2011/02/28

Malinis


MANILA, Philippines - The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is out to clean the metropolis "Singapore style."

The MMDA under Chaiman Francis Tolentino has in its corner Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ramon Paje who was given instructions by the President himself to implement the same strictness as Singapore when it comes to keeping the streets clean.

"President (Benigno) Noynoy (Aquino III) told me, 'I want you to clean Metro Manila Singapore style,"' Paje said during the launch of the MMDA's "Metro Ko, Love Ko" anti-littering program earlier this month.

Tolentino called it a great proposal on the part of the president. "Napakaganda pong panukala iyon. Makikipagtulungan po ako sa mga metro mayors pati na ang DENR at iba't ibang ahensiya. Pipilitin po naming tuparin yung tagubilin ng ating mahal na pangulo.

"(That is a great proposal. I will be seeking the help of the metro mayors as well as that of the DENR and different agencies. We will strive to follow the order of our beloved president)."

The DENR chief praised Tolentino for taking the lead in getting tough against litterbugs, wherein the violators are literally made to pay for their mistakes as with the case in the Philippines' Southeast Asian neighbor.

It would be recalled that Tolentino tapped "environmental enforcers" for the strict implementation of Republic Act (R.A.) 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 and MMDA Regulation No. 96-009 or the Anti-Littering Ordinance last September. Since then, the agency has apprehended over 21,000 litterbugs in Metro Manila.

The MMDA chairman said the environmental enforcers have been deputized to monitor the major thoroughfares of Metro Manila. Individuals caught spitting or indiscriminately throwing waste like cigarette butts and candy wrappers are issued environmental violation receipts (EVRs).

EVRs have corresponding fines ranging between P500 and P1,000. Failure to pay a fine means that the violator would have to undergo eight to 16 hours of community service, the MMDA said.

Paje commended the agency's recent initiatives for the environment, which include the "Lingap sa Barangay" cleanup drives and the "Estero Declaration" with the 17 mayors of Metro Manila for the rehabilitation and protection of important waterways.

News Courtesy of Manila Bulletin (Philippines Leading Broadsheet) 
Photo Courtesy of Andre Salvador

I love to see Manila to be clean like Calgary, Canada; Honolulu, Helsinki, Ottawa, Minneapolis, Oslo, Stockholm,  Zurich, Katsuyama, Japan; Bern, Montreal, Vancouver, Boston, Lexington Ky; Pittsburgh, Nunberg, Germany; Geneva, Auckland, NZ; Wellington, Dublin and among others like Singapore City the cleanest in Southeast Asia region. I love the Philippines to be clean by cleaning the surroundings and  planting trees with care until it survive by its own.   

2011/02/09

Hot Air Balloon Festival in Pampanga 2011





February 10 THURSDAY




FIRST FIESTA DAY
Hot Air Balloon Flights 5:30-7:00AM
Paragliding Exhibition 6:30-7:30AM
Ultralight Aircraft Formation Flying 7:40-8:15AM
Ultralight Bomb Dropping Audience Participation 8:15-9:00AM
Aerobatic Flight Display 9:00-9:40AM
Kite Flying Exhibition 9:40-10:00AM
AOPA Light Airplane Balloon Bursting Competition 10:00-10:45AM
Sky Diving Exhibition 10:45-11:30AM
R/C Demonstration Flying 11:30-12:00PM
Open 12:00-1:00PM
Sky Diving Exhibition 1:00-2:00PM
AOPA Light Aircraft Balloon Bursting 2:00-2:45PM
Aerobatic Flight Display 3:45-4:30PM
Rocketry Demonstration 4:30-5:00PM
Ultralight Formation Flying 5:00-5:20PM
Hot Air Balloon Fly-In 5:20-6:00PM
February 11 FRIDAY SECOND FIESTA DAY
Hot Air Balloon Flights 5:30-7:00AM
Paragliding Exhibition 6:30-7:30AM
Ultralight Aircraft Flyby & Flour Bombing 7:40-8:30AM
Aerobatic Air Show 8:30-9:15AM
R/C Helicopter Show 9:30-9:50AM
AOPA Aircraft Flyby 9:50-10:30AM
AOPA Aircraft Balloon-Bursting Competition 10:30-11:15AM
Skydiving Exhibition 11:15-12:00PM
Choreographed Kite Flying Exhibition 12:30-1:30PM
Fire Fighting Exhibition 1:30-2:15PM
Skydiving Exhibition 2:15-3:00PM
Wings Over Asia Aviators Gathering Seminar 3:00-6:00PM
Rocketry Demonstration 3:00-3:45PM
Aerobatic Flight Display 4:00-4:30PM
Paragliding Exhibition 4:30-5:15PM
Hot Air Balloon Flights 5:30-6:00PM
February 12 SATURDAY THIRD FIESTA DAY
Hot Air Balloon Flight 5:30-7:00AM
Paragliding Exhibition 6:30-7:30AM
Ultralight Aircraft Flyby 7:40-8:30AM
Krukspec Airsoft Speedball Competition 8:30-5:00PM
Aerobatic Flight Display 8:30-9:15AM
Search and Rescue Flying Exhibition 9:15-10:00AM
AOPA-P, Wings Over Asia, Thai Flying Club Flyby 10:00-10:45AM
Skydiving Exhibition 10:45-11:15AM
AOPA Light Airplane Balloon Bursting Competition 11:15-12:00PM
Kite Flying Exhibition 12:00-12:45PM
Open 12:45-1:15PM
Piper Turboprop bly by of Ed/Citation Mustang fly-by 1:15-1:45PM
Skydiving Exhibition 1:45-2:15PM
AOPA Light Aircraft Balloon-Bursting Competition 2:15-3:00PM
Choreographed Kite Flying Exhibition 3:00-3:45PM
Aerobatic Flight Display 3:45-4:30PM
Rocketry Demonstration 4:30-5:00PM
Ultralight Flyby 5:00-5:30PM
RC Airplane Flying Demonstration 5:30-5:45PM
Hot Air Balloon Flight 5:45-6:15PM
Hot Air Balloon Night Glow 6:45-7:30PM
Aviators Ball 7:00PM-onwards
February 13 SUNDAY FOURTH FIESTA DAY
Hot Air Balloon Flights 5:30-7:00AM
Paragliding Exhibition 6:30-7:30AM
Ultralight Aircraft Flyby & Flour Bombing 7:30-8:30AM
Krukspec Airsoft Speedball Competition 8:00-5:00PM
AOPA-P, Wings Over Asia, Thai Flying club Fly-by 8:30-9:30AM
R/C Helicopter Show 9:30-10:00AM
Helicopter Flying Exhibition 10:00-10:30AM
Skydiving Exhibition 10:30-11:00AM
AOPA Light Airplane Balloon Bursting Competition 11:00-12:00PM
Choreographed Kite Flying Exhibition 12:30-1:15PM
Ultralight Flying Display 1:15-2:00PM
RC Airplane Flying Demonstration 2:00-2:30PM
AOPA Light Airplane Ballon Bursting Finals 2:30-3:30PM
Aerobatic Exhibition 3:30-4:15PM
Rocketry Demonstration 4:15-4:45PM
Microlight & Ultralight Flyby 4:45-5:30PM
Hot Air Balloon Night Glow 5:30-6:45PM
Crew and Awards Night Party 7:30PM