11 million families lack access to clean water
About 11 million Filipino families still have no access to clean water, according to the National Water Resources Board......»»
ADB approves USD 100 mln loan to support small and medium-sized enterprises in Sri Lanka
Manila [Philippines], March 19 (ANI): The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 100 million loan to provide small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Sri Lanka more access to finance and build their resilience to external shocks, such as the economic crisis and climate change. SMEs play a critical role in Sri Lanka's economy, contributing 52 per cent to the country's gross domestic product and employ 45 per c.....»»
Security Bank, Helios team up for solar energy in households
Security Bank Corp. has tied up with climate fintech firm Helios to boost the access of Filipino homeowners to clean and sustainable energy......»»
ULAP lauds water supply program for poor LGUs
Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines president and Quirino governor Dax Cua lauded a government program that aims to help the poorest municipalities in the country have access to clean and stable water supply. “We in ULAP have always emphasized the need to address people’s basic right to water, in line with our commitment […].....»»
P250 billion needed to provide water for 40 million Pinoys
The government needs at least P250 billion to provide potable water and sanitation to at least 40 million Filipinos with no access yet to clean and safe drinking water, a ranking official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said yesterday......»»
Aboitiz Power extends power deal with Max’s
Aboitiz Power Corp. extended its deal to supply 1,200 kilowatts of power to the food manufacturing and distribution facility of NoBia Inc., the commissary of the Max’s Group, for the next four years. The company said on Thursday that the renewed retail supply partnership with NoBia, which started in November 2021, is part of its thrust to provide partners with affordable access to dependable power via tailor-fit energy solutions. “No Bia Inc.’s dedication to evolving its menu offerings and enhancing its capabilities illustrates its unwavering commitment to leading the way in service excellence in food manufacturing and distribution. It is AboitizPower’s privilege to support that with clean and reliable energy, it can and will deliver,” AboitizPower retail head James Byron Yu said. The NoBia facility in Carmona, Cavite produces almost 2,000 metric tons of food each month, supporting over 300 retail partner stores, as well as a local network of more than 600 stores in the country. Tie-up mirrors brand values For NoBia Inc. president Cristina Garcia, the tie-up with AboitizPower “mirrors its brand values.” “Leveraging on AboitizPower’s renewable energy not only allows us to serve countless Filipino individuals with our culinary offerings but also adds significant value to the Max’s Group’s mission,” Garcia said. Moving forward, AboitizPower said it will continue to invest in renewables en route to reaching at least 4,600 megawatts, or 50 percent of its generation portfolio by the next decade. Currently, close to 1,000 MW of AboitizPower renewable energy projects — including wind and solar farms and more geothermal capacities — are in the pipeline. The post Aboitiz Power extends power deal with Max’s appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DoE eyes OSW, taps USAID
Due to the lack of financial allocation, the Department of Energy or DoE is turning to the United States Agency for International Development or USAID to bankroll the inclusion of offshore wind or OSW and floating solar energy, among other new technologies, into the country’s competitive renewable energy zones or CREZ. In a recent interview with reporters, Assistant Secretary Mylene C. Capongcol said these new power technologies should be included in the CREZ so that its integration into the grid will be efficient. “The first stage of CREZ, that finished does not include offshore wind and floating solar and other bodies of water. So the second stage, hopefully, will be supported by a USAID grant because we don’t have the budget here,” Capongcol said. “We will talk officially with USAID but we have sent our official request so we will just have a meeting about what is the scope of work and the timeline,” she added. OSW potential high Based on the Philippines OSW Roadmap launched in 2022, the country has about 178 gigawatts or GW of OSW potential. To date, the DoE has awarded a total of 79 OSW Contracts with a total potential capacity of 61.931 GW, spread mainly North of Luzon, West of Metro Manila, North and South of Mindoro, Panay and Guimaras Strait. Meanwhile, in terms of floating solar energy ventures, one of the latest developments was the Laguna Lake Development Authority’s move to offer 2,000 hectares of the Laguna de Bay for floating solar projects. Of these, 800 hectares were taken by ACEN Corp. Half, or 1,000 hectares were leased by renewable energy firm SunAsia Energy, which aims to develop a 1300-MW facility for $1.2 billion. The remaining 200 hectares, on the other hand, were allocated to Singapore-based firm Vena Energy. Capongcol reiterated that the CREZ project will significantly complement the government’s drive to augment the country’s supply of clean energy. By proactively focusing transmission expansion to these resource areas, clean energy generation development obstacles such as transmission access, energy curtailment, land permitting, and regulatory barriers will be resolved. Thus, reducing the risk for private players who will invest in the sector. Relatedly, the DoE official bared that the 2023-2050 Philippine Energy Plan or PEP will also highlight the adoption of modern technologies, smart grid systems, and demand-side management to bring down overall energy consumption and cut down greenhouse gas emissions. The government set the target of a 35 percent share of renewable energy in the country’s energy mix by 2035 and increased it further to 50 percent by 2040. However, it is still notable that despite an aggressive stance on clean energy utilization, the Philippines continues to heavily rely on coal. Coal, which is cheaper than other forms of power but more detrimental to the environment, is still the highest contributor to the power generation mix at nearly 60 percent. Renewable energy only takes a little over 20 percent of the mix. The post DoE eyes OSW, taps USAID appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
What are attoseconds? Nobel-winning physics explained
The Nobel Physics Prize was awarded on Tuesday to three scientists for their work on attoseconds, which are almost unimaginably short periods of time. Their work using lasers gives scientists a tool to observe and possibly even manipulate electrons, which could spur breakthroughs in fields such as electronics and chemistry, experts told AFP. How fast are attoseconds? Attoseconds are a billionth of a billionth of a second. To give a little perspective, there are around as many attoseconds in a single second as there have been seconds in the 13.8-billion-year history of the universe. Hans Jakob Woerner, a researcher at the Swiss university ETH Zurich, told AFP that attoseconds are "the shortest timescales we can measure directly". Why do we need such speed? Being able to operate on this timescale is important because these are the speeds at which electrons -- key parts of an atom -- operate. For example, it takes electrons 150 attoseconds to go around the nucleus of a hydrogen atom. This means the study of attoseconds has given scientists access to a fundamental process that was previously out of reach. All electronics are mediated by the motion of electrons -- and the current "speed limit" is nanoseconds, Woerner said. If microprocessors were switched to attoseconds, it could be possible to "process information a billion times faster," he added. How do you measure them? Franco-Swede physicist Anne L'Huillier, one of the three new Nobel laureates, was the first to discover a tool to pry open the world of attoseconds. It involves using high-powered lasers to produce pulses of light for incredibly short periods. Franck Lepine, a researcher at France's Institute of Light and Matter who has worked with L'Huillier, told AFP it was like "cinema created for electrons". He compared it to the work of pioneering French filmmakers the Lumiere brothers, "who cut up a scene by taking successive photos". John Tisch, a laser physics professor at Imperial College London, said that it was "like an incredibly fast, pulse-of-light device that we can then shine on materials to get information about their response on that timescale". How low can we go? All three of Tuesday's laureates at one point held the record for shortest pulse of light. In 2001, French scientist Pierre Agostini's team managed to flash a pulse that lasted just 250 attoseconds. L'Huillier's group beat that with 170 attoseconds in 2003. In 2008, Hungarian-Austrian physicist Ferenc Krausz more than halved that number with an 80-attosecond pulse. The current holder of the Guinness World Record for "shortest pulse of light" is Woerner's team, with a time of 43 attoseconds. The time could go as low as a few attoseconds using current technology, Woerner estimated. But he added that this would be pushing it. What could the future hold? Technology taking advantage of attoseconds has largely yet to enter the mainstream, but the future looks bright, the experts said. So far, scientists have mostly only been able to use attoseconds to observe electrons. "But what is basically untouched yet -- or is just really beginning to be possible -- is to control" the electrons, to manipulate their motion, Woerner said. This could lead to far faster electronics as well as potentially spark a revolution in chemistry. "We would not be limited to what molecules naturally do," but instead could "tailor them according to need," Woerner said. So-called "attochemistry" could lead to more efficient solar cells, or even the use of light energy to produce clean fuels, he added. The post What are attoseconds? Nobel-winning physics explained appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
What are attoseconds? Nobel-winning physics explained
The Nobel Physics Prize was awarded on Tuesday to three scientists for their work on attoseconds, which are almost unimaginably short periods of time. Their work using lasers gives scientists a tool to observe and possibly even manipulate electrons, which could spur breakthroughs in fields such as electronics and chemistry, experts told AFP. How fast are attoseconds? Attoseconds are a billionth of a billionth of a second. To give a little perspective, there are around as many attoseconds in a single second as there have been seconds in the 13.8-billion year history of the universe. Hans Jakob Woerner, a researcher at the Swiss university ETH Zurich, told AFP that attoseconds are "the shortest timescales we can measure directly". Why do we need such speed? Being able to operate on this timescale is important because these are the speeds at which electrons -- key parts of an atom -- operate. For example, it takes electrons 150 attoseconds to go around the nucleus of a hydrogen atom. This means the study of attoseconds has given scientists access to a fundamental process that was previously out of reach. All electronics are mediated by the motion of electrons -- and the current "speed limit" is nanoseconds, Woerner said. If microprocessors were switched to attoseconds, it could be possible to "process information a billion times faster," he added. How do you measure them? Franco-Swede physicist Anne L'Huillier, one of the three new Nobel laureates, was the first to discover a tool to pry open the world of attoseconds. It involves using high-powered lasers to produce pulses of light for incredibly short periods. Franck Lepine, a researcher at France's Institute of Light and Matter who has worked with L'Huillier, told AFP it was like "cinema created for electrons". He compared it to the work of pioneering French filmmakers the Lumiere brothers, "who cut up a scene by taking successive photos". John Tisch, a laser physics professor at Imperial College London, said that it was "like an incredibly fast, pulse-of-light device that we can then shine on materials to get information about their response on that timescale". How low can we go? All three of Tuesday's laureates at one point held the record for shortest pulse of light. In 2001, French scientist Pierre Agostini's team managed to flash a pulse that lasted just 250 attoseconds. L'Huillier's group beat that with 170 attoseconds in 2003. In 2008, Hungarian-Austrian physicist Ferenc Krausz more than halved that number with an 80-attosecond pulse. The current holder of the Guinness World Record for "shortest pulse of light" is Woerner's team, with a time of 43 attoseconds. The time could go as low as a few attoseconds using current technology, Woerner estimated. But he added that this would be pushing it. What could the future hold? Technology taking advantage of attoseconds has largely yet to enter the mainstream, but the future looks bright, the experts said. So far, scientists have mostly only been able to use attoseconds to observe electrons. "But what is basically untouched yet -- or is just really beginning to be possible -- is to control" the electrons, to manipulate their motion, Woerner said. This could lead to far faster electronics as well as potentially spark a revolution in chemistry. "We would not be limited to what molecules naturally do," but instead could "tailor them according to need," Woerner said. So-called "attochemistry" could lead to more efficient solar cells, or even the use of light energy to produce clean fuels, he added. The post What are attoseconds? Nobel-winning physics explained appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bong Go aids Borongan fire victims
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go provided assistance to 22 fire-hit households in Barangay Calingatngan, Borongan City, Eastern Samar on Tuesday, 26 September. In coordination with Calingatngan Barangay Captain Edwin Anasarias, the affected families received financial assistance, grocery packs, clean drinking water, snacks, and shirts from the senator. Select recipients also received shoes, mobile phones, and balls for basketball and volleyball. Meanwhile, the Department of Trade and Industry and the National Housing Authority conducted their respective assessments wherein qualified recipients may receive necessary livelihood support and housing assistance, respectively. “Huwag po kayong mawalan ng pag-asa, ang importante ay buhay kayo. Ang gamit po ay napapalitan, ang pera ay kikitain pero ang pera ay hindi nabibili ang buhay. A lost life is a lost life forever. Kaya pangalagaan natin ang buhay na binigay sa atin ng Panginoon,” Go said in a video message. Go then highlighted Republic Act No. 11589, also known as the Bureau of Fire (BFP) Protection Modernization Act of 2021. The said law, which was authored and co-sponsored by Go, mandates the BFP to undergo a ten-year modernization program that will improve the capabilities of the agency by implementing a ten-year modernization program, which includes recruiting more firefighters, acquiring new fire equipment, and developing specialized training, among others. Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, also encouraged residents with health concerns to seek the services of the Malasakit Center located at Eastern Samar Provincial Hospital in the city. Designed to assist poor and indigent Filipinos, the Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop where all relevant agencies are brought together under one roof to ensure that medical assistance programs are within the patients’ reach. The Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, principally sponsored and authored by Go, has successfully assisted more than three million Filipinos with 159 operational centers nationwide. Go, vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, supported the construction of the access road from the National Highway to Bolusao National High School in Lawaan; rehabilitation of local roads in Balangkayan, Giporlos, Jipapad, Lawaan, Maslog, Quinapondan, San Julian, Sulat, and Taft; construction of the Borongan Community Hospital; construction of a slope protection structure in Borongan City and Lawaan; construction of multipurpose buildings in Jipapad, Maydolong, and Oras; construction of a slaughterhouse in Maydolong; improvement of the drainage systems in Can-Avid; and acquisition of ambulance units for the local governments of Maslog and Quinapondan. The post Bong Go aids Borongan fire victims appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Child rights to clean Earth
The first authoritative and comprehensive interpretation of member-states’ obligations in fulfilling children’s rights to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment was issued under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. “General Comment 26 on children’s rights and the environment with a special focus on climate change,” explicitly addresses the climate emergency, the collapse of biodiversity and pervasive pollution. A child-friendly version of the General Comment has also been released today. The CRC is the most widely ratified treaty in the world, created in 1989 and ratified by 196 states. It outlines universal children’s rights such as the right to life, survival and development, and the right to health. The Philippines was one of the first countries to ratify the CRC in August 1990. The Philippines ranks first in terms of disaster risk according to the World Risk Index for 2022, as well as the first in the East Asia and Pacific region on the Child Climate Risk Index. Extreme weather events are increasing in frequency, and slower onset climate impacts, such as rising sea levels and increasing temperatures are affecting the health, nutrition and education of children in the country. Poor children, children with disabilities, children who belong to indigenous groups, children in situations of armed conflict, and girls, are especially vulnerable. General Comment 26, a result of global and intergenerational engagement, requires States to be responsible not only for protecting children’s rights from immediate harm, but also for foreseeable violations of their rights in the future. States can be held accountable for environmental harm occurring within their borders, as well as the harmful impacts of environmental damage and climate change beyond their borders. Children’s views must be considered in environmental decision-making, and equipping them with education and tools to act, advocate and protect themselves from environmental harm are also critical. Member-states, such as the Philippines, are also urged to take immediate action including organizing the phase out of coal, oil and natural gas and shifting to renewable energy sources, improving air quality, and ensuring access to clean water, transforming industrial agriculture and fisheries to produce healthy and sustainable food, and protecting biodiversity. The post Child rights to clean Earth appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
At UN, fading hopes for improving lives on planet
World leaders meeting in New York next week will try to revive key goals meant to improve the lot of humanity by 2030, plans that are in doubt today as hunger, poverty and other crises persist. Leave no one behind In 2015, UN member-states adopted 17 wide-ranging development goals to be met by 2030, which included eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, providing access to drinking water, ensuring gender equality and health care for all. "In thriving economically in the 21st century, you cannot any longer try to do so at the expense of nature, or at the expense of people who are left behind," the head of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Achim Steiner, told AFP. But the 2030 Agenda is in trouble, according to the UN. "The Sustainable Development goals are in peril," the UN said in a report published in July. In order to meet these goals, governments coming together at the UN General Assembly on Monday are slated to commit to "act with urgency... for people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnership, leaving no one behind," according to the draft declaration. Poverty and hunger Progress has been slow and, in some cases, things are even worse now than they were in 2015. The Covid-19 pandemic has halted progress in combating extreme poverty, defined as living on less than $2.15 per day. Far from the hoped-for eradication, at the current rate 575 million people will still be living in such conditions in 2030, most of them in sub-Saharan Africa. And the world has returned to levels of hunger not seen since 2005. Furthermore, 1.1 billion people live in urban areas in slum-like conditions, more than two billion still do not have access to drinking water, 38 out of 1,000 children die before their fifth birthday and the impacts of climate change are increasingly devastating. Debt burden Crippled by various world crises, from Covid-19 to the war in Ukraine, many countries are crumbling under the weight of their debt and do not have the means to change course. "Countries are not able to pursue the development they want right now, but they can only opt for a recovery, where they go for the growth they can get," Steiner said. That, however, is a risky path. "That growth takes us back to the fossil fuel dependency and to greater inequalities, precisely the things that have led to so many tensions, protests on our streets," he added. That is why the draft declaration that will be discussed on Monday talks about reforming international financial institutions, over which, however, the UN has no control. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has also called for investing an additional $500 billion per year by 2030 in order to meet the ambitious goals. His plan received support at the recent G20 summit. Vicious or virtuous circle? Getting out of poverty, having access to education, drinking water or clean energy, being in good health and living in peace -- all these development goals are largely interdependent. Global warming and the extreme weather events it causes undermine most of the development goals as they destroy crops, infrastructure and livelihoods. That is why change must be comprehensive, Steiner said.. "We can use $1 to deliver more than $1 of impact. If you address poverty, you can also address access to electricity or vice versa," he said. "If you address access to electricity and combine it with the objective of decarbonization, you can achieve both poverty reduction" and address climate change. Steiner has worked with 95 countries to identify priorities to modify the growth model, such as policies aimed at creating decent jobs and investing in sustainable cities that offer basic services and affordable housing and infrastructure. The post At UN, fading hopes for improving lives on planet appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
4 new solar plants bring clean energy to Visayas, Mindanao
The European Union, the World Bank and the National Power Corporation held a ceremony in General Santos City recently to mark the inauguration of the completed rural network solar power plants involving four electric cooperatives in Samar, Visayas and South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat, Mindanao. The setting-up of the solar power plants and their linking to the distribution networks of the ECs are being done by Napocor under the Access to Sustainable Energy Project administered by the World Bank and funded by a grant from the EU. The project, which is part of the EU’s 66-million Euro (P3.8 billion) Access to Sustainable Energy Programme, financed four 1MWp greenfield solar PV power plants at a total cost of 4.6 million Euro (P280 million). The two plants connected to the distribution networks of South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative and Sultan Kudarat Electric Cooperative were switched on at the ceremony. The other two plants, which will be connected to the networks of Samar I & II Electric Cooperatives, should be switched on by the end of September 2023. These investments in solar energy will help make energy consumption in the target areas more environmentally sustainable, contribute to diversifying the energy supply and ultimately help mitigate climate change. At the inauguration ceremony, Luc Véron, European Union Ambassador to the Philippines, said: “We are very proud to have financed this action that provides sustainable and clean energy solutions to remote communities in Mindanao and Visayas. Working on the transition to a greener society and climate change mitigation is a global priority for the European Union, and it will also remain at the center of our cooperation efforts with the Philippines.” “This project exemplifies the World Bank’s commitment to promoting sustainable energy solutions for inclusive growth in the Philippines,” said Ndiamé Diop, World Bank country director for Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand. He also noted the importance of these solar power plants in setting benchmarks for scaling up renewable energy supplies among ECs. “Napocor is proud to be a partner of the EU and the World Bank in bringing renewable energy to far- flung areas of the Philippines, supporting the government’s endeavors toward full electrification and renewable energy scale-up. Under this partnership, Napocor also completed the installation of 30,500 units of solar home systems for five electric cooperatives in Mindanao in 2022,” said Fernando Martin Y. Roxas, president and CEO of Napocor. Roxas extended his appreciation to both the EU and WB as well as to the Department of Energy for entrusting Napocor with the implementation of the Access to Sustainable Energy Project. “This has been a fruitful collaboration. We are grateful to extend our technical expertise and at the same time obtain inspiration in our own pursuit of renewable energy technologies. We look forward to future engagements with our development partners.” The post 4 new solar plants bring clean energy to Visayas, Mindanao appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl, UK strengthen bilateral relations, geopolitical issues cited
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly met in Manila on Tuesday to further discuss ways to strengthen the two countries' bilateral relations. In his meeting with British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly in Malacañang, Marcos Jr. underscored the long-standing friendship between the Philippines and the UK, which dates back to the early 19th century. He also noted the growing trade and investment ties between the two countries, as well as the increasing cooperation in areas such as climate change, security, and defense. In particular, Marcos said that the security and defense cooperation between the Philippines and the United Kingdom is a "welcome evolution." Creating security ties and collaborations with the United Kingdom, according to Marcos Jr., is "not traditional" for the Philippines. "But that seems to be the evolution, the geopolitics these days. It is a welcome evolution in my view, and again, your visit here I think, is a clear indication of that intent," the President said. Marcos added there has been a change in Europe's post-pandemic focus toward Asia, particularly Southeast Asia, to start the economic reform process. "We are not quite at pre-pandemic levels yet, but we are fast approaching that, and that, of course, is very important for us," Marcos said. Cleverly, for his part, said the UK is "committed to working with the Philippines to build a stronger, more prosperous future for both our countries." He also said that the UK is "ready to invest in the Philippines' economic growth and development." “There is still growth. I know that you are very focused on attracting investment into the country and I’ve been discussing with our ambassador about a UK export finance facility, which I hope would encourage UK companies to invest more broadly,” Cleverly said. The foreign minister said both nations can also work “very, very closely together” to combat climate change and accelerate clean energy access. “So I see lots of opportunities to build on what is a really positive bilateral relationship. And so my final thank you is to thank your nation through you, sir, for being a really good friend and partner to the UK, but with huge growth potential for that partnership,” added Cleverly. The post Phl, UK strengthen bilateral relations, geopolitical issues cited appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
NEDA urged to take lead in addressing shortage of healthcare professionals in Phl
Senator Pia Cayetano on Wednesday urged the National Economic and Development Authority to take the lead in sustaining the country's health sector, especially in addressing the shortage of healthcare professionals. During the Senate's deliberations on the proposed national government budget for 2024, Cayetano pressed the need to decisively resolve the problem as it has serious implications for the sustainability of the country's entire healthcare system. “We only talk about the nursing shortage, but we have a shortage of pharmacists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, everything that makes a health system sustainable, we have a shortage," she said. Cayetano lamented that the Philippines is also lacking a sufficient number of pharmacists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists. “Everything that makes a health system sustainable, we have a shortage,” she said. "Who is taking the lead? CHED [Commission on Higher Education]? DoH [Department of Health]? I would like to recommend that it be NEDA-led. Like if we don't keep pushing CHED, they already have their hands full. If we don't keep pushing DOH, they also have their hands full with nursing. So we really, really need a leader in this area, dear colleagues, because we will also fall short. We will not be able to sustain a healthy country. ” Cayetano likewise pointed out the urgency of supporting the factors that make cities and communities sustainable, such as access to clean water, good health and nutrition, decent housing, education, and food security. The post NEDA urged to take lead in addressing shortage of healthcare professionals in Phl appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Annual social outreach benefits more than 1,500 Davaoeños
Anchored on its mission of uplifting communities, Apo Agua Infrastructura Inc. (Apo Agua) supports the health and wellness needs of its five host communities through its annual medical, dental and legal outreach program, now on its seventh year. The outreach recently provided free medical and dental consultations as well as legal assistance to over 1,500 residents, particularly members of the Indigenous Peoples communities of Barangays Gumalang, Wines, Tawantawan, Tambobong and Tamugan in Davao. [gallery columns="2" size="large" ids="170577,170574"] These essential services were made available through partnerships with the City Health Office, Baguio District Health Office, Marilog Health Office, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples Region XI, Armed Forces of the Philippines 27th Infantry Battalion- Alpha Company, Davao City Police Office-Revitalized Pulis sa Barangay Cluster 6 and 13, City Council Committee on Health and District 3 councilors. Aside from the medical and dental checkups and legal consultations, the beneficiaries from the host barangays were also given free prescribed medicines and vitamins, along with free circumcision services for boys conducted by volunteer doctors. The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples Region XI provided medical and legal services to members of the communities particularly the Obu-Manuvu and Bagobo-Klata indigenous peoples in the five barangays. “This collaborative effort between government agencies and the private sector demonstrates a commitment to address healthcare and legal challenges faced by the indigenous peoples. This annual initiative spearheaded by Apo Agua is crucial in promoting health equity and improving health and well-being of indigenous cultural communities,” said NCIP RXI Regional Director Mumar M. Mamukid. Apo Agua president Anna Lu also emphasized how this program affirms the company’s commitment to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, namely SDG 3, focusing on good health and well-being, and SDG 6, centered on clean water and sanitation. “Now in its seventh year, this annual initiative is a testament to our commitment to uplift communities by improving access to primary health care for our communities, especially for mothers and children. We are thankful to all our volunteers, medical personnel, barangay council and functionaries, and our team members for their dedication to serve our partner communities. At Apo Agua, we are committed to being part of the solution in producing safe, reliable and sustainable water to augment the growing water demand of Davao City,” Lu said. Apo Agua Infrastructura Inc. is building one of the Philippines’ largest private bulk water supply facilities in the country that can supply over 300 million liters daily of safe and sustainable water to the Davao City Water District for the people of Davao City. The post Annual social outreach benefits more than 1,500 Davaoeños appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
USAID, Nestlé PH strengthen barangay local government SWM capacity
The U.S. Agency for Development (USAID), has partnered with Nestlé Philippines, in strengthening the capacity of barangay (village) government units on how to enhance their solid waste management (SWM) systems and be resilient to climate change. A two-day training on formulating barangay SWM Action Plans was held at Nestlé’s headquarters last July, for five pilot barangays in Parañaque City and one of each of Nestlé’s host cities in Tanauan and Lipa, Batangas. Together with USAID, the training was co-facilitated by the Paranaque City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) and USAID’s Clean Cities, Blue Ocean grantee, Pure Oceans. “Keeping our oceans free of plastic is essential for maintaining the natural beauty of the Philippines, helping to ensure sustainable fisheries and protect the livelihoods of millions of Filipinos, while also reducing the impacts of climate change,” USAID, Philippines Environment Office Director, Ryder Rogers said. “At USAID, we are pleased to work with Nestlé Philippines in partnership with barangay governments and local communities to help address and mitigate the impacts of ocean plastic pollution,” he added. In January 2022, USAID and Nestlé Philippines signed a memorandum of understanding to work together in enabling local government units and community leaders in the Philippines to educate communities on the link between climate change and solid waste management. Through USAID’s Clean Cities, Blue Ocean program and Nestlé’s Climate Change and Solid Waste Management initiatives, the goal is to increase communities’ access to education on the Ecological Solid Waste Management of 2000 (Republic Act No. 9003) and share practical tips on SWM. “Nestlé Philippines is committed to tackling urgent issues of plastic waste and climate change through our groundbreaking and large-scale environmental initiatives,” said Jose Uy III, Nestlé Philippines’ SVP and Head of Corporate Affairs. “Through our partnership with USAID, we are able to help empower community leaders at the local level to progress toward a waste-free future.," Uy said. Ian Posadas, Assistant Barangay Secretary and Focal Person of the SWM Committee of Barangay Vitalez, Parañaque City, was one of the participants and he shared, “the 2-day training workshop is a big help for us. As the smallest barangay [in Paranaque City], we need to focus on the 3Rs – reduce, reuse, recycle – and the management of our waste. This plan will be like our lighthouse, or basis, for the next few years and to see if we are accomplishing the plans we have developed during today’s workshop.” The plans drafted are for 2024-2026 but for Barangay Captain Lope Lina of Barangay Bagong Pook, Lipa City in Batangas plans to start early. “I decided that by August, we will start drafting an ordinance strictly implementing segregation so that the support of Nestlé and its partners to us will not be wasted,” Lina said. USAID launched the Clean Cities, Blue Ocean program in August 2019 as the agency’s flagship program to respond to the ocean plastics pollution crisis. The five-year (2019-2024), $53 million program works at the global level and in specific, rapidly urbanizing focal countries to address ocean plastics directly at their source. By strengthening waste management systems and building circular economies, city by city, the program builds sustainable solutions that reduce ocean plastics while empowering vulnerable populations and mitigating pollution that affects human health and our climate. The post USAID, Nestlé PH strengthen barangay local government SWM capacity appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PBBM urges gov’t, business sector collaboration
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has called for a partnership between the government and the business sector to advance sustainable growth and climate action. In his speech at the APEC Business Advisory Council meeting in Cebu on Friday, Marcos underscored that the business sector is not only a major contributor to the economy but also an “aggressive agent of social change." Marcos added that the two sectors must work together to identify practical, pragmatic, and promising solutions to pressing issues such as energy insecurity, the triple threat of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. "We can pursue innovative technologies and approaches, for example, in the exploration of nuclear energy and small modular reactors as viable options for low or zero carbon energy sources," he said. Marcos also urged the business sector to help the government in its transition to clean energy. He said that shared investment would alleviate the financing burden of governments, while the expertise of businesses in areas such as planning, operations, and execution could be mainstreamed in the sustainability projects of the government. In addition, Marcos called for the standardization of data templates, indicators, and baselines across APEC economies. This would facilitate data collection and exchange, which would in turn strengthen technical cooperation within APEC. He also called for the business sector to take the lead in setting up standards for responsible business conduct that would encourage sustainable practices while balancing rapid growth. "Opportunities abound for our people if APEC preserves its strength as an incubator of ideas, driven in large part by the significant contributions of ABAC and the dynamism of the business community in our region," President Marcos said. He went on to say that the business sector needs to not only work with the government but also take the lead in setting standards for responsible business behavior that will support sustainable practices while keeping fast growth in check. The Chief Executive also thanked the ABAC Philippines for holding the Meeting and told its members to get ideas from their surroundings to finish the deliverables and make the most of the tools they have access to. The post PBBM urges gov’t, business sector collaboration appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Soap secret
Recycling is one way people can reduce waste. For one group of Filipinos working in Hong Kong, they collect leftover bar and liquid bath soap from hotels for recycling. Jennifer Montero is among the recycling volunteers who use a refining machine to grate and remove the outer layer and dirt from the collected used soap before re-molding them into new ones. Collected bottled liquid soap is poured into a pail and repacked in plastic containers. The recycled soap is shipped to the Philippines by the group called Soap Cycling Philippines and donated to remote communities that lack access to soap, including daycare centers. A much bigger group of soap recyclers called Clean the World collects used soap from hotels worldwide and ships the stuff to two recycling plants in Orlando, Florida, and Las Vegas, Nevada in the United States. Last month, CTW posted on TikTok a video of its soap recycling operations. The video showed the soap grating machine pushing out noodle-like strands, which are then heated, mixed with water, sanitized by bleaching, and molded into good-as-new individual bars of soap, the New York Post reported. The video went viral getting more than 22.7 million views. There were thousands of comments but not all were happy to see the used soap recycling process. One disgusted commenter vowed to bring “my own soap” in his next hotel stay, according to NYP. After seeing the video, another netizen said using a hotel’s liquid soap in sealed dispensers attached to the wall was preferable from now on. One comment summed up the dread stirred by the hotel soap recycling. “The idea of someone’s pub hairs making it in just rubs me the wrong way,” the netizen said, referring to the grating of the top layer of used soap to remove stuck-on hair. The post Soap secret appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
ICTSI Nigeria unit provides Ogu community with sustainable water systems
Onne Multipurpose Terminal, the Nigerian subsidiary of International Container Terminal Services, Inc., recently turned over three solar-powered water systems to the Ogu community to address its pressing need for access to clean water. Numerous communities in the Niger Delta region continue to struggle with the lack of access to water. “Today is a momentous occasion for both OMT and the Ogu community, who now have access to clean water. This achievement fills us with great joy and further inspires us to do our part in supporting our host communities,” Jim Stewart, OMT chief operations officer, said. Ogu community elders led by Chief Adokiye, Ogu Council of Chiefs chairman, thanked OMT for providing the community with sustainable access to clean water. Highlighting the project’s impact on their lives, the community pledged to diligently maintain the water systems to ensure their longevity. The water system project is one of the ICTSI Group’s several social responsibility initiatives for its host communities. The company currently operates 32 terminals worldwide four of which are in Africa. ICTSI actively seeks to expand its footprint in the continent through opportunities along the Durban and Gauteng container corridor and other regions in West and South Africa. The post ICTSI Nigeria unit provides Ogu community with sustainable water systems appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
EU sends emergency assistance to Mayon-affected families
The European Union is allocating 50,000 pounds (approximately P3 million) to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to families affected by the increased activity of Mayon Volcano in the Philippines. The aid will benefit over 7,500 people in the worst-hit areas in Albay province. The EU funding will support the Philippine Red Cross in delivering immediate assistance through the distribution of emergency shelter items, sleeping kits, primary healthcare assistance and hygiene kits. The aid will also increase access to clean water supplies and sanitation facilities to enable communities to maintain their good hygiene practices. The funding is part of the EU’s overall contribution to the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Mayon, the Philippines’ most active volcano situated on Luzon island about 330 kilometers southeast of Manila, was placed under Alert Level III on 8 June and gradually began spewing lava and sulfuric gas, prompting the evacuation of nearly 13,000 residents. The activity has triggered rockfall and volcanic earthquakes, and there is a continued potential for ashfall and volcanic gas emissions that can pose health hazards to nearby communities. Red Cross staff, volunteers and equipment are on standby for any further response support. The P3-million aid will benefit over 7,500 people in the worst-hit areas in Albay province. The European Union, together with its member states, is the world's leading donor of humanitarian aid. Relief assistance is an expression of European solidarity toward people in need around the world. It aims to save lives, prevent and alleviate human suffering and safeguard the integrity and human dignity of populations affected by natural disasters and human-made crises. Through its European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, the European Union helps over 120 million victims of conflicts and disasters every year. The European Commission has signed a 3-million-pound humanitarian contribution agreement with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to support the Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund. Funds from the DREF are mainly allocated to “small-scale” disasters, those that do not give rise to a formal international appeal. The post EU sends emergency assistance to Mayon-affected families appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»