Latest news with #BagongPilipinasNgayon
GMA Network
18-07-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
DTI's e-commerce Trustmark aims to protect consumers, boost trust in online shopping
A new government-issued digital badge called the E-Commerce Philippine Trustmark is being introduced to help consumers verify the legitimacy of online sellers and platforms, as part of efforts to strengthen trust and accountability in the country's digital marketplace. Developed by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) under the Internet Transactions Act of 2023 (Republic Act 11967), the Trustmark is awarded to e-commerce entities that meet specific verification standards, such as having a valid business registration, physical address, and contact details. 'Ang purpose po ng Trustmark is para magkaroon ng assurance ng safety and security po dun sa transaction ng consumer at ng merchant,' said DTI Assistant Secretary for the E-Commerce Bureau Atty. Marcus Valdez II at the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon public briefing on Friday. (The purpose of the Trustmark is to give assurance of safety and security in transactions between the consumer and the merchant.) According to Valdez, the initiative addresses common concerns over fraudulent sellers and untraceable transactions by making it easier for consumers to identify trustworthy merchants. 'Kailangan po nating kriterya is meron ka pong address, meron ka pong contact details… saan ko pwedeng kausapin yung merchant kapag meron akong problema?' he noted. (Criteria include having an address and contact details… so I know how to reach the merchant if I encounter a problem.) Each Trustmark includes a QR code and security features, which link to an Online Business Database where consumers can check a seller's verified information. The database is accessible via 'Makikita rin ito sa website ng Trustmark. Ilalagay po namin dito yung mga merchant na na-verify na po namin,' Valdez pointed out. (It will also appear on the Trustmark website. We will list merchants that we have already verified.) Although application for the Trustmark is currently voluntary, the DTI is encouraging sellers to participate, highlighting potential benefits such as improved public credibility and consumer trust. 'We are encouraging all the merchants to get the Trustmark para po to tell everyone that it's safe to have your transactions with someone that you do not know and you cannot see,' he added. (We encourage all merchants to apply so they can assure customers it's safe to transact even without physical contact.) Valdez said that unlike private platform badges or 'preferred seller' labels designed to increase sales, the primary goal of the Trustmark is to create a safer and more reliable e-commerce environment. To complement the Trustmark, the DTI is also launching an Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) system that will allow consumers and merchants—regardless of size—to resolve conflicts at no cost. 'Ito po ay magagamit ng mga merchants, maliit o malaki, for free... consumers and merchants can have their dialogue,' he noted. (This can be used by both small and large merchants for free, to engage in dialogue with consumers.) Merchants may apply through the DTI website by submitting required documents, including SEC, DTI, or CDA registration, BIR Form 2303, and business address. Applications are reviewed, and once approved, merchants receive their digital Trustmark badge and certificate. He also emphasized that the Trustmark not only benefits domestic transactions but can also help Filipino sellers compete internationally by showing they are verified and supported by a government regulatory system. 'Kahit na hindi kilala yung merchant, at least alam ko na meron tayong matitrace… may government agency na tutulong,' he said. (Even if I don't know the merchant, I'll know they are traceable—and that a government agency can help if needed.) The DTI continues to encourage both consumers and merchants to use the platform responsibly. 'Huwag po natin gawing totoo yung 'budol is real.' Pag-isipan po natin maigi,' he added. (Let's not make 'budol is real' a reality. Let's think carefully before making purchases.) –NB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
15-07-2025
- General
- GMA Network
Metro Manila floods due to improper waste management, not reclamation projects — PRA
The floods in Metro Manila should not be blamed on the reclamation projects but on the improper waste management, the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) said Tuesday. 'Ang basura ay sadyang problema na even before the reclamation projects, meaning, perennial problem na ito. Kung maayos lang sana at ma-manage nang tama, at hindi lang local government units ang pwedeng tumutok dito, yung mga bawat mamamayan ay may responsibility to manage the waste. Pero dahil sa kapabayaan, pumupunta yung basura sa daluyan ng tubig,' said PRA director Eli Ildefonso in Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon. (Waste is a problem that has been around even before the reclamation projects, meaning, it is a perennial problem. If only it could be managed properly, and not just local government units could focus on this, every citizen has the responsibility to manage the waste. But due to negligence, the waste ends up in waterways.) 'Bago pa man pumunta sa pangpang, bago pa man pumunta sa Manila Bay, bumabaha na sa upstream. So hindi mo pwede i-direkta na dahil sa reclamation ay siyang nagbabaha, dito pwede natin ituro na yung mismanage ng basura ang siyang dahilan.' (Even before the water reaches the shore or Manila Bay, it is already flooding upstream. So you can't really say that reclamation is causing the flooding, here we can point out that the mismanagement of waste is the cause.) Ildefenso said the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, which encourages proper waste segregation, must be strictly followed for every household and establishment. 'Hindi dapat hayaan na pumunta sa katubigan. Kasi sa tuwing uulan, ang taga-linis, yung tubig baha,' said Ildefonso. (They should not be allowed to go into the water. Every time it rains, the flood water ends up with the trash.) PRA also said that proper waste water treatment could help mitigate flooding. 'Pangkaraniwan sa mga bahay, kung detached na bahay, may poso negro…Sa Metro Manila, kung saan di lahat ng mga bahay ay may poso negro, dapat may centralized treatment facility,' said Ildefonso. (It is common for houses, if they are detached houses, to have a septic tank... In Metro Manila, where not all houses have a septic tank, there must be a centralized treatment facility.) Responsible reclamation Further, PRA said that there is a 'responsible' way to do reclamation projects without too much damage to the environment. 'For one, reclaim in areas where you need to reclaim. Reclamation gives us room for development. Sa pagpili ng lugar, piliin natin yung lugar na hindi malaki ang ikasasama sa kapaligiran,' said PRA director Fernando Siringan. (For one, reclaim in areas where you need to reclaim. Reclamation gives us room for development. When choosing a place, let's choose an area that will not cause much harm to the environment.) Siringan added that reclamation works must be science-based. 'Pangalawa, sundin natin ang siyensya. Maging science-informed sa pagpaplano, kung saan gagawin, kung papaano gagawin, at papaano ide-develop. Kinakailangan natin na i-tap ang science community para ang ating mga actions, decisions ay science-informed,' he also said. (Second, let's follow science. Be science-informed in planning, where to do it, how to do it, and how to develop it. We need to tap the science community so that our actions, decisions are science-informed.) The agency also said that it has plans to expand mangrove areas in Manila Bay. 'In terms of food security, mahalaga na malinis ang tubig sa isang lugar, mahalaga na may mapupuntahan ang mga isda kung saan sila maaring mangitlog, kung saan sila maaring lumaki,' said Siringan. 'Kaya ang tutok namin, specifically ngayon sa area sa Manila Bay, na palawakin ang mangrove area…Mayroon ng mga na-identify na mga sites kung saan maari tayong maglagay ng mga mangrove at sana ay magawa na ito sa madaling panahon.' (In terms of food security, it is important that the water in an area is clean, it is important that the fish have somewhere to go where they can spawn, where they can grow. That is why our focus, specifically now in the Manila Bay area, is to expand the mangrove area…There are already identified sites where we can plant mangroves and hopefully this will be done soon.) The Office of the Civil Defense earlier said that more than 40 areas were submerged in floods due to the rains brought by Typhoon Bising and the Southwest Monsoon, or Habagat. Among the regions that experienced flooding was Metro Manila. Data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) showed that one death was reported and still being validated in Metro Manila due to 'Bising' and Habagat. — RF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
14-07-2025
- GMA Network
Coast Guard to use ROV in Taal Lake search for missing sabungeros
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Monday that it will use a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to aid in the search of the missing sabungeros in Taal Lake. 'This day, ine-expect natin ang pagdating ng aming underwater remotely operated vehicle. So isa po ito sa makakatulong sa atin because it has the capacity po to see yung bottom hanggang 1,000 feet….It also has the capacity to pick up objects hanggang 10 kilograms,' said PCG spokesperson Captain Noemie Cayabyab in Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon. (We expect the arrival today of our underwater remotely operated vehicle. So it is one that can help us because it has the capacity to see the bottom up to 1,000 feet….It also has the capacity to pick up objects up to 10 kilograms.) Five sacks have been so far recovered from the search and retrieval operations at the lake since July 10. This was after whistleblower 'Alias Totoy' said that the bodies of the missing cockfight enthusiasts had been dumped there. The PCG said that among the challenges right now in search and retrieval operations are the vast width of the lake and nearly zero-visibility in water. 'We have identified location based from the intelligence information we have received from the lead agency. So diyan po nakatutok ang mga divers. So pagdating naman sa proseso, may tinatawag tayong jackstay search—ayan po yung paglalagay ng linya na ayun po ang tutulong sa mga technical divers,' said Cayabyab. (We have identified location based on the intelligence information we have received from the lead agency. So that's where the divers are focused. So when it comes to the process, we have what we call a jackstay search—that's where the line is placed that will help the technical divers.) 'From day zero, ang nagiging feedback po sa atin ng mga technical divers ay yung visibility underwater. So malabo po talaga, nagze-zero visiiblity at maburak po ang ilalim po. So we used this search strategy para makapaghanap pa po tayo ng possible evidences na makakatulong sa imbestigasyon na ito,' she continued. (From day zero, the feedback we get from technical divers is the visibility underwater. So it's really blurry, visibility is zero and the bottom is muddy. So we used this search strategy so we can look for possible evidence that will help in this investigation.) The PCG also noted that without the intelligence information on the location on where the bodies could be found, the operations would take years. 'So imagine-in po natin, sa lawak ng Taal Lake, kung yan po ay sisirin ng ating technical divers, it would take years para matapos yan. Mas maganda po na naibigay sa atin yung posibleng lokasyon at yung limang sako na-retrieve natin ay nakuha po within that area,' said Cayabyab. (So let's imagine, based on the size of Taal Lake, if our technical divers were to search beneath that, it would take years to complete. It was a big help that we were given the possible location and the five bags we retrieved were obtained within that area.) When asked if there's a timeline for the search operations, the PCG official said: 'As of the moment, wala pa tayong natatanggap na timeline. Pero we will maximize since nakakakuha tayo ng mga sacks, ng mga suspicious objects, ay tuloy-tuloy po ang ginagawang diving operations.' (As of the moment, we haven't received a timeline yet. But we will maximize our time since we are getting sacks, suspicious objects, so operations will continue.) The Philippine National Police earlier in the day said that some of the remains recovered so far from the search are confirmed to be human. Authorities also looked into the 'fishpond lease' of one of the suspects in the investigation, which is considered the 'ground zero' of the operation. A total of 34 cockfighting enthusiasts have been reported missing from 2021 to 2022. According to the police, the missing personalities were kidnapped allegedly due to match fixing or cheating in the cockfighting games. — BM, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
11-07-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
SRA: Importation of 424,000 MT refined sugar won't affect price
The Sugar Regulatory Administration said Friday the country's importation of nearly half a million metric tons of refined sugar will not affect the prices of sugar in the coming months. SRA administrator Pablo Azcona said the importation of 424,000 MT tons, which should arrive in the country starting July 15, will also not affect farmers. ''Yung pricing natin has been stable on the retail market. 'Yung refined sugar natin ay nag-stay sa P85 for the last three years already…. And we are actually seeking to keep it there, just keep it stable,' he said in Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon. (Our pricing has been stable on the retail market. The price of refined sugar has stayed at P85 for the last three years already…And we are actually seeking to keep it there, just keep it stable.) 'In the last year, bumaba din 'yung price ng brown sugar at washed sugar sa retail…So parang 'yung situation sa ngayon, very good for the farmer, tumaas 'yung farmgate at millgate price niya. Very good din for the consumer, bumaba 'yung retail price ng brown at ng washed, at stable si refined,' Azcona added. (In the last year, the prices of brown sugar and washed sugar in the retail market also declined….So the situation now is very good for the farmers, because the farmgate and millgate prices increase. But it is also very good for the consumers because the prices for the brown and washed sugar have decreased, while the price of refined sugar has remained stable.) SRA earlier allowed the importation "to ensure that the country [would] continue to have sufficient actual supply of sugar for domestic consumption and buffer stock.' The sugar regulatory agency added that the country currently has a stock of 310,000 MT of refined sugar which could last until October. Hence, the entry of the 424,000 MT of refined sugar should be by November 30. 'Yung current stock kasi natin ng refined sugar ay nasa 310,000 metric tons po at off milling na po tayo ngayon. So 'yung 310,000 metric tons natin ay this is good for about almost four months po, and that will be around October at wala pa rin po tayong local refining by that time. So 'yung pag-angkat natin, half of it will be used, kailangan natin, and then 170,000 gagamitin as two-month buffer po,' said Azcona. (Our current stock of refined sugar is at 310,000 metric tons and we are currently off milling. So the 310,000 metric tons we have now is good for about four months, which could last until around October. But we still had no local refining by that time. So with the importation, half of it will be used for our own and the other 170,000 will be allocated for the two-month buffer.) The importers who will be allowed to bring in the required refined sugar volume are licensed international sugar traders in "good standing," those who have joined the government's past sugar importation calls, and those who participated in the export of raw sugar to the US to fulfill the Philippines' tariff rate quota, according to SRA. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/AOL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
08-07-2025
- GMA Network
Over P30B worth of illegal drugs seized in first half of 2025
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said on Tuesday that it has confiscated around P30.29 billion worth of illegal drugs in the first six months of 2025. PDEA spokesperson Joseph Frederick Calulut said in Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon that among the items they seized were shabu, marijuana, cocaine, and ecstacy. The anti-drug agency also said that it has conducted 19,765 anti-illegal drug operations in various regions including Region 7, 4-A,3, NCR, Region 11. Calulut noted that such operations led to the arrest of more than 26,000 individuals, including foreigners. 'Speaking of high-value targets na na-aresto sa period na 'yun, we have arrested 26,051 individuals and high-value targets dito is 1,551. Kapag sinabi nating high-value targets, kasama na rin po diyan yung mga foreigners. Sa katunuyan po, may mga 27 na foreigners na na-aresto and majority of this ay mga Tsino,' said Calulut, adding that these foreigners are members of drug syndicates. (Speaking of high-value targets who were arrested in the said period, we have arrested 26,051 individuals and 1,551 of them are high-value ones. Among the high-value targets are foreigners. In fact, we have arrested 27 foreigners and the majority of them are Chinese.) PDEA added that it has filed cases against 27,617 individuals and over 11,000 were convicted. The agency also said that from January to June of this year at least 4,027 barangays were cleared from illegal drugs activities. Calulut assured that there was no 'recycling' of confiscated illegal drugs as witnesses are present during the inventory. 'During the marking and inventory of drug evidence, nandiyan na rin ho ang mga witnesses. So wala hong masasabi ang mga tao na may recycling na nangyari,' he said. (During the marking and inventory of drug evidence, we have witnesses present. So people cannot accuse us of recycling.) — BAP, GMA Integrated News
