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8 Hulio 2024, Lunes

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Painting roofs white  lower city heat

By Nidz Godino

“We comprehensively tested multiple methods  cities like London could use to adapt to and mitigate warming temperatures, and found that cool roofs were  best way to keep temperatures down during extremely hot summer days,”  study’s lead author, Oscar Brousse from UCL said white or reflective paint is more effective at cooling cities than covering roofs in solar panels or greenery, scientists say, and could offer some relief on extremely hot summer days.

Two separate studies looked at  effect of ‘cool roofing’ and found using white or reflective coatings could reduce outdoor city temperatures by up to 2 degrees Celsius.

Scientists at University College London (UCL) used  model of Greater London to test various cooling methods against its hottest days of 2018, when  city endured  record-breaking summer.

Results, published  in  journal Geophysical Research Letters, found  if adopted widely, cool roofs could reduce  surrounding temperature between 1.2C to 2C.

Other approaches, like planting vegetation at street level or installing solar panels, provided  much smaller cooling effect at about 0.3C on average across London,  study found.

Covering roofs in greenery had  “negligible” impact on temperatures, it found, though could offer other benefits like better water draining and habitats for wildlife.

“Other methods had various important side benefits, but none were able to reduce outdoor urban heat to nearly  same level.”

Scientists also found  air conditioning,  transfers heat from inside buildings to the outside, could warm  environment by as much as 1C in dense central London.

“By reflecting rather than absorbing heat, cool roofs have  dual benefit of not only cooling  outside urban environment but  inside of buildings as well,”  report said

Separate  study published in March looked at real-world results from painting not just roofs, but also roads and outside walls white in industrial district of Singapore.

Researchers demonstrated  overall temperatures were reduced up to 2C in the afternoon, helping pedestrians feel 1.5C cooler in tropical climes.

Lighter surfaces reflect heat rather than absorbing it,  effect known as albedo.

Surfaces with high albedo include snow and ice, or light-colored urban materials. By contrast, asphalt has low albedo, absorbing more energy and therefore heat, as do oceans and forests.

Roofing made of white plastic materials have been found in other studies to reflect 80 percent of sunlight that reaches it.

Among other locations, cool roofing has already been rolled out in Greece,  vulnerable to scorching summer highs, and parts of India where heatwaves can be extreme.

Some experiments painting roads and footpaths white have proven less popular, with some complaints about glare and dirty surfaces in cities that tested this approach in the United States and France.

Cities are ‘heat islands’  experience higher temperatures than their surroundings, with energy from the sun absorbed in buildings and roads.

As  world’s population continues to migrate to cities, and heatwaves become longer and stronger because of climate change, finding ways to adapt will become  priority for urban planners.

White roofing was “minimally intrusive solution for urban cooling that has an immediate effect compared to other options” that require more intervention, said E V S Kiran Kumar Donthu, the lead author of  Singapore study.

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TODAY’S GOD’S MESSAGE

Psalm 138:2

I will bow down toward your holy temple
    and will praise your name
    for your unfailing love and your faithfulness,
for you have so exalted your solemn decree
    that it surpasses your fame.

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7 Hulio 2024, Linggo

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Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

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Best wishes Mr. and Mrs. Seth Elyon San Pedro

happy 10th Anniversary Binang City, Laguna Chapter Servants of God in Christ Jesus Christian Ministries Inc., Dr. Enrico San Pedro, Pastor 

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Fiancé Cohen, Lopez  bodies found in Capas

By J.Lo

“We are committed to ensuring that justice prevails, not just in this case, but in all instances where  innocent suffer,” Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil said in  statement two decomposing human remains found in Capas, Tarlac have been confirmed to be those of beauty pageant candidate Geneva Lopez and her Israeli partner Yitshak Cohen, based on their clothing and items found on the corpses.

Operatives of  Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) found  corpses buried in  lot in Barangay Sta. Lucia at around 7 in the morning. They carried out  operation based on search warrant issued on Friday by Judge Edwin Bonifacio of Tarlac City Regional Trial Court Branch 111.

With  discovery of  victims’ remains, Marbil vowed to bring  perpetrators of  crime to justice.

Lopez and Cohen, residents of Barangay Malabanias in Angeles City, Pampanga, were reported missing by their relatives on June 22,  day after the couple went to Capas, Tarlac to check  property that they planned to buy.

Pampanga Gov. Dennis Pineda, who was present when corpses were dug up, said  bodies were those of  couple.

“This was confirmed by the police based on  victims’ clothing,” Pineda said on Facebook.

Pineda vowed to help  couple’s families achieve justice. “Let’s pray for their souls…my condolences to their families,” he said.

PNP public information officer Col. Jean Fajardo said  relatives of Lopez and Cohen positively identified them based on  clothes they were last seen wearing before they went missing on June 21.

Fajardo said autopsy would be performed on the victims’ remains to determine  cause of death. Investigators will also lift tissue samples from  corpses for DNA testing to confirm their identities.  Cadavers  were brought to  funeral parlor in Tarlac City.

Five persons of interests including two former police officers are in police custody after being arrested separately in Tarlac for illegal possession of firearms, Fajardo said.

Two former police officers were arrested yesterday while  third,  civilian, was nabbed on Friday.

“There are two other POIs ,persons of interest in police custody,” she said in  phone interview.

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7 Hulio 2024, Linggo

Register now and vote in midterm polls

Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024

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No to SOGIE bill

Best wishes Mr. and Mrs. Seth Elyon San Pedro

happy 10th Anniversary Binang City, Laguna Chapter Servants of God in Christ Jesus Christian Ministries Inc., Dr. Enrico San Pedro, Pastor 

PM for any hospital discharge problem

Teachers list for new DepEd chief

By J.Lo

“To start, we hope incoming secretary engages with stakeholders, especially teachers…he will encounter significant challenges, but addressing these can lead to substantial progress in our education system,” teachers group Teachers Dignity Coalition (TDC) has listed ten “critical areas” in  education sector outgoing senator Sonny Angara must immediately work on as  new secretary of  Department of Education.

Angara is set to replace Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, whose resignation as DepEd secretary will officially take effect on July 19, though resignation was announced by Malacañang and Duterte herself last June 19.

In  statement,  TDC said  while it previously called for appointment of  non-politician and someone with teaching background as next DepEd secretary, it still welcomes  appointment of Angara, adding that  group is willing to work with him “to improve  agency and education sector.”

TDC said pushing for  passage of legislation that would increase  salaries of teachers and education support personnel must be on top of Angara’s priorities.

TDC has been advocating for upgrade of teachers’ entry-level salaries to at least Salary Grade 15 (P36,000 to P39,000 per month) and  enactment of  P15,000 across-the-board salary increase for public school teachers.

TDC said Angara must also ensure  strict implementation of  welfare provisions of Republic Act 4670 or Magna Carta for Public School Teachers; provision of mandatory legal support for teachers facing charges while on duty and incorporation into  DepEd’s child protection policy  enforcement of discipline among students.

Furthermore,  TDC said Angara must ensure schools’ strict adherence to DepEd Orders 2 and 5, series of 2024 removing  administrative tasks of teachers, reducing their workload and payment for overtime services.

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07 Hulio 2024, Linggo

Register now and vote in midterm polls

Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024

Substitute candidates must be with same surname and political party

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No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

No to SOGIE bill

Best wishes Mr. and Mrs. Seth Elyon San Pedro

happy 10th Anniversary Binang City, Laguna Chapter Servants of God in Christ Jesus Christian Ministries Inc., Dr. Enrico San Pedro, Pastor 

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Duterte family’s Senate ambitions hit

By Nidz Godino

“This is the height of bureaucrat capitalism, where  single family wants to control every aspect of  nation’s politics,” said ACT Teachers partylist Rep. France Castro in a statement slammed  plan of  Duterte family to expand their political dynasty following Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio’s announcement that her father and two brothers will each seek  Senate seat.

Recently, the vice president said  former president Rodrigo Duterte and sons Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte and Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte shall each seek  Senate seat in  2025 midterm elections. She also confirmed family is already preparing for  2028 presidential race, with Baste being groomed as their presidential candidate.

She noted  politicians are treating government positions like  business not only to enrich themselves but also to cover up their crimes to the people.

She stressed this development only “exposes  intensifying conflict between two factions of  ruling class,” apparently referring to  Duterte and Marcos families.

Lawmaker  called on Filipino people to remain vigilant and to resist these attempts by political dynasties to “monopolize power and perpetuate their rule at expense of democracy and interests of  masses.” 

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07 Hulio 2024, Linggo

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Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024

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Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

No to SOGIE bill

Best wishes Mr. and Mrs. Seth Elyon San Pedro

happy 10th Anniversary Binang City, Laguna Chapter Servants of God in Christ Jesus Christian Ministries Inc., Dr. Enrico San Pedro, Pastor 

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FMJ congratulates new British PM Keir Starmer

By Nidz Godino

“On behalf of the Philippines, I extend my warmest congratulations to the Labour Party and Keir Starmer,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. extended his congratulations to the new British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer Labour party’s landslide victory in  general election.

Marcos  is looking forward to strengthening relations between  Philippines and  United Kingdom following  UK parliamentary elections held on July 4.

“We wish  new government success and look forward to further strengthening our deep and longstanding ties,” Philippine leader said.

Labour, led by new Prime Minister Keir Starmer ended 14 years of Conservative rule.

According to  statement released by  Presidential Communications Office, diplomatic relations between  Philippines and  UK were established on July 4, 1946.

In 2021, both nations committed to enhancing bilateral cooperation through  UK-Philippines Enhanced Partnership,  focused on closer collaboration in trade, investment, technology, security and defense. 

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7 Hulio 2024, Linggo

Register now and vote in midterm polls

Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024

Substitute candidates must be with same surname and political party

Partylist must file Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance

No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

No to SOGIE bill

Best wishes Mr. and Mrs. Seth Elyon San Pedro

happy 10th Anniversary Binang City, Laguna Chapter Servants of God in Christ Jesus Christian Ministries Inc., Dr. Enrico San Pedro, Pastor 

PM for any hospital discharge problem

9 foreigners dumped in Pampanga

By J.Lo

“We also directed our chiefs of police to scrutinize all establishments to prevent or deter such crimes,” Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) is coordinating with  Pampanga police to get more details about  foreigners, three of whom were found in Porac, Pampanga where  illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub, Lucky South 99, was raided for alleged human trafficking and other criminal activities. Nine foreigners, most of them Chinese nationals, have been killed and their bodies dumped in different areas in Pampanga.

At news forum at  Dapo Restaurant and Bar in Quezon City, PAOCC spokesman Winston John Casio said they have received calls from  embassies of China, Vietnam and Malaysia seeking more details about  foreigners.

Pampanga police director Col. Jay Dimaandal said six of the victims are Chinese nationals while  others are Vietnamese, Malaysian and Japanese. He did not disclose other details.

Dimaandal said they have filed criminal cases against suspects in eight of the cases while one case, that of  Chinese woman found dead in Mabalacat City last March 7, remains under investigation.

He said  three Chinese citizens found in Porac sustained gunshot wounds.  Investigation  showed they were kidnapped somewhere in Pasay City.

Another case involved  Vietnamese who was found dead and his remains burned in Bacolor.

Dimaandal said it is too early to say if  killings are connected to Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hubs.

As  proactive measure, Dimaandal has ordered  deployment of police along expressways and other areas to deter criminals.

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7 Hulio 2024, Linggo

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Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024

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No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

No to SOGIE bill

Best wishes Mr. and Mrs. Seth Elyon San Pedro

happy 10th Anniversary Binang City, Laguna Chapter Servants of God in Christ Jesus Christian Ministries Inc., Dr. Enrico San Pedro, Pastor 

PM for any hospital discharge problem

HEADLINES

Angara to improve teaching of Ph history 

By Nidz Godino

”One thing I asked of him was to please teach our children Philippine history, because I have seen my children’s workbooks, and there’s very little said about  history of the Philippines,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has instructed incoming Education Secretary Sonny Angara to reinforce  teaching of Philippine history in schools, which has been absent from  high school curriculum since  K to 12 curriculum was introduced in 2013.

Marcos also  discussed  failure of  K to 12 curriculum to improve students’ employability to Angara, who championed K to 12 as  principal author and sponsor of  Senate bill that became Republic Act 10533 or Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013. 

Angara earlier said that the president told him to change  approach of teaching history in schools to focus less on memorization;

Marcos, who earlier this year dismissed calls for his family to return their ill-gotten wealth as “propaganda,” reportedly told Angara he wants history lessons to be discussed comprehensively.

“May binanggit sya about history… ‘yung hindi ba ‘yung hindi naka-focus masyado sa memorization, pero kung hindi sa pag-uunawa o pag-iintindi sa mga nangyari talaga, kung bakit nangyari yun…and making history interesting for our young people,” Angara said.

For years, teachers behind  High School Philippine History Movement have campaigned to bring back  teaching of Philippine history in high school after K to 12 curriculum moved  subject to grades 5 and 6. 

Six-year knowledge gap  resulted from limiting Philippine History to grade school “becomes more pronounced when seen from vantage point of higher education” as students generally did not retain their baseline knowledge, according to  2024 study that interviewed college instructors.

In 2023,  Department of Education under Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio struck out  name “Marcos” from “Diktadurang Marcos” in the new Araling Panlipunan curriculum and defended move as  routine review by curriculum specialists.

While DepEd said teachers could still use  word “Marcos dictatorship” in their lessons, they also called for  “balanced” perspective in discussions about  administration of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.  well-documented period of history characterized by widespread rights abuses and diminishing of basic freedoms. 

Since assuming office, Marcos has publicly declared twice  once in his inaugural speech and again in his first State of the Nation Address  that he was not referring to history lessons when he suggested improving  content of educational materials.

Marcos said  improving  employability of Filipino high school graduates was “one of two elements” that he discussed with  incoming DepEd secretary, whose appointment was announced exactly two weeks after Duterte’s resignation.

While K to 12 was implemented to increase students’ years of education at par with international standards, Marcos said  results show that graduates’ employability has not improved. “So we have to do something else,” he said.

Marcos said government is considering to offer short-term “mini courses” for students taking up special programs, but this will require coordination with industries and private sector, according to  Presidential Communications Office.

Amid calls to overhaul  K to 12 curriculum, Angara has maintained  program is already institutionalized through  law and that DepEd will continue its review of  K to 12 program under his leadership.

In February, Duterte said DepEd’s target pilot test of revised senior high school curriculum will take place in school year 2025-2026. 

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06 Hulio 2024, Sabado

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Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024

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Best wishes Mr. and Mrs. Seth Elyon San Pedro

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Full  probe into illegal POGO activities

By Nidz Godino

“We cannot allow these rogue POGO operators to persist in their illicit actions… imperative that we identify and unmask  masterminds and protectors behind these operations so they can be prosecuted to  fullest extent of the law,” Speaker Martin Romualdez said  House of Representatives will investigate illegal activities involving Philippine offshore gaming operators or POGOs.

Based on  directive from  Romualdez,  chamber will examine thoroughly  various criminal activities, including money laundering, human trafficking and other offenses allegedly committed by these illegitimate gaming hubs.

During  probe, lawmakers will also review  effectiveness of  current regulations and identify any gaps that allow POGOs to evade  law.

Romualdez said  establishing  identities of those responsible for protecting and facilitating these illegal operations and ensuring they are held accountable is “priority” of  investigation.

This move, Romualdez noted, underscores  government’s commitment to curbing illegal activities and ensuring  existing regulations are effectively enforced.

Earlier, Speaker  does not favor  total ban on POGOs because they would only go underground, making monitoring more difficult for authorities.

Instead, he proposed strict regulation and enforcement of laws against illegal POGOs.

Meanwhile,  provincial council of Bulacan is proposing to disallow  operation of POGOs in the province.

Council  tackled  issue following reports on proliferation of POGO operations that have been causing various social, economic and security issues in the country.

Draft  ordinance states: “Provincial Government of Bulacan genuinely believes  adverse impacts of POGO operations surpass their alleged economic benefits and can potentially worsen existing social ills while posing  threat to  country’s overall economic stability.”

On June 26, Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando issued Executive Order No. 19, series of 2024 enjoining  close monitoring of POGOs in the province.

As per  EO, all local chief executives in the province are expected to  inventory  all POGO operations within their respective jurisdictions; monitor whether such operations have  appropriate government licenses and approvals and conduct appropriate regulatory inspections on such POGOs 

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06 Hulio 2024, Sabado

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Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024

Substitute candidates must be with same surname and political party

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No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

No to SOGIE bill

Best wishes Mr. and Mrs. Seth Elyon San Pedro

happy 10th Anniversary Binang City, Laguna Chapter Servants of God in Christ Jesus Christian Ministries Inc., Dr. Enrico San Pedro, Pastor 

PM for any hospital discharge problem

HEADLINES

NEDA hit to detail  rice tariff cut

By Nidz Godino

“It suddenly appeared at the NEDA Board on June 3…we will ask, as far as possible, who went to NEDA Board meeting and if there is  transcript to provide…if necessary, there will be  executive session just so we can know  root of this EO 62 modifying  Nomenclature and Rates of Import Duty on Various Products,” Sen. Imee Marcos said. National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) should make public  details of  June 3 NEDA Board meeting  resulted in government’s controversial decision to cut  tariff on imported rice to 15 percent up to 2028.

Marcos made  call after Senate hearing into proposed amendments to  Rice Tariffication Law (Republic Act 11203) and Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RA 8178) showed  proposal did not come from agricultural stakeholders, and was never raised during three consultative hearings of  Tariff Commission in 2023.

“Clearly, this was  small meeting…it was just  board meeting, right… so it can hardly be considered  public hearing with stakeholders and others,” Marcos said.

NEDA Board is composed of the President as chairman and NEDA secretary as vice chairman, with members:  executive secretary, special assistant to the president for investment and economic affairs, secretary of finance and secretary of budget and management.

Marcos noted  transcripts of  March, September and October 2023 consultative meetings and public hearings held by  Tariff Commission,  no mention of  15 percent rice tariff rate taking effect for four and a half years.

Tariff Commissioner Marissa Paderon explained  proposed changes to  tariff lines “came from  parties” present during  meetings.

“In reading that transcript, was there any new tariff rate on rice proposed or discussed… I can’t see anything…throughout  transcript, no one howled, and no one said to drop  tariff to 15 percent…. I didn’t see anything in  full transcript… I turned it upside down. ..where did that come from…if you say  it will come from someone who will raise his hand and suggest new tariff…not in the transcript,” Marcos said, pointing out  lack of due process in  implementation of  rice tariff cut.

Marcos also lamented how farmers’ groups, federations and other agricultural stakeholders and  Senate were left out of  consultative meetings.

Farmer’ groups and rice millers present during  Senate hearing bared they were not even invited to  2023 consultative meetings on tariff lines, the senator noted.