BusinessWeek Mindanao (September 7, 2020)

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Briefly Hydro plant damage HEDCOR Bukidnon Inc. (HBI), a subsidiary of Aboitiz Power Corporation, is assessing the financial impact that the damage on its 68.8-megawatt Manolo Fortich hydropower plant in Bukidnon may incur given that full restoration is seen stretching up to eight (8) months.

The company disclosed to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) that the hydro plant suffered “pipe failure incidents” due to landslides that were caused by persistent rains in the area since June this year.

Aboitiz Power indicated that while its subsidiary-firm undertakes “full assessment of the extent and value of the damage to the facilities,” it already took the initiative of informing HBI’s insurance brokers, adjusters and lenders of the incident; “and the parties are currently undergoing the process of filing the insurance claims.”

One hospital command ILIGAN City - The National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 is pushing for the operation of the One Hospital Command in Northern Mindanao to ensure a comprehensive and coordinated response to the coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 pandemic.

The One Hospital Command will ensure an effective health facility referral system that connects COVID-19 patients to available quarantine facilities and hospitals.

NTF Chief Implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr said the One Hospital Command will be headed by the Regional Director of the Department of Health and the Northern Mindanao Medical Center.

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Monday|September 7, 2020

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By ANTONIO L. COLINA IV, MindaNews

EGIONAL economies in Mindanao need to focus on strengthening their agriculture sector as the “tiny spark” during these dark times after it managed to grow by 0.1 percent in the first semester of this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Mindanao Development Authority Assistant Secretary Romeo Montenegro said.

RICE IMPORT. Workers unload rice imported from Vietnam at the port in Iligan City.

Another shipment arrived in the city on August 29. mindanews photo by richel v . umel

During a virtual “Wednesdays at Habi at Kape,” Montenegro highlighted the sector’s importance in restarting the island’s economy under a “new normal”.

He s a i d t h e s e c t o r managed to sustain its promising performance

compared to industries and services sectors that posted -6.9 percent and -7.9 percent, respectively, in the same period.

Mindanao comprises the Davao Region, Caraga Region, Northern Mindanao, Soccsksargen, Zamboanga SUSTAINS/PAGE 11

Lanao del Sur placed under MECQ starting today as pandemic rises

By FROILAN GALLARDO, MindaNews

THE entire province of Lanao del Sur with its 33 municipalities and the Islamic City of Marawi will be placed under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) starting

today, September 7 due to an upsurge of COVID-19 infections in the past weeks.

Bangsamoro Member of Parliament Zia Alonto Adiong, MECQ/PAGE 11

DESPITE the pandemic, lowcost carrier AirAsia Philippines will continue with its plan to expand its network in Mindanao, as it will launch new routes

-- General Santos City and Zamboanga.

In an inter view Friday, AirAsia Philippines chief EXPANDS/PAGE 11

AirAsia expands Mindanao network

KADIWA ONWHEELS. Farmers’ associations and cooperatives bring in their produce at the GSIS Heighs covered court in Matina, Davao City o bring the market closer to residents observing the “enhanced community quarantine” imposed by the local government as a move to help curb the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The “Kadiwa on Wheels” program was initiated by the Department of Agriculture. mindanews photo by gg bueno

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29th Mindanao Business Conference 2020

Feature

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MONDAY|SEPTEMBER 7, 2020

PCCI Mindanao endorses ‘Bubble Markets’ to revive domestic tourism

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HE affiliate chambers of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Mindanao will endorse to the national government measures aimed at capturing “Bubble Markets’ for the revival of domestic tourism in the region during the 29th Mindanao Business Conference on September 10-11, 2020.

The first ever virtual conduct of Mindanao’s biggest business conference of the PCCI will be hosted by the Davao Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) through

online live streaming via ZOOM with a record audience expected to participate in the online event despite restrictions on travel and gatherings brought by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

“With theme, Mindanao: Journeying to the New Normal, we recognize the urgent need to boost confidence to overcome emerging challenges and capitalize on opportunities,” said Ma. Teresa A. Alegrio, PCCI Area Vice President for Mindanao. “This stems from a deep understanding of what the new normal presents so that responses to

meet them are carefully crafted.”

MinBizCon is an annual event organized by the PCCI that aims to create a venue for businessmen, key industry players, government executives, and other private sector leaders to discuss economic concerns and opportunities in Mindanao resulting to policy actions for the development of the region.

Through PCCI Mindanao Resolution no.

2020-004 (A Resolution Endorsing To The IATF-EID Proposed Intervention Measures For Business Survival And Continuity of Mindanao MSMEs and Other Industries) the 42 local Chambers of Mindanao will be requesting the

National Government’s immediate and urgent intervention to prioritize a package of proposed recommendations aimed at ensuring the business survival and continuity of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), in the manufacturing and industry, and agricultural sector.

MSME’s constitute over 90 percent of the number of business establishments nationwide and in Mindanao.

The resolution covers Health Care Capacity,

Infrastructure, Economic Stimulus, Structural Reforms, Capacity Building, and Domestic Tourism.

Domestic Tourism Among the measures to be presented by PCCI Mindanao to revive Domestic Tourism during the MinBizCon are the following: · For DOT to consider “Bubble” connectivity: Select safe markets from where tourists can travel to similar “Bubble” destinations. DOT to coordinate the guidelines

for identifying “Bubble” markets with the national, regional and local IATFs; · For Regional DOT offices to promote weekend staycations from nearby cities in each region, making up the safe “bubble” market, no foreign or other tourists from abroad allowed. DOT accredited and sanctioned hotels with strict safety protocols to be utilized in this recovery program; · For LGUs to start campaign to capture the Mindanao “bubble” ENDORSES/PAGE 11

Marawi weavers showcase their products during the 24th Mindanao Trade Expo 2019 in Davao which showcase products made

by Mindanao micro, small, and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs). (PNA Photo)

CAGAYAN DE ORO MAIN BRANCH P & J Lim Bldg., Tiano Brothers Kalambagohan Sts., Tel. # (08822) 727-829 * Telefax # (088) 856-1947 CAMIGUIN BRANCH B. Aranas St., Poblacion, Mambajao, Camiguin Tel. # (088) 387-0491 CORRALES BRANCH Corrales Ave., Cagayan de Oro City DIVISORIA BRANCH Atty. Erasmo B. Damasing Bldg., #61 Don A. Velez St., Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 857-3631 LAPASAN BRANCH Lapasan Hi-way, Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 231-6739 CARMEN BRANCH Vamenta Blvd., Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 231-2011

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MONDAY|SEPTEMBER 7, 2020

Globe sees strong growth in broadband business GLOBE TELECOM, INC. expects its home broadband subscriber base to continue growing in the second half as schools reopen and more people work from home amid a coronavirus pandemic.

Revenue from its home broadband business rose by almost a fifth from a year earlier to P12.5 billion in the six months through June, it said in a statement on Monday. Home broadband subscribers increased by 58% to 2.9 million, it added.

The Ayala-led telecommunication company said it expects its home broadband subscribers to “continue to grow as more households gear up for working and learning from home and more are expected to follow suit as public schools reopen in October.”

Globe said entertainment and online learning mobile data traffic soared by 45% to 1,106 petabytes during the period, as more people stayed home due to travel restrictions meant to contain a coronavirus pandemic.

“Data continues to be a bright spot for business, as demand remains strong and steadily growing,” Globe President and Chief Executive Officer Ernest L. Cu said in the statement.

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CorporateWorld

“Especially at this time of the pandemic, internet access serves as a lifeline for many Filipinos. People use the internet to work from home, conduct business, make payments and homeschooling, among others. We expect this trend to continue until the rest of the year,” he added.

The potential of the home broadband segment remains a “source of inspiration” for the company, Mr. Cu said.

This segment is largely untapped so there are many households that are looking to be connected, he said.

“We hope to fill this demand with our aggressive network rollout in the second half not only in urban areas but even in provinces all over the country.”

Globe’s net income fell by 7.8% in the second quarter to P4.9 billion from a year earlier after much of the country was locked down starting in mid-March.

The company’s service revenue in the second quarter fell by 3.6% to P35.54 billion from a year earlier.

Globe has cut its capital expenditure guidance for the year to P50.3 billion from P63 billion given delays in its network rollout during the lockdown.

More companies eye building of common towers: DICT

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ORE tower companies are showing interest in building common towers in the country according to the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on Thursday.

In a statement, the DICT said it has received letters of intent from 13 tower companies asking to register as independent

tower companies (ITC) as part of the DICT’s push to build shared or common towers for the rollout of better internet service in the country.

“This was a welcome improvement to the Department’s existing agreements with the 24 tower companies, which are mostly foreign-owned,” the DICT said.

To help ease their registration and to assist with permitting

requirements, it has also launched an online portal to facilitate the digital application and registration of interested ITCs. The online portal can be accessed at https:// commontower.gov.ph/.

More gov’t agencies join efforts to improve internet services To further ease the construction of more towers, the Department of Human Settlements

and Urban Development (DHSUD) has recently updated its guidelines for the documentary requirements of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructures such as common towers.

The guidelines, issued through DHSUD Department Order No. 2020-009, would allow telecommunications TOWERS/PAGE 11

Vivant Energy to offer customized power solutions to businesses

By MYRNA M. VELASCO, Contributor

VIVANT Energy Corporation of the Garcia group is stepping up its plunge into the retail power market with the launch of its COREnergy, which will be its retail electricity supplier (RES) unit that will cater to the need for customized power solutions of businesses.

With that newly minted power retailing venture,

the company said it targets to “provide alternative power supply options for businesses and total energy solutions,” that in turn, could help end-users bring down their overall spending for power supply and services.

As emphasized by Vivant Energy Executive Vice President and COO Emil Andre M. Garcia,

the company “adapted COREnergy’s approach to enable business owners to optimize their opportunities, and convert challenges into benefits.”

COREnergy’s current portfolio of clients include semi-conductors, aggregates, poultry industry and schools; and the services rendered to them are of varying capacities.

With the leap of the

power retail market as ushered in by the Retail Competition and Open Access (RCOA) policy in the restructured electricity sector, contestable customers or the big ticket end-users can already choose their suppliers and they can also directly contract their preferred electricity services with them.

The threshold for SOLUTIONS/PAGE 10

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Opinion

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By its cover Think a minute… In the year 1830, Joe moved into a small community in 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 truth of how the town was

THINK A MINUTE

JHAN TIAFAU HURST 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!

It is so true: “You cannot COVER/PAGE 11

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MONDAY|SEPTEMBER 7, 2020

Harnessing people's collective power Cooperativism: Powerful tool for change The wind of change is now hovering from the mountains to the cities to rectify social wrongs, gross inequities, decline in social justice, climate change and violent extremism. Change is imperative and is now glaringly the call of the times.

In a cou nt r y w hich undeniably is economically u n d e r t h e r u l e of t h e oligarchs underscored by no less than the President himself in his recent State of the Nation Address, the conscientization process is now in the offing with the outpourings of queries. Isn’t it that the Philippines is the richest country on earth with regards to biodiversity, minerals and marine life as described by no less than the United Nations’ Food and Agricultural Organization (UN-FAO), but who controls, who decides, who benefits?

Poverty looms amidst the bounty of nature that has been the subject of so much profiteering in the last one hundred years. Where have all the 17 million of dipterocarp forest gone that was home to billions of endemic species?

Gone to loggers everyone w hos e massive rakings catapulted them to win elective positions. Don’t you know that in one shipment of logs alone, a logger easily pocketed some four hundred million pesos? Our finest of trees were cut in violation of environmental laws, i.e., no cutting in altitude above 1,000 meters or in slope with at 50% gradient. At the time that we were barricading logging trucks that were passing the thorough-fares of Cagayan de Oro City from 1am to 5am accompanied by well-armed goons, we were told that no one can stop them because

90% of those working to protect the environment were under the loggers’ payroll including those who should implement the laws!

With regards to the ecological wealth beneath the ground (minerals), we were able to arrest illegal miners at the time that we were implementing the Writ of Kalikasan in the Uplands of Cagayan de Oro. Arrested were three illegal Chinese miners holders of tourist visa.

In their mining camp site, we found Ak-47, Armalites and grenades. Yes, we in Sulog were able to stop illegal mining and logging but at the expense of my good friend and fearless ally Datu Sandigan (Fausto Orasan), the Chieftain of the Higaonon Tribe in Cagayan de Oro who was murdered while advocating to stop all of these illegal activities. Until now

KIM'S DREAM

ORLAN R. RAVANERA the murderers are still scot free.

What greater love there is than one Datu Sandigan who bravely offered his life to Magbabaya so that the defenseless flora and fauna can continue manifesting the love of the Creator. This time, the conscientization process has begun. No one courageous environmental advocate can stop social wrongs committed against the TOOL/PAGE 11

Exciting webinars during self-quarantine Five mont hs into s elfquarantine, I now have more time to watch webinars which, pre-Covid, I would normally miss. Two very interesting ones were recently held to commemorate the 75th anniversar y of the end of World War II in the Philippines.

Just to refresh: While Jap a n s u r r e n d e r e d o n September 2, 1945 (a day commemorated as VJ Day), it was not until the following day that General Tomoyuki Yamashita emerged from his hideout in Kiangan, Isabela to give himself up. Just before Yamashita surrendered, the Filipino soldiers, who made up the USAFIP-NL, were breathing down Yamashita’s neck after their last big victory at Bessang Pass. Yamashita was immediately whisked to Baguio City where on

September 3, 1945 he signed an Instrument of Surrender at the High Commissioner’s residence in Camp John Hay. Before the year was over, Yamashita was sentenced by a military court to die by hanging. The sentence was carried out a few months thereafter.

The more recent of the two very compelling webinars was held last Wednesday (September 2) – the exact date when Japan surrendered 75 years ago. It featured a virtual tour, conducted by John Silva, of the exhibition at the Ortigas Foundation Library entitled “Occupation and Victory, The Philippines in World War II.” Watching very graphic pictures of the horrific destruction of important Manila landmarks, Silva’s audience could not help but

ask if the destruction of the Pearl of Orient could have been avoided or at least minimized. Who did more damage to the city – the American artillery or the Japanese’ deliberate torching and blowing up of whole sections of the city?

Could not Yamashita have declared Manila an Open City as MacArthur did in 1942?

As a result of MacArthur’s declaration, the Japanese just rolled into Manila unopposed, with the whole city very much intact. Three years later, after landing in Lingayen Gulf , MacArthur expected to take over an Open City. MacArthur mistakenly ordered his aides to prepare for a victory parade in the main streets of Manila.

MacArthur could not have been more wrong. What followed was a Japanese spree

SPEAKING OUT

IGNACIO BUNYE of rape, looting and killing, torching of whole sections of the city, and fierce fighting “street by street, building by building and floor by floor.”

Also among the visuals presented by Silva were seldom seen paintings of national artist Fernando Amorsolo. In one, Amorsolo depicted the surroundings of a church somewhere inside WEBINARS/PAGE 11

Thai immigration updates their visa requirements At present, groups permitted to enter Thailand are mainly foreign diplomats, aliens with Thai spouses and/or dependents, work permit holders, foreigners with secured job offers and regular students.

Who can come to Thailand at present?

The permitted groups are mainly foreign diplomats, aliens with Thai spouses and/or dependents, work permit holders, foreigners with secured job offers and regular students. In addition to proving with documents their claimed status to the satisfaction of the local Thai embassy, all applicants must present a fit-to-fly certificate, a coronavir us-f ree test shortly before departure, have comprehensive medical insurance worth at least US$100,000 and confirmed booking for 14 days quarantine at a Thai ASQ hotel (Alternative

State Quarantine). The Thai embassy has the final say and will issue an essential Certificate of Entry to those permitted to fly.

What visas are Thai embassies issuing?

Only a three months’ non immigrant visa which under some circumstances can be extended in Thailand. Visas valid for 12 months and 60 day tourist visas are not being issued and visas-on-arrival and 30 day visa exemptions are also precluded at the present time. This policy is in line with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ insistence that visas at present must be for a limited time and for specific purposes.

What flights are on offer?

Because scheduled flights into the country are still banned, non-Thai nationals must obtain a ticket to board a repatriation flight for Thai citizens which can lead to delays. For example, in

September, there are three such flights being organized

by Thai Airways from London with 50 seats only on each plane reserved for British and Irish nationals. Other airlines may not operate a quota system, but tickets can be expensive. Quotes of 1,000 UK pounds for a one-way economy ticket or 2,500 UK business class are reported on social media.

What about medical tourists?

This is indeed an approved category but is surrounded with ifs and buts. A medical tourist must have a letter from the home country stating that suitable treatment is not available there and another letter from a Thai hospital describing the lifethreatening condition and the prescribed treatment. It also appears that the medical tourist must not travel alone but must be supported by up to three care assistants.

NUTS & BOLTS

JEROME DE LA FUENTE Several private hospitals in Thailand specializing in medical tourism have stated that, to date, very few applications to embassies have been successful.

Many influential government medical advisors are known to be firmly opposed to tourist e x p e r i m e nt s l e s t t h e y unintentionally create a second wave of that pesky virus.

What ab out E lite v isa VISA/PAGE 11

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MONDAY|SEPTEMBER 7, 2020

Republic of the Philippines SUPREME COURT REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 10th Judicial Region Branch 44 Initao, Misamis Oriental RAUL A. RATUNIL CIVIL CASE NO. 2019-1557 AND EVA R. ROA

Plaintiffs, FOR: ANNULMENT OF DEED

-versus- OF VOLUNTARY LAND TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO.C-11782 AMIE PABILLORE, MARIA AND DAMAGES LUCIA SERNEO, JOSE RAUL S. RATUNIL AND JEROME S. RATUNIL,

Defendants,

“E-4”; 10. That defendant AMIE PABILLORE have caused to publish in Social Media offering for sale the above lot 292-A, Psd-10-041520 covered by an invalid TCT No. T-l 1782 and prospective buyers/brokers/ agents are coming and inspecting the above-subject property and have disturbed the management and care of the following mango trees and caused mental and emotional anxiety to plaintiffs;

11. That plaintiffs has to take legal measures to protect their rights on the land and improvements and hire the services of counsel and have spent and will spent not less than P 200,000.00 and will spent about P 50,000.00 for the filing of instant case in court.

WHEREFORE, plaintiffs pray to the Honorable Court to grant after trial: 1. Ordering that the Deed of Voluntary Land Transfer of Lot 292-A be declared null and void ab initio, 2. And ordering the Cancellation and, declaring Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-l3013 void and declaring Transfer Certificate of Title No. C-11782 void;

x-------------------------------------------------/ SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION To:

3. Order subsequent deed involving the above-lot 292-A, Psd 10- 041520 declared void;

MARIA LUCIA SERNEO JOSE RAUL S. RATUNIL JEROME S. RATUNIL 4449 Boyar Avenue, Long Beach, California, 90807, United States of America

4. Ordering defendants Arnie delos Reyes Pabillore and MARIA LUCIA SERNEO to pay by reimbursement the amount of Attorney’s Fee P200,000.00, Filing Fee and legal cost P 50,000.00 and moral, exemplary damages in the amount may be proved in court;

GREETINGS! This Court issued an Order dated July 3, 2020 allowing Summons be served upon MARTA LUCIA SERNEO, JOSE RAUL S. RATUNIL AND JEROME S. RATUNIL, in a newspaper of general circulation, pursuant to Section 14, Rule 14 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure. It is pursuant thereto that this Summons

by Publication is issued.

WHEREAS, quoted hereunder is the Complaint, to wit: Plaintiffs through counsel and to the Honorable Court, most respectfully alleges: 1. That plaintiffs RAUL A. RATUNIL (Divorced) and EVA R. RATUNIL, Filipino citizens, married, and residents of Poblacion, Naawan, Misamis Oriental, where they can be served with summons and court processes., while Defendant AMIE DE LOS REYES PABILLORE is of legal age, Filipino, widow and resident at Poblacion, Naawan, Misamis Oriental, Philippines, and MARIA LUCIA SERNEO, JOSE RAUL S. RATUNIL and JEROME S. RATUNIL, all of legal ages, Filipino, Married and residents at 4449 Boyar Ave. Long Beach, California, 90807 U.S.A, where they may be served with summons and court processes; 2. That plaintiffs are legitimate children of late Spouses ALFREDO P. RATUNIL and VIVINA A. RATUNIL, residence of Poblacion, Naawan, Misamis Oriental during their lifetime but resided in Arizona, U.S.A., U.S. W.W. II, Veteran and immigrants; 3. That late ALFREDO P. RATUNIL owns a parcel of land as his capital property, located at Patag, Naawan, Misamis Oriental, covered by OCT No. P-13013 containing an area of 40,103 square meters more or less covered by Original Certificate of Title registered in the Registered of Deeds of Misamis Oriental, hereto marked Annex “A”; 4. That ALFREDO P. RATUNIL died on May 14, 2004 in Arizona U.S.A., his Death Certificate is hereto attach marked Annex “B”, and buried in Manticao Roman Catholic Cemetery, Manticao, Misamis Oriental and VIVINA A. RATUNIL died on August 16, 2017, at Naawan, Misamis Oriental due to old age proof of death is Death Certificate, hereto attach and marked Annex “C”; FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION 5. That Defendant AMIE DELOS REYES PABILLORE in connivance with defendant MARIA LUCIA SERNEO and against the law knowing that ALFREDO P. RATUNIL died on May 14, 2004 in Arizona, U.S.A, prepared a Deed of Voluntary Land Transfer and of Lot 292-A under Free Patent No. 692927, covered by OCT No. P-13013 Registered on October 08, 1980 in the Registered of Deeds of the Province of Misamis Oriental and by purported Deed of Voluntary Land Transfer dated September 11, 2007 and Notarized December 09, 2007; hereto attached as Annex “D”, “D-l”, “D-2” and “D-3”; 6. That ALFREDO P. RATUNIL died on May 14, 2004, per Certificate of Death Annex “A”, and under the law on succession, his property is succeeded by plaintiffs as legal and compulsory heirs; 7. That plaintiff RAUL A. RATUNIL developed, cultivated and planted Mango seedlings on said land (Lot 292-A, Psd 10-041520) and now all fruit bearings, and in the actual, public possession of subject land to the exclusion of defendants; 8. That under the facts and law the Deed of Voluntary Land Transfer executed on September 11, 2007, and notarized on December 09 2007, is null and void and without any legal effects and signatures of Alfredo Ratunil and Vivina A. Ratunil were falsified; 9. That the cancellation of Original Certificate of Title No. P-13013 and Issuance of Transfer Certificate No. T-l 1782 to the names of defendants; JOSE RAUL S. RATUNIL II and JEROME S. RATUNIL is null and void; hereto attached as Annex “E”, “E-l”, “E-2”, “E-3” and

And further pray for such relief, just, equitable.

Manticao, Misamis Oriental, February 8, 2019.

(SGD) CESAR J. REBUTA Counsel for the Plaintiffs Manticao, Misamis Oriental PTRNo. 9522248 Jan. 28, 2019 IBP No. Paid Jan 28, 2019 (Temporary Receipt) Roll No. 23895 MCLE No.002800 attended Nov. 21-26, 2018

VERIFICATION & CERTIFICATION OF NON-FORUM SHOPPING. I, RAUL A. RATUNIL, legal age, Filipino, (Divorced), resident of Naawan, Misamis Oriental, Philippines, hereby declare: 1. I am a complainant in the above-entitled case; 2. That I caused the preparation and filing of instant complaint; 3. That I have not filed any case against or similar complaint against the defendants involving similar or the same issue pending in any court, tribunal or agency in the Philippines; 4. That if I learned latter of any case pending against the same parties, then I undertake to inform the honourable court; 5. That I have read the allegations in the above-entitled complaint, and understand the same and are true to the best of my knowledge.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereto set my hands this 8th day of February 2019, in Manticao, Misamis Oriental, Philippines.

(Sgd) RAUL A. RATUNIL Affiant

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 9th day of February 2019 at, Affiant exhibited his ______________. .

(SGD) ETHYL FE T. GUMBAO

Notary Public

Until December 31, 2020

Manticao, Mis. Or.

Roll No. 56094

IBP OR No. 0684442, 1-10-2019

PTR No. 9520333, 1-4-2019

MCLE Compliance No. VI-0003842 Doc. No. 159 Page No. 32 Book No. 36 Series of 2019 NOW THEREFORE, through this Summons by Publication, Defendants Maria Lucia Semeo, Jose Raul S. Ratunil and Jerome S. Ratunil of 4449 Boyar Ave. Long Beach, California, USA, are hereby required to answer the Complaint within sixty (60) days from the last issue of publication.

WITNESS the HON. ARTHUR L. ABUNDIENTE, Acting Presiding Judge of this Court, this 14th day of August 2020 at Initao, Misamis Oriental, Philippines.

BWM: Sept. 7, 14 & 21, 2020

MAGNOLIA LAARNI O. LAURIE Acting Clerk of Court

BusinessWeek MINDANAO CREDIBLE

RELIABLE

Editor: GILBERT Y. CHAO

MOTORING IN-DEPTH

Monday|September 7, 2020

6

Tough as you are – Suzuki Carry

W

HEN work gets hard, you need a partner that's just as tough as you are.

Backed by more than 40 years of Suzuki compact truck experience in the harshest environments, the All-New Carry is ready to go to work for you.

The 1.5-liter engine has been optimized for use on a work vehicle.

Lightweight and fuel-efficient, it delivers ample output power and torque over the entire range, ideal for hauling heavy loads, while saving on fuel costs.

Being able to load and haul large pieces of furniture requires lots of cargo space and extra-large loading capacity.

More importantly, you need to have convenient access to the bed from all three sides and be able to load and

unload without straining your back in the process.

These are only a few of the reasons why you need the AllNew Carry.

With a length of 2,565 mm and a width of 1,660 mm, Carry’s large-size bed makes it easy to haul long objects as well as wide ones.

And with a height of 1,160 mm to the top of the cab, even tall cargo fits on the

bed.

The bed sits at a low 750 mm height to make loading and unloading easy work. Even with the gate closed, a convenient height of just 1,110 mm makes it easy to access your equipment.

For a work vehicle, large loading capacity is essential. That’s why the All-New Carry can move up

to 940 kg, including passengers. And thanks to the fullcab layout, even when fully loaded, Carry provides good weight distribution between the front and rear tires.

The McPherson strut front suspension provides good performance while retaining toughness. The suspension frame employs a pillar structure with an

L-arm to provide a high level of lateral rigidity.

The leaf-spring, rigid axle rear suspension is rugged enough to handle the extralarge hauling capacity and reduces vertical displacement when fully loaded.

The 5-leaf-spring mechanism is placed over the axle housing to provide additional road

clearance.

The gates open from all these sides making loading and unloading easy even at confined work sites. Also, the large-size handles make it easy to lock the gates.

While you should avoid driving on flooded roads, the engine air intake is placed in a high position under the cargo bed to allow slow travel through water levels as high as 30 cm, when it is unavoidable.

Galvanized steel plates are used for the entire bed to help prevent rust and corrosion.

Additionally, sealer and undercoating are used in many parts of the underbody, and the stainless-steel exhaust system is rust-resistant.

The all-new Carry is is available in two variants: Carry Cab and Chassis – P499,000 Carry Truck – P509,000

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29th Mindanao Business Conference

PCCI Mindanao champions Infrastructure Initiatives for business survival & continuity

T

HE affiliate chambers of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce

and Industry in Mindanao is championing a package of infrastructure

intervention measures aimed at ensuring business survival and continuity during the

29th Mindanao Business Conference on September 10-11, 2020.

The first ever virtual hosting of Mindanao’s biggest business conference of the PCCI will be hosted by the Davao Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) through online live streaming via ZOOM with a record audience expected to participate in the virtual event despite restrictions on travel and gatherings brought by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

“With theme,

By HIMAYA Q. CU, Ph.D. ESP II Tablon Elementary School

There are many obvious advantages in using distance education such as: If a student works full-time or has limited access to an institution he or she can easily access t he cl ass anyt ime and virtually from anywhere, no commute, fighting for parking spots, & less time away from home, more efficient use of one’s time, virtually anyone can use it- reaching a much larger audience than traditional

methods, classrooms will be less crowded, Lessen the chance of a schedule conflict between classes and supporting more environmentally friendly technology by decreasing t h e u s e of p ap e r a n d photocopying- everything.

Online learning can enhance a student's academic performance.

You do not have to struggle with your academic writing tasks as the internet can help you access custom

essay writing help.

M a ny s t u d e nt s a r e unable to manage some of their academic writing tasks because they do not c ompre h e n d w h at t h e assignments require of them or have no enough time to work on them.

And through the internet, they can buy pre-written essays and learn how they can improve their writing skills. Thus, online learning can help you boost your grades.

Strengthening our Commitment to Heal as One CARMEN A. SAGRADO Teacher 1 Locsoon Elementary School Division of Misamis Occidental

“ We h e a l a s O n e .” A f requent ly us ed adage pr i nt e r i n bi l l b o ard s , posters, t-shirts, facial mask, and in even in the social media. At a glance, we are seeing a flickering hope that one day, things will get better and everything will be back to normal. As the time goes by, the numbers keep on skyrocketing high and efforts to eradicate COVID-19 are only found in the pages of Memoranda and issuances. It seems that we are paddling hard upstream and struggle our way to catch up towards our goal. We are not moving at all. The current is stronger than our desire to reach our destination.

As Filipinos, we hate to be alone. We really love to stay close together as friends, as families, and even down to the smallest strand of our society. We have a desire to

interact and socialize with our friends and colleagues.

We also have the passion to share everything that we have. From a ripe fruit picked from the backyard, a vegie, or even a simple slice of what we have in our packed lunch. They are all meant to be shared and be eaten together as one pack. Eating alone in one corner and not joining the group might be regarded as unacceptable in our culture or people might misinterpret you as a selfish or not friendly. It is very unlikely how COVID-19 pushed us one meter away from our friends and workmates.

Understandably, DePED schools and offices are not yet upgraded and converted to the new normal set up—huge spacious with less people. The concept seems to be idealistically feasible yet very difficult

to implement considering the mammoth task that our employees are facing each day. Despite the work-fromhome strategy deployed by DepED or the flexible work setup, close contact in the workplace is very evident.

Considering our situation, Indeed, the Department of Education is such a giant organization that needs to be nimble in implementing its policies down to the school level. Of course, we can’t just point our fingers to our officials and bosses for our teachers who became COVID-19 positive. We can’t simply mock COVID-19 and don’t’ practice social distancing and wear our face mask and face shield at all times. We may not change everything for now but as we start to paddle each day towards our destination, l e t us st re ng t he n ou r commitment to heal as one.

players, government executives, and other private sector leaders to discuss economic concerns and opportunities in Mindanao resulting to policy actions for the development of the region.

Through PCCI Mindanao Resolution no.

2020-004 (A Resolution Endorsing To The IATF-EID Proposed Intervention Measures For Business Survival And Continuity of Mindanao MSMEs and Other Industries) the 42 local Chambers of Mindanao BUSINESS/PAGE 10

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF LANAO DEL NORTE 12TH Judicial Region BRANCH 07 Tubod, Lanao del Norte

In May 2018, the DOE certified the MVIP as an Energy Project of National Significance to streamline and expedite the needed documents for the construction & completion of the project.

Distance learning: To what extent does it promote good pupils' performance

Mindanao: Journeying to the New Normal, we recognize the urgent need to boost confidence to overcome emerging challenges and opportunities,” said Ma. Teresa A. Alegrio, PCCI Area Vice President for Mindanao. “This stems from a deep understanding of what the new normal presents so that responses to meet them are carefully crafted.”

MinBizCon is an annual event organized by the PCCI that aims to create a venue for businessmen, key industry

IN RE: In the matter of petition for the

SPL. PROC. NO. 350-07-2020 (i) Correction of Entries in the registered Certificate of Live Birth specifically the Date of birth of JORDAN M. TABAMO and the inclusion of the date of receipt of birth by the Local Civil Registrar in the PSA Records as well as that of the For: Local Civil Registrar.

Correction of Entries JORDAN M. TABAMO.,

Petitioner.

-versus-

The LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF KOLAMBUGAN,LANAO DEL NORTE. AND THE ADMINISTRATOR AND CIVIL REGISTRAR GENERAL, PHILIPPINES STATISTICS AUTHORITY (PSA), East Avenue, Quezon City, Metro Manila,

Respondent.

X --------------------------------------------------------/ ORDER Filed before this Court is a Petition for Correction of Entries in the Birth Certificate of JORDAN M. TABAMO in the Office of the Local Civil Registrar of Kolambugan, LanaodelNorte and in the Administrator and Civil Registrar General, Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)by the herein Petitioner praying among others that upon due notice, publication and hearing, judgment be issued granting the petition.

Petitioner alleges that he is a Filipino citizen, married and resident of Purok 3, Poblacion, Kolambugan, LanaodelNorte. The Respondents are sued in their official capacitiesas such. Petitioner was born on October 11, 1991 at Kolambugan District Hospital, Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte to spouses Noel A. Tabamo and Veronica G. Mutia. His birth was duly reported, received and recorded in the Office of the Local Civil Registrar (LCR) of Kolambugan, LanaodelNorte under Registry No. 01-00551 on 28 October 1991.In Petitioner’sPSA authenticated birth certificate, it appeared that his year of birth is not indicated therein. Instead of reflecting his true and correct date of birth which is “11 October 1991”, what was indicated therein is only 11 October.

Also in the said PSA authenticated birth certificate, the date of receipt at the office of the LCR which is “28 October 1991” was not reflected. Since he was a child, in all the official forms where the date of birth is being asked for, petitioner and his parents would always provide the above-stated complete date and year which is 11 October 1991 as his date of birth and not 11 October. On 13 September 2019, petitioner filed an Affidavit of Supplemental Report with the PSA through the Municipal Civil Registrar of Kolambugan, LanaodelNorte. In the said Affidavit, petitioner stated that he was born on 11 October 1991 at Kolambugan, LanaodelNorte and such fact of birth was registered on 28 October 1991 at the LCR of Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte. Further, petitioner requested the LCR of Kiolambugan, Lanao del Norte and the PSA to affix in his birth certificate his correct date of birth especially the year “1991” and the date of receipt of the LCR which is “28 October 1991”. However, on 14 October 2019, the PSA issued a Feedback Form indicating therein that the supplemental report on the entry in the year of birth of petitioner is not applicable. He was then advised to file a Petition for Correction of Entry in the proper court as per PSA Memorandum Circular No. 2013-1 dated 16 January 2013. Hence the instant petition praying that the PSA and the LCR of Kolambugan, lanao del Norte would affix in his birth certificate his correct date of birth especially the year “1991” and the date of receipt of the LCR which is “28 October 1991”. That the petition is made in absolute good faith and without any intention of defrauding any person or entity but solely for the purpose of correcting petitioner’s birth record to conform to the truth.

Set the initial hearing of this petition to September 29, 2020 at 8:30 in the morning before the sala of this Court. Any person interested to the said petition may come to Court on said date and time to show cause why said petition should not be granted.

Furnish copy of this Order to the Office of the Solicitor General in Makati City, the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Tubod,Lanao del Norte, the Office of the Local Civil Registrar of Kolambugan of Lanao del Norte, the Philippine Statistics Authority at East Avenue, Quezon City,Atty. LarizaAidie R. Ugsod of the Public Attorney’s Office, Tubod, LanaodelNorte, the Petitioner’s counsel and to the Petitioner himself, Jordan M.Tabamo of Purok 3, Poblacion, Kolambugan, LanaodelNorte.

Let copy of the Order containing the petition be published in a newspaper of general circulation for three (3) consecutive weeks at the expense of the petitioner. Another copy be posted at the Bulletin Board of this Court.

SO ORDERED. August 03, 2020.

Tubod, LanaodelNorte.

BWM: Aug. 24, 31 & Sept. 7, 2020

RICHIE GAY T. MENDOZA Presiding Judge

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Solutions...

Business...

retail competition in the power industry is in the level of 750 kilowatts and up – and these are generally commercial establishments; buildings and industries.

In t he exp er ience of most consumers ser ved

by RES or ret ai l p ower suppliers, the overall cost of electricity they are paying for had been less; and the services rendered to them also keep on improving because of the very intense comp et it ion happ ening i n t h i s s e g m e nt of t h e electricity industry.

“We recognize that the power industry is evolving.

For business owners, this brings both an opportunity and a challenge,” Garcia said.

A r l o G . S a r m i e n t o, pre s i d e nt of Vi v a nt Corporation, highlighted that if corporates will opt for COREnerg y as their partner in exploring energy solutions for their enterprises, “business owners can be sure about getting the kind of excellent service that Vivant has been known and respected for decades.”

He said that prospective partners could lean o n Vi v a n t ’s l e n g t h o f experience in the power sector, while adding that “we have proven ourselves to be forward-looking and adaptable in providing the kind of ser vice that our partners need.”

Vivant said its COREnerg y unit kicked off commercial operations last year; and the formal launch just happened recently b ecause it just started tapping the retail market this year.

Given fervid competitive play of most players in the retail market, the Garciale d f ir m indic ate d t hat C OR E n e rg y w i l l “of fe r customized and end-toend solution for business owners – from engineering to testing and due diligence.

“This enables businesses t o f o c u s on t h e i r c ore competencies, rather t han wor r y ab out t heir power needs,” the company stressed.

w i l l b e re qu e st i ng t he Nat iona l G over nment’s i m m e d i at e an d u rg e nt intervention to prioritize a package of prop os ed recommendations aimed at ensuring the business survival and continuity of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), in the manufacturing and industry, and agricultural sector.

MSME’s constitute over 90 percent of the number of business establishments nationwide and in Mindanao.

The resolution covers He a lt h C a re C ap a c it y, Infrastructure, Economic Stimulus, Structural Reforms, Capacity Building, and Domestic Tourism.

Infrastructure Initiatives Among the infrastructure intervention measure being championed by PCCI Mindanao are the following: · For D OE , DPWH & D OTr to restart the implementation of the following strategic i n f r ast r u c tu re proj e c t s which are included in the Build-Build-Build program and the approved RD C Infrastructure projects of the national government: Shelter Projects under the Ma r aw i R e h a bi l it at i on project; Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project; Rehabilitation of the Agus and Pulangi Hydropower C o mp l e x e s ; M i n d a n a o Railway; Expansion of the L ag u i n d i ng an A i r p or t ; Panguil Bay Bridge, and Improve me nt of Ni g ht Landing and Runway facilities of Secondary Airports all over Mindanao. · For the Department of Finance (DOF) to prioritize funding allo cation and procurement of services for all pending DPWH-DTI ROLL-IT projects to expedite and efficiently transport raw materials from agricultural areas to main processing or manufacturing centers; · For the Department of Information and Communications Te ch nol o g y ( DIC T ) to provide access for local/ Private Telecommunications C omp an i e s , C abl e T V, Internet and Value Added Service Providers to their

from page 3

from page 9

Smooth flow of goods helped manage PH inflation amid pandemic

By KRIS CRISMUNDO, PNA

MANILA – The government's move to ensure that movement of goods throughout the country remain smooth amid quarantine measures due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic helped in managing domestic inf lation, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez said Friday.

In a text message, Lopez has welcomed the 2.4-percent inf lation rate in August that remains within the 2 to 4 percent target of the government. “[It’s a] good indication that we are able to manage the production and supply situation despite the lockdowns and existing tower facilities and infrastructure including unused internet bandwidth, to fast track deployment of broadband internet services to underser ved areas in compliance with its mandate of bringing information and communications technology to all Filipinos; · For DICT to enjoin the National Electrification Agency (NEA) to suspend its recent rate increase in Pole Rental Fees for rural electric cooperatives to reduce the costs for Telcos, Cable TV and Internet Service Providers to consequently stop these being passed on to consumers, and ultimately

Duties of an administrative assistant

By JENNIFER N. CHAN ADAS III Procurement Unit - BAC DepEd Division Office

ADMIN assistants perform clerical duties in nearly e v e r y i n du s t r y. S om e administrative assistants, like those in the legal industr y, may be more specialized than others. Most administrative assistant dut ies re volve around managing and distributing information within an office.

This generally includes answering phones, taking memos and maintaining f iles. Administrative assistants may also be in charge of sending and receiving correspondence, as well as greeting clients

and customers.

Bookkeeping Admin assistants in some offices may be charged with monitoring and recording expenditures. Duties may range from creating spreadsheets to reporting e x p e ns e s to an of f i c e manager. As such, some administrative assistants may be required to be knowledgeable in office bookkeeping software, such as Microsoft Excel.

Planning and scheduling Planning events like board meetings and luncheons may also be the responsibility of

admin assistants. This may require researching vendor prices or inquiring about participants' availability.

Other duties may include scheduling appointments and preparing presentation materials.

Documentation Admin assistants may also help office members with documentation. Aside from storing, organizing and managing files, assistants may need to type, edit and proofread documents.

Some assistants may need to take dictation or record the minutes of meetings.

pandemic,” he said.

He added that the unimpeded movement of cargoes both for agricultural and essential products as well as other products in the value chain is vital to keep a manageable inf lation figure.

“Unimpeded movement of cargo is a nationwide policy emphasized

by President Duterte himself,” Lopez said.

“There should be no unnecessary delay at checkpoints and no need for testing of drivers and helpers of trucking services across LGU borders,” he added.

Inf lation rate in August is lower than the 2.7 percent in July while year-todate inf lation is at 2.5 percent. (PNA) enable more people especially in remote areas, gain access to affordable communications that provide urgent, essential and timely information during this time of the pandemic; · For DILG to order the LGUs and other government agencies, to reduce the number of permits now being required in the building and erection of Telco cell site tower and radio facilities and in the roll out and installation of fiber optic and coaxial cables underground and aboveground, in order to fast track the deployment of much needed Broadband Internet infrastructure nationwide which is crucial to the success of DepEd’s online education program.

The foregoing proposals were extensively discussed across all the 42 Local Chambers of Commerce in Mindanao during several Regional Consultations with PCCI President Ambassador Benedicto Yujuico, PCCI M i n d a n a o A r e a Vi c e President Maria Teresa R. Alegrio, and PCCI Regional Governors Arturo Milan (South Eastern Mindanao), Roderico R. Bioco (Northern Mindanao), Paul Gudmalin (Western Mindanao), Pete Marquez (Central Mindanao), Aldrin Ibbo (BARMM), Julie Senense (Eastern (CARAGA) Mindanao) and Loreta Sy (South Western Mindanao) w it h Prom ot e Nor Mi n Foundation President Elpidio M. Paras. (PCCI Mindanao)

11

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Cover... from page 4

judge a book by its cover.”

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

T he y just fol l ow w hat 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 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…

Webinars... from page 4

Intramuros, after the Japanese torched the area. Another showed a mother clutching her baby as she walked among corpses that littered the street.

Curiously, the mother’s face did not reflect the horror taking place. If I heard John Silva correctly, Amorsolo probably tried to project hope in the midst of war. A third Amorsolo painting portrayed the trial of Yamashita by a military court.

Another item which caught my interest was a “Philippine Sea Frontier 1945 Christmas Souvenir Map of Manila” showing at least 40 “points of interest”, sites of historical landmarks which have been flattened during the Battle of Manila.

T h e o t h e r w e b i n a r, sp ons ored by Filipinas Heritage Library last August 15, was entitled “Liberation Talks: The Aftermath of World War II”. It featured James Scott, who authored “Rampage” – acclaimed as the most definitive book on the Battle of Manila; 2019 Metrobank Outstanding Filipino awardee, Dr. Ricardo Jose , who is considered the Philippine’s foremost World War II historian; and Cecilia Gaerlan, who has made it her life’s work to project the Filipino perspective in our history books of World War II. The distinguished speakers took turns in describing the aftermath of the war in the Philippines – rehabilitation and relief, the conditions of veterans and guerrillas and the quest for justice.

Scott described the “before” – Manila as a well-planned and beautiful city, indeed the Pearl of the Orient, and the “after” – Manila as the second most devastated city in the world, next only to Warsaw, Poland. Dr. Jose described the resiliency of the Filipino and

their ability to rise from the ashes. Ms. Gaerlan lamented that up to now the Filipino soldiers have not been fully credited for their contribution in the war effort.

Now, I am eagerly awaiting the online lectures of multiawarded journalist and historian, Prof. Ambeth Ocampo. As the first event to kick off Ayala Museum Virtual, Ocampo is taking to your living rooms two topics which have defined 2020: 1) Pandemic (to be shown September 18) and 2) Fake News (scheduled October 2). Both will start at 5 p.m. A modest fee will be charged to help fund Ayala Foundation’s Student Online Access Program.

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

Visa... from page 4

holders?

The Elite visa offers a 5-20 year multiple-entry visa in exchange for a non-returnable cash deposit between 500,000 and two million baht. Last month, the Privilege Card Company sent an email to all card holders and applicants who had paid the cash upfront stating that Elite was now an approved category for applying to the local Thai embassy for permission to enter Thailand. However, many Thai embassies are stating that final permission is still awaited from Bangkok.

No foreigner is known to have yet entered Thailand recently solely by virtue of Elite membership.

Are any other groups able to come to Thailand?

Permanent residents – those select foreigners who can stay in Thailand as long as they like without leaving or applying for an extension – are another eligible group.

But they still need that allimportant Certificate of Entry from the Thai embassy with all the supporting paperwork and insurance. Short-term arrivals such as air crews, film crews and cargo carriers are permitted to enter under a dispensation clause and do not necessarily quarantine for two weeks. But they must leave promptly. Last June there was publicity about a special dispensation for wealthy tourists arriving in Thailand by private jet, but nothing more was heard of this proposal.

What’s the position with foreign retirees and property owners?

At present, holders of an annual retiree visa or extension of stay are not able to return by virtue of that status. Nor are the owners of condominium units or long-term lease holders. In late August, one government minister stated that the future of both groups was being examined, but there is no policy statement at the time of writing. The attraction of these groups seems to be that they are believed to be “wealthy”, though one can certainly argue about that supposition.

And tourists, vacationers,

travel-bubblers and snowbirds?

No general tourists are able to enter Thailand at the present time and there are not any relevant charter flights. There are reports that the government is pondering allowing selected foreign groups to visit Phuket under a Safe and Sealed policy, possibly in November, but there is nothing definite.

Many influential government medical advisors are known to be firmly opposed to tourist experiments lest they unintentionally create a second wave of that pesky virus.

Tool...

from page 4 Filipino People. We must now harness our collective power to be a powerful instrument of change not only on protecting God’s vanishing creation but to be instruments of social justice, equity and economic development.

In a h i g h ly s ke we d societal order where only a few elites, cartels and oligarchs are in control, even controlling mainstream media, let notice be served that social transformation has begun under the present dispensation. Stop the control of water and electricity for massive rakings as these are means to life. Stop the continuing violations of the rights of the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) as provided for in the IPRA Law with regards to the IPs’ land and water rights. A Lady Datu by the name of Bae Lea has recently been murdered for leading in the struggle to stop the violation of their water right in San Fernando, Bukidnon. As I touched-base with the Indigenous Peoples in Mindanao, there were passionate outpourings of stories on how their rights were violated, ending such narration with a question, “Tinuturing kaming parang basura! Kami po ba ay tao?

Indeed, the time for change has come but not through armed struggle.

Harnessing the collective power of the people, especially the poor, the oppressed and the vulnerable is now the call of the times because the p eople united, can never be defeated! Such can only be done through peaceful and legal means called cooperativism, the powerful tool for change!

That is the essence of what the United Nations was calling when in 2015 it issued the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which carried the Theme: “Transformative Cooperatives for People, Planet, Prosperity and Peace!”

Sustains... from page 1

Peninsula and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

“It’s very small perhaps, minimal perhaps yet we can consider that as a tiny spark in the light of this otherwise dark economic reality that we have faced because of the pandemic,” Montenegro said.

He s ai d Mi nd ana o’s agriculture remained resilient

“these last several months of a precarious period of the pandemic,” which adversely impacted on the economy.

But he emphasized that d e ve l opi ng ag r i c u ltu re must go side-by-side with infrastructure development to bring its growth up a notch higher.

“And certainly because of this, we are emboldened to do more what is logical, what is strategic and most viable in Mindanao, and that is to strengthen and harness the strength of agriculture, our inherent strength and the only sector that delivered us resilience in this pandemic period,” he added.

He s ai d Mi nd ana o’s agriculture accounted for 40 percent of the country’s overall food output and 30 percent of the national food trade.

The official said food production was not halted during lockdowns implemented at the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak, providing income opportunities for farmers in the hinterlands.

But he encouraged the farmers to venture into valueadding, so that their final outputs could fetch higher prices in the market.

“This time around we have to look at a different mindset in terms of our way forward in Mindanao and definitely, we have to go back to where we’ve been – strong for several decades and that is agriculture and therefore moving forward we continue to leverage our strength in the agriculture,” he said.

MECQ...

from page 1 spokesperson of the Lanao del Sur Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) said National IATF Chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., had granted the request of Lanao del Sur to go under MECQ from September 7 to September 30.

Ad i ong s ai d G a lve z relayed this to Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong during a consultation held at the headquarters of the Army’s Second Mechanized Brigade in barangay Maria Cristina in Iligan City last Friday.

“The executive order is still being processed but Galvez already directed Gov. Adiong to draw up the quarantine protocols and start implementing them on Monday,” Adiong said.

Under the much stricter MECQ, Adiong said all public transportation are suspended and public gatherings will be strictly prohibited.

He said there would also be compulsory wearing of face shields and masks for authorized persons outside residence (APOR) and for residents who will leave their homes for essential travel such as purchase of food or medicines.

As of September 4, Lanao del Sur focal person Shiela Ganda said there were 144 local transmissions in the province and Marawi City.

“Last Friday alone, we had 17 new cases,” Ganda said.

She said the upsurge of COVID-19 cases has strained the province’s frontline medical staff.

Dr. Alinder Minalang, Lanao del Sur provincial health officer, painted that grim picture to Galvez last Friday.

Minalang recommended that the return of residents from other parts of the country or from overseas be regulated to be by batches after the MECQ, as this has been pointed to as the cause of the surge.

The other area in Mindanao that is under MECQ is neighboring Iligan City. The rest of Mindanao’s 27 provinces and 33 cities are under Modified General Community Quarantine.

(Froilan Gallardo / MindaNews)

Expands...

from page 1 executive officer Ricardo Isla said by widening the network and providing access to more cities in Mindanao, the carrier hopes to help in stimulating economic activity, allowing businesses to recover and thrive.

Before the launch of the routes, AirAsia Philippines h a s m ou nt e d mu lt ip l e chartered flights to both destinations, transporting passengers and cargo to and from the carrier's hubs, he added.

"As AirAsia strives to recover from the effects of the pandemic, we remain committed to serving the needs of the public by growing our domestic connectivity, and relying on the local markets as our major growth drivers for the near- to medium-term," Isla said.

Isla added that having flights in these routes is a timely response to the demand.

"Despite the ongoing pandemic, these destinations remain busy catering mostly to LSIs (locally stranded individuals) and business travelers," he said.

Three weekly f lights between Manila and General Santos will begin on October 25, while flights between Manila and Zamboanga will be offered twice a week beginning October 27. The carrier is yet to announce which days these flights will be mounted.

According to the Manila International Airport Au t h o r i t y, P h i l i p p i n e Airlines (PAL) and Cebu Pacific are currently servicing the Manila-General Santos route. Only PAL is offering flights between Manila and Zamboanga, it added.

"Eventually, we hope to boost tourism in this area when leisure travel is permitted," Isla said. (PNA)

Endorses... from page 2

ma rket. Focus on road travelers with pre-arranged hotel accommodations. Prearranged tours would also be encouraged; everything online. · For DOT and LGUs to coordinate and endorse with IATF-EID the relaxation

of travel restrictions for minors below 21 years old and senior citizens above 60 years old in areas where MGCQ is implemented, provided that accredited tourism destinations which are primarily for outdoor activities, strictly enforce all health and safety protocols subject to regular inspections and evaluation.

The foregoing proposals were extensively discussed across a l l t he 42 Loca l Chambers of Commerce in Mindanao during several Regional Consultations with PCCI President Ambassador Benedicto Yujuico, PCCI Mindanao Area Vice President Maria Teresa R. Alegrio, and PCCI Regional Governors Arturo Milan (South Eastern Mindanao), Roderico R. Bioco (Northern Mindanao), Paul Gudmalin (Western Mindanao), Pete Marquez (Central Mindanao), Aldrin Ibbo (BARMM), Julie Senense (Eastern (CARAGA) Mindanao) and Loreta Sy (South Western Mindanao) w it h P romot e NorM i n Foundation President Elpidio M. Paras. (PCCI Mindanao)

Towers... from page 3

companies (telco) and ITCs to streamline the acquisition of consent from homeowner’s associations, building owners, and concerned tenants to build ICT facilities.

Instead of acquiring consent, it said companies m ay s u bm it a w r itt e n certification executed under oath that states there is no other available or suitable site within the coverage area and that the location is the best fit for connectivity purposes.

“The company should likewise submit an undertaking that promises the conduct of social preparation among the affected homeowners,” the order read.

The Senate, likewise, has also expressed the possibility of suspending tower permit requirements for telcos for three years as part of the “Bayanihan to Recover as One Act,” also known as Bayanihan 2, according to the DICT. “These proposed provisions aim to suspend select tower permits, except the building permit,” the DICT said.

I n Ju l y, t h e D I C T, DHSUD, the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), and other government agencies signed a Joint Memorandum Circular to streamline the processing of permits, licenses, and other requirements for the speedy construction of common towers. (PNA)

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PMFTC opens IQOS stores in PH

M

ANILA – PMFTC Inc., an affiliate of Philip Morris International (PMI), opened Friday its first four IQOS stores in the Philippines making available a smoke-free alternative to cigarettes for Filipino adult smokers 21 years old and above who would otherwise wish to continue to smoke or use nicotine-containing

products.

The newly opened IQOS stores are located at the Eastwood Mall in Libis, Quezon City, SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City, SM Southmall in Las Piñas City, and Estancia Mall in Pasig City. The stores carry PMI’s line of smoke-free products, the devices, heat sticks, and a full range of accessories.

IQOS devices use a

patented heat-control technology that precisely heats tobacco-filled sticks wrapped in paper, without the burning, to release a water-based aerosol – not smoke.

“Opening the first IQOS stores in the Philippines is a significant step towards achieving our vision of a smoke-free future.

PMFTC’s vision is to help adult smokers who

MONDAY|SEPTEMBER 7, 2020

PMFTC Inc. opens the IQOS store in the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City. Only persons 21 years old and above are allowed access.

would otherwise continue to smoke to move away from cigarettes as quickly as possible and switch to a better alternative,” PMFTC’s president Denis Gorkun said in a press release.

PMI is making this happen with an investment of more than USD7 billion on research, development, and production capabilities to create smoke-free products.

In the United States, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) issued an order on July 7, 2020, authorizing IQOS and heat sticks, to be marketed in the United States with a reduced exposure claim, and adding that its issuance of such order is appropriate for the promotion of public health. In the United States, IQOS is the first heated tobacco product to receive that exposure modification order.

“The US FDA decision shows that IQOS is a fundamentally different tobacco product compared to cigarettes and a better choice for adults who would otherwise continue smoking,” said Gorkun.

“We see smoke-free products as an opportunity to reduce the smoking incidence in the Philippines for the benefit of the public health and society at large,” Gorkun said.

“We are implementing age verification and access restriction to ensure that only legal age consumers 21 years old and above will have access to the store, the e-commerce website, and the tobacco products.

Presentation of a valid government-issued ID is required before any product is handed over to the consumer,” Gorkun added.

There are an estimated 16 million smokers in the Philippines, and globally, despite strict tobacco control measures, the World Health Organization estimates that there will still be a billion smokers in 2025, the same level as today.

"The best thing a smoker can do is to quit cigarettes and nicotine products entirely. But the hard reality is there will be adults who would continue to smoke. For those who don’t choose to quit, we now have a product that

does not burn tobacco,” PMFTC communications director Dave Gomez said.

“Public health experts agree that burning or combustion is the main problem in people getting sick from smoking.

Nicotine although not riskfree and is addictive, is not the main cause of smokingrelated diseases. It’s the smoke,” Gomez added.

PMFTC research showed that 60 percent of current Filipino adult smokers are willing to try smoke-free alternatives as long as they are made commercially available and meet quality production standards.

IQOS HeatControl™ Technology heats tobacco instead of burning it to deliver the true taste of real tobacco. Unlike cigarettes, IQOS does not burn tobacco and therefore produces no smoke and no ash.

Gorkun said when using IQOS, the aerosol dissipates more quickly than cigarette smoke.

“As IQOS produces less lingering smell than cigarettes, it is less likely to bother people around you,” he added.

Last April 24, 2020, HEETS for use with the IQOS device, were made available to legal age users 21 years old and above through select tobacconists/ retail stores such as FUMA, Lighters Galore, Green Puff, and DJ Shop in Metro Manila.

Last August 7, 2020, the heat sticks were also made available in select 7/11 branches in Metro Manila.

On June 5, 2020, the IQOS.COM website was launched where the IQOS devices, as well as the heat sticks and device accessories, were offered.

Committed to ensure that access to the IQOS devices and heat sticks is only limited to adult consumers 21 years old and above who wish to continue using tobacco products or other nicotine-containing products, the IQOS stores strictly practice age verification and adhere to the Good Conversion Practices which is a global standard observed across PMI. *Important information: IQOS is not risk-free. It delivers nicotine, which is addictive. (PR)