THE MINDANAO POST JUNE 11-19 2023

RIMINOLOGY CRIMINOLOGY C

GUILIN, China – There is an old Chinese saying that speaks about the “best scenery under heaven” that no other landscape on Earth could equal in beauty. And no, it’s not the Swiss Alps, the Grand Canyon, or the fjords of Norway. It is in China and, no, it is not the Great Wall.

The title belongs to the quaint southern Chinese city of Guilin, particularly its scenic Lijiang or Li River set against the backdrop of its expansive karst landscape. With two rivers and four lakes running across a bevy of these limestone hills, it is only natural for these geographic features to be deeply ingrained in the history, culture, psyche, and economy of this city of almost 5 million inhabitants.

For tourists, reaching the city in this northeastern part of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region is quite easy, taking only two hours by high-speed train (running at 250 kph at top speed) from the region’s capital of Nanning City. Going around the city, one can’t help but find

73rd celebration of the Cagayan de Oro City Charter Day and State of the City Address led by Hon. Rolando A. Uy, City Mayor of Cagayan de Oro on June 15, 2023 (Thursday) at the Cagayan de Oro City International Convention Center, Sitio Taguanao, Barangay Indahag, Cagayan de Oro City. This commemorative program started with a Misa Pasalamat (Thanksgiving Mass) attended by the city government employees, partner government agencies and private stakeholders, academe, and community leaders. The historic event honors the rich history of Cagayan de Oro and its milestones. (Department of Tourism - Northern Mindanao Office)

Tax relief boosts collection in Oro

By URIEL QUILINGUING

Contributing Editor

A 72.13-percent tax collection efficiency has been recorded in Cagayan de Oro in the first five months this year.

Mayor Rolando A. Uy disclosed this in his first annual report on Thursday, June 15, attributing such to the tax relief the city government granted to delinquent and discounts for early payers.

Uy’s report was the highlight of the 73rd Charter Day tribute at the Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr. International Convention Center in Indahag village this city.

With this, City Hall is set to generate about P5.41billion local revenues and reach its P7.5-billion annual budget which the City Council has authorized.

The city mayor lauded the City Treasurer’s Office for collecting P576-million from tax delinquencies and advanced tax payments.

In November last year, the City Council enacted Ordinance No. 14385-2022 which granted tax relief to delinquent real property and business taxpayers, public market and terminal stallholders, and traffic violators.

The Tax Amnesty Ordinance of 2022 offers condonation of interests, surcharges, penalties, nd arrearages,

for those who failed to pay in 2021 and previous years, thus easing the financial burden of taxpayers until June 30, this year.

But any person, company, or corporation that was previously granted tax relief program, yet failed to comply their commitments to pay real property taxes and/or business taxes are disqualified.

The measure was also intended as a strategy to hasten economic recovery from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

P1.58 billion was generated from the registration of 3,870 new businesses, as of March this year, bringing the cumulative total to P3.31 billion since July 2022–when the Uy administration assumed.

As of the end of Abril this year, 27,309 businesses have been registered, about 23-percent increase over the 22,032 in the same month last year. In March this year, the Business Permit and Licensing Office registered 3,870 new businesses in the city.

Last year, the Bureau of Local Government Finance, in its preliminary estimates, placed Cagayan de Oro’s total revenues at P5.623 billion, P2.759-billion of it was her internal revenue allotment (IRA). (MT)

GUILIN, from p1..

similarities, both big and small, between Guilin and the Philippines, beginning with its famous limestone hills.

Perhaps the most prominent and obvious geographical feature of the city, Guilin’s gigantic and irregularly shaped limestone hills are literally everywhere, surrounding the city center from all corners and jutting out from afar, behind the cityscape. It seems as if the city itself was meticulously built around and among these karst hills, careful not to disturb these imposing rock formations. One condominium was built so close to one of the hills it almost seemed the man-made structure was kissing the rocks - a perfect metaphor to the coexistence between man and nature.

But still the best way to experience these towering mounds is to take a leisurely four-hour cruise by motorized boat or bamboo raft on the Li River, starting at the Guilin Pier less than 30 kilometers from the city center down to the terminal stop at the city’s Yangshuo County.

Though breath-taking all year round, the landscape is best enjoyed, ironically, when the skies are overcast and fog partially envelopes the hills, giving a mystical and otherworldly feel, or during sunset with the misty mountains’ silhouette against the golden sky and water. From a distance, some local fishermen still practice the ancient fishing technique using trained cormorant birds, while a herd of carabaos graze on the riverbank.

Every turn in the 80-kilometer section of the winding river opens up to another row of picturesque hills as far as the eye can see, seemingly transporting you to a fantasy film. The Guilin hills are so famous they are featured on the backside of the current ¥20 Chinese banknote.

Each rock formation has its own unique charm, with one of them - called the Nine Horses Fresco Hill - having a cliff side with a seeming image of nine horses in various poses formed by weathered rocks. The splattering of these hills across the city’s vast landscape easily brings to mind Bohol’s Chocolate Hills, whichyou guessed it - are actually a karst rock formation too.

After disembarking from the river cruise at the terminal station in Yangshuo County, you then proceed to the famous West Street, a 500-meter shopping street nestled among the karst hills and lined with boutiques, souvenir and specialty shops, inns, bars, restaurants, and cafés. If you are lucky enough, you get to pet one of the fluffy and shiny-eyed alpacas casually hanging out at

some of the storefronts.

A right turn toward the far end section of the street leads you to a row of quaint food places in a style reminiscent of Swiss cottages and French shops. In fact, the entire area was said to have been fashioned after traditional European villages exactly to lure in Western tourists.

Just like the famed Spanish-era Calle Crisologo of Ilocos Sur province, the West Street also transports tourists back in time with its cobblestone (albeit marble) pavement and some Western-inspired architecture.

At 1,400 years old, the street is the oldest in the entire county and has been so popular among Westerners for its vibrant fusion of eastern and European culture that it has gained the moniker “Foreigners’ Street.”

Even at night, the city still has its unique charm. If Loboc has its floating resaurants, Guilin also has its own tourist cruises that go down the city’s four lakes (which are tributaries of Guilin’s two main rivers).

Instead of a forest, the cruise boats sail along colorfully illuminated lakeside parks and establishments, and under a series of bridges, also passing by Guilin’s iconic Sun, Moon, and Mulong pagodas. A light show, a traditional dance number, and an exhibition of cormorant fishing complete the cruise.

And finally, a perfect - and healthy - way to cap off a trip in Guilin is to visit the Heiji Agri Farm, an organic farm that started marketing itself as an agri tourism destination in the city, offering agricultural workshops and a tour of its plantations, poultry farm, and processing facilities - pretty much in the same vein as famous Filipino farms in Laguna, Palawan, and nothern Luzon.

Upon entering the property, guests are greeted by several parked microvans teeming with produce like lettuce, string beans, tomatoes, pumpkins, and eggplants. These mobile stores sell agricultural products in the style of our own Kadiwa stores, but with membership discounts and freebies.

These mobile stores are part of the farm’s efforts to make sustainable living more accessible to the community, even as the farm looks after their own farm workers. In an effort to support farmers in the community, the farm has even tied up with the Guilin Bank to put a branch right inside the property, making banking more accessible to them, especially those needing loans or bank financing for their farm inputs or equipment.

But among the main attractions in the property are its soybean and mung bean farms that allow it to produce products like soy sauce, tofu, beancurd sheets and sticks, and desserts like sweetened silken tofu called douhua (said to be where “taho”came from minus the sago pearls) and sweetened mung bean (like ginataang monggo minus the gata or coconut milk), as well as soy milk and “monggo” milk. Soy plays an important role in Guilin cuisine as pickled tofu is one of the city’s “three treasures” along with its chili sauce and rice wine.

The farm is also among the only few producing soy sauce the traditional way, by leaving soy beans to ferment inside rows of huge covered jars under the sun for around a year, producing 5 kilograms of sauce for every 15 kilos of beans.

On a side note, tofu and monggo desserts are not the only food here that Filipinos might be familiar with as mangoes are also a big thing here, since the region - particularly its Tiandong County in Baise City - is a major producer of the well-loved fruit. Mangoes are literally everywhere, from candies and cookies to beverages and even dried mangoes.

Who knew this much surprise and wonder is hidden among Guilin’s limestone hills and its arteries of rivers and lakes? But calling the city one of China’s bestkept secrets would be inaccurate because as far as tourists go, the place is anything but secret. The city’s enchanting scenery, thrilling sounds, inviting flavors, and rich culture, all lend much credence to that other famous adage here, “By waters, by mountains, most lovely, Guilin.” (PNA)

ANNUAL REPORT – Mayor Rolando A. Uy delivers the first performance report of his administration during the 73rd City Charter Day program at the Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr. International Convention Center, Indahag, Cagayan de Oro City, June 15, 2023. [CIO Photo]

Gov’t agencies urged to properly enforce new LPG regulatory law

By Franck Dick Rosete Correspondent CAGAYAN

DE ORO

CITY – An oil and gas company urged concerned government agencies to have a strong coordination in order to properly enforce the new law, Republic Act No. 11592, also known as the “LPG Industry Regulation Act,” in order to be fully successful.

Evelyn Gerodias, Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc. general manager for Visayas and Mindanao, said the participation of other concerned government agencies is significant to “carve out the illegal (LPG) refilling,” stressing that implementing the new law cannot be done with the Department of Energy (DOE) alone.

“Not only that, we will be able to serve the consuming market with a safe product,” Gerodias said in an interview with the Manila Bulletin during the twoday LPG Regional Summit conducted in this city from June 13 to June 14.

RA 11592 is an act establishing the regulatory framework for the safe operations of the liquefied petroleum gas industry, delineating the powers and functions of various government agencies, and defining and penalizing certain prohibited acts.

The private sector, Gerodias said, was consulted in the formulation of the said law, as it cannot be done with the government alone.

The full participation of the private sector is also vital, especially in following the required licenses and permits and delivering safe products to the public.

The LPG Regional Summit 2023, which was spearheaded by the DOE, served as an educational tour across the country to educate the LPG industry and other concerned government agencies as to the said law and its approved and published implementing rules and regulations (IRR).

In a press conference on Wednesday, DOE Mindanao Field Office Direc-

tor Nilo Geroche said RA 11592 is still in the transition period and is expected to be finished on July 6. He added that “right after the transition period, the full implementation of the law will commence.”

One of the provisions of RA 11592 that is not found in other existing laws is “Training Recognition,” where the DOE and BFP will provide training accreditation to the trade-

mark owners, especially on how to setup regulators on LPG cylinders.

Arnel Ty, program director of LPG Safety Foundation Inc., said once the trademark owners are accredited, they will also be the ones to train their dealers, “and that dealer, who is selling to a consumer, will also be the ones to teach their consumers on the proper use.”

Apart from training rec-

ognition, Ty said, the DOE will also implement the LPG Cylinder Exchange, Swapping, and Improvement Program, which will be spearheaded by the Regional Program Implementing Task Force in collaboration with the trademark owners and will collect all of the rotten tanks in the market and replace them with the standard ones.

When it comes to en-

forcement and monitoring, under the IRR, the DOE, Department of Trade and Industry, and other government agencies shall “create, maintain, and regularly update” a database of LPG industry participants.

However, if there are concerned citizens who would like to report illegal LPG dealers that don’t have the necessary licenses and permits, they may also provide the details to the DOE through their contact information and social media platforms so that they can seek assistance.

Under the said law, DOE can request assistance from law enforcement agencies, considering that there is no DOE office in this city.

The said event, which was attended by hundreds of personnel from government agencies and participants from the LPG industry, is the 9th LPG Regional Summit conducted in the country and the first in Mindanao. The next summit will be conducted in Davao City. (MT)

CAGAYAN DE ORO

CITY – Misamis Oriental

2nd District Rep. Yevgeny

Vincente Emano has urged officials of the Small Business Corporation (SBCorp) to create measures that would easily release loans to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) owners.

During SBCorp’s regional roadshow in El Salvador City, Misamis Oriental on Thursday, the lawmaker asked SBCorp to ease the difficulty of small businesses in loan approvals to expand their trade.

“Expect that we will be working so that many loan applications will be approved for your business to improve, which could further help our economy,” he said.

Emano joined other officials in the roadshow, during which SBCorp offered loans to MSME owners ranging from PHP300,000 to PHP3 million without collaterals.

SBCorp is a govern -

ment financial institution created in January 1991 under Republic Act 6977, or the Magna Carta for Small Enterprises, with the primary responsibility of implementing comprehensive policies and programs to assist MSMEs in all areas, “including but not limited to finance and information services; training and marketing.”

Meanwhile, Gov. Peter Unabia said business owners should transact with SBCorp since it has lower interest rates.

He also urged mayors in the province to strengthen the Negosyo Centers, a facility established by the Department of Trade and Industry to help emerging businesses.

“I advise mayors to appoint, not just designate, personnel whose sole job is to focus on helping business startups, and those who wish to expand their businesses,” the governor said. (PNA)

MisOr solon calls for easy release of loans to help MSME owners

Editorial&Opinion

First PH Freedom Day parade after 1896 Revolution against Spain

parties, and, most particularly, publications.”

Earlier, Dr. Soledad Borromeo-Buehler, in her 1998 book “The Cry of Balintawak: A Contrived Controversy” published by the Ateneo De Manila University Press, said it was only after the government repealed the Sedition Law in 1907 that the yearly commemoration of the Cry of Balintawak was held in 1908.

“El Renacimiento” as reporting that “the streets of Manila were almost deserted as people congregated along the path of a memorable civic parade that stretched from the streets of Azcarraga (now Recto) and Cervantes (Rizal Avenue) in Manila to Novaliches.”

“cedulas” (residence certificates) and proclaiming the start of the fight for independence.

Did you know that although Gen. Emilio F. Aguinaldo proclaimed Philippine Independence from Spain on June 12, 1898, the Filipino people were only able to hold a formal public celebration of their freedom from colonial rule with a civic parade in the present Metropolitan Manila area more than a decade later?

And that the said celebration was not about the Kawit (Cavite) proclamation but more in connection with what was considered then as the start of the Philippine Revolution or “First Cry of Balintawak” on Aug. 26, 1896.

There were several reasons why the Filipinos were unable to hold an open celebration of their newly gained freedom

from Spanish colonial rule in 1898.

Among these reasons were the restrictive laws and policies enforced by the succeeding colonial government under the United States. Such laws included the Sedition Act No. 292 passed by the Philippine Commission on Nov. 4, 1901 and the Brigandage Act 581 of Nov. 12, 1902.

According to the book “Balita: The Story of Philippine Journalism (1811-2019)” written by Dr. Jose Victor Z. Torres and published by Vibal Group, Inc. in 2021, “the Sedition Law effectively stopped the means used by the Filipinos for their expressions of independence and nationalism like the theater and performing arts, political

Dr. Buehler, a granddaughter of the Katipunan Gen. Guillermo Masangkay, one of the original and close associates of Gat Andres Bonifacio in the 1892 revolutionary society “Kataas-taasan, Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (KKK), wrote that through a public subscription, a monument to the “Cry” was built in Balintawak.

The monument was completed and unveiled on Sept. 11, 1911, highlighted by a long public parade covering almost 20 kilometers.

The memorial commemorated the first encounter between “Katipuneros” and Spanish forces on Aug. 26, 1896 in Banlat, Pasong Tamo, then within the limits of Greater Balintawak, Dr. Buehler said in her book.

She quoted the newspaper

The Philippine steel industry

Steel Association. In 2021, our country imported 7.2 million tons of steel from top steel producing countries such as China, India, Japan, and South Korea, among others. Steel is such an essential component in ensuring that infrastructures are framed and designed to endure time, weather and stress, hence the importance of reviving the steel industry in the country to meet the increasing demands of urbanization and development.

“Participating were 20 bands, colorful coaches of various civic organizations, delegations from surrounding towns and provinces in cars, horsedriven carromatas and calesas. The majority, however, went on foot and endured the hot September sun. An estimated 50,000 to 60,000 people, a large crowd at that time, congregated in Balintawak,” the newspaper report added.

That was the start of the yearly celebration of the “Cry of Balintawak” every Aug. 26 until the event was formally replaced with the “Cry of Pugad Lawin” and the date was changed to Aug. 23.

The “Cry” of Pugad Lawin or Balintawak was considered as the beginning of the Philippine Revolution against more than 300 years of Spanish occupation in 1896. It was the initial move of the Filipinos to begin the revolution for independence. They did this by tearing up their

On May 12, 1962, then President Diosdado P. Macapagal signed Republic Act No. 4166 setting the date of Philippine Independence on June 12 instead of July 4, the date when the United States government granted self-rule to the Filipinos in 1946.

Even today, the Quezon City government, in partnership with the nationwide civic organization Pugad Lawin Philippines, Inc. (PLPI), continues to observe the “Cry of Pugad Lawin” anniversary every Aug. 23.

(He began his journalistic career by contributing to the Liwayway and Bulaklak magazines in the 1960’s. He was the night editor of the Philippine News Service when Martial Law was declared in September 1972. When the Philippine News Agency was organized in March 1973, he was named national news editor because of his news wire service experience.

He retired as executive news editor in 2003. He also served as executive editor of the Malacanang-based Presidential News Desk from 1993 to 1996 and from 2005 to 2008.)

Infrastructure development is the backbone of industrialization. The establishment of structures and facilities that drive economic activities is essential to the success of our thrusts towards national inclusive growth and develop-

ment. In constructing bridges, buildings, roads, and other infrastructures that steer industrialization, steel is always an essential raw material.

The Philippines ranks 20th in the list of major importers of steel according to the World

We recall in the 1960s to the 1970s, the Philippines was at par with Taiwan, South Korea and Japan in steel products development because we had a thriving steel industry back then. The car industry in the country was then emerging with the development of various

car models such as the Isuzu Harabas, Volkswagen Sakbayan, Toyota Tamaraw and the Mitsubishi Cimarron. There were even locally made home appliances produced by Radiowealth and Zenith. Where have all these brand names gone? Answer is: They have all died and vanished along with the Philippine steel industry we never realized would be critically important in our shared pursuit of progress.

The National Steel Corporation which used to be in Iligan City in the Province of Lanao del Norte used to be the lifeblood that sustained the Philippine steel industry. When the corporation closed in 1999 despite several attempts to revive the steel industry in the coun-

try, infrastructure development suffered setbacks and delays as demand continued to rise but supply of steel was scarce.

NSC’s demise was caused by smuggling, corruption, lack of government support, and wrong policy decisions on privatization. The country then had to resort to importing steel in order not to stall infrastructure development, with projects and programs already in the pipeline.

Industrialization is inevitable and irreversible. If we are to truly advance inclusive growth through infrastructure development, then we should seriously consider rebuilding and strengthening our steel industry.

Business&Oppornunity

Manila startup ecosystem grows to $3.5-B

MANILA – Manila has grown its startup ecosystem to USD3.5 billion, according to the 2023 Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER).

The value of the startup ecosystem rose 85 percent from the USD2.1 billion reported in the 2022 GSER, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said in a statement Friday.

“To witness Manila gaining traction as an innovation hub is incredibly rewarding. This underscores the Philippines’ transformation from an active player to a formidable leader in the ASEAN region - an achievement we share with the dynamic Philippine startup ecosystem,” DTI Secretary Alfredo Pascual said.

Launched in Amsterdam on June 15, the report has given Manila various commendations such as top 25 Global Ecosystem; top 10 Asian Ecosystem in

Affordable Talent; top 20 Asian Ecosystem in Funding; and top 30 in Asia in terms of Ecosystem for Bang for Buck, Ecosystem in Talent and Experience, and Ecosystem in Performance.

The GSER also highlighted Manila’s financial technology, electronic

commerce, and gaming sectors amid the number of pool of talents, activities in these sectors, and public and private collaboration and other stakeholders in enhancing the environment for Filipino startups.

“Our impressive leap in the GSER 2023 Report is a testament of our sustained

commitment to fostering a dynamic startup ecosystem. We have put in place mechanisms for continued growth, from streamlined government processes to strategic investment support mechanisms,” Pascual said.

DTI Undersecretary for Competitiveness and In -

novation Group Rafaelita Aldaba also underscored the government’s support to improve the country’s human capital which plays a critical role in Manila’s tech innovation success.

“We continue to invest in and inspire our young Filipino talent. Our strategy fosters scientific and

technological innovation, while the Skills Framework ensures they are equipped with competencies that are in demand. We firmly believe that our people are our primary competitive advantage in this era of industrial transformation,” Aldaba said. (PNA)

N. Mindanao LGUs urged to create own investment, incentive code

CAGAYAN DE ORO

CITY – The Department of Interior and Local Government in Northern Mindanao (DILG-10) urged local government units (LGUs) here to create their respective Local Investment and Incentive Codes (LIIC) to attract investors.

In a statement Friday, DILG-10 Director Wilhelm Suyko said other than the Annual Investment Plan (AIP), the LGUs must iden-

tify priority areas for investment through LIIC, which can lead to the creation of economic zones.

“In Northern Mindanao, there is only one economic zone and this is the Phivedec Industrial Estate (in Misamis Oriental),” he said.

Suyko likewise noted that the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) is an important partner in establishing LIICs in LGUs.

PCL regional chairman and City Councilor George Goking said the creation of LIIC is a vital discussion, especially for the newly elected officials, for them to know the exact process of budgetary placement to their respective LGUs.

Lanao del Norte PCL President Lyndon Abucay reiterated that the usual practice of LGUs to draft an annual budget first is discouraged because an

AIP must be submitted first before the budget is approved.

Meanwhile, the DILG10 through the Project Development Management Unit (PDMU), facilitated a recent regional dialogue among local chief executives (LCEs) for the implementation of the Local Government Support Fund-Support to Barangay Development Program.

Suyko said the activ -

ity aimed to discuss the implementation status of the SBDP relative to the performance of each implementing LGU and further agree on strategies to expedite the operation of the projects that would benefit their respective localities.

“It is our mission to obtain inclusive and sustainable peace through intensified development of our programs and projects in communities that

were once threatened and vulnerable to insurgency. Hence, we have initiated this dialogue to monitor and expedite such processes for the benefit of the greater community,” Suyko said.

He also encouraged the LGUs to prioritize and mobilize their resources to make the government’s presence consistently felt, especially in hinterland communities. (PNA)

PH nominated anew in

World Travel Awards

MANILA – The Philippines has been nominated for multiple categories in the 2023 World Travel Awards Asia category.

The country is vying for the following nominations, the voting period of which

would close on July 23, 2023:

w Asia’s Leading Island Destination

w Asia’s Leading Beach Destination

w Asia’s Leading Dive Destination

w Intramuros as Asia’s Leading Tourist Attraction

w Cebu as Asia’s Leading Wedding Destination; and

w The Department of Tourism as Asia’s Leading

Tourist Board. In a statement Friday, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said the multiple nominations reaffirm the global importance of the Philippines in tourism and travel.

“The Philippines’ nominations in the World Travel Awards Asia are a testament to the hard work of the men and women of the tourism industry in the public and private sector across our many com-

munities in the country, and an affirmation of the Marcos administration’s thrust towards tourism transformation,” Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said.

She also encouraged both local and foreign tourists who have been to, and have plans of visiting the Philippines to vote for the country.

“I encourage our fellow Filipinos and friends from all over the world to vote for the Philippines,” she said.

The prestigious award body had been acknowledging Filipino destinations since its first nomination in 2013 until present, besting tourism giants in the Caribbean, the Americas, and Europe.

The country was WTA’s World’s Leading Dive Destination for four consecutive years and is currently the World’s Leading Beach Destination.

The casting of votes can be done through https:// www.worldtravelawards. com/vote. (PNA)

61st Araw ng Villanueva shone with beauty and grace as Miss Villanueva 2023 presented a remarkable showcase of confidently beautiful candidates. These inspiring women brought pride to the municipality and championed environmental advocacy, positioning Villanueva as the industrial hub of Misamis Oriental while developing and promoting its prominence throughout the Philippines. (Department of TourismNorthern Mindanao Office)

PH committed to ‘whole-of-world’ climate action under PBBM

MANILA – The Philippines is committed to advancing the whole-ofnation and whole-of-world climate action under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

Climate Change Commission (CCC) Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje highlighted this in the ongoing 58th Sessions of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SB58) of the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Bonn, Germany.

Speaking at the opening plenary on June 8, Borje underscored that “addressing climate change and its impacts are among the top priorities of the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.”

While rallying nations to deliver on climate commitments, the Philippines pointed out that under

Marcos, the Philippines was involved in transformative climate action and putting “its money where its mouth is” through relevant programs and policies.

Borje cited the investments of the Marcos administration in the public sector.

“For this year alone, the government allocated USD8.2 billion, or almost 9 percent of our total national budget, for climate change adaptation and mitigation programs towards meeting our unconditional Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets,” he said.

The figure, based on data from the Climate Change Expenditure Tagging (CCET), is 60 percent higher than the previous year’s climate budget.

According to a news release on Tuesday, the CCC said the budget is the biggest allocation for climate change, signifying the country’s commitment to increasing domestic resources dedicated to climate action.

“Under the Marcos Administration, accelerating climate action and enhancing climate resilience have been more firmly embed-

ded in our development agenda, which we project will lead to more flow of resources, including Means of Implementation,” Borje said.

The Philippine Development Plan (PDP) for the 2023-2028 period devoted an entire chapter to climate change and disaster resiliency for the first time.

This pioneering chapter identifies key objectives for climate action, including increasing climate and disaster risk resilience of communities and institutions, enhancing ecosystem resilience, and en -

abling the transition to a low-carbon economy.

The Philippines reiterated the need to expand and enhance international cooperation in adaptation, mitigation, loss and damage, climate finance and other means of implementation such as technology transfer and capacity development toward transformative climate action.

The CCET is the tool of the government to monitor, track and report the national and local budgets and investments on climate change adaptation and mitigation programs. (PNA)

MANILA – Zero waste advocacy group Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) stressed the need for the proper implementation of environmental laws to reduce waste.

Miriam Azurin, GAIA deputy director for AsiaPacific, said the full implementation of laws such as Republic Act (RA) Nos. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act and 11898 or the Extended Producer Responsibility is the solution to waste issues.

“Meron na tayong mga batas (We already have laws), so it’s just a matter of implementation and education to the citizens,” Azurin said during the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.

Azurin noted that the proposal to resort to wasteto-energy (WTE) incineration would be a deterrent to the full enactment of RA Nos. 9003 and 11898.

“So, all of these legislations, if there’s waste-toenergy, ay hindi po siya magiging (will not be) successful because there will

always be a plan to burn those plastics and will encourage plastic production or production of plastic waters kasi kailangan iyon (because that is needed),” she said.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in 2019 issued guidelines on the establishment and operations of WTE facilities, but environment advocates challenged them before the Supreme Court in 2021.

DENR assured at the time that Administrative Order No. 2019-21 on WTE followed set guidelines and targets for solid waste avoidance and volume reduction through source reduction and waste minimization measures in accordance with ecologically sustainable development practices.

The agency said the guidelines comply with Presidential Decree 1586 (Establishing an Environmental Impact Assessment System); emission standards as contained in RA 8749 (Clean Air Act); effluent standards as con -

tained in RA 9275 (Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004); and regulation on the use and disposal of hazardous substances and waste as stipulated in RA 6969 (Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Waste Act of 1990).

Azurin said WTE projects with incineration processes have an adverse impact on health, livelihood and the environment.

She said GAIA intends to hold a day of action against incineration during the Asian Clean Energy Forum (ACEF) at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) headquarters in Mandaluyong City on June 13 to 16 to call for the cessation of support for WTE incineration.

She said this year’s ACEF would serve as another venue to promote “false” solutions such as the adoption of WTE technologies.

Azurin also lamented that international financing institutions, such as the ADB, insist that WTE incineration is the single solution to waste and energy problems. (PNA)

Advocacy group says law enforcement is solution to waste problem

45 years in the making, Gilas hopes to put on a show in front of home crowd

w Gilas Pilipinas is not only setting its eyes on the Olympic berth but is also hoping to put up a strong showing that would hopefully prevent the national team from suffering the same heartbreak the last time it played in front of its loud and proud crowd 45 years ago.

Gilas Pilipinas is not only setting its eyes on the Olympic berth but is also hoping to put up a strong showing that would hopefully prevent the national team from suffering the same heartbreak the last time it played in front of its loud and proud crowd 45 years ago.

Back in 1978 when the country first hosted the World Cup, the Philippines got an outright spot to the semifinal round by virtue of it being the host country. The Nationals, despite the grit and effort, failed to capitalize and even failed to record a single victory throughout the competition.

Still, the team bannered by unheralded players led by Ramon Cruz along with the likes of Bernardo “Joy” Carpio, Alex Clariño, and Federico “Bokyo” Lauchengo finished the tournament at the eighth place.

Now brimming with talent led by NBA star Jordan Clarkson along with young guns Kai Sotto and AJ Edu and PBA MVPs June Mar Fajardo and Scottie Thompson, the Nationals are hoping get past the preliminaries – a goal that has also not been done ever since the 1978 hosting.

Interestingly, standing on Gilas’ way for its first assignment in the World Cup is the Dominican Republic which was also part of the 1978 edition held in Manila.

The Caribbean nation lost all of its five assignments in that tournament, relegating it to the classification round where it ended up 12th overall.

A lot has surely changed since then as the Dominican Republic, now world No. 23, is looking to improve its 2-3 record in the preliminaries back in the 2019 World Cup in China.

The Philippines, on the other hand, ended up dead last at 32nd in the tournament after dropping all of

its games – a nightmarish finish that Gilas also hopes to avoid this time around.

Gilas Pilipinas will bat-

100-day countdown for Hangzhou Asian Games begins

HANGZHOU, China –Zhejiang Governor Li Liabhong led the lighting of the 19th Asian Games’ flame on Thursday to mark the 100-day countdown to the opening of the region’s most prestigious sports fest.

Over 10,000 athletes and officials from Asia will participate in the quadrennial meet with 483 medal events across 40 sports at stake from Sept. 23 to Oct. 8. The Para Games was set from Oct. 22 to 28.

The countdown will further drum up the final preparations in time for the Asian Games and Para Games.

The final preparations will focus mainly on the aesthetics of the place as officials also assured the safety of the public and that of the athletes.

Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province, is the venue for all the games with four separate areas to co-host the Asiad.

In a media briefing

on Friday, officials of the Hangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee (HAGOC) said Renminbi (RMB) 339 million (PHP2.7 billion) has been allotted for the construction of the 13,000-squaremeter Hangzhou Sports Center.

"We are 90 percent done with the preparation of the venue," an official from HAGOC told reporters from the China International Press Communications Center (CIPCC) and

representatives of embassies Southeast Asia countries and the ASEAN-China Center (ACC).

The 5,000-seater main venue has a shape that resembles the frame of an oil-paper umbrella, one of Hangzhou's traditional handicrafts and part of the intangible cultural heritage.

Hangzhou Sports Center is just one of the 56 competition venues for the host of Asian Games that was postponed for

one year due to Covid-19 pandemic.

With the place having roads at the periphery, part of the plan that will be implemented is a controlled use of the roads to avoid disturbing the matches, particularly for the blind football games that require silence.

Aside from the usual preparations for the infrastructure to assure the safety of the public and the athletes, foliage and landscaping are also being

done to add to the aesthetics of the venue.

At least 52,000 volunteers have been recruited for the Asian Games. There will also be artificial intelligence robots that will help in maintaining the cleanliness of the facility, according to the organizing committee.

Hangzhou is the third Chinese city to host the Asian Games, following Beijing in 1990 and Guangzhou in 2010. (PNA)

tle Dominican Republic in the opening day at the humongous Philippine Arena at 8 p.m. following an

appetizing clash between Angola and Italy at 4 p.m. on August 25.