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DPWH signs P19.3-b contract with Chinese firm to build 4-km Samal bridge
The Department of Public Works and Highways said Thursday it signed a P19.32-billion contract with China Road and Bridge Corp. for the design and construction of the 3.98-kilometer Samal Island-to-Davao City Connector Project......»»
Dusit Thani, Sheraton to build hotels in Cagayan de Oro
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews / 24 March) — Two international hotel chains — Sheraton and Dusit Thani – are set to build hotels in this city, the third in Mindanao for Dusit Thani and the first in Mindanao for Sheraton. Dusit Thani operates two in the Davao region – Dusit Thani Residence Davao in Davao […].....»»
China: Barge hits brige near Guangzhou, plunging vehicles in water
BEIJING — Two people were killed after a barge collided with a bridge over a waterway in China’s Pearl River Delta near Guangzhou city, causing part of the bridge to break off, plunging vehicles into the water, Chinese state media reported on Thursday. The Guangzhou Maritime Safety Administration said in a statement on their WeChat.....»»
Celebrating 77 Years of Danish-Philippine Diplomatic Relations through creativity
On 28 September, Denmark and the Philippines marked 77 years of strong diplomatic ties by emphasizing their shared passion for design and creativity. To honor this milestone, the Royal Danish Embassy Manila staged two projects that capture the fusion of Filipino creativity and uniqueness of Danish design, reflecting the richness of the countries’ longstanding relationship. Bridging our countries through LEGO One of the most symbolic representations of this mutual appreciation for creativity is the iconic LEGO – a Danish brand that has found its way to the hearts of many Filipino families, collectors, builder communities, and creative enthusiasts. You can also meet talented Filipinos working in LEGO headquarters in Denmark, driving design processes for various LEGO sets that land on toy store shelves worldwide. Venturing into the heart of the Philippines' historical richness, Danish Ambassador FranzMichael “Dan-Dan” Mellbin and Philippine Ambassador Leo Herrera-Lim explored the Philippines in bricks at the iMake History Fortress LEGO Education Center. The Education Center, nestled in historic Fort Santiago, is a joint project by the Royal Danish Embassy Manila, the Intramuros Administration, and Felta Multimedia, Inc and serves as an exhibition of historical and cultural landmarks in the Philippines – all built using LEGO. The center also conducts workshops to train the youth in architecture, design, engineering, and creativity using LEGO Education modules. Guided by the shared vision of fostering strong connections, the Ambassadors, along with Intramuros Administrator Joan Padilla, Felta Brand Activation Officer Jed Abiva-Sazon, Mme. Eva Fischer-Mellbin, and Mme. Fides Herrera-Lim, took the lead in building a symbolic bridge using LEGO as a representation of the strong connection of the two countries spanning over seven decades. Filipino art LEGO-fied From architectural wonders, LEGO bricks were creatively used as building blocks for classic masterpieces of Filipino maestro and National Artist, Fernando Amorsolo. Project AMORsolo, a mosaic LEGO exhibition by Pinoy LEGO Users Group (PinoyLUG) pays homage to the enduring legacy of the first Filipino National Artist. The exhibit replicates Amorsolo’s iconic paintings “Bayanihan”, “Dalagang Bukid”, and “Early Traders” using LEGO. To support PinoyLUG and masterpieces of Fernando Amorsolo, the Embassy hosted a Project AMORsolo installation in October 2023. During the event, PinoyLUG also unveiled a LEGO brick mosaic based on the iconic Danish artwork “Anna Ancher and Marie Krøyer on the beach at Skagen” by Michael Ancher, specially designed for the celebration. Gracing the event were members of the Amorsolo family including the artist’s daughter Slyvia Amorsolo Lazo and grandson Fernando “Nandy” Amorsolo Lazo, who now leads the Fernando C. Amorsolo Art Foundation dedicated to the promotion of the maestro’s unique style and artistic vision. Named after a playful combination of the Filipino artist’s name and the Spanish term for “love” (amor), Project AMORsolo was born out of interest of PinoyLUG’s members during the pandemic to build projects that go beyond LEGO’s usual notion of “play”, but also represents the Philippines’ rich art and creative culture. Project AMORsolo has been showcased in the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Manila City Hall, and shopping malls around Luzon, and now at the Danish Residence. Wielding the power of design together Both events contribute to the Embassy’s “Design Matters” campaign. This aims to celebrate and increase awareness on Denmark’s design values and drive for innovation while appreciating the Philippines’ artistic heritage and ingenuity. Danish design, characterized by simplicity, functionality, and minimalism, is a way of life. The campaign aims to inspire Filipinos about the beauty and practicality of Danish design, connecting it to the Filipino tradition of craftsmanship and vibrancy. Since September, the Embassy has featured testimonials, parallel design concepts, and collaborative efforts to integrate design thinking into policies. The Embassy looks forward to continue supporting the Philippines in cultivating a deeper appreciation for design and translate creative ideas to meaningful efforts set to improve Filipinos’ lives. The post Celebrating 77 Years of Danish-Philippine Diplomatic Relations through creativity appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Biggest-ever Asian Games ready for liftoff in China after Covid delay
The biggest Asian Games in history, boasting about 12,000 competitors -- more than the Olympics -- will open on Saturday in the Chinese city of Hangzhou after a year's delay because of Covid. Athletes including world and Olympic champions will fight for medals in 40 sports from athletics, swimming and football to eSports and bridge. Nine sports, among them boxing, break dancing and tennis, will serve as qualifiers for next year's Paris Olympics. The Games were supposed to take place last September but were postponed because of China's strict zero-Covid rules, before China's ruling Communist Party abruptly abandoned the policy. The 19th edition of the Games, which were first held in New Delhi in 1951, throws together competitors from 45 countries and territories across Asia and the Middle East. For China, which hosted the 2022 Winter Olympics in a Covid-secure "bubble" in Beijing, it is a chance to show off its organizational, sporting and technological prowess after the pandemic years cut the country off from the sporting world. "We have overcome a lot of challenges but we are now fully conditioned to hold a successful Games," Chen Weiqiang, chief spokesperson for the Games, said on Wednesday. Sport meets politics The Games will be staged at 54 venues -- 14 newly constructed -- mostly in Hangzhou but also extending to cities as far afield as Wenzhou, 300 kilometres (180 miles) south. The centerpiece is the "Big Lotus" Olympic stadium with a capacity of up to 80,000 where athletics and the opening and closing ceremonies will be staged. President Xi Jinping will attend the opening ceremony and meet Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad there, along with other visiting leaders, Chinese state media says. Assad is making his first visit to ally China since the war erupted in Syria in 2011. Russian President Vladimir Putin likewise attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics, along with Xi, and weeks later launched the invasion of Ukraine. Hangzhou, a city of 12 million people an hour's bullet train from Shanghai, is famed in China for its ancient temples, gardens and its beloved West Lake. It is also the unofficial home of China's tech industry, notably the birth place of Jack Ma's Alibaba. The Games will showcase some of the latest tech to come out of the city, including driverless buses, robot dogs and facial recognition. China medal dash Hosts China have topped the medals table at every Asian Games since 1982 and are expected to do so again by the time the curtain comes down on October 8. They should reign in swimming, with Qin Haiyang fresh from his heroics at the world championships, where he announced himself as the new undisputed breaststroke king. The 24-year-old swept all three men's events and set a new world record in the 200m. In athletics, another of the most closely watched sports, India's Olympic and world champion Neeraj Chopra will defend his Asian Games javelin crown. His nearest competitor should be world silver medalist Arshad Nadeem from arch-rivals Pakistan and the countries are also on a collision course in cricket and hockey. ESports, in what is seen as a step toward Olympic inclusion one day, will make its full Asian Games debut having been a demonstration sport five years ago. Lee Sang-hyeok, better known as "Faker", has god-like status in League of Legends and will lead the South Korean charge at the futuristic-looking China Hangzhou Esports Centre. There is an added incentive which has caused controversy in South Korea -- winning gold will exempt them from having to do military service. A feature of the Asian Games is that it includes sports that are a little more quirky than the Olympics. Xiangqi -- also known as "Chinese chess" -- the card game bridge and the ancient wrestling discipline of kurash are all on the menu. Although the Games officially open on Saturday, the sporting action began on Tuesday, when North Korea returned to major international competition for the first time since the pandemic with a 2-0 win over Taiwan in men's football. The post Biggest-ever Asian Games ready for liftoff in China after Covid delay appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Nina Lim-Yuson — A lifetime of girl scouting
The president of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines, Nina Lim-Yuson, grew up in a family and home of Girl Scouts. Her grandmother, Pilar Hidalgo-Lim, was one of the co-founders of the GSP. “It was actually my Lola Pilar who suggested to Josefa Llanes Escoda, the GSP founder, to go to America to learn about girl scouting.” This tidbit of history, Nina shared in an online interview with the DAILY TRIBUNE. Pilar Hidalgo-Lim became GSP president, and so did Nina’s mother, Estefania Aldaba-Lim, who served as secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Nina’s sister too, the eminent broadcast journalist, Cheche Lazaro, was a Girl Scout. Coming from a lineage of women achievers, Nina could not have chosen a different path. It was scouting that formally introduced the family to social responsibility, skills development and citizenship. Her brothers were also Boy Scouts. “I started when I was six years old and it was my Lola Pilar who inducted me as a Brownie. It used to be called Brownie because we were still using the American pattern,” she related. She belonged to Troop Number One, the first to be organized by the GSP national headquarters. In high school at the Jose Abad Santos Memorial School of the Philippine Women’s University, she became a junior and later a senior Girl Scout. College would briefly end her Girl Scouting as she focused on her studies. Along the way, she also danced with the Bayanihan Folk Dance Company. It was not unexpected that she would return to scouting, her first love, and her first extra-curricular activity. For the last 36 years, she has been active in various organizations and volunteer work. She founded the Museong Pambata. She is a recipient of The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service and is active in its various social development efforts. What Nina brings to her post is the legacy of leadership that had been passed on to her through generations of women leaders in the family. “My Lola Pilar was my idol. She was such a nice person and I never knew her totally as a president. I knew her more as a loving lola from all the stories she related when we rode up to Baguio. “My mother, on the other hand, was the opposite. She was very career-minded. I learned naman from her a lot of things, like being thrifty and having a list of things to do. In terms of organization, she was like that. Because she was in government. And, you know, when we started Museo, while it was actually my concept, I learned a lot from her. She would call me up at 5 o’clock in the morning and she would rattle off what needed to be done, like ‘number one, number two and so on.’ That was her. And I’m glad that I worked with her for six years in Museo. She was the president and I was the executive director for six years. I took over in 2000 as president and chief executive officer. And then, I stepped down in 2017.” Girl Scouts who read and tell stories Nina was elected president of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines for the term 2021-2024 during its 2021 national convention. From day one, she shared, “My purpose was to reach out to the community-based troops because we have always been school-based. Many young women now have social problems so we need to reach out to the communities through our community-based troops.” Also on top of her priorities is literacy development, a cause that she addressed even in the Museo Pambata. She explained, “My advocacy has always been education. So, I was very concerned because the Asian Development Bank reported in 2022 that the World Bank found out that our Filipino children at ages 9 and 10 cannot read. So, I felt that because girl scouting is all over the country, with 96 local councils, the organization could serve as a vehicle for improving literacy in our country. “We started the Girl Scout Storyteller project because storytelling affects the heart first before the mind. When young people start with storytelling, they will love the stories and then the written word. They would then want to read. “We now have storytelling in economically challenged communities and we have partners. We sent out 2,500 books throughout the country with the help of our partner couriers.” Initially, she sought the help of her family foundation “to give a donation. I also sought the help of Ging Montinola, who is into literacy development. Together, we founded the literacy program. We are building this fund to cover the cost of buying children’s books. We will have a storytelling contest next year.” Raising funds for Camp Escoda Nina then shifted the conversation to another major endeavor that she is spearheading as GSP president — fundraising for the 27-hectare Camp Josefa Llanes Escoda in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija, which was donated by the provincial government during the term of Governor Amado Aleta, the father of consul and civic leader Fortune Ledesma. “Palayan is beautiful because it has rolling hills, but it doesn’t have electrical and water facilities and roadworks. It doesn’t have a swimming pool, and it’s so hot in Nueva Ecija. It also does not have a conference hall. This is a big one-time fundraising project because it’s for the future of the girls who are going to the camp. Because as of now, if you go camping there, you have to walk up the hills to get your drinking water. You have to make buhos to take a bath.” She recalled, “In my time as a young Girl Scout, which was of another era, we had to walk in the dark to fetch water to fill up two drums. I was so scared because there were tuko in Los Baños. That taught me to be courageous. Camps really build up your lifetime skills and attitude. Camping is very integral in girl scouting and boy scouting. So, this camp will serve a purpose. It just needs various basic facilities to make it world-class and convenient with the proper amenities, but the girls will continue to learn all those survival techniques and appreciate nature right on the camp.” She praised architect Pippo Carunungan, “who is an environmental planner. He surveyed the site and drew up everything. It will be a beautiful camp, he said, because it’s a gift of nature.” First Lady as Chief Girl Scout Nina recently led the Girl Scouts in a fundraising ball attended by the “First Lady, Liza Araneta-Marcos, who is our Chief Girl Scout. It’s mandated in the GSP constitution that whoever is the female president of the country or the First Lady is the Chief Girl Scout. In the past, we had Imelda Marcos, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. All the first ladies were all Chief Girl Scouts. “Mrs. Liza Marcos spoke before us and she promised to help. She said, ‘We will make it the best campsite.’ Everyone was excited to see her and she obliged everyone who asked to have selfie with her. She is very friendly. She is really a Girl Scout.” Nina shared, “A generous couple is sponsoring the swimming pool at P6 million, while a gentleman entrepreneur is sponsoring the perimeter fence at P1.5 million. Many other businessmen and leaders have pledged to help build this dream GSP project. “We really need to raise about 50 million to have a very good camp. But when the First Lady heard about it, she said, ‘It has to be P250 million.’ But, really, when we have the funds, we can have deep toilets that have running water instead of tabo-tabo. Since we have a little Pampanga river that runs across the camp, we can build a bridge that crosses it and then the girls can have white-water rafting there in the Pampanga river. “Camp Escoda will be a very important and significant venue for our Girl Scouts to gather, bond, learn new skills and develop as morally upright citizens of the country and the world. It is especially so because camping is integral in any Girl Scout’s life. If you don’t have camping, it’s like half of your scouting life is missing. Every Girl Scout remembers that time of her youth. And being the national camp, it will welcome Girl Scouts representing the 96 councils from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao who will participate in various events and trainings.” Girl Scouts of all ages As GSP president, Nina travels to various parts of the country. “We have regional conferences aside from the meeting of the Central Board when regional heads and executives come to Manila. “I had just come from Baguio where I stayed for two-and-a-half days. I met our young Girl Scout representatives from ages 14 to 18. I enjoyed listening to them and exchanging ideas with them. I am so happy that we have a wealth of intelligent girls who want to serve the country. They are the ones who are going to take over. “It’s amazing that GSP is no longer limited to old people on the board. We finally have young ones on the board. Our Escoda committee is headed by Jade Delgado from Iloilo. Then we have Justine Bautista. She’s a psychometrician. She heads the Program Committee, which is a big committee because when we were in Baguio, we had 86 girls from all the councils throughout the country. Many of them are running for SK. “So, in my 70s now, which I don’t feel at all, I don’t take any medicines or something like that. Being with young people is what inspires me. Because at 15, 16 or 17, they already know that they have some kind of a mission.” Nina proudly shared that the venue of the Baguio conference, 'Ating Tahanan' on the South Drive was bought during the tenure of my Lola Pilar. We have four buildings there, including the houses of Senator and actor Rogelio de la Rosa and Carlos Valdes, the accountant. Lola Pilar, according to Carlos Valdes, twisted his arm to get a low price. I’m so thankful for all those who preceded me because they bought these places. It’s on South Drive which is so valuable. We even have a reserved forest behind us.” As she looks forward to the next camping and gets even busier raising funds for Camp Escoda, Nina feels elated that “every one of us in the Girl Scouts has been together in our various undertakings. The nice thing is we are now intergenerational because we try to bring in the old with experience, institutional memory and their wisdom born of their long life, and the young who are full of enthusiasm, energy and new ideas.” A star scout for a granddaughter While Nina does her part for the bright future of girl scouting in the country, her personal family too has not stopped contributing to the roster of members to this worldwide organization. Today, a granddaughter of hers, seven-year-old Rocio Yuson de Guzman, is a Star Scout. She is the daughter of Nina’s daughter, Nicky. No grandmother could have been prouder. Nina said, “Rufio loves being a star scout. When I arrived from the recent world conference in Cyprus, I came back with some badges and I gave some to Rufio who is very proud of the little badges that I got for her.” For sure, Nina will pass on not just the badges to Rufio. More importantly, she will give her granddaughter the once-in-one’s-childhood experience of being a Girl Scout and learning “the values that are identified in the Girl Scout Promise and Laws. I think that while there is so much to enjoy and learn, it is the inculcation of these values that would mold her into a well-rounded human being. As we all know, a Girl Scout’s honor is to be trusted. A Girl Scout is loyal, thrifty, courteous… and so on. It’s like a mantra -- the values that one lives by. “I have reached that point when it is not about success or what one accumulates in life, whether awards or accomplishments or material things. It is more about what I can share and scouting gives me that honor and privilege — to do my part in helping mold our young girls and making them aware even at an early age that they have a mission and worthy purpose in life. It is not just about being good and outstanding on your own but it is also about helping others to become better in what they’re doing and live better lives. “And I need not look far. As a grandmother, I dote on my Star Scout granddaughter, Rufio. There’s a world out there for her to discover and in which she has a role to play and use the skills and values she will learn from scouting.” The post Nina Lim-Yuson — A lifetime of girl scouting appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Indon police secure island after violent protest
A 200-strong riot police team secured Rempang Island in Indonesia on Friday in response to a violent protest against a Chinese-funded economic zone and glass factory construction project in nearby Batam Island. Machete-wielding and stone-throwing protesters opposing the project clashed with police in the main city of Riau Islands province on Monday. Dozens of protesters were arrested after the clash outside a government agency, according to a local official. They were part of around 1,000 people protesting against the project as they fear that building the economic zone and factory would displace around 7,500 people. Riau Islands police spokesperson Zahwani Pandra Arsyad said the riot police will maintain security. Jakarta secured a reported $11.5 billion investment pledge from Xinyi Glass Holdings, the world’s biggest glass producer, to build the factory during a visit by Indonesian President Joko Widodo to the Chinese city of Chengdu in July. Widodo responded to the unrest on Thursday, saying anger against the project was caused by miscommunication that could have been prevented if relocation package details, including rent and meal compensation, were properly explained. The government also said the development will create tens of thousands of jobs for Indonesians. It aims to attract more than 300,000 jobs by 2080, according to officials, who have not said when the project is expected to be finished. WITH AFP The post Indon police secure island after violent protest appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US, Chinese and Russian officials gather at Southeast Asia summit
US Vice President Kamala Harris, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will attend an East Asia summit in Indonesia on Thursday, offering an opportunity for direct, high-level diplomacy between the rivals. The 18-nation meeting will bring Washington and Beijing into contact a day after Premier Li Qiang warned major powers must manage their differences to avoid a "new Cold War", ahead of the G20 summit in New Delhi this week where Chinese President Xi Jinping will be absent. Interactions between the officials from the world's top two economies will be closely watched as they seek to control tensions that risk flaring anew over issues ranging from Taiwan to ties with Moscow and the competition for influence in the Pacific. "To keep differences under control, what is essential now is to oppose picking sides, to oppose bloc confrontation, and to oppose a new Cold War," Li told regional leaders on Tuesday. Harris held her own talks with Southeast Asian leaders on "the importance of upholding international law in the South China Sea", according to a statement from her office, the disputed waterway where Chinese claims have angered several Southeast Asian nations. Thursday's summit will be the first time top US and Russian officials have sat around the same table in almost two months after US and European officials condemned Lavrov at a July ministerial meeting over Russia's invasion of Ukraine. It comes as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced $1 billion in new assistance to Ukraine in a surprise visit to Kyiv on Wednesday. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Japanese PM Fumio Kishida, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, Canada's Justin Trudeau, and Australian PM Anthony Albanese will attend the summit, as well as leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. G20 host Modi addressed ASEAN leaders on Thursday morning, telling them it is essential to "build a post-Covid rules-based world order" and make collective efforts to ensure a "free and open Indo-Pacific", using another term for the Asia-Pacific region. Thursday's talks come several months after Blinken traveled to Beijing, the first visit by the top US diplomat in nearly five years, where he met Xi as well as former foreign minister Qin Gang. - 'Broken' - The meeting was not expected to be a fiery affair despite the differences between the major powers, according to a Southeast Asian diplomat who will attend. "They will state their positions, these meetings are not tense. Especially at the leaders' level where some degree of decorum will be observed." The group will issue a negotiated joint statement after the summit. While the gathering can bring major players together, its ability to help resolve a range of regional and global disputes is limited, experts say. "It's a sign of the ASEAN convening power but lately we can say that the East Asia summit is broken. It has been turned into a forum for talking points," said Aaron Connelly, senior fellow at Singapore-based think tank IISS. While Thursday's meeting will be more geopolitical in scope, big powers used earlier talks in Jakarta to shore up alliances and lobby the Southeast Asian bloc. Li traveled on a Chinese-funded high-speed train project between the capital Jakarta and the Javan city of Bandung with a senior Indonesian minister on Wednesday. Harris held separate meetings with Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. -- both ASEAN members -- on the sidelines of the summit. "The Vice President reaffirmed the United States' ironclad alliance commitment to the Philippines, and highlighted the role the US-Philippines alliance plays in ensuring a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific," her office said in a statement. South Korea's Yoon reportedly pushed for the bloc to counter North Korea's nuclear threats, calling for any military cooperation with the country to stop. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will also give an address on the sidelines of the summit later on Thursday. ASEAN members are holding bilateral meetings with India, Australia, and the UN on Thursday. The post US, Chinese and Russian officials gather at Southeast Asia summit appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Connecting with our spirituality
A meditative and sensorial architecture “that gently embraces people, and when the sunlight reflects on the chapel, the purity of the white Lily,” the Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel is a welcome respite for those seeking a much-needed meditation and prayer within the busy city. [gallery columns="2" size="full" ids="175342,175344"] Filinvest Alabang, Inc. tapped the Japanese architectural firm Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP Architects to design the chapel and make it stand out amidst the sharp geometric shapes of nearby office and commercial buildings. Located at the River Park in Filinvest City, the project’s lead architect and co-representative of NAP International, Kohei Omori, noted, “It would be great if people can make visiting the Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel a part of their daily life. The chapel is here to welcome them.” The chapel boasts a distinctive design inspired by an inverted white Lily — the flower that perfectly represents the purity of Mother Mary. The towering structure, with its graceful curves that seem to open up to the skies, definitely exudes a serene and comforting atmosphere. “We made the connection between the kindness and gentleness of Mother Mary to the lily,” Komori explained. The chapel being built on a hill further adds to its welcoming nature. Omori said, “It’s quite visible from afar. Two streets surround the site and a walking path and bridge. Instead of closing it off to the surrounding areas, we wanted it to be very open to the public so people can always come and visit the chapel.” These unique qualities are complemented by the chapel’s sustainable features that ensure visitors remain comfortable while doing their reflections. “The top portion of the chapel acts like a funnel. Heated air is essentially exhausted to the outside, which will then draw in a cool air inside with the help of the creek nearby.” He also shared, “Acoustic was also an essential criterion that we had to overcome (to enrich the worship experience), and because this is a place to reflect, we wanted to allow people to feel the passing of time throughout the day through the natural light reflecting inside the chapel.” For Omori, who believes that design is something that should affect people emotionally and spiritually, this collaborative work with Filinvest and different craftsmen from all over the world is solid proof of this belief: “Just seeing how people interact with the building and looking at how they spend their time inside the chapel made us realize that we did succeed in allowing this to be part of their daily life, which was one of our goals since the beginning this project,” he concluded. “The dream for Filinvest City has always been to build an environment that inspires and enables possibilities,” shared Francis Gotianun, director of Filinvest Development Corporation. “Once everything was built and done, we wanted to finally welcome her (the chapel) to Filinvest grounds so the community may have another space to feel safe, protected and at peace.” The Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel is open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Regular Masses are scheduled once every Saturday at 5 p.m. and twice a day on Sunday at 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Mass on a first Wednesday and first Friday may be celebrated upon the priest’s availability. “We hope that through this chapel, people can see that, amidst the vibrant Filinvest City, there’s always a safe space where they can be still and silent. We are happy to have worked with the expert team of Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP Architect to design the Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel,” said Don Ubaldo, first vice president for Project Development Townships, Filinvest Alabang, Inc. The post Connecting with our spirituality appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Shanghai billionaire
Author’s Note. This story is inspired by true events in Manila, Philippines in the early 1950s. Mawan is a rags-to-riches guy, like a few other famous Filipino Taipans. He stowed away on a cargo ship in Shanghai bound for Manila. Upon reaching Manila, he jumped ship in the dark of night and found his freedom from great poverty to less poverty. He slept in front of a bank on Plaza Cervantes until the police shooed him away. He was forced to sleep under a nearby footbridge along the bank of the Pasig River. For six months, he survived by trading in junk, old newspapers, and empty bottles (dyaryo-bote). He was a “no-English-no-read-no-write” kid. Maning, the bank manager, who often saw Mawan loitering outside the bank and was getting annoyed, asked him in Pilipino where he was from. Mawan answered in Cantonese. It was the beginning of an instant friendship as the manager was once a Shanghai boy himself. Mawan blurted out his story of adventure. Maning adopted Mawan as his own son and gave him a job as a janitor at the bank. He slept in the garage of the manager’s Chinatown home. To cut the story short, in 10 years, Mawan graduated from janitor to clerk to supervisor at the bank. He later resigned, and in another 10 years, graduated from junk shop owner to stockbroker. He became a billionaire at the age of 33. At that time, China bought most of the global supply of coal, which was fuel for cement plants, inducing a nationwide coal shortage. Cement stocks fell to their lowest point and that was when Mawan used all his savings to purchase stocks of the largest cement plant in the country. He ignored Maning’s warnings that it was a dangerous move. When the shortage was over and coal was once again available for cement production, Mawan’s stocks soared to the stratosphere and, at their peak, he unloaded at 55 times their purchase price. He, in fact, caused the stock to take a deep dive as many investors followed his move. He married the daughter of a Chinese billionaire and had a daughter, Melissa. Mawan spoiled her, but he knew that she would not be able to survive in a cruel world with a silver spoon in her mouth. So, he yanked her out of her comfort zone and immersed her in mud, sending her to live with the laborers he had contracted to build a huge mall in Cebu City. MELISSA: Papa, thank you for letting me help your workers. I’m so bored reading books, I’m going crazy. MAWAN: Can you manage to live in a small beach shack with no maid and no car? MELISSA: I am so happy helping the workers, I can take any kind of discomfort. But I got a worker’s daughter as my maid. I’m on top of the world, Papa. Melissa grew in the spirit in her whole new world. From her pocket money, she gave small loans to the beleaguered workers and paid their hospital bills when they got sick. MAWAN: Be careful, Melissa. The workers may not pay you back. MELISSA: I don’t have a problem. They know that if they don’t pay me back, they will lose their jobs. I hired a micro-lending consultant to teach them how to save money to pay off their loans. So far, I have zero bad debts from loans of half a million pesos, Papa. Mawan was so happy that his daughter had turned out so well after he had dipped her in the mud. Then, suddenly, he developed cancer of the prostate, stage 1. He had it cured immediately, but the doctor warned that he needed to rest to strengthen his immune system. MAWAN: Melissa, I want you to drop everything and take over. I need to rest. MELISSA: Go on a world tour, you and Mama. Take a slow tour of the Yangtze River for a month. Visit the ancient Buddhist temples outside Shanghai. I will take care of business. The hardship she experienced in Cebu strengthened Melissa’s spirit. She was ready to be the youngest CEO in Chinatown. MAWAN: (Upon returning home after two months in China.) Our immersion in China was the greatest gift you gave us, Melissa. It opened my eyes. We met so many people who made us happy. Now I know. The world is not just about building corporate empires but also spiritual empires. MELISSA: My world with the workers was your greatest gift to me. Your wisdom opened my heart. It was a great exchange gift. Somehow, happiness healed Mawan’s cancer. He adopted Melissa’s style, immersing himself in the workers as the key to his healing. eastwindreplyctr@gmail.com The post Shanghai billionaire appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Of China’s ‘One Belt One Road’
Sometime in August 2016, I attended the formal media launch of One Belt One Road, or OBOR, in Beijing, China. I thought then that OBOR, also referred to later as Belt and Road Initiative, must be one of the most, if not the most, significant programs of President Xi Jinping, as it was attended by hundreds of print and broadcast journalists from around the world, the Philippines included. OBOR was to revive the “Silk Road” economic belt of ancient China, a land trade route carrying its finest silk and other goods to its neighboring Central Asian countries and later to as far as Europe; whereas today’s Road refers to the 21st Century land and maritime silk route to Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa. The land route was launched, I think in 2013, while the maritime route was given a big push in 2017. Early on, China set up the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank as part of the OBOR mechanism. China sank in the initial capital and was joined later by other member countries. The Philippines was the last country to join AIIB when the late President Noynoy Aquino signed its Charter in the last few minutes of 31 December 2015, and this was ratified a year later during Duterte’s term. In sum, AIIB had 106 members to start. The Philippines, if we look at the records, derived from loans and infrastructure projects, was quite slow in availing of cheap money from this BRI initiative. Indonesia, Singapore, and other ASEAN and African countries had done so for various infra projects, among these railways, dams, and ports. The small loan amount we obtained was later topped up by China in terms of gifts which came in the form of bridges, schools, medical supplies, and vaccines when the Covid-19 pandemic broke out. Add to that are the much-needed arms for our armed forces to get rid of the marauding Maute ISIS terrorist group in Marawi City and additional help to rehabilitate it later. Alarmed by the inroads China was making with the BRI through the land and marine infrastructure built with the billions of dollars it loaned to countries along the silk routes, the West was quick to make a big issue of it when Sri Lanka defaulted, calling China’s loans a “debt trap.” Of course, not a few of those struggling economies defaulted as the impact of the new infrastructure on their development had yet to gain traction. However, President Xi Jinping waived the interest dues. How is it for China midway to the Road’s target completion date of 2049? The BRI has covered more than 68 countries with an estimated 65 percent of the world’s population. All told, the largesse from China resulted in the reduction of dependency on the US and it created new markets for Chinese products. The US of A is fast losing its dominance. China, once wallowing in the quagmire of poverty, is now the second-largest economy in the world and growing. Will China then go beyond firing water cannons at Philippine Coast Guard vessels? This could only be answered by another set of questions. Is China willing to cut the marine silk route that passes through or close to the West Philippine Sea? Will its land route suffice to bring its products to its export markets in the event the sea lane is altogether cut off? Will the Chinese people relish going back to poverty and isolation? The answers are a big NO. So why EDCA? Why not pursue the Philippines-China joint oil exploration in the WPS as the offer stands at a 60/40 sharing agreement in favor of the Philippines? Why build more military bases when these are veritable beckons to war which we as a policy abhor? Why not take advantage of the short maritime link between China and the Philippines to enhance our economy? The price of fuel is skyrocketing. Our peso is depreciating as in a free fall. We have solutions and yet these, too have become problems. The post Of China’s ‘One Belt One Road’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Territorial issues
Imagine a world where the 16 cities and the single remaining municipality of Metro Manila are under one unified control, under a single governor, and government administrative services are shared. Imagine having zero territorial disputes between and among cities, and there would be little or no need for expansion via reclamation. Imagine public schools and hospitals being shared by all inhabitants of Metro Manila, regardless of which area or jurisdiction you reside in. This was the situation decades ago, but it seems certain that we will never go back to this, unless a nuclear bomb is dropped on Manila and resets everything back to zero. Right now, we have two public issues affecting land in Metro Manila — one pertains to the creation of new land, and the other is a dispute over a large tract of land involving two big business districts. With the way things are going, it is becoming apparent that the national government must step in and intervene in these issues. Last weekend, my family stayed in the renowned Sofitel in Pasay City, and what was once a pristine and relaxing view of Manila Bay had turned into a dusty wasteland of a reclamation site. Good thing the President ordered the stoppage of reclamation activities just days before, otherwise we would have been inhaling dust particles while my kids were enjoying the swimming pool. Prior to this visit, I attended a wedding in the same area back in October and you could still appreciate the vast sea. Now, we saw trucks and vans in the reclaimed area, which is almost ready for the laying of a road network and, later, buildings. Reclamations done in the sea — a natural resource — face legal issues that may be threshed out in court. But with the speed the reclamations are being done, not just in Metro Manila but in the entire country, using Chinese construction companies adept at doing this, i.e., the artificial islands in the West Philippine Sea in a few months, new parcels of land will soon be ready for sale at premium prices. The increase in land area guarantees revenue for the city it shall be adjacent to. Case in point: the reclaimed area where the SM Mall of Asia and Pagcor City are situated are guaranteed income earners for the cities of Pasay and Parañaque, respectively. Due to the lack of space in Metro Manila, cities resort to reclamation to build new revenue streams. In the case of Makati and Taguig, we have a territorial dispute brought about by a Supreme Court decision. The “Embo” (Enlisted Men’s Barrio) portion of Makati was declared a part of Taguig because of what I understand was an appeal gone awry. Since the appeal of Makati to the Supreme Court caused the latter to open the facts for review, the disputed portion was suddenly found to be part of Taguig. Now that schools are about to open, the question is whether these “Embo” schools and their teachers should be part of Taguig. The ‘“embo” barangays comprise over 200,000 inhabitants, many of whom will become instant voters of Taguig. Although these are residential areas, they stand to benefit from the vibrant business community of BGC, and no longer would they be divided by Kalayaan Avenue. One may argue that they may actually be an expense for Taguig since these are not commercial areas, but the vote-rich barangays make it a political prize for whichever city or district they will land. Alas, we are left to imagine what if Metro Manila was a single mega-city. It may never happen again, unless we turn government around and revise the Constitution. Then again, who knows what the next president may bring to our colorful government? For comments, email him at darren.dejesus@gmail.com The post Territorial issues appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Kalayaan declares Chinese envoy persona non grata
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — The municipal council of Kalayaan unanimously approved Wednesday a measure declaring Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian persona non grata, signifying their strong opposition to his presence in their area at any time. Councilor Maurice Philip Alexis Albayda’s resolution will be forwarded to the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Senate, and the Chinese Embassy in Manila to convey the sentiments of the island town. Albayda said this will serve to inform high government officials of their feelings and to make Xilian aware of their strong concerns regarding his country’s oppressive actions in the West Philippine Sea, where their hometown Kalayaan is located. The resolution was prompted by the 5 August incident during which China Coast Guard ships attempted to ram and used a water cannon on two supply boats being escorted by the Philippine Coast Guard. Albayda said the aggressive behavior by China not only put the lives of the supply boats’ crew and passengers at risk but also of the crew aboard the escorting PCG’s BRP Cabra who included three Kalayaan residents. “Did you know that we had fellow Kalayaan residents on board the BRP Cabra? Yes, they were there,” he said. “Without a doubt, the actions of our neighboring country are truly infuriating.” The Kalayaan residents were en route to Lawak Island at the time to build a shelter for coastal enforcers, he said. “I want to propose that we declare Ambassador Huang Xilian persona non grata in the town of Kalayaan, the only town in the West Philippine Sea,” Albayda said in his privilege speech shortly before the resolution was passed. Albayda also said he was calling on the DFA to downgrade the Philippines’ diplomatic relationship with China given what it is doing in ignoring the safety of the people in the WPS. Kalayaan Vice Mayor Beltzasar Alindogan supported Albayda’s move declaring Xilian persona non grata. “I’ve personally experienced China’s harassment, like being driven away, but the situation with the two supply boats was much more intense,” Alindogan said, emphasizing that Kalayaan should also communicate to China their strong disapproval of its actions. He said he has volunteered to join the reservists and encouraged the military to conduct training on Pag-asa Island, to allow residents to display their patriotism. Former Kalayaan Mayor Joel Bito-onon, who is now a municipal councilor, also voted to approve the declaration against Xilian, but cautioned that it might jeopardize diplomatic relations between China and the Philippines given what happened in the past when two government officials were denied entry to Hong Kong. “Since way back, I’ve thought that due to China’s deceptive behavior, very deceitful. They say one thing, do another. I’ve seen countless instances on YouTube of them overturning ships, like what they did to Vietnam. I’ve wondered when that will happen in the Philippines. And now, this incident with our supply boats, it’s the worst that I have seen so far,” Bito-onon said. “But I’m thinking, maybe we should add a bit more wisdom, because you might end up like me, being told not to go to any city in China,” he added. Meanwhile, Senator Francis Escudero on Wednesday said he will propose the allocation of at least P100 million in the 2024 national budget to fund the construction of permanent structures at the Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea “to strengthen the country’s presence in the contested maritime territory.” “I will propose the allocation of a minimum of P100 million to fund the construction of a pier and lodging structures for our soldiers assigned in the area, and for our fishermen who might seek temporary refuge in times of bad weather,” Escudero told the Senate reporters. The senator said the structures could serve as permanent lodging for military personnel stationed at the old BRP Sierra Madre, a warship intentionally grounded in the shoal in 1999 as a Philippine military outpost. It can also serve as temporary shelter for foreign fishermen “who will be caught in bad weather” in the waters. Lade JEAn Kabagani @tribunephl_Lade The post Kalayaan declares Chinese envoy persona non grata appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Managers: Phl remains on track
Despite the lackluster 4.3 percent in the second quarter, growth this year is expected to reach the target range of 6 percent to 7 percent gross domestic product expansion, according to Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno. “To do this, we will expedite the implementation of government programs and projects, to provide fiscal stimulus to increase the productive capacity of the public and private sectors and address the adverse recent impacts of typhoons.” Diokno added. Economic managers gathered in Fort Ilocandia in Laoag City to hold the Post-State of the Nation Economic Briefing that discussed the country’s economic situation and plans on 14 August. Diokno said in 2022, GDP increased 7.6 percent from 5.7 a year ago and a 9.5 percent contraction in 2020. Diokno said the economic team is determined to pick up government expenditure in the third and fourth quarters. Revenue collections remain robust from January to June as these totaled P1.9 trillion up 7.7 percent or P132.6 billion year-on-year which is also higher than the mid-year program by 2.7 percent. Hence, Diokno said they have already pipelined 194 infrastructure flagship projects worth P8.3 trillion of which 132 are located in Luzon that will address irrigation, water supply, flood management, agriculture, digital connectivity, physical connectivity, health, and power and energy. Diokno also highlighted some of the projects like the Laoag International Airport Development Project, the EDSA Greenways, the TPLEX Expressway Expansion Project, the Laguna Lakeshore Road Network Project, the Ilocos Norte-Sur-Abra Irrigation Project, and the Naga Airport Development Project. “The Philippines is determined to be a world leader in the race to net zero and the Ilocos Region will be a strategic partner in this mission. Dubbed to be the renewable energy capital of South East Asia, Ilocos Norte is emerging to be a promising player in the clean energy arena. Being home to the first and largest wind farms in the country,” Diokno stressed. In his address, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Eli Remolona Jr., said from a peak of 8.7 percent in January, headline inflation slowed to 4.7 percent in July due to improving domestic food supply conditions and lower global oil prices. However, he also admitted that core inflation remains high at 6.7 percent although it has already started to decline due to the monetary tightening. The BSP has responded to inflation by aggressively raising its policy rate, as of today, the BSP has raised policy rates by 425 basis points. Prices reined in “The good news is that inflation expectations are still well anchored. The markets continue to believe that we will hit our target range by 2024 and stay there in 2025,” Remolona said. Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman also gave an update on the use pf the budget for 2023. Pangandaman said at the end of July, the total amount of the national budget that has been released already is around 93 percent. “And we expect all our government agencies including all the cabinet members present here, to spend your budget so we can help grow the economy,” Pangandaman said. While for next year, the government budget will amount to 5.768 trillion and it is 21.7 percent of the GDP it has already been submitted to Congress last August 2 and the budget is expected to be passed earlier than expected. The National Economic Development Authority said it wanted to lower the poverty level to single digit. For Socioeconomic Planning Undersecretary Carlos Bernardo Abad Santos, the government has effective regional development plans. In the Ilocos Regional Development Plan from 2023-2028, the NEDA expects the Ilocos region to have a 7 percent to 7.5 percent growth while lowering the poverty incidence by 7.3 percent. ‘Build, Better, More’ under BBM;s watch Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan said the “Build, Better, More” program of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is very much aligned with the medium-term development plan for 2023 to 2028 and is consistent with the 8-point economic agenda of the president. Bonoan said that from July 2022 to May 2023, the DPWH has built, maintained, rehabilitated, widened, and upgraded 4,082 kilometer of roads, 497 bridges, built 2,103 flood control projects, 55 evacuation centers, 216 kms farm to market roads, 8 kilometers of farm to mill roads, 138 kilometers tourism roads, 18 kilometers of roads to seaports, railway stations, and airports, 4,038 classrooms, and 6,002 rainwater collector system. “Because of climate change, we have to address and be building and developing resilient and sustainable communities in the 18 major river basins in the country,” Bonoan said. Some of the major projects that the department would like to continue are converting the Daang Maharlika which is actually now Asian Highway 26 which starts in Laoag City and will go around Cagayan Valley and has extended all the way to Zamboanga City. Bonoan says that they want to convert this backbone of the national highway into seamless travel. “In other words, there should be no major stops along the way, along this Maharlika highway,” Bonoan said. Bonoan said they’re going to build 12 major bridges, and the first bridge is the Cavite-Bataan Interlink bridge with a span of more than 32 km. Should it be completed, this will be the second-longest bay bridge in the world. The department also plans to start the Luzon Spine Expressway which will run from Laoag City to Bicol, Bonoan says that this will be 1,073 kms more. As for Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, major Department of Transportation projects like the New Manila International Airport in Bulacan, Metro Manila Subway, EDSA Greenway Projects, EDSA Busway, MRT-3 Rehabilitation, LRT-1 Cavite, LRT-2 West Extension, MRT-7, and the modernization and capacity expansion of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport are proceeding. For the Department of Information and Communications Technology Ivan John Uy, there is already a cybersecurity plan for 2023 to 2028 which is a consolidated output of all the stakeholders in designing which includes the best practices all over the world. “We’ve ramped up in our cybercrime detection, we are busting cybercrime syndicates all over the country especially those that are dealing with scammers,” Uy said. Uy said agency is also enhancing cybersecurity status by designing courses to upgrade cybersecurity professionals. He admits that worldwide, there is a 3 million job vacancies on cyber security. DICT said by the end of the year, the department will have Two Terabits of capacity from Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan all the way to Manila and we should expect very good Internet connectivity by the start of next year especially on the Luzon area. These structures also open opportunities to data centers and BPOs along the places mentioned which produces employment. DICT expects that foreign investment opportunities and interest in those areas will boom. The post Managers: Phl remains on track appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Manhattan of Pasay City (2)
Pasay City aspires to be the first eco-sustainable city or “eco-city” of the Philippines, taking utmost consideration of its environment for the sake of its people. Pasay City is a super-active global metropolis, a host for every foreign visitor coming to or leaving the Philippines. Its mayor is the Honorable Imelda “Emi” Calixto-Rubiano. She is that notable lady you will often see among government officials at the airport every time President Bongbong Marcos leaves or arrives from abroad. For every great stride that the national government takes, be it for the economy and infrastructure, the city government complements that with its own. The city government of Pasay always prefers to move along with the national government. When the Duterte administration launched its “Build, Build, Build” program to achieve the golden age of infrastructure in the Philippines, to enhance mobility and connectivity, the city government of Pasay swung along the same spirit by enlarging its limited space by reclaiming a total of 625 hectares, with a blueprint for building two islands and establish connectivity with a bridge between them. And wonder of all wonders, that only the intrepid can do, the city will even erect an iconic Manhattan in Manila Bay! Believe it or not, it’s true. It’s ongoing. And with the advent of digitalization during the administration of President Bongbong Marcos, the pace of construction could go faster. Soon the office of the city auditor of Pasay will be advocating an automated audit system for e-collection and e-payment, and the use of artificial intelligence to process big data to determine patterns and detect fraud. The Office of the City Auditor has been trying its best to make it easy for the Office of the Chief Accountant to cleanse the accounts and eliminate discrepancies and reconcile the accounts with their subsidiaries to reduce to an easy and manageable level the difference between the accounting records and the general service office reports. The Office of the Chief Accountant should start studying how to imbibe the development by CoA of an easy-to-implement and technology-driven government accounting system compliant with the international standard to ensure that all revenues and expenditures are recorded accurately and promptly and enhance auditing guidelines for engagements to cover contracts entered into via social media. Digitalization will enhance transparency, prevent corruption and expedite economic activity. President Bongbong Marcos has launched a continuation of President Duterte’s program of building more, providing sustainable economic activities, and more bridges to establish linkages among islands and our people in the farmlands. Proper utilization and management of resources for the greatest benefit of its constituents are the takeoff point for development planning strategies of the city of Pasay. Since it aspires to be the very first eco-sustainable city or “eco-city” in the Philippines, Pasay City is taking utmost consideration of its environment and the people. The City of Pasay is strictly cognizant of its mission statement: “To serve its constituents and stakeholders with enthusiasm, efficiency, and a firm commitment to adhering to the principles of good governance; and to provide services and infrastructure essential to making the City a progressive, healthy and peaceful place worthy of respect and emulation.” This serves to guide the City in its decision-making and formulating strategies for development. The focus of its mission is ensuring that development ultimately benefits every Pasayeño and the kind of service rendered is one that is characterized by willingness to serve, transparent and responsive to the needs of its constituents. The post Manhattan of Pasay City (2) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Reclamation opposition, misplaced and misleading
In what appears to be a move that might be viewed as laced with political undertones given the US’ ongoing conflict with China, or at best a misplaced and misleading concern, the US Embassy thru its spokesman issued a media statement stating: “We have expressed concerns about the long-term negative and irreversible impacts to the environment, the resilience to the natural hazards of Manila and nearby areas, and to commerce.” “We are also concerned that the projects have ties with the China Communications Construction Co. or CCCC, which has been added to the US Department of Commerce’s Entity List for its role in helping the Chinese build and militarize artificial islands in the South China Sea.” The US Embassy communication reminded of the World Bank’s 8-year debarment of CCCC’s predecessor of its funded roads project improvement in the Philippines. There are presently six approved reclamation projects by the Philippine Reclamation Authority, i.e. Horizon Manila (Manila), Manila Waterfront City (Manila), the Navotas City Coastal Bay Reclamation Project, Pasay Harbor Reclamation Project, 360-Pasay Reclamation Project. Curiously, the US Embassy is zeroing in on the Manila Waterfront City simply because the Gatchalian family that runs it has for its business partner the China Communications Construction Co. What do the experts have to say about the environmental concerns on reclamation projects? As early as 2013, the renowned Filipino architect and urban development planner Felino “Jun” Palafox, debunked fears about reclamation projects, particularly on their effect on the environment. Palafox shrugged off criticisms that a reclamation project in Manila Bay would place Manila more vulnerable to storm surges. Palafox, who designed two reclamation mega projects in Dubai, the Palm Islands Resorts and Map of the World, which are both acknowledged architectural wonders and tourist destinations, said that a reclamation project is OK provided “it is planned, designed, engineered, and implemented properly.” He pointed out that reclamation projects have been done in many parts of the world but there were no environmental impacts on the communities. He cited the example of Singapore, recalling: “Like Singapore, it used to be 65,000 hectares. They reclaimed 6,000 ha, so (it’s now) 71,000 ha. But they did it properly.” He added experiences in Dubai. Hongkong and the Netherlands showed that those fears of reclamations are unfounded. Palafox also pointed out that reclaimed land may be designed as a natural barrier against tidal waves. He also explained that concerns about the environment and the economy could be addressed simultaneously through thorough planning, citing the example of Dubai. “Dubai was able to expand its waterfront from 70 kilometers to 2,000 kilometers through reclamation. The Philippines has the longest waterfront but we don’t use our waterfronts properly.” Another expert on the matter, a former official of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Leo Jasareno, expressed support in 2013 for a plan of the late Mayor Alfredo Lim to build a reclamation in a portion of the Manila Bay. He cited two airports built on reclaimed lands, the Singapore Changi Airport and the Hongkong Airport. He dispelled apprehensions that reclamation will cause flooding. He cited a study by the University of the Philippines National Institute of Geological Science. “Studies show that some parts of Manila experienced land subsidence due to over extraction of groundwater as water from wells. Sea levels will continue to rise due to global warming. The land is sinking while the sea level continues to rise.” Palafox agreed with Jasareno saying that: “If done properly, it is the solution to flooding in Metro Manila, it is the solution to tsunami; solution to storm surges, solution to (producing) prime land.” Jasareno likewise said then that reclamation “could be Manila’s defense against climate change. Reclamation is a normal development option and can be good if properly engineered and the drainage system (is) properly installed.” In a statement, the Gatchalian family said that their company is compliant with all government regulations which is precisely why it has been given, like the others, the approval to proceed with the reclamation by the Philippine Port Authority. As regards the CCCC, the regulating agency is aware of its participation in the reclamation project and it must have exercised due diligence on the matter. Suddenly just because the US has raised concerns, which, evidently, are misplaced and misleading, given the expert opinions of those knowledgeable on the subject plus the favorable experiences of other countries with their reclamations, some eager beaver officials of the government are making noise about it and have expressed intentions of investigating while subtly implying irregularities in the approval of the reclamation projects. Another opportunity for self-projection and publicity for them. A nasty and odorous habit they can’t escape from. The post Reclamation opposition, misplaced and misleading appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
MMDA clears obstacles at EDSA bypass
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority has cleared the proposed alternative routes in connection with road repairs being done on the highway. The agency said clearing operations were done at the Mabuhay Lanes, Timog, Tomas Morato and West Avenue. Citation tickets were issued to parked vehicles, as well as public vehicles loading and unloading in unauthorized areas. The MMDA said road repairs being done in the EDSA carousel will continue until 5 a.m. on 9 August. Affected roads are: Both directions of the EDSA Busway in Caloocan; the road along SM North Edsa to MRT Quezon Avenue station, in front of Corinthian Gardens past Camp Aguinaldo, in front of the BBM headquarters and near Ricoa in Mandaluyong City; and four other areas in Makati City, from the Guadalupe Bridge to Rockwell Kalayaan Footbridge. Repairs along EDSA began Friday night and resulted in traffic build-up on Saturday morning. The traffic build-up was on the northbound lane stretched from North Avenue to just before the Quezon Avenue flyover in Quezon City. Motorists are advised to take the following alternate routes during the road repairs: Caloocan — Use Rizal Avenue, A. Bonifacio Avenue, or EDSA Balintawak; Quezon City Use Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon Avenue, or Sgt. Rivera Street; Mandaluyong City — Use Boni Avenue, Shaw Boulevard, or EDSA Guadalupe; Makati City — Use Ayala Avenue, Buendia Avenue or EDSA Guadalupe. The post MMDA clears obstacles at EDSA bypass appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pasay ‘cybercrime’ hub raided
The Department of Justice on Wednesday disclosed the conduct of a raid in an establishment in Pasay City on Tuesday evening in connection with alleged cyber scams resulting to the arrest of around 650 persons of interest which include foreigners. Reports showed that the persons of interest include over 400 Filipinos while the rest are Chinese and Indian nationals. Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty said the hub was allegedly running love scams and cryptocurrency scams, adding that the raid was a result of a build up after they developed an asset inside the said establishment. “This kind of operation usually prospers due to an asset right inside and the asset is our lead for the intelligence that we can gather,” said Ty, adding that the law enforcement group builds up the information provided by the asset to secure the evidence needed to produce a search warrant prior to the actual operation. Ty added that authorities are still identifying the leaders of the illegal activity but they suspect that Chinese nationals are running the said establishment. The raid enabled the authorities to confiscate also found hundreds of phones, computers, SIM cards, and other devices as they implemented a search warrant on the five-storey building. Papers with supposed scripts for love scams and devices for text blasts were also seen in the area. Ty said the raiding team also found conversations between victims, mostly white foreigners and alleged scammers were still accessible on the screen of some computers at the time of the raid. The post Pasay ‘cybercrime’ hub raided appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US flags Manila Bay reclamation project tied to a Chinese firm
The United States government has expressed concerns over the “negative long-term and irreversible” impact on the environment of the ongoing reclamation projects in Manila Bay which are allegedly linked to a Chinese construction firm. In a statement on Wednesday, US Embassy in the Philippines spokesperson Kanishka Gangopadhyay said the reclamation projects in Manila Bay may affect the resilience to natural hazards of the country’s capital region and nearby areas, as well as to its commerce. Gangopadhyay also particularly mentioned reclamation projects handled by China Communications Construction Co., a firm that was added to the US Department of Commerce’s Entity List for its role in helping the Chinese military construct and militarize artificial islands in the South China Sea. “The company has also been cited by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank for engaging in fraudulent business practices,” he said. Of 32 ongoing reclamation projects in Manila Bay, China Communications Construction Co., or CCCC, is involved in two projects such as the Pasay Harbor City Reclamation Project and Manila Waterfront City Development Project. Earlier this year, the state-run Chinese construction firm, vowed to make more investments in the Philippines, shortly after its officials met with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in a courtesy call in Malacanang. Aside from its alleged hand in the reclamation projects in Manila Bay, CCCC is also supporting other infrastructure projects in the Philippines, including the Samal Island-Davao City Connector Project and North & South Harbor Bridge, among others. The Presidential Communications Office previously said that the CCCC proposed to Marcos the construction of the 270-km Laoag City-Rosario City Highway Project, Juncao Technology Demonstration Center, and a Juncao Industrial Park for Juncao grass cultivation and processing. Juncao is a hybrid of the Giant Napier Grass developed by the Fujian Agriculture and Forest University from eight different types of grass through tissue culture. The proposed Juncao technology project, once approved, will be funded through Chinese foreign aid, PCO said. According to the Embassy, the US government would continue "to support high quality, sustainable, and transparent investments to benefit the Filipino people." Likewise, it stressed that they would continue to engage with the appropriate authorities on the matter. The Daily Tribune has sought comments from the Department of Foreign Affairs regarding the issue, but it has yet to respond as of press time. The post US flags Manila Bay reclamation project tied to a Chinese firm appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
2nd State of the Nation Address
Anti-inflation measures Crafting of Medium-Term Fiscal Framework supported by Congress Implementation of strategies to capacitate economic sectors Results (1) 7.6 percent growth in 2022 — highest rate in 46 years. (2) January to March 2023 — 6.4 growth percent (within 6 to 7 percent target) (3) Philippines considered to be among fastest-growing economies in the Asian region and in the world (4) Strong and stable financial system (5) Banks have strong capital and liquidity positions. (6) Digital economy contributed P2 trillion in 2022, the equivalent of 9.4 percent of our GDP. (7) World Bank projects a 6 percent overall growth rate due to strong local demand, consumer spending, strength from the BPO industry, steady flow of remittances, and continuing jobs recovery (8) Inflation rate eased up from 8.7 percent in January to 5.4 percent in June. (9) Bureau of Internal Revenue posted P1.05 trillion collections — an increase of almost 10 percent over the last year (10) Bureau of Customs increased collection by 7.4 percent for the first seven months of 2023, amounting to P476 billion. (11) PAGCOR increased collection by 47.9 percent (12) PCSO increased collection by 20 percent Reduction of prices of commodities like rice, meat, fish, vegetables and sugar Roll out of more than 7,000 KADIWA stores nationwide that link farmers with consumers, benefited 1.8 million families Agriculture Science-based methods toward food security Revision of Fisheries Code Unify 300 farm and fisheries clusters composed of 900 cooperatives Extensive technology training like the use of local bio-fertilizers Distribution of farm machinery, tools and inclement Distribution of more than 5 million rice seedlings and other crops Fuel at fertilizer discount vouchers Geo-Agri map of farm-to-market roads Irrigated 49,000 hectares of farmlands across the country. Constructed 4,000 additional fabrication labs, production at cold storage facilities Built 24 multi-species hatcheries to increase fisheries production Anti-animal pest monitoring, medicines, and vaccines Cloud seeding and buffer stocks in preparation for El Niño 70,000 agrarian land titles distributed Signing of EO No. 4. Or New Agrarian Emancipation Act the condoned P57-billion farmers’ loans Smuggling and hoarding Days of smugglers and hoarders are numbered Water Supply Creation of Water Resources Management Office Working for legislation of Department of Water Resource Management Allocated P14.6 billion for water supply projects Completion of Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project Phase 1 Installed 6,0000 rainwater collection systems across the country Infrastructure 8.3-trillion peso “Build, Better, More” Program in progress 194 flagship projects Continuation of “Build, Build, Build” projects Infrastructure spending stays at 5 to 6 percent of GDP 1,200-kilometer Luzon Spine Expressway Network Program will effectively connect Ilocos to Bicol from 20 hours to just 9 hours of travel Under Mega-Bridge Program, 12 bridges totaling 90 kilometers will be constructed including Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge and the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges, and Samal Island-Davao City Connector Bridge As of June 2023, 4,000 kilometers of roads and 500 bridges have been constructed, maintained and upgraded Completed Cebu’s Pier 88 smart port, new passenger terminal buildings of Clark Airport and Port of Calapan. North-South Commuter Railway System now in full swing Strategic financing Enactment into law of Maharlika Investment Fund Social security Funds for the social security and public health insurance intact and separate Energy and Power Generation Price of crude oil stabilized Since last year, gasoline and diesel prices have gone down by 18 to 29 percent, respectively. Built 8 new additional power plants, bringing to 17 the total number of power generation facilities Energy production increased by 1,174 megawatts. Almost half a million homes given access to electricity; 100 percent household electrification by June 2028 Renewable energy is the way forward Promotion of renewables targets 35 percent share in the power mix by 2030, and 50 percent by 2040 Opened renewable energy projects to foreign investments Since last year, an additional 126 renewable energy contracts with potential capacity of 31,000 megawatts awarded. To date, more than 1,000 active projects all over the country — 299 are solar, 187 are wind, 436 are hydroelectric, 58 are biomass, 36 are geothermal, and 9 are ocean-powered. Malampaya project is boon, energizing 20 percent of Luzon; renewal of the contract guarantees continued revenues and energy production for another 15 years Push for more gas exploration in other parts of the country Partnered with the BARMM in regard to energy exploration and development The Philippines now has a Unified National Grid with the interconnection of the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao grids “One Grid, One Market” will enable more efficient transfers and more competitive pricing of electricity Performance review of National Grid Corporation of the Philippines to complete all of its deliverables, starting with the vital Mindanao-Visayas and Cebu-Negros-Panay interconnections. Social welfare Enough funds for underprivileged DSWD, DoLE, DepEd, TESDA and CHEd involved in providing assistance Programs like AICS, TUPAD, TVET for Social Equity, Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens, Cash-for-Work for PWDs, and Integrated Livelihood Program-Kabuhayan available for indigents Social protection Pension of the military and the uniformed personnel is as important, urgent, and humanitarian as that of all other civilian Filipino employees Working closely with Congress to ease the transition from the old system to the new one, to guarantee that no effects are felt by those in the uniformed services. The post 2nd State of the Nation Address appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»