Quezon City News May 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.

Lessons learned from Maginhawa QC's 2014 food fest

By Shadz Loresco (Rappler.com)

While most agree it is successful, business owners themselves are still reeling, and learning their lessons from dealing with the hungry throng during the October 2014 Maginhawa St. food fest

At night, neon signs hung in front of shops light up Maginhawa Street in Quezon City. Business crews, having clocked in at daytime, only get busier. Those working in food places are the busiest, with some closing counters at midnight.

Somewhere along the 2.2-kilometer strip, a family spends time in their living room while another dines out in the area. Residential houses coexist with holes-in-the-walls and restaurants in low-rise buildings, punctuated by corner bakeries, a 3-story telecom office, a factory outlet, spas and boutiques, and several private schools.

The vibe is hard to miss. Maginhawa has always been sort of indie and without pretensions unlike other food crawl favorites such as Binondo, said engineer Homer Pagkalinawan, a regular customer since his undergraduate days in the University of the Philippines-Diliman.

The hub expanded from what looked like "a collection of college theses" back in the early 2000s. "It was like, 'tara, project tayo, gawa tayo ng maliit na food stall (hey, let's have this project of putting up a small food stall),'" said chef Edward Bugia, BRGR: The Burger Project co-owner.

On ordinary days the appeal lies in its quiet community, which Tomas Morato Street and Timog Avenue lack, and its easygoing traffic, which one seldom encounters along Katipunan Avenue. But October 11, 2014 was no ordinary day.

Food street, street crawl

It was a Saturday, the celebration of Quezon City's 75th year. The city government had enlisted Maginhawa and a few satellite streets to hold a food festival, the first of its kind in the neighborhood.

"I was part of the organizing committee for the whole food fest," Bugia shared. "They really consulted with all the restaurant owners in Maginhawa. And Malingap Street was recognized as an extension of Maginhawa already, so we had to take that into consideration."

According to Pagkalinawan, who checked out the fanfare, "they had just the right amount of radio announcement and their tarp was also simple. It was a normal publicity, but the crowd that came was exaggerated. There were too many people that it felt like Divisoria. I never stayed in a place. I walked the whole stretch."

All entry points were closed to vehicles, from the major connectors to Philcoa and V Luna Extension to the roads going deep into UP Village, Teacher's Village, Sikatuna Village, and Krus na Ligas.

The organizers offered tents to shop owners, granting them space extension outside. But most of the Maginhawa mainstays yielded to visiting sellers such as those operating online stores.

Customers who snagged stubs from team city hall preferred to claim their free food in the holes-in-the-walls and restaurants instead of buying from the tents.

Unexpected foot traffic

"We didn’t really expect a lot of people so our stock was good for only two weeks. Another thing, we’re located at the second floor. At 9 pm, some of our snow ice flavors were out of stock, so we had to offer other flavors to customers," said Michelle Kho of the husband-and-wife tandem behind Snow Creme.

"We saw one angry customer who had been in line for 30-45 minutes. We approached that person and apologized," she added.

Over-a-year-old Snow Creme, which popularized Taiwan shaved ice concoctions on the strip, can be found just above The Breakfast Table in the 189 building, the farthest the crowd could reach if they started on the Philcoa side.

Inversely, one had to walk back from the V Luna Extension end to experience the country's oldest organic restaurant, Green Daisy Natural Kitchen.

"Our space is designed for relaxed dining. We’re not into fast turnovers," said Daisy Langenegger, the agricultural ecology advocate who owns the place.

"The volume of the customers was scary. We saw a huge crowd. And then they were ready to eat anything you have inside," Langenegger added. So her cooking apprentice and servers did what they could to receive everyone.

Green Daisy used to be a by-reservation-only space, opening its gate to the public months before the food fest. It continues to be a venue for introducing and hosting the works of independent artists in the metro.

Good for business

More established businesses such as The Burger Project did not have to deal with the shock of unexpected foot traffic. The burger joint, for example, handles 150-200 clients on a regular day and has the support in the form of additional supplies and manpower of its sister companies on Malingap – Pi Breakfast and Pies, Pino Resto Bar, which was originally on the Maginhawa site, and Pipino Vegetarian.

Surprised or not by the influx of people, everybody worked hard from morning until evening to accommodate customers. Everybody agreed that October 11, 2014 was good for business.

"I think the general eating populace of Manila is very learned now. They know how to eat, so they understand that if you have a food fest outside with almost how many thousand people, they understand that sometimes service may be a bit slower, as long as the food is still up to par," Bugia said.

With another branch in mind, Kho spoke of lessons learned from the event and now applied in Snow Creme's daily operations. "After the food fest, we hired new baristas, changed our handheld menus with photos, and started to use number queuing and regularly check inventories."

Langenegger said Green Daisy would be willing to add servers should there be a second food fest this year.

This time around, it would help to have "a more concerted effort for everyone to make it really a fiesta, because it still looked like individual restos doing their own thing. Maybe having an authentic Filipino fiesta atmosphere might help also," Bugia added.

"Maginhawa is already known as a very good food street, but I think the food fest gave it more recognition for people, and it really gave a fiesta-like atmosphere, which wasn't really existent here before. And that vibe really brought people here."

Eco group asks schools to ban plastic bags, styro containers

By Joel Locsin / JDS (GMA News)

An ecological group over the weekend appealed to schools to ban plastic bags and polystyrene (styro) containers from campus.

EcoWaste Coalition said disposable plastic bags and polystyrene are "non-environmentally acceptable,” and add to pollution.

"They usually end up as residual wastes with nowhere to go but the dumps, adding to the already voluminous polluting garbage there," said campaigner Christina Vergara.

She added the Department of Education is mandated by law to "strengthen the integration of environmental concerns in school curricula at all levels, with particular emphasis on the theory and practice of waste management principles like waste minimization."

Vergara said many local governments realize the need for waste minimization by banning or regulating the use of disposable plastic bags and polystyrene.

The group cited the case of De La Salle University (DLSU) in Dasmariñas, Cavite, which has been free of plastic bags since 2011 and free of styro since 2005.

Marlon Pereja, director of the campus' Environmental Resource Management Center, said they "tremendously reduced the amount of residual wastes in the campus, lessen our operational expenses related to waste management, and imbued good values that led to a change in behavior toward good stewardship among our students and school personnel.”

“(T)he values and practice of ecological stewardship, which should start at home, should be strengthened in the school, if we are to produce citizens that truly care for the environment," he added.

Aside from DLSU-D, Cong. RA Calalay Memorial Elementary School in San Francisco del Monte, Quezon City, St. Scholastica's College in San Fernando City, Pampanga, and schools in Batangas City, Batangas have alreay banned the use of plastic bags, the group said.

The group suggested that school administrators adopt policies such as phasing out disposable plastic bags and polystyrene utensils in school premises, using reusable containers and tableware for students and school personnel, waste management strategies including segregation, composting, recycling, and reuse in the school.

Quezon City launches online business registration

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

QUEZON CITY, 29 May (PIA)--The Quezon City government has recently launched the online registration system for new corporations, partnerships, foundations and cooperatives as part of the city’s efforts to streamline services and its initiative in ease of doing business.

Under the new service, a business owner can register his new business by first going to the quezoncity.gov.ph website and accessing the e-services portal by clicking the icon of QC eServices.

Using their valid emails, users can register and login to their accounts and proceed with the registration by filing in the required fields for the online application.

Applicants also need to submit as attachment, scanned copies of their barangay clearance, certificate of registration from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) and evidence of authorization to use the business site to initiate the registration process.

Once submitted, the application will proceed electronically to the Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) and the user can wait for the email message for update on his application.

Mayor Herbert M. Bautista said he sees opportunities for pursuing public-private partnership deals involving waste-to-energy conversion, the upgrading of public markets, and redeveloping the Amoranto Sports complex, among others.

The mayor said the waste-to-energy facility is one of the priority projects as a study conducted by the city’s Environment Protection and Waste Management Department showed that the Payatas dumpsite has an estimated operating life of only three more years.

The new facility will help minimize transportation costs and would take three years to build.

Bautista also outlined the city government plans to offer the private sector bundled PPP projects along with single PPP projects.

He said there is a plan for “a one-stop shop for food suppliers and consumers” in the Balintawak-Muñoz area, where food growers from the provinces north of Metro Manila already deliver their goods. The proposal for the area includes a wholesale market with cold storage, an abattoir and modern sanitation, as well as commercial space for banks and restaurants.

Another plan is for a multi-use commercial civic building with upgraded market in the Frisco and Murphy districts.

The mayor also said that the Amoranto Sports Complex is being considered to be upgraded for the various athletic facilities as well as the construction of a commercial building. A crematorium and columbarium with low-cost and market-price niches and chapel is also planned along Quirino Highway in Baesa.

The mayor also presented an initiative to include game development as a part of the school curriculum in which students will be contracted by companies to develop game programs and will help market the games produced. In this program, the student will have a share in the earnings from the sales of the games.

The city will also seek partners for installing solar panels in schools, with priority going to the public schools with large populations, such as Commonwealth High School and San Francisco High School.

Maynilad to build more drink-wash areas in schools

(MAYNILAD/RJB/JEG/PIA-NCR)

QUEZON CITY, 28 May (PIA) – This school year, the Maynilad Water Services, Inc. will build drink-wash areas in 40 more schools.

The West Zone concessionaire recently joined the Department of Education’s (DepEd) “Brigada Eskwela” in several schools in Metro Manila.

“We are happy to be regular participants in DepEd’s Brigada Eskwela, as it complements our own efforts of making schools more conducive for learning,” said Maynilad President and CEO Ricky Vargas.

Maynilad sent employee-volunteers to refurbish classrooms and fix the water and sanitation facilities of 19 public schools in Manila, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Quezon City, Caloocan City and Valenzuela City.

Also, Maynilad donated 10 desktop computer terminals to Gen. Gregorio Del Pilar Elementary School in Tondo, Manila, which lost learning equipment in a fire last year. The company likewise pledged to convert one of its dilapidated rooms to a computer laboratory.

Quezon City and UNAIDS launch online & mobile-based platform to fight HIV

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

QUEZON CITY, 27 May (PIA)--The Quezon City Government in cooperation with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) in the Philippines launched an online and mobile-based platform QC iReport that will be used to provide the city with real time information on its Human Immuno Virus related services.

The platform will also be used to enable health facilities to deliver quality services that respond to the needs of key populations.

The iReport will also serve as feedback mechanism on the various health services to people and facilities offered by the City Health facilities.

The mobile health platform not only focuses on the HIV/ AIDS but on the many services provided by the Quezon City Health Department.

“As we continue to improve our client centered services in all local health facilities, the QC iReport will help us use technology as a platform for feedback mechanism, and this is another innovative strategy by our city,” Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista said.

Earlier, the Quezon City Government and the UNAIDS signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which aims to accelerate and expand the city’s response to HIV and end its AIDS epidemic by 20130.

Guided by the 2011 United Nations General Assembly Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) “Cities getting to zero” initiative, the MoU promotes fast-tracking locally relevant and led strategies to rapidly reduce the number of new HIV infections, end AIDS-related deaths and curb stigma and discrimination in the city.

UNAIDS Country Director Teresita Marie Bagasao said that the project reconfirms the UNAIDS commitment to help the Quezon City Government in accessing universal health services to a greater public.

“Quezon City continues to be a transformative force in ending the AIDS epidemic in the country, inspiring other cities to strengthen their AIDS response and leave no constituency behind,” the UNAIDS Director said.

“This agreement supports the momentum to fast track the HIV response in the city through innovation, stronger collaboration with partners and accountability to demonstrate outcomes,” she added.

In his response, Bautista explained that critical to creating more health responses to the QC public was strengthening the health organization through the local government’s rationalization plan.

The objective, he said is to transform the City Health Department into a 21st-century organization so that it can effectively respond to 21st century challenges.

Quezon City became the first local government to open a sundown clinic called Klinika Bernardo, which caters to the sexual needs of men with men and transgender people.

Bautista said the establishment of Klinika Bernardo is an innovative strategy in providing health services based on what key populations need.

Quezon City, the country’s most populous city has been classified by the Department of Health as one of the 36 priority areas for accelerated HIV interventions. It was the first local government to include HIV among its top health concerns, and became the model for other cities on how to implement programmes prioritizing HIV treatment and prevention.

LTFRB starts inspecting school service vehicles

By Jaymee T. Gamil

In preparation for the opening of classes next week, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has started checking the road-worthiness of school transport services.

The inspections which began last week also determines the operators’ compliance with the LTFRB’s phaseout order for school vehicles over 15 years old.

The LTFRB went to Don Bosco in Sta. Mesa, Manila, on Monday to check 44 service vehicles, including those from the Don Bosco Technical Institute in Makati and the Don Bosco Technical College in Mandaluyong.

LTFRB Chair Winston Ginez said they found only minimal issues which they ordered corrected such as the lack of seat belts and fire extinguishers, heavily tinted windows and balding tires.

Inspected last week were vehicles belonging to St. Paul University, Assumption College, Ateneo de Manila University and Miriam College, among many others.

SSS covers 49 Informal Sector Groups in Quezon City

(PNA), FFC/PR/CDN

MANILA, May 25 (PNA) -- The Social Security System recently launched the AlkanSSSya Program to 40 tricycle-operators-drivers associations (TODA), seven market vendor associations, one barangay unit and one pedicab-operators-drivers association (PODA) with initial registration of 1,736 members in Quezon City.

AlkanSSSya program director Amalia Tolentino said that the launch is part of the continuing initiative of the SSS to cover more informal sector groups. “We are very grateful to Quezon City’s Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte who helped us reach these groups for SSS coverage,” Tolentino said.

During the launch recently at the Quezon City Hall Covered Walkway, Tolentino emphasized that the contributions that the members pay to the SSS should be considered as savings and not as expense. “By faithfully paying their contributions every month, members will be able to avail of the different social security benefits such as sickness, maternity, disability, retirement, death and funeral in times of contingencies,” Tolentino added.

“We encourage our members to save at least PHP12 a day from their earnings which is enough to contribute under the PHP3,000 monthly salary credit. The said amount is not too burdensome since this is only equivalent to giving up two to three sticks of cigarettes per day,” said Tolentino.

The 40 participating TODA are Bagbag-Sauyo, Greenfields, Kingspoint, No Hill, Novaliches-Amparo-Capri, Novaliches-Damong Maliit, Rockville, San Bartolome, San Francisco, Novaliches-Deparo, Sunrise Vill-Llano-Novaliches, Kamias, Greater Project 4, Socorro, Villa Espana, BF Homes Mapayapa, Don Antonio Heights-Veterans, Filinvest, Apo, Banawe, Pag-Asa, Papa Dama, Road A, Sgt. Rivera, Sto Domingo Grace, Bagumbayan, Brgy. Central, Brgy. Pinyahan, Krus na Ligas, Loyola Heights, UP-Teachers Village, Bayan Palengke, Pasong Tamo, Seminary Gami, Seminary Road-Congressional, Vasra-Culiat, Brgy. Fairview, East Fairview, Lupang Pangako-Urban Poor-Payatas and North Fairview.

The market vendor associations are Galas Market Vendors Association, K10th Vendors Association, Murphy Public Market Vendors & Retailers Association, Economia Vendors, Libis Vendors Association, MC Market Vendors Association and Presidential Road Vendors Association.

The lone barangay unit and PODA are the Brgy. Batasan Workers and Freedom Park Pedicab Operators and Drivers Association respectively.

The participating TODA, market and vendor associations, barangay unit and PODA are under the NCR North Division Branches of the SSS which includes Batasan Hills, Commonwealth, Congressional, Cubao, Diliman, Eastwood, Novaliches, Novaliches-Deparo and San Francisco Del Monte.

“The launching of the AlkanSSSya to 49 TODA, market vendor associations, Brgy. Unit and PODA is only the first part of our commitment. We will still be launching additional 51 projects under the AlkanSSSya Programs in Quezon City in the succeeding months,” said Tolentino.

The AlkanSSSya Program was first launched in 2011 as TrikanSSSya solely to cover TODA members but because of the positive response, the SSS extended the program to other informal sector groups such as market vendors, garbage pickers, caddies and many others. Members of AlkanSSSya Program do not need to go to the nearest SSS to pay for their contributions since the program was designed to provide a convenient monthly premium contribution collection and remittance system.

The AlkanSSSya unit is usually paid by the participating informal group which costs around PHP8,500 to PHP12,500 depending on the standard model sizes or number of coin slots. However, for the 49 AlkanSSSya units in Quezon City, their AlkanSSSya units were sponsored by the Office of Vice Mayor Belmonte at the price of PHP10,500.

DSWD extends educational assistance to over 40,000 students

(DSWD)

QUEZON CITY, May 24 -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has provided educational assistance to more than 40,000 indigent and underprivileged children and youth under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS).

This is part of DSWD’s effort to provide immediate services to people who are in crisis or emergency situations.

The educational assistance helps defray the school expenses and the cost of sending children to school, such as school tuition fees, school supplies, transportation allowance, and other school-related expenses.

The program has assisted 42,363 children for the first quarter of 2015.

“With school opening scheduled for next month, we are fast-tracking our assistance to needy children and youth to enable them to enroll, since we have always believed that education is the key in lifting themselves and their families out of poverty.

“However, this is limited financial assistance designed to augment the poor students’ immediate needs especially if the family is presently in crisis and is unable to raise the needed amount to continue sending their children to school,” DSWD Secretary Corazon Julian-Soliman emphasized.

The amount of assistance that can be extended to clients ranges from P3,000 to P 25,000, based on the assessment of the social worker.

To avail of educational assistance, the client has to go through the screening process wherein he or she has to submit the appropriate documents to the social worker, who will in turn conduct the interview and assessment and recommend the release of assistance.

Clients can avail of assistance once every three months. However, for clients who have been previously assisted, a social case study report might be required by the social worker. The case study report will establish whether the client is still in crisis or not.

Those seeking educational assistance should present the following requirements: enrollment assessment form or certificate of registration, school ID of the student/beneficiary, barangay certificate of residency/indigency and any valid ID of the client, and referral letter, if applicable.

Applicants may go to any Social Welfare and Development Satellite Office, an extension unit of the DSWD which serves as an action center at the provincial level that immediately responds to cases of individuals and families in crisis situations.

A social case study report prepared by the LGU social worker/medical social worker, or a social case summary prepared by a registered social worker is required by the CIU to support assessment and recommendation of assistance.

MM shutdown eyed for quake drill; 6 schools warned

By Mike Frialde, Christina Mendez, Marvin Sy, Helen Flores (The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines - Electricity and mobile phone services would be cut throughout Metro Manila, and all private and government offices and businesses, including shopping malls, would be closed.

That would be the situation on July 16 between 3 and 8 p.m. to simulate the scenario of a 7.2 magnitude earthquake.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has warned that an earthquake of that magnitude could occur and kill at least 33,500 people and injure at least 113,600 others following a movement in the West Valley Fault.

The West Valley Fault has moved four times in the past 1,400 years at an interval of 400 to 600 years.

It was 357 years ago or in 1658 when the last big earthquake occurred in the country.

Another major earthquake could take place should the West Valley Fault move again, according to Phivolcs.

The 100-kilometer West Valley Fault transects 42 barangays in Quezon City, Marikina, Pasig, Makati, Taguig, Muntinlupa and 30 barangays in Bulacan, Laguna and Cavite.

Phivolcs has released the Valley Fault System Atlas, a handbook of large scale maps, which has been distributed to local government units.

A source said the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) plans to hold a metro-wide earthquake drill on July 16 to commemorate the massive earthquake that struck Luzon on July 16, 1990.

However, Chairman Francis Tolentino is having second thoughts about the metro-wide drill being done on that date, the source added.

Tolentino said a drill should be held at least twice a year.

“It should be held daytime and nighttime,” he said in Filipino.

“That is being done in the state of California If a 7.2 (quake) occurs, we could be disrupted by three weeks. If it occurs, we have already practiced it.”

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council executive director Alexander Pama supports the MMDA proposal for a metro-wide earthquake drill.

“Many of our compatriots, many sectors, are not taking the drill seriously,” he said in Filipino. “We just watch, and sometimes we are just laughing.”

Tolentino said the MMDA is preparing a draft executive order for the signature of President Aquino to call for the holding of an annual metro-wide earthquake drill.

During the drill, all offices, schools and business establishments would be closed to allow for the public’s full participation, he added.

Tolentino said the current earthquake drills being held in schools are not enough.

“It is not quite serious,” he said. “Students would go hide under the table, leave their classrooms smiling, laughing, with books covering their heads. That’s not the way to do it.”

Tolentino has proposed the creation of a Metro Manila Earthquake Information Center to serve as a hotline. Six schools on top of quake belt

The country’s chief seismologist warned yesterday six schools in Metro Manila located on top or close to the West Valley Fault against using their buildings for classes or offices to avoid casualties in the event of magnitude-7.2 earthquake.

Phivolcs has identified the six schools as Sitio Karahume Elementary School in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan; Barangka Elementary School in Marikina; Tibagan Elementary School in Makati; Anne-Claire Montessori in Taguig; and Alabang Elementary School and E. Pedro Diaz High School in Muntinlupa.

Phivolcs director Solidum said the school buildings should be demolished and the sides of the structures within the five meter-wide buffer zone should be reinforced.

“The affected schools must make sure they do not use the rooms for classes or offices,” he said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel.

“We have advised them not to. They need to transfer the kids...It’s not that many. They need to discuss it with [the Department of Education] and school officials. Essentially, they are putting students at risk. To be fair, we don’t know when the fault will move.”

These buildings can still be used as storage spaces, he added.

Solidum said two buildings of the Sitio Karahume Elementary School are “not directly on top” but they are within the buffer zone. “They may be affected by the ground rupture or very strong shaking.”

Solidum said the other affected structures are the west building of Barangka Elementary School, easternmost building in Tibagan Elementary School, the building including the basketball court of Anne-Claire Montessori, the building near Alabang Elementary School gate and the Values Education and administration buildings of E. Pedro Diaz High School.

Some of the school buildings might have been constructed before news came out that the West Valley Fault remained active in the 1990s, he added.

Solidum debunked the “triangle of life theory ” stating that the safest way to survive an intense earthquake is to be at “a space or void next to objects or furniture.”

The triangle of life theory is an earthquake preparedness concept of Doug Copp that went viral, first on emails, then on social networking sites.

Copp’s theory goes against the universally-accepted safety advice of “Drop, Cover and Hold On,” Solidum said.

He also called for the immediate retrofitting of all public and private buildings, especially hospitals and other buildings needed in the aftermath of a strong earthquake.

In the aftermath of a strong earthquake in Metro Manila, the MMDA would immediately put into action “Oplan Metro Yakal,” the earthquake contingency plan formulated in 2012.

Under Oplan Metro Yakal, some 6,000 MMDA employees and volunteers would be mobilized.

They would assemble at designated staging areas: MMDA grounds in Makati and at base camps in Quezon City, Pasig, Manila and Pasay City.

Tolentino has organized the MMDA’s more than 6,000-strong workforce as rescue volunteers under Task Force Rainbow, along with 1,000 volunteers from various barangays and associations of fire brigades and civic organizations.

The MMDA’s Task Force Rainbow is divided into four sectors: the North sector covering the cities of Malabon, Caloocan, Valenzuela and Quezon City; East sector including the cities of Marikina, Pasig and San Juan; West sector for the cities of Manila, Navotas, and Pasay; and South sector covering the cities of Las Piñas, Taguig, Makati, Mandaluyong, Muntinlupa, Parañaque and Pateros.

Under Oplan Metro Yakal, all MMDA employee-rescuers shall report to their assigned sectors or base camps at the earliest possible time in the event of an earthquake.

Those assigned to the North sector would have the Veterans Memorial Golf Course in Quezon City as staging area; the Ultra Sports Center in Pasig City for the East sector; the Intramuros Golf Course for the West sector and the Villamor Airbase Golf Course for the South sector.

DSWD says it also gives educational assistance to poor families in 'times of crisis' through its AICS program

By Leilani S. Junio [(PNA), SCS/LSJ]

MANILA, May 22 (PNA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Friday that aside from its regular assistance of giving grants to Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries to keep their children studying in school and healthy, it is also assisting families of those who are in "crisis or suffering difficult situations."

Difficult or crisis situations happen when the head of the family loses job that can result in failure to provide the needed cash for the continuous education of his/her children, or if a member of the family gets sick and hospitalized wherein the money that the family has saved is used for medical expenses instead of the educational needs of the children.

Usually, some of these families are not really classified as poorest of the poor, but since they are in the midst of a difficult situation, wherein there is a tendency for interruption of studies of the children, the DSWD does something to help them through a program called Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation or AICS.

This program is intended to rescue the concerned families or prevent them from falling or sinking to poverty and cause delay on the studies of the children.

In a press briefing held Friday at the DSWD Central Office in Batasan Hills, Quezon City, DSWD Assistant Secretary and Spokesperson Javier R. Jimenez said that these types of families that are considered facing “crisis situation” and needing “educational assistance” in terms of the expenses of their children during school opening and the duration of school year are the ones that can benefit from DSWD’s AICS.

The Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation extends educational assistance ranging from PhP 3,000 to PhP 25,000, Javier said.

The money can be released to the recipient families after they submit the necessary documents that will prove that they are indeed in crisis situation and it is impossible for them to continue providing the educational needs of their children.

The assistance will be based on the amount needed for transportation allowance, tuition, school supplies and other school-related expenses.

The documents and study case reports submitted are carefully checked, assessed or evaluated by assigned field social workers in the AICS of DSWD Field Offices by interviewing them and in partner local government units (LGUs) implementing it as part of the “screening process.”

The required documents are certificate of indigency, enrollment forms, certificate of registration and valid identification (ID) cards.

Jimenez explained that the reason for limiting the number of times that individuals can seek assistance through AICS is to prevent the program from being abused.

“Since this type of assistance is given to the recipient families in times of crisis only, we make sure that this is not being abused also. We only give it once in every three months. It is a form of safety net to ensure that the schooling of the children will not be interrupted within that period of difficult situation,” Jimenez explained.

In addition, Jimenez said that they can download funds to the LGUs with good financial performance as part of the implementers of the program

In 2014, a total of 168,274 students nationwide were assisted by AICS through educational assistance.

The program has assisted 42,363 students in the first quarter of 2015.

Aside from educational assistance, AICS also provides burial assistance, transportation assistance, medical assistance (in terms of referral) and others like food and clothing.

(News Feature) Daily intake of EPL prevents liver damage

By Lelani S. Junio [(PNA), RMA/LSJ]

MANILA, May 21 (PNA)--A university lecturer, consultant and specialist on Pharmacology, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Phospolipids underscored Thursday how essential phospholipids (EPL) effectively helps improve level of liver enzymes, which were usually being damaged everyday due to its essential function in the body.

Liver is an essential part of human being which is in-charge with the removal of toxins, process body nutrients, regulates body metabolism and without it, existence is impossible because it almost supports every organ in the body.

In a round-table discussion held at the function room of Crowne Plaza Galleria in Ortigas, Quezon City, organized by Sanofi Professor Karl-Josef Gundermann from Germany who shared his expertise on liver management, said that prevention of liver damage could be done by taking EPL every day.

“It is evidence-based medicine and it is being use all over the world,” said Prof. Gundermann as he cited how the medicine helps in the restoration of the cellular structure of the damaged liver cells.

Gundermann added that EPL could also increase cell membrane depending function, decelerates fibrogenic processes by slowing down further liver scarring.

“Moreover, they help normalize the metabolism of lipid and proteins and improve the detoxification function of the liver,” the professor said.

But given the influx of medicines for liver care available nowadays, choosing the right one that is proven, tested and effective, is very essential factor in deciding what to take.

“To ensure the constant therapeutic process of essential phospholipids, there must be high content of highly-purified phosphatidylcholine be taken, which must be standardized in quality and well-mastered in manufacturing process. The good tolerability of the essential phospholipids is a first-rate measure of safety,” he added.

He said that Essentiale Forte P capsule manufactured by A. Nattermann and Cie.Gmbh in Germany and imported by sanofi-aventis Philippines, Inc. can be labeled as the “most trusted” highly purified essential phospholipids.

Citing that the medicine was scientifically-proven and was already sold for so many years just costs more than Php 30 per capsule and can be sold with or without doctor’s prescription.

To achieve its optimum effect, the medicine was highly purified from the extract of phosphatidylcholine from Soybean.

The medicine can act as prophylaxis, therapeutic and helps in the prevention of liver diseases.

It helps in delaying the further damage of the liver cells compared to giving none.

Liver damage can be caused by several factors such as viral infection (hepatitis), abnormality in the immune system, genetics, chronic alcohol intake, drug abuse, pollution and fat accumulating in the liver due to eating of high fatty foods which contributes to obesity problem.

Eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly and avoiding alcohol abuse, regular intake of EPL are essential factors that will help to maintain a healthy liver.


PAGASA modifies Public Storm Warning System

(PNA) lgi/CLTC/Charmaine A. Tadalan (OJT)

MANILA, May 20 (PNA) -- The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) launched on Wednesday the modified Public Storm Warning System (PSWS).

"Typhoons as strong as Super Typhoons with more than 220 kilometres per hour (kph) of sustained winds in the country is becoming more frequent," said PAGASA Acting Director Dr. Vicente Malano during the launching held at the PAGASA Science Garden, Quezon City.

Finding the four-level PSWS inadequate, PAGASA adopted the Super Typhoon category and this is based on the Typhoon Damage Scale from the study of former PAGASA Director Dr. Leoncio Amadore.

Malano said the tropical cyclone categories are: Tropical Depression (TD) with 30-60 kph winds; Tropical Storm (TS) with 61-120 kph winds; Severe Tropical Storm (STS) with 121-170 kph winds; Typhoon (TY) with 171-220 kph winds; and Super Typhoon (STY) with more than 220 kph winds.

"Through the prefixes before the name of the tropical cyclone, we would know how strong it will be," PAGASA weather division chief Dr. Esperanza Cayanan explained.

Also, the modified PSWS features 5 warning signals: Signal # 1 may cause no damage to very light damage; Signal # 2 may cause light to moderate damage; Signal # 3 may cause moderate to heavy damage; Signal # 4 may cause heavy to very heavy damage and Signal # 5 may cause Very heavy to widespread damage.

Aside from the expected sea condition, damages to structures and vegetation, the modified PSWS also included storm surge advisories.

"We are also adjusting to the needs of our people," Cayanan said,

"It may be redundant, but it's better to give too much warning than to give less," she added.

Cayanan also said the new categories of tropical cyclones and warning system of the modified PSWS took effect in May 6 and 18, respectively and has been applied during the height of Typhoon "Dodong".

PETA hosts Children’s Arts Festival

(MST Entertainment)

The Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) closes its 47th Theater Season by hosting the 2015 PETA Children’s Arts Festival. This year, through the generous support of PETA’s Arts Zone Project (Advocate Right to Safety Zone for Children), the PETA Theater Center will once again open its doors to children and young people.

The three-day festival will be filled with play areas, workshops, film showing and performances. The festival will feature one of PETA’s longest running musical for children Christine Bellen’s Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang and, an advocacy musical that discusses the issues of Corporal Punishment, Liza Magtoto’s Rated-PG.

Performances from PETA ArtsZone Regional partners will also be featured in the Festival. YATTA’s Aah Bakus from Dumaguete, Sining Banwa’s Si Al Buda an Tsinelas from Legazpi, and Teatro Guindegan’s Istoryahe lang ta from Ozamis.

Also part of Festival are performances from, St. Gregory Elementary School, Las Piñas East National High School, Polo National High School, Tanghalang SLU, FEU Theater Guild, Maria Montessori, Palo Culture and Arts Organization.

Bring your kids and teens for they will surely enjoy the different workshops such as storytelling, shadow puppetry, visual arts, creative sound and music, creative drama, hip-hop dancing and creative writing to be facilitated by PETA artist-teachers and members.

The festival will be held on May 29-31at No. 5, Eymard Drive, New Manila, Quezon City.

Tickets are P100 (performance pass), and P200 (performance and workshop pass). For tickets contact PETA at (02) 725-6244 or TicketWorld at 891-9999 www.ticketworld.com.ph.

QC pushes for relocation of families away from faultline

(PNA), RMA/QC-PAISO-PR/LSJ

MANILA, May 18 (PNA)--The Quezon City government urged Monday the National Housing Authority (NHA) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to prioritize the relocation of QC residents whose houses were built in areas transected by the West Valley Fault.

QC mayor Herbert Bautista made the call in the wake of the powerful earthquake that struck Nepal in April this year.

Bautista said that he understood that both agencies were giving priority to the relocation of informal settler families occupying waterways, but it was also imperative that utmost attention should be given for the immediate transfer of the West Valley families to areas away from the fault line.

“Nakakalungkot po dahil inuuna kasi ay iyong mga pamilya na nanggagaling mula sa waterways,” said Bautista.

He said that he had earlier urged also the NHA and DILG to start issuing relocation notices to the families, whose houses are within the danger zone along the West Valley Fault, to ensure their safety.

His order for relocation was based on the Metro Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study (MMEIRS) that warns of a powerful earthquake that may originate at the West Valley Fault.

To date, the city government, on orders of the Mayor, has already discouraged the construction of structures within the 5 meter-wide borders or buffer zone on both sides of the fault, which runs along the periphery of the city through the eastern boundary.

In 2013, the city identified at least 700 property owners residing within the five meter- wide buffer zone recommended by Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).

PNP joins 'Brigada Eskwela' activities

By Priam F. Nepomuceno [(PNA), CTB/PFN]

MANILA, May 17 (PNA) -- With school opening just a few weeks away, the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Sunday announced that it will be deploying its personnel to aid Department of Education in the annual "Brigade Eskwela" activities.

PNP participation in the above-mentioned activity will start with the national kick-off ceremony which will be conducted in Siargao, Surigao Del Norte and Pinaglabanan, San Juan City Monday.

With this, a total of 40 personnel from the PNP Police Community Relations Group (PCRG) were set to provide services to four schools in Metro Manila to clean, repaint and repair the school buildings aside from giving security for the opening of classes this coming June for the school year 2015-2016.

On May 18, the first group of PCRG personnel will conduct Brigada Eskwela at Batasan Hills High School, Batasan Hills, Quezon City.

While on May 19 the second group will be at Kalantiaw Elementary School, Kalantiaw, Quezon City.

And on May 20, the third group will be at Camp Crame High School, Camp Crame, Quezon City and the fourth group will be at Mandaluyong High School, Mandaluyong City.

Each group is composed of 10 police personnel.

PCRG head, Chief Supt. Nestor Quinsay said, “We are not just concerned in ensuring the safety and orderliness within the schools but also its cleanliness in order to prevent health hazards from affecting our young ones and these activities are not only during the opening of classes but it is a whole year mission of the PNP."

Elsewhere around the country, Police Regional Offices (PROs) were instructed to coordinate with DepEd authorities for the deployment of PNP personnel for Brigada Eskwela activities in public schools.

The annual Operation Brigada Eskwela is a clean-up drive program initiated by the DepEd and a nationwide voluntary effort of teachers, parents, students, community members, and other organizations to do minor repairs and cleaning of schools in preparation for the start of the school year.

QC, DOH join hands to promote HIV testing

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

QUEZON CITY, 16 May (PIA)--The Quezon City government, through the City Health Department, and the Department of Health have joined hands to promote and encourage human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing at the launching of the National HIV Testing Week at the Quezon Memorial Circle on May 11.

The event is part of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed on December 2014 by the Quezon City government, represented by Mayor Herbert M. Bautista, and the DOH, represented by Assistant Secretary Paulyn Ubial, mandating the two agencies to jointly undertake a communication program to encourage HIV testing, particularly among males.

During the event, two (2) mobile HIV testing vans equipped with laboratory equipment were unveiled to the public.

The vans will be used in different barangays to enable city residents to avail of the free HIV testing and counselling.

Quezon City is one of the two implementation sites of Reaching Out to Most-at-Risk Populations (ROMP) project, which aims to prevent the rise of HIV incidence in the country funded by USAID.

The ROMP project - supported by the National AIDS-STI Prevention and Control Program of the Philippines Department of Health (DOH)- works on developing comprehensive prevention-care intervention models for males who have sex with males (MSM) and people who inject drugs (PWID).

Under the agreement, most-at-risk populations (MARPs) are encouraged to avail of testing, treatment, care and support services, through Klinika Bernardo, a specialized social hygiene clinic under the Quezon City Health Department which caters especially to males, providing them with free counseling, testing and treatment.

Klinika Bernardo is the city's Men's Sundown Clinic focused on HIV and AIDS awareness, counselling and testing.

Bautista said the program will help increase voluntary HIV testing and counseling.

These health and non­-health services are provided through the Service Delivery Network for People Living with HIV services which are available in Quezon City.

Bautista stressed that "we are not condemning people afflicted with HIV but actually reminding them that there is an institution, like Klinika Bernardo, that will take care of their needs."

According to government epidemiologists, HIV cases could reach up to 45,000 this year. As of October 2014, most of the cases are male, accounting for 95 percent. It was also determined that the overall predominant type of transmission was through sexual contact.

Records show that 77 percent of new HIV and AIDS cases in the country occur in the National Capital Region, with the most number of cases found in Quezon City.

Assistant Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial said the rate of increase in the number of new HIV cases has jumped alarmingly from 1 new case every three days in 2000, to 'one new case every hour and 15 minutes, or 17 new cases in a day'.

Ubial added that today 1,118 people with AIDS have died in the Philippines while some 22,000 have tested positive for HIV.

Quezon City health department officer-in-charge Dr. Verdades Linga said this year, the QC health department is targeting bigger prevention coverage for individuals at risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections (STI) in an effort to prevent the spread, not only of STI, but HIV/ AIDS as well.

Under the city health department's plan, at least 80 percent prevention coverage shall be provided to the more than 20,000 MSM (men having sex with men) population in QC by 2016.

Free WAKI therapy technology drawing young and old at Wilcon QC

By Ben Cal [(PNA), FFC/RBC/EDS]

MANILA, May 15 (PNA) -- With spiraling medical cost, a Japanese company is offering for free using high potential therapy technology called WAKI that helps cure various illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, kidney problems, high cholesterol and many more.

People from all walks of life, young and old have been trooping to the Health WAKI center at Wilcon Building along Visayas Avenue in Quezon City since last month.

The free WAKI treatment is 20 minutes daily for 30 days.

Everybody is welcome to try WAKI therapy. One can just walk into its clinic at the 2nd floor of Wilcon building, register and register your name and presto you are in without any hassle.

WAKI is a Japanese invention way back in 1995 and has treated tens of thousands of people from 21 countries, including the Philippines the past 20 years.

Rodolfo Valentino Castillo, 53, of Barangay Culiat, Quezon City who suffered a stroke last March this year, said he recovered from his stroke three weeks after undergoing WAKI treatment.

“After being hospitalized for five days last March, I could not walk, my speech was blurred and I could not raise my hands but now I can walk with the help of a cane, talk and raise my hands, thanks to WAKI,” Castillo said in an interview.

Mrs. Hershey Lou, 41, who was diagnosed with a stone in her kidney and was due for surgery, said that “after undergoing WAKI treatment for five days the kidney stone was flushed out. I’m amazed.”

Siegredo O. Sison, 60, said that after 10 days of therapy “my blood pressure was back to normal and my rheumatism and back pain were gone.”

Another patient, Noel Tayam, 48, had clogged arteries and suffering from dizziness and had to take nine different maintenance medicines, but after 20 days his dizziness was gone and his maintenance was cut down to four medicines.Mrs. Rheyma Diaz was suffering from irregular menstruation with pain in her foot but all these disappeared in thin air after seven days of WAKI therapy.

Mrs. Merlyn Saddul, 62, was relieved of her rheumatism and numbness after only 20 days of therapy.

The Metrowealth International Group (MIG) that owns WAKI was founded by Teo Choo Guan (Pak Teo) in 1995 after merging with some companies from Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.

Alfie Dindo Bernardo, WAKI supervisor, said that since then it has gained acceptance in various countries offering free therapy to its customer who would like to own a WAKI therapeutic equipment to prove to them that the technology is worth owning to cure an array of illnesses without side effect as proven by those who underwent WAKI treatment.

His assistant, Socrates M. Tolentino said that the company will continue to extend free therapy to the public as its contribution to the wellness of the Filipino people.

Both Bernardo and Tolentino said that WAKI customers have testified openly that they have recovered from their illness after undergoing WAKI treatment.

WAKI is designed to revive and recover body cells, increase metabolism, remove toxins, free radicals, improve blood circulation, revive energy for married couples and strengthen immunity.

They also said that healthy people can use WAKI as prevention from diseases.

Phivolcs to launch Valley Fault System Atlas

By Jerome R. Paunan (RJB/JCP/PIA-NCR)

QUEZON CITY, 14 May (PIA) – The Phivolcs will be launching a handbook that will boost earthquake preparedness of local government units in Metro Manila and nearby regions.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) handbook, titled Valley Fault System Atlas, would contain a more detailed information about the active Valley Fault System, which traverses the Greater Metro Manila Area, adjacent regions of Central Luzon and CALABARZON.

The handbook launching and distribution event is set on May 18 at the Phivolcs Auditorium at the University of the Philippines Campus in Diliman.

According to Phivolcs information officer Princess Dianne Decierdo, the launch will be witnessed by provincial governors, mayors and disaster managers of Metro Manila’s 16 cities and one municipality, other provincial LGUs from Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal, and partners from national government disaster warning agencies.

“Indeed, the knowledge compiled in this most relevant tool will inform the earthquake preparedness and impact reduction plans, policies, and actions of our local governments,” Decierdo said.

“It (handbook) can be used not just for disaster risk reduction and mitigation programs but also for land use planning, engineering, construction, and scientific research,” she added.

May 17 is Int’l AIDS Candlelight Memorial Day

By Leilani S. Junio [(PNA), FPV/LSJ/PJN]

MANILA, May 13 (PNA) -- The Philippines is joining the world in remembering all those who died of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) during the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial Day on May 17, 2015.

The Department of Health headed by Secretary Janette L. Garin said the Philippines’ part on the observance will be held at Liwasang Aurora, Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City from 4pm to 9 pm.

The ceremony is an activity spearheaded by organizations remembering those who died of AIDS and its main objective is to create awareness that there can be done to prevent the spread of AIDS and having it is not the end of the world because there is an assistance available for them to prolong their life or not be easily weaken by the HIV virus.

HIV can be prevented by abstinence from sexual activity having a mutual or monogamous partners and practice safe sex.

Since HIV destroys the immune system of a person who possess it acquired it, the tendency is to eventually weaken the person’s capacity to resist infections.

To aid in slowing down the progress of HIV, a person has to take anti-retroviral (ARV) medicine as a regular maintenance if they are positive with HIV which is being offered by the government.

The activity will culminate the National HIV Testing being observed from May 11 to 15 of this year.

HIV stands for Human-Immunodeficiency Virus which causes AIDS.

Health Secretary Garin is urging the people to avail of the free HIV testing being offered by 65 DOH retained hospitals and accredited facilities nationwide.

Latest DOH report for February 2015 revealed that there were 23,709 confirmed HIV cases and more than a quarter (26 percent) of them were 15-24 years old.

PDEA opens anniversary photo contest

(PDEA/RJB/JEG/PIA-NCR)

QUEZON CITY, 12 May (PIA) – In celebration of its 13th anniversary, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) opens a photo contest with the theme “Laban sa Droga, Ramdam ni Juana at Juan.”

The photo contest is open to media partners and PDEA stakeholders who have provided the agency coverage and supported their activities and advocacies from July 2014 to present.

For the media category, a contestant is limited to three (3) photo entries, with a size of 11’’ x 14” without borders. Photos must be color, in high resolution and with matte finish.

All entries with caption must display PDEA activities, advocacies and accomplishments in line with its mandate.

Printed entries must also be accompanied with a softy copy, and must be placed inside a brown envelope. Details of entries attached at the back of the envelope must include: Name, contact number and affiliation; title of entry; date taken; publication and date published (if published); caption; and brief description/background (where, why, who, were in the picture, etc.)

Photo entries must be mailed or delivered personally to the PDEA Public Information Office (PIO), PDEA National Headquarters, Brgy. Pinyahan, Diliman, Quezon City.

Entries will be judged with the following criteria: Adherence to the theme/content (50 percent); creativity/visual perception (25 percent); and impact/photographic quality (25 percent).

Winners will receive a cash prize and their entries will be featured in PDEA’s 2016 desk calendar.

Submission of entries will be until 29 May 2015. For more information, please call PDEA PIO at (02) 929-3244 or personally visit PDEA PIO at the National Headquarters in Quezon City.

Solid Group sells QC property for P1.2B

By Kristyn Nika M. Lazo

Solid Group Inc. (SGI), through its wholly owned subsidiary Solid Manila Corp, has sold its 31,423 square meter property in Balintawak, Quezon City for P1.23 billion.

SGI said in a disclosure to the stock exchange, proceeds of the sale will be recorded “as an increase . . . in cash and assets and a corresponding decrease in real property assets.”

“The value of the transaction represents 9 percent of the consolidated total assets of Solid Group Inc,” the company said.

The Balintawak property has been the site of the company’s office building. It has a total of 142,352 square meters of gross leaseable area in various areas in Metro Manila and in the provinces.

SGI has properties in Bacoor, Cavite; Cagayan de Oro; Chino Roces Avenue, Makati City; Clark, Pampanga; Iloilo; Laguna; Paranaque City; Ermita, Manila; and Valenzuela, Bulacan.

SGI said estimated “capital expenditures [capex] for the year 2015 to amount to P100 million” for real estate development and various property acquisitions. The company said the capex would be sourced from internally generated funds of the company.

Last year, the company recorded a net loss of P188 million against the P145 million net income in 2013 due to the reported losses of distribution and property business, as well as lower operating sales of the support, services and other segments.

SGI is the company behind the MyPhone mobile brand.

It is involved in various businesses including multimedia (Solid Broadband Corp. and MyPhone); manufacturing (Solid Laguna Corp. and Kita Corp.); distribution (Sony video equipment distributor Solid Video Corp. and logistics firm Omni Logistics); services (Solid Electronics Corp. and Solid Manila Finance Inc.); and real estate (Solid Manila Corp., Zen Towers and Starworld Corp.).


Maynilad repairs 5,300 pipe leaks

(MAYNILAD/RJB/JEG/PIA-NCR)

QUEZON CITY, 10 May (PIA) - Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) has successfully repaired almost 5,300 pipe leaks across the West Zone concession area in the first quarter of 2015.

“Over the past years, we have aggressively managed water losses because the more water we recover, the more water we can deliver to our customers. This is more economical than developing a new water source only to lose the potable water in a leaking distribution network,” said Maynilad President and CEO Ricky P. Vargas.

According to Maynilad, with the repair of the leaks wherein majority were found in Manila, Parañaque and Quezon City, the company has recovered some 27 million liters of water per day (MLD) - enough to serve the requirements of 27,000 households.

Maynilad’s recent water audit found that 81 percent of the company’s Non-Revenue Water (NRW) may be attributed to leaks in its distribution network. To address this, the company conducts leak repairs and selective pipe replacement projects across its concession area.

Maynilad’s NRW management efforts have enabled the company to reduce water losses to 32.7 percent by the end of March 2015.

Meanwhile, the company enjoins its customers and the public to report pipe leaks through the Maynilad Hotline 1626.

DSWD continues prep for Typhoon Dodong

(DSWD)

QUEZON CITY, May 9 -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) continues to work with other members of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) to ensure immediate response to the needs of local government units along the path of Typhoon Dodong.

In the press conference this morning at the NDRRMC, the DSWD as head of the Food and Non-Food Cluster has reported that it has prepositioned 258,220 food packs amounting to P90.97 million in its Field Offices in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Regions I, II,III,IV-A, V, VIII, and at the National Resource Operations Center (NROC).

NROC is the national warehouse of the DSWD located in Pasay City.

Aside from the food packs, DSWD has also prepositioned additional food items worth P21.5 million and non-food items such as mats, blankets, kitchen kits, tarpaulin or plastic sheets amounting to P40.5 million.

DSWD said there is an on-going repacking of relief goods at the NROC to readily replace those that will be transported to areas that will be hit by ‘Dodong’.

The Department has also coordinated with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to alert its major services including the Water Purifier System Operator Teams for possible manpower and logistics support.

Likewise, as head of the the Camp Coordination and Camp Management Cluster, the DSWD reported that there is an on-going mapping of evacuation centers for the projected affected areas through Google Crisis Maps.

DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman said that all evacuation centers have been readied in coordination with the different Preparedness Clusters. Sec. Soliman added that all disaster teams at the Central Office and and the regional level are placed on standby.

Sec. Soliman once again urged residents along the typhoon path to heed any announcement of their local officials to ensure zero casualty.

DPWH-NCR May 8-11 road repair schedule

(PNA), FPV/PR/RSM

MANILA, May 8 (PNA) -- The Department of Public Works and Highways-National Capital Region (DPWH-NCR) will undertake reblocking and road repair effective 10 p.m. of May 8, Friday to 5 a.m. of May 11, Monday on the following roads in the cities of Quezon and Pasig:

Quezon City

1. Along E. Rodriguez Jr. Avenue/C-5 from Calle Industria St. to Greenmeadows Ave. (1st lane from sidewalk, South bound);

2. Along Mindanao Avenue from Road 1 to Catleya St. (4th inner lane, North bound);

3. Along Payatas Road from Majaas St. to Amlacville St. (2nd lane, North bound); and

4. Along Batasan Road from Filinvest II to San Mateo Road (3rd inner lane, West bound).

Pasig City

1. Along C-5 Road from Shell Gasoline Station going to Lanuza St. (3rd outermost lane, North bound); and

2. Along C-5 Road (Gap 4) from Pasig Blvd. to Bagong-Ilog Service Rd. (South bound).

Quezon City offers free digital literacy training

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

QUEZON CITY, 7 May(PIA)--The Quezon City Library & Information Center (QCLIC) offers one-on-one computer tutorial.

The digital literacy training include lessons on Computer Basics, Microsoft Office programs, the Internet and e-Mail, and more.

Sessions will be conducted Mondays to Fridays with each day focusing on one module.

Interested parties must register in person at the Multimedia & Internet Services Section. No library card required.

The librarian will contact the registrants before the session to assess their needs or what particular digital lesson they want to learn during the training.

Participants may contact the QCLIC Digital Literacy Training Centers at the following Quezon City libraries:


1. Main Library

Contact Person: Mr. Nicky Jadulco

Tel.: 922-4060

e-mail: quezoncitypubliclibrary@gmail.com


2. Cubao District Library

Contact Person: Ms. Diana Abiad

Tel.: 924-1029

e-mail: cubaobranch@gmail.com


3. Project 4 District Library

Contact Person: Mr. Paolo Dominik Daulat

Tel.: 438-2208

e-mail: project4branch@gmail.com


4. Project 8 District Library

Contact Person: Mr. Andrew Caseda

Tel.: 456-1812

e-mail: project8.library@gmail.com


5. Novaliches District Library

Contact Person: Mr. Edward Bayani

Tel.: 417-1124

email: qcpl.sbitc.novaliches@gmail.com


6. Lagro District Library

Contact Person: Mr. Ben Delos Santos;

Tel.: 419-5927

e-mail: lagrolibrary@gmail.com

MetroPac gives up MRT bid

By Darwin G. Amojelar

Metro Pacific Investments Corp. may scrap an offer to acquire a substantial stake in the owner of Metro Rail Transit Line 3, as the government pursues the buyout of the train system.

“I think the chances of an MRT 3 [acquisition] are nil to zero. We couldn’t do anything,” Metro Pacific chairman Manuel Pangilinan told reporters.

Pangilinan earlier said the company could exercise the option to acquire a substantial stake in Metro Rail Transit Corp. led by businessman Robert John Sobrepeña, once the government approved the proposal to expand the MRT 3 system.

Metro Pacific signed a cooperation agreement in 2011 with various groups holding rights and interests in MRT 3, including MRTC, Metro Rail Transit Holdings Inc., Metro Rail Transit 2 Inc. and Monumento Rail Transit Corp., giving the Pangilinan-led company an option to acquire 48 percent.

Metro Pacific has yet to exercise the option.

State-run Land Bank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines hold an 80-percent economic interest in MRT 3 while the remaining stake is held by creditors of MRTC.

Metro Pacific earlier proposed a $524-million expansion of MRT 3, which was lower than the government’s $1.13-billion buyout plan. MPIC’s proposal is still pending before the Transportation Department.

Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya had said the government was still pursuing the MRT 3 buyout, even after Congress did not approve the P53.9-billion allocation in the 2015 budget for the government’s takeover of MRT.

President Aquino issued Executive Order No. 126 in 2013, directing the Transportation and Finance Departments to buy out MRT 3 from MRTC, pursuant to the build-lease-transfer agreement.

MRT 3, which runs along Edsa from North Avenue in Quezon City to Taft Avenue in Pasay City, is serving 500,000 passengers per day, way beyond its rated capacity of 350,000.

The line has a fleet of 73 Czech-made air-conditioned rail cars, of which up to 60 three-car trains operate daily.

City government preserves Quezon heritage house

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

QUEZON CITY, 5 May (PIA)—Recognizing the importance of protecting the City's heritage, the Quezon City government thru Mayor Herbert M. Bautista decided to preserve the house of former president Manuel L. Quezon, also Quezon City’s founding father.

The house, previously located at 45 Gilmore Street was transferred to the Quezon Memorial Circle, just across City Hall.

The new foundation of the house was laid in April 2014, then the original structure in Gilmore was disassembled, its parts carefully removed to be used for restoration. The process of disassembling the 90-year old house was finally completed in June.

The original house was acquired by the Quezon family in 1927. It is a two-storey beige and white structure done in neo-classical American architecture. It served as a vacation house of the family; it was also the place where Quezon stayed when he became ill.

More than a house, it was a place of comfort for the family with fond memories of a loving father who always shared time with his children; as a place of refuge for a leader who took the challenge of building an independent nation. It was home to anyone who needs help. In fact, the Philippine National Red Cross was established by Doña Aurora right at its living room.

The reconstructed house will not only serve as a museum but also a source of inspiration for Filipinos who love their families and their country.

The Quezon Heritage House, now a part of the city's cultural and historical treasure, will give people a chance to look at the place that was testament to the birth of the country's premier city 74 years ago.

The reconstruction and restoration of the Quezon Heritage House was made possible through an agreement signed by the city government and the Quezon heirs. The family even donated some furniture and fixtures of the house to be used in the reconstructed house. These include an antique glass cabinet, a brown wooden cabinet, a marble dresser, an antique bed with canopy and headboard.

Adjacent to the house, the city government plans to put up the Quezon public library and a memorabilia building.

QC students join as volunteers in Bayanihan Bayan sa QC program

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

QUEZON CITY, 4 May (PIA)--At least 2,000 students from various universities and colleges in Quezon City participated in the recent “Bayanihan at Balik Serbisyo Tayo sa QC” program held at the Quezon Memorial Circle on May 1, 2015.

Spearheaded by the QC Community Relations Office (QC CRO) in coordination with the Scholarship and Youth Development Program (SYDP), the program aims to tap students and available human resources in the community for voluntary services in the various activities of the city.

Mayor Herbert M. Bautista told the student volunteers that they can make a big contribution for the city even through small deeds such as proper disposal of wastes.

In addition to community endeavors, the mayor said the volunteers may also be tapped during calamities, disasters, emergencies, and other similar occurrences.

SYDP head Rogelio Reyes said the students will be harnessed to help in providing services to the communities. He welcomed the participants from the various colleges including masteral and doctorate (PhDs) students under the city’s scholarship program, who attended the workshop as part of the event.

Mr. Albert Seno, head of the city’s community relations office, said the volunteer program is an essential part of providing services, especially during rescue and disaster relief operations or in clean-up drives.

Various government agencies, nongovernment organizations and volunteer groups also participated in the event by putting up exhibit booths.

Participants include, which include QC CRO, QC Anti-Drug advocates, Bureau of Fire Protection (QC), Red Cross/ QC chapter, Quezon City Polytechnic University (3 campuses), Polytechnic University of the Philippines, TIP-Huwarang Mag-aaral ng Bayan, and volunteer organizations such as Ugnayan ng Pahinungod (UP Manila chapter), Amnesty International, iVolunteers, and the End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children (ECPAT), among others.

The whole-day event was highlighted by the 1st QC Volunteer Management Conference, Unity Walk, scholar formation, QC youth volunteer fair, street dance competition and concert at the park.

In September 2014, Mayor Bautista ordered the creation of a volunteer and citizenship desk in the city through an executive order which sought to institutionalize the volunteer program, known as Bayanihang Bayan sa QC program. He appointed Albert Seno, head of the city’s community relations office, as the focal person for the new initiative.

Based on the executive order, the volunteer desk shall be responsible in keeping a profile and database of all available volunteers who can be tapped and mobilized by the city government to render voluntary work.

The executive order also called for the creations of a database for volunteer demand for matching purposes.

The city government also plans to set up volunteer and citizenship desks in private companies and organizations in the city.

It also requires an annual submission of the list of volunteers, as well as updates on the registry and activities of the program, to the office of the city mayor.

QC inks memo of cooperation with PCEPSDI, Kalikasan GP3

By Cory Martinez

QUEZON City has joined a multi-sector alliance of government, private, business and consumers institutions to promote the sustainable purchase, production and consumption of environment-friendly products and services, particularly in the city.

Mayor Herbert Bautista recently signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Philippine Center for Environment Protection and Sustainable Development, Inc. (PCEPSDI) and members of the Kalikasan GP3 (Kalikasan Green Purchasing, Green Productivity towards Green Philippines) Conference Conveners’ Committee.

The signing of the agreement of cooperation served as kick off for the hosting of the 2015 GP3 Expo Conference slated July 23 – 25 at the SMX Convention Center, SM Aura, in Taguig.

Resorts World Manila goes green

(BusinessMirror)

RESORTS World Manila’s (RWM) League of Volunteer Employees (LOVE), in cooperation with ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation Inc.’s Bantay Kalikasan Program, supported Earth Day recently with various green activities at the La Mesa Nature Reserve in Quezon City.

Anchored on Live and Love Green program, one of RWM’s corporate social responsibility advocacies that aims to promote and protect environmental sustainability, around 50 employee LOVE members gathered and participated in various activities. They included an environmental awareness lecture, a 3-kilometer nature walk, nursery planting with approximately 250 pots of germinant plants, vermicomposting demonstration and a nature appreciation session at La Mesa Eco Park. “At RWM, we continue to make an effort to shift in consciousness and mind-set to go green.

As part of our commitment to preserve and save Mother Earth, we are standing up and making a greener choice,” said Owen Cammayo, director for corporate communications of RWM.

This green initiative was a welcome endeavor for RWM in support of the national government campaign for tree planting to address the country’s dwindling urban forest. RWM aims to make communities win and is a direct reflection of the company’s commitment toward responsible citizenship. RWM is the first one-stop, nonstop entertainment and leisure destination in the Philippines that features recreational thrills, world-class performances, unique events and exciting lifestyle options. Conveniently located across Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3, RWM is an instant gateway to world-class Philippine hospitality and is home to three international lodging brands, (Maxims Hotel, Marriott Hotel Manila, Remington Hotel) with two more hotels (Sheraton Hotel Manila and Hilton Hotel Manila) currently under construction. Also home to RWM is The Newport Mall, which features international luxury brands, state-of-the-art movie theaters, the Newport Cinemas, an award-winning, ultra-modern Newport Performing Arts Theater and a cozy, 24/7 entertainment hub at Bar 360.

It also has almost 50 restaurant outlets offering a diverse selection of local and world cuisine, prepared by top Filipino and foreign chefs and paired with a wide selection of the finest wines and popular liquors.

DPWH continues road works in QC, Pasig and Caloocan this weekend -MMDA

(PNA), LAM/CLTC

MANILA, May 1 (PNA) -- Road re-blocking and repair activities will be conducted by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) this weekend along the areas of Quezon City, an the cities of Caloocan and Pasig.

In its advisory, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said on Friday the DPWH will be doing road repairs and reblocking on the following areas from May 1, Friday at 10 p.m. until May 4, Monday at 5 a.m. at the following areas:

Southbound

1. Along C-5 Road (Gap 4) Pasig Boulevard to Bagong Ilog Service Road

Northbound

2. Along Mindanao Avenue from Road 1 to Catleya Street, 4th inner lane

3. Along C-5 Road Pasig Boulevard Mary Immaculate Hospital

4. Along C-5 Road from Valle Verde / Resins Inc. to Lanuza Street, 3rdoutermost lane

5. Along EDSA between Tirona Street to Mascardo Street, Caloocan City, 1st lane from center island

Westbound

6. Along Batasan Road from Sinagtala Street to Filinvest I, 3rd inner lane.

According to Emerson Carlos, Assistant General Manager for Operations of MMDA, DPWH-National Capital Region Director Reynaldo Tagudando recommended the areas to undergo reblocking and repair this weekend for maintenance purposes.

All affected roads will be fully passable by 5 a.m. on Monday.

Motorists are advised to avoid the said areas and use alternate routes instead.

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