Hard News Article

It’s getting hot in here!

Best Practices - Brian Poe Llamanzares - The Philippine Star

April 14, 2024 | 12:00am

The heat lately has been impossible to ignore. El Niño looms over the Philippines. It brings with it a host of extreme
weather events, such as drought drastically decreasing rainfall by up to 60 percent and scorching heat waves that are
projected to persist across the entire archipelago until May 2024. We are all witnesses to its terrible inescapable effects.
Sweltering heat surpassing 42 degrees Celsius in certain places, for instance, has suspended classes across 5,000
Philippine schools in April 2024’s first week, interrupting the education of our 3.6 million students. Cebu City declared a
state of water crisis. Government agencies state that water rationing in Metro Manila is not yet needed as supplies
remain sufficient for now, but nonetheless forewarn it may be on our horizon. If we fail to formulate sustainable solutions
and bungle implementation, then we necessarily compromise Philippine economic, energy, food and water security.

El Niño economics must be carefully considered as its effects are pervasive and potent. Like the temperature, March
2024 inflation rate similarly rose. Government agencies highlight that the 3.7 percent inflation rate is far lower than last
year’s 7.6 percent in March 2023, and falls within our 2 percent to 4 percent inflation target range. The devils, however,
are in the details.

While the March 2024 inflation rate is at 3.7 percent overall, the Philippine Statistics Authority-reported inflation rate for
the bottom 30 percent of income households is at a painful 4.6 percent. Filipinos are hurting, and the poorest are bearing
the worst of it. It is thus no wonder that recent surveys reveal that Filipinos’ top concern right now is perceived
uncontrolled inflation. “Food and alcoholic beverages” continue to be the main contributor to overall inflation,
contributing 80.6 percent.

El Niño economics must be carefully considered as its effects are pervasive and potent. Like the temperature, March
2024 inflation rate similarly rose. Government agencies highlight that the 3.7 percent inflation rate is far lower than last
year’s 7.6 percent in March 2023, and falls within our 2 percent to 4 percent inflation target range. The devils, however,
are in the details.

While the March 2024 inflation rate is at 3.7 percent overall, the Philippine Statistics Authority-reported inflation rate for
the bottom 30 percent of income households is at a painful 4.6 percent. Filipinos are hurting, and the poorest are bearing
the worst of it. It is thus no wonder that recent surveys reveal that Filipinos’ top concern right now is perceived
uncontrolled inflation. “Food and alcoholic beverages” continue to be the main contributor to overall inflation,
contributing 80.6 percent.

Source: https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2024/04/14/2347558/its-getting-hot-
here?fbclid=IwAR2j3DhiB_pKpW1Komh6BCIKBYfdpb0kp3Dk2NdZdSn06qIsAiQTVs0Rze0
 Feature Article

Migraine is a Serious Neurological Disease – Not “just a headache”

Although migraine is a common medical condition with several effective treatments, people living with migraine face
many barriers to receiving adequate care. Studies have shown that 14% of the population—over 5 million Canadians—
live with migraine. However, migraine is underdiagnosed, misunderstood, and heavily stigmatized. Many of those
living with migraine do not receive an accurate diagnosis. This is concerning as delayed diagnosis leads to undue
disability and inadequate access to appropriate treatments.

Lack of early intervention increases the likelihood of deterioration toward more frequent attacks and chronic
migraine. People frequently refer to themselves as a burden on their families as they lose time to migraine, miss out
on social activities, playtime with children, and other important life events.

When patients do find a healthcare provider who supports them in finding effective treatment, new barriers emerge.
There is limited public coverage for newer medications, and private insurers are increasingly restrictive in what they
will cover. Often patients must delay receiving proper treatment and provide proof they have tried and failed less
expensive older treatments that are less effective and have more side effects than newer treatment options. This
prolongs suffering and increases migraine-related disability in Canada. Newer medications for migraine are available,
and include monoclonal antibodies and drugs called gepants that can reduce the frequency of migraine attacks for
many with migraine. The gepants, like the triptans, are also used to treat individual migraine attacks and have certain
advantages over older medications including that frequent use does not lead to medication overuse headache.

People living with migraine are aware of its disabling consequences. Many others in our society, however, do not
seem to realize that migraine is more than “just a headache.” The migraine burden is influenced by many factors
including the frequency and severity of attacks. Those who have only a few attacks a year will have less disability
than those with more frequent attacks. For both, however, the unpredictable timing of the attacks amplifies how
much they interfere with activities. Taken as a whole, in part because it is so common, migraine imposes a huge
burden of disability and economic loss on our society. The Global Burden of Disease study by the World Health
Organization has shown that migraine is a major cause of disability worldwide.

Migraine Canada recently commissioned a report card that provides a detailed analysis of the issues faced by
migraine patients across Canada. It sets the stage for coordinating a strategy that involves government, health
professionals, and patients in improving migraine care in Canada. Within the report are recommendations that will be
championed by Migraine Canada to improve the lives of Canadians with migraine and other headache disorders.

Source: https://www.healthinsight.ca/wellness/brain-health-2024/migraine-is-a-serious-neurological-disease-not-
just-a-headache/?
 Sport Articles

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine volleyball continues to flourish as evidenced

After setting a Philippine volleyball record crowd of 24,459 spectators in Finals Game 2 last December at the Big
Dome, the Rebisco squads continued to receive the love from their supporters with the conference-best gate
attendance so far in their first meeting since Creamline claimed its seventh title at the expense of its sister team.

The Cool Smashers, led by Tots Carlos’ 21 points, asserted their mastery of the Flying Titans, 25-17, 25-22, 25-19, to
remain unbeaten in their 12th meeting before an ecstatic crowd, including It’s Showtime host Vice Ganda, on
Thursday evening.

Alyssa Valdez, who was part of historic attendance including the previous record of 22,848 set in 2016 in the UAAP
Finals Game 3 between Ateneo and La Salle, still felt amazed despite playing in several sold-out games.

“Until now, I’m speechless to receive that kind of support from the volleyball community. And it’s just so nice always
to play in front of all these people, even those who watch live on television, it feels great to give them a good game,”
said Valdez in Filipino after tallying 11 points and 10 digs in their crucial game against Choco Mucho.

To the Choco Mucho and Creamline fans, we salute all of your efforts and time just to watch and show your love.”

After losing two of their last three games, Valdez and the Cool Smashers stunned the Flying Titans to boost their
semifinal bid and improve to 8-2 tying their sister team on top of the standings ahead of Petro Gazz, Chery Tiggo, and
PLDT, who are tied at 7-2.

Choco Mucho saw its four-game winning streak snapped by the team it hasn’t beaten since joining the league in
2019. But Sisi Rondina, who carried the cudgels with 17 points, remained grateful to be part of PVL’s continuous
growth.

Valdez, who is also the Spikers’ Turf president, urged sports fans to keep on supporting the whole Philippine
volleyball, not only the PVL.
In the men’s volleyball club league, 2,016 fans trooped to at Philsports Arena last Sunday when international stars
Bryan Bagunas of Cignal battled Marck Espejo and Criss Cross.

“We really do hope for the whole volleyball community’s continued support. Not only in women’s but also the men’s
[division] is doing well, yes. Even the beach volleyball, they’ve played well also in a tournament just recently. We really
do hope to continue growing together and will have a bigger family.”

Source: https://sports.inquirer.net/562382/pvl-creamline-choco-mucho-grateful-for-overwhelming-support-from-
fans?fbclid=IwAR17ClYGFMplebbW9zeNAsJBG7C3sjz-L3DGyZGk0REFBbkVpjvlZMqcEz0#ixzz8XwDT5owC
 Editorial Article
EDITORIAL - Taxes and governance

The Philippine Star

It’s tax filing month, and the government as usual launched a campaign to inform the public about meeting the deadline
for filing tax returns. It would be better if a campaign can also be implemented to raise public awareness not only of the
civic duty of paying the correct taxes, but also the responsibility of public officials in utilizing those taxes judiciously.

Individuals pay income tax while businessmen pay corporate, business and local taxes. Aside from these, there are hefty
excise taxes on all petroleum products, liquor and tobacco, automobiles, luxury goods and mineral products as well as
value-added tax on nearly all goods and services, from food and medicine to basic utilities. Look at the fine print on your
utility bills to see how much goes to the government. A road tax is collected for motor vehicle registration even as many
areas including Greater Manila are dotted with privately operated toll roads.

With taxes collected for goods and services from cradle to grave, people must demand good governance and the proper
utilization of public funds. Too many Filipinos, however, are unaware of how much of their basic expenses go to the
government. This leads to a high tolerance or indifference to the misuse of people’s money, venality and incompetence in
government.

If there is greater awareness of how much people are contributing to the national coffers, there would be greater public
pressure for accountability and transparency in the way public funds are utilized. There would be greater outrage over
large-scale tax evasion as well as confidential funds for civilian agencies with no involvement in public safety or national
security. There would be greater pressure for government officials, especially those at the top levels, to make public their
annual statements of assets, liabilities and net worth, as stipulated in the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for
Public Officials and Employees, regardless of the prohibitions imposed by the Office of the Ombudsman.

Amid tensions with China in the West Philippine Sea, the National Security Council and the Philippine Coast Guard are
reportedly planning several projects to raise public awareness on WPS issues, such as holding campus caravans,
advocacy runs, regional road shows and even the printing of illustrated comics.

The proper use of people’s money is equally important, and deserves a similar intensive information campaign. Tax
awareness, to include the responsibilities of both taxpayers and government officials, can be included in the high school
curriculum. It’s not enough to remind the public to pay the proper taxes; people should also know where their taxes go.

Source: https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2024/04/16/2347948/editorial-taxes-and-governance