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Solidum appointed DOST secretary The Observer.com DON’T JUST BE AN INQUIRER AND ASK, BE AN OBSERVER AND ACT#45 - AUGUST 14, 2022 Php 25.00 TheObserver.com - The Bloggers/Vloggers Newspaper 4 Solon bats for creation of PH Traffic Center 4 6 Story on Page 2 DSWD Secretary wants to expedite graduation/exit of 4Ps beneficiaries 4 DTI eyes to rationalize list of basic goods, prime commodities Palace defends order to importationcreateplan distinctly“Visitor-friendly,Filipino air, seaports in PHL” 12 Illegal recruitment firm offering non-existent jobs padlocked 4 ‘More extensive’ probe into sugar imports mess eyed: Palace PBBM lauds, vows continued support for heroic health researchers Page 3 4 tourismdevelopunitetownsLeyteto 11

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Proposed abolition of the PS-DBM Executive Director Santiago in the same occasion gave his stance on the call of some lawmakers to abolish the PS-DBM. “We fully understand the sen timent of some groups and even

In a letter made public Friday night, Sebastian took responsibility for convening the Sugar Regulatory Board and approving Sugar Order 4 which allows the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar. Cruz-Angeles said there was a “misunderstanding” of Rodriguez’s order for the creation of an importa tion Sheplan.also noted that Marcos had authorized Rodriguez to order the crafting of an importation plan. It was Rodriguez who informed Marcos about the unauthorized is suance of the resolution, Cruz-An geles“That’sadded. a misunderstanding of the plan. After the plan, that is the only time na magkakaroon po ng (when you are allowed to issue a) resolution. Kaya naging mahalaga ’yung (That’s why it is important to know) whether or not there is an importation plan,” she said. The unauthorized signing of

MANILA – “Heads will roll,” if there are sufficient findings against those involved in the un authorized signing of a resolution that supposedly approved the im portation of 300,000 metric tons (MT) of sugar, Malacañang said. “Continuing po iyong ating imbestigasyon. Ito na po ‘yung re sponse (That’s the response),” Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said during the Laging Handa program. “If there are sufficient findings, then heads will roll.”

Department of Agriculture (DA) on Thursday due to his unauthorized signing of a sugar importation or der.

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos MALACAÑANG defended Exec utive Secretary Victor Rodriguez over his directive to create an im portation plan. In an interview with state-run Radyo Pilipinas, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles reiterated that Rodriguez has nothing to do with the unauthorized order to import 300,000 metric tons (MT) of sugar. Cruz-Angeles said the importa tion plan is different from the res olution issued without the approval of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “Importation plan gives us in formation. Hindi iyan order (That’s not an order),” she said. “Until makita mo ‘yung (you see the) im portation plan, there is no order to import. At kailangang pag-aralan (You have to study first). Ito ‘yung sinasabi natin na ang Presidente (This is what we are saying that the President), he wants to do things systematically.”

our own beloved legislators. We know where they are coming from as we share their sentiment on zero tolerance against irregularities in government transactions,” Santiago said.Santiago, however, added that these calls need to be balanced with the presence of honest and dedicat ed employees who have been work ing in the office for many years, coupled by the procurement effi ciency and economy that PS-DBM provided to government agencies since“Naniniwala1978. ako na marami sa kawani ng PS-DBM ang nagta trabaho ng may katapatan, husay, galing, talino at integridad. Karami han sa kanila ay may pagtatangi at pagmamahal sa serbisyo, sa tao at sa bayan,” Santiago pointed out. PS-DBM, operates a central ized procurement system for com mon use office supplies and equip ment, and has made procurement undertakings efficient amongst agencies and offices of the govern ment for decades. It has also stream lined the procurement process with its Virtual Store, a centerpiece proj ect of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS), which has been rec ognized by the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank. PS-DBM’s transformation Instead of abolishing PS-DBM, the newly appointed Executive Direc tor highlighted his call for the of fice’s transformation. “I want to continue and push for procurement reforms that we supported in 2002, but these re forms should now shift to greater heights. Under my watch, I look forward to achieving “procurement transformation”, not only as to pro cesses, procedures and products that we procure, but the over-all transformation of PS-DBM relative to its structure, system and human resource. I want a solid and over-all transformation of PS-DBM,” Santi ago said adding that he owes this to the honest and dedicated employees of PS-DBM and the Filipino peo ple. To realize this “procurement transformation”, Santiago vowed to have a focused procurement cover age with common use supplies and equipment (CSE), rationalize CSEs to include motor vehicles and other commonly procured goods, upscale logistics and supply chain manage ment, streamline and run PhilGEPS to cover end-to-end eBidding, eSh opping and eReverse Auction Plat forms, among others. (DBM)

She made the clarification fol lowing the resignation of Undersec retary Leocadio Sebastian from the the order on behalf of Marcos is still under investigation, Cruz-Angeles said.“The President is objective. He’s leaving the investigation to be conducted without his interference. Kailangan ([The investigation] has to be fair,” she Malacañangsaid.repeatedly said the issuance of the resolution was “illegal” since the proposal to im port sugar was rejected by Marcos. Sugar planters’ groups lauded Marcos’ move to disapprove the proposed importation. On Friday, the Asociacion de Agricultores de La Carlota y Pon tevedra Inc. and the La Carlota Mill District Multi-Purpose Cooperative said it is ill-advised to import addi tional sugar as the milling season is about to start and will augment the currentThesupply.United Sugar Producers Federation, the largest sugar feder ation in the country, also hoped that there would be a reorganization of the DA and the Sugar Regulatory Administration following the inci dent. (PNA) Marcos on Wednesday urged her brother, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., to reshuf fle Agriculture officials to dismantle alleged criminal syndicates within the DA.This, as the senator alleged that the incident proves that “thickfaced” agricultural smugglers are “lording it over” at the DA. Cruz-Angeles assured the in vestigation into the unauthorized signing of the importation order would be “more extensive.” She added that the President might “probably go beyond” his sis ter’s recommendation, depending on the results of the investigation. “I’m sure the President has already noted this. Wala lang po kaming ipapahayag pa sa ngayon

Cruz-Angeles issued the state ment in response to Senator Imee Marcos’ call for the immediate re shuffle of the Department of Ag riculture’s (DA) highest officials following the illegal issuance of a sugar importation order.

PS-DBM turns over documentsexaminedtoNBI

‘More extensive’ probe into sugar imports mess eyed: Palace

Palace defends order to importationcreateplan

MANILA -- The Procurement Service-Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM), headed by its new Executive Di rector Dennis S. Santiago, turned over to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) documents related to the procurement of the Department of Education’s lap tops, as well as other contracts entered into by PS-DBM in previ ous years which were the subject of Commission on Audit (COA) findings. “Isinumite po natin sa NBI ang mga dokumentong may kinalaman sa mga isyu na binigyang pansin ng COA upang maimbestigahan ng masusi ang mga ito. Patunay po ito na ang bagong administrasyon ng PS-DBM ay seryoso sa layuning matugunan ang audit findings ng COA, at malaman kung may irreg ularities ba ang mga ito o non-com pliance sa umiiral na batas,” ED SantiagoSantiagosaid.earlier directed his of fice to conduct a thorough examina tion of COA’s findings emphasizing that the mandate of the PS-DBM is to ensure a transparent and compet itive procurement process. “The NBI is a highly compe tent investigation authority to take over the matter to ensure that the probe would be fair, impartial and independent. We do not want any room for suspicion,” ED Santiago said.Santiago added that the move to request the NBI to step in was made after the examination showed alleged discrepancies in the initial findings, which is similar to COA’s observations.“Maigina ang NBI ang hum awak para mahimay at masusing mabusisi ang mga dokumento, para rin makatutok ang mga empleyado sa trabaho at sa aming mandato,” Santiago“Ayawsaid.po namin na ang bagay na ito ay patagalin pa. Maraming masisipag, mahuhusay at ded ikadong empleyado ang PS-DBM na naaapektuhan ng usaping ito, kaya maigi pong humingi ng tulong sa NBI upang matugunan sa lalong madaling panahon ang pag-resolba sa isyu, at matukoy kung sino ang mga dapat panagutin nang naaayon sa batas,” Santiago underscored.

tungkol sa mga plano (We cannot reveal the plans yet) because the investigation will probably cover a more extensive review than simply the resolution that was issued by the Sugar Regulatory Board,” she said. On Wednesday, Cruz-Angeles announced President Marcos’ de cision to reject the proposal of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) to import 300,000 MT of sugar amid the high price of sugar in thePresidentmarket. Marcos, who concur rently serves as DA chief, is also the chairperson of the SRA. Prior to Cruz-Angeles’ an nouncement, the resolution which allegedly approved the sugar impor tation was uploaded on the SRA’s website but later deleted. (PNA)

KO...

MANILA -- President Ferdi nand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday raised the need to foster better coordination mech anisms between the national and local governments in the area of food supply. “We have to coordinate our ef forts on food supply. We cannot just allow ‘bahala na kayo’,” Marcos said during his meeting with mem bers of the League of Provinces of the Philippines.Thechiefexecutive also noted the importance of planning, saying it will give the idea of the provinc es’ cropping schedules, yield, soil problems, and use of fertilizer. “But this has to be part of a plan, and that is why, more than ever, the President needs the help of the governors. Dati, ang agricul ture, for example, was really under the national government,” he said. Aside from food supply, the President also sought strengthened coordination in the field of digita lization, noting that provinces have done a better job than the national government in this area. “Marami sa inyong medyo progressive, inun ahan niyo na ang national government. Now, we have to bring the system together. Kailangan ‘yung information na hawak ng isang probinsya, ng isang agency, accessible doon sa kabila as long as they have authorization,” he said. “We have to be literally inter connected. So that’s another area where we are hoping that we can strengthen the cooperation – the planning, the coordination between national government and local gov ernment,” the President added. In his first State of the Nation Address, the President discussed his administration’s plan for digital transformation.Thisincludes the rollout of Na tional IDs, the implementation of the National Broadband Plan and the common tower program, as well as connecting geographically iso lated and disadvantaged areas via the so-called ‘Broad Band ng Masa’ project. (PND)

ernment cannot hold back people if there are better opportunities for employment overseas. He suggested that one of the programs that could help keep doc tors, nurses, and medical practi tioners from leaving the country is to provide scholarships. Department of Health (DOH) Officer-in-Charge, Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, told the President during the PSAC meeting about the ladderized program being carried out by the University of the Philippines-Manila and select local government units (LGUs). Under the program, UP Manila offers a two-year scholarship for midwives who, upon course com pletion, come back to the commu nity to serve. Once they gain experience, they go back to UP Manila, where they get to study nursing for another two years.“Sothis ladderized program, there is this counterpart with lo cal government. So we now have doctors were clueless about what was happening as well as the cure for the novel virus. “There was a total lack of in formation, of knowledge about this new pandemic. And that is why the work that you did that developed the genome sequencing so that we could follow and identify and de tect the different strains as they came about, the test kits that you were able to develop for the local community, the modeling that was done,” he said. “This was all a fruit of your part nership, and it is something that has never been seen before,” he added. During his speech, the Presi dent commended the Department of Science and Technology - Phil ippine Council for Health Research and Development for organizing the event along with the Philippine National Health Research System. He likewise recognized the Central Luzon Health Research and Development Consortium for host ing theThecelebration.chiefexecutive mentioned that the organization’s coordination and leadership in their field of study will help ensure that Filipinos “can utilize the maximum economic and Vows to address public health sector challenges

MANILA -- President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thurs day threw his support behind the proposal to implement a “ladder ized” program for nurses to address the brain drain and strengthen the country’s health sector. Marcos made the remark in his meeting with members of the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) in Malacañang, where they discussed the challenges confront ing the Philippine health sector, particularly the exodus of nurses and other health professionals. “I like the ladderized idea for the nurses because that’s really be coming a problem – the brain drain that we are suffering,” Marcos said during the meeting. “They are so good everybody wants them, and they are willing to pay for it, and we are not, or we’re not able. So we have to come up with some strategies for that.”

MANILA -- President Ferdi nand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday paid tribute to Filipino health researchers for their con tinuing sacrifice and hard work amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “I always start with a note of gratitude and of thanks for your sac rifice and for the risks that you take, and all that you have been able to do to help us through this pandem ic,” Marcos said in his speech at the 15th Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) Week Celebration in Pampanga. “It is nothing less than having you have helped to keep millions of people alive. There is nothing more heroic in my mind than what you have achieved,” he said. The chief executive recalled that he was one of the “very early sufferers” as he had tested positive for COVID-19 after coming home from Europe in the second week of March“Thank2020. you not only from me as a sufferer of COVID, but for all the millions who somehow have reaped the benefit of your hard work,” he said. He recalled it was the first time in the country’s experience that social benefits that stem from the rapid developments in science and medicine.”Marcos also mentioned the sig nificance of removing barriers in scientific research and information exchange.“Akey element of this, the work that you do, is the cooperation that you — the different agencies that have come together and have removed all the barriers in terms of the course of scientific research, of exchange of information, of help in facilities, help in using all of the laboratories so that we are able to maximize our efforts,” he said. “This has not only happened here in the Philippines. It happened also around the world whereas we saw for the first time, I think in the history of different countries, we could see that the research institutes were not very jealous of their infor mation, and it was shared at an un precedented rate,” he said. In addition, the President said the openness of mind and continu ing flow of information among agencies have been crucial, critical, and keys to successes enjoyed. Meanwhile, the chief executive underscored the importance of ev idenced-based systems, describing them as “something we rely on.” The President said one of the most significant jobs of government is to provide “actual good informa tion and guidance for what people should be able to do so that they can mitigate the effects.” He further noted that risk com munication is crucial during health emergencies and disasters. “What are practical approaches to preventing and mitigating harm? How can we prepare the Filipino people and disseminate information to vulnerable sectors much more ef fectively than we have been able to do so far?” he said. With this, Marcos vowed to continue supporting health re searchers “so that together we can create an enabling environment for the Filipino research community that fosters collaboration and coop eration that will yield solutions that will make lives better for our fellow men and women.”

ANG PANGARAP NYO, AY PANGARAP

The President said he has pre sented to both Houses of Congress the proposed creation of the Virol ogy Center of the Philippines and the country’s own Disease Control Center. (PND)

PBBM lauds, vows continued support for heroic health researchers

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) was also tapped to help address this concern in the health sector.Paolo Maximo Borromeo, PSAC Healthcare lead, said TES DA offers a six-month nursing aide course and produces graduates who could be deployed in hospitals after a few“Whatmonths.the hospitals do is they train them further, another 30 days to do IG, to do phlebotomy, or ‘yung na sal – NGT. And it improves the ratio of beds that nurses [are] able to do in hospitals. Quick win like that is easy to do if you can encourage more nurs ing aides,” Borromeo said. He also suggested the institution alization of nursing aides and nurse practitioners in a nursing act being discussed in Congress, incorporating provisions such as improved salaries and benefits for nurses. Increase compensation for health workers Aside from providing schol arships and incentives to nursing schools and nursing students, PSAC called for a review of the salaries and benefits of nurses. Currently, nurses employed in government hospitals get higher salaries than those working in the privateThesector.advisory council said the government could come up with a policy mandating equal pay for nurses working in both the public and private sectors. The DOH said there is a total of 617,000 licensed nurses in the country, with 28 percent working in both public and private health facil ities, or about 172,000.

distributionchainoncoordinationImprovedfoodsupplyproduction,

Nursing aide courses

President “Bongbong”FerdinandMarcos, Jr.

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Acknowledging the problems posed by brain drain in the health sector, the President said the gov a couple of local governments that we have piloted this with. But of course, this would be – eventually para makapag-produce tayo nang madami,” Vergeire said.

DOST secretary

“This NCAP system is laud able since the intent is to discipline erring, abusive or wayward drivers. But the implementors, I was told, are imposing excessive fines and could be violating the Constitution since there is no due process of law. Likewise, there is no law, or dinance, or regulation prohibiting vehicle registration due to non-pay ment of fines for traffic violations,” Barbers said. He noted the possibility of overlapping implementation, in which an erring driver could be pe nalized twice for the same offense by the different implementors. Barbers said if the MMDA would be the only forum where these erring drivers caught on NCAP CCTV monitors can file grievances, complaints, and pro tests, then the agency would then virtually become “the accuser, judge, and executioner.”

DPWH, Korea Eximbank discuss loans to fund more projects MANILA – The South Korean government will continue to sup port the country’s infrastructure development projects through the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan and Senior Undersecretary Emil Sadain met on Friday with of ficials of the Export-Import Bank of Korea (Korea Eximbank) Manila Representative Office, implement ing agency of the Korean govern ment’s Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) Official Development Assistance (ODA) program in the Philippines, at the DPWH central office in Manila and discussed ways of further strength ening the cooperation between the two countries.

The Office of the Press Sec retary released a copy of the letter containing Solidum’s appointment, dated July 22 and signed by Execu tive Secretary Victor Rodriguez. “I am pleased to transmit your appointment letter, signed by Presi dent Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., as ad interim secretary (of the) Depart ment of Science and Technology,” the letter--read.Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos MANILA – The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has ordered the closure of an illegal recruitment agency in Ermita, Manila. In a statement, Secretary Su san Ople said the Anti-Illegal Re cruitment Branch (AIRB) of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) padlocked Kharem’s International last July 29 for supposedly offering non-exis tent jobs in the Middle East. It was learned that the estab lishment is an unregistered and unlicensed company posing to hire domestic workers, beauticians, and on-call cleaners for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and other Middle Eastern countries. Ople said the Department had received complaints about Kharem International’s bogus job offerings in exchange for placement and oth er “advance” fees. The operation was conducted with the help of officials of Baran gay 668 in Ermita. She also advised those who were victimized by the company to contact the Anti-Illegal Recruitment Branch for free legal assistance in the filing of cases. At the same time, the DMW chief reported that six illegal re cruiters from Davao City were ap prehended in separate operations in Metro Manila early this month. She said the suspected illegal recruiters promised non-existent overseas jobs to 235 victims. The recruiters were the subject of a complaint coursed through the radio program “Wanted sa Radyo, Raffy Tulfo in Action.” The complainants were referred to the DMW. Ople added that one of the six illegal recruiters from Davao City was confronted by 109 of its vic tims at the POEA Building in Man daluyong City. The victims were to file a com plaint when they spotted and cor nered Vegloure Ragotero, one of the alleged sub-agent recruiters, inside the building.Thesuspect is neither connect ed with any licensed recruitment agency nor is authorized to en gage in the recruitment of workers abroad.The DMW head has ordered an investigation into the presence of Ragotero in the building. Another batch of 126 victims cornered suspected illegal recruiters in front of a hotel in Pasay City. They were identified as Zahra Kaharudin, Alma Camasura, Maria Katherine Omambat, Connie Cos mod, and Glodie May Pandian. They are being held at the deten tion facility of the Criminal Investiga tion and Detection Group-Anti-Trans national Crime Unit of the Philippine National Police. Charges of large-scale illegal recruitment, a non-bailable offense under Republic Act No. 10022, other wise known as the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995, are being prepared against them.

DSWD Secretary wants to 4Psgraduation/exitexpediteofbeneficiaries

Solon bats for creation of PH Traffic Center

Jaejeong Moon, country di rector and chief representative of Eximbank-EDCF, expressed the Korean government’s intent to fur ther increase the concessional loan assistance to the country to fund de velopment projects. The EDCF provides assistance to DPWH-implemented flood control, roads and bridges and flood control projects managed by the Unified Proj ect Management Office. Sadain, in-charge of ODA-fund ed projects, said the three ongoing EDCF projects are the Samar Pacific Coastal Road Project in Northern Sa mar, Panguil Bay Bridge Project in Northern Mindanao, and Integrated Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation Measures in the low-lying areas of Pampanga.

DOST Secretary Renato Solidum

One of the salient features of the bill is Section 15 which outlines the principles of a “No Contact Ap prehensionGutierrezPolicy.”saidthe policy would be governed by the right to due pro cess and equal protection of laws. The policy, he said, would also be required to undergo a dry run of at least one year in a covered area under the Traffic Center’s supervi sion. Other regulations for the no contact apprehension policy in clude the following: all road mark ings and signages of a covered area would be clear and comprehensible; prompt notification of an alleged violation to the concerned motor ist within 24 hours of the incident; easily accessible means to update a person’s contact and registration details; in case of contested appre hension, the adjudication would be handled by the Traffic Board Adju dication Board. The Traffic Center would be at tached to the Department of Trans portation for policy and program coordination. To effectively carry out its tasks, the Traffic Center would is sue a centralized list of traffic rules and offenses, as well as train all traf fic officers and personnel in traffic enforcement, management, and a proper investigation of accidents. In a privilege speech on Tues day, Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers sought an inquiry into MMDA’s no-contact apprehension policy (NCAP) due to the “enor mous” traffic fines imposed even for minorBarbersviolations.made the call after receiving reports and complaints from motorists who are penalized with enormous fees “without due process of law”. He noted that while the intent of NCAP to discipline erring driv ers is laudable, the public should be enlightened about the details of its implementation to curb or stop abuses by the implementors. Under the NCAP system, the MMDA or local government units concerned issue notices or citation and mail them directly to the vehi cles’ registered owners. Non-pay ment of dues or fines for a specific period of seven days meant that vi olators’ vehicles would not be ac commodated for re-registration. Barbers said the NCAP could become an additional burden for motorists and a source of corruption institutionalized by the state.

The MMDA, meanwhile, wel comed the call for a legislative in vestigation into the controversial policy, assuring its cooperation with other branches of the government and agencies to “ensure a more ef ficient and orderly implementation” of the NCAP. It said the recent call of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to suspend the NCAP was ad dressed to LGUs who have auton omy in “crafting and implementing their own traffic regulations.” “From what we heard, LTO’s call for LGUs to suspend their re spective NCAP is their reaction to the call of some transport groups and operators on the issue,” it said. -- Filane Mikee Cervantes

MANILA – A party-list lawmaker on Friday pushed for the creation of a National Traffic Enforce ment and Management Center or “Traffic Center” as the chief agency in charge of traffic man agement.

Solidum appointed

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DMW Secretary Susan Ople Illegal recruitment firm non-existentoffering

jobs padlocked

1 RIDER Rep. Ramon Rodri go Gutierrez filed House Bill 3410, which would provide a frame work for a unified and centralized approach to traffic enforcement, including the formulation and ap proval of the No Contact Apprehen sion GutierrezPolicy. pointed out that the problem of traffic warrants a body dedicated to traffic, and not merely an adjunct of the other bodies. He said the proposed traffic center would be national in scope and would supersede other juris dictional traffic bodies, such as the Metro Manila Development Au thority (MMDA) and the local gov ernment unit (LGU) enforcement arms, as well as unify their enforce ment powers under one body. “Under such proposed struc ture, traffic offense would be con sidered universal in scope and ap plication,” Gutierrez said. He said the Traffic Center would distinguish itself from other bodies, such as the Land Transpor tation Office (LTO) and Land Trans portation Franchising and Regula tory Board (LTFRB), as it would be the primary agency involved with traffic policy, regulation, and enforcement, unlike the LTO and LTFRB which are involved in reg istration issues.

In May, the Philippine gov ernment secured loan from South Korea to cover funds for the engi neering services for the PHP187.54 billion Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges Project, which in volves two sea-crossing, four-lane bridges totaling 32.47 kilometers (kms), including connecting roads and interchanges, to link the three Western Visayas islands. KEXIM-EDCF extended a loan of USD56.6 million for one of the big-ticket items under the Dute rte administration’s “Build, Build, Build”Theprogram.zero-interest loan with a 0.1 percent service charge per dis bursement covers a maturity period of 40 years, inclusive of a 10-year grace period.

DEPARTMENT of Social Wel fare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Erwin T. Tulfo urged the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) National Program Management Office (NPMO) to expedite graduation activities and exit process of the newly identi fied non-poor list of Listahanan 3 (L3), during the opening of the Planning Workshop on the Grad uation of Non-Poor and Entry of Poor Households on August 2. In his key remarks, Secretary Tulfo said that the data from the third Listahanan nationwide as sessment or Listahanan 3 recently launched on August 1, 2022, will be used to process the delisting of 4Ps household-beneficiaries who are al ready non-poor. Meanwhile, those households assessed as poor in L3 are considered as potential house hold-beneficiaries of the 4Ps. Aside from being assessed as poor, poten tial household-beneficiaries must have children below 18 or pregnant members at the time of the enumer ation and they must be willing to comply with the conditions set forth by theDapatprogram.siguraduhin natin na ang ilalagay sa 4Ps ay talagang kara pat-dapat na maging benepisyaryo ng 4Ps, prioritizing the solo par ents, farmers, fisher folks, persons with disabilities” (We have to make sure that we will only include those who are qualified to become benefi ciaries of 4Ps), the Secretary added.

MANILA – Renato Solidum Jr. will head the Department of Sci ence and Technology (DOST), Malacañang announced. Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles confirmed in a state ment that President Ferdinand Mar cos Jr. has appointed Solidum. “We confirm the appointment of Mr. Renato Umali Solidum Jr. as Secretary of the Department of Sci ence and Technology,” Cruz-Ange les said.Solidum is a geologist who has worked with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology and was DOST Undersecretary for Disaster Risk Reduction and Cli mate Change Adaptation before his new appointment.

DICT-10 trains personnel to sharpen basic journalism skills

The Task Force Bantay Karne recently made rounds on several estab lishments and meat stalls to en sure that meats being sold in the market were of high quality and free from the African Swine Fe ver contamination. TF Bantay Karne led by the City of Mati Veterinary Office to gether with National Meat Inspec tion Services Region XI (NMIS XI), and LGU Sanitary Inspection of the City Health Office conducted the inspection in several establish ments that sold fresh and processed meat.There were 26 meat related establishments and 2 cold storages visited by the team in which 10 of them were given warnings and re minders — Inday & Milky Meat to improve our current methods on how we do things,” she said. She further expressed her grati tude to PIA-10’s leadership for pos itively accepting the invitation to be the training workshop’s resource speakers.More than 30 handpicked per sonnel from DICT’s provincial of fices across northern Mindanao are present, hoping that the training workshop will bring fresh insights into their current roles. The training has been an avenue to share and ex

By Jeanevive Abangan DAVAO ORIENTAL-- In her ad ministration’s bid to address the province’s economic recovery and improve the lives of her con stituents, Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon is determined to im prove the power delivery services in Davao Oriental. Earlier today, during the cour tesy call of the Davao Oriental Electric Cooperative, Inc. (DORE CO) – the province’s electric coop erative and sole power distributor, Governor Malanyaon stressed the need to improve basic services, particularly access to electricity to help reduce the poverty incidence in the province which has recently increased due to the effects of the pandemic.Among the programs she in investments will mainly focus on basic infrastructure, especially the provision of electricity in rural ar eas and key tourism destinations. In support of this, DORECO offered to shoulder the labor coun terpart for the province’s electrifi cation program. This is on top of its Sitio Electrification Program, which is set to provide electricity to ten sitios in the province within this year.“We can give the labor coun terpart to whatever electrification project the province would like to engage in. Our men are eager to en ergize our province, especially the tourism areas,” said Ms. Santos. On the other hand, to address the frequent power outages, the pro vincial government and DORECO are set to jointly launch a massive clearing of all power lines across the province within the Governor’s first 100 days. The DORECO appealed to the public’s support for the slated massive clearing, which Governor Malanyaon also strongly supports. “Clearing is also the obligation of LGUs, as well as, every communi ty,” she said, adding the need to ed ucate the public about their shared responsibility in ensuring that pow erlines are cleared. “We would want our barangay leaders and everyone in the govern ment to help us secure our power lines because power interruption interrupts everything; it interrupts everyone,” said Ms. Santos, add ing that power outages are mainly caused by the obstruction of power lines and not the power supply. According to DORECO, Davao Oriental has an installed capacity of 55 megawatts and a contracted capacity of 22 mega watts sourced from different power suppliers, providing the province’s power requirements. In the recent month, Davao Oriental had an aver age peak load of 33 megawatts. To further address the prov ince’s power needs, especially in its capital City of Mati, DORECO anticipates the operation of the Su preme Power Corporation’s diesel power plant in Barangay Dawan, City of Mati, which still awaits the approval of the Power Regulatory Commission.DORECO also mentioned the soon-to-be-realized 138 KVA power transmission of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), which is poised to provide uninterrupted power supply in the province.

Gov to work with electric coop for energy supply

NEWSThe Observer.com 5VOLUME 1, NO. AUGUSTSATURDAY4514,2022

tends to pursue is the development of renewable energy, specifically biomass. The Governor said she is exploring a partnership with a Jap anese company interested in invest ing in a biomass powerplant poised to reduce power rates by about 40 percent while providing clean and sustainable energy. DORECO said it strongly sup ports the Governor’s plan, noting that renewable energy is the direc tion where the country’s energy sector is headed. “We are open to possibilities and willing to engage in projects with our partners,” said DORECO OIC General Manager Ms. Mary Ann Santos. Governor Malanyaon also tar gets to provide electrification in the sitios that still do not have access to electricity. She said that under her administration, the province’s not spend on anything that is not important. We will only spend for priority projects that can directly help the people), she said, noting that her administration will prior itize road rehabilitation and im provement, which has a direct im pact on the people’s livelihoods. She anticipates establishing strong collaboration with the agency in the province’s development pro grams. “We could not do everything alone, but with you complementing us, we could do many things for our people,” the Governor said, adding that there should be “real conver gence and real institutionalization of all government programs.” She also appealed to the agency to implement results-oriented pro grams. “For every program, there should be a result to the people’s economic condition. “Whatever intervention, for every centavo the government gives, we should know the impact on every household. That is what I am rallying for,” the Governor said. The DAR, headed by Eduardo Suaybaguio, PARPO II, assured the Governor that the agency would align its development initiatives to the thrusts of the provincial govern ment.DAR, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, is cur rently implementing initiatives to restore the province’s swine indus try which was affected by the Afri can Swine Fever. The project aims to repopulate swines to help farm ers and livestock raisers recover their losses from the ASF. Governor Malanyaon laud ed the agency’s efforts as she also looks forward to working with them to benefit the people of Davao Ori ental. (By Karen Lou Deloso-PIO | Photos by Van Jorain Rufin

Mati’s TF “Bantay Karne” inspects meat stalls, stores By Jeanevive Abangan Shop, Magtuba Dressed Chicken, Galindo Meat Stall, Tayag Dressed Chicken, NCCC Supermarket, ER Supermall, Warehouse Club Inc., Montecalvo Meat Shop, and Ale jandro Loon Meat Stall. The establishments were giv en reminders on proper storage of fresh and processed meat and re minding them of the sanitary and health protocols. The City Vet also reminded all consumers to be careful in buying meat products, telling them to only buy in meat shops with proper busi ness document . No fresh and processed meat were confiscated during the latest meat inspection. (CIO MATI/ Ethel Gastanes) DAR to integrate programs on entrepreneurship

DAVAO ORIENTAL---

By Jeanevive Abangan DAVAO ORIENTAL--- Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon has urged the Department of Agrarian Re form (DAR) to prioritize develop ing and implementing programs that would encourage the cul ture of entrepreneurship among Davao Oriental constituents. Governor Malanyaon said during the agency’s recent courte sy call at the Capitol, that produc ing more entrepreneurs and small enterprises in the province is one way she sees would help push her administration’s thrust of reducing poverty in the province. Governor Malanyaon said, “There is an urgency for us to im prove the financial conditions of our people.”Sheadded that, “All interven tions must be market-driven. Cur rently, her administration is bent on producing livestock and crops with a readily available market. Moreover, she said she will see to it that the government will also prioritize scholarship programs on agri-business courses to encourage the younger generation to engage in business while helping in the prov ince’s pursuit of creating sustain able Tolivelihoods.realizethese, she asked for the complementation of efforts be tween all national agencies, includ ing the DAR, and the provincial government so that “no resources will be “Wewasted.”arein uncertain times, especially on income and food se curity,” she said, noting that the government must be prudent on its priorities, including its spending. “Di na tayo gagasto nang kung anoano lang. Yun lang talagang direct na makakatulong sa tao,” (We will

Participants of the Social Media, Basic News Writing, and Photography Training of the Department of Information and Communications Technology-10 write their news story workshop outputs after considering the tips learned in creating an en gaging article from the Philippine Information Agency-10. (Nid Naci/DICT-10) CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)--The Department of In formation and Communications Technology (DICT)-10 hosted a two-day training on basic jour nalism for their personnel, Au gust 11-12, at the DICT 10 Re gional Office in Carmen, here. This training is organized in collaboration with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-10, to upskill DICT employees on social media, basic news writing, and pho tography.Being an institution that pri marily advocates for the national information and communications technology agenda, such skills are useful and relevant on how DICT10 appropriately presents its exist ing programs and projects to the general public and reach target au diences online. DICT-10 Regional Director Sittie Rahma V. Alawi personally attended the activity and actively joined the participants during work shops. “I’m really into enhancing our capabilities through trainings. I want us to be equipped with how to do things properly for us to be able change their ideas, especially when it comes to thinking about creative ways to promote existing DICT 10 programs and projects to the com munity. In recent months, DICT-10 has been capacitating its employees, improving methods, and making sure that the regional office’s output incorporates best practices on the timely and proper use of different tools for proper and effective infor mation dissemination. (Maria Jelin/DICT-10/PIA-10)

digital apps platformsdigitalupgradesBank

MANILA – An executive of Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) said additional features will be introduced to their digital plat forms as more people continue to use digital applications despite the ability to go to the banks as the economy continues to reopen. In a virtual briefing on Friday, BPI Consumer Platforms Business Lead Fitzgerald Chee said around 60 percent of the Ayala-led bank’s clients are enrolled in their elec tronic banking platform. “Granted that, of course, there are challenges and headwinds in terms of what the economy has at tained. We believe that there’s still a lot of room for us to develop and re ally grow this digital space and any transactions here,” he said. Chee said the additional fea tures of their electronic banking platforms are targeted to make it easier for their clients to do their banking transactions as proven even prior to the implementation of the movement restrictions when the pandemic hit. He said educational campaigns to teach people how to be secure on their online transactions will con tinue.“As we are able to encourage more people to enroll (in the bank’s online banking application), you can see a change in the whole coun try,” he said. Chee said the shift to digital transactions has an impact even on traditional banking services. He, however, clarified that this change will not lessen job opportu nities for their personnel. “We believe that we can rede fine the role of the branch from be ing a transactional aspect to having more value-adding conversations with their clients,” he added. --Joann Villanueva and mobility hub in the region. “We envision TMSPH to be at the center of new mobility eco system as an integrated, one-stop mobility solutions provider to help advance businesses and addresses local communities’ needs,” TMSPH president Ma. Cristina Fe Arevalo said.The company’s initial pipeline of services includes fleet-connect ed service, an on-demand shuttle booking app, car sharing or rental, logistics matching service, and fleet management service. The services aim to help allevi ate the commuting public’s woes, as

ANKARA – The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Coun tries (OPEC) revised its global oil demand estimates for 2022 to av erage 100.03 million barrels per day (bpd), according to OPEC’s latest monthly oil market report. Although the forecast marks a year-on-year rise of 3.1 million bpd, this remains 300,000 bpd behind the levels of last month’s forecast. Pointing to strong economic growth in most consuming coun tries, OPEC revised up its oil de mand forecast for the first quarter of 2022.However, according to the agency’s newly-released 2023 fore cast, world oil demand is estimated to reach 102.7 million bpd in 2023, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.

Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. (TMP) inaugurated in Tagu ig City on Friday its new wholly owned subsidiary Toyota Mobility Solutions Philippines, Inc. (TM SPH), the first of its kind in the Philippines and Asia. Toyota Motor Corp. Asia Re gion chief executive officer Hao Quoc Tien said the new unit is eyed to become a center of excellence well as the logistics needs of enter prises.In 2020, TMP president Hiro Okamoto tried various modes of public transportation and experi enced first-hand the journey of the commuting public.

Digital transformation to spur construction industry growth es digitally, inadequate software solutions, and lack of support from technology providers and vendors.

DIGITALIZATION. Smaller construction firms are finding it hard to keep up with their larger counterparts in terms of transformation towards digitalization. However, Procore Vice President of Asia Bruce Wells said this is not unique to the construc tion industry alone, citing the need for the government and the private sector to ed ucate smaller firms on the best practices to aid them in their digital transformation journey. (Photo by Joann S. Villanueva)

DTI’s previous update on SRPs of basic goods and prime commod ities was last January 27. The DTI chief added there are some products with price increments higher than the inflation rate as their prices were not moving for some years.He said in one case, the last price adjustment was made in 2014. “The price increase is request ed upon us then we evaluate. We do our own calculation of the cost of the raw materials and determine what should be the movement,” PascualThesaid.new SRP list can be ac cessed through sities-prime-commodities/.konsyumer/latest-srps-basic-neceswww.dti.gov.ph/Basicgoodsincludecanned sardines, processed milk, coffee, bread, instant noodles, salt, deter gent soap, bottled water, and can dles, while prime commodities in clude meat loaf, beef loaf, corned beef, soy sauce, vinegar, fish sauce, toilet soap, and battery. The DTI also issued SRP list of school supplies in time for the upcoming face-to-face classes that can be accessed through plies-081122/.gov.ph/advisories/srp-school-supwww.dti.

MANILA – After issuing the new suggested retail prices (SRPs) for basic goods and prime commod ities, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Alfre do Pascual plans to review and streamline the list. Pascual told reporters Friday that he wants to rationalize the SRP list, focusing on products that are mostly purchased by the general public.“For example, ‘yong mga wa ter in big containers, hindi naman ‘yon binibili ng mga mass base na population. Binibili nila, mga 300 (milliliters)… ‘Yon ang binaban tayan namin ang increase. Pero ‘yong mga five gallons, bihira bu mibili noon. Kaya I was thinking na baka ‘yon, pwede naming i-exclude (For example, the water in big con tainers, these are not being bought by the mass base population. They buy the 300 (milliliters)… That’s what we are monitoring for the in crease. But the five gallons, those are rarely bought. So I was thinking that maybe, we can exclude it),” he said.The new SRPs of basic goods and prime commodities took effect Friday, with over 60 shelf keeping units (SKUs) with adjusted prices, Pascual said.

OPEC revises down oil demand forecast for 2022 As more

MANILA – Digitalization has paved the way for people to have faster and more efficient process es but smaller companies are fac ing some challenges in keeping up with technology, according to a report. A construction industry bench mark report released Thursday by Procore Technologies Inc., a glob al provider of construction man agement software, showed that 98 percent of the 259 Philippine-based firms that joined the survey across several countries in the Asia Pacific last February expressed optimism on the outlook for the construction industry conditions in the next 12 months.Itsaid digital transformation is a “big catalyst” to the growth of the industry but smaller firms are find ing it hard to easily adapt to these changes.Results of the survey showed that 26 percent of the respondents have also said that their businesses are already being digital-first and 56 percent said they are “well on the way” to their digital transforma tion Itjourney.alsoindicated that around 65 percent of the respondents from the Philippines have increased their digital investments in the last 24 months.However, the challenges to the digitalization bid include changing established behaviors, 44 percent; overcoming concerns around data security, 43 percent; and costs in volving how to transfer process

Toyota opens Asia’s first mobility solution firm in PH

“I said that I would like Toyota to take part in this big challenge to help upgrade the quality of life of many Filipinos,” Okamoto said. He added that as the leading au tomotive company in the Philippines, Toyota is in a good position to devel op and offer mobility solutions. Meanwhile, in its 34 years in the Philippines, TMP chairman Alfred Ty said Toyota has invest ed PHP73 billion and contributed PHP426 billion in taxes. It provided jobs to 63,000 Fil ipinos in its manufacturing plant, dealership networks, suppliers, and affiliates. The company also shared USD17.1 billion in auto component exports since it began its export op erations in 1997. Ty noted that the Philippines is now the 10th largest market for Toyota in the world. (PNA) TMSPH president Ma. Cristina Fe Arevalo

In a press briefing, Procore Vice President of Asia Bruce Wells attributed the challenges in the shift to digitalization in the construction industry to technologies being built by tech people and not those who are really involved in the construc tion Hecompany.said the digital transfor mation is not simply investment in technology but “being committed to doing this properly.” “It’s an opportunity to change the way you’re doing things,” he added.Wells said that while small er construction firms are finding it hard to keep up with larger compa nies in terms of their digital trans formation journey, there are lots of opportunities around. “In general, I think, there is a great opportunity for agencies, gov ernments to do more in educating the industries that they’re serving in terms of what best practices look like and help the folks along the way,” he Wellssaid.said small companies should not be alone in figuring out the ins and outs of digital transfor mation. “Certainly there’s opportunity for further education, which I don’t see any hindrances to that and I think that’s happening. This is cer tainly not unique to construction but applies to multiple industries,” he added. -- Joann Villanueva

DTI eyes to rationalize list of basic goods, prime commodities

(PNA) people use

By Kris Crismundo JAPANESE carmaker Toyota has chosen the Philippines for its first mobility solution company in Asia.

BusinessPage The Observer.com6 VOLUME 1, NO. 45 AUGUSTSATURDAY14, 2022

THE 2021-22 South Australian Horse of the Year Awards will be a Jolly celebration. But just what Jolly-trained horse is crowned the Horse of the Year is still to be decided. David Jolly will be represent ed by Behemoth as he tries to claim the Horse of the Year Award for a second time in three years after winning in 2020, while Richard and Chantelle Jolly have the other two finalists in See You In Heaven and Regalo Di BehemothGaetano.waslone South Aus tralian Group 1 winner last season when he narrowly beat fellow local Beau Rossa to win a second succes sive Memsie Stakes at Caulfield. Another successful season for the classy galloper saw him win the Group 3 Spring Stakes for a second successive time while also running second in the Durbridge Stakes at Listed Level.

Karera Atbp.

Phone: 0488 925 055 | Sam Lyons admin@grandsyndicates.com.au Brazen Beau Brazen Beau Dam: Rolling Cloud Age: 2 YO Colour: Bay Sex: Colt Foaled: 09 Nov 2020 $2,200 per FULL 5% share

www.grandsyndicates.com.au

The Observer.com 7VOLUME 1, NO. AUGUSTSATURDAY4514,2022

BEHEMOTHFORBECKONSHISTORYVETERAN

PHOTO OF THE WEEK Morning frost and a beautiful sunrise - by Rachel Armes Send us your favourite pics to see them featured heretom@grandsyndicates.comemail

Credit: www.racingsa.com.au

DAVID Jolly is confident he has multiple Group 1 winner Behe moth in a good place ahead of his return to racing at Morphettville. Behemoth will chase a third successive Spring Stakes victo ry when he kicks off a campaign geared around chasing third straight Group 1 Memsie Stakes win and Jolly said his main concern would just how wet the Morphettville sur face gets ahead of Saturday. “Just how much rain we get and where the track ends up would be the only reservation I have,’’ Jol ly said.“The rail back in the true po sition might mean the fresh ground is the place to be and we’re drawn wide, but I’m going there happy with the horse,’’ he said. Jolly said as Behemoth gets older, he’s a horse who tends to save his best for race day. “He’s in good form I think,’’ Jolly‘He’ssaid. well and happy, you don’t tend to test horses like him a lot at this point of his preparation. “He might be getting a little lazier as he gets a bit older, but he seems to be in great shape. He might not be as sharp as he was a season or two ago but sometimes when horses get older, they save it for the races,’’ he said. Behemoth will be ridden by Paul Gatt for the first time in his career with Kayla Crowther riding stablemate Calypso Reign. “Gatty had a feel for him on Tuesday and was pretty happy,’’ Jolly“Kaylasaid. would have chosen to ride him no doubt, but I said to her Calypso might be worth staying on as there is two or three races here that I think he’ll be very competi tive in going forward. “He’s a workman-like horse who has really learnt to win. “He has really developed his versatility and can sustain a long sprint, I’m sure he can run a nice race as well,’’ he said.

INTRODUCING Team Grand’s exciting new son of the brilliant dual Group 1 winning sprinter, BRAZEN BEAU! This colt is one that you’d be forgiven for thinking would nor mally be priced out of reach for most people, however thanks to some hard work and a dash of luck, we’ve been able to bring him into our system and offer him in our $2,200 a share bracket! A brilliant racehorse, BRA ZEN BEAU won both the Group 1 Newmarket and Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes as a 3yo, as well as being placed in the same season in both the Group 1 VRC Light ning and the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot too! He was crowned Australia’s Champion 3yo Colt in season 2014/15, and as a stallion, is now standing at Darley Australia, where he’s already pro duced 185 winners including 16 stakes-winners of over $16 million in prizemoney. His top-class race horses including Group 1 winner ON THE BUBBLES, brilliant ju venile GENERAL BEAU, multiple Group 2 winner PRETTY BRA ZEN, the Group 3 winning and G1 placed NORTH PACIFIC, and now the very exciting and undefeated 2yo gelding BELLO BEAU, just to name a Thefew!dam of our new horse is the very well-bred mare Rolling Cloud, a former $200,000 yearling and

Strong Colt by Group 1 Winner BRAZEN BEAU!

South Australian Horse of the Year nominees revealed 2021-22 was a season to re member for Richard and Chantelle Jolly claiming their first SA Train ers Premiership. Exciting filly See You In Heav en started her season with a bang on the biggest stage winning down the Flemington straight on debut on Melbourne Cup Day. She returned for a successful Adelaide Racing Carnival winning the Group 3 Breeders Stakes and Listed Dequetteville Stakes at Mor phettville while recording placings in the Group 3 David Coles Stakes and Listed Cinderella Stakes. Stablemate Regalo Di Gaetano won three of his five starts. He claimed Group 3 success in the Eclipse Stakes at Caulfield along with SA features in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville and adding a Listed Murray Bridge Cup to his impressive resume. The 2021-22 SA Horse of the Year will be announced at the 2022 Racing SA Industry Awards at the Ad elaide Convention Centre on Aug. 27. Credit: the-year-nominees-revealedau/blog/2022/08/11/4146/horse-of-https://racingsa.com.

daughter of champion sire FAST NET ROCK and the stakes-win ning mare MOHEGAN SKY. Mo hegan Sky’s dam Seattle Moon is herself stakes-placed and is a very proven producer with 9 winners to her name, 4 of them good enough to win or place at stakes-level. From a family deep with black-type, it’s no surprise that Rolling Cloud looks like kicking off her broodmare ca reer in style with her first foal ‘Nic co Roll’ already placed twice from her first three starts (at the time of writing) for Team Hayes. Chosen on inspection from the recent Melbourne Premier Sale by our preferred bloodstock consul tant, John Price, this colt will be trained by Team Grand’s newest ad dition to our training ranks, exciting young trainer Ben Brisbourne, who will train from his Wangaratta base in Victoria.Whilst you’d expect a well credentialled yearling like this to come with a heavy price-tag, we’re happy to announce that full 5% shares are available for only $2,200 upfront, which includes all purchase, education, training, agist ment and all other associated costs, right through to July 1st 2022. From that date, Grand Syndicates’, stressfree, fixed fees will cover all of your ongoing training, racing, agistment, management and communications, vet and transport (< 300km) costs at $230/month ($7.56/day), paid quarterly by direct debit. There’s no bill-shock, and you know exactly what you’re up for all of the time. All of which makes this well-bred gelding an excellent opportunity to get yourself into the winner’s circle without paying a king’s ransom for the privilege!

Sire:

openedARTS&TRAVELtoservethegrowingtour

THE freedom to take one’s business wherev er one goes is a perk of entrepreneurial life. The pandemic has even fasttracked the new norm to take the office wherev er one opts to park his laptop. If working from anywhere has become the lifestyle of choice of entrepreneurs, where else can they work other than the seaside paradise of CaSoBe (Calatagan South Beach), one of Landco’s latest Beach Towns in Batangas.

Entrepreneurs who will invest in the residential or mix-use lots of CaSoBe have the benefit of en joying the anticipated increase of their investment’s market value as proven by Landco’s track record of property value appreciation in Pun ta Fuego, Batangas.

Eco-FriendlyBeachTown CaSoBe is a sustainable devel opment envisioned to contribute to the quality of leisure tourism and property development targeting environment, economic, and social sustainability. CaSoBe is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Envi ronmental Design)-registered and Millennial Resorts, the operator of CaSoBe, a Dreamy BeachTown for Entrepreneurs

Luckily for entrepreneurs, the 15-hectare CaSoBe progress es towards completion. The mas ter-planned development offers mix-use residential and commercial lots situated in the rising business hub and beach tourist destination. The development features wide open spaces and beautiful prome nades, with parks and retail land scapes.Setting it apart from other beach properties, CaSoBe elevates the resort lifestyle with inviting de tails such as blue roads, street art, and creative lamp posts. Hospitality amenities are already fully opera tional and managed by Millennial Resorts. The 300-capacity event space called Canopy was recently

Future-proofinvestment

About BeachLandcoTowns

its hospitality amenities, is the first EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies)-certified re sort in the country. Various CSR and sustainability activities are undertaken for the conservation of marine sanctuary and community assistance in CaSoBe and its vicini ty. Landco is a subsidiary of Met ro Pacific Investments Corporation and is known for pioneering pre mium landscapes for more than 30 years. For more information about the Landco BeachTown CaSoBe, visit landco.ph or FB page @Land coPacificCorporation or view the official video com/watch?v=cCozyNNq51E.https://www.youtube.

Landco BeachTowns are mas ter-planned seaside residential and resort communities driven by a powerful vision to create a beachside living destination for the urban pioneers. A beachside con cept whose time has come, and is taking shape in the prosperous en claves of Batangas in Laiya and Ca latagan and Samal Davao. Landco BeachTowns, are rising over hun dreds of hectares of Prime Real Es tate with seaside residential homes, beachside retail establishments, world-class hotels, condominiums, and themed restaurants. Landco BeachTowns is setting a new stan dard of living. PacificLandcoCorporation For more than 30 years, Land co Pacific Corporation has created world-class leisure communities, breathtaking resort-inspired condo miniums, and luxury home commu nities in the Philippines. A subsidiary of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), Landco is a pioneering real estate developer in the country, which offers innovative and outstanding lifestyle products and experiences that revolutionize the way Filipinos live. Every Landco property is a testament to its vision of “Pioneer ing Landscapes”:LandcoShores: Peninsula de Punta Fuego and Terrazas de Punta Fuego. Landco Parks: WoodGrove Park in San Fernando, Pampanga; Waterwood Park in Baliuag, Bula can; Montelago Nature Estates in San Pablo, Laguna; The Courtyard at Lakewood Golf Estates in Ca banatuan, Nueva Ecija; Woodridge Garden Village in Zamboanga City; and Hacienda Escudero in Tiaong, Quezon. Landco Peaks: Canyon Woods in Lemery, Batangas Landco BeachTowns: Playa Laiya and Club Laiya in Laiya, San Juan Batangas, Playa Calatagan and CaSoBē – Calatagan South Beach in Calatagan, Batangas and Playa Azalea and Costa Azalea in Samal island, Davao. Metro Pacific CorporationInvestments(PSE:MPI) A Philippine-based, publicly listed investment and management company, focused on infrastructure, with holdings in Manila Electric Company, Maynilad Water Ser vices, Inc., MetroPac Water Invest ments Corporation, Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation, Metro Pa cific Hospital Holdings Inc., Light Rail Manila Corporation and Met roPac Movers Inc.

Where Working from Anywhere Means Working from Paradise

ism market of Calatagan. The sprawling BeachTown is only three hours away from Met ro Manila and is complete with a strong WI-FI connection, modern infrastructure, and resort amenities. The development is close to nu merous golf courses, polo fields, and tourist attractions which earned Calatagan the moniker of being the playground of the affluent. Local facilities such as a hospital, pub lic market, pharmacy, school, and chapel are likewise easily accessi ble. Work-Life Balance for Entrepreneurs All the lots at CaSoBe are liter ally within steps to the long stretch of powdery white sand beach. The property’s blue pavements are pleasing to the eye and in harmony with the environment of expansive clear skies and azure waters. There are tree-lined bike lanes and path ways parallel and leading to the shores.Harbour Estates are mix-use lots offered within CaSoBe. Entre preneurs can live a healthy lifestyle and build their dream homes amid Calatagan’s rich history and famed sunset by the beach backdrop. Transforming the landscape of Calatagan, entrepreneurs can invest in a property along the retail row and wear the hat of aspiring ho teliers or restaurateurs when they establish their bed and breakfast or cozy little café or restaurant to ca ter to the tourism market. They can also put up a shop for art workshops and yoga retreats, or a business for water sports enthusiasts. CaSoBe is also poised to be a thriving creative, business, and tech community. Startup companies can engage in a collaborative and for ward-thinking environment. One can network and hustle by day, and live the vacation life with fam ily and friends in between breaks, by night, and on weekends in the postcard-perfect setting of CaSoBe, with its stunning sunsets.

8 VOLUME 1, NO. 45 AUGUSTSATURDAY14, 2022 Editor: MYRNA G. ROMAN The Observer.com

Resort Lifestyle Enhancing the resort lifestyle experience in CaSoBe, Millennial Resorts offers premium hospital ity amenities. It manages the un conventional accommodations of the surreal capsule-like rooms of the Cocoons with exteriors paint ed with murals depicting marine life and Crusoe Cabins which are repurposed container vans that are rustic-looking huts on the outside but are contemporary rooms with modern amenities, with options for beachfront and garden view. Millennial Resorts also fea ture Aquaria, a water park with a three-story pool slide, Captain Bar bozza restaurant and bar, and Cano py, the newly-opened event space. To ensure the continuous pro ductivity of entrepreneurs, the Col ony will soon rise as a modern and hip beachside co-working space. MILLI, the Millennial Resorts’ digital service app provides seam less reservations and transactions on property.

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Find the ultimate productivity partner for your first job in the OPPO A57 Be a reli able rockstar at Thework A57 runs on ColorOS 12.1, with allnew keepdesignedfeaturestoyoufo you can also give your brain a much-needed break. The A57 comes with Dual Stereo Speakers to give you an immersive sound experience, making your audio visual breather a more enjoyable one. Take care of your eyes de spite hours on screen Not all gadgets can say that they come with technology to make sure your eyes don’t get strained, despite heavy use all-day. The A57 actually boasts All-Day Eye Care features that automatically scale your phone’s brightness to match the environment. It also reduces blue light output of the 6.56” display, so your eyes don’t get too fatigued even when you’re up late at night. With all these features and more, the OPPO A57 is the right partner to help you make a good first impression at your new job. Available in two colorways, Glowing Black and Glowing Green, grab your reliable and du rable A57 4+64GB and 4+128GB for Php8,999 and Php11,999 re spectively. Visit OPPO Brand Stores nationwide, partner dealers and e-commerce platforms Shop ee and Lazada to shop now!

AS two of the most sought-af ter celebrities in the Philippines, power couple Luis Manzano and Jessy Mendiola-Manzano know all about living a life juggling all their passions. Aside from their on-camera projects, the Man zanos are also well-known con tent creators, entrepreneurs, and loving fur-parents to their dogs -- Chanel, Chewy, Louis, and Sky. With multiple online work and activities, it is incredibly important for the couple to always have the fastest connection at home. That is why in PLDT Home’s newest Do It Better campaign, the Man zanos show how the country’s fast est home broadband network suits their different lifestyles and needs with the best digital products and services. The Manzanos gave us a glimpse of their daily life and how PLDT Home enables them to han dle tasks such as vlogging, holding meetings, arranging their finances, and taking care of their pets, just to name a “Thefew.internet is a vital part of our everyday lives. It helps us to connect to each other and learn new things. When you are open to learn ing new things and exploring new possibilities, you will surely be able to do things better at home and in life,” said Jessy Mendiola-Manza no. “The fastest connection of PLDT Home makes everything simpler. We live in an age where ev erything must be quick and instant. Having a fast and efficient connec tion gives you more chances to do things better for yourself and others in a day, whatever hat you have on,” Luis Manzano added. Do it Better at Home and in life with Lucky and Jessy Manzano Life at home made better As Filipinos embrace a more digital lifestyle, PLDT Home con tinues to address the demand for better, faster, and stronger connec tions.With the fastest Home Fiber plans, subscribers can do more at home. The whole family can com fortably watch their favorite shows on HBO GO, Lionsgate Play, and Viu, or work, study, create content, level up in their games, and enjoy the convenience of smart gadgets in the home.With the fastest internet speeds, families can do all of these and more without worrying about having enough bandwidth for ev eryone.PLDT Home remains the undis puted fastest broadband in the Phil ippines for five consecutive years after it was once again awarded at the Ookla Speedtest Awards Q1-Q2 2022. PLDT bested all major in ternet providers in the Philippines, achieving a speed score of 77.91. It also logged the fastest download and upload speeds at 210.83 Mbps and 234.21 Mbps, respectively. Learn more how you too can #DoItBetter at home and in life powered by the fastest fixed inter net, PLDT Home. Watch Luis and Jessy Manzano on PLDT Home’s video here. Visit this link to know the best PLDT Home Fiber plan for your family. cused on the things that matter. FlexDrop lets you run two or more apps simultaneously in flexible and easy windows, so you can take calls and meeting minutes at the same time. If your job requires you to deal with different languages, you can get translations in a jiffy thanks to the Three-Finger Translate with Google Lens feature. Maintain your privacy while getting things done with the Privacy Dashboard. This feature shows the apps that have access to personal data and other phone features, like the camera and microphone.Staypowered up with superfast Itscharging5000mAh long-lasting battery allows you to work on your phone all day, and enjoy a relaxing game or streaming session to unwind on your way home. With 33W SU PERVOOC charging, you get a full-charge in just 72 minutes, while charging for 5 minutes lets you stay on call for 3 hours. If you’re on Super Power Saving Mode, this minimizes your battery’s usage by restricting active apps to just six of your choosing. Take a quick breather every now and then Going all out during the full eight hours of work can burn you out, so be sure to take breaks throughout the day. Play a quick game or watch a five-minute video to destress, so

GRADUATION season is in full swing! It’s time for to trade in school work for a 9-to-5, and get started on #adulting. First jobs may seem daunting, but if you have the right tools and the right attitude, you can start your career on a high note. Enter the OPPO A57 – a re liable and durable gadget that doubles as your lifestyle and entertainment partner. The allaround mobile phone from global smart device brand OPPO comes packed with features to help you effortlessly check off what’s on your to-do list, while giving you plenty of ways to enjoy your downtime. Available in two vari ants at less than Php12,000, it’s a budget-friendly and reliable solu tion especially if you’re earning money for the first time! Here are just some of the things you can do with the A57 to stay productive throughout the day: Load and switch between apps quickly when multitasking To help you stay efficient and maximize your time while work ing, the A57 comes with up to 4GB extended RAM. This allows you to start up and switch between apps smoother than ever before, because it terminates unnecessary background processes that slow down your phone. It also comes in two vari ants, 4+64GB and an all-new 4+128GB, to give you enough space to save important files for work and play. You can also ex pand storage by up to 1TB so there’s no need to delete photos, videos, or apps to make space for more.

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documents. The built-in holder keeps the pen close at hand and offers fast charging, a 15-second top-up providing enough power for 45 minutes of use. It also benefits from standard, user-facing webcam along with a high-resolution 13 MP world-facing camera. This empow ers users to enjoy the best of both worlds: the ability to conduct clear video and audio calls, and to cap ture high-quality photos and videos. Efficient and Durable: Excep tional battery life and military grade durability.Built for versatility and porta bility, ExpertBook B3 Detachable is packed with handy features to make working and learning in various en vironment faster and more efficient.

PASIG, Philippines, July, 2022ASUS today formally launched ExpertBook B3 Detachable, the ultimate 2-in-1 portable com panion for uninterrupted remote learning and working, anywhere. Designed for education and built for business, the all-new B3 Detachable features a slew of inno vative, flexible and productivity-en hancing features. These include a detachable design with Expert Stand, a versatile dual-orientation stand and cover, plus ExpertBoard, a detachable keyboard compliment ing the ExpertBook B3, an expan sive 16:10 multitouch screen, and inherent adaptability that allows it to be used either horizontally and vertically — in traditional laptop style or as a handheld tablet. Powered by a fast, efficient Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 7c Gen 2 Compute Platform for superb per formance and serious battery life, B3 Detachable is also engineered with a fast-charging, garaged sty lus for easy notes or annotations; AI-powered noise cancelation for crystal-clear conferencing and calls; and dual cameras to empower face-to-face collaboration or quality photo

Editor: MYRNA G. ROMAN

ASUS Launches ExpertBook B3 Detachable

Durability is something that ExpertBook B3 Detachable is known for. With its military-grade MIL-STD-810H certification and stringent inhouse testing, you are guaranteed that B3 Detachable can survive regardless of where it is for an assurance of serious durability. Built to survive every extreme, in cluding freezing and scorching hot temperatures, high speed shocks and to everyday knocks and bumps. Ready for remote work or study: AI noise cancelation and 3DNR Following the pandemic, the trend of hybrid working has in creased — and so too has the de mand for better tools and applica tions to support this. Therefore, to level up remote learning and con ferencing quality, ExpertBook B3 Detachable includes numerous fea tures to boost remote experiences. Chief among these is AI-pow ered noise cancelation. This in tegrated technology includes an upstream function to filter noise around the speaker. This ensures minimal distraction for high-quality communication — making it per fect for the modern worlds of hy brid work and learning. For added convenience, a mute key is located at the top of the keyboard to instant ly silence the microphone, ensuring privacy is only ever one tap away.

ARTS&TRAVEL10 VOLUME 1, NO. 45 AUGUSTSATURDAY14, 2022 YOUR ADS HERE GETS RESULT, CALL: 0927-862-3600

Whether you are at home, in the of fice or outside meeting your clients, ExpertBook B3 Detachable ensures a long battery life, rated up to 21 hours of screen time, lasting you the entire workday and even beyond.

Cherry Home Smart Battery Camera If your business is located in an area that usually suffers from power outages, the Cherry THE CHERRY HOME SMART SECURITY CAMERAS FOR YOUR BUSINESS

Home Smart Battery Camera is the perfect security camera for you. It is equipped with a 9000mAh re chargeable lithium battery which can stand long hours of usage, with out connection to any wiring. On top of this additional feature, it has a 1080p full HD camera that sup ports 24/7 video recording, and with a built-in microphone and speaker. Also, it can detect human move ments with its AI Human Body De tection feature, which triggers an alarm system once enabled. Upon installation, there’s no need to call for professionals to have it installed as well since you can do it yourself with its magnetic and non-magnetic wall mounting feature. Get this for P3,999. Cherry Home Smart Bullet Camera Certified IP65 Weatherproof and featuring up to 100 meters wireless transmission, the Cherry Home Smart Bullet Camera is an other model from the brand which is built both for the indoors and out doors. It can detect motion within a 10-meter range and highlights a 3D Digital Noise Reduction for more audible video playbacks. It has a relatively clear resolution of 1080p at 15fps. Add this to your business for P2,490. All these cameras can be eas ily controlled and monitored on your smartphone via the Cherry Home application which can be downloaded for FREE on Google Play Store and App Store. Im prove your business security with these cameras and other available units from the brand by visiting: Cherry Shop PH: www.cherry shop.com.ph CHERRY is a Philippine-based company offering an extensive variety of products in commu nication technology, Internet of Things (IoT) system, home, per sonal, health and pet essentials, creating one ecosystem. Cherry carries an array of brands and services under its belt: Cherry Mobile, Cherry Prepaid, Cherry roam, Cherry Home, and Cherry Pet.

Seriouscaptures.versatility: Laptop and tablet modes, garaged stylus, and dual Detachable,cameras magnetic and

stain-repellent, the optional Expert Stand cover doubles as a dual-ori entation prop, while the optional ExpertBoard connects just as easily for instant efficient input — mean ing B3 Detachable is as versatile as it is mobile. It can be used in the hand, as a tablet or as a tradition al laptop. It can also be stood ver tically or horizontally for viewing documents or entertainment. This makes B3 Detachable ideal for on line classes, study, work meetings, movies and more. The option of a garaged sty lus further enhances the versatility of B3 Detachable, helping users to get every detail just right — from drawing and taking notes to an notating illustrations or marking fied display ExpertBook B3 Detachable of fers extensive design elements and features to improve everyday expe riences, hygiene, and comfort. For example, the surface of any laptop harbors thousands of potentially harmful bacteria – so to keep ExpertBook B3 Detachable clean and safe, it is treated with ASUS Antibacterial Guard. This special coating protects the key board, touchpad, and palm. ASUS Antibacterial Guard is also made to withstand alcohol-based cleaning products and hypochlorous acid wa ter, so the surface of B3 Detachable stays sanitary for longer — limiting the spread of harmful bacteria. ExpertBook B3 Detachable also features a beautiful 16:10, mul titouch screen that provides intui tive input for modern learning and working experiences. This display has been certified by the experts at TÜV Rheinland has having low blue-light emissions, helping to protect users’ eyes from poten tial harm during extended work or studyStaysessions.tuned for more news on the incredible ASUS for Business products on the ASUS Facebook page nessASUSph/)(https://www.facebook.com/andtheASUSforBusiwebsite(http://asus.com/ph/ Business). For inquiries, you can also send us a message on ASUS for Business page facebook.com/asusforbusinessph/).(https://www.

IN accordance with DILG Memorandum Circular 2022060 which mandates select business establishments to pro cure better quality CCTV cam eras prior to issuance of busi ness permits, Cherry Home outs its suggested list of smart cameras from its wide array of IoT devices. Be a responsible business owner with the help of the following CCTV systems from the brand: Cherry Home Smart Outdoor Camera As the name suggests, the Cherry Home Smart Outdoor Camera is to be ideally placed outside your business establish ment. With the help of its 3MP camera quality with colorful night vision, you can have a clearer live view and playback, whatever the time. Plus, with its Intelligent Auto-Tracking, it would be easier for you to con stantly monitor outside move ments that are within the cam era’s range. It likewise features a Wide Viewing and Rotation An gles: 310° Pan and 140° Tilt for a better scope of your vicinity. For future reference, it supports 24/7 recording which you can store via 32GB MicroSD card. This is available for P1,620.

Face-to-face meetings, tutorials and chats are also assured to be clear and vivid with ExpertBook B3 Detach able, as its webcam employs inno vative ASUS 3D Noise-Reduction (3DNR) technology. This reduces up to 94% of the random noise that naturally affects any camera, espe cially in low-light situations, great ly enhancing image quality without affecting exposure or detail levels. Everyday protection: ASUS Antibacterial Guard and TÜV-certi

The latest business laptop powered by Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ processor with garaged stylus, two-way magnetic stand and keyboard, and AI noise cancelation

The four towns proposed tour packages for two days and three days with hike and kayak routes. In a document prepared by the four local government units, the al liance will require the development of the respective tourist destination areas, design of tourist packages, and the construction of road net works.

The Filipino Brand of Service Excellence Pro gram promotes the best qualities and positive values of Filipino hospitality. It is envisioned to enhance and uplift the quality of tourism services in the coun try aimed at fostering excellent service to tourists as part of our distinct Filipino brand. Thereby, the ex cellence in service becomes a regional brand and a holistic national identity. With three unique modules, the tourism pro gram aims to instill the culture of service excellence among tourism stakeholders in the country, and raise the quality of service standards among the work force in key tourism and service sectors.

DOT to facilitate interagency effort to strengthen Filipino Brand of Service

The Department, Frasco said, has reached out to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), De partment of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Agriculture (DA), and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), which shall comprise the said TWG. “We are facilitating this interagency technical working group (TWG) for the purpose of commenc ing discussions on the implementation of standards to ensure high quality of tourism services which in clude regulations on accommodations, services, and most importantly, reflective of the “Filipino“AsideBrand”.from improving conve nience to travelers and tourists, the DOT also looks at putting a ‘Filipi no Brand’ to our ports, a good im age of the Philippines that would re main in the memories of visitors to the country before touring different destinations in the Philippines and long after they have left,” Secretary Frasco said. Some of the DOT’s recommend ed enhancements include the installa tion of signages that will have a uni form look in all air and seaports, as well as the use of lighting, backdrop, and furniture that will distinctly reflect the “Filipino Brand”. Frasco noted that the DOT wants “the experience to be positive for all senses” and that there will also be interactive displays that will feature various artists and ar tisans to make the airport experience extraordinary and experiential for travelers.“Traditionally, the Department of Tourism has been involved in the promotion and marketing pure ly and mostly in ads but this time around we wanted a tacit manifesta tion of our brand as the Philippines because this is what the President very clearly said in his SONA, that he wants us to promote the Filipino brand to the world. This is some thing we would like to herald in the Philippines beginning with our pride, and our culture, our heritage, our identity as Filipinos. And that is why the elements of the aesthet ic improvements that we wish to introduce are all made in the Phil Dragon Boat Team historic four gold medal haul

ippines and distinctively Filipino,” enthused the DOT chief. In addition to aesthetically appealing ports, the DOT is also pushing for a passenger experience that is stress-free with more effi cient service and reduced passenger waiting time. DOT recommends a One-Stop-Shop for land, air, and sea connectivity with provision for digitalized service to facilitate effi ciency. The Department also com mitted a tourism assistance desk with trained personnel to facilitate visitors’Frascoconcerns.likewise underscored the need to provide appropriate features and facilities in gateways and transport hubs for persons with disabilities (PWDs) as part of the Department’s advocacy for Bar rier Free Tourism. Availability of wheelchairs, elevators with PWD -friendly features, clearly designat ed PWD parking slots, and check-in counters with low and recessed or split-level counters that can accom modate persons seated on wheel chairs were among the proposals of the DOT. Meanwhile, the resumption of pre-pandemic routes was suggest ed by the DOT to minimize the congestion in the major ports. The opening of new local and domes tic routes was also proposed by the Department given the positive de velopments in travel conditions and demand.“While we understand that introducing major infrastructure changes to the existing airports and seaports is something that cannot be done in the short-term, in answer to

From Page 12 “Visitor-friendly, distinctly Filipino air, seaports... From Page 12

TACLOBAN CITY – Four towns in Leyte province have forged an alliance to come up with a “cir cuit tour package” promoting their picturesque islands, breath taking landscapes, and other nat ural wonders. Department of Tourism (DOT) Eastern Visayas Regional Direc tor Karina Rosa Tiopes said on Wednesday the move of the towns of Palompon, Isabel, Merida, and Matag-ob to form a lateral alliance and create a tourism circuit is essen tial to attain local community eco nomic augmentation. “They reached out to DOT and the Eastern Visayas Tourism As sociation to present their plan. A plan that capitalizes on each other’s strength and the opportunities they see over the horizon. A plan that considers development gaps and addresses threats that may hamper development,” Tiopes said. Palompon is known for Ka langgaman Island, the top destina tion in the province. Other destinations are terrestri al eco-adventure park, Buenavista underwater caves, Tabuk marine park fish and bird sanctuary, Ma saba ecological park, and the Sky Garden and Activitieseco-village.inIsabel include Dupong river paddling, Badjao eco-village tour, and experiencing the refreshing scenery of Il Fattoria, a place to commune with nature. In Matag-ob, key destinations include Santa Rosa Hills, Bulak and San Vicente Caves, and Bond ari peak, a destination with 360° breathtaking views and landscapes. Among the destinations in the circuit tour in Merida are Mount Magsanga, aqua farms, San Jose

By Sarwell Meniano

TOURISM Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco on Thursday (August 4) bared the Department of Tourism (DOT)’s immediate plans to facilitate an interagency technical working group (TWG) which seeks to strengthen the capacity of micro entrepreneurs such as food vendors to provide quality tourism services.

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Cave, Bird and Fish Sanctuary, and Tomorroland resort. “When like-minded local lead ers who believe that tourism is the best driver for sustanable and inclu sive growth converge and form col laborative relationships with the in dustry stakeholders, stars will align and things will fall into its proper places,” Tiopes added.

THE Department of Tourism (DOT) commends the historic feat of the Philippine Accessible Disability Services, Inc. (PADS) Dragon Boat Team as the inau gural champions of the recently concluded International Dragon Boat Federation’s (IDBF) 13th Club Crew World Champion ships para dragon boat category in Sarasota, Florida. The PADS dragon boat team, comprised of differently abled persons and persons with impair ments, lorded over four categories namely the 2,000-meter small boat PD2 category, the small boat PD1 and PD2 200m races, and the 500m small boat PD2 category. “We commend the extraordi nary achievement of the Cebuano para dragon boat team which has brought pride to the Philippines,” enthused DOT Sec. Frasco. “The DOT believes in the strength of sports tourism as a vi able tourism product parallel to the Department’s support to Filipino athletes who are some of the best tourism ambassadors for our coun try,” she added. The tourism chief emphasized that the DOT supports the staging of international and local sports competitions in the country to fur ther develop different sports includ ing dragon boat racing which can provide a competitive edge to our athletes being an archipelago. the call of the President to improve the overall tourist experience, we have identified ways where we can introduce enhancements that do not necessarily entail long-term ac tions,” the tourism chief added. For the airport and seaport enhancement program, the DOT recommends the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 (NAIA-T2), Davao International Airport (DVO), and Cebu City Pier 1 as pilot projects. The program, to be led by the DOT with the support of the DOTr, will be a joint partnership between the two agencies. During the meet ing, Transportation Secretary Bau tista agreed to the DOT’s propos al to create a Technical Working Group (TWG) that would oversee a smooth and comprehensive facilita tion of the enhancement program. “I think our experience work ing with airlines and now working with government will now allow us to solve the problems and the issues and working with the Department of Tourism we can better improve the experience of our tourists. I am very happy we started this conver sation and I agree that we need to further discuss the details of the project, let’s organize a working group. This is a very good collab oration between the DOT and the Department of Transportation. Let’s make it happen,” said Bautista. In addition to its recommenda tion to reinstate identified domestic and international flights, the DOT also proposes to strengthen its part nership with the DOTr on the aspect of air and sea routes development.

DOT chief takes “Listening Tours” to Luzon pricing standards, ” said Secretary Frasco. The tourism chief said that the DOT can help improve the standards of treating tourists in all desti nations through the facilitation of trainings under the Filipino Brand of Service Excellence Program.

4 Leyte towns unite to develop tourism

Among the issues raised during the discussion revolve around the accessibility of landlocked tourism destinations, lack of flights and/ or airports and roads, difficulties in hiring of regional personnel, and other administrative barriers, among others. As she acknowledged the recur ring concerns of the Regional Offices, Secretary Frasco vowed to deliberate on the identified problems and pro vide guidance to the offices. “Certainly, these are matters that we note with serious consideration, with the intention to extend better as sistance from the central office to your regional offices recognizing that it’s simply impossible for us to succeed as a Department, without the help, the input, and the success of our individu al regions. And that is very important to me, recognizing that the success of each region will also spell the success of our country in general,” Secretary Frasco assured the regional directors. Meanwhile, the participants expressed their appreciation to Sec retary Frasco for initiating her “lis tening tours” in a bid to better con nect and steer the tourism industry towards recovery. “We appreciate this effort as it opens the communication line between sub-national and national, thus will lead to more cooperation, coordination, collaboration and support towards the advancement of tourism as an economic driver. It’s a good opportunity as well for us to align our strategies towards a clear directive coming from no less than the Secretary herself,” DOTCAR Regional Director Jovita Ga nongan“Tosaid.be heard, acknowledged and be felt by our tourism chief is an honor and privilege which gives us regional offices a sense of assur ance for a promising road towards tourism recovery,” DOT-3 Regional Director Carolina Uy added. Director Herbie Aguas–who also served as a Mayor prior to his appointment as Regional Direc tor–also thanked Secretary Frasco, noting that this is his first time to be recognized and heard by a DOT Secretary since he was appointed to lead DOT-Region 5 August of 2021. “During our first meeting at the Central Office, I wanted to clap my hands when you said that you are a listening secretary–because that’s what we need right now. It’s real ly a good thing that whatever the dilemma is on the ground, it can be addressed right away,” enthused Director Aguas. In a separate event, the DOT chief also met with representatives of the following associations and organizations: Subic-Clark Alliance for Development (SCAD); Luzon International Premier Airport De velopment (LIPAD) Corporation; Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP); Clark Development Corporation (CDC); Pampanga Agents Travel Society (PATS); Hotels and Restaurants Association in Pampanga (HARP); Central Luzon Farm Tourism Asso ciation; Accredited Guides Associ ation of Pampanga (AGAP); and Pampanga Bike Adventure Tour.

tourismexperiencetouristandthevaluechain,” -- Sec. Cristina Frasco Turn to Page 11 Turn to Page 11

MYRNA

“Visitor-friendly, distinctly

DOTcelebrates DisabilityPhilippineAccessibleServices, Inc.(PADS)Dragon fourBoatTeamhistoricgoldmedalhaul

toTours”“ListeningLuzon Filipino -- Frasco

DEPARTMENT of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Gar cia Frasco eyes bringing improve ments to the country’s air and seaports to encapsulate the “Fil ipino Brand” and give tourists a good first and last impression when they visit The Philippines. In a meeting with Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secre tary Jaime J. Bautista on Monday (August 8), the tourism chief noted CLARK, PAMPANGA — As part of her nationwide listening tours, Tourism Secretary Chris tina Garcia Frasco travelled to Clark, Pampanga on Thursday (July 21) to engage in back-toback dialogues with all heads of Department of Tourism (DOT) regional offices and key tourism stakeholders based in Luzon, completing the first leg of listen ing tours for all DOT regional di rectors across the country barely a month into her stint as Tourism Secretary. The tourism chief addressed the heads of the DOT offices in the Cordillera Administrative Re gion (CAR), Region 1 (Ilocos Re gion), Region 2 (Cagayan Valley), Region 3 (Central Luzon), Region 4A (CALABARZON), Region 4B (MIMAROPA), and Region 5 (Bi col Region).“Ihadconveyed my intention to extend my hand of collaboration to all of our regions across the coun try in order to be able to fully exer cise the mandate of the Department of Tourism, whose efforts need not only be concentrated in areas near the Central Office but most impor tantly, in the farthest areas, to al low the expansion of economic and livelihood opportunities for LGUs across the country, as this has been the clear marching orders of Presi dent Bongbong Marcos—to let our fellow Filipinos feel the benefits of countryside development,” Secre tary Frasco.

DOT Sec. Christina Frasco in a meeting with DOTr Sec. Jaime Bautista. CIRCUIT TOUR. Photo shows Kalanggaman Island, one of the key destinations of four towns in the northwestern part of Leyte that formed an alliance to promote their tourism sites. The Department of Tourism said that the move is essential to attain local community economic augmentation. Related story on Page 11

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“The primary gateway to the country, airports and seaports play an integral role in the overall

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Editor: G. ROMAN

air, seaports in PHL”

that as the primary gateway to the country, airports and seaports play an integral role in the overall tour ist experience and the tourism value chain. The DOT, she added, envisions improving existing facilities in both airports and seaports by introducing enhancements that will make the ports more aesthetically pleasing, convenient, tourist-friendly, and