For many of us, the dark memory of the COVID-19 pandemic still lingers, as if 2020 was just yesterday, and I’m sure many will agree with me when I say I fervently hope to never see the return of such a period in our lives. But then we never really know.
In a way, the pandemic has changed us and our ways in many ways. I don’t leave the house without a small bottle of alcohol in my bag, spraying my hands often. Whether or not that really helps or if it’s just a habit that gives a placebo effect is anyone’s guess. I’ve also learned to stay away from crowded places or at least I try to and uncomfortable as it is, I still wear masks on airplanes and while transiting in airports.
But even as COVID-19 may be over, the world, the Philippines included, may remain vulnerable to biological threats, including new pathogens.
During a recent trip to the United States, I, along with nine other Filipino journalists, was fortunate to have a briefing with officials from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency or DTRA, which is a unit under the US Department of Defense.
During the briefing, officials shared with us just how vu lnerable we could be.
Dr. Rob Pope, director of Cooperative Threat Reduction for DTRA, said that generally, disease-causing pathogens can enter the country or any country for that matter, by several means – from land, air to water transportation.
DTRA is both a defense agency and a combat support agency established to enable the US Department of Defense to deter strategic attacks against the United States and its allies; prevent, reduce and counter weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and emerging threats and pre vail against WMDs and armed adversaries in crisis and conflict.
Its Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) Department works with international partners to eliminate WMDs and related materials.
CTR has be en working with the Philippine government to increase the country’s capability to counter and deter WMDs and the like, through training, risk assessment programs and provision of equipment as well as diagnostic and health security facilities.
The department has been doing this since 2012 through the Proliferation Prevention Program (PPP) in enhancing our government’s ability “to deter, identify and intercept efforts to smuggle WMDs.”
During our meeting, officials also shared with us that DTRA will train some local responders in the Visayas and Mindanao on how to respond to the use of WMDs in case of conflict.
This would be done in cooperation with the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Department of Health. There have been previous trainings conducted by DTRA in the past in several areas in the country.
Among the different threats, Dr. Pope said natural outbreaks and chemicals of security concerns are the biggest threats.
Terrorists in the Philippines, he said, are able to improvise something using chemicals to hurt people.
In this regard, the DTRA’s CTR Security & Elimination Department’s Security Division chief Joanna Wintrol said they are working with the Philippine government to develop a chemical security standard and increase its capability to track chemicals of security concern.
In terms of biological threats, Dr. Pope said the Philippines, being a tropical country, is also potentially vulnerable to human and animal diseases.
“It’s important for the Philippines and the region and for us to be able to handle that capability across the Philippines to see those diseases that circulate in a tropical climate and be able to provide accurate and early diagnosis and reporting so that outbreaks, whether it’s swine fever, influenza, anthrax (can be detected). We can help each other detect these diseases early so they don’t become a large pandemic.”
When asked about the potential impact of heightened tensions in the West Philippine Sea between the Philippines and China, with regard to maritime security and the entry of disease-causing pathogens, Dr. Pope stressed the importance of closely monitoring the area and evaluating it for activities that might enable the proliferation of infectious diseases.
This can happen with the possible entry of chemical and biological materials into the Philippines which may come from anywhere.
“We’re more worried about things that are going to show up terrestrially but we understand that threats to agriculture, threats to animals and threats to humans can come through anywhere that there is transportation, so shipping, air transportation and certainly, heavy international shipping in the West Philippine Sea – that’s one factor than can bring a new pathogen into the Philippines,” Dr. Pope said.
He said that “China violating international maritime laws and claiming areas illegally as their own territory makes the Philippines less safe (and) it makes the US less safe. So we’re all very interested in working to help the Philippines maintain their sovereign rights because that’s going to make us all safer and track all of the same threats we’ve been talking about.”
China is claiming a large part of the South China Sea, including a portion which is inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
Our briefing with Dr. Pope in Washington was part of the US government’s Friends, Partners, Allies reporting program administered by the non-profit Civilian Research and Development Foundation (CDRF) Global.
It’s good to be aware of biological threats, including disease-causing pathogens, because as COVID-19 has taught us, a tiny, tiny virus invisible to the human eye can change the world and upend our lives overnight.
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Email: [email protected]. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter @eyesgonzales. Column archives at EyesWideOpen (Iris Gonzales) on Facebook.
This year, as Israel marks 76 years of independence, what would normally be a festive occasion every other year is a somber occasion, clouded by great pain. This year, alongside our great appreciation of our renewed independence in our homeland, we contemplate the profound devastation we experienced as a nation and mourn the loss of over 1,200 new victims of terror that were added overnight on Oct. 7. How can we celebrate our nation’s freedom when 132 of our brothers and sisters are still held in captivity? How do we rejoice in our independence when friends and family have yet to return from the battlefield?
The proximity of Memorial Day and Independence Day, two significant days in the Israeli calendar intentionally placed back-to-back, has always sparked debate – how can we transition so quickly from such sadness to celebration? These two days, with their vastly differing characters, are fused together by the blood of our soldiers and of the terror victims who have sacrificed their lives for our nation.
Unfortunately, this year, as the country-wide commemoration siren brings the entire state to a standstill in silent homage, we will focus on the ongoing events. The attacks from Iran and its proxies Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad and the Houthis united our nation once again, one people bound by our resilience in the face of a horrific terror attack.
This year, our reverence for Memorial Day is cloaked in fresh sorrow and our appreciation of our freedom in our own country is deeper than ever.
But amidst the pain, we have a lot to be proud of. As a nation we have displayed great solidarity, courage and comraderie spanning all of Israel’s citizens regardless of religion, ethnicity, political opinion or social differences.
As the horrific Hamas attack was unfolding in southern Israel, simultaneously accompanied by hundreds of rocket barrages launched indiscriminately at targets throughout the country, civilians unflinchingly drove into the flames, not away from them, to save as many lives as possible.
One of these civilians is Camille Jesalva, a Filipino caregiver in Kibbutz Nirim. She saved her life and that of her 95-year-old employer Nitza Hefetz by giving her savings she had prepared for a planned trip home to the Hamas terrorists. Jesalva then locked herself and Hefetz in the protected room, where they spent several hours until help arrived. Camille is one of the living heroes.
But many of these heroes lost their lives in their attempt to save others. Unfortunately, four Filipino caregivers were murdered by Hamas while caring for their Israeli employers.
In the early hours of Oct. 7, when it became clear that this was not just another attack, young Israelis abroad lined up at airports to return to Israel to participate in the defense of their country. The unwavering sense of patriotism among them is intense.
Solidarity is also felt from our friends around the world, especially the Filipinos. The sense of volunteerism is overwhelming. In fact, soon after Oct. 7, the Operation Blessing team from the Philippines flew to Israel to lend a helping hand through relief operations and by providing hope for traumatized victims of war in Israel.
As of this writing, a group of Filipino volunteers are in Reuth Rehabilitation Hospital-Tel Aviv. They dedicate their time and effort to help the staff and patients in the rehabilitation process. Beyond their hospital duties, they also make time to volunteer in the farms of Israel to assist in harvesting fruits.
We are truly thankful to friends who show love and support to Israel, the homeland for Jews, especially in difficult times.
For 2,000 years Jews commemorated Jerusalem and the Land of Israel in all their prayers, at times of celebration and mourning alike – until we were able to re-establish a Jewish state in our homeland. Currently, as the ugly head of antisemitism is raised to all-time highs globally, we experience an increasingly intense sensation of unity as a people and shared destiny in the sole Jewish State. Our young country has had a full and colorful history. In mere decades since establishment, we have provided a safe haven for the Jewish people in their ancestral land, have created a dynamic and diverse society of citizens of multiple faiths and backgrounds, have turned an ancient land into the land of innovation and creativity, have turned neighbors from enemies into allies, have contributed to the betterment of the world and have proved that we are here to stay.
There have been challenges and conflict, alongside much success. Through it all, we have persevered and maintained our faith both in our nation and our people, secure in the knowledge that our future lies in our own hands, and we are building it together.
This year, as Memorial Day transforms into Independence Day, our brothers and sisters are still languishing in captivity. Although this year our celebrations are far from joyous and our hearts are not yet whole, we look at strong Israelis like Rachel Goldberg-Polin, cited by Time magazine as one of the most influential people in the world, mother of Hersh Goldberg-Polin who is still held captive in Gaza, who continues to spread her mantra that “hope is mandatory” around the world.
This great country was built on many values and principles, but the single value that shines through no matter the hardship is our collective hope as a nation that one day we will be able to live in peace with our neighbors.
Until then, and especially now, “hope is mandatory” and we will never relinquish it.
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Ilan Fluss is the Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines.
MANILA, Philippines — The “illegal and unlawful” activities of diplomatic officials will be investigated following the potential Anti-Wiretapping Law violation committed by officials of the Chinese embassy in Manila.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) probe stemmed from an unverified recorded phone call between a Chinese diplomat and AFP Western Command chief Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos, wherein they discussed a “new model” agreement on rotation and resupply missions to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.
The Philippine government is firm and united in “respecting and upholding the rule of law in both the domestic and international milieus,” the DFA said yesterday in a statement.
“It is in this context that the Philippines – as a responsible member of the international community of nations – has consistently called for adherence to international law, including the United Nations Charter, the Vienna Conventions governing inter-state relations and in the maritime domain the 1982 UN (Convention on the Law of the Sea), among others,” it added.
The Chinese embassy released to select media the recording and transcript of the phone conversation between an unnamed embassy official and Carlos in January.
“Foreign diplomats accredited to the Philippines are accorded the necessary liberties to conduct their diplomatic duties, with the expectation that they, in turn, will conduct their diplomatic activities with the highest standards of integrity and professionalism, in pursuit of common interests and mutually beneficial outcomes,” the DFA maintained.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and National Security Adviser Eduardo Año have called for an investigation.
On May 7, the DFA confirmed that no Cabinet-level official of the Marcos administration agreed to any Chinese proposal on Ayungin Shoal.
The Philippines has not entered into any agreement abandoning its sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, including the Ayungin Shoal, the DFA noted.
On issues of such importance, the DFA emphasized that any agreements or arrangements would be made only if authorized at the highest level of government.
On May 8, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said the phone call could have been fabricated using deepfake audio.
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) should be stripped of its power to convert tourist visas to student visas amid the reported influx of Chinese students near two Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) military sites in Cagayan, according to Rep. Robert Ace Barbers.
“This arbitrary power to convert visas is the worst legalized scheme that can be used by unscrupulous personnel for monetary gain,” he said yesterday.
Barbers urged President Marcos to scrap Executive Order 285 issued by former president Joseph Estrada in 2000.
The measure provided guidelines on the “entry and stay of foreign students in the Philippines.”
The BI’s power to convert tourist visas to student visas “can be abused” so it must be abolished, Barbers said.
The 16,200 student visas granted in 2023 by the BI to Chinese nationals are “simply unacceptable,” he added.
“Never mind if other countries grant more, we should never use that as our yardstick, given our tense relationship with China,” he noted.
The DFA should be the sole agency in charge of granting visas to foreigners, he maintained, as they possess the expertise to determine foreigners’ eligibility for a student visa.
Last month, Barbers expressed concern over the presence of Chinese students near EDCA sites, claiming they could be spies sent to gather intelligence.
The suspected presence of Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hubs in vital installations, including those near police camps, will be investigated by the Philippine National Police (PNP).
“It has come to our attention through various open sources and media reports that there are alleged POGO hubs located near vital installations,” PNP chief publicist Col. Jean Fajardo said yesterday at a press briefing at Camp Crame.
Validating the information is needed, considering its potential national security implications, she noted.
The issuance of licenses and permits for POGO operations falls outside the PNP’s regulatory authority, she clarified.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. is responsible for issuing permits to POGOs and businesses must obtain permits from local government units, she explained.
The PNP’s intelligence units are actively validating reported locations of POGO hubs and their proximity to police camps and other vital installations, Fajardo said.
During his May 6 to 10 visit to Canada, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo conveyed the government’s hope for Filipino professionals to practice in Canada, as well as stronger protection for temporary foreign workers and international students.
Manalo expressed this when he met with Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller, the DFA said yesterday.
He also met with Minister of International Development Ahmed Hussen, Trade Minister Mary Ng, Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Minister for Small Business Rechie Valdez and Member of Parliament for Eglinton-Lawrence Marco Mendicino.
Members of the Canada-Philippines Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group also met Manalo at a reception hosted by Philippine Ambassador to Canada Maria Andrelita Austria. — Mark Ernest Villeza
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) is looking at holding classes for several Saturdays to make up for the reduction in the number of school days when the old school calendar is restored this coming school year (SY).
Speaking during yesterday’s hearing of the House of Representatives committee on basic education and culture, DepEd director for curriculum and instruction-Bureau of Learning Delivery Leila Areola said the agency is planning to start SY 2024-2025 on July 29 and end it by March 31 next year.
Meanwhile, SY 2025-2026 shall start by June next year.
Because of this, Areola noted that the minimum number of school days would be reduced from the current 180 to around 163.
“We still need to be consulting our teachers and our learners, because the aggressive shift will be reducing the school year to something like 163,” she said.
To make up for the reduction in school days, the DepEd is studying the possibility of holding classes on certain Saturdays.
“It’s not going to be every Saturday. There will just be certain Saturdays that we need to conduct, for example, distance learning, so that they will be able to cover the competencies that might not be covered with the reduction of the school year,” Areola said.
Upon questioning by committee chair and Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo, however, Areola said there is no law or policy that requires the minimum 180 days.
Romulo maintained that while there is a law that sets the maximum number of school days at 220, he could not find a law or any policy requiring the minimum days to be 180.
Areola said there is no law governing this requirement, but it has been practiced since 1990.
“The average number of days is 203, and I have to mention that when the curriculum was prepared, they calculated actually 180 as much as possible to be the minimum number of school days,” she added.
Bukidnon 4th District Rep. Laarni Lavin Roque proposed to the DepEd to do away with the 180 days as the minimum number of school days since there is no law governing it.
At the same hearing, Philippine Elementary School Principals Association president Ferdinand Millan said they “interpose no objection” to the changes in the school calendar, although he revealed that his group has come up with some recommendations, including the adoption of “asynchronous learning aside from conducting or holding classes every Saturday.”
Millan added they are proposing the inclusion of vitamins in school-based program for school learners “so that they will be physically fit in learning.”
The group also wants a provision for the teachers’ uniform such as “comfortable shirts” that are “properly chosen” in terms of color, style and comfort.
Millan maintained that teachers should also be provided with health benefits, such as hospitalization and life insurance coverage, among others.
Two House committees yesterday moved to invite Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte to shed light on the Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) that the DepEd forged with three other government agencies.
The JMC, signed last Friday, is for the integration of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in the senior high school (SHS) curriculum to boost students’ employability.
Aside from Duterte, the House committees on basic education and culture, and higher and technical education also agreed to invite the top officials of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Commission on Higher Education. — Mayen Jaymalin