THE MINDANAO TODAY JANUARY 24-25, 2022

MINDANAO TODAY

The M

nitor | Volume I | Number 135 | www.mindanaotoday.com | Mon-Tue, January 24-25, 2022 | 12 pages |P15.00

Troops from the Army’s 42nd CMO Company under the 4th CMO Battalion, 4th Infantry Division together with Surigao City Mayor Ernesto Matugas distribute 200 food packs with bottled water prepared through the Army’s Mobile-Kitchen with the support of LGU-Surigao City to the target beneficiaries affected by Typhoon ‘Odette’ in Barangay Lipata, Surigao City. (Photo courtesy of the 42nd CMO Company | 4th Infantry Division FB page)

Opol LGU exec ready to face legal action AS MISOR’S GRAND IMPERIAL CASINO ISSUE HEATS UP

By Jigger Jerusalem Associate Editor

A

S the controversy surrounding the Grand Imperial casino in Barangay Taboc, Opol, Misamis Oriental heats up, the town’s local chief executive has maintained he did nothing wrong in allowing the gambling establishment to operate in the municipality.

In fact, Opol Mayor Maximino Seno said, he welcomes any legal action from individuals and groups who oppose the casino operation in his town.

“I am not afraid. As a matter of fact, I would be glad if they file cases against me.

I will face them,” Seno said in a phone interview Sunday afternoon, Jan. 23.

The mayor said he stands by the mandate of the Phil.

Amusement and Gaming

Corp. (PAGCOR) to establish gaming outlets anywhere in the country, although he added that the casino’s management has already been complying

with all requirements set by the local government.

During the first hearing conducted by the Misamis Oriental’s legislative council

on Jan. 11, Seno said he did not issue a mayor’s permit to Grand Imperial because he didn’t want to violate the law.

Seno was referring to

Presidential Decree 771, in particular, issued by then President Ferdinand Marcos in 1975, which revokes all OPOL p11...

Zambo police undergo surprise drug test

By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.

Operatives from the Bureau of Customs-10, led by Oliver Valiente, CIIS chief for Northern Mindanao, PDEA-10, and other agencies confiscate P8 million worth of wrongfully declared cigarettes from China at the Mindanao Container Terminal subport in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental, recently. This is BOC-10’s second catch for this year. (Photo courtesy of BOC-10)

ZAMBOANGA CITY – A total of 119 policemen have undergone a surprise drug testing upon orders from Col. Alexander Lorenzo, the new Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) director.

ZAMBO p11...

Declared as ‘used furniture,’ BOC-10 seizes P16M imported cigarettes

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Cigarettes coming from China and wrongfully declared as used furniture was seized by the Bureau of Customs-10

(BOC-10) at one of the ports in the region on two occasions recently.

BOC-10 said the shipment, estimated to be worth P8 mil-

lion, was intercepted at the Mindanao Container Terminal (MCT) subport in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental.

This is the agency’s sec-

ond operation that led to the confiscation of imported cigarettes for this year.

Oliver Valiente, Customs Intelligence and Investiga-

Peter "Sr. Pedro" Unabia Misamis oriental governor 2022

tion Service (CIIS) chief for Northern Mindanao, said they received an information early this month that smuggled DECLARED p11...

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AS IT HAPPENS, WHERE IT HAPPENS

Zamboanga City holds vaccine booster day

By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.

A vaccinator gives a motorist a booster shot in Zamboanga City. (Photo courtesy of City Hall Public Information Office)

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The city government on Saturday held its vaccine booster day to increase the protection of its constituents amid the threat posed by the Omicron variant of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

A total of 22 vaccination centers were activated across

the city to cater to walk-in clients who wanted to avail of a vaccine booster.

A drive-through vaccine booster center was also set up to cater to motorists at the Integrated Bus Terminal (IBT) in Barangay Divisoria.

“The drive-through activity is going on smoothly from the first stage up to the site where the vaccine booster is

injected to motorists,” Rafael Derick Evangelista, IBT administrator, said in a phone interview.

Evangelista said 400 doses of vaccine booster were made available at the drivethrough center.

The vaccine booster given to fully vaccinated individuals in all vaccination centers, including the drive-through

at IBT, was the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The city government said on its Facebook page that all fully vaccinated adults (18 years old and above) are eligible to receive a single-dose vaccine booster at least three months after the second dose of the AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer, Sinovac, and Sputnik V vaccines. (PNA)

Lanao Norte police, interfaith group send relief to Surigao ILIGAN CITY – Bringing with them packs of assorted food, used clothing, rice, drinking water, and prayers, the provincial police office of Lanao del Norte and its partner, the Provincial Interfaith Council (PIC), traveled to Surigao del Norte and Surigao City to reach out to Typhoon Odette-stricken

residents.

In an interview on Saturday, Lt. Col. Salman Saad, chief of Police Community Affairs and Development Unit (PCADU) of the Lanao del Norte Police, said the goods were donations from stakeholders and community partners of the police and the PIC, which includes churches

and other religious groups in the province.

They also distributed vegetable seeds to families who were into farming even before “Odette” hit the area in December.

“Our objective here is to also remind them that they can rise up after the calamity by going back to what they

have used to do, the farming, so that they have food to bring to their table when relief assistance from the government or private organizations are not enough,” Saad said in a phone interview.

The recent batch of relief goods was sent on January 20. ( Divina Suson | PNA)

The Lanao del Norte Police and its partner, the Provincial Interfaith Council, distribute assorted relief goods. (Photo courtesy of the LDN PPO PCADU)

23 BIFF, DI extremists yield to Army in Central Mindanao CAMP SIONGCO, MAGUINDANAO - Twentythree members of the extremist Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and affiliate Dawlah Islamiya (DI) Group have surrendered due to their desire to return to the mainstream society, the Army here announced Saturday.

Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy, the Army’s 6th Infantry Division (6ID) chief and commander of Joint Task Force Central (JTFC), said the BIFF and DI surrenderers, who were operating in the peripheries of Maguindanao and North Cotabato provinces, yielded to the Army on Friday afternoon and brought with them 22 high-powered firearms and several impro-

In its Covid-19 tracker report on Thursday, the DOH-12 said out of the total 1,432 total active cases in the region, 488 or 34.1 percent are asymptomatic.

The same report said 835 infected individuals or 58.3 percent are experiencing mild

symptoms.

“Of the total active cases, 90 are classified with moderate symptoms, 17 are severe, while two are critical,” the DOH-12 said.

With most cases categorized as mild and asymptomatic, the Soccsksargen’s

By Edwin Fernandez

Ten of the 23 surrendering batch of combatants from the extremist BIFF. (Photo courtesy of 6ID)

vised explosive devices.

Six of them belonged to the BIFF faction under Kagui Karialan, and two others from the DI Toraife group yielded to the Army’s 90th Infantry Battalion (90IB) in Pikit, North Cotabato.

Three other BIFF combatants, also from the Karialan faction, and two from the DI Hassan group surrendered to the 90IB unit in Pagalungan,

Soccsksargen’s Covid-19 infections mostly mild, asymptomatic GENERAL SANTOS CITY – Despite the spike in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infections, the Department of Health (DOH) 12 (Soccsksargen) said most of the region’s active cases are mild and asymptomatic.

In a press briefing here Fri-

day, Dr. Edver Jane Montañer, DOH-12 immunization coordinator, said the increasing number of vaccinations in the region is seen as among the factors for the low rate of severe cases.

“Please continue having yourselves vaccinated,” Montañer said.

hospital care utilization rate showed that the region is under medium risk.

In this city, since the start of the Covid-19 spike this month, no severe or critical admissions so far had been reported in intensive care units.

(Richelyn Gubalani | PNA)

Sara returns to Siargao, extends more aid to distressed residents

By Alexander Lopez BUTUAN CITY – Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and members of her “UniTeam” went back to Siargao Island in Surigao del Norte on Thursday to check the situation and oversee the continuing relief and rehabilitation efforts being undertaken for the victims of Typhoon Odette.

Duterte was welcomed by Surigao del Norte 1st District Rep. Francisco Jose Matugas and municipal mayors in the area.

She was accompanied during her return to Siargao

by Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Agimat Party-list Rep. Bryan Revilla.

The vice presidential as-

pirant was on the island on January 3 with presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to deliver relief goods for the affected residents.

On Wednesday, Mayor Sara’s team delivered more than 1,000 sheets of galvanized iron (GI) and boxes of nails needed for the repair and reconstruction of houses damaged by the typhoon.

In a statement on Thursday, Matugas said 530 GI sheets and one box of nails were delivered by the “UniTeam” to the town of Dapa, and 500 GI sheets and a box of nails to the municipality of Gen. Luna before Mayor Sara’s visit. (PNA)

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte (front, left) visits Siargao Island in Surigao del Norte. (Photo grabbed from Vice Gov. Gokiangkee FB page)

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Maguindanao.

The remaining 10 BIFF surrenderers gave up to the Army’s 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion (1MIB) in Ampatuan, Maguindanao.

Lt. Col. Rommel Mundala, the 90IB commander, said his unit received a .30-caliber machine gun, two M16 rifles, five M14 rifles, two rocketpropelled grenade launchers, one grenade-type IED, one Ultimax machine gun, and one Barret rifle from the surrenderers. (PNA)

BARMM head cites gains as it marks 3rd anniversary

By Edwin Fernandez COTABATO CITY – Poverty incidence in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has significantly decreased over the past three years, BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim said on Friday.

Speaking during the culmination program of the week-long third anniversary of the region, Chief Minister Ahod “Murad” Ebrahim quoted a report from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) stating that the BARMM’s poverty incidence has significantly reduced from 55.9 percent in 2018 to 39.4 percent in 2021.

(PNA)

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Construction Workers Solidarity Party-list: Dedication to Public Service IN December, many people became busy shopping, and devoting their time to family and friends, attending various gatherings and so on. But according to Attorney DJ Jimenez, Construction Workers Solidarity Party-list Legal Counsel, and Spokesperson, public service is a 24/7 job dedicated to serving Filipinos in general, and that’s what they focus on at CWS. However, people on the CWS Party List have been busy rotating their sectoral constituencies across the country to take care of their needs during the holiday season.

Attorney DJ Jimenez, Legal Counsel and Spokesperson for the Construction Workers Solidarity Partylist said that at CWS, public service is a full-time job and he himself devotes a lot of time and energy to serving the Filipino people.

There has been a saying that "If you want to change the world, change yourself first." The CWS Party-list seems to follow this saying.

From the days they were first elected in 2019 to the present, they have been consistent in helping Filipino construction workers and many other marginalized sectors, and they continue to work to improve their social status.

Atty. Jimenez in his interview with Mike Abe’s program on Broadcasters

’Forum Online, he was asked a series of questions that shed light on what CWS’s goal is in the coming years, so that they can gather more support for in the 2022 national elections and be able to secure their seat in congress for the continuation of their public service.

Local and national elections in the country will be held in May 2022, which is just a few months from now.

It is not hard to guess that

one of the candidates who will win and be eligible to sit on the seats in the hall of Congress is the Construction Workers Solidarity Party-list.

According to Jimenez, CWS’s primary objective is to improve the status of living of our hardworking construction workers, as well as brush up their expertise in order to compete in the international market.

The organization is also working on putting up an

academy for these hardworking Filipinos, it is a privatepublic partnership that will provide proper trainings to the construction workers to improve their knowledge and skills in performing their jobs.

CWS party-list is also aiming to intensify the regulations in the construction industry to ensure the legislation on contractualization, safety and the security of tenure of the workers.

It was also mentioned that a huge impact on the construction workers happened during the pandemic, where majority of them were left out.

Many of them were not able to receive aid from the government since they were not locally registered in areas where they are currently assigned. CWS mobilized a series of assistance to thousands of affected workers nationwide.

Construction Workers Solidarity Party-list is always open to its members and nonmembers the opportunity to be heard and extend their hand to ensure that their rights and interests are being exercised and secured.

In fact, during the last month of 2021 alone, CWS has conducted of a series of different activities and programs nationwide as part of their continued service and dedication. (PR)

Ancillary products set to drive additional revenue for air carriers in 2022 A recent survey by AirAsia Philippines has shown half of traveling Filipinos purchase ancillary products like additional baggage allowance and in-flight food FIVE out of ten Filipinos avail of ancillary products or add-on purchases while traveling via air transport, as shown in a recent survey commissioned by AirAsia Philippines.

Dominating the list of most purchased ancillary products are additional baggage allowance and in-flight meals, making these supplementary offers a major additional revenue stream for air carriers this year as the industry gradually recovers from the pandemic.

AirAsia Philippines releases new data on the trav-

eling behavior of Filipinos while they are still dealing with the global health situation – this time zeroing in on their in-flight purchases.

In answering the question, “which add-on offer do you usually purchase?” 46% of the participants responded that they invest in additional baggage allowance, with about 42% of them bringing baggage weighing 20 to 25kgs, while 12% of them travel with a heavier load of 30 to 40kgs.

The next top-purchased ancillary product is in-flight meals or snacks, availed by 32% of the respondents while traveling.

The top items getting off of the cart are sandwiches (50%) and drinks (50%). And

it was not a surprise that joining top food items are rice meals, enjoyed by 37% of Filipino flyers.

Other ancillary products that travelers purchase are travel insurance (27%) and seat assignments (21%).

AirAsia Philippines Chief Executive Officer Ricky Isla said, “Even though flight bookings continue to be our major revenue channel, we at AirAsia also give prior-

108

ity to other offers such as ancillary – and we are glad that our array of products is warmly received by our guests. What’s great about being a global air travel brand is we get to bring the best practices and products from our international counterparts here in the Philippines. So, expect to have more options – proudly Pinoy included – in our in-flight meals and other ancillary offerings this year.”

AirAsia Philippines, in a bid to make flying more inclusive, is constantly offering promos not just on flights but on ancillary products as well.

Currently, the world’s best low-cost airline offers the AirAsia Travel Hack Value Pack for all guests for them to easily access services and products they need without hurting the bank.

This bang-for-buck promo bundles a selection of

prebook add-ons that the guest can purchase at the time of the initial booking at a discounted rate.

It starts at P600 inclusive of 20kgs of baggage allowance, baggage protection, hot meal, standard seat selection, and faster check-in experience through priority check-in lane. This Value Pack promotion is available when booking flights via the airasia Superapp. (PR)

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Catastrophes already upon the world

OROMIND PUBLISHING INC. Publisher

GERRY J. CAÑO, PHD President MARJUNE MILLIONES VP for Administration JOHN M. DEL BANDO VP for Operations LANI M. VALLIDO VP for Sales and Marketing

JOHN M. DEL BANDO Editor-in-Chief JIGGER JERUSALEM Associate Editor GILBERT CHAO Motoring Editor ZIGAY MACALANDONGAMINTAO ROSE TAMAYO-TESORO Regional Editor ABEL MATTHEW SILAWAN LifeStyle Photographer Franck Dick Rosete Bobby Lagsa Correspondents Juan Miguel Baang Domingo J. Marron Jr. Faustino B. Baclayo Jr. Social Media Erne Beth L. Bautista MAHVIC C. NATIVIDAD RUBY M. AGUSTIN Account Executives

W

E must face the unpleasant and painful truth about what is happening to the planet and our lives.

You may think that the climate catastrophe facing mankind is global warming but in fact there are at least three catastrophes behind the climate change disaster.

The first one is the effect of CO2, nitrous oxide and methane that are covering the planet like a blanket and locking in the heat of the sun.

It is like putting the planet in a glass-covered greenhouse. The heat is causing devastating droughts, leaving millions of people without food.

This is causing massive migration of the hungry populations from the South to the North.

The earth and forests are burning down. In Russia, Europe, the USA and Australia, enormous forest fires destroy all before them.

The oceans filled with plastic are heating up, reducing fish stocks, and the water is evaporating into clouds that bring massive rainstorms that overwhelm dams and rivers causing floods of biblical proportions.

There are few forests left because of massive deforestation in the Amazon and parts of Asia and Europe.

Forests absorb CO2 and hold excessive rainwater.

The animals are dead from drought or floods and landslides are burying villages. Rising sea levels and wind-driven tides due to the melting of the Arctic ice add to the destruction.

This we see on our television screens already and there is much more to come.

The second catastrophe is the corrupt politicians in cahoots with money moguls of giant multinational corporations that get them elected to office.

They support the oil, gas and coal industries and allow global warming to happen by doing little or nothing to mitigate the gasses or curbing the burning of fossil fuels.

The corrupt politicians work with scheming tycoons that lobby for laws that give them billions of payments in subsidies to promote the oil and coal industries.

The payments of taxpayers’ money to US corporations amount to US$20 billion annually.

From that, 20 percent is for the coal industry and 80 percent for oil and natural gas companies. The EU spends US$55 billion annually in subsidies to the fossil fuel industries.

In the US, approximately $2.1 trillion dollars was earned by the oil and gas industries in 2021, according CULLEN p11...

AIMEE KLAUDINE L. RILLERA Admin/Finance ATTY. RAMIL G. GABAO ATTY. EDDIE C. CUARESMA ATTY. MARINEL JUNE S. PALER Legal UNIT 818, CITYLAND HERRERA TOWER, VA RUFINO COR VALERO ST. SALCEDO VILLAGE MAKATI CITY 1227 Manila Office 2F CONSORTIUM BLDG. CORRALES EXT. CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY 9000 Mobile #: 0905 088 4778 0961 688 4888 Head Office

Walden could never be like Sara

W

ALDEN Bello has carved his name in various issues that range from economy, environment, human rights and politics all anchored on communist ideology.

With those credentials, he thought he is good enough to be Vice President of the Philippines.

Walden has always been a critic of any administration.

Nobody minds him anyway as he is more of a theoretician. Back by impressive educational background that he gets to be invited to speak on many of his ideologies.

He must be enamored with communism he became a member of the Communist Party of the Philippines, Wikipedia states.

Walden won a seat in Congress as partylist Laban ng Masa Representative.

Last October he substituted a labor group candidate for Vice President.

His alliance with the leftist political parties and his hatred for the Marcos dictatorship must have triggered his subconscious to badmouth Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte on her proposal to make mandatory military service for Filipinos turning 18 years old. He branded the idea as “a mask off moment for dictatorial-in-waiting.

Piqued by the snide remark of Bello, Inday Sara

said her dream is to inspire patriotism among the youth and not to be “ungrateful” citizens like her fellow vice presidential candidate Walden Bello.

“I truly hope that our youth do not grow up to be a Walden Bello – an ungrateful citizen who sleeps peacefully at the comfort of their homes, unable to say a prayer or a silent ‘thank you’ to the men and women who became martyrs while countering violent extremism, insurgency, and terrorism,” Sara said.

I like my Mayor best when she fights for her principles. Walden Bello should have known that what Inday Sara proposes stemmed from her actual experience as an ordinary citizen and leader of Davao City.

Walden was most of the time in the US when his party members, the CPP/NPA virtually took control of Davao City in early 1980s.

Prior to that bloody regime, the Moro National Liberation Front was waging a separatist war pursued later by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. When the communists were defeated in a counter-revolution, “drugs syndicates” invaded Davao taking advantage of weary law enforcers. Like all Davaowenyos, Sara grew up in this environment.

Continued support to strengthen education sector, help teachers and students amid pandemic assured

johnny talipan lumod Lay-out Artist Noel Armodia Production Head

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I

VOWED to support and pursue measures that would strengthen the education sector and promote the best interest and welfare of students and teachers during the thanksgiving tribute organized by the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations of the Philippines (COCOPEA) for the authors of the Proprietary Educational Institutions Tax Act. On Thursday, January 20, Go virtually joined the other authors and sponsors of Republic Act No. 11635 as they were lauded for the passage of the measure that effectively reduces the tax rate of proprietary educational institutions to 1% of their taxable income until June 2023.

It was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on December 10 last year and significantly helped private schools and Filipino educators amid the pandemic.

I acknowledged the challenges faced by the educational institutions during the

pandemic and reiterated the need for stronger government support to ensure that the education sector continues to deliver quality education to Filipino students.

As we approach the second year of the pandemic, we have seen how our economy has been greatly affected by this calamity. Nakakalungkot man po isipin, isa sa mga lubhang tinamaan dito ay ang mga private educational institutions dahil pansamantalang itinigil ang mga face to face classes.

Napilitan pong mag-invest ang ilang mga paaralan ng napakalaking halaga para sa mga online learning systems, upang matugunan lang ang pangangailangan ng mga kabataan.

I expressed optimism for the benefits of the law as he noted that this would significantly reduce the burden on private educational institutions and help the education sector as a whole since being one of the co-authors and co-sponsors of this measure in the Senate, I only have the best interests of our education system and our youth at heart.

When we amended Section 27(B) of the tax code in (the) Congress, we clarified that private education institutions

should indeed benefit from the lower tax rates in order to save our schools from closure due to financial difficulties, prevent unnecessary lay-offs of our educators, and most importantly, preserve the ‘second homes’ of our youth.

I reaffirmed that the government will remain steadfast in supporting and boosting the education sector to ensure that private schools will be able to sustain their staff and even hire more teachers despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sa mga guro at pati na rin ang mga kabataan, hindi po kayo dapat magpasalamat kasi trabaho naman po namin na pagaanin ang inyong mga pinapasan lalo na ngayong panahon ng pandemya.

Tulad nga ng sinasabi sa akin ni Pangulong Duterte, kailangan protektahan at sikapin na mabigyan ng magandang edukasyon ang mga kabataan dahil sila ang tulay sa magandang kinabukasan ng ating bayan.

Finally, I encouraged the educators and students to remain focused on their goals and not to lose hope.

Ang tanging hiling ko lang po para sa ating mga guro, huwag po kayong magsawa sa inyong marangal na misyon.

Para naman sa mga kabataan, mag-aral kayong mabuti upang matulungan ninyo ang inyong pamilya at ang ating bayan bilang responsableng mga mamamaya.

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DepEd halts NegOr classes amid Covid surge, typhoon devastation DUMAGUETE CITY – The Department of Education (DepEd) has suspended classes at all levels in Negros Oriental from January 24-31 due to the rising number of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases and to allow Typhoon Odette-stricken areas to recover.

Dr. Salustiano Jimenez, DepEd regional director for

Central Visayas, told the Philippine News Agency in an interview on Friday that aside from Negros Oriental, the provinces of Bohol and Cebu are also covered by his memorandum on the cancellation of classes.

“I issued that memorandum on Thursday to cover all provinces that are under Alert Level 3, with the exception of Siquijor, because Covid-19

cases are increasing and with the threat of the Omicron variant, the numbers are expected to go up,” he said.

Only the province of Siquijor in Region 7 is under Alert Level 2, he noted.

The week-long suspension of classes will also give the teachers, non-teaching staff, parents, and learners who were affected by Ty-

phoon Odette to recover from the devastation, Jimenez said, even as he relayed that the typhoon destroyed computer equipment, modules, and other learning materials, aside from the classrooms.

Some 300,000 learners in all levels up to Grade 12 are covered by the suspension of classes. (Mary Judaline Partlow | PNA)

The DepEd-7 has suspended classes at all levels in Negros Oriental, Cebu, and Bohol from Jan. 24-31, 2022. (Photo from the Facebook page of Dr. Adolf Aguilar)

NTF-ELCAC funded roads in Antique near completion

By Annabel Consuelo Petinglay

Local officials grace the groundbreaking of the road funded by the LGSF-SBDP. (Photo courtesy of San Remigio LGU)

SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, ANTIQUE –The construction of local access road projects funded under the Barangay Development Program (BDP) of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTFELCAC) in two municipalities of Antique is underway.

The BDP is a flagship program of the NTF-ELCAC with the end goal of bringing development to former conflict-prone communities.

Antique Provincial Engineer Inocencio Dajao on Friday said construction for the two projects started early December last year, although groundbreaking was held on December 15.

Drainage system has been installed to prevent flooding

on the roadside, which is done before the road pavement.

The farm-to-market road (FMR) covers the stretch of Sitio Apong in Barangay Cabladan, Sibalom to Barangay Aningalan in San Remigio worth P12 million and from Barangay Aningalan to Barangay Bulan-bulan in the amount of P20 million.

“The road from Sitio Apong, Barangay Cabladan

in Sibalom to Barangay Aningalan in San Remigio has a total length of two kilometres. Given the P12-million budget the concreting could only be up to 800 meters,” he said.

Dajao added that the remaining kilometers will only be made as feeder roads until such time that there would be an additional budget for its concreting. (PNA)

Bicol cop guns down village official, Indian national LEGAZPI CITY – A police officer and his brother were arrested after allegedly killing a village councilman and an Indian national.

In a report on Saturday, the suspects were identified as Corporal Bryan Aguilar of Barangay Maporong, a crime investigator assigned at the Polangui town police station, and Raymond Isaac Salanga,

23, of Barangay Mendez, also in Polangui.

Maj. Maria Luisa Calubaquib, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 5 (Bicol), said the victims were Marlon Rebusquillo, 43, a councilman of Barangay Maporong, and Parmindes Singh, an Indian national, of Barangay Gabon, Polangui.

They were allegedly gunned down by Aguilar along a road in Oas, Albay

on Friday morning.

Later in the day, Aguilar returned to the crime scene where he was arrested while Salanga was taken from his residence.

According to the police report, the suspects and Singh, whom they abducted, were negotiating a road in Barangay Maporong at about 9 a.m. on Friday when their

Power restored in most Metro Cebu areas hit by TY ‘Odette’

By Carlo Lorenciana CEBU CITY – AboitizPower subsidiary Visayan Electric Co. (Veco) is furthering its power restoration works in Metro Cebu after it breached its 80-percent reenergization target, with additional manpower and equipment pouring in.

Veco president and chief operating officer Raul Lucero on Friday announced that the power distributor has restored electricity supply to at least 80 percent of customers within its franchise area. As of noon Friday, it

has re-electrified 394,400 out of its 474,182 affected customers.

“We recorded energy demand at 345.3 MW, which is 88 percent that of the pre-”Odette” power consumption of 495 MW. It is encouraging to see that power is flowing back into the cities and municipalities that we serve,” Lucero said in a statement.

With this achievement, Veco is now turning its attention to address pockets within the city that still do not have power, and to expand repair work toward the outskirts of its franchise. (PNA)

“

car, driven by Aguilar, lost control and fell on a rice field.

Rebusquillo and a companion chanced upon the accident and were approaching the car when they were fired

at by Aguilar.

The Indian national was also shot by the police officer, according to Rebusquillo’s companion who was unscathed. (PNA)

maka-diyos makitawhanon makinaiyahanon maka nasud

“

By Mar Serrano and Connie Calipay

usa ka inahan nga andam alagaran ang tanan

atty. nadya emano-elipe tagoloan mayor 2022

6

GILBERT CHAO,

mon-tue, January 24-25, 2022

Motoring Editor

MINDANAO TODAY

motoring AS IT HAPPENS, WHERE IT HAPPENS

Ford Ranger retains leadership in 4×4 pickup segment Ford Territory tops small SUV segment for 2nd year in a row

FORD Philippines delivered a strong retail performance in 2021, with sales growing by 35 percent from last year to 20,008 vehicles led by the Ford Ranger pick-up and Ford Territory SUV. The Ford Ranger was the top-selling Ford vehicle last year, with full-year retail sales reaching 9,184 vehicles.

The Ranger remained the best-selling 4×4 pickup truck last year with 5,490vehicles sold led by the Ranger Raptor, cornering a market share

of 36 percent in the 4×4 pickup segment.

Ford expanded its pickup portfolio last year with the launches of the new Ranger lineup, the performanceready FX4 MAX, and the limited-edition Raptor X, complementing the diverse needs and lifestyles of customers.

“The Ford Ranger drove our strong retail performance last year as we continue to offer a pickup truck that is tough, capable, and versatile.

We also strengthened our connection with our customers through ‘Live the Ranger Life’, which showcased how the Ford Ranger enables their needs, passions, and goals in life,” says Michael Breen, managing director, Ford Philippines.

For the second year in a row, the Ford Territory was the country’s best-selling small SUV in 2021, with full-year retail sales reaching 6,881 vehicles and a market share of 55 percent.

The Ford Territory achieved a number of sales milestones last year, reaching its 5,000th customer milestone in June and 8,000th customer milestone in November.

The Ford Everest midsize SUV and Ford EcoSport mini-SUV also contributed to overall retail sales, with 1,772 vehicles and 1,500 vehicles sold in 2021, respectively.

In 2021, Ford also widened its North American

vehicle portfolio with the launches of the Mustang Shelby® GT500®, All-New F-150 Lariat, and All-New Explorer.

Ford also continued the expansion of its dealer network last year with the opening of Ford Talisay in Cebu to serve the growing number of customers in the province and nearby areas.

With consumer demand for vehicles on an upswing towards the end of last year, fourth quarter sales grew 9

percent from the previous quarter to 5,301 vehicles.

Ford achieved its second bestretail month in December with sales reaching 1,851 vehicles.

“We are optimistic that we will be able sustain the momentum in 2022 as we continue to partner with our dealers, partners, and employees in bringing our segment-leading vehicles to more Filipino customers and enhancing the Ford ownership experience,” adds Breen.

Essential travel tips to keep everyone safe THE year 2022 is here!

While the start of the year symbolizes hope, it also serves as a reminder that we all remain vigilant, particularly as the threats of new Covid-19 variants still lurk around.

Due to the upward trend in the number of cases, the National Capital Region (NCR) and some of its nearby provinces are now placed under a higher alert level status.

And yes, this means stricter safety protocols and limited outside activities for Filipinos.

Long drives, however, are inevitable for some.

For instance, those who went to their respective provinces for holidays are starting to go back to the metro.

Meanwhile, those in the frontline, especially health workers, sometimes need to travel for long hours to reach their patients.

If you’re one of those who need to travel long hours, Prestone, a proven and trusted quality brand of Auto Care fluids since 1927 and a road safety advocate, reminds you of these safety protocols for your vehicle before you hit the road.

Bring a travel health kit with Prestone Disinfecting Car Wipes. When you’re traveling, it’s a given that you will encounter different people and surfaces, maybe in checkpoints, gasoline stations, or tollgates.

You may be exposed to various bacteria and viruses, especially Covid-19.

With that in mind, bringing a travel health kit can help you prevent their spread and avoid getting sick.

Make it your one-minute habit to wipe down the high-touch surfaces of your vehicle with Prestone Disinfecting Car Wipes.

These disinfecting wipes can kill 99.9% of bacteria and viruses, including the Covid-19 virus in just one minute.

It is safe to use on the dashboard, console, steering wheel, window buttons, door handles, and gear stick, among others. (Follow usage instructions as per label).

Include in your kit a few spares of face masks, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer or rubbing/sanitizing alcohol, and even a first aid kit, just in case.

Inspect and maintain your brakes with Prestone’s DOT 3 and DOT 4 Synthetic HiTemp Brake Fluids.

When stepped upon, a vehicle’s brake pedal exhibits an adequate amount of resistance.

If you observe your brake pedal has a spongy feeling every time it’s pushed, this indicates that your brakes need to get checked and fixed to avoid any accident.

Also, be on the lookout if your brakes produce a sharp squeal as you drive your vehicle. It may mean that you need new brake pads.

Prestone, on the other hand, has reliable and trusted brake fluids for your vehicle’s braking system, delivering the best possible care for all its related parts.

Exceeding the standard requirements, Prestone’s DOT 3 and DOT 4 Synthetic HiTemp Brake Fluids give an incredible performance in high-temperature braking systems and provide an increased fluid life of 50,000 miles.

It also prevents all metal corrosion within the braking system and is suitable for

a disc, drum, and anti-lock braking system.

Examine and fuel your engine with Prestone Motor Oil. Early detection of an engine problem may save you trouble on the road.

It’s always better to ensure that your engine has no leaks or strange noises that would indicate problems.

Meanwhile, Prestone has a variety of motor oils suitable for gasoline or diesel engines, whether it’s turbo or non-turbo, that you can apply to help your engine achieve its best performance and maintain its tip-top condition.

Made in Singapore, Prestone Motor Oil is packed with quality base oils and significant additives that assist in reaching a high viscosity rate.

It is approved by the American Petroleum Institute (API), the largest oil and natural gas trade corporation in the U.S., marking it with an API Donut.

Prestone Motor Oil has GTech and D-Tech 500 formu-

lations for gasoline and diesel motors, respectively. G-Tech comes in three variations: the G-Tech Advance (Mineral Oil), the G-Tech Synblend (Synthetic Blend), and the G-Tech Full Synthetic. DTech 500, on the other hand, consists of the D-Tech 500 Synblend (Synthetic Blend) and the D-Tech 500 Full Synthetic.

Look at your tires, battery, lights, and other essential components and fluids. Your vehicle’s tires are the only components in contact with the ground.

For that reason, you should always pay attention to their air pressures and tread depths while looking for bubbles, bulges, or visible damages.

Then, check to know if your vehicle’s battery has sufficient charge and all the necessary cables are connected to the terminals.

Next, look for any faulty or fractured bulbs in your headlights, brake lights, haz-

ard lights, turn signals, and taillights so you can have them changed as nighttime driving is unavoidable.

In addition, don’t forget to inspect the levels of your coolant, windshield wiper fluid, transmission fluid, and power steering fluid.

Ensure that your vehicle’s belts, hoses, and air filters are in an excellent state.

“Long drive requires more effort from your vehicle. As Prestone continuously advocates for road safety, we hope to encourage motorists to apply these safety measures before their journey for a smoother and more convenient trip. However, as traveling is a part of our daily lives, these protocols should be an everyday routine to be always safe on the road,” said Paolo Lao, marketing director of Prestone Philippines.

Prestone also wants to remind motorists to buy Prestone Disinfecting Car Wipes, PrestoneMotor Oil, and Prestone’s DOT 3 and DOT 4 Synthetic Hi-Temp Brake Fluids from reputable stores and distributors to ensure they only get genuine Prestone products to prevent accidents or car damage.

To know its authenticity, check the product details and look for misspelled texts and information on the labels.

Be sure it has a PS mark or ICC stickers issued by the Bureau of Product Standards of the Philippines.

7

MINDANAO TODAY

mon-tue, January 24-25, 2022

AS IT HAPPENS, WHERE IT HAPPENS

GILBERT CHAO,

Motoring Editor

motoring

KIA

now offering fleet vehicles through Kia Corporate Care THE South Korean car brand continues to make waves in the country and it’s showing no signs of planning to stop anytime soon.

After inspiring individuals with the successful launch of the Stonic, the revamp of the Kia brand, and the launch of the all-new Sorento, Kia now gears to create more movement that inspires in the business and corporate world.

Kia Philippines presents Kia Corporate Care—now ready to serve and drive businesses to new heights through tailor-fit transportation solutions.

For companies who may be planning to build a fleet or offer car plans to their valued personnel, Kia Corporate Care is here to provide award-

winning vehicles paired with exceptional services.

With Kia Corporate Care, companies can rest assured that they’re getting topnotch vehicles that have been recognized by prestigious award-giving bodies all over the world: J.D. Power and World Car Awards which assesses quality and performance, Euro NCAP which evaluates vehicle safety, Red Dot Award and iF Design Award which rates style and design.

All Kia models are available to serve as company vehicles. There are compact crossovers such as the Seltos, high-performance sedans such as the Forte, and premium SUVs such as the all-new Sorento which are ideal for C-level executives

and other valued members deserving a reward. Companies can enjoy all the services these vehicles can provide through Kia Corporate Care.

Kia Corporate Care is aiming to build a solid reputation as one of the top transportation-solutions providers in the country.

That’s why its stylish and dependable fleet offerings are packaged with premium after-sales support.

Their goal is to keep businesses worry-free, so they can focus on moving and inspiring customers, partners, and other people.

During unforeseen events on the road, companies and employees can stay calm with services such as emergency towing, minor onsite repair, and more. 24/7 Road-

side Assistance is also free for 5

years.

The only exception is the K2500 which comes with a 3-year warranty and 3 years free 24/7 Roadside Assistance.

Kia has service centers all over the country, always ready to serve. Companies and their personnel can easily reach Kia for all those maintenance needs.

Our sizeable inventory of maintenance, mechanical, and collision parts allows for reduced downtime. And should there be other parts that need to be shipped from abroad, our reliable shipping partner will deliver them within 7 days.

Perhaps the most compelling reason for businesses

to partner up with Kia Corporate Care is the brand’s willingness to adjust to the specific needs of companies and corporate groups.

Kia Corporate Care develops fleet packages that will match the exact transportation requirements of different companies.

What they need is what they get, nothing more and nothing less. Flexible financing options are also made available.

Kia Corporate Care promises to provide all these in the most time-saving way, with all the details taken cared of to keep the process smooth and efficient.

For busy businesses with little precious time to spare, that’s definitely a deal-breaker.

Kia is distributed by AC Motors, Ayala Corporation’s automobile business company and one of the largest multi-brand vehicle distribution groups in the Philippines.

It partnered with the South Korean car brand back in 2019 to give Filipinos better automotive products.

Now, these two global brands are coming together to drive businesses to greater distances with Kia Corporate Care.

Ayala Corporation holds all the brands it handles to the highest standards. Businesses can rest assured that a partnership with Kia Corporate Care ensures the quality of service in all aspects.

Nissan develops technology that can improve artificial photosynthesis IN collaboration with the Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. has developed photon upconversion (UC) solid materials with outstanding performance that can improve the efficiency of artificial photosynthesis.

By artificial photosynthesis, water is split into oxygen and hydrogen. The hydrogen is then reacted with CO2 to produce raw compounds, such as olefins, for resins.

Nissan aims to achieve carbon neutrality throughout the life cycle of its products by 2050.

This new technology will contribute to Nissan’s aims by enhancing the use of CO2 as a raw material, which can reduce dependence on fossil fuels in the manufacture of resins and other products.

The newly developed UC solids convert presently wasted long-wavelength light into short-wavelength light, which can be used in a variety of artificial photosynthesis applications.

The conversion is at a high efficiency (up to approximately 30% of the theoretical limit of UC) even in weak sunlight irradiation.

The new UC materials are stable solids that can continue to function even when oxygen is present.

They increase the amount of light energy available for artificial photosynthesis when combined with photocatalysts.

Conventional UC materials have often been flammable organic solvent solutions that even when solidified their efficiency and durability to light irradiation were generally poor.

This often necessitated an oxygen-free environment as well as high-intensity incident light.

Further details of this technology are described in the December 2021 issue of “Materials Horizons”, an academic journal of the Royal Society of Chemistry (UK).

MINDANAO TODAY

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mon-tue, January 24-25, 2022

ECONOMY

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AS IT HAPPENS, WHERE IT HAPPENS

Despite pandemic, PH’s biggest bus firm won’t retrench its workers CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The thousands of employees of the country’s biggest bus conglomerate will not have to worry about losing their jobs as the firm’s leadership has vowed not to retrench a single worker even as the country is still suffering from the coronavirus pandemic.

This was the assurance of the family-controlled Yanson Group of Bus Companies’ top executives following the annual stockholders’ meeting of some of the YGBC’s six subsidiaries recently to its 18,000 workers nationwide.

YGBC owns and operates six bus companies all over the country, with three in Mindanao, namely, Mindanao Star Bus Transport Inc.,

Bachelor Express Inc., and Rural Transit Mindanao Inc. “Our operations had been greatly affected. Despite the global crisis, my youngest son, Leo Rey, the president and chief executive officer of our company, makes sure that no employee will be retrenched,” said Olivia Yanson, as quoted by the Phil. News Agency (PNA) in a report.

The elder Yanson, who celebrated her 88th Sunday (Jan. 23, 2022), said in the past two years, their employees have “lived within the means of our daily operations,” the PNA reported.

On Jan. 15, 2022, the incumbent top leaders of the Mindanao Star have retained their positions following the

annual stockholders’ meeting held at the company’s headquarters in Barangay Bulua, this city.

Olivia and son Leo Rey, also known as “LRY,” has re-affirmed their leadership and management of MSBTI, a bus company plying routes in Mindanao.

At the company's annual stockholders’ meeting on January 15, 2022, Leo Rey V. Yanson, Ginnette Y. Dumancas, Charles M. Dumancas, Rey C. Ardo and Arvin John V. Villaruel were re-elected as members of MSBTI’s board of directors.

Following the election of the directors, the board held an organizational meeting wherein Leo Rey V. Yanson was re-appointed as chairman

of the board and president of MSBTI and Olivia V. Yanson as corporate secretary and treasurer.

Olivia was appointed last year by a Bacolod court to be the special administrator of the estate of his late husband Ricardo B. Yanson.

Despite the proper and timely notice given, stockholders Roy V. Yanson, Ricardo V. Yanson Jr., and Emily V. Yanson were absent during the meeting.

Roy, Emily and Ricky are believed to be unable to attend the meeting because they are hiding abroad as fugitives from justice, together with their sister Ma. Lourdes Celina Y. Lopez.

As of this writing, the four siblings were facing several outstanding warrants of arrest for Carnapping and Grave Coercion issued by the courts of Bacolod City.

Warrants of arrest were also recently issued against Emily for the crimes of per-

jury and falsification by Bacolod and Cagayan De Oro courts.

Leo Rey V. Yanson, the re-elected chairman and president, said that despite the challenges faced in 2021, MSBTI remains strong and resilient.

“It continues to be steadfast in its goal to serve the Filipino people. MSBTI remains committed to providing the riding public with the most reliable means of public transportation for all,” he said.

The newly re-appointed board is also excited to see how they can continue to push boundaries to provide quality transportation to every Filipino despite the challenges of the pandemic.

The following day (Jan. 16, 2022), Bachelor Express held its annual stockholders’ meeting Olivia heading the board election.

During the meeting, Olivia V. Yanson, Leo Rey V.

Yanson, Ginnette Y. Dumancas, Charles M. Dumancas, Rey C. Ardo, Arvin John V. Villaruel, Anita G. Chua, Daniel Nicolas P. Golez, Hernan B. Omecillo, Danny O. Lorenton, and Alfredo O. Ligo, Jr. were re-elected as members of BEI’s Board of Directors.

Bachelors Express is a public transport firm plying the routes of Mindanao.

Following the election of the directors, the Board held an organizational meeting wherein Leo Rey V. Yanson was re-appointed as Chairman of the Board and President of BEI, while Olivia V. Yanson was re-appointed as BEI’s Corporate Secretary and Treasurer.

Olivia was appointed last year by a Bacolod court to be the special administrator of the estate of her late husband Ricardo B. Yanson. (Jigger Jerusalem | Mindanao Today, with reports from PNA)

MinDA strengthening BARMM in the BIMP-EAGA cooperation

An employee of the Yanson Group of Bus Companies disinfects a fleet of buses inside the firm’s Mindanao headquarters in Barangay Bulua, Cagayan de Oro City. (Jigger Jerusalem)

Congressman Jorge “PATROL” Bustos Representative , PATROL Party-List

MINDANAO Development Authority (MinDA) Development Management Officer Amhed Jeoffrey Datukan, representing Deputy Executive Director ASec. Romeo Montenegro attended the 1st Regular Meeting of the Economic Development Committee (EDCom) – Bangsamoro Economic Development Council (BEDC) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) via Zoom, Tuesday, 19 January.

Datukan provided updates on BIMP-EAGA implementation in Mindanao, highlighting the various initiatives and milestones that MinDA has pursued for the Bangsamoro Region in the past years.

“Recently, MinDA forged an engagement with BARMM-MAFAR on the development of Halal beef production industry, assist the Mindanao Barter Trade Council, and implement other several on-going priorities that BARMM could take advantage,” Datukan said.

EDCom Member Ro-

hanisah Rashid of the BARMM-Planning and Development Authority (BPDA) said that the BARMM should take leverage as a vital player in the BIMP-EAGA subregion, particularly on the implementation of projects and initiatives.

“It is high time for stronger partnership between MinDA and BARMM to continue implementing BIMP-EAGA-related spatial strategies and projects the like of Sanga-Sanga Airport in Tawi-Tawi, among others,” Rashid shared.

Minister for Labor and Employment and BTA Member Romeo Sema stressed the relevance of BARMM’s engagement with MinDA in BIMP-EAGA sub-regional cooperation, particularly on the alignment of BARMMEAGA priority projects and strategies.

“We should be able to properly discuss and define the role between MinDA and Bangsamoro Government given the important role of BARMM in the BIMPEAGA cooperation,” Sema

stressed.

Meanwhile, Bangsamoro Director-General Rosslainie Alonto-Sinarimbo of the Ministry of Trade, Investment, and Tourism (MTIT) presented the briefer on the proposed creation of the SubCommittee on BIMP-EAGA Economic Growth Linkages.

“MinDA mentioned earlier the need to strengthen BARMM’s participation in BIMP-EAGA, and the creation of the Sub-Committee will truly sustain our engagement with MinDA and the BIMP-EAGA counterparts for the region’s sustainable economic growth,” Director General Alonto-Sinarimbo emphasized.

Minister Mohammad S. Yacob of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Aquatic Resources (MAFAR) and EDCom Chairperson, presided over the meeting. Said meeting is a follow-through of the 4th EDCom-BEDC 4th Regular Meeting held last year, creating a Sub-Committee to spearhead BIMPEAGA Economic Growth Linkages to BARMM.

Secretary Maria Belen Sunga Acosta (4th from left) of the Mindanao Development Authority and Gov. Nelson Dayanghirang of Davao Oriental conducted an aerial inspection of the mine site in the province recently. (Photo courtesy of MinDA FB page)

MINDANAO TODAY

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GOODNEWS AS IT HAPPENS, WHERE IT HAPPENS

mon-tue, January 24-25, 2022

9

Tagpuangi Fisherfolks Association benefit from DA’s Enhanced Kadiwa financial grant

DA-10 through its Kadiwa program turns over one P690,000.00-worth utility van to TAGFA of Barangay Agusan, Cagayan de Oro City.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Eyed to empower more farmer cooperatives and associations (FCAs) in becoming sustainable food commodity suppliers, the Department of Agriculture-10 (DA-10) turned over a utility van worth P690,000 to the Tagpuangi Fisherfolks Association (TAGFA) of Barangay Agusan, this city.

On January 4, Carlene Collado, DA-10 regional executive director, and Carlota

Madriaga, regional technical director for operations, handed over the utility van to Lilian Antigua, TAGFA President.

The van is funded under the Enhanced Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita Inclusive Food Supply Chain program.

Collado requested the association to manage the turned-over van and utilize it as it is intended for.

“We continually support cooperatives and the local

governments by granting working capital grants to improve their income and value-adding like packaging, among others,” he added.

Meanwhile, Antigua conveyed that said aid is of great support in intensifying their market reach and in producing additional income for the association.

She added that the vehicle will be used for the delivery of their farm and fish products in the different barangays of

Cagayan de Oro and all other neighboring municipalities within Misamis Oriental.

“This New Year, a new opportunity has been given by the Department of Agriculture for further progress and the improvement of our association,” Antigua said.

The Enhanced Kadiwa Grant aims to capacitate FCAs to take on more roles in the value chain. (JCAnito | DA-10)

DOST-10 gives solar-powered vending carts to Oro food vendors office screened the recipients from among the long list of street food vendors all around the city. The screening included background checks, good standing records, onsite visits, and interviews.

“We have a long list of vendors in the city that is why the screening of the recipients was very crucial,” said Maria Dorotea Elpa of CSWD region 10.

The prototype Build Back Better Vending Cart is solar

power-generated with a capacity of 100 watts that can power a lightbulb, fan, and charge phones. It has a builtin sink with a portable faucet connected separately to the storage of clean and wastewater. It is enclosed with a three-sided acrylic barrier to reduce the transmission of Covid-19, has blinking lights and horns for safety purposes, comes with a glass food display, gas tank with stove, trash bins, a stainless steel

tabletop, and a food safety guide infographic material.

City Mayor Oscar Moreno graced the event as well as key personnel from DOST-10.

“We have two goals for this project. One is to make it visible that science is really for the people, thus the solar-powered vending carts for our food vendors. The

“

other is an improved livelihood for them,” said Alfonso Alamban, DOST-10 regional director.

The six recipients of the vending carts were Rogelio Olaguer, Jessica Hisoler, Angela Balos, John Michael Sabanal, Cristita Burston, and Norman Presillas.

“This will help us alot

in financing for our children’s education, especially in this time of pandemic,” said Burston, one of the cart recipients.

Moreno also mentioned the possibility of assigning the vendors to suitable and permanent selling areas in the city. (Julie Anne Baculio | DOST-10)

kanunay nag alagad

“

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Science and Technology-10 (DOST-10) turned over solar-powered vending carts to six ambulant street food vendors at the Office for Senior Citizen Affairs, this city, Jan. 7, 2022.

The project, “Build Back Better Vending Carts,” is in partnership with the city government of Cagayan de Oro. The City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD)

The TFBM says the rehabilitation of Marawi City will positively attain its target completion.

(PIA-Lanao del Sur)

TFBM maintains Marawi rehab nears target completion

By Claire Gigje MARAWI CITY – Seeing the advancement of various projects implemented to bring back the destroyed city, the Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) maintained that the rehabilitation effort is indeed nearing its target completion.

“Most projects, 90% to 95% of the projects will be completed by June 30 of the year 2022… The intention of all implementing agencies is really to fast track [the rehabilitation],” said TFBM Chairperson Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario during his visit to the city Thursday, January 20.

Del Rosario said as the government strives to beat its deadline, it encountered various challenges which hampered its operation such as the changing weather condition and the coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 crisis that hinders laborers to report considering the reported existence of new variants, and

the enforcement of restrictions and lockdowns.

Additionally, land issues were likewise seen to have impacted the plotted timeline as the government took one to two years to settle matters with claimants.

Despite the struggles, the TFBM continues to showcase progress through the attainment of significant

initiatives.

Just this month, the task force alongside the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the local government led the inauguration of the P79.5 million-worth pumping bridge that is 70 meters long, 15 meters wide consisting of four lanes. (CRG | PIALanao del Sur)

joaquinCDO“kikang” uy 1st District Representative 2022

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mon-tue, January 24-25, 2022

FEATURES AS IT HAPPENS, WHERE IT HAPPENS

PHILFIDA’S POSITION ON BSP PLAN

No to polymer shift, retain abaca in the Philippine banknotes

(Photo courtesy of Department of Agriculture – Phil. Rural Development Project)

(4th of 4 parts)

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Importance of Abaca in the Philippine Economy ABACA, internationally known as Manila hemp, is endemic to the Philippines.

It is one of the natural fibers that has made the country known all over the world.

For centuries, abaca has been practically synonymous to the Philippines being the world’s biggest supplier contributing more than 85% of the total world requirement for abaca fiber in the last 50 years.

Before the advent of synthetics in the ‘60s, abaca was the principal raw material for the manufacture of the worldrenowned Manila rope.

In fact, since the turn of the century, abaca was among the top export earner of the country.

The abaca homegrown industry continues to be one of the country’s major pillars in terms of employment generation and foreign exchange earnings.

The industry sustains more than 1.5 million Filipinos who, directly or indirectly, depend on it for a living.

Direct dependents include abaca farmers, classifiers/ sorters, manufacturers, traders, exporters and hundreds of fibercraft processors who provide employment to thousands of Filipinos.

In 2019, the Philippines supplied about 86.1 percent of the world abaca fiber requirement with the rest contributed by Ecuador and Costa Rica at 13.7 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively.

Ecuador’s abaca originated from the Philippines.

From 2010 to 2019, the abaca industry earned an annual average of USD119 million from the exports of raw fiber and manufactures,

69.3% of which is shared by the pulp sector.

In 2020, the country generated an aggregate export earnings of USD160.6 million from abaca fiber and manufactures.

Abaca-Cotton Paper in the Philippine Banknotes Philippine banknotes which are made of abacacotton paper also has its outstanding characteristics simply because the abaca fiber is the strongest among natural fibers and has superior qualities over other materials.

Abaca is far more resistant to salt water decomposition than most of the vegetable fibers, making it suitable for rope and cordage manufacture as well.

Considering its principal qualities, abaca is an excellent choice over other natural fibers for producing thin papers of low and high porosity and high strength.

Abaca can also substitute for wood pulp in the manufacture of a general line of paper products, a usage that could contribute immensely to the conservation of the world’s diminishing forest resources.

Abaca fibers are also preferred over man-made fibers such as plastics and other synthetic materials by various industries around the world.

Abaca is processed into pulp and specialty paper, cordage and fibercrafts including handwoven fabric, textile and furniture/furnishings.

Environmental Benefits Erosion control and biodiversity rehabilitation can be assisted by intercropping abaca in former monoculture plantations and rainforest areas, particularly with coconut palms.

Planting abaca can also

minimize erosion and sedimentation problems in coastal areas which are important breeding places for sea fishes.

The water holding capacity of the soil will be improved and floods and landslides will also be prevented. Abaca waste materials are used as organic fertilizer.

The Philippine abaca plays a vital role in the growing global advocacy for environmental protection and forest conservation.

The strong worldwide interest and acceptability for “green” and “organic” products made manufacturing companies, especially in the US and Europe, turn to natural and bio-degradable raw materials like Abaca.

This awareness is anchored on the growing desire to preserve the environment for the next generation.

Conclusion As the agency mandated to promote the growth and development of natural fibers, the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) is strongly against the idea of shifting from abaca-cotton to polymer banknotes for our currency.

UN FAO – Future Fibres Abaca, one of our banner crops, is considered a Filipino heritage and pride and therefore, should be made known to all Filipinos by promoting it through our money which is being circulated all over the country.

No less than the former Senator Manny Villar supported and endorsed the use of abaca fiber in Philippine peso by introducing Resolution No. 1191 in the Fourteenth Congress of the Republic of the Philippines.

The Resolution expressed the sense of the Senate to preserve the practice of utilizing abaca fiber in Philippine peso notes in support of our Fili-

pino farmers.

Mentioned in the said resolution was the plan of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to replace the abaca fiber used in peso notes with polymer and that the proposed move does not sit well with many sectors, and is seen as unpatriotic and antifarmer.

The Resolution further stated that using polymer runs counter to the global movement to go green and organic, as many polymers are non-biodegradable.

It also said that BSP’s plan goes against the government’s efforts to advance the growth of our local abaca industry in order to boost family income and employment in the countryside.

In support of the numerous abaca farmers and their dependents, the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority therefore appeals to the concerned authorities to reconsider the plan/idea of shifting to the use of polymer instead of abaca-cotton for our banknotes/currency.

References: 1. Armando L. Suratos (July 2002). Abaca in Philippine Banknotes, BS Review. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Media and Research - Publications and Reports. Retrieved from https://www.bsp.gov.ph/ Pages/MediaAndResearch/ PublicationsAndReports/reg ular_bsrevjul02.aspx 2. National Printing Bureau. Citation: Characteristics of Banknotes, Banknotes are made from special paper!

Retrieved from https:// www.npb.go.jp/en/intro/tokutyou/index.html. 3. US Currency Education Program. Citation: Currency Facts. Retrieved from https:// www.uscurrency.gov/aboutus/currency-facts.

PHILDIDA’S P11...

MINDANAO TODAY AS IT HAPPENS, WHERE IT HAPPENS OPOL from 1... powers and authority of local government to grant franchise or permit and regulate wager or betting by the public on all forms of legal gambling.

“PAGCOR can set up casino even without the approval of the LGUs as the charter of PAGCOR empowers it to centralize gambling, citing the case between then Cagayan de Oro city mayor Pablo Magtajas versus Pryce Properties and PAGCOR, recorded as G.R. 111097 by the Supreme Court in 1994,” he said.

ZAMBO from 1...

Lt. Leah May Alameda, ZCPO information officer, said Saturday the group is composed of 76 personnel from the 1st Zamboanga City Mobile Force Company (1ZCMFC) and 43 drug enforcement operatives from six police stations.

There are 11 police stations and two mobile force companies under the command of the ZCPO covering the city’s 98 barangays, including eight island villages.

Alameda said the 1ZCMFC personnel underwent a drug test on Friday, while the drug enforcement operatives took

DECLARED from 1... items are to arrive at the MCT. He said the CIIS acted on the tip by requesting lawyer Elvira Cruz, BOC-10 district collector, to issue a pre-lodgment control order against the shipment for possible violation of Republic Act 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act. A pre-lodgment control order refers to a written order issued by the Customs commissioner, district collector or other customs officers authorized in writing by the commissioner, before the lodgment of goods declaration or when no goods declaration is

PHILDIDA’S from 10...

4 . J e r e m y N o r m a n ’s HistoryofInformation.com 5 . J e r e m y N o r m a n ’s HistoryofInformation.com 6. Anika van Dam (2021, October 2). Citation: The 5 pros and cons of polymer banknotes.

KUSTERS Engineering.

Retrieved from https://www. royaldutchkusters.com/blog/thefive-pros-and-cons-of-polymerbanknotes.

7. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (2020, March 9). Retrieved from https://www.federalreserve.gov/

CULLEN from 4... to The Environmental and Energy Study Institute.

The politicians, in the pay of the corporations, delay legislation to switch from coal and oil to renewables and block laws that mandate electric cars.

However, in public, they are monster hypocrites and liars promising to end subsidies and change to renewables.

The G7 nations made such a pledge recently, but will they do it?

Since the year 2000, coalburning plant capacity has increased by 100 percent led by China and India.

There are 80 nations using coal plants to generate electricity, most get government support.

Australia will continue burning coal and selling it abroad. More coal plants are being built in many countries.

The promises that will be made at the COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland are just that – empty promises.

As 18-year-old environmental activist Greta Thunberg says, it is just Blah Blah Blah.

The Philippines is coaldependent with as many as 28 coal-fired power plants currently

PAGCOR, he said, is the national government agency “that has been mandated to regulate all games of chance in the country” as provided under PD 1869 and Republic Act 9487.

“In a memorandum issued from the President’s office in 1996 that only the national government has the power to issue licenses or permits for the operation of gambling,” Seno said.

For his part, Dexter Yasay, provincial board member and former Opol mayor, has admitted that PAGCOR has nothing to do with the issue at hand and that the burden of

compliance actually falls on Grand Imperial.

“PAGCOR has nothing to do with this. PAGCOR can only come in to enlighten us,” he told reporters at the sidelines of the second hearing on the casino issue called by the provincial board Friday, Jan. 21.

Yasay said there would have been no issue if the Grand Imperial management has followed the process of obtaining local permits first before operating the casino, which opened Dec. 19, 2021.

He reiterated the majority members of the provincial

board’s stand that they don’t oppose to the casino operation itself but on the non-compliance of the Grand Imperial to request from the Opol municipal government for the local permits and for the mayor’s reluctance to issue the same.

“If they (Grand Imperial) are a franchise holder or accredited

by PAGCOR, there is no question with that because it (PAGCOR) is a government-owned and controlled corporation…but Grand Imperial has not complied, with not a single permit to operate or legal personalities to operate a casino,” Yasay said.

theirs on Tuesday.

“No results yet were released,” Alameda said, citing the drug test formed part of the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) internal cleansing.

She said Lorenzo is supportive of his personnel for as long they are performing the tasks given to them.

Lorenzo has warned that he will not hesitate to press charges against policemen found to be involved in illegal activities, especially illegal drugs, smuggling, illegal gambling, and others, according to Alameda.

“It (internal cleansing)

will be my focus to keep my house clean,” Lorenzo told reporters in an interview after his assumption of command at the ZCPO headquarters.

Meanwhile, Lorenzo introduced a physical fitness program and encouraged his personnel to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

The physical fitness program, dubbed as the “10,000 steps program,” that Lorenzo had initiated entered its second day.

The program involves overweight ZCPO personnel doing early morning stretches and brisk walking from Barangay Pasonanca to the city

proper.

“This program aims to [let police officers] achieve 10,000 steps daily as it is also a good cardio exercise aside from losing weight,” Lorenzo said.

He said it is in line with his Guided Platforms in the continuous conduct of their Internal Cleansing program in maintaining their police officers’ standard body mass index, pursuant to the Philippine National Police Memorandum Circular 2020-029 “Revised PNP Comprehensive Health and Physical Fitness Program” by the PNP. (PNA)

lodged, on the basis of grounds stated in section 5.1 of the Customs Administrative Order 07-2019.

Based on its manifest, the shipment, a container van, arrived in the country on Jan. 14, 2022 from China and consigned to UHE Trading.

During the physical examination conducted by operatives from the CIIS, Enforcement and Security Service, the K-9 unit of the Phil.

Drug Enforcement Agency-10, and Chamber of Customs Brokers Inc. representatives, it was discovered that the shipment contained cigarettes branded as “YS.”

For her part, Cruz said she hopes “this will send a strong message to smugglers that the agency is serious in strengthening its border protection and will not tolerate unscrupulous individuals that will attempt to defraud the government of rightful revenues.”

The confiscation of the imported tobacco products is the second operation conducted by the BOC-10 for this year.

On Jan. 6, 2022, Customs authorities also seized a container van full of imported cigarettes from China.

According to Cris Angelo Andrade, BOC-10 spokesperson, the cigarettes, bearing brand

name “Titan” was estimated to be worth P8 million, and was also declared as used furniture. It was consigned to a certain Ceri Rey Viola.

“The two container vans, although shipped at different dates, were broth wrongfully declared as used furniture. We are grateful that through the intelligence-sharing of the CIIS and other agencies here and abroad, the Customs uncovered this modus operandi leading to the confiscation of illegally imported goods,” Andrade said in a phone interview Friday afternoon. (Jigger Jerusalem | Mindanao Today)

faqs/how-long-is-the-life-spanof-us-paper money.htm 8. https://www. e n e r g y l i v e n e w s . com/2019/08/30/polymerbanknotes-almost three-timesworse-for-planet-than-paper options/?__cf_chl_jschl_tk __=pmd_4036d934b34d 9ef51b7c827f096a15ecf 436ce71 -1627721211-0-gq NtZGzNAnijcnBszQjO. 9. Cristian Gherasim (Updated: 27/06/2020).

Romania detains ‘largest forger of plastic banknotes in the world’. Euronews. Retrieved

from https://www.euronews. com/2020/06/27/romaniadetains-largest-forger-of plasticbanknotes-in-the-world 10. National Printing Bureau. Citation: Characteristics of Banknotes, Banknotes are made from special paper!.

Retrieved from https://www. npb.go.jp/en/intro/tokutyou/ i n d e x . h t m l . 11 . C r i s t i n a Abellan Matamoros. ( Updated: 17/05/2018). Plastic vs paper: which banknotes are greener?

Retrieved from https://www. euronews.com/2018/05/16/ polymer-vs-paper-banknoteswhich one-is-better-for-

environment 12. UN FAO – Future Fibres (Editor’s note: This position paper was submitted to The Mindanao Today for publication

by Kennedy Costales, Phil.

Fiber Development Authority executive director, through the PhilFIDA regional office 10. We are running this article in its full form in our website. However, due to space constraints, the same article, which details PhilFIDA’s position on the proposal to change banknote materials by the BSP, will be published in a series in our paper and e-paper editions.)

ope ra t i ng t hroughout the Philippines, with total installed capacity of 9.88 gigawatts.

The energy department has approved another 22 coal plants.

The electricity to be generated by coal will be 53 percent by 2030.

Environmental groups are protesting these plans.

Philippine corporations have to get into a bed of bribery with high government officials to get approval for the energy coal projects.

Geothermal and hydropower from dams make up the other source of energy.

The present government wants to give full foreign ownership of new geothermal plants to foreign companies from Russia and China but local opposition is growing.

However, the solar and wind sector is almost non-existent.

The Philippine government will have no good news for the COP26 conference.

Global warming continues hotter than ever as a result.

Studies show that there is more C02 in the atmosphere, not less, in 2020.

To k e e p t h e g l o b a l temperature at 1.5 degrees and avoid disasters, the earth needs a reduction in greenhouse gases of 55 percent and so far, the

pledges of 120 nations add up to only 7.5 percent cuts.

The promises and pledges to cut the emissions would need to increase seven times to save the planet from the point of no return by 2030.

The politicians and corporations are successfully persuading the public with lies and fake news that their pledges and promises are true. The facts speak otherwise.

President Joe Biden seems more honest. He is proposing strong legislation to support industry to change to renewable energy – wind and solar – not promises.

A case in point in the US where Senator Manchin has blocked the ambitious legislation of President Biden to change to renewable energy production and impose fines on those industries that release methane into the atmosphere.

Senator Manchin’s vote for Biden’s legislation is vital. He is holding back because the biggest coal industry in his state of West Virginia gets big subsidies and he himself earns US$500,000 a year from his personal investment in coal.

The third catastrophe is the ignorance, blindness and apathy and indifference of the public worldwide to the truth of climate

change.

Many stupidly allow it to happen without protest or demanding to know how and why.

This indifference allows multinational corporations like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Google, the telecommunication companies and the fossil fuel corporations to rise to great power and their platforms control the data, the news feeds and distort and manipulate the public.

The message of COP26 will be controlled by them and they can continue to perpetuate their lies that there is no real danger to the planet that they cannot control.

They will continue to rake in trillions of dollars in profit and rip off the people. How do they do it?

As the famous Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who was executed for opposing Hitler, said, the general public can be very stupid. They give up their independence and do not know it but each person talks “. . . with slogans, catch words, and the like that have taken possession of him, he is under a spell, blinded, misused and abused in his very being. Having thus become a mindless tool. . .”

11

mon-tue, January 24-25, 2022

KNY bakeshoppe

MINDANAO TODAY

12

mon-tue, January 24-25, 2022 AS IT HAPPENS, WHERE IT HAPPENS

MINDANAO’S FINEST. The “buntot ng panga in curry sauce” is just one of the dishes from Mindanao that was highlighted in the coffee table book “Bismillah Before Eating: The Mindanao Halal Food Culture Experience” as part the Department of Tourism’s “Colors of Mindanao” fl agship project initiated by DOT Undersecretary Myra Paz Valderrosa-Abubakar.

“Discover the wonderful intricacies of Halal as you browse through captivating narratives from Muslim chefs, restaurant owners, and foodies on their vast experiences in preparing, cooking, and eating Halal food,” the DOT said on its Facebook page.

The Mindanao Today will be running a series of photos and stories from the coffee table book.

(Jigger Jerusalem | The Mindanao Today)

SM Foundation opens online applications for scholarship program SY 2022-2023

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SM Scholars’ General Assembly in 2019. (Photo supplied)

SM Foundation (SMFI) invites incoming college freshmen to apply for the SM College Scholarship program for School Year 2022-2023 via its online application portal from January 15 to March 15, 2022.

The SM Scholarship Program started from the vision of the late SM patriarch, Henry “Tatang” Sy, Sr. He believed that if you send one child from an economically challenged family to college, that child would have more opportunities to have gainful employment and later on uplift the economic status of his/her family.

The SM scholarship program is open to the following: Grade 12 graduates from

kanunay nag alagad sa katawhan

rolando “klarex” uy city mayor 2022 cagayan de oro city

public and private schools in the areas covered. Applicants from private schools must have a DepEd voucher and must be Grade 10 finishers from public high schools; General Weighted Average grade of at least 92% or its equivalent for Grade 12 – 1st semester; and Total household income of at most P150,000 per year.

The program covers the following field of studies: Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering (Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Computer, and Electronics), Education (El-

ementary and Secondary); Accountancy, and Financial Management, among others.

For more information and to apply, visit www.smfoundation.org and follow SMFI on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube: @ SMFoundationInc. SMFI, through its Scholarship program, provides deserving and qualified students with access to college education and technical-vocational studies since 1993. To date, SM has produced more than 8,000 college and tech-voc scholar-graduates.