Quezon City News June 2015

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Quezon City - Archived News
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The Founder Manuel Quezon
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Wars of ancient history were about possessions, territory, power, control, family, betrayal, lover's quarrel, politics and sometimes religion.

But we are in the Modern era and supposedly more educated and enlightened .

Think about this. Don't just brush off these questions.

  • Why is RELIGION still involved in WARS? Isn't religion supposed to be about PEACE?
  • Ask yourself; What religion always campaign to have its religious laws be accepted as government laws, always involved in wars and consistently causing WARS, yet insists that it's a religion of peace?

WHY??

There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance:
  1. The Bullies. They want you to tolerate them so they can continue to maliciously deprive you. Do not believe these bullies teaching tolerance, saying that it’s the path to prevent hatred and prejudice.
  2. The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.

Dietary supplement is a product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs.

Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded. That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the requirements of DSHEA and FDA regulations.

DENR, PCA spearhead the 7th Clean Air Forum

(DENR/RJB/SDL/PIA-NCR)

QUEZON CITY, June 30 (PIA)—The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in cooperation with the Partnership for Clean Air Inc. (PCA), a multi-sectoral coalition of clean air advocates led the conduct of the 7th Clean Air Forum in an attempt to quantify the economic benefits of the 16-year-old local clean air law.

State regulators and their partners for clean air are holding their annual forum from June 30 to July 1 at the Bulwagang Romeo Edu of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Quezon City

Now on its 7th year, the Clean Air Forum was established to review on a yearly basis the progress of Republic Act No. 8749 or the Philippine Clean Air Act. This year’s theme, “Towards Identifying the Economic Benefits of Clean Air: A Call to Action.”

The highlight of the two-day forum is the presentation by Dr. Serafin Talisayon of “Proposed Framework on Economic Benefits of Air Pollution Regulation,” which will show the methodology for valuation of impacts on the economy from exposure to air pollutants and for quantifying the benefits of air pollution regulation in terms of their contribution to the country’s economy.

The forum also aims to look for ways on how the clean air sector can help create opportunities for new jobs and spur interest from the private sector to invest in cleaner technologies.

Government agencies like the DENR, the LTO, the Department of Transportation and Communications and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority are expected to give a presentation of their respective performances in enforcing the law.

Other topics and speakers at the forum are Project on Improving the Air Quality by Energy Undersecretary Loreta Ayson; Productivity Loss in Traffic by Dr. Regin Regidor, director of the University of the Philippines-National Center for Transportation Studies; Assessment of Health Impacts of Air Pollutions by Dr. Daphne Bate of the Lung Center of the Philippines; Indoor Air Pollution in Car Parks and Malls by Engr. Nelia Granadillos of the Occupational Safety & Health Center; and Mobile Emission Inventory of Metro Manila by Dr. Noriel Tiglao, Director of the UP-National College of Public Administration and Governance.

PH, Canadian governments launch P320-M Project for Women’s Economic Empowerment

(PCW/RJB/SDL/PIA-NCR)

QUEZON CITY, June 29 (PIA)— The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) in partnership with Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD), recently led the launching of the GREAT Women-2 or the Supporting Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in the Philippines Project at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Quezon City.

The project targets to assist around 12,000 owner-entrepreneurs and workers of microenterprises in the identified food and non-food industry clusters across the country by improving the competitiveness and sustainability of their enterprises.

It also aims to bring together public and private sector development institutions to address barriers that keep women from growing their businesses through regulatory or policy reforms.

In a statement, Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines Neil Reeder said he believes that the Supporting WEE Project can exceed the gains of the first phase of Gender-Responsive Economic Actions for the Transformation of Women (GREAT Women-1) Project, which benefited an estimated 14,000 women micro-entrepreneurs.

"We hope that this project can show us innovative approaches to women’s economic enterprises that can contribute to the Philippines’ goals of inclusive growth," he said.

PCW Executive Director Emmeline L. Verzosa assured the Canadian government that the Commission is committed to implement the new WEE Project with partner, Department of Trade & Industry (DTI), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Labor & Employment (DOLE), Department of Science & Technology (DOST), and private sector partners such us the ECHOsi Foundation and PLDT-Smart.

She also thanked DFATD for entrusting the project yet again to PCW for the benefit of more Filipino women.

Labor Undersecretary Ciriaco A. Lagunzad, Agriculture Undersecretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, and DTI Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya also attended the launching and gave their messages of commitment to project implementation with the goal to boost the economic empowerment of women in the MSMEs cluster.

The Philippine Government identified the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as a promising growth area and a gateway towards a more inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

DTI data (2012) revealed that 99.6% of Philippine businesses are categorized as MSMEs, accounting for 61% to 70% of employment.

Electric vehicles may replace jeepneys, tricycles

By James Konstantin Galvez

The Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP) has called on various transport groups and on government to seriously take a look at electric vehicles as possible, viable replacements for old, dilapidated and polluting jeepneys and tricycles.

EVAP President Rommel Juan said that currently, there are about 350,000 old jeepneys with an average age of 20 years that are spread all over the archipelago.

“Add to this 3.5 million tricycles, with some of them still using the smoke-belching two-stroke motors that have been banned by the Clean Air Act,” Juan noted in a statement.

He believes that the future of the Philippine mass transport system is here and it is electric.

“Electric vehicles are cleaner, more efficient, perfect for Philippine road conditions and are good for the economy. They are expected to spur the local auto industry with the development of local EV assembly and manufacturing,” he said.

“So again, we call on all the transport groups and on government, both local and national, to look into EVs as possibly the most viable replacements for our ailing public transport vehicles,” Juan added.

EVAP issued the statement in time for the 7th Annual Clean Air Forum, where regulators and stakeholders will attempt to quantify the economic benefits of the 16-year-old local clean air law.

From June 30 to July 1, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources will lead the yearly review on the progress of Republic Act 8749 or the Philippine Clean Air Act.

This year’s theme is “Toward Identifying the Economic Benefits of Clean Air: A Call to Action.”

The forum will be held at the Bulwagang Romeo Edu of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Quezon City.

The highlight of the two-day forum is a presentation by Dr. Serafin Talisayon of “Proposed Framework on Economic Benefits of Air Pollution Regulation,” which will show the methodology for valuation of impacts on the economy from exposure to air pollutants and for quantifying the benefits of air pollution regulation in terms of their contribution to the country’s economy.

The forum also aims to look for ways on how the clean air sector can help create opportunities for new jobs and draw interest from the private sector to invest in cleaner technologies.

Meanwhile, Juan said the EV industry is now ready to cater to the local public transport market. Its members now have the technology and facilities to supply the local public transport sector with cleaner and more modern versions of the jeepneys and tricycles known as the EJeepneys and the ETrikes.

EJeepneys have been running in Makati City since 2008 under its Makati Green Route project and now also ply Filinvest City in Alabang, Ateneo, La Salle, Meralco compound.

ETrikes, on the other hand, are now running in many areas around the country such as in Bacoor in Cavite, Boracay, Quezon City, Mandaluyong City and just recently, inside the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City, under what is called as the E-kot Project.

Bodie Pulido, EVAP executive director, urges people and companies interested in joining the push for Public Transport Modernization to coordinate with the group, saying funding is now a major impediment.

He said they are ready to link interested investors and EVAP members to promote the use of EVs in the Philippines, believing that “this is possibly one of the better ways to modernize our public transport system.”

“We have found out that it is cheaper for operators to use electric vehicles than regular internal combustion engine vehicles because of the lower power cost and less maintenance,” Pulido added.

“Many foreign players are now in the country because they have identified the Philippines as possibly the best place to develop the EV industry and maybe make it the EV manufacturing hub in the region,” he said.

Pulido added that companies from Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, China, Turkey, Australia and the United States have been coordinating with EVAP to establish possible joint ventures with EVAP members and set up local operations.

MMDA to replace Congressional Ave. bridge

(ABS-CBNnews.com)

MANILA - Motorists should brace for heavy traffic as the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) closes the temporary bridge along Congressional Avenue Extension in Quezon City.

MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said the bridge will be closed starting 9 a.m. on Monday, June 29.

This is to give way to the construction of a new bridge by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

The construction project will take five months, the MMDA said.

The eastbound lane will be closed for the construction of the westbound lane. The westbound lane will later be closed for the construction of the eastbound lane.

Motorists are advised to take the following alternate routes:

Eastbound:

Via Tandang Sora Avenue - All light vehicles coming from Mindanao Avenue, take Tandang Sora Avenue then left at Doña Robina, left at Jade Street or Viola Street, and right at Congressional Avenue Extension to destination. - All vehicles coming from Mindanao Avenue, take Tandang Sora Avenue, straight up to Katipunan Avenue (C5) to destination.

Via North Avenue/Quezon Memorial Circle - All vehicles coming from NLEX, Quirino Highway, take Mindanao Avenue, left at North Avenue, right at Quezon Memorial Circle, then right at Commonwealth Avenue, turn right at C.P. Garcia Avenue straight to Katipunan to destination (vice versa)

Via Visayas Avenue/Quezon Memorial Circle - All vehicles coming from NLEX, Quirino Highway, take Mindanao Avenue, left at Congressional Avenue, right at Visayas Avenue, right at Quezon Memorial Circle then right at Commonwealth Avenue turn right at C.P. Garcia Avenue straight to Katipunan to destination (vice versa).

Westbound:

Via North Avenue/Quezon Memorial Circle - From Katipunan Avenue (C5) straight to Tandang Sora Avenue left at Commonwealth Avenue right at Quezon Memorial Circle then right at North Avenue left at Mindanao Avenue to destination.

Via Visayas Avenue/Quezon Memorial Circle - From Katipunan Avenue (C5) straight to Tandang Sora Avenue left at Commonwealth Avenue right at Quezon Memorial Circle then right at Visayas Avenue left at Congressional Avenue to Mindanao Avenue to destination.

Via Visayas Avenue/Central Avenue - From Fairview/Commonwealth Avenue right at Central Avenue then right at Central Avenue then right at Visayas Avenue left at Congressional Avenue to Mindanao Avenue to destination. -- Report from Dennis Datu, dzMM

Pantawid program keeps poor children healthy and in school

(DSWD/rjb/lfb/PIA-NCR)

QUEZON CITY, June 26, (PIA) - - A recent study of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) showed that the Pantawid program is sending more poor children to school as well as keeping them nourished.

The PIDS study result was reported by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon Juliano Soliman in the June 24 press conference held at the Katapatan Hall of DSWD’s Central Office.

Soliman said that the study, conducted in May 2015 revealed that the highest increase in school attendance among children five years old and below came from Pantawid household beneficiaries.

The increase in enrollment of 3-18 year old children or in Day Care to High School and even in college is attributed to the Pantawid because of the conditionalities set in the program in exchange for the cash grant and, the expansion from age fourteen to eighteen of children beneficiaries. The expansion aims to give the beneficiaries better opportunities in life.

Meanwhile, to ensure that the nutritional needs of the children especially in pre-schools are met, DSWD and Local government units (LGUs) implement the Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP). Malnourished children who usually come from poor families are the priority beneficiaries of the program.

Soliman added that the PIDS study showed that in 2008 when the program started, only 47.2 percent of children in the poorest families attended pre-school compared to 82.1 percent of children in the upper-middle income families.

By 2013, the data of poor children attending pre-school rose to 92.2 percent almost equal to rich children attending pre-school at 98.2 percent.

Meanwhile, the DSWD data revealed that from January to December 2014, attendance of 3-5 year old children in day care centers and pre-schools, and 6-18 year old in primary and secondary schools achieved a 96.3 percent compliance rate.

On the other hand, malnutrition rate among the 0-5 age group lessened because along with the feeding program, intensified nutrition and health education were given to children, parents and caregivers.

In 2014, a total of 1,696,194 children in Day Care Centers (DCC) and in Supervised Neighborhood Play (SNP) benefitted from the program.

As of May 27, 2015, the program has expanded to 41,519 barangays in 144 cities and 1,483 municipalities in 80 provinces with 4,424,705 registered active households nationwide.

The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program is the government’s flagship poverty reduction program, cash grants are given to beneficiaries in exchange for meeting conditions on health, education and attendance to family development sessions. The program is on its seventh year of implementation having started in 2008.

PDEA cites QCPD, 4 regional offices for anti-illegal drug ops

(PDEA/RJB/JEG/PIA-NCR)

QUEZON CITY, 25 June (PIA) –The Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) recently cited the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) for its significant contribution in the anti-drug operations.

PDEA Director General Undersecretary Arturo G. Cacdac, Jr. recently presented the plaque of recognition and award to QCPD District Director Police Chief Superintendent Joel D. Pagdilao.

QCPD was cited for the seizure of 45 kilos of shabu with an estimated value of P255 million and the arrest of two drug personalities on June 11, 2015 along West Avenue corner Bulacan St., Philam, Quezon City.

“The teamwork, commitment and strong sense of determination demonstrated by our PDEA regional offices and other anti-drug law enforcement units are concrete proof of how serious we are in the fight against the drug menace in our country,” Cacdac said.

Also cited were four (4) other regional offices: PDEA Regional Office-National Capital Region (PDEA RO-NCR) under Director III Erwin S. Ogario was cited for the successful conduct of a buy-bust operation along Pedro Gil St. corner Quirino Avenue, Manila which resulted to confiscation of 1,067 grams of shabu worth P3.5 million and the arrest of a drug personality.

PDEA Regional Office 11 (PDEA RO11|) under Director Emerson L. Rosales was given recognition for the successful buy-bust operation in Barangay Magupo West, Tagum City and seized 1,093.9 grams of shabu with an estimated value of P9 million and the arrest of two drug personalities.

Also awarded was PDEA Regional Office 4A (PDEA RO4A) under Director Adzhar A. Albani for the successful conduct of a buy-bust operation in Brgy. Sumapang Matanda Ligas Road, Malolos City, Bulacan which resulted to confiscation of 2,030.3 grams of shabu with an estimated value of P1.8 million and the arrest of two drug personalities.

Likewise, PDEA Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA ARMM) under Director Yogi Felimon L. Ruiz was cited for the successful buy-bust operation in Brgy. Kilala, Marawi City and confiscated 1,005 grams of shabu with an estimated value of P4.5 million and the arrest of a drug personality.

PAGASA to Metro Manila: Prepare for possible thunderstorm

(ABS-CBNnews.com)

MANILA - State weather bureau PAGASA advised people in Metro Manila to prepare for a possible thunderstorm on Wednesday.

PAGASA said on its official Twitter account that a thunderstorm is "MORE likely" to develop over the metro within the next 12 hours.

Before PAGASA declared the onset of the rainy season on Monday, heavy rains caused by thunderstorms have already triggered floods in different areas in Metro Manila.

Deep floods were particularly monitored on España and Pureza streets in Manila and Tomas Morato and Quezon Avenue in Quezon City.

Meanwhile, in an earlier tweet, PAGASA also said that a thunderstorm is also likely to develop over Northern Luzon and Northern Mindanao within the next 12 hours.

"Tiangge", carnival operations at Quezon Memorial Circle hit

By Sammy F. Martin (PNA), RMA/SFM

MANILA, June 23 (PNA) -- The unabated desecration of Quezon Memorial Circle, another national monument and landmark that serves as the burial site for the late nationalist and last president of the Philippine Commonwealth Manuel Luis Quezon, has caught the ire of congressmen who are also leading the fight against the builders of Torre Manila, the Rizal Monument eyesore.

In a weekly news forum, Ugnayan sa Batasan Representatives Winston Castelo (LP, Quezon City); Rodel Batocabe (Ako Bicol Party-list) and Ibarra Gutierrez (Akbayan Partylist) vowed to look into the reported transformation of the QMC into a “flea market and carnival” by the Quezon City government.

The trio, all members of the House Committee on Metro Manila Development, agreed that there was an urgent need for a review of existing policies and laws that protect national shrines and monuments from commercialization and desecration.

They have led the House inquiry into the construction of the controversial Torre de Manila, which was described as “photo bomber” because it allegedly ruined the line of sight of the Rizal Monument.

“There is now a need to determine flaws of existing laws in order to protect national shrines. We cannot allow them to turn into carnival sites,” Batocabe said.

On the other hand, Castelo vowed to initiate a House inquiry into the reported desecration of the QMC, where the Quezon monument stands.

The Quezon monument is the burial site for Quezon, acknowledged in Philippine history as the Father of the National Language and the last president of the Commonwealth government.

Castelo said the “development” of the QC Circle has been assigned to Tadeo Palma, who had served as the city administrator and Novaliches chief executive during the mayoralty term of now Speaker Feliciano Belmonte.

Palma, who took over the management of the memorial circle from former Vice Mayor Charito Planas during Belmonte's mayoralty term, has allowed the operation of a carnival and “tiangge” or flea market that have occupied huge areas of the vast QMC lot.

Planas was assigned to manage the QMC as chairperson of the Quezon Memorial Foundation. Using donations from private firms and government, Planas was credited for rapidly developing the circle into one of the top public parks in the country.

The carnival has become a "permanent fixture" at the QMC since it was first established for over four years now.

As this developed, flea market stall holders who reportedly pay at least Php 1,200 per day for vending rights have been operating inside the QMC for over two years.

An estimated 200 stalls and stores have littered the QMC grounds.

Castelo said the construction of the 30-storey Suntrust condominium building behind the Quezon City hall will also have to be looked into since edifice, like the Torre de Manila, obstructs the view of the QMC.

QC cafe saves stray cats, finds them a new home

By Trisha Macas / BM (GMA News)

A coffee shop in Teacher's Village, Quezon City does more than offer its guests hot drinks and a place to chill. It also lets them interact with cats that have been rescued from the streets and are up for adoption.

According to a report by Cedric Castillo on GMA News TV's Balitanghali on Monday, Cat Cafe Manila owner Denis Ty partnered with non-government animal welfare organization Compassion and Responsibility for Animals (CARA) on this mission to find the cats new homes.

"All of them are actually pusang Pinoys that were picked up from streets. Dito, they are showcased here. People who like them or who love them can adopt them," he said.

The cafe also dedicates a part of its income for cat care.

"Lahat po sila pag naalagan nang mabuti, maganda po silang pets and wonderful creatures as well," Ty said.

How city pounds handle stray cats, dogs

Section 4 of Republic Act No. 9482 or the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007 mandates local government units to implement a rabies prevention and control program. This includes the "impounding, field control, and disposition of unregistered, stray and unvaccinated dogs."

According to the Quezon City Veterinary Office, 3,398 stray dogs and 1,391 stray cats were brought to the Quezon City Pound in 2014.

Some of the dogs were claimed and adopted. But all of the cats were put to rest for good.

"I-euthanasia na po siya kung wala pong mag-redeem or mag-claim," Quezon City Pound veterinarian Dr. Rolito Villamor explained.

DSWD gets Australian Govt P100M fund grant to boost disaster response

(DSWD)

QUEZON CITY, June 21 -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) received a fund grant amounting to P104.2 million from the Australian Government-Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) for the implementation of a three-year Support Program for Disaster Response.

The project aims to enhance the Department’s capacity in providing leadership in disaster response and humanitarian assistance in times of calamities, DSWD said in a statement.

The DSWD presented last week the inception report for the fund grant which shall have four major components for implementation such as prepositioning and purchase of non-food relief supplies; warehouse construction; capacity development; and, enhancement of project management to include monitoring and evaluation.

DSWD Assistant Secretary Vilma B. Cabrera said, “We are grateful for the support program which will help the Department further enhance its disaster response operations. The implementation of the program is timely especially that the typhoon season is approaching.”

She added that the program components are based on the lessons learned by the Department in recent major disaster operations.

In behalf of the Australian Government, DFAT Counsellor Geoff King expressed approval of the inception report, and hoped that the annual plan for implementation be drafted immediately to formally start the program. He added that their office will work closely with DSWD especially in ensuring purchase of international quality materials and the on-time completion of the components. The Support Program for Disaster Response is one of the many partnerships of DSWD with the Australian Government.


5 students charged in UP Diliman attacks

By Robertzon Ramirez and Janvic Mateo (The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines - Five University of the Philippines (UP) students were arrested and charged in connection with two attacks on campus Thursday night, a Quezon City Police District (QCPD) official said yesterday.

Rannie Mercado, Rudolf Neral, Cheran Cabrito, Elias Villanueva and Sean Rodriguez were charged with physical injury, frustrated murder, violation of Republic Act 10591 (the comprehensive firearms law) and malicious mischief during inquest proceedings at a Quezon City court yesterday morning, Superintendent Richard Fiesta, Anonas police station commander, said.

The victims are reportedly members of the Alpha Sigma fraternity while the suspects allegedly belong to the Upsilon Sigma Phi fraternity.

Juvie dela Cruz and Jesus Blas Vitangcol were walking along Apacible street in the UP campus when five unidentified men, all wearing bonnets, got out of a vehicle and attacked them with baseball bats and steel pipes, Fiesta said.

He added that the suspects were charged with frustrated murder because they nearly killed Vitangcol.

Just a few minutes after the attack started, the unidentified men fled while the victims sought assistance from their friends, Mario Andrefanio Santos and Ernesto Luis Martino Pangalangan.

Fiesta, however, said that when the victims’ friends arrived, another van stopped in front of them and the vehicle’s five occupants started attacking them using a baseball bats and steel pipes.

The men in the van fled when they saw the UP Diliman police arrive. The campus police gave chase until they caught the suspects along Commonwealth Avenue.

Fiesta said they are still hunting down the men who attacked the first two victims.

He said the five arrested suspects, upon the advice of their lawyers, refused to talk.

Fiesta said they only found out the suspects’ names when they were sent to a hospital for medical examination prior to being jailed.

‘No place for cowards’

UP Diliman chancellor Michael Tan said the university will initiate “immediate preventive suspension” on students involved in the attack.

“We will impose the full penalty on those found guilty, and this is expulsion,” he said in a statement.

“There is no place for cowards in UP,” he added.

Tan confirmed that two fraternity-related attacks happened on campus Thursday, but refused to name the students and fraternities involved.

“The UP Diliman administration condemns these brutal attacks. The use of getaway vehicles shows these attacks were premeditated,” he said.

He said the attacks occurred as the university celebrated its Foundation Day.

Tan appealed to the fraternities involved to refrain from retaliating.

The UP Diliman student council also condemned the attacks.

Local political party UP Alyansa said another attack was reported earlier this week, this time involving a member of the Upsilon Sigma Phi fraternity.

“However, no police report on this has been filed as of late. What is extremely alarming is that these incidents happened only days apart. When will the next hit take place? What’s the score? How many more must get hurt?” the party said.

The two fraternities have yet to issue a statement regarding the incident.

‘UP e-kot’ tests electric tricycle rides

By Erika Sauler

Move over, UP Ikot jeepneys. The UP “e-kot” or electric tricycle is coming.

Ten e-kot tricycles will soon be seen on the University of the Philippines campus in Diliman, Quezon City, for a two-month trial run as part of a study on environment-friendly modes of transportation.

“The vision of UP Diliman is to go green in the next five years. This will be a test of its feasibility,” said Nestor Castro, UP vice chancellor for community affairs, whose office is overseeing the test run. “We will look at power consumption, speed, maintenance [and] whether it can handle the terrain and the volume of passengers, among other things.”

Bemac Electric Transportation Philippines Inc., a subsidiary of Japanese firm Uzushio Electric Co. Ltd., will lend the electric tricycles to UP.

A memorandum of agreement will be signed between UP Diliman Chancellor Michael Tan and Bemac president Takahiro Innami during the e-kot launch Friday.

The study will be done in coordination with the UP National Center for Transportation Studies. After an assessment, they will recommend whether to discontinue the e-kot project or request a grant from the Japan International Cooperation Agency for the purchase of more e-vehicles, Castro told the Inquirer on Thursday.

Bemac’s 68VM e-trike currently costs P450,000. The model can accommodate six passengers and go up to 50 kph, with a 60-km range on a fully charged lithium ion battery.

The tricycles will provide free services on UP campus from June 20 to Aug. 19, mainly on streets not covered by existing jeepney routes, Castro said.

Some units will be deployed for messengerial tasks between Quezon Hall and other buildings, others for the UP Diliman police, maintenance office and the dormitories. They may also be used by varsity players or employees who need late-night rides.

Super Mega Manila and urban renewal

By Philip M. Lustre Jr. (Rappler.com)

The emergence of Super Mega Manila, or GCR, requires inward-looking redevelopment, or urban renewal, programs to complement the outward migration of its people and development

The concept of Greater Manila surfaced in the 1960s to refer to old Manila and the adjacent cities of Kalookan, Pasay and Quezon. By a mere stroke of the pen, dictator Ferdinand Marcos expanded it to become Metro Manila in 1975 and include Greater Manila and 12 other cities and a town.

The same 17 political constituencies composed the modern-day Metro Manila. In 1989, Congress enacted the law creating the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) as an administrative superbody to provide them with basic services traffic management, garbage collection, and urban planning, among others.

In late 1990s, the Mega Manila concept had emerged to refer to expanded Metro Manila. It was largely used by corporate planners as a conceptual guide to cover areas within the 50-kilometer radius with old Manila as center. In broadcast industry, Mega Manila became a selling point as it referred to areas, which radio signals could reach.

The Mega Manila concept did not take off as a political concept but policymakers, urban visionaries, and corporate planners had nevertheless used it in their works to refer to expanded Metro Manila.

In the late 2000s, the concept of Super Mega Manila emerged to refer to an expanded Mega Manila, which referred to areas that go beyond the 50-kilometer radius.

Since rapid urbanization continues its frenetic pace outside Mega Manila, the Super Mega Manila concept has been lately refined and redefined to become the Greater Capital Region (GCR). It covers areas in the 100-kilometer radius with old Manila as center.

Lately, the creation of the GCR Special Administrative Region (GCR-SAR) by 2030 has been proposed to become a special political body to provide the region with full autonomy.

Even the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the coordinating agency of Japan’s official development assistance to developing countries, has used this concept as reference in its planning works.

As conceived in the 1990s, the Mega Manila concept originally included parts of Pampanga and Bulacan in Central Luzon, and Rizal, Laguna, Cavite and Batangas in Southern Tagalog.

Mega Manila extended to Tagaytay City in the south, Malolos City in the north and the towns of Tanay in Rizal and Angat, and Norzagaray in Bulacan in the east.

The Super Mega Manila concept, or the refined Greater Capital Region, seeks to include Mega Manila and the areas extending to entire Pampanga and Bulacan, parts of Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Zambales, and Bataan in Central Luzon, and entire Cavite and Rizal, and parts of Batangas, Quezon, and Aurora in the Southern Tagalog region.

Coherent whole

Studies of urban planners, including JICA, said the GCR concept and the 2030 creation of the GCR-SAR address the rapid urbanization of Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog.

Its development into a coherent geographical whole is being sought to improve the delivery of the following services: garbage disposal, waste and sanitation, traffic management, flood control, urban renewal and environmental planning, and disaster management.

The proposed GCR-SAR creation has become necessary as development projects keep on sprouting in every nook and cranny of the GCR area.

Several housing projects have mushroomed to shelter the growing population. Industrial enclaves and factories have been relocating there, too.

Also, the government has been building several big-ticket infrastructure projects there.

In fact, development centers have come out in the north, south and east of Mega Manila, or outside of the 50-kilometer radius.

Every development center has specific characteristics to make it distinct and unique.

Super metropolis

The imperative is to connect these development centers into a single, integrated, cohesive, and functional whole to maximize economic growth and development.

Hence, Super Mega Manila, or GCR, is an emerging super metropolis.

It is the perceived result of the integration of at least three development centers outside Mega Manila: the Olongapo-Angeles corridor, the Lipa-Batangas City corridor and the Calabarzon integrated industrial center, which is spread in San Pedro, Canlubang, Cabuyao, Biñan, Sta. Rosa City and Calamba City in Laguna, and Gen. Mariano Alvarez, Rosario, Dasmariñas City, and Silang in Cavite.

The JICA concept paper on GCR-SAR justified its creation because Regions 3 and 4 have to mitigate the increasing growth pressures on Metro Manila.

It has identified interventions on key areas: integrated transport for urban and rural mobility; disaster preparedness and resilience; environment and high quality public space; affordable housing and delivery; and land use management and development control.

The JICA concept paper spoke of a plan to build urban roads and expressways, and urban railways for integration into a coherent public transport system, pursue housing programs to include informal settlers and construct gateway ports and airports, and install traffic management systems.

The overall investment cost could reach P3 trillion, or $58 billion, until 2030.

These are not all. Urban planners have failed to consider that as outward urbanization continues, inward redevelopment emerges as an issue too.

Stop Manila's decay

Hence, the outward trend would have to be complemented by an inward move to stop decay at the aging cities, particularly the very center of growth – old Manila.

Urban planners have to pursue with vigor and dynamism the redevelopment of old Manila to bring back its old glory and stop its decay at its core.

The nation needs symbols. Manila, with all its splendor and glory reminiscent of its past, has to continue to embody its gentle soul and tranquil nature that goes back to the old colonial and postcolonial days.

While growth and development are unstoppable, urban planners have to look at maintaining and strengthening the old symbols of nationhood. Their destruction is criminal.

But the redevelopment of old Manila should not be limited to Manila alone. It has to include Quezon City, the country’s largest city in population.

While the move to make it the nation’s information and communications center is laudable, its planners have to move to make it a showcase of urban redevelopment, primarily to improve the quality of life of its almost two million inhabitants.

In short, the emergence of Super Mega Manila, or GCR, requires inward-looking redevelopment, or urban renewal, programs to complement outward migration of its people and development.

Urban decay has to be stopped too. Hence, redevelopment is a must.

PNP launches expanded automated fingerprint ID system

By Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo (With Ma. Monica Padillo, UST intern/Sunnex)

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) launched on Wednesday the expanded Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS), a type of biometric system that uses digital imaging to capture a fingerprint.

Chief Superintendent Theresa Cid, PNP Crime Laboratory director, said the expanded AFIS could store up to five million fingerprints from the previous one million fingerprints during its initial phase in 2004.

The first phase of AFIS, which was a donation from Japan International Cooperation Agency, now holds more than 760,000 fingerprint records.

"[The AFIS] can be used to link suspects who had committed crimes to other crimes. 'Yun po ang kagandahan ng AFIS. It takes five seconds to come up with the nominees with data close to the fingerprint of a suspect," Cid said.

Cid said the expanded AFIS, which will start operation staring Monday (June 22), is worth P270 million.

Chief Superintendent Augusto Marquez Jr., deputy chief of the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM), said the high-tech equipment can help in shortening the period of investigation for every crime as the manual cross-matching, which usually takes at least one week to establish the identity of the suspects, will be lessened.

"Before, fingerprint data would still have to be submitted here at Crime Laboratory and it was very difficult then because the fingerprints are in paper, there are smudges so they are not perfect," he said.

"By the time it (recapturing of fingerprints) was done, the suspect was already released on bail which means that case is unsolved because of the lack of evidence," he added.

Marquez said the AFIS is initially available at Camp Crame, Quezon City but there are plans to roll it out in 1,700 police stations around the country depending on availability of funds.

"So this high-tech equipment is more of increasing our crime solution and crime clearance efficiency," said Marquez.

Superintendent Ariel Ayusip, chief of the PNP Crime Laboratory Fingerprint Identification Division, said the AFIS, which also keeps other basic information about an arrested suspect and all the crimes he has committed, has already helped solve around 400 cases.

PhilHealth pilots PVC-type ID cards for indigent, sponsored and senior citizen members in QC

(PHIC/RJB/KCDA/PIA-NCR)

QUEZON CITY, June 16 (PIA) – The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Local Government of Quezon City (QC), to support the enhancement of QC’s health care delivery system.

The MOA covers the setting-up of electronic infrastructure in the LGU-owned hospitals of QC and the subsequent identification of the said LGU as the pilot site for the issuance of fully transactional Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC)-type ID cards, which shall be given to the Indigent, Sponsored, and Senior Citizen members in the locality.

Indigent members are those identified by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) based on specific criteria. These people neither have visible means of income nor sufficient revenue for family subsistence.

Senior citizen members are those who are 60 years old and above and are not currently covered by any of the existing membership categories of PhilHealth.

Sponsored members are those whose contributions are being shouldered by another individual, government agency, or private entity.

"The PhilHealth ID card in its durable form is now every cardholder’s passport to quality medical care services. It will facilitate PhilHealth-related transactions, particularly in LGU-owned facilities, where point-of-service terminals will be installed, thus making transactions purely electronic in nature," says PhilHealth CEO, Alexander A. Padilla. (PHIC).

Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries continue to enjoy health care benefits

(PNA), FFC/DSWD-PR/LSJ

MANILA, June 15 (PNA)--More beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilya are now reaping the benefits of the partnership between the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

Since 2012 when the DSWD and PhilHealth partnered to provide health care for the poor, more than 4.4 million Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries are now covered by PhilHealth as Sponsored Members.

DSWD Secretary Corazon J. Soliman said that this partnership has strengthened the government's commitment to bridge poor families to medical and health services, further improving their living conditions

“I am happy that more families are now seeking medical help for their illnesses. Before, they were discouraged from seeking medical help for fear of the high cost of hospitalization. Their membership to PhilHealth has given them the courage to face their health challenges,” Sec. Soliman said.

Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) is a human development program that invests in the health and education of poor families, primarily those with children aged 0-18.

It provides cash grants to partner-beneficiaries who comply with the conditions of sending their children to school, bringing them to health centers for checkups, and attending the monthly Family Development Sessions (FDS).

As Sponsored Members, they are entitled to full benefits including the case rate payments for 23 medical and surgical cases wherein they no longer need to pay in excess of the PhilHealth set benefits in government facilities.

They can also avail of the "Z" benefit package for catastrophic illnesses such as childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia, breast and prostate cancer, and kidney transplant, with financial coverage of PHP210,000, PHP100,000 (each), and PHP600,000, respectively.

This package is available in all PhilHealth accredited hospitals nationwide.

Beneficiaries also enjoy primary care benefits such as consultations, regular blood pressure monitoring, promotive health education on breastfeeding, and counseling on lifestyle modification and smoking cessation.

Medicines for diseases like asthma and acute gastroenteritis (with mild or no dehydration), upper respiratory tract infection/pneumonia, and urinary tract infection are also provided by accredited healthcare providers.

To avail of health care benefits, the beneficiaries will just have to present their household ID numbers at accredited hospitals in the country.

Merilyn Buhisan, 55, a Pantawid Pamilya beneficiary from Brgy. Commonwealth, Quezon City is just one of the more than 4.4 million household-beneficiaries covered by this partnership.

“My husband fell ill last April 2014 due to kidney complications. We had no money to buy his medicines, aside from numerous school expenses of our children. When I was asked whether I was covered by PhilHealth, I told them that I was because I am a Pantawid Pamilya beneficiary,” Merilyn said.

Although her husband died last December 2014, Merlyn recalled how being a Pantawid Pamilya beneficiary helped their family during the time her husband was undergoing treatment.

“Our hospital bill reached PHP85,000 but since we are covered by PhilHealth as Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries, we did not pay a single cent),” Merilyn said.

“Today, I feel that poor families are truly given attention. Before I thought that seeking treatment in hospitals and going for regular health check-ups are just for the rich. I was wrong,” Merlyn said.

Araneta Group ramps up first BPO tower

By KRYSTIN NIKA M. LAZO (Reporter)

Araneta Center Inc., the property arm of the Araneta Group, is ramping up the construction of its first office tower within the P15-billion Cyberpark in Araneta Center, to complete the project by the end of the year.

In a statement, the company said its Cyberpark Tower One will be the first within the 8-hectare development. The P15-billion commercial block comprises five office towers catering to the strong demand in the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector.

“Cyberpark Tower One, the first of the five towers to be built, will open by the end of 2015, while Cyberpark Tower Two will be finished by 2016,” the company said.

The five Cyberpark towers will generate 650,000 square meters (sqm.) of leasable space to accommodate about 100,000 BPO agents.

The 35-hectare Araneta Center houses over 30,000 BPO professionals across 150,000 sqm. of leasable area built by some of the biggest BPO companies like Accenture, AIG, EGS, and Telus.

Since the 1960s, the 35-hectare commercial and entertainment complex in Cubao has evolved into a mixed-use community with corporate, leisure, retail, hospitality, entertainment and residential components.

“The addition of Cyberpark only reinforces the Araneta Center’s primacy as Quezon City’s premier central business district,” the company said.

6 QC establishments violate fire code - BFP

By Robert Mano (dzMM, ABS-CBNnews.com)

MANILA -- Six business establishments in Quezon City violated the fire code, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said Saturday.

Quezon City fire marshal Supt. Jesus Fernandez said they discovered that the violations of these industrial establishments are similar to those of Kentex Manufacturing Corporation in Valenzuela City.

The fire which hit the factory on May 13 killed 72 individuals, including the son of the factory owner.

BFP gave the establishments 30 days to fully comply with the fire code. Failure to do so will lead to closure of said establishments.

The agency aims to finish the inspection of 1,300 industrial establishments in Quezon City within eleven days, after which they will start inspecting other kinds of establishments within the city.

DENR holds poster making tilt for Environment Month

(PNA), FFC/DENR-PR/PJN

MANILA, June 12 (PNA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is inviting college students to join its Digital Poster Making Competition in celebration of the Philippine Environment Month this June with a theme, “100 Million Filipinos. One Planet. Consume with Care.”

An initiative of the DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), the competition aims to make students more aware about the environment and enable them to participate in an active way to make change.

The contest is open to all college students across the country. This year’s theme seeks to promote the practical and efficient use of resources by every Filipino.

“Through simple and environment-friendly practices, our resources can be conserved, which is a big step in preserving one planet Earth,” said DENR Undersecretary and concurrent EMB Director Jonas Leones.

Only one entry per student will be accepted. Entries must be submitted in a sealed brown envelop, with the participant’s full name, contact numbers and email address and must contain the following:

-One CD/DVD containing the electronic copy of the layered original design in digital format, i.e. Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Corel Draw, MS Paint or Macromedia Freehand. It must also include a copy in JPEG, BMP, PNG or PDF format in high resolution for printing purposes.

-One poster-sized (18x24 inches) colored print out of the entry, either in portrait or landscape orientation.

-A 50- to 100-character write-up about the entry, with title.

-Photocopy of school ID with signature.

Entries must be submitted to the EMB’s Environmental Education and Information Division (EEID), 2/F HRD Bldg., DENR Compound, Visayas Avenue, Quezon City, from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Deadline for submission is on Thursday, June 18, 2015. Winners will be notified through the contact information included in their entries.

Entries will be judged based on the following criteria: Originality, 40%; Relevance to the theme, 30%; Creativity, 20%; and Overall Production, 10%.

All entries should contain new and unique design ideas never before seen in any broadcast, print, or online media; has never been used in any contest whether in part or whole; and must not have any copyright violation, pornographic, vulgar, racist, or obscene content.

Big cash prizes await top winners. The first prize will receive PHP15,000, while the second and third prizes will get PHP10,000 and PHP5,000, respectively. Three contestants will take home PHP2,500 as consolation prizes.

ICT expo for PWDs set June 17 in Quezon City

By Ma. Cristina Arayata [(PNA), LAM/MCCA/RSM]

MANILA, June 11 (PNA) -- The Department of Science and Technology – Information and Communications Office (DOST-ICTO), in partnership with the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) will hold an ICT expo for persons with disabilities (PWDs) on June 17 at Sequoia Hotel in Quezon City.

The first Inclusive “ICT 4 BIZ 2015 Expo: Connecting Businesses with the Right People” aims to promote digital entrepreneurship among PWDs by providing them with conducive venue for business-to-business interactions, and seminars on digital entrepreneurship.

It also aims to connect Filipino PWDs engaged in animation, web/graphics design, web content management, coaching, and transcription services to business institutions and organizations needing these services.

The event is also in line with the observance of the ICT month, with this year’s theme “No Juan Left Behind”. DOST-ICTO continues to explore the ICT as an expansive sector loaded with opportunities for every Juan.

Moreover, it is the agency’s answer to the government’s mandate of providing equal employment opportunities to PWDs who, according to a 2010 census, make up 1.53 percent of the population.

There is Republic Act No. 7277 (Magna Carta for Disabled Persons) that was implemented in 1992 to protect the PWDs welfare, prohibiting any form of discrimination, especially in the workplace.

For further details, one may visit http://ictexpo.org.


QC signs commitment pact to achieve MDG goals through HI5

(QC PAISO/RJB/SDL/PIA-NCR)

QUEZON CITY, 10 June (PIA)--The Quezon City government, through the City Health Department, has signed the declaration of the pledge of commitment with the Department of Health-National Capital Regional Office (DOH-NCRO), other local government units (LGUs), and private sector groups during the launching the HI5 (High Impact Breakthrough Strategies) Summit on June 8 at Century Park Hotel in Malate, Manila.

According to DOH Assistant Secretary Elmer Punzalan, the High Impact Breakthrough Strategies (HI5) was conceptualized to attain the country's Millennium Development Goals (MDG) for Health.

The strategies to attain the MDGs include reducing infant mortality by 20 percent, reducing under-five mortality by 22 percent, reducing maternal mortality by 57 percent, reducing cases of Human Immuno-deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) by 40 percent and increasing the service delivery within the sector.

The event also coincided with the unveiling of the HI5 gallery showcasing the best HI5 practices of the 16 cities and 1 municipality of the NCR.

Quezon City presented its various leadership and management initiatives for health undertaken by the city's Local Health Board, the Barangay Health Management Council, Maternal & Neonatal Council, the Quezon City STI/ AIDS Council, and the Quezon City Nutrition Council.

The city's gallery also featured the city's "Gabayan ang Batang Ina" Project, a multisectoral approach to address adolescent pregnancies in QC through the City Leadership & Governance Program (CGLP) initiative.

It also includes the city's breastfeeding program composed of 500 support group members from all the six districts of the city, made possible through the breastfeeding room or stations at every barangay and health centers.

The gallery also highlighted the city's best practices in health among them, CHITS (Community Health Information tracking System), 2nd runner up in 2014 Jesse Robredo Award of Excellence in ICT for Good Governance, which is an integrated health information management system that makes use of ICT to gather information and data needed for policy making.

It also featured the city's male sundown clinics: Klinika Novaliches and Klinika Bernardo, both recognized as the premier centers of excellence for health and wellness in the country.

Klinika Bernardo is a recipient of the 2014 Galing Pook Award for outstanding Local Governance programs for pioneering health clinic for STI/ HIV.

Also included in the display is the QC iReport, an online and mobile-based platform that provides the city with real time information on its HIV services, enabling health facilities to deliver quality services that respond to the needs of key populations at higher risks of HIV, including people living with HIV and their families. It is also a feedback mechanism on the various health services to people and facilities offered by the City Health facilities.

QC engages multi-stakeholders in K+12 preparation

(QC PAISO/ RJB/SDL/PIA-NCR)

QUEZON CITY, 09 June (PIA)--The Quezon City Government took on the challenge of preparing the country’s biggest public school system for the K+12 program by engaging the participation of several stakeholders.

To achieve this, Mayor Herbert Bautista created in 2013, a multi-stakeholder Technical Working Group that studied the needs and recommended multiple solutions to hindrances that occurred during the study.

The TWG study include infrastructure readiness and classroom requirements, teacher capacities and training needs, parent orientation, livelihood training and employment opportunities for those who would choose the tech-voc track.

Among the strategies undertaken during the study was school mapping to determine public and private school locations, classrooms available and buildable space and aimed at facilitating the distribution of the senior high school students in different schools.

Thus, when it was determined that only 62% of senior high school learners could be accommodated in DepEd schools in the city, the TWG showed the available schools where the 38% could be accommodated through partnership agreements.

The TWG study also showed parcels of land that can be purchased or negotiated for construction of additional school buildings.

Bautista said the Bayan Academy and Miriam College were engaged to provide teacher training with curriculum based on profiles, capacities and career paths of the teachers as determined by Sound Marketing and Technical Services (SMART).

The trainings include Sustainable Education Enhancement and Development Program (QC SEED) and strategic planning and social marketing.

For this year, the teachers underwent 20 days of retooling in English, Math and Science.

The QC-LGU-managed Korphil trained the teachers in animation and computer programming to enable them to acquire National Certification.

The Asia Foundation assisted the city government in the drafting of implementing rules and regulations for the City ordinance granting incentives to organizations who will donate to schools and promote academic-industry linkages. They also conceptualized an SHS locator and mobile information application.

All these were guided by a framework of ordinances supporting the implementation of the K+12 program in several aspects.

Quezon City currently has an enrollment population of 444,000 in its 142 public schools and 148,982 enrolled in 432 private schools. For high school alone, the combined enrollment is 204,008, with 50,140 of them slated as first enrollees of Grade 11 in SY 2015 – 2016.

The TWG is composed of the City Government, Division of City Schools, national agencies, private sector associations and civic organizations.

PNP-OIC orders inspection of all its facilities in Camp Crame

By Christopher Lloyd T. Caliwan [(PNA) CLTC/with a report by Jarren Hill S. Repedro(OJT)]

MANILA, June 8 (PNA) – PNP Officer-in-Charge, Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina on Monday ordered the inspection of all buildings and facilities at the PNP National Headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

Espina made the order at the Headquarters Support Services (HSS) following the fire that hit the building of the Internal Affairs Service (IAS) on Sunday evening.

Espina ordered the inspection to make sure the buildings are safe from any faulty electrical wiring or any other danger which may cause fire.

Reports stated the fire started at 7:20 p.m. and was raised to third alarm, a total of 40 fire trucks responded to the incident.

Fire out was declared at 8:03 p.m. by Quezon City Fire Marshall Jesus Fernandez.

PNP reported the extent of damage was only to one building and that no documents were affected.

One person was reported injured after sustaining a cut in the right ankle due to broken glass.

Espina reiterated the incident must not happen again especially the buildings that hold important documents on the transactions of the PNP and personal records of the police officers.

Proposed QC ordinance restricting the sale of oxalic acid gains support

(PNA), SCS/PR/PJN

MANILA, June 7 (PNA) -- A proposed ordinance filed by Quezon City District 1 Councilor Dorothy Delarmente that will regulate the sale of oxalic acid has gained support ahead of the scheduled public hearing on June 11.

The EcoWaste Coalition, an advocate for chemical safety and zero waste, welcomed the move to restrict retail sale of the white powdery anti-bacterial and bleaching compound that has been tagged in the infamous milk tea poisoning in Manila last April.

The group threw its support behind the said ordinance after it went market-hopping on June 6 to investigate on how oxalic acid is currently sold in the city.

From Susano Market in Novaliches, the group went to Commonwealth Market, Mega-Q-Mart, Farmers’ Market and then to Kamuning Public Market to buy packets of oxalic acid from stall vendors as well as sidewalk hawkers.

“We find the way repacked oxalic acid is sold by market vendors truly alarming and shocking as if it is not a corrosive and poisonous substance,” stated Thony Dizon, Coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition’s Project Protect.

“Repacked oxalic acid is offered for sale in clear plastics with no information about its usage and the precautions to be observed when using it. In most cases, the letter “O”, “ox” or the word “oxalic” written on the packet is its sole identifying mark,” he said.

“This poison comes very cheap from as low as 25 cents for the smallest packet to 5, 10 and 35 pesos for the bigger ones,” he added.

“Despite being a dangerous substance, which can be mistaken for salt or sugar, we found oxalic acid being sold along with condiments and food items,” he noted.

To strengthen the draft ordinance, the EcoWaste Coalition proposed the outright prohibition on the sale of oxalic acid in markets and streets and not only in sari-sari stores and unauthorized establishments, noting the unchecked sale of the poisonous substance by market and street vendors.

The group also hinted on the need to raise the penalties set at one to three months of imprisonment or a fine of not less than 5,000 pesos to deter would-be violators.

“As the misuse of oxalic acid could result in serious injury and death, we find it necessary for the city government to impose tougher penalties on offenders,” Dizon said.

The group likewise indicated the need to seek the advice of national agencies, particularly the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Health, to confirm if the sale of oxalic acid for non-industrial applications should be allowed at all or banned altogether.

'Umuulan ng libro': Philippine Children's Book Summit 2015

(Rappler.com)

PRESS RELEASE: The summit is organized by the NBDB and the Philippine Board on Books for Young People in celebration of the 32nd National Children's Book Day.

This is a press release from the National Book Development Board.

It will be raining children's books in July!

In celebration of the 32nd National Children's Book Day, the National Book Development Board (NBDB), in partnership with the Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY), will be holding a summit, entitled “Umuulan ng Libro: Philippine Children’s Book Summit,” on July 21, 2015, at the Elements at Centris in Quezon City.

The Philippine Children’s Book Summit will feature international and local speakers who will tackle different vital topics concerning children’s literature in the country. The summit will also feature different local children's book publishers.

Discussions on the Asian children’s book industry, best practices in copyright, and Filipino comics, among others, will also take place. In addition, the summit will feature a performance by a children’s choir, a book fair, and the awarding of the 2015 PBBY Salanga Writer’s Prize and the 2015 PBBY Alcala Illustrator’s Prize.

The summit is open to teachers, students, educators, librarians, publishers, authors, and illustrators.

For more information about the summit, you may contact the PBBY at 352-6765 loc. 204 or via pbby@adarna.com.ph.

DENR steps up campaign for responsible use of resources

(DENR)

QUEZON CITY, June 5 -- Using the battle cry “doing more with less,” the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is intensifying its awareness campaign for responsible use of resources in time for the celebration of the Environment Month this June.

DENR Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje said it is important for the consuming public to develop responsible consumption habits at home and in the community to prevent further and potentially irreversible damage to the environment.

“We need to be more responsible with how we consume our resources, so that we can realize our dreams of having a healthy future for ourselves and for future generations,” Paje pointed out.

The environment chief said it is about time people must evaluate the impacts of their consumption by taking the environment and society into consideration during consumption decisions.

He said that practicing conscientious consumption through wastage avoidance and consuming only what is necessary can go a long way to having a healthy environment.

“We only have one planet Earth that provides all the natural resources we need to survive. The problem is that we are consuming these resources at a rate faster than the planet can provide, and too many of our ecosystems are being degraded, sometimes irreversibly,” Paje said.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) recently warned that at its current rate of consumption and production, the world would need three-planets-worth of natural resources to sustain the ways of living of an estimated 9.6 billion people by 2050.

Meanwhile, the DENR has lined up a series of activities to celebrate the Environment Month, adopting the World Environment Day theme: “Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care.”

The month-long celebration kicks off on June 5, which coincides with the World Environment Day, with a two-part activity at the SM North EDSA in Quezon City centering on the theme, “I Consume with Care.”

The first part will be the recognition rites for Philippine Ozone Desk-Foam Sector’s 17 partners in the phasing out of the greenhouse gas hydrochlorofluorocarbon or HCFC 141B.

Arts and crafts demo-workshop to be participated in by public high schools in Quezon City, eco-friendly discussions and presentations promoting environmental awareness, and exhibition of school supplies made of recycled and recyclable materials, comprise the second part.

From June 21 to 26, the DENR’s Mines and Geosciences Bureau will host the regional meeting of the ASEAN Coordinating Committee for Geoscience Programmes to discuss mining safety and public engagement on mineral development and environmental impact issues.

The meeting, to be held in Manila and Palawan, will also serve as venue to discuss the production of a coffee table book on the best practices in mine rehabilitation and decommissioning.

Some 150 exhibitors from government, civil society, research and academic institutions, and the manufacturing, recycling and energy industries are expected to join the first-ever National Integrated Waste Management Exhibition from June 22 to 26 at the Sky Dome in SM North EDSA.

Organized by the National Solid Waste Management Commission, the event will showcase initiatives, best practices and emerging technologies to address challenges that environmental pollution and degradation pose to the economy, livelihoods, public health and survival. It will focus on the theme, “Nagbabago na ang panahon, panahon na para magbago.”

In partnership with Earth Day Network Philippines, the Zero Basura Olympics 2nd Resource Book will also be launched during the event, which features the best business practices of participants.

The exhibit ends on June 26 with an awarding ceremony for the Digital Art Contest participated in by college students in Metro Manila. The entries focus on how every Filipino can live sustainably to ensure that resources are used efficiently and with least environmental impact.

From June 22-26, a training-workshop called “Climate Proofing for Development: Practical Application for Comprehensive Land Use Plan” will be held in selected cities and municipalities of the province of Laguna. It aims to train local government units in climate proofing land use plans for local development.

On June 25, which coincides with the celebration of the Arbor Day, a tree-planting activity organized by the youth will take place in Angat, Bulacan.

The Environmental Management Bureau will spearhead a nationwide simultaneous cleanup of adopted water bodies under the DENR’s Adopt-An-Estero program on June 27.

Then on Sunday, June 28, 2015, the Bayanihan sa Daan (share the Road) campaign will take place, which will highlight the 10 million signature campaign being sought by the Bike Philippines Campaign set to culminate by April 2016.

The event, which will show proof of concept, with the theme “EDSA Revolution,” will start from the SM Mall of Asia Complex to Monumento in Caloocan, passing through EDSA. The event is being spearheaded by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Environmental Protection and the Share the Roads Movement, in partnership with National Bike Organization, Department of Public Works and Highways, Metro Manila Development Authority and DENR.

The Laguna Lake Development Authority, also an attached agency of the DENR, will hold once-a-week tour of its new “green building” facilities at the National Ecology Center along East Avenue in Quezon City. The newly-built energy-efficient establishment has a rainwater catchment system that can provide water to the building’s water closets and urinals.

The Environment Month celebrations conclude on June 30 during the 7th Annual Clean Air Forum organized by the DENR and the Partnership for Clean Air. Some 200 stakeholders from the government, academe, private sector and the civil society are expected to participate in the forum to be held at the Land Transportation Office in Quezon City.

In 1972, the United Nations General Assembly declared June 5 of every year as World Environment Day, coinciding with the founding of United Nations Conference on the Human Environment.

In the Philippines, the month of June was declared as Environment Month by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 237 signed in 1988.

Meanwhile, the DENR will celebrate during the month its 28th anniversary on June 10, while that of the Forest Management Bureau on June 26.

QC to add more classrooms for senior high school program

(QC PAISO/RJB/SDL/PIA-NCR)

QUEZON CITY, 4 June (PIA)--The Quezon City Government will be adding seven new school buildings consisting of 110 additional classrooms this school year, including the construction of more buildings for the senior high school program (SHS).

Engr. Segundo Escaro, chief for infrastructure services of the Division of City Schools, said the city government is working to have the new school buildings completed in anticipation of the increase in student population and influx of students for the K+12 program.

According to the Local School Board, around 50,140 Grade 9 students will enroll in Grade 11 in 2016, and 36,732 of them will come from QC public schools.

Escaro added that construction in the six schools are on-going and are scheduled to be completed by October this year. They include the following: San Diego Elementary School – 4-storey school building with 30 classrooms with two laboratories (including land development and installation of rainwater catchment system, green roof and LED lights); West Fairview High School - school building with 21 classrooms with laboratories; and E. Rondon High School – 4-storey building with 12 classrooms and a multi-purpose hall and ; San Francisco High School – 4-storey building with 12 classrooms with six laboratories (including installation of electrical system, rainwater catchment system, green roof and LED lights); Justice Cecilia Muñoz Palma High School – school building with 11 classrooms with six laboratories; Fairview Elementary School - school building with 7 classrooms and canteen; and President Corazon Aquino Elementary School - 4-storey school building with 17 classrooms, laboratories, equipped with rainwater harvesting facilities, green roof and LED lights.

Completed late last year and in time for this school year are:Payatas C Elementary School – 4 storey school building with 21 classrooms;Payatas B Elementary School - 4 storey school building with 15 classrooms, with computer and science laboratories.

Under the city’s school building program for 2015-2016, construction of school building, consisting of 12 classrooms, at the Batasan National High School and the 15-classroom school building at the Payatas B Elementary School were proposed. But the two areas are yet to be cleared of informal settlers.

The city government also funded the improvement and renovation of some city public schools that include:Maligaya Elementary School - construction of perimeter fence and upgrading of its electrical system;Pinyahan Elementary School - construction of roofing and rehabilitation; Payatas C Elementary School - land development, retaining wall, rainwater harvesting system, green roof and LED light; Holy Spirit Elementary School - upgrading of electrical service entrance; Pres. Corazon Aquino Elementary School – construction of waiting shed.

For this school year, the QC government has allocated PhP 1.26 billion, in which 39 percent or PhP 478 million has been set aside for the senior high school program, with PhP 330 million allocated for school construction and PhP 40 million for land acquisition.

The city government has also allocated money for the procurement of IT equipment and software as well as scientific and technical equipment for the various tracks of the senior high school program.

Earlier, Quezon City Mayor Herbert M. Bautista earlier directed the City Task Force on Land Acquisition and directed the city Task Force on properties forfeited in favor of the city government to look for available properties and sites appropriate for schools.

The City Task Force on Land Acquisition has identified six properties as proposed sites for senior high schools in the city. The properties are located in Barangay Kaligayahan, Nagkakaisang Nayon, Gulod, Pasong Tamo, and Tandang Sora.

Susan Baetiong, head of the City School Board Secretariat, said that at least Php 118 million will be spent to acquire the properties.

Based on the available data from the Division of City Schools, Quezon City needs 811 additional classrooms to accommodate the 36,732 expected enrollees for Grade 11 next year.

However, only 45,660 or 62 percent of the 73,592 total senior high school enrollees will be accommodated by the city’s public schools while 29 percent can be absorbed by private schools.

The remaining 9 percent or 6, 895 will be accommodated by partner schools like the city government-owned QC Polytechnic University, which has absorptive capacity of 2, 800 senior high school students. The rest will be absorbed by other partner schools such as ASAS, Our Lady of Fatima University, Samson College of Science and Technology, ABE International Business College, AMA, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, World City Colleges, Best Link and Lanting Colleges.

Currently, there are 96 public elementary and 46 high schools in the city, with about 180 buildings, the highest number in the National Capital Region.

For school year 2014-2015, there were about 28,863 preschool enrollees while 260, 017 enrolled in elementary public schools and 148, 616 high school students. The average increase in enrolment each year is 1.5 percent.

Quezon City launches online business registration system

(QC PAISO/RJB/SDL/PIA-NCR)

QUEZON CITY, 3 June (PIA)--The Quezon City Government has launched an online business registration system thru its new portal, QC eServices.

The new system is part of the city’s effort to streamline services and an expansion of the city’s initiative in ease of doing business in the city.

Under the new scheme, a business owner can register his new business online by simply following these simple steps:

Go to the Quezon City Government official website, www.quezoncity.gov.ph and click the icon of “QC eServices.”

1. REGISTER your name (owner or any authorized officer) as an online eServices user.

2. Wait for the confirmation e-mail to activate your account. LOG IN.

3. Click APPLY NEW BUSINESS and fill in the required fields.

4. Attach scanned copies of all required documents such as:

• Barangay clearance
• Securities and Exchange Commission Certificate of Registration (1st page), if corporation or partnership
• Certificate of registration from the Cooperative Development Authority, if cooperative
• Evidence of authorization to use the business site:
-- Transfer certificate of title (TCT) or tax declaration (if property is owned by the applicant)
-- Contract of lease (if property is leased) (all pages)

5. Click AGREE to this statement of responsibility.

6. PRINT the application form so you will have a hard copy. Do not exit.

7. Check for blanks before you click SUBMIT.

8. Once submitted, the application will proceed electronically to the Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) and the Zoning Official, for evaluation.

9. Wait for the email message for the update on your application.

School opening, generally peaceful – PNP

(PNP/RJB/JEG/PIA-NCR)

QUEZON CITY, 2 June (PIA) – The Philippine National Police (PNP) noted that opening of classes yesterday was generally peaceful and orderly in all parts of the country as an estimated 23-million students returned to school for the start of the school year.

PNP Officer-in-Charge Deputy Director General Leonardo A. Espina made the assessment as the National Operations Center located at the PNP National Headquarters in Camp Crame did not monitor any serious untoward incident in the different regions.

“I am personally satisfied with the deployment of troops for police beat patrol and visibility operations in Manila’s University Belt Area, and in school premises elsewhere around the country,” Espina said.

He also reminded Regional and District Directors to maintain vigilance and sustain the same level of intensified police visibility operations in school areas to preclude any untoward incident.

Meanwhile, local DepEd officials and school authorities lauded preventive measures implemented by the PNP to sweep school vicinities of possible street crime activities.

QC presents PPP projects at Business Summit

(QC PAISO/RJB/SDL)

QUEZON CITY 1 June (PIA)--Quezon City Mayor Herbert presented a roster of public private partnership (PPP) projects that the city government is getting ready to bid out to the private sector, at the Business Summit recently organized by the Quezon City Government and the Ateneo Professional School.

Among these projects is the Regional Food Exchange in Balintawak where the city government eyes a properly developed facility in this location that can become a major processing and distribution center for meat and agricultural produce for Metro Manila.

Based on the plan, a large, well-organized, integrated wholesale market, operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with cold storage facilities, modern abbatoir, temperature-controlled warehouses, wholesale and retail centers, modern sanitation and disposal facilities, emergency facilities for fire and police, restaurants and cafés, and culinary schools.

According to Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, the development area can even provide for serviced apartments or a budget hotel for transients, for suppliers based in the provinces, so that they can have places for rest before they return to their points of origin.

During the Business Summit, Bautista also talked of the high maintenance costs of the city’s 8 public markets, which have a better potential as mixed-use civic-commercial buildings, with amenities for wet and dry markets, cold storage facilities, food shops and restaurants, medical and dental clinics, and other service facilities for both government and the private sector.

He said that the city also needs a modern sports center, with its 5.3 hectare Amoranto Sports complex fast deteriorating.

Bautista bared that under the plan, a modern, state-of-the art sports center in this area, sustained by the economic returns and added attractions of a shopping mall, restaurants, and entertainment facilities. Additional access is an issue that can be addressed by the City Government, and this can be part of the incentives for this project.

Even burial facilities are good business prospects in Quezon City. Eyed as the location for a well-developed columbarium and crematorium is the city government’s 1.17 hectare property in Baesa right along Quirino Highway, in District 6, a prime location.

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