BusinessWeek Mindanao (July 14-15, 2021)

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More durian markets DURIAN farmer Candelario B. Miculob has called on fellow growers to expand production to sustain export markets such as Australia and the United States as well as capture others that are showing interest.

“Exports are gaining traction based on current inquiries,” Mr. Miculob, former president of the Durian Industry Council of Davao City, said in an online interview.

He said traders from Japan and China, two of the Philippines’ top fruit export destinations, have been asking about durian supply.

'Adobo' THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said Monday the initiative on standardization of Filipino dishes is meant for international promotion.

The DTI made the clarification as it is developing a Philippine National Standards (PNS) for Filipino dishes such as adobo, sinigang, sisig, and lechon.

The Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) has created a technical committee on Filipino dishes (BPS/ TC 92) that will do the standardization of Filipino dishes for promotion abroad.

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By ANTONIO L COLINA IV MindaNews

M

SUNSET. A girl enjoys the sunset by the beach in the municipality of Linamon in Lanao del Norte, far from the crowd and safe from the reach of COVID-19. mindanews photo by richel v . umel

Bangsa govt allots P400M for water system in Marawi

By FERDINANDH B. CABRERA, MindaNews

COTABATO City – The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has allotted P400 million for the construction of a water system in areas of Marawi City not covered by the rehabilitation program under the Task Force Bangon Marawi.

Marawi was destroyed

during the five-month siege in 2017 staged by Islamic State-inspired militants.

Interior and Local Government Minister Naguib Sinarimbo, BARMM spokesperson, led the groundbreaking rites on Tuesday on behalf of Chief Minister Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim.

“This demonstrates the continuing commitment of the Bangsamoro government to respond to the needs of our communities and partner with willing and able local government units in the region,” Sinarimbo said of the project that will cover 40 barangays.

During the ceremony, the regional government WATER/PAGE 6

INDANAO will have an estimated surplus of around 800 to 1,000 megawatts (MW) next summer, enough to ensure a smooth conduct of the automated polls in May 2022, Assistant Secretary Romeo Montenegro of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) said.

Montenegro said at the online “Mindanao Economic Situationer” on Wednesday, that Mindanao will have more than enough supply of electricity even if the current consumption would increase.

“In terms of supply, even if it’s in the middle of summertime next year – May next year – at the rate of our excess to date ranging between 800 and 1000 MW, assuming there is again demand uptick of around 100 MW, we still have 700 MW, POWER/PAGE 7

SALUTE. Army soldiers salute the flag-draped metal casket containing the remains of a soldier who was among the 53 fatalities when a C-130 plane crashed in Sulu on July 4, 2021, upon arrival at the Lumbia Airport in Cagayan de Oro City on July 7, 2021. The remains of five other soldiers arrived on board mindanews photo by froilan gallardo the same aircraft.

Doctor says vape and heated tobacco products are viable solutions to smoking problem

Dr. Lorenzo Mata of Quit for Good

Non-combustible alternatives like vapes and heated tobacco products (HTPs) are practical solutions to cigarette smoking epidemic, the world’s leading cause of preventable death and diseases, said a respected family doctor and tobacco harm reduction (THR) advocate.

Dr. Lorenzo Mata, president of Quit For Good, a non-stock, non-profit organization that advocates real, practical, and tangible

solutions to the smoking problem, said the traditional ‘Quit or Die’ approach is not working to substantially reduce the risk of death and disease from smoking.

“In our country, there are almost 17 million smokers. And a shocking rate of more than 117,000 Filipinos die each year due to tobacco smoking. Equally alarming SOLUTIONS/PAGE 7

An example of a heated tobacco product.

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Local

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WED-THU|JULY 14-15, 2021

C-130 victim wanted to come home for wedding anniversary

O

NE of the fallen soldiers of the C-130 crash in Patikul, Sulu looked forward to his first wedding anniversary next month.

Emabel Dapanas said her husband, PFC. Carlos Dapanas Jr., promised he will be home in August and was excited to reunite with their child, aged one.

"He told me, that even if he is assigned in Sulu, he will ask permission to return so we can celebrate our anniversary," she said in an interview.

Originally from Manticao, Misamis Oriental, Dapanas Jr. was with the Army's 26th Infantry Battalion (IB), in Agusan del Sur. He volunteered to be transferred to 11th Infantry Division (ID) in Jolo.

His body was among the five remains that arrived at the Philippine Army 4th ID headquarters here on Monday.

Others were TSg. Nelson B. Hadjiri from Kadingilan, Bukidnon; PFC. Philip Dante T. Camilosa, from Bit-os, Butuan

Hotel bubble ready for OFW repatriates in Davao DAVAO City – Overseas Filipino workers (OFW) coming home from Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Dhaka, Bangladesh on July 15 and 18 will enter bubble quarantine to ensure their family’s safety against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

In a radio interview Monday, Mayor Sara Duterte allayed fears of a potential rise of Covid-19

cases with the acceptance of repatriates.

“There are international flights that would come in. They will be in a bubble wrap and will go directly to an isolation hotel. From there, they will undergo the needed Covid-19 processing, so there will be hotels designated for these groups,” she said.

Under Davao’s "bubble

City; Cpl Jay-ar V. Obenita of Lianga, Surigao del Sur; and Pvt. Carlos Jhun C. Paragua Jr. from Manila De Bugabos, Butuan City.

The C-130 crashed in Barangay Bangkal around 11:30 a.m. on July 4, killing 49 out of the 96 onboard.

Major Francisco Garello Jr., spokesperson of the 4ID, said more bodies will arrive after forensic investigations are completed.

Bukidnon native Asuncion Indapan,

wrap", all arriving passengers will be brought to their isolation hotels where they will undergo swab tests for Covid-19 and be locked in for 14 days.

Duterte is also making sure hotel workers can safely cater to OFWs’ needs by fast-tracking their vaccination.

She clarified that only READY/PAGE 7

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

the stepmother of Pvt. Marcelino Alquisar, said she will divide among her other children the financial assistance from the government.

"More assistance will surely be given to them, for their sons who paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country. We will always pray for the families and relatives that they will have the strength to surpass these trying times,” said Lt. Col. Edgardo Talaroc Jr,, commander of the 8IB. (PNA)

Dr. David Mendoza, chief of the DOH 10 Local Health Support Division, explains that all the vaccines are safe and effective regardless of the brand or manufacturer.

(JAKA/PIA10)

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

Vaccines are effective regardless of brand—DOH MISAMIS ORIENTAL (PIA)—“We've said it before and we'll say it again. All of the vaccines that the government and the Department of Health (DOH) provide are safe and effective, regardless of brand, source, or manufacturer.”

Dr. David Mendoza, Local Health Support Chief of the Department of Health Region 10, delivered this comment at an episode of the Talakayan sa PIA: COVID Series.

With some people clamoring for a specific brand of vaccine, Mendoza emphasized that the most effective vaccine is the one that is accessible, whether it is made by AstraZeneca, Sinovac, Gamaleya, Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson. All of these vaccines can protect a person from becoming infected with COVID-19.

Mendoza also explained that the “Made in” factor that others consider does not necessarily have significance when it comes to the COVID-19 vaccines since all of these [vaccines] had undergone the required testing procedures by pharmaceutical laboratories and had been examined by various Food and Drug Administration worldwide.

“These vaccines are all the same. These are effective to protect us from coronavirus.

Despite having different pharmaceutical manufacturers and platforms of technology, the vaccines are all safe and effective in keeping an individual from being severely infected with COVID 19, which can lead to death,” he said.

Mendoza further explained that our country has been using Sinovac VACCINES/PAGE 7

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3

Feature

WED-THU|JULY 14-15, 2021

Cindy Obeñita of CDO is Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental 2021 C

By MARK F. FRANCISCO

INDERELLA Faye “Cindy” Obeñita of Cagayan de Oro City and Misamis Oriental will represent the country in Miss Intercontinental 2021 in Egypt later this year at a still unspecified date.

This after Obeñita was crowned Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental 2021 Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Cindy was Miss Cagayan de Oro 2019 and is currently an employee of the provincial tourism office of Misamis Oriental.

It took her, along with other contestants, more than two years to get the national title as the Binibining Pilipinas pageant last year was postponed again and again due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

It was her very

smart answer during the Q and A that really helped and catapulted her to one of the top crowns of Binibining Pilipinas.

“In life, we always find ourselves in a crossroad of choices.

Women always have a choice whether to prioritize luxury items, but while we are facing a pandemic, and also they have a choice to embrace a concept of a new beautiful, which is responsive to the needs of the time, adaptive to the change of times and I think I would choose to be that woman who understands the problems of the Philippines, the problems of my community, so that we would be able to uplift each other and I would be that kind of woman who will comfort the aff licted and aff lict the comfortable,”

was Obeñita’s winning answer to the question: “How important are luxury items like bags, clothes, jewelry for a woman when the national economy is down and struggling?”

The Camiguinborn Cindy was a magna cum laude when she graduated during her college years with a degree in Mass Communication at Liceo de Cagayan University.

Children's emotional well-being throughout pandemic

By JULIETA VERTUDAZO Benoni Elementary School Benoni, Mahinog, Camiguin

THE coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV-2), was the stimulus for a slew of progressive restrictions on s o c i a l move me nt and interactions to break the chain of viral transmission.

There are effects of such limited interactions on the emotional health of very young children, as reported by closely

involved parents.

Teachers in schools were worried about the potential adverse impact of such isolation on very young learners, starting school for the first time. Would they be able to communicate, develop language skills, and learn to read and write, as earlier generations of children had? Would they play well with others, form teams and develop strong relationships

Song Composition for MTB-MLE Lesson Applicable Grade: Kinder to Grade 3 Learning Competency: Nakapagpapakita ng iba’t ibang paraan ng pagpapasalamat sa biyayang tinanggap, tinatanggap at tatanggapin mula sa Diyos.

This song is originally composed for springboard of the lesson with the tune of “DINHI MALIPAYON”

“Pagpasalamat sa Ginoo” Ni: MARITES Q. JONE Teacher I-San Antonio Elementary School District 4- Ozamiz City Division

I. Salamat Ginoo Sa grasyang gihatag mo Gasa nga gikan kanimo II. Salamat Ginoo Sa grasyang gihatag mo Gasa nga alang kanamo.

Chorus: Atong pasalamatan Ang Diyos sa kahitas-an Tungog sa Iyang gugma ug mga gasa.

(Repeat I,II &Chorus)

with those other than their primary caregivers?

The context of the postulated deprivation of these socially learned skills in preschool children is also important, since parents are often stressed out with the loss of employment, childcare and opportunities

for socialization following the pandemic-related restrictions.

Stress in the parents is linked to poor parenting and a decreased quality of family life, and most importantly, less responsive care of their children, which in turn impacts the child's development.

TECHNOLOGY OVER TIME By: JEANIELYN A. LABADAN

Over the last few y e a r s , d e v e l opm e nt s of unprecedented technological growth is no slowing down.

Technology changes over time.

Technology affects people all over the world both positively and negatively. The advances in technology have made our lives easier, faster, better and more fun. On the other hand, “It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded humanity”.

Te c h n o l o g y p l a y a n important role in our s o c i e t y to d ay. R e s e arch have found evidences of the contribution of technology in our daily lives. Technology can save lives. Say, major operations, scans and medical diagnoses happen through scientific and technological discoveries. Communication, work and education are almost impossible without technology today. Technology have broug ht us on line

banking, smart cars, smart TVs, lightning fast computers, and the virtual reality. Also there include cyber warfare, hackers, identity theft, cyber stalking, and a host of other bad things. Agriculture, industry, profession, health, education, ar t, p olitical processes, recreation, religious activities and daily life activities all are under the influence of technology now.

As with many technological revolution, many important technologies have enormous future potential. More of the world's information is now digitized and more people and things are networked, it is just right to take advantage of these new opportunities to improve one’s business, products and services. Modernized technolog y enables us to increase our comfort and to achieve efficiency in all sectors of life.

Fill in the Gap

BY IRIS M. MORQUIALA

The opening of classes despite the pandemic has been the subject of many debates at the beginning of last year. Many were into skipping the school year as it would be extremely challenging while a lot of parents are also willing to try how remote learning is going to work. The Department of Education (DepEd) had crafted different modalities to possibly answer the need for education to each learner and pushed thru education.

On March 2 the department issues DepEd Order No. 012 to announce that it would extend the school year to July 10 to enable teachers to conduct “intervention and remediation activities” on March 1-12 “to address learning gaps” and give them additional time for the different learning mo da lit ies. The y wou ld attend on March 15-19 a professional development program organized by the school or other DepEd unit.

However, the day after drawing flak, the department withdrew the plan following objections that it would shorten the summer vacation to only two weeks. We hope, however, that the DepEd will continue with its plan to address the “learning gaps” that have been attributed to the cancellation of face-toface classes and substantial loss of live student contact with teachers.

Face-to-face classes were replaced by a system of distance learning last year to avoid personal contact among teachers and students to stop the possible spread of the coronavirus. The problem, however, was that so many students did not have the needed equipment such as TV sets, smartphones, and laptops. Many areas of the country do not have internet service.

This problem is also true in almost every country around

the world. The United Nations International Children‘s Fund (UNICEF) disclosed the results of a study showing that some 463 million children around the world lacked the equipment for electronic access to benefit from distance learning programs. In the Pacific and East Asia countries alone, the UNICEF said, some 80 million had this problem. In OCCS out of the 3349 enrolled learners, 2983 learners do not have laptops or desktops at home, and even 143 are without smartphones at home.

In addition, the polling organization Social Weather Stations (SWS) announced the results of a survey it conducted among Filipino students. The survey showed that only 58 percent had the devices needed for distance learning. Forty-two percent did not have them and so we're unable to take part in the online classes during the school year.

T h i s l a c k of prop e r equipment among many students is surely one of the learning gaps the DepEd has found after many months of the pandemic. There is also the lack of internet service in many parts of the country, partly because there simply are no communication towers in some regions.

There is also the fact that many students respond best to face-to-face communication with teachers. It has thus been proposed that our school rooms be expanded and reconfigured so that students maintain a proper distance from one another at all times.

Our schools have been forced to follow so many restrictions these past months because of the pandemic. With the start of mass vaccinations, it may soon be possible to ease them so as to help so many students who suffered from the restrictions, mostly from lack of expensive equipment.

4

Opinion

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Long and winding road Think a minute… After my teenage son learned to drive, he still did not learn the quickest, shortest route to where he wanted to go.

He often ended up turning a 10-minute drive into a 20-minute journey. Taking the long way home cost him a lot of wasted time and money for fuel. Yet often in life we take the long and winding road to get where we want to be. Life is short, yet we take so long to learn how to live it well. “Experience may be a good teacher, but it charges us a high price for the lessons we learn.”

Each day we face possibilities to make wrong turns, or to simply go around in circles with our daily routine, never actually making progress. “We live and learn, but some of us just live.”

So we die sometimes having never learned to really live the right, satisfying way. We take many twists and turns trying to find our way through this life of good and bad, right and wrong. We face a lot of choices, including false starts, detours, and dead ends.

Remember, “No one ever got lost on a straight road.”

THINK A MINUTE

WED-THU|JULY 14-15, 2021

Emigration of workers and employees When the pandemic began, I was already a retiree following German law. But I still enjoyed teaching German language. I really loved communicating with my students "face-toface". At the moment, I only do have the chance to teach online. All of my work and communication with the outside world now takes place in my home office. Actually, I am still lucky. Why? Well, throughout the pandemic, essential workers and employees – often in lower paid positions – have borne the brunt of employers’ decisions. Many were working longer hours on smaller staffs, in positions that required interaction with the public with little to no safety measures put in place by the company and, at least in the US, no guarantee of paid sick leave. It quickly burnt workers out.

Many people are leaving their jobs – or thinking about

it – in droves. A Microsoft survey of more than 30,000 global workers showed that 41% of workers were considering quitting or changing professions this year, and a study from HR software company Personio of workers in the UK and Ireland showed 38% of those surveyed planned to quit in the next six months to a year.

In the US alone, April saw more than four million people quit their jobs, according to a summar y from the Department of Labor – the biggest spike on record.

There are a number of reasons people are seeking a change, in what some have dubbed the ‘Great Resignation’. For some, the pandemic precipitated a shift in priorities, encouraging them to pursue a ‘dream job’, or transition to being a stayat-home parent. But for many, many others, the decision to leave came as a result of the

way their employer treated them during the pandemic.

As I learned from the recent Stanford Study, workers who, pre-pandemic, may already be teetering on the edge of quitting companies with existing poor company culture saw themselves pushed to a breaking point.

That’s because, as evidenced by this Stanford Study, many of these companies with bad environments doubled-down on decisions that didn’t support workers, such as layoffs (while, conversely, companies that had good culture tended to treat employees well). This drove out already disgruntled workers who survived the layoffs, but could plainly see they were working in unsupportive environments.

And although workers have always cared about the environments in which they work, the pandemic added an entirely new dimension:

HAVE MY SAY

KLAUS DORING an increased willingness to act, says Alison Omens, chief strategy officer of JUST Capital, the research firm that collected much of the data for the study.

"The early days of the pandemic reminded us that people are not machines", says Alison Omens. In the wake of the pandemic, “the intensity has increased in terms of that expectation; people are expecting more from companies. The EMIGRATION/PAGE 7

Bangkok lockdown measures started NUTS & BOLTS

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JEROME DE LA FUENTE

The Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration ( CCSA ) announced new Covid-19 lockdown measures for Bangkok and surrounding provinces, as well as 4 southern provinces, and now people and businesses are scrambling to prepare before provisions go into effect since last night until Monday.

Airlines have quickly implemented emergency me asures for domest ic travellers to handle the wave of cancellations and rescheduling due to Bangkok and other provinces locking down and AirAsia quickly walked back

an immediate suspension of flights and agreed to delay for 2 days to avoid stranded so many travellers. Koh Phangan, preparing for its reopening as part of the Samui Plus programme, has tightened up entry procedures for travellers from dark red zones like Bangkok, now requiring a 5,000 baht RT-PCR test instead of the cheaper rapid tests.

But in an effort to avoid widespread national outbreaks that followed the last Bangkok semi-lockdown measures as residents fled to their hometowns to avoid strong restrictions in the capital city, officials are urging people to refrain from any unnecessary travelling. The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration ( CCSA ) announced restrictions of travel between provinces to try to stop people from moving around and spreading infections.

In the new disease control measures for the 4 southern provinces of Narathiwat,

Pattani, Songkhla, and Yala as well as Bangkok and the 5 surrounding provinces of Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, and Samut Sakhon, a curfew announced at first at 10 pm was quickly revised to 9 pm to 4 am nightly. Public transportation will stop at 9 pm and resume at 3 am and night markets, convenience stores, pharmacies, general stores, supermarkets, and vaccination centres must close at 8 pm.

Shopping malls are closed except for the shop types listed above that can open instead until 8 pm. Restaurants can continue takeaway, also until 8 pm, but dine-in services are forbidden. Beauty salons, massage parlours, spas and similar are considered too high risk and must completely close, as bar and entertainment venues have for several months.

Public parks avoided closure this time, something that had frustrated many residents during previous

Bangkok lockdowns measures, as many felt exercise and fresh air in open outdoor parks posed a very low risk of Covid-19.

Aside from religious events, traditional activities and official business meetings, all gatherings of 5 or more people have been banned.

People are reminded that wearing masks in public and social distancing at work and home and in public is still required at all times.

Checkpoints and patrol units are in Bangkok enforcing laws and curfew measures from 6 pm onward starting today, citing anyone out between 9 pm and 3 am unless they are medical or utility workers travelling to work, or someone needing medical treatment en route to a hospital. Anyone in violation could be charged under the C ommunicable Disease Act and the Emergency Decree, where the harshest punishments include up to 40,000 baht in fines and 2 years in prison.

No disciple greater than his master FOR as long as we are true

earth. We should strengthen

the “image and likeness” of

HINTS AND TRACES

aspire to be greater than Christ, our master. Obviously, among ourselves, it is highly possible that a disciple or even a servant can in time outrank his leader and master, as can easily be verified especially these days.

Thus, Christ said, “No disciple is above his teacher, no slave above his master.”

(Mt 10,24) In this particular instance, what he was trying to tell us is that we ought to be most faithful to him and to be fully trusting of his will and ways, irrespective of how things go in our life here on earth.

We have to be wary of our tendency to easily fall into pride, vanity and conceit whenever we enjoy special status in our life here on

conviction that we are actually nothing without God and that we need to continually keep an intimate relationship with Christ in the Holy Spirit.

We have to make some readjustments in our understanding of being a disciple of Christ. It should not be pegged only on some worldly and temporal standards. Rather, it should be understood in the context of the role of Christ in our life, he who is the “way, truth and life” for us.

To be sure, understanding our being disciples of Christ that way would never be regarded as some kind of downgrading our status.

Rather, it would lead us to realize that we are achieving the fullness of our dignity as

to share in God’s very own life that is supernatural.

We just have to be most trusting of God’s will and ways, of his ever wise and omnipotent providence.

That way we avoid falling into unnecessary fears and worries. We all know that our life always has more to offer to us than what we can understand, let alone, cope.

And they can come in all shapes and sizes, good and bad, pleasant and unpleasant, likeable and hateful. There are surprises and moments when we seem to rot in expectation and still things we long for don’t come.

In the face of all this, I believe the attitude to have and the reaction to make is to be calm, pray hard, and

while we do all we can, we have to learn to live a certain sense of abandonment in the hands of God. With all the things that we have to contend with in this life, we certainly need to have a healthy sense of trust in God’s loving and wise providence, abandoning ourselves in his will and ways that often are mysterious DISCIPLE/PAGE 7

JHAN TIAFAU HURST disciples of Christ, we cannot and continue reinforcing our God, children of his, meant It’s actually quite easy to find the right road in life.

For one thing, “If the truth is standing in your way, you know you’re headed in the wrong direction.” It’s like going the wrong way on a one-way street: the person who turns around the soonest is the smartest and safest.

There is nothing smart about being too stubborn and proud to admit we have made a mistake.

It makes no sense to ask 2 plus 2 to equal 5. Just like it makes no sense to ask God to change the facts of right and wrong so I can live my own way. And what if God said it was OK for me to do the wrong thing I want to ROAD/PAGE 7

ROY CIMAGALA

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WED-THU|JULY 14-15, 2021

CorporateWorld

Cebu’s IT-BPM sector ‘more resilient’ amid pandemic

C

EBU City -- Cebu’s information technologybusiness process management (IT-BPM) industry has proven itself to be among the resilient sectors here even as the economy continues to reel from the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

Such observation was shared

by Aseem Roy, country head of Wipro Philippines, during the opening of the four-day virtual 2021 Transformation Summit on Monday, organized by the Cebu IT BPM.Organization (CIB.O).

“The pandemic was a litmus test to what Cebu City and Cebu province have to contribute and how well we cope with adapting to some global trends,” the top official of the Indian BPO company told the virtual conference.

The Covid-19 pandemic has transformed a lot of industries, pushing the IT-BPM sector in particular to widely adopt flexibility as to how it operates.

A number of BPO companies have since allowed their employees to work from home and offer more flexible work arrangements, as the pandemic has significantly changed how industries operate.

Despite the challenges, the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) said

the outsourcing sector still posted employment growth in 2020 of about 23,000 people, bringing the total to 1.32 million.

This was primarily due to more jobs created by resilient industries such as e-commerce and healthcare, in Metro Manila as well as Cebu, according to property consultancy firm Colliers International Philippines.

In Cebu, the IT-BPM industry employed about 180,000 to 190,000 workforce as of last year, up from 170,000 two years ago, according to estimates earlier disclosed by CIB.O president Pert Cabataña.

Wipro’s Roy said they are “fairly confident” that Cebu has the capability to outshine with the top outsourcing hubs in the world.

“The Cebu IT-BPM industry has become stronger and more resilient,” he said.

Roy said that Cebu, being the country’s key top IT-BPM investment destination outside Metro Manila, has the “capability to transform and lead” as the stakeholders bring collective efforts to further push the industry forward.

Cebu’s advantage According to Colliers, Cebu remains a preferred business destination outside Metro Manila due to its competitiveness in terms

of manpower, infrastructure, and cost of doing business.

Based on the results of Tholons’ 2021 survey, three of the 100 most attractive outsourcing sites in the world, Cebu ranked 52nd.

Among Tholons’ criteria are talent, skill and quality, business catalyst, cost and infrastructure, and innovation and capital.

“In our view, Metro Cebu will likely remain a viable destination for firms looking to open space outside of Metro Manila beyond this Covid-affected period, even for higher-value outsourcing services such as healthcare and technology firms,” said Joey Bondoc, associate director for research at Colliers Philippines, when sought for comment.

Among the firms operating knowledge process outsourcing in Metro Cebu are Google, Tech Mahindra, and Kuehne+Nagel.

In the first quarter of 2021, Cebu recorded notable office deals, which came from outsourcing and traditional companies including 24/7 InTouch Philippines, Aldesa BPO, Nokia and the Philippines Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, based on data from Colliers.

The bulk of these transactions were in Cebu Business Park in Cebu City. (PNA)

French firm eyes P1.5-B shipyard in PH OCEA, a shipbuilding firm in northwest France, has expressed its intent to build a P1.5-billion shipyard in the country.

In a statement Wednesday, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said OCEA is just one of the investment interests from France that the country has cornered during the 9th Philippine-France Joint Economic Committee (JEC) meeting last July 2.

OCEA’s shipyard here is expected to create up to 600 jobs.

During the highlevel economic dialogue, French Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness Franck Riester also presented three letters of intent confirming financial support for the upcoming projects of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), financial aid in support of a training boat contract for the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA); and a possible maritime expert proposal.

Lopez also handed over to Riester the intent

of the Bases Conversion Development Authority to partner with France for the next phase study of the Clark Fresh Food Hub, as well as the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines’ intent to renew aviation technical training programs.

Lopez and Riester also discussed possible cooperation in different sectors such as energy, film and animation, and agriculture.

“This JEC meeting is a testament to how the Philippines and France are

now rebuilding together, after global challenges faced during the early phase of the pandemic,” Lopez said.

The JEC with France is the country’s longestrunning high-level economic dialogue with a European country.

The 10th PhilippinesFrance JEC meeting will be conducted in Paris in 2022.

But even before the next JEC meeting, Riester announced that he will visit the Philippines before the year ends. (PNA)

Hawaii eases entry rules for PAL passengers PHILIPPINE Airlines (PAL) passengers traveling to Hawaii will be exempt from quarantine requirements if they submit negative COVID-19 tests from the airline’s accredited partners.

The flag carrier has been accredited by the State of Hawaii as a “trusted testing and travel partner,” making it the first airline in Asia to be cited.

“PAL passengers who secure, prior to departure, negative RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) test results from a PAL testing partner accredited as a Safe Travel laboratory shall no longer be required to undergo the mandatory 10-day quarantine upon arrival in Hawaii,” the company said in a statement on Monday.

The new rule will apply starting on the July 30 flight. PAL flies nonstop from Manila to Honolulu every Friday.

“We are delighted to announce

that we are expanding our Safe Travels pre-travel testing program to include travelers from the Philippines… and we appreciate our partners who are helping families reconnect,” Hawaii Governor David Ige said last week.

Passengers can avail of RT-PCR tests with Detoxicare Diagnostics Molecular Laboratory in the cities of Manila, Pasay, and Mandaluyong.

They can also get tested at Safeguard DNA Diagnostic, Inc. in Mandaluyong City, Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City, Bacolod Queen of Mercy Hospital in Bacolod City, and St. Elizabeth Hospital, Inc. in General Santos City.

PAL is required to report to Hawaiian authorities the COVID-19 status of each arriving passenger.

Travelers must register at the PAL online health declaration form as early as five days before their flights.

“If a passenger presents test results from a medical provider that

is not a Safe Travel accredited lab, the mandatory 10-day quarantine shall be imposed upon arrival in Hawaii,” the company said.

PAL Holdings, Inc., the listed operator of PAL, expects positive monthly operating cash flows this year after its net loss after tax widened to P73.08 billion in 2020 from P9.70 billion previously due to the impact of the pandemic on its operations.

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WED-THU|JULY 14-15, 2021

Encounter on Vivamax

THIS July, Vivamax proudly brings the Philippine adaptation of “Encounter”, the much-celebrated Korean series about a May-December romance, with Cristine Reyes and Diego Loyzaga portraying the roles popularized by Song Hye-kyo and Park Bo-gum.

Former actress Selene Cristobal (Cristine Reyes) has just gotten out of a marriage of convenience with her philandering husband.

Because of her stardom and being a daughter of a politician, Selene knows the importance of one’s reputation, but she agreed to take the blame for her failed marriage in exchange for Hotel d’Trevi which is one of the hotel chains owned by her ex’s family.

Under Selene’s management, the hotel is able to thrive once again. She goes to acquire more properties, and one leads her to Ilocos. It never crossed the mind of this pretty but lonely hotel CEO that this business trip will turn EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE AMONG HEIRS KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

That the late SPS. CIPRIANO MUGOT and PACIANA MUGOT, who died last SEPTEMBER 24, 1999 and JULY 10, 2004 at Mauswagon, Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental, and intestate which has his residence at the time of their demise, leaving certain real property with TAX DECLARATION NO. 08-18-0003-01205, situated at Gasi, Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental, containing an area of ELEVEN THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED THIRTYTWO (11,132) square meters, more or less, and has been the subject of an EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE AMONG HEIRS, filed by the heirs of SPS. CIPRIANO MUGOT and PACIANA MUGOT, per DOC #135; PAGE #27; BOOK #157; Series of 2021 under the Notarial Registry of ATTY. TIBURCIO M. PALASAN, JR. BWM: July 7, 14 & 21, 2021

EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT WITH DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: That the late ALGERICO BACLAYON who died on March 27, 2009 at laguindingan, Misamis Oriental and intestate which has her residence at the time of her demise, leaving certain real properties, with Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-42092 situated at Liberty, Municipality of Laguindingan, Province of Misamis Oriental, Island of Mindanao, containing an area of Three Thousand Three Hundred Sixty-Two (3,362) square meters more or less, and has been the subject of an EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT WITH DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE, filed by the heirs of ALGERICO BACLAYON, in favor of MYLEEN FLORES ALCOBER, per DOC # 101; PAGE #21;BOOK #143; Series of 2021 under the Notarial Registry of ATTY. TIBURCIO M. PALASAN, JR. BWM: July 14, 21 & 28, 2021

out romantic.

Engineering graduate Gino Hilario (Diego Loyzaga) is touring Ilocos while waiting for his dream job. Though he is passionate about art and photography, Gino is not into movies and celebrities so he is not familiar with Selene. All he knows when he sees her for the first time is that she is a woman in need of saving.

Directed by Gawad Urian Best Director awardee Jeffrey Jeturian, “Encounter” stays faithful to the significant scenes shown in the original K-drama, like the sunset shared by these two beautiful strangers. Though the initial plan of shooting abroad did not materialize in this time of pandemic, it was a brilliant decision to shoot in the famous Cape Bojeador Lighthouse in Burgos, Ilocos Norte as a stand in for Cuba where Song Hyekyo and Park Bo-gum viewed the sunset.

Starting July 23, 2021, stream “Encounter” on Vivamax and find out why Selene and Gino cannot forget their time together EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF REAL ESTATE KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: That the late REGALADO DAROY, who died on December 5,1991 in Poblacion, Opol, Misamis Oriental, and CONCHITA BASMAYOR DAROY, who died on April 14, 2006 in Poblacion, Opol, Misamis Oriental, leaving no will nor debts settled to date but leaving a parcel of land with Tax Declaration No. 0815000505796 situated in Bonbon, Opol, Misamis Oriental, containing an area of Nine Thousand Four Hundred Ninety (9490) square meters, and has been the subject of an EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF REAL ESTATE, filed by the heirs of REGALADO DAROY and CONCHITA BASMAYOR DAROY, per DOC #367; PAGE #74; BOOK #LXVII;Series of 2021 under the Notarial Registry of ATTY. LYNN AMOR L. PACLAR-PANULAYA. BWM: July 14, 21 & 28, 2021

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT AMONG HEIRS KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: That the late ANTONIO N. ALMIRANTE, JR., who died in Cagayan de Oro City, on July 30, 2008 without any will; that the said deceased at the time of his death left a certain parcel of land with ⅙ share equivalent to 58.83 square meters situated at Barangay Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City, covered by Transfer Certificate of Title No. 137-2011004909, containing an area of Three Hundred Fifty Three (353) Square Meters, more or less and has been the subject of an EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT AMONG HEIRS, filed by the heirs of ANTONIO N. ALMIRANTE, per DOC # 28; PAGE #6; BOOK #1; Series of 2020 under the Notarial Registry of ATTY. MARVI MANUEL S. ROA JR. BWM: July 14, 21 & 28, 2021

in Ilocos even as they resume their normal lives in Manila. Witness their second encounter as a boss and an employee. Follow how their relationship evolves in the midst of people who paint it as scandalous, namely Selene’s ex-husband William Trevino, played by Ivan Padilla, her mother-in-law Helen, played

by Isay Alvarez, and her parents Cynthia and Andres, played by Maricel Morales and Robert Seña.

Gino’s family is composed of Yayo Aguila as Marilyn, Jeric Raval as Ruben, and Vitto Marquez as Gino’s younger brother, Justin. “Encounter” also stars Aubrey Caraan, Benj Manalo, Raquel Montesa, Rey PJ Abellana, Candy Pangilinan, Raul Montesa, Josef Elizalde, Anna Jalandoni, and Louise delos Reyes.

Vivamax is available at web.vivamax.net. You can also download the app and subscribe via Google Play Store and App Store. For only P29, you can unli-watch all Vivamax titles for three days.

You can also subscribe for P149/month and P399 for 3 months for bigger savings.

For payment thru website, you may choose from EC Pay, 7 Eleven, All Day, All Day, Pay Mongo, GrabPay, GCash, or PayMaya. For payment thru app, you may choose EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

That the late ULYSSES CASERES TAAL, died without leaving any will, left no debt, that upon his death he left a real property described with Tax Declaration No. 08-18-0001-00937 situated at Poblacion, Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental, containing an area of 13,288 square meters more or less, and has been the subject of an EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE, filed by the heirs of ULYSSES CASERES TAAL, per DOC #275; PAGE #56; BOOK #140; Series of 2016 under the Notarial Registry of ATTY. EMMANUEL A. AKUT. BWM: July 7, 14 & 21, 2021

from Globe, Smart, GCash, Paypal, Visa, or Mastercard.

For payment thru Ecommerce, you may choose from Lazada, Shopee, Comworks, Clickstore, or Paymaya. For payment thru authorized outlets, you may choose from Load Manna, Comworks, Cebuana Lhuillier, Palawan Express, and Load Central. Vivamax’s cable partners are SkyCable, Cable Link, Wesfardell Connect, Fiber, BCTVI, Cebu Cable, Zenergy HD, Cotabato Cable Television Network Corporation, and Concepcion Pay TV Network, Inc.

“Encounter” is also streaming on Vivamax Middle East! To our dear fellow Pinoys in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, and Qatar, watch all you can for only AED35/month. In Europe, Vivamax can be streamed for only 8 GBP/month. Vivamax, atin ‘to!

TV5’s telecast of “Encounter” continues every Saturday at 9 PM. It is produced by Viva Entertainment, the producer of blockbuster adaptations such as Miss Granny and Miracle in Cell No. 7.

TITLED FARM LAND FOR SALE Location: Talakag, Bukidnon Price: P800,000/hectare only

Water... from page 1

handed over checks worth P200 million to fast-tract the implementation of the project.

Drieza Lininding, chair of the Marawi-based Moro Consensus Group, on Monday alleged that the ongoing rehabilitation program of the national government stinks of corruption.

In a statement addressed to Senator Manny Pacquiao, who has recently accused some government agencies of being corrupt, Lininding said, “Take a look at the Marawi rehabilitation and you will discover many anomalies, the reason why four years after the siege, residents have yet to return to their homes.”

(Ferdinandh B. Cabrera/ MindaNews) EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF THE ESTATE OF THE DECEASED CIRILO YASAY,MARINA YASAY,CARIDAD YASAY,CONCOLACION YASAY, AND JOSEFINA YASAY KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENT: That the late CIRILO YASAY,MARINA YASAY,CARIDAD YASAY,CONCOLACION YASAY, AND JOSEFINA YASAY, who died on 1-10-1940, 12-15-1979, 8-1-1979, 11-4-1944, and 10-4-1944, in Opol, Misamis Oriental without leaving any last will and testament; that the deceased at the time of their death are the registered owners/ claimant of a parcel of land with Decree No. 738703 situated in Opol, Misamis Oriental, containing an area of Five Thousand One Hundred and Seventy-Two (5,172) square meters more or less and has been the subject of an EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF THE ESTATE OF THE DECEASED CIRILO YASAY,MARINA YASAY,CARIDAD YASAY,CONCOLACION YASAY, AND JOSEFINA YASAY, filed by the heirs of CIRILO YASAY,MARINA YASAY,CARIDAD YASAY,CONCOLACION YASAY, AND JOSEFINA YASAY, per DOC #259; PAGE #52; BOOK #216; Series of 2020 under the Notarial Registry of ATTY. MARIO T. JUNI. BWM: July 14, 21 & 28, 2021

DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: That the VENDOR AILENE MANZANO-UY, of legal age, Filipino, married to CHRISTIAN C. UY, a resident of Malasag, Cugman, Cagayan de Oro City, is the absolute owner of a parcel of land with Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-193114 situated at Camaman-an, Tigpolohan,Cagayan de Oro City, containing an area of FOUR HUNDRED SEVENTY FOUR (474) square meters more or less, and has been the subject of an DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE, in favor of PAULO S. MANZANO (VENDEE), per DOC # 236; PAGE #48; BOOK #214;Series of 2021 under the Notarial Registry of ATTY. EMMANUEL A. GAABUCAYAN. BWM: July 14, 21 & 28, 2021

Details: * Along barangay road * Around 600 meters from national highway * Slope type land * Total area: 17.2 hectares For more details pls contact the Owner @ * 0926-823-3766 * 0949-134-6078

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

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WED-THU|JULY 14-15, 2021

Road... from page 4

do? Then how would I feel if God let someone else do that wrong thing to me or to someone in my family? He shows us His right ways for our happiness and safety!

Jesus declared that He is the only way to true life. Follow Him and He will lead you where you want to go. He knows this land called life.

He made it. Trust Him. So won’t you ask Jesus to forgive you for living your way? Then ask Him to take full charge of your heart and daily way of living, so you can stop taking wrong turns and dead-end streets. He is the only One Who can lead you off the long and winding road to the straight and only way home, where your satisfying, everlasting life is waiting for you. Just think a minute.

Disciple... from page 4

to us and can appear to be contrary to what we would like to have.

A h e a lt hy s pi r it of ab andonment in G o d’s hands is necessary even as we exhaust all possible human means to achieve our goals or simply to tackle all the challenges, trials and predicaments of our life. We should never forget this truth of our faith.

In those situations, I believe we just have to allow ourselves to play in God’s game plan, in his abiding providence whose designs are beyond reckoning, are way beyond comprehension and appreciation. In this life, we need to acquire a good, healthy sporting spirit.

Email: roycimagala@ gmail.com

Emigration... from page 4

early days of the pandemic reminded us that people are not machines”, says Omens. “If you’re worried about your kids, about your health, financial insecurity and covering your bills, and all the things that come with being human, you’re less likely to be productive. And we were all worried about those things.”

Yes, it's indeed an acrossthe-board exodus. The mass departure is happening at all levels of work, and is especially evident in service and retail jobs. “Many of the stories have tended to focus on white collar jobs, but the biggest trends are really around traditionally low-wage roles and essential workers,” says Omens. “That’s a really interesting element of this.”

Could this Great Resignation bring about m e an i ng f u l, l ong - te r m change to workplace culture and the way companies invest in their employees? Omens believes the answer is yes.

The change was happening before the pandemic, she says, with a “real increase in what people are looking for in terms of their expectations of CEOs and companies”. +++ Email: doringklaus@gmail.

com or follow me on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn or visit my www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com.

Ready... from page 2

international repatriation flights are accepted here.

“First, we will be able to send our OFWs back to their families. Second, we will be able to help our hotel industry to earn, even if not for tourism but as pay isolation facility,” she added.

Meanwhile, Davao City Tourism Office Chief and Airport Monitoring head Generose Tecson said in an interview that as of July 9, a total of 1,079 rooms in 20 hotel establishments have been prepared and inspected by the Department of Tourism (DOT) as quarantine facilities.

“We prioritized multi-use or quarantine facilities. The DOT made the inspection and there were protocols followed to qualify,” she said.

She reminded the public to always comply with public health standards as the tourism industry is preparing for increased activities. (PNA)

Vaccines... from page 2

technology for years, such as anti-tetanus and anti-polio.

Hence, there is no reason to be worried or anxious about the CoronaVac (Sinovac) vaccines, he added.

With all this shared knowledge and information, Mendoza reiterated that the available vaccines are the most effective for COVID-19 p r e v e n t i o n . He u r g e d everyone to get inoculated so that everybody in the family and the entire community will be protected. “The benefit of being vaccinated outweighs the risk,” he said. (Jan Albert K. Araña/PIA-10)

Power... from page 1

excess capacity by next year,” he said.

According to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), Mindanao can supply as much as 2,989 MW but the present demand of consumers is only 1,940 MW, leaving an excess of 1,049 MW. But Montenegro admitted it remains uncertain whether power interruptions can be totally avoided in some parts of the island that are being serviced by electric cooperatives.

He said some of these electric cooperatives continue to suffer from financial woes that restrict them from delivering an uninterrupted 24/7 supply of electricity to consumers.

“Whether or not there are power interruptions in specific locations, again it d e p e nds on el e c t r ic cooperatives in those areas.

Our reality in Mindanao is that our power electricity is being provided, delivered by more than 30 electric cooperatives, including those in the island provinces – electric cooperatives that are on varying scales and capacities and financial capabilities – some are financially able and stable and some are still dealing with debts and financial obligations,” he said.

He added some areas are also beset with issues on transmission lines caused by trees planted or structures deliberately constructed along the power line corridor.

“While there is a law criminalizing the planting of trees or putting structures at transmission assets one way or another affecting the integrity of those assets and affecting delivery of electric services, we still see this happening in some areas of Mindanao especially in the forested areas where our major transmission backbones are traversing,” he said.

He said “trip offs” in major transmission backbone will affect certain areas of Mindanao.

Republic Act 11361, also known as “Anti-Obstruction of Power Lines Act,” declares unlawful the planting or causing to be planted of tall growing plants, including plants of whatever kind, variety, or height within the power line corridor; constructing or erecting any hazardous improvements w it h i n t he p owe r l i ne corridor; and conducting or performing any hazardous improvements within the power line corridor.

Solutions... from page 1

is the measly quit rate of 4-percent measured as of 2015 which largely remained unchanged from 2009,” he noted during the 4th Asia Harm Reduction Forum held virtually on June 28, 2021.

He recommended that another option must be provided to adult smokers who do not wish to quit. “Tobacco

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harm reduction, through the use and promotion of safer alternatives to combustible tobacco, should be employed to substantially reduce the risk of death and disease of smoking,” Dr. Mata said.

THR is defined by the 2021 Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction report as “a range of pragmatic policies, regulations and actions which either reduce health risks by providing safer forms of products or substances or encourage less risky behaviors.”

D r. Mat a i d e nt i f i e d innovative electronic nicotine delivery systems which eliminates the combustion process, such as heated tobacco products and e-cigarettes or vapes, as examples of THR. “Beyond any reasonable doubt, vaping is considerably less harmful than combustible cigarettes. Almost all the harm done by cigarettes arises from the smoke which is caused by combustion. Vaping does not produce smoke—only vapor,” he said.

“What happens in smoking combustible tobacco is a chemical change. What happens in vaping is a physical change,” he said.

“In chemical change, this is brought about by extreme heat or combustion that causes oxidation of the original substance which then creates different chemical substances.

The byproduct of oxidation is already totally different from the original substance.

That is why from tobacco, it now comes out as smoke containing harmful substances where hundreds are toxic,” he further explained.

“When it comes to vaping, you just heat the liquid until it vaporizes. When you create vapor, you don’t change the original substance to a different one. This, my friends, makes a lot of difference in public health,” Dr. Mata said.

The doctor said that another alternative to cigarette, which has no combustion are HTPs. “Similar to e-cigarettes, there is no burning. But unlike vapes, nicotine is naturally found in the tobacco. By heating the tobacco without burning it, HTPs only produce vapor,” he said.

“Vapor products and HTPs are not completely risk-free but they only carry a small fraction of the risk

of cigarettes. Allow me to remind everyone, however, that the best way to avoid the harms of cigarette smoking is as simple as quitting completely,” Dr. Mata said.

Citing the conclusion of a 2021 Toxicology Report Journal review from the University of Occupational and Environmental Health in Japan, Dr. Mata said the “use of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products could lead to a significant reduction in exposure to harmful substances compared to combusted cigarettes.”

“These are just some of the many scientific studies supporting the less-harmful claims regarding electronic vaping products. The bottomline is this: the deadly effect of cigarette smoking is due to combustion of tobacco that produces smoke w hich cont ains c arb on monoxide and more than 7,000 chemicals,” he said.

D r. M a t a s a i d t h i s means that vaping clearly is a viable alternative to c i g are tte s mok i ng . “In line with this, we urge the government to consider the REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES CITY OF CAGAYAN DE ORO

best possible differentiated legal framework through careful review of the science and evidence presented on the matter, and defend the right of the consumers to make better choices for themselves,” he said.

He s ai d t h at “t he considerably less harmful products should not be taken off the shelves while the very much harmful product remains easily accessible and that the harm reduction p ote nt i a l of el e c t ron i c vapor products should be maximized instead and regulated to minimize the risk to the youth and the non-smokers.”

The Asia Harm Reduction For u m is a non - prof it and interdisciplinar y organization that advances public health education for the improvement of lives and environments across the globe. It is an international avenue for experts, academics, and advocates to share and exchange research findings, product developments, and pragmatic solutions on tobacco harm reduction.

) )S.S.

AFFIDAVIT OF ADJUDICATION OF SOLE HEIR

That I, ANAMIE M. CAGAS, legal age, married, Filipino and resident of 808 Cronin Village, Camaman-an, Cagayan de Oro City, after having been duly sworn to in accordance with law, do hereby depose and say:

1. That sometimes on January 5, 2021 at Northern Mindanao Madical Center, Capitol Compound, Cagayan de oro City, CECILIO DALAPO MADRID, died single, no issue, no illegitimate and illegitimate children leaving a MOTORELA, described as follows, to wit:

Make . . . . . Honda Series . . . . .TMX1559 Body Type. . . . . MC with body 0767 Engine No. . . . ..KB509EO74102 Chassis No. . . . . KB509074142 Plate No . . . . . MX-7376 MV File No . . . . . 1020-00000050260

2. That at the time of the death of the above-named decedent, he left no known debt, whatsoever; and that I am the only surviving heir of the said decedents being his sister;

3. That it is to my best interest as well as of the herein-above described Motorela of the above named decedent that that the same be adjudicated unto and in my favor;

NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to Section 1, Rule 74 of the Rules of Court subject to the limitation impose under Section 4, thereof, I hereby adjudicate as by these presents have ADJUDICATED unto myself the herein-above described MOTERELA by means of this affidavit and to request for consideration that said adjudication be made effective without judicial proceedings as prescribed by the aforementioned Rules of Court.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto affixed my signature this 2nd day of July 2021 at Cagayan de Oro City.

ANAMIE M. CAGAS Affiant

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 2nd day of July 2021 at Cagayan de Oro City.

DOC.NO. 221 PAGE NO. 45 BOOK NO. 37 Series of 2021 BWM: July 14, 21 & 28, 2021

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Real Estate Expo REEM 2021 to be held digitally

R

EAL Estate in the Philippines will be once again on the centerstage at the digital edition of the Real Estate Expo Manila from July 14 to July 16 2021. What used to be an exciting physical event held at SMX exhibition center will this year adapt to the new normal and offer, at the same time, the opportunity to many Filipinos abroad to access the digital expo-grounds and all for free.

In partnership with the Infrastructure & Construction Focus Group the event will also feature a 2-day conference with two afternoon sessions on July 14 and July 15 with exceptional speakers from the biggest companies in the real estate industry in the Philippines.

The likes of Lamudi, JLL, IWG, Savills, IDC, Havitas, Re-Hub and Federaland will deliver their insights and presentations on topics like how spaces have been re-defined in the new normal, what changed due to the pandemic with real estate buying, what it means planning sustainable developments, how homeowners have rediscovered their home as a new asset and much more.

One of the highlights of the conference will certainly be Arch. Romolo Nati, Chairman and CEO of Italpinas Development Corporation, with his presentation on Green Building and Sustainability in Real Estate.

With IDC's green building projects in Cagayan de Oro and in Sto Tomas, Batangas the listed real estate developer was really at the forefront of the sustainability in real estate movement in the Philippines. The use of passive green design features in the mixeduse buildings benefit its residents with savings on electricity, more

natural ventilation for a healthy lifestyle which all has been made affordable for most Filipinos. Certainly these projects have made a great impact in Northern Mindanao and in Batangas where such forward thinking ideas were not the norm until recently.

Other prominent speakers will be previous NREA

chairman and president Andy Manalac, Lamudi's managing director Kennth Stern, JLL's country head Christophe Vicic, ICFG's managing director Lorens Ziller, Savills managing director Michael McCullough and ReHub President Mary Gaw-So. On the expo side virtual visitors

will have free access to the exhibition grounds where they can visit the booths of the various exhibitors, book appointments, sit in their meeting rooms and talk screen-toscreen as if it was an online conference call.

Other features of the exciting event platform are VIP-rooms to meet the speakers as well as an exclusive lounge

where one can sit on a virtual table with several attendees and have a group meeting.

These unique features are what defines the new normal and I am sure that this is just the beginning of an era where people can experience events like these from the comfort of their home or office even if that is thousands of km away.

Registrations can be made on the event platform directly on the following website: https://reemvirtual.floor.bz.