MANILA, Philippines — Hundreds of countries across the world will observe from Wednesday, Jan. 18, until Jan.25, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (Ecumenical Week), which promotes prayer and dialogue for the unity of Christian churches.

The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the Commission on Faith and Order of the World Council of Churches said the theme for this year’s observance is “We Will All Be Changed by the Victory of Our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Taken from 1 Corinthians 15:51-58, the theme highlights what Saint Paul said: “Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation and we are called to live as children in the light.” In the country, the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), which leads the observance, marks the event from Jan. 16 to 21. (Christina Hermoso)

Deployed

Another 40-man contingent of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will be deployed to Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City to assist in the distribution of relief goods to flood victims and clean-up operations.

Chairman Francis Tolentino said the team, composed of personnel from the Metro Parkways Clearing Group and Road Emergency Group, will help in the extensive clean-up of roadways and communities severely damaged by storm “Sendong” last month.

The agency will also send two pay loaders and one fire truck to the devastated areas in an effort to speed up the clearing and cleanup operations. (Anna Liza T. Villas)

Another round

As expected by many, local oil companies implemented Tuesday another round of pump price hikes, this time reaching as much as P 0.90 per liter. At 6 a.m. Tuesday, major oil players Pilipinas Shell, Petron Corp. and Chevron Philippines (formerly Caltex) increased its respective prices of diesel and kerosene by P0.90 per liter, regular gasoline by P0.70 per liter and premium (including unleaded) by P0.50 per liter. Also moving by the same increments at 6 a.m. save for kerosene was Total Philippines.

Eastern Petroleum Philippines, an independent player, raised its diesel and kerosene by P0.90 per liter, regular by P0.70 per liter and unleaded by P0.50 per liter effective 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. (Ellson Quismorio)

Rent control

A measure seeking to expand Rent Control Act of 2009 by including micro and small business enterprises and putting a cap in rentals of commercial spaces has been filed in the House of Representatives. Bayan Muna party Rep. Teddy Casiño filed House Bill No. 5636 will put a cap on increases in rentals of commercial spaces, which has been considered one of the biggest expenses in business operations.

“This would allow micro and small business to use money otherwise spent on exorbitant rent hikes for their capital, labor and other operational expenses,” Casiño said. “These businesses contribute a large portion of the manufacturing and export sales of the country. It is for these reasons that the government needs to extend additional support to said enterprises.” (Rio Rose Ribaya)