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July 04, 2023 11:40 AM

The authorities from both sides are working towards a year-end launch in Singapore and Indonesia.

Observations of a ferocious class of black holes called quasars have shown how time in the early universe passed only about one-fifth as fast as it does today – proving Einstein, and fictional time traveller Dr. Who, correct.

July 04, 2023 11:20 AM

Only 61% of SpiceJet’s flights departed on time from the country’s four biggest airports in May.

The move is the latest in a rivalry between Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg and Twitter owner Elon Musk.

July 04, 2023 11:10 AM

This will be Putin’s first appearance at an international event since crushing a mutiny.

In acquitting two accused in a one-billion-worth shabu case, the Supreme Court has reprimanded law enforcers and the prosecution for failing to handle evidence and trial against five Chinese nationals and one Filipino, tagged as members an alleged drug syndicate.

July 04, 2023 10:25 AM

An Umno official had asked Dr Mahathir to stop fanning racial sentiments.

Washington and Beijing have been battling for influence over the semiconductor industry.

In its heyday, Orchard Towers was full of go-go bars, strip clubs and discos. Now, the nightclubs that remain have until the end of the month to move out – leaving exotic dancers, live bands and sex workers in the lurch.

July 04, 2023 9:55 AM

Japan plans to release treated water from the plant into the ocean over the next 30 to 40 years.

Japan’s annual ‘Rising Horse’ sees the animals forced to run up a steep hill and clear a two-metre high ‘wall’ while being slapped, yelled at, and hit with ropes, sticks and whips.

CEBU medical experts refute that vaping is much safer than smoking regular tobacco, as opposed to popular belief that vape pods (e-cigarettes) contain less harmful substances than their counterparts.

Experts from the Department of Health (DOH) 7, Cebu City Health Office and various medical groups gathered to fight against the use of both tobacco and vape smoke at Fort San Pedro in Cebu City last Friday, June 30, 2023.

The Philippine College of Chest Physicians (PCCP-CV) 7 reiterated the danger of both practices to the lung health of the public.

The physicians cited as an example the first confirmed case of Evali (vape-associated lung injury) in Visayas in 2019, wherein a 16-year-old girl from Consolacion, Cebu reportedly smoked electronic and traditional cigarettes for over six months and experienced severe shortness of breath and required oxygen supplementation.

She was later admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of a private hospital, as disclosed by the DOH.

DOH Non-Communicable Disease officer-in-charge Eugenia Mercedes Cañal said that this case was one of the reasons the campaign against smoking should intensify.

“The fact that the victim was a minor is very alarming, and it is all the more reason why vaping should be put to a halt here in Cebu City. With the programs we have already planned and soon to be executed, patients suffering from smoking-related diseases will be lessened,” she said.

According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey of 2021 released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), tobacco use decreased from 29.7 percent in 2009 to 23.8 percent in 2015 to 19.5 percent in 2021.

Nonetheless, one in every five Filipinos aged 15 years old and older, or 15.1 million, are current smokers.

Males use tobacco at a rate eight times higher (34.7 percent) than females (4.2 percent), according to Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department (CPBRD).

Hospital cost

It’s necessary to address the negative effects of vaping and tobacco since the medication and treatment for smoking-related diseases and illnesses cost more than a million pesos annually, according to PCCP-CV president Dr. Ma. Bernadita Sarcauga-Chua.

She said that a patient diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease pays at least P6,000 for the inhalers monthly, excluding treatments for other complications that might develop.

Medicines for those diagnosed with lung cancer cost around P5,000 for oral chemotherapy daily, or around P1.82 million per year.

She said these do not include payments for medical tests, facilities and the professional fees of attending doctors.

Misconception

Cañal said that many people believe that e-cigarettes are safer than regular tobacco smoking. However, e-cigarettes are just as harmful due to the foreign chemicals added to the liquid used inside the pods. “One of the misconceptions about smoking is that it only hits the lungs, when in fact, it also affects the entire body,” she said.

Sarcauga-Chua emphasized the importance of having the will to quit smoking and how seeking medical assistance can help. / Miguel Angelu Lumen and Kimberly Goc-ong, CNU Interns

AS THE implementation of the Paleng-QR PH Plus draws nearer in Mandaue City, vendors and riders, who are expected to adopt the program, have not fully embraced the digital payment system yet.

Out of the 700 vendors and 250 riders in the city, only around 137 vendors and eight riders have adopted the mandatory GCash app for the program.

The City Government plans to launch the Paleng-QR PH Plus in the Mandaue City Public Market (MCPM) on its 54th Charter Day celebration on Aug. 30, 2023.

MCPM head Cesar Mercadal said on Monday, July 3, 2023, that they are currently at around 20 percent completion in preparing for the full implementation of the digitalization of the transactions of tricycle drivers and vendors in the market.

Mercadal said they are waiting for other stakeholders eager to participate in the innovation to be ready.

There are still market vendors who are not yet convinced about the planned digitalization.

He said it is a challenge for the City to change the mindset of people and to teach drivers and vendors how to use gadgets like smartphones.

“The advantage of the program is they (vendors and riders) can avoid falling victim to fake money...because the transactions are cashless,” Mercadal said in Cebuano.

Some vendors have expressed fear of venturing into digitalization, especially the elderly who are having difficulty in using smartphones.

Mercadal said to address this, they aim for their Graphical User Interface (GUI) to be more user-friendly.

Businesses should be able to rely on the app so that when threats of catastrophes occur, businesses can easily shift to online selling and diversify their marketing strategies through the Paleng-QR.

Digital payment

The Paleng-QR PH Plus was launched by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the Department of the Interior and Local Government in November last year.

It promotes cashless payments as an alternative to cash in purchasing goods at public markets and in paying fares for public utility vehicles, with transactions typically being done through the QR codes of digital wallet apps such as GCash.

In Cebu, Lapu-Lapu City was the first to fully implement the program last Feb. 17.

In March 2023, City Ordinance 165-2022 was passed. It enjoined all business establishments and local transportation in Mandaue City to adopt QR PH digital payments.

The ordinance was in line with the Central Bank’s aim to minimize the printing of money. (HIC)

A YEAR since assuming office as mayor, Michael Rama has outlined the policy direction his administration aims to pursue, including the completion of the construction of the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) before his term ends in 2025.

Earlier this year, Rama had said that he wanted the CCMC fully operational by the last quarter of 2023. The construction of the 10-story CCMC started on July 4, 2014. The old hospital building was demolished after it was damaged by the 2013 Central Visayas earthquake.

The mayor delivered a speech during a Thanksgiving Dinner at Marco Polo Plaza Hotel on Monday night, July 3, 2023.

In the speech, Rama wants to establish five mini hospitals in the city; create a boulevard and constructing boardwalks along the recovered three-meter easement; and complete socialized housing projects in both the south and north districts.

Earlier in the day, Rama delivered his State of the City Address (Soca) at Plaza Sugbu through an audiovisual presentation (AVP).

The presentation highlighted his achievements and outlined future plans, including the construction of a second dam, which was pledged by Filipino billionaire Enrique Razon. However, during a press conference after his Soca, Rama mentioned that he is still waiting for the feasibility study to be conducted. Currently, Cebu City’s only dam is located in Barangay Buhisan.

Rama’s AVP also mentioned the plan to install cable cars in the city’s hinterlands, among other projects.

Those in attendance included Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, Cebu City Vice Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia, Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Terrence Calatrava, and most of the city councilors. Diplomats from other countries also listened to Rama’s Soca—Japanese Consul General Hideki Yamaji, Korean Consul General Song Sewon and Chinese Consul General Zhang Zhen.

Committed

At the Thanksgiving Dinner, Rama said he is committed to finishing the construction of CCMC before his term ends.

In addition to the Guba Community Hospital, he plans to build more satellite hospitals across the city, with an initial focus on serving the north, south, east, west, and central parts of the city. He also intends to convert health centers into mini hospitals.

Addressing the issue of encroachment along the city’s riverbanks, Rama is determined to recover and clear the three-meter easement.

More than 6,000 families have been identified as residing within this zone. Once the recovery is complete, Rama said he envisions building boardwalks and a boulevard as part of the river rehabilitation efforts, aligning with the Gubat sa Baha initiative aimed at mitigating flooding.

Ensuring the completion of socialized housing projects, such as the South Coastal Urban Development and North Coastal Urban Development, within his term is another priority for Rama.

Rama has set several other goals to be achieved during the next two years of his term:

Creating a rubbish-free city by encouraging innovative solutions from the City’s contractors for the rubbish-free campaign.

Prompt payment of all payables to suppliers and service providers.

Ensuring no delay in salary payments for employees and job orders.

Efficiently managing payables under the City Hospitalization Assistance and Medicines Program (CHAMP).

Utilizing intelligence funds to maintain peace and order in the city.

Engaging the shipping industry to revolutionize while ensuring efficient and cost-effective delivery of goods and materials to the city.

Exploring the possibility of relocating the container yard outside the city.

Establishing mass transit options such as cable cars, trains, monorails, and water buses. (JJL WITH RJM)

THE Department of Tourism (DOT) has terminated its contract with the advertising agency responsible for its new tourism campaign, “Love the Philippines,” due to the use of stock footage falsely depicting scenes in the Philippines in its tourism video.

The DOT has expressed “outrage and extreme disappointment” over the issue, which has attracted coverage from international news organizations such as the Guardian and BBC in the United Kingdom, as well as CNN in the U.S.

In a statement on Monday, July 3, 2023, the DOT said DDB Philippines failed to fulfill its obligations under the contract and directly contradicted the agency’s objectives for the enhanced tourism branding.

“Under the terms governing the DOT’s tourism branding campaign contract with DDB Philippines, ‘material/s produced by the winning bidder should be original and aligned with the DOT’s advocacies.’ Further, ‘the DOT reserves the right to change, suspend, or discontinue temporarily or permanently the contract at any time should the DOT deem the agency incapable of the project,’” the agency said.

“No payments have been made by DOT to DDB under the tourism branding campaign contract. The DOT shall exercise its right to forfeit performance security as a result of default in obligations under the contract, as well to review standards of performance or lack thereof vis-a-vis any claims for payment and/or any other engagement. Further, the DOT reserves the right to take all other action against acts deemed inimical to the interest of Philippine tourism,” it added.

Ad firm’s apology

DDB Philippines has apologized to the DOT and the public, acknowledging the use of non-original footage for the audiovisual presentation (AVP), which was a focal point of the DOT’s new tourism campaign launch last week.

Instead of showcasing tourist destinations in the country, footage from other countries was mistakenly used in the AVP.

The video has already been taken down from YouTube as well as from DOT’s official Facebook page.

Defending daughter

Blogger Sass Rogando Sasot exposed the use of stock footage on Facebook, revealing that it contained stock video clips from Storyblocks, a subscription-based stock footage service, which were not shot in the Philippines.

This revelation sparked further criticisms against the DOT, which had already faced criticism for replacing the previous campaign, “It’s More Fun in the Philippines.”

Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia has come to the defense of her daughter, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco.

The governor also expressed her dissatisfaction with the ensuing “brouhaha” caused by Sasot, considering it to be excessive.

“Dearest Sass, I love my daughter very much and will always stand up and speak out for her, if and when I believe she has been treated quite unfairly. I guess that’s what all mothers will do for their own children,” said Garcia on her Facebook post Monday.

Garcia thanked Sasot for highlighting the errors, which prompted an investigation by the DOT.

The governor assured that she would not interfere in her daughter’s work.

Switzerland poster

On July 2, Garcia posted a photo on her Facebook page showing an old tourism campaign poster of Switzerland, with the text “It’s more fun in Switzerland.”

The governor captioned her post: “Oh wow. All this BROUHAHA about alleged mistaken VIDEO SHOTS, for which ‘NO PUBLIC FUNDS HAVE BEEN SPENT...’ And THIS?

SOUNDS FAMILIAR? Any VIOLENT REACTIONS?”

Garcia was referring to the tourism campaign, “It’s More Fun in the Philippines,” which was used from 2012 to 2023.

Sasot’s reply

On the same day, Sasot tagged Garcia in a Facebook post and asked the governor to explain why she was “fixing something that is not broken,” and inquired if the same approach was being applied in Cebu Province.

“Bilang government official po, pwede po bang pakiliwanagan kami kung anong morality and efficiency na you are fixing something that is not broken? Kayo po ba dyaan sa Cebu Province eh mahilig magkumpuni ng mga bagay na hindi naman sira?” read Sasot’s post.

(As a government official, can you please enlighten us on the morality and efficiency of fixing something that is not broken? Are you fond of fixing things that are not broken in Cebu Province.)

‘Love Cyprus’

Sasot also mentioned the similarity between the tourism slogans of Cyprus and the Philippines.

Sasot asked the governor if she was aware that Cyprus’s current tourism slogan is “Love Cyprus,” which has no difference from the Philippines’ “Love the Philippines.”

“Aware po ba kayo Governor na ang pangkasalukuyang tourism slogan ng CYPRUS eh “Love Cyprus,” tapos tayo eh “Love Philippines.” Parang awkward no?” Sasot wrote.

(Are you aware, Governor, that the current tourism slogan of Cyprus is ‘Love Cyprus,’ while ours is ‘Love the Philippines’? It seems a bit awkward, doesn’t it?)

In her Facebook post Monday, Garcia reacted to Sasot’s question: “Kayo po ba dyaan sa Cebu Province eh mahilig magkumpuni ng mga bagay na hindi naman sira?”

Garcia’s invitation

The governor invited Sasot to visit Cebu again, since it had been years since they last saw each other in Cebu City.

“That was when I had the privilege to meet you in person, someone I had always had the greatest respect and admiration for. You had always impressed me as one who would rather engage in erudite discussion rather than resort to crass name calling,” Garcia said.

“I would like to invite you to come and visit Cebu again, this time, sa CEBU PROVINCE talaga, and not Cebu City,” she added.

At 2:32 p.m. Monday, Sasot posted a reply on her Facebook page with a heart emoji.

“Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, thank you for your post. Don’t worry, I love Cebu a lot. Kalami!” Sasot said. (TPM, CNU INTERN GK MARIE DEJACTO, KAL)

AYALA Healthcare Holdings Inc. (AC Health) officially unveiled QualiMed Manila’s new brand name, Healthway QualiMed Manila. This comes after the rebranding launches of the Healthway QualiMed Hospital Santa Rosa, Healthway QualiMed Hospital San Jose del Monte, and Healthway QualiMed Hospital Iloilo.

The series of signage unveilings marks the integration of all of AC Health’s hospitals and clinics under the Healthway Medical Network (HMN) brand.

The rebranding comes with a promise to deliver “Care Beyond Cure” anchored on “Connected Care Circles,” HMN’s innovative model of integrated care within the network. “Care Beyond Cure’s” promise is to provide human-centric care, not just addressing the patient’s medical wellness but his overall well-being.

The “Connected Care Circles” offers high-quality and coordinated care throughout the entire patient journey. The integration focuses on healthcare providers working together to deliver the holistic needs of patients, from primary, multi-specialty, to specialized care. It also recognizes the importance of a strong and cohesive network of outpatient clinics and hospitals to respond to the needs of patients across the entire health continuum.

“Our outpatient clinics and our ambulatory surgery center here in Healthway QualiMed Manila are critical to meeting the diverse healthcare needs of our patients,” said Jaime Ysmael, CEO of Healthway Medical Network. “To further strengthen our integration, we are launching a unified health information system so that patients can go to our different clinics and hospitals, and our medical teams can easily collaborate to care for them, wherever they may be in our network.”

Healthway QualiMed Manila also continues to extend its patient reach through its long-term partnership with the University of the Philippines Manila (UPM) and the Philippine General Hospital (PGH). Under this partnership, doctors from UPM and PGH conduct their outpatient consultations, diagnostic procedures, and surgeries at Healthway QualiMed Manila. Furthermore, it powers the round-the-clock medicine delivery service of KonsultaMD within Metro Manila.

Aside from the integration of the business units under the Healthway Medical Network brand, patients will also benefit from the AC Health ecosystem, which encompasses various healthcare touchpoints such as pharma and digital health. The other subsidiaries of AC Health include Generika Drugstore, IE Medica, MedEthix, and KonsultaMD in partnership with Globe’s 917 Ventures.

“At AC Health, our vision is to create an integrated ecosystem spanning the entire continuum of healthcare. Over the past few years, we have made investments in different sectors of health, and today, our network consists of 3 pillars - pharma, digital health, and clinics and hospitals. But we know our work is far from complete. We want to further expand our services and touch the lives of 1 in every 5 Filipinos by 2030,” said Paolo Borromeo, president, and chief executive officer of AC Health.

Healthway Medical Network is a central component of the AC Health ecosystem as it is the primary avenue for delivery of outpatient and inpatient healthcare services.

“Covid showed that as a country, we need to devote more resources to healthcare if we are to ensure people’s welfare and our country’s continued growth. That’s why we are investing in AC Health’s expansion so that it becomes even more relevant and more inclusive,” said Ayala Corp. president and chief operating officer Cezar Consing.

Healthway Medical Network plans to open three more multispecialty centers in Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, and Davao, expanding the Healthway Medical Network to a total of 15 outpatient centers by the end of 2023. (SPONSORED CONTENT)

July 04, 2023 8:13 AM

The island is said to have enough local fresh water supplies for residents for less than 30 days.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raised on June 8 the status of Mayon Volcano in Albay to Alert Level 3 after it showed an “increased tendency towards a hazardous eruption.”

July 04, 2023 7:55 AM

Authorities have asked farmers to restrict rice planting to a single crop to conserve water.

By: CMFR Staff

Posted on: July 4, 2023, 1:00 pm

Updated on: July 4, 2023, 12:47 pm

CHEERS TO the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Philstar.com for their reports that discuss the need for holistic and humane approaches in dealing with illegal drugs and in fixing the country's drug polici