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DPWH-Davao: Coastal Road lights inactive due to stolen wires
THE Department of Public Works and Highways-Davao Region (DPWH-Davao) confirmed that a portion of lights along the Davao City Coastal Road are inactive due to wire theft......»»
Minglanilla’s ‘6th man’ crucial for Gullas Cup finals— Velez
CEBU CITY, Philippines— Jesus “Boyet” Velez, the head coach of Abante Minglanilla, admitted that their sixth man, their home crowd, would be a massive factor for the winner-take-all Game 3 of the Rhea Gullas Cup First District of Cebu Inter-City/Municipality Basketball Tournament Best-of-Three finals on Saturday, March 23, at the Minglanilla Sports Complex. Talisay Aksyon.....»»
Stray cat critical after head struck by arrow
A STRAY cat in Davao City sustained a "life-threatening" injury after its head was struck by an arrow......»»
Clean up, deep well operators told
Deep well operators in this city have until today to comply with an order issued by the sanitation division of the City Health Services Office......»»
Council, envi group act on barangay proposal on Davao watershed
An environmental group urges the Davao City local government to make the Panigan-Tamugan watershed a “no touch” area for recreational activities to ensure that it remains a clean water source for the city......»»
EcoWaste Coalition: Keep the Bagong Pilipinas Kick-Off Rally Litter-Free
Quezon City. The EcoWaste Coalition, a non-government organization campaigning for the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, urged those leading and participating in the kick-off rally of the “Bagong Pilipinas” movement in Rizal Park tomorrow, January 28, to keep the massive event litter-free. President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. (PBBM) is expected to grace […].....»»
EcoWaste Coalition: Keep the Bagong Pilipinas Kick-Off Rally Litter-Free
27 January 2024, Quezon City. The EcoWaste Coalition, a non-government organization campaigning for the human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, urged those leading and participating in the kick-off rally of the "Bagong Pilipinas" movement in Rizal Park tomorrow, January 28, to keep the massive event litter-free.President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. (PBBM) is expected to grace the h.....»»
Septic canal where 2-year-old boy drowned, drained
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu — Officials of Barangay Basak, Lapu-Lapu City have started cleaning the open septic canal in Sitio 3-H where a child drowned recently. In a post, Basak Barangay Captain Jasmine “Daday” Chan said that they already drained the water in the septiccanal, with the help of the Clean and Green personnel of the.....»»
Beyond Banking: CitySavings’ Pledge to Coastal Conservation and Green Growth
City Savings Bank (CitySavings), the thrift arm of Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank), integrates a sustainability-driven approach in its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives by spearheading a number of programs to close out the year. These include Coastal Clean-up drives as well as Mangrove and Tree Planting activities focused on the conservation of coastal […].....»»
Residents should help keep the city clean, says environment office
Residents should help keep the city clean, says environment office.....»»
Reps Duterte and Castro trade barbs anew
House lawmakers Paolo Duterte and France Castro continued to trade barbs, with the former accusing his peer of merely sensationalizing the issue with his father, former president Rodrigo Duterte. Duterte struck back anew at Castro—who filed a grave threat case against the former president—for her swift retaliation against his remark that "public servants should not be onion-skinned." "I just wish that your passion to sensationalize this further is the same as your passion to protect the farmers and innocent victims who were killed and victims of the NPAs," Duterte told Castro. The younger Duterte made the remark in response to Castro's latest tirades against his father, saying the erstwhile president's statement was far from a legitimate criticism but a threat. Recall that Castro sued the ex-president before the Quezon City Prosecutor's Office on Tuesday after threatening to kill her and "all you communists" on a television program. Castro, a member of the Makabayan bloc, stressed that "this is a crime against a person" and that "Duterte's threats should stop." "Death threats and red-tagging aired on television must be must be stopped because it endanger the lives of people. It is far different from criticisms and should not be tolerated because it fosters the state of impunity," Castro said. Congressman Duterte came to the defense of his father, accusing Castro of using her right to silence critics. "The former President has received much harsher and humiliating criticisms in the past but never filed a case against anyone. As public servants, we all are under scrutiny by the Filipino people," Duterte said. He added, "If the former President has said something that threatened her, then maybe she should come out clean. It's not that we hide behind this so-called 'right.'" Furthermore, Duterte stressed that Castro should do away from the drama and publicity. "You filed a case; let the court look at the merits. Simple as that. Like what I've said, it is your right. But I heard worse." Castro has been on the receiving end of the Dutertes tirades following the crusade of the Makabayan bloc to strip Vice President Sara Duterte's office and the Department of Education, which she concurrently heads, of P650 million in confidential funds from the proposed 2024 budget. Ex-president Duterte said Castro would have been the "first target" of his daughter's intelligence fund. The OVP and DepEd were among the five civilian agencies, namely the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Department of Information And Communications Technology, awarded zero confidential funds for next year. The post Reps Duterte and Castro trade barbs anew appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Comelec gains troops, resources for BSKE
The Commission on Elections on Monday has received additional personnel and resources from the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Coast Guard and the Department of Education ahead of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections slated on 30 October. The ceremonial turnover was held in Camp Crame, Quezon City where over a thousand PNP, AFP and PCG contingents who will be deployed for the conduct of security operations and DepEd personnel who will facilitate the voting were physically present while the others attended virtually. The PNP is set to deploy over 187,000 personnel during the BSKE while the AFP will field more than 117,000 troops and the PCG with over 30,000 personnel. DepEd, on the other hand, said 494,662 personnel will serve as board of election inspectors. The PNP, AFP, PCG as well as the DepEd all committed to the Comelec their full support to ensure a safe, peaceful and clean BSKE 2023. Meantime, the PNP reminded their men to be extra wary on the happenings on the ground to thwart any possible threats in relation to the elections. “To all the personnel who will be deployed to guarantee the success of the BSKE, I offer my heartfelt guidance and support. Your devotion to this duty is vital, but it must be matched with the same level of care and responsibility for yourselves,” said PNP chief Police General Benjamin Acorda Jr. “Prioritize your well-being, both physically and mentally. We are at our strongest when we care for ourselves and each other. By safeguarding your health, you enhance your ability to fulfill your duties effectively,” he added. The DepEd also appealed to the PNP and AFP to ensure their security considering incidents in the past where teachers experienced harassment and intimidation by some groups especially on the election day. The post Comelec gains troops, resources for BSKE appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
EcoWaste Coalition Campaigns for Clean and Eco-Friendly Elections
17 October 2023, Manila City/Quezon City. The EcoWaste Coalition, an advocacy group for a zero waste and toxics-free society, made a last-ditch appeal to candidates running for elective Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan posts to think of Mother Earth as they court the electorates.As the 10-day campaign period is set to start this Thursday, the group gathered outside the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) in.....»»
Mandaue City plans to remove fish pens and desilt wetland to prevent flooding
MANDAUE CITY, Philippines – Mandaue City will be distributing notices to vacate to the owners of the fish pens at the city’s wetland in barangays Banilad and Cabancalan to start desilting the wetland to prevent flooding. Lawyer John Eddu Ibañez, City Legal Officer and head of the city’s Task Force APAS (Atoang Problema, Atoang Sulbaron), said that they are currently in communication with the owners. READ: Mandaue launches Task Force APAS to help solve flooding concerns Ibañez said that Mayor Jonas Cortes also asked to prepare the financial assistance to be given to the affected families whose livelihood lies in selling aquarium fish and other kinds of fish, like tilapia. The City Legal Officer said that they are determining the number of beneficiaries. “Paghinabi ta sa fish pens owners atoa sad timbang-timbangon kay panginabuhian man sad nila pero welfare manggud sa kadaghanan atoa gitan-aw,” said Ibañez. The city wants to clear the fish pens to dredge the silted wetland in hopes of helping solve the city’s flooding problem. READ: Cortes, Rama sign pact for rehab of 2 rivers The wetland with an area of 146,270 square meters, functions as a catch basin, that holds rain and run-off water coming from Mandaue City’s neighbors such as Cebu City. But because it was already silted and with the presence of water lilies, the water tended to backflow to Sto. Niño Village which is located at the back of the wetland. The area is being monitored by the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office and Housing Urban and Development Office, he said. “Dili mataro’ng og limpyo ang wetland area tungod sa mga fish pens,” said Ibañez. It can be recalled that the village which serves as a boundary between Mandaue and Cebu City experienced massive flooding last September 13 after the retaining wall of the fish pond collapsed. Drainage Clean-Up Aside from clearing the fish pond, other initiatives were also undertaken to address the flooding problem. Currently, the Task Force APAS continues to conduct the desilting and declogging of drainages and manholes choked with garbage. When there is heavy rain, they immediately position submersible pumps, to help drain the flood. READ: Girl, playing in the rain, dies after she fell into a canal, got swept inside a culvert in Mandaue The task force is also monitoring other problem areas such as Lopez Jaena St., A.S Fortuna St., Rolling Hills, and A.C Cortes Avenue.....»»
PEZA chief lures potential Rotarian investors with ecozone perks
Members — particularly those in such business enterprises as manufacturing — of the Rotary Club of Manila, Asia’s oldest and biggest Rotary organization, were personally enticed by Philippine Economic Zone Authority director-general Tereso Panga of the benefits, particularly tax perks if they expand operations in the country or poured in investments in the ecozone. Panga, who served as guest speaker at RC Manila’s 14th General Membership Meeting at the Manila Polo Club, Makati City, on 5 October 2023, relayed to the prospective ecozone investors the various fiscal and non-fiscal Incentives offered by PEZA. He said the investment promotion agency offers income tax holidays or ITH of four to seven years depending on the industry tier and location, once onboard PEZA-run ecozones. For the National Capital Region, locators are entitled to four years of ITH for those that are in Tier 1; five years of ITH for Tier 2, and six years for those belonging to Tier 3. For locators in Metropolitan areas or areas contiguous and adjacent to NCR, a five-year ITH is given to Tier 1; six years for Tier 2, and seven years for Tier 3. “A five percent Special Corporate Income Tax holiday is also provided for 10 years for export-oriented projects, while enhanced deductions for five years are given to locators involved in domestic-oriented project activities,” Panga said. Other notable benefits awaiting interested PEZA locators include Customs duty exemption on importation of capital equipment, raw materials, spare parts, or accessories directly and exclusively used in the registered project/activity for a maximum period of 17 years unless otherwise extended under the Strategic Investment Priority Plan of the Philippine government; domestic sales allowance of up to 30 percent of total sales for export-oriented companies; value-added tax exemption on importation and VAT-zero rating on local purchases of goods and services directly and exclusively used in the registered project or activity for a maximum period of 17 years, unless otherwise extended under the SIPP; and exemption from payment of national and local government taxes and fees for the period of availment of the 5 percent special corporate income tax incentive Also, PEZA locators are entitled to employ foreign nationals; can enjoy long-term land leases of up to 75 years, and are entitled to the PEZA 2-year special non-immigrant visa issued to expatriates and their dependents as well as foreign workers. [caption id="attachment_194752" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Philippine Economic Zone Authority Director General Tereso O. Panga[/caption] PEZA performance Panga earlier reported that the investment promotion agency had reaped an overwhelming 114 percent increase in investments in the second quarter of the year, following the approval of 61 new and expansion projects for the period of April to June 2022. PEZA records showed that total investments are expected to bring in a total of P14.347 billion, 114.93 percent higher than the P6.675 billion approved investments for the second quarter of 2022. Of the 61 approved new and expansion projects, 16 are for the Information Technology industry, 15 for export/manufacturing, 13 for facilities, 13 for ecozone development, and two for IT Facilities and Logistics. Meanwhile, expected jobs to be created by those projects total 11,186, which is 29.06 percent higher compared to the 8,667 projected jobs in the 2nd quarter of 2022. For the January to June period of 2023, a total of 90 new and expansion projects have been approved and are expected to bring in P22.488 billion in investments, $747.093 million in exports, and 14,354 jobs. Japan remains PEZA’s top country investor in the first half with P8.007 billion in investments followed by Singapore with P2.169 billion. Also, Panga said that Japan topped the countries with the highest approved foreign investments at 27.34 percent, followed by Filipino companies at 23.19 percent, and American companies in the third spot at 14.82 percent. “PEZA accounted for 60.5 percent of the total foreign investment commitments in Q2 2023 with P35.75 billion,” he told the Rotary Club of Manila members. From 1995 to 2022, PEZA’s total dividends turned in to the National Treasury was a total of P26,889,567,738.07. Ecozones on the rise To date, Panga said PEZA hosts 422 ecozones and 4,352 locator companies/projects throughout the country. Of said number of ecozones, 299 are dedicated to IT Parks and Centers, 79 to manufacturing firms, 24 to agro-industrial parks, 17 are to tourism and three are to medical tourism ventures. Based on the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has projected that “the creation of ecozones will…maximize investments and promote industrial dispersion, especially outside metropolitan areas. Further, the ecozones will be integrated into the local economy by relaxing the requirements, facilitating the free flow of parts, components, and other inputs, and increasing open trade between zone locators and firms outside the zones.” In the coming years, various ecozones will be sprouting, while the ecozones that have already been officially proclaimed by the Office of the President include Robinsons Cyberpark Bacolod, Lima Technology Center (Expansion), Hermosa Ecozone Industrial Park (Expansion), Philtai Central Luzon Industrial Park, Felcris Centrale IT Park, ECCO 4 Building, Lopue’s Mandalagan IT Center, Marina Town Dumaguete, Naga City Industrial Park and Kamanga Agro-Industrial Economic Zone (Expansion), altogether with investments totaling P3.418 billion. Ecozones pending approval are MetroCas Industrial Estates-Special Economic Zone, Suyo Economic Zone and the expansions of Kamanga Agro-Industrial Economic Zone and Lima Technology Center, with a total investment amount of P773.962 million. As of September 2023, the governing board of PEZA has approved big-ticket investments with a total committed investment of P193.200 billion, and these are the First Pangasinan Property Development Corp., Raedang International Builders and Development Corp., Green Energy with Torrefaction Technology Inc., Dyson Electronics PTE, Ltd. Philippine Branch, Sunpower Philippines Manufacturing Ltd., Isla Import Terminals Inc., MJ Landtrade Development Corp., YCO Cloud Malvar Inc., Savya Land Development Corporation, RLGB Land Corporation, Robinsons Land Corporation, TDK Philippines, P. Imes Corp., Best-one Ever Luck Realty Corp., Knowles Electronics (Phil) Corporation, WIPRO Phils. Inc., Glensworth Development Inc., ACI Inc., Megaworld Corporation and Kyungshin Pampanga Philippines Inc. Currently, Panga said PEZA is focused on seven priority sectors, that is, advanced manufacturing, extractives (green ores processing), agriculture and blue industries, IT services and frontier technologies, eco-industrial park development (renewable energy and alternative energy, clean water and wastewater treatment, circular economy, sustainable development goals, green buildings, smart systems integration), Science, Technology and Innovation and the integration of small and medium enterprises into the ecozone value chain. Cannot be done alone by PEZA Panga, in conclusion during his speech at the Rotary Club of Manila meeting remarked that attracting foreign direct investments cannot be done by PEZA alone or by any other investment promotion agency left to its own devices. He emphasized that what is needed to make things work is a whole government, industry and society approach to lessen the cost and improve ease of doing business in the country. “Through our collaborations and strategic alliances, PEZA, together with the Rotary Club of Manila, other ecozone industries, and stakeholders, will strive for success in attaining our country’s goals and objectives, and continue to push for eco-zoning the Philippines towards inclusive and sustainable development,” Panga said. The post PEZA chief lures potential Rotarian investors with ecozone perks appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PMFTC levels up no-smoke IQOS
Cigar maker PMFTC Inc. has unveiled the latest IQOS innovation that uses induction to heat tobacco without burning it to provide adult smokers with a better alternative to combustible cigarettes. IQOS ILUMA, the most advanced heated tobacco technology for adult smokers, would be available at the IQOS Store Bonifacio High Street in BGC, Taguig City starting 3 October 2023. It will be available in other IQOS stores nationwide as well as at www.IQOS.com on 11 October 2023, according to PMFTC, the business combination of Philip Morris International and the Lucio Tan Group. The next-level innovation uses SmartCore Induction System to heat the TEREA tobacco stick which was specially developed for IQOS ILUMA, instead of being burned, eliminating the need to clean the device at all. Sealed on both sides The new TEREA tobacco sticks are closed on both sides, which prevents tobacco from falling out of the sticks ensuring that no tobacco residue is left behind, which means there is no need to clean the holder. The previous IQOS devices have a heating blade, where the HEETS tobacco sticks are placed. HEETS tobacco sticks cannot be used with the new IQOS ILUMA device. PMFTC president Denis Gorkun said this makes IQOS ILUMA the most advanced heated tobacco technology for adult smokers so far. “IQOS ILUMA, our most innovative device yet, gives adult smokers a better choice and represents an important leap forward in our efforts to accelerate the end of smoking,” Gorkun said in a statement. Smoke-free products emits 95 percent less toxic chemicals compared to traditional cigarettes which generate smoke that contains numerous harmful substances, according to international studies. IQOS ILUMA unleashes the taste of real tobacco without any smoke, ash and with less smell than cigarettes. It features an auto-start function that detects when the TEREA stick is inserted and automatically turns on the device. The post PMFTC levels up no-smoke IQOS appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bong Go aids Borongan fire victims
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go provided assistance to 22 fire-hit households in Barangay Calingatngan, Borongan City, Eastern Samar on Tuesday, 26 September. In coordination with Calingatngan Barangay Captain Edwin Anasarias, the affected families received financial assistance, grocery packs, clean drinking water, snacks, and shirts from the senator. Select recipients also received shoes, mobile phones, and balls for basketball and volleyball. Meanwhile, the Department of Trade and Industry and the National Housing Authority conducted their respective assessments wherein qualified recipients may receive necessary livelihood support and housing assistance, respectively. “Huwag po kayong mawalan ng pag-asa, ang importante ay buhay kayo. Ang gamit po ay napapalitan, ang pera ay kikitain pero ang pera ay hindi nabibili ang buhay. A lost life is a lost life forever. Kaya pangalagaan natin ang buhay na binigay sa atin ng Panginoon,” Go said in a video message. Go then highlighted Republic Act No. 11589, also known as the Bureau of Fire (BFP) Protection Modernization Act of 2021. The said law, which was authored and co-sponsored by Go, mandates the BFP to undergo a ten-year modernization program that will improve the capabilities of the agency by implementing a ten-year modernization program, which includes recruiting more firefighters, acquiring new fire equipment, and developing specialized training, among others. Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, also encouraged residents with health concerns to seek the services of the Malasakit Center located at Eastern Samar Provincial Hospital in the city. Designed to assist poor and indigent Filipinos, the Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop where all relevant agencies are brought together under one roof to ensure that medical assistance programs are within the patients’ reach. The Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, principally sponsored and authored by Go, has successfully assisted more than three million Filipinos with 159 operational centers nationwide. Go, vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, supported the construction of the access road from the National Highway to Bolusao National High School in Lawaan; rehabilitation of local roads in Balangkayan, Giporlos, Jipapad, Lawaan, Maslog, Quinapondan, San Julian, Sulat, and Taft; construction of the Borongan Community Hospital; construction of a slope protection structure in Borongan City and Lawaan; construction of multipurpose buildings in Jipapad, Maydolong, and Oras; construction of a slaughterhouse in Maydolong; improvement of the drainage systems in Can-Avid; and acquisition of ambulance units for the local governments of Maslog and Quinapondan. The post Bong Go aids Borongan fire victims appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bayani Fernando, a true public servant (1)
On 22 September 2023, in a freak and unfortunate accident, the country lost a man who spent much of his life in dedicated public service. Bayani Fernando, a popular, beloved three-term mayor, a two-term Congressman of Marikina, a few months Secretary of Public Works, and an eight-year Chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, passed away at age 77, creating a vacuum in the kind of leadership exercised by, unfortunately, a few public servants. In a toxic atmosphere of politics, his entry into public service was a refreshing gust of wind. Putting aside his business interests (he founded the BF Group of Companies, engaged in construction, steel, manufacturing, and real estate), he plunged head-on to an unfamiliar terrain. He lost in his first try and emerged victorious in his second. Thereafter, he carved a name for himself as a strict, disciplinarian and creative Mayor of Marikina for three consecutive terms. He has become a legend in local administration. He transformed Marikina from a 4th class municipality to a model city of cleanliness and orderliness, receiving citation after citation in different fields of endeavor. As Mayor, he launched a crusade against all forms of transgressions of law. He stopped illegal vending and destroyed the confiscated food and merchandise to show he meant business. He instilled discipline among the employees. He made the dirty and odorous public toilets in City Hall look and smell like hotel restrooms. He re-settled the informal settlers, not by transferring them to other cities but by providing them with lands and shelter inside the city. Bayan as he is called by his pretty and equally dedicated public servant wife, Marides Carlos- Fernando, dredged the Marikina River of filth and garbage, developed the banks into flood control outlets, and converted both sides of the river as a park. He commenced massive repairs and cementing of roads. He built an efficient drainage system and created sidewalks all over Marikina. He established health centers in the barangays. He enforced the law on everyone, exempting no one. He removed illegally parked vehicles and enforced traffic rules strictly. He made the public market clean and stalls orderly and sectionalized. Garbage was regularly collected. Public service became efficient and prompt. Employees were courteous and sported smiles as they rendered service to Marikeños. Under his watch, the economy of Marikina grew. His other half, a UP product, from whom he derived his inspiration to serve faithfully Marikina, continued the caring Fernando kind of governance. He brought his creative and authoritative leadership as Chairman of the Metropolitan Development Authority to Metro Manila. He brought back the sidewalks to the pedestrians, which were invaded by vendors selling their wares. He forcibly evicted squatters along the railroad tracks, esteros, and those living under the bridge. He made innovative projects that dramatically lessened the chaos that used to vex Metro Manilas. He improved on the nightmarish traffic congestion. He introduced the U-turn slots and constructed food bridges that made crossing the streets convenient and safe. He was a hands-on government worker, ensuring the projects he initiated ran smoothly, and those implementing them were on their toes. He didn’t back down from pressures and resistance coming from powerful politicians and businessmen. He didn’t leave anything to chance or rely on the people he tasked to do a particular job. He had to be there inspecting, correcting, and innovating on anything he put his mind to. Tragically, this admirable character trait brought him to his demise. (To be continued) The post Bayani Fernando, a true public servant (1) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Famed environmental warrior graces RC Manila assembly
The Rotary Club of Manila had a brilliant, unique guest speaker at its last weekly members’ meeting at the Manila Polo Club — the famed, internationally acclaimed author, lawyer, environmental activist, and recipient, in 2009, of what is regarded as the Nobel Prize of Asia, the Ramon Magsaysay Award (non-category), Antonio Oposa Jr. For about an hour and a half last Thursday, 21 September 2023, RC Manila members, officers and guests at the MPC’s Turf Room alternately stood up to sing along and listen to Oposa’s telling of “good stories,” his way, he said, of promoting and creating awareness for his advocacies and his passion for the environment. Oposa earned a law degree from the University of the Philippines College of Law. For a short time, he worked in a law firm, until he realized that his heart was not in the practice of law but rather with nature and the environment. He traveled to Norway and enrolled in a course on energy and the environment at the University of Oslo’s summer program and afterwards, to Boston, where he pursued and later obtained his LLM at the Harvard Law School in 1997. [caption id="attachment_188497" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Valiant environmental warrior Antonio Oposa: ‘My biggest achievement is that I have turned some of my adversaries into co-advocates. And what could be more inspiring now than to see their own children out there, protecting the sea?’[/caption] In 1993, Oposa made global headlines for the landmark case, Minors Oposa v Factoran where the Supreme Court ruled that the 43 children counseled by Oposa, who filed legal action against the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, seeking cancellation by the agency of existing timber license agreements and stopping the issuance of new ones, ruled in favor of the plaintiffs. “The case was brought to court amid the government’s then granting over 90 logging companies permits to cut down nearly four million hectares of old-growth forest when only 850,000 hectares remained. And forests were being logged at a rate of some 200,000 hectares per year! I told the Court how my son, only three at that time, would no longer see these forests by the time he was 10. I couldn’t help thinking, that if this wasn’t stopped not a single old-growth forest would remain for him and future generations to enjoy,” Oposa said. The case had initially been dismissed in trial court on the ground that there was no legal personality to sue. Oposa elevated the case to the Supreme Court, and in a much-hailed case of intergenerational responsibility, the Supreme Court upheld the legal standing and right of the children to initiate action on their behalf and on behalf of generations yet unborn. What was so remarkable about the case is that Oposa sued on behalf of generations yet unborn and today that milestone case is known in Philippine and global jurisprudence as the “Oposa Doctrine.” For its part, the Philippine Supreme Court, too, carved a permanent niche for itself in environmental law with its promulgation of Oposa v Factoran. It secured its place in history, earning praises from the international environmental community and a reputation as a champion of the right to a healthy environment. Oposa also recounted at this talk at the RC Manila meeting last Thursday another epic landmark case involving the legal tussle he waged against 11 government agencies for the cleaning up of severely polluted Manila Bay. In December 2008, a decade after he filed that case, the Supreme Court issued a decision in his favor. In a continuing mandamus ruling, the Supreme Court ordered all defendant agencies to implement a time-bound action plan that would clean up Manila Bay and to give the Court a progress report on the matter every three months. Oposa talked about the Island Sea Camp he organized in 2001 in Bantayan Island where he gave children lessons on coral reefs, snorkeling and sustainable practices. In 2003, 2004, while holding weekend training camps for children in the Sea Camp “we noticed the rampant illegal fishing going on. Dynamite fishing and commercial fishing intrusions into prohibited coastal zones went unchecked. Something had to be done,” related Oposa. Thus, was born the Visayan Sea Squadron. “I organized a strike team with crack enforcers from the National Bureau of Investigation, Navy, fishermen, sea watch volunteers, lawyers, law students and even a few foreigners. The target was not small fishermen but crime syndicates and operators behind the sale of blasting caps and dynamite powder. Seizures and raids followed,” he said. Operations were so effective that word went out that his friend Jojo de la Victoria, the fearless Cebu City Bantay Dagat (Sea Watch) chief, and Oposa were targets of assassination. A local newspaper interviewed De la Victoria, revealing an intelligence report about illegal fishing operators putting up a P1-million bounty for him and Oposa. In 12 April 2006, 48 hours after he was interviewed, De la Victoria was felled by a hired gunman outside his house in Cebu City. “Jojo’s life was not in vain. After his funeral, a core team met for dinner to regroup. The tide of illegal fishing started to turn. Exploits of the Visayan Sea Squadron — and the courage and synergy of the men and women who made it happen — became known far and wide,” Oposa said. He continued, “Four years after Jojo died, Visayan Sea Squadron co-founder Alfredo Marañon was elected governor of Negros Occidental province. He gathered the other governors in the region to begin a restorative plan for the Visayan Sea which encompasses an area of over a million hectares. The governors passed a landmark joint resolution declaring the entire Visayan Sea a marine reserve.” For his valiant work as an environmental warrior, Oposa has been the recipient of many award in recognition of his valiant work as an environmental warrior. Aside from receiving the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2009, he was given the equally prestigious Center for International Environmental Law Award in 2008. Earlier, in 1997, he was conferred the United Nations Environment Programme Global 500 Roll of Honor, the highest UN honor in the field of the environment. Asked if there was anything about his attainments that gives him the most satisfaction, Oposa said, “My biggest achievement is not that I caught this violator and that violator when we were busy with our Visayan Sea Squadron operations; it is that I have turned my adversaries into co-advocates. Some of those who had opposed me are now supporting me in my advocacies. And what could be more inspiring than to see their own children helping us out there, protecting the sea?” The post Famed environmental warrior graces RC Manila assembly appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Eastern Visayas cholera cases rise
TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Health in Eastern Visayas reported on Tuesday that cholera cases in the region continue to rise as it already surpassed the number of logged cases of the disease last year. Data from the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit disclosed that contaminated water sources of many households sent thousands of residents to hospitals due to suspected cholera. It also revealed that a total of 3,563 cases of cholera have been reported in the region from January to 9 September — five percent higher compared to 3,398 cases recorded over the same period of 2022. Of the total number of cases, 2,882 were sent to hospitals for treatment, 31 were confirmed cholera cases after undergoing laboratory testing, 40 were considered probable at 3,515 were suspected cholera cases. “Water contamination remains the primary reason for the cholera cases,” said DoH-Eastern Visayas RESU manager Boyd Roderick Cerro. “Many of our water sources do not undergo treatment thus they are prone to contamination.” However, despite the higher number of cases, DoH-8 data show less casualties this year with only nine deaths compared to 23 deaths last year. Among the provinces in the region, Eastern Samar recorded the highest number of cases with 1,390; Samar with 1,227; Leyte with 470; Northern Samar with 236; Southern Leyte with 229 and Biliran with 11 cases. The agency is urging the public to boil water for at least three minutes or do water chlorination; keep food away from insects and rats; wash and cook food properly; dispose human waste properly; wash hands with soap and water after using toilet and before eating; keep surroundings clean to prevent flies, other insects and rodents from breeding. The post Eastern Visayas cholera cases rise appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»