Successful landing at the Bicol International Airport

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Art Tugade marked a historic milestone by successfully landing at the Bicol International Airport (BIA) in Daraga, Albay from Manila on Friday morning, 30 July 2021.Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Tugade, aboard Gulfstream 150, landed on the BIA runway at past 8:00 a.m.

The probing flight fulfills Secretary Tugade’s promise to return to the province by end of July and land on the airport’s runway. The momentous activity also aims to prove that the gateway remains on track for its target completion by September 2021.

Tugade added that he also intends to check the ongoing progress of the airport, which now stands at 90% completion rate.

Shortly after landing, Secretary Tugade led a site inspection of the airport together with other transport officials and local government leaders, including Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Director General Capt. Jim Sydiongco, Albay 2nd District Representative Joey Salceda, Albay Governor Al Francis Bichara, AKO BICOL Partylist Representative Alfredo Garbin, Daraga Mayor Victor Perete, and Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal.

Among the facilities inspected were the gateway’s runway lights, arrival area, check-in counters, and pre-departure area.

Meanwhile, during the press briefing that followed the inspection, Secretary Tugade expressed optimism that the airport project will be finished on time. He likewise shared how meaningful the test landing was for him as the airport project suffered various challenges and setbacks during the period of construction.

“Alam niyo ‘ho ba kaninang magla-landing kami at pinipilit nila na ipakita sa akin ‘yung runway, nagpalakpakan ‘ho lahat ‘yung mga kasama ko, na kung saan ‘yung palakpak na ‘yun, hindi lang ‘ho tumayo ‘yung balahibo ko – lumuha ako,” Secretary Tugade said.

“Alam niyo ‘ho kung bakit? Marami ‘ho kaming dinaanan na problema at difficulties dito. Nagkaroon ng sunog dito – nasunog ‘yung equipment sa construction. Nagkaroon ‘ho ako ng Congressional hearing, alam ni Congressman Garbin ‘yan, na kung saan ako’y pinatawag at pinag-eksplika. Ang lagi ko lang sinasabi: ‘Bayaan niyo lang ‘ho kami magtrabaho – gagawin at gagawin namin ‘yan. 25 years ago pa po ito pinagpaplanuhan at hinihintay ng ating mga kababayang Bicolano. At ngayon, sa wakas ay matatapos na,” he added.

Meanwhile, CAAP Director General Jim Sydiongco assured that with non-stop construction ongoing, the Bicol International Airport will be technically operational for commercial aircraft for day operations by 07 October 2021 and will be night-rated by 04 November 2021.

“To safely operate the airport, the DOTr and CAAP will continue to be steadfast in pushing for the finalization of these necessary activities, not only to support the administration’s Build, Build, Build program, but also to achieve our goal of providing a safer and more comfortable travel experience to Filipinos,” DG Sydiongco said.

Touted as the country’s “Most Scenic Gateway” with the iconic Mayon Volcano for its backdrop, the Bicol International Airport is expected to accommodate a total of 2 million passengers per year once it is fully operational. 755 jobs were given to locals during the construction phase, while 1,100 more indirect jobs are expected to become available once the airport begins commercial operations before the end of this year.

Latest Batch of the National Youth Council Continues their Commitment to Conserva

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Now on its third batch, the NYC continues with its mission of inspiring young people, as an all-new set of environmental leaders take to the helm of conservation.

The push for a sustainable future continues. The young people of the National Youth Council are at the front of the charge.

The NYC is the youth arm of WWF-Philippines. Supporting the organization’s conservation advocacy, the NYC works closely with the youth in developing their environmental consciousness.

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines recently welcomed the latest batch of National Youth Council (NYC) members into its fold. Young environmental champions from across the country have joined the Panda family as spokespersons for the planet.

Now on its third batch, the NYC continues with its mission of inspiring young people, as an all-new set of environmental leaders take to the helm of conservation.

Brilliant students and enterprising fresh graduates alike make up the third batch of the NYC. High school student Ganden Medved-Po joins University students Emmanuel Mirus Ponon and Roana Mae Caguliodo. Graduate of BS Chemical Engineering Justin Richmond Domingo and European Studies Major in International Relations Giselle Lapid also joins the team.

Reprising their roles in the NYC, meanwhile, are Romina Lim and Gab Mejia. A marine scientist, Romina advocates for the protection of our seas, while National Geographic explorer Gab uses photography and the storytelling arts to move people towards caring for the planet.

For Ganden, serving with the NYC is an opportunity both to learn, and to share his learning with others. “For the youth of today, I encourage them to pique their curiosity and strive to keep on learning. Without learning, no change would be possible and as we learn and explore the modern world, we can use our curiosity to inform ourselves on current events surrounding us,” said Ganden.

For returning member Romina, the goal remains the same - to ingrain sustainability into everyones’ day-to-day lives, from the way the country is run down to an individual level. “Environmental sustainability is something that should be mainstreamed and integrated into all our lives for us to have a liveable society,” said Romina.

“For many years, the voices of the youth have always been silenced thinking that the youth still have so much to learn about the world,” said Justin. “I believe this shouldn't be the case anymore. We, as the youth, have an active role in playing our part to secure our future.”

The NYC is the youth arm of WWF-Philippines. Supporting the organization’s conservation advocacy, the NYC works closely with the youth in developing their environmental consciousness.

Recent years have seen the youth raising their voices and taking to bigger stages with their calls to protect the planet. At protests and forums they have demanded world leaders to take better care of the Earth, while inspiring others to do otherwise with their leadership and their day-to-day lives.

For the past five years the young people of the NYC have touched the hearts of Filipinos across the country. The latest batch is poised to do the same. This #WorldNatureConservationDay, the NYC continues its fight for a future where man lives in harmony with nature.

#ECQSeason3: incompetent Philippine government clueless in their pandemic response

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Metro Manila will be under the general community quarantine with "heightened" and additional restrictions from July 30 to August 5.

It will then be placed under enhanced community quarantine from August 6 to 20.

Metro Manila will revert back to the "strictest" quarantine status, Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ). This is in light of the rising Delta variant cases in the country.

The status from August 21-31 is yet to be announced in the coming days. 

This government will not let people out of their homes to earn a living and put food on their tables, but they also refuse to give financial aid.

Enhanced Community Quarantine without ayuda... is state-sanctioned genocide of the poor.

Malacañang said the government's COVID-19 vaccination program will proceed in Metro Manila even if the region will be under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) from August 6 to 20, 2021.

Hayup talaga. Tapos yung ayuda sa mga professional tambay lang mapupunta pero ako na Legal na nagtatrabaho at kinakaltasan ng tax nganga. Hayup talaga.

Masayang masaya nanaman mga Tambay nito. Samantalang kami na bumubuhay sa Ekonomiya nga-nga forever!

Grabe, non-stop lockdown, ayuda dw ni singko wala ako nakuha, palpak IATF, DOH,, bilisan nyo pag bakuna pagod na mga tao sa lockdown masyado na depression at stressed dulot.

Clearly these quarantines are not the solution to the problem. why did the Delta variant spread when there's supposed to be strict border control in place? It shouldn't have entered in the first place.

Solution?

Hindi ba strict case contracting? Hindi ba strict border control? Hindi ba vaccine implentation? So paulit ulit tayo sa lockdown?

Kawawa naman yung mawawalan na naman ng work dahil sa ECQ. OCTA at IATF nyo wala ng ibang solusyon na alam.

ECQ pero di nyo magawang mag bahay babay para sa ayuda. ( Kung may ayuda pa) gagawin nyo papipilahin nyo pa mga tao. Pero di nmn lahat qualified. Ganun din, pinapalabas nyo pa din. Ok sana kung maayos ang support system na nilalatag. Parang wala kayong natutunan last year.

Solution is to ramp up vaccination... same cycle of useless lockdown. Back to square one like march 2020. Mandatory face shield pa ang inimplement ng mga ugok.

Sa susunod, ang tao na ang mag lock down sa government dahil sa magulo at hindi maayos na pamamalakad.. Kaya VOTE WISELY. Huwag tayong bumoto sa walang alam at sunud sunuran sa cabinet members niya.. Duterte is useless. Paulit ulit lang ang ginagawa ng gobyernong ito  GISING PINOY!!!

Walang silbing IATF, DOH, pati na ang OCTA Research, wala kayong silbi lahat. 

Gusto muna kumita ng nga yan bago kumilos bulok talaga pamamalakad dito sa bansa natin.

Ay, maghahantay pa pala Delta Variant ng August 6 bago kumalat. Parang tanga naman itong Administration na ito. Laging reactive kaysa proactive. Nalaman na pala nung April na may nakapasok na Delta Variant, dapat noon palang naghigpit na.