The Power for People Coalition (P4P) lambasted Meralco’s bid to pass on to consumers additional fuel costs from procuring expensive liquefied natural gas (LNG) despite the lack of clearance as flagged by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). 
 
ERC’s confirmation comes after Meralco’s P0.5738 increase in its February billing without any validation that will justify its rate adjustment due to costly imported LNG procured from Meralco’s purchase agreement with First Gas Power Corporation (FGPC). 
 
“We are glad that the ERC is keeping tabs on reckless passing on of LNG costs. In the first place, consumers had no say over Meralco’s choice of buying expensive electricity from fossil fuels and it should be the one to bear its bad business decision,” said Gerry Arances, Convenor of Power for People Coalition. 
 
“The ERC needs to act on this matter urgently, and not just for upcoming rates from FirstGen – considering San Miguel Corporation’s South Premier Power Corporation has been using LNG since last year,” Arances added.
 
P4P also cautioned that allowing Meralco’s push to pass on LNG costs can open the floodgates for other distribution utilities to follow suit. 
 
“This is not just a problem for consumers in Meralco’s franchise areas. Meralco’s bid to pass on LNG fuel costs to consumers sets a worrying precedent that gives a go-signal for higher power rates in the country,” added Arances.
 
According to P4P, the delays in the validation of charges passed on to the consumers represent one in a myriad of problems with LNG contracts. 
 
“Meralco has a track record of piling additional costs onto consumers, who are not afforded clarity on where the numbers reflected in our electricity bills are coming from. The lack of transparency with LNG pricing – from fuel procurement contracts to actual electricity costing – has to stop. Issuing receipts is a standard business practice; neither distribution companies like Meralco nor generators like FirstGen and SMC are not exempted from this,” said Arances.

Mr. President, it was in the year 1860 when a Swiss chemist discovered  DNA. In 1986, the year I graduated from the Philippine Military Academy, DNA was  used to solve a murder case in the United States of America. Today, thirty seven  years later, I stand before this august body to sponsor Senate Bill No. 2474 under  Committee Report No. 161, entitled “An Act Establishing the Philippine National  Police Forensic DNA Database, Appropriating Funds Therefor” or the “PNP  Forensic DNA Database Act”. I believe it is not a coincidence, Mr. President. 

Deoxyribonucleic (dee-ok-see-ray-bo-nook-lee-ayk) Acid or DNA is a genetic  code that can be found anywhere in which a person has been in contact with – either a person or a thing. The DNA that is found in every nucleated cell of the  human body can be collected from people’s skin, blood, saliva and bone. 

Kung noon po ay isang foreign o alien concept ang “DNA”, sa pagdaan po ng  mga panahon, sa tulong na rin ng telebisyon at social media, unti-unti na rin po  itong nauunawaan ng ating mga kababayan. Hindi na rin po mabilang ang mga  pelikula o mga telenovela kung saan ang tema o plot ay may nagkapalit na mga  sanggol mula pagkabata at magtatagpo sa isang happy ending. 

Ngunit marahil ay pinaka naging popular po ang DNA nitong mga nakaraang  taon lamang, noong unang maipalabas sa telebisyon ng programa ng iginagalang  na broadcaster na si Ms. Jessica Soho ang kauna-unahang documented case ng  “baby-switching” sa ating bansa. Sinubaybayan po ito ng ating mga kababayan ng  higit sa isang buwan. Bagama’t pinahahalagahan ng ating kultura ang tinatawag  na “lukso ng dugo”, ang kasong nabanggit ay naresolba pa rin sa pamamagitan  ng siyensiya—ng DNA testing. 

More than being instrumental in reuniting loved ones, the DNA [Database] will  also help us in times of calamities, Mr. President. Under the proposed measure,  the DNA database system will be used to assist our government in the  identification of missing persons or unidentified human remains, such as victims of  natural disasters.  

Marahil ay kulang ang salita upang mailarawan ang sakit na nadarama ng  isang nawalan ng mahal sa buhay. Lalo’t higit kung ang pagkakasawi ay dinulot  ng isang trahedya na hindi lamang bumawi ng kanilang buhay kundi kumuha  maging ng kanilang pagkakakilanlan. Malaki po ang ginagampanan ng DNA  testing sa pagbibigay ng closure sa pamilya ng mga biktima. At minsan, sa  pambihirang pagkakataon, nakapagbibigay din ang DNA results ng pag-asa para  sa ilang umaasa na buhay pa ang kanilang mga kaanak. 

Mr. President, allow me to enumerate some accomplishments on Disaster  Victim Identification (DVI) that was made possible because of DNA testing:

● 73 out of the 74 Kente Fire incidents victims in Valenzuela City in 2015 were  successfully identified through DNA and were returned to their respective  families for proper burial. 

● In 2021, a C130 Plane crashed in Patikul, Sulu. In this crash, 51 out of 53  samples were subjected to DNA analysis for identification. 21 were positively  identified and were returned to their respective families for proper burial. 

● Recently, all 15 victims of the Tandang Sora Fire incident on August 31,  2023 were successfully identified through DNA and were returned to their  respective families. 

DNA testing cannot bring the departed back to life. But, somehow, it brings  a little semblance of peace to those who have to go through the painful process of  grieving and healing.  

Mr. President, I believe that this DNA Database will help to give a human face  to victims of disaster. Hindi dapat natin hinahayaang may mamatay nang hindi  man lang nakikilala o nakukumpirma kung sino sila. No matter how heartbreaking  their deaths may have been, it is perhaps a final act of kindness, a last grant of  dignity, for them to be identified and properly mourned for in death. 

But aside from being instrumental in reuniting families and identifying victims  of disasters, DNA, for the longest time, has been an essential part of crime-solving.  What seems to be a remarkable and technologically advanced manner of  processing material evidence seen in shows such as “CSI: Crime Scene  Investigation” is in fact not a mere fragment in the imagination of creative writers.  It is the actual standard in evidence-gathering in the United States. 

Nakatutuwa nga pong isipin, na marami sa mga episode ng true crime show  na “SOCO” ni Mr. Gus Abelgas ay nakapagpakita ng kahalagahan ng DNA testing.  Maaari po sigurong malusutan ng isang kriminal ang kaniyang kasalanan sa korte  sa pamamagitan ng false testimonies o pagsisinungaling. Pero hindi po kailanman  niya maipagkakaila ang katotohanan na [kayang isiwalat] ng isang DNA result.  

Mr. President, as I have said, DNA testing is the most powerful tool for human  identification. DNA evidence is among the most valuable pieces of evidence used  in criminal cases. Apart from identical twins, no two people have the same DNA,  meaning the use of such evidence can either prove a person’s innocence or guilt  with great accuracy. The Supreme Court has long recognized the admissibility of  DNA evidence in court and provided judicial guidelines for the collection, handling  and storage of biological samples in the Rule on DNA Evidence, which [it]  promulgated in 2007 (A.M 06-11-05-SC). As such, this goes to show that this  proposed measure complements the rule issued by the Supreme Court. 

Madalas po natin marinig ang mga paratang na hindi patas ang hustisya sa  ating bansa, na ang katarungan umano ay para lamang sa may mga salapi. Hindi  nga raw pwede sa ating bansa ang death penalty dahil sa ating umano’y “imperfect  justice system”. But I digress, Mr. President. The issue about the death penalty,  after all, is a debate for another day. 

Ang akin pong pinupunto at nais sabihin ay: maraming mga aspeto hindi  lamang ng crime solving kundi pati ng proper at swift delivery of justice ang  matutulungan ng DNA testing. Hindi lamang po ito instrumento upang  makapagpabilanggo, kundi instrumento rin ito upang makapagpalaya. 

Madalas niyo rin pong marinig mula sa akin na dapat bigyan ng katauhan at  pangalan ang mga gumagawa ng kasamaan. Hindi sila dapat hayaan na takasan  ang kanilang pananagutan sa batas. Tunay po na walang baho na hindi sisingaw.  Walang lihim na hindi nabubunyag. Naniniwala po tayo rito, pero gamitin natin ang  teknolohiya, ang DNA testing, para mapabilis ang pagkamit ng katarungan. 

Having said that Mr. President, the DNA database under the Philippine  National Police (PNP) will serve as a powerful deterrence. There will always be a  very good chance that one of the hands of the potential offender will be caught in  the cookie jar. DNA are trails that would lead to the resolution of a criminal case.  This preventive aspect adds another layer of security to the overall law  enforcement strategy. 

I began by stating that I believe it is not a coincidence for me to sponsor this  measure today. More than a hundred sixty years have passed since the discovery  of DNA. I hope that this year will be the year that this Senate, together with our  country as a whole, puts [that] discovery to its best, most humane use possible. 

With your support and the support of our colleagues, I know it can be done.  Maraming salamat po, Mr. President.

Establishing a Philippine National Police (PNP) DNA database would be a powerful deterrence against crime. 

Former PNP chief and now Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa emphasized this as he sponsored Senate Bill 2474 during the Senate plenary session on Wednesday. 

“The DNA that is found in every nucleated cell of the human body can be collected from people’s skin, blood, saliva and bone. Having said that, the DNA database under the Philippine National Police will serve as a powerful deterrence,” Dela Rosa, chairman of the Senate Public Order and Dangerous Drugs Committee, said. 

“There will always be a very good chance that one of the hands of the potential offender will be caught in the cookie jar. DNA are trails that would lead to the resolution of a criminal case. This preventive aspect adds another layer of security to the overall law enforcement strategy,” the former top cop added. 

Further, the Mindanaoan lawmaker stressed that a DNA database can be used to assist the government in identifying missing persons or unidentified human remains, such as victims of natural disasters. 

“DNA testing cannot bring the departed back to life. But, somehow, it brings a little semblance of peace to those who have to go through the painful process of grieving and healing. I believe that this DNA Database will help to give a human face to victims of disaster,” he said. 

“More than a hundred sixty years have passed since the discovery of DNA. I hope that this year will be the year that this Senate, together with our country as a whole, puts that discovery to its best, most humane use possible,” he ended. 

Under SB 2474, the following are required to provide biological samples:

– Convicted by final judgment for violation of any criminal law

– Persons who have pending criminal case before any court

– Persons legally detained under the law

– Persons ordered by a judicial or quasi-judicial order to submit their DNA sample in relation to a pending case

– Active members of law enforcement agencies

– Active members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines

All biological samples collected under Section 9 must be destroyed not later than six months after the DNA profile has been generated. 

The PNP Forensic Group-DNA Laboratory Division will manage the database, establish mechanisms to facilitate the connection, storage, and dissemination of data, ensure that DNA profiles are securely stored and remain confidential at all times, store and dispose samples taken for forensic DNA analysis, among others. 

The bill also penalizes any person who are found tampering DNA records, tampering, abetting, or attempting to tamper DNA samples, improper disclosure of DNA samples and records, and refuses to give sample. 

A National DNA Database Scientific Advisory will be created under the proposed legislation which will be composed of one representative each from the PNP, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Justice, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Health, Data Privacy Commission, Commission on Human Rights and two representatives from other government agencies or institutions actively engaged in forensic DNA testing. 

It likewise provides for cooperation with foreign law enforcement agencies in comparing DNA profiles.

Nagpahayag ng buong suporta ang mga senador kay Majority Leader Joel Villanueva sa gitna ng walang patid na pag-atake sa kanya kaugnay ng ginawa niyang pagbubunyag sa pekeng people’s initiative.

Inilarawan ng mga senador si Villanueva bilang masipag, epektibo at tapat na public servant na nais lamang gawin ang tama para sa mamamayang Pilipino.

Sabi ng mga senador, hindi dapat ilayo ng mga kritiko ang totoong isyu at sa halip ay harapin na lang nila si Villanueva.

“I hope our friends in the House are circumspect. Hindi maganda ang mga paratang na ganyan. It is not good for inter-parliamentary courtesy. Tayo po rito ay nagtatrabaho,” sabi ni Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri.

Ayon naman kay Senadora Pia Cayetano, kilala si Villanueva bilang “outspoken” at “vocal” sa mga isyung may kinalaman sa publiko.

“Kung naglabas siya ng ebidensya, bakit hindi siya sagutin nang maayos? Tayo ay naninindigan at nagbibigay ng suporta dahil ang gustong gawin ng ating kaibigan ay trabaho,” saad ni Cayetano.

Iginiit naman ni Senador Sonny Angara na hindi dapat palagpasin ang mga pag-atake laban kay Villanueva na nagsusumikap para sa interes ng taumbayan.

Pinuri rin ni Angara ang kanyang kaibigang si Villanueva sa pagkuwestiyon sa people’s initiative signature drive para amyendahan ang 1987 Constitution.

Aniya, hindi dapat magkaroon ng “fastbreak” pagdating sa pagrebisa ng Charter at kailangan ng masusing konsultasyon at partisipasyon ng karamihan tulad ng idinidiin ni Villanueva.

“It’s not something to trifle with. Hindi po biro, seryosong usapan ito. I would like to pay tribute to our Majority Leader for fighting for our institution, but more than that, for fighting for the Filipino people,” ani Angara.

Sinabi naman ni  Deputy Majority Leader Joseph Victor Ejercito na saksi siya sa kasipagan sa trabaho ni Villanueva at madalas aniya nilang pinag-uusapan ang tungkol sa isyu ng korapsyon at kahirapan.

Payo naman ni Senador Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa sa mga kritiko ni Villanueva: “To those who want to attack Sen. Joel Villanueva, please attack him on the issues that we are tackling. Do not attack him personally, because kung personal na attack-an na ito, they will be attacking the 23 senators who are solidly behind Sen. Joel Villanueva. This is how we do it in the Senate.”

Sa bahagi naman ni Villanueva, pinasalamatan niya ang kanyang mga kapwa senador sa kanilang suporta, na isang pagpapakita ng pagkakaisa ng mataas na kapulungan ng Kongreso.

“Nakakataba po ng puso ang suporta ng ating mga kasamahan sa Senado kaya mas lalo po tayong nagkakaroon ng lakas ng loob na manindigan at makipaglaban hindi lamang po para sa institusyon kundi lalong-lalo na para sa ating mga kababayan,” sabi ng Majority Leader.

“Marami na pong nagawa ang inyong Senado, pero kulang pa at alam ko po bilang miyembro ng institusyong ito na maraming-marami pa tayong magagawa para sa bayan. Kaya magtrabaho na po tayo,” pagtatapos pa ni Villanueva.

CITY OF BALIWAG—The mountainous Dona Remedios Trinidad (DRT) town, named after the grandmother of President Marcos can rather host a national penitentiary facility and become the key to its development rather than mining activities in the town’s natural resources like tea rose marble and other minerals continue but without bringing the much needed progress to the town, according to Senator Imee Marcos, senate chair in social justice, welfare and rural development committee.

The senator in a media interview in this city on February 6 said progress and development in DRT is long overdue and that a Bureau of Correction (BuCor) facility which would be given a budget to be constructed could pave the way for the long awaited progress in the town.

She said DRT has a cold and better climate and still has a pristine environment that’s why it is being branded as the “Tagaytay of the North”. However, she said, roads still have to be improved. The town, she also said, has a very vast land which even the New People’s Army (NPA) had given up to stay.

“Palagay ko malaking bagay rin na magkaroon ng development doon kasi alam naman natin napakalawak ng lupa doon at napakaganda. Imbes na magkairingan sa tea rose marble at mining at kung anu ano, na hindi naman na develop ang lugar ay mas maganda ng madevelop ito, bagsakan ng budget para sa bilanggo at kulungan at the same time mga kalsada. Maganda ang klima doon, malamig kaya nga tinatawag na Tagaytay of the North. Chance na ito na magkaroon ng budget for development at mabuo ang iba pang mga kalsada. Kulang na kulang pa ang development sa kalayuan at sa hirap marating ng lugar ay sinukuan na rin ito pati ng NPA kaya palagay ko panahon na para madevelop ito, overdue na kung tutuusin,” she said.   

Marcos visited the city and distributed P6-million worth of Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to displaced public market vendors and city force multipliers.   

She told officials and residents in this city that she is a full Baliwagenya because her grandmother, the mother of former First Lady Imelda Marcos, Dona Remedios Trinidad hails from Baliwag. DRT was established in 1977 as the 24^th town of Bulacan after Valenzuela (then named Polo town) was declared part of Metro Manila during the term of the former First Lady as Metro Manila Commission Governor.

The senator is the eldest sister of the President.

Free use of Bulacan Capitol’s lot property

Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando earlier offered a free use of a provincial government owned lot property in DRT to become one of the future sites of a major Luzon prison facility of BuCor to help decongest the national penitentiary. 

Fernando told the media in an earlier interview that the Provincial Government of Bulacan (PGB) owns more than 1,000 hectares of land in different areas in DRT. 

He said while the Breeding and Productivity Center of PGB will be constructed in an area within a separate lot property of the PGB in DRT, there is still more than 1,000 hectares that could be used for other major projects. 

The governor told NEWS CORE that with the national government providing the budget for the prison facility, it could use the PGB lot for free and without needing to buy or acquire the property. The governor said that there will be a memorandum of agreement for the land usage. 

“Meron ang PGB na 1,000 hectares sa iba’t ibang lugar sa DRT. Kung bubudgetin nila walang problema. Pwede naman nating I-offer yung provincial lot, hindi naman ibebenta, mag-MOA tayo sa kanila,” the governor said. 

BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. in a recent decongestion summit presentation presents DRT as the first Luzon penal facility other than the already existing Sablayan colony in Occidental Mindoro under the Long Term Development Plan 2023-2040 to help decongest the national penitentiary facility in Muntinlupa City. 

The facilities will include one in Bacolod City in Negros Occidental for the Visayas and one in Bukidnon in Northern Mindanao for Mindanao. 

The facilities will be called “Supermax” for inmates convicted of heinous crimes. 

The National Decongestion Summit was spearheaded by the Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC) comprising the Supreme Court, the Department of Justice and the Department of Interior and Local Government which seeks to tackle jail overcrowding and foster a more humane criminal justice system. 

The summit is jointly sponsored by the European Union’s Justice Sector Reform Programme: Governance in Justice II (GOJUST II) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), with funding from the Australian Government and the European Union. Dec. 6-7 in Manila. 

Catapang has been promoting BuCor’s “Sa Likod ng Rehas, may Panibagong Bukas,” thrust for the inmates. 

P4-B worth Provincial Jail

The governor said there is also a proposed P4-billion worth Bulacan Provincial Jail facility the PGB submitted to the Office of the President last year to address the congestion in the province’s main local jail facility.

According to Bulacan Provincial Warden Rizalino Andaya, the proposed P4-billion jail facility in DRT will be constructed in a 10-hectare lot property which can accommodate 5,000 detainees. 

Andaya, a retired police colonel said the new jail facility of the province will be a state of the art structure complete with hospital, receiving area and a diagnostic center.

The Bulacan Provincial Jail also known as “Lex” which was built more than 6 decades ago can only accommodate more than 1,000 inmates but has been filled with up to nearly 5,000 detainees particularly during the recent years. It now hosts

The pandemic in 2020 caused the number of detainees to decline including the plea bargaining on drug cases and also due to regional trial court efforts to hasten up the hearings of the charges against the detainees.  Today, Lex has only 1,581 detainees, 1,396 male and 185 female.   

Bulacan with more than 3.7 million in population is the largest province in Central Luzon. 

“First term ko pa lang gumawa na ako ng proposal na ilipat ang provincial jail natin sa lupa ng Kapitolyo sa DRT para matanggal na dito iyong kulungan, o iyang ating Lex dahil ang gusto ko maging kapaki-pakinabang ang mga detainees natin, maging involve sila sa agriculture, mag-alaga sila ng mga hayop, kambing, kalabaw, baboy, bibe, manok at hindi handicrafts lang tulad ng ginagawa nila ngayon. Nagkakasakit din ang mga preso dahil hindi sila naarawan. Pero kailangan natin ng budget,” the governor said. 

DRT because of its pristine nature and mountainous sites, various falls and rivers is considered the tourism capital of Bulacan. It is a favorite mountain trekking, camping, glamping, hiking, swimming and other nature-adventure destinations and activities. 

Bulacan provincial tourism officer Eliseo Dela Cruz said DRT which is about 60 km east of Metro Manila and has a land area of 932.96 square kilometers or 360.22 square miles which constitutes 33.52% of Bulacan’s 279,610 total area is known over the years as the “Tagaytay of the north”.  

DRT is 31km east from the Bulacan Capitol in the City of Malolos. 

CLARKFIELD, PAMPANGA–The sophisticated DC-8 laboratory aircraft of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the United States in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and environmental experts from Korea, Thailand and Malaysia is flying the Metro Manila air space four times from February 4-15 to study the air quality in the major urban areas in the country as part of the Airborne and Satellite Investigation of Asian Air Quality (ASIA-AQ) mission aimed at improving the air quality in the Asian region.

During the official launch of the “Science Mission” held at Hilton Clark Hotel here on Thursday, (FEB. 8), DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga said the study and research will provide important support for policy development and decision making processes related to air quality management processes in the Philippines.

The project, she said, can help policy makers and government agencies to advance research findings and analysis enabling evidence in policy making and targeted interventions.

“In strengthening the air quality regulation and legislation, the implementation of effective emission control measures and the development of sustainable strategies as well are made possible by the improvement of our knowledge about air quality in the country. In conclusion, the project represents an incredible opportunity for the Philippines and our partners in this ASIA-AQ project by utilizing the data and knowledge,  provided and gathered in this mission and we can enhance, the air quality monitoring system to develop evidence that will form as policy and implement the measures we need to improve public health and the quality of life for all Filipinos while combating climate change,” she said.

Barry Lefer, Tropospheric Composition Program Manager of NASA said the fly mission aims to understand where the pollution in Metro Manila might be generated from. He said there are signs of emissions that could determine them if they came from combustion activities, traffic, power generation, industrial activities, construction, etc.  

“There are contributions on the ground from the Philippines, contributions from space and the third contribution that is in atmospheric space will be detected by the NASA aircraft. Combining satellite, ground-based, and airborne observations in the region for the first time, the campaign seeks to understand local air quality issues as well as common challenges in the interpretation of satellite observations and modeling of air quality,” Lefer said.

The DC-8 aircraft has different equipment, one of them is the Whole Air Sampler which determines the types of particles and gas in the air in a particular location, Donald Blake, a professor of chemistry at the University of California, Irvine who handles the gas sampling function told NEWS CORE.  

Initially, they already had two flights. The NASA DC-8 Aircraft which has been conducting earth science missions for more than 25 years is  temporarily stationed at Asian Aerospace here in Clark for this two weeks mission.

According to Lefer, results of the study are very important in health and respiratory issues.

Health issues

Health Undersecretary Eric Tayag who also attended the program launch told the media during an interview that all cancers are the number one cause of deaths in the country and on top of this is lung cancer. That’s why, he said, they are strengthening the campaign against cigarette smoking including vaping.

But he said, air pollution also contributes a lot to lung ailments and is the number one cause of respiratory sickness.

“We want to see the air pollution contribution to influenza during rains and cold season and to see the new technology brought to us by NASA, it will give us more deeper research to determine how we could lessen and avoid respiratory ailments from affecting the people,” he said.

Clean air 

Maria Obiminda Cambaliza, Research Scientist, Air Quality Dynamics Laboratory from the Manila Observatory said that there are roughly 7 million people globally who die each year due to air pollution or poor air quality and one third of this is in Asia. She said in the Philippines, 100 people per 100,000 died each year due to air pollution.

She said over the recent years, the air quality in the country has improved because of the DENR’s new policies and thrusts implemented through different administrative orders. But still, there is large research and study gaps needed to be done and that the campaign and the ASIA-AQ project is very important in addressing the concern, she said.

“We have been monitoring since 2000, the number is going down, it is really promising. This happens because of very administrative orders of the DENR. In 2015 the department administrative order required everyone to shift from Euro2 to Euro 4 standards and at the Manila Observatory, we have seen a decline, a decrease in 2017. The administrative orders actually work. But, We have so much research and knowledge gaps in terms of air pollution. We have so much work to do,” said.

After the mission in the Philippines, the ASIA-AQ project will also be launched in Korea, Thailand and Malaysia to improve the understanding of the factors controlling the air quality across Asia through multi-perspective observations and modelling.

These countries will openly share data during all phases, conduct joint analysis with local scientists and air quality agencies and report findings to local governments

LUNGSOD NG MALOLOS – Totoo sa taguri dito bilang “Mother of All Fiestas in Bulacan”, naiuwi ng Singkaban Festival 2023 ang parangal bilang Most Outstanding Festival (Province) award sa Tourism Recognition for Enterprises and Stakeholders (TRES) Awards ng Department of Tourism Region III na ginanap sa Hilltop, Quest Plus Conference Center, Clark, Pampanga kamakailan.

Ang taunang inaabanganang Singkaban Festival na kilala din bilang “Sining at Kalinangan ng Bulacan” ay arko o arkong kawayan na sumisimbulo sa diwa ng pagkakaisa at pagiging malikhain ng mga Pilipino. Gayundin, ang “singkaban” ay kinayas na arkong kawayan  na ginagamit bilang tradisyunal na palamuti ng mga Pilipino.

Nasungkit ng Singkaban Festival ang parangal matapos maipasa ang mga pamantayan kabilang ang Creativity and Innovation (30 pts), Cultural Significance (25 pts), Community Involvement (20 pts), Promotion and Marketing (15 pts), at Sustainability (10 pts).

Gayundin, hinirang ang Bulacan na second runner up para sa Most Creative Tourism Marketing Collateral for Print Material para sa Discover Fun in Bulacan Brochure kung saan nakalap nito ang mataas na puntos sa Creativity and Innovation (30 pts), Information Content and Clarity (25 pts), Relevance to Tourism Promotion (20 pts), at Design and Layout (25 pts).

Ang nasabing brochure na may titulong Discover Fun in Bulacan at may nakasulat sa harap na ‘Love The Philippines’, #BulacanBabalikBalikan’, ay naglalaman ng kumpletong paglalarawan ng mga maaaring makita sa Bulacan kabilang ang mga lokal na pasyalan, mga natatanging makasaysayang lugar, kapistahan, natural wonders, mga simbahan at dambana, direksyon gayundin ang mga detalye ng Provincial History, Arts, Culture and Tourism Office (PHACTO) at QR code upang makita ang listahan ng mga  akomodasyon, resort, restawran, agri-tourism farms, spa at wellness centers, travel agencies, event suppliers, accredited tour guides, at City/Municipal Tourism Officers.

Nagpahayag ng kanyang pasasalamat si Gobernador Daniel R. Fernando at binati ang mga taong nasa likod nang pagkamit ng karagdagang pagkilala para sa Bulacan.

“Isa pong malaking karangalan para sa lalawigan na kilalaning pinakamahusay ang pagdiriwang natin ng Singkaban Festival dahil sa pamamagitan nito, higit nating naitatanghal ang makulay nating kultura at tradisyon na sisikapin nating mapanitiling buhay upang mamalas pa ng mga susunod na henerasyon,” ani Fernando.

Kinikilala ng DOT TRES Awards ang mga pangunahing gampanin ng pamahalaang lokal sa paghubog sa tourism landscape ng rehiyon.

FORT MAGSAYSAY, Nueva Ecija – A gift-giving and feeding activities benefited a total of 88 students from an Indigenous People’s Community conducted by the Department of Agrarian Reform -Tarlac and the soldiers of 3rd Mechanized Infantry Battalion at Tala Elementary School, Barangay Burgos, San Jose, Tarlac last February 8, 2024.

Apart from giving slippers and school supplies, the group also gave solar lights to the beneficiaries.

Marlon Linda, Officer-in-charge of Tala Elementary School, expressed his gratitude to the joint efforts of the Army and DAR-Tarlac led by Mr. Gerald Fontanoza for choosing their school as a beneficiary of the activities.
“Kami po ay lubos na nagpapasalamat sa inyong inihandog sa aming mga mag-aaral, Nawa’y ipagpatuloy pa ang magandang adhikain at pagtulong ninyo sa mga kabataang mag-aaral lalong-lalo sa mga katutubong pamayanan,” Mr. Linda said.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Jeszer M Baustista, the Commanding Officer of the 3rd Mechanized Infantry Battalion, emphasized the continuous partnership of the government and stakeholders in helping the students, particularly in Geographically Isolated and Conflict Affected Areas in Tarlac.

“Ngayon hindi lamang ang kasundaluhan ang gustong pumunta sa mga malalayong lugar at umakyat sa mga kabundokan upang magpaabot ng tulong lalo na sa mga katutubong pamayanan, marami na tayong katuwang. Ito’y nagsisilbing daan upang maipadama natin sa mga mag-aaral lalo na sa mga liblib na lugar ang patuloy na suporta ng gobyerno maging sa mga pribadong sektor na gustong tumulong sa mga ibat-ibang sektor ng lipunan,” Lt. Col. Bautista said.

The Commander of the 7th Infantry (Kaugnay) Division, Philippine Army, Major General Andrew D. Costelo PA, commended the continued collaboration of the Army and its local stakeholders as they extended assistance to the IP students in Tarlac.

“By having collaborative efforts like this, we will be able to reach more communities who need assistance. Itong simpleng pagbibigay ng mga regalo sa mga bata ay nakakatulong sa pagpapatuloy ng kanilang pag-aaral. Our gratitude, of course, to DAR-Tarlac for their consistent support of our activities that benefit the communities in far-flung areas, maraming salamat,” MGen. Costelo said.

Also present during the activity were Irene Lagman, Marketing Officer of Expression Magic Star Mall; Janette Tarroza, IP Representative of DAR; Mobile Community Support Sustainment Team (MCSST) led by Staff Sergeant Eric C. Dela Cruz; and teachers of said school.

Philippine delegation served tobacco company interests with ‘delaying tactics’, says doctors’ group

MANILA, Philippines — For the second Conference of Parties (COP) in a row, the Philippines delegation was cited for promoting tobacco industry interests after it caused substantial delays in proceedings, which a doctors’ group slammed as proof of the government’s subservience to the industry.

According to observers present at the COP 10 to the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), only a fourth of the Philippine delegation were clearly pro-health. The remaining members often questioned expert groups and committees and caused a delay of up to three hours in the official proceedings, which ensured no substantial resolutions and improvements to the treaty.

“History is repeating itself before our eyes. That the Philippine delegation once again parrotted the narratives of the tobacco industry and derailed what should have been a public health event should tell us all we need to know. Big business prevailed over public health today,” public health reform advocate and former DOH special adviser Tony Leachon said, adding that such actions only benefit the tobacco companies seeking to sell more addictive, harmful products.

“Our representatives promoted viewpoints and changes in key decisions at the COP which would weakened regulations for harmful tobacco and nicotine products, and the calls of civil society fell on deaf ears. The award is proof that the industry has tricked our representatives into believing that  vapes and heated tobacco are  effective alternatives to smoking. These are harmful, addictive products that are risking our youth and therefore our future.”

At the conference in Panama from February 5 to 10 the Philippine side promoted a “tailored” and “multi-sectoral approach” in implementing FCTC, never mentioning the huge rise in e-cigarette use among youth. According to the latest Global Youth Tobacco Survey, 14% of Filipino adolescents aged 13-15 years currently use e-cigarettes, while 24.6% had ever used e-cigarettes, more than double the percentage recorded in 2015.

A coalition of over 300 groups from 100 countries advocating for tobacco control, the Framework Convention Alliance awards “dirty ashtray” recognition to “parties acting on behalf of big tobacco and other bad behavior.” At the COP 9 in 2021, the Philippines received the most dirty ashtray recognitions for demanding amendments “with unhelpful and often confusing wording,” effectively obstructing the conference. It was also cited for using COVID-19 to “ignore” the WHO FCTC. At the time, the Departments of Health and Foreign Affairs, who were among the country’s representatives at COP 9, failed to come to a consensus about electronic tobacco products.

Riz Gonzalez, chair of the Philippine Pediatric Society Tobacco and Nicotine Control Advocacy Group called for accuracy and transparency when communicating with the public about the tobacco epidemic.

“Drops in smoking prevalence are a result of sin tax law reforms. To frame this as a victory of the Vape Law is yet another layer of disinformation. These displays before the international community are a painful reminder that our children’s health is being traded for economic gain.

Moreover, the public deserves to know who in the delegation is pushing the agenda of tobacco companies and why. We cannot allow the tobacco industry to dictate public health policy through our government representatives. The Filipino people deserve better.” she said.

NLEX Corporation recently inaugurated the NLEX Road Traffic Safety (RTS) Hub and Park in Dau, Mabalacat, Pampanga to further strengthen the company’s road safety advocacy campaign.

With its mission of providing safe travel to their stakeholders and continuously minimizing the number of road-related incidents, the tollway company has partnered with several organizations and government agencies like UNICEF, LTO, TRB, UP-NCTS, Imagine Law and local government units in pursuing various road safety projects and programs such as the new RTS Hub & Park.

This facility, which used to be the old NLEX Dau Toll Supervision Building, was converted to provide an avenue for safety training seminars and to allow NLEX’s key stakeholders to be exposed to and educated on safe road practices and responsible driving. Equipped with road safety gear, traffic safety devices and learning materials, guests learn about road discipline in an experiential manner.

“This RTS Hub and Park for me is a symbol of hope. It is both an image and representation of our aspiration and commitment to elevate road safety in our expressway network. I am glad that we were able to transform this asset into something more valuable for our road safety advocacy,” said NLEX Corporation President and General Manager, J. Luigi L. Bautista.

The opening ceremony was led by NLEX President and GM J. Luigi Bautista, LTO NCR Regional Director Roque Versoza III, TRB Deputy OIC of Regulation Division Joz Ordillano, Imagine Law’s Atty. Daphne Marcelo, UP NCTS Engr. Aileen Mappala and MPTC Chief Corporate Governance & Risk Officer Atty. Cynthia Casiño.

Elementary students from EPZA Resettlement Elementary School in Angeles, Pampanga were also among the first guests of NLEX Corporation’s first Road Traffic Safety Hub and Park (RTS Hub and Park). They were exposed to road safety trainings and were taught about road discipline through fun and engaging activities.

NLEX Corporation is a subsidiary of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), the toll road arm of the Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC).