Escudero wants interagency body formed to address El Niño effects

 General
Oct 052015
 
Escudero wants interagency body formed to address El Niño effects

Commission on Human Rights Chairperson Chito Gascon receives a complaint from typhoon victims and climate justice advocates in Quezon City, Tuesday. The complaint seeks an investigation into 50 investor-owned fossil fuel companies for their accountability for climate impacts. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero is proposing the creation of an interagency body to study and address the impacts of El Niño on farmlands and households which are now experiencing water shortages. Escudero said the inter-agency body should be composed of representatives from the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), National Water Resources Board (NWRB), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), Climate Change Commission, private water concessionaires, and other experts that might be able to help the government craft an easily implementable plan on El Niño. “We must convene an inter-agency body to map out the situation in El Niño-affected areas and propose viable solutions to the expected short-term, mid-term, and long-term effects of El Niño,” he said in a statement on Friday. “Water interruptions and shortages are already disrupting the day-to-day activities of Filipinos. The condition of waterless hospitals and health facilities is a major source of concern as early as now,” added the senator, who chairs the Senate committee on environment and natural resources. Pagasa has warned that this year’s El Niño event is expected to be among the worst in history, causing 60 to 80 percent reduced rainfall until early Read More …

Financial technology: First mover or smart follower?

 Economy
Oct 042015
 

All over the world, people and industries are seeing the dramatic effect of technology. As new innovations are developed, new industries, services and business models are also created. One such area is in financial technology, or FinTech, which was the theme of the keynote address at a recent EY Banking and Capital Markets Symposium held in Singapore. The focus of the speaker was on the evolution of banks in the FinTech space and the view that up to 20% of traditional bank revenue is at peril due to FinTech.

Assemblymembers unite in LA to urge Brown to sign medical marijuana legislation

 Entertainment
Oct 022015
 
Assemblymembers unite in LA to urge Brown to sign medical marijuana legislation

Assemblymember Rob Bonta Los Angeles – Assemblymember Rob Bonta (D-Oakland) held a press conference in Los Angeles Tuesday to urge Governor Jerry Brown to sign the Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act, including AB 266. Bonta, lead author of AB 266, was joined by two of his joint authors, Reginald Jones-Sawyer, Sr. (D-Los Angeles) and Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale), along with a strong coalition of supporters from local government, patient advocacy groups, labor, and the medical marijuana industry. Assemblymember Rob Bonta explained the historic impact the proposed regulations will have in the state. “The Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act will usher in a new era for California.  If the Governor signs the act, patients will have more assurances that their products are safe; law enforcement will have a foundation to identify drugged drivers and increased funding to protect the public; the environment will be protected from neglect, destruction, and water diversion; and the medical marijuana industry itself will be able to come out of the shadows and receive the same protections under the law as other state-licensed businesses, creating jobs and contributing to the economy.” California was the first state in the nation to allow for the medical use of marijuana with the passage of Proposition 215 nearly two decades ago, leading the charge ahead of 22 other states and the District of Columbia. However, California still lacks a comprehensive regulatory framework for the medical marijuana industry. The three bills that the Legislature sent to Governor Brown include AB 266, AB Read More …

Ellen Adarna denies flirting with Paulo Avelino

 Entertainment
Oct 022015
 
Ellen Adarna denies flirting with Paulo Avelino

Ellen Adarna (MNS Photo) Ellen Adarna finally broke her silence weeks after she made headlines for supposedly getting drunk during this year’s Star Magic Ball and for allegedly leaving her date, actor Ejay Falcon. Adarna admitted she indeed had a few drinks but stressed that she was still aware of what she was doing. “Yes, I was drunk basta hindi ako wasak na wasak. Nakainom lang,” she said. As to supposedly leaving Falcon, Adarna said: “No, that’s not true. You can also ask Ejay if you want. It’s not true.” Ejay Falcon (MNS Photo) Adarna, meanwhile, explained the video where she can be seen holding hands with Paulo Avelino during the party, while Falcon was nowhere in sight. “Yes, that’s true. I grabbed Paulo’s hands because masakit na ‘yung paa ko,” she said. Dispelling rumors that she was flirting with Avelino, Adarna said: “No, of course not. Matagal na kaming friends ni Paulo and we are just really friends. I’m actually dating someone right now. He’s non-showbiz. For me, wala naman akong ginawang mali kasi wala naman akong sinaktang tao. I was there to have fun because it was a party.” On Saturday, Falcon denied that he and Adarna are not okay after the Star Magic Ball incident. Paulo Avelino (MNS photo) Falcon said he sees nothing wrong that Adarna was seen with Avelino during the gathering of stars because they are all good friends. “Alam ko po magkaibigan talaga sila ni Ellen. Lumalabas labas din sila na grupo, kasama Read More …

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