Issuu

Atos Brazilian Jiu Jitsu holds ‘block screening’ for scholars

Atos Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Cagayan de Oro will be holding a block screening for Guardians of the Galaxy on April 25, 2017 at 9 p.m. at Centrio Cinema 1 a day ahead of the regular schedule. “It’s a fund raising event for competing Kagay-anon athletes in the upcoming Dumau Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Competition in Cebu this coming June,” said Candice

Saligumba, operations associate managerCinema operations, Centrio Cinemas. “Tickets can be purchased from our ticket booth at the 3rd floor or at ATOS BJJ CDO gym at YMCA.” “The purpose of the event is to raise funds for a couple of things: One is to subsidize the expenses of our ATOS Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Cagayan de Oro team at the YMCA gym with Head Instructor See scholars, page 11

Popo Suarez (extreme left). Photo supplied

MINDANAO DAILY T H E P U RV E YO R O F T R U T H , J U S T I C E , A N D D E V E LO P M E N T

Volume VI, No. 267

Website: www.mindanaodailynews.com

Monday

April 24, 2017

P15.00

Militants mark Global Earth Day with protest By GERRY LEE GORIT, Correspondent

CAGAYAN de Oro City--Various sectors from Northern Mindanao commemorated the 47th Global Earth Day on Saturday with a protest action condemning the continuing encroaching of the indigenous people’s ancestral lands in the region by huge agri-corporations. Protesters criticized the administration under Pres. Rodrigo Duterte for what they say is its failure to address the plight of the region’s indigenous peoples by approving the expansion of oil palm plantation which will affect the tribal communities and their ancestral domain. “In spite of the promise for change, the Duterte government has approved to convert 1 million hectares of land or oil palm expansion in the country, See PROTEST, page 11

DTI warns public over ‘P3’ scam

higaonon ritual. Datu Jomorito Goaynon (left)

and Datu Felix Bollozos perform the “Panalabugta,” a ritual of the Higaonon tribe of Northern Mindanao, to mark the commemoration of the 47th Global Earth Day on Saturday (April 22) where hundreds of protesters from peasant, youth, women, worker, and urban poor sectors take to the streets to commemorate the 47th Global Earth Day on Saturday (April 22) held at the Press Freedom Monument, Vicente de Lara Park, Cagayan de Oro City. Photos by Gerry Lee Gorit for Mindanao Daily

Palarong Pambansa

18 colors, one goal By Primo P. Agatep, PNA

SAN Jose, Buenavista, Antique--Top student athletes, numbering thousands and representing 18 regions across the country, plunge into action in the 60th edition of the Palarong Pambansa starting Sunday at the refurbished Binirayan Sports Complex and other allied venues here. Education Secretary Leonor Briones will lead the opening ceremony. She will be joined by other members of the Executive Committee and officials of other government agencies, including local government executives. Host province Antique has laid out an elaborate opening ceremony, mixing culture and modern-day technology to showcase the beauty and grandeur of Antiqueños, See colors, page 11

RALLY. Members of Unyon sa Mag-uuma sa Agusan del Norte (UMAN) stage a rally day ahead of the Earth Day celebration on April 21, 2017 along JC Aquino in Butuan City. The group expresses strong environmental issues in Caraga. Photo by Jun Ayensa for Mindanao Daily

Co-ops push for more renewable energy sources By Antonio L. Colina IV of MindaNews

Mindanao should tap more renewable energy sources like hydropower plants, a group of cooperatives said amid the increasing number of coal-fired power plants in the island. In a position paper emai le d on Thurs day, the One-Mindanao Energy Cooperatives (OneMIECOOP) said renewable

energy should remain as the long-term dominant source of power in Mindanao. It said the remaining state-owned Agus and Pulangui hydropower complexes could still serve as the major sources of clean power if rehabilitated, maintained, and further developed to continue being the backbone of the energy source of Mindanao. The Agus and Pulangui hydropower complexes have

an installed capacity of 982.1 megawatts and comprise seven plants – Agus 1, Agus 2, Agus 4, Agus 5 Agus 6, Agus 7, and Pulangui 4. In a press release Friday, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi revealed the country’s vision to achieve 20,000 MW of renewable energy by 2040 to sustain economic gains and continuously elevate the quality of life in the country. To achieve the target for

renewable sources, Cusi cited the need to identify and analyze key challenges to guide the stakeholders in terms of policies, regulatory and institutional framework. “The DOE is committed to provide a level of playing field among RE developers to assure the country of its indigenous and sustainable energy for the consuming public,” he said during Friday’s launch of Renewables Readiness Assessment

(RRA) for the country at the Energy Center at Bonifacio Global City. He said the RRA will involve research, consultations and other measures that will lead to a comprehensive and detailed analyses of the country’s renewable energy profile in order to recommend measures to deal with the pertinent issues facing the industry. A 2016 report by the See ENERGY, page 11

CAGAYAN de Oro City-The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Region 10 warns the public against a group named “Hugpong Federal Movement of the Philippines” that collects P100 from individuals in several barangays and municipalities within Misamis Oriental. The group claims that the fee is intended for the procurement of an identification card (ID), which will be then presented to any DTI office in the region, according to the complainant. They assert that through the ID, the listed registrants can claim a P15,000 loan under the Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso (P3) program. DTI in Northern Mindanao reiterates that the P3 program has not yet been rolled out in the region. The province of Bukidnon is the province identified as the priority area and Misamis Oriental is excluded in its initial implementation. Moreover, the Small Business Corporation (SB Corp), a DTI attachedagency and financing arm, is the one handling the P3 Program and doesn’t See scam, page 11

MINDANAO DAILY SECOND FRONTPAGE mark francisco, Section Editor EDITOR: RUEL V. PELONE

April 24, 2017

DENR to explore phytomining’s viability

By Catherine J. Teves Philippine News Agency

New species of metal-eating plant discovered in PH Scientists from the University of the Philippines, Los Baños have discovered a new plant species with an unusual lifestyle — it eats nickel for a living — accumulating up to 18,000 ppm of the metal in its leaves without itself being poisoned, said Professor Edwino Fernando, lead author of the report. In a blog posted by pensoft.net, science publisher and technology provider website in May 2014, it said such an amount is a hundred to a thousand times higher than in most other plants. The study was published in the open access journal PhytoKeys. The new species is called Rinorea niccolifera, reflecting its ability to absorb nickel in very high amounts. Nickel hyperaccumulation is such a rare phenomenon with only about 0.5–1% of plant species native to nickel-rich soils having been recorded to exhibit the ability. Throughout the world, only about 450 species are known with this unusual trait, which is still a small proportion of the estimated 300,000 species of vascular plants. The new species, according to Dr Marilyn Quimado, one of the lead scientists of the research team, was discovered on the western part of Luzon Island in the Philippines, an area known for soils rich in heavy metals. “Hyperacccumulator plants have great potentials for the development of green technologies, for example, ‘phytoremediation’ and ‘phytomining,’” explained Dr Augustine Doronila of the School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, who is also co-author of the report. Phytoremediation refers to the use of hyperacccumulator plants to remove heavy metals in contaminated soils. Phytomining, on the other hand, is the use of hyperacccumulator plants to grow and harvest in order to recover commercially valuable metals in plant shoots from metal-rich sites. Text and photo by pensoft.net

‘There’s future in phytomining in PH’ Monday

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will look into the possibility of introducing phytomining in the country. “I’ll call for a study into the matter,” Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Gina Lopez said Wednesday (April 19) on the side of a forum in Metro Manila. She assured such action as botanist and University of thePhilippines-Los Banos professor Dr. Edwino Fernando said the country has several plant species capable of tolerating metal toxicity in mining areas around the country and absorbing metal elements present in

the ground there. Technology can make it possible to harvest metal elements those species absorbed, he noted. “There’s a future for phytomining in the country,” he said. He noted phytomining raises the possibility of exploitingmineralized soil that conventional mining methods render uneconomic. Phytomining’s environmental impact is less compared to erosion from open-cut mining, he likewise said. Fernando said metallophytes are plant species that thrive in soil with metal toxicity. Those plants can survive and reproduce on metalliferous or metal-containing soil, he noted. Such characteristics

Gina Lopez

make metallophytes “extremely relevant” in programs on restoring vegetation in mined-out areas within these plants’ geographic range, he said. Hyperaccumulators are plant species capable of accumulating metal elements, Dr. Fernando continued. “There are just over 500 species of metal hyperaccumulators worldwide,”

he said. That accounts for a mere 0.2 percent of all flowering plants on Earth, he noted. He said the plant with scientific name ‘Rinorea niccolifera’ is among the country’s hyperaccumulators. ‘Rinorea niccolifera’ can absorb nickel in very high amounts, he also said. Dr. Fernando is promoting conservation of metallophytes and hyperaccumulators nationwide. Collect and store germplasm or genetic materials of such plants so more of these can be grown, he noted. “Invest in forest restoration research,” he also said. Fur ther research is needed to analyze cost of undertakingphytomining in the country, he continued. Research on the matter must commence as soon as possible so the country can benefit from its plant species, he added.

DENR leads Earth Day 2017 with environment, climate literacy drive THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), together with Earth Day Network Inc. (EDNP), led this year’s celebration of Earth Day with the theme, “Environmental and Climate Literacy.” The whole day activity scheduled at the La Mesa Eco-Park in Quezon City on April 22 starts off with Sandiwang at 6:30 a.m. at the park’s Amphitheater. Sandiwang is a solemn rite of thanksgiving and worship by diverse religious and cultural groups. It will be marked by prayer and meditation for the healing of the earth. The interfaith activity will be followed by a message from Environment Secretary Gina Lopez.

Other officials expected to deliver messages are Hon. Elizabeth A. Delarmente, councilor and chairperson of the Committee on Parks and Environment of Quezon City, and Mr. Isagani Serrano, president of Earth Day Network Philippines. The program will be held simultaneously with a series of activities including the PRO Earth Run 2017: Forest Trail Edition, bird watching, tree canopy walk, and on-the spot art session in the same venue. The morning’s activities will coincide with the launch of the Forest Restoration Project at Clark Green City in Capas, Tarlac. Events continue in the afternoon with exhibits, a tree canopy walk

and band performances. The PUP Bagong Himig Serenata will also render song numbers. Elen Basug, chief of the Environmental Education and Information Division (EEID) of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), a line agency under the DENR, said that following this year’s theme, the DENR has embarked on an intensified information drive to ensure that the Filipino youth, especially the students, are environment-and climate-literate and are “a voice for change.” The drive also supports Earth Day Network Inc.’s (EDNI) campaign to build a global citizenry fluent See drive, page 11

Stop Exploiting the Environment! Stop exploiting mine workers! (Statement of Caraga Watch landslides, damage to rice on Earth Day, 22 April 2017) fields and siltation of rivers and coastal areas. Because of this, the peoIt cannot be denied that the greed of large scale ple of Caraga were very mines operating in the re- happy when Department of gion seriously damaged Environment and Natural Caraga’s environment. Un- Resources (DENR) Secrecontrolled excavation of tary Gina Lopez ordered the mountains by 23 large the closure of 14 large scale scale mining companies mines in Caraga after the caused severe deforestation, DENR audit. The people

have demanded for the mine closures because of the evident destruction and the effects of such to their livelihood. Damaged and exploited environment Close to 5% of the total land area of Caraga or 85,132.85 hectares is mined for nickel, chromite and gold by 23 companies in

connivance with 7 foreign mining companies (Mines & Quarries, MGB-Caraga 2017). The damage it caused is affecting a much broader range of land and coastal areas which are the main sources of the people’s livelihood. One can easily see the severe damage of the environment brought about

by uncontrolled open pit mining when going around Caraga. The once fishing island of Dinagat, coastal municipalities of Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur and the rivers of Agusan del Sur are red with mud flowing from mined mountains, killing marine life and driving away fish, further drowning small fisher folks

in poverty. The productivity of the rice fields of Surigao del Sur is steadily decreasing because of siltation of irrigation sources. In addition, toxic chemicals, such as mercury and cyanide, flow from two foreign owned gold processing plants: Philsaga-Medusa to the Agusan River in See workers, page 11

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Monday, April 24, 2017

Opinion

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Have my say TThe Mindanao Daily is pubished by MINDANAO DAILY NEWS PUBLISHING CORPORATION. It is Registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) with Reg. No. CS201531735. With Business Plate No. 201703518, Under Business License Certificate No. 2017-02949, BIR-TIN No. 464682-324-000. Main Business address at Tanleh Building, Abellanosa St., Brgy. Consolacion, Cagayan de Oro City. Tel. Nos: (088) 856-3344, 0917-7121424, 09478935776 E-mails: Advertising:mindanaodaily.ads@gmail.com, Editorial: mindanaodailynews@gmail.com DANTE M. SUDARIA Publisher and President TERESA ZAFRA PELONE Comptroller melanie rivera SAIRA E. GUMISING Advertising

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Cyber-attack fears ahead of election

NOT only Germany will be holding its general elections this year. Also France and Great Britain. One of the latest reports on my desk states that the German government plans cyber-attack ‘hackback’ ahead of the election. And, according to German media reports, Berlin wants to create conditions to be able to hit back in the event of a cyber-attack. The move comes as the country gears up for September’s general election amid fears of hacking. In the event of a cyberattack, as well as being able to defend against incursions, Germany plans to have the ability to destroy hostile servers if necessary,

RODRIGO B. SEVILLA Regional Editor-Davao

JOE PALABAO Feature Editor

ATTY. MARIO T. JUNI

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rested in Britain last week after allegedly attempting to hack the Washington DC CCTV surveillance camera system just days before President Donald Trump’s inauguration. US media said 123 out of almost 200 cameras throughout the city were disabled by ransom ware software. Officials feared a bigger attack may have been planned for the day of Trump’s swearing in. In government circles, for example, this would include an attack on an electricity grid or other hacking of the Bundestag - Germany’s lower house of parliament. In this case, it would also be possible to remove the servers on which stolen parliament

Klaus Doring

data are located. There is, however, and in my opinion, no current legal basis for such projects. Germany’s military, the Bundeswehr, has just installed its own cybersubcontracting force, but it is only responsible for warlike acts from abroad or if its own troops were attacked. Fears of election interference will grow up more and more. No place in the whole world is 100% safe in case of cyber-attacks. Anyway, the German government now plans See fEARS, page 8

Kakampi mo ang batas

Policies on driving in RP insane and dangerous

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans…” (Proverbs 16:3, the Holy EDITORIAL Bible). ALLAN M. MEDIANTE -oooEditor-in-Chief PREVENTING DEADLY ruel pelone CRIS DIAZ ROAD MISHAPS REQUIRE Managing Editor Executive Editor MORE THAN INCREASING PENALTIES: While MARK FRANCISCO the objectives of Sen. JV Lifestyle Editor Ejercito’s proposal to in GILBERT Y. CHAO gerry lee gorit crease penalties for pas Motoring Editor Photo Journalist senger overloading in public utility vehicles, particularly PAT SAMONTE CHRIS PANGANIBAN Regional Editor Caraga Regional Editor-Davao buses and jeepneys, appear good, they are, with due Rene Michael BaÑos uRIEL C. QUILINGUING respect, totally short of what Regional Editor Northmin Contributing Editor is truly needed to prevent AL JACINTO JOE FELICILDA deadly road accidents in Regional Editor-WestMin Editorial Consultant the nature of the Caranglan, Nueva Ejica tragedy

German daily “Süddeutsche Zeitung” and broadcasters NDR (North German Radio) and WDR (West German Radio) reported. Among experts, such measures are known as “computer network operations” or “hackback,” the reports said. I learned that during an ongoing attack, police, military or intelligence service units would attempt to identify the assailant and block the attack or destroy the servers being used to stage the incursion. A prerequisite for such action would be that a legal aid request is not possible and that the attack from abroad cannot be stopped. Two people were ar-

last week. I believe that what is sorely needed by drivers today are not higher penalties for their violations of traffic laws, although I have been saying for quite some time now that the penalties under the Revised Penal Code for accidents which claim the lives of many passengers is ridiculously low. A driver who kills 100 while driving will not even be jailed for more than one day, actuall. What drivers need is a retraining of their mindset--from the maniacal, diabolic, selfish, and devil-may-care attitude that they possess at the moment, to careful and considerate not only of their welfare and the welfare of

their own passengers but of the other drivers and passengers of these other drivers, and the general public as well who happen to be walking on roads and thoroughfares. -oooPOLICIES ON DRIVING IN RP INSANE AND DANGEROUS: Right now, there is no system by which persons wanting to drive could be screened before they are even allowed to sit behind steering wheels. Because of this, just about anyone who is desirous of driving, even those without any previous training at all or even those who cannot even comprehend the grave responsibility of driving

Atty. Batas Mauricio

vehicles, can easily get his or her license and then already drive on the road. This is totally insane as it is dangerous. Insane because driving is not simply a mechanical act that can affect only the driver, but the general public as well who, as past experiences have shown, are always at the mercy of reckless and careless and thoughtless drivers and who often end up dead or maimed for the rest of their lives. At this point that accidents are happening See DRIVING, page 8

The striker

Of black and white

I BEG to disagree President Duterte’s advice to jobless Filipinos to go out and kill drug addicts. This is terribly wrong and out of order. Go out and arrest drug addicts may be alright, but never kill them without due process. In the first place, the country has no death penalty and killing of criminal is definitely wrong. This early, I could smell the smoke of war between the United States and its allies against North Korea for the latter’s violations in manufacturing and test firing of weapons of mass destruction. The United States has issued a stern warning, but to no avail as leaders of North Korea continued its threats to hit South Korea and United States with its modern weapons. America’s battleships are on the way to the Korean peninsula for the action. I am afraid the

military confrontation may expand larger and involve countries at odds thus making a real big war. What I don’t like with North Korea is its leader that spits bad words against America as if he is the king of the jungle. He sounds and looks irresponsible. He ordered the killings of some of his close relatives. Anyway, whatever it is, I still want world peace to prevail. I admire President Rody Duterte for his continued fight against the use of illegal drugs. I know he cannot win such a war, but at least it will spell a big difference than doing nothing on such a huge problem in the country. Drug addiction is a disease or an illness that cannot be treated easily. I was addicted to cigarette smoking many years ago and I was able to part away with it because of determination. But it really

took me pains and hardship to win such a terrible experience. If I may advise people, I would say to the smokers to stop the habit. Of course, I don’t want to prejudice the cigarette factories on the issue. According to latest reports, crime in Northern Mindanao has decreased by about 32 per cent. I am happy about it and I hope the report is true and with basis. Nationwide, the rate is the same if not rapidly skyrocketing. Anyway, as of yesterday, TV newscasts revealed of the same killings and incidence of other big crimes that truly frightened Filipinos in foreign lands. I still wish for change with President Duterte at the helm of power. The Philippine government should continue its program to educate the citizens what to do in case

Ben Emata Jr.

of emergency specially war in nearby places. This will allow our people to know what to do and not to panic. Getting lost during crisis would double casualties or damages to life because people would be wandering where to go. One more thing, the government must provide shelter for the taxpayers when disaster strikes. Remember the motto of the Boy Scouts “Be prepared.” It is summertime in the country and our leaders in Cagayan de Oro must work on the missing drainage system before floods come months from now. See white, page 8

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Forum

Monday, April 24, 2017

Where the Golden Age Leads Us In the recent Dutertenomics Forum, the cabinet of president Duterte announced the administration’s P8.4 trillion budget for infrastructure during the president’s term. This amount will be shelled out for Manila Subway, Mindanao Rail, Luzon Spine Expressway, Panguil Bay Bridge (connecting Misamis Occidental and Lanao Del Norte) and Leyte Tide Embankment. Commentators opine that this Dutertenomics is ambitious.

Indeed it is. But how will this translate into a better country? Let us see the reality that our country tails behind our neighbors. In the World Competitiveness Index, we have just climbed the efficiency stage. We need to do more to increase the efficiency of our systems—a concern that infrastructure spending addresses. If we have more infrastructure, we can climb to the next stage— the innovation stage. The are no shortcuts.

So when I hear about the move of Duterte to focus on roads and bridges, among others, I feel excited because this is a game changing action. We could no longer hope for the better with our current systems. We need to upgrade. After having noble dreams, we must chart our course and take specific steps daily. Dutertenomics offers a lot with the president’s strategies and political will. The war on drugs—though

challenged by displaced politicians and those who fight it with mere aphorisms—will secure peace and order. We need this environment that makes our economic programs thrive. Alongside with the war on drugs, we see the president’s sincerity in fighting corruption—the monster that swallows any good intention in one night. Having fired Sueno, Laviña and other members of his team—even the closest supporters—Duterte sparkles

‘Dutertenomics:’ golden age of oligarchic and foreign interests in infrastructure?

“ Build, build, build” is said to be the foundation of the Duterte administration’s development plan, which his economic managers are packaging as “Dutertenomics”. The plan is supposed to usher in a “golden age of infrastructure.” But despite the attempt at branding, Dutertenomics is neither new nor unique. Its cornerstone of massive infrastructure development is still built on the neoliberal agenda of opening up additional profitmaking prospects for big local and foreign business, including through “development” lending, building and operating the infrastructure themselves and/ or constructing facilities that would benefit their commercial interests. Worse, the ambitious plan may not usher in a golden age of infrastructure but instead a golden age of oligarchic and foreign interests in infrastructure while the public bears more onerous financial burden arising from greater debts and taxes. AmBisyon Natin There is no denying of the urgent and huge infrastructure needs of the country, especially transport. The Philippines has the worst overall infrastructure and worst transport infrastructure (roads, railroads, port and air transport) among major countries in Southeast Asia, according to the 20152016 Global Competitiveness Report of the World Economic Forum (WEF). The intolerable traffic in Metro Manila and the state of disrepair of the public transport system illustrate the dismal shape of transport infrastructure in the country. Thus, infrastructure, specifically the transport sector, has been made the cornerstone of Dutertenomics. It is a key component of AmBisyon Natin 2040, a vision to make the Philippines a “prosperous, predominantly middle-class society” that President Rodrigo Duterte has adopted as guide for long-term national development planning. AmBisyon Natin listed

either locally funded, with official development assistance (ODA), or through public-private partnership (PPP). Hybrid and unsolicited PPP PPP, which is essentially the neoliberal privatization of infrastructure development and commercialization of services, will continue to be the main program to meet the country’s infrastructure needs. The PDP will promote PPP by addressing “bottlenecks in PPP planning and implementation” and pursuing “reforms to enhance the business environment” to encourage investors. To do these, among the legislative agenda under the PDP is the amendment of the BOT Law and its implementing rules and regulations (IRR). In the previous Aquino administration, such policy reform has taken the form of the PPP Act that will among others institutionalize state guarantees on financial and regulatory risks of PPP projects. In the current 17th Congress, bills to introduce the PPP Act and BOT Law amendment have already been filed in both chambers. There are also moves to introduce foreign investment liberalization through the PPP Act. As of March 28, there are 15 awarded PPP projects worth Php310.51 billion, based on the latest status report of the PPP Center. Of these, four are See foreign, page 10

Lucell Larawan

service. The president is born for this hour and is the best answer to my prayers. Duterte will put the Philippines in the map in terms of productivity, innovation and social justice. I can vouch to this.

Think a minute

Don’t defeat yourself THINK a minute. Recent studies show that only 1 out of 3 people have healthy self-confidence. That means 2 out of every 3 people simply don’t know the ability they already have to be successful, even though it’s right there in their hands! If you want others to believe in you, you have to believe in yourself first. Remember: “No one can make you feel inferior unless you let them.” A successful businessman says:

Photo from Silent Gardens

priority sectors that include the development of infrastructure such as roads, ports, airports, bridges and communication (“Connectivity”) as well as housing and urban development. It also identified “investment in high-quality infrastructure to make the cost of moving people, goods and services competitive” as one of the policy instruments to make the aspirations of AmBisyon Natin a reality. The Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022 is the first medium-term plan anchored on AmBisyon Natin. Under this PDP, the Duterte administration aims to make its six-year term the so-called “golden age of infrastructure” with spending on infrastructure increasing substantially (i.e. 5.1% of gross domestic product or GDP in 2016 to 7.4% in 2022). Concrete and measurable indicators have been set for transport infrastructure (road, rail, air and water transport); water and power resources; and social infrastructure (classrooms, health centers, housing units). The “golden age of infrastructure” includes an initial list of 64 big-ticket projects for implementation or in the pipeline that are mostly transport infrastructure such as major road networks, railway systems, bus rapid transit systems, and airport and seaport modernization. These are on top of 15 ongoing infrastructure projects, which are

hope of another era after a long time of darkness. He does not just follow the usual doublespeak. Leading in the Times 100 most influential leaders is not a coincidence for the president, no matter what critics exclaim. He may not accept the offer of the University of the Philippines to confer him with an honorary doctorate degree, but he already got something more glamorous, though it is not his desire to pursue such as he is always bent for public

Jhan Tiafau Hurst

“You can’t push anyone up a ladder unless he knows he can climb himself.” Think a minute.Recent studies show that only 1 out of 3 people have healthy selfconfidence. That means 2 out of every 3 people simply don’t know the ability they already have to be See defeat, page 8

GILBERT Y. CHAO - Motoring Editor

motoring

Monday

April 24, 2017

Suzuki Wins the Contribution Prize of the 49th Ichimura Prizes in Industry S

Source: www.globalsuzuki.com

uzuki Motor Corporation has won the Contribution Prize of the 49th Ichimura Prizes in Industry hosted by the New Technology Development Foundation for the “Development of Resin Material with Superb Appearance and Application to Pre-coloured Interior Parts”. This is the first time in eight years, and the fourth time for Suzuki to win the prize. Suzuki developed a biopolycarbonate resin material that satisfies such requirements as high-gloss surface appearance and durability to sunlight, heat, and impact, to be used for car parts that need

to be especially high in quality. The prize-winning “Development of Resin Material with Superb Appearance and Application to Pre-coloured Interior Parts” was valued for developing and putting in practical use of this material in car interior parts

by combining this material with technologies of material precolouring and structure design. As the result, the new technology realises pre-coloured components with high quality glossy surface which is comparable to that of painted parts. It also contributes in suppressing environmental load such as reduction of volatile organic compounds compared to painted parts. Suzuki is widely adopting this technology for interior parts including the audio garnish of the allnew Swift compact car.

Suzuki custom bikes showcased at Motobuilds Pilipinas 2017 Photos by Kit Pilla

Suzuki motorcycles stunned spectators of Motobuilds Pilipinas 2017 held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. Thousands of 2-wheel aficionados gathered in this

annual event that keeps on getting bigger and better year after year highlighting a culture of the motorcycle community which entail gorgeously built up bikes, music and a lot more!

The bright Suzuki booth was adorned by the pinnacle of performance motorcycles- the Hayabusa with a 1300cc engine. Fans were also treated with first dibs on the GSXR1000R and the

SV 650A which will be available this year. Completing the line-up was the racing enthusiasts favourite - the sportsbike GSX-R750 and the Burgman 200. The renowned Suzuki Raider R150 for custom-bike lovers was also featured. Four kick-

ass modifications of the Underbone King were displayed which were all winners of the recently concluded R150 Summit Custombike Contest. Dazzling built-up versions of the Mola 150 and Thunder 125 perfected

the elegant look of the Suzuki booth. In a true Suzuki fashion, the brand treated its booth visitors with surprises by giving away freebies and hosting games in its segment. The Suzuki ladies were also present for photo opportunity.

Chinese subsidiary Suzuki Motor (China) Investment Co., Ltd. The SX4 S-CROSS with renewed front face will be produced and distributed by the Chinese joint

venture Chongqing Changan Suzuki Automobile Co., Ltd. These two models are planned to be launched in 2017. The Suzuki booth is

exhibiting eight automobile models, three motorcycle models, and one outboard motor model to appeal the Suzuki brand.

Suzuki at the Auto Shanghai 2017 Suzuki Motor Corporation has unveiled the Ultra Compact SUV Ignis and the C-segment crossover SX4 S-CROSS at the 17th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition in Shanghai. The Ignis will be produced at Suzuki’s Sagara Plant in Japan, and distributed through the

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Fears... from page 4

to draw up the corresponding legal proposals to permit a response in the case of cyber-attacks on civilian targets. Germany’s Federal Security Council, chaired by Chancellor Angela Merkel, reportedly decided at the end of March to carry out an analysis of the required technical skills. The results will be presented this summer to the Federal Security Council, which meets behind closed doors. Potential cyber-attacks on Germany’s upcoming parliamentary elections in September have been a topic of discussion since autumn 2016, particularly in light of claims by US intelligence agencies that Russian attackers influenced November’s presidential election. Volker Kauder, a leading member of Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union, said in an interview that “he is not scared.” He points out that Germany, unlike the United States, does not use electronic voting machines with an internet connection. Hans-Georg Maassen, head of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, reports, however, that evidence of an influence on parliament has grown since Germany took a hard line on sanctions in the

Ukraine conflict. Modern technology boon or bane? +++ Email: doringklaus@ gmail.com or follow me on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin or visit www. germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com.

White... from page 4

Let our brilliant engineers use their heads to make our people safe in their homes during rainy days. They should know where heavy floods occur and make repairs or anything necessary. It is heartening that we move only when everything is impossible. Now is the time to prepare for emergency moments. It seems traffic mishaps are becoming top killers in our midst nowadays What happened to our drivers? Why can’t we avoid accidents? Have some of our drivers gone so foolish already that they do not know how to drive anymore? I hope this matter be remedied because it appears we are losing so many lives already due to drivers’ error. Fighting the Abu Sayyaf bandits would require a lot of public funds and efforts. Intelligence operation must be given emphasis by employing more rebel returnees who knew their way into the jungles of Jolo and Basilan.

“It takes a thief to catch a thief, so the saying goes. The military should drop bombs in the bandits hideouts after warning the civilians to flee from the areas. Targets must be known first to save the lives of innocent people. We must use our modern fighter jets and fighting equipment to win a war. Whatever happened to plunder cases filed against government officials should be known by the public. If the cases were dropped for insufficiency of evidence well and good but I just want to remind our government that this kind of crimes cannot be settled by anyone. They must be tried until convictions or acquittal is reached. I have yet to hear that someone had been convicted and this is really funny. (Bennex News Service)

lowed to obtain any driver’s license, there must be some kind of an orientation seminar that they will have to undergo which focuses on GMRC, or, as we knew it from our elementary days, good manners and right conduct, and on respect for life, and on fear and love of God. Yes, even fear and love of God must be required of, and must therefore be taught to, drivers in this seminar I am proposing. My gut feeling is that many of those who get involved in mishaps and fatal vehicular accidents do not even have any notion about fear and love of God, and so they lack respect and concern for their fellow human beings. I am not suggesting a religious test---that is different. I am only after teaching the rudiments of

spirituality, of knowing that there is a God whom we must fear and love, and that this God has required all of us also to love others as we love ourselves. If drivers are taught to love others as they love themselves, they will surely be more careful in their trips. -oooWATCH “ANG TANGING DAAN”, “KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS”, AT FB LIVE: Please watch “Ang Tanging Daan”, a roundthe-clock Bible Exposition and prayer session at www. facebook.com/angtangingdaan; and “Kakampi Mo Ang Batas”, a legal counseling and news commentary program at www.facebook. com/kakampimoangbatas. Reactions: 0917 984 24 68, 0918 574 0193, 0977 805 9058. Email: batasmauricio@yahoo.com.

Defeat... from page 5

successful, even though it’s right there in their hands! If you want others to believe in you, you have to believe in yourself first. Remember: “No one can make you feel inferior unless you let them.” A successful businessman says: “You can’t push anyone up a ladder unless he knows he can climb himself.” One of the most lethal weapons that will kill your success in life are these 2 little words: “I can’t.” Did you know people used to believe that if human beings traveled faster than 30 miles an hour it would stop our circulation of blood and kill us? Thank goodness a few people didn’t believe that silly, wrong thinking or we wouldn’t be riding in cars, busses, and flying on airplanes today. You’ll never know until you try. Just Think a Minute.

Driving... from page 4

quite often with many of our countrymen getting killed or injured in the process, there is a need to see to it that those who are allowed to drive any vehicle on any road has the requisite mental capacity to be courteous, considerate of others, and careful enough. -oooDRIVERS MUST FIRST BE TAU G H T A B OUT GMRC: I propose therefore that before anyone is allowed to drive or is al-

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(Bottom left photo: L-R Municipal Mayor of Jasaan Hon. Gregorio Jonathan Po, Vice Governor Joey Pelaez and Officer-In-Charge Police Senior Inspector Joann Galvez) As the Chairman of the Committee on Peace and Order, Public Safety, Police Military and Jail Matters, VICE GOVERNOR JOEY G. PELAEZ recently donated a brandnew computer set to Jasaan Municipal Police Station in Jasaan, Misamis Oriental through PSI JOANN GALVEZ to improve police office operations. This turn-over was witnessed by Municipal Mayor GREGORIO JONATHAN PO, Police Station staff and Police Interns of Tagoloan Community College.

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Foreign... from page 5

completed and operational (Php31.77 billion); seven are under construction (Php150.01 billion); and four are under preconstruction (Php128.73). The country’s richest and most influential oligarchs control these PPP projects. The San Miguel Corp. (SMC) group accounts for 45.9% of the total cost of ongoing and/ or completed PPP projects as of March 2017. The Manny V. Pangilinan (MVP) and Ayala tandem, meanwhile, comprises 21.5% on top of MVP’s own projects comprising 18.9 percent. All in all, the SMC, MVP, and Ayala groups collectively control 10 of the 15 ongoing and/or completed PPP projects worth Php275.15 billion or equivalent to 88.6% of the total cost. These same oligarchs are positioning themselves to corner more infrastructure projects as the Duterte administration promotes unsolicited projects and the so-called hybrid PPPs to push its grand infrastructure plan. Unsolicited projects proposed by the big oligarchs now total Php2.6 trillion, mostly in the transport sector as they see opportunity in the traffic crisis. These big oligarchs take advantage of unsolicited projects to build

infrastructure that they will not only profit from but would also benefit their other business interests (e.g. SM’s unsolicited proposal to build a Php25-billion toll road that will link its malls in Pasay and Makati). This further weakens the central role that government should be playing in rationally planning and deciding which key infrastructure projects are needed, where to put them, and how they serve the overall development plan. Hybrid PPP, on the other hand, is a worse form of PPP because it puts even heavier load on the public sector than the already onerous burden it shoulders under a regular PPP. In a regular PPP, the private sector will raise funds to build the infrastructure, and then operate and maintain (O&M) it in a fixed period to recover investments and earn profits. In a hybrid PPP, the public sector will finance the construction of the infrastructure through official development assistance (ODA) loans and then give the O&M to the private sector. The public will thus be burdened with direct debt servicing for the ODA loans (in a regular PPP, debt is often a contingent liability), profit guarantees and other perks for the private operator, and high user fees. With preference for unsolicited projects and hybrid PPP, and the pending Traffic

Emergency Bill – supposedly meant to address the traffic crisis – the stage to favor certain big oligarchs is set. With emergency or special powers, the Executive could fast track the implementation of transport infrastructure projects through negotiated contracts in the pretext of solving the urgent traffic crisis. Increased foreign role Meanwhile, as bilateral relations with China warm up under Duterte, the administration is actively seeking Chinese financing for big-ticket infrastructure projects through bilateral ODA loans, as well as multilaterally through the Chinaled Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), to fulfill the so-called “golden age of infrastructure”. Reports say that China is set to finance Php172.4billion worth of infrastructure projects this year. This is part of the 15 projects identified for Chinese financing under the Duterte administration estimated at a total of $6.96 billion (Php349.92 billion). Earlier reports indicated that one of the projects that China will finance is the South Line of the NorthSouth R ailway Project (NSRP) for $3.01 billion (Php151.33 billion). China also expressed initial interest in bankrolling “Duterte’s dream” of Php218-billion, 830-kilometer Mindanao railway system. Aside from China, other

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imperialist financial institutions are also lining up to fund Duterte’s “golden age of infrastructure”, also mostly in the transport sector. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has committed to finance three mega-transport projects with a combined cost of $8.8 billion (Php442.42 billion). Eleven other projects are being pitched as well to Japan for possible funding including irrigation and flood control projects. The US-controlled World Bank, on the other hand, is providing $64.6 million (Php3.25 billion) for the first line of the Metro Manila bus rapid transit (BRT) system. With increased ODA borrowing to fund infrastructure development, Duterte’s economic team has been pushing for a package of tax reforms that would be shouldered more heavily by the poor and ordinary income earners. The tax reform package entails additional burden that includes higher valueadded tax (VAT), expanded and higher excise tax on all petroleum products, as well as the sugar excise tax. While the poor bear the brunt of these reforms, the rich get tax benefits such as lower corporate income tax as well as tax cuts in real estate and property-related transactions. And these rich include the oligarchs that corner the infrastructure projects (including those to be funded by ODA) the

costs of which the taxpaying public will shoulder. In addition to financing PPP projects, increased role for foreign interests is expected as the push to further liberalize infrastructure development continues. The US, for instance, has renewed calls to lift constitutional restrictions on foreign investments to allow and encourage American firms to participate in the Duterte administration’s PPP program. Another route being promoted by the US for American involvement in PPP is through the relaxation of limits set under the Foreign Investment Negative List (FINL). Meanwhile, Duterte himself has said that he is supportive of lifting constitutional limits on foreign investments through Charter change (Cha-cha). Already, the PPP Center under the current administration has launched a UKfunded (Php4.35 million) Development of Foreign Investment Framework Project that “will facilitate the legal and institutional push to further build a favorable PPP business environment for foreign investors”. The output of this project will be translated into inputs to the PPP Act and its IRR. Another pending legislative proposal to allow full foreign participation in key infrastructure sectors is HB 446 that seeks to amend the Public Service Act and redefine public utility. When

passed, it will open telecommunications, transport and power industries to 100% foreign ownership. Policy issue of profitdriven infrastructure Ongoing PPP/infrastructure/transport projects continue to burden the people. The Php62.7-billion MRT-7 project (SMC) – the second largest among active PPP projects – for instance, is fraught with onerous contractual terms that are disadvantageous to taxpayers (state guarantees on private debt, amortization payments, etc.) and end-users (guaranteed fare adjustments) while causing massive displacement among urban poor and farmer communities. The same thing is true with the LRT-1 (MVP-Ayala) PPP project. Ultimately, it all goes back to the policy issue of private sector and profitdriven infrastructure development that the so-called Dutertenomics promote. The country needs to urgently address its infrastructure crisis but as IBON has repeatedly raised in the past, infrastructure development for transport as well other key sectors carried out with profit-driven agenda contradicts and undermines the role of infrastructure in improving the living condition of the people and serving the overall economic development and general public interests of the country.–IBON Features

DEED OF ADJUDICATION OF SOLE HEIR KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: That I, MITCHEL G. MELENDEZ, Filipino citizen, of legal age, married and a resident of P-12, Poblacion, Valencia City, Bukidnon, Philippines, after having been duly sworn to in accordance with law, do hereby depose and say: That I am surviving legal SOLE HEIR, of the late spouses LETECIA G. MELENDEZ who died on November 30, 2013 at P-12, Poblacion,Valencia City, Bukidnon and DIONISIO MELENDEZ who died on August 4, 2013 at Home P-12, Poblacion, Valencia City, Bukidnon; That said deceased SPOUSES died intestate, without testament and without leaving any debts whatsoever and left the following real property described and bounded as follows, to wit: “A PARCEL OF LAND, known as Lot 2-C, Psd-10-014965, being a Portion of Lot 2, Psd-10- 011257) located at Poblacion, Valencia City, Bukidnon. Bounded on the NE., along line 1-2 by Lot 2-D, on the SE & SW., along lines 2-3-4 by Lot 2-H, both of the subdivision plan Psd-10-014965, on the NW., along line 4-1 by property of Elsie Eduave. Containing an area of FIVE HUNDRED NINETY TWO (592) square meters more or less. Covered under Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-63872.” That being the SOLE HEIR or the son of the late SPS. LETECIA G. MELENDEZ and DIONISIO MELENDEZ by these presents do hereby adjudicate the above parcel of land in my favor; That I execute this DEED OF ADJUDICATION OF SOLE HEIR in order to establish the truth of the facts above stated and for whatever any legal purposes this may serve best. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto affixed our signature this 14th day of May 2015 at Valencia City, Bukidnon, Philippines. MITCHEL G. MELENDEZ Affiant DEPED ID # 093 Division of Valencia City

Signed in the presence of: ___________________________and __________________________ ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Republic of the Philippines } Province of Bukidnon }s.s. City of Valencia } BEFORE ME, a Notary Public for and in the Province of Bukidnon personally came and appeared the above named persons with their residence certificate numbers written above on their respective names all known to me to be the same persons who executed the foregoing instrument and they acknowledged to me that the same are their free and voluntary act and deed. WITNESS MAY HAND AND SEAL this 14th day of May 2015 at Valencia City , Bukidnon, Philippines.

Doc. No. 275 Page no. 56 Book no. CXLIV Serie of 2015 MDN: Apr 17, 24 & May 1, 2017

ATTY. CECILIO CHITO R. TANCINCO Notary Public Until December 31, 2015 TANCINCO LAW OFFICE P-11 Poblacion, Valencia City, Bukidnon IBP LIFETIME NO. 05853 Bukidnon Chapter PTR NO. 1327913 1.5.15, Valencia City Roll no. 45611/TIN no. 912-745-94

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Scam... from page 1

produced champions in local and international tournaments. Atos is an international Jiu-Jitsu team consistently ranked among the best Jiu-Jitsu schools in the world,” Juarez said. Juarez was trained by Ali Sulit, head of Atos Philippines, a Judo 4th degree Black belt, a Brazilian JiuJitsu Blackbelt and head coach of the Ateneo de Manila University Judo and Jiu-Jitsu program.

collect fees. Jade Montero, SB Corp’s Officer in Region 10, denies the group’s claim. SB Corp’s only recognizes government-issued IDs as of proof of identification. He also encourages interested small enterprises that wish to avail loans under the P3 program to visit the nearest DTI office to know the guidelines of loan program. (DTI-10/ from page 1 PIA-10)

Colors...

Scholars... from page 1

students who have potential to succeed in international competition but have little to no budget. It has been a practice nga kami mag amot-amot but we decided to have a fund raising event instead,” said Paul Clarence “Popo” Juarez, head instructor. Juarez added: “Second, we’ll have to buy gear and equipment for our scholars. They are chosen students that we want t take under our wing to impart skills and values that would help them in the future. Sa karon I’m helping out a few people nga trainers daan for capacity and skill building.” “These ‘scholars’ are street children from Kuya Fish (KFA) or Ark Foundation who are being groomed by our partner foundation so that they become positive role models in their community. Gamay pa ni sila but we’re expecting this integration program to be successful,” he said. Queries for assistance and information can be coursed through Proverbs Fernandez, Vice PresidentKuya Fish Campaign, with mobile #0927-227-5419. ATOS BJJ holds JiuJitsu classes at the YMCACagayan de Oro City from 7 to 9 p.m. every Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. In a previous article published in SunStar Cagayan de Oro, Juarez describes Jiu-Jitsu as a martial arts derived from judo but which stresses ground fighting and submissions. “Its most popular form is the Brazilian Jiu-jitsu (BJJ) Japanese judoka Mitsuyo Maeda brought the art to Brazil. Its popularity rose because of its success in the Unlimited Fighting Championships (UFC), showing its effectiveness against other martial art forms,” Juarez said. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu promotes the concept that a smaller person can successfully defend against a bigger, stronger and heavier opponent by using proper technique, leverage, and most notably by taking the fight to the ground (Wikipedia). Juarez has been training for nine years and has affiliated with Atos Philippine for four years as an accredited instructor. “We are the only Atos Philippine branch outside Metro Manila and we have

community and places. The games’ elementary division includes 15 events -- arnis, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, chess, football, gymnastics, sepak takraw, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, and volleyball. While the secondary division has 21 events -- archery, arnis, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, boxing, chess, football, gymnastics, sepak takraw, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball, billiard, futsal, wrestling, and wushu. The demonstration sports are pencak silat, aerobic gymnastics, and dance sports, while para games are goal ball, bocce, athletics, and swimming. Highlighting the uniqueness of this year’s Palaro, where 925 golds are up for grabs, are new experiences which include: • Former demonstration sports like futsal, wushu, wrestling and billiards will be turned into regular sports to be included in the tally that determines the overall champion for games. • Dance sports and aero gymnastics are listed in the demonstration sports category. • For the first time since 1948, the Department of Education (DepEd) will give the “Palarong Pambansa Parangal,” an award for a Palaro alumnus or alumna who can inspire young athletes to excel in the field of sports. This year’s Palaro carries the theme, “Converge Youth Power, Builds Sustainable Future.” It hopes to promote physical education and sports as an integral part of the Basic Education for holistic development of the youth to become responsible and globally competitive citizens of the country; inculcate the spirit of discipline, teamwork, excellence, fair play, solidarity, sportsmanship, and other values inherent in sports. Furthermore, it aims to promote and achieve peace by means of sports; widen the base for talent identification, selection, recruitment, training and exposure of elementary pupils and secondary students to serve as athletes roster to the national sports association for international competitions; and provide database that will serve as basis to improve the school sports development programs. Famous Filipino athletes who are products of the Palaro include Lydia de Vega of Meycauayan, Bulacan, former sprint queen of Asia (1980s), who dominated the 100- to 200-meter sprint competitions in the Southeast Asian Games (SEAG); and Elmas Muros-Posadas of Magdiwang, Romblon, who specialized in long jump and former “Iron Lady” of SEAG in the 1990s. Congress annually appropriates P350 million for DepEd to hold

school-based sports competitions that include division, regional meets and the Palaro. (PNA)

Energy... from page 1

Department of Energy showed that non-renewable

Monday, April 24, 2017 energy accounts for over half of Mindanao’s power mix. The reversal was noted between late 2015 and early 2016, or the period when three major coal-fired power plants with a combined installed capacity of 700 MW were connected to the grid, according to Romeo Montenegro, director for Investment Promotion, International Relations and Public Affairs of Mindanao Development Authority. Montenegro was referring to the AboitizPower Corp.’s 300-MW Therma South Inc. in Brgy. Binugao, Toril in Davao City, the 300-MW coal-plant of the San Miguel Consolidated Power Corporation in Malita, Davao Occidental, and first 100-MW unit of the Alcantara-led Sarangani Energy Corp. Of Mindanao’s total installed capacity of 3,162 MW, non-renewable energy contributes 1,898 MW (1,070 MW coal and 828 MW diesel), which accounts for 60 percent of the energy mix, while renewable sources account for about 40 percent or 1,264-MW (108 geo-thermal, 1,061-MW hydro, 36-MW biomass, and 59-MW solar). One-MIECOOP earlier signified interest to bid for Agus and Pulangui to “democratize the power industry.” Edgardo T. Silagan, 1MIECOOP chairperson, said he believes that the cooperatives can pool funds so they can bid alongside giant power companies to buy out the hydropower complexes despite being in the infancy stage. He said 1MIECOOP has currently 35 members with combined assets of P20 billion but he said they are confident they can still encourage other big cooperatives to join them. He said the electricity costs will become more competitive once the cooperatives are allowed to own power assets and participate in power generation, a field already dominated by a few large power companies. Silagan also asked President Rodrigo R. Duterte to support their plan to acquire Agus and Pulangui. “Mr. President, we, the Mindanao-based cooperatives want to own the hydro power plants which we hope you would support because this will give us social justice, equitable distribution of wealth, peace and prosperity, and job generation,” he said. The 2001 Energy Power Reform Act has excluded the privatization of Agus and Pulangui for 10 years, or until 2011, but the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management moved the deadline to this year. Rhoda Ruth Pillerin, board member of 1MIECOOP, said cooperatives can manage power plants, banking on the efficient practices being followed by a cooperative. “At the end of the day, this would be a dream come

true for the energy sector if this is going to happen. We want to democratize the energy sector which is being controlled by a few families,” she said. She said energy generation is a “lucrative investment” and opening the industry to the cooperatives is one way for regular members to become part owners of new power projects.

Protest... from page 1

98 percent of which is located here in Mindanao. Of this, 154,000 hectares are targeted in the region, particularly in Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon,” said Datu Jomorito Goaynon, chairman of the Kalumbay, a tribal organization. In the region, Goaynon said, almost 500,000 hectares have already been devoted to mono-crop plantations such as sugarcane with 72,208 hectares; pineapple, 24,100.40 hectares; banana, 17,168 hectares; rubber, 8,876.31 hectares; oil palm, 4,290 hectares; and cacao, 663 hectares. G o ay n on s a i d t h i s planned expansion poses a threat to the tribal peoples in the region as this would impact their homes and their livelihood, and most of all, the land which they inherited from their ancestors. He said the government should focus on food production first and not on mono-crop plantations that will not benefit the people but the huge agribusinesses. “Instead of prioritizing basic food such as rice, corn, vegetables and fruits that we need, the Duterte administration has instead pushed for the plantation expansion,” Goaynon, adding that this resulted to the rampant encroachment of tribal lands, food shortage, environmental degradation and health hazards brought by the heavy use of petrochemicals such as herbicide and pesticide. The problem, he said, is that the government has legitimized land-grabbing such as the planned oil palm plantation expansion through a section in the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) which requires the tribal people to partner with huge businesses. Protesters also condemne d t he prop os ed construction of dams in Bukidnon which will affect thousands of hectares of ancestral lands. Goaynon said the Duterte government must be held accountable for what they perceived as inaction to the plight of the indigenous peoples. Also, Goaynon and Datu Felix Bollozos performed the “Panalabugta,” a Higaonon tribal ceremony to mark the 47th Global Earth Day at the Press Freedom Monument,Vicente de Lara Park here. Goaynon said the Panalabugta is ritual expressing respect for earth as the source of life.

Drive... from page 2

in the concepts of climate change and its impacts. In time for the graduation season, Basug advised college graduates to “take into consideration the environment in whatever career or profession they take.” She noted that schools today encourage students to put value on the environment. On April 28, the EMB will sponsor an exhibit and concert for the environment called “Earth Day Jam” at the Rizal Park in Manila. An awareness activity for watershed ecosystems will be held in Angat Dam, Norzagaray, Bulacan on the same day. The EMB has launched on Monday (April 17) the 2017 Design Contest, “Infographics for the Environment.” The contest, to run until June 1, invites technology enthusiasts to create engaging environmental information – clean air, clean water, solid wastes, climate change, chemicals, lead poisoning, hazardous wastes, ozone layer and environmental education – into a social-friendly message that will appeal to all audiences. Leading to the Earth Day celebration, the DENR sponsored a coastal clean-up at the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area on April 8. Mangrove tree planting was also held in Calatagan, Batangas on April 18 led by the EMB and the DENR Strategic Communication and Initiatives Service. Earth Day is celebrated worldwide every year on April 22. It is the single biggest environmental celebration in the world participated in by more than 150 countries and over a billion people. It is held to demonstrate support for environmental protection. The first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970 in the United States. In the Philippines, Earth Day is celebrated by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 2008-1481. April is also observed as Earth Month. Visit http://www.facebook.com/EMB.EEID for details on EMB-sponsored activities.

Workers...

from page 2 Agusan del Sur and Greenstone-Red 5 Ltd to the Mainit Lake in Surigao del Norte, which are sources of irrigation of rice fields. Amidst decreasing fish catch and rice production, our food sources are further threatened with the conversion of vast agricultural land to oil palm and banana plantations. In Caraga 15,000 hectares of agricultural land have been converted into oil palm plantations by Filipinas Palm Plantations Inc. (FPPI) and Agusan Plantations Inc. (API) in Agusan del Sur. An additional 200,000 hectares is targeted for oil palm plantation expansion in Las Nieves, Cabadbaran and Tubay in Agusan del Norte and in San Luis, La Paz, Esperanza and Prosperidad in Agusan del

Sur. More than 24,00 hectares of rice land have also been converted into banana plantations of Dole-Phil and Sumifru in Surigao del Sur. The expanding plantations in Caraga destroy the environment with toxic chemicals sprayed upon hectares of land to kill pests in plantations and hasten fruit bearing of banana and oil palm trees. It has also caused soil nutrient imbalance and are killing beneficial insects and organisms in the farms. It is turning the land barren. Exploited mine and plantation workers Billions of profits from the mineral resources of Caraga are being appropriated by the large scale mines. Miners strongly oppose the DENR directive of closing mine operations as it seeks to continue to amass billions. According to them, more than 20,000 workers will directly lose jobs and more than 300,000 will be affected within the communities. What they did not say is the fact that majority of mine workers are employed for only 3 to 6 months in a year! More than 85% of mine workers are contractual, in short, they have no job security, are receiving low wages, have no benefits and are doing life threatening jobs. Union busting is widespread among the small number of regular workers who are constantly in danger of losing jobs upon becoming leaders or an active members of unions affiliated with Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU). In MMDC 7 union officials have been dismissed; in Greenstone-Red 5 Ltd. more than 100 workers and in Philsaga-Medusa 65 workers have been dismissed. The company use goons, the police and military to harass workers during union elections and actions that expose company violations. Just recently 201 workers were dismissed by CTP Construction and Mining Corp. for the reason that the company will become bankrupt with the closure order of Sec. Gina Lopez; they were dismissed based on an event that has yet to happen. The company also refused to sit down for the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the CTP Workers’ Union-NAFLU-KMU and use the impending closure to hire contractual workers or agencies. Thousands of agricultural workers are being exploited by Dole, SUMIFRU and Del Monte banana plantations. They suffer low wages, have no job security and receive no benefits. The plantations grabbed the land of farmers and the Lumad. Large scale miners and plantations not only exploit the environment, they are also exploiting workers and farmers! Under such conditions, we are calling the people to; Defend the environment against uncontrolled mine operations and oil palm and banana plantations! Immediately close down the greedy mining companies extracting mineral resources in the region and the country! Stop the expansion of banana and oil palm plantations! Carry out free distribution of land among poor peasants and provide them agrarian services to develop the country’s agricultural production and restore the land by planting varied food crops. Push for the inclusion of environmental protection and appropriate use of the country’s resources in the Social and Economic Reforms (SER) of the Peace Talks between the GRP and NDFP. Support the peace talks! Caraga Watch April 21 – 22, 2017 Earth Day 2017

Monday, April 24, 2017

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