CHED Completes Release of Allowances of 2,828 Eligible Faculty Scholars

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After facing initial challenges in the release of allowances to 4,096 scholars under the Commission’s K to 12 Transition Program, CHED has announced that it has finally completed the release of the allowances to eligible faculty and staff grantees today.

Following the ongoing effort since November 2017 during which the Commission resumed processing of allowances after the COA Notice of Suspensions, CHED has now completed the release of allowances to 2,828 eligible scholars, of which 2,247 is for full release, and 581 is for partial release.

Scholars may check their status through the online public tracker which is updated regularly: http://chedk12.com/sgsdisbursement. CHED Regional Offices have likewise been mobilized to communicate with the scholars to update them of their status.

Due to accounting and auditing rules, the Commission can only release partial allowances to scholars with remaining deficiencies in terms of submission. Meanwhile, for 1,268 scholars who have been unable to submit valid enrollment forms, releases remain on hold. Release of allowances under the Program are triggered by the complete submission of valid enrollment forms and authenticated copies of grades for the previous semester.

The Commission is also continuously processing the full release of allowances to scholars who are able to submit pending documents as they come, and resolving issues on documentary submissions, within the bounds of government accounting and auditing rules, to facilitate releases for remaining scholars at the soonest possible time.

The K to 12 Transition Program began in 2016 to prevent the massive displacement of higher education faculty and staff in colleges and universities due to the implementation of Senior High School (SHS), while upgrading the quality of higher education.

President Duterte, DOTr To Inaugurate New Air Traffic Management System

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In a move to make the air traffic and navigation of the country at par with international standards, the Department of Transportation (DOTr), through the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), is set to inaugurate today the new communications, navigation, surveillance/air traffic management (CNS/ATM) systems.

The inauguration will be led by no less than President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, and will be joined by DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade, along with several high ranking government and transportation officials at the Philippine Air Traffic Management Center, CAAP Compound, NAIA Road, Pasay City.

Representatives from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) are also expected to grace the event.

CNS/ATM is a state-of-the art computer and satellite-based air traffic management technology, which is similar to that being used by Australia, Taiwan, and other European countries. With the use of CNS/ATM systems, air travel is expected to be more definite, aircraft identification to be more established, and safety of security of passengers are guaranteed.

Apart from these, the system also brings with it better air traffic flow and space management, which optimizes airport capacity and efficient use of airspace that will in turn minimize delays by helping aircraft operators meet their departure and arrival schedules.

In short, the CNS/ATM technology enhances safety, reliability, and efficiency of air traffic service in the Philippine airspace.

The CNS/ATM project started in 2009 but due to delay in construction and other challenges, it did not hit its target completion in 2016. Upon the assumption of Secretary Tugade, there were only three (3) radars --- in NAIA, Clark, and Tagaytay, which cover only 30% of the Philippine airspace. So immediately ordered CAAP to fast-track the project.

Under the leadership of Secretary Tugade, 10 additional radars have been installed. This means that the country has now a total of 13 radars, and one satellite radar, that will enable the air sector to cover 100% of the entire Philippine airspace.

SEC Orders Closure of Rappler

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The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has ordered the closure of Rappler, citing "constitutional restrictions on ownership and control of mass media entities because of funds coming from Omidyar Network, a fund created by eBay founder and entrepreneur Pierre Omidyar."

According to Maria Ressa, founder and CEO of Rappler, there is no truth that Rappler has foreign owners.

"We will continue bringing you the news, holding the powerful to account for their actions and decisions, calling attention to government lapses that further disempower the disadvantaged. We will hold the line."

If the recent accussation against Rappler is not true, then does this mean this online publication is making certain people worried? Too worried that they'll do everything to shut it down? Is Rappler influential enough to bring down certain people?

A netizen commented "If SEC insists on the PDR issue then ABS-CBN, TV5, GMA7, etc., should not be far behind. Media ownership should be 100% Filipino, according to the implementing rules. PDRs issued to non-Filipinos is gross violation of the investment act."

Minus the technicalities and legalities, "When foreign investors could easily dictate and influence decisions in a company, isn't that sort of ownership too?"

I'm sure many would say Rappler is being scrutinized because it is one of the critics of the Duterte administration. Many would cry "press freedom" is being attacked, and would reason out that there's just too many violators out there but how come only Rappler is being singled out.

Regardless of the accussations, we also need to know if it is true or not. We are interested to find out if Rappler does indeed have foreign owners disguised as investors but have a deciding power and authority over the online publication.

Rappler is no longer a "startup" as others would perceive as we all know it's bigger than many other publications.

I'm sure we will be opening a can of worms if we go deep to the "arrangements" of Rappler with their "investors", both foreign and local. I do hope it serves a learning opportunity for all of us.

But even if the government is truly making it difficult for Rappler because of political reasons, the legal option is still lawful. So it will now be between the lawyers of both parties to battle it out in court. Needless to say, they both have the "funds" to fight for their rights.

If Rappler wins in this battle, it would surely rise triumphantly when it returns because of the publicity. In my case, I don't even read it because of its seemingly biased and controversially-titled click-bait articles. But almost everyone is guilty of that crime anyway.

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