STEERING THE FUTURE: Proudly Pinoy-Made New Daewoo Low Floor Bus, Redefines Public Transportation

When it comes to crisscrossing the archipelago or tackling the Metro Manila traffic, comfort is key to surviving long distance travel and public transportation. Today, thanks to Daewoo Bus from Columbian Manufacturing Corp. (CMANC), the motoring and industrial leader in the Philippines, commuters, drivers, and passengers can expect a more enjoyable and premium travel experience.

The Daewoo Bus is especially designed to adapt to the country's tropical climate, and challenging terrain, whether its steep inclines or rough road conditions. Daewoo Bus is indeed, the reliable partner of every commuting Filipino. Serving the Filipino commuters from Northern Luzon to Southern Mindanao.

On September 14, at the 6th Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS) - “Steer the Future” launch, held at World Trade Center, Daewoo Bus unveils its newest model for public transportation, the BS120SN Low Floor Bus. The BS120SN is designed for optimal automotive performance and superior fuel efficiency, with built-in premium features for ultra-comfort. It promises to make journeys and bus transportation not only a more comfortable one, but also a truly enjoyable experience.

To the delight of many passengers, the Daewoo Bus model is designed for Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) and Airport Transport System all over the Philippines, offering a safer, more comfortable and better quality mass transportation.

“As everyone knows, the public transportation system in the country, most especially in Metro Manila, has been a problem for many years. But there are definitely ways to help alleviate the situation. Daewoo Bus aims to contribute to the solution by offering a better and safer means for people to commute,” shares CMANC General Manager, Mario Regis. “We would also aim to take a way the belief of most of our kababayan that imported vehicles have better quality than those assembled and manufactured locally. With the world-class skills of our local workforce, we have no doubt that the vehicles we produced can compete globally. So it’s time we patronize something that is our own.”

“We encourage Filipinos to patronize locally produced buses as it helps support the employment of thousands of workers. We have always believed that CMANC is not merely a vehicle manufacturer, but a transportation solutions provider.” Mr. Regis added.

Columbian Manufacturing Corporation (CMANC) is the exclusive manufacturer and distributor of Daewoo Buses. Though a Korean Brand, Daewoo’s newest mass transportation vehicles will be manufactured locally at the Sta. Rosa Motors Works, Inc., the largest bus manufacturing plant in the country. The entrance of Daewoo Bus BS120SN model is installed with wheelchair ramp to provide comfortable ride to disabled passengers and senior citizens.

The event was organized by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI).

For more information, visit the Daewoo Bus showroom at Km. 42 Bo. Dita, Santa Rosa City, Laguna. You may also contact (02) 823 7686 / 823 7689

NCCA Leads Dayaw 2016 Festivities as Part of Commemorating Indigenous People's Month

“Education, peace and development, and cultural understanding highlighting the Philippine cultural and socioeconomic landscape” will be the heart and theme of Dayaw 2016: The Indigenous Peoples Festival, organized by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), headed by its chairman Felipe M. de Leon Jr. and OIC-executive director Marichu G. Tellano.

Spearheaded by the NCCA’s Subcommission on Cultural Communities and Traditional Arts (SCCTA), headed by Dr. Al-Anwar Anzar, the biggest gathering of Philippine indigenous peoples (IPs) will be held this October and November in Metro Manila.

This year’s theme highlights traditional and local knowledge on environment protection and advocacy for peace. All activities will aim to be cultural exchanges to cultivate a much deeper understanding of culture in order to sustain a culture of peace. Dayaw will also be a venue where IP rights and concerns will be discussed.

Eternal Coin Launch and Token Hub Asia’s 1st Year Anniversary Party

 Last 20th October 2016, Thursday people from various industries were gathered at The Peninsula Manila for its #Applaunchparty2016 and at the same time it was the 1st year
anniversary celebration of Token Hub Asia in our country.

 Most of the guests arrived at around 5 o’clock in the afternoon for the registration at the Rigodon Ballroom. Everything was set and all looks really classy as they enter the hall towards their tables.

Advanced Precision Cooking Ranges to Enhance Your Culinary Passion

In essence, cooking is in itself an art form. The pursuit of the perfect dish takes time and effort. Just as how a writer is nothing without his pen, a kitchen connoisseur is reliant on the tools he or she has to work with.

The careful manipulation of fresh ingredients to produce exquisite dishes is not possible without the proper appliances required. This is where technology comes in. Rinnai, the no. 1 appliance brand in Japan since 1920, seeks to elevate the way Filipino millennials prepare their meals with tabletop stoves, hobs, cooking ranges, and range hoods designed with the precise performance of Japanese technology.

Trick or Treat? Makati closes off Paseo de Roxas for another culinary Street Meet!

 Scary ghouls and goblins, jack-o-lanterns and witches will descend upon Paseo de Roxas, promising not just tricks but also lots of treats at the Makati Street Meet this 23rd of October.

Makati will once again prove its distinct city vibe and vibrant community spirit as it transforms an iconic business avenue into a culinary street meet.  A strip of Paseo de Roxas will again be closed as Make It Makati hosts its second Street Meet, bringing together gastronomic delights, a kiddie fun fair and great entertainment for all.

Amidst the trick and treating, musical performances and family activities await everyone at the Makati Street Meet, which promises to delight everyone with spook-tacular experiences and lots of really good food.

Government Open Data to Improve with Data Sharing Directives

The free-flow of information within the government is expected to improve with the National Privacy Commission’s (NPC) issuance of its latest memorandum circular (NPC MC 16-02) on Data Sharing Agreements Involving Government Agencies.

This latest issuance from the NPC reinforces its mandate to support the free-flow of information and safeguard the right to privacy of information. Privacy Commissioner Raymund Enriquez Liboro said the law was intended to strike a balance between the need for information freedom and data privacy as indispensable components of nation building. “Freedom of information is more than just access requests to government, it is about responsible data sharing. Open data will contribute significantly to improving government services and coming up with new ones, supporting innovation and growth,” Liboro said.

The Freedom of Information (FoI) Executive Order was recently issued by the government, and the privacy commission clarified that the Data Privacy Act (DPA) cannot be used as a shield against FoI. It pointed out that the DPA is for the protection of any personal data that may be contained in government records that is not relevant to the freedom of information request, particularly when it affects private citizens.

The government is considered the largest collector and repository of personal data. E-governance initiatives and innovations in public services allow for citizens to avail of these services online, eliminating the need to queue up or having to fill out paper-based forms with personal data that the government already has.

The Data Sharing Issuance requires that personal information controllers (government agencies) to implement safeguards for data sharing. These safeguards include adhering to data privacy principles, entering into Data Sharing Agreements, reviewing technical security measures when allowing online access, and providing for the return, destruction or disposal of transferred personal data. Violation of directives contained in the issuance may lead to sanctions.

Dengue in the Philippines

Dengue cases rose to epidemic levels in 2015 with an average of 220 reported cases per day

Dengue is a high-profile and ongoing public health concern in the Philippines. The first known epidemic of severe dengue or dengue hemorrhagic fever anywhere in the world was recorded in Manila in 1953.By the mid-1970s, severe dengue had become a leading cause of hospitalization and death among children in the region. Between 2004 and 2010, the Philippines experienced the seventh highest number of dengue cases in the world according to the World Health Organization (WHO).2016 data suggests an increasing trend in reported dengue cases

In 2013, DOH reported 204,906 cases of dengue, the highest number recorded since the establishment of the National Dengue Prevention and Control Program in 1993. More than 200,000 dengue cases were reported in the Philippines in 2015, 80,000 more than were reported in 2014. In both September and October 2015, the number of reported cases rose above the epidemic threshold.

Although the number of reported dengue cases slightly decreased in 2014, the 2015 data suggest an increasing trend in cases in the coming years.Recent data gathered by the Department of Health from January to 24 September this year shows an increase of 11.5 percent year on year across the country, with total dengue infections at 142,247 compared to 127,525 last year and 604 recorded fatalities

Based on Philippine surveillance data collected between 2011 and 2015, an average of 220 dengue cases were reported in the country every day.[viii]In 2015, almost 50% of reported cases came from three most urbanized regions: Region 3 (17.6%), Region 4 (17.3%), and the National Capital Region (12.6%).Cases stemming from all four serotypes of dengue were reported in 2015.

Disease burden: US$345 million per year
The economic burden of dengue in the Philippines is substantial. A study published in 2015 estimated that between 2008 and 2012, clinically diagnosed dengue cases in the Philippines were associated with a direct medical cost (in 2012 US dollars) of $345 million annually. The study calculated the average cost of treatment per case to be $409, representing 16% of the Philippines’ 2012 per capita GDP. Sixty-five percent of cases were treated in inpatient hospitals, representing 90% of direct costs.

In addition to dengue’s burden on a household, the illness can adversely impact a country’s economy through a loss of productivity caused by the illness and pre-mature death, increased healthcare costs and a possible reduction in tourism.

Seasonality and global climate change
Dengue has become a year-round threat in the Philippines. However, data suggests that the number of dengue cases increases one to two months after the onset of the rainy season, resulting in a peak of dengue cases between July and November each year.

The Philippines is severely affected by extreme weather events and is vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Vector-borne diseases like dengue may be particularly sensitive to both periodic fluctuations and sustained changes in global and local climates.[xiv]Additionally, a study examining data from eight Asian countries including the Philippines over 18 years revealed a strong correlation between regional dengue epidemics and elevated temperatures associated with El Niño.

DoH implements a step-wise public vaccination program in 2016
The Department of Health announced on 4 January 2016 that one million (1M) nine-year-old Filipinos enrolled in government schools in Region 3, Region 4-A and the National Capital Region will be the first beneficiaries of the government-procured dengue vaccine.

In a recent dengue vaccine cost-effectiveness study performed by Professor Hilton Lam of the UP-National Institutes of Health, a nationwide annual routine vaccination of nine-year olds starting in 2016 would lead to an estimated 24.2% reduction in dengue cases in the country over a five-year period. This would translate to 775,053 avoided cases of dengue, 502,000 avoided hospitalizations, 22,010 avoided deaths and almost Php 21 billion in avoided cost to society.