'Green' energy open to foreigners – DoJ

By Franco Jose C. Baroña, Manila Times

October 4, 2022

FOREIGNERS can own 100 percent of renewable or "green" energy projects in the Philippines, the Department of Justice (DoJ) said.

In a legal opinion it issued on September 29, the DoJ said the renewable energy sector is not covered by the 60-40 ownership rule in Section 2, Article XII of the Constitution.

It said, "the Constitutional foreign ownership restriction on the exploration, development and utilization of natural resources only covers things that are susceptible to appropriation, thus excluding the sun, the wind, and the ocean."

The DoJ said the phrase "all forces of potential energy" in the Constitution should be interpreted to exclude "kinetic energy" such as renewable energy.

Potential energy is defined as "energy at rest," while kinetic energy is "energy in motion." Renewable energy sources like solar, wind, hydro, and ocean or tidal energy are therefore considered kinetic energy sources.

The DoJ said the investment cap only seeks to "preserve for Filipinos limited and exhaustible resources."

The "appropriation of waters, direct from the source, for power generation" should continue to be subject to the foreign ownership restriction, the DoJ said.

Before more foreign investments in renewables are allowed, the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Renewable Energy Act of 2008 (Republic Act 9513) must be amended to conform with the opinion, it said.

The government is planning to increase the share of renewable energy in the power generation mix to 35 percent by 2030, and increase it further to 50 percent by 2040.

Based on Department of Energy (DoE) data, renewables make up 22 percent of the generation mix, with coal having the biggest share at 58 percent.

As of June, a total of 998 renewable energy contracts with a combined installed capacity of 5,460.59 megawatts and a potential capacity of 61,613.81 MW have been awarded by the DoE.

Under current rules, foreign firms may go into renewable energy development through a service or operating contract with the government, but they cannot own more than 40 percent of a project.

In a statement, Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said the DoE is already revising the IRR of RA 9513 which places the exploration, development, production and utilization of natural resources under the government's full control and supervision.

"Private sector investments are central [to] achieving our renewable energy targets and vision for the Filipino people and this is a welcome development for our foreign investors to invest in renewable energy production here in our country," Lotilla said.

He thanked Justice Secretary Crispin "Boying" Remulla "for this favorable development which will pave the way for the opening of foreign investments in renewable energy development."

In 2020, the government allowed full foreign ownership of large-scale geothermal projects through financial and technical assistance agreements as long as the minimum investment amounted to $50 million.

Tawi-Tawi hospitals need to upgrade' – BARMM

By Julmunir Jannaral

October 4, 2022

COTABATO CITY: The proposed parliamentary bills seeking to establish and upgrade hospital bed capacity in Tawi-Tawi have been refiled by several BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) lawmakers.

Member of Parliaments (MPs) Amilbahar Mawallil, John Anthony Lim, Eddie Alih and Suharto Ambolodto introduced Parliament Bills (PB) 45 and 46 in the plenary session last September 29.

Datu Halun Sakilan Memorial Hospital will be upgraded to a level 2 hospital with 100 beds as proposed in PB 45, and will be directly supervised by the Ministry of Health (MoH).

Mawallil said the proposed establishment of Datu Halun Sakilan Memorial hospital aims to provide residents of Tawi-Tawi with easy access to high-quality and sustainable health care services.

Mawallil said despite these improvements, the memorial hospital still functions at level 1 status and lacks the necessary supplies, equipment and personnel to provide adequate service to its patients.

‘Parade of Lights’ kicks off Zamboanga Hermosa Festival

by Liza Abubakar-Jocson, Manila Bulletin

ZAMBOANGA CITY – A Parade of Lights kicked off this year’s Hermosa Festival– Zamboanga City’s annual festival honoring its patron saint Nuestra Señora La Virgen del Pilar – on Saturday, Oct. 1.

One of the floats competing in this year’s ‘Parade of Lights’ in Zamboanga City.  (Zambo LGU photo)

Twelve floats decorated with sparkling lights sponsored by business establishments, schools, barangays and other private organizations were paraded in Zamboanga streets.

Said floats were also rated by judges for the prizes given by the Zamboanga government.

The floats lighted up Mayor Vitaliano Agan Avenue, Mayor Climaco Avenue, JS Alano and Valderrosa Streets.

The parade culminated at Paseo del Mar where Mayor John Dalipe distributed cash prizes to this year’s winners.

The P200,000 cash prize for this year’s top winner went to the Tau Gamma Phi.

Other winners were the Don Pablo Lorenzo Memorial High School winning P150,000; Kuya’s Lechon P100,000, Brent Hospital P70,000; and College and Barangay Arena Blanco P50,000.

The Zamboanga Hermosa Festival/Fiesta Pilar will culminate on October 12 with a mass, novena and procession in honor of Our Lady of the Pillar, Zamboanga City’s patron saint.

‘Karding’ infra damage reaches P304M – NDRRMC

by Martin Sadongdong, Manila Bulletin

Super Typhoon “Karding” has dealt P304 million worth of damage to infrastructure as the extent of its destruction becomes clearer nearly a week after it left the country.

Brgy. Salangan in San Miguel, Bulacan still submerged in flood on Sept. 26, 2022 after the onslaught of Super Typhoon Karding. (MARK BALMORES / MANILA BULLETN)

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Sunday, Oct. 2, that the estimated cost of damage to infrastructure by Karding, which left the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) last Sept. 26, already reached P304,245, 310.

There were 43 infrastructure projects that were damaged or destroyed by Karding in five affected regions namely Ilocos Region (1), Cagayan Valley (Region 2), Mimaropa (Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan or Region 4B), Bicol Region (5), and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

Twenty-seven of the damaged infrastructure projects were found in Cagayan Valley which cost P280 million. CAR has eight damaged infrastructure projects, Ilocos Region has six, and one each in Mimaropa and Bicol Region.

There were also 58,172 houses that were damaged by the typhoon in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon (Region 3), Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon or Region 4A), and CAR. More than 51,000 houses in the affected areas were partially damaged while around 7,000 where completely destroyed.

Meanwhile, agricultural loss was pegged at P3.053 billion in six regions – Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Bicol, and CAR. A total of 104,500 farmers and fisherfolk were affected by the typhoon while production loss was recorded at 159,867.35 metric tons.

The number of affected Filipinos due to Karding also grew to 1,072,282 or 299,172 families.

As of Sunday, there were 3,098 individuals or 821 families who have yet to return to their homes. They were temporarily staying in 26 evacuation centers.

The death toll related to Karding stood at 12, five others were still missing, and 52 individuals were injured.

The NDRRMC also said that a total of P57.89 million worth of relief assistance was provided for the typhoon victims in the affected regions.

The assistance came in the form of family food packs worth P16.57 million; financial aid worth P10.96 million; and non-food items worth P536,294.34. Some P29.6 million was also spent by the member-agencies of the NDRRMC to help the typhoon victims but they were not itemized and listed only as “for verification.”

Filipina wins prestigious global award

By Conrad M. Cariño

October 3, 2022

DALAREICH Polot became the first Filipina to receive the Goldman Sachs/Fortune Most Powerful Women Global Award.

The 34-year-old from Bohol, known as "Bohol's Chocolate Princess," told The Manila Times she learned over the weekend that she has been chosen for the award along with an Egyptian woman.

"I didn't... expect that they would choose me because I'm competing with other graduates from different countries," she said.

Polot was referring to the Goldman Sachs 10,000 women program that aims to empower women entrepreneurs globally. She is one of the 200 Filipinas who have benefited from the program, having been part of its 2011 alumni.

She said the program was handled in the Philippines by the University of Asia and the Pacific (UAP), and she was one of the last five who attended the program.

"I am extremely honored to be the first Filipina to be conferred this prestigious award at 'Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit' in California in the next few days," she said in a post in her Facebook page.

"They (UAP) sent me an application in the last week of August where you can write your 'Pay it Forward' project for your chosen community. In the Philippines, only me was given an application form," she added.

Polot will fly to California this week to receive the award, which includes a dollar-based grant for her project.

"I'm also eager to listen and network with women leaders and CEOs that I will meet during the summit. I'm so looking forward to engaging with women leaders who will be at the event which includes Melinda Gates, US government women representatives from different states, women CEOs from Fortune 500 companies network and many other amazing women who I usually just read in books or watched on TV," she said.

Polot helped communities in Bohol that were ravaged by Typhoon "Odette" late last year. Bohol was one of the areas that bore the storm's brunt.

"My parents even cried [after learning of the award] because they know I'm always outside the house since the typhoon doing many things in faraway towns and even didn't put [those efforts] on social media," she said.

She admitted getting tired at times, "but I can't just watch the people without homes and having lost their livelihood."

Polot co-founded Dalareich Food Products and started Ginto Chocolates, which produces artisanal chocolate products and helps cacao farmers in Bohol produce quality raw materials.

Loving without measure

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

THAT’S how love should be if it is true. That is to say, if it is the love that flows from the same love which is the very essence of God and that is also meant for us, since we are God’s image and likeness.

We are reminded of this truth of our faith in that gospel episode where Christ was asked what God’s greatest commandment is. That is to say, what God really wants us to do and ultimately to be. (cfr. Lk 10,25-37)

That’s when Christ clearly said that the greatest commandment is to “love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

The response of Christ clearly indicates that we ought to give everything to God out of love. In other words, it’s an all-or-nothing thing, an incredible ideal to attain but for which we actually have been given all the means. 

We just have to do our part which, of course, will take some time and some process. The important thing is that we should try to put our mind and heart into this responsibility, and no matter how things go, we should just move on. God is always understanding and patient with us, “quick to forgive, slow to anger.”

We need to realize that true love has a universal scope. It is all inclusive. We are meant to love our neighbor, who is actually anyone and everyone, including those we do not know, and those who are strangers and are even our enemies.

Let’s also remember that our love for God is expressed and is proven by our love for others. St. John in his first Letter said as much, “He who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.” (4,20)

In this regard, we have to see to it that we are always thinking of the others, and of how we can serve them in any way. This will prove our love for God, since love is deeds and not just sweet words.

Obviously, to pursue this ideal will always be a work in progress, requiring a lot of patience and prudence. Before anything else, it will require that we be more and more Christ-like because only then can we really have this inclusivity of charity. Let’s hope that we be game with that.

The inclusivity of charity for sure is not an anything-goes matter. The truth cannot be compromised, but we have to understand the truth not as a fixed, frozen thing that can be fully captured by our articulated doctrines, laws and principles. The truth is a living thing, as living as God himself who is precisely the absolute truth. As such, it is dynamic and wrapped many times in mysteries and spiritual and supernatural realities.

It’s not that our doctrines, laws and principles serve for nothing. They are necessary, but as a guide to the truth, and not as truth itself. They will always need to be read, understood and followed with the proper spirit that can only come from God. They need to be continually updated, deepened, and polished.

It is with these parameters that we have to approach issues like whether we should be dealing with people who are non-believers, public sinners, those in what we call are in irregular situations, and even those who are in open enmity with the Christian faith.

* Chaplain Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE), Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

Climate change, now a risk factor for heart disease – expert

 

By Red Mendoza, Sunday Times

October 2, 2022

CLIMATE change is now one of the cases of having cardiovascular disease, according to a leading heart expert.

This comes as the Philippine Department of Health (DoH) has joined forces with the World Health Organization and other partners to strengthen their collaboration against numerous cases of cardiovascular diseases.

In an event recently held in Taguig City, Professor Fausto Pinto, president of the World Heart Federation, said that air pollution is now emerging as one of the main causes of heart disease, which is one of the top causes of death across the globe.

"Air pollution is responsible for around seven million deaths per year, and one of the systems that air pollution that has a significant impact is the cardiovascular system, so that is one area that we are ensuring that we can tackle this global problem," Pinto said.

Pinto emphasized that there is now evidence to support the claim that air pollution and climate change can, from a physiological standpoint, affect the cells in the respiratory system that is also linked with the cardiovascular system.

He said that they are now working on developing strategies on how to reduce the impact of air pollution and climate change, noting that this link between the phenomenon and cardiovascular diseases is "worrying."

Dr. Bente Mikkelsen, director of noncommunicable diseases of the World Health Organization, said that every country in the world has the "tools and protocol-based treatment that is available for the population."

"If you provide prevention and treatment, we will be able to save millions of lives and secure prosperity for countries," Mikkelsen said.

Mikkelsen said that worldwide, less than 50 percent of all heart disease detections are not diagnosed, and 40 percent of them manage their heart disease due to the high cost of out-of-pocket spending for medicines.

Khimo, Ryssi, Kice, Ann, and Bryan share how ‘Idol PH’ made a mark in their lives

Published October 1, 2022, 8:27 AM

by Manila Bulletin Entertainment

The 12 finalists of ‘Idol Philippines 2022’

Khimo Gumatay, Ryssi Avila, Kice, Ann Raniel, and Bryan Chong feel blessed to be part of the biggest talent reality show in the country, “Idol Philippines” Season 2 and shared how it changed their lives.

“Idol Philippines’ was indeed a humbling experience and also a blessing po,””Idol PH Season 2” grand winner Khimo stated.

Khimo Gumatay

He also thanked the people who pushed him in joining the competition.

“Actually po, nung una hindi po dapat ako sasali ng ‘Idol Philippines’ pero sa tulong po ng mga taong nakapaligid po sa’kin na mag-push po talaga na sumali dito. Ngayon po, I’m beyond thankful po na sumali po ako rito sa ‘Idol Philippines,'”he added.

For Ryssi, the competition allowed her to clean her name and for her talent to outshine the controversies thrown at her.

Ryssi Avila

“Nabago po ng ‘Idol’ ung buhay ko kasi sila yung nagbigay sa akin ng chance na ipakita yung talent ko sa mga tao at iyon ang tignan nila at hindi yung mga controversy na nagdaan sa buhay ko,” she said.

Kice mentioned that the show made him closer to his loved ones.

“Yung family ko from all over the world, they connected even mga family members ko na hindi ko kilala, naglalabasan lang because they watch me,” he shared.

Ann and Bryan are also grateful for the opportunity that was given to them and how the show recognized their talents.

Ann Raniel

Bryan Chong

Last Sunday (Sept. 25), the Top 5 were welcomed to the “ASAP Natin To” family as they performed with other Top 12 contestants. Currently, the originals for the Idol Philippines Top 5, namely “My Time” by Khimo, “Totoo Na ‘To” by Ryssi, “Angels” by Kice, “Sa Wakas” by Bryan Chong, “Power” by Ann Raniel, and “Ang Pinakaiibigin” by Delly Cuales, are now available on Spotify and other various music platforms.

Davao de Oro vies awards in ATOP-DOT 2022 Pearl Awards

Five entries from Davao de Oro made it to the final list of the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines- Department of Tourism 2022 Pearl Awards (ATOP-DOT) Best Tourism Practices of the Philippines right after the preliminary round on September 17, 2022, at the University of Sto. Tomas.

In a letter sent by DOT to Davao de Oro Governor Dorothy Montejo-Gonzaga, the organization congratulated the provincial government for having been listed as one of the finalists for the prestigious awards. 

The following entries from DdO made it to the finals: Best Practices in Responsible Tourism-Community Based Heritage Conservation Project/Program (Including LGU Assisted Programs on Heritage Tourism Indigenous Cultural Tourism, Best Tourism Week/ Month Celebration Best Tourism Promotions Video from PLGU-DdO Tourism, and LGU Nabunturan’s Best Tourism Event-Festival, and the Most Outstanding Tourism Officer. 

Senior Tourism Officer Christine Dompor, along with Municipal Tourism Officer of Nabunturan Leah Calamaba joins the final presentation of the entries at the Blessed Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, University of Sto. Tomas yesterday, September 23, 2022.

According to ATOP, the 17th Pearl Awards Night will be held on October 27, 2022 during the 23rd ATOP National Convention in Taal Vista Hotel, Tagaytay City, Cavite.

Meanwhile, DdO’s Technical Working Group and Management Board of Davao de Oro Farm with Acting Provincial Administrator Fatima Montejo visited the province of  Misamis Oriental for a learning visit and exploration of possible potentials for agri-tourism in DdO.

The group benchmarked various agri-processing centers: MisOr Agri Development Complex, Silkwork Facility of PTRI DOST, LGU-operated tourism facilities in Claveria and Gingoog, and Oolong Tea Processing Facility.

According to Dompor, the group visited various agri-processing centers to redirect priorities and improve the value chain of agriculture and agri-business management in Davao de Oro. (JA. PAO-IPRD DdO, photos by C. Dompor)

PH short of 106,000 nursing staff—DOH

by Analou de Vera, Manila Bulletin

Nurses in PPEs

The Philippines is currently facing a shortage of healthcare workers, particularly of nurses, the Department of Health (DOH) bared on Thursday, Sept. 29

“Ngayon, ang nakikita natin talagang kakulangan would be our nurses (Now, what we are seeing is that we lack nurses),” said DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire in a press briefing.

“We have a shortage or a gap of around 106,000 para mapunuan natin yung mga facilities natin (We have a shortage or a gap of around 106,000 so that we can fill our facilities) all over the country, both public and private,” she added.

The country is also struggling with shortage of doctors, especially in far-flung areas, said Vergeire.

Aside from doctors and nurses, Vergeire also noted that the Philippines is also in need of pharmacists, radiologic technologists, medical technologists, midwives, physical therapists, and dentists.

“If you talk about shortages in healthcare workers, marami tayong shortage ngayon (we have a lot of shortages now),” she said.

Migration

Among the reasons why there is a shortage of medical workers in the Philippines would be the migration of healthcare workers, said Vergeire.

Vergeire said that the DOH wants to maintain the current deployment cap of healthcare workers. Currently, the government has set a 7,000 cap on the deployment of medical workers overseas.

“Kung kami po ang tatanungin sa Department of Health, we would like to sustain and maintain this cap na wala na pang magiincrease pa sa mga naipapadala nating mga healthcare workers natin abroad (If the DOH is to be asked, we would like to sustain and maintain this cap so that there will be no increase in the number of healthcare workers to be sent abroad),” she said.

The DOH is also coordinating with the Department of Migrant Workers and the Department of Labor and Employment regarding possible “incentives” for healthcare workers in order “ for them not to leave the country.”

Vergeire said that they are also pushing bills in Congress that seek to improve the conditions of medical workers in the Philippines.

Plantilla positions

Vergeire also urged medical professionals to apply in the plantilla positions being offered by the DOH.

“We have around 624 plantilla positions for nurses, 1,332 midwives plantilla [positions], and we have around 63 dentists na kailangan natin (that we need),” she said.

“We are calling our nurses here in the country, midwives in the country, our dentists, and other healthcare professionals, we have vacant plantilla positions,” she said.

“Kayo po ay makipag-ugnayan lamang sa aming DOH-HR Bureau para maiproseso natin ang inyong mga papel (Just contact our DOH-HR Bureau so we can process your papers),” she furthered.

The DOH is doing several measures to encourage health workers for them “to stay and work here in our country,” said Vergeire.

“Kailangan po namin ang tulong niyo sa ngayon, para po mag continue ang operations ng bawat facility dito sa ating bansa (We need your help right now, so that the operations of every facility in our country can continue),” she appealed.