DOH tells public: Prepare for cyclone ‘Mawar’

 BY CHARIE MAE F. ABARCA

  

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A tropical cyclone with an international name Mawar is being monitored by the country’s weather bureau. Although the weather disturbance is not yet directly affecting the Philippines, the Department of Health (DOH) advised Filipinos to prepare and report any untoward incident that may be triggered by the cyclone.

(Unsplash)

The DOH on Monday, May 22, has issued an advisory listing safety preparations as typhoon Mawar continues to approach the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR).

First on the DOH’s list is to understand signs of emergency. Apart from paying close attention to weather updates, the department stressed the need for learning the chain of information communication systems in communities in times of hazards.

“Learn, understand, and follow Early Warning Systems (EWS) in the community,” it stressed.

Filipinos were also told to inspect their houses for necessary repairs while cyclone Mawar is not yet directly affecting the archipelago.

“Prepare your home for flooding, fully charge all your electronic gadgets, [and] keep important documents at a higher level,” said DOH.

To avoid injuries and casualties in case flooding occurs, the health department also highlighted the need for creating an evacuation plan.

“Know the locations of multi-storey buildings and pre-arrange with families or friends living in the higher grounds for evacuation in case of flooding. Know the important emergency contact numbers, [and] get everyone in your family a whistle,” it furthered.

Last on the DOH’s list is to prepare a Go Bag – a kit containing emergency essentials. Essentials, according to DOH,  include ready to eat food and water, clothes, first aid kit, sleeping bags, flash lights, batteries, toiletries, cash, as well as Covid-19 protection kit.

“Ensure that the Go Bag is easily accessible to everyone. Should there be an emergency, do not hesitate to contact your local disaster and emergency risk team for assistance,” DOH concluded.

The state weather bureau on Monday said typhoon Mawar is expected to enter PAR on Friday, May 26. It will then be given the domestic name Betty.

European interest in PH rising – biz group execs

By Jenica Faye Garcia

May 23, 2023 50

MORE European companies want to invest in the Philippines given recent reforms and the country's continued economic growth, foreign businessmen said on Monday.

European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) Executive Director Florian Gottein claimed that since the start of the year, a total of 62 companies had expressed interest in setting up shop.

"We cannot mention [the names] yet ... but I can say that it would require a longer runway because [most] are in infrastructure and energy and also of course in manufacturing," Gottein said in a briefing.

ECCP President Lars Wittig said "we have witnessed significant efforts and boosting business confidence in the country's position as a competitive destination for trade and investment."

"This is following the enactment of economic reforms and the recent creation of green lanes for strategic investments," he added.

Wittig said that "from the perspective of foreign investors, what is really liked and appreciated is the improvement in ease of doing business."

EU-Asean Business Council Executive Director Chris Humphrey, meanwhile, said there was "so much going for the country."

"[The Philippines has] one of the best GDP (gross domestic product) growth rates in the region, [a] progressive forward-thinking economy, reforms are coming through, and the country is becoming more and more attractive to FDIs (foreign direct investments)," he added.

"[The] key is making sure to implement [the] RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) because it will be a big help to push more trade deals," he added.

The country recently ratified the RCEP, a trade deal covering the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and neighbors Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea.

Typhoon likely to enter Friday, to be called 'Betty'

By Arlie O. Calalo

THE state-run weather agency said on Tuesday that Typhoon "Mawar" (international name) will likely be the second tropical cyclone that will enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Friday and will have its domestic name: "Betty."

Weather specialist Grace Castaneda of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the typhoon was last spotted some 2, 300 kilometers east of Visayas outside PAR.

Moving at 10 kilometers per hour (kph), it has maximum sustained winds of 155kph near the center and gustiness of up to 190kph, Pagasa said.

Citing Pagasa's monitoring track, Mawar, forecast to become a super typhoon, may enter PAR either Friday night or Saturday morning.

"But at the moment, it has no direct effect in the country," she said.

In the meantime, the Pagasa forecaster said the southwesterly wind flow is affecting the western sections of Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao over the next 24 hours.

The weather system, along with the localized thunderstorms, is bringing partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms over Metro Manila and the rest of the country, the state weather bureau said.

Heat index values in 14 areas reach ‘dangerous’ levels on May 21

BY ELLALYN DE VERA-RUIZ

May 21, 2023 07:01 PM

  

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Despite some rains, several locations still experienced intense heat, with heat index values reaching "dangerous" levels at 14 PAGASA monitoring stations (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration) stations on Sunday, May 21.

The heat index is the measurement of how hot it feels when relative humidity is factored in with the actual air temperature.

According to PAGASA, a heat index ranging from 42°C to 51°C indicates impending “danger,” as “heat cramps and heat exhaustion are likely,” and “heat stroke is probable with continued activity.”

(PAGASA)

Based on PAGASA’s data, the stations with “dangerous” heat index levels recorded on Sunday were in Aparri, Cagayan (46°C); Masbate City, Masbate (44°C); Roxas City, Capiz (44°C); Tuguegarao City, Cagayan (44°C); Baler, Aurora (43°C); Dagupan City, Pangasinan (43°C); Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte (43°C); Laoag City, Ilocos Norte (42°C); Catarman, Northern Samar (42°C); Catbalogan, Western Samar (42°C); Clark Airport, Pampanga (42°C); Central Luzon State University, Muñoz, Nueva Ecija (43°C); Iba, Zambales (42°C); and Surigao City, Surigao del Norte (43°C).

PAGASA recorded the highest heat index in the country so far this year on May 12 in Legazpi City, Albay at 50°C.

Spiritual toughness

 

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

Chaplain

Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)

Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

CHRIST already warned us about how our life here on earth is going to be. But he also has assured us that everything would just be ok. We should just stick with him through thick and thin. “In the world, you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world,” he said. (Jn 16,33)

We should put these words into our mind and heart and make them the principle to follow whenever we find ourselves in some difficult situations. For this, we should just learn how to suffer, since suffering is inevitable in our earthly sojourn. We need to develop a certain kind of spiritual toughness that is based on our faith and vital identification with Christ.

With Christ, we can learn how to be tough when we are made to suffer. Our faith, the ultimate source of truth about ourselves, tells us that suffering is due to sin, to the misuse of our freedom, to our disobedience to the will of God who created us to be his image and likeness, to be children of his, sharing in his very own life.

Yet, in spite of that, God our Father, who is all goodness and the very fount of love, did not and does not cease to care for us. And while allowing us to suffer the consequences of our sin and disobedience, he also showed and continues to show us up to now how to tackle suffering in our earthly life.

Toward this end, God did nothing less than to send his son to us. The son became man and took on all our sinfulness, culminating this mission with his death on the cross. In so doing and in resurrecting, Christ converts our suffering due to sin into a way of our redemption. 

Thus, if we have to be truly Christian, we need to be tough, really tough. Christ himself was tough, but with the toughness of love that goes all the way of assuming all the sins of men by offering his life on the cross. To be Christ-like we need to be tough. At the same time, to be tough we need to be with Christ. Otherwise, whatever toughness we may show would not be the real toughness expected of us.

This toughness of Christ was described by St. Paul in his second letter to the Corinthians: “For our sake, God made Christ to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (5,21)

St. Peter made the same assertion: “Christ bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.” (1 Pt 2,24) In other words, Christ was not afraid of sin if only to save the sinner out of his love for all of us who are all sinners. He was and continues to be willing to assume our sins, as if they were his own, if only to save us.

He was not squeamish, prudish or puritanical in his attitude toward our sin. In fact, he was kind of proactive about it, unafraid to get dirty as long as what really matters about us is accomplished and not compromised. That is why he was fraternizing more with the sinners than with the self-righteous. 

As he himself said: “I came not to call the righteous, but the sinners to repentance.” (Mk 2,17) And, “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (Jn 3,17)

A special exchange with Germany

Germans visit PH for study tour on local governance, education

BY MANILA BULLETIN

May 21, 2023 07:13 PM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• ‘It was an atmosphere of mutual respect in which a good exchange has developed. It is not just a frontal instruction but there is an atmosphere of participatory learning.’

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MEETING OF MINDS The delegates from the University for Administration and Finance of Ludwigsburg Germany paid a courtesy visit to Benilde chancellor Benhur

Delegates from the University for Administration and Finance of Ludwigsburg, Germany visited the Philippines to learn more about local public governance and education in the country.

Facilitated by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Philippines, a foundation committed to the values of social democracy, the study tour was hosted by the School of Diplomacy and Governance (SDG) of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.

To commence their official immersion, SDG dean Gary Ador Dionisio, DPA, guided them on a comprehensive tour of the campus. The dean likewise gave an overview of the diverse learning opportunities offered in the college, from mentorship under a roster of seasoned Philippine ambassadors in diplomatic posts abroad, to veteran public administrators and distinguished lawyers. They were also introduced to international exposures, such as student mobilities and Model United Nations.

Governance and Public Affairs (GPA) faculty and lawyer Gio Tingson walked them through the current Philippine political climate. Fellow professors Macel Fernandez and Shiela Mae Sabalburo invited them to observe their Project Management and Development and Public Policy and Development classes, where the guests earned insights on how SDG students develop their understanding through lectures and interactions from each other.

“It was very enriching to see the efforts with which they train their young talents. Sustainability plays a major role but also research” said the delegates. “There are many motivated students and they were all interested in gaining new knowledge and broadening their perspective. It was an atmosphere of mutual respect in which a good exchange has developed. It is not just a frontal instruction but there is an atmosphere of participatory learning.”

The German team likewise expressed that the Benildean “willingness to work in a practice-oriented, disciplined, and proactive manner” was an aspect they wish to impart with their friends and classmates in Germany.

The foreign visitors, including professors Timo Jung and Franziska Katharina Freihart and public management students Mareike Juliane Brenner, Lisa Sommer, Lara Eliza Wend, and Alicia Karina Lesch, were welcomed with a special dinner and accommodation at the Hotel Benilde Maison de La Salle.

To further realize the dynamics of Philippine administration, the team traveled to Province of Cavite and the City of Valenzuela. Respective public administrators and select department heads expounded on the demographics, challenges, and opportunities of the respective local government units, particularly within the context of the pandemic recovery phase.

They likewise visited the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela, as well as the Museo ni Dr. Pio Valenzuela to immerse themselves in the rich history of the city.

“It was interesting to see how a country with over 7,000 islands is governed,” the delegates expressed. “We have learned a lot about the political system and the interaction of the individual units. We were all first timers in the Philippines and we were overwhelmed by the great hospitality. This open and warm atmosphere accompanied us throughout the week and we are very thankful for it.”nb

Cyclone off Pacific Ocean rapidly intensifies into severe tropical storm

BY ELLALYN DE VERA-RUIZ

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Severe tropical storm Mawar could become a typhoon within 24 hours.
• The storm, which was moving north-northwestward at 10 kph as of Sunday afternoon, will be given the local name “Betty” once inside PAR.
• Mawar’s enhancement of the southwesterly surface wind flow could lead to the start of the rainy season in the country this weekend.

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The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the tropical cyclone over the Pacific Ocean strengthened into a severe tropical storm on Sunday afternoon, May 21, and is expected to intensify into a typhoon within 24 hours.

The severe tropical storm with international name Mawar now has maximum sustained winds of 100 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 125 kph, up from 85 kph maximum sustained winds and gusts of up to 105 kph.

According to PAGASA weather specialist Veronica Torres, Mawar could become a typhoon within 24 hours.

A typhoon has maximum sustained winds of 118 to 184 kph.

Torres pointed out that Mawar is still seen to enter the Philippine area of responsibility later this week.

The storm, which was moving north-northwestward at 10 kph as of Sunday afternoon, will be given the local name “Betty” once inside PAR.

Torres said the weather disturbance has no direct impact on the Philippines yet but it may enhance the southwesterly surface wind flow, which will bring rains to several areas in the western section of the country in the coming days.

In the next 24 hours, scattered rain showers and thunderstorms may affect Palawan, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Western Visayas, and Zamboanga Peninsula.

Residents in these areas have been warned of the possibility of flash floods or landslides due to moderate to heavy rains.

Meanwhile, PAGASA said the rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to the southwesterly wind flow and localized thunderstorms.

It advised the public to exercise caution during severe thunderstorms, as these may also trigger landslides or flash floods, especially in areas that are vulnerable to these hazards.

In its public forecast on Sunday morning, PAGASA weather specialist Patrick del Mundo said Mawar’s enhancement of the southwesterly surface wind flow could lead to the start of the rainy season in the country this weekend.

Fire hits Manila Central Post Office

BY JALEEN RAMOS

May 22, 2023 06:13 AM

  

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The Manila Central Post Office in Lawton, Manila was hit by a massive fire on Sunday night, May 22.

Photo courtesy of BFP/ MANILA BULLETIN

The fire, which started at 11:41 p.m., quickly escalated and reached the second alarm at 12:28 a.m., according to the Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP). Subsequently, the third, fourth, and fifth alarms were raised at 02:17 a.m, 4:28 a.m., and 4:32 a.m., respectively.

The fire continued to intensify, leading to the declaration of Task Force Alpha status at 4:36 a.m., Task Force Bravo at 4:45 a.m., Task Force Charlie at 5:02 a.m., and Task Force Delta at 5:25 a.m.

As of 5:54 a.m., the fire remains at a General Alarm level.

Efforts to control the fire are ongoing.

This is a developing story.

Filipina golfers play for bragging rights in 1st LPGT PH Masters

 

Harmie Constantino (left) and Daniella Uy

MANILA, Philippines – More than the crown, bragging rights will be on the line when the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour stages the inaugural ICTSI Villamor Philippine Masters on May 24-26 at the Villamor Golf Club in Pasay City.

Harmie Constantino and Daniella Uy headline the compact field all primed for a three-day duel of ball control and putting in pursuit of the championship in an esteemed event that used to serve as one of the men’s tour versions of four major championships.

It will be held side-by-side with the 72-hole men's championship featuring the cream of the country's pro crop.

Constantino and Uy figured in a sudden death in the last LPGT stop at Luisita with the former edging the latter to cap her fightback from four shots down in regulation and nail her fifth victory in a three-year pro career.

“Hopefully, I’ll play another good round at Villamor,” said Constantino.

But while she is ready for another title crack on a course she calls home, Uy and the rest of the 21-player cast are going all-out to stop the former national champion from reigning again at the quaint military layout kept in championship form year-round.

Constantino likewise ruled the first ICTSI Villamor Match Play Invitational last year, also via playoff over top amateur Rianne Malixi, making her the marked player in the upcoming P1 million event serving as fifth leg of this year’s LPGT organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

Marvi Monsalve, for one, is back in the hunt, upbeat of her chances for a breakthrough following a stint in the Thailand LPGA Tour while Sarah Ababa is likewise pleased of her ever-improving game with top five finishes in the first four tournaments, including a runner-up finish in Bacolod last March and a third place effort at Caliraya Springs.

Meanwhile, a slew of others are keen on bouncing back, including Uy, reigning Order of Merit winner Chihiro Ikeda, Pamela Mariano and Korean Kim Seoyun, while the likes of Gretchen Villacencio, Kristine Fleetwood, Florence Bisera, Lovelynn Guioguio, Lucy Landicho, Eva Minoza, Apple Fudolin, Rev Alcantara, Majorie Pulumbarit, Monica Mandario and Korean Yan Juyoung are all ready for a big surprise at the long, tight Villamor layout.

Spicing up the title chase are national team mainstay Mafy Singson and fellow amateur Nam Eunhua and Lee Jiwon of Korea.

Microplastics found in Laguna de Bay

Laguna Lake. File Photo

By Aric John Sy Cua

A HIGH concentration of microplastics was found in Laguna de Bay, the country's largest lake, with the highest recorded on the side that is facing Metro Manila, according to two scientists who made a study on the matter.

In a joint video interview with The Manila Times, Prof. Cris Gel Loui Arcadio and Dr. Hernando Bacosa, Mindanao State University (MSU) scientists, said they have analyzed the waters at the 900-square-kilometer lake for microplastics, as their presence could lead to harmful effects on humans and marine life.

The Laguna de Bay is a main source of water for Metro Manila. It stretches over the provinces of Rizal and Laguna. In the vicinity are Manila, Quezon City and San Pablo. Laguna de Bay is fed by 21 rivers, with a catchment area of about 3.820 sq km.

"We were able to extract 100 microplastics," Arcadio, who authored a study, conducted in February of last year, said. "We examined the morphological characteristics of it, and the majority of the microplastics that were found in Laguna Lake were fibers and they were all blue colors."

In that study that was funded by the Department of Science and Technology-Accelerated Science and Technology Human Resource Development Program, it showed that the West Bay of the lake, which is the Metro Manila side, has the "highest concentration of microplastics, with an average of 20 microplastics per cubic meter, compared to the Central, East, and South Bays of the lake, which all registered 10 microplastics per cubic meter."

"Microplastics were ubiquitously detected in all sites with the concentration highest in areas of the lake characterized by intensive human activities such as but not limited to household discharges, effluents from chemical industries, and intensification of economic activities," the study said.

Effects on human health

In the same interview, Bacosa said that once microplastics enter the human body, this could cause oxidative stress in the cells.

"When the cells are stressed, they cannot function normally and they cannot actually detoxify," he said. "That could lead to inflammation in the long run and abnormal functions of our organs."