MANILA, July 29 — An architect and also an urban planner said on Thursday that Metro Manila could have foregone the horror that typhoon Ondoy brought to residents of Metropolis and if only the previous administration has moved to construct the Paranaque spillway.

According to architect Felino Palafox Jr., founder and managing director of Palafox and Associates, he pointed out that as early as 1977 or 33 years ago, a plan to build the said spillway to flush out water coming from the Laguna Lake towards Manila Bay was in place.

But for no apparent reason, the spillway project has been negated and the feared flooding that has been projected three decades ago by experts was realized during the Ondoy thing.

“The estimate last 1973 to prevent flooding in Metro Manila is to build the Paranaque spillway but it was not realized. The estimate of flooding in the year 1977 happened during the Ondoy flooding,” Palafox said during a press conference held in Makati City.

He said during typhoon Ondoy the lake grew by as much as 50,000 hectares from the regular 90,000 hectares during rainy season.

This is more than double the total land area of Metro Manila which is 63,000 hectares.

To prevent flooding and ensure an adequate water supply for Metro Manila and at the same time make room for lakeshore development just like the Singapore River waterfront, Dubai creekfront, Chicago along Lake Michigan, Geneva along Geneva Lake, Paris along River Seine, London along Thames River and other urban waterfront models, the Laguna Lake should be tapped.

Palafox said that with the lake strategic location, enormous water-holding capacity and the diversity of its natural resources, it should serve as a nourishing mother, providing food and water to residents of Metro Manila and five nearby provinces in the Calabarzon region.

With the rapid development and the increasing population within the lake region the lake must be rehabilitated before its too late, Palafox said.

“Laguna Lake has a big potential to become a front door of development. But lakeside communities and industries transformed it into a backdoor wastebasket.”

The plan for the lake is to dredge it to improve its capacity and the quality of water for public consumption and increase its depth to enable it to hold more floodwater during the rainy season.

“The lake is huge. We could actually construct ferry stations in various locations so residents can have an alternative mode of transport,” Palafox said referring to the lake that has a surface area of 900 square kilometers.

Laguna Lake, the largest fresh water lake in the Philippines, has a surface area of 90,000 hectares or 115,000 hectares when it overflows.

It can hold up to 2.25 trillion cubic meters of water, which is more than enough to supply potable water to Metro Manila and nearby places.

But Palafox reiterated that the spillway should be constructed and the lake’s 250-kilometers should have a dike to accommodate the water and have an ecopark in its environs.(PNA) LOR/CLTC

BEIDAIHE, Hebei, July 30 — Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping on Thursday said more efforts should be put into a program for recruiting global experts, which was initiated in 2008.

The experts should be respected and supported, and should be given a free hand in their work, Xi said. He urged leading Party and government officials across the country to provide decent work and living conditions for the experts.

Overseas top-notch professionals were indispensable for China's drive of opening up and reform, he said.

The recruitment of the experts was an inevitable part of scientific and technological development, expansion of the country's talent pool and improved capacity of independent innovation, he added.

Xi made the remarks when visiting 70 specialists recruited under the program, who were invited by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and State Council to the northern seaside resort Beidaihe to holiday.

By May this year, 662 people had been recruited under the program, which gives priority to leading scientists who are able to make breakthroughs in key technologies, develop high-tech industries and lead new research projects.

Xi hailed the achievements of the program, saying it boosted the emerging industries, improved scientific research and promoted retention of talent.

According to the National Medium and Long-term Talent Development Plan (2010-2020) unveiled in June, the government will work out favorable policies in terms of taxation, insurance, housing, children and spouse settlement, career development, research projects, and government awards for high-caliber overseas experts who are willing to work in China. (PNA/Xinhua)

ALM/ebp

MAASTRICHT, The Netherlands, July 29 — A leading Chinese technologist received here Wednesday an award from the Internet Society (ISOC) for his pioneering role in advancing Internet technology over the last 20 years.

Jianping Wu's best-known contribution is the development of the China Education and Research Network (CERNET), China's first Internet backbone network, said the ISOC.

Created to establish a nationwide advanced network infrastructure to support education and research among universities, CERNET has since become the world's largest national academic network.

Since 1998, Wu has been focusing on the design and development of a large-scale native IPv6 backbone in China that serves to connect over 200 universities and millions of users.

"Twenty years ago, Dr. Wu recognized the importance and future impact of the Internet and the pivotal role it would play in terms of its impact on social reform, technology advancement and economic growth for China," said Lynn St. Amour, president and CEO of the ISOC.

"He has worked tirelessly to bring his vision to life. As a result, the networks that resulted from his determination and hard work have played an important role in driving Internet development in China and have had a significant impact on the Internet worldwide."

Wu said: "It's not only my personal honor, but also the recognition from the international society to all Chinese researchers and the achievements they have made."

The ISOC is a non-profit organization founded in 1992 to provide leadership in Internet-related standards, education, policy and ensure the open development, evolution, the use of the Internet for the benefit of people throughout the world.

The Postel Award was established by the ISOC to honor individuals or organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the data communications community. (PNA/Xinhua) V3/utb

By Kristy Inus

KOTA KINABALU, July 29 — Biomass, a green energy sector with an estimated value of RM30 billion in Sabah, has been earmarked as the next major industry to be developed in the Palm Oil Industrial Cluster (POIC) in Lahad Datu.

POIC Sabah Sdn Bhd's chief executive officer Dr Pang Teck Wai said a Japanese company had already set up operations in the cluster to pursue biomass activities and the state government was continuously promoting the infrastructure there to attract investors.

POIC Sabah was set up by the state government to spearhead palm oil downstream processing and the company is placed under the supervision of the State Industrial Development Ministry.

"This is what we called the infant stage, so now the state government is trying to move towards opening this frontier for investment opportunities," Pang told reporters after the opening of Malaysia's largest palm oil technology expo, Palmex 2010, here Thursday.

"We have created the best infrastructure. So the last piece of the jigsaw puzzle we are trying to put together is access to raw materials, which over the next few months we will probably hear more of the state government's initiatives," he said.

All along, the palm oil industry has not been able to get biomass activities started because of the difficulty in accessing raw materials such as empty fruit bunches, oil palm fronds and oil palm trunks, Pang said.

"So the state government is now in the process of seeing how we can facilitate investors' access to biomass raw materials. Not only access but also at a price low enough and competitive enough," he said.

Sabah, which produces about one third or 5.4 million tonnes of the total country's crude palm oil of 17.5 million tonnes annually, has a lot of raw materials readily available to be used for the biomass industry, according to Pang.

"In the palm oil industry, some said that the major part of the wealth in the oil palm tree is not in the oil but in the biomass," he said.

"Sabah's palm oil industry produces around 27 million tonnes of raw materials (that can be used for biomass), and six million tonnes are empty fruit bunches, about 19 million tonnes are fronds, and the remaining two million tonnes oil palm trunks," he added.

Besides biomass, biogas is also another huge potential to be explored in POIC in future, said State Industrial Development Minister Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah.

Asked if the state government was coming up with incentives and schemes for investment in biomass, Tan said: "There will be programmes, this is a state initiative and we have explored the possibilities in a number of ways."

Earlier in his speech, Tan said he was informed that oil palm mills were not excited about power generation because of the many competing uses of oil palm biomass and the not-very-attractive rates offered by Tenaga Nasional Bhd.

The issue of biomass supply security and pricing also needed to be ironed out, he said.

On another development, Tan said POIC Lahad Datu had attained an excellent level of success, having so far attracted 27 investors with total investment valued at RM2 billion. (PNA/BERNAMA)

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WASHINGTON, July 30 — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Thursday denied 10 petitions challenging its 2009 determination that climate change is real, is occurring due to emissions of greenhouse gases from human activities, and threatens human health and the environment.

The petitions to reconsider EPA's Endangerment Finding claim that climate science cannot be trusted, and assert a conspiracy that invalidates the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, and the U.S. Global Change Research Program.

The EPA had received the petitions from states such as Texas and Virginia and groups like the Ohio Coal Association.

After months of serious consideration of the petitions and of the state of climate change science, the EPA finds no evidence to support these claims. In contrast, the EPA's review shows that climate science is credible, compelling, and growing stronger.

"The endangerment finding is based on years of science from the U.S. and around the world. These petitions — based as they are on selectively edited, out-of-context data and a manufactured controversy — provide no evidence to undermine our determination. Excess greenhouse gases are a threat to our health and welfare," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson.

"Defenders of the status quo will try to slow our efforts to get America running on clean energy. A better solution would be to join the vast majority of the American people who want to see more green jobs, more clean energy innovation and an end to the oil addiction that pollutes our planet and jeopardizes our national security," Jackson added. (PNA/Xinhua)

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MANILA, July 29 — Actor Robin Padilla, a Muslim, has accepted the role as “ambassador of goodwill” for housing programs in Muslim Mindanao, according to the Office of Vice President Jejomar C. Binay.

The Vice President has the additional job of overseeing the government’s housing development concerns as chairman of the umbrella group, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC).

Binay’s spokesperson said Padilla, who is a much-admired convert to the Muslim faith, will also be asked to help promote membership in the HUDCC’s Pag-Ibig Fund for housing, especially among overseas Filipino.

In accepting the job, Padilla said he desired no other government post but that he has faith in Binay as he witnessed how the Vice President, then mayor of Makati, delivered quality services and help to his constituents.

The actor, fondly known as 'Binoe' (rhymes with P-Noy), was an election campaign volunteer in Binay's camp. (PNA)

vcs/GJB

WASHINGTON, July 30 — Researchers have discovered an enzyme crucial to a type of DNA repair that also causes resistance to a class of cancer drugs most commonly used against ovarian cancer.

Scientists from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in the United States and the Life Sciences Institute of Zhejiang University in China reported on Thursday the discovery of the enzyme and its role in repairing DNA damage called cross- linking in the Science Express advance online publication of Science.

The enzyme, which they named FAN1, appears to be a nuclease, which is capable of slicing through strands of DNA.

In a series of experiments, researchers demonstrated how the protein complex summons FAN1, connects with the enzyme and moves it to the site of DNA cross-linking. They also showed that FAN1 cleaves branched DNA but leaves the normal, separate double- stranded DNA alone. Mutant versions of FAN1 were unable to slice branched DNA.

The researchers also demonstrated that FAN1 cannot get at DNA damage without being taken there by the FANCI-FANCD2 protein complex, which detects and moves to the damaged site. The complex recruits the FAN1 enzyme by acquiring a single ubiquitin molecule. FAN1 connects with the complex by binding to the ubiquitin site.

Analyzing the activity of this repair pathway could guide treatment for cancer patients, researchers said, with the platinum- based therapies used when the cross-linking repair mechanism is less active. (PNA/Xinhua)

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LEGAZPI CITY, July 29 – In support of its efforts to expand the use and development of renewable energy resources in the Philippines, Chevron Geothermal Philippines Holdings, Inc. (CGPHI) has been promoting the stewardship of geothermal energy resources among the youth in public schools.

CGPHI hopes to accomplish this objective with the curriculum integration of geothermal energy concepts in public elementary and secondary schools in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) in Albay, Aquinas University of Legaspi and Aquinas University Foundation.

Initially launched in Cale Elementary School, Biyong Elementary School, and Naga National High School in Tiwi, Albay, the pilot Geothermal Education (GeoEd) project aims to educate and foster a deeper appreciation for clean energy sources among students.

The three-year GeoEd project applies the education concept of integrated curriculum webbing. Geothermal concepts like heat energy, steam production, geothermal process, health, safety, security, and environment have been integrated into basic education subjects like Math, Science, English, and Filipino.

Under the supervision of DepEd’s core curriculum writers, Aquinas University Education Department and CGPHI technical staff, GeoEd lesson exemplars were developed, critiqued and finalized in a series of workshops in May 2010.

Pre-testing began this June; thereafter the lesson exemplars will be evaluated and adjusted through a series of workshops by the third quarter of this year. Target date of roll-out in other schools in Tiwi town and the province is 2013.

Through the GeoEd curriculum, the project partners hope to instill energy efficiency and environmental consciousness among the Filipino youth.

Chevron is one of the world's leading integrated energy companies, with subsidiaries that conduct business worldwide.

The company's success is driven by the ingenuity and commitment of its employees and their application of the most innovative technologies in the world.

Chevron is involved in virtually every facet of the energy industry. The company explores for, produces and transports crude oil and natural gas; refines, markets and distributes transportation fuels and other energy products; manufactures and sells petrochemical products; generates power and produces geothermal energy; provides energy efficiency solutions; and develops the energy resources of the future, including biofuels. (PNA)

LAP/LQ/MSA/cbd

SEOUL, July 29 — South Korea's share of the cost for building an experimental fusion reactor is expected to exceed 1 trillion won (US$ 841 million) due to construction delays and the need to make technical adjustments, the government said Thursday.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology said a special board meeting of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project agreed Wednesday to push back the completion date by two years and to increase the allotment that must be paid by each of the seven member countries.

The ITER, being built in Cadarache, France, is an international experiment to see if a super-hot plasma field, and naturally abundant tritium and deuterium can create an artificial sun on Earth. If the project is successful, it could provide mankind with a limitless energy resource.

"With the latest delay, South Korea's portion of the cost sharing is expected to rise correspondingly from 876.7 billion won to an estimated 1.07 trillion won. The total is a provisional sum that is subject to change," a ministry official said.

"The total covers the 10 key components Seoul needs to build for the ITER, as well as local research and development, and personnel costs."

The ministry said that the total cost of construction is expected to reach 6.51 billion euros (US$ 8.45 billion) from the previous 5.08 billion euros, with the completion date of the reactor being pushed back to November 2019 from late 2017.

Detailed plans for the ITER were drawn up in 2001 with actual work kicking off in October 2007.

South Korea is a member of the ITER consortium, made up of the European Union (EU), the United States, Japan, Russia, China and India. The EU must foot 45 percent of the total cost with other countries responsible for around 9 percent of the total each.

The ministry official said that because of the delay, actual tests to see if the test bed works should now begin in 2020, with authorities to determine the commercial feasibility of the reactor between 2027 and 2037.

Once the process is complete, ITER members may decide whether or not to build a full-fledged demonstration plant that can actually generate power. (PNA/Yonhap)

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DAVAO CITY, July 29 – The partnership between the Davao City government, the Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) and Smart Communications, Inc. (SMART) led to the setting up of a weather and flood alert system as part of the city's disaster preparedness program.

The warning system was launched during the inauguration of the Public Safety Command Center (PSSC) attended by Davao City Mayo Sara Duterte-Carpio, Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) deputy administrator Susan Espinueva, national and local government officials and other officials from the private sector.

In a briefing, it was explained that the system consisted of the automated weather station (AWS), river level gauge, personal tracker, land and sea tracking devices which were fabricated and programmed by ADDU engineering faculty and students.

The Ateneo students composed of Charisse Olanoguez, Ann Marie Roselle Balinas and Flora May dela Cruz with Engr. Marloue O. Pidor made the concept and design and was funded by SMART. These students created an upgraded version of the search and rescue management system which placed second during the 2008 SWEEP Innovation Awards organized by SMART.

SWEEP or Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program is an educational initiative of telecommunications firm of which ADDU is a partner-school.

Data generated by these devices once deployed will be transmitted via SMART's cellular network to a website which can be accessed by the PSCC.

PCSS head Mario Verner Sebial Monsanto said in cases where information would indicate the rise of water from where the gauges were deployed. This will be communicated immediately to the responders and to concerned officials and leaders.

He said SMART also donated 20 manual rain gauges and these units are deployed in the city's flood-prone barangays. The barangay captains will then designate a point person to monitor these rain gauges everyday to ensure that the units are working and safe.

According to Mon Isberto, head of public affairs group of SMART he said that the AWS form the core of an early warning system for the city which has been experiencing floods in some of its districts in recent years.

Aside from the unit located within the Central 911 Compound, three more AWS will soon be deployed in SMART's relay station in San Fernando, Bukidnon and cell sites in Marilog and Buda.

He said the reason they came in to support the project is because it is an idea that is demand driven as suggested by the Davao City officials. There is also a need since Davao City is experiencing flooding even when there is no rain and Davao City is the only city in the country that has the capability for now.

"It is unique to Davao and no other local government unit has that capability," he said.

Right now, he said they are still developing the concept and as to whether it is the ideal one because we still have to prove it.

"But the longer you do it, the more effective it becomes. And with more data collected you can already see relationships on how long and how big the water rises and its extent as to areas," he said.

He said when we will succeed with this, and then we can in the future share it with other local government units although he said they have already about 3 or 4 local government units (LGUs) already in mind.

The Ateneo group calibrated their AWS based on World Meteorological Organization (WMO) standards under the guidance of weather specialists from PAGASA. The group underwent a week-long immersion program with the state weather bureau.

Complementary to the AWS is river monitoring instrument also developed by the engineering students and these will be set up along Bantol and Lacson Rivers and on the bridges of Suwawan and Waan, all in Davao City.

By observing both rainfall and river level information, the Davao's Rescue 911 Service will be able to provide timely flood warning.

The original design of the disaster alert system to be implemented by Davao City where officials can better track sea vessels during emergencies was also expanded to track land vehicles where the ADDU group worked closely with Rescue 911, Davao City's 24-hour emergency response team, and the Davao Gulf Management Council and the Philippine Coastguard in testing the sea and land-based prototypes.

Two sea tracking devices will be issued to the Coast Guard while two land vehicle tracking device will be assigned to Rescue 911 for use in their ambulance and mobile patrol vehicle. A personal tracker has also been designed to be worn on the vest of Rescue 911 personnel. (PNA) LAP/Digna D. Banzon/lvp