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  • COA: Kawit LGU Sinayang ang P13.2M Pondo para sa Sakuna

    COA: Kawit LGU Sinayang ang P13.2M Pondo para sa Sakuna

    KAWIT, Cavite — Pinuna ng Commission on Audit (COA) ang lokal na pamahalaan ng Kawit dahil hindi nagamit ang P13.2 milyong pondo para sa sakuna mula 2020 hanggang 2022, na dapat sana’y nagastos para sa disaster preparedness at risk reduction programs.

    Sa ulat ng COA para sa 2023, ang pondong ito ay nanatili sa Special Trust Fund at hindi isinama sa plano ng bayan para sa paggamit ng Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (LDRRMF). Dahil dito, walang bahagi ng halaga ang nagamit noong 2023, taliwas sa itinakdang panuntunan.

    Ayon sa COA Circular No. 2012-002, dapat gamitin ang natirang pondo sa loob ng limang taon para sa mga proyekto ng paghahanda sa sakuna. Ang Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (LDRRMC) ng bayan ang may tungkuling magplano ng tamang paggamit nito.

    Bukod dito, ayon sa panuntunan ng National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), at Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), maaari lamang gamitin ang naipong pondo kung aaprubahan ito ng lokal na konseho at ng alkalde sa pamamagitan ng isang binagong Annual Investment Plan (AIP).

    Noong 2023, may kabuuang P41.3 milyong pondo para sa sakuna ang bayan, kung saan P34.4 milyon ang nagamit at may natirang P6.8 milyon. Gayunpaman, hindi pa rin nagalaw ang P13.2 milyong pondo mula 2020 hanggang 2022.

    Wala pang pahayag ang lokal na pamahalaan sa ilalim ni Mayor Angelo Aguinaldo kaugnay ng ulat ng COA.

    Copy of the Commission on Audit (COA) Report on Kawit, Cavite
  • Former Barangay Captain Files Petition to Remove Deceased and Non-Resident Voters in Palompon

    Former Barangay Captain Files Petition to Remove Deceased and Non-Resident Voters in Palompon

    PALOMPON, Leyte – Former Barangay Belen Captain Romulo Lamoste has filed a petition for the exclusion of voters against more than 100 individuals listed in the Commission on Elections (Comelec) records, alleging that some are deceased while others are non-residents of Palompon, Leyte.

    On January 31, Lamoste formally submitted an exclusion petition before the Municipal Trial Court (MTC) of Palompon, seeking to remove 34 alleged flying voters and four deceased individuals from the town’s voters’ list.

    He is set to file another batch of petitions on Monday, February 3, to challenge the remaining names he claims should not be included in the voters’ roll.

    (A photo shows attorneys Lloyd Surigao and Robie Quiño holding the documents related to the case, representing Lamoste in the legal proceedings.)

  • 2 Men Arrested in Bulacan Drug Bust; P1M Worth of Shabu, Gun Seized

    2 Men Arrested in Bulacan Drug Bust; P1M Worth of Shabu, Gun Seized

    By Kevin Galang

    GUIGUINTO, Bulacan—Authorities arrested two men and seized more than P1 million worth of suspected shabu and a firearm during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Tabang, Guiguinto, Bulacan, police said.

    The suspects, identified only as “Bude,” 41, of Barangay Sta. Rita, Guiguinto, and “Tsong,” 44, of Barangay Sapang, San Miguel, were taken into custody, according to a report from the Bulacan police submitted to Police Regional Office 3 Director Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo.

    The Guiguinto police’s Station Drug Enforcement Unit conducted the entrapment operation, which led to the confiscation of approximately 185.8 grams of suspected shabu valued at P1,293,300, along with a .38-caliber revolver loaded with three live rounds.

    The suspects face charges for violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.

  • Tech Billionaires Lose $67.3 Billion in Market Sell-Off

    Tech Billionaires Lose $67.3 Billion in Market Sell-Off

    NEW YORK – The world’s wealthiest tech billionaires saw a collective $67.3 billion wiped from their fortunes in a single day, led by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, whose net worth fell by $29 billion to $301 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

    Amazon founder Jeff Bezos lost $4.21 billion, while Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg saw his fortune shrink by $9.46 billion. Oracle founder Larry Ellison’s wealth declined by $7.26 billion, and Alphabet co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin lost $6.16 billion and $5.73 billion, respectively. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and former CEO Steve Ballmer suffered losses of $1.10 billion and $4.17 billion.

    The sell-off came as Tesla shares plunged 15.44%, with other tech giants, including Apple and NVIDIA, falling 5.91% and 6.74%, respectively. The Invesco QQQ Trust, which tracks the tech-heavy Nasdaq-100, entered correction territory, dropping more than 10% from recent highs.

    Amid the turmoil, Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett stood out, gaining $607 million. Berkshire, which recently reported a record $334 billion cash stockpile, has been a net seller of stocks for nine consecutive quarters, citing high valuations. Buffett has also trimmed Berkshire’s Apple stake and halted stock buybacks.

    Market concerns were further fueled by fears of a potential recession and proposed tariff policies by former U.S. President Donald Trump. Goldman Sachs warned that a 5% tariff increase could reduce corporate earnings by 1-2% and trigger a 5% drop in the S&P 500.

    Despite recent declines, several tech billionaires still hold significant year-to-date gains, with Zuckerberg up $4.12 billion in 2025. Meanwhile, Tesla’s valuation remains elevated at more than 100 times earnings, even after losing half its value since December highs.