by admin | Mar 28, 2025 | elections, news, news media, politics, politics and government
MANILA, Philippines
– Over 41,000 aspirants for local offices in the May 12 election will begin their campaigns on Friday.
According to data provided by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), there will be a total of 41,342 contenders vying for positions such as district representative, governor, vice governor, member of the provincial board, mayor, vice mayor, and councilor in the forthcoming elections.
The 45-day campaign period for local candidates will run until May 10.
In light of this, Commission on Elections Chairman George Garcia cautioned all contenders on Thursday to adhere rigorously to the established campaign regulations.
READ:
Operation Baklas was stepped up as the election season for local positions approaches.
Where can we typically find campaign posters in Cebu for the 2025 elections?
Local election intensifies as posters are layered one over another – Comelec
To local candidates, always keep in mind the guidelines set by the Comelec,” he stated. “Avoid being obstinate.
According to Comelec Resolution No. 11086, acceptable forms of campaign materials include pamphlets, flyers, cards, decals, stickers, or similar documents where neither dimension exceeds 8 1/2 inches wide nor 14 inches long. Additionally, hand-drawn or printed messages encouraging votes for specific parties or candidates for public positions are permitted. Posters or stands limited to sizes up to 2 feet tall by 3 feet wide, as well as banners measuring a maximum of 3 feet high by 8 feet long when shown during gatherings or rallies at the venue, also comply with these regulations.
Applicants can utilize campaign resources through mobile units and vehicles, be they powered by engines, people, or animals, with or without audio equipment like loudspeakers and lighting fixtures; purchase ads in printed publications or broadcasts; leverage privately-owned outdoor structures such as static posters or LED billboards; employ moving advertisements inside public transportation vehicles; and display signs at their party offices.
Campaign period: Materials
In contrast, individuals aiming to secure positions at the local level are barred from using LED displays situated alongside roads and streets for their promotional materials. They’re also not allowed to use LCD screens mounted on public building walls or comparable equipment managed by local government entities, GOCCs, or governmental departments and offices. Additionally, they cannot utilize motor vehicles employed as police cruisers, emergency response units, or other related functions—vehicles which may belong to local governments, GOCCs, or state-run organizations, especially those with official tags—and this restriction extends to publicly operated transit systems like MRT, LRT, PNR trains, among others.
Additionally, it is deemed unlawful to place election propaganda on waiting sheds, pavements, streets, lampposts, electrical poles and lines, traffic signs, and various billboards installed on state-owned land. This also includes pedestrian overpasses and underpasses, elevated roadways, bridge structures, major arterial roads, median strips of highways and city streets, educational institutions, community shrines, village administrative centers, governmental facilities, healthcare centers, publicly funded constructions, and any building therein. Furthermore, placing such materials inside areas managed by the government and used for public transportation—such as bus depots, airports, harbors, docking points, piers, railway stations, and similar locations—is prohibited.
Political advertisements
According to Comelec regulations, for political ads on TV and radio, each local candidate can broadcast up to 60 minutes of television commercials per channel and up to 90 minutes of radio spots per station.
For every candidate vying for either national or local elective posts, the largest permissible dimensions for their politically themed print ads are restricted to one-quarter of a page in broadsheet format and half a page in tabloid format. Additionally, these adverts may not appear more frequently than thrice weekly within any single newspaper.
Those who participate in outdoor campaign ads are limited to just one month of advertising on either a static or an LED billboard, with these billboards spaced at least 500 meters apart from each other.
Garcia mentioned that he instructed the local Comelec staff to install additional shared poster spaces in their respective zones.
Regarding the conduct of campaign rallies, Garcia stated that aspirants and political organizations must follow guidelines set forth by local government entities, which includes obtaining the required permissions.
“Additionally, ensure that you won’t create disruptions in the streets or lead to major traffic jams,” he said.
The election official stated that those who violate these guidelines will receive notifications that will be sent to the relevant candidates.
“Do not ignore the notifications to take down. This is preliminary to filing a case against you,” Garcia further stated.
(PNA)
by admin | Mar 27, 2025 | business, elon musk, government, politics, politics and government
By Nathan Layne and Costas Pitas
(SANGGRALOKA) – Tech tycoon Elon Musk, who was selected by U.S. President Donald Trump to reduce governmental size, stated on Thursday that he aims to complete the majority of the tasks required to slash $1 trillion from federal expenditures before his term concludes within just 64 days.
Musk informed Fox News’ program “Special Report with Brett Baier” that he believed his Department of Government Efficiency could identify $1 trillion in savings, thereby reducing the present overall federal expenditure from approximately $7 trillion to around $6 trillion.
Musk, who tops the list as the wealthiest individual globally, has been appointed by the White House as a “special government employee.” This designation limits his service to a maximum of 130 days. Consequently, his tenure heading up the DOGE initiative might conclude by late May.
“When questioned by Baier regarding my term and the pace at which I anticipate meeting our cost-reduction objective, I mentioned that I believe we will manage to cut down the deficit by around a trillion dollars mostly within the specified timeframe,” Musk stated.
“Given the inefficiency of the government and the significant amount of waste and fraud present, we believe that cutting down expenses by 15% should not impact any essential public services,” Musk stated.
As of March 24, DOGE claims to have saved U.S. taxpayers approximately $115 billion through measures such as cutting down the workforce, selling assets, and canceling contracts.
Nevertheless, the savings amount posted on the DOGE site lacks verification, and its computations have been marred by mistakes and revisions. Financial analysts indicate that Musk won’t be able to achieve his objective without altering entitlement programs such as Social Security, an area where Trump has pledged not to make cuts.
This interview was notable as it represented the initial occasion where Musk and key members of his leadership team from DOGE sat down with journalists to discuss their projects. Joining Musk were seven additional representatives from DOGE, among them being Steve Davis, who serves as the president of Musk’s underground construction venture, The Boring Company, along with Joe Gebbia, one of the founders of Airbnb.
“Unless this effort proves successful, the vessel of America might founder. This is precisely why we’re undertaking it,” stated Musk, who additionally leads electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla as its CEO.
Musk’s part in reducing the size of the federal workforce and cutting budgets for various government agencies has faced significant political criticism recently. This scrutiny coincides with incidents of vandalism targeting Tesla vehicles and dealerships throughout the nation.
(Reported by Nathan Layne from New York; Edited by Ross Colvin, Jamie Freed, and Leslie Adler)
by admin | Mar 27, 2025 | journalism, news, news media, politics, politics and government
MANILA, Philippines – On Thursday, Senator Grace Poe stated that print media upholds integrity within democracies amidst the era of false information.
“Printing continues to be crucial in modern media due to its reputation for upholding accountability and responsibility,” Poe stated.
Access to clear and precise information is crucial for our democratic nation. Freedom of information allows citizens to make informed choices,” she further stated. “It is based on the idea that every individual should be provided with complete details.
She also mentioned that ethics continue to be maintained in print media compared to other types of media, which prioritize differently. This makes conventional media a reliable source for information.
“The aim of content creators is to achieve widespread popularity; they often rely on the simple act of sharing to spread both accurate and inaccurate information alike… Conversely, traditional print media adheres strictly to journalistic ethics, with fact-checking being paramount among these principles. Perhaps this is why print media enjoys public trust and proudly positions itself as the custodian of truth,” noted Poe.
Nevertheless, she thinks that content producers should remain responsible since they play a role in disseminating information.
“The accountability for the material remains with the journalists, bloggers, or everyday individuals authoring these posts or managing these accounts,” Poe stated.
(SANGGRALOKA.net trainee, Keith Clores)
by admin | Mar 27, 2025 | asia, foreign policy, international relations, politics, politics of japan
Tokyo (Jiji Press) — According to government sources, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba intends to travel to the Philippines and Vietnam over the holiday period beginning at the end of next month.
Ishida intends to strengthen security collaboration with these two Southeast Asian nations as a response to China’s assertive actions in the South China Sea.
Japan has been aiding the Philippines, strategically positioned along important sea routes, through the provision of military gear and substantial patrol vessels.
In addition to working with Vietnam, Japan has been advancing the transfer of equipment and defense exchanges.
In the realm of economics, Ishiba is anticipated to inform the leaders of the Philippines and Vietnam that Japan continues to uphold its commitment to backing these nations in sectors such as infrastructure development, healthcare, and capacity building.
During his visit to Malaysia and Indonesia in January, Ishiba plans to highlight Tokyo’s commitment to strengthening relationships with Southeast Asian countries through subsequent trips to the Philippines and Vietnam.
by admin | Mar 27, 2025 | education, news, politics, school children, schools
Children who exhibit violent and disruptive behavior should be removed from schools in order to reinstate disciplinary standards, according to Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth.
She stated that poor conduct was the most significant issue for educators—and encouraged principals to expel students who consistently violate regulations and create chaos in the classroom.
The minister likewise admitted that the ‘atmospheric soundtrack’ associated with declining student behavior could be deterring possible applicants from pursuing teaching positions.
Following years of worry that principals were instructed to consider expulsion as a final option—with only one student facing permanent exclusion in the 2022-23 academic year—her intervention has come into play.
Last night Scottish
Tory
Miles Briggs, an education spokesperson, stated: “Jenny Gilruth has finally acknowledged that teachers are dealing with unacceptably bad behavior.”
‘This is something they’ve been raising concerns about for years, however, she fails to mention why, despite being the Education Secretary, she hasn’t taken any steps to address this problem.’
‘The
SNP
has overseen a downturn in our educational institutions and immediate steps need to be taken to turn it around.”
Numerous educators claim that exclusions are not increasing since the punishment has essentially been banned; however, Ms. Gilruth maintains that schools still have the authority to exclude students.
She stated: ‘It is acceptable for you to exclude—clearly, you have the right to exclude.’
‘Clearly, both at the national and local levels, we anticipate that different approaches will be employed; however, inevitably, this leads to exclusion, which is indeed appropriate.’
Ms. Gilruth stated that she wouldn’t mind seeing exclusions increase because this could signify better incident reporting by employees.
She informed TES Scotland, the educational publication: “Encouraging more reports is something we greatly wish for.”
‘Yes, this could lead to an increase in exclusions; however, they serve a purpose as a measure that teachers can use as a consequence.’
‘That’s why we don’t want them to feel discouraged from utilizing it since it’s meant to assist them with their tasks.’
Regarding student behavior and teacher hiring, Ms. Gilruth stated: “We aim to make teaching an appealing profession for individuals. However, I realize that the prevailing attitude towards discipline could be deterring potential teachers. Still, it’s important to recognize that even with these difficulties, most of our students behave appropriately at school.”
When asked about the position of student behavior in her list of priorities, Ms. Gilruth stated, “Regarding challenges, I believe the biggest one is definitely maintaining good conduct.”
The stricter stance of the SNP on behavior comes after alarming statistics revealed escalating violence in educational institutions.
Earlier this month, reports from the Mail indicated that educators requested self-defense courses due to growing worries about an increase in classroom violence within Scottish schools.
Principals at schools in Aberdeenshire and Edinburgh were requested to offer additional instruction aimed at boosting teacher safety as staff expressed feelings of fear.
SNP ministers have been encouraged to adopt a stricter stance on addressing harassment, bullying, and aggression in educational institutions following recent disclosures.
The NASUWT teaching union recently stated that children as young as four are participating in an upsurge of classroom aggression, resulting in almost 40% of educators experiencing assaults involving weapons such as knives, hockey sticks, and chairs.
About 83 percent of employees stated that ‘violent and aggressive’ behavior had escalated, even though the SNP government initiated a ‘national action plan on relationships and behavior’ last year.
Patrick Roach, the general secretary of NASUWT, stated: “The well-being and protection of educators and students must not be left to luck.”
Startling statistics from last July showed that educators face an attack by a student approximately every four minutes, totaling over 16,000 incidents during the preceding school year.
Last year, Ms. Gilruth faced criticism following the release of new guidelines from the Scottish Government, which advised teachers to exhibit ‘warmth’ and ’emotional responsiveness’ towards disruptive students in the classroom.
A ‘course of action’ document released by the Education Secretary acknowledged that school personnel have cautioned about the ‘absence of significant repercussions for unruly behavior’.
However, it demanded ‘great warmth and support, high standards, and significant expectations regarding socially responsible behavior’.
The Scottish Government guidelines instruct educators not to use the term ‘bully’ to prevent causing distress among students. Instead, they should involve law enforcement when children are believed to have committed a hate crime.
In the TES Scotland interview, Ms. Gilruth also expressed worry about the increasing number of students departing from school after their fourth year.
In 2023-24, 14.4 percent of students who left schools were in S4, an increase from 11.6 percent in 2013-14.
Ms. Gilruth mentioned that the feedback she got from principals indicated the cost-of-living crisis is ‘causing young individuals to leave their educational pursuits for entering the workforce’.
This investigation is currently being handled by the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland, which represents local authority education heads.
Yesterday evening, Tory MSP Mr. Briggs stated: “With the SNP in charge, standards have declined, the number of teachers has decreased, and the examining authority has faced multiple setbacks.”
‘Teachers have been forced to deal with inappropriate and sometimes aggressive behavior, disrupting the learning of other students.’
Read more
by admin | Mar 27, 2025 | government, news, politics, politics and government, trains
New Delhi
[March 28] [in India], (ANI News): The President of the Tamil Nadu branch of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stated that
K Annamalai
Met with the Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology as well as the Minister of Railways,
Ashwini Vaishnaw
On Thursday at his office, he participated in a combined review meeting during which a new train service was introduced.
At the meeting, following the input gathered from the community, Vaishnaw sanctioned the launch of a new railway service connecting Tambaram with Rameswaram. This train itinerary includes stops at Chidambaram, Thiruvarur, and Thiruthirapoondi.
On social platform X, Annamalai shared a post stating, “It was delightful to meet our Honorable Minister of State Thiru @Murugan_MoSavl along with our esteemed Hon Railway Minister Thiru @AshwiniVaishnawavl at his office today for a collaborative review meeting.”
“The review meeting was joined by representatives from eight districts in Tamil Nadu as well as officials at the district level from @BJP4TamilNadu. Following the input provided by attendees and a submission made by @BJP4TamilNadu, our esteemed Railway Minister sanctioned a new service—a train running from Tambaram to Rameswaram with stops in Chidambaram, Thiruvarur, and Thiruthirapoondi,” the message stated.
Annamalai mentioned that the new train service was set to start on April 6, 2025, aligning with the opening ceremony of the first updated vertical lift Pamban Bridge by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“We are equally pleased to observe that this new train service will commence operations on April 6, 2025, coinciding with the unveiling of the newly constructed first vertical lift Pamban Bridge by our esteemed Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi,” the message continued.
Earlier in the day, Annamalai also criticized Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin regarding the current controversy surrounding the three-language policy. He referred to him as a “con artist” pretending to be a guardian of the constitution.
On a post on X, Annamalai claimed that the DMK is defrauding both wealthy and impoverished individuals. “Honorable @mkstalin, you pose as a guardian of our Constitution and federal system, yet you are essentially a swindler. Typically, fraudsters target the affluent, but the DMK does not discriminate—they cheat both the rich and the poor alike,” Annamalai stated.
The BJP leader highlighted the inconsistency of MK Stalin by pointing out that although the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu comes from a family that runs private schools teaching three languages, he is against implementing a similar multilingual education approach in the state’s public schools.
“The entire nation is aware that the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu’s family runs private institutions offering education in multiple languages including three official ones, yet they oppose implementing a similar approach in public schools run by the state government. People are labeling you as a hypocrite, Thiru @mkstalin,” stated the BJP leader. (ANI)
Provided by Syndigate Media Inc. (
Syndigate.info
).
