Brunei News Gazette

Manila, Philippines – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR-MGB) announced the launch of the PLASTIKalikasan Program, aimed at tackling plastic waste in mining sites and their surrounding communities. The initiative, which coincided with the Earth Day 2024 celebrations, introduces a comprehensive approach to plastic waste management in the mining sector.

According to Philippines News Agency, the PLASTIKalikasan is envisioned as a long-term, nationwide initiative. DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga emphasized that the program is more than a mere clean-up effort; it is integral to the department's strategy for building resilience against climate change impacts. "PLASTIKalikasan will serve as a crucial platform for mining and mineral processing companies to systematically collect, recycle, reuse, and properly dispose of plastic waste," Loyzaga stated.

The program will be incorporated into the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program (EPEP) and ISO 14001:2015 standards that each mining company is required to follow. The EPEP, which must be prepared and approved before mining operations begin, outlines the methods and procedures companies must undertake to meet their environmental protection and management goals, as mandated by the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 and its revised rules and regulations.

The launch of PLASTIKalikasan was marked by community clean-up drives led by 15 MGB Regional Offices, attracting participation from over 7,000 individuals including mining contractors, permit holders, community volunteers, and members from local and non-government organizations. An initial tally from these efforts reported the collection of approximately 47,000 kilograms of plastic and other solid waste.

Secretary Loyzaga praised the collaborative effort of stakeholders in the mineral industry and local communities, emphasizing their shared responsibility in adhering to the highest environmental protection standards. She announced that PLASTIKalikasan will officially become part of the EPEP for implementation by 2025.

Additionally, Loyzaga revealed plans for an incentive program under PLASTIKalikasan to encourage community engagement in reducing, recycling, and upcycling plastic waste. Details of the incentive types and eligibility criteria are set to be developed by the MGB. The program also aims to foster partnerships between mining companies and recycling organizations to further enhance environmental conservation efforts.

MGB data indicates that the Philippines currently hosts 59 operating metallic mines, 61 non-metallic mines, and eight mineral processing plants.

CEBU CITY - Vice Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia has confirmed safety measures for the 12,000 participants of the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVRAA) meet 2024, focusing on health precautions due to rising temperatures associated with the El Niño phenomenon.

According to Philippines News Agency, the athletic event is set to commence on May 4, featuring 8,500 athletes competing for 1,362 gold medals across various sports. In response to concerns about the heat, the Cebu City Sports Commission, leading the organization of the CVRAA, has implemented specific strategies to protect the athletes, coaches, and officials from heat-related health risks.

A significant precaution includes scheduling no events between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to avoid the peak heat hours, as stated by the Cebu City Sports Commission. Additionally, approximately 70% of the games are planned to take place indoors at local malls, sports facilities, and university venues provided for the event.

John Pages, chair of the Cebu City Sports Commission, mentioned efforts to schedule outdoor sports as early as possible, starting from 6 a.m., to minimize heat exposure. Competitions might also extend into the cooler afternoon and evening hours.

To further ensure participant well-being, Garcia highlighted that 20 public schools designated as accommodation sites are equipped with medical teams, ambulances, fire trucks, and water tankers. The Cebu City Medical Center is prepared to offer prioritized treatment lanes for any CVRAA-related injuries or health issues.

Moreover, the Cebu City Youth Commission is collaborating with nearby barangays to support delegates with additional water resources. Security measures include the deployment of around 500 police officers from the Cebu City Police Office to oversee event venues and accommodation areas.

Victorias City, Philippines – The City of Victorias in Negros Occidental has initiated the construction of an over PHP 50-million artificial grass football pitch at the Victorias National High School, marking the first FIFA standard facility of its kind in Western Visayas. The international-sized, 11-a-side synthetic turf pitch, compliant with FIFA standards, began construction following a groundbreaking ceremony on April 27 and is slated for completion within five months.

According to Philippines News Agency, who spoke on Tuesday, the artificial turf, which is imported, is designed to last more than 20 years with proper maintenance. He highlighted the advantages of artificial over natural grass for football fields in the Philippines, citing the nation's extreme weather conditions and the cost-effectiveness of maintaining synthetic surfaces. "This field is superior to those available in Manila, and the football community recognizes the significant impact of this project," said Mayor Benitez.

The mayor further expressed his vision for Victorias City, aiming to transform it into a sports tourism hub in Negros Occidental and a top destination for football enthusiasts throughout Western Visayas.

CEBU CITY - Solo parents in Central Visayas are encouraged to secure their identification cards through local government units to access a range of benefits efficiently.

According to Philippines News Agency, Shalaine Marie Lucero, the regional director of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Central Visayas, announced on Tuesday that the Family Welfare Sector is intensifying its campaign to prompt solo parents to apply for the Solo Parents Identification Card (SPIC). This initiative aligns with the recently celebrated Solo Parents Week and is aimed at facilitating access to the privileges outlined in the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act of 2022, Republic Act 11861.

As of January 2024, data indicates that there are 23,672 registered solo parents in the region, comprising 20,479 females and 3,188 males. The law recognizes a solo parent as a legal guardian, adoptive, or foster parent who alone provides care and support to a child aged 22 years and below, who lives with and depends on them. Solo parents are eligible for these benefits provided they are not cohabitating or sharing parenting responsibilities with another individual unless the spouse is incapacitated.

The benefits under the new law include a parental leave of up to seven days annually, in addition to existing leave privileges, automatic enrollment in the National Health Insurance Program, and other support measures from both national agencies and local government units. Special privileges like telecommuting, flexible work schedules, and child-minding centers at workplaces are also available to eligible solo parents.

Manila, Philippines – Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac is set to visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) in May to discuss several critical issues, including the settlement of unpaid wages owed to approximately 10,000 displaced overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). The trip aims to address longstanding financial disputes and bolster bilateral ties between the Philippines and Saudi Arabia.

According to Philippines News Agency, Secretary Cacdac highlighted that his agenda includes negotiations on the continuing disbursement of claims to Filipino workers. Discussions will cover the enhancement of institutional mechanisms to ensure fair, ethical, and safe recruitment and employment practices for OFWs. Cacdac will also respond to Saudi Arabia's request for more Filipino workers to support its Vision 2030 development program, which seeks to diversify the Middle Eastern nation economically, socially, and culturally.

The plight of the OFWs began between 2015 and 2016 when over 10,000 Filipino and other foreign workers lost their jobs due to company bankruptcies in Saudi Arabia. The process to resolve unpaid wages gained momentum in November 2022 when Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman assured President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. that the Saudi government would handle the financial settlements of these claims. During this discussion, the Crown Prince committed to allocating a SAR2-billion fund for the purpose.

In the third quarter of 2023, the DMW submitted a list of 10,554 displaced Saudi OFW claimants with verified residence permits to the Saudi authorities. By the end of 2023, approximately 1,500 of these claimants began receiving their claims checks from Saudi Alinma Bank, representing payments owed by their bankrupt employers.

Further aiding the resolution process, the DMW has entered into agreements with the Landbank of the Philippines and the Overseas Filipino Bank to hasten the processing and cashing of these claims checks for the affected workers and their heirs. Secretary Cacdac expressed optimism that the next distribution of claims checks would occur in the second quarter of 2024.

Cacdac, who was appointed ad interim DMW Secretary by President Marcos on April 24, after serving as officer-in-charge following the death of former Secretary Susan 'Toots' Ople last August, is committed to resolving these issues during his tenure.

Manila, Philippines – The Department of Education (DepEd) has put forth a proposal to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for an accelerated adjustment of the academic calendar, concluding the 2024-2025 school year as early as March 2025. This initiative is in response to increasing demands for a return to the traditional April-May school vacation period, as both students and teachers struggle with the ongoing heatwave affecting the country.

According to Philippines News Agency, the department has submitted several options to the Office of the President, including this more aggressive calendar change. The proposed adjustment would result in a shortened academic year and condensed vacation periods, potentially impacting the rest periods for students and educators.

The assistant secretary indicated that to meet educational requirements within the compressed timeframe, the DepEd might need to implement alternative delivery modes (ADMs) or hold classes on Saturdays. Specifically, the number of in-person class days would decrease to 165, falling short of the usual 180-day minimum. This reduction would also affect the proportional vacation pay for public school teachers, calculated based on the total number of school days.

Previously, in February, the DepEd had suggested a gradual return to the previous school calendar through Department Order 3, series of 2024, scheduling the end of the 2023-2024 school year for May 31, followed by a break from June 1 to July 26. The following school year was planned to start on July 29, 2024, and end on May 16, 2025.

Additionally, Bringas highlighted challenges in managing school operations based on the heat index forecasts provided by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). The current system, which leaves local government units and school administrators to interpret these forecasts, often results in arbitrary decisions about whether to hold in-person classes or switch to ADMs.

He emphasized the need for a more scientific approach to guide the actions of schools and local governments, similar to protocols established for typhoon preparedness. In the meantime, some schools have adjusted their schedules to avoid the hottest parts of the day, holding classes early in the morning or late in the afternoon.

As of April, the most common forms of ADM were blended learning, modular teaching, and online classes, with a significant impact on several million learners across the country.

MANILA - Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte has endorsed new measures to optimize the workload of public school teachers across the Philippines, aiming to allocate more time for classroom teaching.

According to Philippines News Agency, Secretary Duterte signed DepEd Order No. 05, series of 2024. This order builds on the previously issued DepEd Order No. 2, s. 2024, which aimed to alleviate the administrative tasks of teachers. The new regulation is part of an ongoing effort to enhance educational outcomes by allowing teachers to focus more on teaching rather than administrative duties.

Under the new order, public school teachers are required to render eight hours of service daily, six of which should be dedicated to actual classroom teaching. The remaining two hours are allocated for ancillary tasks, which teachers can perform either within or outside school premises.

The specified ancillary tasks include curriculum planning, curriculum delivery and pedagogy, assessment of learners' progress, and homeroom guidance and management. The order stipulates that tasks not falling within these categories should be handled by the schools' administrative personnel.

Additionally, the order provides for overtime compensation for teachers working beyond the six hours of teaching time, limited to two additional hours per day. The compensation for these extra hours will be calculated weekly and paid quarterly as overload pay. In instances of insufficient funding, the overload compensation will be converted into earned vacation service credits or leave credits.

This initiative reflects the department’s commitment to improving the work conditions for teachers and thereby enhancing the learning experience for students.

Davao, Philippines – Nine individuals, previously affiliated with three dismantled New People’s Army (NPA) units, recently surrendered to authorities in the Davao region, as confirmed by the Philippine Army on Tuesday. The group, carrying a range of high-powered firearms, included former combatants from different factional groups.

According to Philippines News Agency, commander of the Philippine Army's 1001st Infantry Brigade, these former insurgents had operated within the brigade's area of responsibility. In Monkayo, Davao de Oro, four of these rebels yielded to the Army's 25th Infantry Battalion on various dates in April, including the 15th, 22nd, 24th, and 27th. Two were linked to the NPA's Dismantled Regional Headquarters of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee, and the others were from Dismantled Guerrilla Front 2, submitting four improvised explosive devices among other materials.

Additionally, on April 24, four ex-members of Dismantled Guerrilla Front 33 and one from the Dismantled Pulang Bagani Command, operating across the borders of Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, and Agusan del Sur, surrendered to the 60th Infantry Battalion. This group handed over five high-powered firearms, including an AR-15 rifle, a Bushmaster rifle, two M16 rifles, and an M14 rifle.

Brig. Gen. Babac commended the operations of the battalions under his command for their role in facilitating these surrenders. He reassured that his brigade would continue its efforts to pursue remaining NPA elements, despite the areas being declared insurgency-free in 2022, with Davao del Norte on June 13 and Davao de Oro on June 22.

MANILA - During a press conference on Tuesday, Lanao del Sur Representative Zia Alonto Adiong called for public backing of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s strong defense of Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

According to Philippines News Agency, the recent hostile actions by China's coast guard against two Philippine vessels underscore the necessity of supporting President Marcos's opposition to Chinese claims in the region. He emphasized that the President's policy aims to defend, not to encroach upon, the territory of any country. Adiong highlighted that China's extensive territorial claims over almost the entire South China Sea conflict with the Philippines' rights within its exclusive economic zone, as defined by international law.

The lawmaker also pointed out the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague's ruling, which invalidates China's historical claims over the area, supporting the legitimacy of the Philippines' stance under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) Arbitral Tribunal. Adiong criticized the aggressive strategies of China, describing them as acts of a bully, and asserted that the Philippine response should not be defeatist but one of firm resistance.

This steadfast approach, Adiong argued, is justified and has international backing, further noting that President Marcos's leadership on this issue contributed to his inclusion in Time Magazine's list of the world's 100 most influential people.

ANTIQUE - The province of Antique is being considered for inclusion in the Philippines' food heritage map, following its prominent role in the recent Filipino Food Month celebrations.

According to Philippines News Agency, Commissioner of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the rich culinary traditions and pristine environmental conditions of Antique make it a strong candidate for this recognition. Villalon highlighted these attributes during the closing ceremony of the Filipino Food Month, held in Antique from April 28-30, under the auspices of Proclamation Order 469.

The event served as a showcase of Antique's culinary heritage, including its traditional dishes such as 'pinindang'—an unsalted dried fish fry listed in the Ark of Taste—and rice-based desserts like 'sapal', fermented rice often used in local rituals and healing practices. Villalon also emphasized the importance of labeling local products to highlight their origins and promote recognition.

Furthermore, a cultural mapping project is underway, led by the University of the Philippines in the Visayas, in collaboration with the University of Antique and the local government. This initiative, which began before the pandemic and is set to culminate in August, aims to document and preserve the diverse food practices found in Antique.

The significance of preserving culinary traditions was echoed by Senator Loren Legarda in a statement read at the event's opening. Legarda, the author of Senate Bill 244 or the proposed Philippine Culinary Heritage Act, stressed the importance of integrating Filipino culinary practices into the education system to sustain native ingredients and traditional cooking methods.

Manila – Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez announced a reinforced commitment from the House of Representatives to combat hoarding, profiteering, and smuggling of agricultural products, stating that addressing these issues is a priority for the legislative body.

According to Philippines News Agency, who spoke during the resumption of the legislative session on Monday, the House will not tolerate individuals who exploit the pricing of basic goods, impacting ordinary Filipinos and farmers. "We cannot ignore the plight of our farmers who are struggling to make ends meet, nor can we turn a blind eye to the burden placed on consumers. There will be no letup in the fight against hoarding, profiteering, and smuggling of agricultural products, ensuring fair prices for both farmers and consumers," he declared.

The Speaker expressed particular concern about the significant gap between farmgate and retail prices of key commodities, especially rice. To tackle this issue, the House Committee on Trade and Industry convened on Monday to receive updates from relevant government agencies on the enforcement of pricing laws and regulations for essential goods.

The briefing session marked the beginning of a congressional inquiry aimed at investigating the disparities between farmgate and retail prices of rice and other essential items. Romualdez called for immediate legislative action to safeguard the interests of both producers and consumers, stressing the importance of oversight in maintaining a fair and transparent market.

Emphasizing the need for cooperation among various stakeholders, Romualdez encouraged government agencies, industry representatives, and consumer advocacy groups to actively participate in the investigation and help devise effective policy interventions. "We must identify and address loopholes that contribute to profiteering and unfair pricing practices within the supply chain," he noted.

Romualdez concluded by emphasizing the goal of ensuring the sustainability and viability of all stakeholders involved in the agricultural supply chain, to continuously deliver basic goods and services at affordable prices to consumers.

Manila – The Philippine Senate on Monday unanimously passed Senate Bill No. 2594, which aims to establish additional Shari'a Judicial Districts and Shari'a Circuit Courts across the country, significantly broadening the scope of Islamic judicial services.

According to Philippines News Agency, the bill was developed following discussions with Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo and officials from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in Cagayan de Oro City. "For those people who are not aware, right now, the Shari'a courts are only in the BARMM region. Since we have a lot of brother Muslims all over the Philippines, this increase will now give them an opportunity to hear their cases where they reside, whether it is in Northern Luzon, Central Visayas, or in other areas of Mindanao," Zubiri explained.

Currently, under Article 138 of Presidential Decree No. 1083, or the Code of Muslim Personal Laws of the Philippines, there are five designated Shari'a Judicial Districts. Each district has one Shari'a District Court. If SB 2594 becomes law, it will create a sixth Shari'a Judicial District covering the provinces of Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Camiguin, and the cities of Cagayan de Oro, as well as provinces within Regions XI and XIII. Additionally, the seventh district will include the provinces within Regions VI, VII, and VIII, and the eighth district will cover the Cordillera Administrative Region, Regions I, II, III, IV-A, including the National Capital Region.

The proposed legislation also calls for the establishment of new Shari'a District Courts in Davao City, Cebu City, and Manila. Senator Francis Tolentino, the bill’s sponsor, highlighted that "Muslim Filipinos are now one step closer to having better access to the specialized knowledge and expertise of Shari'a judges promoting fair and equal treatment of Muslims under the law, with the goal of promoting inclusive, impartial, speedy, and quality justice to all regardless of the people's geographic location."

Senator Robinhood Padilla, who co-authored the bill, expressed his gratitude towards his colleagues and the Supreme Court for their contributions to the drafting of the measure.