The Philippine authorities periodically collect rubbish from the trash-choked Estero de Magdalena canal, which runs into Manila’s most important and heavily polluted waterway, the Pasig River.
Estero de Magdalena canal is choked with trash (Photo: AFP)
Hanoi (VNA) – The Philippine authorities periodically collect rubbishfrom the trash-choked Estero de Magdalena canal, which runs into Manila’s mostimportant and heavily polluted waterway, the Pasig River.
This is of little consolation tothe impoverished families who live in homes along the canal, cobbled togetherfrom pallets, scraps of wood and corrugated steel stained with rust.
The blanket of trash on the creek flowing between the makeshift homes of Manilais extremely dense. It seems one could walk across the canal like a street. The thick and fetid mosaic of plasticbottles, takeaway containers and plastic bags is a porous layer atop the filthywater of Estero de Magdalena.
Local authorities blame the slum residents for using the creek as an open-airdump and installed massive strainers in the water to stop the trash fromflowing downstream.
This attempt to stop rubbish flowing into the East Sea or beingsucked back by tides into Laguna de Bay (the country’s biggest lake) has beenunsuccessful.
Authorities said the trash-choked creek is abreeding ground for illnesses like cholera and typhoid fever.-VNA
The Philippine economy will sustain its expansion in 2018 and 2019, with the main driving force being the infrastructure facility development programme as well as taxation reform policy.
The Philippines has decided to close its resort island of Boracay to tourists for six months from April 26 to address sewage and environment-related problems.
The Republic of Korea (RoK), China and Japan agreed on May 3 to reinforce the regional financial safety net, along with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), by launching a new financing facility programme meant to extend greater support in case of a financial crisis.
A technical issue combined with an extreme heatwave was blamed for a series of explosions at a military base that killed 20 soldiers and injured several others in Cambodia on April 27, the country’s Ministry of Defence said in a May 2 statement as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The Customs Department of Thailand is scheduled to commence the collection of value-added tax (VAT) on imported goods sent via postal services, regardless of the goods value, starting in May.
A lecturer from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine has warned Thais to be more vigilant against COVID-19, saying infection rates appeare to be worsening with higher hospital admissions, deaths and severe cases.
Malaysia should harness the collective expertise and resources to drive sustainable growth and development of the halal industry, according to Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Laos has officially restored the 10% value-added tax (VAT) rate starting May 1, in a bid to support the country’s budget revenue and socio-economic development.
The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) entered its second plenary session in Hanoi on the afternoon of April 23, discussing ways to ensure comprehensive security for the people-centred ASEAN Community.
The first session of the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) in Hanoi on April 23 focused on fast and sustainable growth for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) and the ASEAN Alliance on Carbon Markets (AACM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the implementation of carbon crediting programmes across Southeast Asia.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn reaffirmed ASEAN leaders' commitment to empowering the youth to unleash their full potential when he had a dialogue with ASEAN youth in Hanoi on April 22 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Future Forum (AF 2024).
The Thai Government is being urged to increase the proportion of renewable power generation to more than the target of 50% set in the power development plan (PDP).
The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of Indonesia on April 21 lifted its tsunami advisory issued previously following the eruption of Mount Ruang in Sitaro district of North Sulawesi province.
Thailand expects to export about 1 million tonnes of durian, valued at an estimated 130 billion THB (3.53 billion USD) this year, with most of the shipments to China, according to Minister of Agriculture Thammanat Prompao.
The 72nd meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) and related meetings are being held by the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of Vietnam in the central city of Da Nang on April 22-26.
Enhancing regional food security and tackling the pressing challenges of climate change will be key agendas defining Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (lower house) Johari Abdul told the press on April 19.
Estero de Magdalena canal is choked with trash (Photo: AFP) 
