Dumaguete Metropost, January 23-29, 2022 edition

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V o l . X X I I I No . 1122 •

Dum aguete Ci ty, Phi li p p i nes

J anu ary 23 - Jan u ary 29, 2022

POST

• P15. 00

Vaccines work. Wear a mask. Keep your distance.

CoViD suspends Bais classes

The Department of Education has suspended classes at all levels in Bais City from Jan. 1831 to help teachers and students recover from the impacts of Typhoon Odette, and deal with the increasing cases of the coronavirus disease. Dr. Adolf Aguilar, OIC Schools

Division superintendent of Bais, told the media in an interview Tuesday the suspension of classes and other related non-teaching activities is in accordance with the agency’s Policy on Academic Ease. “Academic Ease is a measure TO PAGE 2

LIFE GOES ON. Local health buffs dance to their daily Zumba sessions at the reclaimed Pantawan 2 at the southern end of Rizal Boulevard, undaunted by the rise in CoViD-19 cases in Negros Oriental. (Photo by Alex Pal)

Stay home, doctors appeal As CoViD cases multiply

The year 2022 in Negros Oriental started with 24 CoViD cases. A little more than two weeks later, the number shot up to 368. By the third week of January, the Province had 434 positive cases of the coronavirus .

POWER RESTORATION. Aldwin Gravador, Noreco-I supervisor in Bais City, thanks personnel from the Energy Development Corp. who helped restore power in the typhoon-stricken towns in the north. Representing EDC during the inspection were Negros facility OIC Engr. Noel Tan, production head Engr. Cromwell Ozoa, and Norreen Bautista, CSR head. (EDC photo)

CoViD-19 Cases in the Philippines

as of January 22, 2022

San Jose Dgte City Level Robinson Place #3 #3 San Jose St., St., Dgte City L evel 1 R1obinson Place Confirmed 3,357,083 No. 225-4440 City Tel o: (035) 2 25-­‐ 4440 D gte Dgte City Tel. Tel no: n(035) (035) 225-­‐ 4 440 Dgte. City 0ror 422-9482 Tel. No. (035) 421-1524 or 4 22-­‐ 9 482 T el N o: ( 035) 4 21-­‐ 1 524 422-­‐9482 Tel No: (035) 421-­‐1524 Recovered 3,012,156 Deaths 53,309 #3 San Jose St., Dgte. City

Level 1 Robinson Place

Active Cases

#1 SJose an Jose Street, Dumaguete City #1 Dumaguete CityCity #1 San San Jose Street, Dumaguete Street, No.: Tel n(035) o: (035) 421-­‐ 0338 Tel.Tel 421-0338 no: (035) 421-­‐ 0338

Population

291,618

111,846,922

Source: Worldometers.info

Health authorities in Negros Oriental are appealing to residents, especially senior citizens and young children, to stay at home to stem the transmission of the coronavirus disease 2019, as cases in Negros Oriental have risen exponentially in the past three weeks. “The infection is spreading fast,”Assistant Provincial Health Officer Dr. Liland Estacion told reporters in a virtual presser on Wednesday afternoon. She said the rapid increase in active infections is becoming a concern in the Province, and is most likely due to the highly-transmissible Omicron variant. This does not even reflect the active cases that are not reported to health authorities, including those asymptomatic under home quarantine but are undocumented, she said. While the Provincial Health Office is awaiting the results of 50 specimens sent to the Philippine Genome Center for Omicron testing, Estacion said she believes the variant is causing the fast spread of the coronavirus in the Province.

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She reported 198 new active cases on Jan. 15, 17, and 18. The figures began to triple by Jan. 10 when 63 infections were reported. Estacion, the CoViD-19 incident commander of the Province’s InterAgency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, appealed to the people to coordinate with their local or barangay health authorities for assessment at the onset of symptoms. Being documented will help health authorities monitor cases, while contact tracing is made more efficient, she said. She again called on the unvaccinated to get themselves inoculated against CoViD-19 as an added layer of protection, saying the local government units, the hospitals, and the Macias Sports Center are administering doses, and even accommodating walk-ins. Senior citizens, young children, and those with co-morbidities must stay at home because once a family member is infected, the tendency is for the entire TO PAGE 2

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JANUARY 23 - JANUARY 29, 2022

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MetroPost

NEWS and UPDATES

NPA rebel quits

An active member of the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People’s Army surrendered on Jan. 19 to the 94th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army in Ayungon, Negros Oriental. A media release from the 94IB on Thursday identified the rebel as alias “Dener”, a squad leader of the NPA’s Central Negros Front 2 who voluntarily surrendered in barangay Tambo on Wednesday morning. Before his surrender, he was allegedly involved in propaganda and recruitment in the hinterlands of Binalbagan, Himamaylan, and Kabankalan City in Negros Occidental. He was also said to be involved in 10 armed engagements with government troops while with the insurgency movement for almost a decade but hardships, hunger, and false promises of the NPA leaders led to his decision to surrender, the Army media release said. “Dener” also surrendered a .45-caliber pistol with magazine and ammunition to the Army battalion. He is currently undergoing stress debriefing before his enrollment in the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program, which provides welfare assistance, livelihood assistance, and incentives for the surrendered firearm. Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Brigade commander, lauded the efforts of the 94IB, saying “Dener’s” surrender “adds up to the increasing number of NPA and Militia ng Bayan members who finally woke up from the deceptions of the CPP-NPANDF (National Democratic Front) and decided to come out for good and avail (of) the amnesty program of the government.” Pasaporte encouraged other members of the CPPNPA to “abandon the TO PAGE 8

Children in sitio Calango in Zamboanguita enjoy their enhanced nutribun distributed by DOST.

COVID....FROM P. 1

of DepEd to free students and teachers from work temporarily because of either Covid-19 or any natural calamity,” Aguilar said. For Bais City, it is both the effecs of “Odette” and the threat of the fastspreading Omicron variant of Covid-19 that has placed Negros Oriental under Alert Level 3 until the end of this month, he added. Bais City, about an hour’s drive north of this capital, is one of the hardesthit areas in Negros Oriental by “Odette” when it ripped through the Visayas on Dec. 16 last year. Aguilar, who assumed his post in Bais on Jan. 7, conducted a post-typhoon visit to the schools in the city that were destroyed by the typhoon. “As I went around the City in the aftermath, only a portion has restored electricity, and residents are still recovering/rebuilding their damaged houses. At the same time, we at DepEd are working to recover the modules and other teaching materials and equipment that were destroyed by the typhoon,” Aguilar said in mixed English and Cebuano. The school year, which is supposed to end in June, will be extended in Bais City for two weeks, the DepEd official said. “We are taking a pause in consideration of the health and total wellbeing of our teachers and learners,” he added. However, school heads, non-teaching personnel, and property custodians are required to report for work. (Judy F. Partlow/ PNA)

Republic of the Philippines Regional Trial Court of Negros Oriental 7th Judicial Region Branch 41 Dumaguete City In Re: Petition for declaration of loss of the owner’s duplicate original copy of Original Certificate of Title No. 16211 situated in Magatas, Sibulan, Negros Oriental, and for the issuance of a new Owner’s Duplicate Original Copy of OCT No. 16211, in lieu of the lost one

Cadastral Case No. 2021-5117

Guadalupe M. Flordeliz, Petitioner -versusThe office of the Provincial Register of Deeds of the Province of Negros Oriental through the Honorable Register of Deeds of the Province of Negros Oriental, Respondent X---------------------------------------------------/ ORDER Petitioner, through counsel, filed a verified Petition, praying that after due notice and hearing, the Owner’s Duplicate Copy of OCT No. 16211 be declared lost, null and void, and that the Register of Deeds of the Province of Negros Oriental be ordered/directed to issue a New Owner’s Duplicate Copy of Original Certificate of Title No. 16211, covering Lot No. 833 situated in Magatas, Sibulan, Negros Oriental, with the same terms and conditions as the original, and in all respect, be entitled to like faith and credit. The Petition shall be heard by this Court on Feb. 17, 2022, at 8:30 in the morning. Let this Order be published once a week for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the province of Negros Oriental prior to the scheduled date of hearing. So ordered. Given this 11th day of October, 2021 in Dumaguete City, Philippines. (Sgd.) Leoncio R. Bancoro Presiding Judge MetroPost 2022 January 23 • January 31 • February 7

DFA Dgte to reopen after CoViD closure

The Department of Foreign Affairs has announced the reopening of the consular offices in the cities of Dumaguete, Legazpi, Puerto Princesa and Tacloban on January 24. In a public advisory last week, the DFA Office of Consular Affairs said several consular offices and Temporary Off-Site Passport Services were closed due to a spike in new CoViD-19 cases in the National Capital Region and in other parts of the country. DFA offices affected by the closures in Metro Manila included the DFA Consular offices in Aseana Business Park in Parañaque City, the NCR Central, NCR East, NCR

North, NCR Northeast, NCR South, NCR West, Antipolo, Angeles, Baguio, Dasmariñas, Iloilo, Lucena, Malolos, San Pablo; The off-site passport services offices at Newport Mall, Robinsons Las Pinas, Robinsons Novaliches, Robinsons Place Magnolia, Robinsons San Pedro Laguna, SM Aura, SM Manila, SM Mall of Asia, and SM North Edsa. Those whose appointments were affected by the suspension are advised to check their emails for details on their new appointment schedule. The new schedule and contact details of consular offices and temporary off-site passport services are available on the DFA website. (PNA)

STAY HOME....FROM P. 1 household to also contract the disease, she added. As of Jan. 19, the total caseload in Negros Oriental stood at 20,248, broken down into 19,144 recoveries, 434 active cases, and 670 deaths. The capital city of

Dumaguete has the highest number of active cases at 158, while the other towns have two-digit or zero infections. Negros Oriental is under Alert Level 3 until the end of the month. (Judy F. Partlow/PNA)

Typhoon victims receive nutribuns

The Department of Science & Technology here in Negros Oriental turned over and distributed enhanced nutribuns as relief packs to Odette-stricken areas and to beneficiaries of its Community Empowerment through Science & Technology (CEST) program. A total of 3,300 pieces of enhanced nutribuns were distributed to the communities of sitio Calango in Zamboanguita, barangay Janayjanay in San Jose, Olympia Island in Bais City, and the municipalities of Bindoy and Manjuyod. The municipality of Mabinay is set to receive 2,100 pcs enhanced nutribuns next week. “DOST Negros Oriental is donating enhanced nutribuns as a humble contribution to the response efforts of the local government units especially the mitigation of hunger and malnutrition among the heavily-affected families,” said Atty. Gilbert Arbon, DOST provincial director. Arbon said these areas are either ELCAC-identified barangays or are part of the CEST program. Residents of Janayjanay in San Jose expressed their gratitude when Arbon, together with CEST team from the Negros Oriental State University, headed by Dr. Nicanor Guilbert Atillo, distributed enhanced nutribuns. “Daghang salamat sa taga DOST sa inyong gipadangat kanamo. Padayon ang among pagpasalamat nga diin wala’y hunong ang inyong paglantaw ug pag-atiman kanamo nga

Together with members of the Rotary Club-Dumaguete East, DOST’s Gilbert Arbon distributes enhanced nutribuns in Olympia Island in Bais. bisan pa sa among nahimutangan nga ania kami sa ibabawng bahin….pero sa gihapon inyo kaming nakita nga ang among pagkinabuhi nagkinahanglan usab ug tabang gikan kaninyo… daghang salamat DOST,”said Eduardo Pegarum, president of the Janayjanay Farmers Association. Punong Barangay Gretch Catubig of Panciao, Manjuyod also thanked DOST for the ehnaced nutribuns. Bindoy Mayor Ike Amorganda also expressed his gratitude: “Una sa tanan, akong gipasalamatan ang taga-DOST sa ilang gihatag nga enhanced nutribuns para sa mga nabiktima sa Bagyong Odette diri sa Bindoy especially katong mga lugar nga dako kaayo ug damages…. among gi-extend ang among pasalamat sa DOST…nga nagahatag sila’g higayon nga mo-share sa enhanced nutribuns diri sa Bindoy ug in behalf sa mga tagaan niini, magpasalamat ta dili lang sa DOST ug labaw sa tanan sa Ginoo nga gilugwayan ang atong mga kinabuhi…gitagaan ta ug higayon nga makarecover ug makatindog… daghang salamat sa head sa DOST Negros Oriental Sir Gilbert Arbon ug sa iyang mga kauban diha sa DOST.” DOST-Calabarzon in the Southern Tagalog regional office (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Lucena City) also donated 2,000 pieces of enhanced nutribun for the municipality of Manjuyod and Siquijor. The enhanced nutribun is a special bread developed by the Food & Nutrition Research Institute to combat malnutrition. Nutribun is rich in vitamin A, a nutrient that is commonly lacking in the regular meal of Filipinos, especially children. It has more micro nutrients like iron. Each serving has 504 calories, 17.8 grams of protein, 6.08 milligrams of iron, and 244 micrograms of vitamin A. Arbon said nutribun is perfect as relief goods during calamities as it can last seven days from the date of manufacture. (Reinhold Jek Abing/DOST)

The Mamicpic siblings Celia Bermejo, Leo, and Verna Alih try out their garden swing made from treated bamboo, designed by Kawayan Collective in Dauin.


MetroPost

JANUARY 23 - JANUARY 29, 2022

NEWS and UPDATES

3

CAMPUS NEWS Volunteers needed for SU rehab efforts

The City of Dumaguete has begun accepting walk-ins at its three vaccination sites for those at least 12 years old (with birth certificate) as it moves closer to vaccinating 90 percent of its vaccination target. (Photo from Lupad FB)

DTI head earns ire of Provl Board

The Department of Trade & Industry in Negros Oriental has earned the ire of the Negros Oriental Provincial Board, which has asked the Trade & Industry Secretary to reprimand DTI Provincial Director Nimfa Virtucio. The controversy stemmed from a Resolution passed by the Provincial Board on Dec. 23 after Typhoon Odette slammed into Negros Oriental. The Board asked DTI to conduct price monitoring in the areas affected by the typhoon to prevent unscrupulous traders from taking advantage of the situation. Virtucio assured the Board, in a letter dated Jan. 13, that DTI has not been remiss in their duty to ensure the availability of supplies and the stability of prices of basic necessities, as mentioned in Republic Act 7581 or the Price Act.

Rescued minors now in social welfare care

Two minors who were rescued from the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army during a weekend clash with government troops in Guihulngan City are now in the custody of the local Social Welfare &Development Office. Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, commander of the Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade, told the media Tuesday that after being treated for their slight injuries, the minors are now with the Guihulngan City SWDO. The day after the encounter, the parents were immediately summoned and have met with their children, prior to their turnover to the SWDO, he said. “They (children) were being utilized as utusan or runners/assistants and sometimes, one of them would bear arms,” Pasaporte said in mixed English and Cebuano. The TO PAGE 7

She said the DTI had been monitoring prices of basic necessities in key cities and towns, as a basis to recommend a price freeze, in the event that a State of Calamity would be declared. She said that after the typhoon, and even before the declaration of a State of Calamity by the Governor and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, the DTI had already conducted price monitoring in Dumaguete and in other local government units, particularly those hit by the typhoon. While saying that the DTI commends the Provincial Board for its concern, Virtucio added that she and her team felt insulted and disrespected by the Resolution. “We have been doing our best, even foregoing our personal lives and risking our

safety just to reach those badlyaffected areas where the roads are impassable. You don’t have to pass a Resolution to tell us to do our jobs,” the DTI Provincial Director told the Board Members in her letter. She said the Provincial Board should have instead requested the Governor to convene the Local Price Coordinating Council, where the DTI is a member including the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Energy, the Department of Health, and the Department of Environment & Natural Resources, to monitor products under their respective jurisdictions. Virtucio’s letter did not sit well with the Provincial Board, which immediately passed a Resolution asking the DTI Secretary to administratively reprimand Virtucio “for her

Geothermal power leader Energy Development Corp.on Thursday reassured residents that were devastated by Typhoon Odette in December last year that it will continue to assist in the power restoration in their areas. In a statement, Norreen Bautista, head of EDC’s Corporate Social Responsibility for Negros, said the support will continue until Feb. 6, with one more team deployed to do the works in addition to the initial six. EDC has been assisting the Negros Oriental I Electric Cooperative in its power restoration since Jan. 6 to serve all of the cooperative’s areas from Canlaon City to Bais City, she said. “The moment we knew (of) their situation, I instructed my team to coordinate with Noreco I and offered help immediately. We assigned six teams composed of

linemen and ground men and deployed four boom trucks,” Noel Tan, EDC Negros facility OIC, said in the media release. EDC’s leaders from its Southern Negros Geothermal Project in Valencia, Negros Oriental, conducted an actual inspection of its linemen in the first district of Negros Oriental in the aftermath of the storm that ripped through the Visayas last Dec. 16. This was done in collaboration with NORECO I in Bais City and in the towns of Bindoy and Ayungon. “We extended help without hesitation because this is part of our company’s regenerative mission,” Tan said. EDC operates the 222.5-megawatt geothermal power plants in Valencia. NORECO I general manager Dr. Juvileo Acabal thanked EDC for its support in its power restoration efforts. TO PAGE 6

TO PAGE 8

EDC helps restore power

NegOr jabs at 40% of goal The province of Negros Oriental has fully vaccinated 40.2 percent of its target population against the coronavirus disease 2019. The Friday report of Assistant Provincial Health Officer Dr. Liland Estacion showed 398,260 out of 990,637 have complete doses, including the oneshot Janssen vaccine. Estacion appealed to the unvaccinated to get their jabs at the earliest possible time, especially with the threat of the fast-spreading Omicron variant. Booster shots are available for walk-ins. “We have plenty of vaccines available and inoculation continues without let-up in the different local government units, hospitals, and other designated vaccination outlets,” she said in mixed English and Cebuano during a virtual briefing on Friday afternoon. The Province has received 864,636 vaccine doses of Sinovac, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Janssen, Moderna, Sinopharm, and Sputnik since the start of the inoculation rollout last year. It has more than 100,000 doses of vaccine available, and has procured another ultra-low freezer, which arrived Friday, according to Estacion. Meanwhile, she decried allegations of vaccinehoarding, and complaints by a local chief executive about not getting their fair share of vaccine doses. “We have records that prove we are giving vaccines to the LGUs, and in fact, in some instances, we deliver the allocations to them,” she said. (Judy F. Partlow/PNA)

The Silliman University Typhoon Odette Initiative shifts its efforts from relief operations to the rehabilitation of affected persons by conducting psycho-social interventions in the affected communities. Dr. Edna Calingacion, head of the Psycho-Social Processing team, said they are now looking for volunteers who can be trained. “[Being able] to touch more people’s lives, and help in the process of restoration and healing, requires willing individuals, schools, and groups to work together for a common purpose,” she said. Dean Calingacion said the core team will first conduct the psycho-social session with frontliners (church workers, health personnel, disaster management personnel) from affected local government units. At the same time, the team will train identified volunteers. Calingacion said Silliman is also training new volunteers from among the faculty and staff, senior students, church members, and alumni, as well as conduct re-orientation of the current PSP volunteer pool. She said Silliman will partner with schools in the University Town to be able to respond to the need of providing psycho-social interventions to at least eight municipalities: Guihulngan, La Libertad, Jimalalud, Tayasan, Ayungon, Bindoy, Manjuyod, and Bais City. Calingacion added that Silliman could be the training hub in the City for the capacity-building of PSP volunteers. The objective is to share PSP experiences, help organize their respective institutional PSP Programs, and recognize that schools working together can achieve more. “Given the extent of affected areas, the number of volunteers available, and the threat of CoViD-19 infection rate, there is a need to rethink the delivery and conduct of the PSP,” said Calingacion. The theoretical part of the training was conducted virtually. For the skill-building/workshop component, the trainors from Silliman will go to the partner schools. The training program runs until Feb. 12. (SU OIP)

Classes in NegOr suspended -- DepEd

The Department of Education has suspended classes at all levels in Negros Oriental from Jan. 24-31 due to the rising number of coronavirus disease 2019 cases, and to allow Typhoon Odette-stricken areas to recover. Dr. Salustiano Jimenez, DepEd regional director for Central Visayas, told the media in an interview on Friday that aside from Negros Oriental, the provinces of Bohol and Cebu are also covered by his memorandum on the cancellation of classes. “I issued that memorandum on Thursday to cover all Provinces that are under Alert Level 3, with the exception of Siquijor, because CoViD-19 cases are increasing, and with the threat of the Omicron variant, the numbers are expected to go up,” he said. Only the province of Siquijor in Region 7 is under Alert Level 2, he noted. The week-long suspension of classes will also give the teachers, non-teaching staff, parents, and learners who were affected by Typhoon Odette to recover from the devastation, Jimenez said, even as he relayed that the typhoon destroyed computer equipment, modules, and other learning materials, aside from the classrooms. Some 300,000 learners in all levels up to Grade 12 are covered by the suspension of classes. For private schools, the DepEd Regional Director said “they may exercise their own discretion” and may consult with their respective parents’ associations. Meanwhile, Jimenez said repairs continue for classrooms that have been destroyed by the typhoon, which lashed out at Visayas provinces on Dec. 16 last year. Local government units and NGOs have been helping in repair works, while the DepEd has started allocating funds for the rebuilding of totally-damaged infrastructure, he added. (Judy F. Partlow/PNA)

Bishop sets Jan. 24 as day of prayer for typhoon victims

Bishop Julito Cortes on Tuesday has set simultaneous Holy Masses for those who died and survived Typhoon Odette in the different parishes and chaplaincies in the Diocese of Dumaguete. In a circular letter dated Jan. 18, he said the simultaneous the Holy Masses will be at 6 a.m. on Jan. 24. Bishop Cortes said families are asked to submit the names of their loved ones who perished in the storm and invite the family

members to join the masses. No stipend will be collected for this particular intention, he added. Also, this is an opportunity to pray for those who are still missing after the onslaught of “Odette” as well as those who are still reeling from its aftermath, Cortes said. As of Jan. 15, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office reported 78 dead, 15 missing, and 148 injured in Negros Oriental as Typhoon TO PAGE 7


MetroPost

JANUARY 23 - JANUARY 29, 2022

4

OPINION

EDITORIAL Patience and luck

Every January, the business community – from the sari-sari store owners and tricycle drivers to those employing hundreds of workers -- goes through a tedious process of weaving through the government bureaucracy to get their respective Mayor’s Permits to be able to continue their operations or start a new one. As expected, people crowd around various tables in at least 13 local offices and national agencies, securing signatures and clearances for their papers to move forward. This has been the practice since time immemorial -- when computers were unheard of. Our leaders may like to think they are “forward-looking” and are keeping up with the times, but whenever January comes around, the backwardness of our system is there for all to see. Since the pandemic, securing that business permit from City Hall has even become a hazard to one’s health. Many doctors believe the Omicron variant of CoViD-19 is right in our midst, going by the swiftness of the transmissions in the community. There has got to be a way to get business permits approved quicker, and without having to stand in queue, or worse, crowd around a tiny table, and expose one’s self to modern health hazards. Interestingly, desktop computers abound in all government offices, but their use appears to be sadly limited to having replaced the typewriter. There’s got to be a way to maximize the use of these computers to simplify the system, and make government service more efficient. The City has a law that required it to “promote ease of doing business and efficient delivery of government services” and embrace digitization by 2021, and bring it up to par with even the smaller LGUs in the country. What has become of that? With elections around the corner, it would seem that nothing will happen to make that law a reality this year, and we would again be stuck with this same backward system when the business community gets their business permits in year 2023. Getting a business permit has always been about having a lot of Patience. Now, it also requires a lot of Luck – that one makes it through the process without getting infected by the virus.

ATTY. WHELMA SITON-YAP

ECON 101

M

ore than a month after Typhoon Odette hit our Province, the most pressing need in the damaged areas continues to be better shelter that is calamityproof, and better means to a sustainable livelihood. By this time, many families of victims are beginning to rebuild their homes on their own, in the same location where their original houses stood, repair whatever parts remain, using salvaged materials -- such as fallen coconut trunks, nails that may have been loosened from houses that were still standing pre-typhoon, tattered tarpaulins, rusty corrugated iron roofing sheets that were torn off houses and found among the debris. This widespread practice is called ‘shelter self-recovery’ – a term that aid practitioners use to describe people’s efforts to rebuild their own homes, in the same area where they were exposed to various threats of climate change.

ALEX REY V. PAL Publisher & Editor-in-Chief IRMA FAITH B. PAL Managing Editor JOEL V. PAL Online News/North America Editor RICHLI D. AVES Cartoonist 2018 National Awardee: Best in Photojournalism 2017 National Awardee: Best in Photojournalism 2017 Best in Visayas: Best in Photojournalism, Best Editorial Page, Best Edited Community Newspaper 2016 Best in Visayas: Best in Photojournalism, Best in Environment Reporting, Best Editorial Page, Best Edited Community Newspaper 2007 National Awardee: Best Editorial Page The MetroPost has business and editorial offices at Scoobys Bldg., Real St. (across Noreco II), Dumaguete Tel: (035) 420-5015. Mobile: 0918-9400-731 Email: UniTownPublishing@gmail.com Website: www.DumagueteMetropost.com The MetroPost is published by the UniTown Publishing House. All rights reserved. Subject to the conditions provided by law, no article or photograph published by the MetroPost shall be reprinted or reproduced in whole or in part without its prior written consent. The views expressed in the opinion pieces are those of the Columnists, and not necessarily of the Editors and the Publisher.

Are there concerted efforts to address the problem of rebuilding? It is critical that national and local governments get its act together to help survivors regain productive livelihoods, and in a safer environment. In principle, Building Back Better is an approach to post-disaster recovery that reduces vulnerability

stable means of livelihood, would feel resentment from years of government neglect, as seen in housing resettlement projects that have yet to be completed even years after the disaster, or in the promised cash aid that never arrived. It is important to learn from the Pope Francis Village in Tacloban City that was

‘Building back better’ to future disasters, and builds community resilience to address physical, social, environmental, and economic vulnerabilities and shocks, cross-cutting issues such as environment, gender, and governance, with families and local communities driving their own recovery. In the past, many disaster survivors who ended up living in cramped makeshift homes, with poor access to water and electricity, with no

established by a consortium of NGOs both in the Philippines and abroad like Caritas Canada, Canadian Catholic for Development and Peace, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-National Secretariat for Social Action, the Archdiocese of Palo in Leyte, through CaritasPalo, the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, Urban Poor Associates, and government agencies led by the Department of Social

JG UMBAC

THE WAY IT IS

W Member, Philippine Press Institute

whelmayap@yahoo.com

bjplug@gmail.com

ith 105 days left before election day 2022, the anticipation is sometimes too much to bear. The candidates are like the Boonta Race participants in Star Wars: Episode I, each looking for an edge, no matter the cost. I am sure, though, some of the candidates will not go too-unreasonably far to secure victory, and will leave the decision squarely with the voters. Most voters can see who the best candidates are, as well as those who will become spoilers who slow down the progress of anything. These spoilers are also known as obstacles who will eventually, after some time in office, become nothing more than receptacles for taxpayer money. We might as well elect trash cans—at least, they have a purpose—to collect trash. The ones who know they are spoilers will spend their best to win. And if we let them win, we would have bought ourselves some pretty useless ornaments.

I do not want to sound unfair when I say that it seems like “talk” is the game this campaign period. I know there are some candidates out there who have proven themselves to be honest and trustworthy, with only the welfare of the people in mind. To go a little above that, there are others who are now in office, and are doing an excellent job. We know of some who, unfortunately for us here in

happen to be a neurosurgeon, about spacewalk then. That is why, it is of the utmost importance for voters to look at each candidate closely so that if there is not one leader among them, they could at least pick the one closest to it. There was a man who saw his neighbor walking with a fishing rod. As they passed each other, he said to his neighbor, “Are you going fishing?”

Dumaguete, are serving in other places, which are now enjoying the fruits of their good leadership. Here, it is all smoke and mirrors. Some of us have seen beyond the false façade, but many more need to be enlightened. The people go to the polls to vote for a candidate under the false assumption that if their candidate wins, they will have a leader. The reality is, politicians are not leaders. They just know as much about leadership as they do about brain surgery, and if they

The neighbor with the fishing rod answered, “I’m going to the pier to fish.” The man smiled and said, “Oh, I thought you were going fishing.” Now, these two men sounded like they were making sense, but they were both deaf. We cannot have elected officials simply sounding like they make sense. We want them to genuinely make sense. We do not want them to be deaf to our needs. We want them to listen to us speak, and to quickly act upon our demands, like the public

The fuse is lit

Welfare & Development, the Department of Public Works & Highways, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The Pope Francis Village is a 12-hectare land located seven kilometers from Tacloban’s business district, the area of which was selected after consultations with geologists and land surveyors to ensure that the hilly terrain is safe for building and land grazing, making the village sustainable and eco-friendly. This is exceptionally important in a context where the people who will be resettled are victims of climate change effects. Gilio Brunelli, director of International Programs at Development and Peace, during the groundbreaking ceremony, noted the appropriateness of selecting the Pope Francis Village as to reflect and live by the lessons and wisdom shared by the Holy Father during his visit to Tacloban on Jan. 17, 2015, and in his encyclical Laudato Si: “We need to be humble to Mother Nature; we need to be humble to creation. We need to keep in mind that we are not the owner of this hill, water, and plants. We are part of one single world, the world that God created for everybody, and for every living thing.”

servants that they are. If we do not demand from them what we elected them to be, we forfeit the right to complain about them, and they will bask in the assumption that we approve of them because we voted for them. And that is a deadly assumption because as we have witnessed in the recent past, politicians will do everything you do not want because to them, your vote gave them the license to do anything “in your name”. Once they are in office, it would be too late for any argument. So far, we have not heard honest declarations by any of the candidates about: - Their personal intentions in running for office; - What makes them believe they can be better public servants than those currently serving; - Which existing problem in the City they intend to address first, according to urgency; - Their Plan of Action (POA) regarding the traffic situation in the City; - Their POA regarding the trash collection system in the City; - The sincerity of their concern about the substandard utility services in the City (i.e., Metro Dumaguete Water and Noreco 2), and what they intend to do about it -- without making an excuse that the City

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MetroPost

REV. BERNADETTE AMISTOSO-MORALES

OPINION

pastorbernie@yahoo.com NEW JERSEY, USA -- It’s hard to believe that January 2022 is almost over. How did that even happen? I am feeling so many emotions as I write this piece. I am certainly grateful to be alive. As a CoViD survivor, I am humbled by the very thought that over five million people have died from the coronavirus disease all over the world these past two years. As I rejoice for my gift

The past two years are blurry and murky in my brain. There is a mixture of moments of great joy, and times of awful sadness. There is a fusion of frustration and helplessness, and a deeper appreciation of God’s goodness, and the sacredness of life and breath. King David, as he reflected on his own vulnerability and powerlessness in the

So today, I will choose to breathe. I will breathe slowly. I will breathe gratefully. I will breathe with hope. I will breathe in the face of all my fears. I am still here. God is not done with me yet. I will continue to show up where I am needed. I will be less critical of others. I will value relationships more. I will wake up earlier each day to spend more time with God. I will prepare

of life and breath, I am also aware of my own grief around disease and death during these awful times, especially the death of very close friends and immediate family. It’s been dizzying and disorienting, to say the least. Christmas and New Year of 2020 and 2021 are so vague in my memory. I cannot even remember what I did for my 50th birthday in July of 2020. I literally must take a long pause just to recall how we celebrated the recent graduation of my two children.

face death and defeat, declared, “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘God is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’” Psalm 91: 1-2. O, how we all need the rest that God gave King David! O, how we all need to find God’s shadow when we are in the brink of defeat and destruction! O, how we need to dwell in God’s presence so that while there is chaos and confusion all around, we can somehow still be safe and secure!

more nutritious and healthy meals for my family. I will call my parents more. I will keep my workspace cleaner. I will read more. I will write more. I will walk more. I will meet deadlines. I will answer my e-mails more quickly. I will save more. I will try to be more accessible, generous, and present. I will try harder to make 2022 count. I will take care of myself so that I can take care of others. I will forgive myself when I fail. I will rest. I will trust. I will thrive. I will keep moving. And I will surely stay put with God.

The shadow of the Almighty

PONCIANO LIGUTOM

BOW & ARROW

A

pligutom@yahoo.com the use of online transactions in both public and private institutions. When I was in government service, we were required to post a warning in our bulletin board: BAWAL ANG FIXERS DITO (Fixers are prohibited here). A fixer is any individual, whether or not officially involved in the operation of a government agency, who has access to people working there, and whether or not in collusion with them, facilitates speedy completion of transactions for pecuniary gain or any other advantage or consideration. Republic Act 11032, or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018, which

or “cleans up” physical evidence of crime is often more specifically called a cleaner. In sports, a fixer is someone who makes arrangements (usually, illegal) to manipulate or pre-arrange the outcome of a competition/race. Fixers believe they can prevent other people from experiencing pain or discomfort. They feel they can change things or people for the better. Often, fixers are kind, compassionate souls who only want to help others. The lady on that Facebook post explained to me she was “just helping people” who do not have computers or those who do not know how to operate the apps. She did seem to have noble intentions, until she offered to take the exam in her client’s behalf. But being a fixer is not all about doing bad things. In Italy where I was first assigned as Labor Attache, certain fixing services are done by an entity called Patronato. The Italian state recognizes the Patronato, which are private organizations working to assist workers and protect their rights in the fields of social security, health, safety at work and industrial accidents, and access to social benefits. In my second posting in Oman, fixing is allowed by “Public Relations officers” and entities called Sanad Office. The Sanad Program is a Manpower Ministry initiative with the private sector firms to encourage young Omanis to start their own small businesses in various fields, including the service sector. Sanad offices are spread across the country, and the services are aimed at streamlining procedures, saving time and effort, and encouraging owners how to improve their incomes. Services include processing and submitting visa applications to the Ministry of Manpower, collecting

Fixing the fixers amended RA 9485 or the Anti Red Tape Law, provides that anyone who offers fixing services, or colludes with fixers, will face one to six years of imprisonment, with a fine of up to P200,000, or both, at the discretion of the court. Offending government workers will also be dismissed from the service, disqualified from holding public service perpetually, and denied of retirement benefits. What does a fixer really do? He/she accomplishes requirements for another party using his/her skills at solving “problems” for others. The term has different meanings in different contexts. In British usage, the term is neutral, meaning “the sort of person who solves problems and gets things done”. In journalism, a fixer is a local person who expedites the work of a correspondent who may be working based in a foreign country. In American usage, to describe a person as a fixer implies that their methods may be of questionable legality. A fixer who disposes of bodies

5

PEOPLE’S CORNER

FORERUNNER

couple of days ago, I saw a post on Facebook by someone from a neighboring province offering her services to facilitate the renewal of a permit or license. Finding somebody who can help me with my concern, I requested for her assistance. She replied that she would take the government test for me so I won’t have to do it. She then showed me pictures of various exams that she had passed. I was surprised she was seriously doing this as a “business” and immediately advised her to stop what she was into because it is illegal. Fixers do a disservice to our government by taking advantage of the weakness of our system, a practice that is sadly encouraged by those who patronize their services. Feeling frustrated, I posted on my Facebook wall a warning about fixers in general, without naming names and offices. The post generated several comments. One friend told me in a private message that he had an experience last year wherein he just paid P500 (with no receipt), aside from the legal fee, and did nothing else except to wait for the document he applied for, which eventually came out before the end of the day. “I was eaten by the system,” he told me with much regret. I understand the difficulties experienced by people who are not “techy” or familiar with computers and the different apps. Online transactions are now the mode to lessen faceto-face interactions because of CoViD-19, and to prevent the temptations of bribery. Actually, the use of technology is not new anymore because it has been in use for sometime now, especially in offices commonly known for graft and corruption. The pandemic just hastened

JANUARY 23 - JANUARY 29, 2022

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ast week, after having paid some medical bills at a hospital in Daro, I headed to the bank to withdraw some money from its ATM, but left unsuccessful, and filled with anger and frustration -- resulting from a loud, ugly, expletive-laden encounter with a bandana-covered large white man sitting astride an equally large Hell’s Angels-type motorcycle. The white guy was dressed much like the macho bikers I see in the summer travelling the highways in Ontario, bedecked in their leather metal-studded jackets, leather metal-studded leggings and high boots. I don’t believe he was wearing leather but his outfit mimicked that biker look. Coming from the north, I pulled up behind a snake of vehicles with their hazard lights flashing, parked in front of, and just before and after the bank. As soon as I pulled up behind the last vehicle in the line-up, I realized I had pulled in front of the parking spot of a commercial establishment. So within seconds of that realization, I checked my mirror, then my side mirror, then my blind spot, waiting for a safe opportunity to pull away and join the busy chaotic traffic on the highway, so as not to block the parking spot. Within seconds of that moment, a large white man coming from the south stopped beside my car, dropped his feet on the ground, released his hands from the high handlebars of his bike, and started making stabbing motions at me with his hands and fingers, whilst hollering at me, calling me a “F#$&K$%&G B#$&*H”, a “stupid AS*^%$E”, and telling me to get my “F#$&K$%&G ass out of there” because I was “blocking” the parking spot he wanted to get into -- the same spot I was just ready to pull away from.

I arrived at the gym to get one of the last few seats designated for seniors. In the senior’s crowd were a couple of foreigners, male, with their girls standing behind them, one, in particular, fanning her man. Flashback to my visit to India – stories of young men with peacock feather fans fanning the maharajahs whilst they imbibed in the latest delicacies. Her choice to retain our deeply-ingrained colonial mentality. Her choice to stand for a few hours, fanning her man whilst he sat in comfort. In the meantime, hundreds, thousands maybe, of people were requested to go up to the bleachers, and wait. Elbow-to-elbow, no social distancing, but at least everyone had on a mask. The vaccination process did not start until closer to 8:45 a.m. The staff arrived around 8:30 a.m. With the process underway, we were required to keep moving to the next seat, each time someone was called to be checked by the medical volunteers – much like the ‘musical chairs’ game. In the meantime, I noticed a white man, a senior, come out from the crowd that was required to go up to the bleachers. He approached one of the LGU officers, and the next thing we knew, he was in the queue before some 20 of us seniors who had already patiently waited there for almost over an hour. This white man’s mask was almost down his chin. His attention was not called. When a policeman came by me, I politely asked why the white man was inserted in the middle of the queue. His answer: Sigi ra na, Ma’am. I interpreted that to mean, “Just let it go!” White privilege, neo-colonialism, colonial mentality at play.

He must surely have gotten the shock of his Dumaguete life, in that he had just verballyabused a person who does not suffer from colonial mentality, one who does not say, “You want me to jump, sir? How high do you want me to jump, sir?”, a woman who is not mataputi -- because I rolled down my window and yelled back, “Get your F#$&K$%&G ass, you F#$&K$%&G bastard, out of my country!” And gave him the middle finger. He did not stand his ground, as I expected from the macho man that I assumed he was; instead, he revved up his motorcycle, drove around the back of my car, and entered the parking spot he wanted, by navigating his way around a parked vehicle. The white guy did not even have the guts to turn around and face me, as I rolled down my other window, reiterating: “Get out of my country, you F#$&K$%&G AS*^%$E!” ***** Why am I having this incident published, knowing fully well retribution here in the Philippines is a popular sport? Because I love my home country as much as I love my adopted country. And I want to see change. I have been returning to my home country for over 15 years now since I retired. I spent most of my adult life in Canada where I was treated with respect, compassion, and fairness. I made sure my family and I reciprocated with the same, thankful to be accepted by such kind, considerate, and thoughtful people. I spent the first 20 years of my life in Dumaguete, during the mid-40s to the mid-60s, at a time when ours was a generally well-run country, and we were the go-to country in Asia. How so much has changed since then, unfortunately not exactly for the better. When I returned to now spend half of each year here, the other half in Canada, I discovered a phenomenon that was unsettling – many, mostly old men, because they are all men settling in Dumaguete and its bedroom towns, hooking up with young nubile women, 30 to 40 years their junior. I would see them at a popular hangout along the boulevard with their girls, having a drink or two, chatting with like-minded white men, and their girls sitting there just watching, not eating or drinking, and definitely not talking. Not in all cases, but often enough. This did not sit well with me because this was a sign of disrespect, but I knew it was not for me to do something about it as these are the choices these women make to better their lives, and their extended families. But the macho man incident is the final straw that’s broken this camel’s back. ***** Two weeks ago, I headed out early for the Valencia gymnasium to get my CoViD booster shot. I arrived at 7:40 a.m., knowing the vaccination would begin at 8:00 a.m. There already was a long line-up. I proceeded to the back of the line, around 75 persons away, when my friend Shiela called out, and said I should just proceed to the gymnasium as I am a senior.

At around 11 a.m., a senior from Mangnao in Dumaguete and I were finally close to the vaccination table. Just one young person ahead of us. A woman who was attending to an old physically-unfit white man was flitting back and forth between tables, talking with the medical personnel, and the next thing the senior from Mangnao and I knew, the white man was already at the vaccination table receiving his jab! To think that he and his Filipina companion had arrived there way after all of us! To add insult to injury, the volunteer medical personnel then brought two more physically-fit, not-too-old white men, and placed them before the Mangnao senior lady and myself! I had had it at this point. I got off my seat, walked up to the white men, and asked what privilege did they think they have that entitled them to jump the queue? The privilege of being ‘white’? Because they certainly could not claim ‘age’ because they looked younger than me. The German, realizing the situation, apologized and eventually moved away, and only returned to the queue after the Mangnao lady and I had had our jabs. The other -- American I presume because of what he said -- proceeded to ask me, did I not know that his country had donated millions of vaccines to the Philippines, and that he has helped eight people since he arrived on our shores? Kudos to him for his help of eight people! Is he the only one who has helped our people? And how did he gain privilege because his country donated vaccines? Is his country the only one that has donated vaccines? Did ordinary citizens not donate to the World Health Organization so it could purchase vaccines for countries, such as ours? White. In fairness to those white men, they did offer me to get ahead of them where they were placed by the LGU personnel. I refused. I explained that if I did that, then I was no different than them, circumventing the rules -- which others cannot bypass because they do not have the ‘white privilege’. My privilege would have been construed as “the one with the big mouth”. Then the American told me, “Don’t blame us! It’s the staff who moved us into this front queue.” So right. I went to the volunteers, and told them it isn’t right that just because these people are white, they be given privileges not given to our own people. The volunteers’ excuse: they did it because they were informed by the Filipina partners that their white men were “sickly” and that “can’t stay in line for too long”. And there were no sickly Filipinos among the thousands who showed up? And because they are just Filipinos, they can be made to stay in line a long time? Where was the privilege given to the Filipinos? I am aware the volunteers work very hard to serve our people, and so I am sorry I gave them a hard time, but if no one speaks up, will

White privilege, neo-colonialism, colonial mentality

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JANUARY 23 - JANUARY 29, 2022

6

MetroPost

Dead sperm whale rouses Dapitan

Residents of Dapitan City woke up Monday last week to see the biggest creature they had ever seen -- a dead sperm whale, measuring close to 13 meters long and more than seven meters in diameter. A sperm whale, the largest toothed whale in the planet, was washed ashore that Monday dawn. According to marine biologist Dr. Aileen Maypa of Jose Rizal Memorial State University in Dapitan, the cetacean stranding in the coast of Baylimango, commonly known as “beaching” was reported by local fishers

to City Agriculturist Cyril Patangan, who asked for assistance to identify the mammal and determine how to dispose of the carcass which could weigh as much as 41,000 kilos (about the weight of 102 live pigs). “We then discussed for a coordinated emergency action plan on how to respond to the whale stranding before the carcass decomposes or creates problems in the area,” Maypa said. She said they also talked about how to proceed with official documentation, measuring, taking samples,

and burying the beached whale during low tide by 5am of Jan. 18. With Maypa were other scientists from Jose Rizal State University, Dr. Maria Rio Naguit and Dr. Junnasir Sakilan. Virtually participating in the same meeting was international marine mammal expert Dr. Louella Dolar of the Center for Tropical & Marine Research, based in San Diego, California. Dr. Dolar, adjunct professor at the Silliman University Institute of Environmental & Marine TO PAGE 8

In Memoriam

FARRAH MAE BAROTSAGARBARRIA March 6, 1988 to Jan. 11, 2022 Loving wife to Chaco Sagarbarria, Doting mother, Generous friend May God bless you, Farrah! Farewell!

Our deepest condolences from

VISAYAN SOLAR SERVICE THE WAY....FROM P. 4

does not own these utilities; - Their POA with regards to preparing the City and its residents for the next super typhoon, because the next one hitting us is not a question of if, but of when; - Their position on the 174-hectare reclamation controversy; - The notion that government should not favor any one religion over another, and that it should not engage in displays of such favoritism in any form, especially not in government buildings. The constituents comprise a wide range of religions. Acknowledge one, acknowledge all; The fuse has been lit, Republic of the Philippines SANGGUNIANG PANLALAWIGAN PROVINCE OF NEGROS ORIENTAL EXCERPTS FROM THE JOURNAL OF THE SANGGUNIANG PANLALAWIGAN SESSION Date: Aug. 23, 2021 – 2:55 P.M.

Classification: Regular Session

RECORD OF ATTENDANCE Hon. Edward Mark L. Macias Vice Governor & Presiding Officer Present Hon. John T. Raymond Jr. - Present Hon. Jaime L. Reyes - Present Hon. Peter Paul F. Renacia - Present Hon. Jose A. Baldado - Present Hon. Erwin Michael L. Macias - Present Hon. Estanislao V. Alviola - Present Hon. Valente D. Yap - Present Hon. Chester V. Lim - Present Hon. Ma. Antonia E. Villegas - Present Hon. Kit Marc B. Adanza - Present Hon. Adem B. Maxino (SK) - Present Hon. Kurt Matthew T. Teves (LNMB) Hon. Manuel L. Sagarbarria (PCL)- Absent - Absent Author Co-Authors

RESOLUTION NO. 601 : Hon. Jose A. Baldado : Hon. Estanislao V. Alviola, Hon. John T. Raymond Jr., Hon. Valente D. Yap, Hon. Ma. Antonia E. Villegas, Hon. Erwin Michael L. Macias

“WHEREAS, the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines provides the basic legal framework for the protection and preservation of the country’s marine wealth with the ultimate control and ownership of its natural resources in its archipelagic waters, territorial sea and exclusive economic zone; “WHEREAS, the territorial jurisdiction of the Province of Negros Oriental extends to its municipal waters which include the coastal waters of its municipalities and component cities; “WHEREAS, the Local Government Code empowers local government units to protect, conserve, rehabilitate, and manage fisheries and aquatic resources and to enforce all environmental laws within its territorial jurisdiction; “WHEREAS, pursuant to the authority granted by the Local Government Code, several local government units in the Province of Negros Oriental have established Marine Protected Areas (e.g. Marine Reserves, Fish Sanctuaries and Marine Sanctuaries) in their coastal waters; “WHEREAS, the Marine Protected Areas in the barangays of coastal municipalities and cities in the Province of Negros Oriental have been established by way of local ordinances that have been approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Negros Oriental; “WHEREAS, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Negros Oriental, as the legislative body of the province, has the legal authority to enact ordinances for the general welfare of the province and its inhabitants pursuant to Section 16 of the Local Government Code; “WHEREAS, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Negros Oriental can enact ordinances that reinforce local measures, such as those that established Marine Protected Areas; “WHEREAS, there is a necessity to establish a network comprising of all the Marine Protected Areas in Negros Oriental so that ecological biodiversity, marine conservation and fishery management can be promoted and strengthened across local government units in the province; “WHEREAS, scientific studies conducted by internationally recognized experts and scientists show that foreshore and offshore reclamation will cause irreversible damage to Marine Protected Areas; “WHEREAS, there is also necessity to declare as reclamation-free zones the Marine Protected Areas in Negros Oriental to protect them from the ill-effects of foreshore and offshore reclamation; “On motion of Honorable Member Jose A. Baldado, seconded by Honorable Member Estanislao V. Alviola, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan “RESOLVED, as it is hereby resolved to enact the following Ordinance: ORDINANCE NO. 29 (Series of 2021) An ordinance establishing a Marine Protected Areas Network in the Province of Negros Oriental, and declaring the Marine Protected Areas that form the network as Reclamation-Free Zones. Section 1. Title. An Ordinance Establishing Marine Protected Areas Network in Negros Oriental, and Declaring the Marine Protected Areas that Form the Network as Reclamation-Free Zones. Section 2. Policy Statement. It is the mandate of the Province of Negros Oriental to protect the environment and impose appropriate penalties for acts which endanger the environment or result to ecological imbalance. Section 3. Definition of Terms. a. Buffer Zone - areas peripheral to a specific Marine Protected Area, where restrictions on resource use and special development measures are undertaken in order to enhance the conservation value of the protected area. b. Foreshore and Offshore Reclamation - the creation of artificial islands by depositing soil, sand, or other construction materials until the water

surface is penetrated and an island surface is created in the foreshore, offshore and surrounding areas. c. Marine Protected Areas - refer to Marine Reserves, Fish Sanctuaries and Marine Sanctuaries and the like established by ordinance and found in the waters of coastal barangays of municipalities and component cities in the Province of Negros Oriental. d. Marine Protected Areas Network - a collection of individual Marine Protected Areas operating cooperatively and synergistically at various spatial scales, and with a range of protection levels that are designed to meet objectives that a single reserve cannot achieve. e. Marine Reserve - a Marine Protected Area where strict sanctuary conditions are not mandated for the entire area yet there is still a desire to control access and activities such as boating, mooring and other various fishing techniques. It allows for zones that include a sanctuary area. f. Marine Sanctuary - a Marine Protected Area where all extractive practices such as fishing, shell collection, seaweed gleaning and collection of anything else is prohibited. It also allows for control of human activities, including access, in order to protect the ecosystem within the specific site. g. Reclamation-Free Zones - Marine Protected Areas where foreshore and offshore reclamation are prohibited under this Ordinance. Section 4. Creation of a Marine Protected Areas Network. The Marine Protected Areas found in waters of coastal barangays that are identified, delineated, and established by ordinances of municipalities and component cities that have been approved and adopted by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, and those that the latter may approve and adopt after the passage of this Ordinance, shall form part of an ecological and social network of Marine Protected Areas to be known as the Marine Protected Areas Network of Negros Oriental. The Environment and Natural Resources Division of the Provincial Government of Negros Oriental shall establish and pursue a framework for collaborative inter-municipal/city undertakings that 1) promote the ecological biodiversity, marine conservation and fishery management across Marine Protected Areas in the province and 2) enlarges the scope and impact of marine protection and conservation efforts of barangays, municipalities and component cities in the province. For this purpose, municipalities and component cities in Negros Oriental who have established by ordinance Marine Protected Areas in the waters of their coastal barangays shall furnish the ENRD with a copy of their Marine Protected Areas Management Plan. The ENRD shall also collaborate with non-governmental organizations, the academe, and other government agencies to achieve the purposes stated in this paragraph. Section 5. Declaration of Marine Protected Areas as Reclamation-Free Zones. The Marine Protected Areas that comprise the Marine Protected Areas Network of Negros Oriental, including their buffer zones, are declared as Reclamation-Free Zones. Section 6. Scope of Reclamation-Free Zones. The Reclamation-Free Zones shall cover the areas identified, delineated and established as Marine Protected Areas, including their buffer zones, by ordinances of municipal and component cities that have been approved and adopted by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, and become part of the Marine Protected Areas Network of Negros Oriental. All present and future Marine Protected Areas established and found in the waters of coastal barangays of municipalities and component cities in Negros Oriental shall be covered by this Ordinance. The existing Marine Protected Areas in Negros Oriental include the following: I. Municipality of Amlan a) Bio-os Marine Reserve b)Tandayag Marine Reserve II. Municipality of Ayungon a) Anibong Marine Sanctuary d)Iniban Marine Reserve b) Awaan Marine Sanctuary e)Tiguib Marine Sanctuary c) Calag-calag Fish Sanctuary f) Tampocon I Marine Sanctuary III. Municipality of Bacong a) Buntis Marine Sanctuary IV. City of Bais a) Sanlangan Marine Sanctuary V. Municipality of Basay a) Bongalonan Marine Sanctuary VI. City of Bayawan a) Malabugas Lampirong Marine Reserve b) Pagatban Lampirong Reserve c) Villareal Lampirong Reserve VII. Municipality of Bindoy a) Balaas Marine Reserve d) Pangalaycayan Marine Sanctuary b) Cabugan Marine Reserve e) Tinaogan Marine Reserve c) Malaga Marine Reserve VIII. Municipality of Dauin a) Apo Island Marine Reserve f) Masaplod Norte Marine Reserve b) Bahura Marine Reserve g) North Lipayo Marine Reserve c) Bulak Marine Reserve h) Poblacion District 1 Marine Reserve d) Maayong Tubig Marine Reserve i) South Lipayo Marine Sanctuary e) Masaplod Sur Marine Reserve IX. City of Dumaguete a) Banilad Marine Sanctuary & Reservation Area b) Bantayan Marine Reserve c) Lo-oc Marine Sanctuary & Reservation Area d) Mangnao Marine Sanctuary & Reservation Area X. City of Guihulngan a) Hilaitan Marine Reserve b) Malusay Marine Reserve XI. Municipality of La Libertad a) San Jose Marine Reserve

and the race is on. To these candidates, it will soon be too late to run away from or extinguish, the burning fuse. When the time comes, they will find themselves on that dance floor, so they better know how to dance. They cannot waste the people’s votes, and be useless for the next three years, while being paid to be useful. With all their talk now, they better make a difference at the end of their terms. They cannot cling to the way it was, and say they want to change the way it is. Now is the time for candidates and voters to share a common aspiration—to wise up! A hundred-five and a wake up! Good luck to us all!

EDC....FROM P. 3 “We are overwhelmed because EDC did not only send one team but six teams for this purpose. We appreciate EDC’s assistance and compassion. No words can describe it,” Acabal said. Electric cooperatives from other provinces have joined the power restoration efforts but EDC provided the “most workforce,”he said. To date, Noreco I has restored and reenergized 79 barangays in the 11 cities and towns of the 1st Congressional District of Negros Oriental. (PNA)

XII. Municipality of Manjuyod a) Bolisong Marine Sanctuary b) Campuyo Marine Sanctuary XIII. Municipality of San Jose a) Poblacion Marine Reserve XIV. Municipality of Siaton a) Andulay Marine Reserve c) Bonbonon Marine Reserve b) Antulang Marine Reserve d) Salag Marine Reserve XV. Municipality of Sibulan a) Agan-an Marine Reserve b) Cangmating Marine Reserve XVI. City of Tanjay a) Polo Marine Reserve XVII. Municipality of Tayasan a) Cabulotan Marine Reserve XVIII. Municipality of Zamboanguita a) Basak Marine Sanctuary b) Lutoban Marine Reserve Section 7. No Foreshore and Offshore Reclamation in Marine Protected Areas. Any foreshore and offshore reclamation in the Marine Protected Areas that comprise the Marine Protected Areas Network of Negros Oriental, including their buffer zones, that have been declared under this Ordinance as ReclamationFree Zones are prohibited. Section 8. Protected Area Downgrading, Downsizing, and Degazettment (PADDD). The legal status of a Marine Protected Area and its consequent inclusion to the Marine Protected Areas Network and designation as a reclamation-free zone under this Ordinance shall not be tempered, reduced or eliminated unless the municipality or component city concerned provides scientific findings from recognized marine research institutions, such as the University of the Philippines Marine Sciences Institute or the Silliman University Institute of Environmental & Marine Sciences, and certifications from the Bureau of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources, and the Department of Environment & Natural Resources that the Marine Protected Area concerned has ceased to possess its unique physical and biological diversity. Section 9. Projects of the National Government that Affect the Marine Protected Areas Network of Negros Oriental. Agencies and instrumentalities of the national government involved in the planning and implementation of projects, such as but not limited to bridges, and airport runway extensions, that affect the Marine Protected Areas Network of Negros Oriental, and the Marine Protected Areas that form part of the Network, shall comply with the requirements of Sections 2, 26 and 27 of the Local Government Code. No project shall be implemented unless the consultations mentioned in Sections 2 (c) and 26 of the Local Government Code are complied with, and prior approval of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan is obtained. Approval of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan shall only be given upon submission of documents showing compliance with all environmental and other local and national laws that apply to the project. Section 10. Penal Clause. Any person who violates this Ordinance shall, upon conviction, suffer imprisonment not exceeding one (1) year or a fine not exceeding Five Thousand Pesos (P5,000.00), or both at the discretion of the court. If the violation of this Ordinance is committed by a juridical entity, duly organized in accordance with law, the president, board of directors or trustee, general manager, or such other officer in charge shall be held liable. In addition, the business permit and license to operate of the concerned entity shall be cancelled upon commission of the offense. This Ordinance shall be without prejudice to the prosecution of the violator for offenses under national laws and/or issuances, insofar as applicable, subject to the violator’s constitutional rights. Section 11. Separability Clause. If, for any reason, any provision, section or part of this Ordinance is declared void by a Court of competent jurisdiction such judgment shall not affect or impair the remaining provisions, sections or parts which shall continue to be in full force and effect. Section 12. Applicability Clause. All other matters relating to this Ordinance not otherwise provided therein shall be governed by pertinent provisions of existing laws, rules and regulations, ordinances and resolutions. Section 13. Repealing Clause. All ordinances, rules, and regulations or part thereof, in conflict with or inconsistent with any provisions of this Ordinance are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. Section 14. Effectivity. This Ordinance shall take effect after 10 days from the date a copy thereof is posted in a bulletin board at the entrance of the Provincial Capitol, and in at least two other conspicuous places within the Province of Negros Oriental, and after publication for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the Province of Negros Oriental. “Enacted, Aug. 23, 2021.” --I hereby certify to the correctness of the above-quoted Resolution. (Sgd.) Geoffrey P. Villahermosa Provincial Secretary (Sgd.) Edward Mark L. Macias, M.D. Vice Governor of Negros Oriental Presiding Officer ORIGINAL FOR GUBERNATORIAL APPROVAL: Roel R. Degamo Governor of Negros Oriental Date: MetroPost 2022 January 16 • January 23 • January 30


MetroPost

JANUARY 23 - JANUARY 29, 2022

7 LUJANA CIARRA ROMERO-HERRENAUW

HearHerNow

S

lujanaherrenauw7@gmail.com

o how’s married life so far?”A question I commonly come across these days. Sometimes in a different tone, they ask, “So are you surviving it?” or “Is it really hard?” And every single time, I would reply, “Oh, it’s definitely great! I cannot quite express it, but it is!” If I had enough time to sit down with you, I would say, “It’s not easy but not entirely hard as well.” Life as a homemaker on a regular basis means waking up early in the morning, ideally ahead of the rest of the caboodle -- which I fail 90 percent of the time. It means cooking, getting the laundry ready, while a crying baby is in dire need of your love, cleaning the dirty diapers, washing a pile of plates waiting patiently for you, and juggling all that at once. It could sometimes mean swallowing lots and loads of saliva to put yourself together because you’re about to blow up and flare up. I t ’ s hard to put up with everything sometimes, but it’s rewarding, and believe me, it really is. The husband, Jadon, on the other hand, reigns supreme at being the breadwinner. He does cunningly a great job at it. He runs errands for me and other people, suffering a little time away from his favorite people. And even if he can escape the total hullabaloo at home 90 percent of the time, he doesn’t. He remembers how great it is to have me as his wife (kidding!) Rather, he remembers how well we work things out together because he knows I need him and he needs me. There’s nothing sweeter than a family struggling together. You see, all these can take a heavy toll on one’s marriage if the couple is not balancedly sane -- emotionally and most importantly, spiritually. Part of me admits to knowing I have fostered dreary experiences from the past, but I also noticed how well society has instilled in our minds the lesser meaning of marriage these days. That more than it’s actual meaning of having two people unite legally before God, it’s merely just a piece of paper. Growing up, I have always been scared of marriage. I’ve seen how it affected so many lives, most especially the little ones in the house including myself. I have tangibly felt pain in a lot of people I came to know suffering failed marriages. Enough to actually be fixated “

on the thought of not getting married at all. But along the way, with an answered prayer, I realized that just because other people’s marriages failed, mine will suffer the same fate. I have since realized that one conquers what one wants to believe. I have been married for four years now to an incrediblyfaithful servant of God who honors his calling in church more than anything else. If he does that, who am I to be scared of anything? Don’t settle for less, and I dare you to find the best one in the room. That best is the person who is willing to present you before our Father in Heaven. A person who will not waste your love and time on a temporary relationship. For what is love with no direction? There’s no point investing time, let alone waste it, when in the first place, there clearly wasn’t a plan. Life is too short to take too much of your time with the wrong person. If you haven’t found it yet, keep searching, and while at it, prepare yourself that

someday, you will be worthy of that person destined for you. Oftentimes, we are so caught up in throwing out what we deserve, but when the right person we think we deserve comes along, are we prepared enough to deserve him, too? Imagine meeting the right person with your heart [whole], and so ready to love? Find a person who will vow to take care of you, to love you for what you are and what you are not. There will be times when you’ll go through unrestrained tantrums, unnecessary overthinking, even recklessness, and will seem frustrating and endless [but the right person will stick with you no matter what]. And believe me, there is such guy. There sure was one for me, so there should be one for you, too. And I like to believe there is one for everyone. Because you deserve love, let alone a relationship that will grow to higher heights, not stagnant. You deserve love that will last not only in this lifetime but through the eternities, and that is only possible through our Heavenly Father’s blessing. That blessing is Marriage. And it’s not true that good guys [or girls] no longer exist because if it were, then I would not have found mine. Set your heart on good things. Pray for good things, and then believe them to happen. Plant your thoughts in

happy places for you attract what you believe, and where your thoughts are, there will your heart be also. There’s a long way to go for us but I just know that everything will be okay because I believe, and will always believe, that a family who puts the Heavenly Father in the center of their lives will attain happiness in this lifetime. There’s just no other way to attain profound bliss but the latter. I’m so glad I have proven myself right. That marriage is not just a mere agreement written on a piece of paper but a powerful union especially sanctified by our Heavenly Father to withstand trials, however insurmountable they may seem. And I’m very glad I chose a union blessed before God. Because of that, our marriage wasn’t ours alone to fight. When insurmountable trials came, God was there with us to fight our battles, especially when we could no longer fight them ourselves. So no, don’t allow anyone’s miserable experience in marriage rob you from that very thing that could make you happy. It may be utterly poignant to have gone through what they did but your marriage is yours to make. Don’t let others’ ill experience dictate what could be a wonderful experience for you. We may inevitably foster dreary memories but we can use that to build a better home. We need to become good husband and wives at home so someday our kids will make better husband and wives, too. Yesterday’s devotional about young couples rejuvenated my idea of love. So here’s a few of the things I learned from Apostle Jeffrey R. Holland: “I love you is not just merely a romantic expression, it’s a promise to your behavior. A promise to stay loyal. A promise to be sealed in the eternities” “Three things everybody need: 1. Someone to love. 2. Significant work to do (purpose in life). 3. Something to look forward to.” May we always choose to be inspired with what we want to believe and have at the end of the day. While it is true to have undeniably failed marriages around, I know and believe there are successful marriages around, too, and I’m grateful to have believed the latter, more than the former, because I count mine already as one. As for me, I savor every moment with the love that I chose, and I’m grateful because that is you, Jadon Herrenauw.

Infantry Battalion soldiers during an encounter at Sitio Manlibud in Barangay Sandayao, Guihulngan City on January 15, a report from the Philippine Army said on Tuesday. More or less 12 suspected NPA members belonging to Central Negros 1, Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor (KRNCBS) clashed with the government troops who, Pasaporte said, acted on information received from villagers regarding the presence of armed men. One suspected rebel was killed while the government troops also recovered firearms and ammunition. “Regardless of how

these two children were recruited and of their roles, they were victims whose participation in conflict bears serious implications for their physical and emotional well-being,” Pasaporte said. He added this is an indication of the NPA’s deceitful acts and violation of the children’s human rights and the International Humanitarian law on the recruitment of children in armed conflict. The minors are now being processed for reintegration into civilian life, “an essential part of the challenge to help child soldiers rebuild their lives,” Pasaporte said. (Judy F. Partlow/PNA)

Choosing to be inspired

RESCUED....FROM P. 3 minors are not regular members of the armed group, he noted. The Army commander said one of the two children, whose identities were withheld for security reasons, disclosed that he was first recruited in 2018 somewhere in the hinterlands of Guihulngan City. Pasaporte advised parents to monitor their children’s activities to shield them against NPA recruitment as they are “vulnerable” and easily swayed to join the underground movement. The two minors were among the four suspected NPA members who were “captured” by 62nd

Applicants for Mayor’s Business Permit fill out forms outside the City Treasurer’s office, as the City announced the extension of the application period until Feb. 28. (Photo from Lupad FB)

PEOPLE’S....FROM P. 5

anything change in our mentality? We have brought this upon ourselves. The attitude of these white men who come to our shores wanting to have a more opulent life than they can afford in their home countries, wanting to avail themselves of willing partners who are prepared to serve their every need, want, and fantasy, we entertain, at best we tolerate. We have brought this upon ourselves because we have not shed our colonial mentality. Them is better than us, we continue to believe because they are white. We have no pride in our brown skin. We have no pride in our history. We have no pride in the heritage given to us by the brave men and women who went before us, and fought against our oppressors – the white men. It is us who allow them the White Privilege they demand of us, it is us who have let neocolonialism return, it is us who cannot shed

our colonial mentality of “white is good, white is better”. But if you peel the onion, can we help ourselves? We are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea – subjugation by white men allows food on the table, for we have lost hope in the ability of our politicians to stop their graft and corruption they so deliciously engage in to enrich themselves; we have lost hope that opportunities are made to allow food on the table for our people. At the end of the day, it is in our hands to change this. Will we? To set the record straight, I am not against white men for, after all, I was married to one for almost 48 years. I am against White Privilege, and the belief that the practices of colonialism need to continue in this day and age.

Diana Bugeya dianabugeya@gmail.com

BOW....FROM P. 5 labor cards from the Royal Oman Police, processing visa renewals and cancellations for employees, and handling license applications, for example with free-zone authorities. Sanad offices are also allowed to process the recruitment of local domestic workers for their own nationals. Fixing the problem of fixers I think can be done by regulating or legalizing fixing services. Service providers should be registered and regulated, such that the rates of services can be regulated by government, or allowed to compete with each other. Modern technology can provide solutions to the illegal and dubious means employed by the service providers.

Here in the Philippines, it appears that some government operations are done legally by fixers. Are brokers not acting as fixers at Customs? Are travel & tour agencies not doing the work of fixers when they apply for passports and other travel documents in behalf of their clients about to travel? Are lawyers, as officers of the court, not fixing the legal problems of the litigants? Are real estate brokers not fixing the public’s property concerns, and consequently dealing with government agencies as part of their package of services? The Philippine Embassy in Rome just opened an E-Passport Renewal Center run by an agency called BLS International. BLS is a private legal organization accredited

by the Embassy to provide services to overseas Filipinos workers for a fee. Why does it seem like there is no uniformity in the treatment of the public transacting business with government? Why can’t we have Patronatos and Sanads offices in the Philippines especially for the unschooled, the innocent, the poor and underprivileged, and those who cannot afford, technically ignorant or don’t have access to modern technologies? We can fix the so-called fixers if government is willing to change their perspective about fixers “colluding” with fixers in government. Let us legalize and regulate the facilitating services of fixers. They are legit service providers.

BISHOP....FROM P. 3 Odette lashed across the Visayas on Dec. 16 last year. Bishop Cortes hoped that this “act of communion and solidarity help console and strengthen our suffering people, and strengthen their hope for the future”. The Prelate said in an interview with the media, while entrusting to the mercy of the Lord those who died in the storm, the diocese is also praying that their “families be given the support in prayer and to console them in their grief”. “This is an expression of communion and solidarity of our community for all the victims of the calamity. We are One Body in Christ,” he added. Bishop Cortes also reminded the people “to help one another (and) with the help of God, we can continue rebuilding our lives”. The Diocese has established a Typhoon Odette Response Command Center, in collaboration with the National Secretariat for Social Action/Caritas, to help typhoon victims by providing relief goods including food, water, and

housing materials. “Makabangon ra gyud ta (We will be able to rise above this),” the Bishop said. Meanwhile, Pope Francis has donated around 100,000 euros (around P5 million) as initial financial assistance for the victims of Typhoon Odette in Negros Oriental and neighboring provinces. Church-run Radio Veritas reported on Wednesday that the Holy Father, through the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, and in collaboration with the Apostolic Nunciature in the Philippines, allocated the financial aid for the rehabilitation of damaged homes and churches in provinces severely damaged by the disaster. The gesture is an expression of the Pope’s solidarity with typhoon victims. “It is intended to be an immediate expression of the Holy Father’s sentiment of spiritual closeness and paternal encouragement towards the people and territories affected,” the Vatican said in a statement.

During his Angelus on Dec. 19 last year, the Pope had extended prayers for the victims of the disaster caused by the typhoon. At present, the social arms of the church, including Caritas Philippines and Caritas Manila, are conducting relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction in the ten dioceses that were severely damaged. Caritas Manila has distributed up to P20 million in cash assistance to the affected areas, to include the Dioceses of Surigao, Tagbilaran, and Talibon in Bohol, Maasin, Cebu, Kabankalan and Dumaguete in Negros provinces, Taytay and Puerto Princesa in Palawan and the Archdiocese of Cagayan De Oro. On the other hand, Caritas Philippines, headed by national director Kidapawan Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, continues to visit affected areas to personally extend financial assistance and determine the extent of the damage from the recent calamity. (Judy F. Partlow/PNA)


JANUARY 23 - JANUARY 29, 2022

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MetroPost

30 TODAs granted seed capital

About 30 of the city’s Tricycle Operators and Driver’s Associations (TODA) received seed capital from the Office of Senator Pia Cayetano in a brief ceremony at the Pantawan People’s Park last weekend. Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo said that the financial assistance of P 10, 000 seed capital can be used for any project undertaking that can generate additional income and benefit for the members of TODA. City Sectoral Desk Officer Albert Aquino said that among the TODAs, represented by their leaders, that received the financial assistance are BACANTRODA, BATDOA, BATRIDA, CATODAI, DC-INTRANS, DUNOTODA, DUSAMODA, DUTRIDA, D-TODA, MEDUTODA, ND-MOTORS, PODAB, PUMODA, SINERTODA, SODUCOTRIDA, TRIDUMDOA, URTODA, ALTODA, DUCALTODA, LDT-MULA, NEGORTODA, MEDUMODA, UTOD, DDRA, TCD, DUCATODA, CALL A TRIKE, DUMRODA, DUROMATRIDA and DUTODA. (PR) NPA....FROM P. 2

armed struggle” and avail of the E-CLIP. The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

SIKAD ALANG SA CABANLUTAN. The Sports Active Group and Reforms (SAGAR Sports), supported by the congressional office of 2nd District Cong. Manuel “Chiquiting” Sagarbarria, is organizing the “Bayanihan Fun Ride” to raise funds for the people of barangay Cabanlutan in Bais City who were badly affected by Typhoon Odette. According to race organizer Paultom Paras, the bike-for-a-cause is composed of two events: On Feb. 13, the 2nd Bike for Love; and on March 13, the Sikad alang sa Cabanlutan. Registration for both events is ongoing at D Corner Bike Shop, Scooby’s Tanjay, and at the 2nd Congressional Office along Real St. until two days before the respective events. The funds raised will be used to purchase the items requested by the Cabanlutan Barangay Council. (Drone shot by Pawlo Lasmarias)

DEAD SPERM....FROM P. 6 Sciences in Dumaguete, which act as fishing gear) confirmed the identification as it was feeding and of the beached sperm whale, passing through the area, Physeter macrocephalus. got stranded in the wide On Jan. 18, the marine intertidal area at low tide, biologists from Jose Rizal and was not able to swim State University assisted the back to the deep. Dapitan Agriculturist office Sperm whales normally and the Baylimango Marine live up to 70 years. But Dr. Sanctuary Management & Maypa said this one may Bantay Dagat with official have only been 20 or so documentation. years, judging from its size Dapitan C i t y of 12.92 meters. “He was V e t e r i n a r i a n D r . R o y only a young adult, sayang.” Pagador led the dissection Cetacean expert Dr. o f t h e s p e r m w h a l e ’ s Dolar recommended the stomach. collection of tissue samples M a y p a s a i d t h e from the sperm whale to dissection of the stomach also determine its DNA was needed to look for (the molecule that carries c l u e s i f a n y i n g e s t e d the genetic instructions of materials had influenced all living things). its stranding. “It’s important we learn S h e s a i d i t ’ s a l s o from his DNA so we can find possible the sperm whale out to which population he got entangled in the fish belongs, where he came corral (guiding barriers from, and the general

migratory route of sperm whales,” Dr. Maypa said. It was also in January 2005 when a beached dead whale shark, measuring more than nine meters and weighing about nine tons, was found off the coast of Piapi Beach. That story, which first appeared in the MetroPost in 2005, became the most widely-circulated story about Dumaguete and Negros Oriental worldwide, having been reprinted in several other newspapers here and abroad. The whale shark, the biggest fish in the world, is red-listed as critically-endangered in the Philippines by the Switzerland-based International Union for Conservation of Nature. (Irma Faith Pal)

DTI HEAD....FROM P. 3

unprofessional reply to the Provincial Resolution no. 954, Series of 2022, which is an upfront (sic) to the august chamber and to the people it represents”. The Provincial Board told the DTI Secretary that Virtucio’s reply contains “offensive remarks indicative of lack of respect and amity to the Boa r d, a condu ct unbecoming of a public servant”. The Board said they had passed similar resolutions not only to the DTI but also to the different government agencies, reminding them of their functions especially during local and national crisis. “However, none of them reacted negatively as Ms. Virtucio did.” The Board said the Resolution was “merely a reminder with all due courtesy to the Provincial DTI, and was in no way intended to demean, dictate, nor insult Ms. Virtucio”.

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Republic of the Philippines SANGGUNIANG PANLALAWIGAN PROVINCE OF NEGROS ORIENTAL EXCERPTS FROM THE JOURNAL OF THE SANGGUNIANG PANLALAWIGAN SESSION Date: Sept. 27, 2021 – 2:05 P.M. Classification: Regular Session Record of Attendance: Hon. Edward Mark L. Macias Vice Governor & Presiding Officer Present Hon. John T. Raymond Jr. - Present Hon. Jaime L. Reyes - Present Hon. Peter Paul F. Renacia - Present Hon. Jose A. Baldado - Present Hon. Erwin Michael L. Macias - Present Hon. Estanislao V. Alviola - Present Hon. Valente D. Yap - Present Hon. Chester V. Lim - Present Hon. Ma. Antonia E. Villegas - Present Hon. Kit Marc B. Adanza - Present Hon. Adem B. Maxino (SK) - Present Hon. Kurt Matthew T. Teves (LNMB) - Present Hon. Manuel L. Sagarbarria (PCL) - Present RESOLUTION NO. 675 Author: HON. JOSE A. BALDADO

Marine biologist Dr. Aileen Maypa and staff collect tissue samples from the beached sperm whale to determine its DNA, where it came from, and the mammal’s migratory route. (Contributed photo)

The NDF has been formally designated as a terrorist organization by the Anti-Terrorism Council on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and separate part” of the CPP-NPA. (Judy F. Partlow/PNA)

“WHEREAS, on Aug. 23, 2021, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan passed and approved Ordinance No. 29, series of 2021, known as ‘An Ordinance Establishing Marine Protected Areas Network in the Province of Negros Oriental and Declaring the Marine Protected Areas that Form the Network as Reclamation-Free Zones’; “WHEREAS, the approved Ordinance was transmitted to the Office of the Provincial Governor for appropriate action; “WHEREAS, through a letter dated Sept. 21, 2021, that was received by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on Sept. 22, 2021, the Honorable Governor vetoed the Ordinance on the ground that it is ultra vires because it contravenes Executive Order No. 74, series of 2019, issued by the President of the Philippines; “WHEREAS, this August Body, after carefully studying the reason of the Honorable Governor in exercising his veto power over the said Ordinance, maintains that such Ordinance is within the authority of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to enact as provided for by Republic Act No. 7160 (Local Government Code) and jurisprudence; “WHEREAS, under Republic Act No. 7160, in Section 468 (1) (vi) of Article Three, Chapter 3, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan is expressly granted the authority to enact ordinances that ‘protect the environment and impose appropriate penalties for acts which endanger the

environment’; “WHEREAS, the Supreme Court en banc in the case of Tano vs. Socrates (G.R. No. 110249, Aug. 21, 1997, 278 SCRA 154) affirmed the aforementioned authority of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan by unequivocally stating that Republic Act No. 7160 imposes upon the Sangguniang Bayan, the Sangguniang Panlungsod, and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan the duty to enact ordinances to ‘protect the environment and impose appropriate penalties for acts which endanger the environment such as dynamite fishing and other forms of destructive fishing and such other activities which result in pollution, acceleration of eutrophication of rivers and lakes or of ecological imbalance’; “WHEREAS, the Supreme Court in the said case also praised the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of the Province of Palawan for ‘exercising the requisite political will to enact urgently needed legislation to protect and enhance the marine environment, thereby sharing in the herculean task of arresting the tide of ecological destruction’; “WHEREAS, the Supreme Court in the said case likewise expressed hope ‘that other local government units shall now be roused from their lethargy and adopt a more vigilant stand in the battle against the decimation of our legacy to future generations. At this time, the repercussions of any further delay in their response may prove disastrous, if not, irreversible’; “WHEREAS, pursuant to the mandate of Republic Act No. 7160 and the call of the Supreme Court for local legislative bodies to adopt a more vigilant stand in the fight for the preservation of our environment so that it can be enjoyed by future generations of Filipinos, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Negros Oriental has decided to exercise its authority to override the veto of the Honorable Governor of the subject Ordinance; “WHEREFORE, on motion of Honorable Member Jose A. Baldado, seconded by Honorable Member Estanislao V. Alviola, with a vote of 12 In Favor, Against - None and Abstention - None, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan “RESOLVED, to Override the Veto of the Honorable Governor, as stated in his veto letter, of the subject Ordinance. “Approved.” --I hereby certify to the correctness of the above-quoted resolution. (Sgd.) Geoffrey P. Villahermosa Provincial Secretary (Sgd.) Edward Mark L. Macias, M.D. Vice Governor of Negros Oriental Presiding Officer Copy for: The Honorable Governor Province of Negros Oriental Dumaguete City MetroPost 2022 January 16 • January 23 • January 30


MetroPost

JANUARY 23 - JANUARY 29, 2022

9

‘Bahandi sa Kabakhawan’ ongoing at Dakong Balay gallery

Artworks by local artists advocating for mangrove protection in Negros Oriental are currently on exhibit at the 2nd floor of Dakong Balay Gallery along the boulevard in Dumaguete City. The educational art project Bahandi sa Kabakhawan (Mangrove Treasures) is devoted to mangroves protection in the Philippines, and is in support of the mangrove protection educational program initiated by the Big Blue Network, and implemented for Grade 10 students of the Zamboanguita Science High School the past four years. The Marine Ecosystems Research program, sanctioned by the Department of Education, gives the students an opportunity to gain knowledge about the ecosystems in their community through learning modules, or hands-on, through the conduct of basic field work, engaging in scientific methods like observation and surveys. (Evgeniya Spiridonova/ Pinspired)

“Walking Trees” by Cil Flores Hersley Ven Casero showing his painting, “Seedling Siblings”


MetroPost

JANUARY 23 - JANUARY 29, 2022

10 Republic of the Philippines SANGGUNIANG PANLALAWIGAN PROVINCE OF NEGROS ORIENTAL EXCERPTS FROM THE JOURNAL OF THE SANGGUNIANG PANLALAWIGAN SESSION Date: July 26, 2021 – 3:00 P.M. Classification: Regular Session RECORD OF ATTENDANCE: Hon. Edward Mark L. Macias Vice Governor & Presiding Officer O.B. Hon. John T. Raymond Jr. -Present Hon. Jaime L. Reyes - Present Hon. Peter Paul F. Renacia -Present Hon. Jose A. Baldado - Present Hon. Erwin Michael L. Macias -Present Hon. Estanislao V. Alviola- Present Hon. Valente D. Yap -Present Hon. Chester V. Lim - Present Hon. Ma. Antonia E. Villegas - Actg. Pres. Ofr. Hon. Kit Marc B. Adanza - Present Hon. Adem B. Maxino (SK) - Present Hon. Kurt Matthew T. Teves (LNMB) Hon. Manuel L. Sagarbarria (PCL) -Absent - Present RESOLUTION NO. 548 Author: HON. JOHN T. RAYMOND, JR. “WHEREAS, Article II, Section 16 of the Philippine Constitution provides that, ‘the state shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature’; “WHEREAS, Section 3(i) of Republic Act No. 7160 also known as the Local Government Code of 1991, provides that the Local Government Units shall share with the National Government the responsibility in the management and maintenance of the ecological balance within their territorial jurisdiction; “WHEREAS, the signs of climate crisis are everywhere – extreme weather events, sea level rise, changes in the timing of seasons, biodiversity loss, among others. It will get worse depending on prevention efforts we exert since it has been determined that human activities are the primary drivers of environmental crises; “WHEREAS, recent studies have shown that non-biodegradable substances can contribute to global warming. Plastics contribute to greenhouse gas emissions at every stage of its lifecycle, from its production to its refining and the way it is managed as a waste product – they end up everywhere: in landfills, the oceans, waterways, in streets, and even in the food we eat as microplastics have been found in tap water and also in the air; “NOW, THEREFORE, on motion of Honorable Member John T. Raymond Jr., seconded by Honorable Member Estanislao V. Alviola, be it ordained by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Negros Oriental, in Regular Session Assembled, that: ORDINANCE NO. 28 (Series of 2021) “An ordinance regulating/prohibiting plastic bags and the use of polystyrene, expanded polystyrene (styrofoam) and other single-use/ disposable containers for food and drinks, as well as straws, gloves, cutlery, and balloons, in the province of negros oriental, providing penalties for the violations thereof and for other purposes.” SECTION 1. Short Title. This Ordinance shall be known as “The Plastic Regulation and Prohibition Ordinance”. SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. For the purpose of this ordinance, the following terms are defined as follows: a. Primary packaging – that which is in direct contact with the goods or products, the main purpose of which is to protect and/or preserve or contain the product. b. Secondary packaging – that which is used to support any primary packaging intended for the convenience of the handler. c. Dry goods – products that do not require refrigeration or freezing to maintain freshness such as textiles, clothing, school supplies, grocery goods, etc. d. Wet goods – generally refer to products that require refrigeration or freezing such as fish, meat, poultry products, fruits, vegetables, and beverages. e. Plastic bags – packaging material made of polyethylene plastic film that is used for containing and transporting food and other products (commercial or industrial). f. Cello bags – thin, transparent bags used widely as primary packaging for cooked food and drinks sold by mobile food vendors, roadside eateries, and restaurants. g. Expanded Polystyrene foam or Styrofoam – a type of expanded polystyrene which is of light and usually white rigid plastic used as packaging material and is popularly used as food containers, disposable cups, plates, etc. h. Eco bag – an alternative to single-use paper or plastic bag, often made from fabric such as canvas, and natural fibers such as jute, that is more durable than disposable plastic bags, allowing multiple uses. i. Reusable bag – a type of shopping bag (i.e. sako bags, cloth bags, net bags, paper bags, or reusable sando bags) which is an alternative to the lessdurable, disposable or single-use bags. j. Biodegradable wastes – food waste, kitchen waste, and garden wastes good for composting to produce organic fertilizer. Households, establishments, and barangays are responsible for the proper management of these wastes (MRF mandated by RA 9003). k. Non-biodegradable wastes – non-compostable wastes which include single-use plastic bags, plastic packaging, disposable plastic cups and cutlery, styrofoam, cloth with synthetic fiber and cotton, slippers, shoes, and the like. l. Residual wastes – similar to non-biodegradable wastes, these are nonrecyclable and non-reusable and considered fit for disposal. These include but are not limited to, disposable sanitary napkins, pantyliners, diposable diapers, and cigarette butts. These wastes as per RA 9003 should be collected by the LGUs for disposal to Sanitary Landfills or stored in their respective Residual Containment Areas. m. Recyclable wastes – those that can be reused or processed into new materials, hence are being bought by junk shops and recycling plants. These include PET bottles, cans, glass bottles, hard plastics, steel, tin, wood, etc. n. Recycling – the act of converting or processing waste materials into new, useful products to reduce the use of raw materials and to prevent waste of potentially useful materials. It does not include burning, incinerating, or otherwise, thermally destroying solid wastes. o. Segregation – the process by which waste is separated into different waste classifications such as biodegradable, non-biodegradable or residuals, recyclables, and hazardous or special wastes. p. Biodegradable bags – carrier bags made of plant-based materials or certified by a national certifying body to be made of compostable material that biodegrade through the action of naturally occurring microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi, that exhibit a ninety percent (90%) biodegradation rate in less than six months during which organic carbon is converted to carbon dioxide without leaving significant harmful residues. q. Oxo-degradable bags – also called biodegradable bags, sold by some suppliers but only break down into small plastic fragments without bio-degrading carbon to carbon dioxide at or above the specified biodegradation rate and within the time frame specified in the definition. Unlike the certified biodegradable carrier bags, oxo-degradable bags contain catalysts (often a toxic metal) that help the plastic fragment/break down into small particles called microplastics which can no longer or with great difficulty be removed from land, sea, or air and which accumulate toxic substances from the environment and can move up the food chain. r. Ordinance – shall refer to this Single-Use Plastic Regulation/Prohibition Ordinance. s. Plastic waste – refers to any plastic packaging material thrown as waste. t. Gloves – plastic garment that covers the hands, usually used in food preparation and when eating without utensils. SECTION 3. Regulations. a. Plastic Holiday. Three days are designated as Plastic Holidays: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. During these days, the use of single-use plastic bags for primary and secondary packaging is strictly prohibited so as to constantly remind Negrenses of the goal of totally eliminating plastic waste in the province. No business establishment, hospital, shop, store, restaurant, eatery, market stall, food stand and ‘tabo’ vendor, caterer, and peddler will be allowed to use, provide, or sell plastic bags as primary or secondary packaging of dry and wet goods. After the approval of this amendment, the above-enumerated establishments shall implement and campaign support to this needed regulation.

b. Non-Plastic Holidays. During the rest of the week, particularly, Monday to Thursday, business establishments and vendors are still prohibited from providing free plastic for primary and secondary packaging to encourage the utilization of baskets, bayongs, reusable plasticware, and eco bags. Giving free plastic bags has caused the easy throw-away attitude of Negrenses since these bags have no value to them. On these days, the sale of reusable plastic bags is allowed but only if totally necessary, at rates to be specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations of this Ordinance. c. A period of one year from the effectivity of this ordinance shall serve as adjustment period hence, no violator shall be penalized during said period unless the infraction was committed in a Local Government Unit with a plastic ordinance already implemented and in place. d. No free paper bags. The use of paper bags shall also be regulated. Establishments are likewise prohibited from giving free paper bags in lieu of plastic bags so as to encourage the use of eco bags or other reusable containers. If necessary, they may be sold at rates to be specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations of this Ordinance. e. Retailers shall carry a supply of eco bags and other reusable non-plastic bags to sell at a minimum price. f. Balikbayans and tourists are prohibited from bringing in plastic bags containing their pasalubong or purchases. Pasalubong or purchases must be placed inside their traveling bags, backpacks, or any reusable bag. Arrangements shall be made with travel and transport businesses to distribute information flyers on this prohibition to travelers. g. If resorts and hotels provide complimentary water to their guests, the same must not be in plastic bottles so as to minimize the accumulation of plastic bottles for disposal. It is suggested that complimentary water be placed in pitchers or water dispensers. h. Restaurants, bars, food stands, eateries, supermarkets, and the like are required to cease from serving and selling water and other drinks in individual use (500 ml or smaller) bottles so as to minimize the accumulation of plastic bottles for disposal. i. Resorts and hotels are prohibited from providing guests with toiletries in single-use containers such as shampoo sachets and liquid soap in small plastic bottles. If necessary, shampoo and soap bars, or shampoo and liquid soap in dispensers may be provided. Other free items such as toothbrushes and slippers must be given to the guest only upon request. j. Business establishments must first secure a clearance or Certificate of Compliance from the CENRO/MENRO before their business permits may be renewed. k. Violators of the above regulations shall be fined accordingly and may be refused renewal of business licenses or certificates by the CENRO/ MENRO. SECTION 4. Prohibited Acts (All the days of the week 24/7): a. Prohibition on the use of all types of plastic bags, including Oxo-degradable Bags or the so-labeled Biodegradable Bags by suppliers. Biodegradable plastic bags, like oxo-degradable bags, shall not be used, provided, or sold within the province. b. Prohibition on the use of plastic sando bags for market, Tabo and ambulant vendors. Single-use plastic sando and cello bags used as containers of fish and meat in the market account to the volume of plastic thrown in the garbage since they are easily torn and are feasted on by stray dogs and cats because of their foul smell. The general public and vendors are advised to use reusable bags such as net bags, sako bags, eco bags and to use coconut midribs or tukog popularly used by our ancestors to hang a kilo of fish. Likewise, meat vendors are encouraged to use rattan (uway) or the skin of coco pallia as meat hangers for easy and environment-friendly handling of meats. However, to avoid exposure to flies and to contain foul smell especially for those riding in cars, market-goers are encouraged to bring with them covered reusable plasticware or pails to contain fish and meat purchased. Ambulant fish vendors are also not allowed to contain their fish in single-use plastic sando and cello bags, instead, they shall require their customers to provide plates, plasticware, small basins, pails, net bags or metal and other reusable containers to contain their purchased fish. c. Prohibition in the pre-packing of vegetables and fruits in the market, groceries, and fruit stands. Vegetables and fruits displayed in markets and during ‘tabo’ shall no longer be pre-packed in plastics or cello bags. Prewrapped fruits like apples, oranges and etc. shall not be displayed unless wrappers are removed and properly disposed of. d. Prohibition on the use of plastic sando bags and selopin for packaging of cooked food. Restaurants, eateries, food caterers, mobile food vendors and the like are no longer allowed to use plastic sando and cello bags for packaging of cooked food every day. These single-use plastic sando and cello bags are easily thrown away enticing dogs and cats to devour accompanying garbage and receptacles, and then scattering them everywhere making them an eyesore and dilemma to the place. Moreover, plastic bags when in contact with hot food results in a chemical reaction endangering public health since thin-film plastics are subject to melt as these are made of chemicals known to cause various diseases including cancer. When buying food, everyone especially those working in the government, schools and private offices are required to bring with them reusable food containers, tumblers, plates, bowls, and cups. e. Prohibition on the use of selopin in Drinking Water Stands. Operators of drinking water stands, also known popularly as ATM (Automatic Tubig Machine), are no longer allowed to provide cello bags or selopin to buyers to avoid them from being scattered everywhere when the water is consumed. Everyone is encouraged to bring their own water containers wherever they go, so each one has a ready water container for refilling thus eliminating scattered plastic cello bags in the streets as well as reducing the rampant buying of individual use (500 ml and smaller) bottled water which are also just left or thrown anywhere. ATM stand operators are also required to provide clean reusable/washable glass in their respective stands for their customers to use at their option. f. Prohibition on the use of selopin for soft drinks and other beverages. Sidewalk vendors, restaurants, and stores are prohibited from using selopin to contain soft drinks and other beverages from glass bottles but instead must allow their customers to bring the glass bottles. To ensure the return of said glass bottles, the vendors may require, on top of the selling price, an additional charge which shall be refundable upon the return of the bottle. g. Prohibition on the use and sale of Polystyrene and Expanded Polystyrene (styorofoam), and other Single-use Disposable Plastic Materials. Individual households, restaurants, business establishments, government and nongovernment offices, are prohibited from using and selling polystyrene and styrofoam containers for food and other single-use plastic products such as disposable plates, glass, salad cups, spoons, forks, stirrers, gloves, plastic drinking straws, and decoration materials. These kinds of wastes are difficult to manage since they are non-biodegradable and occupy big spaces in trash bins and in final disposal facilities/sanitary landfills. h. Prohibition on the use of disposable expanded polystyrene, styrofoam, and plastic products in beaches, mountains, and tourism sites. Tourists, beachgoers, mountaineers, and guests are not allowed to bring expanded polystyrene, styrofoam, and disposable plastic products to avoid these wastes scattered in our beaches, mountains and tourism sites. They shall be responsible in bringing back their wastes to their respective homes or residences and dispose of them properly. In the same manner, burial and cemetery goers are prohibited from using styrofoam food containers and other disposables during burials and visitations and are prohibited from leaving their wastes and plastics in the cemeteries. i. Prohibition on the use of expanded polystyrene, styrofoam, and other disposable plastic products by caterers and food providers. During the conduct of meetings, trainings, seminars, conventions, gatherings and celebrations in the province using government and private funds, the caterer/food provider is strictly not allowed to use plastic bottles/tetra packs and plastic straws for drinks, styrofoam and other disposables for food packs and shall use water dispenser and breakable or reusable glasses and cups for drinking water and beverages. Food caterers/providers shall use paper bags, paper napkins, banana leaves and other biodegradable packaging to eliminate the use of styrofoam and plastic cello bags. j. Prohibition on the distribution of single-use plastic straws. All business establishments are prohibited from providing single-use plastic straws for water and other beverages served. Straws shall only be provided upon request of the customers/guests. Provided that, said straws must be reusable or biodegradable such as those made of bamboo, metal, rice, etc. SECTION 5. Exemption on the use of cello bags or selopin and large bags intended for garbage disposal. The use of cello bags for pre-packaging of goods i.e. sugar, salt, beans, grains, nuts, margarine, oil, herbs, and spices, as well as for ice candy or frozen water, and large bags intended for garbage disposal is merely discouraged while a biodegradable alternative is not yet available. Provided, said plastic packaging material must be disposed of properly. SECTION 6. Retrieval of Glass Bottles for Local Wines and Beverages. Local manufacturers and suppliers of local wines and beverages shall be required

to retrieve back their empty glass bottles at a reasonable price to encourage consumers to return empty glass bottles to store outlets and claim back their deposits. Under this Ordinance, companies who do not buy back their empty glass bottles will be barred from selling their products in the province. The use of glass bottles for soft drinks and other beverages as popularly practiced years ago will be highly recommended and encouraged. SECTION 7. Encouragement of Personal Eco-Kits. The care of the environment is everybody’s responsibility. As such, everyone is required to have their own Eco-Kit which shall contain eco-bags or reusable bags, reusable drinking water container, plate, glass, spoon, fork, bamboo or stainless straws and balunan for cooked food. Government and private offices, business establishments and schools shall require their respective employees, staff, and students to bring with them their respective Eco-Kit when reporting for work and in going to school. Non-compliant schools and establishments shall be penalized accordingly. SECTION 8. Discouragement of the use of plastic covers. Schools, colleges, universities, and other learning institutions are prohibited from requiring their students to use Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) plastic covers in covering their books since this plastic material is one of the most common plastic material for covers sold in the market. PVC plastic covers emit an odor that contains substance detrimental to the health of students. The use of biodegradable materials such as used calendars, wallpapers, gift wrapping papers and the like is encouraged to avoid the use of plastic materials. Likewise, the use of balloons, and plastic buntings is also discouraged, and is hereby regulated. The use of alternatives such as printed or painted coco cloth, canvas, poster board, painted signs on wood or metal is encouraged. SECTION 9. Discouragement in the use of plastic as campaign materials during elections. Plastic posters or banners as campaign materials should be used sparingly such that they shall only be posted in common billboards in three designated areas to be determined by the COMELEC. SECTION 10. Discouragement in the use of plastic banners, banderitas, and plastic buntings. Plastic banners and banderitas may add color to any event. However, their use must be discouraged as they are non-biodegradable and will only add to our pollution problem. SECTION 11. Implementation. The implementation of this ordinance shall be per Local Government Unit with the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office being the overseer. SECTION 12. Role of Local Government Units. Each local government unit shall create a Zero Waste Task Force composed of the Head of the CENRO or MENRO, Barangay Captains and LGU Chairpersons of the following Committees: Environment & Natural Resources, Tourism, Education, and Peace and Order, which shall work in coordination with the PENRO in the implementation of this Ordinance. Said Task Force shall be organized and trained regarding the enforcement of this Ordinance and other Environmental Ordinances. However, LGUs, through their respective Municipal or City ENROS shall have the primary responsibility in an effort to reduce plastic bag wastes produced within their respective territorial jurisdiction so that they are enjoined to adopt and implement this Ordinance. SECTION 13. Information, Education and Communication Campaign. The PENRO, through all Zero-Plastic Waste Task Forces, and in coordination with the Provincial Planning and Development Office, Provincial Tourism Office, Provincial Information Office, Philippine Information Agency, DepEd, DENR, DILG, and PPA, shall conduct a massive information campaign in all barangays, schools and colleges, government and private offices, agencies and instrumentalities, resorts and business establishments and in ports/entry points in the province for its widest dissemination. Apart from organizing and conducting seminars and lectures relative to global warming and the preservation and conservation of the environment, the PENRO shall have signages installed in port areas and in every municipal boundary reminding Negrenses and guests to break free from Plastics for a Zero Plastic Waste Negros. Likewise, all government offices, agencies, and instrumentalities are required to post the same in conspicuous places in their respective offices and near the cashier/payment counters for business establishments/stores. Public transport vehicles shall also be required to do the same. Non-posting within one month from the effectivity of this ordinance would mean a penalty of p500.00 upon inspection by the Zero Plastic Waste Task Force which may be increased for every month of delay. SECTION 14. Zero-Plastic Waste Educational Materials for Lectures. A budget shall be set aside for the creation of powerpoint presentations and effective lecture materials that shall be utilized during orientation seminars regarding this ordinance and its implementation as well as to educate and spread awareness regarding the harmful effects of plastic to our environment, global warming, and preventive measures that may be undertaken. SECTION 15. Implementation. Upon the effectivity of this Ordinance, the Provincial Government, Local Government Units, Liga Ng Mga Barangay, SK Federation, and the Philippine National Police are hereby directed to implement this Ordinance. The PENRO shall formulate the rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this Ordinance. SECTION 16. Penalties: First Offense: A fine of P300.00 for individuals; P500.00 for ambulant, occasional and tabo vendors; and P1000.00 for permanent business establishments. Violators will be required to attend compulsory attendance to an orientation on the important and relevant provisions of the Amended Single-Use Plastic Regulation/Prohibition Ordinance to be conducted by the Provincial Zero-Waste Task Force. Refusal to attend would mean resistance to the ordinance and shall be penalized twice the amount of the fines under First Offense. Second Offense: A fine of P500.00 for individuals, P1,000.00 for ambulant, occasional and tabo vendors, and P2,000.00 for permanent business establishments. Third Offense: A fine of P1,000.00 for individuals ₱2000.00 for ambulant, occasional and tabo vendors, and ₱3,000.00 for permanent business establishments. Fourth Offense: A fine of P2,000.00 for individuals P3,000.00 for ambulant, occasional and Tabo vendors, and P5,000.00 for permanent business establishments, plus filing of appropriate charges in court. Note: Violators will be given a grace period of 15 days to pay their penalties at the Office of the Provincial Treasurer, Capitol, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental. Failure to pay within 15 days will be subject to a penalty of 20% which must be settled within 60 days. Non-payment within 60 days will mean the filing of appropriate charges in court and cancellation of Business Permit to Operate for vendors. Administrative charges may also be filed against local government officials who tolerate/conspire with violators. The above penalties shall be imposed one month after the approval of this Ordinance. SECTION 17. Funding. The Provincial Government shall allocate an amount of TWO MILLION PESOS (p2,000,000.00) for the installation of signages in ports, airports and in strategic locations in every local government unit including boundaries, creation of lecture materials, printing of posters, information and education campaign materials, and other related expenses. An additional amount of ONE MILLION PESOS (p1,000,000.00) per year shall also be allocated to cover costs of lectures and seminars on proper segregation of wastes, harmful effects of plastic, and the like. Said fund may also be used to purchase equipment or shoulder costs of projects directly related to recycling or upcycling of plastics. SECTION 18. Separability Clause. If any part of this ordinance is declared unlawful, such declaration shall not affect the other parts or sections hereof that are not declared unlawful or unconstitutional. SECTION 19. Repealing Clause. All previous ordinances inconsistent with this ordinance shall be deemed repealed or modified accordingly. SECTION 20. Effectivity Clause. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon approval. “Enacted, July 26, 2021.” -- I hereby certify to the correctness of the above-quoted Resolution. (Sgd.) Geoffrey P. Villahermosa Provincial Secretary (Sgd.) Ma. Antonia E. Villegas Acting Presiding Officer Original for Gubernatorial approval: (Sgd.) Roel R. Degamo Governor of Negros Oriental Date: MetroPost 2022 January 16 • January 23 • January 30

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MetroPost Republic of the Philippines City of Dumaguete Office of the Sangguniang Panlungsod One Hundred Fourteenth Regular Session of the 2019-2022 Sangguniang Panlungsod Dec. 1, 2021

Present: Hon. Karissa Faye Tolentino-Maxino City Vice-Mayor (Presiding Officer) Hon. Manuel L. Sagarbarria City Councilor Hon. Joe Kenneth K. Arbas City Councilor Hon. Michael M. Bandal City Councilor Hon. Edgar P. Lentorio Jr. City Councilor Hon. Agustin Miguel A. Perdices City Councilor Hon. Bernice Anne A. Elmaco City Councilor Hon. Lilani L. Ramon City Councilor Hon. Manuel C. Patrimonio City Councilor Hon. Rosel Margarette Q. Erames City Councilor Hon. Dionie D. Amores, Liga-Barangay President City Councilor Hon. Renz Macion, Sk Federation President City Councilor ABSENT: NONE RESOLUTION No. 310 (Series of 2021) Authored by: Councilor Dionie D. Amores and Vice-Mayor Karissa Faye Tolentino-Maxino Co-Authored by: Councilors Sagarbarria, Bandal, Lentorio, Ramon & Patrimonio WHEREAS, traffic lights and signs provide valuable information to drivers and other road users because they represent rules that are in place to keep drivers and pedestrians safe when plying on our city streets; WHEREAS, providing our city streets with traffic lights help communicate real time information and messages to drivers and pedestrians that could be crucial in maintaining order and reduce road accidents; WHEREAS, nowadays sophisticated traffic technology and its connectivity enhances situational traffic awareness across the entire city streets, since it aims at optimizing traffic flow, lowering traffic congestion, and minimizing carbon emissions; WHEREFORE, on motion of Councilor Dionie D. Amores, duly seconded by Councilors Lilani L. Ramon and Manuel C. Patrimonio, the Sangguniang Panlungsod in session assembled: RESOLVED, AS IT HEREBY RESOLVED, to enact the following ordinance: ORDINANCE No. 75 (Series of 2021) An ordinance providing for the policies, rules and regulations in the installation and operation of the traffic signals, signs and other traffic control devices in Dumaguete City, providing penalty for violation and appropriating funds therefor, and for other purposes Be it ordained by the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Dumaguete, that: ARTICLE 1: TITLE SECTION 1. The “Traffic Control Device Ordinance of Dumaguete City” is hereby enacted. SECTION 2. Title. - This Ordinance shall be known as the “Traffic Control Device Ordinance of Dumaguete City”. ARTICLE 2: COVERAGE SECTION 3. This Ordinance shall apply the installation, operation and maintenance of traffic signals , signs, lane markings and other traffic control devices in Dumaguete City. ARTICLE 3: DEFINITION OF TERMS SECTION 4. Definition of Terms. - for purposes of this Ordinance, the following terms shall be understood to mean as: a) Traffic Control Device - all signs, signals, pavement markings and other devices not inconsistent with this Ordinance, placed, erected or installed by authority of the Sangguniang Panlungsod or official having jurisdiction, for the purpose of regulating, warning, or guiding traffic. b) Sign - a form of traffic control device that contain information, which the road user must obey, warning of hazards that may not be self-evident, or information about routes, directions, destinations, and points of interest. c) Pavement Markings - lines, symbols, messages, or numerals set into the surface of or applied upon, or attached to the pavements which are essential for the guidance and control of vehicle and pedestrian. d) Barrier - a traffic control device in the form of an obstruction (wooden, metal or concrete blocks) placed upon or across any road, street, highway or sidewalk for the purpose of preventing or limiting passage of motor vehicle or pedestrians over such street, road, highway or sidewalk. e) Traffic Signal - a device manually, electrically, electronically or mechanically operated by which traffic is alternately directed to stop or to proceed or is otherwise controlled. f) Intersection - includes every part of a public road or highway that joins another at an angle, whether or not it crosses the other. g) Marked Crosswalk - any portion of the roadway at an intersection or elsewhere, distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other markings on the pavement. h) Unmarked Crosswalk - any strip of roadway solely intended as passageway for pedestrian that either bounded by two parallel lines drawn from the one side to the other side of the street or indicated with a short dash-line from one side to the other side of the street. i) Main Street - any wide and continuous street as distinguished from an alley or narrow traversing street. ARTICLE 4: ERECTION AND OPERATION OF TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES SECTION 5. Erection and Interface with Traffic Control Devices. - No person shall, except when duly authorized by the authority, erect, establish or display on any road or in the view of any person on any road, or interface with, alter or take down any traffic control sign or device. No person shall erect, establish, place, maintain or display on any road or in the view of any person on any road anything which purports to be is an imitation of or similar to any traffic control sign or device, or which interferes with the effectiveness of or prevents an approaching driver from clearly distinguish the whole or part of any traffic control device, or distracts his attention from any traffic control sign or device. SECTION 6. Traffic Control Signs or Devices to be Operative. - Where any traffic control sign or item of a kind referred to in this Article exists on the road, it shall be effective and operative as traffic control device duly established for the purpose under this Ordinance. Any traffic-control or device that substantially conforms to the requirement of these sections with respect to the dimension, shape, color, position, direction, angle or any other feature of traffic control sign or device of any kind shall be deemed traffic control sign or device of that kind. SECTION 7. Use of Sirens, Dazzling Lights, Similar Gadgets. - No private person shall use or cause to be used sirens, bells, horns or lights and emergency flashing lights installed in either front or rear, and emergency light blinkers and other similar signaling or flashing devices that actually impede and confuse traffic and which are inconsistent with sound traffic discipline and control on the roads. ARTICLE 5: OBEDIENCE TO TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES SECTION 8. Obedience to Official Traffic Control Devices. - The driver of any vehicle shall obey the instructions of any official control device applicable thereto, placed or erected in accordance with the provisions of this Ordinance: Provided, That at any intersection where a stop sign or traffic signal lights have been erected or installed, the driver of any vehicle in conformity with the traffic signal lights whenever said traffic signal lights are in operation, unless, otherwise directed by the police officer or any other person authorized to direct, control, or regulate traffic: Provided further, That in any boxed intersection which is identified by the criss-cross lines of yellow paint covering the area from the center of the intersection up to the pedestrian lanes, no vehicle shall be allowed to enter therein if its way ahead or exit out of the said boxed is not clear even if the “GO” signal light is on: Provided finally, That no provision of this section shall affect the exemption granted to the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle. For the purpose of giving effect to the foregoing provision, the traffic authorities of the City Government and the Philippine National Police shall be authorized to select busy intersections in the City of Dumaguete that shall be declared as “Boxed Intersection” and provide them with the following sign: “KEEP INTERSECTION OPEN” which shall be installed in a conspicuous place. SECTION 9. Traffic Devices Required for Enforcement Purposes. - When the use of signs, signals, pavement markings or other traffic control devices is expressly required by any provision of this Ordinance or be placed at the particular locations involved to give notice of the existence and application of any such provision, there shall be no prosecution for violation of such provision, unless at the time and place of the alleged violation such as signs, signals, pavement markings or other traffic control devices were placed in accordance with the requirement of such provision and were sufficiently legible or understandable to a person of ordinary understanding or observation. Whenever any particular provision of this Ordinance does not state that signs, signals, pavement markings or other traffic control devices are required, such provisions shall be effective even though no signs, signals, pavement markings and other traffic control devices are erected in place.

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The installation and use of traffic signal lights is hereby authorized at the City streets and intersections which shall be identified by the executive department. SECTION 10. Installation of Traffic Lights on National Highways. - The installation and use of traffic lights on National Highways is hereby authorized at the street and intersections which shall be identified by the executive department. SECTION 11. Traffic Control Signal Legend. - Whenever traffic controlled by traffic control signals exhibiting different colored lights successively, one at a time, or with arrows, the following colors only shall be used and said words and lights shall indicate and apply to driver or vehicles and pedestrians as follows: 1) Steady Green alone ( Go Signal) (a) Vehicular traffic facing the signal may proceed straight through or turn right or left unless a sign at such place prohibits either such turn. But vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning right or left shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles and to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection of an adjacent cross walk at the time such signal is exhibited. (b) Pedestrians facing the signal may proceed across the roadway within any marked or unmarked crosswalk. 2) Steady Amber or Yellow Alone (“Caution Signal”) when shown following Green or “Go” Signal. (a) Vehicular traffic facing the signal is hereby warned that the Red or “STOP” signal will be exhibited immediately thereafter and such vehicular traffic shall not enter or be crossing the intersection when the Red or “STOP” is exhibited. (b)Pedestrian facing such signal are hereby warned that there is insufficient time to cross the roadway, and any pedestrian then starting to cross shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles. 3) Steady Red Alone ( Stop Signal) (a) Vehicular traffic facing the signal shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then before entering the intersection, and shall remain standing until the green ”GO” signal is exhibited alone : Provided, i. Where no signal has been erected at such intersection prohibiting right turns against a red signal, vehicular traffic facing such signal, after first coming to a complete stop as specified above, may enter the intersection with caution from the right lane to make a right turn but shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and other traffic proceeding as directed by the signal at said intersection; and ii. At the intersection of two one-way streets, where no sign has been erected at such intersection prohibiting right or left turns as the case may be against a red signal, vehicular traffic facing such signal, after first coming to a complete stop as specified above, may enter the intersection with caution from the right or left lane to make a right or left turn, respectively, in the direction of the one-way flow of traffic but shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and other traffic proceeding as directed by the signal at said intersection. (b) No pedestrian facing such signal shall enter the roadway within a crosswalk or otherwise. 4) Steady Green Arrow (a) Vehicular traffic facing such signal may enter the intersection with caution only to make the movement in the direction indicated by such green arrow but shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within a crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection. (b) No pedestrian facing such signal shall enter the roadway whether in a crosswalk or otherwise. SECTION 12. Pedestrian Control Signals. - Whenever special pedestrian control signals exhibiting the words “WALK” or “WAIT” or “DONT WALK”, or exhibiting different colored lights successively one at a time, the following colors only shall be used and said words and lights shall indicate and apply to pedestrians as follows: 1) Pedestrian Green or “Walk” – Pedestrian facing such signal may proceed across the roadway in the direction of the signal and shall be given the right of way by the drivers of all vehicles. 2) Steady Pedestrian Red, or “Don’t Walk” – No pedestrian shall start to cross the roadway in the direction of such signal. 3) Flashing Pedestrian Red - Any pedestrian who has partially completed his crossing on the Green or “WALK” signal shall proceed to a sidewalk or safety island while the Flashing Pedestrian Red signal is showing. SECTION 13. Warning Lights at Mid-Block Crosswalk. - Whenever distinction amber colored lamps are placed at mid-block crosswalk, they shall require vehicle drivers to exercise caution when approaching such crosswalk. SECTION 14. Flashing Signals. - Whenever flashing red or yellow signals are used, they shall require obedience by any vehicular traffic as follows: 1) Flashing Red (“STOP” Signal) - Whenever a red lens is illuminated with rapid intermittent flashes, drivers of vehicles shall stop before entering the nearest crosswalk at an intersection or at a stop before entering the nearest crosswalk at an intersection or at a stop line when marked and right to proceed shall be subject to the rules applicable after making a stop at a stop sign. 2) Flashing Yellow (“Caution” Signal) – When a yellow lens is illuminated with rapid intermittent flashes, drivers of vehicles may proceed through the intersection or pass such signal only with caution. SECTION 15. Authorized Signs, Signals or Markings. a) Authorized signs or markings are those devices the conform to the standard, specifications, size, color, location, classification and design set forth and recommended under the latest edition of the Department of Public Works and Highways Manual on Road Signs and Pavement Markings. b) In the event an official traffic control signal is erected and maintained at a place other than an intersection, the provision herein above set forth shall be applicable except as to those provisions, which by their nature, can have no application. c) Any stop required shall be made at a sign or marking on the pavement indicating where the stop shall be made, but in the absence of any such sign or marking, the stop shall be made at the nearest crosswalk at the intersection, or at the prolongation of the property line. SECTION 16. Display of Unauthorized Signs, Signals or Markings. – 1) No person shall maintain or display upon or view of any highway any unauthorized sign, signal, marking or device which purports to be or is an imitation of, resembles an official traffic control device or sign or signal, or which hides from view of interferes with the effectiveness of any official control device, sign or signal, and no person shall place or maintain nor shall any public authority permit, upon any highway any traffic sign or signal to have thereon any commercial advertising. This shall not be deemed to prohibit the direction upon private properly adjacent to highways of signs giving the useful directional information of a type that cannot be mistaken of official signs, signals or other traffic control devices. 2) In additional to the penalties provided for the violation of any of the foregoing provisions, every such prohibited sign, signal or marking is hereby declared to be a public nuisance and the Chief of Police is hereby empowered and directed to remove the same or caused it to be removed without notice. SECTION 17. Interfering with Official Traffic Control Devices, Signs, Signal. - No person shall, without lawful authority, attempt to or in fact alter, deface, injure, knock down or remove any official traffic control device, sign or signal or any inscription, shield or insignia thereon, or any other part thereof. SECTION 18. Obstruction with Official Traffic Control Devices, Signs or Signals. - No person shall hang, suspend, place or construct any billboard, awning, frame, balcony, cornice, or any other projection so as to obstruct the visibility of any traffic sign or signal placed or erected as authorized by law. SECTION 19. Red And Green Illuminated Signs Near Traffic Signals. -No person shall erect, or maintain any red or green light or red or green neon signs within 75 feet of any intersection where traffic is controlled by signal lights without first obtaining a written permit from the Office of the City Engineer and the Office of the City Mayor, certifying that such light or the sign at the specified location does not constitute undue distraction to a vehicle driver acting in obedience to the directions of the traffic signal lights. SECTION 20. Traffic Lane Markings. 1) Whenever traffic is controlled by the pavement markings, such markings shall be in accordance with the standard, specification, size, color, location, classification and design set forth and recommended under the latest edition of the Department of Public Works and Highways Manual on Roads Signs and Pavement Markings. 2) When a broken line is used for a center or lane line, such a line a guideline and may not be crossed by vehicular traffic unless such movement can be made with safety. 3) When a single solid or a double solid line is used for a center or lane line, the line is of regulatory character and is not to be crossed by vehicular traffic except when turning into or out of private driveways or intersecting highways or when directed by a police officer or any other persons authorized to direct, control, or regulate traffic or when such streets are traffic coned to allow additional traffic, lanes at times of emergency or peak traffic hours. 4) Whenever a combination of solid and broken lines is used, any solid line appearing in the same lane on which vehicle is traveling shall not be crossed at anytime, except when turning into or out of private driveways or roads, or intersecting streets and highways, and any broken line appearing in the same lane which the vehicle is traveling may be crossed at any time. 5) When traffic cones are used by proper authority to temporarily control the flow of traffic in lanes other than those designated by the permanent pavement marking, the lanes designated by the cones shall have the same regulatory effect as the permanent markings.

JANUARY 23 - JANUARY 29, 2022 SECTION 21. Unauthorized Removal or Altering of Traffic Signs, Signals and Equipment Installed in Any Street or in Any Place in the City of Dumaguete where they are Officially Intended. - It is unlawful to remove, alter, deface, injure or destroy traffic signs, signals, and equipment in any city street or in any place in the City of Dumaguete where they are officially installed. It shall be likewise unlawful for any person, except those authorized by the City Engineer’s Office and the City Mayor’s Office, to remove, alter, deface, injure, breakdown or destroy any traffic sign, signal, equipment or any traffic device officially installed in the street of the City of Dumaguete. ARTICLE 6: DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF PEDESTRIANS SECTION 22. Pedestrians Subject to Traffic Control Signals. - Pedestrians shall be subject to traffic control signals at intersections and other signalized crossings, but at all other places pedestrians shall be accorded the privileges and shall be subject to the restrictions hereinafter stated. Section 23. Vehicles to Yield Right-of-Way to Pedestrians in Crosswalk. a) When traffic control signals are in operation, the driver of a vehicle turning or intending to turn right or left shall likewise yield the right of way to pedestrians lawfully within the crosswalk. b) When traffic control signals are not in place or not in operation and traffic is not being directed by a traffic enforcer or police officer , the driver of the vehicle shall yield the right-or-way, slowing down or stopping if necessary, in order to yield to pedestrian crossing the roadway within the marked or unmarked crosswalk. c) Whenever any vehicle is stopped in order to yield the right –of-way to a pedestrian, the driver of any other vehicle approaching from the rear shall not overtake or attempt to pass such stopped vehicle. SECTION 24. Restrictions on Pedestrians Crossing Roadway. a) No pedestrian shall enter any marked or unmarked crosswalk or part thereof when the pedestrian signal display prohibits crossing or when it is forbidden to do so by traffic signs. b) No pedestrian shall cross any roadway within any business district except within a marked or unmarked crosswalk, nor any roadway in any residence district within 200 feet of any intersection except within a marked or unmarked crosswalk at such intersection. c) Pedestrian shall move, whenever practicable, upon the right half of crosswalk. d) No person shall enter upon or cross any roadway or portion of any roadway designated by the Council as closed to pedestrian traffic, except within an authorized marked crosswalk. The City Mayor’s Office shall from time to time determine the roadways or portions of roadways that are to be closed to pedestrian traffic. SECTION 25. Pedestrian Walking Along Roadways. a) Where sidewalks are provided, it shall be unlawful for any pedestrian to walk along and upon an adjacent roadway. b) Where sidewalks are not provided, any pedestrian walking along and upon a roadway hall, when practicable walk only on the left side of the roadway or its shoulder facing traffic which may approach from the opposite direction. c) No person shall stand on, walk along, or otherwise occupy any portion of a public street or highway, including the shoulder or sidewalk area, for the purpose of soliciting a free ride (hitch-hiking) from the diver of any vehicle. SECTION 26. Loading and Unloading on a Signalized Intersection. a) No person shall board or light on a vehicle, whether private or public, near the signalized intersection except on the designated loading and unloading area. b) No person driving a vehicle whether private or public shall solicit, load or unload passenger while they are queuing at the approach to a signalized intersection. SECTION 27. Jaywalking. - It shall be unlawful for any person to cross any main street intersection provided with a pedestrian lane without following the same and without strictly observing traffic rules and regulations for the same in Dumaguete City. The prohibition mentioned in the preceding paragraph shall also apply to any person crossing any main street provided with a pedestrian lane without following the same regardless of his distance between him and designated pedestrian lane. It shall prohibited for any vehicle, whether motor or animal-driven, to stop right on the pathway of the pedestrian lane, thereby obstructing the free traffic to pedestrians along the same. ARTICLE 7: PENALTY AND PROCEDURE OF ARREST SECTION 28. Penalty Clause. - Any person violating the provision of the foregoing Sections shall be punished as follows: Code Type of Offense/Violation Fines and Penalties and Interference with Traffic P1,000.00 Section 5. Erection Control Devices P500.00 + confiscation Section 7. Sirens, Dazzling Lights and Gadgets of gadget Disobedience to Official Traffic Control P500.00 Section 8. Devices Section 11. Disobedience to Traffic Control Signals P500.00 Authorized Signs, Signals, or P500.00 Section 15. Violating Markings Display of Signs, Signals P500.00 Section 16. Unauthorized and Markings With Official Traffic Control P500.00 Section 17. Interfering Devices, Signs or Signals of Visibility Signs Near P500.00 Section 18. Obstruction Traffic Signals Section 20. Disobedience to Traffic Lane Markings P500.00 Unauthorized Removal or Altering of P500.00 or Signs, Signals and Equipment Imprisonment of not Section 21. Traffic Installed in Any Street or in Any Place Less Than One Month in the City of Dumaguete where they are But Not More Officially Intended Than Six Months Section 23. Vehicles Not Yielding Right of Way to P500.00 Pedestrians Section 24. Violating Restrictions on Pedestrian P500.00 Section 25. Pedestrian Walking Along Roadways P500.00 + seminar and Unloading on a Signalized P500.00 + seminar Section 26. Loading Intersection Section 27. Jaywalking P500.00 + seminar SECTION 29. Procedure Upon Arrest. - Except when authorized or directed by law to immediately take a person arrested for a violation of any of the traffic laws before a magistrate, any authorized police officer, upon making an arrest for violation of the Land Transportation Code (RA 4136) shall take the name, address and operator’s license number of the alleged violator and the registered number of the motor vehicle involved and shall issue to him in writing a summons or citation, hereinafter described, warning him/her to answer to the charge against him/her at a place and time within seven days after such arrest. SECTION 30. Summons or Citation. - There shall be provided for use by authorized Traffic Enforces a Citation Ticket in accordance with an existing Ordinance as a form of summons or citation for use in citing violators of those traffic laws, which do not mandate the physical arrest of such violators. SECTION 31. Failure to Obey Summons. - Any person who fails to appear at the place and within the time specified in the summons or citation issued to him/her by an officer upon his/her arrest for any traffic violation is guilty of a misdemeanor regardless of disposition of the charge of which he/she was originally arrested. ARTICLE 8: APPROPRIATION SECTION 32. Appropriation Clause. - There shall be an appropriation in the amount of Three Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php300,000.00) for the implementation of this ordinance. ARTICLE 9: AMENDATORY, SEPARABILITY, EFFECTIVITY CLAUSES SECTION 33. Amendatory Clause. - All Ordinances, Resolutions, Orders, Memoranda and other Issuances which are inconsistent herewith are hereby amended, repealed or modified accordingly. SECTION 34. Separabilty Clause. - If, for one reason or another, some part of this Ordinance is found to be invalid or unconstitutional, all other provisions hereof not affected thereby shall remain to be in full force and effect. SECTION 35. Effectivity Clause. - This Ordinance shall take effect immediately after 15 days following the completion of its full publication in any newspaper of general circulation in the City of Dumaguete. APPROVED. oooOooo I hereby certify that the contents of the foregoing resolution are based on the records of the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Dumaguete City. Atty. Arthur Fran P. Tolcidas Secretary to the Sanggunian Attested by: Approved by: Atty. Karissa Faye Tolentino-Maxino Atty. Felipe Antonio B. Remollo City Vice-Mayor/Presiding Officer City Mayor Date of Approval: ___________

NOTICE

70 Rizal Blvd., Dumaguete City Tels. 225-7725, 422-9209, 225-4488

Notice is hereby given to all creditors and/or parties in interest that a parcel of land designated as Lot No. 1322 of the Cadastral Survey of Ayuquitan situated in the municipality of San Jose, Negros Oriental covered by Original Certificate of Title No. 13089 with an area of Thirteen thousand eight hundred thirty four (13,834) square meters, more of less, co-owned by the Heirs of Zacarias Bulay, Pedro Bulay, Felix Bulay, Matilde Bulay-Ruiz, and Eleuterio Bulay will become a subject of partition and/or settlement. MetroPost 2022 January 16 • January 23


JANUARY 23 - JANUARY 29, 2022

METROPOST EDITORIAL / ADVERTISING

Tel. (35) 420-5015, 0918-9400-731

Email: UnitownPublishing@gmail.com


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