Growing beyond food security
During the pandemic, Quezon City, the country’s largest city,has been hit particularly hard by hunger and malnutrition.
During a high-level discussion on policies and strategies for COVID-19 recovery organized by the United Nations (UN) Philippines, Mayor Joy Belmonte shared the difficulties the city government had faced, most of which came without warning.
Aiming to become more self-reliant, the city hasestablished urban gardens and farms with Grow QC. “We now have 166 sites in different areas across the city that serve as a source of nutrition and comfort and mental relief for many of our underprivileged,” Belmonte said.
Grow QC promotes and strengthens urban farming in the city through Joy of Urban Farming Project, where seed starter kits and food packs are distributed, and community farms established via multistakeholder partnerships.
Grow QC enables laws like Executive Order 16-2021, A Law Establishing the Quezon City Healthy Food Procurement Policy, which ensures that all food, including meals, snacks and beverages procured, prepared, and/or served by the Quezon City government must comply with the city’s nutrition standards.
Belmonte said that “(W)e must always be prepared for any eventuality. We have the foresight. We have the determination. We have the political will. And we know what good a little garden can do.”
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Holcim appointments
Holcim Philippines, Inc. appointed Zoe Sibala, former vice president of Strategy,assenior vice president of Sustainability, and expanded the role of Richard Cruz, vice president of Health, Safety, and Security, to include the Environment portfolio. The appointments took effect on 15 August.
As Head of Strategy since 2017, Sibala helped craft Holcim Philippines’ plans to expand its business amid a more competitive market environment. She held leadership roles in finance, strategy, and business development in legacy Lafarge Philippines’ aggregates unit, which was acquired by Holcim in 2015.
Cruz was appointed vice president for Health, Safety, and Security in 2018. Prior to this, he held leadership roles in the department and drove improvements in these areas across the business. He joined Holcim Philippines’ waste management unit Geocycle as laboratory engineer in 2008 helping it attain an Integrated Management System certification (Quality, H&S and Environment).He holds certifications in health and safety from accrediting organizations such as the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) and the International Safety Rating System (ISRS).
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Makati adopting smart-city solutions
Makati City acquired several solutions to strengthen its ability to support the evolving needs of Makatizens, especially during these challenging times.
At the onset of the pandemic, Makati City invested in the Webex Suite, a software application that combines tools across meetings, calling, messaging, events, and polling.
The city also acquired Cisco Konektado — a communication solution designed for disaster preparedness and mitigation. Complete with routers, switches, IP Phones, and a generator that can turn any location into a disaster command center, the solution will be used in collaboration with Makati City’s existing fiber optics.
Makati City has also been making all the necessary preparations in anticipation of “the new normal” that will greatly impact the way Makatizens go about their daily lives.
To guide the academe with blended learning, the city will also install Cisco’s Connected Learning Solution — a portable connectivity tool comprising routers, cameras, and modems, which will enable public schools to conduct classes remotely and to create online-friendly modules.
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Maynilad bats for proper wastewater management
West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. recently held wastewater management online forums dubbed “Kubeta Talks” for 17 participants, bringing the total number of customers they have reache to 154 since 2018–all business owners of establishments within the Manila Bay area generating wastewater.
The online forumsprovide information about wastewater laws and regulations, as well as management solutions for the protection of bodies of water.
Under the law, such establishments must comply with government regulations–such as passing the General Effluent Standards, getting a discharge permit, and connecting to the sewer network of an accredited service provider–to continue business operations.
Maynilad has been holding this forum in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), and the Manila LGU, in support of the continuing Supreme Court Mandamus to clean up, rehabilitate and preserve Manila Bay.
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Cebu Pacific flies home 320 Filipinos on Bayanihan flight
Cebu Pacific safely flew home 320 Filipinos from Dubai, inresponse to government’s call to facilitate the return of overseas Filipinos in the Middle East who needed to go home despite an ongoing travel restriction.
This is the fourth CEB-arranged special commercial or Bayanihan flight to the Philippines since the UAE ban in May, in coordination with the Philippine government.
Aside from meals, passengers on this flight received baggage allowance upgrades.Upon arrival, passengers observed stringent quarantine and testing guidelines.
The cost of quarantine accommodation and testing for land-based overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) will be shouldered by Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA); while the Philippine Port Authority will cover the cost for sea-based OFWs.
All other returning Filipino citizens will pay for their quarantine accommodations and testing.
CEB has coordinated with BOQ-accredited hotels such as Savoy Hotel, Holiday Inn Manila Galleria, and Go Hotels Ortigas.
The next Bayanihan flight is scheduled on August 25.
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Rep. Villar grateful for people’s trust
Deputy Speaker and Las Piñas Lone District Rep. Camille Villar has welcomed the result of an independent, non-commissioned survey indicating that she was in the top 10 district representatives in Metro Manila.
Results of a survey conducted by the RP-Mission and Development Foundation Inc. (RPMD) and performed per district in every region showed Villar placing second among district congressmen in the National Capital Region with 71% rating.
“I am truly grateful for the trust and confidence expressed (of) our constituents,… I will use this survey as our guide and continue our work especially in these challenging times,” said Villar.
A total of 10,000 respondents participated in the survey conducted from August 1 to 10, with a margin of error of 3%.
Overall, San Juan Rep. Ronaldo Zamora (Lone District) topped the survey at 80% rating, while Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano (1st District) placed third at 70%. Fourth is Navotas Rep. John Reynald Tiangco (1st District) with 68%, followed by Quezon City Rep. Jose Christopher “Kit” Belmonte (6th District) with 67%, Caloocan Rep. Dale Malapitan (1st District) with 65% and Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon (Lone District) with 64%.
On the eighth spot is Valenzuela Rep. Eric Martinez (2nd District) with 62%, trailed by Parañaque Rep. Joy Myra Tambunting (2nd District) with 61% and Marikina Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo (2nd District) in tenth place with 60% rating.
RPMD said the ratings and rankings were “greatly dependent on the job and performances” of the representatives.
The foundation added that the expectations and duties of the members of Congress are extensive and encompass several roles as regards representation, legislation and constituent service, and it is “noteworthy to commend them for performing well in their districts.”
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Download BDO apps only from official app stores
BDO Unibank is advising its clients to download its mobile apps only from official app store platforms to ensure security of data.
The bank’s mobile apps, namely, BDO Digital Banking, BDO Pay, BDO Deals, BDO Securities Mobile App, BDO Checkout, BDO Merchant, and BDO Unibank SG, can be downloaded for free from the Google Play Store, Apple App Store and Huawei AppGallery.
Clients who are unable to download the mobile apps are encouraged to use the web version.
BDO advises against downloading its mobile apps from unofficial app stores and other websites, which may offer outdated versions of these apps or worse, include a malicious software or malware.
Scammers use malware to gather confidential information that may be saved in mobile devices, such as online banking username and password, debit or credit card information, and other personal data.
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Bigay Ayuda fundraising campaign
I am M.A.D. (Making A Difference) is calling on everyone to join hands anew in its fundraising campaign called Bigay-Ayuda para sa Eskwela or BIDA Eskwela Year 2.
I am M.A.D. with the support of its partners aims to raise at least P200,000 in 50 days from every donor’s P50 or singkwenta pocket donations with #BIDAEskwelaSingkwenta. Collections from this social media push will help select underprivileged schools in the Philippines that have been equally affected by the ongoing pandemic.
Now on its second year, BIDA Eskwela targets to send supplemental aid to 20 initial beneficiaries from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao that include schools in Pangasinan, La Union, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Bulacan, Romblon, Rizal, Metro Manila, Antique, Bukidnon, Agusan Del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Davao Oriental, Davao City, and Zamboanga City. The nationwide, digital-centric donation drive runs from Aug. 5 to Sept. 24, in time for the opening of school year 2021-2022BIDA EskwelaYear 2 fund raiser.
