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MSMEs loan TRADE Secretary Ramon Lopez said the Small Business (SB) Corp., the financing arm of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), has been able to secure fresh funding for the Covid-19 Assistance to Restart Enterprises (CARES) program to assist the recovery of smallscale businesses. In a text message on Thursday, Lopez said government financial institutions Land Bank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) have provided P1 billion to SB Corp. to continue the rollout of the loan program for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The SB Corp. has stopped receiving new applications for the CARES program as loan applications have reached P3.5 billion.

Davao-Caraga travel DAVAO City -- Davao passengers bound for Caraga Region can now travel direct starting this month after the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) allowed the Davao City-Caraga Region bus route to operate. On Wednesday’s program over the Davao City Disaster Radio, LTFRB XI Regional Director Armand Dioso said it is opening three trips daily from Caraga Region to Davao City and vice versa. Dioso said that LTFRB is finalizing the schedule of the trip to be coordinated with other local government units where the buses pass through as there might health protocols and requirements for the passengers to submit.

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LGUs, NEDA laud National Steel Corporation revival www.businessweekmindanao.com

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YOUR MINDANAO-WIDE BUSINESS PAPER Monday|August 3, 2020

OCAL officials and the National E conom ic a nd De velopment Authority (NEDA), the government’s think thank in Northern Mindanao has lauded the rebirth of the mothballed National Steel Corporation (NSC) in Iligan City.

INNOCENT PLAY. As the rest of the world goes into panic with the COVID-19 pandemic, children play skipping rope in Barangay San Mateo in Burgos town, Siargao Island. mindanews photo by roel n . catoto

N E DA 10 R e g i o n a l Director Myla Faye Carino expressed full support in the revival of NSC saying the integrated steel plant will spur economic activ it y in region, support downtream businesses and create thousands of jobs for the people of Mindanao. Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno has welcomed the development say ing the proximit y of

Agus hydro electric plants is an advantage and the cost of modernizing the plant is mitigated because the foundation of the plant is already there. On the other hand, Iligan City Mayor Celso Regencia has expressed optimism on the new NSC after it received the letter of intent from a European-led consortium to rebui ld t he old NSC back to its glory days as the REVIVAL/PAGE 10

NTC: Digital TV is key to blended learning By MARK FRANCISCO, Reporter

THE regional director of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) in Northern Mindanao believes that among all other

platforms, digital television is the most doable medium for blended learning for the upcoming school DIGITAL/PAGE 11

AMID concerns on the impact of poor connectivity in the country, an official of the Department of Information and Communications Technology said the agency is doing its best to improve Internet

connection in Davao Region. Speaking during the Davao City Business Forum via Zoom on July 28, DICT Director for Mindanao Cluster 3 Alimbzar P. Asum said PROJECTS/PAGE 10

DICT: Projects to improve connectivity in Mindanao

HUMMINGBIRD. A humming bird is captured by an amateur lensman licking honey dew from a flower. Despite their relatively small size, hummingbirds, which belong to an avian family called Trochilidae, are energy-filled as it can flap its wings 50-200 times per second, can fly forward, backward and even upside down. mindanews file photo

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MONDAY|AUGUST 3, 2020

DOE holds ‘bootcamp’ on energy efficiency, conservation for Mindanao journalists

ORE than sixty media practitioners from the different parts of Mindanao have participated in a webinar dubbed “Journalists Bootcamp” conducted yesterday, July 22, by the Department of Energy (DOE) to orient them on the salient provisions of Republic Act No. 11285 or the Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EEC) Law including its implementing rules and regulations. Held in in partnership with the European Union (EU), EU-Philippines Access to Sustainable Energy Programme

(ASEP), and Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), the webinar sought to provide the members of the fourth estate with correct information about the EEC law, as they play a very important role in information dissemination. “Media has always had a key role in bringing timely and accurate information across all generations and it has become more pronounced in the digital age especially amid COVID-19,” DOE Head of Public Affairs Javerri Bo Bullock said in her opening statement.

With media's help, the important provisions of the EEC law would be properly disseminated to the local government units and the communities to get their involvement in energy consumption conservation initiatives. In Northern Mindanao

where hydropower projects are located would get more support alongside solar, wind, and others, as the EEC law strives to give teeth to the sustainable development goals of the country through enhanced government assistance in conducting research

on sustainable energy projects in the country. To further strengthen the law and encourage energy development, any person or entity that willfully violates said act shall be meted out penalties and/or imprisonment. “Energy efficiency

should be a way of life. That is what the law is trying to instill. So, if we will be more efficient, we can share energy with other people. That is the right thing to do," Energy Utilization Management Bureau (EUMB) Director Patrick T. Aquino said. (VPSB/PIA10)

BUTUAN City – The Caraga State University (CSU) received 18 units of testing equipment and

training tools from the Department of Agriculture in the Caraga Region (DA13) to further boost its Agri-Fishery Machinery Testing and Evaluation Center. The tools and equipment, worth P493,000, were personally

handed over by DA-13 Executive Director Abel James Monteagudo to CSU the president, Dr. Anthony Penaso, in a ceremony held at the CSU campus last week. DA-13 serves as the center for agricultural development in Caraga

and will continuously support the initiatives of its partners, such as the CSU, to strengthen the agriculture sector in the region, Monteagudo said. “Through this, it will awaken the perception of the people on agriculture as vital in nation-building. I am hoping that many people will see this sector as important as others,” he added. The equipment and tools include a toploading balance, data logger, standard sieve set, thermocouple and extension wire, hygrometer, tachometer, digital moisture meter, and AC current clamp meter. Penaso said the support of DA-13 will strengthen the testing and evaluation center for agri-fishery at CSU. CARAGA/PAGE 10

Agri-fishery center in Caraga gets P493-K equipment from DA

CAGAYAN DE ORO MAIN BRANCH P & J Lim Bldg., Tiano Brothers Kalambagohan Sts., Tel. # (08822) 727-829 * Telefax # (088) 856-1947 CAMIGUIN BRANCH B. Aranas St., Poblacion, Mambajao, Camiguin Tel. # (088) 387-0491 CORRALES BRANCH Corrales Ave., Cagayan de Oro City DIVISORIA BRANCH Atty. Erasmo B. Damasing Bldg., #61 Don A. Velez St., Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 857-3631 LAPASAN BRANCH Lapasan Hi-way, Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 231-6739 CARMEN BRANCH Vamenta Blvd., Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 231-2011

3 Cebu Pacific AboitizPower unit commences sets more international new digital substation in Davao flights D Advertising and Editorial E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com Contact nos. : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776

MONDAY|AUGUST 3, 2020

CEBU PACIFIC has slowly rebuilt its international flight network with the restart of flights between Manila and key Asian destinations in August. In a statement on Thursday, the carrier said beginning Aug. 1, it will be flying twice weekly from Tokyo (Narita) to Manila (Wednesday and Saturday). On Aug. 6, it will be flying two times weekly (Thursday and Saturday) between Manila and Singapore; and every Thursday from Seoul (Incheon) to Manila. Twice weekly flights (Wednesday and Friday) between Taipei and Manila are scheduled to begin on Aug. 7. One-way flights to Manila from Osaka (Kansai) are also scheduled to begin on Aug. 7. “We are taking a conservative and agile approach to rebuilding our international network. While demand remains soft, there is latent demand for travel, particularly from stranded individuals and those who are eager to come home to visit their FLIGHTS/PAGE 10

CorporateWorld

AVAO Light and Power Company, Inc., a distribution utility unit of AboitizPower, now uses digital substation in Davao City that will improve power services to households in surrounding areas. In a statement Thursday, AboitizPower said the new Calinan digital substation is the first digital substation located within the district. “AboitizPower’s Calinan digital substation has an improved

higher capacity that can cater to more customers in surrounding areas. It is equipped with a communications system that allows for online monitoring and assessment, leading to early detection of possible technical problems, where immediate action can then be taken,” AboitizPower said. A substation is part of a power distribution system which lowers high voltage electricity from transmission systems to be supplied safely to households and

establishments. Converting to digital substation improves accuracy, efficiency, reliability, and availability of power supply. AboitizPower added the digital substation will significantly reduce and even prevent power outages in the community. Launching a digital substation during this time of pandemic will also minimize physical checking of the substation’s condition and manual labor in restoring power, the firm said.

“The threat of the pandemic did not lessen the dedication and commitment of Davao Light in providing reliable power and quality service to its customers. We continued to push forward with this project despite the trying times because the Calinan substation will help us make sure to keep the lights on for our customers during this community quarantine period,” Davao Light president and chief operating officer Rodger Velasco said. (PNA)

URC’s Q2 net income surges 76% GOKONGWEI-led Universal Robina Corporation (URC) reported on Friday its net income surged by 76 percent to PHP3.8 billion in the second quarter of the year, on the back of strong operating performance and foreign exchange gains. In a statement, URC said its operating income grew by 16 percent to PHP4.3 billion as compared to last year, driven by positive category mix and disciplined cost control amid the

pandemic. Despite the prevailing coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) situation, net sales reached PHP34 billion, up 1 percent versus last year, as strong growth in snack foods, noodles, powdered drinks, animal feeds, flour, and sugar offset out-of-home consumption declines in candies and ready-todrink (RTD) beverages. In the first semester, net income grew by 13 percent to PHP6 billion, driven by operating income and lower foreign

exchange losses. Net sales continued to hold up at PHP67.4 billion, with betterthan-expected delivery coming from the divisions of Branded Consumer

Foods Philippines; AgroIndustrial & Commodities; and the Unisnack Oceania and Nissin-URC joint ventures. URC said first-semester sales of domestic and

international branded consumer foods reached PHP50.9 billion. The agro-industrial and commodities businesses continue to be a relevant INCOME/PAGE 10

Opinion

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IGNACIO BUNYE Do you know that for as low as the price of a second-hand cellphone you can now own a piece of three “Class A” buildings in Makati’s business district? I am not kidding. And these buildings are Ayala North Exchange, where Bank of the Philippine Islands is temporarily headquartered, the McKinley Exchange and Solaris One Building. Ayala North Exchange is located at the north end of Ayala Avenue. It is a twotower office facility with

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Member: Philippine Press Institute Oro Chamber

Rejection gives direction Think a minute… James Macie was a child born outside of marriage. Trag ic a l ly t his marke d him for the rest of his life as a second-class citizen in England’s 18th century society. Even though his true father was Duke of Northumberland, James was never allowed to hold his father’s title. James’ mother tried to have his rightful honor in society restored, but the British government refused. Consequently, James was denied the rights of most ordinary citizens. He could not enter Parliament, hold a public office, or get a job in civil service. He could not even join the Army or the Navy. S h o r t l y a f t e r Ja m e s graduated from Pembroke College, he ambitiously started a career in science. The results of his many a d v a n c e d e x p e r i m e nt s were published, and James became a highly respected scientist. Yet, while other scientists were recognized by the British government with knighthoods, James was denied that honor simply because of his birth.

THINK A MINUTE

a combined gross leasable area of approximately 56,000 square meters. These office towers are specially designed for both multi-national and business process outsourcing companies. Aside from a retail podium, it also features a 312-room Seda Hotel. The McKinley Exchange Corporate Center is an office building at the corner of EDSA and McKinley Road in Makati City. This office development is built to fit the unique 24/7 requirements of IT and business process outsourcing firms with an approximate gross leasable area of 11,000 square meters. Solaris One is a 24-storey Class A building built on over 3,000 sq. m. of prime property along Dela Rosa Street in the Makati CBD. The building is BPO-ready and offers large, efficient floor plates approximately 2,800 sq. m per floor.

Part ownership of these buildings will now be possible because of Ayala Land Real Estate Investment Trust or AREIT which is going public this Friday. Just to refresh: A real estate investment trust (REIT) is a company that owns, and in most cases operates, incomeproducing real estate. AREIT is the very first of its kind in the Philippines to be greenlighted by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the REIT Act. AREIT proposes to make an initial public offering of 1.092 billion common shares at a maximum price of P30.05 each on the main board of the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE). The IPO expects to raise up to P1.4 billion for AREIT, which will help the company fund the acquisition of a fourth asset, Teleperformance Cebu. Reinvestment of the proceeds of the IPO in another property

is mandated by the REIT Law. According to my broker, BPI Securities, their minimum selling lot is only 100 shares, or roughly P3,000, arguably a most affordable way to own income-generating assets such as apartments, offices, malls, warehouses and hotels. BPI Capital Corp., headed by M s . R h o d a Hu ang , will ser ve as the global coordinator for the share sale. BPI CAP will also be the sale’s bookrunner, together with UBS AG Singapore, and lead underwriter, along with PNB Capital and Investment Corp. and SB Capital Investment Corp. Why would I want to buy AREIT shares? First, I want to be able to tell my daughter Frannie that I will now become a co-owner of Ayala North Exchange, where I attend my board meetings. Second, it is a EXCHANGE/PAGE 11

Red Carpet to the High Court

MANILA OFFICE: 9th Floor, Unit 918, CityLand Herrera VA Rufino Cor. Valero St., Salcedo Village, Makati City Tel. # : 5555392,Cell No.: 0977-152-8860 LANI VALLIDO-Marketing Manager

MONDAY|AUGUST 3, 2020

Do you want to become a part-owner of Ayala North Exchange?

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JUN LEDESMA A NUMBER of barangays in the countryside that used to be the hotbed of the New Peoples Army have declared open defiance to the armed elements of the Communist Party of the Philippines and its legal fronts. Recently, several barangays in Negros Occidental and Davao Region had declared the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People's Army - National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) as

persona non-grata. In Laak, Davao de Oro the townsfolk, wearing masks and observing s o c i a l d i s t an c i ng h e l d demonstrations condemning the NPAs for their terroristic activities and atrocities. In another town, Lupon, D av a o O r i e nt a l, a top commander of the NPA was killed in an encounter with the Philippine Army while a ranking member surrendered to the authorities. In fact, a number of breakaway groups had surrendered since Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte assumed as President. Duterte used to liaison for the AFP and the Philippine National Police with the NPAs to facilitate the release of captured soldiers or policemen. The President wanted to end the rebellion so that the development of the countryside could be fast-tracked. He organized a peace panel to negotiate with Jose Ma. Sison in Utrecht,

Netherlands, this despite the fact that the United States and the European Union declared the CPP-NPA as a terrorist group. The intransigence of Sison and his double talk led to a failed peace negotiation. Davao Oriental used to be a bastion of the terrorist group. A number of infrastructure projects were delayed on account of harassments staged by the NPAs. Engineering equipment was set on fire if government contractors refuse to meet the demands of the rebels which had virtually become extortionists. In 2012, killer typhoon Pablo wiped out the timber stands of Davao Oriental and Davao de Oro. Deprived of forest cover, the NPAs moved out of the area. When the jungles of the two provinces recovered the NPA returned to the area and resumed their terroristic activities. In Davao del Norte, the

NPAs and the legal fronts revved up their recruitment program targeting mostly you ng ch i l d re n of t he indigenous people (IP). But early this year, the covert activity which uses classrooms in remote communities was unearthed by government authorities. A perverse mode of teaching curriculum was exposed. The school has a different national anthem and children were taught how to dismantle and assemble M16 rifles. It was also discovered later that the kids were herded in school away from their parents' homes. I n D a v a o C i t y, a compound with a “religious” facade, called “Haran” was discovered to be housing members of the indigenous tribes from faraway provinces in Mindanao. For some time, these innocent men and women we call IPs or CARPET/PAGE 11

What stirs our passions the most? JHAN TIAFAU HURST James never married, knowing that his country would also reject his children because of him. However, he still gave to others a great inheritance. When James died in 1829, he was a very rich man. But instead of leaving his wealth to his own nation, he left all of his money to the United States. He disinherited England as it had disinherited him. In his wi l l, James instructed that his money be used to start an institution that would continue to discover and spread knowledge for humankind. His only condition was that it would carry on his family name which was taken away REJECTION/PAGE 11

Actually, more than what stirs our passions the most, the question to ask should be who makes us most passionate? If we are just passionate about things, certainly we are still very far from the ideal. And even if we are very passionate about some persons, we would still be missing the mark. Who should make us most passionate is none other than God himself, who is truth, goodness and beauty himself. He is the proper, ultimate and constant object that should stir our feelings, emotions and passions. If we are not yet there, then let’s do something about it. We should extricate ourselves from a condition that is not quite proper for us. Let’s remember that our passions play an important role in our life and in our relation with others, especially with God. As our

Catechism defines them, our emotions and passions are “movements of the sensitive appetite that incline us to act or not to act in regard to something felt or imagine to be good or evil.” (1763) As such, we can say that our emotions and passions play an important and crucial role in our life, since they somehow determine our actions and behavior that show and develop who we are. Are we just a natural being, like the animals and plants, or are we rational persons with spiritual faculties and meant to have a supernatural goal? We need to see to it that our emotions and passions should reinforce our identity and dignity as persons, made in the image and likeness of God, made children of his through his grace, and meant to participate in the very life of God.

Our emotions and passions which are an integral part of our humanity are not excluded from our over-all goal to be God-like. We would be God-like in our definitive state of life in heaven with our emotions and passions still intact and used to the hilt. Our emotions and passions serve as a link between our body and soul that are the constituent components of our humanity. We are not spiritual souls only. Our spiritual soul always goes with its corresponding body with its emotions and passions. In heaven and in eternity as it is here on earth and in time, we would still be having emotions and passions. Thus, we need to educate our emotions and passions in such a way that they work for what is clearly our ultimate end. They should not be allowed to just develop at the

HINTS AND TRACES

ROY CIMAGALA instance of our hormones and instincts, nor by the many other blind or short-sighted impulses and trends in our social, cultural, economic, or political environment. They need to be reined in, to be guided and given proper direction. Obviously, the guiding principles for the education of our emotions and passions should be our faith, hope and charity which truly define PASSIONS/PAGE 11

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Banking&Finance

MONDAY|AUGUST 3, 2020

Govt’s foreign loans hit $8-B at end-June

HE GOVERNMENT received $8.203 billion in foreign currency (FX) loans in the first half of the year meant for its coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response, disaster risk management and Marawi’s reconstruction, among others, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin E. Diokno said on Friday. The $8.203 billion was made up of $3.672 billion in commercial borrowings and $4.531 billion in program and project loans disbursed

by multilateral lenders, Mr. Diokno said in a Viber message to reporters on Friday. “We’re providing you this update in the spirit of transparency,” Mr. Diokno, a former Budget secretary, said. Broken down, the government’s commercial borrowings were made up of $2.348 billion in global bonds and $1.324 billion in euro global bonds. Meanwhile, for the program loans worth $4.277 billion, $1.512 billion went to the government’s

COVID-19 active response and $498.8 million was allocated for emergency coronavirus response and development policy. The rest of the program loans went to other initiatives such as disaster risk management ($498.8 million); youth-to-school transition ($400 million); promotion of competitiveness ($399 million); local governance reform ($300 million); social welfare development ($299.3 million); emergency assistance for Marawi’s reconstruction ($206.8 LOANS/PAGE 9

Goal to have 70% of adult Filipinos financially included doable: BSP BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) executives are confident of having 70 percent of the adult population part of the formal financial system by 2023 after basic deposit accounts rose since the enhanced community quarantine. In a virtual briefing Thursday, BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said about 3.8 million deposit accounts were opened in

line with the government’s social amelioration program (SAP), a financial support for families and individuals affected by the pandemic. He said a bank, which he did not identify, registered almost one million new deposit accounts in the first half of this year alone. “This data area (is a) good proxy for the increase in account

penetration considering that their clients that opened these accounts are more likely still unbanked,” he said. Diokno added that about four million accounts were opened digitally between March 17 to end-April, or when areas around the country were placed under community quarantine. He, however, said these accounts may already

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF MISAMIS ORIENTAL 10TH Judicial Region Branch 19 Cagayan de Oro City IN THE MATTER OF ADOPTION OF A MINOR CHILD- JOHN ADRIAN CAILING TABAMO, WITH APPLICATION FOR CHANGE OF NAME FROM JOHN ADRIAN CAILING TABAMO TO JOHN ADRIAN CAILING CORPUS -versusSPOUSES JEZRAEL M. CORPUS & HIZEL CAILING CORPUS, Petitioners. x-------------------------------------------------/

FOR:

ADOPTION WITH APPLICATION FOR CHANGE OF FAMILY NAME

ORDER Petitioners, through counsel complied with the Order of 9 June 2020 by submitting to this Court an Amended Petition. The same is hereby ADMITTED. Finding the Amended Petition to be sufficient in form and substance, the same is hereby given due course. Let Initial Hearing therefore be set on October 7, 2020 at 9:00 in the morning, before this Court located at Hall of Justice- Cagayan de Oro City, Goldridge Building, Masterson Ave. corner Pedro N. Roa Avenue, Upper Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City. Interested persons may file their opposition on or before the aforesaid date of hearing and to attend the hearing of this Petition. At the expense of the Petitioners, let this Order be published once a week for three (3) successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in Cagayan de Oro City and the Province of Misamis Oriental. The Court Social Worker is hereby directed to conduct a Home Study on the adopting parents and a Child Study on the adoptee, reports of which shall be submitted to this Court within SIXTY (60) days from receipt of this Order. She is also directed to conduct counselling sessions with the adopting and biological parents. Petitioners are likewise ordered to have all documentary evidence including their Judicial Affidavits and that of their witnesses pre-marked before the Acting Branch Clerk of Court to establish compliance with jurisdictional requirements on September 25, 2020 at 2:00 in the afternoon, failing which this shall not be calendared for Initial Hearing and/or appropriate sanction imposed.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Done this 20th day of July 2020, in the City of Cagayan de Oro, Philippines.

BWM: Aug. 3, 10 & 17, 2020

(SGD) EVELYN J. GAMOTIN-NERY Presiding Judge

be secondary accounts opened by some bank clients. He said results of the 2019 BSP Financial Inclusion Survey showed that financial account ownership in the country jumped to 29 percent last year from 23 percent in 2017. Diokno said their target to have 70 percent of the adult population to be GOAL/PAGE 9

Landbank, DBP extend loans for Covid-19 vaccine purchase STATE-owned Land Bank of the Philippines (Landbank) and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) will extend a combined P20billion loan to finance the acquisition of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines once these become available. During the Presidential address Friday, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the plan is for the government financial institutions (GFIs) to extend loans to the Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC), an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), that will purchase the vaccines chosen by the Department of Health (DOH). He said the vaccines will then be turned over to the DOH which, in turn, will give-out the vaccines for free to patients belonging to the poorest Filipinos. “So once that happens, the Department of Health now will put in their budget to pay these $400 million or roughly P20 billion. And we can pay that over maybe two or

three years. So babayaran lang nila (they will pay it) through the financing company, which is Landbank and DBP,” he said. Citing reports, Dominguez said three pharmaceutical companies from China, Britain, and the US are now in the final stages of clinical studies on the possible Covid-19 vaccines and the trials are projected to end by October. Approval of the vaccine by these countries’ food and drug departments are seen by December, he said. “So when that happens, the Department of Health will choose what vaccines to buy,” he added. Dominguez said DOH estimates the government needs to give the vaccine for free to a minimum of 20 million Filipinos. At two doses per treatment, he said the government needs to acquire about 40 million vaccines, which is estimated to cost about $10 per dosage. “Once the vaccine is available, I’m sure the economy now can be fully opened and we can start, VACCINES/PAGE 10

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MOTORING IN-DEPTH

Monday|August 3, 2020

Bang for the Buck - the All-New Suzuki S-Presso

HE S-PRESSO’s exterior design is a sight to behold. Its bold and athletic profile, combines with its tall and powerful stance ensuring it commands all the attention wherever it goes. The car’s strong character lines and prominent exterior features such as the muscular front grille, striking front and rear bumpers, distinct headlamp and rear lamp design add to its robust appearance. Make a bold statement as you zip around corners and on lanes. The S-Presso’s side body volume has been pushed upwards to give high visual center of gravity. The boxy wheel arches enhance its stance and sporty side while the strong character line adds the car’s bold persona. The moment you step inside the S-Presso, your eyes instantly fall on the unique center console housing a trendy digital speedometer. Artistically crafted with bold and vibrant design elements, it’s from where all the energy originates, spreading into the interior of the car. The central position of the meter cluster also gives you a new, heightened driving experience. Get in and

experience the invigorating ambience of the S-Presso. The exceptional experience of the S-Presso is a combination of its driving performance and convenience. With a peppy engine and other innovative features, you’re in for an exciting drive. So sit back, and gear up for an energetic drive that’s equally relaxing. S-Presso's compact 1-liter engine is the perfect foil for the go-getter in you. After all, it delivers a peppy performance to go along with your active lifestyle. Plus, it delivers enhanced fuel efficiency, allowing you to go that extra mile. With a 5-speed manual transmission, the S-Presso makes driving on any road a pleasant experience. Its transmission offers an optimal gear ratio, and reduces friction for the engine and drivetrain, enabling it to obtain the best possible fuel consumption and performance. Muffler noise, road noise and floor vibration are minimized through optimizing body characteristics. Not only are the noises reduced by use of enhanced insulation materials on the car body through a series of

intricate improvements to optimize airflow, the ideal balance of design and aerodynamic performance is realized. The S-Presso lets nothing hinder you from reaching what you set out for. And it does this by keeping you protected on every road you take. With a host of exceptional safety features, the S-Presso takes care of you while you enjoy the drive. The

S-Presso comes with front SRS airbags as standard for the safety of the driver and front-seat passenger in case of a frontal collision. The pre-tensioner is designed to tighten the seatbelts to restrain occupants quickly and to prevent them from being thrown forward in case of a moderate or severe frontal crash. Force limiter helps protect occupants from seatbelt inflicted

injuries. Innovation lies in the heart of the S-Presso. It is built with Suzuki’s new generation platform – HEARTECT. Light and highly rigid, it lowers fuel consumption and vastly improves the fundamental vehicle performance in terms of running, turning and stopping. Its frame is characterized by smooth and continuous curves, which efficiently disperses

impact energy in case of collision. The body-design of S-Presso centers on Suzuki’s TECT concept, which helps protect the cabin in the event of a collision by efficiently absorbing and dispersing energy. It also widely employs high tensile steel to achieve both lightness and excellent safety performance. In emergency braking or on SUZUKI/PAGE 11

Motorcycle Manufacturers Issue Safety Warning Against Using Metal Passenger Shield

AS MORE businesses return to operations amidst the rising cases of COVID-19 infections in the country, the streets are again being filled with daily commuters shuffling between home and workplace. However, riding the public transportation these days has been a major struggle because public vehicles are only allowed by the government to take limited passengers as occupants are advised to practice physical distancing. It

is for this reason that the Inter-agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) had earlier banned motorcycle back-riding during the pandemic. Yet, to supplement the limited capacity of public transportation, the IATF has recently allowed couples who live in the same residence to ride together, provided that a separator or shield will be placed between rider and pillion. The IATF is considering

different designs for the said separator and one that was approved was a design submitted by Bohol Provincial Governor Arthur Yap. Gov. Yap’s pillion shield design uses a clear acrylic barrier held by a steel frame, which will be attached to the passenger foot pegs. The Motorcycle Development Program Participants Association Inc. (MDPPA) affirms that all motorcycle models from member brands (Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki

and Yamaha) undergo years of careful planning, design and development carried out by teams of engineers to ensure the utmost safety of each unit. Any additional fixture, such as the one proposed by Gov. Yap, will negatively affect stability and handling of a motorcycle, thus, inevitably compromising safety of its occupants. The proposed pillion shield will create significant wind resistance when the motorcycle is in motion. Not only

does it drastically reduce aerodynamic efficiency, it also makes it easier for crosswinds to throw the motorcycle off-balance even when running at low speeds. Motorcycle safety instructors advise riders to break-free from the motorcycle in the event of a crash to avoid being carried by the momentum of the vehicle. Having a barrier behind the rider makes it difficult to do so as it could keep him pinned on his seat as the motorcycle slides out of control. Moreover, portions of the steel frame of the pillion shield could accidentally break-off and cause additional, possibly fatal injury to both rider and passenger. Fitting a pillion shield of this sort to any type of motorcycle is a possible violation of the Land

Transportation Office’s (LTO) modification regulations. The same shall be a breach of the warranty agreement between the motorcycle owner and the manufacturer. Finally, there is no scientific data that could support claims that installing a pillion shield will help prevent the spread of COVID-19 from rider to passenger. This being the case, the risks outweigh the perceived benefits. It is, therefore, the position of the MDPPA that in the interest of safety, no additional fixtures or modifications should be done on the motorcycle without the approval of the LTO and the manufacturer. It is also the organization’s opinion that the wearing of at least half face helmet with WARNING/PAGE 11

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RCCV Meals on Wheels rolls out in CDO

HE Rotary Club of Carmen Valley led by President Merlyn H. Ybanez has rolled out its Meals on Wheels program to feed some frontliners,

hungry street dwellers and Communities in Cagayan de Oro City amid COVID-19 pandemic. Meals on Wheels is one of the humanitarian projects

of RCCV during this pandemic. This crisis is challenging us to bring about an increased sense of our humanity, community and compassion. “We would like to create

an atmosphere of compassion and care among Cagayanons especially during this very difficult time”. Pres Merlyn said. The first Meals on Wheels rolled in some

key checkpoints in the City last July 10, 2020. RCCV handed 50 pax meals and 500 bottles of fresh milk to all frontliners assigned in the checkpoints as well as to RTAs, tricycle/ PUJ drivers and Food delivery drivers. The giving out of the food and helping the delivery is really a small act, but it could be expressed in a bigger way if we will do our part and give back. Currently, RCCV

is working hand-inhand with the National Dairy Authority in line with their We Drink Milk as One Campaign. RCCV is looking forward for any partnership with other organised groups, private and government entities for them to continue this feeding project not only for the frontliners but to the homeless and depressed families in the City. MF

The importance of physical activities during this pandemic By ARCHIE MAE J. MERCADO Teacher I Laguindingan National High School

Building the Plane as You Fly It: A Flight to a Smooth Opening and Transitioning of Classes in the New Normal By: AISA T. BADANA

Imagine building a plane while it is up there flying? Isn’t it a scary idea to decide flying the plane thinking you still have a lot of things you need to do to ensure a safe flight? Friends, that is our plight now as curriculum implementers in the midst of this pandemic. Now that President Duterte has expressed his support of the programs of the Department of Education relative to the opening of classes, we already have a scheduled flight and that is the opening of classes on August 24. With the onset of the pandemic and the announcement of Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones that SY 2020-2021 will open on August 24, the expression “building the plane as you fly” seems to very relatable. The expression captures the feelings of risk and uncertainty that accompany designing classroom instructions and testing them in real time with the learners all while being responsible for keeping existing operations running. It reflects the idea that you know you need to try to build something different, even as you still have students on board—who enter your doors every day in need of a range of services. The risky, uncertain aspects of this endeavor feel all the more acute under the pressure of whether or not my instruction is effective. The expression “building a plane as you fly it” entails progress over perfection. Regional Director of Region 10 Dr. Art Bayocot said in his session in DepEd CDO Tech o’clock that those who work for and in DepEd should be making a noise now regarding the

opening of classes. This does not mean that we fight with parents or teachers in social media on why schools should be opened this school year but in our own little ways we help our co-teachers, parents, and students be informed of the dynamics of school operations this school year. There is no need to fight because we are all in this together. How do we get to the our desired destination in this flight? I suggest to embrace this positive attitudes. First, we have to be adaptable. As teachers this is our asset. That is tested and proven already over time and that will be all the more put to the test now as we are challenged to cater the needs of all our learners regardless of the absence of electronic devices and internet connection. Second, we have to be pro-active and not reactive. Let us think of ways on how we can contribute to the school in terms of delivering quality instruction to the learners. Let us talk to parents as a way of educating them. Let us be part of the solution and not part of the problem. As the saying goes “Kapag gusto maraming paraan. Kapag ayaw maraming dahilan.” Let us be proactive. Third, we have to be goal-oriented. The Department of Education has already provided teachers the Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELCs). Let us be thankful that we are spared from the work of identifying these MELCS because our task now is to implement it, to make learning happen for learners. Let us design our classroom instruction that will make learning not scattered but meaningful and relevant

to the learners. Let us be goal-oriented and cascade this attitude to out learners. I do not doubt the teachers’ potential to be heroes. We are heroes because amidst all the challenges we are presented, we always strive to rise above it. We are heroes but we are not superheroes. We deal with reality of the world around us and what we can do with it given our resources. I am happy and proud that our beloved DepEd Secretary, despite her age, has shown us how it is to be leader at this time when it is so easy to say “Hindi na muna tayo magbubukas ngayong taon.” In her words, she said, “If you teach anxiety, if you teach fear, if you teach insecurity, and you are so fearful that you cannot move anymore, let’s just wait for this thing to blow over… but we don’t know when this thing will blow over. So in the meantime, you cannot have 9 months of idle children being restrained in their homes… Making them stay at home and having no classes, no learning at all because we are afraid… We have to work around that fear.” Instead the good Secretary firmly decide to take on this flight and journey with the whole nation in making this education continuity happen. We have all been working hard for the education of our Filipino learners. We must not allow this pandemic to slow down our opportunity for a bright future. Together, let us build the plane as we fly it so we can experience a smooth opening and transition of classes this school year!

THE benefits of physical activity and exercise have been demonstrated across the lifespan. We are meant to move and many of our body’s systems work better when we are consistently physically active. For managing symptoms of depression, some research suggests that elevated levels of aerobic activity (exercise that significantly raises our heart rates) may be associated with greater reductions in depressive symptoms. C onsider engaging in physical activity once or twice daily that includes brief periods (30 to 900 seconds) of greater intensity. For this, this may be accomplished through exercise in their homes including jumping jacks, mountain climbers and sequencing strength training exercises (i.e. standing

squats, pushups and situps). For others, the use of home exercise equipment such as treadmills, elliptical machines and stationary bikes may be helpful. Strength training has been shown to reduce s y mpt om s of a n x i e t y for individuals with and without an anxiety disorder. Weightlifting using exercise equipment or household items (textbooks, canned goods, milk jugs filled with water or paint cans) may help us to reduce the negative effects of stress and anxiety. For children and adolescents, moderate to vigorous physical activity and exercise during the day are associated with elevations in self-esteem, improved concentration, reductions in depressive symptoms and improvements in sleep.

Building a better world through education By LORYBE R. GALILI School-in-charge Kiraging Elementary School Kiraging, Sugbongcogon, Misamis Oriental

THE purpose of education i s t o pro du c e d e c e nt world citizens who can understand the global problems who have the practical competence and the motivational incentives to do something about those problems. Indeed, education has helped to build a better world. Most people are generally more prosperous and secure than at any time in history. This is thanks in part to educational inst itut ions t hat have fostered skills, research capabilities and social and civic attitudes that underpin rapid progress in recent decades on issues from food security to communications, transport and health care.

Young people around the world are now bringing a new set of challenges into sharp relief. They are negotiating tough issues including climate change, i n e qu a l it y, e xc lu s i on , governance, job instability and technology. They are redefining what it means to be a global citizen and to live sustainably. Will educational institutions help them build the world they want? Will they prepare all children and young people to meaningfully participate in the journey? Start from the premise that good quality education is possible everywhere. With the proper support, even the smallest rural schools can deliver active, cooperative and personalized learning.

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Loans... from page 5

million); social protection ($100 million); and social protection support ($60 million). Mr. Diokno also broke down the $254 million in government project loans which came from the Japan International Cooperation Agency ($98.069 million), Inter nat iona l B an k for Reconstruction and

Development ($30.84 million), International Fund For Agricultural Development ($11.146 million), the Asian Development Bank ($1.576 million) and other agencies ($113.073 million). “For the same period, the national government’s FX disbursements amounted to $6.275 billion,” the central bank chief said. Broken down, $3.305 billion went to debt servicing or principal and interest

How AI impacts remote learning

By LORYBE R. GALILI School-in-charge Kiraging Elementary School Kiraging, Sugbongcogon, Misamis Oriental

THE artificial intelligence (AI) sector in education is growing and is expected to reach $4 billion by 2024 but it will be interesting to see how this is going to affect students. Particularly with COVID-19 right now, the education sector is one of many which has been completely transformed. Remote learning is the new normal for students to learn new skills during lockdown. But this isn’t wholly convenient for us and it may not be the most efficient method to ensure education for all the children at school. This model isn’t as effective as being at school as it relies on both the student and teachers to

be fully motivated over the screen and there are risks that online teaching may severely impact a big group of children’s education in many ways than we can ever imagine. AI can help teachers who have also been thrown into unknown territory who are inundated with online teaching and evaluation of children’s development in a way they have never done before. In fact, there is a data analytic software where all students are required to do is take a picture of their work and the AI algorithm will automatically grade students’ works in certain subjects and even provide feedback into which teachers can look into.

payments on the government’s commercial borrowings, and program and project loans. Meanwhile, $2.916 billion went to foreign exchange conversion. Other net disbursements amounted to $54 million, which includes charges and disbursements of grants to other government agencies and net of interest income on the national government’s deposits. “In sum, net national government receipts amounted to $1.928 billion for the same period ended 30 June 2020,” Mr. Diokno said. BANKS’ FCDU LOANS Me a nw h i l e , f o r e i g n currency loans of local banks rose in the first quarter amid lower interest rates and an increase in working capital requirements, BSP data released separately on Friday showed. Outstanding loans by foreign currency deposits units (FCDUs) of banks inched up 1.3% to $18.3 billion as of March from the $18 billion seen at end-2019. Cre dit disburs e d by FCDUs rose 8.7% year-onyear from the $16.1 billion seen at end-March 2019. “The growth in loans may be attributed to borrowing firms’ higher working capital requirements, lower interest rates as well as increased investment in plant or equipment,” the central bank said. F C D Us a r e c e n t r a l bank-approved bank units

that perform transactions involving foreign currencies, mainly by accepting deposits and handing out loans. The BSP said 79.5% of FCDU loans in the period were medium- to longterm debt, meaning they are payable over a term of more than a year. This is higher than the 75.8% level logged as of March 2019. Central bank data showed loans to residents, which made up 64.8% of t he outstanding loans, went to power generation companies (18%); merchandise and service exporters (13.9%); public utility firms (7.8%); towing, tanker, trucking, forwarding, personal and other industries (6.9%); and producers/manufacturers, including oil companies (5.2%). Gross disbursements hit $14.3 billion in the first quarter, higher by 7.8% from a year ago, on the back of higher funding requirements of an affiliate of a branch of a foreign bank, the BSP said. Loan repayments also rose 7.2% which resulted in overall net disbursements. Meanwhile, FCDU deposit liabilities stood at $43.1 billion as of March, up 4.9% from the end-December 2019 level of $41.1 billion and by 7.8% from the end-March 2019 level of $40 billion. The BSP said 98% of these deposits continue to be owned by residents, “essentially constituting an additional buffer to the country’s gross international reserves.”

The FCDU loans-todeposit ratio was at 42.4% as of end-March, lower than the 43.9% as of end-December but slightly higher than the year-ago ratio of 42%.

Goal... from page 5

financially included by 2023 was a “tall task” but they consider it doable “as a public demonstration of our strong commitment to drive inclusion, and to give us an ever greater sense of urgency.” “A lower target would have been safe but uninspiring,” he said. Thus, Diokno said results of the latest Financial Inclusion Survey, conducted before the pandemic, “have been encouraging.”

“This gives us confidence that we’re getting closer to our target sooner rather than later,” he said. Diokno said they will continue to support programs that will promote affordable and reliable internet connection, particularly in the provinces, to boost their financial inclusion program. He said the Philippine Identif ication System (PhilSys) or national ID will greatly help people in opening bank accounts. He said implementation of PhilSys, which also serves as a digital ID, is on track. Diokno said the Philippine St at i s t i c s Aut h or it y i s targeting to register some five million low-income hous eholds this four th quarter of the year. (PNA)

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Projects... from page 1

DICT has earmarked more than P6 million for the construction of wifi lines and free wifi sites for Davao Region last year. DICT also implemented 179 communication centers such as library, training centers, and digital classrooms in Davao Region this year, Asum said. For 2021, DICT has proposed P40 million for the construction of more projects aimed at improving the country’s communication and information system, he added. Meanwhile, Asum said DIC T w a s el ate d w it h President Rodrigo Duterte's stand boost Internet connectivity in the country. “At this time of the pandemic, we realized we can do many things through the internet. So, government has to interconnect the whole country through the internet, the DICT official said. As u m q u ipp e d t h at Internet connectivity in the Philippines remains poor. “(it's) very serious. If I would categorize it in t h e m e d i c a l t e r m - - it’s critical,” he said, adding that the problem became more pronounced amid the coronavirus pandemic, when demand for Internet is high as the quarantine restrictions compelled people to stay home and use the web more. Asum said he understood where President Rodrigo Duterte was coming from when he singled out the c ou nt r y ' s maj or tel c o s during the recent State of the National Address for poor connectivity. The DICT official said s l ow c o n n e c t i v i t y h a s disrupted the work from home arrangement of several companies, while putting at risk the online learning modalities adopted by schools

amid the pandemic. However, Asum said DICT is "doing its best" to help telecommunications companies speed up the construction of more cell sites in Mindanao. He also noted that for a telco to put up a single cell site, which costs PHP10 million to PHP15 million to build, more than 20 clearances are required in the local government level. One solution the agency is looking at, he said, is giving more teeth to the existing Anti Red Tape Act of 2007 (ARTA) to compel LGUs to simplify and speed up the processing of permits that telcos have cited as a primary problem in putting up more cell sites. Asum said DICT will also help telcos negotiate with homeowners associations in establishing cell sites, noting that several projects have been on hold because of health concerns by residents about the presence cell sites near their homes. (PNA)

Revival... from page 1

country’s powerhouse in steel production and source of employment opportunities at this time of global pandemic. T he ne w 4 -B e u r o s integrated steel plant will be put up at the same site of the old NSC in Barangay Roxas, Iligan City. Technical preparations are now being fast-tracked by a leading European developer of modern, state of the art steel facility.

Caraga... from page 2

“This equipment donated by the DA-13 would be of great help in the delivery of high quality of agriculture and agriculture engineering education of Caraga State University and the region as a whole. This will provide the students the opportunity to be

What children must eat during this time of pandemic By LORYBE R. GALILI School-in-charge Kiraging Elementary School Kiraging, Sugbongcogon, Misamis Oriental

EARLY mornings are a rush for most families. Breakfast may not be a priority as the focus is on getting to work and school on time without looking like you just crawled out of bed. Eating breakfast has been shown to improve cognitive performance in both children and adults. Concentration and the ability to stay focused are critical for optimal performance. It is important for you as a parent to lead by example and eat a healthy breakfast with your children. They will then learn this from a young age and you’ll reap the benefits as well. Studies have shown that people who regularly eat breakfast are less likely to be overweight or obese. When

you skip breakfast, your blood sugar levels may drop by midmorning and you’ll crave something sugary and starchy. You may end up snacking on foods such as muffins, crisps, croissants, toasted sandwiches or sugary drinks such as hot chocolate, sweetened coffee, cappuccinos or fizzy drinks. These refined carbohydrates may sort out your energy levels for an hour or so but will soon leave you feeling worse than before: tired, lethargic, cranky and wanting another snack. By the end of the day, you will have consumed far too many kilojoules without getting a good balance of high fiber, nutrient-dense carbohydrates, protein and fat.

equipped with the necessary skills in machinery operations because these will be available here on campus,” Penaso said. He a d d e d t h a t t h e incre asing demand for ag r ic u ltura l e quipment in universities offering agricultural courses pushed CSU to forge a partnership with DA-13 and the Agricultural Training Institute in the area (ATI-13) to address the needs affecting the skills and competencies of the students in agriculture, including local farmers. The CSU training center is the second center in Mindanao delivering high caliber training in agriculture concerning mechanization and laboratory practices. (PNA)

Flights... from page 3

families,” said Candice A. Iyog, vice-president for marketing and customer experience of Cebu Pacific. Cebu Pacific, operated by Cebu Air, Inc., said travel regulations issued by the governments of the Philippines, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan will be implemented as needed. The regulations include a requirement to secure a negative RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) test before departure, mandator y screening for the coronavirus disease 2019, or tests and a mandatory 14-day quarantine upon arrival.

Income... from page 3

and consistent contributor to total URC, with sales increasing by 13 percent to PHP16.5 billion in the first half of 2020. Irwin Lee, URC president and chief executive officer, said “the current uncertainty driven by Covid-19 is still evolving but we are motivated by the fact that business results in the first half turned out better than our severe lockdown forecasts. While we have business continuity plans quickly set in motion, we were bracing for the worst due to quarantine restrictions, supply chain disruptions and fast demand shifts.” Lee said while the company may have weathered the first wave of this crisis, “we must continue securing the here and now, while also preparing for the recovery efforts for the balance of the year and beyond.” (PR) NOTICE Is hereby given that the estate of the late ARTEMIO SENO, SR., consisting of a Parcel of land located at Natumolan, Taoloan, Misamis Oriental, Identified as Lot No. 1653, Pls-799 have been the subject of DEED OF EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT WITH DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE over portion of parcel of land in favor of NESTEL JEAN L. GENERAL by and among his heirs as per instrument executed on July 28, 2020 and Notarized before Notary Public, JOHANNE EMMANUEL G. AGUSTIN and entered in his Noatarial Registry as DOC #150; PAGE #30; BOOK #11; Series of 2020. BWM: Aug. 3, 10 & 17, 2020

Vaccines... from page 5

not the new normal, (but) the normal life,” he said. In a Viber message to journalists, Dominguez said both the Landbank and DBP are financially capable of extending loans to PITC without the need for the national government to infuse additional capital. “Please recall that since 2016, by hardly collecting any dividends from Landbank and DBP, the national government, in effect, strengthened their capital bases. This, in turn, was made possible by the tax and administration reforms that increased government revenues,” he said. Dominguez said the increased revenues as a result of tax reforms and more stringent tax collection not only benefited the government’s priority Build, Build, Build (BBB) program but also the GFIs’ “capacity for supporting the country in times of emergency.” He said the GFIs may also extend loans to “qualified borrowers who wish to supply (Food and Drug Administration) FDA-approved vaccines on a commercial basis,” he said. Landbank president and chief executive officer Cecilia Borromeo said the bank “may extend a credit facility for PITC for the purchase of necessary vaccines on behalf of the DOH.” She said this facility is the same as what the bank did when the government launched its generic medicine program a few years back. “The amount for the trade transaction credit facility will be based on the requirement of PITC; and the sharing between LBP and DBP will logically be based on the size of the balance sheets of the GFIs and the preference of the DOF,” she added. Meanwhile, Dominguez said economic recovery has begun after hitting its lowest last April and May. “It’s already picking up now and we are going to be seeing a pick-up in business activity as we go on,” he said. Dominguez said there are few issues such as the availability of enough transportation and the need for people to spend again. He said the economic recovery is supported by the ample domestic liquidity, low inflation, and strong peso. “People have faith in us. We are able also to finance it (economic recover y) by borrowing locally and internationally. We are in good shape to overcome this crisis,” he added. (PNA)

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Warning... from page 6

closed face shield, more so together with face mask or balaclava, is already an excellent measure in preventing infection. The motorcycle riding gear commonly worn by a rider also doubles as a personal protective equipment (PPE), like those used by medical professionals. As far as COVID-19 infection prevention is concerned, a motorcycle rider’s situation is arguably much better than those sitting inside an enclosed vehicle breathing recirculated air.

Suzuki... from page 6

slippery surfaces, the antilock brake system (ABS) keeps tires from locking, and enhances the driver’s ability to avoid obstacles through steering. The S-Presso comes fitted with ultrasonic sensors in the rear bumper. This means you can get rid of your parking woes, because it helps detect obstacles while you park the car. Warning sounds keep you aware of the distance to the obstacle, making parking a simple task. A minimum turning radius of 4.5m provide excellent maneuverability even on narrow roads. The All New S-Presso i s pr i c e d at a SR P of Php518,000.00 and is available in a new colorway, Sizzle Orange. You may also enjoy the S-Presso in Fire Red, Metallic Granite Gray, and Metallic Silky Silver.

Rejection... from page 4

from him at birth. The name he adopted later in life: Smithson. And today the Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum and research complex. It has 19 museums, 9 research centers, and more than 140 affiliate museums around the world sharing with millions of people its cultural, historical, and scientific knowledge. James used his “rejection to give him direction” to where he could invest his time, talents and treasures to make the world a better place. Just because you have felt rejected, it does not mean your life has no important

purpose. On the contrary, if you sincerely ask your Maker to take charge of your heart and choices, Jesus, who will never reject you, will show you His great plan and purpose for your life… one day at a time. Just think a minute…

Exchange... from page 4

great investment. Given the fact that Philippine 10-year yields now are at 2.81 percent, AREIT provides a superior instrument that offers 4.9 percent this year and with the possibility of another 1 percent increase next year. The business model is extremely sound. It is basically a leasing company with one of the best property managers in the country. You have secure cash flows, very good dividend yields. Note that despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for office space from BPOs remains resilient as foreign companies based in developed countries continue to outsource their operations to reduce labor cost. AREIT is good for long term investors willing to participate in a very secure portion of the property market. A word of c aut i on , however, from my investment counselor Carlos Jalandoni of BPI Asset Management and Trust Corporation (BPI AMTC). Mr. Jalandoni is just a little concerned about the timing. This is equity, not a bond, he says. It does not behave like a preferred share. It is subject to the volatility of the market. And precisely, because of the volatility, Mr. Jalandoni suggests that an investor cost average rather than go all-in at once. (Disclosure: The writer sits as an Independent Director in the boards of BPI, BPI AMTC and BPI Capital.) Note: You may wish to share the foregoing via Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Carpet... from page 4

“lumads” participated in street demonstrations with their colorful ethnic attires. They bear placards and streamers with the screaming slogans denouncing the government, militarization, hamletting, and human rights violations. It is obvious in their faces that they do not know what

they do. They would smile showing their beetle nutstained teeth and would point at tall buildings in awe! The compound was later raided when, for a long period of time, those herded in the compound were later found out to be an object of search for missing members of their tribal communities. Child soldiers, indigenous peoples as props of panhandling human rights foundations. These had seemly come to an end. Those who had been terrorized now bravely denounce their oppressors. While they cannot fight they provide vital information to authorities. We are seeing the second wave of Alsa Masa -- a phenomenal people’s uprising against the cruelties of the CPP/ NPAs in the mid-1980s. There is a saying in Tagalog, “Pagpuno na ang salup, dapat ng kalusin”. I don’t know the English equivalent of this saying but it could simply mean - when abuse breaches the tolerable, cut it to extinction. I am from Davao City and have lived through the days and nights of terror when the CPP-NPA virtually ruled my city. The rich sought refuge in Manila and many settled abroad otherwise pay ransom for their safety and business. At the height of the communist insurgency, about a dozen people are executed on a daily basis. At first, they exact quick sentence on abusive characters in the ghettos. The slum dwellers love them. But later they kill for fancy. When their forces grew to 7 fronts, they taxed not only the rich guys but also the slum dwellers. But their savagery also abruptly ended the reign of terror in Davao City. They executed three of their own tax collectors in broad daylight before the villagers which they ordered to assemble in a basketball court. It was meant to instill fear for people to comply with their tax obligation: four pieces of can goods, a ganta of rice, and P50.00 every week. The executioners overlooked that their victims were close relatives of their top commander in Agdao District. Thus the sudden upheaval from within their ranks supported by the mass base that had been overburdened braved their own

fears and ran after their oppressors. People in the slums and residents in coastal barangays recall the eerie silence of that night when only the staccato of gunfires happened. By daylight, Davao City was freed from the clutches of the CPP-NPA. One act of savager y resulted in an overnight defeat of the CPP/NPA in Davao City. But like the bad weeds in a corn and vegetable fields, some of its wild seeds sprout anew to choke the crops and deprive these of nutrients. A watchful farmer can however uproot these as what is happening now. I have not even touched on the atrocities of foreign terrorists who, on account of the weakness of our antiterror laws, found Mindanao and the island provinces of Sulu and Basilan and the once idyllic Marawi City perfect havens to spawn their twisted beliefs and ideologies. And here we are watching those batches of ignoramuses racing against each other to the Supreme Court to have our anti-terror law repelled. I can only imagine Jose Ma. Sison celebrating in the comfort of his command headquarters in the Netherlands and I will not be surprised if he ordered the laying of a Red carpet to the High Court. The cabal, if you look closely, the same bunch of Duterte haters. Meanwhile, elsewhere in Sulu and the jungles of Maguindanao the Abu Sayyah headhunters and Jemaah Islamiyah are plotting who to kidnap next and which cathedral to be bombed later.

Passions...

from page 4 us as a person and a child of God. They indicate to us our true dignity that should be affirmed also by our emotions and passions. This is what we should be doing all the time. We have to be wary of our tendency to give them away to whatever stimulus comes our way. We also have to be wary of falling victim to the false reasoning that by educating our emotions and passions at the instance of our faith, hope and charity, would make us less human, less manly, and ideas of that sort. What is most certain is that our faith, hope and charity, our intimate relationship

Importance of dry run for self learning modules as preparation for classes in the new normal By CRESANTA A. BUYAN Barangay Records Keeper Barangay Baylao, Mambajao, Camiguin

DepEd Central and Regional Offices have provided Self-Learning Modules (SLMs) with the alternative learning delivery modalities to be offered for various types of learners across the Philippines. The integration of SLMs with the alternative learning delivery modalities (modular, televisionbased, radio-based instruction, blended, and online) will help DepEd ensure that all learners have access to quality basic education for SY 2020-2021 with face-to-face classes still prohibited due to the public health situation.

The SLMs and the other alternative learning deliver y modalities are in place to address the needs, situations, and resources of each and every learner and will cover all the bases in ensuring that basic education will be accessible amid the present crisis posed by COVID-19. Along this development, select four schools of this division have conducted a One-week dry run in the distribution, utilization and retrieval of the quality assured SLMs on July 27-31, 2020. These select schools

were carefully identified with the approval and recommendation from the regional office as to its type representation, to name, Mambajao Central School (Elementary), Bacnit Integrated School (Sagay), Yumbing National High School (Junior High School) and Camiguin National High School (Senior High School). The dry run of DepEd Camiguin is truly a clear gesture of its prudent commitment in ensuring that no learner is denied to any educational opportunities while this important adjustment takes place.

with God developed in our spiritual and supernatural dimensions of our life, would only make our humanity purer and perfected, and elevated gratuitously to the supernatural level which is what God wants for us. Let’s remember that if our emotions and passions are not stirred by our attraction to God as they are by the earthly things, they would not be used in the proper way. God should be who should make us passionate the most!

Digital... from page 1

year in the new normal. In a phone interview with this writer, NTC 10 director Ted Buenavista said digital TV has a wider reach and thus, costbeneficial. Buenavista said that digital TV can be accessed in areas where signal for cellphone networks is unavailable, as long as there is electricity in the area. He pointed out that unlike cellphones where students or parents need to buy load now and then for Internet connectivity consumption while lessons are in progress, the learner needs only to make a one-time purchase of a setup box if his family’s television set is still an analog one. For households which already own an HDMI-ready TV, there is no need for any additional gadget. Buenavista continued saying that should this medium of blended learning be pursued, a digital TV content provider may ink an agreement with the Department of Education (DepEd) or a private school for the provision of airtime. He said digital TV stations possess one more advantage over conventional radio and TV stations – their lone transmitter is already capable to create as many as ten channels on free TV. “For instance, one channel will be dedicated to first graders and so on and so forth until the tenth channel will be for

Grade 10 students,” Buenavista explained. He said that subjects such as Mathematics cannot be fully explained over the radio since they are merely auditory. Analog TV stations can supposedly provide visuals but each station is limited only to one channel, and this is where the advantage of digital TV will come in. Digital TV setup boxes also have the option to record each class session and the student can replay it afterwards with no additional cost as compared to a YouTube-based lesson where cellphone users need to consume Internet data. Buenavista also said that digital TV learning can be sustained beyond the new normal. “In essence, it can be a solution to traffic congestion. Students – which make the bulk of our everyday motorists and pedestrians – will stay at home to learn their lessons,” he said. There is only one digital TV provider here in Cagayan de Oro City. EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: That the late EVELINA B. BUENVENIDA, who died intestate on July 8, 2019, in Cagayan de Oro City, that the deceased at the time of her death left real property consisting of her share in a parcel of land covered by Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT) No. T-25076 and Tax Declaration No. G-103101, located in Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City with an area of more or less, 220 square meters. And has been the subject of an EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY, filed by the heirs of EVELINA B. BUENVENIDA, per DOC #471; PAGE #95; BOOK #2; Series of 2020, under the Notarial Registry of ATTY. WALDO G. REBELOS. BWM: July 20, 27 & Aug. 3, 2020

Challenges to blended learning By LORYBE R. GALILI School-in-charge Kiraging Elementary School Kiraging, Sugbongcogon, Misamis Oriental

THE more that DepEd ventures into online platforms for the delivery of public goods and services like education, the more it exposes itself to online security risks such as hacking, identity theft, fraud, forgery, data leakage and the like. The issue of personal data and privacy protection is another matter that DepEd has to consider. The other imminent challenges that DepEd may encounter when implementing its blended learning program include developing technological c a p a c i t y, a l l o c a t i n g financial resources and adjusting institutional contexts accordingly and changing the mindsets and behavior of teachers and learners. Teachers who are not

as adjusted and familiar wit h t he dynamics of technology have to upgrade their aptitude and literacy quickly. This can be more ch a l l e ng i ng for t he s e teachers than their students – they must acquire a certain level of IT competency and proficiency needed for distant online learning to work effectively. Otherwise, this will become a barrier that may hamper the success and effectiveness of online learning. Learners may experience cog nit ive ove rlo ad as teachers may overdeliver content and activities. The lack of direct supervision by teachers and the varying levels of ability among learners to comprehend and process lessons being delivered to them may result in poorer outcomes.

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Monday|August 3, 2020

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