QUEZON CITY – Dr. Richard Nixon Gomez, scientist/inventor, on Monday divulged that another 15 to 20 lawmakers are in favor of legalizing medical cannabis.

It can be noted that among the proponents of the legalization of medical cannabis are former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, House Committee on Dangerous Drugs Chairman Congressman Ace Barbers and Congressman Pantaleon Alvarez, and Senator Robinhood “Robin” Padilla.

“We should legalize it (medical cannabis), the congressmen unanimously said last week,” Gomez said.

“With compassionate special permit (from FDA), no need to legalize medical cannabis,” he quoted the lawmakers as saying.

During the Media Health Forum in Quezon City, Gomez, the president and chief executive officer of Bauertek Corporation, said that he is now a member of the Technical Working Group in the Joint Committee on Health and the Committee on Dangerous Drugs of the House of Representatives in the 19th Congress.

Gomez, also the general manager of Bauertek Corporation, noted that during the joint congressional hearing at the House of Representatives last week, it was disclosed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that out of the more than 1,000 applicants after so many years, only one applicant was approved by the FDA for the importation of medical cannabis.

He added that a patient would need about P1.7 million per year for the importation of medical cannabis and no importer would be willing to do it with only one patient.

Gomez stressed that in the United States, the legalization of medical cannabis started in Sacramento, California with two hectares manufacturing facility. The legalization of medical cannabis is being done by City or by State.

“Mula sa pagtanim, hanggang sa pagharvest ng medical cannabis, Step 1 — simple which is the easiest or extraction of oil, pero Steps 2, 3,4 5, 6 cannot be done in Sacramento, California pero kayang gawin ng Bauertek ang Steps 2, 3, 4, 5 at 6,” he said.

Gomez added that “the multi-million-dollar facility in Sacramento cannot conduct Step 7 or culture of medical cannabis — ang pinakamahirap pero kayang gawin yun ng Bauertek.”

“Libo-libo o milyon-milyog kababayan natin ang ating matutulungan sa pamamagitan ng medical cannabis,” Gomez said.

“Kapag tinanggal ang THC, di na makaka-high ang medical cannabis at pwedeng ireseta ng ordinaryong doktor at di kailangan ng ‘S2 prescription’ dahil hindi siya nakaka-high o habit forming,” Gomez pointed out. – By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.

QUEZON CITY – The Civil Service Commission (CSC) is encouraging volunteerism in the public sector as the “National Volunteers Month” is fast approaching.

CSC Chairperson Karlo Alexei B. Nograles is the 15th honorary chairperson of this year’s “National Volunteers Month,” the celebration of which, is held in December.

During a press conference at the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) hosted by PIA Director General Undersecretary Jose A. Torres, Jr. on Friday, August 4, Nograles said they are promoting the first ever awarding of the “Media Bayanihan Awards” which is an innovation that seeks to recognize outstanding media practitioners and to also get media involved in volunteerism. Purely voluntary, mainstream the act of volunteerism in our society at nararapat lamang na bigyan ng recognition ang mga volunteer.”

“Each act of volunteerism no matter how small has a ripple effect on our everyday lives. Volunteers are the unsung heroes who work tirelessly and their dedication knows no bounds,” he added.

“Ito (Bolunterismo) ang magandang kaugalian na ating itinuturo sa ating kabataan na minana pa natin sa ating mga ninuno,” Nograles stressed.

The CSC chief cited Republic Act No. 9418, otherwise known as the “Volunteer Act of 2007”, which provides the policy and institutional framework for integrating and harmonizing the various volunteering efforts in the country.

“Our part in the CSC is to encourage volunteerism in the public sector sa ating mga manggagawa sa gobyerno, the state colleges and universities, the academe, the students, the PASCU (Philippine Association of State Colleges and Universities) all over the country, if not in all provinces,” he said.

On House Bill No. 4927, or the proposed Act providing for free professional examinations to qualified indigent Filipinos, Nograles said that they promptly reply when their opinion is sought on a pending bill noting that, “Congress has been passing laws that benefit the general welfare and well-being of indigent Filipinos.”

The proposed bill aims to provide such benefit to graduates from poor families “in order to level the playing field amongst all future professional examination takers”.

Likewise, Nograles said that the DBM (Department of Budget and Management) is currently studying the possibility of granting a salary increase to government employees corresponding to the salary grade of each employee.

Meantime, qualified for the “Bayanihan Media Awards” are those media works which were published or released from August 2022 to July 2023. The deadline for submission of entries will be on Sept. 30, 2023 and the awarding ceremonies will be on Dec. 12, 2023.

The categories are Best volunteerism report in print, Best volunteerism report in television, Best volunteerism report in radio, and Best volunteerism report in online media. Both individual award and print organization will be given.

Online media organization can be nominated in both print and online media categories as long as they feature different set of content or materials in both channels.

Meanwhile, Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) executive director Donald James D. Gawe said “The award has no cash prize as it is in the spirit of volunteerism. Walang bayad at ginagawang kusa. Inasmush as we would like to provide incentives to the volunteers. Ito ay parang token of gratitude. Pagbibigay ng incentive sa volunteers.”

“We are now in the process of reviewing the CSC circular encouraging public to engage in volunteerism. Mayroon naman pong sweldo ang government employees. Binubuhay natin ang spirit ng volunteerism sa lahat ng mamamayan at ang gobyerno ang dapat maging ehemplo. We are encouraging more government employees to volunteer themselves,” Gawe added.

“We are now coordinating with all the local government units to designate their own respective focal volunteer person,” he stressed.

For his part, Dr. Jan Rich A. Guira, representing the Don Mariano Marcos State University, said that “kami ay nakasama sa pag-craft ng mechanics ng first-ever ‘Bayanihan Media Awards’.”

“Kuhang-kuha na mayroon tayong state university o state college sa lahat ng probinsya,” Guira added.

“We did not say no to participate in the crafting of the mechanics/guidelines for the first-ever ‘Bayanihan Media Awards,” he stressed

.

On the other hand, Prof. Marwin M. Dela Cruz, vice president for NCR of PASCU and president of Philippine State College of Aeronautics, said that the PASCU has 114,000 employees and more than one million students across the country.

“The presence of state university or state college is almost in every province in the country,” Dela Cruz added.

“Napakalaking bentahe na makita ng state colleges at state universities sa media ang spirit of volunteerism,” he said.

“Makakaasa po ang PIA at kasamahan sa media na tutulungan silang mapalaganap ang ispiritu ng bolunterismo,” he added. – By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.

QUEZON CITY — Two of the foremost experts in geopolitics and international relations on Thursday shared the view that the Philippines would not allow the United States to use the facilities of the EDCA (Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement) to stage a counter-attack against China if the latter attacks Taiwan.

The EDCA is an agreement between the United States and the Philippines geared towards bolstering the American-Philippine alliance.

During the Pandesal Forum at the 84-year-old Kamuning Bakery in Quezon City and hosted by Wilson Lee Flores, Prof. Rommel Banlaoi said “I think PBBM’s (President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr.) decision to expand EDCA with the United States is not only because of the issue of the South China Sea but also because of other pressing matters.”

Banlaoi is a political scientist, counter-terrorist scholar, international security studies expert, educator and foreign affairs analyst. He was also a former deputy national security adviser with the rank of undersecretary and president of the Philippine Society for Intelligence and Security Studies.

“Honestly, both the United States and China would not want to go into a ‘direct collision’ in the region (South China Sea). As much as possible, they would want the ‘status quo’ to remain. They are not prepared to enter into any kind of ‘armed conflict’ in the region,” Banlaoi stressed.

The security expert noted that there are two situations wherein China may be compelled to take action such as if Taiwan declares independence, China would take military action to prevent it. The other one is that if China uses military force to unify Taiwan with the mainland of China. 

However, Banlaoi said, the United States is urging Taiwan to declare its independence from China.

When asked by the Mabuhay if the one-billion strong People’s Liberation Army of China would attack Taiwan, do you think the United States would use the EDCA facilities in the Philippines to stage a counter-attack against China?

Both Banlaoi and Prof. Robin Michael Garcia replied in the negative.

Garcia is a professor, political scientist, adviser, Eisenhower Fellow 2023, consultant of the Congressional Research Fellow at the House of Representatives and teaching at the University of Asia and the Pacific. He studied at the University of the Philippines. He is also an international relations expert and geopolitics analyst.

“A war between the United States and China would be catastrophic. It’s especially most catastrophic to the Philippines,” Garcia said.

“The total trade value between the United States and China represent 40 percent of the world economy,” he added.

“I think we have to ask for more benefits from the United States. I’m still waiting for more granular, more rigorous documents not outlines in the management of EDCA,” Garcia stressed.

He merely termed as “just a general statement” the US$ 100-million pledged by the United States for the construction activities related to EDCA.

Banlaoi also noted that the Philippines already said “no” to the United States twice. Number one is no to 99 years for military bases in the Philippines, and only for 25 years, and the Military Bases Agreement between the Philippines and the United States expired in 1991.

The other one, he said, “no we don’t want you to stay longer in the Philippines. The 1986 People Power Revolution happened, academically saying, it’s when we said no to the US. US almost abandoned us. The reason why we established relations with Australia and other countries.”

The United States had the Clark Airforce Base in Angeles City, Pampanga and the Subic Naval Base in Olongapo City, Zambales, which were both abandoned after the destructive eruption of Pinatubo Volcano on July 16, 1991. – By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.

LUNSOD QUEZON — Bilang bahagi ng ika-dalawampu’t anim na anibesaryo ng Manila Water ngayong Agosto, inilunsad nito, sa pamamagitan ng Manila Water Foundation (MWF), ang “Project Drink 72” na nagkaloob ng refrigerated drinking fountains (RDFs) sa pitumpu’t dalawang pampublikong iskwelahan sa lunsod na ito.

Ipinagkaloob ng Manila Water ang RDFs sa unang 20 pampublikong iskwelahan na ginanap sa Balara Elementary School sa Lunsod Quezon.

Dumalo sa seremonya sina Manila Water President at CEO Jocot De Dios, Mayor Joy Belmonte ng Lunsoz Quezon, MWSS Administrator Bobby Cleofas, Department of Education-Quezon City Schools Division Superintendent Carleen Sedilla, MWF Executive Director Reginald Andal, Manila Water East Zone Business Operations Group Director Shoebe Caong, at mga prinsipal, titser at mga mag-aaral.

Kabilang sa mga unang tumanggap na paaralan ang Balara Elementary School, Balara High School, Batino Elementary School, Camp Crame Elementary School, Camp Crame High School, Krus na Ligas Elementary School, Krus na Ligas High School, Malaya Elementary School, Sto. Cristo Elementary School, Culiat Elementary School, Pinyahan Elementary School, Quirino High School, San Francisco High School, Bungad Elementary School, New Era Elementary School, Old Balara Elementary School, Pasong Tamo Elementary School, Project 3 Elementary School, Tandang Sora Elementary School, at Teodora Alonzo Elementary School na may kabuoang 59,000 mag-aaral.

Sa pamamagitan ng inisyatibong ito, umaasa ang Manila Water na makabahagi sa pagkakaroon ng magandang kalusugan at kapakanan ng mga istudyante, gayundin sa paggawa ng conducive learning environment na may sapat na access sa malinis at inuming tubig, safely-managed sanitation facilities at hygiene supplies. 

“Hopefully, ang mga bata, maiiwasan ang mga matatamis na inumin. Tubig po ang tunay na kailangan natin for our health. Ang mga fountain na ito will hopefully deter or prevent us from using plastic kasi masama po talaga yan sa ating environment,” ani De Dios.

Sa kanyang talumpati naman, ipinahayag ni Mayor Belmonte ang kanyang pasasalamat sa Manila Water sa pagsuporta sa mga adbokasiya na pinaprayoridad din ng Pamahalaan ng Lunsod Quezon.

“Alam naman natin na isa sa mga adbokasiya natin ay siguraduhing malulusog ang ating mga kabataan. Kayo rin ang nagsimula ng WASH Program kung saan sinisiguro natin na may handwashing facilities ang ating mga paaralan. Ngayon naman, drinking fountains, alam nyo ito rin ay aking adbokasiya because we really believe that water is a basic human right that every Filipino family should have,”  ani Belmonte. — Ni Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.

LUNSOD QUEZON – Sampung ospital sa lunsod na ito ang pinagkalooban ng P50-milyong pondo sa ilalim ng Medical Access Program o MAP ni Senador Joel Villanueva nitong Miyerkules, Agosto 2.

Sa kanyang talumpati, sinabi ni Mayor Joy Belmonte ng Lunsod Quezon “Ito ay talagang maliwanag na indikasyon ng kanilang unwavering commitment para matulungan ang buhay ng mga Pilipino.”

Nagpahayag din ang punong ehekutibo ng nasabing lokal na pamahalaaan nang kanyang buong-pusong pasasalamat at pagkilala kay Senador Villanueva para sa P50 milyong pondo para sa MAP para sa sampung ospital na matatagpuan sa syudad.

“Kumpiyansa ako na malaking bahagi ng ating mga mamamayan ang makikinabang sa programang,” sab pa ni Belmonte.

Sa kanyang panig, sinabi naman ni  Villanueva na “sa lahat ng propesyon sa mundong ito, ang inyong propesyon, sa inyo ako bilib na bilib.”

Dinagdag  pa ng Senador na kailangang pag-aralang mabuti ang mga health practitioners at asahan ang lahat ng mga senaryo ng kundisyon ng kalusugan ng isang pasyente bago isakatuparan ang kanilang tungkulin.

“Sa kasalukuyan, 40 porsyento ang coverage ng Philippine Health Insurance Corporation o PhilHealth sa ilalim ng Universal Health Care Act. Ang status po, binabalikat pa rin ng mga Pilipino ang 60 percent o mas malaki “out of pocket” ang ginagastos sa kanilang pangangailangang medikal,” sabi ni Villanueva.

Ayon din kay Sen. Villanueva, masigabong nagtatrabaho ngayon ang Senado para maitaas sa mas mahigit 40 porsyento ang health coverage ng PhilHealth para sa mga Pilipino.

“Ang pondong ito ay magsilbing martilyo at chisel sa pagtulong nyo sa mga nangangailangang Pilipino,” ani Villanueva.

Matatandaang si Villanueva ang pangunahing may-akda ng “Doktor para sa Bayan Act”.

Lumagda sa Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) ang Department of Health o DOH at ng sampung ospital na matatagpuan sa Lunsod Quezon na ginanap sa ika-15 palapag ng High Rise Building ng Bulwagan ng Lunsod Quezon.

Kasama nina Belmonte at  Villanueva  si  DOH National Capital Region Regional Director Annie Sudiacal na sumaksi sa paglagda ng kasunduan at seremonya nang pagkakaloob, ayon sa pagkakasunod-sunod.

Kabilang sa sampung benepisaryong ospital na tumanggap ng tig-P5 milyong tseke kada iang East Avenue Memorial Medical Center, Lung Center of the Philippines, National Children’s Hospital, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, Philippine Heart Center, Philippine Orthopedic Center, Quezon City General Hospital, Quirino Memorial Medical Center, at Veterans Memorial Medical Center. – Ni Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.

The heavy rain brought by Typhoon ‘Egay’ did not dampen the spirit of 313 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that participated in Go Negosyo’s 3M On Wheels recently held at SM City Baliwag on July 29. Graced by Bulacan Vice Governor Alex Castro, DTI Provincial Director Ms. Edna Dizon, and VP for MSME Development, Bulacan Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Inc. Ms. Carmencita Uychoco, Go Negosyo’s 3M On Wheels (Mentorship, Money, and Market) aims to provide Bulakenyo entrepreneurs with some insights on how to start their own business, innovative strategies to grow their enterprise, and networking opportunities through free entrepreneurship coaching. Aside from mentorship, the event also featured an expo where attendees had on-the-spot consultations on financing as well as market solutions. — PR

SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime) and Citicore Renewable Energy Company (CREC) signed a Memorandum of Agreement on 11 July 2023 as a joint commitment to champion renewable energy. 

Through this partnership, SM Prime will source its energy requirements of up to 90- Megawatts (MWac) from CREC’s upcoming Lumbangan Solar Power Plant in Tuy, Batangas. The long-term agreement will commence in the first half of 2024.

This is in line with the Retail Competition and Open Access (RCOA) policies of the Department of Energy.

This development further strengthens both CREC and SM Prime's commitment to the Department of Energy's program of moving up the renewable energy supply component of the Philippines to 35% by the year 2030.

“This partnership marks our strong commitment to providing sustainable operations in our developments nationwide. It is aligned with SM Prime's target of achieving net zero by the year 2040. SM Prime ensures that its risk-informed investments catalyze sustainable development and positive change in the communities where it operates,” said Mr. John Ong, SM Prime Chief Finance Officer.

The agreement with SM Prime adds to CREC’s long list of blue-chip company partners, attesting to the company’s solid performance and service excellence.

“We are happy to partner with SM Prime in providing clean and safe renewable energy for their power requirements,” said Mr. Oliver Tan, CREC President. “We believe that their support and trust in us through this partnership reflects our commitment as a renewable energy provider, and we are glad that SM Prime shares in our vision of a sustainable future,” Mr. Tan added.

ABOUT SM PRIME:

SM Prime is one of the largest integrated property developers in Southeast Asia that offers innovative and sustainable lifestyle cities with the development of malls, residences, offices, hotels, and convention centers. 

ABOUT CITICORE:

Citicore Renewable aims to lead the renewable energy revolution by empowering

Filipino communities through positive energy. With a projected 5 Gigawatts of green capacity addition in the next five years, Citocore Renewable is committed to powering a First-World Philippines with Pure Renewable Energy. — PR

Nagpamahagi sina Gobernador Daniel R. Fernando at Bise Gobernador Alex C. Castro kasama si Kapitan Emmanuel Joson (kaliwa) ng Brgy. Sta. Cruz  ng may 1,500 family food packs para tugunan ang pangunahing pangangailangan ng 1,500 apektadong pamilya nitong Lunes, Hulyo 31 sa  Guiguinto, Bulacan dahil sa pagbaha na dulot ng Habagat na pinalakas ng mga Bagyong Egay at Falcon. – PPAO

LUNSOD QUEZON — Ang proyektong ‘Light Up to WASHup! Beaming Forces for Good in the Ipo Watershed’ ng Manila Water Foundation (MWF) at One Meralco Foundation (OMF) ay kinilalang Outstanding Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Collaboration Project sa CSR Guild Awards 2023 ng League of Corporate Foundations.

Ang tubig at enerhiya ay mga nagpapabagong lakas na humuhubog ng mga buhay at nagdedetermina nang kinabukasan ng mga tahanan at komunidad.

Subalit, sa ilang parte ng bansa, ang access sa mga batayang serbisyong ito ay patuloy na nagiging hamon dahil sa geograpiko, imprastraktura at kawalan ng pondo.

Kagaya ito ng kaso ng isang komunidad ng Dumagat sa Ipo Watershed na matatagpuan sa Sitio Sapang Munti, Norzagaray, Bulacan.

Sa naturang watershed nanggagaling ang inuming tubig ng milyun-milyong residente ng Metro Manila at ang mga nakatira malapit dito ay uhaw sa mas mabuting pinagkukunan ng tubig

Para tugunan ito, ang MWF at OMF ay nagsanib pwersa sa instalasyon ng water treatment at distribution system sa pamamagitan ng solar power para serbisyuhan ang 122 pamilya sa nasabing komunidad.

Nagsimulang gumawa sa Sitio Sapang Munti ang MWF noong 2021 at ang malaking pangangailangan ay ang pagsasaayos ng imprastraktura ng sistemang pantubig na kailangang i-energize.

Ito ay natupad nang ang OMF ay naghahanap ng pilot project para sa kanilang Water Access Electrification Program na sumusuporta sa pangangailan ng enerhiya ng mga programang pantubig sa mga komunidad na malalayo at wala sa grid.

Nagtayo ang MWF ng water treatment at distribution facility sa Sitio Sapang Munti sa pamamagitan ng solar photovoltaic (PV) system na ikinabit ng OMF.

Simula Disyembre 2022, ang water system ay nagsusuplay ng 32 metro kubiko ng maaasahan at malinis na tubig para sa mga pamilya na sumusuporta sa kalusugan at pagiging produktibo ng komunidad. – Ni Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.

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LUNSOD QUEZON – Sa isang pulong balitaan nitong Hulyo 31 sa lunsod na ito, nanawagan si Mayor Fermin Mabulo ng San Fernando, Camarines Sur para sa isang bagong pamunuan na uunahin ang inklusibo at pangmatagalang kaunlaran para sa lahat.

Hinamon din ni Mayor Mabulo si Kinatawan Luis Raymund Villafuerte, Jr., na  tumakbo silang dalawa sa halalang panggobernador sa taong 2025.

Napilitang lumabas sa media ang alkalde kasunod nang kumakalat na fake news at tsismis na diumanoy ipinakalat ng kampo ni Kint. Villafuerte laban sa kanya at sa kanyang pamilya.

“Madami pong lumalabas na mga fake news laban sa akin at sa aming pamilya. mga paninira na sa una ay hindi namin pinapansin dahil pawang kasinungalingan lang, subalit ito ay palala nang palala at sponsored pa,” pagbubulgar ni Mabulo.

Ipinaliwanag ni Mayor Mabulo  ang pangangailangang tugunan ang mga paninira sa kanya at kanyang pamilya.

Nasiraan ng loob si Mabulo ng mga walang basehang pag-atake at ipinahiwatig na motibong pulitikal ang nasa likod ng mga paninira.

Nagsilbing panlalawigang tagapangasiwa ng Camarines Sur si Mabulo noong gobernador si Villafuerte.

Naalala ng lokal na punong ehekutibo na ang mga pag-atake laban sa kanya ng mambabatas ay nagsimula sa social media platforms.

Kapwa miyembro ng PDP-Laban  si Mayor Mabulo at Kint. Villafuerte pero noong nakaraang eleksyon ay nagkaiba ng partidong dinadala.

Ikinuwento ni Mabulo na ilang buwan na ang nakakaraan, hinamon  siya  ni Villafurte sa isang boksing.

“May nag-text nga sa akin at naghahamon pa ng suntukan, nag-post din sa Facebook. sasagutin na kita, Congressman Villafuerte, tinatanggap ko ang iyong hamon, boxing? Let’s go! Sa isang kundisyon, gawin natin ito sa Jessie Robredo Coliseum sa Naga City bilang fund-raising event para sa kapakanan ng ating mga provincial scholars na tinanggal mo dahil hindi bumoto sa mga anak mo ang magulang at pamilya nila,” ani Mabulo. – Ni Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.