Duterte OKs P3-billion fuel for drivers, farmers amid Ukraine crisis

MANILA -- President Rodrigo

Duterte has approved some P3 billion in subsidies and discount for drivers, farmers, and fisherfolk amid the surge in oil prices and Russia's continuing invasion of Ukraine, Malacañang said Wednesday.

Acting Spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Duterte agreed allocating some P2.5 billion for the government's "Pantawid Pasada Program" and P500 million discount program for farmers and fisherfolk.

Nograles said the government would strengthen the Philippines' domestic economy and explore diplomatic channels to help cushion the war's negative impact to our country.

"Mitigating measures and contingency plans will be in place as part of the government's proactive response to the conflict in Ukraine," he said.

For the short-term measure, Malacañang is also calling on Congress to review the Oil Deregulation Law particularly the provisions on price unbundling and giving government intervention powers during prolonged increase of prices of oil products.

For the 9th straight week, major oil players implemented another hike on pump prices beginning March 1, citing a spike in global prices.

Data from the Department of Energy showed that the price of petroleum products in Metro Manila already reached an average of P66 for gas, P55 for diesel and

P59 for kerosene.

"The Department of Energy will continue to monitor the sufficiency in supply and quality and will make sure there will be no short selling," Nograles said in a televised speech.

Aside from this, he said, Duterte also approved the recommendation of the Department of Trade and

renewable energy adoption and support investments on utilityscale battery production "to maximize use of renewable energy resources."

Government would also support investments for modern storage of oil, and empower the private sector in "strategic stockpiling," according to Nograles.

In the same speech, Nograles condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine and lamented how this has led to an "unnecessary loss of life" of innocent men, women, and children just as countries recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Philippines called for an "immediate end" of the war and called on parties to forge a pact instead.

Nograles also bared that the President approved boosting local food production which includes increasing rice buffer stock by at least 30 days, giving financial aid to rice farmers, and by giving fertilizer subsidy and market access to fertilizer-producing countries.

Government, he said, would also provide logistical support from provinces with high yields to cities through the "Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita" or deploying mobile vans and trucks, as well as subsidy for transportation cost for common goods.

"Kung kailangang kailangan, nakahanda ang pamahalaan na

NATIONAL CITY, CA -- As part of the Port of San Diego’s efforts to enhance public access and recreation on the National City Bayfront, the public is invited to continue to engage in the process to transform Pepper Park into a resource that visitors and residents will cherish for years to come.

The Port and park design consultant KTUA are hosting a virtual community Design Workshop at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 23, 2022. Participants will have the opportunity to view and provide input on three conceptual plans for Pepper Park and its future 2.5-acre expansion, which are based on prior public outreach efforts. Participants will be asked what elements they like in each of the three concepts and the feedback received will be incorporated into one concept that the public will have the opportunity to review and provide feedback on during a second design workshop later in the spring. The workshop will be conducted via Zoom and will be available in Spanish and Tagalog in addition to English. To learn more and to register for the Pepper Park Design Workshop, and/or to sign up for email updates about the National City Bayfront, visit portofsandiego. org/nationalcitybayfront.

Thanks to federal stimulus funds the Port has received via the American Rescue Plan Act and the State of California’s Coronavirus Fiscal Recovery Fund, the Port has designated $3.85 million toward redesigning and improving Pepper Park, subject to environmental review and permitting.

As a Port of communities, the redesign of Pepper Park is a team effort – the community, stakeholders, and local leaders all have and will continue to have a role. This design workshop is the latest of several public outreach events at which the Port and KTUA have collected public input. KTUA, a landscape architecture firm with extensive urban park and waterfront design expertise, is managing design and outreach in close coordination with the Port. Pepper Park and the area in and around Pier 32 Marina are in the approximately 60-acre National City Marina District. The redesign and future expansion of Pepper Park is part of the National City Marina District Balanced Land Use Plan which seeks to rebalance land uses through a collaborative partnership between the Port of San Diego, the City of National City, and business and community stakeholders. Public outreach is an integral component of this process and has included small stakeholder working sessions, public meetings, and individual meetings with interested parties.

The Port of San Diego serves the people of California as a specially created district, balancing multiple uses on 34 miles along San Diego Bay spanning five cities. Collecting no tax dollars, the Port manages a diverse portfolio to generate revenues that support vital public services and amenities.

The Port champions Maritime, Waterfront Development, Public Safety, Experiences and Environment, all focused on enriching the relationship people and businesses have with our dynamic waterfront. From cargo and cruise terminals to hotels and restaurants, from marinas to museums, from 22 public parks to countless events, the Port contributes to the region’s prosperity and remarkable way of life on a daily basis.

By Jenny Manrique

Asian American women are experiencing a fresh wave of violent, hate-related attacks. According to the web portal Stop AAPI Hate, since March 2020, there have been over 10,000 attacks, 16% of which have been physically violent. Elders were the targets in the majority of incidents. A poll commissioned by The National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum found that 70% of AAPI women voters experienced some sort of racialized harassment or discrimination between June 2019 and January 2021.

Panelists convened by Ethnic Media Services on Feb. 25 discussed the significant happenings in the history of the United States that created an unsafe environment for AAPI’s, long before the pandemic, and how communities have responded to keep their people safe.

Sung Yeon Choimorrow, Executive Director, National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum

: for starting the virus, may have dramatically increased incidences of hate against AAPI’s, it’s certainly not something new. As Asian American women, many of us felt this living in the United States long before COVID… we are targeted both for our race and our gender.”

“The first Chinese immigrant woman in the United States was brought over by a New York businessman who put her on display so that Americans could watch her eat, look at her small feet, look at her skin color or hair, and the way she talked. From the get go of the Asian immigrant women’s experience, we were seen as entertainment or an experience to be consumed.”

“Asian women are also depicted as submissive, and terms such as “geisha girl”, “china doll” and “lotus blossom” are not favorable terms, but rather a way to hyper sexualize Asian women that makes them easy targets for sexual and other forms of harassment.”

Marita Etcubañez, Senior

“While the pandemic and the rhetoric of the former president blaming China and Chinese people

“In terms of education and awareness, we now have more voices speaking out to help people understand the harm that racist rhetoric have on our communities… Since launching our joint bystander intervention trainings in the spring of 2020 (with Hollaback Stop Harassment), AAAJ affiliates in Illinois, California and DC, have trained about 150,000 people.”

“We marked a victory in May, with passage of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, a federal bill that requires the Justice Department to formulate guidance for law enforcement agencies and others on creating online reporting systems for hate crimes and hate incidents. It includes making those systems accessible for people with limited proficiency in English.”

“We need greater investment in our community, including in social services, improving education, so that we can better create the conditions where people not only feel safe, but are able to thrive.”

Director of Strategic Initiatives,

Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAAJ) :

The Maigue family would like to thank the San Diego community for all of the heartfelt sentiments, flowers, cards and countless messages of support and love on social media for our beloved Francine. From the various official meeting adjournments from the Speaker of the AssemblyAnthony Rendon to Nathan Fletcher the San Diego County Supervisor, City of National City Mayor SoteloSolis, SWC Governing Board to the beautiful dedication by DJ Sherry Knight and the playing of “I Hope You Dance”. And it’s not over. Chula Vista Mayor Salas and the San Diego City Council will also have adjournments in memory of Francine in the next coming weeks.

We invite you to share your Francine experiences with us. Please email FilPress@aol.com

Exclusively here in The Filipino Press--Follow Francine Maigue’s adventures as she represents our region with grace and honor as one of the "100 Most Influential Filipinas in the World" and the "Global Face of Pinay Power," as named by the Filipina Women's Network. Francine is the FilipinoAmerican History Achievement Award Winner in Humanitarianism, Arts, and Community Service and an Outstanding Filipino American Young Leaders Awardee as selected