TACLOBAN CITY– An 83-year-old woman and her 25-grandson died after their house was burned down in Borongan City, Eastern Samar on Sunday early morning.
Based on the report of the local city fire office, the fatalities, Lourdes Abobo and her grandson Lloyd Alec Legion, were asleep inside their house located in Barangay Tamoso, when the fire broke out at about 3:05 am.
The house was already on fire when they rose from their sleep and failed to get out, the city fire office said.
The cause of the fire incident is still being investigated by the fire office but initially indicated that it could be due to an ‘overheated appliances.’
“The incident is still under investigation but we are looking at overheated appliances like an electric fan and a mobile phone charger,” chief afire investigator Franklin Marzon said in a phone interview.
The two died due to suffocation, based on the result of the examination conducted by the members of the scene of the crime operatives (Soco), he added.
The fire was declared as over at 4:15 am with the damage cost placed at about P700,000. (JOEY A. GABIETA/ROBERT DEJON)
A member of the Regional Development Council, Buenaventura Go-Soco, has raised his concern over the delayed construction of the new terminal building at the Daniel Z. Romualdez(DZR) Airport saying it result in losses of P5 billion from tourism receipts. (Photo Courtesy)
A member of the Regional Development Council, Buenaventura Go-Soco, has raised his concern over the delayed construction of the new terminal building at the Daniel Z. Romualdez(DZR) Airport saying it result in losses of P5 billion from tourism receipts. (Photo Courtesy)
TACLOBAN CITY– The delay in the construction of the new passenger terminal building of the Daniel Z. Romualdez (DZR) Airport has impacted negatively the tourism industry of the region.
Thus said Buenaventura Go-Soco, a member of the Regional Development Council (RDC) representing the media, who said that originally the facility’s construction should have been completed in March 2022.
However, as of their August 2023 monitoring, the project has already been delayed by more than 15 months, Go-Soco, a former regional director of the National Economic Development Authority(NEDA), said.
He claimed that the region has lost a potential tourist receipt amounting to P5 billion. Go-Soco, however, did not say how he was able to come up with such a figure.
The current passenger terminal building of the DZR Airport has a capacity of 600 passengers while the new facility will almost triple it to 1,700 with its new design set within the standard of an international airport.
During the committee meeting of the RDC regional project monitoring team, they were informed that the project is at 57.18 percent completion with a negative slippage of 20.20 percent. They also noted the insufficient number of manpower on the site.
The total cost for Phase 1 of the DZR Airport improvement project is P759 million, and additional P1.26 billion for Phase 2 and P585 million for Phase 3.
Go-Soco said that the RDC had already passed a resolution addressed to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and the contractor to fast-track the construction of the new terminal building.
The contractor of the new passenger terminal building is the Ormoc-based construction firm MAC Builders which has a joint venture with ML-Builder.
If the present contractor cannot fulfill its duty to fast-track the construction of the passenger building, their contract should be terminated and the government must look for another contractor that is more capable and can finish the project on time, Go-Soco said.
Commenting on the issue, Pocholo Franco, a member of the RDC representing the tourism sector, said that having an airport with an international standard is one of their wish lists as it will help boost the region’s tourism arrivals.
Based on the data of CAAP-8, DZR Airport is the country’s 7th busiest airport with more than 1.48 million passengers in 2022.
“Every day of delay is wasted opportunities and lost revenues for our region. Business opportunities and employment are likewise gone,” Franco said.
“Our hope and our dream for a vibrant tourism, more visitors, more employment, and inclusive growth rest on the completion of our own international airport,” he added.
Currently, there are 16 to 20 daily flights at the DZR Airport servicing the Tacloban-Manila-Tacloban and Tacloban-Cebu-Tacloban routes.
Moreover, Department of Tourism (DOT) 8 Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes said that with the DZR Airport, being the main gateway of Eastern Visayas, the new passenger terminal building once completed will give the region a competitive advantage.
Servicing up to a million inbound and outbound passengers per year, the present terminal building needs to be expanded to conveniently accommodate not just the traveling public and tourists but also provide spaces for facilities, amenities, and concessionaires who cater to the needs of passengers, Tiopes added.
Having an airport terminal that is of international standards also leads to opportunities to accommodate bigger aircraft and open up new routes thus benefitting our tourism industry as it helps expand our accessibility to more tourist markets, the DOT regional director further said.
Last year, tourist arrivals in the region reached three million. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
China’s actions in the South China Sea and other maritime regions have continually drawn widespread international attention and concern. The Chinese government’s assertive stance in territorial disputes with neighboring countries and its increasing military presence in disputed waters have raised serious questions about its intentions and the impact on regional stability.
The South China Sea is a strategically significant body of water bordered by multiple countries, including China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. China has claimed a vast portion of this sea, known as the “Nine-Dash Line,” which encroaches upon the maritime territories of other nations. This assertion of sovereignty over the South China Sea has led to increased tensions in the region.
China’s encroachment into the South China Sea has significant geopolitical implications. It challenges the international order based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which establishes rules for territorial waters and exclusive economic zones. By disregarding UNCLOS principles and infringing upon the territorial waters of neighboring nations, China undermines the credibility of international law and the peaceful resolution of disputes.
Furthermore, China’s actions strain diplomatic relations with neighboring countries, creating an atmosphere of distrust and instability. This undermines efforts to build regional cooperation and peacefully manage disputes, which can have lasting consequences for peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.
To address these issues and prevent further escalation, it is essential for the international community to engage in diplomatic efforts aimed at promoting peaceful resolutions to maritime disputes, upholding the rule of law, and preserving regional stability. The South China Sea issue serves as a test case for the effectiveness of international mechanisms in managing and resolving territorial disputes in the 21st century.
Many of us are perhaps unaware that the transition from traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to electric cars has been a growing trend in the automotive industry. We may just wake up someday to see that fuel-using cars are already gone. Well, several factors have contributed to this trend.
First, it is due to environmental Concerns. Electric cars produce zero tailpipe emissions, reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. As concerns about climate change and air quality increase, electric vehicles (EVs) are seen as a more environmentally friendly alternative. This is to do away with smoke emissions that pollute the air we beath, making the environment free from toxic pollutants.
Advances in battery technology likewise explain this. Improvements in battery technology have made it possible for electric cars to offer longer driving ranges and faster charging times. This has alleviated concerns about the limited range and charging infrastructure for EVs. In fact, many governments around the world offer incentives to promote electric vehicle adoption. These incentives can include tax credits, rebates, and special access to carpool lanes.
As technology advances and economies of scale come into play, the cost of producing electric vehicles and batteries has been decreasing. This makes EVs more affordable for consumers. Moreover, the growing awareness of environmental issues and the desire for cleaner transportation options have driven consumer demand for electric cars. Many automakers have responded by expanding their electric vehicle offerings.
For these reasons, major automakers have made commitments to transition their fleets to electric vehicles in the coming years. This includes plans to phase out the production of traditional gasoline and diesel cars. But while the shift toward electric cars is significant, it’s important to note that the complete replacement of all gasoline and diesel cars with electric cars will likely take many years, possibly decades, to fully materialize.
This transition also depends on the development of charging infrastructure, battery technology, and continued government support. Hybrid vehicles, which combine gasoline or diesel engines with electric power, have also gained popularity as a transitional technology, offering improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions compared to traditional ICE vehicles.
While it’s true that electric cars are becoming increasingly popular and are expected to play a significant role in the future of transportation, the complete replacement of fuel cars with electric cars may take time and depend on various factors, including technological advancements and policy support. By the way, what will become of the existing traditional vehicles that many people own today if they get phased out? Are we to throw them into the junkshop? Just wondering.
Starting June 2, 2023, the effectivity of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the Filipino agriculture workers are expected to push for an enhanced support, better access to credit and improved irrigation program.
The agricultural groups have adopted the hashtag “Bantay RCEP, Buy Filipino”, a strategy for their sector to be heard as RCEP takes effect based on the guiding principles of food sufficiency and engagement in government. Accordingly, “this is an unprecedented, almost all of the major agriculture-based groups in the country, united and actively opposing RCEP”, as quoted by the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP). This agri workers sentiment is echoed by the Sugar Council representative who said that “. . . the government needs to support the productivity improvement and competitiveness enhancement or measures needed by the entire Philippine agriculture sector.” Briefly stated, “how can we compete against subsidized importation of food products which have export subsidies or other forms of government support that we do not have?”
MY COMMENT:
The issues that the Filipino agricultural group, with support from certain concerned citizens center on (1) small farmers inability to access to affordable and timely loans/credit programs, making it difficult to modernize, buy new machinery adopt farming techniques and new panting materials and (2) agri farmers feel that the country lack an irrigation program, preventing them from advancing away from being rice-centric.
I find the issues worth paying attention to by the government. On the matter of accessibility to loans and credit programs and mechanization of farmlands, the same are being addressed by the government, but initiatives are not spread, implemented equitably in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao farmers.
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HE said it very clearly. “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.” (Lk 8,21).
If we want to belong to God’s family as we should, since we are meant to be his image and likeness and sharers of his divine life and nature, we should follow what Christ is telling us.
And why should we believe in Christ’s words? That’s because he is the very Son of God, and is God himself, who became man to offer us “the way, the truth and the life” that is proper to us.
Remember that episode of his baptism in the River Jordan? A voice was heard from heaven, clearly telling us who Christ was. “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Mt 3,17) And in the transfiguration of Christ, again a voice was heard from heaven: “This is my beloved Son, listen to him.” (Mt 17,5)
Let’s never forget that God always intervenes in our life. He actually is the main shaper and director of our life. But he always needs our cooperation, because he always respects our freedom.
Thus, we should realize that the ideal condition for us is to unite our will with God’s will. It should identify itself with God’s will and channel it as faithfully as possible all throughout our earthly sojourn.
We have to realize more deeply that God’s will is the source of everything in the universe. The whole of creation in all its existence, unity, truth, goodness and beauty starts from God’s will and is maintained by it.
The entire range and scope of reality—be it material or spiritual, natural or supernatural, temporal or eternal—is “contained” there, not only theoretically but also ‘in vivo.’ It would be funny if we think we can cope with all the demands of our life by simply relying on our own powers. We have to follow God’s will all the time.
We, therefore, have to do everything to polish and sharpen our sense of obedience to God’s will, especially as we head toward maturity since the years tend to deaden our need for obedience. We have to be more aware of those factors that tend to dull our duty to obey.
In fact, the older we get, and the more accomplished and experienced we feel we are, the sharper should be our sense of obedience and more attentive to its finer demands.
Otherwise, we would simply spoil whatever achievements we have gained. It’s like we are gaining ground on the outside but losing ground on the inside, an echo of “what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul.” A terrible collapse would just be a matter of time.
We need to be strongly reminded about this, since we have to contend with formidable undermining forces—culture, lifestyle, media, the scandalous examples of many in politics, business, and even in the church. We have to be ready to do continuing constructive battle of peace and love in this area.
The model for all this is Christ who frequently said, “My food is to do the will of my Father.” And he did so all the way to the cross. Thus, St. Paul said that Christ was obedient until death.
