card subscriber under the force of law," he added.

Marcos signs SIM card registration law

The use of false or fictitious information, fictitious identities, fraudulent documents or identification to register a SIM Card shall also be dealt with by appropriate penalties, the President warned. He reassured the public that there are enough measures to protect the confidentiality and data privacy rights of subscribers from point of sale.

"Any information in the SIM Card Registration shall be treated as absolutely confidential unless access to this information has been granted by the written consent of the subscriber," Marcos said.

Globe Telecoms on Monday expressed support for the law.

MSME magna carta needs a major upgrade

In a statement, Globe said a verifiable and fool-proof identification system is the foundation of the SIM Registration law.

It said that if people are allowed to submit any form of identification which can easily be falsified, SIM registration will be useless.

"For this reason, our position has been clear from the beginning. A national ID system must be in place to ensure the safe and successful implementation of this new law," Globe General Counsel Froilan Castelo said.

Globe also said the government must look at global best practices in implementing the new SIM Registration bill.

Many countries are using their national ID system to verify the identity of a person who registers a SIM number.

"We support the passage of this measure after previous roadblocks and we are ready to comply. Aside from our advanced cybersecurity capabilities, we welcome a new regulatory environment that has stronger safeguards against cyberthreats and other crimes carried out using mobile phones," Castelo said.

Globe said it is working with the government in drafting the implementing rules and regulations for the rational enforcement of the law, including the rollout of the retroactive registration of tens of millions of prepaid SIM users.

‘First MassKara sa Panaad’ kicks off in Bacolod

Published October 11, 2022, 1:58 PM

by Glazyl Masculino

BACOLOD CITY – The provincial government of Negros Occidental has officially opened the ‘MassKara sa Panaad’ here on Monday, Oct. 10.

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Negros Association of Chief Executives (ACE) president and Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez led the opening rites of the celebration at the Panaad Park here.

Various local government units (LGUs) in the province showcased their festival dances during the ceremony marking the official start of the one-week celebration.

Festival dances of various local government units in Negros Occidental were showcased during the opening of the 1st ‘MassKara sa Panaad’ at the Panaad park in Bacolod City Monday. (Glazyl Masculino Photo)

All the 31 LGUs joined the ‘MassKara sa Panaad’ showcasing their various local products at their respective pavilions.

The event materialized after the city government here invited the province to join the celebration of the 43rd MassKara Festival, by holding the first ever ‘MassKara sa Panaad.’ The province has been annually celebrating the Panaad Festival, but just like the MassKara Festival, it was also suspended for two years because of the pandemic.

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson (right) and Negros Association of Chief Executives (ACE) president and Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez (left), along with San Enrique town Mayor Jilson Tubillara lead the opening of the 1st ‘MassKara sa Panaad’ at the Panaad park in Bacolod City Monday, Oct. 10. (Glazyl Masculino Photo)

In his message, Lacson said the ‘MassKara sa Panaad’ is a groundbreaking event, since it is the first time that the province was invited to join in the celebration of the MassKara Festival.

“We are just happy to be a part of the biggest and most awaited MassKara Festival,” the governor said.

Lacson said this creates an opportunity for the MassKara tourists to experience a glimpse of the land of the sweet surprises, its culture, local products, festivals, travel destinations, and the Negrense cuisine.

“MassKara Festival is more than just a festivity, it is a story of hope, resilience, and ingenuity. As the pandemic forced upon us the use of masks, this year, we again as people are going to don MassKaras with the same grit,” Lacson said.

After two years of uncertainty, the province and the city are united, as they move forward toward recovery, said Lacson as he thanked the local chief executives for their support and cooperation in the event.

For his part, Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo ‘Albee’ thanked the provincial government for accepting the city’s invitation to be part of the festival.

Benitez said that it is a clear indication that Bacolod and Negros Occidental are now collaborating with each other for the betterment of all the Negrenses.

“It is a clear example of what we can be and what we can do for the future if we do it together. We are now united in celebrating this event,” Benitez said.

Benitez said that Councilor Jason Villarosa, chairman of the Committee on Tourism, has a proposal to create an ordinance inviting the province in the MassKara Festival every year.

“It is an indication that we are now one, because Panaad is at the heart of Bacolod, it is but proper that Panaad is part of the celebration,” Benitez said.

With the huge crowd on the opening day, Benitez said they have made the right decision to include and invite the province for the said event.

Meanwhile, Negros ACE president Javier Benitez said that with the unity between the province and the city, possibilities are endless.

“It will bring not only cooperation of culture and tourism, but definitely economic opportunities, since tourists need not go to the whole province to avail of their products,” he added.

He said they are hoping to pitch to the provincial government to open the Panaad park regularly for visitors.

“We want something to be regular. We are exploring ways on what could still be done at Panaad, it could be a theme park or a water park. Everyone is on board, we’re just finalizing things,” he said.

‘Maymay’ may make landfall over Aurora or northern Quezon — PAGASA

Published October 11, 2022, 1:12 PM

by Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz

(PAGASA / FACEBOOK)

Tropical depression Maymay maintained its strength as it slowly moved west-southwest over the Philippine Sea east of Aurora province on Tuesday morning, Oct. 11, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

In the 11 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said that Maymay was last spotted at a distance of 285 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora and maintained a maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 55 kph.

Should the tropical depression maintain its speed and track, Maymay may make landfall over Aurora or northern Quezon on Wednesday afternoon or evening, Oct. 12, PAGASA said.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 remains hoisted over Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, and the extreme northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta) including Pollilo Islands.

“Winds of 39 to 61 kilometers per hour (kph) may be expected in at least 36 hours or intermittent rains may be expected within 36 hours,” PAGASA said.

“Today (Oct. 11) through tomorrow morning (Oct, 12), moderate to heavy with at times intense rains [are expected] over Cagayan, Isabela, Batanes, and Apayao. Light to moderate with at times heavy rains [are also expected] over Aurora, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, and Ilocos Norte,” it added.

PAGASA warned against the possibility of scattered to widespread flooding, including flash floods, and rain-induced landslides, especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards.

After making landfall, Maymay may traverse the landmass of Central Luzon before emerging over the West Philippine Sea by Thursday morning, Oct. 13.

“Maymay is forecast to maintain its strength prior to its landfall. Due to frictional effects, this tropical cyclone may be downgraded to low pressure area once it emerges over the West Philippine Sea. Weakening to low pressure area while traversing over Central Luzon is not ruled out,” it added.

Julie Anne San Jose trends as she sings ‘Ave Maria’ in her latest series

by Robert Requintina

Julie Anne San Jose as Maria Clara

Goosebumps as Asia’s Limitless Star Julie Anne San Jose trended on social media with her moving rendition of Bach’s “Ave Maria” which she performed in the latest episode of the primetime series “Maria Clara at Ibarra” on GMA-7 on Monday, Oct. 10.

‘Maria Clara at Ibarra’ follows the story of Klay, a Gen Z nursing student who aims to work and bring her family abroad. She is almost graduating soon, but not until she failed a minor subject—Rizal Studies. Klay believes that this subject is irrelevant to her life and future career.

Barbie Forteza, Dennis Trillo and Julie Anne San Jose

Mr. Jose Torres, Klay’s professor, gave her another chance to pass Rizal Studies, and he lent her a book of Noli Me Tangere. Klay had not even read several pages of the novel when she got bored and fell asleep. 

The mystery begins when Klay wakes up in the world of Noli Me Tangere! Much to her surprise, Klay finds Mr. Torres in the alternate timeline. Klay was told that she can only return to the present once she finishes the book and learns all the lessons from the novel of Dr. Jose Rizal.

CLICK TO WATCH THE VIDEO CLIP: https://twitter.com/JulienitedPH/status/1579448509035872256?s=20

“Nakakakilig po siya pakinggan grabeee!” read one of the comments.

Other comments about her performance: 

“Goosebumps! GMA is really good at this. The feels. Spanish era talaga.”

“Ang ganda ng tinig ni Maria Clara.”

“Ladies and Gentleman! The Limitless.”

“That’s why Julie Anne San Jose is Maria Clara. You can’t fake that beautiful singing voice and piano-playing. You just can’t.”

“Bat ako naiyak sa pagkanta niya huhu.”

“Impressive”

4,000 to 8,000 daily Covid-19 cases by end of October if MPHS compliance further declines – DOH

by Dhel Nazario, Manila Bulletin 

The Department of Health (DOH) said on Monday, Oct. 19 that daily Covid-19 cases may reach 4,000 to as high as 8,000 by the end of the month should compliance with minimum public health standards (MPHS) further declines.

People flock to Ilaya in Binondo, Manila on Jan. 2, 2022. Metro Manila will be under Alert Level 3 starting Jan. 3 until Jan. 15, 2022 due to the rise of COVID-19 cases. (ALI VICOY / MANILA BULLETIN)

In a press briefing, Dr. Althea de Guzman, a medical specialist from the Department of Health (DOH) Epidemiology Bureau, said that based on their projections show that a continuous decline in minimum public health standards may lead to case increases.

She said that national daily cases projected using actual data, as of September 18 showed that cases detected at the national level are expected to follow a continuous slow downward trend with projections estimating cases at 1,204 cases per day by the end of October.

“However, a further decline in our MPHS compliance may reverse our trend with an increase in cases ranging from 4055 to as high as 8670 by the end of October,” she stated. She added that AuTuMN projections also show a similar trend. However, it emphasizes that even with case increases, severe and critical illnesses are not seen to exceed those previously observed during the Delta and Omicron spike.

De Guzman also mentioned that the emergence of a new variant may lead to a sharp increase in hospitalization at the beginning of 2023 in the National Capital Region (NCR).