Feeling the heat?

it is hoped the faith and confidence of the people in the PNP as the guardian of the people’s safety and for peace and order will once again be restored.

As far as I am concerned, the restoration of the people’s confidence and faith in the police may take some time, however.

Let’s just say that it’s only the beginning. ***

Press Freedom

The observance of the World Press Freedom Day had ranked the Philippines as among the worst places for journalists, citing numerous killings. While I believe it’s partly true there have been killings of journalists in the country, observers should separate those that were killed because of their reports as journalists and journalists who were killed because of personal reasons, especially in the province.

What I say is that journalism is not a profession for those who are afraid to tell the facts and the truth when they write news.

As a columnist for many decades, I say it is also the responsibility of journalists, especially columnists, to hold people accountable for their actions.

In doing so, journalists must be fair and report balanced news for the sake of truth and justice.

I say groups like the UN should not just lump Filipino journalists into two groups -- journalists against those in power and those who are not.

That’s the mistake of the Western Press -- if you are for those in power, you lose your freedom as a journalist, and if you are against them, you are a hero.

Santa Banana, this observation is short-sighted. Press freedom can’t be just one way. If a journalist tends to support those in power, he is also free. It does not mean that a journalist is suppressed and curtailed.

The only time, to me, in the Philippines when the press was not free was during Martial Law when media outlets were closed, but soon enough freedom was restored.

(Editor’s Note: In the early months of Martial Law in 1972, the so-called Big Four – Reuters, AP, UPI and Agence France-Presse – and other foreignbased news organizations with correspondents then in the Philippines had their reports read by the government’s press censor, but otherwise they had the freedom to report on the Philippines).

What I can say about freedom of the press is when media owners -- print, radio and television -- do not pay their media workers, particularly journalists, what they deserve, since journalists are in pursuit of facts and the truth and expose themselves day and night to danger.

Low pay and the non-payment of perks and benefits due to media workers expose the press to corruption.

The low pay and corruption besides the killing of journalists are the greatest danger to press freedom.

I would say with all the dangers that journalists in the Philippines are faced with, we journalists should be highly paid.

But, sadly, we are not. That too curtails press freedom.

***

Masks Should Be Mandatory

I am surprised that with the present surge in COVID-19 cases, the President and the Department of Health have not made the wearing of face masks mandatory, not only in enclosed places, but everywhere.

The latest Omicron sub-variant -- the XBB.1.16 Arcturus – is highly contagious and easily passed from one person to another.

And masking is the best way to stop the surge and uptick.

I, for one, always wear a mask outside our house and whenever an outsider comes to the house.

I may be accused of being extra-careful, but at my age, I cannot be too careful.

THIS month, the hottest during the year with an average temperature of 30 degrees Celsius or 86 degrees Fahrenheit, is literally exhaling heat index flashes on at least 15 areas in this basically agricultural economy.

Instance, only the other day, Dipolog in Zamboanga del Norte experienced 45 degrees Celsius, followed by Daet., Camarines Norte, Legazpi City in Albay, Zamboanga City in Zamboanga del Sur at 44 degrees Celsius. Others – like Aparri, Cagayan, Iba, Zambales, Infanta Quezon, Masbate City and Roxas City, Capiz – recorded 43 degrees Celsius. Catarman, Northern Samar, Dagupan City, Laoag City, Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City, San Jose in Occidental Mindoro, and Sinait, Ilocos Sur all registered 42 degrees Celsius.

What does this mean?

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) says heat indices between 42 degrees Celsius and 51 degrees Celsius carry impending “danger” as “heat cramps and heat exhaustion are likely” and “heat stroke is probable with continued activity.”

We must understand our climate is tropical and maritime, characterized by

Experts are agreed that El Niño’s impact can be felt in agriculture, marine resources, the environment, and health relatively high temperature, high humidity and abundant rainfall, similar in many respects to the climate of Central American countries.

With many beasts of burden to help Filipino farmers in their terraced lands, we should understand as well that heat stress affects animals both directly and indirectly.

Over time, heat stress can increase vulnerability to disease, reduce fertility, and reduce milk production. Fact is, climate experts say drought may threaten pasture and feed supplies and reduces the amount of quality forage available to grazing livestock.

Then there is this El Niño appearing on the country’s weather screen, with PAGASA saying it “will likely develop in July-August-September 2023 season and may persist until 2024.”

El Niño increases the likelihood of below-normal rainfall conditions, which could lead to dry spells and droughts in some areas of the Philippines, and the likelihood is high that agricultural products north and south of the capital will be at peril.

What does this mean? What are the effects of El Niño? It will bring warmer temperatures, fewer clouds, and belownormal rainfall, the dry season will be extended and rainy season will be delayed, and fewer tropical cyclones in the Philippines to bless the parched land. Experts are agreed that El Niño’s impact can be felt in agriculture, marine resources, the environment, and health as it could lead to a decline in crop production, reduced water supply, fish kills and red tides, less water for sanitation, possible increase in tropical diseases due to drier conditions, possible increase in food-borne diseases due to high temperatures, poor air quality, just to mention a few. Meanwhile, the heat index appears to be running riot.