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Herald Malaysia
13 hours ago
- Health
- Herald Malaysia
Philippine government pledges funds after bishops raise alarm on child nutrition, education crisis
The Philippine government has assured the country's Catholic bishops that it is committing billions of pesos to tackle what Church leaders have described as a national crisis in child nutrition and education. Aug 18, 2025 A student at Assumption Antipolo shields the candle with her hand during Eucharistic celebration marking Assumption Day, August 15, 2025. (Photo by Peter Monthienvichienchai / LiCAS News) By Mark Saludes The Philippine government has assured the country's Catholic bishops that it is committing billions of pesos to tackle what church leaders have described as a national crisis in child nutrition and education. In a letter dated August 14, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) told the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) that it has 'already taken steps to address the items enumerated' in the bishops' recent call to action. DBM Undersecretary Margaux Salcedo said more than ₱ 1 billion (about US$17 million) was released in April to establish Child Development Centers in 328 local government units. 'As of June 2025, 182 National Child Development Centers have already been built,' she told LiCAS News in an interview on August 16. The project, Salcedo said, prioritizes low-income municipalities identified by the Department of Education in line with the findings of a congressional commission on education reform. The DBM also highlighted measures to fight stunting and undernutrition, a problem affecting more than a quarter of Filipino children under five. The 2026 national budget increases funding for the Department of Social Welfare and Development's Supplementary Feeding Program by 18 percent to ₱ 1 billion. At the same time, the country's education department will receive ₱ 11.8 billion for its School-Based Feeding Program, which will provide meals for over three million primary school pupils. To strengthen accountability, the DBM launched a new Child Budget and Expenditure Tagging and Tracking tool, developed with UNICEF and the European Union. According to Salcedo, the system 'will also strengthen and harmonize existing efforts and investments for children, establishing a cohesive, efficient, transparent, and sustained mechanism for child-responsive public financing.' Looking ahead, the DBM announced that the education sector will receive a record ₱ 1.224 trillion (around US$21 billion) in 2026. Salcedo said this level of funding 'will now meet the UNESCO Education 2030 Framework for Action recommended education spending of 4.0 to 6.0 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP),' and falls within the global benchmark of allocating 15 to 20 percent of total government expenditure to education. Salcedo told LiCAS News that the DBM shares the urgency conveyed in the bishops' pastoral letter and is working to ensure full support for implementing agencies like the Department of Education to 'fix the foundations' of the country's struggling education system. The DBM's assurance followed the release of a pastoral statement by the bishops after their 130th plenary assembly in Anda, Bohol, held from June 30 to July 7. In their letter titled 'Call to Immediate Action: Responding to the Crisis in Nutrition and Early Childhood Development,' the CBCP warned that the Philippines faces a deepening education crisis 'rooted in severe stunting and malnutrition, low participation in child care and development, and the high number of children who are functionally illiterate.' The bishops cited findings from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), which reported that 26.7 percent of Filipino children under five are stunted—a rate higher than the global average of 22.3 percent—and that progress has remained stagnant since 2000. They pointed out that only a quarter of Filipino children between six to 12 months meet the recommended energy intake, with many lacking protein and healthy fats needed for growth. Participation in early childhood care remains alarmingly low, with just 21 percent of children aged three to four engaged in early learning, and even fewer among those aged zero to two. The bishops also noted that 5,800 barangays (villages) nationwide still lack child development centers, despite legislation mandating their existence since 1990. 'These consequences are alarming,' the bishops wrote, noting that nearly half of Grade 1 to 3 students are not prepared for their grade level, 80 percent of Grade 3 students struggle with basic mathematics, and 30 percent are not functionally literate. The letter called on the government 'to take immediate action to prioritize and fully fund programs that improve the nutrition of pregnant women and children aged 0–4 … expand access to early childhood education … and immediately invest in establishing child development centers and early learning opportunities in every barangay, prioritizing municipalities with low-income communities.' Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, president of the CBCP, signed the statement, stressing that caring for children is both a moral duty and a national imperative. 'To delay, ignore, or fail to respond to the basic needs of our children is to delay the progress of our nation's future,' he
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Cuomo Claimed These NYCHA Tenant Leaders Endorsed Him. They Say They Never Did.
By Samantha Maldonado, THE CITY This story was originally published by THE CITY. Sign up to get the latest New York City news delivered to you each morning. Jeannette Salcedo is still mulling over who to endorse in the mayor's race. So Salcedo, the resident association president at NYCHA's Castle Hill Houses in The Bronx, was taken aback when someone asked her about an Instagram post from former Gov. Andrew Cuomo's account with her name on it, indicating she'd endorsed him for mayor. 'How did that happen?' Salcedo asked. 'I did not endorse him. I did not. I don't know who I'm endorsing. My questions, as far as I'm concerned, haven't been answered.' Still, Salcedo's name appeared with 26 other NYCHA tenant association presidents on a list the campaign released in May that indicated they all endorsed him for mayor. But that is not the case. Five tenant association presidents who appeared on the list told THE CITY they did not endorse the former governor, saying they still need to decide amongst candidates. Two others didn't reveal whether or not Cuomo won their backing, but said they never approved their names appearing on the list. Six presidents confirmed their endorsements of Cuomo, but of those, one said she didn't know the list would be public. In a statement, Cuomo campaign spokesperson Esther Jensen pointed out that the list had been public for over a month and cast doubt on the claims. 'Something smells here,' she said. 'When THE CITY reached out, we reconnected with NYCHA Tenant Leaders and learned that some had privately expressed feeling intimidated by supporters of other candidates, while others simply didn't welcome the attention that came from press inquiries.' Over half a million New Yorkers live in NYCHA developments throughout the boroughs, and securing the endorsements of the tenant leaders can serve as a boon for any mayoral campaign. And it's especially significant for Cuomo, who served as secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under President Bill Clinton and says that experience makes him the most qualified candidate on housing. The Cuomo campaign has been afflicted by missteps, including a housing plan with garbled sections written with the help of artificial intelligence. It was twice docked matching funds as a penalty for ads bought by an independent committee that a city board said illegally coordinated with the campaign. Cuomo is appealing the decisions. Salcedo said Cuomo's campaign had reached out to her, and she told them she didn't know enough to say she'd endorse him. Instead she told the campaign representative, whose name she didn't remember, to put her on the list to learn more. Salcedo made a social media post of her own clarifying her stance and said she has now soured on considering Cuomo for mayor, given what happened. 'When you speak to someone in a leadership role, it's important to get their words correct. You don't just take their words and run with it,' she said. 'At this point now, that threw me to the left. I don't want any parts of you.' NYCHA leaders like Salcedo said they are eager to know what the mayoral candidates plan to improve the aging and cash-strapped public housing stock, which faces devastating possible budget cuts from the federal government. Cuomo, the race's frontrunner, proposed upgrading NYCHA through a five-year investment of $2.5 billion, converting more sites to private management and developing new apartments on open space on campuses, among other ideas. Two tenant association presidents told THE CITY they found out their names appeared on the list only after someone from City Hall reached out and asked about it. A City Hall spokesperson clarified that in both cases, a community affairs staffer who had longstanding relationships with the tenant association presidents communicated informally in the context of regular business. One of those presidents, who asked to be kept anonymous to protect her residents from any blowback, said she had a call with the Cuomo campaign but never confirmed her support. She called the whole situation 'dirty politics' and said the campaign 'blew the trust.' 'I haven't really made up my mind, and I don't know who I'm voting for yet because it's not even early voting,' she said, adding that she'd have to 'face the music' the next time she saw Mayor Eric Adams. Adams has announced he will be running for reelection as an independent in November. Lehra Brooks, Throggs Neck Houses Tenant Association president, confirmed her support for Cuomo, but said she was blindsided when she saw her name and title publicly on the list. She said she found out when she got a call from Adams' office, which sent her a copy. 'I didn't know they were putting us out as tenant association presidents. I was speaking for me, personally,' Brooks said. 'I think that this is some funky politics.' Still, she backs Cuomo, pointing to his leadership during the pandemic. 'He did an excellent job, and I said yes, I would support. When I look at the state of how we are right now, he'd be good,' she said. Rashida Reid, president of the South Beach Houses Resident Association in Staten Island, learned her name was on the list when THE CITY contacted her about it. She said she spoke to someone from the Cuomo campaign and didn't tell them whether or not she'd support him. 'I have not made up my mind,' Reid said. 'I need to see what [the candidates] stand for.' Kimberly Comes, president of the Redfern Houses Resident Council in Far Rockaway, was one of the people who accurately appeared on the list in support of Cuomo. 'He came to visit our community, and he spoke with some of the residents,' she said. 'I haven't given any cash or anything like that, but we feel he would be a great mayor.' ― ― Samantha Maldonado is a senior reporter for THE CITY, where she covers climate, resiliency, housing and development.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Cuomo Claimed These NYCHA Tenant Leaders Endorsed Him. They Say They Never Did.
By Samantha Maldonado, THE CITY This story was originally published by THE CITY. Sign up to get the latest New York City news delivered to you each morning. Jeannette Salcedo is still mulling over who to endorse in the mayor's race. So Salcedo, the resident association president at NYCHA's Castle Hill Houses in The Bronx, was taken aback when someone asked her about an Instagram post from former Gov. Andrew Cuomo's account with her name on it, indicating she'd endorsed him for mayor. 'How did that happen?' Salcedo asked. 'I did not endorse him. I did not. I don't know who I'm endorsing. My questions, as far as I'm concerned, haven't been answered.' Still, Salcedo's name appeared with 26 other NYCHA tenant association presidents on a list the campaign released in May that indicated they all endorsed him for mayor. But that is not the case. Five tenant association presidents who appeared on the list told THE CITY they did not endorse the former governor, saying they still need to decide amongst candidates. Two others didn't reveal whether or not Cuomo won their backing, but said they never approved their names appearing on the list. Six presidents confirmed their endorsements of Cuomo, but of those, one said she didn't know the list would be public. In a statement, Cuomo campaign spokesperson Esther Jensen pointed out that the list had been public for over a month and cast doubt on the claims. 'Something smells here,' she said. 'When THE CITY reached out, we reconnected with NYCHA Tenant Leaders and learned that some had privately expressed feeling intimidated by supporters of other candidates, while others simply didn't welcome the attention that came from press inquiries.' Over half a million New Yorkers live in NYCHA developments throughout the boroughs, and securing the endorsements of the tenant leaders can serve as a boon for any mayoral campaign. And it's especially significant for Cuomo, who served as secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under President Bill Clinton and says that experience makes him the most qualified candidate on housing. The Cuomo campaign has been afflicted by missteps, including a housing plan with garbled sections written with the help of artificial intelligence. It was twice docked matching funds as a penalty for ads bought by an independent committee that a city board said illegally coordinated with the campaign. Cuomo is appealing the decisions. Salcedo said Cuomo's campaign had reached out to her, and she told them she didn't know enough to say she'd endorse him. Instead she told the campaign representative, whose name she didn't remember, to put her on the list to learn more. Salcedo made a social media post of her own clarifying her stance and said she has now soured on considering Cuomo for mayor, given what happened. 'When you speak to someone in a leadership role, it's important to get their words correct. You don't just take their words and run with it,' she said. 'At this point now, that threw me to the left. I don't want any parts of you.' NYCHA leaders like Salcedo said they are eager to know what the mayoral candidates plan to improve the aging and cash-strapped public housing stock, which faces devastating possible budget cuts from the federal government. Cuomo, the race's frontrunner, proposed upgrading NYCHA through a five-year investment of $2.5 billion, converting more sites to private management and developing new apartments on open space on campuses, among other ideas. Two tenant association presidents told THE CITY they found out their names appeared on the list only after someone from City Hall reached out and asked about it. A City Hall spokesperson clarified that in both cases, a community affairs staffer who had longstanding relationships with the tenant association presidents communicated informally in the context of regular business. One of those presidents, who asked to be kept anonymous to protect her residents from any blowback, said she had a call with the Cuomo campaign but never confirmed her support. She called the whole situation 'dirty politics' and said the campaign 'blew the trust.' 'I haven't really made up my mind, and I don't know who I'm voting for yet because it's not even early voting,' she said, adding that she'd have to 'face the music' the next time she saw Mayor Eric Adams. Adams has announced he will be running for reelection as an independent in November. Lehra Brooks, Throggs Neck Houses Tenant Association president, confirmed her support for Cuomo, but said she was blindsided when she saw her name and title publicly on the list. She said she found out when she got a call from Adams' office, which sent her a copy. 'I didn't know they were putting us out as tenant association presidents. I was speaking for me, personally,' Brooks said. 'I think that this is some funky politics.' Still, she backs Cuomo, pointing to his leadership during the pandemic. 'He did an excellent job, and I said yes, I would support. When I look at the state of how we are right now, he'd be good,' she said. Rashida Reid, president of the South Beach Houses Resident Association in Staten Island, learned her name was on the list when THE CITY contacted her about it. She said she spoke to someone from the Cuomo campaign and didn't tell them whether or not she'd support him. 'I have not made up my mind,' Reid said. 'I need to see what [the candidates] stand for.' Kimberly Comes, president of the Redfern Houses Resident Council in Far Rockaway, was one of the people who accurately appeared on the list in support of Cuomo. 'He came to visit our community, and he spoke with some of the residents,' she said. 'I haven't given any cash or anything like that, but we feel he would be a great mayor.' ― ― Samantha Maldonado is a senior reporter for THE CITY, where she covers climate, resiliency, housing and development.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hospices faked patients' terminal illnesses for Medicare fraud: DOJ
Two West Covina women are facing federal charges for allegedly defrauding Medicare out of millions and paying kickbacks to those who could procure them more patients for the scheme. Normita Sierra, the 71-year-old owner of two hospices in West Covina, allegedly 'filed more than $4.8 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare – which paid more than $3.8 million on those claims – for medically unnecessary services for people not terminally ill,' the U.S. Department of Justice said in a news release. Sierra (aka 'Normie') faces nine counts of health care fraud, four counts of illegal remuneration for health care referrals and a count of conspiracy. Additionally, 55-year-old Rowena Elegado (aka 'Weng') faces the illegal remuneration and conspiracy counts. Prosecutors say Sierra's Golden Meadows Hospice Inc. and D'Alexandria Hospice Inc. billed Medicare for hospice services for patients who weren't terminally ill between September 2018 and October 2022. Sierra and Elegado allegedly worked together to pay kickbacks of up to $1,300 per patient per month to recruiters who brought patients to the hospices despite 'knowing that most of those patients had not been referred by their primary care physicians for such services,' the DOJ said. Prosecutors identified two others who've already pleaded guilty to their roles in the scheme: Carl Bernardo, a 53-year-old Chino resident who pleaded guilty in September to one count of accepting kickbacks and who will be sentenced on Oct. 23 Relyndo Salcedo, a 60-year-old nurse practitioner from Fontana who pleaded guilty in May to one count of health care fraud and whose sentencing is set for Nov. 20 Salcedo initially assessed potential patients for the hospice and found many ineligible, but Sierra 'made the ultimate enrollment decisions.' Sierra and Bernardo put pressure on Salcedo, who 'exaggerated and falsified the patients' conditions to make them seem terminally ill,' prosecutor said. 'Hospice physicians then relied on Salcedo's records to certify the patients as hospice appropriate,' the release explained. 'Once enrolled, those patients – who were not in fact terminally ill – rarely died, and instead were often discharged at around six months at Sierra's direction, sometimes to her home health company or the other hospice company.' Sierra and Elegado will be arraigned Tuesday afternoon in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles. If convicted, each count of health care fraud or illegal kickback carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison, while conspiracy carries a sentence of up to five years. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
GMA Network
27-05-2025
- Sport
- GMA Network
Central Luzon, Western Visayas bets break Palaro records in secondary boys' 400m race, discus throw
ILOCOS NORTE - Two more meet records have been shattered after rising athletes from Central Luzon and Western Visayas flaunted record-breaking performances in the 2025 Palarong Pambansa in Ilocos Norte. Central Luzon's Alfred Talplacido set the record in the secondary boys' 400m race after clocking in 48.10 seconds to break the previous 48.7 mark set by Jomar Udtohan in 2014. Talplacido also bested John Clinton Abetong of Region IV-A (CALABARZON) and Kian Labar, who bagged the silver and bronze medals after registering 48.61 and 48.92 seconds, respectively. Meanwhile, another athletics ace in Josh Gabriel Salcedo of Western Visayas-Antique likewise broke the record in the secondary boys' discus throw after posting a throw of 45.52m. Salcedo broke the 42.86m-finish of Airex Gabriel Villanueva in 2023. Silver medalist Zachary Lawig of Baguio had actually broken the previous record as well after posting 43.92m, but fell short of Salcedo winning mark. Samar's Rolando Tingzon captured the bronze with a 41.99m finish. Earlier, Bacolod bet Mico Villaran eclipsed a 15-year-old record in the secondary boys' 110m hurdles after finishing the race in 14.00 seconds. —JMB, GMA Integrated News
