Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose Aliño leads the cutting of the ceremonial ribbon to formally open the SBMA Child Development Center at Building 662 in Subic Bay Freeport zone with Senior Deputy Administrator for Support Services Ramon Agregado.
By Ruby F. Rayat- PIMRO LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN—Governor Ramon V. Guico III was listed by Edurank.org as among the ‘Top 79 Notable Alumni of the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman.’ The governor joins the ranks of the country’s most revered personalities, like former President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos, Sr., who topped the list, followed by former Vice President Leni Robredo, 6th Philippine President Elpidio Quirino, ace journalist Maria Ressa, politician Jose P. Laurel, lawyer and former Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, musician Ely Buendia, broadcast journalist Jessica Soho, actor JM De Guzman, and beauty queen Venus Raj. EduRank is a reputable independent organization that evaluates higher education institutions all over the world based on various factors like academic reputation, research output, and student reviews. The list was sorted out by Edurank based on wiki pages popularity of the alumni. Listed in the 11th to 25th spots were news anchor Karen Davila; Senator Cynthia Villar; Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III; former Vice President Salvador “Doy” Laurel; Lawyer Salvador Panelo; actor-politician Herbert Bautista; young actor-entrepreneur Nash Aguas; Fil-Am chef Cristeta Pasia Comerford; beauty queen Shamcey Supsup; Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia; independent film actress Mercedes Cabral; former associate justice Antonio Carpio; Senator Nancy Binay; screenwriter and journalist Ricky Lee; and film director Jerrold Tarog. Gov. Guico clinched the 61st spot. UP Diliman is ranked 625th in the world, 125th in Asia, and 5th in the Philippines by aggregated alumni prominence. The university was established on February 12, 1949. Gov. Guico obtained his degree in philosophy at UP Diliman in 1997 and earned his certificate in professional education and his master’s degree in education in 2004.
Cebu Pacific (PSE: CEB), the Philippines’ leading carrier, further boosts its Clark hub by launching its seventh direct domestic destination, Tagbilaran, making the island province of Bohol now accessible to travelers from north and central Luzon. Starting October 21, 2024, CEB will operate daily flights between Clark and Tagbilaran, allowing passengers to access more domestic destinations from Clark International Airport. As an added treat, CEB has an ongoing seat sale until August 15, 2024 allowing passengers to book their flights from Clark to Tagbilaran for as low as PHP 1 one-way base fare, exclusive of fees and surcharges. The travel period will be from October 21, 2024 to March 31, 2025. “We are thrilled to launch our direct flights between Clark and Tagbilaran. Bohol is known for its natural beauty, cultural heritage, and unique wildlife. This new route supports our commitment to provide every Juan with more opportunities to explore and discover the Philippines, one island at a time,” said Xander Lao, CEB President and Chief Commercial Officer. With direct flights from Clark, travelers may now easily visit tourist attractions in Bohol such as the Chocolate Hills, check out the tarsier which is considered one of the smallest primates in the world, or try out some of the province’s delicacies. Recently, CEB also resumed direct flights between Clark and four other domestic destinations – Davao, General Santos, Iloilo and Puerto Princesa – strengthening connectivity and accessibility to the Visayas-Mindanao region. Aside from these, CEB also operates flights to other domestic destinations including Caticlan and Cebu, as well as to international destinations such as Bangkok, Hong Kong, Narita, and Singapore. CEB currently flies to 35 domestic and 26 international destinations spread across Asia, Australia, and the Middle East.
CAMP KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte — A joint police operation led by the Calbayog City Police Station escalated into a fatal shootout while serving a warrant of arrest against a wanted murder suspect at Purok 2, Barangay Victory, Calbayog City, Samar, on August 11, Based on the reports, the accused was identified as alias “Danny,” a 50-year-old member of the Managaysay Potential Private Armed Groups (PPAGs), was targeted in the operation due to a murder warrant issued by the court on November 23, 2016, with no bail recommended. As police attempted to serve the warrant, attempted to evade arrest and engaged in a confrontation with the police. In response, the police acted to secure the situation, resulting in the suspect sustaining fatal injuries. He was rushed to Calbayog District Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. Following the encounter, the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) and the Calbayog City Satellite Forensic Unit (CCFU) processed the site, recovering a caliber .45 pistol loaded with four live ammunition, and four cartridge cases. The suspect was also found in possession of cash and personal items, which were documented for further investigation. The operation was the result of joint efforts involving several law enforcement agencies, including the Provincial Intelligence Team Samar – Regional Intelligence Unit (PIT Samar-RIU) 8; PNP Intelligence Group – Internal and Special Operations Division (IG-ISOD); 123SAC, 12SAB, Special Action Force; and the Regional Intelligence Division (RID) 8 Tracker Team. PRO 8 Director BrigGen.Reynaldo Pawid, emphasized that the collaboration of various police units highlights their strong dedication to upholding the law and protecting the community. He stated, “By working together to carry out court orders and arrest individuals with outstanding warrants, we demonstrate our commitment to upholding justice and safeguarding public safety. This ongoing effort is crucial in reinforcing the rule of law and fostering a secure environment for all.”
GLADYS VERGARA, incumbent Baguio Tourism Council head, has a two-word rallying cry for sustainable development to endure.“Disperse development!” she advocated, recognizing how city life has become defined by a sense of mobility focused in Baguio’s central business district. Fresh from a tourism tour of the city outskirts, she noted that development in the areas visited “are too sparing and feeble” to induce socio-economic growth. “There is too much growth concentrated in the commercial sections of the city, while development in the outskirts seems slow and too laid back,” she noted in shared anguish. “Moving development into the far-flung areas shall induce incentive among their residents, while distributing the seeds of growth there,” she further pointed out. Vergara identified thickly populated barangays like Irisan, Asin and Loakan as worthy enough for development to take firm roots for its benefits to be shared in equitable proportion. “City life is not what happens in the central business area,” she said, but what drives growth in its totality, stressing the need to disperse development into the city’s outskirts. “Growth momentum in these populous areas must be accelerated to spread out the benefits of a strong economy where city folks living away from the core get to experience sustainable development,” she stressed.
Globe has retained its spot in the prestigious FTSE4Good Index Series for the ninth consecutive year, underscoring the mobile leader’s unwavering commitment to sustainable practices. Created by the global index and data provider FTSE Russell, the FTSE4Good Index Series is designed to measure the performance of companies demonstrating strong Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices. The FTSE4Good indexes are used by a wide variety of market participants to create and assess responsible investment funds and other products. FTSE Russell evaluations are based on performance in areas such as Corporate Governance, Health & Safety, Anti-Corruption, and Climate Change. Businesses included in the FTSE4Good Index Series meet a variety of environmental, social and governance criteria. “We are dedicated to driving positive change within our organization and the communities we serve. This recognition motivates us to further our efforts and continue being a responsible corporate citizen,” said Yoly Crisanto, Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer at Globe. Globe has embedded sustainability into its core operations, starting with identifying its material topics. Through its biennial materiality study, the company is able to prioritize the key concerns of its stakeholders. Globe also conducts an enterprise-level risk assessment exercise where sustainability-linked risks are included. This yearly activity, where top management and management committees across all business units participate, ensures that Globe remains vigilant and proactive in its sustainability efforts. Applying both a top-down and bottom-up approach, executives set the sustainability ambitions, align them with the company’s business objectives, and allocate the necessary resources to reach their goals. Employees innovate and come up with solutions to ensure that the ambitions are on track in terms of attainment. Both employees and executives are provided incentives to drive greater adoption and accountability of sustainability commitments and targets. Sustainability Councils have been established as platforms to upskill, share best practices, and discuss sustainability-linked challenges and opportunities to better serve the customers. Internal ESG Playbooks have also been crafted to offer practical guidance. Adhering to the principles of transparency and accountability, Globe annually publishes its Integrated Report to share its ESG performance. This summarizes how Globe creates value for and with its stakeholders to deliver positive societal and environmental impact. The report also marks the second year of adopting the GSMA ESG Metrics for Mobile, highlighting the company’s material impact across the mobile industry’s industry-specific KPIs, particularly in Environment, Digital Inclusion, Digital Integrity, and Sustainable Supply Chain. The Integrated Report is externally assured to ensure that the non-financial sustainability-related disclosures and performance data meet the reporting standards of GRI and SASB and the principles of Stakeholder Inclusiveness, Materiality, Responsiveness, Reliability, Completeness, and Neutrality. Likewise, for the first time, Globe has secured an Independent Verification Statement certifying the fair representation of the GHG emissions data of Globe, covering Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions.
By MLQuising, Albay PIO LEGASPI CITY,Albay — A total of 58 new (reappointment) and newly promoted employees of the Provincial Government of Albay (PGA) took their oath at the SPA Session Hall, Capitol Building, Legazpi City,on August 7. The oath-taking ceremony was facilitated by the Provincial Human Resources and Management Office (PHRMO) headed by Concurrent Secretary to the Sanggunian and Officer-in-Charge Grace T. Magdamit and presided over by Governor Edcel Grex Lagman. In his address, Governor Lagman emphasized the importance of public service and acknowledged the dedication of those who genuinely serve the people of Albay. “This initiative is dedicated to all deserving and dedicated employees of the PGA, regardless of their position, and is purely based on qualifications and experience,” Governor Lagman stated. “Many are called, but few are chosen. I assure you that everyone here is deserving and hardworking, with no political bias.” The 58 newly sworn employees are an addition to 128 new permanent (51) and newly promoted (77) employees of Albay since September last year. It is noteworthy that during Governor Lagman’s term, the largest number of employees were promoted and granted permanent status, including those who have served the province for decades without recognition or advancement to higher positions.
BAGUIO CITY — As the ‘ber months approach, the Baguio Tourism Council (BTC) is setting the stage for the holiday season, forming key committees to spearhead activities for the next three months. During its monthly meeting, BTC Chair Gladys Vergara was entrusted once again with leading the planning of the 2024 “An Enchanting Baguio Christmas” (AEBC) program, with Mayor Benjie Magalong serving as co-chair. This year’s AEBC is anticipated to bring the Christmas spirit to life with a series of vibrant events in select locations across the city. “We will soon organize the working committees to ensure that December’s events truly capture the festive spirit and express our gratitude for the year’s blessings,” said Vergara. She emphasized the importance of fostering responsible tourism: “As we welcome visitors to the city, we must ensure their safety and promote responsible tourism, allowing everyone to fully appreciate what Baguio has to offer.” Vergara added, “Let’s celebrate Christmas with wholesome, family-oriented events that truly embody the spirit of the Season.” The AEBC festivities are scheduled to run from November 28, 2024, to January 6, 2025. In the same meeting, the BTC confirmed several upcoming events, including: August 28: Media Appreciation Night and Press Briefing September 23: BTC General Assembly and Fellowship Night, featuring Service and Excellence Awards for outstanding media practitioners and broadcasters Program Launch: The launch of the Konsulta Program, providing BTC members and employees with free health, laboratory, and diagnostic services. Vergara highlighted that the Konsulta Program, a special initiative by PhilHealth, will be made available to BTC members and their employees through a direct arrangement. “I encourage all BTC members and their employees to take advantage of this health diagnostic program, offered at no cost to them,” she concluded.
BAGUIO CITY — To bolster the implementation of traffic laws, the Department of Transportation – Cordillera Administrative Region (DOTr-CAR) conducted a 3-day Land Transportation Office (LTO) Orientation and Deputation Training for the 55 Uniformed Personnel of the Baguio City Police Office at the Function Hall, PEAK Building, Ben Palispis Highway, Baguio City, last August 6-8, 2024. The Orientation and Deputation Training was pioneered by Atty. Joshua Pablito, regional director; Assistant Regional Director Atty.Jose Villacorta; Acting Chief of the Regional Law Enforcement Unit (RLEU), Royce Bites, together with the Subject Matter Experts (SME), Agnes Locano,of the Human Resource Section – Human Resource Development, Atty. Krystel Grace Sanchez,of the Legal Section:Ma Thresa Yatar,of the Operations Section; Engr. Lalaine Sobremonte, Ramon Bocalan,Jr. and King Blas Jervin Pagtailan, of the Regional Drivers Education Center. The BCPO was represented by Lt.Col. Samson Kimayong, deputy city director for Administration, conveyed his prefatory remarks at the start of the program while Atty.Pablito delivered an inspirational message purporting to fortify the convergence strategy between the LTO and PNP’s heightened traffic enforcement. The first and second day underscores the intricacies of the following: Land Transportation and Traffic Code of the Philippine; Joint Administrative Order 2014-01; Guidelines and Procedures on Law Enforcement and Traffic Adjudication; Motor Vehicle Registration; Driver’s Licensing and Salient Features of RA 10930; Field Enforcement Procedures; Law Enforcement Service, Road Safety and Land Transportation Special Laws. On the third day, the BCPO together with the RLEU personnel carried out practical exercises such as roadside inspection, verification, and information dissemination in dispersed areas within the City of Baguio. Concertedly, the training was capped by Chief Bites and Lt.Col. Domingo Gambican, deputy director for Operations. The raison d’être of the training is for the police officers to be effective and efficient in their roles by being knowledgeable about the Land Transportation laws, rules, and regulations. They must also uphold the highest standards of professionalism in their field enforcement operations and inspire drivers to promote road safety by utilizing the law enforcement officers’ appropriate training and expertise.
