A statement by Zambales governor, Amor Deloso became hot topic when he revealed that the Chinese government is allegedly using Philippine soil extracted from the mountains of Sta. Cruz, Zambales to build their artificial islands on Scarborough Shoal.

UNTV News & Rescue travelled to Zambales to personally confirm the claims of Gov. Deloso regarding the widespread destruction on its mountains.

Together with local officials, the team visited LNL Archipelago Minerals Incorporated in Barangay Guinabon.

From the entrance, one can clearly see that the foot of the mountain had been hewn out to create roads for heavy equipment.

LNL ‘s Sta.Cruz Nickel Mining Project resident manager, Deody Solee confirmed that the soils extracted from their mines are being transported to China. However, Solee strongly denies they are being used on Scarborough Shoal.

“There’s no truth to that. Can you imagine yung lupa ang itatabon nila dun, na madaling anurin ng dagat yun. So supposed to be, dapat ang nilalagay dun bato, para hindi mabubuwag yung kung itatambak nila dun sa dagat,” explained Solee.

(There’s no truth to that. Can you imagine if they use the soil as landfill; the sea will sweep it away. So supposed to be, rocks should be used to stabilize the landfill so as not to be easily eroded by the sea.)

On the other hand, Governor Deloso said, the company should refute allegations on the issue.

“Kapag sinasabi nila ngayon na hindi totoo itinambak doon sa Scarborough (Shoal) then there must be a trace of the documents. Meron ba silang Bureau of Customs permit? Meron ba silang Coastguard permit? Because to bring out the minerals from Zambales for purpose of mining exportation, kailangan may trace of documents. Can they really prove that?”

(If they are now denying that the soil is being deposited on Scarborough (Shoal) then there must be a trace of the documents. Do they have Bureau of Customs permit? Do they have Coast Guard permit? Because to bring out the minerals from Zambales for purpose of mining exportation, there should be a trace of documents. Can they really prove that?)

The UNTV team visited other mining companies operating in Zambales to verify reported damaging effects of mining activities on the environment.

With the help of a drone, UNTV was able to capture the extent of damage that Eramen Minerals Incorporated and Bengetcorp Nickel Mines Incorporated have purportedly inflicted on two mountains in the course of their mining operations.

According to Deloso, thousands of trees have also died including the endemic Mindoro Pine Tree.

UNTV had tried to get a statement from Benguetcorp Nickel Mines Incorporated but the latter refused an interview. (JOSHUA ANTONIO/ UNTV News & Rescue)

Source: sg.news.yahoo.com

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MANILA—(UPDATED) The state weather bureau on Tuesday recorded the highest heat index so far this year — 51.7 degrees Celsius — in Dagupan City, Pangasinan.

The high heat index, or the apparent temperature felt by a person, was recorded at around 2 p.m., and falls within the “danger” level, said PAGASA.

At this temperature, people are at risk of heat cramps or heat exhaustion. Continued activity could also cause heat stroke.

The heat index in Dagupan City reached 48.2 degrees Celsius on April 3.

Thirteen other areas are in the “danger” category. Among those with the highest temperatures are Cuyo town, Palawan (46.2 degrees Celsius), and Tuguegarao City, Cagayan (43.5 degrees Celsius).

A heat index of 42 degrees Celsius was also recorded in Pasay City, Metro Manila.

The Department of Health (DOH) earlier advised the public to keep themselves hydrated and protected from sun exposure.

PAGASA forecasts that on Wednesday, Central Visayas, Western Visayas and Mindanao could experience cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms, while Bicol region, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA and the rest of Visayas could also experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

Metro Manila, Central Luzon and the rest of Luzon, meanwhile, could experience partly cloudy skies.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com

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A WEEKLONG Lenten program has been set in Subic Bay Freeport.

Photo credit: SubicNewsLink

Wilma Eisma, chairman and administrator of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), said Subic is not only ready for the crowd of vacationers this summer, but also for throngs of the faithful who are expected to observe the Christian traditions of praying, fasting and reconciling with their Maker during the Lenten season.

Eisma said the Subic agency, in partnership with various stakeholder groups, has prepared a weeklong religious program, as well as some cultural presentations for the Holy Week.

The Holy Week, according to Christian tradition, is the culmination of the hallowed forty-day period of sacrifice leading up to Jesus’ death and resurrection. Christians observe the 40 days of Lent that begins on Ash Wednesday to replicate Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and withdrawal into the desert for 40 days.

Eisma said that because of its relative quiet and its peaceful atmosphere, the Subic Bay Freeport has become a favorite spot for religious reflection and meditation.

Subic’s Holy Week presentation starts at 8:30 a.m. on April 14, Palm Sunday, with the re-enactment of the entry of Jesus to Jerusalem and the blessing of palms, locally known as “palaspas.” This will be held at the San Roque Chapel, which was built in the 1800s for Spanish sailors and Filipino converts.

“Pabasa sa Freeport,” which is the chanting of the life, passion and death of Jesus Christ, starts at 9:00 a.m. on Holy Monday and Holy Tuesday also at San Roque Chapel.

On Maundy Thursday, the Mass of the Lord’s Supper and Washing of the Feet will be held at 5:00 p.m., to be followed by Visita Iglesia at 6:00 p.m. to 12:00 mindnight.

Slated on Good Friday are the Stations of the Cross, 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, San Roque Chapel; Guided Way of the Cross Meditation, 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Holy Land Subic Sanctuary, which is located at the Tipo area; and Liturgy of the Word and Veneration of the Cross, 3:00 p.m. at San Roque Chapel.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to join the religious procession on Holy Wednesday and the grand procession on Good Friday at 6:00 p.m. Both will go around Subic’s Central Business District and end at the San Roque Chapel.

The grand event that will culminate the Holy Week here will be the Easter Sunday procession or “Salubong” that will start at 4:00 a.m. on April 21 and proceed along the Manila and Dewey Avenues, pass by the Spanish Gate area, and end at San Roque Chapel.

Meanwhile, SBMA Tourism Department manager Mary Jamelle Camba said that aside from religious activities, the public may also enjoy for free the live musical entertainment program that will start at 7:00 p.m. from April 18 to April 20 at the Boardwalk Event Center.

These musical presentations will showcase the bests of local bands in the Subic Bay area, as well as a gospel healing concert featuring the drama group Centurion’s Servant, the Bethesda Springs of Hope Healing Ministry, as well as singers Julie San Jose, Yael and Karylle Yuzon, and Ku Aquino.

The Holy Mass at 6:00 a.m. on Easter Sunday at San Roque Chapel will be followed by the “Agape Breakfast For All” and the Easter egg hunt for children.

Camba said that in preparation for the expected influx of visitors to Subic, the SBMA Tourism Department has established satellite information offices in four strategic locations in the Freeport to help motorists on their way.

These information centers can be found at the Tipo Toll Plaza, the front of San Roque Chapel, the Total Gas Station in front of Subic Yacht Club, and the Starbucks coffeehouse along Argonaut Hiway.

Camba said these info centers will open from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. during the entire Holy Week and will also be manned by medical personnel with ambulances on stand-by, police officers, and auto mechanics.

Source: sunstar.com.ph

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Photo Credit: inhabitat.com

BALANGA CITY — A group of businessmen from the United Kingdom is scouting for a site here to build a US$500-million waste-to-energy power plant, local officials said.

David Wood, a British banker, met with Bataan Vice Gov. Cris Garcia on Friday to discuss the proposal, which will not cost the provincial government a single centavo.

The only counterpart of the Bataan government is to offer land to host the 100-megawatt power plant, Wood said.

Wood said the plant would need 1,500 tons of garbage a day as feedstock. The plant may also contract waste supply from neighboring Central Luzon provinces and even Metro Manila.

The waste-to-energy power plant will adopt an Australian technology, which is reputed to be operating with net-zero emission compared to other technologies.

Wood said under this scheme, the waste that would go to the landfill is converted to energy “thereby reducing carbon dioxide emission.”

Last month, a joint Korean-Japanese investor signed a memorandum of understanding with the provincial government of Bataan to put up a US$1 billion 600-megawatt thermal power plant.

Source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

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Photo Credit: Scoopnest

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) looks to push through with plans to move general aviation flights to Sangley Point by yearend as it targets to wrap up rehabilitation works in the former military base.

Developing general aviation operations in Sangley would help ease congestion in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), as business jets operating in the country’s main gateway would be relocated.

Transportation Undersecretary for aviation Manuel Tamayo said the DOTr has a budget of P500 million for the rehabilitation of the Danilo Atienza Air Base.

“It has not been maintained for a long time. The runway was shortened to 1,200 meters. Now, I’m happy to tell you it’s back to 2,300 meters. It has been completed two months ago,” Tamayo said.

“Now what we are constructing are the hangars and the passenger terminal building. We’ll be setting up a new tower and that will be developed to be night rated as well,” he said.

Tamayo said the target is to complete all of these constructions within the year.

“That’s the target, to move general aviation to Sangley. Once operational, that is when we will push for general aviation,” he said.

The DOTr had also expressed plans to revive the idle Subic Airport and make it operational to serve as a possible hub for business jets and help aid in decongesting the country’s main international gateway.

The provincial government of Cavite, for its part, is currently working on its proposal to develop a new international airport in Sangley Point and has been given a mid-year deadline by Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade to resolve all issues surrounding its offer.

The Cavite government’s unsolicited proposal, which has been given the green light by the DOTr in July last year, seeks to develop the former United States naval station into a modern gateway and become an alternative to the NAIA, which is presently operating way beyond its capacity.

Cavite Governor Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier expressed uncertainty as to whether or not they can meet the deadline set by Tugade.

However, he said they are doing everything at the moment to be able to comply with all the requirements and is pursuing all avenues possible to push through with the airport project.

A private group, the Tieng-led All Asia Resources and Reclamation Corp., has also submitted a $12-billion unsolicited proposal in March last year to finance, construct and develop a new airport to be called “Philippine Sangley International Airport” in Sangley, Cavite.

The proposal seeks to make a regional airport hub which could accommodate about 120 million passengers per year, entailing an investment of $12 billion for development cost alone and a concession period of 50 years.

The proposal, however, was set aside as the DOTr prioritized the government offer.

Source: philstar.com

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