Aeta tribal elder Dominador Liwanag, more popularly known as Tata Kasoy, was presented with an award and certificate of appreciation for his “lifetime work in preserving the rain forest and culture” at the recent Subic Ecotourism Festival.

In Photo: Tribal leader Dominador Liwanag (from left), Hitesh Mehta and Dr. Mina T. Gabor.

The 67-year-old leader of the Pastolan tribe at the Subic free port’s Pamulaklakin Trail serves as instructor of the jungle environmental survival training (JEST) course offered to tourists and American servicemen who undergo military exercises in the former US naval base.

Presenting the citation is International School of Sustainable Tourism President Mina Gabor and Global Ecotourism Network (GEN) board member and Ecolodge planning and design authority Hitesh Mehta. Gabor, who pioneered ecotourism in the country when she was tourism secretary, said that it was the first time such an award had been given to a tribal leader in the Philippines.

The four-day festival featured resource persons from the GEN, the Asian Ecotourism Network, and the country’s leading advocates from both the private and government sectors to discuss the global trends in ecotourism. The first of its kind in the Philippines, the four-day event also discussed highlights of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) through a presentation from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) in the practice of ecotourism.

A landmark social legislation passed in 1997, the IPRA protects the indigenous peoples’ rights to ancestral lands, self-governance and empowerment, social justice and human rights, and cultural integrity.

Other global ecotourism resource persons included Glenn Jampol and Tony Charters, GEN chairman and vice chairman respectively, and general board members Robert Holmes, Masaru Takayama, Nabil Tarazi, Albert Teo, ASSOB International Australia CEO Paul Niederer, Sapa O’Chau (Vietnam) founder and Director Tan Thi Su, Travel Impact Newswire Executive Editor Imtiaz Muqbil, Mahidol University International College Assistant Dean Kaetwa Muangasame, Bond Asian Ventures Ltd. Chairman Greg Duffel, Indecon Indonesia Director Ary Suhandi, and Global Sustainable Tourism Council CEO Randy Durband.

The event was attended by local government officials and tourism officers, tourism policy-makers, community organizations, tourism establishment owners, the academic community and industry stakeholders. The festival is supported by the Tourism Promotions Board, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Philippine Airlines, PLDT Subictel, Nlex-SCTEx, Steep Coffee, Lighthouse Marina Resort, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Cebu Provincial Tourism Office.

First Published: businessmirror.com.ph/a>

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U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) Michael Klecheski transferred custody of a brand new Joint Maritime Law Enforcement Training Center (JMLETC) valued at over Php 65.4 million to the Government of the Philippines in a ceremony in Magarwak, Barangay Santa Lourdes, Puerto Princesa City, on August 4, 2017.

(front row L-R) PNP Director General Ronald M. de la Rosa, U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Klecheski, U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency Representative LCDR Jeremy Obenchain, PNP-MG Director General PCSUPT Marcelo C. Morales, and WESCOM Commander Lieutenant General Raul L. Del Rosario (back row L-R) Commander Philippine Coast Guard District Palawan Commodore Joselito F. de la Cruz, Philippine Marine Corps 3rd Marine Brigade Commander Brigadier General Nathaniel Y. Casem, Deputy Director for Logistics PCSUPT Jonas B. Calleja, and Regional Director of PRO4B PCSUPT Wilben M Mayor.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ronald M. de la Rosa was the guest of honor and keynote speaker, and DCM Klecheski also delivered remarks during the turnover.

The JMLETC, funded by the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency, is part of the larger National Coast Watch System and is designed to bolster the Philippines’ maritime domain awareness capabilities and to stop large-scale weapons from transiting through or near Philippine territorial waters. The facility will also be used to conduct maritime law enforcement training for the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Navy (PN), and PNP to enhance vessel boarding, use of force, evidence preservation, and case package preparation techniques.

In the coming weeks, the U.S. Coast Guard will send a team of maritime law enforcement experts who will conduct a one-week Maritime Law Enforcement workshop with PCG, PN, and PNP. This workshop will focus on sharing best practices and enhancing the interoperability among the three participating agencies in support of the National Coast Watch System 2017 Field Training Exercises scheduled to take place in Manila, Palawan, and Cebu in mid-September.

As strong allies, the U.S. and Philippines share a wide range of interests, and we will continue to work in partnership to ensure our joint maritime security efforts and other lines of cooperation are robust and effective. (USEmbassy/Manila)

First Published: subicbaynews.net

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IBA, Zambales — “For the municipality of Iba, we are one with the nation and the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) in pursuit of peace and security, prosperity, and socio-cultural development.”

Mayor Rudnstedt Ebdane

Mayor Rudnstedt Ebdane said in his speech during the ASEAN Landmark Lighting on Tuesday night at the municipal hall. Marking the 50th founding anniversary of the ASEAN, over 70 other municipalities and cities simultaneously lit up their lanterns at exactly 7:00PM. Iba was one of the municipalities chosen to participate in the event.

According to Ebdane, the landmark lighting symbolizes ASEAN’s important role as the light that guides the path of the member-countries.

“Out of the hundreds of local government units (LGUs) in the country, we are chosen to take part in the ASEAN’s golden anniversary. Let us continue to be partners for change,” he furthered.Aside from Iba, five other LGUs in Central Luzon participated in the event namely Baler in Aurora; Science City of Munoz in Nueva Ecija; City of San Fernando in Pampanga; Angeles City; and Mayantoc in Tarlac. (PIA 3)

First Published: subicbaynews.net

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In an effort to resolve the number of disruptions experienced by residents during rainy season and in consideration of the lasting support that SM upholds for the people of Olongapo City, SM has funded the construction of a new drainage canal along 6th St. Brgy. Pagasa Olongapo City (adjacent to the mall).

Photos show the 6-foot diameter culvert pipes used in the construction of the new drainage canal along 6th St. Brgy. Pagasa, Olongapo City. SM Olongapo funded this project to help reduce, if not entirely eliminate, the flooding risks in the surrounding communities in the city.

The new drainage line will carry out water from surrounding communities and will be carried via the 6ft. diameter pipes to the river.

Barangay Pagasa Chairman Rodolfo Catologan, whose area is directly affected by the circumstance, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to SM for spearheading the project. “Umaasa ang mga residente ng Brgy Pagasa na mababawasan na ang pagbaha sa aming lugar, ngayon pa lang ay laking pasasalamat na ng mga taga rito sa gagawing drainage ng SM,” Catologan added.

On the other hand, Olongapo City Mayor Rolen Paulino constantly remind the public to cooperate with the city government to help avoid blockage and misuse of the drainage system, he also called the attention of each barangay that coordinated efforts should be followed to keep the streets clean in order to prevent rubbish from blocking the roadside drainages.

It can be recalled that in 2013 SM donated a unit of “Backhoe” to the city as assistance in clearing and rescue operations, and re-building of its flood-hit areas during the Typhoon Odette.

With the continuous efforts of SM on environment and sustainability program, the drainage system project aims to help reduce if not entirely eliminate the flooding risks in the surrounding communities in the city.

Apart from this endeavor, SM malls have various programs that focus on environment protection, quoting from the SM Cares page, “SM Cares has employed a holistic approach to managing the environment which builds on safety and security through disaster resilience, business continuity programs and emergency preparedness.

Environmental sustainability runs at the core of every project by adopting measures to conserve and preserve energy, water and air quality.

The SM malls have an active solid waste management system that engages not just the employees and customers, but the whole community.”

By taking care of the environment, SM also takes care of the communities they are part of and help promote sustainable progress.

First Published: subicbaynews.net

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Olongapo City Mayor Rolen Paulino led the enforcement of the anti smoking ordinance recently passed by the city council in connection with Executive Order. 26 of President Rodrigo Duterte, which bans smoking in public places.

Proponent of ordinance no. 19 series 2017 City Councilor Noel Atienza defined public places as all places, fixed or mobile, that are accessible to the public.

The Ordinance mandates the following:

1. Deployment of Anti-Smoking Task Force on public areas and allow them to post NO SMOKING signages in the most location visible to the public.

2. Ashtrays and any other receptacles for disposing cigarette should be removed from places where smoking is prohibited.

3. No Cigarrete or Tobacco products shall be allowed within 100 meters from school, churches, hospital and government establishments.

4. No vendor shall lit a cigarette or sell it to minors

Mayor Paulino has instructed the Olongapo City Police Office (OCPO) to intensify its campaign against violators of the anti smoking law.

So far more than 50 persons have already been fined.

Fines for 1st offenders is P500, P1000 for the second offense and P1,500 for the 3rd or imprisonment of not more than 6 months.

A local task force has also been formed for the implementation of the said ordinance.

First Published: subicbaynews.net

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