Wednesday, November 30, 2022

WWF-Philippines supports the implementation of the Extended Producers Responsibility Law

 


Conservation group World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines (WWF-Philippines) is releasing a white paper to help the Philippine government in the upcoming implementation of the Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) Law.

 

After years of dialogues, the Extended Producers Responsibility Act of 2022 finally lapsed into law last July 23, 2022. Right after its passage, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) started multi-sectoral consultations to craft the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the EPR Law.

 

WWF-Philippines lauds this monumental achievement in the battle against plastic pollution as the EPR scheme is a critical policy tool that holds producers accountable for the full life cycle of their products and packaging. EPR is an environmental policy approach that emerged in the 1990s and is now increasingly recognized globally as a useful tool for accelerating the transition to sustainable waste management and a circular economy. This scheme encourages waste reduction through the elimination of unnecessary packaging of products, the development of more environmentally friendly packaging design, and the recovery of plastic packaging from the trash in order to reuse or recycle them back into the production process.

 

To successfully implement the EPR Law in the country, WWF-Philippines, through discussions with other stakeholders from different sectors, highlights several key points that the IRR must include and give clarity.

 

First, the IRR must clarify the role and powers of the Producer Responsibility Operator (PRO) as they will play a huge role in the implementation of the EPR system. Public registries and information data banks should also be readily available for monitoring and guidance.

 

Secondly, eco-modulation or the adjustment of the EPR fees based on the packaging of the product should be emphasized and ensure that the fees will support the improvement of our solid waste management system. Investments should also be made in research and development, technology sharing, and the reduction of plastic waste in the country.

 

Another important point that WWF-Philippines underscores is labeling, which is an important aspect to facilitate proper re-use, recycling, return-to-manufacturer, and other means to circulate the material in the system. Lastly, EPR programs should be inclusive and integrated into the existing solid waste management system of our country.

 

“We at WWF-Philippines commends the Philippine government for taking concrete actions against plastic pollution. EPR Law is a very important instrument that will shape the future of our initiatives against plastic pollution. Our work now is to implement together with all stakeholders and ensure that we are adopting a human-rights-based approach in doing so.”, said Czarina Constantino - Panopio, Program Manager for No Plastics in Nature initiative.

 

According to studies by WWF-Philippines, Filipinos each consume a yearly average of 20kgs of plastics, and 15.43kgs of it becomes total plastic waste. The country is also suffering from a very low plastic recycling rate of 9%. The report further estimates that the Philippines leaks about 35% of plastic waste into the environment.

 

WWF-Philippines actively pushes for actions against plastic pollution through its “No Plastic in Nature Initiative”. It is WWF’s global initiative to stop the flow of plastics entering nature by 2030 through the elimination of unnecessary plastics, doubling reuse, recycling, and recovery, and ensuring remaining plastic is sourced responsibly. Through this initiative, WWF-Philippines has been working with cities on plastic leakage, policymakers to advocate for a global treaty on plastic pollution and EPR, businesses to transition to circular business models, and the general public to campaign and act.

 

To know more about WWF-Philippines and its initiatives, please visit https://wwf.org.ph/

 


About WWF

 

WWF is one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations,

with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in nearly 100 countries. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world’s biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

 

WWF-Philippines has been working as a national organization of the WWF network since 1997 and implements various conservation projects to help protect some of the most biologically-significant ecosystems in Asia. WWF-Philippines works to improve Filipino lives by crafting solutions to climate change, providing sustainable livelihood programs, and conserving the country’s richest marine and land habitats.

Galing Pook Foundation Recognizes Outstanding Local Government Programs for 2022



Ten outstanding local governance programs were recognized in the 2022 Galing Pook Awards held at the Ceremonial Hall of Malacanang Palace last Tuesday, November 22, 2022.


Galing Pook Foundation with its co-presenters SM Prime Holdings Inc., and the DILG-Local Government Academy, and sponsors Cebu Pacific and Airspeed named local government units from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao that promote innovation and excellence.


President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. commended the Galing Pook Foundation for recognizing and incentivizing top performing LGUs. He stressed how strong collaboration between the public and private sector can lead to more meaningful and successful programs that truly benefit the Filipino people.


“The recognition that you give to cities and municipalities inspires them to accelerate their drive towards improvement and it encourages LGUs to adopt practices that make us paragons of excellence in public service. It is necessary for us to underscore the importance of strengthening partnerships between the government and private organizations, such as the Galing Pook Foundation, especially as we bring about meaningful progress in the country.”


Galing Pook Chairperson Mel Sarmiento expressed his gratitude to all the local executives and LGU teams that participated this year: “It’s truly inspiring to see the impact of the work that you do, and I’m sure you’ve brought value to many Filipinos all over the country. Our collaborations bring us closer to realizing our shared vision, na ang bawat pamilyang Pilipino, may simple pero kumportableng buhay.”


The winners of the 2022 Galing Pook Awards were: The Green Wall of Alcala (Alcala, Cagayan);

Advancing and Sustaining Good Governance and Community Actions towards Resiliency and Empowerment (Basilan Province); Bataan Public-Private Partnership Programs (Bataan Province);

Balik-Biñan Project: Tourism Development through Heritage Conservation (Biñan City, Laguna); From Black to Green: Fishponds, Eco-Tourism and Full Employment (Brgy. Cayabu, Tanay, Rizal);

Trekking to Unlock Community Ailments and Difficulties (TUCAD) (Goa, Camarines Sur); “I-BIKE” A Program Promoting the Development of the Iloilo City Bike Culture (Iloilo City); Yaru: A Whole-of-Community Approach Towards Disaster Management (Itbayat, Batanes); Libertad Fish Forever Savings Club (Libertad, Antique); and

Basta Piddigueño, AgriHenyo: Consolidated Farm Production System (Piddig, Ilocos Norte).


The 10 winners were chosen from 18 finalists and a record field of 196 applications from different LGUs in the country.


Launched on October 21, 1993, the Galing Pook Awards has recognized 329 LGU programs from 200 LGUs in the country that have been promoted for replication to benefit more communities.




Tuesday, November 29, 2022

SM provides learners with environment conducive to learning

 


More than just an area where students gather to hold classes, a school environment plays a vital role in learners’ cognitive development. Research has shown that with an environment conducive to learning, students increase their attention and focus, and they are more motivated to practice higher-level critical thinking skills.

Adamant to provide students with venues where they can fully hone their skills and knowledge, SM Foundation (SMFI)—the corporate social responsibility arm of the SM group—cemented its partnership with the Department of Education (DepED) in 2002 through DepEd’s Adopt-A-School Program.

Through this, SMFI builds SM school buildings in grassroot communities, complete with basic furniture and equipment. More so, SMFI integrates specialized features to each SM school building to address the unique needs of their school recipients—some received rooms dedicated as a guidance office, a clinic, a mini-library, and some even got a water tank and a handwashing facility.

To date, SMFI has turned over more than 100 SM school buildings nationwide with the help of its partners, which share the same aspirations for the Filipino learners and teachers. One of which is the SM Prime Holdings (SMPH) - one of the largest integrated property developers in Southeast Asia. Since the project’s inception, over 90 SM school buildings out of the more than 100 were built through the social good collaboration with SM Prime.

 

Infrastructure for calamity prone areas

SMFI and SMPH ensure that the SM school buildings incorporate a disaster resilient design to guarantee the safety of the students, teachers, and other school personnel. Emergency lights at both staircases, and fire and earthquake alarm bells are also installed.

Principal Joji Buelvo, school principal of Basud Elementary School (BES) in Sorsogon City, shared the state of their school community before they accepted the fully furnished SM school building from SMFI and SM Prime in 2021: “Ang aming paaralan ay saksi sa maraming kalamidad. Kaya karamihan ng mga classrooms ay may kalumaan na, ang mga kisame ay malapit na bumagsak—talagang hindi na conducive for learning.”

“But through your [SMFI and SM Prime] donation, our BES learners now have a haven where we can nurture their young minds to be academically-ready and well-rounded members of the community,” Buelvo further expressed.

 

 

Addressing classroom shortage

The continuous rapid growth of the country’s population is taking a toll on schools—leaving the students, even the teachers, with overcrowded classrooms which affect learners’ academic performance.

In 2012, the Banisil National High School (BNHS) in General Santos City received its first SM school building. But being the only secondary school in Barangay Tambler, BNHS records a significant increase in their enrollment per year. With this challenge, SM Foundation decided to provide another edifice of hope for the sub-urban Muslim community in 2021, addressing the growing needs of BNHS learners and teachers.

BNHS then principal Shiela Balbon said, “Yung patuloy na paglobo ng population every year ay talagang naging suliranin namin.

Pagpasok ng 2020, nagkaroon ng COVID. So naisip ko baka hindi na matuloy. Pero itong SM Foundation, walang pande-pandemya sa kanila. Talagang desidido silang matugunan yung pangangailangan sa classroom ng mga estudyante,” she added.

“Our salute to our longtime partner, SM Foundation and SM Prime, for being so generous and proactive in providing us with school buildings that are conducive to learning. We are so grateful for your extended support to our school amidst the pandemic,” Balbon concluded.

SM Foundation, through its School Building Program, is an active partner of DepEd’s Adopt-a-School project. This social good initiative aims to promote quality public education by building classrooms nationwide.

HONOR X6 now available via Globe postpaid plans!

 


HONOR, the leading global tech provider for smart devices, has recently announced its postpaid plans for HONOR X6. HONOR fans can now get the latest HONOR phone in very affordable plans in select Globe stores nationwide.

HONOR X6 Specs

HONOR X6 is a budget-friendly smartphone that comes with two color options - Midnight Black and Titanium Silver.

It has a 50MP Triple Camera that can capture the wonderful moments of your life with ease. It runs on a Mediatek Hello 625 chipset with 4GB RAM, Android 12 OS, and Magic UI 6.1 Interface.

A large 5,000mAh battery powers the device with support for 10W charging via USB Type C. The high-capacity battery provides plenty of power to last all day. Up to 17 hours of online video playback or 31 hours of online music playback.

There's also a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, 4G LTE connectivity, dual-band Wi-Fi, and 64GB of expandable storage up to 1TB microSD card.


Hurry now! Visit the Globe stores near you and get the HONOR X6 at a lower plan! All plans include Unli All-Net Calls & Text, Landline Calls, and 3gb GoWifi!

            

About HONOR 

HONOR is a leading global provider of smart devices. It is dedicated to becoming a global iconic technology brand and creating a new intelligent world for everyone through its powerful products and services. With an unwavering focus on R&D, it is committed to developing technology that empowers people around the globe to go beyond, giving them the freedom to achieve and do more. Offering a range of high-quality smartphones, tablets, laptops and wearables to suit every budget, HONOR’s portfolio of innovative, premium and reliable products enable people to become a better version of themselves. For more information, please visit the HONOR official social media pages:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HonorPhilippines

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honorphilippines/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@honorphilippines

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAMsKN_spo-FpVSoV3k8uzw

Twitter:

 

Lazada Store: https://bit.ly/HONORPHLaz

Shopee Store: https://bit.ly/HONORPHShopee

HONOR Physical Stores: https://bit.ly/HONORPHStore

 


Celebrate National Children’s Month with the Right Healthcare for Your Kids

 


The Philippines celebrates National Children’s Month in November in every year. This celebration focuses on the need to provide Filipino children access to a healthy environment, good education, and healthcare. Children are susceptible to illnesses and injuries. If not prevented or given the proper treatment, their growth and development may be compromised.

 

In observance of the National Children’s Month this November, MediCard, a leading Health and Maintenance Organization (HMO) in the Philippines, reinforces this year’s theme “Kalusugan, Kaisipan, at Kapakanan ng Bawat Bata Ating Tutukan.” The company is one with the country in emphasizing the need for parents to provide their kids with the proper care, encompassing the importance of getting them the right HMO coverage that would help monitor their overall health and prevent, detect, or treat severe conditions.

 

With a healthcare plan, children will have access to preventive healthcare services, annual physical examinations (APE), and immunizations to help combat severe illnesses during childhood, such as polio, pneumonia, meningitis, influenza, tetanus, tuberculosis, hepatitis B, and many more.

 

For a perfect and comprehensive package for your whole family (including your kids), MediCard offers Individual and Family plans that cover all these healthcare services at a starting rate of PhP10,739 per year. Start maintaining your children's health by following the plan's hierarchy policy so they can be eligible for coverage. 

 

Additionally, you do not have to worry about the expenses for your kids’ in-patient care. Depending on a child’s diagnosis and plan, this can cover X-ray and laboratory examinations, operating and recovery room expenses, and the services of MediCard doctors, including anesthesiologists, internists, surgeons, and many more.

 

For their outpatient care, on the other hand, you can have access to medical providers at any MediCard free-standing clinics or MediCard-accredited clinics or hospitals nationwide. Conditional to your child’s plan, this can also cover laboratory or diagnostic examinations ordered by a MediCard doctor, regular consultations, and specialist referrals.

 

Other benefits of this coverage include diets and health habits counseling and health management. On top of that, you can also take care of your kids’ oral health as you can avail of dental care services from any accredited dental clinic. This includes simple tooth extraction, oral prophylaxis, temporary fillings, and treatment of mouth lesions, wounds, and burns.

 

MediCard is a leading HMO founded and managed by doctors. Over the years, it has provided the most comprehensive and innovative healthcare programs and fitness activities to help people achieve healthier lives.

 

To learn more about MediCard Philippines, visit its website at https://www.medicardphils.com/.  

 

UNIQLO Releases Four New Designs for PEACE FOR ALL Charity T-shirt Project

 


Global apparel retailer UNIQLO today announces the global launch of four new designs for PEACE FOR ALL, the charity T-shirt project from UT (UNIQLO T-shirt). This latest collection features special graphics from collaborators with a close connection to UNIQLO such as Peanuts as well as a design with an original photo taken by the world-renowned film director Wim Wenders.

 

As with earlier collections, UNIQLO parent company Fast Retailing will continue to donate 100% of profits from the sale of the T-shirts (equivalent to 20% of the selling price) to three international aid organizations - UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, Save the Children, and Plan International - who provide assistance to people impacted by poverty, discrimination, violence and conflict.

 

UNIQLO first introduced the PEACE FOR ALL project on June 17, 2022, with the concept that a T-shirt can help make the world a better place. As of September, a total of more than 484,000 T-shirts have been sold, raising more than US $1M (calculation period through August 31).

 

So far, 20 collaborators who support the project’s aim of “praying sincerely for world peace and taking action” have volunteered their time and effort to create one-of-a-kind, original design T-shirts.

      

The five new UTs will be available for purchase from Friday, December 16th.

 

Overview of the New PEACE FOR ALL Designs

 

Product name

PEACE FOR ALL

Launch date

Friday, December 16th, 2022

Price

Php 790.00

Sizes

XS-3XL (Sizes 2XL -3XL available only in Online Store)

Availability

UNIQLO stores and online

Special website

https://www.uniqlo.com/ph/en/contents/feature/peace-for-all/

(Per DTI Permit No FTEB-145421 Series of 2022)

 

 


WIM WENDERS (Film Director)

 

I never saw more horizon in my life than on that day in the West-Australian desert. And at the very end of that road, I was sure, behind the horizon, we could only find a peaceful future.

 

Wim Wenders is one of the most acclaimed film directors of our time, who won the Palm D’Or for PARIS, TEXAS, and more than 20 awards worldwide for WINGS OF DESIRE. His documentaries have received three Oscar nominations, and he was lately honored with the Praemium Imperiale. His photographs have been exhibited in museums all over the world.






© Keith Haring Foundation. Licensed by Artestar, New York.

Patrick PIEL

KEITH HARING (Artist)

 

The late Keith Haring created this artwork as a sign of global peace. It was meant to signify people all over the world coming together to stand for peace on earth.

 

A key figure in New York’s East Village scene toward the end of the 1970s and 80s, the American artist Keith Haring’s artwork populated not only art galleries, but also the city’s subways, streets, and sidewalks. His work often combined an iconographic vocabulary, including hearts, flying saucers, winged figures, and a crawling “radiant baby,” with abstract marks and patterning.





PEANUTS (Comics)

 

The group of friends who inhabit the world of Peanuts display a wide range of personalities: bold, nervous, romantic, curious, thoughtful, and adventurous. What unites them is their friendships and sense of community. For decades, the characters have resonated with fans for displaying all the elements of humanity. This design captures both the love the characters have for one another and the love that Peanuts inspires around the world.

 

Charles M. Schulz, the creator of the comic strip Peanuts, drew 17,897 strips over the course of half a century from 1950 (the year of the comic’s initial syndication in seven US newspapers) to his death in 2000.




LISA LARSON (Ceramicist)

 

© LISA LARSON

PHOTO: MARK GORDON

The picture speaks of unconditional friendship and trust. The vulnerable girl sits on the back of a wild beast. We have to trust in Peace and choose the path of Peace. The lion symbolizes strength, loyalty, and bravery. It takes bravery to turn against violence. To protect the young girl means protecting the future of the human race. Trust is not being afraid. Peace is strength.

 

Born in 1931 in Härlunda in the province of Småland in the south of Sweden. In 1954, she began working for Gustavsberg porcelain. Later, as the company’s star designer, she became a mainstay of the golden age of Swedish ceramics. In 1980, Larson left the company to work as a freelance designer. In 1992, she co-founded Keramikstudion Gustavsberg. Full of life, Lisa continues to make new designs for production, and unique (one-off) ceramic pieces.



UNIQLO believes that T-shirts have the power to express the ideas of the wearer, as well as elicit empathy and spread messages broadly. To help create a peaceful future, UNIQLO actively engages with individuals who support the PEACE FOR ALL project and dedicates space in its stores around the world to remind customers of all the people who need assistance. Anyone can join the call for peace by wearing their favorite PEACE FOR ALL UT, and UNIQLO looks forward to a successful continuation of the project.

 

 

#####

 

About UNIQLO LifeWear

Apparel that comes from the Japanese values of simplicity, quality and longevity. Designed to be of the time and for the time, LifeWear is made with such modern elegance that it becomes the building blocks of each individual’s style. A perfect shirt that is always being made more perfect. The simplest design hiding the most thoughtful and modern details. The best in fit and fabric made to be affordable and accessible to all. LifeWear is clothing that is constantly being innovated, bringing more warmth, more lightness, better design, and better comfort to people’s lives.

 

About UNIQLO and Fast Retailing

UNIQLO is a brand of Fast Retailing Co., Ltd., a leading Japanese retail holding company with global headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. UNIQLO is the largest of eight brands in the Fast Retailing Group, the others being GU, Theory, PLST (Plus T), Comptoir des Cotonniers, Princesse tam.tam, J Brand and Helmut Lang. With global sales of approximately 2.3 trillion yen for the 2022 fiscal year ending August 31, 2022 (US $16.6 billion, calculated in yen using the end of August 2022 rate of $1 = 138.7 yen), Fast Retailing is one of the world’s largest apparel retail companies, and UNIQLO is Japan’s leading specialty retailer.

 

UNIQLO continues to open large-scale stores in some of the world's most important cities and locations, as part of its ongoing efforts to solidify its status as a global brand. Today the company has a total of more than 2,400 stores across the world, including Japan, Asia, Europe and North America. In 2010, UNIQLO established a social business in Bangladesh together with Grameen Bank, with around 20 Grameen-UNIQLO stores today, mostly located in Dhaka.

 

With a corporate statement committed to changing clothes, changing conventional wisdom and to change the world, Fast Retailing is dedicated to creating great clothing with new and unique value to enrich the lives of people everywhere.  For more information about UNIQLO and Fast Retailing, please visit www.uniqlo.com and www.fastretailing.com.

 




Midea Philippines earns Superbrands recognition for excellence and expertise in the home solutions industry

  Midea Philippines, a frontrunner in the home and commercial solutions industry in the country, recently earned its place in the prestigiou...