DOTr-CAAP: Bicol International Airport domestic operations to start on Oct. 7

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Having gone through 11 years of delay and three (3) groundbreaking ceremonies prior to the start of the Duterte Administration, the Bicol International Airport (BIA) in Daraga, Albay is finally ready to start operations and receive commercial domestic flights on October 7, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) have assured.

DOTr Secretary Art Tugade led an inspection of the gateway on Sunday, 3 October 2021. The BIA is touted as the country’s “Most Scenic Gateway” with the iconic Mayon Volcano for its backdrop.

“Pinagdudahan ako rito kaya I took it as a personal challenge,” said Sec. Tugade during his inspection of the gateway.

“Construction works for the BIA were delayed for 11 years. It went through 3 groundbreaking ceremonies prior to this administration. Habang itinatayo natin, nagkaroon pa ng mga arson incidents! Now, construction of the Bicol International Airport is almost complete,” added Sec. Tugade.

As of 3 October 2021, the overall progress rate of the BIA is at 92.56 percent, which comprise of the following:

Passenger Terminal Bldg.: 97.28%
Runway Extension: 79.27%
Administration Building: 98.93%
Air Traffic Control Building: 98.65%
Crash Fire Rescue Building: 98.40%
Cargo Terminal Building: 98.59%
Power House Building: 98.69%

Meanwhile, the airport’s passenger boarding bridge is targetted to be positioned on October 5, while domestic operations is slated to commence on October 7.

“We are happy to announce that the Bicol International Airport is now nearing completion and will be ready to serve domestic air passengers by October 7. Secretary Tugade and the CAAP are focused on this project and we intend to deliver as promised,” said CAAP Chief of Staff and Airport Projects Team Head Danjun Lucas.

“The BIA shall also be ready for international operations by November 7, subject to airline's application/intent to operate international flights,” Atty. Lucas added.

Once fully operational, the BIA is expected to accommodate a total of 2 million passengers per year. Construction of the airport also created 755 jobs with 1,100 more indirect jobs expected to become available once the airport begins commercial operations.

Everything You Need To Know About CBD

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As the numerous studies disclosing the benefits of CBD are coming up, more and more people want to know everything about CBD and its products. If you are looking for every critical fact about CBD, you've landed at the right place. The marijuana plant is a way by which people relax and enjoy its calming effect. Two main products are derived from cannabis or hemp plants - THC and CBD. Both of them offer a wide range of health benefits, along with soothing effects.

Unlike CBD, THC has a psychoactive and addictive nature that harms human health and makes people feel "high." However, CBD is non-addictive and non-psychoactive that makes it effective in treating various health diseases. Let's start with the proper definition of CBD and what else you need to know before you start using CBD.

What is CBD oil?

Cannabidiol, widely known as CBD, is derived from the cannabis or hemp plants, also known as Marijuana. To prepare CBD, it is extracted directly from the plant and then diluted with another type of hemp oil. Although Lazarus Naturals CBD is a naturally occurring cannabinoid found in hemp plants, it does not have an addictive nature. Furthermore, under the 2018 farm bill, CBD has become legal in many states. If you are a newcomer to the game of CBD and its products, it's advisable to start with lower amounts of CBD and then increase it gradually.

 

How does CBD work?

CBD has the ability to interact with the cannabinoid receptors present in the endocannabinoid system. However, much information regarding the working of CBD is still unknown. As we know, the two receptors produced by CBD, CB1 and CB2 receptors. These receptors present in the body and brain help a person to regulate neurons. If you are using any kind of medication, it's essential to consult with your doctor first. Let's now move to another section that has CBD benefits covered in it.

What are the numerous health benefits offered by CBD?

Various studies have revealed that CBD is helpful in numerous health diseases. So let's have a look at the health benefits associated with the regular use of CBD products.

 

●       Nausea

●       Migraines

●       Psychosis

●       Mental disorders

●       Chronic Pain

●       Inflammation

●       Seizures

●       IBS or inflammatory bowel disease

●       Recurrent seizures

●       Insomnia

●       Anxiety

●       Depression

●       multiple sclerosis (MS)

●       lung conditions

●       Parkinson’s disease

●       Alzheimer’s disease

●       allergies or asthma

●       cancer

●       Severe headaches

 

What are the effects of CBD on human health?

CBD or Cannabidiol is effective in treating various health diseases by regulating the receptors in the human body. The two receptors present in the body and brain help a person to control neurons, which in turn affects the balance of the body. When CBD interacts with the receptors, it creates a path that allows the body to perceive pain and inflammation. Not only this, it is helpful in maintaining the overall health of an individual. However, people often confuse CBD with its closely related cousin, THC.

 

What is the Difference Between THC and CBD?

Both compounds, cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), are derived from the Cannabis or hemp plants. Both these compounds offer similar health benefits, but they have one main thing that differentiates them. CBD compound is non-addictive and non-psychoactive in nature that makes it beneficial for human health. On the other hand, the THC compound is psychoactive and addictive, making it illegal. Furthermore, under the farm bill, many states have made CBD compounds legal with less than 0.3% of THC concentration.

The Bottom Line.

So this was a simple guide that will help you to know everything about CBD and its products. Whenever you shop for good CBD products, make sure you read out the label to check the THC concentration. Look for the stamp or certification that marks the quality of the product. However, there are no recommendations about the quantity of CBD consumed, but you need to start with low amounts to get maximum benefits. What else are you waiting for? Go and grab the benefits clubbed with CBD and its products.

 

DENR-BMB renews call for stronger measures to combat illegal wildlife trade

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On World Animal Day, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has reiterated its call for the approval of two Senate bills that seek to strengthen Republic Act 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2001.

DENR-Biodiversity Management Bureau Director Datu Tungko M. Saikol said it is high time to amend the gaps in the law two decades after its implementation.

“We commend the House of Representatives for passing House Bill 9833 revising the Wildlife Act of 2001 on third and final reading, and call on our good Senators to pass Senate Bills No. 2078 and 2079 to strengthen our fight against wildlife crimes. Almost 20 years after the Wildlife Act took effect, the threat of extinction of wildlife species in the Philippines is still not far behind, wreaking havoc to our biodiversity that supports our livelihood and economy,” Saikol said on Monday, October 4.

“Illegal wildlife trade, which is the second biggest threat to species survival globally, increases the risks of zoonotic diseases, or the transfer of diseases from animal to humans, leading to outbreaks,” Saikol said. “With the lessons learned from the Covid-19 pandemic, it is imperative to pass a strengthened wildlife conservation and protection law without delay,” he also asserted.

Saikol also mentioned that the law, once amended, will effectively deter wildlife trafficking not only in the country, but also in other global destination points. “As a result, it will prevent if not eliminate the incidence, at least in the Philippines, of another infectious disease such as Covid-19, which originated in animals and caused unprecedented loss of human lives worldwide,” he also said.

SB 2078 and SB 2079, filed by Senator Cynthia Villar and Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, respectively, seek the imposition of stronger and more specific penalties, the strengthening of enforcement capacity, and the removal of legal loopholes exploited by illegal wildlife traders.

From 2010 to 2020, more than 67,500 wildlife specimens worth at least P248M were confiscated from 523 suspected law violators. At least 153 criminal complaints have been filed in court, with 29 cases resolved and 47 criminals convicted.

The Philippines, among the world’s 17 mega-diverse countries that host two-thirds of the Earth’s biodiversity, has become an important source, transit, and destination point for illegal wildlife trade, which is now the fourth largest illegal trade worldwide behind illegal drugs, arms, and human trafficking.



The value of illegal wildlife trade in the country is estimated at P50 billion yearly or $1 billion, including the market value of wildlife and its resources, their ecological role and value, damage to habitats, and loss in potential ecotourism revenues.