PAO working to decongest women’s Belmonte underscores QC’s ‘huge responsibility’ on climate change

QUEZON City, as a highly urbanized and highly competitive city, has “a very huge responsibility in addressing climate change,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said during her recent State-of the-Environment Address via her official Facebook page.

Jails

TO DECONGEST jails in Metro Manila, the Public Attorney’s Office has resumed regular visitations at the Quezon City Jail Female Dormitory.

“Through this, our lawyers will be able to know who among these persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) do not have their own lawyers,” PAO chief Persida Acosta said.

PAO-QC chief Mark Oliver Asis assured Acosta that their public defenders would conduct regular visits as well as execute notarized manifestations to be presented in court.

“It is important that we should look into the well-being of our PDLs,” she said.

With help from the National Bureau of Investigation, led by Dr. Ruperto Sombilon, PAO recently spearheaded a medical, dental, optical, and legal missioin at the Quezon City Jail Female Dormitory.

“We brought along with us our nurses and two psychometricians,” Acosta said.

It is also important that one’s mental health is being looked into, she stressed.

She lamented many PDLS continue to languish in jail for absence of lawyers. Rio N. Araja

“As we continue to grow, our need for resources, such as energy and water, also increases. The result of this is to have more greenhouses that contribute

BOOK FOR DRIVERS. Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista (3rd right) and Leaque of Transportation and Operators in the Philippines (LTOP) President Lando Marquez (3rd left) lead the unveiling of the book launching of ‘Pagbabago ng Pinoy Driver, Gabay sa Ligtas na Pagmamaneho’ held at Abeerdeen Court Great Eastern Hotel in Quezon City. Joining them are Pasang Masda President Obet Martin (right), and other transport group officers. Ben Briones to climate change,” she said.

“Since my assumption as (mayor) in 2019, I have already included climes change and environmental protection in my 14-point agenda -- to build a livable, green and sustainable city,” Belmonte stressed.

The mayor said the government declared a climate emergency in Quezon City, giving way for the allocation of 11 to 13 percent of the city’s yearly budget in programs related to climate change, reduction of carbon emissions, and other environmental concerns. According to Belmonte, several of the city’s climate change measures were the implementation of the trash- tocashback program; deployment of 100 electric buses in eight routes and more than 200 electric tricycles; creation of the Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Department; provision of a livable community for the residents; ban of plastic use, and use of solar energy in the city hall buildings. She disclosed the city would extend the 90-kilometer bike network along major thoroughfares to 350 kilometers by 2030, and to field more electric buses and tricycles. Rio N. Araja

Researchers fighting coconut rhino beetle

RESEARCHERS have launched a project to mitigate the risk of coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB) infestation in typhoon-stricken coconut regions.

The Philippine Coconut Authority Davao Research Center (PCA-DRC) is implementing the project, “Pest Management Strategies for CRB in Typhoon OdetteAffected Regions” being funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (PCAARRD).