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Gazans await ‘life and death’ aid, Israel readies invasion
Thousands of tonnes of "life and death" aid for Gaza should be delivered soon, the United Nations said Friday, to relieve a "beyond catastrophic" situation after unrelenting Israeli bombing in response to an unprecedented Hamas attack. Some 175 lorries stuffed with vital medicines, food, and water stretched into the distance at the Rafah crossing with Egypt, which has removed concrete roadblocks and is scrambling to repair the route into besieged Gaza -- the only one not controlled by Israel. Overseeing operations personally, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters: "These trucks are not just trucks, they are a lifeline, they are the difference between life and death for so many people in Gaza." Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas after the Islamist militant group launched a shock raid from the Gaza Strip on October 7, killing at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians shot, mutilated or burned to death, according to Israeli officials. Hamas gunmen also kidnapped some 200 hostages including foreigners from around two dozen countries. The Islamist group said Friday that its armed wing had released two Americans among the captives, a mother and her daughter, the first fruit of mediation efforts by the Gulf state of Qatar. The Islamist group did not detail how or when the hostages were released. The Israeli military said earlier Friday that most of those abducted to Gaza were still alive. It said more than 20 were minors. In response to the Hamas attack, Israeli bombers have levelled entire city blocks in Gaza in preparation for a ground invasion they say is coming soon. The Hamas-run health ministry said 4,137 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have died in the onslaught. Israeli jets pounded more than 100 Hamas targets in Gaza overnight, the army said, with AFP reporters hearing loud explosions and witnessing plumes of smoke billowing from the northern Gaza Strip. Embracing front-line soldiers and clad in body armour, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged them to "fight like lions" and "win with full force". Fists clenched and voice raised, Netanyahu told cheering troops: "We will deal harsh blows to our enemies in order to achieve victory." Defence Minister Yoav Gallant told some of the tens of thousands of personnel preparing the ground invasion that "the order will come soon". 'Beyond catastrophic' US President Joe Biden said Friday he expected the first aid for Gaza to pass through the Rafah crossing from Egypt within the next two days, under a deal he clinched to allow in 20 trucks of supplies for civilians. Medicine, water purifiers and blankets were being unloaded at El Arish airport near Gaza, an AFP reporter saw, with Ahmed Ali, head of the Egyptian Red Crescent, saying he was getting "two to three planes of aid a day". But World Health Organization emergencies director Michael Ryan said Biden's 20-truck deal was "a drop in the ocean of need" and that 2,000 trucks were required. The UN says more than one million of Gaza's 2.4 million people are displaced, with the humanitarian situation "beyond catastrophic" and deteriorating daily. Refugees from northern Gaza told harrowing tales of bombs, profiteering and extreme temperatures as whole families trekked on foot to flee the violence. Mother of seven Fadwa Al-Najjar walked for 10 hours with her family from northern Gaza to reach a UN camp in the southern city of Khan Yunis, saying she saw cars hit by a strike just in front of them. "We saw bodies and limbs torn off and we just started praying, thinking we were going to die," she said. 'It's unimaginable' On the other side of the conflict, the full horror of what Israel suffered on October 7 and following days was still emerging, as traumatised residents recounted their stories. Shachar Butler, a security chief at the Nir Oz kibbutz, where Hamas militants killed or kidnapped a quarter of the 400 residents, recalls more than a dozen gunmen spraying bullets indiscriminately and lobbing grenades at homes. "It's unimaginable," the 40-year-old told AFP as part of a trip organised by the Israeli military. "Anytime someone tried to touch my window, I shot him," he said. "The people who came out got kidnapped, killed, executed, slaughtered." Butler estimated as many as 200 militants attacked the kibbutz, entering from three sides before going house-to-house. Homes there were still charred with burnt personal belongings strewn everywhere. Israel says around 1,500 Hamas fighters were killed in clashes before its army regained control. 'No safe place' Biden requested a massive $105 billion security package Friday, including $14 billion for Israel, but paralysis in the still speakerless Congress means it will hit an immediate wall. Fresh from a whirlwind trip to Israel this week, Biden is hoping to staunch the possibility of a wider Middle East war. The United States has moved two aircraft carriers into the eastern Mediterranean to deter Iran or Lebanon's Hezbollah, both Hamas allies, from getting involved. After days of clashes with Hezbollah fighters along the Lebanese border, Israeli authorities announced the evacuation of Kiryat Shmona, a nearby town which is home to some 25,000 residents, many of whom have already left. The conflict has inflamed passions across the region, with protests held in several countries. Thousands flooded into Egypt's iconic Tahrir Square in support of Gaza, an AFP correspondent said. Protests were also held outside the French and US embassies in Tunis. Following a strike at a church compound late Thursday, the Hamas-controlled interior ministry said several people sheltering at the church were killed and wounded, blaming an Israeli strike. The Israeli army acknowledged a church wall had been damaged in one of its air strikes targeting a "command and control centre belonging to a Hamas terrorist". "This place is dedicated for praying, a place of love and peace," said witness Abu Khalil Jahshan. "There is no safe place here in Gaza." The post Gazans await ‘life and death’ aid, Israel readies invasion appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Japan will continue transparency about ALPS treated water release
The Daily Tribune recently published the opinion entitled “Releasing Fukushima water amid protests?” by Mr. Bernie V. Lopez, which worsens the misperception of Japan’s discharge plan. Therefore, I would like to provide explanations based on scientific evidence and facts as well as Japan’s efforts to take the measure in the most accountable and transparent manner. First of all, the water to be discharged is NOT “nuclear wastewater”.” It is “ALPS (advanced liquid processing system) treated water,” which has been sufficiently purified until the concentration of radioactive materials other than tritium is below the regulatory standard and then is further diluted before it is discharged. Tritium is a radioactive material that exists in nature, and can be found in rainwater and also in our bodies, but does not accumulate in the body. The reason for the discharge of ALPS-treated water is not a fear of the dangers of storing large amounts of nuclear wastewater but to restore life in Fukushima and achieve reconstruction. The Subcommittee on Handling ALPS Treated Water considered five options: geosphere injection, discharge into the sea, vapor release, hydrogen release, and underground burial. Of those methods, discharge into the sea was determined to be the best from a risk management perspective, because it has a proven track record in domestic and international nuclear facilities and is easy to monitor. Discharge of ALPS-treated water is an issue that cannot be postponed to construct new facilities to safely proceed with the decommissioning work, which will be more fully underway in the future. On 4 July 2023, The International Atomic Energy Agency or IAEA, the world’s authority on nuclear-related issues, published the Comprehensive Report on the Safety Review of the ALPS Treated Water at TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, which presents the findings of a nearly two-year review conducted by the IAEA and independent international experts based on scientific evidence. The report states that Japan’s plans to discharge the ALPS-treated water into the sea and associated activities are consistent with relevant international safety standards, and the discharge will have a negligible radiological impact on people and the environment. On 24 August 2023, the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, or FDNPS, initiated the discharge of ALPS-treated water to promote the reconstruction of Fukushima. Since the start of the discharge, it has been confirmed that the concentration of nuclides including tritium in seawater and marine products is far below the standards, which indicates that the discharge is safe as planned. Specifically, Japan is implementing three types of monitoring (monitoring of treated water in tanks, real-time monitoring of a wide range of nuclides, mainly tritium) with the involvement of the IAEA. If a problem is detected during this monitoring process such as detecting radioactivity levels exceeding standards, appropriate measures will be taken, including immediate suspension of the discharge. In more detail, we will manage the annual discharge volume of tritium so it will not exceed 22 trillion Bq, which is equivalent to the target discharge management value for the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station before the accident. It is worth noting that other countries also discharge tritium into the sea in compliance with their domestic laws and regulations; for instance, according to the China Nuclear Energy Association website, China, discharging 112 trillion Bequerel, or Bq, from Yangjiang Nuclear Power Plant , 102 trillion Bq from Ningde NPP, 90 trillion Bq from Hongyanhe NPP in 2021. The amount of tritium in the ALPS-treated water is far smaller than the amount of tritium discharged from many nuclear power plants and other facilities in other countries. Consultations with stakeholders Furthermore, the aforementioned article states that “Japan planned the release unilaterally — no transparency, no consensus. They never made an effort for international awareness and inspection.” However, the fact is that Japan has provided information and has engaged in consultations with the interested parties including both international and domestic ones in a transparent manner based on scientific evidence, with an emphasis on providing sufficient data. In addition, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has emphasized that every possible measure would be taken to ensure the safety of discharge and that any emission that would harm the health of citizens or the marine environment would not occur. He also explained Japan’s efforts regarding the discharge of ALPS-treated water at ASEAN-related Summit Meetings in Jakarta on September 6 and 7 and the G20 New Delhi Summit on September 9 and 10, which led to a wider and deeper understanding of our approach. The positive recognition and support in the international community for Japan’s efforts and its commitments are currently spreading. Many countries including the U.S., Australia, and NZ officially welcomed the IAEA’s Comprehensive Report, and also Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, as Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) acknowledged Japan’s efforts. Recently, on the margin of the Japan-ASEAN Summit Meetings, H.E. Mr. Joko Widodo, President of the Republic of Indonesia expressed his understanding of Japan’s position. In addition, on the margin of the G20 New Delhi Summit, H.E. Mr. Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN, President of the Republic of Türkiye said that he is aware of Japan’s sincere efforts, and H.E. Mr. Mark RUTTE, Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands expressed his full support to Japan’s approach. Therefore, the author’s claim that Japan had “no transparency, no consensus” is inaccurate. As the author correctly stated, “Secrecy will be Japan’s enemy” and Japan has been and will prioritize our transparency. At the end of the day, all the questions should be left to scientists and experts on nuclear issues, to draw a conclusion that can stand the test of scientific evidence and facts. Having gone through unprecedented hardships since the Great East Japan Earthquake, we remain committed to facing the most difficult challenges with complete transparency in close collaboration with the IAEA. After the start of discharge into the sea, Japan will continue to conduct three types of monitoring in a multilayered manner with the involvement of the IAEA. We hope to gain the understanding and support of the international community. The government of Japan will continue to provide the necessary information transparently based on the conclusion of the comprehensive report and will continue efforts to gain further understanding from the international community, while scientifically refuting politically motivated opinions. The post Japan will continue transparency about ALPS treated water release appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Iloilo International Airport receives ISO Certification
The Iloilo International Airport received an official certification for its Environmental Management System (ISO 14001) awarded by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines together with the Local Government Unit of Iloilo, the European Aviation Safety Agency, and a certification body from Bureau Veritas. The awarding ceremony was held at the airport’s departure area and was attended by CAAP officials and representatives from the Iloilo LGU, EASA and Bureau Veritas. According to the “Plan, Do, Check, and Act” method of environmental regulation compliance, ISO 14001 outlines the requirements for an Environmental Management System. It lays out a framework that a business or organization may use. In addition to these benefits, it aids businesses in increasing resource efficiency and reducing waste, giving them a competitive edge and the confidence of stakeholders. Iloilo International Airport received the accreditation on 31 May 2023, and it is a mark of distinction given to organizations that have guaranteed that their environmental impact is being measured and improved. On 7 July 2020, the airport’s journey towards accreditation started, and an Environmental Management Team was established to concentrate on this objective. Several EMS efforts were carried out to raise awareness and disseminate information among the partner agencies, stakeholders, and workers of the airport to get ready for the assessment of ISO 14001 compliance. These initiatives were intended to guarantee that the community around the Iloilo International Airport had a thorough awareness of EMS. The airport went through two audit stages on 6 January and 2-3 February, respectively, to achieve the “recommended” status for certification. CAAP-Iloilo International Airport finally obtained the certification, which is slated to expire on 31 May 2026, thanks to their tenacious efforts and the backing of CAAP management to assure the maintenance of established standards and compliance with ISO 14001. CAAP, the organization managing and running Iloilo International Airport, welcomed the accomplishment with great pride. CAAP is confident that this will be an example for other CAAP-operated airports to pursue EMS certification and offer the Filipino people a top-tier, environmentally sound air transportation industry. CAAP Director General Captain Manuel Antonio Tamayo said that being eco-friendly in its operations has always been an aspiration of the global aviation community. This achievement is a testament to CAAP’s commitment to creating a greener environment and future for the benefit of its stakeholders and the whole airport community. The post Iloilo International Airport receives ISO Certification appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl to benefit from world’s transition to clean energy
The Philippines is certain to benefit from efforts of countries wanting to transition into clean energy, given the country’s vast resources of carbon and nickel ores, according to Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual. Participating in the session on Global Supply Chain and Sustainable Investment, organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific or UNESCAP in Jakarta, Indonesia on Saturday, Pascual cited the growing interest in critical minerals due to the global trend to transition to clean energy. Great potential He stressed that this trend offers great potential for the Philippines given the country’s vast mineral resources such as copper and nickel ores. Pascual also emphasized that the Philippines is now going in the direction of manufacturing electric vehicles from downstream processing of nickel ores to finished products. This will also complement the country’s comparative advantage in semiconductor and manpower skills, specifically the abundance of the young, dynamic, and tech-savvy Filipino workforce, he said. Pascual and his fellow panelists also discussed the possible effects of “deglobalization” particularly with regards to its impact on trade and investments as well as the need to diversify production locations and finding alternative materials to ensure supply chain resilience. Cooperation Meanwhile, in his meeting with UNESCAP Executive Secretary Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana at the sidelines of the ASEAN Investment Forum, Pascual aired his gratitude for the assistance of the UN body in the areas of trade, trade facilitation, micro, small and medium enterprises, as well as in aligning the implementation of AmBisyon Natin 2040 with the country’s achievement of Sustainable Development Goals. The two leaders also indicated that they’re looking forward to furthering cooperation through initiatives in the digital economy and digital infrastructure, including space technology and innovation. The UNESCAP, which was established in 1947 with headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand, aims to promote regional cooperation and integration in the Asia-Pacific region to achieve inclusive and sustainable development. The post Phl to benefit from world’s transition to clean energy appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
First country workshop for local insurance industry stakeholders
The Insurance Development Forum and its partner Microinsurance Network recently organized the first country workshop for local insurance industry stakeholders to advance an inclusive insurance-focused strategy in the Philippines. IDF Inclusive Insurance Working Group coordinator Pedro Pinheiro said that the objective of the country workshop was to close the protection gap of the low-income population through accessible and affordable insurance. “We want to increase the uptake of insurance among the low-income population who can benefit from affordable and accessible insurance products developed by local insurers,” Pinheiro said. MiN Chairman and Pioneer Group head Lorenzo Chan said that IDF partnered with MiN as a natural step to implement its inclusive insurance strategy. “The partnership allows the IDF to capitalize on the grassroots reach and wealth of resources the MiN has accumulated in the last 20 years,” Chan said. Chan said the workshop marked the kick-off engagement of the IDF in the Philippines and the establishment of a country task force. “The country task force in the Philippines will effectively allocate financial resources and technical assistance from the IDF membership to local inclusive insurance programs. Together, we will seek to address the gaps that were identified in the workshop,” Chan said. Pinheiro said that the Philippines has been selected as one of the priority countries by the inclusive insurance working group of the IDF. “The Philippines is identified as a crucial market because it is very vulnerable to climate risks and has a real need for insurance solutions. The Philippines is also advanced in the development of a regulatory framework for inclusive insurance with a thriving private sector and a very engaged government body,” Pinheiro said. Insurance Commissioner Reynaldo Regalado expressed his full support for the 1st IDF-MiN Country Workshop for Inclusive Insurance in the Philippines. “The Insurance Commission will continue to work collaboratively with microinsurance providers, non-government organizations and other stakeholders to develop innovative and sustainable solutions that will further cater to the needs of the low-income sector of the society. We commit to crafting policies that will further enhance financial inclusion in the country,” Regalado said in a statement. “IC recognizes the significance of inclusive insurance in fostering resilience and promoting economic stability in the Philippines. Inclusive insurance empowers individuals and communities by providing the same protection needed against unexpected shocks and calamities,” he added. The IDF is a public-private partnership supporting the growth and development of insurance-related resources and capabilities to help achieve the objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals and the UN Global 2030 Agenda. It was first announced at the United Nations Conference of the Parties Paris Climate Summit in 2015 and then formally launched by leaders of the insurance industry, the United Nations and the World Bank in 2016. The MiN, based in Luxembourg, is the only non-profit global multi-stakeholder platform dedicated to promoting inclusive insurance to low-income people and households worldwide. Chan is the first Asian and insurance practitioner elected as MiN Chairman in 2021. The workshop was attended by insurance industry stakeholders representing the Philippine Insurers and Reinsurers Association, Philippine Life Insurance Association, Microinsurance Intermediaries and Practitioners Association of the Philippines, Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation, GIZ Philippines and several other organizations in the inclusivity ecosystem. ### The post First country workshop for local insurance industry stakeholders appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Disney streaming service sees subscribers fall again
Disney on Wednesday reported a loss for the most recent quarter, with the number of subscribers to its streaming service shrinking again, but a pledge to crack down on password sharing sent shares higher in after-market trades. The falling Disney+ subscriber numbers -- for the third consecutive quarter -- came as a crippling writers and actors strike hits the US entertainment industry, threatening the company's ability to produce content key to the streaming service's appeal. "It is my fervent hope that we quickly find solutions to the issues that have kept us apart these past few months," chief executive Bob Iger, whose contract has been extended through 2026, said of negotiations with striking actors and writers. "I am personally committed to working to achieve this result." Hollywood television and movie writers went on their first strike in 15 years in May, only to be joined in mid-July by actors. The last time Hollywood writers laid down their pens and keyboards, in 2007, the strike lasted 100 days and cost Los Angeles's entertainment economy around $2 billion. This time, the two sides are clashing as writers demand higher pay, minimum guarantees of stable employment and a greater share of profits from the boom in streaming, while studios say they must cut costs due to economic pressures. The current double whammy of actors and writers is the first since the 1960s. At issue for both labor groups in the age of streaming is better pay and residuals, and the role of artificial intelligence, which they fear the studios would like to use to replace them. As things stand, neither the unions nor the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), the body that represents the studios, seems prepared to give ground. Password sharing a 'priority' Disney+ finished the quarter with 146.1 million subscribers, compared with just shy of 158 million in the first three months of this year, the group said. All but a sliver of the loss in Disney+ subscribers took place in India, where the entertainment titan early this year lost rights to stream popular Premier League cricket matches. Rival Netflix recently reported that its subscriptions climbed by nearly six million in the wake of its crackdown on password sharing. Iger told financial analysts that Disney+ password sharing is "significant" and that the company plans to start tackling the situation. "We already have the technical capability to monitor much of this," Iger said. "We're going to get at this issue; we certainly have established this as a real priority." Disney announced it will raise its streaming service subscription price in the United States to $14 monthly starting October 12, an increase of $3. The company also expanded availability of an ad-supported Disney+ tier to Canada and parts of Europe. Third Bridge analyst Jamie Lumley believes Disney+ has "a long road ahead" to becoming profitable. "Our experts expect that 2025 is a more realistic timeline to achieve profitability than next year," Lumley said. "Especially considering factors like the dual strike in Hollywood and relatively weak reception of Disney's content by audiences." Disney shares were up more than 2 percent to $90 in after market trades despite the drop in streaming service subscriber numbers and a posted loss of $460 million in the quarter. The unusual quarterly loss for the company was due to charges related to ending licensing agreements and yanking content from its streaming platforms. Disney reported that its theme parks and cruise business continued to rebound from the pandemic, even while its traditional television offerings face a trend of ad dollars shifting to online viewing alternatives. Iger said in the earnings call that streaming, film studios and theme parks will drive its growth in the coming five years. "On the traditional TV side, losses continue to mount as CEO Bob Iger looks to offload what he now considers non-core assets, including the ABC Network," said Insider Intelligence principal analyst Paul Verna. "These adverse trends are compounded by economic uncertainty, a soft ad market, increased competition in streaming media, labor disputes with screenwriters and actors, and lackluster box office numbers for Disney's films." The post Disney streaming service sees subscribers fall again appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl wants stronger maritime cooperation with Vietnam
The Philippine government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, has expressed its intent to forge stronger maritime cooperation with Vietnam in the South China Sea, where both countries are claimant states. DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo asserted this on Tuesday in his speech before the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam in Vietnam. “Our geographies and status as major littoral and claimant states in the South China Sea make maritime cooperation a vital point of interaction between our two countries, as economic and security partners. As in centuries prior, this body of water connects our peoples, despite some differences,” Manalo said. “Beyond its strategic significance, the South China Sea is the lifeblood of millions of Filipinos and Vietnamese people who depend on the sea for livelihood,” he added. He continued: “As maritime nations at the heart of this seascape, it is a given that we consider safe and secure seas and sound marine ecosystems as integral to the future of our peoples and our region.” Manalo is currently on a four-day official visit to Vietnam for the 10th Philippines-Vietnam Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation, three years after the 9th Philippines-Vietnam JCBC was held in Manila in 2019, attended by then-Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. and Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh. Given the previous joint marine research expeditions of the Filipinos and Vietnamese scientists in the 1990s, Manalo said, the two countries “must press further on in exploring novel modes of cooperation in maritime safety, search and rescue, marine scientific research, and marine environmental protection.” “Achieving maritime security is a powerful impetus for our Strategic Partnership. Through the Philippines-Vietnam Joint Permanent Working Group on Maritime and Ocean Concerns, we discuss challenges and explore joint initiatives for the effective management of our competing claims in this area, with the overarching goal of preserving regional peace and stability,” he pointed out. He also noted that the two nations also benefit from the rules-based order which he described as the “bedrock of peace and prosperity” in the South China Sea, a shipping passage for an estimated $5.3 trillion worth of trade. “Our Strategic Partnership must affirm that we are invested in keeping the seas open and free for the enjoyment of our peoples, and that disputes must be managed and resolved peacefully in accordance with international norms and laws, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea as well as the 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea,” he said. The DFA chief is referring to the 2016 arbitral ruling that favored the Philippines’ claims in the West Philippine Sea, which is part of the larger South China Sea. However, China, which claims almost the entire South China Sea, continues to ignore the arbitral ruling, insisting on its nine-dash line claim. In a bid to reinforce its claim in the oil and natural-gas-rich region, the Philippine government started calling that portion of the South China Sea as West Philippine Sea in 2012. Similar to the Philippines, Vietnam has overlapping claims with China over the Paracel and Spratly islands, which remain the main point of contention between the two countries. According to Manalo, until the resolution of these disputes, the Philippines and Vietnam “share a distinctive responsibility in working to achieve a substantive and effective Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, and seeing to its conclusion at the earliest opportunity.” The post Phl wants stronger maritime cooperation with Vietnam appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
MIF will be finalized by September—DOF
The drafting of the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) Act’s implementing rules and regulations (IRR) will be finalized by September 2023, the Department of Finance said on Tuesday. In a statement, DOF said the MIF’s IRR is still currently underway as the Maharlika Investment Corporation (MIC) is expected to be fully operational by next year. “The (MIC) will be created to serve as the investment body responsible for the overall governance and management of the Fund and is expected to be fully operational by end-2024,” DOF said. For context, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on early Tuesday signed R.A. No. 11954 or the MIF Act of 2023, a landmark measure that will establish the country's first sovereign investment fund. According to DOF, the Fund is designed to catalyze economic development and accelerate the country’s growth by optimizing the use of government financial assets and promoting their intergenerational management. “The Fund is an additional vehicle that would allow the government to tap surpluses that cannot be utilized under current legal frameworks. It will also be open to co-financing with foreign investors and multilateral institutions to facilitate the financing of capital-intensive big-ticket infrastructure,” Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said. Meanwhile, other economic managers said the MIF will comprise separate funds for investing in profitable infrastructure over the long term and investing in capital market assets like fixed-income securities and stocks over the short to medium term. In a separate statement, the Department of Budget and Management said the MIF will enhance fiscal stability by engaging in strategic and profitable investments. These investments will include activities such as investing in foreign currencies, fixed-income instruments, domestic and foreign corporate bonds, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, real estate, and high-impact infrastructure projects, among various other opportunities. The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), for its part, said the enactment of MIF into law will help achieve the long-term development goals of the Philippines. “The Economic Team has always emphasized the importance of enhancing the platforms that we have for engaging with the private sector and promoting investments in strategic areas. The MIF will help us achieve this objective,” NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said. “We fully support this as it will help expand our fiscal space. So we at the DBM remain committed to helping ensure that this Development Fund will be a success and implemented with utmost integrity," Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman also said. The post MIF will be finalized by September—DOF appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PBBM approves nat’l innovation roadmap
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved the National Innovation Agenda and Strategy Document or NIASD 2023-2032, outlining the country's plan to improve innovation governance and establish a dynamic innovation ecosystem, Malacañang said Saturday. Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil told reporters that Marcos, who also chairs the National Innovation Council, gave the green light during the 5th NIC meeting on Friday. Garafil said the “NIASD characterizes a dynamic innovation ecosystem as one that fosters a pervasive culture of innovation driven by market demands.” The roadmap facilitates collaboration through active, reliable, and useful platforms, and provides innovation actors with the necessary facilities and resources to transform their ideas into innovative products and services. Garafil added that the NIASD will connect the innovator-entrepreneur to potential investors and funders. During the meeting with Marcos, NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, vice chairman of the NIC, said that establishing a dynamic innovation ecosystem is one of the six cross-cutting strategies in the transformation agenda identified in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 to achieve a prosperous, inclusive, and resilient society. "Chapter 8 of the PDP elaborates on this strategy by situating it within the continuum of research and development, innovation, technology adoption, then commercialization" stated Balisacan. An oath-taking ceremony for the executive members also took place shortly before the 5th NIC meeting. The NIC is a 25-member policy advisory body that comprises 16 Department Secretaries and seven Executive Members from the private sector. Aside from Balisacan, the NIC members present during the meeting were Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla, Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines Director General Rowel Barba, Scientific Community member Dr. Ria Liza Canlas, MSMEs member Mark Sultan Gersava, and Business Sector Members Monchito Ibrahim and Earl Martin Valencia. The post PBBM approves nat’l innovation roadmap appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Ready to try yoga? Some tips before attending your first class
If you’ve always wanted to try yoga but still haven’t for one reason or another, then dilly-dally no more. Yoga offers many proven benefits for the body, mind and, most especially, the spirit. These benefits, as listed in an article on Johns Hopkins Medicine’s website, include improving strength, balance and flexibility; getting back pain relief; easing arthritis symptoms; and keeping the heart healthy. Yoga also helps you to relax, thus you get to sleep better. It means you’ll have more energy and brighter moods the following day. Additionally, you get to manage stress and improve your mental health. You may even lose weight, if that’s your intention, and achieve a slimmer figure. Finally convinced to sign up for your first class? Here are a few pointers from longtime yoga teachers Johnna Villaviray-Giolagon and Sheila Alon. “Yoga isn’t exercise,” Villaviray-Giolagon pointed out. “Don’t treat it like one.” Yoga actually began as a spiritual practice rooted in Indian philosophy (so you will hear many Sanskrit terms during practice). It then became popular beyond India as a way of promoting physical and mental well-being. [caption id="attachment_151879" align="aligncenter" width="720"] PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF SHEILA ALON | YOGA teacher Shiela Alon.[/caption] The teacher, who leads the Stretchy Flow, Vinyasa and Power Yoga classes at Community Fitness (located in Pasig City), shared these tips: “No heavy meal at least two to three hours before class, so you don’t throw up. Leave your ego at the door. Anything new, even if it’s slow movement, is bound to challenge our body. Wear comfortable clothes. You don’t have to be half-naked or fully clothed. Listen to the teacher and observe the demo. There are terms used that sound woowoo but make sense over time.” Alon, who teaches Yin yoga at the Yogaplus Virtual studio, has these reminders: “You do not need any previous yoga experience nor to be flexible. Every day is a learning day and our practice will be different, so just keep an open mind and heart. Your body is very intelligent, and it knows what it needs. You just have to listen to it.” She acknowledged the challenges of attending a virtual class, compared to going to a physical studio, especially for the first time. “The best tip is to just be open to learn something new about your body! I know first-timers will tend to be self-conscious, but keeping the camera open will allow the teacher/instructor to guide you and give options, so that you can make your first class accessible and fun! “It also helps to tell the teacher if you have any medical condition or injury, so that he or she can help give you verbal cues to make your practice a safe space and enjoyable, too. Yoga is not all pretzel poses. It’s a journey to getting to know what your body is capable of, moving, breathing — being present and meeting new faces in the community. Common types of yoga There are many and various types or styles of yoga, ranging from gentle practices (less poses, more meditation) to physically demanding ones (headstand, anyone?). Some of the common yoga classes, Villaviray-Giolagon said, are Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Bikram, Hatha and Yin. Ashtanga: A rigorous and fast-paced type of yoga that follows a fixed sequence of poses. It is made up of six series, namely Primary, Intermediate and four Advanced series. In many classes, Villaviray-Giolagon said, only half of the primary series is taught. Vinyasa: A fluid and dynamic yoga that links breath and movement in creative sequences. Villaviray-Giolagon described it as something like “freestyle dancing,” as the teacher “choreographs” what is done in class. Bikram: A hot and sweaty yoga that consists of 26 poses and two breathing exercises in a heated room. Hatha: A branch of yoga that focuses on posture and breathing techniques. “Poses are practiced on their own, like drills,” Villaviray-Giolagon said. “Can feel like the exercises in calisthenics class. It’s usually more accessible in gyms.” Yin: A slow, passive style of yoga, done mostly on the floor in seated or lying-down postures. “It targets the connective tissues instead of the muscle,” Villaviray explained. “Poses are practiced on the ground for maybe three to five minutes or longer.” The post Ready to try yoga? Some tips before attending your first class appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
In life we get what we give
Six months ago, I ran a workshop for 50 women managers of a local government unit in Southern Luzon. In this time of disruption, the four mayors of the region decided to invite so that these female managers would be able to cope with the massive changes brought about by the pandemic not only in their jobs but also in work and family life. I studied the profiles of the women and decided to focus my topic on how to survive today’s disruption with the right mindset. As our lives have profoundly changed with the impact of the pandemic and massive changes in our societal norms, I needed to empower these women to focus on the most essential aspects of change. The workshop I conducted was life-changing for the women as we tackled their problems and issues. I listened to their stories intently as I observed their body language and eye movements. One of the narratives that impressed me was that of an HR manager who had to deal with the employees with problems ranging from economic, hard-headed children and husbands who were philanderers. I marveled at how she was able to advise these women to change their defeatist attitude into that of a fearless, winning person. I therefore worked individually with the women with serious problems of isolation, anger management, depression and lack of drive. On the second day, I gave them guidelines on how to navigate their daily lives. The importance of a grateful heart. When we are grateful, abundance follows. [caption id="attachment_145480" align="aligncenter" width="525"] PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF UNSPLASH/tyler nix | START each day with a grateful heart.[/caption] Giving back to create a better, safer and happier world for us all. [caption id="attachment_145481" align="aligncenter" width="525"] PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF UNSPLASH/ROSIE SUN | GIVE back to people.[/caption] To find value in family and valued relationships. Allow oneself to discover life’s purpose. The power of thinking and living positive values in the family, in the workplace and in their respective communities. Create a network of like-minded people who are able to work together to uplift, engage, mentor, share in each other’s joys, triumphs, problems with love, compassion, care, concern and advice. The workshop proved to be a huge success as the women returned to their workplace and families with positive mindsets, fearless and confident attitudes, and most importantly the CAN-DO belief that nothing was impossible to achieve for as long as they had faith in themselves and their Creator. When we manage CHANGE in our lives with focus to our advantage, we win the game of life. The author is one of 100 Most Influential Global Filipinas for her books and advocacy work. She was recognized as one of The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service (TOWNS). As a social historian she has written 44 coffee table books in the last 24 years found in select libraries around the world. The post In life we get what we give appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Athletics body says Obiena not yet done after record jump
A day after EJ Obiena become the first Asian to hit the 6-meter mark in the men’s pole vault competition, the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) expects the pole vaulter to achieve more record feats in upcoming overseas competitions. .....»»
Face first for OFW entrepreneur
Self-made entrepreneur Marzen Salazar remembers the many moments when she would catch her grandmother in front of the mirror, filling in her eyebrows faded by time. Humans are said to be capable of nearly 10,000 facial expressions. The slightest twitch of facial muscle, the direction of the eye, and the movement of eyebrows all mean a plethora of emotions — the non-verbal cues that make up the unspoken daily chatter. Yet as one grows old, it becomes more difficult to do so; the muscles loosen, but most significantly, the eyebrows thin along with the lashes. “My grandmother always draws about her eyebrows. She would try it but (I) would never be satisfied,” remembers Marzen. “When I was growing up in the '90s, eyebrow tattooing was a popular solution to the fading of the brow for the elderly and people with thin strokes — but even tattoos have their limits.” Today, as Marzen recalls her time growing up in Laguna with her lola, Marzen is gradually and decisively building her own business to provide a better solution for eyebrows, lashes, and other facial care woes. In 2020 during the beginning of the pandemic, Marzen boldly launched Miss Derm — a clinic specializing in eyebrows, lashes, and facial treatment services, including microblading. A relatively new technology for Filipinos, microblading uses small needles to create soft and subtle hair-like strokes and deposit pigment on the skin. It is a form of cosmetic tattooing but, unlike the traditional tattoo that embeds pigment deep into the skin, microblading only injects pigment superficially on the body and thus is only semi-permanent. At Miss Derm, microblading is only done by certified microblading artists. Artists undergo intensive training to provide the highest level of quality and care for customers. More than just a business From one clinic in Makati, Marzen expanded Miss Derm to two more locations: Las Pinas and Quezon City —one additional business address each year. Despite travel restrictions, Miss Derm’s number of patrons have grown through word of mouth, attracted by the quality of premium services to help customers with their facial care needs. “I’ve always been motivated by the fact that the services we do at Miss Derm directly affect our customers’ disposition. If eyes are the windows to the soul, eyebrows and lashes are the frames that help define what you want to express and how you want to be seen. We want to help our customers increase their confidence and wear a brighter face every day,” says Marzen, a former wedding photographer-turned communications manager in Oman. Aside from its popular Elite Brows/Lips Package, Miss Derm offers a wide range of microblading, microshading, eyeliner and blading solutions. Customers will also find a menu of no-needle procedures, including Brow Lamination, Lash Lift, Lash Extensions, and HIFU Skin Tightening for the face, neck and the body. Miss Derm’s complete facial care and skincare solutions prove to be perfect for customers who desire convenience and a highly personalized level of care. At Miss Derm, artists converse with customers about their needs and suggest ways to achieve how they want to look. This level of service and hospitality is the product of Marzen’s entrepreneurial instincts, of putting customers at the heart of the process, and ensuring that employees are taken care of. Despite Marzen’s location in Oman, she has overseen the growth and initial success of Miss Derm with flying colors remotely, flying to Manila to visit the clinics when needed, but talking directly with her clients on a daily basis. “When customers chat on our social media channels for feedback or bookings, they’re likely talking to me. “I always had a passion for talking with customers, especially women. As a wedding photographer in Laguna and Oman, I deal with women on a regular basis. One should listen and be attentive; they know what they want. When you delight them with great service and you build a positive working relationship, they will come back for more and they will treat you like family,” says Marzen. To stay updated about Miss Derm, follow www.instagram.com/missderm/. The post Face first for OFW entrepreneur appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Filipino physicist heads int’l research on dark quantum matter
An associate professor from the University of the Philippines – Diliman led a team of German-based researchers in studying a special type of "dark" matter that cannot be observed with standard laboratory methods. Dr. Jayson Cosme, a theoretical physicist, collaborated with Dr. Hans Keßler, Prof. Andreas Hemmerich, and Prof. Ludwig Mathey; and post-graduate students Jim Skulte, Phatthamon Kongkhambut, and Sahana Rao in carrying out the research. Their research paper was published on 21 April 2023 online on APS Physical Review Letters with the title, "Condensate Formation in a Dark State of a Driven Atom-Cavity System". “I’m very honored and thankful to have been the last author on this paper, as my colleagues are all from Germany,” Cosme said. Scientists use laser beams to slow down the movement of the atoms in a material, causing a drop in temperature up to absolute zero that individual atoms to condense together into a new state of matter with quantum properties that behaves similarly to a single giant atom. Renowned physicists Albert Einstein and Satyendra Nath Bose were the first persons to predict such existence; hence it was called a Bose-Einstein Condensate (BEC). “By shaking BECs in the right way, we can cause them to become quantum objects that don’t absorb, reflect, nor emit light—hence, ‘dark,’” Cosme said. His team used lasers to further manipulate atoms. Cosme's team was able to show the "formation of a condensate in a dark state of momentum states, in a pumped and shaken cavity-BEC system," noted the research's abstract portion. "We demonstrate how to achieve condensation in this state, supported by time-of-flight and photon emission measurements. With this, we show that the dark state concept provides a general approach to efficiently prepare complex many-body states in an open quantum system," the abstract added. The post Filipino physicist heads int’l research on dark quantum matter appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Miss Conception
Just a few days ago, our country’s pageant mill minted a new “beauty queen” in the person of one Angelica Lopez of Palawan as Binibining Pilipinas International. And a few weeks before that, a certain Yllana Marie Aduana was crowned Miss Earth Philippines 2023. Like others before them who had won the Miss Universe Philippines, Miss World Philippines and, of course, the local Miss Earth competitions, they will compete, and hope to win in the international equivalents of their competition as representatives of our country. Our country takes pride in winning a total of fifteen crowns in the so-called “Big Four” of international beauty pageants: Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International and Miss Earth. There are, to be sure, “lesser” contests: Miss Supranational, Miss Grand International, Miss Intercontinental, the list goes on and on. And our women have won in many of them. Truly, we are one pageant-crazy nation, as witnessed by how life seems to be put on hold whenever one of the major ones air in the country. Beauty contests have also been considered traditional springboards to fame and fortune. We have many A-list actresses who started out as beauty queens. Two of the most prominent of these would be Gloria Diaz — “Ang Pinakamagandang Hayop sa Balat ng Lupa” — and Pilar Pilapil. Others like Pia Wurtzbach and Kylie Versoza also tried their luck, but their showbiz careers did not gain as much traction as the first two parts because, in the case of Ms. Wurtzbach, she was a bad actress. While it seems that beauty pageants are here to stay, many (this author included) have serious doubts about their continued utility in this day and age of changing societal roles. One main criticism against traditional pageants is that they promote a measure of “beauty” that is too high: One must be tall, slender, with perfect body proportions, and a style of comporting oneself on stage that takes years to master. Thus, this gives rise to a culture of sorts that makes ordinary mortals try to achieve the same level of pulchritude, only to fall short, as the vast majority of women are not as endowed as the standard pageant candidate. This state of affairs, many say, leads to a distorted sense of worth that strongly implies that one is less of a woman when one does not fit into the mold of a beauty queen. Another critique is that pageants objectify women, in the sense that they are treated as mere “things” that must comply with certain specifications; hence, they must look good in an evening gown and swimwear, know how to sing and dance for the obligatory production, and be able to answer asinine questions that are hardly a source of edification. The way by which they are paraded before a live and remote audience like cattle, some would add, is essentially demeaning to the contestants, making them look like “pieces of meat,” like in a cattle auction. Now, don’t get me wrong; I love looking at lovely women. In fact, my Twitter profile states, in part, that I am “a lover of beauty” and my personal motto is that “women are the foundation of society, so men must lay the foundation.” Nonetheless, I am a progressive, and I personally think that pageants, on the whole, serve no other purpose in this day and age but to enrich their organizers, promote products and personalities (especially couturiers), and provide she is the sum total of all her wit and wisdom, her learning and experience, her personality and charisma. Happy hunting grounds for dirty old men (don’t look at me, I bathe three times a day). Levity aside, if doing away with these pageants is too extreme a measure, we should at least stop sending the message that a woman’s worth is limited to how tall of stature, curvaceous of figure and lovely of face she is. Indeed, a woman is more than that: To say or think otherwise would be a serious misconception. The post Miss Conception appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
IAC-IMO creation ordered to tackle inflation, economic concerns
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has issued an Executive Order to establish the Inter-Agency Committee on Inflation and Market Outlook to tackle inflation and improve economic initiatives, Malacañang said over the weekend. President Marcos signed EO 28 Friday, specifying that the Inter-Agency Committee on Inflation and Market Outlook will act as advisory body to the Economic Development Group (EDG; comprised of the economic cluster in the Cabinet) on measures aimed at maintaining inflation, particularly in food and energy, and within the government’s target range. Furthermore, the EO restructured and renamed the Economic Development Cluster as the Economic Development Group, emphasizing the importance of ensuring the streamlined coordination of programs, activities, and priorities to achieve sustained economic growth efficiently and effectively. “(Given) the increasing prices of key commodities, particularly food and energy resources, the creation of an advisory body to the EDC, tasked to directly address inflation, will strengthen the EDC and reinforce existing government initiatives aimed to improve the economy and the quality of life of the Filipino people,” part of the EO reads. Members The IAC-IMO will comprise of the following members: the Secretary of the National Economic and Development Authority as chairman; the Secretary of Finance as co-chairman; the Budget Secretary as vice chairman; and additional members including the Secretaries of Agriculture, Energy, Science and Technology, Trade and Industry and Interior. According to the EO, the EDG is responsible for harmonizing, coordinating, complementing, and synergizing efforts to facilitate rapid, inclusive, and sustained growth in the country. The EO mandates the EDG to create an environment that fosters the growth and competitiveness of private enterprises and the generation of employment opportunities to uplift people and alleviate poverty. Enhancing agricultural enterprises Additionally, the EDG is tasked with enhancing agricultural and rural enterprises and implementing trade policies that are crucial for achieving food security and promoting equitable economic growth. Furthermore, the EDG addresses inflation concerns, ensuring food and energy security while considering the interests of producers, consumers, and the overall economy. The EO also emphasizes the importance of conducting research and development activities relevant to the needs of micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises, as well as national industries. Moreover, the EDG is responsible for enhancing national productivity and the competitiveness of domestic products and services. It is also entrusted with ensuring the equitable distribution of economic opportunities and benefits among the Filipino population. To prevent duplication of efforts and unnecessary bureaucracy, the EO instructs the EDG to defer to the NEDA Board and its inter-agency committees, as stipulated in EO 230 issued in 1987, regarding matters under their primary purview. The post IAC-IMO creation ordered to tackle inflation, economic concerns appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Live Bountifully’ with These Five Supplements
Compared to the period before the Covid-19 pandemic happened, people are now more attuned to their health. As a way to achieve a healthier, better version of themselves, many have adopted new changes in their lifestyle, from eating better to exercising more to improving their sleeping habits. Factors such as schedule and stress can make one’s journey to wellness challenging. Getting and adding the essential vitamins and minerals that your body needs to be at its best every day with Nature’s Bounty will embrace a healthy lifestyle. For 50 years, it has been a trusted partner by people around the world in making better choices for their health. The #1 brand in USA Mass Pharmacies uses the latest science and finest ingredients to create high-quality and affordable products that do more to enhance your wellness routine. “At Nature’s Bounty, we’re serious about supporting your health through our products that are backed by science. We want more for our consumers, which is why we never settle when it comes to making wellness solutions that work harder and are formulated to be stronger and protect you longer,” Dr. Jimmy Bautista, Medical & Scientific Affairs manager of Nestle Health Science, shared. In the Philippines, the brand recently launched five supplements that are non-GMO and contain no artificial flavors, colors and sweeteners to enable more Filipinos to live bountifully. Influencers and members of the media were invited to reconnect with nature and their bodies through a yoga session led by Yoga Manila and learn more about Nature’s Bounty products and their health benefits from Dr. Jimmy Bautista, Medical & Scientific affairs manager of Nestle Health Science; and Moe Javier, marketing lead of Nestle Health Science. One of the 20 amino acids that help the body build protein, which is vital in repairing cells and making new ones, is L-Arginine. Available in a 1000mg, 30-count bottle, L-Arginine supports healthy blood flow, vascular function, wound healing and heart health. Often referred to as the “sleep hormone,” Melatonin helps you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer to improve the quality of sleep. The quick-dissolve melatonin comes in a natural cherry flavor with no artificial ingredients and helps promote a tranquil sleep so you can wake up feeling refreshed, revitalized and ready for the day. If you want to look good and feel good, L-Carnitine can assist in boosting the body’s fat metabolism and supports heart health. The supplement is laboratory tested and guaranteed quality also plays an essential role in making fatty acids available for muscle tissue, which improves exercise performance and recovery. Ginkgo Biloba comes in easy-to-swallow capsules that are convenient to take daily and can help you achieve a sharper mind and memory by supporting effective brain function and mental alertness and addressing mild memory impairments associated with aging. Fish Oil that contains omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA is considered “good” fat that aids in maintaining triglyceride levels within a normal range and reducing the risk of coronary heart disease. Purified to eliminate mercury to get only the purest ingredients, fish oil is odorless and enteric coated to minimize fishy burps. The post ‘Live Bountifully’ with These Five Supplements appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Wellness center celebrates a decade of healing
A certain demographic of women who need support, healing, self-improvement or with fitness goals is drawn to ONELIFE, a center for Pilates and physical therapy. This year, ONELIFE has turned 10 years old, and to celebrate, the studio’s clientele made up of mostly women gathered together last 23 May at the studio’s Estancia Mall branch to look back at how their journey began. “Ten years ago, we started something small. We wanted a place for people to come and work on themselves without feeling intimidated, without feeling judged, without feeling insecure,” said an emotional Tanya Maria Aguila, founder of ONELIFE, during her speech at the company’s 10th-anniversary party. [caption id="attachment_137170" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Tanya Maria Aguila, founder of ONELIFE.[/caption] The party was packed with women in athleisure chic attire, sporting ONELIFE’s colors of blue, ecru, white and grey. It’s a community of glowing women, whose lives have changed and have become one in their sustainable goal: To feel good, become better and healthier—and support fellow women to achieve the same. ONELIFE is clearly driven by the need to help a Filipino woman with her unique needs. It understands that a woman’s body is ever-changing, coupled with various experiences, such as the transition to motherhood, aging and juggling parenthood and career, and how these factors affect her body. Not to mention how women look at other women on social media. “As a woman, it’s so difficult to really—with social media nowadays, right? It’s so difficult to keep up. And so we really wanted this place to become an even safer place for women,” mused Tanya. Tanya described how ONELIFE through the years has shaped into a place for a variety of programs or “care tracks”—be it weight loss, strengthening, toning, posture correction or general fitness. According to Tanya, they have the best licensed physical therapists in the country and internationally trained fitness coaches and consultants. ONELIFE also introduced a care track that focuses on pregnant women, which Tanya says is the first in the country. With studios scattered in major cities in the Metro — San Juan, Pasig and Makati — Tanya even plans to expand ONELIFE to reach and support more women. “What we want to do, really, is to expand here more and abroad. We really want to be a Filipino company that expands abroad. So we are hoping to expand where our physical therapists go to: Australia, the US, Canada and hopefully, later on, Asia,” she shared. If a woman has a physical injury or condition, ONELIFE designs a program to address these needs. “What we do here is actually very bespoke,” added Tanya. “It’s personalized every single time. So in terms of program, we really customize it each time. What people can expect is that when they come here, it’s always like a new program for them, depending on what they need at the moment.” “When you have a special condition, we ask for your doctor’s diagnosis and recommendation, and our PTs read that and they execute the program with a bit of a customized program for us as well,” she said. ONELIFE’s community of its women clientele, who had forged friendships over the years, advocate women empowerment and support. Tanya, the women’s leader and friend, on her company’s 10th year, still carries that fervent passion in her crusade for women’s well-being and betterment. “…We realized, to serve the people best, people like us who have special needs, who have special — you know, who need a little bit of support — we needed to specialize more and more. So we’re here. ONELIFE has evolved into a place that’s really for women. I dare say that we know women best,” Tanya concluded. The post Wellness center celebrates a decade of healing appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Food policy: Food availability (3)
So far, I have discussed the first and second dimensions of food security which are accessibility and food utilization, respectively. Food availability refers to ensuring a steady food supply by improving domestic production, importing goods to cover production gaps, and creating buffer stocks/food banks. Food production, particularly in the agriculture and livestock sectors, requires infrastructure and financial support. The government should assist in providing efficient irrigation systems and environmentally compliant slaughterhouses to the farmers and animal breeders, respectively. According to Ivory Myka Galang’s Discussion Paper ‘Is Food Supply Accessible, Affordable and Stable? The State of Food Security in the Philippines’, “The government’s food security program was implemented to ensure the availability of food supply in mind.” As stipulated in the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997, in Section 4, food security is defined as “the policy objective, plan and strategy of meeting the food requirements of the present and future generations of Filipinos in substantial quantity, ensuring the availability and affordability of food to all, either through local production, or importation, or both based on the country’s existing and potential resources endowment and related production advantages and consistent with the overall national development objectives and policies. However, sufficiency in rice and white corn should be pursued.” Other laws aim to enhance further food production such as the Fisheries Code (1998), Philippine Technology Transfer Act (2009), Agricultural Fisheries and Mechanization Act (2013), and the Sagip Saka Act of 2019. There is also a law that aims to provide financial support to the agricultural sector such as the Agri-Agra Reform Credit Act (2009). To empower the local sector, EO No. 86 s1999 created the National Council on Food Security or NCFS during President Estrada’s time. The order also created the Councils for Food Security in the Provinces, Independent Component Cities, and Highly Urbanized Cities. The NCFS is constituted to act as an overall coordinating body in the formulation of policy guidelines and master plans and programs, as well as the implementation of projects that ensure the attainment of “the national vision, mission, goals, objectives and targets of a workable and sustainable Food Security Program.” Local and institutional initiatives to support the law have been expressed in programs such as Gulayan sa Paaralan, Gulayan ng Masa, Barangay Food Terminal”, and Tindahan Natin. A more robust program was later instituted aimed to eliminate hunger such as the Accelerated Hunger Mitigation Program in 2007 and the recent Inter-Agency Task Force on Zero Hunger in 2020. Regarding food importation, the recent policy considers this option only as a last resort. This strategy was expressed by then DA Secretary William Dar in a press release in 2020. Recognizing the fact that in the last 30 years, the Philippine import dependency ratio has been increasing, Secretary Dar clarified that this trend occurs because the agricultural production rate could not overtake the population growth rate. As regards food buffering, PD No. 1770, issued on 14 January 1981, created the National Food Authority and one of its functions is to ensure a steady supply of the country’s basic commodities such as rice. The NFA has been mandated to perform buffering activities, particularly on rice. It is required “to maintain its warehouses” rice stocks equivalent to 15 days of consumption for the entire country. The government is keen on improving the availability of food for the people. In January this year, the President stated that “The overreaching goals of this administration are to build an inclusive society where no one is hungry, where Filipinos live long and healthy lives and where they are provided by an environment built upon trust and security and where they can be innovative, remains smart, and responsive to the problems of the day.” Plans and programs are in place to achieve and realize these goals. The only things remaining are optimism, patience and trust from the people. The post Food policy: Food availability (3) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
How to get ‘Glowy’ skin
Skin defense With rising temperatures and summer definitely on the horizon, protect your skin with The Body Shop’s new daily essential — the Skin Defense Multi-Protection Light Essence, an ultra-lightweight, moisturizing formula that helps protect your skin with SPF 50 PA+++ protection. This super-fluid essence uses cleverly optimized broad-spectrum UVA/UVB filters to help protect daily against damaging UV rays, as well as help protect from indoor and outdoor pollution. The fast-absorbing formula looks invisible, feels breathable and is comfortable on skin. It’s non-greasy, won’t leave a white sheen, and doesn’t transfer onto your top. Skin has an added glow, looks more even and ready for makeup (if that’s your thing). Shop at Body Shop stores and online at www.thebodyshop.com.ph. [caption id="attachment_136666" align="aligncenter" width="351"] PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF THE BODY SHOP | MULTI-PROTECTION lotion.[/caption] Dream skin Human Nature came up with a new nighttime buddy that works hard while you sleep so you can wake up to skin that’s healthy and moisturized: the Ceramide Skin-renewing Night Cream. Infused with plant-based ceramides and natural moisture boosters, this wonderful night cream is the key for you to wake up to your dream skin daily. Formulated with plant-based ceramides, our night cream helps restore your skin barrier naturally while locking and sealing in moisture and boosting your skin renewal at night. This prevents your skin’s continuous wear and tear and brings out its healthy, moisturized glow in the day. Visit www.humanheartnature.com/buy. Reset your regimen Embrace healthy glass skin this season and confidently sport a glowing bare face at the beach with Neutrogena’s new and improved Hydro Boost range. The classic beauty brand is introducing its new generation of the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel, a lightweight moisturizer packed with hyaluronic acid. This lightweight moisturizer boosts the skin’s hydration and helps retain moisture. Easily combat dry skin and achieve healthy glass skin with a formulation that is packed with 20 percent more hyaluronic acid (vs. the previous formulation) that gives 5x more hydration. Tested on several users, visible results were seen immediately with 97 percent saying their skin felt instantly hydrated, 86 percent of users reporting smoother skin, 81 percent mentioning that their skin felt softer, and 73 percent felt their skin had become more supple. The new Hydro Boost Water Gel comes in two sizes — 15 ml and 50 ml that retail for P356 and P1,012. [caption id="attachment_136668" align="aligncenter" width="231"] PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF Neutrogena | HYDRO Boost Water Gel.[/caption] Her choice Paula’s Choice is finally here in the Philippines with its latest launch, the Pro-Collagen Multi-Peptide Booster. The Pro-Collagen Multi-Peptide Booster is a highly targeted treatment with innovative and specialized peptides that soften expression lines in 15 minutes, with results lasting up to four hours. The formula is a silky, lightweight gel serum that absorbs instantly while plumping and firming skin for a stronger, more youthful complexion. An independent clinical study was conducted and clinically proved that the Pro-Collagen Multi-Peptide Booster visibly firms, plumps, and reduces wrinkles in four weeks, with regular usage for eight weeks, it boosts skin’s elasticity by 100 percent. This cutting-edge gel serum contains signaling peptides to reinforce overall skin structure and health, including Power Peptide Complex, a trinity of peptides that target connecting and anchoring collagens within base-level epidermal layers. Shop at www.paulaschoice.ph/. The post How to get ‘Glowy’ skin appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»