CLOSE to seven out of 10 people said climate change is dangerous for the environment and a similar number of people said it is dangerous to the Philippines, the September 10 to 14 Ulat ng Bayan survey of Pulse Asia Research showed.
Only four of 10 people said they have sufficient knowledge about climate change and almost a similar number said they do not have enough knowledge about climate change.
The survey, which involved 1,200 adult respondents nationwide with a margin of error of ±2.8 percent, was held on the heels of the suspension of 22 reclamation projects in Manila to allow the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) time to assess their environmental and social impacts as well as their compliance with regulations.
Pulse Asia found that 68 percent (down from 70 percent) said climate change is dangerous for the environment while 71 percent (down from 73 percent) said it is dangerous to themselves and their families, which is almost unchanged from June.
Eleven percent said climate change is not dangerous to the environment (up from 6 percent in June) while 12 percent (up from 6 percent) said it is not dangerous to themselves or their families.
The survey also said that 69 percent said it is dangerous to the Philippines while 10 percent said it is not dangerous to the country.
Pulse Asia said a majority of people across geographical locations (54 percent to 88 percent) and socioeconomic classes (59 percent to 75 percent) said climate change is dangerous to the Philippines.
A majority of people across geographical locations (55 percent to 83 percent) and socioeconomic classes (64 percent to 71 percent) also said climate change is dangerous to the environment.
A similar majority also said that climate change is dangerous to them and their families across geographical locations (61 percent to 86 percent) and socioeconomic classes (61 percent to 75 percent).
Pulse Asia said 44 percent of Filipino adults claim to have sufficient knowledge about climate change (up from 34 percent) while 40 percent said they have little knowledge about it (down from 46 percent).
Eleven percent (down from 13 percent) said they have wide knowledge while 5 percent (down 7 percent) said they have no knowledge.
Majority from the Visayas (56 percent) said they have sufficient knowledge while more people from Luzon (45 percent), and Mindanao (40 percent) said they have little knowledge about climate change.
Sixty-five percent of the respondents (almost unchanged from 53 percent), said there has been a big change in their area due to climate change.
Pulse Asia also found there is a plurality opinion that calamities like drought, flooding, typhoons and earthquakes happen primarily because of human-made environmental destruction (46 percent down from 64 percent in June).
Others said calamities were a natural process (32 percent down from 19 percent) or a form of punishment or warning from God for nations that have turned to evil ways (21 percent up from 15 percent). One percent (down from 2 percent) can’t say.
Majority of people from Metro Manila (64 percent) and a plurality from Mindanao (48 percent), Luzon (43 percent) and Visayas (38 percent) as well as socioeconomic classes D (47 percent), ABC (46 percent) and E (43 percent) said calamities are due to manmade abuse of the environment.
PNP civilian personnel’s request for reduced bail in bogus procurement deal denied
By Peter Tabingo
THE Sandiganbayan has denied a motion filed by PNP non-uniformed personnel Eulito Fuentes asking for the reduction of his bail in four pending criminal charges filed against him in relation to anomalous procurement of parts and repair contracts for PNP armored vehicles in 2007 and 2008.
Fuentes was named co-defendant of former top PNP officials when the charges were filed by the office of the Ombudsman in 2013.
Graft investigators accused PNP officers and NUPs of conspiracy with businessmen representing Evans Spare Parts Motorworks Repair and Trading, Enviro-Aire Inc., and RJP International Trading Construction and General Services to defraud the PNP through ghost procurement and repair works on police V-150 armored vehicles.
Associate Justice Michael Frederick L. Musngi penned the resolution with the concurrence of Associate Justices Lorifel Lacap Pahimna and Maria Theresa V. Mendoza-Arcega.
Based on the indictment, the first transaction was for P239.615 million while the second was worth P134.388 million.
Prosecutors said the supposed delivery of V-150 engines and transmission assemblies did not happen despite the issuance of inspection and acceptance reports by the defendant PNP officials.
They pointed out that manufacturers of the armored vehicle parts confirmed that the particular V-150 engines the PNP wanted were no longer available as the armored car model they were designed for was no longer in production.
In his motion, Fuentes claimed he is entitled to a reduced bail of at least half of the P690,000 set by the court.
He said his attendance in all the hearings in his cases proves that he is not a flight risk.
Prosecutors objected on the ground that the accused has not provided a good cause in support of his motion and his attendance in the hearings is insufficient proof that he is not a flight risk.
In addition, they pointed out that showing up during hearings is the very condition why he was granted bail.
“The Court finds that accused Fuentes has not shown good cause for the reduction of his bail. The mere allegation that he is not a flight risk is insufficient to guarantee his attendance in subsequent court proceedings,” the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division declared.
