Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper (July 12-18, 2021)

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July 12-18, 2021

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Tausug Heroes ARMM

Eastern Mindanao

Western Mindanao

Cebu

Manila

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The Mindanao Examiner

July 12-18, 2021

Tausug Heroes

Photos from Western Mindanao Command and 11th Infantry Division show the Tausugs who are among those who first responded to the C-130 crash site in Patikul town.

A

WEEK after the fiery crash of a military C-130 cargo plane that killed over 50 people and wounded dozens more in Sulu’s Patikul town, praises continue to pour for the Tausugs who bravely risked their lives in rescuing soldiers from the burning wreckage.

The aircraft was ulong sa mga sundalo o low Filipinos whom they transporting nearly 100 sibilyan dito. Hindi po consider as their protecsoldiers from Cagayan de ako kinabahan kasi gusto tors from the malefacOro City when it overshot ko pong tumulong sa mga tors. Their heroic deeds the runway and crashed tao,” said Erham Awalud- are worthy of praise and on July 4. The military din, a construction work- recognition. This exemsaid 49 soldiers and four er, who was one of those plifies that at times when civilians were wounded who first responded to we, protectors of the people and the state are in the incident. the crash site. in trouble, we have the Among those who Heroic first responded to the Lt. Gen. Corleto Vin- peace-loving people to crash scene were civil- luan, chief of the Western depend on. Muslims or ians and members of the Mindanao Command, Christians, we are FilipiCitizens Armed Forces praised the Tausugs for nos with one flag and one Geographical Unit - Ac- their heroic acts of brav- country,” he added. tive Auxiliary (CAA). ery in rescuing the inBronze Cross “Nakita namin yun jured soldiers from the Even the 11th Ineroplano na bumagsak burning plane. fantry Division in Sulu at pagkatapos ay agad “The Western Min- commended the CAA kaming pumunta sa danao Command of the members and civilians pinagbagsakan. Nakita Armed Forces of the who rescued over a doznamin yun mga sunda- Philippines is extremely en wounded soldiers lo at agad namin ni-res- grateful to the assistance from the crash site, and cue at pagkatapos ay tu- extended by our broth- would recommend to the mawag kami ng jeep para ers and sisters Tausug in Armed Forces of the Philmaisakay sila papuntang Sulu who were among ippines to award the CAA ospital. At pagpunta ko the first responders that personnel the Bronze (ulit) doon (sa crash site) rescued several survivors Cross Medal. sumama na ako sa mga of the air mishap on July “The Tausugs CAA (ibang) sundalo kahit 4, 2021. During this hard heroes under 5th Special hindi ko (sila) kilala kasi time, the Armed Forces Forces Company stawala na sa isip (at ang) received overwhelming tioned nearest to the ingusto ko kasi (ay) tumu- support from the villag- cident site will be recomers who unhesitatingly mended to be recipients long sa mga tao.”

“Hindi ko na mabil- responded to the crash of Bronze Cross Medal, a ang yun (mga) tinulun- site and rescued injured military decoration of the gan kong sundalo kahit victims, and brought Armed Forces of the PhilKristiyano o Muslim man them to safety,” Vinluan ippines which is award(dahil) hindi naman ang said. ed for heroism involving pumili kung sino ang tu“From the survivors risk of life,” said General tulungan ko. Hindi po and all of us, our brothers William Gonzales, comako nagsisi na pumunta and sisters Tausug are our mander of the 11th Inako dito (sa crash site) heroes. They risked their fantry Division. dahil gusto ko po makat- own lives to save their felSulu Governor Sakur

Tan also cited the heroic acts of the responders to the crash site and at the same time condoled with the families of the soldiers who perished in the incident.

“The air mishap involving a C-130 military aircraft ferrying troop augmentation to Sulu which claimed precious lives, both on board and on the ground, comes at a time when we are dealing with the pandemic, piling up the sacrifices our frontliners have offered in the name of peace and the safety and security of the people they are conscientiously serving.

Allah’s Wisdom on matters of life and death is unfathomable. Helpless as mortals are, we can but submit all to His Will.”

“To the bereaved families of the victims, our deep condolences on your losses, and to the injured we pray for your fast recovery. Since the onset of the pandemic and in the war against terror, our patience and resolve have been stretched to limits we thought insurmountable, yet we overcame.

When these challenges come to pass, more than anything else, let us celebrate the triumph of the human spirit, in shaa Allah!” he said.

The governor also provided an initial assistance of P150,000 to the

families of civilians killed in the crash and P30,000 each for the wounded villagers for their medical treatment; and P20,000 to those injured who did not require hospitalization. He also released P200,000 in housing aid for two families whose houses were destroyed in the plane crash.

Shock Vice Governor Toto Tan said the crash of the cargo plane was a shock to all and also claimed the lives of 3 civilians in the village.

“Sulu was shaken with shock when a C-130 military aircraft carrying troops overshot the runway and burst into flames. We are lost for words. We condole with the bereaved families on the demise of their loved ones while in line of duty.

I call on everyone to exercise restraint and patience while authorities are conducting official investigations,” he said.

“The Provincial Government will extend all necessary assistance to the families of the affected. It is indeed tragic that such a mishap befalls Sulu while we are still preoccupied with the pandemic. Again, our deep condolences to the families of those who perished and praying for the early recovery of the injured,” he added.

According to a report of MaxDefense Philippines, the transport plane was the former MC-130 Combat Spear aircraft of the US Special Operations Command.

The aircraft, it said, was purchased under Horizon 2 phase using Philippine funding and U.S. military assistance grant.

Black Hawk The crash came four days after a Philippine Air Force S-701 Black Hawk helicopter crashed during night flight training in the town of Capas in Tarlac province in central Luzon, killing all six airmen aboard.

The downed Polish-built chopper was under the 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing based at Clark Air Base. The cause of the crash is still being investigated.

The helicopters are manufactured by PZL Mielec, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, which had also previously acquired Sikorsky, the original manufacturer of the Black Hawk.

The Philippines acquired the helicopters under a government-to-government deal with Poland, signing a contract worth $241 million in 2019. The Black Hawks are being bought under the U.S. ally’s five-year Horizon 2 modernization program, which will run from 2018-2022.

(Mindanao Examiner)

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July 12-18, 2021

Valles out, David is new CBCP president

Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan is new CBCP President.

(Photo by Ryan Rezo, Diocese of Kalookan)

‘Run Digong Run’

President Rodrigo Duterte (PCOO) ALLIES AND supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte in the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) have repeatedly urged him to run for vice president in next year’s national polls.

Duterte’s supporters are also pushing his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Carpio to run for the presidency and continue his legacy.

They even came up with a resolution urging Duterte to run in the elections. The resolution cited Duterte’s successes in peace and order, infrastructure development, healthcare, education, and among others.

During a meeting between Duterte and PDP-Laban executives and other officials in Malacañang recently, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said they went around the country and listened to the “messages of support for the Presi-

dent and his administration.”

Cusi, the PDP-Laban vice chairman, said they collected and filed manifestos of support from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, and from PDP-Laban members and non-members who expressed their unity and support in the President’s leadership, recognizing the gains made in the fight against illegal drugs, terrorism, armed conflict, corruption, and poverty.

“Dahil dito, Mr. President, ang PDP-Laban National Council ay nananawagan sa inyo na pakinggan at tugunan ang kahilingan ng kanilang mga nasasakupan na kayo ay tumakbo bilang bise presidente sa darating na halalan sa 2022. At upang makasiguro na maipagpapatuloy ang inyong mga nasimulan na mga polisiya at programa, lalo’t higit sa droga, peace and order, at economic and infrastructure projects,” Cusi

said.

Cusi said the influential and well-respected Sulu Governor Sakur Tan also cited the improvement in peace and order situation in his province, which he said could only be sustained if Duterte will run for vice president.

“Sa ngayon halos wala ng Abu Sayyaf. Wala na.

Actually parang wala nang kidnap victim kahit isa sa Sulu. Kaya magaling itong mga general natin doon, sina (Western Mindanao Command Chief ) General (Corleto) Vinluan, (11th Infantry Division Commander) General (William) Gonzales, magagaling,” Cusi quoted Tan as saying.

Tan was a key figure in the landslide victory of Duterte in Sulu in 2016 and remains a strong political ally of the President in the South.

Provincial governors and mayors and other local government officials are also supporting the PDP-Laban resolution, saying they wanted Duterte to run for the vice presidency.

Duterte said he is considering running for vice president after his term ends next year. “To the proposition that I run for vice president, medyo I’m sold to the idea. So meaning to say, I am seriously thinking of running for vice president,” he said.

(Malou Cablinda and Rhoderick Beñez)

A government photo shows Archbishop Romulo Valles and President Rodrigo Duterte.

Valles is replaced by Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan as the new CBCP President.

DAVAO CITY – The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines or CBCP has elected a new president - Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan - replacing Archbishop Romulo Valles, a close friend and supporter of President Rodrigo Duterte, who served two terms since in 2017.

The 62-year old David, one of the country’s leading Bible scholars, served as CBCP vice president since December 2017. He was ordained in 1983 and appointed auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of San Fernando which he held on for 14 years until he was transferred to the Kalookan diocese two

years later.

He previously chaired the Episcopal Commission on Biblical Apostolate and was also among the 5 Filipino bishop delegates to the Synod of Bishops on the Word of God in the Vatican in 2008.

In 2019, the Ateneo de Manila University conferred its “Bukas Palad Award” on David for his service to the poor and “for his courage in speaking out against the evil of injustice and violence.”

David is also joined

by Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara of Pasig who was elected as the new CBCP vice president. Ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Manila in 1990, Verga-

ra was appointed bishop of San Jose in Nueva Ecija in 2005 and named as the bishop of Pasig in 2011.

Vergara, 58, is currently a member of the CBCP Permanent Council and formerly chaired the Episcopal Commission on Social Communications.

The newly elected officials will begin their terms on December 1.

The CBCP officials have two-year tenure in office, or a total of four to include the second term.

The CBCP meets in plenary session twice each year - in January and July - and its works are carried out by a number of commissions and committees. (Mindanao Examiner, CBCP)

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The Mindanao Examiner

July 12-18, 2021

Sulu Pictures in the News Sulu provincial government at work. This is where your taxes go. (Photos from the Office of the Provincial Governor, Jaques Tutong, Task Force Covid-19, and Jolo Municipal Government, Rep. Shernee Tambut)

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July 12-18, 2021

Duterte, press freedom predator?

Organic Kopi Luwak or Civet coffee isn’t really pricey KIDAPAWAN CITY Coffee lovers in the Philippines may now enjoy the best and the most expensive coffee in the world - Kopi Luwak - but not as pricey as every connoisseurs think.

Kopi Luwak is a coffee that consists of partially digested coffee cherries, which have been eaten and defecated by the Asian palm civet. The cherries are fermented as they pass through a civet’s intestines, and after being defecated with other fecal matter, they are collected.

In Manila, a kilogram of Civet coffee sells for as high as P15,000 and over $500 dollars abroad.

But Kopi Luwak can now be enjoyed by every coffee lovers for as low as P150 for a 16 oz. cup that comes with a drip bag, ground organic Civet coffee beans, two packets of brown sugar and a stirrer in a beautiful Kraft paper bag – thanks to the Mindanao Civet Coffee seller in Zamboanga City.

The new market player in the coffee business, although small, is now offering affordable organic Kopi Luwak – sourced and picked by farmers from the highlands of Mindanao, cleaned and dried and roasted to perfection to

give coffee lovers that distinct aroma of Civet coffee berries – chocolaty and nutty and smooth bodied brewed drink.

Mindanao Civet Coffee, which started as a home reseller of coffee beans, now offers organic Kopi Luwak in 250 grams ground Civet coffee and 250 grams Civet coffee beans – all medium roasted to perfection.

Kopi Luwak is also available now in 3rd Cup Café at LM Metro Hotel in Zamboanga City, and

resellers in Luzon, Cebu and other parts of Mindanao. The Mindanao Civet Coffee is a favorite among travellers and tourists and coffee connoisseurs. And for those who wanted the perfect gift for all occasions, Kopi Luwak is the best choice.

And those who are interested to resell or perhaps enjoy a daily hot cup or cold brew of Kopi Luwak may call the Mindanao Civet Coffee at this mobile number 09153976197. (AJC)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA watchdog, Reporters without Borders or RSF, has included President Rodrigo Duterte in its 2021 “Press freedom predators” who crack down massively on press freedom.

RSF said some of these “predators of press freedom” have been operating for more than two decades while others have just joined the blacklist, which for the first time includes two women and a European predator.

Nearly half of the predators are making their first appearance on the 2021 list, which RSF is publishing five years after the last one, from 2016. All are heads of state or government who trample on press freedom by creating a censorship apparatus, jailing journalists arbitrarily or inciting violence against them, when they do not have blood on their hands because they have directly or indirectly pushed for journalists to be murdered.

Nineteen of these predators rule countries that are colored red on the RSF’s press freedom map, meaning their situation is classified as “bad” for journalism, and 16 rule countries colored black, meaning the situation is “very bad.” More than a third of these tyrants come from the Asia-Pacific region.

“There are now 37 leaders from around the world in RSF’s predators of press freedom gallery and no one could say this list is exhaustive. Each of these predators has their own style.”

“Some impose a reign of terror by issuing irrational and paranoid orders.

Others adopt a carefully constructed strategy based on draconian laws. A major challenge now is for these predators to pay the highest possible price for their oppressive behaviour. We must not let their methods become the new normal,” said RSF secretary-general Christophe Deloire. “ RSF said Duterte has been a predator since taking office in 2016 with the Philippines ranking poorly, placing it 138th of the 180 countries in the 2021 World Press Freedom Index.

“After being elected mayor of the southern city of Davao in 1988, Rodrigo

Duterte used the pretext of fighting crime to develop a style of governing that showed little respect for the rule of law. The local media quickly became collateral victims of his brutal methods, which tolerate no criticism or even nuanced coverage of his policies.”

“His openly populist rhetoric, which included having himself nicknamed the ‘punisher,’ helped get him elected president in 2016. His presidency has exposed the weakness of the country’s democratic system. The executive has enormous power centered on the president. Judges who don’t toe the line are pushed aside. Congress tamely endorses all the president’s decisions.

Backed by most of the private sector, Duterte easily imposes his line on media outlets owned by businessmen that support him. Independent media outlets have assumed the role of opposition, with all the risks that this entails,” RSF said.

It added that there is collusion at all levels within the state apparatus – “Duterte has an arsenal that he can use to wage ‘total war’ against journalists, an arsenal that includes spurious charges of defamation, tax evasion or violation of capital legislation; rescinding broadcast licences; getting accomplices to buy up media outlets and bring their journalists into line; and using an army of trolls to subject journalists to online harassment.”

A handful of media outlets have tried to cover Duterte’s authoritarian excesses. In March 2017, the irascible president warned them: “I’m not threatening them but someday their karma will catch up with them.” They included the country’s leading newspaper, the Philippine Daily Inquirer. It was bought up a year later and its journalists were brought to heel.

The next target was the country’s leading radio and TV network, ABS-CBN. In July 2020, the ever-compliant congress sealed its fate by refusing to renew its franchise. He is now targeting the last bastion of press freedom – the Rappler news website and its CEO, Maria Ressa. Hounded by lawsuits and prosecution

brought by Duterte’s allies, she is facing the possibility of sentences totalling around 100 years in prison.

RSF even quoted Duterte as saying at his June 30, 2016 inauguration: “Just because you’re a journalist you are not exempted from assassination, if you’re a son of a bitch.”

For each of the predators, RSF said it has compiled a file identifying their “predatory method,” how they censor and persecute journalists, and their “favourite targets” – the kinds of journalists and media outlets they go after. The file, it added, also includes quotations from speeches or interviews in which they “justify” their predatory behaviour, and their country’s ranking in the World Press Freedom Index.

The report can be accessed from the RSF website – rsf.org.

Baseless Duterte’s spokesman Harry Roque strongly denied RSF’s allegation, saying there is no basis to claim that the president tramples on press freedom.

“Absolutely bereft of merit. Kung titingnan ninyo po iyong findings ng ICC prosecutor, lahat po ng kinu-quote niya eh media na critical sa gobyerno so that proves po that freedom of the press is alive and well in the Philippines.

Wala po ni isang kasong libelong sinampa ang Presidente, wala pong kahit sinong mamamahayag na napakulong ang Presidente,” Roque said.

“That’s part and parcel of course of the media group’s advocacy to promote freer press. Pero wala po talagang basehan na media predator ang ating Presidente,” he added, insisting Duterte had no hand in ABS-CBN’s failure to secure a new legislative franchise, despite his repeated verbal attacks on the television network.

And as for Rappler, Roque said it was the Securities and Exchange Commission which decided to revoke the certificate of incorporation of Rappler Inc. and Rappler Holdings Corporation for violating the 1987 Constitution and foreign equity restrictions in mass media. (RSF, Manila Bulletin, GMA, ABS-CBN, Mindanao Examiner)

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The Mindanao Examiner

July 12-18, 2021

Why are former presidents running for lower-level posts?

President Rodrigo Duterte chats with former presidents Joseph Estrada and Gloria Arroyo in this 2018 government photo.

PRESIDENT RODRIGO Duterte’s announcement that he is amenable to being considered as a vice presidential candidate in the 2022 elections has ignited fierce debates on whether it is permissible under the 1987 Constitution, which limits presidents to a single six-year term in office.

This matter will be resolved late this year if Duterte pushes through with his candidacy, which is expected to be challenged in the Supreme Court.

A sitting president aspiring to become vice president is indeed unprecedented in Philippine history, but a president running for a lower elected position is not without precedent. In fact, two previous presidents have already done this.

Former President Gloria Arroyo, who was in office from 2001 to 2010, filed her candidacy as a congressional representative in her home province when she was still the country’s head of state in 2009. She served as a legislator for three terms until 2019.

Meanwhile, former President Joseph Estrada, who preceded Arroyo in office from 1998 to 2001, successfully ran for mayor of Manila in 2013 and was re-elected in 2016.

Those who are not familiar with Philippine politics might ask: Isn’t winning the presidency supposed to be the ultimate goal of politicians? If so, why do Philippine presidents, who already acquired the coveted prize in politics, keep on running for lower office?

Under the country’s constitution, the president can serve for only six years and he or she is ineligible to seek another term in office.

Those who are campaigning to amend the constitution are citing the term re-

striction as irrational since it supposedly prevents a good leader from carrying out an agenda of reform for another six years.

They forget to mention that the term limit was placed there precisely because of the country’s painful experience under the government of former strongman Ferdinand Marcos, who ruled the country for two decades. Besides, the Philippines has also had former presidents, who ended their term and did not run for another election.

The decision of Arroyo, Estrada, and possibly Duterte to run again for public office even after becoming president can be explained by understanding what happened during the final years of their time in power.

In the case of Arroyo, her presidency suffered a lack of legitimacy after she was accused of electoral fraud. Corruption scandals also hounded her administration. Arroyo’s decision to run for Congress was seen by her critics as a maneuver to undermine the efforts of the succeeding government to pursue accountability.

For Estrada, his supporters believe his bid to become the mayor of the country’s capital was his way of seeking political redemption after he was ousted from power in 2001, and thereby prevented from completing his term as president.

The motives of Arroyo and Estrada were both self-serving, although they would probably insist that they only wanted to continue serving the public.

Duterte, too, has stated that his candidacy as vice president would provide “equilibrium” to the country’s politics. He did not elaborate, although this contradicted the 76-year-old’s previous

pronouncements about being tired and wanting to retire from politics.

Contrary to Duterte’s claim, his candidacy could be divisive – aside from triggering a potential constitutional crisis. Some experts think that it would circumvent the intent of the constitution to prevent an incumbent president from seeking another term.

This could also be part of Duterte’s plan to avoid prosecution at the International Criminal Court, which is investigating the human rights atrocities linked to his bloody war on drugs.

There could be corruption charges as well, which could be brought against him and his family once he leaves office in 2022. Perhaps the Philippine leader thinks he can evade accountability if he becomes vice president in the next administration.

The legal basis of Duterte’s plan to become vice president should be the least of his concerns. He should first convince the voting public that he deserves to be elected again even after he failed to fulfill his campaign promises in 2016. He recently admitted that he has nothing to show for his presidency, yet is confident that voters will still choose him to become the second-highest official of the land.

Perhaps Duterte can learn from the experience of his predecessors, who did not retire but opted to compete again in the electoral arena. Estrada won two terms but lost in his third attempt to serve as mayor in 2019. Arroyo was elected to Congress but it did not stop the government of the late President Benigno Aquino III from jailing her after she was charged with plunder.

(By Mong Palatino / The Diplomat

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July 12-18, 2021

The Mindanao Examiner

Sulu Pictures in the News

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July 12-18, 2021

Across : 1. Ice pellets 6. Tax org.

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HEALTH

U.S. delivers weapons, munitions to Philippines

Top 5 Sakit ng Pilipino Ni Dr. Willie T. Ong at Doc Liza Ong 1. High Blood Pressure o Altapresyon.

Kapag ang blood pressure niyo ay palaging lampas sa 140 over 90, ang ibig sabihin ay may high blood pressure o altapresyon ka na. Isa sa 4 na Pilipino ay may high blood pressure. Ang normal na blood pressure ay mas mababa sa 140 over 90.

Heto ang mga tips: (1) Magbawas ng timbang; (2) Magbawas sa pagkain ng maaalat.

Umiwas o magbawas sa paggamit ng asin, toyo, patis at bagoong; at (3) Mag-ehersisyo ng 3 hanggang 5 beses bawat linggo. Kapag palaging mataas sa 140/90 ang iyong blood pressure, kailangan mo nang uminom ng gamot.

2. Diabetes.

Kung ika’y may nararamdamang pamamanhid, laging nauuhaw, madalas umihi, o namamayat, magpa-check sa diabetes. Kapag ang iyong blood sugar ay higit sa 126 mg/dl pagkatapos ng 10 oras na hindi pagkain (fasting blood sug-

ar), nangangahulugang may diabetes ka na. Umiwas sa dalawang bagay: Matataba at matatamis na pagkain. Mag-ehersisyo din ng regular at huwag magpataba.

Depende sa taas ng iyong blood sugar, may mga mura at mabisang gamot sa diabetes, tulad ng Metformin at Gliclazide. Kung hindi mo mako-kontrol ang iyong blood sugar, ay mapapabilis ang pagdating ng komplikasyon nito.

3. Mataas na Cholesterol.

Mataas ang iyong cholesterol kapag lampas ito sa 200 mg/dl. Mag-diyeta na. Posibleng kailangan uminom ng gamot kapag lampas sa 240 ang cholesterol.

Subukang mag-diyeta ng 2 buwan.

Iwas taba, karne, cakes at icing muna. Pagkaraan ng 2 buwan, ipa-test uli ang cholesterol at kapag lampas ulit sa 240 mg/dl, doon tayo magsisimula ng gamot na Statins.

4. Sakit Sa Kidneys (bato).

Kung mayroon kang diabetes o high blood pressure, kailangan mong bantayan ang iyong kidneys. Ang diabetes at high

blood ay nakasisira sa kidneys. Kadalasan ay walang nararamdaman ang mga taong may sakit sa kidneys. Kapag may kidney failure na, humihina na ang daloy ng ihi.

Heto ang tips: (1) Bawasan ang alat ng pagkain; (2) Limitahan ang protina sa pagkain. Mas kumain ng isda, gulay at prutas; (3) Iwasan ang pag-inom ng pain relievers (gamot sa kirot); (4) Uminom ng 8-10 basong tubig bawat araw.

5. Cancer.

Kapag ang isang tao ay wala pang kanser, ang pinakamagandang kainin ay ang tatlong K: kamatis, karrots at kalabasa. Puwede din ang mga pagkaing ito para makaiwas sa kanser: green tea, curry powder, bawang, sibuyas, sibuyas dahon (leeks), repolyo, cauliflower, tofu o tokwa, at talong. Damihan ang pagkain nitong anti-cancer foods. Bawasan ang pagkain ng hindi masustansyang pagkain tulad ng baboy, baka, hotdog, bacon, ham at longganisa.

Nutribuns for children hailed

The enhanced nutribun enriched with micro-nutrients particularly iron, vitamin A, and zinc developed by the DOST is also improved with the inclusion of calcium, potassium, and protein. (Apipa Bagumbaran) ILIGAN CITY – Nearly 300 children, whose ages are between 2 to 5 years old, will benefit from the 90day Enhanced Nutribun (E-nutritious bun) supplemental feeding program of the local government in at least 12 villages here.

Camila Albao, the City Nutrition Program Coordinator, said the E-nutribun is the reformulated 1970 nutritious bun enriched with micronutrients particularly iron, vitamin A, and zinc developed by the Department of Science and Technology.

“The nutribuns are now improved with the inclusion of calcium, po-

tassium, and protein,” she said, adding, the villages of Upper Hinaplanon, Buru-un, Luinab, Saray, Tominobo, Kiwalan, Tubod, Bagong Silang, Mahayahay, Dalipuga, Suarez, and Tambacan will benefit from the supplemental feeding program.

“The nutribuns will be delivered to the barangay health centers and will be distributed twice a week while the weight of the recipient-children will be monitored weekly,” she said.

Dr. Glenn Manarpaac, City Nutrition Action Officer, said the supplemental feeding program is one of the strategies of the local government to address

the problem of malnutrition among children.

“Hopefully, ma-realize nato ang atong goal nga ma-eliminate ang malnutrition in all its form, especially sa atong mga stunted and wasted children,” he said.

Councilor Lamberto Macapagal Jr., Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Health chairperson, praised the project.

“We are happy nga we are introducing ang enhanced nutribun sa atong mga bata. This is more nutritious ug nadugangan kini og mga vitamins and minerals and I’m sure this will greatly help sa mga bata nga malnourish,” he said. (Apipa Bagumbaran)

A photo released by the U.S. Embassy to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner shows the cache of weapons and munitions the U.S. delivered to the Philippines intended to enhance the military’s counterterrorism capabilities and readiness.

WASHINGTON HAS provided the Philippines some P48.5 million (about $1 million) worth of weapons and munitions intended to enhance the military’s counterterrorism capabilities and readiness.

Officials from the Joint United States Military Assistance Group Philippines (JUSMAG-P) delivered the new weapons and munitions to the Armed Forces of the Philippines at Clark Air Base on July 4.

The delivery, funded

by U.S. grant assistance, included fourteen (M2A1) .50 caliber heavy machine guns, seven M240B machine guns, and thousands of rounds of ammunition.

“As the United States and Philippines celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations…we welcome

this key equipment transfer, which will support the continued readiness of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” said JUSMAG-P Chief and Senior Defense Official to the Philippines Col. Stephen Ma. The Philippines is the largest recipient of U.S. military assistance in the Indo-Pacific. Since 2015, the U.S. has provided more than P48.6 billion ($1 billion) in security assistance to the Philippines.

Last year, Duterte terminated the 1999 Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the U.S. after Washington cancelled the visa of former national police chief and now Senator Ronald dela Rosa.

Duterte, who considers himself a friend of China, also lambasted the U.S. for interfering with

the country’s political affairs and its criticism of the government’s deadly war on drugs which Dela Rosa engineered through the so-called Oplan Tokhang when he was the chief of the Philippine National Police.

The Pentagon said scrapping the VFA was wrong, but according to then President Donald Trump it will save a lot of money for Washington.

When asked whether he would try to persuade Duterte to reconsider his decision to scrap the VFA, Trump said: “Well I never minded that very much, to be honest. We helped the Philippines very much. We helped them defeat ISIS ... I don’t really mind if they would like to do that, it will save a lot of money. My views are different from others.” (Mindanao Examiner)

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July 12-18, 2021

July 12-18, 2021

The Mindanao Examiner

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Covid-19 vaccines not for sale C

Gokongwei Group backs mass vaccination program DIVERSIFIED CONGLOMERATE Gokongwei Group said it continues to support the government’s mass vaccination program in an effort to help achieve the herd immunity and rebuild the economy devastated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Lance Gokongwei, JG Summit President and Chief Executive Officer, said: “Beyond our organization, we have been supporting the national vaccination program through various initiatives of our business units in partnership with the local governments. The Gokongwei Group fully supports the national government’s vaccination program to safeguard the health of the Filipinos and hasten the nation’s economic recovery from this pandemic.”

He said Cebu Pacific

has already transported some 9 million Covid-19 vaccine doses from China to Manila. With its widest domestic network in the country covering 32 destinations, the airline has already ferried more than 1.8 million vaccine doses distributed to various cities, municipalities and provinces, such as Bacolod, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Cotabato, Davao, Legazpi, Masbate, Puerto Princesa, Tacloban, Tuguegarao, Virac, Zamboanga and Dipolog, among others.

Alex Reyes, Cebu Pacific Chief Strategy Officer, also said the airline has supported the City Government of Manila for its delivery of 400,000 doses of Sinovac vaccines from China after having been allowed by the national government to procure directly from Beijing.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to pro-

vide our expertise in international shipments, and we hope to continuously contribute by bringing in more life-saving vaccines from abroad,” he said.

In terms of providing safe, secure and accessible venues for vaccine administration, a total of 27 Robinsons Malls have partnered with local governments nationwide to serve as their vaccination sites, according to Arlene Magtibay, Robinsons Land Corp. Senior Vice President.

She said the presence of Robinsons Malls in strategic locations and key urban cities in the country has been instrumental and is a significant factor for the local governments to effectively roll out their vaccination drives, encompassing a large number of the Filipino population and encouraging them to be inoculated.

(Cebu Examiner)

Lance Gokongwei

ARMM

Eastern Mindanao

EBU CITY – The Department of Health reminded the public that all Covid-19 vaccines which were given “emergency use authorization” by the Food and Drug Administration are strictly not for sale and urged citizens to report to authorities any person illegally selling vaccines.

Dr. Mary Jean Lore- ernment under the emer- know if they are fake vacche, of the Department of gency use authorization,” cines and we don’t know its composition,” she Health or DOH, said the Loreche said.

Loreche, who is also said, pointing out that people should not buy vaccine doses from indi- the spokesperson for the there is no need to buy viduals or organizations Visayan Vaccine Oper- vaccines as these are bediscreetly selling it with- ations Center or VVOC, ing provided by the govout authority from the warned individuals ille- ernment for free. government. gally selling Covid-19 vacShe said they have “The sale of vaccines cine and said they would not received any report as of the moment is pro- be facing charges once of illegal vaccine sale in hibited because none they are caught by author- the Visaya, but noted of the vaccines acquire ities. that a nurse was recentapproval from the Food “Why put ourselves ly arrested in Manila for and Drug Administration. in danger by being inoc- selling 300 doses of SinoWhat we have right now ulated with vaccines with vac vaccines. (John Rey are purchased by the gov- unknown origin? We don’t Saavedra)

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources shuts down this garbage transfer station in the village of Inayawan in Cebu City for violating environmental laws. (Environmental Management Bureau)

Cebu garbage station closed CEBU CITY – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has shut down a garbage station here after its private operator hired by the local government failed to dispose waste within 24 hours.

It said the operator John Javier, owner of Docast Construction, a private garbage hauler hired by the City Government to transport waste materials from the transfer station in the village of Inayawan to the sanitary landfill in Binaliw village, was also fined P105,000.

Paquito Melicor Jr., DENR Acting Regional Director, said they also sent a notice of violation and cease and desist order to

Western Mindanao

Docast Construction.

“On July 5, 2021, an inspection was conducted by our field personnel on your transfer station located in White Road, Inayawan, Cebu City. Based on the inspection report, it was found out that the wastes therein were stored beyond 24-hours already, in violation of section 25 of Republic Act 9003,” the notice said.

Melicor said the provision of the law set the guidelines for transfer stations which required their operators to comply with the environment standards and guidelines and prohibited the storage of garbage beyond 24 hours.

The inspection team,

Cebu

according to the notice, observed that the wastes had reached 10.8-meter high virtually making it an “open dumpsite” Melicor said the stockpile of garbage pose a danger to the lives and limbs of the employees and the waste pickers.

He reminded Javier that open dumping of garbage is prohibited under the law.

Javier was ordered to immediately dispose all the garbage remaining at the Inayawan transfer station by transporting them to the sanitary landfill. The company was also ordered to stop accepting waste from the city. (John Rey Saavedra)

Manila