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l'AiLf I/ '0 - 25 -,2,P Manila Bay's coliform levels drop DENR By RHODINA VILLANUEVA The coliform level at the "Battle for Manila Bay" on Rajah Soliman/ Remedios Jan. 26, 2019 to fulfill an order The levels of fecal coliform bacteria in the major drainage outfall across Aris- issued by the Supreme Court outfalls draining into Manila Bay have "drastically de- tocrat restaurant dropped to in 2008. creased" a year after the government started a rehabilita- 11 million mpn/ 100 ml from President Duterte has al- located P42.95 billion for the tion drive, the Department of Environment and Natural 35 million mpri/100 ml. At the Manila Yacht Club implementation of the Ma- Resources (DENR) reported yesterday. outfall, the doliform level nila Bay rehabilitation project "There is reason to cel- Cimatu said the most re- was reported to be 54 million within three years and at least ebrate because a year after cent data from the DENR's mpn/100 ml from a high of 110 13 government agencies are we launched the 'Battle for Environmental Management millipn mpn. working together to carry out Manila Bay,' we have recorded Bureau (EMB) showed that the Despite these improve- .e mission. improvements in the water coliform levels have "drasti- ments, Cimatu said more The DENR is set to inau- quality from major drainage cally decreased." needs to be done to bring the gurate a sewage interceptor outfalls," said DENR Secretary Citing EMB data, Cimatu level down to 100 mpn/100 nil zu id treatment plant located in Roy Cimatu, who chairs the said the fecal coliform count to make the waters of the bay front of the Manila Yacht Club Manila Bay Task Force. at the Padre Faura outfall is clean enough for swimming. tomorrow. The facility, which Before the rehabilitation down to 920,000 most prob- Last year, over 10,000 vol- is capable of treating 500,000 kicked off on Jan. 26 last year, able number per 100 milliliters unteers joined a cleanup ac- liters of wastewater per day, the DENR recorded extremely from its pre-rehabilitation re- tivity along Roxas Boulevard will ensure that no untreated high fecal coliform levels from cord of 7.21 million mpn/ 100 in Manila and other areas in wastewater from the drainage major Manila Bay outfalls. ml. the bay region to kick off the outfalls flows into the bay.

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Manila Bay's water quality improving a year after rehab By ALEXANDRIA DENNISE SAN JUAN Despite these improvements, however, Cimatu pointed out that more needs fo be The Department of Environment and done to further improve Manila Bay's water Natural Resources (DENR) said water quality quality as its standard fecal coliform level is of major outfalls directly draining to Manila 100 mpn/Looml based on its classification as Bay significantly improved, a year after the "Class SB" coastal and marine water. previously polluted watershed started to be President Duterte has allocated r42.95 rehabilitated. billion for the Manila Bay rehabilitation Citing latest data from the Department's project for three years to be implemented by Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), at least 13 government agencies. DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu said coliform The government targets the source of levels in the Manila Bay have "drastically water pollution in an effort to rehabilitate, decreased" compared to the extremely high restore and maintain the historic bay to a fecal coliform amount recorded prior to the level fit for swimming, as mandated in the rehabilitation program which began January mandamus issued by the Supreme Court in 26 last year. 2008. According to Cimatu, the EMB findings To mark the Battle for Manila Bay's first showed a lower fecal coliform count at the year on Sunday, the DENR has lined up sev- Padre Faura outfall which is now at 920,000 eral activities such as the inauguration of most probable number per too milliliters the sewage interceptor and treatment plant (mpn/tooml) from its pre-rehab record of located in front of the Manila Yacht Club. 7.21 million mpn/toorni. The DENR said that this facility is capable While at the Raja Soliman/Remedios of treating 5 oo,000 liters of wastewater per drainage outfall across Aristocrat Restau- day to ensure that no untreated wastewater rant, coliform level went down to it million from the drainage outfalls flows into the mpn/tooml from the 35 million mpn/moml bay. recorded before the rehabilitation began. A cleanup activity will also take place at The conform level at the Manila Yacht Club the Baseco Beach, followed by the signing of outfall also plunged to no million mpnnooml the Pledge of Support from the private sec- from a high 54 million mpn/100m1 prior to tor to the DENR's War on Waste to be led by the bay's rehab program. members of the Philippine Alliance for Recy- "There is a reason to celebrate now be- cling and Materials Sustainability (PARMS). cause a year after we launched the 'Battle for The DENR will also launch the Solid Waste Manila Bay,' we have recorded significant Management Advocacy Program which aims improvements in the water quality from ma- to increase public awareness on waste seg- jor drainage outfall," Cimatu, who also chairs regation, reducing garbage and raising cash the Manila Bay Task Force, said. from trash. STRATILOIC I= I I F-1 C71 A r 1 BANIINI ECITORIM CArnOON . COMMUNICATION iv SWINT SIOn gs#,M0/1.1 iNITIATIVES Ail PI wam PAGr 111W1 111011.11111S SERVICE in Ina net { NO11•1101111.1r I. *nevi, ervr.., ?roily wwwww 0 1 - 2 5 - 2 0

I' ATE Manila Bay water quality improving

The Department of Environment and agency or instrumentality of the government or SB" coastal and marine water. gaturali Resources (DENR) reported significant officer thereof to perform an act or series of acts Meanwhile, Bacoor City in Cavite received a improvements in the water quality of major decreed by final judgment which shall remain gold award from the Department of the Interior outfalls directly draining into Manila Bay a year effective until judgment is fully satisfied. and Local Government in recognition of its after the pollution-challenged water body started Before the Manila Bay rehabilitation kicked significant accomplishments in compliance with undergoing rehabilitation. off on 26 January last year, the DENR recorded President Rodrigo Duterte's directive to rehabilitate "There is reason to celebrate because a year extremely high fecal coliform levels from major Manila Bay. after we launched the 'Battle for Manila Bay; we Manila Bay ouffalls. Bacoor Mayor Lan! Mercado-Revilla noted the have recorded significant improvements in the But now, Cimatu said the most recent data from failure of previous efforts to clean up the Manila water quality from major drainage 'anthills," DENR the DENR's Environmental Management Bureau Bay despite around P50 billion being spent for Secretary Roy Cimatu, who chairs the Manila Bay (EMB) showed that the coliform levels have been past projects. Task Force, declared. "drastically decreased." "We think that reclamation will be the best This, as Supreme Court Chief Justice Citing EMB data, Cimatu said the fecal coliform long-term solution particularly in the Cavitex Diosdado Peralta urged the 13 government count at the Padre Faura outfall is now down to area," Revilla said. agencies tasked with the rehabilitation of the 920,000 most probable number per 100 milliliter Mr. Duterte's order for the rehabilitation of Manila May to "take a coordinated stance" amid (mpn/100m1) from its pre-rehab record of 7.21 Manila Bay, as well as the National Economic the extreme necessity for all concerned executive million mpn/100nil. Development Authority's "Manila Bay Sustainable departments and agencies to immediately take Development Master Plan," identified major action. We have recorded significant actions necessary for the success of the Manila Speaking at the 'Battle for Manila Bay: Second improvements in the water quality Bay cleanup drive. Manila Bay Task Force Principals' Meeting and from major drainage ontfalls. Last year, over 10,000 volunteers joined a Conference" held on 23 January at The Manila massive cleanup activity along Roxas Boulevard Diamond Hotel, Peralta mentioned the case of From 35 million mpn/100m1 recorded before in Manila and other areas in the bay region as the Metropolitan Manila Development Anthority the rehabilitation began, Cimatu said the conform a kickoff to the rehabilitation project dubbed as vs Concerned Residents of Manila Bay, wherein level at the Raja Soliman/Remedios drainage "Battle for Manila Bay," which enjoys the full the Court introduced into jurisprudence the legal outfall across Aristocrat Restaurant went down backing of the Duterte administration. concept of "continuing mandamus," which has to 11 million mpn/100m1. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has allocated become 'the cornerstone of most environmental Despite these improvements, however, Cirnatu P42.95 billion for the implementation of the Manila cases in the Philippines." said more need to be done especially since the Bay rehabilitation project within three years, and at "Continuing mandamus" is a writ issued by standard fecal coliform level in Manila Bay is 100 least 13 government agencies are working together a court in an environmental case directing any mpn/100m1 based on its classification as 'Class to carry out the mission.

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By AWin Murcia atribuvephl alvi ti Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta urged government agencies tasked with the rghabilitation of Manila Bay to "take a coordinated stance" amid the pressure to immediately take action. Peralta issued the reminder to the lb government agencies involved in the •h abilitation in the wake of the challenge "to immediately act and discharge their respective official duties and obligations." In his keynote speech during the ."Battle for Manila Bay: 2nd Manila Bay Task Force Principals Meeting and Conference" ThumdaY at the Diamond Hotel, Peralta cited the ease of the MMDA vs. Concerned Residents of Manila Bay, which led to the formation of the Task Force. Peralta said it "still remains relevant as it has been credited with bringing forth a lot of gbanges and refonns, not just in the way that we hear and decide environmental cases, but perhaps more importantly, in emphasizing its urgency and importance on global and inter-generational impact." The case was poomulgated in December 2008. The Chief Justice added that MMDA vs. Concerned Residents of Manila Bay, wherein the Court introduced into jurisprudence the legal concept of "continuing mandamus", has grown to be "the cornerstone of most environmental cases in the Philippines." "Continuing mandamus" is a writ issued by icourt in an environmental case directing any agency or instrumentality of the government or officer thereof to perform an act or series of acts decreed by final judgment which 6hall remain effective until judgment is fully isfied. SERATE(ac pFl wits, I LU F-1 RPM PAGE I BANNER EDITORIAL CASIMIR CommuNICATion LA WM STORY I NI TIATIVES PAGE IOVIER „mews SERVICE lbfl it rtiV.25-.10 AGE I/ DATE

Quality of water draining into Manila Bay improves THE water quality of ma- jor outfalls directly drain- ing into Manila Bay has significantly improved a year after the pollution- challenged water body started undergoing reha- bilitation. This was reported yes- terday by Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secre- tary Roy Cimatu as he be- lieved there is a reason to 100nd capable of treating .01),00ki celebrate a year after the However despite these liters of wastewater per launching of the 'Battle for improvements, Cimatu day, will ensure that no Manila Bay.' stressed there are more untreated wastewater from "We have recorded sig- needs to be done especially the drainage outfalls Bows nificant improvements m since the standard fecal into the bay. the water quality from coliform level inManila Bay The main event will be major drainage outfalls," is 100 mpn/100m1 based held at the Baseco Beach. A said Cimatu, who chairs on its classification as cleanup activity will begin the Manila Bay Task Force. "Class SB" coastal and at 6 a.m., followed by the Before the rehabilitation marine water. signing of the pledge of kicked off on Jan. 26 last Last year, over 10,000 support from the private year, the DENR recorded volunteers joined a mas- sector to the DINR's War extremely high fecal sive cleanup activity along on Waste to be led by mem- coliform levels from major Roxas Boulevard in Manila bers of the Philippine Alli- Manila Bay outfalls. and other areas in the bay ance for Recycling and But now, Cimatu Said region as a kick-off to the Materials Sustainability the most recent data from rehabilitation project (PARMS). the DENR's Environmen- dubbed as "Battle for Ma- FARMS commits to ini- tal Management Bureau nila Bay," which enjoys the tiate and support efforts to (EMB) showed that the full backing of the Duterte manage plastic and other coliform levels have "dras- administration. waste materials and reduce tically decreased?' Duterte has allocated the country's waste foot- Citing EMB data, Ci- P42.95 billion for the im- print. matu said the fecal plementation of the Manila The DENR will also conform count at the Pa- Bay rehabilitation project launch the Solid Waste dre Faure outfall is now within three years and at Management Advocacy down to 920,000 most least 13 government agen- Program aimed at increas- probable number per 100 cies are working together to ing awareness on waste milliliter (rripn/100m1) carry out the mission. segregation, reducing gar- from its pre-rehab record The government targets bage and raising cash from of 7.21 million mpn/ the source of water pollu- trash. 100m1. tion in an effort to rehabil- The invited guests in- From 35 million mpn/ itate, restore and maintain clude Supreme-Cart Chief 100m1 recorded before the historic bay to a level fit Justice Diosdado Peralta, the rehabilitation began, for swimming, as mandat- Senator Cynthia Viliar, In- Cimatu said the ed in the mandamus is- terior and 'Local Govern- coliform level at the Raja sued by the Supreme Court ment Secretary Eduardo Soliman /Remedios in 2008. Alto, Tourism Secretary drainage outfall across TO mark Battle for Ma- Bernadette Romulo-Puyat Aristocrat Restaurant nila Bay's first year tomor- and Manila Mayor Isko went down to 11 million row, Jan. 26, the DENR has Moreno. mpn/ 100m1. lined up several activities Around 20,000 stake- The coliform level at the including the inauguration holders and volunteers are Manila Yacht Club, on the of the sewage interceptor expected to join the various other hand, said Cimatu, and treatment plant locat- activities lined up during the outfall is now 110 mil- ed in front of the Manila Battle for Manila Bars first lion mpn/100m1 from a Yacht Club. anniversary. high of 54 million mpn/ The facility, which is Cory Martinez STRATEGIC UPPER IIANNER EDITORIAL CARTOON COMMUNICATION P14 PAGE 1 STORY INITIATIVES PAGE LOWER „spew/ AERVICE 0 1 - 25 2 0

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DENR: Waste segregation yields 30% savings B T RONE C P AD

household could save up to 30 percent if it would practice proper segregation Aof garbage regularly, a Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) official said. Benny Antiporda, Environment source," citing Republic Act 90043 undersecretary for solid waste man- or the "Ecological Solid Waste agement and local government Management Act of 2000." units, said in a media briefing in "Segregation at source shall refer Quezon City this week that house- to a solid waste management practice holds should begin changing their of separating, at the point of origin, Environment Undersecretary Benny Antiporda attitude toward garbage disposal different materials found in solid PHOTO BY JOHN ORVEN VERDOTE right away to help the environment waste in order to promote recyding anymore, he added. packaged in sachets, he added. and pocket some savings. and re-use of resources and to reduce "It ends up in the landfill. It ends Antiporda also explained that "ICani you imagine, kung na- the volume ofwaste for collection and up in the water waste. It ends up in paper cups, while made with sus- kahiwalay iyung recyclables doon disposal," the law stated. the dumping area," Antipoda said. tamable materials, also have sin- sa residuals at biodegradables, 30 The DENR official said the main Citing an example, he said gle-use plastic or wax embellished percent na ang matitipid natin (if concern in waste management was that thin film plastic bags — or on their insides. we separate recyclables, residuals still residuals, or those packaging so-called sando bags — used in "Basically, if we can only learn and biodegradables, we could save and plastics that are "literally sin- wet markets were usually thrown how to use it and dispose it. I don't up to 30 percent)," he said. gle-use" because they must be dis- out immediately after customers think we will have a problem. And Antiporda said proper disposal carded right away after use. They brought home their goods bought. I don't think that it will end up in at home refers to "segregation at could not be recycled or repurpose Another would be retail goods water waste," he said.

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r Ai Villar renews call for ban on single-use plastic Environment Secretary and By PAOLO ROMERO Bay Task Force held at the Dia- in circulation in the general mond Hotel in Manila. market. Importation of single- Manila Bay Task Force chair- Government agencies and She said despite the move use plastics will no longer be man Roy Cimatu thanked local officials should work of some cities to ban plastics allowed. members of the task force and harder to ban single-use plas- in their localities, the enor- "We also seek to amend the the people who conduct daily tic, which is one of the main mity of the problem calls for a 20-year-old Solid Waste Man- clean-ups in the bay. causes of the degradation of nationwide ban, which is also agement Act to include the "What we started here is Manila Bay, Sen. Cynthia Villar favored by President Duterte. implementation of Extended the beginning of something said yesterday. She said her committee will Producer Responsibility which transforrnative for the Philip- Villar, chairperson of the soon start public hearings on will require the manufacturers pines — a true revolution. Let Senate committee on environ- Senate Bill 333 or the proposed using plastic materials in their the battle for Manila Bay rage on!" Cimatu said. ment and natural resources, Single-Use Plastic Product packaging to be responsible in pressed anew for the ban on Regulation Act, which she filed recovering the plastic wastes," The Manila Bay Task Force single-use plastic in a gather- to to regulate the manufactur- Villar said. was created by Administrative ing of the heads of agencies ing, importation and single use The meeting was held Order 16 signed by President tasked to clean and rehabilitate of plastic products. ahead of the celebration of Duterte on Feb. 19, 2019. The basis of the AO is the Manila Bay. Also under the bill, the issu- the first anniversary of the "Plastics is one of the worst ance of single-use plastics by Battle for Manila Bay on Jan. . writ of continuing mandamus cause of destruction and pol- food establishments, stores, 26. The achievement of the issued by the Supreme Court lution of our environment, and markets and retailers will be task force was highlighted in December 2008 directing death of our marine resources. prohibited. during the meeting, includ- 13 agencies and private enti- We know because in our clean- Consumers will also be ing the drop in fecal coliform ties to clean up, rehabilitate, ups, almost all the garbage diverted to use reusable ma- levels in some areas of Manila preserve, restore and maintain we collect are plastic.wastes," terials and manufacturers will Bay from billions to hundreds the waters of Manila Bay to a the senator said during the be mandated to collect, recycle of thousands, and the suc- level that is fit for swimming, Second Principals' Meeting and dispose of single-use plas- cessful relocation of informal skin diving and other forms of and Conference of the Manila tics manufactured and/or settlers. recreation.

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Sen.Villar pushes ban on single-use plastics STRESSING that plastics have been the leading cause of environmental destruction, • Senator Cynthia Villar said the Senate will conduct a hearing on the proposed ban on the issuance of the single-use plastics by food establishments, stores, markets, and retailers. 'Villar, chairperson of the Senate Environment and Natural Resources, said that despite some cities banning plastics in their localities, the problem on plastic remains big. She added that the enormity of the problem calls for a nationwide ban, which is also favored by President Rodrigo Duterte. The senator is the author of Senate Bill 333 or the Single-Use Plastic Product Regulation Act, which seeks to regulate the manufacturing, importation, and single-use of plastic products. Under Villa's proposed measure, the issuance of single-use plastics by food establishments, stores, markets, and retailers will be prohibited. Macon Ramos-Araneta es. sFRATEGIC pyl )1'11 S LII I —I ai TOPPER PAGET RAN ER ITORIAl CARTOON CTIMMUNICATION I STORY STORY I NunivrivEs tomi „„,...0•1•NW SERVICE -a-

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PH-wide plastic ban pushed POINTING at plastic waste as the most alarm- ing environmental issue Senator Cynthia Villar raised anew the propos- al to ban single-use plas- tic in a gathering of the heads of agencies tasked to clean and rehabilitate Manila Bay during the 2nd Principals' Meeting and Conference of the Manila Bay Task Force held at the Diamond Hotel in Manila. Villar said: "Ang plasi tic ang isa sa pmaka • • malubhang nakakapin la sa ating kapaligiran pumapatay sa mga ya mang dagat. Alam flatlet - lahat iyan dahil sa lahat rig mga cleanups, puro plastic wastes ang nako- collect natin," Villar, chair of the ate Committee on En tonment and Natural sources, noted that spite the move of so cities to ban plastics their localities, Me ty of the problem CABS f a nationwide ban, which is also favored by Presi- dent Rodrigo Duterte. The lad r senator also said she will start the pub- lic hearing on the bill she authored, Senate Bill 333 or the Single-Use Plastic Product Regulation Act, which seeks to regulate the mann tacturing, importa- tion, and single-use of plastic products. Marlon Purificacion STRATEGIC .10 iNak.i.stan I I CC oras UPPER PAGE I BANNER EDITORIAL CARTOON COMMUNICATION h STORY STORY INITIATIVES LII asse PAGE LOWER SERVICE TONITE 01-25- 29

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Villar iginiit sa Manila Bay Task Force na kailangang ipagbawal ang single-use plastic MULING inihayag ni Committee on Environ- nin nibo na i-regulate ang Senador Cynthia Villar ang ment and Natural Re- manufacturing, importa- panukalang ipagbawal ang sources, na sa kabila ng syon at single-use ng plas- "single-use plastic" sa pagbabawal ng mga siyu- tic products. pagpupulong ng mga pi- dad sa paggamit ng plas- Sa ilalim din ng panuka- nuno ng mga ahensiyang tic, napalcalaki pa rin ng la, ipagbabawal ang single- naatasang maglinis at mag- ating prbblema sa plastic. -use plastics sa food estab- rehabilitate sa Manila Bay. Bunsod nito, naniniwa- lishments, mga tindahan, Sa 2nd Principals' la ang senador nakailangan merkado at retailers. Meeting at Conference ng ang nationwide ban an Pinaaalalahanan din ang Manila Bay Task Force na plastic na suportado na- consumers na gumamit ng idinaos sa Diamond Ho- man ni Pangulong Rodri- reusable materials at ang tel, Manila, binigyan thin go manufacturers na kolekta- ni Villar na ang plastic Sinabi rin ng senador na hin, mag-recycle at itapon waste ang pinaka-naka- magsasagawa siya ng pub- ang single-use plastics na kaalarmang environmental lic hearing sa Senate Bill nasa merkado. Hindi narin issue. 3330 ang Single-Use Plas- papayagan ang importa- lginiit din n i Villar, tic Product Regulation Act syon ng single-use plas- chairperson ng Senate nakanyang inakda. Layu- tics. (Mylene Alfonso) - - - Si I/A 11.1,11 I .1 iiiI I I rAur itnippirirppprc lniAi I 1111,1 41/ttly 1.1/01? eak Ni I IA 1 VII • 0 1 - 25 - 20

In-city If we intend to gain headway in the massive effort FIRST PERSON to clean up Manila Bay, the coastal municipalities need ALEX MAGNO to be effective in their assigned tasks. The City of Bacoor has proven to among the most assiduous local governments in the cleanup effort. Recently, DILG presented Bacoor with the Gold Award 5.9% for its achievements towards cleaning up the bay. The most challenging component of the cleanup he good news is that our effort is the relocation and resettlement of informal economic growth surged settlers along the coastline. The informal settler com- T6.4% in the fourth quarter of munities not only dump waste directly into the Bay. 2019. But the final growth number The settlements also dog up waterways, causing flood- for the third quarter was adjusted ing in the urban areas. downwards to only 6%. Managing the urban poor communities requires The bad news is that the 2019 permanent resettlement programs. There are no quick economic growth number is only fixes here. Resettlement programs must be sustainable. 5.9%, barely missing the lower end To be so, they should provide housing options within of the official target range. This is the city, close to sources of livelihood of the poor, and the first time in 8 years the economy failed to expand yet properly engineered to prevent pollution of the bay. by 6% or better. Consistent with the DENR's Operational Plan for Economic planning secretary Ernesto Pernia attri- the Manila Bay Coastal Strategy and pursuant to butes the lower growth achievement to the delay in President Duterte's Administrative Order No. 16, the the enactment of the 2019 budget. His "guesstimate" is city sought the help of urban planners and engineers that we lost a full percentage point (or more) because to develop plans for the 420-hectare Bacoor Reclama- public spending was largely frozen in through the first tion Project. half of 2019. • This reclamation project will simultaneously ad- That full percentage point might have pulled us up dress several problems confronting this congested city to match Vietnam's 7% growth for the year. That dy- whose population is expected to double in a few years. namic nation leads East and Southeast Asian growth, It will enable construction of proper drainage channels with China climbing down to a 6% expansion rate — to solve the city's flooding problems. It will allow the largely as a result of the effects of the trade war with installation of treatment facilities to ensure only clean the US. water is expelled to the bay. Vietnam is not about to slow down and wait for The reclamation project will create space for new us to recover from the frailties of our own politics. roads to complement the Cavitex system and supple- It is putting in all the right policies to ' charge up its ment the old congested roadways. It will provide rapid expansion — especially in building state of the space for the construction of medium rise housing to art infra to support economic activity. At the moment, accommodate the informal settler communities. These Vietnamese per capita consumption of steel is twice housing projects will allow in-city resettlement. ours. That says a lot. Furthermore, the reclamation project will allow Twenty-five years ago, I accompanied then Presi- for the development of green areas for residents of dent Fidel Ramos on a state visit to Vietnam. Standing the crowded city. It will help create a fully managed by the roadside in Hanoi, he popped a surprising and coastline that will open the way for the revival of the prescient question: "Alex, when will Vietnam overtake traditional aquaculture of city residents. us?" All previous efforts to clean the bay's waters failed because they did not provide a comprehensive solu- Taken by surprise, I paused for a few moments while tion that enables both in-city resettlement as well as observing Vietnamese farmers bicycle into town with full coastal management. An estimated P50 billion sacks of cash. On the same bikes, they would strap • has been spent on cleaning up Manila Bay with little Sony TV sets and pedal back to their villages. results to speak of. "I don't think they ever will, Mr. President," I mut- This is what sets the Bacoor Reclamation Project tered, "they don't have a banking system." At that apart from the efforts to other LGUs around the bay. time, we had universal banks while the Vietnamese It is a comprehensive solution to simultaneously ad- were hiring our corporate lawyers to write out con- dress in city resettlement issues, water treatment, road tracts for them. congestion and coastal management in one package. I was never so wrong. Vietnam rapidly gained It takes inspiration from the best reclamation projects ground on us. Today they are growing a large agri- abroad. cultural surplus and keeping a lion's share of direct Most important, the ambitious project is fully sup- investments flows into the region. ported by the citizens of Bacoor. All the barangay Our agriculture, burdened with obsolete orthodox- councils have signed on to a manifesto of support for ies and backward farm systems, continues to hold our . the project spearheaded by Mayor Lani Mercado. economic growth hostage. Until rice tariffication forces The comprehensive plan drawn up by Bacoor could a revolution in our agriculture, farm inefficiency will be a model for other coastal communities. be a leash on our growth. We fully intend to outgrow Vietnam this year. Our economic managers project growth that could exceed 7%, helped by the timely passage of the national ex- penditure plan and a special law that allows use this year of the unspent project funds last year. Hopefully, natural calamities will not dent that• projection. Sinn wing I 71 Li 1-1 Li Li urn r n rni.::r I 11 A MIER Conin I I NH 'A non SerigsPIPSION INFrIATI "PS 0404.1."11. SFIIVICF

Smart, sustainable The resolution noted that Bacoor City has limited land areas soon to rise for its rapidly growing population and for the expansion of commercial development and this limitation is detri- The city government of Bacoor is pursuing two rec- mental to its economic growth. New lands, it said, are lamation projects which not only aims to transform the necessary to create more job and business opportunities city into a new center of growth, but also to decongest f or the locals. Metro Manila and to help in the long-term clean-up of Barangay leaders said the Bacoor city government and Manila Bay. its private partner in the proposed reclamation project The two projects are the Bacoor Reclamation and De- have a concrete plan for informal settlers which may be velopment Project (BRDP) cover- affected, such as decent housing as relocation site within ing 320 hectares and the Diamond the city and priority for employment in all jobs which will HIDDEN Reclamation and Development be created by the project. AGENDA Project consisting of 100 hectares. The Sangguniang Kabataan City Federation of Bacoor According to Bacoor City Mayor has written Environment and Natural Resources Secre- Lani Mercado-Revilla, the reclama- tary Roy Cimatu, saying the reclamation will create jobs, tion projects include a component career and business opportunities for the whole province that would not only help in the of Cavite without compromising the culture and quality long-term clean-up of Manila via of fishing and the environment as a whole. It is estimated the relocation and resettlement that at least 700,000 new jobs will be generated. of informal settler families living Once a coastal municipality with an established agri- MARY ANN along the 10 coastal barangays, fishery industry Bacoor Is now a city which has lost most LL. REYES but would also address flooding of its agri-fishery base due to rapid growth and urban- in the city. ization. Almost 73 percent of Bacoor's land area of 4,511 Mercado said the proposed proj- hectares is now devoted to residential use. Agricultural ects would be integrated with various long-term flood lands and fishponds now cover only 410 hecfares or 6.6 mitigating projects of the Department of Public Works percent of the city's total land area. and Highways. With the population of Metro Manila expected to sur- During a recent public hearing conducted as part of the pass 20 million by 2025, nearby areas including Bacoor environmental impact assessment system, the mayor ex- are anticipated to feel the pressure. With available land plained that the reclamation projects which are designed becoming more and more scarce, reclamation seems to with deep channels and waterways for the efficient flow be the only solution. of water into the sea complement the anti-flood measures Proponents assure the reclamation projects will not being implemented by the national government. Bacoor, adversely affect adjacent protected areas such as the Las being the catch basin of the Cavite province, is naturally Pirtas-Parafiaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area prone to flooding. The proposed channels would serve and mangrove sites near the mouth of Imus River since as outlets of the government flood-control infrastructures the projects will be constructed at least 500 meters away aided with the most advanced technology with the least from the LPPCHEA. inconvenience to the public. They likewise said the projects will promote inclusive It was emphasized that elevated and equipped with 'sustainable growth, ensuring, among other things, that wave deflectors at the banks, the reclamation would also Bacoor's famous mussel, oyster, and fisheries industry will serve as an integral part of the city's coastal defense that continue to thrive with adequate mitigation measures and would shield it and adjacent areas from storm surges. the city government's aquaculture modernization program. Mercado said that studies conducted by the private sec- Also promising is the move to make the transport tor partners of the city have shown that the reclamation system within the reclamation areas very efficient. The islands would serve as anti-storm surge walls of the city reclaimed areas will not only have external linkages to The reclamation projects call for the creation of two the proposed extension of LRT-1, Cavitex, and other ex- resettlement sites for informal settlers and fishermen isting roads, but will also incorporate a comprehensive living along coastal areas who would be affected by the network of pedestrian-oriented pathways and facilities proposed projects. One of these sites is Ciudad Kaunlaran with provision for bicycles and other non-motorized located in Molino II where medium-rise buildings will forms of transportation. be constructed with basic facilities, a government center The reclamation projects also promise world-class with social services, and livelihood support programs. development since they will be engineered and designed Meanwhile, properties in Barangay Alima will be trans- by leading firms including Denmark's Ramboll, UDP formed into a fisherman's village for the resettlement of International, and Philippine-based AMH and will be fishermen along the coastlines of Bacoor Bay. A wharf based on the concept of a smart city framework which with berthing facility will be constructed for the use of the has three core values, namely, people, place and planet, fishermen who will still be allowed to fish in the new site. enhanced by technology. If things go as planned, the reclamation projects will For comments, e-mail at [email protected] attract new investments and businesses in the mixed-use zone for residential, leisure, commercial and education and technology hubs. Revilla said that with the establish- ment of business hotels in the reclamation area, Bacoor is projected to earn an additional P1.8 billion in revenues from tourism activities alone. The proposed reclamation projects have received 5 support from various sectors, In a resolution, the Bacoor ; City Liga ng mga Barangay expressed support for the proposed reclamation projects. 6livav:,a l ,I IIM Et11(• LII 1T-1 11111 1,71 .1—al ElmORIAL CARIOuti CONINIII/NWA 1 ION INITIA I WKS #:4 rAGI: OWES ".1.111.1111.1S0010~ SE us' it IC Standard 0 1 — 25 — 2 0 DAIF Bacoor City wins DILG gold award

ANILA Bay's clean-up campaign has found a strong ally the reduction of illegal settlers, establish- in the city of Bacoor. ments and structures along coast lines For that Bacoor has received a gold award from the and prevent future occupation of these M shorelines. Department of the Interior and Local Government in recognition The Bacoor City Government expects of its significant accomplishments in compliance with President to thither boost its compliance with Presi- Rodrigo Duterte's directive for the clean-up of Manila Bay. dent Duterte's Manila Bay clean up direc- tive through the proposed 420-hectares Bac000r Reclamation Project, particularly Mayor Lani M. Revilla received the Administrative Order No. 16 President through its program for relocation and re- award for Bacoor's performance under the Rodrigo Duterte issued last year. The or- settlement of informal settler families living 2019 Manila Bay Clean Up Rehabilitation der created a task force in compliance to along 10 coastal barangays of the city. and Preservation Program LGU Com- the 2008 mandamus of the Supreme During the public hearing held last Jan. pliance Assessment from the representa- Court directing various govern- 9, where the proposed projects earned tives of the DILG and the Department of ment agencies to clean up, rehabili- overwhelming support of the city's resi- Environment and Natural Resources. tate, and preserve Manila Bay. The DILG is monitoring LGU com- dents, Mayor Lath M. Revilla noted the The SC ordered the DENR to fully im- failure of previous efforts to clean up pliance with environmental laws for plement its Operational Plan for the Ma- Manila Bay despite spending around the clean-up of Manila Bay pursuant to nila Bay Coastal Strategy, which includes tale" P50 billion.

"Ang nakilata natin, reclamation wig pinakatnagandang long-term solution lab na sa may Cavitex area," she added. Re- villa, pointed out that the city is readying two resettlement sites fix the ISFs and fisher- men living along coastal areas who would be impacted by the reclamation projects. "Masasabi natin na ita ay isa sa mga liking reclamation projects sa Pilipinas na may in-city relocation," Revilla had assured the Bacoorefios. President Duterte's order, as well as the National Economic Development Authority's "Manila Bay Sustainable Development Master Plan" identified the need to relocate informal settlements along Manila Bay area as one of the ma- jor actions necessary for the success of the Manila Bay clean-up drive. STRATEGIC PHILIPPINE DAILY BANNER EDITORIAL CARTOON BALANCED NEWS • FEARLESS VIEWS cT7t 1 '1. COMMUNICATION 4-7 ni PAGE 1 STORY INITIATIVES PAGE LOWER N•NENTREP S ERVICE INQUIRER 01-25- 20 DATE IITIF PACE I/

NOT CAUSED BY TAAL VOLCANO ERUPTION METRO MANILA BLANKETED IN HAZE DUE TO 'COLLIDING' WINDS By Patricia Denise M. Chiu ence and Meteorology said. is causing the air in the metro, can be harmful. He also said @PDMChmINQ The "collision" of the two and the pollution with it, to re- wearing masks could help filter winds from opposite directions main stagnant," Bagtasa said, out pollutants in the air. The air in Metro Manila on Fri- left the pollution in the metro adding that coupled with light According to air quality day was noticeably hazier than stagnant, causing the haze. rains, and it gives the appear- monitoring site Airtoday, "poor" usual, but experts said it had The easterlies or trade winds ance of fog or haze. air quality was recorded on Fri- nothing to do with the current- are permanent east-to-west pre- He further explained that day afternoon. The level of air ly restive Taal Volcano, which vailing winds that usually flow while the source of pollution pollutants reached 63 to 65 mi- started to spew ash again on in the Earth's equatorial region. such as vehicle exhaust is always crograms per cubic meter at 1 the same day. Bagtasa explained that while present in the metro, it is usually p.m., significantly higher than Instead, the haze which en- winds in the metro are usual- blown away day-to-day. the World Health Organization's veloped Metro Manila was due ly northeasterlies, current high Bagtasa recommended that standard for exposure to air pol- to easterly winds meeting with pressure in the region of Japan the public avoid any strenuous lution, which is a maximum of 25 air from the sea, Gerry Bagtasa of has pushed air lower. physical activities outdoors, micrograms per cubic meter. the University of the Philippines' "The wind from the east is since the accumulated stagnant Meanwhile, the Philippine Institute of Environmental Sci- meeting the sea breeze, which pollution in the atmosphere Atmospheric, Geophysical and

BLURRY SKIES A haze is seen over Ma kati City at 5:30 p.m. on ; Friday. -INN RILLON

Astronomical Services Admin- terview that the ash from Taal istration (Pagasa) said the haze Volcano moved west of Taal, was unrelated to Taal Volcano's and that the weather monitori eruption. ing service had not seen any in] Pagasa weather specialist dication that there was ashfaft Sheila Reyes said in a phone in- in Metro Manila. INQ IBA rici fl I. / I II Aiiii€P 11146111AI rAR III!' RI (:onintlirm •A ruin 1/11111 {WRY MY ih I.: I ispliqp•POPO011e INMAtt 111W FR SERV/17 0 1 - 2 5 - 20 'Pollution' haze blankets Metro Manila

By HELEN FLORES

It wasn't ash spewed by Taal Volcano but plain old pollution that blanketed Metro Manila with a thick haze yesterday, according to the state weather bureau. Ana Clauren, weather special- ist at the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGA- SA), explained that clouds and high humidity "trapped" air pollutants, such as smoke from vehicles. High moisture levels have the tendency to hold pollutants, she explained. "It's (haze). It is not related to Taal Volcano's steam emission earlier," Clauren told The STAR.

"It's pollution and it's not be carried toward Cavite and good for health," she said. "Be- She said the northeast cause it's Friday many people Batangas because of the pre- monsoon would bring cloudy used their cars." vailing easterly winds. skies and scattered light rains "Because the prevailing On Jan. 12, Taal Volcano's over Cagayan Valley and eruption sent ash more than wind now comes front the east, Aurora. Metro Manila will be 100 kilometers north, reach- if the ash plume reaches five partly cloudy to cloudy with kilometers, it will likely affect ing Metro Manila and as far as isolated light rains. Central Luzon. areas in the west northwest of The Bicol region, Que- Taal and these are Cavite and Clauren said the pollution zon and Northern Samar Batangas," she said. will have cloudy skies with to be brought by Chinese New "If it (ash plume) reaches Year celebrations last night scattered rains and thunder- ( was expected to worsen air seven kilometers it will likely storms due to the easterlies quality in the metro. drift toward the western por- or warm air from the Pacific. tion of Laguna," she said. Meanwhile, the weather The rest of the country forecaster said should Taal No weather disturbance is will be partly cloudy to expected to affect the country emit more ash, it is likely to cloudy with isolated rains this weekend, Clauren said. and thunderstorms. STRATEGIC PHILIPPINE DAILY BALANCED NEWS • FEARLESS VIEWS WIPER BANNER EDITORIAL CARTOON COMMUNICATION 4-.14 PAGE I STORY taiINITIATIVES PAGE LOWER lea SERVICE INQUIRER 01-25 - 2CD PAGE if DATE

Natural disasters: The new normal ven by Philippine standards, we've had sector of society—communities and baran- an unusual mix of natural disasters. Since gays (which we do through our Community April 2019, we have had earthquakes in BUSINESS MATTERS Resilience program); micro-, small-, and medi- EZambales (at magnitude 6.1; most heavi- GUILLERMO M. LUZ um-scale businesses (our Business Continuity ly felt in Porac, Pampanga); Itbayat, Batanes Program); national and local government (our (magnitude 5.9, July); and a series of earth- Service Continuity Program); large businesses quakes in fairly rapid succession in Cotaba- that in just a matter of years, several of these and NGOs (through PrepLab); and other spe- to and other parts of southwest Mindanao risks could arise in quick succession and even cialized training programs. (from magnitude 6.5, October to December). simultaneously as we are now seeing. Another level of preparedness lies in invest- We also had our usual run of 20 typhoons We opened our prototype Emergency Op- ing in better, stronger infrastructure. Programs closing out the year with Typhoons "Tisoy" erations Center (EOC) in June 2016 and our ex- such as Safe Schools (with the Department of (international name: Kammuri) and "Ursula" panded EOC in Clark in April 2018. In 2019, we Education), Safe Hospitals (with the Depart- (Phanfone), the last one hitting parts of the saw the pace of work change as the extra chal- ment of Health), Getting Airports Ready for Di- Philippines on Christmas Day. lenge of multiple earthquakes began to get into sasters (with the Civil Aviation Authority of the And now, we've opened 2020 with the the mix of the usual typhoons. Fortunately, a Philippines, the United Nations Development eruption of Taal Volcano on Jan. 12 and the network of corporations organized into eight Programme, and DHL), and Safe Ports (with rapid spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus . clusters has always been ready to respond to the Philippine Ports Authority and private and (2019-nCoV) in the region. help communities in times of need. All told, the international partners) will all now need to be Welcome to the new normal: the world of PDRF has too companies working across these accelerated to cope with the new normal. natural disasters. It's a world that will likely clusters, each able to supply a critical item Finally, our third level of preparation (actu- keep on this trend, so we are going to have to during an emergency, from line repairmen for ally the basis for all actions) is the investment learn to deal with it and prepare for it. power and telecommunications, to water sup- in science. We can't say enough about the work When we were founded in mos the Philip- ply, generators and fuel, relief goods, medical and efforts of the Philippine Institute of Volca- pine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF) was assistance, and logistics services (trucking ad nology and Seisniology (Phivolcs), which mon- originally set up to respond to natural disasters air freight). By assembling these pieces into a itors our active volcanoes and earthquake fault after they had occurred. We went into disaster cohesive package of assistance, the PDRF has systems to give us a better understanding of relief mode in the immediate aftermath of di- been able to work closely with the National Di- what's happening and how to stay safe. Their sasters and then into recovery mode to try to re- saster Risk Reduction and Management Coun- scientific research and continuous monitoring store things back to normal and strengthen them cil and different government agencies to deliv- of Taal Volcano prepare us for what lies ahead. against future occurrences. In 2013, through Su- er help to disaster-stricken areas. We owe it to them, and ourselves, to carefully pertyphoon "Yolanda" (Haiyan), we saw that na- From January to November 2019, the listen to the signs that Nature is sending us. ture had changed and realized that our planning PDRF mobilized 1,800,cloo liters of drinking Thank you, Phivolcs. paradigm had to shift along with it water, 91, metric tons of relief goods, and As we mobilized for relief and recovery 88,000 ready-to-eat meals and family food Guillermo M. Luz is chief resilience officer during the immediate post-Yolanda period, packs, for instance. This excludes items mo- of the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foun- we began our shift and reorganization into an bilized for Typhoons Tisoy and Ursula, Min- dation (www.pdrtorg). enterprise focused on resilience. We identi- danao earthquakes, and Taal Volcano, which fied four main natural risks and began to pre- still presents an ongoing danger. Business Matters is a project of the Makati pare for them: typhoons, earthquakes, vol- Preparing for this new normal has involved Business Club (makatibusinessclub@mbc. canoes, and pandemics. Little did we realize a lot of planning and training across a broad com.ph).

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DATE Fake environmentalists? If one were to tug balls, rolled over, agencies under this governments at the conglomerate crawled under the sheets The Ecological Waste Coalition Unfortunately umbilicals of the two and joined in a bestial is a nongovernment network of on the water concessionaires orgy of foursomes. groups promoting environmental stewardship. Pamalakaya or the' issue of caught with onerous In a statement National Federation of Small sewage and arrangements that decrying uncalled for and uncontracted Fisherfolk Organizations is treatment effectively deny adequate capital charges for expenses or comprised of activist fisherfolk:a facilities, expenditures that the It is a member of the Left-leaning one merely investments that guarantee adequate, water concessionaires militant group Bagong Alyansang called clean and safe water BYSTANDER have yet to sign on Makabayan. for water and its subsequent and therefore are left Unfortunately on the issue of conservation, treatment, for those Dean de la Paz unperformed, Sen. sewage and treatment facilities',", while the virtually trapped in the concession Christopher Lawrence "Bong" one merely called for water other areas of both Maynilad and Manila Go asked, "Scum naman kayo conservation, while the other hardly Water, one might just see ironic nakakita ng kumpanya na hardly raised a whimper despite the severely negative impact on raised a paradoxes validating or denying hindi pa man naisasagawa ang fish and aquatic ecosystems their whimper. each's environmental charge. mismong septic tank desludging Just as bad as inflicting on the nito, nangongolekta na sila egad constituencies thrive on. public unquestionably onerous ng 'environmental charge' sa Derelict of their self-defined provisions and simultaneously kanilang mga consumers para charge to hold accountable having the public pay for rite. Ano Ito: pay now, service those remiss of environmental taxes both should be never? (Where can you find a responsibilities, both fuel fears of shouldering, there is now company who prematurely charges an insidious unholy matrimonial the additional issue of for their septic tank desludging chord strung between big business advanced "charges" and yet imposes an environmental and pseudo-environmental watchdogs for prospective charge from consumers for services who've effectively green-washed investments in yet undelivered? What is this: pay accused patrons. environmental now, service never?)" Inextricably cleanups and At the core of Sen. Go's call entangled protection. is what he sees as an unfair Two rabid among the other Worsening precharging of specific services nongovemment businesses matters, two rabid required of the concessionaires watchdogs of both nongovernment amid their charge to put up requisite seem to have concessionaires, watchdogs sewage lines and treatment tucked their for Maynilad seem to have facilities. This is important. The tails between those include tucked Department of Environment and their balls, mining interests their tails Natural Resources has identified rolled over, where the record between these gross inadequacies as one of crawled under is held for the their the principal causes of pollution of the sheets and country's biggest the Manila Bay. Joined in a mining disaster. Both must remember that the bestial orgy of For Manila scope of the services for which foursomes. Water, other the public pays dearly inclusive interests include of the taxes both concessionaires a property developer involved in a should be paying includes, not fatal explosion alternately blameth simply providing safe and clean on poor sewage management to water, but also sewage and terrorism. treatment so we avoid We cite these precedents tq, turning Manila Bay into help appreciate some very critical, a giant backed-up toilet. environmental obligations and, Despite such the investments necessary for inadequacies, there those. Investments that should: are those who, by their rather be capitalized over time as it is uncharacteristic silence, appear to depreciated and gradually charged acquiesce, license and allow suck to us. Two stick out — Ecowaste While their public persona ank Coalition and Pamalakaya. the businessmen behind these. Both are constant companies are known to regard I features of incendiary the public welfare over profits,_ street protests despite their actual record demands q competent and accessible review.

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eware of lead-tainted rat figurines'

By RHODINA VILLANUEVA tatters in Binondo and Quiapo content, six had lead above lead-painted ones provided ranging from P100 to P200 per the regulatory limit of 90 parts any lead hazard warning. "These adorable items can An environmental group set and had them screened for per million (ppm)," said Thony warned yesterday that it has lead using an X-ray fluores- Dizon, chemical safety cam- easily pass for toys, soils very cence (XftF) device. paigner of EcoWaste. important to ensure that such found lead, a hazardous chem- items are guaranteed lead- ical, in a number of decnrative Some of the items had a Out of the 11 samples, the presence of lead, which is a group detected lead rang- safe," Dizon said. rat figurines on sale in Manila A child can be exposed to for the Chinese New Year of heavy metal banned in paint ing from 874 to 3,798 ppm in formulations, at a toxic level. six samples. None of the 11 lead when she or he plays with the Metal Rat. a lead-coated item, bites it and EcoWaste Coalition pur- "While five of the samples samples had product labeling. ingests the lead. chased 11 rat figurines from re- are luckily negative for lead information, and none of the a. STRATEGIC I I I I UPPER BAN NEI EDITORIAL CARTOON COMMUNICATION PAGE 1 MOM o 1 Al gai INI I IATIVES PAGE LOWER SI EVICE bt)ilantta ItinN 0 1 - 25,;;E 2 IMF PAGE 1/

Vizcaya miners appeal to Duterte SEEKING the help of President so that agricultural produce engineer, also reiterated 0G- sored barricade was set up. The Rodrigo Duterte, more than from Quirino and Vizcaya can be P1ts efforts gave Nueva Vizcaya Department of the Interior and 1,200 indigenous peoples (IPs) transported. Only they were able residents the chance to receive Local Government sent a letter in from Nueva Viicaya marched to to do that. Second, they opened accessible education. November 2019 to the provincial the Mendiola Peace Arch on Jan- schools in our area so we don't "I saw how responsible government of Nueva Vizcaya to uary 16 over fear of losing about have to go to other barangay OceanaGold is. We, the true dismantle the barricade. 3,000 jobs from the suspension (villages) for education. Most residents of Didipio, speak the OGPI officials said the compa- ,of Didipio Mine's operations. importantly, they gave us liveli- truth. What will happen to other ny has yet to resume operations OceanaGold (Philippines), hood," John Pugong, a Didipio scholars of the company if they awaiting renewal of their FTAA, Inc. (Om) operated the Didipio resident, said. cease operations?" he said. which gives large-scale mining Mine with a 25-year financial and Engineers and nurses who Also a Didipio resident, Ma- projects authority to operate for technical assistance agreement benefited from OGPI scholar- donna Dongiaho said more 25 years. (FTAA) as its mining license with ship programs also joined the than 1,500 people will be di- , According to engineer Mario the Philippine government. rally. They pointed out how rectly and another 2,000 will Ancheta, Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Region 2 director, The company's FTAA has Didipio Mine projects opened be indirectly affected if OGPI's not yet been renewed since its opportunities for more jobs and operations do not resume. the decision of the President to expiration on June 20, 2019, better health services for Nueva Meanwhile, about 17,000 IPs in sign an FTAA is based on recom- and thus, representatives from Vizcaya residents. Didipio and adjacent barangay mendations by the Department Barangay Didipio and other 10 "When health facilities were will also be impacted. of Environmental and Natural mine impacted villages went built here in Didipio, a lot of sick OGPI also helped found the Resources and the MGB. to Manila to emphasize the patients were treated and received Didipio Producers Cooperative "The Didipio Mine has passed benefits they received from the free medical check-ups. OGPI did and Didipio Community Devel- the bureau's evaluation and development programs of OGPI not only §erve Didipio but also opment Corp., both farm and therefore, we have recommended in their areas. adjacent barangay," Waynelyn food cooperatives. the company to the Office of the "When OGPI arrived, they Andres, a nurse, said. In July 2019, the Didipio Mine President for its FTAA renewal," gave us three of our basic needs. Wilbur Habiling, a former ceased major operations when Ancheta said. First, OGPI developed the roads OGPI scholar and now a mining a local government unit-spon- LEANDER C. DOMINGO

6.11 STRATEGIC Abante PAGE I BANNER EDITORIAL CARTOON COMMUNICATION STORY STORY sommErowiumml INITIATIVES PAGE mriamoRR ,iimpola SERVICE ONITE MANILIS SA tIALITA 01-25-26' DUE PAGE I DATE

Baguio rehab uubos ng P400M — DOT Aabot sa P480 milyon ang pondong kakailanganin para sa rehabilitasyon ng Baguio City, ayon kay De- partment of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Ro- mulo-Puyat. Inihayag Ito ni Puyat sa isang press conference na ginanap Biyemes nang umaga kung saan tinalakay ang icabuuang lcundisyon ng Baguio City matapos ang kanilang pagbisita sa lungsod. Sa nasabing press conference, inibayag ni Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong na kinalcailangan na ng tulong ng kanilang huigsod dahil sa maruming hangin. Noong 2019 aniya, umabot ng 1,767 ang nasawi dahil sa polusyon dahilan para malcipag-ugnayan si Magalong sa DOT "Baguio is the 3rd dirtiest city in the Philippines, next to Cebu which is the second. Manila being the first," pahayag naman ni Puyat. Ayon kay Puyat, may inilaang P480 milyon an DOT sa pamamagitan ng Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (11EZA). (Risa Divina)

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DATE

Mapalacl consumer sa Metro KAIIIT maraud ang nagrereklamo sa halaga ng ba- yarin sa tubig, lumilitaw sa mga datos na pinakam- ababa pa rin ang singil sa tubig sa Metro Manila kumpara sa may 12 metro cities sa buong Pilipinas maging sa ibang siyudad sa Asia-Pacific region. Aug triga consumer ng Metro Manila na kumokon- sumo ng 10 cubic meters ng tubig kada buwan ay nagbabayad larnang ng P104 samantalang kung iku- kumpara ang kaparehong konsumo, ang isang taga- Baguio ay nagbabayad ng P370. Kasunod ng Baguio sa may pirtaltamathas na singil ay ang San Jose Del Monte na pangalawa sa may pinakamataas na water rate sa presyong P280 kada buwan. Sa datos mula sa Local Water Utilities Administra- tion (LWUA), mas mataas din ang binabayaran sa tubig ng mga consumer sa Angeles, Batangas, Ba- colod, Cabanatuan, Cagayan de Oro, Dasmarilias, Metro Iloilo, Metro Cebu at Davao. Aug water rate sa Metro Manila ay pinapatawan tag 12% value-added tax (VAT) at environmental charges. Para sa mga consumer na gumagarnit ng 20 cubic meters kada buwan, ang Davao City ay nagpapatu- pad ng pinakamababang rate na P281 at pangalawa naman sa pinakamababa ang Metro Manila na sum- isingil ng P306. Sa rate na ito, pinakamataas mull ang Baguio City na umaabot sa P775 ang singil kada 20 cubic meters na konsumo kada buwan. Base naman sa comparative rates ng 2018 Global Water Intelligence Report, kung ikukutnpara ang water rates sa mga siyudad sa Asya Pasipiko para sa mga consumer na gumagamit ng 15 cubic meters kada buwan, ang Metro Manila pa rin ang pinakam- ababa sa halagang P18.28 kada cubic meter. Ang Sydney, Australia ang siyang may pinaka- mataas na rate sa presyong P99.63 per cubic meter kapag nai-convert ang rate sa Philippine peso gamit ang P53.33 exchange rate per US dollar. Ibig sabihin nito, mapalad ang mga consumer ng tubig sa Metro Manila

STRATEGIC UN' PAGE I BANNER EDITORIM CARTOON COMMUNICATION elk STORY STORY •••••••••••mmow INF IIATIVES PAGE 10 .....gose SERVICE et-25-20 ' MIF PAGE it DATE

VALENZUELA, FIRST IN CREATING ANTI-RED TAPE UNIT HERE'S no stopping for Valenzuela Valenzuela's AF1TU shall ini- Mayor Rex Gatchalian from imple- tiate investigation upon receipt of a menting projects and programs complaint regarding fixers, among aimed at further maldng the city more others, recommend policies, progressive and competitive as com- processes and systems to im- "Bahagi ng programa ng Milk pared with other localities. prove regulatory management to Mayor Belmonte taps Bank ng QC General Hospital na mag- The latest of which is his first increase the productivity, efficien- QC Human Milk Bank bigay ng galas ng ma tuwing may executive order this year calling for cy and effectiveness of officals, and Mayor Joy has tapped the kalamidad upang matiyak na may the creation of the "Anti-Red Tape perform such acts as may be ne- citys Human Milk Bank to donate sepal na nutrisyon ang mga sanggol Unit" in line with the Anti-Red Tape cessary to attain the objectives of mother's milk for breastfeeding eva- na nasa evacuation centers," said Act of 2007 and Ease of Doing Busi- ease of doing business. cuees in Batangas province. QCGH's Dr. Josephine Sabando. ness and Efficient Government Ser- ARIA Director-General Jere- 'Our Human Milk Bank at the Earlier, the mayor dispatched vice Delivery Act of 2018. miah Beljica recently awarded the Quezon City General Hospital will QC team to provide 360 blankets, Mayor Rex said E.O. 2020-001 Certificate of Commendation to the help breastfeeding mothers affec- 360 sleeping mats, 300 partition tents, will ensure the local government's city for its 'Paspas Permit' initia- ted by the Taal Volcano eruption. and two mobile showers for the eva- compliance to the mentioned laws. tive, a 10-second business permit Simpleng tulong para sa ating mga cuees affected by the Taal eruption The order will also enable the online application system. apektadong kababayan," she said. in Tanauan, Batangas. continuous improvement of the ser- Meanwhile, the mayor was The GICHMB will give 40 bot- "Patuloy tayong magtulungan vices being offered and monitor and gratified by the cooperation of over tles (100 ml) of pasteurized human upang mabilis na makabangon ang evaluate the compliance of offices and 18, 000 local business owners for milk to some infants in the evacua- mga kababayan nating nasalanta at issue notices/memorandum of war- paying their business taxes. 'Sala- tion centers. if needed, Mayor Joy makabalik sa normal ang kanilang ning to erring and/or non-complying mat po. Ifs all because of you our said 200 more milk bottles are avail- pamurnubay." employees and officials. city can keep moving forward.' able for immediate distribution. .