PHLPost Opens 10th Postal Counter in SM South Mall Las Pinas

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) opened its newest Postal Counter at SM Government Services Express (GSE) South Mall Las Pinas last Friday, September 21, 2018.

SM South Mall and government agencies’ representatives led the opening of the GSE. This is a scheme to extend the government services to the citizens and taxpayers.

Government agencies including PHLPost will now be more accessible from 10:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. daily in the said mall.

 PHLPost will allow the public and mallgoers to enjoy the convenience of sending letters and parcels and availing other postal products and services seven days a week, during
mall hours.

PHLPost is grateful to SM Management for supporting the continuing expansion of
PHLPost and ensuring that its varied services will be made accessible to consumers of the said mall.

The 10th Postal Counter as of date is located at Lower Ground Level, near Casa Medica, SM SouthMall, Las Pinas.

9 Nabbed in NBI Operations Against Makers of Fake LTO Licenses, Gov't IDs

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested nine people caught producing and selling fake government-issued IDs such as Land Transportation Office (LTO) driver’s licenses and other documents during a series of entrapment operations this month.

Acting on a report by the LTO, NBI agents of the Anti-Graft Division (AGD) conducted its first entrapment operation along C.M. Recto Avenue in Manila last September 12. The operation revealed that government IDs and other public documents were being falsified in plain sight.

An undercover NBI-ADG agent was approached by a certain Paul Cabrera, who offered falsifying an LTO drivers’ license for PhP1,000 and a Philippine passport for Php3,500.

An entrapment operation immediately ensued and search warrants were served. Eight were arrested, namely Dexter De Guzman, Roger Benitez, Arlene Dela Cruz, Mary Grace Trajano, Joshua Pascua, R-Jay Mercado, Samuel Dolendo and Susan De Guzman, who were caught in the act of manufacturing fake IDs and documents. The NBI also seized paraphernalia such as computer sets, printers, scanners, laminating machines, and dry seal, among others. 

They were brought to the NBI Headquarters in Manila and were charged for violation of the “New Passport Act of 1996” and the “Land Transportation and Tariff Code”.

The raiding team conducted another operation in a compound along Recto Avenue on September 19 in the presence of barangay officials. The team confiscated 342 fake LTO license cards, 23 LTO license official receipts, 65 blank LTO license official receipts, 370 blank PVC cards, and 1 ID card cutter.

The compound, which is owned by a Minda Delos Santos, is being rented by a certain “Jong” and “Jennifer”. They will be charged for multiple counts of violation the “Land Transportation and Tariff Code.” Barangay officials will also be investigated by the NBI for possible administrative or criminal liability for their failure to prevent the proliferation of these illegal activities in their jurisdiction.

LTO Chief Edgar Galvante expressed his gratitude and support to the NBI and the Department of Interior and Local Government for bringing the perpetrators to justice. Certificates of Appreciation were given out to all NBI personnel involved in the operation.

“Along this line, the LTO will support and rally behind the DILG on any legal action that he may initiate against barangay officials who deliberately tolerate the existence of business establishments engaged in the production of fake documents,” wrote Galvante in a letter addressed to DILG Undersecretary Martin Dino.

World’s Fish by the Numbers: How the Seas of East Asia Play an Important Role in Global Fish Production

Wazzup Pilipinas!

There are plenty of fish in the sea – but not for long, if we continue to fish unsustainably. In recent weeks, Philippine media reported on the shortage of bangus, and rising prices of staple fish like tilapia and galunggong.

According to a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)*, a third of the world’s oceans are overfished. Stocks fished within biologically sustainable levels has decreased from 90 percent to 66.9 percent, with some fish species not having enough population left in the ocean to replenish and reproduce.

Over the years, the demand for seafood has drastically increased. Some 3.2 billion people rely on fish for almost 20 percent of their animal protein intake. Some communities, usually in developing countries, depend on fish as a key source of protein and healthy fat. In fact, fish consumption in the world today has exceeded the consumption of meat from all terrestrial animals. The global fish consumption has increased by 3.2 percent in 2017—twice the 1.6 percent increase in 2016.

Sadly, not all of the fish caught or produced end up on our plates. The FAO revealed that around 35 percent of the fish and seafood harvested is lost or wasted. Seafood waste also wastes the energy used in transporting it from the ocean to the plate (or however far it gets), and most critically is a pointless risk to biodiversity.

Role of the seas of East Asia

Known for their rich oceans and seas, countries in the East Asian Seas region play a significant role in global fish production. China, Viet Nam, and Japan are among the world’s largest producers and exporters of fish and fish products. In addition, Asia is a huge food fish consumer, accounting for two-thirds of the 149 million tonnes consumed globally in 2015.

The world’s fisheries also employ 59.6 million people, 85 percent of whom work in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors of Asia. Thus, looming threats to fisheries such as overfishing, climate change, marine habitat destruction, and marine plastic pollution could damage the livelihoods of millions of people. For these reasons, the shift to sustainable fisheries is being promoted to ensure we have an adequate supply of fish and seafood for the future.

Ocean leaders and advocates are invited to join the discussion on sustainable fisheries at the East Asian Seas (EAS) Congress 2018 in Iloilo City, Philippines on November 27-30, 2018. Dale Galvin, Managing Director of Sustainable Markets and Impact Investing at RARE, will be a featured speaker. Mr. Galvin will talk about the fishing industry and how we can practice and support sustainable fisheries for the future of our shared seas.

For more information on the 2018 EAS Congress, please visit: http://eascongress2018.pemsea.org/

For more information on the FAO report: Reference: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). 2018. The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2018 - Meeting the sustainable development goals. Rome.