DepEd, Cebu City forge partnership for 2024 Palarong Pambansa

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Vice President of the Philippines and Secretary of Education Sara Z. Duterte and the Local Government Unit (LGU) - Cebu City signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on Friday to ensure the intensive preparation for the 2024 Palarong Pambansa.

“We affirm our unwavering dedication to strengthening our support for young athletes. Our primary goal is to equip them with the necessary tools to nurture discipline, resilience, and the indomitable spirit required to pursue their athletic passions,” Vice President and Secretary Duterte said.

“The unique character and vaunted hospitality of Cebu City will make this year’s Palaro even more memorable for all our student-athletes,” VP-Sec. Duterte added.

Through the signing of the MOA, the Department of Education (DepEd) formally recognized the hosting of Cebu City, which was spearheaded by Cebu City Mayor Michael L. Rama, for the prestigious annual multi-sporting event.

Cebu will host the annual national amateur sports event of DepEd for the third time in history after staging the Palaro twice in 1954 and 1994.

“We’ve been waiting for 30 years for this moment. In fact, the Cebu City Sports Center was built 30 years ago, specific to the hosting of Palarong Pambansa in Cebu City,” Cebu City Sports Commission Chairman John Pages expressed while stressing the readiness of the city and sporting venues to be completed soon.

Under the agreement, DepEd, in coordination with Cebu City, will ensure security provisions and measures, transportation, and communications provision, and other requirements for the event.

On the other hand, Cebu City is tasked to create and convene the Local Palaro Executive Committee (LPEC) and Secretariat, and facilitate the sourcing of funds for the necessary expenses for the event, specifically those for construction and renovation of sports facilities, billeting quarters, and other infrastructural requirements of the Palaro host.

MPT South Wins Multiple Anvil and Quill Award

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Metro Pacific Tollways South (MPT South), the concessionaire for the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) and Manila-Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX), once again takes the spotlight, securing two of the country’s prestigious recognitions in the realm of Public Relations and Communications—the Anvil and Quill Awards.

During the 20th Philippine Quill Awarding Ceremony on January 23, 2024, held at Marriott Grand Ballroom, Pasay City, MPT South's 2022 Calendar titled 'Homegrown Heroes' earned the Quill Award of Merit. This corporate calendar showcased the heroism of both internal employees and external individuals during the pandemic.

In addition, MPT South secured the Silver Anvil for its viral '#Eggstrasafe' road safety digital campaign, under the category of PR Program - Best Use of Social Media, during the 59th Anvil Awards Gabi ng Parangal on January 31, 2024, hosted at the same venue. The campaign strategically addressed overspeeding violations, a significant contributor to road-related fatalities and injuries. Another Silver Anvil was awarded to the toll road company for its 2023 Calendar titled "Better Ways" under the PR Tools- Publication. This visual and informative journey celebrates the company's unwavering commitment to sustainability, emphasizing People, Planet, and Progress.

Mr. Raul L. Ignacio, President and General Manager of MPT South, expressed his pride in these accomplishments, stating, "We are immensely proud of the achievements of our communication programs, a testament to our dedication to excellence. It reinforces our commitment to being more than just toll roads; we are here for the people—our motorists, for the planet, and, of course, for progress. This recognition inspires us to continually elevate our campaigns for the greater good."

In 2023, the International Association of Business Communication (IABC) received 815 entriesbfor the Quill Award, while the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) received over 400 entries for Anvil.

Over the years, MPT South has earned several Anvil Awards, including a Silver Anvil for Drayberks (2019), a social advocacy promoting road safety; Silver Anvil for Sights of South (2020), a corporate calendar promoting tourism in MPT South’s toll road network; Silver Anvil for the Silang East Interchange Opening PR Campaign (2021); and Silver Anvil for the Bayani Ka Activity Book (2022), a road safety comic-inspired book. Notably, for 2023, Silver Anvils for the #Eggstrasafe and the Better Ways 2023 Calendar. In the Quill Awards, MPT South earned the Award of Merit for Drayberks (2022), a hybrid road safety education campaign; Award of Excellence for Biyaheng South (2022), a digital tourism marketing campaign; and Award of Merit for the 2022 Calendar titled 'Homegrown Heroes'.

MPT South is a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), the infrastructure arm of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC). Aside from the CALAX and CAVITEX network of toll roads, MPTC’s domestic portfolio includes the concessions for the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), the NLEX Connector Road, the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) and the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) in Cebu.

For further information and media concerns, please get in touch with

corpcomm@mptsouth.com

Scents of caution: BAN Toxics alert on imitation and counterfeit perfumes and fragrances

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Toxic watchdog group BAN Toxics is issuing a public warning about the rampant sale of imitation and counterfeit perfumes and fragrances in the market, cautioning consumers against potential health risks associated with the chemicals in these products.

In a recent market monitoring effort, the group documented ambulant vendors peddling cheap imitated perfumes and fragrances priced between P50 to P180. These counterfeit perfumes closely mimic the packaging and labels of well-known brands, making them appealing to consumers.

Perfume and beauty products rank second as the most counterfeited goods in the Philippines next to apparel in 2022, according to the total reports and complaints received by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines.

Thony Dizon, Toxics Campaigner of BAN Toxics, emphasized the risks associated with purchasing cosmetic products with fragrances lacking proper authorization, stating, “Buying perfume and fragrances that have not undergone proper authorization is not only too risky but may expose consumers to harmful substances lurking in the products.”

According to information sourced from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) Skin Deep® Cosmetic Database, the term “fragrance” on the label of cosmetics products conceals an undisclosed mixture of various scent chemicals and ingredients of 3,163 known chemicals. Notably, phthalates, octoxynols, and nonoxynols are highlighted as particularly toxic. Phthalates, commonly used as solvents and stabilizers in perfumes, are identified as potent hormone disruptors linked to birth defects in baby boys. Octoxynols and nonoxynols can break down into persistent hormone disruptors as well.

Potential hazards may arise from ingredients prohibited in cosmetic products or from contamination by heavy metals. The use of substandard and possibly adulterated cosmetic products may lead to adverse reactions such as skin irritation, itchiness, anaphylactic shock, and organ failure.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued health advisories against using unauthorized cosmetic products such as perfumes, cautioning consumers against purchasing and using them. The agency emphasizes that products bypassing the notification process prevent its ability to guarantee their quality and safety, potentially exposing consumers to health risks.

“As part of our safe cosmetics campaign, we’re committed to monitoring and reporting the unauthorized sale of unregistered and unnotified personal care products in both on-site and online markets. To protect human health and the environment from chemical exposure is our advocacy,” Dizon added.

In a letter sent to the FDA, BAN Toxics urges the agency to conduct Post Marketing Surveillance and testing on imitation and counterfeit perfumes and fragrances. Because of the dangers to the public, the group calls for the issuance of public health advisories and stringent enforcement actions to protect consumers from undisclosed health-damaging chemicals in fragrance products.

Meanwhile, the public is urged to verify whether a product has been notified with the FDA, using the FDA Verification Portal, accessible at https://verification.fda.gov.ph.