AURORA. These turtles, earlier rescued in the coastal village of Ditinagyan in Aurora, were accidentally trapped in a fish cage. (DENR photo)

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has helped in the rescue and eventual release of three juvenile female endangered green sea turtles into the sea in a coastal village in Aurora province recently.

The turtles, earlier rescued in the coastal village of Ditinagyan, were accidentally trapped in a fish cage.

Mary Jane Aragon, forest technician of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) based in Casiguran, Aurora, said the green sea turtles were accidentally trapped in a fishnet known as “baklad” and owned by a local fisherman in the area.

“The fisherfolk immediately reported to us the incident to check and document the condition of the turtles,” she said.

Upon examination, the DENR found that the turtles have an average carapace length of 45 centimeters and weigh an average of eight kilograms.

“They (turtles) sustained no injuries and in good condition, so we released them immediately to the coastal waters after examination,” she said.

Aragon, in a report from the DENR, said the turtles were also tagged to monitor their feeding and nesting grounds, including their population, which are vital in marine turtle conservation.

She said the tag will also serve as their identification.

Meanwhile, the DENR, in press statement, appealed to the public to report similar incident and be vigilant in the protection and conservation of marine species and other wildlife.

Of the seven species of marine turtles in the world, five of them were found nesting in the coastal towns of Morong in Bataan, San Antonio in Zambales and in Aurora, all in Central Luzon, the DENR report added.

Section 27 of Republic Act 9147, also known as the “Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act,” prohibits collecting, hunting and possessing of wildlife and their by-products and derivatives. Anyone found guilty of violating the wildlife law shall be imprisoned to a maximum of two years and shall be fined of up to P200,000, if inflicted against endangered species, according to the DENR.

Source: sunstar.com.ph

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Aerial view of the Athletics Stadium at the New Clark City, designed after the caldera of Mt. Pinatubo

Construction of the New Clark City Sports Complex will be completed in two months, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) said, well ahead of the country’s hosting of the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in November.

BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer Vivencio Dizon said round-the-clock construction works for the athletic stadium, aquatic center, and athlete dorms are underway, ahead of regional sporting event which starts Nov. 30.

“We are targeting the completion of this entire facility by the end of August, so that our athletes, by September, can already start training,” Dizon told CNN Philippines’ The Source.

The Duterte administration has chosen Clark as the face of its planned infrastructure boom.

Dizon said Clark’s newest sports facilities are the first of their kind in the country, which also complies with global standards.

For one, the aquatic center will feature an eight-lane training pool and a 10-lane Olympic pool for swimming competitions. Unlike commercial facilities, the new pools being built in Clark come with steel and PVC lining, matching the ones used during the London Olympics in 2012. It also comes with the global FINA certification and can cater to dry diving.

The New Clark City Aquatic Center under construction

The spacious athletics stadium is also close to finished, which will sit right in the middle of the complex. Dizon said all sporting events can be staged here before an audience of up to 20,000 in the bleachers.

Right across is an “athletes’ village” which will cater to up to 500 participants during the competitions. The first and second floors are also designed to be wheelchair-friendly, while the dormitories will have their own wade pool, basketball court, gym, and cafeteria.

The Philippines’ hosting stint during the Nov. 30 to Dec. 11 SEA Games will be followed by the paralympic games come January. But they are not stopping there.

“In the near future, not only will our athletes have a new home and a world-class facility to train in, but it will also provide the country with the venue for us to maybe bid for and host international sporting events like the Asian Games,” Dizon said. “If we want to even dream bigger, maybe the Olympics someday.”

The last time the country built a major sports center was in 1934, when the now-aging Rizal Memorial Stadium was erected in Manila.

The state-of-the-art facilities also carry the story of Capas, Tarlac where the vast city sits. Most buildings come with a dark gray lahar finish – a nod to the nearby Mount Pinatubo, Dizon said. Pillars of the stadium are painted a bright orange, meant to mimic local captivating sunsets, while the aquatic center was designed after fishing nets and Capiz windows, he added.

The rest of the property is covered in greenery, with a 1.5-kilometer (km) river park at its heart. Dizon said New Clark City was designed with a 60-40 balance, with nature taking the greater share.

Two towering buildings have also been fully leased as satellite offices of government agencies based in Metro Manila, which are meant to serve as backup facilities should the “Big One” strike. Dizon said the new city is earthquake-resilient, with the nearest fault line about 20 km away.

New Clark City will also provide the “cheapest” electricity in the country, which Dizon said would bode well for new investors. They expect factories to be the first migrants to Clark before commercial and residential spaces spring up.

“Maybe 10 years from now, that’s when you start seeing more private residential, more commercial establishments… But I think at the rate this is going and with the connectivity to the airport, it’s gonna grow faster than we think,” Dizon said.

A Manila-Clark railway is set to run daily trips by 2025, which Dizon said will slash a one-way trip to less than an hour. All are part of the government’s “Build, Build, Build” program, with the complex being built by the AlloyMTD Group backed by a Malaysian firm.

Source: cnnphilippines.com

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Photo Credit: http://northboundasia.com

THE Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) warned that illegally-parked trucks and heavy vehicles inside the Freeport will be slapped with a hefty fine of P50,000 starting June 2019 to deter traders from using the roads as parking areas.

Lawyer Wilma Eisma, SBMA chairperson and administrator, said the SBMA Board of Directors passed a resolution on May 23 increasing the penalty for heavy vehicles parked illegally or in non-leased areas from P500 to P50,000.

The resolution took effect on June 1, 2019.

The P50,000 fine applies only to illegally-parked heavy vehicles owned by conversion yards, auctioneers, service providers, and other locators.

“We have to increase the fine to an amount that would make it hurt. That is the only way they would follow regulations,” Eisma said.

She said the huge time lapse between the admission and the actual pullout of equipment and trucks results in the roadside parking of vehicles for as long as three months.

Eisma said this stems from the fact that some companies were importing more than the volume allowed for their leased areas.

The parking problem has been a festering issue in Subic, the only Freeport where importation of used vehicles and heavy equipment is allowed by law and now home to 88 vehicle trading companies.

Eisma met with the truck and heavy equipment traders in April and in May to discuss violations, not just on illegal parking, but also on work permits, importation, use of marshalling yard, subleasing, occupancy and use of leased property, and environment.

Describing the illegally parked trucks and equipment as “a bane to road users”, Eisma told truck traders that these should be pulled out within the allowed given time.

Eisma warned that the agency has the authority to pre-terminate agreements without need for court action and may also revoke, suspend or cancel the registration of any company for violation of the terms and conditions of its lease contract with the SBMA.

The truck traders agreed to keep their operations within the bounds of law, she said.

The crackdown on illegal parking and other policy violations was just part of the Eisma administration’s “shape-up-or-ship-out” position against errant businesses in the Subic Bay Freeport.

Last year, the SBMA tracked and chased after delinquent locators with millions of pesos in unpaid rents and other fees. (Ric Sapnu)

Source: sunstar.com.ph

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OLONGAPO, Philippines—Members of Military Sealift Command’s (MSC) dry cargo ship USNS Amelia Earhart (T-AKE 6) and Military Sealift Command Far East visited three locations in Olongapo City, Philippines, to participate in community outreach events during a routine port visit at Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), June 14.

The team visited the Subic Bay Children’s Home, Social Development Center, and the Foundation for Differently-Abled Persons to deliver donations from the crew of Amelia Earhart that included clothes, snacks, school supplies and more than 660 lbs. of rice.

“It’s encouraging to see the immediate reward and positive impact from the dedication and contributions of Amelia Earhart’s crew,” said Navy Lt. Eric R. Bryan, chaplain, MSC Far East. “It’s special when a partnership addresses and supports one another’s needs. Moments like these strengthen the relationship we have with the people here in Olongapo and the region.”

According to civilian mariner Robert Misenas, meeting with the local population is an important way to bridge cultures and participate in the community.

“This is my first time at the Subic Bay Children’s Home, but the ship has sent crew members here before,” said Misenas, a boatswain mate with Amelia Earhart and 21-year MSC veteran. “Usually when the ship arrives here, we try and do something in the community, if time allows. This time we were able to take donations of clothes, snacks, and school supplies, as well as purchase rice with donations from the crew.”

The Subic Bay Children’s Home presented Misenas and civilian mariner Mohammad Motombo, also with Amelia Earhart, a certificate of appreciation in recognition of the donations.

Additionally, the MSC members interacted with staff and children, while Chaplain Bryan provided some musical entertainment for the kids by playing the guitar and singing songs.

“These community relation events allow us to slow down, even for just a day, to engage in a true, life-changing moment,” saidBryan. “We walk into a room full of strangers only to leave with new friends and memories that motivate us to continue finding ways to support when we can in the future. I love how these events are merely the beginning of a great friendship and partnership for the years to come.”

The USNS Amelia Earhart is currently operating in the U.S. Navy 7th fleet area-of-responsibility.

MSC operates approximately 115 non-combatant, civilian-crewed ships that replenish U.S. Navy ships, conduct specialized missions, strategically preposition combat cargo at sea around the world and move military cargo and supplies used by deployed U.S. forces and coalition partners.

Source: dvidshub.net

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“Sa wakas.” Yeah, we said that, too. We’re pretty sure a lot of you guys out there gave out a sigh of relief after reading that headline.

Only drivers in the Philippines with regular day jobs truly understand how troublesome it is to renew their licenses. Given the schedule of government offices, you’d need to allot at least half a day’s work to do just that. Thankfully, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) announced a few days ago that driver’s license renewal can now be done on Saturdays.

The agency released the memorandum through Facebook—check it out below:

https://www.facebook.com/ltomuntinlupa1366/photos/a.805492456197085/2364868156926166/?type=3&theater

According to the memo, applicants may now renew their licenses or apply for student permits on Saturdays at all LTO Driver’s License Renewal Offices nationwide beginning June 2019. The new policy will surely bring convenience to a lot of Filipinos across the country.

The announcement follows a previous memo from the agency which stated that renewal of licenses can be done at early as two months (60 days) before its expiry. To make things even easier, you may still also set appointments online through the Personal Appointment and Scheduling System on the LTO website.

Well, that’s some good news. Say goodbye to spending your birthdays at the LTO, then.

Source: topgear.com.ph

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