Day: June 4, 2023

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has monitored an increased degassing activity from Taal volcano since Saturday night in the form of visible upwelling of volcanic fluids. In an advisory on Sunday, Phivolcs said the ‘fluids in the main crater lake produced voluminous steam-rich plumes that rose to 3,000 meters above Taal Volcano Island (TVI).’ As a result, volcanic smog or ‘vog’ was visibly seen over the caldera of Taal, which was reported by the residents of the municipalities encircling the lake, including Balete, Laurel, and Agoncillo. Acid rain is also expected over areas where the plume disperses, which is also expected to damage crops and affect metal roofs of houses and buildings. According to Phivolcs, there was likewise an increase in volcanic sulfur dioxide gas emission from the main crater of the volcano as recorded on June 1, totaling 5,831 tons/day, which was higher than last month with just an average of 3,356 tons/day. Phivolcs reminded communities vulnerable to the vog’s effects to be mindful, especially the elderly, pregnant, children, and those people with health conditions such as asthma, lung disease, and heart disease. The people in the affected areas are encouraged to stay indoors and shut doors and windows to block out vog. Phivolcs cautioned that while Alert Level 1 prevails over the Taal volcano, ‘it is still in abnormal condition and should not be interpreted to have ceased unrest nor ceased the threat of eruptive activity.’

Source: Philippines News Agency

Over 449 million children were living in areas of violent conflict in 2021, international non-governmental organization Save the Children reported. In 1982, the United Nations (UN) declared June 4 the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression, dedicated to the Palestinian and Lebanese children affected by Israeli attacks. Nearly 24,000 serious violations against children were reported in armed conflicts in 2021, according to a UN report. The most common crimes against children included murder, mutilation, recruitment for war, and denying access to humanitarian aid. A total of 2,515 children were killed, while 5,555 children were disabled in the same period, according to the report. In 2021, Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Israel, Palestine, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen were among the countries with the most crimes against children. Child abduction crimes and sexual abuse cases climbed over 20% from the previous year.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Projects that are in need of more funding must be included in the annual investment plan (AIP) or risk not getting their needed allocation, Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas warned provincial officials. In an interview with the Philippine News Agency on Sunday, Mandanas said he called for a council meeting on Friday to tackle comprehensively supplemental budget requests to ensure that limited funds get allocated for crucial projects. ‘The proposed projects must be included in the AIP. This is very important because once approved, it will be the basis of budget allocation,’ he said. Among the provincial agencies represented during the meeting were the Provincial Development Council (PDC), Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) and the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC), each submitting their budget requests. Most noteworthy was the PDRRMC’s request to fund its climate change response programs, as well as its initiatives to cushion the effects of the forecasted El Niño later this year. Also tackled was a proposal to extend financial aid to disadvantaged sugarcane growers in the province, which would require an AIP supplemental budget. The proposal was made in response to the recent closure of Central Azucarera Don Pedro Inc. in Nasugbu due to the ‘operational and financial challenges within the current conditions affecting the sugar industry in the Batangas area.’ The sugar miller and refinery informed the Sugar Regulatory Administration, through president and chief executive officer Celso Dimarucut, of its plan to ‘permanently close’ milling operations beginning crop year 2022-2023 in a letter dated Dec. 15, 2022. Data showed about 12,000 regular farm workers and 125 mill workers were displaced while the closure endangered the land of some 8,700 farmers. ‘We must coordinate with the sugarcane farmers of Azucarera. We will require a written justification from them as to how much funds will be needed to help them,’ Mandanas said. During the same meeting, Mandanas, who is also the chairperson of the Regional Development Council for Calabarzon, laid out a plan to finance the completion of the envisioned Batangas Marine Biodiversity Center. ‘The target to complete the construction of our biodiversity center is before the end of the year,’ he said. Mandanas disclosed that funds are being sought for the provincial government’s initiatives on promoting clean energy, studying small-scale mining operations, and stimulating the local tourism sector. Meanwhile, representatives of the Department of the Interior and Local Government suggested the formation of Batangas PPOC audit team, he added.

Source: Philippines News Agency

The first batch of Filipino pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia to embark on the 2023 Hajj, the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh announced Sunday. The group composed of 292 men and women landed at the Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah on June 3 via a Philippine Airlines flight. Citing the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF), the Embassy said over 7,200 Filipinos are expected to join this year’s Hajj, an important pilgrimage to Mecca that Muslims must perform once in their lifetime. The Embassy emphasized its readiness to assist the traveling Muslim Filipinos throughout their visit, especially as pilgrims in the Kingdom are expected to encounter challenges due to unfavorable weather conditions during the Hajj, which will commence between June 26 and July 1. The Philippine Missions in Saudi Arabia, with support from the Department of Foreign Affairs, have also deployed Hajj assistance teams to help ensure the safety and security of Filipino pilgrims while in the Kingdom. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Rommel Romato, who welcomed the pilgrims, expressed appreciation to the Saudi government for its initiatives to enhance the experience of pilgrims visiting the Two Holy Mosques. “Millions of pilgrims, including those from the Philippines, will benefit from innovations such as automation of Hajj services and the Makkah Route initiative among others,’ he said. Once the Philippines is included in the Makkah Route initiative, the Embassy said pilgrims would also be able to complete Saudi’s immigration procedures before departing for the Kingdom. According to NCMF, majority of the Muslim Filipino pilgrims embarking on Hajj come from Lanao, Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and Cotabato. This year, around two million international pilgrims are expected to participate as Saudi Arabia approves full capacity for Hajj 2023 following the easing of coronavirus restrictions. Saudia Arabia’s Ministry of Health requires worshipers from all countries to have two primary vaccination doses and one booster shot against Covid-19. Immunization against influenza and meningitis is likewise mandatory. The approved Covid-19 vaccines in Saudi Arabia are Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Covovax, Nuvaxovid, Sinophram, Sinovac, Covaxin, Sputnik-V, and Janssen (1 shot).

Source: Philippines News Agency

A police station commander in Angeles City in Pampanga and six other policemen were nabbed for alleged unlawful arrest and arbitrary detention of 13 civilians. Agents of the Philippine National Police (PNP) anti-scalawag unit arrested station commander Maj. Marvin Aquino, M/Sgt. Romulo Meligrito, S/Sgts. Nikko Dave Marquez and Mark Steven Sison, and Corporals Richard Gozum, Diosdado Villamor Jr. and Jaypee Mangilit on Friday, according to a statement released by Brig. Gen. Warren de Leon, chief of the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG), over the weekend. De Leon said the planned operation also resulted in the arrest of a civilian asset identified as Esmael Arviola for illegal possession of a .38-caliber revolver with four live ammunitions. The operation stemmed from the complaint of the daughter of recently arrested drug offender, who claimed the suspects asked for PHP30,000 in exchange for the lesser offense of illegal gambling instead of violations under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act. The alleged offender was arrested in Angeles City on May 28 by Police Station 2 agents. ‘During the conduct of inspection at the PUPC (person under police custody) detention cell, it was found out that 13 persons were arbitrarily detained without any single complaint filed against them up to the time of operation,’ de Leon said. ‘Further, no entry at the official police blotter and in the CIRAS (crime information reporting and analysis system) of the station in relation to the arrest and other circumstances causing the (continuous) detention of the victims.’ In another statement, Police Regional Office-3 (Central Luzon) director Brig. Gen. Jose Hidalgo Jr. reaffirmed their ‘continuous commitment in support of the Internal Cleansing Program to cleanse the ranks and identify rogue PNP members whether they are active, retired, or dismissed from the service.’ He said the arrested cops were immediately relieved from their posts. The suspects are detained at the IMEG custodial facility in Camp Crame, Quezon City. The IMEG is the primary PNP unit going after erring policemen while the Internal Affairs Service is in charge of initiating administrative charges.

Source: Philippines News Agency