Thursday, July 23, 2026


Your Daily News Update About CALABARZON and Beyond.
ISSN 2799-1911

Home Blog Page 26

Indo-Pacific nations push deeper defense ties in the face of US uncertainty and China’s military rise

Venus L Peñaflor
-
0
Indo-Pacific nations push deeper defense ties in the face of US uncertainty and China’s military rise

SINGAPORE — Indo-Pacific countries are accelerating efforts to strengthen defence cooperation and regional security partnerships as they navigate China’s rapid military expansion and uncertainty over sustained United States engagement in the region.

At the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, a leading regional security forum, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urged allies to take on greater responsibility for collective defence, even as questions continued to surface over Washington’s strategic focus amid competing global priorities, including tensions in the Middle East.

“We can do two things at one time,” Hegseth said during the forum, addressing concerns about US attention shifting away from Asia.

Japanese officials sought to reassure partners. Shinjiro Koizumi described the US commitment as “unwavering,” while acknowledging that some regional actors remain cautious about its long-term consistency.

On the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue, defence officials from across the region said there is growing momentum toward building more flexible security networks beyond traditional reliance on Washington.

Philippines Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said countries in the region are “unanimous” in the need to rapidly strengthen their own defence capabilities, describing this as reinforcing rather than replacing the US security role.

He said Manila is deepening cooperation with partners including Japan, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, arguing that broader participation strengthens deterrence.

Japan is positioning itself as a central connector in emerging defence networks. Koizumi said Tokyo aims to serve as a “connecting point” for regional cooperation beyond China and has recently moved to relax restrictions on defence exports, allowing greater sales of military equipment such as ships and missiles.

Singapore Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing said regional security challenges require “flexible partnerships” among like-minded countries, forming coalitions of capability and readiness.

Canada’s Chief of Defence Staff General Jennie Carignan said Canadian forces are expanding regional engagement through cybersecurity cooperation, maritime exercises and training initiatives with Southeast Asian partners.

New Zealand Defence Minister Chris Penk said Wellington is considering new naval acquisitions, including vessels from Japan and the United Kingdom, as it prepares to replace ageing frigates. He also pointed to closer coordination under the long-standing Five Power Defence Arrangements involving Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

Despite expanding regional defence ties, officials from Asia and allied nations maintained that US commitment to the Indo-Pacific remains strong.

Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles described the US-Australia alliance as “absolutely fundamental” to national security, framing it as a long-term strategic partnership beyond any single administration.

Philippine officials echoed that view, saying US involvement in other global crises has not diminished confidence in its regional commitments.

As strategic competition intensifies in the Indo-Pacific, regional governments continue to balance reassurance from Washington with a growing emphasis on building their own defence capacities and multilateral security links.


El Niño posibleng tumagal hanggang Disyembre, NWRB nanawagan ng pagtitipid sa tubig

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
-
0
El Niño posibleng tumagal hanggang Disyembre, NWRB nanawagan ng pagtitipid sa tubig

MAYNILA — Nanawagan ang National Water Resources Board (NWRB) sa publiko na magtipid sa paggamit ng tubig matapos bumaba sa minimum operating level ang water elevation ng Angat Dam, pangunahing pinagkukunan ng suplay ng tubig sa Metro Manila.

Ayon kay NWRB Executive Director Sevillo David Jr., umabot na lamang sa 173.4 metro ang lebel ng tubig sa Angat Dam, mas mababa sa itinakdang 180-meter minimum operating level para sa normal na operasyon.

Dahil dito, sinabi ni David na nagsimula na ang ahensiya sa pagpapatupad ng contingency measures kasunod ng inilabas na El Niño advisory ng Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), na nagsasabing maaaring tumagal ang weather phenomenon hanggang Disyembre o unang bahagi ng 2027.

Kabilang sa isinusulong ng NWRB ang rainwater harvesting at water reuse sa bahay upang mabawasan ang konsumo.

“Pino-promote natin ang rainwater harvesting, pati recycling o reuse ng tubig, gaya ng pinaghugasan ng gulay na maaari pang gamitin sa pandilig ng halaman,” ani David.

Batay sa monitoring ng PAGASA, nananatiling pababa ang lebel ng Angat Dam mula pa noong unang bahagi ng Mayo dahil sa kakulangan ng malalakas na pag-ulan sa watershed area nito. Nananatili ring mababa ang rainfall accumulation na kailangan upang mabilis na maibalik ang reservoir sa normal nitong antas.

Noong Mayo 24, iniulat ng PAGASA na nakararanas ng tagtuyot ang Metro Manila at 25 lalawigan, karamihan sa Luzon. Ang drought o tagtuyot ay idinedeklara kapag bumaba nang hindi bababa sa 60 porsiyento ang karaniwang dami ng ulan sa loob ng tatlong magkasunod na buwan.

Bagama’t inaasahan ang paminsan-minsang pag-ulan at thunderstorms sa mga susunod na linggo, nagbabala ang PAGASA na maaari pa ring lumala ang epekto ng El Niño pagsapit ng kalagitnaan ng 2026 hanggang unang bahagi ng 2027, kabilang ang mas mababang rainfall at posibleng pressure sa suplay ng tubig at agrikultura.

Tinatayang 90 hanggang 97 porsiyento ng potable water supply ng Metro Manila ay nagmumula sa Angat Dam. Dahil dito, binawasan ng NWRB ang alokasyon ng raw water para sa mga concessionaire upang matiyak na prayoridad ang pangangailangan ng mga kabahayan.

Ayon sa NWRB, kasalukuyang nakatakda sa 50 cubic meters per second ang water allocation mula sa Angat Dam para mapanatiling sapat ang suplay habang nagpapatuloy ang mababang water level.

Umaasa ang ahensiya na magiging sapat ang umiiral na alokasyon upang matugunan ang pangangailangan ng mga residente, kasabay ng panawagang magtipid ng tubig, mag-imbak ng ulan, at humanap ng mga paraan upang muling magamit ang tubig sa pang-araw-araw na gawain.

China patrols disputed Scarborough Shoal after Philippines raises security concerns

Venus L Peñaflor
-
0
China patrols disputed Scarborough Shoal after Philippines raises security concerns

BEIJING / HANOI — China’s military and coast guard conducted coordinated patrols near Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea on Sunday, following renewed warnings from the Philippines that it continues to face maritime and political pressure from Beijing despite easing tensions between the United States and China.

The Southern Theatre Command of the People’s Liberation Army said naval and air units carried out “combat readiness patrols” in what it described as the territorial sea and airspace of the shoal and surrounding waters. It said the operations were intended as a response to “rights violations and provocative acts,” without naming any specific country.

China’s coast guard separately said it conducted law enforcement patrols near the contested feature and claimed it had recently dealt with vessels engaged in what it called illegal activities, though it did not provide details.

The developments come after Philippine and United States forces completed a five-day maritime exercise in the same area last week, including visit, board, search and seizure drills aimed at improving interoperability and maritime security. The Armed Forces of the Philippines said the exercise reinforced commitment to a rules-based maritime order and stronger defense cooperation with Washington.

Scarborough Shoal, known in Manila as Bajo de Masinloc and located within the West Philippine Sea, remains one of the most sensitive flashpoints in the South China Sea, where competing sovereignty and fishing claims have driven repeated confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels.

China claims nearly the entire South China Sea through its so-called nine-dash line, a position rejected by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia. In 2016, an international tribunal in The Hague ruled that China’s sweeping claims had no legal basis under international law, a decision Beijing does not recognize.

Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said Manila continues to face what he described as severe territorial and political pressure from China, even as broader US-China tensions show signs of easing following recent diplomatic engagements between Washington and Beijing.

“We have no choice but to be resilient and to stand up against Chinese aggression,” Teodoro said on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, where defense officials from across the Asia-Pacific region gathered for annual security discussions.

The Philippines has reported repeated maritime incidents in recent years involving Chinese vessels in contested waters, including collisions, water cannon incidents and injuries to personnel, as both sides assert competing claims over strategic features in the South China Sea.

China’s latest patrols underscore the continued military and coast guard presence it maintains across disputed areas, even as regional states deepen security cooperation with the United States and each other in response to rising maritime tensions.

Pambihirang blue micromoon ngayong weekend, makikita rin sa Pilipinas

Paraluman P. Funtanilla
-
0
Pambihirang blue micromoon ngayong weekend, makikita rin sa Pilipinas

MAYNILA — Masisilayan din sa Pilipinas ngayong weekend ang isang bihirang celestial event na tinatawag na blue micromoon, isang full moon na itinuturing din na blue moon at micromoon, ayon sa mga astronomer.

Ang blue micromoon ay inaasahang sisikat sa gabi ng Mayo 31 at magiging visible sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng mundo, kabilang ang Pilipinas, basta’t maaliwalas ang kalangitan. Hindi kailangan ng telescope upang makita ito, bagama’t makatutulong ang binoculars para sa mas malinaw na pagmamasid.

Tinatawag na blue moon ang ikalawang full moon na nagaganap sa loob ng iisang buwan. Nauna nang nagkaroon ng full moon noong Mayo 1, dahilan upang maituring na blue moon ang full moon ngayong katapusan ng Mayo. Karaniwang nagaganap ang ganitong astronomical event kada dalawa hanggang tatlong taon.

Kasabay nito, ang naturang full moon ay isa ring micromoon, na nangangahulugang nasa pinakamalayong bahagi ng orbit nito mula sa Earth o malapit sa apogee. Dahil dito, ang buwan ay nasa layong humigit-kumulang 406,135 kilometro mula sa mundo at maaaring magmukhang bahagyang mas maliit at mas madilim kumpara sa karaniwang full moon.

Ayon kay astronomer Gianluca Masi ng Virtual Telescope Project, maaaring lumitaw ang micromoon na humigit-kumulang anim na porsiyentong mas maliit at 10 porsiyentong mas dim kaysa ordinaryong full moon, bagama’t maaaring hindi ito agad mapansin ng karamihan sa naked eye.

Dagdag pang tampok ng celestial event ang paglitaw ng Antares, isang matingkad na pulang bituin na kilala bilang “heart of the scorpion” sa constellation na Scorpius. Habang magkakaroon ng pansamantalang pagtatakip ng buwan sa Antares sa ilang bahagi ng Southern Hemisphere tulad ng Chile, New Zealand, at silangang Australia, mananatiling magkatabing makikita ang bituin at buwan sa kalangitan ng Pilipinas at iba pang bansa.

Sa kabila ng pangalan nito, hindi inaasahang magiging asul ang buwan. Ang terminong “blue moon” ay tumutukoy lamang sa pambihirang paglitaw ng dalawang full moon sa loob ng iisang buwan at hindi sa aktuwal na kulay ng buwan.

Ayon sa mga skywatching reports, ito lamang ang blue moon ng 2026 at ang susunod na katulad na event ay inaasahang mangyayari pa sa Disyembre 2028. Para sa mga nais makakita ng pinakamagandang tanawin, inirerekomenda ang pagmamasid habang sumisikat ang buwan sa eastern horizon sa gabi at pag-iwas sa mga lugar na may matinding light pollution.

Duterte at Robredo, Halos Tabla sa 2028 Presidential Survey ng Pulse Asia

Venus L Peñaflor
-
0
Duterte at Robredo, Halos Tabla sa 2028 Presidential Survey ng Pulse Asia

MAYNILA — Lumilitaw na dikitan sa posibleng 2028 presidential race sina Vice President Sara Duterte at dating Vice President Leni Robredo batay sa pinakabagong Pulse Asia survey na isinagawa noong unang bahagi ng Mayo 2026.

Ayon sa resulta, nakakuha si Duterte ng 51 porsyento ng suporta, habang si Robredo ay may 41 porsyento, o may sampung puntos na kalamangan ang kasalukuyang Bise Presidente. Nasa 8 porsyento naman ang nananatiling undecided.

Sa regional breakdown, nananatiling malakas ang suporta kay Duterte sa Mindanao kung saan umabot ito sa 91 porsyento, kumpara sa 7 porsyento para kay Robredo. Sa National Capital Region, halos tabla ang laban sa 48 porsyento para kay Duterte at 46 porsyento para kay Robredo, na itinuturing na statistically tied. Sa Balance Luzon, nanguna si Robredo na may 55 porsyento laban sa 33 porsyento ni Duterte.

Ayon kay Victor Andres Manhit ng Stratbase Group, hindi nakapagtataka ang malakas na suporta kay Duterte sa Mindanao ngunit mahirap itong mapanatili sa pambansang antas ng kampanya. Binigyang-diin niya na sa kasaysayan ng halalan, bihirang manatili ang napakataas na antas ng suporta tulad ng 91 porsyento sa buong kampanya.

Sinabi rin ni Manhit na kung magpapatuloy sa pagtakbo si Robredo sa pagkapangulo, mahalaga ang pagpapalakas ng suporta sa ibang rehiyon at pagkuha ng undecided voters upang mabawasan ang agwat sa kalaban.

Sa vice presidential race, lumabas si Senador Erwin Tulfo bilang nangunguna na may 46 porsyento, kasunod si Senador Robin Padilla na may 38 porsyento. Si Tulfo rin ang nakapagtala ng pinakamataas na trust rating sa mga personalidad na isinama sa survey sa 63 porsyento, mas mataas kumpara kina Senador Bong Go na may 57 porsyento at Robredo na may 53 porsyento.

Ipinakita rin ng survey na 83 porsyento ng mga respondent ang interesado na sa 2028 elections kahit dalawang taon pa bago ito ganapin. Lumitaw rin na internet ang pangunahing pinagmumulan ng balita ng mga Pilipino sa 83 porsyento, kasunod ang telebisyon na may 64 porsyento, radyo na may 27 porsyento, at pahayagan na may 3 porsyento.

Nauna nang inanunsyo ni Duterte ang intensyon na tumakbo sa 2028 presidential elections. Gayunman, maaari siyang maharap sa posibleng disqualification depende sa magiging resulta ng mga legal na proseso na kinakaharap niya.

Samantala, inihayag ni Robredo na wala siyang planong tumakbo para sa national position at sa halip ay tututok sa muling pagtakbo bilang alkalde ng Naga City.

Isinagawa ang survey mula Mayo 3 hanggang 7 sa 1,500 respondents sa buong bansa.

Opisyal nang nagsimula ang Habagat, ayon sa PAGASA

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
-
0
Opisyal nang nagsimula ang Habagat, ayon sa PAGASA

MAYNILA — Opisyal nang nagsimula ang southwest monsoon o habagat sa bansa, ayon sa inanunsyo ng Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) nitong Sabado, Mayo 30.

Sa inilabas na pahayag, sinabi ng state weather bureau na natukoy sa mga nakalipas na araw ang pag-iral ng southwesterly winds o hanging mula timog-kanluran sa kanlurang bahagi ng bansa. Ayon sa PAGASA, maaaring magpatuloy ito dahil sa pagbuo ng isang tropical cyclone sa Philippine Sea.

Ipinaliwanag ng ahensya na ang habagat ay binubuo ng mainit at mamasa-masang hangin mula sa timog-kanluran na karaniwang nagdadala ng pag-ulan, lalo na sa western sections ng Pilipinas.

Ayon sa PAGASA, ang pagpasok ng westerly winds at pagbabago sa pangkalahatang meteorological pattern ng bansa ay indikasyon ng pagsisimula ng habagat, na isa sa mga pangunahing hudyat ng nalalapit na pagpasok ng tag-ulan. Bilang dominanteng weather system, inaasahang magdadala ito ng paminsan-minsan hanggang madalas na pag-ulan at thunderstorms, partikular sa kanlurang bahagi ng bansa.

Karaniwang tumatagal ang panahon ng habagat mula Mayo hanggang Setyembre, bagaman maaari pa ring magkaroon ng tinatawag na monsoon breaks o pansamantalang paghina ng pag-ulan na tumatagal ng ilang araw hanggang linggo. Sa panahong ito, maaari ring lumakas ang epekto ng habagat kapag may kasabay na tropical cyclone na nagpapalakas sa daloy ng hanging timog-kanluran.

Binigyang-diin ng PAGASA na maaaring magsilbing paunang senyales ang habagat sa opisyal na pagsisimula ng rainy season sa mga susunod na araw. Patuloy namang babantayan ng ahensya ang lagay ng panahon at klima sa bansa.

Pinayuhan din ng PAGASA ang publiko at mga kinauukulang ahensya na maghanda at magsagawa ng pag-iingat laban sa posibleng epekto ng habagat at iba pang weather at climate-related events, kabilang ang pagbaha, landslide, at iba pang panganib na dulot ng matinding pag-ulan.

Three Chinese astronauts return after record nearly seven-month mission in space 

Venus L Peñaflor
-
0
Three Chinese astronauts return after record nearly seven-month mission in space 

HONG KONG, China — Three Chinese astronauts safely returned to Earth on Friday after completing nearly seven months aboard the Tiangong space station, marking the longest orbital mission undertaken by a Chinese crew to date.

The Shenzhou 21 crew capsule, carrying astronauts Zhang Lu, Wu Fei, and Zhang Hongzhang, landed at the Dongfeng site in north China’s Inner Mongolia region in the evening, according to the China Manned Space Agency.

Their extended mission comes as China continues preparations for its planned first crewed lunar landing by 2030, a key milestone in its expanding space program.

During their stay in orbit, the astronauts carried out a wide range of scientific and operational tasks, including processing and transmitting experimental data and transferring remaining supplies. The official Xinhua News Agency reported that the crew also briefed members of the incoming Shenzhou 23 team, who arrived at the space station earlier in the week.

Earlier reports from Xinhua stated that the Shenzhou 21 crew completed three spacewalks. Space agency spokesperson Zhang Jingbo said Zhang Lu, who previously flew on the Shenzhou 15 mission, has now completed seven spacewalks in total, making him the Chinese astronaut with the most extravehicular activities recorded.

Upon returning to China, Zhang Lu described his emotions as overwhelming, expressing gratitude to his family, colleagues, and those involved in the space program for their support throughout the mission.

Fellow astronaut Zhang Hongzhang reflected on the experience of viewing Earth from orbit, saying he was struck by the idea that humanity forms a shared community with a common future.

The Tiangong space station, whose name translates to “Heavenly Palace,” continues to host rotating crews. One of the astronauts who arrived with the Shenzhou 23 mission is expected to remain in orbit for a full year. The crew includes commander Zhu Yangzhu, Zhang Zhiyuan, and Lai Ka-ying, also identified by Chinese authorities as Li Jiaying, who is noted as the first astronaut from Hong Kong to participate in a space mission.

China’s growing human spaceflight program has accelerated in recent years following its exclusion from the International Space Station over U.S. national security concerns. The United States remains a key competitor in space exploration, with NASA targeting a crewed lunar landing in 2028.

Trump to decide on Iran ceasefire deal, demands Hormuz reopening 

EDGARDO HERNAL
-
0
Trump to decide on Iran ceasefire deal, demands Hormuz reopening 

WASHINGTON/DUBAI — U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday he is expected to make a decision soon on a proposed agreement to extend the ceasefire with Iran, while insisting Tehran must reopen the Strait of Hormuz and permanently abandon any nuclear weapons capability.

Trump said he convened a meeting in the White House Situation Room to make what he called a “final determination” on a proposal that would extend the ceasefire, first reached in early April, for another 60 days while negotiators work toward a permanent settlement.

A White House official confirmed the meeting lasted about two hours but did not say whether Trump had reached a final decision.

“President Trump will only make a deal that is good for America and satisfies his red lines. Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon,” the official said.

A senior Iranian source told Reuters that an agreement appears close but has not yet received final approval.

Despite signs of progress, major disagreements remain.

Trump said Iran must immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz to unrestricted shipping and guarantee it will never develop nuclear weapons.

“Iran must agree that they will never have a Nuclear Weapon or Bomb. The Hormuz Strait must be immediately open, no tolls, for unrestricted shipping traffic, in both directions,” Trump said.

Iran, however, rejected key parts of Trump’s position.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on state television that decisions regarding management of the strait should be made jointly by Iran and Oman. Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency described Trump’s remarks as an effort to portray a “fabricated victory.”

According to a senior Iranian source speaking anonymously, the proposed agreement currently under discussion does not include nuclear-related provisions.

Fars reported that Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz under its own conditions after the United States lifts restrictions on Iranian shipping. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said any removal of the blockade would occur gradually.

The Iranian outlet also reported a tentative agreement involving the release of $12 billion in frozen Iranian assets. Trump later stated that no money would be exchanged “until further notice,” suggesting unresolved disagreements over financial issues, including possible toll payments, war reparations, or asset releases.

The conflict has placed Trump under growing domestic pressure ahead of the November congressional elections. Rising fuel prices linked to instability in the Strait of Hormuz have fueled voter concerns over the economy, while hardline critics within his party remain wary of any concessions to Tehran.

The war involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, which began on February 28, has killed thousands and disrupted global energy markets due to the strategic waterway’s restricted access.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed mines would be removed from the strait and suggested stranded ships could soon depart.

Kazakhstan has reportedly expressed willingness to store Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium if an agreement is reached, according to International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi in an interview with the Financial Times. Kazakhstan already hosts an internationally supervised uranium bank intended to secure nuclear fuel supplies for member states.

Iran is also seeking broader concessions, including sanctions relief, withdrawal of U.S. military forces from the region, and an end to Israel’s military operations in Lebanon.

The ongoing conflict in Lebanon has displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians. Lebanese authorities say more than 3,200 people have been killed in Israeli strikes, while Israel reports 23 soldiers and four civilians killed since hostilities intensified.

Blue Origin probes rocket explosion as debris warning issued for coastal areas

Paraluman P. Funtanilla
-
0
Blue Origin probes rocket explosion as debris warning issued for coastal areas

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida — Blue Origin is investigating a major launch pad failure after its New Glenn rocket exploded during a test firing, sending a large fireball into the sky and prompting officials to warn the public about possible debris washing ashore.

The incident occurred Thursday night at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station while engineers were conducting a fueled test of the 321-foot rocket ahead of a planned satellite launch. The vehicle ignited unexpectedly and exploded, destroying part of the launch pad and triggering widespread damage across the site.

Aerial assessments on Friday showed extensive destruction, including collapsed structures and debris fields, with only a tower and a water tank remaining intact. Authorities reported no deaths or injuries but urged residents to avoid any rocket fragments that may reach coastal areas and to immediately report them to emergency services.

The explosion represents a significant setback for Blue Origin and its New Glenn program, which had already faced delays following a previous upper-stage engine issue that resulted in a satellite being placed into the wrong orbit. The company has flown the rocket three times.

New Glenn is one of the largest orbital-class rockets currently in operation, powered by seven first-stage engines using liquid oxygen and liquefied natural gas. None of the 48 Amazon Leo satellites intended for deployment were aboard the rocket during the test.

Despite the incident, other launch activities continued at Cape Canaveral. A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carried another batch of Amazon Leo satellites into orbit on Friday night, while SpaceX also conducted a separate Starlink launch earlier in the day.

Blue Origin’s Launch Complex 36, a historic site originally used for NASA’s early interplanetary missions, is the company’s only Florida launch pad. The facility underwent a major reconstruction after Blue Origin leased it in 2015, investing more than $1 billion to modernize the site.

The company’s New Shepard suborbital program, based in Texas, has been paused since January as Blue Origin shifts focus to New Glenn and future lunar missions. Those plans are now under review pending the outcome of the investigation.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said the agency will assess any potential impact on the Artemis lunar program, which includes upcoming crewed missions to the Moon and planned lunar landing demonstrations involving commercial partners.

Blue Origin had been preparing for key milestones, including a prototype lunar lander mission scheduled for later this year and additional docking demonstrations tied to future Artemis flights.

FSL, Alterna Verde hold consultation on waste management and watershed protection in San Pablo

Venus L Peñaflor
-
0
FSL, Alterna Verde hold consultation on waste management and watershed protection in San Pablo

SAN PABLO CITY, Laguna — Environmental concerns, scientific waste management practices, and the role of governance in protecting natural resources took center stage during a consultation between Friends of the Seven Lakes (FSL) and Alterna Verde Corporation (AVC) held Friday, May 29, at the company’s waste-to-energy (WtE) facility in Sitio Baloc, Barangay San Ignacio, this city.

The meeting brought together members of FSL and officials of AVC to discuss concerns surrounding the facility’s location and its potential environmental impact, particularly on San Pablo City’s watershed and groundwater systems.

Leading the discussion for FSL, president Bobby Azores said the group’s primary concern is the location of the facility, noting that it sits within the city’s watershed area and that accidental leachate seepage could potentially contaminate the aquifer supplying groundwater.

Leachate, a liquid produced when water filters through waste materials, has long been considered a major environmental concern in waste management because of its potential to carry pollutants into soil and groundwater if containment systems fail.

Responding to the concern, Dr. Nervy Santiago, chief executive officer of Alterna Verde Corporation, explained that the facility is situated approximately two kilometers away from the tip of the Malabanban watershed and that the watershed area stands around 108 meters higher than the AVC site.

Dr. Santiago said these geographical and elevation characteristics are significant in understanding the movement of water and possible contaminants.

Hydrological principles generally indicate that both surface water and groundwater move from higher elevations toward lower areas, following natural hydraulic gradients. Given the higher elevation of the Malabanban watershed relative to the AVC facility, contamination originating from the lower site would not ordinarily migrate uphill toward the watershed divide under normal geological conditions and functioning containment systems.

Still, Dr. Santiago emphasized that environmental protection requires continuous study and monitoring.

He explained that Alterna Verde continues to invest in scientific studies, groundwater modeling, and technical evaluations to ensure environmental safety and improve waste management technologies.

“There is no perfect technology,” Santiago said, while stressing that the company is not stopping its research efforts and continues funding scientists and researchers to further improve and refine waste-to-energy systems.

Alterna Verde operates a Sustainable Environmental Resource Re-Genesis System, or SERRS, that uses bio-methanation and anaerobic digestion to process biodegradable waste.

Instead of burning garbage, the technology processes segregated organic waste such as food scraps and biodegradable materials inside oxygen-free chambers where naturally occurring microorganisms break down the material and generate methane-rich biogas.

The captured methane, also called renewable natural gas, is then converted into energy that can help power facility operations and other energy applications. The process also produces digestate or organic soil conditioner, supporting agricultural and environmental sustainability.

Santiago said the technology is designed to reduce landfill dependence while preventing methane, a potent greenhouse gas, from escaping directly into the atmosphere, thereby minimizing the risk of landfill fires and landfill slope failure or collapse.

Santiago added that if San Pablo City is able to identify and implement other effective waste management solutions, they are prepared to step aside. “If San Pablo can find other effective waste management solutions, we are ready to pack and go,” he said.

Monsignor Jerry Bitoon, meanwhile, reiterated that FSL is not singling out Alterna Verde in its environmental advocacy. He acknowledged that AVC is employing scientific and technical approaches in waste management but stressed that environmental scrutiny should also cover unregulated and fly-by-night garbage dumpsites operating outside proper standards.

Bitoon likewise underscored what he described as the need to guard against “morally toxic people in government” whose actions may contribute to irregularities and corruption involving environmental protection and waste management.

He said accountability in governance remains essential alongside technological safeguards. He stressed that public officials involved in waste management must remain under close scrutiny to prevent any attempt to profit from environmental programs or related public funds. This includes vigilance from civic and faith-based groups such as the San Pablo Ayaw sa Korapsyon (SAPAK) movement, a local civil society coalition in San Pablo City advocating transparency and opposing systemic corruption and questionable public sector practices.

Bitoon also proposed the establishment of a multi-stakeholder forum involving relevant government agencies, technical experts, and concerned institutions to systematically address waste management challenges and develop a more coordinated and evidence-based framework for environmental protection and governance.

The consultation was attended by Jacie Gatchalian, Boying Aliazas, Guillermo Paz, Pastor Milagros Barleta, and other members of Friends of the Seven Lakes, including Azores and Bitoon, a retired senior clergy.

Also present were Dong Fullo and Mary Ann Buncayo Torres of the San Pablo Public Forum.

The consultation ended with continued exchanges between community advocates and facility officials, reflecting both concern for San Pablo’s fragile environmental resources and the need for sustained dialogue on science-based waste management solutions.

Officers and members of the Friends of the Seven Lakes (FSL) tour the Alterna Verde Corporation waste-to-energy (WtE) facility in Barangay Baloc, San Pablo City, as part of a consultation and site inspection on waste management and environmental protection concerns.
Alterna Verde Corporation and the Friends of the Seven Lakes are not sponsors of this publication. This report is published on Tutubi News Magazine’s own initiative as part of its independent editorial coverage and environmental advocacy for responsible environmental protection and governance. 
1...252627...855Page 26 of 855




Tutubi Digital News will shape up the way you stay up to date with the goings-on around Calabarzon, and the world. Tutubi is committed to keep you socially active. Tutubi updates on the Go!


Contact us:

info@tutubi.ph

Popular Posts

Popular category

PH News3680World News3594Asia1666Curiosity1113War Reports and Updates709

Developed by Tutubi News Magazine |Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions of Use | Cookie Policy | All rights reserved