UN-Awarded ASEAN Science Diplomat Welcomes Pres. Marcos’ Science Initiatives

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What follows is the official statement of UN Sasakawa Laureate, ASEAN Science Diplomat Glenn Banaguas, on the occasion of President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr.’s inauguration as the 17th President of the Republic of the Philippines and the latter’s underscoring of science initiatives in his inaugural address to the nation.

On behalf of my colleagues in the science diplomacy corps and in the climate change and disaster risk reduction and management communities, I congratulate President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. on the occasion of his inauguration as the 17th President of the Republic of the Philippines.

Mr. President, we welcome and take up your call to address the looming crises of climate change that perpetually cast their long shadow on the nation’s future.

Indeed, as you rightly pointed out, the Philippines is one of the most at-risk nations to climate change in the world. And even as the country struggles with sustaining and protecting itself in the face of global upheaval, so too do we also wrestle with the need to develop sustainable production systems and an eco-friendly economy for our people. Thankfully, we are not alone in this ambition: the Philippines and the rest of our fellow member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) thus drafted the ASEAN Plan of Action on Science, Technology and Innovation (APASTI) 2016-2025. This far-reaching plan underscores the importance of public-private collaboration, talent mobility, people-to-people connectivity, inclusiveness, enterprise support, public awareness, and STI enculturation as cornerstones for sustainable growth both within and between our brethren nations.

Mr. President, we thank you for echoing this international call for cooperation and unity in your inaugural address, and we stand ready to serve the Philippines under your stewardship. In particular, we at the Environmental and Climate Change Research Institute (ECCRI) have committed ourselves entirely to the pursuit and achievement of the APASTI and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and we are grateful to the new administration for giving these ideals their long-overdue acknowledgement and prioritization.

As a science diplomat, I have always believed that science and government policy are as paramount as they are inseparable; I remain focused on bringing these to the poorest communities and most marginalized sectors of our country. To this end, the ECCRI’s flagship program, Climate Smart Philippines: Science for Service, provides cutting-edge research, training, and capacity-building to our countrymen in order to combat climate change and disaster risks. This initiative is focused particularly on food security, sustainable energy, water sufficiency, human security, ecological and environmental stability, knowledge management and capacity development, and climate-smart infrastructures and services, climate and sustainable financing programs—all of which were touched on, directly or incidentally, in the President’s inaugural speech.

No less than the United Nations has acknowledged and honored our efforts, via its prestigious Sasakawa Award for Disaster Risk Reduction for 2022. This prestigious global honor is bestowed on institutions, groups, and individuals that promote inclusive and resilient approaches to disaster risk reduction in line with the UN’s Sendai Framework. And while we are thankful for this accolade, we continue to believe that our greatest achievement is to serve the Filipino people through our work.

So it is that we congratulate and thank you, our President, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., for paving the way towards jumpstarting our nation’s climate-smart capacity, and its disaster preparedness and resiliency.

Mabuhay po tayong lahat.

In perpetual service to the Filipino People,

Sci. Dpl. Glenn S. Banaguas

Chairman, Asian (ASEAN) Science Diplomats

Chairman, US-ASEAN Fellows for Science and Technology

Climate Diplomat, EU-Asia Expert Panel for Climate Diplomacy and Environmental Security

Founder and President, Environmental and Climate Change Research Institute

Executive Director, Philippine Council for Foreign Relations

UN Sasakawa Laureate

Asia Sustainability Leaders Awardee

The Outstanding Filipino (TOFIL) Laureate

7-Eleven treats customers with up to 50% OFF on over 200 items for its #711Day SALE-bration

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Enjoy a huge price drop on Big Bite, City Cafe, Crunch Time Chicken, and MORE from July 8 to 13


The most-awaited annual 7-Eleven SALE-bration is coming! 7-Eleven is gearing up for this year’s 7-Eleven Day with a 6-day promo-filled party from July 8 to 13 in all stores nationwide. 7-Eleven is treating customers to up to 50% OFF on over 200 items including its signature food items from Big Bite, City Cafe, and Crunch Time Chicken.

Office workers, students, loyal customers, and those residing near 7-Eleven stores, better take note! Crunch Time Chicken will start its P10 OFF promo on its 1pc. Chicken with Rice on July 6, in time for National Fried Chicken Day, until July 11.

Come 7-Eleven Day on July 11, the small size of the crowd-favorite City Cafe coffee blend is offered at half the price. This applies to all available blends: Brewed Coffee, French Vanilla, Mochaccino, Salted Caramel, and Hot Chocolate. Small Prima Americano is also available at half off. The customers’ go-to 7-Eleven snack, Big Bite Hotdog, is also at 50% off on this day. Should anyone need a quick bite or baon, then this is where to get the bang for that buck — and a delicious one at that!

From July 8 to 13, the convenience store will offer a huge price drop of up to 50% discount on snacks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, personal hygiene products for the face, body, and hair, and other grocery essentials.

While #711Day merits its own grand party, what makes this year’s celebration even more special is that everyone is finally able to celebrate together, in person after spending the past two years in quarantine.

Now that everyone is going back to work, back to school, and back to regular daily routines, 7-Eleven is also urging Filipinos to come back to their stores to regain the experience of shopping at their favorite neighborhood convenience store. Take this as an invitation to get back all the things and people we missed — because with 7-Eleven’s #711Day, it’s a celebration like no other!

Contactless payments through the CLiQQ app and GCash are available. Don’t miss out on 7-Eleven’s six-day celebration! Visit here for the list of the complete sale items available from July 8 to 13.


PHOTO CAPTIONS

All time favorite 7-Eleven snacks such as Big Bite, City Cafe, and Crunch Time Chicken will be offered at a discounted price during the #711Day celebration.

Get up to 50% discount on over 200 snacks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, personal hygiene products for the face, body, and hair, and other grocery essentials during the 7-Eleven Day celebration on July 8 to 13.

Post Office sealed agreement for online payment with DOF, Customs

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The Philippine Postal Corporation (Post Office) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) ink a landmark Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to provide the customers a more efficient, secure, hassle free and reliable online payment system of Philippine customs duties and taxes through the Post Office website at www.phlpost.gov.ph.

The online payment system for customs duties and taxes aims to eliminate fraud in compliance with Republic Act No. 11032 also known as the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018.

The said agreement will make the process of clearing and delivery of parcels and other mail matters faster and simpler, benefitting thousands of consumers and Philippine residents who rely on the postal service to send and receive packages from abroad but also boosting the e-commerce industry for the growth of our economy.

Postmaster General Norman Fulgencio and Bureau of Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero signed the agreement coinciding with the 125th Founding Anniversary of the Department of Finance.

“For the first time, in the 75 years of being a Republic, the Post Office Digital Innovation will enhance the competitiveness of the Post Office in the local and International market”, Postmaster General Norman Fulgencio said.

He added, “It is important for the public to understand that all mail and parcels may be subject to customs examination, duties, taxes and other fees”.

The Post Office has introduced the payment of customs duties and taxes through its Post Office website and mobile application launched last May 19, 2022 with no less than former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in attendance.

“This Duterte Legacy signifies the commitment and support of the Post Office especially under the new administration of President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. in serving the public who deserve no less than the best postal service by global standards”, Postmaster General Fulgencio said.
Under the agreement the Post Office and Bureau of Customs shall both have access to the systems only in relation to the corresponding input of charges of duties and taxes by the BOC personnel and for the verification of payment. A separate Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) shall be made in relation to collection of duties, taxes and other charges which shall form part of the agreement.