Day: April 29, 2024

Rayong, The Energy Regulatory Commission reveals the results of the inspection of chemical vapors at the Winprocess factory. It was found that the types and quantities examined continued to decrease. But some areas were still at an irritating level. In Building 3, ammonia levels were found to be at dangerous levels. The OBEC police had to wait another two weeks before they could collect evidence. Ready to adjust the plan to reduce the eruption of aluminum waste. The Pollution Control Department inspected and assessed the safety of air quality in the fire area of ??the industrial waste and hazardous chemical warehouse of Winprocess Co., Ltd., Rayong Province, to Rayong Province police forensics before working in the area. From the measurement of air quality, it was found that Ammonia levels are at 1 - 7 ppm, which is a safe level for operations, except Building 3 is still at a dangerous level. Rayong Provincial Forensic Police plans to inspect Building 3 in the next 2 weeks. At this time, officials have all the fire under control. But chemical vapors were still detected in the waste pile where the original fire burned, so plans to control the situation were adjusted. The Department of Industrial Works together with the Rayong Provincial Administrative Organization brought sodium bicarbonate to cover the waste pile to absorb moisture from the aluminum waste pile and reduce chemical reactions and prevent the eruption of the aluminum waste pile. As for the air quality measurement results Around the factory in 13 community areas, covering the areas of Bang But Subdistrict, Nong Bua Subdistrict, downwind areas, 3 times, namely from 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., from 1:39 p.m. to 4:25 p.m., and from 6:40 p.m. to 8:15 p.m., it was found that some points contained vapors of the substance. Some chemicals are at levels that cause irritation to the respiratory system, eyes, and skin. Testing is divided according to distance from the incident location as follows: Distance of 2 kilometers, inspected during the afternoon to eveni ng of 27 April 2024 at Bang But Subdistrict. Found small amounts of chemical vapors in Groups 4 and 8, totaling 6 types, including ammonia, hydrogen chloride, benzene, hydrogen cyanide, nitrous oxide, and methane. Methane) and substances were found at levels that would affect the respiratory system. Irritating to the eyes and skin, there are 3 types in Group 4, including acrylonitrile. (Acrylonitrile), phosgene (Phosgene) and phosphine (Phosphine). And in the area of ??Village No. 8, phosgene (Phosgene) was found in the evening. Only a small amount of chemical vapor was detected, the same as what was detected. In the afternoon, the exception was methane and no substances at levels that would affect the respiratory system were detected. Irritating to eyes and skin. Range of 2 - 5 kilometers, inspected in the afternoon of April 27, 2024, in the area of ??Bang But Subdistrict, Village No. 4 and Nong Bua Subdistrict, Villages 2 and 11, a small amount of chemical vapors was detected within a distance of 2 kilomet ers, with benzene detected. (Benzene) only in the area of ??Nong Bua Subdistrict, Village No. 11, and substances were found at levels that would affect the respiratory system. Irritating to eyes and skin. In the area of ??Bang But Subdistrict, Village No. 4, is Phosgene. In the area of ??Nong Bua Subdistrict, Village No. 2, is acrylonitrile. (Acrylonitrile) and group 11 found 3 types: acrylonitrile (Acrylonitrile), Phosgene (Phosgene) and Phosphine. In the evening, small amounts of chemical vapors were detected, which were the same as those found in the afternoon. and found substances at levels that would affect the respiratory system and irritate the eyes and skin. In the area of ??Nong Bua Subdistrict, Village No. 11, 2 types are Methyl Mercaptan and Nitrogen Dioxide. - Within a distance of 5 - 7 km, 1 point in the area of ??Nong Bua Subdistrict, Village No. 3. A small amount of chemical vapors was detected within a distance of 2 kilometers and substances were found at levels that would affect the respirat ory system. Two types of eye and skin irritants include acrylonitrile. (Acrylonitrile) and Phosgene (Phosgene) in the evening, in the area of ??Nong Bua Subdistrict, Village No. 3, small amounts of chemical vapors were detected within a distance of 2 kilometers, and nitrogen dioxide (Nirogen Dioxide) was found at levels that would Affects the respiratory system Irritating to eyes and skin. The results of the inspection on April 28, 2024 in the morning are as follows: A distance of 2 - 5 kilometers in the area of ??Nong Bua Subdistrict, Villages 2 and 11, found a small amount of chemical vapors of the same type as those detected the previous day. The substances were found at levels that affected the respiratory system. Irritating to eyes and skin. In the area of ??Nong Bua Subdistrict, Village No. 2, 2 types, including Methyl Mercaptan (Methyl Mercaptan), Phosphine, and Village No. 11, 3 types, including Methyl Mercaptan (Methyl Mercaptan), Phosphine. Phosphine and Nitrogen Dioxide A distance of 5 - 10 kilo meters, 1 point in the area of ??Nong Bua Subdistrict, Village No. 3, found small amounts of 5 types of chemical vapors: ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, nitrous oxide, methane, and phosphide. Phosphine The Pollution Control Department evaluated air quality measurement results from 22 April - 28 April 2024 and found that the type and concentration of chemical vapors detected tended to continuously decrease. According to the situation, the fire can be controlled. But some chemical vapors are still found that affect the respiratory system. Irritating to eyes and skin. If abnormal symptoms occur, you should immediately see a doctor. The Pollution Control Department and the Department of Industrial Works will continue to monitor the situation. Source: Thai News Agency

CEBU CITY: The Federation of Modern Jeepney Operators' Cooperatives in Metro Cebu assured there would be no disruption of mass transportation on Tuesday amid the continuation of the transport strike. Ellen Maghanoy, chair of the Federation of Cebu Transport Cooperatives, on Monday said franchise owners consolidated under different coops will deploy more than 1,000 units of modern jeepneys until Wednesday. Maghanoy said Cebu People's Cooperative alone has 250 units. Apart from the modern jeepneys, Maghanoy said consolidated traditional jeepneys in Central Visayas will augment modern units. 'If transport groups which are against the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) will hold a strike, we, the owners of modern jeepneys, will surely benefit from it,' Maghanoy told the Philippine News Agency. Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-7 Director Eduardo Montealto Jr. said Piston (Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide) did not hold any picket rally or transpo rt strike in Cebu on Monday. Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Some 166 residents of Patnanungan, Quezon have started building water harvesting systems and gardening projects in the province, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Monday. Irene Dumlao, assistant secretary for Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG), said the programs are part of the DSWD's Projects LAWA (Local Adaptation to Water Access) and BINHI (Breaking Insufficiency through Nutritious Harvest for the Impoverished). 'With Project LAWA at BINHI, we want to strengthen the adaptive capabilities of poor and vulnerable families to mitigate the impact of food insecurity and water scarcity brought about by the drought, especially this time that we are experiencing scorching heat throughout the country,' Dumlao said in a news release. From April 17 to 19, the project beneficiaries underwent comprehensive training encompassing disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, and practical skills for water harvesting, gardening, vermicomposting, and hydroponics. After the training, the participants started the repair and construction of water harvesting systems and community and school-based gardening projects, with a target completion date of May 15. Dumlao said the project will provide learning and development sessions (LDS) on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation and Disaster Risk Reduction (CCAM-DRR), and cash-for-work (CFW) and cash-for-training (CFT) to beneficiaries in priority areas affected by the El Niño phenomenon. She said the interventions under the CCAM-DRR in the priority areas are based on the Climate Outlook of the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (DOST-PAGASA) with the most number of poor families based on Listahanan 3 and not just in areas near major river basins as identified by the Cabinet Cluster on Climate Change. As part of the design of Project LAWA at BINHI, the DSWD will provide each partner-beneficiary with the daily minimum regional wage rate of PHP470 in ex change for their attendance to the training and participation in the implementation of the projects in their barangays. Source: Philippines News Agency

ANKARA: Oil prices decreased on Monday amid ceasefire hopes in the Middle East and growing uncertainties over the timing of the US Federal Reserve's (Fed) interest rate cuts. International benchmark Brent crude traded at USD87.45 per barrel at 10.45 a.m. local time (0745 GMT), a 0.86 percent decrease from the closing price of USD88.21 per barrel in the previous trading session. The American benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) traded at USD83.11 per barrel at the same time, a 0.88 percent fall from the previous session that closed at USD83.85 per barrel. The likelihood of a ceasefire in Gaza increased as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Saudi Arabia to discuss this possibility on Monday, drawing prices down at the start of the week. Blinken will discuss efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza that guarantees the release of hostages while acknowledging that Hamas is the stumbling block between the Palestinian people and the ceasefire, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller revealed in a s tatement. He is also anticipated to discuss the path toward an independent Palestinian state that secures Israel's security, measures to bring about long-term peace and stability in the region by preventing the conflict from spreading, and an increase in humanitarian aid for Gaza. The possibility of a ceasefire in the region, home to major oil trade routes, supported price falls. Additionally, uncertainties over when the US Federal Reserve (Fed) will start interest rate cuts continue to influence oil prices. Money markets are still waiting for the US Fed to implement its first interest rate cut in the fourth quarter of the year, despite data released last week indicating otherwise in the US. The possibility of a rate cut further supported downward price movements, as generally high-interest rates boost the value of the US dollar, making oil more expensive for holders of other currencies. Source: Philippines News Agency

CAMP S.K. PENDATUN: Maguindanao Norte - Government forces and members of the Municipal Inter-Agency Committee Against Trafficking (MIACAT) rescued 14 potential victims of human trafficking in Bongao port in Tawi-Tawi province over the weekend, officials said Monday. Brig. Gen. Prexy Tanggawohn, director of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR), said the police and other law enforcement units conducted the rescue mission after receiving a tip about a group of individuals traveling to Sabah, Malaysia, via the so-called 'southern backdoor' aboard M/V Ever Queen of Asia from Zamboanga City. 'They failed to present legal documents about their travel to Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan in Malaysia," Tanggawohn said, adding that the 'rescued' individuals are now under the custody of the BARMM's Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) sub-office in Bongao. Police and MIACAT are currently working on ensuring their safe return to their families and places of origin. Source: Philippine s News Agency

MANILA: Bargain hunters supported the local bourse during the week's opening, while the peso closed sideways. Now on its sixth-day rally, the Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) rose 140.89 points, or 2.12 percent, to 6,769.64, with All Shares also increasing by 1.45 percent to 3,543.28 level. 'The positive cues from the US markets last Friday and the easing tensions in the Middle East contributed to the market's gain,' Philstocks Financial, Inc. assistant research manager Claire Alviar said. Only the Mining and Oil counter closed in the negative territory, down by 0.81 percent, to 8,802.57 level. Financials led gainers, with shares improving by 2.89 percent, followed by Services, Property, Industrial, and Holding Firms. 'Foreign investors also helped lift the market, registering a net inflow of PHP1.18 billion. The net market value turnover stood at PHP4.68 billion,' Alviar added. Advancers led losers at 120 to 74, leaving 49 unchanged. Meanwhile, the peso closed sideways at 57.68 to a US dollar fr om a 57.71 finish the previous week. It opened the day at 57.75 to a dollar before trading between a low of 57.60 and a high of 57.77 to a dollar. The weighted average level for the day stood at 57.70 to the greenback. Total trade volume on Monday declined to USD1.46 billion from USD1.69 billion the previous day. Source: Philippines News Agency

DAVAO CITY: At least 6,147 job openings will be available during the celebration of the 122nd Labor Day on May 1, an official said Monday. Lorraine Grace Ugsang, Department of Labor and Employment in Davao Region (DOLE-11) administrative officer, said the agency targets to declare around 5-10 percent of applicants hired on the spot during the fair. Of the job openings, Ugsang said 2,862 were for local employment while 3,285 were bound overseas. 'For the top three job vacancies, we have customer service representative, sales representative, and customer service positions. That is for local,' she said in an interview. Ugsang said the 44 local employers participating in the event are primarily looking for customer service workers, while the ten overseas employers are scouting for service crew, on-call cleaners, and fabricators, among other positions. The job openings will be available for both online pre-registration and walk-in applicants. Ugsang said 1,084 people have already pre-registered for the May 1 fair. DOLE-11 and the Public Employment Service Office will conduct their annual Labor Day Jobs Fair at the SM City Annex Event Center. Call for living wage A Church-based group on Monday has supported the call of workers to be given salaries equivalent to the work done. "The right to a living wage is not an optional right in Catholic social teaching. It is rooted in the dignity of the human person which, while it is of eternal worth, is also realized concretely in the here and now," the Church People-Workers Solidarity (CWS) said in a message ahead of the country's Labor Day observance. "The Church teaches that all workers, in return for their labor, are entitled to a living wage. A just wage is the legitimate fruit of work. To refuse or withhold it can be a grave injustice," it added The CWS said the minimum wages across 17 regions in the country are not enough to meet the needs of a family of five. "With rising inflation, the wage gap has been growing wider because the wage increases of regional wag e boards are so infrequent and so small that worker wages aren't keeping up with inflation, nor even with increasing productivity," the group said. All Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs) have recently issued their respective wage orders providing for a pay hike for workers in the private sector. On the other hand, some bills pending in Congress are pushing for across-the-board wage increases for private sector workers. Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday said he has instructed concerned government agencies to closely monitor the power situation amid the successive red and yellow alerts of power grids. Marcos said the power supply problems in the country is not artificial, noting that power systems are 'overloaded' due to high electricity demand amid the extreme heat being experienced nationwide. 'It definitely is not an artificial crisis dahil talagang the power systems are overloaded,' Marcos told reporters in Pikit, Cotabato, where he inaugurated the Malitubog-Maridagao Irrigation Project Stage II. 'Ang naging consumption natin biglang tumaas talaga, because of the, dahil napaka-init. Kaya't nakabantay kami ng husto (Our consumption spiked due to the extreme heat. That's why we are closely monitoring the situation),' he added. Marcos added that the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has been instructed to establish more transmission lines, as well as submarine cables. The NGCP placed anew the Luzon and Visayas grids on yellow alert Friday last week. The Visayas grid was placed on red alert for one hour in the afternoon, while the Mindanao grid was also briefly placed under yellow alert on Friday. Source: Philippines News Agency