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Tuesday, April 18, 2023
Long-term rehab of areas affected by oil spill needed
Apr 18, 2023 00:03 AM
When news of the oil spill on the coast of Mindoro spilled to the media and on social media last Feb. 28, 2023, people were not aware of the magnitude and repercussions of that incident. Some assumed that it would only take a few days of cleanup to return the waters to its pristine condition, and a few days more to make the culprit accountable for its actions.
Details, however, emerged soon and the “prognosis” was bleak — and dark, like the spilt black oil that is highly toxic to the marine environment. It turned out that MT Princess Empress, which sank off Naujan in Oriental Mindoro, carried with it almost 900,000 liters of industrial fuel oil. En route from Bataan to Iloilo, the oil tanker encountered rough seas mid-way; it was an “accident” that no one had anticipated.
Soon, the oil spill manifested its deadly impact. In a recent report, the DSWD has said that the oil spill has affected nine municipalities in Oriental Mindoro, and two in Palawan. More than 100,000 residents were affected, while hundreds have fallen ill, with some experiencing respiratory-related symptoms. It should be noted that the Coast Guard described the oil slick as “black and thick, with strong odor.”
Though the oil spill has not yet directly affected the tourist area of Puerto Galera or the “center of the center of biodiversity” that is the Verde Island Passage, no day has passed without these two locations constantly being under threat. Authorities must ensure at all cost that the scope of the present affected areas will not spread out to unspoiled waters. Marine scientists have warned that any oil spill damage to Verde’s protected areas will be “irreversible” and would take generations to repair.
Aside from the environmental impact, the economic effect of the oil spill is also catastrophic, especially to the coastal towns whose residents rely on the waters for livelihood and survival. The Marcos administration was aware of this when the President reiterated the government’s long-term commitment to rehabilitate the oil spill affected areas.
Last April 15, the President conducted an aerial inspection to assess the extent of the damage and held a meeting with local executives in Pola, Oriental Mindoro. He also distributed livelihood assistance packages to the communities.
The President assured residents that all responsible government departments, such as DTI, DSWD, DOLE, and TESDA are committed to assist in terms of providing livelihood, training, and funding. “Rest assured that we will not leave you. You can count on the national government to be here with you until this issue is resolved, so that we can help you go back to your normal lives,” the President said.
The commitment of the national government for long-term rehabilitation is commendable. But there needs to be lessons learned. For example, the government has to invest in modern equipment and technology to immediately “cut” the source of an oil spill and “contain” the affected areas.
Reactive responses must also be thrown out of the window. Though they can’t prevent oil tankers from criss-crossing our archipelagic nation, maritime authorities must fully ensure that there are measures or protocols in place to assess if a vessel is sea-worthy. Otherwise, this Mindoro oil spill will just be one of the many maritime tragedies we will witness in this lifetime — and not the last of its kind.
DFA services to go digital
Apr 17, 2023 02:22 PM
Various services being offered by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will soon go digital as the agency formalized its collaboration with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo and DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the digitization of Philippine consular services, which are the processing of the Philippines passports, visas and apostille.
Both secretaries agreed to "collaborate and work on a synchronized and well-coordinated ICT system," according to DFA.
"The MOU is envisioned to promote and ensure the integration, interoperability and interconnection of the DFA and DICT’s respective systems and applications with each other to achieve a more effective and efficient delivery of frontline services," it added.
Also present during the signing ceremony at the DFA headquarters were: DFA Undersecretary Jesus Gary Domingo, DICT Undersecretary David Almirol, and DFA-Office of Consular Affairs (OCA) Assistant Secretary Henry Bensurto.
Guiuan, Eastern Samar’s heat index hits 49℃ on April 16 — PAGASA
Apr 17, 2023 10:47 PM
AT A GLANCE
- Guiuan in Eastern Samar registered a heat index of 49 degrees Celsius (℃) on Sunday, April 16, the highest recorded value since March 1, 2023.
- Seven stations registered heat indexes within dangerous level on Monday, April 17. These are Dauis, Bohol (44℃); Roxas City, Capiz (44℃); Dagupan City, Pangasinan (43℃); Catarman, Northern Samar (42℃); Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte (42℃); Masbate City, Masbate (42℃); and San Jose, Occidental Mindoro (42℃).
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Guiuan in Eastern Samar registered a heat index of 49 degrees Celsius (℃) on Sunday, April 16, the highest recorded value since March 1, 2023.
The heat index in the area reached 49℃ around 11 a.m., Sunday, April 16.
According to PAGASA, a heat index between 42℃ and 51℃ would be considered within “danger level,” as heat cramps and heat exhaustion are possible.
It added that continued activity could lead to heat stroke.
Graphics courtesy of PAGASA
Meanwhile, seven stations registered heat indexes at danger level on Monday, April 17.
These are Dauis, Bohol (44℃); Roxas City, Capiz (44℃); Dagupan City, Pangasinan (43℃); Catarman, Northern Samar (42℃); Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte (42℃); Masbate City, Masbate (42℃); and San Jose, Occidental Mindoro (42℃).
In the next 24 hours, the easterlies or the warm air coming from the Pacific Ocean will continue to be the dominant weather system in the country.
PAGASA said partly cloudy to cloudy weather with isolated rain showers and thunderstorms will prevail over most of the country.
Although the hot and humid weather is expected to continue, PAGASA advised the public to remain vigilant as there can be flooding or landslides during severe thunderstorms.
Sudden heavy rains, lightning, thunder, gusts of wind, and sometimes hail, often accompany severe thunderstorms.
Diesel prices cut by P0.40/liter; gasoline up by P0.30/liter
Motorists filling up their vehicles with diesel will experience a breather this week, as the price of this commodity will be down by P0.40 per liter, based on the pricing adjustment advisories of the oil companies.
Conversely, gasoline products will have slight increase of P0.30 per liter; while kerosene prices will have marginal uptrend of P0.10 per liter.
As of this writing, the industry players that already announced their price adjustments had been Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation, Seaoil, and Cleanfuel effective Tuesday (April 18); while their competitor-firms are all anticipated to follow.
The domestic oil firms will be enforcing cost movements based on the swing of crude and finished products prices in the regional market as referenced on the Mean of Platts Singapore (MOPS), which has been the adopted benchmark of the deregulated downstream petroleum industry of the country.
There had been seesaw in prices in the world market last week because of diverging sentiments manifesting when it comes to projections on supply and demand - primarily in the second half of the year.
As noted by industry experts, following the announcement of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its ally-producers (collectively known as OPEC+) in the first week of April, prices escalated to the level of $87 per barrel.
However, due to the forecast of OPEC that demand will likely be weak during the second half of this year, prices dropped to the level of $84 per barrel for most of trading days last week.
By Friday (April 13), international oil prices had been on upswing again because of the pronouncement of the International Energy Agency (IEA) that there could be ‘supply deficit’ by the latter part of this year if OPEC+ producers will concretize their voluntary output cut.
As of Monday (April 17 trading), spot contracts for international benchmark Brent crude climbed to $86 per barrel from a relatively leaner $85 per barrel as of Friday (April 14) trading.
Monday, April 17, 2023
Store water, avoid dengue, DOH urges public
By: Dona Z. Pazzibugan - Reporter / @dpazzibuganINQ
Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:20 AM April 17, 2023
Residents of Bgy. 101 in Tondo, Manila line up their plastic containers to collect water as Maynilad Water Services Inc., announced daily water service interruptions across Metro Manila starting on March 28 and 29, 2023, to conserve water as the El Nino phenomenon looms. STORY: Store water, avoid dengue, DOH urges public
MANILA, Philippines — It’s bad enough to deal with a water shortage without having to worry about falling ill with dengue.
Amid the limited water supply induced by the dry season, health authorities reminded the public to properly cover their water containers to prevent a further rise in cases of dengue, a disease caused by mosquitoes that breed in water.
“The usual cause [of an increase in dengue cases] will be the water shortage because every time the water supply is lacking, people store water in containers, pails, and basins that are left uncovered,” Department of Health (DOH) officer in charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said on Sunday.
She explained that dengue-carrying mosquitoes like to breed in stagnant water, which is commonly found in household water containers.
“We should cover our water containers to avoid mosquitoes from multiplying in our households,” Vergeire said.
The health official also urged households to regularly clean their surroundings to avoid attracting mosquitoes.
“Mosquitoes like to stay in dirty, dark and small places so we all need to clean our surroundings so we can remove the garbage and useless stuff that attract mosquitoes,” she said.
‘Breeding places’
The DOH has recorded 27,670 dengue cases from Jan. 1 to March 18 this year. The figure is 94 percent higher than the 14,278 cases reported during the same period last year.
Dengue is caused by a virus that is spread through the bite of the day-biting Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes.
The DOH said the main strategy to prevent the spread of dengue is to destroy the breeding grounds of the virus-carrying mosquitoes.
“Search and destroy breeding places such as stagnant water and its containers; use self-protection; do not delay when sick; seek early consultation; where there is an outbreak, support fogging,” the department said.
The DOH also pointed out that while dengue currently has no treatment, the disease can be early managed.
On March 23, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. acknowledged that the country was experiencing a water crisis, adding that the government has not been addressing the problem.
“We do not look at it, [we] just find other ways and put up with the idea that once in a while we’ll have to pull out our buckets and fill our bathtubs with water because there’s not going to be water for the next 24 hours,” he said.
Beyond insurance premiums, seniors need better quality health care services
Apr 17, 2023 00:02 AM
Senior citizens received good news last week. The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) released ₱42.93 billion to cover the payment of their health insurance premiums for 2023. Sourced from proceeds of the sin tax law, the allotment benefits over 8.5 million senior citizens enrolled in the national health insurance program of PhilHealth.
But the assurance of funding for the elderly’s health care needs is only part of the equation. What needs to be ascertained is that senior citizens are able to maintain good health and are shielded from their vulnerability to diseases associated with ageing.
Senior citizens constitute roughly 11.31 percent of the country’s population. According to a study on Ageing and Health in the Philippines by the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia, “the formal pillars of support, such as short- and long-term healthcare, and pension systems are still under development.” It is not surprising, therefore, that official government response is short-term oriented, such as the latest DBM announcement on responding to this year’s funding requirements.
According to a United Nations study, “elderly people were at a significantly higher risk of mortality and severe diseases following infection; and senior citizens are more likely to have underlying, long-term health problems.” It is imperative that the government adopt a more holistic approach to the health care needs of ageing citizens.
During the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, the Department of Health (DOH) reported that it disproportionately affected the older Filipinos; moreover, 50.7 percent of the confirmed deaths were aged 65 and older.
A visit to the Department of Health website contains entries on a Healthy and Productive Ageing Program that “primarily aims to promote quality life among older persons and contribute to nation building through providing equitable access to quality healthcare.” Evidently, senior citizens are more vulnerable to getting ill or dying from disease.
Yet there is little information on concrete health care programs, only links to copies of existing laws on universal health care and on the selling of medicines with 20 percent senior citizens discount. Listed under Types of Services are two items, namely: Geriatric Training for Primary Service Providers and Pre-Retirement Orientation and Training. These programs are for enabling service providers that cater to senior citizens’ needs; these do not directly provide vital health care services.
With the winding-down of Covid-19 related programs, the public expects the DOH to expand its assistance to senior citizens who need to be supported with responsive health maintenance and health care services.
Echoing President Marcos’ directive on the latest release of funds, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said: “This government must ensure that our senior citizens have the support and resources they need to thrive. Our elderly will always remain vital members of our society who have spent many of their productive years not only in improving the lives of their family members but also in contributing to their communities.”
Week-long water service interruption to hit NCR areas, Cavite -- Maynilad
BY JEAN FERNANDO, Manila Bulletin
Maynilad Water Services Inc. said portions of Metro Manila and Cavite will experience a week-long water service interruption on April 16 to 23.
Maynilad said there will be no water in parts of Las Piñas City, Muntinlupa City, Parañaque City, Pasay City, Bacoor City, and Imus City from April 16 to April 23. However, water services are expected to resume in some parts of the affected areas by April 22.
In an advisory, Maynilad said the water service interruption is due to the ongoing intensified cleaning of filters at the Putatan Water Treatment Plants.
“The turbidity level of the raw water in Laguna Lake has been gradually decreasing since the Amihan season ended, but the process is taking longer than anticipated. Due to this, we have to extend our maintenance activities at the plants,” the water concessionaire said.
“Normal operations will be restored once the cleaning of the filters is completed,” it added.
Maynilad advised its affected customers to store enough water and to let the water flow out briefly until it clears when the water service resumes.
In Parañaque City, eight barangays will be affected while six barangays will have no water in Pasay City on April 16-23.
The eight villages affected in Parañaque are Barangays BF Homes, Don Bosco, Marcelo Green, San Antonio, San Martin de Porres, San Isidro, Merville, and Moonwalk.
According to the Parañaque Public Information Office (PIO), Barangays BF Homes, Don Bosco, Marcelo Green, San Antonio and San Martin de Porres will have no water from 9:00 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Water service interruptions in Barangays Don Bosco, Marcelo Green, San Antonio and San Isidro will be from 2 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
Barangays Merville and Moonwalk, including other areas in Don Bosco, will have no water from 8:00 p.m. to 6 a.m.
In Pasay City, the villages that will be affected by the service disruption from 8:00 p.m. to 6 a.m. are Barangays 181 to 185 and 201.
Maynilad said that their mobile water tankers will go around the affected areas to deliver potable water to residents.
The water concessionaire will also set up stationary water tanks in select areas.
What is to be born again?
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By Fr. Roy Cimagala
Chaplain
Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)
Talamban, Cebu City
Email: roycimagala@gmail.com
BORN again! That is a very popular expression these days, thank God. But I believe we have to know what truly it is and what it involves. The expression can come from that gospel episode where Christ told a Pharisee, a ruler of the Jews, Nicodemus by name, that he has to be born again to be able to see the Kingdom of God. (cfr. Jn 3,1-8)
Obviously, the poor Nicodemus did not understand what Christ meant. “How can a man once grown old be born again?” he asked. And so, Christ had to explain. “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born of water and Spirit he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. What is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of spirit is spirit.”
These words of Christ should make us aware that to be a man is not simply a matter of being born in the flesh, subject only to the laws of nature. While all the material beings have a certain spirit also, that of man is not simply a natural spirit, but the very spirit of God himself that would truly make us God’s image and likeness, as God wants us to be.
Let’s remember that when God created Adam, he first took clay and shaped it in the form of man. But that clay form did not become truly alive until God breathed into it the breath of life. (cfr. Gen 2,7) But as we all know, that state of original justice of man was lost when both our first parents fell into sin. That’s when we, their descendants, would be born not anymore in the state of original justice and in need of recovering such a state.
Thus, there is the need to be “born again,” so that we should not be born only in the flesh but also in the Spirit of God that gives us the true life, the life proper to us as God’s image and likeness, children of his, sharers of his divine life and nature.
And that we can now be born again in the Spirit is made possible because of the redemptive work of Christ who regained for us the Spirit to be with us all throughout our life. It is this life in the Spirit that would enable us to enter, understand and live the spiritual and supernatural life meant for us, going beyond what we merely understand and live in the level of the material, the temporal and the natural.
With the sacraments, first with Baptism that would incorporate us into the life of Christ, then Confirmation that would strengthen our life with Christ, then the Holy Eucharist that would nourish our life with Christ, and all the other sacraments, we can manage not only to be born again in the Spirit but also to live with God in our earthly sojourn.
It’s important that we enliven and strengthen this life in the Spirit all the time. For this, we have to do our part to correspond with what God in Christ through the Spirit has provided us. Thus, if we have to do a number of things to maintain our natural self, we should also do the relevant things to maintain and grow in our spiritual and supernatural life.
Thus, if we have to eat and sleep, take shower, exercise, study, etc., etc., to keep us naturally healthy, we need to do certain spiritual exercises like prayer, sacrifices, ascetical struggles, etc., and to avail ourselves of the supernatural means like the sacraments to keep ourselves spiritually and supernaturally alive!
That’s what being “born again” involves.
"MY" PSALMS OF LIFE
"A Psalm of Life" is a poem written by American writer Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, often subtitled "What the Heart of the Young Man Said to the Psalmist". Longfellow wrote the poem not long after the death of his first wife and while thinking about how to make the best of life.
"Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
"Life is but an empty dream!"
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.
Life is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
"Dust thou art, to dust returnest,"
Was not spoken of the soul.
Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each to-morrow
Finds us farther than to-day.
Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.
In the world's broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!
Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant!
Let the dead Past bury its dead!
Act,--act in the living Present!
Heart within, and God o'erhead!
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;
Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o'er life's solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.
Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing
Learn to labor and to wait."
We are always in God's limelight.
Through the ages, people have experienced challenges that show God's hands - mothers and fathers, the young and the old, simple shepherds and popular scholars, soldiers and actors.
God watches over me - no matter how I feel right now: safe and secure in a wholly and warm hearted community or alone and feeling abandoned. God knows my doubts, worries, troubles and challenges in my daily life.
The Psalms became a very important part in my life. It happened purely by accident. Long time ago, I stayed in a hotel in a foreign country in Europe. I felt really uncomfortable. I'll not be boring you with details. I remember asking myself what the psalm writers also frequently did: "Where are you God? Why don't you help me?"
Yes, the presence of real enemies is also part of our daily life here and everywhere. Anyway, suddenly I found a bible in the bottom drawer of my night table. I started reading the Psalms... .
At the very center of the bible are these songs, the Psalms, rising up like a tune from the heart. They capture the innermost thoughts and prayers, and they still speak directly to our needs. For every emotion and mood, you can find a Psalm to match. The Psalms wrestle with the deepest sorrow and ask God the hardest questions about suffering and injustice. They do not tip flowery compliments to God: they cry out to Him, or shout for joy before Him.
In almost every Psalm you find the presence of God, not as a philosophical principle, but as someone, who can change your life, if you allow Him to do so.
I learned from my Philippine mentor, the late Monsignore Professor Dr. Dr. Hermogenes E. Bacareza, chaplain of the Philippine community in Berlin, said that the best way to read the Psalms is simple: to make these ancient prayers your own and speak directly to God. So many of the poems catch deep human feelings that you can't help but be moved by them.
It will take time to understand all Psalms; some might be boring or even self-congratulatory. Read them again and again. Psalms cries from the heart and songs of sorrow as well as joy - reflections for moods and experiences.
Since reading the Psalms I learned and understood that for God, we're always in the limelight.
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