Category: General

KUALA LUMPUR, The Public Works Ministry (KKR) is ready to bid for an allocation to carry out a feasibility study for the construction of the Labuan-Menumbok (Sabah) bridge, according to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa.

She said the matter was the result of discussions conducted by a task force led by the Federal Territories Department with the stakeholders.

“The last development regarding the bridge or the bridge taskforce (is that) we have discussed with stakeholders …KKR is ready to bid for the budget to conduct a technical study for the bridge.

“… technical studies is not availabe yet, so we need it to ensure, for example, if it is really feasible and how much is the expected budget if we want to build the bridge, that all needs to be taken into account,” she said when asked about the development of the task force for construction of the Labuan-Menumbok bridge.

She said this after attending the Federal Territory Aidilfitri programme at the Kuala Lu
mpur City Hall Training Institute here today.

Commenting further, Dr Zaliha said that previously a ‘feasibility study’ regarding the construction of the Labuan-Menumbok bridge was carried out by Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) but the study was long ago (in 2010, according to The Borneo Post).

She said the proposed construction of the Labuan-Menumbok bridge would be a ‘game-changer’ that would bring about a positive economic impact to the region.

Earlier, the Federal Territories Department set up three task forces to focus on tourism development, the construction of the Labuan-Menumbok bridge and increase ship-to-ship cargo transfer activities, as an effort to stimulate Labuan’s economy.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

MANILA: Taal Volcano is continuously spewing hot gases that could lead to sporadic phreatic eruptions, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said Wednesday.

Phivolcs has observed weak phreatic or steam-driven eruption at the Taal Main Crater between 8:27 a.m. to 8:31 a.m., producing white steam-laden plumes 2,000 meters high.

This was likely driven by the continued emission of hot volcanic gases at the Taal Main Crater and could be succeeded by similar events, Phivolcs said in an advisory.

Phreatic eruption occurs when water beneath the ground or on the surface is heated by volcanic activity.

“It means that Taal Volcano is still continuously spewing out hot volcanic gases which leads to sporadic phreatic eruptions since last month,” Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol said.

Sporadic or unexpected/random phreatic eruptions happen without warning, he said.

“Phreatic eruptions that we have been observing since April are driven by hot volcanic gases, and this may continue for som
e time,” he said.

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions have decreased last week and averaged 2,191 tonnes on May 6, Phivolcs said.

Average SO2 emissions since January remain high at 8,913 tonnes/day.

The background levels of volcanic earthquake activity and ground deformation detected at Taal indicate that unrest is unlikely to progress into a magmatic eruption.

Taal Volcano is still under Alert Level 1, which means that it is still in abnormal condition.

Sudden steam-driven or phreatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall and lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas can occur and threaten areas within Taal Volcano Island (TVI) or Taal’s permanent danger zone.

Bacolcol said they would like to remind the public not to venture inside the TVI as phreatic eruptions may take place without warning.

Local government units are urged to continuously monitor and assess preparedness of their communities and undertake response measures to mitigate hazards posed by long-term degassing and related phr
eatic activity.

Pilots are also advised to avoid flying close to the volcano, as airborne ash and ballistic fragments from sudden explosions and wind-remobilized ash may pose hazards to aircraft, Phivolcs said.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos on Tuesday joined the inspection of the ongoing Pasig Bigyang Buhay Muli (PBBM) urban renewal and development project in the Intramuros area.

Joined by Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar and Intramuros administration head Joan Padilla, the First Lady walked through the PBBM project’s Phase 1C portion that connects Intramuros to the showcase area behind the Manila Central Post Office.

During the inspection, Acuzar provided the First Lady with updates on the project’s progress and highlighted key features of the area.

The phase includes a view deck atop proposed commercial shops. The design of these shops draws inspiration from the world-renowned and historic Intramuros wall. Walk paths and bike lanes have also been incorporated to enhance the picturesque view.

Acuzar expressed his appreciation for the First Couple’s staunch support in rehabilitating the Pasig River.

‘Lubos po ang akong pasasalamat sa Unang Gin
ang Liza Araneta-Marcos at sa Pangulong Bongbong Marcos sa kanilang buong suporta sa rehabilitasyon ng Pasig River. Ang pagbisita ng Unang Ginang ay matibay na patunay sa kanyang adbokasiya para sa Ilog Pasig (I am very grateful to First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and President Bongbong Marcos for their full support in the rehabilitation of the Pasig River. The First Lady’s visit is strong proof of her advocacy for the Pasig River),’ he said.

The First Lady is a well-known advocate for the rehabilitation of the Pasig River. Her vision is to transform it into a people-centered tourist destination akin to the Thames River in London, the Seine in Paris and the Chao Phraya in Thailand.

Earlier this year, the First Couple inaugurated the showcase area of the PBBM project. This public park features a pedestrian-friendly walkway on a concrete platform, complete with water fountains accented by lighting. The sitting areas within the park can also serve as an open-air venue for events. The area became an instant go-to
place in Manila.

Acuzar said the PBBM Project goes beyond rehabilitation.

He said it aims to provide renewed hope to residents along the Pasig River and efforts are directed toward maximizing the economic potential of the river through tourism and improved transportation connectivity.

The rehabilitation, he said, will be people-centered and functional to promote sustainability and walkable urban areas for the citizens and tourists.

As the head of the Inter-Agency Council for the Pasig River Urban Development, Acuzar leads the team of the PBBM project.

He reaffirmed their commitment to preserving the cultural and heritage value of Intramuros.

‘Kasama din sa bilin ni First Lady ay pangalagaan ang cultural and heritage value of Intramuros. Kaya naman patuloy na nakikipag-ugnayan ang IAC-PRUD sa Intramuros Administration at National Commission for Culture and the Arts. Tuluy-tuloy lamang po ang trabaho upang sama-sama nating abutin ang pangarap para buhayin muli ang Ilog Pasig (Also included in the order of
the First Lady is to preserve the cultural and heritage value of Intramuros. That’s why IAC-PRUD [Inter-Agency Council for the Pasig River Urban Development] continues to communicate with the Intramuros Administration and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. The work is continuous so that together we can achieve the dream of reviving the Pasig River,’ Acuzar said.

On July 25, 2023, President Marcos issued Executive Order 35, mandating the ‘rehabilitation of the Pasig River to its historically pristine condition conducive to transport, recreation, and tourism.’

The First Lady was the first to throw her full commitment to the project.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MALASIQUI: Bayambang town is implementing a four-day workweek from May 6 to June 30 this year for its employees due to the high heat index, ranging from 45-49 degrees Celsius.

In an interview on Wednesday, municipal administrative officer Rafael Saygo said the measure calls for official work to start at 7 a.m. and end by 6 p.m., with one hour break, from Mondays to Thursdays.

“Although almost all our offices have air-conditioning units, the mayor (Mary Clare Judith Phyllis Jose-Quiambao) and the officials would like to lessen exposure of the people to the high temperatures,” he said in Filipino.

“Our clients go here early in the morning. Everyone is adjusting already,” he said.

The compressed workweek, however, excluded the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office, Rural Health Units, Special Economic Enterprise, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Municipal Engineering Office (field workers), Municipal Agriculture Office (field workers), and the Bayambang Public Safety Office.

Saygo said the employees in these offices are urged to stay hydrated and to stay in shaded areas if it would not interfere with their duties.

Earlier, Dr. Rheuel Bobis of the Department of Health-Center for Health Development in Ilocos Region said they are monitoring heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke cases.

He said they have prepared the hospitals such as for the provision of logistics to cater to these health concerns.

He also reminded the public to stay indoors if possible, and to use umbrellas, hats or caps to shield them from direct sunlight, especially between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

As of April 2024, the Region 1 Medical Center in Dagupan City recorded one case of probable heat exhaustion.

The Center, in a statement, said it is still gathering data from the other hospitals.

Source: Philippines News Agency

LA TRINIDAD: The improving condition of the tourism industry is also benefiting those in the different stages of the coffee industry here, from production to brewing.

Councilor Belmer Elis, chairman of the municipal council’s Committee on Tourism, in an interview on the sidelines of the opening of the 7th Coffee Festival on Wednesday, said there are now 80 coffee shops on top of the restaurants that also serve coffee in this capital town.

Aside from the locals who are fond of drinking coffee, he said it is always part of the tourists’ order whenever they go to restaurants thus encouraging the opening of more coffee shops.

This development, he said, means more opportunities for the coffee produced by local farmers.

Elis, however, said that while there is a high demand for coffee in the town alone, there are only about 785 coffee farmers in seven of the 16 villages.

A survey conducted by the local government shows that there are 99,000 fruit-bearing trees in the municipality, with an average of half a kilo
gram per tree production, insufficient to meet the demand.

Juliet Lucas, Department of Trade and Industry Regional Director, in her message during the program, said a person averages three cups of coffee per day.

To meet the annual coffee cup requirement of a person, there must be at least 12 trees with a minimum of half kilogram production, she said.

Lucas also said that while there is no data to back her statement, generally, Filipinos are big coffee drinkers and only 15 percent of the country’s demand is produced locally.

‘There is high demand for coffee especially with more coffee shops opening so we hope that everybody will plant a coffee tree so that we will have more production,’ she added.

Nida Organo, municipal agriculture officer of this capital town added that the coffee festival aims to strengthen the collaboration and linkage of all stakeholders in the industry, from production to cup, which will allow all of them to determine and address the needs of each other.

“Linking all layers of the
value chain — from production, processing, marketing, and brewing up to the cup to collaborate to know each other’s needs and make the industry succeed in its goal of providing food security under the coffee roadmap of the country is the focus of the activity,’ she said.

Organo said their dream is to meet the challenges in agriculture and increase the productivity of every existing coffee tree.

She added that in partnership with Benguet State University, they hope to conduct research on how to increase productivity and make coffee as an additional source of income and for environmental protection.

Source: Philippines News Agency

LAOAG CITY: Work in the municipal hall of Narvacan, Ilocos Norte has been suspended for Thursday due to a scheduled eight-hour power interruption in line with the maintenance activities of the Ilocos Sur Electric Cooperative (ISECO).

This, however, excludes the offices delivering basic services, Mayor Pablito Sanidad Sr. said in a statement released on Wednesday.

The scheduled power interruption will start from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., the ISECO announced.

Specifically, the power interruption involves the annual preventive maintenance of the Narvacan substation, and this will affect the entire municipalities of Narvacan, Nagbukel, Sta. Maria, and Santa, except for Nagpanaoan; as well as Burgos, except for Mapanit; Bessang, Sitio Patpat, Poblacion Norte, and Lidlidda.

Sanidad said the conduct of in-person classes and work in the private sector is left at the discretion of the authorities concerned.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: National University and University of Santo Tomas will dispute the UAAP Season 86 men’s and women’s volleyball titles after taking different routes to the finals.

The fourth-ranked UST Golden Spikers completed their sweep of the top-seeded Far Eastern University Tamaraws, 25-18, 21-25, 26-24, 26-24, at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on Wednesday.

Outside hitter and reigning Most Valuable Player Josh Ybañez made 19 points and 13 excellent receptions for the Golden Spikers, who forced the decider following a 25-23, 25-19, 28-26 victory on Sunday.

It was the first time that a fourth-ranked volleyball team made the finals since the Final Four format was introduced in 2004.

Three-time defending champion NU eliminated De La Salle, 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 25-21, in the first game.

NU won last year via a sweep of UST, but the Golden Spikers mastered the Bulldogs in the elimination round this season.

‘Actually, I just let them play the whole match, I had little interference. I was actually a cheerlea
der earlier, not their coach. I let them play and they delivered,’ UST head coach Odjie Mamon after the two hour and 23-minute match.

Both Santo Tomas teams are headed to the finals for the first time since Seasons 72 and 73 after the second-seeded women’s team dethroned De La Salle University, 25-20, 16-25, 25-20, 19-25, 15-7, also on Sunday.

It will take on top-seeded NU, which finally disposed of FEU, 25-13, 27-25, 25-15, late Wednesday.

Bella Belen led the Lady Bulldogs with 21 points, including five aces.

FEU delayed NU’s finals march with a 25-23, 25-17, 25-23 triumph on Saturday.

The UST men’s team won four straight titles in Seasons 70 to 73 but FEU stopped its run in Season 74.

On the other hand, the women’s team beat La Salle in the Season 72 finals but La Salle exacted revenge the following year.

Those were the last volleyball titles of both UST teams.

The best-of-three ‘Battle of Sampaloc’ championship round, referring to the Manila district where both schools are located, will start Satur
day, also at Araneta.

The men’s final will be at 2 p.m. while the women’s match fires off 4 p.m.

Game Two will be at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on May 15, after the awarding of individual awards at 1 p.m.

If necessary, Game Three will also be at the Pasay Arena on May 18.

Color it yellow

Meanwhile, UST announced another ‘Yellow Day’ on Thursday to show support for the Golden Booters when they face the twice-to-beat University of the Philippines Maroons in the Final Four of men’s football.

Game time is 7 p.m. at the UP Diliman pitch in Quezon City.

UP swept UST in the preliminaries, 2-1 and 4-0.

Defending champion FEU will battle No. 4 Ateneo in the other semi.

The finals will be held May 16.

Source: Philippines News Agency