Hudgens tapped as global tourism ambassador

By Vince Lopez

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. granted digital influencer and FilipinoAmerican “High School Musical” actress Vanessa Anne Hudgens the Global Tourism Ambassador Award as part of the administration’s ongoing efforts to promote Philippine tourism and raise the country’s global status.

Hudgens received the award during a courtesy call with PresidentMarcos in Malacañan Palace witnessed by Presidential Adviser onCreative Communications Paul Soriano—who is directing her in a documentary—and Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Frasco.

Mr. Marcos told the Hollywood actress that Malacañang has held in its walls “a lot of history for the Philippines" which housed numerous historical personalities and is often considered one of the historical landmarks in the Philippines due to its historical significance and background.

“Beyond that, it has a lot of history for me. I lived here 20 yearsand now I’ve come back to live here again,” Mr. Marcos said, referring to his personal experiences during his late father and namesake's reign as President. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

CHED proposes new nursing tack to end shortage

THE Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has proposed a new nursing curriculum that aims to boost the number of nurses working in the country by allowing undergrad nursing students to work already, ABS-CBN reported Thursday.

The proposed "BS Nursing Curriculum with Exit Credentials" will allowa first-year nursing student to attain a certificate that would certify that the student has “basic nursing skills in rendering safe and appropriate care," and work as a nursing aide and nursing assistant, the report said.

Those in their second or third year may receive a diploma that would certify that the student can “demonstrate safe, appropriate and holistic care” to people and work as a nursing associate, community health nurse, and associate maternal and child nurse.

Those who reach their fourth year will receive their Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing.

“That means if we run this program, in one to two years you haveadditional nursing manpower, which can already be employed in our health facilities. Because the need for nursing professionals is not all nursing graduates. There are intermediate individual credentials that can be used,” CHED Chairman Popoy De Vera said in an online press conference. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Or....

From A1 not just for the area first affected by the oil spill,” Dolor said.

Meanwhile, as recent tests yielded minimal traces of oil and grease inthe province’s spill-affected areas, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) recommended Thursday to keep the fishing bans in the affected municipalities.

The agency, in a statement, believes the initial analyses are not yetconclusive evidence as far as food safety is concerned since the samples were collected during the early days of March.

Large parts of Oriental Mindoro were affected by an oil spill causedby the sinking of motor tanker Princess Empress which was carrying 900,000 liters of industrial fuel oil.

Thousands of fishermen and their families are now part of thegovernment’s cash-for-work program after fishing bans were imposed in the affected waters.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development said it has given at least P38.1 million in aid to affected families.

BFAR has been monitoring the situation in areas affected by the oilspill, with regular evaluation of the contaminant levels in water and fishery resources.

These determine if fish and other seafood in these areas are safe forpublic consumption and if fishing bans should be lifted by the local government units (LGUs) concerned.

It said that water samples collected and analyzed from the affected municipalities of Bansud, Bongabong, Bulalacao, Calapan, Gloria, Mansalay, Naujan, Pinamalayan, Pola, and Roxas, and in Caluya, Antique on March 9 to 12 showed that the levels of oil and grease were within the standards approved by the DENR.

Meanwhile, fish samples collected and analyzed from the same areas on March 4 to 5 showed low-level contaminants or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). (See full story online at manilastandard.net)