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EDITORIAL - Cleaning up
Across the country, clean-up drives are conducted by different national and local government agencies, often during special days related to the environment, or after a powerful typhoon sends ashore tons of garbage......»»
Septic canal where 2-year-old boy drowned, drained
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu — Officials of Barangay Basak, Lapu-Lapu City have started cleaning the open septic canal in Sitio 3-H where a child drowned recently. In a post, Basak Barangay Captain Jasmine “Daday” Chan said that they already drained the water in the septiccanal, with the help of the Clean and Green personnel of the.....»»
Carpe diem, seizing joy amidst adversity: A diplomat’s reflection on small pleasures
Christmas is again around the corner. However, this might sound like the tired opening of a jaded columnist huffing and sighing like a teenager tasked with cleaning his room by his mom......»»
EDITORIAL - Cleaning up creeks
In the latest effort to clean up waterways in the National Capital Region, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources launched yesterday a search for the most improved estero in the NCR. Pollution in these creeks and other small waterways are among the top causes of serious flooding in Metro Manila and neighboring areas......»»
Siarganons urged to adopt eco-friendly practices to preserve island
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged the people in Siargao to adopt eco-friendly practices to protect and conserve the environment as he expressed his commitment to fortify the island's position as a prime global surfing destination. In a speech delivered by the President's son, William Vincent Marcos, the Chief Executive underscored the significance of this annual event as a catalyst for economic recovery and sustainable development in the region. "Apart from showcasing the exceptional talents and skills of surfers, this Cup aims to fortify the position of Siargao Island as a prime surfing destination on the global map," said Marcos Jr. The International Surfing Cup, a prominent event on the island's calendar, not only celebrates the sport of surfing but also serves as a platform for fostering cultural exchanges and nurturing respect and solidarity amidst differences. It is an opportunity for locals and tourists to come together and experience the rich culture and values of surfing. "This competition reinforces the indomitable spirit of the people of Siargao," the President noted, acknowledging the resilience of the island's residents in the face of challenges like the Covid-19 pandemic and Super Typhoon Odette, which caused significant damage to the island. He stressed the importance of supporting responsible fishing practices, buying sustainable seafood, and choosing eco-friendly cleaning and personal care products. The President also called on tourists and locals alike to support government initiatives aimed at the development of Siargao. He highlighted programs such as the Training on Homestay Pilipinas, which educates residential owners about accommodating tourists systematically and responsibly. In addition to these efforts, the government is actively pursuing projects to enhance tourism and trade on the island, including the New Siargao Airport Development Project. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is also working on programs to strengthen Odette-hit towns' adaptive capacities and resilience to climate-related hazards and natural disasters. President Marcos Jr. concluded his speech by expressing his optimism for the continued growth and prosperity of the International Surfing Cup and Siargao's legacy in the global surfing community. He reiterated the government's staunch commitment to supporting the island's efforts for economic recovery and sustainable development. "Let us, therefore, unite as one to bring forth a greener, more secure, and more progressive Philippines for all," the President declared, inspiring hope and unity among the people of Siargao. The post Siarganons urged to adopt eco-friendly practices to preserve island appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Observe Undas guidelines, Munti residents urged
Muntinlupa City Mayor Ruffy Biazon strongly urged residents of the city to observe “Undas 2023” safely and appropriately. This as the city government yesterday disclosed the schedule of activities as well as guidelines for the All Saints’ and All Souls’ holiday, including hotline numbers for emergencies during the season. “Let us all take this season to celebrate the legacy of our departed loved ones in a safe and meaningful manner. Gunitain po natin ang Undas nang maayos at ligtas,” he said. The cleaning and restoration of gravestones and tombs will be allowed only until Saturday, 28 October 2023. All city cemeteries and memorial parks will then be open from 31 October to 1 November between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. No burials or cremations will be allowed in the period between 31 October to 2 November except for special cases. Gambling and the consumption of alcoholic beverages, along with firearms, sharp objects such as knives or box cutters, and flammable materials are strictly prohibited in all cemeteries, memorial parks and columbaria in the city. Selling of merchandise, the use of videoke or sound system for entertainment, and overnight stay at the cemetery or memorial park are likewise banned. Parking will not be allowed near the premises of the city’s public cemetery. Biazon also encouraged Muntinlupeños to save the city’s emergency hotline numbers: 1) 137-175; 2) 8373-51-65; 3) 0921-542-7123; and 4) 0927-257-9322. “We remind everyone to use these emergency numbers responsibly. Do not prank call these numbers as it can literally spell life or death for you or your loved ones,” he added. The post Observe Undas guidelines, Munti residents urged appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
FPIP delivers Batangas school sanitation stations
Lopez-led economic zone operator First Philippine Industrial Park Inc., or FPIP, has donated hand-washing stations to 15 additional public schools in two cities that host its facilities in Batangas. The project is in support of efforts to help control the spread of infectious diseases and promote proper hygiene among school children. FPIP formally turned over the facilities during simple ceremonies held recently in the cities of Santo Tomas and Tanauan in Batangas. The facilities also received support from the Batangas chapter of the Philippine Red Cross, which donated 30 soap dispensers and 15 cleaning sets, on top of hand soaps. The turnover brought to 30 the number of public schools that received hand-washing stations from FPIP in the past year. In October 2022, FPIP also turned over hand-washing facilities to 15 other public schools in the cities of Santo Tomas and Tanauan. All the sanitation stations were designed, constructed and installed in complete sets by FPIP. The post FPIP delivers Batangas school sanitation stations appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Madocs’ halal kitchen
Manila Doctors Hospital is the first hospital in the Philippines to receive a halal-kitchen certification from the Islamic Da’wah Council of the Philippines, a recognized halal-accreditation and -certifying body. MDH has established a dedicated Halal Dietary Services complete with a separate halal kitchen, which produces and serves quality, safe, and nutritious halal meals to Muslim patients, doctors and employees. Every aspect of food preparation from the procurement of halal-certified ingredients to food production, meal service, cleaning, and sanitation have been and will always be carefully looked at to ensure that it is strictly segregated from the regular kitchen of the hospital. MDH president Arlene P. Ledesma: “Our Muslim patients, doctors, nurses, technicians, and other employees stand to benefit from knowing that they can be served authentic halal food. It is a small step toward becoming a more inclusive workplace that celebrates and honors their religion and heritage.” Ledesma also reiterated the hospital’s full commitment in catering the different needs and food preferences of its diverse patient population, having been serving both local and international patients. MDH is also a DoH-accredited hospital for medical tourism. IDCP is a registered federation of 98 Muslim organizations throughout the country. The post Madocs’ halal kitchen appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
IDCP grants Manila Doctors Hospital certification for new halal kitchen facility
Manila Doctors Hospital (MDH) made history by becoming the first hospital in the Philippines to receive the first halal kitchen certification from the Islamic Da’wah Council of the Philippines (IDCP), a recognized halal accreditation and certifying body. An official contract signing held on 4 October solidified the hospital’s commitment to follow the standards and requirements set by the World Halal Council (WHC). MDH has established a dedicated Halal Dietary Services complete with a separate halal kitchen that produces and serves quality, safe, and nutritious halal meals to Muslim patients, doctors, and employees. As the first hospital to have a Halal-certified kitchen in the Philippines, every aspect of food preparation from the procurement of Halal-certified ingredients to food production, meal service, cleaning, and sanitation has been and will always be carefully looked at to ensure that it is strictly segregated from the regular kitchen of the hospital. MDH President Arlene P. Ledesma recognizes this pioneering certification as a milestone that marks a new chapter for the hospital. “Our Muslim patients, doctors, nurses, technicians, and other employees stand to benefit from knowing that they can be served authentic halal food. It is a small step towards becoming a more inclusive workplace that celebrates and honors their religion and heritage”, she said. The post IDCP grants Manila Doctors Hospital certification for new halal kitchen facility appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
SM Foundation innovates to spread environmental good
[caption id="attachment_193417" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Health workers in San Fernando, Cebu Primary Healthcare Facility water the locally sourced plants using the water from the rainwater harvesting system.[/caption] Rainwater harvesting is a way of collecting and storing rainwater for later use. It is an effective and adaptable way to conserve water and reduce reliance on main water supplies. Due to its efficacy, it has been applied by many civilizations in history and is being utilized today by forward-thinking institutions as a sustainable water management strategy. SM Foundation, Inc., for one, has embraced this by installing rainwater harvesting systems in two of the local health centers it recently refurbished–Brgy. Irawan Birthing Facility in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, and San Fernando, Cebu Primary Health Care Facility. SMFI’s Health and Medical Programs proactively implemented this innovation to help sustain the health of the local community while preserving the environment. Ready in times of emergency Dr. Alfredo P. Manugas VI, Municipal Health Officer and Health Department Head of San Fernando, Cebu Primary Health Care Facility, said that while water is crucial to their operations, water supply is not always available in their municipality, even their center. “The rainwater harvesting system is essential in our health facility because the water supply in our municipality is not available 24/7,” he said. “We are now provided a source of water in times of emergency or any interruption of water supply. Our staff and visitors can use rainwater for cleaning, flushing the toilet bowls, and watering the plants.” [caption id="attachment_193418" align="aligncenter" width="525"] SMFI Health and Medical Programs senior project manager Albert Uy runs through how the system functions.[/caption] SMFI ensures that the facility is convenient and manageable to maximize its purpose. It operates without electricity, increasing its sustainability. To harvest water for non-potable use, it collects rainwater from the roof and gutter. The water is filtered through vinyl-coated mesh filters to ensure its quality before being stored in the 800-liter storage tank. To guide users for safe recycled water use, all faucets connected to the facility have visible labels. Alongside this innovation, SMFI also used air-cleaning paints, LED lighting fixtures and appliances, and locally sourced plants to create a clean and comfortable environment for patients and health workers. These green innovations exemplify SMFI's commitment to the environment and community health within the broader context of the SM Green Movement. With the social impact of the two rainwater harvesting systems, SMFI targets to replicate this initiative in other health centers in its pipeline, further improving water security in the face of challenges. [caption id="attachment_193422" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Health worker use the rainwater harvesting system for their outdoor cleaning needs.[/caption] The post SM Foundation innovates to spread environmental good appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Hybrid rice milestones wow AsPac producers
A field study tour organized by the over 50 member-country Asia Pacific Seeds Association, or APSA, had the latter “very impressed with the milestones achieved by the country in hybrid rice seeds production” as well as the close collaboration among stakeholders in the hybrid rice sector, the Department of Agriculture’s Rice Industry Development reported Thursday. DA-RID Undersecretary Leo Sebastian said this is the first field study tour in the Philippines which stemmed from an invitation by Dr. Frisco Malabanan, who is the current executive committee member from the Philippines who is now with the Masagana Rice Industry Development Program. Sebastian, who was former chairman of the Special Interest Group on Field Crops, was replaced by the Malaysian delegate starting this year. APSA is the largest regional seed association in the world with more than 600 members, according to its website. Headquartered in Bangkok, APSA promotes sustainable agriculture through the development, production and trade of quality seeds within, to and from the Asia-Pacific region, and continues to maintain strong links with a number of key international organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the World Trade Organization. Heidi Gallant, executive director of APSA, provides more insights into what the association means to its members. Entire spectrum of the seed industry Its members represent the entire spectrum of the seed industry — both public and private sectors — including national seed associations, government agencies, public and private seed companies, and associate members, which represent organizations outside the Asia region. Majority of the members are seed enterprises, including breeders, producers, distributors, retailers, exporters and importers. Countries with the highest number of members are China with 20 percent; India with 19 percent, Pakistan, seven percent; Bangladesh, seven percent; Japan, seven percent; Thailand, four percent; South Korea, four percent; and Taipei, four percent. Sebastian said of the 15 companies that joined the just-concluded field study tour, three were from China and others from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines. The APSA study tour was timed with the holding of the 16th National Rice Technology Forum of the private sector group, Rice Board, in Hagonoy, Davao del Sur — which showcased clustered demo farms of hybrid rice companies, soil nutrition companies and digital companies involved in the rice sector, Malabanan said. Delegates impressed The delegates, according to Sebastian, were impressed with how the Philippines could pool all seed production companies in one site, as seen during the NRTF tour in Davao Sur. Malabanan said this was a result of close collaboration between the government and private companies. They site-visited seed facilities (from drying, cleaning and sacking of seeds) in SL Agritech in Lupon Davao Oriental and had a whole day of farm visits to SL Agritech, Tao Seeds, Longping and BioSeeds farms where they saw actual parental lines (male and female) of the seed companies in their flowering stages. The post Hybrid rice milestones wow AsPac producers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Asia Pacific seed producers impressed with Phl hybrid rice achievement
A field study tour organized by over 50 member countries of the Asia Pacific Seeds Association (APSA) was very "impressed with the milestones achieved by the country in hybrid rice seeds production" as well as the close collaboration among the stakeholders in the hybrid rice sector, the Department of Agriculture's Rice Industry Development reported Thursday. DA-RID Undersecretary Leo Sebastian said this is the first field study tour in the Philippines, which stemmed from the invitation by Dr. Frisco Malabanan, who is the current executive committee member from the Philippines and is now with the Masagana Rice Industry Development Program. He was a former chairman of the Special Interest Group on Field Crops (SIG-FC). APSA is the largest regional seed association in the world with more than 600 members, according to its website. Headquartered in Bangkok, APSA promotes sustainable agriculture through the development, production, and trade of quality seeds within, to, and from the Asia-Pacific region, and continues to maintain strong links with a number of key international organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, and the World Trade Organization. Heidi Gallant, executive director of APSA, provides more insights into what the association means to its members. Its members represent the entire spectrum of the seed industry—both the public and private sectors—including national seed associations, government agencies, public and private seed companies, and associate members, which represent organizations outside of the Asia region. The majority of its members are seed enterprises, including breeders, producers, distributors, retailers, exporters, and importers. Countries with the highest number of members are China, 20 percent; India, 19 percent; Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Japan with 7 percent each; and Thailand, South Korea, and Chinese-Taipei with 4 percent each. Sebastian said, that of the 15 delegates that joined the just-concluded field study tour, three companies were from China and others were from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines. The APSA study tour was timed with the holding of the 16th National Rice Technology Forum of the private sector group, Rice Board, in Hagonoy, Davao del Sur — which showcased clustered demo farms of hybrid rice companies, soil nutrition companies, and digital companies involved in the rice sector, Malabanan said. The delegates, according to Sebastian, were impressed how the Philippines could pool all seed production companies in one site (during the NRTF tour in Davao Sur), which Malabanan said was a result of the close collaboration between government and private companies. They went to the seed facilities (from drying, cleaning, and sacking of seeds) at the site of SL Agritech in Lupon Davao Oriental. They had a whole day of farm visits to the farms of SL Agritech, Tao Seeds, Longping, and BioSeeds where they saw the actual parental lines (male and female) of the seed companies in their flowering stages. Last Thursday, they participated in the 16th NRTF forum in Hagonoy, Davao del Sur where they witnessed 18 companies (each with more than a hectare) of currently standing palay crops (both hybrid and inbred) as well as soil enrichment producers and a company that promotes drones for direct seeding of palay seeds, fertilizers and pesticide application. There, Sebastian added, the delegates were awed by the contiguous areas of planted farms by competing companies, which is rather inconceivable in other countries. That same day, they visited the farms of commercial seed companies, Bayer Crop Science and SL Agritech in Barangay Ruparan, Digos City, and in Hagonoy, Davao del Sur. From here they visited the hybrid corn farms in Kapaling, Davao del Norte, and Tagum of Bayer Science and Syngenta Phils. At the Bayer field visit, a 50-hectare integrated farm of a farmer that used to be planted with bananas before the pandemic had been converted into hybrid rice, corn, and high-value crops. The participants who left the Philippines last Saturday, also visited a learning site by DA Agriculture Training Institution showcasing an integrated farming system — high-value crops, poultry, and dairy farm — as part of the farm diversification to further increase farmers’ incomes. The post Asia Pacific seed producers impressed with Phl hybrid rice achievement appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Garbage caused Saturday floods, says MMDA
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority on Sunday reported that a significant amount of improperly disposed garbage caused flooding in several areas in the National Capital Region amid the heavy rains on Saturday. MMDA general manager Procopio Lipana disclosed that MMDA personnel recovered garbage — such as plastics and even a plywood plank — that blocked a drain near EDSA-Camp Aguinaldo. “We obtained a huge amount of garbage despite the continuous cleaning of storm gutters,” said Lipana in a radio interview. “Aside from the large amount of garbage blocking the drainage, the heavy rain came down suddenly, and our drainage system has become inadequate,” he added. The MMDA chief reiterated that the agency planned to create a 50-year drainage master plan for Metro Manila to address perennial flooding during the rainy season, adding that drainage systems in the region’s cities need to be aligned and enlarged to accommodate the larger volume of water. Pending this master plan, the MMDA appealed to the public to properly dispose of their garbage to mitigate the flooding in Metro Manila. The post Garbage caused Saturday floods, says MMDA appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Famed environmental warrior graces RC Manila assembly
The Rotary Club of Manila had a brilliant, unique guest speaker at its last weekly members’ meeting at the Manila Polo Club — the famed, internationally acclaimed author, lawyer, environmental activist, and recipient, in 2009, of what is regarded as the Nobel Prize of Asia, the Ramon Magsaysay Award (non-category), Antonio Oposa Jr. For about an hour and a half last Thursday, 21 September 2023, RC Manila members, officers and guests at the MPC’s Turf Room alternately stood up to sing along and listen to Oposa’s telling of “good stories,” his way, he said, of promoting and creating awareness for his advocacies and his passion for the environment. Oposa earned a law degree from the University of the Philippines College of Law. For a short time, he worked in a law firm, until he realized that his heart was not in the practice of law but rather with nature and the environment. He traveled to Norway and enrolled in a course on energy and the environment at the University of Oslo’s summer program and afterwards, to Boston, where he pursued and later obtained his LLM at the Harvard Law School in 1997. [caption id="attachment_188497" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Valiant environmental warrior Antonio Oposa: ‘My biggest achievement is that I have turned some of my adversaries into co-advocates. And what could be more inspiring now than to see their own children out there, protecting the sea?’[/caption] In 1993, Oposa made global headlines for the landmark case, Minors Oposa v Factoran where the Supreme Court ruled that the 43 children counseled by Oposa, who filed legal action against the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, seeking cancellation by the agency of existing timber license agreements and stopping the issuance of new ones, ruled in favor of the plaintiffs. “The case was brought to court amid the government’s then granting over 90 logging companies permits to cut down nearly four million hectares of old-growth forest when only 850,000 hectares remained. And forests were being logged at a rate of some 200,000 hectares per year! I told the Court how my son, only three at that time, would no longer see these forests by the time he was 10. I couldn’t help thinking, that if this wasn’t stopped not a single old-growth forest would remain for him and future generations to enjoy,” Oposa said. The case had initially been dismissed in trial court on the ground that there was no legal personality to sue. Oposa elevated the case to the Supreme Court, and in a much-hailed case of intergenerational responsibility, the Supreme Court upheld the legal standing and right of the children to initiate action on their behalf and on behalf of generations yet unborn. What was so remarkable about the case is that Oposa sued on behalf of generations yet unborn and today that milestone case is known in Philippine and global jurisprudence as the “Oposa Doctrine.” For its part, the Philippine Supreme Court, too, carved a permanent niche for itself in environmental law with its promulgation of Oposa v Factoran. It secured its place in history, earning praises from the international environmental community and a reputation as a champion of the right to a healthy environment. Oposa also recounted at this talk at the RC Manila meeting last Thursday another epic landmark case involving the legal tussle he waged against 11 government agencies for the cleaning up of severely polluted Manila Bay. In December 2008, a decade after he filed that case, the Supreme Court issued a decision in his favor. In a continuing mandamus ruling, the Supreme Court ordered all defendant agencies to implement a time-bound action plan that would clean up Manila Bay and to give the Court a progress report on the matter every three months. Oposa talked about the Island Sea Camp he organized in 2001 in Bantayan Island where he gave children lessons on coral reefs, snorkeling and sustainable practices. In 2003, 2004, while holding weekend training camps for children in the Sea Camp “we noticed the rampant illegal fishing going on. Dynamite fishing and commercial fishing intrusions into prohibited coastal zones went unchecked. Something had to be done,” related Oposa. Thus, was born the Visayan Sea Squadron. “I organized a strike team with crack enforcers from the National Bureau of Investigation, Navy, fishermen, sea watch volunteers, lawyers, law students and even a few foreigners. The target was not small fishermen but crime syndicates and operators behind the sale of blasting caps and dynamite powder. Seizures and raids followed,” he said. Operations were so effective that word went out that his friend Jojo de la Victoria, the fearless Cebu City Bantay Dagat (Sea Watch) chief, and Oposa were targets of assassination. A local newspaper interviewed De la Victoria, revealing an intelligence report about illegal fishing operators putting up a P1-million bounty for him and Oposa. In 12 April 2006, 48 hours after he was interviewed, De la Victoria was felled by a hired gunman outside his house in Cebu City. “Jojo’s life was not in vain. After his funeral, a core team met for dinner to regroup. The tide of illegal fishing started to turn. Exploits of the Visayan Sea Squadron — and the courage and synergy of the men and women who made it happen — became known far and wide,” Oposa said. He continued, “Four years after Jojo died, Visayan Sea Squadron co-founder Alfredo Marañon was elected governor of Negros Occidental province. He gathered the other governors in the region to begin a restorative plan for the Visayan Sea which encompasses an area of over a million hectares. The governors passed a landmark joint resolution declaring the entire Visayan Sea a marine reserve.” For his valiant work as an environmental warrior, Oposa has been the recipient of many award in recognition of his valiant work as an environmental warrior. Aside from receiving the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2009, he was given the equally prestigious Center for International Environmental Law Award in 2008. Earlier, in 1997, he was conferred the United Nations Environment Programme Global 500 Roll of Honor, the highest UN honor in the field of the environment. Asked if there was anything about his attainments that gives him the most satisfaction, Oposa said, “My biggest achievement is not that I caught this violator and that violator when we were busy with our Visayan Sea Squadron operations; it is that I have turned my adversaries into co-advocates. Some of those who had opposed me are now supporting me in my advocacies. And what could be more inspiring than to see their own children helping us out there, protecting the sea?” The post Famed environmental warrior graces RC Manila assembly appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
EDITORIAL — Cleaning up the coasts
The Philippines joins the world in marking International Coastal Cleanup Day today as 22 reclamation projects in Manila Bay remain on hold on orders of President Marcos amid concerns about their long-term destructive impact on the environment......»»
Welcoming students with learning-conducive classrooms
Consumer product and diversified science company 3M Philippines recently partnered with public schools to prepare for the School Year 2023 — 2024 opening. With a new period of on-site classes on the horizon, there was no better time for 3M Philippines to launch their back-to-school campaign Malinis, Maaliwalas, at Masiglang Pagbabalik Eskwela, which was conducted as part of the Department of Education's annual Brigada Eskwela program. For this school year, 3M Philippines aspired to create a welcoming environment for incoming students of Cubao Elementary School in Quezon City and Cayetano Arellano High School in the City of Manila. Vivian Faustino, country sales leader for 3M Philippines Consumer Business Group, spoke about the company's goals for this latest initiative. Faustino states, "3M supports Brigada Eskwela and the bayanihan spirit of all the education stakeholders in preparing and providing a clean learning environment for students and teachers in public schools." Indeed, the uniquely Filipino bayanihan spirit prevailed as volunteers from 3M Philippines and Global Service Center spent time cleaning and decorating the schools with teachers, students, and their parents. Some household brands of 3M that sponsored the event are Scotch-Brite, Post-it, and Scotch. With the help of Scotch-Brite Scouring, Bathroom, and Floor Care products, the school facilities were made neat for teachers and students. To beautify the classrooms, 3M Philippines also provided stationery and school supplies from its brands Scotch and Post-it. John Butch P. Locara, principal of Cayetano Arellano High School, expressed his appreciation for the superior quality of 3M’s products. “Dito sa aming paaralan, subok na namin ang mahusay na kalidad ng Scotch tapes. Ginagamit ko ‘yan sa aking trabaho sa opisina,” he said. “Kami ay naniniwala na sa pagbabayanihan ng bawat isa ay maihahanda natin ang paaralan na malinis at maayos para sa ating mga mag-aaral.” Eloisa C. Tamon, principal of Cubao Elementary School, was likewise grateful for 3M’s partnership. “Salamat 3M Philippines sa pagpili sa amin bilang benepisyaryo para sa Brigada Eskwela,” she said. “Nakasisiguro kami na gamit ang mga produkto ng 3M ay malilinis natin ng mahusay at mapapaganda ang bawat classroom at paligid ng paaralan.” The post Welcoming students with learning-conducive classrooms appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Lacuna keeping ‘guerilla’ vendors out
With the Christmas season just around the corner, Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna has issued an order allowing Divisoria, central hub of all retail and wholesale business in the country, to retain its organized set–up to discourage those who may take advantage of the season to create chaos. The order comes amid reports that some illegal vendors are sprouting in the vending sites, affecting legitimate sidewalk vendors. In reaction, a joint operation was conducted by the Department of Public Services, DEPW (Department of Engineering and Public Works) , and MTPB (Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau) on the streets of El Cano, M. Delos Santos, Tabora and Sto. Cristo where all vendors were temporarily cleared to give way for the general cleaning that included a flushing job, collection of garbage, de clogging of canals, bundling of cables, and marking of lines to determine the area for vending. The middle portion is for pedestrians and also some parking areas. Lacuna made sure that Divisoria would no longer be the old one during his administration as she vowed to continue that no vendors could occupy main roads such as CM Recto which were converted into vending sites then. It was learned that several complaints were received by the office of Lacuna which led her to order an inspection. It was later verified to be true. Part of the area ordered inspected is Ylaya street where uniformed stalls were provided by the city during former Mayor Isko Moreno’s time that no violations were made and were kept clean by legitimate vendors as they hired their own street cleaners to maintain the area. It was noted that during these “BER” months some new vendors may come in as “guerilla” stalls, quietly appearing until it grows and becomes uncontrollable said the source. “This is the silent order of Lacuna in her desire to keep order in Divisoria as she started setting her eye in the area since the opening of classes where shoppers trooped to the said market to avail school supplies at much-lowered prices,” a source who requested anonymity said. The post Lacuna keeping ‘guerilla’ vendors out appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Championing ‘Sampaguita’ hospitality
Megaworld Hotels & Resorts is bringing in a Filipino touch to its signature brand of hospitality. Sampaguita, the Philippines’ national flower, is Megaworld’s new brand symbol in promoting sustainable tourism, hospitality and agriculture — all part of the company’s thrust toward providing a unique and proudly Filipino guest experience. “Megaworld Hotels & Resorts resonates with the values of the country’s national flower, namely love, honor, dignity and healing. We desire for our brand to stand out and touch the heart of every Filipino, and be the brand that one can be truly proud of. It’s our goal to be the hospitality chain whose story people can relate with because our journey mirrors what every Filipino undergoes, yet comes out stronger from,” Cleofe Albiso, Megaworld Hotels & Resorts managing director said. [caption id="attachment_181097" align="aligncenter" width="650"] SAVOY Hotel Manila.[/caption] She added, Sampaguita artworks will greet guests on entrance, with the staff donning the flower’s pins painted with colors of the Philippine flag. Guests will also get a whiff of a specially-concocted sampaguita scent with notes of fresh herbs, eucalyptus and peppermint during their stay. Exclusive and new dishes infused with sampaguita essence, such as salads, soups, mains and desserts, will be offered at the different Megaworld hotel restaurants and cafes. Meanwhile, guests who wish to have a soothing, relaxing massage can opt to use sampaguita massage oils in one of the spa’s or room service. They can also choose to end their session with a cup of SaMaRra tea with flavors of sampaguita, mango and tarragon to provide healing from the inside. [caption id="attachment_181098" align="aligncenter" width="1589"] Sampaguita, the Philippines’ national flower, is Megaworld’s new brand symbol in promoting sustainable tourism, hospitality and agriculture.[/caption] Reviving the Sampaguita industry Megaworld Hotels & Resorts has partnered with Dwellbeing, a sustainable, private enterprise led by visionary women. It provides jobs to challenged sectors of society by converting used bottles to create organic home cleaning products and scents. Through this, Dwellbeing is able to continue its advocacy of feeding families through “Project Pearls” that provide employment to the deaf and mute in partnership with the Hand and Heart Organization. Raw materials will be sourced in collaboration with the local government of San Pedro, Laguna, the “Sampaguita Capital of the Philippines.” [caption id="attachment_181099" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF MEGAWORLDBELMONT Manila.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_181100" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] HOTEL Lucky Chinatown.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_181101" align="aligncenter" width="1278"] RICHMONDE Tower.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_181102" align="aligncenter" width="700"] KINGSFORD Hotel Manila.[/caption] The sampaguita is part of MEGreen, Megaworld’s company-wide sustainability program that promotes the real estate developer’s commitment to providing patches of land dedicated to the planting of sampaguita in its townships across the country. Megaworld Hotels & Resorts has launched 18 hotel properties, 12 of which are operational while five more are in the pipeline including Savoy Palawan in San Vicente and Grand Westside Hotel in Parañaque City, poised to be the biggest hotel in the Philippines once it opens. The existing operational hotels with around 7,700 hotel room keys being managed and operated by the group include Richmonde Hotel Ortigas, Eastwood Richmonde Hotel, Richmonde Hotel Iloilo, Savoy Hotel Newport, Savoy Hotel Boracay, Savoy Hotel Mactan Newtown, Belmont Hotel Manila, Belmont Hotel Boracay, Belmont Hotel Mactan, Kingsford Hotel Manila, Twin Lakes Hotel in Tagaytay and Hotel Lucky Chinatown in Binondo, Manila. The post Championing ‘Sampaguita’ hospitality appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Every drop matters: 9 ways to save water even during the rainy season
While many parts of Metro Manila and other provinces have observed heavy rainfall recently, some parts of the country still experience insufficient rain and water supply. [gallery size="full" columns="2" ids="179234,179236"] Water is an essential resource for everyday living, from cleaning food to maintaining hygiene and clean surroundings and preventing the spread of diseases. Here are nine practical ways to save water: Reduce shower time. Shorten showers by aiming for about just five minutes, to conserve water and energy for heating. Don’t leave tap water running. To prevent unnecessary water waste, turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth, washing your face or cleaning the dishes. Reuse Water. Reuse water used for washing rice and vegetables or rinsing dishes to water indoor plants. Laundry water can also be used for toilet flushing. Sweep instead of hose. Save water by sweeping the dirt on sidewalks and roads instead of using a hose to clean them. Use only full loads of laundry. Wait until you have a full load of laundry before using your washing machine to maximize water efficiency. Fix leaks as soon as possible. Immediately fix even small leaks in the plumbing system, because it can eventually waste a lot of water. Water plants sensibly: Water your plants in the early morning or late evening to minimize evaporation. Collect rainwater: Set up rain barrels or containers to capture rainwater for outside uses like cleaning, watering plants or filling toilet bowls. As a part of every community that it serves, SM Supermalls is aware of the fundamental role it can play in promoting water security and conservation, championing water reuse and being the catalyst of a sustainable solution. Water catchment basins in 25 malls have been installed to help prevent flooding as well as soil erosion during heavy downpours. In its malls nationwide, water is reused for non-potable use, such as cleaning the malls, flushing toilets and watering plants. Last July, SM City Baguio introduced the first facility of its kind in a mall setting, converting rainwater into potable water and thus contributing to the city's water management measures. Raise awareness in the community: Spread the word about water conservation among family, friends and neighbors to create a positive impact and generate viable solutions. Every little bit helps, and these water-saving tips can significantly contribute to preserving this vital resource for everyone’s future. The post Every drop matters: 9 ways to save water even during the rainy season appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Chinese carmakers confront European industry at Munich show
Chinese manufacturers will be out in force at next week's IAA auto show, one of the industry's biggest, revving their new electric models on the turf of German carmakers, which have been lagging in the e-mobility race. Elon Musk's Tesla, usually a hold-out from such events, will also make an appearance at the show in Munich, joining the jostle to steal the spotlight from Europe's biggest brands. The industry fair, which opens Tuesday with a speech from Chancellor Olaf Scholz, comes with clouds gathering for the automotive sector in Europe and in particular, Germany. While suffocating supply chain problems have eased from the pandemic years, European auto giants are struggling to cope with increased energy costs in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine last year. Although sales in the European Union have steadily improved over the last 12 months, they remain around 20 percent below their pre-coronavirus levels as inflation and higher interest rates dampen appetite for new vehicles. At the same time, European manufacturers are facing increasingly stiff competition from Chinese carmakers which are touting their vehicles at far lower prices. Local upstarts have captured an increasingly large part of the prized Chinese market and are threatening to dominate the growing trade in electric vehicles. Chinese groups were starting "their assault on Europe with the IAA", said industry analyst Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer from the Center Automotive Research in Germany. "The IAA 2023 maps out a new automobile world in Europe. Competition will be tougher. After the Chinese battery factories, their automobile makers are coming," he said, calling it a "turning point" for the industry. In all, 41 percent of exhibitors at the industry fair have their headquarters in China, including brands such as BYD and Leapmotor which will hope to steal the spotlight from German giants Volkswagen, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. Contrary to the Asian onslaught, participation from other European makers is muted. Opel will be US-European conglomerate Stellantis's lone ambassador in Munich, while Renault is showcasing only its eponymous marque at the show. In contrast, Musk's Tesla was slowly falling in line with traditional manufacturers as "the brand that doesn't do marketing begins to do exactly that" with its first appearance at the IAA, said independent analyst Matthias Schmidt. - Petrol protest - Over the week, around 700,000 visitors are expected to attend the show, split between exhibition halls and the city center. The move away from combustion engines to electric vehicles -- and the bigger climate question -- will take center stage inside and outside the exhibition halls. As carmakers roll out their latest offerings, climate groups have vowed protests at the fair, including "civil disobedience" aimed at disrupting the IAA. The last edition of the show in 2021 was already troubled by small-scale protests. This time around, some 1,500 people are expected at a camp in a suburban Munich park promoting a "revolution in mobility". Car manufacturers were "destroying the lives of countless people worldwide with their growth imperative", one of the climate groups said ahead of the fair. Automotive groups have not helped their case recently by recording massive profits on the back of strong inflation. Manufacturers -- particularly those at the high end of the market -- have been able to benefit from rising prices to boost their margins. A growing climate consciousness movement is increasingly pitting environmental activists against carmakers. Mindful of society's changing views on automobiles, the IAA upped sticks from Frankfurt to Munich in 2021 and restyled itself as a festival for all forms of "mobility" -- bringing bikes and scooters into the fold. As well as cleaning up its image, the move was an attempt to reinvigorate traditional motor shows. The marquee events have struggled to attract manufacturers, who are doubtful that they create enough publicity to be worth the bother. In 2022, the Paris Motor Show saw visitor numbers dwindle, as it was cut in length from two weeks to one. Many big European names, such as Volkswagen, BMW, and Ferrari were absent from the French fair, to which Chinese carmakers like BYD by contrast turned up. The post Chinese carmakers confront European industry at Munich show appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»