BusinessWeek Mindanao (February 10-11, 2021)

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Briefly Key issues TO further improve evidencebased decision and policy making in northern Mindanao, the Regional Development Council (RDC)-10 held its 2nd Research Dissemination Forum to share results and recommendations conducted by state universities and colleges on key developments and issues in the region.

“The presentation of outputs resulting from extensive research and inquiry is not merely a showcase of academic dexterity but is actually a show of commitment towards addressing issues that hamper our pursuit of inclusive development and lasting peace,” shared RDC-10 Secretariat Mylah Faye Aurora Cariño during her key message.

In the meeting, the RDC-10 examined its endorsed project on the master plan for the formulation of a Sustainable Urban Infrastructure Development in Metropolitan Cagayan de Oro and its five pre-feasibility studies which tackled issues on the need for an efficient transport system, improved solid waste management, and resilient infrastructure by 2025.

Speaks Up Forum THE Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) said stakeholders in the southern island’s development will meet in an online summit on Feb. 10 to propose the rationalization of bigticket infrastructure projects in the last full year of the government’s term.

Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol, MinDA chairman, said the Mindanao Speaks Up forum will tackle the progress of the Mindanao Railway, Marawi City’s rehabilitation, and the SamalDavao bridge.

“The Marawi Rehabilitation Project is under the Task Force Bangon Marawi, the Mindanao Railway is handled by the Department of Transportation while the Davao City-Samal Bridge is a flagship project of the Department of Public Works and Highways. Of these three, the Mindanao Railway Project has raised great expectations from the people of the region as it promises convenient and easy movement of people and goods. The project, however, has not only suffered delays but also revision in the design,” Mr. Piñol said.

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OG producers in Region 12 (Soccsksargen) committed to help ease the shortage of pork supply in Metro Manila by increasing their shipment of live hogs and frozen carcasses to that area.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar said members of the South Cotabato Swine P ro du c e r s As s o c i at i on (Socospa) agreed to consolidate the available hog resources in the province to maximize their deliveries.

He said this city and South Cotabato, which are among the areas in the country that remain free from the dreaded African Swine Fever (ASF), have been shipping around 10,000 heads of live hogs and PORK/PAGE 11

Babu Kwan resto sizzles despite the crippling impact of COVID-19 pandemic

By RIZ P. SUNIO, MindaNews

ILIGAN City – While the coronavirus disease 2019 (C OV ID-19 ) p andemic ravaged the global economy forcing many businesses to shutdown, Babu Kwan restaurant managed to find opportunities that kept it afloat amidst these trying times.

The first and only halal-

c e r t i f i e d re st au r ant i n Cagayan de Oro City, Babu Kwan opened in April 2019 with the vision of promoting arts and culture. These are reflected not just in the food that they serve but also in the decoration and ambiance of the eatery. Halal is an Arabic term meaning lawful SIZZLES/PAGE 10

PAINTING EXHIBIT. Paintings by Edgardo Palad and seven other local artists are featured during an exhibit in Cagayan de Oro City last week. mindanews photo by froilan gallardo

Pork meat price breaches P300/kg in Region 12

By BONG S. SARMIENTO, MindaNews

KORONADAL City – The price of premium pork meat in Soccsksargen or Region

12 has breached the P300per-kilogram (kg) mark due to stiffer supply as live pigs are being shipped to Metro Manila and the Visayas due to better prices there, it was gathered Tuesday.

A MindaNews monitoring in this city, the regional seat of government, in the past few days showed the premium belly part or liempo ranged from P299 to P320 per kg at a major supermarket and

meat shop, and P280 in the talipapa or roadside vendors.

In December, the price of liempo in the talipapa was just P190 per kg.

In nearby General Santos City, the economic hub of Region 12, prices of pork meat cuts range between P260 and P300 per kg.

But as of the January 28 monitoring of the Department of Agriculture-Region 12’s (DA-12) Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service, PRICE/PAGE 11

MORE HOGS SHIPMENT. South Cotabato and General Santos City hog raisers have committed to increase their shipment of live hogs and frozen carcasses to Metro Manila to heal ease the shortage of pork supply there. mindanews file photo

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WED-THU|FEBRUARY 10-11, 2021

DA-10, CMU push for higher yield, productivity thru hybrid rice technology

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ARAMAG, Bukidnon -- In line with the Hybridization Program which aims to increase farm efficiency to attain rice sufficiency through hybrid rice, the Department of Agriculture–Regional Field Office 10 (DARFO)-10, together with Central Mindanao University (CMU), led a ceremonial planting for the Hybrid Rice Derby.

Representing DA10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, Audy G. Maagad, officer-in-charge, Field Operations Division, highlighted the benefits of using hybrid rice on Thursday, in Musuan, Maramag, Bukidnon.

Maagad said hybrid rice is a good option

for farmers to increase production for it can produce as much as 10-12 tons per hectare.

“With hybrid rice and the use of farm mechanization in land preparation, transplanting and harvesting, production cost is reduced while the yield increases, thus rice farmers get to earn more,” the DA official added.

CMU provided the 33-hectare farmland for seed companies to plant, where each of them is provided with three hectares to showcase their best varieties, including their respective cultural management practices and other technologies to enhance rice productivity.

This will then be displayed in a technology demonstration, so farmers

can determine which variety is best suited for their respective areas.

Meanwhile, CMU President Jesus Antonio G. Derije said their institution welcomes opportunities that can aid in achieving rice sufficiency in the country.

“We want to be of help in producing rice to address the shortage and to produce more harvest because rice is a basic commodity that Filipinos need,” Derije said.

He said they are one with the department in achieving the production of quality rice.

Said derby was participated by seed companies which include Bayer, Dosepco, SL Agritech, Leads Agri, Ramgo, LongPin, Corteva, HYBRID/PAGE 11

BALINGASAG, MISAMIS ORIENTAL National Highway Balingasag, Barangay 4, Balingasag, Misamis Oriental Mobile Number/s: 0933-823-3161, 0933-823-3304 Tel. Number: 333-5161 CAGAYAN DE ORO P&J Lim Building, Tiano Kalambagohan St., Barangay 14, Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental Tel No. (08822) 727-829 / 231-6629 Telefax No. (088) 856-1947 Mobile No. 0933-823-3303 / 0943-708-7065 CAGAYAN DE ORO WAREHOUSE Warehouse 7, Bonbon Road, Kauswagan, Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental Mobile No. 0917-825-4149 / 0943-708-7065 CARMEN, CAGAYAN DE ORO Vamenta Blvd., fronting CEPALCO, Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental Tel. No. (088) 233-2011 Mobile No. 0933-823-3159 CORRALES, CDO Corrales Ave., Barangay 29, Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental Telefax No. (088) 231-2055

DA-CMU promotes farm mechanization as a component in the promotion of Hybrid Rice Technology. With the use of a transplanter, a hectare of land can be fully planted with rice in just a day as compared to manual labor where it takes at least 20 days. (DA 10)

Aggie Normin to set price ceiling on pork products WITH the aim of protecting its consumers from hog price spike, the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office (DA-RFO)-10

DIVISORIA, CDO A. Velez St., Barangay 9, Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental Telefax No. (088) 856-1947 Mobile No. 0917-841-4000 / 0933-823-3164 GINGOOG CITY G/F Wyne Militante Bldg., Lugod St., Barangay 22, Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental Telefax No. (088) 861-0104 Mobile No. 0933-823-3168 LAPASAN, CDO National Highway (FICCO Bldg.), Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental Tel. No. (088) 231-6739 Mobile No. 0933-823-3160 PUERTO, CDO Purok 6, Puerto, Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental Tel. No. (088) 859-0574 Mobile No. 0943-708-7537 CAMIGUIN B. Aranas St., Poblacion, Mambajao, Camiguin Telefax No. (088) 387-0491 Mobile No. 0943-708-7539

convened with relevant stakeholders, February 5, this city.

Following its previous consultation with key players in the hog industry, the agency set another meeting to discuss the implementation of price ceiling for pork products in Cagayan de Oro City.

DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado shared the initiative aims to stabilize prices amidst the threat of African Swine Fever (ASF).

As such, the agency presented data on the costing of production and post-production of hogs and pork, including its suggested retail price.

Said data is based on the price monitoring of

DA-10’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division from November 2020 to January 2021 as well as reports from hog raisers, meat vendors, local governments, Philippine Statistics Authority and DA attached agencies such as the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) and Veterinary Quarantine Services.

Carlota S. Madriaga, regional technical director for operations, noted the list of ceiling prices for pork products will be released by Monday, February 15 and will have a three-day grace period prior to its implementation.

On the sufficiency level of pork supply in PRODUCTS/PAGE 9

Normin Tripartite Council holds 4th summit in digital space THE Regional Tripartite Industrial Peace Council in Northern Mindanao (RTIPC-NM) of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-10 wrapped up its two-series labor and employment summit via digital space anchored on theme, “Virtual Experience: DOLE-X 4th Labor and Employment Summit Series.”

The said two-series new media format reached 8,530 individuals for session one, and 4,196 for session two or a total of 12,726 attendees from 127 companies including 54 workers’ associations.

The summit highlighted topics on Bayanihan To Recover As One Act 2 COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program 2 (CAMP 2), and the Tulong Panghanapbuhay Para Sa Ating Disadvantaged/ Displaced Workers or the TUPAD 2.

The said programs provided formal and SUMMIT/PAGE 11

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CorporateWorld Cebu property developer retains market leadership in VisMin WED-THU|FEBRUARY 10-11, 2021

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EBU City – A publicly listed real estate developer has retained its market leadership in Visayas and Mindanao (VisMin) in 2020, according to a recent market study by property consultant Santos Knight Frank (SKF).

The Cebu-based Cebu Landmasters Inc. (CLI) has the largest market share from among real estate firms providing condominium projects and subdivisions in the region.

The study disclosed that CLI accounted for 18,683 units or 12 percent of the available 86,126 units in VisMin, pulling ahead of developers operating nationwide based on third quarter 2020 data.

Its closest rivals were Sta. Lucia Realty and Development and Camella Homes, at 11,897 units and 11,768 units, respectively.

Franco Soberano, executive vice-president and chief operating

officer of CLI, on Monday said: “The high sales velocity of our projects even at the height of the lockdowns in key cities verify a deeply felt need especially among VisMin economic and mid-income earners to own their own homes. We intend to continue fulfilling this need in 2021 with 8,000 more units in 15 residential projects in Cebu, Ormoc, Bacolod, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro and Davao.”

A market study by Leechiu Property Consultants corroborated that the VisMin housing backlog would be at 2.85 million houses by 2022, with an average annual demand of 475,000 new housing units.

Of this number, 200,000 mid and economic housing units are needed per year.

But only a handful of the current top 10 VisMin developers in 2020 are likely to maximize opportunities provided by the mid and economic

income segment in 2021 and beyond.

A number of these developers extended project completion and turnover dates due to the pandemic, the study revealed.

Soberano said that by mid-year 2020, CLI’s housing inventory was similarly at risk of being overtaken by strong demand.

But the firm leaned on its strategic relationships with local stakeholders including local government units to minimize delays in planning and construction.

It thus succeeded in rolling out nine new projects with 4,300 units in Bohol, Iloilo, Dumaguete, and Davao.

“The year 2020 opened our eyes further to how high the demand truly is for quality housing in VisMin,” Soberano said, “and we hope to build on our growth momentum to satisfy this great need.” (PNA)

McDo shuts down 30 local stores MCDONALD’S Philippines shuttered 30 stores last year after lease expirations and some concerns with financial sustainability, but opened 16 new stores despite the pandemic.

Golden Arches Development Corp.

(GADC), the master franchisee of the McDonald’s brand in the

Philippines, posted a net loss of P967 million as of September last year, compared with the P1.2billion net income in the same period in 2019.

Sales revenues fell 39% to P14.2 billion, with system-wide sales hitting P24.2 billion, mostly due to the impact of the stricter lockdown in the second quarter.

DoE orders power firms to carry out ‘no disconnection’ policy DISTRIBUTION utilities (DUs) must implement a “no-disconnection policy” for poor electricity consumers whose unpaid obligations must be settled

by March this year, the Department of Energy said in an advisory posted on its website on Saturday.

“All DUs are hereby directed to implement a no-disconnection policy due to non-payment of bills falling due by March 2021 for all electricity consumers whose consumption level are within the lifeline rate set by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for the DUs franchise area,” the department said.

“This shall apply to all unpaid regular bills and installment payments relative to various advisories of the DoE and ERC,” it added.

The one-page advisory, which was signed by DoE Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi on Friday, did not give details on how many months the nodisconnection policy would run for.

The advisory comes days after President Rodrigo R. Duterte

expressed his support for the DoE’s recommendation to extend the “nodisconnection policy” for poor power consumers during a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, according to Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei B. Nograles.

In its advisory, the DoE said that all power consumers — both lifeline and non-lifeline — who still cannot pay their bills may “enter into socially equitable and manageable payment terms to prevent eventual disconnection of electricity services.”

Meanwhile, the DoE encouraged consumers who have the capability to pay to settle their bills within their original due dates “to help in managing the flow of cash in the energy supply chain, and ensure a continuous supply of electricity.”

The DoE also directed all DUs to post the advisory in their respective websites and consumer welfare desks.

Last month, Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) said that it had started giving disconnection notices to customers who POWER/PAGE 9

The company in an e-mail said that it opened 16 stores in 2020, and shut 30 as it assessed financial sustainability, leases expired, and lessors made redevelopment plans.

McDonald’s now has 655 stores in the country, down from 669 branches at the start of 2020 and falling short of a prepandemic growth pace that had led them to target running more than 700 stores by the end of 2021.

GADC President and Chief Executive Officer Kenneth S. Yang in a forum last month said that the restaurant sector was one of the most affected by the lockdown last year.

Only 38% of the fast food giant’s branches were operating during the stricter lockdown in March and April, and 84% were

running at limited capacity

by May. The company had to make their products accessible to customers during the lockdown, he added, by expanding their delivery channels.

“In the dine-in component of restaurants, it’s still weak. However, other channels have offset some of that,” he said, noting that drive-thru and delivery services are increasing.

He expects continued lockdown restrictions to impede business recovery this year.

But Mr. Yang said the vaccination program would help improve consumer confidence, noting that the company must modify its operations to meet its customers’ health safety expectations.

Learning impact in the new normal

By JULIET U. JORBAN

TEACHERS will be asked to increase learning time for children in light of disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Teachers would be asked to increase learning time for children and to go over content that may have been missed.

If you're going to school in the next couple of years, it's vital you're reading at the level you will need. We need to step in to support children in some of these critical areas of learning.

I think we need to think about the extra hours not only for learning, but for children to be together, to pl ay, to engage in competitive sport, for music, for drama because these are critical areas which have been missed in their

development.

COVID-19 accelerated the adoption of digital technologies to deliver e du c at i on . E du c at i on institutions moved toward blended learning and encouraged teachers and students to acquire technology savvy.

The times that have been never dreamt of. The pandemic times which blow around the globe, leaving no space untouched. They certainly have left a very memorable impact in the field of education.

Though there were many negative impacts from the COVID-19 outbreak on the field of education, there was also a positive impact which could take the education system and its methods a step higher.

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Opinion

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BUSINESSWEEK MINDANAO CORPORATION Publisher DANTE M. SUDARIA President/CEO ALLAN MARIO MEDIANTE Vice President for Corporate Affairs RUFINO T. MAGBANUA Vice President for Business Development VICENTE C. DELA VICTORIA Vice President for Operations JOE FELICILDA Vice President for Administration JOE PALABAO Vice President for Marketing ROSE MARY D. SUDARIA, PhD Vice President for Finance MIKE BAÑOS Vice President for Digital

Thailand’s Tourism Minister is planning to meet with PM Prayut Chan-o-cha to request 5 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine for workers across 7 tourist cities.

Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn is also pushing for a vaccine passport scheme that would allow international tourists to return in the third quarter of the year. The 5 million vaccine doses would cover 2.5 million tourism workers, including hotel and restaurant employees, tour drivers and spa staff, in Chonburi, B ang kok , C h i ang Mai, Phuket, Krabi, Surat Thani, and Songkhla.

It has also been reported that tourism officials in the Kingdom aim to welcome

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Following the right map Think a minute . . . Have you ever been lost? If you travel to another country for the first time, getting lost can be frustrating and discouraging. Imagine you have just arrived in London, England and want to go to a certain place in that great city. A map of London would show you how to get there. But what if you had the wrong map? What if your map read London, but it was actually a map of Tokyo, Japan! Imagine your total frustration and futility in trying to get where you want to go in London, when all the time you’re following the map of Tokyo!

You c ou l d w or k on your driving skills and concentration. Try harder and drive faster. But that would only take you to the wrong place faster. You might even change your attitude and think more positively.

But you would still be lost.

Being polite and kind to other drivers and pedestrians along the way would not get you there either. None of these things you do can change the fact that you’re following the wrong map.

THINK A MINUTE

JHAN TIAFAU HURST That’s the frustrating situation we all face in life.

We keep looking for success, satisfaction, and love in all the wrong places—because we don’t have the right map. We keep going down dead-end roads that lead us nowhere. We waste much of our life getting lost and making painful mistakes that cost us much—because we do not know how to get where we want to go. But the saddest thing of all is that the right map has been right in front of us all the time. We simply refused to use it. In fact, the Maker of the right map also came as our personal guide to show us what we’re looking for.

MAP/PAGE 11

5 – 10 million tourists in 2021, with Yuthasak Supasorn from the Tourism Authority of Thailand also joining the calls for a vaccine passport scheme. There are also tentative discussions about a travel pact that would permit quarantine-free travel between ASEAN nations. The TAT is already ramping up its marketing and is in talks with hotels, tour operators, and airlines like Qatar and Emirates, to start selling all-inclusive packages to lure foreign tourists later this year.

Meanwhile, business groups on the southern island of Phuket have announced a plan to fund the vaccination of 70% of the island’s population, rather than waiting for the

government’s national vaccine rollout. The president of the Phuket Tourist Association, Bhummikitti Ruktaengam, says the hope is to re-open the island to foreign tourists from October 1, under a campaign known as “Phuket First October.” It’s hoped that with at least 70% of the island’s residents vaccinated, quarantine might be waived for i n c om i ng tou r i s t s .

However, the plan does require government approval.

“Phuket’s private team has already negotiated to buy vaccines from private hospital chains. If the government approves the private sector guidelines, we should start injecting Sinovac’s first dose before the Songkran festival

NUTS & BOLTS

JEROME DE LA FUENTE

and gradually inject the private sector to complete as planned. The Phuket private sector has agreed that employees, especially in the tourism sector, will pay for vaccines themselves. For our future, we have to invest in ourselves.”

Nobel Prize anyone?

Editor-in-Chief

GILBERT Y. CHAO

WED-THU|FEBRUARY 10-11, 2021

Thailand's Tourism Minister to request 5 million vaccine doses for tourism sector

NELSON CONSTANTINO Motoring Editor

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THIS is something for the Ripley’s. A nominee and the nominator for Nobel Peace Prize are known way ahead of the selection and announcement of the winner.

I don’t know whether the Nobel Committee had changed the rules. The last time I know, the nominations are kept secret for a period of 50 years! How Maria Ressa of Rappler got to know she was nominated and the name of her endorser, a Norwegian labor leader named Jonas Ghar Store, was announced months before the official date a winner is known, is really a wonderment.

The New York Times has a way of chastising those who speculate about their nominations; “Nominated for a Nobel Prize? Wait until you receive it to brag”.

Maria Ressa, a FilipinoAmerican journalist, had been on the radar screen because of her so-called expose’ of the alleged extrajudicial killings which she

culled from the “confession” of a perjured witness, Edgar Matobato who claimed to be a member of the Davao Death Squad. DDS, he asserted was organized by Pres. Rodrigo Duterte when he was Mayor of Davao City. The death statistics cited by Matobato and R appler reveal the incredulity of his confession and Rappler's articles. From 2,000 it rose to 7,000 and when Ressa appeared in American press the figures blazoned to 27,000. Amnesty International joined the fray and reported on the heels of the ASEAN Forum in Manila that the EJK casualty was over 30 million.

Interviewed in CBS Bill Whitaker’s “60 Minutes”, Maria Ressa who opted to reside in the Philippines rather than the US of A, described the Philippines as “worse than any war zone”.

But she loves it here. She complained of curtailment of her freedom as a journalist, but she stands out as the

most free-wheeling critic of the Duterte government. In a number of times, she has gone overboard in libeling private persons leading to her conviction. And then she cries to the western press that her rights and those of other journalists in the Philippines are suppressed and she is being threatened.

As I write this piece there are thousands of media establishments in the country, which debase, lampoon the Duterte government every minute of the day.

How the western audience believed her story is beyond me. The Davao Death Squad is a myth. It is a squad of g h o s t s o l d i e r s c re at e d by then-Police Regional Commander Col. Dionisio Tan-gatue, Jr. DDS was part of psychological warfare pitted against the communist New Peoples Army liquidation squad sometime in 1984.

Dutere then just passed the bar and was appointed assistant city prosecutor and

LETTERS FROM DAVAO

JUN LEDESMA hardly a politician. Matobato skipped the fact that in 1989, the Commission on Human Rights headed by its Chairperson then Leila De Lima, conducted a fourmonth probe in Davao City and part of that were series of diggings in search of remains of the EJK victims in the abandoned quarry. The probe team found nothing.

Maria Ressa’s Rappler was partly funded by Omidyar Network described as a philanthropic investment firm that is against the Philippine NOBEL/PAGE 11

The Young Mind To vaccinate or not?

THIS is the burning question at the moment.

While the general response should be, yes, we should, there are serious questions and issues raised around this matter. It’s usually the public officials who are pushing the official line that we should get vaccinated. And I think that’s very understandable.

But some people, who also have their own credentials, say otherwise.

They talk about a sinister conspiracy being hatched in this matter, about a certain plan by some powerful men to control people’s lives, to eliminate certain people due to overpopulation, etc.

Others, who are in the medical and research field, say that the vaccines presently made available are still in their experimental st age. Their ef fe c t iv it y is put in doubt. In fact, there are reports of some terrible side effects of a few of those who have already

been vaccinated.

Still others claim that some of thes e vaccines being developed make use of tissues from aborted babies, raising the question about the morality in the use of these vaccines. In this point, a sharp debate is ongoing.

Obviously, these claims just cannot be dismissed outright. But we need a lot of time and expertise to sort out which ones are true and which ones are false. Sometimes we get the sensation of being between the devil and the deep blue sea, of being between a rock and a hard place, of being damned if you do and damned if you don’t.

We are indeed all thrown i nt o c o n f u s i o n , w h i c h should remind us of the story about the tower of Babel. (Gen 11,1-9) Could this present state of public dilemma and perplexity a reprise of that biblical story that gives us a painful lesson about humility and about

always acknowledging God’s power properly?

Especially now with our powerful communication technologies, we find ourselves awash with all sorts of information and data, many of which are contradicting each other.

And we cannot be so naïve as to think that all these pieces of information and data are presented to us with the purest of intentions. So, who would not be confused?

We are aware that there are some people who, with their hidden agenda and in pursuit of their selfish interests, can take advantage of s om e e x t r a ord i n ar y situations like what we are having these days. With their power and resources, they can easily weaponize certain things to meet their goals.

L et’s rememb er t hat Christ told us that while we should be as simple and innocent as doves, we should also be as shrewd,

HINTS AND TRACES

ROY CIMAGALA clever, wise and cunning as serpents. (cfr. Mt 10,16) Yes, we have to do some deep study, research and consultation here, but this will take time and the proper attitude.

In the meantime, what we can always do is to pray that we get enlightened somehow. In this life, we are not expected to judge all things correctly, to make the proper decisions all the time. We are expected to make errors, to commit mistakes, though we should YOUNG/PAGE 11

Banking&Finance 5 DOF gets $17-B external funds for BSP rate hike to do little budget support, projects in addressing inflation

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THE Department of Finance (DOF) has contracted a total of $17.06 billion in affordable financing from external sources in 2020 for key infrastructure projects and other priority programs, and for helping bridge the wider fiscal deficit incurred last year because of the huge state spending on the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) response measures.

Spearheaded by its International Finance Group (IFG), the DOF secured $7.73 billion or 45.3 percent of this amount from multilateral lenders, $2.86 billion (16.7 percent) from the Philippines’ bilateral partners, and $6.47 billion (37.9 percent) from the commercial markets.

The continued provision last year of program loans from the Philippines’ bilateral and multilateral partners is “a testament to the timely delivery of our key sectoral reforms," said Finance Undersecretary Mark Dennis Joven in his report to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III. “Out of the total external financing

contracted in 2020, around $15.44 billion is for the emergency requirements for our Covid-19 response, while the remaining $1.62 billion is for other initiatives including ‘Build, Build, Build’ infrastructure projects,” said Joven, who heads the DOF-IFG. Joven said $14.52 billion in budget support financing was contracted by the DOF in 2020 to help cover the deficit of P1.38 trillion ($27.81 billion or 7.6 percent of GDP or gross domestic product) resulting from the expected reduced collections of revenue agencies and the massive spending requirements of Covid-19 response programs.

He said the remaining amount of $2.54 billion in project loans was successfully negotiated by the IFG in 2020 to support the government’s key projects that will be implemented over several years starting in 2020.

Of the $14.52 billion, a total of $8.05 billion was in the form of official development assistance (ODA) financing and another $6.47 billion was FUNDS/PAGE 9

AN economist discounted a hike in the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) key rates on Thursday, citing this would do little to address the elevated prices of meat and fuel products to date.

In a report, ING Bank Manila senior economist Nicholas Mapa said BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno, who earlier indicated against any adjustment in the BSP rates despite the elevated inflation rate, is “caught between a rock and a hard place.”

Mapa thus cited the

lack of possibility for any adjustments in the BSP’s key policy rates until next year.

This, as the inflation rate last January rose for the fourth consecutive month and exceeded the government’s 2-4 percent target band until 2024 when it accelerated to 4.2 percent.

Mapa said all eyes are now on the first ratesetting meeting of the BSP’s policy-making Monetary Board (MB) for the year on Thursday.

He said Diokno has noted that inflation

upticks are caused by supply-side pressures thus, there is less need for any monetary policy measure.

“Meanwhile, a rate hike at this stage of the game, with the economy still mired neck deep in recession, would derail the recovery efforts both by signaling a reversal in policy stance and make it even more difficult for cash strapped households and firms to access muchneed funding,” he said.

Maps said Diokno is “likely aware of the limits of monetary policy and will be more circumspect

in his actions to make every policy move count.”

Citing the impact of the rate hikes and the cuts in banks’ reserve requirement ratio (RRR) in 2018, which were aimed to address the elevated inflation rate that time, Mapa said monetary authorities will be more circumspect this time.

He said these measures “confounded market players, hiking policy rates but simultaneously releasing tons of liquidity into financial markets.”

“The series of moves did little to quell inflation INFLATION/PAGE 9

PH targets renewal of US trade preference grant THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) hopes the United States will renew the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) grant to the country after it expired at the end-2020.

“We expect that to be renewed… All countries with GSP are expecting a renewal of the GSP,” DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said in a Viber message to reporters over the

weekend.

Lopez added they hope that the next GSP grant would be for another three years or more.

He said the country will continue pushing for the inclusion of the footwear sector when the GSP grant will be renewed.

The GSP is an important special trade preference program of

If interested, contact:

the US to beneficiary countries as this eliminates duties on thousands of products entering the US market.

This also helps beneficiary countries to increase and diversify trade with the US. Seventy percent of Philippine exports to the US were eligible for GSP. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority show that

DANICA SUDARIA

the US is the top export destination for Philippine products in 2020.

About 15.2 percent or $9.71 billion of the country’s exports last year went to the US. However, due to impacts of the pandemic, Philippine exports to US declined by 16.1 percent in 2020 compared to revenues in 2019 at $11.57 billion. (PNA)

dannycarosesudaria0512@gmail.com 0936-046-2356

6 Shopee Shares Three Predictions for the Philippine E-Commerce Market in 2021 Advertising and Editorial E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com Contact nos. : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776

WED-THU|FEBRUARY 10-11, 2021

There will be increased adoption of digital payments, growth in the logistics industry, and innovative retail strategies from brands and sellers

T

HE ongoing pandemic has brought about a broad, deep, and irreversible shift to online for businesses and consumers, a trend that will continue in the new normal.

Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, outlines three key predictions for the Philippine e-commerce market in the areas of payments, logistics, and digitalization.

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines,

said, “2020 was an especially transformative year for e-commerce. As consumers adhered to social distancing measures and stayed home, they turned to online platforms for their daily needs and entertainment and interaction. It led to online shopping evolving from a purely transactional experience to a more social experience, with e-commerce platforms integrating more interactive elements such as games and live streaming to engage users.

With advancements in

technology, increasing internet penetration, and a fast-growing population of young, tech-savvy youths and middleincome families, we expect e-commerce to play an integral role in the way we live, connect, and do business.”

As the e-commerce momentum continues, Shopee shares three key predictions for the Philippine e-commerce market in 2021.

Increased adoption of digital payments Digital payments are the preferred

Socio-emotional development of the pupils in the new normal education

By ROSEMARIE SALISE Teacher III Sacred Heart Village Elementary School

WHAT will become of the children growing up in the pandemic? There’s reason for concern but research on resilience is reassuring.

Childhood has been upended by the COVID-19 pandemic. Carefree playdates, team sports and school have been off the table or strictly online for many of the world’s 2.2 billion children replaced by isolation, boredom, family stress and worry. What will be the consequences?

Children have weathered disasters before so researchers know plenty about the risks as well as the potential for recovery. Boys became belligerent. Young kids who’d been toilet-trained started having accidents

again. The problems were worse if several family members and friends had died or if the family atmosphere was gloomy, violent or unsupportive.

In the current pandemic, researchers have already observed arise in symptoms of depression among kids and a worsening of symptoms in children and teens who already had obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Yet, there’s reason to be optimistic about children’s long-term resilience. Parents can help by building a reassuring – and fun- environment at home. Resilience science is about how people or families or communities or economies adapt to challenges.

Modular Distance Learning Rolled Out By: MARIA CHRISTINA N. GANAS

Pre s i d e nt R o d r i g o R .

Duterte declared suspension of classes before schoolyear 2019-2020 ends. It was an event even dreamers haven’t dreamed of. It was to maximize measures to protect everyone from the spread of Corona virus-19.

While the world asleeps at home fearing the dread of this disease, the Department of Education through the leadership of Secretar y Leonor M. Briones, went into serious, rigid and clear pathways of continuing education amidst pandemic.

It was a brave commitment which started to be very unpopular. The plan kept on changing its face until it finally came to an order.

Department Order # 30 s 2020 stipulated the decision of the president to move the opening of the school year from August to October 5, 2020. With this, teachinglearning strategies were carefully designed to ensure that everyone keeps going.

Survey results released by the DepEd showed that 8.9 million parents preferred modular distance learning, where students at home would study through self-

learning modules. (Jaehwa Bernardo, ABS-CBN News.

July 30, 2021) To d a y, m o d u l a r instruction have gained support from all its stakeholders. Teachers were able to manage tasks from module printing/ sorting/binding, module distribution and retrieval to attending to parents concern on academic and behavior matters of their children to resolving issues of performance. Parents on the other hand, were able to set schedule in picking up the modules, meeting teacher from time to time to resolve concerns affecting the learners and even in becoming a “teacher” to their child. Learners also gained confidence in time management, implementing the instruction and even in communicating to teachers especially to address matters about their studies. Even stakeholders have been more sensitive in its support to this quest to continue education.

Indeed, education cannot stop according the secretary.

If learning stops, we will lose human capital (UNESCO).

As we roll out this school

year, schools give life to flexible learning which is a method of learning where students are given freedom in how, what, when and where they learn. Flexible learning environments address how physical space is used, how students are grouped during learning and how time is used throughout teaching. Learning can take place in a variety of settings.

Mode refers to the way that content is delivered.(https:// tophat.com/glossar y/f/ flexible-learning/) While there are humps, break downs, dead ends in this journey, the tavel has become more enjoyable.

This organization learned to initiate new approaches that addresses conditions. They seemed to be unfamiliar yet very effective measures.

Indeed, different strokes for different folks! Modular distance learning bridged the impossible world to the great possibilities. While, the organization is not at its halt on perfecting this commitment, it is happy to continuously improve itself as sealed in its vision in the interest of its clienteles, the learners.

mode of transaction for e-commerce. As more people become accustomed to e-commerce, it will also drive the cashless movement offline.

Shopee continues to offer a wide range of digital payment options to cater to evolving needs, including its mobile wallet, ShopeePay. In fact, Shopee saw a 4X uplift in the total number of orders completed by its mobile wallets across the region.

The greatest increase recorded in most markets was for users above 50 years of age. This is a testament to ShopeePay’s ease of use, given that

users in this age group typically find it harder to adapt to digital payments.

In a region where most consumers do cash transactions, the pandemic has greatly accelerated the need to move towards a cashless society. In line with movement restrictions and continued social distancing efforts, consumers and businesses have increasingly embraced digital payments for greater convenience and security.

Logistics will come to the forefront Logistics will become even more important as consumers continue

to rely on e-commerce platforms and develop greater expectations for efficient deliveries. The increase in demand is particularly significant for daily necessities and household essentials. In the Philippines, Shopee saw an 8.5X increase specifically in food-related items shipped from the Shopee Warehouse.

Brands and sellers need to make effective use of technology to ensure that parcels are delivered in a timely and costeffective manner. One way to achieve this is to tap into the extensive and integrated networks of SHOPEE/PAGE 11

Instructional Leadership in Fostering Learning By: ANNALYN L. ENLAWAN Teacher III Panampawan Elementary School

Every uncertainty comes great opportunity to learn new things. Modular Learning Modality is the school’s preference in delivering learning for this new normal.

The voice of the learners were heard considering that it is not all about us but more so with the learners who will be the vessels of knowledge produced by our efforts.

The school started with collecting learners’ enrolment survey form. From there the school were able to identify the modality used for this new normal of education. Decision tree was structured to decide what modality the said institution must employ. Distance Leaning Matrix also was crafted in order to help the teachers and learners understand the best ways they can learn and implement those ways at the best time.

Implementation Plan was given time in order to best outline the task needed to cater the learners needs and produce resources which will have meaningful impact to the children. With that, each effort will have its own timeline of completion to ensure meeting the strategic goals for the learners.

Readiness Assessment took place also to know how ready and sufficient the school is for this new normal. The school always doubled the time in order to make things done. Modules were produced before the issuance schedule. Supplementary materials were prepared and distributed to help guide the pupils completing their task.

Parents were oriented on when and how to get and return the modules together with the outputs. Health safety measures were instigated knowing that parents and

learner’s safety is the first main concern of the institution. School campus is well maintained by the parents following the school program called Tulunghaan Limpyohan Isip Ikaduhang Puluy-anan.

Regular meeting with teacher and school head is observed to better track the improvement of every school initiative.

Parent-teacher communication is practiced to help improve the academic performance of the learners while guiding the parents on how to tailor their approach with their children.

Our municipal Mayor Meraluna Salvaleon Abrogar mandated each family to have Gulayan sa Tahanan which was adapted also by the school to encourage food basket at home specially in this time of pandemic and help improve the nutritional status of the children to have better performance.

Teachers prepared blueprint in order for the learners to have a sketch in everything they do called Home Learning Plan. It served as a tool to plan and manage learning goal as they relate to achieving work objectives and competency development.

Thinking Log also is practice to help the student reflect on specific cognitive skills that were emphasized during the lesson.

Individual learning monitoring is done to customize learning opportunities throughout the pupils learning experience, assess how to broaden their perspective and support attainment of goals. Learner’s Individual Output Checklist is well documented to inform and inspire both learners and parents on the progress of their output, which will also be the evidence for awards and recognitions.

7

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WED-THU|FEBRUARY 10-11, 2021

CDO City Hall ramps up lobbying for public support to vaccination

C

AGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- City Hall here is ramping up its education and promotion campaign to build citywide support for the vaccination program

prior to its actual implementation.

Oliver Egypto, chief of the Office of Community Affairs, said aside from data validation, an online survey was launched

recently to determine the percentage of people willing to be vaccinated.

“Duna'y impormasyon nga kinahanglan nato pud ipasabot (There’s information that need to

information is ‘crucial at this time’ in relation to the forthcoming vaccination.

“Sa vaccination program, mupaabot ta sa mga updates niini and we hope nga ato

be explained) through communication,” Egypto said.

For her part, City Information Officer Maricel Casino-Rivera said securing the right

ning tabangan mga igsuon because we have to understand where we are going, unsa’y atong gikinahanglan ug unsa’y atong desisyon,” she said.

SUPPORT/PAGE 9

Eating healthy foods

By MICHAEL PAUL M. POSADAS, RN

Cagayan de Oro City Hall ramps up its education and promotion campaign to build citywide support for the vaccination program prior to its actual implementation. (CIO)

An eating plan that helps manage your weight includes a variety of healthy foods. Add an array of colors to your plate and think of it as eating the rainbow. Dark, leafy greens, oranges, and tomatoes— e ven f resh herbs—are loaded with vitamins, fiber, and minerals. Adding frozen peppers, broccoli, or onions to stews and omelets gives them a quick and convenient boost of color and nutrients.

Fresh, frozen, or canned fruits are great choices. Try fruits beyond apples and bananas such as mango, pineapple or kiwi fruit.

When fresh fruit is not in season, try a frozen, canned, or dried variety.

Be aware that dried and canned fruit may contain

added sugars or syrups.

Choose canned varieties of fruit packed in water or in its own juice.

Add variety to grilled or steamed vegetables with an herb such as rosemary.

You can also sauté (panfry) vegetables in a non-stick pan with a small amount of cooking spray. Or try frozen or canned vegetables for a quick side dish— just microwave and serve.

Look for canned vegetables without added salt, butter, or cream sauces. For variety, try a new vegetable each week.

In addition to fat-free and low-fat milk, consider low-fat and fat-free yogurts without added sugars.

These come in a variety of flavors and can be a great dessert substitute.

How to make instruction active and engaging to turn pupils into skilled readers

By ROSEMARIE SALISE Teacher III Sacred Heart Village Elementary School

BWM: February 10, 17 & 24, 2021

BWM: February 10, 17 & 24, 2021

YES we do teach both Filipino and English literature in schools. But no, beyond tasking them homework assignments and compelling them to memorize facts so they could answer the quizzes for the next day, our high s c h o o l s tu d e nt s d on’t read. If there are things that your teenager reads, horribly it may likely be the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy. Sexualizing our culture is the concern of businessmen. The role

BWM: February 10, 17 & 24, 2021

now of educators is how to counter this trend.

Thus, we as teachers must impart to our students that reading is fun. It must not be boring. Parents also play an important role in this. Constantly remind your kids that Facebook is only limited for updating fellow classmates about the possible lessons for the next day. Remember that these are still high schoolers. They need parental guidance. They’re not like college students

who are already adults and are responsible enough to concentrate studying when exam week comes.

There’s a great difference between education and l i t e r a c y. L i t e r a c y i s knowing how to read and wr ite. E ducat ion is to be able to reason, to use your ability to read and write to your benefit and to be able to gain your spectrum of knowledge by trying to surge deeper into the literate knowledge imparted to you.

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WED-THU|FEBRUARY 10-11, 2021

MEZZ – your mini-sports bar at the heart of CDO

By MARK FRANCISCO

WITH the local economy slowly opening up, resto bars have resumed popping up here in the regional hub of Cagayan de Oro. But try something different. MEZZ is the only mini-sports bar that is open in the city so far.

Located at

Tomas Saco Scapes along Tomas Saco St. in barangay Nazareth, MEZZ offers beer pong for only P50 per game and dart at P250 per game.

Soon they will open billiard tables too.

The place – which has a capacity of 40 persons maintaining social distancing protocol – has both a ground and mezzanine level, where the name MEZZ comes from.

It is open from 2:00 to 10:00 p.m. from Mondays to Saturdays.

Enjoying beer pong and dart at MEZZ can only be complete with the yummiest food and most refreshing drinks around.

The names alone plus the way they are presented will arouse the gourmand in you.

Take the following – pork cutlet with vegetables curry, sausage curry, kangkong curry, vegetable curry, curry rice, omellete curry rice, squid curry rice, dumpling curry rice, bacon-onion rings, fried spam stick, Korean fried dumpling, garlic bread, Hungarian sausage + fries, tuna cucumber, vegetable fritters, tuna sisig, baconwrapped green beans, calamari, garlic buttered squid, pan-seared salmon, spicy squid ring, crab salad sandwich, country tuna, clubhouse, keto tuna, keto bacon bits, kani salad and soups (crab & corn/ steamed egg).

Drinks come in the form of ripe mango shake, mango banana shake, Oreo banana shake, mango bingsu, Oreo banana bingsu, cranberry juice, soda, tea (hot/iced), coffee (hot/iced), calamansi juice, beer and cocktails.

To pump up your day in a laid-back way, come now and visit MEZZ!

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WED-THU|FEBRUARY 10-11, 2021

Products... from page 2

t h e re g i on , D r. G r a nt Me j or a d a A m on c i o of Northern Mindanao Hog R ais ers (NorMinHog) assured, “We have enough supply not only for Cagayan de Oro but for Northern Mindanao, as well, and we also continue to supply to other areas, especially those who are affected by the viral hog disease.”

Pa r t i c i p a nt s o f t h e said meeting include representatives from public market associations, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Misamis Oriental, CDO City Price Coordinating Council and City Economic Enterprise Department, Misamis Oriental Retailers Association, NorMinHog, agriculturists and veterinarians from local government units and other stakeholders. (DA10/PIA10)

Power... from page 3

were falling behind their payments.

Meralco Vice-President and Head of Corporate Communications Joe R. Zaldarriaga previously said that the firm had asked households consuming 201 kilowatt-hours (kWh) or more to settle their obligations in January, while giving those consuming 200 kWh and below until the end of the month to pay.

Meralco’s no-disconnection policy that covered typical households that consumed less

than 200 kWh was due to end on Dec. 31, but was extended until the end of January.

On Thursday, Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association (Philreca) said that the prolonged extension of the no disconnection policy “would disrupt the flow of money in the energy supply chain, and that its effects would extend to outside the power sector.”

“There will be a huge implication in the financial stability of all stakeholders in the energy supply chain should a prolonged ‘no disconnection policy’ is imposed by the government.

And this disruption — bear in mind — is not just going to affect the energy sector. If electricity consumers default on their utility bills payments, then, the distribution utilities will eventually default as well to its power suppliers,” said Presley C. De Jesus, Philreca president and party-list representative in an e-mailed statement.

He added that the prolonged policy would also affect electric cooperatives, which are “nonprofit by nature as they did not have a huge capital to support their operations during the global health emergency, unlike other utilities.”

Inflation... from page 5

nor allay concerns about accelerating price gains, culminating in a severe breach of the inflation target and, just as detrimental, a broadside to bank lending momentum that impaired capital formation for months

to come,” he added.

Mapa said “inaction is action” this time, adding that “at this juncture, keeping polic y rates unchanged would allow BSP to provide the economy support for the recovery while at the same time safeguard against any budding demand side pressure, which appears to be negligible at the moment.”

He added Diokno appears ready to accommodate the first round of inflationary pressure and only consider acting should signs of second round effects (wage and transport fare adjustments) threaten a structural impact on the inflation path.

“Given that the economy remains deep in recession and is not likely to see a stark pickup in growth momentum soon, we do believe that BSP will be on a ‘long pause’ unless 2nd round effects become apparent or if demand side pressures surface,” Mapa said.

He said while “risk of running real negative real rates is indeed real, the marching orders of the day continue to be a concerted push to jump start the economy, with BSP Governor Diokno doing his share to uplift growth all the while cognizant of the risks of running negative policy rates.” (PNA)

Funds... from page 5

from funds raised in the overseas bond markets, he said.

The amount of $12.18 billion out of this $14.52

billion was already disbursed as of end-December 2020, he added.

“B ecause of a higher emergency funding requirement in light of C ov i d - 1 9 , t h e a m o u nt of external financing contracted in 2020 increased by 75.43 percent year-onyear. This also represents an overall 33-percent expansion of the external borrowing program from 2016 to 2020,” he said.

In securing financing from external sources, Joven said the DOF has always maintained “its bias towards cheaper and multilateral loans.”

“The government has consistently availed debt for budget support, recognizing that program loans and global bonds provide more flexibility in terms of utilization,” he added.

Aside from loans, the IFG also processed grants and technical assistance a m o u nt i n g t o $ 8 5 9 . 5 3 million last year, of which $26.74 million is intended for Covid-19 response.

“In 2020, the IFG also facilitated the provision of various donations, such as testing kits, masks, personal protective equipment (PPE), ventilators, face shields, and others, from China,” Joven said.

Also, the $77.38 million Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation that the DOF signed recently with the China International Development Cooperation

Agency (CIDCA) may be fully or partially used for the government’s Covid-19 response programs subject to discussions with the Chinese government, he added.

For 2021, Joven said the IFG is targeting to secure a total of $23.71 billion in financing from external sources to bridge the budget deficit and provide funds for priority projects.

Of this amount, $8.06 billion (34 percent) will be contracted for budget support purposes, while $15.65 billion (66 percent) will be for project financing.

“We are planning to source a total of $7.67 billion in loans and grants from multilateral institutions, $10.54 billion from our bi l ate r a l p ar t ne rs ; and raise $5.5 billion from the commercial markets this year,” Joven said. (PR) Publication Notice

February 1, 2021

Support...

9

from page 7

(On the vaccination program, we have to wait for updates on this and we hope that our public will help us on this because we have to know where we are going, what do we need and what will be our decision) Through the right information, Egypto said they hope that people can help explain and mobilize support for the vaccination program.

“Kasabot pud ta nga ang kining hisgutanan sa vaccine daghan kaayo information nanggawas sa social media and e ve n c om i ng mg a siwit-siwit daghan kaayo nanggawas. Klaro nato na nga dili kuhaon nimo nga information hisgutanan sa health dito sa dili man eksperto sa health,” he added.

(CIO/PIA10)

Republic of the Philippines Province of Misamis Oriental Municipality of Initao -o0oNOTICE TO THE PUBLIC CCE-0006-2021 R.A. 10172

In Compliance with the publication requirement and pursuant to OCRG Memorandum Circular No. 2013-1 Guidelines in the Implementation of the Administrative Order No. 1 Series of 2012 (IRR on R.A. 10172), Notice is hereby served to the public that MARIA LOURDES B. AGUIRRE has filed with this Office, a petition for change of first name from “ “ to “ “ and correction of entry in sex from “ “ to “ “ or correction of entry in the date of birth from “MARCH 13, 1981” to “SEPTEMBER 13, 1981” in the certificate of live birth of MARIA LOURDES B. AGUIRRE at Initao Misamis Oriental and whose parents are JOHNNY D. BAANG and LUCIA B. TUPAG.

Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his written opposition with this Office not later than February 24, 2021.

BWM: Feb. 10 & 17, 2021

(SGD) ISAIAS A. JARALES Municipal Civil Registrar

10

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WED-THU|FEBRUARY 10-11, 2021

Sizzles... or permitted in Islam.

Babu Kwan is a dream venture of the husband-andwife tandem of Engr. Abdelnur Campong and Norkhalila Mae “Khal” Mambuay-Campong to promote Asian, Filipino and Moro cuisine fusion in the local casual dining circuit that strictly adheres to food safety standards.

Khal, the restaurant manager and in-house food safety compliance officer, completed a training on Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points, a systematic approach to ensure food safety. “ The reason why we branded it not really as a Moro [restaurant] but an Asian [restaurant] is because we saw that most of our food [in Asia] are the same. It has a story that connects it to other neighboring Asian countries,” Khal said in an interview via Zoom.

“Babu” is a Moro term that means auntie. “Kwan,” a Filipino expression understandable anywhere in the Philippines, connotes forgetting something temporarily. Babu Kwan, Khal explained, loosely translates “to a place where people can eat halal comfort foods just like how their aunties spoil them.”

Babu Kwan has been getting good raves for their food since it opened shop almost two years ago.

Their best seller is beef rendang, which is simmered for four to eight hours in hot chili and coconut milk, and added with palapa (white scallions) to give it a Meranaw taste.

They also ser ve beef rendang in sandwich, dynamite sticks (in egg roll wrappers), pasta and a breakfast meal they called Ransilog (rendang, egg and garlic fried rice), fit for all ages.

Their version of Mee Goring, the Pancit a Maloya, is not for the faint-hearted —it was said to be spicier than the Korean Fire Noodles.

Babu Kwan also offers Chicken Piyaparan, chicken cooked in palapa, turmeric

and coconut milk. It is an original dish of the Meranaw tribe.

The palapa they use are bought and made in Lanao del Sur, the home of the Meranaws.

They also transformed the Balolon, a Meranaw crepe filled with inti (sweetened coconut) similar to the daral of the Tausug and Iranun ethnic tribes, into a dessert in five flavors: coco-coffee, ube halaya (purple yam dessert), pandan (screwpine), durian and mango.

Dire situation When the lockdowns were imposed in March last year to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Babu Kwan, like other restaurants, closed its doors to dine-in customers, and bookings for birthdays and other reservations had to be cancelled.

“There were days when we only had an income of Php200. There were rare days when we received bulk orders,” Khal recalled. “Paying for our staff alone ate our profit.”

In April 2020, Babu Kwan reopened its doors for delivery.

“We opened again for delivery only because we saw the need. We thought about diners and customers who need halal food but had nowhere to buy from. We also thought of our workers,” Khal said.

Despite the difficult times, the couple, in May 2020, made four of their eight staff into regular employees, seeing their commitment to their work.

Due to the difficult situation, the couple also requested the owner of the building to reduce their lease.

“A l h amdu l l i l a h , ou r customers saw our efforts to still operate despite the challenges, that’s why we also appreciate them… I think we have established a good customer base,” Khal said.

Blessing in disguise While businesses were struggling, the COVID-19 l o ckd ow n w as a ls o an opportunity for Babu Kwan to recalibrate plans and involved the staff in making business decisions.

“I think it was a blessing in disguise that things slowed

EXTRA JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT/ PARTITION OVER A PARCEL OF LAND AMONG HEIRS

EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF THE ESTATE OF THE DECEASED SPS. LALY CAÑO LUIB AND CAMILO ISIN LUIB

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

That the late ROLANDO VILLALBA, JR. who died on October 1, 2013 in Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines and died without issue; that said deceased died intestate without leaving any known debt which has remained unpaid or unsettled up to the presents, and all obligations incurred during their deaths were all paid and/ or settled; at the time of his death left the following described HOUSE and LOT with TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. T-185192 situated in the Barrio of Macasandig, City of Cagayan de Oro, Island of Mindanao, containing an area of EIGHT (80) SQUARE METERS, more or less, and has been the subject of an EXTRA JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT/ PARTITION OVER A PARCEL OF LAND AMONG HEIRS, filed by the heirs of ROLANDO VILLALBA, JR., per DOC #81; PAGE #17; BOOK #LXXVIII; Series of 2021 under the Notarial Registry of ATTY. JORGE B. MAGDAONG JR.

That the late SPS. LALY CAÑO LUIB AND CAMILO ISIN LUIB who died on July 21, 2019 and November 18, 2018 all in Cagayan de Oro City without any last will and testament; that the deceased at the time of their death left a certain Two parcels of land with Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-2766 situated in the City of Cagayan de Oro, containing an area of TWO HUNDRED THIRTY EIGHT (238), Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-33874 situated in the Barrio of Macabalan, City of Cagayan de Oro, Island of Mindanao, containing an area of FOUR HUNDRED TWENTY SQUARE METERS (420), and has been the subject of an EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF THE ESTATE OF THE DECEASED SPS. LALY CAÑO LUIB AND CAMILO ISIN LUIB, filed by the heirs of SPS. LALY CAÑO LUIB AND CAMILO ISIN LUIB, per DOC #146; PAGE #29; BOOK #217; Series of 2020 under the Notarial Registry of ATTY. MARIO T. JUNI.

BWM: Feb. 3, 10 & 17, 2021

BWM: Feb. 3, 10 & 17, 2021

from page 1

down a bit before we reopened.

Had we continued with our usual ways, the business might have eventually failed,” Khal said.

They are now open seven days a week from 6:30 am to 7:30 pm, compared previously when they had days off.

The break was also an opportunity for Babu Kwan to make changes in their menu to avoid tiring the customers of the same offerings. During the lockdown, they started delivering one of their newest best sellers: baked sushi topped with chicken kagikit (shredded meat) of the Maguindanao tribe.

“It’s creation was not intentional. That time, we didn’t know what else to sell during the pandemic. We were lost in translation,” Khal said.

Babu Kwan also initiated to switch to eco-friendly and recyclable materials for takeout orders. Their containers are 100% biodegradable made of sugarcane bagasse and paper, and spoon and fork made of cornstarch.

“We were closed, but we were still happy in the restaurant… That made us realize that it’s okay to experiment,” she added.

Forward to the new normal To comply with the minimum health standards for COVID-19, Babu Kwan installed movable dividers at their store for physical distancing.

The maximum number of customers allowed was also reduced to 45 people at any one time.

Foods are ser ved in cling wraps to avoid possible contamination, and contactless serving was observed.

When Babu Kwan opened again its physical store last November, Khal said that they have b een getting almost the same number of customers before the pandemic, despite reducing the number of customers allowed at any one time to conform with health and safety protocols.

“Before, we were too confined [to our prevailing practices], and we learned a lot of things [during the lockdown] that we applied when we reopened. So I think we’re stronger now, our menu is more fail-proof.

We rested, but we are now ready,” Khal said. (Riz P. Sunio / MindaNews) EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH ABSOLUTE SALE KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: That the late ISMAEL N. BALASE, who died on June 1, 2018, at the time of his death the deceased left a certain parcel with TCT No. 137-2012002899 situated in the Barrio of Kauswagan, City of Cagayan de Oro, Island of Mindanao, containing an area of ONE HUNDRED (114) SQUARE METERS, more or less and has been the subject of an EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH ABSOLUTE SALE, filed by the heirs of ISMAEL N. BALASE, in favor of NENEN G. BALASE, per DOC #95; PAGE #19; BOOK #XV; Series of 2021 under the Notarial registry of ATTY. KEN RINEHART V. SUR. BWM: Feb. 10, 17 & 24, 2021

11

Advertising and Editorial E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com Contact nos. : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776

WED-THU|FEBRUARY 10-11, 2021

Map... from page 4

Jesus said: “I am the way to true life. Follow me and I will lead you where you need and want to go. I know this land and territory called life. I know how to protect you from going where you do not want to go. Just trust me. I guarantee that if you follow my way, you’ll find the lasting, good life and security you have been looking for.”

So won’t you ask Jesus to start leading you today?

Isn’t it finally time to stop going down those dead-end roads—and start following the right map of life? You will even have Jesus Christ as your own personal guide every day. Just think a minute ...

Young... from page 4

try our best to avoid them.

What is truly essential is that whether in the end we are right or wrong on some issues, we should all be with God. We should follow our conscience that is properly formed and informed.

So, whether we should get vaccinated or not will be call by each one’s conscience, by one’s perception of what God is telling him. After all God knows everything and can derive good from evil. Even our mistakes will work out for the good. (cfr.

Rom 8,28)

Nobel... from page 4

Constitution. When the Securities and Exchange Commission probed into the case which later took an ugly turn because no taxes had been paid on the transactions Maria cried wolf to her western audience.

L a s t w e e k , R ap p l e r bannered in the social media platform that Maria Ressa was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize by a Norwegian labor leader. It raised the quizzical eyebrows of those who are in the know about how the Nobel Prize Committee conducts the awards. It is also intriguing because the alleged nominator is a Norwegian and for certain, more than anyone else, knows the conduct and criteria of the award. For Rappler anyway, it is a cause for celebration and despite all its speculation has launched a campaign for donation.

Shopee... from page 6

e-commerce platforms.

Shopee enables brands to sca le ef f icient ly a nd focus on growth by taking care of the entire process, including the continuous strengthening of its logistics net work and warehouse capabilities. In 2020, Shopee Express, Shopee’s express delivery service, expanded its geographical coverage to reach even more users, including those in rural areas. Shopee also saw more brands tapping on its efficient logistics infrastructure with a three times increase in brand items shipped from its warehouses in 2020.

Brands and sellers will

implement innovative retail strategies The pandemic pushed all businesses to quick ly implement digital strategies i n order to cont i nue reaching customers amidst the lockdown. As online selling becomes a bigger revenue channel for brands and sellers, e-commerce platforms need to implement innovative retail strategies.

This will help them engage customers in a differentiated manner and grow their online presence.

Today, there are more than 20,000 leading global and local brands on Shopee Mall, offering shoppers a wide selection of authentic products. Shopee works closely with these brands to const a nt ly push t he b ou nd a r ie s a nd c re ate new, exciting, and unique shopping experiences.

For exa mple, Shopee worked with POND's to integrate its AI-powered beauty tech solution, Skin Advisor Live, into the online shopping experience. This allowed shoppers to enjoy a free personalized skincare analysis, helping them make more informed purchase decisions. POND's was also able to tap into Shopee’s engagement tools, such as live streaming, to interact with their target audience.

Yu closed, “At Shopee, we are committed to improving the lives of people in the region using technology.

I tru ly believe t hat our region has the potential to chart a new path forward i n i nf luenci ng t he way businesses and consumers connect. We will continue to innovate to stay ahead of these evolving trends, and to drive the growth of e-commerce in 2021 and beyond.”

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Pork... from page 1

frozen carcasses every week or 40,000 heads every month to Metro Manila. “ T h a t ’s t h e b a r e s t minimum that they can deliver and could still be increased,” he said in a press conference.

D ar, w h o m e t w it h Socospa members at the Greenleaf Hotel here on Saturday morning, said they were able to negotiate a farm gate price of 144 pesos per kilo for the pork shipments based on the prevailing rates.

He said the government, through the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Region 12, will provide a transport subsidy of 21 pesos per kilo to increase the base price to 165 pesos per kilo.

To f a c i l i t a t e t h e unhampered pork shipments and deliveries, the DA will fast track the processing of the required documents and ensure their access in the “special hog lanes” along the nautical highway.

The special lanes cover all “roll on, roll off ” or Roro and trucking routes along the Maharlika highway.

Dar instructed the Bureau of Animal Industry and DA12 to ensure these would be laid out smoothly “without sacrificing the quarantine protocols” on ASF. He said Socospa agreed to maintain their farm gate price to complement with the price cap or ceiling for pork products in Metro Manila based on Executive Order No. 124 issued on Feb. 1 by President Rodrigo Duterte.

It set a price ceiling of 270 pesos per kilo for kasim/ pigue and 300 pesos per kilo for liempo for at least two months.

With the prevailing rate, Dar said traders will still have a reasonable income and the prices of pork products will not increase further.

“We are helping our hog raisers on this, that’s the number one priority. They should earn enough along with all those involved in the supply chain. In the end, there will be affordable pork supplies for the consuming public,” he said.

Clinton Edward Ang, Socospa president, lauded the DA for initiating the opening of the “special hog lanes” and for providing them with additional shipping alternatives, among them the mobilization of vessels commissioned to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

He said the area has enough surplus of live hogs and frozen carcasses to supply the other markets but was constrained by transportation and shipping problems.

“Our concern had always been on how to deliver them to Luzon. We thank the DA for making the hog lane, especially for the land trips as there are really a lot of obstructions along the way,” he said.

Ang assured that they can increase their shipments to Metro Manila from the

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current 40,000 heads a month and still sustain the requirements of the local markets.

“As much as possible, we will try to ship (out) what we can,” he said.

Dar and other top DA officials were in city as part of a two-day swing in Region 12.

On Saturday morning, he led the ceremonial sendoff at the DA-Agricultural Program Coordinating Office in Barangay Lagao here of some 260 live hogs worth 4 million pesos bound for Metro Manila.

Dar graced the distribution on Friday afternoon of s ome 13 million p es os worth of agricultural and fishery support packages to farmers and fisherfolk from the municipalities of Maasim, Kiamba and Maitum in Sarangani province.

He also joined the signing of the memorandum of agreement for the pilot i mpl e me nt at i on of t he provincial-led Agriculture and Fishery Extension Systems program in Sarangani.

Sarangani will receive a grant of some 226 million pesos this year for the roll out of the program, which aims to bring the agency’s extension services to the grassroots level. (MindaNews)

Price... from page 1

the price of liempo was only P240 per kg and P188 for kasim.

The price of premium pork meat this week rose by a third or 33 percent from last week, data showed.

Arlan Mangelen, DA-12 director, said the onslaught of the African swine fever (ASF) affected the supply of hogs that triggered the price increase of pork meat in the region.

In the wake of the soaring pork meat prices, Mangelen issued Special Order 06 Series of 2021 on January 28 pegging the price of liempo at P192 and kasim at P188, way below the prevailing prices in the markets on Tuesday.

In a radio interview, he said that local hog raisers prefer to ship their products outside the region due to better prices, causing tight supply in the area that triggered prices of pork meat to increase.

Still, prices of liempo in Soccsksargen, which straddles the provinces of South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani, are way cheaper than the P400 per kg tag in Metro Manila.

President Rodrigo Duterte has issued an executive order imposing a 60-day price ceiling on pork and chicken products in Metro Manila. Under EO 124, the price ceiling for a kilogram of kasim and pigue is at P270, and P300 for liempo.

Myrna Habacon, director of the National Meat Inspection Service in Region 12, admitted that swine supply in the region has become tighter, triggering the gradual increase in prices of pork meat products in the markets.

“Due to the presence of ASF in some parts of the country, commercial h o g r ai s e r s i n R e g i on 12, particularly in South Cotabato and General Santos City, engaged in conservative swine production for fear the highly contagious disease will infect their farms,” she said in a phone interview.

The ASF has been detected in the region, with DA-12 compensating owners of culled pigs amounting to P645,000 in Sarangani. The agency has yet to compensate pig owners affected by ASF in North Cotabato in the amount of P14.9 million.

The agriculture department compensates owners P5,000 for each culled pig.

In Mindanao, the ASF was first detected in Davao Occidental province a year ago.

Habacon said the tighter pork supply in Soccsksargen was also due to the continuing shipment of live hogs to Luzon and the Visayas.

Summit... from page 2

informal sector workers with financial relief necessary to mitigate the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

For his part, DOLE-10 Director II Atheneus A. Vasallo addressed live questions on DOLE Department Order No. 215-20 on the Rule Amending Section 12 of Rule 1 of the Labor Code on Suspension of Employment Relationship.

On one hand, second

session’s core topic was identifying emerging trends and discontinuities that transform global society and the global marketplace upon the entry of the “new reality” with Social Media Engineer Ann Kristine A. Peñaredondo, who provided participants with insights into business strategy, design process, innovation, social dilemmas and in-demand jobs.

OIC Regional Director Albert E. Gutib said the undertaking aims to increase the awareness of viewers on the rights and responsibilities of workers and employers, work ethics, values, and skills.

In turn, these will help in cultivating better cooperative labor management relations and attainment of decent and productive work.

To view the sessions, one may visit DOLE-10 Labor and Employment Education Services–LEES or @dolexlees on Facebook. (DOLE10/ PIA10)

Hybrid... from page 2

Syngenta, Bioseed, and Seedworks, including DAPhilippine Rice Research Institute.

“Wit h t h e m [ s e e d companies] resp onding to our call, it shows our strong collaboration of our public-private partnership, especially in this time of pandemic, where Bayanihan is ve r y mu ch ne e d e d,” Maagad said.

A ls o pre s e nt i n t he Rice Derby are DA-10 and CMU officials and staff, representatives from the seed companies, and farmers from the different towns of Bukidnon. (DA10/PIA10) EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT WITH SALE KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: That the late JOSEFINO A. ILOGON died intestate on September 29, 2000, leaving a certain parcel of land with Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-34496, situated in the Barrio of Kauswagan and Carmen, City of Cagayan de Oro City, Island of Mindanao, containing an area of THREE HUNDRED (300) SQUARE METERS, more or less, and has been the subject of an EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT WITH SALE, filed by the heirs of JOSEFINO A. ILOGON, in favor of RICO CARINO, per DOC #142; PAGE #15; BOOK #VI; Series of 2020 under the Notarial Registry of ATTY. RICO B. PAJO. BWM: Feb. 10, 17 & 24, 2021

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