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Philippines among beneficiaries of Canada’s climate finance – UNDP
Canada yesterday clarified the Philippines would be among the developing countries to benefit from its total $5.3-billion climate finance commitment......»»
A model urban community
As a young boy, I loved drawing a “roadmap” of livable communities where family and industry were central to this unadulterated fun design. I would put skyscrapers and blend these with old trees, brilliant lights, and flowers along walkways and entertainment centers. The distance between neighborhoods was enough to give space and privacy. In this universe, people of different economic classes are resilient to the challenges and complexities of modern living. I grew up in a small town with inadequate potable water and transportation. There was a thin line between regression and progression where one cannot differentiate silt from clay particles when wading through the flooded, muddy streets of Barangay Busugon in San Remigio municipality. Life then was simple but joyous because of my family and the neighborhood. This was my unsophisticated urban planning, where things that matter most to me can be found in one place. Although I did not become a city or urban planner, my interest in “designing” communities is as strong as my entrepreneurial consciousness. It has become an advocacy. Be that as it may, urban planning, a form of spatial planning, requires strategic innovations and thorough study to develop equitable habitats and sustainable human settlements and development. A strategic plan, or a development plan, considers population growth, zoning, geographic mapping, structural and people’s safety analysis, water supply, and essential social services. Urban planning, says the United Nations Human Settlements Programme or UN-HABITAT, should “improve policies, plans, and designs for more compact, socially inclusive, better integrated, and connected cities that foster sustainable urban development and are resilient to climate change at the city, regional, and national levels.” The world’s best-planned urban cities include Singapore City in Singapore, Brazilia in Brazil, Chandigarh in India, Seoul in South Korea, and Copenhagen in Denmark. In the Philippines, five regions that surpassed the national level of urbanization in 2020 are Calabarzon (70.5 percent), Davao (66.8 percent), Central Luzon (66.3 percent), and Soccsksargen (55.5 percent), according to the 2022 report of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) based on the 2020 population census. The cities of Angeles in Pampanga and Mandaue in Cebu had the highest level of urbanization, with 100 percent each. Of the country’s 81 provinces, 11 provinces registered a level of urbanization higher than the national level in 2020. On a sad note, Eastern Visayas (14.7 percent), Cagayan Valley (19.5 percent), Bicol (23.8 percent), Ilocos (25.5 percent), and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (27.6 percent) posted the lowest level of urbanization, the same PSA report showed. Overseas, towns and villages have adapted to technological innovations and big data for urban analytics. Urban planners now consider including countryside localities in developing sustainable and resilient communities despite needing more resources, strategies, and expertise. Many urban planners find harmony in geometry and numbers, taking a leaf from the ancient works of Greek architect and mathematician Hippodamus of Miletus, considered the father of urban planning. Today’s towns and cities incorporate functional innovations where everything gets “smart,” from people to intelligent traffic lighting and drones, better infrastructures, facilities, and communications systems, and a strategic blueprint for mitigating the impact of climate change and other environmental problems. With the booming population nationwide, it would be wise to create more growth areas outside the center of progress to improve service and operational efficiency. Local executives and councils must do much work to empower those who must catch up and provide leadership in a highly competitive environment. After all, greater economic inclusion should benefit people with low or no incomes and vulnerable sectors. The beauty of inclusive urban planning lies in ensuring that all can partake of its benefits. As Greek philosopher Socrates once said: “By far the greatest and most admirable form of wisdom is that needed to plan and beautify cities and human communities.” Ultimately, any strategic urban design should not only be a mixture of arts and humanities, but also a fusion of science and numbers. (You may send comments and reactions to feedback032020@gmail.com or text 0931-1057135.) The post A model urban community appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Narcolepsy, cancer tipped as Medicine Prize opens Nobel week
Narcolepsy, cancer, or mRNA vaccine research could win the Nobel Medicine Prize on Monday when a week of announcements kicks off, but experts see no clear frontrunner for the Peace Prize. The awards, first handed out in 1901, were created by Swedish inventor and philanthropist Alfred Nobel in his 1895 will to celebrate those who have "conferred the greatest benefit on mankind." The Medicine Prize is first out and will be announced in Stockholm on Monday around 11:30 a.m. (0930 GMT), followed by the awards for physics on Tuesday, chemistry on Wednesday, and literature on Thursday. The Peace Prize, the most highly-anticipated Nobel and the only one announced in Oslo, will follow on Friday, before the Economics Prize rounds things off on October 9. The Medicine Prize has over the years crowned groundbreaking discoveries like the X-ray, penicillin, insulin, and DNA -- as well as now-disgraced awards for lobotomy and the insecticide DDT. Several Nobel watchers have suggested this year's prize could go to research into narcolepsy and the discovery of orexin, a neuropeptide that helps regulate sleep. It could also go to Hungarian-born Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman of the United States for research that led directly to the first mRNA vaccines to fight COVID-19, made by Pfizer and Moderna. Their discovery has already won a slew of major medicine prizes, but the Nobel committee nowadays often waits decades to bestow its laurels to ensure the research stands the test of time. "Maybe the Academy thinks it needs to look into it more, but someday they should win," predicted Annika Ostman, science reporter at Swedish public radio SR. Gene engineering and IceCube telescope But Ostman said her guess for this year was on Kevan Shokat, an American biologist who figured out how to block the KRAS cancer gene behind a third of cancers, including challenging-to-treat lung, colon, and pancreatic tumors. T-cell therapy for cancer treatment and work on the human microbiome could also be contenders, said David Pendlebury, head of the Clarivate Analytics group which identifies Nobel-worthy research. "There are more people deserving of a Nobel Prize than there are Nobels to go around," he told AFP. Lars Brostrom, Ostman's colleague at SR, singled out two American biologists, Stanislas Leibler, and Michael Elowitz, for their work on synthetic gene circuits which established the field of synthetic biology. It enables scientists to redesign organisms by engineering them to have new abilities. But Brostrom noted the field could be seen as controversial, raising "ethical questions about where to draw the line in creating life". For the Physics Prize, twisted graphene or the IceCube Neutrino Observatory in Antarctica were seen as possible winners, as well as the development of high-density data storage in the field of spintronics. Peace Prize to Iranian women? For Wednesday's Chemistry Prize, Pendlebury suggested next-generation DNA sequencing could get the nod, or research into how to target and deliver drugs to genes. Brostrom said he would love to see it go to US-based chemist Omar Yaghi for his work into porous materials known as MOFs, which can absorb poisonous gases or harvest water from desert air, and is an "important field for the future" with enormous potential for the environment. Criticism over a lack of gender and geographical diversity has plagued the Nobels over the years. US-based men have dominated the science fields, while women account for just six percent of overall laureates -- something the various award committees insist they are addressing. Among the names making the rounds for Thursday's Literature Prize are Russian author and outspoken Putin critic Lyudmila Ulitskaya, Chinese avant-garde writer Can Xue, British author Salman Rushdie, Caribbean-American writer Jamaica Kincaid and Norwegian playwright Jon Fosse. But for the Peace Prize, experts have been scratching their heads over possible winners, as conflicts rage around the globe. Some have pointed to the Iranian women protesting since the death in custody a year ago of Mahsa Amini, arrested for violating Iran's strict dress code imposed on women. Others suggest organizations documenting war crimes in Ukraine, or the International Criminal Court, which could one day be called upon to judge them. "I think that climate change is a really good focus for the Peace Prize this year," Dan Smith, the head of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, told AFP after a year of extreme weather around the world. For the Economics Prize, research on income and wealth inequality could be honored. Recent winners of the Nobel Medicine Prize Here is a list of the winners of the Nobel Medicine Prize in the past 10 years: 2022: Swedish paleogeneticist Svante Paabo for his discoveries on the genomes of extinct hominins and human evolution. 2021: US duo David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian for discoveries on human receptors responsible for our ability to sense temperature and touch. 2020: Americans Harvey Alter and Charles Rice, together with Briton Michael Houghton, for the discovery of the Hepatitis C virus, leading to the development of sensitive blood tests and antiviral drugs. 2019: William Kaelin and Gregg Semenza of the US and Britain's Peter Ratcliffe for establishing the basis of our understanding of how cells react and adapt to different oxygen levels. 2018: Immunologists James Allison of the US and Tasuku Honjo of Japan, for figuring out how to release the immune system's brakes to allow it to attack cancer cells more efficiently. 2017: US geneticists Jeffrey Hall, Michael Rosbash, and Michael Young for their discoveries on the internal biological clock that governs the wake-sleep cycles of most living things. 2016: Yoshinori Ohsumi of Japan for his work on autophagy -- a process whereby cells "eat themselves" -- which when disrupted can cause Parkinson's and diabetes. 2015: William Campbell, an Irish-US citizen, Satoshi Omura of Japan, and Tu Youyou of China for unlocking treatments for malaria and roundworm. 2014: American-born Briton John O'Keefe, May-Britt Moser, and Edvard I. Moser of Norway for discovering how the brain navigates with an "inner GPS". 2013: Thomas C. Sudhof, a US citizen born in Germany, and James E. Rothman and Randy W. Schekman of the US for work on how the cell organizes its transport system. The post Narcolepsy, cancer tipped as Medicine Prize opens Nobel week appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US government readies for imminent shutdown
The US government began Thursday to inform workers of an impending shutdown that could see millions of federal employees and military personnel temporarily sent home or working without pay, unless Congress reaches a last-ditch deal. Without an agreement, funding for much of the federal government will expire at midnight on Saturday (0400 GMT Sunday), threatening disruptions to everything from air travel to benefit payments, and – if the shutdown endures – dealing a further blow to the precarious US economy. The stand-off has been triggered by a small group of hardline Republicans who have pushed back against short-term funding deals while Congress tries to resolve a broader deadlock over calls for deep spending cuts. Some federal employees have already been informed of preparations for a lapse, according to a notice seen by AFP. A note to staff at the Department of Health and Human Services outlined how it would see "reduced staffing across nearly every division for the duration of the lapse" although many key programs will continue. The department also updated its contingency plans, adding that "pre-notified employees would be temporarily furloughed," meaning they are not allowed to work. They would receive retroactive pay after the lapse ends, the note said. Staff at other agencies were understood to have received similar notifications. In a shutdown, hundreds of thousands of federal workers would be furloughed without pay, and members of the military and other employees who are deemed to be essential would continue working without a paycheck. Certain benefits like Social Security checks would not be hit, but workers who go unpaid could eventually stop showing up, impacting sectors like air travel. 'Dangerous' "If there is a shutdown in just a few days, our service members would be required to continue working but would be doing so without pay, and hundreds and thousands of their civilian colleagues would be furloughed," Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said Thursday. The Treasury Department added that among other implications, "most core tax administration functions will stop" and more than half of the Internal Revenue Service staff will be furloughed. Apart from the possible lapse in funding, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) faces an added headache of a Saturday deadline for reauthorization. It remains unclear if lawmakers will pass an FAA reauthorization law separately from a spending package. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said on Wednesday: "There is no good time for a government shutdown, but this is a particularly bad time." "The consequences would be disruptive and dangerous," he added. In Washington, a group of young climate activists of the Sunrise Movement entered Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's office to protest against the looming shutdown. The White House warned in a statement that a lapse would leave the Federal Emergency Management Agency's disaster relief fund underfunded, "delaying nearly 2,000 long-term recovery projects" across the country. 'Avoidable risk' With days left to pass legislation that would keep the government running, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, said Thursday that his chamber is "pursuing bipartisanship." He accused House Speaker McCarthy of choosing to "elevate the whims and desires of a handful of hard-right extremists," with "nothing to show for it." Mitch McConnell, the Republican Senate minority leader, said shutting down the government is an "actively harmful proposition." In a full shutdown, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) union estimates almost 1.8 million federal workers would go unpaid for the duration -- although receiving backpay afterward. A spokeswoman for the International Monetary Fund added in a briefing on Thursday: "We do see a shutdown as an avoidable risk for the US economy." The post US government readies for imminent shutdown appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Visayan Electric pushes EVs
Metro Cebu’s power distribution firm Visayan Electric on Monday announced that it has adopted the electric vehicle system among its service vehicles. According to Visayan Electric president and chief operating officer Engr. Raul Lucero, the Aboitiz Power distribution company is slowly transitioning the use of zero-emission vehicles as commuting service to their engineers, technicians and repair crew. He cited that the battery-powered vehicles are cleaner and more efficient compared to fuel-powered vehicles. “We believe that electric-vehicles provide benefits to the environment, benefit to the economy, and to the overall quality of life. Why? Because these electric vehicles do not produce tailpipe emissions. It reduces air pollution and this is a significant step towards combating climate change and improving the air quality in our cities,” Lucero said. “They are also very efficient and possibly lower maintenance cost for these vehicles,” he added. Aboitiz Power in a statement said aside from reduction of emissions, EVs contribute to the company’s bottom line of improved energy efficiency and transportation economics as the cost per kilometer traveled of a unit is at least half compared to internal combustion engine vehicles. The EVs were imported from China-based BYD Company and the cost per unit ranges from P2-P2.5 million including the battery which cost about P700,000. The battery lifespan is seven years. BYD is said to be the largest electric vehicle manufacturer in the world. When fully charged, the EVs run about 120 kilometers. It is fast-charging, which allows to reach a full 100 percent charge in less than an hour. “We aim to achieve 40 percent electrification for our four- wheeled vehicles and motorbikes by 2030 and finally transform and electrify 100 percent of the Aboitiz Power DU fleet by 2040,” said Aboitiz Power Distribution Utilities chief operating officer Anton Perdices. The post Visayan Electric pushes EVs appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Keeping it together
It’s no longer unusual, nowadays, for a family to have one or both parents working in another country, or for grown children to relocate abroad for work or start their own family. Single parenting is also quite common, right along there with blended families and LGBTQ unions with kids. Yet even when families are together in one place — one home, compound, neighborhood or city — it takes a lot to stay “together,” literally and figuratively. Perhaps sensing the threats to what is recognized as society’s basic foundation, our government in 1992 decided to declare the last week of September as Family Week, as mandated by Proclamation 60 signed by then President Fidel V. Ramos. Ramos wanted the week to emphasize the importance of the family as “the foundation of the nation” and “as a basic autonomous social institution,” as well as recognize “the sanctity of family life,” as stated in the Constitution of the Philippines. The world may transform in many ways, but the need for family will never change. “No matter how much life changes and the concept of family evolves, it may continue to benefit human health and wellness by offering a sense of belonging and support,” it aptly states in an article on Better Help, which also enumerates the factors affecting family life as “advancements in technology, changing cultural norms, new priorities and advanced forms of communication fueled by the internet.” The sense of belonging one gains from being part of a family — whether it is in a traditional setup, adoptive or “chosen,” a new kind of family defined in these modern times — has a profound impact on one’s well-being. With government providing the impetus for today’s families to connect or reconnect during the annual Family Week, it is up to each one of us to take steps to keep ours together in these fast-paced, nomadic, dysfunctional times. In the local setting, we already see so many signs of the changing dynamics among families. We could wade through studies to figure out all the issues affecting our core foundation, but we believe one may truly gain more understanding by examining our own experiences. Here, we share the views of people in our sphere, in answer to our query: What do you consider as the biggest challenge for your family in these trying times? Gigie Arcilla, Editor-in-chief Dealing with young adult children presents the challenge of establishing boundaries as they seek independence and transition into adulthood. Striking a balance between support and autonomy, as well as providing guidance while allowing room for growth, can be difficult, especially for a single parent. [caption id="attachment_187927" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] STEPHANIE Mayo (fifth, clockwise) with her family. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF Stephanie Mayo[/caption] Stephanie Mayo, Film critic and writer I have senior-citizen parents, and my siblings and I are now at the age when our health naturally starts to decline. Even if someone has health insurance, no one can deny how debilitating and expensive getting sick is. Without health, quality of life is decreased. You also cannot work (no work, no pay for freelancers such as myself) if you are sick. Gratefully, none of us in the family are currently seriously ill. It’s just that given that these trying times are also marked by corruption, medical gaslighting, new diseases and viruses and climate change, health problems have become even more threatening. [caption id="attachment_187926" align="aligncenter" width="993"] PAULINE Songco (fifth from left) and dad Arnold, mom Dhen, grandmother Linda and sister Patricia. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF Pauline Songco[/caption] Pauline Songco, Editor and writer I would say our biggest challenge is finding time to be together. I am always never at home. If I am, I would just be there for a few hours to sleep. I would get up, then go to work again. I find myself having less and less free time than before. My sister is busy with work, and so is my father. My mom is left alone at home with my cats. But, she goes to the gym to occupy herself and to see her friends. Yet, I’m thankful for what we have right now for these are the same things that we used to pray for before. [caption id="attachment_187924" align="aligncenter" width="641"] PAULINE Pascual (first from left) and dad Roy, mom Jocelyn and sister Prizcia. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF Pauline Pascual[/caption] Pauline Joyce Pascual, Lifestyle writer Our family became even closer during the pandemic, and now that things are almost back to normal, it is the family bonding that we used to that we find the most challenging. My sister is studying and getting ready for her time at college while my parents are back in business and I am now working outside of our province. I miss the good old days even though we still saw each other every week. [caption id="attachment_187925" align="aligncenter" width="638"] RAPHAEL, Rachael, Joylen and Ruben Ramos. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF Raphael Ramos[/caption] Raphael Ramos, STEM student at De La Salle Araneta The desire to act in spite of the potential consequences for everyone else. The family members’ immaturity leads to a more serious issue and may stunt each person’s development. [caption id="attachment_187922" align="aligncenter" width="2246"] GEL, Dino, Tei and Maui Datu. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF Dino Datu[/caption] Dino Datu, Chef, journalist and entrepreneur The biggest challenge in families today is creating quality family time. Everyone is so busy and there are so many distractions. While working and school work are necessities, we need to create time to just sit together for regular meals and chat without our electronic devices. Even on rare occasions that everyone is together, dining out, for example, people look at their phones every few seconds. That’s what I think is a big difference between today’s families and those from a few decades back. We often see “perfect” families on social media. Sadly, it seems like that’s the only place it exists. Teresa Laurente, Business Consultant For me, it has to be family, healthcare, children’s education and social media effect on young people. Pamela Palacio, Statistician III, Provincial Government of Bataan Disrespect to God and parents. Negative effect of social media. [caption id="attachment_187920" align="aligncenter" width="1080"] YVETTE Chua-Carrion (fourth from left) beside her husband, businessman Melon. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESYOF Yvette Chua-Carrion[/caption] Yvette Chua-Carrion, Educator and breakthrough life coach In these financially trying times — the budget for groceries, how to have savings for emergencies (which we hope won’t happen), and high gas prices. [caption id="attachment_187919" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] (FROM left) Riley, husband Noel, Tiffany and Ashley. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF Tiffany Cuna[/caption] Tiffany Sison Cuna, Former beauty queen turned entrepreneur Disciplining and inculcating values in our children knowing how the Internet plays a vital role in their lives — it could either influence them positively or negatively. [caption id="attachment_187923" align="aligncenter" width="1170"] JIA Bote and dad Milton. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF Jia Bote[/caption] Jia Bote, Student at the University of Santo Tomas With my father working away from home, the biggest challenge is having more time together as a family. When I was younger, I thought I had all the time in the world to spend time with my family. However, as I grow older, my responsibilities increase, and I have less free time than I used to. I remember spending the peak of the pandemic away from our father, and we could only talk through the phone for months. It was challenging for me not to see my father physically, especially when I go through difficult moments because I believe that we need more of our parents’ wisdom and guidance as we grow older. With the pandemic and the natural course of life, it feels like I have less time and opportunity to be with my father who is also growing old day by day. [caption id="attachment_187921" align="aligncenter" width="1242"] ALEX and Jet Capina (fourth and fifth from left) with their children. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY of Jet Capina[/caption] Jet Capina, retired bank vice president Our challenge is how to make the family complete on weekends. My children have their own gimmicks. Before every Sunday we were together attending church service but after the pandemic each of them esp Paolo is out of the house to be with his gf. I don’t think it’s good to write about it. Our challenge is how to make the family complete on weekends. My children are all good and well behaved but having grown up, the elder ones now and then have their own gimmicks. I am happy that my husband, who often plays golf, is with me always. The post Keeping it together appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Solon expects stronger SK programs
Constituents of those who would be elected in the upcoming Sangguniang Kabataan elections could expect stronger and more progressive programs from their respective leaders, according to Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara on Sunday. Angara, who chairs the Senate Committee on Youth, said with the completion of the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 11768 which introduced new reforms to the SK system, the youth sector can expect better performance from their representatives. “Critics of the SK have questioned its relevance and see it as being politicized,” Angara said. “We introduced the amendments to the SK system in RA 11768 in response to these criticisms with the hope that the young members of the community who will be part of the body will do more as youth leaders and become strong partners of the government in nation-building,” he added. The lawmaker stressed that, for years, the SK has been criticized for undertaking the same activities that do little to benefit youth development such as organizing sportsfests and pageants. To address this, the law provides clear guidelines on the types of programs, projects, and activities that can be undertaken by the SK using the funds provided to them. These include the provision of student stipends, food, book and transportation allowances; sports and wellness projects; skills training, summer employment, cash-for-work, on-the-job training, and livelihood assistance; projects promoting the participation of the youth and their initiation in agricultural, fishery, and forestry enterprises; programs and activities that will locate the youth at the forefront of climate action, environmental protection and conservation efforts; capacity building for grassroots organization and leadership; and programs and activities that address context-specific and intersectional vulnerabilities of young people. “We want to ensure that the SK stays true to its mandate of providing the youth in the communities with programs that will be useful to them and help them become productive members of society,” Angara said. The new measure also addresses the waning interest of the youth in joining the SK, including the absence of honoraria for most of its members. Under the law, the SK members, secretaries and treasurers will now be entitled to allowances that will be charged against the SK funds. A cap of 25 percent on the utilization of SK funds for personnel services was included in the law to ensure that the bulk of the budget will go to programs, projects and activities that will benefit the youth. At present, only the SK chairpersons are entitled to honoraria by virtue of their status as ex-officio members of the Sangguniang Barangays. The measure also authorizes the local government units to provide additional honoraria, as well as social welfare contributions and hazard pay to the SK chairpersons and members through their own local ordinances. SK officials and members will be exempted from taking any components of the National Service Training Program. They will also be entitled to the appropriate civil service eligibility based on the years of service to the barangay, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Civil Service Commission. The post Solon expects stronger SK programs appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
The vital role of ASEAN
The ASEAN-UN Comprehensive Partnership is more important than ever. We face tests as far as the eye can see — from the climate emergency to a global cost-of-living crisis, raging conflicts and growing poverty, hunger, and inequalities. All these challenges are aggravated by rising geopolitical tensions. There is a real risk of fragmentation — of a Great Fracture in world economic and financial systems, with diverging strategies on technology and artificial intelligence and conflicting security frameworks. I commend ASEAN for your vital role in building bridges of understanding all over the world. ASEAN has played an extremely important role as a center that convenes all those that, unfortunately, represent the most dramatic divisions in today’s world and these series of summits is a demonstration of that fundamental convening role of ASEAN. And we need it in a world that is increasingly multipolar and that requires strong multilateral institutions to go with it — based on equity, solidarity and universality. I am grateful for your steadfast support for multilateral solutions and your contribution of over 5,000 peacekeepers from ASEAN countries. ASEAN’s convening power, commitment to dialogue and experience in conflict prevention are crucial pillars of stability. Today, tensions remain high from the Korean Peninsula to the South China Sea. I am grateful to ASEAN member states for your pursuit of dialogue and peaceful dispute resolution, rooted in the respect for international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Since we gathered last year, the situation in Myanmar has further deteriorated. Brutal violence, worsening poverty and systematic repression are crushing hopes for a return to democracy. The conflict is exacerbating existing inequalities and vulnerabilities faced by women and girls, including sexual violence, forced marriage and human trafficking. More and more people are crossing borders in a desperate search for safety and protection and the situation is untenable. Over one million Rohingya remain in Bangladesh, in the world’s largest refugee camp. And, regrettably, the conditions for their safe, voluntary and dignified return are not yet in sight. Much more is needed. My call to the military authorities of Myanmar is clear: Free all detained leaders and political prisoners; open the door toward the full restoration of democratic rule. We must also end our assault against the planet. ASEAN ranks amongst the most biodiversity-rich regions — and is highly vulnerable to natural disasters. We can still limit the worst impacts and meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. ASEAN is uniquely positioned to be a leader of an energy transition that is global, sustainable, just, inclusive and equitable. I commend ASEAN member states that are pioneering Just Energy Transition Partnerships like Indonesia and Viet Nam. And I commend all who are accelerating the phaseout of coal and jumpstarting a fair and inclusive renewables revolution. But greater ambition is needed still — along with much greater support. Developed countries must finally deliver on their commitments to developing countries. Resources are also central to rescuing the Sustainable Development Goals. I have called for deep and structural changes to make global frameworks — including the Bretton Woods system — more representative of today’s economic and political realities and also more responsive. Such change will not happen overnight — and I have proposed concrete steps we can take now, including an SDG Stimulus of US$500 billion a year to the benefit of developing countries for them to be able to reach the Sustainable Goals. This and other action would catalyze SDG progress and help developing economies invest in key transitions across energy, food systems, digital, education, health, decent jobs and social protection. I count on ASEAN member states to help raise global ambition in the vital months ahead. And you can always count on my wholehearted support to shape a future of peace and prosperity for the people of Southeast Asia and the world. *** Excerpts from the UN Secretary-General’s remarks at the ASEAN-UN Summit, 7 September 2023. The post The vital role of ASEAN appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘We’re going to sink’: hundreds abandon Caribbean island home
On a tiny Caribbean island, hundreds of people are preparing to pack up and move to escape the rising waters threatening to engulf their already precarious homes. Surrounded by idyllic clear waters, the densely populated island of Carti Sugtupu off Panama's north coast has barely an inch to spare with houses crammed together -- some jutting out into the sea on stilts. The island's Indigenous community of fewer than 2,000 souls scrapes by without potable water or sanitation. They live off fishing, the harvesting of starchy crops like cassava and plantain, traditional textile production, and a bit of tourism. It is not an easy life, with intense heat and a lack of public services adding to the discomfort of overcrowded conditions on an island the size of five football fields. And now, climate change-induced sea level rise is threatening to make life even more difficult. With homes already flooded on a regular basis, experts say the sea will engulf Carti Sugtupu and dozens of neighboring islands in the Guna Yala region by the end of the century. Forty-nine of the isles are populated and rest just a few feet (less than one meter) above sea level. "We have noticed that the tide has risen," retired teacher Magdalena Martinez, 73, told AFP as she sat embroidering a brightly colored toucan onto a "mola" cloth traditional to the Guna people on Carti Sugtupu. "We think we're going to sink, we know it's going to happen," she said. Martinez is one of hundreds of inhabitants of the island expecting to move soon to a settlement on mainland Panama newly built by the government -- a move that may save the islanders but puts at risk their culture and way of life. "This will change our lifestyle quite a bit," said Martinez. But, she added, "it won't change our spirit, it won't change our habits." "The fact is that with sea levels rising as a direct cause of climate change, almost all the islands are going to be abandoned by the end of this century," Steven Paton, a scientist at the Panama-based Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, told AFP. There is no room On Carti Sugtupu, there is no drinking water, and residents have to go out in boats to collect it from rivers or buy it on the mainland. Few have reliable electricity. Most residents receive a few hours of power per day from a public generator. A few have solar panels feeding their homes built of zinc and wood, with floors of dirt. None have their own toilets, and residents have to visit communal cubicles at the ends of piers where wooden boards perched over the sea serve as latrines. "There is no room to expand homes or for children to play," Human Rights Watch said in a recent report on the island. "Floods and storms have made life even harder... affecting housing, water, health and education. Such extreme weather is only expected to become more common as the climate crisis accelerates," it said. After years of promises and delays, the government has announced that by the end of this year or early 2024, it will be ready to move families to the mainland, a 15-minute boat ride away, where it has built a new neighborhood that includes a school. "We are building 300 homes for 300 families, with an average of five people per family," Marcos Suira, national director of engineering and architecture at the Ministry of Housing and Territorial Planning, told AFP. "It's a pilot plan." Each family will have 300 square meters (3,200 square feet), including a two-bedroom house, drinking water, and electricity, according to the government. Resident teacher Braulio Navarro, 62, told AFP he has to cross the island every morning just to go to the toilet. He cannot wait to move. "I have no alternative but to go in search of a better quality of life," said Navarro. "I know that there will be 24-hour electricity, there will be fans and air conditioning, and there will be a great benefit for my family." The post ‘We’re going to sink’: hundreds abandon Caribbean island home appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PBBM to reiterate ‘rules-based int’l order’ for SCS at ASEAN Summit
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is set to reiterate the need for a rules-based international order in the South China Sea at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, amid increasing tensions between the Philippine and Chinese coast guards in the West Philippine Sea. Marcos made this remark as he left Manila on Monday bound for Jakarta, Indonesia, to attend the 43rd ASEAN Summit and Related Summits. Marcos said he will also bring up issues on strengthening food security, calling for climate justice, tapping the potential of the digital and creative economies, protecting migrant workers in crisis situations as well as combatting human trafficking in the region. “Once again, I will use his opportunity to advance Philippine priorities in ASEAN and work with our other ASEAN member states not only in addressing the complex challenges facing the region but also in pursuing opportunities for ASEAN as an epicenter of growth,” Marcos said. Marcos said there will be discussions covering developments in the South China Sea, the situation in Myanmar and the conflict in Ukraine during the ASEAN Plus 3 and East Asia Summits. “I will also take the opportunity to meet the bilateral partners at the sidelines of the SEAN summit to advance cooperation that will benefit our national priorities,” he said. Marcos said his administration would continue to ensure that the Philippines’ “constructive engagements with ASEAN, dialogue partners and stakeholders” will serve the national interest of the country and the well-being of the Filipino people. The post PBBM to reiterate ‘rules-based int’l order’ for SCS at ASEAN Summit appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Tesla, Chinese EV brands jostle for limelight at German fair
One of the world's biggest auto shows opens in Munich on Monday, with Tesla ending a 10-year absence to jostle for the spotlight with Chinese rivals as the race for electric dominance heats up. Chancellor Olaf Scholz will officially inaugurate the IAA mobility show, held in Germany every two years, on Tuesday. But Monday's press preview will already give carmakers a chance to show off some of the new models that will be hitting the road soon. The industry-wide shift towards electric vehicles will be front and center at this week's fair, with Chinese carmakers out in force as they eye the European market. US electric car pioneer Tesla, owned by Elon Musk, will return to the IAA for the first time since 2013 and is expected to unveil a revamped version of its mass-market Model 3. That Tesla, usually a holdout at such events, is coming to Munich shows it is taking the growing competition seriously, said Jan Burgard from the Berylls automotive consulting group. "The electric car market with its many new players will be divvied up over the next few years and people want to know: who is offering what?" Burgard told the Handelsblatt financial daily. Having captured an increasingly large part of the prized Chinese market, Chinese upstarts are now hoping to win over European customers with cheaper electric cars. Chinese manufacturers are starting "their assault on Europe with the IAA", said industry analyst Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer from the Center Automotive Research in Germany. Muted European presence Chinese groups benefit from lower production costs, allowing them to offer cut-throat prices at a time when entry-level EVs are still a rarity, said industry expert Eric Kirstetter from the Roland Berger consulting firm. "The only thing they don't have is brand credibility," Kirstetter said. "They will create their brand universe by stepping up their marketing investments more than others, including through trade fairs," he added. In all, 41 percent of exhibitors at the industry fair have their headquarters in China, including brands such as BYD and Leapmotor. Contrary to the Asian onslaught, participation from European carmakers at the IAA will be muted. Germany's homegrown champions Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz will be joined by Renault from France, but the 14-brand Stellantis Group will only be represented by Opel. BMW presented its "Neue Klasse" (New Class) generation of electric cars in Munich on Saturday, a series of six vehicles that will be manufactured from 2025. BMW and fellow European carmakers are investing heavily in the switch towards zero-emission driving as the European Union aims to end the sale of polluting engines by 2035. The historic transition however comes at a challenging time. While the supply chain problems caused by the pandemic years have eased, surging energy prices in the wake of Russia's war in Ukraine and a weaker global economy are weighing on European manufacturers. Although car 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 appetites for new vehicles. Some 700,000 visitors are expected to attend this week's IAA. Climate groups have vowed to stage protests during the fair, including acts of "civil disobedience" aimed at disrupting the IAA. The post Tesla, Chinese EV brands jostle for limelight at German fair 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......»»
How coastal land reclamation can benefit cities and communities
Coastal land reclamation is increasing and will continue to grow and be a popular urban strategy in places that experience urban growth. [caption id="attachment_176366" align="aligncenter" width="1041"] Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, an artificial archipelago that houses some of Dubai’s luxury hotels, residences and entertainment venues. | Photograph Courtesy of Abid Bin Nazar.[/caption] This is according to a study, “Mapping 21st Century Global Coastal Land Reclamation,” that analyzed landsat satellite images from 2000 to 2020 to quantify spatial extent, scale and land use of urban coastal reclamation of 135 cities globally with populations exceeding one million. Key findings indicate that 78 percent of these cities have turned to reclamation to create additional land, resulting in 253,000 hectares of new land, an area equivalent to Luxembourg. Land reclamation is the process of creating new land from the sea. It’s often used in places with scarcity of land and high population density for many purposes. From Western Europe and West Africa to the Middle East, East Asia and Southeast Asia, these countries’ cities reclaim lands for port extension, residential/commercial and industrial purposes aimed at creating tourist and green spaces. “Coastal land reclamation is a forward-looking approach to urban development,” said Architect Ian Fulgar, the principal architect of Fulgar Architects. It allows cities to preserve valuable ecosystems and resources from urban sprawl by expanding spaces without encroaching on existing natural land. More importantly for architects, urban planners and modern city dwellers, it presents an opportunity to have purpose-built urban environments specifically designed to meet their needs. “Architects and urban planners can design sustainable and efficient infrastructure with a blank canvas, incorporating the latest technologies and best practices in urban planning. This approach can lead to more resilient and adaptive cities capable of mitigating the effects of climate change and other environmental challenges,” Fulgar added. Innovation, sustainability Singapore, Dubai and Hong Kong are some of the world’s most notable cities with impressive urban reclamation projects. Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay are testaments to the city-state’s commitment to innovation and sustainability. The former is a luxury integrated resort famed for transforming Singapore’s coastline and city skyline, while the latter is a spectacularly unique horticultural destination that combines art, science and nature. These reclaimed land developments further boost the country’s international reputation and real estate value around the area. Coastal land reclamation has significantly changed the geography of the United Arab Emirates. Dubai features ambitious projects now known as some of the most recognizable developments in the world, like Palm Jumeirah, an artificial archipelago shaped like a palm tree when viewed from above that houses some of Dubai’s luxury hotels, residences and entertainment venues, and The World, a groundbreaking project composed of small artificial islands in the shape of a world map. Lastly, Hong Kong’s commitment to preserving art, culture and ongoing sustainable urban development is exemplified by its West Kowloon Cultural District, a 40-hectare reclaimed site along Victoria Harbour’s waterfront designated as the city’s vibrant cultural quarter where the local arts scene can interact, develop and collaborate throughout its sustainability principles. “These projects have created iconic and visually striking landscapes by pushing the boundaries of engineering and urban design. Sustainability is often at the forefront, integrating practices and technologies that minimize environmental impact and enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors,” Fulgar pointed out. “Trends and insights on global reclamation illustrate the potential of reclamation projects in addressing various urban development, environmental conservation and community well-being needs, leading to more sustainable and resilient urban planning worldwide. By adopting these lessons and focusing on sustainable growth, the Philippines can capitalize on its potential and carve a path to a brighter future,“ Fulgar added. The post How coastal land reclamation can benefit cities and communities appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
German’s help on ecology sought
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. aims to enhance and maintain collaborative efforts in addressing climate change with Germany. In a statement, Marcos said he and the new German Ambassador Andreas Michael Pfaffernoschke discussed about the climate crisis and the Philippine-German relations during the presentation of credentials. “I always describe it as really the first truly global problem that humanity faces because it’s global in the sense that everybody is affected. And it’s also global because we cannot solve it without everybody doing their part,” Marcos said. “It is axiomatic to me to say that no country can do this alone. The economy, climate change, energy, all of these things have to be done in partnership. So, let’s look in that direction Mr. Ambassador,” he added. Marcos agreed that the partnership between the Philippines and Germany would greatly benefit the country, especially in promoting the climate agenda in both the local and international settings. Meanwhile, Marcos and Ambassador Pfaffernoschke acknowledged the thriving people-to-people connections between the Philippines and Germany, exemplified by the large population of Filipino overseas workers in the European nation. Both sides expressed a shared commitment to nurturing these relationships and exploring opportunities for bilateral growth. The post German’s help on ecology sought appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
First country workshop for local insurance industry stakeholders
The Insurance Development Forum and its partner Microinsurance Network recently organized the first country workshop for local insurance industry stakeholders to advance an inclusive insurance-focused strategy in the Philippines. IDF Inclusive Insurance Working Group coordinator Pedro Pinheiro said that the objective of the country workshop was to close the protection gap of the low-income population through accessible and affordable insurance. “We want to increase the uptake of insurance among the low-income population who can benefit from affordable and accessible insurance products developed by local insurers,” Pinheiro said. MiN Chairman and Pioneer Group head Lorenzo Chan said that IDF partnered with MiN as a natural step to implement its inclusive insurance strategy. “The partnership allows the IDF to capitalize on the grassroots reach and wealth of resources the MiN has accumulated in the last 20 years,” Chan said. Chan said the workshop marked the kick-off engagement of the IDF in the Philippines and the establishment of a country task force. “The country task force in the Philippines will effectively allocate financial resources and technical assistance from the IDF membership to local inclusive insurance programs. Together, we will seek to address the gaps that were identified in the workshop,” Chan said. Pinheiro said that the Philippines has been selected as one of the priority countries by the inclusive insurance working group of the IDF. “The Philippines is identified as a crucial market because it is very vulnerable to climate risks and has a real need for insurance solutions. The Philippines is also advanced in the development of a regulatory framework for inclusive insurance with a thriving private sector and a very engaged government body,” Pinheiro said. Insurance Commissioner Reynaldo Regalado expressed his full support for the 1st IDF-MiN Country Workshop for Inclusive Insurance in the Philippines. “The Insurance Commission will continue to work collaboratively with microinsurance providers, non-government organizations and other stakeholders to develop innovative and sustainable solutions that will further cater to the needs of the low-income sector of the society. We commit to crafting policies that will further enhance financial inclusion in the country,” Regalado said in a statement. “IC recognizes the significance of inclusive insurance in fostering resilience and promoting economic stability in the Philippines. Inclusive insurance empowers individuals and communities by providing the same protection needed against unexpected shocks and calamities,” he added. The IDF is a public-private partnership supporting the growth and development of insurance-related resources and capabilities to help achieve the objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals and the UN Global 2030 Agenda. It was first announced at the United Nations Conference of the Parties Paris Climate Summit in 2015 and then formally launched by leaders of the insurance industry, the United Nations and the World Bank in 2016. The MiN, based in Luxembourg, is the only non-profit global multi-stakeholder platform dedicated to promoting inclusive insurance to low-income people and households worldwide. Chan is the first Asian and insurance practitioner elected as MiN Chairman in 2021. The workshop was attended by insurance industry stakeholders representing the Philippine Insurers and Reinsurers Association, Philippine Life Insurance Association, Microinsurance Intermediaries and Practitioners Association of the Philippines, Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation, GIZ Philippines and several other organizations in the inclusivity ecosystem. ### The post First country workshop for local insurance industry stakeholders appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Slim ICTSI profit gains as global growth skids
Razon-led global port operator International Container Terminal Services Inc., or ICTSI, reported a narrow profit growth in the first half as it continued to navigate through the lingering global market uncertainties. In a bourse report on Monday, the company disclosed booking a $313.8-million attributable net income, which was 7 percent higher than the recorded $294.48 million a year ago. “The macroeconomic and geopolitical climate continues to be uncertain, but these results give us continued confidence in our financial and operational resilience,” ICTSI chairperson and president Enrique K. Razon Jr. said in the report. “The opportunities for future growth are considerable and we will work closely with our stakeholders to achieve positive change for the communities in which we operate and deliver long-term sustainable growth,” he added. Excluding the impairment of goodwill attributed to its Pakistan International Container Terminal, net income attributable to equity holders would have grown 10 percent to $324.41 million. 10% revenues growth Meanwhile, revenues from global port operations during the period improved by 10 percent to $1.16 billion from $1.06 billion a year ago. ICTSI handled a consolidated volume of 6,275,837 twenty-foot equivalent units or TEUs as of end-June, up by 9 percent from the 5,752,582 TEUs handled in the same period in 2022. From January to June, the company spent $152.23 million to fund ongoing expansions. This year, the company sees spending to reach $400 million to sustain its growth momentum. “We have a robust balance sheet and a high cash-generative business which looking ahead, will enable us to continue our strong track record of investing in our terminals to support future growth for the benefit of all our stakeholders,” Razon noted. Among others, the estimated capital expenditure will be utilized to fund the ongoing expansion at the company’s terminals in the Philippines, Australia, Mexico and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Operating 33 terminals in 20 countries across six continents, ICTSI is a global developer, manager, and operator of container terminals in the 50,000 to 3.5 million TEU per year range. The post Slim ICTSI profit gains as global growth skids appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Manhattan of Pasay City (4)
Critics of land reclamation must learn from the vast experience of the Netherlands, the mother of all reclaimed land in the world. There is a Dutch adage: “While God created the earth, the Dutch created the Netherlands.” The Netherlands became the world’s second largest exporter of food and agricultural products, next to the United States of America, because of the vast land it reclaimed from the sea, which turned fertile for agriculture and grazing cows. The Netherlands’ efforts to control and conquer its landscape were driven by its aggressive need to create land for dairy and agricultural production. The development of the Netherlands’ system of dikes and reclaimed lands were driven by its need to keep its feet dry and survive. The Dutch had always controlled and conquered water for their own economic benefit. Like colonization, which led to a massive expansion of Dutch land overseas, water management and land reclamation was a process of domestic expansion. EPC contractor Netherlands-based Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V., a leading global dredging contractor and marine services provider, was hired by the City of Pasay to build its iconic Manhattan project on Manila Bay because of its vast experience with huge reclamation projects. More than 50 percent of the Netherlands is below sea level, and a system of dikes has been in constant use for many years to reclaim and to protect the land. The Dutch created a system of dams and dikes, land reclamation and water drainage, in total the largest hydraulic engineering project undertaken in the twentieth century. Huge areas of reclaimed land were closed off with dikes some 20 miles long. The soil on the reclaimed land, once desalinated, were found to be fertile and suited for cow grazing and agricultural production. Because of this, the Netherlands became the world’s second largest producer of agricultural products. In addition to the fertile soil, the land is flat. The Netherlands enjoys temperatures and a moderate climate suitable for farming. Therefore, crop growth and livestock and poultry raising are done with the utmost ease and effectiveness. They employ robots to pick up fruits and to process vegetables. Their focus is on sustainable farming, keeping in mind the environment and their social responsibility. The Netherlands is keenly focused on educating its agricultural and other work force in the latest technology and research. Its universities engage in agriculture studies, education, and research. The world’s biggest food and beverage companies have their research and development laboratories in the Netherlands. The country is in central Europe which is an ideal spot geographically for exporters. The country also has exceptional infrastructure and the most remarkable logistics and supply teams. This has led the Netherlands to become the second largest exporter in the world. The Dutch nation has become an expert in the trading sector. They have developed a sustainable and profitable agriculture sector which has made them No. 2 in the world. The Netherlands’ agriculture industry had a net worth of 85 billion in 2021. It exports its food products to far-flung areas, like its organic eggs to America. Germany receives 25 percent of all its agriculture imports from the Netherlands. Today, around 27 percent of the Netherlands is actually below sea level. This area is home to over 60 percent of the country’s population of approximately 17 million people. The Netherlands is approximately 41,543 square kilometers, while the Philippines is 300,000 sq. km., making the Netherlands seven times smaller than the Philippines. A large part of the Netherlands is highly susceptible to flooding. Time will tell if the North Sea Protection Works are strong enough to protect the country from the onslaught of a storm surge like that experienced by Filipinos with “Yolanda.” The post Manhattan of Pasay City (4) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US-ASEAN Business Council: US companies eager to foster Phl business connections
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday acknowledged the US-ASEAN council's crucial role in the Philippine development. During the courtesy call of the American business leaders at the Malacañang Palace, Marcos hoped that alliances, partnerships, and arrangements with its members would be sustained. "I recognize the critical role that the United States and American businesses have played in advancing a robust and inclusive economic growth in the Philippines, not only in this period but for a very long time now," Marcos said. Marcos also acknowledged that the US-ASEAN Business Council is significant in discussing concrete steps in upholding socioeconomic cooperation. These steps include agriculture, clean energy, infrastructure, climate change, digital connectivity, and post-pandemic recovery. Marcos also assured the Council of concrete steps that he and US President Joe Biden have identified to make the two countries' alliance and partnership "relevant and responsive to the current emerging challenges in the defense, security, and economic spheres." "I invite the members of the esteemed Council to continue being valuable partners of the Philippines. Let us push for greater economic engagement between our two countries for our mutual benefit and the prosperity of the region," he added. Ted Osius, a former US ambassador and current President of the Council, mentioned that US companies are eager to strengthen their collaborations with the Philippine government and foster additional connections with businesses in the nation. Osius also stressed the importance of the country's participation in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). "We're very much focused, and you highlight these themes on sustainable development, transformative digitalization, innovative healthcare solutions, supply chain resilience, and ease of doing business," Osius said. "We are determined that we come here not just to talk but also bring a lot of action to create real partnerships and to show our commitment in the form of investments," he added. Established in 1984, the US-ASEAN Business Council is a nonprofit entity dedicated to researching and analyzing economic, financial, political, social, and environmental conditions within the ASEAN member states. Globally, the Council's membership exceeds 175 companies, collectively generating nearly USD 7 trillion in revenue and providing employment for over 14.5 million individuals. This Council holds the unique distinction of being the sole American organization formally acknowledged within the ASEAN Charter. Annually, it engages with the Finance, Trade, and Energy Ministers during their respective meetings. The organization's roster comprises the largest American corporations conducting operations within ASEAN. These companies range from newcomers in the region to those with a century-long history of business in Southeast Asia. The post US-ASEAN Business Council: US companies eager to foster Phl business connections appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
House receives P5.7-T proposed nat’l budget
The Department of Budget and Management or DBM on Wednesday submitted to House Speaker Martin Romualdez the P5.768-trillion proposed national budget for next year, which the lawmaker said would provide Congress enough time to evaluate the soundness of the fund allocations. DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman delivered the proposal, also called the National Expenditure Program, on the date she promised after it was handed over to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last month. “Your submission of the proposed national budget in less than 10 days from the start of the regular session of Congress provides the House ample time to study, discuss, and deliberate on the point of the proposal, and formulate a national budget that is responsive to the development needs of our country,” Romualdez said. Compared to this year’s outlay, the proposed national budget for 2024 is higher by 9.5 percent. Pangandaman had said in June that the national budget should be passed into law swiftly as it had been pre-approved by President Marcos and the government department heads. She said the individual budgets proposed by government agencies totaled P5.90 trillion before the DBM trimmed it down to P5.768 trillion based on the agencies’ fund utilization capacities and the feasibility of their planned projects. The proposed national budget will also undergo Senate deliberations before the consolidated version will be submitted to Marcos for his signature which would make it a law. Pangandaman said priority allocations of the budget include education, infrastructure, and agriculture projects that are aligned with the goals of the administration’s Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028. For agriculture, the allocation was set at P30.87 billion for rice production, P5.28 billion for corn, and P1.94 billion for high-value crops, among others. “Higher investments will also be provided for agricultural support services, such as irrigation and the construction and rehabilitation of fish ports across the country and farm-to-market roads in key production areas,” Pangandaman said. For infrastructure development, the proposed fund amounts to P1.42 trillion or 5.3 percent of the gross domestic product and covers schools, hospitals and health centers, water and power systems, roads, railways and airports. Climate change projects Among other priorities are climate change projects with an allocation of P543.45 billion, its bulk dedicated to water security. Another is social development programs with a proposed fund of P112.8 billion to help 4.4 million families through the cash-transfer program Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program of the Department of Social and Welfare Development. Pangandaman said the pension for indigent senior citizens was doubled to P49.81 billion and would benefit more than 4 million. Meanwhile, the housing allocation was pegged at P9 billion and will be used to shelter 6.5 million families over the next five years. Education received the highest fund proposal as required by the Constitution at P924.7 billion. The Philippines would be “one step closer” to realizing the government’s “transformative vision” for the country once Congress accepts the proposed budget according to President Marcos. In his message, Marcos explained that the proposed budget aims to provide the resources required for government operations and the ongoing pursuit of economic reform. The planned budget is P9.5 trillion more than the P5.268-trillion General Appropriations Act for 2023. “With the Congress’ approval of the proposed (Fiscal Year) 2024 National Budget, we will be one step closer to achieving our transformative vision for the country, the Agenda of Prosperity,” Marcos said. “Our journey has just begun. We will march on — one nation, one people building a better future together,” he added. The President said that the proposed budget for 2024 was a key part of the Philippine Development Plan 2023–2028, which aims to strengthen the country’s capabilities, protect the buying power of Filipinos, and improve output sectors to create more good jobs and products that can compete globally. “In turn, these strategies are to be supported by an enabling environment characterized by macroeconomic stability, infrastructure development, bureaucratic efficiency, strong rule of law, and effective climate action,” Marcos said. The post House receives P5.7-T proposed nat’l budget appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Render unto Ceasar
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ plenary assembly in 2022 said the Roman Catholic Church will divest from banks and projects that are involved in fossil fuels as part of its contribution to the movement for clean energy. The warning showed the financial muscle through its corporate shares that the bishops can muster to influence the realm of business. In a pastoral letter, the CBCP said it will use its shareholdings in domestic banks to demand policies and plans to “phase out their exposure to coal, fossil gas, and destructive energy in line with the 1.5°C ambition.” “Without clear commitments and policies from these banks to divest from fossil fuels, we commit to withdraw all our resources that are with them not later than 2025, and hold them accountable to their fiduciary duties and moral obligations as climate actors,” read the pastoral letter. In its latest pastoral letter about the “climate emergency” last March, however, the Church bravado has dissipated and instead has been replaced by a warning that it will enforce the “CBCP-initiated non-acceptance policy of donations of whatever kind, from owners or operators and any representative of extractive companies regardless of the scale of operation.” The new position is oceans apart from the earlier encompassing threat to divest from all dirty energy projects and their financiers. Such flip-flops have been the impediment of the Church in exerting its supposed moral guidance in what the Bible says is Caesar’s domain. The Catholic Church is heavily invested in the biggest corporations in the country. In San Miguel Corporation, for instance, the list of its top 100 shareholders shows more than P600 million in investments from Church-affiliated entities. The Archbishop of Manila is currently listed as the fifth largest shareholder in one of the biggest lenders in the country, which is a huge provider of loans to energy projects, with 62 percent of its energy portfolio comprising coal. The bank’s exposure to coal projects is estimated at $444.82 million. The archbishops of archdioceses in Jaro, Iloilo, and Zamboanga are also major stockholders of the bank. The Manila archdiocese is also among the top shareholders in a giant mining firm through shares worth more than P66 million. It also has huge capital as a supplier of construction materials. When the Catholic Church appealed for donations for the renovation of the Manila Cathedral in 2013, top corporation SMC came to its aid with P50 million while Metrobank donated P20 million. In no time at all, the P136-million project was funded. Regarding donations, in 2011, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office named a priest and several Catholic bishops who received sports utility vehicles funded through the agency’s charity fund. The PCSO revelation sparked a Senate investigation and the bishops agreed to surrender the vehicles. A Commission on Audit report said the grant of the five vehicles amounting to P7 million violated the constitutional provision that “no public money or property shall be appropriated, applied or employed directly or indirectly, for the use of, benefit or support to any sect, church, denomination… except when such priest, preacher or dignitary is assigned to the Armed Forces or any penal institution, or government orphanage or leprosarium.” During a Senate investigation on the controversy, PCSO director Aleta Tolentino revealed that a bishop asked for a car as a birthday gift but used the welfare of the poor as an excuse. During the inquiry, Tolentino said, “We are not against the Church. We are just denouncing what happened in the past — corruption of government funds, which is prohibited by the Constitution itself.” “Would the bishops rather that we keep mum or lie about it? Would they want us to just keep quiet about this?” she added. With its heavily compromised state as a result of its financial involvement, the Church has abandoned its role as a conscience of society in the pursuit of uplifting the lives of Filipinos. The post Render unto Ceasar appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»