Sunday, March 10

Nation

8 Filipino biotech champions awarded
Nation

8 Filipino biotech champions awarded

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO LAGUNA (December 23)—Eight Filipino experts were recognized earlier this month for advancing biotechnology in the Philippines. For 2020, the awardees are Arthur Baria, Teresita Espino, Ma. Carmen Lagman and Mary Beth Maningas, while for 2021 they are Ramon Barba (posthumous), Glenn Gregorio, Juanito Rama (posthumous) and Alicia Ilaga, the Department of Agriculture-Biotechnology Program Office (DA-BPO) announced. Baria's strong leadership was said to have paved the way for the commercialization of biotech corn in the country and the Asia-Pacific. He was also cited for the development of the Robusta coffee upstream value chain. Espino's expertise in enzyme and monoclonal antibody technology, meanwhile, was said to have led to the development of technolo...
DOH confirms 2 Omicron cases among international travelers
Nation, News

DOH confirms 2 Omicron cases among international travelers

MANILA (December 15)—The Department of Health (DOH), the University of the Philippines - Philippine Genome Center (UP-PGC), and the University of the Philippines - National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH) report that two imported cases of the Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant of concern were detected from the 48 samples sequenced yesterday, December 14, 2021. Aside from these two Omicron cases, there were 33 positive for the Delta (B.1.617.2) variant while 13 had no lineage assigned. The latest sequencing run was composed of samples from 21 Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROFs), one foreign national, and 26 local cases from areas with case clusters. OMICRON VARIANT CASES: The two Omicron variant cases are incoming travelers and are currently isolated in a facility managed by the Bureau...
Chiz: Sorsogon to build first state-owned oxygen plant
Nation, News

Chiz: Sorsogon to build first state-owned oxygen plant

THE first state-owned oxygen producing plant will soon rise in Sorsogon, Gov. Chiz Escudero announced today after the province’s P94.5 million loan to finance its construction has been approved by the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP). The oxygen plant, he said, will greatly contribute to improve the healthcare system of the province and boost Sorsogon’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. HEALTHCARE INVESTMENT. An oxygen generator and refilling plant is now available at the Governor Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital in Laoag City. The project is a priority program of the provincial government of Ilocos Norte worth PHP20 million to supply medical oxygen to government hospitals and even to district hospitals and nearby medical centers outside the province. (Photo courtesy of the...
Imee: Brace for a no-herd-immunity scenario
Nation, News

Imee: Brace for a no-herd-immunity scenario

SENATOR Imee Marcos said the country should prepare for a worst-case scenario wherein herd immunity could no longer be attained. “Herd immunity remains theoretical and has become a moving target. Last year it was 70% of the population, today it’s 90%, but tomorrow it may well be out of range,” Marcos said. “With booster shots already in high demand, even as first doses have yet to reach populations in less developed countries, will vaccine manufacturers be able to provide?” Marcos asked. Besides precarious global vaccine supply, Marcos added that breakthrough infections among the vaccinated, the emergence of more variants, the uncertain length of vaccine efficacy, and the possible reduction of healthcare capacities due to hospital shutdowns and worker protests are also among ...
Citicore, Agriterra jump start USAid project
Nation, News

Citicore, Agriterra jump start USAid project

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO SUSTAINABLE forest management company Citicore Candlewick Bioenergy, Inc. (CCBI) has partnered with Agriterra to expand livelihood opportunities and improve the quality of lives of its host communities through a grant from the United States Agency for International Development (USAid). According to CCBI, a renewable energy firm subsidiary of Citicore Power Inc. (Citicore), it aspires to become among the top ten world producers of sustainable biomass fuel chips through sustainable forestry and community upliftment that will generate long-term value for all stakeholders.  Oliver Tan, Citicore president, said they are very grateful for this partnership with the USAid and Agriterra to help uplift the lives of communities where their projects are located.&nb...
Cayetano to voters: Vote on track record, not popularity
Nation, News

Cayetano to voters: Vote on track record, not popularity

REP. ALLAN PETER CAYETANO FORMER House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday called on the voting public to base their choices on how well the 2022 election candidates had governed their jurisdictions, not on their popularity. “Tingnan mo y’ung lugar nila. Tingnan mo y’ung sakop nila o hawak nila. Interbyuhin mo ang mga taong nakapaligid sa kanila. At kapag nakita mong maganda, eh ‘di totoo,” Cayetano said in an interview with reporters before the distribution of the P10,000 in cash aid per family in Quezon City under his Sampung Libong Pag-Asa program. (Look at their areas. Look at their jurisdiction. Talk to the people surrounding the candidate. If you see for yourself that what he/she had done was indeed good, then the candidate is truly competent.) “‘Pag nakita mong hindi,...
IMEE: SUSPEND 12% VAT ON OIL PRODUCTS AMID PANDEMIC
Nation, News

IMEE: SUSPEND 12% VAT ON OIL PRODUCTS AMID PANDEMIC

SENATOR Imee Marcos has called for a one-year suspension of the value-added tax (VAT) on oil products amid lingering economic difficulties due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Marcos, who chairs the Senate committee on economic affairs, noted on Tuesday another price hike by oil companies that reached per liter increases of P1.15 for gasoline, P0.60 for diesel, and P0.65 for kerosene.Since January, fuel prices per liter have already increased by P13 for gasoline, P10 for diesel, and P9 for kerosene, Marcos said. SEN. IMEE MARCOS Marcos said suspending the 12 percent VAT on oil products will provide relief to various consumers other than just motorists. "Oil price hikes have a domino effect on agricultural products and other essentials. The higher costs will be passed on to the ordina...
Cayetano renews call for establishment of Department of Disaster Resilience
Nation, News

Cayetano renews call for establishment of Department of Disaster Resilience

Former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday renewed his call for the establishment of the Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR), saying the country needs a department that will focus on rehabilitation efforts and boost the national government’s rehabilitation capacity. “Ang point ay hindi kaya ng present set-up natin na DOH, DSWD, at DOLE ang sila ang tumutugon kapag mayroong kalamidad, kasi after ‘yung relief, wala ng effort sa rehabilitation,” Cayetano said in a press conference in Baguio City on July 2. (The point is our present set-up, where the Department of Health, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Department of Labor and Employment all respond to disasters, is not working because no rehabilitation efforts usually ...
Citicore unveils farm project
Nation, News

Citicore unveils farm project

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO TARLAC (June 3)—Citicore Power Inc. (Citicore), a leading agro-solar energy supply and solutions provider, unveiled the Citicore AgroSolar project that was highlighted by the first-ever turmeric harvest festival at Citicore's Tarlac 2 Solar Plant in Barangay Dalayap, Tarlac City. Citicore AgroSolar project highlighted by the first-ever turmeric harvest festival at Citicore's Tarlac 2 Solar Plant in Barangay Dalayap, Tarlac City. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Citicore President Oliver Tan said the pilot project demonstrates that agriculture and solar power generation can coexist. "After 10 months of strict project implementation and monitoring, we consider the AgroSolar model a resounding success for the Filipino people. The output is sufficiently high, which can be p...
Covid cases up in Tuguegarao, Baguio
Nation, News

Covid cases up in Tuguegarao, Baguio

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO CAGAYAN VALLEY (June 1)—As Covid-19 cases continue to decline in the National Capital Region, infections and deaths rose in Baguio City and Cagayan Valley, greatly alarming local officials. Baguio City recorded its highest case fatality rate (CFR) at 2.09 percent on May 20 with 247 deaths out of 11,814 cases. City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit head Dr. Donnabel Panes said Baguio's CFR is higher than the national rate of 1.69 percent. She said more than half of the fatalities were aged 50 and above and there were more males than females. "These statistics put the 50 and above age group at higher risk of death so we would want them to get vaccines to prevent severity and decrease chances of dying," Panes said. "As to the men, we have to encourage th...