by Penny Angeles-Tan | Nov 30, 2018 | Events
The Design Center, an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) successfully showcased innovative and revolutionary bamboo products at Manila FAME 2018.
The special bamboo setting was arranged under a canopy of bamboos and was divided into two innovation projects – the Bamboo 360 and the Bamboo Extreme 2.0. The Bamboo 360 featured design-forward home and lifestyle products while the Bamboo Extreme 2.0 focused primarily on mobility concepts for modern lifestyle.
Gracing the innovative bamboo display were (left to right) DTI undersecretary Nora Terrado, Design Center of the Philippines executive director Rhea Matute, Philippine Nickel Industry Association chairman Isidro Alcantara Jr., Olli Consulting Group Inc. chief executive officer Leo Dominguez, Chamber of Mines of the Philippines vice chair Joey Leviste, DTI secretary Ramon Lopez, Bambike founder Bryan Benitez McClelland, and Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions executive director Pauline Suaco-Juan.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Nov 29, 2018 | Advocacy
Waste disposal is reaching crisis proportions in the Philippines. Landfills and rivers are overflowing with garbage. Piles of garbage obstruct sidewalks or are dumped on vacant lots, left to rot until they smell and attract hordes of flies.
We know that this is an existing concern in our country. What many of us do not know is that this massive garbage problem is, in fact, a P73 billion industry.
In 2016, 40,000 tons of garbage were collected every day. This totaled 14.6 million tons of garbage per year. If each kilo only cost P5 for disposal, the total cost in waste disposal for 2016 was an outstanding P73 billion.
The money is used to pay the local government, the garbage haulers and the gate fee at landfills. It has even increased this year because the usual P5,000 cost per truckload of garbage with five cubic meter capacity is now P8,000.
The yearly volume of waste generated is expected to increase from 13.48 million tons in 2010 to 16.63 million tons in 2020. In Metro Manila, averages of 9,000 tons of garbage were collected per day from 2012 to 2016. In just five years, daily garbage collection in Metro Manila has reached 93.8 million cubic meters. This is due to rapid urbanization, economic growth and development, changes in lifestyles and consumption patterns.
Aside from the massive amount of garbage generated, there are also the problems of improper disposal and lack of landfills.
Metro Manila Landfills
There are more than a hundred garbage hauling operators in Metro Manila but only three landfills – the Quezon City Sanitary Landfill, Navotas Sanitary Land Fill and Rizal Provincial Sanitary Landfill. New sites are hard to find and are much farther away from Metro Manila. The nearest available landfill is in Montalban, Rizal and it has already reached its maximum carrying capacity, way before 2022 when it is supposed to reach its limit.
Uncollected garbage, about a third of the solid waste generated in the cities, often ends up in drains, causing flooding and an increase in the population of rats, mice and other pests. The urban poor suffer most from the health problems resulting from poor management of solid waste.
The government has the main responsibility for ensuring waste is properly disposed of to avert health and environmental problems. But every Filipino can and should help by properly segregating garbage and by reducing, reusing and recycling.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Nov 28, 2018 | Advocacy
The Philippines is expected to move further towards urbanization as it grows and develops. Unfortunately, its solid waste infrastructure is unable to keep pace with the economic and population growth. Inadequate, over-filled dumpsites and landfills are causing various health and environmental problems.
Some of the serious environmental risks caused by waste overflow landfills are ground and surface water contamination, flooding, greenhouse gas production, air pollution, exposure to toxins and spread of disease. Many disposal sites across the country contain infectious material, threatening sanitation workers and waste pickers and, eventually the general public.
Tests of liquid runoff or leachate from Rodriguez and Payatas dump sites were found to contain high levels of contaminants. Most of the leachate seeps untreated into groundwater sources of drinking water and flows to the Marikina and Pasig River systems and Manila Bay. Landfills and dump sites, despite government’s efforts to situate them in areas far from population centers, still pose a threat to the health and the environment.
A lot of wastes, about one-third of solid waste generated in the cities, are often dumped indiscriminately and often end up clogging the drains, causing flooding and increase in the populations of rodents and other pests. The urban poor suffer most from life-threatening conditions resulting from uncollected garbage.
In this age of digitalization and technology, one of the innovative solutions for solid waste management is decentralization using pyrolysis technology. Pyrolysis is coined from the Greek terms pyro or fire and lysis or separating. It is the industrial process of breaking down large molecules of waste such as agricultural residues, scraps, tires, and non-recyclable materials into smaller molecules of gas, oil and carbon black. One of the by-product of pyrolysis technology is ash which can be mixed with aggregates for construction purposes.
Most importantly, people should realize that they play a huge role in solving the massive garbage problem in the Philippines. It should be the country’s goal to create an environment free of garbage, minimizing of waste disposal to landfill, educating the community and make them aware of their roles and responsibilities, and to involve the business community in solid waste management.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Nov 21, 2018 | Events
Christmas comes early at Filinvest Mimosa+ in Clark, Pampanga with a concert on November 24, 2018, 6 p.m. onwards, at the Acacia Park, to kick off the joyous season.
Richard Poon
Catch remarkable artists and performers, headed by the Philippines’ premier crooner, Richard Poon, who will sing all-time favorite Christmas tunes! Joining him is Pampanga’s pride, the Holy Angel University Chorale, winner of the Gold Prize Award in the 10th Fukushima Vocal Ensemble Competition held in March 2017.
Highlight of the event is the ceremonial lighting of its Christmas installations and decorations, capped by an amazing fireworks display, that will surely delight everyone throughout the holiday season
Filinvest Mimosa+ Leisure City is an integrated, balanced, and eco-centric township that offers a real work, live, and play environment. With the Stellar Christmas at Mimosa+, families, their loved-ones and friends have an extra special reason to visit the world-class Filinvest Mimosa+ in Clark, which boasts of a championship golf course and superb accommodations, dining facilities and leisure amenities.
To know more about the events and activities at Filinvest Mimosa+ this holiday season, visit www.facebook.com/FilinvestMimosaPlus.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Nov 18, 2018 | Events
You better watch out and better not pout, because a 30-foot Santa Claus has been spotted at Mall of Asia – marking the start of the Christmas season in all SM malls nationwide. Inviting everyone to celebrate #ChristmaSMoments with loved ones, SM Supermalls is treating mallgoers with fun-filled events as Santa makes his rounds in SM malls this holiday season.
“Christmas is not complete without Santa Claus. We’re sure that when you see him in the malls, it will take you back to best-loved childhood Christmas moments,” said Jonjon San Agustin, SM Supermalls senior vice president for marketing.
Alongside its giant Santa installation, the Mall of Asia is home to the Grand Festival of Lights Parade that starts November 24 until December 25, and to the Grand Mascot Parade on January 1, 2019. Both street festivals will feature Santa with an entourage of Yuletide dancers and characters.
Not to miss is Father Christmas and his herd of reindeer at the Grand Magical Christmas Parade in SM South Luzon malls. You can catch its launch on November 17 at SM City Bacoor! The parade will ring in new characters – a circus ringmaster and snow ladies – to join its well-loved mix of holiday icons, including princes and princesses, dwarves, fairies, and more!
Santa will lead the way as SM City Pampanga lights up its Ferris wheel-turned-Lantern of Hope with a visual feast of lights, fireworks, and video-mapping on December 1.
Santa Claus will be making the wishes of 60 lucky kids come true this season! Simply write to Santa through the #DearSMSanta mailbox at SM for a chance to get your wishes granted. If you want to see Santa in person, you can spend #ChristmaSMoments with your friends and family at Santa meet-and-greets happening from November 30 to December 25 in all SM malls.
For more info about SM’s Santa-filled Christmas celebration, visit www.smsupermalls.com/christmasmoments.
For more information, check out www.smsupermalls.com, and its Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @smsupermalls.
Waste disposal is reaching crisis proportions in the Philippines. Landfills and rivers are overflowing with garbage. Piles of garbage obstruct sidewalks or are dumped on vacant lots, left to rot until they smell and attract hordes of flies.
In 2016, 40,000 tons of garbage were collected every day. This totaled 14.6 million tons of garbage per year. If each kilo only cost P5 for disposal, the total cost in waste disposal for 2016 was an outstanding P73 billion.
The government has the main responsibility for ensuring waste is properly disposed of to avert health and environmental problems. But every Filipino can and should help by properly segregating garbage and by reducing, reusing and recycling.
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