投稿者: Manila Shimbun

NCRPO destroyed P1 million worth of confiscated firecrackers

/ Manila Shimbun

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Friday destroyed P1 million worth of confiscated firecrackers in line with their “Ligtas Kapaskuhan (Safe Christmas)” 2019-2020 operations.

Police Brigadier General Debold Sinas, acting NCRPO director, lead the destruction of P1,040,874 worth of illegal firecrackers seized in Metro Manila.

NCRPO said the initiative is grounded on Presidential Memorandum Order No. 31, directing the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other concerned agencies to implement existing laws, rules and regulations on the sale, manufacture, distribution and use of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices.

Among items seized were Picolo, Super Lolo, Lolo Thunder/Atomic/Big Triangle, Pla-pla and other illegal firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices  mentioned in Republic Act 7183.

This law regulates the sale, manufacture, distribution and use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devises in furtherance of public safety, order and national security, as well as the enhancement of the cultural traditions.

Police said 21 were arrested for illegal possession and selling of firecrackers.

Highest number of confiscation was by the Quezon City Police District with 909 firecrackers followed by Southern Police District with 846; Manila Police District with 358; Eastern Police District with 259; and Northern Police District with 20.

“I am saddened that despite the clear and constant reminder which we have communicated with the people of Metro Manila using all forms of media available, encouraging them to adhere to the existing laws, rules and regulations on the sale, manufacture, distribution and use of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices, still, there are those who flagrantly disregard this friendly reminder. Hence, we are impelled to perform our mandate,” Sinas said.

Sinas said the intensified campaign against illegal firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices is one of the reasons behind the safe and peaceful celebrations of the yuletide season and New Year in Metro Manila despite 162 people were injured. Ella Dionisio/DMS

Partial deployment ban to Kuwait takes effect

/ Manila Shimbun

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) will no longer process papers of newly-hired household service workers (HSWs) bound for Kuwait beginning Saturday.

This as the partial deployment ban for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Kuwait is set to take effect with the issuance of POEA Governing Board Resolution No. 1-2020.

“Now, therefore, the POEA Governing Board in a meeting duly convened resolves to adopt the said Memorandum and effect a deployment ban for newly-hired domestic workers to Kuwait effective immediately,” said the resolution dated January 3, 2020.

“Resolved that a moratorium on the verification, accreditation, and processing of individual contracts and additional job orders for the same category of workers shall be effected,” it said.

However, the POEA Board said Overseas Employment Certificates (OECs) for the category of workers bound for Kuwait issued on or before 5 pm of January 3 (Friday) shall still be valid for deployment.

The decision was prompted by the maltreatment and death of Jeanelyn Villavende allegedly at the hands of her employers.

This is despite the existing Agreement on Employment of Domestic Workers between the Philippines and Kuwait signed May 2018.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III announced the plan to impose a partial deployment ban to Kuwait on Thursday.

In February 2018, the Philippines imposed an OFW deployment ban to Kuwait after the body of household worker Joanna Demafelis was found inside a freezer.

The deployment ban was lifted with the signing of the bilateral pact between the Philippines and Kuwait. DMS

DA issues notice of closure to meat supplier

/ Manila Shimbun

The Department of Agriculture issued a notice of closure to a meat supplier after the pork it sold to a supermarket in Quezon City was found positive of African Swine Fever (ASF) virus.

“It’s good to highlight that the city government of Quezon confiscated as per their monitoring pork in SM Cherry… the meat that has been found in SM Cherry was found positive of (ASF),” Agriculture Secretary William Dar told reporters in Quezon City on Friday.

“With that, we sent notice of closure to… North Star and NMIS ( National Meat Inspection Service) continued its evaluation in the company and also brought samples from all the chillers and one chiller where the source came from was the only one found positive,” he said.

It can be recalled last month Quezon City confiscated pork from SM Cherry supermarket.

When asked if SM Cherry will also be held liable, Dar said “it is the determination of the city government to pursue whatever lapses are there.”

In a statement, North Star Meat Merchants Inc. claimed that what happened on December 19, 2019 was just an isolated incident and assures that “all bio-security protocols – corrective, preventive, required and voluntary was done immediately with the supervision and guidance of the NMIS.”

“We have been working closely with the Department of Agriculture, namely the NMIS, every step of the way in implementing all bio-security protocols such as voluntary condemnation of all potentially affected products, daily sanitation of our equipment and facilities including temporary halting of plant operations for full sanitation, among others,” the company said.

“We assure the public that our company conforms to the highest and most stringent processes to ensure that the regulatory guidelines are met and followed,” it added. Robina Asido/DMS