BusinessWeek Mindanao (June 7-8, 2021)

BusinessWeek M I N DA N A O CREDIBLE

Volume XI, No. 151

Market Indicators AS OF 6:00 PM JUNE 5, 2021 (SATURDAY)

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4.47

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points

Warning to PUVs THE Cagayan de Oro local government has warned that public utility vehicles (PUVs) not following strict health protocols face penalties as the city is currently under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ).

Antonio Resma Jr., vice chairperson of Disiplina Muna (Discipline First) Advocacy Team, said drivers and operators face a fine of up to P2,000, for not observing the prescribed 50 percent seating capacity for passengers, and a revocation of special permit to operate issued by the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

Resma said a joint operation with other roads and traffic enforcement agencies will be undertaken to strictly monitor PUVs and even private vehicles compliance with protocols.

High power demand THE Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP), which is the entity operating the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), has been seeing uptrend in the country’s electricity demand.

According to Robinson Descanzo, chief operating officer of IEMOP, the rise in power usage had been mainly traced to the warmer temperatures that have been prevailing because of the summer season.

He added “the abrupt increase in demand was coupled by lower supply levels due to generator outages,” as well as the recurring gas restriction dilemma of the Malampaya field.

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Smoke, not nicotine, causes deaths – health expert Inhalation of smoke, not nicotine, is the culprit that causes smoking related deaths and diseases according to a Canadian health expert. “ The nicotine itself is not the problem. The global health

catastrophe we face is due to the way it’s delivered. In short, for anyone wishing to tackle the global toll of 20,000 lives a day lost due to cigarette smoking, we need to remember just four words: ‘it’s the smoke, stupid’,”

Prof. David T. Sweanor, chair of the advisory board of the Centre for Health Law, Policy & Ethics at the University of Ottawa said.

He stressed that contrary to popular belief, nicotine is not the

substance that causes these deaths.

“There have been many decades of research on the health effects of cigarette smoking, and we have known since at least the 1970s that SMOKE/PAGE 7

ECONOMIC TOLL PEGGED AT P2.5B

NEDA sees Oro econ to slowdown under MECQ

T

HE National E conomic and Development Authority in Northern Mindanao (NEDA-10) on Friday said the city can lose about P2 billion to P2.5 billion worth of business profits during the 15-day imposition of modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

N E D A- 1 0 D i r e c t o r Mylah Faye Aurora Cariño, in a virtual presser with the members of the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force, said the agency’s estimate of sector capacity losses was computed based on the 2018 data of the Philippine Statistic Authority 10 that showed 37,340 registered enterprises in Northern Mindanao.

Of the total enterprises in the whole region, 9,871 or

26 .43 percent are based in the city that employs about 99,875 workers or 34 percent of the total employment in the region.

Cariño said the estimated total sector loss during the said period was between 15 percent and 30 percent, while estimated other services sector loss contribution is between 10 percent and 15 percent.

NEDA/PAGE 7

STRICT PROTOCOL. Stricter inspection of motorists along the Opol, Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro City boundary is enforced following the implementation of the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) due to the rise of Covid-19 cases in the city. photo by gerry gorit

P7.5-B Panguil Bay Bridge unhampered, NEDA assures THE Nationa l Economic and Development Authority in Northern Mindanao (NEDA-10) on Friday assured that the P7.3-billion Panguil Bay Bridge project will be completed

by 2023, regardless of the change in government administration.

NEDA-10 director Mylah Faye Aurora Cariño, in an online ASSURES/PAGE 7

GOVERNMENT medical doctors on Friday urged the public to limit their social interactions with family members to reduce the number of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19)

transmissions.

Dr. Gina Itchon, head of research and development at the state-run Northern Mindanao Medical Center LIMIT/PAGE 6

Limit 'social bubble' to families, docs tell public DISINFECTING. A City Health Office staffer disinfects her hands before assisting in the swab testing at Magsaysay Park in Davao City on Friday for residents who were exposed to persons who tested positive of COVID-19. The city has been placed under modified enhanced community quarantine from June 5-20 due to a surge in infections. mindanews photo by manman dejeto

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MON-TUE|JUNE 7-8, 2021

PSA-10 to rollout PhilSys registration in Normin by June 7

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AGAYAN DE ORO CITY, June 5 (PIA)--Geared towards providing a valid proof of identity for all Filipino citizens and resident aliens, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)-10 targets to conduct the Step 2 Registration for the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) as early as June 7 in the region.

During the Lambo Dyes radio program, June 4, PSA-10 Regional Director Janith Aves said the earliest start of PhilSys Step 2 Registration is on June 7 at the Province of Camiguin. Bukidnon

is scheduled June 14; Misamis Oriental, June 14; Lanao del Norte, June 21; and Misamis Occidental, June 21.

"Definitely ang Cagayan de Oro City nga area dili pa nato maopen sa (for Cagayan de Oro City we still could not open by) June 14 because we are still in MECQ [Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine]. Probably we can start June 16," Aves added.

The said schedules are intended for those who were included in the house-to-house data collection. “Since January to March, naghimo ta ug house-

to-house para magkuha lang sa mga demographic information sa mga selected barangays nga we consider nga mga low income households kay ato silang mga priority,” Aves said. (we conducted a house-to-house [data collection] to get the demographic information from the selected barangays with population that we consider ‘low income households’ because they are our priority) The tentative schedule for Step 2 Registration for those who have entered their demographic information online is in

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

During the Lambo Dyes radio program, June 4, Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)-10 Regional Director Janith Aves presents the features of the the PhilSys ID including its relevant security features. (PSA 10)

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

August 2021 and for the institutional registration, September 2021.

Aves said they are targeting 100 percent of the Philippine population to be registered in the ID system thus, as early as the child's birth, the parents could already register the child for the national ID. The information will just be updated when the child reaches 15 years old.

As for data privacy, the regional director

said, "Kini nga mga information dili gyud ni siya ma-leak sa (This information will not be leaked to) other agencies it would only be the commission on data privacy and also with the PSA kami man gyud ang nag-hold sa data (we are the ones who hold the data)."

Target registrants in Normin In Region 10, PSA-10 targets about 1.5 million registrants for Step 1, and about 5.1 million registrants from the online portal.

As for institutional registration where companies prefer onsite registration or where PSA will handle the registration in their respective offices, PSA10 has targeted 107,584 institutions.

As of May 31, there are 1,094,833 total registrants in the region or 144.82 percent accomplishment of the 756,000 target registrants. From the said number, Bukidnon has accomplished 358,664, Camiguin (27,954), Lanao del Norte (271,659), Misamis Occidental (132,557), and Misamis Oriental (303,999).

"Kinahanglan na gyud nato ni karon nga ID because some of our population wala gyud tahon ID nga mapresent kung example mu-transact sila ug (We really need to have this ID because some of our population don't have an ID to present if for example they would transact) business in government or in private sector," Aves said. (RTP/ PIA10)

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MON-TUE|JUNE 7-8, 2021

Pag-IBIG MP2, home loans hit record-high in Jan-Apr 2021 Pag-IBIG Fund achieved milestones in the first four months of the year as members availed of its voluntary savings program and housing loan program in record numbers despite the ongoing health crisis, top officials of the agency said on Friday (June 04).

From January to April, members’ savings under the voluntary Modified Pag-IBIG 2 (MP2) Savings program reached P8.65 billion. On the other hand, home loans released during the period amounted to P27.39 billion, helping 27,041 members realize their dream of homeownership.

"We are happy to report that we were able to achieve two ‘highest-ever’ numbers early on in 2021. The strong showing of our MP2 and housing loan programs is a testament to the trust of Filipino workers in Pag-IBIG Fund. Our members can rest assured that we will continue doing our best, so that we can provide them high earnings on their savings while

maintaining the low interest on our loans. These are our contributions to the national government’s efforts towards economic recovery under the lead of President Duterte," said Secretary Eduardo D. del Rosario of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) who also chairs the 11-member Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees.

In 2020, members saved P13.3 billion in MP2, growing 11% from the previous year and setting the record for the highest amount saved in one year.

Pag-IBIG Fund’s home loans also reached a record-high in December last year when the agency released P12.11 billion, which is the highest amount disbursed in a single month.

Pag-IBIG Fund Chief Executive Officer Acmad Rizaldy P. Moti expressed optimism that the agency’s strong performance will continue throughout the year, especially as the restrictions are being eased to help the

economy. He noted that the phenomenal performance of its MP2 last year and the increasing amount of home loans released in the last quarter of 2020 continued until the beginning months of 2021. He said that even amid the ongoing health crisis, MP2 Savings collections in January to April grew 81% while home loan releases rose 64% compared to the same period in 2020.

"Even with the ongoing pandemic, the amount of home loans released and MP2 Savings collections for the first four months of 2021 are not only record-highs but are higher than what we achieved during the same period in 2019, prior to the pandemic. In the case of our MP2 alone, the amount our members voluntarily saved from January to April this year is already equivalent to two-thirds or 65% of the amount saved in MP2 for the whole year of 2020. We thank our members for their continued trust in Pag-IBIG Fund and in choosing to

How to treat the education crisis like a health crisis

By DEBIE C. EBALE, Teacher I Catadman Elementary School Division of Ozamiz City

IF the global community truly wants children to catch up in Covid-19’s aftermath, we must fill the global teacher shortage to power this effort. Unesco estimates that teacher shortfall is nearly 69 million.

Building a workforce of public school teachers is an urgent opportunity as stretched systems grapple with learning loss.

Even before Covid-19, teacher shortages were acute in Third World countries.

In recent years, education m i n i s t r i e s’ s h i f t i ng requirements have upgraded the minimum qualifications

to become a teacher. While it is a laudable goal to rely on college education graduates as teachers, it is impractical in the near term and promotes an uncomfortable standard more suited to the global North.

Many countries are not graduating teachers fast enough. The recent G l o b a l A c t i o n We e k for Education asked policymakers to consider how to better finance education. We must look beyond global education and draw inspiration from our colleagues in global

health.

This community health model can be adapted as a solution to regional teacher shortages.

Public school teachers function in a strikingly similar manner as barangay health workers. We know that this approach works.

Scaling the public school te a ch e r m o d e l m e ans engaging young adults who have attended high school as teachers. Other interventions have utilized public school teachers to support students who are in school but have fallen multiple grade levels behind.

Google Classroom getting more clever

By PHEBE C. CABUGNASON, Teacher I Misamis Annex Integrated School Devision of Ozamiz City

STARTING this summer, Clever will be provided automated rostering for Google Classroom. Clever provides a single sign-in portal, roster syncing and other services used by 65 percent of K-12 schools worldwide, including here in the Philippines.

According to Clever, usage of its service has nearly doubled in the last year. And the numb er of students and teachers using Google Classroom has nearly quadrupled since the beginning of 2020 from 40 million to

150 million.

With the new integration, schools using Go ogle Workspace for Education Plus will be able to sync classes in Google Classroom. Schools which have purchased Google Workspace for Education Plus and use Clever will be able to sync rosters directly to Google Classroom from any student information system in the public schools. Once a school technology administrator sets up Google Classroom via Clever, teachers will no longer need to manually

create and invite students to join their classes, saving teachers time and enabling them to focus on what they do best: helping students reach their potential.

Educators have overcome incredible obstacles this past year to support student learning. Through this n e w p ar t n e rs h ip w it h Google Classroom, we’re proud to be removing one of these obstacles: making sure every teacher’s digital classroom will be fully set up and ready for learning on the first day of school.

rely on us for their home financing and savings needs.

These give us hope that, barring another black swan event, we are on our way to another best year in fulfilling our mandates to Filipino workers here and abroad," said Moti.

Learning and Critical Attributes of 21st Century Education By: JELLY-ANN C. ALIVIO Teacher III Consolacion Central School

As teacher, we must learn to embrace the program. As a teacher we must find ways and means so that we can cater the needs of our learners. We must be resourceful, flexible and willing to accept challenges in the field of teaching. As a teacher, you also have to develop knowledge, skills, attitudes and values within yourself first before you can pass these on to your students so that they will be successful in life and work and become productive members of 21st century societies.

Teaching and learning practices aim to develop in learner’s capabilities such as life-long learning, critical thinking, creative and design thinking, system thinking, leadership. Teaching and learning practices should both foster and exhibit the aforementioned, in the face of rapid change, educators need to be somewhat visionary in anticipating what learners need.

Nowadays, we are using the technologies

and multimedia like computers and internet as well as multimedia like computers and the internet as well as multimedia like using audio and video base instructions to improve teaching and learning activities. But now, the teaching and learning environment is very much different from what is in the past. As everything changes, education in the 21st century has changed.

The role of teachers is to acknowledge the importance of shared learning in classrooms. The new reality is that teachers can learn as much from students and vise versa. Although this admission challenges traditional notions of classroom propriety and makes learning a didactic and continuous process, it invests new meaning in the teaching-learning interaction and helps teachers too, to acknowledge that learning never stops, thus making the educational experience rich and more rewarding.

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Opinion

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The rapid deployment of C ov i d - 1 9 v a c c i ne s w i l l b e t h e m ai n f a c t or i n a n a c c e l e r at i n g g l o b a l lodging industry recovery.

O t h e r f a c t or s n ot e d for the improved outlook include additional federal fiscal support and longterm monetar y policy strategy.

Still, the recovery will be uneven, with some destinations historically dependent on corporate transient, group and international demand to e x p e r i e n c e " n e a r- t e r m we akness as companies e va luate t ravel p olicies and countries assess cross-border travel risk," according to the report.

One will see that small corporate meetings -those with fewer than 150 people -- for the next six months to a year will

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Member: Philippine Press Institute Oro Chamber

By its cover Think a minute… In the year 1830, Joe moved into a s m a l l c om mu n it y i n Massachusetts, U.S.A. Even though Joe was a kind, honest and good citizen, from the day he moved to town he was rejected and ridiculed.

Wherever he went people laughed at him, and when they saw him walking their direction they would quickly cross to the other side of the street. Even the windows of his house were regularly broken by men throwing rocks in the night.

Joe continued to go his quiet way and ignore the insults. But one day as he was walking down Main Street he heard footsteps behind him. When he turned around to look, a group of men attacked him. Joe fought back, but they overpowered him and dragged him off to jail. These men lied and told the authorities it was Joe who started the fight by attacking them. But Joe refused to pay any penalty since he knew he had done nothing wrong, so they locked him in jail.

From his jail cell, Joe began to write letters to his family, telling them the

THINK A MINUTE

outperform corporate transient travel levels, a belief he also shared earlier this spring regarding the recover y outlook.

B efore t hat, t houg h, w o r k e r s w i l l re t u r n t o their offices. Then, "small group stimulates corporate transient, so that, barring any unfores een circumstances -- a variant, a force majeure of some sort -- we will see more rout i ne bus i ne ss t r avel during 2022."

This scenario can be seen in the report's chain scale outlook, in which t h e l u x u r y a n d u p p e rupscale tiers, which tend to cater to corporate and group business, begin to see improvement in 2021, but a more solid recovery waits until 2022.

"But that leisure demand will stabilize after

the summer acceleration," he said. "So traditionally, t h at i s w h e r e w e n e e d that corporate group and transient to pop. In [fall 2020], the leisure pattern continued to accelerate.

That won't continue.

We'll have back to school, b ack to work , s o t hos e anomalies will subside."

The 2021 forecast ant i c ip at e s a m o d e r at e increase in occupancy from Q2 to Q3, but then it dips more than 10 percentage points come Q4 and slow ly resumes its upward trajector y in Q1 2022.

For markets dependent on international arrivals, especially those along the coasts from B oston to Miami and from Seattle to San Diego, increasing inbound traffic along with returning corporate

NUTS & BOLTS

JEROME DE LA FUENTE

transient means "markets l i k e N e w Yo r k w i l l ultimately stabilize.

Right now, there are pricing opportunities for the consumer, but [they are] relatively shortterm, [with] short-term [meaning] the next 12 months. But we have to look at the data each quarter to understand exactly what the demand behaviors are."

Preparing for a strong rebound

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Vaccination deployment driving earlier global hotel recovery

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IGNACIO BUNYE Speaking before the Regis CEO Roundtable Series last May 18, Fernando Zobel de Ayala (FZA), President and CEO of Ayala Corporation, disclosed that “two of Ayala’s most cyclical businesses – Ayala Land and BPI – are priming themselves for a post-pandemic economic recovery. While real estate and banking have been adversely affected by the pandemic, these sectors are also prepared for a strong rebound as the country’s vaccination rollout accelerates and the economy fully reopens.”

As the vaccine rollout gains more ground and cities

gear up to regain economic footing, Ayala Land helps to spur recovery through continuous activity in its properties and by planning est ates to b e come less congested, more resilient growth centers.

According to Bernard Vincent O. Dy, ALI president and CEO, South Coast City, the 26-hectare development of ALI and SM Prime in Cebu’s South Road Properties, will amplify the metropolitan coastal experience unique to the Queen City of the South.

Within it is District Square, a prime waterside commercial zone that will be the economic core of the estate and a onehectare park that will allow for various activities and link the estate’s pedestrian network.

In Pampanga and Tarlac, ALI is combining economic energy and relaxing suburban pace with the the Alviera and Crescendo estates envisioned to epitomize growth outside Metro Manila. Integrating business, leisure, tourism, and education components while

respecting nature and the local character of their host provinces, the two estates are expected to benefit from and contribute to Central Luzon’s rising economic potential.

The Alviera Country Club is a sports and lifestyle membership club with areas for recreation, relaxation and special events. Don Bosco Tarlac in Crescendo plans to offer senior high school in 2023 and technical-vocational education in 2025.

Tr a n s i t i o n i n g f r o m response to recovery, Jose Teodoro “TG” Limcaoco, B P I ’s n e w l y i n s t a l l e d President and CEO, laid down five key imperatives that will drive the bank to achieve more for the Filipino people: turn BPI into the undisputed leader in digital banking services, create a greater SME and consumer share in its loan book, close the gap in funding leadership, refocus branches as sales points and not only as service points for customers, and further promote sustainable banking.

Another priority for the new BPI head is elevating customer ser vice and experience. He said that a banker needs to “put yourself in the shoes of the customer” to enhance your customer’s experience, with digitalization as an enabler to achieve this end. “We need to be very focused on the customer, on their experience with us, through our digital platforms and our branches.

We will build on the trust of the clients through every touchpoint they have with us.”

M e a n w h i l e , Ay a l a Corporation completed the offer of the first tranche of its P30 billion debt securities, listing P10 Billion bonds at the Philippine Dealing an Exchange Corporation on May 28. The offer, which was 10 times oversubscribed marked the first time that Ayala has tapped the local debt market in four years.

It was also the largest fiveyear allocation among dual tranche offers during the REBOUND/PAGE 7

Do we really need laws?

JHAN TIAFAU HURST US-President Theo dore know that this action is O u r b i b l e a n s w e r s truth of how the town was unfairly judging him. His son then sent the letters to a local newspaper, and soon newspapers across the nation were printing Joe’s story of persecution. The pressure from public opinion finally forced the town leaders to set Joe free.

Interestingly, years later Joe lived to see two U.S. Presidents and men all over America do the exact same thing for which Joe had been wrongly judged and persecuted. You see, during that time in America, people believed that all respectable men were clean-shaven, and Joe Palmer had dared to wear a beard!

COVER/PAGE 7

Roosevelt once said, " O u r s i s a g ov e r n m e nt o f l i b e r t y, by, t h r o u g h an d u n d e r t h e l aw. No man is ab ove it, and no man is b elow it."

Since we are back i n M E C Q, w e d o h a v e to obey the old (new) quarantine laws - whether we like it or not. But there are many more laws without thinking ab out the pandemic.

“Do not steal your n e i g h b o r ’s p r o p e r t y ! ” “ D o n’t d r i v e y o u r c a r on the sidewalk!” And all the rest of it. How many times a day does someone tell you what to do? How often do you have to stop yourself from doing what you w ant , b e c au s e you

prohibited or wrong?

It s eems like we have laws, rules, and regulations to oversee just about everything. We d on’t a lw ay s l i ke t he s e rules. Yes, you can count me in! Yet to live in a civil s o c i e t y, w e m u s t h a v e s ome r ules to follow.

L aws are rules that bind all people living i n a c o m m u n i t y. L a w s protect our general s a f e t y, a n d e n s u r e o u r rights as citizens against abus es by other p eople, by organizations, and by the government itself.

We h a v e l a w s t o h e l p provide for our general s a f e t y. T h e s e e x i s t a t t he l o c a l, nat i ona l and international le vels.

my question i.e. in Deuteronomy: Be careful to ob e y all thes e regulations I am giving you, so that it may always go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing w hat is go o d and r ig ht in the e yes of the L ord (12:28). Deuteronomy re p e at s ve r b at i m m any of the laws given in E xo dus or L e v it i c us as well in Numb ers. Yet it is far from a rulebook.It focuses on motives, why people should obey laws.

Since s enior citizens at the age of 65 are not allowed to leave the house at t h e m om e nt , I o b e y the law and enjoy my home of f ice by writing,

HAVE MY SAY

KLAUS DORING d oi ng t r ansl at i on work and online teaching. +++ Email : dor ing klau s @ g mail.com or follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn or Tw itter or v isit my www. germanexpatinthephilippines . blo g spot. com or w w w. k l a u s d o r i n g s c l a s sicalmusic.blogspot.com.

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MON-TUE|JUNE 7-8, 2021

MinDA, DBP work to reopen Maguindanao banana farms

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AVAO CITY - The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) along with its funding partner Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) is heading efforts to reopen two huge banana plantations in Maguindanao province that employed some 4,000 workers.

Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said many of the said workers are former Moro rebel combatants.

“Yesterday, I met with DBP President Emmanuel Herbosa to thresh out the details of the financial loan package, which the bank would grant to revive the banana farms with a total area of over 1,500 hectares,” he said.

He said the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) has warned that the continued economic difficulties faced by the displaced workers could have

serious implications on the peace and security of Maguindanao Province.

“The banana plantations, owned by Filipino-American John Perrine, are the Al Sahar and La Fruttera Banana Farms in Talayan and Datu Paglas towns, respectively, all considered critical areas because of the presence of ISIS-inspired armed groups, closed down two years ago following economic difficulties and lack of operational funds,” the MinDA chief said.

During his visit to Maguindanao Province on May 11, following the attack by the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Datu Paglas, President Rodrigo Duterte directed MinDA to work for the reopening of the plantations.

Duterte also instructed MinDA to coordinate with other agencies, including the Department of

Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), to ensure that the displaced farm workers are given food assistance until they are back to work.

“MinDA, DSWD, DND-OCD, MSWD-BARMM and other agencies have implemented the food distribution directives of the President. MinDA, in the meantime, has identified a new investor which will take over the two plantations from the Perrine Group and reoperate the farm,” Piñol added.

On Thursday (June 3) MinDA will organize a virtual conference between DBP Officials, the new investor's group and other stakeholders to finally resolve the minor issues.

“When this is done, MinDA will make a final report and recommendations to the President within the month of June,” Piñol assured.

Models Hannah Grueso and Ace Vercede are just among the many models who take the catwalk during the recent fashion show of FAME. Mindanao Daily News is the exclusive media partner of FAME. photos supplied

Equal Access International holds peace fellowship program in Marawi ON May 20, Equal Access International officially wrapped up the Peace Promotion Fellowship 2021 with a Town Hall Presentation and Awarding Ceremony at Ayala Resort, MSU, Marawi City.

Twelve Peace Fellows from Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte completed their threemonth fellowship which started last February, this year. Three peace projects namely, RINAWareness, KaLAKElintad and Peace Harvest, composed of four peace fellows championing each initiative, resulted to meaningful partnerships, advocacy development and peace promotion. During the town hall, peace fellows showcased their projects’ milestones, call to action and sustainability plan.

The Local Government Units of Marantao, Lanao del Sur, Balo-i, Lanao del Norte and Marawi City, expressed their gratitude and continuing support

to the peace initiatives highlighting the relevance of the community challenges that the peace projects tried to address.

Moreover, they expressed their appreciation for choosing their localities as areas of implementation.

Mr. Jeffrey Goebel of USAID formally opened the event with a message of thanks, support and encouragement to the PPF.

completers, individuals and organizations who were instrumental in the project implementation.

Guests and partners from the Provincial Government of Lanao del Sur, Task Force Bangon Marawi, Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police, were also present

and served as panelists during the town hall. They have also expressed their support in scaling up the peace projects to reach more individuals in Lanao.

This year is the second run of PPF implemented by Equal Access International and supported by Plan International’s USAIDfunded Marawi Response Project (MRP)

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MON-TUE|JUNE 7-8, 2021

Limit... from page 1

in Cagayan de Oro City said it could be difficult for some Filipinos to limit social interactions given the Filipinos’ trait of giving a premium on social circles.

"I think it's hard for Filipinos (during this time of pandemic) to not go without peers. (When) We eat, we have peers; we go out, we have companions. It's hard for us (Filipinos) to be (doing things) alone," Itchon said.

She discouraged people from inviting others to their homes, and avoid congregation and crowded areas at a time when the city is under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).

Dr. Teodulfo Joselito Retuya, resident epidemiologist of the City Health Office (CHO), said most Covid-19 cases between May and early June were from

within family members based on the background of patients, such as same surnames and addresses.

"We are still experiencing the effects from two to three weeks ago when people went out during Mother's Day," he said.

Retuya added that the risk of getting infected in the household is high because of the complacency of people to observe health protocols, especially those with members frequently going out of the house, and travel history unknown to other household members.

Contact tracers Meanwhile, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) 10 (Northern Mindanao) has already deployed 178 agencyhired contact tracers that form part of the 1,526 total contact tracers in the city.

DILG-10 Director Arnel

Agabe said the department, along with other national line agencies, have regularly met through the Task Group on Governance to identify various challenges in implementing programs and services to contain the spread of Covid-19.

"We should help one another.

We need our constituents to help the national government and local government units because we could not solely rely on the assistance from the government if our community quarantine classification is more strict," he said in the vernacular.

As of June 4, there are a total of 22,628 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Northern Mindanao. Of this number, there are 16,578 recoveries, 693 deaths, while the number of active cases is now 5,357 cases.

Cagayan de Oro City posted 120 new cases on June 3, bringing the total to 1,434.

(PNA)

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF MISAMIS ORIENTAL 10TH Judicial Regional BRANCH 21 Cagayan de Oro City IN THE MATTER OF CHANGE OF FIRST NAME OF ENRIQUITO C. JABIDO TO ELIEZER C, JABIDO ELIEZER C. JABIDO, -versus-

CIVIL CASE NO. R-CDO-21-01828-SP

Petitioner,

FOR: PETITION FOR CHANGE OF NAME

OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF GINATILAN CEBU, AND THE PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY (PSA) Respondents.

---------------------------------------------------x ORDER

Notice is hereby given that filed before this court is a verified Petition for Change of Name from Enriquito Jabido to Eliezer Jabido.

Finding the petition to be sufficient in form and substance, let this case be heard September 13, 2021 in 8:30 in the morning before this Court at the Ground Floor, Goldridge Building, Hall of Justice, Masterson Avenue corner Macapagal Road, Upper Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City.

At the expense of the petitioner, let a copy of this Order be published before the hearing at least once a week for three [3] consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the Province of Misamis Oriental and in the City of Cagayan de Oro. Let also a copy of this Order be posted at the Bulletin Board of the City Hall of Cagayan de Oro City and at the Bulletin Board of the Office of the Civil Registrar of Cagayan de Oro City and at the Bulletin Board of the Philippine Statistics Authority [formerly the National Statistics Authority] Regional Office in Cagayan de Oro City.

It is further ordered that Petitioner, at their own expense shall furnish copies of this order and the Petition together with its annexes to the Office of the Solicitor General, to the Civil Registrar General-Philippine Statistics Authority, Quezon City and to its Regional Office in Cebu City, to the Local Civil Registrar of the Ginatilan, Cebu, to the Regional Office of Cagayan de Oro City and to the Local Civil Registrar of Cagayan de Oro City.

The Civil Registrar General of the Philippine Statistics Authority, Quezon City and to its Regional Office in Cebu City and the Local Civil Registrar of Ginatilan, Cebu or any person having or claiming any interest on the relief sought is hereby directed to file their written oppositions and appear on the said date of hearing are hereby directed to file their written oppositions and appear on the said date of hearing are hereby required, within thirty [30] days after the last publication of this Order to file with this Court and serve on the petitioner their Answer to the above-quoted petition, together with its intended Exhibits.

The petitioner shall at the hearing submit proof of publication and of the service of the copies of the Order and the Petition as directed by the Court.

Let Summons be issued.

SO ORDERED.

Done this 3rd day of May 2021 in Cagayan de Oro City.

BWM: May 31, June 7 & 14, 2021

(SGD) GIL G. BOLLOZOS Presiding Judge

NEDA-10 hosts regional virtual advocacy activities THE National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)-10 conducted back-to-back activities to present the Updated Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022 and the AmBisyon Natin 2040 in a virtual caravan, May 25 via Zoom web conferencing and Facebook live.

The virtual caravan promotes and expands information reach of the Updated PDP 2017-2022 and AmBisyon Natin 2040, the Filipinos’ collective vision of enjoying a simple and comfortable lifestyle by 2040.

During the morning session, NEDA Development Information Staff Director Nerrisa T. Esguerra and NEDA Social Development Staff OICAssistant Director Edgardo S. Aranjuez II presented the AmBisyon Natin 2040 and the contents of the Updated PDP 2017-2022, respectively.

Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar S. Moreno (Government), DifferentlyAbled Women Network President Melagros M. Maquiling (CSO and RDC-10 private sector representative), University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines President Ambrosio B. Cultura II (Academe), and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mindanao Area Director Ma. Teresa R. Alegrio (Business) served as reactors from their sectoral perspectives and vowed support to the Updated PDP. To perk up the caravan, localized advocacy contests took place in the afternoon.

College students from some of the region's higher education

institutions participated in Ang #AmBisyonNako2040: A Photo Contest, where they shared posts representing their ambitions, dreams, and aspirations for themselves, their families and communities, and the country on their personal Facebook accounts.

Kieth Melody Green Decina of Central Mindanao University was declared as the photo contest Champion, while James Vincent Y. Abao of Camiguin Polytechnic State College and Jo Andrea Marie L. Omahoy of Central Mindanao University took second and third places, respectively.

The first #AmbiSHOWNato2021: The NEDA-X Updated PDP Quiz Bee was also launched.

Ten college students battled out their wits and knowledge on the Updated PDP 2017-2022 via web conferencing.

Julian Burt E. Olano of Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan emerged as the Champion, while Ella Camille Dinogyao also of Xavier UniversityAteneo de Cagayan came second, and Lord Dilson G. Babaran of Camiguin Polytechnic State College placed third.

The advocacy activities were staged to promote awareness of and support for said plan to all sectors of society, especially the youth. The national guiding framework prioritizes a wholeof-society approach for economic recovery and emphasizes strategies to put the country back-on-track towards achieving a matatag, maginhawa, at panatag na buhay for every Filipino.

(NEDA10/PIA10)

Streetdancing in the Philippines

By RIO J. DINOROG, M.Ed. Cultural Education SHS T- III / Cultural Educator MISAMIS OCCIDENTAL NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION OF OROQUIETA CITY

WESTERN countries have street dances depicting their own mainstream music and social dance. In the Philippines, our streetdancing has been a way of demonstrating our different cultures, customs and traditions performed during fiestas and other celebrations.

According to historians, festivals in the Philippines started after a party of Datus from Borneo had taken shelter in the island of Panay in the western Visayas region. After paying their rights to own ground, the festivities began.

When the Spaniards colonized the Philippines to Christianity, streetdancing was incorporated into the indigenous religious practices, such a dance tribute to the Sto. Niño, the icon of “infant Jesus," which the Panay inhabitants call Ati-atihan.

Hence, another similar festivity also been practiced in Cebu--the Sinulog--with the same content and theme which is to pay homage to Infant Jesus--the Sto. Niño.

Several other festivals in the form of streetdancing also emerged in various

parts of the country. The themes differ depending on the place's customs and traditions which they are showcasing.

The motiffs reflect the culture of the people living in such places province, Baguio City, for instance, has their own Panagbenga festival which they celebrate every February. The word "Panagbenga" derives from the term Kankanaey meaning "season of blooming." This festival represents the culture, customs and beliefs of Baguio and Cordillera.

Another great example to mention is the street dance during the Masskara festival of Bacolod . This annual festival is similar to the Rio Carnival in Brazil, practically translates into "many faces" and is celebrated every October. Due to the happy faces of the mask, the City of Bacolod was called The City of Smiles.

Philippine streetdancing is generally linked with festival celebrations and is unique in every places because it showcases their respective culture, tradition and even religious practices.

7

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MON-TUE|JUNE 7-8, 2021

Cover... from page 4

It is so true: “You cannot judge a book by its cover.”

Unfortunately, some people’s beliefs go only skin deep.

T h e y ju s t fol l ow w h at others tell them is right and wrong, instead of thinking for themselves and looking deeper for what is really true and important in life.

Joe’s town was a perfect example of “the blind leading the blind.” Fortunately, Joe knew better. He knew that the beard on his face was not the real person he was in his heart and character.

“Don’t let other people rent space in your head.”

Never let others rob you of your freedom to think for yourself, and choose what you believe is the true way to live. In fact, it is not just your right, it is your responsibility. We all are made in God’s likeness with a conscience and mind to think and a will to choose.

So won’t you take the time EXTRAJUDICIAL DEED OF SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: That the late ONOFRE DUMBRIQUE PASCUA, who died intestate on April 24, 2021; that the deceased left two parcel of land Transfer Certificate of Title No. 1372018003955 situated kauswagan, Cagayan de Oro City, Isalnd of Mindanao, containing an area of ONE HUNDRED TWENTY (120) Square Meters, more or less, and Transfer Certificate of Title No. 1372016002325 situated kauswagan, Cagayan de Oro City, Isalnd of Mindanao, containing an area of FIFTY (50) Square Meters, the deceased left certain bank deposit with LAND BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES, Velez Branch, BANCO DE ORO (BDO), S.M. City Branch, RIZAL COMMERCIAL BANKING CORPORATION (RCBC), Carmen Branch, METRO BANK, main Branch, and TREASURY ACCOUNT- LAND BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES, all located at Cagayan de Oro City, and has been the subject of an EXTRAJUDICIAL DEED OF SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE, filed by the heirs of ONOFRE DUMBRIQUE PASCUA, per DOC #457; PAGE #46; BOOK #VI; Series of 2021 under the Notarial Registry of ATTY. RICO B. PAJO. BWM: May 24, 31 & June 7, 2021

Extrajudicial Settlement of Estate with Deed of Absolute Sale Know all men by these presents:

That the late RICO S. OBLAD, who died intestate on 11 November 2006, died without any will or testament and without any outstanding debts in favor of any person or entity, at the time of his death, left a certain real property one-half of which belongs to the First Party-Vendor with Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-21239 situated in Imbatug, Baungon, Bukidnon, containing an area of 36,842 square meters, more or less, the First Party-Vendor pro indiviso of one-half of the property above-described do hereby sell,cede,assign, and transfer absolutely and unconditionally unto Niza Builders and Allied Services Corporation as Second Party-Vendee her heirs and assigns, a portion of the above-described property measuring five thousand (5,000) square meters, more or less free from all liens and encumbrances, the specific meats and bounds have already been divided and determined by both parties, and has been the subject of an Extrajudicial Settlement of Estate with Deed of Absolute Sale, filed by the heirs of RICO S. OBLAD, in favor of Niza Builders and Allied Services Corporation per DOC #81; PAGE #17; BOOK #21; Series of 2021 under the Notarial Registry of ATTY. ROBERT W. RAYPON. BWM: May 24, 31 & June 7, 2021

now to think through all the evidence of Jesus’ life, teaching, miracles, death and resurrection, and see that it clearly makes the best sense to live your Maker’s way. Just think a minute.

Rebound...

from page 4 pandemic, a reflection of the markets confidence in Ayala’s long-term stability and credit strength.

Ayala CFO Alberto M. de Larrazabal and Treasurer Estelito C. Biacora noted that the offer consisted of P4 Billion Series A Bonds due 2024 at a coupon rate of 3.0260% and P6 Billion Series B Bonds due 2026 at 3.7874%.

FZA said: “The Ayala group has always been and continues to be an active participant of the capital markets. During the health crisis, Ayala Corp, Ayala Land, BPI, Globe, Manila Water and AC Energy raised over P190 billion pesos in combined proceeds from the domestic and international capital markets to allow us to take advantage of opportunities and further solidify our balance sheet during these challenging times.”

The regulator is very pleased. SEC Chairperson Emilio Aquino noted Ayala’s role in realizing the “capital market’s potential to sustain our economy’s expansion and bring growth to every Filipino.” Added Aquino: “As issuers, you create legitimate investments opportunities.

And through the capital market, you make accessible and thereby allow fellow Filipinos to share with your business success. By pursuing your expansion projects responsibly and sustainably, more of our fellow Filipinos can be employed and will be able to provide for and 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

secure a better future for their families.”

Antonio Nakpil, President and CEO of Philippine D e a l i ng and E xch ange Corporation (PDEX), is also all praises for the Ayala group, led by Ayala Corporation, which Nakpil described as “the longest-standing supporters, constructive contributors, and most active group of issuer participants of the domestic capital market.”

Parenthetically, the Ayala group’s investment banking arm, BPI Capital, headed

by Rhoda Huang, has been an active participant in the fundraising activities across the Ayala group and an especially important partner in the group’s shift towards sustainable financing. In 2020, BPI CAP helped launch BPI’s CARE Bonds and the highly successful AREIT, among many landmark capital raising. Now BPI CAP is all set to help arrange the biggest IPO ever (P40B) for food manufacturer Monde Nissin.

Note: You may wish to share the foregoing article via Facebook, Twitter or Linked-In.

Smoke... from page 1

the primary cause of the cancers, heart and lung disease is the repeated inhalation of smoke,” he said.

The professor made the distinction to differentiate the risk profile of noncombustible alternatives (NCAs) like vapes, heated tobacco products (HTPs) and oral products like Sweden’s snus which deliver nicotine without burning tobacco.

He said by eliminating combustion or the burning process, these innovative products provide smokers less harmful alternatives to smoking.

Sweanor said the human body is simply not designed to inhale smoke. It is the tar from combustion, and not nicotine, that contains carcinogens and toxicants.

“We see similar disease patterns in those who cook food over open fires with poor ventilation and in firefighters exposed long-term to smoke inhalation,” he said.

He li kene d nicot ine to caffeine, saying it is a psychoactive substance that is addictive and gives assorted benefits to many users. He, however, noted that “by themselves, neither have significant health risks when used at normal dosage levels. But if obtained through

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a toxic delivery system such as smoking, great injury can be caused.”

Sweanor said that making NCAs available to countries such as the Philippines will help millions of smokers reduce their exposure to smoke and illnesses.

Mounting evidence from scientific studies around the world confirm that NCAs are significantly less harmful than traditional cigarettes.

According to Public Health England and the Royal College of Physicians, e-cigarettes are at least 95-percent less harmful to humans than combustible tobacco.

A February 2019 clinical trial by UK’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) found that e-cigarette was twice as effective as nicotine replacement treatments such as patches and gum at helping smokers quit. NCAs offer a similar ritual and pleasure as cigarettes with less exposure to the dangerous toxins and carcinogens found in tobacco smoke.

“We now can get rid of cigarette smoking much as many countries have got rid of various infectious diseases and transitioned consumers away from a broad range of other overly hazardous products. We can use science, technology and reason to draft regulations that can end cigarette smoking, and thus address the 20,000 daily deaths globally that are caused by that smoking. We can make public health history no less significant than the eradication of smallpox,” Sweanor said.

Citing Japan’s experience, Sweanor said the it reduced cigarettes sales by more than 30% in just over three years following the introduction of HTPs. “Product substitution works and appears to work better than any other strategy we have used to date in reducing cigarette smoking.

We have also seen this impact in Sweden, Norway, Iceland and other countries as well, and with a variety of low-risk non-combustible alternatives to cigarettes,” he said.

He noted, however, that many governments can’t keep up with the advances in science and technology. “ T h e y of t e n f ai l t o understand the absolutely

enormous differences in risk between different nicotine products and inadvertently protect the cigarette business by seeing low-risk alternatives as a threat rather than an opportunity,” he said.

“The combined offering in terms of consumer needs and wants, and the information, availability and pricing of the low-risk alternatives should ensure that the safer choice is an easy choice,” he said.

“Viable alternatives to cigarettes can reduce cigarette consumption dramatically.

We can seize the opportunity technolog y now makes available to end the cigarette epidemic,” Sweanor said.

NEDA... from page 1

She also said the wholesale and re t ai l t r ad e cou ld contribute more than 50 percent of output losses, and a 5 percent to 10 percent re duc t ion in t ransp or t services because of the limited movement of people and its operational capacity.

About 74 percent of 121 permanently closed establishments in the region are from this city. " We ' r e a s k i n g t h e cooperation of everyone to follow the health protocol since this is very important to fight the Covid-19," Cariño said.

Effects on small businesses Meanwhile, Jorely Banares, one of the stallholders near St. Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral, said even though their operations resumed, the current status in the city still has an impact on their business due to the restrictions imposed by the government.

"I'm thankful because we're back. But we can still feel the effect of MECQ in our business because of the limited movement of the people," she said in the vernacular.

She was thankful nonetheless that the local Barangay 1 unit, has lifted the temporary closure.

A church employee, Rey Estillore, said his worry after the Church implemented a skeleton workforce only allowed him and his colleagues to work for limited days because of the MECQ. "Right now, we only have

three days of duty and it started right after the MECQ announcement. And we will only get paid just for every duty we have worked," he said Both Banares and Estillore are hoping that this MECQ status would not go beyond June 15 so they would have a better income. (PNA)

Assures... from page 1

briefing, said the project is funded under official development plans, which means it is part of the national project with contracts signed between government agencies and infrastructure contractors that need to be fulfilled.

"We don't see negative sentiments, don't see (adverse) political intervention. In fact, there's vocal, explicit support in the province of Misamis Occidental and Lanao del Norte provinces," Cariño said.

The two provinces, she said, would ensure that the project will not be delayed.

Considered a major infrastructure development in Northern Mindanao, the project will connect Tangub City, Misamis Occidental and Tubod, Lanao del Norte within seven minutes.

Of the P7.37 billion total project cost, P2.16 billion was financed by the national government while P5.21 billion is a loan agreement between the Philippine government and Korean Export-Import Bank (Korea Eximbank).

Data from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) showed that as of March 2021, the preparation for the bored pile works at Tangub and Tubod side, earthworks, and embankment on the access road and approach road are already ongoing.

DPWH Secretary Mark Villar earlier said the bridge would soon become the longest bridge in the Philippines at 3.16 km., which would surpass the 2.16-km. San Juanico Bridge that connects Samar and Leyte provinces in the Eastern Visayas region.

Although the Covid-19 pandemic restriction on the movement of people and goods has affected the bridge construction, Villar said the contractor can now go full blast with the delivery of equipment and materials for its foundation works. (PNA)

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