ORMOC CITY– The brutal killing of a village chairman in Paranas, Samar was condemned by the police saying it would do its best to hunt down the perpetrators said to be members of the communist rebel group, the New People’s Army.
Tito Llamado,59, incumbent chairman of Barangay Anagasi, was gunned down by the suspects while was doing his farm work in their village on Sept.18 at about 8:30 am.
His wife, Remedios, was not hurt during the attack.
The regional headquarters of the Philippine National Police (PNP) said that Llamado, who is seeking for a new term in the forthcoming October 30 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, was a rebel returnee.
It added that the slain barangay leader, since returning to the fold of the law, has been an active advocate against the rebel armed movement and encouraged those still active in the communist group to surrender to the government.
“We assure the public that the sacrifice and courage of the victim to return and embrace a legitimate government shall not be placed in complete ruin and desolation, as we will maintain and intensify our anti-insurgency and peace-keeping efforts,” the PNP-8 said in a statement.
“The fear of the communist terrorist group’s return of control in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) shall strengthen our resolve to end the communist terrorism by bringing the remnants of the NPA into the folds of law,” it added.
Brgy. Anagasi is an upland barangay which is about 30 kms away from the town proper of Paranas. (ROBERT DEJON)
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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