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Friday, July 7, 2023
Water levels in Angat, 3 other dams fall below normal — Pagasa
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The water level of Angat Dam falls to its minimum operating level at 180.67 meters on Thursday afternoon, July 6, 2023. PHOTO BY MIKE DE JUAN
By Claire Bernadette Mondares, Manila Times
July 7, 2023
WATER levels in several dams in the country have dropped to below normal, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said on Friday.
Angat dipped to 180.45 meters, slightly down from its lowest normal level of 180 meters, Pagasa said. The normal high is 210 meters.
Angat supplies 90 percent of the water supply in Metro Manila.
Meanwhile, water level at the San Roque dam dropped to 237.05 meters from its normal of 280 meters as of 6 a.m. on Friday, according to Pagasa.
Water levels at the Pantabangan and Magat dams also dropped from their normal levels at 179.60 and 165.36 meters from 226 and 190 meters respectively.
Hot weather to persist due to easterlies, ridge of high pressure area
Jul 7, 2023 09:08 AM
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Friday, July 7 said most of the country may continue to experience hot and humid weather due to the prevalence of the easterlies and ridge of high pressure area (HPA).
“Most of the country will experience generally sunny weather with hot and humid temperatures, especially around noon,” PAGASA weather specialist Benison Estareja said.
He said the easterlies, or warm winds from the Pacific Ocean, may bring hot and humid weather to Visayas and Mindanao, but may also bring localized thunderstorms.
Aside from the easterlies, Estareja added that the ridge or extension of an HPA, which produces fewer clouds, resulting in less rain and more direct exposure, may also affect most of Northern and Central Luzon.
The HPA is an “anti-cyclone” weather system.
Only the southern portion of Palawan may continue to experience cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ), a convergence of winds coming from the northern and southern hemispheres where rain-bearing clouds form.
(PIXABAY)
Based on the PAGASA’s extended weather outlook for key areas from July 8 to 11, maximum air temperatures may range from 34 to 36 degrees Celsius (℃) in Metro Manila, 36 to 37℃ in Tuguegarao City, 25 to 26℃ in Baguio City, 32 to 33℃ in Laoag City, 31 to 32℃ in Tagaytay City, 32 to 33℃ in Legazpi City, 31 to 32℃ in Metro Cebu, 32 to 33℃ in Metro Davao, and 34 to 35℃ in Zamboanga City.
Estareja urged the public to bring heat protection when going outside.
Meanwhile, he noted that a new cloud formation along the ITCZ was monitored approaching Mindanao, which may affect Visayas and Mindanao in the coming week.
Estareja said that while PAGASA does not anticipate a tropical cyclone entering the PAR in the coming days, a shallow low pressure area (LPA) may form within the ITCZ.
He added that while the potential LPA may enter the PAR, the likelihood of it becoming a tropical cyclone is still low.
German business leaders call for new economic partnership with PH
German business leaders have called for the establishment of new partnerships and new economic alliance with the Philippines, stating that Germany is clearly “underrepresented” in the Philippines with untapped investment opportunities for German companies.
GERMAN BUSINESS LEADERS CALL FOR NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PHILIPPINES -- Shown in photo (from left) , Board of Investments (BOI) Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo, Dr. Gunther Kegel, CEO Pepperl+Fuchs AG & ZVEI, Dr. Dan Lachica, SEIPI President, Mrs. Silke Sichter, ZVEI Senior Manager ; (from right) Commercial Counsellor Nicanor Bautista, Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual, Ambassador Irene Susan Natividad, and DTI Undersecretary Kim Bernardo-Lokin discuss new cooperation following the Philippine-German Investment Forum in Berlin on July 3, 2023.
This was raised by members of the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) and Germany’s Electronics and Digital Industries Association (ZVEI) during the Philippine-German Investment Forum in Berlin on July 3 as part of the three-week investment roadshow by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Europe.
Dr. Volker Treier, member of DIHK, emphasized in an opening message at the forum that now is the time to strengthen Philippine-German ties and to explore cooperation amongst like-minded partners such as the Philippines.
Dr. Gunther Kegel, ZVEI president, urged that Germany must establish new partnerships and find new economic allies. Referring to Germany’s stated goals of “automation, electrification and digitization.”
The German businessman stressed that Germany is clearly “underrepresented in the Philippines”, and that untapped investment opportunities exist for German companies.
In a statement, the DTI said that senior officials of at least 50 companies, including those from Siemens AG, Gamigo Group, Nivus GmbH, Continental AG, Lufthansa Group, Messer Group, Allianz SE, Telstra Limited, Bayer AG, Bauer Spezialtiefbau Gmbh, Synolytics GmbH, Pepperl + Fuchs and Voith GmbH attended the forum, which was organized by the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Berlin in partnership with DIHK and the Asia Pacific Committee on German Business.
Pascual, together with Board of Investments (BOI) Managing Head Ceferino Rodolfo, and Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation, Inc. (SEIPI) President Dan Lachica, met with Kegel, who is also CEO of Pepperl+Fuchs.
During the meeting, they discussed the possible outsourcing collaboration in the field of electronics manufacturing between ZVEI, SEIPI, and the Philippine government in creating Original Design Manufacturer (ODM), Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), and electronics manufacturing outsourcing opportunities in the Philippines.
The discussion on collaboration between Germany and Philippines industries was in light of the continuing challenges of the lack of skilled labor, the rising cost of production, and the diversification and de-risking aspirations in Germany.
ZVEI is one of the most important industrial associations in Germany representing the interests of a high-tech sector covering over 1,100-member companies. They employ around 90 percent of the employees and staff of the electrical industry in Germany. Its members include global players and medium-sized and family-owned companies. The sector also has 879,000 employees in Germany with a combined turnover in 2021 of approximately EUR 200 billion.
Meanwhile, Pepperl+Fuchs, a member of ZVEI, is a Tier I automotive supplier involved in electrical explosion protection and sensor technologies. The company’s Factory Automation Division is a manufacturer of industrial sensors. It makes a range of inductive, capacitive, photoelectric, and ultrasonic sensors, identification systems, barcode and camera systems, rotary encoders, position measurement systems, cord sets, and other accessories. Pepperl+Fuchs employed over 6,000 in 2022 with revenues amounting to EUR 1 billion.
Furthermore, Luc Quisthoudt, Continental Temic Microelectronic GmbH’s Vice President Operations for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems and Autonomous Mobility, provided insights about the company’s various operations in the Philippines, which spans over 40 years.
These include its 100 percent-owned Philippine subsidiary—Continental Temic Electronics, Phils. Inc. (CTEPI) located in Calamba, Laguna. Established in 2004, their local subsidiary currently manufactures radar and wheel speed sensors for the Korean and Japanese markets. Quisthoudt said that CTEPI is committed to staying in the Philippines, highlighting that the Filipino workers are highly skilled, motivated, and tech-savvy.
In the meeting, Pascual emphasized the huge potential of the Philippines to create an enabling business environment for a manufacturing industry given its strategic location that covers the ASEAN market and nearby countries.
Pascual highlighted the Philippines’ economic gains that make the country an ideal market for German exports and a strategic hub for German manufacturing firms that intend to access the ASEAN region.
"From a GDP growth rate of 5.7% in 2021, our country registered an impressive growth rate last year, 2022, of 7.6%—one of the highest in the ASEAN region," Pascual said.
Further, amongst ASEAN economies, the Philippines grew the fastest for the first quarter of 2023 at 6.4 percent as compared to Indonesia’s 5 percent, Vietnam’s 3.3 percent, and Singapore’s 0.1 percent growth.
Pascual also cited several factors that make the Philippines a viable investment destination, such as the country’s large domestic market of 113 million, young and skilled workforce, strategic geographic location in East and Southeast Asia with access to significant shipping lanes, and abundant natural resources, including renewable energy potential of about 250 GW, with ample reserves of green metals such as nickel, copper and cobalt.
Cinemalaya 2023: Everything you need to know about the festival's 19th edition
Ticket prices, new venue, and everything you need to know about Cinemalaya 2023
BATCH 2023 Meet the directors and some of the cast members competing in this year's Cinemalaya Film Festival (Image from Cinemalaya)
After overcoming the challenges of the past couple of years, Cinemalaya is officially back with its usual lineup of 10 competing films for the full-length category and another 10 for the shorts categories. This year's theme is "IlumiNasyon," which means "to enlighten."
Here’s all the important information to take note of for the 19th edition of Cinemalaya Film Festival.
- Date and venue
With the CCP Main Building undergoing rehabilitation, the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Cinemalaya Foundation, Inc. brings the cinematic experience to the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), located inside the CCP Complex, on August 4 to 13, 2023.
For its 10-day run, the Cinemalaya films will be screened at three meeting rooms, Cinema Rizal (Meeting Room 1), Cinema Bonifacio (Meeting Room 2 and 3), and Cinema Felipe (Meeting Room 4). Fringe events and talkbacks will be held at Cinema Palma (Meeting Room 5). The exhibitions and filmmakers’ profiles will be on display at the Executive Lounge.
- Ticket prices
Regular:P300
Student: P200
Senior citizen/PWD/government employee: P240
FIC (Films in Competition) pass: P2500 [set of 12 films: 10 full length and two sets of shorts
Festival pass (all access): P3500
Tickets will be available at PICC.
- The mainstays
Film enthusiasts and festival fans will continue to enjoy the festival’s mainstays: Retrospective, lookback to winning films of past Cinemalaya editions; Best of the Festivals, which showcases the best films from local festivals; Visions of Asia, featuring award-winning Asian and Netpac films; Premieres, featuring never-before-screen films; and Dokyu, which screens award-winning documentaries.
For more information, clickhere.
President Marcos eyes solution to flooding and water shortage
Jul 7, 2023 00:01 AM
Flooding and water shortage are perennial problems that keep hounding the country year in and year out.
This could have long been resolved, or at least mitigated, if only Republic Act No. 6716—the Rainwater Collector and Springs Development Act of 1989—is being religiously implemented.
Under the current administration, President Marcos is taking a step further in a bid to address these perennial problems.
Last month, President Marcos revealed his administration’s plan to construct large water impounding facilities outside Metro Manila as part of his program in addressing these problems.
While previous projects have zeroed in on efforts to control flooding, Marcos is incorporating floodwater management by putting up water impounding facilities. Through this, floodwater will be stored and eventually made to good use during the dry season.
“Let us not waste water because we will need that in the future. That’s why we are also looking for a way to impound the water. We are now looking for areas outside Metro Manila where we can build large impounding facilities,” Marcos said in a video message shortly after his sectoral meeting with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) last month at Malacañan Palace to discuss the government’s flood control programs.
Marcos said that through these water impounding facilities, flooding in Metro Manilla will be addressed; at the same time the rainwater collected may be used for agriculture, particularly irrigation, when the need arises.
To realize his objective, Marcos has directed the Water Resources Management Office (WRMO) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to come up with a comprehensive plan to protect coastal communities and Metro Manila from flooding. The focus of the plan includes ongoing flood control projects in Pampanga, Cavite, Leyte, and Cagayan de Oro City.
In his directive, Marcos cited the need for a comprehensive plan for flood control and management—where the floodwaters should go and what should be done.
We hail President Marcos for eyeing a climate resilient plan that shoots two birds with one stone. We, likewise, hope that everyone in the bureaucracy will play his or her role to realize this plan.
After 24 years, Sabrina M reveals secret relationship with late heartthrob Rico Yan
AT A GLANCE
Sabrina M made the revelation during the press conference for the upcoming movie "Manang" held in Quezon City on Thursday, July 6. But Sabrina M clarified that Rico and Claudine Barretto were no longer in a relationship when she came into the picture.
Sabrina M
It happened 24 years ago but for the first time, former sexy star Sabrina M revealed that she and the late Kapamilya heartthrob Rico Yan were in a secret relationship for more than two years.
Sabrina M made the revelation during the press conference for the upcoming movie "Manang" held in Quezon City on Thursday, July 6. But Sabrina M clarified that Rico and Claudine Barretto were no longer in a relationship when she came into the picture.
"Ang image ni Rico Yan is wholesome. Ako nagpapasexy ako nuon sa movies So kung nagkaissue kaming dalawa, maraming masasabi sa akin. So better kung nagkaroon man kami ng relasyon, itinago na lang namin yun," she said.
Sabrina. who now has a family of her own, described her relationship with Rico as intimate.
"Napakabait ni Rico Yan. After Claudine, naging kami ni Rico Yan. Matagal kaming nagkarelasyon. Taon. Noong nag-uumpisa na yung tsismis sa akin, dinudurog na agad ako. Rico Yan yan eh? Bakit siya pumatol sa isang sexy star? Bakit siya pumatol sa isang hubadera? Pero believe ako kay Rico dahil hindi siya mapanghusga. Pinagtatanggol pa niya sa ibang tao. Sinasabi niya kilala ko si Sabrina M, kaya huwag ninyo siyang i-judge," she said.
Sabrina M said that she met Rico when she guested in the ABS-CBN noontime show "MTB."
These days, Sabrina admitted that she still visits the gravesite of Rico. "Hindi madalas pero dumadalaw ako. Pag nasa area ako, dumadalaw ako."
Rico Yan (News5)
She also said that she went to the wake of Rico. "Nanduon ako ng burol at libing. Noong ipapasok na yung casket niya sa tomb, inabutan pa ako ni Bobby Yan ng bulaklak para ibigay kay Rico. Alam ni Bobby na naging kami. Napakabait naman nila."
On their secret dates, Sabrina said: "We're discreet. Secret. Nagpupunta siya sa bahay at minsan naman nagpupunta ako sa condo niya. Minsan sa resort. Kilala na rin ako noon at Rico Yan na siya. More than two years kami."
When Rico passed away, they were still in a relationship, she added. She also said that she was proud to be the girlfriend of Rico. "Crush ko na siya noon pa."
Sabrina M insisted that Rico already split with Claudine when they became an item.
"Matagal ko rin pinag-iisipan kung pupunta ba ako sa burol niya or hindi. Baka ma-issue kasi. Pero may nagsabi sa akin pumunta raw ako para respeto lang sa kanya. Dahil naging kami naman daw.
"May mga incidents nuon na nakahiga lang ako at umiiyak tapos unti-unti nagbibihis ako. Then nasa kotse ako. Sabi ko mommy huwag na tayong pumunta. Biglang nangamoy ng bulaklak sa kotse. Sabi ng mommy ko, ayan, ayaw mo kasing pumunta. Sabi ko sige na nga pupunta ako. Biglang nawala yung amoy," she added. "Nagpaparamdam siya. Dumadalaw siya sa panaginip. Parang andyan lang siya sa tabi ko."
"Alam po ni Claudine na naging kami. Pero never pa namin pinagusapan po. Wala namang problem kasi noong naging kami, wala na sila ni Claudine. Hindi ko naman inagaw si Rico sa kanya noong sila pala," she said. "Nagkaroon sila ng movie na 'Got To Believe' pero wala na sila nun. Kami na nun at alam ko meron na ring iba si Claudine noon," she said.
Sabrina M added: "Napakabait talaga niya. Mapo-fall ka talaga sa kanya. Mararamdaman mo sa kanya na tutoo siya. Kung gaano siya ka sincere sa'yo."
Asked if she had a child with Rico, Sabrina M answered: "Wala eh. Sayang."
Sabrina M also recalled her term of endearment with Rico was "hon," short for honey.
Rico died in Palawan on March 29, 2002. He was 27. Sabrina M said that she did not go to Palawan when she heard about the demise of her former boyfriend. Instead, she waited for his body to be brought to Manila.
"Manang" is produced by Teresita Pambuan under TTP Productions. It is directed by Romm Burlat.
Aside from Sabrina M, "Manang" also stars Julio Diaz, Janice Jurado, Tess Tolentino, Carl Vincent Cruz, and more.
El Niño intensifying: PAGASA sees increasing probability of ‘moderate to strong’ event in late 2023 or early 2024
AT A GLANCE
- A weak El Niño is comparable to a person having a low-grade fever, a moderate El Niño is similar to having a moderate fever, and a strong El Niño is comparable to having “convulsions.”
- There is an 86 percent chance that the El Niño will become a moderate event around November-December 2023 or January 2024.
- Meanwhile, there is a 56 percent chance that the El Niño will become strong by December 2023 or January-February 2024.
- The effects of El Niño on the country may last longer during a strong event.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the El Niño climate phenomenon may intensify in the coming months and reach a “moderate to strong” level by the end of 2023 or early 2024.
Ana Liza Solis, chief of PAGASA’s Climate Monitoring and Prediction Section, said in a televised public briefing on Thursday, July 6, that there is an 86 percent chance that the El Niño will become a moderate event around November-December 2023 or January 2024.
Meanwhile, there is a 56 percent chance that the El Niño will become strong by December 2023 or January-February 2024.
(PIXABAY)
PAGASA confirmed the presence of “weak” El Niño conditions over the equatorial Pacific on July 4.
According to Solis, a weak El Niño is comparable to a person having a low-grade fever, a moderate El Niño is similar to having a moderate fever, and a strong El Niño is comparable to having “convulsions.”
When an El Niño is strong, the sea warms up significantly, causing the country to experience warmer temperatures and less rainfall than it would during a weak or moderate event, she explained.
This also means that the effects of El Niño on the country may last longer during a strong event.
Solis warned that the country may experience a dry spell or drought due to lower rainfall forecast for the coming months.
There is also an increasing possibility that air temperatures will be warmer particularly next year, she said.
‘Habagat’ may still bring some rains
Solis said most of the country may still experience some rains from the southwest monsoon, also known as the habagat, which will last until September.
During this period, there are still tropical cyclones, other rain-bearing weather systems, and the habagat, which can be sometimes enhanced by cyclones, she pointed out.
Solis said there may still be 10 to 14 cyclones that may enter or form within the country’s area of responsibility until the end of the year—two to four in July, two or three in August, two or three in September, two or three in October, one or two in November, and one or two in December.
She noted that although there are tropical cyclones that may not make landfall, some of them can intensify the effects of the southwest monsoon, also known as “habagat,” which may cause rains over the western parts of the country.
However, there are early manifestations of El Niño conditions during the habagat season, one of which is the decrease in the country’s cyclone activity, she added.
Only three tropical cyclones have affected the country so far this year. These are cyclones Amang, Betty, and Chedeng.
There has been no tropical cyclone recorded in the country so far this July, but based on PAGASA’s climatological record, two to four typhoons may enter or form within the Philippine area of responsibility this month.
Solis said the widespread effect of El Niño, manifested by drier and warmer conditions, may be felt as early as October.
Thursday, July 6, 2023
Urgent action required to prevent impact of climate change on health: WHO expert
BY XINHUA
Jul 6, 2023 09:09 AM
COPENHAGEN, Denmark-- The "triple threat" of climate change, pollution and loss of biodiversity to health must urgently be addressed, said World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Europe Dr. Hans Kluge on Wednesday.
At the 7th Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health in Budapest, Hungary, Kluge emphasized that an estimated 1.4 million deaths annually in the European region are attributable to environmental risk factors, and nearly half of these are caused by air pollution.
Last summer was "the hottest ever recorded in Europe," and more than 20,000 people died as a result of extreme heat, Kluge said.
"We are moving far too slowly, seriously jeopardizing our ability to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030," he stressed, adding that 77 million people in the region still lack access to safe drinking water.
"Action needs to be taken by governments. Action needs to be taken by partners. Action needs to be taken by all of us as individuals," said Kluge.
July Agricultural Festivals
Jul 6, 2023 10:31 AM
July is Nutrition Month! Every July, schools and organizations all over the country create programs to celebrate and appreciate the healthy food available to us.
It’s also a month where different areas of the Philippines celebrate the abundance of their local specialty. Here are the agricultural related festivals for the month of July.
Lubid Festival | Malilipot, Albay
July 8-16
In Albay, lubid, or rope, is usually made from abaca. The municipality of Malilipot is the region’s provider of abaca hemp, and a festival was established to celebrate the town’s specialty.
The festival lasts for a few days and is filled with various activities. However, the highlight of the festival is the street dance parade which the locals call “Sayaw Paralubid.” Dancers are dressed in colorful abaca costumes, and liven up the streets with their talents.
Sayaw Paralubid is one of the highlights of the Lubid Festival. (CG Photography via Malilipot Tourism / Facebook)
Sinarapan Festival | Buhi, Camarines Sur
2nd Week
Buhi, Camarines Sur is home to one of the smallest fishes in the world. It’s the Mistichthys luzonensis, or sinarapan. It thrives in Lake Buhi, and the Sinarapan Festival was made to showcase the locals’ pride in their local fish.
The Sinarapan Festival was first held in 2005 and is annually celebrated during the second week of July in San Buenaventura, Buhi. During the festival, dancers adorn themselves in costumes that represent the town’s culture and perform exciting street dances. The festival also holds a Sinarapan Cookfest where cooks of the town showcase unique ways of preparing Sinarapan.
Sinarapan is the pride and main source of livelihood of Buhi, Catanduanes. (Free2barredo / Wikimedia)
Kinis Festival | Panganiban, Catanduanes
July 25
Kinis is a type of crab known to be the most delectable in Catanduanes, and Panganiban known to be the province’s major supplier of this crab.
As the “Kinis Capital of Catanduanes,” Panganiban holds a festival every 25th of July to celebrate their local specialty that gives nutrition and livelihood to the people.
A float parade is held on the streets, which feature the town’s Princess of Crab and street dances with the crab as the highlight of their costumes and props. The town also holds an eat-all-you-can foodfest of their seafood menu, especially their steamed and cooked crab.
Performances of the Kinis Festival are accompanied by crab-themed props and costumes. (LGU Panganiban, Catanduanes / Facebook)
Libon Paroy | Libon, Albay
July 19-25
Libon is known as the “Rice Granary of Albay,” which is indicative of the town’s main source of livelihood and specialty. Rice is locally called “paroy,” and Libon celebrates a festival annually to give thanks to an abundant harvest.
Libon Paroy is celebrated with the typical festivities such as street dances and parades, but it also includes sports fests, a competition for the longest tilapia and corn grill, and more.
As the Rice Granary of Albay, Libon holds an annual festival to celebrate the harvest of paroy. (Libon Albay Rising / Facebook)
While Nutrition Month is typically understood to raise awareness and appreciation for healthy foods, festivals in July can shed light on the nutritiousness of different local specialties that you just have to try.
Nevertheless, make sure to always have a healthy food trip!
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