IN BRIEF

Carmona becomes newest city in Cavite

“We understand that the IOPC Funds are now managing the civil liability claims with respect to the oil pollution damaged caused by the incident,” the lawmaker added.

Pimentel also said: “The Philippine Coast Guard and other government agencies involved are also ex- pected to file their respective claims for costs incurred in cleanup operations and preventive measures as well as sea response.”

Beach resorts, tour boat operators and other tourism service providers hit by the oil spill are also expected to file claims, according to Pimentel.

The 508-ton MT Princess Empress sank in Tablas Strait on February 28, discharging up to 5,600 barrels (900,000 liters) of highly toxic industrial fuel oil into the waters of Oriental Mindoro, Batangas, Antique, and Palawan.

Fishing and swimming bans were imposed for an extended period in the areas hit hardest by the spill, thus adversely affecting communities dependent on seafood harvesting and tourism activities.

The London-based IOPC Funds pay compensation to those who have suffered pollution damage from spills of persistent oil from tankers in a member state, such as the Philippines. Claimants may be individuals, partnerships, companies, private organizations, or public bodies, including states or local authorities. Rio Araja

Speaker, Tingog reps extend aid to Cotabato City

By Rio N. Araja

THE offices of Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, and Tingog partylist Reps. Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre have once again responded to help people in need, this time to victims of a recent fire in Cotabato City. At least 200 families were affected by a fire that took place last July 5 in Purok

Tadman, Poblacion 7, Cotabato City.

Some 80 homes were damaged. The Tingog party-list in Cotabato brought to the evacuation center in Datu Siang Elementary School a total of 250 hot meals and 80 gallons of purified water. The assistance the said groups provided was the victims’ first meal following the fire.

Romualdez is eyeing the distribution of relief goods to the fire victims on Tuesday. To further help the fire victims, Romualdez and his wife chairperson of the committee on accounts, along with Acidre, have coordinated with Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian for the conduct of the assistance to individuals in crisis situations (AICS) distribution possibly on Wednesday.

CSR EXPO. League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) board members (from left to right) Edric Calma from Knowledge Channel Foundation; Geoffrey Garcia from Pfizer Philippines Foundation; Marie Angeles from McDonald House Charities Phils.; Shem Jose Garcia from Vivant Foundation; Owen Cammayo from BPI Foundation; and Sebastian Quiniones Jr. from Pilipinas Shell Foundation during the 2023 CSR Expo held in Makati City. Manny Palmero

THE town of Carmona in Cavite is now officially a city.

In a plebiscite over the weekend, an overwhelming majority of residents voted ‘yes,’ ratifying the municipality’s conversion into a city.

Officials said 30,363 residents voted “yes,” while a mere 1,016 voted “no.”

Police reported that there were no untoward incidents or criminal activities while the plebiscite was ongoing. Carmona Mayor Dahlia Loyola thanked those who voted and unveiled the new seal of Carmona City.

The results were announced by Atty. Morales Castro of the Board of Canvassers at around 9:30 pm. Commission on Elections chair George Garcia also thanked everyone who helped in the plebiscite.

A mini-concert was held at a covered park outside the municipal hall to tell the public the results, officials said, and for the last time, the old hymn of Carmona was sung as a municipality.

Leptospirosis downs

4 QC residents

FOUR residents have died in Quezon City due to leptospirosis.

Mayor Joy Belmonte urged QC citizens to observe preventive measures to fight leptospirosis as well as dengue infection amid the rainy season.

Those who died were from barangays Payatas, Old Balara, Pasong Tamo and Talipapa from Jan. 1 to June 24.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection caused by contact with water contaminated by rat urine. The Quezon City Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit reported 1,160 cases of dengue from Jan. 1 to June 24 with Barangay Tatalon being the highest number of cases in the city.

The city tallied a total of 32 leptospirosis during the same period.

Belmonte said citizens must seek consultation in the nearest hospital or health center if they are experiencing leptospirosis symptoms, such as high fever, red eyes, abdominal pain, headache, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and yellowed skin or eyes. Rio N. Araja

Community pantry launched in Bukidnon

BUKIDNON Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores has successfully launched a community pantry for victims of recent flooding in the province.

“We started the community pantry last Saturday (July 8) in Barangay Managok. This is the hard-hit barangay during the flooding,” he said.

“On behalf of my constituents, I give my heartfelt thanks to House Speaker Martin Romualdez; his wife, Tingog party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez, and Rep. Jude Acidre for their assistance that made this community pantry possible. We will not forget your compassion,” he added.

He said he has asked the assistance of the city’s agriculturist to source the produce from local farmers. Rio N. Araja

Auditors to DPWH: Address project delays worth more than P96b

By Rio N. Araja

THE Commission on Audit (COA) wants the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to address various reasons for project delays worth P96.218 billion.

In a 2022 report, state auditors cited 2,395 locally funded projects that were delayed or non-implemented due to inadequate planning, detailed engineering, supervision, and monitoring. At least P60.077 billion in projects were not completed within the specific contract time.

Another P27.473 billion in projects were suspended, while P5.114 billion were either terminated or set