HEADLINING EXERCISES ENGLISH

#1: ___________________________________________________________

MANILA, Philippines — Artificial intelligence (AI) technology and all the other new
technologies cannot replace teachers in education, an education technology expert has
said.

Ryan Lufkin, vice president of global strategy of US-based education technology giant
Instructure, said that AI, when harnessed in the most constructive way, can greatly
enhance the power of teachers in facilitating optimum learning for their students in the
classroom, whether in a traditional or virtual setting.

“Just as we have seen other revolutionary tools like the calculator and the internet, none
of those have replaced educators. We carry around smartphones that have access to all
the world’s knowledge in our pockets. That still has not replaced educators,” Lufkin
pointed out in a media briefing on the sidelines of yesterday’s Canvas Connect
conference.

#2:___________________________________________________________

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Trade and Industry will raise the monthly
discount cap on groceries and prime commodities for senior citizens and persons with
disabilities (PWD) to P500 starting March, House Speaker Martin Romualdez said on
Wednesday.

The DTI is set to order the discount increase next month, raising the maximum discount
for groceries and prime commodities to P125 weekly or P500 a month, Romualdez said.

Current rules allow senior citizens and PWDs to enjoy a 5% special discount on
groceries, with the total discount limited to P260 per month or P65 per week.

#3:____________________________________________________________

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate committee report on the legalization of cannabis as

medicine for certain ailments has been signed by 13 senators.

The bill sponsored by Sen. Robinhood Padilla recognizes the medicinal quality of
marijuana and seeks the establishment of a Philippine Medical Cannabis Authority
under the Department of Health.

The Feb. 26 report was prepared jointly by the Senate committees on health and
demography, public order and dangerous drugs and finance.

#4:______________________________________________________________

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos yesterday called on the Home Development

Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG Fund to make its home mortgage financing more affordable
yet sustainable, as he reminded officials of the goal to construct the most number of
houses by any administration.

During the presentation of the Pag-IBIG Fund chairman’s report for 2023 in Pasay City,
Marcos said his administration has inherited a huge housing backlog that must be
reduced.
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The rankings were drawn up by London-based bussiness research and

information web site publisher BusinessFinancing.co.uk. It
based the list on passenger reviews around the world collated from Airline Quality, a
customer review site developed and managed by aviation consultancy Skytrax.
BusinessFinancing.co.uk then filtered the reviews down to business classtravelers.

Here’s another problem that turns off foreign investors, and its solution does not
call for amending the Constitution. Business class travelers – people with the type of
money that can provide job-generating enterprises in the philippines – have ranked the
Ninoy Aquino International Airport as the fourth worst gateway in Asia and the Middle
East.
Airports give most foreign travelers their first experience of a country, and can
indicate the type of welcome that awaits tourists and investors. It’s no coincidence that
the airports picked by business travelers as the world’s three best are located in some
of the most competitive economies: No Bai in Vietnam, Singapore’s Changi and Hong
Kong International.Of the top twenty on the list, 12 is in Asia. In addition to the three
best, the others in the region are Narita and Haneda in Japan; India’s Kempegowda,
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Indira Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel; Indonesia’s
Ngurah Rai and South Korea’s Incheon.

In Asia and the East Middle, the Philippines was rated as the fourth worst after
kuwait International, Almaty in Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabias King Abdulaziz. In
Southeast Asia, others in the ten worst list are Thailand’s Suvarnabhumi, Malaysia’s
Kuala Lumpur International and Don Mueang also in Thailand.

In drawing up the list, BusinessFinancing explained why business class travel

exists: “Humans are creatures of comfort and habit. Removed from a familiar home
setting and pushed through the crowds and security rituals of the airport, the bu-
siness traveler soon desires something more. Some space for themselves, decent food
and drink and a plaesant environment to pass the time as pain lessly as possible.”

Malacañang, through the Department of Budget and Management, submits its

proposed national expenditure program to Congress, and both chambers deliberate on
the NEP to come up with their respective versions of the budget bill.

“But the airports themselves are less amenable,” BusinessFinancing observed.

These spaces are managed by a hodge-podge of private companies and underpaid
service staff, dealing with a fast through traffic of stressed customers. They make
their money from needs, not preferences – desperation, not desire – and it shows.”

The naia has been found wanting not only by business class travelers but also
those flying coach. With its rehabilitation, maintenance and management privatized for
at least 15 years