ORMOC CITY-Rescuers from the Philippine Coast Guard and the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council and the local police recovered the cadaver of a fisherman from his paddle boat, some 50 meters away from the shoreline of Barangay Combado, Maasin City on Wednesday (August 16) at about 5:30 am.
City police chief Lt. Col. Jason Balbarona identified the victim as William Peralta, 65, and a resident of Sitio Basak, Brgy. Rizal, also in the said city.
He disclosed that based on their initial investigation, the victim had left their residence at about 1 am Wednesday to fish.
However, another fisherman, Jonas Amaca, who was also in the same area, found the dead body of the victim about 50 meters from the shoreline on his paddle boat.
It was learned that the victim has a history of lung-related illnesses.
Dr. April Gervie Macabuhay, Maasin City Health Officer, who conducted the post-mortem examination, found no signs of foul play, confirming that the victim had died of natural causes. (ROBERT DEJON)
WINNERS. Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez extends his congratulations to campus journalists from the city who won awards during the recently-concluded national schools press conference held in Cagayan de Oro City. Among the awards received by the budding journalist was the most outstanding campus journalist Joy Grace Villasoto of Sto. Nino SPED Center. (TCIO)
WINNERS. Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez extends his congratulations to campus journalists from the city who won awards during the recently-concluded national schools press conference held in Cagayan de Oro City. Among the awards received by the budding journalist was the most outstanding campus journalist Joy Grace Villasoto of Sto. Nino SPED Center. (TCIO)
TACLOBAN CITY-Student journalists along with their mentors visited City Mayor Alfred S. Romualdez last August 10 after their successful stint at the recently concluded national schools press conference 2023 at Cagayan de Oro City last July 17-21.
Among those present were NSPC Most Outstanding Campus Journalist Joy Grace Villasoto of Sto. Niño SPED Center, Don Bernard Gapasin of Sagkahan National High School who earned the Most Outstanding School Paper Adviser, 5th Placer Feature Writing (English) Ces Hera G. Suarez of STEFTI with Coach Eric Dagami, 5th Placer Collaborative Desktop Publishing- Leyte National High School Team with Coach Shermin Olimpo.
Also in attendance are Campus Journalism Coordinators namely: Annie Pagatpat (English Coordinator), Ronald Llaneta (Filipino Coordinator), and Raymond Remandaban (President of the Reg’l School Paper Advisers’ Association).
The National Schools Press Conference is an annual competition for campus journalists pursuant to Republic Act 7079 or the Campus Journalism Act of 1991. It aims to protect press freedom and promote the development and growth of campus journalism. (TACLOBAN CITY INFORMATION OFFICE)
ORMOC CITY-Several contrabands were recovered at the Leyte sub-provincial jail in Hilongos as a result of a greyhound operation conducted on Wednesday (August 16).
Among the recovered and confiscated contraband were screwdrivers, improvised knives, lighters, nail cutters, shavers, blades, and cellular phones, among others.
Major Ambrocio Demain, Hilongos police chief, in an interview, said that they would conduct an investigation as to how these items entered the jail facility and charges would be filed against those responsible.
All recovered and confiscated items are in the custody of Hilongos sub-provincial jail. (ROBERT DEJON)
Leyte board member Carlo Loreto encourages graduates of the Abuyog Community College (ACC) to chase their dreams during his talks with them as he served as commencement speaker of the university held on Thursday (August 17). ACC’s president is Clemelle Montallana, a columnist of Leyte Samar Daily Express (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
ABUYOG, Leyte– Chase your dreams.
Leyte board member Carlo Loreto encourages graduates of the Abuyog Community College (ACC) to chase their dreams during his talks with them as he served as commencement speaker of the university held on Thursday (August 17). ACC’s president is Clemelle Montallana, a columnist of Leyte Samar Daily Express (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
Thus said board member Carlo Loreto who served as the commencement speaker during the graduation rites of the Abuyog Community College (ACC) on Thursday (August 17).
About 233 graduates finished their degrees in elementary and secondary education and information technology.
“You don’t have to have a dream. If you have something you’ve always wanted to do, dreamed of in your heart, go for it,” Loreto said told the graduates.
He added that they should not seek happiness but instead keep busy and aim to make someone happy.
Loreto also reminded the new graduates that “understanding that you can’t truly take credit for your successes nor truly blame others for their failures will humble you and make you more compassionate.”
“Empathy is intuitive but it is also something you can work on intellectually,” he said.
For his part, Mayor Lemuel Gin Traya gave tribute to the parents of the graduates for ‘working hard’ just to ensure that their children could finish their college education.
ACC, established in 1978, is the first local government unit-sponsored college institution in Leyte province. Its current president is Clemelle Montallana who also dabbles as a columnist of Leyte Samar Daily Express. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
Our country in general is a rice-producing country, but ironically, it keeps on importing rice from other countries and has become reliant on imported rice. This is something that local rice farmers could not understand. Why is it that majority of consumers prefer to buy the more expensive rice instead of buying their harvests?
Well, it’s high time for our local rice producers to realize why the majority of consumers prefer to buy the costly imported rice instead of buying their cheaper rice produced. It is primarily because their rice is of poor quality. Yes, it tastes good, especially if it is newly-harvested, but in terms of other aspects, it lags behind compared to the imported rice from Thailand, Vietnam, etc.
The imported rice is usually clean, well-milled, such that every grain is fully intact, and you cannot see them crushed into tiny pieces. It looks so white, too, and when cooked, it tastes good and well preserved. You can instantly cook these imported rice varieties without worrying about other things, such as the need to still clean them prior to cooking.
But the locally-produced rice are of inferior quality in many aspects. First, these local rice varieties are poorly milled. Plenty of the grains are cut and crushed into bits and pieces. Many of them also smell bad perhaps because of poor storage system. They are so “dirty” as well, with rice husks, tipasi as called locally, bird seeds, and worst of all, with numerous tiny pebbles in them. When you cook the local rice without cleaning it first, you would ruin your teeth since you will have to masticate plenty of tiny stones in the rice.
In short, when you buy the local rice, you still have to rid it of so many dirt, including those bits and pieces of tiny stones, and this takes so much time and bother. Why those stones or pebbles? It’s because, farmers are drying their rice harvests on the cement roads and highways, the dust and pebbles of which eventually mix with the rice grains being dried up. Unless they improve their rice production techniques, local rice farmers could never compete with the quality of imported rice, which the consumers prefer to buy.
The rise of online selling has undoubtedly revolutionized the way we shop, providing convenience and accessibility like never before. However, the booming e-commerce industry comes with its fair share of environmental repercussions. One such consequence is the significant accumulation of wrapping garbage, resulting from the excessive packaging materials used in the shipping process.
To comprehend the immense scale of the wrapping garbage generated through online selling, it is crucial to examine the driving forces behind this phenomenon. The packaging practices of e-commerce companies often prioritize product protection, ensuring items reach their destination intact. Consequently, packaging materials such as plastic bubble wrap, cardboard boxes, and styrofoam fillers become indispensable components of online sales. Unfortunately, the success of these practices has inadvertently led to an excessive reliance on non-biodegradable materials, resulting in a colossal volume of wrapping garbage that poses numerous environmental challenges.
The environmental implications of online selling’s wrapping garbage are multifaceted. Firstly, the production of packaging materials consumes vast amounts of energy and natural resources, contributing to climate change and deforestation. Additionally, the disposal of non-recyclable materials exacerbates landfill congestion, further degrading the environment. Furthermore, the transportation required to deliver these parcels contributes to increased carbon emissions, intensifying the ecological footprint of the e-commerce industry. It is imperative to recognize that this cumulative effect can significantly undermine our sustainability efforts, requiring immediate attention and action.
Addressing this issue demands a multi-faceted approach involving various stakeholders. E-commerce companies need to assume responsibility for implementing sustainable packaging practices that prioritize minimalism and eco-friendly materials. Encouraging customers to choose environmentally friendly packaging options should become a priority, promoting a shift away from excessive packaging and single-use materials. Governments can play a pivotal role by imposing regulations and incentivizing companies to adopt sustainable packaging practices through tax breaks and penalties for non-compliance. Coupled with consumer education campaigns, these measures can stimulate demand for environmentally responsible choices, ultimately influencing the entire industry.
Moreover, individuals should embrace their roles as responsible consumers by favoring retailers that prioritize sustainable packaging. By selecting products with minimal packaging or opting for local sellers who employ eco-friendly packaging practices, we can significantly contribute to reducing wrapping garbage. Additionally, consumers can play an active role by promoting recycling initiatives and exploring creative ways to repurpose or upcycle packaging materials, thus extending their lifecycle.
While online selling undeniably generates a considerable amount of wrapping garbage, it is important to understand that the solution lies in transforming the industry’s practices rather than eliminating it altogether. By engaging all stakeholders, we can work toward crafting comprehensive solutions that minimize environmental impacts. By fostering a culture of sustainability within the e-commerce industry, we can mitigate the negative consequences of wrapping garbage and strive toward a more environmentally conscious future.
