Day: June 25, 2024

TAAL: Following its recent declaration as National Cultural Treasure and National Historical Landmark, the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Caysasay here is expected to play a significant role in preserving the province’s rich history and fostering Catholic faith.

The church was closed for renovation for over two years and was handed over by the National Museum of the Philippines to the Archdiocese of Lipa on June 20.

In an interview on Tuesday, Sam Lascano, the church coordinator for the shrine ministry council, said the shrine is not only a part of the Catholic faith but also of Filipino culture.

‘[It is] one of the most important treasures in our culture. It helps the shrine ministry to increase devotion and share in the mission as it gives a shared responsibility as a Filipino,’ he told the Philippine News Agency.

The solemn dedication of the church and altar was presided by Most Rev. Charles Brown, D.D., the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, with Most Rev. Gilbert Garcera, D.D., Archbishop of Li
pa.

Lascano even non-Catholic tourists are welcome to take an active role in religious tourism.

‘We are very blessed as a Batangueños and Filipinos because here in this specific spot there is a dear virgin of Caysasay. May we remember that we have a mother to be close to, someone to pray to and be thankful for,’ he said.

Taal Mayor Pong Mercado said the historic day is a testimony of the resilience of Taaleños and the dedication of the government in preserving history.

‘Admittedly, the local government did not have enough funds to help in the rehabilitation of the Shrine. As the saying goes, God will provide,’ he said during the ceremony. ‘The National Museum lifted the heavy burden from all of us… we are grateful for their support and dedication in ensuring the completion of the rehabilitation.’

The Shrine of Our Lady of Caysasay Church Complex will be included in the Taal Heritage Preservation Code and will be protected by an ordinance to enforce preservation laws and zoning laws that will prevent inap
propriate development around the Shrine, he added.

Nelson Cuevas, a devotee from Manila, said he expects the younger generation to participate in church activities, like joining the chorale or serving in Eucharistic celebrations.

He hopes that the church administration and the local government will come up with activities to spark more interest in the place.

According to the church’s history, a fisher named Juan Maningkad netted from the Pansipit River the 12-inch image of Our Lady of Caysasay in 1603, described as radiating with heavenly luster.

Source: Philippines News Agency

TAAL: Following its recent declaration as National Cultural Treasure and National Historical Landmark, the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Caysasay here is expected to play a significant role in preserving the province’s rich history and fostering Catholic faith.

The church was closed for renovation for over two years and was handed over by the National Museum of the Philippines to the Archdiocese of Lipa on June 20.

In an interview on Tuesday, Sam Lascano, the church coordinator for the shrine ministry council, said the shrine is not only a part of the Catholic faith but also of Filipino culture.

‘[It is] one of the most important treasures in our culture. It helps the shrine ministry to increase devotion and share in the mission as it gives a shared responsibility as a Filipino,’ he told the Philippine News Agency.

The solemn dedication of the church and altar was presided by Most Rev. Charles Brown, D.D., the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, with Most Rev. Gilbert Garcera, D.D., Archbishop of Li
pa.

Lascano even non-Catholic tourists are welcome to take an active role in religious tourism.

‘We are very blessed as a Batangueños and Filipinos because here in this specific spot there is a dear virgin of Caysasay. May we remember that we have a mother to be close to, someone to pray to and be thankful for,’ he said.

Taal Mayor Pong Mercado said the historic day is a testimony of the resilience of Taaleños and the dedication of the government in preserving history.

‘Admittedly, the local government did not have enough funds to help in the rehabilitation of the Shrine. As the saying goes, God will provide,’ he said during the ceremony. ‘The National Museum lifted the heavy burden from all of us… we are grateful for their support and dedication in ensuring the completion of the rehabilitation.’

The Shrine of Our Lady of Caysasay Church Complex will be included in the Taal Heritage Preservation Code and will be protected by an ordinance to enforce preservation laws and zoning laws that will prevent inap
propriate development around the Shrine, he added.

Nelson Cuevas, a devotee from Manila, said he expects the younger generation to participate in church activities, like joining the chorale or serving in Eucharistic celebrations.

He hopes that the church administration and the local government will come up with activities to spark more interest in the place.

According to the church’s history, a fisher named Juan Maningkad netted from the Pansipit River the 12-inch image of Our Lady of Caysasay in 1603, described as radiating with heavenly luster.

Source: Philippines News Agency

CAGAYAN DE ORO: The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) closed a travel agency allegedly involved in illegal recruitment in Initao, Misamis Oriental, as more staffing agencies in Northern Mindanao are put under surveillance.

The DMW team, headed by Assistant Secretary Francis Ron De Guzman, arrived at the agency unannounced on Tuesday, carrying the closure order, which was based on a surveillance report conducted several months ago.

“Based on our interrogation, it is clear that they are operating as a recruitment agency but without a license, and they refer these recruits to a ‘partner’ agency in Manila that has a license,” he said, adding that the agency’s owner was not around during their surprise visit.

De Guzman maintained that the agency violated anti-human trafficking laws because all recruitment firms for overseas work must register with DMW and must operate with a license, even if these agencies are affiliated with other agencies.

He said the Manila-based agency affiliated with the Initao firm is
equally accountable and could be charged with violating anti-human trafficking laws.

De Guzman said the agency’s closure in Initao is the 11th case in the past six months.

Lawyer Fidel Macauyag, officer in charge of DMW 10 (Northern Mindanao), said their surveillance of the agency began when it advertised on social media work in Europe, notably in Poland.

Potential recruits were promised a monthly salary of PHP35,000 to PHP45,000, and the agency required a “processing fee” worth PHP190,000 to PHP230,000 for applications.

Macauyag also noted that other firms in the region with similar schemes are under surveillance, and that the Initao case is DMW’s first closure in Mindanao.

Initao Mayor Mercy Grace Again, during the courtesy call of the DMW team, pledged to revoke the business license of the erring travel recruitment agency.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System-Regulatory Office (MWSS-RO) on Tuesday confirmed the imposition of more than PHP2.038 million worth of penalties against Maynilad Water Services Inc.

This came after the water concessionaire failed in the Total Coliform at a Regulatory Sampling Point (RSP) in Caloocan Pumping Station and Reservoir.

The drinking water standard for total coliform bacteria is 1 or zero colony-forming-units per 100 ml of water sample. This means it should be absent in potable water.

Coliform bacteria is typically found in soil, water, human, and animal wastes which may cause diarrhea or vomiting.

“The penalty is determined on the length of time plus the number of services affected and effect to our consumer,” MWSS-RO chief Patrick Ty said in a press conference.

The imposed fines will be in the form of rebates to affected customers under the Implementing Rules and Regulation and revised concessionaire agreement, Ty added.

“The essence of our decision is we are monitorin
g Manila Water and Maynilad’s performance that we do random sampling and we are here to protect the interest of the consumers,” Ty said.

Maynilad, in response, said the incident was caused by a contamination in its distribution system.

“That is normally because of the leaks in the system o during water interruption kung saan maaaring pumasok ang contaminants (where the contaminants can enter),” Maynilad Business Area spokesperson Rona Librella said in a separate interview.

Overall, the Maynilad needs to provide PHP530 worth of rebates to each of the water bills of 3,841 affected customers.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System-Regulatory Office (MWSS-RO) on Tuesday confirmed the imposition of more than PHP2.038 million worth of penalties against Maynilad Water Services Inc.

This came after the water concessionaire failed in the Total Coliform at a Regulatory Sampling Point (RSP) in Caloocan Pumping Station and Reservoir.

The drinking water standard for total coliform bacteria is 1 or zero colony-forming-units per 100 ml of water sample. This means it should be absent in potable water.

Coliform bacteria is typically found in soil, water, human, and animal wastes which may cause diarrhea or vomiting.

“The penalty is determined on the length of time plus the number of services affected and effect to our consumer,” MWSS-RO chief Patrick Ty said in a press conference.

The imposed fines will be in the form of rebates to affected customers under the Implementing Rules and Regulation and revised concessionaire agreement, Ty added.

“The essence of our decision is we are monitorin
g Manila Water and Maynilad’s performance that we do random sampling and we are here to protect the interest of the consumers,” Ty said.

Maynilad, in response, said the incident was caused by a contamination in its distribution system.

“That is normally because of the leaks in the system o during water interruption kung saan maaaring pumasok ang contaminants (where the contaminants can enter),” Maynilad Business Area spokesperson Rona Librella said in a separate interview.

Overall, the Maynilad needs to provide PHP530 worth of rebates to each of the water bills of 3,841 affected customers.

Source: Philippines News Agency

TACLOBAN: The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) listed 25,767 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Eastern Visayas as recipients of the condonation of debt and amortization.

DAR 8 (Eastern Visayas) Director Robert Anthony Yu said the recipients, cultivating 54,117 hectares of land, were confirmed qualified beneficiaries after receiving certificates of land ownership awards and electronic titles.

‘They have been verified. We must process for them to get a certificate that their loans are already condoned,’ Yu told reporters during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas on Tuesday.

Of the total, 14,597 beneficiaries are from Leyte province, 6,718 from Samar, 3,014 from Northern Samar, 642 from Southern Leyte, 556 from Eastern Samar, and 240 from Biliran.

The DAR-8 is still getting figures from the Land Bank of the Philippines on the amount of amortization for these 25,767 farmers.

Nationwide, about 610,054 ARBs are expected to benefit from the law, seen by the government as the driver of food security.

The
condonation covers an estimated 1.17 million hectares of land, with an estimated PHP57.55 billion in unpaid amortizations.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed on July 9, 2023, Republic Act 11953, or the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, which condones all loans, including interests, penalties, and surcharges incurred by ARBs from land awarded to them.

Source: Philippines News Agency