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The Observer.com Fitch cuts 2022 global economy growth forecast

Is RSF’s press freedom index a joke?

TRAVEL

“Housing sector remains in good hands”­– DHSUD

OPINION

DON’T JUST BE AN INQUIRER AND ASK, BE AN OBSERVER AND ACT BUSINESS

Php 20.00

Cebu tourism governance ‘good model’

P11.64 MILLION FARM-TO-MARKET ROAD PROJECT

Mindanao key tourism destination

SAFE TRAVEL MEASURE IN PLACE

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TO DRIVE AGRI GROWTH IN NUEVA ECIJA

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NATIONAL

#10 - JUNE 18, 2022

“Other destinations are still being vetted for compliance with health and safety protocols as we grow towards a safer, more sustainable and more inclusive tourism destination.”

-- Sec. Christina Frasco White Sand in Camiguin. Locally known as Medan Island or Medano Islet.

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VOLUME 1, NO. 1 TUESDAY JUNE 14, 2022

QC residents told to complete vax amid rising Covid-19 cases

By Marita Moaje

MANILA – The Quezon City government advised residents who remain unvaccinated against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) to do so as soon as possible amid the rise in new cases.

Dr. Malu Eleria of the QC Task Force Vax to Normal reiterated vaccines are the best protection against the dreaded disease.

She specifically called on those already eligible for booster shots to avail of the jabs as turnout is still low.

“To all QCitizens, we encourage all adults na nabakunahan ng (who have been vaccinated with) two doses to get their booster shots as well as those who were vaccinated with first booster to get the second booster. Both are four months apart from the last shot. We must not be complacent because immunity goes down for some time,” she said in a text message.

Based on data as of Saturday, the city government has vaccinated 887,630 with the first booster shot and 47,538 with the second shot.

Currently, only health care workers, senior citizens, and immunocompromised adults are eligible for second booster shots.

A total of 2,475,433 are fully vaccinated in the city.

On Saturday, the city government raised its Covid-19 early warning level to “yellow” status after it recorded an average of 26 cases per day the past week while the average positivity rate doubled to 3.10 percent from 1.50 percent from May 27 to June 2.

Hospital upgrade for Valenzuela’s health care needs MANILA – Valenzuela City Rep. Eric Martinez on Tuesday said the Valenzuela Medical Center (VMC) expansion would improve quality health services to more residents and become the “People’s Choice” by 2028 by providing institutionalized patient-centered and pandemic-resilient healthcare.

In a statement, Martinez thanked President Rodrigo Roa Duterte for delivering his campaign promise of expanding VMC’s operational capacity to meet the growing needs of the constituents through the construction of a four-story building.

Martinez is one of the authors of Republic Act No. 11327 in 2018 to legislate the increase of VMC’s bed capacity from 200 to 500, adjusting to the increasing demand for public health care in the city.

The PHP208-million project will also include an expanded Radiology Department, Operating Room Complex and Surgical Intensive Care, Hemodialysis, Chemotherapy and Ambulatory Surgical Units.

Martinez said he had a brief talk with the then-presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Duterte six years ago about his request to enhance the public hospital if he gets to Malacañang.

NATIONAL Farm-to-market road to drive agricultural growth in Nueva Ecija

By Zorayda Tecson CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – The construction of a farm-to-market road in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija that is seen to hasten the delivery of agricultural products in the major markets in the province is now in full swing.

The PHP11.64-million project is implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Nueva Ecija 2nd District Engineering Office.

Funded under the 2022 Convergence Program of DPWH and the Department of Agriculture (DA), the project is expected to be completed in July this year.

DPWH-Nueva Ecija 2nd District Engineer Elpidio Trinidad said on Monday the 1.47-kilometer farm-to-market road will give farmers a faster and safer route when transporting their fresh produce and goods to the major markets of the province.

“DPWH believes that providing the agricultural sector with adequate infrastructure will help to accelerate the recovery of our farmers who have been severely affected by the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic,” Trinidad said in a social media post.

He said farm-to-market road projects are one of the priorities of the government in agricultural provinces like Nueva Ecija to reduce farm product prices and to make food supply available to more

MANILA – Malacañang is pleased by the decision of the Office of the Ombudsman to order the dismissal of 45 personnel of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) linked to the “pastillas” scam which allowed the illegal entry of Chinese nationals to the country.

In a press statement, acting presidential spokesperson and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said the Palace welcomes the decision as it shows the administration’s “zero-tolerance policy against corruption in the bureaucracy.”

“The recent decision of the Office of the Ombudsman dismissing immigration employees in connection with the pastillas scam underscores that there are no sacred cows in the Duterte Administration,” Andanar said.

Andanar, however, acknowledged that corruption remains “a challenge” within government.

He said the government is mandating automation and digitalization in government processes and transactions in the collection of fees to combat widespread corruption.

“We are, therefore, pushing for

Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Eduardo del Rosario.

Housing sector to remain in good hands, says DHSUD chief

By Lade Jean Kabagani

FARM-TO-MARKET ROAD. The construction of a farm-to-market that is seen to spur agricultural development in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija is now in full swing and is expected to be finished in July this year. The project is under the Department of Public Works and Highways-Department of Agriculture convergence program. (Photo courtesy of DPWH-Region 3) people.

This year alone, the DPWH has completed the construction of three farm-to-market roads in the province -- two in the villages of Padolina and Pias in General Tinio and Barangay Arcadia in Cabanatuan City.

Trinidad said the completion of these projects is now benefiting farmers in the community and in the

neighboring villages.

“Farmers can now easily transport and deliver their farm produce to major markets,” he said.

Roberto Bago, a farmer-resident in Barangay Pias, General Tinio said travel time was greatly reduced after the road was completed, making it easier for them to bring their harvested crops to the markets or directly to the buyers. (PNA)

automation of government systems to avoid face-to-face contact and at the same eliminate redundant processes, for effective and efficient delivery of government services,” he added.

In May, Duterte signed Executive Order No. 170 ordering the adoption of digital payments for government disbursements and collections to “promote efficient delivery of services, expedite transactions, boost revenue and reduce the risk of graft and corruption.”

All departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the government, including state universities and colleges and government-owned or -controlled corporations, as well as local government units (LGUs), should adopt digital payments for their disbursements and collections.

The pastillas bribery scandal was exposed in February 2020 after Immigration officials were accused of favoring Chinese nationals to enter the country without undergoing background checks in exchange for money rolled up in paper like pastillas.

Chinese nationals working in the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators industry were allegedly paying around PHP10,000 as grease

money to receive preferential treatment from BI officials.

In October 2020, Senator Risa Hontiveros bared that BI personnel have allegedly pocketed over PHP40 billion kickbacks since 2017 from the pastillas scam.

In November of the same year, Duterte summoned the BI officials linked to the pastillas modus.

On Sunday, the Ombudsman announced in a 143-page consolidated decision that it found the BI personnel “administratively liable for grave misconduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.”

It also noted that those who have already been separated from public office before the decision will be fined equivalent to one year’s worth of salary. (PNA)

45 BI personnel sacking shows ‘no sacred cows’ in Duterte admin

By Azer Parrocha

The Observer.

Observer.com

MANILA – The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) achieved the highest production since 1975 and forged partnerships with local government units (LGUs) and private developers to boost the country’s disaster preparedness in just three years since its creation.

As the Duterte administration’s term comes to an end on June 30, DHSUD Secretary Eduardo del Rosario is more than confident that the agency’s hard work will not go to waste and will be continued by the incoming leadership.

“We must continuously innovate to ensure that our vision to be a strong institution and catalyst for the provision of adequate and affordable housing, inclusive human settlements and well-planned communities for every Filipino family comes to light,” he said in his report on Monday.

He believes that the housing sector remains in good hands under the staying officials of DHSUD, working tirelessly to fulfill their duties.

He advised the next housing chief to “always serve with passion”.

“Your mind and your heart must focus on the welfare of the Filipino families who do not have houses of their own,” del Rosario said.

Del Rosario said in their short stay, the agency made a huge impact in the housing industry “despite dealing with some birth pains and amidst the Covid-19 pandemic”.

“Quite grateful to the President for giving me this opportunity to serve the housing sector and I am satisfied with the performance of our people,” Del Rosario said.

“The President is very outstanding, has excellent leadership.

I cannot ask for more as a subordinate. He gives all of his trust and confidence in us, and not even once will he call your attention if what you do is right, and he expects results,” he added.

Created in February 2019, DSHUD has crafted the 2040 National Housing and Urban Development Sector Plan, which consolidates ongoing and proposed strategies, plans, and programs of the department, its key shelter agencies (KSAs), and other stakeholders in providing Filipino families, especially the underprivileged, access to decent, safe, sustainable and affordable homes.

The Observer.

Observer.com

NATIONAL

CPP-NPA-NDF behind Tinang incident: ex-rebels President Rodrigo Duterte

Duterte shrugs off ex-justice’s criticism on drug war

By Azer Parrocha MANILA – President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Tuesday shrugged off criticism made by an “ex-justice” describing his administration’s aggressive crackdown on illegal drugs as “clearly unconstitutional.”

Duterte did not name the “ex-justice” but retired Supreme Court (SC) senior justice Antonio Carpio on Monday reportedly compared the killing of drug suspects to the killing of flies, noting that there is a need to end impunity so that it would never happen again.

“If it’s unconstitutional, so be it. I will do it. I don’t give a sh*t if you have to know,” Duterte said in a speech after inspecting the main campus of the National Academy of Sports (NAS) in New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.

Duterte said he disagreed with the remark made by the “ex-justice”, reiterating again that the government could not go soft in its efforts to eradicate the illegal drug trade in the country.

“Mayroong isang torpe na ex-justice. Unconstitutional daw yung drug war. E sabi ko ‘Adre, magkaiba ang libro natin’ (There is a inept ex-justice. He says the drug war is unconstitutional. I said ‘Adre, we’re going by different books’) You must have the wrong theories about humanities and all…Subukan mo dito sa trabaho ko (You should try doing my job),” he said.

He said the ex-justice may have a lot of academic accomplishments, but had no idea about the country’s drug war situation on the ground.

“Para sa akin, bugok ka (For me, you are slow-witted). You are a scholar. I know you’re from Davao, bright ka, valedictorian ka, okay ka. Pero hindi ‘yan pwede (you’re bright, you’re valedictorian, you’re okay. But that can’t be). In reality, you have to come to terms with what is actually happening on the ground,” he added.

He defended his drug war, noting that he never ordered law enforcement authorities to just shoot and kill drug suspects unless it put their lives at risk.

Duterte reiterated that he would take “full legal responsibility” for his anti-narcotics campaign as long as authorities acted in the line of duty.

MANILA – The Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) were pinpointed as the masterminds behind the chaos that ensued at the disputed land in Hacienda Tinang in Concepcion, Tarlac on June 9.

This was revealed on Tuesday by former members of the Communist Terrorist Groups (CTGs) during a special virtual press briefing of the National Task Force to End Local Communists Armed Conflict (NTFELCAC).

Christopher Garcia, formerly known as “Ka Warly”, who is now a board member of Sambayanang Gitnang Luzon, said the CTGs have initiated the “Bungkalan” mobilization campaign in Hacienda Tinang wherein communist rebels will move into disputed agricultural lands in the country, including Hacienda Luisita.

“Ito ay pagpapalawak din ng baseng-masa at balikan ang mga lugar na dati nilang hawak. Alam namin yun dahil naranasan namin yan (It is a way to broaden massbased and return to the place they used to control before. We know that because we experienced it),” Garcia said, referring to the CTG’s efforts to take back their former lair from government forces.

He added that the Tinang incident is just a starting point of the CTG’s focused efforts to sow chaos for the incoming administration.

“Ayaw nilang maupo si BBM (They don’t want President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong Marcos Jr. to lead),” said Ka Pong Sibayan, another former CTG member.

She added that the CTGs have been using the “bungkalan” mobilization for recruiting and radicalizing the youth and to seek foreign funding.

“Negosyo nila (CTG) yan.

Binubulsa naman ng mga lider ang nakokolektang pondo at hindi napupunta sa mga magsasaka (That’s their business. The leaders pocket the funds and do not give to the farmers),” Sibayan said.

The two also accused Renato Reyes of Bayan Muna, Pia Montalban and Joyce Ann Nepomuceno of Karapatan, as “urban operatives” of the CPP-NPA-NDF, allegedly wellknown for sowing disinformation

VOLUME 1, NO. 1 TUESDAY JUNE 14, 2022

3

Gun-toting, fake NBI employee faces multiple raps

By Benjamin Pulta

TINANG INCIDENT. Ex-rebels Christopher Garcia, formerly known as “Ka Warly” (left), and Ka Pong Sibayan join the virtual press briefing of the National Task Force to End Local Communists Armed Conflict on Tuesday (June 14, 2022). The two said the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front were behind the chaos that ensued at the disputed land in Hacienda Tinang in Concepcion, Tarlac on June 9. (Screengrab from RTVM/PCOO) ficials told us that there were two and agitations.

“Hihimukin ang mga magsa- tractors destroying their crops),” saka hanggang June 30 (The farm- Baluyot said, adding that this ers will be convinced until June prompted them to call the police to 30),” Ka Warly said, adding that stop the perpetrators from further similar campaigns are also being destroying their crops.

“Simula’t sapul pa lang na prepared in Hacienda Murcia near Hacienda Tinang, and in Barangay nandito kami sa Barangay Tinang Central near Hacienda Luisita by ay hindi po kami naninira ng tao members of other CTG-affiliated o nanloloko. Ang ginagawa lang groups such as “Anak Pawis” and po namin ay intindihin yung kaUnyon ng Manggagawang Agrikul- buhayan po ng mga miyembro po tura (UMA) to further instigate the namin (Ever since we have been here in Barangay Tinang, we have youth and farmers.

“Gusto nilang pag-away-away- not slandered people or cheated. All in ang mga magsasaka para magulo we do is understand the livelihood ang bagong administrasyon (They of our members),” Baluyot said.

Baluyot added that he and the want farmers to fight each other to sow chaos in the new administra- barangay officials did not recognize anybody in the group. tion),” he said.

On this note, Garcia criticized losing candidates Vice President Not from Tinang Leni Robredo and Senator Kiko Meanwhile, Orlando Baluyot, Pangilinan for allegedly supporting Chairperson of the Tinang Samah- those who sowed chaos in Tinang.

He said the youth involved in ang Nayon Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Inc., said the police were just the Hacienda Tinang incident were doing their duty to protect crops supporters of Robredo and Panowned by the cooperative that was gilinan.

“Kahit mali na yung mga ginadeliberately being destroyed by the wa ng mga tao na ito, pilit pa nilang CTGs. “Nung June 9, yung mga ba- pinagtatanggol at pinagtatakpan at rangay officials sa amin ay nagsabi ipalabas na masama ang ating mga sa amin na may dalawang traktora kapulisan (Even though what these na nandodoon na maninira ng tubo. people did was wrong, they still Kaagad po ay pumunta kami doon tried to defend and cover up and kasama ang mga board of directors show that our police are bad),” he namin (On June 9, our barangay of- added.

MANILA – Criminal charges may be slapped against a motorist who brandished a firearm during a traffic incident and claimed he is working for the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

The man was caught on video that circulated last week while in an argument with another motorist, who is reportedly a government employee.

The exact date and location of the incident were not immediately known.

Department of Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Tuesday the initial report indicated that “the motorist who pulled out a firearm during a traffic altercation was not an employee of the NBI”.

“He is now facing possible charges for violation of the Comelec (Commission on Elections) gun ban if he had no exemption, grave threat, coercion, usurpation of authority, and illegal possession of firearms if he had no valid license,” Guevarra said in a text message.

The 150-day Comelec gun ban ended June 8.

The man was subpoenaed for investigation on June 17, Guevarra said.

In mobile phone camera footage widely shared on social media, a man with a pistol drawn claimed to be from the NBI and asked the other motorist for his license.

He claimed to be conducting an operation and that he was blocked by the other driver.

“Taga-NBI ako. ‘Di ba nagpakilala ako sa iyo, ‘di ba? Nag wangwang ako ‘di ba? Pinapara kita, ‘di ba kasi may operation kami.

Ini-stuck mo ko. Hinaharang mo ko (I’m from the NBI. I introduced myself to you, right? I used my siren and I asked you to pull over because we were conducting an operation. You blocked me),” the man was heard saying in the video.

2 more lawmakers forge alliance with Lakas-CMD MANILA – The Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) continues to beef up its ranks with a total of 52 members in the House of Representatives after two more lawmakers joined the party for the incoming 19th Congress.

In an oath-taking ceremony held at the Lakas-CMD headquarters in Mandaluyong City on Tuesday, Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, who serves as the Lakas-CMD president, administered the oath to Bulacan Rep. Salvador Pleyto Sr. and Nueva Ecija Rep. Emeng Pascual as new party members.

“Our partners in our call for unity are growing by the day. This is no surprise since the just-concluded

May elections showed everyone that the Filipino people prefer unity right now, with the stake as high as they are in order for our country to fully recover from the Covid-19 pandemic,” Romualdez said.

During the same event, nine lawmakers, who were already Lakas-CMD members, also formally took their ceremonial oath to further solidify the party.

These include Cebu Representatives Daphne Lagon and Edsel Galeos, Quezon Rep. David Suarez, Mandaue City Rep. Emmarie Ouano-Dizon, Oriental Mindoro Rep. Arnan Panaliga, Isabela Rep. Faustino Michael Carlos Dy III, Sarangani Rep. Steve Solon, Sul-

OATH OF OFFICE. Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) president and House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez (left) administers the oath of Lakas-CMD members Emmarie “Lolypop” Ouano-Dizon of Mandaue City in Cebu (2nd left) Daphne Lagon of Cebu (center) and Edsel Galeos of Cebu (right) during a ceremony at the Lakas-CMD headquarters in Mandaluyong City on Tuesday (June 14, 2022).

Lakas-CMD is one of the oldest and most respected political parties in the country.

(Photo courtesy of Lakas-CMD)

tan Kudarat Rep. Princess Rihan Sakaluran, and Batangas Rep. Jinky Bitrics Luistro.

Romualdez noted the recent wave of oath-takings caused the

members of Lakas to balloon from 27 to 52.

Lakas-CMD is one of the oldest and most respected political parties in the country. (PNA)

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PROVINCIAL

VOLUME 1, NO. 1 TUESDAY JUNE 14, 2022

Ilocos residents welcome PTV transmitter station installation BATAC CITY – Officials and residents of Ilocos Norte on Tuesday expressed excitement over the planned construction of a PHP39.5-million transmitter station for the government-owned People’s Television Network, Inc. (PTNI).

While witnessing the laying of a time capsule led by officials of PTNI and the Mariano Marcos State University here, faculty and students of the Department of Development Communication said the rise of another facility on the growing campus will surely benefit the underserved communities of Ilocos.

“As a third-year development communication student, the station will be of great help to us, especially in community broadcasting which is one of our fields. The PTV will enable us to share information and combat the spread of fake news.

--Leilanie Adriano

FISHERIES COURSE. Several students of fisheries join a training program on fiberglass boat construction in this undated photo in Currimao, Ilocos Norte. To encourage more students to take courses in fisheries, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources is offering full scholarship to qualified students. Photo: Leilanie Adriano

BFAR offers scholarships for fisheries courses

By Leilanie Adriano

BUTUAN CITY – Caraga Region has recorded an 83.5 percent rate in the vaccination of senior citizens in the area.

In a report Tuesday, the Department of Health–Caraga (DOH-13) said 340,752 coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines alone have been administered to senior citizens as of Sunday (June 12).

“Of the total number, 173,056 senior citizens in Caraga are already fully vaccinated,” DOH-13 said.

The same report also indicated that 357,659 individuals under the A4 (frontline personnel in essential sectors) have been fully vaccinated during the period.

LAOAG CITY – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in the Ilocos Region is calling on qualified graduating high school students to take courses on fisheries and avail of full college scholarships from the government.

Vanessa Abegail Dagdagan, senior aquaculturist at the BFAR, said Tuesday that aspiring applicants must file their duly accomplished application forms with complete documentary requirements to the BFAR Regional Fisheries Office in Region, provincial offices, technological outreach stations, or to their respective Municipal Agriculture Offices not later than August 29, 2022.

The application form can be downloaded through this link: https://bit.ly/3e87DkU. The date of examination is on November 12, 2022.

BFAR’s scholarship program has three components. These include the Fisheries Industry Leader Grant (FILG) for high school

BAGUIO CITY – The local government is looking at 19 more properties in Baguio, La Trinidad, Sablan, and Tuba areas that can be used for the city’s socialized housing, employee housing, economic activities, and land banking initiatives.

Aileen Refuerzo, chief information officer of Baguio, said on Tuesday that aside from the 19 properties, the city is also purchasing a property in Topinao, Poblacion, and Tuba in Benguet which is about six hectares for various industrial and socialized housing projects.

City Assessor Maria Almaya Addawe during the executive committee meeting of the local government said that the price range of the properties that were offered by the owners for possible purchase by the city is from PHP13 million to PHP348 million.

Addawe said that the land banking strategy of the city will address the very small land area of Baguio that bars the implementation of various social and economic activities amid the increasing cost of properties in the surrounding towns of Benguet.

A few years back, the city had to forego the expansion of the Phil-

ippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) in Baguio.

Texas Instruments Philippines, a United States company engaged in the manufacture of microchips for electronics products had to move its expansion to Clark Pampanga as the city was not able to provide an additional area for what the company is using.

She said that the city plans to pave the way for increased economic activities and establish adequate sources of livelihood for the residents and those from neighboring towns.

“The city’s local finance committee is given up to the first week of July to make a recommendation on which among the available properties will be recommended for purchase by the local government to be used for socialized housing, employees housing, and land banking initiatives that will allow the next generation of additional resources in the future,” Refuerzo said.

The properties that were offered by the owners to the city for possible purchase include a 1.45-hectare land in Tam-awan and Pinsao Proper worth PHP61 million; a 2.9-hectare property in Lucnab worth more than PHP104 million; a 2.7-hectare property in

Caraga tallies 83% vax rate among seniors

graduates or Grade 12 students who belong to the Top 10 of their graduating class; the Fisherfolk Children Educational Grant (FCEG) for high school graduates whose parents are the so-called Mangingisdang Juan or are registered in the Juan Magsasaka Registration System; and the Indigenous Cultural Communities/ Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPS) which is intended for poor but deserving Alternative Learning System/high school/senior high school graduates/graduating students whose parents/guardians are members of a particular tribe recognized by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples.

“The scholarship programs of BFAR are meant to help the students from families of fisherfolk to pursue their studies,” said Dagdagan citing there are 20 available slots in the region.

For more information and inquiries, BFAR-1 can be reached by phone at (072)-242-1559/(072) -6075115 or contact the following coordinators: May Ann L. Maningding (09178321117) and Derickson Chrisandrei S. Mandar (09288181030).

Baguio to expand housing, economic areas

Balacbac worth PHP261 million; and another 1.8-hectare property in Balacbac worth PHO127 million, all in Baguio City.

Also included are a 3.5-hectare property in Longlong, Puguis, La Trinidad worth PHP157 million; a property in Lamtang covered by agrarian reform titles in Lamtang, Puguis, La Trinidad; a PHP4.8-hectare property in Alno, La Trinidad worth PHP13 million; and several properties in Taloy Taloy Sur, Taloy Norte and Poblacion, Tuba and in Bayabas, Sablan, all in Benguet.

The Observer.

Observer.com

CONSOLIDATION. Farmers and Fisherfolks from North Luzon listen to Agriculture Secretary William Dar during the opening of the four-day Department of Agriculture (DA)-Farmer Fisheries, Consolidation Cluster (F2C2) island-wide cluster summit 2022 at the Hotel Supreme in Baguio City (June 14, 2022). Photo: Liza T. Agoot

DA consolidates farmers, fishers produce in northern Luzon

By Liza Agoot

BAGUIO CITY – Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William Dar on Tuesday said the government will continue to support and give a voice to the agricultural sector by “consolidating” its produce and “clustering” farmers and fishers groups.

In a video message during the opening of the DA-Farmer Fisheries, Consolidation Cluster’s (F2C2) Island-wide Cluster Summit 2022 at the Hotel Supreme in Baguio City on Tuesday, Dar said the DA continues to come up with a program advancing the interest of fisherfolk and farmers through consolidation as one of the core pillars of the ONE-DA agenda.

Consolidation, the number one pillar in the ONE-DA reform agenda, is a strategy that puts together all the banner programs of the agency and implements through clusters.

The other top pillars are modernization, industrialization, and professionalism.

He said the goal is to help the farmers improve their livelihood by achieving economies of scale and improving the bargaining power of small farmers and fisherfolk by forming them into clusters and consolidating their produce, by giving the support they need.

Consolidation of farmers and fisherfolks will give the needed advantage that they have sought,” Dar said.

The Secretary said consolidating their produce would allow farmers to produce the requirement of the country.

Shandy Hubilla, director for the F2C2 program, said that northern Luzon currently has 3,858 groups composed of 484,000 farmers and

LAND BANKING. Officials visit a property in Irisan in Baguio City which is being developed and expected to benefit at least 15 families under the socialized housing program of the city government and the National Housing Authority. The city government is looking at 19 more properties aside from an earlier eyed six-hectare property. (PNA photo courtesy of Neil Clark Ongchangco- PIO Baguio)

fisherfolk.

“Kayo po ang napaka-importante na pillar dahil sa inyo nangyayari ang ONE-DA reform agenda,” he told the more than 300 participants coming from Regions 1, 2, 3, and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) who are members of agriculture associations, cooperatives, and organizations.

He said the concept of F2C2 is to put together farmers and fisherfolks in contiguous areas with the same products to create one big enterprise that will be empowered, has the bargaining power, and food produced will be assured that they will not be wasted as each item will have a market to go to.

Cordillera has 12 clusters; Region 1 has 46; Region 2 has 39; and Region 3 has 77.

Most of the clusters are in rice production, 241 clusters; corn production, 200; high-value crops production, 136; livestock production, 55 cluster, and others.

Hubilla said at least 75 percent of the clusters and their members are registered with the Registry System for Basic Agriculture (RSBA).

“It is more expensive to transact individually than when talking to a group,” he added.

Collaboration, he said, would result in a more viable income or profitability of the activity that is integrated or included in a value chain of food production based in the community and involves people in collaborative governance.

He said the DA has partnered with big buyers that buy from the consolidated clusters because of the assurance of the continued supply of the commodity.

Senator Cynthia Villar, chairman of the Senate’s committee on agriculture, in a video message also said that the F2C2 strategy will address the low level of production in certain areas of the country or of specific commodities.

DA-CAR Director Cameron Odsey, in an interview on the sidelines of the event, said the stories about vegetable produce being disposed of and left rotting will not happen if they are consolidated.

The F2C2 North Luzon summit is the first after its creation in August 2020 under an administrative order issued by Dar. The next summit will have the South Luzon clusters as participants. --Liza Agoot /PNA

The Observer.

Observer.com

United we stand, divided we fall PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte issued a clarion call to the nation to unite behind the incoming administration.

Indeed, we are facing the biggest challenges -- the wave after wave of oil price increases and resulting in the looming food crisis.

We have just wiggled out from the scourge of coronavirus and the engines of our economic recovery have just started to rev. The economic team of Duterte has managed to steady the course and the LETTERS FROM DAVAO country is emerging as the most resilient By Jun Ledesma in southeast Asia.

But there are external factors that are beyond our control. The price of oil commodities has skyrocketed and there are no indicators it will wane. There are no wise guys who can stop the price hike. Meantime, the biggest challenge for the incoming administration is to sustain the momentum of recovery.

Thus, Duterte asks the nation to put a stop to the divisive politicking that we went thru and to rally behind the incoming administration.

For now president-elect Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has been holding constant dialogues with the members of his economic team to brace up for the impact of the oil and food crises. As we see it, the government can come up with mitigating measures to address the oil crisis.

The solutions to the food crisis however are all within the control of the government. Top on the list is the sufficiency of rice. Marcos’ assumption into office is precisely timed with the planting season and his agriculture team should hit the ground running. Rice on average takes about four months for from planting to harvesting and then milling. With the right incentives like guaranteeing to buy farmers palay from ₱18 -₱20/kilo farmers will be able to deliver the volume of rice we need.

The Department of Agrarian Reform on the last minute on the clock comes up with the idea of consolidating farm holding particularly those of agrarian reform beneficiaries. Sec. Bernie Cruz claimed that this will finally bring down the price of rice to ₱20.00.

That concept actually is not new. During the early implementation of Marcos’ “land for the actual tillers” agrarian reform program, DAR under Agrarian Reform Minister Conrado Estrella, consolidated farms out a chunk from the Davao Penal Colony in Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte, was awarded to prisoners who had finished serving their prison terms but opted to stay in Davao. They call it Tanglaw Settlement. It is a contiguous area and therefore easy to consolidate.

Tagum Agricultural Development Corporation (TADECO) helped in the clearing and preparation of the land and had it irrigated later.

Secretary Cruz cited Cory Aquino’s Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program. CARP actually contributed to the decline of production in that actual tillers, meaning tenants, were out-smarted by speculators who hate the smell of the earth but were awarded farmlands just the same because they do not own farmlands. CARP dumped Marcos’ land-for-the-actual tillers program in favor of Cory’s “land for landless” dictum. CARP, by the way, also had provisions that allowed the issuance of shares of stocks instead of land titles. Such was the case of Hacienda Luisita of the Aquino-Cojuangco clan. In retrospect, the Court of Chief Justice Renato Corona decided to issue land titles to tenant farmers. The vengeful regime had him impeached later over flimsy issues.

We have abundant sources of fish. Domingo Ang, the owner of Davao City’s Marina Tuna, has some suggestions: Open special windows at the Land Bank of the Philippines or the Development Bank for fishermen to avail of cheap loans so they can purchase the right fishing gear. The Cooperative Development Authority personnel should come out of their airconditioned rooms and encourage fisherfolk to organize coops for them to be granted long-term loans to buy boats equipped with cold storage, generators, communication, and other fishing gear. So there. Do not believe the fairy tale of William Dar. If there’s a will, there’s a way and importation is not one of them.

Fishermen coops can also engage in marine fish cage culture.

Inland fishing has now a huge potential with the legislation of hatcheries for marine and freshwater fishes. Thanks to Congressman Alan Dujali of the 2nd District of Davao del Norte for the draft and authorship of the bill which has become a law.

Our vegetable farmers grow more than what we can eat and it is, therefore, a sorrowful mystery why we import and even countenance the smuggling of vegetables.

Our poultry product had been hit by avian diseases. We need not import the whole chicken. Maybe it’s cheaper to import hatching eggs instead. In a month’s time from hatching, there will be enough spring chicken for everyone.

Anyway, the ball is in the hands of President-elect Bongbong Marcos now. He needs all the support from all quarters. As President Duterte enunciated we should now put a stop to politicking and rally behind the incoming administration.

In times like this, “united we stand, divided we fall”.

OPINION

VOLUME 1, NO. 1 TUESDAY JUNE 14, 2022

5

Is RSF’s press freedom index a joke?

By Atty. Perry Solis

PRESS freedom is alive and well in the Philippines despite the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) release of its annual World Press Freedom Index (WPFI) putting the country in an unenviable position of no. 147 under what it called a new methodology, down from 138 last year.

According to RSF’s website, the low ranking of the country was due to many factors, foremost of which is media killings, especially the Ampatuan Massacre that happened more than a decade ago in 2009.

As presented by RSF, it would be easy to assume that countries with a higher ranking would have a “freer” press than those with low rankings but that is not the case.

Journalists should ask: Do cit-

to 2022’s index, RSF stated that: “The degree of freedom available to journalists in 180 countries and regions is determined by pooling the responses of experts to a questionnaire devised by RSF. This qualitative analysis is combined with quantitative data on abuses and acts of violence against journalists during the period evaluated. The criteria used in the questionnaire are pluralism, media independence, media environment and self-censorship, legislative framework, transparency, and the quality of the infrastructure that supports the production of news and information.”

“To compile the Index, RSF has developed an online questionnaire focusing on the subjects specified above...The questionnaire is sent to journalists, media lawyers, researchers, and other media specialists selected by RSF in the 180

questionnaire has been updated to take better account of new challenges, including those linked to media digitalization.”

“In light of this new methodology, care should be taken when comparing the 2022 rankings and scores with those from 2021. Data-gathering for this year’s Index stopped at the end of January 2022, but the updates for January to March 2022 were carried out for countries where the situation had changed dramatically (Russia, Ukraine and Mali).”

So should RSF’s WPFI be taken at face value?

Andrew Rosenthal, a veteran American journalist and former editorial page editor of The New York Times has called the RSF a “state-subsidized, ostensible defender of press freedom”. He described RSF’s data gathering as

It gets its funding mostly from the EU nations.

Interestingly, most of the EU nations are ranked in the top tier of the index, labeled by the RSF as a “good situation” in terms of press freedom. izens in African countries such as Namibia (18), South Africa (35), or Ivory Coast (37) enjoy greater press freedom than those from countries below it in ranking, such as let’s say, citizens of the United States, which is currently at no. 42 in RSF’s index?

Journalists should wonder how RSF was able to come up with such rankings, considering the fact that press freedom is not an absolute matter that can be computed and analyzed mathematically. How does one “measure” press freedom in a country?

But before that, who are the reporters without borders?

According to Wikipedia, RSF “is a leading international non-profit and non-governmental organization that safeguards the right to freedom of information. Its mandate is to promote free, independent, and pluralistic journalism and to defend media workers. Its advocacy is founded on the belief that everyone requires access to the news and information, inspired by Article 19 of the UN Declaration of Human Rights which recognizes the right to receive and share information regardless of frontiers, along with other international rights charters. RSF has consultative status at the United Nations, UNESCO, the Council of Europe, and the International Organisation of the Francophonie.”

It gets its funding mostly from the EU nations. Interestingly, most of the EU nations are ranked in the top tier of the index, labeled by the RSF as a “good situation” in terms of press freedom.

Also, anybody can become a “member” of RSF as long as he or she pays a minimum of 15 euros (student’s discount rate). But to get the coveted RSF ID card, one must pay at least 100 euros if you’re living outside of France.

So how does the RSF come up with its own assessment of the state of press freedom per country? Prior

countries and regions covered by the Index. Each country and region is assigned a score based on the answers provided by these experts and on the figures for acts of violence and abuses against journalists during the previous year.””A team of in-house specialists, each assigned to a different geographical region, keeps a detailed tally of abuses and violence against journalists and media outlets. These researchers also rely on a network of correspondents in 130 countries.”

New methodology beginning 2022 As far as the 2022 index is concerned, RSF says it “developed a new methodology to compile the 20th World Press Freedom Index” after “working with a committee of seven experts from the academic and media sectors.”

As found on their website: “The new methodology defines press freedom as “the effective possibility for journalists, as individuals and as groups, to select, produce and disseminate news and information in the public interest, independently from political, economic, legal and social interference, and without threats to their physical and mental safety.” In order to reflect press freedom’s complexity, five new indicators are now used to compile the Index: the political context, legal framework, economic context, sociocultural context, and security.”

“In the 180 countries and territories ranked by RSF, indicators are assessed on the basis of a quantitative survey of press freedom violations and abuses against journalists and media, and a qualitative study based on the responses of hundreds of press freedom experts selected

by RSF (journalists, academics and human rights defenders) to a questionnaire with 123 questions. The

arbitrary. In one of his earlier commentaries on the RSF (“The Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index: Independent Assessment or EU Propaganda?” World Politics Review, November 6, 2007) he stated that: “RSF’s lack of transparency concerning both its primary “data” and the “method” ostensibly employed for converting the latter into the concrete “scores” assigned to the individual countries, obviously leaves the organization an extremely large -- indeed virtually unlimited -- margin for arbitrariness in establishing its rankings. A closer look at the RSF rankings shows that it has made ample use of this margin.”

“The unseriousness of RSF’s approach is patent. It would appear that the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Rankings serve essentially as pegs on which to hang preconceived political judgments: a useful tool, then, for the propaganda purposes of RSF’s sponsors. But for an independent and objective evaluation of the situation of press freedoms in the world, one will have to look elsewhere.”

Indeed, RSF’s index is untrustworthy and indefensible in every way. That is why RSF does not hold press conferences when it releases its index. RSF merely puts out some kind of press release accompanying the release of their WPFI. How can one gauge the state of press freedom from a questionnaire given to unnamed individuals with unknown political and social backgrounds, hand-picked by RSF which it labels as “experts”?

As another American writer puts it in one of the more scathing reviews of RSF’s index: “Whatever the case, one thing’s clear: while RSF may well deserve plenty of credit for some of its efforts, the Press Freedom Index is a joke — and, more than that, a TO BE CONTINUED

6

VOLUME 1, NO. 1 TUESDAY JUNE 14, 2022

Bargain hunting lifts PH stocks index; peso ends sideways MANILA – The local stock barometer recovered on Tuesday due to bargain hunting, while the peso finished the day sideways against the US dollar.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) increased by 0.12 percent, or 7.52 points, to 6,474.53 points.

All Shares fell by 0.11 percent, or 3.88 points, to 3,471.05 points.

Most of the sectoral gauges also finished on the negative namely Property, 0.96 percent; Industrial, 0.87 percent; Services, 0.75 percent; and Financials, 0.15 percent.

On the other hand, Holding Firms improved by 1.64 percent and Mining and Oil by 0.70 percent.

Volume remained thin at 827.41 million shares amounting to PHP5.6 billion.

Decliners led advancers at 118 to 62, while 44 shares were unchanged.

“Investors finally became bargain hunters after witnessing an intense equity sell-off Monday night with the S&P 500 tumbling to a fresh low for the year and closing in bear market territory as recession fears grew ahead of this week’s key Fed’s two-day policy meeting,” said Luis Limlingan, Regina Capital Development Corporation (RCDC) head of sales.

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) will have its meeting on June 14-15, and it is widely expected to announce another rate hike after the total of 75 basis points increase last March and May. “Investors are bracing themselves for the possibility of a larger-than-expected interest rate hike this week after CNB’s Steve Liesman confirmed on Monday that the Federal Reserve will “likely” consider a 75 bp increase, which is greater than the 50 bp hike many traders had come to expect,” Limlingan said.

Meanwhile, the peso kept its footing against the US dollar after it finished the day at 53.25 from Monday’s 53.3 close.

It opened the day at 53.28 and traded between 53.4 and 53.13. The average level for the day stood at 53.272.

Volume rose to USD1.17 billion from USD685.2 million a day ago. (PNA)

BUSINESS Fitch cuts 2022 growth forecast for global economy ANKARA – Global ratings agency Fitch Ratings on Monday cut its world gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast to 2.9 percent for 2022.

Fitch said in its latest report that global inflation pressures continue to intensify amid the Russia-Ukraine war, with increasingly adverse implications for the growth outlook.

It noted that the latest quarantine measures in China due to Covid-19 contributed to global manufacturing supply chain pressures.

“The biggest revision is to China, where we now expect growth to fall to 3.7 percent this year, down from 4.8 percent in March,” it underlined.

“The lockdown in Shanghai will cause China’s GDP to fall in sequential quarterly terms in 2Q22 and with the ‘dynamic-zero’ Covid-19 policy still in place, we do not expect there to be a swift bounce back,” it added.

Fitch has also lowered its forecast for growth in the US by 0.6 percentage points to 2.9 percent and the eurozone by 0.4 percentage points to 2.6 percent.

“We have cut world growth in 2023 by 0.1pp to 2.7 percent,” it said.

The global agency also said eurozone consumers will experience a greater drag on real incomes from inflation and German industry is being affected by supply chain disruptions and the China slowdown.

“The US economy has nearterm momentum, with consumer spending supported by strong growth in jobs and nominal wages,” it underlined. “But growth is set to slow from mid-2023 to barely positive rates in quarterly terms due to aggressive monetary tightening.”

As inflationary pressures have become so pronounced that central banks are being forced to respond, the Federal Reserve’s policy stance will become more restrictive.

The report also said the Turkish economy performed much better than expected in the first quarter of this year.

While imports decreased rapidly compared to exports, investments provided additional support and the increase from net trade helped growth, it said.

The Turkish economy is expected to grow by 4.5 percent this year, 3 percent in 2023, and 2.9 percent in 2024.

Fitch had previously predicted that Turkey would grow by 2.4 percent this year and 3.2 percent in 2023. (Anadolu)

Legazpi posts higher tax collection under Mandanas Ruling

By Emmanuel Solis LEGAZPI CITY – Legazpi City has received a hefty amount of PHP278.3 million in National Tax Allotment (NTA, formerly IRA) in the first three months of 2022, or an increase of 36.86-percent compared to the amount received in 2021 under the old Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA), the City Treasurer’s Office reported.

Based on official data, the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) collected PHP203.9 million from the IRA in 2021, showing an increase of PHP74.9 million or 36.86 percent under the NTA this year.

City Budget Officer Jeffrey Navarro attributed the increase to the full implementation of the Mandanas Ruling.

“Because of the now full-blown implementation of the Mandanas Ruling that’s why we have a bigger share from the NTA compared to when it was still called IRA,” Navarro said.

He said the share of Legazpi City from the NTA has increased, adding that a certain percentage of the collection by the national government from the Bureau Customs (BOC) was added to the LGU as part of the newly implemented tax-sharing scheme.

“In fact, the City Government

of Legazpi is targeting PHP1.1-billion NTA share for the whole year of 2022,” Navarro said.

Carlita de Guzman, chief of the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO), said from January to March of the present year, her office has collected PHP74.237 million from the Real Property Tax (RPT), which was higher than the PHP68.262-million collection in the same period last year, showing a slight increase of PHP5.975 million, or 8.7 percent.

De Guzman added that PHP217.037 million was collected from business taxes, which was PHP25.361 million or 13.23 percent higher than the PHP191.675 million collected in the first quarter of last year.

“But the collection from fees and charges by the city government from January to March of the present year has decreased by 3.13 percent as the CTO has only collected PHP40.2 million against PHP41.5 million or PHP1.3 million lower compared to the same period last year,” she said.

De Guzman added the collection from “economic enterprises” has also decreased by PHP4.497 million or 30.64 percent, with PHP14.679 million collected in the first quarter of last year against the PHP10.181 million in the present year.

The Observer.

Observer.com

PH tax reform gains seen even during pandemic: DOF exec

By Joann Villanueva

MANILA – Structural reforms during the Duterte administration have allowed the government to keep tax and revenue effort levels remaining at improved levels during the pandemic, a ranking Department of Finance (DOF) official said.

In a virtual briefing hosted by the Integrated Development Studies Institute (IDSI) on Tuesday, DOF Undersecretary Mark Joven said tax effort, or the index of the share of tax collections to gross domestic product (GPD), rose significantly in 2019.

Joven said tax effort increased to 13.9 percent in 2019 from 12.4 percent during the second Aquino administration and 12.2 percent during the Arroyo government.

He said revenue effort, or the share of government revenues to GDP, went up to 15.4 percent from 14 percent in the first Aquino administration and 14.1 percent during the Arroyo administration.

“And even during the pandemic years, 2020 and 2021, we see that revenue effort did not fall significantly compared to earlier economic and financial crises like the Asian financial crisis and the subprime crisis,” he added.

Joven said tax effort normally drops during a crisis, but noted

there was little slippage for these gauges for the Philippine government during the current crisis.

He attributed this to structural reforms implemented by the current administration on the country’s tax system.

Joven said the government “shifted from a predominantly income-based taxation system to a more consumption-based taxation system.”

“This, essentially, makes it more efficient to collect taxes,” he added.

Joven further said the main revenue-generating agencies, namely the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) which collects around 70 percent of taxes, and the Bureau of Customs (BOC), did not resort to shame campaigns to increase government revenues.

“So we can see that essentially, this is not a function of (a) shame campaign by which we improve our tax effort. It’s really by way of making the tax system more efficient,” he said.

He thus cited the need to sustain these improvements post-Duterte government “because most of the reforms are structural in nature and long term.”

“So, we don’t expect any back-pedaling (as) so far as this is concerned,” he added. (PNA)

7-year T-bond rate rises MANILA – The rate of the seven-year Treasury bond (T-bond) rose on Tuesday, thus the partial award by the Bureau of the Treasury’s (BTr) auction committee.

The average rate of the debt paper increased to 6.740 percent from 6.428 percent previously.

The BTr offered the debt paper for PHP35 billion and the auction committee awarded PHP19.551 billion. Total tenders reached PHP62.296 billion.

“Markets remain defensive with (a) slew of news both from Fed (Federal Reserve) and BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) to take action to fight surge in prices,” National Treasurer Rosalia de Leon told journalists in a Viber message.

De Leon said the auction committee “decided to alight rates with prevailing market rates.”

For one, the US consumer price index (CPI) for May accelerated further to 8.6 percent, the

National Treasurer Rosalia de Leon

highest since 1981, after decelerating to 8.3 percent in the previous month.

This made economists and market analysts eye more aggressive hikes in the Fed rates after the total of 75 basis points increase last March and May. The same situation is expected for the BSP after the May 2022 domestic inflation rate posted a faster rate of 5.4 percent, the second consecutive month that it rose beyond the government’s 2-4 percent target band.

BSP’s policy-making Monetary Board (MB) hiked the central bank’s key rates by 25 basis points last March, the first increase since December 2018 and after the total of 200 basis points increase in 2020 as a pandemic-related measure.

(PNA)

7 FEATURES Former ‘kaingineros’ rejuvenate cacao trees as new market emerges VOLUME 1, NO. 1 TUESDAY JUNE 14, 2022

The Observer.

Observer.com

of the factory.

In fact, some equipment have already been bought for the manufacture of the chocolate bars.

“The chocolate factory will be a source of regular income now for our cacao farmers at the foothills of Mt. Talinis as they will be reassured of steady and sustained bulk orders of cacao seeds from the manufacturers,” Du said.

By Mary Judaline Partlow DUMAGUETE CITY – Hopes are running high for former “kaingineros” or slash-and-burn farmers in Valencia, Negros Oriental, who have shifted to planting cacao trees and are now rejuvenating them as they are reassured of a new market that has emerged.

Organized into the Puhagan Farmers Association or PUFA by the Energy Development Corporation (EDC), these cacao planters are currently undergoing technology training by the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) of Valencia and some experts on how to rejuvenate their trees to ensure good quality cacao beans for a soon-to-rise local chocolate bar factory.

“Together with other partners, the rejuvenation covers hundreds of cacao trees that are over ten years old which started out as our reforestation project but we have now discovered that it can become a social enterprise for these farmers,” Norreen Bautista, EDC-Negros corporate relations department head, told the Philippine News Agency on Tuesday.

An inventory of the cacao trees was also done recently, she said.

“Thankfully, we have also met some partners, like ‘cacao king’ Val Turtur, who has generously imparted his knowledge in cacao farming,” Bautista said.

The PUFA will be the pilot of 11 associations of cacao entrepreneurs who have planted an aggregate total of more than 22,000 cocoa trees at the foot of Mt. Talinis and its perimeters.

The new market is the Mt. Talinis Dark Chocolate, a venture of a few individuals and partners who have developed the chocolate bar to be registered with the Department of Trade and Industry as Valencia’s “One Town, One Product”.

It has guaranteed to buy the cacao beans from these farmer associations provided they are able to meet the prescribed standards for

Cacao farm rehabilitation and technical training

REJUVENATION. Members of the Puhagan Farmers’ Associaton in Valencia, Negros Oriental, are now training on the rejuvenation of cacao trees for better yield as a new market emerges. The Mt. Talinis Dark Chocolate is now being promoted as the “One Town, One Product” of Valencia, with the manufacturers providing fresh opportunities for cacao growers. (Photo courtesy of EDC Negros Oriental)

making chocolate.

New social entrepreneurs These farmers who previously engaged in “kaingin” or the slashand-burn technique of clearing underbrush and trees at the foothills of Mt. Talinis have gone a long way in transitioning to now being social entrepreneurs and forest guardians as well.

After they were organized, they are now cultivating government-owned forestal land at the base of Mt. Talinis, also known as the Cuernos de Negros (Horns of Negros) mountain range.

Lina Enovino, PUFA president, in an interview, said she was only 15 years old when residents in that village, including her parents, were organized in 1994 to legitimately cultivate land to prevent deforestation due to “kaingin”.

Being a host community of EDC, which owns and operates the geothermal power plants in Valencia, the PUFA and other farmers’ associations were formed and were provided the necessary skills training on farming and other agriculture techniques.

Enovino said they planted fruit trees, non-fruit bearing trees, veg-

etables, and rattan palms, to convert the forest clearings that were burned into more productive areas that would benefit both humans and the environment.

Over the years, more “kaingineros” became legitimate farmers earning a decent living and became protectors of the forest after learning of the destruction that slashand-burn brought to the environment, she said.

“We also help guard the forests now to ensure that no ‘kaingin’ activities will flourish”, she added.

Cacao farming gains ground The farmers’ associations in Valencia depended largely on income from vegetables, fruits, and rattan through the years, as cacao beans were not a reliable source of livelihood yet due to improper techniques of cultivation, Envino said.

The trees did not bear as much fruit, and if there were any, they were infested with bugs, she noted.

PUFA alone has more than 500 cacao trees, planted on one hectare of government-owned forestland sitting on EDC’s development block.

Envino said the farmers earned a measly and irregular income from dried cacao beans that they sold as

Single mom takes leap of faith with ‘Balik Probinsya’ program

By Lade Jean Kabagani MANILA – Angelie Montibano was in her early 20s and out of college when she left Negros Oriental province with dreams of a successful life in the Big City.

She luckily found employment at once as a timekeeper in a construction company.

Later on, she got pregnant and raised her daughter, Samantha, alone. She had a job and knew they would be just fine.

Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic came out of nowhere and reality struck Montibano hard.

First, she was laid off from work.

“Kapag babae ka, ikaw ang unang aalisin kasi construction site ‘yun. Tingin nila, trabahong panlalaki lang ‘yun (If you are a woman,

you will have to go first because it’s a construction site. They think it’s mostly for men),” she told the Philippine News Agency in an interview last week.

When Montibano, now 41, heard of the “Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa” (BP2) program, it revived her hopes and realized her 13-year-old daughter deserves better.

“Kailangan natin kumbaga to take a risk para sa mas magandang kinabukasan (We need to, like, take a risk to secure a better future),” she said.

She learned of BP2’s benefits, including housing, livelihood, and educational benefits, not to mention all-expense paid transportation going home.

“Dito kasi sa Manila, kahit mag-overtime ako ng hanggang

Angelie Montibano, a beneficiary of the “Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa” program.

alas onse araw-araw, hindi ako magkakaroon ng sariling bahay kasi yung kinikita ko’, tama lang sa pambayad ng renta, kuryente, tubig pati baon ng anak ko sa school at pagkain namin (Here in Manila, even if I will work until 11 p.m. daily, I won’t be able to save up for a house. My salary is just enough to pay for rent, electricity, and water bills, my daughter’s school expenses, and for our food),” she said, shortly before she left the BP2 depot in Quezon City on June 2.

“tablea” or roasted, ground, and molded 100 percent pure cocoa in blocks or other shapes without other ingredients added.

At times, they would just prepare them into chocolate drinks for their own consumption or the local market, she said.

The absence of correct information and proper technology in caring for the cacao trees resulted in the farmers not paying attention to what would now become a highly-productive endeavor with the entry of a proposed local dark chocolate bar factory in Valencia.

“But now, we have something to look forward to and we are excited,” she said.

OTOP production and marketing Just recently, the Valencia local government unit (LGU), EDC, the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NOCCI), and a few other partners announced that they will be launching the first-ever locally made dark chocolate in the province.

Conceptualized several years ago by NOCCI and its then-president, Dumaguete-based businessman Edward Du, the project is now awaiting legal and other documentary requirements before a chocolate factory can be established in Valencia.

Du said that incumbent Mayor Edgar Teves has given his thumbs up to support local legislation – the first of its kind in the province – to produce and market a chocolate bar made of the finest cacao beans from local farmers.

Once the ordinance is out, a “conglomeration” of local partner-owners will seek the approval of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to begin the manufacturing of a dark chocolate bar that is 70 percent pure chocolate and 30 percent sugar.

“There are no additives and other ingredients added, and we have already prepared some samples at a demo farm as we continue to fine-tune the final product,” he said.

A demo farm in Barangay Bong-ao, Valencia, owned by former EDC Negros Oriental manager Wilfredo Algopera, will be the site

To ensure that the cacao farmers are equipped with the proper skills in cultivating and maintaining their cacao trees to produce quality beans, NOCCI and EDC have asked the Valencia Municipal Agriculture Officer, Lindon Escalante, to help in the rehabilitation phase.

Escalante said they will create a federation of cacao farmers and provide them assistance such as rehabilitation, technical know-how, and training in land preparation, fertilization, and production.

“Cacao may be considered unfriendly to the environment because we apply chemicals like fertilizers and pesticides but we have interventions. This is done through good agricultural practices or balancing fertilizers,” he said.

The Municipal Agriculture Office also monitors levels of traces of elements and the threshold of economic yield.

Cacao with five percent damage from bugs does not need to be applied with pesticides while vermiculture facilities as a source of organic fertilizers are stationed in each barangay, he said.

Together with Mt. Talinis Dark Chocolate Ventures Inc. and its partners, the MAO reassured of full support to the PUFA as the “cacao model farm”, he said.

A dedicated team will be deployed for the rehabilitation and rejuvenation of the trees, the conduct of training and workshops, and the distribution of free cacao seedlings and provision of fertilizer subsidy, he added.

Bright future from a ‘dark’ source Envino and her co-farmers of PUFA are looking forward to a brighter future with the dark chocolate business coming into full swing once all the paperwork and requirements are ready.

She said this will be an incentive for them to nurture their cacao trees with proper guidance from agriculture experts now that they have been reassured of a steady source of income.

“We no longer have to worry about having to sell “tablea” as we have been promised that if we produce the best cacao seeds, the manufacturers will buy from us by bulk,” she said.

In the meantime, Envino said that being stewards of the environment and protectors of the forests for years will finally come to fruition through the cacao trees and their fruits. (PNA)

8

HEALTH

VOLUME 1, NO. 1 TUESDAY JUNE 14, 2022

The Observer.

Observer.com

NegOr logs 3rd dengue death as cases continue to rise

By Mary Judaline Partlow

Over 420K get 2nd Covid-19 booster shot

By Ma. Teresa Montemayor MANILA – Over 425,000 individuals have received their second booster shot of the Covid-19 vaccine, a health official said Friday.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said almost 14.5 million individuals have an up-todate vaccination or have received their first booster shot while 69.7 million are fully vaccinated as of June 9.

“We have already almost 9.4 million fully inoculated adolescents along with more than three million children fully vaccinated,” she said

in an online media forum.

The country has seen a slight increase in cases for the week of June 2 to 8 at 197 which is 9 percent higher than the 180 cases logged in.

Vergeire said the slight increase “is not observed to be sustained” but the national positivity rate increased to 1.3 percent.

“Nationally, we’re remaining under low-risk classification with positive one-week and two-week growth rates since May 25. Despite increase in cases, the daily attack rate remains at less than one case per 100,000 population,” she said.

Currently, the national hospital admissions are on a plateau with a

DOH reiterates face masks protect vs. Covid, other infections MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday reminded the public that wearing the best fitting face mask keeps Covid-19 cases low despite detection of new subvariants.

This, after reports said wearing of face mask outdoors is now optional in Cebu province except when a person has Covid-19 symptoms.

In a statement, the DOH indicated scientific evidence supports the use of best fitting face masks in reducing the transmission of Covid-19 and other infectious and respiratory diseases including monkeypox.

“Current IATF protocols allow

only for specific instances when masks can be taken off, such as when eating or during well-ventilated sports and activities,” it said.

The DOH emphasized the Covid-19 virus is still present and the pandemic is not yet over. “ Individuals can still catch the virus, most especially for our vulnerable population. Let’s be responsible and do our part by wearing the B-est Fitted Mask, I-solate when sick, D-ouble-up protection through vaccination and boosters, and ensure good airflow,” it added.

The agency also reminded the fully vaccinated to get their booster shots as immunity wanes over time.

(PNA)

slight increase of 268 admissions or six percent -- from 4,820 to 5,080.

The total bed utilization slightly increased by one percent while the intensive care unit utilization is at a plateau at 16 percent and lowrisk classification. (PNA)

DUMAGUETE CITY – Negros Oriental recorded its third death this year due to dengue as cases of the infectious viral disease continue to rise amid what is tagged as an “epidemic” season.

Assistant Provincial Health Officer Dr. Liland Estacion said Friday the latest weekly reporting covering May 29 to June 4 showed the total number of dengue cases reached 396.

This is 33 percent higher than last year’s 265 cases with no deaths, for the same period or from January 1 to June 4, 2021.

The latest dengue casualty is from Basay, the farthest town in the south, but no other details were given. The two previous ones were from Bayawan City and this capital city.

Canlaon City registered the

A dengue virus-carrying mosquito.

highest number of dengue cases at 90, Estacion said.

“That’s the reason why we are providing Canlaon City with chemicals (for fogging) while our team will be returning on Friday to assess the status of the dengue patients there and the preventive measures being undertaken,” she said.

The others in the list of areas with the highest number of dengue cases are Bayawan City with 44; Dumaguete City, 42; Bais City, 31; and Sta. Catalina, 22.

Estacion reiterated the need to be proactive in the fight against dengue, such as through cleaning the surroundings to eliminate mosquito-breeding places, as this is the so-called outbreak season of the three-year cycle, thus they are expecting a spike in cases. (PNA)

Chikungunya cases 169% higher than 2021 MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday said the country has recorded a 169 percent increase in cases of mosquito-borne chikungunya fever from January 1 to May 21, 2022.

In a statement, the DOH said 43 chikungunya cases were reported during the first five months -- 27 cases higher than the 16 logged in the same period last year.

Most of the chikungunya cases were from Central Visayas with 29 cases, or 67 percent of the total count. The remaining eight cases or 19 percent were from the Davao Region.

“The region with the most number of cases cumulatively and recently was Region 7 (Central Visayas). Of its 29 cases reported since the start of the year, 26 or 90 percent cases were recorded in April. However, from May 1 to 21, 2022, there were only two cases reported in the said region,” the DOH said.

For the period of April 24 to May 21, there were 13 chikungunya cases logged in Central Visayas, 10 or 77 percent; Davao Region, 1; Calabarzon, 1; and the National Capital Region, 1.

As of May 21, no deaths were reported among the chikungunya cases.

Chikungunya is not as fatal as dengue.

However, its symptoms – fever, rashes, headache, nausea, fatigue, and acute and long-term arthritis in several joints are similar – to that of dengue.

Currently, there is no vaccine against chikungunya or specific medicine to treat it. Patients suffering from it get well through the treatment of symptoms. (PNA)

WHO warns of ‘real’ monkeypox risk, Covid-19 pandemic ‘not over’

GENEVA – There is a “real” risk of monkeypox becoming established in non-endemic countries, the World Health Organization warned on Wednesday, while also reiterating that the Covid-19 pandemic “is not over.”

“More than 1,000 confirmed cases of monkeypox have now been reported to WHO from 29 countries that are not endemic for the disease,” said WHO chief Tedros Ghebreyesus.

He said no deaths have been reported in the outbreaks, adding that the UN health agency “does not recommend mass vaccination against monkeypox.”

“Cases have been reported mainly, but not only, among men who have sex with men. Some countries are now beginning to report cases of apparent community transmission, including some cases in women,” said Tedros.

He said the spread of the disease to several non-endemic countries “suggests that there might have been undetected transmission for some time.”

“The risk of monkeypox becoming established in non-endemic countries is real,” he emphasized.

He pointed out that the “virus has been circulating and killing in Africa for decades,” with more than 1,400 suspected cases and 66 deaths

across the continent just this year.

“It’s an unfortunate reflection of the world we live in that the international community is only now paying attention to monkeypox because it has appeared in high-income countries,” he added.

Even more dangerous’ Covid-19 variant possible Tedros said the perception that the Covid-19 pandemic is over is “misguided” as the virus claimed more than 7,000 lives last week.

“The pandemic is not over, and we will keep saying it’s not over until it is,” he asserted.

While cases and deaths decline globally, the WHO continues to urge caution as there is “not enough testing and not enough vaccination” worldwide, he explained.

On average, some 75 percent of health workers and people over 60 globally have been vaccinated, according to the WHO chief.

The rates, however, are “much lower in low-income countries,” said the WHO chief, adding that “68 countries have still not achieved 40 percent coverage.”

“Vaccine supply is now sufficient, but demand in many countries with the lowest vaccination rates is lacking,” said Tedros.

He warned that a “new and even more dangerous variant could emerge at any time.”

The Observer.

Observer.com DOST helps Lanao del Norte town’s disaster mitigation MANILA -- The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Lanao del Norte is assisting in the disaster mitigation efforts of the municipality of Bacolod, providing technical support and funding to procure automatic rain gauges (ARGs) and a water level monitoring station (WLMS).

“The Provincial Science and Technology Center in Lanao del Norte has been facilitating and coordinating the activities between the LGU (local government unit) of Bacolod, and PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration) for the installation of two units of ARGs and one WLMS. PAGASA is yet to conduct the site inspection, hopefully this June,” DOST Lanao del Norte officer in charge Dorina Ytang told the Philippine News Agency on Tuesday.

DOST Lanao del Norte provided the Bacolod LGU with over PHP770,000 for the procurement of the early warning devices. The funding was from the DOST’s Community Empowerment Thru Science and Technology (CEST) program that seeks to alleviate poverty in the country by empowering the poorest and most depressed communities through S&T interventions in health and nutrition, water and sanitation, disaster risk reduction, and climate change adaptation. -- Ma. Cristina Arayata

S&T intervention helps weavers, farmers in Iloilo

MANILA – Around 50 farmers and 28 weavers in Iloilo have been benefiting from the science and technology intervention from the Department of Science and Technology in Western Visayas (DOST-6).

“The weaving industry in Miagao and Iloilo as a whole has given women an opportunity (for) livelihood, especially for those who can’t find any (job). Up to now, the hablon-making industry of Iloilo continues to thrive as the demand for hablon products continues to rise both in local and international markets,” DOST-6 Director Rowen Gelonga told the Philippine News Agency Thursday.

The natural and blended fibers have a limited supply, but with the DOST-supported Regional Yarn Production and Innovation Center (RYPIC) in Miagao, about 132,000 kilograms of yarns can be produced per year.

“It is expected that the hablon that are made with natural blended fibers have higher value and high demand both in local and global markets compared with those made with synthetic yarn,” Gelonga said.

To further address the demand, as well as provide additional income for pineapple farmers and the weavers, the DOST-6 spent PHP571,500 on two pineapple decorticating machines, which were turned over to the town of Lemery and Passi City.

Decorating machines are used to strip fresh pineapple leaves, which are considered farm waste, into fibers. -- Ma. Cristina Arayata

TECHNOLOGY DOST brings e-learning technologies to IP schools

By Zorayda Tecson

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – The Department of Science and Technology-Central Luzon (DOST3) has introduced e-learning technologies to geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA) in Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija DOST Regional Director Julius Caesar Sicat said on Tuesday some 204 units of e-tablet and another 204 units of two-way radio were turned over on Monday to teachers for distribution to students in the GIDA community and indigenous peoples (IP) group members of Camatchile Elementary School, Malinao, Elementary School, and Gawad Kalinga Elementary School in the said town.

Sicat said the e-learning technologies with two-way radio developed by the company Frontlearners can be used in discussing the lessons while the topic can be flashed

MANILA – The Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) is searching for eight universities or institutions to be granted up to PHP5 million for the establishment or improvement of their research and development (R&D) laboratories.

“Public and private academic institutions can avail of this program – the Institution Development Program (IDP). The funding should be allocated for the upgrading or establishment of laboratories, (purchase) of equipment,” PCIEERD executive director Enrico Paringit said in an interview on Wednesday afternoon.

Paringit said the call for proposals to its stakeholders began on Wednesday and ends on June 30.

Submission of proposals is from June 16 to July 15 and the evaluation process would take 40 days.

He said they are looking for proposals focused on aerospace engineering, navigational engineering, and renewable energy.

“The laboratories should have a theme or target area/industry.

Universities usually base this on the needs of the regions where they are located,” Paringit said, noting that these three priority areas were chosen because no established R&D laboratories cater to them yet.

While it does not discourage the submission of proposals focusing on other areas, PCIEERD may likely not accept them but would still look into the intent of the proposal, he said.

9

VIRTUAL SIMULATION. A staff of the University of the Philippines Manila (UPM) Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Health (DRRM-H) Center shows how virtual simulation is used in training for disasters.

Virtual simulation practical for DRRM-H training

E-LEARNING. The Department of Science and Technology-Central Luzon (DOST-3) turns over some 204 units of e-tablet and another 204 units of two-way radio on Monday (June 13, 2022) for the use of students in geographically identified and disadvantaged areas (GIDA) community and indigenous peoples. (Photo courtesy of DOST-3) simultaneously on e-tablets.

Through this technology, he said teaching and learning can be

8 universities to get up to P5-M R&D lab grant

By Ma. Cristina Arayata

VOLUME 1, NO. 1 TUESDAY JUNE 14, 2022

Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, Emerging Technology Research and Development executive director Enrico Paringit.

“We are urging universities and colleges across the country to send their idea and proposals. We are also ready to assist them in crafting a good proposal, so they could be more capable of participating in leveraging the science and technology field,” he said.

delivered even if the students are in the comfort of their homes.

The project is a component of the Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) program of the DOST which had been funded by Sen. Joel Villanueva since 2018.

CEST aims to introduce technology innovations as a foundation for further development in remote areas.

This includes interventions related to but not limited to health and nutrition, education, disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, and environmental protection and conservation.

The initiative also entails the provision and transfer of technology-based livelihood projects to the identified communities specifically in GIDA, the marginalized sector including farmers, fisher folks, indigenous people, and women’s groups. (PNA)

Mobile lab for ASF detection to be deployed in Mindanao

MANILA – A mobile laboratory for the detection of the African swine fever (ASF) is currently being developed and will be deployed in Mindanao, an official of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said Wednesday.

“The BioAssets Corporation is setting up a high containment laboratory unit that will be deployed in Mindanao. This laboratory will help veterinarians and farmers to have the diagnostics, so they could immediately respond to a disease outbreak,” DOST Undersecretary Rowena Guevara said in a public briefing.

This project of the BioAssets Corporation was funded by the DOST for PHP15.95 million.

Guevara pointed out that detecting the ASF fast and having an accessible laboratory would lessen the number of pigs that would have to be killed.

“At present, when you need to test a suspected ASF case, you would get a sample and bring it to a laboratory. We will do it the other way -- the laboratory will go to where there are suspected ASF cases,” she said.

“Alam naman natin ang mga patakaran ng Depart-

MANILA – An official of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) on Thursday stressed the importance of virtual simulations when holding training on disaster risk reduction and management in health (DRRM-H).

DOST Undersecretary Rowena Guevara made the pronouncement as she revealed that the DOST is looking at a proposal to put up DRRM-H centers in several regions.

“Virtual simulation training is a cost-effective way of managing simulations for disaster training.

Live simulations and large-scale drills involve cost and extensive preparations to reach a desired effectiveness. Hazardous settings are needed and entail certain logistics and safety concerns for trainees,” Guevara said in an interview.

She pointed out that regular classroom and oral presentations have their limitations. One can only make students or trainees imagine without practical application.

The developed tools for virtual simulation are made to make learning easier and better, while enhancing skills competency.

“Responders, especially those equipped only with minimum training, experience, and qualifications, still need on-field or first-hand experience to develop their competency. By providing them simulation training we are not only able to save lives but improve patient outcomes and prevent or lessen the severity of disabilities,” Guevara said.

-- Ma. Cristina Arayata

ment of Agriculture (DA) tungkol dito sa ASF, kaya kung makaka-respond kaagad itong laboratory, mas mapapabilis ang aksiyon at mas kaunti na lang ang ating mga kailangang patayin na mga baboy (We know the DA’s rules with regard to ASF, so a mobile laboratory would hasten the response and would lessen the number of pigs to be killed),” she said.

Guevara said she was referring to the DA’s rule that once ASF was detected, all the other pigs within a one-kilometer distance should be culled. “If there will be a detection kit, there will be no need to kill all the other pigs. You could detect which among them is infected,” she said.

Guevara said there are currently two ASF detection kits. One is the ASFV Nanogold which is still being developed and needs to be registered. The other one was made by a DOST-attached agency.

Ma. Cristina Arayata/PNA

10

ENVIRONMENT

VOLUME 1, NO. 1 TUESDAY JUNE 14, 2022

Mayor to protect 2 whale sharks spotted off Mactan Island

By John Rey Saavedra

CEBU CITY – They are not endemic in the Mactan Island waters but two whale sharks showed up in the seawater off Barangay Punta Engaño in Lapu-Lapu City, Mayor Junard Chan said.

Chan said the appearance of the two giants, locally called “butanding”, amazed a group of people who actually saw and video-recorded them while their motorboat passed by the area on Saturday.

He pledged to implement measures to protect the sea creatures and to “make our oceans a safe home” for them.

“Ang nagpadala niining video kay si Ricky Blesario nga nakasaksi gayud sa kaanindot niining maanyag nga mga mananap nga gawasnong naglangoylangoy sa dagat.

(The sender of this video is Ricky Blesario who actually witnessed the beauty of these beautiful animals swimming freely in the sea),” Chan said in a social media post.

In a separate social media post on Saturday, Blesario said: “After vertical jigging session, personal encounter with these two friendly beautiful big whale sharks at Punta Enganio Lapu Lapu near Artera..

Beautiful creation by God’’.

Although “butanding” are commonly found in Cebu’s southern town of Oslob -- particularly in Barangay Tan-awan where hundreds of local and foreign tourists visit for whale shark-watching activities -- it was only the second time that the people in Lapu-Lapu got to see the gentle giants.

The Observer.

Observer.com

Incoming Albay guv to complete mining site rehab

By Emmanuel Solis

ISLAND REHAB. Livino Duran, DENR regional executive director for Western Visayas. There is a need to revisit the Boracay Action Plan to look into what has been completed and what needs to still be done. The action plan, which is divided into four thematic areas, costs around P26 billion.

Boracay rehab biggest environmental project under President Duterte

By Perla Lena ILOILO CITY – An official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Western Visayas said the rehabilitation of Boracay island is considered as the biggest environmental project of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte in the region.

In a press conference on Wednesday, Livino Duran, DENR regional executive director for Western Visayas, said with the mandate of the agency-led Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF) nearing its end on June 30, there is a need to go back to the 2018-2022 Boracay Action Plan (BAP) to look into whether more should be done

as far as the rehabilitation is concerned.

The action plan, which is divided into four thematic areas, costs around PHP26 billion.

Duran said almost all components of the plan were implemented but the question is whether or not they are completed.

“This should be a continuing intervention to sustain the efforts and really to make Boracay presentable and tourist-friendly,” he said.

At the end of June 30, all agencies with direct mandate on the governance in Boracay will come in to continue the intervention in place, he added.

As of April 15, about 89 percent of the 339 establishments encroaching on the more than 25-meter beach

easement rule were demolished and are expected to be completed by end of this year’s second quarter.

All beaches, including the front and the Bolabog beaches, became Class SB-compliant except for the outfall in front of the Kingfisher area, which is populated by residential houses that are not connected to the sewer network.

Duran said they are also looking for additional sanitary landfills as preparation for the solid waste management of the island.

The rehabilitation of Wetland 2 has been completed and already turned over to the DENR. Likewise, there is an ongoing rehabilitation of Wetlands 4, 3, 6, 8, while 9 is expected to be completed by the second quarter of this year. (PNA)

LEGAZPI CITY – Albay Governor-elect Noel Rosal said part of the agenda of his incoming administration is to look at and monitor the accomplishments in the rehabilitation of mining sites to make sure these are safe and beneficial to the surrounding communities.

In an interview on Wednesday, he said once he assumes the post, the provincial government of Albay would coordinate with the Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) about the status of the rehabilitation of the closed mining site on Rapu-Rapu island that is being implemented by Rapu Rapu Mining Company.

“We only want to know the progress of rehabilitation but the provincial government has no jurisdiction in the rehab implementation because it is under the jurisdiction of MGB,” Rosal added.

It was earlier reported that the mining site rehabilitation has been dragging for several years now after the mining company ceased operations in 2013.

Guillermo Molina IV, MGB director for Bicol, in a separate interview, said the mining company has accomplished 84 percent of its rehabilitation work including the planting of pine trees, cogon grass, and other endemic plants, and the road construction in urban areas connecting to the mining site.

Primewater marks World Environment Day with tree planting MANGROVE ISLAND. One of the scenes of “Amon Banwa sa Lawod” (Our Island of the Mangrove Moon) being shot in Suyac Island of Sagay City, Negros Occidental. The international full-length film is helmed by acclaimed Filipino director Anton Juan. (Photo courtesy of Sagay City Information and Tourism Office)

Int’l film features Sagay City’s mangrove island

By Nanette Guadalquiver BACOLOD CITY – The mangrove island of Suyac in Sagay City, Negros Occidental is showcased in an international fulllength film helmed by acclaimed Filipino director Anton Juan.

Titled “Amon Banwa sa Lawod” (Our Island of the Mangrove Moon), the movie was shot for 10 days between April and May this year.

“The film would articulate the mangrove community, resurrect the lives of the people living and dead, their struggles and simple joys, their resilience, and connection with the environment, and their relationship with the sea and their protection of their mangrove island,” Juan said in his director’s statement.

He noted that all these sustain the community as a source of food, economic survival, and protection from huge flooding in the typhoon and monsoon seasons.

The film was shot with the permission and participation of the locals, including fisherfolk, children, and island people, who served as spot and supporting actors.

Actors from Sagay and Bacolod, most of them acting for the first time, starred in the “Amon Banwa sa Lawod”.

Written by Juan and award-winning Sagaynon filmmaker Mark Garcia, who also served as an assistant director, the film, devised from the play “Our Town” by Thornton Wilder, revolves around the memories of the island centered on the life, love, and passing of the people.

MANILA – PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. through their corporate social responsibility (CSR) program, “Daloy ng Paglingap”, has launched a nationwide simultaneous tree-planting activity to celebrate the World Environment Day with the theme #OnlyOneEarth.

PrimeWater branches from across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao have participated in the recent activity through localized planting of seedlings and saplings in various areas within their service coverage.

“As the song goes, ‘ang lahat ng bagay ay magkaugnay (everything is connected)’. If we do not act in preserving our environment, we will have no choice but to face serious consequences that may affect water supply, increase greenhouse gas emissions, and result in frequent landslides in the future,” said Romeo Sabater, PrimeWater’s Vice President on the activity’s objective.

Based on a study by Global Forest Watch, an online platform that provides data and tools for monitoring forests, Philippines’

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY TREE PLANTING. Employees of the PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. kicks off a nationwide simultaneous tree planting activity to celebrate the World Environment Day with the theme #OnlyOneEarth.

Through its corporate social responsibility (CSR) program “Daloy ng Paglingap’’.

loss in tree cover reached 7.2 percent from 2001 to 2021. Tree cover loss is defined as the change in both natural and planted forest, which may or may not be caused by humans.

PrimeWater’s branches nationwide have planted almost 7,500 trees and seeds with different saplings from Narra, Acacia, Molave, Mahogany, Pine Tree, Talisay, Banaba to Calamansi, Jackfruit, Duhat, Calamansi, Atis, Tsiko, Suha, Mango, Liputi, Rambutan, and Cacao.

In Bicol, PrimeWater Camarines Norte has planted more than 2,000 Bakauan Bato Propagules, a Mangrove species, in Barangay Manguisoc which was an adopted area of Camarines Norte Water Dis-

trict and PrimeWater.

“The area is prone to tidal intrusion, that’s why we planted as many Mangrove saplings as necessary,” Mark Muroda II said, PrimeWater Camarines Norte’s branch head. “Water is our responsibility. There will be no clean water to be produced when our environment is damaged,” Sabater added.

The nationwide tree planting activity coincided with Proclamation No. 237 declaring the month of June as Philippine Environment Month aimed at instilling environmental awareness and concern among the country’s various sectors.

The Observer.

Observer.com

11 ARTS&TRAVEL NegOr tourism exec seeks local registration of BnB ops VOLUME 1, NO. 1 TUESDAY JUNE 14, 2022

PH RECOVERY. DOT Undersecretary for Tourism Development Planning Woodrow C. Maquiling Jr. speaks during the Routes Asia “Panel Trends Discussion: Tourism Rebound – Future Travel” in Da Nang, Vietnam on June 6-8, 2022. The Philippines’ impressive ranking as the world’s fourth fastest-growing economy in 2021 was one of the topics discussed during the event. (Photo by DOT)

PH’s recovery in travel, tourism hot topic in Routes Asia 2022

DA NANG, Vietnam – The impressive ranking of the Philippines as the world’s fourth fastest-growing economy in 2021 was one of the topics that opened the discussions at the recently concluded Routes Asia 2022 held from June 6 to 8 at the Da Nang International Exhibition Fair Center.

“Despite the travel restrictions caused by Covid-19, Philippine tourism saw some significant recovery contributing 10.4 percent to GDP in 2021— thanks to our people-centered initiatives which aimed, first and foremost, to keep our tourism workers safe and sustain our MSMEs,” Department of Tourism (DOT) Undersecretary Woodrow C. Maquiling Jr. said during the Routes Asia “Panel Trends Discussion: Tourism Rebound – Future Travel” quoting the World Travel & Tourism Council’s latest Economic Impact Report.

Maquiling led the 14-man delegation from the Philippines namely Clark International Airport Corporation and Luzon International Premier Airport Development (LIPAD) Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer Bi Yong Chungunco; Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines; Corporate Planning Office OIC Marco Antonio Javier; Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority’s

Business Development Specialist Roland Gabby Acosta; Philippine Airlines’ VP for Network Planning Christoph Gaertner, AVP for Network and Fleet Planning Bryan Ang; GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation’s Head for Airlines Marketing and Tourism Development Aines Librodo; and Cebu Pacific’s Network Management Manager Margaret Gelsana.

Speaking before senior decision-makers from leading regional carriers, representatives from trade associations, airline boards of directors, airports, and government ministries, Maquiling opened the discussions tackling the DOT’s calculated strategies that included its massive vaccination of tourism workers, investment in human capital, and provision of soft loans to small business players as key to the industry’s remarkable recovery.

“It is essential that we recover in tourism because it translates to national recovery. With direct, indirect and induced effects, we have achieved as much as 22.5 percent of tourism’s contribution to the country’s GDP pre-pandemic,” he said, referring to the tourism sector’s contribution of USD92.6 billion to the nation’s economy before Covid-19.

PTAA to hold 3-day travel expo on June 24-26

THE Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) is set to stage one of the biggest travel expos in the Philippines, promising big discounts on tour packages, including trips to newly reopened South Korea and Japan.

At least 142 exhibitors will participate in the 29th Travel Tour Expo and the business-to-business travel trade mart 7th International Travel Trade Expo (iTTE), which will be held at the SMX Convention Center.

“We’re offering or promoting all the destinations, locally and internationally, especially those that relaxed their protocols,” PTAA president Michelle Taylan told reporters in a Thursday briefing.

Cebu Pacific, one of the exhibitors,

also promised flights to South Korea and Japan at a markdown price.

Arlene Tena, Cebu Pacific Passenger Sales & Distribution director, said Japan will allow the entry of tourists starting June 10, provided they book their trips through a Japan-accredited tour operator.

“Puwede na ang Filipinos, it’s just that for Japan, you have to buy a tour package from an accredited Japan tour operator. So starting June 10 puwede nang mag-file ng visa (Filipinos are now allowed, it’s just that you have to buy a tour package from an accredited tour operator. So starting June 10, you can already apply for a visa),” she said in an interview.

Kain Na 2022: DOT brings gastronomy fair to MM MANILA – The Department of Tourism’s (DOT) flagship food festival, Kain Na 2022, is back in the National Capital Region (NCR) to bring every region’s best gastronomic offers.

The “Kain Na! Foodie Adventure” will run from June 9 to 12 at Ayala Malls Manila Bay’s activity center, featuring 13 booths and 40 exhibitors from across the country.

DOT Metro Manila Director Sharlene Zabala-Batin said the Philippines as an archipelago is a treasure trove of food beyond the staples adobo, sinigang, and pansit.

“This is precisely what this latest iteration of Kain Na! food and travel festival promises to give us-- a glimpse of the rich and delectable food culture in the Philippines to a sampling of lo-

cal cuisines, heirloom recipes, precious produce, and some indigenous ingredients from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao,” she said.

In an interview Friday, Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA) President Fe Abling-Yu said food tours do attract tourists to travel.

“Malakas ang hatak talaga ng food tours lalo na sa mga families na pupunta sa ibang lugar para lang sa pagkain. Dinadayo talaga nila, there’s the curiosity and eventually nagiging word of mouth na iyon, dumadami ‘yong dumadayo sa lugar (Food tour is an effective way to attract tourists, especially families because they are willing to visit a destination for it. They’ll travel to that place and eventually it becomes a word of mouth luring more visitors to come),”

By Mary Judaline Partlow DUMAGUETE CITY – The head of the Provincial Tourism Unit (PTU) of Negros Oriental is seeking to have a proper listing of bed and breakfast operators in the province for proper coordination now that tourists are returning with the easing of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) quarantine restrictions.

Provincial Tourism Officer Myla Mae Abellana on Wednesday said there is no complete and formal listing of BnB operators in the province, except that her office would only know of their existence by word of mouth or through social media and other platforms.

“We would like to touch base with these people as we receive many inquiries for accommodation options other than hotels and resorts,” Abellana said in mixed English and Cebuano.

She said they could not give proper answers or recommendations to the inquiries to avoid mistakes or giving wrong information.

“We do not even know the exact number of BnB operators here and where they are located,” she said.

Abellana said some of the BnB operators may just be operating on their own, or are registered with the company known as Air BnB, which is known worldwide.

Having them registered with the PTU or the local government

units (LGUs) in Negros Oriental will formalize the sector and reassure clients of concerns such as safety, among others.

She said she is also unaware whether these BnB operators are required to secure a business permit from the LGUs. Abellana said they are supporting BnBs especially as this accommodation type provides less expensive options to travelers, such as those visiting Apo Island, and an opportunity to bond with the hosts for exposure to local living. (PNA)

BnB LISTING. The Provincial Tourism Unit in Negros Oriental is pushing for a master list of bed-and-breakfast (BnB) accommodations as tourism picks up in the province with the easing of borders. BnBs provide a less expensive accommodation option, such as those visiting Apo Island (shown in photo) for a short stay. (Photo courtesy of Provincial Tourism Officer Myla Mae Abellana)

Mindanao key tourism destination; safe travel measures in place From Page 12

“The Mindanao region is a safe tourism destination with peace talks continually being done in the region, military, national and local law enforcement are doing its best to keep our destinations safe, and local government units are also working with NGOs (non-government organizations) and international organizations to make their destinations more sustainable and inclusive,” TPB Chief Operating Officer Maria Anthonette Velasco-Allones said.

Mindanao is host to equally-stunning destinations such as the beaches in Davao, the sand bars and waterfalls in Camiguin, and adventure hubs in Cagayan de Oro to name a few, she added.

“We have other amazing destinations in Mindanao, in fact, we are supporting Philippine Airlines’ inaugural flight from Cotabato to Tawi-Tawi,” she said.

She added: “Other destinations are still being vetted for compliance with health and safety protocols as we grow towards a safer, more sustainable and more inclusive tourism destination.”

Local governments in Mindanao, their respective tourism officers, the Department of Tourism’s regional offices together with the military are “doing their best” to make ensure tourists are given necessary logistical support when traveling to the region, Velasco-Allones said.

She reminded the public to refrain from making remarks that generalize the entire Mindanao.

Journalist Raissa Robles drew flak over her recent tweet saying that Tourism Secretary-designate Christina Frasco’s statement on opening up Mindanao to tourism would “please” the extremist Abu Sayyaf group with the prospect of “many potential kidnap victims.”

On June 2, Robles tweeted:

“Apparently, Frasco would like to open up Mindanao to tourism. I’m sure the extremist Abu Sayyaf and other bandits would be pleased by the prospects of so many potential kidnap victims. Way to go, Frasco.

Prep for ransom negotiations.”

Vice President-elect Sara Z. Duterte, a Mindanao native, on Saturday night lambasted Robles for demonizing Mindanao and insulting its people. (PNA)

Tourism governance in Cebu ‘good model’ for other PH destinations From Page 12

She added that consensus-building and collaboration were strong to ensure that sustainable tourism is practiced by local government units.

“I believe that the tourism governance that has been strongly established in Cebu could serve as a good model to be applied all over the Philippines as far as due respect and courtesy given to local government units for the destinations within their jurisdiction (are concerned),” she said.

As the next DOT secretary, Frasco said she will “bring in a local government perspective” to the department.

“Being well versed in the challenges that are faced from the grassroots and on the ground can help our Department of Tourism come

up with sustainable, innovative, medium, and long-term solutions to the challenges that our tourism front-liners, tourism stakeholders, and partners continue to have as a result of the difficulties of the pandemic,” she said.

“I believe I also bring with me the experience of being a local chief executive, whose main challenge is to face and try to solve crisis after crisis,” she added.

She believes “investing heavily” in tourism infrastructure and introducing technology and innovation would help speed up the sector’s recovery.

She said President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. wants to “improve the overall tourist experience” to make it convenient for tourists to come to the Philippines.

--Joyce Ann L. Rocamora/PNA

The Observer

ARTS&TRAVEL .com

VOLUME 1, NO. 1 TUESDAY JUNE 14, 2022

NegOr tourism exec Recovery in travel, PTAA to hold tourism hot topic in 3-day travel expo seeks local registration Routes Asia 2022 11 on June 24-26 11 of BnB operators 11

Mindanao key tourism destination SAFE TRAVEL MEASURE IN PLACE

White Sand is an uninhabited sandbar, a boat ride off the northern shore of Mambajao located in Camiguin.Sitting in a prime locaion with Mt. Hibok-hibok and Old Vulcan in the background surrounded by marine life. Locally known as Medan Island or Medano Islet, visitors can only come to hte island during the day.

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora

MANILA – The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) on Sunday assured that measures are in place to ensure that destinations in the southern part of the country are safe for tourists, noting that Mindanao is a key tourism destination included in its promotion activities in the past few years.

Sugba Lagoon in Del Carmen, Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte taken in October 2021 (Photo contributed by Ivy Marie Mangadlao)

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Tourism governance in Cebu ‘good model’ for other PH destinations

Incoming Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco (File photo)

MANILA – Incoming Tourism chief Christina Frasco sees Cebu’s tourism governance as a “good model” for other destinations in the Philippines.

In an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel on Tuesday, Frasco said coordination among tourism stakeholders and the development of lesser-known destinations are integral parts of Cebu’s model and “have bode well” to revive their Turn to Page 11 tourism sector.