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Briefly 'Biz as usual' in Siargao DEPARTMENT of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso Cusi has expressed his support for local businesses in Siargao who are struggling to process their documentary prerequisites to operate and will help them in extending their temporary lighting permits. Business owners and investors in the town of General Luna, Surigao del Norte have sought help from Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar on the sidelines of the Aid and Humanitarian Operations Nationwide (AHON) Convergence Pro gram laun c he d in Siargao Island last week. The Siargao Island Business Organization (SIBO) met with Andanar on June 12, about their concerns on the red tape in the processing of permits in setting up their businesses.
New power sources THE National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) is set to implement the public bidding process for ancillary services (AS) as it pushes for new energy sources to achieve energy security. In a statement on Wednesday, NGCP said it will start a competitive bidding for the required AS to help meet the objectives of the government and secure the best value for power consumers. It said the ancillary ser vi c es are su p p or t services needed to maintain power quality, reliability, and security of the grid.
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IN-DEPTH
Mon-Tue|June 21-22, 2021
P15.00
Oro's health chief quits over rise in Covid cases T
Thank you for trusting us!
By FROILAN GALLARDO, MindaNews
HE Cagayan de Oro acting City Health Officer here tendered her resignation on Friday amid a continuing surge in COVID-19 cases, with 2,065 new cases recorded in 18 days.
Mayor Oscar Moreno on Saturday announced that he had accepted the resignation of Dr. Lorraine Nery as acting City Health Officer and deputy of the city’s task force against COVID-19 since the pandemic reached Cagayan de Oro in March last year. But Nery will remain as one
NEW CUSTOMS COLLECTOR. Newly installed Bureau of Customs Northern Mindanao District Collector Atty. Elvira Cruz (right) formally assumed office on Friday (June 18). With her is Donato B. San Juan, Chief of Staff OCOM Deputy Commissioner, IAG. photo by gerry lee gorit
Face shields still required in NorMin, DILG exec says THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG-10) in Nor t hern Mindanao said Friday the wearing of face shields when in public places is still mandatory
in the region. DILG-10 Assistant Director Yvette Tolentino-Sunga said the Inter-Agency Task Force for t he Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases
(IATF-EID) recommended to President Rodrigo Duterte the mandatory use of face shields. "While waiting for the President’s decision on the REQUIRED/PAGE 7
of the doctors of the City Health Office, he said. Moreno said he appointed Nery in 2019 as acting city health officer to provide her organizational expertise to reform the health department. “I have no regret in having made that decision,” said QUITS/PAGE 7
CIDG seized smuggled cigarettes in Iligan City By SONNY SUDARIA and OSCAR LEDESMA MDNN Iligan City News Bureau
PA L A- O, I l iga n Cit y Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Iligan City the other day seized several ca r toons of contraba nd cigarettes and arrested the vendor at around 4:30pm, the police authorities reported. CIDG arrested the suspect identif ied as Mosaimen Pantara, 22, married and a resident of Brgy. Sta. Elena,
Iligan City. Pantara did not resist arrest when CIDG operatives chanced upon him at the Market Area in Barangay Pala-o, this city. The arrest of Pantara, the CIDG said, was part of the Oplan Mega Shopper aimed at apprehending anyone for selling illegal and imported cigarettes which have no graphic health warnings SEIZED/PAGE 7
Wrong information deters smokers from switching to better alternatives ADVOCATES of tobacco harm reduction (THR) u r g e d a du l t s m o k e r s to discern t he science behind non-combustible alternatives as misleading and false information may push t hem away f rom switching to better nicotine alternatives like vapes and heated tobacco products (HTPs). “ T he percept ion of h a r m f rom v api ng i s not consistent with the scientific evidence. Local public health experts should
take the lead in providing Fi l ipi no smokers who cannot or do not want to quit smoking by themselves DETERS/PAGE 7
PRESSURES MAY BE TOO MUCH. A fast food worker cleans and disinfects their restaurant in Divisoria after curfew hours in Cagayan de Oro City. The continued spike in Covid-19 cases in the city reportedly prompted Acting City Health chief Dr. Lorraine Nery to tender her resignation on Friday. mindanews photo by froilan gallardo
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2
BARMM solons OK Overseas Bangsamoro Workers Act
COTABATO City – Lawmakers of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) have approved on final reading a bill seeking to institutionalize policies and advancement of Bangsamoro overseas workers. BARMM Parliament Member Romeo Sema, the region’s concurrent labor minister, said Friday Parliament Bill No. 36 or the Overseas Bangsamoro Workers Act of 2020 has been approved by the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) legislative body with no objection and abstention. “The bill also sought to establish a standard of protection and promotion of the welfare of overseas Bangsamoro workers and their families,” said Sema,
the principal author of the bill. Under the bill, overseas Bangsamoro workers (OBW) shall have the right to equality; equal pay; work in a good environment; rest and leisure; standard treatment; and guarantee of privacy. “This significant achievement shall now be part of the BARMM history,” Sema said. He said the bill’s approval in the BTA session on Thursday reflects a clear manifestation that the BARMM, through its Ministry of Labor and Employment (MOLE), is committed to protecting its overseas workers against abuses, maltreatment, trafficking, imprisonment, illegal migration, and WORKERS/PAGE 7
Local
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MON-TUE|JUNE 21-22, 2021
Be truthful in vax registration: DOH
D
O not cheat during registration for the Covid-19 vaccination program. The Department of Health in Region 10 (DOH-10) issued the appeal on Friday after confirming reports that data, like birthdates, were altered in order to be included in the vaccination schedule. "There are many magicians among our brothers and sisters. There were some who have changed their birthdays in order for them to be covered in the vaccine," DOH-10 Assistant Director Dr. David Mendoza said in an online media conference.
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
DOH-10 (Northern Mindanao) is currently accommodating priority groups A1 (health care workers), A2 (senior citizens), and A3 (adults with comorbidities). Mendoza acknowledged the eagerness of some individuals to be vaccinated against the coronavirus but reiterated they must wait for their schedules. "Thank you, brothers and sisters, for your energy that you really wanted to get vaccinated but please wait for our turn. No jumping the line," he said. DOH-10 is validating more erroneous data in coordination with the Philippine Statistics Authority.
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
"It will now be the action of the local government units on what will be done in order to eradicate and stop falsification of documents," he said. Right information Mendoza likewise stressed the importance of knowing the right
information in order not to be victimized by "infodemic". He cited a fake information that vaccinees may proceed to the Centrio Ayala Mall Cagayan de Oro vaccination site even without registration as TRUTHFUL/PAGE 7
A PARENT’S CONFESSION GLORIA BEQUISO SABAL-MT-II Tablon Elementary School
A teacher is a person who provides education to pupils and students. He facilitates education to school children. He is also described as a personal tutor. A teacher is a person who helps children to learn. He often works in the classroom, though, some are doing home teaching or private tutorial. Teachers are the backbone of society. They are role models to children, provide guidance and mold them to become productive people someday. They teach children in every stage of life. Teachers nurture the minds of young people, develop their potentials and bring out the best in them. They take care not only the mental capability but all aspects of a child’s life especially their feelings and emotions. But, do teachers really
meant for the children alone? How about the feelings and concern of the parents who nurture them at home and even serve as the para-teacher in the new normal? From the start of the classes in the new normal I happened to meet and talk to several parents though not all times but occasionally. I tried to listen to them and never argued with them when they complain about the preferred modality for I know how tough their life in this pandemic times is. Last week, a parent who is also a friend of mine asked me how many more modules they need to answer because according to her she felt stressed because every day she needs to manage her time well from going to work (since she is a single parent), tending the needs of her 2 children who are still in primary ages, taking care of laundries at home, sitting beside them after a whole day hard labor to answer their modules, trying to let them understand the content of the modules which even she herself cannot understand, with of course ,sleepy-eyes and heavy, tired body. I felt sorry for her because she is forced to do the duties which are supposed to be ours in this time of adversity. I had nothing to do except to comfort her and gives her the assurance that whatever problems she encountered along the way especially about the modules and given performance tasks I am always ready to listen anytime and willing to give a helping hand. I told her to just do whatever she can do and never force herself to do the things which are really impossible to happen because in this pressing times of coronavirus we need to be mentally, emotionally and physically healthy, we need each other to face the consequences COVID19 brought to us. I told her that in this journey she is not alone that we, teachers are always there, just a text away so that children will not be left behind. Teachers are not only for the learners but the parents’ partners in carrying-out the goals of the department in the new normal.
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MON-TUE|JUNE 21-22, 2021
3
CorporateWorld
Sales of imported cars surge
I
MPORTED car sales almost quadrupled in May compared with the level in the same month last year as lockdown restrictions loosen, latest industry data show. In a report on Thursday, the Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors, Inc. (AVID) said vehicle sales of its 21 members carrying 26 global brands in May surged 293% to 4,864 units from 1,239 in the same month in 2020.
Restrictions during the start of the pandemic had dampened consumer activity, with some dealerships just starting to reopen in mid-May 2020 after lockdown rules were relaxed. May 2021 sales also grew 8% compared with the April figure as companies sold more light commercial vehicles. Metro Manila and adjacent provinces were under a modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ),
a stricter lockdown measure, to curb a spike in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections until May 14. Year-to-date sales rose 59% to 25,217 vehicles from 15,811 in the first five months of 2020. Passenger car sales in May increased by 191% to 1,029 vehicles compared to last year, led by sales from Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. The category’s yearto-date sales went up 29% to 6,357 units. Light commercial
Role of teachers during pandemic GRESENIA A. RAFOLS Master Teacher II Bugo Central School
GLOBAL school shutdowns in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic have pushed online education and virtual schooling to the forefront of the political agenda. Millions of young people being educated through Zoom tutorials, Google Classroom, and Microsoft Teams was soon touted as a significant tipping point in the evolution of educational technology use. After this – it is reasoned – we’ll have to seriously consider the prospect of online education taking on a more prominent role as school systems adjust to the post-pandemic world. What teachers, students and parents have been doing over the past few weeks is certainly not comparable with the sophisticated and deliberate forms of online education covered in the research literature. Nevertheless, there are plenty of lessons that can be taken from our ongoing experiences of what happens when technology-based remote teaching is enacted at scale. These range from issues of data privacy and security that arise when students are learning exclusively at home, through to the networks of commercial interests that quickly spring up to gain advantage. Now is the time to “think beyond COVID-19” to reimagine education and
realize the goal of providing all students with access to quality learning. This highlights the critical contribution teachers have made in ensuring that learning continues during the global pandemic, as well as their crucial support to the mental health and wellbeing of students. Teachers play one of the most crucial roles in our societies. We must ensure their work is appreciated and valued accordingly. In this crisis, teachers have shown, as they have done so often, great leadership and innovation in ensuring that learning never stops, that no learner is left behind. Around the world, they have worked individually and collectively to find solutions and create new learning environments for their students to allow education to continue. Their role advising on school reopening plans and supporting students with the return to school is just as important. We now need to think beyond COVID-19 and work to build greater resilience in our education systems, so we can respond quickly and effectively to these and other such crises. Now is the time to reimagine education and achieve our vision of equal access to quality learning for every child and young person.
Implementation of administrative guidelines and policies By KRIZZA LORRAINE E. DUHAYLUNGSOD-QUICOY JD Cashier/Administrative Officer IV DepEd, Division of Tangub City
Enactment alone doesn’t ensure that a policy will be successful. Additional steps may be needed to implement the policy in a way that can increase the likelihood the policy will achieve its intended outcomes. The implementing organization and stakeholders may educate the people or organizations affected by the new policy; change pre-existing administrative operations and systems (or create new ones); monitor and/or enforce the policy as needed. Policy implementation is imp or t ant. Policies won’t work if the process stops at enactment. There is a wide range of people and organizations that can be involved in policy implementation, depending on the level of enactment (from local to national) and the type of policy (from
regulation to statute). Schools establish administrative policies to align operations, set behavioral expectations across the educational system, mitigate institutional risk, and communicate policy roles and responsibilities when appropriate to do so through a broad policy in accordance with a set of criteria. S y s t e m - w i d e administrative policies must advance the DepEd’s mission to promote operational efficiency and effectiveness. The Imp or t ance of Policies and Procedures: Experts say that regardless of your organization’s size, developing formal policies and procedures can make it run much more smoothly and efficiently. They communicate the values and vision of the organization, ensuring employees understand
exactly what is expected of them in certain situations. Because both individual and team responsibilities are clearly documented, there is no need for trial-anderror or micromanaging. Upon reading the workplace policies and procedures, employees should clearly understand how to approach their jobs. Formal policies and procedures save time and stress when handling HR issues. The absence of written policies results in unnecessary time and effort spent trying to agree on a course of action. With strict guidelines already in place, employees simply have to follow the procedures and managers just have to enforce the policies. Formal policies and procedures help to ensure your office complies with relevant regulations.
vehicle sales surged 335% to 3,814 in May, with a bulk of sales going to Ford Group Philippines, Inc. Year-to-date sales went up 68% to 18,128 units. AVID sold 21 commercial vehicles in May, or 133% more than the nine sold in the same month last year. But this figured dropped 93% from the 293 sold a month earlier. Year-to-date sales rose 625% to 732 units.
“We attribute the gradual improvement in AVID sales to our members’ tireless commitment to provide customers with quality vehicles and after sales service that will see them safely through life’s many journeys,” AVID President Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo said. Another car industry group recorded a 360.8% sales surge to 22,062 units in May. Sales had jumped
23.6% from April, data from the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) and Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) showed. Imported car sales growth in 2021 is expected to come in at between zero and 20%, depending on the government’s final decision on safeguard duties, Ms. Perez-Agudo said in March.
Vivant allots P5-B for power projects until 2023 VIVANT Corp. said on Thursday that it is allocating P5 billion in capital expenditures (capex) to finance its power projects until 2023, as the listed energy company detailed its plans to focus on renewable energy (RE). “We’re allocating P5 billion in capex… for all power projects over the next three years so that’s until 2023,” Vivant Senior Vice-President for Power Emil Andre M. Garcia said during a press briefing on Thursday when the company held its annual stockholders meeting. “We’re looking at all the types of generation for that,” he said. However, he added that a “large” portion of the budget is dedicated to RE undertakings. Mr. Garcia said that Vivant is allotting around P3 billion for power projects this year. During the briefing, the official of the Cebu-based firm also detailed plans to focus on the solar rooftop sector. “On the solar rooftop side, we’ll be
ending the year with around 10 to 11 megawatts (MW) of installed capacity, and we have in the pipeline another 13 MW… Right now, we’re funding everything via equity so roughly its around $600[,000] to $800,000 per MW of the total project cost,” Mr. Garcia said. Shem Jose W. Garcia, Vivant’s assistant vice-president for corporate communications and business development innovation, said the firm is planning to ramp up on RE projects in the coming years. “What we have in the pipeline — we should be able to hit (or) increase our RE portfolio by 100 MW by 2023,” he said. Vivant is hoping to add more renewables in its portfolio mix, which is currently made up of “95% conventional” power sources. Vivant previously said its net income attributable to its parent firm decreased by 38% to P1.4 billion for the full-year 2020, as revenues declined.
4
Opinion
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MON-TUE|JUNE 21-22, 2021
The Climate Smart Livelihood Advocacy Cooperative
Transformative for People, Planet, Prosperity & Peace In a world that is giving so much veneration to the profit-motive that has already captured the mindset of all governments, all institutions, all universities and even of religious groups against the backdrop of so much denigration of spirituality, buried in so much materialism and consumerism that has sacrificed mother earth to the altar of greed and profit, how do we now awaken humanity from deep slumber? The mainstream media is controlled by those who are in control and continue disseminating gospel of advertisements to perpetuate unconsciousness to hide the truth. This is especially true in the discounting of the climate crisis in pursuit of short-term profit by the 19 Fossil Companies that will not allow the discontinuance of their massive raking of some16 trillion dollars annually or 10 million dollars every minute. The truth about climate change that is putting civilization in the state of planetary emergency is being hidden. Such is a crime against humanity. In this process of subversion, there are three kinds of actors: those who tell the lies, those who repeat the lies and those who allow themselves to be seduced by the lies. We should not allow these lies to continue. While we are now in the state of planetar y emergency as climate change indicators have escalated so quickly that an emergency response is imperative if civilization is to avoid breakdown and eventual collapse, it is already too late to organize a robust
movement. What we can do is to create awareness among the 12 million cooperative members nation-wide and the 1 billion members worldwide to awaken and transform the cooperative movement to be true to its DNA of being value-based and philosophy driven and above all, of being sustainable. This is the mission and raizon d’ etre of organizing the Climate Smart Livelihood Advocacy Cooperative. The Philippines is the 4th in the world worst hit by climate change according to the UN’s Risk Disaster Index. The most affected are the rural ecological people aggravated by the ongoing protracted war. This is the conclusion of the Study by the World Bank as reported by the Food and Agricultural Organization. This is the reason why 4 of 5 farmers especially the young ones are now leaving farming and going to the urban centers to work as janitors, waiters or drivers that are now highly congesting the cities. This is also the reasons why the rural people are going abroad as 6,000 Filipinos were leaving daily during the pre-covid time, leaving their families behind to work in other countries. Not only shall we address climate change; let us also bring peace especially in the resource-rich Mindanao where the second longest war in the world – the Mindanao War – must now be stopped. But how? By uprooting the root causes of war – poverty, gross inequity and social injustice. No less than Pope Francis said when he visited Malacañang a
decade or so ago that “it bids us all to break the bonds of social injustice and oppression that give rise to glaring and scandalous inequities.” Yes, in a highly skewed societal order where only 50 oligarchs control the economy, let us now advance cooperativism as the great equalizer. CSL Advocacy Cooperative’s mission is to become a countervailing force against climate change and violent extremism. This has become so inspiring, manifesting a peaceful approach to end protracted war. The urgent call now is to organize the 15 million Indigenous Peoples in their 1,200 Ancestral Domains. Why the imperative need? Know that the poorest of the poor now are the Indigenous Peoples whose land and water rights are being violated. In Mindanao alone, some 63 IP leaders have been killed in the last 5 years? For what? For resisting massive land grabbing by Trans-National Corporations in cohort with powers-that-be. Look at the very resource rich Mindanao. Who controls? Who profits? Who benefits? Some two hundred thousand hectares – the choicest of land – which were before owned by the Indigenous Peoples have been transformed into massive plantations to satisfy the consumerist lifestyle of the people in advanced countries while the Filipinos cannot even produce enough staples for its hungry and malnourished people like rice and milk. Isn’t paradoxical that our country is the biggest importer of rice?
KIM'S DREAM
ORLAN R. RAVANERA Don’t you know that 99% of the milk that we consume is imported? Indeed, the culprit is what you call corporate globalization! Presently the CSL C o o p e r at i v e i s i n t h e frontline on documenting the issues confronting the IPs to resolve the issues not through armed struggle but through cooperativism. The CSL approach to help the IPs include massive planting of giant bamboo in hundreds of thousands of hectares that have been denuded through massive logging and mining in the last 7 decades. The CSL Cooperative will also capacitate the Ips to transform their Ancestral Domain into massive abaca, coffee and cacao plantations and in raising livestock especially cattle for dairy projects. EMPOWER THE IPS THROUGH CSL to counter poverty and to end the second longest war in the world. And most importantly, counter climate change as bamboo is a good carbon sink, water holder and most importantly, an alternative to fossil fuel.
Drowning evil with good, hatred with love
Oro Chamber
Finish well Think a minute...Watching the Olympics can be both inspiring and heartbreaking. It is easy to get caught up both with “the thrill of victory” and “the agony of defeat.” This is especially true when the world’s greatest athletes, who have worked so hard their entire lives, lose by only a fraction of a second! Even with all their years of daily discipline and training, they still must finish well! “Almost” winning does not count. No one is remembered and rewarded for what they “almost” did. In t he 2008 B eijing Olympics, both the U.S. men’s and women’s 400 meter relay teams learned this the hard way. They ran well for most of the race, but then just near the end they dropped the baton. One of them, Tyson Gay, who was the 2007 world champion in both the 200 and 100 meter dashes, left the Olympics empty-handed with not even a single medal. He can tell you about the agony of not finishing well! In 2003, after 22 years of exploration, the Space Shuttle Columbia went on its 28th mission, this time with seven
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THINK A MINUTE
JHAN TIAFAU HURST astronauts on board. They were on a 16-day journey into space to conduct important experiments. Everything went well and they achieved their goals, so they were returning to earth from their successful mission. They were just 16 minutes from landing… when suddenly the Space Shuttle Columbia exploded! Only tiny pieces were left of what was one of history’s most sophisticated machines and masterpieces of engineering. But the even greater tragedy was the sudden loss of those seven brave and brilliant astronauts. They came so close, only 16 minutes from home, but they did not make it. FINISH/PAGE 7
THAT’S how things should be. Instead of responding to evil with evil, hatred with hatred, we should rather respond to evil with good, hatred with love. That way we turn things around, rather than plunge into the spiral of evil and hatred. This was specifically articulated by St. Paul in his Letter to the Romans where he said: “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” (Rom 12,17-20) We have to try our best to erase whatever disbelief, doubt or skepticism we can have as we consider this teaching, since most likely,
our first and spontaneous reaction to it would precisely be those reactions. We can ask, even if done only interiorly, “Is Christ really serious about this? Can this thing that Christ and St. Paul are telling us, possible, doable?” With God’s grace and our effort, let us learn to live with unavoidable evil in this world. “Let them grow together until harvest.” That was the answer of the master in one of the parables about the kingdom of heaven. (cfr Mt 13,24-43) He was telling the servants to let the weeds sown by his enemy to grow together with the wheat. Pulling the weed out now would just endanger the wheat, he reasoned out. This parable is an image of how our life now, with all its good and bad elements, is already the beginning of the kingdom of heaven. We have to learn how to live in this condition, where evil is unavoidable, without getting confused and lost. The parable can tell us
many things. For one, it seems to tell us that we should be patient and tolerant of everybody, especially of those who are clearly in error and are causing us some trouble. In spite of how they are, they are still our brothers and sisters, all children of God who have strayed from the right path and are in need of help actually. Remember the story of Joseph, the son of Jacob, who was cruelly sold by his own brothers but ended up becoming a leading man in Egypt. (Gen 37 ff). When that dramatic moment came when he revealed himself to his brothers, with magnanimity he forgave them and promised to support them. “You meant evil against me,” he told his brothers, “but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive.” (Gen 50,20) By being God-like, we can turn evil things into something that is good for all. We should try our best not to be dominated
HINTS AND TRACES
ROY CIMAGALA and scandalized by evil. In another parable, Christ mentioned that the kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened. (Mt 13,33) With this parable he tells very clearly that a little act of goodness can have a tremendous leavening power to turn something flat into something filled with goodness. We should just focus on doing good, even if the circumstances around are unfavorable or even hostile.
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MON-TUE|JUNE 21-22, 2021
5
Banking&Finance
Bank lending seen to expand as economy recovers
T
HE pace of the domestic economy’s recovery in the coming months is expected to be a major catalyst for growth in bank lending, which is in contraction despite the low interest rate environment. In a virtual briefing on Thursday, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno said bank lending has remained weak due to
bank risk aversion and uncertainty. “The improvement in bank lending activity in the months ahead will largely depend on the pace of economic recovery as a whole, which in turn would be determined crucially by the progress in the vaccine rollout,” he said. Diokno said fiscal and monetary support will continue to underpin the prospects for sustained recovery.
“Fiscal policy, in particular, remains crucial in providing direct support to revive domestic demand and prevent long-term economic scarring from the pandemic, with the BSP remaining ready to implement further policy measures if necessary,” he added. As of last April, outstanding loans of universal and commercial banks (U/ KBs) fell by 5 percent,
higher than the 4.5-percent contraction last March. This development runs against the goal of the central bank when it slashed its key policy rates by a total of 200 basis points last year to help buoy the domestic economy from the impact of the pandemic. The rate cuts aim to encourage banks to lend more and for borrowers to take out more loans to
Economist sees PH gov't debt to remain sustainable HIGHER financing requirements brought about by the pandemic increased the national government’s liabilities but an economist believes that as long as credit level is kept within the international threshold then debt remains sustainable. The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) on Thursday reported the rise in the national government’s (NG) total outstanding debt to P10.99 trillion as of end-April 2021, up by P217.49 billion from the previous month’s level. “The increase in the government’s debt would still remain sustainable in the coming years for as long as the debtto-GDP ratio remains around 60 percent, which is considered an important international threshold,” Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) chief economist Michael Ricafort said in a report. As of end-2020, NG’s total outstanding debt amounted to P9.795 trillion. Last year, the
proportion of debt to the country’s total output, or the debtto-gross domestic product (GDP) ratio, rose to 54.5 percent from 39.6 percent in the previous year, which authorities attribute to the increased need to tap fund sources to financing pandemicrelated programs. Ricafort said the country’s debt-to-GDP remains relatively lower compared to some countries in the region due to the government’s
fiscal discipline. “Cautious approach on any additional stimulus measures, just like in 2020, would help limit any further widening of the budget deficit and also temper any further rise in the debt-to-GDP ratio,” he said. As of last April, the government’s budget gap reached P365.9 billion, 1.63 percent higher than the P360 billion deficit same period in 2020. Economic managers have set a budget gap
ceiling of 9.4 percent of GDP this year. “The country's debt-to-GDP ratio still expected to be within/ around the international acceptable threshold of 60 percent of GDP, especially if GDP continues to recover in the coming months/ years, thereby giving the government greater leeway to increase spending, budget deficits, and overall debt to pump-prime the economy,” Ricafort added. (PNA)
TEACHING THE FILIPINO VALUES THROUGH MATH SHEALLAH MARIE P. PELIÑO
As a social studies major, teaching Math was the least of my expectation. Being an elementary teacher however, this is never the case. I need to embrace all subjects as a vehicle for me to teach children the Filipino values of hard work and discipline. It is true that values are rather caught than taught. The values of hard work and discipline can never be taught by simple discussion. To teach these things,
children should learn from their firsthand experience may it be at home or inside the classroom. It does not have to be in the one subject but across learning areas. Mathematics can be a very good space for children to learn these Filipino values. Math can never be fully learned without application. In this way, c h i l d re n c a n d e v e l o p their values of hard work and discipline by being
persevering in their work to achieve what is expected. Mathematics is a reflection of learners’ everyday life. It can be a good learning space for them to acquire patience which is important in the acquisition of these Filipino values. Embracing Mathematics is the foremost understanding teacher have to fully teach children the importance of Math as a vehicle to teach values.
Use of tablets in schools By ALLEN ACABO JAMERO Teacher III Sto. Niño Integrated School Catarman, Camiguin
WHEN the Department of Education (DepEd) announced a shift to distanced learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many local governments raced to provide tablets and laptops to students from low-income families so they could keep up. But because of poor internet connectivity in many parts of the country, those gadgets will mostly be used only to download learning modules, if at all, because online “Zoom-type” classes remain unfeasible for the public school system. The gadgets won’t go to waste as these will be used to download electronic copies of learning modules and, eventually, interactive versions. The DepEd is working to upload these modules in a “commons” website two weeks in advance so students can
download and study them ahead of schedule. This would minimize dependence on printed copies, which present the risk of transmitting the coronavirus. Besides, children would be delighted with the interface,The gadgets won’t go to waste, Malaluan said, as these will be used to download electronic copies of learning modules and, eventually, interactive versions. The DepEd is working to upload these modules in a “commons” website two weeks in advance so students can download and study them ahead of schedule. This would minimize dependence on printed copies, which present the risk of transmitting the coronavirus. Besides, children would be delighted with the interface. DepEd needs to ensure that teachers
and students have internet-capable equipment to make the most of the DepEd Commons, an online platform that can be used for virtual classes that also serve as a repository of learning modules. The direction is to provide a laptop for each teacher. The Department needs to recognize that teachers who use their own devices bought these out of their own resources. It is still the responsibility of the state to provide government-issued laptops. About 93 percent of public schools nationwide already have devices that will be used in the online learning modality for the school year. There are 1,042,575 devices in 43,948 public schools all over the country. These are computers, laptops, tablets that can be used by learners.
ensure that domestic economic activity remains robust despite the health crisis that has affected economies globally. Diokno said the central bank will keep its accommodative monetary policy to ensure that interest rates remain low to help revive the
domestic economy. “Looking ahead, the BSP will continue to focus on keeping its monetary policy stance supportive of the government’s initiatives to address the effects of the pandemic, for as long as necessary, until the economic recovery gets underway,” he added. (PNA)
Satisfaction and Learning Outcomes of the Different Asynchronous Weekly Video Lessons During Covid-19 Pandemic By: ADEL R. CAMBANGAY, JR.
The onslaught of the covid-19 pandemic in education is enormous. Schools all over the world are caught by surprise. All schools are confronted with the big challenge of conducting classes outside of the traditional classroom. Severe short-term disruption is felt by many families around the world: distance learning is not only a massive shock to parents’ productivity, but also to children’s social life and learning. Some teachers are moving online, on an untested and unprecedented scale say Burgess and Sievertsen (2020). Department of Education’s Order No. 12 s. 2020 dated June 19, 2020 entitled Adoption of Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan for School Year 2020-2021in the Light of Covid-19 Public Health Emergency was issued. This is the agency’s blue print for the delivery of basic education in a middle of pandemic. This is in consonance to the constitutional mandate that basic education is a right and that the state that shall make all appropriate steps to make such quality education accessible to all. Many public schools in the country adopted distance modular learning using the printed self learning modules as the primary source of teaching-learning materials. However, many students demanded video lessons from their teachers to supplement their learning particularly those who have internet connection. In the case of Carmen National High School of the Schools Division of Cagayan de Oro City, a study was conducted to determine if asynchronous video lessons are effective in improving the academic performance of the students in mathematics. A team of mathematics teachers collaborated to make eight weekly video lessons using four different video styles during the third quarter of the current school year. The video styles used are talking head, classic classroom, weatherman and
learning glass. The video lessons were uploaded in the google classroom. Students who have limited to stable internet access can view and review it at their convenient time. Aside from the video lessons, this group of students still used the printed activity sheets. On the other hand, another group of students who have no internet access only utilized the activity sheets provided to them by their teachers. The study also sought to determine the level of satisfaction of the participants to the video lessons prepared by the mathematics10 teachers of Carmen National High School. Further, it aimed to determine which video style is the most preferred by the participants. Results from the study revealed a high satisfaction rating to the video lessons. The most preferred video style amongst participants is the classic classroom. This may be attributed to their desire to be back in school and have face-to-face class. This was followed by talking head and learning glass. The least preferred video style among participants is the weatherman. The group who was exposed to the video lessons is expected to perform better in their summative test as compared to those who were not. To test whether this improved academic performance is significant enough and can be attributed to the video lessons, statistical analysis was done. It is found out the asynchronous weekly video lessons prepared by the researchers has a significant impact to the improved academic performance of the students in mathematics 10. This finding is in congruence to other studies that online learning settings utilizing asynchronous video lessons where teachers and students are not required to be online at the same time has a positive impact to the learning of the students.
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Shift of paradigm in teaching-learning strategies AMONG the most af fe c t e d s e g m e nt t h at has undergone drastic changes and which impact and extent of influence would have spell the dif ference of what the future may bring is no other than the education sector. The impact vould be indescriminate a s it c h an g e s t h e w ay education could be effectively imparted across the globe. Perhaps wealthy nations would have the edge in terms of technological
a dv anc e s , but ove r a l l, this pandemic provided a much-needed impetus for digitization. It has transformed the education system drastically and has brought a paradigm shift in teaching and learning methodologies forcing educational institutions across the globe to reimagine traditional classroom learning and transition to an online mode of teaching to provide uninterr upted access to education and knowledge. M o s t i m p o r t a n t l y,
Republic of the Philippines Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Province of Lanao del Sur E-mail: malabang.lgu2019@gmail.com MUNICIPALITY OF MALABANG OFFICE OF THE MUNICPALITY CIVIL REGISTRAR NOTICE FOR POSTING The public is hereby notified that JERRY MALACO RAKIM has filed with this office a petition for correction of his DATE OF BIRTH (Date) from “AUGUST 16, 1966” to “AUGUST 13, 1966” in his certificate of live birth. Any person claiming interest or may adversely affected by said petition may within ten (10) days file his written opposition with this office. DATE: June 30, 2021
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myths surrounding the feasibility and efficiency of online learning have been addressed, and the growing demand for o n l i n e p l at f o r m s i s a testimony to this. Without any doubt, education has been the silver lining in this pandemic. Though the whole world was unprepared for lockdown, most businesses managed to get business continuity plans in place very quickly. They were able to allow their stakeholders the f lexibility to work
remotely. How e v e r, t h e s a m e was not valid for a vast majority of educational institutions. Since educational i n s t itut i on s w e re w ay behind in adopting t e c h n o l o g y, h a v i n g focused more on classroom teaching and never having seriously considered on l i n e e du c at i on a s a credible model, they were slightly more unprepared than other sectors. However, due to the incredible resilience and determination, educators
By RIO J. DINOROG, SHS- TIII Cultural Educator/ SSG Adviser MONHS, Division of Oroquieta City
were quick to adapt to the new normal. Instructors and educators have had to upskill themselves almost overnight to adjust to the new modes of teaching, ensuring that learning re m a i n s a c c e s s i b l e t o students even in the current circumstances. With learning shifting f rom t he public sp ace (classrooms) to a more personal area (online), the role of the educator has also evolved. As t h e d e m an d for personalized learning and online courses continues to snowball, instructors are required to learn (upskill) as much as, or e v e n m ore t h a n t h e i r students to deal with the new demand for futureproof courses. As teaching and learning become more personalized, educators
ne e d to come up wit h innovative teaching methodologies on a caseto-case basis to suit the learner’s requirement. From preparing a personalized curriculum for courses to being a content creator to mentoring students on re a l-world proj e c ts to ensure that they are jobp ro o f , a n d u p s k i l l i n g themselves to stay abreast of emerging technology a n d s k i l l s , t o d a y ’s educators dabble in many things. From being facilitators of learning, educators have also turned to be innovators.
WHAT MATTERS MOST GLORIA BEQUISO SABAL-MT-II Tablon Elementary School
Life in pandemic times is difficult and tough. Everyone needs to adopt to every changes brought to us by the virus. From our simple way of living to dealing with the people around. Every now and then fear and anxiety attack our naturally normal mind-set. Fear that when we go to work we can encounter people who are infected by the virus. Fear that members of our family will be infected anytime and their life will be put at risk. Fear that we will be losing our jobs and running out of food supplies because people’s movements are controlled to prevent the virus from spreading. Our economic stability is gradually falling down. In this time of adversity, we are facing an UNKNOWN ENEMY. We can’t see our enemy. We do not know who are our enemies, either a colleague, a neighbor, a passer-by, anybody you meet at anywhere or in worst scenario, a member of your family. As a teacher, what I fear most is the safety of my family as well as my pupils. I am scared to go to school every day but I am also
afraid that I could not be able to perform my duties and obligations as a teacher to my remote learners who are also victims of this pressing times. I am strangled between my fears and obligations to my learners and family as well but I have to move on and believe in myself that I can do it. Yes, I can, with of course following health protocols and belief in HIM. I need to be strong for the more you are scared the more you feel weak and helpless. I need to survive for all the people who need me especially in this crossroad. I just pray that someday this crisis will end and in the horizon, a new dawn rises. I am positive enough to believe that someday everything will be alright because WHAT MATTERS MOST to me is the belief that whatever roadblocks and storms we encounter along the way, there is always a rainbow waiting, there is always HOPE, as long as we believe in HIM and follow whatever required us to do and work together to fight against this destructive CORONAVIRUS.
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Finish... from page 4
It is not how you start, but how you finish that determines everything. In the most important matters of life and death, right and wrong, “almost” does not count! You have to finish well. If you let yourself be distracted or detoured, even just a little, it can end up destroying you! So don’t wait another minute! Won’t you ask Jesus to take full charge of your heart and daily way of living? He made it crystal clear that if you truly love Him, you will wholeheartedly live His way every day. Only then, with His help and power, can you be sure you will live well and finish well. Just think a minute.
Quits... from page 1
Moreno in his daily presser on Saturday. The City Information Office has yet to release a copy of Nery’s letter of resignation. City Information Officer Maricel Casiño-Rivera said the letter is still with Mayor Moreno at his office. Moreno, in a one-page statement, appointed Dr. William Bernardo, currently the head of the city Health Insurance Department to replace Nery. City Hall sources said Moreno was disappointed when COVID-19 cases were not immediately transported to and admitted in the city isolation units (CIU) and temporary treatment and monitoring facilities (TTMF). Moreno said COVID-19 patients who are asymptomatic should be confined in these facilities to help unburden the hospital system in the city. DEED OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE OF DECEASED PERSON WITH SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: That the late ULPIANO PABELIC who died intestate on 28 January 2007 at Cagayan de Oro City, the deceased left a certain parcel of land with Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-70413 situated in the Barrio of Iponan, City of Cagayan de Oro, island of Mindanao, containing an area of FOUR THOUSAND NINETY (4,090) SQUARE METERS, more or less, and has been the subject of an DEED OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE OF DECEASED PERSON WITH SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY, filed by the heirs of ULPIANO PABELIC, per DOC #410; PAGE #82; BOOK #XV; Series of 2018 under the Notarial Registry of ATTY. EMELITO J. MARQUIÑO. BWM: June 14, 21 & 28, 2021
The city government has rented several hotels and converted them into temporary facilities for mild COVID-19 cases. “We have enough rooms for these cases. It is just a matter of coordinating its operations,“ Moreno said. Nery headed and managed the operations of these facilities as deputy of the anti-coronavirus task force. She also headed the vaccination roll out in the city that Moreno wanted to move faster. City Hall sources said there was a meeting Thursday among Moreno, Nery and other officials and that Nery offered to resign but the offer was turned down by Moreno. According to the CHO COVID-19 Operations Center, the city recorded as of June 18, a total of 9,280 cases, of which 1,562 are active, 7,302 are recoveries and 416 are deaths. On June 1, the city recorded a total of 7,215 cases, 1,272 of these active, 5,615 recoveries and 328 deaths.The city posted an increase of 2,065 cases from 7,215 on June 1 to 9,280 on June 18 and 88 deaths from 328 on June 1 to 416 on June 18.
Seized... from page 1
as well as government tax tamps. This was considered by CIDG as their first trade enforcement in Iligan City as part of the implementation of Oplan Mega Shopper. I n i t i a l i nv e s t g a t i o n
disclosed that Detectives of CIDG Iligan CFU ( lead unit) together with ICPS5-ICPO and HPT- Iligan conducted police operation about four t hir t y in t he a f ternoon (4:30PM) at Market Area, Brgy. Pala-o Poblacion, Iligan City which resulted in the arrest of Mosaimen Pantara, 22 years old, married, vendor and resident of Brgy. Sta. Elena, Iligan City. Pantara was caught in the act of selling illicit cigarettes to the buyer who intentionally was one of the operative who acted as a poseur buyer. During the operation, other vendors have evaded the arresting officers and left their posts after sensing of the approaching CIDG operatives. A total of Twelve (12) Master Cases of assorted smuggled cigarettes which i ncludes Hero, Deput y, Berlin, Fort, San Marino, YS, Bros, Delta, Champion, Royal, Union were seized which all sum up to a total market value of P178,000.
Required... from page 1
matter, the existing policy on the use of face shields remains to be in effect," she said. Sunga said the areas specified by the IATF-EID include enclosed or indoor spaces of hospitals, schools, workplaces, and commercial establishments, such as, but not limited to, malls and public markets, public transport and terminals, and places of worship. She added that public
WHAT TEACHING DOES TO ME SHEALLAH MARIE P. PELIÑO
I was always asked by my friends why I chose to be teacher. Well, coming from the family of mentors often offer me no choice. Most of my relatives would say that it is the most practical choice. Being a teacher would allow me to be on top of choices there are. I can work in places offices, institutions or even on my own business. In my case however, I am a firm believer of growing where I am planted. Becoming a teacher for me offers me wide range of choices on how I want to grow personally and professionally. Being a teacher now for more than two decades has given me
different kind of joy. It has helped me develop a persevering attitude in helping children learn more. In the process I became more. Being a teacher has allowed me to become fulfilled. Teaching has allowed me to give to children a part of me. This is the very reason why I am always inspired to learn more every single day. This is the same thing I emphasize every time I mentor younger teachers I want to share the same kind of fulfillment I feel all these years. Looking at learners succeed in their own field, I could say that truly being a teacher make me feel complete as a person.
EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: That the late CHRISUS PAOLO A. GABOR, who died intestate on July 10, 2020; at the time of his death did left a personal property in the amount of P119,676.33 with Land Bank of the Philippines (“Estate”) there are no known debts or obligations due against the estate of the said decedent and has been the subject of an EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE, filed by the heirs of CHRISUS PAOLO A. GABOR, per DOC #100; PAGE #20; BOOK #1; Series of 2021 , under the Notarial Registry of ATTY. Edgar Noel V. Constantino. BWM: June 7, 14 & 21, 2021
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transportation, such as buses and vans, are enclosed settings hence, it is important for people to still use their face shields while on board. Local Health Support Division Chief, Dr. David Mendoza, who is also the assistant director of the Department of Health 10, said face shields should always be worn inside enclosed settings, such as commercial buildings or malls. "If you are in the open, you can remove the shield but the mask should always be there," he said. Mendoza said face shields could add protection from contracting the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) since the face mask could only give 98 percent to 99 percent protection against the virus. He said putting on the shield would help minimize the transmission of Covid-19 through respiratory droplets. (PNA)
Deters... from page 1
or with currently-approved met hod s w it h acc u rate s c i e nt i f i c i n f o r m a t i o n on e-cigarettes and other better nicotine alternatives,” Clarisse Virgino, Philippine representative to the Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) said. Virgino was referring to a study done by Public Health England (PHE), an executive agency of the UK Department of Health and Social Care that found “the proportion [of smokers] who thought vaping was less harmful than cigarettes declined from 45 percent in 2014 to 34 percent in 2019.” These misperceptions, according to the report, are particularly common among smokers who do not vape. “Increasingly incorrect perceptions among the public about the harms of vaping could prevent some smokers using vaping products to quit smoking,” the report said. PHE has been consistent in its stance that “e-cigarettes are around 95 percent safer than combustible cigarettes.” In its 2020 report, PHE stated that despite reductions in smok ing preva lence, smoking remains the biggest single cause of preventable death and disease and a
leading cause of hea lt h inequalities. The agency posited that “alternative nicotine delivery devices that are less harmful could play a crucial role in reducing this health burden.” The report further stated t hat “v api ng reg u lated nicotine products has a small fraction of the risks of smoking,” and that smokers should be encouraged to try regulated nicotine vaping products along with smoking cessation medications and behavioral support to greatly increase their chances of successf u l ly stopping smoking. I n t h e Ph i l i p p i n e s , where more than 16 million individuals smoke with a low quit rate of 4 percent and a smoking related death rate of 88,000 per annum, Virgino suggested that the Department of Health (DOH) “should broaden its tobacco control strategy.” “Combustion in cigarettes, not nicotine, is what is harmful to the health of smokers. As such, Filipino smokers who would otherwise continue smoking should be encouraged to sw itch to less ha r m f u l nicotine alternatives such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products. Doing so would significantly reduce smoking-related sickness and deaths in the country,” she said. Virgino said THR is a public health strategy that a i ms to prov ide bet ter alternatives to reduce harms caused by smoking. “I nste ad of st ick i ng with the myopic ‘quit or die’ approach of the World Health Organization, the DOH should look at the emerging science a nd consider adopting THR in the country’s tobacco control strategy,” she said. THR is the key advocacy of CAPHR A—a regional a l l i a nc e c om m it t e d to educating, advocating and representing the right of adult alternative nicotine consumers to access and use of products that reduce harm from tobacco use. Its country representatives work with THR experts and advocates from around the world. CAPHRA is an alliance of consumer organizations that aims to educate, advocate
and represent the right of adult alternative nicotine consumers to access and use of products that reduce harm from tobacco use.
Truthful... from page 2
long as they have medical certificates. On the day the misinformation spread, only national government agency employees were scheduled at the mall. He also clarified that even the youth may qualify under A1 or A3, regardless of age. "There are teenagers and other young people who have comorbidities. We also cater to third and fourthyear Medicine and Nursing students who are part of the A1 group because they help in hospitals," he said. To date, Mendoza said around 100,000 were already vaccinated in Northern Mindanao. (PNA)
Workers... from page 2
providing comprehensive intervention and support to advance their welfare including their families. Sema noted that Article 4, Section 24 of the bill provides that the BARMM government shall allow the deployment of OBWs only in countries where the rights of its overseas workers are protected. He s ai d t he MOLE, in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and other agencies, will also establish a help desk for OBWs in every Philippine Overseas Labor and Office (POLO) of the country where the worker has been deployed. “ The help desk will assist, monitor, and submit an inventory of all OBWs in a respective country, their employment status and condition to MOLE,” Sema said. He s a i d t h e M O L E will be responsible for the implementation and enforcement of labor laws to protect and ensure that the rights of OBWs will not be compromised and violated. The OBW’s welfare bill has yet to be published and signed by BARMM Chief Minister Ahod “Murad” Ebrahim for its passage into a regional law. (PNA)
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