Mindanao Times, January 27, 2021

OPINION Why they protest the UP-DND accord abrogation

Scan me for digital copy

BY VIC N. SUMALINOG

on PAGE 6 V O L . 74

NO. 353

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2021

DAVAO CITY - PHILIPPINES

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A POLICE officer checks on motorists at the control point along Quezon Boulevard as the Davao City Police Office intensifies its campaign in the implementation of health protocol guidelines. BING GONZALES

Policy violators

• Law enforcers have arrested about 15,400 for violating quarantine guidelines

BY RHODA GRACE B. SARON

THE Davao City Police Office has arrested about 15,470 individuals since the implementation of community quarantine guidelines in May last year.

Angel Sumagaysay, particularly strengthening (RT-PCR) results. head of the Public Secu- its campaign against those Of the number of viority and Safety Command who presented fake or tam- lators collared, 33 of them Center (PSSCC), yesterday pered reverse transcription were arrested because of said the city government is polymerase chain reaction bogus or tampered RT-PCR

w w w. m i n d a n a o t i m e s . c o m . p h

results, with “10 cases were already filed before the courts," Sumagaysay said.

He added the city government has continued to intensify the implementa-

Mindanao Times

tion of health protocols against COVID-19 to curb the spread of the virus.

Aside from those arrested for faking RT-PCR results, the office, as of January, recorded 3,262

@mindanaotimes

curfew violators; 555 for liquor ban; 6,617 for social distancing and mass gathering; 2,333 for the face mask; and 2,670 for face shield. ( / POLICY / 10) mindanaotimes

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News

MINDANAO TIMES

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2021

OFFICERS from the Special Action Force and the Davao City Police Office lay a wreath during the National Day of Remembrance to honor the 44 members of Special Action Force who were killed six years ago in Mamasapano, Maguindanao. BING GONZALES

Passenger with tampered RT-PCR result surrenders

BY ANTONIO L. COLINA IV / MINDANEWS

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews) – An air passenger confirmed to be positive of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) who had been wanted for tampering his swab result to make it appear that he was cleared of the infection, surrendered to authorities around 10 p.m. on Monday.

Frederick P. Grande, who presented a tampered reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result upon arrival at the Davao International Airport (DIA) last

January 23, turned himself in shortly after the City Government of Davao announced that authorities were looking for his whereabouts as he was actually positive of COVID-19.

“It was discovered that he tampered with his RT PCR test result to indicate that he is negative of COVID-19. An email from the testing center proved that ( / PASSENGER / 10)

Bomb explosion kills driver in Maguindanao

COTABATO CITY (MindaNews) – A passing motorcycle driver was killed while his backrider was rushed to a nearby hospital

after a powerful explosion hit them while traversing the national road going to downtown South Upi, Maguindanao 5:45 a.m.

Tuesday.

Shaine Jhae Collado, who is living not far from the explosion site in Ba( / BOMB /10)

2 nabbed for 9 in 10 active COVID-19 cases illegal drugs in Mati were local transmissions REPORT:

ELEMENTS of the Ecoland Police Station arrested two individuals during an illegal drug operation in Barangay Ma-a Sunday.

Major Carol Jabagat, commander of the police station, identified the two as Sherizalyn Cañete Villarojo, 32, housemaid, and Michael Done Escopete, 30, driver; both of Barangay Leon Garcia.

Recovered from the sus-

pects were a sachet of shabu, a cellular phone P1,000 in cash and another P19,000 in “boodle” money. Law enforcers estimated the value of the seized illegal drugs at P66,000 with a weight of four grams.

The two were scheduled to be placed on a summary inquest proceeding as the case agains them was being prepared. By Rhoda Grace B. Saron

THE Incident Management Team (IMT) of the Mati City government in Davao Oriental bared that 90% of the active COVID-19 cases were local transmissions.

Based on its report, as of January 25, the IMT said the city had 242 cases, 179 had recovered, five died and 58 were still active.

The body also reported that 244 others were under monitoring and five areas were identified as those with high incidence of infected residents.

In his daily brief, Dr. Ben Hur Catbagan Jr., IMT commander, said of those active cases, 80% were still confined at the Davao Ori-

ental Provincial Medical Center, the main hospital in the province.

However, on Monday, Davao Oriental Provincial Health Officer Reden V. Versaldo said the government hospital would implement a two-week closure so that it can be disinfected as 31 health workers were

reported to have been inflected with the virus.

Despite the temporary closure, Versaldo said those who have been admitted to the hospital will still be taken cared of.

The cluster areas, where 20% of those infected were residing, in( / 9 IN 10 / 10)

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2021

Business

MINDANAO TIMES

3

MIndanao LGUs urged: Intensify food production

BY WARREN ELIJAH E. VALDEZ

PIÑOL

THE Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) has urged Mindanao local government units (LGUs) to increase local food sufficiency to cushion the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their constituents.

In a statement on Tues- region.” day, Secretary Emmanuel He said LGUs must Piñol, MinDA chair, said come up “self-reliant food during his consultations production programs” to with LGUs, he pointed ensure that their constituout that while Mindanao ents will have enough food could sufficiently supply on their tables. the needs of its population, “An example is the “the rising prices of goods increased demand for live in Metro Manila and Luzon hogs from Mindanao to be because of short supply shipped to Metro Manila could destabilize the food which has resulted to a drasufficiency programs of the matic increase in the farm

gate price from P90 per kilo {live} last year to as high as P220 per kilo now,” he said.

Piñol also added the demand for beef, vegetables, and fish has also intensified “as Metro Manila grapples with skyrocketing food prices.”

MinDA is proposing various strategies to be adopted by Mindanao LGUs including livestock production through the establishment of LGU-owned “Cattle Fattening Feedlot” using locally procured

cattle or imported steers; Hog Production Program through a “Communal Hog Raising Concept” where LGUs will be setting facilities with sufficient biosecurity safeguards against the African Swine Fever (ASF), which have previously affected the backyard hog industry.

A “Free Range Chicken Production Program” is also being proposed by MinDA, and this will be done through the establish(

/ MINDANAO / 11)

Agency vows continued support PRSP grows amid halt on easing of restrictions network AS THE pandemic continues to reshape many industries all over the country, businesses are under immense pressure to remain afloat while keeping their good relationship with customers.Communication has become more critical than ever during this time. Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP), the country’s premier association of PR and communications professionals, spotlights these challenges and aims to showcase the crucial role that communicators play as businesses and industries nationwide move into the new normal.

To help synergize the efforts of communications professionals in the country, PRSP is expanding its network to Visayas and Mindanao with

(

/ PRSP / 11)

MANILA – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) assured continued support for entrepreneurs to help their businesses thrive and survive amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

In a message to reporters Tuesday, DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said the IATF will “follow the wisdom of our President”.

This came after President Rodrigo Duterte recalled the decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to allow people aged 10 to 14 years old to go outside their residences in areas under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ)

starting Feb. 1.

Lopez said Duterte asked the IATF to further observe the situation as the UK SARS-CoV-2 variant is already present in the country.

“He asks us to study further the new variant because it might spread and the blame might be put on the easing of age restriction,” he said.

Lopez added that the IATF can implement the adjustment in age restriction once they can control the spread of the new Covid-19 variant. “(We) will continue with the current support programs under Bayanihan 2 and support to MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) and job generation,” Lopez said.

He added that strict

compliance with minimum health standards should continue while improving Covid-19-proofing of establishments to enhance consumer confidence.

The DTI and the National Economic and Development Authority recommended the easing of age restrictions from 15 to 65 years old to 10 to 65 years old to allow more economic activities, particularly spending from family activities such as shopping and dining.

Lopez earlier mentioned that family expenditure accounts for 30 to 50 percent of sales in commercial areas, adding that this would help businesses to improve their sales and prevent them from shutting down their operations.

(PNA)

SEC approves firm’s bond offer THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has considered favorably the public offering by Century Properties Group, Inc. (CPG) of up to P3 billion of fixed-rate bonds.

In its meeting on January 21, the Commission En Banc resolved to render effective the registration statement of CPG covering up to P2 billion of threeyear bonds due in 2024, with an oversubscription option of up to P1 billion, subject to certain remaining requirements.

The company expects to net up to P2.94 billion

from the offer, assuming the oversubscription option is fully exercised. The proceeds will be used to refinance maturing debt, fund capital expenditures for ongoing projects as well as general corporate requirements.

The bonds will be offered at face value, and will be listed and traded on the Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp.

CPG tapped China Bank Capital Corporation as the sole issue manager, sole lead underwriter, and sole bookrunner for the offer.

LOPEZ

Firm introduces product against financial setback HAVE you ever thought of getting a life insurance but each time you try to get one, you’re gripped with the fear of lapsing your policy due to long payment period?

It’s time that you consider an affordable alternative – a renewable term life insurance.

Among all life insurance products available nowadays, from savings, investments, and protection products, term life is a protection-focused plan that offers the high value death benefit at a lower premium compared to other types of life insurance.

“The Covid-19 pandemic is an eye-opener for a lot of our countrymen, who realized that they needed a buffer, a safety net just in case something happens to them due to the virus,” said Insular Life (InLife) Chief Marketing Officer Gae Martinez.

The Covid-19 pandemic has amplified the importance of having affordable life insurance coverage especially among the vulnerable and the underserved. To fill this need, InLife created an affordable protection-focused plan to

(

/ FIRM / 11)

4

MINDANAO TIMES

More News

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2021

Cardinal supports extension of Bangsamoro transition period Partnership forged to fulfill children’s rights SAVE the Children Philip- Buayan in the province of pines partners with the Bang- Maguindanao. samoro Autonomous Region Atty. Alberto Muyot, in Muslim Mindanao (BAR- chief executive officer of MM) to ensure the fulfillment Save the Children Philippines of children’s rights during sit- said the partnership is a step uations of armed conflict, and forward in addressing the other emergencies including lifelong physical and psychocalamities and the COVID-19 logical trauma and disabilities pandemic. of children facing the harsh The partnership will be impacts of armed conflict, implemented through the compounded by the natural European Union’s Integrated disasters and COVID-19.

Emergency Preparedness and “Armed conflict cripples Child Protection Framework communities and disrupts to Protect Children and their health services and schools Communities from Violence that are critical to children’s during Emergencies in ASE- learning and development,” AN grant. said Muyot, adding, “we must The program aims to sup- ensure local governments report children’s access to edu- spect laws and norms and do cation, health and nutrition, more to protect children from child protection, child rights the horrors of gun battles.” governance, food security According to Save the and livelihoods, humanitar- Children’s “Stop the War ian response, and protection Report,” one in six children of children during disasters. across the world live in armed It will be implemented in the conflict areas, including those municipalities of Datu Salibo, in Mindanao.

Mamasapano, and Radjah ( / PARTNERSHIP / 11)

KORONADAL CITY (MindaNews) – Mindanao’s lone Cardinal, Orlando Quevedo, OMI, has joined calls for an extension of the transition period in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) for another three years until 2025.

Quevedo, Archbishop sectarian education, the deEmeritus of Cotabato and for- commissioning process inmer two-term President of the volving the members of the Catholic Bishops Conference Moro Islamic Liberation Front of the Philippines, issued a (MILF), the setting up of the statement “urgently and for- Office of Settler Communimally endorsing the petitions” ties and the demarcation of to extend the Bangsamoro the ancestral domain of the Transition Authority (BTA), Indigenous Peoples. whose mandate will expire on He stressed that it is not June 30, 2022. possible to establish within “The Bangsamoro Tran- the allotted transition period sition Authority will surely “a new political culture within not be able to complete its the Bangsamoro that would mandate within the period of be ruled by the principle of transition. The reasons are in- transparency, accountability disputable. The COVID pan- and efficiency – which is the demic has made it impossible professed intent of the Bangfor the BTA to have regular samoro leadership.” face-to-face sessions. Secu“(The) election in 2022 rity issues posed by radical would simply erode whatever armed groups prevent freedom fragile gains the BTA shall of travel for BTA officials have obtained within the tranto perform their tasks. The sition period,” he said. constraints of time are simply Quevedo joined Lanao insurmountable,” he said in a del Sur Governor Mamintal statement on January 19.

Adiong, Jr. and local leaders According to Quevedo, in his province and at least several major issues in the nine towns in Maguindanao in fledging Bangsamoro region backing calls for the extension have yet to be resolved, among of the transition period. them the status of private “We would like to assure

the Bangsamoro government that we are one with you in the aspirations for self-determination and moral governance,” the governor said in a statement.

The BARMM turned two years old last January 21, following the ratification of Republic Act 11054 or the Organic Law for the BARMM. The law is anchored on the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), the peace agreement forged by the government and the MILF after 17 years of negotiations.

Bangsamoro interim Chief Ministers Ahod Ebrahim, who is also MILF chair, said the autonomous regional is “not an end, but a continuation of the Bangsamoro struggle.”

He noted that the establishment of the BARMM “is a product of the sacrifices and pains of the mujahedeens and communities for the sake of the struggle.”

“It is important to constantly remind ourselves that what we achieved so far is founded on the blood, sweat, and tears of our brethren, our mujahedeens,” Ebrahim

stressed.

Ebrahim earlier backed the extension of the transition period, which was among the recommendations of the rapid midterm review conducted by the peace advocacy group Mindanao Peoples Caucus.

The transition period is too short to implement the provisions of the CAB, including the normalization track that involves the transformation of MILF members into productive members of mainstream society, he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte expressed support for the extension of the transition period in the Bangsamoro region.

In November, the BTA passed a resolution urging Congress to extend the Bangsamoro transition period from year 2022 to 2025.

To date, at least five bills supporting BTA’s resolution have been filed in Congress. The authors are Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda, Maguindanao Rep. Esmael Mangudadatu, Lanao del Norte Rep. Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo, House Majority Leader Ferdinand

(

/ CARDINAL / 11)

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2021

Community

MINDANAO TIMES

5

2 new species named after UM researchers

TWO new beetle species discovered by a team of biologists from Daugavpils University in Latvia, Eastern Europe in Palawan and Mindoro are named after the University of Mindanao’s own Dr. Analyn Cabras and Dr Milton Medina of the Research and Publication Center.

Discovered in Palawan is Cleomenes medinai, while Cleomenes cabrasae was found in Mindoro, and the two new beetle species belong to the genus Cleomenes, which is noted to have 43 species worldwide, 8 of which are found in the Philippines.

The study in Palawan and Mindoro was led by Dr. Arvids Barsevskis, regarded as a premier coleopterist and biologist, who heads the Institute of Systemic Biology at Daugavpils University as its Rector, and functions as Vice Rector of Research of the Institute of Life Sciences and Technology of the Coleoptera Research Center in the same university, and is the Editor in Chief of the Baltic Journal of Coleopterology.

These new species are described by the team of Dr. Arvids and Dr. Zeltite Barsevska, in their study titled “Two new species of Cleomenes Thomson, 1864 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) from the Philippines,” published in the December 2020 issue of the Baltic Journal of Coleopterology.

CABRAS

MEDINA

Dr. Cabras and Dr. Medina manage the university’s Coleoptera Research Center located at UM Matina campus, which is the first research center in the country devoted to the study of beetles; regarded as an important determiner of the ecological health of an area. They are

responsible for the 2018 discovery of Metapocyrtus willietorresi, also a new species of Philippine beetle; as well as the December 2020 discoveries of Metapocyrtus zamboanganu and Thopeutica barsevskis, discovered in Zamboanga and Bohol, respectively.

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Opinion

MINDANAO TIMES

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2021

Still Waters I REMEMBER when we were kids, my mom and some of her friends would, for a time, bring us to Mulig, in the Toril District, for a day of swimming in a mountain stream. At least for myself, those few occasions had been unforgettable; with the feel of being in a fast stream, where in most parts, were huge boulders that one could squeeze through. Even till today, I always remember the area as being one of my favorite childhood playgrounds ever. I didn’t know about my brothers, but I always looked forward to the time when my mom would say we were going back again.

While the rapids in some parts of that particular stream were scary, the adults had always seen to it that we were always on the safe side. I recall that in some of those parts, one could feel fist-sized rocks roll and hit our legs, as proof of the strong flow.

Once in a while for those of our age, we would still try out going through some of the scary sections of that stream, sliding down some flat boulders, ala body surfing in today’s lingo, and eventually landing in neck-deep water. However, though back then, that proved to be the main thrill for us boys, my best Correspondents:

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there would have been telling moments when one resorted to tiptoeing here and there, one’s youthful existence would mostly be described as rushing ever onward unafraid of consequences.

When it’s over, only you know it. It’s never marked with the number of lines in one’s face or the slow dominance of white hair on one’s head. For others, the loss of hair doesn’t even qualify as the end of youth either.

Still, like being one with the rapids in a fast flowing stream, there is always that stage where one begins to seek the quiet side of the noisy waters. It is almost always, a special spot where one could just float and watch the sky above. part would be swimming (or more like gliding down The appeal of this grows stronger with each toward shallow waters beyond the rocks, to float for day and it is almost as welcoming as a friend one a brief rest. is fond of. For others especially those in the middle In a nutshell, we could say that practically life generation, they call it the “tito” years, a mellowis so much like that. Encapsulated in one childhood ing of sorts, from being young and turning into an memory. While youth is always marked and dotted uncle. What name, I’m curious now, would seniors with a mix of wide-eyed exploration, it is neverthe- like us call this inevitable stage of mellowing? I less replete with a lot of significantly daring and don’t know about you oldies out there, I am calling maverick deeds in order to prove oneself. Although it still waters.

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2021

Opinion

MINDANAO TIMES

7

Why they protest the UP-DND accord abrogation NOW in Davao City, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has finally issued an Executive Order mandating specific establishments and locations where the city’s safety QR Code must be used by anyone entering its confines. With the EO of course, it is understood that the violators, either the management of the establishment and facility, or the people who enter the compound, would stand the possibility of getting sanctioned.

We suspect that the mayor is now getting exasperated at the uncomfortable honor of always getting into the Top 5 list of places contributing to the number of new CoViD 19 cases all over the country. For who is the leader of a constituency who would be pleased if one feels that due to complacency of your people they seem to continue to suffer the vulnerability of a contagious disease? Yet, the mayor seems to have sleepless nights and even working 24 hours daily to find ways to stop the virus’ onslaught.

Imagine the mayor waking up daily being confronted with news reports that the total figure of CoViD cases in her city since the start of the pandemic sometime in March last year now reaches 10,974 (as of January 25, 2021) out of the Mindanao total of 44,782 cases! It surely is not pleasing to the ears.

So, again, would it be surprising if the mayor has to resort to more drastic measures in making the use of QR code to ensure that should anyone be monitored to have acquired the virus, immediately, those who have the possibility of interacting with the person can easily be traced and immediately be warned or isolated should his/her case warrant.

In fact, of late, we know of certain persons who got a text message that they have gone to a particular place where a customer was tested CoViD positive and they were advised to monitor themselves for any of the symptoms of the infection. And they were effectively traced because of the scanning of their QR code. So, it is apparent that the mayor’s EO is to further expand the areas or people’s destinations that need to require the scanning of QR code. That way, monitoring of people who could possibly be infected by the dreaded virus be immediately located and advised properly what to do to avoid spreading further the disease.

Best move by the lady chief executive. And this must not be ignored by everyone in Davao City in order to ef-

fectively stem the hike of new cases among the population. ************************** And why are so many people – or so it seems - from the University of the Philippines campuses all over the country and from other schools identified by the military as recruitment grounds for new members of the Communist Party of the Philippines and eventually its armed elements, the New People’s Army (NPA), raising their strong objection in the government’s abrogating the agreement banning entry of military or police personnel in any of the campuses of the university without permission from the school authorities?

Why are they using it as reason that it is an act that is affront to academic freedom and constitutionally-guaranteed rights? Why does academic freedom include the taking of options to join causes detrimental to the government in addition to one’s right to study whatever course he/she would want to? Does academic freedom at UP and other schools identified by the military as recruitment grounds include courses or subjects on how to disobey some enabling laws borne by the same Constitution they invoke as source of their dissents?

All their protestations remind us of what a teacher at a UP campus who is an acquaintance of ours told us, and confirmed by some students in that educational institution that it has been a norm in the school that new enrollees are made to read books about progressive movements in the Philippines.

We do not have any idea if this act is being authorized by the school administration or just simply the doing of some individual teachers with progressive minds. But this certainly is one way of starting the conditioning of the minds of new students to the environment that these teachers want them to be in the future.

Remember that incident in a rally some years back in the vicinity of the Department of Social Welfare and Development along Magsaysay Road? Was there not a rally participant who was hauled off by her father after the latter saw her daughter on television live brandishing a placard denouncing certain government action?

The father who came all the way from his province up north was heard as saying “This is not the reason I send you to school and here you are abandoning your classes to harangue the government that is giving you the opportunity for better education.”

In fact we have our personal experiences of knowing how the recruiter and the organization work. When we were in our first year of college shortly before martial law was declared we ran for senator in our school’s Supreme Student government. Then out of the blue came a student, claiming to be transferee from a Manila university. Without any hesitation he offered us money and other material requirements for the campaign with no string attached.

We do not know him and we have no idea why he wants to help us then. So we politely refused telling him we can manage. During that time demonstrations against school administration and more against the Marcos government were rampant. Then in one of those protest-rallies I saw the man who offered me help climbing the school bus angrily lambasting both the school and the government for almost an endless list of infractions. He was so passionate in his ways that any unsuspecting listener to his speech would most likely be convinced of the truth to all that he said then.

When martial law was declared he disappeared from the scene. Several months later he was reported killed in an encounter in Negros Occidental. He was the acknowledged commander of a rebel guerrilla front in that province.

We can be certain that the same strategy of recruitment is still being practiced by the present leadership of the decades-old anti-government movement.

Academic Freedom and UP at the Frontlines (Last Part) PLAINLY, Lorenzana, being a civilian officer of government, may be held liable: having proof yet not taking action through gross negligence on alleged CPP-NPA recruitment is culpable under this law.

Lorenzana is in zugzwang. If he has no proof, his abrogation of the Ramos-Abueva accord is based on nothing more than imagined fiction, still constitutive of manifest partiality or evident bad faith. Moreover, good faith cannot rest on imagination without proof, especially given one’s duties as a public officer. Even if he takes action now as his forced chosen remedy, his delay is still culpable as the DND-UP Accord does not in any way prevent or curtail state actions or stands in its way. In fact the DND-UP Accord states: (in paraphrase) nothing in this agreement shall be understood to curtail the laws of the land. Pleading the DND –UP Accord as bar to legitimate state law enforcement actions therefore won’t make the cut. It was no bar at all, plain and simple.

Adding more smoke to the errant fire, the spokesperson for the Philippine National Police assured that notwithstanding the scuttling of the UP-DND, crackdowns, arrests, and militarization in UP would not happen. If equipped with the goods, i.e., proof of CPP-NPA recruitment with the complicity if not direction of UP professors, appropriate criminal charges could already have been filed by DND and law enforcement agencies that were fed with the goods. And if no crackdowns or arrests were to happen, that exposes the purpose of the abrogation: the chilling effect of red-tagging, to shut the academe down for thinking differently from the current administration – inspire fear rather than understanding and respect. Critical thinking for which UP and other universities and colleges throughout the country are known to live by would become extinct. Instead of intelligent discourse from passionate, yet most times, concededly, noisy students, we stand to be treated to an irretriev-

UPPER RIGHT HAND

BY VIRGILIO PONCIANO A. OCAYA ably sad yet horrifying spectacle: ultra cooperative and dissent-free or dissent-immune students bereft of critical thinking, rendered as indistinguishable from students that have undergone lobotomies en masse.

Why UP? For one, it is a party to both the SotoEnrile 1982 Accord and the DND-UP 1989 Accord. It is acknowledged as a crucible of leaders in Philippine society. Many past Philippine Presidents and high-ranking government officers hail from UP, and some are occupying various Cabinet posts then, and continuing up to now.

But UP is similar to struggling universities and colleges in the Philippines, especially in the 1980s. Since it is a human made institution, it also has its flaws, far from being special but helped along by successful alumni and joint ventures with the private business sector. A partner of Sycip Salazar, Atty. Rose Marie King Dominguez, herself a UP alumnus, wrote in playful Taglish in her FB account: “Professors ran the gamut, from mediocre to brilliant to the undeniably absent. I enrolled in a Rizal course and saw neither hide nor hair ni Prof. May Spanish lecturer na braless, teacher na clueless. Your mentor could be a living legend of Philippine literature or an aging National athlete or a Latin scholar who would begin your Civil Law Review course with a two-hour summary of the history of Rome.”

Its reputation for activism, however, has been incomparable for a long time. The reason is academic freedom that is, to the point of being repetitive, free and unhampered. Free to question. Free to learn. Nothing is static in this world, and discoveries in all fields of human endeavor never cease so that no one idea remains constant, unchal-

lenged, and remains unchanged forever. It is only through free exchange of ideas inherent in academic freedom upon which the progress of the human race rests. Deny that and you deny progress, and lapse into the dark ages again.

Academic freedom is nothing new. It has a long history. As shared by a former UP Diliman Chancellor Michael Tan, academic freedom commenced in the 12th century in the European universities set up by the Catholic Church, foremost of which was the University of Bologna that established a precedent, seeking protection of all “traveling scholars” from political or religious interference, as to allow them freedom of movement. A few years back nearly a hundred universities worldwide signed an agreement confirming their commitment to academic freedom. The University of the Philippines was the only signatory from the country.

I have both humility and pride to have walked the hallowed grounds of academic freedom that is UP. Without academic freedom that allows critical thinking there can be no UP. With the abrogation of the 1989 DND-UP accord, and academic freedom consequently under threat, UP and its inseparable companion academic freedom must perforce go back to the frontlines for peace and knowledge, regardless of the smell and sounds of war that hover over it.

UP Fight! You are an oblation through critical thinking, not a flower on the wall.

[MindaViews is the opinion section of MindaNews.

Upper Right Hand is a revolving column of the Union of People’s Lawyers in Mindanao (UPLM). Atty. Virgilio Ponciano A. Ocaya is the Auditor of the UPLM. A member of the University of the Philippines (UP) Law Class of 1979 who passed the bar examination given in the same year, he went into private litigation practice in Manila before going back to his hometown in Misamis Occidental in 2014.]

WEDNESDAY,AUGUST JANUARY 2021 WEDNESDAY, 31,27, 2016

All pawned items items that expired during the month All pawned that expired during theof DECEMBER 2020, if not renewed or redeemed month of MAY, 2015 if2021 not will renewed on or before FEBRUARY be soldortorethe deemed on or before JULY 14, 2015 will public on FEBRUARY 16, 2021 at 9:00a.m. at be our sold to the public on JULY 16, 2015 at 9:00 pawnshop premises.

a.m. at our pawnshop premises.

Gipahibalo ang tanan na ang FIRST COLOR PAWNSHOP magasubasta sa tanan Gipahibalo ang tanan na nga angnag-expired FIRST sa bulan sa DISYEMBRE 2020.

Ang tanan prenda COLOR PAWNSHOP magasubasta sa tanan ibaligya sa publiko karong PEBRERO 16, 2021 sa nga9:00 nag-expired alas sa buntag. sa bulan sa MAYO 2015.

Ang tanan prenda ibaligya sa publiko karong HULYO 16 sa alas 9:00 sa buntag.

DAVAO FIRST COLOR PAWNSHOP

#47 Lao St., Toril, Davao City Tel. No. 295-2460

9GEMS Pawnshop Inc. Egger Bldg., Matina Crossing Davao City Tel. No. (082) 285-7069

NOTICE OF AUCTION SALE A L L PAW N E D I T E M S EXPIRED ON DECEMBER AND GADGETS THAT EXPIRES ON JANUARY 2021 WILL BE DISPLAYED IN A PUBLIC AUCTION ON FEBRUARY 16, 2021 AT 9:00AM.

All pawned items that expired during the month of DECEMBER 2020, must renewed or redeemed two (2) days prior the Auction Schedule stated below. If not renewed or redeemed it will sold to the public on its respective auction schedule and premises @ 9:00am.

Gipahibalo ang tanan nga ang GOLDVALUE PAWNSHOP, INC., maga-subasta sa tanan nga nag-expired sa bulan sa DISYEMBRE 2020. Ang tanang prenda ibaligya sa publiko sa mga petsa nga nakabutang sa ubos, sa oras nga 9:00 sa buntag.

BRANCHES AUCTION DATE TEL. NOS. BAJADA FEBRUARY 03, 2021 321-8705 (Beside NBI Office) BABAK SAMAL FEBRUARY 19, 2021 301-4019 SAN PEDRO FEBRUARY 09, 2021 227-6772 CABAGUIO FEBRUARY 24, 2021 321-6223 TIBUNGCO FEBRUARY 26, 2021 222-2494

NOTICE OF AUCTION SALE

NOTICE OF AUCTION SALE

All pawned items that expired during the month of DECEMBER 2020, must renewed or redeemed two (2) days prior to the Auction Schedule stated below. If not renewed or redeemed, it will be sold to the public on its respective auction schedule and premises @ 9:00 a.m.

Gipahibalo ang tanan nga ang NARDING PAWNSHOP, INC., maga-subasta sa tanan nga nag-expired sa bulan sa DISYEMBRE 2020. Ang tanan prenda ibaligya sa publiko sa mga petsa nga nakabutang sa ubos, sa oras nga 9:00 sa buntag.

BRANCHES Lapu-lapu, Agdao Matina Crossing Tibungco

AUCTION DATE FEBRUARY. 10, 2021 FEBRUARY. 19, 2021 FEBRUARY. 15, 2021

TEL. NOS. (082) 327-2104 (082) 297-5786 (082) 296-413015

PANABO’S PAWNSHOP, INC. Panabo (Main) FEBRUARY. 16, 2021 (084) 628-8418 Panabo (Branch) FEBRUARY. 15, 2021 (084) 628-842

ROSEGOLD PAWNSHOP & JEWELLER Main – San Pedro Cor. Anda Street Davao City Tel. Nos. (082) 221-1477; (082) 221-0355; (082)222-5039 Email us @ rosegoldpawnshop@gmail.com Accepts: Jewelry, Appliances, Watches, CellPhones and Any Valuable Items Highest Appraisal and Low Interest Rates at 3% Wholesaler and Retailers on all kinds of jewelry Rosegold Pawnshop Lapu-lapu Street, Agdao Davao City Tel. No. (082) 225-3637

Rosegold Pawnshop Ilustre St., Davao City (Fronting Limso Hospital) Tel. No. (082) 222-2104

Rosegold Pawnshop Ilustre Street, Davao City (Beside NCCC Hardwaremaxx) Tel. No. (082) 295-6199

Rosegold Pawnshop KM6 Crossing Buhangin, Div. Road, Davao City Tel. No. (082) 241-2355

NOTICE OF AUCTION SALE All Jewelry and other articles pawned at Rosegold Pawnshop San Pedro-Main, Rosegold Pawnshop Ilustre, Rosegold Pawnshop Bolton, Rosegold Pawnshop, Agdao and Rosegold Pawnshop Buhangin from AUG. 16, 2020 to SEPT. 15, 2020. If not redeemed or renewed on or before FEBRUARY 12, 2021 will be sold to the Public Auction on FEBRUARY 15, 2021 at Rosegold Pawnshop San Pedro-Main from 9:00am to 6:00pm.

Toy Bldg., Lapu-lapu St., Agdao, Davao City

NOTICE OF AUCTION SALE All pawned items that expired during the month of JUNE and JULY 2020 must be renewed or redeemed two (2) days before the Auction Schedule stated below. If not renewed or redeemed, it will be sold to public on its respective auction schedule and premises @ 9:00 A.M.

All pawned items that expired during the month of DECEMBER 2020, if not renewed or redeemed on or before FEBRUARY 15, 2021 will be sold to the public on FEBRUARY 16, 2021 at 9:00a.m. at our pawnshop premises.

Gipahibalo ang tanan na ang AL-JOS PAWNSHOP magasubasta sa tanan nga nag-expired sa bulan sa DISYEMBRE 2020. Ang tanan prenda ibaligya sa publiko karong PEBRERO 16, 2021 sa alas 9:00 sa buntag.

Gipahibalo ang tanan na ang DIAGOLD PAWNSHOP INC., magasubasta sa tanan nga nag-expired sa bulan HUNYO ug HULYO 2020. Ang tanang prenda ibaligya sa publiko sa mga petsa na nakabutang sa ubos, sa oras nga 9:00 sa buntag.

EXPIRY DATES

AUCTION DATES

JUNE 2020

FEBRUARY 11, 2021

JULY 2020

FEBRUARY 11, 2021

GOLDSTANDARD PAWNSHOP

San Pedro street, Davao City (Fronting Queen Bank) Tel. No. (082) 222-1561 ; (082) 321-0128 Email: goldstandardpawnshopofdavao@gmail.com

Accepts: Jewelry, Appliances, Watches, Cellphones and any valuable items Highest Appraisal and Low Interest Rates at 3% Wholesaler and Retailers on all Kinds of Jewelry

NOTICE OF AUCTION SALE

All jewelry and other articles pawned at Goldstandard Pawnshop San Pedro, Goldstandard Pawnshop Ilustre from AUGUST 16, 2020 TO SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 if not redeemed or renewed on FEBRUARY 12, 2021 will be sold to the Public Auction on FEBRUARY 15, 2021 at our Pawnshop premises from 9:00am to 6:00pm.

NOTICE OF AUCTION SALE All pawned items that expired during the Months of November 2020 (Regular Items) and December 2020 (Gadgets) must be redeemed or renewed two (2) days prior to the Auction date schedule as stated below. If not redeemed or renewed will be sold to the public on its respectively auction date schedule at its premises at 9:00 AM. BRANCHES: San Pedro (Main) Agdao Toril Bolton Digos City

AUTION DATE JANUARY 15, 2021 JANUARY 15, 2021 JANUARY 15, 2021 JANUARY 15, 2021 JANUARY 15, 2021

Tel. No. 327-8832 327-6275 327-8503 392-3022 333-9945

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2021

NOTICE OF AUCTION SALE

All pawned items at METRO GOLDBRILL PAWNSHOP that expired during the months of DECEMBER 2020, if not renewed or redeemed on or before the scheduled dates of auction below will be sold to the public on the following dates as stated below.

Ginapahibalo ang tanan na ang METRO GOLDBRILL PAWNSHOP magasubasta sa tanan nga nag-expired sa bulan sa DISYEMBRE 2020, kung dili malukat, ibaligya sa publiko niining mga musunod na mga adlaw.

EXPIRY DATES DECEMBER 2020

AUCTION DATES FEBRUARY 12, 2021

EURO CIRCLE PAWNSHOP SAN PEDRO ST., DAVAO CITY - TEL. NO.: 227-0521

EURO MAIN PAWNSHOP ILUSTRE ST., DAVAO CITY - TEL. NO.: 227-7511 MATI CITY, DAVAO ORIENTAL - TEL. NO.: 306-0665

EURO STAR PAWNSHOP ILUSTRE ST., DAVAO CITY - TEL. NO.: 227-0667

EURO SUN PAWNSHOP

SAN PEDRO ST., DAVAO CITY - TEL. NO.: 227-3321

Roque Bldg., Matina Crossing, Davao City Tel. # 234-6367

PAWNS NOT REDEEMED/RENEWED WITHIN FIVE (5) DAYS AFTER EXPIRY D AT E S W I L L B E A U C T I O N E D O N DECEMBER 16, 2020 AT 10:00 A.M. AT THE RESPECTIVE PAWNSHOPS WHERE THE ITEMS WERE PAWNED.

All pawned items of GOLDVISION PAWNSHOP, INC. that expired during the month of DECEMBER 2020, if not renewed or redeemed it will be sold to the public on its respective auction schedule and premises at 9:00 a.m.

Gipahibalo ang tanan na ang GOLDVISION PAWNSHOP, INC. magasubasta sa tanan nga nag-expire sa bulan sa DISYEMBRE 2020. Ang tanan prenda ibaligya sa publiko sa mga petsa nga nakabutang sa ubos, sa oras nga 9:00 sa buntag.

BRANCHES

AUCTION DATE

General Lao, Toril

FEBRUARY. FEBRUARY. FEBRUARY. FEBRUARY. FEBRUARY. FEBRUARY. FEBRUARY.

Agton. Toril Buhangin Magallanes Tagum Saavedra, Toril Agdao

2nd Level, Gaisano Mall of Davao, J.P. Laurel Ave., Davao City Tel. No.: (082) 221-3355 • (082) 305-9496 2nd Level, SM Lanang Premier, J.P. Laurel Ave., Davao City Tel. No.: (082) 295-1505 • (082) 321-0525 email: jrosejewels@yahoo.com • www.jrosejewels.ph

16, 2021 16, 2021 11, 2021 05, 2021 23, 2021 16, 2021 18, 2021

TEL. NO.

291-2406 291-2952 241-0223 224-3138 216-3425 291-1349 327-2348

NOTICE OF AUCTION SALE All pawned items that expired during the Months of November 2020 (Regular Items) and December 2020 (Gadgets) must be redeemed or renewed two (2) days prior to the Auction date schedule as stated below. If not redeemed or renewed will be sold to the public on its respectively auction date schedule at its premises at 9:00 AM. BRANCHES:

AUTION DATE

Tel. No.

C.M. Recto (Main)

January 15, 2021

297-8081

Lanang

January 15, 2021

235-3473

GABBY’S BRILLIANT PAWNSHOP INC. / GABBY’S INFINITE PAWNSHOP INC. TEL NO.: 321-2185 / 234-4844

All pawned items that expire during the month of NOVEMBER 2020 must be renewed or redeemed two (2) days prior the Auction Schedule stated below. If not renewed or redeemed it will be sold to public on its respective auction schedule and premises @9:00a.m.

Gipahibalo ang tanan nga ang GABBY’S INFINITE PAWNSHOP INC. magasubasta sa tanan nga nag expire sa bulan sa NOBYEMBRE 2020. Ang tanang prenda ibaligya sa publiko sa mga petsa nga nakabutang sa ubos, sa oras nga 9:00 sa buntag.

BRANCHES

AUCTION DATE

TEL. NOS.

SAN PEDRO

FEBRUARY 16, 2021

321-2185

ILUSTRE

FEBRUARY 01, 2021

234-4844

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

All pawned items expired on DECEMBER 2020 - JANUARY 2021 Will be displayed in a public Auction On February 19, 2021 at 10:30 a.m.

10

MINDANAO TIMES

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2021

Ad (8x5.5in).pdf 1 1/29/2020 3:06:14 PM

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Initially accessible through PLDT landlines, Smart, Sun and Talk N’ Text subscriptions

DEED OF EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE

CMY

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For Globe and TM subscribers, call the following numbers:

Pursuant to Sec. 1 Rule 74 of the Revised Rules on Court of the Philippines, notice is hereby given that the late Ranulfo B. Arquiza Sr., who died intestate on October 22, 2020 at SPMC, Davao City, left the following described property/ies, to wit: BDO NETWORK BANK ACCOUNT Sandawa Branch in the amount of Php 454,154.85 has been the subject of Deed of Extra-Judicial Settlement of Estate made and executed by and among his heirs per Doc. No. 386; Page No. 78; Book No. 71; Series of 2020 of the Notary Public Rodolfton S.J. De Leon of Davao City.

(MT – Jan. 23, 27 & Feb. 2, 2021)

9 IN 10...

POLICY... (from front page) As a result of these apprehension, 3,800 cases have been filed.

The police office also arrested 2,880 for motorcycle pillion riding without a barrier and filed 902 cases.

Under Executive Order No. 71, the government is imposing a six-hour curfew from 9 pm and a 24-liquor

PASSENGER...

ban. The imposition of these policies is until the end of the month and will either be extended or lifted dependent on the move of the Inter-Agency Task for the Management of Infectious Diseases or President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

The city council also passed ordinances on the mandatory wearing of face

masks in public places and one that penalizes anyone falsifying RT-PCR results and other health verification documents.

The city government has continued to remind residents of measures to control the spread of the virus as the health emergency has remained hoisted.

(from page 2)

he faked the result,” a post from the official Facebook account of the City Government of Davao said.

City Tourism Operations Office head Generose Tecson, who is also concurrent head of the Airport Health Monitoring Team, said in a text message on Tuesday that the personnel tasked to check the documents of arriving air passengers held Grande while verifying his RT-PCR test result from the testing center.

But she added that authorities released the passenger as “the laboratory from where he got his result did not respond immediately” but advised him to strictly comply with a 14day home quarantine.

The city government received the response of the COVID-19 laboratory two days after sending Grande home, according to Tecson.

Authorities could not

contact Grande as he misdeclared his address and contact information, according to the city government.

“It seems that he had already planned to hide,” Tecson said, adding that cases of falsification of documents will be filed against him.

Angel Sumagaysay, the Head of the Public Security and Safety Command Center (PSSCC), said the city government has filed cases against 10 out of 33 persons who presented fake and/or tampered RT-PCR test results.

The free COVID-19 swab tests at the DIA has been suspended since January 13 to “redirect resources to address the post-holiday surge of COVID-19 cases.”

Free COVID-19 testing will resume once Los Amigos COVID-19 Laboratory of the city government in

Tugbok District starts to operate.

Residents and nonresidents are no longer required to present RT-PCR test results issued within 24 to 72 hours before the scheduled flight to Davao, but those with “negative” virus tests are prioritized for exit from the airport after checking their health declaration forms.

The local government appealed to neighboring local government units to fetch their residents from the airport.

For residents without negative RT-PCR test results, the local government monitors their compliance with the requirements, and will be given health monitoring forms because they need to check in with their respective Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)

(from page 2)

cluded like Upper Salazar, Lemente, and Bilawan in Barangay Central; Martinez and NHA in Barangay Dahican, said Catbagan.

“As of the present 90 % of sources of infection are believed to be local, so the public is advised to comply with minimum health standards, as enforced in City Ordinance No. 427,” he added.

“We do not know who the asymptomatic spreaders are so the best defense is still minimum health standards,” Catbagan added.

The Mati City government said it has been helping the

BOMB...

provincial government in aggressive contact tracing, testing and providing additional isolation services to the close contacts of health care workers and patients who tested positive.

It has also placed on full operation its ambulance services to provide free transport services for referrals.

Maternity clinics and stations in the city would also extend services, while referral lines have also been set up with the Davao Regional Medical Center in Tagum City in Davao del Norte and Pantukan Hos-

pitals in Davao de Oro for pregnant women needing Cesarean section surgery with surgical supplies and medicines to be provided by the city government.

The city government has also strengthened its City Health Office’s Telemed Services with initial free medicines courtesy of Botika ng Bayan and City Lingap are also strengthened and sustained “As a team, we need to be more efficient than the virus and reach excellence in everything we do,” Dr. Catbagan said. By Rhoda Grace B. Saron

gional and Medical Center in Cotabato City as he sustained several shrapnel wounds.

It was learned that they were on their way to Cotabato City for medical checkup.

Around 10:30 a.m., another improvised explosive device was found in the market area by vigilant market goers who immediately reported to authorities. A huge 105mm mortar round connected to a triggering device was immediately disarmed by responding explosive ordnance disposal teams from the police and military.

Mayor Reynalbert Insular condemned the latest atrocities hitting again his hometown.

“Our police are now on the ground gathering more information,” he said.

A few weeks ago, Insular survived an ambush and roadside bomb attack in Barangay Pilar after his visit in nearby Barangay Itaw, the beleaguered village targeted by attacks by lawless elements who linked themselves to the ISIS-inspired Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

One of civilian passengers who hitchhiked in his convoy was hit and died. It was the third attempt on the life of Insular since he was elected in 2016.

Land conflicts are among issues now hounding the town of South Upi. (Ferdinand Cabrera / MindaNews)

(from page 2)

rangay Romangaob downtown proper, said the early morning blast that occurred near the town hall woke residents in the area.

“Akala ko anong pampagising lang, bomba na pala (I thought it was something to wake us up, turned out to be a bomb),” he said.

Collado said a man wearing a helmet with blood all over was lying on the road, his position still sitting on the motorcycle. He was later identified as the driver, Alberto delos Santos of Barangay Purikay in Lebak, Sultan Kudarat.

The backrider was identified as Loreto Palma Jr., 54, also a resident of Purikay. He was rushed to Cotabato Re-

MINDANAO TIMES

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2021

DAVAO 3 SURE PAWNSHOP, INC. NOTICE OF AUCTION SALE All pawned items that expire during the month of NOVEMBER -DECEMBER 2020 must be renewed or redeemed two (2) days prior the Auction Schedule stated below. If not renewed or redeemed it will be sold to public on its respective auction schedule and premises @ 9:00 a.m.

11

Davao Ros-Ver Pawnshop, Incorporated Ilustre St., Davao City Tel # 224-1204; 222-6086

AUCTION SALE! The DAVAO ROS-VER PAWNSHOP, INC. and NEW PAG-ASA PAWNSHOP will be having its JOINT AUCTION on all unredeemed pawned items left during the month of November 2020. The said items will be sold to the public at the following VENUE AND DATE. Gipahibalo ang publiko na ang DAVAO ROS-VER PAWNSHOP, INC. og ang NEW PAGASA PAWNSHOP; magsubasta sa tanang prenda nga naremata atong Nobyembre 2020.

Ang tanang prenda dungan nga ibaligya sa publiko sa mga sumusunod nga dapit og petsa:

Gipahibalo ang tanan nga ang DAVAO 3 SURE PAWNSHOP, INC., maga-subasta sa tanan nga nag expire sa bulan sa NOBYEMBRE - DISYEMBRE 2020. Ang tanang prenda ibaligya sa publiko sa mga petsa nga nakabutang sa ubos, sa oras nga 9:00 sa buntag.

BRANCHES

AUCTION DATE

TEL. NOS

SAN PEDRO BUHANGIN

JAN. 19, 2021 JAN. 19, 2021

225-0033 241-1071

COMMERCIAL SPACE FOR LEASE Baguio Proper, Baguio District

Call (0932) 372 7799 MINDANAO...

(from page 3)

ment of Provincial Breeding Centers for locally bred poultry for distribution to farming families; Fisheries and Aquaculture Development is also eyed by the agency by putting up postharvest facilities such as ice-makers and cold storage facilities “to encourage fishermen to catch more

FIRM...

fish.

MinDA is also proposing the Intensified Vegetable Production to be adopted by the LGUs to ensure “sufficient local supply at affordable local prices.”

“While these developments would benefit Mindanao food producers, an

intensified effort to produce more should be undertaken in the region to ensure food sufficiency,” Piñol said.

He noted that these food production initiatives designed by the agency will also be financially supported by its banking partner, the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP).

added Martinez.

InLife’s newest offering of term life insurance called “Basic Secure” is one way to address this issue and it comes in two variants: 5-years renewable and 10-years renewable plan.

Under this plan, a twentyfive-year-old applicant can be insured for P1,000,000.00 for only P23 a day or P8,400 per year.

“Basic Secure can also be converted to a regular life plan or to a variable investmentlinked policy in the future once the plan holder finds that he or she is ready for it,” added

Martinez.

Another advantage of starting with Basic Secure is that its renewability and convertibility features eliminate the need for any later proof of insurability. This is a useful feature especially for people who may have otherwise been declined when getting an insurance for the first time at an advanced age.

InLife’s Basic Secure can be issued from age 18 until age 70 for the 5-year plan or until 65 years old for the 10-year plan and can be paid monthly, quarterly, semiannually, or yearly.

(from page 3)

help Filipinos create a credible financial plan that anyone with income can afford.

Martinez explained that term life is a solution for first time insurance buyers but most useful for breadwinners who have always wanted the protection of life insurance but may not have available funds for the regular whole life plans right now.

“What the pandemic has taught us is that insurance must be part of everyone’s financial plan in order to avoid catastrophic financial loss in the family in the event of the death of the breadwinner,”

PARTNERSHIP...

(from page 4)

Save the Children Philippines signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG) in BARMM and the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS) to implement the project that will monitor and address grave violations of children’s rights in armed conflict.

“Children in armed conflict situations are prone to

experience sexual and genderbased violence (SGBV), child trafficking, and child marriage for girls, while boys are disproportionately vulnerable to recruitment as child soldiers, maiming, killing, abduction, and child labor,” said Fanny Divino, Head of Save the Children Philippines in Cotabato City.

“The implementation of the program will be in coordination with members of the

CBCS, youth groups, school heads, police and military, non-state actors, and religious organizations.”

Save the Children Philippines is providing technical support in enhancing the Muslim Mindanao Autonomy Act No. 162 or the Magna Carta for Children in the ARMM not only for the protection of children but in the overall fulfillment of children’s rights.

PRSP...

(from page 3)

the creation of regional chapters. The newly-instated chapters will provide more avenues for collaboration and learning through shared knowledge, technology, training and best PR practices.

Aside from strengthening relationships among PR practitioners nationwide, proponent of chapter creation and former PRSP President Jones T. Campos, APR states that “having PRSP chapters in Cebu, Davao and other key cities in the Philippines will open more opportunities and integrate a common aspiration to professionalize the industry.

Likewise, it will enable a nationwide way of combating fake news, disinformation and misinformation while inculcating competence and ethical practice among PR and communications professionals.”

The new chapters will be created initially through a partnership with VisMin PR agencies PRWorks, Selrahco and Bigseed. Jaja ChiongbianRama, Founder and Managing Director of Bigseed, gladly accepts the idea of having a PRSP chapter in Cebu: "We welcome this opportunity to connect and collaborate with other agencies and practitioners from around the country.

With public relations evolving as the world around us changes, an organization such as the PRSP opens opportunities to set industry standards, and provides an avenue for us to support and learn from one another.”

CARDINAL...

The same sentiment is echoed by Doris Mongaya of PRWorks, stating that the creation of regional chapters will result in greater cooperation of VisMin-based PR professionals among themselves and their Metro Manila counterparts which would lead to the faster development of the whole Philippine PR industry.

“We recognize the efforts of PRSP in congregating PR professionals and agencies on a national scale. Through this, we have more avenues for collaboration which is especially apt in these times.

We’re looking forward to what’s to come,” Charles Lim of Selrahco adds.

PRSP President Norman Agatep, APR shares, “We appreciate how receptive our fellow PR practitioners in VisMin have been when we brought up our intention to create regional chapters of PRSP. These challenging times further highlight the importance of good communication both for brands and their audiences. With this new development, we reaffirm PRSP’s commitment to uphold ethics and elevate the PR practice nationwide.”

PRSP’s First 3-day Digital PR Congress The biggest and mostawaited annual event of PRSP is the National Public Relations Congress. Now in its 27th year, the 2021 PR Congress is marking several firsts as it is the first to go full-digital and the first to

run for three days. These changes, particularly the shift to digital, reflect how the PR industry is adapting to the new normal and embracing new technologies to continue telling the story of brands and organizations.

The upcoming PR Congress, which will be held on February 17-19, 2021, will be headlined by topics such as the post-pandemic Philippine PR landscape, industry recovery efforts and pressing issues such as mental health in the workplace, resiliency and sustainability, equality and diversity, and leadership and communication during times of crises, among others.

With the theme “Transcend”, the 27th PR Congress hopes to inspire PR and communication practitioners across the country to go beyond conventional thinking, step out of their comfort zone to address pressing issues and collectively move forward to create a better normal for all.

Ana Pista, chairperson of the 27th National Public Relations Congress, shared: “As the PR Congress has done since it started, we are bringing together a powerhouse roster of local and international speakers and delivering a lineup of timely and relevant topics and breakout sessions this year. And today, more than ever, the Congress will highlight the role of PR in building a society that works for all.”

(from page 4)

Martin Romualdez, and Deputy Speaker Isidro Ungab of Davao City.

The Cotabato City-based Christian for Peace Movement (CFPM) also joined the calls for an extension, noting that “building the foundations for an inclusive and accountable autonomous government cannot

be done in just three years.”

In a statement, CFPM pointed out that “there are still substantial deliverables that need to be accomplished in the normalization track of the CAB such as decommissioning, camp transformation, and transitional justice and reconciliation.”

Governor Sakur Tan of Sulu is among those opposing the moves to extend the transition period. Sulu voted against inclusion in the BARMM but is part of BARMM since RA 11054 provides that the then Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao vote as one geographical unit.