DSWD-7 to conduct anti-child pornography forum in Cebu
By Fayette C. Riñen
‘as alarm over issue escalates due to media reports’
CEBU CITY, July 18 (PIA) – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) here is slated to conduct a forum on Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009 or RA 9775 on Wednesday, July 20 at the Hotel Pier Cuatro, this city amid the increasing media reports of child pornography here in Cebu.
Recent media reports in Cebu that made headlines in both print and broadcast news highlighted the sexual exploitation of minors depicted visually in photographs, film, video and the most controversial --- cyber sex or through the internet using the webcam.
The DSWD-7 stated that what is so appalling is that children are used in money-making ventures by adults with some even by their own parents.
Early last month, a couple was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) - 7 in Cordova, Cebu for pimping their own five children and one niece to perform lewd sexual acts before a web camera for online clients as reports on the proliferation of home-based cyber sex operations grew.
Online clients are asked to pay $25 per view by the couple to watch their children strip naked before the webcam. The couple was jobless and relied on the illegal operation as their source of livelihood, this is reported.
The children are now in the custody of the DSWD-7 and have undergone debriefing.
The Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 Regional Director Gen. Ager Ontog Jr. on the other hand, admitted that the local police does not have the training and capability in dealing with cyber sex crimes.
Ontog said they have to rely on the expertise of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) because the local police are not familiar with the technology used in cyber sex crimes.
The anti-child pornography forum is expected to educate the participants on the existing laws against child pornography especially the salient features or provisions of the law and its implementing rules and regulations.
A report of the Optical Media Board in 2008 said that of the total pirated CDs and DVDs confiscated at the time, 25 to 30 percent were pornographic with 40 percent involving minors. (PIA 7-Cebu)
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DOE conducts training to 50 Cebu firms on energy saving measures
By Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU CITY, July 18 (PIA) -- As prices of oil remain volatile in the world market, the Department of Energy (DOE) continues its aggressive campaign on energy saving measures as it recently conducted a two-day National Training Workshop on Energy Efficiency and Conservation to 50 industrial and service companies in Cebu.
Attended by its respective managers and supervisors, the training’s basic objective was to introduce the ASEAN developed Total Energy Management (TEM) Handbook to 600 companies nationwide in order to generate energy savings estimated at 60 billion pesos annually, this is said.
The TEM Handbook provides a system that will enable companies to establish targets and develop their energy efficiency and conservation programs which the DOE is pushing for implementation to target establishments throughout the country, according to a release by the DOE-7.
The ASEAN TEM Handbook is the first-of-its-kind in the world which is designed for use in industries by factory managers, middle managers, engineers, workers and equipment operators. It was first introduced in Thailand in 2005 and made excellent results of energy savings of about US$ 1.2 Million in seven months.
The participants were also trained on Efficient Transport System and Fuel Efficiency; Efficient Combustion Controls; Heat Rate Improvements; Efficient Heat, Ventilation and Air Conditioning System: Efficient Lighting Systems and Efficient Electric Motors, a release from the DOE-7 stated.
Training speakers were energy management experts from the DOE and top energy service companies in the country
During the activity, also discussed was the Don Emilio Abello Energy Efficiency Awards given yearly to outstanding companies and energy managers who have undertaken energy efficiency and conservation programs to achieve substantial savings in their energy consumption.
Participants were likewise briefed on the other energy awards such as the ASEAN Best Practices Award in Buildings and ASEAN Energy Management Award in Major Industries and Buildings.
The Cebu leg is the 10th run of the 15 training-workshops conducted nationwide by the DOE in partnership with the Development Academy of the Philippines.
Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EEC) is one of the major programs of the DOE which is geared towards attaining the country’s energy independence especially from the use of imported fossil fuels.
The EEC promotes the use of technology that requires less energy use without reducing outputs and elimination of unnecessary energy use through behavioral change. (FCR with NR from DOE-7 Lou Arciaga)
The Senate hopes this event will further enhance awareness of disaster risk among political and business leaders and encourage renewed commitment of key stakeholders to implement disaster risk reduction at national and local levels. (PIA-7/MBCNewman with reports from the Office of Senator Legarda)
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PHL Senate invites public to the nat'l launch of global assessment report on DRR
MANILA, July 18 (PIA) --- In collaboration with the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) the PHL Senate invites the public to the national launch of the Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction (GAR-11): Revealing Risk, Redefining Development, on July 26 at 10:00 – 11:30 a.m., at the Sen. Padilla Room, the Senate of the Philippines.
This event will present the key findings of the report and discuss their implications for the country. Moreover, following the President’s State of the Nation Address, it will serve as a forum to examine any existing gaps in the government’s disaster prevention, mitigation, and preparedness measures, and to propose appropriate priority interventions.
At the international level, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon launched GAR-11 at the Third Session of the Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction held on May 10, 2011 in Geneva, Switzerland.
He highlighted the political and economic imperative to reduce disaster risks, and the benefits to be gained from doing so.