Street Journal, Author at Street Journal Multimedia Services

The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), in partnership with a Danish company known for green innovations, recently rolled out the green map for New Clark City’s sustainability. In a joint forum-workshop held recently in New Clark City, the BCDA and Danfoss Inc. discussed energy efficiency and decarbonization strategies crucial to BCDA’s commitment to develop New Clark City as a smart and green urban space. The event was supported by the Royal Danish Embassy. HE Ambassador Franz-Michael Mellbin of the Royal Danish Embassy in Manila, who led the dignitaries present during the event, said their government will help BCDA to “optimize New Clark City for energy efficiency” by sharing their expertise in green solutions and innovations. BCDA Chairman Delfin N. Lorenzana and BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer Joshua M. Bingcang were present along with Danfoss Asia Pacific Regional President Jan Schoemaker, Danfoss SEA-South Head Manuel Ong, and Danfoss Philippines Inc. General Manager Allan Almendrala. Danfoss Inc. is a company committed to meeting global climate and energy goals. It offers the best-in-class technology and solutions to drive the green transition through energy efficiency, machine productivity, lower emissions, and electrification. Chairman Lorenzana said sustainability programs and initiatives are built into the development and investment plans of New Clark City. These initiatives include the development of renewable energy, use of low-carbon district cooling technologies, smart governance of mass transportation, and establishment of a solid waste-to-energy system and facilities. For his part, PCEO Bingcang presented the overall sustainability framework for Clark designed to meet the requirements of a smart, green, and people-centric city. The BCDA president enumerated the agency’s flagship projects and green initiatives that include development and expansion of industrial spaces, greenbelts and river park, eco-tourism and hospitality facilities, universities, the expansion of the Clark International Airport, the Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas Railway System, Clark National Food Hub, and the New Clark City housing project, among others. The BCDA chief emphasized the importance of green and sustainable solutions as key factors in development. “We are not only mindful of the commercial arrangement. We want sustainability to be a key factor in our development. We are always into ‘future-proofing’, especially on the sustainability aspect of development,” Bingcang said. He pointed out that in developing the New Clark City, BCDA has included green and sustainable projects, such as the Green Boulevard, the New Clark City River Park System, and the New Clark City Central Park, to protect and preserve the natural environs of the development area.

Baguio Tourism Council Rallies Behind Dengue Prevention Efforts

Baguio City

Baguio City / Street Journal

The Baguio Tourism Council (BTC) has thrown its full support behind the city’s ongoing battle against dengue, underscoring the urgent need for community action as dengue cases continue to rise during the rainy season. BTC Chairperson Gladys Vergara called on all residents to join the fight against dengue by taking proactive measures in their homes and neighborhoods. “We all have a role to play in reducing dengue cases,” Vergara stated, highlighting the recent surge in mosquito-borne diseases. “The war against dengue begins at home, and it’s crucial that we strengthen our health and sanitation practices where we live.” Vergara emphasized the importance of eliminating stagnant water, which serves as breeding grounds for mosquitoes. “Now is the time to adopt whole-health habits at home, ensuring that we eliminate all potential mosquito-breeding sites. Dengue is a preventable disease, and by taking action within our homes, we can effectively combat this serious health threat.” The BTC has recently launched a series of aggressive strategies aimed at assisting barangays in identifying and eradicating mosquito-breeding areas in every household. The council’s initiatives are part of a broader effort to reduce the spread of dengue across the city. Vergara also raised concerns over the alarming statistics, noting that nearly 3,000 dengue cases have been recorded since January this year. “While we do not wish to incite unnecessary alarm, these figures are a clear call to action. By increasing vigilance and taking preventive measures at home, we can significantly reduce the number of cases and protect our communities from this potentially deadly disease.”

Gov. Gambito thanks Pangasinan for P200-M donation while citing legal risks

Region 2

Region 2 / Street Journal

By Rachel Magday BAYOMBONG,Nueva Vizcaya –“Thank you for your P200 million donation for Brgy Malico, Sta. Fe, Nueva Vizcaya,” declared Governor Atty. Jose V. Gambito in response to Governor Ramon V. Guico III of Pangasinan’s recent challenge. Governor Guico had urged Nueva Vizcaya to match the PHP 200 million allocated for development before claiming ownership of Malico, a barangay that has long been a point of contention between Sta. Fe,Nueva Vizcaya and San Nicolas,Pangasinan. In a local media interview, Governor Gambito emphasized that the boundary dispute over Malico has already been resolved, asserting that the barangay is officially part of Nueva Vizcaya. He pointed out that the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources(DENR) had delineated the boundaries through a mutually agreed-upon survey, formalized in a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed by both parties. “There is no longer any boundary dispute to discuss,” Gambito stated firmly. “The NAMRIA delineation has settled the issue, and it was based on a memorandum of agreement that both parties fully perfected and signed.” Gambito further defended the legitimacy of the agreement, asserting that no laws were violated during the process. “The contract has been consummated, as the completed NAMRIA survey has already delineated the boundaries. There is nothing left to do but respect the results of this agreement. Everything is now a fait accompli.” Highlighting the cultural significance of Malico, Gambito noted that it is an ancestral domain of the Kalanguya tribe, an Indigenous Peoples (IP) group native to Nueva Vizcaya. He stressed the importance of respecting the rights and heritage of the Kalanguya people in any discussions regarding the area. Additionally, he mentioned that the source of electricity for Malico comes from the Nueva Vizcaya Electric Cooperative, further solidifying the barangay’s connection to the province. Gambito also noted that provincial officials of Nueva Vizcaya have not neglected Malico in terms of developmental projects. He highlighted that it was under the leadership of then-Congressman Carlos M. Padilla that the initiative was taken to open and eventually concrete the Nueva Vizcaya-Pangasinan Road. The completion of this road has paved the way for Malico’s tourism potential, making it more accessible to visitors and enhancing economic opportunities for the local community. While Gambito expressed gratitude for the P200 million donation, he also voiced concerns regarding Pangasinan’s potential investments in Malico. He warned that such actions could lead to allegations of technical malversation. “If Pangasinan invests in Malico, they would be spending public funds in a territory that falls within the jurisdiction of another local government unit,” he cautioned. “This is a friendly reminder to Governor Guico to carefully consider their plans, as they may expose themselves to legal complications.” According to Gambito, he views the P200 million as a donation because Pangasinan cannot undertake projects in Malico, given that it is not part of their jurisdiction. Gambito further reminded Governor Guico that engaging in projects in an area not under their administrative control could be in violation of regulations set forth by the Commission on Audit (COA)

Cayetano lauds DepEd’s entrepreneurial training programs for students, teachers

NCR

NCR / Street Journal

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday lauded the Department of Education (DepEd) for providing entrepreneurial skills training to students and teachers, saying it is a step towards fulfilling K to 12’s objective of improving employment opportunities especially for the youth. Cayetano made the remark as DepEd, now under the new leadership of former Senator Sonny Angara, committed to continuing the entrepreneurial programs it began last year in partnership with the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (PCE) from the private sector. Cayetano emphasized the need to close the gap between livelihood opportunities and formal education in the country, a promise that the K to 12 curriculum has failed to fulfill. “The main reason for the introduction of K to 12 was to better prepare students for higher education, and kung hindi mag-higher education, employable na and developed na ang middle level skills. Pero hindi nabigyan ng resources ang DepEd para magawa ito,” he said. He also said giving students a chance to be mentored by veteran businessmen and entrepreneurs in the country provides young people with more viable career choices. Cabinet Cluster for education that will craft and oversee a quality national education plan that satisfies the needs of the labor market. In the resolution, he pushed for the inclusion of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Budget and Management to ensure sustained operational funding and alignment with workforce development goals. EDCOM 2’s proposal was heeded by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday after a sectoral meeting in Malacañang, recognizing the need for a “system-wide national integrated education and workforce development strategy that starts from early childhood education to basic education, senior high school, and so on.” According to Palace press briefer Daphne Oseña-Paez, Marcos has directed the concerned agencies to devise the national plan, ensuring that “education issues are tackled as a whole system rather than in multi-agency silos.

Subic Freeport students bag 3rd place in robotics Olympiad

Region 3

Region 3 / Street Journal

Subic Bay Freeport – Elementary students from the Special Education for the Gifted (SPED-G) Kalayaan in this premier Freeport bagged 3rd place in the recent Philippine Robotics Olympiad held at the Ayala Malls Trinoma, Quezon City. During the 23rd Philippine Robotics Olympiad, grade VI students namely, Anne Margarette Inton, Dru Triguero, and Zyrene Tantay placed third in the Future Innovators Category-Elementary Level. The said three students are part of the Aerosense Team mentored by coaches Ma Alon Elago, John Lester Perez and Principal Abdon Bayle. With the theme Earth Allies, the 23rd Philippine Robotics Olympiad Elementary Level RoboMission Finals was held on July 29 at the Felta Multimedia Center where the Aerosense Team displayed their robot, the Aerosense. The Aerosense is an ESP32 Drone-Based System for an Environmental Real-Time Monitoring of Air Quality, Humidity and Temperature. According to the team members, the Aerosense was developed to address critical environmental issues such as air pollution and climate change. “With the rapid urbanization and industrialization of cities, there is a pressing need for effective environmental monitoring solutions,” the team members stated. During the team’s courtesy call to the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño congratulated the members and coaches of Aerosense Team. “We are very proud of your achievements. You have shown that the country’s best and brightest robotics students come from the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. Mabuhay po kayo sa inyong naabot,” he said. The chairman also congratulated SBMA Director Anne Lorraine Adorable Inton, the proud mother of Aerosense member Anne Margarette, for raising a bright and wonderful child. The Philippine Robotics Olympiad is an annual science educational event that primarily aims to challenge the intellectual skills and critical thinking of elementary and high school students.

Quezon second district Mayors take oath as LAKAS- CMD party members

Region 4

Region 4 / Street Journal

By Danny Estacio LUCENA CITY, Quezon- Municipal mayors from the second district of Quezon province have joined the LAKAS-CMD party as announced by House Deputy Speaker David C. Suarez on August 12. Suarez said that House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez administered the oath of the local officials as new members of LAKAS-CMD. Among those who joined the party are Sariaya Mayor Marcelo P. Gayeta, Tiaong Mayor Vincent Arjay Mea, San Antonio Mayor Ariel Wagan, Dolores Mayor Orlan Calayag, and local officials of Lucena City and Candelaria and by Candelaria vice mayor Macario Boonggaling as guest. Present during the event are Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr., Majority Leader Manuel Jose “Mannix” Dalipe, Agusan del Norte 1st District Rep. Jose “Joboy” Aquino II, and Congresswoman Anna Villaraza Suarez of Alona Party List.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) and Universal Robina Corporation (URC), have agreed to continue its potato program, which has been boosting potato farming in the country for the last five years. The recent signing ceremonies were led by (seated, from left): URC’s Vice President for Global Procurement Vicky Yap, Chief Supply Chain & Sustainability Officer David Lim, President & CEO Irwin Lee; Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr., Undersecretary for High Value Crops Cheryl Marie Natividad-Caballero, and Assistant Secretary for High Value Crops Atty. Joycel Panlilio.

URC, government to continue program giving huge boost to potato farming

NCR

NCR / Street Journal

Universal Robina Corp. (URC) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) have agreed to sustain a program that has significantly enhanced potato farming and overall farm productivity in the Philippines. “Since its inception, this program has exemplified the power of public-private partnerships in driving positive change,” said Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. “This agreement solidifies our shared commitment to improve access to quality planting materials, enhance potato production practices and technologies, increase local sufficiency, and ultimately uplift farmers for a sustainable future,” he added. URC – one of the country’s largest food and beverage firms – and the DA will continue providing potato farmers in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Northern Mindanao and Davao access to farm inputs, training and market opportunities for five more years. This falls under the Sustainable Potato Program (SPP) meant to raise the country’s output of a vital staple crop. Since the program started five years ago, URC has distributed 506 tons of generation 3 Granola potato seeds from Canada to more than 900 farmers in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Davao del Sur, and Bukidnon. An estimated 23,000 MT of potatoes have been produced from these seeds, generating a minimum gross income of 920 million pesos. The program has benefitted 15 farmer organizations and contributed to a 4% increase in national potato production. “We at URC are committed to contributing to the country’s sustainable development goals. Through the Sustainable Potato Program, we aim to uplift people’s lives and support the growth of the potato farming industry,” said URC’s President and Chief Executive Officer Irwin Lee.“In collaboration with Canada Agriculture and Agri-Food, and the PEI Potato Board, we provide our local farmers with access to relevant trainings and research,” he added. As part of this initiative, 10 farmers from Cordillera joined a delegation on a potato seeds educational visit to Prince Edward Island last June 9-15. The mission was designed to benchmark farming practices, ensure a continued source of Granola seed variety and explore alternative varieties for a sustainable seed source. Under its Memorandum of Understanding with URC, the DA will provide training on good agricultural practices, seed multiplication, pest and disease management, storage, handling, and marketing.The DA will also organize a Program Management Unit (PMU) in the three regions to oversee the program’s implementation and ensure that targets are met. The Bureau of Plant Industry will facilitate timely import clearances and conduct pest and disease surveillance. In addition to providing high quality potato seeds direct to farmers, URC will collaborate with relevant institutions to offer capability-building opportunities and training for farmers. URC will also leverage its network to establish market access for the potato farmers’ produce. “At URC, we believe in the power of community empowerment and the transformative potential of agriculture,” said Lee. “Our commitment goes beyond business; we are dedicated to changing lives and fostering sustainable growth in every community we touch. Together with our partners, we strive to create a lasting impact, ensuring that our farmers not only thrive but also prosper in evolving agriculture landscape.”

CIDG bust fake dentists in Benguet, unveiled as most wanted couple for massive car rental scam by HPG,PAOCC

CAR

CAR / Street Journal

A married couple posing as dentists in Sablan, Benguet, were uncovered as notorious scammers hiding from the law. The Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) Baguio City Field Unit (CFU) arrested the duo during an entrapment operation on August 2, 2024, exposing not only their illegal dental practice but also much larger criminal activity. The Philippine Dental Association of Baguio City and Benguet Chapter had long suspected Jun Jun and Catherine Banal of being fake dentists. When they failed to produce valid dental licenses, the CIDG seized assorted dental equipment from their three-story residence. The couple now faces charges under Republic Act 9484, the Philippine Dental Act of 2007. The authorities, in coordination with the PNP-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), revealed the true identities of the culprits who victimized one-hundred-forty-nine individuals through “Assumed Balance-Sangla” car rental scam, deceiving car owners by assuming vehicle mortgage balances, then pawning or selling the vehicles with counterfeit documents. Their fraudulent schemes amassed a staggering P300,000,000.00. Several charges have been filed against the BANAL couple before the Angeles City Regional Trial Court branches 56 and 62, as well as the Mabalacat City Municipal Trial Court. These charges include large-scale swindling, estafa, carnapping, and violations of the Bouncing Checks Law. Their web of deceit prompted action from multiple law enforcement bodies. The PNP-HPG, through Case Operation “ARES-ID PARAM,” supported by PAOCC, had been on their trail. The Banal’s had evaded capture by changing their names and moving to Sablan. However, their luck ran out when the CIDG Baguio CFU arrested them for illegal dental services. Following this, the HPG Intelligence Division swiftly acted, and on August 5, 2024, alongside the Regional Highway Patrol Unit Cordillera Administrative Region, served the outstanding warrants. According to USEC Gilberto Cruz, the PNP-HPG, PNP-CIDG, and PAOCC remain dedicated to seeking justice for any additional victims of the couple’s extensive fraudulent activities. “Ang PNP-HPG, PNP-CIDG, at PAOCC ay nananatiling tapat sa paghahanap ng katarungan para sa iba pang mga biktima ng malawakang pang-scam at panloloko ng naturang mag-asawa. Patuloy na susuportahan ng PAOCC ang PNP sa kanilang mga operasyon upang sugpuin ang mga sindikato at tuldukan ang organized crime sa bansa,” Usec Cruz said. (From PAOCC page)

Globe posts solid net income fueled by strong EBITDA growth

Business

Business / Street Journal

Globe’s net income for the first half of 2024 remains solid at Php 14.5 billion, primarily driven by strong growth in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) that effectively offset the increase in depreciation expenses. Excluding the one-time gain from the Globe tower sale, normalized net income stood at Php 11.9 billion, reflecting a significant 19% increase from the previous year. Conversely, Globe’s core net income would have surged by 21% if ECPay had been deconsolidated from its books in the first half of 2023. Nevertheless, Globe’s core net income which excludes the effects of non-recurring charges, foreign exchange, and mark-to-market charges, expanded by 18% year-on-year, reaching Php11.7 billion during the first half of 2024. “Our sustained growth in both net income and core net income is a testament to our continued commitment to delivering exceptional value to our customers while maintaining disciplined cost management. We are pleased with our performance in the first half of 2024, which highlights our focus on strategic priorities and operational efficiencies,” said Ernest Cu, Globe President and CEO. Globe’s mobile business demonstrated resilient growth, achieving record-high revenues of Php58.4 billion by the end of June 2024, compared to Php54.8 billion during the same period last year. Meanwhile, the company’s consolidated EBITDA amounted to nearly Php43 billion, marking a strong 6% increase from the previous year. This growth was driven by a 2% rise in consolidated gross service revenues, coupled with a 2% reduction in operating expenses plus subsidy. EBITDA would have been higher by 7% year-on-year if ECPay’s deconsolidation from Globe’s books was considered as of the first semester of 2023. Additionally, the company’s EBITDA margin demonstrated impressive year-on-year progress, rising from 50% to 52%, surpassing the full-year guidance of 50%. As Globe looks to the future, it is poised to leverage its strong financial performance and strategic investments to drive further growth and innovation in the telecom industry.

Author name: Street Journal

BCDA, Danish company to work for New Clark City’s decarbonization