Category: General

MANILA: A fire engulfed the St. Ferdinand Parish Church in Ilagan City, Isabela on Monday morning.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) reported that the church, which was undergoing initial renovations, caught fire at around 11:40 a.m.

The blaze also caused a large portion of the cathedral’s roof to collapse.

‘The fire ravaged everything,’ Fr. Ric-Zeus Angobang, the parish priest said in an article posted on the CBCP news website.

Firefighters declared the fire out after nearly an hour.

The Catholic priest said the fire occurred while workers were installing steel trusses on the church’s ceiling, for the ceiling fans- their first major project since he assumed the parish in August 2023.

‘So this happened while there’s an ongoing reinforcement of the ceiling of the parish church,’ Angobang added.

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the blaze.

At the same time, Angobang appealed to parishioners for their continued prayers.

‘Nobody wants this (to happen), but we can s
urrender to God’s mercy and rise from these ashes, and work together to rebuild it,’ he said.

The St. Ferdinand Parish Church in IIagan City became the diocese’s first cathedral when Ilagan was established as a diocese in 1970.

A new cathedral was built at its current location in Gamu town in early 2000.

Source: Philippines News Agency

TACLOBAN CITY: Despite the stressful life of raising children on their own, solo parents here have practical tips on how they deal with mental health issues.

Jocelyn Igaña, 52, said the pressures of solo parenting often make her feel overwhelmed and anxious.

‘I am a solo parent. There are days when I easily get mad at my children and overthink,’ Jocelyn, a single mother of two, said in vernacular.

The lack of financial support and the jobs she had to juggle simultaneously distressed her.

To cope, she makes herself busy by cleaning the house and confiding in her closest friends for emotional support.

Babing Ronda, 45, has been raising his four children since his wife died.

Earning PHP500 weekly as an on-call electrician, he keeps in mind that must be strong for his family.

‘I divert my attention by preoccupying myself with work, but oftentimes I play basketball to forget my problems,’ he said.

Desiree Dollar, 50, a solo parent of three, struggles with her PHP500 weekly net income from managing a small
community store.

Despite temptations to share, she remained cautious about discussing her problems, fearing judgment and the spread of rumors.

She believes in handling her issues privately through prayer, socializing or distracting herself.

The city government’s head of special projects, Gloria Fabrigas, a psychologist and a solo parent as well, admitted that she often faces unique stressors, such as financial strain, family problems, and social isolation.

These challenges can take a toll on mental health, leading to feelings of anxiety, depression, paranoia, and loneliness.

‘Some solo parents feel like they don’t have anyone to help them raise their family. This is why mental health awareness is very important so that they can still function and cope despite their situation,’ Fabrigas told the Philippine News Agency.

Fabrigas calls on solo parents to seek immediate medical help before their mental health problems worsen.

‘The mental health issue per se is not the problem, but the coping mechanism is t
he issue. There are many things you can do to cope: rest, sleep is very important, connect to people, physical activity, diet, nutrition, and then avoid risky substances like alcohol and cigarettes because you are very vulnerable,’ Fabrigas emphasized.

Francis Bernadeth Lerion, a counselor and administrator of Dream Quest International, a religious non-government organization, advised solo parents suffering from early signs of mental illness not to hesitate to reach out to friends, families, or support groups who can offer a listening ear.

‘The government has opportunities where patients or people who are going through mental health issues will have the chance to talk to them. What is important, is for them to be open about it, not hide it from themselves,’ Lerios said.

Last week, the city Social Welfare and Development Office organized mental health awareness discussions as part of the Solo Parents Week celebration.

It served as an avenue for all solo parents to find understanding, practical advice, and
encouragement to take care of their mental health.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Hanoi: The Vietnamese Government has issued a lot of policies, participated in various forums, and promoted international cooperation, demonstrating its activeness and affirming its determination to reduce plastic waste and join global efforts toward a planet without white pollution.

According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Vietnam’s per capita plastic use has increased rapidly, from 3.8kg a year in 1990 to 41kg in 2015 and about 54kg currently. The increasing consumption will lead to rises in plastic waste, the risk of white pollution, as well as the pressure on the environmental management system, unless effective and scientific management is conducted.

On December 4, 2019, the Prime Minister issued a decision announcing the National Action Plan on Ocean Plastic Waste Management by 2030.

It aims to reduce 75% of plastic waste in seas and oceans; collect 100% of lost or abandoned fishing gears and put an end to the disposal of fishing tools directly into the sea; ensure 100% of tour
ist areas, attractions, accommodation establishments and other coastal tourism services suppliers do not use single-use plastic products and non-biodegradable plastic bags; and 100% of marine protected areas are free of plastic waste.

Following the plan, the ministry officially approved a project on reducing ocean plastic waste in Vietnam. The project, funded by the German Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety through the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), has been implemented in 10 areas of Da Nang city and eight provinces.

At the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, in 2019, the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment and a WEF representative signed a Letter of Intent related to plastic waste treatment and the building of a circular economy, aiming to help Vietnam participate in the Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP). To implement the GPAP, a project on strengthening plastic waste management in Vietnam was approved by the Prime Minister in 2
021. On November 19, 2021, the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment issued a decision on the establishment of a working group to implement the National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) programme in Vietnam.

On March 7, 2024, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Le Cong Thanh signed a decision publising a plan to implement NPAP activities and participate in international forums on plastic waste in 2024.

The plan aims to support and enhance the operation effectiveness of technical groups established within the framework of the NPAP based on main pillars of innovation, finance, policy, gender equality and inclusive development, and communications and awareness improvement.

In addition, the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is coordinating with the United Nations Environment Programme to build steps to implement a project on enhancing the capacity of plastic pollution management in Vietnam.

It
includes two component projects on strengthening plastic pollution control through promoting monitoring activities in Vietnam to provide information for the management and policy making process, and on intensifying plastic waste value chain management in target provinces with river basins through promoting circular economic models and innovative solutions to prevent plastic waste at source./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

KUALA TERENGGANU, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu today called on the state government to adopt a comprehensive approach to plan effective financial management to address current economic challenges, including strengthening cooperation with the federal government.

In fact, His Royal Highness said that the state government needs to formulate comprehensive short-, medium-, and long-term strategies together with federal departments and agencies in this state.

‘This cooperation encompasses the planning of high-impact projects under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP), which will end in 2025.

‘Subsequently, the planning should be continued under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) which will commence in 2026. Careful planning and focus on this matter will undoubtedly have a direct impact on the welfare of our people,’ he said in the royal address at the opening of the Second Term of the State Legislative Assembly here today.

Yang Dipertuan Muda Terengganu, Tengku Muhammad Ismail Sultan Mizan and Tengku Muhammad
Muaz Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin were in attendance.

Meanwhile, Sultan Mizan expressed gratitude for the successful management and sustainable conservation of fisheries resources through the Agricultural Strategy Plan 2019 to 2023, which recorded a 39 per cent increase in marine fish landings.

Therefore, the Sultan said that all programmes, including those focusing on the development of artificial reef lines along the borders and coastal areas of Terengganu waters, should be strengthened through cooperation with the federal government.

In his royal address, Sultan Mizan also expressed concern about the influx of livestock from foreign countries, either through smuggling or lack of certification of disease-free status by the producing state or country, which could have adverse effects on the livestock industry.

‘The high demand for unchecked livestock has a direct impact on food safety for the people. Continuous enforcement, whether in waters or land borders, needs to be intensified to ensure that issues of
marine resource encroachment and livestock smuggling are controlled so as not to become rampant,’ he said.

On another development, Sultan Mizan said that non-radioactive rare earth elements (NR-REE) are a new industry sector in modern technology today, with the Malaysian Department of Minerals and Geoscience finding Malaysia to have approximately 15.2 million tonnes of NR-REE, with Terengganu having the highest deposits of around 7.2 million tonnes.

His Royal Highness said that with these new mineral resources, the state government must determine the best methods for NR-REE mining, ensuring that the value chain, including mid-stream and downstream industries, is established in Terengganu, thus becoming the country’s primary producer and processing hub.

Meanwhile, Sultan Mizan congratulated the national cycling champion, Datuk Azizulhasni Awang, and the female road cyclist, Nur Aisyah Mohamad Zubir, both from Terengganu, for qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

The Sultan also prayed for Terengganu
to reclaim the overall championship title at the upcoming Malaysian Games slated in August in Sarawak.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

MANILA: The Philippines and Qatar further strengthened their bilateral relations, signing on Monday nine new deals, including agreements on addressing climate change and human trafficking.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, the Amir of Qatar, witnessed the presentation of the newly-signed deals in Malacañang.

The new deals are as follows:

Agreement between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of the State of Qatar on the waiver of visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and special or official passports;

Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of the State of Qatar on cooperation in the field of sports;

Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of the State of Qatar on cooperation in the field of youth;

Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and th
e Government of the State of Qatar on cooperation in combating human trafficking;

Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of the State of Qatar on technical cooperation and capacity-building on climate change;

Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of the State of Qatar in the field of tourism and business events;

Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of the State of Qatar on mutual recognition of seafarers’ certificates;

Memorandum of Understanding between the Philippines Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and

Memorandum of Understanding between the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Qatar’s Amir is currently in Manila for a two-day state visit, upon Marcos’ invitation.

In his opening message for their bila
teral meeting, Marcos said he is hoping that their discussions will translate to stronger collaboration in common fields of interest.

For his part, the Qatari leader underscored the importance of the Philippines as a trade partner.

The Amir also praised the Filipino community in Qatar for their valuable contribution to the Arab nation’s development.

‘This is my pleasure to take this opportunity to praise the Filipino community residing in the State of Qatar and their effective contribution to the development progress in our country. I thank you once again, Your Excellency and I wish your country, the Philippines a continued progress and prosperity,’ he said.

The Philippines and Qatar established diplomatic relations in May 1981.

The Arab country hosts some 270,000 Filipinos and is one of the top destinations for Filipino migrant workers in the Middle East.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Oil companies are set to adjust petroleum prices on Tuesday, April 23.

In separate advisories, Caltex, Cleanfuel, Jetti, Petro Gazz, PTT, Seaoil, and Shell said they would increase gasoline prices by PHP0.55 per liter and slash prices of diesel by PHP0.95 per liter.

For six consecutive weeks, gasoline prices have increased.

On the other hand, Caltex, Seaoil, and Shell will also cut kerosene prices by PHP1.10 per liter.

Other oil firms are expected to follow suit.

According to OilPrice.com, oil price volatility continues to soar amid the geopolitical tensions between Israel and Iran.

Data from the Department of Energy showed that with the price hikes last week, year-to-date adjustments of gasoline, diesel, and kerosene stood at a per liter net increase of PHP9.70, PHP7, and PHP2.25, respectively.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Prison officials on Monday said another batch of 500 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) were transferred over the weekend from the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City to San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm in Zamboanga City as part of a decongestion program of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).

The latest batch brings to 3,993 the total number of PDLS transferred outside of Metro Manila since January of this year.

BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. said of this number, 999 were transferred to Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Puerto Princesa, Palawan; 1,000 to Davao Prison and Penal Farm; 1,000 San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm; 546 Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm; and 448 to Leyte Prison and Penal Farm.

‘Continuous ang ating pag-transfer ng PDLs (The transfer of PLDs is continuous), first as part of our decongestion, second to augment the workforce needs of penal farm in agricultural project and third as part of our preparation for the closure of NBP by 2028,’ Catapang said in a statement
.

With the guidance of Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla, Catapang said the vision for the 350-hectare NBP is to turn it into a government center, open park and mixed use after its closure.

Source: Philippines News Agency