Category: General

ILOILO CITY: The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center has endorsed to the city government the electric bus rapid transit (EBRT) proposed by the First Balfour Inc. of the First Philippine Holdings Corporation.

“After review, the PPP Center found it complete so all the documents were brought to us. It is now ready for consideration by the PPP committee (of the city government),” Mayor Jerry Treñas said in an interview on Friday.

Treñas said the bus rapid transit will ensure that the transportation system of the city is modernized with green power.

“It will make Iloilo City at par with Cebu and Davao, where the national government is presently developing a BRT system to help manage the traffic situation,” he said.

The city government’s PPP committee will determine if the project is acceptable.

Concerned parties will sign a contract agreement and the proposal will be subjected to a Swiss challenge, which allows other parties to match or provide a better proposal than the original proponent.

The initial p
roposal covers three lines, including from Diversion Road and Arevalo and Jaro districts with 16 buses each, the mayor said.

Treñas also announced that the Swedish government offered to give one million dollars for a feasibility study to extend the EBRT project to Metro Iloilo municipalities.

“That means that while the First Balfour is ready for Iloilo City only, the feasibility study offered by the Swedish government will cover up to the airport, up to Oton, Leganes, Zarraga, Cabatuan,” he said.

Treñas is looking for the EBRT project to start in Iloilo City in the first quarter of 2025, while they have yet to finalize the terms for the Swedish-funded study.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday emphasized the need to turn the Philippine Army (PA) into a ‘multi-mission-ready and cross-domain capable’ force under a ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ (New Philippines).

During the PA’s 127th anniversary at Camp O’Donnell in Tarlac City, Marcos said his administration is committed to boosting the PA personnel’s morale, efficiency, and responsiveness through capacity-building initiatives, rigorous training and education activities.

‘Since your foundation 127 years ago, the Philippine Army has endured the test of time, prevailed over battles, and evolved into a force that we can all be proud of. Not only has the organization been successful in its internal security operations, but it also exerted efforts in shifting to external defense,’ Marcos said in a speech delivered by Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.

‘As we march onward to the Bagong Pilipinas that we aspire for, we need to transform our Army into a multi-mission-ready and cross-domain capable force that c
an effectively thwart emerging threats to our country’s stability and sovereignty,’ he added.

Marcos also underscored the importance of improving the PA’s cybersecurity capabilities to keep up with the rapid technological advancements and help maintain the country’s security and stability.

He also hoped that the Army troops would continue exhibiting ‘selfless and dedicated’ service to the nation.

This, as he acknowledged their important role in maintaining peace and order in the country.

‘Equally noteworthy are your peacetime endeavors, which put you at the forefront of rescue and recovery missions aimed at ensuring the safety of our citizens. Our soldiers have become a reliable and calming presence amidst the loss and destruction that come in the wake of disasters and calamities,’ Marcos said.

Marcos urged the PA personnel to take into account the lessons and the best practices they have learned from joint operations, as well as their engagements with other major services of the Armed Forces of the Phil
ippines and foreign defense counterparts.

‘Let the time-honored creed of honor, patriotism, and duty be your guidepost -in marching towards total victory- as we create a Bagong Pilipinas (New Philippines) that prioritizes peace, progress, and stability,’ he said.

Established on March 22, 1897, the PA has evolved into a multi-functional force throughout the years.

This year’s anniversary celebration of the PA carries the theme, ”Matatag na Hukbong Katihan para sa Bagong Pilipinas,” highlighting its strong resolve to remain steadfast amid the challenges faced by the country.

Marcos was supposed to attend the PA’s founding anniversary celebration but had to skip the event after developing ‘flu-like symptoms.’

His health condition is improving despite having the symptoms, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said in a statement released Thursday.

The PCO said Marcos continues to work in his residence at Malacañan Palace in Manila, while taking medications for his full recovery.

Marcos is expected
to resume his full public engagements ‘soon,’ according to the PCO statement.

Source: Philippines News Agency

LONDON: Britain’s Queen Camilla said her husband, King Charles, is doing very well.

The queen provided an update on King Charles’ condition during a visit to Northern Ireland, British media said Thursday.

‘Charles is doing very well,’ Camilla told a crowd of well-wishers in Belfast. ‘He was very disappointed he couldn’t come.”

The reassurance comes at a crucial juncture as concerns linger about the integrity of his medical information.

The London Clinic, where the king received treatment after being diagnosed with cancer, is embroiled in scandal after three staffers allegedly attempted to access the medical records of the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton.

While the breach has stirred widespread concern, it is believed that the integrity of Charles’ medical records is intact and unaffected by the alleged breach.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The National University (NU) and University of Santo Tomas (UST) scored contrasting wins at the start of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) U18 Championship women’s tournament at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila on Friday.

NU needed only 38 minutes to conquer Colegio de Los Baños, 25-10, 25-12 in Pool A while UST survived a tough second set to prevail over King’s Montessori School, 25-16, 25-23 in Pool B.

The San Juan Institute of Technology – Batangas also won its match against Canossa Academy-Lipa, 25-14, 25-20, in Pool B.

Action will continue on Saturday with VNS Savouge taking on Colegio de Los Baños at 10 a.m. and Umingan Pangasinan facing Hermosa Bataan at 11:30 a.m. in men’s pool B, while De La Salle-Lipa battles Canossa Academy – Lipa at 1 p.m. in men’s pool A.

In the women’s division, Canossa will meet De La Salle – Lipa at 2:30 p.m. in pool B. Kings’ Montessori School and Limitless Sports Center will square off at 4 p.m. while De La Salle Santiago Zobel will tackle
Graceland Christian College at 5:30 p.m. in pool A.

The tournament features best-of-three sets in the elimination round, and best-of-five sets heading into quarterfinal, semifinal classification, and final plays.

The top four teams from each pool will advance to the quarterfinals, to be played under a knockout format until the semifinals and finals.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Environment Secretary Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga said Friday all illegal structures built in the iconic Chocolate Hills in Bohol, which has been declared a protected area, must be removed.

Loyzaga said this in an interview over a radio program after an aerial inspection she conducted with Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos.

She said that aside from the Captain’s Peak Garden and Resort, which has gone viral on social media and received negative comments from netizens, they discovered similar structures illegally built within the protected area.

‘Sa palagay ko, sa nakita ko, yes po, kailangan, ito yung ginagawa namin ngayon, ang tawag namin ay mitigation approach sa mga gawaing ganito (From what I saw, I think, yes, we need to do it. This is what we are doing right now We call this the mitigation approach on activities like these),’ Loyzaga said when asked if these structures should be demolished.

‘The first one is talagang i-avoid, kailangan nating ma-avoid ito
ng disturbance. Kung hindi man ma-avoid, ma-minimize man, kung hindi ma-minimize kailangan i-remedyo, remedyuhin, kung hindi ma-remedyo kailangan magbayad, ang tawag natin, offset or compensation sa ginawa (The first step is we need to avoid this disturbance, if not, we have to minimize. If this could not be done, we have to remedy or correct, and if still not, they have to pay. We call this offset or compensation for what they have done),’ she said.

Loyzaga said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is in close coordination with Abalos and with Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Frasco on measures to be done to keep the area protected.

In a joint statement issued by the DENR, DILG, and DOT signed by Loyzaga, Abalos, and Frasco, the three officials said the recent issue in Bohol underscored the importance of responsible development in protected areas.

It said harnessing the economic benefits of the country’s natural resources must be done responsibly and the integrity of t
hese protected areas for future generations must always be maintained.

‘The preservation of our natural heritage is paramount,’ the statement read.

Illegal structures

Meanwhile, Loyzaga said during the inspection, they saw several other resorts that tore portions of the hills so they could build their structures.

‘Ang daming mga similar na resorts na nakita namin. Meron pa yung isa, itong Sagbayan Peak, tinapyas yung pinaka tuktok ng Chocolate hill upang mailagay ang isang konkreto na plataporma, yun, inaalam namin lahat yan ngayon (We saw similar resorts. There is one, the Sagbayan Peak, (they) demolished the peak of the Chocolate Hill so they could build a concrete platform on top. We are now investigating all of them),’ she said.

Proclamation No. 1037 issued by the late President Fidel V. Ramos on July 1, 1997, declared the Chocolate Hills as a protected area.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) also declared Chocolate Hills as a world heritage site.

These h
ills, located in the towns of Carmen, Batuan, and Sagbayan in Bohol, consist of 1,776 mounds of the same general shape, which, according to Loyzaga, should not be touched.

Source: Philippines News Agency

HCM City: As part of efforts to increase the attractiveness of destinations in Ho Chi Minh City, many travel businesses have brought regional specialties to local tourist destinations to serve visitors.

The Saigontourist Group Culinary Culture, Delicacies Festival 2024 will be held from March 28-31 at Van Thanh Tourist Area in Binh Thanh district, Ho Chi Minh City). This is the third consecutive time Saigontourist Travel Service Company has coordinated with several units to organise the event.

The festival will introduce over 400 delicious dishes from three regions of Vietnam, craft villages, folk games, and feature cultural exchange and traditional art performance programmes, and tourism promotion activities.

The festival is a convergence of culinary elites performed and served by representatives of famous culinary brands from 4-5 star hotels, resorts, and restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City and many localities across the country.

It is expected to see the participation of partners of Saigontourist Group inc
luding Vietnam Airlines and Saigon Trading Group.

Chairman of Saigontourist Pham Huy Binh said, besides the goal of stimulating domestic tourism, diversifying tourism products and promoting Vietnamese culinary culture, the festival is also oriented to become an international event.

The third edition of the culinary festival will add interactive activities for visitors such as voting for the most popular delicacies at the festival, learning how to make traditional cakes with artisans, interactive traditional arts and other attractive activities./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency