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July 23, 2023 11:25 AM

More than 1,600 suspicious international parcels had been reported across the country in the past few days.

July 23, 2023 10:45 AM

The ban in the Tomohon market is among the first in the country.

Egay’s peak winds increased to 85 kilometers per hour near the center, and its gusts increased to 105 kph, PAGASA said in its 5 a.m. bulletin.

Hun Sen’s Cambodian People’s Party is likely to retain all 125 seats in the lower house, prolonging his grip on power.

As Malaysia’s Chinese-led DAP defends Penang in state polls, its friendship with ex-foe Umno and a “likeable” but bland chief minister may dent voter loyalty.

July 23, 2023 9:30 AM

The man allegedly hurled threats at the officers in Russian and was uncooperative.

The creator of the XRP cryptocurrency said it is committed to markets with clear regulatory frameworks such as Singapore and Hong Kong.

July 23, 2023 8:45 AM

The Cambodian leader faces no real challenge in the ballot.

July 23, 2023 8:40 AM

Hun Sen's son, Hun Manet, is making his debut in Sunday’s election and needs to win a legislative seat to be eligible to be prime minister.

Voters going to the ballots say they are certain Hun Sen's ruling party will sweep all seats again.

22 July 2023, Quezon City. As our nation faces a myriad of societal problems, green groups associated with the EcoWaste Coalition, an environmental network pushing for a zero waste and toxics-free society, are urging President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to tackle the adverse impacts of waste and plastic pollution and to work for safe and sustainable solutions.

The groups weighed in on what the chief executive

THREE days ahead of his second State of the Nation Address (Sona), President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has lifted the state of public health emergency in the country due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Malacañang announced on Saturday, July 22, 2023.

“All prior orders, memoranda and issuances that are effective only during the state of public health emergency shall be deemed withdrawn, revoked or canceled and shall no longer be in effect,” read Proclamation 297, issued on Friday, July 21, but made public only on Saturday.

However, the emergency use authorization issued by the Food and Drug Administration for Covid-19 vaccines, pursuant to Executive Order 121 (s. 2020), will remain valid for a period of one year from the date of lifting of the state of public health emergency.

This provision allows authorities to utilize the remaining vaccines effectively.

The President also called upon all government agencies to review their policies, rules and regulations to ensure they align with the lifting. Necessary amendments to existing policies or the creation of new ones may be required to accommodate the transition.

Sustained decline

The decision to lift the state of public health emergency was made based on the sustained decline in Covid-19 deaths, the decrease in Covid-19-related hospitalizations and intensive care unit admissions, and the high levels of population immunity to Sars-CoV-2.

These positive trends were acknowledged by the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) in May.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus endorsed the committee’s advice, recognizing that while Covid-19 remains a concern for certain subpopulations, it no longer constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. This assessment prompted the call for a transition to long-term management of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Malacañamg said despite the new development, health authorities and the government emphasize that Covid-19 remains a serious issue that requires continued vigilance.

Positive step

The Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday commended the President’s decision, saying that it is a “positive step forward” in the nation’s fight against the pandemic.

In a statement, the DOH said Health Secretary Dr. Teodoro J. Herbosa concurs with the assessment that the current conditions no longer warrant the continuation of the public health emergency status.

“The secretary of health, Dr. Ted Herbosa, views this pronouncement as a positive step forward and wholeheartedly agrees that the conditions no longer necessitate the continuation of the public health emergency status,” the DOH said.

The health department said that the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) will convene for a final meeting to formally conclude the public health emergency, and a comprehensive final report will be prepared for the public.

This report will also highlight the dedication and hard work of the IATF, the medical frontliners and the entire government in tackling the pandemic.

“The secretary of health takes this opportunity to commend the exemplary performance and unwavering commitment of the Inter-Agency Task Force and the medical frontliners who have demonstrated resilience and heroism throughout this challenging period. Their dedication to safeguarding public health has been instrumental in reaching this critical milestone,” the DOH said.

While the state of public health emergency is lifted, the DOH emphasized the importance of remaining vigilant and proactive in maintaining health and safety.

“Continued awareness and adherence to recommended health protocols are paramount to safeguarding ourselves and our communities from any potential health risks,” the DOH said.

“As we move forward, let us remember that our collective strength lies in unity. We stand as one, united in our commitment to combat any future pandemic that may come our way. Together, we can overcome any adversity and build a healthier and safer nation for all,” it added.

DOH 7 Director Dr. Jaime Bernadas also welcomed the lifting of the state of public health emergency.

As of July 21, the country’s total caseload was at 4,171,063, with 4,099,243 recoveries, 66,542 deaths and 5,278 active cases.

Former President Rodrigo Duterte on March 8, 2020, issued Proclamation 922, declaring a state of public health emergency throughout the Philippines to address the Covid-19 threat. /(Joshua Solano / SunStar Philippines with a report from KJF)

AN IMPROVED and safer bicycle lane network and lower carbon footprint are the goals of the Bike Lane Master Plan 2023 for Metro Cebu, according to an official of the United Nations Development Programme, who also touted cycling’s financial benefits to both commuters, commercial establishments and the greater economy.

Representatives from the cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue and Talisay and the town of Cordova received a copy of the new Bike Lane Master Plan 2023 during a ceremonial turnover at Harold’s Evotel, Cebu City on Tuesday, July, 18, 2023.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) led the distribution of the master plan that serves as a guide to comprehensive, inclusive and equitable bike lanes network development for the local government units (LGUs) of Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and Metro Davao.

Floradema Eleazar, team leader of the climate action section of UNDP, told SunStar Cebu that installing bike lanes will also spur economic development.

However, bike lane implementers and traffic teams from the LGUs that received the master plan raised concerns and challenges to its full implementation, citing the lack of awareness and discipline among motorists and cyclists, narrow roads and streets, issues on infrastructure support and coordination among neighboring LGUs, and the lack of a legal framework concerning the use of the bike lane system in Metro Cebu.

Economic benefits

Eleazar said cycling will be economically beneficial for commuters as they will no longer have to pay the fare for public transportation or buy fuel for their private vehicles for their commute to their respective destinations.

Cycling also promotes a healthy and active lifestyle that minimizes health risks and complications.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme (Unep), cycling helps reduce the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, depression, as well as cancer. It cited research from the United Kingdom showing a link between cycling to work and a 45 percent lower risk of developing cancer, and a 46 percent lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease, compared to commuting by car or public transport.

For those concerned about getting exposed to pollution, Unep said: “The health benefits of cycling daily rather than taking a car for short trips outweigh the risks of inhalation of air pollutants. Daily exercise prolongs life expectancy by approximately 3.4 years whereas inhalation of polluted air reduces life expectancy by one to 40 days.”

Good for business

Eleazar said the public can enjoy a bike-to-work or bike-to-school setup.

Businesses such as restaurants or office buildings can also benefit from the cycling community by providing bike-friendly infrastructure like a table that will be high enough to enable bikers to use their bike as a chair.

Parking a bicycle also requires only a minimal space in comparison to motorcycles and automobiles.

Cycling also helps tourism as more cyclists visit tourist spots by traveling using a bike, she added.

However, Eleazar stressed the importance of government support in achieving these goals such as by funding the necessary infrastructure and campaign initiatives.

Carbon emissions

Cycling is good for the environment as well.

The burning of fossil fuels like gasoline and diesel by automobiles releases carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere, causing global warming and climate change. But cyclists emit much less carbon dioxide.

“Each seven kilometers by bicycle will save an emission of one kilogram of carbon dioxide as compared to the same distance covered by car,” according to the Unep.

Master plan

The master plan for comprehensive, inclusive and equitable bike lanes network development includes technical, institutional, and information and education components that may be adopted by the LGUs.

A research team from the University of the Philippines-National Center for Transportation Studies Foundation Inc. led the study of the master plan which was funded through Global Environment Facility.

Four strategies identified in the master plan are (1) expanding the network of protected/exclusive bike lanes, (2) developing the network of streets with shared lanes, (3) developing more bike-friendly infrastructure, and (4) encouraging the use of bicycles for commuting such as bike-to-work and bike-to-school.

Lack of discipline

Lack of awareness and discipline among motorists and the general public have been among the major challenges for the Cebu City Government to fully implement its Bike Lane System, Sugbo Bike Lanes Board (SBLB) executive director Bernard Maraasin told SunStar Cebu Tuesday after the turnover of the Bike Lane Master Plan 2023.

Maraasin stressed that “the ones reflected on the master plan, if I’m not mistaken, the city has (already) implemented (the markings of around) 70 percent of the proposed bike lanes which includes new markings in V. Rama (Ave.) and Duterte St.”

These developments began sprouting during the term of then Cebu City mayor Edgardo Labella in 2020 at the height of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic when the operation of traditional public utility jeepneys was suspended in a bid to slow the spread of the coronavirus, and riding a bike solo was seen as a safer way to go around the city than taking public transport.

However, Maraasin said that as Cebu City removed the mobility restrictions imposed during the pandemic, SBLB has recorded a high number of violators of bike lane rules.

City Ordinance 2408 mandates that bike lanes, particularly dedicated ones, are intended for the use solely of cyclists for their safety.

Drivers of public utility vehicles, ambulances and motorcycles are among the top violators of the ordinance, Maraasin said.

“Kanang ubang ambulance, himoon ug parkinganan ang bike lane, ug naay uban matog sa sulod.”

(Some ambulances make the bike lane their parking space, and some drivers can be found asleep inside.)

Narrow roads

On the other hand, John Michael Feliciano Edar of the Lapu-Lapu City Traffic Management System Office (CTMS) said the current roads of the cities were too narrow to install bike lanes in and that problems were observed even in the roads that already had bike lanes.

“Sa amo [Lapu-Lapu City], daghan kaayo ang tawo. Sa akong experience sa traffic, kana bitaw mga cyclists? Naa ta’y mga bike lane, nya dili muagi sa bike lane. Musagol sa mga utility vehicle,” he said.

(There are a lot of people in Lapu-Lapu City. In my own experience with traffic, we have cyclists that, even though we have bike lanes, do not use them. Instead, they mix with the utility vehicles.)

“Maayo ra man [the Master Plan], pero karon lisod pa gyud. Nindot ang bike lane, pero wa ta kahibaw asa nato ipahimutang,” he added.

(It’s a good initiative; however, its implementation is the challenging part as we do not know where to place these bike lanes.)

Enforcement

To mitigate this problem following the return of the heavy volume of vehicles after the Covid-19 pandemic, Maraasin emphasized that the penalties against violators must be strictly enforced under the city ordinance.

This instills discipline in the motorists, he said, emphasizing that there will be no exemption even for drivers of government vehicles.

The penalty ranges from P500 for the first offense, to P1,000 for the second offense, and then P1,500 for the third offense.

Meanwhile, old bicycle lanes that already have faded paint marking and white stripes will be given a makeover to ensure that these designated lanes remain visible to motorists for the safety of cyclists, especially those who “bike to work.”

Maraasin assured that more bike lanes will be installed once the Cebu City Government has cleared the three-easement zones along the city’s major waterways. The lanes will be incorporated in the cleared zones.

On the other hand, Lapu-Lapu’s Edar said that in order to implement the bike lane plan, the City first has to embark on the widening of the city’s narrow roads.

“Among city gamay, ang mga karsada padak-an or need og road widening,” Edar said.

(Our city is small, hence, our roads need to be widened.)

Bicycle lanes established at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021 were not properly used by cyclists as motorists were also not following their respective lanes, Edar said.

He added that as of the moment, the City Government has no ordinances with regard to the proper utilization and strengthening of the policy on bike lanes.

However, he assured that the CTMS is doing its best to reprimand violators of the bike lane policy.

More bicycle owners

According to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey in April 2022, one in four Filipino households in the country owned bicycles. It said there were four times more bicycle owners than car owners.

In the Visayas, the survey said, there were two times more bicycle owners than car owners.

Nationwide, the bicycles were used for essential activities like market/grocery and store runs, livelihood, and as transport to the workplace and elsewhere, as well as recreational activities, the SWS survey showed.

An improved bicycle lane network inspired by the master plan may just encourage cyclists to more often pedal to their destinations than take a motorized vehicle, auguring well for their finances as well as the environment. (with CTL AND DENISE MAE CODIS AND ERICA ABELLA, CNU INTERNS)

Port Moresby [Papua New Guinea], July 23 (ANI): Tournament favourites Papua New Guinea had a good start on day one of the East Asia Pacific Regional Final of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 Qualifiers, defeating Vanuatu while Japan also clinched a victory over Philippiness. The 19-year-old John Kariko started his T20I career on high, taking 3/6 in his four overs to send the crowd home happy at Amini Park on Saturday. He took w

 

An afternoon of rain

over clusters of trees

with leaves and flowers

peeling off from the boughs

to the grassy ground:

how it wafts a smell not earthy

but sweet, even sacred -

the incense of benediction

the candle flames at both sides of the altar,

the garden of roses on the marbled floor,

even the breath of the priest

prompting Tantum Ergo;<

On Friday, the lead singer of The 1975 criticised the government’s stance against homosexuality. On Saturday, Malaysia’s communications minister said the Good Vibes Festival, which was expected to continue this weekend, will be cancelled.

Campaigners were dismayed by the failure to reach agreement in Goa, India on Saturday on COP goals including tripling the world’s renewable capacity and doubling energy efficiency by 2030.

MORE than P5 million worth of illegal drugs were seized by the Cebu City police during a buy-bust operation in Sitio Pig Vendor, Barangay Ermita at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 22, 2023.

The suspect was identified as Rudolf Cabigon Aguilar, a 21-year-old electric-bike driver from Sitio Proper of the said barangay.

The buy-bust operation was conducted by the members of the City Drug Enforcement Unit of Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) and Carbon Police Station under the command CCPO Chief Colonel Ireneo Dalogdog.

The police confiscated a large pouch containing several packs of suspected shabu weighing 775 grams with a standard drug price of P5,270,000.

The evidence obtained has been turned over to the PNP Forensic Group for examination. (AYB, TPT)

July 23, 2023 12:13 AM

Lack of consensus adds to sluggish progress on climate diplomacy ahead of key meetings this year. 

If there was anything good that the COVID-19 pandemic brought, it was the coming together of the public and private sectors.