Gov’t agents seize P3.4m shabu parcel in Pasay

By Joel E. Zurbano and Vito Barcelo

GOVERNMENT agents assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) have seized a parcel allegedly containing shabu worth more than P3.4 million at the Central Mail Exchange Center in Pasay City.

The operation conducted by elements of the X-Ray Inspection Project, the Port of NAIA, and the Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group, also resulted in the arrest of the shipment’s consignee last Thursday.

The package arrived on March 20 from New Delhi, India and was declared as “Universal Engine.”

However, Customs X-ray inspectors detected suspicious images inside the shipment.

Import documents stated that the parcel came from Dewajani Pal of Dawarka Sec-7 Ramphal Chowls Palamer, New Delhi and consigned to a certain Ashley C. Alonzo of Krus na Ligas, Quezon City.

“Throughout the examination, the subject shipment was found to contain four packs of white crystalline substances (wrapped using blue carbon paper and tape), concealed inside the cylindrical aluminum receptacle labelled as “Universal Engine”, the Port of NAIA stated in its report. It added that the “seized substances weighed more or less 514 grams with an estimated street value of P3,495,200.” from the COVID pandemic in place so that it will have a much lesser impact,” he said.

PDEA personnel conducted a field test and confirmed the shipment contained methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as shabu. The consignee was arrested for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Drug Act, and RA 10863 also known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).

Salvana said he hopes the center for disease control (CDC) in the Philippines won’t be a replica of the one in the United States.

“The United States Center for Disease Control is a very, very big organization and it includes infectious and non-communicable diseases .I think that a lot of that is already being done by the Department of Health. I think I want it really focused more on infectious diseases, especially those with pandemic potential,” he said.

Salvana said he hopes the policy-makers would listen to the Philippine center for disease control experts.

“We have to make sure that these policymakers listen to those who are on the CDC because they are the scientists, they are the public health experts,” he said.

Willie Casas

Zambales to celebrate mango festival in April

ZAMBALES is set to celebrate next month its Dinamulag Mango Festival deemed the “biggest, liveliest, and most exciting” celebration in the province.

Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane said the provincial government and various community organizations have been busy preparing for the occasion which is expected to be a “revenge event” after the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic in the past three years.

“We expect more visitors coming to the festival this year because we have activities that would appeal to a wide range of audience. And Zambales is more than ready for them. That’s what we have been doing for the past two months—planning and preparing for this big event,” Ebdane said.

The Dinamulag Festival, which gets its name from the succulent and popular carabao mango variety found in Zambales, will kick off with the 1st Gov. Jun Ebdane Cup Fun Shoot, with participants coming from all over the country for a three-day shooting competition, April 21-23 at Camp Conrado Yap in Iba.

This will bring in the first wave of visitors to the province, Ebdane said. Butch Gunio

GSIS renovates Tacloban City branch

THE state pension fund Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has renovated its office building in Tacloban City in line with its objective of providing total customer experience to 63,000 members and pensioners in Leyte, Biliran, and Eastern Samar provinces within the outlet’s area of responsibility.

“The renovation of the Tacloban Branch Office forms part of the continuous effort of GSIS to make our services not only more convenient and accessible to our members, but most importantly to ensure their safety,” GSIS president and general manager Wick Veloso said during the inauguration of the branch office on Friday, March 24. The renovation was also undertaken to protect the structure from typhoons, earthquake and other calamities, the GSIS said in a statement.

“To strengthen the structure of the four-storey building, especially during earthquakes, we used chevron bracing

QC LGU climate agency named ‘Water Warrior’

THE Quezon City government’s Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Department (CCESD) has been named as one of the country’s leading water and environment champions during the World Water Day Philippines Award 2023.

CCESD chief Andrea Villaroman received the Water Warrior Award for Advocacy Leadership during a ceremony organized by the Maynilad Water Services Inc., National Water Resources Board, and Department of Environment and Natural Resources to mark the observance of World Water Day last March 22, imported from Singapore, that will provide stability to the foundation of the edifice,” Veloso pointed out.

The GSIS also improved the traffic flow within the premises, cleared the entrance and exit gates of obstructions and made the transacting areas comfortable and client-friendly, aside from giving it an aesthetic finish. For added security, GSIS has enclosed the parking space.

GSIS Tacloban is classified as a big branch serving an average of 400 clients daily, with 228 remitting agencies under its jurisdiction.

The 2,317-square meter lot occupied by the building is located in Fatima Village, Marasbaras and sits within an area that has since developed into a commercial hub with a host of retail and dining establishments.

“Our clients will definitely find it more convenient to visit the branch for their GSIS transactions,” Veloso added.

“This recognition is a testament that the city’s initiatives in water conservation have positively impacted the lives of our residents. We are working closely with our partners and stakeholders to develop more programs to ensure water sufficiency for QCitizens in the future,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.

Belmonte herself was also a recipient of the award in 2021.

According to Villaroman, as early as 2019, the city has already launched its responsible water use campaign which involved all stakeholders in water conservation measures.

Belmonte said she has strengthened the department’s cause by issuing a memorandum to all city departments, and barangays to use water responsibly and promote responsible water management.

Various efforts to deliberately attain water sufficiency are also in the pipeline as they are included in the Quezon City Enhanced Local Climate Change Action Plan, - the city’s strategic framework and roadmap in climate action. Rio N. Araja