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Saturday, September 21, 2024

When Kindness Cultivates, a Brighter Future Blooms: Donation Drive for Ecosoc Scholars


Wazzup Pilipinas!?


For 66 years, the UP Economics Society (UP Ecosoc) has stood as a beacon of service, excellence, and tradition. Rooted in these values, one of their missions has been to uplift students by providing them with the educational support they need to thrive. As UP Ecosoc celebrates their 66th anniversary this year, they continue this legacy through a donation drive called “BLOOM: For the Benefit of the UP Economics Society Scholarship Program.”

The BLOOM donation drive is dedicated to supporting the organization’s beloved scholars.

These scholars, who embody the promise of a brighter future, face various challenges that threaten their academic pursuits. The donations collected will go directly toward funding essential resources, including tuition fees, school supplies, and other educational needs.

Education is the foundation of a thriving society. By supporting these scholars, you are not only helping them achieve their dreams but also investing in the future of our community. Every donation, no matter the amount, brings us one step closer to ensuring that these students can reach their full potential.

The donation drive will officially bloom on September 9, 2024. Interested donors may send their support through the following donation channels:

0927 774 7832

Michael Vincent Largo

Gcash


Jeri Elise Racpan Sunga

1096 6600 1376

UnionBank Of The Philippines


Kindly send your proof of donation through this link: https://bit.ly/EM66Donations

Remember that every contribution counts! Donation lines will close on October 6, 2024.

Friday, September 20, 2024

Toxic and Waste Watchdog Inspects Busted Lamp Stockpile in QC Barangay, Detects Mercury Leakage


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Toxic watchdog group BAN Toxics recently detected mercury leakage from a stockpile of busted fluorescent lamps stored in a barangay in Quezon City. Following a series of consultations by the group with barangays around the Quirino Memorial Medical Center (QMMC) for the Philippine Healthcare and mercury Wastes Management Project (PHCWMP), officials from Barangay Blue Ridge A informed BAN Toxics about their stockpile.

According to Barangay Captain Gabriel Legaspi, the stockpile was collected from their community as part of the Quezon City Local Government Unit’s (LGU) previous efforts to ensure the proper disposal of hazardous waste from households. However, Legaspi noted that the last collection of Quezon City LGU of such waste was probably around 2018, and since then, they have already accumulated six drumloads, each containing about 50 busted fluorescent lamps.







On September 6, 2024, a team from BAN Toxics, led by the group’s Campaign and Advocacy Officer, Thony Dizon, inspected the stockpile. Using a portable Olympus Vanta C Series X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analyzer, the group detected mercury leakage of up to 130 parts per million (ppm) from some of the lamps. The stockpile was stored in a covered shed inside the barangay LGU compound, which used to serve as their material recovery facility (MRF).

According to Jam Lorenzo, BAN Toxics Deputy Executive Director, a 130 ppm leakage from busted fluorescent lamps is relatively high, and there is a strong probability that the ambient air inside the shed is already contaminated. He pointed out that mercury from fluorescent lamps shouldn't be detectable by an XRF analyzer unless there is leakage.

BAN Toxics has advised the barangay to temporarily cover and seal the stockpile to prevent further contamination and to limit access to the shed. If entry is necessary, they should ensure that personal protective equipment is worn. Meanwhile, Barangay Captain Legaspi said they will follow up with the Quezon City LGU to assist in the proper transport and disposal of the stockpile.

Under Republic Act 6969, the “Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990,” busted fluorescent lamps are classified as hazardous waste due to their mercury content. Other related laws and regulatory policies also govern the management of fluorescent lamp waste, including Republic Act 9003, the “Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000,” Republic Act 7394, the “Consumer Act of the Philippines,” and the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) 2013-09-2001 by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Energy (DoE).

At the level of the LGU, Section 5 of Quezon City Ordinance 2350-2014 states that busted fluorescent lamps and spent batteries from “households, government and public institutions shall be separated from domestic wastes” and “shall be brought to the Barangay MRF for temporary storage until collection by the city-contracted hazardous waste collector/transporter/treater.”

“We call on Brgy. Blue Ridge A and the Quezon City LGU’s Department of Sanitation and Cleanup Works (DSQC) to immediately coordinate and address the stockpile to prevent further mercury contamination. We also urge DSQC to conduct a survey in other barangays of Quezon City to determine if there are existing stockpiles,” Dizon said.

Dizon likewise called on the Department of Energy to revisit JAO 2013-09-2001, also known as the Lighting Industry Waste Management Guidelines. This JAO mandates producers to develop a lamp waste management plan, which includes establishing a lamp waste management facility. However, to BAN Toxics' knowledge, this has not been fully implemented.

Mercury is a highly toxic chemical that can cause irreparable damage to the nervous system. Inhaling mercury vapor can adversely affect the nervous, digestive, and immune systems, as well as the lungs and kidneys, and can potentially be fatal. It has long environmental persistence and global mobility—cycling through the atmosphere, ocean, and land. Its emissions and releases can bioaccumulate and biomagnify in the food chain, posing a significant threat to human health and the environment.

Under the Minamata Convention on Mercury, a global treaty to which the Philippines is a party, and the DENR Administrative Order 2019-20, “Revised Chemical Control Order for Mercury and Mercury Compounds,” certain types of fluorescent lamps should already have been phased out by 2022.

Currently, BAN Toxics is working with the DENR-Environmental Management Bureau on the PHCWMP, which has one of its main project components focused on the management, reduction, and disposal of mercury waste from healthcare facilities, including fluorescent lamp waste. In recent weeks, BAN Toxics has been conducting data collection activities in barangays surrounding hospitals involved in the project, such as QMMC, Eastern Visayas Medical Center in Tacloban City, and Cagayan Valley Medical Center in Tuguegarao City.

Officially launched on December 6, 2023, the PHCWMP is a five-year project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and being implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), with the DENR-EMB as the national lead agency and BAN Toxics as the executing entity. PHCWMP aims to reduce the release and emissions of hazardous chemicals in healthcare wastes through environmentally sound practices.



Editor’s note: After BAN Toxics’ visit, Barangay Blue Ridge A coordinated with the Quezon City DSQC to request the collection of their stockpile of busted lamps. They have also secured the drums with protective covers and seals to prevent further contamination. The stockpile is now ready for pick-up.



Vietnam’s Wellness-Inspired Fusion Hotel Group is Celebrating World Wellness Weekend

Wazzup Pilipinas!?


Fusion Hotel Group is introducing a series of events and activities for guests at five of its luxury beachfront resorts in Vietnam to celebrate World Wellness Weekend from Sept. 20-22. The exclusive offers include everything from yoga, meditation and onsen baths to zumba, ziplining, aromatherapy and holistic workshops.

Fusion’s new customer loyalty program, Fusionlife, is currently available to help travellers find the best available rates and other exclusive benefits at fusionhotelgroup.com/fusionlife.



Alba Wellness Valley by Fusion

Recently heralded by Travel + Leisure magazine as one of the leading resorts in Vietnam, with its acclaimed natural hot spring and onsen baths set in the foothills of the Imperial City of Hue, Alba Wellness Valley by Fusion is also recognised for having one of the country’s best hotel spas. For World Wellness Weekend, the resort has released a programme including sessions of Hatha yoga, mindful breathing practices, and Singing Bowl Meditation, all aimed at relieving stress and fostering inner calm. Guests can also join zumba, hiking, and zipline experiences to complete a rejuvenating long weekend.





Fusion Resort Cam Ranh


Commanding spectacular vistas from a vantage point overlooking Cam Ranh Bay in southern Vietnam, Fusion Resort Cam Ranh is among the brand’s luxury resorts that promises visitors an “all-spa and wellness inclusive” and “breakfast anywhere, anytime” concept. The itinerary from Sep. 20-22 includes early morning Surya Namaskar Yoga sessions, aromatherapy, natural healing classes, and even yoga for kids. Maia Quy Nhon & The Ocean Resort Quy Nhon

From Sep. 21-23, guests can embark on a wellness journey that begins with a 5km run on the beach each morning, followed by gentle yoga or the soothing rhythms of sound healing therapy in tranquil surroundings. Afternoons are to be dedicated to exploring the natural world through herbology workshops and holistic activities.

Guests can also access the Vẽla Spa, which offers holistic therapies and ecologically focused treatments aimed at replenishing the mind, body and soul. Located on a stunning beach in south-central Vietnam, Maia Resort Quy Nhon and its newly opened next-door neighbour The Ocean Resort are located 22 km from Quy Nhon town centre and 23 km from Phu Cat Airport.



Fusion Suites Vung Tau

World Wellness Weekend 2024 at Fusion Suites Vung Tau promises to be an exciting journey of self-discovery with a diverse range of activities. Towering over a peninsula directly south of Saigon,this venue is ideal for those seeking to find balance between modern life and nature. Guests from Sep. 20-22 can expect to start the day with gentle yoga sessions by the pool, followed by Tai Chi and meditation, while the hotel’s Maia Spa offers foot massage treatments, saunas and hot tubs. For this special weekend, Fusion Suites Vung Tau will conduct workshops focused on healthy nutrition with tips for a scientific and balanced diet. The talented chefs at Fresh Restaurant have designed a specialised menu featuring delicious and nutritious dishes to complement a healthy stay.







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