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Briefly CePac GENERAL Santos City– Inbound commercial flights to the city international airport will finally resume this week after a nearly two-month suspension due to the spike in cases in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). Lawyer Arnel Zapatos, the city administrator, said Tuesday the city’s Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases decided to allow the resumption of incoming commercial flights along with the strict enforcement of health and safety protocols. He said the move came after the downgrading starting Oct. 16 of the city’s quarantine status to modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) “high risk” as set by the national IATF-IED.
Marawi liberation THE five-month campaign to liberate Marawi City in 2017 from the hands of Daesh-inspired Maute Group is a "global symbol of defiance against terror", Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Gen. Gilbert Gapay said. "Marawi is a victory not just for us Filipinos as it stands as a global symbol of defiance against terror. For more than a hundred days, the world's eyes were momentarily fixed on a city that showed one of the worst of urban battles in our nation's history yet it must be highlighted that it was able to bring the best in us as a people," Gapay said in his speech at the ceremonies Monday night in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City that recognized some of the heroes who helped in the liberation of Marawi City. The Marawi siege, which started on May 23 and ended on Oct. 17, saw the death of 168 military and other security personnel. The five-month long battle also resulted in the death of an estimated 847 terrorists.
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Wednesday|October 21, 2020
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HE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) was urged to undertake virtual public consultations on its “no disconnection policy” for the power industry, so consumers and the distribution utilities (DUs) would not keep guessing how this particular rule would be enforced.
Since the power sector’s plight is now overwhelmed by diverse voices, including the bid of some advocacy groups for ‘stop payment’ on electric bills, Laban Konsyumer Inc. President Victorio Mario Dimagiba indicated that the public consultation is critical so the ERC can also consider various viewpoints before issuing guidelines on the ‘no disconnection’ directive.
ERC Chairperson Agnes T. Devanadera sounded off in a Senate hearing that the regulatory body will prevent cut-off or stoppage of power service until December 31 this year – which is basically a two-month extension from earlier plans of issuance of disconnection notices by some DUs, including the Manila Electric Company. CONSULT/PAGE 7
CURFEW. The Roxas Night Market in Davao City reopened on September 12, 2020, but the curfew imposed recently shortens operating hours. mindanews file photo by gregorio c. bueno
Marawi's permanent shelters set for completion next year By DIVINA SUSON, Correspondent
MARAWI City -- The construction of permanent houses for internally displaced individuals (IDPs) will be completed by March 2021, Mayor Majul Gandamra
STUDENT BAKWIT. Shaika D. Bago, 14, Grade IX, is studying her module inside a classroom of Datu Aliman Ampatuan Elementary School in Barangay Tuayan Mother in Datu Hoffer, Maguindanao. The school has been converted into an evacuation center for over a month now. She and some 120 families fled Sitio Pamibingan of the same barangay due to military operations against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters. mindanews photo by jules l. benitez
said Monday. Site development has been plagued by multiple claims and other ownership COMPLETION/PAGE 6
Banana farms to get P263-M in fight versus Panama disease THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said it will set aside P262.7 million, partly from stimulus funds, for the banana industry, supporting measures to rehabilitate farms hit by Panama disease and develop disease-resistant varieties.
Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar said around P100 million has been appropriated under Republic Act No. 11494 or the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan II) to rehabilitate FARMS/PAGE 6
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Local Banggolo' Bridge reopens on 3rd Marawi liberation anniversary M
WEDNESDAY|OCTOBER 21, 2020
By DIVINA SUSON, PNA
ARAWI City – A year and seven months after working to refurbish, the Bayabao Bridge was reopened on Saturday, exactly three years when President Rodrigo Duterte declared Marawi City liberated from the influence of the ISIS terrorists. With an estimated PHP83 million renovation cost, Bayabao Bridge was retaken by government troops on August 31, 2017 after the Daesh-inspired terrorist Maute Group blocked it to prevent government forces from entering and rescuing civilians trapped inside Marawi’s commercial center. The Bayabao Bridge is often referred to by the military as the Banggolo Bridge because it goes right into the city's financial district, Banggolo, where the local terror groups strategically holed up. It was the second of three critical bridges in the Marawi battle zone. Troops first took control of Baloi Bridge -- or what troops refer to as Mapandi Bridge -- on July 20. 2017. Engineer Cariyong Hadjimalic, general manager of CDH Construction that
contracted the bridge, said they started working on the PHP83-million bridge in March 2019 and finished it in October this year after some revisions to the project plans and a two-month break due to the pandemic. The bridge was then widened to 3.37 meters on each side, now it is 17 meters wide. "We did a little rehabilitation. Then we widened it from two lanes, the bridge has now four lanes," Hadjimalic said. Thousands of lives were saved by the bridge during the siege in 2017, according to peace adviser Secretary Carlito Galvez, the
former commander of the Western Mindanao Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), in his video message played during the commemoration program inside the former main battle area (MBA), now called by the government as the most affected area (MAA). He said the bridge is vital in the fight against the terrorist and has become a symbol of the military to carry out its mission. Galvez said it currently serves a different purpose to the lives of the Marawi residents. "This bridge does not only connect the people of Marawi physically but on (a) bigger level," he added.
Col. Jose Maria Cuerpo, commander of the Army's 103rd Infantry Brigade who was the deputy brigade commander during the siege, remembered a father who carried a sick 20-year-old son they rescued during the second month of the siege. “It was on this bridge where we rescued that father and son with 20 other civilians held hostage but eventually escaped from the terrorists,” Cuerpo said. Cuerpo said their rescue operations during the early parts of the siege flashed back when he joined the cutting of ribbons and inauguration of the new bridge on Saturday. "The armed men were
blocking us here that made our rescue efforts difficult. They eventually wanted to retreat and leave Marawi passing that bridge but they did not succeed. Heavy troops blocked them across the bridge," he added. The inauguration of the new Banggolo Bridge is one of the events commemorating the liberation in Marawi. The Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) is now working on the permanent housing, the grand Padian Market, the school of living tradition, the Peace Memorial Park, Marawi Museum, integrated school building, barangay complexes, and transcentral roads which are implemented by the
local government unit (LGU) and its partner agencies. Aside from the local government unit (LGU)-led projects, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Lanao del Sur is also working on four bridges, alternate bypass roads, and a school inside and outside the MAA. "The bridges and roads will solve the congested traffic and these will be finished in March 2021. These are all parts of the Bangon Marawi Comprehensive Reconstruction and Rebuilding Plan," said Engr. Mikki Macabantog, the focal person of DPWH for Marawi projects. (PNA)
Left photo: Viannistas turned over school supplies; Right photo: Parents received donated items
Sweetest Day 2020 in Macapaya NORMA B. DELIMA
Sweetest Day is a holiday that is celebrated in the Midwestern United States, parts of the Northeastern United States, and in North Florida on the third Saturday in October. It is a day to share romantic deeds of expressions, and acts of charity and kindness. -Wikipedia Three days prior to the celebration of Sweetest Day 2020 in United States (October 17, 2020), the Saint John Vianney Theological S eminar y C ommunity headed by Rev. Fr. Norlan Julia, SJ, Seminary Rector at Camaman-an, Cagayan de Oro City, in cooperation with the Social Outreach Community Involvement and Political Advocacy headed by Sem. Renato Hilamon, expressed their generosity by donating school supplies to each of the one hundred twenty (120) learners of Camaman-
an National High SchoolMacapaya Extension. The young seminarians in the persons of Bro. Jurex Michael Saplad, Bro. Christian Renmar Montesino, Bro. Ire Virgil Talisic, and Bro. Nino Gorne personally handed over the items to Ma’am Norms, School Head of said school, with teacher Joey Valenzuela, despite heavy rains that Wednesday afternoon. It can be recalled that on December 11, 2019, Father Julia also initiated the conduct of reverse caroling by the seminarians to Macapaya learners. The parents who received the school supplies were very happy, because it was just a week after the opening of classes for School Year 2020-2021. The teachers likewise were so inspired by the Nelson Mandela Choices Quotes, written at the
back of the notebooks, which will also inspire the learners, saying: Choose to persevere rather than to quit. Choose to forgive rather than to curse. Choose to smile rather than to frown. It was ASDS Dr. Rowena H. Paraon during the Urgent MANCOM with school heads on October 16, 2020 who mentioned about the Sweetest Day Celebration. SJV Theological Seminary Community has always shown generosity to Macapaya. With this expression of kindness, the DepEd-CDO Division headed by SDS Cherry Mae L. Limbaco is certainly happy about it, and the Viannistas will definitely continue to receive more blessings, for no amount of generosity will ever be wasted, if it truly comes from the heart.
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WEDNESDAY|OCTOBER 21, 2020
Education versus Pandemic
JUANITO JR. B. GABUTAN Lumbo National High School Division of Misamis Oriental SST1
The whole world was in total shocked when the pandemic erupts. Global businesses shut down, transportation barred, entertainment was contained, and the whole world was in total isolation. In the mid of March, 2020, the Department of Education was even not spared from the disruption. While most if not all public and private schools were busily preparing for the final examination and for the closing ceremonies, an announcement from the institution surprised everyone. The whole faculty and staff and the students were instructed to stay at home without exact time to return. Though the order was in fact expected to many, everyone was caught unaware that it will be implemented so soon. This pandemic affects our daily normal living. Until now we still hope it does not happened. However, this pandemic is far from over. Positive cases continue to rise from every side of the country. Every single citizen is
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in danger and the possibility of being contaminated of the virus is just around the corner. Though this pandemic is far from over, the Department of Education came up with a decision, it has stood to open the school year 2020-2021 through blended learning. The decision gathered a lot of reactions from the public. While others support the decision of the institution including the national government, many are still in doubt. We understand the side of other people who expressed their sentiments regarding the opening of class through blended learning, however, the heavier weight is on the side of education sector. Shall we allow this pandemic to shut down us fully until uncertain date and time or we will slowly moving forward cautiously and choose not to be totally defeated by this COVID-19? One day, this disorder will be over and everyone will go back to their normal or new normal way of living. We might have different view when it comes in deciding when to have a better restart; everyone shares a common perspective in doing it safe and in desirable process.
DANICA SUDARIA
Landlords urged to give rent relief to MSMEs
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O help micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) continue their operations amid the challenging business environment, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) appeals to landlords to provide rent relief for stall and store lessees. In a statement Thursday, PCCI president Benedicto Yujuico urged landlords and MSME lessees to negotiate on rents that will not negatively affect the capital expenditure of the property owners. “While we understand all businesses are
experiencing financial difficulties, for MSMEs, these difficulties could be insurmountable,” Yujuico said. He proposed that lessors can reduce rental rates “in exchange for a percentage of sales of their MSME tenants” until the time that tenants are able to meet their contractual obligations. Aside from helping struggling MSMEs to become viable again, Yujuico said their spaces will not be vacant and they can still earn from a trusted tenant rather than taking new tenants “who have not proven themselves”. “Sales have plunged
to their worst in decades. There has been a cascade of store closures and jobs losses. The persistence of low consumer confidence and limited public transportation and mobility is making it difficult for enterprises to recoup their operational costs to be able to pay the rent on top of the utilities and their workers,” he added. Although the government has prioritized MSME lenders in government-owned financial institutions like Small Business Corp. and Philippine Guarantee Corp. while relaxing banking rules for MSMEs, the PCCI
chief said “more effort is needed to nurse MSMEs back to health”. With this, more businesses will survive and more jobs will be saved, he added. “To be effective in alleviating the difficulties of our small enterprises and to sustain their recovery in the medium and long terms, we need a whole-ofsociety approach. It is in this regard that we are appealing to mall owners and commercial building landlords under the Bayanihan spirit as embodied by the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act,” Yujuico said. (PNA)
Cebu Pacific plans to place self-bag tag kiosks at airports TO further maximize contactless transactions and minimize physical contact, local carrier Cebu Pacific (CEB) plans to put up self-bag tag kiosks at other Philippine airports where it operates,
dannycarosesudaria0512@gmail.com 0936-046-2356
an executive said on Thursday. "As of now, these kiosks are only available in NAIA T3 (Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3). We plan to make these
available to other stations as well once operations normalize," Candice Iyog, vice president for CEB's Marketing and Customer Experience, told the Philippine News Agency. "There is no timeline
yet, but it is in the pipeline, (to be deployed in) other Philippine airports (where) CEB operates flights," she added. Currently, CEB only KIOSKS/PAGE 7
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Mothers and sons Think a minute… Thomas Edison is one of history’s greatest inventors with more than 1,000 inventions and patents to his name. It is interesting that he gives much of the credit to his mother. Edison wrote: “I did not have my mother long, but her influence on me lasted all my life. If not for her encouragement and faith in me, I would never have become an inventor. I was a careless boy, and with a mother of less wisdom and sensitivity I would have turned out badly. But her strength, sweetness, and goodness kept me on the right path. My mother was the one who made me the man that I am.” It is so important that we tell our son how much we love and b elie ve in him, and show him how important he is in our eyes. Ask yours elf: “Will my son have many memories and feelings of how much I loved him?” Mom, and Dad, we must let our son know that we discipline him for the things he does and not for the person he is. “Correction does much, but
THINK A MINUTE
JHAN TIAFAU HURST encouragement does much more. Encouragement after correction is like the sun after the rain.” In fact, the early relationship between a boy and his mother affects his physical and psychological health for the rest of his life. A study by Harvard University showed t hat men who when they were babies and young boys did not have close, loving care from their mothers, had more than twice as many serious illnesses as men who did have a secure, loving relationship with their mother when they were small. A baby should be born with a sign around his SONS/PAGE 7
made their way into another passenger's breathing zone." The results have yet to be peer-reviewed. Researchers conducted more than 300 tests over 38 hours of flight time and 45 hours of ground testing during a six-month period. Each test used a mannequin equipped with an aerosol generator that could mimic breathing and coughing. The generator released 180 million particles -- equivalent to the number produced by thousands of coughs -- with the mannequin's mask on and off. More than 40 sensors throughout the plane detected the droplets, representing other passengers who could
potentially come in contact with the particles emitted. The study revealed that masks drastically limit the rate of transmission when a passenger is seated. Researchers, however, did not attempt to replicate what would happen if an infected person stands up or moves throughout a cabin. "I'm not standing here telling people that I know exactly what they should do. What I am telling people is if you are inclined to travel or thinking about air travel, there is a reason today, based on this independent study, that you can feel confident that you can travel safely," said Josh Earnest, CCO of United.
NUTS & BOLTS
JEROME DE LA FUENTE
The DoD study reflected similar earlier studies that found that an airplane's unique airflow helps minimize risk. On a plane, air flows down -- not front to back -- helping limit personto-person transmission. RISK/PAGE 7
The greatest social injustice of all times Electric cooperatives are not cooperatives KIM'S DREAM
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United Airlines says the risk of COVID-19 exposure onb o ard its aircraf t is "virtually non-existent" after a new study finds that when masks are worn there is only a 0.003% chance particles from a passenger can enter the passenger's breathing space who is sitting beside them. A new study released Thursday shows that the risk of COVID-19 transmission is "virtually non-existent" during air travel when passengers wear masks. The study, conducted by the Department of Defense in partnership with United Airlines, found that when seated with a mask on, "only 0.003% of particles actually
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WEDNESDAY|OCTOBER 21, 2020
Study: COVID-19 transmission risk on airplanes 'virtually non-existent' when passengers wear masks
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ORLAN R. RAVANERA In a landmark decision in the case Philreca vs. Dept of Finance penned by Justice Mariano del Castillo, no less than the Supreme Court ruled that the 121 Electric Cooperatives in the country are only cooperatives in name and not genuine cooperatives. As categorically stated in their By Laws under Sec. 1, Art. 2, “the members are the joint owners of the electric cooperatives with their individual equity in its assets determined the basis of their patronage.”
That’s the reason why the members are called MCOs (member-consumer-owners). All these years, in the past 60 years, that is the greatest LIE perpetuated by the so-called Electric Cooperatives. Why is this so? Every time the MCOs will claim such right, they will just be told that they have only contributed P5 as membership fee. The truth is, in the unbundling of their monthly payment, it is shown that from the very beginning, each MCO has been paying two items as their patronage contributions which are: a) the total amortization cost (payment to loans) which is about P0.36/kwh and b) the provision for Reinvestment which is about P0.11/kwh. This me ans a mont h ly capital contribution of about P94.54 based on the monthly consumption of about 200kWh per month or about P1,134.48 per year.
After all these years (about 60 years as MCOs), each one has a total patronage capital contribution of about P68,000. How amazing! But I was notified that these so-called ECs which are not registered with the Cooperative Development Authority which by law is the only registering agency of all types of cooperatives have put the MCOs in the dark of their respective capital contributions. This is contrary to the provision of the By-Laws under 2(b) Article VII, “. . . within a reasonable time after the close of the fiscal year notify each patron of the amount of capital so credited to his/her account.” There are about 121 socalled ECs in the country and in region 10 alone, we have about eight, namely: Moresco 1 and 2, Fibeco, Buseco, Camelco, Moelci 1 and 2 and Laneco. All
these years, these so-called ECs have not recognized the MCOs’ patronage capital contribution. Such is the height of social injustice. This is a contributing factor why the people are still in the quagmire of poverty. If we may recall, in the ‘60s, no less than Vice President Emmanuel Pelaez initiated rural electrification as electricity then was just confined to the cities, i.e., Meralco in Manila, Cepalco in Cagayan de Oro, Davao Light in Davao, etc. And when the Rural Electrification Law was passed, a group of Senators and Congressmen went to the United States led by no less than Senators Diokno and Tanada and were convinced that rural electrification shall be owned by the consumers themselves as electricity is a means to life and must not be made as a means of so much rakings by the INJUSTICE/PAGE 7
'You are like salt for the whole human race' (Matthew 5, 13) My late grandmother (born 1899!) taught me many things regarding daily life. I admired her and didn't care to travel hundreds of miles to her house located in former East Germany - just to spend a few hours there. The wall and border which separated Germany into two, aggravated such journeys many times. Still in my mind are innumerable thoughts on how to convent bible sayings into reality as done by my grandmother. Salt of the earth: People during various activities and occupations. "Black" and "white" meet each other, shake hands (in Corona times surely no more!), smile... . An old woman selling vegetables in the market. She looks tired but her features still show hope and peace... . Young people, walking through a shopping
mall - laughing, joking, being happy (in Corona times surely not such a way anymore!) ... . Fishermen at the shore doing their work in sorting nets... Salt on earth: Many things can be like that. Not only during mass service in the church. Not only by preaching. Also, these touching hands of my distressed friend, listening to my lonely neighbor ; remembering someone, and writing him or her a letter or an email. I join others by helping, working, laughing, playing, singing. I listen to love's melody. Salt of the earth: Christian life doesn't always mean possessions or property. The Christian life is doing something, it's collecting one's thoughts. It's giving and receiving. It's a hug or a smile or comforting talk.
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Christian life means having as Christian acting people in my surroundings. Salt on earth: Of course, as we all know: too much salt is also dangerous to our health. But if we plan to live without any salt, we might fail to survive also. Do you know that wars have been waged and nations have been extinguished because of salt? Salt is more than a simple stabilizer. Before the refrigerator was invented, salt was a miracle of daily life. Salt made foodstuff keeps well. So, let's think about it: if we are part of the earth's salt, who are we? Do we bring rottenness or do we preserve and keep well our surroundings? We should be salt on earth as in cleaning, helping, and healing, but not salt, that brings caustic, corroding, and
HAVE MY SAY
KLAUS DORING mordant poison in other's life. Even in times of Covid-19 ... Salt on earth without being dumb, mute, silent, stale, and incompetent! +++ Email: doringklaus@gmail. com or follow me on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn or visit my www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www. klausdoringsclassicalmusic. blogspot.com.
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WEDNESDAY|OCTOBER 21, 2020
Developing Higher Order Thinking in Children By: NELIA E. GRAFE Head Teacher-I, Calatcat ES, Alubijid District
Higher order thinking is thinking on a level that is higher than memorizing facts or telling something back to someone exactly the way it was told to you. When a person memorizes and gives
back the information without having to think about it, we call that rote memorization. That's because it's much like a robot; it does what it's programmed to do, but it doesn't think for itself.
HOT requires that we do something with the facts. We must understand them, infer from them, connect them to other facts and concepts, categorize them, manipulate them, put them together in new ways, and apply them as we seek new solutions to new problems. Higher order thinking skills is a concept that notes on the different types of learning and on the difference in the amount of cognitive processing. It is a way to help students think and not just memorize and also improve their cognitive ability. These skills come to us in the form of Bloom’s Taxonomy, which gives us a
hierarchy of levels that create higher order thinking skills Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) should be taught to children as early as kindergarten. Teachers should practice their learners ask and answer questions in a higher order thinking way. As learners grow older, they are asked by their teachers to do more and more with the information they have stored in their br ai ns . T he s e t y p e s of requests require accessing Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS). Most of us don't think about thinking — we just do it. But teachers, parents, and
other professionals have been thinking more about thinking, and thinking about how we want teachers to teach our learners to think by themselves. As learners move from elementary to high school, they are asked by their teachers to do more and more with the information they have stored in their brains. Teachers may ask learners to write a book review for a book they've been reading, or they may ask why a certain character i n t h e s t or y or m ov i e behaved in a particular way. If they are learning kinds of matter in science,
5 learners might be asked to write a song in MAPEH. In English Language, learners may be asked to compare and contrast Former President Fe rd i nand Marc o s and President Rodrigo Duterte, or to talk about the effects COVID 19 brought to the world today. These types of tasks require higher order thinking skills. Higher order thinking may seem easy for some learners, but difficult for others. But higher order thinking, like most skills, can be learned; and with practice, a person's higher order thinking skill level can be increased.
Human resource in the 'new normal' By IRISH KARYLLE D. MONTE, PhD.
The pandemic brought about by COVID-19 Virus has certainly turned our world upside down, pushed us out of our comfort zone and introduced us to ways we now call the ‘new normal’. There was certainly no crash course as how to deal with the crisis since the last Spanish Flu pandemic happened in 1918-1920. Lives, livelihood and living changed over the course of seven months. There is no single person we know whose life is not affected or disrupted by the pandemic. What’s more is that businesses are losing, unemployment rate has skyrocketed, country leaders are at a daze, the economy is bleeding, and we are at the mercy of policies that change every now and then. It is as if we are looking at a blank page, without knowing how or when this will all end so we can go back to our normal lives. Government agencies and private industries’ programs, projects and initiatives that took off in the first quarter of 2020 had to face a drastic change when the pandemic took center stage. Suddenly, the virus became an immediate priority, debunking already laid-out plans to take a different route. The world of the Human Resource, which includes but are not limited to recruitment and selection, training and development, rewards and recognition and performance management, is also greatly affected. There is a certain level of expectation for HR to adapt as the rest of the workforce adapt to the new working reality. The greatest challenge is returning to the level of productivity and continuity in operations despite the health and safety measure, the lack of manpower, and the adjusted work hours imposed in companies and government agencies. In the Training and Development aspect, for example, training activities would normally be done with a physical audience
in a particular venue for a number of days. In the onset of the pandemic, the difficulty lies in not being able to conduct training activities face to face as it defies IATF policy on social gathering. Before the pandemic, the idea of delivering a training activity through online platform seemed like the least favorable option even though distance learning was already a trend. The crisis situation calls for HR practitioners to be flexible and to adapt to changes, and what was then our least favorite option has now become our only option- delivering training through teleconferencing platform. This medium allowed us to still push through with training activities and provide our employees with worthwhile learning. In fact, online training or webinars became a trend in companies and government agencies for the duration of the lockdown period. The biggest advantage of such medium is earning a huge savings on training cost. This tells us, adversity brings out innovative ideas and initiatives. With and the desire to deliver the best, anything is possible. Just like any other pandemic, this will reach an end. It is only a matter of knowing when. The challenges of the pandemic has become a defining moment for HR practitioners as they explore means and ways to accommodate the needs of employees and keep them motivated whilst helping the company or organization thrive amidst the crisis. If there is anything we learned for the past months since the pandemic started, it is the importance of resiliency, flexibility and staying hopeful.
BWM: October 14, 21 & 28, 2020
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Completion... from page 1
issues, although Gamdamra assured that the problems hounding the construction of permanent houses have already been resolved. “The landowners are already giving the signal for the start of the chosen contractor to develop the site even without the payment yet so that the construction of houses will fast track,” Gandamra said. Over the weekend, some 30 homeowners associations (HOAs) met with local officials to express their concerns on the pace of the site development-three years after the government expelled the militants who occupied this city for months. Earlier, government
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agencies tasked with this city's rehabilitation have also assured the beneficiaries of permanent housing that they will soon be transferred into their new homes. Last Saturday's dialogue in Barangay Kilala here was attended by residents, local officials, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), the Social Housing and Finance Corporation (SHFC), and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UNHabitat). The Social Housing and Financing Corporation (SHFC), for its part, vowed to i mmedi atel y star t the construction works in Barangay
Dulay West site and continue the site development works in Barangay Dulay Proper, where 40 lots will be available for house construction by the end of the month, and another 80 lots will be available by November this year. The UN-Habitat is also constructing more than 1,000 permanent houses for the families displaced by the 2017 siege. The beneficiaries include the families formerly living inside the most affected area (MAA) who were not allowed to go back in their homes because these have been declared as "no-build zones" and "danger zones". In Barangay Kilala, 250 houses are set to be constructed in partnership with the local government and the NHA.
Likewise, 105 houses are also under construction by the Army 553rd Engineering Battalion. In Barangay Gadongan, 50 units are currently being constructed on the lots provided by the provincial government of Lanao del Sur. Moreover, 109 units will also be built in Barangay Dulay West and 88 are under construction as of October 17. In Barangay Dulay Proper, 402 units are targeted to be constructed while the remaining number of houses will be built in Barangay Patani. The SHFC purchased the lands in these barangays. The Japanese government has also committed to funding the construction of more than 1,000 permanent shelters worth P500 million. (PNA)
Farms... from page 1
banana farms hit by Panama disease, also known as fusarium wilt. Fusarium wilt is caused by a soil-borne fungus. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, banana exports fell 10.7% year on year to $1.03 billion in the first seven months, with production dampened by fusarium wilt in Mindanao. “If left unchecked, this will substantially reduce the Philippines’ exports, disrupt trade in the international markets, and cause suffering for banana growers, farmers, workers and their families, which may lead to social unrest,” Mr. Dar said. An additional P120 million will be allotted to fund the development of the Cardava banana industry in 10 provinces — North Cotabato, Lanao Del Norte, Davao Del Sur, Agusan Del Norte, Samar, Leyte, Apayao, Cagayan, Quezon, and Oriental Mindoro. The DA said it has set aside P42.7 million from its 2021 proposed budget to support banana research, the distribution of planting materials, and the upgrade of 14 tissue culture laboratories. In a virtual meeting on Sept. 18, Mr. Dar urged the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association to match the DA’s P100 million and create a research and development program to address fusarium wilt. “The research and development program will involve the establishment of a system to ensure banana production via tissue culture of quality resistant varieties and distributing these to farmers to rehabilitate and re-plant diseasedamaged farms,” Mr. Dar said. Separately, the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) has launched a threeyear research and development program to examine another banana disease. The DoST, through the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DoST-PCAARRD), will fund
research into banana bract mosaic disease (BBrMD), to be carried out by researchers from the University of the Philippines Los Baños. BBrMD, caused by the banana bract mosaic virus (BBrMV), is commonly found in Saba and Cardava bananas, but can also infect the Cavendish variety. The disease causes mosaic patterns, discoloration, and streaks on various parts of the banana plant. Severe infection from the virus may lead to failure to flower, reducing yields by 40% to 70%. “Despite its damaging impact on banana production, there is very limited information on the virus, its extent of infection in the country, and control,” DoSTPCAARRD said. “To date, no synthetic chemicals and proper management practices are in place to control the disease. There are also minimal BBrMVfree planting materials available to banana farmers,” it added. The three-year program aims to detect and study the genetic diversity of the virus, assess yield loss and nutrient management, and produce BBrMV-free planting materials, among others. DoST-PCAARRD said the program hopes to compile incidence and distribution maps of the virus in the Philippines and data on the virus’ genetic relationships, alternative hosts, and yield loss data across various banana cultivars. “Protocols on BBrMV detection and elimination, and improved micropropagation of BBrMV-free Saba are also expected to be developed,” DoST-PCARRD said. The virus detection measures that will be optimized by the researchers will be made available to tissue culture laboratories to test for BBrMV in asymptomatic plants, to ensure that planting materials distributed to banana growers are safe to use. “With the threat of BBrMD infection, the conduct of research and development activities to study and manage the disease is being prioritized to prevent its widespread occurrence,” DoST-PCAARRD said.
PNP UG AFP SA MISOR GITUNOLAN OG P244, 000 MEAL ALLOWANCE SA KAPITOLYO By: ETHEL IPANAG/PIO
BWM: October 21, 2020
PAGLANTAW ug paghunahuna kanunay ang anaa sa kasing-kasing ni Gobernador Bambi Emano sa matag adlaw nga sakripisyo ug serbisyo nga gihatag sa kapulisan ug kasundalohan nga ga-
checkpoint sa entry ug exit point sa Misamis Oriental. Kini tungod kay doble ang pagpanalipod nga gihimo karon sa Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces ALLOWANCE/PAGE 7
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Sons... from page 4
neck that warns: “Caution! Handle with Care! Love me! Protect me! Your heart is my home!” The mother is also the gatekeeper between the children and their father. She can either build the father-son relationship or she can destroy it. Boys are born with a natural desire to be like their dad. But they will not respect and follow him if their mother criticizes him and makes him look like a weak or failing father. However, if she shows respect to their dad, his sons will also. So mother, are you using your influence and power to love, teach and help build your son into the man God created him to be? Won’t you ask the Lord to forgive you for your mistakes and failures, and to help you become the mother He created you to be? Just think a minute…
Risk... from page 4
High-efficiency particulate air filters also eliminate 99.9% of airborne particles, including viruses, every two to three minutes. "This study is confirming that you know among all the different places where one can get infected, flights might actually be one of the safest places to be," said Dr. Rajat Mittal, a professor of mechanical engineering at John Hopkins University. Yet travelers should remember that air travel involves more than a plane. As more people start traveling for the holidays, airports will start to get busier. Experts say it's crucial to wear a mask while walking into an airport, going through security, boarding the plane, sitting through the flight and arriving at the destination. The study has a few more caveats: Researchers only used a surgical mask and simulated what would happen if only one sick passenger was on a full plane. It also does not account for eating and drinking, which allows travelers to take off their masks briefly.
Injustice... from page 4
capitalists. In the US, their ECs are members-owned, thus, benefitting hundreds of millions of MCO. In fact, these ECs have programs for the health and scholarship for the children of the MCOs. Coooperativizing the ECs had amazed the USAID that it granted the Philippines a grant of some $800 million dollars but was so dismayed upon knowing that the ECs are only cooperatives in name. The Philippine government then justified that it must have more funding to conduct the massive education of the millions of MCOs, the conduct of capacity-building especially on Pre-Membership Education Seminars. Thus, the World Bank has granted the Philippine Government then some $5 billion
for that proposed ECs’ cooperativization capacity building projects. But it was then the period of Martial Law and the World Bank was so dismayed upon knowing that such fund was used for Anti-Insurgency campaign. To make it worse, then President Marcos issued PD 1645 (named after M-16 and 45 Caliber) strengthening the National Electrification Administration (NEA). In that Presidential Decree, it provided for in Sec. 357 (named after Magnum 357) the powers vested to NEA that are all contrary to the timehonored and universallyaccepted democratic principles. The framers of the 1987 Constitution wanted to rectify such glaring social wrong and social injustice, so it is so stated under Sect. 15, Art. 12, “to promote the viability and growth of cooperatives as instruments of social justice and economic development.” And giving a strong message in creating an office, that is the Cooperative Development Authority as the “SOLE REGISTERING AGENCY OF ALL TYPES O F C O O P E R AT I V E S .” A strong and categorical message especially directed to so-called ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES. However, instead of registering with the CDA, what the ECs did was to unleash formidable ars ena l of lies, de ceit, fear-mongering and cashbacked lobbying to ensure the continued proliferation and hold of private interest over electric cooperatives. The MCOs were enticed with bags of grocery items and other goodies to sway their mindset. Lies and deceits were employed to cast doubt on the economic viability of electric cooperative if it would be registered with the CDA. By not recognizing the more than one trillion pesocapital shares of the more than thirteen million MCOs with a critical mass of some fifty-five million Filipinos which could have been a liberating force against poverty, what could be a greater social injustice than that? We serve notice to one and all what has been declared in the Fundamental Law (Art II, Sec.10) that, “The State shall promote social justice in all phases of national development.” So let us join hands to put such truism to action!
Discovering... from page 8
his “inner plantito” again. He had gotten so caught up with the city life ever since he moved to Manila that he had forgotten how therapeutic it was to be one with nature. Sometimes one just needs to take a step back from busy city life, and do things at a slower pace to gain the fresh perspective needed to have a fresh experience. Here’s to rediscovering fresh experiences, and celebrating it - with a Heineken! 4. Spotting opportunities to enhance relationships Degee Razon decided to help his mom out with the current boom in the plant
business. He was excited to discover that a lot of his friends find joy and comfort in taking care of plants. He helped the business increase its financial gains, but the real benefit was growing closer to his mom. Sometimes it’s all about finding a way to connect to loved ones in a way we never knew we could. 5. Focusing on selfimprovement When one pushes oneself to keep learning, that’s when a person becomes a better version of himself/herself. Vladimir Grand says he is not the type of person who’s fond of reading books…He shared, “it takes me forever to finish one.” But with extra time on his hands, he did his best to read more. He improved his English vocabulary and pronunciation through reading, but he says reading books also taught him to be more patient, persevering, and organized. So keep on creating, exploring, learning, connecting… loving and discovering fresh experiences. Regardless of the situation, it’s possible to keep enjoying new fresh experiences every day! How are you coping with the new normal? We want to hear from you. Share your new learning/hobby/ trip/experience on your IG feed with us today, and add the hashtags #HeinekenPH and #FreshExperience in the caption, and tag us @ heineken_ph.
Kiosks... from page 3
activate it, and follow the instructions on the screen. Attach the printed tags on their bags, then head to the designated counters to deposit their luggage. Health and safety measures have been among the priorities of local airlines during the pandemic. Another low-cost carrier, AirAsia, for instance, has recently upgraded its checkin process. AirAsia's guests may check-in online and receive a QR code that they can scan on the self-check-in kiosks at the airport. The boarding pass and luggage tag would automatically print after scanning the QR code, without the need to touch the self-check-in kiosk's screen. (PNA)
Consult... from page 1
On Dimagiba’s view, before the industry regulator would administer that policy, the ERC will need to lay down how the government can subsidize the arrears of consumers who are not really capable to pay their bills. “We should look beyond just providing for extension,” Dimagiba stressed; while quizzing the ERC “what happens after December if bills are not yet paid?” He emphasized that one critical decision point for the industry regulator to consider is “where do the national government stand on providing subsidy to those not able to
pay?” Dimagiba said the ERC must “ask the national government whether they shall be able to subsidize the unpaid bills,” similar to what the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has been pushing for the 13th month pay subsidy for employees in distressed firms. The LKI president stated even during the height of the lockdown in April, their group already propounded that “those consumers with 200 kilowatthour monthly consumption should be subsidized on the 4-6 month installment scheme.” Unfortunately, he said, that recommendation had fallen on deaf ears, and the regulators just confined themselves at asserting that they will study the proposal. Dimagiba further proffered the ERC “should get data from the private stakeholders on the aging of their bills from March 11 to October 2020,” so it could have a solid assessment as to the number of unpaid bills that are already due for service cutoff; and which bills deserve to be given extension. He opined “at this phase of the recovery efforts, the regulators should act with sympathy but coupled with management policies that weigh all stakeholders’ opinions and recommendations. On the service disconnection, Dimagiba indicated that at least three notices must be served first by the DUs, including the electric cooperatives, before actual service stoppage will be enforced.
Allowance... from page 6
of the Philippines (AFP) lakip Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) aron dili lang masudlan sa makatakod nga mga binuhing hayop sama sa malikay sa African Swine Fever ang lalawigan apan sukad sa pagsugod sa pandemya lakip sa ilang gipanalipdan nga malikay sab nga masudlan sa makamatay nga Corona Virus Disease (Covid-19) ang probinsya. Gumikan sa ilang sakripisyo mismong si Gobernador Bambi uban si Provincial Veterinary Head Dr. Benjamin Resma ang nagtunol og tseke balor og P244, 000.00 meal allowance ngadto sa PNP, AFP ug CAFGU nga maoy nadestino sa Lugait Veterinary Quarantine Station ug sa mga kabukiran sa lalawigan arun pangpalit sa ilang batakang panginahanglan. Gidawat kini ni Police Captain Edgardo Balido ang hepe sa Lugait Municipal Police Station uban ni Police/Cpl. Romel Ramos atol sa ika-28th virtual flagraising ceremony sa Kapitolyo Probinsyal kinsa labihan nga mapasalamaton sa nadawat. "Gov. daghang salamat sa imong pagsuporta since Covid are arising in our Province miagi pa sa saktong proseso arun mabantayan ug ma-implementar sa sakto," matud ni PCapt. Edgardo Balido. Taliwala sa nagkalain-laing problema nga gipas-an karon sa amahan sa lalawigan dili malimot si Gobernador Bambi sa sakripisyo nga gihatag sa pwersa sa kapulisan ug kasundalohan nga angayan lang sab nga hatagan og pagtagad ug pahalipayan.
operates out of Manila via NAIA Terminal 3. Iyog said the carrier deployed 21 self-bag tag kiosks at NAIA Terminal 3 last September 29. "Tagging will be done by the passengers, then bag drop will be at the counters," she said. The kiosk minimizes physical contact between the passengers and the airline staff. It also lessens the queue time for them. Online check-in from seven days to one hour prior to flight schedule is also required. Meanwhile, to use the kiosk, passengers may scan their boarding passes to EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT WITH A DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE OF A PARCEL OF LAND KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: That the late LULLIO T. YAÑEZ, who died on March 18, 2013 died at J.R. Borja General Hospital, J.V. Seriña st., Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City, that the said deceased left a parcel of land with TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. P-3034 COVERED BY TAX DECLARATION NO. G-170924, situated in the Barrio of San Simon, City of Cagayan de Oro, Island of Mindanao, containing an area of EIGHT THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED EIGHTY (8,280) square meters, and has been the subject of an EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT WITH A DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE OF A PARCEL OF LAND, filed by the heirs of LULLIO T. YAÑEZ, in favor of NYLL MAINIT PAOURIS AND STEPHEN JAMES PAOURIS, per DOC #15; PAGE #03; BOOK #XIX; Series of 2020 under the Notarial Registry of EMELITO J. MARQUIÑO. BWM: Oct. 7, 14 & 21, 2020
BWM: Oct. 21, 28 & Nov. 4, 2020
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