By Mar Supnad

BALANGA CITY, Bataan — Alarmed by the increasing number senseless deaths in his province, Governor Abet S. Garcia revealed on Monday that he is set to form groups that will foster a positive outlook in life and a safer community that is free from suicides and drowning incidents.

Goody Ilagan, president of the M/V XGC Express, presents before officials of Bataan, led by Gov. Abet S. Garcia, the operation of a new ferry service between the Port of Orion in Bataan and the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City recently. (Mar T. Supnad) Gov. Abet S. Garcia (Mar T. Supnad)

Garcia bewailed that suicides have become more frequent especially among the youth and want stronger programs to combat mental illness in the province.

“We should form a technical working group on mental health that would monitor the increasing number of suicides and other mental health issues,” Garcia said during a meeting of the Provincial Local Health Board.

The “1Bataan Command Center” may also have a suicide prevention hotline to counsel Bataeños who are depressed or having suicidal thoughts.

Furthermore, Garcia also emphasized the accidental deaths which include drowning especially in the coastal areas in some towns of the province.

Latest data from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), showed a total of 50 drowning incidents recorded since 2016.

In order to curb the incidents, Garcia instructed the PDRRMO to educate and train responders and lifeguards especially those in beaches and private resorts.

The Provincial Local Health Board is continuously promoting health programs and campaigns to prolong the life expectancy of each Bataeño.

This is in line with Bataan’s vision that by 2020, the province will have the lowest poverty incidence resulting from quality growth, attaining top-level human development index in the Philippines.

source: news.mb.com.ph

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American Idol 2012 runner-up Jessica Sanchez has expressed interest to have a house inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, an official said.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chair and administrator Wilma T. Eisma said that Sanchez called on her Monday at the administration building.

During their meeting, she said the Mexican-Filipino American artist has expressed plan to find a house inside the freeport zone, saying that the area is a wonderful place to live in.

Eisma welcomed Sanchez’s plan as she also told the artist to treat her like an older sister.

source: centralluzon.politics.com.ph

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By Jonas Reyes

Photo credit: oedc.com.ph

Olongapo City, Zambales — The Olongapo Electricity Distribution Company (OEDC) announced recently that it will be increasing electricity charges in the city.

The OEDC said the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) approved an interim relief of P0.3776 per kilowatt hour (kwh) after the company filed a rate increase of P0.97 per kwh in September, 2015.

With the new distribution rate structures, residents will have a price of P0.9638 per kwh than the old price of P0.6002kwh, while commercial establishments will now have a price of P0.8360kwh from the old price of P0.5206 kwh for the distribution only.

The company said that for every 100 kwh used, residents will pay P872.09 from the usual P823.54, an increase of P48.54.

Meanwhile, commercial establishments will pay P895.31 from the usual P833.03 for every 100 kwh used, an increase of P62.28.

The company stated that the new rates are still lower by P1.05kwh compared with public distribution companies near Olongapo City

source: news.mb.com.ph

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By CJ Marquez, CNN Philippines

Subic, Zambales (CNN Philippines, June 3)-Nick Baldwin accomplished a feat that nobody from his country Seychelles has achieved – win an Ironman title.

“To win the first Ironman here is cool for me,” he said.

He clocked in an official time of eight hours, 50 minutes, and 13 seconds.

After six years of attempting to capture an Ironman title, Baldwin said this achievement in his career will have a special place in his heart.

“It feels like a long time. I’ve always tried to win an Ironman title. To do it is something very special,” he said.

Asked on what part of the race he struggled the most, Baldwin shared that it was the 42-kilometer run.

Aside from the $25,000 cash prize, Baldwin also got a slot for the Kona, Hawaii World Championship.

New Zealand’s Cameron Brown came at second with an official time of 8 hours, 56 minutes and 49 seconds, while Simon Cochrane at third place with 8 hours, 58 minutes and 58 seconds.

Meanwhile, Australian Liz Blatchford topped the women’s division with a time of nine hours, 22 minutes and 22 seconds.

Her fellow Australian Dimity Duke finished second with a time of nine hours, 40 minutes and 45 seconds, while Simone Maier landed third with nine hours, 47 minutes and 39 seconds.

August Benedicto was the first Filipino to cross the finish line with a time of nine hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds.

Source: cnnphilippines.com

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Energy chief renews call for strategic oil stockpile

By: Ronnel W. Domingo – @inquirerdotne

Photo credit: bmiresearch.com

The government expects to secure an initial shipment of lower-priced diesel from abroad within this month but does not yet know where this is coming from nor where this will be stored.

Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi yesterday said in an interview that Russia was previously mentioned only as a possible supplier, but that the government was looking at other potential sources and has not made a deal with any seller.

Officials at Malacañang earlier said the government intended to buy cheaper oil from sources that were not members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec).

“I would like to clarify that it’s not only Russia [that we are looking at for cheaper diesel]. Russia is an option, but there are other options that we are looking at,” Cusi told reporters.

The state-run PNOC-Exploration Corp. “is looking toward the end of June for the arrival of shipments,” he added.

Asked where the refined fuel would be stored, Cusi said PNOC-EC was negotiating for at least three locations.

“There are available storage tanks, and PNOC-EC is negotiating. One is in Subic [in Zambales], one is in Phividec [in Misamis Oriental], another one is in Quezon [province], and there are other areas” under consideration, he said.

Phividec refers to the industrial complex run by the state firm Phividec (Philippine Veterans Investment Development Corp.) Industrial Authority.

“This is what we have been saying [from way back], we need to have a strategic supply,” Cusi said.

“Our oil industry is deregulated but the private sector is required to have 15 days’ supply of refined products and 30 days’ supply of crude oil,” he said. “Of course, we are concerned that we would be affected should there be a disruption in supply. That is why the government is developing a strategic reserve.”

Earlier this week, Cusi said the government was gearing up for a national oil stockpile as crude oil prices touched four-year highs near the $80-a-barrel mark in previous weeks.

As Opec and non-Opec countries including Russia continue efforts to raise prices by reducing output through an agreement made in late 2016, the World Bank’s forecast as of April put crude prices averaging at $65 in 2018 and 2019.

“The government is aware of the country’s vulnerabilities to abrupt changes in the international oil situation and impending threats on the same,” Cusi said. “Hence we are formulating various strategies to address those vulnerabilities to cushion the impact for our consumers.”

Cusi, who is ex-officio chair of PNOC-EC, said the state firm was preparing for oil trading and retail “to provide competition to existing oil industry players and pacify domestic oil prices.”

In particular, PNOC-EC has been directed and authorized to source fuels such as diesel from Russia and non-Opec members, which will be “sold to independent oil firms and directly to the public.”

Oil companies are currently required to maintain a minimum inventory that is equivalent to 30 days’ supply of crude and products for refiners like Petron Corp. and Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. Non-refiners are required to keep a stock good for at least 15 days of diesel, gasoline, and kerosene as well as seven days’ worth of liquefied petroleum gas.

Cusi said the creation of a strategic petroleum reserve was based on a number of joint international studies that were done in 2003 and 2004, on the feasibility of building and maintaining such stockpiles. But the Philippines has not gone so far as to build a stockpile as prices of crude and refined products plummeted a few years ago. Until oil ministers of 14 Opec member-countries along with non-Opec producers—including the Russian Federation—agreed in November 2016 to reduce their crude oil output by 558,000 barrels a day for each country.

source: business.inquirer.net/

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