MetroBriefs

QC gov’t tries to cut paper waste–down to the letter

The text should be single-spaced with a 1-inch margin and a maximum font size of 12. And don’t forget to use both sides of the paper. To reduce paper wastage at Quezon City Hall, a newly approved ordinance has laid down the format for all internal documents in all departments. The “Efficient Use of Paper Ordinance” introduced by Councilor Julienne Alyson Rae Medalla was signed into law by Mayor Herbert Bautista on Aug. 27. The measure cited a report by the National Solid Waste Management Commission that 16 percent of the total solid waste generated annually by the country was classified as paper waste. Of the total solid waste, 23 percent came from the National Capital Region. It also noted that more than 40 percent of cut trees were used for paper production while 20 trees and 100,000 liters of water were needed to produce 500 reams of paper. The ordinance applies to the internal communications of all offices at city hall, including the printing of proposed ordinances and resolutions, memoranda and letters. Department heads found in violation face a written warning and a fine ranging from P500 to P1,000. Erika Sauler

Lecturers on DAP, climate change at UP today

A symposium on the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) and a lecture on climate change by a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) scientist will be held today, Sept. 4, at the National College of Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG) on the University of the Philippines campus in Diliman. The event is sponsored by the 2013 UP Alumni Distinguished Awardees Group with the UP Alumni Association, UP Student Council and UP-NCPAG. The speakers at the symposium titled “DAP… Quo Vadis? Part II-The Update” include former Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno and former National Treasurer Leonor Briones. It will be held from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at UP-NCPAG. From 9:30 a.m. to noon, 2013 Distinguished Alumni awardee Dr. Josefino Comiso will give a lecture on climate change. A senior scientist at the Earth Science Division of Nasa’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, United States, he will talk about climactic trends and the consequent phenomena like Supertyphoon “Yolanda” as well as his latest book, “Changing Philippine Climate: Impacts on Agriculture and Natural Resources.” Both events are open to the public.