Laylay Port
BOAC, My Home Town in MARINDUQUE...
www.trekearth.com
Courtesy of: Eli J. Obligacion/marinduquerising
A barangay campaign meeting in Sta. Cruz, Marinduque
A certain non-Marinduqueno politician, in town to dip his fingers into the conduct of local elections and apparently out to prove that he could easily control it, being a very small province, with the use of guns, goons and gold, was overheard bragging about, thus: "Ang Marinduque ay halos kasinglaki lamang ng isang bayan sa probinsiya ko..." Reports of imported goons from some nearby provinces, the presence of high-powered firearms held by nonmilitary men have likewise mushroomed in Marinduque's six towns. On the other hand, the campaign sorties of certain candidates belonging to one political party have deteriorated into garbage. You could recoil in disgust how these people have so disgraced themselves with their campaign conduct. Here, you are confronted with images of them spreading outright lies without batting an eyelash and with such venom. When lies are peddled one after another, when facts are blindly twisted, when so much negativism dominates the airwaves, never mind glaring violations of Comelec rules, you really begin to have second thoughts about the outlook on life of these candidates. A local political pundit describes it as ‗manic‘, a manifestation, he says, ‗of very desperate moves that have to be closely watched‘. A visiting balikbayan who was aware of certain periods in our local election Turn to page 10...
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The MIMAROPA SUNRISE/ April 30 - May 06, 2013
Ay...Marinduque Ni: NOEL V. MAGTURO
ANYO AT HANGGANAN NG HALALAN Sa pambansang halalan noon, kadikit ang mga salitang ‗winnability‘ at popularity bilang mga batayan sa pagpili ng mga tatakbong kandidato para sa suportahan ng mga partido. Ang ‗winnability‘ o ‗kakayahang manalo‘ ay karaniwan nang binabatay sa mga surveys na isinasagawa bago pumili ng opisyal na kandidato. Ang surveys naman ay depende sa abilidad ng sinumang nag-aambisyon na maka-agaw ng atensiyon at simpatiya ng mga ordinaryong tao at mapanatili ito hanggang sa araw ng eleksiyon. Ang atensiyon at simpatya ay nakasalalay sa kakayahan ng kandidato at mga tagasunod nito na magpakulo ng mga balita at sitwasyong pumapabor sa kanyang kandidatura. Ang ‗popularity‘ ay walang pagkakaiba sa isang beauty contest, o alin mang timpalak sa popularidad ng mga artista. Kung guwapo o maganda, lalo na kung mestiso o mestisa ang isang kandidato, higit kung siya ay isang totoong artista ay tiyak na pasok ito sa banga, wika nga. Walang kinalaman ang winnability at popularidad sa kakayahan ng isang kandidato na mamuno. Kung mayroon man itong kakayahang mamuno, ay suwertehan na lamang. Sa mga lokal na eleksiyon naman, ganito rin halos ang orihinal na nagiging batayan ng mga botante sa pagpili ng kanilang mga kandidato. GUNS, GOONS, GOLD AT BIBLIYA Sa loob ng nakaraang mga apat na dekada ay unti-unti namang nabagong ganap ang hugis ng halalan lalo na sa mga lalawigan. Kinailangan tuloy na kumilos ang mga may mukhang hindi kagandahan pero may ambisyong makaupo sa poder at gamitin naman ang mga panibagong sandatahang walang kinalaman sa winnability o popularidad—guns, goons, and gold! Guns para manindak, goons para manakot, gold para silawin ang mga mata ng mga botante sa isang sumisibol pa lamang na demokrasiya na may kababawan ang pananaw tungkol sa kalakaran sa kanilang gobyerno. Primera naman sa mga matang sinisilaw dito ang mga tagapagpaganap at nangangasiwa sa eleksiyon at pangalawa lamang ang payak, mura, at mumurahing kaisipan ng mga botante. Sa kinang naman ng ginto, nagiging mistulang mangmang ang mga may pinag-aralan. Ang mga titulado at mga kagalang-galang ay karaniwang nagiging abang aliping sagigilid lamang ng mga tagapagpa-abot ng salapi.
Sa kasulukuyan, lahat ng indikasyon ay nagtuturo na wala pa ring malawakang hakbang ang alin mang grupo o organisasyon na baguhin ang sistema ng eleksiyon sa pambansa o pang-lokal na bahagdan sa isang pamamaraang maituturing na makubuluhan . Kultura ang usapin. Lalo pa kamong tumindi at naging komplikado ang sitwasyon ngayon sa pag-entrada sa pulitika ng sa simula‘y hindi deretsahan, subalit ngayo‘y seryoso, talamak na pagpasok at tahasang pakikialam sa halalan ng iba‘t-ibang mga sektang pang-relihiyon at pagtatala o pagsuporta sa sarili nilang mga manok. SUKDULAN, HANGGANAN, APOY Mula sa isang halalan, nagsilbi bilang isang inosenteng porma ng aliwan, na nagging pangunahing landas tungo sa malawakang pagpapalaganap ng karahasan, katiwalian, at pagkawala ng tunay na kahulugan ng ‗serbisyo‘ sa isipan ng mga lumuluklok sa puwesto, at sa ngayo‘y nagsisilbing tulay naman para sa garapalang pagpapalaganap ng mga panrelihiyong paniniwala, sinusubok nang tuluyan ng isang bansa ang hangganan ng ‗Demokrasiya‘ nito. Tuloy-tuloy na hindi matatawag na umuusad nang dapat ang sistema, bagkus ay abot na sa daliri ang sukdulan nito. Sa orakolo ko, isang sadyang pagpapalaganap ng isang malawakang apoy ang pinaghahandaan ng mga Pilipino. Kani-kaniyang paghahanap at pagiimbak ng mga panggatong ang kasulukuyang ginagawa ng karamihan ng hindi nalalaman - habang ang ilan ay sukong nakamasid at tahimik na nagaabang. Tila hindi maiiwasan ang pagkislap ng isang ga-higanteng dingas dahil iyon ang batas ng kalikasan. Batas ng kadahilanan at epekto, galaw at reaksiyon, simula at katapusan ng isang bahagi ng modernong kasaysayan na masugid na inaabangan ang susunod na kabanata.
ANG IMAHINASYON AY MAS MAHALAGA SA KARUNUNGAN. Volume X
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RNC-MIMAMOROPA Held Its 1st Quarter Meeting for CY 2013
The Regional Nutrition Committee (RNC) of MIMAROPA had their 1st Quarter Meeting last March 18, 2013 at F. Generics Hall, Center for Health Development IV-A Building, Quirino Memorial Medical Center Compound, Project 4, Quezon City. RNC Chair Llacuna, Jr. presided the meeting. Present during the meeting were Director Wilma Naviamos of DSWD IV-B, Ms. Susan Sumbeling of NEDA IV-B, Ms. Gloria Arenillo of NFA Region IV, Ms. Myra Regencia of TESDA IV-B, Dr. Saniata Milagros Sumangil of NCIP Region IV, Ms. Maria Guadalupe Laylo of DA IV-B, Mr. Lorenzo Suarez of DILG IV-B, Ms. Minda Tuburan of DTI IV-B, & Ms. Nelmin Rose Cabotaje of DepEd IV-B to represent their agencies. Mr. Frederich Christian S. Tan, Nutrition Officer III of NNC-MIMAROPA, presented the results of the 2012 Operation Timbang and the Revised Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos. Determined to fight malnutrition in the region, the members of the RNC agreed to converge efforts, focus and prioritize the delivery of health and nutrition related services to the top 20 municipalities in the region with the highest malnutrition prevalence rate. Also, OIC-RNPC Blanco gave an overview on the simultaneous conduct of the 2013 Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation (MELLPI) and Search for the Regional Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar (ROBNS). The MELLPI is an annual activity of the National Nutrition Council (NNC) to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of Local Government Units (LGUs) in the implementation of local nutrition programs. The RNC Chair solicited the support of each member of the Committee by allowing their respective Regional Evaluation Team member to join the said activity.
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The MIMAROPA SUNRISE/ April 30 - May 06, 2013
The suspect, Deducin, was not at home when the search warrant was served. Only his wife and children were there. However, the search led to the discovery and confiscation of twelve hill mynahs (four of which were found dead), one long tailed macaque, one grey imperial pigeon, one Palawan bearcat, and one Triton’s trumpet. Deducin is now facing charges for violation of Section 27(f) (Collecting, hunting or possessing of wildlife, their by�products and derivatives) of the Wildlife Act or Republic Act 9147. A warrant for his arrest has already been issued. Volume X No. 27 5
Pinalakas ng DSWD ang kampanyang 'Bawal ang Epal' sa mga miyembro ng 4Ps Ni Mayda Lagran
BOAC, Marinduque, (PIA) -- Pinalakas ng DSWD ang kampanya “BAWAL ANG EPAL DITO” sa pamamagitan ng pagpapakalat ng impormasyon sa programang PIA-MIMAROPA HOUR sa Radyo Natin-Boac, hinggil sa mga pulitiko na pumapapel sa mga 4Ps members. Ipinaliwanag ni Grace Manay, DSWDMarinduque Grievance Officer ang mga panuntunan ng kampanya lalo‘t higit para sa mga benepisyaryo ng 4Ps o Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. Sinabi niya na bilang miyembro ng 4Ps dapat alamin ang mga karapatan at sundin ang mga alituntunin at kondisyon ng programa. Ang benepisyong pang-edukasyon at pangkalusugan ang pinakaimportante sa mga miyembro at karapatan nila itong matanggap. Makakamit ang mga ito kung susunod sa alituntunin kagaya ng pakikipagtulungan sa mga guro at health workers na mapapatunayang Compliance Verification System (CVS). Regular dapat ang pagpapacheck-up ng mga bata pati na ang ina lalo‘t higit ang mga buntis sa health centers upang bantayan ang kalusugan ng mga myembro para makaiwas sa malnutrisyon at pagkakasakit. Ang mga mag-aaral naman ay dapat may 85% attendance sa kanilang eskwelahan. Ito ay para masubaybayan kung totoong nag-aaral ang mga bata, dagdag pa ni Manay. Ang hindi pagtupad sa mga alituntunin ng programa ang makapag-aalis sa sinuman sa listahan ng 4Ps. Ipinayo sa mga miyembro na huwag padadala sa mga pananakot, pagdidikta o maling impormasyon na maaring matanggal ang miyembro ng 4Ps kung hindi iboboto ang sinumang kandidato. Kung may mga taong nasa posisyon sa gobyerno o kandidato ngayong darating na 2013 eleksiyon, na magbabanta o mananakot, ipagbigay alam at magsumbong sa DSWD. Maaaring i-email ang reklamo sa 4psreklamo@gmail.com o di kaya‘y magtext sa 0918-912-2813 at isulat lang ang pan-
HULING NUMERO SA BALOTA Donated by friends of ABANG Lingkod
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The MIMAROPA SUNRISE/ April 30 - May 06, 2013
By Voltaire Dequina
SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro, (PIA) -- Magkatuwang na isinagawa ng Department of Education (Dep Ed) at Plan International (PLAN) ang Child Protection Policy orientation ng 130 guro mula sa iba’t ibang bayan ng lalawigan kamakailan sa Sikatuna Beach Hotel, San Jose. Ayon kay Marilyn Eugenio, Education Program supervisor ng DepEd, tinipon ang mga bagong guro mula sa elementary at high school upang dagdagan ang kanilang kaalaman hinggil sa Child Protection Policy ng Dep Ed. Sa patakaran at alituntuning ito ng kagawaran, nakasaad ang pagbibigay proteksyon sa mga bata laban sa anumang uri ng pang aabuso, diskriminasyon, pananamantala, karahasan at pananakot. Dagdag pa ni Eugenio, ang mga guro ang dapat manguna upang mapigilan ang anumang uri ng paglabag sa karapatan ng mga bata. Binigyang diin ni Dr Nerissa Losaria, OIC Assistant School Division Superintendent of the Division of City Schools Mandaluyong, ang DepEd Order #40 series of 2012 ukol sa bullying o pananakot. Aniya, malaki ang posibilidad na manggaling ang pananakot sa kapwa mag aaral o mas nakatatandang estudyante na kabilang sa kaparehong paaralan. Ayon kay Losaria, sa sandaling hindi napigilan ang bullying o pananakot, maaaring isangguni ng guro ang kaso sa Child Protection Committee na pinangungunahan ng punong guro katuwang ang guidance counselor, Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) at mga guro. ―Dapat na maipaabot ng mga guro sa mga magulang na kung nangyayari ang alinmang paglabag na ito sa kanilang anak ay nararapat lamang na ipagbigay –alam ito sa lalong madaling panahon,‖ dagdag pa ni Losaria. (VND/PIA 4B Occ Min)
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From page 2… Feeding our freedom to the dogs?
DTI conducts training for competitiveness in Odiongan ODIONGAN, Romblon, (PIA) -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has trained 63 participants from various sectors on the pro-active programs for competitiveness in Haliwood Hotel, Odiongan, Romblon. The Center for Industrial Competitiveness (CIC) of the DTI aims to enhance the industrial competitiveness or the ability of both public and private sector organizations to offer products and services that meet the quality standards of the local and international markets to become globally competitive. This training discussed how the participants can learn to apply positive work values, which can help boost company productivity and competitiveness. It also trained the participants to have better understanding of work-related concerns and learn to solve problems through open communication. The participants expressed positive comments and reactions during the closing rites, particularly the resource persons, Ms. Ella C. Lachica, Acting Division Chief and Ms. Carol R. Velasco, Trade and Industry Development Specialist of Training and Development Division, DTI-CIC. Ms. Velasco discussed the topics Pro-Active Programs for Competitiveness, 5S (Good Housekeeping Practices) and Service Excellence (LBR/MAF/PIA4B-Romblon)
LOTS for SALE in BOAC (Commercial/Residential/Agricultural/Beach) Call 09196653894/09235941599 or send your private message via facebook emailaccount: ruzzjanli@gmail.com (Direct buyer/s only)
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history marked by terrorism and use of force warns, thus: ―There are clear indications that those terrifying days could be repeated this time, days when houses of opponents and their supporters were riddled with bullets and poll precincts were terrorized as the whole populace cringed in fear!‖. Peace will reign in Marinduque no more. Serious threats Considering that this blogger‘s house was riddled not with bullets, thank God, but with rocks and stones recently in the middle of the night, followed days later by sightings of total strangers intruding into his yard, men looking for their target (apparently in retaliation for certain posts I‘ve made in this blog), as vigilant neighbors kept watch in the dark; considering that supporters of certain candidates are constantly and boldly harassed by toughies in motorcycles, one incident occurring three nights ago in Mogpog when a campaign organizer was harassed by motorcycle-riders preventing the victim from being present in a campaign meeting (this was reported to the local police which immediately responded and entered the details in therir blotter); considering reports of heavily armed goons in certain localities whose presence there are no longer secret now with local people getting more anxious; considering that as late as last night, such men, in addition to hired goons already in place were transported and dropped in the middle of a town; considering that a group of disgruntled goons from outside Marinduque, hired to disrupt local elections in fact voluntarily surrendered for protection to the Sta. Cruz police after making shocking revelations of physical harassments and the existence of many other groups and assassinations plots - all these confirm that the stern balikbayan‘s warning has clear basis in fact. All these appear to be more serious now because without election violence and disruption, at stake, apparently, is the previously unthinkable downfall of a political clan that has only produced a vicious cycle in Marinduque‘s political system. That‘s one characterized by patronage, corruption, fraud, deception and manipulation of the helpless poor people - all in the spirit of power monopoly and greed. No less than a prominent religious leader here warned against the methods that certain candidates could resort to, "dahil may halong paghihiganti". Marinduque‘s exploited poor, living below the poverty threshold, comprises 68.3 of the population. (Based on the CBMS 2005 survey people living below the poverty threshold was equivalent to 139,349 population; Marinduque’s population in 2007 was 229,636). No wonder a quote attributed to a local politician‘s formula for staying in power, “pera lang ang katapat ng mga taga-Marinduque”, money as the only basis for voting, a statement that must necessarily uphold that crooked concept of promoting, sustaining poverty to hold power for long - for decades, till forever, or until a people finally wakes up from their deep slumber and rise up. Marinduque comprised of only 6 towns is one of the smallest island provinces in the Philippines. But the present situation confirms that money alone is not enough anymore. Clinging to power by the greedy by grabbing it their repulsive and desperate way involves something much more now. This involves resorting to extreme election violence and all forms of terror. Judging by the escalating tension felt this early in all Marinduque towns, this very heart of the Philippines, little as it is, should be looked into closely by Comelec. Political maneuverings to thwart the free exercise of the right to vote, for the freedoms that we so dearly protect to just be fed to the dogs should be repulsed strongly and decisively.
The MIMAROPA SUNRISE/ April 30 - May 06, 2013
Renewable energy: Between wars & climate change by Henrylito D. Tacio Worldwide, there is a growing realization that climate change, caused primarily by the burning of fossil fuels, is a more serious threat to the international community than terrorism. By 2030, global energy consumption is projected to be 55% higher than it is today due to population growth, continued urbanization, and economic expansion. The largest share of this growth will almost certainly occur in the developing world--—and that includes the Philippines—with most of the additional energy currently projected to come from fossil fuels. ―Global production of oil, the world‘s dominant energy source, is expected to peak in the next 10 to 20 years. But of greater concern to many is not when or if economically recoverable fossil fuel reserves will be depleted, but the fact that the world cannot afford to use all the conventional energy resources that remain,‖ said a report released by the Washington-based Worldwatch Institute (WI). Global climate change is perhaps the costliest impact. A 2006 report compiled for the UK government and led by Sir Nicholas Stern estimated that under business as usual the economic costs of climate change could equal the loss of 5-20% of gross world product (GWP) each year, whereas the cost of efforts to avoid the worst impacts can be limited to about 1% of annual GWP. Already, global economic losses due to natural disasters, which are in line with events anticipated to result from global warming, appear to be doubling with each decade, and annual losses from such events are expected to approach $150 billion within the next few years. The recent tragedies caused by super typhoons Sendong and Pablo in the Philippines had been traced to climate change. Wars & climate change Worldwide, there is a growing realization that climate change, caused primarily by the burning of fossil fuels, is a more serious threat to the international community than terrorism. In early 2007, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned that the threat of climate change is as dangerous as war and that, in fact, upheavals due to the impacts of climate change ranging ―from droughts to inundated coastal areas and loss of arable land are likely to become a major driver of war and conflict.‖ This is where renewable energy comes into the picture. Renewable energy technologies are now ready for use on a large scale and have the potential to meet world energy demand many times over, said Dr. Janet Sawin, a senior fellow at WI and an expert on international energy and environmental policy. ―Renewable energy offers tremendous potential and, combined with improvements in energy efficiency, could fuel the economy of the future,‖ Dr. Sawin pinpointed. ―The future is in renewable energy —not in outdated and environmentally destructive fossil fuels,‖ added Anna Abad, Climate and Energy campaigner for Greenpeace Southeast Asia. ―The Philippines can embrace an energy revolution, turn its back on coal, seize the moment, and lead the way for renewables in Southeast Asia, capitalizing on its success in geothermal and in solar panel production,‖ Abad pointed out. Economic gains In a newly released report, ―Green is Gold: How Renewable Energy Can Save Us Money and Generate Jobs,‖ Greenpeace said that the Philippines will realize ―This report shows clearly how renewable energy is the win-win solution for sustained economic growth in the Philippines. The Department of Energy should not miss this great opportunity. They should fully implement the RE Law, and get rid of their bias for dirty coal power projects,‖ Abad said. Renewable energy sources are considered to be inexhaustible, even if continuously used by man. ―Many renewable sources are already cost-competitive compared to fossil fuels and will become even less expensive when used on a larger scale,‖ wrote H. Steven Dashefsky, author of Environmental Literacy: Everything You Need to Know About Saving Our Planet. Renewable energy includes: Solar power, wind power, hydroelectric, geothermal energy, marine energy, and biomass energy sources. ―Renewable energy can produce energy in the form of electricity, heat, and transportation fuel,‖ Dashefsky informed. More on page 10...
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Renewable energy: Between wars & climate change ......from page 9.. Geothermal power Increasingly, countries around the world are turning to renewable energy to reduce the risks posed by climate change, rising oil prices, energy security concerns, and a host of other challenges. A global status report on renewable energy, commissioned by the Paris-based Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century, showed that sources of renewable energy are growing at an enormous rate. ―There are (still) 1.5 billion people who don‘t have any access to energy, and 3 billion people relying on traditional biomass sources and coal,‖ deplored Alexander Ochs, director of climate and energy of Washington-based Worldwatch Institute. ―If we want to prevent climate change from spinning out of control, we need to scale up our efforts to accelerate renewable energy development and deployment at all levels.‖ The Philippines has been using geothermal energy to sustain its energy needs for over 40 years. Next to the United States, the Philippines has the second highest geothermal power capacity in the world today. It has geothermal power on its islands to more than double its current capacity. Mario C. Marasigan, Director of the Renewable Energy Management Bureau of the Department of Energy (DoE), said that by 2030, the country would be using 3,097 MW of energy from geothermal power alone. ―Geothermal power is environment-friendly,‖ Dashefsky wrote. ―It requires no fuel, and is therefore immune to fluctuations in fuel cost. In fact, the production of the electricity by geothermal plants is cheaper than the electricity produced in plants by using natural gas and coal. It is even cheaper than electricity produced by hydropower stations.‖ Hydropower Electricity produced by water movement has been used for decades. About 16% of the world‘s electricity is generated by hydropower. In Mindanao, 51% of its electricity sources come from hydropower. Its heavy dependence on hydropower makes the island vulnerable to weather conditions. ―This is the reason why during summer and El Niño phenomenon, Mindanao experiences power shortage,‖ said Manuel M. Orig, the first vice president for Mindanao affairs of the Aboitiz Power Corporation. The first hydroelectric plant was built on Niagara Falls in 1878. Since then, hydropower has been sourced from water falls, rushing rivers and streams, and manmade dams. All of these allowed a controlled amount of water to pass through pipes that spin turbines, creating electricity. A World Bank report in the 1980s showed the Philippines as one of the ―thirteen largest additions to hydroelectric capacity in developing countries.‖ From an operating capacity of 940 megawatts in 1980, it went up to 2,195 megawatts in 1985. In 1998, the total hydropower capacity stood at 2,304 megawatts or almost 20% of the country‘s total installed capacity. ―While hydropower energy production helps reduce reliance on fossil fuels and avoids much of their carbon dioxide emissions, this form of electricity generation is rarely without social and environmental cost and risk,‖ said WI President Robert Engelman. ―Hydropower is indeed low-carbon renewable energy, but new hydro development nonetheless needs to pass rigorous tests for its environmental and social impacts.‖ Solar, wind power Another renewable energy source that Filipinos should tap is solar power. Thomas Alva Edison once said, ―I‘d put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don‘t have to wait till oil and coal run out before we tackle that.‖ Solar power is the conversion of sunlight into electricity, either by directly using photovoltaics (PVs) or indirectly using concentrated solar power (CSP). CSP systems use lenses or mirrors and tracking systems to focus a large area of sunlight into a small beam. PVs convert light into electric current using the photoelectric effect. Given the abundance of prospective sites, the Philippines should also take a closer look on wind, which is considered as the cheapest renewable resource for electricity generation. Wind power, if developed to its full potential, has the ability to support a vibrant wind industry that can deliver a number of benefits, according to Wind Energy Development Association of the Philippines. The Philippine Wind Energy Resource Atlas, prepared by the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory, showed the Philippines has 76,600 MW of total wind potential in the following areas: Batanes and Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, the higher interior terrain of Luzon, Mindoro, Samar, Leyte, Panay, Negros, Cebu, Palawan, Eastern Mindanao, and the coastal locations from Northern Luzon to Samar, the wind corridors between Luzon and Mindoro, and the islands between Mindoro and Panay. Marine energy The Philippines is also rich in marine energy or marine power, which is also referred to as ocean energy or ocean power. This refers to the energy carried by ocean waves, tides, salinity, and ocean temperature differences. The movement of water in the world‘s oceans creates a vast store of kinetic energy, or energy in motion. This energy can be harnessed to generate electricity to power homes, transport and industries. The U.S. National Academy of Sciences estimates that fossil fuel subsidies cost the United States $120 billion in pollution and related health care costs every year. But these costs are not reflected in fossil fuel prices. ―These so-called hidden costs, or externalities, are in fact very real costs to our societies that are not picked up by the polluter and beneficiary of production but by all taxpayers,‖ said Ochs. ―Local pollutants from the burning of fossil fuels kill thousands in the U.S. alone each year, and society makes them cheaper to continue down their destructive path.‖ President Benigno S. Aquino III, for his part, underscored the importance of access in tapping energy sources. ―Having a reliable energy source is a foundation of progress,‖ Aquino said. ―The lack of access to energy has always been a major drawback to economic and social development. Without energy, government cannot deliver the most basic of its services—clean water, health, shelter, and education.‖
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The MIMAROPA SUNRISE/ April 30 - May 06, 2013
Solo parents to push for amendments of Solo Parents Welfare Act For the first time since the enactment of RA 8972 or the Solo Parents Welfare Act of 2000, more than 5,000 solo parents will gather in a significant event, the Launching of National Solo Parents Day and National Asembly of Solo Parents, to push for the proposed amendments of the Act. The event, spearheaded by the Bulacan Confederation of Solo Parents Inc. and Nain Foundation, is dubbed as ―Nag-iisang Ikaw,‖ with the theme, ―Advancing Social Integration and Intergenerational Solidarity.‖ It will be held at Liwasang Aurora, Quezon Memorial Circle, Quezon City on April 27, 2013, from 6 pm onwards. Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman said that ―solo parents are considered as part of the disadvantaged and vulnerable sector of society, and must be provided with the necessary assistance.‖ According to Mr. Lito Alcaraz, president of the Confederation of Solo Parents in Bulacan, the event will also enhance awareness on the rights and benefits of solo parents. ―There are more than 20,000 solo parents in the province of Bulacan alone, and the number is increasing,‖ Mr. Alcaraz stated. ―What is even more alarming is that the ages of single moms and dads are getting younger. I call on all organized solo parents groups to join hands in conducting a massive advocacy and information campaign so that everyone is aware of the existing law, and that solo parents are entitled to benefits, just like Bawal Ang Epal Dito Campaign is a national campaign to other disadvantaged sectors,‖ he explained. As an agency mandated to protect and inform the beneficiaries and the general public that the program is independent from any external pressures and influpromote the rights and welfare of disadvantaged ence of politicians and protect the integrity and the benefiand vulnerable sectors, including solo parents, ciaries of the program. the Department of Social Welfare and DevelopPara sa mga sumbong, magtext sa ment fully supports the conduct of this event. Members of the Solo Parents Group in DSWD Central Office will participate in the event. ―We encourage all solo parents to join this event. There is strength in numbers and we Email: 4psreklamo@gmail.com need to speak with one voice to push for Facebook: www.facebook.com/pantawid.grs amendments to RA 8972,‖ the spokesperson of Twitter: @4psreklamo the Solo Parents Group in DSWD Central Office stated. Attending solo parents, who will be coming from different solo parents associations (SPAs), and the organizers are hopeful that the National Solo Parents Day will become an annual event by virtue of a Presidential Proclamation. ###
0918-912-2813
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for inquiries, txt or call 09155410875 Brgy. Capayang, Mogpog, Marinduque
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The MIMAROPA SUNRISE/ April 30 - May 06, 2013