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More women in NCR receive aid from Cayetanos

As part of their ongoing efforts to empower women across the country, another batch of beneficiaries from the National Capital Region (NCR) received aid from the offices of Senators Alan Peter and Pia Cayetano during visits to Batasan Hills, Quezon City on August 19, 2024 and Navotas City on August 20, 2024. In partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program and with the help from former Congresswoman Carol Lopez of LUNAS Partylist, the sibling senators brought assistance to 850 women from marginalized communities. Among them was Emelita Sereno, who expressed her gratitude to the senators. “Maraming salamat po sa ibinigay niyo para sa aming mga kababaihan. May maiuuwi po kami para sa aming mga pamilya,” she said. These activities were part of the Cayetano siblings’ continuous efforts to bring aid closer to every Filipino in need.

Cebu Pacific, Scholars of Sustenance Partner to Combat Food Waste

Environment

Environment / Street Journal

Cebu Pacific (PSE: CEB), the Philippines’ leading carrier, has struck a partnership with Scholars of Sustenance (SOS) Philippines to reduce food wastage and support underprivileged communities nationwide. Under the signed memorandum of agreement (MOA), CEB will donate surplus food from its operations to SOS. This initiative is designed to provide essential food supplies to social service organizations and vulnerable communities, underscoring the airline’s commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. “This collaboration shows our dedication to community care,” said Lei Apostol, CEB vice president for Customer Service Operations. “By partnering with SOS Philippines, we are not only addressing food waste but also making a tangible difference in the lives of those who need it most.” Before its partnership with SOS, CEB had a longstanding history of donating food to underserved communities. Since 2017, it has been providing pastries to the Pangarap Foundation, an organization focused on improving youth welfare. The airline’s collaboration with SOS, a leading non-profit in food rescue efforts, will broaden CEB’s impact and assist even more individuals in need. “We’re excited to partner with Cebu Pacific,” said Mac Edsel Florendo, Food Rescue Supervisor of SOS Philippines. “Their support boosts our ability to rescue surplus food and provide it to those in need. Together, we can make a significant impact in the fight against food waste and hunger.” CEB is the first and only airline partner of SOS in Southeast Asia. They aim to promote the importance of managing surplus food effectively, aligning with global sustainability goals and setting a positive example for the aviation industry. CEB and SOS sign a Memorandum of Agreement, formalizing a partnership aimed at reducing food waste and supporting communities in need. [From left to right: Mac Edsel Florendo, SOS Food Rescue Supervisor, and Lei Apostol, CEB VP for Customer Service Operations]

Foresight and Anticipatory leadership in Local Governance and Development Training in Baguio

Baguio City

Baguio City / Street Journal

Mayor Benjie Magalong graced the young public servants in a 3-Day training on Foresight and Anticipatory Leadership in Local Governance and Development for the Sangguniang Kabataan of Ormoc at Azalea Hotels and Residences. The theme “Nurturing Youth Leaders; Unleashing Their Full Potential towards Accelerating Sustainable Development Goals Localization in Ormoc City.” aligns with the training’s goals, which focus on enhancing the SK’s capabilities in community management. The goal for the youth leaders is to develop a sustainable development roadmap, enabling them to contribute effectively to nation-building and foster a sense of hope and optimism. Mayor Magalong served as a guest speaker and presented Empowering Young Changemakers: Harnessing Youth Potential to Drive Local SDG Implementation. Photos by: Ezer Owindo

Tayug LGU namahagi ng reflective vest sa TODA members

Region 1

Region 1 / Street Journal

TAYUG Pangasinan – Personal na namahagi sina Mayor Tyrone Agabas at Vice Mayor Lorna Primicias ng mga reflective vest sa mga rehistrado at may permit na miyembro ng Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association (TODA) sa Tayug. Ang pamamahagi ay isinagawa bilang tugon sa mga bagong regulasyon sa ilalim ng Provincial Ordinance No. 325-2024 na ipinatupad ng Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Pangasinan. Ang Provincial Ordinance No. 325-2024 ay nagtatakda ng mga bagong panuntunan para sa kaligtasan ng mga motorista sa buong lalawigan. Isa sa mga pangunahing probisyon nito ay ang pagsusuot ng reflectorized vest ng mga rider at kanilang backrider, pati na rin ang paglalagay ng mga reflectorized sticker sa mga bike, motor at tricycle upang masiguro ang kanilang visibility mula 6:00 PM hanggang 6:00 AM. Hindi galing sa pondo ng munisipyo ang ipinambili ng mga vest na ito, kundi mula sa sariling bulsa nina Mayor Agabas, Vice Mayor Primicias, at Congresswoman Marlyn Primicias-Agabas. Patunay ito ng kanilang malasakit sa kapakanan at kaligtasan ng mga tricycle drivers. Kasama rin sa pamamahagi ng mga reflective vest sina Councilors Sam Manzano, Michael Dy, at Maritess Adloc, na nagpahayag ng kanilang suporta sa inisyatibang ito.

BTC nakipagsosyo sa womens club para palakasin pa ang turismo

Baguio City

Baguio City / Street Journal

BAGUIO CITY – Patuloy na pasisiglahin ng Baguio Tourism Council ang turismo sa lungsod mula sa isang madiskarteng hakbang sa tulong kanilang pakikipag-ugnayan sa mga pangunahing stakeholder. Ayon kay Gladys Vergara, chairman ng BTC, ang kapana-panabik na mga plano para sa lalo pang unlad ay nagbibigay sa pangako ng Konseho sa pagpapahusay ng industriya ng turismo ng lungsod. Sa isang dialogue kasama ang Federation of Women’s Clubs, pinuri ni Vergara ang pamumuno ng grupo sa kanilang pagpayag na suportahan ang mga inisyatibo ng BTC “Kami ay nasasabik na makita ang higit pang mga organisasyon na nagsasama-sama upang suportahan ang paglago ng turismo sa Baguio,” sabi ni Vergara. “Ang iyong desisyon na makipagsosyo sa amin ay makabuluhang pinalalakas ang potensyal para sa aming mga pagsisikap sa turismo upang magtagumpay ito.” “Isa sa pinakamagagandang resulta ng mga partnership na tulad nito ay ang pagbubukas ng mga bagong hangganan para sa pakikipagtulungan,” wika pa ni Vergara. Ang Baguio Federation of Women’s Clubs, na itinatag noong 1922 bilang unang organisasyon ng kababaihan sa lungsod, ay may matagal nang pamana ng pagsusulong ng empowerment ng kababaihan. Habang papalapit ang federation sa pagdiriwang ng sentenaryo nito sa 2026, nananatiling matatag ang pangako nitong suportahan ang mga inisyatibo sa buong lungsod. Ipinahayag ni Vergara ang kanyang pasasalamat sa pagkakataong makisali sa pederasyon at kinilala ang malaking pag-unlad na nagawa ng mga club ng kababaihan sa mga nakaraang taon. “Kami ay nagpakumbaba at nagpapasalamat na tanggapin ang iyong suporta sa pagpapasigla ng turismo sa lungsod,” idinagdag niya, na binanggit na ang pakikilahok ng stakeholder ay mahalaga sa tagumpay ng naturang mga hakbangin. Kasama sa dayalogo ang presensya ng mga opisyal ng federation: Conchita Borja, Presidente; Remedios Laigo, 1st Vice President; Estella Florencio, 2nd Vice President; Lilia Sarurnino, 3rd Vice President; Merly Pascua, Kalihim; Zenaida Carandang, Ingat-yaman; Delia Nicolas, Auditor; at Nelly Estigoy, Versna Viernez, at Luz Gutierrez, Business Managers. Ipinahayag din ni Vergara na nagboluntaryo ang mga babaeng lider na makipag-ugnayan sa Misa de Gallo (inaasahang masa) sa pagdiriwang ng “An Enchanting Baguio Christmas”. Bukod pa rito, ang BTC ay magbibigay ng logistical support para sa mga programang pangkabuhayan ng federation sa panahon ng Kapaskuhan, kabilang ang mga insentibo na nagbibigay ng kita sa antas ng barangay. By Zaldy Comanda

Cordillera records 73 cases of leptospirosis with 5 deaths

CAR

CAR / Street Journal

BAGUIO CITY – The Department of Health-Cordillera reported 73 cases of leptospirosis that killed five people in the region from January 1 to August 10. According to DOH-Regional Information Officer Geeny Anne Austria, Apayao province recorded the highest number of cases at 27, followed by Benguet with 14; Baguio City with 12; Kalinga with nine, Ifugao with five, Mountain Province with four while Abra has two cases. The department reminded the public to avoid crossing flood waters due to the increase in leptospirosis cases following the devastation of Typhoon Carina as well as the daily rainfall in the region due to La Niña. Of the five fatalities this year, two are from Apayao and one each from Baguio City, Benguet and Ifugao respectively. Austria said that although cases were lower this year compared to 12 cases and 10 deaths spanning the same period last year, the threat of the bacteria’s presence at the start of the rainy season was high. “We advise the public to seek immediate consultation once they are exposed to flood waters so that they can be given post-exposure prophylaxis and prevent the advance of bacteria,” said Austria. She explained that leptospirosis bacteria can be obtained not only from the infected urine of rats but also from any infected four-legged animal. Signs and symptoms of leptospirosis include high fever, severe headache, non-specific symptoms of muscle pain, calf muscle pain and red eyes in some cases.

House committee approves Clark food hub bill Clark Freeport Zone

Business

Business / Street Journal

By: Dante M. Salvaña Clark Freeport—Lawmakers on Tuesday approved a measure that will create the national food hub at the Clark civil aviation complex aimed to centralize and modernize the distribution, storage, and processing of agricultural products in the country. House Bill 10678 or ‘An Act Establishing the Clark National Food Hub, Appropriating Funds Therefor and for Other Purposes’ was unanimously approved by the House Committee on Trade and Industry chaired by Rep. Ferjenel Biron (4th District, Iloilo). The bill’s principal authors are representatives Rufus Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro), Maria Angela Garcia (3rd District, Bataan), and Anna Victoria Veloso-Tuazon (3rd District, Leyte), while its co-authors are Rep. Salvador Pleyto (6th District, Bulacan) and Rep. Mark Go (Lone District, Baguio City). Rodriguez said there is an urgent need to address the country’s food security issues through a systematic streamlining of food distribution process. “Establishing a national food hub in Clark will play a crucial role in shortening the supply chain from producer to consumer (and) will not only standardized logistics but also ensure the efficient movement of food products, thereby enhancing overall efficiency. The initiative is further reinforced by the Philippines’ development plan which includes food security measures (and so) the Clark national food hub is designed to achieve these objectives for the Filipino people,” Rodriguez said. The CIAC is tasked to develop, operate and manage the civil aviation complex surrounding the Clark International Airports and the site where the 62-hectare national food hub will be established. CIAC President and CEO Arrey Perez said the committee approval is “a patriotic act that will benefit the country’s agriculture sector and the nation.” “We’re both grateful and honored to be recognized as this support from Congress aligns with the national government’s initiative to develop the Luzon Economic Corridor which will position our country as a regional hub for agribusiness and logistics in Asia Pacific, and is consistent with the Marcos administration’s thrusts on agriculture development, particularly in the advancement of the country’s aqua-cultural and agricultural industries,” he added. Early this year, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., U.S. President Joe Biden, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida launched a steering committee to drive infrastructure development in the country’s Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC), supporting connectivity between Subic Bay, Clark, Manila, and Batangas. Secretary Frederick Go, Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs who chairs the LEC committee, has identified food and agriculture as one of the priority industries for investments. “We continue to pursue initiatives that contribute to increasing agriculture production, and improving the food logistical chain. The Clark National Food Hub is a step in this direction, and we look forward to its successful establishment as a sustainable food security solution,” Go said. “As soon as this proposal becomes a law, it will bolster agrologistics as support to our country’s robust agricultural production. It will also enhance freight transport services, mobility, and access to key economic zones, toward seamless logistics and efficient supply chains. This means higher farm productivity and sustained agribusiness, and higher income for Filipino farmers,” Perez added. Also in attendance during the committee hearing was former President and now Pampanga’s 2nd District Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who expressed support for this proposed flagship project, citing the CIAC leadership’s competence in promoting investments. Perez noted the project will simultaneously address food security and logistics cost concerns by providing predictable, sustainable, and modern solutions for the demand and distribution of agricultural produce of Luzon to both domestic and foreign markets. The approved measure will be referred to the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Ways and Means for the funding and tax incentives provisions. The Clark National Food Hub features key components, including state-of-the-art food storage warehouses, cold storage- facilities, processing units, administrative offices, logistics infrastructure, and wholesale and retail market spaces. The project will serve as a central hub for high-quality food products, catering to organized producers, collectors, retailers, supermarkets, suppliers, and regional producers. It offers an adapted consumption wholesale market to meet long-term fresh food requirements, facilitates the export of Filipino agricultural products, and includes an ambitious warehouse program for various food companies.

BPI sets up border control for agricultural products in Subic port

Region 3

Region 3 / Street Journal

By Dante Salvana Subic Bay Freeport – In its effort to provide a better and more efficient way to safeguard the agricultural industry in the country, the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) inaugurated its Plant Quarantine Service (PQS) office here Tuesday morning. DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño led the inauguration of the National Plant Quarantine Services Division (NPQSD) office at the Subic Bay Freeport on Tuesday. According to Laurel, the NPQSD office aims to prevent the entry of foreign pests into the country via the Subic port, contain and minimize the spread of pests already existing in the country, and comply with the phytosanitary requirements of trading partners. “Today, we are making substantial progress in our aim to guarantee the well-being of our agriculture industry and the prosperity of our farmers,” Laurel said. “The establishment of this new office in Subic holds a significant importance due to its position as a prominent center for trade and logistics. Let us continuously improve our border control system with increased efficiency and effectiveness,” he added. SBMA Chairman Aliño welcomed this gesture from the BPI’s NPQSD since it would help foil the smuggling of illegal agricultural products in the Freeport. He added that the agencies involved, including the Bureau of Customs (BOC), are all working in line with President Marcos’ thrust to combat agricultural smuggling, providing a digitized government service, and ensuring proper border control. DA BPI Director Gerald Glenn Panganiban has requested the BOC to order all imports of plant-based agricultural commodities go through the PQO at the respective ports for mandatory document verification and inspection. Customs Memorandum Circular (CMC) No. 102-2024 signed on June 7 by Customs commissioner Bienvenido Rubio states that this is a requirement regardless of the categories that the plant-based agricultural commodities may fall under. The procedure is in compliance with the provisions stated in DA’s Department Circular No. 4 series of 2016, which provides guidelines on the importation of plants, planting materials, and plant products for commercial purposes. Under Article VI Section 23 of the DA circular, the plant commodities are subject to the existing procedures for inspection at the port of entry. The NPQSD cited that upon the arrival of the consignment, the importer should apply for inspection (BPI Q Form No. 4) at the PQS office in the port of entry. The importer should provide pertinent documents during inspection, while samples of the commodity will also be collected for laboratory analysis.

Baguio Taekwondo champions

Sports

Sports / Street Journal

Our Taekwondo athletes have done it again, bringing home a total of 16 gold, 9 silver, and 5 bronze medals from the Classic International Open Taekwondo Championships Malaysia 2024. DERRON BLAKE BAUTISTA Gold – Individual Poomsae Gold – Team Poomsae Gold – Speedkicking Silver – Kyurogi EZEKIEL OWEN ROMANO Gold – Team Poomsae Silver – Individual Poomsae Silver – Speed Kicking Bronze – Sparring RUTH LAFASNI Gold – Individual Poomsae Gold – Family Poomsae VALTER ALISTAIR LAFASNI Gold – Individual Poomsae Gold – Family poomsae Silver – Pair poomsae Gold – Speed kicking Bronze – Sparring SAM LESTAT ANGCAWAY Gold – Poomsae Bronze – Speed Kicking Bronze – Pair Poomsae MICAH CHAWI Gold – Poomsae Silver – Sparring Silver – Speedkicking Silver – Pair Poomsae ALEXA VERA QUITIQUIT Gold – Individual Poomsae Bronze – Pair Poomsae Gold – Kyorugi Gold – Speed Kicking PARESH RAIDEN SAPDOY Gold – Individual Poomsae Gold – Team Poomsae Silver – Kyorugi Silver – Speedkicking 1st Place Overall Champion Poomsae – UFC-Taekwondo Baguio

Author name: Street Journal